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 Bogota (AFP) - Colombia President Ivan Duque warned ELN guerrillas on Friday they must release nine hostages taken over the previous 10 days if they want to continue peace talks initiated by his predecessor Juan Manuel Santos. Three policemen and four soldiers are amongst the hostages captured by the Marxist rebels in two separate incidents, one last week and the other on Wednesday. "The message is singular and very clear: if the ELN really has the desire to demobilize, disarm and rejoin (civil society), it must liberate the hostages quickly and without conditions," said Duque, who only assumed power on Tuesday after winning elections in June. Duque, speaking from a border town close to Ecuador known for drug-trafficking violence and insecurity, said he wouldn't accept the ELN using kidnapping as a tactic to "intimidate and blackmail" his government in peace talks. Last week, the ELN had offered to release the six hostages it had taken but demanded first an end to military operations in the northwestern Choco department. However, three off-duty soldiers were kidnapped on Wednesday near the border with Venezuela, and the army immediately pointed the finger at the ELN. The ELN, or National Liberation Army, has around 1,500 guerrillas and is the last recognized armed group fighting government forces in Colombia, following the 2016 peace accord signed with left-wing FARC rebels. The group released a statement in Havana on Friday saying it was in contact with the International Red Cross to arrange the "prompt liberation of the armed forces and civilians." However, it demanded various guarantees, including an "agreement of protocols in accordance with a humanitarian commission with the United Nations." The ELN also implored the military not to put the hostages' lives at risk by continuing its anti-rebel operations. Last week, Santos admitted falling short in his bid to sign a ceasefire with the ELN before handing over power to Duque. The hard-right new president has vowed to be tougher on Cuban-hosted negotiations with the rebel group, including a demand for a "suspension of all its criminal activities." Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi Arabia has sought to tame critics with an aggressive foreign policy, but a deadly air raid in Yemen following an acrimonious spat with Canada will only amplify international pressure on the kingdom, analysts say. An air strike by the Saudi-led coalition hit a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen on Thursday, killing dozens of what aid groups said were school children, with the United States and United Nations both calling for an investigation. The coalition insisted Huthi rebel combatants were aboard the bus, but international media have photographed dazed and bloodied children flooding into hospitals struggling to cope with a three-year conflict that the UN has dubbed the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "The war is becoming increasingly unpopular with the international community, including in the US Congress," Sigurd Neubauer, a Middle East analyst in Washington, told AFP. "(This) attack has unfortunately become the norm and not the exception." The coalition has repeatedly been accused of striking civilians in Yemen since it launched an intervention in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. The coalition called Thursday's strike a "legitimate military action" in response to a rebel missile attack on Saudi Arabia's southern Jizan city a day earlier that resulted in the death of a Yemeni national. But that did not quell the outpouring of global condemnation. "NO EXCUSES ANYMORE!!" tweeted Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF's regional director in the Middle East and North Africa. "Does the world really need more innocent children's lives to stop the cruel war on children in Yemen?" Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, tweeted: "Grotesque, shameful, indignant. Blatant disregard for rules of war when bus carrying innocent school children is fair game for attack." Story continues - 'Shutting the door to criticism' - The bombing raid, part of an intervention that reflects Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's increasingly assertive foreign policy, follows the kingdom's diplomatic rupture with Canada earlier this week. Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador, recalled its own envoy and froze all new trade and investments after Ottawa publicly demanded the "immediate release" of rights campaigners jailed in the kingdom. A furious Riyadh also moved to pull out thousands of Saudi students from Canadian universities, state airline Saudia suspended flights to Toronto, and the kingdom pledged to stop all medical treatment programmes in Canada. The Saudi reaction could impinge on the kingdom's efforts to attract badly needed foreign investment to fund its ambitious reform plan to pivot the economy away from oil, experts say. The move illustrates how the oil-rich kingdom is unwilling to brook any criticism - foreign or domestic - under its young crown prince. "The top leadership is not particularly concerned with Canada's global influence," said analysis firm Eurasia Group. "Instead, it is interested in shutting the door to broader criticism, also from European countries, and on other issues in the future." But Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has refused to back down and asserted that his country will continue to speak out on human rights. Saudi officials privately insist that respect for cultural sensitivities and closed-door diplomatic engagement is a more effective approach than public denunciations of the kingdom. - Growing discontent - Canada is quietly consulting Germany and Sweden -- targets of previous Saudi backlashes for calling out the kingdom over human rights abuses - to help resolve the row, according to a government source. Canada also plans to reach out to regional heavyweight the United Arab Emirates and to Britain, which has strong historical ties to Saudi Arabia. Canada has expressed disappointment that Western powers including the US - which has provided arms worth billions of dollars to the Saudi-led coalition -- did not publicly support Ottawa. "Absent a strong US voice (under President Donald Trump) on human rights and democratic values, Arab leaders have become less willing to tolerate Western advice on either political reform of governance," said the Eurasia Group. But the developments this week could complicate Riyadh's relationship with Washington. "President Trump has made relations with Saudi Arabia a central aspect of his approach to the Middle East. But discontent against Saudi Arabia in the US Congress is growing," Perry Cammack, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told AFP. "There is a real possibility that (the) Congress could move to constrain in a meaningful way the US military's involvement in the Yemen war." The row with Canada has also shone an uncomfortable spotlight on its European allies. "The failure of Western allies to rally around Canada in its dispute with Saudi Arabia risks luring the kingdom into a false belief that economic sanctions will shield it from, if not reverse mounting criticism of its human rights record and conduct of the war in Yemen," said James Dorsey, a fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. WASHINGTON (AP) An Iranian naval exercise involving at least 100 small boats in and around the Strait of Hormuz last week was meant as a message to the U.S. for re-imposing economic sanctions on Tehran, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East said Wednesday. Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, told Pentagon reporters that Iran was showcasing its military capabilities, amid recent threats by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to close off the strait. "It's pretty clear to us that they were trying to use that exercise to send a message to us that, as we approach the period for the sanctions here, they had some capabilities," said Votel. The message back to Iran from U.S. Central Command was, "We are aware of what's going on and we remain ready to protect ourselves," Votel said. More broadly, Votel condemned Iran for its continued efforts to destabilize other countries in the region, including Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Iran routinely operates small boats in the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding area, and has often threatened to shut down the highly traveled waterway. In recent weeks Rouhani renewed the threat, saying that if sanctions threatened Iran's crude oil exports, the rest of the Mideast's exports would be threatened as well. About a third of all oil traded by sea passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Votel said Iran has the ability to plant mines and explosive boats in the waterway, as well as use missiles and radar along the coast. But he said the U.S. and allies routinely train for that possibility and are prepared to insure that freedom of navigation and commerce continues in those waters. U.S. sanctions that had been eased by the Obama administration under the landmark 2015 nuclear deal took effect again Tuesday, following President Donald Trump's decision in May to withdraw from the accord, saying it was too generous. Renewed sanctions targeting Iran's oil industry and banking sector will resume Nov. 4. Story continues Votel said much of this Iranian activity in the strait and in the region is being perpetrated by Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who heads the elite Quds Force of Iran's hard-line paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. "Wherever you see Iranian activity you see Qassem Soleimani," said Votel, calling the Quds Force the principle threat in the region. Iran has been active in Syria, backing the government of President Bashar Assad, while also stoking violence in the southern part of the country and triggering military counterattacks from Israel. Israel has warned Iran against building up a military presence on its doorstep. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly condemned Iran for providing missiles to Yemeni Houthi rebels, who have fired toward Riyadh. Jacinda Ardern, pictured with partner Clarke Gayford and baby Neve, appeared to nurse her infant after a government press conference. (Photo: Derek Henderson/Jacinda Ardern via AP) Maternity leave may be over for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand, but shes still juggling her responsibilities as a first-time mom with leading her country. And while she is not opposed to addressing her constituents while cradling her infant daughter in her arms, many say a state broadcaster crossed the line when it filmed, and then posted, footage of the 38-year-old politician breastfeeding the baby. As News.com.au reports, Television New Zealand (TVNZ) was accused of violating Arderns privacy following a press conference where she announced a ban on plastic bags. After her address, the new mother took her 8-week-old baby, Neve, to the back of the hall and appeared to begin nursing. A cameraperson for the broadcasters 1News channel captured the mother-daughter moment, and the footage was shared online with the infant highlighted in a circle. delete your account pic.twitter.com/WPntAaFeVx Toby Manhire (@toby_etc) August 10, 2018 The video was taken down, however, following viewer outcry. Actor Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame was among those who thought the video was inappropriate. Not cool. Jemaine Clement (@AJemaineClement) August 10, 2018 This is so unfair. I found it so hard as a new mum to nurse in front of friends or family let alone in public with a camera on. It get's easier but whoever chose to film this just sucks as a person Meg de Ronde (@MegdeRonde) August 10, 2018 Unbelievable. So crass. I genuinely (if stupidly) thought NZ media was better than this. Oli Brooke-White (@OliBrookewhite) August 10, 2018 LEAVE THE BABY ALONE. La RainDear (@LauraineJacobs) August 10, 2018 This seems inappropriate. Not the breast-feeding; the video. Does this TV channel poke cameras into girls' changing rooms too? else{} (@leighelse) August 10, 2018 TVNZ later issued an apology. Story continues Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was discussing the issue of single-use plastic bags, and that should have been our focus, a TVNZ spokeswoman said in a statement to media outlets. We accept the criticism. We got it wrong. Kristina Paterson, founder of the Mothers Helpers support group, told the New Zealand Herald that the footage amounted to a violation of privacy. Any filming of the prime minister with her baby should be only at the prime ministers expressed consent, Paterson said. Ardern made history when she and partner Clarke Gayford welcomed Neve on June 21. She is the first world leader to give birth in office since 1990 and the first world leader to take maternity leave. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Havana (AFP) - The national referendum to ratify Cuba's new constitution will take place on February 24, 2019, state television said Thursday. The Caribbean nation's parliament in July approved a new draft constitution that will be submitted for citizens to debate from August 13 to November 15. The current version was passed in 1976. "We have a very important challenge, which is to prepare ourselves to participate in the consultation process for our new constitution and the unconditional support on February 24," Revolutionary Armed Forces major Lazaro Arronte told channel Cubavision. The new constitution would recognize for the first time the role of the market and private sector in the island's heavily controlled socialist economy, though under the watchful eye of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). The changes would give legal backing to economic reforms initiated a decade ago by former president Raul Castro, which have now been left in the hands of his successor Miguel Diaz-Canel. The document would also provide a legal path for same-sex marriage, an important demand of the socialist island's LGBT community. Cuba plans to let its 1.4 million expatriate citizens contribute to its new constitution, the first time emigrants will have a say in the island's affairs since the 1959 revolution. However, it is not known if they will be able to participate in the referendum. The referendum's date coincides with the anniversary of the proclamation of the current 1976 constitution -- and with the beginning of the Cuban War of Independence in 1895. Virginian Pilot Tom Luckman used to sit on a bench in his backyard, sipping coffee and taking in the view. He and his wife, Sis, live on what used to be Hole 3 of the Signature at West Neck golf course, designed by Arnold Palmer, in the southern part of the city. The Luckmans home, in the Villages of West Neck, backs up to the fairway where golfers hit their second shot onto the green. His wife, who had a ... PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Republic has negotiated the release of two workers for a German humanitarian group in Syria, the Czech and German foreign ministries said on Thursday. The Czech Republic is the only country in Europe that maintains diplomatic relations in Syria, torn by seven years of civil war. The Czechs provide consular services for European Union citizens and act as intermediaries for other countries. A spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said the two workers, one of whom is a German man, had departed Syria and would now be reunited with their families. The nationality of the other worker was not disclosed, and neither person was named. The Czech ministry said in a statement that Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek traveled to Damascus for the handover of the workers, and that both were in good health. They were to travel to Prague and be met by representatives of their embassies, the ministry said. The German ministry spokeswoman welcomed Hamacek's personal involvement in the case, and said the two workers' return would likely not have been possible without the "quick and unbureaucratic help of our Czech friends." The two men were arrested several months ago near the Iraqi border on charges of entering the country without the necessary papers, according to Czech media reports. No further details about the case or the workers were immediately available. (Reporting by Jason Hovet; Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal in Berlin; Editing by Larry King and Hugh Lawson) Rep. Steve Cohen, a Tennessee Democrat, told a group of pastors last month he hoped President Donald Trump would tell Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the GOPs Senate candidate in the Volunteer State, to jump off a local bridge. Cohen was appearing at a community prayer breakfast at a Memphis church hosted by former Gov. Phil Bredesens campaign for Senate. The big orange president .... Hes going to come down here and he is going to endorse Marsha Blackburn, because Marsha Blackburn, if he says, Jump off the Harahan Bridge, shell jump off the Harahan Bridge, he said in the audio obtained by HuffPost, referring to a bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Arkansas and Tennessee. I wish hed say that. The remark was met with laughter. Bredesen and Blackburn are in a tight race to replace retiring GOP Sen. Bob Corker. The Nov. 6 election could help determine control of the U.S. Senate. Bredesens reputation as a moderate and his high name recognition from his two terms as governor have boosted the Democrat in a heavily Republican state where Trump took 61 percent of the vote two years ago. The Blackburn campaign has worked to portray Bredesen the former CEO of a chain of for-profit hospitals and the former business-oriented mayor of Nashville as a liberal lackey of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) who would consistently oppose the president. Bredesen has promised to take a checks-and-balances approach to Trump, working with him on some issues and opposing him on others, while Blackburn has wholeheartedly embraced the president. Her second television ad, released earlier this week, focuses exclusively on Trumps decision to endorse her. I am going to be there to stand with President Donald Trump and take your Tennesee values to Washington, D.C., Blackburn says in the 30-second ad. I have been a long time supporter of the President. As your Senator, Im going to be there to stand with @realDonaldTrump, to fight with him and get the job done. pic.twitter.com/gMgZR6h9Yz Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) August 7, 2018 The Bredesen campaign, in response to Cohens remarks, pointed to the Bredesens remarks at the same breakfast, which avoided criticizing the president or Blackburn. Story continues I really dont want [this election] to be about my opponent and whos best and whos worst or whos made most mistakes, or things like that, Bredesen said, according to the audio provided by his campaign. I really want this election to be about ideas, and I want you to ask everyone to vote for the person who they think got the best ideas about how to create opportunity in Tennessee, and create opportunity in the United States of America. In a phone interview Thursday night, Cohen made it clear he didnt wish Blackburn physical harm. It was obviously humor, he said, adding: I wish her no harm. I hope she doesnt get the Senate. And I wish she wasnt a lackey for Trump. But I dont wish her physical harm. After his crack about Blackburn, Cohen went on to praise Tennessees history of great senators, independent senators, citing the late Fred Thompsons role in the Watergate hearings, former Vice President Al Gore and two Republicans who served as Senate majority leaders: Howard Baker and Bill Frist. He said Blackburn would be a break from that tradition. We need another senator we can be proud of, who will vote the issues, who will vote his mind and thats Phil Bredesen, he said. Its not Marsha Blackburn. You dont need a lackey, a lackey for a corrupt, lying president. The prayer breakfast was held on the last day of early voting ahead of Tennessees Aug. 2 primary and local elections. The major goal of the event was to increase Democratic turnout for local elections in Shelby County, which includes Memphis. The party went on to sweep the elections there, flipping the most high-profile countywide offices from Republican to Democrat. This article has been updated with later comment from Cohen making it clear he meant his comment as humor and did not wish anyone harm. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misidentified the Memphis church, and the name has been removed. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Kenley Jansen will spend the rest of the Dodgers series at Colorado in Los Angeles. (AP Photo) Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was reportedly taken to a hospital Thursday due to an irregular heartbeat during the teams road series against the Colorado Rockies. Jansen is now set to fly back to Los Angeles and will be unavailable the Dodgers series in Colorado, manager Dave Roberts told a group of reporters including the Los Angeles Times Andy McCullough. Kenley Jansen was taken to the hospital with an irregular heartbeat, Dave Roberts said. Jansen is flying back to Los Angeles and will not be available for this series. Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 10, 2018 An update on Jansen came on Friday morning, and it looks like hes going to be out longer than just one series. Sources: Kenley Jansen is expected to miss about a month as he goes through treatment for his irregular heartbeat. Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) August 10, 2018 An irregular heartbeat is particularly concerning news for Jansen given his past heart issues. The Dodgers closer underwent a procedure in 2012 to correct an irregular heartbeat and missed time in the preceding two seasons due to atrial fibrillation. Jansen later had to leave the Coors Field bullpen in 2015 when he felt ill. While Jansens past history does make this more worrisome, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweeted on Friday that Jansens condition is very manageable. Jansen experiencing issues again at Coors Field likely isnt a coincidence, as the high altitude of Denver has caused issues for certain athletes in the past. Jansen is in the middle of yet another strong season finishing games for the Dodgers, holding a 2.15 ERA with 61 strikeouts and a league-leading 32 saves in 54.1 innings. While missing a month certainly isnt ideal for the Dodgers, who are in the middle of a tough fight in the National League West, hell likely be back in time for the home stretch of the season, and then the playoffs if the Dodgers make it that far. More from Yahoo Sports: Dan Wetzel: Dont let NCAA fool you with its rule changes LeBron shows off Lakers uniform while giving Kobe a shoe shoutout Ump pulls giant bug out of ear during MLB game Terez Paylor: Bears bring fun-n-gun offense to NFL The trade tensions between the United States and China have hit a fever pitch. After targeting each others $34-billion worth of imports, China announced on Aug 8 that it would enact a 25% tariff on U.S. imports worth $16 billion, including crude oil, diesel, cars and coal, in retaliation to the tax on an equal amount of imports enacted by U.S. authorities from August 23. Moreover, the Trump administration is now considering a hike in tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200 billion worth of additional Chinese goods. The latest list provided by China for higher taxes includes American liquefied natural gas. The event has the ability to cause a shift in the LNG market, by some analysts, as quoted on CNBC. This is especially true given China was the second biggest importer of LNG globally last year while the United States is climbing the ladder of major LNG exporters. However, Goldman Sachs analysts believe that though Chinese imports of U.S. oil fell 70% in April through June, it is unlikely to change the fate of U.S. energy exports, per CNBC. Whatever the case, the near-term impact on the oil patch should be negative. Following Chinas announcement, oil priced declined with the WTI crude ETF United States Oil USO losing about 3.2% andUnited States Brent Oil BNO shedding about 2.9% on Aug 8. Inside Energy Companies Pain It is a two-edged sword for energy companies. First, Donald Trumps levy of a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on aluminum imports from China and some other countries became a pain for U.S. oil pipeline companies. This should push up raw material prices for pipeline operators. The article published on Reuters indicated that the U.S. pipeline industry is likely to suffer cost pressure from tariffs as the industry imports about 77% of its steel requirement, according to a 2017 study on the pipeline industry (read: 5 Sector ETFs Most Exposed to Trade Tensions). On the other hand, U.S. energy companies have about 14% exposure to China. China is Americas second-largest crude oil customer after Canada. Chinese imports of U.S. crude oil in May, for example, averaged 427,000 bpd, more than any other destination and surpassing Canadas 289,000 bpd imports, EIA data shows, as quoted on oilprice.com. Quite expectedly, Chinas proposed levies on U.S. oil imports put U.S. energy companies under pressure. Story continues Investors should note that the intensifying U.S.-Sino trade war is keeping hedge funds and other money managers from taking new positions in the WTI and Brent benchmarks, with bets falling to a two-year low. The escalation of the trade spat sparked off concerns about the likely slowdown of global growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects global growth to slow down by 2020 as major economies are flirting with trade war. This could derail the economies from their reform agenda. Also, with several developed economies lately showing signs of weakness, investors should be wary of consumption growth in the oil patch (read: Oil ETFs: What You Need to Know). ETF Impact ETFs that could come under pressure along with oil ETFs are energy ETFs like SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Productinn ETF (XOP) (down 1.6% on Aug 8), VanEck Vectors Unconventional Oil & Gas ETF FRAK (down 1.2%), Invesco DWA Energy Momentum ETF PXI (down 1.6%) and JHancock Multifactor Energy ETF JHME (down 1.2%). On the other hand, inverse energy ETFs like Energy Bear 3X Direxion ERY and Ultrashort Oil & Gas ProShares DUG added about 2.3% and 1.7% on Aug 8. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >> 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 US-OIL FUND LP (USO): ETF Research Reports US BRENT OIL FD (BNO): ETF Research Reports DIR-EGY BEAR 3X (ERY): ETF Research Reports PWRSH-DW EGY MO (PXI): ETF Research Reports VANECK-UNC O&G (FRAK): ETF Research Reports JH-M-F ENERGY (JHME): ETF Research Reports PRO-ULS OIL&GAS (DUG): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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 When did animals originate? Evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin may have speculated about the forms that early animals took, but our research published in the journal Palaeontology answers the animal origin question with Cambrian period fossils of a frond-like sea creature called Stromatoveris psygmoglena. The Ediacaran Period lasted from 635 to 542m years ago. This era is key to understanding animal origins because it occurred just before the Cambrian explosion of 541m years ago, when many of the animal groups living today first appeared in the fossil record. Yet when large fossils from the Ediacaran Period were first identified during the 20th century they included unique frond-like forms, which were not quite like any living animal. This prompted one of the greatest debates still raging in evolution. What exactly were these enigmatic fossils, often called the Ediacaran biota? J. Hoyal Cuthill Linking Ediacaran and Cambrian fossils By comparing members of the Ediacaran biota to a range of other groups in a computer analysis of evolutionary relationships, we found that Stromatoveris psygmoglena provides a crucial link between the older period and the animals which appeared in startling number and diversity during the Cambrian period. Fossils of Stromatoveris psygmoglena are found in only one place in the world: Chengjiang county, China. This region is known for exceptionally well-preserved Cambrian fossils from 518m years ago. While the fossil record most often preserves only hard shells or bones, some special sites like Chengjiang preserve the remains of soft-bodied animals, such as Stromatoveris psygmoglena. Originally described in 2006 from eight known specimens, we examined over 200 new fossils of the organism that have since been discovered by researchers from Northwest University, China, and dated to the Cambrian period. The way in which fossils of the Ediacaran Period were preserved has been another of their mysteries. These fossils often show signs of bending, twisting and tearing, suggesting that they preserve soft-bodied organisms without hard parts. However, there is rarely anything left of the soft tissues themselves. Story continues Instead, they left moulds in the surrounding sediment, a little like a footprint on the beach. In contrast, the newly examined Cambrian fossils of Stromatoveris psygmoglena retain carbon-based tissue, allowing us to see the detailed and internal anatomy of the body itself. J. Hoyal Cuthill During a research fellowship at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Cambridge, the new Cambrian period fossils of Stromatoveris psygmoglena were compared to earlier Ediacaran fossils in a computer analysis of anatomy and evolutionary relationships. This was also the first analysis to test the relationships between the Ediacaran biota and a range of other organisms, covering single-celled creatures called protozoans, algae, fungi, and nine types of animals, including Stromatoveris psygmoglena. This analysis used over 80 photographs of individual fossil specimens to compare anatomical features across these groups. The analysis showed that Stromatoveris psygmoglena and seven key members of the Ediacaran biota share very similar anatomies, including multiple, branched fronds which radiate outwards like seaweed, uniting them all in a new group of early animals called Petalonamae. The name means Nama Petals and was chosen to honour biologist Hans Pflug and his work on the Ediacaran biota in Namibia, a reference to the petal-like fronds which, Pflug noted, distinguish these unusual animals. Rethinking animal evolution Uniting these members of the Ediacaran biota and Stromatoveris psygmoglena in a single group of animals has major implications for animal origins. In light of this new evidence, some older ideas on early animal evolution may need to be revised. Because members of the Ediacaran biota can now be classed as animals, we can date the origin of the animal kingdom to at least the time when these fossils appeared. The oldest members of these groups are known as rangeomorphs and appear in the fossil record approximately 571m years ago, in the late Ediacaran Period. Jennifer Hoyal Cuthill , Author provided This means that animal species were diversifying well before the Cambrian explosion. It may also mean that the search for animal origins should now focus on the time before this, in the early Ediacaran and even more ancient geological periods. Based on this, animals may have originated much earlier than the traditional reading of the fossil record had suggested. This study also has key implications for the ecology and eventual extinction of the petalonamids. Many Ediacaran species have not been found in later rocks leading some researchers to think that they were a failed experiment in evolution, disappearing by the beginning of the Cambrian. Indeed, this was my own view until I saw the remarkable new fossils of Stromatoveris psygmoglena. The inclusion of this Cambrian animal among the petalonamids changes the picture of the Ediacaran biota. Stromatoveris psygmoglena shows that the petalonamids were alive and well over 20m years into the Cambrian period and did not go extinct at its outset, as had been thought. Even more intriguing, more than 200 fossils of Stromatoveris psygmoglena have now been found, despite the fact that it lacked hard parts which are usually most easily preserved. This indicates that this species was an important member of its shallow marine ecosystem rather than a rare or marginal survivor. This could mean that the petalonamids adapted more successfully to the changes of the Cambrian period than had been thought, or that the Ediacaran period and its animals were less alien and more advanced than previously realised. We can be confident, however, that the animal kingdom we occupy is much older than we once thought. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The Conversation Jennifer Hoyal Cuthill received funding from the John Templeton Foundation and the UK Palaeontological Association. By Tom Allard and Gayatri Suroyo JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy and biggest Muslim majority country, goes to polls in April. Following are some details on the candidates for president and vice president, who will govern from 2019 to 2024: JOKO WIDODO, presidential candidate The 57-year old president is the first Indonesian leader from outside the political, business and military elites. The son of a woodseller, he grew up near the city of Solo before earning his fortune as a furniture entrepreneur. He served as mayor of Solo and governor of the capital, Jakarta, where he won plaudits for improving infrastructure, cleaning up slums and promoting small business. He won the presidential election in 2014 on a platform of tackling corruption and investment in infrastructure and education. As president, he moved swiftly to cut fuel subsidies, redirecting the money to infrastructure and social programs. But he struggled to impose his authority over his coalition. In 2015, he was humiliated when his political patron and former president Megawati Sukarnoputri described him as a "functionary". Over time, he wrested more control over his coalition, expanding it so allies held a clear parliamentary majority. Widodo has overseen investment in infrastructure although there has been criticism about delays and cost blow-outs. Indonesias has experienced steady annual growth of 5 percent during his presidency, but below Widodo's target of 7 percent and 0.7 percentage points less than the average growth rate of the previous decade. The moderate Muslim has grappled with rising Islamism and intolerance. An adept user of social media with a penchant for impromptu visits to public venues, Widodos approval ratings remain high according to polls. MA'RUF AMIN: Widodo's vice-presidential candidate Amin was born near Jakarta when the Dutch East Indies was under Japanese occupation. The 75-yearold cleric and politician has degrees in Islamic law and sharia economics and has written books on Islamic banking and economics, the meaning of jihad, terrorism and fatwas. He has served as a lawmaker in local and national legislatures, representing the National Awakening Party. The party is affiliated with Indonesia's largest mass Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) which Amin has led as its "supreme leader" since 2015. NU boasts as many as 40 million members and has considerable political influence. Amin is also on the board of a government agency promoting the values of Pancasila, Indonesia's national credo embracing the principles of religious freedom and pluralism. But rights groups maintain that Amin has played a pivotal role in the rise of intolerance in the world's largest Muslim majority country as the head of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) and as an adviser to former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Under Amin's leadership, the MUI issued fatwas condemning religious and social minorities such as the Islamic sect Ahmadiyah and homosexuals. The fatwas coincided with a surge in violent attacks on the groups. During an election for Jakarta governor last year, Amin condemned the then governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, as a blasphemer and testified against him in a trial, though saying during hearings he had not actually viewed the video of a speech Purnama made that led to accusations of insulting the Koran. Purnama, an ethnic Chinese Christian, was sentenced to two years in prison after losing the election. He denied wrongdoing. PRABOWO SUBIANTO, presidential candidate The son of a prominent diplomat and economist, Prabowo Subianto hails from an elite but diverse family - his father was a Muslim, his mother a Christian. While some of his siblings followed their mother's faith, Prabowo chose Islam. He enlisted in the military aged 19 and six years later joined Kopassus, the army special forces, commanding units in East Timor in the immediate aftermath of Indonesia's invasion of the former Portuguese territory. Prabowo married one of the daughters of former authoritarian leader Suharto, though they later divorced. He was head of the Army Strategic Reserve when protesters challenged Suharto's rule, and Prabowo vehemently defended his former father-in-law. He was discharged from the military over the kidnapping of democracy activists soon after Suharto fell. Prabowo was banned from entering the United States, among other countries, because of suspicion of human rights abuses in East Timor and Jakarta. He unsuccessfully tried to become a presidential candidate in 2004, then stood for vice president in 2009 and president in 2014, but lost both contests. Prabowo has recently warned of the influence of foreigners and the prospect of Indonesia breaking apart. He has also declared himself the candidate for the poor, vowing to address economic inequality. He has bemoaned what he describes as the decline of state-owned enterprises and Indonesia's lackluster economic performance He retains strong support among nationalists, Islamists and those favoring a "strongman" leader. SANDIAGA UNO: Prabowo's vice-presidential candidate A 49-yearold entrepreneur and Jakarta deputy governor, Uno was born on Sumatra but traces his roots to another big island - Sulawesi. His ties to two regions adds to his appeal for almost half of the country's citizens who live outside the main island of Java, where many chafe at the long-standing dominance of the most populous island. An early patron was William Soerjadjaja, the founder of Astra, one of Indonesia's largest conglomerates. Educated in the United States, with an MBA from George Washington University, Uno worked in investment banking before co-founding a private equity firm in 1998 after the Asian financial crisis. Within a decade, Uno joined the ranks of Indonesia's super-rich, although not before several ruptures with business partners. Globe Asia magazine estimated his wealth at $500 million in June 2018. Uno entered politics in 2015, linking up with Prabowo. An early political assignment was to plot a path to victory for Prabowo's Gerindra party in the 2017 Jakarta governor election. Gerindra prevailed in the most divisive campaign in recent Indonesian history. The popular incumbent governor Purnama, plunged in the polls after he was accused of insulting the Koran. (Editing by Robert Birsel) Voodoo Doughnut is the latest target of a right-wing conspiracy theory. (Photo: Voodoo Doughnuts) Is there a more delicious way to start your day than indulging in some caffeine and sugar? Coffee and a doughnut are, arguably, as American as apple pie. However, according to a new far-right conspiracy theory, behind the scenes at a famous doughnut shop, Voodoo Doughnut of Portland, Ore., its anything but wholesome. Although the shops voodoo doll imagery has offended those who oppose anything related to the occult in the past, a new conspiracy theory is claiming that the franchise is actually a front for child trafficking. The hashtag #doughnutgate is spreading, which itself is a nod to #pizzagate, a conspiracy theory that circulated during the 2016 presidential election cycle suggesting that a restaurant in Washington, D.C., was a front for a child-sex ring, run by high-ranking Democrats. Media Matters reports that a man identified as Michael Whelan, known as Vegan Mikey on Twitter, appeared on a YouTube show where he alleged that he attended a party at Voodoo co-owner Tres Shannons house, where sexual abuse of children took place. The allegations against Voodoos co-owner begin at the 48-minute mark. The video may have gone viral because of actor Isaac Kappy, who posted about it. Kappy is a frequent guest on Alex Joness Infowars and has claimed that a number of celebrities, such as Tom Hanks and Seth Green, are pedophiles. The believers of #doughnutgate are reading their own ideas into the types of unconventional doughnuts that Voodoo provides, saying that they worship demons, are phallic shaped, and showcase symbols of pedophilia. These conspiracy theories can have real-life consequences, as Media Matters points out. A gunman opened fire at Comet Ping Pong, the restaurant accused of being involved in #pizzagate, and the business received hundreds of death threats, according to its owner. Story continues Voodoo Doughnuts did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyles requests for comment. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The Trevi Fountain was the scene of a brawl between tourists. (Photo: DeAgostini/Getty Images) One of Romes most famous landmarks was the backdrop for a vicious brawl Wednesday night and it all started with a desire to take selfies. The Guardian reports that local police were called to the Trevi Fountain the iconic, Nicola Salvi-designed tourist destination famous for appearing in films such as Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita after two women came to blows. The reason for the dispute? Both women wanted to use the same spot to take selfies. As Italian newspaper La Repubblica was the first to report, the two tourists a 19-year-old Dutch woman and a 44-year-old Italian-American argued over the space, with their respective family members eventually getting involved. All told, eight people were reportedly involved in the fight, which required four police officers to break up. The brawlers were reportedly charged in the incident. The selfie spat came as officials announced their intention to control the swarms of tourists who gather at the historic site, where throwing a coin over ones left shoulder is said to guarantee a return visit to Rome. Were looking at the idea of having a route which would allow tourists to see the Trevi Fountain but without stopping, city official Andrea Coia told La Repubblica, according to the Telegraph. Better take those selfies while you still can but politely, per favore. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Ottawa (AFP) - Two police officers were among four people killed Friday in a shooting that sparked panic and a police lockdown in a sleepy eastern Canadian city, as the nation grapples with rising gun violence. Residents of the Brookside neighborhood of Fredericton, New Brunswick woke to the sounds of multiple gunshots. Witnesses told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) they saw the barrel of a rifle or shotgun poking out from the window of a low-rise apartment building and firing into a courtyard, while two bodies lay on the ground nearby. Heavily-armed police, paramedics and firefighters quickly descended on the scene and a lockdown of the neighborhood was ordered, trapping some early risers in daycare facilities, coffee shops and businesses. Others were escorted from their homes -- some still in pyjamas and barefoot -- to safety beyond a police cordon. Fredericton Deputy Police Chief Martin Gaudet told reporters the two officers killed were responding to an emergency call about gunshots. They were identified as Lawrence Robert Costello, 45, and Sara Mae Helen Burns, 43. "Upon arrival (at the apartment building), they observed two civilian victims on the ground. That's when they (police) were shot," Gaudet said. Authorities in the provincial capital, about 75 kilometers (45 miles) from the border between Canada and the US state of Maine, had initially urged people in the neighborhood to stay indoors. They described an "active incident" on Twitter before confirming the deaths and arrest. The suspect was being treated for "serious injuries" related to the shooting incident, police said. Gaudet said police entered the shooter's apartment in the residential area of the city north of downtown, and arrested a 48-year-old man. No other information was provided about the suspect or the events. "It's been a very difficult day for our officers and the residents of our fine city as we come to terms with the violent death of four of our people in our city, two of which, as you know are officers," said Police Chief Leanne Fitch. Story continues - 'Gun pointing out of window' - Public broadcaster CBC quoted Justin McLean, who lives in the area, as saying: "I woke up and I heard gunshots and I looked outside my window. "The cops were trying to put one of the officers in their vehicle to take them out to safety," he said, adding that he tried to help but was told by the officers to take cover. "I never saw the shooter but I saw the barrel of his gun pointing out of the window." The mass shooting is the second in the province in recent years, and comes only weeks after a man opened fire on July 22 in a bustling Toronto district, killing an 18-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl while wounding 13 other people. The incident triggered a public debate on rising gun violence and gangs in Canadian cities, and calls for a handgun ban. "Most crime rates (in Canada) are going down and have been going down for several decades. But the incidents of violence with firearms have been going up over the course of the last five years," Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said. He said local police would be leading the investigation, suggesting there was no concern for national security. "Awful news coming out of Fredericton," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted. "My heart goes out to everyone affected by this morning's shooting." Bouquets of flowers and notes of condolences amassed outside the Fredericton police station, while a local church scheduled a prayer vigil for Friday evening. In 2014, three federal police officers were killed and two more were injured after responding to an emergency call about an armed man roaming a residential neighborhood of nearby Moncton, New Brunswick. A 28-hour manhunt ensued before police caught up to the suspect and arrested him, in what was described as the second-deadliest attack on Canadian police since four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were ambushed on a Mayerthorpe, Alberta farm in 2005. Police say four people are dead, including two police officers, following a shooting Friday morning in Fredericton. One suspect in custody is being treated for serious injuries as police say they are continuing to investigate the deadly incident in the capital of New Brunswick. On Twitter, authorities made clear there is no longer a threat to public safety. In a news conference, Fredericton police identified the suspect as a 48-year-old Fredericton man who is currently in hospital. Police would not reveal any other details about the alleged perpetrator. Police say officers responded to a call for shots fired in an apartment complex, and thats when they were shot. Our deepest condolences to the families of our fallen members 45-year-old Lawrence Robert Costello and 43-year-old Sara Mae Helen Burns and the other victims in this morning's shootings. pic.twitter.com/9TeWn5OqWx Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018 Fredericton Police Chief Leanne Fitch identified two of the police officers killed while responding to the incident: Lawrence Robert Costello, 45, and Sara Mae Helen Burns, 43. Costello leaves behind his partner and four children, while Burns is survived by her husband and three children. The two other civilian victims are not being publicly identified at this time, but police confirmed they are a man and a woman. Police officers survey the area of a shooting in Fredericton, N.B., on August 10, 2018, which left four people dead. Photo from The Canadian Press. Protecting us today, they gave their lives, Fredericton Mayor Mike OBrien said of the officers. As mayor, this is something I never want to have to live through. Fitch told reporters she is extremely proud of the response to a dark and difficult incident. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will take over the investigation moving forward. New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant also offered his condolences to the victims. Story continues Know that all New Brunswickers and Canadians mourn with you, Gallant said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the news awful and said the federal government is following the situation closely. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters in Sarnia, Ont., that the incident is a huge tragedy for the whole country. He added the federal government is taking the issue of gun violence very seriously and has been for months now. Canada is a safe and secure country, the minister told reporters. Awful news coming out of Fredericton. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this mornings shooting. Were following the situation closely. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 10, 2018 All of Canada stands with the two brave Fredericton Police officers who lost their lives protecting their community today. Their families, friends and loved ones have our deepest condolences. Ralph Goodale (@RalphGoodale) August 10, 2018 Just before 7 a.m. ET, police issued a statement on Twitter urging people to stay away from Brookside Drive as they were responding to an ongoing incident. They later asked residents to keep their doors locked as a safety precaution. Thirty minutes after initially tweeting about the incident, police confirmed multiple fatalities from a shooting. They had previously warned the public not to expose the whereabouts of police as they worked to address the situation. Re: Shooting. At this time, we can confirm multiple fatalities. The incident is ongoing. More information will be available when we can. Please continue to avoid the area of Brookside Drive between Main and Ring Road. Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018 UDPATE: At this time we can confirm that we have one suspect in custody. Police continue to have the Brookside area contained for the foreseeable future as the investigation is ongoing. Please continue to avoid the area and follow us for the facts. Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018 A witness in Fredericton told HuffPost Canada he said he woke up to the sound of gunshots outside his window. There was two cops laying there that were I believe deceased on the ground, and there was one deceased civilian, the unidentified man said. Fredericton resident David MacCoubrey told The Associated Press he heard as many as 20 gunshots and was hiding on his kitchen floor as police investigated. A witness in Fredericton tells what he observed during the shooting this morning: pic.twitter.com/K6B2MVGOnM HuffPost Canada (@HuffPostCanada) August 10, 2018 New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant also offered his condolences to the victims. Know that all New Brunswickers and Canadians mourn with you, Gallant said. On behalf of all New Brunswickers, I offer my condolences, thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families. During this difficult time, our thoughts are also with the courageous women and men on the front lines working to keep us safe. Brian Gallant (@BrianGallantNB) August 10, 2018 Fredericton is a city on Canadas East Coast with a population of 59,405, according to Statistics Canada census data from 2016. The province of New Brunswick sits east of the U.S. border, adjacent to Maine. In June 2014, a string of shootings in Moncton, N.B., left three RCMP officers dead and two wounded. We're about to find out just how Samsung follows up on the Galaxy Note 8. Samsung today (Aug. 9) is set to pull back the curtain on the Galaxy Note 9, with rumors surrounding the new big-screen phone tipping everything from upgraded cameras to a whole new Bixby assistant to a smarter Bluetooth S Pen. Credit: Evan Blass/@evleaks Credit: Evan Blass/@evleaks With Samsung's Unpacked event set to begin in a few hours, here's one last look at the rumors we've heard about the Galaxy Note 9, with Samsung providing many of the juiciest tidbits. Latest Update (August 9) What are the Galaxy Note 9 specs? When it debuts later today, there shouldn't be too many surprises under the Galaxy Note 9 hood, thanks to a steady stream of leaks that have painted a pretty clear picture about the phone. Display Size 6.4 inches Processor Snapdragon 845 RAM 6GB/8GB Internal Storage 64GB/128GB/256GB/512GB Rear Camera Dual 12-MP cameras with variable aperture Front Camera 8-MP Battery 4,000 mAh OS Android Oreo Colors Black, Brown, Blue Purple One major bit of spec-related news to break concerns the phone's battery, which will reportedly see an increase from 3,300 mAh to 4,000 mAh based on a document from a Brazilian telecommunications certification board shared on SlashLeaks. Samsung has reportedly been eyeing a larger capacity battery even though the design of the Note 9 figures to be unchanged from its predecessor. Samsung has essentially confirmed you'll get battery life in its next phone, first with a video depicting the woes of a rapidly draining phone battery and promising that things will change on August 9 the same day as its Note 9 launch event. Another video a leaked Note 9 launch video that Samsung wishes you didn't see promises "all-day battery" for the new phone. Story continues Samsung Teases Note 9 Samsung is also all but certain to deliver the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor inside the handset, according to recently leaked benchmarks on HTML5Test. This chip turned in some impressive numbers on our Galaxy S9 benchmark tests, though the overall horsepower falls short of the iPhone X's A11 Bionic chip. The Note 8 (above) has 6GB of RAM, but the Note 9 could step that up to 8GB. The Note 8 (above) has 6GB of RAM, but the Note 9 could step that up to 8GB. The Galaxy Note 8 came with a robust 6GB of RAM, but other phones like the OnePlus 6 are shipping with up to 8GB, so it will be interesting to see whether Samsung offers this as an option. Eldar Murtazin of Mobile Review claims to have gone hands-on with the Galaxy Note 9 and says that the phone will have 6GB of memory in its standard configuration but that an 8GB option will be available, too. We would like to see an upgrade in storage. And a recent leak points to the Galaxy Note 9 getting just that; the top-end model could have up to 512GB of storage. In his report, Murtazin says the standard Note 9 will offer 64GB of storage, with 256GB and 512GB configurations also available. A report on SamMobile suggests that the base model Note 9 could feature 128GB of storage, though there's a possibility that could be for markets outside the U.S. At any rate, Samsung is certainly promising more storage in its Note 9 teaser videos, and its leaked launch video suggests that there will be a 512GB model of the new phone. Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Storage MORE: How to Reduce Data Usage on Your Smartphone Like the Galaxy Note 8, you can expect to find a big screen featuring an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. There's no telling yet, however, exactly how big that display will be, though initial rumblings from website SamMobile point to a 6.4-inch screen. That 6.4-inch screen size is backed up by a report from The Bell out of Korea. Bloomberg's report on the Note 9's release date says Samsung will focus on improving the camera in this year's model. That sounds like the Note 9 could adopt some of the camera improvements introduced with the Galaxy S9 earlier this year, including a variable aperture for better photos in low-light settings and multiframe noise reduction. What about the Note 9's S Pen? The S Pen has been one of the major strengths of the Note lineup, and it could be gaining more powers with the Note 9's release. At the very least, Samsung's leaked launch video promises an "all new powerful S Pen" that's been redesigned for the Note 9. Credit: IceUniverse/@UniverseIce Credit: IceUniverse/@UniverseIce Samsung hasn't revealed any details about those powers, but other sources have. Leaker Ice Universe tweeted that the S Pen will add Bluetooth connectivity, which will let you use the stylus to control the phone remotely, including tasks like controlling music playback. Yet another tweet featured a flyer prominently displaying the updated stylus. The FCC published a filing that essentially confirms Samsung is preparing a Bluetooth-equipped S Pen. On Reddit, poster Wan997 says that the S Pen's button can double as the remote shutter for the Note 9's camera. The color of your S Pen will also reflect the color of memos you jot down with the stylus' Screen Off Memo feature. And 40 seconds of charging will apparently give you half-an-hour of S Pen use. What software will the Note 9 run? On the software side, you can expect Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 to be running Android Oreo, but whether it's Android 8.0.0 or Android 8.1 isn't yet clear. The newer Android 9 Pie, released just days ahead of the Note 9 unveiling, will likely be reserved for the upcoming Pixel 3 line. The Note 9 could also arrive with some significant software pre-installed. Both 9to5Google and XDA Developers say that the phone's release will mark the debut of the popular Fortnite battle royale game on Android. What's more, the Note 9 could be the only device where you can play Fortnite initially, as Samsung may have arranged for an exclusivity window for the app. It's apparently part of the phone maker's plan to position the Note 9 as a great phone for gamers. Even if there is an emphasis on gaming, expect Samsung to continue to tout the Note 9 as a productivity booster. To that end, WinFuture says you'll be able to hook up a Note 9 to an external display using a DisplayPort-enabled USB-C cable and use the phone as a portable PC. That would mean you wouldn't need to lug around a DeX Pad or DeX Station dock, if true. When will Samsung release the Note 9? Today's the day. Samsung's Unpacked event begins at 11 a.m. ET you can watch the live stream here and the new phone is almost certain to ship Aug. 24. Credit: Samsung Credit: Samsung Several rumors have suggested the Note 9 will ship on August 24, with a Korean carrier accidentally revealing the date. Samsung has essentially confirmed August 24 as a ship date, by letting you register to pre-order the phone early. Doing so ensures you'll get the Note 9 by August 24, Samsung says. (The pre-order site also teases information about trade-ins, where turning in a newer device like an iPhone X could knock $450 off the Note 9's price tag.) Last year, the Galaxy S8 didn't ship until mid-September, so Samsung is really speeding up the launch of the Note 9, allegedly because Galaxy S9 sales are slower than expected. Getting the Note 9 out as quickly as possible would help Samsung sidestep possible direct competition with Apple's next round of iPhones, which could launch in September. What about Bixby? According to a report in the Korea Herald in a recent interview, Samsung's Research AI Center chief Gray G. Lee said that the Galaxy Note 9 will come with a next-generation version of the company's artificial intelligence features. He said that the features will be baked into Bixby 2.0, which will debut on the Galaxy Note 9. "Samsung's AI vision has five directions: user centric, always learning, always there, always helpful and always safe," Lee said in the interview, according to Slashgear. At Mobile World Congress earlier this year, Samsung mobile chief DJ Koh confirmed that his company will be delivering the second-generation of Bixby in the Galaxy Note 9. Bixby 2.0 on the Galaxy Note 9 should be able to do a lot more than today's version. Bixby 2.0 on the Galaxy Note 9 should be able to do a lot more than today's version. Samsung unveiled Bixby 2.0 late last year and called it a "bold reinvention" of the company's virtual personal assistant. Not much is known about all the ways Bixby 2.0 will innovate on last year's version, but Samsung has confirmed that it will be capable of recognizing individual voices. It'll also be capable of being integrated into apps and services, expanding its reach in mobile. For what it's worth, IceUniverse tweeted that a "Bixby 2.0 based AI UX" or interface powered by artificial intelligence will be part of the Note 9. MORE: Bixby 2.0 Will Bring Samsung's Assistant to Your TV and Fridge Will there be an in-screen fingerprint sensor? Although the Galaxy Note 8 offers a fingerprint sensor, it's on the back of the phone, and moving its location below the rear cameras (as Samsung did with the S9) won't make it much more convenient to use. A reader built into the screen would likely make unlocking the Note 9 a lot faster. But it doesn't look like it's going to happen, at least with this phone. According to ChosunBiz and SamMobile, Samsung has decided to save the in-display sensor for the Galaxy S10, rather than launching it in the Galaxy Note 9. What will the Note 9 look like? While some early reports about the Note 9 suggested the new phone might have a boxier design, more recent leaks have indicated we're going to see a phone that looks a lot like the Note 8. Galaxy Note 9 Leak Our best looks come via Twitter, from well-known leaker Evan Blass who posted an image on Twitter that appears to be the Note 9 and its new S Pen stylus. The image shows that the fingerprint sensor has moved below the dual rear camera lenses and that the S Pen has a button, presumably tied to its new Bluetooth features. Credit: Android Headlines Credit: Android HeadlinesThe front of the phone in Blass' leak squares with an earlier image that appeared on Android Headlines, which posted a leaked render of the front of the Note 9 provided by what it called a reliable source. That leak shows a phone that repeats the Note 8's Infinity Display, though with slightly thinner bezels to squeeze in a bigger display. That's consistent with previous reports. Leaker Ice Universe tweeted in late March that the Note 9's design would be "consistent with the S9's." He also said it would employ the same cameras as the Galaxy S9+. Based on Ice Universe's reporting, Samsung may be saving its serious updates for the Galaxy S10 in 2019. Credit: IceUniverse/@UniverseIce Credit: IceUniverse/@UniverseIce Another leaked design, again from Ice Universe, shows a front screen that looks a lot like the Galaxy Note 8. However, the bezels appear to be thinner on the new phone, according to BGR. That would allow for a slight increase in screen size without making the Note 9 any larger than the Note 8. Samsung pulled off a similar trick with the Galaxy S9, shrinking the bezels from the S8 will keep the screen size the same; that made for a more compact phone. What colors will the Note 9 come in? Credit: Android Headlines Credit: Android Headlines Samsung may be planning to shake things up from the Note 8's color scheme. A leaked render posted at Android Headlines shows off the phone in black, brown and blue. (Expect Samsung to come up with fancier names, such as Midnight Black, to describe the colors.) Another report at TechRadar pointed to a purple version of the Note 9. Will the Note 9 fold in half? No, you're thinking of Samsung's foldable phone project, reportedly called the Galaxy X. That long-rumored phone isn't arriving until early 2019. MORE: The Best Android Phones You Can Buy Right Now Will the Note 9 support 5G networking? While carriers are working to rollout higher-speed 5G networks, those efforts won't really pay off until 2019. Qualcomm, which is heavily involved in the migration to the new networking standard, tells us that the first 5G-ready devices are likely to be mobile hotspots; 5G phones won't arrive until next year. With the Note 8 landing in August, it's going to use LTE. For the latest on 5G networking, turn to our 5G guide. What will the Note 9 cost? We still don't know how Samsung will price the Galaxy Note 9, but if history is any guide it will be in the same $930 to $960 range as the current Note 8. The Galaxy S9 starts at $720 and the S9+ at $840, so it's reasonable to expect that the Note 9 will command a similar $100 premium over the larger S9+. For what it's worth, Polish site Spider's Web claims the Note 9 will cost 4,299 zloty in Poland in line with the price of the Galaxy Note 8. That's adding to the speculation Samsung's not planning a big change in price for its new phone. A leaked Indonesian sales flyer posted at SlashLeaks also shows pricing that translates to around $935 for a 128GB phone and $1,210 for a 512GB model. Credit: Shaun Lucas/Tom's Guide By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Eli Berlzon GAZA/SDEROT, Israel (Reuters) - Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip, agreed on a truce on Thursday, two Palestinian officials said, an agreement that would end an escalation in fighting that has drawn mutual threats of war. There was no formal comment, but an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity denied a cease-fire had been reached. Israel rarely acknowledges reaching any such agreement with Hamas, a group it designates as a terrorist organisation and with whom it has fought three wars in the past decade. A surge in cross-border rockets and air strikes in recent weeks have prompted the United Nations and Egypt to try to broker a truce to prevent another all-out conflict. On Wednesday night and Thursday, Israeli aircraft struck more than 150 targets in Gaza and Palestinian militants fired scores of rockets including a long-range missile deep into Israel, escalating fighting despite the ongoing truce talks. "Egyptian efforts managed to restore calm between Palestinian factions and Israel that will end the current escalation," a Palestinian official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said. "Palestinian factions will respect calm as long as Israel does," he told Reuters. A second Palestinian official with knowledge of the talks said the cease-fire would begin at 2045 GMT. Abu Mujahed, spokesman of the Popular Resistance Committee, a smaller faction in Gaza, said on his Facebook page: Upon Egyptian and international efforts, a ceasefire between Palestinian resistance began conditional on the commitment of the occupation. Hours earlier, after the long-range Palestinian missile attack, the first of its kind since a 2014 war, Israeli air strikes had resumed after a short lull, flattening a multi-storey building that the Israeli military described as a Hamas headquarters. A pregnant Palestinian woman and her 18-month-old child were killed in the Israeli attacks overnight on Wednesday, as was a Hamas militant, Gaza medical officials said. Hundreds of people took part in the funeral for the woman and child. Story continues The Israeli military said seven people were wounded by Palestinian rockets and mortars that hit southern Israel. Ambulance sirens echoed through the night in Gaza, where families huddled at home as powerful explosions thundered through the strip. Across the border rocket warning sirens sounded almost non-stop from sunset on Wednesday in Israeli towns and villages where residents sheltered in bunkers. The Israeli military said its aircraft had struck more than 150 Hamas targets overnight, while more than 180 Palestinian rockets and mortars hit southern Israel. Twenty-five miles from the border, air raid sirens sounded in Israel's main southern city, Beersheba. Israeli Army Radio said Palestinian militants had fired a Grad missile capable of reaching Israel's heartland. Police said they found its remnants in an open area on the outskirts of the city of 200,000 people and that no one was hurt. Israel responded by hitting the multi-storey building, first with small bombs apparently so that people would evacuate, then flattening it with a huge blast that shook the city and raised clouds of dust and smoke. Residents said the building had served mainly as a cultural centre. Local health officials said 18 bystanders were wounded by the blast. Hamas denied using the facility. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet late into the night on Thursday. A statement issued by his office before reports a truce had been reached said the forum instructed the military to "keep acting with force against the terrorists". "DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES" Egypt and the United Nations have been trying to mediate a comprehensive cease-fire to prevent an escalation in fighting and to ease the deep economic hardship in Gaza, a narrow strip of land that is home to 2 million Palestinians. Israel captured Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war but withdrew in 2005, while holding onto most of the separate West Bank, where Palestinians have limited self-rule. For more than a decade Gaza has been controlled by Hamas under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade that has collapsed its economy, creating what the World Bank has described as a humanitarian crisis with shortages of water, electricity and medicine. Israel says it has no choice but to enforce its blockade to defend itself against Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction and has used Gaza as a base for missile attacks. Yuval Steinitz, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet, told Israel Radio earlier that Israel was "not eager for war" but would make no concessions to Hamas. U.N. Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said the United Nations had engaged with Egypt in an "unprecedented effort" to avoid serious conflict, but "the situation can rapidly deteriorate with devastating consequences for all people". (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Maayan Lubell and Ori Lewis; Writing by Jeffrey Heller and Maayan Lubell; Editing by Peter Graff and James Dalgleish) By Tom Allard and Maikel Jefriando JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, brandished his nationalist and religious credentials on Friday amid reports he had come under pressure from Islamic party allies to accept a conservative cleric as running mate in next year's election. In a last-minute decision, Widodo announced on Thursday Ma'ruf Amin, who heads the board of advisers of the country's biggest mass Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), would be his vice presidential candidate for April's poll. The duo will be challenged by the former general Prabowo Subianto and the private equity tycoon and Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno. Wearing a crisp white shirt emblazoned with the slogan "Clean. With the people. Real work.", Widodo told supporters on Friday he would "safeguard national resources". He cited as evidence recent policy decisions to nationalize oil and gas assets and seize majority ownership of the huge Grasberg gold and copper mine from the U.S. based Freeport-McMoran. "It is proof that we are sovereign," he said. Amin later led the crowd in prayer, asking God to "give us the capability and spirit to safeguard us against forces that try to destroy, to weaken us and our country." The pair left the stage as Islamic singing, rendered in Arabic, played. The cleric then delivered a sermon at Friday prayers at Jakarta's biggest mosque. Prabowo and Uno were to have gone to the mosque before formally registering as candidates at the election commission but changed their plans and prayed at a nearby mosque instead. 'STAUNCH CONSERVATIVE' Amin also heads the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), an influential group for clerics that has issued fatwas hostile to minorities, including the Islamic sect Ahmadiyah and the gay community. He also issued a statement accusing former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama of blasphemy for insulting the Koran, an edict that led hundreds of thousands of protesters to swarm the streets of the Indonesian capital demanding his ouster last year. Purnama, an ethnic Chinese Christian, lost the election as he divided his time between campaigning and defending himself against blasphemy charges in court. He was later jailed for two years. Kevin O'Rourke, a political analyst, said Amin was a "staunch conservative" and "adroit manipulator". "As VP, he can bolster Islamic groups and perhaps give some other religious conservative a chance to succeed Widodo," he wrote. Indonesia politics analyst Marcus Mietzner said Amin's appointment could neuter attacks on Widodo's alleged lack of religious conviction and elevate nationalist themes in the election campaign. "(The opposition) are probably going to shift their focus onto ultra-nationalist themes: sell-out to China, invasion of foreign workers, evil imports, predatory investors," he told Reuters in emailed comments. "These are classic Prabowo themes anyway, but they will become even more pronounced this time." Widodo and Prabowo contested the last presidential election in 2014. Widodo won but his popularity slumped mid-campaign after false reports were spread online that he was a Christian and an ethnic Chinese descendent. After Friday prayers, Prabowo declared himself the candidate for the poor, touching on another central theme of his campaign: inequality. "Our job as leaders is to eliminate people's suffering so that nobody is hungry, naked or suffering ... no matter what their religion is." "Our friends here are sometimes considered radicals, but believe me, there is no radical Islam in Indonesia," added Prabowo, who has forged close ties with hardline Islamists. 'DEPENDENT' According to party officials from the president's coalition, Widodo had favored an alternative to Amin, former constitutional court chief justice Mahfud MD. In a television interview, Mahfud said he was asked "in some detail" to prepare to be the running mate and was on standby to be anointed on Thursday. Mahfud said it was Widodo's decision to overlook him. But, as quoted by the news portal Detik.com, NU board member Robikin Emhas said NU leaders, including Amin, told Widodo that they could not support Mahfud. Mietzner said Widodo had initially discounted NU's opposition to Mahfud. "The implications are that four years into his presidency, Jokowi is still much more dependent on his supporting parties than he cares to admit. (It's) a demonstration of his continued weakness," he said, referring to Widodo by his nickname. A presidential spokesman was not immediately available for comment. A leader of NU-aligned National Awakening Party (PKB), Muhaimin Iskander, told reporters on Thursday it was a surprise Amin was selected and that Mahfud was Widodo's initial preference. "I thought Mahfud was chosen. But it turned out to be Ma'ruf Amin," he said. (Additional reporting by Bernadette Christina Munthe, Kanupriya Kapoor, Gayatri Suroyo and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Robert Birsel) On a stifling hot morning almost four years ago, Alireza Mowlapasandi headed to Tehrans Mehrabad Airport to fly to the small desert town of Tabas in eastern Iran, a trip he made regularly as an engineer. The plane to be used on the route was a locally built Antonov not built for Irans searing summer temperatures, but usually reliable enough. Not this time, however; shortly after takeoff, the pilot realized one of the two turboprop engines had stopped, and despite his best efforts the remaining engine was just not powerful enough for the plane to return. Sephan Airlines Flight 5915 crashed a short distance away from Mehrabad Airport and all but 9 passengers perished. Alireza, sitting at the front, never stood a chance. His brother Akbar was told by one of Alirezas colleagues he was missing. We didnt know if he was among the wounded or the dead, so some of his colleagues and I divided into teams and started checking the hospitals where the wounded had been taken to, Akbar, now 35, said. It was late afternoon when it became increasingly obvious my brother hadnt made it. Alireza Mowlapasandi was just one of nearly 2,000 Iranians to have lost their lives in aviation accidents, many of which were, to a great degree, due to a decades-old U.S. sanction on sale of aircraft and spare parts to Iran, making the Islamic Republics civil aviation fleet one of the oldest and least reliable in the world. The lifting of this particular sanction in the wake of the 2015 nuclear deal forged between Iran and six world powers was one of the agreements more tangible results. Within months Iranian airlines had signed contracts or made agreements to purchase more than 300 planes from Airbus and Boeing, among others. But when President Donald Trump announced in May the U.S. would withdraw from the nuclear deal, those plans quickly collapsed. By the time the first round of sanctions were re-imposed on Aug.6, which included the sale of airplanes and parts, Iran had only received 16 new planes. Story continues The renewal of Irans creaking commercial air fleet is just one victim of the U.S. U-turn on the nuclear deal. When the U.S. President declared he would make good on his campaign promise to tear up the agreement, the already wobbly Iranian economy went into freefall. The rial fell to a third of its original value at the beginning of 2018, and draconian fiscal policies implemented by the government to arrest its fall made things worse. And that was before the first round of sanctions, which also restricted the purchase of U.S. dollars and precious materials, were restored. For Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who staked his political future on the promised benefits of a nuclear deal, things could scarcely have gone worse. Yet despite Trumps offer of talks without preconditions, Islamic Republic statesmen, from the western educated foreign minister Javad Zarif, to the nominally moderate president, to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of foreign affairs, are all adamant that there can be no talks with the Trump administration in the present circumstances. Within hours of Trump signing the sanctions back into effect, Rouhani went on state TV on Tuesday to explain to Iranians why he believes the offer of talks without preconditions is not sincere. How can someone re-impose sanctions and claim they want to negotiate at the same time? he said. You cant stick a knife into someones arm and claim you want to talk with them. The faltering economy, under pressure both from sanctions and unpopular attempts to rescue it, has driven some Iranians to the streets to demonstrate. But others still believe renewed negotiations with the U.S. could prove fruitful. Trump needs a foreign policy success now, so Iran should try get the U.S. back into the nuclear deal, with the offer of also talking on regional influence and its missile program should it do so, all within national interests of course said Soheil Fadaie, a 37 year old electric engineer. In truth, there are few alternatives available to Irans leaders. The U.S. has promised to bring in even more severe sanctions in November targeting Irans oil exports, and has warned its allies anyone doing business with the Islamic Republic will suffer too. Iran might yet respond by closing access to the Straits of Hormuz, the waterway through which 30% of the worlds seaborne oil supply passes every year. But such an action would certainly cause a global energy crisis, and could even provoke a military response by the U.S. Fadaie believes if the worst comes to the worst the Islamic Republic should consider some sort of dialogue, even if its just to wait out the current administration. If the situation becomes uncontrollable, he said, then the government should sit down to talks with Trump, even if its just to stretch it on till another U.S. administration takes over or the situation changes for the better. Who knows, he added, maybe Trump will turn out to be much more reasonable when you speak to him directly. That appears to be a vanishing possibility. Trumps aggressive actions have forced Rouhani to swing to the right to accommodate hardliners who see the reimposition of sanctions as proof they were right all along to distrust the United States. Speaking to a gathering of Iranian ambassadors last month, Rouhani once known as the diplomat sheikh didnt mince his words. Today, negotiating with America is paramount to capitulation. His change of stance did not go unnoticed inside Iran. The Revolutionary Guards most famous general and the head of its extraterritorial Quds Force, Qasem Soelimani, sent him a letter lauding him for his return to the revolutionary fold. Even as the economy begins to disintegrate, Irans moderates and revolutionary stalwarts are more united than they have been in years. JERUSALEM (AP) Israel struck targets in the Gaza Strip after dozens of rockets were launched Wednesday from the coastal territory ruled by the Islamic militant Hamas group, the Israeli military said. The exchange came amid continued attempts by Egypt to broker a broad cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. Sirens wailed in southern Israel, warning of incoming rockets from Gaza, and Israeli media reported six people were wounded by shrapnel in the border town of Sderot. One Palestinian rocket hit a house, Israeli media said, showing footage of houses and cars pockmarked with shrapnel. Reports said it wasn't clear if one of those hurt was wounded by a rocket or by debris from the rocket defense system. The military said that it identified 36 rockets fired from Gaza at Israel and that the Iron Dome defense system intercepted several of them. Gaza residents reported several Israeli airstrikes after the Palestinian rocket barrage. Israel's military later confirmed it struck Gaza, saying it hit 12 Hamas sites in all, including "an offensive maritime terror tunnel ... several terror sites in military compounds throughout the Gaza Strip ... rocket manufacturing facilities and a central logistical military complex." Gaza's Health Ministry said three Palestinians were slightly injured in the strikes. Israel's military earlier said shots were fired from Gaza at civilians working on the barrier that separate the territory and Israel, damaging a vehicle. Israel said it struck a Hamas post in retaliation. No casualties were reported. On Tuesday, Israel struck a Hamas military post in Gaza, saying it was in response to militant fire at Israeli troops. Hamas said two of its fighters were killed. It also disputed Israel's account, saying shots were fired as part of a graduation ceremony for a group of fighters inside the camp. Also Wednesday, a U.N. aid agency called on Israel to allow emergency fuel into the Gaza Strip to avert the shutdown of hospitals and sanitation facilities Story continues Jamie McGoldrick, the United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, in a news release called Israel's restriction of fuel imports "a dangerous practice, with grave consequences on the rights of people in Gaza." Israel halted the supply of petroleum and natural gas to Gaza last week in response to incendiary kites and balloons launched from Gaza into southern Israel. Israel temporarily suspended fuel shipments to Gaza in July for similar reasons. Israel has been battling large fires caused by kites and balloons rigged with incendiary devices or burning rags launched from Gaza that have destroyed forests, burned crops and killed wildlife and livestock. The almost daily airborne arson attacks have been part of months of weekly border protests led by the Islamic militant group Hamas that rules Gaza aimed in part at drawing attention to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after it took control of the territory in 2007. The demonstrations have been fueled in large part by pervasive despair caused by the blockade that has caused widespread economic hardship and left the coastal territory with crippling fuel shortages and just a few hours of electricity a day. Over the past four months, 158 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including at least 120 in the protests near the fence and others in Israeli air strikes and other incidents elsewhere in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and a local rights group. Twenty-four of the slain protesters were minors, the ministry has said. One Israeli soldier was killed by a Gaza sniper during this period. Israel says it is defending its border and nearby communities and accuses Hamas of using the protests as cover for attempts to breach the fence and carry out attacks. Mahmoud Daher, of the World Health Organization in Gaza, said in a telephone interview "the situation is very serious." He said by the end of the month, all fuel supplied by the U.N. will run out "and the problem is there is no sign of renewed funding from donors in the horizon." ___ Associated Press writer Fares Akram in Amman, Jordan, contributed to this report. Israel said its armed forces attacked a building that housed a cultural center in the Rimal neighborhood of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, August 8, in retaliation for a rocket launched at Beersheeba. As many as 18 people were injured in airstrikes on the Said Mishal Foundation for Culture and Science, which Israeli officials said was used by Hamas interior security unit. The foundation reported the attack on its Facebook page. Crowds were seen watching the destruction. Hamas said it was not responsible for the rocket attack on Beersheeba. The missile landed in an open field. Credit: IDF Online Hebrew via Storyful Kanye West visited Jimmy Kimmel Live! where he continued to defend his support for President Donald Trump. West famously announced his support for Trump by tweeting a photo of himself wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat. And even though he received a lot of blowback from his peers, West continued to support the president and his "dragon energy." In fact, West thought it was a shame that there are not more people who love Trump.West said, "When I see people just even like go at the president, it's like, why not try love?" In response to West's comments about giving Trump a chance and being kind to one another, Kimmel said, "That's a beautiful thought but in literal terms there are families being torn apart at the border of this country." Kimmel then asked West a pointed question, "You so famously and so powerfully said, 'George Bush doesn't care about black people.' It makes me wonder what makes you think that Donald Trump does, or any people at all?" West did not respond to Kimmel's question. After a few seconds, Kimmel threw to a commercial break. When the show returned, the two were discussing another topic. West did not discuss Trump again.Jimmy Kimmel Live airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on ABC. Watch clips and full episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live for free on Yahoo View. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The judge in the trial of U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort expressed contrition on Thursday to jurors for harsh commentary directed at prosecutors. "I may have made a mistake. It has nothing to do with your consideration in this case," U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis said as the trial went into its eighth day in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Ellis has repeatedly prodded prosecutors to move swiftly while seemingly giving Manafort's defense team more latitude. He also has repeatedly made comments that some legal experts said may prejudice the jury against the prosecution. Manafort has pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of bank fraud, tax fraud and failing to disclose foreign bank accounts. He is the first person to be tried on charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. On Thursday, prosecutors in a legal filing asked the judge to correct some statements he had made on Wednesday. Ellis had chastised the prosecution for allowing IRS agent Michael Welch to be present during court proceedings before taking his turn to testify. Ellis has said he did not like having witnesses listen to the proceedings before they take the stand but the prosecution had previously requested case agents and experts be allowed. The prosecutors on Wednesday said Ellis had approved having them sit in, but the judge screamed at the lawyers in front of the jury, '"Don't ever do that again." On Thursday morning, Mueller's team requested that Ellis issue a "curative instruction" to the jury, saying he has "mistakenly faulted" the prosecution. In a filing to the court, prosecutors said that on the first day of the trial, they had told Ellis that Welch would remain in the courtroom, and he had not objected then. Video: Former Prosecutor on Manafort Judge: 'He Is What He Is' Story continues Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, Warren Strobel; editing by Doina Chiacu and Grant McCool) Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen could be called into court by U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan if the government does not comply with his orders, he wrote Thursday. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) A federal judge threatened on Thursday to hold top Trump administration officials in contempt of court if the government does not bring back a mother and daughter who were put on a plane to El Salvador at the same time that he was hearing arguments in court about why the family should be allowed to stay in the U.S. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said in court that the government must turn the plane around, The Washington Post reported. It was a dramatic illustration of the Trump administrations zeal for deportations running up against an increasing number of court challenges to its immigration policies. In this case, eight asylum-seekers represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies filed a suit against Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security officials over policies that they argued could lead to swift deportation to countries where the asylum-seekers would face extreme persecution. Under a court order issued on Thursday, those eight asylum-seekers, including the mother and daughter, will be allowed to remain in the U.S. while Sullivan considers the case before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The deported mother and daughter were en route back to the U.S. later Thursday. But Attorney General Jeff Sessions, along with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and other officials, could face consequences for the governments handling of the case if the judge believes they did not fully comply with his orders. The fact that the mother, referred to as Carmen in court documents, and her daughter were put on a plane Thursday came as a surprise to the judge and to the ACLU. The ACLU had asked that its plaintiffs be allowed to remain in the U.S. while the case proceeded. The government indicated that Carmen and her daughter would not be deported before 11:59 p.m. Thursday to allow Sullivan to hear arguments earlier in the day for why he should halt their removal, according to the court order. Story continues But while in court arguing that deportation of their plaintiffs should be delayed, ACLU attorneys learned Thursday that Carmen and her daughter were already in the process of being deported. They informed Sullivan, who called the move pretty outrageous. That someone seeking justice in U.S. court is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing for justice for her? he said, according to The Washington Post. The judge ordered the government to immediately return Carmen and her daughter to the U.S. If the government does not fully comply with the order, the judge said he would order officials to appear in court to explain why they should not be held in contempt. Along with Sessions and Nielsen, he singled out U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Lee Francis Cissna and Executive Office of Immigration Review Director James McHenry. Judge Sullivan's order requiring our clients to be returned to the United States and indicating that Sessions, Nielsen, and others will be required to personally appear in court and face potential contempt sanctions if they do not comply pic.twitter.com/ftWV4h6Wql Omar C. Jadwat (@OmarJadwat) August 9, 2018 A DHS official said in a statement that the department is complying with the courts order, and upon arrival in El Salvador, the plaintiffs will not disembark and will be promptly returned to the United States. The official did not respond to a request for comment on why the mother and daughter were put on the plane early Thursday in spite of indications, according to the judge, that they would not be deported until 11:59 p.m. at the earliest. ACLU attorney Jennifer Chang Newell, managing attorney of the groups Immigrants Rights Project, said in a statement that they will not rest until our clients are returned to safety. In its rush to deport as many immigrants as possible, the Trump administration is putting these women and children in grave danger of being raped, beaten, or killed, she said in a statement. President Donald Trump and top officials have criticized existing protections for asylum-seekers, arguing they allow too many people to stay in the U.S. under the claim they suffer persecution at home. The administration is pushing for changes in Congress that would allow it to turn away more asylum-seeking immigrants. But Sessions has also made moves to narrow asylum claims in the courts, which he oversees as head of the Department of Justice. In June, he issued a decision instructing immigration judges that generally, asylum claims related to gang or domestic violence should not be granted. Asylum officers under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are also carrying out Sessions order, which has already resulted in more people being denied asylum and expedited deportations, according to attorneys and advocates. The ACLU and Center for Gender and Refugee Studies lawsuit argues the policies unlawfully deprive [asylum-seekers] of their right to seek humanitarian protection. Also on HuffPost Undocumented immigrants who turned themselves in after crossing the border from Mexico into the U.S. await processing near McAllen, Texas, on April 2, 2018. Families who crossed the border near McAllen, Texas, on May 9, 2018. A U.S. Border Patrol spotlight shines on a mother and son from Honduras on June 12, 2018, in McAllen, Texas. Central Americans seeking asylum wait as U.S. Border Patrol agents take them into custody on June 12, 2018, near McAllen, Texas. A Honduran mother stands with her family at the U.S.-Mexico border fence on Feb. 22, 2018, near Penitas, Texas. U.S. Border Patrol agents take a Central American family into custody on June 12, 2018 near McAllen, Texas. U.S. Border Patrol agents take a father and son from Honduras into custody near the U.S.-Mexico border on June 12, 2018, near Mission, Texas. A Central American family waits to be taken into custody on June 12, 2018, near McAllen, Texas. Central American migrants wait as U.S. Border Patrol agents take people into custody on June 12, 2018, near McAllen, Texas. Two women and a child who crossed the border on Feb. 22, 2018, near McAllen, Texas. A Honduran child who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with her family on Jan. 4, 2017, near McAllen, Texas. U.S. Border Patrol agents take Central American immigrants, including this young child, into custody on Jan. 4, 2017, near McAllen, Texas. A Honduran woman and child on Jan. 4, 2017, near McAllen, Texas. A U.S. Border Patrol agent checks birth certificates while taking Central American immigrants into detention on Jan. 4, 2017, near McAllen, Texas. Adults and children await processing near McAllen, Texas, on April 2, 2018. Guatemalan immigrant families turn themselves in to U.S. Border Patrol near McAllen, Texas, on May 8, 2018. U.S. Border Patrol agents take Central American immigrants into custody on Jan. 4, 2017, near McAllen, Texas. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach saw his lead in the Republican gubernatorial primary shrink to just 91 votes at one point Thursday afternoon after Kobachs office said it had improperly recorded vote counts from a county in northwest Kansas. Later, his lead ticked up to 121 votes, after a clerk in another county said they had left out a precinct when they submitted election results. Small variations in unofficial election results arent uncommon, but the shifting numbers on Thursday highlight how every small change is likely to be scrutinized in an extremely close race. In unofficial results posted on its website, Kobachs office said Gov. Jeff Colyer had received 422 votes in Thomas County to Kobachs 466. But the countys own unofficial results show Colyer actually got 522 votes. Bryan Caskey, the state elections director in Kobachs office, told The Kansas City Star that officials had discovered the discrepancy during a routine check of vote totals with the counties on Thursday and would update the numbers on the secretary of states website. This is a routine part of the process, Caskey told The Associated Press. This is why we emphasize that election-night results are unofficial. Shelly Harms, the Thomas County clerk, told the AP it was possible Kobachs office misread the vote tally the county submitted. Harms told the Star the discrepancy was the fault of Kobachs office. The adjustment is the latest development in the race between Colyer and Kobach, who are separated by a razor-thin margin following Tuesdays primary. While ballots are still being counted, the contest will likely go to a recount. As the states chief election official, Kobach is responsible for overseeing that process, but some say it would be appropriate for him to step aside. Kobach has no legal obligation to do so, however, and has suggested that he will not do so because county officials oversee the nuts and bolts of the recount process. Story continues Kendall Marr, a Colyer spokesman, said the error showed why it is important to ensure every vote is counted. Related Coverage Kris Kobach Could Be The Next Governor Of Kansas Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) The Latest on Zimbabwe's disputed election (all times local): 1:15 a.m. The United States' top diplomat for Africa says he is "deeply troubled by credible reports that opposition supporters are being targeted by members of the Zimbabwean security forces" and that senior opposition official Tendai Biti has fled the country. Tibor Nagy, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, in a series of posts on Twitter says he strongly urges authorities in neighboring Zambia to allow Biti to stay there until his asylum request can be "appropriately evaluated" or allow him safe passage to a third country. Zambia's foreign minister says the reasons Biti gave for seeking asylum "did not have merit, so he is being held in safe custody and we are trying to take him back to Zimbabwe." Concerns are rising over a Zimbabwe government crackdown after last week's disputed presidential election. The opposition says it will challenge the results in court this week. ___ 7:30 p.m. Human Rights Watch says Zimbabwe senior opposition official Tendai Biti has been denied asylum in Zambia and is being deported to Zimbabwe shortly. Southern Africa director Dewa Mavhinga says Biti told him that "It looks like they have made a decision to hand us back to the Junta. We are truly in God's hands." Biti was detained Wednesday morning while trying to enter Zambia. He is part of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party that has denounced as fraud last week's election win of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The MDC has said it will challenge the election results in court this week, while concerns grow about a crackdown on its officials and supporters. ___ 3:45 p.m. A lawyer says Zimbabwe senior opposition official Tendai Biti has been released after being arrested while trying to enter Zambia and is now seeking asylum. Denford Halimani says details are not immediately clear on the circumstances around Biti's release but the lawyer can confirm that he is now on Zambian soil. Story continues Outrage quickly followed Biti's arrest on Wednesday morning. Biti is part of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party that has denounced as fraud last week's election win of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The MDC has said it will challenge the election results in court this week. ___ 11:45 a.m. A Zimbabwean lawyer says that senior opposition official Tendai Biti has been arrested. Nqobizitha Mlilo, the lawyer, said Biti was arrested Wednesday while trying to cross into Zambia. He said more details would be released later. Biti, who was finance minister in a coalition government from 2009 to 2013, is part of the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, which has denounced as fraud last week's election win of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The MDC has said it will challenge the election results in court. Last week Biti declared, before official election results were announced, that opposition leader Nelson Chamisa had won the vote, a claim also made by Chamisa himself. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said it is illegal to announce results before its own official pronouncement. WESTERVILLE, Ohio (AP) The Latest on primaries in Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington state and a congressional special election in Ohio (all times local): 5:45 p.m. p.m. A late addition to voting tallies in Ohio's congressional special election has further tightened the race. The Franklin County Board of Elections said Wednesday afternoon that a routine preliminary audit identified hundreds of additional votes cast in suburban Columbus precincts. The elections board says the tally from the precincts in Worthington included 388 votes for Democrat Danny O'Connor and 198 for Republican Troy Balderson. Unofficial vote tallies before those ballots were announced had Balderson leading by about 1,750 votes, with the race too close to call. Franklin County Elections Board spokesman Aaron Sellers says votes from a portion of one voting location weren't processed into the tabulation system. Elections boards must still count hundreds of absentee and provisional ballots in the race before the final results are known. ___ 4:45 p.m. Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones has won a special primary election to serve the final two months of former Michigan Rep. John Conyers' congressional term. Jones defeated three other Democrats in Tuesday's special primary, including former Michigan state Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Tlaib won the Democratic nomination to run unopposed in the general election for the House seat. No Republicans are running for the seat in either the special primary or general election. The 89-year-old Conyers was first elected to the House in 1964. He stepped down in December citing health reasons, though several former female staffers had accused him of sexual harassment. The heavily Democratic 13th District covers much of Detroit and some of its suburbs. ___ 3 p.m. A former Michigan state lawmaker who might become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress has thrown out a challenge to "the biggest bully," President Donald Trump. Story continues Rashida Tlaib told supporters Wednesday after declaring victory in Michigan's 13th District Democratic primary that she's "pretty ready for it," but doesn't know if Trump is ready for her. The 42-year-old Tlaib says she will fight "against every single oppressive, racist structure that needs to be dismantled, because you deserve better than what we have today in our country." She defeated five other candidates Tuesday for the Democratic nomination for the seat. It had been held by Rep. John Conyers, who stepped down in December, citing health reasons. Several former female staffers had accused him of sexual harassment. __ 11:15 a.m. President Donald Trump is celebrating Tuesday night's election results by proclaiming himself "5 for 5!" on Twitter, even though two of the races remain too close to call. Tuesday's primaries in five states were seen as a test of Trump's clout as well as the persistence of his hard-core supporters as they face energized, anti-Trump Democrats. But races in Ohio and Kansas remain too close to call. That didn't stop Trump from claiming victory in tweets Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Trump earlier took credit for Republican Troy Balderson's performance in battleground Ohio, even though that contest could be headed to a recount. The Republican primary for governor in Kansas is also too close to call, with Trump-endorsed Secretary of State Kris Kobach leading incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer by fewer than 200 votes. ___ 11:15 a.m. A former Obama administration official will face a Michigan co-chairman for Donald Trump's presidential campaign in the race for the suburban Detroit congressional seat held by retiring Republican Rep. Dave Trott. Haley Stevens won the Democratic nomination, edging out four other Democrats in Tuesday's District 11 race. She was a Treasury official who worked on the auto bailout under Obama. Detroit-area business executive Lena Epstein won the Republican nomination. She bested four other Republicans in Tuesday's primary. She co-owns an automotive oil company. Democrats are hoping to flip the district, which includes Detroit's affluent northwestern suburbs. Although it has traditionally leaned Republican, Trump barely won the district in 2016. ___ 11:10 a.m. Kansas won't have final results for the close Republican primary between Gov. Jeff Colyer and Secretary of State Kris Kobach until early next week. Kobach led Wednesday morning by fewer than 200 votes. But state elections director Bryan Caskey said the secretary of state's office is estimating that between 8,000 and 10,000 provisional ballots were cast. Voters get such ballots when it's not clear whether they are eligible to vote at a particular polling place. State law also allows mail-in ballots postmarked Tuesday to be counted if they arrive by Friday. Caskey said state law prevents county officials from canvassing their results until Monday. Colyer was not conceding the race. In a statement, he cited the close results and "extraordinary problems" in Johnson County, the state's most populous county. ___ 10:25 a.m. Sharice Davids has become Kansas' first Native American and gay nominee for Congress. The 38-year-old attorney and activist prevailed in a close six-candidate Democratic primary and will face four-term Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder. Davids also is a former mixed martial arts fighter who introduced herself to fellow Democrats with a video showing her in the ring and landing solid kicks to a large punching bag. She was raised by a single mother and earned a law degree from Cornell University. She was a White House fellow during Barack Obama's presidency. Democrats are targeting Yoder this fall because Democrat Hillary Clinton narrowly won the district in the 2016 presidential race. ___ 9:10 a.m. The Republican primary for Kansas governor is too close to call. With election officials in Kansas halting the vote count Wednesday morning, Secretary of State Kris Kobach leads incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer by fewer than 200 votes. It could be a few days before all absentee votes are counted. A new state law allows ballots postmarked as of Tuesday to be counted, so long as they arrive three days after Election Day. Kobach received a late endorsement from President Donald Trump. Colyer received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association and had the backing of Kansas political legend Bob Dole. __ 8:54 a.m. Two high-stakes elections that tested President Donald Trump's clout and cost both parties millions of dollars were too close to call early Wednesday. Trump claimed victory in one nevertheless. In battleground Ohio, the president took credit for Republican Troy Balderson's performance, calling it "a great victory," even though the contest could be headed to a recount. Democrats could also celebrate their showing in a district that has gone Republican for decades. In deep-red Kansas ' Republican gubernatorial primary, the candidate Trump backed on the eve of the election, Secretary of State Kris Kobach, was neck and neck with current Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer. The day's races in five states, like many before them, tested the persistence of Trump's fiery supporters and the momentum of the Democratic Party's anti-Trump resistance. From her perch on a prime-time national television show, conservative commentator Laura Ingraham went off on a shameless rant Wednesday night about massive demographic changes in the United States that most of us dont like, attacking even immigrants who migrate legally. In some parts of the country, it does seem like the America that we know and love doesnt exist anymore, Ingraham said on her Fox News program, The Ingraham Angle, in a not-at-all-veiled dig at people of color later endorsed by ex-KKK leader David Duke. While Ingraham added that its not about race or ethnicity, the thrust of her comments was unmistakable. In a word, it was bonkersville. But not surprising. Ingraham has been preaching for years to white Americans who feel anxious about the countrys evolving demographics, demonizing immigrants and championing a nostalgic version of the past that doesnt live up to its rosy ideal. Here are some of her more outrageous statements: When she likened the alt-right to a more traditional perspective. This is just their shorthand way of trying to demean anyone who is not part of the press cabal, the press club, Ingraham said on her radio show of the term alt-right, now embraced by some white nationalists and white supremacists, shortly after the 2016 election. But if youre not in on their club, and you happen to come at it from a more traditional perspective, then youre alt-right, she added. As defined by the Southern Poverty Law Center, alt-right sympathizers believe white identity is under attack from historically maligned and marginalized groups. The so-called alt-right rejects traditional conservatism, and its members can be violent; some of them staged last summers deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. When she said liberals are agents of a historical and cultural purge. Ingraham spouted more nonsense on her Fox program in June, claiming that not only do todays liberals many of them hate our American traditions and a lot of our heritage, but they are also the agents of a historical and cultural purge the likes of which I dont think we have ever seen in our nation. Yikes. Story continues When she shared a message from a British neo-Nazi with her Twitter followers. This is what third world immigration does to Europe, read a now-deleted tweet by British National Party figure Mark Collett alongside video of what appears to be an overflowing dumpster. Ingraham shared the post earlier this year with her nearly 2 million followers, asking if anyone could confirm that the video depicts a street in Paris. In doing so, she amplified the voice of a man who says he admires Adolf Hitler and considers AIDS a friendly disease because of its prevalence among black people and gay people. When she said that multiculturalism naturally breeds terrorism. During a discussion last summer over terror attacks in the U.K., Ingraham blamed London Mayor Sadiq Kahn, who cheers his citys diversity. Now the price they have to pay for multiculturalism is the risk that youre walking on the sidewalk and a man will or a woman, will purposefully mow you down. And then while youre maybe finishing your cappuccino in a cafe, or having a drink, someone will put a knife to your throat and slit it with the attempt, perhaps, to behead you, she said on Fox News. Thats what we all have to live with for the free and open society that Sadiq Khan and all these other multiculturalists want Britain to become. When she suggested that brown-skinned immigrants lower our standard of living here in the United States, unless they are Christians. In a 2015 rant, Ingraham complained about immigration policy by suggesting that the U.S. allows too many people from far-flung lands in the Middle East. So were supposed to lower our standard of living here in the United States, for what, exactly? she asked, referencing potential extremist views immigrants may bring and scoffing at the idea of humanitarianism. She continued: Well, if thats the case, we should have brought in the Christians before they were being slaughtered in the Middle East. The Christians who we can verifiably say are Christians, who are in the threat of being slaughtered, Im happy to bring in some of them. I think most people would. But all these other people, theyve got to stay in the Middle East. When she agreed with President Donald Trumps claim that Mexico sends murderers and rapists to the U.S. Its a false claim Trump has made every so often since 2015. Ingraham addressed it with a caller during a March 2016 episode of her radio show, cutting off the guest who brought up the thing about the Mexicans and murderers and rapists to interject, Well, they have come here. Yeah, they have come here to murder and rape our people. We know that, she said before adding a caveat. That doesnt mean everybody has, doesnt mean everyone who comes across the border is a nasty, horrible person, but they have violated our laws. When she floated the idea that immigrants attempting to re-enter the country illegally should be shot. As she spoke about the proportion of people in federal prisons who are undocumented, a frustrated Ingraham offered her own solution. Why dont we ship them out of this country, why are we paying for these horrific individuals? They do their time, get out of the country, never coming back. Never coming back. You come back, youll be shot, she said in 2015. When she called the American-born children of undocumented immigrants anchor fetuses. Back in 2013, Ingraham boasted of a tweet, no longer visible, in which she asked whether immigration advocates would prefer the term anchor fetus to anchor baby, used to describe children of undocumented immigrants who are citizens by birth. When she said the cage-like structures confining migrant children at the southern border were essentially summer camp. Discussing Trumps zero tolerance immigration policy on Fox in June, Ingraham considerably downplayed conditions at detention facilities for children that doctors say could lead to irreparable harm. More kids are being separated from their parents and temporarily housed in what are essentially summer camps, or as The San Diego Union Tribune described them today, as basically looking like boarding schools, she said. The American people are footing a really big bill for what is tantamount to a slow-rolling invasion of the United States. Related... Laura Ingraham Cracks At Hannity: I'm Glad The 'Heat's Off Me And On You!' Fox News Host Laura Ingraham Urges Trump To Fire Scott Pruitt: He Is The Swamp LeBron James Trolls Fox News' Laura Ingraham With New Docu-Series Title Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Shooting at least four people have been killed in a shooting in Fredericton, New Brunswick, said police (Picture: Reuters) At least four people have been killed in a shooting in Canada. Police in the eastern Canadian city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, asked residents to avoid the area and stay in their homes while they dealt with the incident, which they said had left four people dead. Fredericton Police later confirmed one suspect was in custody. Earlier the force asked people to avoid the scene and urged onlookers not information about the position or activities of police or first responders while the incident was active. UDPATE: At this time we can confirm that we have one suspect in custody. Police continue to have the Brookside area contained for the foreseeable future as the investigation is ongoing. Please continue to avoid the area and follow us for the facts. Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018 Announcing that officers had one suspect in custody via Twitter, the force added: Police continue to have the Brookside area contained for the foreseeable future as the investigation is ongoing. Please continue to avoid the area and follow us for the facts. Nick Moore, a reporter with CTV Atlantic, shared video footage of emergency services at the scene on Twitter. MOST POPULAR STORIES ON YAHOO UK TODAY: Mum jailed after one glass of wine on plane faces year detained in Dubai Why searing heatwaves could hit Britain every year Wild lynx to return to Britain for first time in 1,300 years AirBnB cancels sleepover on Great Wall of China after furious Beijing backlash Its a pota-TOE! Mutant spud looks just like a human foot He described seeing police escorting people from their homes and said one woman had told him she heard what sounded like multiple gunshots just after 7am local time. Ronald Fry wrote on Twitter: This is so shocking for New Brunswickers, we live in peaceful harmony nearly all the time and when violence occurs its very hard to understand. By Dan Culberson FREDERICTON, New Brunswick (Reuters) - Four people, including two police officers, were killed in a shooting in eastern Canada on Friday in the latest eruption of gun violence across the country that has led to calls for weapons bans in cities. Police in Fredericton, a city of about 56,000 that is the capital of the province of New Brunswick, said a suspect was in custody and was being treated for serious injuries. A local health official said multiple shooting victims were being treated at one hospital. Witnesses said the shooting occurred at an apartment complex, and local media showed emergency vehicles converging on a tree-lined residential street. Nearby facilities were closed and authorities imposed a lockdown for residents before issuing an all-clear message. Officials identified the slain officers as Sara Mae Burns, 43, and Lawrence Robb Costello, 45. They did not release the names of the two civilians who were killed, and said only that the suspect was a 48-year-old Fredericton man. They did not release information about a possible motive or the weapon. "It was scary," said Marlene Weaver, who was in bed on Friday morning when she heard shots. "It takes you back to the shooting in Moncton." She was referring to a 2014 incident in which three Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers were killed and two wounded in Moncton, New Brunswick, about 195 km (121 miles) from Fredericton in one of the worst incidents of its kind in Canada. Friday's shooting occurred three weeks after a gunman walked down a busy Toronto street, killing two people and wounding 13 before killing himself. Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters the RCMP were assisting Fredericton authorities in the investigation. "We'll see where this investigation leads in terms of what exactly happened, who did it, what was the motivation for doing it and the instruments of destruction that were used," he said. "But broadly speaking, the government of Canada is obviously taking the issue of gun violence very seriously." Gun laws in Canada are stricter than in the United States but a proliferation of weapons has led to an increase in gun-related crimes in recent years. New Brunswick had three homicide shootings in the entire year of 2016, according to Statistics Canada. "Awful news coming out of Fredericton," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter. "My heart goes out to everyone affected by this mornings shooting. Were following the situation closely." "THIS MORNING I HEARD THOSE NOISES" Fredericton police said their officers responded to a report of shots fired early on Friday morning and found two victims on the ground. Burns, who had two years on the force and had spent two years as an auxiliary officer, had three children, Chief Leanne Fitch told reporters. Costello was a 20-year veteran, and left behind four children. Jeff Magnussen, general manager of a golf course near the site of the shooting, said by phone that he heard multiple gunshots before 8 a.m. local time. "You hear a lot about gun violence in the United States," he said, "but this morning when I heard those noises, what's starting to sink in is that those noises were people losing their lives. To have it happen so close to us is shocking. Now we're becoming the story that nobody wants to hear." Scott Hill said he was walking his dog by a golf course when an employee told him to get inside because of the shooter. He said he could still hear sporadic gunfire coming from the apartment complex two hours later, when he was at the office of his property development agency. "This sort of thing never happens here," Hill said. "It's happening." In the wake of the Toronto bloodshed last month, the city council voted overwhelmingly to urge the federal government, which has jurisdiction over gun laws, to ban the sale of handguns in the city. "Why does anyone in this city need to have a gun at all?" Toronto Mayor John Tory said. Canada's largest city has had 241 shooting incidents this year, resulting in 30 deaths, a 30 percent increase in fatalities over the same period last year. Bill Blair, the government minister tasked with tackling gun violence, said officials are considering giving provinces the power to designate gun-free cities. "It's possible that we could work with the provinces and territories and allow them the authority to designate certain municipalities as places where guns could not be purchased or possessed," Blair told Reuters. In 2016 Canada had 0.61 firearm-related homicides per 100,000 people, a 23 percent increase from 2015 and the highest rate since 2005, according to Statistics Canada. For the United States, the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reported 3.85 deaths per 100,000 that year. Canadas Liberal government unveiled proposals in March to tighten already tough gun control laws to address a spike in crimes involving firearms, including a deadly attack on a mosque last year. The measures would enhance background checks on people seeking to buy firearms, especially those with a history of violence. Experts said that although Canadas gun laws ban dozens of assault rifles, some permitted firearms can easily be modified for greater damage, and lax U.S. regulations make smuggled weapons accessible. On Thursday, Ontario pledged more money for police and to keep suspects behind bars while they await trial on gun crime charges. (Additional reporting by Danya Hajjaji, Anna Mehler Paperny and Allison Martell in Toronto, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Allison Lampert in Montreal; Writing by Bill Trott; Editing by David Gregorio and James Dalgleish) After much speculation, Daniel Craig signed up for his fifth go-round as James Bond earlier this year, announcing that hed be teaming with Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) on a sequel set to debut in theaters in November 2019. Despite Craigs return, however, speculation has been rampant about who will subsequently assume the 007 mantle, with fans diligently petitioning series producers to make a bold choice by selecting Idris Elba as the next incarnation of the iconic British spy. This week a new report indicated that such casting may actually take place and the response on Twitter has been especially pointed. As one might expect, many have reacted to this news with less-than-tolerant online comments, given that Elba is black and Bond has historically been white. Rather than simply engaging with those trolls, though, more than a few fans have used this potential casting news to joke about the racist treatment an Elba Bond might actually face all as a way to both turn the tables on those who might object to his participation because of his skin color and to simultaneously address heated issues that remain front and center in contemporary society. Let's get this out of the way: -They'll name Idris Elba the new 007 -500 losers on a planet of 7 billion will be like waaaahh Bond can't be black -This will generate 1000 articles -The movie will make money and people will enjoy it WE CAN JUST SKIP THE MIDDLE PART PEOPLE Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) August 10, 2018 Hell have trouble driving the Astin Martin though our racist police will keep pulling him over woody100 (@woody10014) August 10, 2018 "What's your name, sir?" "Bond. James Bond." "And do you have ID?" "Yes, here, but can you please explain why you pulled me over?" "WHOA. He's getting a little aggressive we may need backup." https://t.co/UzIKtpp1JJ Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) August 10, 2018 Q will definitely design a gadget that'll make him appear as a white man in khakis and a polo [REDACTED] (@quasirealSmiths) August 10, 2018 Black James Bond enters luxury casino: *All CCTVs pan in unison, two security guards follow, the card-dealer gives him "the look" and the server asks for proof of ID and credit before letting him order a Martini. Someone calls the police.* No one discovers he's James Bond. Flightbae (@justcallmeBABA) August 10, 2018 Coming to a theater near you: James Bond attempts to barbecue while wearing a T-shirt and also selling water bottles, hes forced to battle bigoted villains: Permit Patty, BBQ Becky, and unnamed old drunk guy yelling racial slurs and screaming Merica #JamesBond #IdrisElba Nico (@NotthatQueenB) August 10, 2018 Others, meanwhile, have simply anticipated and decried the racist backlash that would likely follow any such announcement. Story continues Wait wait wait let me drain my pool to accommodate all the racist tears https://t.co/sw9RnBnmJY Oliver Willis (@owillis) August 10, 2018 racists, please just get your "idris elba can't be james bond!!!" garbage out of the way now, it's boring I'm already bored of it Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) August 10, 2018 Racist Twitter reacting to the news about Idris Elba possibly playing James Bond. pic.twitter.com/5WM7cytFZb OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) August 10, 2018 Seems that in order for Idris Elba to play Bond its gonna take a lotta white folks abandoning a lifetime of subconsciously looking down at black people as either an other or as inherently less than Folks got A LOTTA work to do #ThursdayThoughts Cyrus McQueen (@CyrusMMcQueen) August 9, 2018 No matter the outcry, moviegoers seem largely convinced that Elba could handle the martini-loving role and perhaps a few others while hes at it. Idris Elba should be Bond, Bourne, MacGyver, Jack Reacher, Flo from Progressive, ALF, the voice of Alexa and the permanent KFC colonel. Alex Baze (@bazecraze) August 10, 2018 Read more at Yahoo Entertainment: How far would you go to send a message? For Andy Pardy, it meant quitting his job to take an epic 32-country road trip in Europe to send his message about Brexit. Pardy, a British digital consultant who was born in Germany, is spelling out the phrase, Stop Brexit with the route he will be taking as he treks across Europe in a van. As of right now, hes spelled most of the Stop, kicking his trip off in Loch Lomond in Scotland in mid-July and is now currently traveling in Northern Norway; if all goes according to plan, hell finish up his trip by traveling south and spelling Brexit backwards before ending in Spain this October. This time next week Ill be docking in Calais - ferry is booked ????????????! Im just making the final preparations for 3 months on road. One epic road trip, two words:#StopBrexit #FBPE #lasteuropeantour #StopBrexitSaveBritain pic.twitter.com/KYCeqCt6jg The Rogue Consultant (@ConsultantRogue) July 17, 2018 Pardy told the Irish Times that it was a poignant time to take the trip, when this is the last summer that the U.K. will be a part of the European Union. Of course we dont know what the outcome of the discussions will be in terms of freedom of movement, but its a statement I wanted to make, Pardy said. Ive always wanted to do something like this around Europe and Ive been frustrated with the debate and the way Brexits been going over the last couple of years. I wanted to leave my job and go and do something for myself, but also to try and rally as many people as I can and just do something different. Those whod like to follow Pardys Stop Brexit tour can do so by following his Twitter, Instagram, and the live GPS tracker on his website. The trial of Paul Manafort, former chairman of the Donald Trump campaign, resumes once more today in Virginia. The case, now entering its ninth day, is the first to result from charges brought by FBI special counsel Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into possible Russian election meddling. Mr Manafort, who stepped down from the Trump team in August 2016 after being accused of receiving $12m off the books to promote Ukraine's pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych (prior to his being forced out of Kiev by revolution), was indicted on 12 counts in October 2017, rising to 32 in February. He is accused of concealing $30m in overseas income garnered from his work as a political consultant and the charges against him range from conspiracy against the US, money laundering, acting as an unregistered foreign agent, failure to file accounts and tax evasion. Prosecutors are currently seeking to prove the ex-lobbyist obtained millions of dollars in bank loans under false pretences. Follow the latest developments in the trial below after a week of salacious testimony in which former Manafort deputy and business partner Rick Gates admitted to falsifying documents on behalf of his mentor. Please allow a moment for our live blog to load BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) Supporters of Brazil's jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have gathered in three rural areas near the nation's capital to begin their "Free Lula March" to Brasilia. Organized by the Landless Workers Movement, at least 2,000 people are expected to complete the 60-kilometer (100 kilometer) march on Aug. 15 when parties must register their candidates to the Oct. 7 presidential election. Last week the Workers' Party named da Silva its nominee for the country's top job. Da Silva, who was jailed in April on a corruption conviction, leads polls for the office by a large margin. Surveys suggest that voters would lend their support to another Workers' party candidate if he is barred from running. Mary G. Ross, the first female Native American aerospace engineer, was honored for her scientific achievements on what would have been her 110th birthday Thursday with a commemorative Google Doodle. What the discussion around her mathematical space concepts ignores, however, is her contribution to the social justice movement for women in STEM, Native American recognition, and education for underprivileged communities. Ross helped develop some of the first concepts for flyby missions past Venus and Mars during career at Skunk Works, the classified space project in Lockheeds Advanced Development Program. In 1942, she was hired as a mathematician and later trained to become the only female engineer on a team of 40. Her preliminary concepts for interplanetary space travel included rockets and defense projects, and without her pencil pushing, the field of modern space research would look completely different. Mary G. Ross Google Doodle. How Mary G. Ross Educated Underprivileged Communities Before pursuing STEM fields, Ross grew up near the Ozark Mountains as the great-great granddaughter of the Cherokee Nations Chief John Ross. She graduated from Northeastern State teachers college when she was just 18-years-old, and spent the next nine years teaching in rural Oklahoma communities. Later, Ross earned a Masters Degree in mathematics at the University of Northern Colorado before switching career tracks at the start of World War II to work on Lockheeds P-28 fighter plane that was approaching the sound barrier. Why Mary G. Ross Was Committed to Womens Education As a singular female figure in a team of men, Ross considered herself the pencil pusher who relied on a slide rule and Frieden computer to complete equations for operational requirements for the Agena rocket, work that led to NASAs successful Apollo program. The Executive Director of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society credited her as just one of the guys who held her own in the male-dominated workspace. Ross herself later talked about how her credibility would be questioned because of her unique status as a woman and a Native American citizen. Story continues Ross didnt take her pioneering role as a female engineer lightly. She established a scholarship in her name for future women pursuing STEM fields according to the National Science Foundation, only 0.1 percent of scientists and engineers are Native American women. How Mary G. Ross Honored Her Native American Roots The Cherokee tribe valued learning, and while Ross pursued a nontraditional path for Native American women, she continued to honor her ethnicity and tribal traditions throughout her career and philanthropy. She even wore a traditional Cherokee dress sewn from green calico, made by her niece, while participating in the opening ceremonies of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Ross was 96-years-old at the time, and left a $400,000 endowment to the museum after her death in 2008. Before then, after retiring to Los Altos, California in 1973, Ross worked to recruit young Native American women into youth engineering camps. Her membership in the Society of Women Engineers began in the 1950s, and she supported the American Indians in Science and Engineering Society and the Council of Energy Resource Tribes throughout her later life. Photos via Google More From Inverse By Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A mechanic helping to fight one of several major wildfires in California was killed in a traffic collision on Thursday, bringing the death toll from that blaze to eight, officials said. Andrew Brake, 40, was assigned to the Carr Fire burning around Redding in Northern California and was killed in a crash on Highway 99 in nearby Tehama County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) said. "On behalf of all Californians, we honor Andrew and the many other brave firefighters and emergency responders who have risked their lives to protect others," California Governor Jerry Brown said in a statement. The 177,000-acre (71,629-hectare) Carr Fire, roughly 200 miles (320 km) north of San Francisco, has killed two other firefighters along with three members of one family and has destroyed nearly 1,100 homes. It was 48 percent contained with firefighters struggling in steep terrain to control the blaze, CalFire said. Several major fires burning in California have displaced tens of thousands of people. The Mendocino Complex, two fires close to each other that are being treated as one event, now ranks as the largest fire on record in the state. A force of more than 4,000 firefighters made progress overnight in controlling the Mendocino Complex Fire, which has burned more than 304,400 acres (123,000 hectares) in three counties north of San Francisco, CalFire said on Thursday. Two firefighters were injured and 119 homes destroyed by that fire. HOLY FIRE The 9,600-acre (3,885-hectare) Holy Fire is 5 percent contained in the Cleveland National Forest area of Southern California's Orange County, officials said. Brown declared a state of emergency for the area on Thursday, freeing up additional resources to battle the blaze that officials say has displaced 20,000 people. A 51-year-old man, Forrest Clark, arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of setting the fire, was charged with multiple criminal counts including aggravated arson and making criminal threats, the Orange County District Attorney Office said in a statement on Thursday. Clark, who faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted, was held on bail of $1 million. His arraignment was rescheduled from Thursday to Friday. Jeffrey Kirk, a deputy district attorney in Orange County, said in a video posted by Los Angeles television station KTLA that more charges could be filed against Clark because the fire and investigation are continuing. "The sky's the limit," Kirk said, according to KTLA. (Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Makini Brice in Washington; Editing by Susan Thomas, James Dalgleish and Paul Tait) President Donald Trump should have been moved this week when our nation of immigrants accepted two new Americans: first lady Melania Trumps parents, Amalia and Viktor Knavs. But their path to citizenship likely goes against everything their son-in-law supposedly believes in. The Knavs were sworn in as U.S. citizens on Thursday in Lower Manhattan, The New York Times reported. Melania Trump, originally from Slovenia, sponsored her parents so they could obtain a green card before applying for U.S. citizenship. The first lady herself was granted citizenship in 2006. It went well and they are very grateful and appreciative of this wonderful day for their family, the Knavs lawyer, Michael Wildes, said in a statement. When the Times asked Wildes if the Knavs obtained their citizenship through family-based immigration often pejoratively referred to as chain migration Wildes was vague. I suppose, he told the publication. Its a dirty a dirtier word. It stands for a bedrock of our immigration process when it comes to family reunification. The idea that family-based immigration could be labeled as dirty might have a lot to do with the Knavs son-in-law. In November, Trump railed against the process on Twitter. CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! he tweeted. Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE! CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE! pic.twitter.com/PQGeTTdRtX Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017 Last December, when a legal U.S. resident from Bangladesh attempted an ISIS-inspired bombing in New York City, Trump blamed chain migration in part, saying there needed to be restrictions. He argued, without evidence, that chain migration lets in suspect people. Story continues But as HuffPosts Roque Planas has pointed out, Trump has personally benefited time and again from the very process he rails against. His ancestors followed family members to the U.S., his Miss Universe business attracted top candidates by agreeing to help obtain green cards or work authorization for their families, and his parents-in-law are likely citizens because of it. Its hard to find talent, Wildes told HuffPost at the time regarding Miss Universe contestants. And when they find talent, they generally want to negotiate family members to make sure their lives are more robust and meaningful. Say were soliciting a visa for somebody and that person says, Im only going to come if you sponsor a visa for myself and green cards for my whole family so I can resettle here. Congratulations are in order for the Knavs. Hopefully, their citizenship will inspire their son-in-law to better appreciate the rich, continued diversity that new immigrants bring to the U.S. But that seems unlikely. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexico's president-elect says his team is working on two reform packages to send to lawmakers after he takes office Dec. 1. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says Friday that the focus of one set of reforms will be on government austerity and fighting corruption and impunity. Elements include classifying graft, electoral fraud and fuel theft as serious crimes and allowing sitting presidents to be prosecuted for corruption. The second set of reforms is a social welfare package that would codify into law things such as universal pensions for the elderly, disabled and poor and free education at all levels. Lopez Obrador said that these reforms "will distinguish and characterize the new government of the republic: fighting corruption and the welfare of the people." MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexico's navy says it has seized nearly two tons of cocaine off the country's southern Pacific coast. The navy said in a statement Friday that one of its planes spotted a suspicious boat about 87 nautical miles off the coast of Acapulco a day prior. The small boat had two powerful outboard motors and was carrying 75 packages weighing about 4,100 pounds. One man was arrested. The navy says he is a citizen of Ecuador. Stormy Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti said, Im exploring a run for the presidency of the United States, and I wanted to come to Iowa and listen to people and learn about some issues that are facing the citizens of Iowa and do my homework." (Photo: Lucas Jackson / Reuters) After floating the idea last month that he may challenge President Donald Trump in 2020, attorney Michael Avenatti announced he was formally exploring a run for the presidency of the United States. In an interview with the Des Moines Register on Thursday, the outspoken lawyer for adult film star Stormy Daniels, who is suing the president over the validity of a nondisclosure agreement to not discuss an affair, traveled to the Iowa State Fair this week on a listening tour. Im exploring a run for the presidency of the United States, and I wanted to come to Iowa and listen to people and learn about some issues that are facing the citizens of Iowa and do my homework, Avenatti told the Register. Avenatti has emerged as a noisy and frequent critic of Trump, his administration and the presidents former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Avenatti has appeared regularly on cable news shows since Daniels brought her lawsuit against the president. Hes called Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani an absolute pig who should be fired. Hes also argued with Fox News host Sean Hannity over Twitter, challenging the pundit to have him as a guest on his show so they can debate. In early July, Avenatti tweeted that he would consider challenging Trump for president in 2020 if he believed no other candidate could beat him. IF (big) he seeks re-election, I will run, but only if I think that there is no other candidate in the race that has a REAL chance at beating him. We can't relive 2016. I love this country, our values and our people too much to sit by while they are destroyed. #FightClub #Basta Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 4, 2018 He reiterated a similar message during his interview with the Des Moines Register, saying that he believed the Democratic Party was yearning for a fighter. Story continues And for many, Im probably seen as that individual, he added. While in Iowa, Avenatti will also speak at the Democratic Wing Ding fundraiser on Friday, an event that has hosted Democratic hopefuls in the past. To read the attorneys full interview about his potential presidential run, head over to the Des Moines Register. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Heres a look at some of the companies the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today. Tariff worries are weighing on Microchip. The company posted a beat on profit and raised its dividend. But its CEO warned on the earnings call that some smaller Chinese hardware makers are now nervous about future demand. That could eat into Microchips bottom line. A big change could be coming to the beleaguered Campbells Soup company. Two of its biggest shareholders investors Daniel Loeb and George Strawbridge, want to see the food maker sold off. They say a sale could unlock significant value for shareholders. But it could be tough, since descendants of the founder hold 41% of the companys shares. And Qualcomm has struck a deal in a long-running patent dispute with the government of Taiwan. The settlement wipes out more than $700M in fines over how Qualcomm licensed its patents there. Now Qualcomm has agreed to invest an undisclosed amount of money in Taiwan, and negotiate in good faith with Taiwanese phone makers. And WeWork is getting bigger and spending a lot in the process. The company that rents out co-working space went public with its financial results for the first time. They show sales doubled last quarter but losses more than quadrupled from a year earlier. We Work also reported a billion dollar investment form Japans SoftBank. By Tamara Mathias and Michael Erman (Reuters) - Mylan NV said on Wednesday its board had set up a committee to review possible strategic alternatives, citing a tough U.S. environment for generic drugmakers. "We are evaluating all alternatives," Chief Executive Officer Heather Bresch said on a conference call with analysts. She declined to discuss any options under consideration, adding that the review process was just beginning. Mylan said its U.S.-centric investor base does not properly value the importance of its international business, noting that 60 percent of its revenue comes from outside the United States. "Mylan feels strongly about underappreciated value of its ex-US business at current stock prices," Evercore ISI analyst Umer Raffat said in a note. However, he added, "the true growth engine for Mylan going forward comes from the U.S." via biosimilar launches. The company said it was confident it would receive by mid-October U.S. approval of its generic version Advair, GSK's big-selling asthma treatment, after a three-month regulatory delay. Mylan reported a much smaller-than-expected second quarter profit and lowered its 2018 earnings forecast as restructuring at a large West Virginia plant impacted product production, and shortages of its EpiPen emergency allergy injectors further hurt revenue. Shortages of the life-saving treatment continue due to ongoing manufacturing issues at a Pfizer plant responsible for the entire EpiPen global supply. Mylan said the devices may not always be available from pharmacy to pharmacy. Mylan now expects full-year adjusted earnings per share of $4.55 to $4.90, down from its prior view of $5.20 to $5.60. Analysts were estimating $5.25 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The low end of the new forecast represents a worst case scenario, Bresch said. Mylan shares initially fell as much as 9 percent before recovering entirely and were up 1.5 percent at $39.13. Generic drugmakers like Mylan and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries have suffered over the past few years as price erosion weighed heavily on their bottom lines. But Mylan said competition was not the problem. Company executives said a U.S. healthcare system that allows insurers and pharmacy benefit managers to make deals for preferred access to prescription drugs on their formularies is hurting its business. It called for requiring formulary access for cheaper generic alternatives. "The negative trends playing out in the U.S. marketplace are unsustainable for the healthcare system over the long term," the Mylan board said in a statement. The Trump administration in May released a blueprint for reducing prescription drug costs for U.S. consumers. It has since suggested changes that could eliminate rebate deals between manufacturers and industry middlemen that some blame for high drug prices. Mylan said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had issued observations following inspection of its Morgantown, West Virginia plant that are being addressed by a restructuring program. That revamp had a "significantly negative impact" on production, the company said, adding that it expects the impact and related expenses to continue through 2018. Excluding items, Mylan earned $1.07 per share, well below analysts' average estimate of $1.22. (Reporting by Saumya Sibi Joseph and Tamara Mathias in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Bill Berkrot) Seoul (AFP) - North Korea on Thursday accused the United States of acting in bad faith, saying Washington's push for full sanctions pressure against Pyongyang would stall progress on the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. During landmark talks with US President Donald Trump in June, the North's leader Kim Jong Un signed up to a vague commitment to denuclearisation, far from the longstanding American demand for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang's atomic arsenal. Trump has touted the summit with Kim in Singapore as a historic breakthrough, but both sides have since complained of stalling progress. In a statement, the North Korean foreign ministry accused the US of "insulting the dialogue partner and throwing cold water over our sincere efforts for building confidence which can be seen as a precondition for implementing" the agreement between Trump and Kim. The ministry added that expecting "any result" to negotiations in this context was "indeed a foolish act that amounts to waiting to see a boiled egg hatch out". The statement comes days after the US stressed the need to keep up pressure on Pyongyang through tough sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons programme. The foreign ministry, which had earlier slammed Washington's "alarming" impatience for denuclearisation, accused the US of clinging to an "outdated acting script". "As long as the US denies even the basic decorum for its dialogue partner... one cannot expect any progress in the implementation of the DPRK-US joint statement including the denuclearization," said Pyongyang's foreign ministry, using the initials of the country's official name, warning regional security could suffer. Since the June meeting, Pyongyang has announced measures including halting missile and nuclear tests. But a recent UN report showed Pyongyang was continuing with its nuclear and missile programmes and evading sanctions through ship-to-ship oil transfers. US National Security Advisor John Bolton has also weighed in on the issue, saying Sunday that nobody in Trump's administration is "starry-eyed" about the prospect "of North Korea actually denuclearising". Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) A NASA astronaut has set the hearts of UFO fans fluttering with the revelation that he once saw something organic, alien-like in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle. In response to a question from tireless UFO hunter Scott C Waring, astronaut Leland Melvin said that he saw something, organic, alien like floating out of the payload bay. Melvin, an engineer who flew two missions on Space Shuttle Atlantis, said that NASA ground control told him it was ice that had broken off of the Freon hoses. Translucent, curved, organic looking. But just to keep the UFO fans happy, he replied, You never know, when asked whether NASA might have been hiding something. I have not seen one in space or on the ground but thought I saw something organic/alien like floating out of the payload bay. @AstroKomrade and I called the ground to ask what it could be and it was ice that had broken off of the Freon hoses.Translucent, curved, organic looking Leland Melvin (@Astro_Flow) August 4, 2018 Hmmm. Dont think so but you never know. Leland Melvin (@Astro_Flow) August 7, 2018 Hes far from the first NASA astronaut to claim to have seen something weird in space. Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the moon, claimed among other things that high-ranking military officials saw UFOs during weapons tests in the White Sands desert in New Mexico. MOST POPULAR STORIES ON YAHOO UK TODAY Venice cafe defends charging tourist 38 for two coffees and some water Britain welcomes US sanctions against Russia over Salisbury nerve agent attack France re-opens MH370 disappearance probe after claims of Malaysian cover-up British van man drives around Europe spelling out Stop Brexit on map with GPS Australia suffers worst drought in decades as farmers get increased powers to shoot kangaroos Story continues Mitchell, who piloted the Apollo 14 landing module, has spoken regularly about his belief in aliens. Mitchell said in 2015,White Sands was a testing ground for atomic weapons and thats what the extra-terrestrials were interested in. They wanted to know about our military capabilities. My own experience talking to people has made it clear the ETs had been attempting to keep us from going to war and help create peace on Earth. Mitchell died in 2016. The eighth-generation (C8) Corvette will switch to a mid-engined layout for the first time in its illustrious history. Reports say there will also be a hardcore hybrid variant that could develop as much as 1,000bhp. What's perhaps even more surprising is that the C8 Corvette will further break with tradition by being offered for sale alongside a new version of the current C7 model. Autocar in the UK reports sources inside General Motors have indicated a mildly revised version of the current C7 will continue to be produced as an entry-level alternative to the new, more expensive C8. Even though the all-new mid-engined C8 will cost considerably more than the C7 that will be sold alongside it, it will still be priced significantly lower than the junior supercars offered by many rivals. When the C8 comes to market in 2019 it will use an updated version of GM's LT-specification 6.2-liter V-8. Although the all-alloy unit is light, responsive, relatively cheap to build and able to generate around 500bhp without breaking a sweat, it still uses pushrods and therefore won't be able to match the kind of low-end torque turbocharged rivals manage with ease. Staying with that engine also provides a clear connection between the new mid-engined 'Vette and the more affordable front-engined C7s. This is just the start of a more significant revamp. GM has a long history of introducing faster versions of its performance cars not long after the base models are launched. Reports in the US suggest an overhead camshaft V-8 may be in the works, in both naturally aspirated and twin-turbo forms, with the turbo version developing as much as the 745bhp of the current supercharged Corvette ZR1. A hybrid version would bring an electrically-powered front axle to the party, potentially giving the Corvette an astonishing total system output approaching 1000bhp. Tehran (AFP) - North Korea will preserve its nuclear know-how despite its promise of denuclearisation to the United States, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said during a visit to Tehran, Iranian media reported on Thursday. Despite the agreement to denuclearise the Korean peninsula struck during a landmark summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump, "we preserve our nuclear science as we know that the Americans will not abandon their hostility toward us," Ri said, according to the conservative Mehr news agency. "Dealing with Americans is difficult, and as our main goal is total disarmament of the whole Korean Peninsula, it is necessary that the Americans also abide by their commitments but they refuse to do so." At the June summit with Trump, Kim made a vague commitment to denuclearisation -- far from the longstanding US demand for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang's atomic arsenal. Ri was meeting with Iran's influential parliament speaker Ali Larijani on the third day of an official visit. "The Americans utter beautiful words when negotiating and promise a very bright future but they deliver on none of their commitments when it comes to action," Larijani said. Ri arrived in Tehran on the same day as the United States reimposed sanctions after abandoning a 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and Iran. The other five parties to the deal agree with UN inspectors that Iran has been abiding by its commitments, but Trump has said repeatedly it is "a horrible deal" and announced he was abrogating it in May. By Jessica Resnick-Ault NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude oil prices rose more than 1.0 percent on Friday as U.S. sanctions against Iran looked set to tighten supply, but futures contracts posted a weekly decline as investors worried that global trade disputes could slow economic growth and hurt demand for energy. Benchmark Brent crude oil (LCOc1) settled 74 cents higher at $72.96 a barrel on Friday. U.S. light crude (CLc1) was 82 cents higher at $67.63 a barrel. A sell-off on Wednesday left both benchmarks down for the week overall, with Brent off 0.5 percent and U.S. crude 1.2 percent lower. Hedge funds and other money managers cut their bullish positions on U.S. crude in the week ending Aug. 7 to the lowest level since June, data showed on Friday. Prices are expected to remain under pressure as U.S. gasoline demand slows going into the autumn and refiners shut for maintenance, pushing more crude into storage, said Tariq Zahir, managing member at Tyche Capital in New York. "I think it now comes down to the point of what we see in demand numbers." U.S. crude supplies fell less than expected in the latest week, and data released on Friday showed U.S. energy companies this week added the most oil rigs since May. Drillers added 10 oil rigs in the week to Aug. 10, bringing the total to 869, the most since March 2015, General Electric Co's (GE.N) Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday. (RIG-OL-USA-BHI) Escalating trade disputes between the U.S, China and other countries have dimmed the outlook for economic growth and boosted the U.S. dollar, making oil more expensive for consumers using other currencies. Currencies of major emerging economies including China, India and Turkey have slumped. Despite these worries, prices got a boost from U.S. sanctions against Iran, which from November will affect oil exports from that country. Although the European Union, China and India oppose the U.S. sanctions against Iran, many are expected to bow to U.S. pressure. Story continues Analysts expect Iranian crude exports to fall by between 500,000 and 1.3 million barrels per day, with buyers in Japan, South Korea and India already dialing back orders. The reduction will depend on whether buyers of Iranian oil receive waivers that would allow some imports. The International Energy Agency said on Friday the oil market could see more turbulence. "The recent cooling down of the market, with short-term supply tensions easing, currently lower prices, and lower demand growth might not last," the IEA said in a monthly report. "As oil sanctions against Iran take effect, perhaps in combination with production problems elsewhere, maintaining global supply might be very challenging." Investors are wary of the trade dispute between Washington and Beijing. In the latest round of levies, China said it would impose additional tariffs of 25 percent on $16 billion worth of U.S. imports. Although crude oil was removed from the list, replaced by refined products and liquefied petroleum gas, analysts say Chinese imports of U.S. crude will fall significantly. (Additional Reporting by Christopher Johnson in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Dale Hudson and David Gregorio) (Reuters) - An explosion at a military hardware factory in Salisbury, Wiltshire has left one person dead, British media reported on Friday, citing a police statement. The explosion at the Chemring Countermeasures factory also injured another person who was taken to a hospital, the BBC and other media reported. The resulting fire at the site was extinguished, according to the BBC report, which cited the Wiltshire Police. "We have two casualties that have been identified. One of them sadly died at the scene and the other has been taken to hospital in a critical condition," a representative of the Wiltshire Police was quoted as saying. Reuters could not immediately reach the police force for comment. Chemring Countermeasures makes products to safeguard military ships and aircraft from attack. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the incident, which has been contained and poses no risk to the people in the area, the reports said. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Nuseirat (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - A Palestinian family called for answers Thursday as to why an Israeli air strike hit their relatives' home in the Gaza Strip, killing a pregnant mother and her 18-month-old daughter. Only kilometres away, Israelis who spent the night rushing to bomb shelters due to a barrage of rockets and mortars from the Palestinian enclave said they were fed up and feared for their children. In the Gaza Strip, Enas Khammash, 23, and her daughter Bayan were asleep when an Israeli strike hit their home, killing them both, relatives and neighbours said. The girl's father was seriously injured. The Israeli army insisted it had only struck military sites belonging to Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. An army spokesman said he did not have details on the deaths of the woman and child. Gaza's health ministry said the deaths were the result of the Israeli strikes. The strikes were in response to some 180 rockets and mortars fired by Hamas and other militant groups from Gaza late Wednesday and Thursday. Israel said it hit more than 150 Hamas sites. - 'Like a nightmare' - In the family house in the Jafarawi neighbourhood of central Gaza, a strong smell of death lingered Thursday, the walls flecked with blood and mud. The strike happened shortly after midnight. A neighbour, Umm Walid, said she heard the sound of whimpering from the house about 30 minutes after the explosion, eventually entering to find the two bodies and Enas's husband badly injured. "It was like a nightmare. I wish I had died before seeing this terrible scene," she said. The house is a few hundred metres from a Hamas military base, one of several that can be found throughout Gaza -- often in heavily populated areas. "The missile hit the mosque nearby then hit the house and caused this hole before it hit the floor of the living room," said neighbour Imad, 44 and an officer in Gaza's Hamas-dominated police force. Story continues "Shrapnel hit the little girl and her mother." Abdullah Khammash, a cousin, wanted to know why the house had been hit. "There are resistance bases everywhere, we don't have any relation with it," he said, referring to Hamas sites. "I say to Lieberman come here and see for yourself the damage. I want to ask him what was the guilt of this girl?" he added, referring to Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's defence minister. "This girl didn't know hatred of anyone and I don't hate anyone," he said. Later the body was carried in a small coffin for the funeral, as hundreds mourned. - 'Shadows of rockets' - In Israeli communities along the Gaza border, residents were also angry and tired after a sleepless night. At least seven civilians were injured by rocket and mortar fire, officials said, including a 30-year-old Thai woman in moderate to severe condition. Most of the rockets, though not all, hit open areas. In the town of Sderot cars were damaged and holes left in the ground, with a building scarred by shrapnel. Caroline Bonieli, 31 and pregnant with twins, was hospitalised after tripping as she tried to run to a bomb shelter. "Myself, my husband and my children were at home and suddenly we heard the alert," she said. "As I ran I fell on my stomach and felt intense pain in my stomach and leg." She added that "it's not been a month or two. This situation has been the same for years, and we're sick of raising our children like this -- in the shadows of rockets, alarms and explosions". Alon Davidi, mayor of the town, called on the Israeli army to invade Gaza again. "I hope that we (Israel) will go for a strong ground campaign in Gaza," saying Hamas needed to be taught a lesson. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, two years before Hamas seized control. The two have fought three wars since 2008 and analysts say another full-blown conflict remains likely. The last conflict in 2014 included an Israeli ground campaign inside the Gaza Strip. Miami (AFP) - Puerto Rico's governor announced Wednesday the island's Washington-established financial oversight board had struck an debt restructuring deal with bondholders that would save $17.5 billion in future payments. Ricardo Rossello's announcement came hours after his government presented to Congress a $139 billion development and recovery program following last year's hurricanes, which devastated the US territory. In a statement, Rossello's office said the oversight board had agreed with a significant number of bondholders -- "in principle" -- to restructure Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation (COFINA) debt "to terms that are aligned with the fiscal reality of Puerto Rico." The agreement would save Puerto Rico $17.5 billion in payments to bondholders. "This agreement represents a significant step in restructuring Puerto Rico's debt and reaffirms once again the credibility of our efforts," said Rossello, quoted in the statement. The most recent operational report from the Puerto Rican government, dated December 2016, said that COFINA had issued all of its $17.3 billion in bonds between 2007 and 2011. Soon after, in May 2017, Puerto Rico declared itself bankrupt, with public debt surpassing $70 billion. Four months later, hurricanes Irma and Maria ruined the island's infrastructure, above all its electricity, plunging Puerto Rico into crisis. On Wednesday, the Puerto Rican government asked Congress to allocate funding to the tune of $139 billion for reconstruction efforts, including rebuilding homes, water and energy systems, and rehabilitating services such as health, education and transport. "All of the initiatives aim to make us stronger and more resilient, while guaranteeing long-term economic recovery," said the governor. A man stands next to cars damaged by an air strike in Amran, Yemen June 25, 2018. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah Matthew Gamble Security, Middle East Canada is putting its foot down over Saudi human-rights abusesbut will it last? Saudi Arabia Lashes Out at CanadaWhats Behind the Recent Diplomatic Row? On August 2, Canadas Liberal government demonstrated its willingness to criticize human-rights abuses taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Following the arrest of Saudi womens right activists Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah, Canadian Minister of Global Affairs Chrystia Freeland publicly called for their immediate release and expressed her deep concern for the ongoing plight of human-rights activists in Saudi Arabia. Her sentiment was then echoed by official releases from the Ministry of Global Affairs. In the hours following the release of these statements, a diplomatic firestorm broke out. Certainly, the Kingdom is not known for its outstanding human-rights record. The ruling Saudi royal family maintains complete political control of the country, forcefully crushing most dissenters while strictly enforcing Islamic Sharia law. Meanwhile, its armed forces have come under increasing scrutiny for their operations in Yemen, due to high civilian casualties and allegations of indiscriminate bombing. Nevertheless, when it comes to Saudi Arabia, realist thinking often prevails over the values of liberal internationalism. The Kingdoms large oil reserves, significant financial clout, and geopolitical importance vis-a-vis Iran have spared it much of the international condemnation being levelled at other states with comparatively poor human-rights records. This became glaringly evident when the Canadian government green-lit a $15 billion-dollar deal to supply Saudi Arabia with Canadian-built LAV 6.0 fighting vehicles despite concerns they would be used to suppress uprisings. Regardless, the Saudi government considered Canadas recent statements to be overt and blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom, and took swift retaliatory action. Riyadh began by expelling the Canadian Ambassador and then freezing new business and investment transactions. Since then, the Saudis have escalated the situation by ordering some sisteen thousand Saudi students studying in Canada to leave, and suspending Saudi Airlines flights in and out of Toronto. The situation was made more tense when a verified Saudi-government Twitter account, @infgraphic_ksa, tweeted an image that appeared to show an Air Canada flight headed towards the CN Tower in Toronto with the caption He who interferes with what doesnt concern him finds what doesnt please him. The account has since deleted the image and issued an apology, claiming it was meant to represent the Canadian Ambassadors return home, but this explanation is unlikely to put the Canadian public at ease. Story continues Amid these provocative actions, the Canadian government has stood firm. Freeland released a statement that read, Canada will always stand up for the protection of human rights, including womens rights and freedom of expression around the world. We will never hesitate to promote these values and we believe that this dialogue is critical to international diplomacy. However, no other concrete actions from Ottawa have yet to emerge, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has remained silent. Some analysts, including Ayham Kamel of the Eurasia Group, have been quick to blame Washington for the row, citing the Trump administrations seeming lack of concern for human rights around the world. According to this perspective, human-rights abusers have come to understand their bad behaviour will not attract Washingtons ire so long as American economic and military interests are respected. Indeed, the US State Department has thus far refused to side with its Canadian ally and has instead called for Saudi Arabia to provide additional clarification regarding the situation. Certainly, without the impressive support of the worlds premier superpower behind human-rights concerns, it is easy to see why tyrants would be emboldened. Yet, this analysis ignores that the United States has long been a steadfast ally of the Kingdom and has offered little beyond muted criticism of its human-rights record. In fact, the Obama administration continued to supply the Saudi Arabia with offensive weapons, despite allegations of Saudi war crimes committed in the Yemini Civil War. Even during the Bush years, allegations of Saudi involvement in the 9/11 attacks were glossed over by the United States. Overall, this signals that Washington has consistently prioritized the strategic nature of its relationship with Riyadh over human-rights concerns. Therefore, it can be concluded that the underlying causes of this standoff are more than simply a lack of concern over human rights from Washington. In reality, Saudi Arabias diplomatic row with Canada reflects a broader trend towards a more aggressive foreign policy. Since Crown Prince Muhammad bin-Salman, often simply known as MbS, formally assumed office in June 2017, the Kingdom has ramped up its assertiveness in the international arena. Thus far, the Crown Prince has demonstrated his aggressive approach to foreign policy on several occasions. First by escalating the war in Yemen, then by cutting off diplomatic ties with Qatar and subsequently imposing a blockade, and finally by initiating a tense standoff with Lebanon and potentially holding its prime minister against his will. Additionally, despite outwardly presenting himself as a reformer and modernizer who is firmly in control of his Kingdom, MbS remains in a delicate position, so he is likely exploiting this row for domestic political purposes. Plunging oil prices have forced the country to run significant deficits, and the outcome of the military operation in Yemen remains in question. Ballistic missiles launched from Houthi-held areas frequently target Saudi cities and military bases, and bin-Salman has thus far been unable to find a permanent resolution to this problem. Taken as a whole, these crises threaten the Crown Princes internal standing. Consequently, the Crown Prince has used the crises with Qatar, Lebanon, and now Canada to demonstrate his resolve and win victories to score political capital. Canada is an ideal Saudi target for a number of reasons. Lingering animosity stemming from delays associated with Ottawas hesitancy to move forward with an agreed upon $15 billion arms deal has likely played a role. Most importantly, however, Canada is of relatively little economic importance to Saudi Arabia. In 2017, Canada imported a little over $70 million worth of Saudi goods. By contrast, in the same year Germany imported just under $211 million worth goods from the Kingdom. Therefore, by putting Canada on notice, the Saudis have sent a message to the wider Euro-Atlantic community that criticism of their internal affairs is most unwelcome with minimal risk to their bottom line. Moving forward, it is unlikely that this crisis will escalate beyond a tense diplomatic row. Saudi Arabia is primarily looking to send a message that its internal affairs are of no concern to other states. Riyadh has achieved this goal, though whether the message is heard by its intended audience is another matter. Further, its actions reflect the need for MbS to appear firm, but also expose the broader trend towards greater Saudi belligerence. It remains to be seen how other NATO allies will react, but without clear American leadership, a unified Western response remains unlikely. Without support from other allies, Canada has few options beyond diplomatic protests and sharp rhetoric, though Ottawa retains the ability to increase domestic oil production to reduce Canadian dependence on Saudi oil and attempt to push prices lower. In the end, Saudi-Canadian relations will likely remain under significant strain for some time as the reverberations from this row will continue to linger well into the future. Matthew Gamble is based in New Brunswick, Canada. His research interests primarily focus on Eurasian geopolitics, capability analysis, and Canadian defence policy. Image: A man stands next to cars damaged by an air strike in Amran, Yemen June 25, 2018. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah Read full article Riyadh (AFP) - The Saudi-led coalition on Friday announced a probe into an air strike on a bus that killed at least 29 children in Yemen where it is fighting Huthi rebels. "The leadership of the coalition has ordered the immediate opening of an investigation to assess the events, clarify their circumstances and announce the results as soon as possible," a senior coalition official said, quoted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The announcement came a day after the raid in the northern Yemeni rebel stronghold of Saada that also left at least 48 others wounded, stirring calls for an investigation from the United Nations and Washington. The senior official said the decision to investigate the strike followed information reported by "media and international organisations working in Yemen, regarding an operation by coalition forces in the province of Saada Thursday, and of a passenger bus which suffered collateral damage in this operation". A hospital supported by the International Committee for the Red Cross received the bodies of 29 children after the strike, the organisation said. Huthi health minister Taha al-Mutawakel on Friday put the death toll at 51 people, including 40 children, while warning the number of victims could rise further. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an "independent and prompt" probe into the incident, while the US State Department urged the coalition to undertake a "thorough and transparent" investigation. TORONTO (AP) Canadian health authorities said Wednesday that hundreds of Saudi doctors and residents who make up the largest segment of foreign medical trainees in the country will remain in Canada until the end of the month, giving hospitals a few weeks to cope with the sudden staffing loss caused by a diplomatic spat. The 800 medical trainees are among more than 15,000 Saudis whose government has ordered them to suddenly leave the country due to Canada's criticism of the ultraconservative kingdom's arrest of women's right activists. The Saudi Embassy bureau that places the country's students in Canada convinced the kingdom's government to let the medical trainees stay until Sept. 1, said Dr. Salvatore Spadafora, the vice dean of post-MD education at the University of Toronto's faculty of medicine. Spadafora oversees 216 of those Saudis in the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network. He said the loss of the trainees will cause disruptions at Canadian hospitals, particularly in some specialized fields, but said it's too early to fully know the impact. "At the end of the day it's still 216 people that might not be showing up for work," he said. "We have until Sept 1. That's not saying it's going to easy or straightforward. It is like people not being there one day, but we have the luxury of people having more time." While the Saudi government says the students, whose education it is paying for, can now study in other nations, the change will dramatically alter the future for many. Some of the residents and doctors are entering their final and fifth year of their programs and the change will derail some careers, Spadafora said. "These are very dedicated and bright and hard-working people who are studying very hard," he said. "To have that disrupted is very stressful for them." Salvatore Spadafora said it's very difficult for those with families and leases. Story continues "All we've done is gotten a little bit of time to the end of the month. It's not necessarily going to solve everything but it helps the individuals which has really been our focus," he said. "Hopefully at the highest levels there is resolution that we can avoid all of this." Brian Hodges, executive vice-president for education at Toronto's University Health Network, oversees about 94 from Saudi Arabia including 58 or 59 trained specialists or fellows. "It is sudden," he said. "That's a lot of clinical care. We're really working on making sure if people do leave we are actually arranging proper on-call coverage and clinical handover so that it doesn't affect our patient care in any way." Hodges said the Saudi's are distributed across all their programs including surgery and mental health and family medicine. He said of 1,300 or 1,400 residents overall, 36 are from Saudi Arabia and 58 or 59 of the 520 fellows are from Saudi Arabia. "It will require the other residents and fellows and the faculty to pick up additional work," he said. He said some have already provided notification that they are leaving. "We already have requests to be exempted from on-call studies and clinical responsibilities as soon as next week," Hodges said. Canadian Foreign Minister Chyrstia Freeland has said Saudi students continue to be welcome. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday Freeland had spoken to Saudi Arabia's foreign minister the day before. "Diplomatic talks continue." Trudeau said. "But as the minister has said and as we will repeat, Canada will always speak strongly and in private and in public on questions of human rights." Trudeau said Canada does not want a bad relationship with Saudi Arabia. "This is a country that still has importance in the world. And is making progress in human rights. So we will continue to underscore the challenges when they exist there and elsewhere in the world," he said. Saudi state television has reported that Education Ministry was coming up with an "urgent plan" to move thousands of Saudi scholarship students out of Canadian schools to take classes in other countries. The Saudi state airline also said in a statement on its official Twitter account that it would suspend all flights to Toronto starting Monday, Aug. 13. The dispute appeared centered around tweets by Canadian diplomats calling on the kingdom to "immediately release" detained women's rights activists. Among the arrested activists is Samar Badawi, whose writer brother Raif Badawi was arrested in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and later sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for insulting Islam while blogging. His case long has been raised by international human rights groups and Western diplomats, including Canadians, who have called on Saudi Arabia to free him. WASHINGTON (AP) Florida's Democratic senator said Wednesday that Russian operatives have penetrated some of his state's election systems ahead of this year's midterms, but state officials said they have no information to support the claim. "They have already penetrated certain counties in the state and they now have free rein to move about," Nelson told the Tampa Bay Times. Nelson, who is running for re-election, declined to identify which counties have been penetrated, saying it was classified. "The threat is real and elections officials at all levels need to address the vulnerabilities." Nelson, the ranking member of the cyber subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and his Republican colleague, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is on the Senate intelligence committee, wrote a letter last month to all 67 of the county election supervisors in their state. "We were requested by the chairman and vice chairman of our intelligence committee to let the supervisors of election in Florida that the Russians are in their records," Nelson said, adding that the letter also urged the county officials to seek help from the Homeland Security Department. "This is no-fooling time. That's why two senators bipartisan reached out to the apparatus in Florida to let them know that the Russians are in the records and all they (the Russians) have to do if those election records are not protected is to go in and start eliminating registered voters. "You can imagine the chaos that would occur on Election Day when the voters get to the polls and they say: 'I'm sorry, Mr. Smith. I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, you're not registered.' That's exactly what the Russians want to do." The Florida Department of State said it had received "zero information" from Nelson or his staff that supports the claims of Russian meddling something national intelligence and homeland security officials have repeatedly warned was likely ahead of the midterms. Story continues "Additionally, the department has received no information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that corroborates Sen. Nelson's statement and we have no evidence to support these claims," the Florida Department of State said in a statement. "If Sen. Nelson has specific information about threats to our elections, he should share it with election officials in Florida." The department said state and local election officials have taken "significant steps to ensure the security and integrity" of Florida elections. Counties are using $1.9 million to purchase a network monitoring security system that provides automated alerts about threats, the department said. Moreover, counties are using $15.5 million in funding to make significant investments in election security prior to this year's midterms. Sara Sendek, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, issued a statement Wednesday evening saying: "While we are aware of Senator Nelson's recent statements, we have not seen any new compromises by Russian actors of election infrastructure. That said, we don't need to wait for a specific threat to be ready." The FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Rubio and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, declined to comment. The ranking Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, issued a statement, but did not confirm or deny Nelson's claims. "Russian activities continue to pose a threat to the security of our elections, as Sens. Nelson and Rubio rightly pointed out in their letter," Warner said. "I hope all state and local elections officials, including Florida's, will take this issue seriously." White House critics have harshly criticized President Donald Trump on the issue of election security. They say his administration lacks a clear national strategy to protect U.S. elections from foreign meddling by Russia or any other adversary. In response, top national security officials appeared together at the White House last week to insist there is a "vast, government-wide effort" to safeguard a cornerstone of American democracy. John Bolton, the national security adviser, wrote in a letter to Senate Democrats that "President Trump has not and will not tolerate interference in America's system of representative government." Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said, "We continue to see a pervasive messaging campaign by Russia to try to weaken and divide the United States." Their rare appearance during a White House briefing came weeks after Trump publicly undermined the conclusions of American intelligence agencies regarding Russian interference. After suffering a bipartisan outcry, Trump later said he accepted those findings. ___ Associated Press Writers Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Frank Bajak in Boston and David Fischer in Miami contributed to this report. Senior Zimbabwean opposition figure Tendai Biti was arrested as he tried to flee to neighbouring Zambia to seek asylum, his lawyer said Wednesday, allegedly on charges of inciting violence over the disputed election result. He was later released and was continuing with his attempt to seek asylum, a lawyer said early on Wednesday afternoon. In last week's vote, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe's former ally, narrowly retained power, but the opposition MDC party has accused the electoral authority of rigging the result. Supporters of the MDC took to the streets on August 1 to protest the alleged fraud, triggering a brutal response from the military which opened fire on the demonstrators leaving six people dead. The day before the protests - and before the final presidential results were announced - Mr Biti held a press conference at the Movement for Democratic Change's (MDC) headquarters in Harare claiming victory for the party. Former Zimbabwean Finance Minister and MDC Alliance member Tendai Biti greets supporters outside the MDC Alliance's headquarters in Harare on July 31 Credit: MARCO LONGARI/AFP Mr Biti, who also alleged electoral fraud, is a senior figure in the MDC alliance and was the respected finance minister in Zimbabwe's troubled 2009-13 power-sharing government. "He was arrested at the Zambian border," lawyer Nqobizitha Mlilo told AFP on Wednesday morning, adding by text message that he was trying to seek asylum. The police were not immediately available to comment. The state-run Chronicle newspaper said Tuesday that Mr Biti was among nine suspects being sought for inciting the protests when the army opening fire. Police detective Portia Chinho told the paper they were wanted for "participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence". LOS ANGELES (AP) A Southern California utility reached a nearly $120 million settlement over a massive blowout at a natural gas storage field that became the nation's largest known release of climate-changing methane and forced thousands to flee their Los Angeles homes almost three years ago, officials announced Wednesday. The settlement between Southern California Gas Co. and state and local governments aims to mitigate the greenhouse gases that spewed uncontrollably for nearly four months. The October 2015 blowout at an Aliso Canyon well sickened residents of the San Fernando Valley and led to evacuations of 8,000 homes. Under the settlement, the utility agreed to pay up to $25 million for a study of long-term health consequences; reimburse city, county and state governments for responding to the blowout; monitor chemicals in the air along the boundary of the facility for eight years; and not pass costs of the settlement along to ratepayers. "This settlement says that they have to eat all the costs," said City Councilman Mitchell Englander, who lives in the area. "During the blowout, their stock price actually went up. That was insane, and it was insulting, and I know the people that were living there were very upset about that, and they wanted it to come out of their pocket." Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the tentative deal, which will be open to public comment and requires court approval, addressed violations of health and safety codes, the illegal discharge of air contaminants and failure to report the release of hazardous materials. "There is no excuse for what happened," Becerra said in a statement. "For over four months, this leak exposed our communities to natural gas emissions that resulted in adverse health impacts and disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of Californians." In a previous settlement of criminal charges, the utility agreed to a $4 million settlement with Los Angeles prosecutors after pleading no contest to a single misdemeanor of failing to notify state authorities about the blowout soon enough. Story continues The company, which is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, has spent over $1 billion because of the blowout, according to a quarterly report released Monday. The majority was spent relocating families for months and reimbursing them for meals and other costs and cleaning homes. The remaining costs include legal expenses, paying for a study of the blowout's cause, efforts to cap the well, and the cost of lost gas. The company has insurance for $1.4 billion but faces lawsuits from 30,000 people, said attorney R. Rex Parris, who represents about a third of them. He said they all are seeking $2.5 billion in damages for injuries and harm caused by the massive disruption to their lives. Residents were not initially notified when gas began seeping out of the ground in the mountain-top storage field that looms above the community of Porter Ranch. Aliso Canyon is the largest natural gas storage facility in the U.S. West. Gas was piped into an empty oil field more than a mile underground through repurposed aging oil wells some more than 50 years old. Within days, the slow leak turned into a high-pressure gusher that special crews couldn't contain. Residents began complaining of headaches, nosebleeds and nausea. People began moving out of the neighborhood of neat subdivisions where the film "E.T." was shot. Developments of single-family homes began to resemble ghost towns. After the leak was capped, Southern California Gas had to meet much stricter regulations to store gas in the field, which required overhauling wells, incorporating new equipment to monitor for leaks and capping wells that didn't pass regulations. The incident led to stricter rules for other facilities statewide. More limited operations resumed in July 2017. SoCal Gas said it had met and sometimes exceeded state safety requirements. The company said in a statement that it was pleased to reach the settlement and would also hire an independent ombudsman to monitor and report on safety at the facility. Officials noted that the settlement was only aimed at claims that state and local governments could bring and did not address the personal costs by those directly affected. Still, those who live near the facility and want it shut down were upset the agreement didn't address their concerns. "It does little or nothing for the victims who are still sitting on that ticking time bomb," said Matt Pakucko, who organized the group Save Porter Ranch. Others were critical that some settlement funds would pay for projects that would not help the area affected by the blowout and could further enrich the utility. For example, $26.5 million is supposed to pay for a project to capture methane from Central Valley dairies, which would help mitigate greenhouse gases and also be used to produce energy. "SoCalGas is unfairly benefiting from this agreement by getting over $26 million in subsidies to import gas from polluting factory farms, which it wants to use to refill Aliso Canyon, which still leaks regularly," said Alex Nagy of Food & Water Watch, an environmental group that wants the facility closed. ___ Associated Press writer Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report. By Alberto Alerigi and Marcelo Rochabrun SAO PAULO (Reuters) - An explosion tore through Brazilian steelmaker Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA's largest plant on Friday, injuring 30 people and shaking the nearby town of Ipatinga, according to the company and firefighters. The company, also known as Usiminas, said none of the injuries were severe and that most people had suffered "light bruising," adding that there were no fatalities. The blast was centered on a huge barrel-shaped piece of equipment that stores gases released during the steel production process, according to the company. The plant employs about 6,500 people directly. The blast was loud enough to be heard throughout the city of about 250,000 and sent a plume of smoke into the sky, according to Usiminas' press office and a firefighters' spokesman. The company said it halted the plant's blast furnaces temporarily. The Ipatinga plant produced 813,000 tons of crude steel between April and June of this year, the company said in its latest earnings report. Shares in Usiminas, one of the largest steel producers in Brazil, fell as much as 9 percent after initial reports of the explosion but later trimmed losses to about 6 percent. "Our preliminary reading is that the impact on the stock is exaggerated," the Itau BBA analysts wrote, noting that the plant could be covered by insurance. Ipatinga is a city in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil, part of the so-called steel valley where other companies, including Arcelor Mittal, also operate plants. (Reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr, Marcelo Teixeira and Marcelo Rochabrun; Additional reporting by Paula Laier; editing by Christian Plumb) Wesley Bell, who cast himself as a reformer committed to changing a local criminal justice system widely criticized following the 2014 killing of black and unarmed teenager Michael Brown by a white police officer, won St. Louis Countys Democratic primary for top prosecutor on Tuesday in a major upset. Bell, a city council member in Ferguson, Missouri, where Brown was killed, defeated Robert McCulloch, who had served in the prosecutors post since 1991. McCulloch was harshly criticized by many for failing to file charges against the officer who shot Brown, and Tuesdays vote was widely seen as a referendum by local residents on his handling of the case. Bells primary victory effectively means he is set to become St. Louis Countys next prosecuting attorney, given that he faces no Republican challenger in Novembers general election. Bell, 43, campaigned on pledges to never seek the death penalty, eliminate cash bail for nonviolent offenses, publicly oppose legislation that would create new mandatory minimum sentences for some crimes and adopt other policies that advocates for criminal justice reform favor. He won the endorsements of numerous progressive groups, including influential political action committees such as activist Shaun Kings Real Justice and Color of Change, both of which focus on electing reform-minded prosecutors. Ferguson, Missouri, City Council member Wesley Bell won the Democratic nomination for top prosecutor in St. Louis County on Tuesday, scoring a major upset over an entrenched incumbent. (Photo: Wesley Bell for St Louis County Prosecutor) Still, Bell faced criticism from some progressives for his past work as a municipal court judge in the region; they complained that he issued excessive fines and fees that had especially negative impacts on people of color. These results demonstrate that voters care passionately about crucial civil rights issues, from the unjust use of cash bail to how long people are sitting in our jails because they cant afford to pay, to demanding their prosecuting attorney be transparent on his offices work, said Jeffrey A. Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Missouri. We provided voters with essential information on civil liberties issues, and they demanded transparency and fairness from their prosecuting attorney. We look forward to working with our members and community partners to hold St. Louis Countys next prosecuting attorney accountable for protecting the rights of the people. Story continues McCulloch, 67, has been a controversial figure for decades. Critics have cited his close ties to local police departments as an impediment to him holding officers accountable for possible misconduct. Several of McCullochs family members including his father, who was shot and killed by an African-American suspect when McCulloch was 12 years old have worked for the St. Louis Police Department. Hes often pursued policies that have proved futile for years in stemming drug use across the nation. For instance, hes favored aggressive prosecutions of drug-related offenses. Critics have also blasted McCulloch for his prosecution of protesters and his pursuit of the death penalty in murder cases. But McCulloch is best known for not bringing charges against Darren Wilson, the policeman who shot and killed Brown during a confrontation between the two on Aug. 9, 2014. The confrontation began when Wilson ordered Brown and a friend, who were walking in the street, to walk on the sidewalk instead. Wilson, in his accounts, portrayed Brown as menacing and alleged that the teenager attacked him through an open window of his police vehicle. Wilson said Brown then fled, but stopped and turned back to charge at him. Witnesses differed on their versions of what happened between Wilson and Brown, with some claiming that Brown put his hands up to surrender at one point before being shot by Wilson. Ultimately, Wilson unloaded a total of 12 rounds at Brown, killing him. Browns death sparked several days of protests in Ferguson and around the nation over police interactions with largely black communities. And more protests months later when McCulloch decided that his office wouldnt file charges against Wilson but would instead present the matter to a grand jury without a recommendation. Following the grand jurys decision to not indict Wilson on murder or manslaughter charges, McCullochs strategy came under considerable scrutiny. While McCulloch had defenders who said the process was appropriate, doubts persisted that McCullochs prosecutors were too gentle on Wilson in questioning him before the grand jury while simultaneously being sharply skeptical of witness accounts. Further, critics said, McCullochs decision to decline to recommend a specific charge to the grand jury during the proceedings made it far more likely that the grand jury wouldnt issue an indictment anyway. Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank termed McCullochs grand jury proceeding a joke. Critics also said McCulloch should have recused himself from the case because of his close ties with police and let a special prosecutor take over. In 2015, a Justice Department investigation concluded that Wilson did not violate Browns rights. While Wesley Bells victory may come as a shock to many around the country, its no surprise to the Color of Change PAC or to many in the Black community, said Rashad Robinson, spokesperson for the Color of Change PAC, in a statement. This ousting of a 27-year incumbent shows the country what Black voters have demonstrated for decades that we demand to be heard and that we will make criminal justice reform a ballot-box issue in 2018 and beyond. Prosecutors are among the most powerful agents in the U.S. criminal justice system. They have unrivaled access to the evidence that can determine a persons guilt or innocence, and broad powers in determining how aggressively to pursue possible criminal charges against individuals. Ninety-five percent of elected prosecutors are white, and 79 percent are male. Only 1 percent of prosecutors are women of color. The majority of prosecutors 85 percent run for election unopposed. They are rarely punished for misconduct, and a 1976 Supreme Court ruling gives them absolute immunity from civil suits. This article has been updated with a statement from the Color of Change PAC and the ACLU. HuffPost is committed to covering the role of elected prosecutors in Americas criminal justice system. To reach Matt Ferner with tips or story ideas, email matt.ferner@huffpost.com. Read More: The Ferguson Protests Worked Obama Has Some Regrets About Ferguson Response If You Want To Totally Change America's Criminal Justice System, You Need A Plan Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Washington (AFP) - A power-sharing deal signed Sunday by South Sudan's leaders faces "considerable challenges" and agreements made may be "not realistic," key international backers of the young country's peace process cautioned Friday. South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011, but a little over two years later its leaders began a fresh civil war pitting President Salva Kiir against his former deputy Riek Machar. Kiir and Machar signed a deal Sunday in Khartoum that will see Machar return to the government as the first of five vice presidents. The accord is to pave the way for a final peace deal and the formation of a transitional government that will hold power until elections are held. A final peace accord must now be signed, under the auspices of regional bloc the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, followed by the formation of a transitional government that will hold power for three years until elections can be organized. "Considerable challenges lie ahead, and we are concerned that the arrangements agreed to date are not realistic or sustainable," the United States, Britain and France said in a statement. The three countries form a grouping called the Troika that has provided key funding to South Sudan's peace process. "Given their past leadership failures, South Sudanese leaders will need to behave differently and demonstrate commitment to peace and good governance," the Troika said. South Sudan's conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted nearly four million -- roughly a third of the population -- and triggered sporadic outbreaks of famine. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday welcomed the signing of the power-sharing deal and urged leaders to act quickly to reach a final agreement and end the nearly five-year war. Various peace deals have been signed and then broken, most recently in December. Every time, each side accuses the other of responsibility for the breakdown and unrelenting violence. Beirut (AFP) - Syrian forces and their Russian backers unleashed heavy air strikes on rebel-held Idlib on Friday, a monitor said, expanding their shelling of the northwestern province. Idlib is the largest chunk of territory still in rebel hands, and President Bashar al-Assad has warned it would be his next target. The province's southwest was shelled heavily on Thursday and the bombing the next day "moved further east", said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "Air strikes by Russian warplanes and barrel bombs from Syrian helicopters hit southern parts of Idlib province today in very heavy shelling," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP on Friday. Shelling killed two civilians in the main town of Khan Sheikhun, and another two died including a child in nearby Al-Tah, he said, adding that dozens of people were wounded. "The barrel bombs were focused on Khan Sheikhun," he added. The White Helmets, a rescue force operating in opposition-held areas of Syria, said its volunteers were responding to a bombing blitz on both Khan Sheikhun and Al-Tah. A White Helmets rescuer in Khan Sheikhun told AFP that residential districts had been hit. Assad's troops appear to have set their sights on Idlib after making sweeping military gains across Syria in recent months, including around Damascus and in the south. The Britain-based Observatory said regime reinforcements, including troops and equipment, had been amassing around the southwestern part of Idlib for several days. But a full-fledged assault would be devastating for the estimated 2.5 million people living in Idlib, many of them rebels and civilians bussed out of other areas that came back under regime control. The United Nations appealed Thursday for talks to avert "a civilian bloodbath" in the province, which borders Turkey. "The war cannot be allowed to go to Idlib," said Jan Egeland, head of the UN's humanitarian taskforce for Syria. Story continues Around 60 percent of Idlib is held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate. Rival factions control most of the rest, but Syrian troops have carved out a small southeastern part. Government helicopters on Thursday dropped leaflets over towns in Idlib's eastern countryside urging people to surrender. Ghazni (Afghanistan) (AFP) - Taliban militants have launched an attack on an Afghan provincial capital and heavy fighting is under way as security forces try to beat them back, with terrified residents cowering in their homes amid explosions and gunfire. At least one Afghan soldier has been killed and seven others wounded in the fighting in the southeastern city of Ghazni, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori told AFP on Friday. Civilian houses and army checkpoints have come under mortar attack and the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters are in the streets, he added. The Taliban began the attack late Thursday from several positions around the city, provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal told AFP. Residents who spoke to AFP said power has been cut to the area for hours since fighting erupted, with heavy gunfire ringing out across the city and a government building set on fire. "We are scared for our life. The Taliban are roaming everywhere in and around the city," shopkeeper Mohammad Haleem told AFP. Another resident, Yasan, said the Taliban were using loudspeakers at the mosque to warn residents to stay in their homes. "Heavy explosions and gunfire can be heard. We are terrified," Yasan wrote in a Facebook post. Police special forces have been deployed to help block the Taliban advance on the city, an Afghan security official said. The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured "most of government buildings inside the city". "So far 140 enemy forces have been killed or wounded," the group said. The Taliban frequently exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay losses incurred during fighting. - Growing pressure - It was the latest in a series of attempts by the Taliban over the past three years to capture urban centres. Afghan forces have been struggling to hold back the resurgent militant group since the withdrawal of NATO combat forces at the end of 2014. In May the Taliban attacked the western city of Farah. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and US air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. Story continues The attack on Ghazni comes as the Taliban faces growing pressure to agree to peace talks with the Afghan government to end the 17-year war. It has so far ignored President Ashraf Ghani's offer of unconditional peace negotiations. The Taliban has long insisted on direct talks with the United States. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. But there are tentative signs that diplomatic efforts to kick-start talks are starting to bear fruit. Washington indicated a change in its longstanding policy in June when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks. Pompeo also said the role of foreign forces in Afghanistan would be on the table. Last month Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar. Anticipation has also been mounting about the possibility of a government ceasefire announcement for the Islamic holiday of Eid-al Adha later this month. An unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary halt, giving war-weary Afghans some welcome relief from violence. Tennessee has carried out its first execution in nearly a decade using a controversial cocktail of drugs including a lethal ingredient described by the Supreme Court as "chemically burning at the stake". Billy Ray Irick, an inmate convicted of the 1985 rape and murder of seven-year-old Paula Dyer, received a three-drug injection on Thursday night after the US Supreme Court denied a final request to stay his execution. The lethal injection consisted of midazolam, used as sedative during an execution, a muscle-relaxer called vecuronium bromide, and compounded potassium chloride, the agent that stops the heart. Thursdays execution came amid a pending legal challenge against the states lethal injection. In recent years, experts and lawyers for death row offenders have raised questions about Midazolam's effectiveness as a sedative in executions. Witness accounts also raised questions about whether the inmates were sufficiently anaesthetised when the lethal substances were administered, and suggested they may not be not chemically appropriate. Justice Sonia Sotomayor said: "Although the Midazolam may temporarily render Irick unconscious, the onset of pain and suffocation will rouse him. And it may do so just as the paralysis sets in, too late for him to alert bystanders that his execution has gone horribly (if predictably) wrong. "In refusing to grant Irick a stay, the Court today turns a blind eye to a proven likelihood that the State of Tennessee is on the verge of inflicting several minutes of torturous pain on an inmate in its custody," Ms Sotomayor wrote. "If the law permits this execution to go forward in spite of the horrific final minutes that Irick may well experience, then we have stopped being a civilised nation and accepted barbarism." The US Supreme Court has described potassium chloride as "chemically burning at the stake". Irick's execution started at 7.26pm. At 7.34pm, he was coughing, huffing and taking deep breaths. He then let out a cough or choking sound and his face turned dark purple. He was pronounced dead at 7.48pm. Story continues His victim's mother and family members watched the execution in a separate viewing room but declined to speak at the news conference or release a statement. Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery said justice was delayed too long for the Knoxville school girl he had raped and killed while babysitting. "I hope tonight's lawful execution in some way eases the heartache Paula's family has lived with and brings a degree of closure to a chapter of their lives that has been indescribably difficult," Mr Slatery said in the statement. Hours before his execution, the 59-year-old's lawyer made a final attempt to save Irick's life, arguing that he had suffered from psychosis for the majority of his life and was mentally ill at the time of the offence. Gene Shiles told members of the media: "I never thought for one moment it would come to this. I never did. I thought somebody would actually look at the facts. I was wrong. Tennessee currently has pending legislation that, if passed, would make it illegal to apply the death penalty to a person with serious mental illness. Robert Durham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said: "It's unseemly that Irick would be executed and then the case ultimately gets resolved in his favour." In his final moments, Irick apologised for his actions, saying: I just wanted to say I'm really sorry and that, that's it. His execution comes a week after Pope Francis revealed new Catholic church teaching that deems the death penalty "inadmissible" under all circumstances. Irick is the 15th inmate executed this year in the United States and the first in Tennessee since December 2009. Convicted murdered Cecil Johnson received a lethal injection for the 1980 killings of three people during a Nashville corner shop robbery. By Jon Herskovitz (Reuters) - Tennessee conducted its first execution in nearly a decade on Thursday, administering a lethal injection to a man convicted of the 1985 rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl he was babysitting. Billy Irick, 59, who had spent more than three decades on death row, was put to death at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Department of Corrections spokeswoman Tylee Tracer said. Pronounced dead at 7:48 p.m. Central time, he became the 15th inmate executed this year in the United States and the first in Tennessee since 2009. He was convicted of raping and strangling Paula Dyer in Knoxville. Irick had been a boarder in the home where the girl lived with her mother, stepfather and siblings. Executions in Tennessee had been put on hold for years due in large part to lawsuits from death row inmates challenging the state's combination of lethal drugs and death chamber protocols. Hours before the execution, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition by Irick's lawyers to spare his life. The lawyers argued that he has suffered from psychosis for his entire life and putting him to death would violate legal norms barring the execution of people with severe mental disorders or disabilities. Tennessee state prosecutors have said Irick knew what he was doing was wrong, was competent to be executed and did not properly raise the mental illness claim in state court. Irick and other death row inmates have been part of a lawsuit that seeks to block use of Tennessee's lethal injection mix, which contains the sedative midazolam. The valium-like drug has been used in executions in other states, a few of which were botched. Midazolam does not achieve the level of unconsciousness required for surgery and is unsuitable for lethal injections, lawyers for the inmates have argued. Irick's lawyers had argued that his execution should have been halted to give an appeals court time to render a decision on that matter. Story continues Casting the lone dissenting vote in the Supreme Court's decision denying Irick a reprieve, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said that if midazolam does not work, an inmate could suffer harm in violation of constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishments. "If the law permits this execution to go forward in spite of the horrific final minutes that Irick may well experience, then we have stopped being a civilized nation and accepted barbarism," she wrote. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Diane Craft, Jonathan Oatis, Toni Reinhold) Miami (AFP) - Texas officials are investigating the reported death of a migrant child who had been held recently at a US detention center under allegedly "unsanitary conditions." State health and human services officials told AFP they had opened an investigation into the allegations, which first surfaced earlier this month. The probe began Thursday after representatives for the family shared the child's name -- which remains confidential -- to the authorities. The mother's attorneys said they disclosed information about "a small child who tragically died after being detained by (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE) in unsanitary conditions." "We currently are assessing the case and have no further comments," the Arnold & Porter law firm added in a statement. ICE said it was cooperating with the investigation. Neither authorities nor attorneys provided details such as the child's gender, nationality or cause of death. The firm only indicated that the child had been detained at a facility in Dilley, southern Texas -- one of three ICE centers that house families. Controversy over the rumored death erupted this week after The Dallas Morning News first reported the allegations on August 1. Family centers house children only if they are part of a family unit. In July, the three detention centers of this type held a total of 1,437 detainees. The total number of immigrants detained in all ICE facilities in the United States amounted to 44,210 on July 16. A "zero tolerance" policy implemented earlier this year by President Donald Trump's administration, and since reversed, greatly increased arrests on the US-Mexico border. It caused at one point more than 2,300 children to be detained without their parents, who were prosecuted for crossing the border even if they did so to seek asylum. Nowadays the fountain, and the piazza in which it is located, is packed with tourists - LightRocket Tourists could be made to file past the Trevi Fountain on a designated pathway rather than linger at their leisure as officials in Rome warn that overcrowding at the monument has got out of hand. The Baroque monument was catapulted to fame by the 1960 film La Dolce Vita but the days when visitors could admire it in relative solitude let alone wade into waist-deep it as Anita Ekberg did in the Federico Fellini classic are long gone. Nowadays the fountain, and the piazza in which it is located, is packed with tourists night and day. Visitors clamber over the flanks of the imposing monument, drop melting ice cream on its travertine stone and dangle their feet in the water to cool off during the summer months. The tourist hordes attract a small army of itinerant vendors peddling selfie sticks, postcards and fridge magnets, as well as street artists dressed as Roman centurions and legionaries. Were looking at the idea of having a route which would allow tourists to see the Trevi Fountain but without stopping, Andrea Coia, a city councilor, told La Repubblica newspaper. The aim would be to replace the current free-for-all with controlled access to the fountain Credit: Maremagnum The aim would be to replace the current free-for-all with controlled access to the fountain, because the situation has become unlivable, said Mr Coia, a member of the populist Five Star Movement. A similar proposal was trialed last July but dropped a couple of months later. If revived on a permanent basis, the city would deploy police officers to make sure visitors stick to the route and walk in the same direction. There might just be time to toss a coin into the water over the left shoulder a popular ritual that supposedly guarantees you will return to the Eternal City one day. A woman tosses a coin into the Trevi fountain in Rome. Legend has it that tossing a coin over one's shoulder into the fountain ensures a return visit Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP Sabrina Alfonsi, a municipal representative, cautiously welcomed the idea but said the piazza needed to remain accessible to local residents. It needs to be a piazza that belongs to the whole city, a living place, she said. Celebrated as one of Romes must-see attractions, the Trevi Fountain also proves irresistible to drunks, exhibitionists and sweaty tourists longing for a refreshing dip during the torrid heat of the summer. Story continues Two years ago, a British woman named Delilah Jay waded into the fountain in an evening dress, in imitation of Ms Ekbergs scene with Italian heartthrob Marcello Mastroianni in La Dolce Vita. She blew kisses to crowds of tourists but was then apprehended by police officers and fined 450. A police officer tells tourists not to eat or sit on the rim of the fountain Credit: EPA In March, two Scottish rugby fans were each fined 450 after celebrating Scotlands victory over Italy in the Six Nations tournament by plunging into the fountain. The men, one of whom was wearing a kilt as he performed a leisurely breast-stroke through the frigid water, were also hauled out by police. Consisting of a grand central arch, marble pillars and allegorical figures surrounded by gushing water, the Trevi Fountain was completed in 1762 after 30 years of work. Standing at the centre of the whole tableau is a statue of the god Oceanus commanding a chariot pulled by horses. Donald Trump, the US president - AP Mike Pence, the US vice president, has announced plans to create a standalone Space Force by 2020, becoming the sixth branch of America's military. Mr Pence said the time has come" for America to prepare for the next battlefield and secure Americas dominance among the stars. Space Force is the name given by Donald Trump to the idea of a new, free-standing military department focussed specifically on space. Currently such issues largely fall under the Air Force. Mr Trump has strongly championed the idea of creating a space-focused military service with the same stature as the Air Force and the Army, turning his dreams of a "Space Force" into a rallying cry for supporters at political events. His 2020 reelection campaign sent a fundraising email on Thursday asking supporters to vote on their favourite Space Force logo for future Trump campaign merchandise, offering a choice of six. Trump campaign email just went out asking people to vote for a Space Force logo. pic.twitter.com/083DG3pLdo Jim Dalrymple II (@Dalrymple) August 9, 2018 Mr Trump - who tweeted Space Force all the way! on Thursday - and his supporters point to how adversaries such as China and Russia are increasingly deploying satellites as proof that action is needed. There is a fear that America has become increasingly reliant on satellites for communication, navigation and intelligence and could be left exposed if the equipment is attacked. Space Force all the way! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2018 However detractors insist setting up a standalone military department would be bureaucratic and counter-productive. James Mattis, the US defence secretary, has previously voiced such concerns - though now appears more supportive. Story continues Mr Pence said in a speech on Thursday: "Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America's best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation. Move over lock her up. Theres a new chant sweeping through MAGA country: SPACE FORCE! @michaelkosta heads to a Trump rally to see what all the buzz is about: https://t.co/Pg5rZfWhRmpic.twitter.com/v3uTUEgbXw The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 27, 2018 He warned: "China and Russia have been conducting highly sophisticated on-orbit activities that could enable them to manoeuvre their satellites into close proximity of ours, posing unprecedented new dangers to our space systems. At the same time a plan was submitted to Congress explaining the Trump administrations proposals for creating Space Force. Donald Trump, the US president Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, There are currently five branches to the US armed forces: The Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Space Force would become the sixth. The first step would be creating a US Space Command by the end of the year. The Trump administration would then seek funding and the legal approval to create a standalone military department next year. Congress has the ultimate sign-off - meaning that the US president alone cannot create Space Force. The proposals are likely to trigger a political battle on Capitol Hill. The White House said in a statement that "President Trump knows that space is integral to our American way of life and economic prosperity, and is a vital domain for national defence." Nimes (France) (AFP) - Two Germans who brought a group of teenagers to a campsite in southern France, where a man was swept away by floods, were held for questioning Friday after it emerged that the site was off-limits for camping. The public prosecutor for the region confirmed to AFP that the president and vice-president of the association that brought the children from Leverkusen to the village of Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas were being held on suspicion of causing unintentional injury and endangering the lives of others. Prosecutor Eric Maurel said the two were also under investigation for "running an unauthorised campsite". On Thursday, 119 children were evacuated from the site, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Avignon in the Gard region, after the Ardeche river burst its banks, swamping the campground in a fast-flowing, muddy torrent. Nine children suffered minor injuries. A German man, who was with the group, was swept away by the floodwaters in his caravan or travel trailer, which was later found "empty and in pieces" near the river. Rescue workers spent a second day on Friday searching for the man, who was named by police as Rudolf Rogowski, aged 66. The emergency services described scenes of panic on Thursday as waist-high water surged through the campground, with children found "dangling from the trees". Maurel said local authorities had warned the German group earlier this week that the site was at risk of flooding after the heatwave that had left France parched ended with dramatic storms. The youngsters were evacuated to a community hall where they spent the night, along with other holidaymakers. The media was not allowed access to the hall and the Jugendfoerderung Saint-Antonius association turned down requests for comment. Founded in the 1950s by a Catholic priest to provide affordable holidays for children in the industrial Rhineland region, it launched an appeal for donations on its website to help meet costs arising out of Thursday's dramatic rescue. A total of 1,600 people, mostly campers, were evacuated Thursday in the Gard, Ardeche and Drome areas of southeast France. By Nick Brown (Reuters) - As the U.S. government closed a public comment period on Wednesday on its plans for the 2020 census, scientists, philanthropists and civil rights groups used the occasion to again criticize plans to include a question about U.S. citizenship. The comment period gave any member of the public a chance to comment on aspects of the census which is a mandatory, once-a-decade count of the U.S. population that next occurs in April 2020. The comments have not yet been published, but some groups and individuals reinforced their opposition to the Trump administration's plan to ask census respondents whether they are U.S. citizens. At least 250,000 people have called for removing the question, according to a coalition of civil rights groups, led by the Leadership Conference Education Fund https://leadershipconferenceedfund.org/about on Wednesday. "This egregious citizenship question is a political effort to weaponize the census to redefine American democracy for a narrow set of people, Vanita Gupta, the fund's president, said in a statement. A spokesman for the Education Fund said the group's tally included comments and petitions run by the groups themselves and was not an official count of comments submitted to the government. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine http://www.nationalacademies.org's Committee on National Statistics, a prominent statistical organization, said in a letter to the U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday that the question was "inconsistent with the 'proper performance of the functions' of the Census Bureau," and should be removed. A coalition of more than 300 philanthropic groups, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Hewlett Foundation, called for removing the question. They said it would "significantly undermine efforts to achieve a fair and accurate census in 2020." U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced in March the decennial census would ask citizenship status for the first time since 1950, explaining that the information would help enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Story continues The plan has drawn widespread scorn from city and state governments, scientists, and civil rights groups who think it is a politically driven effort to discourage immigrants from participating in the census. By law, the Census Bureau, part of the Department of Commerce, is not allowed to share individuals' data with law enforcement agencies, but some immigrants may nevertheless have that fear. A Commerce Department spokesperson said the department and Census Bureau appreciated the public comments they received from dozens of government officials, members of Congress and others from across the political spectrum before Ross decided to reinstate the citizenship question. Because census data is used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, dole out federal funding and serve as the basis for state-level political districts, an undercount of immigrants could affect a state or city's political representation for a decade. Some 17 U.S. states and several cities, all with Democratic attorneys general or mayors, have sued the federal government, seeking to get the question removed. Among those who support the question are scholars at the conservative Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute, Republican U.S. Representatives Steve King and Clay Higgins, and Republican Senator John Kennedy. "A census isnt just a simple count of every man, woman and child," Kennedy said in April. "It delves into economics, geography and other demographics. It certainly should be able to tell the story of our nations citizenship. (Reporting by Nick Brown in New York; editing by Damon Darlin) By Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) - The number of immigrant children in U.S. care who have still not been reunited with their families after being separated at the Mexican border has barely budged in the past week, as the government struggles to locate parents no longer in the United States. Over 500 children out of more than 2,500 separated from their parents by officials at the border remain in the care of the government. The number dipped to 559 this week from 572 last week, according to a court filing on Thursday. The children were removed from their parents as part of President Donald Trump's 'zero tolerance' policy to discourage illegal immigration. The policy was abandoned on June 20 in the face of criticism at home and abroad. Shortly after, U.S. Judge Dana Sabraw ordered that the government reunite the families within 30 days. Since the bulk of the reunifications in July, there has been little progress, largely because many of the remaining parents have been removed from the United States to Guatemala and Honduras. The government said in Thursday's court filing that it still had not finalized a plan for reuniting 386 children whose parents were removed from the country, but said it had named representatives from four U.S. agencies to oversee the process in concert with plaintiffs in the case. On Tuesday, the government provided the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the case, with contact information for parents and relatives of those children, according to the court filing. The ACLU said it was working with various charities to find the parents, but had been frustrated by the government's slowness in providing information. Last week, Sabraw called the government progress "unacceptable." Nine children were returned to Guatemala on Tuesday, the first from that country to be flown from the United States to be reunited with a parent. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) UK should do more to sanction corrupt money in London, MP says A Tory MP has called on the government to step up action against corrupt money flowing through London and "proxies" for the Putin regime following US sanctions against Russia over Salisbury. Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the Foreign Affairs committee, said there is a big question hanging over the UK after Washingtons intervention. Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme he said: The idea we should be trading with Russia, allowing them to launder their money. We have to ask ourselves some very serious questions. Whose side are we on? Yesterday the US said it will impose fresh sanctions on Russia after determining it used nerve agent against a former Russian double agent living in the UK. Great news. Now perhaps our own government will sanction some of the corrupt money flowing through London and the proxies who launder it for the Putin regime? https://t.co/1MYD8gD8By Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) August 9, 2018 The British government welcomes the move and said: "The strong international response to the use of a chemical weapon on the streets of Salisbury sends an unequivocal message to Russia that its provocative, reckless behaviour will not go unchallenged. However, Mr Tugendhat said the UK should be doing more to stop " businesses with deep pockets and expensive lawyers including tightening rules for the companies who act for them. The rise of biological and chemical weapons After Salisbury, how ready is the UK? Controls apply to banks, to make sure [they] know where the money is coming from, he said. Those controls dont apply to lawyers, estate agents and many others. Weve got to be very clear that organisations that claim to be regulatory, like the solicitors regulatory authority, need to be absolutely robust. If solicitors firms, instead of supporting the pursuit of justice, actually assist in the whitewashing of crime by finding different ways around the law, then we must be absolutely robust on it. He also appeared to criticise Boris Johnson, the former Foreign Secretary, and said: I am glad we now have [a Foreign Secretary] who is able to make relationships without laughing at people. GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. refugee agency is gravely concerned by reports that a senior Zimbabwean politician was refused asylum in Zambia and sent back to his own country, which would be a serious violation of international law, it said in a statement on Thursday. "It is reported that the authorities handed him over to his country of origin today despite a court order to the contrary," the UNHCR said. Zimbabwean police took former finance minister and opposition leader Tendai Biti into custody on Thursday after Zambian authorities rejected his bid for asylum and deported him, his lawyers said. (Reporting by Tom Miles; editing by John Stonestreet) UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. Security Council is calling for "a credible and transparent investigation" into an attack in northern Yemen that killed a large number of civilians, including children. A statement from the U.N.'s most powerful body was issued after a closed briefing Friday by a senior U.N. official and expressed "grave concern" at the latest attacks in Saada province "and all other recent attacks." The council did not say who was responsible, but the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it's investigating. Britain's U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce, the current council president, told reporters "if there's an acceptable, credible investigation then the council will want to consider next steps in the light of that." "If any investigation that is held is not credible, the council will obviously want to review that," she said. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council called Friday for a credible and transparent investigation into the death of at least 29 children in a Saudi-led coalition attack on a bus in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition earlier announced that it had ordered an investigation into the air strike on Thursday that also wounded at least 48 others in the northern rebel stronghold of Saada. British Ambassador Karen Pierce, who holds the council presidency, told reporters following a closed-door meeting on Yemen that "if any investigation that is held is not credible, the council will obviously want to review that" and decide "if more is necessary." The council did not order a separate investigation but "will now consult with the UN and others as to how the investigation can best be taken forward," said Pierce. The council met at the request of five countries: Bolivia, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, and Sweden, which are all non-permanent council members. Kuwait, also a non-permanent council member, is part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting Huthi rebels in Yemen. The United States, France and Britain -- three of the five permanent council members -- have supported the Saudi coalition in its military campaign, but have expressed concern over the heavy toll on civilians. Ahead of the meeting, the Netherlands had stressed that the investigation must be independent, suggesting that the coalition's decision to open up a probe was insufficient. "We have seen the images of children who died," Dutch Deputy Ambassador Lise Gregoire-van Haaren told reporters. "What is essential at this moment in time is to have a credible and independent investigation." - Saudi investigation - The council did not specify in the agreed statement to the press that the investigation should be independent -- a demand that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also made in a statement condemning the attack on Thursday. Story continues Council members expressed their "great concern" and "called for a credible and transparent investigation," Pierce said. Human Rights Watch criticised the council's failure to demand an impartial investigation. "The sad truth is Saudis have been given a chance to investigate themselves and the results are laughable," said HRW's deputy UN director Akshaya Kumar. Out of 75 cases of civilian deaths investigated by the coalition, only two resulted in an admission of fault, she said. Last year, the coalition was put on a UN blacklist of child rights' violators for killing or injuring 683 children, and attacking dozens of schools and hospitals. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a military campaign to restore the internationally recognized government to power and push back the Huthis, who still hold the capital Sanaa. The war has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Washington (AFP) - Washington authorities said they will ramp up the capital city's emergency level when white nationalists and counterprotesters demonstrate Sunday at the same park outside the White House. The National Park Service said Wednesday it issued a permit for a rally in Lafayette Park by Unite the Right, the white supremacist network that organized a protest in Charlottesville, Virginia last year that turned deadly. But the service said it has also issued a permit at the same park on the same day for counterprotesters, a move that appeared to raise the prospects of a violent clash right in front of the White House. "Law enforcement's goal during the entire operational period will be to keep the two groups separated," DC Police Chief Peter Newsham told reporters, as he added a warning to anyone coming to the city threatening violence. "If you come here with the intent to hurt someone or break something, we're going to put you under arrest," said Newsham. All firearms will be banned from the protest site, including those legally carried by licensed gun owners, he stressed. The second permit was issued to the Answer Coalition, a group that has called for "mass action" on Sunday to protest what it described as racists, fascists, neo-Nazis and white supremacists. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she signed an order raising the city's emergency level to allow for additional resources for safety, traffic management and public works. "We know that our responsibility is to protect First Amendment events, to protect Washingtonians and to protect our city, and we will do just that," she said. The population of the US capital is nearly half black, according to the US census bureau. Sunday is likely to be tense. It marks the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville demonstration in which white supremacists and other far-right groups, angry over efforts to remove statues of Confederate leaders, clashed violently with counterprotesters. Story continues One woman was killed and 19 injured when a 20-year-old man drove a car into a group of the counterprotesters. President Donald Trump, in a low point of his presidency, blamed "both sides" for the bloodshed, a reaction that triggered astonishment among many and was widely seen as escalating tensions. Newsham said the permit allowed for 400 demonstrators, and that overflow zones will be available should more protesters arrive. "We would ask everyone who attends to not let their personal passions overcome their civility," he said. Unite the Right said on its website that supporters will march from a nearby subway station to Lafayette Park at 5:00pm (2100 GMT). It also warned its followers not to bring guns or "engage in any fighting." Washington (AFP) - US and Mexican negotiators will resume talks next week on the update of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Friday. At the close of the third consecutive week of discussions in Washington, the official said it remained possible to reach a deal by the end of the month. But, he told reporters, "We still have a lot of work to do." And he stressed that the most difficult issues had been left to the end, including the US demand that NAFTA be approved every five years, a provision known as a sunset clause. "We are working like we've been doing for the last three weeks and making a lot of advancements. We are coming back next week," he said. "But as I said before: nothing is closed until everything is closed." US and Mexican officials will continue to work on bilateral issues before their Canadian counterparts rejoin the discussions on modernizing the 24-year-old trade deal, Guajardo said. US President Donald Trump demanded NAFTA be renegotiated after repeatedly criticizing the 24-year-old pact as a "terrible deal" and officials now are rushing to conclude the talks before Mexico's President-Elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office on December 1. Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela said Friday it has asked Interpol to arrest an opposition politician exiled in Colombia and accused of involvement in an apparent attack against President Nicolas Maduro. "We are seeking code red for Mr. Julio Borges," Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said, referring to the former speaker of the National Assembly. The request for an Interpol red notice -- calling for police in another country to locate and provisionally arrest a suspect wanted in another -- follows what Venezuelan officials said was a drone assassination attempt on Maduro last weekend. Two drones packed with explosives flew toward Maduro as he was attending a military parade in Caracas, officials said. When a detonation occurred, soldiers were seen running away in panic. Authorities have detained several suspects whom they accuse of involvement with support from neighboring Colombia and from unidentified figures in the United States. One of those detained is another opposition lawmaker, Juan Requesens, who was seized by intelligence officers at his home this week. On Friday, Maduro's government said Requesens had admitted to having communicated through a message service with another arrested suspect, retired soldier Juan Monasterios, who has allegedly confessed to participating in the attack. Rodriguez presented a video excerpt in which Requesens is heard telling a prosecutor that Borges had asked him to smuggle Monasterios into Colombia. The Constituent Assembly, a powerful super-legislative body of Maduro loyalists created last year that has arrogated powers from the opposition-dominated National Assembly, on Wednesday stripped Borges and Requesens of their parliamentary immunity so they can be put on trial. Borges and other opposition figures accuse Maduro of using the drone incident to step up repression. The European Union has called for a "comprehensive and transparent investigation" of the incident while rejecting violence in Venezuela. It also demanded the National Assembly's powers be restored, including its right to decide the parliamentary immunity of its members. Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela was pressing Colombia and the US to extradite its former National Assembly speaker as the country's opposition pushed back Thursday, saying the arrest warrant for the prominent lawmaker Julio Borges was "political in nature." Venezuela's Supreme Court one day prior had ordered the arrest of Borges for "attempted murder," suspecting his involvement in what officials said was a drone "assassination" attempt on President Nicolas Maduro. The opposition-dominated legislature said the arrest warrant was "political in nature and should not be recognized by any foreign court." The National Assembly also denounced the "forced disappearance" of another lawmaker -- Juan Requesens, who was seized by intelligence officers overnight -- demanding his "immediate release." The main opposition Justice First party later announced on Twitter intelligence agents had raided the homes of Borges and Requesens on Thursday night without warrants. Former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said he was concerned authorities may be tempted to plant evidence to incriminate them. Venezuela's superagency the Constituent Assembly announced on Wednesday it was stripping Borges and Requesens of their parliamentary immunity, as the president accused the opposition of being behind an alleged assassination attempt against the president on Saturday. The government said seven soldiers were injured after two explosive-laden drones blew up in the confines of a military parade at the weekend. Borges accused Maduro of "a set-up to persecute and convict anybody that opposes your dictatorship." The National Assembly said it would resist any attempt to remove its members' immunity -- but it has been left powerless by what the opposition described as a Maduro "coup." Maduro created the legislative Constituent Assembly -- now the nation's top authority -- a year ago to effectively replace the opposition-dominated National Assembly. Although the National Assembly is the only body under Venezuela's constitution with the power to lift the immunity of individuals, it has been left impotent while the Constituent Assembly, filled exclusively with Maduro loyalists, reigns supreme. Washington (AFP) - The United States called Thursday for a "thorough" investigation following the deaths of 29 children in northern Yemen in a strike on a bus carried out by the Saudi-led coalition. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the US was "concerned" by reports of an attack resulting in civilian deaths. "We are calling the Saudi led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident," she said. Nauert added the US takes credible accounts of civilian casualties "very seriously." "We call on the parties to take appropriate measures to protect civilians," she said. A hospital in Saada province supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross "received the bodies of 29 children under the age of 15 and 48 wounded, including 30 children," the organization announced on Twitter. A spokesman for the Red Cross in Sanaa told AFP the toll was not final as casualties from the attack were taken to several hospitals. The coalition acknowledged carrying out a "legitimate military action," but spokesman Turki al-Maliki told AFP claims that children were inside the bus were "misleading," adding that the bus carried "Huthi combatants." Saada is a stronghold of Huthi rebels, whom the Saudi-led coalition are fighting in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's forces. The war in Yemen has left more than 10,000 dead since 2015, sparking what the UN says is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The US has lent its Saudi allies support in the form of arms, intelligence and aerial refueling. Two people died at the Westchester Medical Centre in an apparent murder suicide: Getty Images Police have launched an investigation into an apparent murder-suicide inside a New York hospital. Two people were found dead after gunshots were heard inside the Westchester Medical Centre on Wednesday morning. Police and hospital staff found two victims, both in their 70s, who were shot and laying on the ground. Authorities said the two had "some sort of family relation," while declining to identify either victims name or provide additional information. Local police rushed to the scene on the fourth floor of the medical centre within two minutes of receiving the call, officials said at a press conference. Paramedics immediately began working on the victims, though they were unable to be rescued. The hospital went on lock down as authorities responded to the shooting. Officials said there is no threat to staff or visitors, adding that the incident was contained to a single room. Hospital staff waited outside of the medical centre on Wednesday morning as an investigation was underway. The Westchester Medical Centre is located in Valhalla, New York, nearly 30 miles away from New York City. Fox 5 New York reported that a man had shot his wife "before turning the gun on himself," though officials did not confirm that information in a press conference Wednesday morning. NBC New York also reported that a woman was killed inside the hospital by a male visitor in his 70s. The man reportedly entered the hospital and shot the woman in her bed before taking his own life. Authorities found a 0.38-caliber revolver at the scene of the shooting, and are investigating how many shots was fired. The two people who died at the scene were the only ones inside of the room at the time of the shooting, officials said. The lead pastor of one of the largest evangelical churches in the US has said she is stepping down along with the entire Board of Elders after a string of sexual harassment allegations against its founder, Bill Hybels. Heather Larson said the Willow Creek Community Church needed new leadership. "To all of the women who have come forward, the church should always follow in Jesus footsteps to help the wounded find healing, and we are sorry we added to your pain, she said in an announcement on the Chicago-area churchs website. It has eight locations dotted around the Illinois city. That was not our intention, and we regret that it has taken us this long to acknowledge that. While we will probably never know with certainty everything thats true about each of your stories, we have no reason not to believe you. We are sorry that our initial statements were so insensitive, defensive, and reflexively protective of Bill. We exhort Bill to acknowledge his sin and publicly apologise. Mr Hybels former assistant, Pat Baranowski, alleged to The New York Times that he repeatedly demanded oral sex and groped her while she worked for him the 1980s. After leaving her job, she struggled for 25 years with depression, becoming unemployed and homeless. A number of other women have also accused Mr Hybels of sexual misconduct. Although he denies the allegation, Mr Hybels resigned from the church in April. The announcement from the Board of Elders came as the Willow Creek Association ahead of the megachurch's 23rd annual Global Leadership Summit. Heather Larson, lead pastor at the Willow Creek Commnity Church, says the church needs new leadership in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against Bill Hybels (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP) Several speakers have backed out and over 100 churches cancelled plans to broadcast the event, after the allegations against Mr Hybels surfaced. At least five participants, including Oscar winner Denzel Washington, also cancelled their scheduled appearances at the event, according to The Chicago Tribune. Previous guests to appear at the summit over its 26-year history include U2 frontman Bono, Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. Mr Hybels will not appear at the event, which he has previously hosted. Israel has slammed what it describes as a slap in the face by a friendly nation after Colombias outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Wednesday a previously-taken decision to recognize the State of Palestine. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Santoss successor, President Ivan Duque, took office on Tuesday and was informed a few days ago of the decision, which was detailed in an August 3 letter to the Palestinian representative in Colombia, the foreign ministry said. PM Netanyahu and President Juan Manuel Santos (Photo: EPA) This is a slap in the face by a friendly country, which goes against the close and quality relationship, especially between the states and the leaders, said a statement released by the Israeli Embassy in Colombia. The Israeli Embassy in Bogota said it was surprised and disappointed by the decision of the outgoing government to recognize Palestine as a state and the way in which it was done. Jerusalem expected from what the embassy described as a friendly government to inform its friends in advance regarding a change in policy that is so critical to the alliance between them. We ask the Colombian government to reverse the decision made by the previous administration in its last days, which contravenes the close relations, extensive cooperation in vital areas and interests of both countries, it said in a statement posted to its Twitter account. Minister Tzachi at President Ivan Duque's inauguration ceremony The decision came to light during a visit to Colombia by United States ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. She attended Duques inauguration on Tuesday and on Wednesday visited Venezuelan migrants in the northern border city of Cucuta. Colombias new government said it would review the decision Given possible omissions that could come to light about the way in which this decision was taken by the outgoing president, the government will cautiously examine its implications and will act according to international law, new Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes said in a statement. Santos decided to recognize Palestine as a free, independent and sovereign state, according to the letter, which was circulated to reporters by the foreign ministry. Colombia follows the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We are aware of the difficult situation of the Palestinian people and we think that in order to facilitate the creation of a Palestinian state, there must be unity within the people, Santoss letter read. The best way to end the conflict in direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Just as the Palestinian people have a right to constitute an independent state, Israel has a right to live in peace alongside its neighbors, the letter said. Colombia abstained in December from a vote by the 193-member UN General Assembly on a resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. US President Donald Trump had threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that voted in favor. A resident of the southern city of Sderot has called on the government to formulate a policy regarding the Gaza Strip that removes the current climate of limbo, a day after some 200 rockets slammed into southern Israel, prompting a massive wave of IAF airstrikes Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The old industrial zone of Sderot is usually bustling with shoppers on Friday, but was almost entirely empty on Friday morning, a day after the massive bombardment on Israeli southern cities. (Photo: Gil Yohanan) According to the handful of buyers and merchants in the area, the unpredictability and fluctuation between the area being a center of shoppers and an almost completely deserted ghost town has become the norma phenomenon they say returned since Code Red sirens began blasting out on a regular basis. The parking lot here is always full. Theres no where to park. Now there are practically no people, said Pasquel, a resident of one of the hardest-hit cities by Gaza attacks. The latest ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas terror group, which was reported to have gone into effect at 10:45pm on Thursday evening, was cause for little optimism for Pasquel. This ceasefire is limited and I dont have confidence in it. We have an enemy which exploits its innocent population there for its own benefit, he said. "I expect our decision makers to approach the border and see the monument dedicated to the fallen paratroopers, he told Ynet. There are sacrifices in every campaign, but this situation cannot be left in limbo, in which there is no quiet and no war. There should either be peace or we should formulate a policy and implement it, the frustrated resident continued. Asher Cohen, who has lived in Sderot for the past 40 years, said he cannot understand why the government is not taking stronger action against Hamas. (Photo: Gil Yohanan) It was a tough night, but it is still tense from our point of view. We sleep in bomb shelters. In the past four months we have lived in an on-and-off situation, with no knowing what will be tomorrow, or when the next Qassam rocket will come, he complained. I am disappointed with our government. We feel like class D citizens. Every time we hear threats that we will expand our attacks and we ask: Why not now? We want quiet and it can be brought about, Cohen added. The government is limp. We would have expected there not to be a ceasefire at the moment and that we continue with a powerful response. Hamas cant determine for us when there is calm and when there isnt. (Photo: Gil Yohanan) Cohen is not alone in the voices calling for permanent quiet on the border instead of temporary ceasefires. Yes, there is quiet now, but lets see how long it goes on for, said a gloomy Alex Valochnikov, who has lived in Sderot for ten years. I dont believe in these declarations anymore. The residents are used to them, they understand that this is the situation and this is how it is going to stay. According to Valochnikov, a serious operation is needed to put an end to this, to ensure continued quiet for the long term, not just for a year. Damage caused by rocket fired from Gaza (Photo: AFP) For Albert Azran, who has 16 grandchildren, the main problem lies in the governments decision making. The residents are used to how to act when there are sirens. Our problem is that the government should know how to hit them (Hamas) as they should, not the other way around. Hamas can rocket us today and tomorrow declare a ceasefire, but its all a bluff. There are no ceasefires. Theres nothing, he said. We are a strong people and we know how to deal with it. I expect the government to first of all to reach an agreement on returning those in captivity, It should not be the last thing in negotiations, but rather the first. We, the residents, can stand in any situation. If the IDF decides to hit the strip, we can take it. A source in Gaza confirmed that a ceasefire went into effect to Ynet, while two Israeli officials denied a truce had been reached, in line with Israel's policy of ambiguity. An Israeli official said Hamas has been asking for a ceasefire since Thursday morning, but the IDF continued attacking significant targets. Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV channel reported late Thursday that a ceasefire has taken hold "on the basis of mutual calm." It said the deal was mediated by Egypt and other regional players. A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the deal would formally go into effect at midnight. He said the agreement merely ends the latest two-day burst of violence between Israel and Hamas and added that Egypt would continue efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire. Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi said Friday that the reported ceasefire is a mistake. (Photo: Israel Police) I understand the desire of the government to enter into negotiations, but Israel must end the terror with military assistance. This on and off war is unhealthy, Davidi said. Over 180 rockets have been fired from Gaza over the past 24 hours, with the IDF retaliating with heavy bombardments in the strip, destroying a 5-story building, as well as several terror tunnels, military complexes and other targets. At least seven Israelis were wounded from the Gaza rockets, with one landing as far as Be'er Sheva. Mortar shells and rockets also hit the entrance of a residential home in Sderot, a house in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and a building in an industrial zone of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. The Iron Dome intercepted at least 30 rockets. Palestinian officials said at least three people were killed in the Israeli attacks: Hamas fighter Ali Ghandour, 23-year-old Enas Khamash, who was pregnant, and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan. At least five civilians were wounded. Gaza's Health Ministry said the militant and the civilians were killed in separate incidents. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed concerns over the tumbling lira, calling on Turks to have no worries, after the currency hit record lows in recent weeks on the back of a widening rift with the United States. Ankara and Washington, NATO allies, have been at loggerheads over the detention in Turkey of US evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson on terrorism charges, prompting US sanctions on two of Erdogans ministers and threats of trade restrictions. All restriction were lifted on Israeli residents of towns and cities neighboring the Gaza Strip on Friday afternoon after a ceasefire went into effect the previous night following a huge exchange of fire between Hamas and the IDF between Wednesday and Thursday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Despite the ceasefire, which took hold at 10:45pm on Thursday evening, Hamas has called on Gaza residents to participate in demonstrations on the border. One Hamas spokesman said that the Palestinian people would continue to stage weekly March of Return protests until the groups aims had been achieved, with the first being the lifting of the siege around Gaza. Shops in Sderot on Friday afternoon (Photo: Gil Yohanan) Every time the Israeli killing machine tries to break the strength and will of our people to continue its struggle, every time it will fail, said the spokesman. Israel fears that the demonstration could erupt into violence as it has in the past, raising concerns that an IDF response could trigger a further volley of rocket fire and IAF strikes, bringing a swift end to the fragile ceasefire. While a Hamas official confirmed that an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire had been reached, Israel maintained its policy of remaining mute on the issue, declining to confirm or deny that such an agreement had been settled. An Israeli official said Hamas has been asking for a ceasefire since Thursday morning, but the IDF continued attacking significant targets. Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV channel reported late Thursday that a ceasefire has taken hold "on the basis of mutual calm." It said the deal was mediated by Egypt and other regional players. A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the deal would formally go into effect at midnight. (Photo: Gil Yohanan) He said the agreement merely ends the latest two-day burst of violence between Israel and Hamas and added that Egypt would continue efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire. Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi said Friday that the reported ceasefire is a mistake. I understand the desire of the government to enter into negotiations, but Israel must end the terror with military assistance. This on and off war is unhealthy, Davidi said. Over 180 rockets were fired from Gaza between Wednesday and Thursday, with the IDF retaliating with heavy bombardments in the strip, destroying a 5-story building, as well as several terror tunnels, military complexes and other targets. At least seven Israelis were wounded from the Gaza rockets, with one landing as far as Be'er Sheva . Mortar shells and rockets also hit the entrance of a residential home in Sderot, a house in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and a building in an industrial zone of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. The Iron Dome intercepted at least 30 rockets. Palestinian officials said at least three people were killed in the Israeli attacks: Hamas fighter Ali Ghandour, 23-year-old Enas Khamash, who was pregnant, and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan. At least five civilians were wounded. Gaza's Health Ministry said the militant and the civilians were killed in separate incidents. The UN children's agency says a battle for Syria's Idlib province between government forces and the rebels could affect the lives of more than 1 million children, many of whom live in refugee camps. UNICEF says food, water, and medicine are already in short supply in the largely rural northwestern province, now home to over 1 million Syrians who have been displaced from their homes by government offensives across the country. The agency says a battle for Idlib, the last major bastion for Syria's political and military opposition, would exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation, and potentially displace 350,000 children. Syria's government dropped leaflets across the province Thursday urging residents to reconcile with its rule. Officials have warned that government forces will take back the province by force if necessary. The Israeli cyber security company ClearSky announced on Thursday evening that the Hamas terror organization has launched espionage software for smartphones which pretends to be an application used by Israelis to receive Code Red alerts to warn of incoming rockets. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter According to the company, Hamas has attempted to make Israelis download the malware on their smartphones in an effort to take control of their devices and spy on them. ClearSky said that it believes the phony application has been in the offing for some time, but its launch was only scheduled to coincide with a barrages of rockets fired at Israelas they were between Wednesday and Thursdayin an effort to confuse Israelis about the authenticity of genuine Code Red alert in southern Israel. Genuine and official application download (L), fake app (R) The application is reached via a fake website purporting to be the Israeli Code Red website. Israelis are then duped into downloading the app, according to the cyber security company, through the use of fictitious Facebook profiles, bots on Twitter, emails and other methods. ClearSky CEO Boaz Dolev released a statement on the matter saying that his company had discovered the hacking scheme as part of its monitoring activities, leading the firm to come across websites that mislead Israelis into installing malware. When you the download an application, it takes control of your cell phone and enables the operator to track the device, receive its location, to take photos, record sound, make phone calls, send messages and other things that the device can do, Dolev warned. According to a series of data we have collected, it is clear that Hamas will time the attack as a cyber arm of the current rocket attacks on Israel, he added. Dolev also warned that there is no way of removing the application once it has been downloaded, urging people to only download apps from official app stores. Unfortunately, it looks like if the software has already been downloaded, deleting the application won't help and wont remove the malware and the cell phone will continue to transmit all its information to the operator. ClearSky also identified another attempt by Hamas to attack Israeli internet browsers using a file containing malicious software which is downloaded to computers and cellular phones when a fake registration form is downloaded to Cellcom TV. Over 180 rockets were fired from Gaza between Wednesday and Thursday, with the IDF retaliating with heavy bombardments in the strip, destroying a 5-story building, as well as several terror tunnels, military complexes and other targets. At least seven Israelis were wounded from the Gaza rockets, with one landing as far as Be'er Sheva. Mortar shells and rockets also hit the entrance of a residential home in Sderot, a house in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and a building in an industrial zone of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. The Iron Dome intercepted at least 30 rockets. Palestinian officials said at least three people were killed in the Israeli attacks: Hamas fighter Ali Ghandour, 23-year-old Enas Khamash, who was pregnant, and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan. At least five civilians were wounded. Gaza's Health Ministry said the militant and the civilians were killed in separate incidents. Russia's prime minister sternly warned the United States on Friday against ramping up sanctions, saying that Moscow will retaliate with economic, political and unspecified "other" means. The tough message from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev marked what the Kremlin sees as a red line, reflecting a growing dismay with the new US sanctions that already have sent the Russian ruble plummeting to its lowest level in two years. Russia must halt torture of detainees and prosecute the perpetrators, including prison guards caught on video beating an inmate, United Nations human rights investigators said on Friday. The UN Committee against Torture, in a rare move, told Russian authorities to report back in a year on progress in holding to account guards who beat Yevgeny Makarov with truncheons and their superiors who suppressed the year-old tape, which provoked a public outcry. The Palestinian security forces and armed men in the town of al-Azariya near Jerusalem exchanged fire on Friday. The clashes took place against following last night's raid by the security forces on several illegal gas stations owned by Bedouin living near the town, during which one person was shot dead. Three Palestinians were killed and 300 others wounded in clashes that erupted during a Hamas-led protest along the Gaza border Friday as the terror group and Israel observed a cease-fire, which took hold at 10:45pm on Thursday evening. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Among the dead were a 22-year-old paramedic and a 55-year-old man, Palestinian health officials said. A third man succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning. Despite the temporary cessation of hostilities, Hamas has called on Gaza residents to participate in the weekly March of Return demonstrations on the border. Gaza protests (Photo: AFP) Around 9,000 Palestinians took part in the protests along the fence in five different locations, some of whom set tires ablaze, hurled stones, explosives and fire bombs at troops. The soldiers "responded with riot dispersal means and live fire, in accordance with the standard operating procedures", said the IDF Spokespersons Unit. In addition, an IDF tank shelled a Hamas outpost in the northern Gaza Strip in response to a grenade that had been thrown at soldiers, said the IDF. Another outpost had also been shelled in southern Gaza. No injuries among the Israeli forces were reported. Palestinian medic killed during clashes One Hamas spokesman said that the Palestinian people would continue to stage protests until the groups aims had been achieved, with the first being the lifting of the siege around Gaza. Every time the Israeli killing machine tries to break the strength and will of our people to continue its struggle, every time it will fail, said the spokesman. The IDF also confirmed that it has completed the deployment of Iron Dome batteries in central Israel. In the meantime, six fires broke out in the Gaza border communities as a result of incendiary balloons flown from the strip into Israeli territories. All fires had been extinguished. Earlier, all restrictions were lifted on Israeli residents of towns and cities neighboring the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire went into effect the previous night following a huge exchange of fire between Hamas and the IDF between Wednesday and Thursday. At least seven Israelis were wounded from the Gaza rockets, with one landing as far as Be'er Sheva. Mortar shells and rockets also hit the entrance of a residential home in Sderot, a house in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and a building in an industrial zone of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. The Iron Dome intercepted at least 30 rockets. (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) Palestinian officials said at least three people were killed in the Israeli attacks: Hamas fighter Ali Ghandour, 23-year-old Enas Khamash, who was pregnant, and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan. At least five civilians were wounded. Gaza's Health Ministry said the militant and the civilians were killed in separate incidents. A 55-year-old Palestinian man was killed during the weekly March of Return protests in the southern Gaza Strip. Earlier, a 22-year-old Palestinian paramedic was killed amid the clashes between the IDF and protesters. News Washington, DC - Secretary Michael R. Pompeo called Georgian President Margvelashvili on August 7, 2018. During the call, Secretary Pompeo thanked Georgia for its participation in NATOs Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and our robust bilateral security cooperation. The two also discussed the strong U.S. and international support for Georgias sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as Georgias remarkable democratic and economic progress over the past 10 years, in spite of Russias August 8, 2008 invasion of Georgia. News Yuma, Arizona - Small unmanned aerial systems, 55 lbs. and under, are changing the way businesses and industries work. However, for people who want to utilize the machines in their workplace or for individuals simply interested in learning more about the technology, its imperative that users gain an understanding of how to operate the equipment safely and correctly. Thats why Bridget Johanning is teaching courses as an adjunct faculty member for the new Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) certificate program thats being offered for the first time at Arizona Western College this fall. Johanning became interested in UAS technology when she realized how it would help her work more efficiently to create maps in her job as a cartographic technician and Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Specialist with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. She then completed the Professional Program in Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to learn about the regulations behind using drones and how to get imagery faster than ever before. She also earned her Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 UAS Certification. Working in the geospatial world, historically, we would have to wait two years for new aerial imagery, said Johanning. With drones, we can update our maps, data, and construction projects faster. People want accurate and up to date information now, not in two years. The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) concentration will prepare students for careers in the rapidly growing field of UAS, including operations, remote sensing, data collection and analysis. Students in the program will develop skills to manage and plan flight operations as well as collect and process imagery data in line with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Operations of UAS have a variety of research and commercial uses in multiple applications including agriculture, natural and cultural resources management, emergency response, aerial videography and photography. Entry level salary for Johannings position at the Bureau of Reclamation starts at $45,000 and ranges up to $95,000. The 8-week Introduction to UAS course taught by Johanning will begin Aug. 20 and is offered on evenings and weekends. Adjunct faculty member Todd Pinnt will be teaching the next 8-week course in the program, UAS Pilot Ground School, which begins Oct. 15 also and is also offered evenings and weekends. Johanning shared that students can complete the two-semester UAS certificate program in addition to the new, two-semester Geospatial Technologies Specialist or Geospatial Technologies Technician certification programs, to help students learn more about how to use and apply information gathered by UAS equipment. To help get younger generations interested in these fields, Johanning has partnered with Pinnt for two years to showcase the profession through a GIS Day at Cibola High School reaching over 2,000 students each time. Recently in June, the Yuma Union High School District governing board accepted $4.1 million in funds from the Southwest Technical Education District of Yuma (STEDY) to be used for multiple career and technical education courses, one of which was for an engineering class at Cibola that will feed into a new drone program. Johanning shared that its important to get students introduced to the field at a young age to see if its something they would like to pursue. I want to spark the youth to get interested in these STEM fields, especially girls, said Johanning. Whenever we did outreach events, there were several girls that were interested, and for me thats going to be my push, to get more females in the industry and to get them interested at a young age, because Ive been in an industry thats been generally men for the last 22 years. In addition to her work with youth, shes also united area GIS professionals through holding quarterly meetings and was selected by Governor Doug Ducey in 2016 to be on the Arizona Geographic Information Council. Additionally, she has initiated a local Sky Squad Club of members with certifications that share up-to-date information and get together to fly their machines. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - Jersey Mikes Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs, will open in Yuma on August 15. Franchise owners Ryan Feghali and his father Elie Feghali, will hold a grand opening and free sub fundraiser from Wednesday, August 15 to Sunday, August 19 to support the Foundation of Yuma Regional Medical Center (FYRMC). The new restaurant, located at 1580 S. 4th Avenue, is circulating 7,500 coupons throughout the community offering a free regular sub for a minimum $2 contribution to the FYRMC Walk-Fit Program collaboration. Customers must have a coupon to be eligible. Before joining Jersey Mikes, my dad had been involved in another franchise concept for about 30 years, said Ryan Feghali. Eventually, I bought into that same franchise. However, we have been interested in Jersey Mikes for years due to its amazing products and how much it gives back to the community. The Jersey Mikes team puts their heart and soul into the products and has a strong culture. We knew this would be the perfect addition to our business, as it is a brand we can feel proud representing. Ryan added, for this grand opening, we have partnered up with the FYRMCs Walk-Fit program. It promotes living a healthy lifestyle and is heavily involved in the community. If you have not contributed to this charity before, now is the perfect time to do so! The Feghalis are exemplary Jersey Mikes franchise owners who share the companys commitment to quality products and exceptional customer service, and who are dedicated to giving back to the local community. Since 2010, Jersey Mikes locations throughout the country have raised more than $34 million for worthy local charities and have distributed more than 2 million free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes. This year, the companys 8th Annual Jersey Mikes Month of Giving in March raised over $6 million for more than 170 charities throughout the country. Started in 1956, Jersey Mikes now has 1,500 restaurants open and under development nationwide. Jersey Mikes was named the countrys fastest-growing Limited Service Chain and fastest-growing sandwich chain in the 2018 Nations Restaurant News Top 100. The growth is fueled by passionate Jersey Mikes fans who crave their subs made Mikes Way with the freshest vegetables onions, lettuce and tomatoes topped off with an exquisite zing of the juice red wine vinegar and olive oil blended to perfection. Jersey Mikes premium meats and cheeses are sliced on the spot, piled high on in-store baked bread and served up with a helping of neighborly banter from a dedicated and high-energy team. Jersey Mikes is always looking for outstanding candidates to join its winning team. Dedicated to a culture of giving, the team is a perfect blend of talent, trust, teamwork, and a shared vision. For more information and to learn about Jersey Mikes team members who moved from behind the counter to franchise owner, please visit: http://www.jerseymikes.com/careers. The restaurants hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. You can contact this location directly at (928) 782-5000. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - In August 2018, the Yuma Main Library, in collaboration with Vanessa Castillo, will host a Summer Business Series at the Main Library. Aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and students are invited to attend workshops focusing on marketing and social media. Vanessa Castillo, local small business consultant and digital marketing expert, will present Email Marketing & Blogging on Thursday, August 23rd, from 3:00 5:00 p.m. in Meeting Room A. Join us for an overview of email marketing and learn how to incorporate blogging into your marketing strategy to help your business grow. There is no charge to attend; however, registration is required. Call (928) 373-6480 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register. The Main Library is located at 2951 S 21st Drive. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - On 12/28/14 at approximately 10:50 pm officers with the Yuma Police Department were dispatched to assist the Yuma Fire Department with a suspicious fire at the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground within the West Wetlands Park located at 282 N. 12th Avenue. Upon arrival the playground was found fully engulfed in flames. Visitors to the park were evacuated while the Fire Department worked to contain the fire. Update: On the evening of Sunday, December 28, 2014, at approximately 10:50 PM, on-duty staff of the Yuma Police Department and Yuma Fire Department responded to an active fire that had engulfed the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground located within the West Wetlands Park. The following morning confirmed the fear that the community-built playground was a total loss and also marked the beginning of an extensive investigation by investigators of the Yuma Police and Fire Department. The ensuing investigation soon led investigators to believe that the fire was most likely intentionally started. For the next 3 years, Police and Fire Department investigators, led by Yuma Police Department Case Detective Eric Fell, spent countless staff hours and resources in their effort to determine the identity of the person or person/s responsible for setting the playground on fire. During the course of the investigation, one particular male suspect was developed through interviews and eventually became the focal point of the investigation. This suspect was identified as Kane Perez, currently 17 years of age. On Monday, August 6, 2018, Kane Perez was interviewed by Yuma Police staff and admitted to setting the fire that consumed the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground on the night of December 28, 2014. A long form complaint seeking felony charges on Kane Perez for his role in the arson of the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground has been forwarded to the Yuma County Attorneys Office for their review. The staff of the Yuma Police Department wish to thank the Yuma community for their support, cooperation and patience during this very difficult and lengthy investigation. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. 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Read More Samsung A7 price in Ghana makes it possible for anyone to afford a great smartphone with ease. Dozens of smartphones get into the market every day. They come with distinct attractive features that would attract buyers. With different mobile phone manufacturers well established and known worldwide, a slight alteration in the way they do things would keep them afloat on the market. Phone pricing is one the strategies used by companies to stay afloat. Source:samsung.com Choosing the right phone for your needs is something that you have to take seriously. This is why you need to understand everything about your phone. Analyze the pros and cons of the phone before you settle on it. Overview Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 might have hit the market with a bang. Thanks to the water and dust resistance abilities. However, there are numerous reasons why the phone remains the phone to watch out for in the market. Let us delve deeper into the pros and cons of these Samsung phones. The good The phone is affordable It has realistic colors and therefore appealing to the eyes The phone gives a bight display It is dust and waterproof The phone is nice for multi-tasking It is good for gaming The bad Source:techviews.com In low light, the phone does not produce good quality pictures. The phone might appear too big for some because of its thickness Specs Samsung Company brings to the market different features through this phone. Let us look at these Samsung A7 specs which make the phone stand out from the rest. READ ALSO:Tecno Camon CM specs, review and price in Ghana Hardware Design Samsung A7 has a premium metal design and comes in a range of attractive colors. The body constitutes of a glass front and a back framed with aluminum. The body design makes the phone resistant to both dust and water and therefore no need to worry about the weather. The phone comes in both single and dual SIM (Nano-SIM). That with dual SIM is also referred to as Samsung galaxy A7 duos. Samsung A7 has dimensions of 156.8 mm x 77.6 mm x 7.9 mm (6.17 inches x 3.06 inches x 0.31 inches). It is a bit too thick for a classy phone such as this. The total body weight of the phone is 186 grams. This an excellent weight for a phone of this type. This weight plus the curved side of the phone ensures a firm grip in hand. The power on and off button together with the volume adjusting one is positioned on the left side of the phone. Right on top of the phone is a 3.5 mm audio jack. Next to it is a Micro SD slot which can read a space of a maximum 256 GB. It allows two SIM cards and for convenience, the second SIM is inserted through a slot on the right side of the phones frame hence no need to switch the phone on and off every time you need to swap lines. A USB port for both connectivity and charging is right at the lower frame of the phone. Samsung A7 2017 comes with a fingerprint sensor, among other sensors such as proximity, accelerometer, Compass, barometer, and gyro. The fingerprint sensor will keep the phone secure for it can only be unlocked with your fingerprints. Display Samsung Galaxy A7 duos have a super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. The screen has 16 M colors allowing you to customize the phone as per your desired theme. The 5.7 inches screen multi-touch has an excellent resolution of 1080 1920 Pixels. With this resolution, it gives a bright view of the display. On this kind of screen, you will have something to smile about if you are a movie fanatic. It displays a movie with a clarity that you will fall in love with. The display has a contrast ratio infinite (nominal): 4.124 (Sunlight). Samsung A7 screen is protected from breakages and damages with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3. That is always on display right where the phones are selling. Processor, storage, and performance Processor The processor of this phone was probably made to circumvent lagging in Samsung phones. Samsung A7 2017 comes with a CPU Octa-core 1.9GHz Cortex A-53, chipset Exynos 7880 Octa, GPU Mali-T7830MP3. Storage Samsung A7 2017 in Ghana has tremendous storage capacity. The phone comes with internal storage of 32 GB, this space, however, can be increased to up to a maximum 256 GB with the help of a Micro SD card. This space is large enough to store videos on the phone as well as pictures. Performance The RAM of 3 GB enables the phone to perform exceedingly high. Samsung phones are known for this trump card; however, Samsung A7 takes this a notch higher. Its performance allows smooth running of larger applications without the phone lagging. It is also fun to play games on this phone. You will enjoy free flow without any interruptions. Battery The Phone has Li-Ion 3600mAh Non-removable battery. When fully charged, the talk time is 23 hours on 3G, and on music play, the battery can last to up to 59 hours. This battery is fast charging and has a shorter charging time compared to other phones. It is charged with type-C 1.0 reversible charger. Speaker and call quality The phone has a loudspeaker 66dB, Noise 66dB, and ring 81dB. The speaker is of good quality. The audio quality of the phone is Noise -91.9dB/ Crosstalk-90.3dB with this the call quality is remarkable. READ ALSO:Tecno phantom 6 price in Ghana, specs, & review Software Source:ytimg.com Operating System and features Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 has an Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) pre-installed on the phone; however, the operating system can be upgraded to Android 8. The operating system, fused with Exynos 7880 Octa Chipset, Octa-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and a GPU Mali-T830MP3 offers the best combination of an excellent phone. Camera, video and image quality Samsung A7 has two cameras both with 16 MP. The primary and secondary camera are better choices for photography. Primary Camera (Rear Camera) has the following uniqueness: 16 MP, f/1.9, 27mm, AF. The Camera features LED flash, panorama, and HDR. The video has 1080 pixels @30fps. The camera takes quality pictures and videos. Secondary Camera (Front Camera) has the following uniqueness: 16 MP, f/1.9. The video has 1080 pixels @30fps. The front camera is a perfect one for video calls. It gives a view with a good resolution. Connectivity Connectivity of the phone is unquestionable. The phone can be connected to the internet and other devices. It has the following features that enable connectivity. It has WLAN that is Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, hotspot dual-band, and Wi-Fi Direct. You can browse using Wi-Fi or connecting to a created hotspot. It has Bluetooth, 4.2, A2DP, EDR, and LE. The feature allows you to share pictures, Music, Videos and others with other devices that are within possible range. The phone has an FM Radio. With the earphones plugged in, you can comfortably listen to radio anywhere you are. It has GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS As mentioned earlier on it has a USB port. The USB port 2.0, Type- C 1.0 reversible connector. It enables interfacing between the phone and devises such as computers. Network Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 has the following network technology: GSM/HSPA/LTE. It supports, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. Review The Prices of Samsung phones in Ghana make them very affordable to anyone seeking a good quality phone. Samsung phones come in varieties. With the many types and models of Samsung phones finding a phone within your price range is easy. However, for the sake of this article, we are only going to put more emphasis on the price of Samsung A7 in Ghana, the Samsung A7 price in Ghana Cedis. Before you get to know the price of Samsung A7 in Ghana, it is good to understand that the phone comes in different colors. This does not to any extent influence the price. It is the same as that of Samsung A7 2017. A Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 Edition, dual SIM 32 GB HDD (black and gold) come at a price of GH 1850. Verdict This article has elaborated the specifications of Samsung galaxy A7 edition smartphone. It has looked at the pros and cons of the product. It is evident that the gadget is not very expensive compared to other phones in the market with similar features. Samsung A7 price in Ghana of GH 1850 is not so steep. It is an excellent phone that you should be thinking of getting next if you do not have one. READ ALSO:Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge price in Ghana and review Source: Yen Akatsi College of Education offers some of the most competitive courses. The courses are rich in diversity thus covering a multitude of interests. This makes it possible for different people to find what they require. It also implies that the admission requirements vary from one course to the other. This article digs deeper to unearth much about Akatsi College of Education; the courses offered there and the admission requirements for the different courses. The content herein will be useful for anyone with plans of joining this College of Education or needs sufficient information to give expert advice on the same. Source:wordpress.com Finding a good college is not easy. This explains the need to carry out a comprehensive research before settling on a college of your choice. The details about Akatsi will come in handy when making an informed decision of the courses to go for. READ ALSO: Best remedial schools in Ghana About Akatsi College of Education Akatsi College of Education is commonly known by its nickname AKATSICO. It is a teacher training college in Ghana. The college is located in the Volta region of Ghana, Akatsi. The college commenced as the Akatsi Training College, which was established on October 1st, 1963. It was, however, officially opened on October 25th the same year. During its opening, the college constituted of only 42 male students and about 4 teachers. In the period that the college was established, the Ghanaian government, had the intention of increasing the number of teachers in the country. This was achieved by setting up more College Education centers. Among the centers established were at, Akatsi, Anloga, Ho, Dzodze, Shia, and Dabala. The 42 male students admitted into the college were mostly, staff of the work brigade who decided to be trained as teachers. The number increased to 54 by the October 28th. The academic year of 1967/68 brought fruits of good fortune to the institution as 24 female students were registered into the institution and that marked the genesis of the Akatsi College of Education being co-educational. The college has since remained to be co-educational till this very day. Akatsi Education College has run various programs since its establishment. It started with post middle program certificate A (4 years). It was the only program until the year, 1974 when the Agriculture Specialist (2 years) course was introduced. The course was however halted to pave the way for a 3 years post-secondary program in 1975. The year 1978, brought with it the suspension of the 4-year program after the last group of students passed out. A 4-year program was re-introduced in 1981 as a modular program. It was divided into 2 years of sandwich vocational courses and 2 years of regular college tuition A.' In the end, all programs except the 3 years Post-secondary education were abolished. Something to note, however, is that Akatsi College of education faced a mild of challenges during its establishment. Two vivid limitations came in the form of water and electricity. The first batch of students had to travel long distances in search of water. Some went as far as the dam outside Akatsi trekking to bring water to the institution for general use. Akatsi College of Education is one college which offers technical and science courses. The academic year 2018/19 marked the beginning of Colleges of Education in Ghana offering Bachelors of Education degree programs. Applicants can apply to study for a B.Ed. at Akatsi College of Education. Admission at Akatsi College of Education There are some issues you will need to consider before submitting your applications for courses in this college. These include the following: 1. The first step in the application is to pay 140 Ghana cedis. This amount is paid in the name of the College of Education. The payment mode is through smart pay, and the amount is deposited into the account of the College of Education Ghana at any Ghana Commercial Bank branch. The payment can be made anywhere; there are no Bank branch restrictions. 2. When the payments are made, the applicant will be issued a personal identification number (PIN) and serial number. The pin will help the applicant log into the online application website. The link will usher you to the different guidelines to fill the online application forms. An important point to note though is that the online form should be entirely and adequately filled for it to be processed. Failure to which, it will be rejected. Applicants should also wait to get all the results before applying. It is so because only the received results at the time of application will be used for selection. 3. After completing online filling of forms, the applicant should print the form and send it to the principal of the Akatsi College of education through the mail. Attached to the filled form are the applicants passport and the result slip. 4. Successful applicants will receive communication for the institution through Short Message Service (SMS). Those who do not receive notification should understand that they did not make it for admission. As mentioned before, this college of education offers quite a range of courses. Therefore, before admission requirements into this individual courses, let us have a look at the courses offered in the college. READ ALSO: Ghana Telecom University Courses Akatsi College of Education courses These are the courses offered at Akatsi College of education. General Program Courses New Bachelor of Education program Early childhood Education studies Mathematics and Science Courses French courses. These courses are available at Wesley, Mount Mary, Bagabaga, E.P. Amedzofe and Gbewaa Colleges only) Technical courses. The classes are available at the following centres only (St. John Bosco, Akatsi, Ada, Komenda, St. Josephs, Wiawso, Mampong technical, Presby, and Akropong) Courses for Hearing and Visual impaired. They are offered at: Visually Impaired. (N.J.Ahmadiyya College, Wa, Wesley College, Kumasi, and Presbyterian College, and Akropong) Hearing Impaired. (Presbyterian College and Akropong Only) Only the qualified individuals will be able to access Source:lorlornyofm.com Admission requirements for Akatsi College of Education (Diploma in Basic Education) Entry Requirements For WASSCE and SSSCE applicants, the necessary admission requirements are Credit passes in 5 subjects. The five subjects constitute 3 cores and 2 electives. The following subjects are a must for admission. Mathematics, Integrated Science or Social studies and English Language. Credit Pass implies that for WASSCE applicants, grades A1-C6 and SSSCE applicants, grades A-D. Admission requirements vary from course to course, therefore, let us look at individual admission requirements for each course. The conditions are divided into WASSCE, TVET and SSSCE categories since the requirements into different programs tend to vary. 1. General Program course There are the requirements for the general program. WASSCE Applicants must have, credit (A1-C6) in 3 core subjects including Mathematics and English Language and 2 elective subjects. In general Credit (A1-C6) in 3 subjects is a major requirement. SSSCE Applicants must have Credit (A-D) in 3 core subjects among them Mathematics and English Language and 2 elective courses which should be relevant. Applicant must have credit (A-D) in the three of the five subjects. TVET Applicants should have credit in 3 subjects which should have Mathematics and English Language. You should also have credits in two relevant elective subjects. 2. Science and Mathematics Program For you to receive admission into the above program, then you should meet the following necessary admission requirements. WASSCE Applicants should have credit (A1-C6) in three core subject. Among the subjects are English language and Mathematics, then 2 relevant elective subjects. SSSCE Applicants must have credit (A-D) in three core subjects including Mathematics and English language. 2 relevant subjects are also a must requirement. TVET Applicants. Credit in 3 core subjects Mathematics and English Language inclusive, and 2 relevant elective subjects. 3. Early Childhood Education These are the simple requirements for applicants who have an interest in Early Childhood education. WASSCE Applicants. Have credit (A1-C6) in three core subject. Among the subjects are English language and Mathematics, then 2 relevant elective subjects. SSSCE Applicants. Have credit (A-D) in three core subject. Among the subjects are English language and Mathematics, then 2 relevant elective subjects. TVTE Applicants. Have a credit in 3 core subjects Mathematics and English Language inclusive and 2 relevant elective subjects. 4. French Course Source:slidesharecdn.com The requirements to pursue French in Akatsi College of Education include the following. WASSCE Applicants. Have credit (A1-C6) in three core subject. Among the subjects are English language and Mathematics, then 2 relevant elective subjects. The two elective subject must include French. SSSCE Applicants. Have credit (A-D) in three core subject. Among the subjects are English language and Mathematics, then 2 relevant elective subjects one of which should be French. TVTE Applicants. They should have credit in 3 core subjects Mathematics and English Language inclusive, and 2 relevant elective subjects. 5. Technical Course Akatsi College of Education is one of the colleges of Education in Ghana which offer technical courses. However, for you to study this technical courses, you will be required to meet the following requirements. WASSCE Applicants. Have credit (A1-C6) in three core subject. Among the subjects are English language and Mathematics, then 2 relevant elective subjects. SSSCE Applicants. Have credit (A-D) in three core subject. Among the subjects are English language and Mathematics, then 2 relevant elective subjects. TVTE Applicants. They should have credit in 3 core subjects Mathematics and English Language inclusive, and 2 relevant elective subjects. Admission requirements for applicants with special abilities Akatsi College of Education offers room for individuals with special abilities. However, before you think of Akatsi College of Education forms cross check with the following requirements. 1. Visually Impaired Applicants WASSCE. Have credit (A1-C6) in three core subject. Among the subjects are English language and Social studies, then 2 relevant elective subjects. SSSCE. Have credit (A-D) in three core subject. Among the subjects are English language and Social studies, then 2 relevant elective subjects. TVET. They should have credit in 3 core subjects Mathematics and English Language inclusive, and 2 relevant elective subjects. 2. Hearing Impaired Applicants WASSCE Applicants. They should have credit in 3 core subjects Mathematics and English Language inclusive, and credit in 2 relevant elective subjects. SSSCE Applicants. They should have credit in 3 core subjects Mathematics and English Language inclusive, and credit in 2 relevant elective subjects. TVET Applicants. They should have credit in 3 core subjects Mathematics and English Language inclusive, and credit in 2 relevant elective subjects. Admission requirements for Bachelors degree in Education Bachelor of Education is a recent program that has been added to the courses offered in Colleges of Education. With admission commencing in the academic year 2018/19, let us look at the requirement for enrollment. 1. B.Ed. General (with specialization in primary and junior high school) WASSCE Applicants. Credit (A1-C6) in 6 subjects. 3 are core which must include Mathematics and English language. 3 are relevant elective subjects. SSSCE Applicants. Credit (A-D) in 6 subjects. 3 are core which must include Mathematics and English language. The other 3 are relevant elective subjects. 2. B.Ed. Mathematics and Science WASSCE Applicants. Credit (A1-C6) in 6 subjects. 3 are core which must include Mathematics and English language. 3 are relevant elective subjects. SSSCE Applicants. Credit (A-D) in 6 subjects. 3 are core which must include Mathematics and English language. The other 3 are relevant elective subjects. 3. B.Ed. Early Childhood Education WASSCE Applicants. Credit (A1-C6) in 6 subjects. 3 are core which must include Mathematics and English language. 3 are relevant elective subjects. SSSCE Applicants. Credit (A-D) in 6 subjects. 3 are core which must include Mathematics and English language. The other 3 are relevant elective subjects. 4. B.Ed. French WASSCE Applicants. Credit (A1-C6) in 6 subjects. 3 are core which must include Mathematics and English language. 3 are relevant elective subjects inclusive of French. SSSCE Applicants. Credit (A-D) in 6 subjects. 3 are core which must include Mathematics and English language. The other 3 are relevant elective subjects; French is a must. 5. B.Ed. Technical TVET Applicants. Credit in 3 core subjects including Mathematics and English and PASSES in the 3 relevant elective subjects. Contacts of Akatsi College of Education Anyone that wishes to contact the college for any inquiries can do so through the following contacts. Telephone Number: 036244408 Email Address: akatsico@yahoo.com Akatsi college of Education box number, P. O. Box Private Bag, Akatsi The available contact will be useful for those willing to apply for courses at Akatsi College of Education. However, it's essential for you to make contact with the college before making any step to apply. Akatsi College of Education is one of the best Colleges of Education in Ghana. The information contained in the article is to provide a clear guide to the requirements for admission in any of the courses offered at the college. However, it is my advice that before you submit an application to contact the College through the contacts above first. They will be in the position to advise accordingly. READ ALSO: Central university college fees, hostel prices, and admission requirements Source: Yen Adhering to the Mampong Technical College of Education requirements for admission will win you a slot in one of the best technical colleges in Ghana. Education is priceless hence the constant need to keep pursuing it. As such, the learner must consider all the requirements and qualifications needed to secure a position in the college considering that it is very competitive to get in. With the government doing its best to enhance education, it is up to the student to ensure that they enrol and get admitted to the Mampong Technical College of Education. Source:mtce.edu.gh If you aspire to be a student at Mampong Technical College of Education, this article will be very helpful. You will get to learn the history of the institution, where it is, the courses that it offers as well as the entry requirement for each one of the courses that Mampong Technical College of Education. Mampong College of Education is in the Brong Ahafo region in Mampong Municipal District. READ ALSO: Ghana Telecom University Courses About Mampong College All institutions have esteemed goals and objectives that they intend to fulfill. The Mampong Technical College of Education is not any different. In this case, the college has a mission and vision which it looks forward to accomplishing. The mission and vision of the Mampong Technical College of Education are; Vision To become an outstanding 21st-century Technical College of Education comparable to any top niche tertiary institution in the world within the next ten years. Mission To engage contemporary research outcomes, technologies and relevant cultures in delivering quality technical teacher education. First, being conversant with the history of Mampong Technical College of Education is a priority. Therefore, here is a brief history of Mampong Technical College of education. Mampong Technical College dates back to the year 1922. It first started as a Trades Training Centre. By then it was under the British Government, during the colonial period. Later in 1937, Trades Training Centre was turned into an army recruitment center. The recruits were to represent the British in the Second World War. Because its purpose had changed from being a training center to an army recruitment center, its name changed to Borstal institution. Apart from being a recruitment center, Borstal Institution also served as a correction home for boys. After the Second World War had come to an end, Borstal Institution changed to Government Trade School. It maintained this title from 1945 to 1960. After 1960, it changed its name to Junior Technical Institute. Until 1967, the institution retained Junior Technical as its title. During this time, it was under the leadership of Mr. J. Merry who served as its first principal ever since its establishment as Trades Training Centre. The institution changed to a Handicraft Technical Teachers Training Institute. Then in 1969, Handicraft Technical teachers Training Institute was changed to Technical Teachers Institute. After nine years of operation as Technical Teachers Training Institute, the institute decided to change to a new name. This change marked the birth of Mampong Technical Teachers College in 1978. Since 1978, Mampong Technical Teachers College had diligently served the people of Ghana until October 2007 when the government of Ghana decided to upgrade it to a tertiary educational institution. Being an essential occasion since the beginning of Mampong Technical Teachers Training College, it had to be symbolic. Because of that, it changed to Mampong Technical College of Education, and Mampong Technical College of Education came into existence. For the past decade, it has consistently served the people of Ghana. Courses offered at Mampong Technical College of education Source:mtce.edu.gh The courses offered at Mampong Technical College of Education is our central area of concern, especially for a prospective student. Mampong Technical College of Education is responsible for training individuals who wish to venture into the education sector as teachers. It is one of the 38 colleges of education in Ghana. The courses offered at Mampong College of education are in two main categories; Diploma in Basic Education (DBE) Special program. Each one of these two categories has options that a student can specialize in. The Diploma in Basic Education, for instance, has six options. Whereas the special applicants' have two options. The courses offered under the Diploma in Basic Education include; The General option Science option Mathematics option Early Childhood education option French option Technical option. On the other hand, the options offered to the special applicants category are: Visually impaired Hearing impaired option. Before a student is offered a chance at Mampong Technical College of Education, just like many institutions, there are several requirements that a candidate should meet. The admission requirements for Mampong Technical College of education are in two categories. There are the general admission requirements for the college. There also is an admission requirement for each one of the areas that a candidate wishes to enroll. This article has clearly articulated each one of the Mampong Technical College of Education admission requirements. To begin with, Mampong Technical College of Education admits prospective students with either their West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) or their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE). The qualifications for either of the holders of these certificates varies. For instance: Candidates who hold the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) are expected to have attained passes, that is grades A1-D7, in six subjects. These include Core Mathematics and English language. Out of the six subjects, the candidate is further expected to score not less than grade C6 in any three subjects that they wish to study at Mampong College of Education. For candidates who are holders of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), the expectation is for them to have a pass. That is grade A-D in not less than six subjects. This includes the English language and Core Mathematics. They are further supposed to have a pass in the three subjects that they wish to specialize in. Candidates who are awaiting their West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) results can also apply. Each of the options of the courses offered at Mampong Technical College of Education has specific academic qualifications, the tables below give the educational requirements for each of the options. It takes into account the two categories of applicants; holders of West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) as well as the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) holders. These details will also serve as a guide when deciding which option to enroll for. Admission requirements for the various options for the Diploma in Basic Education at Mampong Technical College of Education. Source:mtce.edu.gh Source:.mtce.edu.gh For the second category of applicants, the special applicants also have entry requirements that they are required to fulfill before they gain admission to Mampong Technical College of Education. Students who are holders of the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) certificate or the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) must meet the stipulated requirements to apply. Tabulated below are the entry requirements for the special applicants category; Source:mtce.edu.gh READ ALSO: Central university college fees, hostel prices, and admission requirements College of Education application Once you have gone through the courses offered and ascertained that you meet the stipulated qualifications, you can then go ahead and commence the application procedure. Mampong Technical College of Education application procedure is not any different from most of the institutions. The College of Education application procedure is online. 1. The first step in the college of education application is making a payment of one hundred and thirty(130) Cedis to the account of the school. This transaction should be in branches of specific banks, that is; GCB Bank or UniBank Ghana. Alternatively, a candidate can also make the payment through mobile money banking systems. Transactions made through mobile banking should be through the following mobile networks; MTN Mobile Money Tigo Cash or Airtel Money. The shortcode for the mobile banking transactions in any of the systems is *924*8#. 2. After making the payments, the applicant will receive the following: Personal Identification Number (PIN) Admission address and Admission application serial number. The PIN, admission address, and serial number mark the second step in the College of Education application procedure. The candidate is expected to click on the admission website address. 3. Upon clicking on the website, Mampong Technical College of education forms will appear. A candidate is expected to feed the details required in the College of Education forms. It is vital that a candidate provides accurate and sincere information on the Teacher Training College forms. Instructions should be followed to the latter, especially when feeding in the details. 4. Once an applicant completes filling in the forms, he or she is expected to print a copy of the filled Teacher Training College forms and send it to the college. The Teacher Training form should be forwarded alongside a copy of the applicant's passport photograph and a copy of the applicant's result slips if they have them. EMS should mail the documents. The address of the mail is The Principal of the College Chosen.' 5. Once the Teacher Training forms get to the college, the relevant officials will send applicants SMS. 6. After the vetting process, successful candidates selected and qualified students will again receive SMS from the college. If an applicant does not receive a notification, then it means that they did not qualify for the selection. 7. Candidates should note that the college confirms the sent result slips with the West African Examination Council. Any case of fake documents will be noted, and a candidate responsible for this breach will get disqualified. Applicants are also advised to give the right contacts, especially for feedback. 8. After Mampong Technical College of Education, admission officials have looked into the applications of candidates; the successful candidates shall get notifications of when to report. The admission list for Mampong Technical College of Education will then be compiled and uploaded on the school's website. For the candidates who do not qualify for the courses offered at Mampong Technical College of Education, trying out other colleges of education in Ghana is also a viable option. A candidate can secure a chance in any of the remaining 37 colleges of education in Ghana. For any inquiries concerning Mampong Technical College of Education, you can comfortably contact the college through any of the following contacts; Telephone Number: +233-50-138-9354 Email address: nfo@mtce.edu.gh Postal address: P.O. Box 31. Mampong Technical College of Education is equipped and confident to offer the best services to all its prospective students. At Mampong Technical College of Education, it goes without mention that you will gain the best skills that will earn you a well-paying job. READ ALSO: Ghana Telecom University Fees 2017-2018: Get Familiar with Your Varsity Requirements Author: Jasmine Alabi Source: Yen Newspaper Choosing Presbyterian University College is advised. It is difficult sometimes to decide which university you want to go to especially if you have a number of them to choose from. However, for individuals with specific courses in mind, finding the university which offers the course and at the same time satisfy their hearts can be a hard nut to crack. Among the things looked at is the accreditation of the college, amount of money paid in the form of tuition fees and other peripherals that attract a cost and how deep they get into your pocket. This article provides you substantial information concerning Presbyterian University College, the courses offered at the University College and individual tuition fees. Source:presbyuniversity.edu.gh Some of the best schools are not necessarily obvious to go for. Getting into the details of how they operate is the best way to know for sure if the school is suited for your needs. The details in this article will expose you to the requirements at PUC and make it easy for you to decide. READ ALSO: Ghana Telecom University Courses About Presbyterian University College Presbyterian University College was established on November 23rd, 2003 by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. It was inaugurated later on March 27th, 2004 by the then president of Ghana John Kufuor. Currently, the Presbyterian University College is partly a private and a public university in Ghana. The genesis of Presbyterian University College dates back to 1843. During that era, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana set up the first elementary school in Ghana. This simple step culminated in the institutionalization of formal education in the country. Five years later, the church founded the Basel mission seminary, a teacher-catechist seminary. Basel Mission seminary was later named Presbyterian Training College. It was located at Akropong. At this period, the training college was the second in West Africa after Sierra Leones Fourah bays College. The development led to mushrooming of many primary and secondary schools together with colleges of education. Thanks to the partnership between the Ghanaian government and Presbyterian Church. The church had a plan of upgrading the Presbyterian Training College into a University like Fourah Bays College in Sierra Leone. However, that did not work. Later on, after a very long period of about a century and a half or more, the church's synod established an implementation committee. This came after a decision to establish a university was overwhelmingly voted for. The university was to combat the growing need for college education among the Ghanaian populace. Presbyterian University College (PUC) was formed after that. The University College has five campuses. These five campuses are located at: Akropong-Akuapem which is in the Eastern region of the country Tema in the Greta Accra region, it is the city campus Abetifi-Kwahu Kumasi Asante Akyem-Agogo located in the Ashanti region. At its establishment, the University College sought to achieve the following objectives; Foster relationship with other institutions of higher learning, bodies, and persons Provides for and promote University education and research Provide disciplined, self-motivated individuals and leaders with morals and intellectual values in the realization of their responsibility in God, fellow citizens, and the state. To acquire and disseminate knowledge and information. Presbyterian University College accreditation Source:ghanagrio.com PUC Ghana is one of the Universities Accredited by the National Accreditation Board in Ghana. According to the National Accreditation Board's proposition, the University college was to be affiliated to already established and accredited Universities. Presbyterian University College is affiliated to the University of Cape Coast and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The result of the affiliation is that the two Universities will work jointly with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology overseeing all activities concerning education and programs affiliated to them within the Presbyterian University College. The two institutions are also to jointly award degrees for this college until the college receives the official charter to award its degrees. READ ALSO: Central university college fees, hostel prices, and admission requirements Presbyterian University College courses The Presbyterian University College is divided into campuses with each campus hosting certain faculties. The faculties contain a range of departments that offer Presby University courses. Let us look at the faculties. Kumasi Campus BSc. Business Administration BSc. Mathematics and Statistics BSc. Mathematics with Accounting BSc. Actuarial Science BSc. Business Economics BSc. And BSc. Information and communication technology Tema Campus BSc. Business Economics BSc. Business Administration Akropong-Akuapem Campus 1. Faculties of Humanities and Social sciences The faculty has different Departments; Department of Geography Language Land Management Modern governance Religion and Mission Studies Economics Department. 2. Faculty of Art and Culture Departments under this faculty are; Department of Integrated Rural Art and Industry Industrial Art Design and General Art Studies Cultural Studies Department of Painting and Sculpture 3. Faculty of Development Studies Department here include; Building technology Environmental studies Labour studies Development Planning Human Resource Development Tourism and Hotel Management Department of Architecture Asante Akyem campus 1. Faculty of Health and Medical science Department of Surgery Medicine Nursing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Pharmacy, Public Health Community Health Child Health Anaesthetics Department of Physician Assistant 2. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Department of Agriculture production Technology Agriculture Economics Horticulture Animal Science Department of Crop Science 3. Faculty of Sciences Department of Optometry Mathematics Physics Abetifi-Kwahu Campus These are the departments on this campus; 1. Faculty of Engineering Department of Geomatic Engineering Electrical and Electronics Engineering Computer Engineering Metallurgy and Material Engineering Civil Engineering Department. 2. Faculty of Science Department of Mathematics Physics Chemistry 3. Faculty of Information Technology Department of Information and Communication science Department of Information and Communication Technology. Presbyterian University college also offers ACCA, CIMA, CIB and ICAG (Professional Courses) and Diploma and Certificates. PUC admission The following admission requirements control entry into the faculties as mentioned earlier, that is, PUC admission. Here are the general requirements of entry into PUC Ghana Sourc:presbyuniversity.edu.gh However, it is worth noting that there is a preliminary program designed for candidates with weak passes in WASSCE and SSSCE. This is a set of students who have not obtained the required minimum entry into the universities in Ghana. The program entails students being offered a year of tuition so that they can rewrite the WASSCE exams. Students who obtain minimum entry will be admitted into courses of their choice. How to apply for courses in Presbyterian University College 1. Online Applicants Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable fee of 100 GH for Ghanaian students and 100 US Dollars for international students. Once the deposit is made, the applicant will receive a serial number and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) via the cell phone. The two number are essential for logging in on the application portal. Once the form is duly and carefully filled, the applicant is supposed to print and mail it to the university together with the result slips, passport photo and supporting documents through the above postal address. 2. Offline Applicants Applicants in this category are to purchase the application forms from the University at 100 GH for native students or 100 US Dollars for international students. If you download the pdf form from the internet, then you must attach a bank draft of 100 GH (payable to the university). When the forms are filled, they are sent to Presbyterian University College accompanied with supporting documents, that is, result slips, passport photo et cetera. PUC results checker. PUCG result checker enables the students to check their semester results online. The check also gives you a platform to set grade by calculating the overall GPA of the target grades. Tuition fee of Presbyterian University College Ghana Understanding the sum of money, you ought to pay in tuition fees and charges for a given course program holds you in good stead to pursue the course without much hustle as you are prepared for the cost beforehand. Here are the tuition fees of Presbyterian University College Ghana. Tema Campus Semester fees Source:presbyuniversity.edu.gh Kumasi Campus fees for a semester Source:presbyuniversity.edu.gh Akropong-Akuapem Campus fee for a semester Source:presbyuniversity.edu.gh Okwahu (Abetifi-Kwahu) Campus fees per semester Source:presbyuniversity.edu.gh Asante-Akyem Campus semester fee Source:presbyuniversity.edu READ ALSO: Central university college fees, hostel prices, and admission requirements Presbyterian University College Nursing Presbyterian University College offers Bachelors degree in Nursing. It is a 4-year program the school with offers the program is located in Asante Akyem Campus, Agogo. Admission Requirements for the Bachelors degree in Nursing. International Students Students under this categories will be admitted based on home country qualifications. However, the West African Examination Council determines the equivalence. In cases of applicants from Non-English speaking language, English Proficiency will be required. Mature Applicants Under this Category, applicants must be with SRN, RMN, RM, CHN or any relevant certificate in Nursing. A student must at least 25 years of age with SSSCE Subjects among them English, Mathematics, and Science or 5 credits 5 subjects at GCE O' level. Additionally, all mature applicants are subjected to an interview and entrance examination. Diploma Applicants If you have a diploma in Nursing, then the award should have been obtained from a recognized institution. To supplement WASSCE and O level, one must have at least a GPA of 3.25 WASSCE Applicants Have Aggregate 36 or better in 6 subjects (3 core and 3 electives). The core subjects are English Language, Mathematics, and Integrated Science. Elective subjects can be selected from the following; Science, General Art, Home economics with food and Nutrition and General Agriculture with Chemistry. SSSCE Applicants Must have obtained an aggregate of at least 24 in 6 subjects. The core subjects are Integrated Science, Mathematics, and English language. In these subject one must have a minimum of D. Elective subjects can be any of these; Science, General Art, Home economics with food and Nutrition and General Agriculture with Chemistry Pharmacy schools in Ghana There are quite a good number of Pharmacy schools in Ghana. Let us have a look at the list of 7 pharmacy schools in Ghana below; Phersons Training Institute Ghana College of Pharmacy University of Ghana School of Graduate Studies Avenue Chemist Training School University of Cape Coast Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Presbyterian Contacts The open contacts enable communication between the campus and their prospective clients. Telephone Number: +233 202277201, +233 202277210, +233 202277213, and +233 202277202 Email Address: info@presbyuniveristy.edu.gh and admission@presbyuniveristy.edu.gh Postal Address: Registrar, P.O. Box 59, Abetifi-Kwahu. In conclusion, the above information about Presbyterian University College should be helpful in making a viable decision on whether you want it as a study destination or not. The courses offered in the university are all listed here with their fees. The university history has slightly been looked at together with its five campuses. Much information concerning the University College is available on the university website. However, if you are looking for admission into this university then make it a point to contact the university and make more inquiries. READ ALSO: List of nursing training colleges in Ghana and entry requirements Source: Yen News Glitz and glamour were the hallmarks of these years' launch of the 201 Miss Ghana beauty pageants. The beauty contest happens to be the longest running contest with 60 years of continued success. This year's Miss Ghana 2018 auditions were launched at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra earlier this week. The annual event is under management by the Exclusive Events Ghana. The pageant seeks to pick from a vast number of queens from different parts of the country who are best suited for the agenda of the Miss Ghana Foundation. Source: kapasafmonline.com Miss Ghana 2017 pageant The Miss Ghana Foundation is registered under the charity arm of the Miss Ghana Beauty Pageant. The previous queens have been involved in different social projects that have come a long way in transforming and positively impacting the lives of the most vulnerable or less fortunate in society. The manager has made the clue of the charitable gestures as having a low sustainability or even in some instances non-existent. This led to the inclusion of the runners-up and the regional finalist queens to work under the Miss Ghana Foundation to fulfill the sustainability of the charity projects that touch across the ten regions of Ghana and beyond. The primary objective and roles of Miss Ghana of the pageant has been focused on positively impacting the lives of Ghanaians. They have done remarkable work on changing the lives of the less fortunate in society, creating social entrepreneurs and training and the development of the youth. The critical areas that the charity has focused on the recent past have been on health, environment, education, the aged in society and streets. Source: ghheadlines.com Chief Executive Officer of the Exclusive Events Ghana, Madam Inna Mariam Patty The Chief Executive Officer of the Exclusive Events Ghana, Madam Inna Mariam Patty, during the Miss Ghana 2018 launch touched on the new direction of the course. She talked of the inevitable change in the pageant that resulted in shifting paradigms from the monetary gains to working tirelessly to touch on the lives of the Ghanaians in the Miss Ghana Foundation. She made remarks on the Miss Ghana brand being closely related to the symbol of beauty with a purpose. She revealed that it was a requirement for each of the contestant who will either end up being crowned queen or runners-up to uphold the values as prescribed by the pageant. The audition dates Miss Ghana are set to start in a time period of two periods. The contestants were required to be intelligent and have a passion for serving Ghanaians. She rubbished claims of the queens joining the pageant for the sake of the car, cash or the Miss Ghana crown. She urged the beauty queens in Ghana to apply Miss Ghana 2018 auditions which were set to start soon. This year's version of the Miss Ghana 2018 auditions is set to include contestants from the diaspora with a keen interest of contributing to the development of Ghana. She revealed that it would begin with seven countries this year. The models will be given the singular honor of adding to the various socio-cultural and economic interventions that the Miss Ghana Foundation it promotes.The move to include the diaspora contestants was to open a platform for all Ghanaians from all over the world to come and contribute to the quota to service Ghana positively and also the world. Miss Ghana 2018 is set to kick off in two weeks times where the auditions will take several weeks of rigorous screening at the different stages that cut across the 10 regions of the country. During the preliminary stages, the models will battle it out to make it to the finalists who are twenty from across the different regions. Once the twenty finalists have been selected from the ten regions, the beauty pageant kicks off. They undergo a series of events through which the winner of the competition is determined. Most of the activities performed by the models including visiting sponsor companies, fashion runway shows, dance competition, photo shoots and lastly the questions and answer segment. Through the series of activities, the models are eliminated to make way for the winner of the competition. During the launch of the beauty pageant, there were a host of form winners of the event. Also spotted were royal guests and various players in the industry who were geared towards a successful beauty pageant void of controversies like past events. Source: zylofonmediaonline.com Former Miss Ghana Margaret Dery List of Miss Ghana winners Caranzer Naa Okailey Miss Ghana 2012 Stephanie Karikairi Miss Ghana 2010 Mimi Areme Miss Ghana 2009 Mawuse Appae Miss Ghana 2008 Frances Takyi Mensah- Miss Ghana 2007 Irene Dwomoh Miss Ghana 2006 Contestant requirements Miss Ghana auditions To qualify and apply Miss Ghana 2018 auditions, the contestants must have fulfilled the following eligibility criteria: They must be a registered female citizen of Ghana They have fallen under the age bracket of 18-25 years. Contestants either above or below the age gap won't qualify They must fulfill a height requirement of minimum 5 feet 6 inches and above A UK body size of between 6-10 or its equivalent is also a requirement When it comes to their marital status, they must be single and not married They also should also have no children Shrewdness and being well-informed with issues taking place in Ghana and around the world is also required They must not possess a known criminal record The contestant must fulfill eloquence in the spoken language and the local dialect They must also have prior knowledge of the Miss Ghana brand and the Miss Ghana Foundation and global issues in general They should be humble and possess the desire to help other advance in life They should also be prepared to dedicate a minimum of 1 full year to fundraising and Charity work under the Miss Ghana Foundation from the commencement of the contest until they participate in the Miss World Pageant They must also strictly abide by the prescribed code of conduct in line with the rules and regulations of the pageant They must without supervision perform their roles and responsibilities Academic performance is also a required field contrary to popular belief. Contestants must have duly completed their senior secondary education or an equivalent of being a member of a tertiary institution to have completed their tertiary education They must also have a national ID or an equivalent of a passport They must also be a holder of a driver's license before the end of the Grand finals. READ ALSO: History of fashion in Ghana Source: Mahamudu Bawumia, Madam Inna Mariam Patty and Miss Ghana 20017 beauty queens Miss Ghana winner qualities To win the Miss Ghana, crown the contestants must have the following attributes that are considered during the selection: Originality Individuality Enthusiasm Mental discipline Connection to the audience On-stage awareness Charisma Congeniality Expression/performance of talent Benefits of the Miss Ghana 2018 winner The winner of the pageant will be awarded a brand-new car. They also will receive a monthly allowance for a year. They will also be entitled to 1 ear of volunteering with Exclusive Events Ghana or the Miss Ghana Foundation. There other consolation prizes for the finalists. This includes internship opportunities, laptops, printers, and vouchers. The Chief Executive Officer of the Exclusive Events also broke the ice when it comes to the controversies that have rocked the event. She took time to respond to the claims made by past queens on claiming that the organizers of Miss Ghana beauty pageant had issues of unfair treatment and cheated as a brand. Her comments evoked previous sentiments shared by past winners. Some of the past winners alleged that the pageant exploited the models by coercing them into acts that were against their wishes. The shocking revelations of the ordeal they go through in their career evoked a lot of backlash from the public. The pageant has been tainted by past scandals with sexual innuendoes becoming the order of the day. The organizers have however denied the allegations. Most of the careers of the models had flattered when they failed to abide by the sexual advances made by infamous and influential men in the industry. She urged past victims of the crime to come forward and publicly announce the men behind the schemes. She noted that the law enforcement agencies would be involved in the case such a scenario has transpired. She also disclosed that there was a legal team of the company that was working towards serving the models with a written summons to the law to take its course. This comes in light of the resignation of the former Miss Ghana 2017, Margaret Dery. There had been a sour relationship between the Miss Ghana 2017 and the organizers. She had earlier tried to leave the pageant but was urged by her parents and chose to stay. There were also allegations that the winners did not receive the car as the cash prize. READ ALSO: Current trends in fashion in Ghana 2018 Source: Yen In this current world, at least everyone has seen same sex couples either live or on TV. In the west, it is generally accepted and people are able to even do an official wedding with their same sex partners. In Africa however, this is a matter that is generally frowned upon. Many Africans go to church and are religious individuals. It is therefore no wonder that eighty seven percent of Ghanaians are against public meetings of lesbian and gay individuals. Is there hope for legalization of LGBT Ghana? It may be plausible but it may take a while. SOURCE: dailyguideafrica.com If you are wondering if Ghana lesbians can marry, the short answer is no. This is due to a variety of reasons the top being the legal ramifications if you do. In this article, you will be able to have an overview of the current overall situation in terms of Ghana LGBT rights as well as Ghana LGBT laws. Human rights laws Section 12(2) of Chapter 5 of Ghanas constitution states that Every person in Ghana, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinion, color, religion, creed or gender shall be entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual contained in this Chapter but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest." This may be the law for all individuals in Ghana but when it comes to gay individuals, it may not always apply. As a matter of fact, due to the deep beliefs and traditions of the Ghanaian people, it is hard for most Ghanaian citizens to socially accept gay individuals. According to the Ghanaian criminal law, it is illegal for one to partake in gay activities and it is punishable by law for individuals to take part is such activities. If one is caught partaking in such, they earn themselves a minimum of three years imprisonment. History of homosexuality in Ghana One question that people possibly ask themselves is before there were set laws prohibiting LGBT Ghana, was it legal? Many also wonder when the first cases of homosexual activity was first reported in Ghana. Apparently, in the 18th and 19th century, the Asante Kingdom that is actually current day Ghana had male slaves who served as concubines. This might go as proof of some form of homosexual behavior in pre-colonial Ghana within the African kingdoms. However this does not mean that this is acceptable to traditionalists. The general view of most Africans statistically remains the same. Homosexuality is not yet accepted and the church plays a big role in keeping these beliefs that way. Laws on homosexuality in Ghana SOURCE: ghheadlines.com Knowing that it is a criminal act to partake in homosexual activity in Ghana does not give the full view of of what the criminal code says. Below we will give a quote of chapter 6 of the criminal code of 1960 as amended by the criminal code act, 2003 amendment. Section 104. Unnatural Carnal Knowledge. (1) Whoever has unnatural carnal knowledge (a) of any person of the age of sixteen years or over without his consent shall be guilty of a first degree felony and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than twenty-five years; or (b) of any person of sixteen years or over with his consent is guilty of a misdemeanor; or (c) of any animal is guilty of a misdemeanor. (2) Unnatural carnal knowledge is sexual intercourse with a person in an unnatural manner or with an animal. To clarify their standing on the Ghana antigay laws, section 99 says that the proof of unnatural carnal knowledge is the event of the least degree of penetration. Misdemeanors are generally punishable by not less than three years of imprisonment. These laws were however challenged in the year 2017 by a well acclaimed lawyer known as John Ndebugri who claimed that the law is biased. This is because when it comes to women, lesbian acts do not involve penile penetration and it cannot be deemed unnatural based on section 101 of the criminal code. The state however does not concern itself with such matters as it claims this is in the private life of these individuals. This has caused a lot of concern from gay rights activists in Ghana and they have accused the law as being hypocritical. READ ALSO: Gays and lesbians in Ghana thank Nana Addo for "gay assurances" on Aljazeera Overall statistics The Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) took on a study in the month of June 2017. This was to decipher what Ghanaians attitudes towards LGBTI issues were. This was in order to help protect the rights of gay individuals in Ghana. In their study they found that 87% of Christians and 73.1% of Muslims in Ghana were against LGBTI persons holding public meetings to discuss LGBTI issues. 33.3% of atheists were against the same. In terms of regions, Volta Region had the highest approval of the same but at only a measly 19.4%. Cases of mob justice against gay individuals in Ghana have been reported before. The ACILA statistics show that 97% of Ghanaians believe in the responsibility of police to protect people against MOB justice. They also found that 94% of Ghanaians believe people caught in acts of mob justice should be brought to justice. In contrast however, only 20% strongly disagree or disagree that the police have a responsibility to protect LGBTI people against the same. Also the statistics reported 80% of Ghanaians are very uncomfortable associating themselves with LGBTIs. 50%, 40% 30% of traditionalists, Muslims and Christians respectively will not receive emergency medical treatment from a nurse or doctor they perceive as LGBTI. It further showed that about 13% of Ghanaians will physically or verbally abuse a person who identifies as LGBTI and or try to force them to hide or change that fact. These were some of the findings that ACILA was able to bring to the table. The overall fact is that like in several African countries, lesbian and gay individuals are still not very widely accepted. Around 54% of people promoted that in the event of students in school is perceived to be gay, they should be expelled. This shows the general perception of homosexuality Ghana. Ghana appeared before the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 7th November of 2017. This was for a request to review of their human rights records under the Universal Periodic Review mechanism. Ghana however rejected legalization of marriage between same sex individuals and also to decriminalize consensual relations. READ ALSO: Opinion: Ghanaian adulterers want homosexuals dead However, they agreed to amend the law to protect LGBTI individuals against acts of violence. They also agreed to ensure individuals who identify as gay have equal right to access rehabilitation and remedy and anyone who is violent towards them is punishable by law. That is currently where Ghana stands on gay individuals rights. It is still criminal but that doent allow anyone to be violent against them. They too are protected by the law in accordance with global human rights. Source: Yen - The policeman captured in the assault video at Midland S&L has been granted bail - He was granted bail together with some staff of Midland Savings and Loans Lance Corporal Godzi Frederick Amanor, the Police officer who assaulted a Madam Patience Osafo at Midlands Savings and Loans, has been granted a GHC 60, 000 bail with two sureties by an Accra Circuit Court. According to a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Starrfmonline, three others, Joycelyn Kukua, the operations manager of the company, Shirley Portia Anaman, customer care officer and Prince Ayensu, a driver of the company were also granted bail on analogous terms. Lawyer for Lance Corporal Amanaor, Mr. Kweku Adjei Lartey, said section 73 of the court act allowed for an out of court settlement leading to the bail being granted. Lance Corporal Amanor. Credit: Supplied READ ALSO: Nana Addo reshuffles 7 ministers in latest shake-up Amanor was charged with assault at the court, presided over by Mrs Jane Harriet Akweley Quaye while the three officers were charged with abetment. During his first appearance in court over the matter, he pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him. The court remanded him to reappear for the next hearing where he has been granted bail. He was seen being led out of the court house in a hoodie to avoid his pictures from being taken by journalists who were at the circuit court to follow up on the case. A few weeks ago, social media went into a frenzy over a very worrying video involving the Lance Corporal assaulting Patience Osafo, a 36-year-old nursing mother carrying a baby. The video received a lot of condemnation on social media with the masses calling for the head of the policeman in the video. READ ALSO: "Naughty" photos and videos of Sunyani girl goes viral after being leaked Not long after the video went viral, many government bodies and individual condemned the act resulting in the immediate arrest of the policeman. Reports have it that the matter is being handled by the top hierarchy of the Ghana Police Service. The lady in the video, has had her life transformed after the incident owing to the fact that many Ghanaians have dug deep into their pockets to support her financially. Recent checks conducted indicate that she has already received cash donations to the tune of GHc 40,000 already. Top management at Midland Savings and Loans have officially apologized to the lady and the general public. The financial institution has also handed over keys to a 2-bedroom house to the lady. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has also spoken against the abuse and has admonished law enforcers to protect citizens rather than abuse them. READ ALSO: Photo of Jackie Appiah with her ex-husband in good times pops up on the internet Watch: Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencomgh YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook page. Source: Yen The past week has been dominated by talk about the banking sector and how some board members connived to spend the monies of depositors. However, key among the discussions, has been the amount of money the Bank of Ghana gave out as liquidity support to the collapsed UT and Capital Banks. The Central Bank had to inject a whopping GH1.47 billion in total, which according to an investigative report was misused by management and board members of the banks. 3 things Capital, UT Bank liquidation support couldve bought for Ghana's health sector. Credit: Citinewsroom.com READ ALSO: 5 most criticised pastors in Ghana now The intriguing part of this whole issue is that the money could have been invested into Ghanas health sector which is currently in dire need of an uplift. The GH1.47 billion could have actually provided for medical equipment and infrastructure that are lacking in many health facilities across the country. Below are three things that money could have done for Ghana's health sector: 1. It could have bought 2,940 ambulances The GHC1.4 billion given out by the Bank of Ghana as liquidity support could have actually been used to purchase a mammoth 2,940 ambulances for the country. Ghana currently has less than 60 ambulances nationwide and this money could actually have been used to boost that aspect of our health sector. However, as it stands the country will continue to manage that small number of ambulances while it could have been more. 2. It could have been used to construct 10 district hospitals The amount given as liquidity support to the collapsed UT and Capital Banks could also have been used to build 10 fully equipped district hospitals. In fact, the amount would not only afford 10 hospitals but also with an additional 120 beds for each of them. This is even at an estimate of GHc150 million per district hospital. READ ALSO: Were duly licensed Menzgold rubbishes PMMC claims 3. Could have been used to provide 6,125 incubators Another area of the health sector which could have been improved with the money is the provision of incubators. It is worthy to note that the GHC1.4 billion could have been used to purchase 6,125 incubators address the challenge of infant mortality. Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana READ ALSO: Owusu Bempah ripped apart for claiming NDC offered him $1m and V8 Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: Yen.com.gh - William Ato Essien has described as factually incorrect the Bank of Ghanas report that implicates him - According to the former director of the defunct Capital Bank, there are several aspects of the circulating report in the media about him that are false - He has asked Ghanaians to be patient as EOCO continues with investigations Former director of the collapsed Capital Bank, William Ato Essien, has said that the Bank of Ghanas report that implicates him in the collapse of the bank is factually incorrect. According to him, the matter is currently inconclusive and that he has been under investigation by the Economic and Organized Crime Organization (EOCO) for the past six months. Ato Essien, in a statement through his lawyers, said reports that are circulating about his involvement in the collapse of the bank do not tell the full story. Director of defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien. Photo credit: Citinewsroom.com READ ALSO: 3 things Capital, UT Bank liquidation support couldve bought for Ghana's health sector He, therefore, described reports that implicate him in the matter as factually incorrect. There are several aspects of the circulating reports that are factually incorrect, a statement from his lawyers said. The Capital Bank is one of the local banks that have been collapsed by the Bank of Ghana over their insolvency. A detailed investigative report revealed that Ato Essien and the Board Chairman of Capital Bank used monies they received from the Central Bank as financial support to for other purposes, including securing the license for another collapsed bank, Sovereign Bank. However, Ato Essien insists reports implicating him are skewed because the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) is yet to come out with its findings concerning his investigation. READ ALSO: Nana Addo reshuffles 7 ministers in latest shake-up Our client and other directors/shareholders have been thoroughly investigated by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) over the last six months which is continuing As far as our client is aware of, EOCO has not issued its findings on the investigations yet, the statement stressed. We urge the press to, therefore, be circumspect in their reportage and await the outcome or findings of the EOCO investigations, it added. Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: I will not change Ghanas stance on homosexuality Akufo-Addo Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: Yen President Akufo-Addos decision to reshuffle his ministers and other appointees has come as no major surprise to many people. The reshuffle appears to have been more about reassigning appointees to other positions rather than outrightly replacing them. But one man whose reassignment has caught the attention of many is John Peter Amewu. John Peter Amewu is newly assigned energy minister. Source: Supplied. READ ALSO: 3 things Capital, UT Bank liquidation support couldve bought for Ghana's health sector Having formally served as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Amewu has now been tasked to serve as energy minister, following the sacking of Boakye Agyarko. For many people, this new appointment looks very challenging, however, he is a man who has shown that nothing is beyond him. Below are 4 reasons why Mr. Amewu will be successful as energy minister: 1. Hes an expert in the energy sector John Peter Amewu is in familiar territory as energy minister. This is because he is an expert in the energy sector, having been a policy analyst. He is actually a co-founder of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP). His knowledge and expertise in the sector will therefore be brought to bear as minister. Before engaging in full-time politics, Mr. Amewu worked as the Director of Policy and Research at ACEP where he provided pro-active and comprehensive policy related advice to support a variety of Government and Private Sector Projects. His contribution in providing solutions to the problems in the Energy Sector in Ghana has earned him both local and international acclamation and recognition. 2. His impeccable past record Peter Amewu is one of the few ministers under the Nana Addo administration who has kept their reputation and competence intact till date. He boasts an impeccable past record, which saw him thrive when he was appointed as minister for Lands and Natural Resources. It was his time as minister that Ghana finally made strides with regards to the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Therefore, if his achievements in the Lands Ministry is anything to go by, then he should have no problem succeeding in the Energy Ministry too. READ ALSO: Reports on my role in Capital Bank collapse incorrect Ato Essien 3. He is arguably Akufo-Addo's best minister so far It is controversial to pinpoint Peter Amewu as President Akufo-Addos best minister so far. But he, together with Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, will definitely slug it out for that claim. Usually modest and hardworking, Mr. Amemu has been devoid of controversy and scandals during his tenure as lands minister. Such a personality makes him the perfect fit for the energy ministry, which is currently in the spotlight over the controversial AMERI deal. 4. Ghanaians love him for waging a strong fight against galamsey Again due to his commitment to achieving results, Peter Amewu is a man who is widely loved across the country. His firm stance against illegal mining gave Ghanaians a toast of a man who would give up everything to ensure the right things are done. Even though, the Energy Ministry may be looking tough at the moment, but Mr. Amewus commitment could be a trait that would make him successful. Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Nana Addo reshuffles 7 ministers in latest shake-up Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: Yen.com.gh - Fans have slammed Ahoufe Patri for provocative dressing in a photo shared on Instagram - In the photo, Ahoufe Patri is seen wearing top with only her bralette showing. YEN.com.gh has sighted a photo of actress Priscilla Opoku Agyemang, popularly known as Ahoufe Patri, wearing only a bralette in a post on Instagram and her fans can't stop talking. It seems Ahoufe Patri was advertising the bralette as the caption for the photo read,Say something nice, Brallet from @vas_elysian. READ ALSO: I dated John Dumelo for 2 years - Joselyn Dumas The photo quickly drew criticism from some fans of the actress who expressed disappointment at her dressing. READ ALSO: 5 female celebrities who have hinted of getting married soon According to the fans, Ahoufe Patri's dressing was inconsistent with her role as a model for young women across the country. One of the fans with the handle empress6565 said: "Someone, who is empowering gals how can u dress like this so now tell me what are u teaching or empowering our gals for. U where my favorite but now the way u do ur things puts me off. READ ALSO: 6 beautiful orphaned sisters become internet sensation after these photos surface online Ahoufe Patri, who appeared to have been angered by the remark, responded, I empower them against bullies like you. Another Instagram user, sigmu9, advised her against exposing her body to the world. ja.mal2051 said: ...that expose wasnt necessarycover yourself please. perry_antwi_ says: "Wat is happening this not the Patricia I know. READ ALSO: Shatta Wale and Shatta Michy finally reunite? 'Caught' kissing in a new wild video Despite the criticism from some of her fans, others complimented her looks. "Queen of beauty, an Instagram user, benjamin25april, said. YEN.com.gh previously reported how Ghanaians blasted Ahuofe Patri for putting her body on display in a video on Instagram. In the video, she wears a red jumpsuit that exposes her breasts. She is spotted throwing some kisses in the air probably for her fans. Ghana News Today: Shatta Wale May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencom: Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page. Source: Yen Ghana - A fake pastor, Emmanuel Nash, has duped an event organizer of an amount of GHC3,200 - He went into hiding, and paid GHC4000 out of the debt owed, when he was found - He again went into hiding and has not been seen since then A self-styled man of God, Emmanuel Nash, has defrauded an event organizer, Deluxy Rose Events, of an amount of GHC3200. Information obtained from MyNewsGH.com shows that he doubles as the organizer of the Ghana Peace Awards. Shedding light on the matter, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Deluxy Rose Events, Aborelie Achira-Mills, revealed that she received a call to be at the Banquet Hall to prepare the place for the Ghana Peace Awards in October 2017. Emmanuel Nash Credit: MyNewsGH.com READ ALSO: I will never legalize homosexuality - Akufo-Addo She added that the she demanded an initial deposit from the soft-spoken man before she embarks on such a project. Pleas from the Canadian Embassy and the Former Inspector General of Police, John Kudalor however convinced her to prepare the event, which saw eight-hundred people in attendance. I went to the bank a day after the programme to cash my money but the cheque bounced. I went the following day and the cheque bounced again. I went there again on the third day and the cheque bounced again, a worried Abolere narrated her frustration. Several calls to Nash went unanswered, and a visit to the church he worships at showed that he is only a member, and not the head as initially stated. She then proceeded to his house and caused his arrest, after which he paid GHC4000 out of the total amount owed and pleaded that the matter be settled without the police involved. Emmanuel Nash, who resides at Nungua in Accra has since gone into hiding and his whereabouts currently unknown. READ ALSO: Joselyn Dumas opens up on the details of her relationship with John Dumelo JB Danquah-Adus murder: Will His Killer Be Punished? | Ghana trends | Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos Source: Yen YEN.com.gh has sighted a video of Dancehall King Shatta Wale and his baby mama, Shatta Michy which is fast going viral. The video is an excerpt of a yet-to-be-aired episode of GHOne TV's Late Afternoon Show hosted by Berla Mundi. In the video, Shatta Wale is seen playing and dancing with Berla Mundi, all as part of the interview. Interestingly, a part of the video shows Shatta Wale standing beside Michy with his right hand wrapped around her neck. READ ALSO: REVEALED: Joselyn Dumas is one of the many ladies John Dumelo 'sampled' before marrying While answering a question about their much-reported breakup, Shatta Wale said they were back and good together. He went ahead to demonstrate their union by kissing Shatta Michy on set. An obviously happy Michy was heard saying "five million dollar" as she blushed at the public display of affection from her man. Michy mildly hit the chest of Wale before holding his neck as she giggled. It is not known if the five million dollars mentioned by Michy was just for the kiss or the reunion but the video should bring an end to months of rumours about the relationship between the two. READ ALSO: Otabil and 4 other top pastors who are the most 'insulted' in Ghana right now After being together for about eight years, Shatta Wale and Michy broke up in April this year under acrimonious circumstances. According to Shatta Wale, Michy was in the habit of chasing him around with a knife at the least provocation. Michy also claimed that Wale pulled a gun on her three times whenever they had a slight misunderstanding. The two then went their separate ways, with Michy declaring on social media that she was single and free from oppression. READ ALSO: 6 sisters call themselves 'orphans with grace' after losing mum and dad 10 months apart After three months, they were reported to have reunited, but Michy rubbished the reports, stressing that she had not gone back to Shatta Wale, and that she was still single. Interestingly, Michy had been warning other ladies off Shatta Wale, with the recent warning going out to Rosemond Brown who had expressed interest in dating the Dancehall King. The two have a son together called Majesty. Ghana News Today: Shatta Wale May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencom: READ ALSO: Ahoufe Patri causes 'traffic' on social media with her half-naked photo Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: Yen - A former ambassador to the United Kingdom, Victor Smith, has dismissed reports that he stole a state vehicle - According to him, he purchased the saloon car in his possession - Some state vehicles were made available to state officials between December 23, 2016 and January 7, 2017. A former Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Victor Smith, has reacted to allegations that he stole a government vehicle. According to him, he purchased a state vehicle before the Mahama administration left office, because one was offered to him. Speaking on Asempa FMs Ekosii Sen programme, he argued that he cannot be accused of stealing the saloon car he paid for, as it is has been duly paid for. Victor Smith Source: Supplied READ ALSO: Fake man of God swindles events organizer; takes GHC3,200 and vanishes YEN.com.gh understands that a list, published by the Daily Guide newspaper, revealed a sale of 250 vehicles which were offered at low prices. The sale of the vehicles reportedly took place between December 23, 2016 and January 7, 2017. In all, there were about 86 Toyota Camry vehicles, 15 Toyota Avalons, 54 Toyota Corollas, 52 Toyota Avensis vehicles and 17 Nissan Sentras auctioned to NDC members. The rest include 55 Hyudai i10s, 9 BMWs, 8 VW Passats, 5 Nissan Teanas, 9 Hyndai Elantras and 6 Hyudai Accents, among others. The beneficiaries have however been urged to return the vehicles, most of which have been declared missing by Akufo-Addo government. READ ALSO: NPP Chairman begs Abronye DC and Owusu Bempah; reveals the reason why they were ignored Ghana news: President Akufo Addo Asked For More Prayers | Yen.com.gh Use the comments section below to share your views on this story. Do you have a story to share or you have information for us? Get featured on YEN.com.gh. Message us on Facebook or Instagram Source: Yen YEN.com.gh recently reported ace broadcaster Nana Aba Anamoah teasing celebrity lawyer Sandra Ankobiah over her single status. In a post on Instagram, Nana Aba stated that despite all the beauty possessed by her Sandra Ankobiah, who happens to be her friend, she remains single. She further stated that the Sandra Ankobiah was dating her curve TV. Just take a look at such a beautiful lady but she has no boyfriend! Akonam rebel. Shes been dating her curve TV, Nana Aba posted with a beautiful picture of Sandra. READ ALSO: Pay $5m before you can kiss me again - Shatta Michy tells Shatta Wale (Video) But the latest social media activity of Sandra suggests Nana Aba may either be wrong or may have gingered her friend to get a boyfriend. Posting a photo of herself holding a phone and smiling on Instagram, Sandra wrote: "How I smile when he sends a sweet message." Sandra' post and caption have raised eyebrows on social media. Many followers have been asking who is the 'he' in her sentence. READ ALSO: Joselyn Dumas reveals how she secretly dated John Dumelo for two years and why it didn't work @serwaaamihere of GHOne TV wanted to know "Who?? @sandraankobiah" And so was Serwaa's colleague @berlamundi "Who is he please " @priscillapankyee sounded surprised that there was someone special: "Ooooh...Soo there's someone special!!!" But Nana Aba was not interested in knowing who because she did not believe and told Sandra to "Stop telling fibs." READ ALSO: Ahoufe Patri causes 'traffic' on social media with her half-naked photo For many others, the 'he' was rapper Omar Sterling (Paedae) of R2Bees fame. It will be recalled that the two were said to be in a relationship some time ago. Sandra Ankobiah is one of the most successful ladies in the country, having built a career as a lawyer and media personality. She is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born May 18, 1983, in Accra, she emerged onto the fashion and celebrity scene in 2002 at the age of 19. Sandra Ankobiah is the third of four children to Naval Captain I.K. Ankobiah (Rtd) and his wife Mrs Rita Ankobiah. Ghana News Today: Shatta Wale May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencom: Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: Yen.com.gh - A Ghanaian man has attempted taking his life in front of the president's convoy - Reports had it that he jumped in front of the convoy and started hitting the bonnet - He has appeared before court and there have been hints of insanity raised by the prosecution An unemployed resident of Nungua in the Greater Accra Region, Seth Nana Amovi, has been put before an Accra Circuit Court for attempting to take his life by jumping in front of President Akufo-Addo's convoy. According to a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Ghanaweb.com, DSP Amegah told the court presided over by Her Honour Harriet Akweley Quaye that, Mr. Amovi, believed to be in his 30's, on August 7, 2018, hid himself at the Ako-Adjei interchange awaiting the presidents convoy. When the convoy got to the interchange, Mr. Amovi jumped in front of the vehicles and the convoy had to stop abruptly to avoid knocking him down. Mr. Seth Nana Amovi. Credit: Ghanaweb.com READ ALSO: Chairman Wontumi pleads with Abronye DC and Owusu Bempah to forgive NPP DSP Amegah went ahead and told the court that the suspect used his hands to hit the bonnet of the presidents vehicle a couple of times and later jumped onto the bonnet of the presidents car. Mr. Amovi was arrested by police officers stationed at the presidency who were with the president at the time and was taken to the police station. Amovi admitted to wanting to commit the dastardly act and added that he had been looking for an opportunity to meet the president for some time now but all his attempts failed. READ ALSO: Midland 'assault' policeman granted GHC 60k bail DSP Amegah told the court that the police, upon interrogation had suspicion that Amovi may be mentally unfit putting is actions into account. He therefore asked the court not to grant Amovi's request to meet the president and further prayed the court to make an order for the suspect to be taken to the hospital for psychiatric check. Mr. Seth Nana Amovi would be brought back to the court after the result of the examination has been released by psychiatric doctors. A few days ago, a story about Akufo-Addo's bodyguard punching a man on camera went viral and many people raised concerns over the matter. READ ALSO: 5 hot but single female celebrities who have hinted of getting married soon Watch: Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencomgh YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook page. Source: Yen - Officers of the Operation Vanguard team have arrested illegal miners in four regions. - Several items used including guns, have been seized from the suspects Personnel of the Western Forward Operating Base (FOB) of Operation Vanguard team have arrested some foreign nationals in a number of raids carried out in about 16 communities in four regions. Other bases of Operation Vanguard conducted similar patrols on August,8, 2018 and seized several items but made no arrests. In all, 12 Ghanaians, nine Chinese and a Togolese suspected to be illegal miners have been arrested at various mining sites. Source: myjoyonline.com READ ALSO: NPP Chairman begs Abronye DC and Rev. Owusu Bempah; reveals the reason why they are ignored The communities include Akanteng, Osenase, Asamankese, Dwenase, Osino and Apradan in the Akyem West, Fanteakwa and Kwahu West Districts of the Eastern region; Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti region. Hiawa, Prestea and Enyinam in the Amenfi Central and Prestea Huni Valley Districts of the Western region and Adahamase, Assin Asamang in the Atiwa Nwabiagya District of the Central region. Source: myjoyonline.com Of those arrested, 7 Ghanaians, 6 Chinese and 1 Togolese were arrested in the Amenfi Central District while three Chinese and five Ghanaians were arrested in the Prestea Huni Valley District all of the Western region. Items immobilized during the operation included 2 Excavators, 24 Changfan machines, 10 Floating platforms, and 3 Grease Guns. Source: myjoyonline.com Others were 1 Excavator, 1 Nissan Navara pick up, 1 Motor cycle, 2 Control boards, 2 Monitors 1 Battery and 2 Pump Action guns. All suspected persons have been handed over to Manso Amenfi and Prestea Police stations respectively. READ ALSO: Top NDC member reveals how he acquired a car before NDC left office Ghana news: President Akufo Addo Asked For More Prayers | Yen.com.gh YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via Instagram or on YENs official Facebook page. Source: Yen - The collapse of UT bank has, among others, been linked to huge non-performing loans including those of Ibrahim Mahama, brother of then-President John Mahama - Ibrahim Mahama owed the bank 302 million, a facility that was extended to his four companies in ways that required UT Bank to bend over backwards A detailed report on the demise of the UT Bank has attributed the collapse of the bank to huge non-performing loans. It has been revealed that the bank collapsed after persons who took loans refused to pay, including Ibrahim Mahama, brother of then-President John Mahama. The financial report indicates that Ibrahim Mahama owed the bank 302m, a facility that was extended to his four companies. John and Ibrahim Mahama. Source: Modernghana.com READ ALSO: 4 reasons why Peter Amewu will be a successful energy minister This subsequently left the bank in great risk of collapsing, with the businessman continuously defaulting payments. On May 20, 2016, the Board of the bank called an emergency meeting to discuss how best to get Ibrahim Mahama to pay up his loans. Minutes of that meeting, as told from a member of the Board, mentioned that they were disappointed "[Ibrahim Mahama] had made no effort to honour any of the assurances he gave when he met them on 29th March 2016." Management of the bank then decided "exert more pressure" on the businessman by meeting his brother, then President Mahama, in an attempt to get him to pay the loans he took. At another meeting where the Board was expecting to meet Ibrahim Mahama, the businessman sent an emissary instead: Mr. Adi-Ayitevi. READ ALSO: 3 things Capital, UT Bank liquidation support couldve bought for Ghana's health sector The report said the Board "felt slighted and disrespected by his actions" and "questioned his credibility as a businessman." The Board's plan was to collect their monies before December 2016 when the country would have gone to the polls. Following a third meeting over his non-performing loans, Ibrahim Mahama assured the Board he was "making every effort to pay the amounts outstanding from related companies." However, the license of the UT Bank was withdrawn by the Central Bank over what was described as an irredeemable liquidity crisis. Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Man tries to kill himself on Akufo-Addo's convoy Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: Yen - President Nana Akufo-Addo travelled on his five-day Ashanti Regional tour with his ministers -in two huge InterCity STC buses - Apart from the president, none of the other officials went to Kumasi by their own SUVs President Akufo-Addo has reportedly ordered his ministers and other oppointees who wish to accompany him on tours to use a state-provided STC, rather than a convoy. The move is geared towards puttig a stop to the the long convoys that follow the President each time he travels. Accra-based Peace FM reports that Nana Addo's new directive will take effect during his five-day tour of the Ashanti region. Ministers, MPs join Akufo-Addo's A/R tour on bus. Source: classfmonline.com READ ALSO: UT bank wanted to meet President Mahama over brother's 302m loan Sources say all Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, Municipal and District Chief Executives who are mandated or wish to accompany the President on the tour will have to make themselves comfortable in an STC bus provided by the state. This means no government appointee will travel alongside the President in the usual V8 Landcruisers. President Akufo-Addo will commence his five-day working tour of the Ashanti Region on Friday, 10 August 2018. He is expected to visit some constituencies in the region, including Manhyia South, Asokwa, Nhyiaeso, Bosomtwe, Bantama, Sekyere Central, Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo, Mampong, Subin, Ahafo-Ano South, Kwadaso, Atwima Kwanwoma and Oforikrom. Whiles on the tour, the President will also pay a courtesy call on the overlord of the Ashanti kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace. Prez Akufo-Addo cuts long convoy; provides bus for ministers. Source: Classfmonline.com He will then move to launch the Kumasi Roads Facelift Programme at Atonsu in the Asokwa Constituency, before later visiting the Vesta Oil Factory at Bosomtwe. The President is also expected to inspect ongoing works on the Manhyia-Bantama Asphalt Overlay Project, while also scheduled to meet and interact with some Chiefs and religious leaders in the region. READ ALSO: Man tries to kill himself on Akufo-Addo's convoy He will also inspect construction works of a 1-District-1-Warehouse project at Mampong, and also cut sod for the construction of the Wioso-Mpasaaso Road Project. The President's programme line-up for the five-day tour will also see him launch the Youth in Afforestation Programme in the region. Nana Addo will then conclude his tour by participating in the 29th Biennial General Council Meeting of the Assemblies of God Church, to be held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Watch: Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Sandra Ankobiah grabs a new boyfriend after Nana Aba Anamoah teased her? Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: Yen - Nana Addo has decried the taste for prosperity by some churches - The president has urged churches to be wary of misleading the youth - Nana made these comments in an address at the Global Evangelical Church President Akufo-Addo has given his outlook on developments in Ghana's churches. The president, delivering a presentation at the Global Evangelical Church has made some strong statements about the prosperity-driven culture of churches and how that attracts taxes among other concerns. YEN.com.gh has culled out the 7 strongest points of the president's speech, under the theme; "Effective Discipleship the Cross and Our Commitment - that adds on to recent calls for churches to be taxed. READ ALSO: Chairman Wontumi pleads with Abronye DC and Owusu Bempah to forgive NPP 1. The thirst for money and fame The president, in his speech, touched on how much churches of today have changed focus and now focused on prosperity and fame: "The churches were seen as leading the drive for development; they built and ran schools and hospitals, they led the campaign for good sanitation, cleanliness was next to godliness, they preached and practiced. There were church services, where worshippers sang to their hearts content, but there was no question of keeping whole communities awake night after night, nor were there churches that were sources of noise nuisance. The priests and church leaders led lives that the average person could identify with", 2. Pastors are now competing among themselves. Nana Addo fears that churches of these days are not confusing Ghanaians with their competition with one another. He feels the competition among pastors is just not good enough. "The public looks on as priests compete to show who is the more powerful and who is the richer. The public looks on as some of the churches appear to forget about the poor and the vulnerable in our society, and concentrate on being outrageous," he stated. 3. The church not practicing what it preaches The president also argued that the church of today fails to practice sections of the Bible is preaches about. He is worried pastors are now focused on signs and miracles other than the real principles of live. "It is important that we do not debase the principles we purport to uphold. If the Church would have the people believe that our survival and prosperity depend on miracles, those of us in government have an impossible task." 4. The ardent shift to wonders and miracles "Education and hard work have been shown to be the surest path to success for both individuals and nations, and our country would not make any progress if the Church should contradict and undermine this principle, by preaching miracles as the answer to our needs." To tax or not to tax churches The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it will be investigating churches that rake in much revenue that is subsequently not taxed. There have been calls for the GRA to tax the services of Churches who, according to many, has been a highly lucrative business venture. Speaking to the media on recent development in Ghana's tax administrative regime, the commissioner general stated that it will pay informants 25 percent of a penalty against the churches that are hiding under a fellowship to make money without paying taxes to the state. The Authority is conducting an investigation based on its own intelligence but has thrown word out to the public to work as informants who should report such churches who hide under fellowship to make money, he revealed. The GRA is currently tightening its tax-collection loopholes as part of efforts to meet its 2018 revenue target. Only 1.2 million out of the 30 million population in Ghana are paying taxes. READ ALSO: Man tries to kill himself on Akufo-Addo's convoy Out of the 1.2 million, 1 million are in the formal sector and 200 thousand are in the informal sector. This implies that the contribution of the informal sector to total tax revenue is below 5 percent creating a huge gap in the national revenue generation. Watch: Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana | Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook page. Source: Yen - Edem has stated he is better than all the Ghanaian artiste - According to Edem, he can do lots of things that Ghanaian musicians cant do Versatile artiste Edem Hotor popularly known in showbiz as Edem says he is more talented than all the Ghanaian artiste. In an interview with Radio Central, Edem, when asked why he keeps trying his hands on different genres, he said he is doing what he is capable of. Im not trying to move, Im doing what Im capable of. Every other artiste who is a rapper and could sing would do like Edem but they cant thats why they dont do it, and I can thats why I do it," Edem said. READ ALSO: Fans slam Ahoufe Patri over provocative dress The Koene hitmaker went on to disclose that no Ghanaian musician can flow better than him. So its not about moving its the fact that I can do it and Im capable and Im that talented. No dancehall artiste can rap but I did Go Harder, no rapper can sing but I did Ghetto Arise so its a fact that the talent is on that level and Im exhibiting it, he added. The VRMG boss who was formerly known as Ayigbe Edem broke into the Ghanaian music scene 12 years ago as hardcore rapper under Last 2 Music Group management headed by Hammer. READ ALSO: Efia Odo defends herself against recent media attacks The tough talking musician has proven he is just not a rapper but a musician so he ventured into other genres aside hip hop and he never disappointed his fans. Edem has done reggae, dancehall, highlife, afro pop, hiplife, among others. He just released another hiplife song titled Godo featuring six up-and-coming artistes from Volta region. Edem is regarded as one of the best musicians to have come from Volta Region. READ ALSO: Yvonne Nelson in trouble after sharing throwback video with married man John Dumelo Watch: Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencomgh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page Source: Yen.com.gh School Releases Propaganda Videos Contact: Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel , 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org ORLANDO, Aug. 10, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- The East Penn School District has submitted to Liberty Counsel's demand on behalf of concerned parents and complied with Pennsylvania law, by providing the links to the YouTube videos that were shown to more than 2,000 high school students as part of the district's "Unity Week" and promotion of GLSEN 's "Day of Silence." Emmaus High School required the students to watch the videos, which promoted homosexuality, same-sex "marriage" and gender dysphoria, on the school TV system without prior notice to their parents or an opportunity to opt-out. The school counselor, Kristen Grim, who is also the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) faculty sponsor, previously sent a suggested list of YouTube videos to a school employee to be shown during the "Unity Week." However, the school district denied parents' requests for the video links, stating the videos "were pulled from YouTube and other online sources by the students in our GSA club and sent to the TV studio as part of their 'Day of Silence' project." The district's attorney advised "that these videos cannot be sent to parents, because they are part of a student project," despite the district playing the videos for all students. Parents were left to try to find the videos on their own based on descriptions of the video content provided by the school district and descriptions of the video content as related by their children. The videos released in the records request are: 1 - Buzzfeed's "9 Questions Gay People Have About Straight People." 2 - A CBS News story clip "Non-binary: The gender beyond he or she" promoting "gender fluidity." 3 - "Bill Nye on Sexuality and Gender Spectrum" 4 - YouTube spotlight "Show your pride. Share your love." #ProudToLove" Liberty Counsel is now reviewing all public records relating to the 2018 event. The records show significant teacher-led involvement and editorial control and faculty promotion of the "student-led" activism of the GSA. In fact, Principal Kieres rewarded faculty who showed support for "Day of Silence." Kieres stated , "I'm all in for whatever you need. I like the idea of teachers wearing GSA or NPFH shirts if they wish. I am delighted to go on the announcements and read a script. Basically, you tell me what the kids need and I'm in!" An email from Grim to a teacher further reveals the support and promotion of the "Day of Silence" while isolating those faculty, staff and students who chose not to participate. Share Tweet 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. 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. Fundatia Est-Europeana anunta lansarea Programului de granturi pentru sustinerea fondurilor de antreprenoriat pentru tineri, inclusiv unul in Gagauzia CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. >> In an effort to maintain its agricultural heritage and rural character the town has submitted grant applications to the state to help fund the purchase of development rights for two local farms, officials said. The two farms considering selling their development rights to the town are Bowman Orchards, 197 Sugar Hill Road, and Maple Hill Farm, at the intersection of Ashdown Road and Route 146A. The potential sale of the rights was first made public in May when the Town Board lent its support for applications for additional grant funding from Saratoga County. The owners of Bowman Orchards, Kevin Bowman and family, are interested in selling the development rights as a permanent easement to 95.69 acres. The owners of Maple Hill Farm, Kurt and Juliette Schwartz, are interested in doing the same for 72.9 acres. To add depth to the grant applications the town is working with Saratoga PLAN. If the state grants are approved the town will buy the development rights through a perpetual conservation easement that mandates the land only be used for agricultural purposes in the future. The town purchased the development rights to Riverview Orchards around 12 years ago through the same process. Funding to purchase the development rights will come from Saratoga Countys Open Space Protective Program, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets New York State Farmland Protection Implementation Grant, and the town itself. The approval to submit the applications for the two state grants was given by the Clifton Park Town Board at the July 16 meeting. On July 17 the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved four grant requests totaling $187,000 from the Saratoga County Farmland and Open Space Protection Program. Two of the four grant requests approved were for the farms in Clifton Park. The Town of Clifton Park received $69,000 toward the purchase of the Bowman Orchards development rights and $14,000 toward the purchase of the Maple Hill Farm development rights. Saratoga PLANs Director Maria Trabka said the organization has been working with the two Clifton Park property owners for the last few years. When they agreed to sell the development rights PLAN went to the town and offered to help with the grant application process. The organization, she said, has closed on seven permanent easements in the past year, has five more with funding in place and the transactions underway, and has six applications being prepared for submittal in August. Two of the six are the Clifton Park properties. Interest is rising, she said. Were getting more calls from landowners. Because of that increased interest, PLAN formed Conservation Colleagues, a group that includes representatives from the Saratoga County Soil and Water Conservation District, Cornell Cooperative Extension, town planning departments, town building inspectors and staff from the countys planning department. We have expertise were sharing to make sure the tows applications are as strong as they can be, Trabka said. Our goal is to assist the towns so there are more people who know the process. Thats why we formed Conservation Colleagues. The Department of Agriculture and Markets grant program is competitive. The grant funding is awarded to assist with the protection of viable agricultural lands that are at risk of conversion to non-farm uses. Eligible applicants for the grants include counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts and not-for-profit conservation organizations or land trusts. The Clifton Park Town Board agreed to make the submittal for the state grant shortly after a new round of Requests for Proposals was announced. According to the departments website, the purpose of the RFPs is to show the funds will be used for implementation of conservation easement projects or incentive payment projects. The Agriculture and Markets grant for preemptive purchase rights cannot be more than 40 percent of the appraised value of the development rights or $250,000, whichever is less. The town of Clifton Park will contribute no less than $70,000 toward the purchase of the Bowman Orchards permanent easement protection and no less than $58,000 towards the same on the Maple Hill Farm. The towns share of the funding will come from its Open Space Incentive Zoning Fund. The fund was created in 2005 as part of the Western Generic Environmental Impact Study. Both farms were identified in the study as agricultural resources. Weve been working with the owners and with Saratoga PLAN, Town Supervisor Philip Barrett said at the July 16 meeting. These are just applications but they fit well with our open space protection efforts. The applications for the state grants are due at the end of August. Announcement of the grant awards will be made in early December. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Overview: Beer products are facing a high degree of demand in recent times owing to positive image and high acceptance rates of those products. Focused Market reports connected to the food, beverage and nutrition sector among others lately have been made available by Market Research Future which publishes a report on this sector. The industry is expected to expand with an optimistic CAGR rate in the forecast period. Beer and beer related products have increased in recent times with the products being used not only for consumption but also in cosmetic products. Efforts taken by industry leaders to develop the market have resulted in positive changes in terms of the growth potential and opportunities. The inelasticity of demand observed towards the beer market will fuel the expansion of the market at an accelerated rate through the forecast period. Get a Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1647 Major Key Players: Competitors who are a part of the industry have devised their corporate strategy blueprint in a way that that can bring the best outcomes for development in the current scenario, while also simultaneously delivering customer value unfailingly. The ability to sustain their competitive edge is one of the main causes fuelling their efforts in this period. The scope for development in the industry appears to be promising through the forecast period. The rising interest for diversification in the industry, has indirectly allowed the players to utilize many prospects available in the industry. This scenario has created opportunities for portfolio improvements along with diversification in the sector, which has improved the scenario for market competitors tremendously in this industry. The organizations in this industry are also trying to enhance and maintain financial liquidity that can be crucial to invest in growth opportunities as and when they become available. The key players profiled in beer market report comprises Anheuser-Busch InBev, Heineken N.V., SABMiller Plc., Carlsberg Group, Diageo Plc., Tsingtao Brewery, Molson Coors Brewing Company, United Breweries Group (UB Group),Boston Beer Company and Beijing Yanjing Brewery. Industry Update: Apr 2018 AB Inbev which is based out of Belgium and is the worlds biggest beer brewing business, has of late found out a new low-carbon method for adding bubbles to beer. The method which is expected to reduce the companys CO2 emissions by 5 percent, includes warming the brew to below boiling point, then pumping in CO2 or nitrogen to make gas bubbles. Normally, bubbles are produced during the boiling procedure, which needs an excessive deal of heat and water. AB Inbev has asserted that using lower temperatures in the early brewing process reduces emissions and results in a beer that will remain fresh for longer. Segments: The segmentation of the beer market around the world includes segmentation on the basis of type, source, packaging, production and region. The type segment of the industry includes mild ale, stout, pale ale, porters lambic, lager, marzen, bock and others. On the basis of source, the segment comprises of cassava roots, rice, corn, millet, barley, wheat, sorghum, agave and others. The packaging segment of the beer industry comprises of draft, can and bottle. The production segment is divided into micro and macro segments. Finally, on the basis of region the blood glucose test strip industry includes geographical areas such as Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Middle East and Africa. Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/beer-market-1647 Regional Analysis: The market for beer around the world has been growing owing to changing consumption patterns and urbanization. Several micro brewers are emerging who are solely focusing on the quality of the beer. The key drivers for the industry are growing westernization and emerging socializing trends among youngsters. As a result, the beer industry is estimated achieve significant gains in terms of revenue at the end of the forecasted period and is likely to grow at an optimistic CAGR percent from 2016 to 2023. China controls the industry for beer in terms of production with the biggest market share followed by U.S., thereby accounting for significant earnings and is anticipated to develop significantly by 2023, the Asia Pacific region is a rising region for Beer market and is estimated to grow at a positive CAGR respectively from 2016 to 2023. 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. Presenter Arthur Williamss wife Rebecca has a rival for her husbands love Echo Yankee, a yellow aeroplane. She jokes about me having a mistress, says ex-Royal Marine Arthur. Eleven years ago he was permanently paralysed in a car crash, but flying gives him freedom. In the air, I can do what anyone can, says Arthur. In new four-part series Flying Across Britain, Arthur, 32, flies to some of Britains 900 airfields to reveal the stories of the characters and planes from a century of aviation history. Despite being permanently paralysed 11 years ago, Arthur Williams (pictured) has forged a career as a pilot His love of aircraft began as a child in Worcestershire. We lived near a low-flying route, so I was exposed to all kinds of military aircraft, he recalls. By 17 he had joined the Marines, but his career was cruelly cut short when his legs were crushed. Seeking a focus, he found an article about Douglas Bader, a WWII flying ace despite having lost both legs. That sparked something, says Arthur, who began lessons in an adapted aircraft (he uses his left hand to control the rudder) and got his pilots licence in 2009. Seeking a focus after his life changing crash, he found an article about Douglas Bader, a WWII flying ace despite having lost both legs In 2011 he bought Echo Yankee, a Piper Cub built in 1943 for the US military. Arthur has since presented the Paralympics for Channel 4, and shows on aviation and military history, and now hes roaming Britain in his beloved Piper. She only goes at a 75mph, so getting from the Midlands to the Western Isles took a whole day, but the rewards of flying in the Highlands were more than worth it. He hopes his exploits will inspire other budding aviators. Flying may seem elitist, but the club Im with has everyone from plumbers to surgeons, he says. Flyings transformed my life. I want people to know its an option for them too. Flying Across Britain, tomorrow, 7pm, Channel 4. Celebrities share the stories behind their favourite snaps this week its broadcaster and royal biographer Gyles Brandreth Broadcaster and royal biographer Gyles Brandreth (pictured) shares the stories behind some of his favourite snaps 1950 This is me aged about two in Germany, where my lawyer father Charles was working. My love of words comes from him and my mother Alice, who was a teacher. We moved to London when I was three, and when I was six my mother gave me independence by sending me to school on my own on the Tube. I didnt find out until she was 90 that she used to follow me in the next carriage. I wrote stories and articles at school and Ive kept a diary since 1959 1958 As a boy, I loved being in the choir (Im second from the right), even though I cant sing. I sang in two London churches and wed get half a crown [worth about 3 today] for weddings and five shillings [6] for funerals. During services wed pray for people to die so wed have more funerals to sing at! 1969 After I graduated from Oxford University, I hosted my own chat show on ITV called Child Of The Sixties. A year later, I made my first documentary film, called The Saint And The Cynic for ITV, where I interviewed Michael Ramsey, then-Archbishop of Canterbury, in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral [pictured] on the spot where Thomas Becket was murdered nearly 800 years before. Ive met every archbishop since and every British prime minister since Churchill. I enjoy meeting achievers 1973 This is my wife Michele, whom I met at Oxford. We were students and she auditioned for a part in a production of Cinderella that I was directing. There and then, I asked her out for a Chinese meal the best three shillings I ever spent. Five years later, we were married [pictured]. Forty-five years on and she hasnt changed the locks. Yet 1983 I first met the Duke of Edinburgh when I got involved in one of his favourite charities, the National Playing Fields Association. I liked him at once and he was totally different from his public image. I wrote a biography on him, Philip And Elizabeth: Portrait Of A Marriage, in 2004. Hes focused, fearless, friendly and determined. He and Just A Minute presenter Nicholas Parsons (both in their nineties now) are my role models 1986 A love of teddy bears, Winnie the Pooh in particular, has been lifelong for me. With Julian Slade (the man who wrote Salad Days), I wrote Now We Are Sixty, a musical about AA Milne and his son Christopher Robin [pictured], who later became my friend. He was a shy and delightful man, who had hated being Christopher Robin as a boy, but told us he was very happy with the way we told his story. A young Aled Jones played the role of Christopher Robin 1992 I became a Conservative MP after John Major came to my constituency, Chester, and stood on his soap box and won the 1992 election. I wanted to change the world, but my only achievement was to introduce the 1994 Marriage Act. It was a private members bill that enabled weddings to take place in venues other than registry offices. If you got married in a hotel or a castle, its thanks to me. Being an MP and a government whip was the most interesting time The designer behind the polka dot dress that took the royal wedding by storm is winning hearts once more with a racy white number. Alessandra Rich's vintage-inspired frock was catapulted into the spotlight when Meghan Markle's Suits co-star Abigail Spencer wore it to the Windsor nuptials, and was subsequently snapped up by a procession of high-profile stars. Now it appears the Italian designer has another hit on her hands with a thigh-split dress that's already sweeping the red carpet. Rich's 1,895 Hollywood Sable crystal-embellished dress is gaining popularity with fans including British pop princess Dua Lipa, Tanzanian model Herieth Paul and Chinese actress Sandra Ma Sichun. Meghan Markle's Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, who made the now-famous Alessandra Rich dress go viral, appears to have struck up a relationship with the designer and recently posted a photo of them together - wearing the hugely popular Hollywood Sable dress Will Meghan be next to wear it? It appears the Alessandra Rich dress even has the stamp of approval from the Duchess of Sussex's unofficial stylist Jessica Mulroney, who wrote: 'Love!!!' Pop princess Dua Lipa (left, at the Grammys after party) and Tanzanian model Herieth Paul (right, in a recent Instagram snap) are also fans of Alessandra Rich's Hollywood white dress Betty Bachz attends the opening dinner for LFWM June 2018 in the Alessandra Rich dress (left); actress Ma Sichun wore same frock in Shanghai that some month (right) Spencer, who was responsible for making the polka dot dress go viral on May 19, has worn it too and appears to have struck up a relationship with the designer. She recently posted a snap of the pair together in Rich's London showroom - wearing the 'Hollywood' dress - and teased that there would be 'more to come'. And it appears the dress even has the stamp of approval from the Duchess of Sussex's friend and unofficial stylist, Jessica Mulroney, who wrote underneath: 'Love!!!' According to Rich, the SS18 range - described as 'joyful' and 'totally on target' by fashion bible Vogue - was inspired by Alfred Eisenstaedts 1945 image of a sailor embracing a stranger in Times Square'. In June, it was Rich's 1,750 polka dot number that was sweeping the social circuit after cropping up everywhere from the polo to the royal wedding. The pleated crepe de chine number, from London label Alessandra Rich, has been spotted on stars including Abigail Spencer (left, at the royal wedding at Windsor Castle) and Sarah Jessica Parker (right, at The Seafarer Opening Night Party in New York City) Back in the spotlight: This week, British DJ Henri wore the 1,255 mini version as she mingled with aristocrats and royals at the polo finals in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire Ageless style: Model Christie Brinkley, 64, wore the dress during a reception for the annual meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) in New York City The pleated crepe de chine number, from London label Alessandra Rich, has been spotted on a host of stars including Sarah Jessica Parker, Christie Brinkley and Daisy Ridley. It first shot to fame after making an appearance at the royal wedding, and had its latest moment in the spotlight at this weekend's Cartier Queen's Cup. That same week, DJ Henri wore the 1,255 mini version as she mingled with aristocrats and royals at the polo finals in Windsor. The frock was also spotted on stars including US talk show host Kelly Ripa, while Nicola Kidman owns a similar version in white. The frock comes from Alessandra Rich's SS18 collection and features statement cuffs and an oversized white collar. With a nipped-in waist and 'flippy' flared skirt, it boasts an ultra-flattering silhouette for every body type. Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley, 26, wore the polka dot dress during an American talk show appearance. She shared it on Instagram, writing: 'This outfit', racking up thousands of likes In demand: Now sold out at most major stockists, the popular dress from London label Alessandra Rich is currently on sale at Net-a-Porter for 1,225. Fashion expert Simon Glazin told FEMAIL: 'You know you're on to a winner when the queen of fashion - Sarah Jessica Parker - wears your dress. 'And this particular style has the A-listers swooning. No wonder really, it has that amazing versatility that means you can wear it anywhere, dressed up or down. 'From the wedding of the year with matching fascinator, to a festival with trainers, it's good brilliant fashion appeal. The shirt dress is big this season, plus there's the added benefit of this dress nipping you in at the waist. The big collar and cuffs give it that high end feel. And what's more, I love how each celebrity is wearing it at different lengths. Another sign this dress really is for everyone.' Two fifty-something British women are set to take London Fashion Week by storm after being hand-picked as the new faces of a fashion brand. The women's clothing label JD Williams selected Sue Hammond, 58 and Jenny Stout, 53, to front their new 'midster' campaign following a nationwide model search, after whittling down 600 entrants to two. Their search was launched after a study found that women aged 45 and over do not feel they are represented in advertising, TV and on fashion runways. JD Williams said it hopes the arrival of Sue, from Buckinghamshire and Jenny, from London, will help to 'shake up a youth-obsessed industry'. The two dazzling 'midsters' will walk for the brand at London Fashion Week in September. Meet the midsters! Jenny Stout, 53, from London (left) and Sue Hammond, 58 from Buckinghamshire (right) have been selected by JD Williams to front their new campaign. They will walk in a runway show at this year's London Fashion Week Sue Hammond and Jenny Stout (fourth and fifth left respectively) were among the 11 finalists picked by JD Williams out of 600 women who entered their 'midster' modelling competition Their campaign is part of its commitment to use age appropriate models in its adverts following research that revealed more than three quarters (79 per cent) of British women felt 'ignored' by the fashion and advertising industry. The three-month long search in association with Models 1 was open to women aged 45 and above, of all sizes and shapes, and saw more than 600 women apply. A final shortlist of 11 women, whose ages spanned from 45 to 61, were invited to a casting day in London where they came face-to-face with the judges. The panel included Britain's Next Top Model judge and celebrity photographer, Nicky Johnston; Uwe Herzstein from Models One; supermodel Jan De Villeneuve and Creative Director at JD Williams, Beth Lowry. Alison McMahon, 57 (left) and Beverley Andrew, 49 (right) strike a pose in JD Williams' 'midster' campaign. The national model search was launched after a study found that women aged 45 and over felt they didn't feel represented in advertising, TV and on fashion runways Melanie Torino, 49 was one of the 11 finalists in JD Williams' 'midster' campaign. The brand said they hoped the two winners would help to 'shake of a youth-obsessed industry' Sue and Jenny will now appear in JD Williams' Spring/Summer 2019 advertising and PR campaigns, plus receive an introduction to Models 1, Europe's largest model agency. Winner Sue said: 'I entered the competition to push myself out of my comfort zone. I'm 58 and have recently had breast reduction surgery having wanted it for years. 'I was feeling so good about how my body had changed, the different clothes I could now wear and having the confidence to wear colours instead of standard black, that when I saw the competition, it just felt like the right time to apply that confidence. 'So, with a great deal of encouragement from my teenage daughter I went for it.' Lucy Blenkinsopp, 57 (left) and Nikki Redcliffe, 61 (right) made the final 11 out of 600 entrants in JD William's 'midster' modelling competition. Their campaign is part of its commitment to use age appropriate models in its adverts Sandrine Abrahams, 48 (left) and Mollie Chippeck, 45 (right) also took part in JD William's 'midster' modelling competition. The search was launched after research revealed more than three quarters of British women felt 'ignored' by the fashion and advertising industry Fellow winner Jenny, an ex-Olympic athlete, said: 'Women in middle age still have something to give that is valuable and can still be attractive, confident and fashionable. 'On the actual day of the final casting I was surrounded by these incredible women who all had amazing stories to tell about their personal growth and who were determined to shine as a Midster, no matter where their journeys have taken them. To win amongst such a crowd was very humbling.' Creative Director at JD Williams Beth Lowry added: 'As a brand which caters for older woman, we believe it's important to use age appropriate models in our advertising and marketing campaigns, which is something we wholeheartedly encourage others to do. Suzy Conway, 61 (left) and Jan Newman, 57 (right) made the final 11 in JD William's 'midster' modelling competition. The three-month long search in association with Models 1 was open to women aged 45 and above, of all sizes and shapes, and saw more than 600 women apply 'However we've found it difficult casting 45+ models in our campaigns, as the pool of models is notoriously small - which is one of the reasons why we launched this model search.' Sue and Jenny's first appearance as the new 'faces' of JD Williams will see them walking the catwalk at JDW Midster Live AW18 a fashion show which will put Midsters on the agenda at this year's London Fashion Week. They will both walk the catwalk alongside a cast of models and celebrities all aged 45 and above. JDW Midster Live AW18 will take place on 13 September. Fans of Kevin Kwan's 2013 novel Crazy Rich Asians are eagerly awaiting the release of the film adaptation, which hits cinemas across Europe, the US and Australia from next week. The rom-com centres on an Asian-American New Yorker who goes to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's loved ones only to find they're one of the country's richest families, and features jaw-dropping opulence that's incredibly true to life. The Rich Kids of Singapore account on Instagram documents the lavish lifestyles of some of Asia's most prominent social media stars, including heiress Elly Lam, the daughter of Hong Kong billionaire Peter Lam and his actress ex-wife Lynn Hsieh. Elly has spent the summer flitting around Europe in her private jet with stops in Ibiza, London, Budapest, Rimini and Ibiza to name a few, declaring earlier this week that she's 'not ready to go home at all' after her summer 2018 #eurotrip. Then there's Singapore's Instagram queen Jamie Chua, 44 - who boasts the world's biggest collection of Hermes bags - the ex-wife of Indonesian multi-millionaire Nurdian Cuaca who she met while working as a business class air hostess. Elly Lam, the daughter of Hong Kong billionaire Peter Lam, relaxing on her private jet on her way to the Tommorowland festival in Belgium in July 2018 as part of her summer tour of Europe Filipino-Chinese-Taiwanese actress and model Ann Louie Li, 23, showing off her bikini body on a trip to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland at the beginning of August 2018 Singapore-based Kane Lim, 28, set up his own shoe brand when he was 17 and was a millionaire by the age of 20. He studied fashion in California and has attracted the attention of Rihanna, who is one of his many Instagram followers. Kane's 200 strong designer shoe collection is said to be worth more than $365,000, and he's unsurprisingly a fan of designer brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Meanwhile, Filipino-Chinese-Taiwanese Ann Louie Li, 23, combines her career as an actress with moonlighting as a model, photographer and fashion and lifestyle blogger. Singapore-based Kane Lim, 28, was a millionaire by 20 after setting up his own fashion brand at 17, and boasts Rihanna as one of his Instagram followers. Pictured: Showing off his Louis Vuitton luggage collection at the end of July Yoyo Cao, branded 'Singapore's biggest style star and designer' by Vogue, chilling out at the Prada store in the Paragon Shopping Centre in Singapore earlier this week Singapore's Instagram queen Jamie Chua, 44, boasts the world's largest collection of Hermes bags - she's pictured here after a shopping spree at her favourite store in February 2018 Fashion, beauty and travel blogger Wilabelle Ong from Singapore having a 'casual morning' at the Plaza Athenee hotel in Paris in June 2018, touching up her make-up at the breakfast table - with an artfully positioned Chanel handbag completing the scene She first found fame on reality TV and became the youngest person on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in the arts category last year. She recently shared snaps from a luxury break in Lake Lucerne, Switzerland where she watched the sun set while floating in her private infinity pool. Dhillon Lee, 21, the son of a Singaporean Multi Millionaire keeps Instagram followers updated on his love of outdoor sports, and is known to own jet skis, scuba gear, and a fleet of luxurious cars. Singapore heiress Elly Lam said her 'resting b**** face' was even more stern than usual as she had to fly back home at the end of her summer of fun around Europe earlier this week Socialite Elly Lam soaks up the sun earlier this week on a boat trip in Formentera earlier this week, wearing a Givenchy swimsuit, during the Spanish leg of her summer jaunt around Europe We're goinng to Ibiza! The party island was just one of many stop of Singapore socialite Elly Lam's summer jaunt around Europe. She was pictured in June taking a boat trip in a pink swimsuit with a personalised beach bag Filipino-Chinese-Taiwanese actress and model Ann Louie Li, 23, watching the sunset from an infinity pool overlooking Lake Lucerne in Switzerland during a holiday in August 2018 Influencer Ann Louie Li admitted she'd been ordering dessert at 2am during her stay at the five star Hotel Villa Honegg earlier this week in Switzerland Dhillon Lee, 21, the son of a Singaporean multi millionaire riding one his jet skis during a holiday in December 2017. The adrenaline junkie enjoys showing off his collection of expensive toys on social media Singapore's Instagram queen Jamie Chua said she was bathing in rose petals at the Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund at the end of July 2018, because it was far too hot to venture outside Former flight attendant Jamie Chua is globally renowned for her stunning collection of clothing, accessories and incredibly expensive bags from French luxury fashion house Hermes, which she stores in specially designed closets at her home in Singapore Willabelle Ong, a popular photographer and travel blogger from Singapore, is seen admiring the view in her home town in a snap taken earlier this week Kane Lim from Singapore pictured in 2014 with just a handful of his lavish accessories from Chanel and Balmain. The designer has made millions from his own shoe brand Kane Lim from Singapore's packed shoe closet. He's said to own more than 200 pairs and his collection is valued at more than $365,000 As a working royal outrageous fashion statements are off the cards for the Duchess of Sussex, but it seems that Meghan has been using her clothes to send out a subtle but powerful message of late. The royal, 37, has recently sported several ensembles with pockets which can be something of a rarity in women's clothing, particularly on dresses. Their absence has become part of the feminist narrative, as commentators rail against the impracticality and the lack of understanding of what women want - and experts have told FEMAIL that Meghan's championing of pockets is a reflection of her beliefs on empowerment. Karine Laudort, Fashion Commentator and Founder of Kay Flawless PR told Femail: 'A lack of pockets forces women to carry things in a purse or handbags, keeping their hands at rest. 'It is to their disadvantage as their male and children counterparts get pockets in most of their outfits. Women need easy access to their smartphones and contactless credit cards, so pockets are a must and Meghan knows that. 'We can only guess that Meghan's feminist side is probably a reason why she wears dresses and trousers with pockets to make a subtle and silent stand against The Establishment. The Duchess of Sussex in a navy Carolina Herrera dress with oversized pockets at the Sentebale Polo Cup in Berkshire on the 26th of July. The royal has made statement pockets a feature of her working wardrobe of late, and fashion experts say it could be a subtle feminist statement 'She is certainly a huge advocate for women's empowerment and causes, and therefore, is very aware of the impact her every choice will make.' She added: 'Fashion historian, Barbara Burman said it herself in her book Pockets of History: The Secret Life of an Everyday Object, "The frustrations and limitations of women's access to money and ownership of property were neatly mirrored in the restricted scope of their pockets".' Meghan's last public appearance was to support Harry and present prizes at the Sentebale Polo Cup in Berkshire at the end of July. The Duchess wore a navy Carolina Herrera dress with extra-large pockets beneath the belt. Former Suits actress Meghan in a pale pink trench dress by House of Nonie at The Southbank Centre on July 17th 2018. As well as being practical, pockets allow Meghan a safety net of being able to hide her hands if she's feeling nervous Foer her first official overseas visit as a royal, Meghan wore a forest green Givenchy skirt with oversized pockets as she visited Government Buildings in Dublin with Prince Harry on the 10th July 2018 For her visit to The Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at The Southbank Centre in July she donned a pale pink trench coat dress by Canadian brand, House of Nonie, which also featured pockets. And during her debut official overseas visit as a royal to Dublin at the beginning of the same month, she stepped off the plane in a forest green top and skirt with oversized pockets by Givenchy. Meghan has also made trousers a stable of her royal wardrobe, and perhaps it's no surprise given they're more likely to contain pockets than dresses and skirts. Milda Chellingsworth personal stylist & founder of Styling For You added that there's another practical reason Meghan may enjoy the safety net of a pocket. Meghan visiting the Famine Memorial in Dublin in a trouser suit on the 11th of July 2018. Meghan has made trousers - which are more likely to feature pockets - a staple of her royal wardrobe 'In general when meeting new people it can be daunting for both men and women,' she said. 'A simple thing like having a pocket in our clothing can enable us to feel more relaxed as it means we have somewhere to put our hands. 'Being more at ease this way, we appear more comfortable and that means also feeling more confident which shows. The Duchess of Sussex meeting junior players during a visit to Wimbledon in July 2018. Meghan is a champion of female empowerment and wearing trousers with pockets could be a subtle way of supporting a cause close to her heart 'The lack of a pocket, on the other hand, might make us feel awkward as we end up clasping our hands or not knowing what to do with them. 'Womens clothing have always had less pockets compared to mens clothing, but this has changed over the past few years with styles of dresses and skirts which include pockets that are in line with the general style of the clothing and do not add bulk. 'The Duchess of Sussex is a huge influencer... and is constantly championing new trends that are coming through, so its good to see her wearing these styles of dresses - including those that feature pockets.' You've probably heard your grandmother use the phrase 'you've got another thing coming' when she's watching someone do something disruptive. But in actual fact, this is not the line at all. Many of the well known catchcries we've come to know have entirely different spellings and meanings. The word 'eggcorn' was created in the early 2000s by linguist Geoffrey Pullum to describe words or phrases like these that are misheard and reform into a new word or phrase. Here, FEMAIL looks at some of the most commonly mispronounced phrases - or 'eggcorns' - of all time. You've probably heard your grandmother use the phrase 'you've got another thing coming' when she's watching someone do something disruptive 1. Nip it in the butt vs Nip it in the bud When someone says they are going to 'nip it in the bud', it means they are going to do something and get it over with quickly and efficiently. Somewhere along the line the word 'bud' became 'butt' and entered the mainstream vocabulary, but this doesn't make sense as a sentence. The phrase derives from the 'de-budding' of plants and the very first version of it was 'nip it in the bloom'. 2. Hunger pains vs Hunger pangs While both of these phrases mean the same thing - the individual is experiencing tension in their lower abdomen associated with hunger - 'pangs' is the correct way to finish that sentence. A pang is a sudden sharp pain or painful emotion, making it a more targeted term for that phrase. Pain can be longer lasting. 3. You've got another thing coming vs You've got another think coming 'To have another think coming' means 'to be greatly mistaken' and is the correct form of this sentence. If we break it down it works like so; a person thinks something, someone believes them to be wrong, so they 'have another think coming'. The phrase 'you've got another thing coming' is incorrect. When someone says they are going to 'nip it in the bud', it means they are going to do something and get it over with quickly and efficiently 4. Scapegoat vs Escape goat When you do something wrong but you place the blame on someone else, you are making them your 'scapegoat'. When many people use this expression it turns into 'escape goat' but this is incorrect. According to Merriam Webster, the word 'scapegoat' originated with an actual goat in Jewish and Christian Scriptures that would be slaughtered to 'carry the sins of the people away with it'. What are some other examples of errors? Beck and call becomes beck on call By accident becomes on accident Espresso becomes expresso Regardless becomes irregardless Peace of mind becomes piece of mind Pique your interest becomes peak your interest I couldn't care less becomes I could care less Case in point becomes case and point Lo and behold becomes low and behold It didn't faze me becomes it didn't phase me Advertisement 5. Statue of limitations vs Statute of limitations Statutes of limitations are laws passed by legislative bodies in systems to set the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated. If you're not familiar with the legal jargon, you might have heard people using the word 'statue' instead. This is just a mishearing of the original line. 6. For all intents and purposes vs For all intensive purposes For all intents and purposes means in every practical sense or virtually. This is a phrase that is often said wrong. Many people say for all intensive purposes. Not only is it the wrong phrase, it also doesn't make grammatical sense. 7. Butt naked vs Buck naked Both of these lines mean the same thing - to be completely naked - but 'buck naked' is the original and grammatically correct form of the phrase. According to search term statistics online 'butt naked' is more common than 'buck naked' by a ratio of about three to one. According to Writing Explained, the origin of the phrase is unknown, but one of the more popular theories as to the origin stories 'relates to buck as a reference to male deer and goats'. By saying something is 'one and the same' you're effectively saying the two things you're talking about are identical 8. Mute point vs Moot point A moot point can be either an issue open for debate, or a matter of no practical value or importance because it's hypothetical. The term comes from British law where it describes a hypothetical point of discussion used as teaching exercise for law students. 'Mute' point is just a simple mishearing of a word not commonly used in everyday language. 9. One in the same vs One and the same By saying something is 'one and the same' you're effectively saying the two things you're talking about are identical. 'One in the same' is just another eggcorn, with the phrase implying the exact same thing but not being grammatically correct. During the summer holidays it's a good chance for families to catch up over outdoor activities. And it would seem the Danish royals are no different, with Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 46, and her husband of 14-years Prince Frederik, 50, whisking their four children away on a spontaneous summer adventure. It's no surprise they chose to spend time on the water as the Crown Prince is an avid sailor - even visiting Sydney last year to ride on famed boat Wild Oats in the Big Boat Challenge. Scroll down for video Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 46, and her husband of 14-years Prince Frederik, 50, whisked their four children away on a sailing trip (Josephine and Vincent pictured) The small tribe are perched on an old wooden bench facing the ocean (L-R Isabella, Vincent, Christian and Josephine) Their adorable children Prince Christian, 12, Princess Isabella, 11, and seven-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine looked ready for an adventurous day at sea in their casual shorts and t-shirt in newly released photos captured by their mother. The small tribe are perched on an old wooden bench facing the ocean before young Prince Vincent uses some binoculars to get a better view. The following day they took some time to explore Knuthenborg Safari Park, which is the largest safari reserve in Northern Europe. Is that a dolphin out there? Prince Vincent uses some binoculars to get a better view The future King of Denmark is a huge fan of sailing, even visiting Sydney last year to ride on Wild Oats Princess Josephine, known for her cheeky poses during formal events, was decidedly calm next to a friendly lemur, reaching out her hand with food. Her mother posed alongside a giraffe while her father sat beneath a giant dinosaur statue, smiling broadly. Meanwhile Princess Isabella also held out her hands for a group of lemurs to feed off while her brother's explored a dinosaur museum. Princess Josephine, known for her cheeky poses during formal events, was decidedly calm next to a friendly lemur, reaching out her hand with food Her mother posed alongside a giraffe while her father sat beneath a giant dinosaur statue, smiling broadly What big teeth you have! Prince Vincent stands next to a skull in the safari park The Danish Royals have been spending a number of weeks staying in the Grasten Palace with Queen Margrethe, enjoying the sunny weather. But it was back to business for the Crown Princess on Thursday when she attended a fashion show in Kbenhavn. The Australian-born royal sat cross legged with her pink dress raised above the knee as she watched students showcase their designs at the Kolding Design School and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts joint show Future of Fashion. Meanwhile Princess Isabella - wearing a top emblazoned with the words 'ciao bella' - also held out her hands for a group of lemurs to feed off while her brother's explored a dinosaur museum The Danish Royals have been spending a number of weeks staying in the Grasten Palace with Queen Margrethe, enjoying the sunny weather (Princes Vincent and Christian pictured) Ever-stylish Mary looked right at home on the front row, and later mingled with supermodel Naomi Campbell, 48, at the Fashion Fair in Copenhagen. Initially Mary looked every inch the royal in her dress, which featured a respectable high neck and had a floor-sweeping length. However, it was when she sat down and pulled the dress above her golden tanned knees that she cut a more daring figure. She flaunted her bronzed pins at the Kolding Design School and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Design School's joint show Future of Fashion (pictured) Sitting in the front row, Australian born Mary had pulled her long dress up above her knees (pictured) As she watched the models strut up and down the runway, Mary sat cross legged with her pins on show. The dress was a feminine powder pink which had a purple floral pattern and long sleeves. She wore it with a chunky purple belt and matching pink stilettos, ensuring she fitted right in with the fashionable crowd. The royal appeared to be moving the long dress to stop it from dragging on the floor (pictured) Later on that day she attended the Fashion Fair in Copenhagen, of which she is a patron. The annual event sees upcoming designers showcase their clothes in displays and fashion shows. At the event she posed for photos with Ms Campbell, who looked casual in a sheer vest over a bright red bra. Later she attended the Fashion Fair in Copenhagen where she mingled with supermodel Naomi Campbell (pictured) The two women posed with bright yellow flowers, a symbol of this year's event. They seemed to be enjoying each other's company, as the model threw her head back in laughter as they chatted. Princess Mary is married to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, the heir apparent to the Danish throne. Initially Mary looked every inch the royal in her dress, which featured a respectable high neck and had a floor-sweeping length (pictured arriving at the Academy) The love story between Princess Mary and Prince Frederick has been well documented; the couple met in a Sydney bar and Mary, born in Tasmania, moved to the northern hemisphere to be with Frederik. In December, in a candid interview with Australian Women's Weekly, the Crown Princess revealed that moving to the other side of the world was difficult. She said: 'I did experience a feeling of loneliness - short-term - when I first moved to Denmark,' she told the magazine. 'Moving to Denmark was a huge change in my life - a new culture, new language, new friends, and another way of life. 'So, I see it as quite natural that at times I felt quite alone or a little bit like I was on the outside looking in.' A single mother-of-three claims to rake in thousands of dollars by charging men to go on dates with her. Gabby Aberasturi, 45, from Caldwell, Idaho, claims she has earned $2300 (1,084) in four months of wining and dining with eligible bachelors who pay her up to $250 (196) for a few hours of her time. A full-time sociology student, she was struggling to make ends meet on an income of $800 (627) a month, which was a combination of financial aid and cash from selling antiques on eBay. The mother-of-three has been single for more than a decade and decided to join dating site WhatsYourPrice.com in April, where men pay to take women on dates. Single mother-of-three Gabby Aberasturi, 45, from Caldwell, Idaho, claims she has earned $2300 (1,084) in four months of wining and dining with eligible bachelors Gabby's children Mauvey, 15, Ireland, 13, and Gideon, 12. Their mother says men pay her up to $250 (196) for a few hours of her time which helps her pay for school supplies Glamorous Gabby, who is studying at Boise State University, averages four dates every month and can rake in up to $250 (196) for just a coffee meet-up - which she spends on school supplies and family vacations. The former waitress claims she was even whisked away on a private plane to Jackpot, Nevada, by a wealthy CEO and made it back on time to make dinner for her children after school. While some of Gabby's matches might be expecting more from dates when it comes to sex, the mother has no problem putting them in their place. Gabby said: 'In my profile I make it really clear what I want, I make it really clear that I'm interested in getting to know someone first and so I think my dates know what to expect. 'Some of them have expected more from me, but most of them have been perfect gentlemen. Gabby Aberasturi, who is studying at Boise State University, averages four dates every month and can rake in up to $250 (196) for just a coffee meet-up - which she spends on vacations Single mum Gabby Aberasturi, a former waitress, claims she was whisked away on a private plane by a wealthy CEO and made it back on time to make dinner for her children after school Mother-of-three Gabby Aberasturi has been single for more than a decade and decided to join dating site WhatsYourPrice.com in April, where men pay to take women on dates 'I was very skeptical about the whole thing because I had never been on a dating site before this. 'What happens is you get a notification that they've viewed your profile and it asks them to make an offer or you can. 'For my first date I went to Boise, which is about 30 miles away from me, for a coffee. 'He was an attorney a few years older than me and I was pleasantly surprised. We spent the date chit-chatting and solving the world's problems. 'We got to know each other a little bit and it was fun. I made $150 (118) for that. 'One of my dates flew me to Jackpot, Nevada, for the day in his private plane and I got home before the kids were out of school that day at 4.30pm. Single mother Gabby Aberasturi has averaged $500 (392) a month since joining a dating website and says while most of the dates have been enjoyable, some have been peculiar Gabby Aberasturi with her daughter Mauvey 15 on their vacation. She pays for family trips and school supplies 'I got to the airport at 7am and we spent the day gambling. He paid $250 (196) for that date.' The mother has averaged $500 (392) a month since joining the website and says while most of the dates have been enjoyable, some have been peculiar. Gabby said: 'Some of them have been strange. I went on a date with a younger guy in his early thirties who asked me if I would pretend to be his girlfriend at a company picnic. 'It was quite awkward. I went but I was worried about screwing up the whole time. I made $150 (118) dollars for our first date and $150 (118) for the picnic. 'I've found out that a couple of the guys on it are separated rather than single which I am not okay with at all.' Gabby Aberasturi, who makes money from dating wealthy men, said the extra bucks have really improved her family's quality of life and helped her pay for family vacations Gabby Aberasturi's children, Mauvey 15 and Gideon, 13, who went on their first vacation this summer thanks to money she made on a dating website Gabby said the extra bucks have really improved her family's quality of life and the mother was able to take her children Mauvey, 15, Ireland, 13, and Gideon, 12, on their first vacation in May. 'The money has kept us afloat. It's been my saving grace. I've bought clothes and school supplies for my kids. 'We went on our first ever family vacation in May to Otter Rock, Oregon. My children had never seen the ocean so it was really special. 'We went for four days. There's no way I could have done that without the dates.' Gabby says she is open with her family about her dating life, even though her dad was a little bit skeptical. Gabby Aberasturi, who hopes to graduate in 2020, said she is confident she will find love on a dating website and it has connected her with like minded people She said: 'My dad raised his eyebrows definitely but he knows I'm a big girl. I'm not doing anything. 'I'm very open with my girls in particular and this has allowed us to do so much more, like our wonderful vacation. It makes me emotional to talk about it.' The mother, who hopes to graduate in 2020, said she is confident she will find love on the website and it has connected her with like minded people. 'Like any woman, I would love to find Prince Charming but with age I've come to know better. I am looking for someone who can be my friend ultimately. 'These men they respect my time. They know I'm busy and the time I dedicate to dates could be spent studying or spending time with my children. 'I do think I will find love on it. One guy asked me if he could take me and my children on an adventure. We went to Idaho City and just had the best day. 'He is someone I really liked, but unfortunately he's only in town a few times a year.' She cut her teeth as a 'suitcase girl' before landing her breakthrough role on Suits. But one of Meghan Markle's co-workers has claimed she already had all the makings of royalty during her stint on Deal or No Deal. Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel has described Meghan, 37, as being 'slightly duchessy' when they worked together on the NBC game show between 2006 and 2007. Speaking on a Television Critics Association panel this week, Mandel - who also worked with Chrissy Teigen when she was a briefcase model on the show - said: 'Not everybody will have an opportunity to meet royalty, but these are all accomplished people that have something substantial. Meghan Markle (far right) is pictured with Howie Mandel and her fellow suitcase girls on NBC's Deal or No Deal in 2006; she starred on the show for over a year before landing a role in Suits The Duchess of Sussex pictured at a charity polo match in Windsor, July 2018. Meghan has been described as 'slightly duchessy' by former Deal or No Deal co-star Howie 'Theyre not just standing there holding a case they have careers, they have hobbies, they have families, theyre entrepreneurial,' he added, according to People. 'So when somebody like [Prince] Harry meets somebody who just happened to be on our show, theres a lot to offer.' When asked what the newbie royal was like in the studio, Mandel replied: 'She was slightly duchessy.' Meghan worked on Deal or No Deal as she struggled to make ends meet after leaving her job at the US Embassy in Argentina in order to pursue her career as a full-time actress. She has previously described the gig as a 'learning experience', telling Esquire: 'I would end up standing up there forever in these terribly uncomfortable and inexpensive five-inch heels just waiting for someone to pick my number so I could go and sit down.' Ten years later, in July 2016, she started dating Prince Harry before the pair announced their engagement in November 2017. 'Suitcase girls' are mini dress-clad models responsible for carrying and opening the metal briefcases containing cash on the show, which is set to return to screens later this year. Several of Meghan's former colleagues have lifted the lid on working with her since her relationship with Harry became public, with a number of the women sharing memories of Meghan's time on the show. 'Meghan is beautiful, smart, talented, I feel she absolutely deserves to be a princess,' former suitcase girl Aubrie Lemon told Inside Edition. Meghan during her Deal or No Deal years, starring on season two. She worked on the show as a jobbing actress before landing her breakthrough role in legal drama Suits 'One day she was next to me getting fitted for her dress, and the next day she's going to be the future princess,' Leyla Milani joked. 'She was always reading scripts behind the scenes when we had our down time... she was always working on her craft.' However while many of Meghan's fellow suitcase girls were full of praise for the duchess, her former co-star Tameka Jacobs revealed a darker side to their job when she spoke out in December. Howie Mandel, pictured in May, opened up about his time on the show amid news that it will return to screens in December According to Tameka, producers 'inspected' Meghan and her fellow models every day to make sure they were not putting on weight. She also said that they had to audition while wearing bathing suits. Tameka did also note Meghan's ambition, explaining that the former actress made clear her 'aspirations were to win an Oscar or be on Broadway'. However it wasn't just Deal or No Deal that Meghan made an appearance on during her rise up the fame ladder; she also had small guest roles on CSI: New York, General Hospital, Without a Trace, and 90210. And while Meghan's Deal or No Deal days are now firmly behind her, the show - which was taken off the air by NBC in 2009 - is set to make a comeback later this year, with new episodes airing on CNBC from December. America's Got Talent judge Howie will return as the host of the game show, revealing at the Television Critics Association event that he has spent years campaigning for a revival of the series. 'There is no project Ive ever been part of that has changed my life, that has changed my career, that is more exciting to be part of than Deal or No Deal,' he said. 'And for nine years, Ive been trying to scratch and claw my way back onto this stage.' The Duchess of York has released a moving film of her recent trip to visit some of Nepal's most vulnerable women and children in remote parts of the country still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2015. Fergie, 59, went for a pared back look during her three-day visit to the country in July with the charity Street Child, forgoing make-up and wearing a traditional bindi on her forehead during a classroom visit in Mahottari. The royal was introduced to teenagers on an accelerated learning who had missed out on school and told them: 'I have a solution for you,' as she delved into a gold Windsor Castle gift shop bag. She explained: 'A pencil and a rubber all the way from Windsor, England with a crown. As a present.' Later, while chatting to a young woman and her baby son, Akash, she said: 'Let's see if we have a nice present for Mummy.' Speaking through an interpreter, the woman told the Duchess she'd never been to school and said she had no idea what age she was when she gave birth to her son. Fergie then presented her with an 86 Solar Plexus Chakra Cord bracelet from the brand Daisy London, which has links to her daughter Princess Eugenie. The Duchess of York, 59, went make-up free during her July 2018 trip to Nepal with the charity Street Child and wore a traditional bindi on her forehead. She was also presented a fresh floral garland as a welcome from the locals The royal met with a young mother and her son, Akash, and presented her with a colourful bracelet from trendy brand Daisy London during her July 2018 visit to Nepal The Duchess of York visiting an accelerated learning programme for teenagers who missed out on school in Mahottari Nepal in July. She presented students with pencils adorned with a crown from the Windsor Castle gift shop The Duchess spoke about her charity Children In Crisis merging with Street Child and likened it to sending a child off to university or to get married, and said she could particularly relate to the emotions as she gears up for her daughter Eugenie's wedding The Duchess presented a young woman with a designer bracelet from Daisy London, which has close links to Princess Eugenie In 2014, the bride-to-be designed three bracelets for the brand to raise money for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital where she was treated as a child for scoliosis. She's also been seen wearing pieces from the trendy London brand, whose first campaign featured Cara Delevingne, on several occasions. Fergie was in the country to see the work of Street Child, which recently merged with her charity Children In Crisis to form a single organisation, and was introduced to a woman who said she'd given birth to her first child at the age of 12. She said she's been looking after her children alone as her husband is currently working in India to send money back to his family. The Duchess pointed to the crown on top of the pencil as she spoke about the gifts she'd brought during a visit to a classroom in Mahottari, Nepal in July 2018 The Duchess also visited Ratnawati, an earthquake-devastated part of Nepal to see the work Street Child has been doing to re-build education, with funding support from UNICEF. The trip was designed to show her the work of Street Child's largest programme - a 5m, three-year initiative to help 10,000 girls into education from Nepal's lowest caste, the Musahar. Literacy rates for Musahar girls - which translates as 'rat catcher' - are under four per cent, and 99 per cent leave school before the age of 10. During filming, the royal said: 'I'm so encouraged by the fact that all these children are together, that thanks to the work of Street Child and the local organisations in this area that these children will be listened to. The pencil the Duchess gave the children is 2.95 and features a red velvet feel and a golden crown on top Fergie also presented students with 2.95 erasers, available from the Royal Collection shop Fergie handed out a pink version of the Solar Plexus Chakra Cord Bracelet by trendy brand Daisy London, which Princess Eugenie has previously launched a charity bracelet with 'The whole key of Street Child is that it is about education in forgotten areas, children who literally have nothing no food, no jobs, no education, nothing.' Speaking about the merger of her charity Children In Crisis with Street Child, she likened it to her emotions around Princess Eugenie's upcoming marriage. 'It's like a child that's got to go to university and then get married,' she explained. 'In the year of Eugenie's marriage I can understand why you have to say onwards and upwards and well done, but it's time now.' The Duchess founded Children in Crisis in 1993 and it has since worked across Sierra Leone, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan. The Duchess also gave gifts of jewellery to a young woman who spoke about how she gave birth to her first child at the age of 12, during her July visit to Nepal The royal carried her gift to Nepal in a gold shopping bag from the Windsor Castle gift shop It's now planned that, following the merger, Eugenie and Beatrice will become global ambassadors for Street Child. Street Child CEO Tom Dannatt said: 'This was no celebrity 'fly in-fly out' picture shoot. It was a gruelling, emotional trip twenty plus hours travel over three days on winding, mountain roads to utterly impoverished communities. 'To say we stayed in accommodation not meant for royalty would be an understatement. 'The Duchess did it all, with no complaints and engaged compassionately, humanely and tirelessly throughout. You could not fail to be impressed.' For more on Street Child visit www.street-child.co.uk The world was taken by surprise when Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin announced their engagement in early July of this year but a deep dive into Hailey's Instagram activity reveals she may have known it was coming all along. As far as the public knows, Justin, 24, and Hailey, 21, only started dating in May of this year (after a brief fling in 2016). So when Justin popped the question in July, it was headline news. Yet this week, the popular Instagram account @commentsbycelebs unearthed a comment Hailey made on the social media platform back in June, which seemed to indicate she knew exactly what was about to happen. Unearthed! The Instagram account @commentsbycelebs found a comment that Hailey Baldwin, 21, made below a photo posted by Scooter Braun nine weeks ago Ask and you shall receive! She asked that Scooter 'find me a husband' That worked fast! A month later, she and Justin Bieber, 24, were engaged On June 1, Justin's longtime manager Scooter Braun, 37, posted a photo on Instagram of himself with his wife Yael Cohen at the gym. Scooter's company also represents Ariana Grande, Carly Rae Jepsen, Zac Brown Band, Kanye West, Tori Kelly, among others. On Thursday, @commentsbycelebs posted a screenshot of the post, along with two comments by Hailey. 'Couple goals,' she wrote. 'Scoot find me a husband.' Now, fans are joking that the words seemed to work like magic or at least, that Hailey is a pro at manifesting exactly what she wants by speaking it into existence. 'Ask and you shall receive,' @commentsbycelebs captioned the post, leading to other amused comments by fans. Star power: Scooter, 37, is Bieber's longtime manager. His company also represents Ariana Grande Like magic! Fans are going wild over the newly-discovered comment One wrote that Hailey's comments were the 'definition of speaking into existence' 'Wow she knew,' wrote another fan 'Her mind... it amazes me' Me too? Others hoped to try the same tactic, asking Scooter to find them husbands 'Definition of speaking into existence,' wrote one, while another added: 'Hailey Baldwin is one the the strongest manifestors of 2018.' Wow she knew. Her mind... it amazes me,' chimed in another fan. Several others wrote: 'This aged nicely.' There were also a few fans that hoped the same tactic would work for them, also commenting for Scooter to find them husbands. Hailey may have known her proposal was coming at that point, about a month before Justin popped the question in the Bahamas. Speedy: Justin and Hailey only started dating again in May of this year Forever: He popped the question in July when the two were on vacation The lovebirds first met back in 2009 when Hailey's dad, Stephen Baldwin, introduced them. Two years later, she attended the premiere of Bieber's Never Say Never, back when the Biebs was with Selena Gomez. They remained friends and hung out over the years, with the media speculating they were seeing each other for a bit in 2014. But they didn't publicly come forward with any sort of relationship until 2016, sharing kissing snaps on Instagram. Their time together in 2016 was brief, and Justin was soon linked with Sofia Richie, followed by him getting back together with Selena Gomez. Finally, in May of this year, Justin and Hailey were publicly linked again, and just two months later they got engaged. A two-year-old boy who was born with spina bifida has defied the odds by learning how to walk and his efforts have been captured in a moving clip that has now been viewed a whopping 23 million times. Whitney Dinkel, 29, took to Facebook recently to share a video of her two-year-old son Roman walking with crutches and excitedly telling his dog Maggie to look at him while he takes a few steps. Roman, of Overland Park, Kansas, was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord and spine don't develop properly in utero. 'Look, Maggie!' Two-year-old Roman Dinkel can be seen in a moving clip excitedly asking his dog to look at him while he walks on crutches Condition: Roman, of Overland Park, Kansas, was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord and spine don't develop properly in utero The condition can cause mobility problems that can keep children from being able to walk, and can lead to paralysis. Whether a child can walk depends on the location and size of the birth defect, as well as the medical care they receive before and after being born, according to the Mayo Clinic. Roman received surgery while he was still in the womb to maximize his chances of walking, and he was eventually able to do so after days of trying and, at times, falling. 'I had to let him fall a few times so he'd know I wouldn't be there to catch him, and he had to learn how to catch himself,' his mother Whitney told CBS News. The little boy was diagnosed during Whitney's 20-week ultrasound with myelomenigocele, the most severe of the four types of spina bifida in existence. Learning: Roman received surgery while he was still in the womb to maximize his chances of walking, and he was eventually able to do so after days of trying and, at times, falling Moved: The video of Roman walking on crutches has been watched a whopping 23 million times, and thousands of viewers have left comment saying how touched they were by the clip Process: 'I had to let him fall a few times so he'd know I wouldn't be there to catch him, and he had to learn how to catch himself,' Roman's mother Whitney said He has learned to walk using several devices for help, such as a walker and crutches. People with myelomeningocele sometimes suffer from partial or total paralysis of the lower body, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Whitney shared a seven-second clip of her son on Facebook so that other people could see Roman's excited face and hear his delighted giggles as he proudly tells his pet dog that he's now walking. 'Look Maggie! I'm walking Maggie!' Roman says in the clip, which sees him walking in a corridor while leaning against a pair of red crutches. Although the clip is only seven seconds long, it quickly touched the hearts of viewers, thousands of whom shared the video and left comments saying just how much it moved them. 'He's so adorable and I'm happy he's excited about learning something most of us take for granted every day! I cried typing this!' one person wrote. Growing: Roman's spine and and spinal cord didn't develop properly when he was still in the womb, leading to the condition that can sometimes result in paralysis Journey: The little boy has learned how to walk using different devices such as this walker Community: Whitney and Roman's father Adam, 32, have received plenty of messages from people telling them what the video meant to them 'After all the worst things that I've seen on the news and on my timeline today this has really made my day,' another person added. 'He's so precious and yes we are so proud of you sweetie.' Someone else marveled: 'As someone whose learned to use forearm crutches to go up and down stairs, the balance and muscle memory is hard work and involves many spills. 'This little dude is fearless. Great job, family.' Whitney and Roman's father Adam, 32, have received plenty of messages from people telling them what the video meant to them. 'From random people telling us their story, you know, how they were depressed, or you know, how they were suicidal, or how they were going through these medical situations and to see that he influenced them in a positive way to change their mindset and change their view it's just so heartwarming,' Whitney said. 'It feels like he just gave hope to so many people with a seven-second clip.' While some are still enjoying their summer, many parents are already getting ready for a new back-to-school season and wondering how they can make sure the period goes as smoothly as possible both for themselves and their children. Experts and parents have shared their most useful tips to lighten up their schedules, appease their little one's fears, and devise the most efficient weekday routine possible. In many cases, anticipation is key, as explained by a mother who leaves nothing up to chance when it comes to planning her son's outfits. Valuable knowledge: Experts and parents have shared their most useful tips for the back-to-school season (stock image) Schedule a week's worth of outfits Africa Jackson, who shared some of her best morning hacks on HelloGiggles, explained she sometimes goes as far as planning all of her son's outfits for the week ahead on Sunday. She folds his pants, shirts, underwear, socks, and undershirts in separate bundles each corresponding to a different day, ready for the week ahead. The trick saves her at least 20 minutes in the morning. 'And because I want to teach my son that he has choices in life, I let him pick which bundle he'll wear for the day,' the mother added. Practice your new routine before classes start When it comes to getting back into the back-to-school rhythm, experts recommend starting practicing the new morning routine ahead of time, in order to help children feel less anxious when classes start. 'Switching from a summer to a school schedule can be stressful to everyone in the household. Avoid first-day-of-school mayhem by practicing your routine a few days in advance,' PBS Parents wrote. 'Set the alarm clock, go through your morning rituals, and get in the car or to the bus stop on time. Routines help children feel comfortable, and establishing a solid school routine will make the first day of school go much smoother.' Make chores fun On busy mornings, some parents have also found ways to make sure their children do their part around the house. Jackson sometimes starts a kitchen timer while her son embarks on an 'obstacle course' made up of various tasks, such as brushing his teeth or picking up items that need to be placed in a hamper for the next round of laundry. Along the way, the little boy keeps track of the points he earns each time he completes a task. 'If he gets five points (or 10, depending on how messy the house is that morning), he gets dessert,' the mom explained. 'Dessert could be a multigrain muffin, but I call it a cupcake so he'll be more excited. We also call cereal bars Pop-Tarts.' Reach out to old friends Many parents look for ways to help their child feel less anxious throughout back-to-school season. In addition to meeting the teacher and touring the school ahead of time if possible, reconnecting with friends before classes start can also ease the process. 'A familiar friend can make all the difference when heading back to school, PBS Parents shared previously. 'You might try calling parents from last year's class and finding out which children are in your child's class this year. Refresh these relationships before school starts by scheduling a play date or a school carpool.' Check your closets before shopping for supplies Shopping for supplies is an important part of the back-to-school period, one that many children have come to enjoy. Parenting expert Ann Pleshette Murphy, who previously shared her best back-to-school tips with ABC News, believes parents might be surprised by what they can find in their own closes before they even set food inside a store. 'There may be barely used or new school supplies, forgotten clothes, or an older backpack that's suddenly trendy again,' she said. The expert also recommends saving receipts while buying supplies, in case certain purchases don't meet teachers' requirements later on. Keep your child's schedule where you can see it At the end of the school day, many parents struggle to get clear answers when asking their children about the activities they were involved in when they were away. Displaying a child's schedule where the parents can see it can help ask specific questions, and in turn get more specific answers, according to Murphy. 'You're guaranteed a better response when you ask "What games did you play in PE today?" or "What did Mrs. Martin show you in art?" rather than 'How was school?' the expert said. Break your own rules Finally, while many parents might be looking to make their back-to-school season as perfect as possible, Jackson stressed how helpful it can be to sometimes stray from rigid parenting rules. For her, that involves letting her son spending time in front of the television on Fridays while he has breakfast, so that she can get work done in the meantime. 'I want to be one of those moms who never allows screen time and only uses the freshest organic ingredients to create healthy, beautiful, well thought-out meals. But for this working mom, that's just not realistic,' she explained. 'If my son has been good all week, I let him watch PBS Kids during breakfast on Fridays. It gives me time to prep dinner or answer a couple of emails or scream into a pillow in the backyard.' Keep puzzles handy Another tip shared by Africa is to keep your children entertained with fun puzzles. According to the busy mother, offering your kid a puzzle to complete will not only help to keep them engaged, particularly in the mornings when you are trying to get yourself organized for the day, it will also make them feel that they have started the day 'having accomplished something high-five worthy'. 'Whether its one of those wooden peg puzzles, word games, or a little maze in the backyard, puzzles use up a little of that frantic morning energy while getting your child centered for the day,' she explained. Thought for the week Be wise, drink free, and in so short a space Do not protracted hopes of life embrace. Whilst we are talking, envious time does slide; This day's thine own, the next may be deny'd. Horace (Roman poet 65 BC - 8 BC) Advertisement Dear Bel, I married at 35, she was 25. We began a successful business and loved each other. But it began to change when our first son was born. She felt he had taken her place in my affections. The arrival of our second was worse. She always treated this son appallingly. He lives abroad with his family and can never forgive her. We carried on with the business and found our dream home. But in 1976 she fell madly in love with a married man and our marriage was over. The attraction was not reciprocated at all but she was obsessed and blamed me and the children for ruining her life. All she wanted to do was to sell everything we had so that she could buy something for the man and his kids. We three could do as we wanted as long as we kept out of her way. Our eldest was ten, the youngest eight. I was 52. I was doing her work as well as being a single parent. She joined a mid-life singles group and began to play the field. Then money began to go from the business. In the end she had effectively embezzled the cash to force the company into bankruptcy to get rid of me. Obviously I took my eye off the ball and should have been more ruthless, but I am not like that. My doctor signed me off with a nervous breakdown for two years and I raised the boys on benefits. Then she was arrested for an insurance fraud she got nine months for stealing at least 70,000. In 1996 we came to a divorce settlement. By then she was out of prison and with a new boyfriend in the South of France. She was awash with cash but from where? And she actually got away with no maintenance of her own children. And half the house. The boys never forgave her. Now I am 82, in poor health and with little money. She has a property empire and a villa on the Riviera. It turns out she lied about her assets. Had they been declared Id have got the house. As it is, I now live in rented accommodation and she flaunts her wealth. I insisted on keeping things civil for the sake of the children and grandchildren, and have not discussed this with them. At my age, do I rake over old coals or just let it go? If she would just come and apologise and then offer, say 500 a month, which she could easily afford, Id say thank you and let it rest . But despite still protesting her undying love, she laughs at me. I need the cash to augment my State pension but I dont want any more hassle. I certainly will not beg. Any thoughts? THOMAS This week, Bel Mooney advises a reader who scraping by at the age of 82, while his ex-wife who forced him into bankruptcy is living a life of luxury, after hiding her assets during their divorce First I need to tell readers that your original letter was four times as long, and contained complicated financial detail. Its a terrible story which leaves me in no doubt that you have been treated appallingly by this women you once thought your soulmate. The saga of abandonment, manipulation and dishonesty also leaves me in no doubt that there were too many times, sir, when you laid down and offered yourself as a doormat for this woman. She bullied and ill-treated you, was no mother to her two innocent sons, lied and stole and you went on suffering without fighting back. Am I right? Two statements here reveal so much. You say you, should have been more ruthless but I am not like that. And that you have insisted on keeping things civil to the extent that you havent discussed your problems with your sons, but suffer alone. On one level this is all very noble. Yet you have given your ex-wife a free pass all along, and so all her misdemeanors have been rewarded. Where is the justice in that? The trouble is I am not sure what you are asking me. If youre hinting that maybe you could take her back to court to reveal her original deception over assets, then surely madness lies that way, after all these years? Then, whats the truth about her attitude to you? Surely she doesnt really swear undying love? How does that square with flaunting her wealth and laughing at you? And what makes you imagine she would apologise and offer money? I feel desperately sorry for you but believe you must be realistic. You have made yourself this womans victim ever since she fell in love with that bloke and you agreed to go away with the boys and let her do what she wanted. I fear its too late to imagine shell miraculously turn into your saviour. You have one son across the world and one here, and they owe you a lot. So I think its time to stop protecting them and tell them your troubles. Then tell her youre writing the true story of your life with her and having it published and see what she says. Hes a cheating bully and its my fault Dear Bel, Im in my 50s, and Ive been with the same man for 30 years. My husband has not always been the nicest of men possessive and self-centred. Weve always mixed with his friends as he wasnt keen on mine. So I no longer have any. I felt taken for granted like he wanted a wife for home and children. We mostly talk about his stuff. When I talk he says hes listening but watches TV or walks out of the room. He can be quite aggressive if things dont go his way, but over the years I accepted it and didnt want to rock the boat or hed sulk and make it my fault. Many years ago he had an affair. To this day he says it was a mistake, but I think it was my fault or that he feels Im to blame. To be fair, hes mellowed a bit with age but I wonder sometimes if its too late. Im ashamed but about four years ago I surprised myself by being attracted to somebody else. I always felt I NEVER would want to be involved with another man as I have no wish to be in the situation I am now. Anyway, nothing happened apart from mild flirting. I shouldnt feel like this (and would never hurt my family) but wish Id had the guts to take it further. Ive thought about him every day for four years. Im sure hes moved on. I liked him so want him to be happy but what makes things harder to bear is that I saw him recently and he barely acknowledged me. Given my low mood, that tore me apart. I now feel he was using me while going through a difficult divorce. So most of the time I feel utterly terrible. I thought when I wrote this that Id see my problems as trivial but no. I feel so useless, unattractive and disloyal to my husband and children . . . and I cant move on. PAM There are few things more sad than the loss of dreams. This is a common source of grief but rarely acknowledged. Within the ordinary hearts of men and women there lurk untold wistful yearnings and disappointments for the first love who got away, the unfulfilled ambitions, the married bliss which eludes, the children who let you down, the dreams which seem foolish in the cold light of middle age but once sparkled like rockets in the sky. This is the human condition and most people learn to live with the shortfall in happiness. Surely you have never been disloyal to your husband but sound as if you have been disloyal to yourself. Perhaps you had low self-esteem when you married this man more than 30 years ago; whatever the truth, you let your friends drift away because he didnt like them and subsumed your personality to his. Might it have been different had you stood up to him? Youll never know but the truth is, some people with a tendency towards bullying (and see todays main letter, too, for the female of the species) manage to find their victims. I feel such sympathy for your situation. You have longed to be loved for yourself and clearly fancied the flirtatious man who might have been the one. Your husband wasnt nice to you so you basked in the attention of a man who was very nice indeed for a while. If he was distant when he ran into you recently he was probably embarrassed and perhaps guilty, too. Who knows? What I do know is that you have nothing at all to reproach yourself with because plenty of people flirt at their place of work, and some even fancy themselves deeply in love and secretly cherish wistful fantasies for years. Thats very common and I beg you not to use it as a stick with which to beat yourself. You say your husband is improving somewhat, and its obvious you have no intention of leaving him. Is it possible for a marriage to revive after more than 30 years? Well, nobody ever said it was easy and yet you are noting a shift in your husband now. Id advise counselling but that would be a waste of time, because he wouldnt go. Nevertheless it might help you to talk to somebody on your own so I suggest you try to tell your husband you feel very low (without going into all the detail of why) and would like to talk to somebody. If you are menopausal this will be having a huge effect on your mood and I imagine even he will be able to comprehend that. You say he never listens, but if you dont want to leave him, you have no option but to ask for his help. He may surprise you. And finally...How new life unites generations Last weekend I quoted readers views about what should be expected of grandparents. I didnt say that just before that column appeared I was made a granny for the fourth time when my very special, brave daughter-in-law gave birth to their second son. Needless to say there was much rejoicing on the homestead where we all live. Then, last Sunday, my parents came for lunch and met their fourth great-grandchild. Watching my mother cradle the baby boy with gentle wonder on her face and my father (with seriously impaired sight now) hold out a finger to be grasped by the latest addition to the family was so touching. I thought how miraculous it is to reflect on the years that separate those generations, bridged by a tiny pink hand curling round an old finger. Bel answers readers questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. A pseudonym will be used if you wish. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Advertisement When Dad was born in 1922 the British Empire was at its largest extent, covering a quarter of the world and ruling over one in four people. David Lloyd George was prime minister; the Transport and General Workers Union was formed and so was the BBC; Irish politics dominated the news; Gandhi was arrested in India, and the first woman was allowed to practise as a solicitor. When Mum was born in 1924, George V still reigned, and the Conservatives under Stanley Baldwin won a landslide victory over Labour in the General Election. Margaret Bondfield became the first woman to be appointed a government minister and an international crisis over World War I German reparations was at last resolved. Nobody could have predicted babies then would see a second world war that their adulthood would be stained by the horror of Nazi Germany and the holocaust. There are no crystal balls, thank goodness only the indescribable joy of one moment in summer when all the generations are present to witness the sharing of a love that graces our world. Taking a 'first day of school' picture has become a time honored tradition for most families but a group of resource officers have proved that the commemorative snapshots aren't just for kids. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office in Alabama took to Facebook this week to share a hilarious photo of Sergeant Nathan Kendrick, a school resource officer, 'reluctantly' posing for his own first day of school photo. The snapshot, which quickly went viral, shows a frowning Kendrick holding a Spider-Man lunchbox and a whiteboard sign that reads '2018 1st Day of School.' Celebration: The Shelby County Sheriff's Office in Alabama took to Facebook this week to share a hilarious photo of Sergeant Nathan Kendrick's 'first day of school' photo Ready to go: The viral photo has been shared more than 23,000 times and inspired other school resource officers to strike similar poses as part of the '#SROChallenge' Wonder Woman: St. Johns County Sheriff's Office in Saint Augustine, Florida, shared this photo on Friday The picture has been shared more than 23,000 times and inspired other resource officers to strike similar poses as part of the '#SROChallenge.' 'It's been entertaining,' Kendrick told Fox News of the surprising reaction to the photo, which came from a desire to do something 'lighthearted and positive' to alleviate parents' back-to-school stress. 'The face and the picture certainly wasn't because I am sad because I am going to school,' he explained. 'It was definitely trying to caption the spirit of, hey my mom is dragging me out here to do my first day pic again.' School resource officers from across the country have been taking similar photos and posting them to social media this week using the hashtag #SROChallenge. He even has a knapsack: Rodeny Lehman, a middle school resource officer, looked stoic in his back-to-school photo All smiles: 'School Resource Officer Groves first day back to school,' the Sacramento Police Department wrote when sharing this image on Twitter Not ready: The department also shared a photo of a resource office pose on the ground with bike Superman: Ann Cole, the principal at Caloosa Middle School in Cape Coral, Florida, took to Twitter to post a snapshot of her school's resource officer, Officer Wilcox Rodeny Lehman, a middle school resource officer, looked stoic in his back-to-school photo, which shows him posed with a lunchbox, a white board marking the occasion, and a purple backpack resting at his feet. Ann Cole, the principal at Caloosa Middle School in Cape Coral, Florida, took to Twitter to post a snapshot of her school's resource officer wearing a backpack and holding a Superman lunchbox. 'Officer Wilcox is so excited about the first day of school at Caloosa MS! #SROchallenge #loveleeschools,' she wrote. One officer in Sacramento went all out and was photographed lying on the ground with a knapsack and a bicycle as if she had just fallen off it. How cute: This man proudly held his lunchbox and a chalkboard sign for his first day of school snapshot Strike a pose: In Georgia, the Habersham County Sheriff's SRO program had its officers have a mini photo shoot with a school bus Having fun: They were all smiles as they were photographed boarding the bus School days: The happily posed with their lunchboxes and a sunny yellow sign 'Thought we were ready... 1st Day of School 2018,' the signs in front of her reads. There were also plenty of group shots from various police departments who joined in on the fun. 'Good luck to the School Resource Officers!! TJ Wren, Chad Baker, Daylen Morris - first day of school 2018!!' the Harrodsburg Police Department in Kentucky wrote on Facebook while sharing their comical back-to-school picture. And in Georgia, the Habersham County Sheriff's SRO program had its officers have a mini photo shoot with a school bus, which included pictures of them walking up the steps and posing with their lunchboxes inside it. Everybody loves food that's good value for money, which is why it's more than a little irksome when shoppers are fooled by misleading packaging. These photos reveal some of the most frustrating cases of packets that look as if they will contain more food than they do. From pizzas with all the toppings in one place so it looks like it will be covered in ingredients when peering through the transparent window on the wrapper, to underfilled packets of crisps, these shocking examples of deceptive packaging will make your blood boil. The snaps have all been shared on the subreddit forum, r/***hole design. And they will make you much more careful about checking items before buying them to make sure that you are not being swindled. This Tesco pizza looks as if it will be covered in pepperoni slices from the window on the front, but inside, it's clear the factory worker has deliberately moved the slices to one side so it will look that way If you bought this large drum of Chio Red Paprika chips - a US brand - you would expect them to be fill to the brim. But this customer was frustrated to find a bag hidden inside which was only half full From the packaging, it looks as if the person buying this cheesy garlic bread from Basilio's Italian-Style Pizza - a US supermarket pizza brand - will receive one that's the length of the box it is in but the reality is much different When you look at the sandwich from the outside, it looks like it will be stuffed with ham all the way through. But once opened, it's clear the manufacturers have spread the ham unevenly so it fools shoppers Waitrose have been sneaky with the packaging of this Halloumi and Red Pepper wrap as from the packet it looks as if customers are buying one long wrap. In reality, they will receive two mini ones Aldi's Brussels and Caramelised Shallots Pate uses the same trick as Waitrose as it looks as if customers will receive one giant slab of pate. In fact, they will receive two smaller pieces This Chicken Schnitzel Wrap looks as if it is one long wrap but in fact it is separated into two halves which is hidden by the dividing cardboard packaging From the outside, it looks as if customers will receive a pepperoni-covered Daily Chef pizza - a US supermarket pizza brand - that reaches all the way to the crust. But the manufacturers have only put on as much as they need to fool shoppers from the packaging's exterior This Polish Batonik chocolate muesli bar looks as if it will have more chocolate chunks from the small transparent window on the packaging. So this customers was shocked to find those chunks were the only pieces of chocolate in the whole bar (left). Another shopper was frustrated after finding that US brand Pop Secret sells two different sizes of popcorn in exactly the same size boxes so you can't tell if you're buying large or small bags (right) This sushi tray cheekily has a lettuce leaf printed onto it as part of its design to make the shopper believe they are getting salad with their meal too What a waste of packaging! This large bag of Indonesian Bumbu Betutu Bali crisps contains just one other, smaller, bag of crisps inside Thousands of patients are to benefit from a leukaemia drug as health chiefs end restrictions. NHS England previously limited it so patients who had been in remission for more than three years missed out. But now health bosses have admitted ibrutinib is 'more effective than previously thought' and have agreed to make it more widely available. Ibrutinib was approved in January 2017 for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) whose cancer returned after earlier chemotherapy. About 3,500 people are diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in Britain every year (file photo) But earlier this year NHS England restricted who could have the drug, without consulting doctors or patients. The decision caused uproar among patient groups and led to ministers demanding an investigation and the new ruling. Following a review of the medical data and submissions from patients, NHS England lifted its restrictions. About 3,500 people are diagnosed with CLL in Britain every year. The controversial restrictions meant between 250 to 350 patients whose cancer had returned instead faced further chemotherapy. The once-daily pill, which costs around 55,000 per patient a year, works by inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells, potentially eliminating the need for chemotherapy. The once-daily pill works by inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells, potentially eliminating the need for chemotherapy David Innes of the CLL Support Association told The Times: 'We're delighted that the NHS has listened to the voices of patients and clinicians. 'This decision offers access to a treatment that is more humane and more effective than chemotherapy. It will radically improve the quality of life of many patients.' Dr Alasdair Rankin, director of research at Bloodwise, said: 'This decision means that people with CLL will no longer need to live with the fear and uncertainty of not knowing whether the most effective - and gentler - treatment will be available to them if they relapse. 'We were extremely concerned about how the decision to restrict access was made and the precedent it could set in relation to NHSE reinterpreting NICE guidance. 'It's positive that NHSE are looking again at the way they implement NICE guidance, to ensure that the process of deciding what treatments will be provided by the NHS remains open and transparent, and to ensure blood cancer patients gain access to life-saving treatments in the future. We look forward to seeing further details of these proposals in due course.' A new mum who developed deadly sepsis after her emergency C-section wound became infected is urging others to know the tell-tale signs. Harriet Shearsmith, 29, from North Yorkshire, is lucky to be alive after waking to find her nightdress soaked in pus just two weeks after the birth of her first child, Reuben. Rushed to hospital while teetering on the brink of death, the lifestyle blogger was only saved by quick-thinking hospital staff who recognised the symptoms. But, shockingly, she was already just minutes away from organ failure. 'The consultant told me if we had left it even just a few more hours, then I could be dead,' she said. Now, she's urging others to be aware of the condition, which is referred to as the 'silent killer'. Close call: Harriet Shearsmith, 29 (left, while pregnant )says she is lucky to be alive after waking to find her nightdress soaked in pus just two weeks after the birth of her first child (R) Harriet and her husband, Adam, welcomed their first-born on March 3rd, 2011. Returning from hospital, she struggled to produce breast milk and developed a headache. Visiting her GP, she assumed she was a tired new mum and vowed to rest. But, a day later, she developed a migraine-like headache so severe that she could barely open her eyes and was drenched in sweat whilst also shivering. She also noticed her C-section wound felt enlarged and a little bit lumpy. Taking to her bed, when Harriet awoke around 11pm, she realised her nightdress was soaked in what she assumed to be menstrual blood. 'Adam was asleep next to me so I asked him to get me some clean sleepwear,' she recalled. 'I hadnt opened my eyes properly, but when Adam saw me he said, Thats not blood,' sounding terrified. He said it was pus.' That is when the seriousness of the situation hit Harriet, with the adrenaline awakening her senses. Healthy now: Harriet, who made a full recovery, pictured with Reuben (back) Edith and Tobias 'It smelt putrid, like rotting flesh, coming from my C-section wound,' she recalled. 'The pus and blood mix had covered my nightshirt from above the knee to my chest and it was still seeping out.' Adam gave Harriet a maternity towel, like a sanitary pad, to stop the flow and went to get her mum Georgina Arkle, 68, a retired nurse who lives with the pair. 'She took one look at me and told Adam to drive us to the hospital as there wasnt enough time to wait for an ambulance,' said Harriet. 'Mum came too so she could take Reuben if we needed her to. I stumbled into A and E and said my C-section wound was leaking fluids. 'When the nurse at York Hospital took the maternity towel off and looked at the wound, it spurted forwards towards her and smelt vile. Warning signs: Just two weeks after giving birth, struggling to produce milk and breastfeed her boy, Harriet developed a headache...which was the first symptom of sepsis 'The last thing I saw as the room faded black was the nurse grabbing a team to help keep me alive.' Harriet was kept in hospital for four days whilst her wound was drained and she was pumped with antibiotics. 'I really thought I was going to die,' she said.'It was four terrible, drowsy days without my newborn or husband. Four days where I couldnt care for myself and had to have bed baths. 'I was just hoping that my scar would close and that I could go home soon.' Harriet admits she had never heard of sepsis before a doctor confirmed her diagnosis, but it is now a word she will never forget. Family ties: Harriet and Adam with their three children: (L-R) Tobias, Reuben and Edith After being discharged, Harriet was given antibiotics to take home to keep any infection at bay. She admits she initially struggled to bond with her eldest son because of the time they spent apart. Harriet explained: 'I struggled to hold him as easily, I never breast fed him and I often feel like Ive let Reuben down in some way, like I havent been enough of a mum to him.' But thankfully she had complication-free pregnancies with her youngest two, who were both also born at York Hospital. Harriet is grateful to the hospital for saving her life and for the care it gave her during all her pregnancies. Now she wants to raise awareness around maternal sepsis and has started a campaign called Suck It Sepsis. The last thing I saw as the room faded black was the nurse grabbing a team to help keep me alive. Harriet Shearsmith Aiming to raise funds for charity The UK Sepsis Trust, Harriet wants to prevent other mums from facing the same life-or-death ordeal. She said: 'There needs to be more education so people think of sepsis straight away, and it doesnt become deadly. I was so lucky that we caught it early, but sadly others are not as lucky.' Dr Ron Daniels, Chief Executive of the The UK Sepsis Trust and a global sepsis expert, said: 'Sepsis strikes indiscriminately, affecting the young and old alike. 'Harriets frightening story highlights how, for every child we hear about in the media whose life has been claimed by sepsis, there is another who is grieving the loss of their parent. 'If caught early, sepsis can be easily treated with antibiotics but without quick diagnosis and treatment, the consequences can be devastating. 'Were very grateful to Harriet for helping to raise awareness of an illness that affects so many yet is so poorly recognised. Together we can encourage everyone to be able to just ask: could it be sepsis?. Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning, kills 44,000 people in the UK each year, and, without quick treatment, it can lead to multiple organ failure and death. Symptoms include slurred speech or confusion, extreme shivering or muscle pain, passing no urine in a day, severe breathlessness, feeling like you are going to die, and mottled or discoloured skin. What are the key symptoms of sepsis? The 'silent killer' that can cause death in minutes Sepsis, known as the silent killer, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs. It is a potentially life-threatening condition, triggered by an infection or injury. Around 245,000 people develop sepsis in the UK each year and 52,000 die, according to the UK Sepsis Trust. Instead of attacking the invading bug, the body turns on itself, shutting down vital organs. If caught early enough, it's easily treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids, but these must be given as soon as sepsis is suspected - it strikes with frightening speed and, for every hour of delay, a patient's chance of dying increases 8 per cent. Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing 44,000 people each year The early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose. A high temperature (fever), chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing are also indicators. A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital yet this rarely happens. In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach. It is most common and dangerous in older adults, pregnant women, children younger than one, people with chronic conditions or those who have weakened immune systems. The six signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym 'SEPSIS': Slurred speech or confusion Extreme shivering or muscle pain Passing no urine in a day Severe breathlessness Skin that's mottled or discoloured Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should seek medical help urgently and ask doctors: 'Could this be sepsis?' Advertisement A toddler had to have her eyes stitched shut after her eyelids were stretched by her enormous head. Nineteen-month-old Aubrey Jones suffers from the condition hydrocephalus, which has caused her head to swell to the size of a four-year-old, dragging her eyelids upwards. Aubrey's condition, which was discovered at her mother Pearl Jones' seven-month-scan, is so severe Ms Jones claims she was offered a late termination, with doctors not expecting the youngster to survive more than three hours. After an emergency C-section on December 10 2016, Aubrey was born struggling to breathe, forcing her to endure six surgeries before she was even six months old. The youngster's condition also means she has no immune system, which caused her to battle sepsis at just three months, with Ms Jones being told to prepare an end-of-life plan. Although Aubrey, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, defied the odds to survive, the youngster is never expected to walk, crawl or be independent. Ms Jones is speaking out to raise awareness of hydrocephalus among doctors. The mother-of-two claims she frequently has to explain the disorder to medical staff, which has inspired her to become a nurse. Nineteen-month-old Aubrey Jones had to have her eyes stitched shut after her eyelids were stretched by her enormous head, which was caused by the condition hydrocephalus When she was born, Aubrey's head measured at 20cm-to-30cm, rather than the average of between 12cm and 14cm. The youngster's mother Pearl Jones (pictured), 24, was offered a late termination when Aubrey's condition was discovered at her seven-month-scan Aubrey's eyes are open enough for her to sometimes be able to follow some objects, however, Ms Jones argues they were stitched too tight, with her requiring further surgeries. Doctors hope to perform a skin graft to allow the youngster to open and close her eyes properly 'They offered me a termination. I was so distraught' Speaking of her daughter's condition, Ms Jones said: 'Before Aubrey was born I prepared myself for what could have been a really traumatic experience but she survived. She's so strong. 'I found out she had hydrocephalus before she was born when I was around seven months pregnant. 'Two days after finding out I had to have an emergency scan at Birmingham Women's Hospital. The midwife took measurements of Aubrey's head. 'Her head was meant to be between 12cm and 14cm, but it was measuring at 20cm-to-30cm. 'They explained to me that her survival rate, even for a few hours after birth, was poor. They offered me a termination. I was so distraught.' Ms Jones (pictured with Aubrey and her three-year-old daughter Annabella) says she was 'distraught' when she discovered Aubrey's disorder but is so glad she continued the pregnancy Aubrey has to have a shunt (pictured as a tube) to drain excess fluid from her brain After being born by an emergency C-section, doctors warned she may survive just a few hours Despite defying the odds, Aubrey endured six surgeries before she was even six months old WHAT IS HYDROCEPHALUS? Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid in the brain, which can damage tissue. Aside from an abnormally-sized head, other symptoms can include headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion and vision problems. Hydrocephalus' cause is usually unknown but may be due to issues with cavities in the brain or an underlying health problem that affects blood flow, such as heart disease. It can also be acquired by damage to the brain due to a head injury, stroke or tumour. Treatment is shunt surgery, which involves implanting a thin tube into the brain to drain away excess fluid to another part of the body where it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. If untreated, hydrocephalus can be fatal due to increased pressure compressing the brainstem, which is responsible for regulating heart rates and breathing. A patient's prognosis after surgery depends on their age and general health. Source: Brain and Spine Foundation Advertisement 'I thought she was going to die' Ms Jones went against medical advice and continued with her pregnancy, despite the risks. She said: 'I put the hope of Aubrey's life in God's hands and I'm so glad I didn't have that termination. 'When she was born there were complications and she was struggling to breathe due to the fluid built up inside her head. Because her illness is so rare doctors travelled from far and wide to see her. 'She underwent six operations before she was even six months old. 'Her shunt [a tube which travels from her brain to stomach] malfunctioned twice, so she had to have two operations on that. Ms Jones added: 'She has no immune system and developed sepsis at around three months old. I thought she was going to die. 'They asked me to do an end-of-life plan and a resuscitation form. I decided they could try to resuscitate her for up to 20 minutes if her heart stopped. 'She was given antibiotics and had a pipe coming out of her to drain the infection. It was green and black, like nothing I've ever seen before and I'm a nursing student.' The youngster endured sepsis at three months old due to her not having an immune system While she battled blood poisoning, Ms Jones was told to prepare an end-of-life plan for Aubrey 'She's got the head of a four-year-old' While Aubrey was in hospital fighting sepsis, her parents decided to have her christened, along with her three-year-old sister Annabella. Ms Jones said: 'It was very rushed but when it came to the actual ceremony it was beautiful. 'I kept saying "at least we're planning a christening and not a funeral". Since beating sepsis, the youngster has been out of hospital for 14 months but requires further surgery on her eyes. Ms Jones said: 'She had them stitched up because her hydrocephalus is so severe it was making her eyelids too tight. 'They are going to use a skin graft to help her close and open her eyes properly, and see how much of her sight has been preserved. 'There's about 2cm where you can see a bit of her eyes and she will sometimes follow things if they're very close. 'She's got the head of a four-year-old. Her head circumference is 53.5cm now, which is still classed as severe.' Aubrey's condition means she will never walk, crawl or live independently, however, Ms Jones insists she lives a comfortable life with 'a huge amount of love' Annabella loves helping to look after her little sister and is sensitive to her disabilities 'She'll never be able to walk, crawl or be independent' Despite her complications, Aubrey is learning to communicate by murmuring and moving her hands. The youngster also enjoys playing with Annabella, who loves helping to look after her. Ms Jones, who is training to be a nurse at Coventry University, said: 'Annabella is quite advanced for her age and she'll say "shh, baby" or "baby crying". 'She's very gentle and she won't jump around near her. 'Aubrey's got a personality of her own and makes murmuring sounds. She can move her head slightly but it's so heavy she can't hold it up herself. She does feel emotions and is aware of her surroundings. 'She'll never be able to walk, crawl or be independent, but what we can offer her is a huge amount of love and a comfortable life. 'There's not enough support out there' Speaking of her desire to raise awareness of her daughter's condition, Ms Jones said: 'There's not enough support out there for parents of hydrocephalus patients. 'If you mention autism or dementia or cancer, [nurses] know it straight away and the symptoms. 'I've spoken to a family in India and one in America but they're the only ones I've come across who have children with the illness. I don't know anyone in the UK with it.' One of the UK's top cosmetic surgeons ha issued a stark warning over rogue practitioners performing risky procedures. Former BAAPS President, Rajiv Grover, told MailOnline that falsifying qualifications is 'easy' within the industry - and urges prospective patients to be more scrupulous on their choice of specialist. It follows the sensational arrest of Rio de Janiero's Dr Denis Furtado, AKA Brazilian plastic surgeon Dr Bumbum, earlier this month. He was detained after allegedly giving patient Lilian Calixto a fatal injection of PMMA filler - a synthetic resin also known as acrylic glass filler. Soon afterwards, she fell ill and began gasping for air. Furtado took her to the local Barra D'Or hospital, where she was admitted at 11pm in an 'extremely severe condition, unresponsive to manoeuvres'. However, despite the efforts of hospital staff, she died at 1am the next morning. Furtado is now charged with her murder. Warning: Comes after Dr Denis Furtado - AKA Dr Bumbum - was arrested in Rio de Janeiro Urging others to be more careful in light of this, Dr Grover said the trend of doctors performing outside of their remit is relatively common. In fact, he says it's an area of cosmetic surgery that 'continues to flourish'. 'The British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons is unable to comment on individual cases, and this is of paramount importance when criminal behaviour may be involved,' he said. 'Nevertheless, this appalling account must be used as an opportunity to educate about the dangers of practices that BAAPS has previously condemned, but which continue to flourish. 'The Brazilian Plastic Surgery Society have confirmed that Dr Furtado was not a trained plastic surgeon, and have stated that procedures should never be carried out in private homes [which Calixto's was].' WHAT IS A BRAZILIAN BUM LIFT? A Brazilian Bum Lift uses fat transferred from other areas, such as the love handles, to provide patients with a fuller derriere. Synthetic filler can also be used in place of fat. Clinics report the procedure, which costs between 6,500 and 10,000, has seen more than a 50 per cent increase compared to five years ago. The procedure's nickname was coined in 1996 after Dr Leonard Grossman was filmed performing fat transfer surgery on a patient from Brazil. The surgery takes anywhere from one to two hours to perform. The amount of downtime ranges from one to three weeks, plastic surgeons claim. Advertisement Ironically, Ms Calixto's stepdaughter, Alessandro Jambert, told Brazil's Extra newspaper sh'd chosen to have the procedure with Furtado 'on the recommendation of others'. She said: 'Her friends did it, liked it and recommended him. He is a really famous doctor, and she was going to have it done in his own apartment.' This scenario, Grover stresses, has become increasingly possible because surgeons can easily achieve 'celebrity' status via social media - which people confuse with capability. 'It's impossible to consider this case without acknowledging Dr Furtado`s tremendous 650,000 Instagram followers, which is thus encouraging him being described as a celebrity,' he adds. 'This should be a wake-up call - not only to prospective patients, who must realise that popularity does not equal qualifications, but also to those who regulate advertising.' He added that cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine marketing efforts on social media are not monitored by the Advertising Standards Authority. 'This allows clinics` campaigns to target young and vulnerable people in a way that capitalises on negative body image, glamourising the results and never conveying the risks. Tragic: HSBC bank manager Lilian Calixto, 46, died after visiting Dr Denis Furtado's home Risk: Plastic Surgeon and ex-BAAPS President Rajiv Grover (L) says many people are duped by a doctor's social media popularity. Dr Furtado (R) had 650,000 Instagram followers. 'We have seen this unconscionable behaviour time and again by even the most-recognised high street surgery chains. 'The lack of scrutiny or consequences they face sets the tone for smaller, less-accountable clinics - a process that normalises shocking and harmful commoditisation of medical treatment. 'We urge the ASA as well as the Government to take action to ban these unethical marketing practices, which - as this devastating story demonstrates - is putting lives at risk.' An artist's parasitic worm infection has been immortalised in his work. Ben Taylor, an Australian-born painter who now resides in the UK, was infected with Loa loa filariasis after a visit to rural Gabon, central Africa, in 2013. Upon returning to Britain, he suffered a strange 'muscle-snapping' sensation in his forehead, followed by the emergence of random lumps on his face. Over the subsequent 12 months he encountered other odd symptoms, such as joint pain, abscesses, gut issues, eye discomfort, fatigue and low mood. Eyeful: Ben Taylor, an Australian artist, contracted Loa loa worms after visiting Africa in 2013 Bizarrely, he only decided to seek medical attention when he noticed a 'curved line at the bottom of his eye... that wiggled'. Upon diagnosis, doctors quickly removed an inch-long worm from the site and admitted him to the Tropical School of Medicine, where he remained for four days. There, they also diagnosed him with two other parasites: hookworms and threadworms, which can be contracted via infected earth. But it was before this grim manifestation - and follow-up treatment - that Taylor was compelled to capture his experience on canvas, before he knew of his infection. 'For some reason, I just felt drawn to spend hour upon hour working on this painting with intricate wormlike patterns,' he told Buzzfeed News. Grim: Loa loa filariasis is passed on to humans through the repeated bites of deerflies Art attack: Ben's work has been used by the Centre for Disease Control for the cover of their August 2018 medical journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases 'That painting seems to be influenced by the parasites I was carrying around inside me.' Fittingly, the image - which he later shared online - was used by the Centre for Disease Control for the cover of their August 2018 medical journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases. 'Its a bit of a weird painting, not everyone's cup of tea, but my goodness medical people, they love it,' said Taylor. Norway will prescribe free heroin to its most serious addicts to improve their quality of life, its Government has announced. The trial programme may begin as soon as 2020 and could benefit up to 400 addicts. Although controversial, supporters of such schemes, which are used elsewhere in Scandinavia, argue they reduce death and crime rates. Writing on Facebook, Norway's health minister Bente Hoie said: 'We hope that this will provide a solution that will give... a better quality of life to some addicts who are today out of our reach and whom current programmes do not help enough.' The Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social Affairs will come up with a plan to identify patients who would benefit from such a programme. Due to the details of the Norwegian scheme still being decided it is unclear how much heroin the clinics will prescribe, however, in other regions with the same systems, prescriptions vary depending on the extent of an addict's dependency. Norway has one of the highest drug overdose rates in Europe, with such deaths killing 81 people per one million in 2015. Although exact overdose death rates in the UK are unknown, 66.1 people per one million passed away from drug poisoning in 2017 in England and Wales. Drug poisoning can also include murders or driving fatalities while under the influence. Norway will prescribe free heroin to its serious addicts to improve their quality of life (stock) DOES CANNABIS HELP ALCOHOL AND COCAINE ADDICTS OVERCOME THEIR DEPENDENCIES? A supplement derived from cannabis may help alcohol and cocaine addicts overcome their cravings, research suggested in March 2018. Recovering rats given cannabidiol (CBD) are less likely to relapse when exposed to drugs, a study, by the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, found. This is thought to be due to the supplement easing anxiety and stress, as well as reducing impulsive behaviour, according to the researchers. After just three days of receiving CBD, recovering rats are still less likely to relapse five months later, the study found. The researchers hope the findings will assist in the development of treatments to prevent human drug relapses. CBD is a cannabis-derived nutritional supplement that is thought to possess a range of medicinal benefits and has been reported to help people suffering from migraines, psoriasis, acne and depression. Legal in the UK, it does not contain any THC, which is the psychoactive component of marijuana that makes users 'high'. Speaking of the findings, lead author Dr Friedbert Weiss said: 'The efficacy of the CBD to reduce reinstatement in rats with both alcohol and cocaine - and, as previously reported, heroin - histories predicts therapeutic potential for addiction treatment across several classes of abused drugs. 'The results provide proof of principle supporting the potential of CBD in relapse prevention along two dimensions: beneficial actions across several vulnerability states and long-lasting effects with only brief treatment. Advertisement Where else is heroin given to addicts? And what are the benefits? Since 2010, addicts in Denmark have been offered the illicit drug for free at so-called heroin clinics, providing they have previously been treated for their dependencies. According to the Danish National Board of Health, heroin clinics reduce the number of time police spend investigating drug crimes by a third and increase the number of addicts finding permanent homes by 30 per cent. Such clinics also prevent addicts abusing other drugs, with them drinking 50 per cent less alcohol and Valium use going down by around a third, the board adds. Katrine Schepelern Johansen, from the University of Copenhagen, who studied the effects of heroin clinics, told Science Nordic: 'Some of the users have better contact with their families. Some have started to do sports as part of the treatment and others have found the energy to take care of their own physical illnesses.' A Swiss study, where heroin clinics are also used, found such programmes remove four per cent of the most problematic addicts from the streets every year. What are the drawbacks? Despite studies suggesting heroin clinics' success, such programmes also appear to have drawbacks. Ms Johansen explained: 'Users are frustrated about having to show up at the clinic twice a day every day of the week, and that theyre being monitored before, during and after treatment.' Many medical staff who work at such clinics also face a moral dilemma due to them being used to giving medication with the intention of healing. How is the heroin prescribed? Although the details of Norway's heroin programme are unclear, in Swiss clinics such prescriptions are given out to addicts once or twice a day under medical supervision. The drugs prescribed have a known strength and purity, are free of contaminants and are administered via clean injecting equipment. Australia, France, Germany and Canada also have similar schemes. The trial programme may begin as soon as 2020 and could benefit up to 400 addicts (stock) Doctors call for heroin, cocaine and cannabis to be made legal This comes after doctors called for heroin, cocaine and cannabis to be legalised last April. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP), which represents 26,000 medics in the UK, said it: 'strongly supports the view that drug addiction must be considered a health issue first and foremost.' Rather than being punished, the RCP believes drug users should be offered support and 'timely' treatment. The death rate from illegal drug overdoses in the UK has more than doubled in the past decade, with over two in three people not knowing where to get help if they were battling an addiction, according to the report 'Taking a New Line on Drugs'. The RCP said: 'These figures demonstrate a clear need for physical, psychological and social support and care for people addicted to drugs.' This comes after analyses suggest heroin and crack users are dying of overdoses in the areas of England where cuts to drug-treatment budgets are greatest. An elderly patient made an appointment with his cat's vet after being unable to get a GP appointment. The unnamed man, who is thought to be in his 70s, asked the veterinarian to look at a worrying rash on his chest after growing increasingly frustrated with the waiting time to see his doctor. The Brighton-based vet, who chose to remain anonymous, told MailOnline he was unable to treat the pensioner but prescribed flea treatment for his cat in case such insects were causing the man's rash. This comes after the GP Patient Survey 2018 released earlier this week found one in four people are forced to wait a week or more to see a family doctor, with such waiting times having doubled over the past six years. Just one third of people can get an appointment at their local GP surgery on the same day they call-up, the survey found. Last year, Theresa May ordered GPs to extend their opening hours and offer appointments 8am-to-8pm, seven days a week, in a bid to improve access. Yet, the latest figures suggest securing an appointment is harder than ever. A patient made an appointment with his cat's vet after being unable to see his GP (stock) Asked vet about his rash The unnamed man visited the vet with his healthy cat, which he immediately put down when he entered the consultation room, saying the feline was fine. He then proceeded to undo his shirt to show the physician a rash that was causing him concern. Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, told MailOnline: 'Waiting times for GP appointments are too long, but GPs and our teams are working to absolute capacity there simply aren't enough GPs to offer enough consultations to meet demand. 'We understand that this is frustrating for patients, as it is for GPs, and this can lead some people to take drastic measures. 'But vets are highly trained to care for animals, not people. They are not allowed to prescribe medication to humans and are also private practitioners, and so incur a charge. 'If a patient does have a minor condition, such as a skin rash, we would encourage them to visit a pharmacist in the first instance who will be able to advise whether a doctor's appointment is needed or whether any over-the-counter medicines are available to allow them to self-care. She added: 'Ultimately, general practice needs more funding, more GPs and more members of the practice team so that we can offer more appointments to patients who need them. 'It is vital that general practice is recognised as the upcoming long-term plan for the NHS is developed, and the RCGP is calling for general practice to receive an extra 2.5bn a year, on top of what has already been promised in NHS England's GP Forward View, so that we can deliver the care our patients need and deserve.' THE NHS' RECRUITMENT CRISIS FOR JUNIOR DOCTORS Official figures showed in February that 41 per cent around 10,000 doctors are 50 or over and are expected to quit within the next five to ten years. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt promised golden hellos of 20,000 for trainees who take up unpopular posts in October. Fewer young doctors are choosing to specialise as GPs, and are opting for more macho career paths as surgeons or specialists. Numbers of GPs are known to be dwindling in recent years, placing even more pressure on an over-stretched health service. Many are retiring in their 50s, moving abroad or leaving to work in the private sector, as practices have threatened to close their waiting lists until action is taken. This continued crisis has left many patients at risk, with staff unable to cope with the rising demand and slashed funding. The shortage of doctors comes despite the NHS adopting a plan in April to recruit 5,000 extra GPs by 2021. Mr Hunt's pledge of 2.4 billion was said to be the answer to the staffing shortage, helping plug the growing number of vacancies. This money was devised to lure GPs to move to the worst-hit areas of England, and to stop them from seeking another career. Thousands of new 'doctors on the cheap' are also being trained to prop up the cash-strapped NHS, it emerged in June. An army of 'physician associates' will work in GP surgeries and hospitals to diagnose patients, recommend treatments and perform minor procedures. Scores of practices also believe they are working well beyond maximum capacity - feeling pressured to take on a higher workload and risk mistakes. Advertisement This comes after a survey released yesterday found one in four people are forced to wait a week or more to see a family doctor, with waiting times doubling over the past six years (stock) Nearly 30% of people give up on trying to see their GP The GP Patient Survey 2018, which interviewed 760,000 people, found that the proportion of patients waiting more than a week to see a GP has risen from 12.8 per cent in 2012 to 23.8 per cent this year. The number of patients finding it 'not very easy' or 'not at all easy' to get through to their GP surgery by phone has increased from 19 per cent to almost 30 per cent between 2012 and 2018. Worryingly, the number of patients who have given up altogether and not seen or spoken to anyone after struggling to get an appointment has nearly doubled from 15 to 28 per cent in just a year. GP leaders estimate that around a million people see a doctor every day; meaning hundreds of thousands of patients are struggling to see a medic when sick. The findings of the survey will likely fuel concern about GP crisis, with such services being under pressure due to immigration, an ageing population, and a crisis in recruitment and retention. On the back of the findings, John Kell, head of policy at the Patients Association, said: 'It can be unbelievably stressful to face a long wait or period of uncertainty even before getting to see a doctor, quite apart from prolonging the length of time someone has to live with the medical issue that is troubling them. 'Figures of this sort are no longer at all surprising, but they're not acceptable. 'These problems are the result of policy decisions that could and should have been made differently.' The majority of family doctors plan on retiring before they reach the age of 60 exacerbating the GP crisis, a survey has found. Heavy workloads, growing paperwork and staff shortages have been blamed for the rising number of senior doctors leaving the profession early. The survey of 759 doctors showed 51 per cent of doctors intend to retire before they hit 60, with the average leaving at 59. It comes after the results of the NHS's 2018 GP patient survey of more than 760,000 patients in England showed one in four people are now waiting a week or more for an appointment. Record shortages are leaving patients with ever-longer waiting times, and make it far more difficult to see the same GP each time. Heavy workloads, growing paperwork and staff shortages have been blamed for the rising number of senior doctors leaving the profession early The results revealed that the country's GPs are struggling to cope with an ageing population, a recruitment crisis and immigration levels. Today's poll by GP magazine Pulse showed the crisis looks set to deepen as the number of trainees fails to keep pace with those leaving. It revealed 38 per cent of GPs are now planning to retire between 56 and 60 while almost one in seven will retire before the age of 56. Dr Patricia Rowlands, a GP partner in the Greater Manchester area, told the magazine that she will retire this year on her 60th birthday. She said: 'Due to the pressure of work, I cannot do the job in the way that I want to do it or in a way that makes me feel I have done my best for patients. 'I feel under pressure to cut corners, putting patients at risk and putting myself at risk of making mistakes. In addition to this there are concerns about the future viability of the practice.' One in seven posts are now empty, with vacancy rates trebling in six years. Some GPs said they were choosing to become locums or even move abroad because the job has become so difficult. Meanwhile, health leaders admitted that 40 per cent of GPs were quitting just five years after finishing their training, which costs the taxpayer around 500,000. Others are opting to only work part-time or practise as locums, rather than holding down permanent posts. Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'It's a genuine tragedy and waste for the whole service when talented and experienced GPs decide they have no choice but to leave the profession prematurely - they offer so much to our trainees learning from them, as well as to our patients, but only if they are healthy and able to practice safely.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'GPs are a crucial part of the NHS and that's why we have a number of schemes in place that offer greater flexibility and financial incentives to make later retirement more attractive. 'We are also investing an extra 2.4 billion a year by 2020 to help practices reduce their workload and free up more time for GPs to spend with patients.' BBC newsreader George Alagiah is among those who have called for an earlier screening programme for the disease Everyone aged over 50 will be screened for bowel cancer in England as ministers today finally bowed to pressure to lower the age. Under current guidelines, patients aged between 60 and 74 are offered a home testing kit for the killer disease every two years. But new plans, accepted by both the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England, will bring down the threshold by a decade. Charities today expressed their delight over the bold move, following years of campaigning to bring England in line with Scotland. They hope it will detect bowel cancer earlier in thousands of patients, boosting their chances of survival dramatically. Officials in Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to make similar moves, on the back of the UK-wide recommendations, but have yet to confirm. BBC newsreader George Alagiah and former health secretary Andrew Lansley are among those who have called for earlier screening for the disease. Mr Alagiah, 62, who is currently receiving treatment for bowel cancer for the second time, previously said it could have been caught sooner if over-50s were screened in England. Lord Lansley, announcing he was also being treated for the disease in April, urged the Government to cut the age 'in line with international best practice'. Bowel cancer strikes 41,000 each year in UK and kills 16,000, making it the second deadliest cancer - behind only lung cancer. Survival rates are notoriously poor, as fewer than a tenth of patients survive for five years when it is diagnosed late, compared to 90 per cent if spotted early. The UK National Screening Committee recommended a lower age for screening, following its review of all available evidence. They say the faecal immunochemical home testing kit (FIT), easier to use than the current faecal occult blood test, should be rolled out in the UK. Studies show the FIT, which needs only one stool sample compared to the six needed in the FOB test, is more accurate in detecting potential bowel cancer. GEORGE ALAGIAH'S BATTLE WITH BOWEL CANCER George Alagiah said in March that he believes his bowel cancer could have been picked up sooner if he lived in Scotland, where earlier screenings are offered. The BBC newsreader was first diagnosed in 2014 and underwent 17 rounds of chemotherapy and five operations on the cancer, which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes. After getting the all-clear in 2015, the father-of-two was given the devastating news last December that it had returned. Hours later he went on to present the news that day as normal. Mr Alagiah, 62, who has been the face of the BBC's News at Six since 2007, said that while he knows his cancer can no longer be cured, it could have been a different story had he lived in Scotland. Men and women are offered bowel cancer screening every two years in Scotland from the age of 50. In England, bowel cancer screening often starts at 60, although in recent years one type of test has become available at 55 in some areas. The Sri Lankan-born journalist said: 'Had I been screened, I could have been picked up. Had they had screening at 50, like they do in Scotland I would have been screened at least three times and possibly four by the time I was 58 and this would have been caught at the stage of a little polyp: snip, snip... 'We know that if you catch bowel cancer early, survival rates are tremendous. I have thought: why have the Scots got it and we don't?' Mr Alagiah has stage 4 bowel cancer, meaning his chance of surviving at least five years is 10 per cent. But the chance of surviving stage 1 bowel cancer for at least five years is almost 100 per cent. He said the disappointment of the cancer coming back was 'almost worse than the shock of finding out in the first place'. Speaking to The Sunday Times, he said: 'The first time you are just stunned and shocked. But somehow, when you think you have made it well, I might still make it ... The disappointment was pretty bad.' Mr Alagiah was diagnosed with bowel cancer in April 2014 after noticing blood in his stools. He returned to the BBC in November 2015 after being cleared of the disease. Advertisement Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock and Public Health Minister Steve Brine agreed to the recommendations by the independent body. FIT is already due to be rolled out in the autumn and will initially be offered to those aged 60 to 74 years old. It is expected to be gradually rolled out to over-55s, followed by over-50s, but no official timetable has yet been given. Men and women in England and Wales are currently offered a one-off bowel scope at the age of 55, if it's available in their area. The procedure is expected to be maintained until the new home test is rolled out to this age group. Public health minister Steve Brine said: 'We are determined to make our cancer survival rates the best in the world.' He described it as a 'much more convenient and reliable test', which gives them a 'real opportunity' to detect thousands of patients earlier. NHS England and Public Health England will now consider how to move towards lowering the age of screening. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, revealed the plans will be included in its goal of reshaping cancer care in the next decade. Professor Anne Mackie, director of screening at PHE, said: 'The risk of bowel cancer rises steeply from around age 50-54 and rates are significantly higher among males than females. 'Starting screening 10 years earlier at 50 will help spot more abnormalities at an early stage that could develop into bowel cancer if not detected. 'The committee recognises that this change will take time but wants the FIT test to be offered to all aged 60 and over as soon as possible, and options considered for a roll-out plan where screening can be offered at 55 and eventually to all aged 50 - ensuring we have the best bowel screening programme possible.' Sara Hiom, director of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, welcomed the move, arguing more cancers will be spotted earlier, 'saving lives'. She said: 'Were delighted that the Government has committed to lowering the age that bowel screening can start from 60 to 50. 'When bowel cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, nine in 10 people survive but when it is detected in the late stages, survival falls to one in 10.' However, Ms Hiom argued the staffing crisis in the NHS must be dealt with urgently to ensure that a lower screening age is never threatened. Deborah Alsina MBE, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, announced the charity was also delighted to hear the screening age will be lowered. She said: 'We want to see every eligible person in the UK have access to the most effective screening methods. 'Todays recommendation to offer FIT from the age of 50 every two years... is a significant step towards achieving this. 'We have campaigned strongly for the screening age to be lowered to 50, in line with Scotland and the rest of the world, for some time now.' Ms Alsina repeated calls for ensuring the over-stretched NHS has enough staff and resources to deal with the increase in demand by lowering the screening age. People who check work emails after they've left the office and as soon as they wake up underestimate the damaging effects it has on their health and their relationships. A study found 'flexible work boundaries' drive up stress levels, and push workers to become insular and less aware of social settings. University employees surveyed by Virginia Tech University all had levels of anxiety that could be damaging to their health. But few of them realized how severe that damage was - and none of them gauged that it left their partners incredibly stressed, too. The new study finds the mere expectation results in strain and anxiety, for them and their partners or children 'The competing demands of work and nonwork lives present a dilemma for employees, which triggers feelings of anxiety and endangers work and personal lives,' said co-author William Becker, associate professor of management in the Pamplin College of Business. The finding adds to growing evidence that 'flexible work boundaries' often turn into 'work without boundaries' - where bosses assume staff will never switch off. Concern has already been raised about millions of employees who read messages last thing before they go to bed - and first thing when they wake up. Becker's study finds the mere expectation results in strain and anxiety, for them and their partners or children. The paper is the first to identify the phenomenon that has implications for office workers across the world. Previous studies have shown the stress of increased job demands leads to strain and conflict in family relationships. This happens when the employee is unable to fulfill non-work roles at home 'such as when someone brings work home to finish up,' said Dr Becker. But the latest findings show employees don't even have to engage in actual work during non-work time for the effect to be seen. This is different to work-related demands that add to pressure, both physical and psychological, by requiring time away from home. 'The insidious impact of 'always on' organizational culture is often unaccounted for or disguised as a benefit - increased convenience, for example, or higher autonomy and control over work life boundaries,' Dr Becker said. 'Our research exposes the reality, [that] "flexible work boundaries" often turn into "work without boundaries," compromising an employee's and their family's health and well-being.' He said policies that reduce expectations to monitor electronic communication outside of work would be ideal. When that is not an option, the solution may be to establish boundaries on when electronic communication is acceptable during off-hours. This could be by setting up off-hour email windows or schedules when employees are available to respond. Additionally, expectations should be communicated clearly. Dr Becker said: 'If the nature of a job requires email availability, such expectations should be stated formally as a part of job responsibilities.' Knowing these expectations upfront may reduce anxiety in employees and increase understanding from their family members, he said. As for employees, they could consider practicing mindfulness, which has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety. Mindfulness may help employees 'be present' in family interactions, which could help reduce conflict and improve relationship satisfaction. And, he added, mindfulness is within the employee's control when email expectations are not. Dr Becker, who is presenting the study at an Academy of Management meeting in Chicago, added: 'Employees today must navigate more complex boundaries between work and family than ever before. 'Employer expectations during nonwork hours appear to increase this burden, as employees feel an obligation to shift roles throughout their nonwork time. 'Efforts to manage these expectations are more important than ever, given our findings that employees' families are also affected by these expectations.' A study of 132 people by psychologists at the University of Hamburg found during during times away from work when they were expected to be contactable they had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva. Even when they were not required to be physically available at the office, the spike happened. This is because technology means people are able to check their laptops, tablets and smartphone for emails, leading to a culture in which people must be constantly available for work, the researchers said. In today's workforce, 'job contacts and work availability outside regular business hours are associated with impaired wellbeing,' the authors wrote in the study. An earlier study also found checking work emails at home or taking a call from the boss at weekends could be damaging to health. Another study of 57,000 people found that more than half worked outside their normal hours. The researchers found that those who worked in the evenings and at weekends were more likely to complain of insomnia, headaches, fatigue, anxiety and stomach problems. Muscular problems and cardiovascular issues were also linked to working outside of normal hours. The scientists called for far stricter rules to stop work invading people's home life. Massive plumes of smoke from the California wildfires have traveled across the country, and may be exposing millions of Americans to fine particles that can damage their lungs. There are 12 fires raging in California, decimating more than 10,000 acres and forcing more than 20,000 people to flee for their lives. But even out of the blaze's reach, people in California and far beyond may be in danger of inhaling toxic matter from the fire. The National Weather Service's new map shows that the West Coast is enveloped in dangerously thick smoke which is set to cross the country, even reaching the Easwt Coast. At lower concentrations, smoke still can cause eye and lung irritation, especially for older people, children and those who already suffer from cardiovascular and respiratory problems. The National Weather Service's new map shows that smoke from the California wildfires will be lofted into the air and carried 3,000 miles to the East Coast where it may subtly affect health One of the recent California fires, the so-called Holy Fire, has killed six firefighters trying to contain it, but smoke always kills more people than fire. And many of its effects may be imperceptibly causing damage that can add up, increasing risks of chronic diseases over time. In house fires, people are more likely to die from oxygen deprivation due to a high concentration of smoke than from the fire itself. Wildfire smoke is less dangerous because it is not trapped in such a tight space, but that doesn't mean it is without its dangers. Even if you can't see it in the air, if there is smoke in the area you might feel your chest tighten. Smoke can quickly make your breathing feel more labored and even cause wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing. 'Many people may have respiratory symptoms when breathing smoky air. The good news is that most symptoms are short-lived, and resolve as smoke dissipate,' said Dr Karin Pacheco, of the division of environmental and occupational health sciences at National Jewish Health in Colorado. But exposure to smoke can add a subtle risk factor for your long-term heart and lung health. The most dangerous component of smoke is the smallest one, called fine particulate matter (PM). Solid burned matter mixes with water droplets in the air to form PM which can sneak into the lungs and lodge itself there. PM also sparks a chain reaction in the body that can worsen heart and circulatory problems as well as breathing issues. The fine particles trigger inflammation and the release of chemicals that instigate blood clotting as well. Effects like these increase the risks of heart attack, stroke and heart arrhythmia down the line. A helicopter dumps flame retardant onto one of the California fires while smoke billows upward. The air quality in much of the state is now dangerous to residents For people who already in sub-prime heart health, smoke can quickly strain the body, so the danger of a heart attack or stroke just after serious smoke inhalation is not to be taken lightly. The weaker respiratory systems of children, older people and those with asthma or compromised immune systems may make them vulnerable to more serious health effects from smoke inhalation. But the amount of smoke billowing from the California fires is easily enough to bring out symptoms in even otherwise health people. For those in California and neighboring states, in order to avoid the damage and discomfort of smoke inhalation, the best thing to do is get physically as far away from it. If you cannot leave the area, the best thing to do is to stay inside with your doors and windows tightly closed. When you do venture outside, limit your respiration rate by taking your time and do your best to avoid physical activity or exercise outdoors. There will not be enough smoke drifting over the rest of the country to make this necessary, but little to stop people from inhaling poorer quality air from the fine particulate matter. Ultimately, 'for most healthy people, low amounts of wildfire smoke are more unpleasant than a health risk,' said Dr Pacheco, but precautions can help keep that risk to a bare minimum. Roundup does cause cancer, a jury has declared in an unprecedented trial into the health dangers of Monsanto's weedkiller. After three days of deliberations, jurors on Friday sided with terminally-ill groundsman Dewayne Johnson, 46, who has just weeks to live, awarding him $250 million in punitive damages, plus nearly $40m in compensatory damages, bringing the total to $289m. Specifically, in eight weeks of proceedings, the jury was left convinced that Monsanto's product caused Johnson's cancer. Addressing a press conference on Friday evening, Johnson thanked his legal team, his wife, Araceli, and their two sons. 'Its taken a lot of prayer, Ive taken energy from a lot of people. Im glad to be here to help. Hopefully this thing will start to get the attention it needs. This case is way bigger than me,' he said. Johnson's wife spends 14 hours a day working two jobs, lawyer Brent Wisner told the press conference. She was working when her husband's verdict came through, he added. When Johnson's compensation is released he hopes to use it to enable his to spend more time with him and their children, Wisner said. He may also use it to fund a bone marrow transplant. Monsanto will appeal the verdict and the compensation will only be released when this has been heard. Johnson's lawyers will ask the appellate court to speed up the appeal so the money can be released while their client is still alive. Dewayne 'Lee' Johnson looked emotional as he heard the verdict on Friday, when jurors awarded him $289 million in damages Addressing a press conference on Friday evening, Johnson - who has only weeks to live - thanked his legal team, his wife, and two sons Johnson's wife, Araceli, spends 14 hours a day working two jobs, lawyer Brent Wisner told the press conference The groundskeeper, who worked for years in Benicia, California, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - a cancer that starts in the white bloods cells - in August 2014. He mixed and sprayed hundreds of gallons of Roundup to keep grass and weeds under control. The liable verdict means the case could open the door to hundreds of additional lawsuits against the company recently acquired by German-based pharmaceutical and chemical group Bayer. The first-of-its-kind verdict was delayed as jurors spent hours analyzing the timeline of Johnson's symptoms, the validity of his expert witness's testimony, and the discrepancies between Monsanto's medical findings and that of their critics. The jury also found Monsanto 'acted with malice, oppression or fraud and should be punished for its conduct,' Judge Suzanne Ramos Bolanos announced in court in San Francisco. Reacting to the verdict, co-lead trial counsel Brent Wisner said it was a result of newly-revealed, confidential company documents. 'We were finally able to show the jury the secret, internal Monsanto documents proving that Monsanto has known for decades that glyphosate and specifically Roundup could cause cancer,' Wisner said. 'Despite the Environmental Protection Agency's failure to require labeling, we are proud that an independent jury followed the evidence and used its voice to send a message to Monsanto that its years of deception regarding Roundup is over and that they should put consumer safety first over profits.' Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, said it was a victory for all workers. 'Monsanto made Roundup the oxycontin of pesticides and now the addiction and damage they caused have come home to roost,' he said. 'This won't cure DeWayne Lee Johnson's cancer, but it will send a strong message to a renegade company.' Johnson, 46, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014, and he believes it was caused by his repeated use of Roundup weedkiller as a school groundsman in California. He is seen here hugging one of the lawyers after the victory They also found Monsanto 'acted with malice, oppression or fraud and should be punished for its conduct' towards Johnson (pictured with one of his lawyers on Friday) Monsanto vice president Scott Partridge said in a statement that the company is already poised to appeal the decision. 'We are sympathetic to Mr. Johnson and his family,' he said, but insisted that '[t]oday's decision does not change the fact that more than 800 scientific studies and reviews...support the fact that glyphosate does not cause cancer, and did not cause Mr Johnson's cancer'. He added: 'We will appeal this decision and continue to vigorously defend this product, which has a 40-year history of safe use and continues to be a vital, effective, and safe tool for farmers and others.' The case is the first to reach trial alleging a cancer link from Roundup, one of the world's most widely used herbicides. Johnson used a generic version of Roundup called Ranger Pro repeatedly in his job after being promoted to groundskeeper in 2012 through mid-2015. One of Johnson's attorneys, Timothy Litzenburg, told DailyMail.com that Johnson called the Monsanto hotline in November 2014 about his diagnosis. 'He said: 'Hey I just want to let you know I have this and I want to ask could it be contributing to my cancer?'' Litzenburg said. Johnson's concerns landed on the desk of Dr Daniel Goldstein, the lead of medical sciences at Monsanto, who told colleagues he would call Johnson back but never did, according to an internal company email. Johnson said he contacted the company in 2014 after he received his diagnosis to ask about a potential cancer link but never heard back. Pictured: Johnson's back covered in lesions Litzenburg told DailyMail.com that Johnson used hundreds of gallons of the products between 30 and 40 times per year. Testimony was heard that twice Johnson became drenched in the Ranger Pro. Before reaching their verdict, the jury asked for the testimony of Johnson's expert witness oncologist Dr Chadi Nabhan, the timeline of Johnson's first instance where he was sprayed with Roundup and all of his medical records, according to Courthouse News reporter Helen Christophi. All was given but the medical records because they hadn't been entered as evidence. In closing arguments, the attorney for Monsanto, George Lombardi, had railed against Dr Nabhan for claiming that glyphosate - the active ingredient in Roundup - causes mycosis fungoides, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lombardi said Nabhan was the only doctor to have found such a link and, if it was true, why he hasn't received awards for the discovery. The jury also wanted a timeline of the first time Johnson was accidentally drenched in the pesticide. While Johnson's attorney said the accident it occurred in 2014, Monsanto's attorney argued that it was in September 2013 and implied that Johnson's team lied about the dates to make it appear like it was closer to his diagnosis. Litzenburg said Johnson, who is between rounds of chemotherapy, 'is actually on borrowed time, he is not supposed to be alive today.' This is because in September 2015, doctors told Johnson that he was likely to die in less than a couple of years, Litzenburg said. The case, filed against Monsanto in 2016, was fast-tracked for trial due to the severe state of Johnson's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The father-of-two testified on the stand that he would have 'never' sprayed Ranger-Pro if he knew it would cause harm. 'I would've never sprayed that product on school grounds or around people if I knew it would cause them harm,' he said on the stand, according to Courthouse News reporter Helen Christophi. 'It's unethical, it's wrong. I have children who go to school. People I don't deserve that. They deserve better.' Another of Johnson's attorney's, Brent Wisner, told the court that he is seeking more than $39 million in compensatory damages and $373 million in punitive damages. Johnson (pictured, with his sons) said he sprayed hundreds of gallons of the product between 30 and 40 times per year and was allegedly drenched in it repeatedly Johnson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - a cancer that starts in the white bloods cells - in August 2014 and believes Roundup is responsible. Pictured: Johnson's hand covered in lesions Wisner said Monsanto opted against warning consumers of the risks and that instead 'they have fought science' by playing down the suspected link between the chemical herbicide and cancer. 'Monsanto made a choice to not put a cancer warning on the label, that is a choice that reflects reckless disregard for human health,' Wisner told jurors on Tuesday in closing arguments. 'Today is [Monsanto's] day of reckoning,' Wisner told jurors on Tuesday in his closing arguments. THE SAGA SURROUNDING THE SAFETY OF GLYPHOSATE Glyphosate is an herbicide first registered for use in the US in 1974. It is marketed either as a salt or an amber-colored liquid with no smell. Monsanto markets glyphosate as part of the pesticide Roundup. Several studies found that high doses administered to laboratory animals caused cancer, although the evidence is 'limited' when it comes to humans. In March 2015, the World Health Organizatrion ranked glyphosate a Group 2a carcinogen, a substance that probably causes cancer in people. In 2017, California added glyphosate to its proposition 65 list, which requires Roundup to carry a warning label if sold in California. Monsanto has vehemently denied that its product causes cancer and says and more than 800 studies that have established its safety. Yet more than 4,000 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits - 800 over the past year - claiming Monsanto made them or members of their family sick. Advertisement 'Every single cancer risk found had this moment, where the science finally caught up, where they couldn't bury it anymore.' Monsanto has denied any link with the disease, saying the product has undergone stringent testing and more than 800 studies have established its safety. 'The message from the evidence is clear, and that is this cancer was not caused by Ranger Pro,' said George Lombardi during closing arguments. 'The facts are what should lead you in this case.' Attorneys for the company also said that non-Hodgkin's lymphoma takes two-and-a-half years to develop and that Johnson developed symptoms of his cancer about one-and-a-half years after he began using the product. They therefore argued that his cancer had already likely taken hold. 'The story just doesn't make sense,' Lombardi told jurors. But Wisner argued that Monsanto ghost-wrote research citing the weed killer's safety and then cited it. Wisner contended that the main ingredient glyphosate - a chemical compound declared carcinogenic by the World Health Organization - combined with other chemicals in the Roundup, resulted in a cancer-causing 'synergy.' A key to Johnson's case will be whether jurors are convinced that Monsanto's pesticide caused or exacerbated his illness. 'We don't have to show Roundup was the sole cause; we only have to show it is a contributor,' Wisner said. Groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson was adamant the weedkiller caused his terminal cancer. Pictured: Johnson walking toward the courtroom on July 9 Johnson's attorney say they are seeking $39 million in compensatory damages and $373 million in punitive damages. Monsanto has denied any link with the disease, saying the product has undergone stringent testing and more than 800 studies have established its safety 'Your verdict will be heard around the world,' Wisner told jurors. 'Monsanto will have to finally do something - conduct those studies they never conducted and warn those people they never warned.' Monsanto's flagship herbicide Roundup was launched in 1976. Roundup has been approved the US Environmental Protection Agency, according to Lombardi. Two years after the WHO labeled it 'probably carcinogenic', the state of California named glyphosate an ingredient that causes cancer under the state's Proposition 65, which requires Roundup to carry a warning label if sold in California. Additionally, earlier this year, a peer-reviewed study found that women in agriculture-intensive areas of Indiana tended to have shorter pregnancies if they had been regularly exposed to glyphosate. Founded in 1901 in St Louis, Missouri, Monsanto began producing agrochemicals in the 1940s. It was acquired by Bayer for more than $62 billion in June. Bayer announced at the time that it would be dropping Monsanto's name and replacing it with Bayer as the company name. 'Bayer will remain the company name. Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio,' Bayer said in a statement to Reuters. Bayer's decision to drop the name means Monsanto products like Roundup will still be Roundup, but now they will be Bayer's Roundup, not Monsanto's Roundup. Roundup will still contain glyphosate. 'Bayer will remain the company name. Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio,' Bayer told Reuters in a statement In other words, products like Roundup would retain their name, but be advertised as Bayer's Roundup, not Monsanto. Vets are battling to treat an emaciated and possibly infected young orca swimming in the same critically endangered pod as the mother who is carrying her dead calf. The three-and-a-half-year-old orca, known as Scarlet or J50, was seen in distress earlier this week alongside mother Slick, or J16, but disappeared, raising fears she had perished. But the pair were spotted again near Neah Bay, Washington, Thursday and medics rushed to make an assessment, though it is not clear if the infant was treated. Teams from NOAA Fisheries West Coast are planning to inject Scarlet with antibiotics and feed her live salmon in an attempt to save her. Vets are trying and save an emaciated and possibly infected baby orca known as Scarlet or J50 (pictured in this 2015 file image with mother Slick, or J16). The pair are part of the same pod as Tahlequah, the mother who has been carrying her dead calf for 17 days Scarlet and her mother vanished earlier this week but reemerged on Thursday. Medics raced out to make an assessment, but it is not clear if they were able to treat her The calf was the first in three years to be born to the dwindling population of endangered southern resident killer whales. The orcas are part of an endangered population that has dwindled to just 75 whales. Another female orca from the group - known Tahlequah or J35 - has attracted international attention after her calf died. She has been swimming around with the dead infant balanced on her nose for 17 days in a heartbreaking display of grief. Observers are concerned about Tahlequah because she has fallen behind the pod, meaning she may struggle to hunt and catch food on her own. Despite this, an NOAA spokesman said on Thursday that workers have no plans to remove the calf's body for fear of making the situation worse. Sheila Thornton, lead killer whale research scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, added: 'Removing the calf would be a very, very difficult decision, and obviously we would have to take many factors into consideration, so thats currently not on the table.' Vets monitoring J50 will decide when the calf next emerges whether or not to treat using antibiotics, preferring a dart or injection over food because the medicine will keep working for between 10 and 14 days. Feeding the youngster medicine would require daily or almost daily contact, which they are not sure they will get. Veterinarians in the field will decide whether to give the ailing orca antibiotics, which would last between 10 and 14 days, using either a dart injector or a long pole syringe. If things go well, Rowles said, the team could move ahead with feeding the orca live salmon from a boat. The whale would initially get just a few fish to see whether she takes it and how she and members of her pod respond before deciding whether to give her salmon dosed with medication. Tahlequah's calf perished on July 24 and the 20-year-old mother is still carrying its dead body around 17 days later in a heartbreaking display of grief Observers are also concerned for Tahlequah's health because she has now fallen behind the pod while carrying her child, meaning she could starve as she struggles to hunt alone Rowles said injections of antibiotics or sedatives have been given to other free-swimming whales or dolphins that were injured or entangled but it hasn't been done for free-swimming whales in this area. What would be unique is giving the orca medication through live fish, Rowles said. Whale experts have been increasingly worried about J50 after a researcher last month noticed an odor on the orca's breath, a smell detected on other orcas that later died. Researchers took breath samples, and a drone flown above the whales Wednesday showed that J50 is much skinnier and her body condition has gotten worse. Rowles said such imagery has shed more light on the whales' overall body condition and growth over time. That data has documented orcas that declined and then disappeared. She said it became evident that 'we needed to intervene to determine potentially what was the cause and whether there was anything we could do to assist her.' The efforts come as a task force called by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee met Tuesday to come up with solutions to help the whales. It was hearing initial recommendations focused on three main threats to the orcas: lack of food, toxic contamination and boat noise and disturbance. A final report is due in November. The recent images of the mother orca pushing her dead calf and trying to keep it afloat in Northwest waters has given greater urgency to the fate of the whales, said Les Purce, co-chair of the task force. 'The big question is, can we craft public policy that can make a difference in the future of the orca, and by doing so make a positive difference in how we live in Puget Sound,' Purce said in an interview Monday. The group will prioritize short-term and long-term actions, many of which are certain to focus on recovering the prized salmon that the fish-eating whales like to eat. The whales prefer Chinook salmon but many of those runs are endangered or threatened. Initial actions being discussed include ramping up hatchery production, restricting fishing in areas that are important to the orcas, offering financial compensation to recreational and commercial fishermen to stop or reduce fishing in certain areas and killing sea lions or birds that eat certain runs. A map showing where Tahlequah's calf was last seen alive, and the first two sightings of the whale pushing its body around Others are pushing to tear down four dams on the lower Snake River. Tahlequah's calf died on July 24 and the 20-year-old mother has been pushing its body around with her ever since. Scientists say the animal has now fallen behind her pod and is at risk of becoming isolated. Orcas are highly sociable and live in large groups, known as pods, often with dozens of other animals. They hunt in these groups, and animals that become isolated can suffer a potentially life-threatening food shortage, experts warn. Until now, scientists had never seen an orca grieve for this long over a dead infant. Scientists believe the rest of the pod likely knew Tahlequah was pregnant by communicating through sonar and are probably in mourning as well. In June, researchers revealed that it was not uncommon for whales and dolphins to keep holding onto their dead offspring for days at a time. Experts from the Dolphin Biology and Conservation at Oceancare in Cordenons, Italy, analysed 78 records of aquatic mammals' treatment of their dead between 1970 and 2016. More than 90 per cent of the dolphins studied were attentive to their dead, with grieving females making up three quarters of these interactions. Seventy five per cent of the incidents were of adult females looking after their dead calf, with some of them carrying decomposing bodies for up to a week. The behaviour often involved one or more individuals attending to the deceased. A new Marilyn Monroe exhibit and auction will include outfits that belonged to the blonde bombshell including a replica of her iconic Seven Year Itch dress. Auction house Profiles in History announced Wednesday that the items will be exhibited at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills before going to auction in late October. Among the items offered up in 'Essentially Marilyn: The Auction/The Exhibit' are Monroe's signature film costumes, personal childhood photographs, hand-annotated scripts and photos by Milton Greene. Profiles in History's upcoming Marilyn Monroe auction and Paley Center exhibit will include a version of the famous white dress (right) the actress wore in 1955's 'The Seven Year Itch' The white dress on auction was made by Monroe's longtime costumer, Bill Travilla, for use on tours and exhibits. It was made to the exact specifications as the original film's dress One photograph, which Monroe signed for 20th Century Fox executive Ben Lyon, purportedly solves the mystery of how she got her famous name. The auction will also include this leotard that Monroe wore in Gentleman Prefer Blondes 'Dear Ben, You found me, named me and believed in me when no one else did. My thanks and love forever. Marilyn,' the photo's inscription reads. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, she changed her name to Marilyn Monroe after coming to Hollywood. She used her mother's maiden name Monroe, while Lyon provided the 'Marilyn.' The photo was taken during the filming of 'The Seven Year Itch,' the 1955 movie that provided history's lasting image of Monroe, standing over a subway grate and holding down her white dress. A version of the dress, made for tours and exhibits by the original designer and long-time Monroe costumer, Bill Travilla, is among the items up for sale. It was made to the exact specifications as originally designed for Monroe's use. Also in the auction are 15 costumes Monroe wore in films, including the gold and black sequined showgirl leotard from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, the white chiffon and satin ball gown from The Prince and the Showgirl and the pattered sequined dress from How to Marry a Millionaire. The Paley Center's free exhibit Monroe exhibit will include large format photos of the actress, including this one, taken by her friend and celebrity photographer Milton H. Greene Up for auction is this photo of Monroe and 20th Century Fox executive Ben Lyon, in which Monroe thanked Lyon for giving her her famous name Also in the auction are Monroe's personal childhood photographs one photo bears the note, 'First boyfriend. Lester Bolender and Norma Jeane, both age 5' and the actress's heavily hand-annotated script from The Seven Year Itch. The free Paley Center exhibit, which runs from August 18 to September 30, will feature large format photographs of the actress, shot by her friend, fashion and celebrity photographer Milton H. Greene. The starting prices for the pieces have not yet been revealed. Couple fear they've eaten bugs as they dined on outer leaves the night before Girlfriend was prepping it when she noticed the bugs spilling out A couple were shocked to discover a heaving 'grey mass' of insects in the middle of a cabbage they had bought from Tesco the day after they had cooked and eaten some it. John Williams, 25, bought the 62p cabbage from his local Tesco in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. He said his girlfriend Kya Cook, 22, made the revolting discovery when she was preparing a stir-fry and the bugs started spilling out onto their kitchen counter. Mr Williams, director of a web design company, told Mail Online: 'I heard Kya shouting in the kitchen: 'Quick, come see this!' and I shot up and ran straight out. 'All these bugs were crawling all over the side. They even started flying around the kitchen. It was disgusting.' Mr Williams added that some of the bugs had legs while others didn't, and some of them even had wings. He said they were like 'little flea-type things'. Kya Cook, 22, was shocked to find dozens of creepy crawlies falling from the cabbage when she was preparing it for a stir fry. She immediately screamed for her partner John Williams The 62p 'fresh greens 'cabbage Mr Williams bought from Tesco in Ryde on the Isle of Wight John Williams, 25, described how the 'grey mass' dropped all over the couple's kitchen counter He said the couple hadn't bothered checking the middle of the cabbage which they had bought four days earlier - because they'd eaten some of it the night before and it 'seemed fine'. It was when John inspected further that he found a 'bizarre grey mass' that was moving. He said: 'The scary thing is that we ate some of the cabbage the day before. We usually just chop it up and throw it in the pan but we'll check all vegetables and such very closely before preparing them since this has happened. Kya Cook, 22, (left) found the bugs spilling out of their Tesco-bought cabbage before screaming for her boyfriend John Williams, 25, (right) to come investigate 'I dread to think how many people this has happened to without them even knowing.' Mr Williams said he took the cabbage back to the Tesco branch and was refunded the 62p he had paid for it. He also reported the distressing discovery to Tesco's feedback team before also going back to the store, but was not impressed by the company's response. Tesco's customer care team told John to return the infected cabbage to the store in Ryde The inner part of the Tesco cabbage they bought was completely covered with small insects Mr Williams said after the bugs spilled out onto the counter some of them began flying around The couple were worried that they may have ingested some of the bugs when they used the lettuce for a meal the day before they made the grim discovery He said: 'They sent me back some standardised response saying they'd investigate, no sorry or nothing. I may as well have been talking to a robot.' 'I want an explanation, I wanted to know how this happened. It was a crazy amount of bugs and eggs.' A Tesco spokesperson said: 'We're very sorry to hear about this incident. We have apologised to Kya and our team are carrying out a thorough investigation. 'We have robust food quality processes in place and take great care preparing our products.' Mr Williams said some of the white insects had legs while others didn't, but had wings instead Advertisement Gaza's militant Hamas rulers and Israel appear to be honoring a cease-fire that ended two days of an intense flare-up in violence amid efforts by neighboring Egypt to negotiate between the two sides. Israel's military said on Friday that no rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel overnight and it conducted no airstrikes. Palestinian Hamas-run media reported that an Egypt-brokered deal had taken hold 'on the basis of mutual calm', however, Israel's government has not confirmed such a truce. Israel's Iron Dome defence system launches an interceptor missile as rockets are launched from Gaza toward the southern city of Sderot The debris of Said Al-Mashal Foundation for Arts and Culture building after Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in the strip's capital city A wounded Palestinian boy is brought into al-Shifa hospital on Thursday following the Israeli air strike on Gaza City Smoke rises from buildings in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes rained down on the independently governed territory in what the government says was retaliation for Hamas strikes This week's fighting saw Israel hit some 150 facilities belonging to Hamas in retaliation for '180 rockets and mortar bombs' allegedly fired from the strip on Wednesday night. The Israeli airstrikes overnight on Wednesday killed three Palestinians, including a 23-year-old pregnant woman and her 18-month-old daughter. A source withing Israel's military warned Thursday that 'a full-blown military confrontation in the Gaza Strip' was near and its government could start evacuating citizens near the border. Thursday evening, at least two rockets allegedly fired from the Gaza Strip landed in Israel on Thursday night, according to the country's authorities, including just outside Beersheba. Although nobody was injured, it marked the first time since 2014 that a rocket had penetrated that deep inside the country, according to the country's media. Children negotiate the smoky streets of Gaza following the bombardment today as the Israelis claimed they were retaliating against Hamas strikes Smoke rises from an explosion after an Israeli airstrike on the Saidd al-Mis'hal cultural centre in Gaza City on Thursday People inspect the rubble of a building after it was destroyed by an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on Thursday Palestinians inspect the ruins of the Said al-Mishal Cultural Center building which was left completely destroyed A child crawls over the rubble of the cultural centre building which was wrecked by the Israeli air strike An aerial view of the wreckage of the Said al-Mishal Cultural Centre in the west of Gaza City after the air strike Shortly after, an Israeli airstrike flattened the five-story cultural center in the Shati refugee camp, a crowded neighborhood of Gaza City. The airstrike set off a powerful explosion and sent a huge plume of black smoke into the air, causing crowds to scream in panic. Medical officials said at least seven bystanders were wounded. The building is home to a popular theater and exhibits plays and other shows on a daily basis. An Egyptian-Palestinian cultural society also has an office in the building. "The deliberate targeting of a cultural center with airstrikes and destruction ... is a barbaric act," said Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman. He said the destruction of the Egyptian cultural office was "an Israeli attempt to sabotage" the Egyptian cease-fire efforts. The Israeli military said the building served as a Palestinian military installation. Hamas' Interior Ministry, including its secret police, has offices in an adjacent site, but those offices were not hit. Before tensions calmed, a senior Israeli Defence Force officer told the Times of Israel: 'We are rapidly nearing a confrontation. Hamas is making serious mistakes, and we may have to make it clear after four years that this path doesn't yield any results for it and isn't worth it.' People inspect the debris of Said Al-Mashal Foundation for Arts and Culture building after Israeli forces conducted airstrikes, in the western part of Gaza City Palestinians turned out in droves to carry the bodies of an 18-month-old and her pregnant mother after officials say they were killed in an Israeli air strike on Thursday Mourners gather around the coffin, draped in a Palestinian flag, as the mother and daughter were carried through the centre of the strip following the Israeli bombardment Palestinian mourners carry the bodies of 23-year-old Enas Khammash and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan, during their funeral in Deir Al-Balah Palestinians inspect the ruins of Said Al-Mashal Foundation for Arts and Culture building after Israeli forces bombarded the western part of Gaza City The people of Gaza survey the destruction wrought by Israeli forces as the bombarded the strip in retaliation for alleged Hamas strikes Palestinians walk through the smokey streets of Gaza after Israelis bombarded the western part of the strip's capital city today An explosion rocks Gaza following an Israeli air strike tonight after rockets were fired from the enclave Explosions were heard across Gaza City last on Wednesday, leaving several people injured On Thursday, Mourners in Gaza carried the bodies of 18-month-old Bayan Khammash and her pregnant 23-year-old mother, Enas, after they died in an air strike. The coffin was carried through Deir Al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, after Enas' husband was injured in the bombardment, according to officials in the self-governing territory. The United Nations late Wednesday called on the sides to step 'back from the brink'. It was the third major escalation since July and came despite attempts by UN officials and Egypt to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip. Smoke rises following Israeli air strikes on Hamas sites in Gaza City Smoke plumes rising following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City tonight. Injuries were reported on both sides of the conflict An explosion begins to rise into the air above Gaza City after an Israeli missile detonated there on Wednesday evening Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008. In yesterday's skirmishes, smoke plumes could be seen rising from Gaza City following the military's announcement it was targeting 'terror sites in the Gaza Strip'. The strikes came after two rockets launched from the coastal enclave hit the town of Sderot, near Gaza's northern border, police and the army said. One person was lightly wounded by shrapnel while several others were treated for shock in Sderot, the United Hatzalah medical service said. Sirens were sounded in several areas close to the border with Gaza, warning residents to seek immediate shelter, the Israeli army said. 'As of now, 36 rocket launches were identified from Gaza towards Israel,' the army wrote on Twitter. The majority hit open areas while four were intercepted, it said. Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for all fire coming from the long-blockaded coastal territory. Boys walk past a fence in the Israeli town of Sderot damaged by an earlier round of rocket fire from Gaza last month Israeli television broadcast images of a house and cars reportedly damaged by the rockets in Sderot. Parts of the town have been closed off and police bomb disposal units were at the scene of the strikes, a spokesman for the force said. The strikes came after two fighters from the military wing of Hamas, which rules Gaza, were killed by Israeli fire on Tuesday. Hamas warned Israel -- with which it has fought three wars since 2008 -- it would pay for the attack. The escalation comes after the Hamas leadership convened for a rare meeting in Gaza on Friday. The gathering had raised hopes a deal for a lasting truce with Israel, with the backing of Egypt and the United Nations. Clashes along the Gaza border since the end of March have seen at least 160 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire. One Israeli soldier has been shot dead by a Palestinian sniper. The last words spoken by Billy Ray Irick were, 'I just want to say I'm really sorry,' before he was put to death in a Tennessee state prison on Thursday. Witnesses to Tennessees first execution in nearly a decade say Irick, 59, at first signaled he would have no last words, but then gave a brief statement to those in attendance. Journalists present reported that the blinds between a witness room and the execution chamber were opened at 7.26pm on Thursday, and about one minute later, Irick was asked if he had any words before the lethal injection drugs began flowing. Irick was convicted in the 1985 rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl he was babysitting. Tennessee has executed its first inmate since 2009, putting a man to death for the 1985 rape and murder of a 7-year-old Knoxville girl. Authorities say 59-year-old inmate Billy Ray Irick was pronounced dead at 7.48 p.m. Thursday after a three-drug injection at a prison in Nashville At the question of whether he had any final words to say, Irick first appeared to sigh and say 'no.' But then he said, 'I just want to say Im really sorry and that... thats it.' Irick was convicted of raping and murdering seven-year-old Paula Dyer in 1985. 'What he did to her is the reason he's where he is,' Kathy Jeffers, the other of Paula, told WBIR. 'I am sick of hearing about his pain and his suffering. What about her pain and her suffering? She was 7 years old, raped, sodomized, and strangled to death. I'm sorry, I feel nothing for his pain. Nothing at all. God, forgive me, but I don't.' Irick was babysitting Paula, along with four of her brothers, the night she was raped, sodomized and strangled to death. Her brothers were just in the next room and tried to save their sister, but Irick has barricaded the door and they couldn't break through. He had come to be a trusted member of the large Jeffers family, which included a total of eight children, and had lived with them for more than a year before sexually assaulting and killing Paula. It was Paula's father, Kenny Jeffers, who found his daughter, lying unconscious with a pool of blood between her legs that night, after Irick had called him home from work right around midnight, saying he couldn't wake her up. Her father took her to the hospital, and after 45 futile minutes of attempts at lifesaving measures, Paula was pronounced dead. One minute after he said he was sorry for the horrific events of that night, his eyes closed, and the sounds of snoring and heavy breathing could be heard. The subtle sounds gave way at 7.34pm to coughing, huffing and deep breaths. An attendant began yelling 'Billy' and checked the inmate and grabbed his shoulder, but there didnt seem to be any reaction. Two minutes later, Irick was not making any noise and began to turn dark purple. He was pronounced dead at 7.48pm. Irick is the first death row inmate to be executed by the state of Tennessee since 2009. The US Supreme Court cleared the way for his execution on Thursday afternoon, denying Irick's final request for a stay. John Boylan of Christ the Prophet Church in Spring Hill, Tenn, holds a candle as protesters gather outside of the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution against the execution But Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a blistering dissent, citing a recent state court trial of a case brought by 33 death row inmates challenging Tennessee's execution drugs. The state Supreme Court denied Irick a stay on Monday related to those challenges, saying a lawsuit filed by inmates contesting the execution drugs being used wasn't likely to succeed. Sotomayor wrote that the court is overlooking the potential for 'torturous pain' by that method of execution. Governor Bill Haslam also had the power to stop his death, but declined to intervene. In addition to legal challenges, since its last execution in 2009, Tennessee has had difficulties securing execution drugs including its previous chemical of choice, pentobarbital. But none of those hurdles stopped the process for Irick, who was put to death on Thursday using a combination of midazolam, vecuronium bromid and potassium chloride injections, which stopped his heart. His final meal consisted of a burger, onion rings and a Pepsi soft drink. Irick, who raped and murdered seven-year-old Paula Dyer in April 1985, has selected a burger and onion rings as his last meal before his execution on Thursday Irick, 59, was moved to death watch this week. He is in an 8ft by 10ft cell in sight of the death chamber. Pictured is the death chamber at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison in Nashville The name of the restaurant that his 'super deluxe combo' meal came from will not be released 'out of an abundance of caution,' according to Tennessee Department of Correction spokeswoman. Death row inmates are limited to $20 for their last meal, according to The Tennessean. Irick, 59, was moved to death watch earlier this week, meaning he was being held in an 8-foot-by-10-foot cell in sight of the death chamber with strictly regulated visitation rights. Irick was first set to be executed on May 4, 1987. His attorneys have filed a series of appeals over the past several decades, with claims of insanity and the unconstitutional use of the electric chair as a back-up to lethal injection. Kathy Jeffers, Paula's mother, says she feels 'nothing' for Irick's pain following his crimes In July Irick's attorney asked for the Tennessee Supreme Court to delay his execution once again amid a challenge to the state's lethal injection protocol. For the first time, Tennessee used midazolam as a sedative, the muscle relaxer vecuronium bromid, and then potassium chloride to stop the heart. At question is whether midazolam is effective in rendering someone unconscious and unable to feel pain from the other two drugs. But Tennessee Supreme Court judges ruled Irick's attorney had failed to demonstrate a substantially less painful means to carry out the execution or that the drugs the state plans to use would cause the inmate to be tortured to death. Federal public defender Kelley Henry had requested the US Supreme Court to delay his execution. The Supreme Court rarely stays executions. Henry had asked Haslam to issue a temporary reprieve while the drugs are studied further. But the governor quickly ruled it out, saying he would not intervene. 'My role is not to be the 13th juror or the judge or to impose my personal views, but to carefully review the judicial process to make sure it was full and fair,' Henry said. 'Because of the extremely thorough judicial review of all of the evidence and arguments at every stage in this case, clemency is not appropriate.' During the last trial, Henry cited witnesses that described some inmates who still could move, shed a tear, gasp and gulp 'like a fish out of water' while being put to death. 'She was seven years old, raped, sodomized, and strangled to death. I'm sorry, I feel nothing for his pain. Nothing at all. God, forgive me, but I don't,' Jeffers said 'Today's decision means that Mr Irick faces a scheduled execution date before the courts have had a chance to thoughtfully consider the challenge to the new lethal injection protocol,' Henry said in a statement on Monday. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sharon Lee added that she 'will not join in the rush to execute Mr Irick and would instead grant him a stay to prevent ending his life before his appeal can be adjudicated.' Attorneys for the state have said the US Supreme Court has upheld the use of midazolam in a three-drug series. Paula's mother, Kathy Jeffers, said she has no sympathy for Irick. 'What he did to her is the reason he's where he is,' she told WBIR-TV. 'I am sick of hearing about his pain and his suffering. What about her pain and her suffering?' 'She was seven years old, raped, sodomized, and strangled to death. I'm sorry, I feel nothing for his pain. Nothing at all. God, forgive me, but I don't.' A roofer who allegedly killed his co-worker by slicing his neck open with a circular saw was being teased about his sex life before the attack, court documents say. Miguel Navarro, 24, a roofer from St Louis, is accused of murdering co-worker Israel Valles-Flores, 37, also from St Louis, at a construction site on Monday. Witnesses said Navarro was on the roof of a home when he attacked Valles with the saw, causing him to fall on to a nearby garage roof. Miguel Navarro, 24, a roofer from St Louis, allegedly murdered co-worker Israel Valles-Flores, 37, on Monday after cutting his throat open with a circular saw Navarro then allegedly jumped down after him and continued the attack. Valles, who is described in an online fundraising page as a father, suffered 10 lacerations to his face, neck and back during the attack and had both his jugular vein and carotid artery severed. A witness said there was no apparent argument before the attack happened and Valles even handed Navarro the saw that was used to kill him. After the attack was over, the witness said he heard Navarro calling for him and ran away, afraid he was also going to be killed. During a recorded jail call, Navarro said the other workers, including Valles-Flores, were teasing him because he wasn't feeling well after having sex. Valles (pictured left and right with a woman believed to be his wife) suffered 10 lacerations to his face, neck and back in the attack. He is described online as a father, and appears to have two daughters from his social media posts Navarro was mad about being teased and 'he was getting really mad inside,' the complaint said. He also thought he was being drugged, perhaps to work more, and was not getting paid, according to the complaint. Navarro also believed he was being drugged in order to make him work more and wasn't being paid, according to a criminal complaint. Online court records show Navarro appeared in court by video conference from jail with his attorney Thursday. He is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and mayhem, both of which are felony offences. Cash bond was set at $500,000, and a hearing is scheduled Monday for Navarro, who remains in jail. A man charged in the shooting death of a Milwaukee police officer last month has pleaded not guilty. Jonathan Copeland Jr. entered his plea Thursday at a hearing during which a judge decided there's enough evidence for a trial. The 30-year-old faces three felony charges, including first-degree intentional homicide for the death of 52-year-old Officer Michael Michalski. Jonathan Copeland Jr. (left) entered his plea Thursday at a hearing during which a judge decided there's enough evidence for a trial. He faces three felony charges, including first-degree intentional homicide for the death of 52-year-old Officer Michael Michalski (right) Copeland also is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide for shooting at two other officers. Those officers were not hit. Prosecutors say police went to a home on Milwaukee's north side on July 25 to arrest Copeland on a warrant for felony drug crimes. Michalski went up a rear stairwell when Copeland allegedly ambushed the officer. Copeland is due in court again later this month. Advertisement These amazing photos show four abandoned grey seal pups today being released into the wild. The pups, who are only a few months old, were left by their mothers and rescued by wildlife rescue workers who raised them until they were old enough to live on their own. Workers at Norddeich seal rescue station carried the baby seals in baskets across a breathtaking beach to be released off the coast of the North Sea, on the Isle of Juist, northern Germany. The cute pups appeared to look apprehensive over their new surroundings as they peeked their heads out of their baskets and looked around with their big round eyes. But later they are pictured excitedly leaving their baskets together and making their way across the white sand into their natural habitat. The seals looked playful as they tested the water and took their first swim of freedom after being raised for more than 50 days by their rescuers. Norddeich seal rescue station is a nursery and research centre for sea mammals and it takes care of around 160 seal pups who are orphaned or abandoned. The director of the Norddeich seal station Peter Lienau, sea gamekeepers Enno Schmidt and Joachim Eilts and seal keeper Tim Fetting looked delighted as they watched the pups they had raised take their first swim into the big blue again. Four abandoned seal pups were released into the wild the wild after being rescued by a seal research centre on the Isle of Juist, northern Germany The baby pups are only a few months old and were abandoned by their mothers. They looked apprehensive as they looked at their new surroundings (pictured) Seal of approval: wildlife rescue workers from the Norddeich seal station (pictured) look on as the animals are released from their baskets The director of the Norddeich seal station Peter Lienau, (pictured left) sea gamekeepers Enno Schmidt and Joachim Eilts (pictured centre) and seal keeper Tim Fetting (pictured right) looked delighted as they watched the pups make their way into the sea The seals looked playful as they tested out the water and took their first swim of freedom after being hand reared by their rescuers Norddeich seal station is a nursery and research centre for sea mammals and it takes care of around 160 seal pups who are orphaned or abandoned They are pictured excitedly leaving their baskets together and entering the crashing waves of the North Sea The adorable baby seals can't contain their joy as they play with one another upon their release into the wild The grey seals were raised by workers at the seal station for more than 50 days before they were deemed healthy enough to live life on their own A fire that destroyed the interior of a rental car that suddenly burst into flames could have been caused by a mobile phone that was left on the passenger seat. Darwin dad Matthew Mansfield returned to his parked rental car to find that it had been set on fire and completely burned out. Mr Mansfield's Samsung Galaxy Core Prime mobile phone was on the passenger seat at the time of the incident and it's believed it may have ignited the fire. Scroll down for video Darwin dad Matthew Mansfield returned to his parked rental car (pictured) to find that it had been set on fire and completely burned out It was a hot day in the Northern Territory, but Mr Mansfield told Nine News he parked the car in the shade and that his mobile phone was left partially under a book. Mr Mansfield purchased the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime from a store in Tasmania two years ago, but he isn't the only person to have had a fiery problem with a Samsung phone. In 2016, the phone maker was thrust into the spotlight after several reports of the Galaxy Note 7 model exploding and bursting into flames just weeks after it was released. After nearly 100 reported incidents of the device overheating and sometimes injuring people, the Galaxy Note 7 was banned from all airline flights and eventually recalled, costing Samsung billions. Another 2017 incident, where a Samsung Galaxy S4 allegedly exploded in a schoolgirl's lap, ended with the 15-year-old getting second degree burns around her thighs, The Herald Sun reported. Despite several reports about other Samsung phones exploding, the Galaxy Core Prime has never been recalled. Mr Mansfield's Samsung Galaxy Core Prime phone (pictured) was on the passenger seat at the time of the incident and it's believed it may have ignited the fire Samsung told Daily Mail Australia it was 'very unlikely' the Galaxy Core Prime was the cause of the car fire, and they believed the phone was 'safe', despite photos of the burned out car and phone. Mr Mansfield contacted Samsung about the incident and they have offered to replace his phone - but he has declined, saying it's too risky. 'It could have happened if I was at a servo and I had my daughter and sons in there,' Mr Mansfield said. 'What happens if I go in to pay for petrol, what happens if it blew up there?' Samsung told Daily Mail Australia the company was 'eager' to inspect the device and conduct a full investigation. 'Product quality and customer safety are our top priorities at Samsung and we are relieved to learn that the customer was not injured,' the company said. Hilary Leonard Knight, 68, has been granted bail, with one of the conditions being conditions he not use Grindr A bag of missing sex toys has sparked an assault which led to one man being restrained by a dog chain collar, it has been alleged by police. Dentist Hilary Leonard Knight, 68, is accused of assaulting the man while he was chained for two hours during a Grindr hookup gone-wrong. Ice and meth pipes were also allegedly found in Knight's luxury Gold Coast unit during a later raid, police allege. On the night of the alleged assault in June, the long-time dentist invited Brendan Tierney to his apartment where police will allege he saw Knight and a woman using ice, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin. After visiting another apartment in the complex with Mr Tierney, the woman left behind a bag of sex toys and dress up clothing which Mr Tierney later threw down a garbage shoot. At 1am, it is alleged another man named 'Bigtop' was invited to the building over Grindr, but soon after arrival he allegedly began punching Mr Tierney in the face. The victim soon fled to another room where Knight and the woman were alleged to be waiting. It was here Mr Tierney was allegedly chained around the neck in a fashion which tightened each time he moved away, the court heard. Police will alleged that more than two hours later with his face 'a mess', Mr Tierney was allowed to finally leave the apartment. A bag of missing sex toys has sparked an assault which led to one man being restrained by a dog chain collar, after a Grindr hookup gone wrong, it has been alleged It is believed Mr Tierney also first met Knight on Grindr, a gay hookup app, in 2016 before forming a friendship. Knight is the owner of Palm Beach Dental which lauds itself on an ability to 'beautify' smiles while specialising in children's and cosmetic dental. However following the hearing, the dentist was granted bail on the conditions he not use Grindr, live in his Broadbeach apartment or contact any of the people involved. He denied all allegations made against him,with Knight's lawyer saying 'I am instructed by my client that he intends to vigorously defend the charges'. Knight is so far the only person to have been arrested in relation to the incident. One city in Western Australia has laid claim to an unusual right considering itself the best place to die. Albany, a regional city along the south coast of WA, has one of the last community-owned hospice facilities in the region, and this paired with high quality palliative care and advanced health directive initiatives makes it a popular destination for those in their final days. Albany Community Hospice opened in November 1990 and was one of the first free-standing day hospices in the country that was fully owned and funded by the people. Albany, WA, has one of the last community-owned hospice facilities in the region The land and building were donated by Paul and Joan Terry, whilst many individuals and businesses gave freely of their time, labour, material and money to ensure that Albany would achieve [its] vision, the Hospice says on its website. And with such community comradery from its very creation, its no wonder that today the hospice holds a special place in so many peoples hearts. Speaking to ABC, Andrew Talmage from Albany Community Hospice said that they get enquiries from people all over the region who are investigating the death facilities available to them and want to know if they would be eligible for care in Albany. People want to find a beautiful place to retire and because of its facilities, Albany is a convenient place to get old and die, he said. Irene Montefiore is a long-term Albany resident who recently attended a Compassionate Communities forum with people from all over Western Australia. There was general agreement when we compared notes that Albany was streets ahead of the rest, she said. 'People want to find a beautiful place to retire and because of its facilities, Albany is a convenient place to get old and die,' said Andrew Talmage from Albany Community Hospice Irene also co-convened the local Death Cafe initiative an arranged meeting of people, often strangers, who drink tea, eat cake and discuss death. According to information on their website, the objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. Irene is a passionate advocate for talking about death and hopes for a future where discussing the topic is the norm. At a Compassionate Communities forum, it was generally agreed that Albany was 'streets ahead of the rest', said long-term Albany resident Irene Montefiore Andrew said that despite what people think, he finds the hospice the most life-affirming place hes ever been. He said that more than half of the guests that come to the hospice go back home again, but they have hosted several end-of-life celebrations. We have even hosted a wedding. Amazing experiences are possible only if you tell people what you want,' he said. A violent Bandido ringleader who helped instigate the infamous Broadbeach Bikie Brawl will be banished from Australia. Jim David Thacker, who is believed to be the founding president of the gang's powerful Beenleigh chapter, has been detained by border security and will soon be deported. The 28-year-old is originally from New Zealand and has been in Australia on a visa, which has now been stripped from him, The Courier Mail revealed. Jim David Thacker (pictured) is believed to be the founding president of the gang's powerful Beenleigh chapter He is currently being held within immigration detention as authorities plan for his deportation from the country. Thacker is the latest bikie to be deported under laws Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton brought in in 2014. Almost 191 foreign-born bikies have been booted out of Australia since tough new laws were introduced, Mr Dutton has said. 'If you're an illegal bikie, if you're part of an outlaw motorcycle gang involved in organised criminal activity, you've just made it to the top of my list,' he said in a statement over Facebook at the time. 'Coming to Australia is a privilege and if you're coming here harming Australians, ripping off our welfare system, committing serious crimes, then you're at the top of my list for deporting.' Several high-profile bikies have already been deported, including Rebels-linked Shane Martin, the father of Richmond AFL star Dustin. Thacker is the latest bikie to be deported under laws Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton (pictured) brought in in 2014 Thacker was involved in the Broadbeach brawl, where 60 Bandidos turned the beach into a war zone in September 2013. He was given 150 hours of community service for his involvement and pleaded guilty to riot. The brawl was the catalyst for the Newman government to bring in its controversial anti-bike laws the following year. A mother on a well-deserved getaway has been left fighting for her life after she was placed in an induced coma while on holiday in Bali. Abby Hartley's family have launched a desperate plea to raise money for their loved one after her insurance company refused to cover her medical costs. The New Zealand mother experienced severe pain shortly after arriving in Bali with her husband and was rushed to the nearest hospital. Mrs Hartley was quickly transferred to ICU in BIMC hospital Nusa Dua to deal with her severe condition. New Zealand mum, Abby Hartley (pictured, centre), has been in hospital in Bali since August 1 after suffering severe pain from twisted bowel. Doctors made decision to put her into induced coma after she developed acute respiratory distress syndrome The doctors found that Mrs Hartley had a twist in her bowel and was forced to undergo emergency surgery. Despite spending 48 hours in recovery, Mrs Hartley quickly took a turn for the worst and developed acute respiratory distress syndrome where she was only taking in 70 per cent oxygen. 'The doctors made the call to put her into an induced coma and keep her on an oxygen machine to avoid any further deprivation of oxygen to her brain,' said Mrs Hartley's daughter Sarah. 'Dad told us kids to get on the first plane over from NZ as things weren't looking too good and mum needed all the support she could get,' Sarah said. Sarah has launched an online campaign on givealittle to raise $75,000 to cover the expensive medical bills. The 'Help Abby Fight' page was created on Thursday and has already received almost $20,000 in donations. Sarah Hartley (pictured, right) has launched an online campaign to raise money after insurance company refused to pay her mother's hefty medical bills 'Our mum is fighting for her life in ICU in a hospital in Bali and unfortunately insurance company is refusing to cover any medical costs,' the campaign reads. Mrs Hartley has been in hospital since August 1 and her infection has progressed into septicemia which requires expensive medication. 'Yesterday (08-08) we got an updated bill of NZD$35,000 and today due to the sepsithemia and the antibiotics mum needs for 14 days we got handed an extra bill for NZD$40,000,' Sarah said. The money raised will go towards paying for the 24-hour care and observation of Mrs Hartley and all medications she needs. 'Mum is a fighter and we can all tell she is trying very hard to fight all problems that are thrown her way,' Sarah said. Temperature in Sydney is expected to drop to 17 degrees by the end of Sunday Meanwhile southern states will be lashed by a freezing cold front and wild winds Sydney is forecast to reach temperatures as high as 25 degrees on Saturday Temperatures across south-eastern Australia will experience opposite extremes over the weekend as Sydney bathes in 25C heat while other parts are hit with a cold front. A Weatherzone forecaster told Daily Mail Australia that Sydney can expect the opportunities to head to the beach to continue. He said it is expected that the above average temperatures will continue over the coming months and into October, for all of south-eastern Australia. Sydney is set to hit temperatures as high as 25 degrees on Saturday giving residents a chance to soak up the sunshine The front moving in from the west is a contributing factor for both weather extremes in the south and in Sydney. 'A front will be crossing Victoria and New South Wales which will be producing gusty winds,' the forecaster said. 'A strong frontal system will be impacting the south-east of the country ahead of a cold front which will cross New South Wales on Sunday.' It's also expected that the above average temperatures will continue over the coming months and into October, for all of south-eastern Australia A WeatherZone forecaster told Daily Mail Australia that Sydney can expect above average August temperatures in the coming months The 26 degrees forecast for Sydney on Saturday will not break any records, the hottest August day on record so far was in 2015, with 28.3 degrees. 'But the warmer air over central Australia will come across the regions ahead of north easterly winds, bringing warmer air with it,' the forecaster said. Sydney residents should take advantage of the Saturday sunshine as the temperature is expected to drop by Sunday when the cold front pushes the warm air away from the region. Meanwhile in Melbourne wild weather was expected to move in early on Friday morning, with Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania all in the firing line. Meanwhile in Melbourne wild weather was expected to move in early on Friday morning, with Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania all in the firing line Winds of up to 130kmh are forecast and abnormally high tides are tipped. The cold front will hit the far west of South Australia first, before sweeping east through the state's central and eastern districts and into Victoria. Stephen King, the Bureau of Meteorology's Victoria senior meteorologist, told news.com.au his state will start feeling the effects of the cold front not long after South Australia on Friday. 'But by the time people wake up there will be winds across most of Victoria with destructive winds in Alpine regions up to 130kmh while elsewhere winds gusts of 90 to 100kmh from first thing and right through most of the day,' he said. The cold front will hit the far west of South Australia first, before sweeping east through the state's central and eastern districts and into Victoria There will also be 'miserable' weather across the state into the weekend, with widespread showers and the possibility of hail and thunder, Mr King said. He described the cold front as 'unusual' because it was 'across a really widespread area' and 'for a significant amount of time'. The BOM has also warned there is an 'increased risk of raised dust across northern Victoria (on) Friday'. Up to 30mm of snow is tipped to fall in Victoria's Alpine areas courtesy of the cold front. As she was dismounting she fell awkwardly and was treated by paramedics A popular radio host has been hospitalised after falling off a huge steer during an on-air dare gone wrong. ABC listeners were treated to radio silence this morning after Rebecca Levingston, co-host of the station's popular Brisbane morning show, was treated by paramedics after twisting her knee in a stunt with a steer. The star was dared by co-host Craig Zonca to climb up and sit on top of the huge steer but fell off when she was dismounting. Rebecca Levingston (right) was treated by paramedics after twisting her knee in a stunt with a steer She posted this photo to Twitter after she 'popped her knee' during the stunt Her knee popped and she dropped her microphone during the fall, which was broadcast live to air. After a few seconds of radio silence Zonca finished off the segment before throwing to the 7am news bulletin. When he was back on air he announced that his co-host had hurt herself and was being treated by paramedics for a 'popped knee.' 'She was trying to hop on a big steer by the name of Bullseye who weighs some 900kg,' he said. Levingston later tweeted a picture from the Triage Nurse desk at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital with the caption 'well that escalated quickly'. Followers replied to her tweet with a mixture of concern and humour. Later Levingston phoned in to the show to say she was 'dying of embarrassment' after falling off the steer (stock) 'What's the queue like for that ride?' joked Labor MP Melissa McMahon. 'Rebecca, that's no way to get out of work! Is the bull ok?? I do hope you get better soon especially for your son's birthday!' wrote another. Later Levingston phoned in to the show to say she was 'dying of embarrassment' and she was thankful her brother, who works at the hospital, hadn't been at work at the time she arrived. She also expressed her frustration that the injury will impact on her plans for her son's birthday this weekend, for which she had organised a jumping castle. Christmas tree farmers are feeling the wrath of the dry spell that has gripped Australia. Tree growers in New South Wales are warning there could be a reduced supply of trees come this Christmas season, after the state fell into 100 per cent drought. The growers are telling people to be more 'tolerant' this festive season as the drought has affected both the quantity and quality of produce they can offer. Christmas tree growers in New South Wales say trees this year will be of different shape and size Farmers say the Christmas trees will even have a different scent as compared to the usual Some of the farmers are warning people may see reduced number of wholesale trees in a smaller size and an even lighter green shade, probably yellow. Even the nostalgic scent that comes with the tree is expected to be much different. A farmer in Windsor, John Capello, told the ABC he won't be able to meet the demands of trees required out of his local region this year. The growers are telling people to be more 'tolerant' this festive season after the state fell into 100 per cent drought He said this is the first year when he's had to call his client and cancel their orders. An Oakdale Orchardist, Lynette Rideout-Keanelly, started growing trees 12 years ago and said she had never seen a drought like this year's. She told the ABC, last season, which was 'excepitonally dry', her farm used up the entire water storage system, which is why this year she has had to rely on a local charity providing her farm the necessary services. An Oakdale Orchardist, Lynette Rideout-Keanelly (above), is having sleepless nights because of the drought Due to scarcity of water, tree growers have seen stunted growth in their produce. They said Christmas trees years will not be the same but if people want one by their fireplace they will have to put up with the best that's being offered. A grandmother has revealed how she dobbed in her ice addicted relative as a Centrelink welfare cheat and how it turned their life around. Jenana, from Werribee in Melbourne's south-west, said that the relative had been on a single parent payment when they should not have been. 'The family member was an ice addict, they're now working full time, been sent to America ... they changed their lives,' she told A Current Affair. Jenana, from Werribee in Melbourne's south-west, said that the relative had been on a single parent payment when they should not have been A Grandmother has revealed how she dobbed in her ice addicted relative as a Centrelink welfare cheat and how it turned their life around Werribee has become the focus of a new Australian Federal Police operation targeting welfare cheats with officers going so far as to set up kiosks in shopping centres. 'We go into a particular area and have concerted compliance activity to make sure those benefiting from our very generous system in Australia are doing the right thing,' Minister for Human Services Michael Keenan said. Operation Integrity also involves the AFP setting up in Werribee and Sunshine Centrelink offices where they are encouraging the public to come forward with information about fraudsters. Local MP Joanne Ryan has said the Government should be working on job creation rather than painting certain areas as welfare cheats. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Australian Federal Police about the kiosks. 'We go into a particular area... to make sure those benefiting from our very generous system in Australia are doing the right thing,' Minister for Human Services Michael Keenan said Advertisement The town of Redding, California has released incredible images captured by a drone showing the scale of the devastation caused by the Carr Fire. Eight people were killed and hundreds of homes were destroyed by the wildfires that have ravaged California in recent days. The drone images show charred forests, burnt trees, desolate neighborhoods, and barren fields. The town of Redding, California has released incredible images captured by a drone showing the scale of the devastation caused by the Carr Fire Eight people were killed and hundreds of homes were destroyed by the wildfire, one of the largest in Californias history The drone images show charred forests, burnt trees, desolate neighborhoods, and barren fields The photos also illustrate just how close the fires came to devouring the few lucky homes that managed to remain standing Firefighters worked tirelessly to battle the blazes, and in some cases they succeeded in heroically warding off the flames and saving a number of homes The strategy was to ward off the wildfire so that it would be redirected toward uninhabited areas in hopes of sparing residences The Carr Fire burned more than 277 square miles, which represents an area larger than that of Chicago Redding is the county seat of Shasta County in Northern California - about 200 miles north of San Francisco The city is surrounded by mountains to the north, east, and west and fertile farm land to the south The image above shows a number of homes that were devoured by the relentless wildfires The City of Redding worked in collaboration with UAV pilots from Menlo Park Fire District, Alameda County Sheriff, Contra Costa Sheriff, and other agencies to capture and assess the damage from recent wildfires The homes on the bottom left and top left appear to have been spared, but the wooded area nearby on the right was not so lucky In the summer, Redding is particularly hot and dry with little rain - factors that no doubt played a role in the fires The estimated population of Redding is more than 91,000 residents The Carr Fire, near the city of Redding, has proved to be the deadliest of nearly 20 major fires raging across the state The fires have been so intense that the National Weather Service maps indicate smoke has wafted all the way from California to the East Coast The photos also illustrate just how close the fires came to devouring the few lucky homes that managed to remain standing. Firefighters worked tirelessly to battle the blazes, and in some cases they succeeded in heroically warding off the flames and saving a number of homes. The strategy was to ward off the wildfire so that it would be redirected toward uninhabited areas in hopes of sparing residences. The Carr Fire burned more than 277 square miles, according to The Weather Channel. That represents an area larger than that of Chicago. A dull haze and the faint smell of smoke from distant blazes have blanketed many California cities for two weeks, forcing summer campers to stay inside, obscuring normally bright skylines and leaving cars covered with ash. Smoky air from blowing winds is nothing new in California, but air quality experts say it's rare for the dirty air to linger for so long, a reality of ever-larger fires that take longer to extinguish. The haze stretches from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range to Sacramento and hovers over the San Francisco Bay Area, with most major population centers in between suffering air quality that's considered dangerous for children, the elderly and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. The fires have been so intense that the National Weather Service maps indicate smoke has wafted all the way from California to the East Coast, according to Mashable. A northern California fire mechanic assigned to the Carr Fire was killed on Thursday in a traffic collision, bringing the death toll from that blaze to eight. Andrew Brake, of Chico, died in a single-car crash around 12.15am on Highway 99 in Tehama County when his Cal Fire support vehicle veered off the road at a curve, hit a tree and went up in flames. Fire officials said Brake was pronounced dead at the scene, KRCR reports. He worked as a Cal Fire heavy equipment mechanic from the Butte Unit. 'We are saddened to report the death of a CAL FIRE Heavy Equipment Mechanic from the Butte Unit assigned to the Carr Fire. He was killed early this morning as the result of a traffic accident on Highway 99 in Tehama County,' Cal Fire said in a statement, declining to provide more details. Firefighter Andrew Brake was killed on Thursday in a traffic collision on his way to the Carr Fire in northern California Officials said Brake's Cal Fire support vehicle veered off the road at a curve, hit a tree and went up in flames According to officials, the Carr Fire has burned more than 173,000 acres and is 47 per cent contained. Cal Fire officials said it is not sure when the'll have it fully contained. The Carr Fire has claimed the lives of eight people, including Brake and two other firefighters. A 70-year-old woman in Redding and her two great-grandchildren, ages four and two, were killed when their home was engulfed in flames. The blaze also resulted in the death of a fourth Redding resident and a Pacific Gas & Electric utility worker. The Carr Fire is said to be the most lethal of the year. The Carr Fire has burned more than 173,000 acres and is 47 per cent contained Cal Fire officials said it is not sure when the'll have it fully. The blaze has claimed the lives of eight people, including three firefighters The International Space Station took this above satellite image showing wildfires in northern California Firefighters across the state are battling more than a dozen wildfires. The Mendocino Complex Fire is the largest fire in the state's history Firefighters across California are battling more than a dozen wildfires that have scorched more than 600,000 acres. Until the fires are fully contained, smoke now covers three quarters of the state. Photos show towns in northern California completely destroyed by the fast-moving flames and smoke billowing high into the air. An eerie red glow is cast over other areas as firefighters work to contain the blazes. According to CBS News, the heavy smoke is providing some shade for firefighters battling the Mendocino Complex Fire, which is now the largest wildfire in the state's history after the Ranch Fire and River Fire were combined. A thermal satellite image of the fast-moving Carr Fire, which is 47 per cent contained Until the wildfires are fully contained, smoke now covers three quarters of California. A passenger aboard an Alaska Airlines flight snapped this photo of smoke above Sacramento A Sheriff's patrol officer keeps an eye on homes as the Holy Fire approaches the McVicker Canyon neighborhood A plume of smoke rises from the Mendocino Complex fire covers on August 8, 2018 near Lodoga, California Smoke from the Mendocino Complex fire hangs over a valley on August 8, 2018 near Lodoga People watch the Holy Fire as it burns in Cleveland National Forest. The fire was started on Monday allegedly by a 51-year-old resident A helicopter drops water on a burning hillside during the Mendocino Complex fire near Finley, California Officials said the thick smoke is helping to cool down temperatures, but experts warn that conditions could change in a moment. According to CNN, fire officials predict that it could take a month before the Mendocino Complex Fire is contained. It took firefighters more than six months to extinguish the Thomas Fire last year, which previously held the title for the largest wildfire in California history. Other fires still raging in California include the fast-moving Holy Fire, which was started on Monday in Holy Jim Canyon area of the Cleveland National Forest. Officials said the blaze has displaced 20,000 people and is only five per cent contained. Authorities arrested 51-year-old Holy Jim resident Forrest Gordon Clark on Tuesday on suspicion of staring the fire. Volunteer fire chief Mike Milligan said Clark has been in a decade-long dispute with his neighbors and sent Milligan a letter last week threatening to burn the area down. Meanwhile, in Southern California, an intentionally set wildfire grew perilously close to homes on Thursday as evacuation orders expanded to more than 20,000 residents, though some homeowners stayed behind to fend off the flames themselves. A firefighter battles the Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest along a hillside at Temescal Valley in Corona Firefighters fought a desperate battle to stop the Holy Fire from reaching homes as the blaze surged through the Cleveland National Forest above the city of Lake Elsinore and its surrounding communities A plywood structure burns during the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore. Evacuation orders expanded to more than 20,000 residents, though some homeowners stayed behind to fend off the flames themselves Firefighters were trying to keep the flames from devouring neighborhoods and taking lives, as gigantic fires still burning in Northern California have done A firefighting jet drops fire retardant on homes during the Holy Fire in Corona on Thursday A car drives in a residential neighborhood after fire tore down a hillside during the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore The fire is named for Holy Jim Canyon, where it erupted Monday and burned a dozen cabins A man celebrates after hearing that his home was saved during the Holy Fire in Corona Firefighters near a backyard pool monitor flames threatening homes during the Holy Fire in Corona Ziggy Torok (left) and Starla Affatati watch with concern as flames close in on Torok's home in the Rice Canyon neighborhood as the Holy Fire burns in Lake Elsinore Firefighters fought a desperate battle to stop the Holy Fire from reaching homes as the blaze surged through the Cleveland National Forest above the city of Lake Elsinore and its surrounding communities. They were trying to keep the flames from devouring neighborhoods and taking lives, as gigantic fires still burning in Northern California have done. 'Our main focus this afternoon was getting everyone out safely,' said Thanh Nguyen, a spokesman for the crews battling the Holy Fire. A resident of the canyon, 51-year-old Forrest Gordon Clark, was charged Thursday with arson and other crimes that could send him to prison for life As flames raged closer, some residents ignoring evacuation orders stood in driveways or on top of roofs and used garden hoses to keep their homes wet and to fight the flames as smoke billowed around them. Fire crews worked in 100-plus-degree heat. Aircraft dumped bright pink lines of fire retardant to wall off the fire from homes. The 16-square-mile blaze was only 5 percent contained. The fire is named for Holy Jim Canyon, where it erupted Monday and burned a dozen cabins. A resident of the canyon, 51-year-old Forrest Gordon Clark, was charged Thursday with arson and other crimes that could send him to prison for life. Clark refused to go to court Thursday and his arraignment was postponed to Friday. It's unclear whether he has an attorney. Winds gusting to nearly 20 mph at times drove the fire through dense chaparral on the foothill slopes and along ridgetops, sending up an enormous column of smoke that smeared the sky for miles around. The fire threatened communities near the inland resort of Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Hot temperatures, erratic and gusty winds, and tinder-dry vegetation are the same conditions that caused wildfires in Northern California to explode into deadly conflagrations in the space of two weeks. This is the terrifying moment a shaking building suddenly collapses in Lombok after the Indonesian island was rocked by its third major earthquake in just 12 days. The 5.9-magnitude aftershock struck on Thursday, further weakening any buildings still standing in the wake of Sunday's 7.0 quake and a 6.4 tremor on July 29. Footage shot outside a mini-mart in the city of Mataram on the island's west showed locals watching in horror as the creaking structure crashed to the ground. 'The building was cracked before, just after the earthquake last Sunday, but it still operates, sometimes open, sometimes not,' a witness told local media. This is the terrifying moment a shaking building suddenly collapses in Lombok after the Indonesian island was rocked by its third major earthquake in just 12 days The 5.9-magnitude aftershock struck on Thursday, further weakening any buildings still standing in the wake of Sunday's 7.0 quake and a 6.4 tremor on July 29. Locals have shared pictures of the damage on social media 'When the quake struck [on Thursday], the employees immediately jumped out.' Motorcycles parked on the street were seen toppled over, while the walls of other nearby buildings collapsed. The latest quake, which is understood to have struck 20 minutes before the building fell to the ground, claimed at least six fresh casualties and sent the death toll to more than 320. 'Evacuees and people ran out of houses when they felt the strong shake,' Sutopo Purwo Nugroho from Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) said on Twitter. The latest quake claimed at least six fresh casualties and sent the death toll over 320 An Indonesian man holds a boy across from collapsed buildings as search and rescue members search for a victim of Thursday's quake The Indonesian island of Lombok was hit by its third earthquake in a little over a week on Thursday 'People are still traumatised. Some buildings were damaged further because of this quake.' Officials said the quake's epicentre was on land and so there was no risk of a tsunami. BNPB's official death toll from Sunday's quake stood at 131 on Wednesday, although some Indonesian officials put the number at 347. A man carries his belongings past the ruin of houses at a village affected by an earthquake in North Lombok, Indonesia, as a powerful aftershock rocked the island A woman cries holding her children as an aftershock hits the Tanjung on Lombok island on on Thursday, just four days after the devastating 7.0-magnitude quake Sutopo did not give an updated toll, saying only that there had been 'a big increase'. Indonesia's chief security minister Wiranto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said the latest figures before the third quake suggested 319 people had died. The Indonesian Red Cross said it was focusing its relief efforts on about 20,000 people in remote areas in the north of the island where aid still has not reached. Broken families: A baby injured in an earthquake is treated in Mataram, Lombok An Indonesian man tries to calm a woman shortly after Thursday's aftershock which caused panic among evacuees sheltering in Tanjung Spokesman Arifin Hadi says the tens of thousands people left homeless by Sunday's quake need clean water and tarpaulins most of all. He said the agency has sent 20 water vehicles to five remote areas, including one village of about 1,200 households. 'People are always saying they need water and tarps,' he said, adding they were also looking for people with untreated injuries. Aftershock: Panic spreads and a soldier is seen trying to calm people down shortly after the aftershock hits the area in Tanjung on Lombok A total ban on microbeads used in personal care products such as body scrubs is being considered in South Africa after the tiny plastic particles were found in tap water. The plastic pellets were banned in Britain in January amid concern billions were washed into sewers, reaching rivers and seas. Now other countries in Europe and around the world are following suit as concerns grow for the environment, sea life and human health. Scroll down for video Tiny plastic particles have been found in drinking water in South Africa (file picture of red plastic microbeads in shampoo) The discovery of microplastics in tap water in South Africa mirrors similar findings in the UK, Europe and the US. The same problem has also been identified with big brand bottled water, despite the fact it is sold using claims of purity. The World Health Organisation is reviewing the risks of plastic in drinking water. A wave of sexual assault investigations involving celebrities have been handed over to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. The cases involve Harvey Weinstein, action movie star Steven Seagal and 'Black-ish' actor Anthony Anderson. The DA's office confirmed on Thursday that it was reviewing the three cases. The cases involving action movie star Steven Seagal and 'Black-ish' star Anthony Anderson were handed over to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office on Wednesday Los Angeles Police turned over the sex assault cases regarding Seagal and Anderson on Wednesday. A spokesman for the DA's office said both were still under review. The Beverly Hills Police Department presented a third sex assault case involving Weinstein back in June. The case involving Weinstein brings the number under review by Los Angeles prosecutors to six. The DA's office wouldn't give details of the allegations or when the alleged assaults took place. Representatives of Weinstein, Seagal and Anderson did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. The Beverly Hills Police Department presented a third sex assault case involving Harvey Weinstein back in June, according to the DA's office. He is pictured above in a New York court in July where he is charged with three cases of sex assault Weinstein has been charged in New York with three cases of sexual assault. He has been accused by more than 70 women of sexual misconduct but has denied ever having non consensual sex with anyone. Two women spoke out publicly in March to accuse Seagal of sexually assaulting them. Actress Regina Simons alleges she was raped at a wrap party for the film On Deadly Ground in 1993 when she was just 18 years old. Dutch former model Faviola Dadis alleges she was sexually assaulted by Seagal at the W hotel in Beverly Hills in 2002 when she was 17. She claims she had been invited over to audition for a part in a Genghis Khan movie he was working on. The actor has previously denied all allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Anderson, the lead in hit ABC sitcom 'Black-ish' has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman more than a year ago. The 47-year-old actor said at the time he 'unequivocally disputes the claim'. Michael Bever, 19, pictured in this April 18, 2018, at Tulsa County Courthous, on Thursday was handed five life sentences for the 2015 murders of his parents and three siblings Childish crayon drawings by an Oklahoma teenager convicted of killing his parents and three of his siblings in 2015 show images of gravestones and murderers he admired. The drawings, stored in a red composition book by now 19-year-old Michael Bever, were completed during his time behind bars at the Tulsa County Jail. On Thursday, Michael was sentenced to five life terms in prison to run consecutively, while his older brother Robert is already serving a life sentence with no chance of parole after earlier pleading guilty to the horrific murders. In the book, Michael names James Holmes, who shot up a movie theater in Colorado, and cult leader Jim Jones as his heroes, and also includes a page featuring a red swastika with 'white power' inside. The teenage boy drew a number of pictures showing stick figures who had been killed in different environments, labelling each page 'death'. He also wrote a short story about he and his brother's decision to murder their family, which included the boys' five-year-old sister. Michael drew the story of how he and his older brother Robert had murdered their family because they 'hated' them The story was accompanied by crudely drawn images, including the brothers at the end holding what appear to be weapons, surrounded by dead bodies Michael always drew the brothers with five dead bodies to symbolize the two parents and three siblings the pair killed. One figure is smaller, perhaps to represent his five-year-old sister who was brutally murdered 'Once upon a time there where [sic] brothers named Michael and Robert,' the tale begins. They hated there [sic] family... so they killed them. 'The end,' he concluded, drawing underneath a picture of the two boys holding weapons while their family members lay dead on the ground. Michael Bever was 16 years old in 2015 when prosecutors say he and his older brother, Robert Bever, killed their mother, father, two younger brothers and 5-year-old sister at their suburban Tulsa home. Two other sisters survived the attack. The killings began at around 11.30pm on July 22, 2015, and the Bever familys home in Broken, Arrow, Oklahoma. It started with Michael and Robert attacking their 13-year-old sister. She testified they had lured her into a bedroom where they slit her throat and stabbed her in the torso and arms. Miraculously, she survived. As they attacked her, their mother April, 44, came to the bedroom to find out what was going on. The brothers turned on her. She was stabbed nearly 50 times in the head, neck and torso. Chilling drawings by Michael during his time in Tusla County Jail show the teenager had an obsession with killers - naming cinema shooter James Holmes and cult leader Jim Jones as his 'heroes' He also drew a number of disturbing pictures of murders, deaths, and a swastika labelled: 'white power' Fifty-two-year-old father David Bever was killed by 28 stab wounds to the head, neck and torso. Brother Daniel, 12, was able to call 911 before he succumbed to the nine stab wounds he sustained. In the chilling call, audio shows Daniel told a dispatcher: 'My brother's attacking my family... help!' Movement can be heard in the background before another, deeper voice says 'hello?' and then hangs up the phone. The youngest victim was five-year-old Victoria, whom the brothers stabbed 18 times. Two-year-old Autumn was asleep throughout the attack and was not harmed. During his trial, prosecutors heard how Michael tricked his siblings into opening locked doors as they hid from Robert by pretending he, too, was under attack. When police arrived at the family home, there was blood on the porch. Following Michael's conviction in May, officials released graphic photos of Michael (left) and Robert (right), which were taken at the time of their arrest The massacre took place inside the Bevers' Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, home (pictured) on July 22, 2015, when Michael was 16 and Robert was 18 Michael said during his trial Robert, pictured in blood-soaked clothing after his arrest, was the mastermind of the attack and he was driven by hatred towards everyone The brothers had planned to steal their parents' car and drive to Washington State after the killings, wanting to shoot five people at a time in random attacks along the way using guns and ammunition Robert had been able to buy online. But Michael and Robert fled to the woods behind the house when police arrived, and the pair were apprehended after a police dog sniffed them out. Michael told the court at his trial the frenzied attack on his parents and siblings was driven and orchestrated by his older brother who had a 'hatred' for society and 'everyone'. He admitted he was obsessed with the Columbine school massacre, but claimed he only went along with Roberts murderous plot to save his own life, and Robert himself testified he wanted to take responsibility for all of the killings. Prosecutors, who urged the judge to award a no-parole sentence, argued Michael was a willing participant in the gruesome massacre of his family and he should be locked up for the rest of his life. The sentencing Thursday effectively achieves that. A shot of Michael's restrained hands reveals blood staining his palms and fingers bright-red Michael's older brother Robert (pictured in red before the killings) stabbed Daniel, 12, (right), Christopher, 7, (left), five-year-old Victoria (in pink) and their parents. Their 13-year-old sister (second from left) and two-year-old sister (on Robert's lap) survived Father David Bever, 52 (left), was killed by 28 stab wounds to the head, neck and torso. Mother April (right), 44, was stabbed nearly 50 times in the head, neck and torso Life sentences are considered 45 years for parole purposes in Oklahoma, and inmates must serve 85 percent of each sentence before technically being eligible for parole. Calculated consecutively, Bever's sentences total 253 years and he must serve 85 percent, or 215 years, before he reaches parole eligibility. Bever's defense attorneys said they were surprised by the sentences and plan to appeal. Following Michael's conviction, officials released graphic photos of Michael and his older brother, Robert, taken at the time of their arrest. The images taken by arresting officers depict the Bever siblings in torn clothing, caked with blood and mud. In his photo, Robert Bever, who was 18 at the time, wears a smirk of his face coated with gore and grime. His younger brother, Michael, looks somber. A shot of his restrained hands reveals even more blood staining his palms and fingers bright-red. A courageous mother who helped her daughter escape a troubled arranged marriage was found stabbed to death in her kitchen, a court has heard. Rahman Begum, 46, from Rochdale, Manchester, was found in a pool of blood at her home in Rochdale, hours after she ordered her daughter to 'go live' and not ruin her life in an unhappy home. Her daughter Aysha, 25, had been unhappily married to Muhammad Tafham, 31, who is accused of the murder, a court has been told. Mrs Begum's son-in-law is on trial at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court. Jurours heard Mrs Begum, a mother-of-five, was discovered by a relative lying on her kitchen floor at lunchtime on February 7 this year. Rahman Begum, 46, was found dead in her home after Muhammed Tafham, 31, allegedly stabbed her to death after his wife moved back in with her long-term boyfriend after their arranged marriage didn't work The mother-of-five had blood around her with a knife in her hand and was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived. A post-mortem examination found she had suffered three major stab wounds to the front of her body and one that had passed through her breast bone and right through her heart. Her daughter, Aysha, 25, had been told by her mother 'don't ruin your life, go live it' after she sought advice. Aysha had entered into an arranged marriage in Pakistan with Tafham, a cousin on her father's side, who joined her in the UK in September 2016. The court heard the couple needed to live together for three years so dairy worker Tafham could stay in the country but the pair constantly argued and eventually Aysha asked him for a divorce, which he refused. The day before she was found dead Mrs Begum helped trick the defendant into leaving their home in Clement Royds Street while Aysha returned with her boyfriend to pack her bags. Aysha went back to her former boyfriend 'Malik' in Bradford. The Crown say Tafham killed Mrs Begum in anger and then placed the 12in kitchen knife in her hand to make the death appear as a suicide. Aysha told detectives that her mother had no reason to kill herself. She said: 'She would not do something like that.' She said her father, Gulraiz Sharif, did not accept the relationship with her boyfriend, Malik, and that she only agreed to the arranged marriage with Tafham to keep her father happy. Aysha said Tafham threatened her over the phone the day after she fled to Bradford. She said: 'I wouldn't tell him where I was staying and he said, 'I am going to come and grab you. I am going to show you who I am'. 'He always used to say, 'I have got a feeling someone is going to get killed out of your family'.' When she packed her clothes, she said her mother told her boyfriend: 'Look after my daughter' and had said to her: 'Don't ruin your life, go live it.' Giving evidence on Thursday, Aysha said she had fallen out with her father over living apart from Tafham but said her mother never asked her to stay with the defendant. Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, asked her: 'Did your mother ever say you were bringing shame to the family?' Aysha said: 'She said wherever my daughters are happy I'm happy.' The court heard Mrs Begum complained to her GP last November that she was feeling low in mood but had no record of a formal diagnosis of depression or any other psychiatric disorder. Pathologist Dr Charles Wilson told the jury that he thought 'severe force' would have been required to inflict the stab wound which passed through her breast bone. He added it would have been 'very difficult' for Mrs Begum to inflict that wound herself but could not say it was 'technically impossible'. Tafham denies murder. The trial continues on Friday. President Trump's 2020 reelection campaign sent out a fundraising email Thursday asking supporters to vote on their favorite Space Force logo for future Trump campaign merchandise, offering a choice of six. The poll comes as the administration announced its ambitious plan to usher in a new 'Space Force' as the sixth branch of the military by 2020. 'As a way to celebrate President Trump's huge announcement, our campaign will be selling a new line of gear,' the campaign email read. Potential logos for a Space Force were released by the Trump campaign Thursday Trump tweeted out Thursday afternoon: 'Space Force all the way!' Trump has strongly championed the idea of creating a space-focused military service with the same stature as the Air Force and the Army, turning his dreams of a 'Space Force' into a rallying cry for supporters at political events. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, in an address at the Pentagon, described the Space Force as 'an idea whose time has come.' 'America will always seek peace in space, as on the Earth. But history proves that peace only comes through strength, and in the realm of outer space, the United States Space Force will be that strength in the years ahead,' Pence said. He added that Congress must now act to establish and fund the department. Trump also tweeted out: 'Space Force all the way!' The Space Force would be responsible for a range of crucial space-based U.S. military capabilities, which include everything from satellites enabling the Global Positioning System (GPS) to sensors that help track missile launches. The proposal, however, was scorned by opponents and may struggle to get liftoff in a divided Congress. Vice President Mike Pence speaks during an event on the creation of a United States Space Force, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, at the Pentagon. Pence says the time has come to establish a new US Space Force to ensure America's dominance in space amid heightened completion and threats from China and Russia An attendee takes notes with 'Space Force' written during an event with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, not pictured, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC on Thursday, August 9, 2018 President Donald Trump holds up an executive order that he signed during a meeting of the National Space Council at the East Room of the White House June 18, 2018 in Washington, DC Critics view its creation as an unnecessary and expensive bureaucratic endeavor, a vanity project that simply strips away work already being done effectively by services like the Air Force. Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, who is on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said the Space Force was a 'dumb idea.'Although 'Space Force' won't happen, it's dangerous to have a leader who cannot be talked out of crazy ideas,' Schatz said on Twitter. Democratic Senator Bill Nelson has said such a move would 'rip the Air Force apart.' Senator Bernie Sanders said via Twitter 'maybe, just maybe' the government should guarantee healthcare 'before we start spending billions to militarize outer space.' However, although Pentagon leaders, including U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, once opposed the idea of a Space Force, they lined up on Thursday to offer their support. A Pentagon report released on Thursday included interim steps toward the creation of such an organization. US Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan (L) and Secretary of Defense James Mattis (R) welcome Vice President Mike Pence (C) to the Pentagon before the Vice President's much anticipated speech on President Trump's Space Force in Arlington, Virginia, August 9, 2018 A unified combatant command known as the U.S. Space Command would be formed by the end of 2018, according to a copy reviewed by Reuters. In a nod to the Air Force's current role, the Pentagon report recommended that the Space Command be led initially by the commander of Air Force Space Command, who would be dual-hatted. One of the arguments in favor of devoting more resources to a Space Force or Space Command is that American rivals like Russia and China appear increasingly ready to strike U.S. space-based capabilities in the event of a conflict. 'It is becoming a contested war fighting domain and we have to adapt to that reality,' Mattis said. The United States is a member of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bars the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in space and only allows for the use of the moon and other celestial bodies for peaceful purposes. Former astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain Mark Kelly on Thursday said that while Pence was right about the threats in outer space, the military was already handling them. 'There is a threat out there but it's being handled by the U.S. Air Force today. (It) doesn't make sense to build a whole other level of bureaucracy in an incredibly bureaucratic Department of Defense,' Kelly told MSNBC. A tow truck driver who allegedly raped and preyed on women and teenage girls in wealthy suburbs for more than 24 years as they walked home late at night has been described as a predator by police. Gregory John Richardson, 51, was arrested in his pyjamas at an Epping house, in Sydney's affluent north-west, at dawn on Thursday after DNA allegedly linked him to a series of vile sex attacks. Richardson is facing 20 charges over his alleged 'predatory' attacks on 14 women between 1989 and 2013, with six of those charges related to teenage girls aged 14 and 15. Scroll down for video A tow truck driver (pictured) who allegedly preyed on women as they walked home late at night has faced court over a string of horrific rapes Gregory John Richardson, 51, was arrested in his pyjamas at a home in Epping, north-west Sydney, on Thursday after DNA allegedly linked him to a series of vile sex attacks Pictured above are the locations of Gregory Richardson's alleged rapes in north-west Sydney The 20 charges faced by a tow truck driver 1. Sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm, February 15, 1989 2. Sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm, August 19, 1989 3. Aggravated sexual assault on a 15-year-old girl, January 22, 1994 4. Aggravated sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl, April 30, 2003 5. Indecent act on a 14-year-old girl, May 17, 1989 6. Sexual assault and an indecent act on a 14-year-old girl, May 17, 1989 7. Sexual assault, indecent act on a 14-year-old girl, May 17, 1989 8. Act of indecency, January 22, 2004 9. Act of indecency, January 22, 2004 10. Act of indecency, February 20, 2004 11. Aggravated sexual assault inflicting bodily harm, July 25, 2007 12. Aggravated sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm, September 28, 2007 13. Aggravated sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm, October 20, 2007 14. Aggravated sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm, October 30, 2007 15. Act of indecency, September 27, 2013 16. Stalking, intimidation and intending fear of physical and mental harm, October 30, 2007 17. Stalking, intimidation with intent to cause physical and mental harm 18. Commit an act of indecency, January 15, 2004 19. Commit act of indecency with a person under 16, December 27, 2001 20. Possess and use a prohibited weapon without a permit, August 9, 2013 Source: NSW Police fact sheet seen by Daily Mail Australia. These are charges that have yet to be proven in court. Advertisement The alleged attacks on women and teenage girls all occurred in Sydney's northern suburbs, from Wahroonga and Hornsby on the upper north shore to Beecroft, Cheltenham and Macquarie Park a short drive from his home. The tow truck driver is accused of sexually assaulting women as they walked their dog late at night or returned home from a train station. Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec, the commander of the New South Wales Police Force's sex crimes squad, said Richardson was a tow truck driver who allegedly preyed on women on the street he didn't know during a two-decade spree of terror. 'It was a complete stranger attack, a predatory attack,' he told reporters outside Burwood Local Court on Friday morning. 'People walking about, going about their own business at the railway station, taking their dog for a walk, walking home late at night.' Det Supt Kerlatec said his list of charges were 'certainly one of the largest I'm recently aware of'. Richardson did not appear in Burwood Local Court before magistrate Robyn Denes, despite being in custody in the downstairs cells, and he did not apply for bail on Friday. His defence lawyer Dean Bainbridge asked for a suppression order to stop the media publishing his name, but Magistrate Denes said he needed to prove his client's safety was under threat. Mr Bainbridge argued a suppression order was necessary to spare his client 'stress and embarrassment' in custody, adding publication of his name would put his safety 'at risk'. After lunch, the magistrate rejected the application for a suppression order, saying the public had a right to know who was associated with the serious charges. 'That would be a balancing exercise in the interests of public disclosure and open justice and protecting the accused from matters that could lead to undue stress and embarrassment,' she said. Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec, the commander of the New South Wales Police Force's sex crimes squad, said Richardson had allegedly engaged in 'predatory' attacks 'Certainly in relation to threats of violence, there's no evidence before me that threats have been made to him in custody.' Richardson will return to court on August 20 for a possible bail application, with another mention scheduled for October 3. The police breakthrough came when forensic evidence from four cold cases was allegedly linked to a jailed sex attacker - Richardson's brother, The Daily Telegraph reported. The brother, who is behind bars for sex offences, had an alibi for those attacks and police allege they were able to narrow down the suspect to a family member. Richardson has been charged with six counts of committing acts of indecency on teenage girls under 16. He had 20 charges to his name, mainly related to aggravated sexual assault, inflicting actual bodily harm, stalking and intimidation and acts of indecency, between February 1989 and August 2013. Richardson (pictured during his arrest) is facing a total of 20 charges over the alleged 'predator style attacks' on 12 women aged 14 and 40 between 1989 and 2013 The dawn arrest, carried out by officers from Strike Force Petit, came after a review of four cold cases which were allegedly previously linked by tendency and modus operandi. Detectives from the Child abuse and Sex Crimes Squad established the strike force in June to re-investigate the historic assaults. Police are now reexamining a number of other sex attacks in Sydney's north-west dating back to early 1989. Det Supt John Kerlatec said the alleged victims had put the assaults behind them but the arrest had 'reignited some of those initial feelings'. 'It was mixed emotions, some of them very relieved, some were grateful of the progress and sadly some of them very emotional,' he said. 'The victims in this matter are exceptionally brave. 'They endured a long time waiting for the phone calls they got yesterday ... to give them some comfort to know they can walk the streets again, they can feel safe.' An English hill has been reclassified as a mountain after it was found to be 3ft taller than previously thought. Intrepid independent surveyors John Barnard and Graham Jackson have spent more than a decade travelling the British Isles to check the height of hills that are close to mountain status. Their latest trip to the Northern Fells of the Lake District has seen Miller Moss become the 446th mountain listed in Anne and John Nuttalls books The Mountains of England and Wales. Miller Moss has been named a mountain after climbers discovered it was taller than previously thought John Barnard, Jim Bloomer and Graham Jackson are pictured with their surveying equipment on Miller Moss The mountain in the Lake District was previously classed as a hill, but the Ordnance Survey will now have to alter maps to list it as a mountain The discovery means the Ordnance Survey (OS) will have to alter its Land Ranger and Explorer maps accordingly and mountain climbers hoping to tick every mountain in the UK off their list will have to add a new one. The recognised threshold for when a hill becomes a mountain is 609.6m (2000ft) and Miller Moss was marked on OS maps as being 609m. As there is a margin of error in the figure recorded by OS, Mr Barnard and Mr Jackson knew there was a possibility Miller Moss might have been wrongly classified but they had to wait until they got home and processed their data to find out if their suspicion was correct. John Barnard, Jim Bloomer and John and Anne Nuttall (pictured, left to right) took on the climb to secure research that proved it was in fact a mountain They climbed Miller Moss on August 1, along with fellow hillclimbers Jim Bloomer and John and Anne Nuttall. It involved a 5km hike each way with 6kg of equipment and several hours of data collecting, taking them around eight hours in total. At the summit they set up their Leica Viva GS15 - a data receiver that collects information from orbiting GPS satellites, much like a car satnav does. They had to leave the equipment in place for two hours to get an accurate reading and then also measure the low points, or cols, between Miller Moss and its neighbouring hills. To qualify for Mountains of England and Wales, a well-known list of 2000ft mountains maintained by John and Anne Nuttall, the mountain must have a minimum 15m drop - the height difference between the summit and the col. Miller Moss not only came out at 610.1m but the cols were a 19.7m drop on one side and 20.2m on the other, well above the minimum needed. The group's discovery means that maps will have to be altered after the hill in the Lake District was found to be three feet taller than previously thought The data has already been accepted by OS and the new height will appear on maps. Mr Barnard, 69, a retired business planner for a chemical company, said: 'Ordnance Survey measure hills and mountains by flying a plane over and taking photographs, a process called photogrammetry. 'They can then use those to make a 3D model and measure heights from that but it only gives an accuracy of plus or minus 3m. 'This was recorded on their maps as 609m but they round up or down to the nearest metre so we knew there could be an error and there was a good chance it could reach over 2000ft. 'Weve made it our passion. Weve measured a lot of these hills in the past and found several mountains in England and Wales that have been reclassified over a ten-year period. 'The equipment we use is very similar to the satnav in your car, it collects information from specific satellites that send down signals and works out where you are and how high you are, although obviously its more complicated than that. 'Often you do these things and it doesnt make any difference, changes in classification are quite rare because the OS data is very good. 'Its a nice feeling when you do find one, but I think we have found pretty much all the key ones now.' Sara Huegill's shoplifting charge has been dropped on mental health grounds after she was accused of stealing a pair of $2,500 leather pants. The wife of Australian swimming champion Geoff Huegill appeared at Byron Bay Local Court wearing an all-black outfit on Friday. Police had alleged the 35-year-old former publicist stole Bassike pants from a boutique clothing store while shopping in Byron Bay on Mother's Day this year. After being confronted by staff, it was alleged Ms Huegill ran from the store and through the streets of coastal town in northern NSW. But the magistrate found on Friday she has a mental illness and is suffering from 'adjustment, depressive, eating and substance abuse disorder', Nine News reported. The magistrate also acknowledged Ms Huegill's remorse and dropped the charge on mental health grounds. Sara Huegill's shoplifting charge has been dropped on mental health grounds. The 35-year-old is pictured outside the Byron Bay courthouse on Friday Mrs Huegill appeared at Byron Bay Local Court on Friday, where the single charge against her was dropped Sara, 35, is the wife of Australian swimming champion Geoff Huegill (pictured together) During a court hearing in June, a lawyer acting on behalf of Mrs Huegill applied for an adjournment so she could undergo a mental health examination, known as a Section 32. 'Sara deeply regrets the incident and apologises unreservedly,' her lawyer said in a statement in May. 'Sara has made good progress recently in being treated for issues related to anxiety and depression and acknowledges this is a setback. 'She has asked for privacy and understanding for her family at this time.' 'Sara deeply regrets the incident and apologises unreservedly,' Mrs Heugill's lawyer said in May The charge related to allegations the 35-year-old (pictured on Friday) stole the pants from a boutique clothing store while shopping on Mother's Day this year Mrs Huegill is seen smiling as she opens the door of a waiting car in Byron Bay on Friday Ahead of the June court appearance, Mrs Huegill said the shoplifting allegation was 'false' when approached for comment. The same month, Mr Huegill took to Instagram appearing to speak about his wife's alleged behaviour saying 'at times, good people make poor choices'. 'We all trip over and make mistakes and unfortunately, we let others down. But that doesn't make us bad people,' he said. 'There are no excuses for the poor choices, however, when we look back at a moment in time, naturally there are things we would all do differently. During a court hearing in June, a lawyer acting on behalf of Mrs Huegill applied for an adjournment so she could undergo a mental health examination Mrs Huegill is pictured leaving the the Byron Bay courthouse after her charged was dropped 'I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to those who have supported us and those who continue to support us in these challenging times. 'Naturally there are two sides to every story, and there will be a time, when we as a family will share our side. 'For now, my primary focus is to make sure that the health and well-being of my best friend is managed, so she can be the best person she can be for herself and for our family.' Police said the allegedly stolen pants had since been returned. Ahead of a previous court appearance, Mrs Huegill said the shoplifting allegation was 'false' The latest allegations came after Geoff and Sara's 2014 arrest for cocaine use at Randwick Racecourse. The pair are pictured together in 2015 The latest allegations came after Geoff and Sara's 2014 arrest for cocaine use at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse. Both pleaded guilty to drug possession and were handed six-month good behaviour bonds. Meanwhile, Daily Mail Australia revealed last week at least nine businesses paid for Mrs Huegill's publicity services which they claim she never delivered. The companies claim the mother-of-two owes them a combined $37,640. Sara 'now owes $38,000 to NINE fashion labels she failed to deliver publicity work for over a year' - as a court orders her to pay her debts The wife of swimming legend Geoff Huegill has been ordered to pay $2,000 to another business that paid her for publicity work she never delivered. Sara Huegill, 35, was last month ordered to reimburse $2,105 to 'AinaSwim' founder Claire Hall, who employed Huegill to perform publicity work through her business Row A PR. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal decision was the second default judgement against Ms Huegill, after a New South Wales court ordered her to pay $3,540 to a bikini business in June. Sara Huegill (right), the disgraced wife of swimming legend Geoff (left), has been ordered to cough up $2,000 to a bikini business that paid her for publicity services she never delivered Despite the legal findings, both businesses said they have not been paid. And they aren't alone, with Daily Mail Australia able to reveal that at least eight other businesses who paid for Ms Huegill's services claim they are still out of pocket a combined $37,640, including the amount owed to Hall. The VCAT decision in favour of Ainaswim came after Sutherland Local Court ordered Ms Huegill to pay swimwear brand 'I Dream of Bikini' $3,540. But not all businesses have been willing to risk spending money on legal action to recoup what they lost. Despite being out of pocket close to $6,500, Island Boheme founder Natalia Lydford said it eventually got to a point where it was easier to just give up. Ms Huegill, 35, was last month ordered to by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to pay 'AinaSwim' founder Claire Hall (pictured) $2,105. Ms Hall had employed her publicity label Row A PR to promote her business, but claims Ms Huegill never performed the work promised 'I'm a small business owner and a single mum, I just didn't have the room to lose that money,' Ms Lydford said. 'She set a strategy, but just didn't follow up. I pushed her quite hard and occasionally she would come back with an outlandish excuse. 'I've just given up. I think she has got to be super sick to be doing what she's doing.' Natalia Lydford, the founder of swimwear brand Island Boheme (pictured), has given up on her efforts to recoup any of the $6,500 she claims she is owed by Ms Huegill It was a similar experience for Anna Scott, owner of Your Skin clinic in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Edgecliff. Ms Scott was left approximately $2,500 out of pocket after paying Ms Huegill for PR work she claims was never delivered, while also providing free skin treatments. 'She's just a waste of my time. I'm putting it down as a bad mistake,' she said. 'I'm not going to chase her through the courts because I just don't want to waste any more money on her.' Kumi Xu, founder of a sports luxe label (pictured) that bears her name, paid a $5,500 retainer to Ms Huegill and saw no PR work in return. She too is no longer chasing the lost money Before starting her own Row A PR business, Ms Huegill (pictured) worked for Sydney publicity maven Roxy Jacenko Kumi Xu, founder of a sports luxe label that bears her name, said that after paying Ms Huegill a $5,500 retainer she tried to get more money out of her. THE COST OF SARA HUEGILL: *Island Boheme swimwear - $6,500 *BB Unleash energy drinks - $6,000 *Kumi Xu sport luxe label - $5,500 *Evolution Laser clinics - $5,000 I Dream of Bikini swimwear - $3,540 *Anonymous Canberra fashion label - $3,300 *Bella Bikini swimwear - $3,300 *Your Skin Clinic - $2,500 Ainaswim swimwear label - $2,000 TOTAL: $37,640 *Indicates claim from business owner and not official legal judgements Advertisement 'I had one incident which really stood out - Sara claimed to have selected the wrong option to send out our items (gifting) via courier,' Ms Xu said. 'She added an additional 2,000 and asked me to pay for this. 'When I said no, she asked for even $300. I asked to see the courier invoice from the company and she refused.' Messages between Ms Huegill and another of her clients reveal how she continually put off doing work for them. The public relations specialist solicited work from Alysha Bishop's Bella Bikini brand via Instagram late last year. But Ms Bishop's dream of a summer publicity campaign to drum up business at the most important time of the year never became reality. In messages to the young business owner, Ms Huegill claimed the work was delayed because she was unwell in hospital. That was followed by claims a 'big event' had delayed the work. Later on Ms Huegill said she was not able to read emails because she had bought a new computer and her old device was at the Apple Store, but that the agreed work 'will be with you by tonight'. Messages between Ms Huegill and another of her clients, Alysha Bishop's Bella Bikini, reveal how she repeatedly put off doing work for them Ms Bishop paid $3,300 to Ms Huegill, had dreams of a summer publicity campaign - to drum up business at the most important time of the year - that never became reality In messages to the young business owner, Ms Huegill claimed the work was delayed because she was experiencing computer issues... before radio silence The news comes as Ms Huegill (pictured) is due to face court on Friday over allegations she stole a pair of $1,900 leather pants from a Byron Bay store in May But Ms Bishop says it never was. As it was later discovered, Row A PR was deregistered at the time of the transactions. Revelations about Ms Huegill's business dealings came just days before she was due to again face a Byron Bay court over allegations she stole a pair of leather pants. It was alleged that while out shopping on Mother's Day this year, she stole the pants from a boutique clothing store. After being confronted by staff, it was alleged Ms Huegill ran from the store and through the streets of Byron Bay. The shoplifting charge was dropped on Friday on mental health grounds. Advertisement A commuter who allegedly asked a teenage girl to show her breasts in exchange for money is being hunted by police. Victoria Police is hunting a man who is accused of committing offensive behaviour at Richmond station in Melbourne last month. The incident that happened at 8.25am on July 4 involved a 17-year-old girl and a man who police believe to be of Asian descent. Victoria Police are hunting a man who allegedly asked a teenage girl to show her breasts The young girl was standing on platform nine of the station when the man approached her. The accused man, who is believed to be about 40 years old, then asked the girl to expose her breasts and he would offer him money in return, police say. The young teenager refused his offer and the man boarded a train before getting off at East Richmond Railway Station. Victoria Police has released images of a man (above) who they believe could help them in the investigation Victoria Police has released images of a man who they believe could help them in the investigation. The man was wearing prescription glasses, a blue puffer jacket, black sneakers with orange laces, black pants and was carrying a black bag, say police. Investigators believe the accused had travelled by train on the Pakenham line to Richmond Railway Station. California state lottery officials are under fire after lewd photos were sent to the governor's office. Governor Jerry Brown has asked the attorney general to look into the whistleblower complaint about alleged inappropriate and drunken behavior by staff of the California State Lottery, a spokeswoman said Thursday. An anonymous employee last week sent Brown's office and The Sacramento Bee a letter and package of photos showing the behavior, the newspaper reported. One photo shows a man, allegedly a top lottery official, with his head up a woman's shirt at a bar. The woman is unidentified. Lewd photos were sent to California Governor Jerry Brown last week including one showing a man, allegedly a top official, with his head up a woman's shirt The images and a letter detail inappropriate behavior by state lottery officials 'These types of unprofessional shenanigans have become a regular practice of this management team when they travel to meetings,' the letter said. Lottery spokesman Russ Lopez declined to comment. Brown spokeswoman Ali Bay called the contents of the letter 'troubling.' It's the second such package sent to Brown's office since last year, according to the Bee. The inappropriate behavior in the photos allegedly occurred in 2016 after a sales conference at a bar in Southern California. The letter also alleged lottery officials used inappropriate language, disparaged employees and showed favoritism. Bob Medof, a lottery sales representative and union shop steward said lottery employees are 'afraid to come forward' and that there is low morale in the department. 'It's unfortunate. They're just afraid. People tell me something and they say, 'Don't, quote me on that,'' he said. Oregon police are asking the public to help them identify a white man who made racist remarks at a group of Latino men, telling them to 'Go to Mexico' before shoving one of them. The Springfield Police Department said on Facebook that the man, seen push a stroller, shouted 'angry, profane outburst which was punctuated by racial epithets' at the three men during a confrontation on July 25. Three men had been leaving a construction job site with a trailer filled with roofing debris. The trailer hitch got stuck on the sidewalk near 6385 Main Street - blocking it and the bike lane - and the men rushed to remove the vehicle. A man had an 'angry, profane outburst which was punctuated by racial epithets' while three Latino men were trying to leave a home in Springfield, Oregon, on June 25 Three men had been leaving a construction job site with a trailer filled with roofing debris. When the trailer hitch got stuck on the sidewalk near 6385 Main Street - blocking it and the bike lane - and the men rushed to remove the vehicle 'This guy didn't want to walk in the street, I stopped traffic and offered to let him pass,' said Albert Tufillaro, who filmed the encounter. 'He yelled "move your f***ing truck" , our trailer was broken and we tried to load it as fast as we could. He got angrier and started making verbal threats to my boss. Then he punched the mirrors of the truck and then attacked my boss.' The man is believed to be between the ages of 50 to 60. He is believed to be about five-foot-seven-inches and roughly 120 to 140lbs. The man - believed to be in his 50s or 60s - told the men to 'Go to Mexico' before pushing one of them Police have yet to identify the man, but believe he lives in the area. If the man is found, he could be charged with intimidation in the second degree - a Class A Misdemeanor. The cops continued: 'This law states in partIf a person Intentionally subjects another (person) to offensive physical contact because of the persons perception of the others race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability or national origin.' Victoria's Public Transport Minister may have decided banning Sky News from train station platforms was a priority but commuters have said they are just fed up with overcrowded, delayed and cancelled trains. Opposition scrutiny of government spokesman Tim Smith has called on Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan to 'spend more time fixing the train system' instead of worrying about what's played on the platforms, The Herald Sun has revealed. Nearly half of Victorians do not catch public transport because of concerns trains are overcrowded and frequently run late. Opposition scrutiny of government spokesman Tim Smith has called on Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan (pictured) to 'spend more time fixing the train system' A Nielsen poll found that 49 per cent of Victorians never catch buses, trains or trams and packed services have become a bigger issue in Victoria compared to other states. Public Transport Victoria figures reveal that in the six months before the end of June 28,000 train services were delayed and 3000 were cancelled. The figures also show that metropolitan trains have not met punctuality targets for half of the last six months reported. These statistics were revealed among controversy over Ms Allan banning Sky News from TV screens on City Loop station platforms. Ms Allan introduced the ban after the 24-hour news channel aired an interview with known neo-Nazi and convicted racist, Blair Cottrell. Ms Allan introduced the ban after the 24-hour news channel aired an interview with known neo-Nazi and convicted racist, Blair Cottrell (pictured) Ms Allan announced the change on social media on Thursday morning. 'I've directed Metro Trains to remove Sky News Australia from all CBD station screens,' she said on Twitter. 'Hatred and racism have no place on our screens or in our community.' The interview with the former leader of the anti-immigration group United Patriots Front had been roundly slammed, with even Sky News contributors and staffers condemning the interview. Mr Cottrell, who once suggested a picture of Adolf Hitler should be hung in every Australian classroom, attacked Sky's 'pathetic' back down and accused the station of 'caving in' to 'Leftist abuse'. Public Transport Victoria figures reveal that in the six months before the end of June 28,000 train services were delayed and 3000 cancelled Mr Cottrell was convicted in 2017 of inciting contempt and ridicule of Muslims. He also has convictions for other matters, including arson. Ms Allan's decision came under fire from some commentators after she went on Sky News and wrongly said that the interview had been played in the public areas. 'I believe it was that interview was not only shown, it was on repeat rotation.' Asked if commuters had complained about seeing the interview in City Loop stations, she said: 'Yes, there have been complaints that have been received about this.' But service carrier APN confirmed it had only received a 'handful' of complaints nationally since 2015 and none related to any interviews. For more than a decade, a three-bedroom home in Sydney's western suburbs has been hailed a 'Miracle House' after oil began seeping from its walls and ash from the ceiling. Father Michael Haykal and the owners of the home in Guildford, George and Lina Tannous, believe the oil and ash is a sign from God and it has healing powers. They have claimed on a number of occasions that the oil has helped couples fall pregnant after being told they never could. For more than a decade a three-bedroom home has been hailed a 'Miracle House' after oil began seeping from its walls and ash from the ceiling which some claim has miracle powers Father Michael Haykal and the owners of the western Sydney home, George and Lina Tannous, believe the oil and ash is a sign from God The oil first started after Mr and Mrs Tannous's son Mike Tannous, 17, was killed in a car accident in 2006. They say a few days after the accident, the walls in his bedroom began weeping the yellow liquid. According to Mr Tannous, the 'miracle oil' has not only helped women fall pregnant but has also cured one woman of cancer. George, who emigrated to Australia from Lebanon four decades ago, said he and his family are all committed Christians. The claims of miracle oil from the walls first started after Mr and Mrs Tannous's son Mike Tannous, 17, (pictured) was killed in a car accident in 2006 'My son's spirit is in this house. He loved God and Jesus. He has come to this house and the oil is his spirit,' his father George Tannous said of the oil 'There is no question, this is a miracle,' he said of the oil seeping from the walls. 'My son's spirit is in this house. He loved God and Jesus. He has come to this house and the oil is his spirit. 'He was always religious. He carried Rosary beads and he had a cross tattooed on his back. He wanted to help people in life and this is his way of doing that in death.' Since his death in 2006, Michael's old bedroom has become a shrine and his parents believe he should be made a saint. More than 1500 people have visited the 'miracle House' in the last decade Father Haykal told The Daily Telegraph that more than a decade on and people still come form all over to visit the 'Miracle House'. 'I dont know how people can stay skeptical because the miracle is beyond science, hes trying to remind us about heaven and new life after death,' he said. People have also flocked to a Facebook page to share their experiences in the home. 'A place of great peace of which I was in need of. In hard times that seem to have no end nothing beats the thoughtfulness and prayers of extraordinary people. It has been a blessing and a privilege to be among all the people who were there,' one user wrote. 'My friend came to the house five years ago for my son who was sick with Neuroblastoma - cancer at age 2.5 years . He is now 8.5 years and has survived from this horrible disease,' another added. Ash symbols have also been known to appear on the walls, the family claims. Since his passing in 2006 and the alleged occurrences of miracles in the home Michael's old bedroom has become a shrine to him with is parents believing he should be sainted However the house also has no shortage of detractors. The Daily Telegraph spoke with executive officer and editor of Australian Skeptics Tim Mendham who said there was nothing 'particularity intriguing' about the home. 'If I can be so cynical, the early photos show the oil at shoulder height, which was the right height for someone throwing it on the wall. Only now is it higher and on the roof,' he said. The home was investigated by Today Tonight in 2017 where the oil from the walls and the ash was tested by scientist Anthony Kamu. As well as the oil ash has been found on the walls and falling from the ceiling 'The substances have occurred due to some type of unnatural intervention,' he said. He said it was hard to pinpoint the origins of the oil from the tests conducted. 'Its very likely to be aqueous-based with some trace substances of what you would find in an oil,' he said. An aqueous-based liquid or solution is one 'in which the solvent is water'. However the results on the ash were a little more conclusive. 'We conducted a microscopic examination of the ash and it is likely that ash is charcoal derived from timber,' he said. Thousands of Muslims have been gathering at a mosque in north-west China to protest its planned demolition in a rare public pushback. A large crowd of Hui people, a Muslim ethnic minority, began congregating at the towering Grand Mosque in the town of Weizhou, Ningxia on Thursday, before the Friday deadline of the demolition. Construction of the mosque was just completed last year cost one million yuan (114,000), which was entirely paid by local Hui residents, according to sources. #Chinese govt tore down a magnificent mosque in an impoverished county in northwestern #Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region that was built with donations from #Hui Muslims, resulting in mass protest.#Islamophobiapic.twitter.com/4IcEDDcgFL (@MCAOps) August 9, 2018 A large crowd of Hui people, a Muslim ethnic minority, began congregating at the towering Grand Mosque in the town of Weizhou, norht-west China's Ningxia region on Thursday In a widely-circulated government notice dated August 3, officials announced that the mosque would be 'forcibly demolished' as it had not been granted the necessary planning and construction permits. Videos on social media on Thursday showed large crowds gathered outside the mosque, a palatial white structure with towering columns, nine domes and minarets in a Middle Eastern style. A Chinese national flag is seen flying over the building. The protest appeared to be peaceful. The protest comes as faith groups that were largely tolerated in the past have seen their freedoms shrink as the government seeks to 'Sinicise' religions by making the faithful prioritise allegiance to the officially atheist ruling Communist Party. Islamic crescents and domes have been stripped from mosques, Christian churches have been shut down and Bibles seized, and Tibetan children have been moved from Buddhist temples to schools. All religious institutes are now required to fly the national flag. Ethnic Hui Muslim men praying at Nanguan Mosque during Friday prayers in Linxia, Gansu Ethnic Hui Muslim men leaving Laohuasi Mosque after Friday prayers in Linxia on March 2 The residents of Weizhou were alarmed by news that the government was planning to demolish the mosque despite initially appearing to approve its construction. The town's Communist Party secretary had even made a congratulatory speech at the site when the mosque's construction began, said Ma Zhiguo, a resident in his late 70s. The authorities planned to take down eight out of the nine domes topping the mosque on the grounds that the structure was built larger than permitted, Ma said. But community members were standing their ground, he added. 'How could we allow them to tear down a mosque that is still in good condition?' he said, adding that the mosque conducts prayers attended by about 30,000 Muslims and was built using believers' personal funds. 'The entire construction project - from planning to construction - did not cost the government a single penny,' resident Anran told Voice of America. 'The authorities never mentioned it being illegal before or during the construction. Local officials even came to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. Now that the building is completed, they suddenly announce it's illegal. Don't they realise this is one million yuan of people's hard-earned money?' Chinese Hui Muslims pray during Eid al-Fitr prayers at Niujie Mosque in Beijing (file photo) The Grand Mosque is located in the town of Weizhou in Tongxin county, Ningxia region 'People are in a lot of pain,' said Ma Sengming, a 72-year-old man who was at the protest from Thursday morning until Friday afternoon. 'Many people were crying. We can't understand why this is happening.' Ma told the Associated Press that the group shouted 'Protect faith in China!' and 'Love the country, love the faith!' Officials in the county and city propaganda offices said they were not aware of the situation. Other local authorities could not immediately be reached for comment. Ma Sengming said protesters remained at the mosque through the night from Thursday to Friday and were twice visited by a local official who encouraged them to go home. Ma said the official did not make any specific promises, but tried to assure the protesters that the government would work with them on the matter. More than a hundred police officers surrounded the mosque, but did not attempt to stop the protest, according to Ma. It remains unclear if the original plan to begin the demolition on Friday will go ahead, or if a compromise has been reached. The Hui number nearly 10 million, half of the country's Muslim population in China (file photo) Public demonstrations are rare in China, where the government is often quick to quash any hint of dissent. Under President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party is cracking down on religious expression and attacking what it calls radical ideas among the country's more than 20 million Muslims. In the far west region of Xinjiang, following sporadic violent attacks by radical Muslim separatists, hundreds of thousands of members of the Uighur and Kazakh Muslim minorities have been arbitrarily detained in indoctrination camps where they are forced to denounce Islam and profess loyalty to the party. Compared to those ethnic groups, the Hui are culturally much closer to China's Han majority, similar in appearance and speaking a variation of the mainstream Mandarin language. But recently, reports said authorities have shut down Hui religious schools and Arabic classes and barred children from participating in Muslim activities. James Leibold, a scholar of Chinese ethnic policies at Melbourne's La Trobe University, said the proposed demolition of the Weizhou mosque appeared to be part of a recent 'far more assimilatory policy' toward ethnic minorities. 'The ultimate agenda is to erode minority identity and create a sense of belonging and connection to Chinese identity and Chinese culture,' Leibold said. A 79-year-old murderer has revealed why he bashed his cellmate to death with a Breville sandwich press. John Walsh said he wanted his fellow Long Bay prison inmate Frank Townsend, 71, 'gotten rid of', a Sydney court heard on Friday. Walsh, who was serving life in prison for three murders at the time of the attack, stuffed the sandwich press into a pillowcase, swinging it at Townsend's head at least eight times in a 'very violent and ferocious attack'. Walsh pleaded guilty to murdering his Long Bay prison inmate Frank Townsend in January of 2017 but the court could find no psychiatric explanation for the attack - and that he is 'just bad'. John Walsh (pictured), 79, who is serving life in prison for four murders, including his fellow inmate, said he wanted his cellmate 'gotten rid of' so he killed him with a sandwich press Walsh (centre) pleaded guilty to murdering his Long Bay prison inmate Frank Townsend in January of 2017 but the court could find no psychiatric explanation for the attack Crown Prosecutor Sharon Harris told the NSW Supreme Court on Friday: 'Some people are just bad, the offender himself refers to himself as a dangerous person or implies he is a dangerous person,' the Daily Telegraph reported. According to the publication, prison officers interrupted Walsh's beating when they heard five or six thuds but when they saw that Walsh was seated on his bed, they assumed the noises had been Townsend's snoring. When the officers left, Walsh struck the 'defenceless' Townsend a further two times to the head. John Walsh is currently serving two life sentences for murdering his wife, two grandchildren and family dog before turning an axe on his daughter in a sudden attack at their home in Cowra, west of Sydney, in 2008. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of his daughter, policewoman Shelly Walsh. John Walsh stuffed the sandwich press into a pillowcase, swinging it at his 71-year-old cellmate's head at least eight times in a 'very violent and ferocious attack' (stock image) John Walsh is serving two life sentences for murdering his wife, two grandchildren and family dog before turning an axe on his daughter in a sudden attack at their home in Cowra (pictured) Walsh, who is originally from Northern Ireland, was babysitting his daughter's children as she worked an overnight shift at Parkes police station Walsh, who is originally from Northern Ireland, was babysitting his daughter's children as she worked an overnight shift at Parkes police station. He later told police he hit his wife in the head repeatedly with a hammer he nicknamed 'Fred' before stabbing her and beating her again. He then lured his granddaughter to the bathtub where he drowned her before placing her back in her bed. After Walsh said he turned his attention to his grandson who he beat in the head with a hammer before placing him in the bathtub. He put the young boy back on his bed when he was sure he was dead. Walsh told police he then worried about who was going to take care of the dog so he drowned it in the bathtub as well, wrapped it in plastic and placed it under the children's bunk bed, according to The Telegraph. When his daughter Shelly later returned home to pick up her children, Walsh was waiting with an axe and hit her several times in the head, fracturing her skull and tearing her brain lining. Shelly told a court heard during Walsh's trial in 2009 she first saw her mother lying on her bedroom floor when she arrived at the home, but was told by Walsh she was sick. Shelly then entered her children's bedrooms where she found their bodies tucked into bed. Moments later Walsh hit her on the head with an axe. While attacking her, Walsh told his daughter 'I am doing this because I love you. When I am done with you lot I am going to Newcastle to kill your ex-husband. We are all better off this way. This is the way it has to be'. The 16-year-old girl who was left seriously injured after being pushed off a 60-foot bridge into a river by a friend has spoken out from hospital saying she could have easily died. Jordan Holgerson suffered five broken ribs and a punctured lung after she plunged into Moulton Falls on the Lewis River in Yacolt, Washington on Tuesday. The teenager spoke out from hospital on Thursday after the footage of her being pushed went viral. 'I could have died, easily,' she told reporters. Jordan Holgerson, 16, spoke out from hospital on Thursday saying she could have easily died after being pushed off a 60-foot ledge in Washington state two days earlier 'In midair, I think I might have blacked out,' she told KOIN. 'But I was aware and awake when I hit the water.' Jordan said someone immediately swam out to rescue her after she hit the water. She was then rushed to PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington. Genelle Holgerson, the girl's mother, said Jordan suffered five cracked ribs and internal injuries. She also suffered a bruised esophagus, an injured trachea, air bubbles in her chest and a punctured lung. 'She is lucky she is not paralyzed or dead,' Holgerson told Thoroughbred Daily News. 'She is alert but in pain and is very tired. We're lucky she is going to recover and not have permanent injuries.' 'No, I won't go in,' Jordan can be heard telling her friends as they try to pressure her into jumping off the bridge. Suddenly, one of them pushes her off One man can be heard on camera asking 'Ready?' before a female friend is seen shoving Jordan off the bridge It remains unclear how long Jordan will have to be hospitalized. She's expecting to be in pain for roughly six weeks. The terrifying ordeal was captured on video as Jordan stood on the 60-foot high ledge with her friends gathered behind her. 'No, I won't go in,' Jordan can be heard telling her friends as they try to pressure her to jump off the bridge. She tells her friends 'no' a second time in the video, but the group still rallies to get her to leap. Then, suddenly, one man asks 'Ready?' and a female friend is seen shoving Jordan off the bridge. The teen plunged into the water below and landed with a horrifying thud as her friends gasped. 'Oh, that's so f****d,' someone can be heard saying off-camera. Jordan suffered five cracked ribs and internal injuries. She also suffered a bruised esophagus, an injured trachea, air bubbles in her chest and a punctured lung Holgerson's red and seriously bruised left thigh is pictured above after she slammed into the water from 60ft Jordan's mother has since revealed that the friend who pushed Jordan into the water is an adult. 'I'm very upset with her,' said the mother-of-four, who believes the woman should turn herself in. 'She is an adult, and I'm sure she should have known better.' Jordan said her friend has since said sorry, but that her apologies are not enough. 'I could've died,' she said. 'It could've ended a lot worse, is what I'm thinking about.' Jordan's sister Kaytlin said she confronted the friend on social media, saying a true friend wouldn't have done that. 'Friends don't push someone from that high so I was p***ed,' Kaytlin said. Jordan, speaking from her hospital bed, revealed Tuesday was her first time on the bridge. She said she was 'aware and awake' when she hit the water Moulton Falls bridge from which Jordan Holgerson, 16, was pushed by a so-called friend 'She pretty much said that she was sorry for doing it and she wouldn't have done it if she knew the outcome of it and that she knows it was an absurd thing to do. 'I think the girl that pushed her should have some sort of consequence because you won't learn your lesson if you think you can could do that again and think it will be fine.' Ashley Mahree, the woman who posted the shocking clip to YouTube, also said she believes the woman who pushed Jordan should go to jail. 'This looks to be almost criminal...this could have easily taken a life,' Mahree wrote in the YouTube description. 'I think this girl needs to be held accountable in some way.' Clark County Fire Chief Ben Peeler confirmed it is illegal to jump from the bridge. The Clark County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the incident. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for Jordan's medical expenses. A TSA agent is being hailed a hero for jumping into action to secure a smoking bag. Surveillance video from a security checkpoint at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport shows a carry-on bag smoking while going through screening. As passengers jump away at the smoke, Lead Officer Darrell Wade is seen going toward the bag, grabbing it and taking it out of harm's way. Surveillance video shows a bag smoking and catching fire at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport Lead Officer Darrell Wade is seen jumping into action and grabbing the bag The incident occurred on July 20 but video has just been released which show Wade's heroic efforts. After hearing a passenger yell, Wade, a retired military officer and dog handler with the Army for 21 years, calmly walked toward the bag. He realizes it's actually on fire and anotherclip shows him running to bring the flaming luggage to a stairwell. 'I knew (the stairwell) was a solid, concrete structure, so I knew that no fire would spread,' Wade said. After law enforcement examined the bag, they determined the smoke was caused by a malfunctioning e-cigarette battery. E-cigarettes and vaporizers have exploded or caught fire in the past and therefore are only allowed to be stored in carry-on luggage. He safely takes it to an empty staircase and out of harm's way 'I just really wanted everyone else to be safe,' Wade said. 'I can honestly say, at that point, I wasn't thinking of me getting injured or anything else. I just wanted everyone else at the checkpoint and all the other officers to be safe.' Once the bag was deemed safe, he finished his shift and went home to tell his wife about his day. 'I told my wife how the day went. She didn't believe me, of course,' Wade said. 'I just went home and treated it like another day.' Now he says his colleagues call him the 'fire marshal'. A mother arrested over her 20-month-old daughter's death gave a chilling interview about the tragedy just a week ago. Jessica Greatorex, 22, was arrested at a home in Tarro, northern New South Wales, early on Friday morning, two months after her daughter Hayley Rose's death. Little Hayley Rose was found with a series of horrific injuries including internal trauma. Her mother is now expected to be charged with the manslaughter of the 20-month-old. A week before the shock arrest, Greatorex spoke about the supposed impact of the tragedy, saying Hayley simply 'went down for a sleep and never woke up'. Jessica Greatorex, 22, arrested mother of a toddler who died as a result of internal trauma spoke chillingly about her daughter's death, just weeks after the tragedy Hayley Rose (pictured), aged 20-months-old, died as a result of internal trauma after going into cardiac arrest and being rushed to hospital '(She was) a beautiful, happy, bubbly toddler - she always had a smile on her face,' Greatorex told Nine News. Dodging eye contact with the camera, she also recounted her apparent mad-dash to the hospital as paramedics attempted to resuscitate her daughter. 'I was in another ambulance behind her and not long after getting there, I was then told (Hayley) didn't make it,' Greatorex revealed. At the time of the interview last week, Greatorex's ex-boyfriend Timothy Whiteley, 26, had been charged with the girl's murder following her gruesome death. It followed emergency crews being called to the house in the Hunter region on June 19 after reports a 20-month-old girl was in cardiac arrest. Timothy Andrew Whiteley (pictured), 26, has since been charged with murder over the toddler's suspicious death Hayley Rose had suffered horrific injuries to her torso, head and internal organs, including broken ribs and a collapsed lung At the time of Hayley's death Greatorex (pictured) was in a de facto relationship with Whiteley and had recently moved in to the family's home Hayley Rose, was rushed to John Hunter Hospital with her mother, Jessica Greatorex, riding in the ambulance behind her but was unable to be revived. The child had suffered horrific injuries to her torso, head and internal organs, including broken ribs and a collapsed lung. At the time of Hayley's death, Whiteley was in a de facto relationship with Greatorex and had recently moved in to the family's home, according to the ABC. Authorities immediately treated the death as suspicious. Greatorex has been arrested, and is expected to be charged with manslaughter over the little girl's death Police arrested Whiteley (pictured centre) at a Tanilba Bay home on Thursday morning Earlier this month, homicide detectives swooped on a home in the nearby town on Tanilba Bay, where they arrested Whiteley. He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with murder. Detective Wayne Wolpole, who led the investigation into the man's arrest, had come after a special task force was set up to investigate the young girl's death. Whiteley was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with murder 'As a result of inquiries, Strike Force Nerium was formed with homicide investigators from Sydney and detectives from Port Stevens/Hunter police district,' he said shortly before Whiteley was charged. 'Those investigations have been ongoing since that night and this morning at 8.30am it resulted in the arrest. 'That male has been brought to Raymond Terrace Police Station, he is currently in the process of being charged with the murder of that little girl.' A tiny unit being advertised to house nine people is just one example of the wave of overcrowding sweeping Sydney, with officials saying people living in such crammed dwellings are technically homeless. Two advertisements posted on Gumtree ask for eight 'Asian people' to move into two separate rooms in the same Pyrmont property. The ad says one person will also sleep in the living room. 'Four people in master room, four people in second room, one person in living (but it is seperated),' the advertisement reads. This Pyrmont property that is looking for eight Asian renters. Four women to stay in the left bedroom and four men to live in the bedroom on the right This Pyrmont house is looking for two people to move in and pay $160 per person per week Four women will pay $140 per week to stay in one of the cramped bedrooms and four men pay $130 per week for the other. Both bedrooms have two bunk beds. The ad says there is a two-month minimum stay and there's a discount of $20 off for the first week if you move in after the first inspection. The horrifying discovery is not uncommon for popular and luxurious inner-city suburbs like Haymarket, Chippendale, Broadway and Pyrmont. Another ad in Pyrmont is requesting two people to move into a three person bedroom for $160 per person per week. A different property is looking for a man to join a quadruple room in a share house. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) says people living in inadequate dwellings are considered to be homeless. 'People living in 'severely' crowded dwellings (i.e. usual residents of dwellings which needed four or more extra bedrooms to accommodate them adequately) have been the largest homeless group in each of the last four Censuses,' ABS said. Statistics show that people living in overcrowded dwellings are typically young people who have arrived from India, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Thailand and Taiwan. They are also likely to be international students. Pru Goward, the Minister for Social Housing, is met with the task of improving overcrowding and will convene the state's first Ministerial Roundtable on Overcrowding, the Daily Telegraph reported. Another Pyrmont property advertised on Gumtree: 'Quadruple room for one male spot only in a house share' 'Often people living in severely overcrowded houses will not see themselves as being homeless, so we need to understand how we can support them to change their living situation,' Ms Goward said. The roundtable will host homelessness experts and those who have lived on the streets in September to develop strategies to help people find accommodation. Over the next four years the government has pledged $1billion dollars in homelessness services. 'Since 2001, NSW has seen a more than threefold increase in people living in severely crowded dwellings,' Ms Goward said. 'No one should be living in accommodation that is hazardous to their health and wellbeing.' The bloody trail from a man who was shot dead with a single bullet to the head in Sydney's inner west on Friday afternoon has led police to raid a house 150m away in a nearby street. A massive manhunt is underway after a man and woman are on the run after witnesses said they saw a man aged in his late 20s staggering down the street and collapsing after an altercation was heard in the suburb of Forest Lodge, near Glebe. Heavily armed police and officers carrying a battering ram closed in on a house nearby in Hereford Street just after the brazen shooting, the Daily Telegraph reported. Pictures show the body covered in a white blanket surrounded by police at the intersection of Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent. Scroll down for video Police were called to the intersection of Hereford and Minogue crescents at Forest Lodge around 12.40pm to find a body lying in the middle of the road (pictured) Heavily armed police and officers carrying a battering ram closed in on a house nearby in Hereford Street (pictured) just after the brazen shooting Witnesses said they saw the victim, believed to be in his late 20s, staggering down the street and collapsing after he was shot in the suburb of Forest Lodge, near Glebe, on Friday afternoon Heavily armed police and officers carrying a battering ram closed in on a house nearby in Cross street just after the broad-daylight shooting Pictures show the body covered in a white blanket surrounded by police at the intersection of Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent Police were called to the intersection around 12.40pm where Acting Superintendent Sam Crisafulli told reporters that the victim was 'sadly found deceased on the street'. A builder working nearby told 9 News he and his workmates had heard a 'loud bang' and thought someone may have been run over by a car. 'One of the boys ran down to see if he was okay,' the man said. He said the victim had 'a lot of blood coming out of his head'. Another witness said she heard a lady yelling: Get away. Get the f**k away from me. It was initially thought that the two suspects had run into a nearby premises to hide but police are now searching a wider area. 'I am satisfied with a search of the area by police that these people that we are looking for are not around at the moment,' Superintendent Crisafulli said. The shooting is believed to have been targeted and to have occurred after a man and a woman were 'seen in an altercation' with the victim prior to his death. New South Wales Police is appealing for anyone with information to come forward Police were called to the intersection around 12.40pm where Acting Superintendent Sam Crisafulli (pictured) told reporters that the victim was 'sadly found deceased on the street' Several crime scenes have been established along Hereford Street, including inside a private residence 'We've spoken to a number of witnesses who tell us shortly before we were called a man and a woman were in an altercation with another man,' Superintendent Crisafulli said 'We've spoken to a number of witnesses who tell us shortly before we were called a man and a woman were in an altercation with another man,' Superintendent Crisafulli said. 'It was a violent attack with very, very serious consequences.' The gun is believed to have been found and a helicopter is scouring the area for the two suspects from the air. 'A firearm was found at the scene but at this point in time we are not sure whether or not that was the cause of the injuries, that's something we are going to be investigating,' Superintendent Crisafulli said. Police have said they are still not certain what caused the mans fatal injuries. New South Wales Police is appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Detectives from the homicide squad are set to arrive on the scene and several crime scenes have been established along Hereford Street, including inside a private residence. Minogue Cresent is closed in both directions between Bridge Road and Wigram Road due to the police operation. More to come. A man and woman are on the run after a man was shot dead in Sydney's inner west. Police were called to the intersection around 12.40pm and have reportedly already found a weapon Detectives from the homicide squad are set to arrive on the scene A mother who sexually abused her own daughter and shared the child around a vile paedophile ring that included the child's stepfather and a close friend has pleaded guilty. The 39-year-old Perth mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, admitted a total of 17 charges including sexual penetration of a child under 13, indecent dealing with a child, and indecently recording a child. She was originally charged with 50 counts of indecent dealing of a child under 13 by a lineal relative , 14 counts of sexual penetration of a child and one count of obtaining payment for prostituting a child, the ABC has reported. A Perth mother, 39, (pictured) admitted a total of 17 charges including sexual penetration of a child under 13 The stepfather, who appeared in Perth Magistrates Court in April, pleaded guilty to three charges of sexually penetrating a child who was a de facto relative, and one count of encouraging a child who was a relate to engage in sexual behaviour. The 56-year old friend pleaded guilty to seven child sex offences in May. It is alleged that between 2011 and 2016 the woman assaulted her eight-year-old daughter, her son, whose age is unknown, and a 14-year-old girl who is unrelated. Police say that the couple took the children to organised 'swingers' parties and that at least some of the abuse occurred during these events. The three adults who have pleaded guilty were arrested in February after police discovered a recording device at a Perth rental home that showed them allegedly engaging in sexual acts with the young girl. In the same month, police launched Taskforce Mirzam to investigate the suspected child abuse and further arrests and charges are anticipated. The stepfather, who appeared in Perth Magistrates Court in April, pleaded guilty to three charges of sexually penetrating a child Police have said they believe that at least nine adults may be involved in the suspected paedophile ring. Another two children may have been abused during the organised sex activities. The mother wiped tears away as she pleaded guilty via video link from Bandyup Prison. She spoke only to enter the guilty pleas and to say that she understood the charges against her. The woman will remain in custody until she appears in the District Court next month. There are 66 'dangerous suburbs' in Australia that buyers and investors are told to avoid at all costs. These 'dangerous suburbs' include crowded unit markets in big cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, to regional towns in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The red flags are obvious, according to Hotspotting who uses sales volumes to predict future price movements. Out of the 66 'danger suburbs', 17 are located in New South Wales, 26 in Queensland and 10 in the Northern Territory. Out of the 66 'danger suburbs', 17 are located in New South Wales, 26 in Queensland (pictured, Hamilton) and 10 in the Northern Territory These 'dangerous suburbs' include crowded unit markets in big cities such as Sydney (pictured), Melbourne and Brisbane On the smaller end of the scale, Victoria only has seven of the 66, whereas Western Australia and Tasmania both have three each. South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory don't have any in the shocking suburbs list. The report indicates strong concentrations of danger suburbs in Sydney's central business district, Parramatta, Brisbane and Melbourne's inner cities and Queensland's regional towns of Mount Isa and Gladstone. Hotspotting managing director Terry Ryder told news.com.au that the top two places to avoid are Sydney's apartment market, and the inner-city apartment market in Brisbane. He also said that Sydney's rough future was clear years ago, long before prices became an issue. 'Sydney peaked really in terms of sales volumes in 2015 and has been gradually tapering off. It was only last year we started to see it reflected in the price data,' he said. As developers are investing heavily in the apartment market, rising supply is coinciding with falling demand from buyers, meaning the CBD apartment market is likely to be in for a rough couple of years ahead. The report indicates strong concentrations of danger suburbs in Sydney's central business district, Parramatta, Brisbane (pictured) and Melbourne's inner cities Although things are looking bad for two of the biggest cities on Australia's east coast, Western Australia is looking up. There are no longer many danger suburbs in Perth, with many of the suburbs showing signs of strong recovery and uplift. Adelaide didn't appear at all on the dangerous suburbs list, with Mr Ryder saying it was a 'very promising' and underrated market that is expected to grow within five years. For those looking to buy property, data has identified the 66 suburbs in Australia that buyers should not go near, including Kalgoorlie (pictured) in Western Australia TOP DANGER SUBURB PROPERTY VALUE IN EACH STATE QUEENSLAND Hamilton - $1.3 million (House), $495,000 (Unit) NEW SOUTH WALES Epping - $1.81 million (House), $850,000 (Unit) VICTORIA Hawthorn East - $2.43 million (House), $605,000 (Unit) WESTERN AUSTRALIA Kalgoorlie - $305,000 (House) NORTHERN TERRITORY Muirhead - $650,000 (House) TASMANIA Zeehan - $82,000 (House) South Australia and Australia's Capital Territory escaped without any suburbs in the list. Source: Hotspotting Price Predictor Index Winter 2018 Advertisement 'The SA economy is quite strong, much better than people realise, and it's improving all the time. Their property market is very solid, very good value for money, much better rental yields than bigger cities,' he said. Mr Ryder also said that Canberra is a rising market, as their rent prices have risen, which is a sign of price growth. He said that the biggest change overall was the surprising growth in regional NSW and Victoria. Buyers and investors are looking to regional parts of the state as prices are often cheaper than the overpriced capital cities. 'When the capital city has a big property boom it levels out to the regions with a time lag. It's not unusual with Sydney and Melbourne winding down to see regional cities like Newcastle and Geelong very strong due to the ripple effect,' he said. Australia's housing prices have recently fallen at the fastest annual rate since 2012, according to data released by property research firm CoreLogic. This fast decline means that house prices are now 1.9 per cent below their peak in September 2017. Pictured: Large cracks that appeared on the walkway to Florida International University five days before the bridge collapsed, killing six and injuring eight Large cracks appeared in the Florida International University pedestrian bridge just days before it collapsed, killing six. An update from the National Transport Safety Board says their investigation has revealed significant breaks in the concrete emerged after the bridge was moved to its place above the roadway on March 10. A picture shows the cracks in photographs taken after the installation, just five days before the 174-foot long walkway collapsed and while the bridge was still under construction. The NTSB has interviewed employees from eight firms and organizations involved in the design, inspection and construction of the bridge, and the investigation is continuing. Earlier, it was revealed that engineers working on the pedestrian bridge had discovered 'worrisome' cracks in the structure two weeks before it collapsed killing six people, including FIU student Alexa Duran. According to the Miami Herald, photographs and an email unintentionally released to them by the school detail the troubling cracks found in a key concrete support truss which supports the bridge. The outlet reports that the cracks were found 10 days before the school's engineers put the bridge in place above US Route 41, known locally as Tamiami Trail. A new report claims FIU's construction and engineer team found cracks in the bridge two weeks before it collapsed A February 28 memo by a consulting engineer for the school said one of the cracks in the structure 'merits special attention' The cracks were found in a key concrete support truss, which supports the bridge The bridge collapsed on March 15 killing six people, including a student at Florida International University The 950-ton structure collapsed on March 15 killing Duran, 18, Navaro Brown, 37, Brandon Brownfield, Rolando Fraga Hernandez, 60, Osvaldo Gonzalez, 57, and Alberto Arias, 54. Minor cracks in concrete structures are common, but according to the outlet several cracks discovered by FIU's construction and engineering team in late February were 'worrisome'. 18-year-old Alexa Duran was one of the victims of the bridge collapse An email, which the Herald obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, shows that the cracks were found at the base of a diagonal support member at the north end of the span. Three of the four independent contractors the Herald spoke with said the cracks were 'red flags' and signaled 'potentially critical structural problems'. They said the cracks should have prompted FIU's engineers to stop work on the bridge and perform an in-depth review which likely would have resulted in the truss connection being re-engineered. One of the engineers, Linwood Howell, said the cracks were a sign of the structure's 'imminent failure'. 'There's nothing they could have done short of starting over and redesigning the structure,' said Howell, whose firm conducts bridge inspections for the state of Texas. Ralph Verrastro of Naples, Florida, told the outlet that after examining the photographs and other details, the cracks did not appear significant to him and don't 'clearly provide any clues related to ultimate failure'. 'I would assume these cracks would have been repaired by epoxy injection before the bridge was moved,' he said. Alberto Arias (right) and Rolando Fraga (left) were both killed while they driving under the FIU pedestrian bridge on March 15 Friends Oswald Gonzalez (left), 57, and Alberto Arias (right) were also killed in the collapse Bridge worker Navaro Brown is among the six victims of the fatal pedestrian bridge collapse The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the collapse. The $14.2million structure was built to connect FIU to parts of the school's student housing over US Route 41 Because FIU has been advised against releasing records and memos pertaining to the structure, it's not clear if or how the school's construction and engineering team handled the cracks. The Herald also obtained a February 28 memo by Jose Morales, a consulting engineer for the school, who wrote that one crack in particular 'merits special attention' and urged the bridge engineer to 'provide a response'. The cracks Morales mentioned in the memo were found before the bridge was put in place, the Herald reports. Again, it's not clear if or how FIU responded to the memo and a clear-cut cause for the collapse most likely won't be established until the National Transportation Safety Board completes its investigation. According to the Herald, 10 days after Morales sent the memo, the pedestrian bridge was lifted into place. Five days after it was put into place, the bridge collapsed while it was still under construction. The $14.2million structure was built to connect FIU to parts of the school's student housing over US Route 41. A father who fled to Thailand after tossing his dead seven-month-old son into a river sent a chilling text to the mother while he was on the run about the fate of her child, prosecutors say. James Currie, 37, was overseas on the run on Wednesday, when he texted the mother of their child to say 'You will never see Mason again,' according to a criminal complaint. In another message he bragged that he wouldn't get caught, telling her 'I am not in the USA,' and 'The good news is that we will never see each other again.' Currie's ex contacted the NYPD, and together with Homeland Security, they were able to track the suspect overseas and alerted immigration authorities in Thailand. He was stopped at Bangkok airport and extradited back to the US on Thursday. On Friday, he appeared in state court in Manhattan where he was charged with concealing a human corpse. Police say he may face further charges once they determine the cause of death for his son Mason Saldana. Scroll down for video James Currie appears in Manhattan criminal court during his arraignment, Friday, charged with throwing his seven-month-old child into the East River Attorney Norman Williams, left, speaks to Currie during his arraignment. The 37-year-old was extradited back to New York yesterday after he attempted to flee to Thailand Currie had picked up the infant from the boy's mother's home on Saturday and took the child back to his apartment in Co-Op City, in the Bronx. Security videotape showed Currie, who lives separately from the child's mother, entering his apartment building on Saturday afternoon with the child, 'who can be seen moving his extremities.' The following day, he was seen leaving home with a big backpack covered with a blanket and Currie was later spotted walking near South Street Seaport, in Manhattan, which overlooks the river. Around an hour later, a baby's body was spotted by two tourists after it washed up on the embankment of the East River under the Brooklyn Bridge, wearing only a diaper. The tourist, Monte Campbell, from Oklahoma, had then waded into the river and attempted to revive the lifeless baby. The infant was later identified as Mason. Cops believe the baby was already dead when it was flung into the river. On Monday, Currie boarded a flight to Thailand, but later that afternoon, police received a 911 call from Mason's 36-year-old mother, worried that her child hadn't been dropped off at daycare. Police were alerted on Sunday when tourists spotted the body of a baby on the embakment of the East River. Pictured: A New York Police Department officer stands guard as authorities investigate the scene The baby's body was found in the East River around an hour after Currie was seen walking near South Street Seaport Monte Campbell, of Stillwater, Okla., right, stands under the Brooklyn Bridge in the Manhattan borough after jumping into New York's East River to try and revive the baby A small crowd gathered underneath the Brooklyn Bridge where the baby's body had washed up on Sunday Police also patrolled the river after the grisly discovery. Currie has since been arrested and faces a felony charge of concealment of a human corpse and could face further charges once authorities determine a cause of death Cops say the mom, who is estranged from Currie, had heard about the baby found in the East River and was terrified it could be Mason. 'I don't think anyone could listen to the call without the blood curdling,' NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea told New York ABC affiliate. 'This is clearly something no parent should have to live through.' Police say Currie had flown to Bangkok on Monday afternoon, switching flights along the way. An immigration police spokesman in Thailand, Col. Cherngron Rimpadee, told The Associated Press that by the time Currie touched down - days later - immigration authorities there had been informed that he was wanted in the U.S. and detained him. Police say Currie, 37, (pictured being walked out of the 5th Precinct in New York City) had flown to Bangkok on Monday afternoon, switching flights along the way He was sent back to the U.S., where he was escorted off a plane at Kennedy Airport late Thursday and turned over to police and border agents On Friday, he was escorted out of the police station to appear in court where he was ordered held without bail He was sent back to the U.S., where he was escorted off a plane at Kennedy Airport late Thursday and turned over to police and border agents. Currie was ordered held without bail on Friday at an appearance in state court in Manhattan where Assistant District Attorney Shawn McMahon said he had been caught 'literally on the other side of the world.' Afterward, defense attorney Norman Williams said, 'Everybody needs to keep an open mind and not convict this man until they see evidence that he did something wrong.' The autopsy results are pending. A neighbor of Currie told ABC News that he seemed like any other normal neighbor. 'He was friendly, he would say hello and goodbye,' she said. Three men have been left seriously injured after a 30-metre gum tree fell onto their campsite. A group of men set off on a bucks weekend at Frenchmans Campground in Big River, more than three hours northeast of Melbourne, before the tree fell on August 4. At 12.30am some of the men had gone to bed for the evening when 'a loud crack' could be heard. A group of men set off on a bucks weekend at Frenchmans Campground in Big River, more than three hours northeast of Melbourne, on August 4, when a Ghost gum tree fell on their campsite Andrew Owen (standing, second from left), Clint Dent (top row, fourth from the right) and an unnamed man were seriously injured when the tree fell A Go Fund Me page wrote that as it was dark, the men were forced to run for cover. 'A 30-metre Ghost Gum had uprooted and fallen across their camp. It left a path of destruction, seriously injuring three of our boys,' the page wrote. Two of the injured men have been identified as Andrew Owen and Clint Dent. The third man wishes to remain anonymous. The tree, which is said to be 1.5 metres in diameter, fell from across the river. The uninjured men then cut their friends free from the tree and the extent of the injuries were unknown, however there was blood and 'bones protruding'. With no reception the men drove to the nearest town to meet ambulance officers, who stabilised the three men before they were transferred to hospitals in Melbourne. Mr Owen has been left with several injuries including nine broken ribs, fractures to the skull, broken scapula and swelling around the heart. Mr Dent has a broken spine in three places, a broken femur, a shattered tibia \fibula bone, which was protruding from his leg, a broken jaw and smashed teeth. The uninjured men then cut their friends free from the tree and the extent of the injuries were unknown, however there was blood and 'bones protruding' The tree fell from across the river and with no service the men were forced to drive their injured friends to the nearest town Mr Dent is also suspected of having neck injuries and nerve damage in his right arm. While none of the men slept inside the Four-Wheel Drive, they did sleep close to it. However the car saved their life as it took the brunt of the impact. The accident could leave both men out of work for a long time. Mr Dent runs his own business and Mr Owen is a sub contractor with no income insurance. Mr Owen's car is uninsured and both men have young families to support. Mr Dent's wife Leesa, according to Yahoo 7, commented on the group of the men 'every single person in this picture is an absolute hero'. Michael Avenatti, the self-styled provocateur taking on the president on behalf of porn actress Stormy Daniels, has a message for Iowa Democrats: His foray into presidential politics is no stunt. 'I am seriously considering it, and I think a lot of it is going to hinge on what direction I think the party is taking and who is likely to get in the race,' Avenatti said in an interview ahead of a foray into Iowa this week. He said he's not trying 'to get under the president's skin' and sincerely believes the Democratic Party needs to put up a 'fighter' against Trump next time around. Avenatti told CNN Friday that he'll decide if he's the fighter the party needs in the 'coming weeks,' leaving open the possibility that it could take longer than that. Michael Avenatti, the self-styled provocateur taking on the president on behalf of porn actress Stormy Daniels, has a message for Iowa Democrats: His foray into presidential politics is no stunt As the top 2020 presidential prospects largely steer clear of Iowa, Avenatti toured the State Fair on Thursday. He's set to appear Friday at the Democratic Wing Ding in Clear Lake. Organizers of the fundraiser for county Democratic organizations said they were happy to welcome him to an event that has drawn heavy hitters like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in past years. If anything, they said, he was boosting interest. 'Let's put it this way: Tickets are selling, and we're getting a lot of women buying tickets,' said Wing Ding chairman Randy Black, who said Avenatti reached out to say he was considering attending the event and they asked him if he would like to speak. The attorney who has become a fixture on national television is being shepherded around the early-voting state by former Clinton aide Matt Paul, CNN reported, in a sign of just how serious Avenatti is about launching a presidential bid. Avenatti said his visit to the State Fair included a stop at the butter cow - a cow sculpted in butter - two pork chops on a stick and plenty of conversation with people who recognized him and encouraged him to keep going. He strolled the fairgrounds drinking beer from a plastic cup and traded the gray suit for a blue gingham long-sleeved shirt and jeans, the typical dress code of a visiting politician. He is meeting with Democratic party officials Friday, as well as farmers affected by President Donald Trump's tariffs. 'I've been humbled over the last two days by the reaction that I received,' he said. Novelty candidates are nothing new to politically savvy Iowans. Indeed, Trump - who did not win the Republican caucuses but did win the state in the 2016 general election - was a reality star before he took to the campaign trail. Black said Avenatti could have a similar effect, noting: 'You have Trump, who opened up doors for people who never entered a political arena before. Michael Avenatti has done the same thing.' The similarities between Avenatti and his chosen nemesis don't stop there. Like Trump, Avenatti is a brash political outsider with a natural talent for cable television news, a blistering Twitter feed and a knack for a catchy slogan. He turned those tools against Trump as he represents Daniels and a growing list of critical clients. Whether the trash-talking, sharp-suited, telegenic attorney is the right fit for low-key Iowa in the long run is an open question, as is whether he'd actually want to subject himself to the grind of a campaign. He'll get his first stylistic test in Clear Lake, where Black says he has made clear that 'we're not here to bash, we're here to energize the base.' Avenatti, who attended high school in Missouri, got his legal training on the East Coast and built his law practice in Los Angeles, said his remarks would focus on 'how as a party we need to fight this fight. And what we need to fight for and who we need to fight for.' But he admitted his appeal was of the bare-knuckle variety, noting, 'I'm not cute and cuddly.' Democratic consultant Mary Anne Marsh said Avenatti deserves credit for being able to rile up Trump and Iowa Democrats deserve credit for bringing more attention to the fundraiser. 'The Iowa Democrats are many things. Dumb's not one,' she said. 'They know how to get attention. They know how to raise money. That doesn't mean Michael Avenatti is on the way to winning the Iowa caucuses.' Avenatti poses for a selfie with a fairgoer at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa Avenatti said his visit to the State Fair included a stop at the butter cow - a cow sculpted in butter - two pork chops on a stick and plenty of conversation with people who recognized him and encouraged him to keep going He strolled the fairgrounds drinking beer from a plastic cup and traded the gray suit for a blue gingham long-sleeved shirt and jeans, the typical dress code of a visiting politician Avenatti will share the stage Friday with Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, Maryland Rep. John Delaney and businessman Andrew Yang. Many top-tier prospects - including former Vice President Joe Biden and Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York - are avoiding Iowa so far. Amid his growing profile, Avenatti continues to represent Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. She has said she had sex with Trump in 2006, months after his third wife gave birth to their son, but Trump has denied it. Days before the 2016 presidential election, Daniels was paid $130,000 to stay silent in a deal handled by Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen. She is suing to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement. But Avenatti's reach has extended. In recent weeks, he has protested Trump in London, accepted an award in Denver and visited children in New York who had been separated from their parents at the U.S. border. He expects to devote more time to Democratic Party events in the coming weeks, with plans to appear in Ohio, Florida and Iowa (again). So far, Avenatti hasn't taken any other steps toward a run, like hiring staff or raising money, though he says he has heard from consultants. He describes his political philosophy as 'a Bill Clinton Democrat who embraces a few fundamental concepts of the progressive left,' such as 'Medicare for all.' And he argues that while he has no background in politics, 'I might argue that I'm certainly more well-versed in many concepts of government and the law than our sitting president.' 'You can have all the experience in the world, you can be the most qualified person in the world, you can have the deepest policy books in the history of the nation, but if you can't beat this guy, it doesn't matter,' he told CNN. Longtime Iowa Democratic activist Sue Dvorsky said she didn't see a downside in welcoming Avenatti to Iowa. 'The Wing Ding isn't a setup to have deep policy conversations. It's a Wing Ding, for God's sake!' she said. 'I think it's going to be fun, it's going to be entertaining and I think he's got something important to say.' Two men have been arrested and charged with a string of offences after police seized 300kg of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $30million. Detectives launched an investigation into a suspicious air freight that was flown into Sydney in July. ABF officers were able to locate a substance which returned a positive result for methamphetamine concealed within the shipment of noodles and Asian spices. A joint investigation by law enforcement agencies has uncovered 300kg of methamphetamine worth $30million in Sydney One kilogram of methamphetamine has an estimated street value of approximately $100,000 The methamphetamine will be tested further to determine the exact weight, purity and potential street value. The AFP and NSWPF received some of the substance for testing which lead to the arrest of two Sydney men. A 53-year-old man was arrested at his Bonnyrigg home while meeting with a 42-year-old Canley Vale man. Australian Federal Police, the Australian Border Force, the New South Wales Police Force and the NSW Crime Commission and Department of Home Affairs were all involved in the joint investigation The men were both charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and attempt to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs. The maximum penalty for both charges is a life sentence, the men are due to appear before the Sydney Central Local Court on Friday. AFP Organised Crime Manager, acting Commander Peter Bodel, said the arrests demonstrated the 'ability and responsiveness' shown by the joint investigation. Law enforcement agencies began to investigate a suspicious air freight which was flown into Sydney in July (stock image) 'This drug wreaks havoc on communities and impacts all across Australia,' he said. 'Stopping this importation has not only potentially saved lives, it has damaged a syndicate who will not receive the profit from their illicit drug trade.' ABF Investigations Commander Graeme Grosse said the seizure showed that the ABF was always committed to stopping the flow of illicit and drugs into the country. LARGE DRUG SEIZURES IN AUSTRALIAN December 2017: Law enforcement seize 1.2 tonnes of methamphetamine in Western Australia worth $1billion. April 2017: Victorian Law enforcement seize 903kg of methamphetamine worth $900million in Melbourne. July 2008: Queensland Police seize marijuana crop worth an estimated $500million near Stanthorpe. October 2010: AFP and Customs seize 464kg of cocaine from a luxury yacht moored at Scarborough. December 2006: NSW Police seize 18 million ecstasy tablets worh $540million August 2018: Queensland law enforcement seize 600kg of cocaine worth $210million August 2018: Joint police task force seize 300kg of methamphetamine worth $30million in Sydney Source: Maxim Advertisement 'Through the ABFs sophisticated detection capabilities and by working with our Home Affairs and state police colleagues we have stopped these drugs reaching the community,' he said. 'Todays result should serve as a warning to anyone attempting to bring these illegal, harmful substances into Australia.' 'This will not be tolerated by the ABF and our partners.' The syndicate behind the importation will now be a major focus of the investigation as the joint investigation will now link up with overseas partners. The largest seizure of methamphetamine in Australian history took place in 2017 when police seized 1.2 tonnes worth an estimated $1billion in the West Australian port town of Geraldton. The second biggest drug seizure in Australian history also happened in 2017 when Victorian police seized 903kg of methamphetamine, The Australian reported. Kanye West has defended his support of Donald Trump but called the president 'a player' when asked if he trusted him in the same room with his wife and refused to say if, like George W Bush, he thought the president didn't care about black people. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the controversial rapper and fashion designer talked about his support for Trump explaining that other people cannot control his actions. 'Just as a musician, African American, everyone around me tried to pick my candidate for me and then told me that I couldn't say that I like Trump,' he said. Kimmel went on to ask about Kim Kardashian's recent visit to the White House where she met with the president. 'Were you ever concerned about her being alone in the Oval Office with President Trump?' Kimmel asked. 'Well, he is a player,' Kanye joked. Kanye West appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday night the talk show host asked him about his support for Trump and mental illness When asked if he thinks that 'Donald Trump would care about black people,' West remained quiet, forcing Kimmel to go to commercial, thus never answering the question. 'There are families being torn apart at the border of this country,' Kimmel said, 'Whether we like his personality or not, his actions are what matter. You so famously and so powerfully said, "George Bush doesnt care about black people." What makes you think that Donald Trump does, or any people at all?' West tilted his head to think, said nothing and the show then went to break. The interview also toggled between light-hearted jokes and serious talks about West's mental disorder. The talk show host discussed his recent album Ye and the song I Thought About Killing You along with the quote on the album cover which reads: 'I hate being biopolar. It's awesome'. 'It's important for us to have open conversations about mental health,' Kanye said. 'We never had therapists in the black community.' The father-of-three went on to address his now infamous TMZ Live interview from May in which he said slavery 'sounds like a choice'. He reflected on the controversial moment positively as he said: 'What was awesome is the world got to really experience someone in a ramped-up state. And that's when you get these comments that just shoot out, almost like Tourette's.' Back in May he appeared on the gossip publication's show and infamously said: 'You were there for 400 years and it's all of y'all. It's like we're mentally imprisoned.' In December of 2016, Kayne West met with Trump and later vocalized his support for the president They continued to talk about his newest album and the song Violent Crimes. In the track Kanye addresses his two daughters - five-year-old North and six-month-old Chicago - as he expresses fear over them dating when they get older. Kimmel, 50, then asked him if having daughters has made the Gold Digger hitmaker change his views on women. West responded: 'Nah I still look at Pornhub.' The host jokingly asked about what his favorite genre of porn was to which Kanye sincerely responded: 'Blacked is my favorite category.' Kimmel then insisted that he actually didn't need to answer that but the Life Of Pablo hitmaker stood firm. Kanye said: 'What's the point of being Kanye West if you can't let's break down the porn categories. 'A lot of black on white, obviously.' Fake stars bearing Donald Trump's name have popped up on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after his original one was vandalized. A conservative street artist placed as many as 50 bogus Trump stars on the Walk of Fame on Thursday. The artist, who wants to remain anonymous, printed Trump's name on dozens of sheets of adhesive floor vinyl before sticking them randomly onto blank tiles along the sidewalk. Fake stars bearing Donald Trump's name popped up on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday after his original one was vandalized 'Rip up the president's Walk of Fame star or try to have it removed - like you're the mayor of West Hollywood or something - and 30 more will pop up,' the artist told The Hollywood Reporter. He said he was motivated by the destruction of Trump's star and the recent decision by the West Hollywood City Council to remove his name from the Walk of Fame because of his alleged treatment of women. 'I didn't want to get hit over the head from behind. We thought Trump Derangement Syndrome was a joke, but I'm pretty sure it's real. If no one peels these off, they could last there for 10 years,' the artist said. The West Hollywood City Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution seeking the removal of Trump's star. The artist said he was motivated by the recent destruction of Trump's star (above), which resulted in a 24-year-old man being charged with vandalism Trump's star has been barricaded off as it is repaired following the vandalism last month The council has no jurisdiction over the Walk of Fame in neighboring Hollywood, and voted only to urge the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which runs the attraction, to remove it. The council vote came after a man used a pickax to destroy the star last month and was charged with a felony count of vandalism. Austin Clay, 24, was charged with one felony count of vandalism over the destruction. The star, which has been repaired, recognized Trump for his work on the reality show 'The Apprentice.' It has become the setting for various anti-Trump protests since the Republican announced his presidential run in 2015. It has been pulverized before with heavy tools, only to be swiftly repaired. Advertisement Nazi paraphernalia and a barrage of imitation weaponry have been seized after a bikie clubhouse was raided as part of a wider criminal investigation. The seizure took place at the Fourth Reich's bikie den in Albion Park, 100km south of Sydney on Thursday night, in a bid to combat organised crime across the Illawarra. The clubhouse was raided in response to violence between rival bikie gangs throughout the otherwise-sleepy region. Nazi paraphernalia and a barrage of imitation weaponry have been seized after a bikie clubhouse was raided through a wider criminal investigation The seizure took place at the Fourth Reich's bikie den in Albion Park on Thursday night in a bid to combat organised crime across the Illawarra region Cannabis, offensive implements and an imitation firearm were among the haul collected by officers. This also included Fourth Reich colours Around 32 people were issued with consorting warnings, with images indicating how many people were present at the Albion Park base when the raid was made yesterday at 8pm Cannabis, offensive implements and an imitation firearm were among the haul which also included Fourth Reich colours. But perhaps most offensive was the slew of Nazi paraphernalia that has long been synonymous with the group. Among the items were jackets emblazoned with Nazi swastikas and enlarged signs baring the group's name and symbol. Following the raid, three people were booked for consorting while 32 more were issued consorting warnings. Thirteen defective cars and motorbikes were uncovered and 14 traffic infringements were issued. Men were forced to lay their hands out in front of them as police searched members of the club and the property itself Thirteen defective cars and motorbikes were uncovered and 14 traffic infringements were issued during the joint raid Many of the members of the club were wearing paraphernalia bearing 'Fourth Reich', including beanies, jumpers and leather cuts The Fourth Reich Motorcycle Club The Fourth Reich OMCG has a presence in Wollongong and the New South Wales South Coast. In 2013 the Queensland branches of the club were on a list of 26 clubs to be deemed as outlawed. This prevented recruitment or gatherings of more than three members at a time. The club's name has connections to Nazi Germany, known as The Third Reich, which is the third empire of Germany. In 2015 the Albion Park charter also made headlines when a man was arrested and charged with assault at the Fourth Reich Motorcycle Club's annual The Custom Bike and Tattoo Show charity event. The charges were later dismissed. Advertisement Potential gaming and license breaches were also discovered inside the premises. Now further investigations will be conducted into how the property was used - including potential declarations under the Restricted Premises Act. The dog and squad riot squads were among those at the involved in the raid which was led by Strike Force Raptor, a squad of elite police officers. Now further investigations will be conducted into how the property was used - including potential declarations under the Restricted Premises Act The dog and squad riot squads were among those at the involved in the raid which was led by Strike Force Raptor, a squad of elite police officers Images taken from the raid show men face down on the floor with their hands restrained behind their back. While others show the men lined up with their palms flat against the wall. Their heads are positioned facing the floor. New South Wales police officers who conducted the raid wore vests that read 'Raptor' under the standard 'police' identifier The dog and squad riot squads were among those at the involved in the raid which was led by Strike Force Raptor, a squad of elite police officers Jackets with the club's insignia, which has a swastika and Nazi symbols on it, were also examined by officers during the raid The men appear to have been patted down in the images. A man's lighter, keys, cigarettes and other belongings sit on the ground behind his right foot Jackets with the club's insignia, which has a swastika on it, were also examined by officers. The men appear to have been patted down in the images. A man's lighter, keys, cigarettes and other belongings sit on the ground behind his right foot The raid was an FPO search, which is a firearm protection order preventing someone from owning a firearm and ammunition of any type Chairs and bar stools were overturned as a result of the raid and men were kept with their heads on the ground during the raid The clubhouse, which appears to have a bar area, is also covered in the Nazi paraphernalia. Images from the raid show a dog on scene while men are laid on the floor. Chairs and bar stools are overturned as a result of the raid. Following the raid, three people were booked for consorting while 32 more were issued consorting warnings Several men who were at the Fourth Reich clubhouse during the raid had their possessions removed from on their person A statement from police read: 'Strike Force Raptor South conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity impacting on Southern NSW' The raid was conducted following a FPO, which is a firearm protection order. A firearm protection order prevents someone from having a gun or ammunition. In a statement police wrote: 'Strike Force Raptor South conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity impacting on Southern NSW.' One man was led away by police with his fingers interlocked and his hands pressed to the back of his head The family of a 43-year-old man who was arrested in Bali for allegedly trafficking cocaine through Indonesia have admitted that he has made mistakes. Ashley Robinson, Brendon Luke Johnsons stepfather, spoke of his stepsons incarceration during a press conference at Alexandra Headland in Queensland today. Obviously we love him very dearly but he has made some poor decisions in his life, Robinson said. Brendon Luke Johnson was presented alongside two females on Thursday, with them clad in orange suits and balaclavas as they stood surrounded by police And this ones obviously going to be the biggest mistake hes made, if its proved to be correct. Johnsons mother is said to be distraught about her sons situation, the Courier Mail reports, and the family have asked for privacy at this time. Robinson said that his stepsons involvement in drugs began when he was 16 years old, but this is allegedly the first time he has been in trouble with the law. Johnson (right) was arrested at a boarding house in Kuta with his girlfriend Remi (left) Robinson added that he didnt blame the Indonesians and instead wanted to thank them for looking after Johnson. He also stressed that his family 'absolutely hates drugs and what they do to families'. Johnson was presented alongside two females on Thursday, with them pictured clad in orange suits and balaclavas as they stood surrounded by police. Local reports stated he had bought cocaine worth 39 Million Rupiah, about $3730, from a fourth person, who is under investigation. Johnson, who was staying in Kuta in Bali, could face 20 years in prison for allegedly using and trafficking cocaine on the resort island, police said. Johnson - who's passport lists him as born in South Brisbane - was arrested on Saturday about 11pm at a boarding house in Kuta, with his girlfriend Remi. Johnson (pictured), who was staying in Kuta in Bali, could face 20 years in prison for allegedly using and trafficking cocaine on the resort island, Denpasar Police revealed Police also received information about a woman called Bena, who others revealed was a frequent drug user, Denpasar Police chief Hadi Purnomo said. In a raid of her boarding house, they allegedly found a pack of cocaine in her pocket, two packets in a sanitary pad package and one inside a pillow. 'Based on information from Bena, police raided a boarding house of Remi in Jalan Mataram, Kuta. When police raided the house there are two people inside, Remi and her western boyfriend, Brendon.' Police raided a boarding house in Jalan, Mataram, Kuta, where they found Remi and Johnson Police searches at the house found 13 packages of cocaine stashed in a wallet and inside a cardboard box that was put in the floor of their boarding house. According to Police, Johnson admitted the cocaine was for him and that he had bought a large amount of the substance from a man called Made, on August 3. Bena was allegedly promised payment from Johnson for selling four packages. Police alleged both Johnson and Remi admitted to using cocaine for five years and neither had been arrested. The Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe was parked in Kent Town in inner Adelaide A Mercedes-Benz worth more than $400,000 has been spray-painted with words including 'cheater' and 'man w****'. The $410,000 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe was parked in Kent Town, an Adelaide inner urban suburb. A woman, who appeared to be in her 20s, drove up in an Mercedes G Wagon before 12.30pm, got out of her car and spray-painted it. The $410,000 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe was parked in Kent Town, an Adelaide inner urban suburb As well as defacing the car with spray paint the woman also smashed the car windows with a bat After spraying words over the car in black paint the woman returned to her vehicle and took out a bat. Witnesses told The Advertiser: 'She took to the car with a bat, smashed up the mirrors on the side that says "cheater". 'This is a reason why you probably park your car in a private carpark and if you want the security of apartment living you should probably secure your car as well.' The group of witnesses said that the woman sprayed words such as 'cheater', 'man w****' and 's***' on the car. They also said the woman appeared 'calm' as she carried out the act. She then got in her car and drove away. The person who owns the vehicle is understood not to have seen the damage to the car yet. South Australia Police spokesperson said that they are aware and will be following up with the owner. However a formal report has not been made. Passengers hit out at Ryanair today as hundreds of flights - including at least 50 into and out of Britain - will not take off as planned due to pilot strikes in five countries. Staff in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands are holding a 24-hour walkout over pay and conditions at the peak of the busy summer season. At least 400 Ryanair flights have been cancelled as a result, which has forced passengers who planned on travelling today to rebook or take different routes. Passengers sleep after Ryanair flights were cancelled at Berlin Schoenefeld Airport today Ryanair passengers line up at the ticket counter as Diego Gomez (right) from Mexico sits on the terminal floor at Berlin Schoenefeld Airport this morning Passengers are seen at Terminal A of Berlin Schoenefeld Airport during the pilot strike today Ryanair planes have a capacity of 189, meaning more than 74,000 passengers could be affected, and it said they have been offered refunds or to reroute their journey. The Irish budget airline, which is based in Swords, Dublin, called the strikes 'regrettable and unjustified' and urged unions to come back to the negotiating table. But pilots counter that Ryanair has refused to engage in meaningful dialogue about collective labour agreements since it began recognising unions in December 2017. Among the affected passengers was singer-songwriter Pierre Lewis from Reading, who had his return flight from Berlin cancelled. One customer described the airline as a 'headache', complaining they had had difficulty getting a quick response after contacting the firm on their live chat He told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: 'The rather cheeky thing is they sent an email saying if you want to change your flight, which is free supposedly, but when you go on there and you try to change the date, you have to pay the difference. The fact that this has happened, the flights onwards from today have spiralled up, as I'm sure you would imagine, and I simply wasn't happy to pay the difference. 'I don't think it's fair that we should and I think that Ryanair should very much take responsibility for this.' One customer described the airline as a 'headache', complaining they had had difficulty getting a quick response after contacting the firm on their live chat. They tweeted: 'Ryanair cancelled my flight in the last min because of pilots strike. They offer me to change my tickets online which it's not possible because of their system crash. No one is on the phone and livechat. They even don't do a refund. Ryanair is an headache.' Ryanair pilots strike at Dublin Airport today as hundreds of flights will not take off as planned Empty check-in desks at Manchester Airport are pictured this morning during the strike Belgian Ryanair pilots take part in a protest this morning during the wider European strike Another customer said she would miss work meetings and a doctor's appointment due to a cancelled flight. She wrote: 'Many thanks to Ryanair for cancelling my flight home and ensuring all of the de-stressing I have done on this trip is cancelled out in an instant.' Germany will be worst hit, with 250 cancellations at ten airports after the country's Cockpit union called on pilots towalk out from 3.01am local time (2.01am BST). It accused Ryanair of 'categorically' ruling out higher personnel costs for cockpit crew, leaving no room for a compromise. 'Ryanair alone is responsible for the escalation we are now seeing,' Cockpit president Martin Locher told a press conference on Wednesday. Ryanair aircraft are parked on the ground at Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Belgium today A passenger stands in front of an electronic display board at Frankfurt Airport today Passengers wait at a Ryanair check-in counter today at Brussels South Charleroi Airport In the Netherlands, Ryanair filed for an urgent court order to try to stop Dutch pilots from joining the industrial action. Strikes give Ryanair another headache Today's unprecedented simultaneous strike action by Ryanair pilots is the latest headache in a turbulent summer for Europe's second-largest airline. It already suffered a round of strikes by cockpit and cabin crew last month that disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers. Ryanair, which flies in 37 countries and carried 130million people last year, averted widespread Christmas strikes last year by agreeing to recognise trade unions for the first time in its 33-year history. But since then it has struggled to reach agreements. The company is eyeing profits of around 1.25billion (1.12billion) this year, and boasts lower costs per passenger than its competitors. But Ryanair pilots say they earn less than counterparts at other airlines like Lufthansa. Unions also want the airline to give contractors the same work conditions as staff employees. Another key complaint of workers based in countries other than Ireland is the fact that Ryanair employs them under Irish legislation, arguing most of its employees work on Irish planes. Staff claim this creates huge insecurity for them, blocking their access to state benefits in their country. Advertisement But the Haarlem District Court yesterday ruled against the airline. 'The strike may go ahead,' a judge said. Around 22 flights from Eindhoven airport could be hit. But Ryanair insisted in a statement that 'there will be no cancellations (of flights to and from the Netherlands) as a result of the unnecessary strike action by the Dutch pilot union.' It later added in another statement that despite the 'regrettable and unjustified strike action' more than 2,000 flights - 85 per cent of its schedule - would operate as normal across Europe. Customers were notified as early as possible and a majority of those affected had already been moved to another Ryanair flight, the airline added. At a Frankfurt press conference on Wednesday, Ryanair's chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said the company's German pilots enjoy 'excellent working conditions'. He said they earn up to 190,000 (170,000), which was more than their peers at budget rival Eurowings made. He added that Ryanair had already offered a 20 per cent pay rise this year, and 80 per cent of its pilots in Germany were now on permanent contracts. Ryanair has repeatedly said it remained open to further talks with pilot representatives. But its combative chief executive Michael O'Leary has also warned the airline may shift jobs and planes to more profitable areas if the turmoil continues. It has already threatened to move part of its Dublin fleet to Poland, which could cost 300 jobs, including 100 pilot positions. Belgium-based Ryanair pilots gather at Brussels Charleroi Airport this morning for the strike A Ryanair billboard is seen outside as passengers sleep at Berlin Schoenefeld Airport today Ryanair pilots in Brussels protest slow progress in negotiating a collective labour agreement Unions have strongly condemned what they see as Ryanair's attempts to play countries off against each other. Peter Scherrer, deputy secretary general of the European Trade Union Confederation, said he welcomed today's cross-border show of unity by pilots. He claimed it made it harder for management to ignore their demands, adding: 'I think it also sends a signal to other companies where workers are played off against each other.' Ryanair alone is responsible for the escalation we are now seeing Martin Locher, Cockpit president A Ryanair spokesman said: 'Ryanair took every step to minimise the disruption and we notified our customers as early as possible advising them of their free move, refund or reroute options. 'The majority of customers have already been accommodated on another Ryanair flight. We want to again apologise to customers affected by this unnecessary disruption and we ask the striking unions to continue negotiations instead of calling any more unjustified strikes.' In June Ryanair signed an agreement with the Unite union in Britain, giving hundreds of cabin crew employees full consultation rights and collective bargaining. The airline said at the time that it was 'a further sign of the progress Ryanair is making with trade unions since our December 2017 decision to recognise them'. The Unite agreement came six months after the airline signed what was described as an 'historic' recognition deal with the trade union representing pilots. Under the agreement, the British Airline Pilots' Association was recognised as the sole trade union representing all of Ryanair's 600 employed pilots based in the UK. Australia's broadcasting media watch dog has cleared the ABC over a recent comedy sketch which labelled a political candidate a 'c***'. The comedy skit, which was aired on March 15 on Tonightly with Tom Ballard, was centred around renaming a suburb which was named after Melbournes founder John Batman. Comedian Greg Larsen took on the role of a public servant in the skit and suggested the suburb be renamed 'Batman is a c***' because of Batman's poor treatment of Indigenous Australians. Australia's broadcasting media watch dog has cleared the ABC over a recent sketch on one of their comedy programs where comedian Greg Larsen (pictured) labeled a political candidate a c*** That is when things looked to go off script, The Daily Telegraph reported. Larsen then decided to break from character and call Conservative political candidate for Batman, Kevin Bailey, a c***. Bailey turned down an interview with the show prior to the skit going to air. The sketch was referred to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) by Communications Minister Mitch Fifield. The segment was shown live on the ABC's Tonightly with Tom Ballard (pictured) on March 15 Bailey (pictured), a former SAS officer, is a member of the Australian Conservatives party The ACMA cleared the segment and ABC of any wrong doing. 'The ACMAs investigation found that singling out a person in this way was likely to have offended some viewers but that most viewers would have understood the remarks to be comedic rather than a genuine attack,' a statement from the ACMA read. 'The ACMA found the coarse language used in the satirical segment was offensive but was editorially justified and could be accommodated in the MA15+ classification.' Bailey, a former SAS officer, is a member of the Australian Conservatives party. After the announcement Australian Conservatives leader Senator Cory Bernardi released a statement. 'Its one thing if the commercial stations think there is a market for crassness and abuse of conservatives, but it is entirely inappropriate for this to be paid for by the Australian taxpayer,' he said. 'The ABC is out of control and needs to be dramatically trimmed back to its core business of providing news and current affairs particularly for rural and regional areas.' A spokeswoman for the ABC told Daily Mail Australia they had nothing further to add to the ACMA statement. US forces have launched airstrikes to counter a strategic Taliban assault on a key Afghan city. Terrified Ghazni residents cowered in their homes amid explosions and gunfire as security forces fought to beat the insurgents back. Taliban fighters armed with heavy weapons tried to overrun the provincial capital, located on the key highway between Kabul and Kandahar, last night. Smoke rises into the air after Taliban militants launched an attack on the Afghan city Ghazni US attack helicopters and drone aircraft helped government forces fight back. At least 14 police officers were killed overnight. But a spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan said fighting had 'ceased' as of Friday morning. The assault comes as pressure builds on the insurgents to enter peace talks. Ghazni has been under threat from Taliban fighters for months. Sporadic gunfire continued to echo amid intermittent clashes, with officials telling residents to stay in their homes as Taliban fighters roamed the streets. Power has been cut to the area since fighting erupted. Earlier residents described heavy gunfire ringing out and a government building set on fire. 'We are scared for our life. The Taliban are roaming everywhere in and around the city,' shopkeeper Mohammad Haleem said. Another resident, Yasan, said the Taliban were using loudspeakers at the mosque to warn residents to stay in their homes. 'Heavy explosions and gunfire can be heard. We are terrified,' Yasan wrote in a Facebook post. Civilian houses and army checkpoints came under mortar attack and the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters were in the streets, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori said. The US said that the city remained under government control. 'U.S. Forces responded with close-air support this morning in #Ghazni,' the official account for US Forces in Afghanistan tweeted Friday. 'Afghan forces held their ground and maintain control of all government centres. Another failed attempt by Taliban to seize terrain, while creating strategically inconsequential headlines,' it continued. Taliban fighters armed with heavy weapons tried to overrun the provincial capital last night 'Initial reports indicate minimal Afghan security force casualties,' the US spokesman said, adding that American forces deployed attack helicopters and conducted a drone strike in the response. Baz Mohammad Himmat, head of the civilian hospital in Ghazni, said at least 16 people had been killed in the melee, including 14 soldiers and two residents. A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban had suffered heavy casualties in the onslaught and confirmed the airstrikes. Police special forces have also been deployed to help block the Taliban advance, an Afghan security official said. The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured 'most of the government buildings inside the city', and claiming to have killed and wounded 140 security forces. The insurgents frequently exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay losses incurred during fighting. Two men in their forties have been arrested in a police raid that led officers to seize numerous guns, hard drugs and cash. Detectives executed two search warrants at properties about 40 kilometres south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District on Friday morning. Dandenong Divisional Response Unit investigators visited the two properties in Cranbourne and Cranbourne North at 5.30am where they made arrests. Two men were arrested in Melbourne's south-east on Friday morning at 5.30am (pictured) Detectives executed warrants at Cranbourne and Cranbourne North properties (pictured) 'Investigators allegedly found and seized a quantity of liquid believed to be GHB, crystalline substance believed to be methylamphetamine and cash,' Leading Senior Constable Paul Turner said in a statement. Officers arrested a 43-year-old man at the Cranbourne North crime scene. Detectives also investigated a property nearby where they found a number of guns and more drugs. 'Police seized two firearms, a sawn off shotgun and large calibre rifle, and a quantity of what is alleged to be methylamphetamine and heroin,' said Leading Senior Constable Turner. A 42-year-old Cranbourne man was arrested. The two men are will be interviewed by officers to assist investigators with their enquiries. Investigators allegedly seized meth and cash at one home and guns and drugs at other The brothers who brutally attacked a McDonald's manager as their father stood and watched have been named as Daniel Miller, 20, and Mcauley Simon Miller aged 17. A video of the pair drunkenly punching a restaurant manager in Lincolnshire went viral earlier this week as the internet struggled to understand why nobody stopped them. It has now been revealed the brothers are well known in the area of Bourne, Lincolnshire, where they were reportedly kicked out of school, The Sun Online reports. Nathan Whittemore, 27, was repeatedly punched by the brothers in Boston, Lincolnshire, on Tuesday but stood his ground to protect his staff. The mother of the pair has apologised after the footage was shared on Facebook thousands of times. Daniel Miller, 20, and Mcauley Simon Miller, 17, have been revealed as the brothers who attacked McDonald's manager Nathan Whittemore Tattooed Daniel Miller poses with his girlfriend. He and his brother are facing a social media storm over their actions The boys relatives however praised them online. Both boys are pictured posing in the gym and taking selfies. Lynne Wright wrote: 'No matter wot (sic) goes on in your life I'm proud of you and sending love xxxx.' However neighbours said they are troublemakers. A neighbour said: 'It's poor behaviour but not totally surprising. 'Those brothers belong to a big extended family. You hear them before you see them coming.' The victim Mr Whittemore, who stands at 6ft 4ins, told The Sun Online he stepped in after the pair drunkenly abused a colleague. When he went to confront them he was set upon at around 11pm. He said: 'I was aware that there were young children and families inside the restaurant so I had to remain calm and try and stay professional. 'But it was extremely hard considering they were hitting me in the face and pulling on my shirt. 'I was only left with a few bumps and marks around my neck and back because they were pulling my uniform. It didn't hurt, luckily they didn't hit that hard I'll live.' Mr Whittemore has been hailed as a hero online and at home his wife Katie said she is 'proud of him' but cannot bring herself to see the brutal footage. Nathan Whittemore, 27, was attacked at work as he tried to help a colleague. His wife Katie (right) has not seen the viral video The manager - whose wife Katie admitted she cannot bring herself to watch the footage - even went back to work the next day, despite being offered the day off. Although he does not see himself as a hero, Mr Whittemore said he could smell alcohol on the brothers and knew he had to step in. The footage shows one of the teenagers throwing punches at the manager, grabbing onto his collar and using his other hand to deliver the vicious blows, after he approached them. The other teen then joins in on the attack, as both thrash the employee. He said: 'It's not my job to take a beating, but it's my job to make sure my staff and customers feel safe and we have a zero tolerance policy towards bad behaviour. 'If the same thing happened again I wouldn't do anything differently. I was just glad when they left.' Hero Nathan (pictured with wife Katie) was attacked at around 11pm on Tuesday but stood his ground and got the two teenage thugs out of his restaurant The mother of the teenagers caught 'drunkenly' attacking a McDonald's manager sent this message to apologise for their behaviour The mother of the two teenagers has apologised for their 'unacceptable' behaviour. In a Facebook message seen by MailOnline the mother said she is 'very sad and ashamed my boys would do this', before promising to 'deal with the situation'. Witness Jasmine Brudenall, 28, captured the brawl on camera, which started when the manager told them to leave for locking an employee in a cupboard and 'flicking' his cap. When they refused the pair erupted in a fit of rage and launched themselves at the manger, who was forced to fend for himself when no one stepped in. Ms Brudenall, of Boston, said the pair were accompanied by their father and all three had been drinking. The mother also confessed she has been sent 'hate comments' over the incident and begged for them to stop. The video starts with Mr Whittemore trying to shield the other smaller employee from the two lawless teenagers, who are acting aggressively towards the two staffers. Nearby customers have their backs turned away from the scene but can be seen laughing about the situation. This is the shocking moment two teen thugs attacked McDonald's manager Nathan after they were told to leave, as stunned diners watch the brawl but don't intervene on Tuesday night Bystander Jasmine Brudenall, from Boston, Lincolnshire, filmed the disgraceful attack at the fast food restaurant location on Tuesday around 11pm Jasmine said: 'The tall McDonald's worker went up to them and nicely asked ''I'm going to have to ask you to leave''. 'I sensed it was going to erupt. Sometimes you can tell when someone is so drunk that there is no chance of reasoning with them.' She said the young men were shouting abuse at workers behind the counter and picked on a smaller employee, who had been locked in a cupboard as they 'flicked' his cap Jasmine added: 'They were so intoxicated, There was no stopping this they would have hit anyone who got in the way. 'The other side of where people were eating were kids and old people. All the other guys were friends with them and carried on laughing.' Jasmine said that a man in the building was one of the boy's father. She said he had been drinking too, and once the brawl started he left and got into his truck. At one point, one of the teenager tackles the worker to the ground, but still no one intervenes to help. The scuffle lasts around 30 seconds with the McDonald's manager holding his own against the two yobs, managing to push them towards the door before the video ends. Katie Whittemore has revealed she has been unable to watch the footage of her husband being attacked Hero McDonald's fight manager Nathan Whittemore and wife Katie. Katie has said she is proud of him Nathan Whittemore and Katie Whittemore live in Lincolnshire where they work as managers When the manager asked them to leave, they erupted in a rage and attacked the employee, who was left to fend for himself because no one stepped in to help Jasmine added that once they were near the exit, the teens attacked the manager another two times. She said: 'When outside at the front off the store they, used a metal bar they pulled off door and tried to hit him. 'The McDonald's staff member took a lot of punches. After they'd gone, [he] went into the back.' Police arrived to the scene around ten minutes after the thugs left, Jasmine said. The ashes of a man who died six years ago at a music festival were stolen after thieves broke into his mother's home. Adriana Buccianti was taken aback when she discovered her house in Wollart, Victoria, had been robbed. The sight of the mess left behind by the burglars wasn't as heartbreaking as facing the fact that her dead son's last known remains had gone missing. Adriana Buccianti (right) found her son's (left) ashes were missing after a robbery yesterday Her son, Daniel Buccianti, died after consuming a 'really bad acid' at the the Rainbow Serpent Festival in 2012. The robbers who broke in to her house yesterday stole jewellery and a blue box containing her son's ashes. Ms Buccianti told the ABC, the box which had her son's ashes looked like a dark 'blue brick'. Daniel Buccianti (above) died of consuming a 'really bad acid' at the the Rainbow Serpent Festival in 2012 The box, which was placed on the bedside table before being stolen, was wrapped in a cover made from made from a pair of her son's favourite jeans. Ms Buccianti told Daily Mail Australia that the box has been found with her son's ashes inside on Friday. She said the box had been thrown into a recycle bin in Melton before being found by a woman who then handed it to the police. Adriana Buccianti (above) said she could not understand why anyone would steal her son's ashes. She told the Daily Mail Australia the ashes had been found on Friday in a recycle bin in Melton She said she could not understand why would anyone do that. 'There's nothing to indicate that it's a jewellery box,' she said. 'I felt like he's gone twice.' Reportedly, her father died four weeks ago and she had placed his ashes in another box in the next room which was not stolen. Brazil's reputation as the murder capital of the world was confirmed after the country beat its own record for the number of homicides in a single year. The South American country saw 63,880 killed in 2017, a 3.7 per cent rise on the previous year, according to the Brazilian Forum of Public Security (BFPS). The figures come just months before a presidential election in which violence has become a key issue. Brazil broke its own record for the number of murders in a single year after 63,880 people were slain in 2017 (file image) The country also saw an 8 per cent increase in rapes, up to 60,018, while the number of women murdered rose to 4,539, up 6 per cent. In 2017, Brazil had a murder rate of 30.8 per 100,000 people, up from 29.9 in 2016. The figures were published in a yearbook by the BFPS, an independent organisation that tracks national crime statistics. Triggered by ever-more violent gangs capitalising on tighter law enforcement budgets and a political void in the wake of massive graft scandals, growing violence is a key voter concern ahead of the October election. Far-right lawmaker Jair Bolsonaro, who leads polling in the presidential race excluding jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, wants to loosen gun laws and toughen up policing to tackle the rise in violence. His popularity has forced opponents including centrist former governor Geraldo Alckmin to join forces with law-and-order conservatives to bolster their crime-fighting credentials. There was also an 8 per cent increase in rapes, up to 60,018, while the number of women murdered rose to 4,539 (file image) The yearbook data showed that many of the record number of murders, which includes police killed in the line of duty, were concentrated in Brazil's poorer northeastern states. The state of Rio Grande do Norte had the highest murder rate in 2017, with 68 murders per 100,000 people, followed by Acre, in the far west of the country bordering Peru, with 63.9 per 100,000 people. The wealthier state of Sao Paulo had the lowest murder rate of any state, with 10.7 homicides per 100,000 people. In the absence of comprehensive federal crime data, the BFPS collects official state-level data and is used as a reference by the federal government. An Israeli government minister has called for Hamas leaders to be assassinated in the wake of this week's violence and exchange of fire in Gaza. Culture Minister Miri Regev demanded state-sanctioned targeted killings of leaders of the Palestinian Islamist group, saying 'if our children live in fear, then Hamas should live in fear'. Her comments followed two days of fighting, beginning with an alleged '180 rockets and mortars' being fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Wednesday, which saw Israel respond with airstrikes. Today, both Hamas and Israel appear to be honouring a cease-fire allegedly negotiated by Egypt. Controversial: Culture Minister Miri Regev called for state-sanctioned assassinations of Hamas leaders in the wake of this week's exchange of fire between Gaza and Israel Palestinian Hamas-run media reported that an Egypt-brokered deal had taken hold 'on the basis of mutual calm', however, Israel's government has not confirmed such a truce. Visiting local leaders in Israeli communities near the Gaza strip, Mrs Regev said: 'The equation should be very simple: If our children live in fear, then the leadership of Hamas should live in fear. 'We must go back to the policy of targeted assassinations of leaders of this murderous terrorist group,' she told The Jerusalem Post. Mrs Regev is a former Brigadier-general in the Israel Defense Forces and a former IDF spokesperson who has become known for her controversial political statements. In 2012 the mother-of-three infamously declared Sudanese asylum seekers in Israel 'a cancer on our body'. She has been Minister for Culture and Sport since 2015 and has served as acting Prime Minister when Benjamin Netanyahu has been abroad. Israel's Iron Dome defence system launches an interceptor missile as rockets are launched from Gaza toward the southern city of Sderot The debris of Said Al-Mashal Foundation for Arts and Culture building after Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in the strip's capital city A wounded Palestinian boy is brought into al-Shifa hospital on Thursday following the Israeli air strike on Gaza City Smoke rises from buildings in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes rained down on the independently governed territory in what the government says was retaliation for Hamas strikes This week's fighting saw Israel hit some 150 facilities belonging to Hamas in retaliation for '180 rockets and mortar bombs' allegedly fired from the strip on Wednesday night. The Israeli airstrikes overnight on Wednesday killed three Palestinians, including a 23-year-old pregnant woman and her 18-month-old daughter. A source within Israel's military warned Thursday that 'a full-blown military confrontation in the Gaza Strip' was near and its government could start evacuating citizens near the border. Thursday evening, at least two rockets allegedly fired from the Gaza Strip landed in Israel on Thursday night, according to the country's authorities, including just outside Beersheba. Although nobody was injured, it marked the first time since 2014 that a rocket had penetrated that deep inside the country, according to the country's media. Children negotiate the smoky streets of Gaza following the bombardment today as the Israelis claimed they were retaliating against Hamas strikes Smoke rises from an explosion after an Israeli airstrike on the Saidd al-Mis'hal cultural centre in Gaza City on Thursday People inspect the rubble of a building after it was destroyed by an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on Thursday Palestinians inspect the ruins of the Said al-Mishal Cultural Center building which was left completely destroyed A child crawls over the rubble of the cultural centre building which was wrecked by the Israeli air strike An aerial view of the wreckage of the Said al-Mishal Cultural Centre in the west of Gaza City after the air strike Shortly after, an Israeli airstrike flattened the five-story cultural center in the Shati refugee camp, a crowded neighbourhood of Gaza City. The airstrike set off a powerful explosion and sent a huge plume of black smoke into the air, causing crowds to scream in panic. Medical officials said at least seven bystanders were wounded. The building is home to a popular theatre and exhibits plays and other shows on a daily basis. An Egyptian-Palestinian cultural society also has an office in the building. 'The deliberate targeting of a cultural center with airstrikes and destruction ... is a barbaric act,' said Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman. He said the destruction of the Egyptian cultural office was 'an Israeli attempt to sabotage' the Egyptian cease-fire efforts. The Israeli military said the building served as a Palestinian military installation. Hamas' Interior Ministry, including its secret police, has offices in an adjacent site, but those offices were not hit. Before tensions calmed, a senior Israeli Defence Force officer told the Times of Israel: 'We are rapidly nearing a confrontation. Hamas is making serious mistakes, and we may have to make it clear after four years that this path doesn't yield any results for it and isn't worth it.' People inspect the debris of Said Al-Mashal Foundation for Arts and Culture building after Israeli forces conducted airstrikes, in the western part of Gaza City Palestinians turned out in droves to carry the bodies of an 18-month-old and her pregnant mother after officials say they were killed in an Israeli air strike on Thursday Mourners gather around the coffin, draped in a Palestinian flag, as the mother and daughter were carried through the centre of the strip following the Israeli bombardment Palestinian mourners carry the bodies of 23-year-old Enas Khammash and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan, during their funeral in Deir Al-Balah Palestinians inspect the ruins of Said Al-Mashal Foundation for Arts and Culture building after Israeli forces bombarded the western part of Gaza City The people of Gaza survey the destruction wrought by Israeli forces as the bombarded the strip in retaliation for alleged Hamas strikes Palestinians walk through the smoke-filled streets of Gaza after Israelis bombarded the western part of the strip's capital city today An explosion rocks Gaza following an Israeli air strike tonight after rockets were fired from the enclave Explosions were heard across Gaza City last on Wednesday, leaving several people injured On Thursday, Mourners in Gaza carried the bodies of 18-month-old Bayan Khammash and her pregnant 23-year-old mother, Enas, after they died in an air strike. The coffin was carried through Deir Al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, after Enas' husband was injured in the bombardment, according to officials in the self-governing territory. The United Nations late Wednesday called on the sides to step 'back from the brink'. It was the third major escalation since July and came despite attempts by UN officials and Egypt to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008. In yesterday's skirmishes, smoke plumes could be seen rising from Gaza City following the military's announcement it was targeting 'terror sites in the Gaza Strip'. The strikes came after two rockets launched from the coastal enclave hit the town of Sderot, near Gaza's northern border, police and the army said. One person was lightly wounded by shrapnel while several others were treated for shock in Sderot, the United Hatzalah medical service said. Smoke rises following Israeli air strikes on Hamas sites in Gaza City Smoke plumes rising following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City tonight. Injuries were reported on both sides of the conflict An explosion begins to rise into the air above Gaza City after an Israeli missile detonated there on Wednesday evening Boys walk past a fence in the Israeli town of Sderot damaged by an earlier round of rocket fire from Gaza last month Sirens were sounded in several areas close to the border with Gaza, warning residents to seek immediate shelter, the Israeli army said. 'As of now, 36 rocket launches were identified from Gaza towards Israel,' the army wrote on Twitter. The majority hit open areas while four were intercepted, it said. Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for all fire coming from the long-blockaded coastal territory. Israeli television broadcast images of a house and cars reportedly damaged by the rockets in Sderot. Parts of the town have been closed off and police bomb disposal units were at the scene of the strikes, a spokesman for the force said. The strikes came after two fighters from the military wing of Hamas, which rules Gaza, were killed by Israeli fire on Tuesday. Hamas warned Israel - with which it has fought three wars since 2008 - it would pay for the attack. The escalation comes after the Hamas leadership convened for a rare meeting in Gaza on Friday. The gathering had raised hopes a deal for a lasting truce with Israel, with the backing of Egypt and the United Nations. Clashes along the Gaza border since the end of March have seen at least 160 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire. One Israeli soldier has been shot dead by a Palestinian sniper. A 58-year-old Spanish woman died when the car she was in plunged down a steep hillside into a reservoir after her husband got out to take a photo. The husband has today been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, but he claims he only realized his wife was still in the car when it had disappeared over the edge of a beauty spot near Alarcon, Cuenca province on Wednesday. Footage of the horrific incident, accidentally captured by a witness, showed their Land Rover Discovery plunging out of control towards the reservoir. The camera first films the reservoir, when someone shouts and a loud crashing noise can be heard. The camera then turns to show a white car hurtling down from the road some 50ft above the water, rolling and crashing into the cliff face as it falls. Debris is sent flying into the air as the car rolls bonnet-first towards the reservoir before crashing into the water. Police divers recovered the victim's body late on Wednesday and the vehicle was recovered yesterday. The unnamed victim has been identified as a 58-year-old woman from Spain's north-east region of Catalonia. Shocking: Video footage captured by a witness shows the Land Rover with the 58-year-old woman inside coming down the hillside near Alarcon, Cuenca province, Spain The victim's husband, who has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, told police he had only realized his wife was still in the car when it had disappeared over the edge She had been travelling with her husband on a on a road trip around Spain when they stopped at a popular beauty spot called Plaza de Armas above the reservoir. Alarcon mayor Pedro Parraga told local press the husband claimed he only realised his wife was still inside the vehicle when it was already on its way down the hillside. He said: 'There's a wonderful view at that spot. The husband got out to take a photo and thought she she had got out of the vehicle as well but she stayed inside the car. 'When he turned round, the car had gone over the side.' The husband has today been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and is expected to appear in court later today or tomorrow. Tragic: The car lands in the reservoir and police later recovered her body from the water Tests will take place on the car he was driving to see if there was a mechanical failure. A police source said: 'There has been an arrest, of the partner of the dead woman. He has been arrested for a crime of manslaughter.' A spokesman for the local Civil Guard said a local court was coordinating the ongoing investigation and he was not in a position to say anything. He said: 'Police divers recovered the body of a woman from the inside of a vehicle in the reservoir late on Wednesday night. 'The car was retrieved yesterday.' A police search is underway to find two missing teenage girls who told their parents they were sleeping at each other's houses. Jayden Hassan, from Croydon in London, and J'Nea Beecher, from Southwark in London, have been missing since 4pm on Monday, when they both left their homes. The schoolgirls, both 14, told their parents they would be staying over for the night at each other's south London homes. Jayden Hassan (left) and J'Nea Beecher (right) have been missing since August 6 and are believed to be together in the Essex area Yet by Tuesday afternoon, both sets of parents realised the daughters were not where they said, and contacted the police. The Metropolitan Police are investigating their disappearance and believe they are likely to be together. Officers understand they may be in the Essex area. Jayden is described as white, 5ft 4ins with green/ blue eyes and curly frizzy shoulder length hair. She has a silver nose ring and was last spotted wearing a white crop top, demin blue jean shorts, a yellow/ orange cropped jumped with a black strip down each arm, with black pumps with white soles. J'Nea is described as black, 5ft 11ins tall with a slim build. She has natural afro shoulder length black hair and was wearing a white camisole top, pink shorts with rips and black trainers. Police are asking anyone who knows the current whereabouts of Jayden and J'Nea to call police on 101. A group of Italian grandmothers are winning the hearts of young people across the world after being featured on a YouTube channel where they teach traditional ways to make pasta. Food writer Vicky Bennison, 59, runs the channel which went viral this week, when it's subscribers jumped from 45,000 to 178,000. The Pasta Grannies, or nonnes, was started four years ago when Ms Bennison jetted to her second home in Italy from south London. The Pasta Grannies , or nonnes, was started four years ago when Vicky Bennison jetted to her second home in Italy from south London Food writer Vicky Bennison (pictured), 59, runs the channel which went viral this week, when it's subscribers jumped from 45,000 to 178,000 The Pasta Grannies have caught a new wind of fame this week after their subscription figures almost quadrupled in a week Since, she's travelled to kitchens all across the country, made more than 170 videos and racked up 1.8million views in the process. The Grannies, some in their nineties, want to preserve the traditional methods and share them with the world as increasing numbers of young Italians opt for dried pasta and ready made sauce over making it from scratch. 'The Italian family is changing. Divorce is now a commonplace in Italy. The birth-rate is declining. 'Women are going out to work. They buy their pasta in the supermarket. They get their sauces in jars. 'In twenty years time, a new generation of Grannies wont even know how to cook pasta from scratch. We are on the cusp of losing something precious. So I decided to do something about it' Ms Bennison told the History Girls blog. The most popular video shows Salvatora making Filindeu pasta, that's only prepared by three women in its native Sardinia prepare. Another, also in Sardinia, shows 95-yea-old Giuseppa Porcu, who has more than 80 years experience preparing a macarrones de unghia with a tomoato sauce and basil leaves. Comments include 'that is beyond cooking. That is a freaking work of art' and 'looks divine! I want to make this!' Ms Bennison originally planned to write a book about the grannies, but has decided her audience needed to see the grannies make it to appreciate it fully. The grannies, some in their nineties, want to preserve the traditional methods and share them with the world as increasing numbers of young Italians opt for dried pasta and ready made sauce over making it from scratch Ms Bennison originally planned to write a book about the grannies, but has decided her audience needed to see the grannies make it to appreciate it fully Ms Bennison says she eats all the pasta that's made, which sometimes means the same meal three to four times a day 'You need to really see the pasta-making process to appreciate the physicality involved' she told the Times. She added the Grannies were eager to share the traditions once they understand the purpose of the channel. 'When we get there, they've spent the previous two weeks making the house immaculate for us then we come and cause chaos by asking them to open up the curtains because it's too dark'. The videos showcases cooking and women from all parts of Italy and highlights the country's diversity The next steps for pasta grannies include bringing out the book she orignally investigated and a series deal with Instagram's new channel IGTV The videos showcases cooking and women from all parts of Italy and highlights the country's diversity. Most recently, Ms Bennison posted a video of the grannies making Albanian style tagliatelle, and others include those from the Balkans and with Ottoman influences. Ms Bennison now treats the channel as a full-time job, and hopes the recent surge in followers will increase advertising revenues to make the operation profitable. Her next steps include bringing out the book she originally investigated and a series deal with Instagram's new channel IGTV. Ms Bennison now treats the channel as a full-time job, and hopes the recent surge in followers will increase advertising revenues to make the operation profitable. A student has found a 94-year-old message in a bottle from a teenager who sailed the world taking part in thrilling adventures. Grant Peters, 26, from Toronto, discovered the glass container partially-buried in a sand dune on Post Office Bay, on Floreana Island in the Galapagos Islands. Inside was a scroll of paper - weathered and aged but luckily still readable. It was dated August 1, 1924 and said: Hugh Craggs, Yacht St George RTYC. Will any finder please enclose message bearing date, name of finder, of ship, destination, do a rebury and send a postcard to Hugh Craggs 50 Ruskin Ave Manor Park London E12. The message in the bottle (pictured) read: Hugh Craggs, Yacht St George RTYC. Will any finder please enclose message bearing date, name of finder, of ship, destination, do a rebury and send a postcard to Hugh Craggs 50 Ruskin Ave Manor Park London E12 Keen to find out more about the mystery sender, after seeing it in May, Grant asked for help on discussion forum Reddit. Here the amazing life of Hugh Craggs was revealed - tales of his remarkable voyages, searches for pirate treasure and 'wild animals and savages', reported the Mirror. In 1922, 18-year-old Hugh and his three brothers lived in East London with his mother Imogen, following the death of his father John, an inspector with Scotland Yard who was also a published poet. Hugh, an assistant in the hosiery business, longed for a more thrilling life and tried to join Sir Ernest Shackletons Antarctic expedition. Sadly he wasnt chosen but then he saw an advert for a steward on an expedition to be led by Dr Cyril Lockhart Cottle, and funded by Sir Jeremiah Colman of the famous mustard family. They were to set sail from London on a 90-tonne schooner called Malaya. Hugh wired Dr Cottle for a meeting and through his enthusiasm he secured a place, beating 2,000 other applicants. In a newspaper interview just before they left, Hugh said: Ive been longing to go on a trip of adventure for years. Its come at last. We are to be away for about three years. I expect to find all the things Ive read about. Wild beasts, were looking for wild animals, savages, fights with natives, were ready for anything. Hugh saw an advert for a steward on an expedition to be led by Dr Cyril Lockhart Cottle, and funded by Sir Jeremiah Colman of the famous mustard family. They were to set sail from London on a 90-tonne schooner called Malaya (pictured: Adventurers set off on a schooner) Grant Peters, 26, from Toronto, discovered the glass container partially-buried in a sand dune on Post Office Bay, on Floreana Island (pictured) in the Galapagos Islands The prime purpose for the expedition was to search for new species of porpoises and dolphins. Sadly they would do this by harpooning them. Dr Cottle said: We shall probably go to Vigo then to the Canaries, to the West Indies, on to Colon through the Panama Canal; from there to scattered South Sea islands. We may call at Samoa, North New Guinea, Singapore and North Sumatra. Parts of North Sumatra are totally uncivilised, peopled by man-eating natives. Within days of setting sail, the Malaya was battered with mountainous seas for 12 hours before seeking shelter in the Canaries. The only casualty was its chimpanzee mascot which came to an untimely end, having strangled itself, a newspaper reported. The trip to the Galapagos, off the coast of Ecuador, where Hugh decided to leave his letter was to last more than three years. Young Hugh had found his calling and wouldnt return to Britain - instead he would disembark in Colon, Panama, in February 1926 and then move to Cristobal in 1929. Grant (pictured) is astonished by all the information he managed to uncover, saying: Hugh had an amazing life. Its been a privilege to find out about it, what an adventure This is where he became a banker and met his wife Gay, who he had one daughter with. Yet Hughs adventurous spirit couldnt be tamed, and as revealed in the 1935 book Rough and Tumble by Bob Roberts, he longed to find the 300million Lima Treasure. This was supposedly an incredible hoard of gold and jewels stolen by an English ships captain and said to be buried in a cave on Cocos. In the book another adventure-seeking sailor recalls: In Cristobal we ran up against a young man named Hugh Craggs..[who]appeared vastly interested in our doings. Craggs started talking of Cocos Island [around 350 miles off Costa Rica]. When serving in the Malaya he had spent 47 days there. The place fascinated him. Stories of treasure said to have been buried there he had investigated and disproved so far as was humanly possible. Yet the treasure escaped Hugh and it appears that he and his wife moved to New York in 1932, then around Florida, the West Indies and on to Central and South America. In 1983 Hughs beloved wife Gay died. Eight years later after moving to Arizona, he past away too. One of his grandsons recounted more amazing stories of his grandad: During the war he organized an effort to raise funds in Colon to purchase a Spitfire for England. He also was the first to kayak through the Panama Canal. Grant was astonished by all the information he managed to uncover, and said: Hugh had an amazing life. Its been a privilege to find out about it, what an adventure. The serpent slithers up to the villagers and sticks out its tongue to take the water Heartwarming footage shows a parched cobra accepting water being poured into its mouth from a beaker by villagers after they rescued it from a dry well. The clip, taken in Maharashtra in India, shows the snake slithering up to the villagers and sticking out its tongue to drink the liquid. The snake is said to have been spotted in a dry well by a man who was taking a walk through the village on a hot day. One of the children in the background can be heard saying, 'look the snake is drinking water.' Cobras by nature, generally hiss and take a prideful stance when they come into contact with humans, especially when threatened. They can inject venom into flesh with a painful bite and can also spit toxins at a distance of two or three metres. A bite from a cobra is said to be very painful and can have a potentially fatal effect and can cause paralysis and respiratory failure. The cobra can be seen in the footage drinking from a beaker after it got stuck in a dry well and was rescued In India, it is a popular belief that snakes should be offered milk instead of water which is in fact highly dangerous for them as they are cold-blooded and can't digest it. The cobra, who could kill a person with one deadly strike, appeared to have slithered over to the villagers to drink water after it became trapped in a dry well The Indian Hindu devotees consider cobras as goddess' and offer milk as a religious tradition, but experts say that snakes gets infected with pneumonia after drinking milk and die within a few days. The man who rescued the snake said: 'Snakes are to be preserved and it is very important for everyone to save snakes as it is beneficial for the environment, please do not offer milk to a snake as it causes pneumonia and kills it a few days later.' EU immigrants who come to the UK after Brexit should be kicked out of the country if have not found a job within three months, the UK's biggest business organisation today said. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), urged Theresa May to scrap her target to get immigration down to below 100,000 and put business interests at the centre of her plans instead. It said after Britain quits the EU it should bring in new rules which only lets immigrants working, studying or who are self sufficient stay longer than three months. And it called for areas with big influxes of migrants to get more funding for key services like schools and hospitals. CBI deputy director-general Josh Hardie (pictured) said the UK should swap 'blunt targets' for an approach which only allows migrants who have a job to stay for longer than three months Mrs May has faced growing pressure from many of her ministers to scrap the target to bring net migration down to the tens of thousands. But the PM has been a strong supporter of the target - which was set in 2010 and has never been met - from her time as Home Secretary. The CBI added its powerful voice to the growing chorus of criticism and said that 'blunt targets' should be scrapped. Instead a new system should see EU migrants registered and then kicked out of they cannot show they are working. CBI deputy director-general Josh Hardie said: 'This is no longer a theoretical debate,' he said. 'It's about the future of our nation. Openness and control must not be presented as opposites. 'Scrapping blunt targets, ensuring all who come to the UK contribute and using the immigration dividend to support public services will add to public confidence. 'Many sectors are already facing shortages, from nurses to software engineers - so fast, sustainable, evidence-based action is needed.' The recommendations are made in the body's new report, Open And Controlled - A New Approach To Migration. The body, which took evidence from 129,000 firms, said immigration is key for many businesses and sectors. It said EU citizens should be registered on arrival to the UK and restrict their visit to three months 'unless they can prove that they are working, studying or are self-sufficient'. Theresa May (pictured at a service in France on Wednesday)has faced growing pressure from many of her ministers to scrap the target to bring net migration down to the tends of thousands. But the PM has been a strong supporter of the target - which was set in 2010 and has never been met - from her time as Home Secretary The report highlights how businesses do not just need 'the brightest and best' immigrants, but different skill levels across many different sectors. Mr Hardie said: 'The stakes couldn't be higher. Get it wrong, and the UK risks having too few people to run the NHS, pick fruit or deliver products to stores around the country. 'This would hurt us all - from the money in our pockets to our access to public services. 'The needs are more complex than only ensuring that the UK can attract the 'brightest and best'.' And he called for the UK to be prepares to allow more migrants from other countries in in return for free trade deals after Brexit. He said: 'For Global Britain to succeed, the UK must send the right signals that show it remains open and welcoming to the world. 'That means putting migration on the table in trade talks to get us a better deal, first with the EU and then other countries, where it is clear existing visa restrictions inhibit trade and foreign direct investment.' This is the moment panicking police officers surround a Ukrainian man who had been left holding a 'live' hand grenade after a fight with his friend. The man's friend, a soldier in the Ukrainian army, had pulled the pin out of the grenade and given it to him before running off. The pair, whose names have not been released, had fallen out and been fighting in the city of Dnipro in south-eastern Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast region. Drama: The man lies on the ground with his own and a policeman's hand taped around the 'live grenade' in Dnipro, southeastern Ukraine The soldier, who had just returned from active duty in the War in Donbass in eastern Ukraine, allegedly said to his unfortunate friend: 'Here hold this.' The man put his hand out, expecting to receive the man's mobile phone, only to see what looked alarmingly like a live grenade. He automatically pressed down on the weapon's safety lever to stop it detonating, but soon realised that as he was in a residential area of the town he had no safe place to throw it. Knowing he would not be able to hold the safety lever down forever, he started screaming for help, local news reports. Several passers-by rushed to his aid and, seeing the grenade in his hand, called the police who raced to the scene. Fear: The unnamed man's soldier friend had pulled the pin out of the grenade during an argument and handed it to him before running off Panic over: Bomb experts who arrived at the scene after police were able to determine that the grenade was a replica Arrests: The man who held the grenade is seen centre, with his soldier friend who gave it to him lying on the ground in handcuffs Pictures show a number of policemen surrounding him on the ground, bravely helping him hold onto the grenade's safety lever. At one point, they even used sticky tape to secure their hands to the grenade so they did not slip off, triggering an explosion. Bomb squad experts finally arrived on the scene - and quickly determined that the grenade was a replica with no explosive inside. The soldier was later arrested at his home nearby, and faces up to seven years in jail if he is convicted. This is the terrifying moment a monkey pins a baby to the floor and attacks villagers who come near it. The possessive primate reportedly barged inside a home in the remote village of Karnataka, India, and tried to steal the youngster. In the video, the monkey can be seen hovering over the child as a group of locals try to distract it. A monkey attacked villagers when it was caught trying to steal a baby in Karnataka, India When the child's mother reached out to pick up her son, the monkey showed its fangs and tried to bite her The animal, becoming increasingly agitated, attempts to lift the baby but people nudge it to leave the youngster alone. One woman pours a bag of food on the floor to tempt the ape into letting go of the child, but the animal doesn't fall for it. Despite being in danger, the baby appears content and even cracks a smile as he squirms on the floor. But bruises on the child's face suggest the encounter was much rougher before the cameras started rolling. The ape grabs hold of the mother's dress and sinks it's teeth into it while pinning the child down The baby could be seen with bruises on his face, suggesting he was hurt when the monkey tried to snatch him The mother throws a bag of food on the ground in an attempt to distract the ape from the boy The child's mother reaches for her son and tries to pick him up but the monkey attacks her and pulls on her dress with its teeth. A man then grabs the baby by his arm, while the primate is distracted, and yanks the boy to safety. It is yet unclear if the monkey was caught by the people and handed over to the forest officials. A villager off camera grabbed the child by his arm and yanked him to safety before the monkey could react In a similar incident in April, a monkey snatched away a newborn from its mother's side at Talabasta village of Banki in Cuttack district of Odisha. A day later, the baby was found dead in a well. The family members of the 16-day-old baby first spotted the body floating in the 15-feet-deep well and retrieved it with the help of villagers, police said. A newborn baby was found drowned in a well after being snatched away by a monkey in eastern India A post-mortem showed the infant died of asphyxia due to drowning, according to officials A father has shamed a county education boss who sent him an error-strewn letter fining him 60 for taking his son on a term-time holiday. Daniel Moore, 31, from Exmouth, used a red pen to mark the seven spelling mistakes he found and sent it back to Devon County Council calling it a 'load of tripe'. Mr Moore was given a 60 penalty for keeping his son Charlie away from school for five days when they went to Mallorca as a family in May. Today he called his local authority hypocritical adding he would pay the fine but returned the letter with the message 'D minus, must try harder!' Mistakes in the letter, which urges parents to read it carefully, included spellings such as 'hte', 'guitly', 'notie' and 'dteailed'. Mr Moore said: 'I'm not going to pretend I'm a spelling guru or a typing expert. But I'm also not the head of education in Devon.' Daniel Moore, 31, from Exmouth, used a red pen to mark the seven spelling mistakes in this letter sent by Devon County Council Mr Moore on their term-time holiday in Mallorca with wife Samantha and their children Alice and Charlie, which sparked the school truancy fine Devon County Council apologised for the embarrassing error - blaming it on a new IT printing system - not its Head of Education Dawn Stabb. Mr Moore, a baker, took his family on a week-long holiday to Mallorca, Spain in May, and received the fine letter from Devon County Council on Tuesday. The letter was in the name of Devon's Head of Education Dawn Stabb (pictured) - but the council blamed a computer instead He said: 'Today we received our fines for taking Charlie on holiday. 'I'm not going to pretend I'm a spelling guru or a typing expert. But I'm also not the head of education in Devon. 'This woman's in charge of the future generation's education, our children's education and she's rubber stamping this tripe. 'I'm going to pay the fine, no questions asked but I shall also be sending her letter back marked and graded.' He added: 'Maybe I'll throw a little holiday snap in as well. 'I saw a couple of spelling errors as soon as I opened the letter but as I read on more mistakes appeared. 'At first I thought it was quite funny but when you place it into the context that these people are responsible for the future of children's education it is concerning.' A Devon County Council spokesman said: 'We have been trialling a new IT printing system and a number of mistakes were unfortunately not picked up before this letter was despatched. 'It is an embarrassing error and we have taken steps to ensure it won't be repeated.' A mother from Germany held up by a visa red tape row arrived in Britain to say goodbye to her fatally-ill husband - only to learn he had died 90 minutes earlier. Luchy Lopez-Hammann, 52, of Hamburg, arrived in Glasgow just an hour and a half after her husband Andreas Hammann, 59, died at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride. Mr Hammann, who was in Scotland with his son John, ten, to attend his nephew Kevin McLaughlin's wedding last week, suffered a heart attack on Saturday. Luchy Lopez-Hammann (right) was met at Glasgow Airport by Willie Drummond (centre), who was a good friend of her husband Andreas. Mr Hammann died 90 minutes before she arrived Home Office red tape stopped Mrs Lopez-Hammann, who has a Peruvian passport and has lived in Germany for 13 years, from entering the UK after he was taken ill. She faced delays in obtaining a visa to reach the UK before her husband's life support was turned off. The family criticised the situation as 'ridiculous'. Mr Hammann, who is German as well as his son, faced complications after suffering a heart attack before his kidneys failed and he died at 2pm yesterday. Mr McLaughlin, 26, from Ayr, told the Daily Record that Mrs Lopez-Hammann had been forced to travel to Berlin for an interview to obtain a visa and pay 500 (450). Andreas Hammann (pictured in hospital) had been in Scotland with his son to attend his nephew Kevin McLaughlin's wedding last week, but suffered a heart attack on Saturday While she was eventually granted a visa waiver to travel to Scotland, 26-year-old Mr McLaughlin later confirmed that it had come too late. 'His wife didn't make it in time to see him, she was hour and a half away,' said Mr McLaughlin, whose mother Marina is the sister of Mr Hammann. Mr McLaughlin added: 'We are really angry, annoyed and upset. My mum is managing to put on a brave face but is raging things have taken so long. 'They could have sorted this out a lot sooner. I can't imagine what John is thinking or what he is going through at that age.' Mrs Lopez-Hammann only found out her husband had died when she was met at the airport by Willie Drummond, 68, who was a good friend of her husband. Mr Hammann died at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride (file picture) at 2pm yesterday And Mr Drummond told the Daily Record: 'This is an absolute scandal and was completely avoidable. What they did was absolutely unforgiveable. We are really angry, annoyed and upset. My mum is managing to put on a brave face but is raging things have taken so long Kevin McLaughlin, nephew of Andreas Hammann A Home Office spokesman said: 'In light of the exceptional compassionate circumstances of this case, we issued Mrs Lopez-Hammann with a visa waiver to allow her to travel to the UK as soon as we were able. Our thoughts are with the family at this time.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'We send our sincere condolences to Ms Lopez-Hammann and her family. 'It's totally unacceptable that Home Office delays in this case should have caused such unnecessary additional distress to them.' A young Muslim mother claims she was 'treated like a terrorist' after a bus driver demanded she removed her face veil over safety fears. The 20-year-old was 'humiliated' when the First Bus driver in Bristol launched into a tirade against her as soon as she boarded with her two-month-old baby. The woman barely managed to ask the driver for a ticket before he began a rant against her for wearing a niqab, the veil that leaves the area around the eyes clear. The 20-year-old Muslim mother was 'humiliated' when the First Bus driver (pictured) in Bristol launched into a tirade against her as soon as she boarded with her two-month-old baby The driver asked her to remove the niqab, saying 'the world is dangerous' and it was 'not good' that he could not see her face. The incident, which took place on July 1 on a number 24 bus from Easton into Bristol city centre, has been reported to police - and a video has been posted online. The victim, who has asked not to be named, said she has been left feeling 'horrible and disappointed' after the driver 'made me out to be a terrorist'. She said: 'He said I was scary and I was dangerous, and he kept talking about it during the journey. He was insinuating I was going to bomb the bus. The woman barely managed to ask the driver (pictured) for a ticket before he began a rant against her for wearing a niqab, the veil that leaves the area around the eyes clear 'How is that possible, when I've got a baby with me? I get that he might not be from the country, so maybe he has never seen a person with a face veil. The full conversation between the bus driver and Muslim passenger Driver: 'Why are you taking a picture? Because I've expressed my opinion? You can take my picture. Do you want my phone number?' Woman 1: 'I'm recording you so we can report you later on.' Driver: 'I don't get it.' Woman 2 '(wearing a hijab): I don't understand why you care [how she's dressed]. It's her choice what she wears.' Driver: 'I care because this world is dangerous. If you don't see somebody's face, that's not good. In this time we live...' Woman 2: 'It's her choice. You get to choose what you want to wear.' Driver: 'It's not about choice here. Woman 2: 'It is a choice, actually. It's not any of your business just how she's dressed.' Woman 1: 'You're a member of the public.' Driver: 'How I can see your face, you can see my face. We should see our faces. It's exactly how...' Woman 2: 'She doesn't want you to see her face, that's her choice then.' Driver: [walks away and talks to supervisor] Woman 1 : 'I'm recording an incident of racism to report later on. I have the right to do that.' Woman 3: 'He is basically saying she might blow up the bus. That's what he just said.' Driver talking to supervisor: [inaudible] 'It's nothing about racism here. This world, in this time, you don't understand?' Woman 4: 'He's just racist, man.' Manager: 'I will chat with you later.' Advertisement 'But for him to treat me like that in a public place is wrong. I had my baby with me. I've been humiliated in public, and I'm disappointed. It's 2018, we shouldn't be like that. I'm being stereotyped.' First Bus has now apologised, saying the driver made a huge mistake and has been censured through the company's disciplinary procedures. Other passengers on the bus - one of whom was wearing a hijab, a headscarf worn by Muslim women - jumped to the defence of the humiliated young mother. The witness wearing a hijab confronted the driver, saying: 'I don't understand why you care how she's dressed. It's her choice what she wears.' The driver responded: 'I care because this world is dangerous. If you don't see somebody's face, that's not good. In this time we live... we should see our faces.' The victim added: 'He said he couldn't see my face, and that he didn't know what I was 'capable of doing'. 'He continued to insult me, and he made me out to be a terrorist, and kept saying everyone should see each other's faces. He asked why I was wearing a balaclava. 'I have been humiliated and he insulted my religion, and in front of my new-born baby.' After the bus dropped the woman off at her stop - the Haymarket in Bristol city centre - the driver stepped off the bus to have a word with a First Bus supervisor. He continued defending himself, saying: 'It's nothing about racism here... This world, in this time, you don't understand?' A spokesman for First Bus said: 'We would like to fully and unreservedly apologise to the customer for the distress caused when one of our drivers expressed his personal opinions. 'The driver behaved in an offensive fashion that in no way reflects our deeply held values as an inclusive company which welcomes all people, irrespective of background, race, nationality or religion as customers or employees. A protest near Boris Johnson's Uxbridge and South Ruislip Conservative office yesterday, after the former foreign secretary suggested that women wearing face-veils 'look like letter boxes' 'We have reminded staff of our expectations and behaviours that are demanded of them. The driver has been censured through the company's disciplinary procedures for this incident, which is a matter the company takes very serious. 'We've also helped the police with their enquiries and we are arranging a meeting with the customer to apologise in person and discuss matters in more detail.' A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We are investigating a report of a hate crime that occurred on a number 24 bus in Bristol on July 1 at about 12.40pm. 'Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident should call 101 and quote reference 5218145369.' The video has emerged as controversy continues to build over ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson's suggestion that women wearing face-veils 'look like letter boxes'. Mr Johnson is facing an investigation by an independent panel following complaints that his comments on the burka breached the Conservative Party's code of conduct. Prime Minister Theresa May, Tory chairman Brandon Lewis and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson have all urged Mr Johnson to apologise in the Burka row. But the 54-year-old former Cabinet minister, who is holidaying abroad, has made no response to demands for an apology. And sources close to the Uxbridge MP made clear earlier this week that he stands by the article in The Times on Monday, in which he argued against a burka ban, but said that the garment was 'oppressive' and 'ridiculous'. Disciplinary action could lead to Mr Johnson being suspended or even expelled from the Tories, but would risk igniting civil war in a party many of whose members see him as the best option to succeed Mrs May as leader. A Manhattan socialite instructed accountants to squeeze everything they could from her estranged husband - then balked at the fee. Lara Schmidt Trafelet is locked in a bitter divorce battle with top hedge fund manager Remy White Trafelet, 48, over their $200 million fortune. The enraged wife instructed forensic accountants at Cipolla & Co to 'kick him between his legs and bring him to his knees' last July. But the 49-year-old was horrified by the 'outrageous' $75,000-a-week bill totaling $4.2 million and sued the firm claiming it was excessive. Lara Schmidt Trafelet (left) is locked in a bitter divorce battle with top hedge fund manager Remy White Trafelet, 48, (center) over their $200 million fortune Cipolla & Co argued the couple's finances were so complicated and their spending so extravagant that it took a team working around the clock to untangle them. The firm even set up a dedicated 'war room' in its offices after she told them to 'take the most aggressive stance possible regardless of cost', according to the NY Post. Cipolla & Co demands she pay $2.7 million in fees that she has refused to hand over since getting the bill, and her action was just to avoid her financial obligation. Ms Trafelet claimed she couldn't afford the fees as the 'non-monied, unemployed spouse in a hotly contested divorce action'. Accountants toiled to make sense of Mr Trafelet's 'multi-layered complex web of business entities' and the couple's luxury lifestyle. 'The Trafelet marital lifestyle was opulent with annual spending in excess of $16.2 million,' Cipolla lawyer David Mair said at an arbitration hearing. He said they had to analyze $600 million in transactions from 13 bank accounts over the course of the 18-year marriage to get the best deal for Ms Trafelet. The couple own six properties including a $15 million Park Avenue apartment and a $10 million Glen Head, Long Island, summer home. They also have a grouse-hunting estate in Scotland and a quail farm in Georgia. Trafelet made his fortune managing hedge fund Trafalet & Company, worth $5.8bn at its peak in 2006. But now the two are locked in a bitter divorce which includes the battle over their three children (pictured) Other luxuries the couple enjoyed included a personal trainer, chauffeur, assistant, and private chef that all came out of Mr Trafelet's earnings. There was also a private jet for 'ultra-luxury vacations that cost as much as $400,000 in a single year', Mr Mair said. The firm claimed its hard work paid off and the huge fees were well-earned as it boosted her interim alimony from $17,000 to $45,000 a month. Ms Trafelet wants the dispute decided by her divorce judge and is trying to get the arbitration proceedings stayed, despite an appeals court already affirming the fees. 'Our legal documents speak for themselves and this issue will be ultimately decided in a court of law,' he lawyers said. Ms Trafelet balked at the bill despite winning a record $4.1 million war chest from her estranged husband to pay for legal fees in the divorce battle. The eye-watering amount is made up of an initial award of $600,000 followed by a second of $3.5million - believed to be the largest professional fee ever awarded in a New York state marriage case. New York divorce law allows courts to order the richer spouse to pay for their partner's lawyers and experts to make the legal process a fair fight. Until now, the largest sum awarded in professional fees was less than $1m. Trafelet, 48, made his fortune managing a hedge fund, Trafelet & Company, worth $5.8bn at its peak in 2006. He enjoyed holidays with his wife and children on the billionaire's playground of Fisher Island and were prominent on the monied Manhattan social scene. Now the couple has split, Mrs Trafalet is living in the marital home on Park Avenue, while her husband stays at one of his other houses, Mrs Trafalet's attorney, Laurie McPherson, said. He claimed Mr Trafalet was 'angry and litigious' and making the divorce as 'difficult' as he could. The lawyer told DailyMail.com that the couple's three children spend the majority of their time with their mother, though they too have been the subject of the expensive legal battle. 'The husband is in our view incredibly angry and litigious, and is pursuing a real scorched earth tactic,' said McPherson. 'He has pressed our client in any way he possibly can, and that exerts undue pressure on her. And it's engendered a lot of litigation and a lot of fees. The fees have well exceeded the awards, I can tell you that. The New York money man and his socialite wife own a $7.4million luxury apartment on Park Avenue, one of New York City's most desirable streets 'From our view, the husband has made this far more difficult than it should be, and he shows no sign of stopping. He looks for every opportunity, it seems, to force more litigation.' She added: 'The estate is worth hundreds of millions, well more than two hundred. It is a big case, there's a lot of moving pieces, there's a lot of assets that are on the table.' At the height of his company's success Mr Trafelet splurged company money on his staff, treating about 100 of his employees to a luxurious weekend at a five-star hotel in Venice with Murano glass chandeliers and a view of the 17th-century basilica. Though the 2008 financial crisis slashed the value of Trafelet & Company in half, his fund is thought to have generated him hundreds of millions of dollars, and after several years of dormancy, reopened for new investors in 2014. The Trafelets were married in 2000 in Ohio. At the time his wife was working as director of sales for Circline Inc., a company selling art and antiques online. Mr Trafelet is now working as CEO of Florida citrus fruit giant Alico, a job which earns him a base salary of $400,000 as well as 300,000 stock options, according to US Securities and Exchange Commission filings. In his judgment last month, Judge Frank P Nervo also noted a '$150 million trust' was part of the disputed assets in the divorce. A 2017 judgment on aspects of the divorce case said the trust contained '40 per cent of husband's business interests', including 'marital property, and their assets appreciated during the marriage in step with the successful growth of husband's businesses'. Judge Nervo awarded the additional $3.5 million advance last month after Ms Trafelet highlighted the large costs involved in unpicking the web of companies, property deals and trusts owned or administered by her husband. The couple also owns a $4.8 million colonial style property in exclusive Glen Head, Long Island A legal source close to the case said the granting of 'interim' fees for Ms Trafelet means that if the money runs out, she can ask the court to award even more cash for professional fees. 'The court in this case recognized that high stakes, scorched earth litigation needs to be funded equally if not more,' said the source. The source disclosed that in this case Ms Trafelet will likely spend more than the husband on legal fees, because the husband has created a financial web of hedge funds, different companies and partnerships, LLCs and different real estate and licensing agreements between homes. 'The wife had no clue, so she needs to hire a forensic accountant, who then needs to go through ten years of financials, and that's really expensive,' the source added. 'The interim fees award is a groundbreaking decision. Everybody on the matrimonial bar is talking about it, even judges are talking about it.' McPherson of The McPherson Firm is Ms Trafelet's third lawyer. Her previous counsel who filed the motion requesting $3.5 million in fees, Stuart Slotnick of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, said such fees are awarded to prevent one party 'bullying' another. 'Divorce is a very emotional process and in high net worth divorces the parties have the resources to protect their interests because they have access to significant funds,' said Slotnick. 'The law protects non-monied spouses from being bullied by their soon-to-be ex-spouse, when that person has all the money. 'The courts want to ensure that the non-monied parties have ample resources to fight an equal fight.' A construction worker impaled by an iron bar in the head has survived in China. The 3m (10ft) long metal rod fell from heights and speared into the 56-year-old who was standing on the ground and was not wearing a safety helmet. It penetrated the man's skull from the right side and became lodged in his brain by around 20cm (7.8in), according to the hospital. The metal pole fell three storeys and hit Mr Kang in the head in Gansu, China (left). Firefighters had to cut the bar down to 30cm (11in) so Mr Kang could be transported to the hospital (right) CT scan showed the stick became lodged in the man's brain by around 20cm (7.8in) The accident occurred on a construction site on July 28 in Gansu Province. It is said the iron bar fell from a second-floor platform before hitting the middle-aged worker, named Kang Jie. He was given emergency treatment by paramedics at the scene. Firefighters used hydraulic cutters to cut the long pole down to around 30cm (11in) so Mr Kang could be transported to the hospital. The patient was first taken to a local hospital in Gansu for a CT scan before being transferred to a bigger hospital in Xi'an on the same day. The middle-aged man was given emergency treatment by paramedics at the scene Upon receiving Mr Kang, the Xijing Hospital in Xi'an formed a medical team with experts from different departments and arranged emergency surgery for the patient. The open brain surgery began at about 10pm and lasted three hours. Surgeons successfully pulled out the iron rod from Mr Kang's head before clearing out the damaged tissues and restoring the skull, the hospital said in a statement. The surgical operation was performed by Lin Wei, an associate professor from the hospital's department of neurosurgery. Surgeons at Xi'an's Xijing Hospital successfully removed the iron rod in a three-hour operation Commenting on the risky procedure, Lin told Xi'an Evening News: 'Any surgery to treat impalement injuries in the brain is very complicated. 'The operation faced challenges in many aspects, and the biggest difficulty was how to avoid secondary damage during the removal.' The hospital said Mr Kang did not suffer any complications after the surgery and was recovering well. He is expected to leave the hospital in about a week, said Xi'an Evening News. A devastated man whose mother and sister were murdered by his father in a car park has revealed how he never realised how dangerous his father was. Lance Hart, 57, murdered Claire Hart, 50, and Charlotte Hart, 19, in the car park of The Castle Leisure Centre in Spalding, Lincolnshire in July 2016. Claire had suffered years of abuse from her husband and her two sons had finally had enough and plotted to get her out. Her sons, Luke and Ryan, hired a van and drove to get her and their sister to take them to a new rental home on a Friday afternoon. The following Tuesday, Lance Hart waited for his wife of 26-years in a car park before shooting her, his daughter and himself dead. Scroll down for video Luke Hart appeared on Good Morning Britain where he revealed he had tried to help his mother escape his father after a lifetime of abuse Victims: The Spalding shooting victims were mother and daughter and Claire Hart, 50, and Charlotte Hart, 19, pictured together, who were shot dead by father and husband Lance Hart Gunman: Lance Hart (pictured) is the man said to be responsible for killing wife Claire and daughter Charlotte. He hid under a car, blasted his family and then turned the gun on himself Mother and daughter Claire (right) and Charlotte (left) died together in a car park after enduring years of abuse A witness described seeing a man hiding under a car just minutes before the horror unfolded in the small market town. Opening up about their life with his father Luke said he controlled everyone in their home. He told Good Morning Britain: 'For a long period we did not realise we were living in a house with domestic abuse. 'Me and my brother had always thought domestic abuse was about a linear progression of violence. 'We knew our father was bad we didnt know he was dangerous.' Luke Hart and brother Ryan, both university educated engineers, have since learned about coercive control - a pattern of threats and intimidation which is not physical - and realised their family was abused, he told GMB. Mr Hart recalled the family being moved to a rural farm where his father insisted the family would stay isolated, living off the land. He said: 'One of many things I have been told since, when I was three I was told I had a nut allergy. We moved to a run down farm house and we lived off the land 'We were told that nut allergy was the reason we moved so i could be safe. He used the abuse to justify isolating us Crime scene: The scene at the swimming pool in Spalding where three people including a suspected gunman died in a shooting Crime scene: Tents remain in the leisure centre car park where Claire and Charlotte were gunned down after being ambushed by Lance Hart Luke Hart left presenters tearful when he explained how his father kept them isolated from the world and abused them mentally 'We moved away from our mums support network 'I found out in the investigation he would feed me peanuts to scare my mother 'We didnt have much money. We moved again as another act of isolation 'Our father tried to isolate us again by moving.' However, the last move backfired for Luke's controlling father because it meant his wife had to go to work, and gain a bit of independence. 'This is when he stepped up his campaign of abuse,' he said. 'Our mum had to go to work and our father lost an element of control," Luke said. 'Our father had to work and he hated it because he wasnt home and he couldnt see us Charlotte was just nineteen when her father shot her dead as she left a swimming pool with her mother Charlotte's father Lance hid underneath a car before gunning her and her mother Claire down because they left him Beyond help: Witnesses say they performed CPR on Miss Hart and her mother at the scene but neither could be saved Tributes to the two women were left in Lincolnshire after Lance Hart shot them dead 'Our father became more aggressive. He would demand more control when he felt he was losing it. We could not see our friends 'If our mother had our friends over my father would sit in the room - if they moved to the kitchen he would follow. Eventually she stopped having people over.' When Claire was working in a shop her husband would go and watch her or ring up the store top 'check she was there'. Meanwhile, the children were made to feel too guilty to go out with friends because of the cost of having fun and the petrol money it took to take them anywhere. The day the boys finally decided to free Claire they rushed to her home while their father was at work. Mr Hart said: 'Our father had chained our mothers documents in a safe in the garage. That was a metaphor for our mothers life 'We managed to get a locksmith over in an hour. There was like a knowing nod when he came. And he came and looked as though hed been there a thousand times. On guard: Police remain at their family home in Moulton - three miles from the murder scene - as officers investigate how Hart got the shotgun used in the killings 'We managed to get our mum into the rental house. 'Our sister came home on the Monday and he killed them on the Tuesday.' In a 12-page suicide document to his family Lance Hart wrote about how he would kill them. He said: You completely destroyed my life without giving me a chance so I will destroy yours. He added: Karma is coming, Karma is a bitch, now you all lose. The brothers have released a book called Operation Lighthouse as the hope to help other abuse victims. Advertisement These adorable pictures show a group of brown bears close-up as they search through a lake for some salmon to eat. Mike Korostelev, 36, from Moscow, captured the beautiful animals nose first as they hunted for some tasty treats. Travel company director Mike took the photographs in South-Kamchatka Federal Sanctuary, at the Ozernaya River and Kurilskoe Lake, in Russia, last month. The underwater photographer decided to place his camera on top of the lake and manoeuvre it in the path of the bears. He said: 'I'm an underwater photographer of wild animals, but sometimes - like at this moment - I use my camera above the water. 'In the photos, the bears are just walking around the lake - they are searching for salmon as it is spawning season. 'I put the camera in their way, and I used a remote control for shooting. 'My favourite photo is the one where a mother with a cub already walks away from the camera, and a second curious cub is looking at the camera.' What do we have here? A puzzled bear investigates 36-year-old Mike Korostelev's camera as it rests on top of the lake This brown bear is wildly curious as it pokes its noes around the camera lens - deciding whether it can be a tasty snack Feeling around: This bear decided it wasn't enough to simply sniff out the camera and instead starts to touch the strange object Photographer Mike Korostelev, 36, from Moscow, captured the beautiful animals nose first as they hunted for some tasty treats Mike took the photographs in South-Kamchatka Federal Sanctuary, Russia, last month. The underwater photographer decided to place his camera on top of the lake and manoeuvre it in the path of the bears Better safe than sorry: This group of the hairy creatures show barely any interest while they are photographed in Russia Nose dive: This bear appeared to be quite sheepish around the intrusive camera as it hunted for its salmon dinner Work it! This adorable brown animal ends up striking pose after pose as it fishes through the lake looking for its meal This impressive creature gives the camera a side-eye as it passes while walking on the outskirts of Ozernaya River and Kurilskoe Lake in Russia Advertisement These retro behind-the-scenes photographs show the engine room behind what was once the world's largest fast food restaurant. The stunning shots, taken in 1952, captured Lyon's Corner House 'nippies' hard at work - and pastry chefs donning their hats and aprons for a day in the kitchen. Lyons Corner House, in London's West End, was a part of the mid-Twentieth century fast food chain Lyons - and the Coventry Street site was at one point the largest eatery in the world. Candid photographs show a staff meeting in the art deco dining room before the restaurant opened for the day - with waitresses dressed in characteristic starched caps with a red 'L' emblazoned in the centre. Other incredible images of the restaurant show waitresses in the staff wash room getting ready for their shift, and pastry chefs perfecting their eclairs. Each decadent Lyons Corner House occupied several floors of a building, with a shop on the ground floor selling a variety of cakes, sweets, fruit and items from a delicatessen counter. A differently themed restaurant existed on each of the four or five floors - and there were even hairdressing salons and telephone booths in the building. By the 1960s, however, these traditional tea shops were being eclipsed by fashionable coffee houses, and the Coventry Street restaurant closed its doors in 1977. Behind-the-scenes photographs show how an army of 400 staff catered for 2,000 diners at the biggest restaurant in the world on London's West End (Pictured, Lyons waitresses in the art deco dining room before opening) The photographs, taken in 1952, captured what went on in the kitchen, and show chefs (pictured) busily cooking for thousands of expected diners Pastry chefs were also caught on camera rolling dough for desserts (pictured) at the Coventry Street Lyons Corner House - which opened its doors in 1909 This huge restaurant employed more than 400 people at its height, and Lyons and Co. had more than 250 tea shops in London alone at one time (Pictured, waitresses in line for the staff canteen) Lyons Corner Houses were established by Isidore and Montague Glickstein, Barnett Salmon, and namesake Joseph Lyons - who began as a catering supplier in 1885 (Pictured, a pastry chef is instructed on how to pipe cakes) The Corner Houses occupied several floors of a building, with a shop on the ground floor selling a variety of cakes, fruit, and and sweets (Pictured, waitresses struggle with loaded trays as a supervisor watches on) Lyons Corner Houses had a differently themed restaurant on each floor - and there were even hairdressing salons and telephone booths in the building (Pictured, a male waiter adjusting his shirt-front) The giant restaurant chain had 250 tea shops in London at its height and their very first location which opened in 1894 at 213 Piccadilly is still a cafe today (Pictured, a pastry chef fills a piping bag) The waitresses were known as 'Nippies', (above) and each wore a starched cap with a red L embroidered in the centre and a black dress with a double row of pearl buttons The Coventry Street store was at one point open 24 hours a day, and offered a food delivery service for a short time (Pictured, kitchen staff fill plates ready for order) Workers congregate outside the J Lyons & Co transport yard in Cadbury Hall in September 1919, looking on at Lyons Bread carts which could deliver baked goods to the public The Lyons Corner House cafe on the corner of Rupert Street and Leicester Square, London after it was franchised by Wimpy in May 1968 A group of 'nippies' waitresses line the staircase of a J. Lyons teahouse in 1981 - wearing the characteristic starched hats with the Lyons insignia emblazoned in the middle The name 'nippies' was adopted for the Lyons waitresses after a competition to rename them from the old fashioned 'Gladys' moniker - rejected suggestions included Sybil-at-your-service, Miss Nimble, Miss Natty and 'Speedwell' A mother feeds her baby in a Lyon's tea shop on the corner of the Edgware Road and Harrow Road, London, site while her dog sits in the pram in 1955 The tea bar in the Lyons Corner House in Coventry Street, Westminster, London, 1923. The bar is of functional steel, with built-in hot water jets and a row of tea urns Women working hard in a food production hall at the J Lyons & Co Ltd, Cadby Hall food factory on Hammersmith Road, London, October 1918 A young couple laughing over a cup of coffee in the first Lyon's tea shop at No 213, Piccadilly, London. This site is still open as a cafe today where you can still see the original ceiling Two nippies serve some of the 1,000 disabled soldiers being entertained with tea at the world's largest Lyons Corner House in Coventry Street, London Lyons Corner House waitresses dressed in black Alpaca dresses with a double row of pearl buttons perfect table settings and polish plates ahead of the opening of a London site Smiling waitresses serve customers tea at Lyons tea shop in Piccadilly, London in the early twentieth century - when Lyons & Co. became the biggest name in the European food industry Lyons Corner House on Coventry Street in London (pictured) was the biggest restaurant in the world for a time, and in 1954 became home to the first ever Wimpy Bar Staff, and members of the 'Lyons Club', practise on the roof of the Coventry Street Corner House in London overlooking Big Ben and Westminster Abbey Nippies in line for the staff canteen at Lyons Corner House in Coventry Street, which finally closed its doors to customers in 1977 after almost 70 years of service Pastry chefs hard at work on desserts for the guests of the West End Lyons Corner House, which could seat up to 2,000 customers at one time A kitchen worker adds cress to a mountain salads ready to be served to customers in candid photographs taken of the restaurant in 1952 A 'nippy' waitress searches for a jug in a storage room full of silver trays and glass bowls as other waitresses line up outside to wait for their turn A dapper waiter adjusts his bow-tie in a bathroom before going out to work at the art deco-themed world's largest restaurant A group of men caught preparing potatoes over huge wooden barrels in the fascinating candid photo series of the mid-Twentieth century fast food giant Dozens of cakes are prepared by chefs on the line in the restaurant's kitchen. One chef pipes icing on the round desserts as another stacks them A senior Air Force officer wants to drop bombs on raging wildfires in California and Colorado in the hope that shockwaves will put them out. USAF staff officer Mike Benitez pointed to Sweden successfully employing the unorthodox strategy on its own wildfires last month. The Scandinavian country dropped a 500lb bomb on a fire in a military munitions range on July 25 that burned for two weeks and threatened homes. Sweden dropped a 500lb bomb on a fire in a military munitions range on July 25 that burned for two weeks and threatened homes Swedish authorities struggled to contain the blaze before resorting to the unorthodox method The bomb 'momentarily deprived the blaze of oxygen and successfully extinguishing it within 100 yards of the detonation point' Mr Benitez wrote on his blog that the bomb 'momentarily deprived the blaze of oxygen and successfully extinguishing it within 100 yards of the detonation point'. He argued for the USAF to develop bombs optimized for firefighting in a detailed post drawing on international research. 'The Air Force can put a bomb anywhere in the world within a three-foot circle, extremely close to friendly forces on the ground, all while avoiding collateral damage to buildings and infrastructure,' he wrote. 'The same personnel, equipment, and procedures could be easily adapted and integrated into firefighting. USAF staff officer Mike Benitez wants to drop bombs on raging wildfires in California and Colorado in the hope that shockwaves will put them out The fire continues to grow amidst a heat wave and has now burned 10,236 acres while remaining just five percent contained. Pictured: Lake Elsinore on Thursday Firefighters are battling to protect homes at the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore, California Firefighter Andrew Brake was killed on Thursday in a traffic collision on his way to the Carr Fire in northern California A plywood structure burns during the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore. Evacuation orders expanded to more than 20,000 residents, though some homeowners stayed behind to fend off the flames themselves The Carr Fire has burned more than 173,000 acres and is 47 per cent contained 'An air controller embedded with firefighters could use close air support procedures to direct air strikes. 'For the Air Force, there is everything to gain and nothing to lose. For those affected by the fires, they have nothing to gain and everything to lose.' The weapon of choice would be 500-pound BLU-129/B low-collateral damage bombs dropped from B-1 bombers, as they have a bigger shockwave and less shrapnel. Mr Benitez also suggested supersonic jets could fly low and close to fires and use the sonic boom to produce the same effect on the ground. The drone images show charred forests, burnt trees, desolate neighborhoods, and barren fields near Reading, California The city is surrounded by mountains to the north, east, and west and fertile farm land to the south A US Air Force officer has proposed dropping bombs to put out wildfire flames. Pictured: A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as the Holy Fire burns near homes in Lake Elsinore, California A firefighter works as the Holy Fire burns near homes on Thursday in Lake Elsinore, California Eight people including three firefighters were killed and hundreds of homes were destroyed by the wildfires that ravaged California in recent days. The Carr Fire has burned more than 173,000 acres and is 47 per cent contained. Cal Fire officials said it is not sure when the'll have it fully contained. Firefighters across California are battling more than a dozen wildfires that have scorched more than 600,000 acres. Until the fires are fully contained, smoke now covers three quarters of the state. Other fires still raging in California include the fast-moving Holy Fire, which has displaced 20,000 people and is only five per cent contained. North Korea has called on the United States to reciprocate its 'goodwill measures' by easing sanctions and stopping demands that the North denuclearise first, which they branded insulting. Pyongyang said in a statement that 'expecting any result, while insulting the dialogue partner amounts to waiting to see a boiled egg hatch out.' The statement accused U.S. diplomats of 'going against the intention of President Trump' by refusing to lift actions until there is proof of denuclearisation in the hermit state. Harsh words: North Korea accused U.S. diplomats of 'going against the intention of President Trump', pictured with Kim Jong-Un in Singapore in June, by refusing to lift sanctions until they have proof of denuclearisation In the most recent sign of growing frustration between Washington and Pyongyang, North Korea criticised senior American officials for insisting that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons first before easing sanctions. North Korea's foreign ministry said Pyongyang had stopped nuclear and missile tests, dismantled a nuclear test ground and returned the remains of some U.S. soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War. Yet, it said, Washington was still insisting on 'denuclearization first' and had 'responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure' it said. 'As long as the U.S. denies even the basic decorum for its dialogue partner and clings to the outdated acting script which the previous administrations have all tried and failed, one cannot expect any progress in the implementation of the DPRK-U.S. joint statement including the denuclearization,' the ministry said. The statement on the KCNA state news agency said North Korea, which calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, was still willing to implement a broad agreement made at a landmark June 12 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. John Bolton, Trump's national security adviser said this week that Pyongyang had not taken the necessary steps to denuclearize in order for sanctions to lift But it accused unidentified high-level U.S. officials of 'going against the intention of President Trump' by 'making baseless allegations against us and making desperate attempts at intensifying the international sanctions and pressure.' The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Kim vowed in Singapore to work towards denuclearization but the two sides have yet to define a deal to meet that goal and Washington insists sanctions pressure must be maintained during negotiations. The North Korean statement followed comments this week by top American diplomats stressing the need for Pyongyang to take additional steps toward denuclearization and contentious remarks last week by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korean Foreign Minster Ri Yong Ho on the sidelines of a regional summit in Singapore. Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, said this week that Pyongyang had not taken the necessary steps to denuclearize while U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Washington was 'not willing to wait for too long.' Bolton, who spoke on Tuesday, said Trump, in a letter to Kim, proposed sending Pompeo back to North Korea, and that Trump was ready to meet with Kim any time. Inspection: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, visits thee Kumsanpho Fish Pickling Factory with his wife Ri Sol Ju n South Hwanghae Province, North Korea this week Day jaunt: The rotund dictator stands next to drinks and food products at the factory, as his wife holds his jacket in the background Out they come: Kim Jong-Un inspects production line at the factory surrounded by officials State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a regular briefing on Thursday that the United States was in touch with North Korea virtually every day or other day but had no travel plans to announce for the moment. Ri traveled this week to Iran, where President Hassan Rouhani told him the United States cannot be trusted after the Trump administration reneged on a 2015 deal to lift sanctions in return for curbs on Iran's own nuclear program. U.S. officials have declined to comment on a report on the Vox news website on Wednesday saying that North Korea had repeatedly rejected a U.S. proposal for it to cut its nuclear arsenal by 60 to 70 per cent within six to eight months. U.S. officials familiar with the talks, however, told Reuters that North Korea had yet to agree to a timeline for eliminating its nuclear arsenal or to disclose its size, which U.S. estimates have put at between 30 and 60 warheads. They said it had also not agreed to definitions of the key terms of any agreement, or to any inspection of its nuclear test site, which it claims to have decommissioned, but which U.S. intelligence officials have said may still be operable. Two U.S. officials said North Korea appeared to view Trump as a softer touch. They said that when a session with Pompeo reached an impasse last month, North Korean officials asked if he would like to step outside to call the president, who declared after the June summit that North Korea was 'no longer a nuclear threat.' Chilling prison letters sent by a mother who killed her four babies have been revealed. Kathleen Folbigg, 51, is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of her first child Caleb and the murder of her three children Patrick, Sarah and Laura at Singleton in New South Wales' Hunter valley between 1989 and 1999. The children were aged nineteen days, eight months, ten months and nineteen months, respectively. A series of letters that Folbigg wrote to a friend last year, however, read more like the reflections of a heartbroken mother than a cold-blooded serial killer. Scroll down for video Kathleen Folbigg (pictured), 51, is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of her first child and the murder of her three others Caleb (left) was just nineteen days old when he died, while Patrick (right), Sarah and Laura were eight months, ten months and nineteen months, respectively Pictured: Laura Forbigg, one of Katherine Forbigg's four children who allegedly died by her hand between 1989 and 1999 'Trembling. Missing so hard. So much heartache,' she wrote about her home and life prior to being convicted and jailed. 'I recognise my home area from drives all those ages ago,' she wrote to former Newcastle schoolmate Tracy Chapman after being driven through the area of the crimes on the way to Cessnock Prison. Folbigg - Australia's worst female mass murderer - may have been unfairly sentenced, according to a group of lawyers petitioning to have her case reviewed. In 2003 a court heard they had died at the hands of a mother who was driven to smother them in violent fits of rage. Barrister Isabel Reed - one of several lawyers who has been working on a petition to have Folbigg's case reviewed by the NSW justice system - insists there's not enough hard evidence to convincingly support the conviction. A series of letters that Folbigg wrote to a friend last year after being transitted to Cessnock Prison (pictured), however, read more like the reflections of a heartbroken mother than a cold-blooded serial killer 'We don't want her released from prison. We just want an inquiry to look at the evidence and consider: has there been a miscarriage of justice here?' Ms Reed told The Sydney Morning Herald. 'I didn't think when we started this that that was a big ask.' Monash University forensic pathologist Stephen Cordner, who is also involved in the petition, agrees 'there is no pathological or medical basis for concluding homicide' in the case of Folbigg's deceased children. Courts previously heard it was 'cessation of breathing' that led to each child's sudden and unexpected death - though post-mortems failed to shed conclusive light on any cause beyond that. Moreover, much of the evidence used in the trial was deemed to have been misleading . A group of lawyers who believe Folbigg may have been unfairly sentenced are appealing for NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman (pictured) to launch a formal inquiry into her case Ms Reed claims to have called the office of NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman every two weeks for the past two years in an effort to have him launch a formal inquiry into Folbigg's case, to little avail. And on Monday, August 13th, the details of the mother-turned-murderer's case will be laid bare in the ABC's Australian Story program. 'I don't know whether public pressure is a thing that might help with a decision,' said Ms Reed. '[But] I'm hoping he'll (Mark Speakman) watch and at least not be able to sleep comfortably on Monday night.' In the meantime, Katherine Folbigg is left with little more than the memories of her nostalgic drive from one cell to another - which she says ended abruptly when she 'had to connect myself with the bleak dull future I now had' In the meantime, Katherine Folbigg is left with little more than the memories of her nostalgic drive from one cell to another - which she says ended abruptly when she 'had to connect myself with the bleak dull future I now had. 'It was time to remind myself I was a prisoner, not Kathleen driving in a car,' she wrote in her letters to Ms Chapman. 'One day I shall be that woman, someone, once again. Till then that trip sustains me, keeps me in touch with who I was and still can be.' Folbigg's case is being explored by the ABC's Australian Story next Monday. Theresa May has doubled her personal poll lead over Jeremy Corbyn as he faces a barrage of criticism over failing to tackle the anti-Semitism scandal. And the Tories have overtaken Labour in the polls and now lead by four points despite being hit by its own party in-fighting over the Boris Johnson burqa row. A YouGov poll out today shows that 36 per cent of those surveyed said they think Mrs May makes the best PM - up from 32 points a week ago. While Mr Corbyn's rating have slid from 25 to 22 points over the same period, the survey for The Times newspaper found. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are beating Labour in the poll by 39 points to 35 - even though the two parties were neck and neck on 38 points last week. The results suggest that Mr Corbyn's popularity is taking a battering amid widespread criticism that he is woefully failing to tackle the anti-Semitism scandal. A YouGov poll out today shows that 36 per cent of those surveyed said they think Mrs May makes the best PM - up from 32 points a week ago The Labour leader has been accused of purposely ignoring the racism which festers among some of his supporters. While Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge - who lost family members in the holocaust - says Mr Corbyn and his allies are using the row to try to purge the party of his moderate critics It emerged yesterday that Mr Corbyn has been given a month to back down over the anti-Semitism row or face losing the backing of his powerful allies in Momentum - the grassroots organisation which helped install and keep Mr Corbyn in power. The Labour leader has rebuffed demands by Jewish leaders and many of his own MPs to fully adopt the international definition of anti-Semitism - a move they insist is crucial if the party is to finally get on top of the scandal. The party has adopted some of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition. But crucially it has not included several of the examples they use to illustrate it - including that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavor. And the Tories have overtaken Labour in the polls and now lead by four points despite being hit by its own party in-fighting over the Boris Johnson burqa row. Mr Corbyn has now been told by Momentum he must formally sign up to the definition at a crunch party meeting in early September, the Politico website reports. While the GMB trade union - one of the UK's biggest trade unions and a major force in Labour - has also come put to publicly demand the same. If he refuses they could pull support for him - triggering what could be the biggest crisis in his leadership since the failed coup against him in the summer of 2016. The results will be welcomed by Mrs May and her team after a tough week for the party amid the burqa row. Mr Johnson sparked a political storm which has raged for five days after he coared women wearing the face veils to letterboxes and bank rovvers. The Tory party has launched an official investigation into the former Foreign Secretary after receiving of flurry of complaints. But the move has sparked fury from the Tory grassroots and several MPs who have said it is ridiculous and that free speech should not be curbed. Gregory John Richardson (pictured) was arrested at a house in his pyjamas after being accused of raping several women across three decades A tow truck driver who was arrested in his pyjamas shielded his face in court after being accused of raping a dozen people across three decades. Gregory John Richardson allegedly raped girls as young as 14-years-old between 1989 and 2007, and is a suspect in 20 incidents. The 51-year-old appeared before Burwood Local Court on Friday, doing his best to hide his face as he asked the magistrate to stop the media from publishing his name. It was his lawyer Dean Bainbridge, however, who did the majority of the talking. 'He certainly understands the nature of the allegations that are put to him, but he's entitled to the presumption of innocence and that's the point that we'll be taking the case from,' Mr Bainbridge told Nine News reporters on Friday morning. Richardson was arrested Thursday morning and led away from a house in Epping, in north-west Sydney, after tests allegedly revealed 'forensic links' between four sexual assault cold cases. New South Wales Police allege the man sexually assaulted 12 victims aged between 14 and 40-years-old. Scroll down for video The 51-year-old appeared before Burwood Local Court on Friday, doing his best to hide his face as he asked the magistrate to stop the media from publishing his name He was arrested after DNA allegedly linked him to four sexual assault cold cases, making him a suspect in 20 other rapes over last three decades About 20 kilometres north-west of the city, two assaults allegedly occurred in Beecroft in 1989 and four in Cheltenham between 1994 and 2004. Another assault allegedly happened in Hornsby in 2007 while three other incidents allegedly took place near Wahroonga, Epping and Macquarie Park from 2004 to 2007, 9News reported. The alleged perpetrator didn't know the victims who were targeted in 'predator-style attacks'. Child abuse and sex crimes detectives squad established Strikeforce Petit in June to re-investigate the historic assaults. Police said that once news of Richardson's arrest had broken in the media they were inundated with phone calls and further information. New South Wales Police allege the man sexually assaulted 12 victims aged between 14 and 40-years-old (pictured is the arrest) Officers are now reexamining a number of other sex attacks in the area dating back to the 1980s, and suspect there could be even more alleged victims. Detective Superintendent John Kerlate said the alleged victims had put the assaults behind them but the arrest had 'reignited some of those initial feelings'. 'It was mixed emotions, some of them very relieved, some were grateful of the progress and sadly some of them very emotional,' he said. The 51-year-old was led from a home in Epping, north-west Sydney, in handcuffs at 7am on Thursday after being arrested by detectives from Strike Force Petit (pictured is the arrest) A neighbour told 9News Mr Richardson's arrest came as 'a shock' while another person said they often helped 'feed his dog' and had a 'key to his house' for when he is out of town. The 51-year-old reportedly lived at the house with his mother, but she has since died. The breakthrough came after a review of four cold cases which were previously linked by tendency and modus operandi, police said. After the man's arrest police executed search warrants at two properties in nearby Ryde and Berrilee. The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad swooped after new forensic evidence emerged allegedly linked four historic rapes in Ryde area between 1989 and 2007 (pictured is the arrest) Strike Force Petit detectives was joined by heavily armed officers from the North West Metropolitan Region Operations Support Group. The tow-truck driver was escorted down the stairs of his home in handcuffs while wearing his pyjamas, and was taken to Ryde Police Station. The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect. The search warrants are still underway and enquiries are continuing. While Richardson was initially denied bail, it was indicated that he would apply for release when he reappears in court late August. Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich was arrested for allegedly assaulting a prostitute in Frankfurt, police say. Ullrich, the only German cyclist to ever win the Tour de France, has since been freed on bail pending an investigation for possible attempted manslaughter. The 44-year-old 'was under the influence of alcohol and drugs' upon arrest, a police spokesman said. The incident took place just one week after Ullrich was detained by police in Mallorca, after forcibly entering his neighbour's house and threatening him. Arrested: Jan Ullrich, 44, pictured in 2015, allegedly assaulted a prostitute in Frankfurt, just one week after being arrested in Mallorca for threatening a neighbour The assault took place at a luxury hotel after Ullrich got into an argument with the 31-year-old prostitute, and according to the victim, physically assaulted her. Prosecutor Nadja Niesen had said Ullrich had allegedly 'so tightly choked (the escort) that her vision went black.' Ullrich was staying in Frankfurt in order to receive treatment for alcohol and drug abuse, German media reports. The former pro-cyclist had sought treatment after being detained on Mallorca last Friday over 'forceful entry and threats' on his neighbour, German actor and film director Til Schweiger, in Palma de Majorca. Schweiger, best known to international audiences as Sgt Hugo Stiglitz in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, told German media that the pair used to be close. Schweiger told Bild that Ullrich 'had almost become a family member but when his wife left him he started taking amphetamines: he would only sleep for two hours. 'He'd start drinking beer at 6am and went on like that until the evening. He also told me that he had a prescription for cocaine.' The former cyclist, pictured on the podium in 1997, is known for being the only German to have won the Tour de France Ullrich was questioned by a judge on Saturday, and subsequently released and given a restraining order, a court spokeswoman said. The former cyclist is known for being the only German to have won the Tour de France in 1997, and also won Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000. But he was then embroiled in doping allegations and excluded from the 2006 Tour de France over his links to the Operation Puerto scandal that centred on disgraced doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who gave performance-enhancing blood transfusions to top cyclists. He finally came clean in 2013 about his doping past. In 2014, he injured two people in a car crash in Switzerland, and was charged with drink driving. He was convicted three years later and sentenced to 21 months in prison by a Swiss court. Ullrich was able to convert that into a suspended sentence of four years plus a fine of 10,000 euros. His addiction led to separation from his wife Sara at the end of 2017, noting that she has since moved with their three sons to the Allgaeu region of southern Germany. Ullrich has a 15-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, with Gaby Weiss. Going into rehab had been a condition for him to be able to see his children again. Amid his latest woes, his former rival turned friend Lance Armstrong offered his support earlier this week. Ullrich's lawyer Wolfgang Hoppe said Armstrong was 'ready to immediately get a plane with his doctor and come to Europe' to help the German. Armstrong 'said that the cycling community must hold together. But that what's most important is that Jan first allows himself to be helped,' said Hoppe. A homeless man allegedly sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl in a hospital waiting room, then touched himself as he admitted the vile act to police. Armando Tobias Lopez walked into the family waiting room of University of Utah Hospital on July 28 and fondled the girl while she was coloring, police alleged. The little girl eventually pushed him away and told her parents, after which Lopez was arrested, according to the charge sheet. Armando Tobias Lopez walked into the family waiting room and fondled the girl while she was coloring, police alleged 'The victim did report this to her mother, and then the father assisted in locating and stopping the suspect,' University of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy told Fox 13. Police said Lopez, 23, admitted to molesting the girl and appeared to be touching himself as he talked to police about her. Charging documents said he told officers he 'took a blanket out, and that's when all that stuff happened.' Lopez claimed to be visiting his uncle at the hospital but this story did not check out and police said he appeared to be a transient. 'We know he has a criminal history here in the state of Utah. He had some warrants for his arrest in addition to the new charges,' Chief Brophy said. Lopez was arrested and charged with second-degree sexual abuse of a child. 'There's bad people out there that want to do bad things,' Chief Brophy said. He was charged with second-degree sexual abuse of a child over the incident at University of Utah Hospital (pictured) on July 28 'We do everything we can to make it as safe as possible but sometimes with as large as we are, we have people that slip through the cracks.' University Hospital said it didn't have a problem with transients wandering in but would improve its security and continue patrols of waiting rooms. 'It is a deeply concerning incident and something we think is completely unacceptable,' it said. 'This has prompted us to conduct a focused review of our visitor policy to see if any procedures can be strengthened or improved so this type of event doesn't happen again.' A runner has stripped down to only his budgie smugglers, a flannelette and thongs to support struggling Australian farmers. Ben Ferris has already raised more than $8,000 for drought affected farmers as he takes on a 500km run across our dusty plains. Five days in to the journey, the long-distance runner said he has already witnessed the 'horrendous' backlash of the dry conditions. Scroll down for video Ben Ferris (pictured) also known as Run Ferris Run has already raised more than $8,000 for drought affected farmers as he takes on a 500km run across our dusty plains The charity runner, who has been dubbed 'Run Ferris Run', is no stranger to long-distance runs after he conquered Australia in 2016. But this time, the eccentric character aims is to raise money for the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal to Help Aussie Farmers. He told Seven News: 'It's my talent and my gift so I thought I may as well help the farmers out.' The Byron-based runner aimed to raise $5,000 for drought-relief but has since surpassed the goal just five days in. The Byron-based runner has stripped down to only his budgie smugglers, a flannelette and thongs to raise money for Australian farmers 'Families are carrying a heavy burden not only the ongoing struggle to make ends meet, but the despair of watching their livestock perish, and the isolation they feel,' he wrote on his Red Cross donation page. While most Australians only make a quick dash in their pluggers - Mr Ferris hits from 60 to 80km a day. Beginning in Byron Bay, Mr Ferris will run through Kyogle, Beaudesert, Brisbane, Gold Coast and return back to Byron Bay. The charity runner, who has been dubbed 'Run Ferris Run', is no stranger to long-distance runs after he conquered Australia in 2016 Supporters took to social media to encourage the long distance runner. One person said: 'You are a legend. Thank you so much for what you are doing to help,' another added 'Every family needs a farmer! Your a true Aussie legend keep running Ferris'. Approximately 99 per cent of NSW and 57 per cent of Queensland are currently in drought. An Indian lawmaker has appeared in Parliament dressed like Adolf Hitler, complete with a toothbrush moustache and wearing a khaki coat with swastika symbols on his pocket and arm. Naramalli Sivaprasad, who also raised his hand in a Nazi salute, performed the 'stunt' to ask for more funds for the development of his state in southern India. He said he wanted to send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to 'follow Hitler', however it is not clear what he meant by this. Shocking: Indian MP Naramalli Sivaprasad turned up to Parliament dressed as Adolf Hitler He complained that Mr Modi had gone back on a promise to provide extra funds for his Andhra Pradesh state. 'He does not get the pulse of what people want and I want to urge him to not be like him (Hitler),' he said. Mr Modi's government has denied any comparisons to the Nazi German dictator. Mr Sivaprasad's powerful regional group, The Telugu Desam Party, broke alliance with Mr Modi's government in March over the lack of funding. Mr Sivaprasad also raised his hand in a Nazi salute outside Parliament, as part of a 'stunt' to ask for more funds for his Andhra Pradesh state The lawmaker said he had dressed up as the Nazi leader as he wanted to send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to 'follow Hitler', however it is not clear what he meant It also unsuccessfully tried to bring down the government through a no-confidence motion last month in Parliament. Mr Sivaprasad often wears fancy dress as he raises different issues, and has turned up to parliament as a farmer, a cattle herder, a Muslim cleric and a woman in the past. Hitler remains a figure of fascination in India, where the Holocaust is not well known, and is widely seen more as a strong leader than a genocidal dictator. His book, Mein Kampf, can be found in many bookstores, and bootleg copies are regularly sold in the streets of New Delhi and other large cities. A woman accused of murdering her mother who was hailed a national treasure has been released on bail. Pioneering Australian climate scientist and award winning conservation author Dr Mary E. White, 92, was found dead in her room at the Warrigal aged care complex in Bundanoon, southern New South Wales, last Sunday night. Police alleged Dr White succumbed to a lethal combination of pills and drugs before her death. Her daughter Barbara Mary Eckersley, 67, was charged with the murder of the elderly mother-of-five on Thursday. Scroll down for video Order of Australia recipient and conservationist Dr Mary E White (pictured) was allegedly murdered by her daughter at a nursing home on Sunday evening Barbara Mary Eckersley (pictured), 67, appeared in Goulburn Local Court on Friday charged with the murder of her 92-year-old mother. She was released on bail She appeared Goulburn Local Court on Friday, where her barrister Hugh White successfully argued her case for bail. He referred to Ms Eckersley's 'exemplary' character, and that she 'needed time to grieve her mother with her family', the ABC reported. He also raised concerns about potential lengthy delays before a trial could take place. 'There is a significant delay between charging and appearing before the NSW Supreme Court that could be as long as 18 months,' Mr White told the court. Magistrate Geraldine Beattie agreed. 'I accept she has strong community ties and this is relevant to the likelihood of her committing further offences,' she said. Eckersley was given strict bail conditions, where she must remain at her home at Bundanoon, surrender her passport, report to police daily and to not contact Warrigal aged-care centre. She also had to provide a $20,000 surety and will reappear in Goulburn Local Court on October 3. A family member said that after Dr White led a healthy life for more than 85 years, her quality of life had been destroyed by dementia in recent years. 'I think it's tragic because she'd been very strong for many years, but that last five years was a very rapid decline,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The last time I saw she had gone downhill dramatically from the time before. 'It was really hard on the family, but especially on Barbara - she was very close to her.' Barbara Eckersley will reappear in Goulburn Local Court (pictured) in October Eckersley's friends and neighbours were shocked to hear the news. 'I just know Barbara must be under a lot of pressure', a neighbour told 9 News. Another friend added: 'Her mum couldn't recognise herself or her husband and they just went out every day, every evening and fed her and it was just a terrible existence for her mother Mary.' Dr White and her late husband Bill arrived in Australia in 1955, moving their young family from Zimbabwe. The paleobotanist authored a series of award winning books on climate change and in 2009 was awarded the Order of Australia for her service to botany as a researcher. Dr White began studying Botany and Zoology at Cape Town University at the age of just 16. 'Mary was a great woman, she just loved the planet and she was a leader in her field,' her close friend Brett Dolsen said. Dr White was found dead inside the Warrigal Bundanoon aged care facility (pictured) at Bundanoon, in southern New South Wales, on Sunday evening THE TIMES OF DR MARY E. WHITE: 1955 - Moves from Zimbabwe to Australia with husband Bill and young family 1970s - Worked as a leading consultant on fossils and botany for the Bureau of Mineral Resources 1986 - Authors her first book: The Greening of Gondwana 1994 - Receives a Eureka Prize for her book: After the Greening - The browning of Australia 1999 - Received the Riversleigh medal for 'excellence in promoting understanding of Australian prehistory' 1999-2003 - Authors three more books on conservation and climate change 2003 - Moved to Falls Forest Retreat at Johns River, on NSW mid north coast 2009 - Named to the Order of Australia 2010 - Handed a Lifetime of Conservation award by the Australian Geographic Society 2018 - Found dead at Warrigal nursing home at Bundanoon, NSW, on August 5 Advertisement 'She was a champion of conservation and education programs... and just a really good person too.' After moving to Australia she quickly became a prominent voice on climate change. She purchased the Falls Forest Retreat for more than $1million in 2003 and turned much of it into a biodiversity and rainforest sanctuary. Dr White eventually sold off the greatly reduced farm in 2014 for less than she paid originally. In a statement, Warrigal nursing homes said they were 'busy working with police and assisting them with their enquiries'. Police said the cause of Dr White's death is unknown. The inside of the New Mexico compound where a Muslim extremist was keeping 11 children has been revealed for the first time since his arrest last Friday. Filthy scenes from inside the ramshackle site, near Amalia, showed trailers covered in clear tarp and what appears to be a collection of tents, held up shakily by plywood pillars, from above. Underneath it and inside the few trailers there are piles of trash, dusty furniture and discarded toys. One of the makeshift rooms had a queen sized bed, presumably for two of the adults to sleep on, while the trailer which housed the children was built almost underground. The family had also begun digging a tunnel into the desert ground but it is not clear what they planned to use it for. The site was explored by Today on Friday once police had finished gathering evidence. Scroll down for video Shovels remain in a hole which was being dug to access the tunnel at the New Mexico compound where 11 starving children and five adults were found on Friday The tunnel appears to go under the trailer and is surrounded by tires The back of a moving truck served as sleeping quarters at a squalid makeshift living compound Various items litter the filthy kitchen at the compound near Amalia in New Mexico Boxes of ammunition is left behind at a squalid compound A makeshift toilet and bottles of bleach are seen in this improvised bathroom at the compound A black gun holster hangs next to a filthy child's dress in this photo taken on Friday August 10 An exit tunnel is seen at the compound. The family had begun digging a tunnel into the desert ground Clothes, a travel pillow and other items lay strewn across a filthy bed Copies of the Quran are seen on a bale of hay at the compound near Amalia in New Mexico This is one of the disorganized rooms in a trailer at the New Mexico compound where a Muslim extremist was found with 11 starving children, his wife, two sisters and his brother-in-law last Friday The family had started digging a tunnel into the desert ground at the site but it is not known what they planned to use it for The pistols Siraj Wahhaj was allegedly using to teach the children to carry out school shootings with were left behind by police at the compound Wahhaj's AR-15 with rounds of ammunition next to it is pictured. Police did not recover it, they said, because they had to follow state law which prohibits gathering evidence unless it is in plain sight. They were also limited by their search warrant, they said .@GadiNBC has the latest details on the New Mexico compound where children were allegedly being taught how to commit school shootings The suspects father, a controversial leader of a New York mosque, also speaks out for the 1st time. pic.twitter.com/GWVFOqCSEV TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 10, 2018 It is difficult to grasp the layout of the compound because the rooms or areas where the family spent most of their time are all covered by clear tarp. They enclosed the site with tires Shockingly, the AR-15 rifle and four pistols which Siraj Wahhaj had on him when county sheriffs finally stormed the compound last Friday have been left behind. Also there is a video camera, two cell phones, a laptop and a GoPro camera which were found by neighboring land owner Jason Badger. He also found Wahhaj's passport which he said shows he had been to Saudi Arabia at some stage. Authorities have not removed as much evidence as might have been expected because they are confined to the restrictions of their search warrant which, in accordance with New Mexico state laws, means they can only take what is in plain site. The FBI, which had been monitoring the compound for months, is refusing to comment on the case at all. There is furniture in some of the rooms, like this bedroom, but it is buried beneath trash and clothes A dusty dolls house sits discarded on the compound. It is one of the few signs that children lived there Opened cans of tuna and cranberries sit next to a dusty boot in the compound. There was no other food on the site and the children had not eaten for days when they were discovered The target practice area is shown above. Wahhaj had stacked tires behind it and surrounded it with wooden crates. To the right of it were indicators of domestic life like a laundry basket and trash bags There was no plumbing at the site and the children's hygiene was abominable. Above, a broken commode placed above a deep bucket is pictured The 11 children were kept in this trailer which was covered by tarp and hidden from view Pots and pans sitting on top of makeshift cookers fed by straws of hay and wood were also there There were vehicles on the site along with hay bales and scores of rubber tires set up, it is believed, near a target practice area where Wahhaj was allegedly teaching the children in preparation for school shootings. The family arrived there in December after Wahhaj abducted his disabled three-year-old son AG from Georgia. Badger, who had been trying to have the family evicted, said on Friday that he knew the child was there and contacted police to say so but nothing was done. 'An innocent child that's sick and here in pain, suffering,' he said of the toddler. There was a large truck at the property and bicycle tires. A cell phone was found inside the truck by a neighboring landowner after the police left Another room inside one of the trailers on the site shows a mattress beneath planks of wood What look like children's clothes lie in a heap next to dirty tires and pieces of wood Police are yet to confirm that the remains of a young boy found on the site are AG's but the toddler's grandfather, the controversial imam Wahhaj Siraj, 68, told reporters on Thursday that it was him. Jason Badger, who owns land on the same site, said he found Wahhaj's passport after the police left. Many of the family's possessions were simply left at the compound by police Imam Sirah has also claimed that it was him who received the message that the children required food and were starving. 'We have been meeting with law enforcement since day one,' he said, speaking near his Brooklyn mosque on Thursday. The message, he said, was sent by one of his daughters to a man in Georgia who passed it on to him. When he got it, he told the man to find out where to send the food and he gave the address to authorities. 'What I do? I said 'find out where to send the food. That's why the police came in, because of information that we gave them,' he said. His story does not align with the police timeline of events which states that they knew the family was in the compound but could not move in on the site because they were not certain that AG was inside. He described his son as 'high strung' and 'strange' but said he had no knowledge of any form of sinister plot. The imam's son, who shares his name, is pictured in court in New Mexico on Wednesday. He is charged with 11 counts of child abuse and child abduction The imam's daughters Subhanah (left) and Hujrah (right) were also arrested and are in custody Lucas Morton, the husband of Subhannah, also appeared in court with his head covered with a towel, apparently folded in a style resembling a plain white keffiyeh. Also there was the imam's daughter, Jany Leveille (right) Wahhaj, 39, will return to court on Monday along with his sisters, Subhanah, 35, and Hujrah, 38. Imam Siraj Wahhaj, 68, is the father of the Muslim extremists His wife Jany Leveille, 35, is also in custody as is Subhanah's husband, Lucas Morton. Morton's father has spoken out to defend him and claims the accusations against the adults are based on Islamophobic prejudice. He told Today: 'He's not of that character. I think it's just propaganda and lies, you know the usual lies that people put on Muslims,' he said. When the children were found last Friday, they had not eaten for days and their bones were protruding, according to officials. There was no running water at the compound and the only food there appeared to be some potatoes and a box of rice. The five adults remain behind bars on child abuse charges. This is the harrowing moment a predatory rapist prowled a park at night before pouncing on a vulnerable teenage girl and subjecting her to a violent sexual attack. Depraved Aftab Ahmed - who had a previous conviction for another sex attack - had watched rape porn before heading to Nuns Moor Park in Newcastle to find a victim. Newcastle Crown Court heard the vile father-of-three had been viewing the sordid material for months when he decided to turn his sick fantasies into a grim reality. This is the harrowing moment a predatory rapist prowled a park at night before pouncing on a vulnerable teenage girl and subjecting her to a violent sexual attack CCTV images show Aftab walking through the park hooded. Sitting on a bench was a vulnerable 17-year-old girl who had gone out to get some fresh air having just been released from hospital. When she saw 31-year-old Ahmed running towards her, she became fearful, got up and tried to leave the scene. But the brute grabbed her round the neck from behind, dragged her into bushes, ignored her desperate pleas for him to stop and subjected her to a degrading and painful ordeal while biting her and threatening to kill her. Now Ahmed - whose own wife helped bring him to justice after informing police of his suspicious behaviour that night - has been branded dangerous and jailed for nine years at Newcastle Crown Court after he admitted two counts of rape. Aftab Ahmed, 31, pounced on a teenage stranger and subjected her to a vile attack in a Newcastle park after watching violent rape pornography online, a court heard today The court heard it was around 8.10pm on March 28 that the teenager went to get some fresh air in Nuns Moor Park and became aware of Ahmed as she sat on a bench. The court also heard from police how his wife revealed to them he had come back that night out of breath and had said he'd been jogging - something he'd never shown interest in before. And then the next day disposed of his clothes in a bin liner. Describing the night's events, prosecutor Louise Reevell said: 'She got up and started walking, they passed one another and she then became aware of someone behind her. 'She was grabbed from behind round her neck and told not to say anything and she was dragged into bushes. 'She was saying 'please don't' and 'please let go of me'.' Ahmed forced her to the ground by twisting her arm and demanded she perform a sex act, warning: 'Do it or I will kill you'. The rapist, who bit and groped her, then removed her lower clothing and raped her again. When it was over, Ahmed asked if she wanted some money and she said no. The victim was able to give a detailed description of her attacker to police, including that he was wearing a distinctive Adidas jacket and officers soon had their suspect on CCTV. House to house inquiries led to officers being told a man fitting the description worked at a local food store and Ahmed was located and arrested. Ahmed's wife also provided damning evidence, saying he had been later home that night than usual and that when he got in he was out of breath. He told her he had been for a run but she had never known him do that before. She also told police that the next day he went to work wearing the same clothes but then returned, showered, changed his clothes and took the ones he had been wearing the night before in a bin bag, saying he was going to throw them away as he didn't like them anymore. The clothes were later found dumped in a bin near his place of work. When his phone was examined it revealed an 'extensive web history' of extreme pornography from the beginning of 2018, Miss Reevell said. Minutes before the rape, he was researching 'how long after fingerprints are left do police make an arrest' and 'is it possible to remove fingerprints'. Sitting on a park bench was a vulnerable 17-year-old girl, who had gone out to get some fresh air having just been released from hospital. When she saw 31-year-old Ahmed running towards her, she became fearful, got up and tried to leave the scene After the attack, he was looking at news reports of rape cases, checking out sentences and looking at a government website about 'life in prison'. Sentencing Ahmed to nine years, of which he must serve at least two-thirds in custody, plus an extended licence period until 2033 and sex offender registration for life, Judge Robert Spragg told him: 'This was an attack which you were fantasising about and planning, in my judgement. 'You have displayed predatory sexual behaviour in this and your previous offending. 'This was an appalling attack which caused serious ongoing harm to her. 'I believe if you were presented with a similar situation again, you would take it. 'You were watching material which clearly led you to fantasise about just such an attack and there's a significant risk you would do it again.' The victim, who had not had sex before, and her family told how it had had a huge impact on them and the girl had to undergo tests to see if she had been infected with any diseases. The court heard Ahmed of Fenham in Newcastle, had tried to fake psychiatric illness while in prison, smearing and eating his own faeces in order to get a move to a hospital wing (Newcastle Crown Court) The court heard Ahmed of Fenham in Newcastle, had tried to fake psychiatric illness while in prison, smearing and eating his own faeces in order to get a move to a hospital wing. He had been convicted of sexually assaulting another stranger in Sepember 2016, not far from the scene of the rape. He forcefully grabbed a 27-year-old student as she walked past him at night. The victim pursued him, remonstrating and a passer-by helped detain him. Judge Spragg said Ahmed had come to this country at the age of 16 after a tough upbringing in Pakistan and had an arranged marriage, which had its troubles and he had been accessing chatlines. Joe Hedworth, defending, said: 'Nothing I can say on behalf of Aftab Ahmed can repair or even begin to repair the damage he acknowledges he has caused to the complainant. 'His guilty pleas are his best and perhaps only mitigation so far as the circumstances of the offences are concerned.' Mr Hedworth said Ahmed has had no contact with his wife or children since the attack but realises he has 'no-one to blame but himself'. He added: 'Before this he has always worked hard long hours and provided for his family. 'He fully understands he has brought shame on his immediate and wider family and he is greatly ashamed of his actions.' This is the heart-breaking moment a critically ill boy comforted his distraught mother after his parents could no longer afford his treatment. Three-year-old Li Junyang, from east China, suffers from a rare cancer and had undergone two open-chest operations, seven radiotherapy sessions and seven chemotherapy sessions. His parents had spent all their savings and run into 22,000 debts, but the doctors said they would need 51,000 more - an astronomical figure for the farming family. 'Mum, don't cry': Three-year-old Li Junyang wipes tears off his devastated mother in Shanghai Junyang and his mother, Qu Lifang, both break down in tears in their rented flat in Shanghai The desperate couple were force to stop treating their son last month after none of their friends or relatives could lend them money any more, according to a charity. The tear-jerking pictures were taken after Junyang's parents had argued in their tiny rented room in Shanghai, the founder of the Dahe Charity in China said in a blogpost. The Dahe Charity said they took Junyang to Xinhua Hospital in Shanghai in June in order to seek better medical resources. The boy suffers from neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects children and usually starts in the abdomen. In the pictures above, he is seen before (left) and after (right) he fell ill last year Junyang and his parents pose for a picture before the child was found to have cancer The organisation also said both of Junyang's parents had to stop working in order to look after the boy. 'When a child has a serious illness, both parents would have to quit their jobs. That's the reality of China,' the charity's founder told MailOnline. In a video released by Dahe's founder, Junyang's mother Qu Lifang cried in tears: 'We really don't have any other ways. My husband and I argue every day because of money. ' Seeing his mother had become so sad, Junyang gently wiped tears off his mother's faces before telling her 'mum, don't cry'. Junyang's parents quit their job and took him from hospital to hospital. They spent all their savings and run into 22,000 debts in order to to save their younger son Junyang was diagnosed with neuroblastoma last October when he was two and a half years old, said the charity. WHAT IS NEUROBLASTOMA? Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer that affects children and usually starts in the abdomen. Around 100 children, who are typically under five, are diagnosed every year in the UK. The disease affects approximately 800 new children annually in the US. In around half of cases, neuroblastoma spreads to other parts of the body, particularly the liver and skin. Neuroblastoma's cause is unclear. There may be a family-history link. The main symptom is usually a lump in the abdomen, which may cause swelling, discomfort or pain. If the disease affects the spinal cord, it can lead to numbness, weakness and loss of movement in the lower part of the body. Treatment depends on how advanced the cancer is and the risk it will return after therapy. Surgery, and chemo and radiotherapy, are commonly used. Source: Cancer Research UK Advertisement It is said that Junyang was living with his parents, an elder brother and his grandparents in Fuyang when he fell ill. He was given an emergency operation three days after the diagnose and has since been taken from one hospital to another by his parents who were determined to save their child. Sadly, Qu Lifang and her husband, Li Hebiao, soon spent their savings and had to borrow money from their friends and relatives. Last month, the couple were told by doctors in Shanghai that Junyang would need to undergo chemotherapy for at least one more year and he might also need a transplant; therefore the could would need a further 450,000 yuan (51,465), according to the charity. They had to bring the boy back to their tiny flat in Shanghai's Yangpu District until they could find more money. Dahe reached out to the couple after hearing about their story and helped them set up a donation page online. The crowd-funding campaign has managed to raise 450,362 yuan (51,506), which would be enough to treat Junyang. With Dahe's help, Junyang was able to resume his treatment on August 3 in the Children's Hospital in Anhui. Junyang flashes a V-sign happily after seeing his elder brother in the hospital. Junyang was living with his parents, a six-year-old brother and his grandparents in Fuyang when he fell ill The road to recovery for the child, however, is still long and challenging. It is said that Junyang suffered from pain on the leg after his chemotherapy in July, a sign that his cancer could have spread to his bones. He reportedly started to have high fever from yesterday and the hospital is currently accessing the necessity and feasibility of further chemotherapy for him. The hospital said that Junyang would have to undergo transplant if the result of the chemotherapy doesn't improve. A dentist thrown into a Dubai jail with her four-year-old daughter for drinking a glass of wine on a flight from London today tearfully told how she is desperate to return home and be re-united with her family. Dr Ellie Holman, 44, faces being held in the Arab state for a year after being arrested for consuming alcohol provided by Emirates Airline on the eight hour flight from London. She told MailOnline she cant wait to home in Kent and see her three young children, including daughter Bibi, who spent three days with her in an airport jail after her arrest. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, she said: 'I just want to go home. I miss my friends and I miss my family, especially my Bibi. 'Being in prison terrified me as a grownup, I can't imagine how this must have affected her. I just want to be home and safe with Gary and all my children.' Dr Ellie Holman and her daughter Bibi, four, both pictured, were held in a Dubai jail cell for three days after she was arrested for drinking wine on an Emirates flight from the UK Dentist Dr Holman, pictured with children (from left) Noah, eight, Bibi, and Suri, nine, said her ordeal began when she was surrounded by armed police after trying to film her argument with an immigration official when he claimed her visa had expired Dr Holman's husband Gary (pictured) who spent three days not knowing where his wife and daughter was, declined to comment at his mother's home today Dr Holman, who runs a dental practice in Sevenoaks, Kent, fears the youngster will be mentally scared by her ordeal and insists she has never put her in danger by breaking any laws. She added that her family are in torment over not knowing what will happen to her. Officials have told her it could be up to a year before her case is resolved with the threat of a long prison sentence. She said: 'My family in England have it tough too, not knowing if I will end up in prison. I am taking this one moment at a time, anything more than that I am in tears.' However a Dubai airport official told the Sun that they disputed Dr Holman's account, saying she had tried to film the discussion with immigration staff. 'She became abusive towards airport staff, which is not tolerated,' the spokesman said. MailOnline revealed how the Swedish born mum of three was thrown into jail after arriving for a five day holiday in the popular tourist destination. Her husband Gary, who spent three days not knowing where his wife and daughter was, declined to comment at his mother's home today. Wearing a white shirt and beige chinos, said: 'We can't say anything for legal reasons. I'm sorry.' Respected BBC foreign correspondent John Simpson has leapt to the defence of Dr Holman. In a tweet, Simpson said: 'Appalled but not surprised Sevenoaks dentist Ellie Holman arrested at Dubai airport after being asked by immigration official if she had a drink on her 8 hour flight. I never go to Dubai - was once arrested for asking an idle immigration official to hurry because I had a connecting flight.' Dr Holmon's nightmare began after she stepped off an Emirates Airlines flight from London to Dubai on July 13th. During the flight she was served a glass of red wine with her meal. Alcohol is served as standard practice on Emirates Airlines on flights from the UK to Dubai. On arrival Dr Holman was quizzed by an immigration official over her visa who told her it was not valid. She said she had visited the UAE several times before and as the visa had not expired assumed it was still valid. The immigration officer told her the visa was valid for a single visit and said she had to buy a ticket and return to London immediately. Dr Holman says she pleaded with the 'dismissive and rude' official to allow her to apply for a new visa at the airport telling him her daughter was exhausted. She says says she and Bibi were ordered to sleep in a canteen area used by other inmates. Dr Holman, pictured with Suri, has been told she may have to spend up to a year in the Arab state while the case is settled Her partner Gary, pictured with their children, flew out to Dubai to bring their daughter back to Kent but she has had her passport confiscated Mr Holman said the experience had been 'devastating' for her children, pictured, and said he hopes they are reunited with their mother soon She claims the room's lights were kept on and with no air conditioning she said it was 'baking hot and foul smelling.' She said the male guards offered no help as, exhausted and shocked by her experience, she struggled to lift the mattress. The guards stood by and laughed, she claimed. 'My daughter is a happy, smiley girl, but she was terrified,' she said. The terrified pair arrived at a police building where she says a man in a dirty white lab coat said he was going to take a sample of her blood as evidence she had drunk alcohol. She was told the results showed 0.04% of alcohol in her blood a reading far below the UK drink drive limit. During their detention the pair did not eat. 'The food smelled like rotting garbage and neither Bibi or I could face trying it. I stayed awake for the whole three days,' she said. She claims they were also denied a pillow or a change of clothing and Dr Holman was forced to clean toilets and mop the floor while her daughter stood by her side. She said Bibi was in a state of shock and refused to be comforted. Back at their home in Kent, partner Gary was frantic with worry, as he had not heard from the pair. Dr Holman said: 'Friends had found out I was in jail and tried to visit. Nobody was allowed to see us. We were not told.' Gary flew to Dubai leaving the couple's other children Suri, nine, and Noah, aged eight, with relatives. Dr Holman said her daughter Bibi, pictured, was inconsolable during the ordeal and she tried to comfort her by reading her books in the jail Dr Holman, pictured with son Noah, said conditions in the cell were 'filthy, foul-smelling and baking hot' Following her detention Dr Holman was taken in handcuffs back to airport and given bail. Bibi and her father have now been allowed to fly back to the UK while Dr Holman is staying with friends in Dubai. Gary said the experience of seeing his partner and daughter jailed was 'devastating for the whole family.' 'The thought of Ellie and our little girl in that awful prison breaks my heart. 'Ellie is a sensible, professional person and excellent mother who would never knowingly break the law. 'Why do Emirates Airlines serve alcohol for a passenger to drink and then pass through the airport. 'This has been devastating for the whole family. Ellie was taking a much needed break with little Bibi, who was looking forward to the beach and playing in the sea. 'I hope this can all be over so we can all be together again and start to heal.' Emirates Airlines offers wine on flights from the UK to Dubai as standard practice (file picture) Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained In Dubai, the British human rights NGO representing Ellie said in a statement: 'The UAE maintains a deliberately misleading facade that alcohol consumption is perfectly legal for visitors. 'This is exampled by bars at the airport, by hotels, restaurants and clubs serving drinks. Tourists cannot be blamed for believing that the Emirates are tolerant of Western drinking habits but this is far from reality. 'It is wholly illegal for any tourist to have any level of alcohol in their blood. It is illegal to consume alcohol at a bar, a hotel and a restaurant and if breathalysed, that person will be jailed.' Detained in Dubai replied to a tweet by Jeremy Clarkson who posted a picture of himself with a glass of white wine on an Emirates flight saying: "Finally, a holiday' - by tweeting: '#EllieHolman was jailed with her four-year-old and charged with alcohol consumption for having a glass of complimentary red wine served by @emirates #Emirates airline. Her blood reading was only .04%, under the legal driving limit.' A horrified mother has described the moment her son was brutally arrested while he was having a seizure. Her epileptic son, Matt Purton, was left bloodied, bruised and scratched after police allegedly beat him while he was experiencing a fit. After the forceful arrest, he had to be airlifted to Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital and placed in an induced coma so doctors could ease him out of the seizure. Matt Purton (pictured) was left bloodied and bruised after he was allegedly brutally beat during a police arrest in Victoria His mother, Vicki Orgle said she was 'horrified' by the attack. 'I didn't say anything. I just patted him on the head and said, "come on Matt, come back to us. You'll be okay in a minute",' she said. 'But I didn't realise the extent of his damages.' Since the age of 21, his condition progressed to the point where he now suffered at least four seizures a week. Now the father-of-three is 'too scared' to leave his house because he is so afraid he will suffer a fit in public. 'I hope I am the last person who gets belted around and thrown around like I did when I was having a seizure. I hope no one else goes through it,' he told A Current Affair. The 33-year-old was experiencing an epileptic fit when he was arrested by police. Like most epileptics he agitated when he comes out of a seizure Victoria Police issued a statement saying authorities were called to a collision between a car and a pedestrian in south-east of Melbourne. 'On arrival they found a male acting aggressively pounding on the car windscreen. Police attempted to subdue the male and capsicum spray was deployed,' the statement said. 'The male was later conveyed to Wonthaggi Hospital. Professional Standards Command will oversight the investigation.' The Los Angeles Police Department has canceled an Amber Alert after finding the toddler who was taken by his 'suicidal' father on Thursday. Jaden Jose, 18 months old, was found in Chula Vista on Friday morning and returned to his mother, after police said his father, John Jose, called them and told them he was in San Diego. 'John took Jaden without the biological mother's consent and threatened to take Jaden out of state,' police told the San Diego Union-Tribune in a statement. 'John also threatened to kill himself.'' Jaden Jose, age 18 months, was abducted in Arleta, California on Thursday by his father, John Jose John Jose (pictured) threatened to leave California with the child He was 'taken by his suicidal father, John Jose, at 3.30pm from Arleta, CA,' LAPD HQ tweeted early on Friday. The father threatened to leave California with the child, and to take his own life, police told KTLA. The father then took the child without the mother's consent, police said. Jaden was abducted from the 9500 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Pacoima, between Branford and Montague streets, just two blocks from Interstate 5. Police said the father called them just before they issued the Amber Alert late on Thursday, telling them he was in San Diego, but did not specify his location. The police first were led to a home in the 3000 block of Bonita Mesa Road in Bonita, but the father and son were not there. The two were ultimately located in the Chula Vista area, south of San Diego, overnight on Friday. The boy was taken to Polinsky Children's Center in San Diego and reunited with his mother on Friday, NBC reported. It's not clear whether the father will face charges related to the abduction. Harrowing video has emerged of the early morning police standoff that followed the deaths of four people, including two police officers, in Canada. One suspect is in custody with serious injuries sustained following a shootout with police, but authorities have revealed nothing about him except that he is a 48-year-old man from Fredericton, New Brunswick. Fredericton is a city of roughly 58,000 about 75 miles from the Maine border. The incident began when police in Fredericton responded to a call of shots fired in a residential neighborhood at around 7.10am on Friday, finding an adult male and an adult female dead at the scene. The first two constables on the scene, 45-year-old Lawrence Robert Costello and 43-year-old Sarah Mae Burns, were also killed by the shooter. Costello was a 20-year veteran of the department and father of four, and Burns had been on the force for two years, and was a mother of three. A massive police response ensued, with a standoff unfolding in an apartment complex where the initial shootings took place. The first two constables on the scene, 45-year-old Lawrence Robb Costello (left) and 43-year-old Sarah Mae Burns (right), were killed by a shooter Friday morning in Fredericton Police and RCMP officers rush to respond to a shooting in Fredericton, New Brunswick on Friday. Fredericton police say two officers were among four people who died in the shooting Paramedics are seen loading casualties in the shooting. Multiple people were injured and hospitalized, including the suspect who was seriously wounded, police say Newly obtained video of the police standoff shows cops in an armored vehicle firing tear gas canisters into the upper-floor window of an apartment building on the 200 block of Brookside Drive. 'They're gassing him out boys!' the person filming from an adjacent building shouts nervously. The suspect was taken into custody by 9.45am. By 11am local time, police confirmed that there was no further threat to the public, and lifted a lockdown on the area as the investigation continues. Multiple people were injured in the shooting and are currently being treated at Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, according to parent company Horizon Health. There was a heavy police presence at the hospital on Friday and officials asked area residents to avoid using the emergency room except for serious emergencies to allow doctors to focus on treating the wounded. The apartment complex where the shooting took place is seen as police investigate on Friday Provincial police set up a mobile command post at the apartments where they shooting took place as they process evidence and investigate the deadly events Police said Brookside Drive between Main Street and Ring Road will remain closed 'for the foreseeable future' to work the investigation. David MacCoubrey, who lives on Brookside Drive, said that he woke up in his apartment at around 7am to the sound of three gunshots about 30 feet away from his bed. MacCoubrey said more than 15 other gunshots were subsequently fired between that time and around 8.30am. He says his apartment complex has four buildings in a square, and it sounded like the shots were coming from the middle of the complex. MacCoubrey said police have been searching the complex and he has been sitting on the floor of his home away from windows. 'It's not something that happens here regularly,' he said. A police K9 unit is seen as part of the massive emergency response to the shooting on Friday The shooting is believed to have happened in or around the low-rise brick apartment buildings seen in the background of the photo above, as police secure the scene Travis Hrubeniuk said his fiancee had just left for work at around 7.45am when he began hearing a steady stream of sirens. Hrubeniuk said residents were advised to stay inside with their doors locked. The quiet residential neighborhood, which has houses, grocery stores, a church and an elementary school, is the last place Hrubeniuk said he expected to encounter a dangerous situation. 'This is the first time I've even heard of any serious crime or violent crime in this city,' he said. Another area resident, Robert DiDiodato, told the CBC that he heard sounds like a 'firecracker' at around 7am. 'With the tempo, it might've been a gunshot,' he said. 'It was sort of like a pop, pop, pop, pop.' He heard similar sounds about five minutes later, near his home, he said. Police are seen manning a cordon as the investigation proceeds into the deadly shooting Local police and RCMP officers are seen maintaining a security cordon at the shooting scene Emergency vehicles are seen at the Brookside Drive area in Fredericton, Canada on Friday At about 9.45am, police said that they had one suspect in custody. But officials warned that the incident was 'still active' and urged residents to stay inside and lock their doors. 'Please stay away from the area. Stay inside, lock your doors. Do not disclose police locations on [social media]. Wait for updates from police,' the Fredericton Fire Department said on Twitter. The lockdown was lifted at 11am. 'We can confirm that there is no further threat to the public, and lockdowns are not required at this time,' police said in a statement. 'Police still have the crime scene contained, and will be working the investigation for some time.' The RCMP will be taking responsibility for the homicide investigation, while the provincial Serious Incident Response Team will handle the investigation into any police officer related shooting. Later on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences on Twitter. 'Awful news coming out of Fredericton. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this mornings shooting. Were following the situation closely,' Trudeau wrote. Fredericton Police Chief Leanne Fitch addresses a news conference in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, on Friday after two officers and two civilians were shot dead Flowers are placed outside the police station in Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada on Friday. Two city police officers were among four people who died in a shooting in a residential area In 2014, another mass shooting in New Brunswick led to the deaths of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers and the wounding of two more in Moncton. At the time, the incident was one of the worst of its kind in Canada, where gun laws are stricter than they are in the United States and deadly attacks on police are rare. However, in recent years, Canada has seen a dramatic uptick in high-profile shootings. Last month, a gunman walked down a busy Toronto street, killing two people and wounding 13 before turning his gun on himself. On Thursday, Ontario pledged more money for police and to keep suspects behind bars while they await trial on gun crimes charges, as the Canadian province grapples with rising shootings involving domestically obtained weapons. Advertisement Thousands of Muslims from around the world are converging on Mecca in Saudi Arabia, for the Hajj pilgrimage, a religious duty and for some pilgrims the journey of a lifetime. Stunning photographs of the display show a mass of white at the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque), where thousands of pilgrims have already arrived to pray. Three million Muslims are expected to gather at the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, during the Hajj 2018. Thousands of Muslims from around the world are converging on Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage, a religious duty and for some pilgrims the journey of a lifetime Stunning photographs of the display show a mass of white at the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque), where thousands of pilgrims have already arrived to pray The Hajj is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith, which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in a lifetime if he or she has the means to do so Many Muslims have already started to circle the Kaaba (pictured) ready for the Hajj 2018 which begins in just over a week It is reportedly the largest single gathering of people on the planet and officially begins on Sunday August 19 until Friday August 24. Muslims will circle the cube-shaped Kaaba and take part in a series of rituals intended to bring about greater humility and unity among them. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith, which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in a lifetime if he or she has the means to do so. It is largely seen as a chance to wipe clean past sins and start fresh. Many seek to deepen their faith on the hajj, with women taking on the Islamic hair covering known as 'hijab' upon returning from the pilgrimage. Muslims circle the cube-shaped Kaaba and take part in a series of rituals intended to bring about greater humility and unity among them Three million Muslims are expected to gather at the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, during the Hajj 2018, while thousands have already arrived today (pictured) It is reportedly the largest single gathering of people on the planet and officially begins on Sunday August 19 until Friday August 24 Muslim Hajj pilgrims perform morning prayer around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, located in the center of the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia Despite the physical challenges of the hajj, many people rely on canes or crutches and insist on walking the routes. Those who cannot afford the hajj are sometimes financed by charities or community leaders. Others save their entire lives to make the journey. A few even walk thousands of miles by foot to Saudi Arabia, taking months to arrive. The word Hajj is an Arabic word, meaning 'to intend a journey'. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, and it also provides the largest number of pilgrims for the hajj. Boris Johnson (pictured in London last month) sparked a major political row after comparing women wearing burqas to letterboxes and bank robbers Senior Tories have today rallied round to defend Boris Johnson in the burqa row - and slammed the rush to shut down free speech. Tory MP and former party leader Iain Duncan Smith said the former Foreign Secretary has nothing to apologise for. While ex whip Andrew Mitchell dismissed comparisons made between Mr Johnson's comments and Enoch Powell's notorious 'rivers of blood' speech. The pro-Boris backlash is growing after the Tory Party yesterday announced that it has opened an investigation into Mr Johnson after he compared women wearing burqas with letterboxes and bank robbers. Allies of the ex Cabinet minster tore into the probe and accused No10 of being behind a 'witch hunt' to 'destroy' Mr Johnson because they see him as a threat. Mr Johnson, who is currently on holiday in a rented villa in Italy, has not commented on the furore his remarks sparked. Speaking this morning, Mr Duncan Smith said he is 'surprised' at the furore over the column because he does not think there is 'anything particularly wrong with the comments. He said: You may not agree with the tone or jokes, but we have a thing called freedom of speech in this country. I dont believe just because somebody takes offence that means therefore there has to be an inquiry into whether or not the individual can be shut down in terms of their ability to say what they believe. He after all was defending the Governments position because we are not going to ban burkas, we believe in people having the right to choose.' Senior Tory MPs Andrew Mitchell (pictured right) and Iain Duncan-Smith (pictured right) both rallied to his defence and said the hysterical rush to judgement ignores the importance of free speech to British society He added: We live in a land that has freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom of choice. 'If you want to uphold those, there will always been some who take offence, Blackadder actor Rowan Atkinson backs Boris Johnson in burqa row The comic actor, 63, said Boris Johnson must be free to make jokes about burqas otherwise free speech is under threat Rowan Atkinson has defended Boris Johnson over his comments on women wearing burkas and said the former Foreign Secretary's remarks were funny. Mr Johnson is facing an investigation and could be disciplined by Conservative party bosses after saying women in burkas looked like 'letterboxes' and 'bank robbers'. Atkinson, 63, said: 'As a lifelong beneficiary of the freedom to make jokes about religion, I do think that Boris Johnson's joke about wearers of the burka resembling letterboxes is a pretty good one.' The actor, known for his comedy performances in Blackadder and Mr Bean, wrote in a letter to the Times: 'All jokes about religion cause offence, so it's pointless apologising for them. 'You should really only apologise for a bad joke. On that basis, no apology is required.' Advertisement I dont think that an internal party system should be there to shut down MPs when they speech. 'I have to say you dont always have to agree with what people say, but we do defend the right of people saying it. Lots of people of different religions have had abusive things said about them in jokes by comedians, but we dont immediately shut those people down, because we take offence. The reality here is that what he said and did was supporting the Government position, and I have to say I do hope that we will put an end to it. After all what is the real issue? 'It is that other countries have banned the burka, he did not argue for that, we dont want that, we believe in freedom of choice, but we also believe in freedom of speech. And Tory MP Mr Mitchell also defended the ex minister on BBC Two's Newsnight programme last night. He said: 'I don't think he should apologise. 'But I think what's important is that the procedures of the party now take place. 'This is quite an important issue about free speech and it's got nothing to do with the dreadful events that take place over Enoch Powell and the Rivers of Blood speech. 'Boris was speaking out against a ban of the type that's taken place in Denmark and some other countries.' The Tory Party announced yesterday that it had received a flurry of complaints about Mr Johnson - automatically triggering an investigation into him. The ex Foreign Secretary faces being punished by party bosses and could even be kicked out of the party over the remarks, although this is very unlikely. What is the Tory disciplinary panel and what punishments could it give Boris? The Tory party launched its new stricter code of conduct in 2017 in the wake of the Westminster sex pest scandal. Under the rules, any member who is accused of flouting the code of conduct could face a grilling by a disciplinary panel. Here is the process which faces Boris Johnson: A panel consisting of no fewer than three people, is appointed by the Party Chairman Brandon Lewis. The panel will include a Tory activist, an independent person and someone nominated by the chairman of the 1922 committee - the powerful body of backbench Conservatives. This panel will investigate the complaint and give their findings to Mr Lewis. If they find Mr Johnson has broken party rules then they will refer him to Theresa May and the Board of the Tory party, who decide what punishment to mete out. They can order a range of punishments - including kicking him out of the party. How does the party decide what punishment to give out? It is up to the PM and the board of the Conservative Party to decide what punishment to give out. The code of conduct states they have discretion to 'take such action as they see fit. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, suspension of membership or expulsion from the Party.' But it suggests that only the most serious cases will be result in the member being kicked out of the party. The code states: 'Any removal of rights of membership will only be made after due considerations of natural justice.' Advertisement Under Tory Party rules, an investigating officer will now decide if Mr Johnson has flouted their code of conduct and if the probe should be referred on to a panel to grill him on. Theresa May wil decide what punishment to mete out to her former minister. The row has exposed bitter splits within the Tory Party, with many Remainer MPs using the controversy to stick the knife into Mr Johnson and say he is not fit to ever be party leader. But Brexiteers have rallied to his defence and said that he simply said what many Britons are thinking. And they were joined by Blackadder star Rowan Atkinson, who wrote to The Times warning against the crackdown on free speech. The comedian, who also played Mr Bean, said: 'As a lifelong beneficiary of the freedom to make jokes about religion, I do think that Boris Johnson's joke about wearers of the burka resembling letterboxes is a pretty good one.' He added: 'All jokes about religion cause offence, so it's pointless apologising for them. 'You should really only apologise for a bad joke. On that basis, no apology is required.' Atkinson has previously argued in favour of a 'right to offend', saying in 2004 that proposed religious hatred laws would silence 'creative thinkers'. He said at the time: 'Freedom of expression must be protected for artists and entertainers and we must not accept a bar on the lampooning of religion and religious leaders.' Yesterday Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told MailOnline that No10 is hounding Mr Johnson. He said: I believe this is politically motivated, by the internal politics of the Tory party, by politicians who want to humiliate and destroy Boris Johnson.' He added: I believe that the public will see this for what it is an internal Conservative party witch hunt instigated by Number Ten against Boris Johnson, who they see as a huge threat. Pushing back against a forthcoming tell-all book by Omarosa Manigault-Newman, became a Washington, D.C. parlor game on Friday as her publicist began to parcel out excerpts to hungry news outlets. In some cases the author hasn't helped her cause. In 'Unhinged,' available to the public next Tuesday, Omarosa promotes unproven reports that outtake-tapes exist of the then-future president using the n-word 'several times' on the set of 'The Apprentice.' She writes that three people had told her they were aware of the existence of the recording. But on Friday afternoon she told NPR that she herself heard the racial slur on tape, and challenged a reporter who challenged her on the discrepancy to read her words more closely. 'I heard the tape,' Omarosa said in the radio interview. But the book describes her learning about it on the phone from a person she doesn't name: 'On this phone conversation, I was told exactly what Donald Trump said yes, the N-word and others in a classic Trump-goes-nuclear rant and when he'd said them.' 'For over a year I'd been so afraid of hearing the specifics from someone who'd been in the room,' Omarosa writes. 'Hearing the truth freed me from that fear. And only now that it's gone, do I realize just how heavy it's been.' Noted pollster Frank Luntz on debunked a passage where Omarosa claims she was told he had personally heard the rumored Trump 'n-word' audio. Omarosa Manigault-Newman's new book is full of broadsides against Donald Trump, including some that the White House and others are already calling untrue like the claim that a tape exists of Trump using the 'n-word' to refer to African-Americans Omarosa contradicted herself Friday in an NPR interview, claiming that she had personally heard the rumored recording of Trump using the racial slur; in the book, she writes that other people hed merely told her about the audio Famed pollster Frank Luntz clobbered Omarosa for printing, without contacting him, an anonymous source's claim that he had once heard Donald Trump use the 'n-word' 'Im in @Omarosas book on page 149. She claims to have heard from someone who heard from me that I heard Trump use the N-word,' Luntz wrote. 'Not only is this flat-out false (Ive never heard such a thing), but Omarosa didnt even make an effort to call or email me to verify. Very shoddy work.' Luntz continued: 'It seems like certain book publishers these days care more about getting a release out than getting the facts down. This is why people dont trust these exposes, which is especially bad for authors who actually are good and reliable.' Instead of telling the truth about all the good President Trump and his administration are doing to make America safe and prosperous, this book is riddled with lies and false accusations. Its sad that a disgruntled former White House employee is trying to profit off these false attacks, and even worse that the media would now give her a platform, after not taking her seriously when she had only positive things to say about the President during her time in the administration. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders The White House fired a missile in her direction on Friday following reporters that the book would accuse the president of uttering 'several' racial slurs. 'Instead of telling the truth about all the good President Trump and his administration are doing to make America safe and prosperous, this book is riddled with lies and false accusations,' White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement to reporters, throwing an unmistakably sharp elbow. 'Its sad that a disgruntled former White House employee is trying to profit off these false attacks, and even worse that the media would now give her a platform, after not taking her seriously when she had only positive things to say about the President during her time in the administration.' Omarosa, who launched her famous-for-being-famous career on the strength of her pugnacious persona on 'The Apprentice,' became an outspoken Trump critic only after she left her spokeswoman job at the White House's Office of Public Liaison and began to shop for a book deal. Because she has told contradictory stories about her knowledge of Trump's purported racial slurs, it's unclear whether she has knowledge of them at all. She also writes that she personally witnessed the president using a pair of racial insults against senior aide Kellyanne Conway's half-Filipino husband George. 'Would you look at this George Conway article?' she quotes Trump as saying, according to The Guardian. 'F***ing FLIP! Disloyal! F***ing Goo-goo.' George Conway dismissed the story as 'absurd.' White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders took time away from vacation to say the book is 'riddled with lies' and Omarosa is 'disgruntled' Omarosa made more pedestrian recordings of Trump on her own while she worked in the West Wing, but insists the white-whale tape is out there somewhere Omarosa is launching a book tour, saying that she heard Trump denigrate Kellyanne Conway's half-Filipino husband (back row, right) with a racial slur Mr. Conway immediately dismissed the racial-slur story as 'not credible' and 'absurd' on Thursday, noting that Omarosa was fired in December 2017, long before he became known as a persistent Trump critic 'The allegation is not credible, and indeed is ridiculous, particularly in light of the timing of her departure from the White HouseDecember 12, 2017. Its absurd all around,' he tweeted. It wasn't until months later that he emerged as a steadfast and reliable Trump critic on Twitter despite his wife's loyalty and devotion to the president. It's unclear what if anything might have set Trump off, but one of Mr. Conway's earlier rhetorical slaps may provide a suggestion. Omarosa is the latest former Trump aide to land a book deal, and it promises to be both juicy and controversial In a June 2017 tweet the Yale Law School grad berated the president for defending his travel ban, and said it would make it harder for the Office of Solicitor General to find 5 Supreme Court justices to green-light it. 'These tweets may make some ppl feel better,' he wrote, 'but they certainly won't help OSG get 5 votes in SCOTUS, which is what actually matters. Sad.' A year later the high court did side with Trump on the divisive issue, by a 5-4 margin. Omarosa's spicy memoir includes other less incendiary but equally too-good-to-check anecdotes. One is the charge that a tanning bed occupies space in the presidential residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and that President Trump caused a stink when he demanded one. The Washington Post reported Friday that Omarosa wrote about how Trump fought over a tanning appliance with Angella Reid, then the White House's 'chief usher' a title held by the chief of the household staff. Reid was dismissed in early May 2017, narrowing the timeframe in which the story could have unfolded. NOPE: White House officials are disputing Omarosa's claim that the president fought with White House ushers to install a tanning bed in the presidential residence Omarosa claims Lara Trump, the wife of Eric Trump, offered her a $15,000 per month campaign job after she left the White House, a position that she says came with an onerous nondisclosure agreement But a former White House official employed in the West Wing during those months told DailyMail.com on Friday that 'it never happened.' 'Are you kidding me?' asked one former aide who worked alongside Omarosa. 'If that were true, he would have tweeted about it by now and challenged Putin to get one.' The source, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, called the outspoken former colleague 'Ponderosa,' a derisive combination of her name and the word 'ponderous.' Separately, a current senior White House official told a 'New York' magazine reporter that 'there is no tanning bed in there,' and there has 'never been any request' for one. Among the odder claims in 'Unhinged' is Omarosa's insistence that presidential daughter-in-law Lara Trump offered her a $15,000-per-month campaign job when she left the White House, along with an agreement not to talk publicly about Trump. Omarosa describes that as a bid to silence her, but presidential campaign jobs typically come with such strings attached. And she says she once saw the president chewing up a piece of paper after a meeting with lawyer Michael Cohen. George Conway may have set Trump off with tweets like this on in June 2017, in which he berated the president for defending his travel ban and said it would make it harder for the Office of Solicitor General to find 5 Supreme Court justices to green-light it The Conways are pictured during an October 30, 2017 Halloween event at the White House 'I saw him put a note in his mouth. Since Trump was ever the germaphobe, I was shocked he appeared to be chewing and swallowing the paper. It must have been something very, very sensitive,' she writes in an excert given to The Washington Post. As with many of her more pointed stories, White House aides flatly dnied it to the Post. Omarosa's unceremonious December 2017 firing will be a telling asterisk as she launches a media tour this weekend with an interview on the set of 'Meet the Press.' White House Chief of Staff John Kelly threw her overboard after he learned she was using the White House's car service meant for the use of outside VIP guests as a personal pick-up and drop-off chauffeur for her daily commute. She claims in her book that she was shown the door because senior aides believed she was close to getting her hands on an 'n-word' recording even though her employment status would be of little consequence if she had found one. According to Omarosa, she was contacted during the 2016 campaign by a source who claimed to have the recording. 'By that point, three sources in three separate conversations had described the contents of this tape,' she writes. 'They all told me that President Trump hadnt just dropped a single N-word bomb. Hed said it multiple times throughout the shows taping during off-camera outtakes, particularly during the first season of The Apprentice.' In the book Omarosa describes how she and Ivanka Trump tried to rid the White House of leakers Trump has been flattering of the former 'Apprentice' star in the past, while acknowledging her tough reputation She herself appeared in that season but doesn't claim to have heard it. 'I need to hear it for myself,' Trump aide Hope Hicks said when she raised the issue, in Omarosa's telling, asking her over and over for progress updates. The white-whale recording never materialized. 'I was told exactly what Donald Trump said yes, the N-word and others in a classic Trump-goes-nuclear rant and when hes said them. During production he was miked, and there is definitely an audio track,' she writes now. Rumors of a buried Trump 'n-word' recording predate his 2015 entry into presidential politics, and his case won't be helped by the infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape of him bragging that famous men like him can easily take sexual liberties with unwilling women. Omarosa's personal smartphone recordings of Trump feature ordinary chatter, suggesting that she didn't witness him saying anything at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that was explosive or damning enough to make news. But the tell-all book will infuriate the president, who reacted with anger when it was revealed his former personal attorney Michael Cohen recorded some of their conversations. Omarosa describes an attempt by herself and Ivanka Trump to rid the White House of leakers. Short-lived White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci led the effort. 'Along with his comms directorship, Scaramucci had a secondary job. He was apparently the hired hit man,' Manigault writes, according to the Daily Beast. 'Very low-key, Ivanka [Trump] went around to the original Trumpers, the loyal soldiers, and asked the team to compile a list of suspected leakers. I'd already said my piece about [deputy chief of staff] Katie Walsh directly to Donald, and she'd been let go. But Ivanka wanted a new list and, once she had it, she would give it to Scaramucci, so he could fire them all. The final list that was texted to me on July 22 had ten names on it.' She lists those staff as: Vanessa Morrone, Lindsay Walters, Janet Montesi, Raj Shah, Kelly Sadler, Lara Barger, Ory Rinat, Kate Karnes, Michael Short, and Jessica Ditto. A White House official with knowledge of situation alleged in comments to DailyMail.com that since Scaramucci needed to come up with a list of names, he arbitrarily chose staffers no matter their seniority or access who had worked at the Republican National Committee. Not all of them were RNC alumni, however, including Ditto. Scaramucci was fired after 11 days. Trump has been flattering of Omarosa in the past, while acknowledging her tough reputation. 'Honest Omarosa: she won't backstab-she'll come at you from the front,' he tweeted on March 10, 2013. And he wrote a few days earlier on March 3: 'I'll always like @Omarosa because she constantly defends me.' Finally, on March 3 he wrote: 'Are people really afraid of @Omarosa. Would you be?' In an exclusive excerpt obtained by DailyMail.com, Omarosa, 44, tells of the dread she felt while watching Trump's May 2017 interview with Lester Holt. 'While watching the interview I realized that something real and serious was going on in Donald's brain. His mental decline could not be denied,' she writes. 'Many didn't notice it as keenly as I did because I knew him way back when. They thought Trump was being Trump, off the cuff. But I knew something wasn't right.' 'For the Lester Holt interview, I watched it on a small TV in the upper press room (the lower press room was built on top of the old swimming pool and turned into the briefing room) by the press secretary's office,' she writes. 'Throughout this erratic and contradictory interview, I kept thinking, 'Oh no! Oh no! This is bad! 'Donald rambled. He spoke gibberish. He contradicted himself from one sentence to the next.' A man who was killed in a residential Sydney street was slashed with a samurai sword by people known to him, according to a police source. It was earlier reported that the victim was shot dead with a single bullet to the head in the suburb of Forest Lodge, near Glebe, at about 2:30pm on Friday, leading police to raid a house 150m away in a nearby street. Witnesses said they saw a man aged in his late 20s staggering down the street and collapsing after hearing an altercation. The police source also claimed, however, that the gun discovered near the victim's body was a replica, The Daily Telegraph reports. Scroll down for video Police were called to the intersection of Hereford and Minogue crescents at Forest Lodge around 12.40pm to find a body lying in the middle of the road (pictured) Heavily armed police and officers carrying a battering ram closed in on a house nearby in Hereford Street (pictured) just after the brazen shooting It is not clear to authorities what actually caused the victims fatal injuries, although a man and woman were seen fighting with him before his death. Police followed a trail of blood from the body to a nearby property on Hereford Street, and heavily armed officers carrying a battering ram closed in on the house. A massive manhunt is now underway and a man and woman are on the run. Pictures show the body covered in a white blanket surrounded by police at the intersection of Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent. Witnesses said they saw the victim, believed to be in his late 20s, staggering down the street and collapsing after he was attacked in the suburb of Forest Lodge, near Glebe, on Friday afternoon Heavily armed police and officers carrying a battering ram closed in on a house nearby in Cross street just after the broad-daylight attack Pictures show the body covered in a white blanket surrounded by police at the intersection of Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent Police were called to the intersection around 12.40pm where Acting Superintendent Sam Crisafulli told reporters that the victim was 'sadly found deceased on the street'. A builder working nearby told 9 News he and his workmates had heard a 'loud bang' and thought someone may have been run over by a car. 'One of the boys ran down to see if he was okay,' the man said. He said the victim had 'a lot of blood coming out of his head'. Another witness said she heard a lady yelling: Get away. Get the f**k away from me. It was initially thought that the two suspects had run into a nearby premises to hide but police are now searching a wider area. 'I am satisfied with a search of the area by police that these people that we are looking for are not around at the moment,' Superintendent Crisafulli said. The shooting is believed to have been targeted and to have occurred after a man and a woman were 'seen in an altercation' with the victim prior to his death. New South Wales Police is appealing for anyone with information to come forward Police were called to the intersection around 12.40pm where Acting Superintendent Sam Crisafulli (pictured) told reporters that the victim was 'sadly found deceased on the street' Several crime scenes have been established along Hereford Street, including inside a private residence 'We've spoken to a number of witnesses who tell us shortly before we were called a man and a woman were in an altercation with another man,' Superintendent Crisafulli said 'We've spoken to a number of witnesses who tell us shortly before we were called a man and a woman were in an altercation with another man,' Superintendent Crisafulli said. 'It was a violent attack with very, very serious consequences.' The gun is believed to have been found and a helicopter is scouring the area for the two suspects from the air. 'A firearm was found at the scene but at this point in time we are not sure whether or not that was the cause of the injuries, that's something we are going to be investigating,' Superintendent Crisafulli said. Police have said they are still not certain what caused the mans fatal injuries. New South Wales Police is appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Detectives from the homicide squad are set to arrive on the scene and several crime scenes have been established along Hereford Street, including inside a private residence. Minogue Cresent is closed in both directions between Bridge Road and Wigram Road due to the police operation. A man and woman are on the run after a man was killed in Sydney's inner west. Police were called to the intersection around 12.40pm and have reportedly already found a weapon Detectives from the homicide squad are set to arrive on the scene Lewis Ludlow, 26, planned to kill around 100 people in a terror attack on London's Oxford Street or nearby Madame Tussauds before police foiled the plans These chilling photos reveal a British-born Muslim convert who plotted to kill hundreds of shoppers outside of a Disney Store in London. Lewis Ludlow, 26, planned to kill around 100 people in a terror attack on London's Oxford Street or nearby Madame Tussauds before police foiled the plot. The defendant appeared at the Old Bailey today via video link from Belmarsh prison wearing a green prayer cap and black T-shirt. Between March 15 and April 19, Ludlow, who swore allegiance to Islamic State as he prepared to drive a van through busy crowds, bought a phone under a false name and wrote down his attack plans - which were later found ripped up in a bin. Ludlow, who called himself 'The Eagle' and 'The Ghost' also researched potential targets around the capital, van rental and hotel accommodation. He identified Oxford Street as an 'ideal' target, writing: 'It is expected nearly 100 could be killed in the attack'. Ludlow, from Rochester, in Kent, formulated his plan after being stopped by police at Heathrow airport in February as he attempted to board a flight to the Philippines. It was alleged he also set up a Facebook account called Antique Collections as a front to send money to south-east Asia for terrorism. The defendant was due to face trial in the autumn on two charges of preparing acts of terrorism and one of terror funding. But at a hearing before Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC at the Old Bailey, he pleaded guilty to plotting an attack in the UK and funding IS abroad. Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said it would not be in the public interest to pursue a trial on a charge of attempting to join IS in the Philippines which the defendant denied. That charge will lie on the court file. According to a prosecution summary, Ludlow first came to the attention of police in 2010 when he attended a demonstration led by radical preacher Anjem Choudary and his banned Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) group. When he was arrested in 2015, IS material was recovered from his electronic devices but no further action was taken. The 26-year-old from Rochester, Kent, pleaded guilty to plotting an attack in the UK and funding IS abroad Between March 15 and April 19, Ludlow, who swore allegiance to Islamic State as he prepared to drive a van through busy crowds, bought a phone under a false name and wrote down his attack plans - which were later found ripped up in a bin A security van carrying terror suspect Lewis Ludlow leaves court in London today In January this year, he bought a ticket to fly to the Philippines on February 3 but was stopped at the airport and had his passport seized. When spoken to by police, he claimed he was going to the country as a sex tourist. But in a search of his home, officers found he was in communication with a man named Abu Yaqeen in an area with a significant IS presence. In March, Ludlow sent him money via PayPal and created the Facebook account Antique Collections. It purported to be an antiques business in Maidstone but, the prosecution alleged, was really a front to raise money for IS in the Philippines. On March 21, police recovered torn-up scraps of papers from Ludlow's bin detailing his plans. They were pieced together to reveal 'potential attack sites' including 'Madame tussauds', 'Oxford Street - busiest time...', 'St Paul's cathedral' and a ''Shia temple in Romford'. It added: 'Further locations scouted for the kil. (sic).' He also detailed a potential attack on Oxford Street using a van mounting the pavement, noting the lack of safety barriers. Police sealed off his house in Rochester, Kent in May It said: 'Wolf should either use a ram attack or use...on the truck to maximise death...it is a busy street it is ideal for an attack. 'It is expected nearly 100 could be killed in the attack.' On April 13, Ludlow's mobile phone was retrieved from a storm drain. It contained videos of the defendant swearing allegiance to IS and pictures of crowded areas, said to be evidence of 'hostile reconnaissance'. Meanwhile, undercover officers engaged Yaqeen in online chat, in which the IS fanatic called for 'lone wolf' attacks and funds to be sent to the Philippines. Yaqeen put the undercover officer in touch with Ludlow, implying they could work together on an attack in Britain. Ludlow was arrested by counter terrorism police on April 18 but refused to explain himself when he was interviewed. The defendant appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh prison. Following his guilty pleas, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC adjourned his sentencing until November 2. Detective Chief Superintendent Kath Barnes, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said: 'Ludlow was a dangerous individual and I have no doubt that the public will be much safer as a result of our actions. Deb Walsh, from the CPS, said: 'Lewis Ludlow considers himself a soldier fighting for Daesh in the UK. 'To that end he planned to drive a van into shoppers at Oxford Street hoping to kill over a hundred people. 'He also set up a fake online antiques business as a front to send money to terrorists overseas. 'He is a serious danger to the public and accepted his guilt when faced with the prosecution's case against him.' Advertisement Mourning Yemenis have been digging graves for the 29 children to be buried side by side after being killed by the airstrike which hit a school bus yesterday. It comes as the Saudi-led coalition that launched the missile announced it will investigate the deadly strike to help 'clarify their circumstances' following the attack. Distressing images show dozens of workers preparing rows of graves that measure just a few feet long. Workers in Yemen have been preparing graves for the 29 children who were killed by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in the rebel-held part of the north yesterday Distressing images show mourners using their hands to help dig holes in the ground measuring just a few feet in length as they clear space for the deceased youngsters The rows of graves indicate the children killed in Thursday's deadly airstrike will be buried side by side Yesterday's missile attack has prompted growing outrage from international bodies. The Saudi-led coalition who coordinated the airstrike have announced they will probe the incident The United Nations and Washington both called for prompt investigations into the airstrike that obliterated a bus at the Dahyan market in the Huthi rebels' stronghold province of Saada. The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the attack today behind closed doors. A senior Saudi-coalition official told news agencies: 'The leadership of the coalition has ordered the immediate opening of an investigation to assess the events, clarify their circumstances and announce the results as soon as possible.' As authorities still try to identify victims of the attack, reports suggest the death toll could rise. A hospital supported by Red Cross has said the it has received the bodies of 29 children while Huthi health minister Taha al-Mutawakel put the death toll at 51 people, including 40 children. More than 60 injured are 'children under the age of ten'. At the site of the attack, the mangled wreckage of the bus still remains, along with a sizable crater that was formed after the airstrike. Unicef backpacks, books and other personal items belonging to the deceased and wounded lie scattered across the ground. A Yemeni child assesses the mangled wreckage of a bus that was destroyed at the Dahyan market in the Huthi rebels' stronghold province of Saada Scattered belongings of victims including Unicef backpacks and books lie across the ground at the airstrike site in Saada, part of northern Yemen 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. Democratic congressional candidate Steven Lamar Foster, 61, has been convicted of driving under the influence in Dalton, Georgia A Democratic candidate for Congress ranted that he hated the county he is now running to represent, as he was arrested for drunk driving in Georgia. Steven Lamar Foster, 61, was arrested on September 23 of last year and held nothing back as cops cuffed him. New police dash cam footage reveals how Foster insulted Whitfield County, where he's worked for over a decade. Six months later he launched a campaign to represent the district. 'Eleven years I served this county. I hate this county. I prayed to God that he would curse it. And guess what? He did,' he said in the arrest footage. 'Man, I saw it hit and cursed, and I saw people laid off right and left - white people. I hate this county ...' he added. Police footage of his arrest reveals how he insulted Whitfield County saying: 'Eleven years I served this county. I hate this county. I prayed to God that he would curse it' He was pulled over on September 23, 2017, for driving without his headlights on and was cited a DUI, pictured above taking a sobriety field test The video shows Foster counting in Spanish as officers ask him to walk in a straight line, talk of his time in South America, and demand blood samples be sent to the CIA. 'Go right ahead, Ive had them pinched before by Colombian police. I've been in jail in six damn countries and the state of Mississippi,' he said to officers asking for blood samples to be taken. Later on in the video he calls the cops 'Barneys' saying they wouldn't try to arrest Arabs or Hispanics. 'Its all right, they cant help it. They're not going to arrest no Hispanics. They are not going to arrest somebody that is a damn Arab. They are not going to do that...' he says as he's placed into his car in handcuffs. In one part of the two hour arrest clip he says: 'Ill never drink in Dalton, Georgia, again'. Despite his shocking comments, he remains on the ballot. 'He would not have taken this to trial if he had thought he would be found guilty. I have no comment to make other than that. He's still in the race. He seems more determined than ever to continue,' Dan Lovingwood, the chair of the Democratic 14th Congressional District, said to The Daily Daily-Citizen News. As cops talked to him, Foster insisted on a breathalyzer, demanded his blood samples be sent to the CIA, and counted in Spanish as he took sobriety field test After he was arrested he ranted: 'They're not going to arrest no Hispanics. They are not going to arrest somebody that is a damn Arab' About six months after his arrest he announced he was running for Congress but he's been forced to take a break from the campaign trail after a jury found him guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol on Monday. The former physician from Dalton is currently being held without bond as he awaits a sentencing hearing next week. He could face anywhere between 10 days to a year behind bars. The night of his arrest Foster was pulled over by police for driving his silver Mercedes without headlights in Dalton, near the Georgia-Tennessee state line. According to a police report, Foster immediately submitted to a breathalyzer test before officers even suggested the need for one. 'Steven made the statement that he had not been drunk since 1981 and I could give him a breath test if I wanted to,' the report says. 'I asked Steven why I would need to give him a breath test.' Foster reportedly told the officer he had consumed two or three beers about three hours earlier. His arrest video shows the 61-year-old swaying and stumbling during a field sobriety test. Foster announced his bid for a congressional seat in northwest Georgia's 14th district about six months after his DUI arrest last fall Foster is pictured with a group of students during a March For Our Lives event earlier this year The former physician has reportedly owned an urgent care center in Dalton for three decades Foster then agreed to a breath test, which showed his blood alcohol content was .103, well above the legal limit of .08. Foster is running for a congressional seat in northwest Georgia's 14th district - which Whitfield County is a part of - challenging incumbent Republican Rep Tom Graves. Even without a criminal conviction, Foster would be considered a long-shot for the congressional seat in the deep-red district that was easily carried by Donald Trump in 2016. Foster is running against incumbent Republican Rep Tom Graves, who has held the seat in the deep-red district since 2010 Graves has held the seat since 2010, running unopposed in the last two elections and handily beating a Democratic challenger with 73 percent of the vote in 2012. Foster signed up to challenge Graves in March, nearly six months after his DUI arrest last fall. Foster's campaign website bemoans voters' distrust of government - 'and they especially don't trust our congressmen'. Foster described himself as a 'physician entrepreneur' on his qualifying paperwork for the congressional race. Local media reports that he is a former military physician, family practitioner and surgeon. He also has owned Dalton urgent care center MedNow for nearly three decades. State records indicate Foster's medical license expired at the end of 2003. The Composite State Board of Medical Examiners suspended Foster's medical license indefinitely in October 2002, citing concerns that he was 'unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients due to a psychiatric disorder.' Court documents indicate Foster does not have any prior DUI offenses, and in the state of Georgia drunk driving counts as a misdemeanor until the fourth offense. The wreckage of a Soviet Second World War fighter plane nicknamed 'The Flying Tank' has been retrieved from the bottom of a lake in Murmansk, northern Russia. The Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik was shot down on August 22, 1943, during a Nazi German assault on an airbase near the Norwegian border. The pilot, Captain Alexander Ivanovich Kalicev, then 34, was able to land the damaged plane on the lake. Piece of history: The WWII Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft was retrieved from the bottom of a lake in Murmansk, northern Russia Fighter jet: The Soviet war plane was shot down and landed in the lake in August, 1943 Cpt. Kalicev managed to escape the aircraft before it sank, and survived the Second World War. The plane has been brought back to the surface by a Russian organisation called Wings of Victory, an organisation which works to restore old WWII planes. The organisation, which uncovered the plane and the information about Cpt Kalicev, last year successfully completed restoration of another Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik. After being brought back to the surface using giant floating devices, the Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik is set to be transported to the city of Novosibirsk, for restoration. Recovered: The pilot, Captain Alexander Ivanovich Kalicev, managed to escape this cockpit and survived the crash landing Vital: Josef Stalin once branded the Ilyushin Il-2 'as essential to the Red Army as air and bread', An organisation called Wings of Victory, dedicated to saving old Russian war planes, are now hoping to be able to fully restore the Ilyushin Il-2 Back in the day: A Soviet Air Force Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik in full flight To this day, the Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik remains one of the most produced military aircraft designs in history. Josef Stalin once branded them 'as essential to the Red Army as air and bread', with thousands made during WWII to fight Nazi Germany. The 38ft long plane was fitted with heavy armour, and became known among enemy soldiers as a 'Flying Tank'. The single-engine, propeller-driven plane could fit a pilot and a rear gunner and had a wingspan of 47ft 11in. It was in use throughout the Second World War, and was eventually retired in 1954. Stephen Colbert is not a fan of President Donald Trump and yet again The Late Show host took aim at the US Presidents policies, this time slamming the proposed new branch of the military, the Space Force. After Trumps 2020 reelection campaign sent out a fundraising email asking for supporters to vote on their favourite Space Force logo, the administration also announced that they would be selling merchandise to celebrate plans for the sixth branch of the military. Vice President Mike Pence also expanded on what Trump has said before and vowed to ensure dominance in space. Now the time has come to write the next chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where Americas best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation,' he said. Stephen Colbert slammed Trump's proposed new branch of the military, the Space Force What did Stephen Colbert say about the Space Force? On Thursdays episode of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert joked about how bad an idea the Space Force was and said that longtime viewers of the Trump administration will remember that Space Force is the presidents boldest idea...that he got from a Buzz Lightyear Happy Meal toy. He then went on to play a video of the US President discussing the new military branch from stardate March 13, where supreme leader Trump addressed a confused planet. My new national strategy for space recognizes that space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air and sea, Trump said as reported by ABC News. In the video, the President continued: We may even have a Space Force. Develop another one. Space Force. We have the Air Force, well have the Space Force. ...Think of that. Space Force! Colbert responded by saying: Yes, think of that. But not too hard cause its stupid. We already have NASA. We dont need Space Force. Please wait until NASA finds life before you try to kill it. And today, Space Force got a boost from Vice President Mike Pence. No surprise, Pence is a huge fan of space. It is the farthest you can get from being along with a human woman, the presenter said. TONIGHT: A Space Farce! Trump boldly goes where we have already gone before! #LSSC pic.twitter.com/6fupEgLetv The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) August 10, 2018 What is the Space Force? In what was at first considered to a be a joke, President Donald Trump announced in June 2018 that he is directing the Pentagon to create an independent service branch called a Space Force, that would ensure American dominance in space. Trump promised to revive the countrys efforts in order to return to the moon and eventually send a manned mission that would reach Mars. He also added that he does not want China and Russia and other countries leading us. What did Mike Pence say about the Space Force? This week, Mike Pence visited the Pentagon to discuss the progress of Trumps order to build the Space Force, as the Presidents point man for the new branch. This came after Defense Secretary Jim Mattis voiced skepticism on the need for a separate Space Force. In a letter to Pence, he said he did not wish to add a separate service that would likely present a narrower and even parochial approach to space operations, adding it would create extra bureaucracy and cost. However, in a change of faith, the Pentagon chief said he fully supported the idea of creating a new command that would draw in members of existing military branches. We need to address space as a developing, warfighting domain and a combatant command is certainly one thing that we can establish, he said. Pence then addressed the Pentagon and said: 'Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America's best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation. The time has come to establish the United States Space Force.' Trump followed up this announcement with the tweet: Space Force all the way! The Trump 2020 reelection campaign then send out a fundraising email asking supporters to vote on their favourite Space Force logo for future Trump merchandise. Space Force memes Trumps tweet paved the way for a number of hilarious replies and it is has become a viral meme. One Twitter user even created a short animation that depicted Trump in space orchestrating landings on the moon and other planets. "Space Force all the way!" pic.twitter.com/jJqaEs1V4L Ivan the K (@IvanTheK) August 9, 2018 Another illustrated what Star Trek might be like with Trump as a character and many others decided to make sci-fi and pop culture references. SPACE FORCE ALL THE WAY pic.twitter.com/RDwhbSZ1F7 Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) August 9, 2018 However, many others slammed the decision to spend $8 billion on the Space Force project and not on other causes such as the lack of clean water and hurricane recovery. 60,000 homeless veterans, no water in flint, no power in Puerto Rico, teachers paying for their own school supplies and you're tweeting "Space Force All the Way!" Come on man, grow up. We need a leader in this country, not a child. Twitch MaxamillionPegasusd (@MaxPegasusd) August 9, 2018 -Alright, gang. Tweet brainstorming session. I want ideas. Go! -Space Force: Roll Tide! -Space Force: Get Some! -Space Force: Bigly! -Space Force all the way! -Thats the one! John O'Connell (@jacko2323) August 9, 2018 Space Force? From the guy that can't keep it together here on earth. Wants to build a wall to keep space out. #TrumpSpaceTurds pic.twitter.com/RAhzJOQ7bj Norm Clark (@Normsmusic) August 10, 2018 An inquiry is under way into the 'unexplained' death of a baby boy while his 15-year-old mother is being treated in hospital. Police were called to an address in Garstang Road North, Wesham, Lancashire, at about 6pm yesterday and discovered the body. The cause of the baby's death is currently being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will be carried out. The baby's mother is receiving medical attention and support in hospital, said police Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston, of Lancashire Police's major investigation team, said: 'This is a tragic incident involving the death of a baby boy. The baby boy was found at an address on Garstang Road North in Wesham, Lancashire 'My thoughts are very much with the family and friends of those affected at this sad and distressing time. 'The mother of the baby, a 15-year-old girl, is being given support from specially trained officers. She remains at hospital receiving ongoing medical care. 'We are at the very early stages of our investigation and would appeal to anyone with information to come forward. If you have yet to speak to police and can assist with our inquiries, please contact us. 'The circumstances around the baby's death remain unexplained. This is a complex investigation and a team of officers are conducting a number of inquiries. 'These are very sad circumstances and we appreciate the continued support from the people of Wesham at this time.' Anyone who has information should contact 101 quoting log 1263 of August 9. Judge Emmet Sullivan halted an apparent deportation in progress Thursday and threatened to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt after learning the Trump administration tried to remove a woman and her daughter while a hearing about their asylum requests was underway The Department of Homeland Security reversed a pair of deportation orders on Thursday, returning a woman and her daughter to the United States after they landed in El Salvador. The unusual move, ordered by a federal judge, came after the agency kicked the pair out of the U.S. despite an agreement to let them stay at least until midnight while their asylum appeal was being heard in a Washington, D.C. courtoom. Judge Emmet Sullivan hit the roof on Thursday after learning that the Trump administration deported them as the American Civil Liberties Union was asking him for an emergency injunction while they argued against the asylum denial. 'Its outrageous,' Sullivan said. 'Im also directing the government to turn that plane around, either now or when it lands. Turn that plane around and bring those people back to the United States.' He lectured Justice Department lawyers about the 'unacceptable' move, threatening to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt of court. 'Someone seeking justice in U.S. court is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing for justice for her?' the judge asked. A Homeland Security Department official later told The Wall Street Journal that hours later the mother-daughter duo were on American soil again. 'Upon arrival in El Salvador, the plaintiffs didnt disembark and are currently en route back to the United States.' the official said while they were in mid-air. Sessions in June dramatically pared back the criteria for granting asylum in the U.S., excluding people whose claim was based on gang or domestic violence and saying those problems were for their home governments to address Women fleeing poverty and violence arrive in the U.S. daily with their children, seeking asylum based on 'credible fear' of returning home; there are more than 700,000 pending asylum cases, more than twice the number when Barack Obama took office in 2009 (stock photo) The liberal ACLU, accustomed to representing illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers in court, had struck a deal with the DOJ to halt proceedings against the woman, known only as 'Carmen,' until midnight Thursday. But during a court recess, ACLU lawyers found out that the woman and her daughter had already been moved from the South Texas Family Residential Center the nation's largest detention facility for illegal immigrants and other potential deportees. From there, they learned, she may already have been taken to the San Antonio airport and put on an 8:15 s.m. flight back to Central America. Carmen and her daughter were not separated when they crossed the border, but their chances of remaining in the U.S. were slim after she failed a 'credible fear' test designed to determine whether her asylum claim could be honored. Successful applicants typically enter the country to flee persecution because of their race, religion, nationality or political views. Membership in what bureaucrats described decades ago as a 'particular social group' also qualifies. But Sessions dramatically limited that category in June, ruling out border-crossers who claim asylum because they are victims of domestic abuse or gang violence unless the brutality originates with their home governments. Otherwise, the attorney general argued, protected 'social groups' include only people who share a 'common immutable [unalterable] characteristic.' The South Texas Residential Facility in Dilley, Texas is where the ACLU's plaintiff and her daughter were being held, and from which they apparently were taken en route to a deportation flight on Thursday Sessions' unexpected announcement negated a comparatively more vague 2014 Board of Immigration Appeals ruling that married women in developing countries 'who are unable to leave their relationship' can be considered a 'particular social group' for asylum purposes. The Obama administration argued at the time that the woman's gender was 'immutable.' And because she was a Roman Catholic from predominantly Catholic Guatemala, her married status was also beyond her control to reverse. All 12 of the ACLU's lawsuit plaintiffs would have been permitted to stay under the old rules. One said she was repeatedly raped by a former boyfriend who also physically beat her daughter severely enough to cause a miscarriage. Others say they fled violent drug gangs who killed their relatives and, in one case, took over their homes. The Trump administration has argued that traffickers see the 'credible fear' test as a loophole that allows them to get their human cargo into the United States, so long as they can memorize the right things to say. From there, Sessions has argued, asylum-seekers are typically released into the interior of the country while they await hearings, often years away. Many disappear instead of showing up. In changing the standards for seeking asylum, Sessions said in June that 'the mere fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimes, such as domestic violence or gang violence, or that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim.' ACLU attorney Jennifer Chang Newell declared this week in a statement that changing the standard was 'a naked attempt by the Trump administration to eviscerate our country's asylum protections.' 'Its clear the administration's goal is to deny and deport as many people as possible, as quickly as possible,' she said. There are about 700,000 backlogged asylum cases crawling through federal courts, according to the DOJ. That number is more than triple what it was when Barack Obama became president in 2009. Holidaymakers have described a nightmare journey after broken air conditioning caused passengers to 'collapse' on one flight - and their replacement was then diverted when it started to smoke. Families on board the Virgin Atlantic flight from Orlando to London Gatwick were left 'stressed, nauseous and disorientated' due to the faulty air con. Passengers reportedly 'collapsed' after sitting on the tarmac for two hours in uncomfortably hot conditions before staff members finally decided to cancel the flight. Passengers reportedly 'collapsed' after sitting on the tarmac for two hours in uncomfortably hot conditions before staff members finally decided to cancel the flight After their replacement flight started to smoke, holidaymakers were told by the captain that they would be landing at Shannon due to the smell as a precaution and to expect to be greeted by fire crews and ambulances on arrival (pictured) Travellers were boarded onto a second plane after an overnight stay in a nearby hotel - yet three hours from London a 'strong smell' of smoke polluted the plane. The holidaymakers, who were supposed to arrive at 8.10am in London, are now stuck in Shannon Airport in Ireland as they wait to return to the mainland. 'The general mood is everyone is tired and everyone wants to go home,' said passenger Stuart Rust. The drama began on Wednesday when the flight was originally supposed to leave Orlando at 8.35pm. Passengers boarded as normal but around two hours later people reportedly started to faint due to the sweltering heat. 'There were people collapsing,' passenger Abigail Kent told the Mirror. Stuart, 37, a sales manager, from south west London, had just enjoyed a two-week holiday to Disney with his wife and three children aged 20, 12 and eight. Holidaymakers took to social media to describe the nightmare journey after broken air conditioning caused passengers to 'collapse' on one flight - while their replacement was then diverted when it started to smoke They were informed that the flight would not be leaving that day and instead put in close-by hotels and told to return to the airport the next day. Stuart says when they boarded the new flight everyone cheered. But he added: 'Some people had a bad feeling. We boarded the plane yesterday. It was due to leave at 6pm some time and it was the same plane and the air con worked fine.' However this wasn't the last of the drama for Stuart and his fellow passengers as the plane was diverted before it could make its planned destination. 'We had three hours of the flight left to go before we landed in Gatwick and you could smell smoke,' Stuart said. Then the holidaymakers were told by the captain that they would be landing at Shannon due to the smell of smoke as a precaution and to expect to be greeted by fire crews and ambulances on arrival. The holidaymakers were told by the captain that they would be landing at Shannon due to the smell of smoke as a precaution and to expect to be greeted by fire crews and ambulances on arrival He added: 'We just want to get home and it's dragged it out. It hasn't put a dampener on the holiday but it's left a bitter taste.' Stuart praised the Virgin staff who he said have kept them updated while handing out water and food. But for Abigail, 28, this is eating up time with her sick mother and she says it has left her feeling stressed, nauseous and disoriented. A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic said: 'Our flight VS1050 from Orlando to London Gatwick has diverted to Shannon as a precautionary measure after reports of smoke onboard. 'The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority and we are now working hard to get our customers to their final destination as quickly as possible. 'We'd like to apologise for the disruption to their journey and thank them for their patience.' The extra flight provided by Virgin Atlantic has now left Shannon and will be landing at Gatwick in the next hour or so. A Florida man says he 'snapped' when he armed himself with two guns, drove to a stranger's house and opened fire after getting into a political dispute with the victim on Facebook. Brian Sebring, 44, of Tampa, was arrested on Monday for shooting Alex Stephens, 46, also of Tampa, in the thigh and buttocks. Police said Sebring and Stephens, who had never met but lived in the same neighborhood, got into an argument in the comments section of a Facebook post about President Donald Trump. Brian Sebring (left in his arrest mugshot) was arrested for shooting Alex Stephens (right in a previous, unrelated mugshot) in the thigh and buttocks after their online disagreement Sebring said the argument started after he commented on a friend's post criticizing felons who can't vote Sebring, a registered Democrat who often shares posts criticizing Trump, told the Tampa Bay Times that the dispute quickly turned personal and Stephens sent him messages threatening to harm his wife and two sons. 'I'm not a bad guy,' Sebring said, 'but I mean this guy threatened to hurt my family, and I went off the deep end. I wasn't thinking right. You know, after this I'm going to go see a therapist or something, man, because that's some scary s***, that I could lose my temper like that and do something so stupid.' Sebring, who was previously arrested and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor batter, said he commented on a friend's post and made a remark about felons who couldn't vote. He said his comment drew hundreds of responses, one of those being from Stephens, a convicted felon who lost his right to vote. Sebring said he wrote: 'If you want to voice your opinion, don't do criminal activity, don't get caught, be a productive member of society'. Sebring armed himself with an AR-15 and a Glock and drove over to Stephens' house on Wallace Ave (pictured) - just two miles from his own home and shot him when Stephens charged at him Sebring, a registered Democrat, said he had made the comments on a post about president Donald Trump Sebring, who has criticized Trump online, said he made a comment about felons who can't vote when Stephens, a felon, started sending him threatening messages Stephens, who who served stints in prison for robbery and cocaine possession, reportedly sent Sebring a private message on Facebook threatening to harm his wife and autistic son. Stephens also sent Sebring his address and told him to 'come on over' so they could handle their disagreement in person. Sebring said he was scared and wanted to protect his family, telling the Times that he sent a message back to Stephens threatening to shoot him. 'Dude I'm going to empty a full 5.56 magazine into your head,' the message read, according to the Times. 'You really want me to come to your (house).' Sebring said the back-and-forth arguing went on for two days, until after work on Monday he armed himself with an AR-15 Carbine and a Glock semi-automatic pistol and drove to Stephens' home. 'I just snapped and let primal rage take over,' he told the Times. Stephens (left) was released from the hospital and is recovering at home, and Sebring (right) faces felony charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm In an interview with ABC Action News, Sebring said he never intended to use the weapons but pulled out the pistol when Stephens charged at him. 'I took two steps back, pulled my gun. Shot him in the hip and when he ran, I shot him in the butt,' he said. 'I didn't want to hurt nobody. I'm not a hardcore criminal.' He added: 'It was stupid, stupid! I ruined my life over this.' Sebring turned himself into the police after the altercation. He was released from the Hillsborough County Jail on Tuesday night on a $9,500 bond. He faces felony charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm. Stephens was released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Actor Richard Gere's name is being tossed around to fill a potential vacancy in the US House of Representatives. If things line up properly, 68-year-old Gere could make a run to represent the 18th Congressional District of New York, which includes his home. The seat is currently held by Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney, who is running in September's primary for state attorney general. 'Richard Geres name is being whispered about among Democrats,' Middletown Mayor Joe DeStefano confirmed to Page Six. 'Well see what hes made of.' Gere and his wife, Alejandra Silva, 35, who married in a civil ceremony in April, are expecting their first child together, a Spanish outlet of ABC reported on Wednesday. Scroll down for video Hollywood heartthrob Richard Gere's name is being tossed around to potentially run for New York's 18th Congressional District seat in the House, if the current seat holder wins the Democratic primary for New York state attorney general. Gere is seen here in Madrid, Spain on December 12 Gere is a known political activist in the Pound Ridge, Westchester area, where he calls home, who repeatedly speaks at the Freedom House Annual Awards Dinner, which has been held in Washington, DC. Founded in 1941 to counter US isolation in World War II, Freedom House calls itself, 'an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world.' At the 2017 dinner, he spoke about how interacting with the people there that night had made him aware of the vast array of challenges to democracy across the globe. He talked at length about how proud he was to come to know Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, through his work related to HIV/AIDS and Tibet. 'There's no doubt in mind the change that's going to happen in this world, the opening that going to happen, is going to come from women,' Gere said. 'Or it's going to come from guys who understand what it's like to be a woman.' Gere and his wife, Alejandra Silva, 35, who married in a civil ceremony in April, are expecting their first child together; The two are pictured here in Zurich, Switzerland in September 2012 Middletown Mayor Joe DeStefano (right) confirmed to Page Six that Gere's name is being thrown around to run for the US House of Representatives seat currently held by Sean Patrick Maloney (left), should he win the Democratic primary for New York state attorney general Actor Richard Gere makes remarks at the Freedom House annual Awards Dinner to honor courageous individuals and innovative organizations that have made significant contributions to the cause of human rights and democracy. Posted by Fox News on Thursday, April 27, 2017 Ellen Kearns, assistant secretary of the Westchester County Democratic Party, had only good things to say about the registered Democrat. 'Richard is real fun,' Kearns said. 'On Election Day he comes up to each election inspector and personally thanks us for our work.' Aside from being a nice guy to the civil servants, Gere is also outspoken on the issue of human rights, particularly in Chinese-held Tibet. He was a co-founding chairman of Tibet House in New York in 1987, at the request of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who expressed his desire for 'a long-term cultural institution to ensure the survival of Tibetan civilization and culture, whatever the political destiny of the six million people of Tibet itself.' Gere's name is being tossed around to potentially run for New York's 18th Congressional District seat in the House, if the current seat holder wins the Democratic primary for New York state attorney general; Gere is seen here speaking at the Freedom House 2018 Annual Awards Dinner on May 23 in Washington, DC Through his non-profit organization, The Gere Foundation, and his public charity, Healing the Divide, he also provides support for HIV/AIDS, humanitarian aid, human rights, and cultural preservation organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Survival International. DeStefano is an influential Democrat in Orange County, which makes up much of the 18th Congressional District in New York. He's supporting Maloney for attorney general, who has said that if he loses, he'll run for re-election to represent the 18th District. 'The bottom line is I want to elect a Democrat to kill the Trump agenda,' DeStefano said. Sitting Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who is also a Democrat, resigned on May 7, opening the field for Maloney and three others to compete for the Democratic slot in November's election. Maloney will have to beat out New York City Public Advocate Letitia 'Tish' James, law professor Zephyr Teachout and Leecia Eve, who is a past aide to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for the chance to compete for votes for the state position, according to Ballotpedia. The Democratic primary for state attorney general will be held on September 13. Gere, who is a practicing Tibetan Buddhist known for his leading roles in Pretty Woman and An Officer and a Gentleman, has not commented publicly on the suggestion that he run, should Maloney win the primary. Gere already has one child, an 18-year-old son, with his second ex-wife Carey Lowell. His third wife and expectant mother, Silva, has a five-year-old son from a previous marriage. The two had been dating for three years prior to getting married in April. Gere was first married to Cindy Crawford, 52, from 1991 to 1995. Teenagers as young as 14 have been arrested in relation to a recent crime spree of alleged armed robberies and carjackings in Melbourne's southeast. Victoria Police officers from the Southern Metro Crime Team executed warrants of 10 homes across Melbourne on Thursday and Friday in relation to a series of alleged incidents between July 26 and August 7. Police seized a black Holden Captiva and Landrover Discovery, both alleged to be stolen, along with imitation firearms and a military assault rifle, believed to be a AK-47. Teenagers were arrested in morning police raids in Melbourne on Thursday and Friday Four teens arrested on Thursday morning were charged with offences including armed robbery, aggravated carjacking, intentionally cause injury, theft of motor vehicle, possess prohibited weapon, handle stolen goods and unlicensed driving. A Cranbourne teen 17, and Pakenham boy, 14, were refused bail to appear at a children's court at a later date. An Officer man, 19 was bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates' Court at a later date. A Dandenong North boy, 17, was released, pending further inquiries. A military assault rifle (pictured) was among the items allegedly seized by police Four of the teenagers arrested have been charged with a string of offences. More teens are expected to be charged Police arrested a further 10 people on Friday morning who are currently being interviewed by police. A Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia early Saturday that no more charges have been laid. It's understood the teens are from African, Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds. The arrests were in connection to a series of alleged incidents, including an aggravated carjacking in Narre Warren South, armed robbery at a milk bar in Halla, attempted aggravated burglary at a milk bar in Hampton, armed robbery at a service station in Lynbrook. The multiple arrests were in relation to a recent crime spree of alleged armed robberies and carjackings in Melbourne's southeastern suburbs Ten teens arrested on Friday are assisting police with their inquiries A man was allegedly bashed, robbed and had his car stolen at an ATM in Moorabbin in the most recent incident on Tuesday. Some victims of the alleged incidents have spoken publicly about their ordeal. One woman, 57, feared for her life when she allegedly had a gun pressed to her head while getting out of her car to exchange details with three men who rear-ended her car in Narre Warren South in July,The Age reported. Police also seized two allegedly stolen vehicles in the raids, along with other items Charges already laid include armed robbery, aggravated carjacking, intentionally cause injury, theft of motor vehicle, possess prohibited weapon, handle stolen goods and unlicensed driving 'We want to reassure the community that these kinds of offences are a priority for us and we have been putting a lot of resources into this operation,' Detective Inspector Shayne Pannell said. 'We know these kinds of incidents can be a terrifying experience for anyone, which is why when they do occur we commit all of our efforts into identifying and arresting offenders. 'The safety of the community is the highest priority for police and we'll continue to focus on holding offenders to account whilst maintaining a highly visible police presence in order to prevent crime from occurring.' Twenty victims of a vile monk who abused child visitors to his remote island monastery have complained to police, it was revealed today. Father Thaddeus Kotik allegedly abused children visiting his monastery on the tiny Caldey Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire between 1977 and 1987. Six women have received out of court settlements - and since November this year, 14 new people have reported abuse by the monk. Father Thaddeus Kotik (pictured) allegedly abused the children of visitors to his Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire monastery over ten years The monk is said to have used chocolate and sweets to befriend young girls whose families visited the remote island monastery (above) Kotik, who died in 1992, allegedly used chocolate from the abbey dairy and sweets to strike up relationships with girls whose families holidayed on the island. One victim of Kotik's abuse told BBC Wales of the trauma she suffered at the hands of the monk. She said: 'I became an alcoholic, I had an eating disorder, and I was hanging around with drug addicts and prostitutes. 'I was in relationships with violent, alcoholic men and all these terrible things nearly ended my life because I was very heavily into drink and drugs, and living with a heroin addict is pretty full on.' Six people have received out of court settlements as a result of the abuse between 1977 and 1987 - and 14 new people have come forward (pictured, Caldey Island) One victim, Jenny, said she only began to piece together what had happened with Kotik (pictured) when her sister described her own experience The girl, known as Jenny, pieced together what had happened after her sister told her about her own experience with Kotik. She said: 'After that, all the pieces just started falling into place.' 'Fortunately, my mum keeps diaries and lo and behold between the two school photos when I was five and six, he came to stay with us for one night in the November of 1978. Thousands of people visit Caldey Island between April and October each year (pictured, Kotik) 'My sister said he went upstairs to pray and that's when I would have been in bed, asleep, and it all fell into place, that's when he interfered with me. 'And that's what started all the fear, the night terrors, the sleepwalking and all the problems that got worse and worse until my life nearly ended.' The historic holy island of Caldey has a monastery for 18 monks and a handful of farmers working the land off the Welsh coast. More than 3,000 visitors make the boat ride from April to October to see the home of the strict Cistercian monks. Kotik was a former soldier in the Free Polish army in WWII before moving to the island in 1947. He was ordained as a priest in 1956 and lived on the island until his death in 1992. Kotik was never questioned by police because they were not informed until 2014. Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed it received reports of historical sexual abuse by a monk on Caldey Island. Caldey Abbey (pictured) previously apologised, acknowledging the serious allegations of child sexual abuse made against Kotik Detective Chief Inspector Jayne Butler said specially-trained officers were investigating and supporting victims of historical abuse and people should report crimes to the force. The head of Caldey Abbey has previously issued an apology acknowledging that allegations of serious child sexual abuse made against a Cistercian monk should have been passed on to police. Daniel van Santvoort, the abbot at the abbey on Caldey Island, said he was 'truly sorry' that allegations made against Father Thaddeus Kotik had not been reported to the authorities, and expressed regret for any harm caused. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Nicolai Mork was convicted on charges related to terrorism and preparing weapons of mass destruction on Thursday in Las Vegas A Las Vegas man has been convicted of terrorism and preparing weapons of mass destruction after prosecutors found a cache of explosives at his home last year. Police searched the home of Nicolai Mork in December 2016 after linking him to at least eight Molotov cocktails found near 'seemingly random homes' in his neighborhood in the Las Vegas suburbs, according to court records. Inside the 40-year-old Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate's home, investigators found nearly 300lbs of chemicals strong enough to cause 'substantial damage to Mork's residence and the houses around him'. Mork pleaded guilty to weapons charges in June of 2017 and was handed a four-to-10-year prison sentence on Thursday. Authorities have said they will continue combing through Mork's computer while he serves time. Scroll down for video Police found nearly 300lbs of chemicals used to create explosives in Mork's home back in December 2016. The 40-year-old is pictured left with his defense attorney Nicholas Wooldridge in court on the day he was indicted last April Mork was indicted on several serious terrorism charges after authorities found 264 pounds of a mixture of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder, commonly referred to as Tannerite, inside his home. His defense attorney argued that the materials were intended to be used to create targets for shooting practice. Police also reportedly found 17 hard drives containing 'violent child pornography' and images of Mork having sex with 'seemingly unconscious women', along with a video of him 'violently beating' a woman in an apartment. He has not yet been charged in connection with any of the computer materials. Mork had been paranoid that he was being followed by Scientologists, his mother said At the time of Mork's indictment, his defense attorney Nicholas Wooldridge called the case 'a modern-day witch hunt' by local police and prosecutors. 'Mr Mork is not a terrorist,' Wooldridge said. 'He has never held beliefs of wanting to hurt the state of Nevada or wanting to hurt the public at large. 'Even if he did what they say he did, I don't think it rises to the level of terrorism.' After Mork's arrest, his mother told the Review Journal she had noticed her son growing increasingly paranoid over the last few years, and that he was worried he was being followed by Scientologists. 'He's not a man we recognize,' Joan Mork said of her son last spring. She also said Mork had been taking medication for depression and anxiety. An angry mother has posted a heartbreaking photograph of her daughter cuddling her dying cat on social media in a bid to hunt down the 'evil scum' who poisoned it with antifreeze. Rachel Waddell, from Camelon, Falkirk, shared an image of her daughter Madison holding their cat Millie wrapped in a blanket just 30 minutes before it was put down. The five-year-old Tortoiseshell cat was found looking unwell by her owners when they returned from holiday on Sunday evening. Madison Waddell, from Camelon, Falkirk, was pictured holding the animal wrapped in a blanket just 30 minutes before it had to be put down Millie was rushed to the vet the same evening and the family were told their animal only had a ten per cent chance of survival. Madison, just seven-years-old, was understandably heartbroken when she learned her cat would have to be put down on Monday after the treatment for antifreeze poison did not work. Small amount of antifreeze can be deadly to cat's internal organs, including their brain, kidneys and liver. Madison's mother Rachel posted the photograph of her daughter holding their cat on Facebook. Millie, a Tortoiseshell cat, (pictured) was found looking unwell by her owners when they returned from holiday on Sunday evening In her post, she wrote: 'Owners of cats be careful. Someone has killed my cat with* antifreeze.' Dozens of people posted messages of support following the tragic dead. One local commented: 'OMG where are all of these evil scum coming from? To hurt an innocent animal. I hope they get the cruel b*******. So sorry for your family losing a loved pet.' Another wrote: 'Heartbreaking. I hope you catch the ****** responsible and set them on fire.' Speaking today, Ms Waddell said: 'It was rather upsetting. We were away for the weekend to Truckfest and we came home to find the cat not well. 'We took her to the vet and they told me it looked like antifreeze poisoning. She had a 10% chance of survival. 'We gave her the treatment but, she had to be put down on Monday morning at half nine.' She added: 'Millie slept on Madison's bed. She was upset that someone could kill her cat on purpose. Millie had just turned five when she was put to sleep.' 'I posted a photo of Millie to warn other cat owners in case it happens to them.' Madison playing with her kitten Millie in happier times. The death of Millie is the latest in a spate of cat antifreeze poisonings around the country Police Scotland would not comment as to whether the poisoning was deliberate as no complaint had been lodged with them. The death of Millie is the latest in a spate of cat antifreeze deaths around the country. Last week, four cats died from suspected antifreeze poisoning in the Welsh village of Cwmllynfell. RSPCA officer were alerted after Fluffy and Twmws were seen staggering in the street before collapsing. Two strays were found dead near the same village and thought to have died from the same poison. The RSPCA could not confirm if the poisonings were deliberate, but said it was a 'serious concern'. The symptoms of antifreeze poisoning include vomiting, a depressed or sleepy demeanour, appearing drunk or uncoordinated, seizures or breathing difficulties. Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said, 'We are very sorry to hear of this sad incident. Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) is one of the most common causes of cat poisoning, particularly in the winter months. 'The liquid is usually colourless and odourless, but it has a sweet taste that appeals to dogs in particular, but cats will also ingest it. 'By the time symptoms occur, such as vomiting, lethargy and, in the latter stages, head shaking and coma, it is normally too late to treat. 'Renal failure is most often the cause of death, with irreparable damage to the kidneys. 'Pet owners in the area should be vigilant when letting their cats out of the house.' The widow of Deputy Hodges (with him above) has sued over his death last summer A deputy killed during training on a South Carolina lake last summer was tangled by the boat propeller after going overboard and drowned inches under the surface while pleading for his life, according to a lawsuit filed this week by the officer's widow. Anderson County deputy Devin Hodges, a second officer, and a US Army Corps of Engineers instructor driving the boat were all thrown into Lake Hartwell during a dangerous maneuver called an emergency stop. During a training exercise on June 1 2017 Instructor Jess Fleming wasn't using a safety device that would have caused the boat's motor to stop when the driver was no longer at the wheel, according to the lawsuit. The unmanned vessel turned in a 'circle of death' and its propeller struck Hodges, who was 30, as he desperately tried to swim away, the lawsuit said. Anderson County deputy Devin Hodges (above) was killed in South Carolina's Lake Hartwell last summer, when a training instructor was demonstrating an emergency stop 'As the boat beat the life out of him, Deputy Hodges life vest became entangled in the propeller,' lawyers wrote in the suit. 'While Deputy Hodges was being held under water, within inches of the surface, he slowly drowned.' Fleming and the other officer on the boat were not hurt. The Corps of Engineers didn't return a message seeking comment. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources charged Fleming with reckless homicide by boat, but prosecutors dropped the case two months later after determining the law doesn't allow a federal law enforcement officer to be charged with state infractions. Fleming first did the emergency stop at half speed, and then did it closer to full speed, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday by Hodges' widow, which simply names the United States of America as the defendant. Fleming spent the day before discussing with the deputies the important of using the 'kill switch,' which is a lanyard that stops the boat motor when the driver is no longer at the wheel. But the day of Hodges death, Fleming didn't wear the lanyard and the kill switch was shut off, the lawsuit said. Hodges (left and right) had been working for the Anderson County Sheriff's Office for less than a year, and was recently assigned to the marine patrol when he died Fleming 'knew he was exposing his passengers to a potential circle of death, and yet he still attempted this improper, deadly maneuver. The consequence of his actions were foreseeable and resulted in one of the exact outcomes kill switches are intended to prevent,' according to the lawsuit. Hodges' widow filed the suit after federal officials did not act on the official form she filed claiming wrongful death for more than six months. Hodges, 30, was a father of four and had been working for the Anderson County Sheriff's Office for less than a year. New Sheriff Chad McBride had just assigned him to the marine patrol. McBride personally pressed the uniform Hodges was buried in, saying it was the least he could do for an officer who showed such promise and dedication. The Florida sheriff leading a state commission on the Parkland massacre has claimed that shooter Nikolas Cruz could have been stopped by 'somebody with a gun'. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told the New York Times that surveillance footage from inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High shows the 19-year-old gunman pausing to reload his AR-15 several times during the deadly attack, which would have been the perfect opportunity for someone to stop him. 'If he had somebody in there with a gun, they could have mitigated this,' Gualtieri told Times reporter Patricia Mazzei. 'There were opportunities for staff to have intervened if they had been armed.' Mazzei posted the excerpts from her interview with the sheriff on Twitter, noting that 'the only armed guard on campus, Deputy Scot Peterson of the Broward County Sheriff's Office, remained outside the building during the shooting. He resigned and has since said he was not sure where the gunman was'. Florida Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, left, the lead investigator for the state's commission on the Parkland massacre, has said that shooter Nikolas Cruz, right, could have been stopped if someone on the campus had been armed in a new interview this week Gualtieri made the comments during an interview with New York Times reporter Patricia Mazzei, who noted that there was an armed security guard at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on the day of the shooting, Deputy Scot Peterson (pictured above in security footage) In the interview Thursday, Gualtieri revealed that during one of the times that Cruz was reloading the six-round magazine rifle, one teacher was able to move his students to safety. 'There were several other times when he was in that school that his gun was empty,' he added. DailyMail.com has reached out to Mazzei regarding whether Gualtieri had anything to say about Peterson, who was seen in previously-released surveillance footage appearing to hide from the gunfire during the Valentines Day shooting that left 17 dead. Peterson, who has been called a coward for failing to intervene during the attack, has maintained that he did everything he could during the Valentines Day shooting this year The 'coward cop' has claimed that when he first heard shots fired he thought it was someone setting off firecrackers as a 'childish prank'. As he got closer to the building where Cruz was, the deputy realized that it was actually gunshots, but he didn't try to intervene. Despite widespread criticism from the public and several of the victim's families, Peterson has maintained that he did everything he could at the time. 'How can they keep saying I did nothing? Im getting on the radio to call in the shooting,' he told the Washington Post in June. 'Im locking down the school. Im clearing kids out of the courtyard. They have the video and the call logs. The evidence is sitting right there.' The state commission released video footage of Cruz's 12-hour interrogation on Wednesday, which shows the confessed gunman sitting across from his brother Zachary (above) Earlier this week the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, headed by Gualtieri, released a video of the 12-hour-long interrogation in which Cruz confesses to the shooting. The disturbing footage taken just hours after the massacre shows the 19-year-old slouching in a chair, aiming his fingers at his face like a gun and muttering 'kill me' over and over again. He can later be seen sitting across from his brother Zachary, who begs him to explain why he'd gone on the killing spree. Gualtieri told the commission that school officials had struggled with Cruz's fluctuating behavior with years, not knowing the best way to handle him. 'It was really a roller-coaster with Cruz really from birth,' he said. Last week the Broward County School District released a report detailing how Cruz's behavioral issues began in pre-kindergarten and continued as he went in and out of regular campuses and programs for problematic children. 'He had some really bad low times but at times he was without behavioral issues,' Gualtieri said. A teenage boy has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 14-year-old girl whose body was found in a park. The 16-year-old defendant was remanded into custody by a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court and will face trial in November accused of killing Viktorija Sokolova. The body of Lithuanian-born Viktorija was found by a member of the public in West Park, Wolverhampton, in April. Judge James Burbidge QC told the 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because of his age, he is likely to appear for a pre-trial hearing two weeks before his trial at the Crown Court in either Birmingham or Wolverhampton. The body of Lithuanian-born Viktorija Sokolova, 14, was found by a member of the public in West Park, Wolverhampton, in April. Forensics at West Park, in Wolverhampton in April. A teenage boy has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Viktorija Sokolova Her family previously paid tribute to Viktorija (pictured) calling her 'a little angel' who made their lives 'so wonderful and full of meaning' The youth spoke only to confirm his name and plea during a half-hour hearing on Friday. He has yet to enter a plea to a charge of rape. Friends had tied hundreds of balloons to the gates at West Park paying tribute to Viktorija at the time. Her family previously paid tribute to her said she 'was like a little angel' and made their lives 'so colourful and full of meaning'. They added: 'We can't believe she has left us at such a young age. We will never forget you our sweetheart. 'You will be living in our hearts, soul and mind forever. Goodbye our little angel.' A video has emerged of a statue of the Virgin Mary apparently weeping blood in what its owner claims is a 'miracle'. Frias Mendoza claims that people have been flocking to the small town of San Jose de Metan in Argentina to see the alleged 'phenomenon' for themselves. The footage was filmed by an eyewitness who and shows the small gold-painted plaster statue with a dark red liquid running down both her cheeks. Mendoza claims that the Virgin of the Mystic Rose, was originally located in his home in the small town but has since been moved to the church. He claims that he has witnessed similar occurrences before including tears - sometimes made of crystals or a blood-like red liquid - on the face of the statue several times in the last year. A video has emerged of a statue of the Virgin Mary apparently weeping blood in what its owner claims is a 'miracle' The 20 inch high statue was moved to the local church after the family started receiving visitors to their living room, which had become a makeshift shrine He also said that he was visited in a dream by the Virgin Mary the night before he first witnessed the 'miracle' thinking it was a sort of punishment and was 'scared'. The 20 inch high statue was moved to the local church after the family started receiving visitors to their living room, which had become a makeshift shrine. Although locals are divided over whether the claims are truly a miracle, some say the the statue is crying over government proposals to liberalise Argentina's strict abortion laws. Some social media commentators are not convinced. One sceptical user joked: 'The local parish priest must have done a degree in marketing.' Last year, a man claimed that his statue was crying tears of blood during lent and that he had been visited by the Virgin in a dream Last year, worshippers travelled to the town of Los Naranjos, also in Argentina, to see a similar miracle. The Virgin Inmaculada Concepcion de Maria began shedding red liquid from her eyes during lent with the owner of that statue also claiming that she had also 'visited him in a dream'. Former far-right MP Willie Dille, 53, killed herself after posting a video claiming she was gang-raped by Muslim men A Dutch MP has killed herself hours after posting a video on social media claiming she was gang-raped by a group of Muslim men. Willie Dille, 53, a member of the anti-immigrant Freedom Party, shared the footage on Facebook in which she said she'd been attacked by the group as part of an intimidation campaign. Dille, who served as an MP from 2010-2012 before returning to her seat on The Hague city council, alleged the rape happened over a year ago. In the distressing video, Dille said: 'I just want the world to know the truth. On 15th March 2017 I was kidnapped, raped and abused by a group of Muslims because they wanted to keep my mouth shut in the city council of The Hague. 'After they were done they said: Do you respect Muhammad, do you respect Allah, do you respect Arnoud?' The video was removed shortly after it was posted online. Dille was branded a racist after sharing a video in February 2016 saying a nuclear bomb should be dropped on Muslims. Her death was confirmed by local Freedom Party leader Karen Gerbrands who said Dille 'could no longer bear what had happened to her'. Mayor of The Hague Pauline Krikke said she was shocked when she learned about Dille's suicide. Dille was branded a racist after sharing a video in February 2016 saying a nuclear bomb should be dropped on Muslims A police spokesperson told local media on Thursday afternoon that Dille had approached the police about the alleged attack but never filed a formal complaint. An emergency meeting between Krikke and the police and prosecutors will take place later today. The politician had four adopted children and owned a care institution for mentally disabled people and foster children. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his condolences after news of Dille's death spread Mayor Krikke said: 'The city council of The Hague lost an involved and passionate councillor and colleague. 'Dille stood for her cause. She could fiercely debate, but also often showed her humour. We will greatly miss her in the council and in the debate.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or click here for details. A refugee who hurled boiling water over his gay roommate and told him 'in my country we do not allow you' was jailed for 17 months today. Rafaat Mohamed, 54, originally from Sudan, had a 'difficult' relationship with Kez Phillips before he threw the contents of a boiled kettle over him on April 28 this year. The pair lived in the same hostel in Chelsea, west London, for six months. Rafaat Mohamed, 54, originally from Sudan, had a 'difficult' relationship with Kez Phillips before he threw the contents of a boiled kettle over him on April 28 this year, Isleworth Crown Court heard Mohamed was in the shared kitchen making a cup of tea when Mr Phillips accused him of stealing his food and said: 'In your country, you would have your hand cut off for stealing'. He then calmly put down his cup of tea before picking up the kettle and emptying it onto Mr Phillip's face and shirtless torso leaving him with severe blistering, Isleworth Crown Court heard. Prosecutor Oluwole Phillips told the court that Mohamed had previously made homophobic jibes towards Mr Phillips including saying 'in my country we do not allow you,' in reference to his sexuality. Mohamed came to the UK from Sudan as a refugee in 1999. After his arrest, Mohamed claimed it was an 'accident at best, reckless at worst.' His lawyer, Ylenia Rosso, said that he 'accepts the danger he put the victim in.' 'He is extremely remorseful, particularly for the injuries to the victim in this case,' she added. Ms Rosso asked Judge Robin Johnson to suspend Mohamed's sentence because he suffers from diabetes and is of previous good character. Prosecutor Oluwole Phillips told the court that Mohamed had previously made homophobic jibes towards Mr Phillips including saying 'in my country we do not allow you,' in reference to his sexuality But Judge Johnson said a suspended sentence for such an 'appalling attack' could not be justified. 'I do not know the motivation for this attack,' he added. 'In my book, throwing a kettle of boiling water is a wicked attack. 'He was treated in the hospital, required a skin graft and the strongest medication available - your attack has caused understandable trauma. 'I accept that a prison sentence will be difficult for you but in my judgement only an immediate custodial sentence can capture the public's horror at this attack.' Mohammed, of Elm Grove, Harrow, west London, admitted causing actual bodily harm. He was emotionless as he was jailed for 17 months. A sailor who was racing at the world's largest sailing regatta today died after being thrown from his yacht during strong winds and dragged through the water. The man, in his 60s, was racing in the RS Elite class at Cowes Week sailing regatta on the Isle of Wight when he was launched from his 24ft boat into the sea and knocked unconscious. Wind speeds reached almost 23mph today as blustery conditions hit the week-long sailing event, which is held annually and is the world's oldest and largest regatta. A sailor who was racing at the world's largest sailing regatta today died after being thrown from his yacht during strong winds and dragged through the water off the coast of the Isle of Wight A major lifesaving operation took place to try and save the seriously ill sailor involving two helicopters and a coastguard team. Sadly the man later died at St Mary's Hospital, despite the efforts of the lifeboat and emergency services Police revealed the man had died after being rushed to hospital. A shocked witness said the man was part of a three man crew on one of the yachts before being thrown overboard at Osborne Bay, Cowes, this morning around 10.30am. After a mayday call was sent, Cowes lifeboat, Ventnor Rescue Team, also of the Isle of Wight, and the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter rushed to the scene after a mayday call. Another sailor jumped in after the unconscious man in a bid to save him and the pair pulled them both aboard another yacht that had been in the race and took them back to shore. When the helicopter arrived, a paramedic was winched down to a lifeboat to provide emergency treatment before the injured sailor was rushed to St Mary's Hospital in Newport, Isle of Wight, when back on land. A Coastguard spokesman said: 'The person was pulled out of the water by a passing vessel and escorted by the lifeboat to shore. Wind speeds reached almost 23mph today as blustery conditions hit the week-long sailing event, which is held annually and is the world's oldest and largest regatta 'The casualty has been passed into the care of the Isle of Wight ambulance service.' Despite being rushed to St Mary's Hospital in Newport, Isle of Wight, doctors were unable to save the sailor, who had been pulled unconscious from the water. A spokeswoman for Hampshire police said: 'We were called just after midday today to reports of a man who had been pulled from the water at Cowes. 'A man in his 60s was taken to St Mary's Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. 'His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. A shocked witness said the man was part of a three man crew on one of the yachts before being thrown overboard at Osborne Bay, Cowes, this morning around 10.30am A spokeswoman for Lendy Cowes Week said: 'The team are deeply saddened and our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time' 'At this stage the death is not being treated as suspicious. Investigations are ongoing.' The RS Elite class race started with 21 yachts this morning, including the vessel Riff Raff, skippered by Russell Peters, but just four are listed as having finished the course. A member of the Riff Raff team leapt into the sea to try and save the unconscious sailor before the Coastguard teams arrived. This afternoon, a spokesman for the Isle of Wight Hospital Trust said: 'Despite the best efforts by crew, the RNLI, a medically qualified person nearby, the ambulance service and the Emergency department, the individual could not be saved.' A spokeswoman for Lendy Cowes Week said: 'The team at Lendy Cowes Week are extremely sad to confirm the death of one of our competitors while racing here today. 'The casualty was quickly transferred to shore by an event safety boat. Medical assistance was waiting on shore and the casualty was then taken by ambulance to St Mary's Hospital, Newport, where he was pronounced dead. 'The team at Lendy Cowes Week are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.' Two young Maryland girls who mysteriously went missing from their home earlier this week have been found. Sisters Kandyce, 11, and Karmen Matos, 16, were last seen on Saturday night in their family home in Silver Spring but they vanished the following morning. Five days later Montgomery County Police announced around 8.30am on Friday that the girls were located 'safe and unharmed'. Found: Montgomery County Police announced Friday that missing Maryland sisters Kandyce Matos, 11 (left), and her 16-year-old sister, Karmen (right) were located 'safe and unharmed' The girls went missing from their family home in Silver Springs, above, on Saturday evening The girls' disappearance launched a frantic search for the pair who left everything behind, even their eyeglasses. Karmen also mysteriously deleted her Instagram account prior to going missing. They were last seen by their parents at 11pm on Saturday. When the parents entered their room at 11am to check on them the following morning, they were gone. Police believed that Kandyce and Karmen were together went they disappeared and they were seemingly found together. The girls, Kandyce left and Karmen right, went missing Saturday evening around 11pm, leaving everything behind, including their eyeglasses. When their parents checked in on them the following morning, they were gone Their father Ramon Matos said: 'They left with nothing. They got no money, no clothes, nothing' 'They left with nothing,' Ramon Matos, the girls' father, told NBC Washington, 'They've got nothing with them. They got no money, no clothes, nothing.' Police have not released details of how or where the girls were found and announced they were found in a press release. They previously noted that the sisters have been known to frequent Westfield Wheaton Mall located at 11160 Veirs Mill Road in the Bel Pre area in Montgomery County. Dailymail.com has reached out to police for details regarding the sisters' disappearance. Argentine Ambassador accredited to Vanuatu, Hugo Javier Gobbi (l) during the presentation of his letter of credence to Acting President, Esmon Sai A former rugby league ace and boyfriend of TV personality Charlotte Dawson has narrowly avoided jail after punching a stranger who may be left with a permanent scar. Matthew Sarsfield, 26, was left 'sickened' in court hearing details of how he drunkenly landed a single blow to Daniel Jackson's bottom lip on April 2 this year. Sarsfield hit the aspiring actor without warning in an unprovoked attack, Wigan and Leigh magistrates heard. Boyfriend, Matthew Sarsfield, (right) of TV personality Charlotte Dawson (left) has narrowly avoided jail after punching a stranger on a night out in Manchester Mr Jackson's female pal, who moments before the attack was approached by Sarsfield, described him as acting 'quite smarmy' and seemingly wanting to dance with her. Prosecuting, Steve Woodman, said when she turned away and returned to her group, Sarsfield appeared at her side and rounded aggressively on the two men she was with, one of whom was Mr Jackson. The 'out of the blue' attack in the early hours of the morning at Cafe Stella in Leigh, Greater Manchester left Mr Jackson needing 15 stitches. It came months after second rower Sarsfield rekindled a romance with former Ex On The Beach star Miss Dawson who confirmed the news in December last year. The victim needed 15 stitches and has been left with a scar which could be permanent according to specialists (Pictured Charlotte Dawson posing with a coconut drink) At the time, the daughter of late comedy great Les Dawson shared an Instagram message of the pair together along with the caption: 'Finders keepers.' Sarsfield was sentenced to six months in prison which has been suspended for two years, as well as being handed a community order and hefty fine. Defending, Shahid Ali said Sarsfield's family had recently received news about his mother and this may have affected his temperament that night. A millionaire banker's wife who won the right to divorce him in England has been told their marriage can end following claims he took his mistress to an office party and on a birthday trip to Rome. Catja Thum, 47, issued a divorce petition in England after learning Oliver Thum, 46, had been unfaithful. The couple, were at the Court of Appeal in May, because Mr Thum had started separate proceedings in Germany and wanted their divorce to be dealt with there. Catja Thum (left) and Oliver Thum (right) arriving at London's Court of Appeal in July Judges ruled in Mrs Thum's favour in July and their divorce was granted at the Central Family Court in High Holborn London on Thursday. Court documents cited Mr Thum's 'unreasonable behaviour' as the reason for the divorce and described the marriage as having 'broken down irretrievably'. In a hearing lasting less than a minute, District Judge Yvonne Gibson formally granted a decree nisi. The Kensington mansion block off Gloucester Road where Mrs Thum and her husband had a 3million family home Once a decree nisi has been granted, a divorce petitioner has to wait six weeks and a day to apply for a decree absolute - the final dissolution of the marriage. The pair married at Cologne registry office in March 2001 and moved to London in 2009. The Court of Appeal heard in May that Mrs Thum began the divorce proceedings in 2015 after learning of her husband's affair. Judges were told Mr Thum, who set up a business called Elvaston Capital, based in Berlin, had taken his mistress to an office party and on a birthday trip to Rome. Adam Fraser, 23, spotted leaving Dundee Sheriff Court earlier today A scammer who claimed money back from a holiday to Dubai he said he did not go on was rumbled after he posted pictures of himself enjoying the trip online. Adam Fraser, 23, from Dundee, could be jailed after making the false claims to the Bank of Scotland for 'disputed transactions'. The scammer fraudulently claimed back 5,746.46 by telling his bank his card had been used without his knowledge and consent. Fraser, who previously worked at the Bank of Scotland, was investigated after bosses became suspicious when he claimed someone else had been withdrawing money and buying items on his card. One of the claims he made was that his holiday to Dubai had been cancelled because his travel documents had not arrived on time. Investigators did not have to look far to see Fraser had lied after he posted pictures of his trip to Dubai on Facebook. Laura Bruce, a fiscal depute, told Dundee Sheriff Court that Fraser had exploited a loophole which he had discovered while working in a Bank of Scotland call centre. Miss Bruce said: 'Staff at the bank became suspicious and investigations were made into the various transactions. 'In one of the transactions he told the bank he couldn't go on holiday to Dubai but one of the investigators then saw a photograph on the accused's Facebook page of him on holiday in Dubai.' Police were then told and Fraser was interviewed by police, she said, where he then confessed to the crimes. Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said due to the nature of the offence he would be calling for social work background reports. He deferred sentence until September 20 and ordered Fraser to appear again on that date. Advertisement California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency as a wildfire that forced 21,000 people from their homes continues to rage south of Los Angeles. Brown issued the declaration on Thursday for Orange and Riverside counties because of the Holy Fire in the Cleveland National Forest, which is threatening thousands of homes. The fire near Lake Elsinore is devouring brushy foothills, ridgetops and canyons. It's blackened 16 square miles and is only 5 per cent contained. On Thursday, flames came within yards of some homes. Twelve structures have been confirmed destroyed in the fire so far - and elsewhere the Carr Fire has destroyed nearly 1,100 homes. A firefighter works to protect homes as flames arrive during the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore, California on Thursday A man watches as fire races down a hillside towards his home as the Holy Fire burns in Lake Elsinore, California on Thursday A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as the Holy Fire burns near homes on Thursday in Lake Elsinore, California This map shows the locations of the major fires now burning across the state of California, with the Holy Fire in the south A firefighting helicopter drops water to protect homes during the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore, California on Thursday The burn area of the Holy Fire in the Cleveland National Forest on the county line between Orange and Riverside is seen above Early on Friday, more than 1,200 firefighters were fighting the blaze, building barriers and constructing containment lines to slow the approaching wildfire. More than 21,000 people have been evacuated in and around Lake Elsinore, where furious flames and billowing smoke rose into the sky at the edge of the city of 60,000 as the Holy Fire burned nearby in the Santa Ana Mountains. 'It feels like a war zone,' Ana Tran told the Los Angeles Times as ash and flame retardant fell on her neighborhood. The fire was being fueled by dry brush covering steep terrain and stoked by erratic wind gusts during the night, said Thanh Nguyen, a spokesman for the incident said. 'Strong down drafts is making the fire move aggressively downhill,' said Nguyen, noting that firefighters were working to build barriers and containment lines to protect more than 2,000 homes at risk from the fire. Firefighters set a backburn to fight the Holy Fire as it burns in the Cleveland National Forest along a hillside at Temescal Valley A CalFire firefighter (far left wearing yellow) oversees an inmate fire crew (wearing orange) as they clear brush and put out hotspots to protect an elementary school that almost caught fire at the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore, California on Thursday An inmate fire crew clears brush and puts out hotspots to protect an elementary school that almost caught fire at the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore, California, southeast of Los Angeles, on Thursday Three firefighters suffered minor injuries battling the blaze that has consumed more than 10,200 acres since it began on Monday, fire officials said. Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, is charged with intentionally setting the Holy Fire and is scheduled for arraignment on Friday Arson suspect Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, is charged with intentionally setting the Holy Fire and is scheduled for arraignment on Friday. Clark is being held pending bail of $1million. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. The Holy Fire was one of several fires burning in California that have displaced tens of thousands of people. Wildfires across the state and region could be further stoked by strong gusts, low humidity and hot weather on Friday and Saturday, forecasters warned. In Northern California, a mechanic helping to fight the Carr Fire burning around Redding was killed in a traffic collision on Thursday, bringing the death toll from that blaze to eight, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. A general view of damage caused by the Carr Fire near Redding, California is seen in the photo on Thursday Damage from the Mendocino Complex Fire is seen on Tuesday in Spring Valley, California. The raging Mendocino Complex fire comprising twin blazes in northern California has now ravaged more than 477 square miles The 279-square-mile Carr Fire had already killed two other firefighters, a utility worker along with three members of one family, and has destroyed nearly 1,100 homes. It was 49 per cent contained with firefighters struggling in steep terrain to control the blaze, CalFire said. More than 4,000 firefighters are battling the Mendocino Complex Fire, which has burned 477 square miles in three counties north of San Francisco, CalFire said. Two firefighters were injured and 119 homes destroyed by that fire, which now ranks as the largest fire on record in the state. A mother in Taiwan has saved her daughter from being snatched by a stranger during a school run. The desperate parent, known by her surname Wu, went into a 'human tug of war' with the man on a street in Taipei on Wednesday as she tightly grabbed onto her seven-year-old child to stop her from being taken. The assailant, named by police as 33-year-old Zhou, eventually let go of the girl after onlookers rushed over to help. When questioned by the police, Zhou claimed that he had mistaken Wu and her child for someone he knew. The man waits in front of a restaurant before the mother and daughter walked past in Taipei He snatches the girl by her schoolbag as she walks home from school with her mother The girl was walking home from school with her mother on a street in Neihu District at around 6pm when Zhou attempted to abduct her, according to Mingpao.com. Surveillance footage released by Taipei police and shared by Mingpao shows Zhou waiting in front of a restaurant before trying to drag the girl away from her mother by her schoolbag. Upon seeing this, frightened Wu screamed for help while holding onto her daughter with all her might. Onlookers quickly gathered around to confront Zhou who eventually loosened his grip on the girl and walked away. Recalling the horrifying event, Wu told Taiwan TV Station SETN that the attacker was even trying to choke her daughter when she was trying to fend him off. She said she was so afraid that the attacker would harm her daughter with weapons. The girl's terrified mother screams before going into a 'human tug of war' with the attacker People nearby rush over to help the mother who tries to fight off the child snatcher A worker from the nearby restaurant told EBC News that the restaurant was very busy at the time. The worker said the mother's scream had alerted all staff and customers who were ready to help. The worker also claimed she had seen the man loitering in the neighbourhood often. Police officers rushed to the scene after receiving reports from the public. They managed to track down the man who claimed that he had mistaken the mother and daughter for his friends, said Wu Bohan, the head of Dahu Police Station, in a press conference. The incident took place in the Neihu District in Taipei at around 6pm on Wednesday In a second press conference, the police said Zhou was seen hanging around the National Taiwan University Hospital today. The police said they had caught Zhou and sent him for a medical assessment in order to avoid further possible attacks from him. The police are yet to reveal Zhou's motives or if he suffers any metal illness. Further investigation is underway. A man has been charged after he allegedly used an axe to smash through the front door of an apartment. The 28-year-old was arrested after police were called to a unit complex in Mayland, north-east Perth, on Thursday afternoon. Terrified neighbours initially believed they were hearing gunshots, only to find the noise was coming from outside the apartment, Nine News reported. A man was charged on Thursday with breach of protective bail conditions and being armed in a way that may cause fear, criminal damage or destruction of property after police were called to an apartment in Perth The 28-year-old man was reportedly on bail at the time for alleged threatening behaviour The man allegedly entered the unit and swung the axe at the occupant inside after smashing the door and a window. Police who arrived on scene about 2.45pm tried to speak to the man from a nearby unit, with no luck. The Tactical Response Group were then called in and negotiated with the man, before arresting him. He was reportedly on bail at the time for alleged threatening behaviour. The man was charged with breach of protective bail conditions and being armed in a way that may cause fear, criminal damage or destruction of property. He faced court on Friday, where he was denied bail. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said Thursday night that following a request from his oppponent in Tuesday's gubernatorial primary, he will delegate his responsibility to oversee an inevitable statewide recount of votes. The Trump-backed conservative holds a meager 121-vote lead against incumbent GOP governor Jeff Colyer, a stunningly small margin in a race where more than 311,000 Republicans cast ballots. That could change when officials count between 8,000 and 10,000 provisional ballots, which are typically issued when voters show up at the wrong polling place or try to vote in person after requesting absentee ballots. No matter which candidate ends up on top, it will be close enough to allow the loser to ask for a recount. And after saying Wednesday on the Fox News Channel that he had no objection to letting someone else certify the result, he said a day later on CNN that he would take the 'symbolic' step. 'There's really no point to doing it, because the secretary of state actually has no role in the counting of provisional ballots, or any recount,' Kobach said. 'But I said if my opponent wishes me to, I'd be happy to.' Trump ally Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, is leading by about 0.004 per cent in his state's GOP primary race for governor; he's decided to step back from his job's responsibility for certifying what will be an inevitable recount Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer is fighting to avoid being swept aside by the more conservative Kobach; it will be days before the race is settled, and his 121-vote deficit could easily vanish Kobach is leading by 0.004 per cent after Tuesday's primary; as Kansas secretary of state, he would be in charge of certifying the recount but now he's recusing himself from that duty 'It's purely symbolic," he added 'I don't think [Colyer] understands the process.' Kobach had said on Fox that recounts are carried out by county election officials: 'All the secretary of state does is just receive the numbers from the counties ... [but] if my opponent insists I recuse, so that the numbers are sent to somebody else, we can certainly do that.' The Trump ally hasn't said if he will recuse himself from deciding the potential price tag for a vote counting do-over. If the margin ends up closer than 0.5 per cent a total of 1,555 votes at the moment the state will pay for it. And were the result to flip, the candidate who issued the challenge wouldn't be on the hook for the expense no matter how wide the margin was to begin with. But if Colyer should end up trailing by more than 0.5 per cent, Kobach would be responsible for securing a bond from his opponent to cover the costs in the event that he lost a second time. Kobach would also be allowed to name that price. Election attorney Mark Johnson told The Kansas City Star that Kobach 'should not decide that. That is a conflict, in my opinion.' 'He could set the bond so high that no one could afford that,' Johnson explained. Kobach told Fox News on Wednesday that there's no reason for him to recuse himself from the recount procedure that could ultimately benefit him, but he said a day later that he would take the 'symbolic' step anyway No matter the circumstances, a recount could take weeks. That will give Democratic nominee Laura Kelly, a state senator, a head-start on November. But the eventual GOP candidate will have a natural advantage in the deep-red state: Republicans outnumbered Democrats more than 2-to-1 at the polls on Tuesday. Kobach's lead in the tight contest was 191 after Tuesday night, but election officials in two counties have since revised their numbers. One awarded Colyer 100 votes that he was originally denied. Recalculations from the other enlarged Kobach's edge by 30. No Kansas law requires Kobach to step aside and delegate the bond-setting and vote certification to a deputy. And while Kobach acknowledged that he may end up in second place, he plans to start battling against Kelly right away. 'It is imperative that we begin running, understanding that this is a tentative victory,' he told the Star, 'and that I am carrying the baton for this first week with the full knowledge that I may hand the baton to Jeff if the provisional ballots change the outcome.' President Donald Trump left no doubt about his leanings on Monday, disregarding aides' advice and tweeting that Kobach had his 'full & total Endorsement!' Kobach won President Donald Trump's endorsement Monday in the Republican primary contest for governor Trump, pictured last week at a Pennsylvania rally, is loyal to Kobach, who was in the running to be Homeland Security secretary; but Republican Party insiders fear the right-winger could lose to a Democrat in November The president said this week that Kobach had his 'full & total Endorsement' Kobach led the president's 2017 voter fraud commission, which disbanded in January after identifying no evidence to support Trump's post-election claim that millions of people had voted illegally. He had wasted no time in late 2016 backing Trump's unsubstantiated claim that 'millions' of people had illegally cast votes for Hillary Clinton. This year the self-styled ballot purity crusader attracted a more direct pushback over the same issue in his home state. A federal judge raked him over the coals in March for his defense of a state law requiring Kansans to prove they were U.S. citizens before registering to vote. That stood in conflict with the 1993 federal 'motor-voter' law, which allows for voter registration wherever driver's licenses are issued, without any extra paperwork. A 2016 federal appeals court ruling struck down similar requirements in three states. The American Civil Liberties Union and the League of Women Voters have both successfully argued in court that proving U.S. citizenship during voter registration prevents some eligible voters from exercising their franchise. In this year's trial, Kobach could only prove 11 people successfully cast ballots despite not being U.S. citizens. The lightning-rod politician insisted in court that it was just the 'tip of the iceberg.' Chief District Judge Julie A. Robinson called it an 'icicle' instead. A month later Kobach missed Robinson's deadline from two years earlier, failing to send postcards to eligible voters who had been prevented from registering because they didn't prove they were citizens. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson (left) delivered one legal setback after another to Kobach in a case about whether the state could require prospective voters to prove when they register that they are legal U.S. citizens Kobach became a national punchline a few weeks after the 2016 election when he left a meeting with Trump while allowing photographers to see the policy proposals under his left arm The document showed a raft of ideas about border security along with a proposal to amend the National Voter Rights Act to require proof of citizenship in the future Robinson held him in contempt of court, closing the book on just one in a series of unforced errors. Last week she fined him more than $26,000 to cover the ACLU's legal fees in arguing the contempt motion. Kobach, a Yale-educated lawyer and former law professor who represented his own office at trial, had tried to present some pieces of evidence in court that he hadn't shared with his opponents; and others that the judge had ordered couldn't be shown. He also filed a brief without deleting a side-note that one of its claims was 'probably not worth arguing.' This time Robinson ordered him to take 6 hours of remedial legal education concerning 'federal or Kansas civil rules of procedure or evidence.' She had already fined him $1,000 in 2017 for misleading her about the nature of a document he was photographed carrying under his arm after a meeting with then-President-Elect Trump just weeks after the election, at a time when he was being vetted to lead the Homeland Security Department. One of Kobach's written proposals to Trump read: 'Draft Amendments to [the] National Voter Registration Act to promote proof-of-citizenship requirements.' Only the first five words were visible in news photos. Robinson ultimately demanded the document and saw the full context. In her final ruling, a stinging defeat for Kobach, she slammed him for having a 'well-documented history of avoiding this Courts orders.' Jeremy Corbyn was today accused of making a direct comparison between the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Nazi takeover of Europe. A video has surfaced of him making the appalling comment at an event in 2013, when he was still a backbencher. The statement appears to flout the globally-accepted definition of anti-Semitism which says it is anti-Semitic to compare the Israeli government with the Nazis. But Labour said Mr Corbyn was referring to all occupations in the Second World War, not just that of Adolf Hitlers regime. The Labour leader is facing mounting pressure to come back from his summer holiday to get a grip on the scandal tearing his party apart. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said Mr Corbyn must stop being 'invisible' and 'come out of hiding' and get back to Westminster. While ex Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy took out a full page advert in a Jewish newspaper apologising for the scandal and laying the blame with the Labour leader. Scroll down for video A video has surfaced of Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) making the appalling comment at an event in 2013, when he was still a backbencher It comes a week after Mr Corbyn was forced to apologise after being exposed for appearing at an event in 2010 where other speakers compared Israel to the Nazis. What is the timeline of anti-Semitic scandals which have erupted under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership? Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) has been accused of failing to tackle the racism among his supporters The anti-Semitism scandal has dogged Labour since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader in 2015. Here is a timeline of the controversies: April 2016: Labour MP Naz Shah is suspended for anti-Semitic posts - including one in which she appeared to endorse calls for Israelis to be deported to the US. She apologised and was given a formal warning. Ken Livingstone goes on the radio to defend Ms Shah - but sparks fresh controversy by claiming that Hitler supported Zionism. He is suspended by Labour but refuses to apologise and has repeated the claim many times. He eventually quits Labour two years later, saying his suspension has become a distraction. June 2016: A two-month inquiry by civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti finds that Labour is not overrun by anti-Semitism. But the launch is overshadowed when Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth flees it in tears after being accused by Corbyn supporter Marc Wadsworth of colluding with the press. Critics accuse the report of being a whitewash and Ms Chakrabarti is widely criticised for accepting a peerage from Jeremy Corbyn shortly afterwards. October 2016: The Home Affairs Select Committee says Labour is guilty of incompetence over its handling of anti-Semitism and of creating a safe space for people with 'vile attitudes towards Jewish people'. March 2018: It is revealed that Jeremy Corbyn defended an artist who painted an anti-Semitic mural and said the offensive art should be removed. He apologises saying he did not properly look at the picture before he made the post. Jewish leaders take the unprecedented step of holding a demonstration outside Parliament protesting Mr Corbyn's failure to tackle anti-Semitism. Several Labour MPs address the crowds. April 2018: Marc Wadsworth is expelled from Labour after being accused of anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, Labour Jewish MPs tell of the anti-Semitic abuse they have suffered in a powerful parliamentary debate - and round on their leader for failing to tackle it. July 2018: The Labour leadership sparks fresh anger by failing to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism Peter Willsman, a strong ally of Jeremy Corbyn, is secretly taped ranting that 'Jewish Trump fanatics' invented the anti-Semitism storm engulfing Labour. In an angry diatribe at a meeting of Labour's ruling executive committee, he said he was 'amazed' there was evidence party members hated Jews. He claimed 'some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump they are Trump fanatics' before shouting: 'So I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up duff information without any evidence at all.' August 2018: Jeremy Corbyn issues a video insisting he is committed to tackling the racism - but it is panned by Jewish leaders. Corbynistas mount a social media campaign to get deputy Labour leader Tom Watson to quit after he criticises the party's handling of anti-Semitism. The Daily Mail exclusively publishes photos of Jeremy Corbyn holding a wreath at a ceremony where a terrorist linked to the Munich massacre was honoured. The Labour leader insists he was there to honour others killed - but faces fresh calls to quit over the scandal. Advertisement Labour Friends of Israel tore into Mr Corbyn over the remark, saying: The Labour party's once proud record on fighting racism and the protection of British Jews from anti-Semitism is being sacrificed to protect Jeremy Corbyn's reputation. The video was posted on the Twitter account of The Golem, who collates examples of anti-Semitism. Earlier this week the same account published a 2011 video of Mr Corbyn apparently questioning Israels very right to exist. In an interview with Iranian state TV, the then backbench MP said that the view that Israel had a right to exist was an example of bias at the BBC. This appears to contravene the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition which states it is anti-Semitic to deny the Jewish people their right to self-determination. The latest video shows Mr Corbyn making a speech at an event hosted by the Palestinian Return Centre. He said: The West Bank is under occupation of the very sort that is recognisable by many people in Europe who suffered occupation during the Second World War with the endless roadblocks, imprisonment, irrational behaviour by the military and the police. Last night Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel, said: Earlier this week, we discovered that Jeremy Corbyn engaged in wild conspiracy theories questioning Israel's right to exist. Today, it is revealed he drew comparisons between conditions in the West Bank and the Nazi occupation of Europe. It is increasingly clear that his opposition to adopting the IHRA definition in full appears to be overwhelmingly driven by his own appalling past statements. The Labour party's once proud record on fighting racism and the protection of British Jews from anti-Semitism is being sacrificed to protect Jeremy Corbyn's reputation. It is not the first time the Labour leader has been accused of having compared the actions of the Israeli government with the Nazi regime. In a rally in 2010 he said the siege of Gaza had lasted longer than those of Leningrad and Stalingrad. A Labour spokeswoman said: Jeremy was describing conditions of conditions of occupations in World War Two in Europe, of which there are multiple examples, not comparing the Israeli state to Nazis. It comes as Mr Murphy has today taken out a full page advert in a Jewish newspaper apologising for the anti-Semitism scandal. He said he took the dramatic step of paying for the slot in the Jewish Telegraph because he could not stand silent as his party 'turned its back' on Jews. The ex Cabinet minister launched a blistering attack on the Labour leader in the advert, accusing him of not doing 'nearly enough' to kick anti-Semites out of the party. The astonishing attack comes as Jewish leaders furiously demanded that Mr Corbyn 'come out of hiding' from his holiday by the seaside and tackle the crisis. In the advert, Mr Murphy branded Mr Corbyn and his allies 'intellectually arrogant, and emotionally inept' and said they have 'deliberately turned their back on British Jewry'. He added: 'Today there's a small, but growing minority of anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists amongst the membership of the Labour Party. 'Jeremy Corbyn is not doing nearly enough to throw out the anti-Semites found within grassroots and online Labour.' He laid the lame for the crisis squarely at the feet of the Labour leader and his supporters. Mr Murphy, who lost his seat in 2015, said: 'No party leader has the right to hatter the relationship between British labour and British Jewry. 'The Jewish community and everyone else who is offended by Labour's stance are being asked to accept quarter-baked platitudinous Labour apologies for the "upset that has been caused". 'Instead what's needed urgently is Labour action against the sickening anti-Jewish racism that is the actual cause of the offence in the first place.' Meanwhile, the Board of Deputies of British Jews president Marie van der Zyl warned the Labour leader 'you cannot lead through invisibility' and said that he must come back form holiday to get a grip on the crisis. Writing in Jewish News, she said: 'He is clearly just hoping it will go away. I've got some bad news for him - unless he does what he needs to do, it won't.' Jeremy Corbyn (pictured on Wednesday at a tea room in Somerset where he has been on holiday) has been urged by Jewish leaders to come back from holiday and tackle the scandal She added: 'I call on Jeremy Corbyn to come out of hiding and do the right thing.' Why is Labour's new code of conduct on anti-Semitism so controversial? The Labour anti-Semitism row erupted again after the party leadership refused to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition. The party's code explicitly endorses the IHRA definition, but it omits four examples from the IHRA list: - Accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country; - Claiming that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavour; - Requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations; and - Comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis. Labour insisted that while the examples are not reproduced word-for-word, they are covered in the new code. But critics say the decision allows anti-Semitism to continue to fester. Advertisement The Labour leader has been accused of purposely ignoring the racism which festers among some of his supporters. While Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge - who lost family members in the holocaust - says Mr Corbyn and his allies are using the row to try to purge the party of his moderate critics It emerged yesterday that Mr Corbyn has been given a month to back down over the anti-Semitism row or face losing the backing of his powerful allies in Momentum. The grassroots organisation helped install and keep Mr Corbyn in power. The Labour leader has rebuffed demands by Jewish leaders and many of his own MPs to fully adopt the international definition of anti-Semitism - a move they insist is crucial if the party is to finally get on top of the scandal. The party has adopted some of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition. But crucially it has not included several of the examples they use to illustrate it - including that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavor. Mr Corbyn has now been told by Momentum he must formally sign up to the definition at a crunch party meeting in early September, the Politico website reports. While the GMB trade union - one of the UK's biggest trade unions and a major force in Labour - has also come put to publicly demand the same. If he refuses they could pull support for him - triggering what could be the biggest crisis in his leadership since the failed coup against him in the summer of 2016. The terrifying moment a motorcycle can't avoid crashing into an SUV in Southern California was caught on camera by the rider. The crash occurred on Interstate 15 in San Diego after the driver of the SUV swerved into the carpool lane, to avoid another collision, according to the motorcycle rider. In swerving over, the SUV hit another car, and flipped over, careening into the motorcyclist, sending him flying from his bike. The crash occurred on February 7 in San Diego County. The driver of the motorcycle said he was heading southbound on Interstate 15 in San Diego, on his way to work, at the time of the collision. 'I was coming up on a section of the highway that was notorious for wrecks and was looking out, but an SUV driven by a dude not paying attention swerved into the HOV to avoid another collision,' the motorcyclist said. The way he described it, the SUV then struck a Toyota Avalon, causing the SUV to flip over on its roof. A motorcycle rider was part of a crash caught on camera that occurred on Interstate 15 in San Diego after the driver of an SUV swerved into the carpool lane, to avoid another collision 'He then slid across all lanes and struck me on my right side causing me to go airborne,' the biker said. 'The wreck caused multiple injuries to myself including two fractured vertebrae, a severely sprained ankle and messed up shoulder.' The majority of the incident was caught on a camera being worn by the motorcycle ride, from the time the SUV driver swerved into the other lane, to the moment someone came over to check on the rider who had been thrown from his bike. The rider moves over to the left lane as a white SUV can be seen ahead crashing into a car The majority of the incident was caught on a camera being worn by the motorcycle ride At the beginning of the video, the motorcycle rider is shown in the right HOV lane, which is permitted by federal law, even without a passenger on the back of the bike. As the rider moves over to the left lane, a white SUV can be seen ahead of him crashing into the Toyota Avalon. It immediately flips backward onto its roof, and strike the motorcyclist, as he's trying to make his way to the shoulder of the interstate. The rider can't clear the collision fast enough, and is thrown from his bike, which can be seen striking the pavement, sending sparks flying The view of the crash from the driver's camera is equally dizzying and terrifying to watch But the rider can't clear the collision fast enough, and is thrown from his bike, which can be seen striking the pavement, sending sparks flying. The rider's legs are shown flying out from under him and he slides across the pavement, as well. The rider comes to rest before the SUV, which can be seen in the distance spinning in circles on its roof. The rider's legs are shown flying out from under him and he slides across the pavement After landing just a few feet from his motorcycle, the rider tries to get up, but he cannot The rider comes to rest before the SUV, which can be seen in the distance spinning in circles After landing just a few feet from his motorcycle, the rider tries to get up, as another man approaches and tells him to stay still. The video ends with the other man by the rider's side, before help arrives. The motorcyclist said he was in a back brace for five months following the crash. It's now known whether any other parties involved in the crash sustained injuries, or if charges were filed related to the incident. The attorney for a man convicted a strangling a cop and then disposing of her body told a judge that his client should be eligible for parole because he has post-traumatic stress disorder - brought on by the murder itself. Christopher Garnier, of Canada, was convicted in December of second-degree murder and interfering with a dead body in the death of officer Catherine Campbell. Garnier, 30, strangled Campbell, 36, on September 11, 2015 at a McCully Street apartment after the pair met at a bar in Halifax. He then dumped her body in a large green compost bin near a bridge. The lawyer for Christopher Garnier argues that the convicted cop killer suffers from PTSD as a result of the murder and because of his mental health should be eligible for parole Officer Catherine Campbell, 36, was strangled to death in September 2015 by Garnier after the pair met a bar Garnier was sentenced to life in prison, but his lawyer is arguing that the convicted killer's mental state should be a 'mitigating factor' in deciding his parole eligibility. In submissions filed with the court, lawyer Joel Pink said Garnier was diagnosed with acute PTSD by psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Hucker, who testified during the murder trial that Garnier developed the disorder immediately following Campbell's death. 'The testimony of Dr. Hucker clearly indicates that there is a strong link between Mr. Garnier's illness and his interference with human remains; therefore, it should be considered a mitigating factor in his sentencing (on that charge),' Pink said, according to Herald News. Pink argued that treatment is 'the best means of ensuring the protection of the public and that the offending conduct is not repeated'. During the trial, Garnier repeatedly told the jury that he does not remember dumping Campbell's body in the compost bin. He also said he accidentally strangled Campbell during rough sex. According to Herald News, Pink told the judge that Garnier should only serve a maximum of 10 years in prison - 10 for the murder conviction and two for interfering with a body, with both sentences served concurrently. Prosecutors, however, want Garnier to serve at least 16 years before he's able to apply for parole saying he's 'calculating', 'manipulative' and 'dangerous'. Prosecutors said Garnier took Campbell back an apartment (pictured) he was staying at and strangled her before dumping her body in a large compost bin 'Mr. Garnier not only murdered Ms. Campbell, he interfered with Ms. Campbell's remains,' prosecutors wrote in their submissions. 'He demonstrated a callous disregard for Ms. Campbell, and made an attempt to cover his crime'. The prosecution also said Campbell died in a 'gruesome' way and Garnier broke her nose and damaged the cartilage in her neck as he strangled her. They also noted that pieces of evidence has never been recovered. Garnier, who was training to become a firefighter at the time, never called 911 and did not attempt CPR, prosecutors said. 'The message should be sent that Mr. Garnier should forever be remembered as the person who stole Ms. Campbell's future for no reason, and then treated her remains like garbage,' the submission read. 'He should be remembered as someone who tried to cover up his crime. His parole eligibility period should reflect the nature of the offense, his future dangerousness, and deterrence'. A hearing to determine when Garnier will be eligible for parole is scheduled for Monday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. 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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 Convicted drug mule Renae Lawrence has opened up about the mixed emotions she has about returning to Australia when she gets her first taste of freedom after 13 years. The Bali Nine member, 40, has been behind bars in Bali since she was convicted of drug trafficking in 2005 for trafficking 2.7kg of heroin into Denpasar Airport. Lawrence revealed to News Corp this week that she feels 'emotional' about her pending release from Bangli Prison in November. She said her emotions ranged from 'nervous' to 'happy, sad and confused'. Convicted drug mule Renae Lawrence (pictured at her 2006 trial) will return to Australia when she's released from jail in November As the sole female in the now-infamous drug smuggling group, Lawrence initially copped a life sentence for her part in the crime later commuted to 20 years. Following a rocky childhood and a stint as a panel beater, it was while working for catering company Eurest where she initially crossed paths with her Bali Nine accomplices. In fact the group's ringleader Andrew Chan was her supervisor while in the job. Also during this period a 27-year-old Lawrence was allegedly told by Chan to travel with him to Bali, with little additional detail given about the mission She later claimed that Chan would cover the costs of the trip and that if she disobeyed him or disclosed the nature of their arrangement, he would 'send (her) family to the farm'. Upon arrest in 2005, Lawrence's unworldly nature came into full glare with her own father describing her as 'gullible, naive and bloody stupid'. In the years since, Lawrence gained further infamy through a brief relationship with fellow smuggler Schapelle Corby behind bars as well as a later conversion to Hinduism. She is believed to have attempted suicide twice during her hefty prison term. However, her sentence eventually came with yearly remissions and cuts for good behaviour. Renae Lawrence (pictured) hopes to get a job when she returns home Lawrence could have been freed from prison in May but couldn't make the $100,000 payment and opted to remain in jail for another six months. Fellow Bali Nine members Myuran Sukumaran and Chan were executed by firing squad in 2015, while Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died from cancer earlier this year. 'What about the others? Only I will be free. The others aren't free,' Lawrence told News Corp. She hopes to work when she returns to Australia but believes it may not be easy to find an employer that will take on an ex-prisoner. 'In Australia, it's difficult because we already have the status of prisoner,' Lawrence told News Corp. 'If the owner of the company is a kind person and can accept us but that person rarely exists.' She was the only Bali Nine member to not receive life imprisonment and has been making the most of the rehabilitation programs while in jail. She recently showed off her traditional Bali dancing skills and teaches classes to fellow inmates. The Russian embassy in Washington greeted the Trump administration's launch of a Space Force with a chuckle on Friday, tweeting a cheerful message to its own military space corps that launched three years ago. 'Good Morning, Space Forces!' the message on the embassy's Twitter account read, complete with space-rocket and Russian-flag emojis. The Kremlin's use of its defense agency to militarize space dates back to August 10, 1992 26 years ago Friday. It has been incorporated into other defense services, and spun off again, twice since then. The latest incarnation was christened on August 1, 2015. As a result, the Russian Space Forces are one of three co-equal divisions of the nation's 'aerospace forces' high command, responsible for putting vehicles into orbit, and for detecting and counteracting inbound ballistic missiles. The command also includes a traditional air force and another agency tasked with satellite and other non-military launches and long-range radars. Vide President Mike Pence told a Pentagon audience on Thursday that by 2020 the White House will create the U.S. Space Force as a sixth military service joining the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The Russian embassy in Washington greeted the Trump administration's lanuch of a military 'Space Force' this week with Twitter trolling about its own version that has existed off and on since this day in 1992 The Russian Space Forces are now part of the nation's Ministry of Defense Faced with growing competition and threats from Russia and China, VP Mike Pence said Thursday that the new Space Force will be in place by 2020 Vice President Mike Pence told a Pentagon audience that the plan fulfills President Donald Trump's vow to ensure America's dominance in space. The president celebrated the announcement on Twitter from Bedminister That administration has acknowledged that the United States is faced with growing competition and threats from Russia and China. 'Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America's best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation,' said Pence. 'The time has come to establish the United States Space Force.' Trump marked Pence's announcement with a tweet: 'Space Force all the way!' Trump has called for a 'separate but equal' space force, a complicated and expensive move that requires congressional approval. On Thursday, Pence said that the administration will work with Congress on the plan, and will outline a budget next year. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has endorsed steps to reorganize the military's space warfighting forces and create a new command, but has previously opposed launching a pricey, new service. A new branch of the military would require layers of bureaucracy, military and civilian leaders, uniforms, equipment and an expansive support structure. The Kremlin's Space Forces command is responsible for launching military-related vehicles into orbit and keeping them there These Russa Space Forces buildings are 'optoelectric surveillance' stations known as 'Okno' Thursday Russian for 'window'; their purpose is reportedly to detect incoming missiles from hostile military forces The Pentagon proposal delivered to Congress Thursday lays out plans to consolidate the Pentagon's warfighting space forces and make organizational changes to boost the acquisition and development of leading edge technologies. DOD's role in space has been under scrutiny because of a recognition that the United States is increasingly reliant on satellites that are difficult to protect in orbit. Satellites provide communications, navigation, intelligence and other services vital to the military and the economy. The U.S. intelligence agencies reported earlier this year that Russia and China are pursuing 'nondestructive and destructive' anti-satellite weapons for use during a future war. And there are growing worries about cyberattacks that could target satellite technology, potentially leaving troops in combat without electronic communications or navigation abilities. 'I'm interested in New York because of its visual complexity and this is reflected in the work,' he said. 'The act of painting is an attempt to 'fix' this chaos and present something new world the viewer can enter into. They do contain a lot of information often combined from different sources, on-site photography and sketchbook drawings. 'They also contain elements taken from different dates and this is in order to universalize the experience of being within a modern city. 'The paintings are large because I need them to have a certain physicality that a viewer can relate to. The spaces depicted have to be coherent and convincing as an alternate painted reality.' Mr Walsh is best known for his large-scale paintings of major cities which at first seem hyperrealistic but which upon close examination involve a careful manipulation of time and place. After taking several trips to New York, Walsh was inspired to take the city where much of his artistic career blossomed as his muse. The exhibition is a celebration of the urban landscape and the works included in New York Paintings feature many of the cities iconic landmarks and busiest intersections - from Times Square, to Dumbo in Brooklyn, to 69th Street on the Upper East Side. A Florida man pretending to be a member of a rich Puerto Rican family conned his way into a live televised telethon in October 2017 and fooled Ellen and Bethenny Frankel, making them believe he was going to donate $2 million to aid Puerto Rico. Somehow, Emilio Ismael Vazquez, 47, still managed to lend his support to his fellow countrymen that were affected by the devastating damage left behind by Hurricane Maria in September 2017. A week before tricking the celebrities, Vazquez fraudulently delivered the much needed aid to Aguadilla by conning a warehouse operator and a private charter airline. The career criminal, who was previously sentenced to 15 years in jail for a 2014 fraud case before his conditional release, will now be serving another 10 years after a court in Miami found him guilty of wire fraud on Thursday. He will also have to pay over $1. million in restitution to the victims. A surprised Ellen (left) when Emilio Ismael Vazquez appears on a Facetime video with Bethenny Frankel (right) announcing he would be donating $2 million to aid Puerto Rico's recovery during a live telethon Emilio Ismael Vazquez (pictured) fraudulently delivered good to Puerto Rico to assist with the recovery from Hurricane Maria. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail by a Florida court on Thursday. During the We Are One Voice Somos Una Voz national live broadcast of the relief telethon that was celebrated in Miami on October 14, 2017, Vazquez got through the donation hotline under the alias of Emilio Serralles. Vazquez had already spearheaded a fraudulent relief trip to Puerto Rico the previous weekend. Now he was just using his fake name to announce to the world his US$2 million pledge during a Facetime chat Bethenny Frankel alongside Ellen DeGeneres on live television. According to US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida, Vazquez claimed to be a family member of the Serralles Family who owns the famed Destilirias Serralles, a distillery that produces Don Q rum in Puerto Rico. The Florida justice department revealed that right around September 2017, the conman approached the Commercial Property Group near Miami and rented a warehouse to store the relief supplies to be sent to the ravished Caribbean island. He issued a bank check for US$122,050.50 to settle the rental fee for five warehouses under his fake name. The press release also found that sometime in October 2017, Vazquez approached a local charter airline looking to secure a couple of cargo flights to Puerto Rico to deliver the supplies. He managed the agreement for a sum of US$564,036.05 by issuing a counterfeit and fraudulent check that was also rejected. Telemundo's Maria Celeste Arraras (second from left) traveled to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, along with Emilio Ismael Vazquez (left) to deliver relief aid to the hurricane victims a week before Vazquez pledged $2 million on live television. Marc Anthony (left) and Ricky Martin (right) were some of the numerous acts that participated in the 'We Are One Voice - Somos Una Voz)'benefit concert in October 2017 and donated money to the recovery of Puerto Rico weeks after the island got ravaged by Hurricane Maria Vazquez, who claimed to be the owner of the Puerto Rico Relief Committee, flew out to Aguadilla, in northeast Puerto Rico, with artist Olgan Tanon and Telemundo's Maria Celeste Arraras during Columbus Day weekend to deliver the goods. Arraras lamented the case during an interview with the Miami Herald at the time of the incident but said the relief goods were distributed to civic organizations that handed them out to the victims. In a report provided to Congress last week, the Puerto Rican government admitted more than 1,400 people were killed in Hurricane Maria, as opposed to the previously reported official toll of 64 across the island of 3.3 million people. Vazquez, who also had an arrest warrant issued for violating the conditions of his release for a 2014 wire fraud case, fled Florida and was apprehended by Secret Service agents on January 23 in New York City before he was extradited. Thomas Markle told Prince Harry he had not colluded with the paparazzi in a telephone call just nine days before the royal wedding, it has been claimed. The Prince personally called his father-in-law at his home in Mexico to ask about reports he had been working with photographers in the run up to the big day, veteran royal photographer Arthur Edwards claims. But less than 48 hours after the call a newspaper published proof of staged photos. Speaking on a Radio Kent phone-in show hosted by Prince Harry's biographer Duncan Larcombe, Edwards claims Markle's denial of collusion caused 'embarrassment' to Prince Harry. He said: 'Harry spoke to the father direct and said have you been cooperating with the paparazzi. He said no. Thomas Markle (pictured) told Prince Harry he had not colluded with the paparazzi in a telephone call just nine days before the royal wedding, it has been claimed The Prince personally called his Markle at his home in Mexico to ask about reports he had been working with photographers before the big day, royal photographer Arthur Edwards claims 'The Palace put out a statement on Friday night saying to respect his privacy. Harry had been reassured by the father it was not going on.' Edwards told the 'On Air with Duncan Larcombe' show it was obvious from the photos appearing in the media that Markle had been colluding with the paparazzi near his home in Rosarito, Mexico. He said: 'We knew the father was colluding with the paparazzi. Everyone in the business knows that. When he was in the library, looking at the TV screen and they happen to be there. You don't get measured up for a suit in a shop window.' Radio host Larcombe sounded surprised when Edwards, who has worked for the Sun newspaper for 40 years, claimed Harry had actually called Markle. Edwards said: 'He told him he had not colluded..I think he (harry) was embarrassed. In the fallout from the expose by the Mail on Sunday Mr Markle did not attend the wedding and has since claimed he has no contact with his daughter, now the Duchess of Sussex. It is likely Prince Harry made the personal call on Friay May 11th after Kensington Palace officials were made aware of a forthcoming newspaper report claiming Markle had been paid to pose for a series of staged photos. The following day after Harry's alleged phone call, the press watchdog IPSO issued a warning to the media requesting that photographers respect Mr Markle's privacy and stop from harassing him. Markle has claimed he has been 'cut off' by his daughter following his absence from her wedding and a series of media interviews he has given Speaking on a Radio Kent phone-in show hosted by Prince Harry's biographer Duncan Larcombe, Edwards said Markle's denial of collusion caused 'embarrassment' to Prince Harry Less than 24 hours later the Mail on Sunday published its bombshell report that showed Markle had been colluding with paparazzi Jeff Rayner who took the staged shots. Rayner, a Los Angeles based photographer, could clearly be seen in the series of photos directing the shots which included Markle being measured for a wedding suit and looking at photos of the soon to be wed couple on a library computer. The photos are reported to have sold for over 200,000 worldwide with Markle's share not known. The former film lighting director later apologised and the Duchess of Sussex's half sister Samantha claimed it was her idea to portray to stage the photos in the hope of portraying her her father in a positive way. In the fall out from the Mail on Sunday expose Mr Markle cancelled his flight to London the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. The day before the story appeared - on Saturday May 12 - Prince Harry's press officer contacted press watchdog IPSO on behalf of Mr Markle. Markle was concerned for his safety as he had been subject to continual surveillance and harassment by paparazzi. In the days that followed Mr Markle apologised for colluding with the paparazzi telling the US based celebrity site TMZ that they looked 'stupid and hammy' and he regretted posing for them. As speculation mounted that Mr Markle would pull out of the wedding Kensington Palace issued a statement from Meghan and Harry pleading for 'understanding and respect'. The statement said: 'This is a deeply personal moment for Ms. Markle in the days before her wedding. She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr. Markle in this difficult situation,' Prince Harry and Megan Markle married at Windsor castle in May - but her father did not make the trip because he claimed he had undergone heart surgery where he lives in Mexico The next day, Thomas apparently changed his mind, saying he wanted to walk his daughter down the aisle but pulled out altogether due to undergoing heart surgery. Meghan's mother Dora gave her away during the service with Prince Charles accompanying her down the aisle. Since the wedding Mr Markle has given a series of explosive interviews and claims he has been cut out of his daughter's life. He complained that the phone numbers he has for her no longer work and its been reported that their last conversation was the day after the wedding. A Kensington Palace spokesman refused to comment. A victim of sexual trafficking who set up her own ministry to stop it from happening to other women and who sold the movie rights to her life story has been arrested on drug trafficking charges. Tajuan McCarty was taken in to custody on Wednesday morning after police raided a home in Birmingham, Alabama, which they had been watching for three months. Inside, they found large quantities of heroin, cocaine and marijuana along with guns, stolen identities and stolen property. McCarty, who has been appealing for donations to her ministry on Facebook over the last several months, was charged with trafficking cocaine, trafficking in stolen identities, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and two counts of credit card fraud. She was taken in to custody along with Octavius Owens, 37, and Jordan Owens, 21. Tajuan McCarty, 47, was arrested on Wednesday morning (left) and charged with drug trafficking in addition to credit car fraud. She is a prolific sex trafficking survivor who set up a home for women in need in Alabama and won awards for work (she is seen right in 2016) McCarty has spoken openly in the past about being trafficked as a prostitute across the US, Canada and Mexico. During the years that she was being forced in to sex work, she fell in to drug addiction. Last year, she signed a deal giving the movie rights to her life story to a Christian film company. It was not reported at the time how much they paid for them. McCarty was trafficked by a boyfriend-turned-pimp when she was 15 after running away from home. She was trafficked in a truck across the US, to 'every state except Hawaii and Alaska', and was also taken across the border. At the age of 26, she was arrested and placed in prison which gave her her first chance of escape. McCarty was arrested along with Octavius Owens, 37, (left) and Jordan Owens, 21 (right) The trio were arrested at this home in Birminghan, Alabama, which police had been watching for three months She left prison and obtained a university degree then founded The WellHouse in Birmingham to support other women being targeted. The organization received local media coverage for its extensive outreach. It helped more than 100 women in Alabama. Earlier this year, she left The WellHouse to set up her a ministry named after herself. Her appearance changed drastically and she began asking for small amount donations on Facebook to help women in need. After her arrest on Wednesday, McCarty's lawyer issued a statement suggesting she was innocent but refusing to go into detail about the charges against her. 'Ms McCarty knows and understands the legal process needs to run its course regarding these allegations against her. We respect that process and won't taint it with statements regarding the allegations against Ms. McCarty. 'Furthermore, Ms McCarty has certain constitutional rights we must protect; therefore, we will not address the allegations against her. After being jailed aged 26 following 11 years of prostitution, McCarty obtained a degree and then founded The WellHouse, a shelter for other sex trafficking victims (above) but she left mysteriously earlier this year Over the last four years. She is seen left, in 2013, and right, during a recent speech about sex trafficking and surviving it Since leaving The WellHouse which she founded, McCarty has been asking for donations on social media to help women in need at her new, not-yet founded ministry 'The allegations will be addressed in due time, in the appropriate forum - a courtroom in the Jefferson County Courthouse - and not in the court of public opinion. To the victims Tajuan has helped over the years: do not let this situation set you back. 'There are better days ahead for Tajuan and there are better days ahead for you. 'Keep fighting against the strongholds that come with being a trafficking victim and survivor,' it said. A small North Carolina town will soon be home to a new Amazon distribution center, officials announced Friday. The Seattle-based web retailer is headed to the town of Garner, a Raleigh suburb, promising to bring in 1,500 new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in investment. 'Amazon is coming to Garner!' Mayor Ronnie Williams announced excitedly during a press conference Friday morning. The company will reportedly invest $200million in developing the new location, which will dole out $45million annually in payroll. Amazon has announced it will open a new distribution center in Garner, North Carolina, bringing 1,500 jobs to the Raleigh suburb The four-story, 2.6 million-sq-ft distribution center will be built on the site of a former ConAgra Foods plant, which was donated to local economic development authorities in 2012. Garner officials say the move is the result of seven years of searching for a suitable company to develop the site, which was shut down following an explosion in 2009. The town has a population of 29,000 and a 95.9 percent employment rate. Residents living near the plant have expressed excitement that it is finally being developed after so many years. Jonathan King, who has lived near the former ConAgra site for years, said they're excited for the change. 'They're finally doing something with that lot, revamping it,' neighbor Jonathan King told WRAL. 'I mean, a name as big as Amazon, it's always exciting when something like that comes to the area.' King added: 'My hope is if I order something from Amazon, theyll just say: "Come get it."' At present there are 140 distributions centers across the US. Christopher Ewing, who was previously convicted of attacking a couple with an ax handle in 1984, has now been charged with killing four people with a hammer in suburban Denver the same year, authorities said Friday A Nevada inmate previously convicted of attacking a couple with an ax handle in their bedroom is now suspected of killing four people with a hammer in two attacks in suburban Denver more than 30 years ago, authorities revealed Friday. Colorado law enforcement officials said DNA evidence has tied Alexander Christopher Ewing to the slayings of Patricia Louise Smith, 50, in Lakewood, and three members of the Bennett family in Aurora in 1984. A hammer was used to kill Smith, a mother and grandmother who was attacked while eating lunch on January 10, 1984. The weapon was left in her condo. About a week later, a different hammer was used to kill Bruce and Debra Bennett, 27 and 26, and their seven-year-old daughter Melissa at their home in Aurora, about 15 miles from Lakewood. The couple's three-year-old daughter, Vanessa, was severely injured. Ewing has been behind bars in Nevada since the summer of 1984 after he escaped there while being transported to Kingman, Arizona, from St George, Utah, for a court appearance on attempted murder and burglary charges. His sentence runs through 2037, but he could be eligible for parole in 2021. Ewing allegedly broke into the home of the Bennett family in January 1984 and murdered (l to r) Melissa, Bruce and Debra, leaving youngest daughter Vanessa severely injured Ewing has been an inmate at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center for more than 30 years following his conviction for the ax murders along with other charges in 1984 Colorado prosecutors said Friday they were preparing papers to extradite Ewing - a process that could take months - and that possible charges in the Colorado deaths could carry the death penalty. Nevada authorities notified Colorado officials of a possible DNA match in early July. The news 'sent a chill through my spine,' said John Camper, director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Camper credited consistent advances in DNA technology over the decades in leading to a match. The first DNA samples collected from the attack on the Bennett family were uploaded to an FBI database in 2001, Camper said. In 2010, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation developed a DNA profile in the Smith killing that matched the Bennett case, he said. In July, under a new state law that requires DNA sampling of inmates, Nevada authorities swabbed the inside of Ewing's cheek and entered the results in the national database, Camper said. District Attorney George Brauchler, whose office is handling the Bennett family case, credited the 2013 Nevada law with the break in the case. Colorado also requires DNA sampling of inmates. Camper said he hopes the news will allow family members of victims 'to heal just a little bit more.' 'It's challenging. It's difficult. But we don't forget these cases,' Lakewood police Chief Dan McCasky said. Nevada court records show a jury found Ewing, under the name Alex C Ewing, was guilty of escaping from the custody of two Arizona deputies at a gas station in Henderson, Nevada, on August 9, 1984. He entered an unlocked home and severely beat a woman and her husband with an ax handle in their bedroom, the records say. Two young boys were asleep in other rooms. Ewing, then 23, was arrested two days later by park rangers at Lake Mead. Vanessa Bennett, now 38, was left with several scars and had a metal plate put in her forehead The Colorado killings followed two other attacks near Denver that authorities suspected involved a hammer. On January 4, 1984, a couple in Aurora woke up to see a man in their bedroom who hit each of them with a hammer before fleeing. They both survived. Less than a week later, a flight attendant was beaten, possibly with a hammer, and sexually assaulted after she pulled into the garage of her home in Aurora. Authorities said those investigations remain active but declined to speculate if they were related to the Smith and Bennett slayings. Vanessa Bennett, the sole survivor of the Aurora attack, told KUSA-TV on Thursday that she remembers little about it. Now 38, she's scarred, with a metal plate in her forehead. She endured operations, physical therapy and anger issues growing up. 'I was made fun of in school because my parents were killed,' she said. 'I was made fun of because the hammer man or whatever you want to call it was going to come to my house and hurt everybody when I had slumber parties and stuff.' A 10ft thresher shark was caught leaping from the waters off the Devon coast. Measuring more than three metres in length, the creature was spotted rocketing from the sea in Torbay on Thursday morning as dolphins swam nearby. The jaw-dropping scene near Thatcher Rock was snapped by Robert Hughes of Devon Sea Safaris, who runs boat tours in the area. A 10ft thresher shark, measuring more than three metres in length was spotted leaping from the sea in Torbay, Devon Robert Hughes of Devon Sea Safaris, who runs boat tours in the area, caught the jaw-dropping sight near Thatcher Rock He said: 'We were on our 8.30am morning wildlife tour with a full boat of 12 passengers when the sighting was made. 'We had just left some seals at Hopes Nose and started watching the short beaked common dolphins by Ore Stone when they began to act very strangely.' The thresher shark is usually found in warm and tropical climates in the mid-Atlantic and is a rare sight in Devon's waters. The shark is usually found in warm and tropical climates in the mid-Atlantic and is a rare sight in Devon's waters Recent sightings just this year have located sharks in Torquay, Penzance, St Ives and Norfolk They can grow up to 19 ft and typically have a long tail fin which can measure half the length of their body. Although catching a glimpse of the fish is rare, this is not the first time sharks have been seen along the UK's coast, with figures now reaching 26 this year. Just last month 20 blue sharks were spotted from Penzance Harbour and a 9ft blue shark was seen close to shore in St Ives, Cornwall. In May, Max Berryman suffered ten-inch wounds after he was bitten by a porbeagle shark off the Cornish coast. A new study has revealed 10 species of sharks currently found in warmer parts of the world, such as hammerheads and blacktip sharks, may be swimming in British seas within 30 years as the climate changes. There have been other sighting of sharks across the country and a new study reveals 10 species of sharks currently found in warmer parts of the world, may be swimming in British seas within 30 years as the climate changes A former Wisconsin prisons director accuses Gov. Scott Walker and Attorney General Brad Schimel of driving him to the edge of suicide in a new book released Friday, extending a long-running feud between him, Walker's office and the state Department of Justice. Former Department of Corrections Secretary Ed Wall also takes Walker to task in his book, 'Unethical: Life in Scott Walker's Cabinet and the Dirty Side of Politics,' for aligning himself with President Donald Trump. Wall claims Walker told him that Trump would destroy the Republican Party. Walker spokeswoman Amy Hasenberg called Wall's allegations baseless. Schimel said Wall's accusations are inaccurate and he hopes Wall gets help. The book's release comes as Walker faces re-election in November. Wall has endorsed Democratic candidate Tony Evers. Walker appointed Wall to lead the state Corrections Department in 2012. He resigned in 2016 amid allegations of widespread abuse at the state's youth prison. The state Department of Justice launched an investigation but the FBI has since taken over the probe. State law permitted Wall to return to his previous job as administrator of the Justice Department's Division of Criminal Investigation. Agency officials gave him his job back but quickly demoted him and placed him on administrative leave. J'accuse: Scott Walker faces claims of hypocrisy from a former aide who says the Wisconsin governor feared privately Trump would destroy the Republicans then endorsed him anyway Walker appointed Wall to lead the state Corrections Department in 2012. He resigned in 2016 amid allegations of widespread abuse at the state's youth prison. The state Department of Justice launched an investigation but the FBI has since taken over the probe. Schimel fired him in April 2016, after he sent a letter to Walker's chief-of-staff at the time, Rich Zipperer, asking for help getting his administrator job back. Wall noted in the letter that the administration was concerned about creating public records and told Zipperer to feel free to shred the document. Schimel said he couldn't trust an employee who encouraged others to break the law. Wall has since landed a job with a New Hampshire cybersecurity firm but remains bitter about how he believes he was treated. He said in November that he would write a tell-all book. In the book, Wall writes that he told the Justice Department about problems at the youth prison but the agency dragged its feet. Zipperer told him it would take a lawsuit to make Walker's administration care about problems at the youth prison, he wrote. He goes on about how Walker looked 'small and insignificant' during his presidential bid. Two days after Walker got out of the race, Wall said the exhausted governor confided to him that he feared Trump would destroy the Republican Party. 'I respected his apparent position of principle, but that was washed away when, as the months went by, I watched him prostitute himself to the same bully that had wasted no time in ripping his dignity away in front of the nation,' Wall wrote. Wall said he wrote the letter out of 'sheer desperation' created by Walker, Zipperer, Justice Department Senior Counsel Paul Connell and Schimel. He accused Schimel of 'intentionally twisting my desperate pleas for help' into allegations of violating the law. Wall said he later drove to his cabin alone and put his gun in his mouth. 'Sobbing uncontrollably, I stared at that gun and felt only anger,' Wall wrote. 'I wanted Walker, Zipperer, Schimel, and Connell to know how badly they had hurt me and my family. 'I wanted their dishonesty, their deceit, their injustice, their unethical actions, to burn in their souls for the rest of their lives.' Wall said all that stopped him was the thought of his wife and children, and the memory of Craig Klyve, a Justice Department administrator who killed himself in the parking ramp of the agency's Madison headquarters in 2009. Hasenberg, Walker's spokeswoman, characterized Wall's allegations as coming from a disgruntled former employee. 'These are false attacks being made by someone who was fired from the Department of Justice for asking a state employee to break the law,' she said. Schimel said Friday that he had to fire Wall because 'his efforts to circumvent public records law was (sic) egregious.' He said Wall was in the best position to protect inmates at the youth prison. 'I hope Mr. Wall continues to receive the help and care he may need,' Schimel said. A Turkish woman has filed for divorce after her husband began to wear 'sexy thongs and pantyhose' around the house. The unnamed woman is demanding financial compensation after her cross-dressing husband of nine years made her depressed, she claims. Reports say the man turned violent when his wife tried to discuss the issue with him. A man in Turkey is being sued by his wife who said he began wearing 'sexy thongs and pantyhose' after seven years of marriage The husband however has filed a counter-suit with allegations his wife questioned his gender and fertility Turkey's Hurriyet said the woman is seeking 200,000 Turkish Lira (around 24,400) after launching divorce proceedings at an Istanbul Family Court. Her lawyer said the husband allegedly began to wear make-up and dress in women's clothes two years ago. But the husband has filed a counter-suit, alleging that the woman questioned both his gender and fertility. 'His wife implies that my client has a different sexual orientation, attempting to blackmail him with this claim,' said the husband's lawyer, who is seeking a divorce without compensation. Turkey is notoriously hostile towards the LBGT community and transgender people. Last month, gay rights activists at Istanbul's Pride parade were tear-gassed by police after the celebration was banned for a fourth consecutive year. Akina Brodeak took to the streets with a sign saying 'Hire me, Amazing admin assistant' and now she's getting job interviews A single mother and college graduate is taking her job hunt to the streets, where she holds up a sign saying 'Hire Me' and hands out her resume. Standing in heels in the blistering Arlington, Texas heat on Wednesday, Akina Brodeak held her signs near the 1-30 highway asking for work. While her job hunting tactics may seem bizarre, Brodeak says she's getting interviews. 'Thank God the story resonated with people. Ive gotten a lot of calls and feedback. Ive heard from several companies who said they were inspired by what I did. Ive gotten calls from Houston and the Woodlands,' she said to The Star-Telegram. She said she took to the streets after she failed to secure a job, despite months of searching. 'You're filling out all these applications and you're not getting any callbacks. I said you know what I'll try anything because at this point, I need a job,' she said to WFAA. 'I felt like a lot of my resumes were going into a black hole,' she added. Scroll down for video Starting at sunrise on Wednesday, she held her signs near the 1-30 highway in Arlington asking for work and handing out resumes Hardworking mom: Brodeak was motivated to head to the streets with her job-seeking sign in order to provide for four-year-old daughter Sasha She says she's struggled to land a job despite having a college degree, yet after her poster stint, she's received several calls and says she's hopeful she'll get an offer soon Motivated to give her four-year-old daughter Sasha a better life and inspired by the tale of California homeless man David Casarez who received hundreds of job offers after he handed out resumes in the streets, she decided to head to the highway. She begins at sunrise equipped with a stack of resumes and a poster that reads 'Hire Me', 'College grad', 'Please take a resume' and 'Amazing admin assistant'. 'They're definitely not used to a college graduate holding a sign, but here I am,' she said on her stint. Brodeak said despite graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2013, she has still struggled to find work. She says she has a part-time waitressing job but it's not enough to pay the bills, get an apartment, and properly care for her daughter. In the past she's worked as an administrative assistant and a substitute teacher. Brodeak recently moved back to North Texas from Illinois, hoping to find a job and fresh start. Supermom! Speaking on her job hunt she said: 'Parents sometimes have to do things they don't really want to do. I am a proud woman, however, here I am. Because kids have to eat' 'Parents sometimes have to do things they don't really want to do. This isn't the greatest thing for me. I am a proud woman, however, here I am. Because kids have to eat. Kids have to go to school. Kids need clothes,' she said. 'I'm not too proud. I'm a hard worker and sometimes, in order to be noticed, you have to go above what other people would do,' Brodeak added. She says she's determined to stand her ground at the freeway everyday until she gets a job. Following her highway resume handouts her phone has been ringing off the hook and it seems a new career door could be opening soon. 'Sometimes you have to do uncommon things to stand out from the crowd,' she said. 'What I wanted has come to fruition. People are actually looking at my LinkedIn profile. All I wanted was to be given a fair shake and a fair look. Im sure that now things will work out,' she added. Dramatic footage captured the moment a gunmen fired at a car during a high-speed chase. Incredibly, the gunman accidentally misfired and the bullet ricocheted off the Seat's bonnet into the street. CCTV captured the moment D'anglo Smith, 21, stopped his Seat Ibiza while his accomplice leant out the passenger window and fired at a Renault Clio which was travelling in front. D'anglo Smith, 21, was behind the wheel of a Seat Ibiza while his passenger took pot shots at a Renault Clio The gunman accidentally misfired - the bullet ricocheted off the Seat's bonnet into the street Moments later the gunman in the Renault pointed a sawn-off shotgun at Smith's Seat Moments later another CCTV clip showed another armed man in the blue Renault leaning out of the window and pointing a sawn-off shotgun at Smith's Seat. The terrifying chase took place around the streets of, Handsworth, Birmingham at 5pm on July 21 last year. Smith was jailed for 25 years today at Birmingham Crown Court and was told he will serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars. Detectives traced the Seat to Smith's partner and seized it two days later where they found a bullet hole in the wing. Analysis of Smith's phone revealed text messages linking him to the shooting and showed he was in the area at the time of the shooting. And while detectives were building a case against Smith, they uncovered evidence linking him to the transfer of a gun to another man, Demiah Logan, who was later jailed for nine years for firearms possession. CCTV footage showed Smith with a North Face 'man-bag' strapped across his chest when he entered a barbers shop in Soho Road on 29 September. He left without the satchel and when officers later raided Logan's home they found the bag hidden in the loft with a St Etienne revolver and a round of ammunition inside. Forensic examination of the revolver revealed Smith's DNA on the weapon. He was found guilty of possessing an illegal gun with intent to endanger life and transferring a firearm and admitted drug offences. He told the jury he'd offered the gunman, who has not been caught, a lift and was threatened at gunpoint to pursue the Renault. Smith was also found guilty of possessing an illegal gun after he was found with a St Etienne revolver with a round of ammunition inside Detective Constable Chris Bradley, from the Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: 'This was a hugely reckless act, firing a gun from a moving car. 'The gunman who we're still looking to trace ended up hitting the bonnet of the car he was travelling in and it is lucky no-one was hurt as it rebounded off. 'Smith claimed he was also a victim, that the passenger had pointed the gun at him and he had no idea the person was armed. 'However, the footage shows him driving at speed after the Clio, over traffic-calming humps, and generally in a way suggesting he was complicit in the attack and not himself a victim. 'I'm pleased he's been handed a lengthy jail sentence. We need to keep reiterating the message that anyone in possession of an illegal firearm runs the very real risk of spending many years behind bars.' Smith's girlfriend Bianca Ruddock, of Nuneaton, Warkickshirte, was cleared of possessing a gun and drugs offences. Israeli fire killed a Palestinian medic as well as hitting 25 others today, Gaza's health ministry has claimed, during clashes and protests along the border. The death of Abdullah al-Qatati came after the territory's Islamist rulers Hamas reached a ceasefire with Israel yesterday. Another Palestinian is in critical condition after being shot in the head, the strip's authorities say. Protesters set tyres on fire and threw stones during today's demonstrations. Smoke rises from an explosion after an Israeli airstrike on the Saidd al-Mis'hal cultural centre in Gaza City on Thursday The debris of Said Al-Mashal Foundation for Arts and Culture building after Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in the strip's capital city on Thursday A wounded Palestinian boy is brought into al-Shifa hospital on Thursday following the Israeli air strike on Gaza City Acrid black smoke fills the air as Palestinians burn tyres in response to Israeli forces' intervention The news comes as the European Union called for an urgent 'de-escalation' and warned the two sides are 'dangerously close' to a full-blown conflict just four years on from their last war. Extensive air strikes were launched at Gaza on Thursday in retaliation for more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds fired by Hamas and its allies on Wednesday night. But an unofficial ceasefire agreement between the two foes went into effect around midnight. This evening a few thousand Palestinians gathered along the border for weekly protests. On Friday, several thousand protesters gathered in different locations along the border with Israel, setting tyres ablaze and throwing stones, but there were fewer people demonstrating than in previous weeks Grieving relatives of Abdullah al-Qatati, Palestinian volunteer medic, who was killed by Israeli fire along the Gaza border, mourn at the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza on August 10 People inspect the rubble of a building after it was destroyed by an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on Thursday Palestinian protesters escape from tear gas fired by Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel Israel's Iron Dome defence system launches an interceptor missile as rockets are launched from Gaza toward the southern city of Sderot Mr Qatati was in his 20s and a volunteer with the Hamas medical services. A health ministry spokesman says he was shot in the chest in southern Gaza. He would be at least the second medic to have been killed by Israeli fire during months of border protests. Today's demonstration was smaller that those of previous weeks. The Israeli army said a few thousand 'rioters' gathered in a number of sites along the border, with soldiers using live fire and other riot dispersal tactics. Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, while seven Israelis were wounded by Palestinian rocket fire. It was one of the most serious flareups since the 2014 Gaza war and followed months of escalating tensions. Palestinians demonstrators take part in clashes with Israeli troops near the border, with two Palestinians protesters shot dead today A Palestinian woman throws a rock with a slingshot during today's demonstration near the Israel-Gaza border in Khan Yunis, Gaza This is the amazing moment two dogs chase a huge tiger away from a group of children after the big cat swam across a river into their village. The shaky video, filmed in the Indian village of Katarnia near the border with Nepal, begins as the cameraman zooms in on the beast swimming across the river. He then points the camera at the ground as he runs away from the huge creature, and all that can be heard is panting and the screams of other villagers. The video, filmed in the Indian village of Katarnia near the border with Nepal, shows the tiger swimming across the river Terrified children can be seen running away screaming as the two brave dogs approach the big cat The camera then steadies and shows terrified children running away from the tiger who is prowling along the river. The beast lets out a huge roar before two dogs run straight into danger to scare the tiger off. It then runs away into the distance as the screaming continues. According to villagers in Katarnia, tigers occasionally cross the river in search of food. Nobody was injured in the incident which happened on August 8. The two dogs run straight into the face of danger and send the tiger scarpering Police broke up a brawl at Rome's famous Trevi fountain after two women failed to agree on who could take a selfie there first. Both families got involved after a Dutch tourist, 19, argued with an Italian-American woman, 44, in an altercation that turned violent on Wednesday night. The women exchanged slaps and punches before relatives reacted to create an eight-person melee. Two women in Rome exchanged punches and slaps after fighting over who could take a selfie in the same prime spot at the Trevi fountain at the same time The argument started as words but soon turned violent with family members getting involved. Four police officers were needed to break up the scrap The incident began as an exchange of words between the two women before escalating into a punch-up. Reports in Italy said the quarrel started when both women wanted to take selfies at the same prime spot in front of the Trevi at the same time. Officers intervened to stop the fight but a truce only lasted a couple of minutes. Two more patrol cops were called in to finally bring an end to the fight which took place before shocked onlookers. Neither women were charged. Both sustained bruises. The Trevi Fountain was designed by architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762. It attracts thousands of visitors each year. Thousands of holidaymakers visit the hugely popular Trevi fountain, giving councillors a headache with overcrowding problems The site was made famous by films such as Three Coins in the Fountain, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita. Last year, in measures to preserve the fountain's cleanliness, officials announced tourists could be fined 240 (215) for eating or drinking near the Trevi. Washing in it or sitting on it is also forbidden. Councillors are also mulling over an idea to create a route to bypass the fountain as means to address issues of overcrowding. Tourists swarm the site night and day for a chance to take a selfie or dip their feet in the water, especially in summer months. But lawmakers want to introduce a one-way system where visitors can see the Baroque monument without stopping to linger. The populist Five Star Movement party described the situation as 'unlivable'. A similar proposal was trialed last July but dropped a couple of months later. Boarding a holiday flight from London Gatwick to Ibiza a few days ago, a young female passenger recognised a familiar face in the queue. The sight of this man, laughing flirtatiously with his muscular, handsome boyfriend, filled her with anger and a sense of injustice. Like her, Shrien Dewani was a member of the British-Hindu community. For that reason, from the moment he became embroiled in one of the most perplexing criminal cases of recent times the honeymoon murder of his wife, Anni, in November, 2010 she had followed the story with close interest. As she told me: I just felt furious that he was off to enjoy himself on holiday with his boyfriend after what happened to his wife. It made me think how Anni and her family have suffered, while his life seems to be turning out so well. Scroll down for video Shrien Dewani was accused of arranging the murder of new bride Anni Dewani while they were on their honeymoon in South Africa in 2010. He was later cleared at trial In the court of public opinion, many would share her sentiments. To explain why, we should recap this grim saga. The scion of an admirably successful, Bristol-based family of Ugandan-Asian immigrants who made their fortune by operating a string of West Country care homes, Dewani, now 38, had a hugely advantageous upbringing. After attending fee-paying Bristol Grammar School, where he was a prefect, and later gaining an accountancy degree, he began a career with a top finance house before helping set up the family business with his father, Prakash, a prominent Freemason, and brother Preyen. What his family did not know was that by his 20s he had developed a predilection for gay sex with male prostitutes and men he picked up on the internet. However, he was briefly engaged to a tycoons daughter before wooing Anni, a beautiful Swedish engineer, whom he met via the East African Hindu community. Within a year of their first date, at a West End performance of The Lion King in 2009, Dewani had whisked Anni to Paris on a private jet to propose marriage (beguiling her with a 25,000 diamond engagement ring and gifts of designer clothes and shoes). The following autumn they were married in a 250,000, three-day Hindu ceremony, attended by 300 guests, in a Mumbai hotel. Two weeks later, Dewani took Anni to South Africa, on honeymoon. After a week on safari, they journeyed to Cape Town. There, after a late-night supper, their taxi driver drove them into a treacherous township, where the car was intercepted by two ruthless young gangsters. For a never explained reason, their modus operandi did not follow the usual grisly pattern of South African car hijacks, in which the man is robbed and murdered and the woman raped, but freed. Dewani was bundled out of the car unharmed. Anni was unmolested but dispatched with a single bullet to the neck. Quickly apprehended, the taxi driver and the two abductors claimed Dewani plotted the murder and paid them 1,300 to carry it out. He has always strenuously denied this. Yet as evidence of his secret gay liaisons emerged, their story gained credence with South African investigators. As Dewani had been allowed to return to Britain with Annis body, there followed a three-year fight to have him extradited, most of which he spent in hospital, being treated for stress-related mental illness. Vinod Hindocha, Anni's father pictured above with her mother Nilam, said as soon as he saw the pictures of Dewani and his new partner he thought 'decent people, whether or not they are gay, don't behave like this.' When, finally, he was forced to return to Cape Town, in October, 2014, his trial was a fiasco. Prosecution evidence was bungled, witnesses were discredited, and the crux of the prosecution case that Dewani had Anni murdered to preserve the secret of his homosexuality was wrecked when the judge ruled that his sexual orientation was irrelevant. After being photographed for posterity with his prison cell warden, Dewani, looking decidedly more chipper than the twitching, stammering figure he presented at the trial, flew back to Britain, seemingly free to resume his lucrative business career and exotic social life. Matters have not turned out that way, however. Though once pictured leaving a swish Mayfair restaurant, he became reclusive and, when seen travelling to the gym on the London Underground, looked to one passenger exhausted and nervous. His psychological state cant have been helped by the public reaction to his acquittal. Many took to the internet to voice misgivings, not least because the judge had abandoned the trial saying the evidence was not strong enough even before Dewani took the witness stand. The British-Hindu holidaymaker on Dewanis Ibiza-bound flight, on July 25, was among those who questioned his innocence from afar. And watching him embark on a break with his new partner, Brazilian-Spanish photographer Gledison Lopez Martins, her doubts resurfaced. Dewani might look a lot older now he is greying and haggard, and he walks with a strange limp but he looked as though he hadnt a care. He was obviously having great fun with this man, the woman, who does not wish to be identified, told me this week. His boyfriend was wearing flip-flops, shorts and a vest which showed off his muscles. He must spend a lot of time in the gym and he seems to admire himself. He stood there taking selfies. The woman was so irate that, on the plane, she took a photo of Dewani who for some reason sat separately from Martins and passed it to the Mails website. It then emerged that the couple have posted a series of intimate pictures and videos on social media, capturing the globe-trotting lifestyle he and his boyfriend enjoy. A lifestyle Dewani can well afford, having been reinstated, following the trial, as a director of the family business which has diversified into property and declared assets of 20 million in its 2016 accounts. They also suggest that Dewani, whose self-absorbed behaviour in the aftermath of Annis murder increased police suspicions and incensed her grieving family (as her body lay in the mortuary, he bought a suit, had his hair cut and trawled gay websites), has changed little in these past four years. For one photograph, showing him resting his head on Martinss chest, was taken during a journey through India the very last place he should choose for a romantic trip with his boyfriend, we might think, given that Mumbai was his wedding venue. Shrien Dewani and his boyfriend Gledison Lopez Martins (right) have posted pictures on Instagram of their travels around the world including Ibiza and India The pictures were hastily withdrawn, but not before Annis family had seen them. Her father, Vinod Hindocha, told me the sight of Dewani and his boyfriend had left him speechless and not only because he felt it grossly insensitive to have holidayed in the country where he married his daughter. At the outset of his trial, he recalled, before the prosecution opened their case, Dewani had been permitted to make a statement, in which he openly admitted his attraction to men for the first time. But and it is a very big but Dewani said he considered himself bisexual rather than homosexual,. He told the court his relations with men were mostly physical experiences or email chats with partners he met online, or prostitutes, whereas he had shared a mutual chemistry with Anni, to whom he was instantly physically attracted. This sensational opening gambit proved to be a masterstroke by Dewanis high-powered defence team, for after hearing his uncontested testimony the judge ruled his sexual orientation immaterial, barring all evidence relating to it. Dewanis claim to bisexuality cut no ice with the watching Hindocha family, however. For Anni had sent her cousin anguished messages about Dewanis frigidity (crying is my new hobby, she wrote) and told her how he slept on the sofa on their wedding night rather than consummate the marriage. Then, after her death, it was revealed that he subscribed to at least two gay dating websites, one for fetishists, and visited a sadomasochistic prostitute called The German Master, paying 400 to be humiliated and tortured. (This unfortunate man, Leopold Leisser, committed suicide in 2016.) All this confirmed the Hindochas belief that Dewani has always been fully homosexual a view finally confirmed, they say, by his serious relationship with Martins, which began some 18 months ago and has progressed so well that they now share a West London flat. Yet had it been known four years ago, Annis father told me, it might have altered the course of the trial. Furthermore, if Dewani had summoned the courage to come out before the wedding, rather than deceiving his daughter into marriage, he says, she would never have gone to South Africa and would thus still be alive. As soon as I saw those pictures at the weekend, my thought was: Decent people, whether or not they are gay, dont behave like this, said Mr Hindocha, who lives with Annis mother, Nilam, in the small Swedish town of Mariestad. I want to stress I have absolutely nothing against the gay community, but Shrien cheated us from day one. He wanted to have his homosexual life and use my daughter as a cover. Of course, he has been declared not guilty, so we have to accept that. But I dont accept it, still. He should have explained everything under oath. Thats the least we deserved. His voice dripping with irony, he added: If he is really bisexual, he must have had so many girlfriends. So where are they all? When I saw the photos, I wrote a message to Shriens parents Prakash and Shila on my Facebook: Congratulations, you have a new son-in-law! Pictured: Anni Dewani's father Vinod Hindocha at the Western Cape High Court on November 24, 2014. Mr Hindocha has now said 'he has been declared not guilty, so we have to accept that. But i don't accept that still.' Though the taxi driver and hijackers (one of whom has since died of a brain tumour) were jailed for murder, the Hindochas remain intent on bringing fresh legal action that will compel Dewani to address the many unanswered questions about the murder. The Dewani family, for their part, declined to comment on Shriens relationship this week. Perhaps surprisingly, however, given their religious background, his parents have evidently welcomed his boyfriend into the family. Martins spent last Christmas with them, they attended a fancy-dress party he threw, were pictured with him in a big clan gathering in a restaurant, and are reportedly among his Facebook friends. How he and Shrien were introduced is not known, though given their mutual penchant for partying and raunchy London gay clubs, such as Hoist, we can hazard a guess. So what do we know of Gledison Lopez Martins? According to the loquacious potted biography he wrote for his portrait photography business, GLM Photos, he settled in London four years ago and works all over the world (this week, someone who answered his phone said he was in the Bahamas). He claims to have photographed many personalities, but the only famous face I could pick out from his portfolio was that of pop star Duncan James, 40, formerly of the boy band Blue. His website also features an erotic transgender section, where his subjects pose provocatively in body-stockings, suspenders and thigh-boots. The testimonies of Martins clients praise him, personally and professionally. However, former neighbours at his various London flats present a different snapshot of his personality. In Eastbourne Mews, Paddington, where he and Dewani recently shared a flat beside his photographic studio, complaints about Martinss alleged anti-social behaviour are said to have been reported to the police (who decline to confirm or deny this). He also upset residents at a previous address, who say he staged wild parties. Steve Penalver, a friend and former flatmate of Martins, said the strapping six-footer always had many admirers because of his looks and charisma. Mr Penalver described Martins who emigrated from Brazil to Spain with his parents when he was very young and was raised in Barcelona as a kindly man who lent him money when he was hard up. He was usually gentle, he added, but was quite tough, and could handle himself if anyone became aggressive when they were socialising. Mr Penalver confirmed that neighbours who rented an office next to their flat frequently complained about Martins playing loud music. This week, Martins was unavailable to respond to these claims. For the past six months, however, he and Dewani have lived, apparently peacefully, in a stylish apartment in an affluent area of West London. The anything-goes island of Ibiza is clearly one of their favourite haunts, for the pair holidayed there last October before returning late last month, booking into a five-star hotel. Their stay was cut short after four days, when Martins fell ill with an appendicitis an event he announced in typical fashion, by posting social media photographs of himself languishing in hospital. Whatever else they might have in common, Dewani and his Brazilian lover share a narcissistic streak. In the court of public opinion, some will wish them well in their relationship. They will say Dewani, having been found not guilty by a court, ought to be left to rebuild his life as he pleases. Others will take a different view. Whatever ones opinion, however, it is undeniably tragic that Shrien Dewani didnt meet the man of his dreams, and settle down openly with him, before embarking on the romantic charade that ended when his honeymoon bride was shot in that God-forsaken township. Before Prince Harry finally settled down with Meghan Markle, he was in a serious relationship with Chelsea Davy. The pair dated on and off for years before realizing that it was for the best they part ways. According to The Mirror, Kate Middleton and Prince William played a large part in helping them reach that conclusion, though the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may not know that. In a new book, Harry: Conversations with the Prince, Angela Levin recalled Chelsea being invited to Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding. Prince William and Kate Middleton inadvertently played a major role in helping Chelsy Davy realize she and Prince Harry weren't meant to be Before he met and married Meghan Markle, Prince Harry was in a serious relationship with a woman called Chelsy Davy Levin wrote: A friend revealed that seeing the enormity and pomp of the day convinced Chelsy that she and Harry had been right to separate. Although they had a lot in common, she saw clearly that because they came from such different worlds it could never have worked, especially as she valued her privacy and guarded it so carefully. The author claimed Harry read his best man speech aloud to Chelsy over the phone. Her book claims: Harry had read it out at first over the phone to Chelsy in South Africa, who despite no longer being his steady girlfriend, has also been invited to the wedding. She suggested he remove some of the racier anecdotes, including a reference to Kates killer legs, as she didnt think the Queen would take kindly to laddish humor. Chelsy and Prince Harry broke it off for good in 2011. They remained friendly, however. Chelsy was invited to Prince Harry and Meghans wedding in May. Chelsy Davy married Chelsy Davy is not married. She is, however, dating TV producer James Marshall. The 44-year-old TV executive happens to be a friend of Meghans. Theres been some speculation that the former Suits actress set Prince Harrys ex up with James. A source said: Its not clear if Meghan introduced Chelsy to James, but this keeps everyone happy. Chelsy Davy spotted in passionate clinch with TV producer James Marshall https://t.co/whRNEDyOcx Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) April 29, 2018 Chelsy Davy at Royal Wedding Chelsy Davy was invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding in May. She attended, which came as a shock to the public. Chelsy and Prince Harry, who started dating in 2003 or 2004, remained friends after their split. After fans noticed Chelsy among the invited guests at the wedding, they watched her closely throughout the ceremony. The 32-year-old was spotted making a less than enthusiastic expression at one point during the wedding and quickly became the punchline of many jokes. Some suggested her face screamed, it should have been me, while others found Chelsys expression all too relate-able. Others quipped: When your ex gets married and youre at the wedding. While more than half of Americans have the perception that immigrants drive up U.S. health care costs, a new study finds that they use far less health care than non-immigrants - and make significant financial contributions to the system. Immigrants account for 12 percent of the population, but only 8.6 percent of all health care expenditures in the U.S., according to a new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Tufts University. 'The reality is quite different from what the general perception seems to be,' said J. Wesley Boyd, co-author of the study and an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. 'Our study shows pretty convincingly that immigrants are not driving up health care costs at all - in fact they are subsidizing health care for a lot of native born immigrants,' he told DailyMail.com. Immigrants account for 12 percent of the population, but only 8.6 percent of all health care expenditures in the U.S. In addition, immigrants in the country illegally account for 1.4 percent of total medical spending despite making up 5 percent of the population The study, published in the International Journal of Health Services, also found that immigrants in the country illegally account for 1.4 percent of total medical spending despite making up 5 percent of the population. The data may be surprising to many Americans, of whom 52 percent believe that immigrants pose a high cost on the U.S. health care system. In addition, 67 percent of Americans oppose providing state- and locally funded social services to immigrants who are in the country illegally, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. 'The reality is quite different from what the general perception seems to be,' Boyd said. The new study also found that many immigrants help subsidize Medicare and private insurance for Americans through their work. Immigrants who are legally employed and in some cases illegally are taxed through a 1996 law that bars them from obtaining nonemergency Medicaid for the first five years they are in the country. The money goes toward reimbursing states for unpaid health care. More than half of Americans believe immigrants are a cost burden on the U.S. health care system. And 67 percent believe they should not be eligible for public assistance, according to a Pew Research Center survey That means that immigrants for the most part can't obtain public assistance for general health care, although they are paying into the system in a way that benefits Americans, Boyd said. The Affordable Care Act better known as Obamacare also prohibits providing health benefits to immigrants in the country illegally. Researchers said that one major factor behind the lower health costs associated with migrants is what researchers described as the 'healthy immigrant effect,' which means that people newly arriving in the country tend to be younger, healthier and more robust than their native-born counterparts. As a result they need less health care and ultimately are less of a burden on the system, researchers said. How receiving public health care may hurt immigrants' chances of staying in the U.S. Earlier this week it emerged that the Trump administration is working on a plan to make it harder for legal immigrants to become citizens if theyve ever received public assistance from the government. The preliminary plan, obtained by NBC News, was developed by White House senior adviser Stephen Miller. It would limit the number of migrants who can become American citizens or obtain green cards based on whether they have accessed food stamps, Obamacare or any type of welfare. An estimated 19 percent of noncitizen adults and 38 percent of noncitizen children were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP in 2016, the New England Journal of Medicine estimates. Immigration lawyers have estimated that more than 20 million migrants could be affected in what would be the biggest change to immigration policy in decades. The proposal would not require Congressional approval. Advertisement In order 'to maintain their health over the long term they (immigrants) - and all Americans - need access to good health care,' said co-author Lila Flavin, a medical student at Tufts. Health experts widely agree that having healthy people paying into the private and publicly-funded health system is critical whether or not they're immigrants to offset the costs of an increasingly sick and aging U.S. population. And migrants appear to be bolstering the overall health of the insurance pool. Immigrants in the country illegally may also be hesitant to access health care, for fear they would come in contact with officials who could deport them. Language barriers and discrimination can also be obstacles to accessing care, the study said. Researchers from Harvard and Tufts evaluated all peer-reviewed studies on the subject since 2002 and after analyzing the data found that, overall, immigrants' health care costs amount to one-half to two-thirds of that of native-born Americans. However, one limitation of the study that researchers didn't take into account was the cost of immigrant children and American-born children of immigrants to the overall health system, said Steve Camarota, director of research for the anti-immigration Center for Immigration Studies. 'The concern is that a lot of immigrants come to America and can't support their own children,' he said. The cost of those children manifest themselves in many ways, including access to Medicaid for American-born children of immigrants, Camarota said. In addition, states can use state-only Medicaid dollars to cover some immigrants in the country illegally. California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington and the District of Columbia all extend such benefits to children regardless of their immigration status. The study did not analyze those costs, or additional costs for things like community health centers which typically provide care to people regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay. The Government's top technology advisor, who has taken a job at Amazon, spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money jetting across the Atlantic to meet executives at the company. Liam Maxwell has flown to the US five times in the past two years to meet bosses at the tech giant, along with other firms, or speak at its events. The visits included trips to Washington DC, Las Vegas and Amazon's Seattle headquarters, racking up more than 16,700 in costs. Mr Maxwell who is paid up to 162,000 as the national technology advisor, has since accepted a job at Amazon's web services arm. Liam Maxwell (pictured) has flown to the US five times in the past two years to meet bosses at the tech giant, along with other firms, or speak at its events The 50-year-old has also frequently tweeted about Amazon using his personal Twitter account. In the past two years he has either commented himself, or retweeted messages in support of the web giant 20 times. He has also tweeted other companies. Mr Maxwell also visited other companies and organisations. For instance, in February 2016 he met with several Israeli tech firms on a visit costing 1,030. And he held meetings with tech companies Microsoft, Google and Samsung in September 2017. He praised Microsoft boss Satya Nadella as well on May 22, saying he was 'always fascinating'.His Amazon appointment has sparked concern among MPs and transparency campaigners, because Mr Maxwell helped draw up an IT spending regime in Whitehall that has seen contracts worth tens of millions of pounds handed to the firm. It is understood Mr Maxwell has not yet resigned from his current Government post but is expected to leave soon. Critics last night said the trips to the US raised fresh questions about Mr Maxwell's relationship with Amazon. And Vince Cable, former business secretary and leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: 'I do think he has woken up to the public anger around the way Amazon has been taking the Government for a ride.' Yesterday the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments which senior civil servants must get permission from to take private sector jobs said Mr Maxwell's new role would be screened by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The DCMS would not confirm his departure. A spokesman said: 'He engages with national and international companies and governments to promote the UK.' 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. Advertisement Romanian riot police have fired tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray to subdue thousands of anti-corruption protesters in violent clashes. Shocking photographs of today's mass demonstration in Bucharest show an officer gripping an elderly man around his throat, a policeman preventing a man from helping a woman in a wheelchair, and water being blasted from police trucks into people's faces. About 100 people required medical attention after inhaling the gases, while 10 police officers were injured by hurled stones and bottles, the emergency services said. Local media said that between 30,000 and 50,000 people turned out for the protest, included many Romanian expatriates who returned home especially to show their anger at the levels of official corruption. Last year those working abroad sent 4.3billion back to their families at home, yet 'unfortunately nothing has changed in Romania,' said Ileana Anghel, a Romanian national living in Spain. People surround fallen riot police officers during a charge to clear the square during protests outside the government headquarters, in Bucharest, Romania There were chaotic scenes as protesters taunted police officers, who used water cannons, above, to quell the demonstrators There were dramatic scenes as people clashed with police, with demonstrators running, above, as officers charge the crowd Riot police spray tear gas while scuffling with protesters outside the government headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, today Local media said that between 30,000-50,000 people turned out for the protest in Bucharest, included many Romanian expatriates who returned home especially to show their anger at the levels of official corruption A riot policeman grabs the arm of a man trying to assist a woman in a wheelchair in the street during today's clashes Riot police deploy a water canon against protesting crowds outside the government headquarters, in Bucharest, Romania Above, an elderly man at the demonstration is gripped around his throat by police officers, while other protesters were pushed to the ground Standing guard, anti-riot police attend the massive demonstration in front of the Romanian Government headquarters on August 10 Angry people mob riot police officers who fell and were left behind during a charge to clear the square during protests outside the government headquarters, in Bucharest 'We want to see modern roads and schools and above all to not have to pay bribes to the left and right,' added Anghel who, like her husband, Stefan, works in the Alicante region. They joined tens of thousands of protesters who rallied against the ruling Social Democrat (PSD) government in Bucharest and other cities across Romania, after demonstrations were organised and promoted by groups of Romanians working abroad. Expats are fed up with the left-wing government's failure to spend the hard-earned cash they send home on modernising infrastructure, such as roads, and improving services in the country, which ranks as one of the EU's most corrupt states Brussels is currently keeping its justice system under special monitoring. Riot police spray tear gas while scuffling with protesters, as Romanians who live abroad staged anti-government protests calling on the left-wing government to resign and an early election Riot police fired tear gas into the crowds during protests outside the government headquarters, in Bucharest. Romanians who live abroad staged anti-government protests calling on the left-wing government to resign and have an early election Riot police wearing heavy body armour used pepper spray on the protesters. Demonstrators waved Romanian and European Union flags under a scorching sun, chanting 'Party of thieves' and called on the government to resign Riot police are seen detaining a protester wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, above. In Bucharest, some protesters attempted to force their way through security lines guarding the government building A woman hugs a man after falling out of her wheelchair during the scuffles. Thousands joined a rally in Bucharest on Friday staged by Romanians working abroad to protest against entrenched corruption, low wages and attempts by the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) to weaken the judiciary A man flashes victory signs next to a riot police line outside the government headquarters. Several politicians from the ruling coalition derided the rally in the run up, saying they did not understand why the diaspora would protest Riot police lead away a protester as a woman photographs the incident at the Government HQ. Romania ranks as one of the EU's most corrupt states and Brussels keeps its justice system under special monitoring Since the Social Democrats won power in 2016, the government has proposed new laws that critics say weaken the nation's fight against corruption. An estimated four million Romanians are living abroad, and some say they left because of corruption, low wages and lack of opportunities. 'We don't want our country to be governed by thieves who line their own pockets,' said Georgeta Anghel, 43, who has lived in Valencia, Spain, for 14 years. 'If nothing changes here, what kind of future will our son have in the future?' A man stands guard in front of Romanian anti-riot police during clashes at a demonstration in Bucharest. Local media said between 30,000 to 50,000 people turned out for the protest, including many Romanian expatriates who returned home especially to show their anger at the level of official corruption Mihai Podut, who left Romania in 2014, holding his country's flag at the anti-government rally. Protests have occurred outside government headquarters regularly since the Social Democrats took power in early 2017 and tried to decriminalise several corruption offences Protesters help a man who fell as they tried to push through a riot police line. A hundred people required medical attention after inhaling the gases, while 10 police officers were injured by hurled stones and bottles, the emergency services said Undeterred by the huge police presence, a man stands in front of a riot police line during today's massive rallies Protesters waved Romanian, EU, Spanish, Italian and other flags, yelling, 'justice, not corruption' and called the ruling party 'the red plague' outside government offices in the capital. Demonstrators scuffled with riot police when they tried to break through a police line guarding the government offices. At least one man was detained. Hundreds of thousands have signed a petition demanding a law that would ban people charged with corruption and other offences from office, but it is unlikely to pass Parliament where the Social Democrats and their allies have a majority. Liviu Dragnea, the head of the Social Democrats, has received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for abuse of power in office. He is appealing against that decision, and is unable to be prime minister due to another conviction in 2016 for vote-rigging. Cristina Andrei arrived to join the rally in Bucharest from Stockholm, Sweden, where she lives now with her two sons. 'I've come here for my children, who don't know how to read or write Romanian,' the 42-year-old cashier said. 'This country is rich and beautiful but it's run by thieves.' Riot policemen detain a man during protests, as expat Romanians join local residents to show their disapproval of the government, which they want to resign Armour-clad riot police charge to clear the square during protests outside the government headquarters, in Bucharest People hold a Romanian flag in front of a riot police line during a charge to clear the square during protests outside the government headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, on Friday, August 10 A memorial wreath in his hand, Jeremy Corbyn stands feet from the graves of terror leaders linked to the Munich Massacre. The picture was among a number taken during a service to honour Palestinian 'martyrs'. Buried in the cemetery in Tunisia are members of Black September, the terror group which massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics. Tribute: Jeremy Corbyn pictured in 2014 holding a wreath at a cemetery in Tunis. Sources close to Mr Corbyn insisted he was at the service to commemorate 47 Palestinians killed in an Israeli air strike on a Tunisian PLO base in 1985 But on a visit to the cemetery this week, the Daily Mail discovered that the monument to the air strike victims is 15 yards from where Mr Corbyn is pictured instead he was in front of a plaque that lies beside the graves of Black September members The air strike victim's monument, containing the 47 names of Palestinians killed in 1985 One picture places Mr Corbyn close to the grave of another terrorist, Atef Bseiso, intelligence chief of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Bseiso has also been linked to the Munich atrocity. Another image shows the Labour leader apparently joining in an Islamic prayer while by the graves. Last night sources close to Mr Corbyn insisted he was at the service in 2014 to commemorate 47 Palestinians killed in an Israeli air strike on a Tunisian PLO base in 1985. But on a visit to the cemetery this week, the Daily Mail discovered that the monument to the air strike victims is 15 yards from where Mr Corbyn is pictured and in a different part of the complex. Instead he was in front of a plaque that lies beside the graves of Black September members. Images from the Palestinian Embassy Website archive, Jeremy Corbyn is seen in Tunisia at the Martyrs Cemetary on a hill in Hamman Chatt laying wreaths with members of a Palestinian Conference delegation Another image shows the Labour leader apparently joining in an Islamic prayer while by the graves The plaque honours three dead men: Salah Khalaf, who founded Black September; his key aide Fakhri al-Omari; and Hayel Abdel-Hamid, PLO chief of security. Adjacent to their graves is that of Bseiso. All were assassinated either by the Israeli secret service Mossad or rival Palestinian factions. With his party engulfed in a row over anti-Semitism, the pictures give Mr Corbyn fresh questions to answer about his alleged sympathy for extremists. Corbyn with Palestinian politician Mohammad Shtayyeh (second from left) and Palestinian Ambassador to France Salman Harfi (third from left) 'It beggars belief that anyone would wish to honour the terrorists behind the brutal massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at Munich,' said Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel. 'However, it is sadly utterly unsurprising that Jeremy Corbyn appears to have done so. Others will rightly regard it is as totally sickening.' In other developments: A video surfaced showing Mr Corbyn apparently making a direct comparison between the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Nazi occupation of Europe; A Labour ex-minister took out a full-page advert in a Jewish newspaper to lambast Mr Corbyn's response to the anti-Semitism crisis. Jim Murphy said it had been 'intellectually arrogant, emotionally inept and politically maladroit'; The Board of Deputies of British Jews warned Mr Corbyn to 'come out of hiding' and said the anti-Semitism crisis would not go away. Mr Corbyn recorded his visit to the Tunisian cemetery a year before he became Labour leader in an article for the communist newspaper, the Morning Star. He said wreaths were laid to mark the 1985 bombing but also 'on the graves of others killed by Mossad agents'. TERROR TRAIL THAT STARTED AT OLYMPICS Sept 5, 1972 Eight Palestinian terrorists from the Black September group storm the Munich apartments where Israeli athletes are sleeping, killing two and taking nine hostage. File photo shows a member of the Palestinian terrorist group who seized members of the Israeli Olympic team at their quarters at the Munich Olympic Village on September 5, 1972 When the terrorists and hostages were taken by helicopter to a military airport, German sharpshooters opened fire, killing three terrorists. A gun battle claimed the lives of all nine hostages and two terrorists. The remains of the helicopter which was used by Arab guerillas to escape from the Olympic village with 11 Israeli hostages. The helicopter was destroyed in a gun battle with German police Daily Mail's coverage of the Munich Massacre a day after the helicopter was shot down, which resulted in five terrorists and all eleven athletes being killed Oct 1, 1985 Israeli warplanes bomb the PLO headquarters in Hammam Chott, near Tunis, killing 47. Jan 15, 1991 PLO second-in-command Salah Khalaf, his adviser Fakhri al-Omari, and PLO security chief Hayel Abdel-Hamid are shot to death at Abdel-Hamid's home in Tunis. Jun 8, 1992 Atef Bseiso, the PLO's head of intelligence, is shot in Paris. It was reported he was killed because he helped to plan the Munich Massacre. Sep 30, 2014 Jeremy Corbyn attends a conference on the future of Palestine in Tunisia. It is also attended by Hamas. Oct 1, 2014 Mr Corbyn visits the Cemetery of the Martyrs of Palestine, on the outskirts of Tunis. In an article for the Morning Star about the visit, he writes: 'Wreaths were laid at the graves of those who died on that day (at Hammam Chott) and on the graves of others killed by Mossad agents in Paris in 1991.' May 28, 2017 The Sunday Times reports that Mr Corbyn had attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Bseiso's grave. Mr Corbyn denies this. Advertisement He wrote: 'After wreaths were laid at the graves of those who died on that day and on the graves of others killed by Mossad agents in Paris in 1991, we moved to the poignant statue in the main avenue of the coastal town of Ben Arous, which was festooned with Palestinian and Tunisian flags.' There appears to be no record of Mossad having carried out an assassination in Paris in 1991. However, Khalaf, Abdul-Hamid and al-Omari were assassinated that year. Mossad is accused of killing Bseiso in Paris in 1992. Controversy over Mr Corbyn's visit became an issue during last year's general election. He insisted he was not honouring Bseiso, adding: 'I was in Tunisia at a Palestinian conference and I spoke at that Palestinian conference and I laid a wreath to all those that had died in the air attack that took place on Tunis, on the headquarters of the Palestinian organisations there. 'And I was accompanied by very many other people who were at a conference searching for peace. The only way we achieve peace is by bringing people together and talking to them.' Atef Bsesio (left) was the head of intelligence for the Palestine Liberation Organisation before his assassination outside a Paris hotel in 1992. In the years after his death, it was widely reported that he was killed because he helped to plan the Munich Massacre in 1972. On the night of his death, Bseiso returned from a late dinner with two friends to his luxury hotel in the French capital where he had registered under an assumed name. Lying in wait were two assassins, who fired three bullets into his head on a dark street. Hayel Abdel-Hamid (right) was chief of security of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. He was a close adviser to Salah Khalaf, and the pair were killed in an attack in Abdel-Hamids home in Tunis in 1991 Salah Khalaf (left) is widely believed to have masterminded the Munich Massacre. He created the Black September terror group which carried out the 1972 attack. Khalaf, better known by the nom de guerre Abu Iyad, went on to become Yasser Arafats second-in-command in the PLO. In January 1991, he was gunned down in the Tunisian capital of Tunis. Fakhri Al-Omari (right) was a senior member of Black September and was also implicated in the Munich Massacre. He was a close adviser to Khalaf and was killed in the same attack in Tunis in 1991 However, the pictures obtained by the Mail and posted on the Facebook page of the Palestinian embassy in Tunisia directly place Mr Corbyn by the graves of Bseiso and the Black September leaders. He is seen standing under a distinctive red canopy with a corrugated steel roof. This canopy runs alongside the graves of the Munich-linked men. Mr Corbyn is clearly pictured holding a wreath and seemingly praying by the distinctive plaque that honours Khalaf, Abdel-Hamid and al-Omari. Their graves are apart from the 60 or so others in the cemetery and the plaque honouring the victims of the 1985 Israeli air strike. The Corbyn source maintained that the service attended by the Labour leader was 'a Palestinian commemoration for those killed in the bombing in Tunis', even when presented with the photographs showing him in a different area of the cemetery. The source insisted that the pictures did not contradict Mr Corbyn's statements. And the insider said the picture showing Mr Corbyn apparently joining in a prayer was simply of him 'copying the others out of respect'. However, Gideon Falter, of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: 'A responsible politician would not have gone anywhere near that ceremony, but Mr Corbyn is not a responsible politician. Given Mr Corbyn's history of defending, honouring and befriending anti-Semites, including genocidal anti-Semitic terrorists, this latest revelation adds to the deeply disturbing evidence that the leader of the opposition is a longstanding ally of those who wish us great harm.' Mr Corbyn's remark comparing the Israelis with Nazis came in video from an event in 2013. It is controversial because the globally-accepted definition of anti-Semitism says it is anti-Semitic to compare the actions of the Israeli government with those of the Nazis. Corbyn in fresh anti-Semitism storm as 2013 video emerges of him comparing the Israeli occupation of the West Bank to the Nazi takeover of Europe By Daniel Martin and Kate Ferguson for MailOnline Jeremy Corbyn was today accused of making a direct comparison between the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Nazi takeover of Europe. A video has surfaced of him making the appalling comment at an event in 2013, when he was still a backbencher. The statement appears to flout the globally-accepted definition of anti-Semitism which says it is anti-Semitic to compare the Israeli government with the Nazis. But Labour said Mr Corbyn was referring to all occupations in the Second World War, not just that of Adolf Hitlers regime. A video has surfaced of Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) making the appalling comment at an event in 2013, when he was still a backbencher The Labour leader is facing mounting pressure to come back from his summer holiday to get a grip on the scandal tearing his party apart. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said Mr Corbyn must stop being 'invisible' and 'come out of hiding' and get back to Westminster. While ex Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy took out a full page advert in a Jewish newspaper apologising for the scandal and laying the blame with the Labour leader. It comes a week after Mr Corbyn was forced to apologise after being exposed for appearing at an event in 2010 where other speakers compared Israel to the Nazis. What is the timeline of anti-Semitic scandals which have erupted under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership? Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) has been accused of failing to tackle the racism among his supporters The anti-Semitism scandal has dogged Labour since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader in 2015. Here is a timeline of the controversies: April 2016: Labour MP Naz Shah is suspended for anti-Semitic posts - including one in which she appeared to endorse calls for Israelis to be deported to the US. She apologised and was given a formal warning. Ken Livingstone goes on the radio to defend Ms Shah - but sparks fresh controversy by claiming that Hitler supported Zionism. He is suspended by Labour but refuses to apologise and has repeated the claim many times. He eventually quits Labour two years later, saying his suspension has become a distraction. June 2016: A two-month inquiry by civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti finds that Labour is not overrun by anti-Semitism. But the launch is overshadowed when Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth flees it in tears after being accused by Corbyn supporter Marc Wadsworth of colluding with the press. Critics accuse the report of being a whitewash and Ms Chakrabarti is widely criticised for accepting a peerage from Jeremy Corbyn shortly afterwards. October 2016: The Home Affairs Select Committee says Labour is guilty of incompetence over its handling of anti-Semitism and of creating a safe space for people with 'vile attitudes towards Jewish people'. March 2018: It is revealed that Jeremy Corbyn defended an artist who painted an anti-Semitic mural and said the offensive art should be removed. He apologises saying he did not properly look at the picture before he made the post. Jewish leaders take the unprecedented step of holding a demonstration outside Parliament protesting Mr Corbyn's failure to tackle anti-Semitism. Several Labour MPs address the crowds. April 2018: Marc Wadsworth is expelled from Labour after being accused of anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, Labour Jewish MPs tell of the anti-Semitic abuse they have suffered in a powerful parliamentary debate - and round on their leader for failing to tackle it. July 2018: The Labour leadership sparks fresh anger by failing to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism Peter Willsman, a strong ally of Jeremy Corbyn, is secretly taped ranting that 'Jewish Trump fanatics' invented the anti-Semitism storm engulfing Labour. In an angry diatribe at a meeting of Labour's ruling executive committee, he said he was 'amazed' there was evidence party members hated Jews. He claimed 'some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump they are Trump fanatics' before shouting: 'So I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up duff information without any evidence at all.' August 2018: Jeremy Corbyn issues a video insisting he is committed to tackling the racism - but it is panned by Jewish leaders. Corbynistas mount a social media campaign to get deputy Labour leader Tom Watson to quit after he criticises the party's handling of anti-Semitism. The Daily Mail exclusively publishes photos of Jeremy Corbyn holding a wreath at a ceremony where a terrorist linked to the Munich massacre was honoured. The Labour leader insists he was there to honour others killed - but faces fresh calls to quit over the scandal. Advertisement Labour Friends of Israel tore into Mr Corbyn over the remark, saying: The Labour party's once proud record on fighting racism and the protection of British Jews from anti-Semitism is being sacrificed to protect Jeremy Corbyn's reputation. The video was posted on the Twitter account of The Golem, who collates examples of anti-Semitism. Earlier this week the same account published a 2011 video of Mr Corbyn apparently questioning Israels very right to exist. In an interview with Iranian state TV, the then backbench MP said that the view that Israel had a right to exist was an example of bias at the BBC. This appears to contravene the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition which states it is anti-Semitic to deny the Jewish people their right to self-determination. The latest video shows Mr Corbyn making a speech at an event hosted by the Palestinian Return Centre. He said: The West Bank is under occupation of the very sort that is recognisable by many people in Europe who suffered occupation during the Second World War with the endless roadblocks, imprisonment, irrational behaviour by the military and the police. Last night Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel, said: Earlier this week, we discovered that Jeremy Corbyn engaged in wild conspiracy theories questioning Israel's right to exist. Today, it is revealed he drew comparisons between conditions in the West Bank and the Nazi occupation of Europe. It is increasingly clear that his opposition to adopting the IHRA definition in full appears to be overwhelmingly driven by his own appalling past statements. The Labour party's once proud record on fighting racism and the protection of British Jews from anti-Semitism is being sacrificed to protect Jeremy Corbyn's reputation. It is not the first time the Labour leader has been accused of having compared the actions of the Israeli government with the Nazi regime. In a rally in 2010 he said the siege of Gaza had lasted longer than those of Leningrad and Stalingrad. A Labour spokeswoman said: Jeremy was describing conditions of conditions of occupations in World War Two in Europe, of which there are multiple examples, not comparing the Israeli state to Nazis. It comes as Mr Murphy has today taken out a full page advert in a Jewish newspaper apologising for the anti-Semitism scandal. He said he took the dramatic step of paying for the slot in the Jewish Telegraph because he could not stand silent as his party 'turned its back' on Jews. The ex Cabinet minister launched a blistering attack on the Labour leader in the advert, accusing him of not doing 'nearly enough' to kick anti-Semites out of the party. The astonishing attack comes as Jewish leaders furiously demanded that Mr Corbyn 'come out of hiding' from his holiday by the seaside and tackle the crisis. In the advert, Mr Murphy branded Mr Corbyn and his allies 'intellectually arrogant, and emotionally inept' and said they have 'deliberately turned their back on British Jewry'. He added: 'Today there's a small, but growing minority of anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists amongst the membership of the Labour Party. 'Jeremy Corbyn is not doing nearly enough to throw out the anti-Semites found within grassroots and online Labour.' He laid the lame for the crisis squarely at the feet of the Labour leader and his supporters. Mr Murphy, who lost his seat in 2015, said: 'No party leader has the right to hatter the relationship between British labour and British Jewry. 'The Jewish community and everyone else who is offended by Labour's stance are being asked to accept quarter-baked platitudinous Labour apologies for the "upset that has been caused". 'Instead what's needed urgently is Labour action against the sickening anti-Jewish racism that is the actual cause of the offence in the first place.' Meanwhile, the Board of Deputies of British Jews president Marie van der Zyl warned the Labour leader 'you cannot lead through invisibility' and said that he must come back form holiday to get a grip on the crisis. Writing in Jewish News, she said: 'He is clearly just hoping it will go away. I've got some bad news for him - unless he does what he needs to do, it won't.' She added: 'I call on Jeremy Corbyn to come out of hiding and do the right thing.' Why is Labour's new code of conduct on anti-Semitism so controversial? The Labour anti-Semitism row erupted again after the party leadership refused to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition. The party's code explicitly endorses the IHRA definition, but it omits four examples from the IHRA list: - Accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country; - Claiming that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavour; - Requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations; and - Comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis. Labour insisted that while the examples are not reproduced word-for-word, they are covered in the new code. But critics say the decision allows anti-Semitism to continue to fester. Advertisement The Labour leader has been accused of purposely ignoring the racism which festers among some of his supporters. While Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge - who lost family members in the holocaust - says Mr Corbyn and his allies are using the row to try to purge the party of his moderate critics It emerged yesterday that Mr Corbyn has been given a month to back down over the anti-Semitism row or face losing the backing of his powerful allies in Momentum. The grassroots organisation helped install and keep Mr Corbyn in power. The Labour leader has rebuffed demands by Jewish leaders and many of his own MPs to fully adopt the international definition of anti-Semitism - a move they insist is crucial if the party is to finally get on top of the scandal. The party has adopted some of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition. But crucially it has not included several of the examples they use to illustrate it - including that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavor. Mr Corbyn has now been told by Momentum he must formally sign up to the definition at a crunch party meeting in early September, the Politico website reports. While the GMB trade union - one of the UK's biggest trade unions and a major force in Labour - has also come put to publicly demand the same. If he refuses they could pull support for him - triggering what could be the biggest crisis in his leadership since the failed coup against him in the summer of 2016. A British tourist narrowly avoided a head-on collision with a lorry after a trucker attempted to overtake a cyclist on a bend. Luke Wiffen, from Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, filmed the clip on his dashcam as he was driving along the N619 in Belgium. In the video, a blue truck can be seen driving on the wrong side of the road as it approaches a blind bend. In the clip, filmed on the N619 in Belgium, the blue lorry can be seen driving in the middle of the road as it overtakes a cyclist As the lorry realises he is about to hit another driver, he pulls in, causing the cyclist to fall into a grass verge Mr Wiffen's car and the lorry come within mere feet of colliding with each other as the impatient HGV driver pulls in to avoid a crash. He can then be heard breaking hard and honking his horn, before exclaiming: 'F****** t***.' According to Mr Wiffen, the dangerous manoeuvre forced the cyclist to fall into the grass verge and pushed him off his bike. He admitted that after the incident he was left 'shaking' and that the cyclist, who he then followed to check if he was okay, was also 'shaken up'. Luke posted the clip on Facebook with the caption: 'Near head on with truck that takes out cyclist. What a wonderful end to the day. In my mirrors I saw the cyclist on the grass. 'Did the Cool Solutions truck stop? Did he f***. The car and the lorry come within mere feet of colliding with each other in the shocking clip Luke Wiffen, who filmed the clip, can then be heard breaking hard and honking his horn, before exclaiming: 'F****** t***' 'Which brought back memories of when I was first on the scene to a horrific vehicle cycle smash a few years back. 'By the time I was out of the car, he was up and on his bike again. Thank goodness. 'I turned around and caught up with him to check he was ok. I was called a "true gentleman" - now there's a first.' The clip has been viewed more than 4,000 times since Mr Wiffen uploaded it last week. Mr Wiffen said: '[The cyclist] was a bit shaken up. I offered him the film but he refused it as he wasn't hurt. 'The truck didn't hit him because he crashed off into the grass to avoid being squished.' The first wife of a Muslim polygamist whose disabled son disappeared a year ago has spoken about her heartbreak after his body was found near her husband's 'terrorist training camp' in New Mexico. Hakima Ramzi said the last time she'd seen her little boy, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, three, was when her husband Siraj Ibn Wahhaj had offered to take him for a trip to the park in 2017. Ramzi had been working with detectives and search crews to find her son but was devastated when authorities found the skeletal remains of a child in her husband's training compound northeast of Amalia, New Mexico, where they discovered 11 starving children and five Muslim adults. Police are yet to release an official identification but the boy's grandfather, controversial imam Wahhaj Siraj, 68, has already confirmed the child was Abdul-Ghani. 'They took my life,' Ramzi said, breaking down in tears during a very emotional interview Thursday with Channel 2 Action News. Ordeal: Hakima Ramzi's attorney told DailyMail.com: 'Hakima told us, 'He told me he was taking Abdul-Ghani to the park for a little while.' She had no reason to think any different.' 'I wasn't able to save my son, to save his life.' Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 39, now faces 11 counts of child cruelty after investigators found his training camp. He is also accused, in court filings, of grooming the kids to become school shooters. Wahhaj's brother-in-law Lucas Allen Morton, sisters Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhannah Wahhaj and Jany Leveille, who were also based at the camp, face similar charges. Leveille is a second wife, taken by Wahhaj under an interpretation of Islam which allows polygamy. Ramzi recalled the last time she'd seen her son, on November 29, when her husband told her she was taking Abdul-Ghani to the park. But he never returned. 'I call him many times. I call and call and call him many times. He didn't pick up the phone. He didn't, every time. He didn't pick up the phone,' Ramzi said. 'I get scared. My heart just broke. I get worried. I don't know. I lost control of myself.' Child snatch: Siraj ibn Wahhaj (left) told his first, legal, wife Hakima Ramzi that he was taking Abdul-ghani to the park Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj's mother said she never saw her son (pictured) again after he left with her husband Kurt Nolte, New Mexico's chief medical investigator, said the delay in positive identification was due to the body's advanced state of decomposition. Attorney and family friend Shariyf Muhammad said Ramzi was struggling to come to terms with what her husband had done. 'She's having a very hard time right now,' they said. 'Hakima is a mother whose son has been missing for nine months and she has gone through every range of emotion from anger to sadness to despair to helplessness to fear, anxiety and a desire for revenge.' 'I think this has been mischaracterized as a custody battle because it's been reported that he 'took the child.' But they were married, they're still married although he chose to estrange himself by his actions. 'Hakima told us, 'He told me he was taking Abdul-Ghani to the park for a little while.' She had no reason to think any different.' This is one of the disorganized rooms in a trailer at the New Mexico compound where a Muslim extremist was found with 11 starving children, his wife, two sisters and his brother-in-law last Friday The family had started digging a tunnel into the desert ground at the site but it is not known what they planned to use it for As far as Ramzi was concerned, Muhammad explained, her 15-year-marriage to Ibn Wahhaj, 39, who took the child on December 1 last year, was 'uneventful.' Siraj Wahhaj's father has since said that his son practiced polygamy and was also married to Leveille. Looking back, Ramzi conceded her husband had been 'acting differently' in the run up to her husband's disappearance. 'He acted like different. Yeah, because I have been married to him for 15 years, almost 15 years. I never got any problem with him,' Ramzi said. Her attorney added: 'With hindsight, knowing the outcome, perhaps she might have read into things differently but there was nothing that set off red flags for her.' Ramzi filed a missing persons report with Clayton County police and in June, she said authorities told her of the compound in New Mexico. At first she was hopeful she'd be reunited with Abdul-Ghani. But she didn't see him in any of the surveillance pictures taken by the FBI. Then the grisly discovery of child remains was found near the training camp. 'I want justice. I want justice,' Ramzi said. Siraj Wahhaj's father, also named Siraj Wahhaj, said his son had cut himself off from the family. 'This is surprising, especially in the Muslim faith, because family ties are very important,' he said. 'They have cut ties not only with me, but with their brothers and sisters and mothers, the whole community.' The elder Wahhaj, a respected imam in New York, said he wanted to understand what investigators meant when they described the camp as extremist but said he would accept it if they could show him the facts. He is also convinced the boy's remains in the desert are his grandson's as he said another of his grandchildren had spoken about the boy being buried on the land. Wahhaj's AR-15 with rounds of ammunition next to it is pictured. Police did not recover it, they said, because they had to follow state law which prohibits gathering evidence unless it is in plain sight. They were also limited by their search warrant, they said The compound is in the desert in New Mexico. It was put together with trailers and the children had been there for months Also in court was Wahhaj's polygamous second wife, Jany Leveille, who is believed to be the mother of some of the children and was charged with 11 felony counts of child abuse It has since emerged that Ibn Wahhaj told Ramzi who is originally from Morocco that he was going to perform an 'exorcism' of the child whom he thought was 'possessed by evil.' Abdul-Ghani suffered from disabilities that meant he had seizures and needed medication and special care. Muhammad said that Abdul-Ghani whose fourth birthday fell on Monday 'wasn't your average child.' He said, 'He had health circumstances he was dealing with but to Hakima he was her 'miracle baby'. 'She had tried so long to conceive before she finally had him and so he was, at least in her eyes, the best thing ever. He was perfect. 'She didn't feel that he was in any way deprived of enjoying life. He was having a good life and she thought they were having a good life together.' Now, Muhammad said, she is 'trying to navigate the criminal justice system' with his help and that of fellow attorney M Khurran Baig of The Baig Firm in Norcross, Georgia. Authorities entered the camp established by Ibn Wahhaj, his brother-in-law Lucas Morton, 40, sisters Hujrah, 38, and Subhanah Wahhaj, 35, and Jany Leveille, 35, - also described as Ibn Wahhaj's wife - on Friday. A dusty dolls house sits discarded on the compound. It is one of the few signs that children lived there Photographs taken on the compound on Tuesday show what looks like a make-shift target practice range Opened cans of tuna and cranberries sit next to a dusty boot in the compound. There was no other food on the site and the children had not eaten for days when they were discovered Sisters Subhanah Wahhaj, 35, (left) and Hujrah Wahhaj, 38, (right) were arrested on Sunday. They are Siraj's sisters The FBI had been monitoring it for some time but Taos County officers moved in after they intercepted a message from one inside the camp asking for help and saying 'we are starving.' Muhammad said that Ramzi has been 'shocked' by Taos County New Mexico prosecutors' assertions that her husband had been training the children - ages between 1 and 15 - to commit mass school shootings. Neighboring landowners have told of hearing gunshots coming from the compound and investigators found evidence of target practice. Ibn Wahhaj was heavily armed with an AR-15, 30 rounds of ammunition and four pistols, one of which he was carrying when he was arrested. Loaded firearms were within easy reach of the children. Muhammad said, 'There was nothing in her relationship with Mr. Ibn Wahhaj that led Hakima to think he was planning anything of that nature. She was shocked by the reports as you can imagine.' Ramzi is now anticipating being questioned by investigators in both Clayton County, Georgia where she first reported her son missing and Taos County, New Mexico where Ibn Wahhaj and the other adults in the camp are awaiting trial on charges including multiple counts of child abuse. He said, 'We are just waiting for investigators to approach her. They haven't as yet but she expects to be contacted as they continue their investigations. 'Right now her focus is just trying to get through this next stage, the identification of the remains found in the camp. 'She's having to come to terms with the prospect of what we all suspect will be confirmation of our worst fears.' When Lindsey Goldrick Dean decided to dip her toe in the dating game she had fairly modest expectations. Then aged 34, she was hoping less for Mr Right than Mr Right-For-Now. 'I just wanted to meet someone like-minded,' she recalls. And at first it seemed she had done just that: when a businessman called Paul Curran responded to the advert she had placed on an online dating site in October 2004, he seemed every inch the articulate, cultured partner she had hoped for. As the weeks unfolded the couple embarked on a lively email correspondence revolving around travel, music and family. Lindsey Goldrick Dean, 48, has been awarded damages in a landmark high court case against her stalker of 14-years, Paul Curran, now 51 When they met, however, the chemistry simply wasn't there for Lindsey. After less than a handful of dates she gently called an end to the fledgling romance. That, she thought, would be that. Little could she have known that it was instead to be the start of a horrific 14-year nightmare which finally ended in the High Court last month. For in the months and years that followed, Curran, 51, ran an extensive campaign of online harassment and intimidation that would leave Lindsey, now 48, an isolated wreck in fear of her life. In what is believed to be one of the longest-running cases of internet trolling in the UK, Curran set up dozens of websites in Lindsey's name, filling them with crude sexual content and abusive language before sending emails and letters to her friends and family, directing them to view them. He set up fake social media accounts in her name and even bought Google advertising so anyone searching for her name would find his sites. An arrest and caution from the police did nothing to stop him. Indeed with Curran, who runs a technical consultancy firm, spending most of his time abroad, it seemed the authorities were powerless to do anything. Only when an exhausted and embattled Lindsey was given free legal representation two years ago was she finally able to take her tormentor to the civil court. After less than a handful of dates she gently called an end to the fledgling romance In the months and years that followed, Curran ran an extensive campaign of online harassment and intimidation Last month, in a landmark case, her suit for harassment and misuse of private information reached the High Court, where she was awarded damages. The sum she prefers not to say how much is substantially less than the 57,000 payment offered to her by Curran, which she refused, in the preceding months on the proviso that she kept his name out of the public domain. 'I was willing to risk bankruptcy to be out of his control,' she says. 'He could have offered me a million pounds and I would still have said no. It was the principle. 'I refused to be silenced as otherwise all those years of fear would be in vain. It was never about money for me but about exposing the way he dismantled my life. The woman Curran met all those years ago was so vibrant and full of ambition but for years he left me anxious, watchful and fearful. 'He hijacked my privacy, my energy and my confidence and the lengths he went to do so were simply extraordinary. There were times when I thought I would never be free of him. I felt helpless.' Indeed, the legacy of Curran's obsession still lingers. Although Lindsey, a warm and charismatic woman, is now happily married to aircraft engineer Steven, 45, with whom she has a nine-year-old son, her emotions are never far from the surface. Their homely cottage near Yeovil, Somerset, with reinforced locks on the doors, is testament to her troubled past. Lindsey, pictured around 2004, the same year Curran started his persistent trolling 'I honestly didn't know how it would end,' she says quietly. 'I felt like whatever he was doing wouldn't be enough. It didn't feel too much of an exaggeration to think that he might try to kill me.' Born in Stockport and youngest of three, Lindsey's close-knit family moved to Yeovil when she was 17. From there she moved to America, working first as an au pair, then for a film production company. The death of her father brought her back to the UK in 2003 aged 33. 'I am very close to Mum and I couldn't bear the thought of her being on her own,' she recalls. It was in the wake of her return that, together with a friend, she decided to place an advert on a national newspaper dating website in the summer of 2004. Paul Curran was one of those who got in touch and initially seemed an attractive proposition. 'He worked in Saudi Arabia as a technical writer but he seemed fun and I enjoyed our emails,' she said. 'It was nice to correspond with someone who seemed fun and thoughtful.' Their first meeting, over drinks and dinner in Oxford when Curran was home for a few weeks, was less auspicious. 'He was tall and thin and I wasn't really attracted to him but I reminded myself that we'd had a real rapport up to now,' she recalls. 'I wanted to give things a chance although looking back there were warning bells. He was socially awkward and he didn't seem to have many friends.' Three more meetings followed lunch with Curran's parents at their home in Sussex, and another dinner date before an attempted mini-break in the New Forest for Valentine's weekend in 2005. It was a disaster. Lindsey said 'he hijacked my privacy, my energy and my confidence and the lengths he went to do so were simply extraordinary. There were times when I thought I would never be free of him.' 'He was mumbling, I had a sinus infection and couldn't hear him, but when I told him so he lost his temper and got quite nasty,' Lindsey recalls. 'Suddenly I couldn't wait to get out of there. I told him I was sorry, it wasn't working and I left.' Days later, she received an aggressive email accusing her of heartlessness for failing to buy him a Valentine's card. 'I sent a polite email back saying we had run our course and he needed to move on.' Another email followed, requesting the return of a piece of lingerie he had sent Lindsey a 'creepy babydoll nightdress' she had refused to wear followed by a package sent to her mother's house containing ashes, a burnt CD and a note which again requested the return of the nightdress. 'Nothing would have happened if you had sent me a Valentine's card,' the note added. 'Send the lingerie back or I will come to your mother's house and we know you won't like that.' 'It was very threatening and I was starting to feel frightened,' says Lindsey. 'He seemed unhinged but I told myself this was just a blip and he would quickly get bored.' In fact it was only the start. Phone calls followed, at all times of day and night, sometimes five or six at a time. 'If he had blocked his number so it didn't flash up on my mobile and I picked up he would be screaming down the phone. My nerves were shredded,' she says. In despair Lindsey even called Curran's doctor father and begged him to intervene. 'I told him his son was scaring me but he said very little in return.' It made no difference. Shortly afterwards, Curran rang her so incessantly during the course of one day that a fraught Lindsey contacted Avon and Somerset police. 'They didn't seem to know what to do,' she says. 'They suggested I change my number but said they would refer it to Sussex police as that was where he lived with his parents when he was in the UK.' No further action was taken, with Lindsey clinging instead to the hope that Curran would tire of his campaign. Instead, he stepped it up: in September, family and friends received emails urging them to view a website set up in Lindsey's name. 'Most of them thought I had set up a business so they were all excited for me,' she says wryly. Instead, the 53-page site was filled with photographs of Lindsey and heavily embellished versions of their email exchanges loaded with crude and explicit sexual content. 'When I discovered what he was doing it made me feel sick to the stomach. In one part he had written in massive letters 'even your mum knows how nasty you are'. We are so close that that upset me more than anything.' Chillingly, Curran had also posted pictures of tissues Lindsey had used to blot lipstick and strands of hair from her hairbrush. Lindsey's ordeal started with an aggressive email accusing her of heartlessness for failing to buy Curran a Valentine's card 'He could only have obtained them during the brief time we were together. It was as if he had been planning ahead,' she recalls. The site would prove to be the first of many. Over the coming years Curran bought up endless domain names in almost every permutation of Lindsey's name, loading them with crude and vicious content. He also used web-building skills to ensure the sites were prominent when her name was searched for online. Horrified, Lindsey turned to Sussex police who cautioned Curran for harassment. 'It obviously had no effect whatsoever as I now know that immediately afterwards he set up three more websites,' she says. He also returned to Saudi Arabia, taking himself out of UK jurisdiction. 'The police tried their best but I had mixed messages. Avon and Somerset police said there was nothing they could do unless he physically harmed me, while Sussex police said they would arrest him for harassment if he returned to the country but they weren't able to keep tabs on him.' Internet companies were also of limited use. 'I contacted Google, asking for the sites to be taken down and they would, but then the sites would appear again,' Lindsey says. There was one bright note. By the end of 2005, Lindsey had found love the old-fashioned way, introduced to Steven by a mutual friend. 'I was very cautious as this was unfolding against a backdrop of Curran's harassment but Steven was so gentle and understanding,' she recalls. The couple married in 2007 and their son was born two years later. 'In many ways my son was my saviour. I had to be strong for him. But it was hard and for Steven too, who desperately wanted to protect me but felt helpless.' Mrs Dean (pictured outside the High Court) will receive damages for years of enormous anxiety, mental distress and embarrassment With Steven's work taking him abroad for days at a time, Lindsey felt vulnerable. 'I'd put my son to bed then spend the evening looking at the internet to see what he had done this time. 'Then I would go to bed and lie awake with my heart pounding at any little noise. I felt tormented by him.' Curran did not stop: over ensuing years he set up at least 15 separate websites although Lindsey believes there were many more and bought Google advertising so anyone searching for her name would be sent to them. 'The biggest irony of all was that I had always been so private. I never had a Facebook account and I never shared any information online yet he was able to find out what I was up to and was updating the websites accordingly so that if you typed my married name into a search engine his sites would come up,' she says. 'At one point if you typed my name into a search engine there were three pages full of false content created by him.' By 2016 and with no meaningful help on hand from the police or the criminal justice system, Lindsey was in the depths of despair. 'One day after trawling the internet for help I found a lawyer called Yair Cohen who specialised in internet issues. 'He told me we could bring a civil case but the costs were prohibitive. He suggested I get in touch with the Pro Bono Unit, a charity that takes on some cases on a pro bono basis although I didn't hold out much hope.' For once luck was on her side: by October she was contacted by barrister Gabor Bognar who said he was prepared to act for her on a Pro Bono basis alongside Yair Cohen. 'I remember sitting down and weeping after I had taken the call,' Lindsey recalls. 'Suddenly I had an amazing legal team. I felt I had some hope.' In December 2016 her lawyers filed a civil suit against Curran for Harassment, Tort of Misuse of Private Information and Breach of Confidence. His response was an email in which he replied simply: 'I deny all of this.' Lindsey also knows that around the same time he re-registered some of her domain names until 2020. 'He thought he was invincible,' she says. Curran set up at least 15 separate websites although Lindsey believes there were many more and bought Google advertising so anyone searching for her name would be sent to them The legal wheels continued to turn throughout 2017, towards the end of which Curran's solicitors made an offer to Lindsey: he would pay her 57,000 compensation but in return she or anyone who knew her could not discuss the case or he himself could bring legal action against her. 'It was a huge amount of money but no amount would be enough to buy my silence. The thought of still being under his control in some way made me feel sick,' she says. 'I also wanted to set a precedent in law to help others.' Declining the offer came with huge risk however if any damages subsequently awarded were less than his offer it meant Lindsey could be liable for his costs from the point at which he made it. 'It was a risk I felt I had to take to get justice and Steven agreed,' she says. In the event, her lawyers negotiated a counter-settlement from Curran in which he paid Lindsey a lesser five-figure sum in compensation but which left her free to expose his actions. He declined her request to issue a public apology. The settlement was announced before a High Court judge, together with a witness statement from Curran who has now excised all traces of himself from the internet but who is understood to be married and living in Germany in which he said he was 'ashamed of my past behaviour.' It's a meaningless sentiment as far as Lindsey is concerned. 'He has taken so much from me and I can never really forgive him for that. He stole a quarter of my life, but I wanted to show he hadn't broken me,' she says. 'For the first time in a long time I feel free and full of excitement about the future.' Tory grandees yesterday demanded that the party halt disciplinary proceedings against Boris Johnson over his burka comments, amid claims he could be sent for diversity training. Supporters of the former foreign secretary have rushed to his defence, with Jacob Rees-Mogg saying the fallout is making the Conservative Party look foolish and claiming there is nothing to investigate. Lord Tebbit, a former Tory chairman, accused party chiefs of inflaming the row and allowing Jeremy Corbyn to escape scrutiny over allegations of anti-Semitism. His intervention came as allies of the former foreign secretary expressed fresh concerns last night about how the matter has been handled so far by party chairman Brandon Lewis. Jacob Rees-Mogg (right) has come to the defence of Boris Johnson (left) and said the Conservative Party is being made to look foolish by the fallout Boris Johnson has refused calls to apologise despite Theresa May (pictured) saying that his remarks caused offence The former foreign secretary compared burkas to letterboxes and has refused to apologise for his remarks They accused Mr Lewis of discussing the case with Tory MPs, which they said breaches a requirement for complaints to be handled confidentially. The Tory party launched an investigation into Mr Johnson on Thursday after it received a number of complaints about a newspaper article in which he compared Muslim women who wear the burka to letter boxes and bank robbers. There are suggestions he could be sent for diversity training as punishment. Lord Tebbitt said last night: 'It is completely absurd. If they investigate him, they will find that he said nothing racist. 'He defended the right of women to wear a burka should they wish to do so, but said that they look like a letter box. 'I suggest the party should not be assisting Corbyn to escape the charge of anti-Semitism which hangs over him.' A group of demonstrators outside the Hillingdon Conservative Association office on Thursday Leading Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg said 'there is nothing to investigate' and that the affair was 'making the Conservative Party look foolish'. Mr Rees-Mogg suggested the attacks on Mr Johnson's comment were a reflection of 'envy' felt towards him because of 'his many successes, popularity with voters and charisma'. The howls of outrage directed at the former figurehead of the Leave campaign were 'suspect' and the motivations of those attacking him 'dubious', said the North East Somerset MP. 'Could it be that there is a nervousness that a once and probably future leadership contender is becoming too popular and needs to be stopped?' asked Mr Rees-Mogg. 'This may explain the attempt to use the Conservative Party's disciplinary procedures, but it has been handled so ham-fistedly that it brings only sympathy and support for Mr Johnson.' What is the Tory disciplinary panel and what punishments could it give Boris? The Tory party launched its new stricter code of conduct in 2017 in the wake of the Westminster sex pest scandal. Under the rules, any member who is accused of flouting the code of conduct could face a grilling by a disciplinary panel. Here is the process which faces Boris Johnson: A panel consisting of no fewer than three people, is appointed by the Party Chairman Brandon Lewis. The panel will include a Tory activist, an independent person and someone nominated by the chairman of the 1922 committee - the powerful body of backbench Conservatives. This panel will investigate the complaint and give their findings to Mr Lewis. If they find Mr Johnson has broken party rules then they will refer him to Theresa May and the Board of the Tory party, who decide what punishment to mete out. They can order a range of punishments - including kicking him out of the party. How does the party decide what punishment to give out? It is up to the PM and the board of the Conservative Party to decide what punishment to give out. The code of conduct states they have discretion to 'take such action as they see fit. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, suspension of membership or expulsion from the Party.' But it suggests that only the most serious cases will be result in the member being kicked out of the party. The code states: 'Any removal of rights of membership will only be made after due considerations of natural justice.' Advertisement And he added: 'When Margaret Thatcher was leader, she and Michael Heseltine were hardly soulmates, but she would not have allowed personal rivalry to take the heat off the Labour Party, whose own deep internal divisions are buried in other news now, nor would she have countenanced any attempt to have a show trial. 'Attacking Boris merely helps the Opposition. It is time for good sense to assert itself, free speech to be encouraged and, as the summer rain falls, for hot-headed action to be cooled down.' Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said the party should end its investigation, noting that Mr Johnson made the remarks while setting out why he was opposed to a ban on the burka. Mr Duncan Smith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I don't agree that there was anything particularly wrong with what he said. You may not agree with the tone or jokes, but we have a thing called freedom of speech in this country.' He added: 'I don't think an internal party system should be there to shut down MPs when they speak. You don't always have to agree with what people say, but we do defend the right of people saying it.' Former party vice-chairman and Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said: 'What is happening to Boris Johnson is a direct attack on our freedom of speech. I fear an eruption of anger amongst our party's core voters and grass-roots activists if this obsessive political correctness doesn't stop.' Former Tory minister James Duddridge added: 'The Conservative Party has lost the plot if it thinks launching an investigation into Boris's comments is helpful. 'Some people just need to take a cold shower, calm down and have a holiday.' Supporters of Mr Johnson last night condemned Mr Lewis after Tory MPs wrote in a WhatsApp group that he had held discussions with them about the case. A former Cabinet minister said: 'The party's code is a legal process that must be conducted fairly and confidentially in accordance with natural justice. 'With his briefing, leaking and off-the-record chats with other MPs, Brandon Lewis has made a mockery of the whole system. His reckless behaviour means the process cannot now be independent or fair. 'This attack on Boris must be abandoned before more harm is done to our party by the party chairman, and Lewis needs to consider his own position given his disastrous role in this fiasco.' Ken Livingstone calls for Boris Johnson to be kicked out of Tories Ken Livingstone has called for Boris Johnson to be expelled from the Conservative Party over the burka row. The former London mayor, who quit the Labour Party in May after being suspended for alleged anti-Semitism, said the former foreign secretary was 'pandering' to bigotry. Two years ago Mr Livingstone sparked outrage when he said Adolf Hitler supported Zionism 'before he went mad'. He was also heavily criticised in 2005 after accusing a Jewish reporter of behaving 'like a concentration camp guard'. Mr Johnson beat Mr Livingstone in both the 2008 and 2012 London mayoral elections. In an interview with radio station LBC, Mr Livingstone said: 'We've had a real increase in Islamophobic incidents very often a woman wearing a burka gets it ripped off their face. 'Boris is pandering to that fear of Islam and bigotry. 'We all know Boris one day is going to try and become the next leader of the Tory Party and if he's going to be trying to mobilise bigots in the Tory Party behind him, that's totally wrong. Again and again, he will say things that are completely wrong. He isn't really a politician, he just wants to be a famous celebrity. 'Frankly I think the Tory Party should dump him.' Advertisement Commons leader Andrea Leadsom yesterday praised one of Mr Johnson's former deputy London mayors after she branded his critics as 'disingenuous'. In a WhatsApp group for Tory MPs, Mrs Leadsom joined in praise for an article in which Munira Mirza wrote: 'Mockery of religious practices is not everyone's choice of tactic, but to act like it is beyond the pale is disingenuous and hypocritical.' Mrs Leadsom wrote: 'Agree on the Munira article she's a smart lady.' However ,Tory MP Nadine Dorries wrote in the WhatsApp group: 'The party has f**ked up big time and one of the worst f**k ups has been the Prime Minister appearing on national TV calling for Boris to apologise. That went down really, really badly.' Mr Johnson, who is thought to be on holiday in Italy, has not commented since his column was published on Monday. A source close to Mr Lewis last night rejected the accusation he had breached confidentiality rules, saying: 'He has not discussed the investigation with anybody. He explained the code of conduct process to two MPs.' A Nicaraguan man riding his motorcycle with his daughter was abruptly arrested, handcuffed to the back of the police pickup truck and dragged through the streets Thursday. Oswaldo Isabel Canizales was running errands around town when about 10 agents with Nicaragua's National Police force in Jinotepe stopped him in broad daylight. Canizales claimed the officers were looking into taking him to the local precinct for questioning, but he resisted hopping aboard the truck's flat bed. Instead, they dragged him along the street, his body hanging from the right side of the vehicle, and his feet scrapping the pavement for about three blocks. It was all captured on video recorded by his unnamed frightened daughter, 27, who screamed: 'Look how my father is being dragged. Just look how he's being dragged.' Oswaldo Isabel Canizales (pictured bottom) refused to sit on the flat bed of a police pickup truck after he was arrested Nicaragua has been embroiled in a socio-economical crisis since April due to cuts to the country's social security system imposed by President Daniel Ortega. More than 2,000 people have arrested in nearly four months of unrest and official crackdown. At least 400 people are believed to still be held in jails, prisons and police stations across the country and some consider them to be political prisoners, according to the non-governmental Nicaraguan Human Rights Center. It's also been normal for police agents and paramilitary members to raid homes and proceed with arbitrary arrests, as was the case with Canizales' two sons. Canizales, who suffered bruising during the incident, was freed. He told various news outlets in the troubled Central American country that son Vidal Jose, 26, had been in police custody since the end of July, accused by authorities of being involved in organized criminal activities. Oswaldo Isabel Canizales shows the injuries he suffered to one of his arms when his body dangled from the side while his hands were handcuffed on a police pickup truck They also claimed that Oswaldo's son had participated in aggravated assault, public disturbance, torture and kidnapping of three Sandinistas military officers and workers from the mayor's office. Canizales also added that his son Jeison Antonio, 22, has been missing over a month after paramilitary forces raided the town. Canizales believes Jeison Antonio was detained by officers. 'I don't support this anymore. I don't even know which human rights institution to go to and ask for protection,' he said. Canizales does think the police officers wanted to give him a hard time for constantly visiting the police command station to get updates on their conditions. Trump's big-league tan is all-natural. That's the message the president's inner circle is sending after former aide Omarosa Manigault-Newman claimed he had a tanning bed installed in the White House residence. In her spicy tell-all book slated for release on Tuesday, the onetime 'Apprentice' contestant wrote that not only does the cosmetic contraption occupy space at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but Trump caused a stink when he demanded one. The Washington Post reported Friday that Omarosa wrote about how Trump fought over a tanning appliance with Angella Reid, then the White House's 'chief usher' a title held by the chief of the household staff. Reid was dismissed in early May 2017, narrowing the timeframe in which the story could have unfolded. But a former White House official employed in the West Wing during those months told DailyMail.com on Friday that 'it never happened.' 'Are you kidding me?' asked the aide. 'If that were true, he would have tweeted about it by now and challenged Putin to get one.' The source, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, called the outspoken former colleague 'Ponderosa,' a derisive combination of her name and the word 'ponderous.' Separately, a current senior White House official told a 'New York' magazine reporter that 'there is no tanning bed in there,' and there has 'never been any request' for one. Omarosa Manigault-Newman's new book is full of broadsides against Donald Trump, including some that the White House and others are calling flatly untrue Disputing Omarosa's claim that the president fought with the chief of the White House's household staff over installing a tanning bed in the presidential residence, a former coworker said 'it never happened' The former West Wing official called the Trump nemesis 'Ponderosa,' a combination of her name and the word 'ponderous' Pushing back against Omarosa's book, 'Unhinged,' quickly became a Washington, D.C. parlor game on Friday. Omarosa is the latest former Trump aide to land a book deal, and it's become a parlor game to shoot down its claims In some cases the author hasn't helped her cause. She writes that three people had told her they were aware of the existence of a recording an outtake from 'The Apprentice' in which Trump was caught on a hot mic using the 'n-word.' But Friday afternoon she told NPR that she herself heard the racial slur, and challenged a reporter to read her words more closely. 'I heard the tape,' she said in the radio interview. But the book describes her hearing about it on the phone from a person she doesn't name: 'On this phone conversation, I was told exactly what Donald Trump said - yes, the N-word and others in a classic Trump-goes-nuclear rant - and when he'd said them.' Omarosa claims in her new book that tapes exist somewhere of Donald Trump using the 'n-word,' but wrote that she's never heard them personally; that changed Friday when she claimed on NPR that she listened to the audio herself Pollster Frank Luntz clobbered Omarosa for printing, without contacting him, an anonymous source's claim that he had once heard Donald Trump use the 'n-word' Kellyanne Conway's half-Filipino husband George dismissed as 'not credible' and 'absurd' an Omarosa story about Trump referring to him with racial slurs 'For over a year I'd been so afraid of hearing the specifics from someone who'd been in the room,' Omarosa writes. 'Hearing the truth freed me from that fear. And only now that it's gone, do I realize just how heavy it's been.' Instead of telling the truth about all the good President Trump and his administration are doing to make America safe and prosperous, this book is riddled with lies and false accusations. Its sad that a disgruntled former White House employee is trying to profit off these false attacks, and even worse that the media would now give her a platform, after not taking her seriously when she had only positive things to say about the President during her time in the administration. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders Noted pollster Frank Luntz on debunked a different passage in 'Unhinged' where Omarosa claims she was told he had personally heard the rumored Trump 'n-word' audio. 'Im in @Omarosas book on page 149. She claims to have heard from someone who heard from me that I heard Trump use the N-word,' Luntz wrote. 'Not only is this flat-out false (Ive never heard such a thing), but Omarosa didnt even make an effort to call or email me to verify. Very shoddy work.' Luntz continued: 'It seems like certain book publishers these days care more about getting a release out than getting the facts down. This is why people dont trust these exposes, which is especially bad for authors who actually are good and reliable.' Omarosa, who launched her famous-for-being-famous career on the strength of her pugnacious persona on 'The Apprentice,' became an outspoken Trump critic only after she left her spokeswoman job at the White House's Office of Public Liaison. She landed a seven-figure book deal this year. Elsewhere in the 368-page memoir, she claims she personally heard the president use two different racist epithets to describe senior aide Kellyanne Conway's husband George, who is half-Filipino. New York magazine journalist Olivia Nuzzi tweeted Friday that a current senior official in the White House told her 'there is no tanning bed' in the presidential residence, and that there has 'never been any request' for one Omarosa claims Lara Trump, the wife of Eric Trump, offered her a $15,000 per month campaign job after she left the White House, a position that she says came with an onerous nondisclosure agreement Omarosa made more pedestrian recordings of Trump on her own while she worked in the West Wing, but insists the white-whale tape of him using the n-word is out there somewhere 'Would you look at this George Conway article?' she quotes Trump as saying, according to The Guardian. 'F***ing FLIP! Disloyal! F***ing Goo-goo.' Mr. Conway dismissed the story as 'absurd.' 'The allegation is not credible, and indeed is ridiculous, particularly in light of the timing of her departure from the White HouseDecember 12, 2017. Its absurd all around,' he wrote Friday morning. It wasn't until months later that he emerged as a steadfast and reliable Trump critic on Twitter despite his wife's loyalty and devotion to the president. Among the other odd claims in 'Unhinged' is Omarosa's insistence that presidential daughter-in-law Lara Trump offered her a $15,000-per-month campaign job when she left the White House, which carried a parallel agreement not to talk publicly about Trump. Omarosa describes that as a bid to silence her, but presidential campaign jobs typically come with such strings attached. And she says she once saw the president chewing up a piece of paper after a meeting with lawyer Michael Cohen. Mr Volkausks (pictured) was tied up, gagged, urinated on and murdered in Lincolnshire Five killers tied a nab up, urinated on him and posed for pictures during his final hours of life. Alberts Volkausks from Boston, Lincolnshire, died aged 44 of injuries inflicted in a 'deplorable' attack. Today the gang responsible for his death were jailed at Nottingham Crown Court after they gagged their victim and beat him 'within an inch of his life'. One of the men placed his foot on his victim's broken chest while another of the group took a picture on a mobile phone. Following the brutal assault on September 24, police found Mr Volkausks at an address in Boston with serious injuries. He died in hospital. Three of his attackers were convicted of murder, with two being found guilty of manslaughter after they posed for pictures like their victim was a trophy. David Herbert QC had previously told the trial: 'Alberts Volkausks was lured to the address where he was essentially beaten to within an inch of his life in a sustained group attack. 'He was tied up, he was gagged, he was urinated on and essentially left for dead while some of the defendants spoke of how they would dispose of his body.' Mindaugas Cerneckas (left) and Donatos Dektiariovas (right) were jailed for life for the murder of Mr Volkausks Nottingham Crown Court (pictured) was told of the 'simply deplorable' attack that killed the 44-year-old in Boston 'One posed with a foot on their battered victim's broken chest, as if he were a trophy, while the other took a photograph with his smartphone.' Lincolnshire Police said in a statement: 'He was subject to a prolonged assault, during which the guilty men adopted a pack mentality. Although he initially survived, he died within 24 hours of the ordeal.' Mindaugas Cerneckas, 30, Donatos Dektiariovas, 37, and Andrius Barauskas, 39, all from Boston, were jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty of murder. Pavel Grunt-Meyer, 30, of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment after being found guilty of manslaughter. Tawtvydas Vainolavicius, 20, of Boston, was sentenced to 12 years after also being found guilty of manslaughter. Andrius Barauskas (left) was jailed for murder and Tawtvydas Vainolavicius (centre) was given 12 years for manslaughter as was Pavel Grunt-Meyer (right) Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Karl Whiffen said the crimes of the five men were 'simply deplorable'. 'What has become clear throughout this trial is that these men are dangerous and displayed a level of violence that thankfully is incredibly rare,' he said. First his Hollywood star, now his New Hampshire granite. New Hampshire State Police say someone smashed a granite block inscribed with President Donald Trump's name early Friday. The block had been part of a display along the sidewalk outside the State Library that showcases winners of the New Hampshire presidential primary. The block (pictured) had been part of a display along the sidewalk outside the State Library that showcases winners of the New Hampshire presidential primary Police were called to the library at 7:45am soon after the vandalized stone was discovered 'It's a historical marker identifying all of the winners, Democratic and Republican, who have won the New Hampshire Primary since 1952,' State librarian Michael York told local broadcaster NH1. 'There is a stone for each of the winners,' he said. Police were called to the library at 7:45am soon after the vandalized stone was discovered, according WGME. The damage is believed to have occurred between 4:30am and 6:30am Friday. Trump's block had been the last one in the line, marking his 2016 win in the GOP primary, and placed along a sidewalk adjacent to Park Street in Concord. Trump's block had been the last one in the line, marking his 2016 win in the GOP primary, and placed along a sidewalk adjacent to Park Street in Concord Police say the block was smashed and scattered on the grass and street. An investigation has been opened into the incident and police are currently searching for suspects. This isn't the first time the library has experienced instances of vandalism on its property. Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Richard Nixon had their stones stolen several years ago, York said. Earlier this week, the West Hollywood City Council approved a resolution seeking the star's removal, citing the president's disturbing treatment of women. Put forth by West Hollywood Mayor pro tempore John D'Amico and Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath, the motion, passed on Monday night, seeks the removal of the landmark 'due to [Trump's] disturbing treatment of women and other actions. However, the vote is not legally binding as the council has no control over the Walk of Fame. The council will instead send a formal letter to the overseeing bodies, Los Angeles city council and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, asking them to consider it. They are unlikely to approve it's removal as no star has ever been removed before. 'Once a star has been added to the walk, it is considered a part of the historic fabric of the Hollywood Walk of Fame,' Leron Gubler, then president and chief executive of the chamber, told the LA Times in 2015 over efforts to remove Bill Cosby's star. Last month, a man used a pickax to destroy Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem John D'Amico (L) and Councilmember Lindsey Horvath (R) put forward the resolution which was approved on Monday. The decision falls for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce who have never previously removed a star 'Because of this, we have never removed a star from the walk.' Last month, a man used a pickax to destroy Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. According to authorities, Austin Mikel Clay destroyed Trump's star with a pickax and later turned himself into police. He was charged with one felony count of vandalism on Monday in Los Angeles. Clay could face up to three years in jail if convicted. The star was previously vandalized by James Otis with a sledgehammer and pickax days before the November 2016 election. Otis pleaded no contest to the felony. He was sentenced to community labor and ordered to pay $4,400 for the damage. The Walk of Fame features more than 2,500 terrazzo-and-brass stars dedicated to the celebrities and industry figures from movies, television and radio. Trump received his star in 2007 at a ceremony he attended alongside wife Melania and his youngest son Barron. Not him, it's the Republican President and his administration that are racist as hell. Why isn't he railing about Melania's parents being chain migration?I guess from his point of view, it only is if they're brown. Nearly two-thirds of American workers age 45 and older say they have been exposed to age discrimination at work, according to a new national survey. A full 61 percent reported experiencing or witnessing such bias and 59 percent felt strongly that lawmakers should strengthen U.S. age discrimination laws, according to the AARP survey of 3,900 older Americans who are either employed or looking for work. About a quarter of respondents said that discrimination manifested itself through negative remarks about a person's age or supervisor, and 16 percent reported being passed over for a job because of their age. 'They're feeling very undervalued,' said Susan Weinstock, a vice president for AARP, in an interview with DailyMail.com. 'What we hear from folks is, "I've put in a lifetime of work, I have lots of valuable experience and resources, but I am not being hired because of my age."' A majority of older American workers say that age discrimination is somewhat or very common Just 3 percent of those surveyed have formally complained about age discrimination which officials said could indicate that the problem is more widespread than previously believed. Despite the frequency of this kind of behavior, more Americans are working later in life or even returning to work after formally retiring. By 2022, nearly 35 percent of the nation's workforce will be age 50 or older, the report said. 'The very notion of retirement is changing,' said Kathleen Christensen, director of the Sloan Foundation's Working Longer program. 'Now there are all sorts of variations. Some older workers may be doing it for survival income, while others are working to pay for travel and vacations.' While many (42 percent) older Americans continue working into their golden years for financial reasons they still want to get a sense of satisfaction and respect from their careers, the survey found. Staying mentally active was a factor for 91 percent of older workers who decided to stay in their jobs. 'Older workers are a great value to employers,' Weinstock said. 'Employers are looking for people with soft skills, like being good with teamwork or collaboration or being able to write well. These are skills older workers have developed through their years of experience.' Other reasons they sought to continue working include: needing to support family members (12 percent); need to save for retirement (10 percent) and having extra money to buy things they want (87 percent). Not getting hired because of your age was the most common form of age discrimination in the workplace reported by older Americans And 27 percent of older worker said they never expect to be able to fully leave the workforce. Older Americans also tend to stay in one job for a long time, with more than a third saying they've been with the same company for more than 15 years. Just 4 percent of older workers said it was 'likely' they would lose their job within the next year, while 14 percent said somewhat likely, 42 percent said not very likely and 40 percent said not likely at all. If they were to lose their current job, 38 percent of employed workers said they were somewhat confident they could find another within three months, while 25 percent were very confident. Among those who weren't optimistic about their job prospects, 45 percent blamed that sentiment on age discrimination. The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee announced Friday that the hearing on Bret Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court would begin Sept. 4., angering Democratic lawmakers who say Republicans are moving too fast on the appointment. The hearing on Bret Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court will begin Sept. 4. Sen. Chuck Grassley said in a statement that committee members and the nominee would deliver opening remarks on the first day of proceedings, with Kavanaugh undergoing questioning the following day. Character witnesses and legal experts will will take the stand after that, the GOP senator said, bringing an end to what is expected to be three to four consecutive days of testimony. Grassley said his announcement 'follows the largest cumulative production of Executive Branch material ever received in the course of evaluating a Supreme Court nominee' and that the review would be take place at a later date than Senate hearings did on recently confirmed justices. Kavanaugh was said to be looking forward to testifying by a White House spokesman. Democrats accused the GOP chairman in unison of 'hiding important information' on the judge who worked in the Bush administration and whose communications from that time they have not fully received. Sen. Chuck Grassley said in a statement that committee members and the nominee would deliver opening remarks on the first day of proceedings, with Kavanaugh undergoing questioning the following day The committee is working off a subset of documents that were provided to Congress by the office of the former president and the National Archives. It would take nearly two months after Grassely's announced hearing day for the government to turn over all of Kavanaugh's communications from his time as staff secretary to the Bush administration. President Trump wants to have Kavanaugh seated in time for term that begins in October of 2018. The conservative judge is expected to cast the deciding vote in cases involving the Republican president and his agenda. Grassley said Friday that the volume of documents produced by former President George W. Bush and the Archives collection are more than enough for senators to be able to cast informed votes on the D.C. Circuit court judge's appointment. 'My team has already reviewed every page of the over 4,800 pages of judicial opinions Judge Kavanaugh wrote, over 6,400 pages of opinions he joined, more than 125,000 pages of records produced from his White House legal service, and over 17,000 pages in response to the most comprehensive questionnaire ever submitted to a nominee,' the Iowa Republican said. 'Hes a mainstream judge. He has a record of judicial independence and applying the law as it is written. Hes met with dozens of senators who have nothing but positive things to say.' Grassley declared,'Its time for the American people to hear directly from Judge Kavanaugh at his public hearing.' Demonstrators holds signs as they gather in front of the Supreme Court in Washington after President Donald Trump announced Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his Supreme Court nominee on July 9. Worried by the prospect of a reconfigured court, abortion-rights advocates are intensifying efforts to block the judge who would be a solid conservative vote on the high court Senators' stances on President Trump's nomination of Kavanaugh in July have split almost entirely along party lines. The GOP is looking to pick off a few endangered Democrats in states that the president won in 2016, however, to bolster their position. Democratic leadership had tried to stall a hearing until after the November election in hopes that the midterms will leave the GOP in a weaker position. Grassley has firmly rejected their angling and said Friday that Kavanaugh's hearing would being 57 days after his appointment. A statement from his office pointed out that hearings on the three most recent Supreme Court justices -- Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Neil Gorsuch -- all took place 48-49 days after their presidential nominations. Democrats have zeroed in on Kavanaugh's work for Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr in their attempts to slow down his nomination process. They say they must have access to all his official communications from the investigation into former President Bill Clinton before his nomination can be appropriately assessed. Grassley joined Democrats in making the request for the information but decided to move forward on a hearing when the National Archives said it could produce the full tranche of documents by an August 15 deadline. It said it would need until the end of October to review the full cache of communications. Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at the Rally to Stop Kavanaugh on the West front of the Capital Hill on August 1. Schumer on Friday charged that Republicans were in a 'mad rush' to hold hearings after 'unilaterally deciding to block nearly all of Judge Kavanaughs records from public release' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer charged that Republicans were in a 'mad rush' to hold hearings after 'unilaterally deciding to block nearly all of Judge Kavanaughs records from public release.' He said it is 'further evidence that they are hiding important information from the American people' and that the action 'boggles the mind.' What are they hiding? he asked. Schumer said the 'vast majority' of the documents the Senate will have at its fingertips 'will be cherry-picked by a Republican operative currently working for President George W. Bush and who also happens to be Kavanaughs former deputy.' 'Republican efforts to make this the least transparent, most secretive Supreme Court nomination in history continue,' Schumer said. 'They seem to be more frightened of this nominees record and history than any weve ever considered.' The Bush Presidential Library documents are being reviewed by a team of lawyers and the process is being led by the former Republican president's records representative Bill Burck. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, chided Republicans on the panel for speeding through their consideration of Kavanaugh for a lifetime appointment. 'Scheduling a hearing in early September, while more than 99 percent of Kavanaughs White House records are still unavailable, is not only unprecedented but a new low in Republican efforts to stack the courts,' she on Friday said. U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh meets with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) in her Senate offices ahead of Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings in this photo taken on July 31 'Its a sad state of affairs that for the first time, Chairman Grassley has decided to go it alone and take a partisan approach, producing the most minimal amount of documents for the public.' Democrats' chief vote counter in the Senate, Minority Whip Dick Durbin, said the process that Republicans are using reviewing Kavanaugh is 'unprecedented and unfair to the American people.' He claimed that Senate Republicans want to wrap up the nomination before the National Archives releases all of Kavanaugh's White House communications. 'These documents may bear directly on the credibility of Judge Kavanaughs sworn testimony, not to mention his legal views and temperament. The American people deserve to know the true story of the man seeking a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land. 'Yet its clear there are things in Judge Kavanaughs White House record that Senate Republicans do not want the American people to see,' Durbin charged. He also asked, 'What are they hiding?' Sen. John Cornyn, the Republican whip, committed once more on Friday to having a confirmation vote in the full Senate before Oct. 1. White House spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement that Kavanaugh 'looks forward' in three and a half weeks to sitting before senators. 'With the Senate already reviewing more documents than for any other Supreme Court nominee in history, Chairman Grassley has lived up to his promise to lead an open, transparent and fair process,' Shah said. 'Judge Kavanaugh looks forward to addressing the Judiciary Committee in public hearings for the American people to view.' His saintly lecturing to politicians and schools about obesity marks him out as a healthy eating devotee. But a peek between the covers of Jamie Olivers latest cookbook reveals some extremely sinful and rather bizarre recipes. His 28th offering, Jamie Cooks Italy, includes a recipe which combines lasagne, spaghetti and a pie to create a dish that provides a whopping 638 calories and 26g of fat per slice. A peek into Jamie Olivers latest cookbook, Jamie Cooks Italy, includes a recipe that provides a whopping 638 calories and 26g of fat per slice Called carnival lasagne, the unsightly-looking meal, which the chef describes as flamboyant and fun, includes meatballs, uses spaghetti rather than pasta sheets and weirdest of all is finished off in a pie dish with a lattice of pastry. The TV stars latest book includes another hybrid dish a rice pudding semifreddo, consisting of ice cream made with risotto rice, which contains 376 calories per portion and 16g of saturated fat. Those watching their waistline might also want to avoid his sausage and red wine risotto. The dish, which involves adding red wine rather than the traditional white, has a gut-busting 839 calories per portion and 43.8g of fat. If the risotto and rice pudding were served as a main and a dessert, it would contain the entire daily 70g fat limit recommended by the NHS for a woman. Despite being based on Italian cuisine, the book includes a recipe for ham, egg and chips which contains a shocking 45.9g of fat and 676 calories as well as one for a 626-calorie borlotti bean soup. The NHS recommends a woman eats no more than 2,000 calories a day. The book, which costs 26 and is the chefs second Italian recipe book, features numerous recipes from Italian grandmothers, or nonnas, who Oliver met while travelling the country. Despite the book only being released two days ago, one unhappy customer said he was going to take it straight to the charity shop. Writing on Amazon, he said: It is sad to say that most of the pictures look quite unappetising. He [Oliver] has done much better books than this. The local charity shop will benefit. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the chefs Jamies Italian restaurants were selling burgers which contain the entire recommended daily 70g fat limit. In 2016, the star released a Christmas recipe book that included a festive lunch clocking in at more than 7,000 calories per person and almost 10,000 if you included his leftovers suggestions. Oliver, who is estimated to be worth around 150million, has spearheaded a drive to ban junk food and has campaigned for healthy school meals. His efforts helped bring the subject to the political forefront, and changed the types of dishes served in schools across the UK. Last night nutritionist Katie White said: Theres absolutely nothing wrong with having an indulgent meal once a week, especially if its home-made because you know whats going into it but obesity is on the rise and so is type 2 diabetes in children as young as eight, so that probably wouldnt be the meal for them. An explosion at a defence firm factory in Salisbury has killed one person and left another in a critical condition. Fire broke out at the Chemring Countermeasures facility after the blast on Friday evening, Wiltshire Police said. The blaze has since been extinguished and the incident has been contained with no risk to the public. Police and health and safety officers are investigating. Fire broke out at the Chemring Countermeasures facility (pictured) after the blast on Friday evening A police spokesman said: 'The ambulance service contacted Wiltshire Police and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service just after 5pm today following reports of an explosion at the Chemring Countermeasures plant on High Post Road, Netton. 'Six fire crews were in attendance. Two were from Salisbury and the rest from Andover, Fordingbridge, Pewsey and Cranbourne and were supported by the incident command vehicle from Devizes. 'An initial fire on site has been extinguished. We have two casualties that have been identified. 'One of them sadly died at the scene and the other has been taken to hospital in a critical condition.' The site at which the blaze took hold belongs to the firm that designed counter measure systems for the Eurofighter Typhoon jet (pictured) No further details of the casualties were released and police were yet to inform next of kin on Friday night. The spokesman added: 'The incident has been contained and there is no risk to people in the local area. 'Wiltshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive will now be leading the investigation into the cause of the incident.' Chemring Countermeasures produces flares, chaff and decoys to protect military and civilian air and sea platforms, the company's website says. It has also designed countermeasure systems for the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet. The incident occurred in a flare manufacturing building, Chemring Group business director Andy Hogben said in a statement. 'Chemring Group PLC confirms that at approximately 5pm on Friday August 10 an incident occurred in a flare manufacturing building at the Chemring Countermeasures factory near Salisbury,' he said. 'There has been one fatality and one employee is currently receiving treatment in hospital. 'The site was immediately evacuated and the incident brought under control. The emergency services are in attendance. Chemring has launched an investigation into the cause of the incident. 'The thoughts and support of Chemring Group are with the families at this time.' The usually sleepy city is still reeling from the Novichok crisis, which bean with the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter. Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned with the deadly nerve agent, leading the UK government to point the finger at Russia. In the aftermath of the attack, a British mother of three died after coming into contact with the chemical. Authorities in Magaluf and all across the Spanish island of Majorca are becoming increasingly fed up with the behavior of tourists visiting their home and causing fights, getting naked and defecating in public, being loud and raucous until the early hours and generally being loutish. Drunken tourists slumped over after a night in Magaluf, Majorca. Local councils across the Balearic island took a stand this year when in June many introduced by-laws to help in the fight against boozed up revelers. The town of Magaluf has been surrounded with brightly-coloured signs, which carry the message 'have fun with respect'. Warning of penalties for breaking the rules, the signs have been mounted on lamp-posts and other visible spots in the party resort. The signs are part of the latest campaign to stamp out some of the excesses committed by British holidaymakers in Magaluf. So what prompted this extreme action? 1. Magaluf's reputation took a devastating nosedive four years ago after a British teenager was filmed performing sex acts on a string of men in a bar. The 18-year-old who was filmed performing a sex act on 24 men in Majorca was told she would win a 'holiday'. The two-minute footage was later posted online and quickly went viral, sparking outrage among local politicians and women's rights groups. 2. In July this year two groups of youngsters were filmed trading blows in broad daylight in another orgy of violence on the streets of Magaluf. Shirtless youths believed to be British got into a punch-up with another group believed to be Spanish. Video footage shows how one of the tourists ended up knocked out on the pavement before shocked onlookers stepped in to help. 3. Public nudity is something that draws the ire of residents and authorities. This footage shows a boozy Brit parading on in a public space in Magaluf. This is just one of many cases of nudity in public which councils are now slapping with on the spot 400 fines. Britain and several other major EU countries want to overhaul the way internet giants are taxed to make them pay their fair share. Currently, companies like Amazon and Google are taxed like any other company - on how much profit they bank in each country. But this means they can do huge amounts of business in the UK but wriggle out of paying tax in the country by moving and baking their profits in another of the countries it operates in with a lower tax threshold. The EU has drawn up plans to fundamentally overhaul how internet giants are taxed to stop them squeezing out shops while paying just a fraction into the public purse. Under the proposals, unveiled in March this year, the Brussels bloc will tax the revenues of internet firms like Amazon, Google and Facebook. The EU believes that overall countries in the bloc will rake in an extra 5billion euros (the equivalent of 4.5bn). Animal rights campaigners are ratcheting up attempts to save rampaging rats from falling victim to more planned mass culls in Paris. In June this year, Geoffrey Boulard, mayor of the 17th arrondissement in northwestern Paris, announced that residents could report rodents via an interactive map. Taking the city authorities to task for failing to reduce the number of rats, he told Le Parisien: The presence of rats in public space is worrying and has become more serious. We had a creche surrounded with rats dead and alive. Nobody is taking their responsibility. Its a matter of public health. It is estimated that Paris is home to around four million rats, a 1.8 rat-to-human ratio So, he launched the interactive map, to allow residents to ask for the intervention of municipal services in the form of leaving poisoned bait and setting rat traps at sites where they are prolific. It is estimated that Paris is home to around four million rats, a 1.8 rat-to-human ratio. But pro-rat campaigners have been seeking a U-turn on such action, and have urged Boulard to have the rodents population reduced naturally, via the use of birth-control drugs as a humane alternative to extermination programmes. Geoffrey Boulard, mayor of the 17th arrondissement, wants the rats killed, but animal rights campaigner Claudine Duperret, right, thinks a 'balanced' approach is needed There's even been an online petition, signed by 26,000 people, calling for a halt to the poisoning and trapping. Its instigator, Jo Benchetrit, told the Wall Street Journal that she and fellow animal rights campaigners considered such methods as cruel. A fellow campaigner, Claudine Duperret, 59, who has taken in 25 rats from the streets over the past 11 years, and is behind a Facebook page which seeks fellow rat-lovers to also rescue rodents, told the WSJ: We really need to find a balance to live together. On her Facebook page, Save the Rats, she and others share stories about their pets progress, including baby rats rescued from Parisian laboratories, which were under threat of being euthanised. But, her attempt to tackle rat culls is a tricky one in January this year Le Parisien published a shocking video showing scores of the creatures massing in a dustbin. It was taken on the banks of the River Seine, in the centre of all the most popular tourist spots, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Orsay art gallery. A council worker said on the video that one of his colleagues told me a rat jumped at his throat and another towards his arm we shouldnt be waiting for a tragedy. Paris launched a 1.4million extermination programme last September, with areas closed off during the killings, but it has by no means proved successful. Help, Im being chased by a squirrel is not the normal cry for assistance that police usually receive. But thats exactly what happened in the German city of Karlsruhe, however, when officers were asked to rescue a distressed man who was desperately trying to flee from a clingy baby squirrel. Police were called at 8am yesterday by the man and, according to the forces Facebook page, officers immediately sent a patrol to investigate the matter. Safe at last - this determined squirrel was trying to find a new mother and ended up being taken in by the police in Karlsruhe, Germany Officers warmed to the stricken creature, posting on Facebook that it had become their new mascot which they baptized in the name of Karl-Friedrich' It added: In fact, the police there met the man being persecuted by the stubborn little creature. Officers warmed to the stricken creature, posting that it had become their new mascot after they baptized it in the name of Karl-Friedrich. The squirrel was so exhausted from its pursuit of the man that it fell asleep because of the horror, police added. Karl-Friedrich was taken in to police custody, where staff immediately sought new accommodation for the little squirrel, which apparently was looking for a new mother. The animal is now in [an animal rescue centre] and is well looked after. We wish the little one all the best! Police spokeswoman Christina Krenz told the Guardian that it was likely the baby squirrel had targeted the man because it was seeking a new home, adding: It often happens that squirrels which have lost their mothers look for a replacement and then focus their efforts on one person. A police spokeswoman said that the man had contacted the force as he had felt 'threatened' by the baby squirrel They could be very persistent, not just running behind someone but entirely fixated on them. 'The man didnt know what to do and so he called the police he was certainly feeling a bit threatened,' Krenz added. Karlsruhe is a 'green city' with more than 1,000 hectares of public parks, lakes and small woods. In a suburban Minneapolis laboratory, a tiny company that has never turned a profit is poised to beat the world's biggest agriculture firms to market with the next potential breakthrough in genetic engineering - a crop with 'edited' DNA. Calyxt Inc, an eight-year-old firm co-founded by a genetics professor, altered the genes of a soybean plant to produce healthier oil using the cutting-edge editing technique rather than conventional genetic modification. Seventy-eight farmers planted those soybeans this spring across 17,000 acres in South Dakota and Minnesota, a crop expected to be the first gene-edited crop to sell commercially, beating out Fortune 500 companies. Seed development giants such as Monsanto, Syngenta AG and DowDuPont Inc have dominated genetically modified crop technology that emerged in the 1990s. But they face a wider field of competition from start-ups and other smaller competitors because gene-edited crops have drastically lower development costs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided not to regulate them. Scroll down for video Gene-editing could mean bigger harvests of crops with a wide array of desirable traits - better-tasting tomatoes, low-gluten wheat, apples that don't turn brown, drought-resistant soybeans. A research scientist examines a soybean plantlet in New Brighton, Minnesota Relatively unknown firms including Calyxt, Cibus, and Benson Hill Biosystems are already advancing their own gene-edited projects in a race against Big Ag for dominance of the potentially transformational technology. 'It's a very exciting time for such a young company,' said Calyxt CEO Federico Tripodi, who oversees 45 people. 'The fact a company so small and nimble can accomplish those things has picked up interest in the industry.' Gene-editing technology involves targeting specific genes in a single organism and disrupting those linked to undesirable characteristics or altering them to make a positive change. Traditional genetic modification, by contrast, involves transferring a gene from one kind of organism to another, a process that still does not have full consumer acceptance. Gene-editing could mean bigger harvests of crops with a wide array of desirable traits - better-tasting tomatoes, low-gluten wheat, apples that don't turn brown, drought-resistant soybeans or potatoes better suited for cold storage. The advances could also double the $15 billion global biotechnology seed market within a decade, said analyst Nick Anderson of investment bank Berenberg. The USDA has fielded 23 inquiries about whether gene-edited crops need regulation and decided that none meet its criteria for oversight. That saves their developers years of time and untold amounts of money compared to traditional genetically modified crops. Of those 23 organisms, just three were being developed by major agriculture firms. Gene-editing technology involves targeting specific genes in a single organism and disrupting those linked to undesirable characteristics or altering them to make a positive change. Above, mature high-fiber wheat plants are grown in a Calyxt greenhouse The newly competitive landscape could foster more partnerships and licensing deals between big and small firms, along with universities or other public research institutions, said Monsanto spokeswoman Camille Lynne Scott. Monsanto - which was recently acquired by Bayer AG - invested $100 million in startup Pairwise Plants this year to accelerate development of gene-edited plants. North Carolina-based Benson Hill, founded in 2012 and named after two scientists, mainly licenses crop technology to other companies. But it decided to produce its own higher-yielding corn plant because of the low development costs, said Chief Executive Matt Crisp. Calyxt plans to sell the oil from its gene-edited soybeans to food companies and has a dozen more gene-edited crops in the pipeline, including high-fibre wheat and potatoes that stay fresh longer. Developing and marketing a traditional genetically modified crop might easily cost $150 million, which only a few large companies can afford, Crisp said. With gene-editing, that cost might fall as much as 90 percent, he said. WHAT ARE GENE-EDITED CROPS AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT TO GM PLANTS? Gene editing promises to produce 'super-crops' by altering or cutting out genes that naturally occur in plants. Unlike genetically modified (GM) plants, gene-edited (GE) crops contain no 'foreign' DNA from other species. GE crops are produced using CRISPR, a new tool for making precise edits in DNA. Scientists use a specialised protein to make tiny changes to the plant's DNA that could occur naturally or through selective breeding. GM crops have had foreign genes added to their DNA - a process that often cannot happen naturally. The US, Brazil, Canada and Argentina have indicated they will exempt GE crops that do not contain foreign DNA from GM regulations. The European Commission is waiting for a judgement from the European court. Advertisement 'We're seeing a huge number of organizations interested in gene-editing,' Crisp said, referring to traditional crop-breeding companies, along with technology firms and food companies. 'That speaks to the power of the technology and how we're at a pivotal point in time to modernize the food system.' Supporters of gene-editing say it allows a higher level of precision than traditional modification. With CRISPR, one popular type of gene-editing technology used by Syngenta, scientists transfer an RNA molecule and an enzyme into a crop cell. When the RNA encounters a targeted strand of DNA inside the cell, it binds to it and the enzyme creates a break in the cell's DNA. Then, the cell repairs the broken DNA in ways that disrupt or improve the gene. Biotech firms hope the technology can avoid the 'Frankenfood' label that critics have pinned on traditional genetically modified crops. But acceptance by regulators and the public globally remains uncertain. The USDA has fielded 23 inquiries about whether gene-edited crops need regulation and decided that none meet its criteria for oversight The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on July 25 that gene-editing techniques are subject to regulations governing genetically modified crops. The ruling will limit gene-editing in Europe to research and make it illegal to grow commercial crops. The German chemical industry association called the decision 'hostile to progress.' U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue blasted the ruling for enacting unnecessary barriers to innovation and stigmatizing gene-editing technology by subjecting it to the EU's 'regressive and outdated' regulations governing genetically modified crops. The USDA also has no current plans to regulate gene-editing in animal products, according to a document provided by the agency. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, plans to regulate gene-editing in both plants and animals, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb wrote in a June blog post. The agency is developing an 'innovative and nimble' approach to regulating gene-editing, he wrote, that will aim to ensure its safety for both humans and animals while allowing companies to bring beneficial products to market. The USDA, by contrast, chose not to regulate gene-edited crops because the process typically introduces characteristics that are 'indistinguishable' from those created through traditional plant breeding, which take much longer, USDA Secretary Perdue said in a March statement. Biotech firms hope the technology can avoid the 'Frankenfood' label that critics have pinned on traditional genetically modified crops. But acceptance by regulators and the public globally remains uncertain Although there has been no widespread consumer resistance to gene-editing, activists who have long opposed genetically modified crops remain suspicious of any sort of tinkering with DNA. The new technique raises risks of creating undesired changes in the food supply and warrants increased regulation, said Lucy Sharratt, coordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network. That kind of opposition is why agribusiness giant Cargill Inc is pursuing gene-edited technology with caution, said Randal Giroux, the firm's vice-president of food safety, quality and regulatory affairs. Cargill announced in February that it would collaborate with Precision BioSciences to develop healthier canola oil, but is proceeding slowly on agreements to store and transport other companies' gene-edited crops pending clarity from regulators, Giroux said. 'We really do want to see gene-editing evolve in the marketplace,' Giroux said. 'Were watching to see how consumers adopt these products and react to these products.' Other major agriculture biotech firms are moving more aggressively, hoping to take advantage of lighter regulation to speed development. WHAT IS CRISPR-CAS9? Crispr-Cas9 is a tool for making precise edits in DNA, discovered in bacteria. The acronym stands for 'Clustered Regularly Inter-Spaced Palindromic Repeats'. The technique involves a DNA cutting enzyme and a small tag which tells the enzyme where to cut. The CRISPR/Cas9 technique uses tags which identify the location of the mutation, and an enzyme, which acts as tiny scissors, to cut DNA in a precise place, allowing small portions of a gene to be removed By editing this tag, scientists are able to target the enzyme to specific regions of DNA and make precise cuts, wherever they like. It has been used to 'silence' genes - effectively switching them off. When cellular machinery repairs the DNA break, it removes a small snip of DNA. In this way, researchers can precisely turn off specific genes in the genome. The approach has been used previously to edit the HBB gene responsible for a condition called -thalassaemia. Advertisement A gene-edited crop may take five years to move from development to commercialization in the United States, compared with a genetically modified crop that could take 12 years, said Dan Dyer, head of seeds development at Syngenta. The firm is working on better-tasting tomatoes that take longer to spoil and hopes to launch a gene-edited crop in the mid-2020s, said Jeff Rowe, Syngenta's president of global seeds. DowDuPont - at a secret location in the U.S. Midwest - is field-testing waxy corn, a variety grown for industrial purposes that has been edited for higher yields. The company plans a commercial launch next spring. Smaller firms will be nipping at the heels of these massive companies in the race to bring the next generation of genetically engineered foods to market, said Robert Wager, a biology faculty member at Vancouver Island University. 'The lack of USDA-regulated status is a huge game-changer,' he said, 'for universities and small startups to enter the market.' A Paris court has ordered Twitter to change its small-print, after a consumer group accused the technology firm of having 'abusive' clauses in its terms and conditions. UFC-Que Choisir claimed victory in its case against the US social network, stating 'the conviction has a gigantic scope for the protection of users' personal data'. The consumer association had called on the high court 'to recognise the abusive or illegal nature' of 256 clauses contained within Twitter's terms and conditions that it said breached users' privacy. In particular, UFC-Que Choisir said the court's decision guarantees Twitter users that their photos and tweets can no longer be 'commercially exploited' if they have not given their consent. Twitter has not confirmed whether the updated small-print will only be applicable to French citizens, or whether it will be rolled-out to users worldwide. However, when the EU forced companies to adopt its GDPR rules for European users, Twitter updated its policies across the globe, stating: 'Our Privacy Policy is a singular document to explain our privacy practices to all users, irrespective of location.' Scroll down for video A Paris court ordered Twitter to change its small-print, according to a consumer group which accused the tech giant of having 'abusive' clauses in its terms and conditions 'By ticking a small box to accept the terms of service, the consumer has not expressly accepted their data can be exploited,' the consumer watchdog said. Until now, text, videos and images shared on Twitter could be used by commercial entities in commercials or publicity for their own gain, UFC-Que Choisir claims. Under the recent changes, this will no longer be able to happen without the express permission of the person who originally posted the tweet. Twitter was also fined 30,000 euros (26,900/ $34,400) in the case. UFC-Que Choisir said the sum was 'insignificant for the social network which generated in 2017 a global turnover of 2.1 billion dollars'. The social network has one month to appeal the decision. But 'whatever his decision, this victory bodes well for similar procedures against Facebook and Google, still in progress,' the group said. Those judgements are expected in 'the coming months', according to UFC-Que Choisir. MailOnline has contacted Twitter for comment on the story. Back in April, it was revealed Twitter was selling its users' data. In particular, it sold data to the Cambridge University researcher who harvested millions of Facebook users' private information without their consent. The social media site confirmed it sold publicly-available data to Dr Aleksandr Kogan, who created tools that allowed the political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica to psychologically profile and target individual voters using Facebook user data. Dr Kogan's firm GSR gathered a 'random sample' of public tweets after it paid for one day of access in 2015, Twitter said - years before the recent scandal emerged. The social media site confirmed it sold public data to Dr Aleksandr Kogan, who created tools that allowed the political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica to psychologically profile and target voters using Facebook user data. Pictured is former Chief Executive of Cambridge Analytica Alexander Nix WHAT ARE TWITTER'S POLICIES? Graphic violence and adult content The company does not allow people to post graphic violence. This could be any form of gory media related to death, serious injury, violence, or surgical procedures. Adult content - that includes media that is pornographic and/or may be intended to cause sexual arousal - is also banned. Some form of graphic violence and adult content is allowed in Tweets marked as containing sensitive media. However, these images are not allowed in profile or header images. Twitter may sometimes require users to remove excessively graphic violence out of respect for the deceased and their families. Unlawful use The platform is not allowed to be used to further illegal activities. Badges Users are not allowed to use badges, including but not limited to the 'promoted' or 'verified' Twitter badges, unless provided by Twitter. Accounts using unauthorised badges as part of their profile photos, header photos, display names, or in any way that falsely implies affiliation with Twitter or authorisation from Twitter to display these badges, may be suspended. Usernames Users may not buy or sell Twitter usernames. Username squatting - when people take the name of a trademark company or a celebrity - is not allowed. Twitter also has the right to remove accounts that are inactive for more than six months. Abusive behaviour Context matters when evaluating for abusive behaviour and determining appropriate enforcement actions. Factors we may take into consideration include whether the behaviour is targeted at an individual; the report has been filed by the target of the abuse or a bystander or the behaviour is newsworthy and in the legitimate public interest. Users may not make specific threats of violence or wish for the serious physical harm, death, or disease of an individual or group of people. This includes, but is not limited to, threatening or promoting terrorism. Users may not promote or encourage suicide or self-harm. Users may not promote child sexual exploitation. Users may not direct abuse at someone by sending unwanted sexual content, objectifying them in a sexually explicit manner, or otherwise engaging in sexual misconduct. Users may not use hateful images or symbols in your profile image or profile header. Private information Users may not publish or post other people's private information without their express authorisation and permission. Users may not post or share intimate photos or videos of someone that were produced or distributed without their consent. Users may not threaten to expose someone's private information or intimate media. Source: Twitter Advertisement The academic insisted he had not violated Twitter's policies and the information had only been used to build 'brand reports' and 'survey extender tools'. Back in February, Europe's justice commissioner said Facebook, Twitter, and Google needed to do more to bring their user agreements in line with EU law, ramping up pressure on the firms after their efforts were deemed too little. The European Union executive and consumer protection authorities said the three companies have only partially addressed concerns about their liability and how users were informed about content removal or contract terminations. The authorities across the bloc, who requested the changes last year, have the power to fine the firms if they do not comply. European Commissioner Vera Jourova said the use of social media networks as advertising and commercial platforms meant they faced the same rules as offline service providers. 'EU consumer rules should be respected and if companies don't comply, they should face sanctions,' Ms Jourova said in a statement. 'Some companies are now making their platforms safer for consumers; however, it is unacceptable that this is still not complete and it is taking so much time.' The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has 'intensified' its probe into Elon Musk and Tesla, according to sources familiar with the matter. The independent US regulator was already making enquiries into the company following a tweet by 47-year-old multi-billionaire Elon Musk about taking electric car company Tesla private. However, the CEO is now under increased scrutiny from the SEC, sources say. Tesla has yet to be accused of any wrongdoing, however the SEC enquiry is designed to ensure no rules were broken. Musk tweeted out about taking the company private on Tuesday at a stock price of $420 a share, a significant jump from its current position. After an initial surge in share prices to roughly $375 a share on the same day, Tesla stock has since fallen by almost five per cent down to $352.45. However, the tweets have raised concerns around whether Musk violated fair-disclosure rules established by the SEC around using social media platforms for market manipulation. The regulator has remained silent on the issue since Musk's surprise announcement. Scroll down for video The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is scrutinising Elon Musk and Tesla regarding tweets the CEO posted earlier this week regarding taking the company private. Tesla has yet to be accused of wrongdoing, but the SEC is taking a close look to make sure no rules were broken (file photo) Officials looking into whether the public statements of Tesla CEO Elon Musk breach federal security laws are looking with 'increased scrutiny', sources close to the matter told Bloomberg. SEC enforcement attorneys in the San Francisco office were already gathering general information, according to those with knowledge of the regulators plans. However, lawyers are now scrutinising whether Musks tweet about having funding secured to buy out the company was meant to be factual. Musks tweets about a possible buyout for Tesla are likely not enough to put him in legal jeopardy unless the SEC proves the information was false or inaccurate, securities lawyers told Bloomberg. As a rule, the SEC holds executives responsible for their statements and considers them to be material information requiring them to be true. At this time the SEC inquiry is preliminary and there is no guarantee formal action will be taken. Both Tesla and SEC have refused to comment on the matter. 'I don't really understand the idea of what was suggested in the potential for them to go private,' Dick Weil, CEO of Janus Henderson Group, said in an interview. 'That's obviously an incredibly large valuation to somehow take into the private market.' Security experts say the tweets are probably not enough to warrant legal action unless it can be proved the statements are false or inaccurate. According to a statement from six of the nine directors on Tesla's executive board, Musk addressed the possibility of taking the firm private last week. They said he had 'addressed the funding for this to occur' without providing details. The tweets raised concerns about whether Musk violated fair-disclosure rules established by the SEC around using social media platforms for market manipulation. Tesla could be hit with a full-scale investigation if regulators determine the CEO's statement on Twitter broke the rules by being false or misleading, according to WSJ. At this stage, it's unclear if any laws have been broken but, in any case, experts agree that Musk's surprise announcement on social media is unprecedented, and may have consequences. 'If a company has always issued its earnings releases in a conventional matter, and it had not alerted investors, then that can be a problem, because an investor who happens to watch the Twitter feed, may have an unfair advantage,' Ira Matetsky, a partner at Ganfer Shore Leeds & Zauderer in Manhattan told MarketWatch. Tesla has only told investors to monitor the CEO's Twitter feed in a public filing once, back in 2013. After listing a slew of Tesla sites that are frequently updated with the latest information, including its investors' and press sites, the 2013 document states: 'for additional information, please follow Elon Musk's and Tesla's Twitter accounts.' Given this advice and Musk's wide-reaching Twitter presence, with more than 22 million followers, the expert says Musk's lawyers could argue the new information was readily available, even if his delivery was not traditional. WHAT ARE THE SEC'S RULES AROUND FAIR DISCLOSURE? Tesla CEO Elon Musk's tweets about the firm going private have reportedly drawn a closer look from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC is now looking at whether what Musk said was truthful and why he announced the information on his Twitter. The regulatory agency has certain rules around what companies can and cannot speak about on social media platforms, as part of its fair disclosure rules. Many believe Musk's tweets are likely to be weighed against the Reed Hastings Rule, which was established in 2012. The rule was established when Netflix CEO Reed Hastings used his Facebook to post that the streaming service had 'exceeded 1 billion hours for the first time.' This warranted further investigation by SEC regulators, who later determined that posting material information on social media is allowed. However, companies must make sure that shareholders are notified that material announcements will be made on social media channels, as well as given proper access to them. In Musk's case, Tesla has only told investors to monitor the CEOs Twitter feed in a public filing once, back in 2013. Beyond that, regulators will be working to find out whether Musk's claims were honest. Musk tweeted that financing had been secured for a take-private deal and that the company had received broad investor support. If Tesla doesn't have the funding in place, experts say Musk's tweets could amount to market manipulation, since it would be an example of false statements causing the company's shares to skyrocket. Advertisement But, Musk may not be out of hot water just yet. 'If he doesn't have financing in place, but the deal happens anyway, then it may be, no harm, no foul,' Metetsky told MarketWatch. 'If this was a pipe dream going nowhere, there will be a case.' In the hours following the revelation of plans to take Tesla private, Musk went quiet on Twitter unusual silence for a CEO known for his voracious social media activity. He finally tweeted again early Wednesday evening, but failed to address the growing controversy. Instead, he shared a chart illustrating Tesla vehicle deliveries and Autopilot hardware. Musk's initial message came after a report said Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund had bought a $2 billion or nearly 5 per cent stake in Tesla. Should Musk ultimately decide to take Tesla private at a price of $420 per share, or more than $70 billion, it would mark the largest buyout in history. 'Last week Elon opened a discussion with the board about taking the company private,' Tesla's board said in the statement. 'This included discussion as to how being private could better serve Tesla's long-term interests, and also addressed the funding for this to occur. 'The board has met several times over the last week and is now taking the appropriate next steps to evaluate this,' they added. Tesla hasn't disclosed any details about funding beyond noting that the firm had secured the necessary means for a take-private transaction. So far, no one has stepped forward to say they're backing the buyout. Musk's tweets have raised concerns about whether the CEO violated fair-disclosure rules established by the SEC around using social media platforms for market manipulation Should Musk ultimately decide to take Tesla private at a price of $420 per share, or more than $70 billion, it would mark the largest buyout in history READ THE FULL STATEMENT FROM TESLA'S BOARD 'Last week, Elon opened a discussion with the board about taking the company private. This included discussion as to how being private could better serve Tesla's long-term interests, and also addressed the funding for this to occur. The board has met several times over the last week and is taking the appropriate next steps to evaluate this.' - Signed by Tesla board members Brad Buss, Robyn Denholm, Ira Ehrenpreis, Antonio Gracias, Linda Johnson Rice, and James Murdoch Advertisement In a letter to shareholders after his tweet on Tuesday, Musk fleshed out his idea, suggesting they would get the option to sell their shares for $420 each or remain investors in a private Tesla, out of the glare of Wall Street and its need for quarterly results. He said that would allow Tesla to 'operate at its best, free from as much distraction and short-term thinking as possible.' It's highly unusual for the head of a major company make a significant announcement in such casual manner. The tweet prompted questions about how serious Musk's intentions were. 'If his comments were issued for the purpose of moving the price of the stock, that could be manipulation, it could also be securities fraud,' former SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt told CNBC. 'The use of a specific price for a potential going private transaction is highly unprecedented and therefore raises significant questions about what his intent was. So, that would have to be investigated.' However, several Wall Street analysts expressed skepticism about Musk's ability to gather the financial backing to complete such a deal. Musk tweeted out about taking the company private on Tuesday at a stock price of $420 a share, a significant jump from its current position. After an initial surge in share prices to roughly $375 a share on Tuesday, the stock has since fell by nearly five per cent to $352.45 'Who gives $30 to $50 billion to buy back the shares?,' asked NordLB analyst Frank Schwope. 'And if you stay as a shareholder you get less information than before and you depend more and more on Elon Musk.' Many cited Tesla's massive debt load as a sticking point in its plans to go private. 'The company is cash-flow negative,' Steven Kaplan, a University of Chicago professor, told BBC. 'How do you use any debt on a company that is cash-flow negative?' JPMorgan analyst Ryan Brinkman said he gave only a 50 per cent probability that Tesla would go private. The six board members who issued the statement on Wednesday included James Murdoch, chief executive of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc and Brad Buss, who was the chief financial officer of solar panel maker SolarCity until it was bought by Tesla in 2016. Other board members mentioned in the statement included Robyn Denholm, Ira Ehrenpreis, Antonio Gracias and Linda Johnson Rice. Tesla's other board members are Musk, his brother Kimbal Musk and venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson. Thousands of ethical hackers and security researchers have gathered in Las Vegas this week to address some of the biggest potential threats to cybersecurity. At the Black Hat information security conference, researchers have revealed how satellite communications could be used by hackers to launch 'cyber-physical attacks,' essentially turning their antennas into massive microwave ovens, according to the Guardian. And Def Con, one of the world's largest hacker conventions, will serve as a lab for breaking into voting machines, extending its efforts to identify potential security flaws in technology that may be used in the November U.S. elections. Scroll down for video According to security expert Ruben Santamarta, satellite communications could be used by hackers to launch 'cyber-physical attacks,' essentially turning their antennas into massive microwave ovens. File photo In a presentation building off prior research, Ruben Santamarta of security firm IOActive warned that the communications used by ships, planes, and the military are vulnerable to hackers. 'The consequences of these vulnerabilities are shocking,' Santamarta said, according to the Guardian. 'Essentially, the theoretical cases I developed four years ago are no longer theoretical. 'We're basically turning Satcom devices into radio frequency weapons,' Santamarta said. 'It's pretty much the same principle behind the microwave oven.' Satellite systems could also be used to leak information, the expert said. At Def Con, a three-day 'Voting Village,' opened on Friday in effort to expose vulnerabilities in devices such as digital poll books and memory-card readers. Def Con held its first voting village last year after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded the Russian government used hacking in its attempt to support Donald Trump's 2016 candidacy for president. Moscow has denied the allegations. Def Con, one of the world's largest hacker conventions, will serve as a lab for breaking into voting machines, extending its efforts to identify potential security flaws in technology that may be used in the November U.S. elections WHAT IS THE US CYBER WARFARE COMMAND? President Donald Trump ordered the US military in August 2017 to elevate its cyber warfare operations to a separate command. The command centre, called the US Cyber Command or Cybercom, focuses on cyber warfare - such as government hacking campaigns. It protects the United States from hostile online forces and helps the US pursue its own cyberwarfare objectives. According to the New York Times, Cybercom has previously placed 'implants' in Islamic State group networks that let experts monitor the group's behaviour and ultimately imitate or alter commanders' messages so they unwittingly direct fighters to areas likely to be hit by drone or plane strikes. US President Donald Trump ordered the US military to elevate its cyber warfare operations to a separate command, signaling a new emphasis on electronic offensive and defensive operations Another technique likely being employed is a common type of cyber attack known as a denial of service. The move was a response to a number of recent major cyber security incidents - such as Russian hacks during the 2016 election. Cyber Command is now in the process of recruiting hundreds of skilled cyber operators to help with defensive and offensive operations. It is headquartered in Fort Meade, Maryland and will eventually comprise almost 6,200 personnel organized into 133 teams. These 'Cyber Mission Force' teams are already actively conducting operations and will achieve full operational capability by the end of fiscal year 2018. Cyber warfare operations had previously been run under the umbrella of the National Security Agency, the country's main electronic spying agency. Advertisement Organizers have returned ahead of the November elections, in which Democrats hope to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Trump's national security team last week warned that Russia had launched 'pervasive' efforts to interfere in the elections. 'These vulnerabilities that will be identified over the course of the next three days would, in an actual election, cause mass chaos,' said Jake Braun, one of the village's organizers. 'They need to be identified and addressed, regardless of the environment in which they are found.' Participants will have a chance to hack into more than five types of voting machines from manufacturers including Elections Systems & Software and Dominion Voting. Last year a Danish researcher figured out how to take control of a touch-screen voting system used through 2014 in a remote hack that organizers said could work from up to 1,000 feet away. A group representing U.S. secretaries of state lauded the goal of bolstering election security, but warned that the findings might be skewed. At Def Con, a three-day 'Voting Village,' opened on Friday in effort to expose vulnerabilities in devices such as digital poll books and memory-card readers THE CONCRETE THAT COULD SHIELD AGAINST EMP ATTACKS The EMP-shielding concrete could be applied in a spray-on technique that would allow for cost-effective retrofitting Engineers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have developed a type of concrete that could act as a shield against doomsday electromagnetic pulse attacks. The conductive concrete both absorbs and reflects electromagnetic waves to protect the electronics inside, and the creators say it could be used in new structures or applied through a spray-on method to retrofit existing buildings. The researchers created a concrete that conducts electricity, replacing some of the standard concrete materials with magnetite. The concrete also includes carbon and metal components, enhancing its absorbing abilities and allowing it to reflect as well. The new concrete is now available for commercialization, and the team has joined with ABC Group in a research agreement for a new patent-pending pending product that would work with a shotcrete construction method, a spray-on technique that would allow for cost-effective retrofitting. Advertisement 'It utilizes a pseudo environment which in no way replicates state election systems, networks or physical security,' the National Association of Secretaries of State said in a statement. 'Providing conference attendees with unlimited physical access to voting machines, most of which are no longer in use, does not replicate accurate physical and cyber protections established by state and local governments before and on Election Day,' the group said. Verified Voting, an advocacy group that helped organize the hacking village, said that some of the voting machine models being tested are still used to tally votes across the United States. One system, the Dominion Premier/Diebold AccuVote TSx system, is used in 20 states and 23,784 precincts, according to Verified Voting. Homo erectus may have gone extinct because they were lazy, new research claims. Scientists believe the 'least-effort strategies' employed to build tools and collect resources may have contributed to the downfall of the primitive human species. Unlike other hominids, the tools created by Homo erectus were comparatively low quality and were built using low-quality materials found nearby, experts say. This is in sharp contrast to stone tools made by other hominid species, including early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, who climbed mountains to find good quality stone and transported it over huge distances. This laziness paired with an inability to adapt to a changing climate likely resulted in the species going extinct, scientists say. Scroll down for video Homo erectus (reconstruction, pictured) may have gone extinct because they were lazy, according to new research. Scientists claim the 'least-effort strategies' for tool making and collecting resources led to the downfall of the primitive human species Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) studied the ancient populations that lived in the Arabian Peninsula during the Early Stone Age. The team examined stone tools used by Homo erectus unearthed in Saffaqah which is about 200 kilometres west of Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh to try to work out why the species went extinct. First thought to have evolved around 1.9 million years ago in Africa, Homo erectus was the first early hominid to become a true global traveller. They are known to have migrated from Africa into Eurasia, spreading as far as Georgia, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia. However, the hominid ultimately went extinct around 140,000 years ago. According to the latest findings from the Australian National University, this can be blamed on a lack of ambition, wonder and industriousness. 'They really don't seem to have been pushing themselves,' said lead researcher Dr Ceri Shipton of the ANU School of Culture, History and Language. 'I don't get the sense they were explorers looking over the horizon. They didn't have that same sense of wonder that we have,' he explained. Homo erectus is thought to have lived in hunter-gatherer societies. Archaeological evidence suggests Homo erectus used fire and made basic stone tools. Researchers said this lack of wonder was evident in the way the species made their stone tools and collected resources. EXPLAINED: HOMO ERECTUS EVOLVED 1.9 MILLION YEARS AGO IN AFRICA AND WAS A 'GLOBAL TRAVELLER' First thought to have evolved around 1.9 million years ago in Africa, Homo erectus was the first early human species to become a true global traveller. They are known to have migrated from Africa into Eurasia, spreading as far as Georgia, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia. They ranged in size from just under five feet tall to over six feet. With a smaller brain and heavier brow than modern humans, they are thought to have been a key evolutionary step in our evolution. It was previously thought Homo erectus disappeared some 400,000 years ago. However, this date has been dramatically reduced, with more recent estimates suggesting they went extinct just 140,000 years ago. They are thought to have given rise to a number of different extinct human species including Homo heidelbergensis and Homo antecessor. Homo erectus is thought to have lived in hunter gatherer societies and there is some evidence that suggests they used fire and made basic stone tools. Advertisement Unlike other hominids, the tools created by Homo erectus (pictured) were comparatively low quality and were predominantly built using materials that were lying around These tools (pictured) were in sharp contrast to stone tools made by other hominid species, including early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, who climbed mountains to find good quality stone and transported it over huge distances First thought to have evolved around 1.9 million years ago in Africa, Homo erectus was the first early human species to become a true global traveller. Pictured is the site at Saffaqah in central Saudi Arabia Pictured is lead researcher Dr Ceri Shipton of the ANU School of Culture, History and Language. At the site scientists looked at a big rocky outcrop of quality stone just a short distance away up a small hill This 'laziness' paired with an inability to adapt to a changing climate likely led to the species (skull, pictured) going extinct, a new paper suggests 'To make their stone tools they would use whatever rocks they could find lying around their camp, which were mostly of comparatively low quality to what later stone tool makers used,' he said. 'At the site we looked at there was a big rocky outcrop of quality stone just a short distance away up a small hill. 'But rather than walk up the hill they would just use whatever bits had rolled down and were lying at the bottom.' However, when researchers examined a rocky outcrop close to a known area they found there were no signs of any activity, no artefacts and no quarrying of the stone. 'They knew it was there, but because they had enough adequate resources they seem to have thought, "why bother?",' Dr Shipton said. Homo erectus are known to have migrated from Africa into Eurasia, spreading as far as Georgia, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia. Pictured are some of their tools Dr Shipton said a failure to progress technologically, as their environment dried out into a desert, also contributed to the population's demise Homo erectus is thought to have lived in hunter gatherer societies and there is some evidence that suggests they used fire and made basic stone tools. Pictured is Dr Ceri Shipton on site at Saffaqah in central Saudi Arabia To make their stone tools they would use whatever rocks they could find lying around their camp, which were mostly of comparatively low quality to what later stone tool makers used. Pictured is a site that was excavated Dr Shipton (pictured) said a failure to progress technologically, as their environment dried out into a desert, also contributed to the population's demise The excavation and survey work was undertaken in 2014 at the site of Saffaqah near Dawadmi in central Saudi Arabia. The research has been published in a paper for the PLoS One scientific journal Research from the Australian National University (ANU) studied the ancient human populations who lived in the Arabian Peninsula (pictured, today) during the Early Stone Age WHAT EVIDENCE DO WE HAVE HOMO ERECTUS WERE LAZY? Homo erectus may have gone extinct because they were lazy, according to research from the Australian National University. Scientists claim the 'least-effort strategies' for tool making and collecting resources led to the downfall of the primitive human species. This 'laziness' paired with an inability to adapt to a changing climate likely led to the species going extinct, their paper suggests. To make their stone tools they would use whatever rocks they could find lying around their camp, which were mostly of comparatively low quality to what later stone tool makers used, according to researchers who looked at ancient populations in the Arabian Peninsula. At the site researchers looked at there was a big rocky outcrop of quality stone just a short distance away up a small hill. But rather than walk up the hill they would just use whatever bits had rolled down and were lying at the bottom. When researchers looked at the rocky outcrop they found there were no signs of any activity, no artefacts and no quarrying of the stone. This is in contrast to the stone tool makers of later periods, including early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, who were climbing mountains to find good quality stone and transporting it over long distances. Experts believe a failure to progress technologically, as their environment dried out into a desert, also contributed to the population's demise. Advertisement This is in contrast to hominids of later periods, including early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, which evidence shows climbed mountains to find good quality stone and transported it over vast distances to use in their tools. Dr Shipton said a failure to progress technologically, as their environment dried out into a desert, also contributed to the population's demise. 'Not only were they lazy, but they were also very conservative,' Dr Shipton said. 'The sediment samples showed the environment around them was changing, but they were doing the exact same things with their tools', said Dr Shipton 'There was no progression at all, and their tools are never very far from these now dry river beds. I think in the end the environment just got too dry for them', said Dr Shipton. Pictured is a handaxe (top), cleaver (middle), and early stage biface (bottom) from the site. The handaxe and cleaver are made on large flakes, while the early stage biface is made on a cobble It was previously thought Homo erectus disappeared some 400,000 years ago. However, this date has been dramatically reduced, with more recent estimates suggesting they went extinct just 140,000 years ago. Pictured are some of the tools they looked at 'The sediment samples showed the environment around them was changing, but they were doing the exact same things with their tools. 'There was no progression at all, and their tools are never very far from these now dry river beds. I think in the end the environment just got too dry for them.' The excavation and survey work was undertaken in 2014 at the site of Saffaqah near Dawadmi in central Saudi Arabia. The research has been published in a paper for the PLoS One scientific journal. The mystery underlying Jupiter's characteristic coloured bands has been solved thanks to data from Nasa's probe orbiting around the gas giant. Several strong jet streams flow west to east in Jupiter's atmosphere, which are similar to Earth's jet streams. However, unlike on Earth where the jet streams meander across the surface, Jupiter's jet streams are more even and straight. There are also no continents and mountains below Jupiter's atmosphere to obstruct the path of the jet streams. As a result, the jet streams on Jupiter are much simpler than those on Earth, causing less turbulence in the upper atmosphere. Clouds of ammonia at Jupiter's outer atmosphere are carried along by these jet streams to form Jupiter's regimented coloured bands. Scroll down for video The mystery underlying Jupiter's characteristic coloured bands has been solved thanks to data from Nasa's probe to the gas giant. Several strong jet streams flow west to east in Jupiter's atmosphere, which are similar to Earth's jet streams (artist's impression) Unlike Earth, our Solar System's largest planet has no solid surface it is an entirely gaseous planet, consisting mostly of hydrogen and helium. An international team of scientists, including from the Australian National University (ANU), studied recent evidence from Nasa's Juno spacecraft which examined these layers of gases. This showed that Jupiter's jet streams reach as deep as 1,800 miles (3,000 km) below Jupiter's clouds, which are shades of white, red, orange, brown and yellow. Experts say the interaction between Jupiter's atmosphere and its magnetic fields is responsible for the bright layers visible on the planet's surface. However, unlike on Earth where the jet streams meander, Jupiter's jet streams are more even and straight (stock image) WHAT CAUSES JUPITER'S CHARACTERISTIC BANDS? Experts have studied recent evidence gathered from Nasa's Juno spacecraft to reveal the reason why gases form bands on Jupiter. Clouds of ammonia at Jupiter's outer atmosphere are carried along by jet streams to form Jupiter's regimented coloured bands. Jupiter's jet streams reach as deep as 1,800 miles (3,000 km) below Jupiter's clouds, which are shades of white, red, orange, brown and yellow. The gas in the interior of Jupiter is magnetised, which researchers believe explains why the jet streams go as deep as they do but don't go any deeper. There are also no continents and mountains below Jupiter's atmosphere to obstruct the path of the jet stream. This makes the jet streams on Jupiter simpler than those on Earth and cause less turbulence in it's upper atmosphere. Advertisement Dr Navid Constantinou from the research school of Earth Sciences at ANU's, one of the researchers on the study, said that until recently little was known about what happened below Jupiter's clouds. 'We know a lot about the jet streams in Earth's atmosphere and the key role they play in the weather and climate, but we still have a lot to learn about Jupiter's atmosphere,' he said. 'Earth's jet streams have a huge impact on the weather and climate by acting as a barrier and making it harder for air on either side of them to exchange properties such as heat, moisture and carbon. 'Scientists have long debated how deep the jet streams reach beneath the surfaces of Jupiter and other gas giants, and why they do not appear in the sun's interior.' There are also no continents and mountains below Jupiter's atmosphere to obstruct the path of the jet streams. This makes the jet streams on Jupiter simpler than those on Earth, causing less turbulence in it's upper atmosphere (stock image) Clouds of ammonia at Jupiter's outer atmosphere are carried along by these jet streams to form Jupiter's regimented coloured bands, pictured in this stock image How NASA's Juno probe to Jupiter will reveal the secrets of the solar system's biggest planet The Juno probe reached Jupiter in 2016 after a five-year, 1.8 billion-mile journey from Earth The Juno probe reached Jupiter on July 4, 2016, after a five-year, 1.8 billion-mile (2.8bn km) journey from Earth. Following a successful braking manoeuvre, it entered into a long polar orbit flying to within 3,100 miles (5,000 km) of the planet's swirling cloud tops. The probe skimmed to within just 2,600 miles (4,200 km) of the planet's clouds once a fortnight - too close to provide global coverage in a single image. No previous spacecraft has orbited so close to Jupiter, although two others have been sent plunging to their destruction through its atmosphere. To complete its risky mission Juno survived a circuit-frying radiation storm generated by Jupiter's powerful magnetic field. The maelstrom of high energy particles travelling at nearly the speed of light is the harshest radiation environment in the Solar System. To cope with the conditions, the spacecraft was protected with special radiation-hardened wiring and sensor shielding. Its all-important 'brain' - the spacecraft's flight computer - was housed in an armoured vault made of titanium and weighing almost 400 pounds (172kg). The craft is expected to study the composition of the planet's atmosphere until 2025. Advertisement The polar and subtropical jet streams in Earth's atmosphere shape the climate, especially in the mid-latitudes such as in Australia, Europe and North America. Experts say their findings suggest that Jupiter's jet streams are suppressed by a strong magnetic field. The gas in the interior of Jupiter is magnetised, which researchers believe explains why the jet streams go as deep as they do but don't go any deeper. Their research involved mathematical calculations to work out the instability that leads to jet streams when magnetic fields are present. They also compared their theoretical predictions with results from previous computer simulations. 'By studying Jupiter, not only do we unravel the mysteries in the interior of the gas giant, but we can also use Jupiter as a laboratory for studying how atmospheric flows work in general,' added Dr Jeffrey Parker, co-researcher from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US. The full findings of the study were published in the journal The Astrophysical Journal. The polar and subtropical jet streams in Earth's atmosphere shape the climate, especially in the mid-latitudes such as in Australia, Europe and North America. This stock image show's the characteristic Great Red Spot storm Advertisement The Perseid meteor shower will stun stargazers around the world this weekend, with the annual event seeing up to 70 shooting stars etched across the night sky every hour. Known as the 'fiery tears of Saint Lawrence', the celestial showcase takes place when the Earth ploughs through the galactic debris left discarded by the passing of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. The shooting stars will be visible both north and south of the equator, although those in mid-northern latitudes will be treated to the best views. This means the United States, Europe, and Canada will be able to see the Perseids at their best, with similarly stellar views in Mexico and Central America, Asia, much of Africa, and parts of South America. Those south of the equator will catch the tail-end of the meteor shower, since the vast majority of the event will take place below the horizon, diminishing the grandeur of the phenomenon. According to Nasa, the meteor shower will enjoy heightened activity from 4 pm ET (9 pm BST) on Sunday 12th until 4 am (9 am BST) on Monday 13th. The frequency of the shooting stars will peak this weekend around 10pm BST on the 12th. This year will see the event coincide with the new moon phase of the lunar cycle, which sees the moon emanating almost no light at all creating perfect conditions in the sky for stargazing. Scroll down for video At its peak, the Perseid meteor shower is expected to bring 60-70 shooting stars per hour. But in some years, it's been known to produce more. And, stray shooting stars will likely be visible until the end of the month The Perseid meteor shower takes place each year through July and August and is the result of particles falling from the Comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years and was first seen in 1862. The trail of particles forms meteors, or shooting stars as they are also known, which heat up as they enter the Earth's atmosphere creating tails of light across the sky For those in areas with low light pollution, smog and clear skies, the Perseids will be visible to the naked eye, with no specialist equipment needed. The meteor shower takes place at the same time each year, as the Earth passes though a section of its orbit peppered with galactic space dust leftover from the last passing of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. The Swift-Tuttle Comet, which spans 16-miles wide and is formed of ice and rock, ploughs through our Solar System once every 133 years, with the pass in 1992. The comet will come within one million miles of Earth on August 5, 2126 and August 24, 2261. The name 'Perseids meteor shower' comes from the fact meteors appear to shoot out from the Perseus constellation the 24th largest constellation in the sky. The annual meteor shower is known for the sheer quantity, including the possibility of bright fireballs in the sky. Most of the specks of material are tiny and flash across the night sky when they collide with Earth's atmosphere at about 133,200 mph (214,365 km/h). During the meteor shower's peak, skywatchers in the northern hemisphere can expect to see between 60 to 70 shooting stars cross the sky every hour, provided they've found some dark, clear skies for viewing. For stargazers in the northern hemisphere, experts recommend watching for the meteor shower after 10 pm local time, but it will be at its best during the early hours of dawn. Light will be at a minimum as the moon will be almost invisible at the start of the meteor shower. 'This year the moon will be near new moon, it will be a crescent, which means it will set before the Perseid show gets underway after midnight,' NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke told Space.com. At its peak, the meteor shower is expected to bring 60-70 shooting stars per hour. However, in previous years, it has been known to produce even more. And, stray shooting stars will likely be visible until the end of the month. According to NASA, the meteors will continue until August 24, though rates will drop after the peak on Monday. 'Unlike most meteor showers, which have a short peak of high meteor rates,' Nasa explains, 'the Perseids have a very broad peak, as Earth takes more than three weeks to plow through the wide trail of cometary dust from comet Swift-Tuttle.' Luckily, less than ten per cent of Britain is built up, leaving lots of places where the cityscape will not obscure natural beauty of the Perseids. The annual meteor shower can produce between 50 and 100 shooting stars per hour. As the event coincides with the new moon this year, observers will be treated to a dark, moonless sky for a clearer view of the meteors Milky way and perseid meteor, over Teide Izana astronomical observatory in Tenerife. At its peak, the meteor shower is expected to bring 60-70 shooting stars per hour. But in some years, it's been known to produce more. And, stray shooting stars will likely be visible until the end of the month HOW CAN YOU SEE THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWER THIS YEAR? Shooting stars will be visible north and south of the equator, though observers in mid-northern latitudes will have the best views, according to NASA. Some Perseid meteors will even be visible during the early evening The Perseid meteor shower will reach the beginning of its peak at 4pm (ET) on Sunday the 12th. This will last until 4am on the 13th. As the event coincides with the new moon this year, observers will be treated to a dark, moonless sky for a clearer view of the meteors. North of the equator: Observers in the United States, Europe, and Canada should begin looking to the sky from a few hours after twilight until dawn. The same goes for viewers in Mexico and Central America, Asia, much of Africa, and parts of South America. South of the equator: Meteors will be visible for those south of the equator, too, though not at the rate seen in more northern areas. For viewers in Australia and other southern locations, meteors will start to appear in the sky around midnight and continue through the early hours of the morning. You won't need binoculars to spot a shooting star this weekend, nor do you need to look directly at the constellation Perseus. Instead, just look up. NASA says you 'can look anywhere you want to,' to see the Perseids, 'even directly overhead.' Advertisement The event will originate in the night sky from the constellation Perseus and spread throughout the sky, with the shooting stars set to be visible both north and south of the equator, though observers in mid-northern latitudes will have the best views The Perseid meteor shower is said to be the best of the year. This annual meteor shower comes as Earth passes through the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle, causing bright streaks that appear as though they're radiating from the constellation Perseus WHAT ARE THE 11 DARK SKY RESERVES? Aoraki Mackenzie (New Zealand) Brecon Beacons National Park (Wales) Central Idaho (U.S.) Exmoor National Park (England) Kerry (Ireland) Mont-Megantic (Quebec) Moore's Reserve (South Downs, England) NamibRand Nature Reserve (Namibia) Pic du Midi (France) Rhon (Germany) Snowdonia National Park (Wales) Westhavelland (Germany) Advertisement There are just 11 Dark Sky Reserves in the world, and the UK is home to four: Brecon Beacons National Park (Wales), Moore's Reserve (South Downs, England) Snowdonia National Park (Wales) and Exmoor National Park (England). People in the UK can expect the peak shower to occur between 2 am and 4 am BST. The others are scattered around the world, with locations listed in Europe, the US, Africa and New Zealand. These locations, assuming the weather is clear and there are no clouds in the sky, provide an 'exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment'. Those not close enough to one of these locations to make it worth the night trip should head to an area with low-light pollution. For example, high vantage points in a built-up area, or ideally, a trip to the countryside should provide the best view. The Dark Sky Atlas can be used to help people find their nearest dark spot as it maps the light pollution of areas around the world. Those unfortunate enough to have an overcast evening can still catch the beauty of the Peresids via a live stream that is being run by the Virtual Telescope Project. Nasa says the meteor shower will be accompanied with the parade of planets Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. This years Perseid meteor shower on August 12th is predicted to be the best in years as the moon is new and the skies will be dark. The Perseids will peak this weekend around 10pm BST on the 12th but the prolonged spell will see heightened activity throughout the weekend Those not close enough to one of these locations to make it worth the night time trip should head to an area with low-light pollution. For example, high vantage points in a built-up area, or ideally, a trip to the countryside should provide the best view The Perseid meteor shower occurs as Earth passes through the trail of cometary dust following comet Swift-Tuttle (illustrated above) When asked about the best way to view the Perseids meteor shower Bill Cooke, head of Nasa's Meteoroid Environments Office at the Marshall Space Flight Centre in Alabama simply said: 'All you've got to do is go outside, find a nice dark spot, lie flat on your back and look up. 'You don't want binoculars. You don't want a telescope. You just use your eyes.' Speaking LiveScience, Cooke said stargazers should give their eyes around 30 minutes to adjust to the dark sky. 'Don't expect to walk outside and see Perseids,' Cooke said. Those who want to capture the celestial event with a camera should use a tripod to ensure their image is not blurred. For the best results, take a long-exposure shot, lasting from a few seconds to a minute. Nasa's Bill Cooke warns against setting the exposure any longer than that, otherwise you'll pick-up the rotation of the stars, which could block out streaks from shooting stars. If you're struggling to find work, it might be worth considering a tattoo. Job seekers have a better chance of being hired if the interviewer spots ink on their skin, according to new research. This is because the artwork gives prospective candidates an advantage over their peers as tattoos help them to look more fashionable. The two-year study also found that wages and annual earnings of tattooed employees were statistically indistinguishable from those without. Bosses who continue to discriminate against people with tattoos may be settling for a less qualified pool applicant, researchers warned. Job seekers have a better chance of being hired if the interviewer spots ink on their skin, according to new research which suggests body art benefits peoples' careers. Pictured is David Beckham who is notoriously heavily tattooed The research was conducted by University of Miami Business School. Researchers, who surveyed more than 2,000 people across the US over the last two years, found that in the hiring market, tattooed job seekers were just as likely, and in some instances even more so, to gain employment. 'The long held stigmas associated with having tattoos, and particularly visible ones, may be eroding, especially among younger individuals who view body art as a natural and common form of personal expression', said lead author Professor Michael French, a health economist at the University of Miami Business School. 'Given the increasing prevalence of tattoos in society around 40 per cent for young adults hiring managers and supervisors who discriminate against tattooed workers will likely find themselves at a competitive disadvantage for the most qualified employees.' Wages and annual earnings of tattooed employees were statistically indistinguishable from those without them, researchers found. It is estimated a fifth of British adults has a tattoo rising to about three in ten of those aged 16 to 44. Meanwhile, around 20 per cent of US adults have tattoos. Traditionally, it has been said those with ink are risking their careers, with many high-ranking managers of an older generation whose traditional view may be that it signifies a less reliable character. This view has been corroborated by past research, which suggested bosses generally see tattooed people as less employable. However, the latest research shows attitudes could be changing. 'Our research surprisingly found no evidence of employment, wage or earnings discrimination against people with various types of tattoos,' said Professor French from the University of Western Australia. 'In our sample, and considering a variety of alternative estimation techniques, not only are the wages and annual earnings of tattooed employees in the United States statistically indistinguishable from the wages and annual earnings of employees without tattoos, but tattooed individuals are also just as likely, and in some instances even more likely, to gain employment. Bosses who continue to discriminate against tattooed people may be settling for a less qualified pool of applicants, researchers warn. Pictured is actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian Angelina Jolie with some of her collection of tattoos 'These results suggest that, contrary to popular opinion as well as research findings with hiring managers and customers, having a tattoo does not appear to be associated with disadvantage or discrimination in the labour market.' In the UK, the law on equality in the workplace does not cover those with tattoos as a protected characteristic. 'Previous research has found that tattooed people are widely perceived by hiring managers to be less employable than people without tattoos,' said Professor French. 'This is especially the case for those who have visible tattoos, particularly offensive ones, that are difficult to conceal.' In the hiring market, tattooed job seekers were just as likely, and in some instances even more so, to gain employment. Pictured is Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Two years ago, a study of almost 200 managers in the UK and US suggested having tattoos can actually increase employment chances where the clientele is younger. It found managers seeking a bartender for a hypothetical nightclub gave higher ratings to images in which the candidate was tattooed. Those looking for a waiter at an upscale restaurant, however, gave the tattooed images a lower rating. The University of St Andrews study found offensive tattoos depicting misogynistic, Satanic, or fascist imagery, or anything related to drinking or drugs, were always unacceptable. The full study was published in the journal Human Relations. The 'world's only' mammoth hair hat is on-sale in Russia for 8,000 ($10,000) but wearing the headwear might be an even bigger irritation than the price tag. According to mammoth expert Semyon Grigoriev, the crocheted beanie is the 'prickliest' hat he has ever felt, describing the sensation of wearing it like a 'head massage'. The headwear which is odourless was knitted from the coat of a woolly mammoth, a species which died around 10,000 years ago. A certificate from Grigoriev, who works as the director of the Mammoth Museum in Russia, appears to confirm the wool is genuine. The hat is now on sale with a price tag of 8,000 ($10,000). Scroll down for video Wearing a garment made out of a rare species is considered by many to be rather bad taste. But this beany hat is truly one of a kind, having been knitted from the coat of a woolly mammoth, a species which died out thousands of years ago Vladimir Ammosov, a 44-year-old builder from Yakutsk, Siberia (pictured), had the hat created from a pelt retrieved from the permafrost in remote Siberia where the Ice Age beast died Vladimir Ammosov, a 44-year-old builder from Yakutsk, Siberia, had the hat created from a pelt retrieved from the permafrost in remote Siberia where the Ice Age beast died. Mr Ammosov said he bought the wool from his uncle, whod originally dug it out of the ice. He added: My relative went to a woolly mammoth graveyard site at Kazachye village in Ust-Yanskiy in Yakutia. This image shows Mammoth hair displayed at the Mammoth Museum in Yakutsk Copy to caption PMS transfer info Mr Ammosov said he bought the wool (pictured) from his uncle, whod originally dug it out of the ice Mr Ammosov added: My relative went to a woolly mammoth graveyard site at Kazachye village in Ust-Yanskiy in Yakutia' He picked up a full plastic bag of woolly mammoth hair and later sold it to me because he needed money. I kept looking at the bag, wondering what to do with the hair, and then thought why not to try and make a hat? In Yakutia, we make traditional round hats of horse hair, so why not to try and use mammoth hair and to create something truly unique? The bundle was given to an expert knitter to make the crocheted, rough textured skull cap. It is purportedly rather prickly to wear. Semyon Grigoryev, director of Yakutia's Mammoth Museum, confirmed that this was indeed authentic hair from the extinct beasts. 'This was the prickliest hat I have ever worn, the expert told the Siberian Times. 'It is completely odourless, but unlike, say, bisons, woolly mammoth had really rough hair. Wearing the hat felt like I was having a head massage'. A certificate from mammoth expert Semyon Grigoriev (pictured) - director of the Mammoth Museum in Russia - apparently confirms that the wool is genuine As well as certifiying the hat, Mr Grigoriev said: 'This was the prickliest hat I have ever worn. 'It is completely odourless, but unlike, say, bisons, woolly mammoth had really rough hair' Traditionally round crocheted hats made of horse hair are worn by men on special occasions like the Yakutian news year holiday or Yhyakh, the summer solstice, the paper reports. 'We believe these hats are worn by men; I think it cones from older times when such hats were worn under warriors helmets, said Mr Ammosov 'But since we live in 21st century, I don't see any problem with a woman or a child purchasing and wearing the hat.' Maria Kim from Megino-Kangalassky district, who makes traditional horse hair hats, told the Siberian Times: People who wear them say that the constant feeling of skin massage helps with blood pressure and normalises headaches. The unique mammoth hat is made from a mammoth pelt retrieved from the permafrost in remote Siberia where the Ice Age beast died thousands of years ago The woolly mammoth roamed the icy tundra of Europe and North America for 140,000 years, disappearing at the end of the Pleistocene period, 10,000 years ago Fewer than 500 Ryanair passengers who faced delays or cancellations were awarded compensation by an airline complaints body last year, a new investigation by Which? has revealed. That means only 14 per cent of cancellation and delay claims in 2017 by British customers against the Irish low-cost carrier led to a pay-out. In light of this the consumer group is warning that with Ryanair saying it won't pay compensation for its latest round of cancellations, passengers will have to take their claims to Aviation ADR, the airline's dispute resolution handler - and may have to wait a long time to get their money. Fewer than 500 Ryanair passengers who faced delays or cancellations were awarded compensation by an airline complaints body last year, a new investigation by Which? has revealed Which? says that its research shows that Aviation ADR received over 3,600 complaints about Ryanair in 2017, but just 496 passengers were awarded compensation. The vast majority of complaints were still outstanding at the end of year, suggesting many passengers were waiting months to get what they were owed. For the first quarter of 2018, the figures are even more alarming, according to Which?, as Aviation ADR received 2,400 flight delay and cancellation complaints about Ryanair in this period. However, of these, just 282 passengers were awarded compensation and a further 98 were told they were entitled to nothing, meaning thousands were still waiting for a decision. HOW YOU CAN CLAIM COMPENSATION FROM RYANAIR Aviation ADR has told consumer group Which? that it has been ruling in favour of consumers who've complained about Ryanair cancellations caused by internal strikes. It said: 'So far, all complaints that we have processed in relation to strike action at Ryanair have been determined in favour of the passenger, predominantly on the basis that we have seen no evidence to substantiate any submissions that the cause of such delay amounted to "extraordinary circumstances". But it added: 'We understand that Ryanair is submitting further evidence in relation to the current pilot and crew strikes. 'Once received, we will review the evidence to decide whether it has any impact on the outcome of any passenger complaints that we have not yet determined. Passengers who have a flight cancelled with less than 15 days notice as a result of flight or cabin crew industrial action should complain to the airline first. If they do not receive a satisfactory response they have little choice but to use Aviation ADR. Unlike with the claims solicitors, the process is free and Ryanair is legally obliged to comply with its decisions. Advertisement In response to Which?'s findings, Aviation ADR revealed that of the 3,628 Ryanair complaints it received in 2017, some were refused (the arbitration bodies are allowed to reject complaints if the customer has not complained to the airline first or if they are otherwise out of their scope) and others were discontinued, either because the passenger did not provide all the information needed or they failed to follow up the complaint. Which? says it then looked into this and found that 412 complaints were refused and a further 237 were discontinued. However, Aviation ADR said that a 'very large' number of the remaining complaints were 'put on hold' because they had been submitted by claims management companies, who are in dispute with Ryanair. It said: 'Given the ongoing litigation between (claims solicitor) Bott & Co and Ryanair... the claims management companies have agreed that these claims should be put on hold pending the final outcome of the court case.' But Bott & Co doesn't accept that it has 'agreed' that the claims should be put on hold. In a statement, the firm explained: 'We felt that the claims should be looked at, however Aviation ADR have currently refused to do so, because Ryanair won't deal with claims presented by solicitors.' Bott & Co confirmed that it had made about 100 claims through Aviation ADR in 2017, 'but we never got a response on any of them'. The firm said that it had another 10,000 complaints it had been planning to send, 'but they told us to wait because they wouldn't consider the claims whilst Bott and Co v Ryanair was ongoing.' Aviation ADR said that it has responded to the high numbers of Ryanair complaints since the end of 2017. It told Which?: 'We have significantly increased staff headcount to take account of both increased ADR volumes and unusual spikes in complaints.' Despite the issues revealed by Which? Travel's investigation and Aviation ADR's response, the Civil Aviation Authority continues to insist that the system is working well. With Ryanair saying it won't pay compensation for its latest round of cancellations it means that passengers will have to take their compensation claims to Aviation ADR, the airline's dispute resolution handler It said: 'Consumers will soon have the opportunity to seek a review of their case by an independent assessor, if they consider that their complaint has not been handled properly by the ADR provider.' Ryanair told Which? that it 'fully complies with the UK ADR's rules and deadlines and it's committed to the ADR process'. The airline added: 'We encourage any passengers who are not satisfied with Ryanair's own complaints resolution to take them to ADR for free and independent resolution instead of going to claims chasers, who often end up deducting up to 50 per cent of compensation entitlement in excessive fees.' Rory Boland, Which? Travel editor, explained: 'Another summer of nightmare flight cancellations for Ryanair customers reinforces why it is so important that passengers get the compensation due to them. 'It is vital that passengers are not deterred from pursuing legitimate claims against airlines by a slow and cumbersome system. 'The CAA must ensure the dispute resolution system is working for consumers, while the Government should look at introducing automatic compensation to stop Ryanair and other airlines from wriggling out of paying passengers the money they are owed.' The world's most mysterious airline is advertising for a pilot to fly US government workers to the secretive Area 51 military base. A fleet of passenger aircraft is stabled at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport to ferry workers to the off-limits area in rural Nevada, and anyone who boards one is sworn to secrecy about where they're going and what they do for a living. The planes, which don't carry any company logos they're plain white with a red band down the side - are operated by the US Air Force and are often referred to as Janet Airlines because that's the call sign the planes in it use while in civilian airspace. One of the unmarked secretive aircraft that fly between Las Vegas and Area 51. The service is now advertising for a pilot Now it appears that the airline is looking to hire a new first officer pilot after posting a job vacancy on the website of AECOM, a private defence contractor that operates the service. According to the job description, the successful candidate will be expected to transport passengers and cargo and to ensure the safety of the flight at all times. He or she will also be given the responsibility of ordering changes in fuel supply, load and route and must adhere to the procedures of the federal government. The ad also states that all candidates must have a minimum of 3,000 fixed wing flying hours with 300 of them within the past five years. The Area 51 base in the Nevada Test and Training Range, which is a secretive off-limits area owned by the US government In addition to holding various different pilot licences, they should also be able to qualify for government security clearance and must be willing to live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Earlier this year, an ad was placed on the AECOM wesbite for a member of cabin crew to work on the airline. According to that vacancy ad, candidates were told they should be able to perform regular flight attendant duties such as passenger safety briefings, emergency procedures and light cleaning. It is believed that all Janet Airlines flights fly out of a private terminal at McCarran nicknamed Gold Coast. From Las Vegas they fly north-west to a place that has what's widely regarded as the most restricted airspace in the world, the Area 51 base in the Nevada Test and Training Range. It has been reported that once the Janet aircraft approach this secretive area their call signs change from the likes of 'Janet 210' to 'bones 58'. Services to Area 51 operate from a secretive terminal called Gold Coast at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, pictured Nick Pope, author of Encounter in Rendlesham Forest and the man who used to investigate UFOs for the British Ministry of Defence, explained to MailOnline Travel that Area 51 is the place where some of America's most hi-tech military hardware is built and tested but he doubts any of it is extra-terrestrial in origin. He said: 'Area 51 exists - it's part of a military testing range in Nevada - and because of the remote and sparsely-populated location, it's where various secret prototype aircraft and drones are developed and test flown. 'The UFO and conspiracy theory community think it's the place where crashed UFOs are kept and where the US military are trying to back-engineer this alien technology. 'Sadly, despite the rumours, I've seen no evidence that we've recovered any extraterrestrial technology.' Advertisement Russian mountaineers spotted by MailOnline Travel proudly glugging a giant bottle of Champagne at 12,523ft on a climb of Mont Blanc have been unmasked. The Muscovite group were noticed by our travel writer Sadie Whitelocks during her ascent of western Europe's highest peak and highlighted in her gripping account. She saw a Russian man in the Gouter refuge (a kind of hotel for climbers located halfway up the mountain) 'celebrating his 40th birthday with a jeroboam of Cristal Champagne - costing upwards of 2,000 - being tossed around'. Moscow-based businessman Dmitry Volkov (pictured) has been unmasked as one of the Russians spotted drinking a huge bottle of Cristal in the Gouter refuge 12,000ft up Mont Blanc by MailOnline Travel's Sadie Whitelocks Dmitry's friend Igor Rybakov stands holding the pricey bottle of Cristal Champagne (left). Some of Dmitry's team members strike an ecstatic pose on the top of Mont Blanc (right) Sadie added that it 'certainly wasn't' the type of pre-summit preparation she'd been taught about and she spotted one of the Russian team members vomiting on the way up the mountain the next morning, which could have been the altitude or a result of too many bubbles. After the MailOnline story, the birthday boy came forward and identified himself as Dmitry Volkov, a Moscow-based businessman. He proudly boasted about becoming 'a symbol of the invincible Russian spirit', adding there had been three million views in one day as Sadie's revelations went viral in his home country. 'Yes, it was my birthday, and, yes, I drank a glass of good Champagne at an altitude of 3,900m with my friends Igor Vladimirovich Rybakov, Roman Fingelkurts, and Oskar Hartman,' he posted. While the Russian group fuelled their climb with Champagne, Sadie (pictured second from right) and her climbing group warmed the cockles with 'delicious hot chocolate' and 'bowls of tea' A member of Dmitry's team wields his ice axe in the air on the Mont Blanc summit 'I almost do not drink, just some Champagne - once a year. 'Perhaps that's why as soon as I took a glass in my hands this was immediately noticed. 'Most likely, however, journalists saw in this the expression of the invincible Russian spirit.' Roman, from Krasnodar, the chief executive of a heat and gas supply company who also marked a birthday on the mountain, said: 'For a couple of days the media have trumpeted the story of our ascent to Mont Blanc. 'Yes, it was us. Yes, the Russian spirit is invincible. 'I shared a birthday with Dmitry Volkov - we were born on the same day. This photo shows the route up to the summit of Mont Blanc, with a run of steep, snowy slopes illuminated in the morning light. This image was taken by one of the climbers in the Champagne-glugging Russian group, Roman Fingelkurts Mont Blanc, pictured, is prone to avalanches and there are crevasses that climbers have to be careful of. This is another image by Roman Fingelkurts 'It is a pity that no one published an inspirational story about us conquering the summit, but instead snatched the cost of the Champagne out of the context. But okay if so.' He added: 'I had never gone to the mountains before. 'A year ago, I was not ready for this physically, but it did not stop me from going up Mont Blanc. 'For the time of preparation and ascent, I understood for myself a few important things. 'Mountains are like business. When I decided to go to Mont Blanc - it was for me a big goal. Feeling peaky: MailOnline Travel's Sadie Whitelocks journeyed to Chamonix in France on a mountaineering course. She underwent a week of training with the UCPA mountain school before tackling Mont Blanc. She's pictured here on the summit of the peak at 6am, with her helmet at a suitably jaunty angle 'I absolutely did not understand how to achieve it To get to the top - you need to prepare. 'Physically, morally, technically. And for this you need to put a lot of effort.' Igor said they had shared the expensive drink with other climbers at the Gouter refuge. Sadie said she noticed her article had caused quite a stir in Russia, with dozens of messages flooding her social media accounts. While the Russian group fuelled their climb with Champagne, Sadie and her climbing group warmed the cockles with 'delicious hot chocolate' and 'bowls of tea'. She's the ex-wife of millionaire businessman Geoffrey Edelsten, who's long been known for her cleavage-baring ensembles, heavy makeup and liberal layers of fake tan. But Brynne Edelsten, 35, has now ditched her flamboyant style in favour of a more demure look. The blonde socialite took to Instagram on Thursday to debut her dramatic makeunder, complete with soft curls, muted nude lipstick and a cleavage-concealing outfit. Scroll down for video Brynne, is that you? Geoffrey Edelsten's ex wife, 35, looks unrecognisable after undergoing a dramatic makeunder and debuts a more 'natural' look (right). Brynne (left) in Melbourne last year 'Loving my fresh look,' she captioned the gallery. Brynne, who has long enjoyed flaunting her surgically-enhanced assets, was pictured covering-up her cavernous cleavage in the new attire. Gone was her usual deep plunging neckline in favour of a faded black T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Modest: Brynne, 35, has ditched her flamboyant style in favour of a more demure look, even wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, right. She is pictured on the left March 2017 The drastic changes didn't stop there, as she also swapped her tight pageant-style curls in exchange for softer waves. However the glamour girl couldn't quite let go of her artificial tresses, with the now platinum blonde telling fans she still has her 'hair extensions.' Brynne, who recently confirmed she's off the market, has also toned down her heavy makeup palette. Busting-out: Brynne has long been known for flaunting her cavernous cleavage. She is pictured here at the races in 2014 Tan obsessed: Over the years Brynne has also showed off her deep fake tan. Pictured in Melbourne 2012 She sported a markedly fresher visage by opting for a light slick of pale foundation a thin-dusting of shimmer eye shadow and a pop of nude lipstick. The Californian fitness instructor's transformation comes after she confirmed her new romance to Daily Mail Australia in early May, sharing: 'Yes, I am in a relationship with Leno Cachia.' 'Yes, I am in a relationship with Leno Cachia (left)': The Californian fitness instructor's transformation comes after she confirmed her new romance to Daily Mail Australia in early May, sharing: 'Yes, I am in a relationship with Leno Cachia' 'We met on New Year's Eve and have been seeing each other romantically since March,' she said. Earlier this year, Brynne - who was once married to Geoffrey Edelsten - announced her split from Coby Boatman, 25, after just two months of dating. 'I actually broke up with Coby and moved out late last year. I wish her the best but have nothing to do with her,' she told Daily Mail Australia in January. It's over! Earlier this year, Brynne announced her split from Coby Boatman, 25, after just two months of dating The Deuce's Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as Staten Island married mother-of-two Lisa Spinelli, who becomes obsessed with her gifted student in The Kindergarten Teacher streaming October 12 on Netflix. In the first trailer - which dropped Thursday - the 40-year-old Oscar nominee's character discovers five-year-old Jimmy Roy (newcomer Parker Sevak) is a poet prodigy. Jimmy doesn't appear to have a mother, but his nanny (Rosa Salazar) and father (Office Space alum Ajay Naidu) balk at Lisa's enthusiasm since they want the boy to have 'a normal life.' Streaming October 12! The Deuce's Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as Staten Island married mother-of-two Lisa Spinelli, who becomes obsessed with her gifted student in Netflix's The Kindergarten Teacher Soon after, the twisted teacher crosses the line - calling Jimmy on the phone and putting him onstage at a posh poetry reading before eventually outright kidnapping him. 'Talent is so fragile and rare, and our culture does everything to crush it,' Gyllenhaal - who also produced - explains as Spinelli. 'Mozart was nurtured by kings and queens. They massaged his tired hands, they fed him candy. You're going to recite your poems and we're going to publish a book that has your name on it.' The presence of law enforcement is inevitable with Lisa's downward spiral and Jimmy is ominously seen on the phone saying: 'Hello, can you help me?' 'The son hits her yellow house, it is almost like the sign from God': In the first trailer, the 40-year-old Oscar nominee's character discovers five-year-old Jimmy Roy (newcomer Parker Sevak) is a poet prodigy 'Forget it': Jimmy doesn't appear to have a mother, but his nanny (Rosa Salazar) and father (Office Space alum Ajay Naidu) balk at Lisa's enthusiasm since they want the boy to have 'a normal life' 'Why are you calling me?' Soon after, the twisted teacher crosses the line - calling Jimmy on the phone and putting him onstage at a posh poetry reading before eventually outright kidnapping him Spinelli says: 'Talent is so fragile and rare, and our culture does everything to crush it. Mozart was nurtured by kings and queens. They massaged his tired hands, they fed him candy' Spinelli wears a wedding band in the preview, but the trailer did not include her elusive husband Grant (Michael Chernus) or their two children (Sam Jules and Daisy Tahan). Filmmaker Sara Colangelo won a directing award for The Kindergarten Teacher (her second feature after Little Accidents) at the Sundance Film Festival when it premiered there January 19. The drama - also starring Gael Garcia Bernal as her poetry teacher love interest - is technically a remake of Israeli director Nadav Lapid's critically-acclaimed 2014 film of the same name. Lisa continues: 'You're going to recite your poems and we're going to publish a book that has your name on it' The presence of law enforcement is inevitable with Lisa's downward spiral and Jimmy is ominously seen on the phone saying: 'Hello, can you help me?' Neglecting her own family: Spinelli wears a wedding band in the preview, but the trailer did not include her elusive husband Grant (Michael Chernus) or their two children (Sam Jules and Daisy Tahan) Her second feature after Little Accidents: Filmmaker Sara Colangelo won a directing award for The Kindergarten Teacher at the Sundance Film Festival when it premiered there January 19 American reimagining: The drama is technically a remake of Israeli director Nadav Lapid's critically-acclaimed 2014 film of the same name In real life, Maggie (born Margalit) is the mother of two daughters Ramona, 11; and Gloria, 6; with her husband of nine years, The Looming Tower actor Peter Sarsgaard. The ACLU activist comes from a showbiz family - including Oscar-nominated screenwriter mother Naomi Achs, Emmy-nominated director father Stephen, and Oscar-nominated actor brother Jake. But first, fans can catch Gyllenhaal back as Times Square sex worker called Eileen 'Candy' Merrell in the second season of The Deuce, which premieres September 2 on HBO. In real life: Maggie (born Margalit) is the mother of two daughters Ramona, 11; and Gloria, 6; with her husband of nine years, The Looming Tower actor Peter Sarsgaard (pictured in 2015) She's the Gold Coast grandmother who turns heads with her E-cup assets and striking resemblance to Pamela Anderson. And on Friday, Gina Stewart risked a major wardrobe malfunction when she opted to go braless while slipping her sensational figure into a slinky white dress. Sharing a short clip to Instagram, the 47-year-old blonde bombshell gave fans a generous glimpse of her sideboob as she sauntered towards the waves. Scroll down to video Naked ambition! The world's hottest grandmother, Gina Stewart, 47, risked a major wardrobe on Thursday malfunction when she slipped her golden curves and E-cup assets into a slinky white dress During the racy display, the Maxim covergirl shot a number of sultry gazes to the camera as she flaunted her golden curves in the loose-fitting dress. Gina looked carefree on the windy day, with her luscious blonde locks cascading about her shoulders. 'Bare feet and salty hair,' she captioned the short clip, adding: 'Like seashells we are beautiful and unique with a story to tell.' Copping an eyeful! The Gold Coast covergirl looked relaxed as she sauntered towards the waves in the racy outfit It appears the blonde beauty is upping the ante with her most recent posts, with the stunning grandmother sharing some of her raciest posts to date. In one saucy image on Monday, Gina posed completely topless with nothing but her hair extensions and bikini bottoms to protect her modesty. 'Be proud of who you are and not ashamed of how someone else sees you,' she wrote to her 88,000 followers. 'Be proud of who you are!' It appears the blonde beauty is upping the ante with her most recent posts, with the stunning grandmother sharing some of her raciest posts to date. In one saucy image on Monday, Gina posed completely topless with nothing but her hair extensions and bikini bottoms to protect her modesty The mother-of-four followed it up by sharing a video of herself in a red swimsuit - which featured a zip down the middle that she was quick to pull down. Once she was unzipped, the busty granny's assets came dangerously close to spilling out. Fortunately, she was able to zip the swimwear back up in time to avoid an X-rated wardrobe malfunction. Who needs clothes? The mother-of-four later shared a video of herself unzipping her swimsuit to reveal her double-E cup assets, coming dangerously close to busting out Despite proudly flaunting her curves for fans online, Gina has vowed to remove her breast implants after deeming them 'toxic and poison.' In an exclusive video provided to Daily Mail Australia, the model said: 'I've been suffering severely from breast implant illness for the past year.' 'There is NO implant out there that is safe. They are all toxic, they are all poison,' Gina said. She continued: 'Just because you think that because yours haven't ruptured that you're safe, well, you're not. Because the toxins and chemicals are actually around the shell of the implant as well.' Australian actress Ruby Rose fulfilled her childhood dream this week after landing the groundbreaking role as a lesbian Batwoman in the new CW series. But some have criticised her casting on social media, saying a lesser known woman should play the role, that Ruby isn't good enough as an actress, and that she does not have Jewish heritage, unlike the character of Kate Kane as Batwoman. Ruby, 32, took to Twitter on Thursday to respond to the outrage, writing: 'I wish we would all support each other and our journey.' Scroll down for video 'When we tear each other down it's much more hurtful than from any group': Ruby Rose (pictured) hit back at the LGBT backlash over her recently announced role as a lesbian Batwoman on Thursday She continued: 'When women and when minorities join forces we are unstoppable... when we tear each other down it's much more hurtful than from any group. But hey I love a challenge.' However, Ruby was specifically responding to a tweet by one user, which was in fact supportive of the decision to cast her in the role. The user had mocked the outrage, tweeting: 'Queer women: Please cast out queer actors in queer roles! CW: *casts Ruby Rose* Queer women: This is an attack.' Right of reply: Ruby, 32, took to Twitter on Thursday to respond to the outrage, writing: 'I wish we would all support each other and our journey' Big break: Australian actress Ruby fulfilled her childhood dream this week after landing the groundbreaking role as a lesbian Batwoman in the new CW series Wires crossed: However, Ruby was specifically responding to a tweet by one user, which was in fact supportive of the decision to cast her in the role. The user had mocked the outrage, tweeting: 'Queer women: Please cast out queer actors in queer roles! CW: *casts Ruby Rose* Queer women: This is an attack' After Ruby's response, the Twitter user replied: '"When women and minorities join forces"... because apparently those are two separate groups with no overlapping members? You're telling me, a black woman, that women and black people should link up. BRUH.' The Twitter user added: 'And I guess Im not allowed to make jokes because it's more painful when I do it which is a new level of white nonsense I've never seen before. And as a reminder, THE JOKE WASN'T MAKING FUN OF HER TO BEGIN WITH.' Ruby then tried to clear up the confusion, tweeting: 'Oh my word. Im am very sorry it read that way. Truly... I responded to you because I agreed with what you said even if you wrote it in jest and I thought we were on the same page, so I was saying I just wish women and the LGBT community supported each other more.' Confusion: After Ruby's response, the Twitter user replied: '"When women and minorities join forces"... because apparently those are two separate groups with no overlapping members? You're telling me, a black woman, that women and black people should link up. BRUH' Back pedal: Ruby then tried to clear up the confusion, tweeting: 'Oh my word. Im am very sorry it read that way. Truly... I responded to you because I agreed with what you said even if you wrote it in jest and I thought we were on the same page...' Role play: Some people criticised the decision to cast Ruby as Batwoman on social media, saying a lesser known woman should play the role, that Ruby isn't good enough as an actress, and that she does not have Jewish heritage, unlike the character of Kate Kane as Batwoman Milestone: Ruby's casting as Batwoman is set to make her the first openly gay lead in a live-action superhero series The actor later added: 'Again, apologies, I was writing to you, not paying or giving attention to any negative because Im really happy and excited but commenting on that topic that my wish was we were all a little kinder and more supportive of each other.' Ruby's casting as Batwoman is set to make her the first openly gay lead in a live-action superhero series. The Orange Is The New Black actress took to social media to rave about the project. Red hot right now: 'The Bat is out of the bag and I am beyond thrilled and honoured,' the Australian starlet wrote on Instagram 'The Bat is out of the bag and I am beyond thrilled and honoured,' the Australian starlet wrote on Instagram. 'I'm also an emotional wreck... because this is a childhood dream.' 'This is something I would have died to have seen on TV when I was a young member of the LGBT community who never felt represented on TV and felt alone and different.' 'Thank you everyone. Thank you God.' There's been whispers Married At First Sight's Dean Wells and Bachelor In Paradise star Elora Tahiti have been dating. And the two reality stars added fuel to the fire on Thursday night, after they were spotted together for the third time this week. The pair attended the Honey Birdette lingerie store launch in Pitt Street, Sydney. Are MAFS's Dean Wells and Bachelor In Paradise's Elora Tahiti dating? The two reality stars looked VERY cosy at the Honey Birdette lingerie store launch in Sydney on Thursday 'There was definitely chemistry. They've shared similar experiences being on reality shows and Elora feels like she's getting to know the "real" Dean,' a source at the soiree told Daily Mail Australia. 'Obviously, he got a pretty bad edit on Married At First Sight. Elora has been telling friends she was surprised by how nice of a guy he is. 'She's a very spiritual person and likes that he's in tune with his religion,' the insider added. Sexy: Elora dressed the part at the event wearing a lingerie-inspired lacy top Dean, has previously admitted to Woman's Day, that he's a dedicated Christian who finds strength and direction from bible study. 'Reading the Bible and interpreting its messages keeps me grounded and humble,' he exclusively told the outlet last month. Meanwhile, speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the event, Dean revealed he's been in constant communication with 'ex-wife' Tracey Jewel amid her struggles. Lending a helping hand: Meanwhile, speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the event, Dean revealed he's been in constant communication with 'ex-wife' Tracey Jewel amid her struggles. 'She's not doing well at all,' he explained. 'She's really struggling, so I'm just trying to keep her positive, make her laugh and try and be there for her as much as I can.' Earlier in the day, Dean had rushed to the defence of his fellow co-star following accusations she has engaged in fraudulent behaviour. Taking to Instagram, Dean defiantly declared: 'Tracey and I have had our differences in the past, but I don't think she's a bad person and I don't think she'd ever rip anyone off intentionally.' In the past few months, a social media group launched a campaign to expose Tracey's alleged 'lies', which include allegations that she held a fraudulent competition during promotions for her latest self-help book. Stuggling: 'She's not doing well at all,' he explained. 'She's really struggling, so I'm just trying to keep her positive, make her laugh and try and be there for her as much as I can' Earlier this week, Tracey released a lengthy statement addressing the various claims made against her - including the allegations that she ran a fraudulent competition promising a holiday in Malaysia . 'It seems I've been trialled by social media,' she wrote. 'Although I've had some business challenges I have resolved with those people privately, I have not been charged legally or criminally for anything. Instead I've been vilified by people that have nothing personally to do with any of the allegations they are throwing my way.' 'There's no boundaries anymore and the consequences can be people's lives literally destroyed,' she also added. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dean and Elora for comment. He was kicked out of Instagram's headquarters on Thursday after demanding a verified blue tick from staff. And now Married At First Sight's Nasser Sultan has begged KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O to be his references so he can get the coveted symbol by his name. Speaking to the breakfast duo on Friday, the 51-year-old explained: 'I gotta be certified here. My fans deserve to know who they're talking to!' Scroll down for audio 'I gotta be certified!' Married At First Sight's Nasser Sultan has begged radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O to be his references in his quest to get the coveted blue tick on Instagram Recalling his unsuccessful visit to the Facebook and Instagram's offices, he said he told multiple employees working there: 'Do you know who I am?... I'm Nasser from Married At First Sight goddammit. A big celebrity!' Clearly embarrassed for the reality TV personality, Kyle and Jackie told him he was wrong to make a dramatic scene. But the fitness instructor continued to complain: 'Even the losers from Love Island have got their ticks... even Dean (his MAFS co-star) has got his tick and he does nothing!' Kyle called his situation 'a disaster', and suggested he should provide more evidence to the social media company that he is REAL person. What a disaster! Kyle called the 51-year-old's situation 'a disaster' and explained that he needed to provide more evidence to the social media company that he is real person Awkward: The ageless Egyptian shamelessly asked: 'Well I'm going to use you and Jackie as my references, can I do that?' After a brief pause Jackie flatly said no while Kyle awkwardly told him to speak to his management But instead the ageless Egyptian shamelessly asked: 'Well, I'm going to use you and Jackie as my references, can I do that?' After a brief pause Jackie flatly said 'no', while Kyle awkwardly told him to speak to his management. Nasser turned up to Instagram's head office in Sydney on Thursday, and boldly demanded to be verified. 'This isn't acceptable!' Nasser was recently 'kicked out' of Instagram head office after turning up uninvited and demanding a verified blue tick from bemused staff members inside Things took an unexpected turn as the next clip showed Nasser riding the elevator back down to the ground floor while looking defeated. 'So I come to Instagram and what happens,' Nasser said to camera on his way out. 'I still haven't got my blue tick and I've been kicked out. This isn't acceptable and you haven't heard the last of me yet Instagram.' She recently jetted off to Cannes for a romantic holiday with her partner, Jeremy Parisi. And Kelly Brook and her French partner continued their globe-trotting antics as they flew into Barcelona on Thursday to soak up the sights of the iconic Sagrada Familia. The model, 38, and personal trainer, 32, looked as smitten as ever as they cosied up for a loved-up Instagram selfie in front of the Gaudi temple, which she captioned simply: 'Tourists.' 'Tourists': Kelly Brook cosied up to her handsome boyfriend Jeremy Parisi while sightseeing in Barcelona on Thursday Kelly looked typically chic in a checked top and large hoop earrings, while Jeremy kept things casual in a black jacket. The brunette bombshell also posted a snap of herself looking sultry in a blue printed maxidress as she posed on the couple's picturesque hotel balcony. 'Living that Catafornian Life this week in Sitges,' she wrote alongside it. Brook has been eagerly documenting the pair's trip around Europe, and last week shared a sizzling swimsuit selfie with Jeremy in Cannes. Sizzling: The brunette bombshell also posted a snap of herself looking sultry in a blue printed maxidress as she posed on the couple's picturesque hotel balcony Globetrotter: Brook has been eagerly documenting the pair's trip around Europe, and last week shared a sizzling swimsuit selfie with Jeremy in Cannes In another image, the Loose Women star maintained her trademark vixen appearance as she reclined on a rock in an animal print swimsuit. Kelly oozed elegance on her trip as she donned an loose-fitting maxi dress during an idyllic boat ride. The bombshell framed her stunning face with loosely tousled curls, and accessorised with oversized hooped earrings. Naturally stunning: Sharing a glimpse of her break with her Instagram followers, the model exhibited her incredibly glowing visage as she went make-up free in one snap All eyes on her: In another image, the Loose Women star maintained her trademark vixen appearance as she reclined on a rock in an animal print swimsuit Kelly's posts comes after she related to Jennifer Aniston's claim that childless women are seen as 'damaged goods', while revealing further miscarriage heartache. The brunette beauty candidly discussed the Friends actress' comments in InStyle magazine where she declared her purpose on this planet may not be to procreate and hit back at pressure on women who do not start a family. Brunette beauty Kelly said she had been subjected to questions about when she was planning to start a family as she nears 40, as she spoke about enduring the heartbreak of 'several miscarriages.' Cosy: Kelly oozed elegance on her trip as she donned an loose-fitting maxi dress during an idyllic boat ride She said: 'People always ask my biological clock is ticking, Im approaching 40. I have tried to have children, I havent been lucky, Ive had several miscarriages. 'People feel the need to ask, they dont think it could be a medical reason youre not having children. 'They think Im a selfish person, I don't want children, people need to understand and look at why you arent having kids. When Im asked are you going to have kids? I never have the right answer, I never want to go into it, its no ones business. Radiant: The bombshell framed her stunning face with loosely tousled curls, and accessorised with oversized hooped earrings 'It annoys me when people look at you, they say you dont have children, you don't know anything, wait till you have them,. I think that's a bit mean too.' Kelly has spoken openly about her previous battles to have a baby. In April 2011 she experienced a painful miscarriage when she was six months pregnant by then boyfriend Thom Evans. In her autobiography Close Up, she also admitted she had suffered another miscarriage in December 2011. He's been a staple of the big screen for over thirty years. And Denzel Washington revealed his hopes for the film industry in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, and admitted there are 'more rules in place' since the numerous allegations of sexual misconduct in the Hollywood sphere came out - but that 'only time will tell' on the real impact. In an interview with the i Newspaper, the iconic actor, 63, also had some sage advice for anyone who may try and 'mess' with his daughter Olivia, 27, who followed in her famous father's footsteps and launched her own acting career. Hope: Denzel Washington, 63, said 'only time will tell' if Hollywood will change after the Harvey Weinstein scandal in Friday's i Newspaper Speaking to the publication about the #Metoo era - founded after disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was accused by several actress of sexual assault - Denzel admitted that only time will tell if the movement will have any real impact on the film industry. On if he think is Hollywood will change in a post-Weinstein era, the Oscar-winning actor said: 'I hope so. I think there are just more rules in place. Time will tell on this one but its good right now.' His daughter Olivia, 27, has broken out of her father's shadow to carve out her own successful film career, but the doting dad still has an eye on her when it comes to her safety. Devoted: His daughter Olivia, 27, has broken out of her father's shadow to carve out her own successful film career, but the doting dad still has an eye on her when it comes to her safety (pictured together 2013) Hoping for change: The #Metoo era - founded after disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein (pictured 2017) was accused by several actress of sexual assault When asked if he feels Olivia is safeguarded as a woman in the industry, Denzel brazenly replied: 'Yes, plus I will break somebodys back if they mess around with my daughter. Let that be the message to put out there. Their back will be broken.' At the age of 63, Denzel has curated a glittering film career spanning three decades with several accolades under his belt, but the Man On Fire star recently gave up alcohol in a bid to make his so-called 'forth quarter' more fulfilling. On his decision to ditch booze on his 60th birthday, Denzel added: 'Moderation is the key. If you drink too much water youll drown. Im not drinking alcohol. On if he think is Hollywood will change in a post-Weinstein era, the Oscar-winning actor said: 'I hope so. I think there are just more rules in place. Time will tell on this one' 'A good place': On if he think is Hollywood will change in a post-Weinstein era, the Oscar-winning actor said: 'I hope so. I think there are just more rules in place 'When youre toasted you need a day to recover. You get a hangover. So thats two days out of your life. I dont have time to waste. Lets say theres 365 days in a year, so in 10 years thats 3650, so how many days do you want to waste?' Meanwhile, Denzel looked ever the leading man as he continued the promotional tour for his latest action flick The Equalizer 2 in London on Thursday. Dressed head-to-toe in black, the Malcolm X actor looked dapper as he pounded away from the Global radio studios in a loose-fitting suit and sneakers. Making a change: At the age of 63, the star recently gave up alcohol in a bid to make his so-called 'forth quarter' more fulfilling Keeping busy: Meanwhile, Denzel looked ever the leading man as he continued the promotional tour for his latest action flick The Equalizer 2 in London on Thursday Denzel flashed a small smile to the cameras as he made his way of the building, with his signature short hair-style and close shave on full display. The celebrated actor has been married to wife Pauletta for more than 35 years and proved that some relationships in Hollywood are capable of lasting. In an interview with People, Denzel revealed exactly what it has taken in order for his marriage to survive the harshness of being in the limelight. 'I do what I'm told, keep my mouth shut,' Denzel joked with the magazine. He and his wife Pauletta, who have four children together, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in June. The Golden Globe-winning actor met Pauletta on set while he was filming a TV movie entitled Wilma. The couple married in 1983 and have four children together: John David, 33; Katia, 30; Olivia, 27; and Malcolm, 27. This in an extract from the full interview with Denzel Washington, available to read in this Fridays issue of the i newspaper. Frat Packer Vince Vaughn has reportedly sold his three-bedroom Hollywood Hills home for $2.46M at a $850K profit after it was on the market for over a year. According to Variety, the 48-year-old SAG Award nominee originally bought the gated, two-story property back in 2014 from The Domestics actress Kate Bosworth. It's unlikely the Brawl in Cell Block 99 actor actually resided in the 2,890-square-foot home built in 1955, because he leased it several times in 2016-2017. Moving on up! Frat Packer Vince Vaughn has reportedly sold his three-bedroom Hollywood Hills home for $2.46M at a $850K profit after it was on the market for over a year (pictured November 2) Nondescript: According to Variety, the 48-year-old SAG Award nominee originally bought the gated, two-story property back in 2014 from The Domestics actress Kate Bosworth Vince - whose mother Sharon is a real estate agent - is said to have made a habit of buying and selling (or flipping) expensive homes over the years. The non-descript compound features two and a half bathrooms, hardwood floors, brick fireplace, as well as a galley-style kitchen featuring two sinks and modern appliances. The master bedroom takes up the whole second floor with French doors opening to a private deck, his and hers walk-in closets, and a large bathroom featuring a steam shower. Investment: It's unlikely the Brawl in Cell Block 99 actor actually resided in the 2,890-square-foot home built in 1955, because he leased it several times in 2016-2017 His mother Sharon is a real estate agent: Vince is said to have made a habit of buying and selling (or flipping) expensive homes over the years Hungry? The compound features two and a half bathrooms, hardwood floors, brick fireplace, as well as a galley-style kitchen featuring two sinks and modern appliances Fresh air: The master bedroom takes up the whole second floor with French doors opening to a private deck, his and hers walk-in closets, and a large bathroom featuring a steam shower Scenic: The home's Eucalyptus tree-lined brick terrace boasts incredible views from the top of Nichols Canyon Not very kid-friendly: And there's a long lap-lane swimming pool shielded by privacy bamboo beside one of the two guest bedrooms The home's Eucalyptus tree-lined brick terrace boasts incredible views from the top of scenic Nichols Canyon. And there's a long lap-lane swimming pool shielded by privacy bamboo beside one of the two guest bedrooms. Vaughn and his wife of eight years - Kyla Weber - and their daughter Locklyn Kyla, 9; and son Vernon Lindsay, 5; have lived in a $6.4M, 7,308-square-foot house in Manhattan Beach since 2014. Family portrait in 2015: Vaughn and his wife of eight years - Kyla Weber - and their daughter Locklyn Kyla, 9; and son Vernon Lindsay, 5; have lived in a $6.4M, 7,308-square-foot house in Manhattan Beach since 2014 Busted: It was the Manhattan Beach Police Department that arrested the Swingers alum for a misdemeanor DUI and obstructing an officer on June 10, and he spent the night in jail It was the Manhattan Beach Police Department that arrested the Swingers alum for a misdemeanor DUI and obstructing an officer on June 10, and he spent the night in jail - according to TMZ. The F Is for Family producer's Dragged Across Concrete co-star Mel Gibson knows a thing or two about embarrassing DUI arrests following his racist and sexist rant in 2006. Vince and the 62-year-old Oscar winner play overzealous rogue police officers in S. Craig Zahler's buddy cop comedy, which premieres September 3 at the Venice Film Festival. Advice? The F Is for Family producer's Dragged Across Concrete co-star Mel Gibson knows a thing or two about embarrassing DUI arrests following his racist and sexist rant in 2006 The Meg (12A) Verdict: Amusingly preposterous Rating: A mighty survivor against all the odds, thrashing around aggressively at the bottom of the ocean, master of its realm like some ancient, angry king, but occasionally, menacingly, thundering to the surface, vast torso inducing gasps of shock and awe despite its great age Yes, tough guy Jason Statham is back in an action movie, fighting a giant, two-million-year-old shark. Almost 16 years have passed since Statham kicked up a storm in The Transporter, the first of his over-the-top action roles. He is in his 50s now, so uncompromisingly bald and gruff that he could easily get a comfortable job in EastEnders as the lost Mitchell brother. Li Bingbing and Jason Statham in film 'The Meg' - just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water Instead, here he is splashing about energetically in The Meg, a film of such heroic preposterousness that I can't quite decide whether to urge you to see it, or urge you not to. Either way, you can't lose. Meg is short for megalodon, a species of colossal shark long thought to be extinct for the thoroughly sound reason that it is, having died out towards the end of the Pliocene age. But in Hollywood, extinction is a concept itself as dead as a dodo. Where would summer blockbusters be without the snarling of primordial beasts, terrorising the modern world? The Meg is half Jurassic Park, half Jaws, and wholly barmy. It begins with Statham's character, Jonas Taylor, diver extraordinaire, rescuing the crew of a stricken submarine. 'Something's crushing the hull,' someone shouts, possibly Jonas, though it's hard to tell in the melee. The implication is clear to us if not yet to them. There's a megalodon the size of an articulated lorry at large. Meanwhile, a caption says Philippine Trench, which is not the name of the film's heroine but an underwater location, and the first hint that a chunk of The Meg's production money came from the Far East. Further evidence arrives in the beauteous form of the female love interest, Suyin Zhang, played by Li Bingbing. The Meg is half Jurassic Park, half Jaws, and wholly barmy, according to Brian Viner Suyin is not just a pretty face, she is also an intrepid diver herself and enviably well-connected. Her father is Dr Minway Zhang (Winston Chao), the brilliant scientist who runs an oceanic research station 200 miles off the Chinese coast, funded by a livewire U.S. billionaire called Jack Morris. He is played by Rainn Wilson, who does not live up to his name and Rainn anything in. Some of the acting in this film is as subtle as a shark attack, although compared with the dialogue, it deserves prizes for understatement. At the screening I attended, small ripples of mirth developed into great frothy waves, as it began to dawn on us that every character had at least one contender for clunkiest line. Whether director Jon Turteltaub intended his audience to laugh their socks off, I'm not sure. There is some suggestion of deliberate tongue-in-cheekery, not least the film's amusing valedictory caption, but on the whole I think we're meant to take it seriously, which is the biggest hoot of all. Jason Statham in the Warner Bros. new movie : The Meg (2018): After escaping an attack by what he claims was a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor (Statham) must confront his fears to save those trapped in a sunken submersible As for the story, it resumes five years after Jonas's initial rescue, which was only partially successful and damaged rather than enhanced his reputation as the go-to man in an underwater crisis, because his claims about a massive shark were considered, well, fishy. Consequently, and inevitably, he is now a beach bum in Thailand. In films like this, discredited heroes always end up as beach bums. But out at the research station, they need Jonas back in his wetsuit. The crew of an exploration vessel has discovered that what was previously thought to be the ocean floor wasn't. There's a whole new maritime world underneath it, including a family of megalodons, one of which has bashed up the exploration vessel, rendering it immovable. Only one fellow has the lung-power, the know-how and the designer stubble to save it, and he's quaffing Thai beer and refusing to ride to the rescue, until someone says: 'Your ex-wife and her crew are trapped ' Yes, the vessel is skippered by Jonas's ex, the comely Celeste (Jessica McNamee), who, like all the other adult females who work at the research station, is uncommonly gorgeous. The recruitment message is clear: if you don't look like a beauty queen, you clearly haven't got the requisite oceanography skills. So Jonas does squeeze into his wetsuit, which is a sight in itself, like seeing an extra-thick beef sausage in a chipolata skin. Then, once he's bonded with Suyin's cute little daughter by way of showing us that he would be at least as terrific a dad as he is a shark-hunter, the stage is set for him to save the world, or at least that smallish proportion of it holidaying in the Chinese resort of Sanya Bay. That's where the megalodon is headed, and where Turteltaub shamelessly re-stages the scene in Jaws in which the little boy's distraught mother runs towards the water while everyone else is running away. The open references to Steven Spielberg's 1975 masterpiece act as an unwitting reminder that the evolution of the shark movie has gone backwards in 43 years, in every way but one. The special-effects in The Meg are splendid, making it just about more watchable than not. And then, of course, there's Statham, who keeps an admirably straight face from start to finish, still reportedly tackles his own stunts, and never lets on whether the apparatus he needs to plunge into the watery depths is to let the oxygen in, or the testosterone out. Unfriended: Dark Web (15) Verdict: Ingenious horror Rating: A notional sequel to the 2014 horror film Unfriended, but really a standalone project marking the directorial debut of screenwriter Stephen Susco, Unfriended: Dark Web might make you want to go home and throw your laptop away. Or give thanks that you don't have one. At any rate, as the title implies, the film explores that sinister side of the internet where predators and perverts flourish. Like the original film, this one unfolds almost entirely on a computer screen, which at first feels like a teasing novelty, but soon gets more than a little tiresome. If you're not fluent in System Preferences and don't know your way round Facebook and Skype, then this is definitely not for you. At the centre of the story is an American man in his 20s, Matias (Colin Woodell), who has claimed a stranger's Apple Mac from lost property at an internet cafe. More fool him. The laptop, it soon emerges, has some deeply weird stuff on it, leading Matias, the pals in his group Skype sessions and his deaf girlfriend headlong into a grotesque world of extreme sexual deviancy, not to mention abduction and murder. The film is nicely acted and ingeniously constructed, but actually its very ingenuity becomes a problem, because we are forced to believe in a set of cyber-skills that become increasingly, almost ludicrously, implausible. Still, as a scary modern fable, a kind of warped fairy tale, it is quite effective. A fairy tale, when you think about it, that's all about someone unwisely taking a byte of a poisoned Apple. The Darkest Minds (12A) Verdict: Derivative sci-fi fare Rating: The Darkest Minds is based on a young-adult novel and plays out like a pallid version of The Hunger Games or Divergent films. It even stars The Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg. She plays Ruby, a teenager infected by a disease that is killing all American children, except those it doesn't kill, who are rounded up by the state and forced to live in internment camps. Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, whose first live-action picture this is (she previously brought us Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3), lightens all the sci-fi dystopia with an old-fashioned summer-camp love story, but as a result the film feels muddled, neither entirely one thing nor entirely the other. I think its young target audience will feel a little short-changed. She is working with homeless charity White Caravan, an initiative that will see renovated caravans accessed by women leaving abusive relationships. But when Tziporah, formerly known as Kate Fischer, appeared on Channel Nine's Today Extra on Friday to discuss the initiative, the station ran photos and footage from the height of her modelling career, her role in movies, and her former engagement to billionaire James Packer, 50. Co-host David Campbell, 45, then asked the brunette: 'When all the photos started coming up, I asked you how felt when people flash up those photos about your past and you said...?' 'Why are you doing it?': Tziporah Malkah (pictured) snapped at Channel Nine's David Campbell and Sonia Kruger after pictures from her former high flying modelling career were shown on screen on Today Extra on Friday Clearly miffed, Tziporah closed her eyes and shook her head as she replied: 'I said, "Why are doing it?" She continued: 'I lived it, so that's all fine with me and it's all great for you, but I'm here to talk about White Caravan. 'And so when people put me on show and go, "Look how beautiful she once was, young and skinny and rich and now look at her now - old, fat and used to be homeless. Oh that's all we've got time for now, bye everybody!"' she added. Looking back: Co-host David Campbell asked Tziporah how she felt when she saw photos from her past life flashed on TV, to which she replied: 'Why are doing it?' Pictured: Today Extra hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kruger Speaking out: 'When people put me on show and go, "Look how beautiful she once was, young and skinny and rich and now look at her now - old, fat and used to be homeless", that doesn't make me feel good. That's not why I'm here,' the former model said 'That doesn't make me feel good. That's not why I'm here.' David interjected, saying, 'That's not your value of who you are anymore.' 'No. I think I've got a lot more to talk about,' replied Tziporah. The bare facts: Tziporah was once one of the most in-demand models, and a regular on the Sydney social scene In the frame: Tziporah, formerly known as Kate Fischer, was a model in the late '80s and '90s who appeared on the front cover of Vogue magazine, and others High-flyer: Tziporah, then known as Kate Fischer, was engaged to billionaire Jamie Packer (pictured) in the '90s Earlier on Friday, the former model revealed she lives in fear of becoming homeless again and could be 'a fortnight away from being evicted', after spending almost two years living in a women's shelter in Melbourne. She told Channel Nine's Today show that the feeling of 'having nowhere to go and no-one to turn to still hasn't left her' despite living in private accommodation now for several years. In a candid interview with Sylvia Jeffreys and Georgie Gardner, the former model described how her glamorous life fell apart while living in America when she was 'embezzled' by a friend and left with 'no money'. Big screen: Tziporah, as Kate Fischer, starred alongside Elle Macpherson and Portia de Rossi in the 1994 film Sirens. Pictured, from left: Elle Macpherson, Tziporah Malkah and Portia de Rossi Photo finish: The brunette beauty began her modelling career at age 13, and was lauded as the 'Face of '88' on the cover of Dolly magazine (pictured) Speaking about her return to Australia after a period living in the US, she said: 'I thought, "If you are going to be poor in any country, the best country in the world to be poor in is Australia, even though it is still not great." 'So I came back to Australia. I moved to Melbourne, I know too many people in Sydney. I wanted to go somewhere where I'm anonymous... and moved into what was effectively a women's shelter. It was ran by a women's housing group.' Tziporah, who admitted she 'never learnt any life skills' during her heady days as a model and actress in the 1990s, claimed she lived in the homeless shelter for '22 months, so about two years'. Coupledom: She was engaged to marry James Packer (left) in the 1990s, but the duo split Aziz Ansari held hands with a new girlfriend Thursday in New York City while wearing a T-shirt reading 'Lover' during a summer stroll. The 35-year-old actor earlier this year was accused of sexual misconduct. Aziz wore a blue shirt with his 'Lover' message above a left chest pocket along with blue-grey trousers and white slip-ons. Holding hands: Aziz Ansari was spotted holding hands with a new girlfriend on Thursday in New York City The Master Of None star accessorized with sunglasses and carried a backpack. He held hands while strolling in Tribeca with a woman wearing a short-sleeved lacy black top and loose black capri pants. She carried a large black bag and added a pop of color with bright green sandals. A woman using the pseudonym 'Grace' accused the actor of sexual misconduct in a January article on Babe.net. Lover shirt: The 35-year-old actor wore a blue T-shirt with 'Lover' written above a chest pocket Main squeeze: Aziz held onto his girlfriend's arm as they crossed a street in Tribeca The anonymous article accused the comedian of ignoring her verbal and non-verbal cues in his apartment last September and claimed that he repeatedly tried to pressure her into having sex with him. The Parks And Recreation star responded to the claims in a statement, saying in part: 'I took her words to heart and responded privately after taking the time to process what she had said.' He also stated that the encounter 'by all indications was completely consensual'. Holding hands: The Master Of None star held hands with the unidentified lady Close contact: Aziz held hands and put his arm her shoulder as they walked together Critics of the self-identified 'feminist' actor claimed his actions were misogynistic, lacked affirmative consent and furthered the cultural subordination of women. Others, however, were critical of his accuser's narrative saying their encounter did not constitute sexual misconduct and also trivialized the larger #MeToo movement. Aziz in January won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy for his portrayal of Dev Shah in Master Of None. He also won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for his work on the Netflix series. Aziz was included in the Time 100 list of most influential people in 2016. Model Belle Lucia was struck down with a mystery illness during a flight to Australia from Vancouver, Canada this week. Rushed to hospital upon arrival, the 23-year-old is currently hooked up to a drip after being treated by 'medical professionals' on the plane. Taking to Instagram on Thursday to share the dramatic news, Belle told her followers she had just experienced 'the most intense flight ever'. 'Modelling isn't what it looks like on Instagram': Australian model Belle Lucia was hospitalised this week after doctors were called during a mid-flight health crisis She captioned a photo of herself wearing an oxygen mask on the plane: 'Finally home in Australia after the most intense flight ever. 'Medical professionals were called to assist me on the flight. Really thankful for everyone who looked after me on board.' Appearing gaunt and tired in the selfie, Belle hinted that her ill-health was linked to her gruelling modelling schedule. 'Really thankful for everyone who looked after me': Taking to Instagram on Thursday to share the news, Belle told her followers she had just experienced 'the most intense flight ever' 'I'm finally taking time off to recover from being sick,' she added. 'Modelling isn't what it looks like on Instagram.' Belle, who has been described as 'Australia's Kylie Jenner' because of her exotic appearance, told her fans it was important to 'listen to your body and take time off'. 'I'm a workaholic but this was a huge wake up call,' she concluded. Scary episode: Keeping fans up to date on her condition, Belle later shared a photo from her hospital bedside alongside the caption: 'Still here, still sick but recovering' Ordeal: She followed this up with snap revealing she is currently hooked up to a drip, adding: 'So happy to be with family' Keeping fans up to date on her condition, Belle later shared a photo from her hospital bedside alongside the caption: 'Still here, still sick but recovering'. She followed this up with snap revealing she is currently hooked up to a drip, adding: 'So happy to be with family'. Belle, who is the face and body of Boux Avenue nightwear, has fronted campaigns for various retailers, including Pretty Little Thing. Rising star: Belle, who is the face and body of Boux Avenue nightwear, has fronted campaigns for various retailers, including Pretty Little Thing Speaking to Maxim Australia last year, Belle said she was scouted as a model when she was just 14 and worked throughout high school. 'If I wasn't modelling I would be working as a registered nurse,' she explained. 'I've always been passionate about helping others and I'm not scared of the sight of blood.' Love Island Australia's Grant Crapp awkwardly denied he was dating his 'secret girlfriend' Lucy Cartwright during a joint breakfast radio interview on Friday. The 22-year-old electrician repeatedly claimed they were never 'officially' dating and even admitted he didn't want to commit to a monogamous relationship. KIIS FM hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson lost patience with Grant and Lucy, 21, during the segment and branded their answers 'bulls**t'. Scroll down for video The plot thickens! Love Island Australia's Grant Crapp (top) awkwardly denied he was dating 'secret girlfriend' Lucy Cartwright (bottom) during a joint breakfast radio interview on Friday While Love Island Australia was airing in June and July, controversy erupted when fans discovered that Grant was hiding a 'secret girlfriend' back home. (The 'secret girlfriend' was later identified as Lucy). Grant went on to win the dating show alongside Lebanese beauty queen Tayla Damir in a public vote, taking home $25,000 each. While he denied his relationship with Lucy for weeks, Grant eventually confessed to Tayla that Lucy was, in fact, his girlfriend until right before he left for Spain. Tayla ended their relationship amid the scandal and Grant revealed this week that he and Lucy had reunited, with the couple even posing for an underwear-clad magazine photo shoot. However, in yet another bizarre twist in the 'secret girlfriend' saga, Grant and Lucy told Kyle and Jackie O on Friday that they are still not officially dating. Tell the truth! Jackie 'O' Henderson (right) told the pair they were 'confusing' everyone by not being honest about their relationship and insisting they were 'just friends' before Grant flew to Spain to film Love Island in late May. Pictured left: Kyle Sandilands Please explain! Throughout the interview, Kyle and Jackie tried to get the couple to speak candidly about their relationship - but the answers were confusing, evasive and contradictory. Pictured (left to right): Grant Crapp, Kyle Sandilands, Jackie O and Lucy Cartwright Throughout the interview, Kyle and Jackie tried to get the couple to speak candidly about their relationship - but the answers were confusing, evasive and contradictory. 'Are you guys together now?' asked Jackie, to which Grant replied: 'We're just taking each day as it comes.' 'What does that mean?' snapped Kyle, before the Canberra-based tradesman claimed he was 'too busy' to ask Lucy to be his girlfriend. Jackie told the pair they were 'confusing' everyone by not being honest about their relationship and insisting they were 'just friends' before Grant flew to Spain to film Love Island in late May. Scandal! While Love Island Australia was airing in June and July, controversy erupted when fans discovered that Grant (pictured left with on-screen girlfriend Tayla Damir on the show) was hiding a 'secret girlfriend' back home, who was later identified as Lucy (right) The backstory! Grant won Love Island with Tayla Damir last month, with the pair taking home $25,000 each. While he denied his 'secret' relationship for weeks, Grant eventually confessed to Tayla that Lucy was, in fact, his girlfriend until right before he left for Spain. Tayla ended their relationship amid the scandal. Pictured: Tayla and Grant in the Love Island finale Kyle also demanded to know why Grant could commit to Tayla after two weeks on the show but wouldn't commit to Lucy despite them being close for more than a year. 'Look at Lucy. Why won't you commit to Lucy? She seems lovely,' he said. 'Why won't you commit to the girl? Or are you not finishing rooting around yet?' While Grant has publicly claimed in recent weeks that he and Lucy were not 'exclusive' before he appeared on Love Island, his former flame Tayla has a different story. Announcing their split last month, she claimed Grant admitted to her privately he had 'a girlfriend [Lucy] who was running his business while he was inside the villa.' Grant only went on the show 'to promote himself' and had no interest in finding love, Tayla further alleged. She shocked fans last month with her abrupt resignation from SBS after nearly four decades at the network. And amid reports she's central in a bidding war between rival networks, Ten and Seven, Lee Lin Chin said she was jetting out to her native Singapore on Thursday to escape the circulating rumours. Revealing her travel plans on Twitter, the fashion forward newsreader also cracked a joke about the paparazzi in her typically humourous manner. 'Goodbye Australia!' Lee Lin Chin returned to her native Singapore after abruptly resigning from SBS after nearly four decades at the network She wrote: 'Goodbye Australia I shall be spending the next month in Singapore. Try and catch me now Paparazzi! Seriously, try it. I will end you.' The small-screen icon also took the opportunity to make a joke about her celebrity status. 'In Singapore I can do whatever I like,' she remarked. 'Im a native who became a celebrity to white people,' before adding, 'Im essentially above the law.' 'I will end you!' Revealing her travel plans on Twitter, the fashion forward newsreader also took a swipe at the paparazzi in typically humourous manner Prior to her alleged departure, reports suggested Ten and Seven are locked in a bidding war to snap up Ms Chin. And the former is allegedly eyeing the TV icon for The Project, with industry insiders claiming she would be a natural fit for the format. 'Her popularity with the younger demographic would be something Ten would be keen to capitalise on,' the source told Confidential in July. 'Her popularity with the younger demographic would be something Ten would be keen to capitalise on!' Ten is allegedly eyeing the celebrated icon for The Project with industry insiders claiming she would be a natural fit for the format The claim was given further credence last week when she told Ten Daily that she would be 'happy' to move to the network. 'I'd like to point out that, once a newsreader, always a newsreader,' she said. 'I would be very happy to read the news on a casual basis in the future if someone were willing to have me...I'm sure i could give Ten a ratings boost.' However, it seems it is not just Ten that could be eyeing off Lee Lin's talents with an insider from Channel Seven telling the publication the network has already made inquiries as to her interest. Competition for Carrie: The 37 year-old could find herself sharing the panel with the former SBS veteran 'We have reached out to her through her management and have told her we would be open to discussions about a role,' the insider said. They added: 'she would be a great addition to any network. Lee Lin is so well-liked and can cross so many different fields. Wherever she ends up she will be a huge asset.' She's the former Miss Universe Australia entrant who is known for her flawless complexion. And on Friday, Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) shared a snap of herself topless to Instagram, as she praised her love of luxurious skincare regimes. The slender 26-year-old's golden tan glistened in the sunlight as her cropped blonde locks were pushed back to show off her luminous skin. Scroll down to video Daring to bare! Model Jesinta Campbell oozes sex appeal as she goes TOPLESS while praising her love of luxurious skincare routines 'I'm all about fresh radiant skin,' she wrote under the sexy image. 'No matter where I am in the world, how early my day starts or how late it ends I stick to my skincare regime no matter what'. The blonde beauty appeared to be sitting in the bathroom of her Rose Bay home as she endorsed the skincare line Olay Australia, for which she is an ambassador for. That's her secret! Taking to Instagram in June, Jesinta shared a behind-the-scenes video of herself nourishing her radiant visage at The Clinic in Sydney's Bondi Junction The high-end model regularly shares her tips on how she maintains her silky soft complexion, sharing both low-end tips and more expensive treatments. Taking to Instagram in June, she shared a behind-the-scenes video of herself nourishing her radiant visage at The Clinic in Sydney's Bondi Junction. In the footage, a beautician is seen fixing a dewy mask on the her face. The beautician's gloved hand could be seen adjusting the face mask around the Jesinta's delicate doll-like features. Meanwhile, Jesinta sat still in the chair with her normally sleek-looking mane wrapped in a blue hair net. At the clinic, face peels start at $150 while more elaborate hydrafacials start at $250. Golnesa 'GG' Gharachedaghi stormed out of a Valentine's Day party after being blindsided by Reza Farahan and Mercedes 'MJ' Javid on Shahs Of Sunset. Reza, 45, and MJ, 45, surprised her at the bash as they took the stage and asked GG to raise her hand on Thursday's episode titled It's My Party and I'll Make You Cry If I Want To. They then informed GG, 36, that they had a friend at the party who was also married to her estranged husband Shalom Yeroushalmi. Stormed out: Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi stormed out of a Valentine's Day party after being singled out and humiliated on Thursday's episode of Shahs Of Sunset GG became immediately outraged and asked Shervin Rooparvar to 'take me the f*** out of here'. Shervin tried to calm her down, but GG remained apoplectic. 'I don't want to be around these people anymore. Why would they do that?,' GG fumed. Turns out they did it to get back at GG for ruining their announcement during the Big Bear ski trip that openly gay Reza was going to be the 'man-of-honor' at MJ's wedding to Tommy Feight. Sweet revenge: Reza Farahan and Mercedes 'MJ' Javid got back at GG for ruining their ski trip announcement that Reza was going to be 'man-of-honor' at her wedding 'So how does Tommy feel about the maid-of-honor who had his d*** inside you?,' GG blurted out upon hearing the news. 'Thank you, Golnesa,' Reza said sarcastically. 'Do you want to be in the bridal party? You can't be happy for me?,' MJ asked her. Wrong question: GG asked how MJ's fiance Tommy Feight felt 'about the maid-of-honor who had his d*** inside you?' Total sarcasm: Reza sarcastically thanked GG for her inquiry Bridal party: MJ asked GG if she wanted to be in the bridal party after her rude question Mike Shouhed, 35, thought it was funny saying 'wife boned by gay dude'. Reza and MJ during last week's season premiere after previous denials admitted they had sex together in their youth. MJ realized that GG was going through a contentious divorce and said, 'I feel bad for GG for not being happy for us'. Felt bad: MJ said that she felt bad for 'GG for not being happy for us' She was told disputes like that sometimes happen between sisters. 'It doesn't happen with sisters, it happens with low-level haters,' MJ shot back. 'That was terrible,' Reza said as the group headed back to Los Angeles. Not cool: Reza said that GG's comment was 'terrible' GG got married in January after Shalom used a Times Square billboard to propose to her in December. They separated in March and GG filed divorce papers in May. MJ was shown working out with a personal trainer ahead of her wedding and asking party planner Destiney Rose to handle her Valentine's Day party. She also took her mother to visit her fertility specialist Doctor Ghadir after having embryos frozen. Working out: MJ was shown working out with a personal trainer ahead of her wedding In shape: The 45-year-old reality star had been working out for months in preparation for her big day MJ said her plan was to get married and then quickly have a baby. Vida wondered why she was rushing since their was no expiration date for the frozen embryos. She was worried that if MJ's critically ill father died while she was pregnant that it could hurt her daughter. Baby plan: MJ said she planned to get married and then quickly have a baby Girls only: Mona Vand went out for drinks with Destiney Rose and GG Guys only: Reza, Mike Shouhed and Shervin Rooparvar meanwhile stuck show newcomer Nema Vand with their dinner bill Doctor Ghadir, who actually went to high school with MJ, told Vida that MJ's 'love for her dad pushed her to do this. 'I would like for you to be positive with her because I can't wait to give all of you good news,' he told Vida. 'Yes, thank you,' said MJ who admitted to keeping details about her life away from her critical mother. Fertility doctor: Doctor Ghadir met MJ's mother Vida and talked about her daughter's frozen embryos Much appreciated: MJ thanked Doctor Ghadir for urging her mother to be positive Getting along: Vida and MJ's fiance Tommy surprisingly were getting along The Valentine's Day party included another wedding-related announcement that angered GG and Reza's husband Adam Neely. MJ told the partygoers that she was getting married April 21 and her oldest friend Reza was going to be 'man of honor'. She then introduced her other bridal party members including her personal trainer Craig and her hair stylist Brandon. Party shopping: Mercedes and Destiney went shopping for the Valentine's Day party together New addition: Destiney also joined the show for season seven Fun party: Destiney and MJ had fun at the party 'Her glam squad is her bridal team,' fumed GG who said she talked to MJ daily about her sick father. Adam also was hurt that he was passed over for the bridal party. Vida at the party told MJ that she liked Tommy but still didn't find him '100 percent suitable as your husband'. Purple suit: Nema looked sharp in a purple suit Good times: Mike also was having fun at the party with Destiney 'I wish everyone was happy,' MJ moped. Reza after embarrassing GG later tried to say sorry at the party. 'I wanted to apologize so this doesn't become a thing,' Reza said. 'It's a thing already,' GG told him. Apology effort: Reza attempted to apologize to MJ Reza conferred with MJ and admitted 'we poked the bear, let's squash it' adding that 'we got her back' for Big Bear. MJ during a confessional said, 'I have no intention of enabling friends who act like a**holes. If you do something shady, then don't cry when something happens to you'. She then tried to patch things up with GG and said she wanted to be close to her. Got her: MJ and Reza conferred after getting back at GG MJ said she's been making a 'concerted effort to reach out and be connected with you' and asked GG if she was for her or against her. GG started laughing as she asked if they were really having that conversation and MJ stormed off. 'B****, I tried,' MJ said. Mike also was shown working on renovations at his new house with Reza's help. New house: Mike was working on renovating his new house as he looked to settle down Kitchen appliance: Workers brought in a new refrigerator for Mike's place He was pursuing Nema's sister Mona but told Reza that he really wanted to be with 25-year-old Morgan who shared his philosophies. 'Mike is very shallow and requires complimenting and Mona is not that girl,' Reza said during a confessional. Shahs Of Sunset will return next week on Bravo. They've each won a Golden Globe. So it was no surprise that Charlize Theron and Jennifer Garner should lend their star power Thursday night to a gala hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in Beverly Hills. The two actresses each opted for a black mini dress that put their fabulous legs front and center at the star-studded event. Charlize Theron, left, and Jennifer Garner, right, each opted for a black mini dress that put their fabulous legs front and center at a gala Thursday night in Beverly Hills Charlize, 43, chose a long-sleeved frock with a plunging neckline and asymmetrical hem. It featured a large silky bow at the navel that made quite a style statement. She added a pair of black heels with diagonal straps across the foot and accessorized with a trio of necklaces and stud earrings. The South African stunner wore her blonde blunt bob with a slightly off-center parting styled in loose waves and tucked behind her ear on one side. Stunning: Charlize, 43, chose a long-sleeved frock with a plunging neckline and a large silky bow at the navel that made quite a style statement Flawless: The South African star, who wore her blonde blunt bob with a slightly off-center parting, added black heels with straps and accessorized with a trio of necklaces Jennifer, 46, flaunted her gym-honed physique in a sleeveless dress with round neckline and a shiny skirt. The figure-hugging outfit was cinched at the waist with a black band and she wore black pointed toe pumps. Her long brunette locks were worn loose and tousled and Jen added a pair of stunning diamond earrings. Toned: Jennifer, 46, flaunted her gym-honed physique in a sleeveless dress with round neckline and a shiny skirt Leggy: The figure-hugging outfit was cinched at the waist and she wore black pumps. Her brunette locks were worn loose and tousled and Jen added a pair of stunning diamond earrings Amber Heard also attended the glitzy dinner turning heads in a thigh-skimming long-sleeved mini dress. Her black outfit was decorated with colorful beaded patterns and featured a collar and tiered skirt. The ex-wife of Johnny Depp wore her blonde hair scraped back from her face tat was made-up with black mascara and scarlet red lip color. Amber, 32, stepped out in black sandal heels that revealed a red pedicure. Fashion forward: Amber Heard, 32, also attended the glitzy dinner turning heads in a thigh-skimming long-sleeved mini dress Head-turning: Her black outfit was decorated with colorful beaded patterns and featured a collar and tiered skirt. She stepped out in black sandal heels that revealed a red pedicure Striking: The ex-wife of Johnny Depp wore her blonde hair scraped back from her face tat was made-up with black mascara and scarlet red lip color Dakota Fanning showed up in a cleavage-baring sleeveless wraparound red dress. The silky number was tied with a narrow sash at the waist and fell to mid-calf. Dakota, 24, left her long blonde hair loose and wore a thin double gold neck chain. Actress Regina King, 47, also opted for a red dress, pairing the strapless figure-hugging number with silver sandal heels. Meanwhile, Alfre Woodard, 65, looked lovely in a silver and black patterned dress and silver sandals. Young star: Dakota Fanning showed up in a cleavage-baring sleeveless wraparound red dress. The silky number was tied with a narrow sash at the waist and fell to mid-calf Pretty look: Dakota, 24, left her long blonde hair loose and wore a thin double gold neck chain Classy: Actress Regina King, 47, also opted for a red dress, pairing the strapless figure-hugging number with silver sandal heels Veteran star: Alfre Woodard, 65, looked lovely in a silver and black patterned dress and silver sandals Niecy Nash paired a shiny silver blouse with a bow at the neck and three-quarter sleeves with a black skirt with a tassel hem from knee to ankle. The 48-year-old accessorized with hoop silver earrings and added black pointed toe heels. Connie Britton flashed some serious cleavage in a low-cut black frock with ankle-length asymmetrical hem. The Nashville star, 51, added leopard print heels. Nia Long looked elegant in an ankle-length black dress with loose sleeves and a pair of gold sandals that revealed a matching black pedicure. BlacKkKlansman star Laura Harrier, 28, paired tailored black pants with a patterned blouse. Her Spike Lee movie co-star David John Washington, 34, was dapper in a black suit, blue polka dot shirt and gray tie. Elegant: Connie Britton flashed some serious cleavage in a low-cut black frock with ankle-length asymmetrical hem. The Nashville star, 51, added leopard print heels Style: Nia Long, 47, looked elegant in an ankle-length black dress with loose sleeves and a pair of gold sandals that revealed a matching black pedicure Co-stars: BlacKkKlansman star Laura Harrier, 28, paired tailored black pants with a patterned blouse, while her Spike Lee movie co-star David John Washington, 34,was dapper in a black suit, blue polka dot shirt and gray tie Bold: Niecy Nash paired a shiny silver blouse with a bow at the neck with a black skirt. The 48-year-old accessorized with hoop silver earrings and added black pointed toe heels Eclectic: Mj Rodriguez, 27, wore a sleeveless ivory frock and sandal heels, left, while Joey King, 19, opted for a funky white mini dress with long semi-sheer sleeves and a black tie, right Actor Tim Robbins, 59, sported a goatee and paired a gray jacket with a black top and black trousers and shoes Star Trek actor John Cho, 46, looked suave in a black two-piece suit with blue shirt, while Mr. Robot star Rami Malek, 37, kept it simple in a black buttoned-up shirt and charcoal gray pants Malek posed for photos on the red carpet with his series co-star Christian Slater Theron spoke on stage during the HFPA banquet Garner also made remarks during the evening hosted by the organization that hands out the Golden Globes every year in Hollywood Steve Carell also showed up It's been six weeks since Love Island Australia wrapped in Mallorca, Spain, and the cast returned home on the next available flight. But there's a very lucrative reason why the biggest stars of the show seem to have since abandoned the day jobs they had before finding fame. Daily Mail Australia can reveal the huge amount that the Islanders, including Eden Dally, Erin Barnett, Grant Crapp and Cassidy McGill, are raking in for club appearances as they live life of a reality star. Scroll down for video Cashing in! The huge amount that the Love Island Australia cast member are getting paid for nightclub appearances has been revealed. Pictured here: John James, Grant Crapp, Teddy Briggs An industry insider, who has worked with stars of Love Island AU, Married At First Sight and The Bachelor, said: 'Nightclub appearances are the easiest way for Australian reality stars to cash in on their fame as soon as their show ends.' 'The average price for this type of work tends to be between $3,000 and $6,000 for a single appearance - but it does vary depending on their relevance, the type of club night and if it's a solo appearance or with some of their co-stars.' Although the appearance fee may change per venue, the source added: 'The price tends to be higher immediately after their show comes off air while interest is at its peak, which explains why the talent often squeeze several PA's into one weekend.' Making bank: An industry insider said 'the average price for this type of work tends to be between $3,000 and $6,000 for a single appearance' Girls just wanna have fun: Edyn Mackney, Francoise Dreschler, Cassidy McGill, Erin Bartlett strike a pose before a recent night out Making the work even more desirable if you can get it, it seems there aren't too many expectations on the TV personalities when booked for an appearance. 'The main thing is just to show up, have fun, take photos with fans and engage with people that have paid to be there,' the insider added. 'A lot of the time the talent stay for a couple of hours, have their own VIP section of the club full of free drinks and bring some of their friends.' 'Occasionally they'll have a prior agreement to post about the appearance across their social media channels, but essentially they're getting paid to party.' In demand: Although there's no evidence this was a paid appearance, Cassidy, Erin, Justin Lacko and Francoise recently appeared at SinCity on the Gold Coast In a recent video shared to Instagram, Erin, Cassidy and Francoise Draschler announced: 'Hey everybody! We'll see you at SinCity on the Gold Coast on the 27th. We can't wait to party with you and meet you all.' Before appearing on the show Erin was a trainee nurse. Although there is no evidence this was a paid appearance for the girls, they provided the club with exclusive social media content to build hype. Love Island winner Grant shared a post on Thursday, captioned: 'In Adelaide tomorrow night starting at Dock and Duck, see you there.' Men of all trades: Dog and Duck in Adelaide advertised a 'private dinner' and 'private meet and greet' with stars Grant, Teddy, John James and Mark O'Dare, but declined to comment if fans would have to pay for this experience He also shared a screenshot of the nightclub's official post on Facebook, which offered attendees the chance to have a 'private dinner' and 'private meet and greet' with himself and co-stars Teddy Briggs, John James and Mark O'Dare. When Daily Mail Australia asked Dock and Duck if attendees would have to pay for the 'private' events being advertised, they declined to comment. Before finding fame and signing with celebrity agent Max Markson, Grant worked as an electrician in Canberra. 'We made it': Cass proudly poses next to a Love Island meet and greet sign at a recent event Promotional material: Erin shared a shot of a stack of flyers advertising her recent appearance at Victoria club night Wonderlust Although the cast may be booked solid at present, this may not always be the case. The insider added: 'As soon as a new show comes along and there's a new cast on the scene and their social media engagement has slowed down, they're old news.' 'The clever ones realise this early and confirm as many appearances they can physically do as soon as possible while building a brand.' They're everywhere: Teddy, John James and Mark feature on another advertisement posted to Dock and Duck's social media Earlier this month Tayla Damir surprised fans by announcing she was headlining an 'influencer' event by Neon Model Management on August 18 in Sydney. 'So excited to see you all,' Tayla said on Friday during a promotional video which prompted fans to purchase the pricey $99 VIP tickets. The VIP passes will give ticket-holders the chance to rub shoulders and take selfies with the brunette, as well as other invited influencers and reality stars. Price to pay: Tayla Damir recently announced she will be headlining an 'influencer' meet and greet event in Sydney, with VIP tickets costing $99 Make the most of it: The insider added, 'as soon as a new show comes along and there's a new cast on the scene and their social media engagement has slowed down, they're old news' His complicated love life has made him the stand-out star of Love Island Australia. And now Grant Crapp is jetting to the UK next week to spruik the 9Go! series just as it's set to air to British audiences on Monday. The 22 year-old reality hunk appeared in a clip posted to his manager Max Markson's Instagram page. Not a Crapp gig! Grant Crapp is heading to the UK to spruik Love Island Australia before it premieres to 'obsessed' British audience. The announcement was made in a cringworthy video posted to his manager Max Markson's Instagram page Toasting the news with a cocktail, Max asks Grant, 'when are you going to the UK?' 'Next week, maybe the one after,' the ecstatic former electrician answers while taking a sip of drink. Max quickly repeats the news before reminding UK followers of the upcoming air date and telling them to 'catch Grant soon.' 'Guys, Love Island Australia is actually a million times better than the uk one!' British fans interest in the show piqued on Twitter after after Grant's explosive brawl with Eden Dally following Justin Lacko's shock eviction from the villa The show will premiere in the UK on Monday on ITVBe and online service ITV HUB. While airing on these shores last month, UK followers dubbed the Aussie version of the show a 'million times more entertaining' than their own version - calling for British network ITV to broadcast the Aussie episodes. The interest particularly piqued on Twitter after Grant's explosive brawl with Eden Dally following Justin Lacko's shock eviction from the villa. 'Guys, Love Island Australia is actually a million times better than the uk one tbh! Ze drama,' one social media user wrote. 'Actually obsessed with love island Australia,' another wrote, while a third agreed: 'Unpopular opinion but Love Island Australia is better than the UK one.' Meanwhile Grant's love life continues to bring the drama. He recently rekindled his romance with 'secret girlfriend' Lucy Cartwright after splitting the show's $50,000 cash prize with former love Tayla Damir. But during their first joint media appearance on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday, Grant and Lucy claimed they were never 'officially' dating, and the reality hunk even admitted he didn't want to commit to a monogamous relationship. Tara Pavlovic has been dropped as an ambassador for a Brisbane based nanny agency after admitting to 'hitting' ex-boyfriend Sam Cochrane. The Bachelor contestant, 28, who worked as a full time nanny before finding fame, was announced as an ambassador of the company on July 26. In a statement released to Daily Mail Australia, Mini Nanny Agency have now decided to 'sever all ties' with Tara amid the controversy surrounding her split with Sam. Scroll down for video EXCLUSIVE: Bachelor In Paradise star Tara Pavlovic has been dropped as ambassador for a Brisbane nanny agency amid domestic abuse claims, after she admitted to 'hitting' her ex Sam Cochrane The statement read: 'The Mini Nanny Agency does not condone domestic, physical or mental abuse in any way. As a result of ongoing media reports, we have severed all ties with Tara Pavlovic.' In July the owners shared a celebratory picture with Tara while announcing her role. They wrote: 'Meet Minis new ambassador, @TaraPavlovic!!! What a gem! Tara, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you today.' 'Mini love everything about you, your view on life and being a nanny! To our nannies, she is one to look up to for nanny inspiration!' Going separate ways: In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, the Mini Nanny Agency (pictured) said they 'do not condone domestic, physical or mental abuse in any way' and have 'severed all ties with Tara' amid media reports 'Nanny inspiration': Tara was announced as an ambassador of the company on July 26 In the comments section of an Instagram post uploaded on Wednesday, Tara admitted to 'hitting' ex Sam, 31, after their engagement party, but alleged he 'pushed her' to do it and insisted her actions were 'out of character'. Her admission came after Sam made extraordinary claims that Tara subjected him to physical and verbal abuse before their break-up in June. He accused Tara of violent behaviour leading up to their split in a bombshell interview with Woman's Day on Monday, prompting her to respond online. Drama: In the comments section of an Instagram post uploaded on Wednesday, Tara admitted to 'hitting' ex Sam, 31, after their engagement party, but alleged he 'pushed her' to do it and insisted her actions were 'out of character' In another Instagram post acknowledging Sam's claims, Tara alleged that her ex-fiance was 'emotionally abusive' during their six-month relationship. Amid the accusations, Tara cryptically changed her Instagram bio on Thursday. It now reads: 'Making mistakes is better than faking perfections. BE REAL. There isn't enough real in this world.' Daily Mail Australia have contacted Tara for comment. She's just moved back to Sydney from Vanuatu, after her split from estranged husband and former Today Show weatherman Steve Jacobs. And it seems Rose Jacobs is settling back in, with the brunette beauty in high spirits on Friday as she enjoyed a ride on the back of a motorbike with a neighbour. The 39-year-old took to Instagram to share a photograph of herself travelling through Sydney on the back of a motorbike with her acquaintance. Scroll down for video 'Freedom': Steve Jacobs' estranged wife Rose rides on the back of a motorbike with her neighbour after the pair's split 'ADVENTURES IN SYD! When your Neighbour offers you a lift to school pick up - on a motorbike,' Rose captioned the snap. Rose, who moved back to the harbour city in July with her two daughters to 'restart a life in Australia,' accompanied the caption with a number of hashtags, including: 'Freedom, I love Sydney and I've got this.' The brunette pulled an excited facial expression as she snapped the selfie with the rider en-route to collect her two daughters, Isabella, seven, and Francesca, five. Separate lives: Steve Jacobs (pictured) and his estranged wife Rose are both settling back into their separate lives in Sydney after returning from Vanuatu following their devastating split Clad in a motorcycle helmet and a grey hooded jumper the beaming brunette appeared to be worlds away from her previous struggles in the South Pacific. Steve and Rose are both settling back into their separate lives in Sydney after returning from Vanuatu following their devastating split. In March, news broke of the couple's marriage breakdown after she took out an ex parte AVO against her husband earlier this year, which is no longer in place. Calm before the storm: The couple are pictured enjoying a trip to London in September 2017. But in March, news broke of the couple's marriage breakdown Happier times: After Steve quit his job on the Today Show at the end of 2016, the estranged couple moved to Vanuatu with their two daughters, Isabella, seven, and Francesca, five After Steve quit his job on the Today Show at the end of 2016, the estranged couple moved to Vanuatu with their two daughters. But a source close to Rose and Steve claimed they had 'grown in different directions' and split several months after moving overseas. 'They want different things in life now,' a friend told Daily Mail Australia in March. 'Steve and Rosie had such a public image of the perfect happy family, but behind the scenes there were struggles that would put a strain on even the best marriage.' Advertisement It was her youngest sister's big night as Kylie Jenner turned 21. But Kim Kardashian ensured all eyes were on her as she showed off her phenomenal hourglass curves while arriving at Craig's restaurant in West Hollywood on Thursday night to celebrate her sibling's birthday with a family meal. The reality star, 37, turned heads as she strutted her stuff in an eye-popping plunging pink mini-dress, which accentuated both her recently slimmed-down form and her famous derriere in all its glory. The bombshell is back! Kim Kardashian ensured all eyes were on her as she showed off her hourglass curves while arriving at Craig's restaurant in West Hollywood on Thursday night to celebrate her Kylie Jenner's 21st birthday with a family meal Perfect in pink: The reality star, 37, turned heads as she strutted her stuff in an eye-popping plunging pink mini-dress, which accentuated both her recently slimmed-down form and her famous derriere in all its glory The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star teamed her tiny dress with skyscraper heels, while toting her essentials in a kooky salmon-coloured perspex motif bag. The mother-of-three was wearing her raven locks long once again after chopping them into a chic bob a couple of weeks ago, with her hair falling in wet-look tendrils. Kim accentuated her stunning features with bold smokey make-up, while accessorizing with her $4.5 million, 20-carat diamond wedding ring. The TV personality was accompanied at the family occasion by her rapper husband Kanye West, 40, who kept things casual in a baggy white tee, khaki cargo pants and sand-colored lace-up shoes. Va-va-voom! The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star teamed her tiny dress with skyscraper heels, while toting her essentials in a kooky salmon-coloured perspex motif bag Date night: The TV personality was accompanied at the family occasion by her rapper husband Kanye West, 40, who kept things casual in a baggy white tee, khaki cargo pants and sand-colored lace-up shoes Picture perfect: The mother-of-three was wearing her raven locks long once again after chopping them into a chic bob a couple of weeks ago, with her hair falling in wet-look tendrils The event gave Kim a chance to catch up with her sisters; Kourtney, 39, Khloe, 34, Kendall Jenner, 22, and birthday girl Kylie, 21, but the girls' reclusive brother Rob, 31, was sadly nowhere to be seen. 'Momager' Kris Jenner, 62, was in attendance with her younger boyfriend Corey Gamble, 35, as well as Kendall and Kylie's dad Caitlyn Jenner, 68 - formerly Bruce, 68, and her 'girlfriend' Sophia Hutchins, 22. Kylie Jenner donned a lengthy blonde wig and arrived for her birthday bash in a hot pink ensemble that showed off her cleavage and petite figure. Khloe, who's been working hard on her post-baby bod, wowed in a shimmering crop top, high-waisted pant, and matching duster. Uh-huh, honey: Kanye looked mesmerized by his stunning wife as he trailed out of the high-end West Hollywood eatery after Kim, who ensured all eyes were on her Besties: Kim arrived to the late-night family dinner alongside gal pal Larsa Pippen In good hands: Kim was escorted by a bodyguard into the establishment, and was joined by doting husband Kanye as she left the birthday bash and headed home for the evening Birthday girl! Kylie Jenner, who donned a lengthy blonde wig, arrived for her birthday bash in a hot pink ensemble that showed off her cleavage and petite figure As for a newly single Kourtney, she rocked a purple scoop-neck mini-dress that she paired with hoop earrings and heels. Her baby daddy Scott Disick was also present for celebration. Kendall Jenner, who carried a large Prada clutch, commanded attention in a strapless leather dress and flaming heels. Family affair: Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian were amongst the first to arrive On fire! Kendall Jenner, who carried a large Prada clutch, commanded attention in a strapless leather dress and flaming heels Going strong: Kylie's mom, Kris Jenner, pulled up wearing a black suit and carrying a Gucci handbag and was accompanied by boyfriend Corey Gamble Middle fingers up! 'BIRTHDAY BEHAVIOR! WERE ALL TURNING 21!!' Kylie captioned the group shot of her family Sister, sister: The Kardashian/Jenner clan posed for several photos in a round booth Kylie's mom, Kris Jenner, pulled up wearing a black suit and carrying a Gucci handbag. She was accompanied by boyfriend Corey Gamble. Party guests included Kendall's former flame Blake Griffin and family friend Katharine McPhee. Casually clad: Scott Disick attended the dinner in cargo pants and boots LBD: Family friend Katharine McPhee donned a plunging black dress and booties Besties: Kendall and Kylie's dad Caitlyn Jenner, 68 - formerly Bruce, 68 - and her 'girlfriend' Sophia Hutchins, 22, also turned out to the event to wish the youngest member of the family a happy birthday Prior to Kylie's soiree, the KKW Beauty founder swung by Nicki Minaj's radio listening party for her inaugural broadcast on Apple Music's Beats 1 Queen Radio. Kim was one of Minaj's special guests for the late-night radio chat. Other celebrities in attendance included Winnie Harlow and Kelly Rowland. Supportive friend: Prior to Kylie's soiree, the KKW Beauty founder swung by Nicki Minaj's radio listening party for her inaugural broadcast on Apple Music's Beats 1 Queen Radio Abbie Cornish and Ryan Corr honoured the late Heath Ledger on Thursday at a new exhibition dedicated to the legacy of the Oscar-winner, who passed away ten years ago from an accidental overdose. Opening at Canberra's National Film and Sound Archive of Australia on Friday, the collection features portraits, costumes and props from the star's best known movies including Brokeback Mountain and The Four Feathers. An understated Abbie, 36 cut a somber figure as she posed in a black polo neck and slate grey leather jacket. Abbie Cornish and Ryan Corr paid tribute to actor Heath Ledger at the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the life and works of the late Oscar-winner The Hollywood beauty shared the big screen with Heath in 2006's harrowing drama Candy, where the pair portrayed lovers grappling with addiction. And Love Child star Ryan, 29 paid his respects after receiving the Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship in 2011, a prestigious annual award for emerging thespians. Previously, the late actor's father Kim, who established the prestigious accolade, criticised Ryan over his infamous heroin charge after being caught with the illicit substance down a Bondi laneway in 2014. Chemistry: The Hollywood beauty, 36 shared the big screen with Heath in 2006's harrowing drama, Candy where the pair portrayed lovers grappling with addiction Legacy: Opening at Canberra's National Film and Sound Archive of Australia on Friday, the collection features portraits, costumes and props from the star's best known movies including Brokeback Mountain and The Four Feathers Commenting on the arrest, Kim said: 'I have some empathy for what happens around that situation with families but very little empathy for people that put it in their own mouth.' Open to the public, the exhibition also features two of Heath's motorcycles. It also features his acting awards, including his Best Supporting Actor Oscar he won posthumously for his performance in The Dark Knight Rises. Support: An understated Abbie, 36 cut a somber, classic figure as she posed in a black polo neck and slate grey leather jacket 'Little empathy!' The late actor's father Kim (left) criticised Ryan (pictured) - who received the Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship, in 2011 - over his infamous heroin charge after being caught with the illicit substance down a Bondi laneway in 2014 Speaking about the collection, Jan Muller, CEO of the NFSA, said: 'We are delighted to re-open the NFSA's exhibition space with this wonderful snapshot of Heath Ledger's life. 'Through this exhibition fans will discover and hopefully be inspired by his creative process and his passion for photography and the arts.' Widely recognised as one of the best actors of his generation, the actor had previously dated Naomi Watts and Heather Graham before a three year-relationship with Michelle Williams produced their 12 year-old daughter, Matilda. Michelle recently tied the knot with musician Phil Elverum. Reacting to the news, Heath's father Kim told the Sydney Morning Herald, 'we are terribly happy, it is great.' Amber Heard turned heads at a glitzy Beverly Hills gala Thursday night. The actress, 32, arrived for the event hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in a thigh-skimming long-sleeved mini dress. Her black outfit was decorated with colorful beaded patterns and featured a collar and tiered skirt. Fashion forward: Amber Heard, 32, also attended the glitzy dinner turning heads in a thigh-skimming long-sleeved mini dress The ex-wife of Johnny Depp wore her blonde hair scraped back from her face. She rimmed her eyes with black mascara and emphasized her cheekbones with rosy blush. She competed her look with scarlet red lip color. Amber stepped out in black sandal heels that revealed a red pedicure. Striking: The ex-wife of Johnny Depp wore her blonde hair scraped back from her face that was made-up with black mascara and scarlet red lip color Head-turning: Her black outfit was decorated with colorful beaded patterns and featured a collar and tiered skirt. She stepped out in black sandal heels that revealed a red pedicure Following the end of her marriage to Hollywood star Depp in 2017, Amber has been linked romantically with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and Heidi Klum's ex Vito Schnabel. Meanwhile, on Monday, the actress was named as one of the speakers at this years Social Good Summit. She'll join Uzo Aduba and Padma Lakshmi on Sept. 23 in New York City to discuss how the global community can work together to achieve the UNs Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030. This December, she'll be seen as Mera opposite Jason Momoa in the stand-alone DC Comics Aquaman film. She's currently filming Once Upon A Time In Hollywood for Quentin Tarantino. But Dakota Fanning took time out from her schedule to attend a star-studded gala Thursday night in Beverly Hills. The 24-year-old actress showed up in a cleavage-baring sleeveless wraparound red dress. Glamorous: Dakota Fanning showed up to a HFPA-hoisted gala in Beverly Hills Thursday night in a cleavage-baring sleeveless wraparound red dress that fell to mid-calf The silky number was tied with a narrow sash at the waist and fell to mid-calf. Dakota left her long blonde hair loose and wore a thin double gold neck chain. She rimmed her eyes with reddish shadow and added pale pink lip color. Pretty look: Dakota, 24, left her long blonde hair loose and wore a thin double gold neck chain Dared to bare: Her silky number was tied with a narrow sash at the waist and she added silver sandal heels. She rimmed her eyes with reddish shadow and added pale pink lip color Dakota is playing Manson Family member Squeaky Fromme in the Tarantino film that stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. She has been a Hollywood movie star since the age of seven when she was cast to play Sean Penn's daughter int he film I Am Sam. Earlier this week, she recalled the occasion of her first premiere, posting to Instagram a photo of herself with Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer and writing: 'No caption needed really. #firstmoviepremiere #iamsam #iamtiny.' She's currently halfway through the Australian leg of her Witness world tour. And during an appearance at a shopping centre in Brisbane on Friday, Katy Perry threw her support behind the victims of 'the worst drought of the century,' which farmers on the east coast of Australia are currently battling. During an impromptu act on stage, the 33-year-old donned a country-style hat and checkered shirt before announcing she was dressed as a farmer, while defiantly stating: 'Take that, drought!' Scroll down for video 'Take that, drought!' Katy Perry dresses up as a farmer while making a cringeworthy reference to the movie Clueless to highlight the big dry in Australia during shopping centre appearance Katy chose to dress up after presenter Scott Tweedie presented her with a fedora style hat and button-up shirt on stage at Westfield shopping centre in Carindale. 'Of course I'll dress up as a farmer,' Katy said while accepting the gifts. She then declared: 'One of my favourite quotes, from [movie] Clueless, "You can be a farmer in those clothes!"' 'I think that's from Clueless? I'm not too sure... take that, drought!' Support: The 34-year-old donned a country style hat and checked shirt before announcing she was dressed as a farmer Helping her own way: Katy chose to dress up after presenter Scott Tweedie presented her with a fedora style hat and button-up shirt on stage at Westfield shopping centre in Carindale, Brisbane Katy was throwing her support behind the victims of the drought, in what has been described as 'the worst drought of the century' in Australia. In the past month, NSW farmers reported less than 10mm of rain, with the trend of low rainfall projected for at least the next three months. Authorities officially declared the entire state in drought on Wednesday. With the weather bureau warning there is no end in sight, the Red Cross has set up a relief appeal, while the Salvation Army is distributing food hampers. Crisis: Katy was throwing her support behind what has been described as 'the worst drought of the century' in Australia Some farmers have spent up to $10,000 per truckload of hay just to feed their animals, according to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Another casualty in one of the driest winters on record in New South Wales became apparent on Thursday when a baby lamb caught crying as its mother lay dead on the ground was photographed. The image is a stark reminder of the effect on the state wide drought on livestock. Crisis: A baby lamb was caught crying as its mother lay dead on the ground on Thursday as a result of the drought in NSW Farmers have been forced to resort to drastic measures as food for their livestock diminishes and water shortages take their toll. One farmer in north-western NSW had planned to shoot all 1,200 of his starving sheep and bury them in a mass grave on his barren farm. The sheep on Les Jones' farm were so emaciated that his family wouldn't be able to use them to feed themselves 'unless we ate soup every day' he said. However, The Daily Telegraph reported that the public flooded the couple in donations to save their animals. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Katy's management for comment, in relation to this article. Hayden Panettiere is putting the four-bedroom, five bathroom Nashville, Tennessee mansion she shared with ex Wladimir Klitschko on the market for $1.65 million. The 28-year-old recently parted ways with the boxer, 42, and has moved to Los Angeles with the conclusion of her CMT series, Nashville, leading to the decision to put the home up on the market. The 4,937 sq. foot home, which was built in 2012, is reflective of innovative architecture with modern security and amenites, as a lounge space sits in the middle of the second level, with all of the bedrooms arranged around it and linked through adjacent doors. For sale: Hayden Panettiere, 28, is putting the four-bedroom, five bathroom Nashville, Tennessee mansion she shared with ex Wladimir Klitschko, 42, on the market for $1.65 million The TV star's home is a high-tech fortress, as it has a state-of-the art security system, window that are bulletproof, and an entrance gate that is remotely controlled. Parks at Home real estate Michelle Maldonado, who listed the abode, told People that 'there's an iPad in the house that controls cameras that are located in the house and around the exterior of the house.' Those entering the bedroom area have to be cleared via a hand print scan through 'a reinforced door that can be super bolted,' Maldonado told the publication. Renowned designer Benjamini Vandiver 'did a beautiful job' in designing the abode, according to the realtor. Summer livin': The Music City mansion includes an outoor patio with a pool and spa Comfy: The home's living room is centered around a wood-burning fireplace Modern: The home also can be controlled by iPad technology with multiple cameras Secure: The entire upstairs area of the abode can be accessed via hand-print technology Quaint: A guest room sits adjacent to the outside of the backyard Other amenities on the inside of the home include a fish tank, wet bar, wood-burning fireplace, multiple walk-in closets, and storage areas. The Heroes beauty recently parted ways with the boxer Klitschko, 42 - the pair share a three-year-old daughter named Kaya - and has been linked to actor Brian Hickerson, 28. An insider told E! News, 'At this point, Hayden is single and she and Wladimir are co-parents to Kaya. Kaya is primarily with her dad and his family in Europe and Florida. 'They also spend time together as a family with Hayden,' the source said, adding that the actress 'is back in Los Angeles and figuring out what's next.' Adorable: This room is well-furnished for a little one and resonates Southern charms Stunning: The home is a hybrid of aesthetic splendor and high-tech security Bon appetite: The home's kitchen includes an island and stainless steel appliances Katy Perry has slashed the price of tickets to all of her upcoming Sydney shows. The star, 33, is currently mid-way through the Australian leg of her world tour and will be performing at the city's Qudos Bank Arena on August 13, 14, 16, 17. In a last attempt to sell-out the shows, Ticketek are now flogging a limited amount of 'reserved seating' tickets for as little as $65 online. Scroll down for video Witness the sale! Katy Perry slashes ticket prices to all of her Sydney shows as she struggles to sell-out upcoming concerts The price is a big difference to the $130-$250 tickets were originally selling for. Katy is currently mid-way through the Oceania leg of her Witness world tour. Before finishing off her Australia dates in Sydney, the star has wowed audiences in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane. Show stopper: In a last attempt to sell out the shows, Ticketek are now flogging 'reserved seating' tickets for as little as $65 online She will then fly to Auckland, New Zealand, for two final shows. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Katy's management for comment in relation to this article. During an appearance at a shopping centre in Brisbane on Friday, Katy threw her support behind the victims of 'the worst drought of the century', which farmers on the eastern coast of Australia are currently battling. During an impromptu act on stage, the star donned a country-style hat and checkered shirt before announcing she was now dressed as a farmer, while defiantly stating: 'Take that, drought.' Katy chose to dress up after a male presenter on stage in the Carindale, Brisbane, Westfield shopping centre presented her with a fedora style hat and button-up. Bargain buy: The price is a big difference to the $130-$250 tickets were sold at face value for 'Of course I'll dress up as a farmer,' Katy then announced while accepting the gifts. She then declared: 'One of my favourite quotes, from [movie] Clueless, "You can be a farmer in those clothes!"' 'I think that's from Clueless? I'm not too sure... take that, drought!' Aware: During a personal appearance at a shopping centre in Brisbane on Friday, Katy threw her support behind the victims of 'the worst drought of the century' by 'dressing as a farmer' on stage On Wednesday, she looked far removed from her bombshell image, as her boyfriend, Wes Nelson, shared makeup-free footage of her as she relaxed at their Essex home. And Love Island beauty Megan Barton-Hanson continued to entertain her fans with relatable displays on Thursday evening, when her beau returned to Instagram to upload a video of her munching on a sizeable burger as they dined out together. The 24-year-old reality star left Wes, 20, in fits of laughter as he captured her taking a huge bite of her filling meal while they sat at their plate-covered table, which included a hot dog, fries, and tortilla chips with salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Big bite: Megan Barton-Hanson was shown on Instagram chowing down on a huge burger as she dined out with her boyfriend Wes Nelson on Thursday evening Megan looked relaxed yet stylish for her romantic outing, stepping out in a dark dress and gold hoop earrings, while her golden locks were tied back. Highlighting her good looks with minimal makeup, she coised up to Wes, who cut a more casual figure in a white hoodie and black cap, teamed with a yellow tracksuit. The couple's outing came a day after Wes revealed Megan's laid-back appearance at home, taking to his Instagram story to show her relaxing on the sofa in pyjamas and no make-up, causing her to brand herself a 'slobby mess'. Glee: In the brief footage, her beau was heard laughing hysterically as he captured the action Cocktails: Earlier in the evening, her casually-dressed boyfriend Wes Nelson shared footage of himself enjoying a cocktail as he sat beside her The funny clip saw Megan and Wes try to decide what to film to watch during their cosy night in - with the beauty unaware she was being videoed. Megan was worlds away from her usually dolled-up self, reclining on their sofa in a cropped Snoop Dogg T-shirt and pale pink pyjama shorts. Clearly ready for a night in, the model pulled her hair into a messy bun and ditched her typically glamorous make-up look, as she sipped on a bottle of squash in front of the TV. However, the beauty was left far from impressed when she realised Wes' antics, scolding: 'Wes, stop! It's Netflix and chill time not let's record Megan!' Time to chill: Megan proved she was just like the rest of us on Wednesday, when Wes revealed her laid-back appearance at home (above) Bombshell: Megan was one of the most glamorous girls in the Love Island villa, having spent years working as a model Giggling, her boyfriend simply zoomed in on the TV and joked: 'There's the Netflix... but where's the chill babe?' Causing Megan to jiggle her stomach and quip: 'Here, look at this slobby mess, its chilled!' Only adding to the hilarity, Wes then shared a second video of the pair settling down to watch Tammy - which follows a scruffy burger-joint waitress, played by Melissa McCarthy. Filming the character emerging from her car in the first scene, the hunk joked: 'If you're ever wondering what Meg is like off camera... there she is baby!', leaving Megan in hysterics. 'I'm chilled': Taking to his Instagram story, the 20-year-old shared a hilarious clip of Megan, 24, relaxing on the sofa in pyjamas and no make-up, causing her to brand herself a 'slobby mess' Good spirits: The reality star appeared to be in good spirits as she joked around with her beau The good-looking couple have proved to be one of the strongest since leaving the Love Island villa last week. Wes moved into Megan's flat in Southend as soon as they returned to the UK, and the pair are currently on the hunt for their own place. After a turbulent run in the villa - which saw them disrupt many of their own relationships to be together - the pair placed fourth during the show's live final last week. Yet, the clips show Megan in a completely new light, as she is known for her effortlessly glamorous and sexy appearance. The Essex native has been open about her past as a glamour model and stripper, and recently hit headlines amid claims she worked as an escort. Taking the next step: The pair have met each other's families (above), and Wes even moved into Megan's flat in Southend as soon as they returned from Mallorca Besotted: Wes and Megan have proved to be one of the strongest couples since leaving the Love Island villa last week However, the blonde was quick to blast these reports on Loose Women - although she did admit to dating guys who were 'older and wealthy'. She said: 'It's just a small part of my life. Love Island has changed me - I've come out a stronger person and it's time to move forward. 'I was never an escort. I've done glamour modelling and webcam work, and I've dated guys who were older than me and wealthy, and guys who were younger than me who had no money, so I supported them. 'I date all different guys. Its not like I dated guys purposely because theyre wealthy. Ive dated guys with no money.' Reunited and it feels so good: On Friday, the couple reunited with their co-stars to make an appearance at the Love Island Live event, held at ExCeL London Vaccines are among the 20th centurys most successful and cost-effective public health tools for preventing disease and death. Thanks to immunizations, diseases like polio that were once common, are now only distant memories for most Americans. Today there are few visible reminders of the suffering, injuries, and deaths caused by diseases that are now prevented with vaccines. At present, there are vaccines available to protect children and adults against at least fifteen (15) serious infections. DECLARATIONS OF SHORTAGE POLICIES & GUIDELINES FORMS & LINKS IMMUNIZE - EVERY SIZE Immunizations are for people of all ages. From newborns to senior citizens, timely immunizations are one of the most important ways for people to protect themselves and others from serious diseases. Adults, adolescents, children, and infants need to stay up-to-date with the vaccinations that are recommended for their ages. The Division of Public Health Immunization Programs goal is to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases by making sure children and adults receive the vaccines they need. The program assures: All citizens of Delaware have access to vaccines; Healthcare providers are aware of immunization standards of practice; The latest recommendations on vaccines are available to providers; and Providers and the public have access to up-to-date answers to vaccine questions MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Delaware Immunization Program is to prevent and control the transmission of vaccine preventable diseases through the support and implementation of interventions aimed at increasing immunization rates. For more information contact us. Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from Adobe . If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe's Accessibility Tools page. Harry T has finally shut down rumours that he's heading down the aisle on the next season of Married At First Sight. The celebrity psychic, 29, took to social media on Thursday to angrily address the casting reports, which claimed that he was attempting to use the series to increase his growing media profile. 'I'm already on television,' he snapped in an Instagram video. 'So I don't need to go on Married At First Sight, AGAIN, to be on television.' 'I'm ALREADY on television!' Celebrity psychic Harry T angrily denies rumours that he's joining MAFS next season... after reports that he was trying to use the show for fame The pint-sized star previously appeared on season five of MAFS with his best friend Sarah Roza, and he was featured heavily in her wedding to Telv Williams. He later landed a weekly recurring segment on Channel Nine's Today Extra, and even launched a live psychic tour with Sarah called Messages From Beyond. Rumours first emerged back in May that the openly-gay Harry would be adding some diversity to Married At Sight's sixth season as one of the grooms. Hitting back: 'I'm already on television,' the 29-year-old snapped in an Instagram video. 'So I don't need to go on Married At First Sight, AGAIN, to be on television' He refused to confirm or deny the reports at the time, simply telling Daily Mail Australia that he wasn't attempting to use the series for fame like several sources had claimed. 'I know more celebrities than any other former MAFS contestant so I certainly would not be joining the show for fame,' he said in early June. 'I understand that a lot of people go onto those reality shows to create a name, however I already have a name with many notable figures endorsing my brand,' he continued. Been there, done that! The pint-sized star previously appeared on season five of MAFS with his best friend Sarah Roza (R), and he was featured heavily in her wedding to Telv Williams Not the first time! Harry starred in an episode of Channel Seven's First Dates in 2016 (pictured) 'I just so happen to be single for a long time and I am ready for love. Show or no show I really want a relationship.' Last week, Woman's Day reported that MAFS producers were trying to pair Harry up with a gay friend of Telv's, but the friend refused to be matched with the TV psychic and threatened to pull out. 'There's already drama behind the scenes, because Sarah Roza's gay best friend Harry is supposed to be on the show - but they were also meant to be bringing in a friend of Telv's,' Woman's Day's associate editor claimed. Rumours: Last week, Woman's Day reported that MAFS producers were trying to pair Harry up with a friend of Telv's, but the friend refused to be matched with the TV psychic 'Apparently the friend of Telv's is like, "There's no way I'm being matched with anyone relating to Sarah Roza", because they've [Telv and Sarah] had this big fight.' The sixth season of Married At First Sight is set to air in February next year. Producers have reached out to several controversial figures in an attempt to match last season's drama, including Bachelor In Paradise reject Michael Turnbull and the 'world's hottest grandma' Gina Stewart. Advertisement Anna Faris has finally sold her Hollywood Hills home she previously shared with ex Chris Pratt for a cool $2.09 million. Last month, the American actress, 41, slashed the selling price of the four bedroom, four bathroom house by $300,000, three months after first putting it on the market for $2.4 million, in a bid to speed up the sale - which has now worked in her favour. The Scary Movie actress originally purchased the mid-century modern home in 2005 and lived there with former husband, actor Ben Indra, 39, before later residing in the bungalow with Jurassic Park star Chris and their son Jack, five. Going, going, gone! Anna Faris, 41, has finally sold her Hollywood Hills home she previously shared with ex Chris Pratt for a cool $2.09 million Moving on: Last month, the American actress, who shares the home with ex Chris Pratt, slashed the selling price of the house by $300,000, three months after first putting it on the market for $2.4 million, in a bid to speed up the sale The spacious abode, which is located east of Nichols Canyon, sits nestled in greenery with nearby trails and zen-like landscaping. Set in a private cul-de-sac, the single storey 1950s ranch-style residence has three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms in 2,563-square-feet. Inside, there's a spacious living room with floor-to-ceiling doors that open to a swimming pool, a dining room and a separate kitchen vast amounts of counter tops. Abode: The Scary Movie actress originally purchased the mid-century modern home in 2005 and lived there with former husband, actor Ben Indra, 39, before later residing in the bungalow with Jurassic Park star Chris and their son Jack, five Sensational: The spacious abode, which is located east of Nichols Canyon, sits nestled in greenery with nearby trails and zen-like landscaping Impressive: Set in a private cul-de-sac, the single storey 1950s ranch-style residence has three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms in 2,563-square-feet Key rooms: Inside, there's a spacious living room, a dining room and a separate kitchen vast amounts of counter tops The inviting home was designed to have an open floor plan, which includes a full wall of glass doors that open to the relaxing backyard area. Allowing for plenty of privacy, the property includes a stone surrounded swimming pool with secluded patios for each of the three bedrooms. The light-filled property features stunning hardwood floors throughout and an impressive large kitchen. Ensuring for plenty of cosy nights in, the expansive living area has a large fireplace in the centre with plenty of room for both plush couches. A lot of natural light: The inviting home was designed to have an open floor plan, which includes a full wall of glass doors that open to the relaxing backyard area Time for a dip: Allowing for plenty of privacy, the property includes a stone surrounded swimming pool with secluded patios for each of the three bedrooms Cooling off: The swimming pool is lined with lush greenery and bright yellow deck chairs Time to cook up a storm! The light-filled property features stunning hardwood floors throughout and an impressive large kitchen One of the bathrooms features white walls and minimalist style elements, perfect to put in the buyer's own personal touch. One of the en suite bathrooms includes his and hers sinks with plenty of counter top space and a large glass door shower. Each of the massive bedrooms in the privacy-focused home has space for a large bed and sliding doors, leading to a patio. Anna and ex Chris announced their split in August 2017, 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. Relaxing in style: Ensuring for plenty of cosy nights in, the expansive living area has a large fireplace in the centre with plenty of room for both plush couches Colourful: There is a huge emphasis on artwork and splashes of colour throughout the living area Extra touch: Plants are propped in each corner inside the mansion Perfection: One of the bathrooms features white walls and minimalist style elements, perfect to put in the buyer's own personal touch Plenty of space: One of the en suite bathrooms includes his and hers sinks with plenty of counter top space and a large glass door shower '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 a 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. Anna recently spoke to Marie Claire magazine 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. Stepping out: Each of the massive bedrooms in the privacy-focused home has space for a large bed and sliding doors, leading to a patio 'We tried hard for a long time, and were really disappointed': Anna and ex Chris announced their split in August 2017, posting a joint statement on Facebook '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.' Meanwhile, Chris has now moved on with Katherine Schwarzenegger, 28 - the daughter of politician and actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The pair were first spotted looking cosy together on a picnic in Santa Barbara, California, back on June 17. 'I still always want to keep that as a part of my life': Anna recently spoke to Marie Claire magazine about her life following the split from her husband of nine years Mariah Carey was originally set to tour Australia in February of this year, before pushing the dates back until October. But now the pop diva has cancelled her upcoming trip Down Under entirely. In a shock statement released on Friday, the 48-year-old said 'it was with much regret' that she would not be performing in the country, blaming the cancellation on a 'scheduling conflict'. Heartbreaker! Mariah Carey CANCELS her upcoming Australian tour due to a 'scheduling conflict'... despite already pushing back the concert dates late last year In addition to cancelling shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Sandstone Point, Queensland, Mariah has also pulled out of a show in New Zealand which was scheduled for September 7. 'It is with much regret that I am unable to visit Australia and New Zealand later this year, however I promise to find new dates soon,' Mariah said in her statement. She added: 'I've been working away on new music and I cannot wait to share it with you later this year.' 'It is with much regret that I am unable to visit Australia and New Zealand': Mariah announced the cancellation on Friday Tour promoters MJR Presents also released a statement, which read: 'We are disappointed that Mariah's shows are cancelled but look forward to hearing her new material soon.' 'Full refunds will be given to all ticket holders from their original point of purchase and we apologise for the inconvenience to fans and ticket holders'. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Mariah's management for comment, in relation to this story. The fans won't be happy! In addition to cancelling shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Sandstone Point, Queensland, Mariah has also pulled out of a show in New Zealand which was scheduled for September 7 Mariah's tour of Australia was initially scheduled for February this year. However last December, she announced she would be pushing the dates back to October, promising a 'much bigger tour'. The Grammy-winning artist last performed in Australia at a New Year's Eve party at Melbourne's Crown Casino in 2015. She has made the effortless transition from an America's Next Top Model contestant to gliding down catwalks across the globe. And Winnie Harlow has collected a slew of a-list pals in the process, which was evident as she strutted along to Kylie Jenner's lavish 21st birthday at West Hollywood hotspot Delilah on Thursday night. The Canadian star, 24, cut an incredibly glamorous figure in a white Meshki fringed jumpsuit and sky-high nude heels. Glamour: Winnie Harlow, 24, looked flawless as she strutted along to Kylie Jenner's lavish 21st birthday at West Hollywood hotspot Delilah on Thursday night Winnie commanded attention as the layers of tassels on her one-piece caught the wind as she strutted along. The number perfectly flattered her figure and perilously plunged down the middle to give way to her sensational cleavage. Winnie - real name Chantelle Brown-Young - upped the glam factor with a thick silver choker, which complemented her glossy red lipstick. Fashionista: The Canadian star cut an incredibly glamorous figure in a white Meshki fringed jumpsuit and sky-high nude heels In motion: Winnie commanded attention as the layers of tassels on her one-piece caught the wind as she strutted along A luscious blow dry completed the look as she made her way out of the vehicle and headed indoors to celebrate her pal Kylie's big day. Winnie - who has skin condition vitiligo - recently discussed the changes in the modelling industry in an interview with ELLE magazine. 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. Style queen: The number perfectly flattered her figure and perilously plunged down the middle to give way to her sensational cleavage Beauty: Winnie - real name Chantelle Brown-Young - upped the glam factor with a thick silver choker, which complemented her glossy red lipstick '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.' She recently lashed out at being branded 'a sufferer' of pigment disease Vitiligo, as she penned on Instagram: '"I'm not a 'Vitiligo Sufferer" I'm not a 'Vitiligo model. 'I am Winnie. I am a model. And I happen to have Vitiligo. Stop putting these titles on me or anyone else.' Striking: A luscious blow dry completed the look as she made her way out of the vehicle and headed indoors to celebrate her pal Kylie's big day 'There is a big shift in terms of beauty standard': Winnie - who has skin condition vitiligo - recently discussed the changes in the modelling industry in an interview with ELLE magazine Winnie found fame on ANTM in 2014, where she was kicked out in the second week of finals, before returning to a comeback series where she finished 6th. However, the Canadian beauty admitted that the show 'didn't do anything' for her career. 'I really started [my career] after the show,' Winnie told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live in May. When Roxy Jacenko was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, her daughter, Pixie, slept in her bed, holding her distressed mother's hand. And now the six-year-old, who is becoming a business powerhouse in her own right, is raising money to fight the disease and support those battling it, Roxy told Daily Mail Australia exclusively on Friday. Until August 19, the first-grader will donate $1 from every sale of $25 and over from her Pixie Bow's range, available at Myer, to children's cancer charity Camp Quality. EXCLUSIVE: 'I have to ensure she understands the importance of giving back to the community': Roxy Jacenko explains why her daughter Pixie, six, is donating proceeds from hair bow range to cancer charity after the PR queen faced a battle with the disease 'Having experienced cancer, the charity was one that Pixie was very keen to support as she had gone through the cancer process with me,' Roxy told Daily Mail Australia. 'The thought of a young child going through [cancer] is heart-breaking so we wanted to help.' Though she is in remission and taking Tamoxifen to help prevent the diseases' return, the PR queen says that her daughter is still affected by the battle her mum faced. Donations: Until August 19, the first-grader will donate $1 from every sale of $25 and over from her Pixie Bow's range, available at Myer, to children's cancer charity Camp Quality Helpers: 'Having experienced cancer, the charity was one that Pixie was very keen to support as she had gone through the cancer process with me,' Roxy told Daily Mail Australia Tough: 'She is very aware. She asked me only the other day if my cancer was gone and said that she would be very sad if I died - it was terrible to hear,' Roxy admits 'She is very aware. She asked me only the other day if my cancer was gone and said that she would be very sad if I died - it was terrible to hear,' Roxy admits. As a mum, Roxy wanted Pixie, who has had the fortune of growing up in a wealthy family, to ensure she knows to give back. 'The initiative was one that is important to her and for me as her mother to ensure she understands giving back to the community and the importance of that,' the Sweaty Betty founder tells Daily Mail Australia. Giving back: As a mum, Roxy wanted Pixie, who has had the fortune of growing up in a wealthy family, to ensure she knows to give back to the community Good lessons: 'The initiative was one that is important to her and for me as her mother to ensure she understands giving back to the community and the importance of that,' the Sweaty Betty founder tells Daily Mail Australia The quest is personal for Roxy, too, she says. 'Without question, donating to cancer charities has been something at front of mind for me since I experienced it personally,' she says. Roxy added: 'The more these charities have the closer we will be to finding a cure and also supporting those living with cancer and their families to get through it.' The quest is personal for Roxy, too, she says: 'Without question, donating to cancer charities has been something at front of mind for me since I experienced it personally' It comes after news that Pixie Curtis could be worth $21 million by the time she turns 18 after department store Myer agreed to stock her accessories range, Pixies Bows. The deal with the Australian retail giant could see the Instagram-famous youngster rake in $3million annually from 2023, according to retail experts. From today, every order over $25.00 Pixie Co. will donate $1.00 to Camp Quality from now until the EOD 19th August which is National Hair Bow Day. Rapper Nicki Minajs Queen album is out today. This is not a drill. The rapper has announced that her new album Queen will be released today after a lot of corporate drama. The announcement marks the end of the saga that saw Minaj postpone the albums release multiple times. The album, Minajs fourth studio one, and first since 2014s The Pinkprint, was originally meant to be released on June 15. Then it was delayed to August 10 and then again to August 17 due to complications regarding clearance of rights to a Tracy Chapman sample. Nicki Minaj announced on her new Apple Music Beats 1 show that Queen would be out today However, in the first episode of her new Apple Music Beats 1 radio show, Queen Radio, the rapper said: I was gonna play the album right now but someone f***ed up. Its a lot of corporate drama in here. Earlier in the show, Minaj revealed that she only finished the album three hours before going live on air. Here is all you need to know about Nicki Minajs Queen album including what time is it released, what songs are on the tracklist and Minaj's upcoming tour. When is Nicki Minajs Queen album out? Queen will be released on August 10 at 12pm ET, thats 5pm BST for UK fans. Prior to that, Beats 1 will play the album in full while Minaj takes the listeners through each track, explaining the meaning and stories behind them. Queen tracklist Minaj has already released three singles off the new album including Barbie Tingz, Rich Sex (feat Lil Wayne) and Bed, which features Ariana Grande, and Chun-Li. Minaj shared the Queen tracklist on Instagram, revealing the other songs on the album including a collaboration with The Weeknd called I Thought I Knew You. The second track on the album, called Majesty, features Eminem and Labrinth. Nicki Minaj tour Minaj is releasing her album just over a month before she embarks upon a North America, Europe and UK Tour. Minaj will be touring with the rapper Future. Their first venue will be in Baltimore, Maryland on September 21, 2018 and the tour will run until March 28, 2019. See here for more information on Nicki Minaj's UK tour dates. Idris Elba is one of many stars to be linked to the role of James Bond, as speculation continues over who will take over from Daniel Craig when he leaves the franchise. And the actor, 45, appears to be back in the running for the coveted 007 role after Bond producer Barbara Broccoli said 'it is time' for a non-white leading man to play the character. Speaking with American filmmaker Antoine Fuqua on Thursday about who could next take on the role she said it 'will happen eventually' and Idris is a clear favourite. Front-runner? Idris Elba was linked to James Bond role AGAIN as producer 'admitted it's time for a non-white actor to play 007' on Thursday (pictured in December 2017) There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the role, and Idris was first revealed to be a front-runner back in 2014 when leaked emails suggested he should be cast. In the correspondence, which was released during the massive Sony hack that year, the then-studio co-chair Amy Pascal said to a colleague: 'Idris should be the next Bond.' But the actor has denied the claims on several occasions, and has also said that it's time for a woman to take on the role instead. In January, the Luthor star said producers should 'do something different' with the role and have a black or white actress take up the mantle of the spy franchise. Iconic role: Speculation continues over who will take over from Daniel Craig after he leaves the franchise (pictured in Casino Royale in 2006) Speaking to Vanity Fair, he said: 'It could be a woman - could be a black woman, could be a white woman,' he said. 'Do something different with it. Why not?' Several actress have been tipped to play the Bond role in the past, with X Files star Gillian Anderson being shunted to the forefront of speculation after a fan tweeted a convincing poster of her as Bond in 2016. Other actors whose names have been suggested to take over the role of 007 include McMafia star James Norton, Tom Hardy, and Poldark's Aidan Turner. It was recently confirmed Daniel will return to his 007 role for fifth time, in the 25th Bond movie which is directed by Danny Boyle. Surprise: Craig will return to the role one more time, which will undoubtedly stun fans as he stated three years ago that he would 'rather slit his wrists' than play Bond again Universal Pictures also won the international distribution rights to the film, which will drop in the UK first on October 25, 2019. Craig's return to the role will undoubtedly stun fans as he stated three years ago that he would 'rather slit his wrists' than take on the role once more. EON Productions' Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli told Deadline this month: 'We are delighted to announce that the exceptionally talented Danny Boyle will be directing Daniel Craig in his fifth outing as James Bond in the 25th instalment of the franchise. 'We will begin shooting Bond 25 at Pinewood Studios in December with our partners at MGM and thrilled that Universal will be our international distributor. Production on the movie, which will land in the US on November 8, 2019.' Speaking in 2015, when asked about returning to the role, Craig told the Guardian: 'Now? Id rather slash my wrists. No, not at the moment. Not at all. Thats fine. Im over it at the moment. Were done. All I want to do is move on.' Caroline Flack couldn't hide her delight as she stepped on stage to present the Love Island Live event held at the ExCel in London on Friday. The TV presenter, 38, who has been plagued by romance woes of late, due to her on/off relationship with ex-fiance Andrew Brady, couldn't have looked happier as she took to the stage in a thigh-skimming polka dot playsuit. Her appearance comes after she was spotted cosying up to ex Andrew in Ibiza amid claims they have reconciled, despite their messy break up and 'cheating' rumours. Happy: Caroline Flack couldn't hide her delight while presenting the Love Island Live event held at the ExCel in London on Friday amid rumours she is back with Andrew Brady Brushing her own romance troubles to one side, Caroline proved that nothing could get her down while she was back at work on Love Island's latest series. While the show's fourth series wrapped last month, crowning Dani Dyer and boyfriend Jack Fincham the winners, Love Island has returned for an official meet and greet event held in the capital. Caroline will be presenting the festivities and interviewing this year's islanders once again as they reunite and rub shoulders with fans of the hit ITV2 dating show. Chic: The TV presenter, 38, couldn't have looked happier as she took to the stage in a thigh-skimming polka dot playsuit Content: Brushing her own romance troubles to one side, Caroline proved that nothing could get her down while she was back at work on Love Island's latest series Gorgeous: The playsuit perfectly showcased her bronzed legs, no doubt sunkissed from her filming schedule overseas, and nipped in at the waist to highlight her svelte frame Dressed for the occasion, Caroline honed her usual style and stepped out sporting a monochrome playsuit. The polka dot number perfectly showcased the starlet's bronzed legs, no doubt sunkissed from her filming schedule overseas, and nipped in at the waist to highlight her svelte frame. It teased a look at Caroline's bust with its wrap-over neckline and the beauty teamed the chic design with a pair of strappy leather white heels on her feet. The TV presenter wore her locks in their usually tousled style and favoured a stunning make-up look that included a smokey eye, contoured cheeks and a nude lip. Back in action, Caroline was spotted beaming from ear-to-ear as she stood on stage with her microphone in hand, before taking her place on the sofa to be reunited with the islanders. Cheeky: It teased a look at Caroline's bust with its wrap-over neckline and the beauty teamed the chic design with a pair of strappy leather white heels on her feet Beauty: The TV presenter wore her locks in their usually tousled style and favoured a stunning make-up look that included a smokey eye, contoured cheeks and a nude lip Back in action: Caroline will be presenting the Love Island meet and greet, and interviewing this year's islanders once again as they reunite and rub shoulders with fans She was seen chatting away to Georgia Steele, Samira Mighty and Alex George, who confessed his 'dream' is to date host Caroline, but he's 'too scared' to ask the starlet out on a date. According to recent reports, the reality star may have missed his chance as Caroline has allegedly rekindled her romance with ex-fiance Andrew. The duo have split multiple times in recent weeks, but sparked speculation they have reunited after being pictured together in Ibiza. In pictures obtained by The Sun, the former X Factor host sat next to Andrew on a sunbed - making it the first time the couple were snapped together since their split in July. Awkward? She was seen chatting away to Georgia Steele, Samira Mighty and Alex George, who confessed his 'dream' is to date host Caroline, but he's 'too scared' to ask her out on a date Reunited? Caroline's appearance comes after she was spotted cosying up to ex Andrew in Ibiza amid claims they have reconciled, despite their messy break up and 'cheating' rumours Professional: Caroline appeared to brush off her romance woes as she threw herself into her latest hosting duties Dan Wootton told Good Morning Britain on Monday that Caroline has plans to meet with The Apprentice star again, after their reunion in Ibiza, and will 'meet up as friends to talk about their split'. He said: 'They are going to meet again, Caroline is trying to sort things out with him... she wants to follow her heart.' The pair, who got engaged in April after a two-month romance, briefly split in March amid claims of cheating and fears that the CBB star was using the ITV presenter for her fame. Speaking on their alleged reconciliation, a source told The Sun: 'Caroline cant live with Andrew but she cant live without him.' Rocky: Caroline and Andrew have split multiple times in recent weeks, but sparked speculation they have reunited after being pictured together in Ibiza Whirlwind: The couple got engaged at the end of April just months after meeting at the start of 2018 - similarly, Caroline had her beau's initials tattooed just weeks after meeting him The insider also claimed that Caroline and Andrew enjoyed dinner on Friday as they explained: 'Their chemistry is incredibly intense, and she really does adore him.' 'After a serious heart-to-heart, they gave things one final go', they concluded. Despite their loved-up appearance just days before, Caroline opted not to put her engagement ring from Andrew back on during Love Island's Reunion show. Caroline's representative declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Tense: Andrew refused to confirm his relationship status with Caroline during an appearance on The Wright Stuff on Thursday Keeping quiet: Brady declared: 'My private life is private and that's what I'd like to keep it as' Andrew, meanwhile, was quizzed over the pair's on/off romance during an appearance on The Wright Show on Thursday. He was a guest on the show, where presenter Anne Diamond tried to press him for an answer about his relationship status with Caroline. Brady declared: 'My private life is private and that's what I'd like to keep it as really.' He added: 'Relationships can be hard and when they're scrutinised in the public eye, they're somewhat even more troubling. But yeah, I'm keeping my private life private.' Caroline had released a statement last month, announcing the pair's break-up and calling off their engagement. It read: 'Im sad to announce that Andrew and I have decided to part ways. Unfortunately it was not to be. I wish him all the best.' The couple got engaged at the end of April after what has been a whirlwind romance since meeting at the start of 2018. Caroline also had her beau's initials tattooed on her inner wrist just weeks after meeting him in the flesh. Earlier this summer, she had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it stint on Love Island, with fans watching as she shocked ex Jack Fincham by sauntering into Casa Amor. But after failing to dent Jack's fledgling romance with Dani Dyer and missing out on landing a romance of her own on the show, Ellie Jones showed that she can put on quite the eye-catching display when she stepped out in Marbella over the weekend. The 22-year-old Essex girl wowed as she soaked up the sunshine in a patterned string bikini, in which she proudly displayed her taut abs and enviably tanned curves. Sunny: Love Island reject was spotted soaking up the sunshine in Marbella over the weekend Hiding her eyes behind a pair of gold-rimmed sunglasses, the pretty brunette let her long ombre tresses rest against her back, while she kept her makeup minimal. Keeping her feet comfortable in a pair of flip-flops, Ellie strolled along the popular resort's golden shores, before relaxing on a sun lounger and topping up her tan. Ellie has been making the most of London's social circuit since being ejected from the famous Love Island villa a matter of days after entering the show. String bikini: The 22-year-old Essex girl wowed as she soaked up the sunshine in a patterned string bikini, in which she proudly displayed her taut abs and enviably tanned curves Tanned and deliver: Keeping her feet comfortable in a pair of flip-flops, Ellie strolled along the popular resort's golden shores, before relaxing on a sun lounger and topping up her tan She has also spoken about the workings of the ITV2 show, insisting that she didn't intend to break up Jack and Dani, though it wasn't for the producers' want of trying. Talking to The Sun last month, Ellie said: 'Producers will tell you when to talk. They will say "Can you and so-and-so have a chat". If they want you to add something or word it differently, they might ask you. Im not very good with speaking, so would often ask to do it again.' Having dated Jack sporadically for two years prior to this summer, Ellie knew him relatively well - including the fact that he has a poster of a movie that Dani's famous father Danny Dyer stars in on the wall of his bedroom. Social circuit: Ellie has been making the most of London's social circuit since being ejected from the famous Love Island villa a matter of days after entering the show Painting the town red: On Thursday, she attended a launch party for Gorgon City's new album Escape at Night Tales in Hackney, east London And the brunette has insisted the show runners instructed her to mention this, in order to wind Jack up and place a seed of doubt in Dani's mind that he's only in the relationship because of who her father is. 'I brought up his poster before going in and producers wanted to get it in during my chat with Dani. Id told them about it as they were asking me if Jack already knew about Dani. Everyone thinks hes in there just because shes Danny Dyers daughter. So I mentioned it.' Ellie continued, however, that Jack 'isn't clever enough' to keep up the act if he was only in it for fame, but she did add: 'We had a good sex life and Id rate him. Well done Dani, you chose well. I would give him eight out of 10. So Dani is in for a treat.' A representative for Love Island said of Ellie's remarks: 'The opinions they have, decisions they make and the relationships formed are completely within the control of the Islanders themselves. Rumble in the villa: Ellie's brief stint on Love Island had fans speculating whether she'd break up ex Jack Fincham's fledgling romance with Dani Dyer We are the champions: However, Jack and Dani went on to win the show. Pictured together at the Love Island Live event at the ExCeL London on Friday 'It is always our intention to produce a show that is a fair and accurate representation of life in the villa.' Ellie previously hit back at the claims she was trying to split Dani and Jack up, during an appearance on Lorraine. Asked about whether she was sent into the villa on a mission, she said: 'No, no I wasnt. I got given the opportunity and thought I would be silly to turn it down. I do get on really well with Jack so that wasn't the case at all.' While Jack and Dani weathered a small number of minor tiffs during their time in the Love Island villa, they went on to be crowned the champs at the end of last month after scooping the lion's share of viewers' votes. She is currently lapping up the sunshine in Spain after a tough few years. And Danniella Westbrook looked like she was loving life as she continued her getaway by stepping out in a daringly low-cut ensemble on Thursday. Making an outfit change, the former EastEnders star, 44, ensured to keep busy as she headed to a local bar while engaging in a lengthy phone call. Having fun: Danniella Westbrook, 44, looked like she was loving life as she continued her Spanish getaway by stepping out in a daringly low-cut ensemble on Thursday Danniella cut a solo figure as she stepped out in a daringly low-cut patterned top which put focus on her busty assets. Teaming it with a pair of black shorts, the former soap star looked happy and relaxed as she strolled along in a pair of trainers. Appearing to source inspiration from Hilda Ogden, a character on Coronation Street, Danniella changed into a semi-sheer white cover-up, complete with a red bandana in her blonde tresses. With a pair of shades propped up on her head, Danniella seemed to be done with her own company as she chatted away. Chilling: Making an outfit change, the former EastEnders star ensured to keep busy as she headed to a local bar while engaging in a lengthy phone call Inspo: Appearing to source inspiration from Hilda Ogden, a character on Coronation Street, Danniella changed into a semi-sheer white cover-up, complete with a red bandana in her blonde tresses The I'm A Celebrity star seems back on the mend after her near-death experience last month. Danniella was rushed into intensive care with blood infections leaving her convinced she was dying. The reality star posted a snap of herself attached to a drip on Twitter, with the accompanying post thanking her son Kai, 21, and Kerry Katona, 37, for their help. In November 2016, it was reported that Danniella was suing the makers of Celebrity Botched Up Bodies, with the star claiming dental implants she had fitted on the show left her with blood poisoning. Rushed to hospital: The I'm A Celebrity star seems back on the mend after her near-death experience last month Danniella previously enthused she was 'hugely proud' of her son Kai after he revealed he has forgiven his mum for taking cocaine while she was pregnant with him in 1996. The budding rapper confessed he's 'anti-drugs' after seeing the effects of addiction with his mum. He told The Daily Star: 'It's shocking. It hasn't affected me. It's a miracle. I like to forgive, everyone deserves another chance. 'I'm anti-drugs. I don't touch them. I don't take sleeping tablets or even paracetamol. I don't drink alcohol. I don't do stuff that isn't natural.' Reality television is infamous for being highly edited and manufactured, with participants regularly shaped into heroes and villains based on the whims of producers. So it's hardly a surprise that many of Australia's most notable reality TV contestants have proven themselves to be far different than they were portrayed on screen. Fan favourites that received angelic edits on shows like Bachelor In Paradise and Married At First Sight have had their reputations and relationships destroyed in recent months, while several reality TV villains have found personal and professional success. Tara Pavlovic - Bachelor In Paradise From beloved to bad! Tara Pavlovic's lovable image has been shattered following shocking allegations that she 'punched' ex-fiance Sam Cochrane With her good looks and self-deprecating 'bogan' persona, Tara Pavlovic became one of Australia's most beloved stars after appearing on The Bachelor. After getting engaged to Sam Cochrane on Bachelor In Paradise, the 28-year-old's social media following went through the roof and she quickly found herself endorsing major brands like McDonalds and Hello Fresh. However, things came crashing down once the couple split, with Sam alleging to Woman's Day that Tara subjected him to physical and verbal abuse before their break-up in June. The Gold Coast nanny admitted to 'hitting' Sam at their engagement party, but claimed that he 'pushed her' to do it because he was 'emotionally abusive.' A Brisbane-based nanny agency has since dropped Tara as an official ambassador following the shocking allegations. 'The Mini Nanny Agency does not condone domestic, physical or mental abuse in any way. As a result of ongoing media reports, we have severed all ties with Tara Pavlovic,' they told Daily Mail Australia in a statement. Tracey Jewel - Married At First Sight This goddess means drama! Tracey Jewel earned sympathy from viewers on MAFS, but has since ruined her reputation following a string of scandals Tracey Jewel was showered with sympathy after her TV husband Dean Wells 'cheated' on her with Instagram model Davina Rankin on Married At First Sight. The media-savvy brunette amassed a huge fanbase during her time on the show, but her image was destroyed in the months that followed. The star became a walking scandal and was accused of everything from running a fraudulent competition to being a former stripper and pretending to have cervical cancer - allegations that she has denied. Things went from bad to worse for Tracey after she split with her wealthy boyfriend Patrick Kedemos while on a lavish European vacation last month - leaving her 'stranded' in Berlin without any money to get home. Patrick, who paid for the trip, later told Woman's Day that he eventually 'transferred another $2,000' to Tracey 'just to get rid of her.' The struggling author has since lost sponsors and a lucrative radio job, and is said to be living back at home with her adoptive mother. Sarah Roza - Married At First Sight Scary Sarah! Sarah Roza was a fan favourite on MAFS, but her tumultuous split with Telv Williams and allegations that she FaceTimes his children DAILY has changed some people's perception of her Thanks to her seemingly fairytale romance with Telv Williams, Sarah Roza became the undisputed breakout star of Married At First Sight's blockbuster fifth season. However, behind-the-scenes was a much different story, with Sarah and Telv's relationship ending in disaster before the show had even finished airing. A horrified Telv recently told NW magazine that Sarah flew from Melbourne to Perth to meet up with his two young children and their mother behind his back. 'That was the final straw for me. I want Sarah to move on, stop talking about me to the media and stay away from my children,' he said. Sarah admitted to Telv's claims, telling Daily Mail Australia that she's 'close friends' with his ex, Amy, and that his children 'FaceTime her daily.' The bombshell is currently single after splitting with James Stephens. Davina Rankin - Married At First Sight Not so devilish! Despite being portrayed as a homewrecker on MAFS, Davina Rankin is now in a happy, stable relationship and running a successful business away from the tabloid spotlight She became the most-hated woman on television earlier this year after carrying out an 'affair' with Dean Wells on Married At First Sight. But life has been sweet for Davina Rankin since the show, with the brunette finding love with Brisbane businessman Jaxon Manuel. While the post-MAFS romantic lives of her former co-stars Sarah Roza and Tracey Jewel have been absolute disasters, Davina is already plotting marriage and children with Jaxon. On top of finding love, business is also thriving for the beauty, with her events company We Love Brunch Co going from strength to strength with sold-out events across Queensland. Keira Maguire - The Bachelor Who would've guessed? Keira Maguire turned her villanous reputation around thanks to a stint on Bachelor In Paradise, which saw her find love with Jarrod Woodgate Keira Maguire was the token villain on Richie Strahan's season of The Bachelor, a role that she continued playing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! While she looked destined to remain the bad guy forever, the outspoken blonde was able to turn her reputation around after finding love with Jarrod Woodgate on Bachelor In Paradise. Viewers warmed to Keira's brutal honesty, and her relationship with Jarrod has far outlasted her Paradise co-stars Tara Pavlovic and Sam Cochrane, who recently split amid abuse allegations. Dean Wells - Married At First Sight Cute and cuddly! Dean Wells was portrayed as a 'cheater' on MAFS with some old-fashioned views on relationships, but these days he's known as a man of God He was hated by MAFS viewers for his 'alpha male' persona, and was then despised after cheating on his 'wife' Tracey Jewel with Instagram babe Davina Rankin. But Dean Wells has proven himself to be far different to his villainous on-screen persona, with the creative director recently coming out as a devout Christian. The 40-year-old told Woman's Day that he turned to God after losing his mother to cancer two years ago, and that his faith has helped him find meaning and direction. Compared to his scandalous co-stars, Dean has managed to keep out of trouble since MAFS ended, and has even publicly come to the defense of Tracey, urging people to stop trolling the trouble brunette on social media. Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin looked glum when they were pictured for the first time since announcing they are taking a break from presenting TV together. The pair, both 42, were pictured separately, following Ant's announcement that he is taking a year off and hit show Saturday Night Takeaway has been cancelled until 2020. Dec looked down as he was pictured taking the tube in West London, hours after the announcement, alongside his heavily pregnant wife, talent manager Ali Astall. Separated: Declan Donnelly (left) and Ant McPartlin (right) looked glum when they were pictured for the first time since announcing they are taking a break from presenting together Tickets please: Dec was pictured heading out on a shopping trip with his heavily pregnant wife, Ali Astall (left) on Thursday, but seemed a little under the weather Her growing bump was clear to see as she nears her due date. Ant was also pictured enjoying a walk with another friend, with a hot beverage in hand, failing to raise a smile. A source previously told The Mirror that both he and Dec were 'in tears' during a chat about the star taking time out. Smile: Ant's estranged wife Lisa cracked a smile as she walked along with the former couple's dog Hurley on Friday Natural: Ali looked incredible in her tight white top as she showed off her changing shape Tough times: Dec had a tissue in hand following what must have been a trying couple of days for both him and Ant - he will now present I'm A Celeb this year without his sidekick Getting on with things: Saturday Night Takeaway has been shelved until 2020 as Ant continues to get better They said: 'It was very emotional and there were a few tears as they talked it all through. Dec totally understands and supports Ant. He wants him better and fighting for next year.' Ant will not present I'm A Celebrity... this year and it's unknown whether Dec will present the show on this own or with a stand-in. Scarlett Moffatt, 28, has emerged as the bookies' favourite to take on the role of co-host for this year's series of I'm A Celeb. There for him: It's important to note that both Dec and ITV have both been hugely supportive of Ant and his recovery They go way back: Ant and Dec met when they played PJ and Duncan on children's TV show Byker Grove in 1989 Something on his mind: Dec looked down as he was pictured inside a store after it was revealed that Ant broke down when he told him he needed more time off in an emotional chat Delight: The make-up artist casually strolled with Hurley in tow Stylish: The 42-year-old makeup artist couldn't hide her smile as she took the pooch for a walk before loading him into the car Energetic: Hurley himself looked to be having a whale of a time, as he dragged Lisa down the street on their walk Relaxed: Keeping her blonde hair tied back in a sleek up-do, Lisa showed off her gorgeous LA tan with cool aviator sunglasses Production and filming for Saturday Night Takeaway series in February would normally have already started, and continue throughout 2018 and early 2019. Neither Ant & Dec nor ITV wanted to compromise the quality of the show and therefore felt it was better to rest the series next year. They will instead bring the show back in 2020, bigger and better than ever. The Geordie hosts have been friends since they met on ITV show, Byker Grove, playing PJ and Duncan in 1989, before forging a successful TV and music career. They live down the road from one another in West London and regularly holiday together, showing just how close they are. Staying strong: Ant is continuing to focus on his recovery following a three-car collision in Richmond earlier this year and the end of his marriage to long-term love, Lisa Armstrong Ant said in a statement to MailOnline: 'My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off' Best thing: Neither Ant & Dec nor ITV wanted to compromise the quality of Saturday Night Takeaway and therefore felt it was better to rest the series next year ITV Director of Television Kevin Lygo said: 'ITV is completely supportive of Ant taking as much time as he needs in his recovery and of this mutual decision to rest Takeaway in 2019' Putting a brave face on things: Estranged wife Lisa Armstrong looked happy as she was reunited with pet dog, Hurley, who she shares with Ant Ant said in a statement to MailOnline: 'My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off.' He continued: 'Id like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year.' Dec added: 'Whilst I am obviously sad at the thought of being without my best friend in Australia this year, I am proud of the work Ant has been doing privately and I am fully supportive of his decision. 'Im looking forward to us both being reunited on screen in 2019.' Brave: Declan said in a statement that he's 'sad to be without his best friend' He'll be missed: 42-year-old Ant will not present Im A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in November this year Co-host? The news comes just hours after Scarlett Moffatt emerged as the bookies' favourite to take on the role of co-host for this year's series of I'm A Celeb ITV Director of Television Kevin Lygo said: 'ITV is completely supportive of Ant taking as much time as he needs in his recovery and of this mutual decision to rest Takeaway in 2019. 'Ant is clearly making good progress and we wish him all the very best and look forward to him returning to ITV next year. An announcement on I'm A Celebrity plans will be made in due course.' Ant announced his split from his wife, make-up artist Lisa Armstrong in January, and has found romance with her former PA and pal Anne-Marie Corbett. Lisa, 41, was pictured looking cheerful as she was reunited with pet dog Hurley, who she shares with Ant. Woes: Last year, Ant confirmed his battle with drink and drug addiction and was convicted of drink driving (Ant pictured outside Wimbledon Magistrates Court) Lisa continues to wear her wedding ring and has largely kept a dignified silence following the split. Troubled presenter Ant first sought rehab treatment in June 2017 after becoming addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol following a botched knee surgery in 2015. He entered rehab for a second time in March after he was involved in a three-car collision in Richmond and was discovered to be over the limit behind the wheel. Ant pleaded guilty to drink-driving in April and he received a record-breaking 86,000 fine, as well as a 20-month ban from driving. Scarlett Moffatt is currently in pole position for the position of co-host on I'm A Celebrity, with Paddy Power giving her odds of 5/6. Coral bookmakers also have Scarlett as a hot favourite to be named as this years presenter with 3/1 odds, narrowly tipped by Stephen Mulhern with 2/1 odds. Slender Man is coming to theaters, that is. A new horror film, released on Friday, will tell the fictional tale of four teens who set out to disprove the popular urban legend surrounding the abnormally tall, sinister figure. During their quest for the truth, the girls find theyve bit off more than they can chew when one girl goes missing. While the story told in Slender Man isnt rooted in truth, the myth surrounding the films main character has deep roots in real life. Slender Man, a film based off a popular internet meme, hit theaters just about everywhere on Friday Slender Man was born on the internet and the story surrounding him has grown exponentially. What began as a shadowy figure with little to no back story has evolved into so much more. Hes developed such a dedicated following that people are willing to go to great lengths to please Slender Man. In 2014, for example, two 12-year-old girls were busted after attempting to kill a third girl on behalf of Slender Man. What is Slender Man? Slender Man is a fictional character stemming from a CreepyPasta meme created by Eric Knudsen in 2009. Hes a tall, thin, faceless man who wears a black suit. The myth surrounding the Slender Man character suggests hes known for stalking and abducting young kids. As his popularity grew, his story evolved. Its been said that he pops up in real life to those who believe in him or have done extensive research about him. His motives are never positive. Slender Man has become incredibly popular, appearing in video games like Minecraft as the Enderman, and games of his own. Fans are known to share photos of Slender Man sightings or photoshopped images of the character, often alongside children. Slender Man movie Slender Man, the movie, tells the story of four small town girls who set out to prove that Slender Man is fake. In their effort to do so, one girl goes missing and it quickly becomes clear that theyre in over their heads. When does Slender Man come out? Slender Man is in theaters as of Friday, 11 August. Slender Man trailer Sony released the trailer for Slender Man on January 3. The trailer has been watched more than 15 million times. Slender Man case Slender Man made his way from the dark reaches of the internet into the mainstream in 2014 after two 12-year-old girls from Waukesha, Wisconsin tried to stab a third girl to death to dazzle the fictional character. The two girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, stabbed friend Payton Leutner 19 times after luring her into the woods and leaving her there to die. Payton was able to crawl to a nearby road and was found. She was taken to a local hospital where, miraculously, she recovered. According to The Guardian, Anissa pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide two years after the incident. She claimed, however, that she wasnt responsible for what happened because shes mentally ill. A jury agreed with that claim months later. Weve heard whispers of sightings. If youve seen him, share your fan art using both #SlenderManMovie and #FanArt. SLENDER MAN only in theaters August 10. #CanYouSeeHim? pic.twitter.com/ceXpGkX1Z4 Slender Man (@SlenderManMovie) August 3, 2018 She was sentenced to 25 years in a psychiatric facility dating back to the day of the crime. Shell be 37 when shes eligible for release from the facility. In a statement at her sentencing, Anissa said: I do hold myself accountable for this and that I will do whatever I have to do to make sure I dont get any sort of delusion or whatever again. I want everybody involved to know I deeply regret everything that happened that day. I know that nothing I say is going to make this right and nothing I say is going to fix what I broke. Morgan, whos said to have done the stabbing while Anissa cheered her on, pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide. She reached an agreement with the judge stating that she isnt criminally responsible and should be sent to prison. Prosecutors sentenced her to 40 years in a psychiatric facility. A judge has commended Orpheus Pledger after he came to the rescue of a woman who was attacked in a Sydney street last year. Justin Bird, 29, was found guilty of aggravated assault with intent to rob at Downing Centre District Court on Friday and faces 20 years in prison. Home and Away star Orpheus was a key witness in the case, having intervened after seeing the man throw the woman to the ground. Scroll down for video Hero! A judge has commended Orpheus Pledger (pictured) after he came to the rescue of a woman who was attacked in a Sydney street in 2017 Judge Ian McClintock said of the 25-year-old: 'It was very fortunate he was there and very fortunate he intervened.' The judge added that the actor, 'deserved commendation' for his brave actions on that day in April, 2017. The soap star had noticed the man following a woman in a street in the inner city suburb of Surry Hills and chose to follow along to ensure her safety. He was walking home from the gym when he noticed a suspicious-looking man stalking a young woman. 'He just made a run for her. He ran 10 or 15 metres and grabbed her full around the body and threw her to the ground,' he told The Daily Telegraph. Rescue: Home and Away star Orpheus was a key witness in the case, having intervened after seeing the man throw the woman to the ground Tough: Judge Ian McClintock said of the 25-year-old: 'It was very fortunate he was there and very fortunate he intervened' and 'deserved commendation' for his brave actions on that day in April, 2017. Orpheus is pictured in special effects makeup on the set of Home and Away The handsome star revealed he instantly had a bad feeling when he saw the man on Waterloo Street in Surry Hills. Orpheus, who plays a student doctor on Home and Away, said he felt so uneasy about the man he felt compelled to follow him for a couple of blocks. It wasn't long before his fears were realised, and the attacker launched himself at the woman. Good deed: He was walking home from the gym in Sydney's Surry Hills when he noticed a suspicious-looking man stalking a young woman. 'He just made a run for her. He ran 10 or 15 metres and grabbed her full around the body and threw her to the ground,' he said 'My gut told me something was up. I was pretty frightened but the adrenaline kicked in. My initial reaction was for me to step in and to help,' he said. 'I was screaming and yelling saying "stop stop stop", I made sure he got off her,' he told Channel Seven's Sunrise program. 'There was a split decision, there was a moment where I thought, Wow, this is actually happening, so of course I had the choice, but the way I was brought up I just did what I thought was right,' he said. The former star of children's series Silversun, added: 'I didn't think of the consequences in the moment. 'I just needed to do what I could to help. He was trying to run away, but I had a hold of this guy, telling him "You're not going anywhere."' The woman, who was injured in the attack, 'thanked him' but Orpheus said he'd do the same for anyone as it's how he was raised. Raised well: The woman, who was injured in the attack, 'thanked him' but Orpheus said he'd do the same for anyone as it's how he was raised She's been the official face of Myer for almost 12 years and even has shares in the department store. But now Jennifer Hawkins is reportedly stepping away from the retail giant after failing to get the money she wanted during recent contract negotiations. According to Sydney Morning Herald's Private Sydney, the 34-year-old model will be replaced by reality star Elyse Knowles, 25, who will do the same job 'at a fraction of the price.' End of an era! Jennifer Hawkins, 34, (pictured) to 'retire' as Myer ambassador after 12 years over pay dispute... as the retailer REPLACES her with The Block's Elyse Knowles, 25, 'at a fraction of the price' She will officially 'retire' from the role in November, and will have to strut her stuff down the catwalk one last time in the Sydney spring-summer launch later this month, with Elyse. The publication claims that Jennifer was earning an impressive $1.3 million a year for her Myer gig, while Elyse's contract is worth just $150,000, which has 'ruffled Jennifer's feathers'. PS reports that Jennifer's team was 'infuriated' last week, with insiders claiming Myer 'planted' stories about Elyse and new spokesperson Josh Gibson, before her departure was announced. Coming on up: The 34-year-old stunner has been replaced by Elyse Knowles (L) who will do the job for a 'fraction' of Jennifer's $1.3 million-a-year contract Moving on: Jennifer's departure comes as Myer's management reportedly has endured a 'very abrupt change of direction' The publication claims her team were unhappy because her departure news 'wouldn't be managed to her advantage.' Jennifer's departure comes as Myer's management reportedly has endured a 'very abrupt change of direction.' 'It's been really badly handled, and the new management don't seem to care,' an insider said. Elyse's career meanwhile, has been going from strength to strength since she won the thirteenth season of The Block last year. The bubbly blonde has picked up a string of high-profile endorsements this year, including becoming the face of Seafolly and Davidoff's Cool Water fragrance. Rising star: Elyse's career has skyrocketed since she won the thirteenth season of The Block last year New gig: Elyse was announced as an official Myer ambassador in June and previously expressed her excitement at working with Jennifer Familiar face: Elyse has become a household name and is often snapped at red carpet events Elyse was announced as an official Myer ambassador in June and previously expressed her excitement at working with Jennifer. 'Jennifer has been a huge inspiration to me growing up and into this industry and I am thrilled to have the chance to work alongside her with Myer,' she told The West last week. Despite being replaced by a younger model, Jennifer is said to be 'happy to walk' away from her Myer gig. 'Happy to walk': Jennifer apparently has no problem walking away from her Myer role Busy bee! The blonde beauty already has several gigs going, including endorsement deals and a property development company with her husband Jake Wall (pictured) She already has a lot on her plate, balancing contracts with Colgate and Mount Franklin with her own tequila line and fake tan range. She also develops multi-million dollar properties with her builder husband Jake Wall under their J Group company. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Jennifer and Elyse's management for comment, as well as Myer. Flashback: Jennifer became the official face of Myer in early 2007, just three years after being crowned Miss Universe Australia (pictured) Never forget! Before hitting it big with Myer, Jennifer was a pageant queen walking runways in Sydney shopping malls (pictured R during a wardrobe malfunction at Westfield Miranda) Jennifer became the official face of Myer in early 2007, just three years after being crowned Miss Universe Australia. Last year, Jennifer told Women's Health that she wants to have a farm and a family in the next 10 years. 'I always joke with Jake that I'd love to have a farm,' Jennifer told the publication. She added: 'I'd love to be living near the water and have a family.' Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo has reportedly quit Made In Chelsea - four years after first starting on the E4 reality show. The TV star, 23, is said to be eyeing up several TV opportunities and is also eager to focus on her future outside of MIC, according to The Sun. An insider told the publication that Georgia isn't in the latest series set in Croatia, and hasn't signed up for the following season in London as she hopes to pursue more presenting roles. Goodbye! Georgia Toffolo 'QUIT Made In Chelsea after four years as she hopes to pursue other TV projects' The source added to the paper: 'Toff is really proud of everything she achieved on Made in Chelsea and is grateful for the platform the show gave her. 'But now she is eager to focus on new TV projects and hopes to present more as she did on This Morning earlier this year. While the I'm A Celebrity star is still friends with the cast and may potentially return, the source explained that Toff is hoping to following in the footsteps of fellow Jungle Queen Scarlett Moffatt, who's carved her own successful presenting career since winning the competition. Thinking of the future: An insider told the publication that Georgia isn't in the latest series set in Croatia, and hasn't signed up for the following season in London They continued: 'Toff hopes to follow in the footsteps of Scarlett in terms of her presenting work and is ready to say goodbye to talking about her life on camera as she did on the reality show.' MailOnline have contacted Toff's representative for comment. The news comes after the This Morning co-presenter was spotted enjoying dinner with I'm A Celeb co-star Jack Maynard, sparking rumours they were on a date. It's a date! Last week, the This Morning co-presenter was spotted enjoying dinner with I'm A Celebrity co-star Jack Maynard, sparking rumours they were on a date Inspiration: The source explained that Toff is hoping to following in the footsteps of fellow Jungle Queen Scarlett Moffatt (R) who's carved her own successful presenting career since winning the competition Georgia was seen giggling away as she chatted to the disgraced YouTuber over the course of the evening. The pair hit it off in the jungle, but their chances of developing a romance on the show was cut short when the hunk got the boot. Social media star Jack was kicked off the show after historic tweets using racist and homophobic language came to light which he later apologised for. However a spokesperson for Georgia Toffolo shut down rumours of a blossoming romance between the two, informing MailOnline they are just friends. She failed to find lasting love with Dr Alex George in the Love Island villa. But make-up artist Alexandra Cane will no doubt have admirers queuing up for her if her latest photoshoot is anything to go by. The 27-year-old brunette bombshell looked sizzling as she showcased her incredible curves in a series of revealing lingerie outfits on Friday. Turning heads: Love Island's Alexandra Cane showed off her incredible curves in skimpy lace lingerie for a sultry photoshoot The model took centre-stage as she posed in a white lace-edged bra and knickers, which she teamed with vertiginous metallic courts. Styling her luscious locks in tumbling waves, Alexandra framed her features with a slick of taupe lipgloss and smokey eyeshadow. Fitness fanatic Alexandra later slipped into a black swimsuit with a perilously plunging neckline as she posed sexily on the floor for the camera. Sizzling: The 27-year-old brunette bombshell looked sizzling as she showcased her incredible curves in a series of revealing lingerie outfits on Friday Working her angles: Fitness fanatic Alexandra later slipped into a black swimsuit with a perilously plunging neckline as she posed sexily on the floor for the camera Though Alexandra failed to find lasting love with Dr Alex George in the villa, at the wrap party on Sunday night, she was spotted stealing a private moment with Alex Miller. Megan Barton Hanson's ex locked eyes with Demi Rose's make-up artist as he showered her with his attention during the boozy bash to celebrate Love Island 2018. Inside the bash, chemistry was present between the duo when they toasted to each other after both admitting to fancying each other. However, legal brain and dumped islander Rosie Williams had no qualms about calling out the reality star for flirting outrageously with the bevy of villa's beauties. Back to basics: The brunette bombshell donned a figure-hugging button-down midi dress as she arrived at the shoot earlier in the day Killer footwear: She boasted a glowing tan and accessorised with embellished flats 'When Alex Miller cracks on with all the ex islanders,' she wrote via Instagram stories. The caption accompanied the picture of Megan's ex and Alexandra. Despite the hunk making sure he cracked on with all the dumped islanders at the bash, Alex wasn't spotted anywhere near his stripper ex Megan. The Specsavers' Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2017 suggested he might hit it off with Alexandra off at the wrap party. Previously, Alexandra was asked in a tweet: 'If you came in at an earlier stage do you think there would have been any guys you might have clicked with?' Wasn't meant to be: Alexandra failed to find lasting love with Dr Alex George (R) in the Love Island villa She replied: 'Most definitely, just before I came in I was looking at Specsavers' Alex...' Not mincing his words, Alex then divulged he was keen to take the make-up mogul on a date when she touched back in the UK after her time in the Mallorcan villa. He told The Sun Online: 'Wow, I'm really flattered that Alexandra fancies me. She's a bit of a sort too. I really got to like her on the show.' 'Who knows what might happen at the wrap party but if we did go out, unlike my old mate Dr. Alex I'd like to treat Alexandra like a lady.' Alex vowed to the newspaper: 'I'll show her how a real man treats a lady.' She's had a tough few years, and Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie isn't done with all her problems yet. But the 50-year-old revealed that she is 'proud' of her recovery from drug addiction in an interview with The Today Show's Jenna Bush Hager aired on Friday. 'Ive come a long way, I was not happy,' Lisa Marie admitted, adding that her issues with drugs started when she was 45. Slaying her demons: Lisa Marie Presley said she's 'proud' of her recovery from drug addiction in an interview with The Today Show's Jenna Bush Hager that aired on Friday 'But I am proud,' the mom-of-four said of her recovery. Lisa Marie added that even her therapist believes shes a miracle, and doesnt know how shes still alive. 'Im not perfect, my father wasnt perfect, no ones perfect. Its what you do with it after you learnand then you try to help others with it,' she said. New music: Her interview, from her childhood home Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, aired on Friday, the same days as the release of her album, Elvis Presley: Where No On Stands Alone Making it through: The celebrity, 50, revealed that her therapist believes shes a miracle, and doesnt know how shes still alive after her drugs battle And she told Jenna she wished her father was still with her. The stars friends were very concerned about her wellbeing last year after she went on a drug-fueled downward spiral. They even thought shed end up dying of an overdose, just like Elvis who died of a drug-induced heart attack aged 42 on August 16, 1977. With her beloved dad: Lisa Marie told Jenna she wished her father, Elvis, was still with her Singing her heart out: The star sang a duet with her late father on his hit gospel song Where No One Stands Alone for the new album Meanwhile, Lisa Marie was on the show to promote her new album, Elvis Presley: Where No One Stands Alone. Speaking at her childhood home Graceland in Memphis Tennessee, she said she believes her father would be 'incredibly proud' of the record and of their duet on his hit gospel song, Where No One Stands Alone. 'I was overwhelmed when I was singing it,' she said, adding that she broke down in tears while doing the duet. Happy childhood: The Today Show showed snaps of her as a tot during the interview More snaps: Today also shared these images of Lisa Marie with her famous dad Lisa Marie was the sole heir to her father's $100 million fortune. But the broke celebrity is currently suing her ex-money manager, Barry Siegel, for allegedly running her trust fund into the ground due to 'reckless and negligent' investments. In answer to a question about what she would say to Elvis today, she replied, only half jokingly, 'Help me!' The album was released on Friday just six days before the anniversary of Elvis' death. It looks like Chloe Grace Moretz could be moving on from Brooklyn Beckham. The actress was spotted out with Maze Runner star Dylan O'Brien - who once admitted to having a crush on her - on Thursday night, the duo's second night out together this week. The If I Stay beauty wore a red Nascar bomber jacket with black frayed jeans as she was seen exiting Nobu in Malibu. Date night? Chloe Grace Moretz enjoyed another night out in LA with Dylan O'Brien on Thursday night amid rumors the duo are dating Dylan, who is also known for his role on Teen Wolf, walked out of the restaurant a little behind Chloe but could be seen in a black t-shirt and khaki pants. On Tuesday the actors were seen enjoying a night out at The Nice Guy in West Hollywood and were spotted leaving separately but getting in the same car. After that they went to Avenue in Hollywood were they walked in side-by-side. Chloe is believed to have been single since her split from David and Victoria Beckham's 19-year-old son earlier this year. The couple met at Paris Fashion Week in 2014. Casual cool: Chloe, 21, wore a red Nascar bomber jacket and frayed black jeans as she exited Nobu in Malibu ahead of the Maz Runner star Dylan, who is also known for his role on Teen Wolf, walked out of the restaurant a little behind Chloe but could be seen in a black t-shirt and khaki pants. They have been an on-off pair since then, however, Brooklyn was recently seen making out with a mystery brunette suggesting that he's over Chloe. Dylan was dating longtime girlfriend Britt Robertson but has not been seen out with her since the beginning of the year. Back in 2011 he confessed to Hollywire that he had a crush on Chloe after seeing her in Kick-Ass. 'I wanna give a special shout out to Chloe Moretz because she is the most badass little chick that I've ever seen,' he said. 'What she did in Kick-Ass is amazing and I have a crush on her.' The New York born star later retracted his statement after realizing Chloe was underage at the time. She's made a name for herself with a string of action-packed movie roles. And Michelle Rodriguez looked every inch the film star on Friday, taking centre-stage in a scalloped ivory bikini as she soaked up the sun on a mega-yacht in Sardinia. The Fast And Furious actress, who turned 40 last month, ensured all eyes were her as she mingled with celebrity pal Rita Ora during her lavish Italian getaway. Turning up the heat: Michelle Rodriguez, 40, displayed her killer abs in a sizzling ivory bikini as she soaked up the sun on a yacht in Sardinia on Friday The Hollywood star highlighted her ample cleavage and incredible abs in her choice of triangle bikini top. Michelle slipped into a pair of matching bikini bottom which highlighted her slender pins and pert posterior. She wore her raven tresses slicked back off her face and opted to go make-up free for the occasion. Clearly relishing being on the luxury yacht, Michelle threw herself into the sea from one of the top decks. Turning heads: The Fast And Furious actress, who turned 40 last month, ensured all eyes were her as she mingled with celebrity pal Rita Ora during her lavish Italian getaway Looking good: The Hollywood star highlighted her ample cleavage and incredible abs in her choice of triangle bikini top Daredevil: Clearly relishing being on the luxury yacht, Michelle threw herself into the sea from one of the top decks Michelle celebrated her 40th birthday last month and has enjoyed a career in Hollywood spanning almost two decades, with prominent roles in the Resident Evil franchise, Machete Kills and James Cameron's Avatar. But she admits it was her involvement in the hugely successful Fast & Furious films, playing Letty Ortiz, that truly cemented her star status. Speaking with The Daily Beast, the actress recently reminisced about appearing in the very first Fast and Furious film, made in 2001. Chic: Michelle slipped into a pair of matching bikini bottom which highlighted her slender pins and pert posterior Natural beauty: She wore her raven tresses slicked back off her face and opted to go make-up free for the occasion Bum's the word: The brunette bombshell showed off her gym-honed physique to perfection in the skimpy swimwear She recalled: 'I was just excited to be in the same room as objects that were blowing up and cars that were racing. 'To be around real racers and remember what it was like on the streets of Jersey at two oclock in the morning hoping that no cops would show up.' She added: 'Imagine - Im living the dream, I wasnt paying attention to the script. I thought, "Ill deal with it later."' Shady lady: She shielded her eyes from the blistering Italian sunshine with a chic pair of gold round-eye sunglasses It's not her first time! Rodriguez looked like a pro as she hit the water with her arms covering her face We have lift-off! The Texan native showed off her thrillseeker side as she launched herself into the water 'Its been 14 years since Ive been the lead in a movie, since Ive carried a movie on my own,' she said. 'Ive just been so shocked by life in the last two years. Im going to open up. Ive kind of made myself a carcass of safety and Ive protected myself against playing the girlfriend or the girl who gets raped and THEN gets empowered, the girl who gets empowered and then dies theyre always taking the power away from the women.' Her next film, cyberpunk thriller Alita: Battle Angel, is released in December. Successful: Michelle has enjoyed a career in Hollywood spanning almost two decades, with prominent roles in the Resident Evil franchise, Machete Kills and James Cameron's Avatar This Morning host Holly Willoughby has been pipped as the 'firm favourite' to replace Ant McPartlin on this year's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here. The presenter, 37, is said to be much adored by ITV bosses, who are yet to find a replacement for Ant, 42, after he released a statement on Thursday revealing he would not be returning to TV until 2019. According to The Mirror, there have been no official talks about Ant's replacement, but Holly is looking likely to be the main contender. Heading to The Jungle? Holly Willoughby, 37,'is a firm favourite to replace Ant McPartlin on I'm A Celebrity 2018' (pictured 2017) An insider told the publication: 'Holly is very close friends with Ant and Dec and both she and Phil have been backing Ant since his troubles. 'Ant and Dec both love her and I am sure they'd be thrilled if she got the job'. Both Ant and Dec, 42, share the same management company as Holly, so the star will no doubt be aware of what weeks in the Australian Jungle will entail. Changing it up: Holly is said to be much adored by ITV bosses, who are yet to find a replacement for Ant (pictured left with co-host Declan Donnelly) The insider added: 'Producers feel like whoever replaces Ant needs to be a woman to make a difference to the show, otherwise it would just look like a like-for-like replacement - That would risk it falling short for viewers'. MailOnline have contacted representatives for Holly, Ant and Dec, When contacted by MailOnline, a spokesperson for ITV said: 'An announcement on I'm A Celebrity plans will be made in due course'. The news comes just hours after Scarlett Moffatt emerged as the bookies' favourite to take on the role of co-host for this year's series of I'm A Celeb. Scarlett is currently in pole position for the position of co-host on I'm A Celebrity, with Paddy Power giving her odds of 5/6. Co-host? The news comes just hours after Scarlett Moffatt emerged as the bookies' favourite to take on the role of co-host for this year's series of I'm A Celeb Coral bookmakers also have Scarlett as a hot favourite to be named as this years presenter with 3/1 odds, narrowly tipped by Stephen Mulhern with 2/1 odds. It was announced on Thursday that Ant will continue to take a break from all television presenting roles until 2019, with both he and Dec making the joint decision not to present a new series of Saturday Night Takeaway in Spring 2019 and it will return in 2020. Production and filming for a Saturday Night Takeaway series in February would normally have already started, and continue throughout 2018 and early 2019. He'll be missed: According to The Mirror , there have been no official talks about Ant's replacement, but Holly is looking likely to be the main contender Neither Ant & Dec nor ITV wanted to compromise the quality of the show and therefore felt it was better to rest the series next year. They will instead bring the show back in 2020, bigger and better than ever. Ant said in a statement to MailOnline: 'My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off.' Woes: Last year, Ant confirmed his battle with drink and drug addiction and was convicted of drink driving (Ant pictured outside Wimbledon Magistrates Court) He continued: 'Id like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year.' Dec added: 'Whilst I am obviously sad at the thought of being without my best friend in Australia this year, I am proud of the work Ant has been doing privately and I am fully supportive of his decision. Ant announced his split from his wife, make-up artist Lisa Armstrong in January, and has found romance with her former PA and pal Anne-Marie Corbett. Lisa continues to wear her wedding ring and has largely kept a dignified silence following the split. Troubled presenter Ant first sought rehab treatment in June 2017 after becoming addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol following a botched knee surgery in 2015. He entered rehab for a second time in March after he was involved in a three-car collision in Richmond and was discovered to be over the limit behind the wheel. Ant pleaded guilty to drink-driving in April and he received a record-breaking 86,000 fine, as well as a 20-month ban from driving. Christian Bale is known to transform his body for movie roles. And the Oscar winning actor proved on trend as he was spotted looking slimmed down on the set of Ford Vs. Ferrari in Los Angeles on Friday. The 44-year-old was a sliver of his former self when compared to a photograph taken in November. Transformation: Christian Bale, 44, looked trim in Los Angeles on Friday (left). The actor has shed a noticeable amount of weight since November 2017 (right) when he gained weight to play former Vice-President Dick Cheney in Backseat The handsome thespian flaunted a trim waistline in his matching shirt and pants as he plays a mechanic in the film. His face and neckline seemed taut as he carried a coffee mug around set during a break in filming. The gaunt look is nothing new for the Welsh gentleman as he dropped down to a reported 121 lbs. to play Trent Reznik in 2004's The Machinist. To dive into the character who suffers from insomnia so severe that his condition has taken its toll on his weight and his mental health, Christian lost over 70 lbs. Trimmed down: The handsome thespian flaunted a trim waistline in his matching shirt and pants as he plays a mechanic in the film Bare bones: The gaunt look is nothing new for the Welsh gentleman as he dropped down to a reported 121 lbs. to play Trent Reznik in 2004's The Machinist Buff: Bale was always in great shape while playing Bruce Wayne in the Dark Knight trilogy Heavy set: The actor weighed 228 lbs for his part in 2013's American Hustle Then within six months, he packed on the muscle to get to 190 lbs. for his titular rolre in 2005's Batman Begins. He reached 228 pounds he weighed for his part in 2013's American Hustle. More recently, he played former Vice-President Dick Cheney in Backseat which is due in theaters in December. For the role, Christian had to wear prosthesis for the obvious age difference - Cheney was in his 60's during his term - but he also had to pack on the pounds. Old hat: The actor is known to transform his body for movie roles Middle man: More recently, he played former Vice-President Dick Cheney for Backseat (due in theaters December) for which the actor gained 40 lbs 'I had never before gone to a doctor or a nutritionist about gaining or losing weight for my roles,' he told Star2.com. 'But eventually that caught up with me. So, finally for Backseat, I decided that maybe somebody knows better than I do; so I went to somebody and they managed to get me up a good 40lbs. 'It's never healthy to put on that amount of weight in a short amount of time, but I did it in the healthiest manner,' he explained. Thin living: His face and neckline seemed taut as he carried a coffee mug around set during a break in filming Detectives are searching for a man they believe could be connected to a fire that destroyed a Melbourne tattoo shop and a second fire in a nearby reserve shortly after. Emergency services put out the blaze at the Clayton South tattoo parlour about 3.30am on Thursday and were then called to a fire at Grange Reserve in Osbourne Avenue, just a short drive away. A Mazda 3 hatchback seen near the tattoo shop was also seen near the reserve and police are searching for a man seen with the car. Nobody was injured in either fire. Two men have been charged after a kidnapping attempt in Melbourne's west left a victim with serious injuries. Three men allegedly demanded cash from a man at a Braybrook house about 3am on Thursday before assaulting the victim and removing him from the property. Police released the victim, who was taken to hospital with serious injuries, and arrested two 22-year-old men in Braybrook on Thursday evening. The suspects were charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment and assault, and remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday. Notorious murderer John Walsh wanted his cellmate "gotten rid of" so he bashed him at least eight times in the head with a sandwich press, a Sydney court has heard. The 79-year-old has pleaded guilty to murdering fellow convicted killer, Frank Townsend, who died from his injuries after the Long Bay prison cell attack on January 2 in 2017. At his sentence hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, crown prosecutor Sharon Harris said Walsh's first "cold rage" beating was interrupted by prison guards. But he struck twice more when the officers left thinking Townsend was just making "snoring" noises. Walsh, who killed his wife and two grandchildren in 2008, will be sentenced for the fourth murder at a later date. A supermarket near the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds has been granted an exemption from the state's stringent shop trading hours laws for the duration of the show. In a move described by South Australian Treasurer Rob Lucas as "ironic", Drakes Supermarkets - an opponent to shop trading law reform - applied for and won the exemption. Drakes Foodland at Wayville will be allowed to open for an additional 34 hours over the 10-day show period, including until 10pm each night and from 7am on Sundays. Mr Lucas said the application demonstrated the need for law reform around trading hours. "Why should a business person who wants to trade extended hours have to come cap in hand to a minister of the government and ask for permission?" He told reporters on Friday. "Our view is quite simple. If his workers are prepared to work, if shoppers want to shop and he wants to trade, why should our silly trading laws stop him from doing so?" In his application to the government, Drakes Supermarkets general manager Bob Soang said extended trading hours were needed to meet the requirements of people who wanted to purchase groceries after their time at the show. Mr Lucas encouraged other businesses in the area to make similar applications to trade longer during the show. The Retail Trading Bill, which seeks to significantly deregulate shop trading hours law, was introduced to state parliament last month but faces opposition from Labor and the crossbenchers in the upper house. Most Australians have heard of rice noodles, but some customs officers have discovered "ice" noodles, finding hundreds of kilograms of the drug concealed in a shipment of food. Alarm bells were sounded in late July after border force officers spotted a suspicious substance inside a consignment of noodles and Asian spices flown into Sydney from California. Forensic testing returned a positive reading for methamphetamine, with officers estimating the shipment contained up to 300kg of the insidious drug. Authorities believe methamphetamine has an estimated street value of about $100,000 per kilogram, meaning the importation could be worth around $30 million. State and federal police tracked the consignment to a property in the Sydney suburb of Canley Vale on Thursday afternoon. Two men, aged 42 and 53, were arrested as officers raided three properties across Bonnyrigg and Canley Vale. The pair were charged with importing and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs. Both men are due to face Sydney Central Local Court on Friday, and face the prospect of life behind bars if found guilty. Police are now working with international partners to bust a criminal syndicate they believe is behind the importation. "Stopping this importation has not only potentially saved lives, it has damaged a syndicate who will not receive the profit from their illicit drug trade," Australian Federal Police commander Peter Bodel said. A repeat animal cruelty offender has been ordered to pay $73,000 in vet bills after 15 emaciated cats were found living in a squalid Sydney flat. RSPCA NSW on Friday said they found five cats locked in a room filled with faeces and urine and another group trapped under a bed while searching a Mount Pritchard apartment in late 2017. "There was no surface available for the cats to perch, rest or sleep that was not defecated or urinated on," the animal authority said on Friday. The cats' owner, Nikolas Krivoshev, was this week convicted of three charges of failing to provide vet treatment in Liverpool Local Court, court documents show. He was fined $1500 and ordered to cover the RSPCA's $73,650 vet bill. The 52-year-old was also banned from owning animals for three years and told to allow police to record his fingerprints. The RSPCA said magistrate Shane McAnulty warned Krivoshev he would be jailed if he ever came back to court. Three cats were put down while the remaining dozen will be released for adoption should Krivoshev fail to successfully appeal the court's decision. RSPCA NSW said it had a history of dealing with Krivoshev and had previously seized cats for welfare reasons. The Australian Greens are calling on the federal government to cut military cooperation with Saudi Arabia and rule out any future arms deals with the Wahhabi regime after the massacre of 29 children. Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson made the demands after a bus carrying children on a field trip in Yemen was on Thursday hit by an air strike described as a "legitimate military operation" by the Saudi-led coalition. "Saudi Arabia is a country that consistently ranks as one of the worst abusers of human rights in the world - this is not a war Australia should be associated with in any way shape or form," Senator Whish-Wilson said. The defence department has renewed its contract with Adelaide-based shipbuilder ASC to continue to train the navy's submariners. Defence Minister Marise Payne said the contract ensured all submarine crews will have the skills and knowledge to operate the Collins Class submarines safely and effectively. Ms Payne said ASC has been a trusted partner for over 25 years in delivering submariner training at HMAS Stirling base in Perth. "ASC has proven their ability to deliver the required services and continue to innovate with navy to develop and implement the latest in learner-centred training technologies," the minister said in a statement on Friday. "The advanced learning environment, including virtual reality and simulation provides submariners the skills and confidence to take on the demanding roles in a submarine." The services include operator, maintainer and operational training for all submariners throughout their submarine career. The contract is for an initial period of five years, with two possible extensions of three years each. ASC has trained more than 1100 submariners since 1993. Managing director Stuart Whiley said ASC looked forward to continuing the longstanding and collaborative partnership with the navy. "We're proud to play a role in firstly building the Collins Class submarines, now maintaining and upgrading them, and also training the crews that sail on them," he said. Four teenagers are among more than a dozen people arrested over a string of Melbourne crimes including carjackings and armed robberies. The offences date back to July 26 and prompted police raids of properties spanning eight suburbs which finished on Friday. In one attack, a 57-year-old woman was hit in the mouth with the butt of a gun after thugs rammed her car at Narre Warren on July 26. Two boys and a man were charged with offences including aggravated carjacking, armed robbery and attempted aggravated burglary. The males aged 14, 17, and 19 are expected to face court at a later date. Police arrested another 10 people on Friday morning in relation to the crime spree. Officers recovered a stolen black Holden Captiva and a Landrover Discovery and seized imitation firearms and a military assault rifle during the raids. "We know these kinds of incidents can be a terrifying experience for anyone, which is why when they do occur we commit all of our efforts into identifying and arresting offenders," Detective Inspector Shayne Pannell said in a statement. "The safety of the community is the highest priority for police and we'll continue to focus on holding offenders to account whilst maintaining a highly visible police presence in order to prevent crime from occurring." The family of an Australian man arrested in Bali on suspicion of cocaine possession says this could be the "biggest mistake" of his life. Brandon Johnsson, 43, was arrested last Saturday after Indonesian police allegedly discovered 11.6 grams of cocaine packed into 13 plastic bags at a rented room in the tourist hotspot of Kuta. His stepfather Ashley Robinson said the former Sunshine Coast man had a history of minor drug issues stretching back to his mid-teens. Mr Robinson said his stepson had been accused of selling the cocaine but the family is yet to learn the full extent of the charges. "We love him very dearly but he has made some poor decisions in his life," Mr Robinson told reporters on Friday. "This one's obviously going to be the biggest mistake he's made, if it's proved to be correct." If found guilty, Johnsson faces between five and 20 years in prison. His Indonesian girlfriend was also arrested following the raid. Denpasar district police chief Hadi Purnomo said Johnsson had lived in Bali for four years and was a designer or architect. Local media filmed and photographed Johnsson as he was being escorted by police while wearing a bright orange detainee uniform and a balaclava. Mr Robinson said he and his son will travel to Indonesia to provide assistance to Johnsson. "I don't blame the Indonesians. Everyone knows what the law is over there," Mr Robinson said. "I'd actually like to thank them for looking after him at this stage - the police and the officials." More than $500,000 believed to be the proceeds of crime has been seized in Adelaide and three men with links to the Descendants bikie gang arrested in a major police operation. The Australian Federal Police said raids were conducted across the city on Wednesday and Thursday this week with officers also seizing one kilogram of methamphetamines along with four vehicles and prohibited weapons. They alleged the men arrested had links to a syndicate operating within the Descendants which had been heavily involved in the distribution of methamphetamine since early 2016. The prime minister has spent two days in Perth targeting the marginal seats of Swan and Pearce while boasting his government's solution to the GST revenue carve-up but denies he is in campaign mode. Planned changes to the tax formula would put in place a floor to ensure WA receives no less than 75 cents per person for every dollar of GST raised in the state. It follows years of frustration and anger about WA's poor GST revenue share, with some Liberals worried voters could turn away from the party. But while in Swan with MP Steve Irons on Thursday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull insisted voters could trust his government to "deliver a fair deal on the GST". On Friday, the prime minister was in Pearce with Attorney-General Christian Porter, but denied he was devoting time to both seats because he was nervous about losing them at the next election. "Australia is a big country and Western Australia is the biggest single part of it, so I get around the nation," he told reporters. "It is great to be here after we've been able to sort out this GST issue, which I know has been a problem for a long time and I have never run away from that." Mr Porter also insisted the GST issue had been fixed so no other state was worse off and "people love it". He said "of course" it meant he was more confident about the next election. "I said I would leave state politics to be part of a team that would fix the GST, and it took a little while but it is the hardest problem we've ever faced and we got there." Political analyst Harry Phillips told AAP the GST solution would take the edge off the election for the Liberals, but stressed it was not a true fix. "It's a solution without managing or doing anything with the formula." Prof Phillips said the election campaign in marginal WA seats could partly hinge on whether voters accept the GST solution. Fellow analyst John Phillimore told AAP the state was on the national radar because WA seats were now more competitive. "It's a nice problem for WA to have both national leaders in the state campaigning more often." Mr Turnbull also brushed off questions about the Liberal party's controversial decision to not contest the Fremantle and Perth by-elections, which Labor easily won. "There will be a federal election in the first half of next year and there will be a Liberal candidate in every seat in WA." Prof Phillimore said it was a mistake to not run Liberal candidates at the WA by-elections because it showed a lack of respect for the electorates, but added it might not have a long-term impact. The prime minister will address the Liberal state conference on Saturday before leaving WA. The West Australian government has backflipped on a decision to cut $13 million in funding for 105 Community Resource Centres following a public outcry. Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan says a review of the program highlighted areas that could be improved and as a result the traineeship component will be strengthened to ensure centres are working with local businesses and governments. The Liberal and National parties are using the opportunity to call on the McGowan government to also reverse its decision to close Moora Residential College and other cuts. A cyclist has been struck and killed by a semi-trailer in Brisbane's north. The 37-year-old died at the scene on Hudson Road in Albion about 3pm on Friday. Police say he was riding in the same direction as the truck, whose driver was sent for mandatory alcohol testing. About two hours earlier, a man died after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing on the Sunshine Coast Motorway. The 45-year-old Burpengary man was rushed to Sunshine Coast Hospital but died a short time later. The Turnbull government's next big test of its national energy policy will be to secure the support of its own party room and some MPs say their thumbs-up isn't a given. A number of coalition MPs have indicated their willingness to cross the floor and oppose the National Energy Guarantee when it's presented to them for a vote in Canberra on Tuesday. State and territory energy ministers agreed in talks on Sydney on Friday they'd support public consultation of legislation to implement the policy if it can get the support of government members. Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly says he's not willing to support the policy until he's seen the fine print. "I want to be able to see the full details," he told Sydney's 2GB radio. He's concerned MPs won't get much more than a few hours to consider them. Former prime minister Tony Abbott has indicated crossing the floor is a possibility, telling Sky News doing so wouldn't be "a mortal sin". Former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has also said the government can say "goodbye" to his backing if there's any part of the policy that would put pressure on the agriculture sector to meet a tough emissions reduction target. Meanwhile the government is fighting battles on another front with the Victorian, Queensland and ACT governments. Each have laid out a series of demands they believe will improve the National Energy Guarantee and want included to secure their endorsement. Queensland and the ACT want a stronger emissions target than the current 26 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2030. Mr Frydenberg has indicated a willingness to consider Victoria's demand for three-yearly reviews of the target rather than the current five year review process. But he's flatly refusing their call for targets to be set by regulation rather than legislation, calling the demand hypocritical given Victoria's own targets are legislated. "We are not negotiating on the regulation versus legislation, Victoria knows that," he said The Australian Council of Social Service is backing the Labor states' demands. Chief executive Cassandra Goldie called the emissions reduction target "woefully inadequate". ACOSS is also demanding the release of modelling around why energy intensive trade exposed corporations are excluded from the emissions requirements. If state legislation is given the go-ahead for public consultation in a teleconference with state and territory ministers on Tuesday night, South Australia's Energy Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan has indicated it could pass the state parliament by the end of the year. The crisis that has embroiled Ipswich City Council has deepened with more charges being laid by Queensland's corruption watchdog. The Crime and Corruption Commission on Friday levelled additional accusations against two men previously charged under its investigation into the council. A 66-year-old Brassall man will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday on eight charges of fraud and one count of corruption. A 61-year-old Eight Mile Plains man will appear in the same court on August 28 accused of a corruption offence. Fifteen people who either worked for or were linked to Ipswich council have now been charged with 86 corruption and related offences. It has led the state government to draft special legislation to sack elected council officials, a move CCC head Alan MacSporran QC says is the only option. The CCC is expected to release its report into governance failures within the council next week Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will wrap up his three-day visit to Perth with an address to the Liberal state conference. He toured a small business in the seat of Swan on Thursday alongside MP Steve Irons. On Friday, he was joined by Attorney-General Christian Porter as he visited the site of the $1.02 billion NorthLink project in the seat of Pearce. The prime minister spent much of his time in Perth boasting about his government's solution to the GST revenue carve-up following years of frustration about WA's poor GST revenue share. Planned changes to the tax formula would ensure WA receives no less than 75 cents per person for every dollar of GST raised in the state. Mr Turnbull denied he was devoting time to both marginal seats because he was nervous about losing them at the next election. Mr Porter said "of course" he was more confident about the next election following the GST announcement. The prime minister has also dismissed questions about the Liberal party's decision to not contest the Fremantle and Perth by-elections, which Labor easily won. He promised there would be a Liberal candidate for every seat at next year's federal election. Mr Turnbull is expected to leave WA after attending the Liberal state conference where he will deliver a 20-minute speech. Members and supporters of the National Socialist Movement, one of the largest neo-Nazi groups in the US, hold a rally in Newnan, Georgia in April Exactly a year since torch-wielding neo-Nazis clashed with counter demonstrators in a deadly protest that highlighted the growing boldness of America's extreme right, white nationalists are set to rally outside the White House on Sunday. Organized by Unite the Right -- the same white supremacist network that called last year's protest in Charlottesville, Virginia -- Sunday's rally will once again see the extremists stand face-to-face with anti-fascists, who are staging a counter protest in the same area. Washington authorities have ramped up the capital's emergency level to allow for additional resources to prevent violence, but some are bracing for confrontation. "I don't know exactly what will happen, but it probably will not be good," tweeted Richard Spencer, a leader of the so-called "alt-right" movement, who said he would be staying away from the rally. Last year's protests in Charlottesville began August 11 and saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans while wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. They had gathered to protest efforts to remove statues of Confederate leaders, including one of the Confederacy's top general, Robert E Lee. When the demonstrations continued on August 12, fighting broke out between neo-Nazi supporters and anti-fascists from a black-clad group called Antifa. The violence culminated with a man driving a car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a woman and injuring 19 people. - 'Blame on both sides' - In the immediate aftermath, President Donald Trump drew broad criticism when he appeared initially reluctant to condemn the extreme right-wingers -- many of whom have rallied behind him since his election, including David Duke, a former KKK leader and avowed racist and anti-Semite who praised Trump's "courage" in defending white nationalist protesters. Flowers lay where Heather Heyer was killed and 19 others injured when a car slammed into a crowd of people protesting against a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia Trump had said there was "blame on both sides" for the violence, condemning the anti-fascists who came "with clubs in their hands." Neo-Nazis and members of the self-described "alt-right" movement were seen to be emboldened by Trump's response, after he failed to call any neo-Nazi groups out by name. Several openly racist or white nationalist candidates are seeking elected office this year including avowed Nazi Arthur Jones of Illinois, who won his district's Republican party primary and is running for Congress. And in Wisconsin, Paul Nehlen, the leading Republican running to fill the seat in Congress currently held by retiring Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, has emerged as a leader of the alt-right movement. "No one should be surprised. This is Donald Trump's America. These are the forces he has unleashed," said Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center anti-bigotry group, in an open letter. "Rather than try to pull the country together after Charlottesville -- rather than examine the impact of his own rhetoric and actions -- Trump has doubled down on the toxic xenophobia and fearmongering that have fueled his political life." The Law Center's outreach director Lecia Brooks told AFP the rally reflected a "continued emboldenment on the part of white nationalists in this country." Organizers for Sunday's event have called it a "white civil rights rally" aimed at protesting "civil rights abuse in Charlottesville." In Washington, all firearms will be banned from the protest site, including those legally carried by licensed gun owners, officials said. Rally organizers cautioned attendees not to react with anger against any counter protesters. "There will certainly be provocateurs trying to get a reaction out of you by trying to stick cameras in peoples' faces, yelling, etc," the Unite the Right website stated. Unite the Right attendees were also encouraged to bring an American or Confederate Flag. A permit for a counter-protest was granted Thursday to the Answer Coalition, a group that has urged "mass action" on Sunday to protest what it described as racists, fascists, neo-Nazis and white supremacists. Smaller anniversary events are planned in Charlottesville, ahead of which Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and city officials declared a state of emergency. Nowadays, online casinos are known as ideal gaming platforms that offer an immersive gaming experience for thousands of users around... Online casinos were considered a novelty in the 90s, and not many users were even familiar with the option to... The rise of social media has changed the way all industries run their businesses and commercial real estate is... Increasingly, homeowners are using smart technology to make their home lives easier. Smart thermostats allow you to set the temperature... I Agree This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy Smoke rises into the air after Taliban militants launched an attack on the Afghan provincial capital Ghazni, on August 10, 2018 Taliban militants have launched an attack on an Afghan provincial capital and heavy fighting is under way as security forces try to beat them back, with terrified residents cowering in their homes amid explosions and gunfire. At least one Afghan soldier has been killed and seven others wounded in the fighting in the southeastern city of Ghazni, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori told AFP on Friday. Civilian houses and army checkpoints have come under mortar attack and the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters are in the streets, he added. The Taliban began the attack late Thursday from several positions around the city, provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal told AFP. Residents who spoke to AFP said power has been cut to the area for hours since fighting erupted, with heavy gunfire ringing out across the city and a government building set on fire. "We are scared for our life. The Taliban are roaming everywhere in and around the city," shopkeeper Mohammad Haleem told AFP. Another resident, Yasan, said the Taliban were using loudspeakers at the mosque to warn residents to stay in their homes. "Heavy explosions and gunfire can be heard. We are terrified," Yasan wrote in a Facebook post. Police special forces have been deployed to help block the Taliban advance on the city, an Afghan security official said. The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured "most of government buildings inside the city". "So far 140 enemy forces have been killed or wounded," the group said. The Taliban frequently exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay losses incurred during fighting. - Growing pressure - Afghanistan It was the latest in a series of attempts by the Taliban over the past three years to capture urban centres. Afghan forces have been struggling to hold back the resurgent militant group since the withdrawal of NATO combat forces at the end of 2014. In May the Taliban attacked the western city of Farah. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and US air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. The attack on Ghazni comes as the Taliban faces growing pressure to agree to peace talks with the Afghan government to end the 17-year war. It has so far ignored President Ashraf Ghani's offer of unconditional peace negotiations. The Taliban has long insisted on direct talks with the United States. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. But there are tentative signs that diplomatic efforts to kick-start talks are starting to bear fruit. Washington indicated a change in its longstanding policy in June when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks. Pompeo also said the role of foreign forces in Afghanistan would be on the table. Last month Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar. Anticipation has also been mounting about the possibility of a government ceasefire announcement for the Islamic holiday of Eid-al Adha later this month. An unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary halt, giving war-weary Afghans some welcome relief from violence. France and Rwanda once had close cultural ties, as this 2006 photo of a map in a Kigali school shows Rwanda turned its back on the French-speaking world when it chose English as the language of education a decade ago, but with bilingualism seen as an asset French is reviving. As the language of coloniser Belgium, French began losing ground to English in the aftermath of Rwanda's 1994 genocide when a new political elite, dominated by anglophone Tutsi refugees, took charge. Underpinning Rwandan antipathy towards French was the accusation of France's complicity in the genocide that killed at least 800,000, mostly Tutsis. In 2003, rebel-turned-president Paul Kagame, himself a Uganda-educated Tutsi, made English an official language alongside the country's first language, Kinyarwanda, and French. Five years later English replaced French as the language of education. At the same time, Kagame's government began conducting official business in English, although laws continue to be published in all three official languages, with Swahili added as a fourth last year. The pivot away from French language and influence deepened with Rwanda's joining of the anglophone East African Community regional bloc and the Commonwealth club of former British colonies. - Renewed French vigour - Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo is bidding to be next secretary-general of La Francophonie, the group of French-speaking nations But Rwanda's top diplomat, now vying to lead the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the world association of French-speaking nations, said rejecting the language was never the plan. "This is a misinterpretation, it was necessary for Rwanda to try to be part of this club of English-speaking countries," foreign minister Louise Mushikiwabo told AFP, in a French-language interview ahead of October's vote. "The interpretation that suggests that Rwanda turned to English against French may have been the result of relations between France and Rwanda," the long-serving 57-year-old added. "I think there was confusion between the relations of Rwanda and France, and the relations of Rwanda with the Francophonie." The abrupt change in the language of primary education has had its problems. A shortage of anglophone teachers meant many were forced to teach subjects in a language they had not mastered. Despite an enthusiastic embracing of English, French has lingered and recently rallied. The vast majority of Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda primarily or exclusively, but in 2015 the OIF estimated that 700,000 Rwandans, or six percent of the population, were French-speaking making it still the most popular foreign language, ahead of English. French news and satellite television channels are widely viewed and French newspapers and books fill bookshops in the capital Kigali. French has also been reintroduced to the primary school curriculum -- but as a foreign language -- and the French school in Kigali, which reopened in 2010 after four years closed, is oversubscribed with Rwandan students. - 'At the crossroads of the two worlds' - "It depends on the audience. If you want to speak to Rwandans about simple, clear, understandable things, you use Kinyarwanda. If you want to speak to a class that is a little more cultivated, a little more international, you write in French," said Antoine Mugesera, a Rwandan historian. He added that transcripts of Rwanda's long and rich oral history exist in French, not English. "It's a heritage that we must carefully protect," he said. French-English bilingualism, adopted by the Rwanda elite, is the true social marker, but French maintains a noble image. "It's true that when you speak French, people immediately assume a certain level of education," said hip hop poet Eric Ngangare, known as "1key". Bilingualism is simple pragmatism for a small country seeking to grow, to extend its influence and ties, argued Mushikiwabo: "The omnipresence of English is perhaps inevitable, but that does not mean that the French language can not assert its advantages, its assets." "We are at the crossroads of both worlds," said Mugesera. "One language is poverty, two languages is wealth. We have to keep both, that would be a huge asset for us." The scandal at the Tokyo Medical University has shocked Japan Japan Friday launched an unprecedented probe into gender discrimination at all the nation's medical universities after a Tokyo medical school admitted to altering the entrance test results of female applicants to exclude them. The education ministry has asked all 81 private and public medical schools to check their admission procedures for possible discrimination against female applicants. Authorities said they would also check the gender ratio of successful applicants for the past six months, and confirmed it was the first ever such nationwide investigation. "If their answers are judged as not reasonable, we will ask additional questions or visit them directly," a ministry official said, adding that the results of the probe would be published as early as next month. The investigation came after a Tokyo medical school admitted it routinely altered entrance test scores for female applicants to keep women out, in a scandal that has sparked outrage in Japan. The alterations reportedly stretched back as far as 2006 and apparently aimed to keep the ratio of women in the school at 30 percent or lower. "The case was extremely regrettable," Education Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters, urging medical schools to co-operate with the probe. The scandal was uncovered by investigators looking into claims the university padded the scores of an education ministry bureaucrat's son to help him gain admission. According to local media, other instances had been discovered where individual entrance test scores were revised upwards, suggesting potential favouritism. The scores for female applicants, however, were lowered across the board. Sources told local media the discrimination was the result of a view that women would not be reliable doctors after graduation as they often quit to marry and start a family. "No matter what the situation is, women should never be discriminated against unfairly," Jiji Press cited Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa as saying. A group of female lawmakers and lawyers have demanded the university reveal test scores and compensate female students who did not get in because of the practice. "People say female doctors tend to quit. That's total nonsense," said Mizuho Fukushima, a senior lawmaker of the opposition Social Democratic Party, who joined the group's meeting on Friday. "We have to get angry and change this no matter what." Japan's notoriously long work hours and a male-dominated business culture force many women out of the workplace when they start families. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made "womenomics" -- or boosting women's participation in the workplace and promoting women to senior positions -- a priority, but the pace of progress has been slow. Jet Airways slid 8.04 percent in morning trade, a day after it told the Bombay Stock Exchange that it was delaying releasing its first-quarter results Shares in India's Jet Airways tumbled to a three-year low on Friday after the embattled airline failed to release its latest quarterly earnings as scheduled. Local media have raised concerns about India's second-largest carrier, reporting it may cease flying in two months unless it makes major cost cuts. Jet's stock has plunged 66 percent this year, according to Bloomberg News, as it grapples with intense competition from a host of low-cost airlines, rising fuel prices and a weak rupee. "Lots of shareholders have lost money, I feel guilty and embarrassed," Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal told the company's annual general meeting in Mumbai late Thursday. The airline's shares slid 8.04 percent in morning trade, a day after it told the Bombay Stock Exchange that it was delaying releasing its first-quarter results until an unspecified date, "pending closure of certain matters". In the statement, Jet said it had postponed its financial results because the audit committee hadn't recommended the results for board approval. Last week the Economic Times reported that Jet needs to make major cost cuts or face having to shut down operations within 60 days. Indian financial daily Mint reported that the airline was in talks with investors to raise cash. Jet Airways, India's number-two carrier by market share, denied that it needed to take drastic measures. In a statement, CEO Vinay Dube described the reports as "factually incorrect and malicious". India's aviation market is witnessing a boom with passenger numbers increasing six-fold over the past decade as customers take advantage of better connectivity and cheaper fares. But it is also a tumultuous time, with profits being eroded by a poorly performing Indian currency and high crude prices. Airlines are navigating a fiercely competitive market and are unable to pass on rising operating costs to cost-conscious customers, analysts say. They are also having to spend considerably to increase their fleets to keep up with soaring demand. "Net margins have fallen drastically and wiped out profits," Binit Somaia, South Asia director at the Centre for Aviation (CAPA), told AFP. Last month IndiGo, India's biggest airline, reported a whopping 97 percent plunge in quarterly profits compared to the same period a year ago. And an attempt by the Indian government to sell off debt-stricken national carrier Air Indian failed earlier this year, after no offers were made. Last year the UN Security Council adopted a series of resolutions targeting North Korean exports of commodities and the isolated regime's financial network in a bid to cut off revenue to its weapons programmes Three South Korean firms were caught importing coal and iron from the North last year, Seoul said Friday, in an apparent violation of UN sanctions imposed in August 2017 on the nuclear-armed state. More than 35,000 tonnes of North Korean coal and iron worth 6.6 billion won ($5.8 million) were imported into the South between April and October last year, the Korea Customs Service said. In addition to breaking South Korean law, some of the shipments were likely in breach of UN resolutions as well, with the customs service warning that "any ships that are believed to have violated UN sanctions will be impounded or banned from entering South Korean ports". In a complex process spanning three countries, coal shipments were first sent to Russia, where their details were disguised using forged "country of origin" documents, and then reloaded on ships bound for the South, the customs office said in a statement that followed a 10-month investigation by the authorities. UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea In another case, black coal imported from North Korea was transferred to the Russian port of Kholmsk, where it was "disguised as semi-coking coal that does not need country of origin documents", before being reloaded on ships heading to the South, the customs office said. "Korea Customs Service has confirmed seven criminal offences and it will report three persons and three companies to prosecution authorities with a request to indict them", it said. "It is necessary to consider the timing of UN resolutions... to determine whether the activities were in breach" of sanctions as well, it added. - Paid in coal, not cash - News of the apparent breach comes after a UN report last week accused the North of evading sanctions by continuing to export coal, iron and other commodities as well as carrying out illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil products at sea. Deliveries of iron and steel to China, India and other countries generated nearly $14 million from October to March, the UN report said. The South Korean investigation also uncovered a trade in pig iron, with the customs office saying that the suspects sold the crude metal to a South Korean buyer via a Hong Kong-based shell company. It said the suspects appeared to have been paid in coal, rather than cash, for their role in helping the nuclear-armed regime export its products. A recent diplomatic thaw culminated in a historic meeting between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June Last year the UN Security Council adopted a series of resolutions targeting North Korean exports of commodities and the isolated regime's financial network in a bid to cut off revenue to its weapons programmes. A recent diplomatic thaw culminated in a historic meeting between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June. But there has been little evidence of concrete post-summit progress on the key issue of denuclearisation, with the North attacking the US for "gangster-like" demands of complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament. "It is necessary for South Korea to handle this case cautiously to avoid inflaming the situation", said Professor Kim Yong-hyun at Dongguk University, pointing to the uneasy detente between Washington and Pyongyang. Russia and China have called on the Security Council to consider easing sanctions to reward North Korea for opening up dialogue with the United States and halting missile tests. But Washington has urged the international community to maintain maximum sanctions pressure, even suggesting tougher economic measures, in a bid to compel Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. Queen Elizabeth II is hugely popular in Australia, although there are some who view the monarchy as an anachronistic colonial relic Australian politicians have been inundated with "tongue in cheek" requests for portraits of Queen Elizabeth II after a writer uncovered an obscure law allowing voters to request one at taxpayers' expense. Under the Constituents' Request Program, Australians can ask their MPs for "nationhood material" including a photo of the Queen wearing a wattle brooch -- a gift from former Australian prime minister Robert Menzies -- and a pin featuring the country's coat of arms. The Queen is Australia's head of state as it remained a British dominion after gaining independence in 1901. Other material on offer includes the national, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, "nationhood documents" such as booklets on Australian flags and national symbols, and a portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh. MPs said they had not received any requests for Queen Elizabeth portraits -- until Vice's Nicholas Lord pointed out the archaic provision in an article on Wednesday. "Excellent trolling @VICEAU, I do find this to be comfortably the dumbest part of my job," tweeted Labor MP Tim Watts, representing the Victorian seat of Watts Gellibrand. "But be warned youth of Gellibrand: if you request a portrait of Liz, there's nothing stopping me sending you some other 'material' in the same parcel." The "other material" in his package included photos of retired Aussie Rules' Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy and former Australian Labor PM Julia Gillard. Watts told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he had received four dozen requests for portraits of the Queen in 24 hours after the Vice article was published. "I think 99 percent were tongue firmly in cheek," he added. Another Victorian Labor MP, Ged Kearney, tweeted that while her office did have portraits of the Queen available, she usually received more requests for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. The government-funded programme, introduced in 1990, was criticised by former Greens party leader Bob Brown in 2012, who told parliament that public money could be better spent elsewhere. "If there is extra money available, I suggest that it go to ensuring that Indigenous people in Australia who are being deprived of their first languages be given an education in their first languages and that we stop some first languages going to extinction in this country," he said. "I think that might have priority. However, if there are members opposite who cannot find a picture of Her Majesty, I would be happy to provide them with one." The Queen is hugely popular Down Under, although there are some who view the monarchy as an anachronistic colonial relic. Those pushing for Australia to become a republic failed to win a national referendum on the question in 1999. Authorities in the communist country show little tolerance for criticism of any kind, and desecrating of the national flag is deemed particularly offensive A Vietnamese activist was put under house arrest and barred from leaving the country after she defaced the national flag, she told AFP Friday, vowing to fight for democracy in the one-party state where dissent is swiftly stamped out. Authorities in the communist country show little tolerance for criticism of any kind, and desecrating national symbols such as the yellow-starred red flag is deemed particularly offensive. Huynh Thuc Vy, 32, was ordered to remain in her home and is blocked from leaving the country until October while she is under investigation for "affronting the flag" after she smeared white paint on the national banner last year. "The red flag shows the authoritarian rule of Vietnam's Communist Party, which goes against human progress and symbolises the abuse of democracy and human rights," she told AFP Friday from her home in central Dak Lak province. It is common in Vietnam for suspects to be detained during investigations and if convicted, Vy could face up to three years in prison. A co-founder of the Vietnamese Women for Human Rights group, Vy won a Hellman/Hammett grant from Human Rights Watch in 2012 for her political writing on rights issues and the persecution of ethnic minorities. Vy said police came to her house early Thursday and confiscated her phones, computer and camera before interrogating her for 15 hours and issuing the house arrest order. She said she is frequently "targeted" by officials and refused to stand down despite the investigation. "I will continue doing what I need to do... I really want a free and democratic Vietnam so my children and grandchildren can live happily," said Vy, who has an infant daughter. Her father is a former political prisoner and was jailed in 1992 for 10 years for "propaganda against the state". Calling for her release, Amnesty International said the arrest "is nothing more than a politically-motivated attempt to silence one of the most powerful voices for human rights in Vietnam". Vietnamese officials did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment on the case. There are scores of bloggers, lawyers and activists behind bars in Vietnam, where political parties are banned and all press is state-controlled. Many activists have turned to social media to air grievances, though a recently passed cybersecurity law has sparked fears that online expression could be curbed. The bill -- which drew criticism from the United States and the European Union -- requires internet providers like Facebook and Google to hand over user data and remove "offensive" content upon request from the government. The bus left Port Harcourt in River State on Thursday morning, heading for Lagos Thirteen people burnt to death when a bus burst into flames after a head-on collision with a digger near Nigeria's oil hub of Port Harcourt, police said on Friday. "A pail loader (digger) skidded off the road and had a head-on collision with an oncoming bus," Rives state police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni told AFP. He said the bus had left Port Harcourt for Lagos on Thursday morning with the driver and 13 passengers on board. "The bus went up in flames and all except one person were burnt beyond recognition," he said. The survivor, who sustained severe burns, was taken to the hospital for treatment. Accidents are common on Nigeria's poorly maintained inter-city roads due to speeding, disregard for traffic regulations and the fact that many vehicles are not road-worthy. In June, 12 people died when a petrol tanker caught fire and exploded on one of the busiest roads in Nigeria's commercial hub, Lagos. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's Facebook page has 10 million likes, but he has come under fire for allegedly buying support from so-called "click farms", which he denies Hackers targeted the official Facebook page of Cambodia's premier Hun Sen on Friday and falsely claimed he would cede several parliamentary seats, an official said, after the strongman swept last month's election virtually uncontested. The long-serving leader's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is expected to take all 125 spots in parliament when official results are announced next week, cementing Cambodia's status as a one-party state. But on Friday, hackers broke into Hun Sen's official Facebook page and said the CPP would give away four seats to other parties, a ruling party spokesman confirmed to AFP. The perplexing message was up for about an hour and got some 3,300 "likes" before it was removed. "The news was fake," Sok Eysan told AFP, confirming there are no plans to share seats with any other parties. He said Hun Sen's account was likely hacked by "opposition groups or traitors or outlawed rebels." The post claimed the seats would go to Funcinpec Party and the League for Democracy Party, both small political parties in Cambodia that took a slim margin of votes last month. The controversial election was held without the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on the ballot after it was dissolved by a Cambodian court last year and one of its leaders Kem Sokha jailed and accused of treason. The CNRP won 44 percent of the vote in the last elections, the most credible challenge to Hun Sen's rule since he came to power 33 years ago. The 66-year-old leader eagerly embraced social media in the run-up to the election in a bid to win support from the youth in Cambodia, where two-thirds of the population of 16 million people are under 30. His Facebook page has 10 million likes, but he has come under fire for allegedly buying support from so-called "click farms", which he denies. His elections campaign also coincided with the silencing of critics in the media and civil society, and his overwhelming election majority drew criticism from the United States and the European Union. Voter turnout was more than 80 percent, though more than 600,000 of ballots were spoiled and considered inadmissible, sparking concerns of voter intimidation. Shinzo Abe is seen comfortably beating his challenger Shigeru Ishiba Former Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday announced a long-shot bid to unseat Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as leader of the country's ruling party in elections next month. Abe is widely expected to win another term as head of the Liberal Democratic Party with Ishiba likely to be his only challenger. Polls suggest the premier is supported by around 70 percent of LDP members and winning the vote would put him on the path to becoming Japan's longest-serving prime minister ever. Despite the odds, 61-year-old Ishiba said he had decided to challenge Abe to "restore confidence in the government, which should be at the service of citizens". Earlier this year, Abe's popularity ratings slumped with his administration mired in two cronyism scandals. But he has recovered from the rows, and is viewed as a shoo-in to win the internal election next month, which is held every three years. In 2015 he ran unopposed, and in 2012 he beat four other contenders, including Ishiba, who was then seen as the front-runner. Ishiba has expressed surprise at the dearth of challengers to Abe. "It's a chorus of 'I won't run. I support Abe'," he told a local television station this week. A defence hawk, Ishiba favours a revision of Japan's pacifist constitution along more radical lines than Abe, and has even controversially suggested Japan should consider having nuclear weapons. He may well end up being Abe's sole rival, with another potential challenger, former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, already ruling out a bid. Internal Affairs Minister Seiko Noda has reportedly considered running, but lacks support from enough party members. I am a retired newspaperman. I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 44 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Despite hitting two banks, the robbers were unable to break into the vaults, police said Armed robbers killed at least 10 people, including a policeman, when they raided a police station and two banks in southern Nigeria, police said Friday. The incident, which took place on Thursday in Igarra in Edo state, was the latest in a string of such robberies in which the assailants have first attacked a police station to seize weapons before going on to raid a bank. "Ten people were killed in total. The gunmen first attacked a police station where they killed three people, including two detainees and a policeman," a senior police officer told AFP. Three people near the police station also died after being hit by stray bullets, he said, adding that a police vehicle at the scene had been torched. "The robbers attacked two banks but could not break into the vaults," he said. He said four people, including customers, were shot dead at the two banks. Edo state police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident but declined to give details. Community leader Folorunsho Dania also said 10 people had been killed. "This is a serious case," he told local media. "Ten bodies have been counted. The police station was set ablaze; the area commander's car was torched," he said. "It is a calamity." In April, 33 people, including a number of policemen, were killed during a brutal bank robbery in central Nigeria. The gang struck in broad daylight in a busy commercial district in Offa, Kwara state, firing indiscriminately as they made off with the loot. Police have arrested 22 suspects over the incident. Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr's alliance will be the biggest bloc in Iraq's parliament Nationalist Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr's alliance won Iraq's May parliamentary election according to a manual recount, the electoral commission said Friday, paving the way for a government to be formed nearly three months after the vote. Allegations of fraud prompted the supreme court to order a partial manual recount, but Sadr's joint list with communists will retain all 54 seats it won to become the biggest bloc in Iraq's 329-seat parliament. The only substantive change resulting from the recount will be an extra seat for the Conquest Alliance of pro-Iranian former paramilitary fighters at the expense of a local Baghdad list. The Conquest Alliance remains in second place but will have 48 seats instead of 47, Iraq's nine-member electoral commission said. Other changes were confined to a handful of alterations to the standings of candidates within party lists. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's bloc remains in third with just 42 seats. After the supreme court officially announces the final results, the outgoing president has 15 days to convene parliament, which must then elect a new head of state and begin the process of forming a coalition government and settling on a new prime minister. - 40 key demands - Sadr has already signed a coalition agreement with Shiite Ammar al-Hakim's Al-Hikma list, which will stay on 19 seats after the recount, and the secular outgoing vice president Iyad Allawi, whose list was comprised largely of Sunnis and secured 21 seats. The May 12 election saw a record low turnout of 44.5 percent, with longtime political figures pushed out by voters seeking change in a country mired in conflict and corruption. The recount results come after deadly protests that broke out in early July, with demonstrators angry at water shortages, unemployment and the dire state of public services. Regular power cuts mean there has been little respite from sweltering summer temperatures and with the national grid providing just a few hours of electricity per day, many Iraqis are forced to pay to use generators through the private sector. "The announcement of the results will help stabilise the (political) process in the country and will accelerate responses to the population's demand that they be able to enjoy public services worthy of the name," political analyst Aziz Jabbar told AFP. But building a coalition will take time, as even with the support of Hikma and Allawi, Sadr can only so far count on the loyalty of less than 30 percent of lawmakers. And Sadr on Friday threatened to place his bloc in opposition, rather than form a government, if other parties refuse to back 40 demands that he has made "for the political process to move in the right direction". These include rejecting sectarian quotas, refusing to hand government portfolios to previous office holders, denying posts to MPs with dual nationality and expelling corrupt officials. Iraqi men demonstrate in the southern oil-rich city of Basra -- the heart of recent protests against power shortages, graft and other social ills -- on August 3, 2018 Graft is seen as a big problem in a country where citizens say they fail to benefit from the country's enormous oil wealth. Officially $40 billion (34 billion euros) has been allocated to the power sector over the past 15 years, but a substantial slice has been siphoned off by corrupt politicians and businessmen who have fronted fake contracts. In an attempt to quell public anger after more than a month of demonstrations -- and with protests still springing up in the mainly Shiite south -- Abadi sacked four directors in the electricity ministry on Tuesday and moved a number of others. The decision followed the dismissal last month of electricity minister Qassem al-Fahdawi "because of the deterioration in the electricity sector", the premier's office said at the time. Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak, who is free on bail, has been hit with seven charges so far Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak's trial on corruption charges related to a massive financial scandal that led to his shock election defeat will start in February, a court said Friday. Najib, 65, will stand trial for criminal breach of trust, money laundering and power abuse linked to billions of dollars allegedly looted from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. The former leader, who is free on bail, has been hit with seven charges so far, including three for money laundering lodged on Wednesday over claims he pocketed 42 million ringgit ($10.3 million) from a former unit of 1MDB. These are in addition to the charges he faced last month after he was first arrested -- three for criminal breach of trust and a separate count that he abused his position to take the money. Najib has denied all the charges. Malaysia's new government, under Najib's 93-year-old former mentor Mahathir Mohamad, is probing the corruption allegations involving 1MDB -- which was set up and overseen by Najib -- in an audacious fraud that spanned the globe. High Court Judge Mohamad Nazlan Mohamad Ghazali set the trial dates from February 12-28 and from March 4-29. State prosecutors said they expect to call around 50 witnesses. Najib is facing a long time behind bars if found guilty -- the money-laundering charges carry maximum jail terms of 15 years each, while the other four charges carry sentences of 20 years each. The money-laundering charges allege 42 million ringgit stemming from illegal activities was transferred to Najib's bank accounts between December 2014 and February 2015. All the charges relate to fund transfers from SRC International, an energy company that was originally a subsidiary of 1MDB. The sums involved are just a fraction of the $681 million that was mysteriously transferred to Najib's personal bank accounts several years ago, sparking uproar in Malaysia. Najib, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and his allies are accused of using the plundered money to buy everything from US real estate to artworks and a luxury yacht that was recently handed over to Malaysia. Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said Wednesday that the toppled leader believed the case was driven by politics. "I am confident of a fair trial for my client, but my client thinks this is a political prosecution," Muhammad Shafee told reporters. The US Department of Justice, which is seeking to recover items allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB cash in America, estimates that $4.5 billion in total was looted from the fund. Following Najib's election loss in May, police seized a vast trove of items -- including expensive handbags and jewellery -- from properties linked to him with an estimated value of up to $273 million. Reporters Without Borders said it was unblocking its site through a website "mirroring" technique in Egypt Reporters Without Borders said it had restored its website in Egypt on Friday, exactly one year after it was blocked by the authorities. "Access to hundreds of websites are blocked in Egypt, placing journalists in a virtual jail," the press freedom body said on its site. "To draw attention to this censorship, and to circumvent it, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is making its own website accessible again in Egypt today." More than 500 news and NGO sites are blocked in Egypt, according to the Cairo-based Association for the Freedom of Thought and Expression. Around 100 news sites -- including Al Jazeera, Huffington Post Arabic and BuzzFeed -- were blocked last year, RSF said. The sites of independent local news organisations have also been blocked. Human rights groups regularly criticise moves by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government to curtail free speech. "Online censorship is one side of the oppressive system that the regime wants to extend in Egypt," said Elodie Vialle, the head of Reporters Without Borders' journalism and technology desk. "It entails putting journalists 'on mute' in order to make it easier to spread pro-government content. "The other side is that the technology is used to spy on them, which in some cases is sold by European companies," added Vialle. RSF called on "democracies to condemn the Egyptian regime's closed, censored and monitored internet model". Reporters Without Borders said it was unblocking its site through a website "mirroring" technique, which involves copying content and switching servers. Egyptian authorities have not acknowledged or denied blocking certain sites. In July, parliament passed a law reinforcing the state's control over the internet, including social media accounts of organisations and individuals with more than 5,000 followers. Egypt is placed 161 out of 180 countries in RSF's press freedom rankings. An Ebola outbreak in northwest DR Congo this year was brought under control with the help of a novel vaccine, which was given to nurses and doctors on the front line Ten people have died in an outbreak of Ebola in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a toll issued Friday that said 27 other deaths were suspected to be Ebola-related. Forty-four confirmed and probable cases have been recorded since the disease broke out in the province of North Kivu on August 1, the health ministry said. Two suspected cases in Goma, a city of about a million people, "turned out to be negative" on Thursday after lab tests, it said. The outbreak is the country's 10th since 1976, when the disease was first identified in the DRC near the Ebola River, a tributary of the Congo. The latest outbreak is centered in North Kivu's Beni region, which shares borders with Uganda and Rwanda. The area is plagued by violence -- a problem that the World Health Organization (WHO) has said will hamper the emergency response. Targeted vaccination, aiming primarily at front-line health workers, began on Wednesday. Ebola causes serious illness including vomiting, diarrhoea and in some cases internal and external bleeding. It is often fatal if untreated. In the worst Ebola epidemic, the disease struck the West African states of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in 2013-15, killing more than 11,300 people. The outbreak in North Kivu was declared a week after WHO and the Kinshasa government hailed the end of a flareup in northwestern Equateur province which killed 33 people. Experts have said Saudi Arabia's maneuvers against Canada illustrate how the oil-rich kingdom is increasingly seeking to use its economic and diplomatic muscle to quell foreign criticism under its young de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Saudi Arabia has sought to tame critics with an aggressive foreign policy, but a deadly air raid in Yemen following an acrimonious spat with Canada will only amplify international pressure on the kingdom, analysts say. An air strike by the Saudi-led coalition hit a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen on Thursday, killing dozens of what aid groups said were school children, with the United States and United Nations both calling for an investigation. The coalition insisted Huthi rebel combatants were aboard the bus, but international media have photographed dazed and bloodied children flooding into hospitals struggling to cope with a three-year conflict that the UN has dubbed the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "The war is becoming increasingly unpopular with the international community, including in the US Congress," Sigurd Neubauer, a Middle East analyst in Washington, told AFP. "(This) attack has unfortunately become the norm and not the exception." The coalition has repeatedly been accused of striking civilians in Yemen since it launched an intervention in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. The coalition called Thursday's strike a "legitimate military action" in response to a rebel missile attack on Saudi Arabia's southern Jizan city a day earlier that resulted in the death of a Yemeni national. But that did not quell the outpouring of global condemnation. "NO EXCUSES ANYMORE!!" tweeted Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF's regional director in the Middle East and North Africa. "Does the world really need more innocent children's lives to stop the cruel war on children in Yemen?" Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, tweeted: "Grotesque, shameful, indignant. Blatant disregard for rules of war when bus carrying innocent school children is fair game for attack." - 'Shutting the door to criticism' - The bombing raid, part of an intervention that reflects Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's increasingly assertive foreign policy, follows the kingdom's diplomatic rupture with Canada earlier this week. Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador, recalled its own envoy and froze all new trade and investments after Ottawa publicly demanded the "immediate release" of rights campaigners jailed in the kingdom. A furious Riyadh also moved to pull out thousands of Saudi students from Canadian universities, state airline Saudia suspended flights to Toronto, and the kingdom pledged to stop all medical treatment programmes in Canada. The Saudi reaction could impinge on the kingdom's efforts to attract badly needed foreign investment to fund its ambitious reform plan to pivot the economy away from oil, experts say. Yemenis dig graves for children, who where killed when their bus was hit during a Saudi-led coalition air strike, that targeted the Dahyan market in the Huthi rebels' stronghold province of Saada The move illustrates how the oil-rich kingdom is unwilling to brook any criticism -- foreign or domestic -- under its young crown prince. "The top leadership is not particularly concerned with Canada's global influence," said analysis firm Eurasia Group. "Instead, it is interested in shutting the door to broader criticism, also from European countries, and on other issues in the future." But Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has refused to back down and asserted that his country will continue to speak out on human rights. Saudi officials privately insist that respect for cultural sensitivities and closed-door diplomatic engagement is a more effective approach than public denunciations of the kingdom. - Growing discontent - Canada is quietly consulting Germany and Sweden -- targets of previous Saudi backlashes for calling out the kingdom over human rights abuses -- to help resolve the row, according to a government source. Canada also plans to reach out to regional heavyweight the United Arab Emirates and to Britain, which has strong historical ties to Saudi Arabia. Canada has expressed disappointment that Western powers including the US -- which has provided arms worth billions of dollars to the Saudi-led coalition -- did not publicly support Ottawa. Canadian embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh after Saudi Arabia said it was expelling the Canadian ambassador and recalling its envoy while freezing all new trade, in retaliation for Ottawa's vigorous calls for the release of jailed activists "Absent a strong US voice (under President Donald Trump) on human rights and democratic values, Arab leaders have become less willing to tolerate Western advice on either political reform of governance," said the Eurasia Group. But the developments this week could complicate Riyadh's relationship with Washington. "President Trump has made relations with Saudi Arabia a central aspect of his approach to the Middle East. But discontent against Saudi Arabia in the US Congress is growing," Perry Cammack, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told AFP. "There is a real possibility that (the) Congress could move to constrain in a meaningful way the US military's involvement in the Yemen war." The row with Canada has also shone an uncomfortable spotlight on its European allies. "The failure of Western allies to rally around Canada in its dispute with Saudi Arabia risks luring the kingdom into a false belief that economic sanctions will shield it from, if not reverse mounting criticism of its human rights record and conduct of the war in Yemen," said James Dorsey, a fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Pan Ei Mon, the wife of detained Reuters journalist Wa Lone, gave birth to a daughter Friday The wife of a Reuters journalist on trial in Myanmar gave birth to a daughter Friday, the company said, as she delivered an emotional plea for him to be released to "welcome the baby" at home. Her husband Wa Lone, 32, and his colleague Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, have been in jail for eight months, accused of breaking a draconian secrecy law while reporting on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine state last year. The region was the site of a brutal military crackdown against the Rohingya that the United Nations says amounts to ethnic cleansing, and the Reuters pair were arrested for possessing classified documents relating to security operations in the area. Wa Lone's wife Pan Ei Mon, who has attended every court hearing possible, gave birth to the couple's first child on Friday, a statement from Reuters said. But it was a bittersweet day for the new mother, who was photographed smiling with her baby Thet Htar Angel wrapped in a pink blanket. "I've wished Wa Lone could be free since before I knew I was pregnant, and now I want him to be free even more. I want to welcome the baby with him, I want him to see the baby," she said, according to the statement. The head of the global news agency congratulated the couple and called for them to be reunited soon. "While this should be a moment of great joy for them, it is sad and troubling that Wa Lone has missed being present at the birth of his daughter as he continues to be incarcerated on baseless charges," Reuters president Stephen J. Adler said. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were probing the extrajudicial killing of 10 Rohingya in Inn Din village, a massacre the Myanmar military eventually acknowledged. Seven soldiers were sentenced to a decade of hard labour for their role in the killings, but the army insists it was an isolated incident. The Reuters pair was arrested after a dinner meeting with police who they say handed them documents relating to the massacre. The journalists insist they were set up -- which a whistleblowing cop testified to in court. Wa Lone has maintained that he and Kyaw Soe Oo were lawfully investigating rights abuses in Rakhine, where an estimated 6,700 Rohingya were killed, according to Doctors Without Borders. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled the violence, which the military has justified as a legitimate response to Rohingya militant attacks that killed about a dozen security officials last August. Final arguments in the case will be delivered in court on August 20, with a verdict expected to follow soon after. Smoke rises into the air after Taliban militants launched an attack on the Afghan provincial capital Ghazni, on August 10, 2018 Afghan forces launched a clearing operation Friday, searching for Taliban fighters following a major assault on the southeastern city of Ghazni, after US air strikes targeted insurgents trying to overrun the city. Afghan special forces were deployed to Ghazni after the latest attempt by the Taliban to capture an urban centre, with the assault coming as pressure builds on the insurgents to enter peace talks. Ghazni -- less than two hours by road from Kabul -- has been under threat from massing Taliban fighters for months, with residents saying the complex nature of the attacks was unprecedented in its scale. A spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan said the fighting had "ceased" as of Friday morning, hours after the insurgents began the assault late Thursday from several positions around the city. However, sporadic gunfire continued to echo into the afternoon amid intermittent clashes, with officials telling residents to stay in their homes as scattered Taliban fighters roamed the streets. "Our commandos and Afghan army forces... are conducting a clearance operation as the Taliban have taken up positions in civilian houses," said Mohammad Radmanesh, a defence ministry spokesman, adding that security forces were in control of the city. Power has been cut to Ghazni since the fighting erupted, with communications in the area appearing to be down. "We are scared for our lives. The Taliban are roaming everywhere in and around the city," shopkeeper Mohammad Haleem said hours after the assault began. Another resident, Yasan, said the Taliban had used loudspeakers at the mosque after entering the city to warn residents to stay in their homes. - Bodies in the streets - Civilian houses and army checkpoints came under mortar attack and the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters were in the streets, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori said. Afghanistan The US said that the city remained under government control. "U.S. Forces responded with close-air support this morning in #Ghazni," the official account for US Forces in Afghanistan tweeted Friday. "Afghan forces held their ground and maintain control of all govt. centers. Another failed attempt by Taliban to seize terrain, while creating strategically inconsequential headlines," it said. "Initial reports indicate minimal Afghan security force casualties," the US spokesman later told AFP, adding that American forces deployed attack helicopters and conducted a drone strike in response. Baz Mohammad Himmat, head of the civilian hospital in Ghazni, said at least 16 people had been killed in the fighting, including 14 soldiers and two residents. A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban had suffered heavy casualties in the onslaught and confirmed the airstrikes. Police special forces have also been deployed to help block the Taliban advance, an Afghan security official said. The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured "most of the government buildings inside the city", and that they killed and wounded 140 security forces. The insurgents frequently exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay losses incurred during fighting. - Growing pressure - Afghan forces have been struggling to hold back the resurgent militant group since the withdrawal of NATO combat troops at the end of 2014. In May, the Taliban attacked the western city of Farah. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and US air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. The insurgents have also so far ignored an offer by Ghani in February of unconditional peace negotiations. However, there are tentative signs that diplomatic efforts to bring the insurgents to the table for peace talks may be starting to bear fruit. The Taliban have long insisted on direct talks with the United States. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. But the US indicated a change in its longstanding policy in June when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks. Pompeo also said the role of foreign forces in Afghanistan would be on the table. Last month, Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar. Kabul-based analyst Haroun Mir said Friday's attack may have been aimed at securing maximum leverage before engaging in formal peace talks. "They want to enter the talks from the position of strength, and they want to capture big cities before potential peace negotiations," said Mir. Anticipation has also been mounting about the possibility of a government ceasefire announcement for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha later this month. An unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary halt, giving war-weary Afghans some welcome relief from violence. Yemenis dig graves for children who where killed when their bus was hit during a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a market in the Huthi rebel stronghold of Saada The Saudi-led coalition on Friday announced a probe into an air strike on a bus that killed at least 29 children in Yemen where it is fighting Huthi rebels. "The leadership of the coalition has ordered the immediate opening of an investigation to assess the events, clarify their circumstances and announce the results as soon as possible," a senior coalition official said, quoted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The announcement came a day after the raid in the northern Yemeni rebel stronghold of Saada that also left at least 48 others wounded, stirring calls for an investigation from the United Nations and Washington. The senior official said the decision to investigate the strike followed information reported by "media and international organisations working in Yemen, regarding an operation by coalition forces in the province of Saada Thursday, and of a passenger bus which suffered collateral damage in this operation". A hospital supported by the International Committee for the Red Cross received the bodies of 29 children after the strike, the organisation said. Huthi health minister Taha al-Mutawakel on Friday put the death toll at 51 people, including 40 children, while warning the number of victims could rise further. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an "independent and prompt" probe into the incident, while the US State Department urged the coalition to undertake a "thorough and transparent" investigation. Puerto Rico's official death toll from Hurricane Maria in 2017 stands at 64, but a report by the island's government to the US Congress now says some 1,400 more people may have died during and after the disaster Puerto Rico for the first time has told Congress that its 1,427 additional deaths last year compared to 2016 may have resulted from Hurricane Maria, a dramatic spike from the official toll of 64. The revelation came in a recovery plan submitted to lawmakers in Washington this week that included an estimated price tag of $139 billion, nearly 50 percent more than the bankrupt US territory requested last November. A June government report showed that in the four months after Hurricane Maria, the island registered 1,427 more deaths than in the same period the previous year. It did not link the deaths to natural disasters. Wednesday's report to Congress made the connection. "The Government of Puerto Rico revealed that there were 1,427 more deaths in the four months after the hurricanes than normal (based on the previous four years)," it said. Several mainland US media outlets described the report as Puerto Rico finally, but quietly, acknowledging a higher death toll from the devastating storms. But the island's government denied such a recognition occurred. The figure released in June, and republished Wednesday, "was not the result of an independent study: it is simple mathematics," the governor's office said Thursday. "This is not the official number of deaths attributable to Hurricane Maria," it said, adding they were anticipating official results of a George Washington University study in the coming weeks. Harvard University, in a study released in May, estimated that more than 4,600 may have died as a result of Hurricane Maria. It said the storm's aftermath, in which larges swathes of the island lost power, basic utility services collapsed and the health care system faced massive disruptions, imperiled the lives of residents. Eleven months on from Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico just two weeks after Hurricane Irma ravaged the island, its government has yet to update the official toll of 64. The latest revelations prompted reactions from several Democratic lawmakers, who revived their criticism of President Donald Trump for having downplayed the disaster's magnitude. "This tragic loss of life of our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico is unconscionable," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday. "We must do more to both hold this administration accountable for a terrible response and help Puerto Rico recover, rebuild and thrive again." Well we still don't know all the details. Only around 70% of the votes were counted by Thursday morning in Washington's top-two jungle primaries. But in the statewide race-- Maria Cantwell's reelection-- about twice as many Democrats voted as Republicans. That filtered down to the three crucial congressional races as well. The big picture for the House is that there are 6 Democrats and 4 Republicans in the Washington House congressional delegation. None of the Democrat seats are in jeopardy. But 3 of the Republican seats are. There's a better than 50/50 chance that in January the Washington delegation will be 9 Democrats and one Republican (Dan Newhouse). These are the 4 Republican-held districts with their PVIs: WA-03 (Jaime Herrera Beutler): R+4 WA-04 (Dan Newhouse): R+13 WA-05 (Cathy McMorris Rodgers): R+8 WA-08 (open- Dave Reichert): even Cook Report Trump won the third district with 49.9%, won the fourth district with 57.9%, won the 5th district with 52.2% and lost the 8th district 44.7%. Thursday morning, Dave Wasserman from the tweeted that the 3 districts with big urban/rural divides as exactly where Republicans are apt to be in trouble in November and used as examples the seats occupied by Herrera Beutler (Portland suburbs), McMorris Rodgers (Spokane) and Reichert (Seattle suburbs). Wasserman and most others who follow House elections closely attribute that to "pathetic Republican turnout, which then allows anti-Trump energy in suburbs to put Democrats in contention." That was the real story in Washington on Tuesday. In the 8th district, Republican voters coalesced around Dino Rossi and with 77.6% of the precincts counted, he was the top voter getter with 49,071. When you combine his vote with the 2 other GOP candidates, the Republican vote in the 8th district adds up to 53,,570. But when you add up all the Democratic votes you get 58,032, a big warning sign for Rossi as we head towards November. At this point, I'd bet on Kim Schrier being the next member of Congress, not Dino Rossi. The big deal race where no one thought there would be a real battle is WA-05, the eastern third of the state. It's a huge district that includes Spokane and a lot of rural and small-town Washington and the seat is occupied by Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the highest ranking Republican in the House, a dull Trump rubber stamp. Her Trump affinity score is a stunning 97.8 , one of the most disgraceful in Congress-- total Trump enabler. before the story of Two-thirds of the WA-05 voters live in Spokane, which was represented by Lisa Brown while she was the Majority Leader of the Washington state House. When she retired from the legislature she was named chancellor of Washington State University (Spokane), where her most important achievement was building a medical school that trains doctor for rural medicine, a crucial development in the lives of the people outside Spokane. On Tuesday she stunned the district by coming within one point of McMorris Rodger-- and that wasthe story of McMorris' crackpot fundraiser with Devin Nunes broke. With 78.6% of precincts counted last night (162 of 206), McMorris had 68,475 votes (47.8%) to Brown's 67,040 (46.8%). Spokesman-Review was already Back in April, thewas already predicting a tight race , largely based on voters' mostly negative views of Trump. The race between U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and former WSU Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown is shaping up to be a bruising race, said H. Stuart Elway of Elway Research Inc. In a recent survey of 403 registered voters in the district, incumbent McMorris Rodgers had a 6-percentage-point lead over Brown, with 44 percent saying they plan to vote for the Republican incumbent and 38 percent saying they plan to vote for the Democratic challenger. Another 3 percent said they plan to vote for someone else, and 16 percent are undecided. The overall poll has a margin of error of 5 percentage points, so the race is within the margin and McMorris Rodgers lead is not statistically significant, Elway said. Being under 50 percent is a worry for any incumbent. ...One of the biggest indicators of how survey respondents say they are likely to vote was their view of the job President Trump is doing. Half of the people polled said they disapprove of the job Trump is doing, while 45 percent said they approve. When asked whether they strongly or somewhat approve or disapprove of the job hes doing, men were about equally divided, with 26 percent saying they strongly approve and 30 percent saying they strongly disapprove. Yesterday WXLY reported that new numbers have been going better for Brown. "As of Wednesday evening, the Spokane County Elections Office announced that incumbent Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, had 44.25 percent of the vote while Lisa Brown, a Democrat had 50.93 percent of the vote... Typically, primary elections typically see 30 percent of voters cast their ballots at most, but yesterday some 45 percent decided to make their voices heard. We've seen turnout just skyrocket, shared Spokane County auditor Vicky Dalton. Please consider contributing to Brown's campaign by clicking on the 2018 Blue America congressional thermometer on the right. Spokesman-Review reported that Even before the new numbers had been released, thereported that Washington Republicans are in big trouble A Palestinian protester walks by burning tyres during a demonstration at the Israel-Gaza border in the southern Gaza Strip on August 10, 2018 A Palestinian medic was killed by Israeli fire during clashes and protests along the Gaza border on Friday, the health ministry in the enclave said. The death of Abdullah al-Qatati along the border in southern Gaza came amid heightened tensions, a day after a deadly flare-up between the Israeli army the territory's Islamist rulers Hamas. Thursday had seen extensive Israeli air strikes on Gaza in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies on Wednesday night. But an unofficial ceasefire agreement between the two foes went into effect around midnight (2100 GMT) on Thursday. On Friday evening a few thousand Palestinians gathered along the border for weekly protests. Qatati, who was in his 20s and a volunteer with the government medical services, was shot in the chest east of Rafah in southern Gaza, a health ministry spokesman told AFP. He said another 25 Palestinians were hit by Israeli fire, with one in critical condition after being shot in the head. Qatati is at least the second medic to have been killed by Israeli fire during months of border protests. The protesters, who gathered in different locations along the Israel border, set tyres ablaze and threw stones but there were fewer people demonstrating that in previous weeks, AFP correspondents said. The Israeli army said a few thousand "rioters" gathered in a number of sites along the border, with soldiers using riot dispersal means, including live fire. Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, while seven Israelis were wounded by Palestinian rocket fire. It was one of the most serious flareups since the 2014 Gaza war and followed months of escalating tensions. The conflict pits government forces, a member of which is seen here in western Yemeni town of Mokha, against Iran-backed Huthi rebels The war in Yemen has since March 2015 left around 10,000 people dead, the vast majority civilians, and caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. The conflict pits government forces against Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who seized control of the capital Sanaa in 2014. The conflict escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition launched military operations to come to the aid of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and his internationally-recognised government. - Civilians on front line - Civilians, in particular children, pay a heavy price during the conflict. On Thursday, at least 29 children were killed in an air strike on a bus blamed on the coalition. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the conflict has killed since 2015 around 10,000 people, including 9,500 civilians, and left more than 55,000 injured. The UN children's fund UNICEF last month slammed the devastating impact of the conflict on children, with some 2,200 minors killed and 3,400 injured in the fighting. "These are only numbers we have been able to verify. The actual figures could be even higher," said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF executive director. People gather next to the destroyed bus at the site of a Saudi-led coalition air strike in northern Yemen that killed at least 29 children on August 9, 2018 Children make up half of the some 22 million people in Yemen. Several raids blamed on the coalition have left many civilian victims, including on a wedding hall in the town of Mokha in September 2015, killing 131 people. The alliance denies responsibility. In October 2016, a coalition air strike at a funeral in Sanaa killed 140 people. The coalition, accused of multiple mistakes, has admitted responsibility for certain raids, but accuses the rebels of using civilians as human shields. - Cholera - Yemen has seen more than a million suspected cholera cases, including 2,200 deaths, amid the conflict. In early August the WHO announced that a new "major wave" of cholera cases is likely to hit Yemen. The warning came a day after a deadly strike on Yemen's largest hospital in the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, where WHO staff were preparing the cholera vaccination drive at the time of the attack. - Lost generation - According to a UNICEF study in March 2018, nearly half a million children have abandoned school since the conflict escalated, bringing to two million the number of children without schooling. "A whole generation of children in Yemen is faced with a dark future due to the limited or inexistent access to education," a UNICEF representative in Yemen said. Yemen has seen more than a million suspected cholera cases during the conflict More than 2,500 schools are out of use, of which two thirds have been damaged in attacks, 27 percent closed and seven percent used by the military or as shelters for displaced people. According to UNICEF, at least 2,419 children have been recruited as soldiers since 2015. - Poverty - In March 2017, Stephen O'Brien, the UN's under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, said that Yemen was the scene of "the largest humanitarian crisis in the world". Two thirds of the population are in need of assistance and more than seven million have no regular access to food, he said, pointing to massive displacements of people due to the conflict. According to UNICEF, 78 percent of Yemenis live in poverty, with the UN describing the situation as "the largest humanitarian crisis in the world" According to UNICEF, 78 percent of Yemenis live in poverty. 1.8 million children under five and 1.1 million pregnant or breastfeeding women suffer from acute malnutrition, an increase of 128 percent since late 2014. More than half of minors do not have access to drinking water or adequate sanitation, it said. - 'War crimes' - In March 2018, Amnesty International accused Western countries of supplying Saudi Arabia and its allies with arms for attacks "many of which may amount to war crimes". In July, Amnesty said human rights violations in a string of Yemeni prisons run by the United Arab Emirates, a key coalition member, could amount to war crimes, in a report rejected by Abu Dhabi. The Saudi-led coalition ordered an investigation into the air strike that killed at least 29 children on a bus The UN Security Council called Friday for a credible and transparent investigation into the death of at least 29 children in a Saudi-led coalition attack on a bus in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition earlier announced that it had ordered an investigation into the air strike on Thursday that also wounded at least 48 others in the northern rebel stronghold of Saada. British Ambassador Karen Pierce, who holds the council presidency, told reporters following a closed-door meeting on Yemen that "if any investigation that is held is not credible, the council will obviously want to review that" and decide "if more is necessary." The council did not order a separate investigation but "will now consult with the UN and others as to how the investigation can best be taken forward," said Pierce. The council met at the request of five countries: Bolivia, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, and Sweden, which are all non-permanent council members. Kuwait, also a non-permanent council member, is part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting Huthi rebels in Yemen. The United States, France and Britain -- three of the five permanent council members -- have supported the Saudi coalition in its military campaign, but have expressed concern over the heavy toll on civilians. Ahead of the meeting, the Netherlands had stressed that the investigation must be independent, suggesting that the coalition's decision to open up a probe was insufficient. "We have seen the images of children who died," Dutch Deputy Ambassador Lise Gregoire-van Haaren told reporters. "What is essential at this moment in time is to have a credible and independent investigation." - Saudi investigation - The council did not specify in the agreed statement to the press that the investigation should be independent -- a demand that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also made in a statement condemning the attack on Thursday. Council members expressed their "great concern" and "called for a credible and transparent investigation," Pierce said. Human Rights Watch criticised the council's failure to demand an impartial investigation. "The sad truth is Saudis have been given a chance to investigate themselves and the results are laughable," said HRW's deputy UN director Akshaya Kumar. Out of 75 cases of civilian deaths investigated by the coalition, only two resulted in an admission of fault, she said. Last year, the coalition was put on a UN blacklist of child rights' violators for killing or injuring 683 children, and attacking dozens of schools and hospitals. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a military campaign to restore the internationally recognized government to power and push back the Huthis, who still hold the capital Sanaa. The war has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Riverside County firefighters douse embers after flames tore down a hillside in a residential neighborhood during the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore, California, on August 9, 2018 Authorities battling massive wildfires in large swathes of California issued mandatory evacuation orders and health warnings Friday over the worsening air quality as the flames grew ever closer to populated areas. After almost a month of wildfires, the National Weather Service warned that satellite images showed "widespread smoke" drifting from the fires into western and central Canada before heading back south in the US Northern Plains. The Kaibab National Forest service in neighboring Arizona warned that "wildfires across the West are creating regional haze." But it was northern California where most air quality alerts were being issued, with warnings of "unhealthy conditions" for vulnerable groups such as the very young and old. The Mendocino Complex, made of two separate blazes, has been declared the most destructive fire in the state's history. Map of California showing active wildfires, as of August 9, 2018 Its largest blaze, the Ranch Fire, was only 53 percent contained compared to 87 percent for its twin River Fire. Further north, the Carr Fire was declared 51 percent under control, after scorching 180,000 acres (73,000 hectares) of land and claiming the lives of three firefighters and five civilians, making it California's third deadliest fire ever. More than 14,000 firefighters, including reinforcements from as far away as Australia and New Zealand, have fanned out across the state to stop the multitude of infernos. Some inmates even assisted in the effort. The Miramonte jail camp made a fire line to stop the advancing Holy Fire from consuming homes in the area. "Oh man, it's hard, but we make it look easy," said one of the inmates, Michael Henson. "Man, you know, we (are) just trying to get the job done. You know, us firefighters help protect the community." - Erratic court appearance - Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, faces charges of arson in the Holy fire, and could face a maximum sentence of life in jail The man accused of deliberately starting the latest fast-moving blaze faces life in prison if convicted of arson and other charges. Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, stands accused of starting the Holy Fire, which in four days has burned more than 18,000 acres of Cleveland National Forest 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of San Diego. It is still spreading. Prosecutors say Clark started the fire, which is only five percent contained, with the intention of causing damage to others and burning a forest. The blaze has razed a dozen properties so far. He has also been charged with threatening neighbors -- one of whom lost his cabin in the fire -- and resisting arrest. He faces sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. During his initial court appearance, Clark flipped his dark, waist-length hair, spat and paced back and forth behind the chain-link fence of the court cell. "That's a lie," Clark interrupted the judge while charges were read. His lawyers had to intervene repeatedly to ask him to keep quiet. At first, Clark would not show his face, his lawyers saying he feared reprisals against his family. His lawyers asked to postpone the preliminary hearings by a week so that they could study the government's evidence. A car driving past the blaze in Lake Elsinore, California "May I pay for that immediately? Can I post bail? I can handle a million (dollars) right now, easily," Clark added, but the judge refused his request. He had refused to leave his jail cell on Thursday. Mike Milligan, the local volunteer fire chief who owns a cabin near Clark's, told The Orange County Register that Clark had long-running feuds with neighbors in the area. Milligan said that Clark had recently sent him an email warning, "this place will burn." Ziggy Torok (L) and Starla Affatati watch as flames close in on Torok's home as the Holy Fire burns in Lake Elsinore, California, southeast of Los Angeles, on August 9, 2018 The head of the Orange County team fighting the Holy Fire said the blaze had started near Clark's cabin in Jim Canyon. Before his arrest, Clark told a reporter he had nothing to with the fire. "I was asleep. I had two earplugs in," he told the reporter. "I woke up and my stuff was all on fire," he said. He also claimed he had been threatened by the MS-13 gang. - Mass evacuations - The blaze has already forced the evacuation of 7,400 homes and more than 21,000 people. Many schools have been forced to close, and more evacuation orders were being issued. InciWeb, the interagency incident information management system offering updates on more than a dozen fires in the tinder-dry west of the country, said that "steep inaccessible terrain will continue to allow the fire to spread into new areas." High temperatures were expected to worsen conditions and "increase the likelihood of extreme fire behavior as well as heat illness issues for the firefighters and the public," it said. The forest service said: "We continue to actively engage, but cannot get ahead of the fire." California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for Orange and Riverside counties, where the fire is concentrated. Mexican Economy Minister Idelfonso Guajardo (L), seen here speaking to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, said there is still "a lot of work to do" US and Mexican negotiators will resume talks next week on the update of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Friday. At the close of the third consecutive week of discussions in Washington, the official said it remained possible to reach a deal by the end of the month. But, he told reporters, "We still have a lot of work to do." And he stressed that the most difficult issues had been left to the end, including the US demand that NAFTA be approved every five years, a provision known as a sunset clause. "We are working like we've been doing for the last three weeks and making a lot of advancements. We are coming back next week," he said. "But as I said before: nothing is closed until everything is closed." US and Mexican officials will continue to work on bilateral issues before their Canadian counterparts rejoin the discussions on modernizing the 24-year-old trade deal, Guajardo said. US President Donald Trump demanded NAFTA be renegotiated after repeatedly criticizing the 24-year-old pact as a "terrible deal" and officials now are rushing to conclude the talks before Mexico's President-Elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office on December 1. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised his DR Congo counterpart Joseph Kabila for "honouring his word to respect the constitution" South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday praised Joseph Kabila, the outgoing Democratic Republic of Congo head of state, for his "respect for the constitution", according to a statement. The presidents met in Kinshasa for a "working visit", the African Union said, two days after Kabila announced his withdrawal from DR Congo's presidential race which is scheduled for the end of the year. Kabila on Wednesday ended months of speculation by putting his weight behind former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary to be his successor for the December 23 poll. Ramaphosa and Kabila discussed "the evolution of the political, electoral and security situations in the DRC as well as the strengthening of relations between the two countries and issues of regional interest", a joint statement said. They also recognised the "significant progress made in the electoral process" in the war-torn country Kabila has ruled for 17 years. Ramaphosa, who is also the current head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), praised his counterpart for "honouring his word to respect the constitution" of the DR Congo, the statement added. Equatorial Guinea's leading opposition party also hailed Kabila on Friday, calling his decision not to run "a giant step in the history of democracy in central Africa". "To be a good democrat is not only to win or lose elections, but also to give up power when the law and society requires it, (to avoid) the spilling of innocent blood," said Gabriel Nse Obiang, the leader of the Citizens for Innovation (CI) party. Meanwhile, supporters of DR Congo opposition leader Moise Katumbi, who has been barred from entering the country to contest the election, said on Friday they had appealed to a top court. "We have gone to the Council of State to obtain the immediate lifting of this irregular measure", Delly Sesanga of Katumbi's Ensemble (Together) coalition told media. Katumbi was refused entry last week as he tried to get home via Zambia before a deadline to submit his candidacy for the presidential polls. The wealthy businessman and former governor of the province of Katanga has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium since May 2016 after falling out with Kabila. A country of some 80 million people, the Democratic Republic of Congo has never known a peaceful government transition since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Kabila's tenure over the vast mineral-rich country has been marked by a reputation for corruption, inequality and unrest. Sergei Lavrov reiterated Russia's position that Moscow played no role in the nerve agent poisoning in Salisbury of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday in a phone conversation with US counterpart Mike Pompeo that Moscow categorically rejected the latest US sanctions, the foreign ministry said. "The Russian side expressed categorical rejection of the new sanctions recently announced by Washington," the ministry said in a statement. Lavrov reiterated to the US Secretary of State Russia's position that Moscow played no role in the nerve agent poisoning in Salisbury of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, which prompted the latest US sanctions. "Lavrov stressed that neither the US nor Britain nor any other country since the incident in Salisbury has presented a single fact to back up such claims," the ministry said. The British government has blamed Russia for the attack using the Novichok nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union and has won support from EU members, the US and other countries, which in March expelled Russian diplomats in a coordinated action. The US State Department provided a short readout of the call, noting that Pompeo and Lavrov had discussed the new sanctions and "ongoing challenges in Syria." "Secretary Pompeo reiterated that the United States seeks an improved relationship with Russia and agreed to future dialogue," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. In this file photo taken on February 8, 2018 and released on February 9, 2018 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows Hwasong-15 ballistic missiles during the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean People's Army at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang North Korea on Friday accused UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of making "reckless remarks" and toeing the US line when he called for verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Guterres made the statement following talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Wednesday to discuss the US-led effort to rid North Korea of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The UN chief "should do what is beneficial to the current situation on Korean peninsula for peace and stability, not just by singing (the) chorus for sanctions to please (a) certain country," said a statement from the North Korean mission to the United Nations. The mission described as "reckless" a remark from Guterres who said that North Korea "can be a normal member of the international community in this region through total denuclearization that is verifiable, irreversible." The statement said North Korea was "astonished" to hear Guterres' remarks "at a time when the world supports and welcomes the historic DPRK-US summit and the joint statement in Singapore." At the first-ever meeting between sitting leaders of the US and North Korea in June, President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un pledged in a joint statement to work toward the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The statement however was short on details and a UN panel of experts reported last week that North Korea is pressing ahead with its nuclear and missile programs. The United States, backed by Japan, is urging UN member-states to maintain pressure on North Korea to give up its military programs by fully adhering to a raft of sanctions. Trump's administration has argued that sanctions must remain fully in place until North Korea has scrapped its nuclear and missile programs and that the dismantling is verified. The Security Council last year adopted three rounds of tough economic sanctions on North Korea, banning most of its exports of raw commodities and severely restricting oil supplies. US Republicans have argued that a record number of documents have been provided for review related to the career of Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee whose hearing before the Senate will begin on September 4, 2018 The US Senate will begin its confirmation hearing on President Donald Trump's pick for the Supreme Court on September 4, a top lawmaker said Friday. The hearing process should last three to four days, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley said, putting Republicans in position to meet their goal of getting Judge Brett Kavanaugh confirmed and onto the nine-member bench before its term begins in early October. "It's time for the American people to hear directly from Judge Kavanaugh at his public hearing," Grassley said in a statement. Trump's second pick for the high court -- his first, Neil Gorsuch, was confirmed last year -- is a conservative federal judge who worked in president George W. Bush's White House, and who has written hundreds of legal opinions. Democrats have pressed for access to the full scope of documents from Kavanaugh's extensive career, including his time as a White House lawyer and then as White House staff secretary, an important position that controls the flow of documentation to and from the Oval Office. Grassley's office said the committee has to date received more than 184,000 pages of records from Kavanaugh's work as a White House lawyer and from his work for Kenneth Starr, an independent counsel who investigated president Bill Clinton. The committee also expects to receive "hundreds of thousands of additional pages" of executive branch documents, the office said. Democrats have sought to gain access to the full available record of Kavanaugh's work. "Reviewing a small set of documents that his own former deputy chose fails to provide a complete picture," Senator Dianne Feinstein tweeted on Friday. Following the hearings announcement White House spokesman Raj Shah said Grassley "has lived up to his promise to lead an open, transparent and fair process." "Judge Kavanaugh looks forward to addressing the Judiciary Committee in public hearings for the American people to view." The vote could end up a nailbiter. Republicans control the Senate 51 to 49, but Senator John McCain is battling brain cancer and not expected to vote. That leaves the narrowest of majorities, 50-49, meaning if all Democrats unite against Kavanaugh, a single Republican defector could sink the nomination. Democrats have branded the 53-year-old nominee, who would replace retired justice Anthony Kennedy, as a deeply conservative jurist who would shift the court rightward, jeopardizing critical rulings on the constitutionality of abortion rights and the legality of Barack Obama's health care reforms. Republicans have pushed back, portraying Kavanaugh as a "mainstream" jurist and warning that Democrats are merely seeking to put up roadblocks obstructing Trump. Some three million tourists traveled to the Caribbean nation between January 1 and August 9, 2018, according to official data The number of tourists visiting Cuba is rising, despite US "campaigns" to curb economic activity on the communist island, Cuban officials announced Friday. Some three million tourists traveled to the Caribbean nation between January 1 and August 9, and authorities forecast that number could jump to five million by the end of the year, compared to 4.5 million in 2017. Cuba's Tourism Ministry said the positive statistics come "despite campaigns organized and directed by the US government to reduce the flow of US visitors to our country." Destruction wrought by Hurricane Irma last year, which impacted many hotels, seems to have also left the tourism industry unscathed. Cuba's white sand beaches, colonial charm and natural beauty all draw millions each year. But the United States has called on its citizens to avoid traveling to Cuba, as the Donald Trump administration severely curtailed steps toward normalization with Havana that were begun in 2015 under Barack Obama. Last year, the island attracted 619,523 American visitors, more than triple the number of 2016. Tea, Kumys, shubat and kymyran were the traditional drinks of Kazakhs. The tradition of drinking in Almaty originated in 1965, with the development of the Virgin Lands campaign, a set of measures to increase grain production in the USSR. From 1954 to 1956, 640,000 people of different nationalities arrived in Kazakhstan. They were carriers of different traditions and cultures, and brought the consumption of strong alcohol. Since the days of the USSR, the traditional drinks consumed by the majority of people in Kazakhstan were Moldovan and Georgian sweet wine, fortified wine such as port, and vodka and beer. The first cocktail bars in Almaty appeared in 2007 and the most popular cocktails were Mojitos and sweet shot drinks. Kazakhstan is a very large country and in each region of the culture of consumption of alcoholic beverages is different. Almaty and Astana, being the capital and financial centre of the republic, are developing in the bar industry much faster than other cities. Since 2014, conceptual small bars with classic cocktails have been opening, but these bars didnt begin to gain popularity until the end of 2017. Today in Almaty there are several bars in which there is a massive choice of alcohol and bartenders are highly qualified. The top bars include Barmaglot, Restobar 6/45, Elou Dor and Kalun. In view of the specific geographical location of Kazakhstan and relatively low population concentration in the cities, many spirits are not imported into the country. A World Health Organisation survey shows that 46% of Kazakhs aged 21-65 rarely drink alcohol or do not drink at all; 54% drink alcohol regularly; 21% drink vodka as the main alcoholic drink. Beer is also popular in Kazakhstan. The first brewery appeared in Almaty in 1874 and has not only survived, but still works. To this day people often choose to drink in bars, pubs or restaurants rather than at home. Once people began to travel more often around the world, they began to understand more about alcoholic beverages, wine and cocktails. But still the consumption remains focused on sweet or sour-sweet cocktails. For several years the Negroni and Aperol Spritz have been popular. In Almaty the Bartenders Community Kazakhstan was developed in 2014 and regularly conducts training seminars and masterclasses for bartenders, with the involvement of international specialists. It also organises regular bartending competitions. On the international scene, Kazakh barmen are not as active as they could be, but every year they are actively developing and eager to be competitive on the international market. In this regard, team Bar Barmaglot (Bezverkhov Anton, Gilmanov Timur, Almenkulov Yeldos, Korolev Dmitry) is doing well, bringing guest shift bartenders into the bar from the CIS countries and Europe to willingly share their knowledge and experience. In 2017, Bar Barmaglot participated in Festival Barometer in Ukraine, surprising everyone with a kumis and a local balm cocktail. The team also participated in the Barproof awards in Russia and made it into the top three in several categories. And in 2017 the team was nominated for a best bar team award by Neon Shaker. We went to share our knowledge and experience in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Belarus and Ukraine. The boys undertook some scientific research and wrote an article about kumis (fermented mares milk) and its use in cocktails. This article gained the interest of Tales of the Cocktail. The guys also did great work on shubat (fermented camels milk) and its use in the bar. In fact, the Barmaglot team commands the development of the culture of drinking in Kazakhstan. This year they started to promote low-alcohol cocktails and they account for more than half of the menu. Kazakhstan will most likely appear on the international bar scene in the next three to four years. Plaintiff Dewayne Johnson reacts after hearing the verdict to his case against Monsanto in San Francisco Monsanto's German owners insisted Saturday that the weed killer Roundup was "safe," rejecting a California jury's decision to order the chemical giant to pay nearly $290 million for failing to warn a dying groundskeeper that the product might cause cancer. While observers predicted thousands of potential future claims against the company in the wake of Monsanto's defeat, Bayer -- which recently acquired the US giant -- said the California ruling went against scientific evidence. "On the basis of scientific conclusions, the views of worldwide regulatory authorities and the decades-long practical experience with glyphosate use, Bayer is convinced that glyphosate is safe and does not cause cancer," the company said in a statement. It said other court proceedings with other juries might "arrive at different conclusions" than the jury which ruled in the California lawsuit, the first to accuse glyphosate of causing cancer. Jurors unanimously found that Monsanto -- which vowed to appeal -- acted with "malice" and that its weed killers Roundup and the professional grade version RangerPro contributed "substantially" to Dewayne Johnson's terminal illness. Johnson, diagnosed in 2014 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma -- a cancer that affects white blood cells -- says he repeatedly used a professional form of Roundup while working at a school in Benicia, California. "The cause is way bigger than me. Hopefully this thing will get the attention it needs," Johnson, 46, said after the verdict. Johnson wept openly, as did some jurors, when he met with the panel later. Monsanto vice president Scott Partridge speaks after Monsanto was ordered to pay nearly $290 million in damages for not disclosing the dangers of its popular Roundup products The lawsuit built on 2015 findings by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the UN World Health Organization, which classified Roundup's main ingredient glyphosate as a probable carcinogen, causing the state of California to follow suit. "We are sympathetic to Mr Johnson and his family," Monsanto said in a statement, but promised to "continue to vigorously defend this product". "The jury got it wrong," Monsanto vice president Scott Partridge told reporters. But Johnson's attorney Brent Wisner said the verdict "shows the evidence is overwhelming" that the product poses danger. "When you are right, it is really easy to win," he said. - More to come? - Monsanto launched Roundup in 1976 and soon thereafter began genetically modifying plants, making some resistant to Roundup Wisner called the ruling the "tip of the spear" of litigation likely to come. "The jury sent a message to the Monsanto boardroom that they have to change the way they do business," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr -- an environmental lawyer, son of the late US senator and a member of Johnson's legal team. "You not only see many people injured, you see the corruption of public officials, the capture of agencies that are supposed to protect us from pollution and the falsification of science," he said. Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond in the US state of Virginia, said the plaintiff's evidence that Monsanto "knew or should have known that Roundup caused his cancer" could benefit those currently seeking damages from Monsanto, as well as encourage new filings. Tobias said Monsanto's promised appeal could result in the charges being reduced -- but said the company "might want to consider settling now, depending on its calculus of the risk that it might lose on appeal and the adverse publicity that might arise from losing or from continuing to contest the verdict." But he cautioned that settling now could "make it appear that Monsanto believes it has a weak case." Partridge, meanwhile, announced that Monsanto had no intention of settling the slew of similar cases in the legal queue. "It is the most widely used and most widely studied herbicide in the world," Partridge said. - 'Win for all of humanity' - Roundup is Monsanto's leading product. "The Johnson vs Monsanto verdict is a win for all of humanity and all life on earth," said Zen Honeycutt, founding executive director of non-profit group Moms Across America. In France, a leading anti-Monsanto campaigner told AFP that the California ruling would strengthen the resolve of those doing battle with the agrochemicals giant across the world. "I was thinking of them and I said to myself that this ruling will help them and give them lots of hope," said Paul Francois, author of "A farmer against Monsanto" ("Un paysan contre Monsanto"). France's minister for ecological transition, Brune Poirson, hailed the "historic decision," tweeting that it validated President Emmanuel Macron's push to ban glyphosate use within three years. Johnson hugs one of his lawyers after hearing the verdict to his case against Monsanto at the Superior Court Of California Records unsealed previously by a federal court lent credence to Johnson's claims -- internal company emails with regulators suggested Monsanto had ghostwritten research later attributed to academics. Founded in 1901 in St Louis, Missouri, Monsanto began producing agrochemicals in the 1940s. It was acquired by Bayer for more than $62 billion in June. Monsanto launched Roundup in 1976 and soon thereafter began genetically modifying plants, making some resistant to Roundup. burs-pg-mdo/ska SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - A man charged with starting a Southern California wildfire that has burned 12 cabins and forced at least 20,000 people from their homes refused to go to court Thursday, delaying his initial court appearance. The arraignment for Forrest Clark was supposed to be Thursday, but the judge in the case said the suspect refused to go to court. His arraignment was rescheduled for Friday. Clark, 51, is charged with three counts of arson, resisting arrest and deterring an executive officer. He is being held on $1 million bail and faces life in prison if convicted. The Holy Fire burns in the Cleveland National Forest behind homes along Crystal Ridge Court in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. (Mark Rightmire/The Orange County Register via AP) It's unclear if he has an attorney. Clark is charged with setting the Holy Fire, which has burned 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) in the Cleveland National Forest since it began Monday. At least 20,000 residents have had to evacuate their homes because of the blaze, which is just 5 percent contained. The Orange County Register reported that Clark owns a cabin in the community of Holy Jim, where the fire began, and that his was the only one to survive the flames. Michael Milligan, chief of the Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department, told the newspaper that Clark had a decade-long feud with neighbors and sent him threatening emails last week, including one that said, "this place will burn." At one point Tuesday, Clark stripped naked as investigators questioned him about the fire and a Register photographer snapped pictures. A man who identified himself as Clark spoke with a freelance video news crew the same day, telling them he had been terrorized by gangs and that "they told me they were going to send eight Mexicans, big Mexicans, and they were going to kill me." When asked if he knew how the fire started, Clark said he had no idea. "I was asleep. I had two earplugs in," he said. "I just woke up, dude." Orange County sheriff's deputies received a call reporting "erratic behavior" by Clark on July 23 and placed him on a psychiatric hold, said Carrie Braun, a department spokeswoman. Deputies fielded another call about Clark on Aug. 2 and tried to find him but couldn't, Braun said. She didn't have further details. Clark's arrest marks the second such detention in two weeks. On July 25, police arrested Brandon McGlover on suspicion of setting the Cranston Fire in the San Jacinto Mountains east of Los Angeles. That blaze destroyed five homes. McGlover also faces a life sentence if convicted. A plane drops fire retardant behind homes along McVicker Canyon Park Road in Lake Elsinore, Calif., as the Holy Fire burned near homes on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. (Mark Rightmire/The Orange County Register via AP) A boat floats on Lake Mission Viejo as the "Holy Fire" burns in the mountains behind Mission Viejo, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. (Kevin Sullivan/The Orange County Register via AP) The "Holy Fire" burns near homes in Horsethief Canyon in Corona, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. (Mark Rightmire/The Orange County Register via AP) The "Holy Fire" burns near homes in Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. (Mark Rightmire/The Orange County Register via AP) This booking video image released by the Orange County Sheriff's Department shows 51-year-old Forrest Gordon Clark, who was booked into Orange County jail in Santa Ana, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. Clark was arrested in connection with the so-called Holy Fire, which has burned more than 6 square miles in the Santa Ana Mountains. Clark was booked on suspicion of two counts of felony arson, and one count each of felony threat to terrorize and misdemeanor resisting arrest. (Orange County Sheriff's Department via AP) Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Shane Sherwood, center, answers questions from the media during a news conference at the Orange County Fire Authority headquarters Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, in Irvine, Calif. Police arrested a man in connection with a Southern California wildfire that has burned 12 cabins and led to new evacuation orders on Wednesday as flames grew nearer to several small communities. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The evangelist Franklin Graham recently asked thousands of people at an Oregon rally to pray for the state's Democratic governor, saying she should be a Christian. Yoga and meditation suit Gov. Kate Brown just fine, she told reporters Thursday when asked if she follows a certain faith. "I believe very much that each of us is a spiritual being, and that's how I see the world," Brown said, adding that she feels people should treat human beings with respect. FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2018 file photo, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown speaks in Portland, Ore. The evangelist Franklin Graham recently asked thousands of people at an Oregon rally to pray for the state's Democratic governor, saying she should be a Christian. Yoga and meditation suit Brown just fine, she told reporters Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, when asked if she follows a certain faith. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File) Brown, who is up for re-election in November, was specifically named by Graham at a sermon to more than 12,000 people near Portland on Sunday, Willamette Week reported. "Let's pray for your governor, Gov. Brown. Wouldn't it be something if she got saved? Amen," Graham said, the Portland weekly reported. "We pray for Kate Brown. And Lord, I pray that she would come to know your son Jesus Christ as her lord and savior one day." Oregon is one of America's most liberal states, with Democrats also controlling the state Legislature. Graham, son of the late superstar evangelist Billy Graham, is an outspoken ally of President Donald Trump. "If the church went to the polls and voted, you could turn this state around," Graham told the crowd at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. "The enemy out there thinks the church is asleep." Asked by reporters during a phone-in news conference about her religious beliefs, Brown said she is a yogi, or one who practices yoga. While in India, yoga for many is a spiritual or religious practice, in America it is generally secular. Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. ___ Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The billionaire behind a measure to split California in three said he's giving up on the effort to reimagine the nation's most populous state after the state Supreme Court knocked it off the November ballot. "The political environment for radical change is right now," venture capitalist Tim Draper wrote in a letter to the court dated Aug. 2 and made public by his opponents Thursday. "The removal of Proposition 9 from the November ballot has effectively put an end to this movement." The court struck Draper's measure in July in response to a lawsuit but didn't rule on the merits of the case, allowing Draper the opportunity to fight to put it on future ballots. He's not moving forward with the case. FILE - In this July 15, 2014 file photo, Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper presents his drivers license for identification purposes to Heather Ditty, elections manager for the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters, as he turns in boxes of petitions for a ballot initiative that would ask voters to split California into six separate states in Sacramento, Calif. The court struck venture capitalist Draper's initiative from the ballot in July 2018 as part of a legal challenge in response to a lawsuit but didn't rule on the merits of the case. Draper says he's giving up on the effort after the state Supreme Court knocked it off the November 2018 ballot. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) Draper spent more than $1.7 million to qualify his initiative for the ballot, which requires gathering hundreds of thousands of signatures. It's not his first effort to break up California - his plan to split the state into six didn't qualify for past ballots. He's argued California has become ungovernable due to its size and diversity, politically and geographically. The latest plan would have divided California into three pieces. One would comprise the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Sacramento and the rest of Northern California; the second would be a strip of land from Los Angeles to Monterey; and the third would include San Diego, the Central Valley and Orange County. The Planning and Conservation League sued to keep Draper's initiative off the ballot, arguing that such a massive change to the state's governance couldn't be done through a ballot initiative. "At the end of the day, this was a billionaire's massive and illegal use of the initiative process, and the court was correct in stopping this folly," Carlyle Hall, an attorney who worked on the suit with the environmental group. Draper, meanwhile, said he had "no idea" if his initiative would have passed or if Congress would have given the necessary approval for the split but that the ballot measure would have spurred debate over government failings. "I wanted to let the voters debate, discuss and think about a different way forward - essentially a reboot. And, I wanted the political class to hear and witness the frustration of California's voters with decades of inaction and decay," he wrote. "I believed there was significant benefit to our democracy in that." JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - The battle lines for Indonesia's 2019 presidential election were drawn Friday as the incumbent Joko "Jokowi" Widodo formally registered as a candidate after choosing a conservative Islamic cleric as his running mate. Jokowi, the first Indonesian president from outside the military and political elite, announced his vice-presidential candidate, Ma'ruf Amin, on Thursday after weeks of fevered speculation in local media. Jokowi's pick has become bigger news in Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, than an earthquake on the island of Lombok that killed more than 300 people. The decision disappointed liberals but analysts say it shores up Jokowi's position among conservative Muslims who demonstrated their political power last year with the ouster of Jakarta's minority Christian governor, a Jokowi ally, who was later imprisoned for blasphemy. Attacking the popular Jokowi as insufficiently religious is one of the few cards his opponents have. Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, center left, and his running mate Ma'ruf Amin, center right, greet their supporters prior to formal registration as candidates for the 2019 presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia. Friday, Aug. 10,2018. The battle lines for Indonesia's 2019 presidential election were drawn Friday as president Jokowi formally registered as a candidate after choosing a conservative Islamic cleric as his running mate. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Amin, 75, heads the influential Indonesian Ulema Council that issues fatwas, or religious edicts, and the advisory council of Nahdlatul Ulama, the world's largest Muslim organization. He was one of the clerics who galvanized street protests of hundreds of thousands against the Jakarta governor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, for his alleged blasphemy and has a long record of supporting Shariah law and railing against homosexuality, secularism, liberalism and minority sects within Islam. Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia, both Muslim-majority nations, have become important if sometimes unpredictable bastions of democracy in Southeast Asia, a region of more than 600 million people where authoritarian rule has been the norm. Elections in Malaysia in May ended the 60-year domination of the Malay coalition, and Indonesia has established a two-decade track record of free and largely peaceful elections since the fall of dictator Suharto in 1998. "Democracy is not war, democracy is not hostility, but is a contest of ideas, track record and achievements," Jokowi said Friday. The son of a carpenter, Jokowi rose from political obscurity as mayor of the central Javanese city of Solo to become governor of Jakarta and then president in 2014. Upgrading Indonesia's creaking infrastructure has been the signature policy of his first term. Much of it has been a delicate political dance, managing the demands of his moderate base, increasingly powerful Islamic conservatives, a complicated parliamentary coalition and the military, which has never completely accepted its diminished role following the end of the Suharto dictatorship. He has frequently disappointed his moderate supporters but they're unlikely to turn to Jokowi's opponent, nationalist politician and former general Prabowo Subianto, who lost to Jokowi in 2014. He is running with businessman and deputy Jakarta governor Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. Both officially registered as candidates after Friday prayers. "Jokowi has picked an Islamist running mate to shore up his conservative and religious flank in a contest against the ultra-nationalist Prabowo, who in the past has worked closely with hard-line Islamists to undermine the president," said Eurasia Group analyst Peter Mumford in a report. The selection of Amin further entrenches the mixing of religion and politics in Indonesia, he said, but provides a "very strong shield against identity-politics attacks aimed at Jokowi, who is often accused by the opposition of being insufficiently Muslim and too pro-minority." A longtime commander in Indonesia's "Kopassus" special forces, Subianto was discharged from the military in 1998 after Kopassus soldiers tortured activists who opposed dictator Suharto. Human rights groups allege he led a 1983 massacre in East Timor in which more than 300 people were killed. "Any change of government, from village and district chiefs and governor and president, must run safely, peacefully and honestly. Whatever the people's decision, we have to respect it," Subianto said. "We just want to be in power with the permission of the Indonesian people. We want to be dedicated so that there will be no more hungry people, no more poor people in Indonesia and justice must be felt by all Indonesian people," he said. There was a celebratory atmosphere and snarled traffic outside the election commission in central Jakarta as the candidates arrived. After registering, Jokowi praised his opponents. "Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno are the best sons of the nation like me and Mr. Ma'ruf Amin. They want to struggle for our beloved nation," he said. The 2014 presidential election was marred by dirty campaigning and wild internet rumors that Jokowi was a secret communist and of Chinese background, accusations often used in Indonesia to discredit or intimidate political opponents. Prabowo testily refused to accept the election results and withdrew just hours before the announcement of official results. Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, center, greets to his supporters after formal registration as candidate for the 2019 presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia. Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. He is running with businessman and deputy Jakarta governor Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. Both officially registered as candidates after Friday prayers. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)) Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, center left, speaks as his running mate Ma'ruf Amin, center right, listens prior to formal registration as candidates for the 2019 presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia. Friday, Aug. 10,2018. The battle lines for Indonesia's 2019 presidential election were drawn Friday as president Jokowi formally registered as a candidate after choosing a conservative Islamic cleric as his running mate. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, center left, and his running mate Ma'ruf Amin, center right, greet their supporters prior to formal registration as candidates for the 2019 presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia. Friday, Aug. 10,2018. The battle lines for Indonesia's 2019 presidential election were drawn Friday as president Jokowi formally registered as a candidate after choosing a conservative Islamic cleric as his running mate. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, left, poses for photographers with his running mate Sandiaga Uno after formal registration as candidates for the 2019 presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Prabowo is running with businessman and deputy Jakarta governor Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. Both officially registered as candidates after Friday prayers. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, second left, and his running mate Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, center right, give a folder of formal registration as candidates for the 2019 presidential election to Head General Election Commission Arief Budiman, front right, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Prabowo is running with businessman and deputy Jakarta governor Sandiaga Uno. Both officially registered as candidates after Friday prayers. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, center, speaks to his supporters after formal registration as candidate for the 2019 presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia. Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. He is running with businessman and deputy Jakarta governor Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. Both officially registered as candidates after Friday prayers. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)) MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - The 21-year-old university student, nearly two months pregnant, had hoped to escape Nicaragua with her boyfriend, but a police officer on a motorcycle blocked their path as they were getting into taxis with other students to go to a safe house. Five police trucks loaded with masked and armed men dressed in civilian garb surrounded them. Uniformed officers began to search the students' backpacks. One pulled out a blue-and-white Nicaraguan flag. "These are the terrorists who killed our fellow police," the officer shouted, using President Daniel Ortega's term for those who have protested against his government since mid-April. In this Saturday, July 28, 2018 photo, Jairo Bonilla, leader of the April 19 student movement, wears a T-shirt with text that reads in Spanish "We are not criminals," during an interview with the Associated Press in Managua, Nicaragua. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has said its monitoring team in Nicaragua found that "Nicaraguan authorities made numerous arbitrary detentions involving the use of force." (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) The young couple and their friends joined the ranks of more than 2,000 people arrested in Nicaragua in nearly four months of unrest and official crackdown. At least 400 people are believed to still be held in jails, prisons and police stations across the country and some consider them to be political prisoners, according to the non-governmental Nicaraguan Human Rights Center. Others are held for days or weeks incommunicado, brutally interrogated to give names and threatened with terrorism charges before being released without explanation as Ortega's government seeks to extinguish the resistance. "I was hit in the face, slapped. They crushed my fingers, and hit me in the ribs and the stomach," the pregnant student said. "When I was on the ground they kicked me." The Associated Press separately interviewed four of those arrested and released, all of whom are in hiding. They requested anonymity and asked that the location of their arrests not be identified out of fear of retaliation. "Right now, without exaggerating, Nicaragua is a prison," said Vilma Nunez, the human rights center's president and a former supreme court vice president under Ortega's first Sandinista government in 1979. She called Ortega's systematic search for those involved in the unrest a "human hunt." Last week, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said its monitoring team in Nicaragua found that "Nicaraguan authorities made numerous arbitrary detentions involving the use of force." Detainees were abused, not informed of their rights or charges against them, no warrants were presented and their families were not told where they were held, according to the commission. The Nicaraguan national police did not respond to a request for comment. Ortega for weeks had denied that paramilitary squads and Sandinista youth groups that have clashed with or attacked protesters were working with the police, but when asked in a recent television interview how members of the opposition picked up by masked paramilitaries end up in jails, Ortega said: "We have volunteer police who cooperate with the police." He has dismissed the Organization of American States as a tool of the U.S. government and accused protesters and opponents of trying to stage a coup. The current unrest began in April, when Ortega imposed cuts to the social security system and small protests by senior citizens were violently broken up. The protests spread and Nicaragua's university students quickly became the vanguard of a push to oust the president who has ruled for the past decade. Students had been attacked earlier in the year while protesting the government's slow response to a wildfire in a bio reserve and jumped at the opportunity to reassert themselves. The student from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua said she had belonged to the government-backed student organization, which Ortega used to maintain a foothold in universities. But when a friend was killed early in the unrest and the head of the Nicaraguan National Students Union denied that the death had occurred, the young woman joined her classmates digging in at the central Managua campus. When paramilitaries attacked the campus in mid-July she was one of nearly 200 students driven out under heavy fire that left two people dead. She said that when she was arrested and the flag pulled from a friend's backpack, the masked paramilitaries threw her and the other students to the ground. They were taken away and later made to line up in the police processing center with their hands behind their necks. "I told (one) I was pregnant," she said. "'Ah,' he says, 'great, we've got a pregnant one.'" "One of the paramilitaries came and punched me in the stomach," she said. "'Now we're going to get it out of you,' he said. 'And you're going to eat it alive.'" At that point she silently prayed for divine intervention. The men and women were separated and interrogated individually. The men were stripped naked. A 20-year-old business administration student from the national university said he was punched in the stomach and kicked in the testicles. "They made me spit blood," he said. When he nervously fumbled trying to remove a piercing from his eyebrow, a police officer ripped it out. A cigarette was put out on a tattoo on his shoulder. "They said they were going to rape us. They said they were going to rape the girls," he said. The interrogations were carried out by police and masked civilians they called paramilitaries. They were asked the same questions: Who were the student leaders? What political party was financing their movement? How much were they being paid? What weapons did they have? A 24-year-old student at the national university said a female police officer told her to tell the truth while threatening her with a knife. She slapped her face. "They know how to hit us without leaving marks," she said. A 23-year-old woman who recently graduated from another university said she was slapped and hit by a rifle butt during her interrogation, but her boyfriend, who they suspected of being a leader, suffered worse abuse. "They put a cigarette on his testicle, they burned him," she said. "And the next day, he says they gave him an ointment, like to cover up what they had done." The wave of arrests has been a nightmare for the detainees' families as well. Maria Jose Malespin's 27-year-old son Lester Lenin Mayorga Malespin went with a friend to Bluefields on the Caribbean coast in July to pick up a motorcycle. They were arrested at a police checkpoint on the outskirts of town. The only clue to their whereabouts was that Lester's wife had called him at the moment police stopped the men. He was only able to say "police" before the call ended. For three weeks the welder was held without seeing a judge or being able to speak to his family. Malespin and her daughter-in-law flew to Bluefields to look for him only to find out after the fact that he had been transferred to Managua's notorious El Chipote jail. "I don't sleep, I don't eat, I can't do anything," Malespin said during her son's captivity. "Until I see where he is, that they aren't doing anything to him, that he's well, healthy, I can't relax." Finally on Aug. 1, he was released without explanation. Malespin waited for him at the gate and they suffered verbal abuse from the two-dozen hardcore Sandinistas who had been posted there for weeks to intimidate families trying to get news of their detained relatives. The son said that while in custody he was interrogated and beaten daily. They showed him photos and asked him to identify people. They asked where the weapons were. The pregnant student's detention lasted only five days, but the effects continued afterward. She was taken into an interrogation room where there was a female police officer, a masked paramilitary and a civilian. They made her stand with her hands spread out on a table in front of her. "They started to hit me more in the stomach," she said. They wanted to know her boyfriend's role and why he was carrying a lot of cash. She told them they had planned to leave the country. The female officer unsatisfied with her answers cut off half of her toenail. When she again told them she was pregnant, they told her, "the pain is what we feel fighting for the country. You all just want to see the country destroyed. You want to see our commander (Ortega) go." Midway through her incarceration she had started to bleed. She was interrogated and beaten again. When the students were finally released they were warned to stay out of sight or they would be charged with terrorism. The next day she went to a hospital. A doctor told her that there was nothing they could do. "They told me to prepare myself for the news," she said. "I lost my baby." In this July 27, 2018 photo, a university student who did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals from the government shows his scars, the product of surgery to extract a bullet from his shoulder, in Managua, Nicaragua. According to the non-governmental Nicaraguan Human Rights Center, 400 "political prisoners" are believed to still be held in jails, prisons and police stations across the country. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) In this July 24, 2018 photo, flyers of missing persons cover a wall inside the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights, in Managua, Nicaragua. The flyers represent part of at least 400 missing persons arrested in Nicaragua in nearly four months of unrest and subsequent crackdown, according to investigation by the center. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) In this July 25, 2018 photo, Maria Jose Malespin shows a photograph of her missing son Lester Lenin Mayorga Malespin, who was detained at a police checkpoint on the outskirts of the Caribbean city of Bluefields, in Managua, Nicaragua. For three weeks the he was held without seeing a judge or being able to speak to his family. Malespin and her daughter-in-law flew to Bluefields to look for him only to find out after the fact that he had been transferred to Managua's notorious El Chipote jail. Finally on Aug. 1, he was released with no explanation. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) FILE - In this July 14, 2018 file photo, students who had taken refuge at the Jesus of Divine Mercy church amid a barrage of armed attacks, arrive on a bus to the Metropolitan cathedral, in Managua, Nicaragua. When paramilitaries attacked the campus in mid-July nearly 200 students were driven out under heavy fire and took refuge at the church. The attack left two people dead. (AP Photo/Cristobal Venegas) FILE- In this June 30, 2018 file photo, hundreds of thousands participate in a demonstration called the "March of the Flowers" remembering the children killed during the last two-months violence, in Managua, Nicaragua. The current unrest in Nicaragua began in April, when President Daniel Ortega imposed cuts to the social security system and small protests by senior citizens were violently broken up. The protests spread and university students quickly became the vanguard of a push to oust the president who has ruled for the past decade. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga, File) In this July 24, 2018 photo, Vilma Nunez, president of Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights talks on a phone, at her office in Managua, Nicaragua. "Right now, without exaggerating, Nicaragua is a prison," said Nunez. She called Ortega's systematic search for those involved in the unrest a "human hunt." (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) In this July 23, 2018 photo, plywood with graffiti depicting the last names of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo with swastikas, is stenciled behind broken glass at the main entrance of the Jesuit run Universidad Centroamericana, in Managua, Nicaragua. Last week, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said its monitoring team in Nicaragua found that "Nicaraguan authorities made numerous arbitrary detentions involving the use of force." (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) FILE- In this July 18, 2018 file photo, heavily armed pro-government militia occupy the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua. President Daniel Ortega for weeks has denied that paramilitary squads and Sandinista youth groups that have clashed with or attacked protesters were working with the police, but when asked in a recent television interview how members of the opposition picked up by masked paramilitaries end up in jails, Ortega said: "we have volunteer police who cooperate with the police. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga, File) In this July 25, 2018 photo, a group of women visit the main entrance of El Chipote detention center in Managua, Nicaragua. Two-dozen hardcore Sandinistas followers have been posted there for weeks to intimidate families trying to get news of their relatives. The detention center has been notorious for more than 50 years, serving to the previous Somoza regime, the Sandinista revolutionary government in the 1980's and now the government President Daniel Ortega. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) FILe - In this May 26, 2018 file photo, the Spanish word for "Murderer" covers a mural of Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, as part of anti-government protests demanding his resignation in Managua, Nicaragua. Ortega has dismissed the Organization of American States as a tool of the U.S. government and accused protesters and opponents of trying to stage a coup. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, File) This photo gallery highlights some of the top news images made by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean published in the past week. Argentina's Senate rejected a bill that would have legalized abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, a defeat for a grassroots movement that came closer than ever to decriminalizing the procedure in the homeland of Pope Francis. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro escaped what his government says was an attempt to kill the socialist leader with explosive-laden drones as he spoke to hundreds of soldiers in an event broadcast live on television. In this Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 photo, a woman, her eyes masked green, the color pro-choice activists have chosen to identify themselves with, attends a demonstration in support of decriminalizing abortion, outside the Argentine embassy in Quito, Ecuador. Demonstrations in support of Argentina's efforts to legalize elective abortion were held Wednesday in Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Ivan Duque, who at 42 is the youngest president ever elected in Colombia, assumed the post promising to "make corrections" to a peace accord with leftist rebels that has divided the country and to crack down on lingering armed groups still roaming the countryside. In Mexico, 12-year-old Carlos Santamaria Diaz began classes for an undergraduate degree in biomedical physics at the country's National Autonomous University, the youngest such student in its roughly century-long history. The Altiplano Zoo in the central Mexico city of Tlaxcala showed off two new white lion cubs, a rare species that it is breeding in hopes of eventually establishing a sanctuary featuring the animals. The Argentine activist group Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayor announced that DNA tests have determined the identity of a 128th person who was taken from his mother as a baby during the military dictatorship, ___ Curated by photo editor Anita Baca in Mexico City. On Twitter: @LatDesk. ___ AP photographers and photo editors on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP/lists/ap-photographers In this Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 photo, women in support of decriminalizing abortion protest in the rain outside Congress where senators debate the measure, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For long hours, thousands of supporters wearing green handkerchiefs that represent the effort to legalize abortion braved the heavy rain and cold temperatures in Argentina's winter to watch the debate on large screens set up outside Congress. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) In this Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 photo, a pro-choice demonstrator, with a painted Venus symbol framing her eye, joins others outside the state legislature in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to show support for a bill to expand legal abortion in Argentina where senators debate the measure. The lawmakers on Thursday rejected the bill to legalize elective abortion, a defeat for a grassroots movement that came closer than ever to achieving the decriminalization of the procedure in the homeland of Pope Francis. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 photo, opponents of a measure to expand legal abortions celebrate outside Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after lawmakers rejected a bill to legalize elective abortion. Lawmakers debated for more than 15 hours before voting 38-31 against the measure that would have allowed abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. (AP Photo/Luisa Balaguer) In this Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018 photo, women in favor of a measure to expand legal abortions, wearing red cloaks and white bonnets like the characters from the novel-turned-TV series "The Handmaid's Tale", march in silence through Remembrance Park, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After Argentina's Senate rejected a bill to legalize elective abortion, the Argentine president said that the debate would continue. The government is also expected to include a measure in the penal code that would decriminalize abortion, although it would not legalize the practice. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) In this Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018 photo, supporters wears masks depicting Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during the Workers Party national convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The convention confirmed the jailed Lula da Silva as their candidate for the country's presidency for the upcoming October election. Da Silva leads the polls by a large margins, but is likely to be barred by Brazil's electoral justice. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) In this Friday, Aug. 3, 2018 photo, Carlos Santamaria Diaz, a 12-year-old who has been accepted into the national university to pursue an undergraduate degree in biomedical physics, listens to a question during a press conference at Mexico's National Autonomous University in Mexico City. The university, better known by its Spanish initials UNAM, said Carlos is the youngest such student in the university's roughly century-long history. He easily passed the university's entrance exam and has already done preparatory work at the university's school of chemistry in its genetics sciences center. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) In this rainy Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 photo, Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno, from left, Argentina's President Mauricio Macri, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto hold umbrellas during the presidential inauguration ceremony for Ivan Duque, in Bogota, Colombia. The young protege of a powerful former president was sworn in as Colombia's new leader Tuesday, tasked with guiding the implementation of a peace accord with leftist rebels that remains on shaky ground. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) In this Friday, Aug. 3, 2018 photo, men utilize cardboard boxes to shade themselves from the sun's rays as they wait in line to take part in a vehicle census announced by Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, in the first step to regulate the sale of gasoline, in Caracas, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) In this Friday, Aug. 3, 2018 photo, Estela de Carlotto, president of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo human rights group, holds a photo of Rosario del Carmen Ramos, with two of her three sons Ismael, right, and Camilo, before she disappeared during Argentina's military dictatorship, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The human rights group announced they found Rosario's other son Marcos Eduardo Ramos, who was kidnapped together with his brother Ismael in 1976 during the last military dictatorship in Argentina, bringing the number of such cases to 128. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) In this Monday, Aug. 6, 2018 photo, a man dressed to resemble Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro as a show of support for his leadership, takes part in a demonstration outside the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Venezuela. Maduro dodged an apparent assassination attempt over the weekend when drones armed with explosives detonated while he was delivering a speech to hundreds of soldiers being broadcast live on television, according to officials. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) In this Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018 photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, security personnel surround Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during an incident as he was giving a speech in Caracas, Venezuela. Drones armed with explosives detonated near Maduro as he gave a speech to hundreds of soldiers in Caracas on Saturday but the socialist leader was unharmed, according to the government. (Xinhua via AP) In this Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018 photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, an uniformed official bleeds from the head following an incident during a speech by Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. Seven people were injured in the apparent attack which came as Maduro celebrated the National Guard's 81st anniversary. Maduro's speech was abruptly cut short and soldiers could be seen breaking ranks and scattering. (Xinhua via AP) In this Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 photo, a pair of four-month-old white lion cubs play together in their enclosure at the Altiplano Zoo in Tlaxcala. The Zoo, about two hours east of Mexico City, has welcomed the two white lion cubs born in March and recently presented to the public. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) In this Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018 photo, transgender Carolina, dressed as a "china", poses for a photo with Majestic Union band members during celebrations honoring Our Lady of Copacabana, in Cuzco, Peru. Despite the persistent discrimination suffered by members of the LGBT community in the country, Carolina says she and her friends are invited every year to take part in the religious celebration. "I never feel discrimination," said Carolina, "and sometimes I receive a little money for my dancing." (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) TORONTO (AP) - When Saudi Arabia ordered its citizens studying in Canada to abruptly leave the country it left institutions like Techno Canada in the lurch, forcing the small Toronto business school to scramble for new students in the middle of the summer. But that doesn't mean the school's director wants his government to abandon its advocacy of civil rights in Saudi Arabia, which prompted the worst diplomatic rift in history between the two countries. "I am very much with my government to stand up for human rights," the head of Techno Canada, Basu Mukherjee, said as he conceded the loss of Saudi students will hurt his bottom line. "It is going to be hard, but we will try our best to replace them." The Saudi Arabian Embassy is shown in Ottawa, Canada, on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018. Saudi Arabia has ordered Canadian Ambassador Dennis Horak to leave the ultraconservative kingdom within 24 hours after his nation criticized the recent arrests of women's rights activists. The Saudi Foreign Ministry also said it would freeze "all new business" between the kingdom and Canada. (David Kawai/The Canadian Press via AP) Similar sentiments have been expressed in recent days across Canada as schools, hospitals and even some businesses largely shrug at Saudi Arabia's decision to punish the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over tweets supporting two jailed dissident bloggers. In a sign that the Saudis may not have as much leverage over Canada as they thought, many in the country say they are less concerned about the effects on Canada of the diplomatic spat than they are concerned for the well-being of the 15,000 students who were told they cannot resume studies for the fall semester and 800 doctors and medical residents who must leave by Sept. 1. "It's very difficult for people who have families and leases," said Dr. Salvatore Spadafora who oversees 216 of Saudi doctors and medical residents in the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network. "They are all working very, very hard and trying to study and then this happens." The Saudi government expelled Canada's ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador on Sunday, days after two Canadian tweets in support of arrested activist Samar Badawi, whose writer brother Raif Badawi was arrested in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and later sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for insulting Islam. Then it halted flights by its national airline and ordered the students home, a decision that affects institutions as small as Techno Canada, which has just 40 people enrolled, to major institutions such as the University of Toronto. But even though the Saudis are a significant presence in Canadian hospitals and in higher-education, contributing about $1 billion to $1.5 billion Canadian dollars (US$770 million to US$1.1 billion) to the Canadian economy last year, the overall effect is minimal since other foreign students can easily replace them. Spadafora said other medical students will pick up the shifts of the Saudi residents and physicians when they go home by Sept. 1. Brian Hodges, who oversees about 94 from Saudi Arabia including 58 or 59 trained specialists or fellows at Toronto's University Health Network, said patient care won't be affected. "The first priority really is figure how to support them," he said. "Many have been with us for five or four years and are close to doing exams." Trudeau, a staunch defender of woman's rights, is not backing down and has received only limited criticism from domestic opponents. "Canadians have always expected our government to speak strongly, firmly, clearly and politely about the need to respect human rights at home and around the world," he said. Financial markets did not appear hurt by the dispute amid reports that the Saudis intended to unload Canadian assets. There were rumors that Kingdom Holding Co. intended to sell its 47.5 percent stake in the Toronto-based luxury hotel chain Four Seasons. A company spokeswoman, Sarah Tuite, would only say that "day to day operations" have not changed. "It is business as usual," she said. Bilateral trade between the two nations is just $3 billion a year. Canada does get 10 percent of its imported crude oil from Saudi Arabia, but even if the dispute escalates further Saudi oil could potentially be replaced with U.S. shale oil or oil from Canada's oil sands region - the third largest oil reserves in the world. Saudi Arabia's energy minister said oil sales to Canada will not be affected. The worst potential impact on Canada would be if Saudi Arabia canceled Canada's largest arms deal, a $15 billion deal with Saudi Arabia in 2014 to export its light-armored vehicles to the kingdom. Jim Reid, a union leader who represents 500 workers at the General Dynamics facility in London, said that could lead to job losses. The Canadian foreign ministry says they have heard nothing about the contract. "The Saudi's are shooting themselves in the foot," Reid said. "Yes, it's going to cause some economic hardship for some universities and colleges and hospitals but this is disrupting their own citizens' lives whether they are doctors in hospitals or students. It boggles the mind." Robert Bothwell, a professor at the University of Toronto, said anything Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman does to harm Canada will also harm a range of Saudi interests including their investments and students. "The Saudi monarchy is playing around with thousands of Saudi subjects, slaves. Their interests are not being regarded. They are just pawns and that's very much to be regretted," Bothwell said. FILE - In this Dec, 16, 2015 file photo, Ensaf Haidar, wife of the jailed Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi, shows a portrait of her husband as he is awarded the Sakharov Prize, in Strasbourg, France. Saudi Arabia has given Canada's ambassador 24 hours to leave the kingdom after Canada criticized the recent arrest of women's rights activists. Among the arrested activists is Samar Badawi, whose writer brother Raif Badawi was arrested in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and later sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for insulting Islam while blogging. (AP Photo/Christian Lutz, File) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answers reporters' questions concerning Canada's relationship with Saudi Arabia during a visit to CAE in Montreal, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The off-road accessory was shipped in a box emblazoned with the logo of an auto parts brand owned by Mike Braun, a multimillionaire businessman who often rails against foreign outsourcing in his bid to become Indiana's next senator. The words "Made in China" were stamped across the packaging. Braun frequently criticizes his opponent, vulnerable red-state Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, for once owning stock in a family business his brother runs that operates a factory in Mexico. However, the Republican nominee's own parts brand, Promaxx Automotive, sells products that were similarly manufactured abroad, according to a review by The Associated Press. FILE - This May 8, 2018 file photo Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun thanks supporters after winning the republican primary in Whitestown, Ind. Braun rails against foreign outsourcing on the campaign trail, even as his own company continues to sell its trademarked brand of auto accessories, many of which are made in China. Braun frequently criticizes his opponent, vulnerable red-state Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, for once owning stock in a family business his brother runs that operates a factory in Mexico. However, the Republican nominee's own parts brand, Promaxx Automotive, sells products that were similarly manufactured abroad, according to a review by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) It has been well documented that Braun's national auto parts distribution company, Meyer Distributing, ships and sells other companies' goods that are made outside of the U.S. Such practice doesn't leave him vulnerable to charges of hypocrisy, he argues, because as a distributor he only resells the parts and has no control over where the companies make them. But the revelation about the Chinese origin of much of his own products line, which Meyer trademarked with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, draws into question some of Braun's statements on the campaign trail, where he seldom - if ever - mentions Promaxx. Braun's campaign would not say what percentage of Promaxx parts are made in America. Spokesman Josh Kelley issued a statement Thursday suggesting it was a distraction from "Donnelly's record of profiting from outsourcing." When the subject came up during a GOP debate in February, Braun said: "I deal with American manufacturers. We buy their products. I don't know where they get them made." "My business is never involved in anything overseas other than some of the companies that we distribute their products," he said in December at a GOP breakfast in Bloomington, Indiana. While it's difficult to tell where many of the Braun's Promaxx products are manufactured, the AP was able to trace some accessories sold under the brand. To do so, the AP purchased from Amazon one of Braun's brand of winches, a device used to pull stuck 4x4 vehicles out of the mud. The box that arrived was labeled "Made in China" in several places on the accessory and packaging. Numerous other products, including running boards and a specialized Jeep hood, were similarly listed as manufactured in China on websites that retail Promaxx goods, including Amazon, CARiD and eBay. The AP also used unique UPC codes assigned to more than 50 Promaxx products to determine which suppliers Braun uses. That information was compared with data maintained by Panjiva, a website that tracks global trade, to determine where those companies procured their goods. Among the findings: - Running boards, bumpers, brush guards and truck racks listed in the Promaxx catalog were supplied by Westin Automotive, which has received more than 700 shipments of such products from China since 2007. While several items in the company's catalog were labeled as made in America, these products were not. Panjiva records also show Chinese shipments of these accessories were delivered to one of Braun's warehouses in Arlington, Texas, including one made this past June. - Another Promaxx supplier, California-based CYC Engineering, has received more than 400 shipments of similar products from Chinese manufacturers over the last decade. - Bulldog Winch Co., a supplier Braun uses for off-road recovery equipment, has received hundreds of thousands of pounds of winches and accessory imports from China. Braun's own company has also received about a half dozen shipments of winches and winch accessories in recent years from one of the same Chinese manufacturers, Panjiva records show. The winch purchased by AP was shipped from Braun's company headquarters in Jasper, Indiana. Since launching his campaign last August, Braun has tried to follow President Donald Trump's playbook, running as an "outsider" while making his business success central in his pitch to voters. Also, like the president, whose own line of Trump-branded products was often sourced from overseas, Braun has downplayed his company's use of foreign-made goods. When the two congressmen he was running against in the Republican primary, Todd Rokita and Luke Messer, went after him for his companies' practices, Braun counterattacked. In one ad he ran during the primary, he accused Donnelly, Messer and Rokita of supporting, or benefiting from, trade policies that put "Mexico before Muncie" and "Beijing before Bloomington." As Donnelly and his allies have sought to turn the focus to Braun's businesses, he has fought back, accusing the Democrat of "lying" about his companies, while insisting that they are "made in America." Kelley, the campaign spokesman, said Braun creates American jobs, adding that 95 percent of his suppliers are American companies. However, that doesn't address where those companies that supply the Promaxx brand are getting their goods. Experts say it's not just normal for manufacturers to rely on supply chains that include at least some foreign goods - they say it's unusual when companies don't. "It's amazing how companies and organizations have global supply chains no matter how small," said Mohan V. Tatikonda, an Indiana University business school professor who specializes in supply chain management. "There are companies that do not know who is making their stuff because you have to go so deep into the supply chain that you would need an audit." University of Evansville political science professor Robert Dion said most voters probably don't care where Braun's gets his parts. But, he added, there's a catch: "If you're going to say one thing and do another, that becomes a problem." FILE - In this May 10, 2018 file photo, President Donald Trump, left, and Indiana Republican senatorial candidate Mike Braun shake hands as they embrace during a GOP campaign rally in Elkhart, Ind. Braun rails against foreign outsourcing on the campaign trail, even as his own company continues to sell its trademarked brand of auto accessories, many of which are made in China. Braun frequently criticizes his opponent, vulnerable red-state Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, for once owning stock in a family business his brother runs that operates a factory in Mexico. However, the Republican nominee's own parts brand, Promaxx Automotive, sells products that were similarly manufactured abroad, according to a review by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) UK buyers optimistic about South Africa UK buyers see plenty of opportunities to boost sales of South African wine in spite of harvest pressures and the potential for rising prices. The countrys 2018 crop is around 15% down on the previous year, according to industry body Vinpro, and Bibendums Paul Meihuizen called it the most challenging I have ever known. But retail buyers are optimistic when it comes to South Africa. Mark Jarman, head of wine operations at Morrisons, said: We need to take customers on a journey. The encouraging evidence is that they are prepared to come on this journey with us and have a real thirst for new and exciting South African styles. We have worked hard to champion South Africas potential to produce great wines from the dry-farmed regions, such as the Swartland. Following my sourcing trip in 2016, we have changed around 80% of the range and the offer now more closely reflects the diversity and excitement for which South Africa is becoming justifiably renowned. Sales of the new wines have been extremely encouraging, proving that our customers have the confidence and desire to try new South African wines that they arent yet familiar with. Waitrose buyer Victoria Mason added: The sales growth trend within South African wine of the past four years continues at Waitrose. Our performance against the market is still strong. Waitrose has strong long-term relationships with its supply base in South Africa and sourcing the volume required has not been a problem, in spite of the drought and the shortages. I expect growth in popularity of Pinotage and Chenin Blanc at all price levels. At the same time key international varieties, notably Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, will continue to grow apace. There will be new interest in South African Malbec, off the back of the success of Argentinian Malbec, continued focus on Rhone varieties, both red and white, and more regional identity emerging, with more site-specific wines. Phil Innes, owner of Birmingham-based Loki Wines, said: South Africa still offers great value for money, while having a really diverse array of styles and varieties. A lot of the producers are still making European-style wines, which appeal to the more traditional customer, whereas there is also a large natural wine movement there as well. We find it easy to hand sell SA wine in our shops because the quality-to-price ratio is usually very good, and it gives the staff a lot to talk about because the country has some of the most exciting new natural wine movements in the world, as well as the wine estates with lots of history. *Read our supplement on South Africa, inserted in this month's magazine, for an in-depth overview of the countrys UK prospects. Related articles: ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A New York bank executive testified Friday that Paul Manafort received more than $16 million in loans after the bank's chairman expressed interest in joining Donald Trump's cabinet if he won the 2016 presidential election. The testimony in the former Trump campaign chairman's financial fraud trial came after proceedings were halted for hours by mysterious backstage discussions between the judge and attorneys for both sides. Prosecutors now say they will wrap up their case against Manafort on Monday. Defense lawyers have not said whether they expect to call any witnesses after that. It was a strange hiccup in nine days of proceedings that have been sometimes dramatic and featured tense exchanges between prosecutors and admittedly impatient U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III as he has pushed the government to speed up its case. The defense team for Paul Manafort, including Kevin Downing, center, Thomas Zehnle, right, and Richard Westling walk to federal court during the trial of the former Trump campaign chairman, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Ellis recessed the trial without explanation after huddling with his bailiff and attorneys from special counsel Robert Mueller's office and Manafort's lawyers for more than 20 minutes. At one point, Ellis left the courtroom and headed toward the jury room. After bringing court back into session, he reminded jurors several times that they weren't to discuss the tax evasion and bank fraud case at all. That included telling them to not even comment on the attire of any witnesses. The exchange came during a day in which jurors heard detailed testimony about Manafort's bank loans and about his New York Yankees luxury season ticket purchases - paid for from an offshore account that prosecutors say he concealed from the IRS. Dennis Raico, an executive at Federal Saving Bank who testified under an immunity agreement, detailed for jurors how he grew uncomfortable by the actions of bank chairman Stephen Calk in the handling of Manafort's loans. Prosecutors have said that despite red flags, Calk pushed through the loans for Manafort because he wanted a job in the Trump administration. During his testimony, Raico told jurors that Calk discussed roles in the Trump campaign ahead of approving the loans and later specifically referenced being a candidate for Secretary of the Treasury or Housing and Urban Development in messages he wanted Raico to pass to Manafort. Raico said he didn't relay Calk's messages because he thought they were inappropriate. Raico told jurors that a committee that Calk led approved Manafort's loan within one day. Raico also said Calk approved one of the loans, worth $9.5 million, after overruling the bank's president, who had expressed doubts that Manafort had enough income to pay back the debt. Raico said that approval came despite underwriters finding several discrepancies between the income on Manafort's tax returns and the figures contained on financial statements he provided to the bank. "A plus B didn't equal C all the time," Raico said of the discrepancies. In previous testimony, witnesses have described other problems with documents Manafort submitted in attempts to obtain loans. And on Friday, prosecutors zeroed in a letter he submitted to explain a $300,000 balance on his American Express card. Manafort had provided the bank with a letter saying he lent the card to his longtime deputy, Rick Gates, so Gates could buy about $300,000 in season tickets. But Irfan Kirimca, a senior director of ticket operations for the New York Yankees, told jurors the baseball team had no record of Gates' ever making such a purchase. Kirimca also testified that Manafort paid for luxury season tickets to the Yankees using an offshore bank account in the name of Global Highways Limited, one of the offshore shell companies prosecutors say Manafort failed to report on his tax returns. Friday's proceedings also featured a lighthearted moment between Ellis and prosecutor Greg Andres, who have tangled during the trial. While questioning a witness, Andres noted he had forgotten to admit a document into evidence when he should have, prompting Ellis to retort, "Confession is good for the soul." Andres responded, "I think my soul is in pretty good shape after this process," prompting laughter in the gallery. The developments Friday came after jurors had endured testimony that sometimes ventured into the tedium of bank and tax records. The prosecution is the first to emerge from Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election, but neither Manafort nor Gates has been charged in connection with their Trump campaign work. The prosecution has called more than 20 witnesses, including Gates, and introduced a trove of documentary evidence as they've sought to prove Manafort defrauded banks and concealed millions of dollars in offshore bank accounts from the IRS. The defense team for Paul Manafort, including Kevin Downing, right, Thomas Zehnle, center, and Richard Westling walk to federal court during the trial of the former Trump campaign chairman, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Kathleen Manafort, right, wife of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, arrives at the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse for her husbands trial, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) DETROIT (AP) - A U.S. House district representing Detroit and some surrounding cities has made some major news: First came last year, when longtime Democratic Rep. John Conyers resigned after being accused of groping and sexually harassing women. Then this week, when Rashida Tlaib won the primary election that set her up to become the first female Muslim member of Congress. Amid the hoopla, however, is a quieter, quirky twist that's leading to some unexpected questions and late-summer research in Detroit and Washington: Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones won a special primary election - on the same ballot that led to Tlaib's win - to serve the final two months of Conyers' term. Will Jones take what's essentially a high-profile temp job in the nation's capital? Will she vacate her council job? Can she even do both? Here's a look at the issues - and mysteries - of the Case of the Double Detroit Election. FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2008 file photo, Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat, is photographed outside the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Mich. Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones won, a special primary election Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, to serve the final two months of former U.S. Rep. John Conyers' term. But a quirky twist is leading to unexpected questions and late-summer research in Detroit and Washington as to whether Jones should take the temp job after she lost the Democratic primary on the same ballot for the two-year term that would start in January to Tlaib, who could become the first female Muslim member of Congress. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File) ___ HOW DID WE GET HERE? After Conyers stepped down in December, it fell to Republican Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to call a special election. Snyder set it for this past Tuesday, the date for primary elections statewide. Critics sued, hoping to get the special election moved up and claiming Snyder had discriminated against black voters. But U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith in March said there was no evidence of discrimination. A state lawyer told Goldsmith that an earlier election would be "technically possible" but not "desirable" because of cost and the challenge of getting ballots to military members. Still, it laid the groundwork for the two side-by-side elections. And different ballot questions led to different results, in part because there were fewer candidates in the special primary election. ___ WHAT HAPPENS NOW? That's where things get cloudy. Jones hasn't publicly commented on what she will do, though The Associated Press left messages with her office seeking comment. Among the issues being studied: whether the council and Congress allow for someone to serve both positions simultaneously. "We are looking at a number of questions that are not the kind you get every day," Detroit Corporation Counsel Lawrence Garcia said in an email. "The election results for the US Congress 13th District race pose some interesting and unusual questions. The Law Department is reviewing these matters." U.S. House ethics rules say Jones could not get paid for both jobs simultaneously. The rules also say "a high state office is incompatible with congressional membership," but doesn't spell out what constitutes high state office. It also advises a House member considering state or local office to consult with the Ethics Committee "due to the manifest inconsistency of the respective duties of the positions." Jonathan Kinloch, chair of the 13th District Democratic Party, said he has spoken with Jones and he understands that she "definitely would love to serve in Congress" - even for short time. "She is concerned about having that seat remain open. She's doing everything she can to see if it's lawful for her to hold both seats," he said. ___ HAS THIS HAPPENED BEFORE? Something similar, anyway. Thad McCotter quit Congress in July 2012, weeks after he didn't qualify for the summer primary election because of tainted petition signatures. A special primary election was held in September of that year for the suburban Detroit district, and an election for McCotter's two remaining months was held in November. ___ WHAT'S ON THE HOUSE AGENDA? This year's lame duck, or postelection session, likely will be important. There's a strong chance President Donald Trump and Congress will leave many decisions about next year's budget until after the election, including Trump's demand for money to build his proposed border wall with Mexico. Democrats and some Republicans oppose financing the wall. With that and other budget issues at stake, that means there could be face-offs that would raise the threat of a federal shutdown. There could also be legislative fallout related to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump's campaign was involved. It's unclear when Mueller will wrap up his probe. ___ Follow Jeff Karoub on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jeffkaroub and find more of his work at https://apnews.com/search/jeff%20karoub . ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram in Washington, D.C., and Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report. WATERVILLE, Minn. (AP) - For all the talk of a blue wave sweeping Democrats back into the House majority this fall, their efforts could be thwarted in one of the nation's bluest states. Voters in the sprawling farm country south of Minneapolis and in the economically struggling Iron Range along the Canadian border give Republicans in those two congressional districts perhaps their best chance anywhere for flipping Democratic seats. Democrats need to pick up 23 seats in November to retake the House, but the odds grow long if they lose districts they currently hold. Democratic incumbents in both Minnesota districts are leaving office, and the races to replace them are widely rated as tossups. President Donald Trump carried both by about 15 points in 2016, even as Hillary Clinton narrowly won Minnesota. In this June 10, 2018 photo, volunteers for Minnesota 1st District congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn carry signs during a parade in Waterville, Minn. Waterville's 54th annual Bullhead Days parade included Republican Hagedorn and Democrat Dan Feehan, candidates who came to shake as many hands as they could in the open seat race which promises to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) "Minnesota is going to be ground zero for control of the House," said Corry Bliss, director of the Conservative Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with House Speaker Paul Ryan. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel of New York, who served four years as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, agreed. "It will go a long way to maintaining Republican control of the House, picking up those two seats," Israel said. "Both sides know that. And that's why you're going to see millions of dollars being spent on all those races." The GOP is also eying two seats in Nevada and single seats in Arizona, Florida, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania as possible flips. Despite Minnesota's reputation as a liberal stronghold - it hasn't gone for a Republican president since 1972 - the state has become a major battleground for the parties. Tens of millions of dollars in outside political advertising have flooded the state in recent years as Republicans tried to pick off outstate members of Congress while Democrats focused on the suburbs. The GOP now holds three of the state's eight House seats. The two Minnesota seats opened up when Rep. Tim Walz, in the 1st District, decided to run for governor and 74-year-old Rep. Rick Nolan, in the 8th, decided to retire ahead of a difficult re-election fight. Both Democrats just barely hung on in 2016. Republican Jim Hagedorn, who narrowly lost to Walz in 2016, is hoping to break through in his fourth try in a district that has historically leaned Republican. Congress is a bit of a family affair; his father, Tom, once represented part of the district, and Hagedorn himself spent years as a Treasury Department official in Washington. Earlier this summer at Waterville's Bullhead Days - named for a particularly ugly-looking member of the catfish family - Hagedorn worked up a sweat while working spectators along a parade route that wound past a stand selling fried bullhead. Waterville, a town of around 1,800 people nestled up against Tetonka Lake and Sakatah Lake, counts tourism and agriculture among keys to the economy. It's a town that went for Trump by 26 points in 2016. "I want to be a partner with the president," Hagedorn said. Howard Mack, owner of Whitewater Creek Grain and Feed, said he and his customers spend a lot of time talking about tariffs and other national political issues, and while they're nervous about being bargaining chips in a trade war they're sticking with Trump while keeping their fingers crossed that his hardball strategy works out. Mack said Hagedorn's conservative positions fit the district well. "I give the man a ton of credit for working as hard as he has to get this job," Mack said. In northeast Minnesota, Republican Pete Stauber is leaning on a pro-Trump message, too, in hopes of breaking through. The 8th was once a Democratic bastion thanks to Duluth and the Iron Range, with a large blue-collar workforce drawn to jobs in mining, railroads, shipping and forest products. But declining mining employment and a district boundary that has crept toward the Twin Cities exurbs have turned it into swing territory. Nolan's departure left Democrats in disarray, with a five-way primary coming Tuesday and a base bitterly split over new copper-nickel mining ventures that worry environmentalists. Pro-mining factions helped drive Trump's big margin there in 2016, and his tariffs on imported steel are playing well in a district where many Democrats also tilt conservative on guns and abortion. Stauber is a county commissioner and retired Duluth police lieutenant who once headed the officers' union. "Mining is a big thing" in the district, said St. Louis County GOP Chairman Ron Britton. Too many Democrats are either anti-mining or wishy-washy on the issue, he said. "We're very optimistic this year, much more than we have been in past years," Britton said. Stauber got boosts from a Trump rally in Duluth in June and a visit by Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday. He had raised over $960,000 by late July - more than all the Democrats combined. In a show of the national focus on his race, much of the money came from leadership PACs run by Republican members of Congress. In the 1st District, Hagedorn, the GOP's endorsed candidate, still must survive a primary challenge from state Sen. Carla Nelson, another pro-Trump, anti-abortion conservative. Democrat Dan Feehan, a veteran of two combat tours in Iraq who became a high-ranking Defense Department official in the Obama administration, awaits the winner. ___ Sign up for "Politics in Focus," a weekly newsletter showcasing the AP's best political reporting from around the country leading up to the midterm elections: https://bit.ly/2ICEr3D In this June 10, 2018 photo, Minnesota 1st District congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn gives a thumbs up as he works a parade in Waterville, Minn. Waterville's 54th annual Bullhead Days parade included Republican Hagedorn and Democrat Dan Feehan, candidates who came to shake as many hands as they could in the open seat race which promises to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) In this June 10, 2018 photo, Minnesota 1st District congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn works a parade in Waterville, Minn. Waterville's 54th annual Bullhead Days parade included Republican Hagedorn and Democrat Dan Feehan, candidates who came to shake as many hands as they could in the open seat race which promises to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) In this June 10, 2018 photo, Minnesota 1st District congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn jogs pas parade goers in Waterville, Minn. Waterville's 54th annual Bullhead Days parade included Republican Hagedorn and Democrat Dan Feehan, candidates who came to shake as many hands as they could in the open seat race which promises to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) In this June 10, 2018 photo, Minnesota 1st District congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn poses before a parade in Waterville, Minn. Waterville's 54th annual Bullhead Days parade included Republican Hagedorn and Democrat Dan Feehan, candidates who came to shake as many hands as they could in the open seat race which promises to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) In this June 10, 2018 photo, Minnesota 1st District congressional candidate Dan Feehan works a parade in Waterville, Minn. Waterville's 54th annual Bullhead Days parade included Democrat Feehan and Republican Jim Hagedorn, candidates who came to shake as many hands as they could in the open seat race which promises to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (AP Photo/Jim Mone) In this June 10, 2018 photo, Minnesota 1st District congressional candidate Dan Feehan jogs past parade goers in Waterville, Minn. Waterville's 54th annual Bullhead Days parade included Democrat Feehan and Republican Jim Hagedorn, candidates who came to shake as many hands as they could in the open seat race which promises to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (AP Photo/Jim Mone) In this June 10, 2018 photo, Minnesota 1st District congressional candidate Dan Feehan works a parade in Waterville, Minn. Waterville's 54th annual Bullhead Days parade included Democrat Feehan and Republican Jim Hagedorn, candidates who came to shake as many hands as they could in the open seat race which promises to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - On a glorious, late-spring day, Maya Little strode across the poplar-lined University of North Carolina quadrangle, past protesters and a uniformed officer. She stepped onto the base of the Confederate soldier statue that has stood there since 1913, and splashed it with a mixture of red ink and her own blood. The 25-year-old doctoral candidate was sending a message to Chancellor Carol Folt that the monument - nicknamed "Silent Sam" - was an affront to black students like her, "the celebration of an army that fought for our ancestors' enslavement." But Little was also speaking to the group responsible for erecting this memorial to "the Lost Cause" - the United Daughters of the Confederacy. "There is no Silent Sam without black blood, without violence towards black people," Little said recently as she sat in the statue's shadow, campus security guards hovering behind nearby trees and columns. "I would say all that blood is on their hands. And it will continue to be until they take a stand - until they ... make an effort to take these monuments down and to be a part of actual racial equality, racial justice." FILE - In this Saturday, June 6, 2015 file photo, Holly Larkowski, left, and her mother, Sharon Edmondson, both members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, wear Civil War-era mourning dresses during the UDC's 149th annual Confederate Memorial Day Service at Stonewall Cemetery in Winchester, Va. As memorials have toppled and Confederate place names have vanished in the year since the Charlottesville riots, the Daughters have fought back with lawsuits aimed at stopping the removal of rebel monuments from public spaces. (Jeff Taylor/The Winchester Star via AP) But the Daughters had already made their position clear months before Little's protest and arrest. Last summer, in the wake of riots over the proposed removal of a monument to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia, the group issued a rare public statement. "We are grieved that certain hate groups have taken the Confederate flag and other symbols as their own," President General Patricia M. Bryson wrote following the Aug. 12 clashes that left one woman dead. But while Bryson insisted that the UDC condemns anyone who "promotes racial divisiveness or white supremacy," she argued that the Confederate ancestors honored by these memorials "were and are Americans." She issued a call of her own: "Join us in denouncing hate groups and affirming that Confederate memorial statues and monuments are part of our shared American history and should remain in place." Most people might know the UDC as that group of mainly older women who dress in widow's weeds and gather on Confederate Memorial Day to lay wreaths of boxwood and holly and sing mournful renditions of "Dixie" in honor of the estimated 260,000 Confederate service members who died in the Civil War . Seeing them arrayed in their broad-brimmed hats and red-and-white sashes, it would be easy to dismiss the Daughters as a quaint anachronism. That would be a mistake. As memorials have toppled and Confederate place names have vanished in the year since the Charlottesville riots, the Daughters have fought back with lawsuits aimed at stopping the removal of rebel monuments from public spaces. Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center counts the group among the leading proponents of the "cult of the Lost Cause" - noting it has distributed literature that claims most African-Americans were "ready and willing" to serve slave owners and that northern nullification of Southerners' rights forced the War Between the States. "I wouldn't put them on ... our hate group list," says Beirich. "But they are still perpetuating some of the vilest ideas in American history, and the ones that we've worked so hard to get rid of." The national UDC - headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, capital of the former Confederate States of America - did not respond to requests for comment. Founded Sept. 10, 1894, the UDC sprang from women's "hospital associations, sewing societies and knitting circles" across the South that worked to aid Confederate soldiers, according to its website. The group's articles of incorporation list five key objectives: "Historical, Benevolent, Educational, Memorial and Patriotic." Membership is open to descendants of those who served honorably in the Confederate military or "who gave material aid to the cause." Applicants cannot use an ancestor who took the oath of allegiance to the United States before April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered at Appomattox. After the war, the group offered assistance to Confederate widows and orphans. But its most visible legacy is one of metal and stone. Members of the South's most prominent families, the Daughters dedicated themselves to telling what they considered "a truthful history" of the war. So adept were they at raising funds through bazaars and bake sales that when the United Confederate Veterans had trouble funding a memorial to Jefferson Davis in Richmond, the Daughters took over the project. The memorial, with its semicircular colonnade and 67-foot-high column, was dedicated on June 3, 1907 - the 99th anniversary of Davis' birth. The SPLC attributes some 450 monuments , markers, buildings and other commemoratives to UDC efforts. The memorials range from modest statues like Silent Sam to the soaring 351-foot concrete obelisk marking the Kentucky birthplace of Davis, the Confederacy's only president. The vast majority were erected during the late 19th and early 20th centuries - when states were enacting Jim Crow laws meant to disenfranchise blacks - and amid the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. But the Daughters' influence extended beyond the regional boundaries of the Confederacy. Until last August, when it was dismantled, there was a Confederate memorial fountain in Helena, Montana. A UDC-funded marker also stood on Georges Island in Boston Harbor, until Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, called for its removal. Both are now in storage. In its heyday around World War I, the UDC was about 100,000 strong, but in a 2000 speech, then-President General June Murray Wells estimated there were around 25,000 members across 700 chapters in 32 states. "I don't know if we've got one more generation left in it," says historian Karen L. Cox, author of "Dixie's Daughters: The United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Preservation of Confederate Culture." The group, nevertheless, still wields influence. When Vanderbilt University decided to change the name of Confederate Memorial Hall, the Daughters' Tennessee Division sued for breach of contract. In 2016, the UDC won a $1.2 million judgment - the current-day value of the $50,000 donation the group made toward construction of the dormitory back in 1935. Last August, after the San Antonio City Council voted to remove a Confederate soldier monument from Travis Park, the local UDC chapter sued, claiming that it owned not only the monument but the ground beneath it. That case is pending. Another lawsuit was filed in Louisiana after the Caddo Parish Commission adopted a resolution on Oct. 19 to remove a Confederate monument from its courthouse grounds. UDC's Shreveport chapter claimed ownership, based on a 1903 vote by the Caddo Parish Police Jury appropriating $1,000 for the monument's construction and designating that a portion of the courthouse square be reserved for that purpose. A federal judge recently dismissed the case, but the group is raising money for an appeal. Taxpayers indirectly underwrite the group's work. Each year, the Virginia budget awards the state UDC tens of thousands of dollars for the maintenance of Confederate graves - more than $1.6 million since 1996. UNC-Chapel Hill said it's spent at least $390,000 since the Charlottesville riots for extra security around Silent Sam. While the memorials draw attention, Cox says the UDC is most proud of the "living monuments" it helped to create. She's referring to the group's youth auxiliary: The Children of the Confederacy, organized in 1896. Boys and girls go on field trips to historic sites and clean up cemeteries. They also memorize passages from the UDC's "Confederate Catechism," a summary of its principles. The war, reads a text from 1904, was caused by the "disregard, on the part of the States of the North, for the rights of the Southern or slave-holding States." And slaves "were faithful and devoted and were always ready and willing to serve them." The language has been tweaked over the years. In the version currently promoted on the UDC website, that last statement now reads: "Slaves, for the most part, were faithful and devoted. Most slaves were usually ready and willing to serve their masters." Hallie Harris joined the youth auxiliary in Sparta, Tennessee, at 16 and has fond memories of visiting Gettysburg and Andrew Jackson's plantation, and of cleaning up graves - Confederate and Union. Now 26, she is a dues-paying but not active member of the UDC. "We're not Nazis or anything like that," she says. "We're not going around spreading hate. If anything, we're spreading love and just education." But the Daughters are no longer as united as they once were. Amid calls to remove a Confederate statue from the old courthouse in Tampa, Florida, the president of the UDC's state division came out in support of moving such monuments from public property. "Because of the issue of slavery ... why not relocate these to places where they can be given the respect they deserve for veteran service?" Ginger Lathem-Rudiger told a Tampa television station. A year after Charlottesville, pressure to move these monuments continues to grow. A special commission in Richmond recently recommended that the city take down the Davis memorial and add contextual signage to other Confederate statues along Monument Avenue. And in North Carolina, officials are trying to determine whether Silent Sam and other Confederate memorials have become public safety hazards - a determination that opponents believe could fulfill an exception to a 2015 law preventing their permanent removal. Little, who studies history at UNC, went to the North Carolina UDC's convention last year to ask for the group's support to move Silent Sam. She was asked to leave. Division officials did not respond to requests for comment, but at a March hearing before the North Carolina Historical Commission, state UDC member Teresa Langley said the group was "totally against any action" to remove or relocate the memorials. "Our organization and legacy organizations like it are the primary stakeholders in this controversy," Langley said. On April 30, as Little turned Silent Sam's pedestal red, a fellow protester read aloud the 1913 dedication speech of Julian Carr - a Confederate veteran, industrialist and UNC graduate whose name adorns a nearby city and a building at Duke University. "One hundred yards from where we stand ... I horse-whipped a negro wench until her skirts hung in shreds, because upon the streets of this quiet village she had publicly insulted and maligned a Southern lady ..." he told the approving crowd. Little, who says she's faced threats of violence and lynching, thinks that anecdote reveals the true purpose behind what Carr called "this noble gift of the United Daughters of the Confederacy." In her post-Charlottesville statement, Bryson said the UDC was "saddened that some people find anything connected with the Confederacy to be offensive." But rather than publicly joining the fray, she said, the Daughters, "like our statues, have stayed quietly in the background, never engaging in public controversy." Little says the Daughters need to stop acting as if they're the victims: "Being silent in the face of racism or violence is complicity in those acts." Little's criminal vandalism trial is scheduled for October. In June, the UNC Office of Student Conduct charged her with violating the honor code by "stealing, destroying, or misusing property." Meaning Little could be expelled, while Silent Sam remains. ___ Breed is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AllenGBreed . Activist Maya Little stands near the "Silent Sam" Confederate statue on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. "There is no Silent Sam without black blood, without violence towards black people," the Ohio native said recently as she sat in the statue's shadow, campus security guards hovering behind nearby trees and columns. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017 file photo, a fence with no trespassing signs has been installed around a covered statue of confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee located in Emancipation Park in Charlottesville, Va. On July 16, 2018, struggling over how to handle Confederate symbols, the Charlottesville City Council voted 4-1 to change the names of two parks yet again. The former Lee Park, renamed Emancipation Park, is now Market Street Park. The former Jackson Park, whose name was changed to Justice Park, is now Court Square Park. (Andrew Shurtleff/The Daily Progress via AP) FILE - In this Thursday, June 25, 2015 file photo, activists hold Confederate flags near the monument for Confederate President Jefferson Davis on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Va. The monument was vandalized the previous night, spray-painted with the phrase "Black Lives Matter," after a deadly mass shooting at a Charleston, S.C. predominantly-black church sparked a nationwide debate on the public display of Confederate imagery. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) FILE - In this Monday, April 27, 2015 file photo, United Daughters of the Confederacy member Carrie McGough walks in front of the Alabama Capitol building during a confederate memorial day ceremony in Montgomery, Ala. McGough said she designed and sewed her hoop skirt to look like an authentic Civil War era dress. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) FILE - In this May 6, 1957 file photo, Mrs. Lonnie Holley, left, her 7-year-old daughter, Janalee, and Mrs. Benjamin T. Whitfield, dressed in Civil War-era clothing, place a wreath below the grieving women in the center of the monument honoring the Confederate dead at Shiloh, near Corinth, Miss. The monument was built by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. (AP Photo) FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 file photo, police surround the "Silent Sam" Confederate monument during a protest to remove the statue at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. In North Carolina, officials are trying to determine whether this and other Confederate memorials have become public safety hazards _ a determination that opponents believe could fulfill an exception to a 2015 law preventing their permanent removal. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) BEIRUT (AP) - It was supposed to be a goodwill gesture from an energy company in Turkey. This summer, the Karadeniz Energy Group lent Lebanon a floating power station to generate electricity at below-market rates to help ease the strain on the country's woefully undermaintained power sector. Instead, the barge's arrival opened a Pandora's box of partisan mudslinging in a country hobbled by political sectarianism and dysfunction. This July 16, 2018 photo, shows the Karadeniz Powership Orhan Bey, foreground, and a second floating power station off the coast at Jiyeh, south of Beirut, Lebanon. It was supposed to be a goodwill gesture from an energy company in Turkey. This summer, the Karadeniz Energy Group lent Lebanon a floating power station to generate electricity at below-market rates to help ease the strain on the country's woefully undermaintained power sector. Instead, the barge's arrival opened a pandora's box of partisan mudslinging in a country hobbled by political sectarianism and dysfunction. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) There have been rows over where it should dock, how to allocate its 235 megawatts of power, and even what to call the barge. It has even driven a wedge between Lebanon's two dominant parties among Shiite Muslims: Amal and the militant group Hezbollah. Amal, which has held the parliament speaker's seat since 1992, revealed sensationally last week it had refused to allow the boat to dock in a port in the predominantly Shiite south, even though it is one of the most underserved regions of Lebanon. Power outages in the south can stretch on for more than 12 hours a day. Hezbollah, which normally stands pat with Amal in political matters, issued an exceptional statement that it had nothing to do with the matter of the barge at Zahrani port. A Hezbollah lawmaker went further to say his party disagreed on the issue with Amal. Ali Hassan Khalil, Lebanon's Finance Minister and a leading Amal party member, said southerners wanted a permanent power station, not a stop-gap solution, in an implied dig at the rival Free Patriotic Movement, a Christian party that runs the Energy Ministry. But critics seized on the statement as confirmation that Amal's leaders were in bed with the operators of private generators, who have been making fortunes selling electricity during blackouts at many times the state price. "For decades there's been nothing stopping them from building a power plant," said Mohammad Obeid, a former Amal party official, in an interview with Lebanon's Al Jadeed TV station. "Now there's a barge that's coming for three months to provide a few more hours of electricity -- and that's the issue?" Hassan Khalil, reached by phone, refused to comment. Nabih Berri, Amal's chief and Lebanon's parliament speaker, who has long been the subject of critical coverage from Al Jadeed's, sued the TV channel for libel on Wednesday for its reporting. Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil, a Christian, lashed out at Amal, saying the ministry even changed the barge's name from Ayse, Turkish for Aisha, a name associated in Lebanon with Sunnis, to Esra Sultan, which does not carry any Shiite or Sunni connotations, to try to get it to dock in Zahrani. Karadeniz said the barge was renamed "out of courtesy and respect to local customs and sensitivities." "Ayse is a very common Turkish name, where such preferences are not as sensitive as in Lebanon," it said in a statement to The Associated Press. Finally, on July 18, the barge docked in Jiyeh, a harbor south of Beirut but north of Zahrani, and in a religiously mixed Muslim area. But two weeks later it was unmoored again, after Abi Khalil, the energy minister, said the infrastructure at Jiyeh could only handle 30 megawatts of the Esra Sultan's 235 capacity. With Zahrani closed to the Esra Sultan, it could only go to Zouq Mikhael, a port in the Christian-dominated Kesrouan region in the north, where it was plugged to the grid Tuesday night, giving the region almost 24 hours of electricity a day. Lebanon has been contending with rolling blackouts since the days of its 1975-1990 civil war. Successive governments have failed to agree on a permanent solution for the chronic electricity failures, largely because of profiteering, endemic corruption and lack of political will. In 2013, the Energy Ministry contracted with Karadeniz to buy electricity from a pair of its barges, which are still docked in Jiyeh and Zouq Mikhael. This summer, Abi Khalil signed a new contract with Karadeniz to keep the barges for another three years. As part of the deal, Karadeniz agreed to lend Lebanon the third barge, the Esra Sultan, to produce electricity for three months at no cost - Lebanon would just have to pay for the fuel. The company said Lebanon's internal squabbles do not affect how long the Esra Sultan would stay in Lebanon. It arrived on July 18 and it will leave on Oct. 18, it said. In this July 16, 2018 photo, a floating power station waits off the coast at Jiyeh, south of Beirut, Lebanon. It was supposed to be a goodwill gesture from an energy company in Turkey. This summer, the Karadeniz Energy Group lent Lebanon a floating power station to generate electricity at below-market rates to help ease the strain on the country's woefully undermaintained power sector. Instead, the barge's arrival opened a pandora's box of partisan mudslinging in a country hobbled by political sectarianism and dysfunction. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) This July 16, 2018 photo, shows a privately-owned power station, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. In July, the Turkish company Karadeniz delivered a floating power station to generate electricity for Lebanon. Operators of private generators have been making fortunes selling electricity during blackouts at many times the state price. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) This July 16, 2018, photo shows the Karadeniz Powership Orhan Bey is docked as a second floating power station waits off the coast at Jiyeh, south of Beirut, Lebanon. This summer, the Karadeniz Energy Group lent Lebanon a floating power station to generate electricity at below-market rates to help ease the strain on the country's woefully undermaintained power sector. Instead, the barge's arrival opened a pandora's box of partisan mudslinging in a country hobbled by political sectarianism and dysfunction. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) AMALIA, N.M. (AP) - Dirty diapers, shotgun shells, small broken bicycles, the white sandal of a baby, anguished journals about faith and a DVD about killing techniques in close combat. Ordinary and extraordinary household objects littered a squalid compound on a high-desert plain of northern New Mexico, bearing silent witness to the lives of 11 children and five adults - and perhaps one missing boy. The settlement sprung up on the outskirts of tiny Amalia, New Mexico, last winter - as a manhunt unfolded for the father of a 3-year-old boy abducted from Georgia. Various items litter a squalid makeshift living compound in Amalia, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, where five adults were arrested on child abuse charges and remains of a boy were found. The remains, which haven't been positively identified, may resolve the fate of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, a missing, severely disabled Georgia boy. Eleven other children were found at the compound during a raid last week. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) Police raided the property a week ago in response a report of children living in filth, severe hunger and dangers including a leaky propone tank - detaining all living inhabitants. On Monday, authorities returned with new intelligence to retrieve the body of a small boy - possibly the missing and severely disabled Georgia boy Abdul-ghani Wahhaj. The state medical examiner has not yet identified the body, and prosecutors said they were awaiting word on the cause of death before deciding on any further charges against his father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, one of the five adults arrested at the compound. The grandfather of the missing boy, Siraj Wahhaj, is a Muslim cleric who leads a well-known New York City mosque. He believes the body is that of Abdul-ghani. The five adults arrested at the property in Amalia include the imam's two children and a second adult daughter. It was unclear exactly where the child's body had been concealed with the compound- or how long it had been there. The empty dwelling, without running water or a drainage system, is arranged around a rickety camper that is half submerged in a dirty pit and surrounded by 7-foot (2-meter) berms of used tires, sections of adobe wall topped with broken glass, a junked refrigerator and other odd supplies. An alcove shaped out of wooden shipping pallets hides a makeshift bathroom - with a toilet seat suspended above a blue plastic bucket. A pair of underpants dangled from a pole overhead. To one side of the camper, an underground tunnel - big enough to crawl through - led in and out of the compound, which was flanked by an apparent target range. Dozens of spent casings were left behind there. Prosecutors also have accused the adults in court documents of training children to use firearms in preparation for future school shootings, although no charges have been filed in response to the accusation that came from a new foster parent of one of the 11 children removed from the compound. Refuse at the compound included standard ammunition as well as fake cartridges designed to help people safely learn how to load and fire a weapon. The owner of the property, Jason Badger, on Friday prodded through a left-behind satchel of ammunition - fit for rifle, shotgun and handgun - and discarded garbage bags holding crumpled grade-school textbooks and journals lined with notes in neat cursive and the primitive doodles of children. While touring the ramshackle living quarters littered with diesel cans, used diapers, household garbage and Qurans, he questioned why authorities did not search a squalid New Mexico compound sooner for Abdul-ghani, saying he told them in late spring that he had met the child's father at the site and that the man was wanted in Georgia for kidnapping his own son. Badger also said he believed he saw the searched-for boy by his father's side in January, wearing a hooded jacket. Badger said in an interview that he learned through an online search this spring that Wahhaj was wanted in the disappearance of son Abdul-ghani Wahhaj and reported his earlier encounter to law enforcement authorities in New Mexico and Georgia - and eventually to the FBI. "If they knew about it, and then that kid died in that timeframe, when they knew, somebody has to be held accountable," Badger said. Taos County Sheriff's Department Steve Fullendorf spokesman downplayed Badger's criticism of the investigation, saying Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe did everything he could possible under the law and had to follow certain restrictions. "Mr. Badger doesn't have to adhere to those same restrictions," Fullendorf said. "He wants to have his 15 minutes of fame and that's fine." Hogrefe has said the FBI put the New Mexico compound under surveillance in recent months and took photographs, but he could not initially get a warrant to enter because the images collected did not show the boy or his father. That changed when a note was forwarded to Georgia authorities saying children inside the compound were starving, Hogrefe said. The missing boy's grandfather said his adult daughter, who was in the compound, sent the note to a man in Georgia. That man then notified the grandfather, who said he contacted police. The suspects are being jailed without bail in New Mexico and one of them, Lucas Morton, also faces a charge of harboring a felon. He is accused of refusing to tell authorities the younger Siraj Wahhaj's location during the compound raid. Wahhaj eventually was found armed with multiple firearms, including an assault rifle, authorities said. ___ Groves reported from New York. Associated Press writers Brinley Hineman in Atlanta and Mary Hudetz and Russell Contreras in Albuquerque, N.M., contributed to this report. __ This version corrects that the daughter-in-law's name is Jany Leveille, not Janie Leiveille. Tires form a wall at a squalid makeshift living compound in Amalia, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, where five adults were arrested on child abuse charges and remains of a boy were found. The remains, which haven't been positively identified, may resolve the fate of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, a missing, severely disabled Georgia boy. Eleven other children were found at the compound during a raid last week. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) This photo shows a squalid makeshift living compound in Amalia, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, where five adults were arrested on child abuse charges and remains of a boy were found. The remains, which haven't been positively identified, may resolve the fate of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, a missing, severely disabled Georgia boy. Eleven other children were found at the compound during a raid last week. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) This aerial image shows a remote outpost near Amalia, N.M on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. Three siblings and two other adults have been charged with child abuse stemming from the alleged neglect of 11 children found living on the squalid compound. All five are being jailed without bail in New Mexico. (Karl Brennan/DroneBase via AP) Imam Siraj Wahhaj speaks to reporters, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in New York. Wahhaj, the grandfather of a missing Georgia boy, says the remains of the child were found buried at a desert compound in New Mexico. Abdul-ghani Wahhaj was found Monday, on what would have been his fourth birthday, after he went missing in December in Jonesboro, Ga. near Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Lucas Morton arrives in court to plead not guilty to child abuse charges in state district court in Taos, N.M., Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. Morton was arrested Friday in a raid on a disheveled living compound where authorities say they found five adults and 11 children living in filth and later recovered the remains of a small boy. Authorities are waiting to learn if the remains belong to a boy that went missing in Georgia in December. Authorities say another resident of the compound near the Colorado state line was conducting weapons training with assault rifles. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe announces at a news conference in Taos, N.M., on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, that searchers have found the remains of a boy at the makeshift compound that was raided in search of a missing Georgia child. Hogrefe said authorities are awaiting a positive identification of the remains found Monday on the outskirts of Amalia, N.M. Authorities say the search for the child led them Friday to the squalid compound where they found his father, four other adults and 11 children living in filthy conditions. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) CORRECTS LAST NAME TO WAHHAJ, NOT WAHHA - This combination photo provided by the Taos County Sheriff's Department shows Subhannah Wahhaj, from left, Jany Leveille and Hujrah Wahhaj. Three women believed to be the mothers of 11 children found hungry and living in a filthy makeshift compound in rural northern New Mexico, have been arrested, following the weekend arrests of two men, authorities said Monday, Aug. 6. (Taos County Sheriff's Department via AP) An exit tunnel is seen within a squalid makeshift living compound in Amalia, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, where five adults were arrested on child abuse charges and remains of a boy were found. The remains, which haven't been positively identified, may resolve the fate of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, a missing, severely disabled Georgia boy. Eleven other children were found at the compound during a raid last week. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) A gun holster hangs next to a woman's dress at a squalid makeshift living compound in Amalia, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, where five adults were arrested on child abuse charges and remains of a boy were found. The remains, which haven't been positively identified, may resolve the fate of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, a missing, severely disabled Georgia boy. Eleven other children were found at the compound during a raid last week. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) An improvised bathroom stands inside a squalid makeshift living compound in Amalia, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, where five adults were arrested on child abuse charges and remains of a boy were found. The remains, which haven't been positively identified, may resolve the fate of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, a missing, severely disabled Georgia boy. Eleven other children were found at the compound during a raid last week. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) Ammunition for firearms is left behind at a squalid makeshift living compound in Amalia, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, where five adults were arrested on child abuse charges and remains of a boy were found. The remains, which haven't been positively identified, may resolve the fate of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, a missing, severely disabled Georgia boy. Eleven other children were found at the compound during a raid last week. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) Various items litter the kitchen of a makeshift living compound in Amalia, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, where five adults were arrested on child abuse charges and remains of a boy were found. The remains, which haven't been positively identified, may resolve the fate of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, a missing, severely disabled Georgia boy. Eleven other children were found at the compound during a raid last week. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's prime minister sternly warned the United States against ramping up sanctions, saying Friday that Moscow would retaliate with economic, political and unspecified "other" means. The tough message from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev marked what the Kremlin sees as a red line, reflecting growing dismay with announced U.S. sanctions that have sent the Russian ruble plummeting to its lowest level in two years. The U.S. State Department said Wednesday that Washington would impose new sanctions this month after determining this week that Moscow used a military grade nerve agent in March to poison an ex-Russian spy in England. Russia has strongly denied involvement in the poisonings of Sergei Skripal and his adult daughter. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev speaks during a meeting in Kamchatka Peninsula region, Russian far east, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Russia's prime minister sternly warned the United States on Friday against ramping up sanctions, saying that Moscow will retaliate with economic, political and unspecified "other" means. (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP) According to the State Department, the sanctions will include the presumed denial of export licenses for Russia to purchase many items with national security implications. New sanctions proposals in the U.S. Congress include legislation targeting Russia's state-controlled banks and freezing their operations in dollars - a move that would deal a heavy blow to the Russian economy. Medvedev warned the U.S. that such a move would cross a red line. "If something like a ban on bank operations or currency use follows, it will amount to a declaration of economic war," the Russian prime minister said. "And it will warrant a response with economic means, political means and, if necessary, other means. Our American friends should understand that." Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a telephone call Friday that the new sanctions were "categorically objectionable," according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement. Medvedev's tone differed considerably from the nonchalant ones President Vladimir Putin and his lieutenants have used when talking about Western sanctions and downplaying their impact on the Russian economy. Word of more U.S. sanctions has rattled the Russian currency and stock markets. The ruble dropped about 1.5 percent in Friday trading to 67.78 to the dollar, its lowest level since August 2016. Russia-U.S. ties have sunk to their lowest level since Cold War times amid tensions over Ukraine, the war in Syria and the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Moscow's hopes for better ties with Washington under President Donald Trump have withered as his administration has introduced waves of sanctions against Russia. Medvedev said that while the U.S. describes the restrictions are punishment for Russia's "bad" behavior, he thinks the real goal is to sideline a rival. "It's intended to remove Russia as a strong competitor on the international arena," he said. Medvedev pointed at U.S. efforts to block the planned construction of a new Russian natural gas pipeline to Germany in order to encourage the sales of American liquefied natural gas to Europe as an example of "unfair competition." ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A financial shockwave ripped through Turkey on Friday, when its currency nosedived on concerns about its economic policies and a dispute with the U.S., which President Donald Trump stoked further with a promise to double tariffs on the NATO ally. The lira tumbled 14 percent in one day, to 6.51 per dollar, a massive move for a currency that will make the Turkish poorer and further erode international investors' confidence in the country. The currency's drop - 41 percent so far this year - is a gauge of fear over a country coming to terms with years of high debt, international concern over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's push to amass power, and a souring in relations with allies like the U.S. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses supporters at his Black Sea hometown, Guneysu, Turkey, early Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Turkey's Finance and Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak will reveal a " new economic model " as the Turkish Lira has lost more than 30 percent of its value since the start of the year.(Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool) The diplomatic dispute with the U.S. was one of the triggers that turned market jitters into a full-blown route this week. Turkey has arrested an American pastor and put him on trial for espionage and terror-related charges linked to a failed coup attempt in the country two years ago. The U.S. responded by slapping sanctions on Turkey and threatening more. The sides held talks in Washington this week but failed to resolve the spat, and Trump took advantage of Turkey's turmoil on Friday to turn the screws on the country. Trump tweeted that he had authorized the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs "with respect to Turkey." Trump said the tariffs on aluminum imports would be increased to 20 percent and those on steel to 50 percent as the Turkish lira "slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" "Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!" he wrote. Trump made the 50 percent steel tariff official with a presidential proclamation Friday evening. The United States is the biggest destination for Turkish steel exports with 11 percent of the Turkish export volume. The lira fell further after Trump's tweet. In what appears to be a diplomatic riposte, Turkey later said Erdogan had held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss economic ties. It did not disclose details, but suggests Turkey might gravitate further away from its NATO allies toward cooperation with Russia, whose relations with the West are at their lowest since the Cold War. Turkey's woes have been aggravated by investor worries about the economic policies of Erdogan, who won a new term in office in June with sweeping new powers. Erdogan has been putting pressure on the central bank to not raise interest rates in order to keep fueling economic growth. He claims higher rates lead to higher inflation - the opposite of what standard economic theory says. Independent analysts argue the central bank should instead raise rates to tame inflation and support the currency. In modern economies, central banks are meant to be independent of governments to make sure they set policies that are best for the economy, not politicians. But since adopting increased powers, Erdogan appears to have greater control over the bank as well. Erdogan on Friday appealed for calm and called on people to change foreign money into local lira. "Change the euros, the dollars and the gold that you are keeping beneath your pillows into lira at our banks. This is a domestic and national struggle." He appeared to blame foreigners for trying to hurt Turkey, saying: "This will be my people's response against those waging an economic war against us." On Thursday, Erdogan said "If they have their dollar, we have the people, we have Allah." The defiant tone and war rhetoric only hurt the lira more, before Erdogan's finance chief and son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, tried to ease investor concerns during a conference, saying the government would safeguard the independence of the central bank. "One of our principles will be ensuring the full independence of monetary policy," Abayrak said as he outlined his ministry's "new economic model." The currency drop is particularly painful for Turkey because the country finances a lot of its economic growth with foreign money. As the currency drops, Turkish companies and households with debt in foreign currencies see the cost of repaying those loans expand. Coupled with an inflation rate of nearly 16 percent, that could cause severe damage to the local economy. Foreign investors could be spooked and try to pull their money out, reinforcing the currency drop and potentially leading to financial instability. Aylin Ertan, a 43-year-old caterer in Ankara, said she was concerned over the future of her small business. "The price of the food that I buy increases day by day, the fuel that I put in my car to distribute lunches is more expensive, but I cannot raise my prices from one day to the next," she said. "On some days, I end the day with a loss." Turkey's woes also shook world markets, pushing down stock indexes. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 slid 20.30 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,833.28, its worst loss in a month. The euro sagged to a 13-month low against the dollar on concerns that European banks operating in Turkey could suffer losses. But analysts say that while there may be losses at some banks, Turkey's economic problems do not pose a big threat to Europe or other big economies like the United States. Turkish citizens look at a board showing foreign currency rates inside a currency exchange shop in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Turkey was hit by a financial shockwave Friday as its currency nosedived on concerns about its economic policies and a dispute with the U.S., which President Donald Trump stoked further with a promise to double tariffs on the NATO ally. The lira hit a record low of 6.81 per dollar on Friday, before recovering to 6.51, tumbling more than 10 percent on the day. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) A Turkish man leaves a currency exchange shop in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A financial shockwave ripped through Turkey on Friday as its currency nosedived on concerns about its economic policies and a dispute with the U.S., which President Donald Trump stoked further with a promise to double tariffs on the NATO ally. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) A Turkish waits to change his US dollars with Turkish liras inside a currency exchange shop in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A financial shockwave ripped through Turkey on Friday as its currency nosedived on concerns about its economic policies and a dispute with the U.S., which President Donald Trump stoked further with a promise to double tariffs on the NATO ally. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) FILE - In this Wednesday, May 23, 2018 file photo, people change foreign currency in a market in Istanbul. The Turkish lira hit a record low of 6.24 per dollar on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, before recovering to 5.94, down 7 percent on the day. The currency has fallen 66 percent since the start of the year. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, Aug, 9 portrayed the currency drop as a "campaign" to harm Turkey. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) People queue outside a currency exchange shop in an Istanbul's market, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A financial shockwave ripped through Turkey on Friday as its currency nosedived on concerns about its economic policies and a dispute with the U.S., which President Donald Trump stoked further with a promise to double tariffs on the NATO ally. (AP Photo/Mucahid Yapici) Women wait to change money outside a currency exchange shop in an Istanbul's market, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Turkey was hit by a financial shockwave Friday as its currency nosedived on concerns about its economic policies and a dispute with the U.S.The lira hit a record low and has fallen 66 percent since the start of the year, pushing up the cost of goods for Turkish people and shaking international investors' confidence in the country. (AP Photo/Mucahid Yapici) FILE - In this Wednesday, May 23, 2018 file photo, currency exchange vendors wait for customers in a market in Istanbul. The Turkish lira hit a record low of 6.24 per dollar on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, before recovering to 5.94, down 7 percent on the day. The currency has fallen 66 percent since the start of the year. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, Aug. 9 portrayed the currency drop as a "campaign" to harm Turkey. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2018 file photo, Turkey's Finance and Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak, left, is flanked by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in Ankara. Turkey. Albayrak, son-in-law of Erdogan, will reveal a " new economic model " as the Turkish Lira currency has lost more than 30 percent of its value since the start of the year.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan listens to supporters after Friday prayers, in Bayburt, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Turkey's Finance and Treasury Minister, son-in-law of Erdogan, Berat Albayrak will reveal a " new economic model " as the Turkish Lira has lost more than 30 percent of its value since the start of the year.(Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan listens to supporters after Friday prayers, in Bayburt, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Turkey's Finance and Treasury Minister, son-in-law of Erdogan, Berat Albayrak will reveal a " new economic model " as the Turkish Lira currency has lost more than 30 percent of its value since the start of the year.(Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool) BERLIN (AP) - French police detained two officials from a German association that operates a campsite in southern France where flooding danger prompted evacuations and a man was reported missing, a local prosecutor said Friday. The association, based in Leverkusen, Germany, owns the property in Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas where the campsite was built without authorization, Nimes Prosecutor Eric Maurel told French broadcaster BFM TV. The two officials were being questioned "because the campsite was set up in a flood-risk area despite warnings," Maurel said. They are being investigated on allegations of "endangering life of others" and causing "unintentional injuries," he said. In this photo provided by the French Gendarmerie Nationale, gendarmes remove a tent after floods at Saint-Julien de Peyrolas camping site, in southern France, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. About 1,600 people have been evacuated due to flash flooding in southern France, most of them from campsites near swollen rivers and streams. (Jose Rocha/French Gendarmerie Nationale via AP) Some 119 children, many of them from Germany, were evacuated from the campsite on Thursday night after heavy rain caused flash floods and rivers and streams to overflow. French authorities still were looking for a 67-year-old man, reportedly a German citizen serving as the campsite's monitor, who had not been seen since his van was swept away in the unexpected rush of fast-moving water. The region's chief gendarme, Col. Laurent Haas, told BFM authorities still were "not certain he was actually present" when that happened. Hass said 46 adults also were rescued from the campsite. Some 1,600 people in all were evacuated Thursday in three regions of southern France due to storms. "I've been coming since early 80s, when I was a teenager, and I've never seen anything, anything like it," Tom Bryan, a Briton vacationing in the village of Saint-Andre-de-Roquepertuis, told Sky TV. "The (water) level was so high it was impassable on either bank. Campsite is gone, restaurants gone and such a high amount of water. My wife saw a whole caravan float down the river," he added. Extreme weather affected other parts of Europe on Friday following weeks of unusually hot temperatures. Germany's national railway worked to reopen routes closed the previous night due to storms. Across Norway, ferry companies canceled crossings Friday. Authorities warned hikers of fierce winds in the mountains and called on people to securely fasten small boats, tents and other gear. In Thy, in northwestern Denmark, high winds apparently blew a metal tent peg into a 61-year-old camper's throat as he was packing up. He was taken by helicopter to a hospital and was in serious condition, police spokesman Henrik Nielsen told public broadcaster DR. Parts of northern Germany saw storms late Thursday and early Friday that brought winds of up to 140 kph (87 mph) to the country's coast. The gusts brought down trees and significantly disrupted public transportation. Germany's railway operator, Deutsche Bahn, closed several train routes Thursday night as the storms approached. Service disruptions continued until Friday afternoon on some routes. In this photo provided by the French Gendarmerie Nationale, a gendarme inspects a damaged trailer, after floods at Saint-Julien de Peyrolas camping site, in southern France, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. About 1,600 people have been evacuated due to flash flooding in southern France, most of them from campsites near swollen rivers and streams. (Jose Rocha/French Gendarmerie Nationale via AP) A home appears cut off as a torrent of water rushes past, in Saint Ambroix, France, Thursday Aug. 9, 2018. Heavy rain has caused flash flooding, transforming rivers and streams into torrents, the interior minister Gerard Collomb said on Thursday. (Loic Spadafora via AP) LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Authorities in Portugal say they have brought under control a major wildfire in the south of the country after a weeklong effort. The Civil Protection Agency said Friday that almost 1,400 firefighters and nearly 450 vehicles are still at the scene to prevent flare-ups. The blaze in the forested hills around Monchique, in Portugal's Algarve region, injured 41 people, one of them seriously, and charred about 27,000 hectares (66,700 acres) of woodland. Several dozen houses are thought to have burned down. Spanish firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire in Pinet village, near Valencia Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. Spanish firefighters are still working to bring under control a forest blaze near Valencia. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) In neighboring Spain, officials said they expected to bring under control by the afternoon a five-day wildfire near Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast. MAYONG, India (AP) - The rice farmer doesn't know how it happened. Abdul Mannan just knows a mistake was made somewhere. But what can you say when the authorities suddenly insist one of your five children isn't an Indian? What do you do when your wife and daughter-in-law are suddenly viewed as illegal immigrants? "We are genuine Indians. We are not foreigners," said Mannan, 50, adding his family has lived in India's northeastern Assam state since the 1930s. "I can't understand where the mistake is." Neither can nearly 4 million other people who insist they are Indian but who now must prove their nationality as the politics of citizenship - overlaid with questions of religion, ethnicity and illegal immigration - swirls in a state where such questions have a long and bloody past. Kismat Ali, whose wife's name did not appear on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft, shows a form he collected to file an appeal in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. On Friday, the 3.9 million residents left off Assam's draft list of citizens began filing their appeals, wading into a byzantine legal and bureaucratic process that many fear could lead to detention, expulsion or years in limbo. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) Today, nativist anger churns through the hills and plains of Assam state, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many here believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. "India is for Indians. Assam is for Indians," said Sammujjal Bhattachariya, a top official with the All Assam Students Union, which has been in the forefront of pushing for the citizenship survey. "Assam is not for illegal Bangladeshis." "We need a permanent solution," he added. On Friday, some of the 3.9 million residents left off Assam's draft list of citizens began picking up forms to file their appeals, wading into a byzantine legal and bureaucratic process that many fear could lead to detention, expulsion or years in limbo. Mannan, his two daughters and two of his sons were all listed on the citizenship list released in July. But his wife, a 17-year-old son and his daughter-in-law were nowhere to be seen. No explanation was given. "We are worried that the names are not there," said Mannan, who lives with his family in a bamboo-walled hut, supporting them on about $150 a month in farming income. "How will we live? What will we do? How will we stay in Assam?" For decades, fears of widespread movement across the porous border with Bangladesh have triggered tensions between the state's majority ethnic group, Assamese-speaking Hindus, and its Bengali-speaking Muslims. In the 1980s that erupted into violence, with hundreds of people killed in Assam amid waves of anti-migrant attacks. New Delhi eventually ruled that anyone who could prove their family had lived in India before Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence, which drove millions of Bangladeshis to flee across the border, would be considered an Indian citizen. But proving that can be deeply complicated in a region where basic paperwork - birth certificates, marriage certificates, leases - has only recently become commonplace in many rural villages. State officials insist they have done everything possible to make the procedure fair. "It's been an extremely exhaustive process," said Prateek Hajela, the coordinator of the citizenship project that involves 52,000 officials, visits to 6.8 million families and countless hearings to examine the details of family trees. But the politics of religion and ethnicity have been on the rise in India since 2014, when the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party was swept to power in national elections. The party quickly pushed to update the citizenship registry in Assam, where politicians have eagerly grabbed hold of the issue. "First our target is to segregate the foreigners. What steps we will take against them will come next," Assam's top elected official, Sarbananda Sonowal, told the Times of India in an interview early this year. "They will have only one right - human rights as guaranteed by the U.N. that include food, shelter and clothing." "For almost 40 years our people have been living in a state of confusion and uncertainty," he told the newspaper. Today, hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims with suspect nationality are already living in a half-dozen detention camps in Assam. Assam has a population of roughly 33 million, with a little over one-third of them Muslims. "The concern over illegal migration is indeed genuine," said Akhil Ranjan Dutta, a political analyst and professor at Gauhati University in Assam. "But unfortunately, political parties have always tried to score brownie points on the issue purely to gain votes." Few deny there has been widespread illegal migration into Assam, often by poor Bangladeshis in search of work as farm laborers. The state's demographics have shifted dramatically in recent decades, with the percentage of Bengali-speakers jumping from 22 percent in 1991 to 29 percent in 2011, and the percentage of Assamese-speakers declining. Many analysts, however, say those numbers in part reflect the higher birth rates among Muslims. Estimates on the number of illegal immigrants vary wildly, from a few hundred thousand to many millions. While Muslims appear to dominate the 3.9 million people left off the citizenship rolls, they aren't the only people now facing a bureaucratic gauntlet. "I don't know about politics. I am a poor man. I work all day, eat, and sleep at night. I don't go anywhere else," said Khitish Namo Das, 50, a rail-thin Hindu farmer who insists he was born in India and whose family of eight - except for one daughter-in-law - are now considered illegal. "When the names did not appear on the list it made me worry," he said, then reassured himself: "I have the documents so I don't think I need to worry too much." It's not clear what will happen to people who, once their appeals are used up, are still not listed as citizens. Detention is a strong possibility for some, but impoverished Bangladesh insists it will not accept mass expulsions back into its territory. Activists worry many could be left in limbo for years, perhaps decades, stateless wanderers like Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims. Even some of those who support the citizenship survey say the migrants are a significant part of the economy. "Those immigrants play a very important role in supplying your labor economy. So if those people are given work permits, minus political rights, they could be very valuable in Assam," said Nani Gopal Mahanta, an Assam-based political analyst. But he defends the survey: "It's a question of sovereignty, it's a question of the security of this country." Officials insist that the process will be open and trustworthy. "It's going to be a fair procedure," Hajela, the project coordinator, said last week. "We will ensure that no genuine citizen gets left out, and at the point in time, ensuring that the ineligibles don't find their names there." People whose names were left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft stand in a queue to collect forms to file appeals in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) A man whose name was left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft gives his thumb print as he collects forms to file an appeal in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) People whose names did not appear in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft stand in a queue to collect forms to file appeals in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) People whose names were left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft stand to collect forms to file appeals in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) People whose names were left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft stand in a queue to collect forms to file appeals in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) A soldier stands guard as people, whose names or whose family members names were left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft, collect forms to file appeals in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) A man whose name was left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft, looks at the form he had earlier filled as he stands to receive forms to file an appeal in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) People whose names did not appear in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft discusses with an officer as they arrive to collect forms to file appeals in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) An elderly man, whose name did not appear in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft, stands in a queue to collect forms to file appeals in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) A woman whose name did not appear on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft arrives to collect forms to file an appeal in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 photo, Pratima Namo Das, 22, right, and her mother-in-law Tara Namo Das, 45, cook inside the family house in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Gauhati, India. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. The Das family said that out of eight family members, only Pratima's name appeared on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 photo, school children walk on a road in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east Gauhati, India. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Nativist anger churns through Assam, just across the border from Bangladesh, with many believing the state is overrun with illegal migrants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 photo, Hindu farmer Khitish Namo Das, 50, who insists he was born in India, works at his house in Mayong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) east Gauhati, India. A draft list of citizens in Assam, released in July, put nearly 4 million people on edge to prove their Indian nationality. Khitish's family of eight, except for one daughter-in-law, are now considered illegal. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece lashed out Friday at Russia's expulsion of Greek diplomats from Moscow this week, as a spat between the two traditionally friendly countries grew more acrimonious. The foreign ministry issued a statement describing the Russian move as "arbitrary and vengeful, and not based on any evidence." Russia said Monday it was responding quid pro quo to Greece's expulsion of two Russian diplomats last month, which it described as "unfriendly actions." Athens expelled the two, who were based at the Russian Embassy, in July amid allegations they helped fund protests against a deal between Greece and its northern neighbor Macedonia that would pave the way for Macedonia to join NATO. Russia has strongly opposed NATO expansion to countries that once were under Moscow's influence. "The decision by the Russian Foreign Ministry was not based on evidence, as was that of the Greek side," the statement said, adding Athens had acted based on "specific evidence of illegal and irregular activity by Russian officials and citizens" in Greece in expelling the Russian diplomats. The ministry said it "would like to remind our friends the Russians that no country in the world would tolerate attempts a) to buy off state officials, b) undermine foreign policy, and c) intervene in the country's internal affairs." The ministry said Greece would respond "with patience and sobriety" to what it described as "the arbitrary measures taken by the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry." It did not elaborate. Under the deal signed earlier this year between Greece and Macedonia, Athens is dropping its objections to its northern neighbor joining NATO and the European Union, in return for Macedonia changing its name to North Macedonia. The agreement, which has been signed but still faces ratification in the two countries to take effect, would settle a decades-old dispute with Greece, which maintained that use of the term "Macedonia" harbored territorial aspirations on its own northern province of the same name. MATARAM, Indonesia (AP) - After a deadly earthquake devastated the Indonesian island of Lombok last weekend, Husni Handayani thought the worst was over. The powerful quake claimed hundreds of lives, wounded thousands more and displaced over 270,000 people. But it left her own home in the provincial capital, Mataram, still standing and nobody in her family was harmed. On Thursday, though, a strong aftershock shook the walls of Handayani's kitchen, prompting the pregnant 27-year-old to run outside in a panic. On a curb outside, she tripped and fell, glimpsing blood on her clothes before blacking out. A woman collects some of her children's clothes in the ruin of her home destroyed by an earthquake in North Lombok, Indonesia, Friday, Aug.10, 2018. The north of Lombok was devastated by the powerful quake that struck Sunday night, damaging thousands of buildings and killing a large number of people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) "When I woke up ... I was in the hospital, and my (unborn) child was gone," Handayani said, weeping as she told her story Friday in a green tent set up to house patients because it was considered unsafe to treat them inside. While the 7.0 magnitude quake that struck Lombok on Aug. 5 caused widespread damage and casualties that will never be forgotten here, an incessant wave of aftershocks is fueling a sense that the crisis is far from over - and that the worst may be yet to come. According to disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, officials have recorded a staggering 450 aftershocks since Sunday. Before that, another strong quake on July 29 had already shaken Lombok, killing 16 people. Seismic activity is commonplace across the Indonesian archipelago, which is home to more active volcanoes than anywhere else on Earth. The country straddles the so-called "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines that stretch across the Pacific Basin. A magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra in 2004 spawned a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Thursday's aftershock, rated at 6.2 by local authorities and 5.9 by the U.S. Geological Survey, buried four people in northern Lombok, Sutopo said. At least two dozen people were injured, including 17 who were still being treated Friday at West Nusatenggara Provincial General Hospital in Mataram. The midday quake was so strong it rocked a six-story Indonesian naval ship that was treating wounded survivors offshore, causing civilians and crew to scurry off an adjacent concrete dock that had already cracked apart. The quake split apart roads near the coast and sparked landslides that cut off routes used by emergency medical workers and rescue crews who are still trying to clear rubble and recover the dead. At least one rescue team with excavators had to suspend its work after the quake. Abdul Hakim, a 48-year-old welder in Tanjung, a hard-hit village, said his home was damaged by Sunday's quake and he had been sleeping outdoors with his family in a makeshift tent since then. Tired of living like a refugee and bitten by mosquitoes, he said he was just about to return home. But Thursday's quake destroyed his house, which completely collapsed, he said. "It forced us back to this (tented) shelter again," he said. "We will try to survive ... we don't have a choice." Jamilah, a mother of two in another village, Gubug Baru, said "one or two" houses in her village were still standing before Thursday's tremor flattened them all. In Mataram, several buildings collapsed in clouds of dust and some shops closed. Several hotels sent terrified staff home for the day. Handayani, who had been nearly three months pregnant, said another strong quake had been the last thing she'd expected. As her husband, Hasanuddin Noer, patted her back to calm her, Handayani said: "We've been trying for four years to have a child. This was very painful." Noer, 30, said he had considered his family lucky until Thursday. "If you ask when this disaster will stop, it's like you asked the wind, there's no answer," he said. Another patient at the hospital with one arm in a sling and an IV in the other, 70-year-old Jami-ah, said she had been sleeping in tents with her family in her backyard, fearing a new earthquake would cause their house to crumble. But she had gone inside briefly to go the bathroom when the aftershock struck. She fell down, and fell again as she fled down a stairwell from her terrace, breaking bones in her arm. Doctors later discovered she was bleeding internally, somewhere around her stomach. "Must I live in fear every day? ... It never stops," said Jami-ah, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. "I'm afraid the next earthquake will kill me." ___ Associated Press writer Stephen Wright in Jakarta contributed to this report. A man weeps as he prays during Muslim Friday prayers in North Lombok, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. The north of Lombok was devastated by a powerful earthquake that struck Sunday night, damaging thousands of buildings and killing a large number of people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) Muslim men perform Friday prayer as houses ruined by Sunday's earthquake are seen in the background at a makeshift mosque in Pamenang, Lombok Island, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. The north of the popular resort island has been devastated by Sunday's earthquake, damaging thousands of buildings and killing a large number of people. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago) Villagers attend Muslim Friday prayer in front of the damage buildings in North Lombok, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. The north of Lombok was devastated by the powerful quake that struck Sunday night, damaging thousands of buildings and killing a large number of people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) A man walks past destroyed buildings in North Lombok, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. The north of Lombok was devastated by the powerful quake that struck Sunday night, damaging thousands of buildings and killing a large number of people. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) Motorists ride past buildings ruined by Sunday's earthquake in Pamenang, Lombok Island, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. The north of the popular resort island has been devastated by Sunday's earthquake, damaging thousands of buildings and killing a large number of people. (AP Photo/Fauzy Chaniago) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - A semi-official Iranian news agency is quoting an aide to the country's president as saying that he doesn't see "any reason" for talks between Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani at the next United Nations General Assembly. Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, a member of the presidency's political bureau, told the semi-official ISNA news agency on Friday that Iranians have no expectations from Trump after he pulled America out of the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. Ravanchi told ISNA: "I do not see any reason for talks between Rouhani and Trump." He also added that Iranians have no expectations from Trump after the U. S. president in May pulled America out of the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. Renewed U.S. sanctions on Iran took effect on Tuesday. SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) - Macedonia's performance on preventing corruption is "clearly disappointing," the Council of Europe's anti-corruption group has said, calling on authorities to take action. A compliance report by the GRECO group Thursday noted Macedonia "made no substantial progress" in implementing recommendations made over four years ago on preventing corruption among parliament members, judges and prosecutors. GRECO said only six of its 19 recommendations in fighting corruption have been implemented satisfactorily, and none regarding lawmakers have been implemented even partially. The report did however find that the country has made some limited progress regarding judges and prosecutors. GRECO noted that new advisory and supervisory bodies are being created for judges and prosecutors to support the implementation of their rules of conduct in daily practice, but said authorities will need to reassess these improvements when more specific information becomes available. The report concluded that the current very low level of compliance with recommendations is "globally unsatisfactory" for Macedonia. Macedonia's conservative main opposition VMRO-DPMNE party on Friday sharply criticized the leftist government in response to the report. It said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev should know the country "would not get into NATO and the EU" unless it tackles crime and corruption. After Macedonia signed a deal with Greece settling a decades-old dispute on Macedonia's name, the European Union indicated Skopje could start the accession process, but urged authorities to deliver results in reforms, particularly in fighting corruption. NEW YORK (AP) - A man who fled to Thailand after allegedly tossing his dead 7-month-old son into a river sent a chilling text to the mother while he was on the run about the fate of her child, prosecutors said Friday. When the mother asked where her son was, James Currie replied "you will never see (him) again," according to a criminal complaint. Currie, 37, was ordered held without bail on Friday at an appearance in state court in Manhattan where Assistant District Attorney Shawn McMahon said he had been caught "literally on the other side of the world." The Bronx father was charged with concealing a human corpse as authorities continued to try to determine a cause of death. James Currie appears in Manhattan criminal court during his arraignment, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in New York. Currie is accused of throwing the lifeless body of his son, Mason Saldana, into the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge last Sunday. A tourist spotted the child's diaper-clad body and waded into the water to retrieve it. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Afterward, defense attorney Norman Williams said, "Everybody needs to keep an open mind and not convict this man until they see evidence that he did something wrong." Currie is accused of throwing the lifeless, diaper-clad body of his son, Mason Saldana, into the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday. A tourist spotted the body and waded into the water to retrieve it. According to the complaint, police obtained security videotape showing Currie, who lives separately from the child's mother, entering his apartment building on Saturday afternoon with the child, "who can be seen moving his extremities." On Sunday afternoon, video shows him leaving with a baby carrier on his chest with a blanket over it, this time showing no movement, the complaint says. Transit records show that Currie then boarded a bus to travel to Manhattan, where he got on the subway, the complaint says. A few hours later, he entered the subway again in lower Manhattan where a security camera captured an image of him without the baby carrier, it says. The baby's mother told police in New York that she became worried Monday when Currie failed to drop off their child at day care. She called 911, police said, telling the dispatcher that she had seen news reports about a baby found in the river and feared that it was her son. On Wednesday, Currie texted the mother, telling her she would never see the child again, the complaint says. It adds that in other texts, he wrote, "I am not in the USA," and "The good news is that we will never see each other again." Police say Currie had flown to Bangkok on Monday afternoon, switching flights along the way. An immigration police spokesman in Thailand, Col. Cherngron Rimpadee, told The Associated Press that by the time Currie touched down, immigration authorities there had been informed that he was wanted in the U.S. and detained him. He was sent back to the U.S., where he was escorted off a plane at Kennedy Airport late Thursday and turned over to police and border agents. Attorney Norman Williams, left, speaks to James Currie during his arraignment in Manhattan criminal court, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in New York. Currie is accused of throwing the lifeless body of his son, Mason Saldana, into the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge last Sunday. A tourist spotted the child's diaper-clad body and waded into the water to retrieve it. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) James Currie appears in Manhattan criminal court during his arraignment, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in New York. Currie is accused of throwing the lifeless body of his son, Mason Saldana, into the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge last Sunday. A tourist spotted the child's diaper-clad body and waded into the water to retrieve it. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2018, file photo, a New York Police Department officer stands guard as authorities investigate the death of a baby boy who was found floating in the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge in the Manhattan borough of New York. A Bronx father hopped a plane to Thailand after carrying his dead 7-month-old baby around New York City in a backpack and tossing the boy's body into the river and other tourist hotspots, police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted, File) James Currie appears in Manhattan criminal court during his arraignment, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in New York. Currie is accused of throwing the lifeless body of his son, Mason Saldana, into the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge last Sunday. A tourist spotted the child's diaper-clad body and waded into the water to retrieve it. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) BERLIN (AP) - Former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich was arrested early Friday and is being investigated for attempted manslaughter after allegedly attacking an escort at a Frankfurt hotel. "It seems Mr. Ullrich and an escort woman had a dispute and that he attacked her," Frankfurt police spokesperson Carina Lerch said. "She alerted the hotel staff and they called police." Lerch said the retired German cyclist was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. FILE - In this July 20, 2004 file photo T-Mobile team leader Jan Ullrich of Germany pedals during his attack in the ascent of the Echarasson pass during the 15th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Valreas, southern France, and Villard-de-Lans, French Alps. On Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 Ullrich has been arrested and is in police custody for allegedly attacking an escort in a Frankfurt hotel. (AP Photo/Peter Delong, file) The 31-year-old woman needed medical treatment. Lerch said no further details could be given on her condition while police were investigating. Later, a police statement said Ullrich had resisted arrest. "As part of the police interrogation, the woman provided extensive information on the attacks of the accused. The accused so far makes use of his right to refuse to testify," the statement said. "Currently, the accused is being investigated for attempted manslaughter and dangerous assault. The investigation has not yet been completed." Police said Ullrich was to be released later Friday after consultation with the prosecutor's office in Frankfurt "because the conditions for detention are not met." News agency dpa reported that the 44-year-old Ullrich had been arrested the week before in Mallorca, where he lives, after an incident on the property of his neighbor, actor Til Schweiger. On Monday, Ullrich told German tabloid Bild of personal problems. "The separation from (my wife) Sara and distance from my children, whom I have not seen since Easter and have barely spoken to, have had a great effect on me. I have done things as a result that I very much regret," Ullrich told the mass circulation daily. Ullrich, the only German to win the Tour de France, was dogged by doping allegations during his career and admitted to German magazine Focus in 2013 that he received blood-doping treatment from Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. "Almost everyone took performance-enhancing substances then. I took nothing that the others didn't also take," the 1997 Tour champion said then. Ullrich served a two-year ban for doping in 2012, five years after he retired. LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on California wildfires (all times local): 8:30 p.m. Gusty winds continue to drive a wildfire through the Cleveland National Forest south of Los Angeles and crews are still struggling to keep the flames away from homes. The Holy Fire burns in the distance above I-15 on Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Temescal Valley, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) Fire officials say the blaze near homes in the hills above Lake Elsinore has grown to nearly 30 square miles (77 square kilometers) after nearly doubling in size overnight. However, firefighters also doubled their containment from 5 to 10 percent. The fire has destroyed 13 homes and cabins and thousands of houses remain threatened. Some 20,000 people have been under evacuation orders for days. The man charged with setting the fire, local resident Forrest Clark, was in court Friday where he made several bizarre outbursts and called the charges a lie. His arraignment was postponed and he remains jailed. ___ 1:35 p.m. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen asked residents to prepare for future emergencies and thanked firefighters and other personnel battling California's deadliest wildfire this year. Nielsen spoke Friday at a press briefing in Redding, California, to update the public on the Carr Fire in Shasta County. The fire was 51 percent contained as of Friday morning and was burning into remote and rugged forest land. Grass, brush and trees are so dry from years of drought and recent heat that the potential remains for the fire to grow. It sparked nearly three weeks ago. Nielsen said she saw "truly heartbreaking" scenes of homes reduced to ash and fences replaced with caution tape. The Carr Fire has killed six people, including two firefighters, and burned more than 1,000 homes. ___ 12:40 p.m. Yosemite National Park will reopen Tuesday, 14 days after a wildfire choked the park with smoke at the peak of tourist season. Park spokesman Scott Gediman said Friday visitors should expect limited hours and visitor services as the park returns to normal. The scenic Yosemite Valley and other areas have been closed since July 25 along with hundreds of campsites and hotels. Though the blaze didn't reach the heart of the park, it burned in remote areas, making roads inaccessible and polluting the area with smoke. The closure has dealt a financial blow to Yosemite at the height of the summer season and caused upheaval for thousands of tourists whose summer trips were canceled. The 150-square mile (388-square kilometer) fire that started on July 13 is now 80 percent contained. ___ 12:30 p.m. The man accused of setting a Southern California forest fire appeared in a jailhouse courtroom and made several outbursts, claiming that his life was being threatened. A court commissioner on Friday postponed Forrest Gordon Clark's arraignment until Aug. 17. When the commissioner ordered bail to remain at $1 million, Clark shouted that he could easily afford it. At one point Clark covered his face with his long hair and later he stared directly at a camera providing a feed to reporters outside the courtroom. His attorney had asked that Clark's presence be waived, but the commissioner ordered the defendant to appear. The 51-year-old is charged with arson and other crimes. Clark is a resident of the canyon where the fire was sparked Monday. A fire official has said Clark sent threatening emails, including one that said, "this place will burn." ___ This item corrects the spelling of Forrest Gordon Clark's first name and clarifies that he appeared in a jailhouse courtroom. ___ 8:10 am Teresita Reyes and her husband are among some 20,000 people under evacuation orders in Southern California as a forest fire swept through foothill neighborhoods. The 51-year-old state health inspector says she was attending a friend's wedding Wednesday when she found out home in the city of Lake Elsinore was under a mandatory evacuation order. She says she congratulated the couple and snuck out quietly to slog back home through traffic, pack another suitcase of clothes and grab her passport and a box of important documents. Since then, she and her husband have been staying at a hotel with a faulty air conditioner while their three dogs and cat are holed up at the family's plumbing business. She says they were on edge after learning the arson fire reached about a half mile (0.8 km) from their home and that they expect to be out at least another night. ___ 8:00 a.m. An intentionally-set Southern California forest fire that raged perilously close to homes has continued to grow with very little containment. Firefighters on Friday are protecting foothill neighborhoods in the city of Lake Elsinore near where the blaze flared up amid unpredictable winds a day earlier. The five-day-old fire has now charred 28 square miles (72 square kilometers) of trees and brush in the Cleveland National Forest south of Los Angeles. It's only 5 percent contained. At least 20,000 residents are evacuated. Crews working in sweltering conditions and steep terrain hope to make progress before winds whip up again later in the day. California Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday declared a state of emergency for Orange and Riverside counties. A suspect charged with intentionally setting the fire is scheduled to be arraigned Friday. ___ 7:00 a.m. Fire crews have made progress against the biggest blaze in California history but officials say the fire won't be fully contained until September. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Friday the blaze in Northern California is 60 percent contained. The Mendocino Complex Fire of twin fires burning side by side has been raging through tinder-dry vegetation for two weeks. It has destroyed 119 homes and charred an area the size of Los Angeles. Official say a much more destructive blaze burning farther north near the city of Redding is now 51 percent contained. That blaze destroyed more than 1,000 homes and displaced 38,000 people. ___ 6:15 a.m. Firefighters battled through the night to keep a raging forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods in Southern California. The arson blaze in the Cleveland National Forest gained renewed strength Thursday, racing along ridges and coming within yards of homes. Crews on Friday are allowing some hillsides to burn, to reduce fuel and make it harder for flames to jump roadways later in the day when the winds pick up. Hundreds more firefighters have joined the battle, bringing the total to 1,200. The fire has blackened 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) of timber and brush and is only 5 percent contained. More than 20,000 residents are evacuated. California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for Orange and Riverside counties. A man charged with intentionally setting the fire is scheduled for arraignment Friday. Residents who were evacuated use a phone to watch a surveillance camera of their house as the Holy Fire approaches on Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Temescal Valley, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) Traffic makes their way south on I-15 as ash from the Holy Fire fills the air on Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) Diane Nuccio pauses while packing her car beside her dog Railey at a shelter for people fleeing the Carr Fire, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Redding, Calif. The only items Nuccio has left fit in her car after her home burned in the fire. (AP Photo/John Locher) A family sits along the shore of Lake Elsinore as they watch the Holy Fire burn in the distance on Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) The Holy Fire burns in the Cleveland National Forest on Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) A light trail can be seen where a helicopter makes a water drop during the Holy Fire on Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) King Bass, 6, left, sits and watches the Holy Fire burn from on top of his parents' car as his sister Princess, 5, rests her head on his shoulder Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) Diane Nuccio places a flag in her car while packing it up at a shelter for people fleeing the Carr Fire, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Redding, Calif. The only items Nuccio has left fit in her car after her home burned in the fire. (AP Photo/John Locher) NEW YORK (AP) - Who knew connecting the world could get so complicated? Perhaps some of technology's brightest minds should have seen that coming. Social media bans of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones have thrust Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and others into a role they never wanted - as gatekeepers of discourse on their platforms, deciding what should and shouldn't be allowed and often angering almost everyone in the process. Jones, a right-wing provocateur, suddenly found himself banned from most major social platforms this week, after years in which he was free to use them to promulgate a variety of false claims. Twitter, which one of its executives once called the "free speech wing of the free speech party," remains a lonely holdout on Jones. The resulting backlash suggests that no matter what the tech companies do, "there is no way they can please everyone," as Scott Shackelford, a business law and ethics professor at Indiana University, observed. This photo combo of images shows, clockwise, from upper left: a Google sign, and apps for Twitter, Spotify and Facebook. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify and other sites are finding themselves in a role they never wanted, as gatekeepers of discourse on their platforms, deciding what should and shouldn't be allowed and often angering almost everyone in the process. (AP Photo) Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter's Jack Dorsey and crew, and Google's stewards of YouTube gave little thought to such consequences as they built their empires with lofty goals to connect the world and democratize discourse. At the time, they were the rebels aiming to bypass the stodgy old gatekeepers - newspaper editors, television programmers and other establishment types - and let people talk directly to one another. "If you go back a decade or so, the whole idea of speech on social media was seen as highly positive light," said Tim Cigelske, who teaches social media at Marquette University in Wisconsin. There was the Arab Spring. There were stories of gay, lesbian and transgender teens from small towns finding support online. At the same time, of course, the companies were racing to build the largest audiences possible, slice and dice their user data and make big profits by turning that information into lucrative targeted advertisements. The dark side of untrammeled discourse, the thinking went, would sort itself out as online communities moderated themselves, aided by fast-evolving computer algorithms and, eventually, artificial intelligence. "They scaled, they built, they wanted to drive revenue as well as user base," said technology analyst Tim Bajarin, president of consultancy Creative Strategies. "That was priority one and controlling content was priority two. It should have been the other way around." That all got dicier once the election of President Donald Trump focused new attention on fake news and organized misinformation campaigns - not to mention the fact that some of the people grabbing these new social-media megaphones were wild conspiracy theorists who falsely call mass shootings hoaxes, white nationalists who organize violent rallies and men who threaten women with rape and murder. While the platforms may not have anticipated the influx of hate speech and meddling from foreign powers like Russia, North Korea and China, Bajarin said, they should have acted more quickly once they found it. "The fact is we're dealing with a brave new world that they've allowed to happen, and they need to take more control to keep it from spreading," he said. That's easier said than done, of course. But it's particularly difficult for huge tech companies to balance public goods such free speech with the need to protect their users from harassment, abuse, fake news and manipulation. Especially given that their business models require them to alienate as few of their users as possible, lest they put the flood of advertising money at risk. "Trying to piece together a framework for speech that works for everyone - and making sure we effectively enforce that framework - is challenging," wrote Richard Allan, Facebook's vice president of policy, in a blog post Thursday. "Every policy we have is grounded in three core principles: giving people a voice, keeping people safe, and treating people equitably. The frustrations we hear about our policies - outside and internally as well - come from the inevitable tension between these three principles." Such tensions force some of the largest corporations in the world to decide, for instance, if banning Nazis also means banning white nationalists - and to figure out how to tell them apart if not. Or whether kicking off Jones means they need to ban all purveyors of false conspiracy theories. Or whether racist comments should be allowed if they are posted, to make a point, by the people who received them. "I don't think the platforms in their heart of hearts would like to keep Alex Jones on," said Nathaniel Persily, a professor at Stanford Law School. "But it's difficult to come up with a principle to say why Alex Jones and not others would be removed." While most companies have policies against "hate speech," defining what constitutes hate speech can be difficult, he added. Even governments have trouble with it. One country's free speech is another country's hate speech, punishable by jail time. Facebook, Twitter, Google, Reddit and others face these questions millions of times a day, as human moderators and algorithms decide which posts, which people, which photos or videos to allow, to kick off or simply make less visible and harder to find. If they allow too much harmful content, they risk losing users and advertisers. If they go too far and remove too much, they face charges of censorship and ideological bias. "My sense is that they are throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks," Persily said. "It's a whack-a-mole problem. It's not the same threats that are continuing, and they have to be nimble enough to deal with new problems." ___ AP Technology Writer Mae Anderson contributed to this story. Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Li Xiaopeng (L), also the transport minister, meets with Colombian President-Elect Ivan Duque before attending the Colombian presidential inauguration in Bogota, Colombia, on Aug. 6, 2018. (Xinhua) BOGOTA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy Li Xiaopeng, also the transport minister, attended the Colombian presidential inauguration and met with the new president, Ivan Duque, here on Tuesday. Li conveyed Xi's warm congratulations and good wishes to Duque, and said that China and Colombia are facing an unprecedented historical opportunity to strengthen cooperation. China is ready to join efforts with Colombia to prioritize political guidance, tap bilateral cooperation potential, boost cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative in such areas as trade and economy, energy and mining, infrastructure construction, agriculture and innovation, promote exchanges and mutual learning on civilization and step up coordination on multilateral affairs, so as to keep pushing China-Colombia relations to new levels, Li said. Duque thanked Xi for sending an envoy to the inauguration. Colombia has attached great importance to its relations with China and treated the development of the bilateral ties as a priority of its foreign policy, Duque said, adding that his country is willing to strengthen exchanges with China on governance, deepen cooperation in various areas, and push for the sustained development of bilateral relations. [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] PARIS (AP) - French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday about his concern for a Ukrainian filmmaker who is on a hunger strike in a Siberian prison. Macron urged the Russian leader to find a humanitarian solution since Oleg Sentsov's health "seems to be dangerously deteriorating," according to a statement from the president's Elysee Palace office. Macron made several proposals, and Putin pledged to respond to them and to release information about the condition of Sentsov, who was on his 89th day without food Friday. Details of the proposals were not provided. FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015 file photo, Oleg Sentsov gestures as the verdict is delivered, as he stands behind bars at a court in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. The lawyer for a hunger-striking Ukrainian filmmaker imprisoned in Russia says his client has become increasingly frail. Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 marks the 87th day that Oleg Sentsov has been refusing food in a Russian prison. His lawyer Dmitry Dinze said after visiting him Tuesday that Sentsov has a very low hemoglobin level, resulting in anemia and a slow heartbeat of about 40 beats per minute. (AP Photo, file) The filmmaker, an opponent of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, was given a 20-yaer prison sentence in 2015 for conspiracy to commit terrorism, a crime he denies. He says he and 64 other Ukrainians imprisoned in Russia are political prisoners and is demanding their release. Sentsov's lawyer, Dmitry Dinze, said after visiting him Tuesday at a prison on the Yamal Peninsula in Siberia that Sentsov has anemia and a slow heartbeat. In their telephone call, Putin and Macron also discussed the necessary conditions to ensure the safe and voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. The Kremlin said they shared a high assessment of their nations' joint humanitarian operation in Syria last month, the first between Russia and a western country. The Russian-French operation distributed aid to residents of the former rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta. A Kremlin statement said Putin emphasized the importance of the international community helping to restore Syria's infrastructure and to promote the return of Syrian refugees who fled the country since its civil war started in 2011. The Kremlin noted that the two leaders discussed other issues, but did mention Sentsov. BERLIN (AP) - The United Nations' outgoing human rights chief is welcoming the choice of former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet as his successor, praising her "deep commitment to human rights." Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, a Jordanian diplomat and member of the Mideast kingdom's royal family, ends his 4-year term as the Geneva-based U.N. high commissioner for human rights on Aug. 31. Zeid said in a statement Friday that he was "truly delighted" by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' appointment of Bachelet on Wednesday. FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, then Chilean President Michelle Bachelet speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. Diplomats say Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has chosen former president Bachelet to be the next UN human rights chief. The diplomats said Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, that UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told a group of ambassadors of Guterres' decision on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) He said "she has all the attributes - courage, perseverance, passion and a deep commitment to human rights - to make her a successful high commissioner." In that role, Zeid was an outspoken critic of abuses across the world, insisting recently that his office doesn't "bring shame on governments, they shame themselves." FREDERICTON, New Brunswick (AP) - The Latest on the shooting in the eastern Canadian province of New Brunswick (all times local): 4:30 p.m. Police have identified the two officers who were killed in the small Canadian city of Fredericton after responding to a shooting at an apartment complex. Flowers are placed outside the police station in Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Two city police officers were among four people who died in a shooting in a residential area on the city's north side. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press via AP) Fredericton's deputy police chief Martin Gaudet says the officers saw two deceased civilians before being shot and killed themselves. Fredericton police chief Leanne Fitch said the two officers were Sara Burns, 43 and Robb Costello, 45. Burns was married and had three children, and Costello had a partner and four children. The other man and woman who were killed were not identified. Gaudet says a 48-year old man was arrested. ___ 4:12 p.m. Family members have identified one of two police officers killed in the small Canadian city of Fredericton on Friday. Jackie McLean says a police inspector told her family that her common-law partner Robb Costello was among the four people who died in a shooting at an apartment complex. McLean says the couple had been together for four years, and Costello has two adult daughters from a previous relationship. Fredericton police have one person in custody and say there is no further threat to the public. Police also said the suspect was being treated for serious injuries. ___ 11:33 a.m. Police in Canada say there is no further threat to the public after four people were killed in a shooting in the eastern province of New Brunswick. A lockdown is over, but no motive for the incident was given. Local health authorities said the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital is treating multiple people. Earlier on Friday, Fredericton police said that two of those killed were police officers. No additional details were immediately released, and police said they are not releasing the names of the slain officers yet. ___ 11:20 a.m. A resident at the apartment complex in Canada where four people were killed in a shooting on Friday says that he saw the incident unfold. Justin Mclean said there had been fights at the complex, but never like this. "I just woke up and heard gunshots and I looked outside my window. There was basically three dead people laying there. It wasn't a pretty sight," Mclean told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "The cops were trying to put one of the officers into the vehicle so they could take him out to safety." Canadian police said Friday that two of the four killed in the incident in the eastern city of Fredericton, New Brunswick are police officers. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on the unsettled Republican primary race between Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer and Secretary of State Kris Kobach (all times local): 6:15 p.m. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach's lead over Gov. Jeff Colyer stands at only 110 votes after late mail-in ballots were added to previous vote totals Friday in their hotly contested Republican primary race. CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAST NAME TO COLYER INSTEAD OF COYLER - Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, left, alongside Lt. Gov. Tracey Mann, addresses the media at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, Kan., Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, a day after his primary race against Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP) Colyer has accused Kobach of advising county election officials not to count some late mail-in ballots that legally should be counted. Kobach said his advice on their handling has followed the law. State law says mail-in ballots would be counted if they were postmarked Tuesday and arrived by Friday. Kobach's lead had been 191 votes when statewide results were first reported Wednesday morning. More than 313,000 ballots were cast in Tuesday's primary. Counties still must review almost 9,000 provisional ballots given to voters at the polls when their eligibility is in doubt. ___ 3:55 p.m. An aide to Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer says Secretary of State Kris Kobach's top deputy also shouldn't advise county election officials while their tight Republican primary battle hangs in the balance. Colyer spokesman Kendall Marr said the governor objects to Kobach having Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rucker take over Kobach's election duties while the race is unresolved. Kobach announced Friday that he's stepping away from those duties until after the final primary vote is certified by the state. Colyer had called on him to stop advising county official on yet-uncounted ballots. Marr said that while Rucker is "a good and decent man," assigning Kobach's duties to an employee that Kobach can fire does not end conflicts of interest. Colyer has said the state's attorney general should advise counties. ___ 2:40 p.m. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says he's stepping aside from his duties as the state's top elections official while his hotly contested Republican primary race with Gov. Jeff Colyer remains unresolved. Kobach announced his decision Friday in a letter to Colyer. Colyer had demanded Thursday that Kobach stop advising county election officials on the handling of uncounted ballots in Tuesday's governor's race and let the attorney general do it. The secretary of state said he is handing his election duties over to Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rucker. He said Rucker also will serve in his place on the state board that certifies the final primary election results. Colyer is a member of that board, and Kobach suggested that the governor step aside and let Lt. Gov. Tracey Mann step in. ___ 2:30 p.m. Kansas counties are reporting updated vote totals in the contested Republican primary between Gov. Jeff Colyer and Secretary of State Kris Kobach that reflect late mail-in ballots. The secretary of state's office was updating results Friday as it received them from individual counties. With the first 25 counties reporting, Kobach's lead almost doubled to 241 votes from 121. That's still a tiny margin with more than 311,000 ballots cast. Kansas law says mail-in ballots are counted if they are postmarked Tuesday and arrive by Friday. Colyer accused Kobach of advising county election officials to not count some late-arriving mail-in ballots that should be counted. Kobach's office was planning a formal response later Friday. ___ 1:20 p.m. Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer's re-election campaign plans to have a representative in all 105 counties next week as local election officials review mail-in and provisional ballots to arrive at final official vote totals. Colyer and Secretary of State Kris Kobach are locked in a tight race for the GOP nomination for governor. The primary was Tuesday. Kobach led by 121 votes out of more than 311,000 cast as of Thursday. The counting in their race is not complete because state law says mail-in ballots that are postmarked Tuesday can be accepted by the counties as late as Friday. County officials also must review perhaps several thousand provisional ballots, given to voters at the polls when their eligibility is in question. Colyer's spokesman said the governor believes Kobach's office is advising county clerks to discard mail-in ballots that by law should be counted, and the campaign representatives will be at canvass meetings to be sure that they are. ____ 10:35 a.m. Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer says he's "not entirely" comfortable with the vote-counting process in his still-unsettled Republican primary race with Secretary of State Kris Kobach. Colyer said Friday on Fox News that he wants to make sure every legitimate vote is counted. Kobach led by 121 votes out of more than 311,000, with perhaps several thousand votes uncounted. Kobach promised Thursday night that he would remove himself from further counting but said the move would be "symbolic" because counties do the actual work. He did so after Colyer demanded in a letter that he stop advising county election officials. Colyer told Fox News that he believes Kobach has advised them not to count some ballots that should be counted. Kobach's office has not responded to those allegations. ___ 9:25 a.m. An aide to Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer says Secretary of State Kris Kobach's promise to remove himself from further counting in their contested Republican primary race is not enough. Colyer spokesman Kendall Marr on Friday reiterated the governor's demand that Kobach stop advising county election officials on handling perhaps several thousand as-yet uncounted ballots in the governor's race. Kobach led by 121 votes out of more than 311,000 cast after discrepancies were found Thursday between two counties' totals and those reported on the secretary of state's website. The secretary of state advises counties, which handle actual counting. Kobach noted that Thursday night on CNN but said he would stay out of further counting because of Colyer's demand in a letter Thursday. But Marr says Colyer wants Kobach to step aside from "his actual" advising role. Kansas Republican gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach and his wife Heather take the stage to thank their supporters and send them home for the night after problems with polls in Johnson County, Kan., delayed the final results until the early morning on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka, Kan. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP) TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - At a parade this summer, candidate for governor Kris Kobach rode a jeep with a replica machine gun mounted on it. When some people complained the stunt scared children, Kobach, Kansas' secretary of state, mockingly called the reaction a "snowflake meltdown." And he kept on riding the vehicle in other parades, posting photos on social media regularly. Secretaries of state from middle America aren't generally household names. Kobach is the exception. FILE - This June 2, 2018, file photo provided by the Kobach for Governor campaign shows Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican candidate for governor, posing next to a Jeep mounted with a replica machine gun at the Old Shawnee Days Parade in Shawnee, Kan. Kobach, the state's top election official, is locked in a too-close-to-call race for the GOP nomination with Gov. Jeff Colyer. (Danedri Herbert/Kobach for Governor campaign via AP, File) The 52-year-old Republican has a take-no-prisoners style of conservatism that delights hard-right members of the GOP but makes him a prime target of Democrats and centrists. Now Kobach, the state's top election official, is locked in a too-close-to-call race for the GOP nomination. With late mail-in ballots added to the count Friday - but nearly 9,000 more ballots yet to be reviewed - he clung to a lead of just 110 votes out of more than 313,000 cast in Tuesday's primary against Gov. Jeff Colyer. At the same time, Kobach announced Friday that he is temporarily stepping aside from his election-supervising duties after Colyer and others accused him of trying to influence the vote-counting by advising county officials on how to handle thousands of late ballots. Despite holding what is usually a low-profile state post, Kobach has gained a national following, thanks to his tough stand on immigration and his push for stricter voter ID laws. Polling shows he has strong name recognition - and high negatives. Consider his running battle with the American Civil Liberties Union. Faiz Shakir, national political director for the ACLU, said Kobach "rises to the very top" of any list of candidates whose records alarm the group. Kobach responded by saying the ACLU's attacks actually helped him in the Republican primary. He tends to bring out strong feelings among the voters. Nineteen-year-old college student Tom Teeter of Topeka said of the possibility of Kobach being governor, "Oh, God, it horrifies me." "He is doing his best to stop immigration and the illegal voting," said 73-year-old retiree Richard Cronister of Topeka, adding approvingly: "The ACLU and all those organizations are against him." Educated at Harvard, Yale and Oxford, Kobach was an official with the U.S. Justice Department and Kansas Republican Party chairman before being elected secretary of state in 2010. He immediately became known for helping to draft tough laws against illegal immigration, including Arizona's "show your papers" law in 2010. He called Kansas the "sanctuary state of the Midwest" for failing to enact more stringent policies. He was an early supporter of Donald Trump and has advised the president on immigration. He is a staunch abortion opponent, wants to make Kansas laws even friendlier for gun owners and says he will push hard for tax cuts if elected governor. Trump enthusiastically endorsed Kobach over the incumbent a day before the primary. "Kris Kobach, a strong and early supporter of mine, is running for Governor of the Great State of Kansas," Trump tweeted. "He is a fantastic guy who loves his State and our Country - he will be a GREAT Governor and has my full & total Endorsement! Strong on Crime, Border & Military." Kobach's national prominence rose during his crusade for strict voter ID laws. He called voter fraud a significant problem in Kansas, citing dozens of non-citizens on the state's voter rolls and nine criminal election-fraud cases he brought as secretary of state. Critics such as Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, have accused Kobach of engaging in "voter suppression." And many election experts say voter fraud is extremely rare. But many GOP leaders across the country agree with him that it is rampant and requires tough ID laws. Trump named Kobach vice chairman of the president's election fraud commission, with Vice President Mike Pence as chairman. Kobach's voter ID efforts have taken some recent hits, though. In June, a federal judge found the Kansas law unconstitutional. And the commission found no evidence to support Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election. ___ AP reporter Jim Salter in St. Louis contributed to this report. LANCASTER, N.H. (AP) - A New Hampshire state senator is pleading not guilty to assault and domestic violence charges. Jeff Woodburn is accused of striking and biting a woman, and kicking in the door of her home. His lawyer, Donna Brown, on Friday submitted the plea to court officials in Lancaster on Friday and asked that a trial be scheduled. Woodburn, a Democrat from Whitefield, was charged last week with simple assault, domestic violence, criminal mischief and trespassing. He announced on Monday that he was stepping aside as Senate minority leader to devote his attention to clearing his name and representing his constituents. Senate Democrats chose Donna Soucy, of Manchester, to serve as interim minority leader through Nov. 6. NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on the arrest of a man who authorities say tossed his dead child into the water and then fled to Thailand (all times local) 1:10 p.m. Prosecutors say a father tossed his dead 7-month-old son into the water in New York City, fled the country and later texted the child's mother that she would never see her son again. FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2018, file photo, authorities investigate the death of a baby boy who was found floating in the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan in New York. A Bronx father hopped a plane to Thailand after carrying his dead 7-month-old baby around New York City in a backpack and tossing the boy's body into the river and other tourist hotspots, police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted, File) The chilling text was cited in the criminal complaint filed Friday charging 37-year-old James Currie with felony concealment of a corpse. The charge could be upgraded later. Prosecutors say surveillance video shows that little Mason Saldana was alive when his mother dropped him off at Currie's home in the Bronx on Saturday. The baby's lifeless body was pulled from the East River on Sunday. Currie's attorney says the public should wait and see the evidence against his client. Currie had fled to Thailand. He was apprehended at the airport in Bangkok and brought back to New York. ___ 12:45 p.m. A man who fled to Thailand after allegedly throwing his dead 7-month-old son into a river has been arraigned in New York on a charge of concealing a corpse. James Currie was ordered held without bail following his arraignment Friday. Defense lawyer Norman Williams said people should keep an open mind and "not convict this man until they see evidence that he did something wrong." Police say 37-year-old Currie tossed the dead baby into the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge. A tourist from Oklahoma spotted the child's body Sunday. Currie was apprehended at the airport in Bangkok and brought back to New York on Thursday. ___ 9 a.m. A man who fled to Thailand after allegedly tossing his dead 7-month-old son into a river has been returned to New York and arrested. Police say 37-year-old James Currie carried the dead baby in a backpack before tossing him into the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge. A tourist from Oklahoma spotted the child's body Sunday. Her husband pulled the lifeless baby from the water and tried to revive him. Authorities say Currie tried to flee to Thailand but was stopped at the airport in Bangkok. Currie was returned to New York on Thursday and arrested early Friday on a charge of concealing a human corpse. Additional charges against Currie could be filed pending an autopsy. It's not clear if he has an attorney who can speak for him. FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2018, file photo, a New York Police Department officer stands guard as authorities investigate the death of a baby boy who was found floating in the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge in the Manhattan borough of New York. A Bronx father hopped a plane to Thailand after carrying his dead 7-month-old baby around New York City in a backpack and tossing the boy's body into the river and other tourist hotspots, police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted, File) RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - A large explosion at a steel factory injured 25 people in a central Brazilian city on Friday, but killed no one. The explosion occurred at a gasometer in the Usiminas factory in Ipatinga, a mid-sized city in the state of Minas Gerais. Gasometers are used to store gases released during the steel-making process. The Ipatinga Fire Department said no one died and that the explosion injured 25 people, none of them seriously. An Usiminas statement said the company's fire brigade blocked gas pipelines and that no leakage had been detected. Usiminas said it is investigating what caused the explosion. News portal G1 reported that residents and school children were evacuated from nearby buildings and showed images of large plumes of smoke over the city. HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) - The estranged wife of former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato has pleaded not guilty to violating a court order telling her to stay away from her suburban New York neighbors. Newsday reports Katuria D'Amato was told to stay away from a couple who live next to her Lido Beach home after a late June encounter that led to her arrest. Police say D'Amato cursed at a neighbor and bumped his chest. Her attorney, Thomas Liotti, tells The Associated Press she was arraigned Friday on a harassment charge in Nassau County following a new encounter with the neighbors. Liotti says she was released without bail. D'Amato has blamed her estranged husband for her legal problems, saying he's out to embarrass her. Alfonse D'Amato's attorney has said he had nothing to do with the neighborhood dispute. SANTIAGO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera presented a bill on Thursday to promote both remote jobs and working from home. Pinera said the bill would not only make home and family life more compatible, but also "make Chileans' work life easier." The proposed law "puts Chile in the modern world of the 21st century" and allows Chileans to "take advantage of the opportunities provided by the technology revolution," said Pinera. He also highlighted the environmental benefits of the proposal, which cuts down on commuting and helps to lower air pollution. That has been the experience in other countries where remote work is an option, he said. The bill is the latest in a week filled with proposed laws unveiled by his administration, including universal childcare for working parents. [ Editor: Xueying ] TAOS, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on 11 children found living in a filthy, makeshift compound in New Mexico (all times local): 12:40 p.m. A New Mexico property owner says he told authorities in late spring that he met the father of a missing Georgia boy after he and others arrived in the area where they built a squalid desert compound. This aerial image shows a remote outpost near Amalia, N.M on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. Three siblings and two other adults have been charged with child abuse stemming from the alleged neglect of 11 children found living on the squalid compound. All five are being jailed without bail in New Mexico. (Karl Brennan/DroneBase via AP) Jason Badger said Friday that he doesn't understand why authorities didn't raid the site sooner, given his report about the father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj. He was being sought in Georgia in the disappearance of his young son. Badger says he believes he saw the boy with his father this past winter. The owner later found out Wahhaj was wanted after searching online and reported him. Authorities searched the compound for the severely disabled boy last week. They instead found Wahhaj, four other adults, and 11 other children whom authorities say were malnourished. A second search uncovered a child's remains that haven't been identified. The missing boy's grandfather says they're his grandson's. ___ 12:20 a.m. A well-known imam whose three children were among the five adults arrested during a raid on a New Mexico compound says he doesn't understand why his son and the others disappeared into the desert, but suggests a psychiatric disorder was to blame. Siraj Wahhaj (see-DAHJ' wah-HAJ'), of New York City, says the allegations child abuse against his son and two daughters are out of character from what he had known of them. He said he hasn't had direct contact with them for nine months. The Taos County sheriff says they and two other adults were arrested after authorities found 11 hungry children living in filth. They had been searching for a missing boy, who is Wahhaj's grandson. Authorities have not confirmed that remains found at the compound are that of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj (ahb-DOOL' GAH'-nee wah-HAJ'). This aerial image shows a remote outpost near Amalia, N.M on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. Three siblings and two other adults have been charged with child abuse stemming from the alleged neglect of 11 children found living on the squalid compound. All five are being jailed without bail in New Mexico. (Karl Brennan/DroneBase via AP) Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, left, sits next to public defense attorney Aleks Kostich at a first appearance in New Mexico state district court in Taos, N.M., Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, on accusations of child abuse and abducting his son from the boy's mother. Authorities were waiting to learn if human remains found at a disheveled living compound were those of Wahhaj's missing son. Authorities also allege Wahhaj was conducting weapons training with assault rifles at the compound near the Colorado border where they say they found 11 hungry children living in filthy conditions in a raid Friday. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee) RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A former North Carolina district attorney has effectively been sentenced to self-imposed penalties in a scheme where he and another prosecutor hired each other's wives to skirt ethics rules. The News & Record of Greensboro reports former Rockingham County District Attorney Craig Blitzer was given a "prayer for judgment continued." That means the misdemeanor won't be on Blitzer's record, but the court could still pass judgment later if he commits another offense. He pleaded guilty in 2017 to a misdemeanor after prosecutors said he and former Person/Caswell County District Attorney Wallace Bradsher schemed to hire each other's wives to collect over $100,000 in annual unearned salaries. Blitzer resigned, agreed to a suspension of his law license and repaid $48,000. He can't get his law license back without State Bar approval. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - NASA is sending a spacecraft straight into the sun's glittering crown, an atmospheric region so hot and harsh any normal visitor would wither. Set to launch early Saturday, the Parker Solar Probe is as heat-resistant as a spacecraft gets, essential for exploring our star closer than ever before. The U.S. got a glimpse of the sun's glowing, spiky crown, or corona, during last August's coast-to-coast total solar eclipse. "Well, Parker Solar Probe's going to be in there," said project scientist Nicola Fox of Johns Hopkins University. CORRECTS SPELLING TO TORY, NOT TONY - In this photo provided by NASA, astrophysicist Eugene Parker, center, stands with NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate Thomas Zurbuchen, left, and United Launch Alliance President and Chief Executive Officer Tory Bruno in front of the ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket with NASA's Parker Solar Probe onboard, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Humanity's first-ever mission into a part of the Sun's atmosphere called the corona, is scheduled to launch early Saturday. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) Here's why the Parker spacecraft is so tough and why scientists are so hot for this first-of-its-kind mission: SUPERHERO-WORTHY SHIELD Parker's lightweight heat shield is just 4 inches (11 centimeters) thick. But it can withstand 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,370 degrees Celsius) as well as extreme radiation, thanks to its high-tech carbon. Although the corona reaches millions of degrees, it's a wispy, tenuous, environment and so the spacecraft won't need to endure such severe temperatures. The 8-foot (2.4-meter) shield will face the sun during the close solar encounters, shading the science instruments in the back and keeping them humming at a cool 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). As one scientist notes, this is a shield Captain America would envy. SEVEN YEARS IN HOT PURSUIT The spacecraft's path to the sun runs past Venus. It will fly by our solar system's hottest planet seven times over seven years, using the gravity of Venus to shrink its own oval orbit and draw increasingly closer to the sun. The first Venus flyby is in October, followed by the first dip into the sun's corona in November. There will be 24 orbits between Venus and the sun, with the final three putting Parker closest to the sun - just 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) out - in 2024 and 2025. That's a scant 4 percent of the 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) between Earth and the sun. BREAKING RECORDS The records will start falling as soon as Parker takes its first run past the sun.. The current close-to-the-sun champ, NASA's former Helios 2, got within 27 million miles (43 million kilometers) in 1976. Parker will come within 15.5 million miles (25 million kilometers) in November and then start beating its own record. During its closest solar approaches, the spacecraft will hurtle through the corona at 430,000 mph (690 kph), setting a speed record. SOLAR SCIENCE Our yellow dwarf star is, in many ways, a mystery. The outreaching corona is hundreds of times hotter than the sun's actual surface, confounding scientists. In addition, physicists don't know what's driving the solar wind, the supersonic stream of charged particles constantly blasting away from the sun. By being right in the thick of it, Parker should provide some answers, shedding light not only on our star but the billions of others out there. PARKER THE MAN Sixty years ago, a young astrophysicist at the University of Chicago, Eugene Parker, proposed the existence of solar wind. Many were skeptical and told him to read up on it first "so you don't make these killer mistakes," he recalls. Vindication came with NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft in 1962. Parker is now 91 years old and at Cape Canaveral with his family to witness his first launch - a Delta IV Heavy rocket with the spacecraft bearing his name. It's the first time NASA has named a spacecraft after someone who's still alive. In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Parker noted from a publicity standpoint, "it absolutely wipes out everything else" in his career. "At my age, it gets fatiguing. But of course, I enjoy it." ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, astrophysicist Eugene Parker attends a news conference about the Parker Solar Probe named after him, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sixty years ago, the young astrophysicist proposed the existence of solar wind. Many were skeptical and told him to read up on it first "so you don't make these killer mistakes," he recalls. (Kim Shiflett/NASA via AP) This image made available by NASA shows an artist's rendering of the Parker Solar Probe approaching the Sun. It's designed to take solar punishment like never before, thanks to its revolutionary heat shield that's capable of withstanding 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,370 degrees Celsius). (Steve Gribben/Johns Hopkins APL/NASA via AP) In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 photo, astrophysicist Eugene Parker sits between Johns Hopkins University project scientist Nicola Fox, left, and NASA's science mission chief Thomas Zurbuchen, during a news conference about the Parker Solar Probe at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It's the first time NASA has named a spacecraft after someone who's still alive. (AP Photo/Marcia Dunn) A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue headlines of the week. None of these stories is legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked these out. Here are the real facts: ___ NOT REAL: 'The fascists of the future will call themselves anti-fascists' - Winston Churchill FILE - In this June 20, 2005, file photo, a Red Lobster restaurant is seen in Fairview Heights, Ill. Red Lobster is not offering a coupon for free dinners to customers, despite an advertisement that had circulated on social media. The scam, which has since been taken down, asked users to fill out a survey to win a coupon for two free adult dinners at Red Lobster. According to the offer, Red Lobster was giving away the coupon to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Samantha Bruno, a spokeswoman for Red Lobster, told the Associated Press that the company is aware of the offer and that it is fraudulent. (AP Photo/James A. Finley, File) THE FACTS: Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill did not say "the fascists of the future will call themselves anti-fascists," as suggested by a meme shared online Tuesday by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The quote, which appears with a picture of Churchill and the words "CHURCHILL ON THE LEFTWING(sic)" was tweeted by Abbott on his personal account, along with the comment: "Some insights are timeless." David Freeman, director of publications at the International Churchill Society, called the meme a classic example of "Churchillian drift," which he described as quotes erroneously attributed to Churchill in the pursuit of adding intellectual heft. Abbott deleted the tweet, but defended the sentiment, saying it reflected his feelings on "antifa," short for anti-fascists. ___ NOT REAL: Polygamy On The Rise In Denmark Due To Increased Islamic Immigration THE FACTS: Polygamy is not becoming a common practice in Denmark due to an influx of Muslim immigrants, as some online outlets have reported. The stories cite Fakti, a Copenhagen-based organization that offers services to immigrant and refugee women, as saying one-third of the women they assist are in polygamous relationships. The stories also say polygamy is being practiced more widely by Muslims who are immigrating to the country. Lise-Lotte Duch, who leads Fakti, told The Associated Press that many of the Muslim women they serve have been living in the country for years, and that it's likely not many are in polygamous relationships. "It is not a rising problem," Duch said. Polygamy is against the law in Denmark. Mohammad Khani, an imam who oversees weddings and divorces at the Imam Ali Mosque in Copenhagen, one of the largest mosques in the city, says polygamy in Denmark's Muslim community is almost nonexistent. He claims articles on the topic may stem from political discourse on immigration in the country. ___ NOT REAL: Red Lobster Not Giving Away Free Dinner Coupon THE FACTS: Red Lobster is not offering a coupon for free dinners, despite an advertisement that had circulated on social media. The scam, which has since been taken down, asked users to fill out a survey to win a coupon for two free adult dinners at Red Lobster. According to the offer, Red Lobster was giving away the coupon to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Samantha Bruno, a spokeswoman for Red Lobster, told The Associated Press that the company is aware of the offer and that it is fraudulent. She said when such scams occur the company's legal team investigates and takes action to have them taken down or removed from websites and social channels. Red Lobster celebrated its 50th anniversary on January 18, she said. ___ This is part of The Associated Press' ongoing effort to fact-check misinformation that is shared widely online, including work with Facebook to identify and reduce the circulation of false stories on the platform. ___ Find all AP Fact Checks here: https://www.apnews.com/tag/APFactCheck ___ Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A Utah man who shot and killed a city worker, torched her truck and set his neighbor's house on fire told witnesses that he did it after "years of harassment" over laws requiring cleanup of trash and weeds outside his home, police said Friday. Kevin Wayne Billings, 64, said the code enforcement officer in suburban Salt Lake City "got what she deserved," police said in jail documents. Jill Robinson had dealt with Billings before, but it was a routine call and code enforcement officers don't aim to harass residents, officials said. Firefighters work at the scene of a structure fire in West Valley City, Utah, on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. A West Valley City code enforcement officer was fatally shot nearby. (Ravell Call/The Deseret News via AP) He poured gasoline on Robinson's city pickup truck, then set it ablaze Thursday, police said. He also started a fire on his neighbor's deck that spread to their home and destroyed it, killing six dogs and two cats, police said. Billings had wrongly accused the neighbors of reporting his yard to the city, a spokeswoman for the couple who lived next door said. As the fires burned, he stood in his driveway, near the body, witnesses told police. Billings was arrested on suspicion of aggravated arson, murder and other charges. No attorney was listed for him in court records, and there was no answer at a publicly listed phone number. Police say they found an assault-style rifle, a handgun, bolt cutters, a propane torch and gas containers in his house. Robinson, 52, was an unarmed, civilian worker who typically dealt with complaints about unkempt yards or abandoned cars, West Valley City officials said. Code enforcement officers are trained to leave and call police if people get hostile. Robinson was remembered as a mother, grandmother and dedicated employee who loved softball. She had worked for the city for 10 years. "She was always very friendly, quick to wave when you'd see her," city spokesman Sam Johnson said. Other code enforcement officers were pulled off the streets immediately after the slaying. It wasn't clear how long that would last and it was too early to say if any safety changes would be made, Johnson said. Court records show Billings had a history of code enforcement charges dating back decades. After several months of prodding by the city, he pleaded guilty in 1992 to misdemeanor weed-control and bulky waste-accumulation charges and agreed to clean up his house. Five years later, a judge signed an order allowing the city to clean up waste they said was obstructing the view of the street. The neighbors whose home Billings is accused of burning down had lived there less than a year, said Pam Nichols, whose employee, a fellow veterinarian, lived there. Stephanie Sheen and her husband, Ryan Luke, didn't know Billings well, but last week he confronted Sheen and accused her of working for the city and reporting him, Nichols said. Though he showed signs of being a "hoarder," Sheen had never complained, Nichols said. She tried to tell him that, but he didn't seem satisfied. "We're just lucky that she's alive, that he didn't kill her," Nichols said, who is acting as a spokeswoman for the family that's trying to rebuild after losing their pets and everything they own. Sheen specialized in treating elderly animals and had adopted several, her boss said. "She just figured they needed somebody to love them in their old age," Nichols said. Luke was at home, working in the detached garage when the fire started. He broke out a window and heard the pets' cries but couldn't reach them in time, she said. This photo provided by the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office shows Kevin Wayne Billings. Authorities say Billings, a 64-year-old Utah man shot and killed a code-enforcement officer, torched her truck and set a fire that destroyed the home next door. Jail documents released Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, state Billings said the officer working a routine follow-up call "got what she deserved" after "years of harassment." (Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, via AP) FILE - In this June 20, 2008 file photo, West Valley Code Enforcement Officer Jill Robinson checks a home for violations in West Valley City, Utah. Authorities say Kevin Wayne Billings, a 64-year-old Utah man shot and killed Robinson, torched her truck and set a fire that destroyed the home next door. Jail documents released Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 state Kevin Wayne Billings said the officer working a routine follow-up call "got what she deserved" after "years of harassment." (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, File) Firefighters work at the scene of a structure fire and fatal shooting in West Valley City, Utah, on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (Ravell Call/The Deseret News via AP) WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) - The board of visitors of The College of William & Mary has voted to rescind an honorary degree awarded to comedian and actor Bill Cosby. The board issued a statement Friday saying that since it awarded the Masters of Arts degree in 1993, "information came to light and was confirmed that Mr. Cosby engaged in abhorrent conduct antithetical to our university's core values." Cosby was convicted in April of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and assaulting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004. He faces sentencing Sept. 24. FILE - In this April 23, 2018 file photo, Bill Cosby departs after his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. The board of visitors of The College of William & Mary has voted to rescind an honorary degree awarded to comedian and actor Cosby. The board issued a statement Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, saying since it awarded the Masters of Arts degree in 1993, "information came to light and was confirmed that Mr. Cosby engaged in abhorrent conduct antithetical to our university's core values." (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) Several schools have rescinded honorary degrees bestowed on Cosby, including Temple University, his alma mater. In June, three Maryland universities rescinded honorary degrees, as did Northwestern University, the first time in its 167 years. BOSTON (AP) - A Boston newspaper is proposing a coordinated editorial response from publications across the U.S. to President Donald Trump's frequent attacks on the news media. "We are not the enemy of the people," said Marjorie Pritchard, deputy managing editor for the editorial page of The Boston Globe, referring to a characterization of journalists that Trump has used in the past. The president, who contends he has largely been covered unfairly by the press, also employs the term "fake news" often when describing the media. The Globe has reached out to editorial boards nationwide to write and publish editorials on Aug. 16 denouncing what the newspaper called a "dirty war against the free press." As of Friday, Pritchard said about 70 outlets had committed to editorials so far, with the list expected to grow. The publications ranged from large metropolitan dailies, such as the Houston Chronicle, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Miami Herald and Denver Post, to small weekly papers with circulations as low as 4,000. The newspaper's request was being promoted by industry groups such as the American Society of News Editors and regional groups like the New England Newspaper and Press Association. It suggested editorial boards take a common stand against Trump's words regardless of their politics, or whether they generally editorialized in support of or in opposition to the president's policies. "Our words will differ. But at least we can agree that such attacks are alarming," the appeal said, acknowledging that newspapers were likely to take different approaches. Pritchard, who oversees the Globe's editorial page, said the decision to seek the coordinated response from newspapers was reached after Trump appeared to step up his rhetoric in recent weeks. At an Aug. 2 political rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Trump told his audience that the media was "fake, fake disgusting news." "What ever happened to the free press? What ever happened to honest reporting?" the president asked, pointing to journalists covering the event. "They don't report it. They only make up stories." Pritchard said she hoped the editorials would make an impression on Americans. "I hope it would educate readers to realize that an attack on the First Amendment is unacceptable," she said. "We are a free and independent press, it is one of the most sacred principles enshrined in the Constitution." LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - A special prosecutor dismissed a criminal case against a former New Mexico sheriff's deputy who shot and killed a colleague at a Las Cruces hotel. Special prosecutor Troy J. Davis filed the notice Thursday. In the filing, Davis said Tai Chan "possibly needs to be re-indicted for Voluntary Manslaughter with a firearm enhancement." Chan has been tried twice for murder in the death of Deputy Jeremy Martin on Oct. 24, 2014. Both prosecutions ended in mistrials after juries couldn't reach unanimous verdicts. The two deputies were staying in Las Cruces on their way back from delivering a prisoner. Chan maintains he shot Martin in self-defense after a night of drinking and arguing with Martin. Martin died after he was shot five times in the back and arm. Ten shots were fired from Chan's duty weapon. But who shot the gun first and who was the aggressor in the struggle were disputed at trial. Davis said the dismissal ends his appointment to the case. Davis, an attorney in the fraud division of the state Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, was appointed to take over the case by Las Cruces District Attorney Mark D'Antonio after the two mistrials. Any new indictment of Chan would have to be pursued by D'Antonio. The district attorney and another top prosecutor in his office couldn't be reached for comment. In a brief interview Thursday, Davis said his decision to drop the prosecution was a response to the legal defects in the case raised by the defense dismissal motion. "My sympathies go out to Mrs. (Sarah) Martin," Davis said, referring to the slain deputy's wife. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida newspaper urged a judge Friday to reject a school board's effort to have it and two reporters held in contempt for publishing a story on the educational background of Parkland school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz. The Broward County school board sought the contempt ruling after the South Florida Sun Sentinel published details last week of the Cruz report that were supposed to be blacked out to protect his privacy. The newspaper's filing Friday contends it had every right to do the story because the redactions were done improperly and easily accessed. "In a rush to deflect from its own negligence in publicly disclosing the (report) at issue in a wholly unsecured format, the school board now seeks to have this court find the Sun Sentinel in contempt for exercising their First Amendment rights to truthfully report on a matter of the highest public concern," wrote newspaper attorney Dana McElroy in the filing. McElroy has also represented The Associated Press in some matters related to the Parkland shooting. In this image made from video provided on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, by the Broward County Sheriff's Office, Nikolas Cruz points his fingers to his temple at an interrogation room, while officers are out of the room, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Prosecutors on Wednesday released hours of video interrogation of Florida's school shooting suspect, footage showing the young man slouching in a chair, being repeatedly urged by a detective to speak louder and punching himself in the face when he is alone. (Broward County Sheriff's Office via AP) Cruz, 19, faces the death penalty if convicted of killing 17 people and wounding 17 others in the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. His lawyers have said he will plead guilty in exchange for a life prison sentence. The full report, done by a consultant for the school board, revealed failings including that Cruz - who had long been given special needs services in the school system - was not accurately told of his options when he faced removal from Stoneman Douglas and that officials didn't properly respond when he asked to return to a more therapeutic alternative school. The upshot was he got no services in the 14 months leading up to the shooting. The redacted version included these violations in only a general way and concluded that the school board in most instances followed state and federal law for special needs students in Cruz's case. The school board contended in its contempt filing that the Sun Sentinel was well aware that two judges had ordered the redactions to protect Cruz's privacy but opted to publish the complete report anyway. In its response, the newspaper argues it was the school board that may have violated the judicial orders by posting the report with sloppy redactions. "By posting an improperly redacted version of the (report) to its website for public download, the school district itself may have failed to comply with the court's orders," McElroy wrote. The Sun Sentinel reported that a reader called with a tip saying that if the redacted report was cut and pasted into a new Microsoft Word file the redactions would disappear, which is what the reporters did. Editor-in-chief Julie Anderson said the decision was made that the full report had to be disclosed to the public. McElroy suggested the school board might be in violation of a Florida law that prohibits filing of legal actions with little merit that are intended to punish news organizations and individuals for exercising their First Amendment rights. There have been no rulings in the case and no hearings set as of Friday afternoon. _____ Follow Curt Anderson on Twitter: http;//twitter.com/Miamicurt BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) - Jim France seems to be choosing to stay in the shadows, declining to let the public hear from him as the interim chairman and CEO of NASCAR. France is not expected to be available for interviews as NASCAR prepares to run its first race, at Michigan International Speedway, since chairman Brian France took an indefinite leave from the company his family owns. Brian France was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of oxycodone Sunday night in New York's Hamptons. His uncle, Jim, was picked the next day to take over on an interim basis. He was vice chairman and executive vice president of NASCAR. Martin Truex Jr. watches times during qualifications for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) It is not the news, or the moves, the series wanted as it struggles to cope with dropping attendance, TV ratings and major sponsorship deals. And, it might be a long wait if anyone is hoping Jim France, who is quiet even behind the scenes, will become face and voice of the sport. "I just hope that whoever is in that position takes it serious and does a good job with it because there are so many people in this industry that want to see it succeed," said Kyle Larson, who drives the No. 42 Chevrolet. "I hope this is a good step to have a good change for us and get some good momentum back for our series." Brian France is the grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and replaced his father, Bill France Jr., as head of NASCAR 15 years ago. Now, it's Jim France's turn to take the wheel. And, the relatively few people who know the Vietnam veteran well are expressing full confidence in his ability to lead during a potentially pivotal time for the series. Jim France has worked for the family business since 1959, serving in a slew of roles. He founded Grand-AM in 1999 and help to orchestrate a merger with American Le Mans Series to form IMSA in 2014. He was also a key player in NASCAR's purchase of ARCA. "We've known Jim France since the 1970s and he's given respect when he walks in a room," said Len Wood, co-owner of the No. 21 Ford. "He's earned respect. He's always been the quiet guy in the background that did way more than you knew. He's the kind of jeans-and-flannel guy, who you can bounce ideas off of anytime. "We have the utmost confidence in him." Rick Hendrick does, too. "He's going to be awesome in that role," the team owner said an interview on Sirius. "I've watched what he's done with IMSA and how he's brought all these different manufacturers to the table and how that sport has grown with the 24 hour and everything else. "A lot of people don't know Jim because he never has been out front a lot, but there is a great leader and a great racer and NASCAR is in awesome hands." Hendrick, meanwhile, is hoping Brian France gets the help he needs to come back. "Brian France is a good friend, a great guy," Hendrick said. "I'm not sure we have a TV deal if it wasn't for him. I pray for him and I want him to get better." ___ More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-AutoRacing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2017, file photo, Brian France, Chairman of NASCAR, gives opening remarks prior to an announcement of NASCAR's approach to modernizing its series with a new format, in Charlotte, N.C. NASCAR chairman Brian France has been arrested in New York's Hamptons for driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of oxycodone. France was arrested at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018, and held overnight. He was arraigned Monday at Sag Harbor Village Justice Court and released. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP, File) This undated photo provided by Sag Harbor Village Police Department on Monday Aug. 6, 2018, shows Brian France, chairman of NASCAR, taken after his arrest in New York's Hamptons for driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of oxycodone. (Sag Harbor Village Police Department via AP) Kyle Larson signs autographs before a NASCAR Cup series auto race, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018, in Watkins Glen, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Kyle Larson (42) makes his way around the course during practice for a NASCAR Cup series auto race, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Watkins Glen, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Photo taken on August 5, 2018 shows art, calligraphy and photography exhibition was held China's Inner Mongolia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. Over 600 artworks, calligraphy works and photography works wil be displayed. (photo: Wang Zheng/Guangming Picture) 3 1 [ Editor: zyq ] AURORA, Colorado (AP) - A Nevada inmate previously convicted of attacking a couple with an ax handle in their bedroom is now accused of killing four people with a hammer in two attacks in suburban Denver more than 30 years ago, authorities said Friday. Law enforcement officials said DNA evidence has tied Alexander Christopher Ewing to the slayings of Patricia Louise Smith, 50, in Lakewood, and three members a family in Aurora in 1984. A hammer was used to kill Smith, a mother and grandmother who was attacked while eating lunch on Jan. 10, 1984. The weapon was left in her condo. This July 27, 2018 photo provided by the Nevada Department of Corrections shows Christopher Ewing, an inmate at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center. Ewing is serving a sentence for attempted murder and other crimes. Ewing who was convicted of attacking a couple with an ax handle in their bedroom is being charged with killing four people with a hammer in suburban Denver over 30 years ago, authorities announced Friday, Aug.10, 2018. (Nevada Department of Corrections via AP) About a week later, a hammer was used to kill Bruce and Debra Bennett, 27 and 26, and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa at their home in Aurora, about 15 miles from Lakewood. The couple's 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa, was severely injured. Ewing has been behind bars in Nevada since the summer of 1984 for a similar attack committed after he escaped while being transported to Kingman, Arizona, where he was accused of attacking a sleeping man with a 25-pound piece of granite. Colorado officials say Ewing has a criminal history dating back to 1979 with other arrests in Florida and California. Colorado prosecutors said Friday they were preparing papers to extradite Ewing - a process that could take months - and that the death penalty was a possibility. Prosecutors filed charges against a John Doe suspect in 2002 in the Bennett slayings, based a DNA profile developed from evidence that was repeatedly tested as technology advanced. The filing has been updated to include Ewing as the suspect. Charges are also expected to be filed in the Smith case, which is in another jurisdiction, District Attorney Pete Weir said. Colorado officials learned of a possible DNA match in early July during a routine search of databases. The news "sent a chill through my spine," said John Camper, director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The first DNA samples collected from the attack on the Bennett family had been uploaded to an FBI database in 2001, Camper said. In 2010, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation developed a DNA profile in the Smith killing that matched the Bennett case, he said. In July, under a 2013 state law that allows DNA sampling of inmates, Nevada authorities swabbed the inside of Ewing's cheek and entered the results in the national database. District Attorney George Brauchler, whose office is handling the Bennett family case, credited Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt for pushing for retroactive testing of inmates under that law for helping identify Ewing as a suspect. Colorado also requires DNA sampling of inmates. Nevada court records show a jury found Ewing, under the name Alex C. Ewing, was guilty of escaping from the custody of two Arizona deputies at a gas station in Henderson, Nevada, on Aug. 9, 1984. He entered an unlocked home and severely beat a woman and her husband with an ax handle in their bedroom, the records say. Ewing, then 23, was arrested two days later by park rangers at Lake Mead. The Colorado killings followed two other non-fatal attacks near Denver that authorities suspected involved a hammer. Authorities said those investigations remain active but declined to speculate if they were related to the Smith and Bennett slayings. After the DNA match, Ewing told Colorado investigators in two interviews that he lived in the Denver area in 1984 and did various construction jobs, including plumbing, according to court documents. When Ewing was shown a photo of Smith from the murder scene, he "jumped back in his chair" and stared at it, the documents state. "Alex Ewing appeared shocked and when confronted about his DNA being found at the scene of the murder, he said, 'There's got to be a mistake,' and provided no explanation of how his DNA may have been at the scene," Detective Clayton Fuller wrote in an arrest affidavit in the case. In a statement, the Smith family said they were relieved that the suspect has been behind bars for most of the time since Patricia Smith was killed. "It is difficult to imagine how much more fulfilling our lives would have been if Patricia Smith's life had not been taken from us. It's more difficult to imagine her death remaining a mystery," the family said. Vanessa Burnett, the sole survivor of the Aurora attack, told KUSA-TV on Thursday that she remembers little about it. Now 38, she's scarred, with a metal plate in her forehead. She endured operations, physical therapy and anger issues growing up. "I was made fun of in school because my parents were killed," she said. "I was made fun of because the hammer man or whatever you want to call it was going to come to my house and hurt everybody when I had slumber parties and stuff." ___ AP writer Ken Ritter in Las Vegas contributed to this report. HONOLULU (AP) - A U.S. State Department agent who shot and killed a man in a Hawaii fast-food restaurant cannot be tried a third time, a U.S. judge ruled Friday. Hawaii prosecutors may not proceed with a retrial against Special Agent Christopher Deedy, U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu ruled. Prosecutors vowed to appeal. FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2013 file photo, U.S. State Department Special Agent Christopher Deedy testifies in court in Honolulu. Deedy, who shot and killed a man in a Hawaii fast-food restaurant cannot be tried a third time, a U.S. judge ruled Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Deedy was in Honolulu for a 2011 international summit and was off-duty when he was shot Kollin Elderts during an altercation. (Dennis Oda/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP, File) Deedy was in Honolulu providing security for the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. After bar-hopping with friends on his first night in Waikiki, Deedy fatally shot Kollin Elderts during an altercation in a McDonald's. A 2013 murder trial ended in a hung jury. A second jury in 2014 acquitted him of murder but deadlocked on manslaughter. Deedy testified at two trials that he was protecting others from the aggressive Elderts. Prosecutors say Deedy was drunk, inexperienced and fueled by warnings from a fellow agent that Hawaii locals are hostile toward federal workers and outsiders. Watson's ruling directs Hawaii officials to dismiss the case against Deedy and release him from his bail conditions. Watson is putting the dismissal requirement on hold until the all appeals have been addressed. Conditions have included restrictions on his ability to travel, said Deedy's defense attorney, Thomas Otake. Deedy, who lives in Virginia, is still employed by the State Department but is on desk duty and his police powers have been suspended, Otake said. Deedy's defense attorneys argued a third trial on manslaughter would violate the double jeopardy clause of the constitution. The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that a retrial wouldn't violate his double jeopardy rights and Deedy then turned to federal court to stop the state from taking him to trial for a third time. The clause "protects a person from being 'twice put in jeopardy of life or limb' for the same offense," Watson's ruling explained, citing a court case that says the clause prevents "the injustice our criminal justice system would invite if prosecutors could treat trials as dress rehearsals until they secure the convictions they seek." "The State accordingly may not proceed with Deedy's October 2018 retrial on reckless manslaughter or any included offenses without violating constitutional prohibitions," Watson's ruling said. The Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney's office said the case involved the unjustified killing of Elderts. "It is our moral and ethical obligation to pursue all legal remedies," the office said in a statement. Dr. Kalamaokaaina Niheu, a spokeswoman for the Elderts family, said they are still processing the ruling. She and fellow members of the group, Justice for Kollin Elderts, held a news conference outside downtown Honolulu's Iolani Palace. Prosecutors ignored advice from the Elderts' family to pursue a manslaughter charge in the first trial, Niheu told reporters. Growing up in Hawaii, people don't expect anyone to be carrying guns, said state Rep. Kaniela Ing, who is running for Congress. Ing, who is also a member of the group, likened the shooting to racially motivated police killings of minorities on the U.S. mainland. "Deedy himself admitted it was racially charged. He said he was warned about the Hawaiians," Ing said. "You go out ... you get drunk, you kind of get rowdy, somebody calls you out and you fire something back. The worst that could happen is that some people maybe throw a couple punches. It's just not in our culture to carry knives, let alone guns." __ This version corrects the year of the second trial. It was in 2014, not 2013. UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council is expressing grave concern at the "food security crisis" in war-torn South Sudan. The council said in a statement after closed-door briefings Friday that ongoing fighting in the country's five-year civil war "is one of the main direct causes" of food insecurity. U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock mentioned possible famine in parts of South Sudan, according to a council diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed. Neighboring Sudan announced last Sunday that South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and its former vice-president and rebel leader, Riek Machar, had signed a peace deal. The council urged immediate implementation of a cease-fire and unhindered humanitarian access. It noted "considerable challenges" on the path to peace including detailed plans for implementation of the peace agreement. CHICAGO (AP) - A federal grand jury has indicted a former Chicago man for trying to join the Islamic State group. Justice Department officials announced Friday that 21-year-old Faress Muhammad Shraiteh, who now lives in Israel, is charged with one count each of conspiring to and attempting to provide material support and resources to IS. Each count is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The indictment alleges Shraiteh and two others conspired to join IS and traveled in May 2015 from Chicago to Egypt before flying to Istanbul, Turkey. Shraiteh was denied entry there, while the two others were allowed in. The charges allege Shraiteh went to Israel, where he has family, and later told one of the other two that he planned join them in IS. SAN DIEGO (AP) - Former All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza, who earned more than $43 million over 14 seasons, pleaded guilty Friday to federal drug charges in California. Loiza acknowledged that he possessed about 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of cocaine with intent to distribute. He faces up a minimum of 10 years in a prison and maximum of life when he is sentenced Nov. 2. Loaiza, 46, was under surveillance when he was arrested in February near a house in Imperial Beach, which borders Tijuana, Mexico. His sliver Mercedes SUV had just left the garage when authorities confronted him. FILE - In this Friday, March 14, 2008, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Esteban Loaiza pitches to St. Louis Cardinals' Cesar Izturis during the first inning of a spring training baseball game in Vero Beach, Fla. Former All-Star pitcher Loaiza has pleaded guilty to possession of about 20 kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute. The 46-year-old acknowledged in a San Diego courtroom Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, that he possessed about 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of cocaine with intent to distribute. He faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 2. Loaiza had been under surveillance when he was arrested in February near a house in Imperial Beach, which borders Tijuana, Mexico. His sliver Mercedes SUV had just left the garage when authorities stopped him. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, File) After a canine sniffed drugs in the SUV, authorities obtained a search warrant for the house and found the cocaine in 20 packages in the compartment of a Nissan parked in the garage. Loaiza admitted in a plea agreement that he transferred the drugs from one vehicle to the other. Loaiza attorney, Janice Deaton, declined to speak with reporters after leaving the courthouse. The hurler played for several U.S. teams between 1995 and 2008, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. He had a 21-9 record with the White Sox in 2003 and started in the All-Star Game that year. Born in Tijuana, Loaiza became a celebrity in his native country after marrying the late Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera. The "Diva de la Banda" was considered to be the most successful female singer in grupero, a male-dominated Mexico regional style, selling more than 15 million records, and acting in reality television before she was killed in a plane crash in 2012. Rivera filed for divorce shortly before her death, ending their two-year marriage. BOSTON (AP) - Allegations of misconduct made by seminarians in Boston will be investigated. The archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, says in a statement on Friday that he's unable to verify or disprove the allegations about St. John's Seminary but called them a "source of serious concern." O'Malley says the allegations were made online by two former seminarians. O'Malley has not provided details about the allegations, but one man who identified himself as an ex-seminarian says in a blog post that he witnessed inappropriate behavior, including sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse. O'Malley says St. John's rector, Monsignor James Moroney, will go on sabbatical leave for the fall semester so there can be a "fully independent inquiry." The investigation will be overseen by a group including Assumption College President Francesco Cesareo. ___ This story has been corrected to show the name of Assumption College's president is Francesco Cesareo, not Francisco Cesare. A federal judge has halted a deportation in progress and threatened to hold attorney general Jeff Sessions in contempt if the mother and daughter are not returned to the US. US District Judge Emmet G Sullivan, of Washington, learned in court that the two plaintiffs in a lawsuit before him were being removed from the United States and confirmed later that they were on a plane heading to Central America. He said any delay in bringing them back would be intolerable. People have been protesting against Attorney General Jeff Sessions immigration policy (AP Photo/John Amis) The judge ordered the government to turn the plane around and bring the asylum-seeking mother and child back to the US. He said that if the situation wasn't fixed he would consider contempt proceedings starting with the attorney general. ACLU (@ACLU) August 9, 2018 If they fail to comply, the judge said, Mr Sessions, Homeland Security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and other senior Homeland Security officials would have to convince him not to hold them in contempt of court. The Department of Homeland Security was bringing the pair back to the United States on Thursday after the plane landed in El Salvador. The mother and daughter did not disembark in the Central American country. This is pretty outrageous, Judge Sullivan said in court, according to The Washington Post. That someone seeking justice in US court is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing for justice for her? Im not happy about this at all, the judge said, according to the Post. This is not acceptable. Hours before we'd be in court to argue on their behalf, the government pulled two of our clients a mom and young child out of their detention rooms and put them on a plane to El Salvador, where they had fled horrific sexual violence and death threats. https://t.co/Z0m6p0Lgf5 ACLU (@ACLU) August 9, 2018 The woman identified in court as Carmen is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed this week against the administration by the American Civil Liberties Union over efforts to prevent immigrants from seeking asylum because of domestic and gang violence in their home countries. The lawsuit asks the judge to invalidate Mr Sessionss June 11 decision to restrict the kinds of cases that qualify for asylum. The judge imposed a halt on Thursday on deporting Carmen, her daughter and six other plaintiffs. The Justice Department declined to comment on the judges threat of contempt. A Scottish Conservative councillor has apologised for sharing an image comparing Muslim women to patio umbrellas. Aberdeenshire councillor and deputy provost Ron McKail is reported to have shared an image of three folded black patio umbrellas on Facebook. The post shared in 2016 included the text: I spent half an hour talking to them, wanting to learn about their culture until the bartender cut me off and told me they were patio umbrellas. The apology came amid a wider row in the party over comments made by former foreign secretary Boris Johnson on burkas. Boris Johnson made comments in which he compared women wearing face-covering veils to bank robbers (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mr Johnson has refused to apologise for comments comparing women wearing face-covering veils to bank robbers and letter boxes despite condemnation from senior Tory figures including Scottish party leader Ruth Davidson. Mr McKail has previously said sorry for sharing social media posts from the far-right group Britain First. He said the patio umbrella image was part of the same group of posts, adding: The post in question was shared more than two years ago and contained two photos, one of which was a poppy with the message Support our Soldiers. I am a former serviceman and that is why I shared it. When this was first reported in the press in 2017, I apologised unreservedly, and I do so again now. I have removed this post and I have made clear I did not intend to cause offence, just to show my support for the UK military. Mr McKail, who represents the Westhill and District ward, told the Daily Record that he did not agree with Mr Johnsons comments. A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: Councillor McKail has taken the post down and apologised. He understands that this is not appropriate. A woman wearing a burka joins a protest near Boris Johnsons Uxbridge and South Ruislip Conservative office following his comments (Jonathan Brady/PA) A spokesman for the SNP said: This is typical hypocrisy from Ruth Davidson shes outraged about Islamophobia when it suits her but turns a blind eye when its in her own party. The Tories need to get their house in order vile Islamophobic and bigoted views are rife within their party, to the point where they think someone with these views is an acceptable choice to be deputy provost in Aberdeenshire. The Muslim Council of Scotland have called on Ruth Davidson to take action and root out Islamophobia within her party a call that has fallen on deaf ears. Perhaps Ruth Davidson should concentrate on removing the deeply-ingrained racism and Islamophobia on her own patch before trying to occupy any moral high ground on the back of comments by her party colleagues south of the border. A senior detective has said police in Northern Ireland are legally obliged to investigate Bloody Sunday. This comes after the former head of the British Army urged the Government to put a stop to the macabre charade that could see Northern Ireland veterans facing legal action. Lord Bramall said it was absurd and grossly unfair that soldiers who took part in the events of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972, during which 14 innocent people died, should be questioned by police now. He accused the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) of harrying veterans in a desperate attempt to bring criminal charges in a piece in the Daily Telegraph. PSNI detective superintendent Ian Harrison, from the Legacy Investigation Branch, said: Following the publication of the Saville Inquiry an investigation commenced into the actions of a range of people involved in Bloody Sunday, which, as a police service, we have a legal obligation to do. This lengthy and complex investigation into the events of January 30 1972 is being carried out by a team of highly professional and competent detectives who will, without fear or favour, follow all investigative opportunities. As with any police investigation, this work is being conducted in accordance with statutory responsibilities and the PSNI code of ethics. A mural in the Bogside area depicting events on Bloody Sunday (Brian Lawless/PA) Prosecutors have been examining files of evidence against ex-British soldiers who were on the streets of Londonderry in 1972 when the Parachute Regiment shot and fatally wounded 14 civil rights demonstrators. The new head of the armed forces has spoken out about Northern Ireland veterans being chased by people making vexatious claims of wrongdoing, vowing: That will not happen on my watch. Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter praised the remarkable job done by the British Army in Northern Ireland and said groundless allegations against soldiers risked undermining the Armys fighting spirit. He promised that soldiers facing any investigation would be looked after to the best of our ability. MPs have called on the Government to introduce a statute of limitations to end what some claim is a witch hunt against members of the armed forces in Northern Ireland, although official statistics appear to undermine the claim. A consultation document issued by Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley on dealing with the legacy of the Troubles does not include provision for a statute of limitations, to the anger of many Conservative MPs. But Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has pledged to look at all options to protect veterans from legacy investigations. Police in Edinburgh investigating an attack on two people have released CCTV images of a man they want to track down in relation to the inquiry. The appeal has been issued following the incident in the Fountainbridge area on May 27. The female victim was walking in the street just after midnight when a man approached and assaulted her. Officers believe the man in the image can help them with their inquiries (Police Scotland/PA) Another man intervened but was also attacked and suffered a serious injury to the face, police said. The suspect then made off towards Slateford. Detectives are keen to trace a man captured on CCTV footage who they believe can help with the inquiry. Detective Constable Kevin Walls said: This was a violent and unprovoked assault on one woman and a man who came to her assistance, and we are pursuing various lines of inquiry to trace the suspect. The man pictured may be able to assist with the investigation and anyone who can help us identify him should contact police immediately. In addition, anyone with any other information relevant to this inquiry should also get in touch. Accordingly, THACO officially signed the strategic cooperation agreement with HAGL Group to invest in its subsidiaries, HAGL Agriculture JSC (HNG) and HAGL Myanmar Centre. As committed to in the investment agreement with HNG, THACO will be responsible for the overall restructuring of the company with a total investment of approximately VND12 trillion. In addition, THACO and Dai Quang Minh Real Estate Investment JSC will be responsible for the development of Phase 2 of the HAGL Myanmar project in the country, with a total investment of US$320 million and will be completed by 2020. Speaking at the ceremony, PM Phuc reaffirmed the policy of strengthening the mechanisation, industrialisation and modernisation of agriculture in Vietnam, expressing his pleasure to witness the cooperation agreement between a leading industrial enterprise and a large scale agricultural model. He praised the cooperation between the two business leaders who always have aspirations to join hands to contribute to the agricultural and industrial sectors in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. With their huge potential in finance, capacity and technology, the PM expressed his belief that the agreement would concretise the agricultural modernisation dream of businesses in particular and the three countries agricultural sector in general. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc encourages enterprises to cooperate in modernising agriculture. (Photo: VGP) Today we are promoting a more fundamental trend in which entrepreneurs with great potential directly contribute capital, technology, and governance to transform agriculture, the senior government leader said, adding that this is also a new inspiration for domestic enterprises to innovate, merge, cooperate and develop. The PM said he hoped that the agreement would set the model for the application of advanced technology in agriculture, and also the tendency to shift investment flows in agriculture and call on big businesses to invest in agricultural development. With the cooperation agreement, PM Phuc wished to bring together the three agricultural sectors of the Indochina countries closer together to complement and resonate with each other, thus raising incomes for the people of the three nations. At the ceremony, Doan Nguyen Duc, Chairman of HAGL Board of Directors, and, Tran Ba Duong, Chairman of THACO Board of Directors, presented donations to support Lao people affected by the recent dam incident in Lao Attapeu province. Independence campaigners should do less marching and more listening, according to former SNP justice secretary Kenny MacAskill. His comments follow a series of pro-independence events across Scotland including an annual march in Glasgow earlier this year which saw a record number of supporters take to the streets. Many want to see the First Minister press ahead with a second referendum on leaving the UK when she provides an update on her position in the autumn. However, Mr MacAskill called for supporters to be patient, warning that a lack of clarity over Brexit and the unlikelihood of permission being granted by UK ministers mean another vote will not be immediate. Nicola Sturgeon has previously urged SNP members to concentrate on winning the case for leaving the UK rather than the timing of any ballot. Scottish independence supporters march through the streets of Glasgow in May (Victoria Mitchell/PA) Writing in The Herald newspaper, Mr MacAskill said caution from the First Minister was wise, but he added that real leadership was needed to gain support for her position. Just because youre marching doesnt mean that youre any closer to a referendum, let alone to winning it, he said. And thats where Nicola Sturgeon needs to show real leadership. The former MSP added: Shes waiting for the chance and will take it when it comes. There needs to be less marching and more engagement on the doorsteps; listening to people, not telling them what you want them to think. So far, the party has been remiss in campaigning and providing direction, which is why others have filled the void with marches and other activities. Leadership needs to be shown shown with party HQ building the organisation from the base up not being seen as the First Ministers fan club. SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: With our political opponents stuck quibbling grievances of the past, weve opened a fresh conversation of hope, ambition and how an independent Scotland can be a fairer, more prosperous country. Kenny is right that theres much to do and I feel privileged and honoured to be leading our work on this front. He added: The base of support for independence has never been as consistently high as it is now and we agree with Kenny MacAskill about the need to work hard to persuade even more people across the country of the benefits of an independent Scotland. Support for independence is likely to rise further as the reality of Theresa Mays shambolic Brexit plans becomes clearer and in the face of an arrogant Tory government which thinks it can do whatever it wants to Scotland and get away with it. Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt has revealed how he told Martin McGuinness that he hated what he had done by having been in the IRA. The Strangford representative said the forthright exchange came in 2013 as the two men took an hour-long walk around the grounds of Stormont. Mr Nesbitt was then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. Mike Nesbitt (Niall Carson/PA) He said he quickly realised they were never going to agree about the past. During his life, Mr McGuinness said he had been a member of the Provisional IRA until 1974. He was described during the Saville Inquiry as being second in command of the Londonderry brigade of the PIRA at the time of Bloody Sunday in 1972. In 2012, he shook hands with the Queen. Mr McGuinness went on to rise through the ranks of Sinn Fein and served as deputy first minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly until January 2017 when he resigned in protest over the DUPs handling of an energy scandal. The move effectively collapsed the powersharing institutions, which remain dormant now. Mr McGuinness died at the age of 66 in March 2017 after battling a rare heart condition. I said I hated what he did by being in the IRA, Mr Nesbitt said. I really resent the fact that he said unionism left him with no option. I said, Martin, if you pick up a gun, you made a choice. He said, But you didnt live the life I did. If he had gone as far as to say he made the choice, but he didnt. Thats when we agreed to disagree. Mr Nesbitt said that he and Mr McGuinness spent the rest of their walk talking about the future. There was even a lighter moment when they met a couple of Chinese tourists and spent some time talking to them. He said he met Mr McGuinness another three times privately in his office without any advisers around. Speaking during the Warm House for Unionists panel debate at the West Belfast Festival on Thursday evening, Mr Nesbitt described Mr McGuinness as a man of political integrity after he kept views expressed confidential. We were able to discuss sensitive issues, he said. If he had gone public, saying this is what Mike Nesbitt thinks, it would have caused me some grief. He did show some political integrity by choosing to respect the confidentiality of the conversation. A former law lecturer who went on the run from a court in England before a jury found him guilty of downloading indecent images of children has been arrested in Romania. Julian Myerscough, 56, a former criminal law lecturer at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, absconded from his trial at Ipswich Crown Court in September 2015 while jurors were deliberating their verdicts. He was convicted, shortly after he went missing, of 13 counts of possession of indecent images of a child and three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Former law lecturer Julian Myerscough has been arrested in Romania (Suffolk Police/PA) He was sentenced in his absence at Chelmsford Crown Court last year to three years and six months imprisonment and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. 56-year-old former #Lowestoft man who fled a crown court trial almost three years ago, ahead of being found guilty of possessing indecent images of children, has been arrested in Romania. Read more - https://t.co/OSjsIJSM3F Suffolk Police (@SuffolkPolice) August 10, 2018 Myerscough was detained by law enforcement officers in Romania on July 26, Suffolk Police said. His extradition was approved at a Romanian court on August 7 and arrangements are being made for Suffolk Police officers to travel to Bucharest and return him to the UK, the force said. Myerscough, originally from Bolton but who was living in Lowestoft, Suffolk, initially fled to Ireland after he absconded. He was spotted on a ferry from Holyhead and was detained at a Dublin city centre hotel by Garda officers under a European Arrest Warrant in October 2015. However, he thwarted extradition efforts with a series of appeals over two years, and was released from prison in Ireland as the High Court in Dublin deemed in August 2017 that too much time had passed. A decision was taken to sentence him in his absence in September 2017. The Chancellor has announced a 780 million funding boost to foster innovation technology start-ups and help create the high-paid jobs we urgently need. Touring a manufacturing training centre on Friday, Philip Hammond said the cash would expand catapult centres, supporting work in high-tech labs and factories. He made the announcement as figures showed the UKs GDP (gross domestic product) was up 0.4% between April and June, compared with the first three months of the year. Philip Hammond made the announcement as figures showed the UKs GDP (gross domestic product) was up 0.4% between April and June (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA) We're investing an extra 780 million in @Catapult_UK centres across the country. Backing innovative British companies to grow and create highly skilled jobs. Boosting productivity and supporting the high-tech economy of the future. https://t.co/r9KMH9EGHK Philip Hammond (@PhilipHammondUK) August 10, 2018 Mr Hammond, who was in the West Midlands, said: We are working hard to build a stronger, fairer economy dealing with the deficit, helping people into work, and cutting taxes for individuals and businesses. Unemployment is at its lowest since the 1970s, our national debt is starting to fall, and the economy has grown every year since 2010. It is by backing innovative British companies to grow and create jobs that we will continue this progress and build an economy fit for the future. Todays 780 million investment will support innovators across the country to create the technologies of the future, and the better, highly-paid jobs we urgently need. The funding is in addition to 180 million announced by Prime Minister Theresa May in the North East last month. Im @the_MTC_org in Coventry to see how theyre creating new technologies and training our future workforce. Its firms like these that will create the highly skilled jobs of the future we urgently need thats why were backing them with almost 1bn of investment. pic.twitter.com/U0WNIsSJqA Philip Hammond (@PhilipHammondUK) August 10, 2018 Mr Hammond was meeting apprentices and staff at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, which has received 122 million of the government cash and is currently a world-leader in 3D printing, including development of a process to build Rolls-Royce aeroplane engine parts. The money will fund a new research and development building on the site, just off the M6, which will help entrepreneurs and start-up firms bring new technology to market. Unveiling a plaque in the Sopwith Building, Mr Hammond said the facility would help start-ups turn their ideas into reality. The centre is named after Sir Tommy Sopwith, whose company built First World War aircraft, including the famous Sopwith Camel which was credited with shooting down 1,300 enemy planes. Yemens Shiite rebels have backed a UN call for a probe into a Saudi-led coalition air strike that killed dozens, including children. Senior Yemeni rebel leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said on Twitter that the rebels known as Houthis welcome the call and are willing to co-operate in an investigation of the strike in Saada province that hit a bus carrying civilians, many of them school children, in a busy market in the Dahyan district. In a statement after Thursdays air strike, UN chief Antonio Guterres urged Yemens warring parties to take constant care to spare civilians during military operations and also called for an independent and prompt investigation. The Secretary-General condemns the air strike by the Coalition forces in Saada, which hit a busy market area and impacted a bus carrying children from a summer camp: https://t.co/DsSu2JrHfM #Yemen UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) August 9, 2018 The United Nations said an exact death toll has yet to be confirmed but initial reports point to more than 60 casualties, with dozens severely wounded. The rebel-run Al Masirah TV reported at least 51 killed and 79 wounded in the air strike, citing the Yemeni Health Ministry in the capital, Sanaa, which is under rebel control. It also said three children have gone missing since the air strike. The International Committee of the Red Cross said its team received the bodies of 29 children, all under 15 years old, and treated 48 wounded, 30 of them children. The wreckage of a bus remains at the site (AP Photo/Kareem al-Mrrany) Following the strike, Al Masirah broadcast horrific images of lifeless bodies of children, covered in blood, and others who appeared severely wounded, lying on hospital stretchers crying and screaming in pain. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified. On Friday, Ahmed al-Hamoud, who was travelling from Saada to Sanaa, said a sombre mood prevailed over the province and that coalition planes could be seen flying over it. The US State Department called on the Saudi-led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. We take all credible accounts of civilian casualties very seriously. Following an attack this morning on a bus driving children in Dahyan Market, northern Saada, @ICRC_yemen- supported hospital has received dozens of dead and wounded. Under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected during conflict. pic.twitter.com/x39NVB8G4p ICRC Yemen (@ICRC_ye) August 9, 2018 Also, the UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, who has been pushing for peace efforts in the war-torn country, said he was deeply shocked by the appalling tragedy that claimed so many innocent lives. Still, he called on the warring parties to engage constructively in the first round of consultations scheduled for September 6 in Geneva. The United Nations childrens agency called the attack in Saada unconscionable and a low point in the countrys brutal war. The Saudi-led coalition, which has been at war with the Houthis for more than three years, said the attack on Saada was in response to a missile fired by the rebels into the kingdoms south a day earlier. The coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed the missile but its fragments killed one person and wounded 11 others in Saudis southwestern border region of Jizan. The age at which bowel cancer screening starts in England is to be lowered from 60 to 50. The UK National Screening Committee recommended screening should be offered to people aged 50 to 74 years old, using the faecal immunochemical home test kit (FIT), following a review of available evidence. Ministers accepted the proposals of the independent experts on Friday. The age of bowel screening is to be lowered (Lynne Cameron/PA) BBC newsreader George Alagiah and former health secretary Andrew Lansley are among those who have called for earlier screening for the disease. Alagiah, who is receiving treatment for bowel cancer for the second time, tweeted: As I prepare for my 24th infusion of chemo next week, delighted to hear that bowel cancer screening will be available at age 50 in England. About time. It will save lives and hopefully mean fewer patients have to go through the kind of treatment Ive had. As I prepare for my 24th infusion of chemo next week, delighted to hear that bowel cancer screening will be available at age 50 in England. About time. It will save lives and hopefully mean fewer patients have to go through the kind of treatment Ive had. George Alagiah (@BBCAlagiah) August 10, 2018 Lord Lansley, announcing he was also being treated for the disease in April, urged the Government to cut the age of screening to 50 in the future in line with international best practice. A step in the right direction. Glad to see politicians are waking up to this issue. Bowel cancer is one of the most preventable diseases - if only we had timely screening, as they do in Scotland. https://t.co/PSiUb5MRGZ George Alagiah (@BBCAlagiah) May 2, 2018 FIT, which is easier to use than the current test and more accurate in detecting potential cancer, is already due to be rolled out in the autumn and will initially be offered to those aged 60 to 74 years old every two years. It is expected to be gradually rolled out to over-55s, followed by over-50s, but no timetable has yet been given. Professor Anne Mackie, director of screening at Public Health England (PHE), said: The risk of bowel cancer rises steeply from around age 50-54 and rates are significantly higher among males than females. Starting screening 10 years earlier at 50 will help spot more abnormalities at an early stage that could develop into bowel cancer if not detected. The committee recognises that this change will take time but wants the FIT test to be offered to all aged 60 and over as soon as possible, and options considered for a roll-out plan where screening can be offered at 55 and eventually to all aged 50 ensuring we have the best bowel screening programme possible. Men and women in England and Wales are currently offered a one-off bowel scope at the age of 55. The procedure is expected to be maintained until the new home test is rolled out to this age group. Public health minister Steve Brine said: We are determined to make our cancer survival rates the best in the world. With the roll-out of FIT as a new bowel screening test from the autumn a much more convenient and reliable test we have a real opportunity to reshape our bowel screening programme and potentially detect the stages of bowel cancer much earlier. We are now considering opportunities and taking expert advice on how a sustainable, optimal bowel cancer screening programme starting at age 50 can work in the future. NHS England and PHE will now consider how to move towards lowering the age of screening. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: These important recommendations will be carefully considered in the NHS Long Term Plan, which will set out ambitious improvements in cancer prevention and care for the decade ahead. Deborah Alsina, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: We have campaigned strongly for the screening age to be lowered to 50, in line with Scotland and the rest of the world, for some time now, so we are delighted to see this has been recommended. What is urgently required now is a clear plan from NHS England, setting out a sensible but ambitious time frame for implementation. This must address how current services will cope with introducing FIT. She added: It will be vital to ensure that the NHS has enough staff and resources to deal with the increase in demand this would have on bowel cancer diagnostic services as a core part of the 10-year funding agreement. This will of course save the NHS money over the longer term, as an optimal bowel cancer screening programme can both prevent bowel cancer from developing or detect it early when it is cheaper and easier to treat. Plane passengers flying to Edinburgh had a surprise Antipodean traveller in their cabin a koala heading for the citys zoo. The 19-month-old Queensland koala had his own seat on the flight as the sensitive animals cannot be placed in the hold. Tanami travelled more than 700 miles from Duisburg Zoo in Germany to join Scotlands only koalas in a conservation breeding programme. He is switching places with Toorie, Edinburgh Zoos young male koala, who will be making the return flight to Dusseldorf next week. Darren McGarry, head of living collections at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: Koalas are very sensitive animals, so special care needs to be taken when transporting them. They travel in the planes cabin and not in the hold so keepers can easily make sure everythings okay during the flight. Koala Tanami had his own seat on the flight from Dusseldorf to Edinburgh. (RSZZ/PA) We are very excited to have Tanami join us here at the zoo. Koalas are a real favourite among our visitors and its great to see him settling in well and enjoying his new surroundings.Viewings of the new arrival will be restricted this weekend as he gets used to his new home. Mr McGarry added: Toorie will be missed by everyone here at Edinburgh Zoo but we are proud to see him playing his part in the conservation of the species. Tanami arrives at Edinburgh airport along with his keeper (RZSS/PA) Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar hailed the special passenger. He said: We welcome passengers from all over the world to Edinburgh Airport but not all of them are as special or as cute as a koala. It was quite exciting to have Tanami arriving here and he joins a list of famous animals who have touched down here to make Edinburgh Zoo their new home. Koala numbers are falling in the native habitat of eastern Australia as the eucalyptus forest they depend on are being cut down. A Muslim convert has admitted plotting to kill around 100 people in a terror attack outside the Disney Store on Oxford Street. Lewis Ludlow, 26, swore allegiance to Islamic State as he prepared to drive a van through Londons shopping district or Madame Tussauds. Between March 15 and April 19, he bought a phone under a false name and wrote down his attack plans which were later found ripped up in a bin. He also researched potential targets around the capital, van rental and hotel accommodation. Madame Tussauds waxwork museum in London was a potential target (Tim Ireland/PA) He identified Oxford Street as an ideal target, writing: It is expected nearly 100 could be killed in the attack. Ludlow, from Rochester, in Kent, formulated his plan after being stopped by police at Heathrow airport in February as he attempted to board a flight to the Philippines. It was alleged he also set up a Facebook account called Antique Collections as a front to send money to south east Asia for terrorism. The defendant was due to face trial in the autumn on two charges of preparing acts of terrorism and one of terror funding. But at a hearing before Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC at the Old Bailey, he pleaded guilty to plotting an attack in the UK and funding IS abroad. Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said it would not be in the public interest to pursue a trial on a charge of attempting to join IS in the Philippines which the defendant denied. That charge will lie on the court file. According to a prosecution summary, Ludlow first came to the attention of police in 2010 when he attended a demonstration led by radical preach Anjem Choudary and his banned Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) group. When he was arrested in 2015, IS material was recovered from his electronic devices but no further action was taken. In January this year, he bought a ticket to fly to the Philippines on February 3 when he was stopped at the airport and had his passport seized. When spoken to by police, he claimed he was going to the country as a sex tourist. But in a search of his home, officers found he was in communication with a man named Abu Yaqeen in an area with a significant IS presence. In March, Ludlow sent him money via PayPal and created the Facebook account Antique Collections. It purported to be an antiques business in Maidstone but, the prosecution alleged, was really a front to raise money for IS in the Philippines. British preacher Anjem Choudary who is in jail for drumming up support for the Islamic State terror group (Nick Ansell/PA) On March 21, police recovered torn up scraps of papers from Ludlows bin detailing his plans. They were pieced together to reveal potential attack sites including Madame tussauds, Oxford Street busiest time, St Pauls cathedral and a Shia temple in Romford. It added: Further locations scouted for the kil. (sic) He also detailed a potential attack on Oxford Street using a van mounting the pavement, noting the lack of safety barriers. It said: Wolf should either use a ram attack or useon the truck to maximise deathit is a busy street it is ideal for an attack. It is expected nearly 100 could be killed in the attack. On April 13, Ludows mobile phone was retrieved from a storm drain. It contained videos of the defendant swearing allegiance to IS and pictures of crowded areas, said to be evidence of hostile reconnaissance. Meanwhile, undercover officers engaged Yaqeen in online chat, in which the IS fanatic called for lone wolf attacks and funds to be sent to the Philippines. Yaqeen put the undercover officer in touch with Ludlow, implying they could work together on an attack in Britain. Ludlow was arrested by South East Counter Terrorism police on April 18 but refused to explain himself when he was interviewed. The defendant appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh prison wearing a green prayer cap and black T-shirt. Following his guilty pleas, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC adjourned his sentencing until November 2. Deb Walsh, from the CPS, said: Lewis Ludlow considers himself a soldier fighting for Daesh in the UK. To that end he planned to drive a van into shoppers at Oxford Street hoping to kill over a hundred people. He also set up a fake online antiques business as a front to send money to terrorists overseas. He is a serious danger to the public and accepted his guilt when faced with the prosecutions case against him. The Mets latest new recruits are ready to tackle crime on Londons streets at a challenging time for the force, the head of Scotland Yard said. A significant terrorist threat and gang crime are among some of the issues facing the new officers as they take up their new roles in Britains largest police service, said Cressida Dick. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ms Dick inspected more than 70 new police constables at their passing out parade at the Mets training academy in Hendon, in the north of the capital on Friday. Ms Dick acknowledged the challenges Met officers would face (John Stilwell/PA) London has been badly hit this year with a number of fatal stabbings and shootings. Ms Dick told the Press Association: This is a challenging time but weve faced lots of other challenging times over the years. Its a challenging time, but Ive just been speaking to these officers and theyre loving what theyre doing. Its interesting, its fulfilling, its varied. Asked if she was confident this latest batch are ready for those challenges ahead, she said: I am. Theyre great recruits. The standard of them is very good. Violent crime has risen nationally in the past few years, and in London this year Met figures, as of the end of July, showed there had been 87 homicides, with the rise partly fuelled by street violence. New Met Police officers brave pouring rain at their passing out parade (John Stillwell/PA) Ms Dick described as tragic the young age of some of those often involved in gang-related incidents, either as suspects or victims. She said: We have had a number of homicides over the last 12 or 18 months which have been very clearly gang-related, very clearly related to drug dealing, and indeed some of the most difficult to investigate are some of the ones that involve our young people, our 14-, 15-, 16 year-olds as suspects and indeed as victims, have involved exactly that. And its tragic. Sources have said one line of inquiry into the death of seven-year-old Joel Urhie on Tuesday in a suspected arson attack is that it was gang-related amid reports the victims brother Sam, 21, may have been the target. The commissioner said Joels death in Deptford was a heinous crime, but would not comment on a possible gang link. She said: Joels death is absolutely tragic. Hes a little seven-year-old innocent boy. It appears that the fire at his home was started deliberately so we must investigate that thoroughly. Its a heinous crime. We will do that (investigate) and we will continue to keep an open mind. Speaking at the reception, NA vice Chairwoman Phong emphasised that the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership has seen strong and comprehensive development with practical achievements in the recent past. The Vietnamese NA supports and attaches importance to strengthening the friendship and cooperation with the NA of the RoK, she added. She also suggested that the two legislatures work closely together in implementing their cooperation agreements, as well as sharing experience in law-making and the supervision of the NAs and their subordinate agencies. The two legislative agencies should maintain regular high-level meetings and facilitate exchanges and cooperation between the two nations sectors and localities, towards enhancing mutual understanding and political trust and expanding the multi-faceted cooperation, she noted. For his part, Deputy Head of the Executive Committee of the RoK Yun Jae-ok expressed his thanks to NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong for her welcome to the delegation. He also underlined the importance of parliamentary cooperation in promoting the bilateral relations between the RoK and Vietnam. A Muslim convert dubbed The Eagle is facing life behind bars for a plot to kill 100 people in a terror attack outside the Disney Store on Oxford Street. Lewis Ludlow, 26, swore allegiance to Islamic State as he prepared to drive a van through Londons shopping district or Madame Tussauds. He bought a phone under a false name and wrote down his attack plans which were later found ripped up in a bin. The defendant, who called himself The Eagle and The Ghost, also researched potential targets around the capital. Muslim convert Lewis Ludlow, 26, is facing life behind bars (CPS/PA) He identified Oxford Street as an ideal target, writing: It is expected nearly 100 could be killed in the attack. Ludlow, from Rochester, in Kent, formulated his plan after being stopped by police at Heathrow airport in February as he attempted to board a flight to the Philippines. It was alleged he also set up a Facebook account called Antique Collections as a front to send money to south-east Asia for terrorism. The defendant was due to face trial in the autumn on two charges of preparing acts of terrorism and one of terror funding. But at a hearing before Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC at the Old Bailey, he pleaded guilty to plotting an attack in the UK and funding IS abroad. Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said it would not be in the public interest to pursue a trial on a charge of attempting to join IS in the Philippines which the defendant denied. That charge will lie on the court file. Madame Tussauds waxwork museum in London was a potential target (Tim Ireland/PA) According to a prosecution summary, Ludlow first came to the attention of police in 2010 when he attended a demonstration led by radical preacher Anjem Choudary and his banned Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) group. When he was arrested in 2015, IS material was recovered from his electronic devices but no further action was taken. In January this year, he bought a ticket to fly to the Philippines on February 3 but was stopped at the airport and had his passport seized. When spoken to by police, he claimed he was going to the country as a sex tourist. But in a search of his home, officers found he was in communication with a man named Abu Yaqeen in an area with a significant IS presence. In March, Ludlow sent him money via PayPal and created the Facebook account Antique Collections. It purported to be an antiques business in Maidstone but, the prosecution alleged, was really a front to raise money for IS in the Philippines. British preacher Anjem Choudary who is in jail for drumming up support for the Islamic State terror group (Nick Ansell/PA) On March 21, police recovered torn-up scraps of papers from Ludlows bin detailing his plans. They were pieced together to reveal potential attack sites including Madame tussauds, Oxford Street busiest time, St Pauls cathedral and a Shia temple in Romford. It added: Further locations scouted for the kil. (sic). He also detailed a potential attack on Oxford Street using a van mounting the pavement, noting the lack of safety barriers. It said: Wolf should either use a ram attack or useon the truck to maximise deathit is a busy street it is ideal for an attack. It is expected nearly 100 could be killed in the attack. On April 13, Ludlows mobile phone was retrieved from a storm drain. It contained videos of the defendant swearing allegiance to IS and pictures of crowded areas, said to be evidence of hostile reconnaissance. Meanwhile, undercover officers engaged Yaqeen in online chat, in which the IS fanatic called for lone wolf attacks and funds to be sent to the Philippines. Yaqeen put the undercover officer in touch with Ludlow, implying they could work together on an attack in Britain. Ludlow was arrested by counter terrorism police on April 18 but refused to explain himself when he was interviewed. The defendant appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh prison wearing a green prayer cap and black T-shirt. Following his guilty pleas, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC adjourned his sentencing until November 2. Detective Chief Superintendent Kath Barnes, head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said: Ludlow was a dangerous individual and I have no doubt that the public will be much safer as a result of our actions. Deb Walsh, from the CPS, said: Lewis Ludlow considers himself a soldier fighting for Daesh in the UK. To that end he planned to drive a van into shoppers at Oxford Street hoping to kill over a hundred people. He also set up a fake online antiques business as a front to send money to terrorists overseas. He is a serious danger to the public and accepted his guilt when faced with the prosecutions case against him. The Duke of Sussex has returned to his beloved Botswana to catch up on the work of a rhino charity he supports. Harry travelled to the African country without wife Meghan earlier this week to meet senior staff and workers from the organisation Rhino Conservation Botswana (RCB). Botswana is helping to safeguard the continents population of black and white rhino and the duke takes a keen interest in the RCBs work as its UK patron. Prince Harry carrying out rhino protection work on a previous visit to Botswana (Rhino Conservation Botswana/PA) It is understood Harry attended a meeting with senior staff on Wednesday and later that day toured a project in a village. The private trip follows a similar visit he made to the country in January when he carried out another fact-finding mission to learn about the charitys latest developments. Botswana is a country Harry knows and loves and where he took his wife in the early days of their relationship. Meghans engagement ring not only features diamonds from the personal collection of Diana, Princess of Wales, but a stone from Botswana. A Kensington Palace spokeswoman said: The Duke of Sussex is on a private working trip to Botswana, to join the annual general meeting for Rhino Conservation Botswana in his capacity as patron. He attended the board meeting in Maun and an RCB community project in Xarakao village. Political parties have united around a campaign to see a proposed new law allowing the prescription of medicinal cannabis extended to Northern Ireland. Billy Caldwell, 13, from Castlederg, Co Tyrone, who has severe epilepsy, has been battling with the authorities to be prescribed the medication. His mother Charlotte says medicinal cannabis helps to control his seizures. Specialist doctors in the UK will be able to legally prescribe cannabis-derived medicinal products by autumn, Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced earlier this year. But as it is a devolved matter, it will require legislative change before it is enforced in Northern Ireland. Devolved government has been in suspension since January 2017. Mrs Caldwell and Billy are lobbying to ensure the law is extended to Northern Ireland. They met representatives from the DUP, Sinn Fein, UUP, SDLP, Alliance, Green Party and People Before Profit at Stormont on Friday to request their support. The delegation included West Tyrone MP Orfhlaith Begley (Sinn Fein), who has been a long-term supporter of Mrs Caldwell and her son. Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Caldwell detailed their next steps. A fantastic meeting, we were fully supported by all the parties, she said. I feel very proud and blessed today, this support shows that the will is here for this to move forward and Billys Law to be implemented in Northern Ireland. The cross party delegation will write to the Home Secretary that when the law changes, it should be changed here in Northern Ireland as well. Mrs Caldwell and the group are also set to meet health chiefs to attempt to change the way of thinking in the NHS in Northern Ireland with regard to medicinal cannabis. They are set to request meetings with Richard Pengelly, the permanent secretary at the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride and Martin Dillon, chief executive of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. A great day, victory for all. The medicinal cannabis legislation will be implemented in Northern Ireland for all the people of our country who desperately need it, Mrs Caldwell said. Our political parties are all mummies, daddies, aunties, uncles, grannies, granddads, ordinary people who also have people within their families that are sick and maybe might benefit from medicinal cannabis. Billy Caldwell and his mother Charlotte secured support from politicians across the political divide at Stormont for the proposed Billys Law to enable access for medicinal cannabis Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann was among the politicians backing the pair. He said it is unfortunate that the Northern Ireland Assembly remains in suspension and cannot act on the matter. But this is something we are all united on so I dont want to bring division into it by having a political point scoring exercise, he said. I think it is important we concentrate on taking the steps that all the parties have agreed on today. Earlier this year Mrs Caldwell and Billy travelled to Canada so he could receive treatment with medicinal cannabis. But Billys medicines were confiscated when they landed at Heathrow Airport on June 11. They then spent three weeks in London where Billy was treated at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. In July, Billy became one of a small number of people in the UK who have been granted a special licence to be treated with medicinal cannabis. A Department of Health spokesman said: In the absence of an Executive, the Department, in consultation with legal advisers, continues to try and find a way forward on this very complex issue. Astronaut Major Tim Peake has said it is too early to tell whether this summers heatwave is part of a global trend towards warming temperatures or a one-off. Many climate change experiments have been conducted on board the International Space Station (ISS) and Major Peake said he should have the opportunity to return there for a second mission between now and 2024. Asked if he considered the heatwave as cause for concern, Major Peake said: I take my information along with everybody else from the scientific reports that we get back and of course we are aware that the planet is on a trend, a global trend towards warming temperatures. I think the important thing is to understand how we can prevent that from causing catastrophic events. As to whether this years heatwave is a part of that trend or if that is a one-off is really something I think well have to wait to find out longer but certainly we are under no illusions that the planet is warming, climate is changing and we need to address that in a very serious manner. Major Tim Peake with the Soyuz descent module, the spacecraft which brought him back to Earth after his mission to the International Space Station, on display at Peterborough Cathedral (Joe Giddens/ PA) Asked if it is possible that, if changes are not made, Earth will not remain inhabitable, he said: Its very difficult to predict but we do know that if temperatures go beyond about two to three degrees warmer then its going to dramatically change the conditions on Earth and its very hard to tell exactly what those conditions will be in the future. But certainly I dont think its going to lend itself to a more favourable environment for us to live and work in. The 46-year-old was speaking at Peterborough Cathedral, where the capsule that brought him back to Earth after his six-month mission in space has gone on display along with his spacesuit. The Soyuz TMA-19M descent module on show at Peterborough Cathedral (Joe Giddens/ PA) The Soyuz TMA-19M descent module, which landed in Kazakhstan on June 18 2016, bears scorch marks from its journey through the atmosphere. Major Peake said there is a continually rolling science programme on board the space station and in a six-month period there could be between 250 and 350 experiments. The International Space Station one of the great things about it is its a wonderful Earth observation platform and we do a remarkable amount of science on board and a lot of that is obviously looking towards Earth and helping to study climate change so there are many experiments that have gone on in the past and will be planned for the future for that, he said. Major Peake was later asked questions by children at the event, with one quizzing him about his favourite music. The astronaut said he is a fan of Ed Sheeran and would take music by him on his next mission. The module was acquired by the Science Museum Group in 2016 and is on a UK tour. It will be in Peterborough until November 5. Thousands of Romanians who live abroad flocked to an anti-government protest in Bucharest on Friday, urging the left-wing government to resign and call an early election. The expatriates, some of whom drove across Europe to attend the demonstration, are angry about how Romania is being governed by the Social Democrats. Since the party won power in 2016, the government has proposed new laws that critics say weaken the nations fight against corruption. He is unable to be prime minister due to another conviction in 2016 for vote-rigging. Hundreds of thousands have signed a petition demanding a law that would ban people charged with corruption and other offences from office, but it is unlikely to pass Parliament where the Social Democrats and their allies have a majority. The protesters on Friday waved Romanian, EU, Spanish, Italian and other flags, yelled Justice, not corruption and called the ruling party the red plague outside government offices in the capital. Protesters briefly scuffled with riot police when they tried to break through a police line guarding the government offices. At least one man was detained. Romanias President Klaus Iohannis, a critic of the government, said he firmly condemned the brutal intervention of riot police, which he called a disproportionate reaction to a protest where most were peaceful. Cristina Andrei arrived from Stockholm, Sweden, where she lives now with her two sons. Ive come here for my children, who dont know how to read or write Romanian, the 42-year-old cashier said. This country is rich and beautiful but its run by thieves. French police detained two officials from a German association that operates a campsite in France where flooding danger prompted evacuations and a man was reported missing, a local prosecutor said Friday. The association, based in Leverkusen, Germany, owns the property in Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas where the campsite was built without authorisation, Nimes prosecutor Eric Maurel told French broadcaster BFM TV. The two officials were being questioned because the campsite was set up in a flood-risk area despite warnings, Maurel said. They are being investigated on allegations of endangering life of others and causing unintentional injuries, he said. Some 119 children, many of them from Germany, were evacuated from the campsite on Thursday night after heavy rain caused flash floods and rivers and streams to overflow. French authorities were still looking for a 67-year-old man, reportedly a German citizen serving as the campsites monitor, who had not been seen since his van was swept away in the unexpected rush of fast-moving water. The regions chief gendarme, Laurent Haas, told BFM authorities still were not certain he was actually present when that happened. A soldier checks a flooded vehicle at Saint-Julien de Peyrolas camping site (Jose Rocha/French Gendarmerie Nationale via AP) Hass said 46 adults were also rescued from the campsite. Some 1,600 people in all were evacuated Thursday in three regions of southern France due to storms. Ive been coming since the early 80s, when I was a teenager, and Ive never seen anything, anything like it, Tom Bryan, a Briton holidaying in the village of Saint-Andre-de-Roquepertuis, told Sky TV. The (water) level was so high it was impassable on either bank. Campsite is gone, restaurants gone and such a high amount of water. My wife saw a whole caravan float down the river, he added. Extreme weather affected other parts of Europe on Friday following weeks of unusually hot temperatures. Across Norway, ferry companies cancelled crossings Friday. Authorities warned hikers of fierce winds in the mountains and called on people to securely fasten small boats, tents and other gear. In Thy, in northwestern Denmark, high winds apparently blew a metal tent peg into a 61-year-old campers throat as he was packing up. He was taken by helicopter to a hospital and was in serious condition, police spokesman Henrik Nielsen told public broadcaster DR. A third of people who use text messaging have received a scam attempt in the last six months, leaving them at risk of losing money or data, a survey has found. Which? found that of the 34% who had received a scam message, 7% had lost personal data, money or both. After texts, Facebook Messenger was the most common platform for messaging scams, with 16% of users having received a fraudulent message in the last six months, followed by 10% of WhatsApp users. After texts, Facebook Messenger was the most common platform for messaging scams (Lauren Hurley/PA) The most common scam claimed to be from HM Revenue and Customs, and was received by 42% of those who received a fraudulent message in the last six months. This was followed by 34% receiving a message saying they had won a competition and 32% who were queried over an injury claim. Fraudulent PayPal messages were received by 29% of respondents. HMRC announced in January that it had cut the most convincing messages reaching phones by 90%, but Which? said the latest figures suggested there was still work to do on this issue. Messaging scams typically aim to trick people into clicking links or calling a number to disclose personal or financial information. Fraudsters also use number spoofing to make the recipients phone display the name of an organisation instead of a number, making the fraudulent text seem like an official message. Which? consumer rights editor Adam French said: We found frightening numbers of people are receiving scam messages, leaving them vulnerable to the loss of their hard-earned cash and also sensitive personal information. Firms must take action to introduce the systems needed to stop these messages reaching peoples devices. While we await action on this, its important that people remain as vigilant as possible. Stop and think about a message you receive before engaging in communication. The problem is still rife any unexpected messages could well be a scam. An HMRC spokesman said: HMRC is a trusted brand that fraudsters regularly try to exploit. Were aware of these scams and have a dedicated team who work with internet service providers, other Government departments and law enforcement to identify, frustrate and close down fraudulent operations. We use a range of technical solutions to prevent malicious messages getting through to our customers, and offer comprehensive advice to the public to help them identify genuine communications. Students searching for a last-minute degree place on A-level day are likely to find a buyers market with tens of thousands of courses still available, figures indicate. A week before sixth-formers learn their grades, a Press Association analysis shows that virtually all universities including three quarters of the UKs most selective institutions are listing undergraduate courses in Clearing on the UCAS website. Law, languages, engineering, astrophysics, maths and English are among the types of subjects with availability, amid intense competition between universities to attract candidates. Thousands of degree courses are expected to be available in Clearing this year (David Cheskin/PA) The Press Association research shows that 132 out of 148 UK universities are advertising at least one course on the UCAS clearing website for applicants living in England. In total, there are 26,587 courses listed that potentially have availability. Among the 24 Russell Group institutions the universities that are widely considered among the best in the country three in four (18 universities) have at least one course advertised on the Clearing site, with 4,706 courses potentially available. The data comes the week before students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive their A-level results and learn if they have gained the grades they need to secure their university place. There has been a fall in the numbers of would-be students applying to university for this autumn, with 636,960 submitting applications by the end of June down 2% on 2017. Application numbers from UK students are down 3% on last year, with England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all seeing falls. At the same time, there has been a fall in the 18-year-old population in England, although this age group is more likely to apply to university than ever before. There is also now no cap on the number of students a university can admit. It is likely to mean that students seeking Clearing places next week will have options open to them. Dr Christina Edgar, director of student recruitment and admissions at the University of Sheffield, said: Theres a demographic dip in 18-year-olds this year, leading to fewer students applying to university at the moment so its really a great year for student choice. Clearing has become a great chance for savvy students to shop around, look at different courses, revisit original Ucas choices and even trade up to a better-ranked university if theyve done well in their exams. Its important students dont feel pressured to hurriedly accept an offer as part of Clearing though. Choosing where to study is a big decision and needs to be an informed one. At Sheffield, we let students sleep on their offer and invite them to see the campus. So its worth students asking whether they can have some thinking time. Some universities (like Sheffield) also offer guaranteed accommodation to students coming through Clearing or Adjustment, so students should inquire about what support theyll be given in terms of finding somewhere to live. Richard Harvey, academic director of admissions at the University of East Anglia (UEA), said: Long gone are the days when Clearing was the last resort for A-level candidates whose results meant they were scrambling for a place at university. He added: The removal of the cap on student numbers following the introduction of tuition fees has changed the landscape for both students and universities, with more places now available to fewer applicants, thanks to the current demographic dip in the number of eighteen-year-olds. Student behaviour has changed and theyre happy to take their time and shop around, collecting offers before they make their final decision. Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said: Clearing is increasingly popular and an excellent way to find a course that is right for you. More than 10% of university places are now secured through clearing and there will be thousands of places available again this year. Universities recognise the high quality of applicants now in clearing. Most universities will make places available. Its open to everyone and most subjects are available, including some highly competitive courses. A Russell Group spokeswoman said: Clearing can be an opportunity to help students who have missed out on their first and second choice. Students results arent always what they expect and its good to have a bit of flexibility in the system. Fresh questions were being asked about Jeremy Corbyns visit to a Palestinian graveyard in Tunisia, after claims that photographs showed him holding a wreath near the graves of those responsible for the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. The 2014 visit hit the headlines during last years general election campaign, when Labour said that Mr Corbyn had been paying his respects at a memorial to those killed by an Israeli air strike on Palestine Liberation Organisation offices in Tunis in 1985. But the Daily Mail said that its own visit to the Martyrs Ceremony had shown that the memorial was 15 yards away from the spot where Mr Corbyn was pictured holding a wreath, in photographs held in the Palestinian Embassy website archive. Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of `inept handling of the row over anti-Semitism (Jane Barlow/PA) The newspaper said that the pictures were taken in front of a plaque honouring three men, including the founder of the Black September organisation which carried out the Munich atrocity and yards from the grave of PLO intelligence chief Atef Bseiso. Saturdays MAIL: Corbyns wreath at graves of Munich terrorists #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/X6rJvpMR24 Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) August 10, 2018 The director of Labour Friends of Israel, Jennifer Gerber, told the Mail: It beggars belief that anyone would wish to honour the terrorists behind the brutal massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at Munich. However, it is sadly utterly unsurprising that Jeremy Corbyn appears to have done so. But Labour sources insisted that Mr Corbyn had already provided a full answer about his presence in the cemetery, when he said last year: I was in Tunisia at a Palestinian conference and I spoke at that Palestinian conference and I laid a wreath to all those that had died in the air attack that took place on Tunis, on the headquarters of the Palestinian organisations there. And I was accompanied by very many other people who were at a conference searching for peace. The pictures emerged amid continuing controversy over Labours refusal to adopt in full the anti-Semitism definition drawn up by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), along with its list of examples of anti-Semitic behaviour. Labours former Cabinet minister Jim Murphy took out a full-page advert in the Jewish Telegraph to offer an apology to British Jews and to accuse Mr Corbyn of failing to do enough to throw anti-Semites out of his party. Mr Murphy, who led Labour in Scotland from 2014-15, said the partys leadership had shown itself to be intellectually arrogant, emotionally inept and politically maladroit over allegations of anti-Semitism. And he said: Jeremy Corbyn is not doing nearly enough to throw out the anti-Semites found within grassroots and online Labour. Mr Murphys dramatic intervention increased pressure on Mr Corbyn and Labours National Executive Committee to reconsider the code of conduct on anti-Semitism agreed last month, which omits four of the IHRA examples from its own list of unacceptable behaviours. Labour argues that the items mostly dealing with criticisms of the state of Israel are covered elsewhere in the document in a way which will make it easier to take disciplinary action. But the boss of public sector union and major Labour donor Unison has added his voice to calls for the IHRA definition to be adopted in full. General secretary Dave Prentis said that putting the issue of Labour and anti-Semitism to bed as quickly as possible was critical to the partys efforts to win power at the next election. The issue was costing Labour votes and harming its relationship with the Jewish community, said Mr Prentis in an article on the New Statesman website. But he added: It isnt too late for the party to chart a different course and begin repairing that damage, as Jeremy Corbyn is clearly attempting to do. Anti-Semitism in Labour didnt start under Jeremy, but I am confident that under his leadership it can be dealt with once and for all. Why Labour must adopt the full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. By UNISON General Secretary @DavePrentis. https://t.co/9ExWsbQdn4 The New Statesman Politics (@TheStaggers) August 10, 2018 Meanwhile, an anonymous Twitter feed called The Golem published video of Mr Corbyn in 2013 comparing the plight of Palestinians with people under Nazi occupation during the Second World War. He said the West Bank was under occupation of the very sort that would be recognised by many people in Europe who suffered occupation during the Second World War, with the endless road blocks, imprisonment, irrational behaviour by the military and the police. EXCLUSIVE - In 2013 @JeremyCorbyn spoke at an event hosted by the Palestinian Return Centre in which he made a direct comparison between Israels occupation of the West Bank and the Nazi occupation of Europe during WW2. Watch until the end pic.twitter.com/POMfsX5APq The Golem (@TheGolem_) August 10, 2018 Labour Friends of Israel, which campaigns for a two-state solution, called the comments appalling. But a Labour Party spokesman said: Jeremy was describing conditions of occupations in World War Two in Europe, of which there are multiple examples, not comparing the Israeli State to Nazis. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Eli Berlzon GAZA/SDEROT, Israel, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip, agreed on a truce on Thursday, two Palestinian officials said, an understanding that would end an escalation in fighting that has drawn mutual threats of war. There was no formal comment from Israel, but an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity denied a cease-fire had been reached. Israel rarely acknowledges reaching any such agreement with Hamas, a group it designates as a terrorist organization and with which it has fought three wars in the past decade. A surge in cross-border rockets and air strikes in recent weeks have prompted the United Nations and Egypt to try to broker a truce to prevent another all-out conflict. On Wednesday night and Thursday, Israeli aircraft struck more than 150 targets in Gaza and Palestinian militants fired scores of rockets including a long-range missile deep into Israel, escalating fighting despite the ongoing truce talks. "Egyptian efforts managed to restore calm between Palestinian factions and Israel that will end the current escalation," a Palestinian official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said. "Palestinian factions will respect calm as long as Israel does," he told Reuters. A second Palestinian official with knowledge of the talks said the cease-fire would begin at 2045 GMT. Abu Mujahed, spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committee, a smaller faction in Gaza, said on his Facebook page: "Upon Egyptian and international efforts, a ceasefire between Palestinian resistance began conditional on the commitment of the occupation." Hours earlier, after the long-range Palestinian missile attack - the first of its kind since a 2014 war, Israeli air strikes had resumed after a short lull, flattening a multi-storey building that the Israeli military described as a Hamas headquarters. A pregnant Palestinian woman and her 18-month-old child were killed in the Israeli attacks overnight on Wednesday, as was a Hamas militant, Gaza medical officials said. Hundreds of people took part in the funeral for the woman and child. The Israeli military said seven people were wounded by Palestinian rockets and mortars that hit southern Israel. Ambulance sirens echoed through the night in Gaza, where families huddled at home as powerful explosions thundered through the strip. Across the border rocket warning sirens sounded almost non-stop from sunset on Wednesday in Israeli towns and villages where residents sheltered in bunkers. The Israeli military said its aircraft had struck more than 150 Hamas targets overnight, while more than 180 Palestinian rockets and mortars hit southern Israel. Twenty-five miles from the border, air raid sirens sounded in Israel's main southern city, Beersheba. Israeli Army Radio said Palestinian militants had fired a Grad missile capable of reaching Israel's heartland. Police said they found its remnants in an open area on the outskirts of the city of 200,000 people and that no one was hurt. Israel responded by hitting the multi-storey building, first with small bombs apparently so that people would evacuate, then flattening it with a huge blast that shook the city and raised clouds of dust and smoke. Residents said the building had served mainly as a cultural centre. Local health officials said 18 bystanders were wounded by the blast. Hamas denied using the facility. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet late into the night on Thursday. A statement issued by his office before reports a truce had been reached said the forum instructed the military to "keep acting with force against the terrorists". The U.S. State Department condemned the launching of missile attacks into Israel. "Weve seen reports that 180 or so rocket attacks have taken place, shot from Gaza into Israel, and we fully support Israels right to defend itself and to take actions to prevent provocations of that nature," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. "DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES" Egypt and the United Nations have been trying to mediate a comprehensive cease-fire to prevent an escalation in fighting and to ease the deep economic hardship in Gaza, a narrow strip of land that is home to 2 million Palestinians. Israel captured Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war but withdrew in 2005, while holding onto most of the separate West Bank, where Palestinians have limited self-rule. For more than a decade Gaza has been controlled by Hamas under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade that has collapsed its economy, creating what the World Bank has described as a humanitarian crisis with shortages of water, electricity and medicine. Israel says it has no choice but to enforce its blockade to defend itself against Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction and has used Gaza as a base for missile attacks. Yuval Steinitz, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet, told Israel Radio earlier that Israel was "not eager for war" but would make no concessions to Hamas. U.N. Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said the United Nations had engaged with Egypt in an "unprecedented effort" to avoid serious conflict, but "the situation can rapidly deteriorate with devastating consequences for all people". (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Maayan Lubell and Ori Lewis; Writing by Jeffrey Heller and Maayan Lubell; Editing by Peter Graff and James Dalgleish) The event was held by the embassies of the ASEAN member states in the host country in collaboration with the Argentine Foreign Ministry. In his remarks, Malaysian Ambassador Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak, who is Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Buenos Aires, reviewed the associations establishment and development since 1967, with notable achievements in all sectors, turning ASEAN into a close-knit, proactive, and prestigious community. The region recorded a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of US$2.6 trillion, the third largest economy in Asia, and the sixth largest in the world, he underlined, adding that the bloc is targeting to become the worlds fourth strongest economy, just following the US, China, the European Union (UN). ASEAN members reached consensus on expanding cooperative ties with major partners, enhancing integration efforts, and promoting solidarity for regional development, peace, and sustainability. The Malaysian diplomat affirmed that ASEAN has become a prime example of regional integration. He said that the foreign ministers of ASEAN countries have recently approved the establishment of the ASEAN Committee in Buenos Aires to fortify strong bonds, and further collaboration with the host nations in various sectors. Argentine Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Daniel Raimondi, for his part, congratulated ASEAN states on their achievements during integration process, and spoke highly of the blocs increasing role in the international arena. ASEANs success is an illustration for solidarity and cooperation strength that can create a sustainable integration model benefitting all member states, he said. Laying stress on the effective collaborative ties, especially in economy and trade, between ASEAN and Argentina, Raimondi noted that Argentinas recent accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) is part of the countrys commitment to continue bolstering relations in all areas with this bloc. On the occasion, five ASEAN member states having representative offices in Argentina, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, introduced their traditional costumes, and special dishes to the guests. WASHINGTON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department called on Thursday for the Saudi-led coalition to investigate reported air strikes in Yemen that killed dozens of people, including children. "We are certainly concerned about the reports that there was an attack that resulted in the deaths of civilians. We call on the Saudi-led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a press briefing. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) PARIS, Aug 10 (Reuters) - French industrial output picked up pace and came in ahead of forecasts in June, data from the INSEE official statistics agency showed on Friday, following a blip a month earlier. June industrial production grew by 0.6 percent from the previous month, INSEE said, beating the 0.5 percent increase expected in a Reuters analyst poll. That compared to an unrevised 0.2 percent drop in May, amid broader signs of a slowdown in the euro zone's second-biggest economy. France's output expanded at a weaker-than-expected pace in the April to June period, impacted by strikes at the national railway operator and as higher taxes hit consumer spending, and the government is expected to trim its forecast for 2018. The Bank of France said this week it expected economic growth to pick up in the third quarter, however. (Reporting by Sarah White; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) he efforts taken by President Maithripala Sirisena to take development to the villages reminds us of the time of the Late President Ranasinghe Premadasa. President Sirisena was quoted in in newspapers recently saying that people are happy with the development programmes carried out in the hamlets. His latest efforts in this type of endeavour was the building of a hostel for the priests at Hingurakdamana Kashyapa Pirivena under the Pibidemu Polonnaruwa Programme. Sirisena is from Pollonaruwa and its natural that he has a soft corner for this village. But with this type of programme he also kills two birds with one stone. In terms of obtaining millage for his efforts this programme takes the message to other villages that this country has a president whose vision in politics includes the villager. When Colombo complains that this Yahapalana Government has done little for its citizens, this is the presidents way of telling his detractors that he knows where his priorities are. For the record as many as 180 development projects have been scheduled under the Pibidemu Polonnaruwa Programme. Whats important in this development drive is that the present Government expects cooperation and advice for it from intellectuals, something that the Rajapaksa regime didnt do or never fancied. Its this attitude of the president wanting to keep the ends warm with the Colombo business community that gives hope that all are included in his plans in the countrys journey till 2020. State Minister of Finance Eran Wickremaratne has said that most of the people who flock to the Finance Ministry are businessmen, hence their businesses need to be protected. This is an assurance that the private sector needs, especially when goods and services are heavily taxed. Wickremaratne was quoted in an interview with the Daily Mirror recently saying that the tax which people pay is 14%. The president saying that people in the hamlets are happy has a catch. Happiness is one key indicator of how people are treated by their regime. This statement also conveys the message that happiness cant be acquired through money. When the president declared open the Moragahkanda Reservoir in July this year he said that it was the happiest day of his life. Happiness is a vital key and supersedes all pleasures in life. When a politician brings this word to the minds of the people it tends to be a much talked about topic. Now we have to ask ourselves whether we are happy with the manner in which we have been ruled by this Government? We have some sort of democracy now. Citizens are enjoying to the maximum one of the main characteristic of democracy which is civil liberties, under which comes the freedom of expression and speech. All this freedom however doesnt mean much if people cant afford three square healthy meals a day! President Sirisena is a simple man; talks simple and dresses simple. He even declared his salary recently which amazingly is below six figures. And he also knows quite well that Colombos vociferous public has been grumbling about the cost of living shooting up to unbearable heights. However, Government allies still point out that fuel prices have not reached the figures which were present during the Rajapaksa regime. Sirisena knows how to defuse a fire. People were boiling with anger just a few days ago when they came to know that the perks of ministers were to be raised by over 200%. But he calmed an agitating nation by declaring his salary and also by promising not to increase the salaries of government ministers by even five cents. Despite the present uncertainty that prevails over the Unity Government, Sirisena remembers to smile when he is under the spotlight. Its a smile that for a moment reminds us of a choice that people can in the future make between having a president who loves peace or one who loves power. Ribbon-cutting to unveil the COMPLAST Sri Lanka 2018 and COMEXPO exhibitions. From left: Deputy Commercial Head of High Commission of India in Colombo Neha Singh, PRISL Vice President Kaushal Rajapakse, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, IDB Chairman Mahinda Jinasena and Smart Expos and Fairs India (Pvt.) Ltd CEO and President B. Swaminathan By Harshana Sellahewa Marching ahead with plans to industrialise the Northern Province, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said the next phase of the development of Achchuveli Industrial Zone is planned at a cost of Rs.100 million. The minister made this statement at the inauguration ceremony of the fifth edition of COMPLAST Sri Lanka 2018, the complete plastics exhibition held in parallel with COMEXPO 2018, the complete manufacturing expo, at BMICH, yesterday. My officials are working on the next stage of this project at present. This large scale industrial zone is a pioneering project for the development of the Northern Province, Bathiudeen said. I invite all industrial participants here today to start manufacturing at Achchuveli Industrial Zone and reap maximum benefits. The Achchuveli Industrial Zone is the largest mixed industrial zone in the Northern Province spanning over 65 acres. The Rs.100 million investment by the government is for the phase-II of the zone which targets 15 acres. Meanwhile, Minister Bathiudeen went on to say that India has greatly contributed to the development of the Northern Province. Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya examining a product at a stall Pix by Kithsiri De Mel We thank the government and people of India for the grant assistance of Rs.200 million to commence this zone in 2014. India has also greatly contributed for the development of many other aspects in the Northern Province. I wish to express my appreciation to people of India on behalf of people of north. At present, five industries operate under Phase-I, directly employing 125 people. After the expansion, direct employment is projected to surge to 500. Industrialists investing in this zone are entitled to a 50 percent subsidised rate on their total electricity bills. Organised by Smart Expos and Fairs India (Pvt.) Ltd and Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL), the COMPLAST Sri Lanka 2018 and COMEXPO exhibitions were inaugurated by chief guest Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, PRISL Vice President Kaushal Rajapakse, Industrial Development Board Chairman Mahinda Jinasena, Deputy Commercial Head of High Commission of India in Colombo Neha Singh and Smart Expos and Fairs India (Pvt.) Ltd CEO and President B. Swaminathan. The event was also graced by Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Karu Jayasuriya. Farhan Jabir - Head of HR, Thilak Nishantha - Manager HR, Jahaan Sultan - Asst. Manager HR Amana Takaful (ATL), the pioneer of the Takaful way of insurance in Sri Lanka, was recently adjudged one of the islands top employer brands at the Best Employer Brand Awards 2018 which was held at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo on 19th July. Recognized with a prestigious award in Organizational category for the third consecutive year, the composite insurer has continued to strengthen its stance as an outstanding employer that strives to draw talent from across the nation and nurture its employees within a dynamic and progressive environment. Facilitated by the World HRD Congress, the Best Employer Brand Awards programme recognizes the regions most eminent brands and organizations that employ effective communication, HR strategies and employer branding strategies to build robust teams and workforces. The awards programme rewards brands that have taken constructive initiatives in attracting, retaining and developing talent within their scope of operation. Structured to assess and recognize employer brands in a number of aspects, the Best Employer Awards programme comprises two main categories - the Organizational Awards category and the Individual Awards category. The Organizational Awards category includes 38 sub-categories such as the Outstanding Contribution to HR Award, the Diversity Impact Award etc. whereas the Individual Awards category has 33 sub-categories such as the CEO of the Year Award, the Leaders of Tomorrow Award etc. Commenting on ATL being recognized with an Organizational award at the Best Employer Brand Awards 2018, Fazal Ghaffoor - Chief Executive Officer, Amana Takaful said: We are very pleased and honoured to have been recognized at the prestigious Best Employer Brand Awards 2018 for the third time in a row. At Amana, we have always believed in being open to all, and we welcome people from all ethnicities and walks of life to join our team and we help them to perform at an optimum and share their talents and skills to ensure the betterment of the company. This award acknowledges the efforts that we have made to build healthy and positive environments and workplace cultures, and it celebrates all that we have done to make Amana a preferred employer in the hearts and minds of Sri Lankans. Amana Takaful has been recognized for its innovation and quality of service, and has been hailed as one of Sri Lankas fastest growing composite insurers. In 2013, the company received recertification as a service organization in compliance with ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems Standards. Over the years, the pioneer of the Takaful way of insurance in Sri Lanka has earned a reputation for its professionalism and outstanding customer service and business practices. ATL continuously reaches out to customers from all segments of society and offers innovative and state-of-the-art insurance products that are convenient, affordable and reliable. As part of its commitment to remain open to all, ATL serves all communities and employs a multi-ethnic team across its network. Brilliant, vibrant and perhaps the most colorful shop in the building, Embarks latest storeis now open at the Marino Mall in Colombo 03. Built by the Damro Group, the Marino Mall is a significant addition to Colombos transformation into a bustling and modern metropolis. Embarks growing popularity and fame has helped to securea storespace in the 12-storeyed retail and hotel complex, which is currently drawing large crowds in to the mall daily. A simple opening ceremony on the 3rd of August, graced by the founder of Embark herself, Ms. Otara Gunewardene, marked the arrival of one of the countrys most popular brands in Colpetty. The store features a wide variety of products -the popular Embark T-shirts and leisure wear,accessories, bags andsoft toys. The well-known Embark slippers and wrist bands are also available in many styles,along with back packs, fabric bags, water bottles, creative mugs, decorative statues, fridge magnets and key chains. Allare available to those on the lookout for a meaningful, socially conscious and fashionable brand. The style of Embark, bright and spontaneous, appeals to customers of all ages, especially the youth or the young at heart!Pet toys, beds, accessories and grooming items in various sizes and styles can also be found in abundance. In short Embark stores, including the new shop at the Marino Mall, are the ideal place to shop for pets and their owners. Blending fashion with a cause to be passionate about, Embark aims to create a pashionable lifestyle, which promotes compassion, love and kindness, and aims to make the Sri Lankan street dog fashionable to own. Profits earned at all stores go directly towardsfunding the rescue and treatment of sick, injured and homeless canines, as well as sterilization and vaccination programs in various communities. The organization also offers free vet care for those who have no access to or cannot afford veterinary care for their pets. Thus by shopping at Embark one becomes part of a greater cause and mission to create a better world for street pooches and communities. The addition of yet another store to the Embark network is a significant step forward for us, as it helps increase our reach towards customers who love the brand and it also helps us to help more street dogs have a better life. In todays society many people, especially the younger generation, are very interested in what the brands they wearrepresent.Many members of the younger generation are deeply invested in causes such as animal welfare and safeguarding the environment. As a brand that is deeply rooted in animal welfare, Embark offers customers the chance to be part of a trend and more importantly a greater cause, by simply visiting a store, selecting something they like, purchasing it and of course looking good in it, stated Ms. Gunewardene. The seven assassination convicts of Rajiv Gandhi, who are jailed in Tamil Nadu cannot be released, the Indian government told the Supreme Court on Friday asserting that the case involves the assassination of a former Prime Minister, the NDTV said today. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India, which investigated the case, has opposed the release of the seven convicts, the court was told. Tamil Nadu had been informed of the decision on April 18, the centre told the court. The seven convicts had been in jail for 27 years. The court had asked the centre to decide and respond to Tamil Nadu's request to release them. A constitution bench of top Supreme Court judges had said in 2015 that the convicts cannot be released without the central government's consent. The convicts, Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan, Nalini Sriharan, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran, are serving life terms. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991 by a woman operative of the LTTE, who greeted him at a rally in Sriperumbudur town with a bomb strapped to her chest. In April, the Madras High Court rejected Nalini Sriharan's request for early release. Her death sentence had been commuted on the request of Congress leader Sonia, the wife of Rajiv Gandhi. Another convict, Perarivalan, had requested that the case be reopened and his conviction be cancelled. The Supreme Court rejected it in March. Perarivalan was convicted for supplying two nine-volt batteries for the belt-bomb. He was 19 when he was arrested weeks after the assassination. He told a court that he had no idea what the batteries were for. Perarivalan spent 14 years in solitary confinement after being sentenced to hang. His death sentence was changed to life term by the Supreme Court in 2014. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the son of Rajiv Gandhi, had said he had no objection to Perarivalan's release, a Tamil film director, PA Ranjith, was quoted as saying recently. In 2014, then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa decided to release the convicts but the centre - the Congress-led government was in power - challenged her decision. The Supreme Court then said the state could not take such a decision without the centre's sanction, as the case was investigated by the CBI. The purified drinking water scheme at Hidogama in Anuradhapura was declared open by Linda Stabel, the President of Adoptee Sri Lanka - Belgium VZW None will deny that the ultimate purpose of economic development is to ensure and improve the well-being of the people. All practical problems in the every-day-life of the masses should claim the attention of the social service NGOs as well as the rulers. It is our duty to attend to these problems, solve them and satisfy the needs of the masses. In the past, what everyone wanted was to have enough food, schools for their children and a place to live. Now the people have more diversified needs. One such need is clean water. Amaradasa Gunawardana the President of Sri Lanka Belgium Association (SLBA) highlighted the necessity of having purified drinking water, particularly in the dry zone. Gunawardana is involved in many social service projects. This NGO conducts several projects that include the free construction of houses, establishment and running of pre-schools, offering scholarship schemes etc. Their latest activity is the construction of projects to supply purified drinking water. Water is a pressing demand in remote villages in the dry zone. The districts of Polonnaruwa, Anuradapura and Kurunegala are in the forefront of these demands. The Sri Lanka Belgium Association has already opened up schemes of purified drinking water in these remote areas free of charge. Over 250 families with a population of nearly 2000 now enjoy purified drinking water. Kajuwatta has taken over the management of this project. The next request for such a project was made to Sri Lanka Belgium Association by members of a village called Hidogama in Nachchaduwa area in the Anuradapura District. The third drinking water project was declared open by Madam Linda Stabel the President of Adoptie Sri Lanka Belgium VZW on June 24. Samagi Rural Development Society of Hidogama will oversee the management of the new project. Mr. Gunawardana the President of Sri Lanka Belgium Association states that Adoptie Sri Lanka Belgium VZW is always willing and ready to promote more projects in Sri Lanka. This philanthropic organisation in Belgium is established exclusively to help Sri Lanka. President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said the first and foremost duty of the newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners is to promote Sri Lanka abroad and obtain maximum possible cooperation from the host nations. He pointed out that the priority areas in this regard are investments, trade, technical cooperation, education, health, increasing Sri Lankan exports and technical cooperation. Addressing 10 ambassadors and high commissioners at the Presidential Secretariat, he said the new envoys should serve the interests of the country with utmost dedication and commitment while serving abroad representing Sri Lanka. President Sirisena said that the envoys representing Sri Lanka abroad should firmly commit themselves to the policies and the vision of the government and promote Sri Lanka keeping that in mind. He pointed out the imperative need to showcase the correct positive picture of Sri Lanka and take corrective steps when interested parties spread falsehoods and disinformation through social media and other mediums. The new Ambassadors and High Commissioners are: Recall Shakespeares great work of dramatic art, the Merchant of Venice, where Shylock was treated as an unpleasant Jew (with a lovely, self-effacing daughter) who dealt mainly in shady usury. His speech to the court is one of Shakespeares most remembered: Hath not a Jew eyes? / Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? /If you prick us, do we not bleed? /If you tickle us do we not laugh? /If you poison us, do we not die? /And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? But what if we substitute Palestinian for Jew? Viz: Hath not a Palestinian eyes? and so on...... Do the Israelis treat the Palestinians as human beings like themselves? Or are the Palestinians just an anonymous threat, to be knocked down every time they push themselves up from behind the parapet? Five decades have passed since Israel in 1967 crushed a large-scale Arab attack. It was following that that Israelis started to settle beyond the border of their state. For around two-thirds of its history Israel has been an occupying state, one that has extended its settlements If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to make out that Israel is under permanent siege and that it must always be on the offensive if it is to save itself; if the Jews of Israel always want to go back to their memories of their war against the Arab nations after theyd been attacked following the handover of the British in 1948; if they want to go back to the Holocaust; if they want to go back to the anti-Jewish violence, the first so-called pogrom in 1819 when the Jewish ghetto in Frankfurt was ransacked; or to twelfth century England when began the libel that the Jews ritually murdered Christian children to mix their blood in the unleavened bread baked at Passover, then the Israeli Jews should recall some equally important other events, some good, some bad. What about the welcoming of the large numbers of Jews by the Moslem Turks when they were expelled from Spain in 1492? What about the long period up to the 12th century when Jews lived without persecution for the most part in Europe? What about the centuries up to the twentieth when the good periods of toleration far outnumber the bad years of repression, discrimination and, ultimately, the gas chambers? Or what about Moses act of genocide? Mosess army in the land now called Palestine, the land of milk and honey, attacked its resident tribes: the Canaanites, the Hittites, Midianites and the Amorites. Following the defeat of the Midianites, Moses told his victorious generals, claiming God was ordering him to do this, to return to the Midianites and kill all the women and their young sons. (Its all recorded at length in the Old Testaments Book of Genesis and the Book of Numbers.) And now today what about looking themselves honestly in the mirror and realizing it is they, the Jews, not the Palestinians who are doing the oppressing? Five decades have passed since Israel in 1967 crushed a large-scale Arab attack. It was following that that Israelis started to settle beyond the border of their state. For around two-thirds of its history Israel has been an occupying state, one that has extended its settlements. The state of Israel has been free of the malignancy of occupation for only nineteen years of its existence. The vast majority of the 6.2 million Israeli Jews do not know any other reality. The vast majority of the 4.4 million Palestinians who live under occupation similarly do not know any other reality. But Israel under Netanyahu is going 180 degrees the other way. His latest move last month was to have written into law that only the Jews will have the right to self-determination within Israels borders. In effect this is a renunciation of the idea of a two-state solution, the concept propagated by North American, European and Arab countries and liberal Israel Many Israelis have long believed that this is an untenable situation. It was not that long ago Israels Defence Forces intelligence division submitted a document to the head of military intelligence. They recommended that to ensure peace an independent Palestinian state should be established in the territories of the West Bank as quickly as possible, based on the 1947 truce. But Israel under Netanyahu is going 180 degrees the other way. His latest move last month was to have written into law that only the Jews would have the right to self-determination within Israels borders. In effect this is a renunciation of the idea of a two-state solution, the concept propagated by North American, European and Arab countries and liberal Israelis. The new law appears to be a preview of what a one-state solution will look like- an apartheid state where the Arabs political, voting and language rights are severely circumscribed. Thus the commitment of Israels founders to be both Jewish and democratic would become null and void. This comes after last years legislation which enables Israel to expropriate privately owned Palestinian land in the West Bank. If Israeli Jews want to live a secure and salubrious, an ethical and exemplary life, as taught by their prophets, they have to realize they are treading on the wrong path. Paradoxically, if they act as if they fear living under siege, when they are not, then they will end up one day living under siege. Before too long in a one-state society, given present day population growth rates, Arabs will outnumber Jews. And then what? See my new website: www. jonathanpowerjournalist.com jonatpower@aol.com The forum will take place on September 11-13 under the theme ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. A record number of regional heads of state or government will participate in the event, said the WEFs press release. In all, eight ASEAN countries will be represented by their prime minister, president or state counsellor. Among the registered heads of state or government are President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines; Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia, and Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of Myanmar, it said. Justin Wood, Head of Asia Pacific and Member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum, said the ASEAN region is currently one of the worlds bright spots for economic growth, and their presence shows the commitment they have to ensure this remains the case as the Fourth Industrial Revolution expands in economic scope and impact, and the geopolitical environment around them changes rapidly. Participants will discuss issues ranging from the regions geopolitical friction points to entrepreneurship and employment in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. They will do so with the help of leaders of 100 early-stage start-ups, whose companies represent the dynamic nature of entrepreneurial spirit of ASEAN. Issues to be discussed at the forum include Asias New Balance of Power, Factory Asias Next Frontier, the Future of Jobs in ASEAN, Asia Economic Outlook, Accelerating the ASEAN Economic Community, ASEAN Pluralism and Designing Cities 4.0. Topics surrounding the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles, blockchain, drones and fintech, will be highlighted. The meeting will also include workplace sessions on topics such as Sexual Harassment at Work, and Workplace 4.0. The joint opposition is planning to file legal action against the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA), JO MP Bandula Gunawardene said today. He told a media briefing held at the parliamentary complex that his party file papers at the Supreme Court and pointed out that the FTA was illegal because the government had embarked on waving tax and import duty on 3000 items. Government has claimed that a gazette notification containing a list of items for which tax and duty will be removed was issued, but such a document cannot be found. Therefore the FTA is illegal, he said. The MP said the items that are to be free of taxes under the FTA include animal sperm, elephants, tusks, fish species which are banned from being used as trade items, urethras and artifacts. In short the bio diversity of our country has been handed over to Singapore, he said. The MP said all professionals including doctors and nurses will join the JO for its protest campaign against the FTA next month. MP Chandima Weerakody who also participated in the media briefing said Sri Lanka was also planning to sign free trade agreements with Thailand and Malaysia. He claimed Sri Lanka was going to allow Thai nationals to enter the country without visas and that this was aimed at allowing young handsome Thai boys to come into Sri Lanka under a clause which is to be included in the FTA with Thailand following a personal request of a particular person. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana) The number of trains operating from the Colombo Fort Railway Station would be increased by evening, Railways Additional General Manager Wijaya Samarasinghe said Ten long-distance trains left the Colombo Fort Railway station this morning despite the ongoing strike by railway trade unions. Samarasinghe said the trains left for Chilaw, Kandy, Maho, Rambukkana, Galle, Avissawella and Anuradhapura. Railway employees on contract are now reporting for railway operations, he said. Meanwhile, two trains with fuel carriages left for Kolonnawa and Katunayake this morning. Eight trains were operational on main lines such as Chilaw, Puttalam, Matara, Galle, Rambukkana, Kandy, Mahawa, and Avissawella yesterday. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama) Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Member T. Raviharan was arrested by the Mullaitivu Police this afternoon on charges of unlawful assembly and damaging public properties during a protest held on August 2. The 57-year-old councillor is a resident of Kallapadu, Mullaitivu-North. Police said the councillor had damaged the Mullaitivu Fisheries Inspection Office during a protest held against the use of illegal netting. The councillor was to be produced in the Mullaitivu Magistrates Court. (Thilanka Kanakarathna) The Bank of Ceylon (BoC) had waived off Rs.168 million from the interest of the Overdrafts (ODs) and loans amounting to Rs.173 million borrowed by Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Limited from 2007 to 2009, BoC Relationship Manager Prageeth Lasantha Balasuriya told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on alleged irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka yesterday. He informed the Commission that the Government had obtained a Loan amounting to Rs.1.381 billion in March, 2009 to settle the ODs and loans borrowed by Mihin Lanka during that period. During his testimony it was also revealed that Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Limited had obtained several ODs and loans from 2007 to 2009 and it was notified that most of the borrowings had taken place without a guarantee. He informed the Commission during the period from 2007 and 2009, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Chairman of Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Limited and requests were made by the then Board of Directors of Mihin stating that the company needed to improve their working capital. However, he informed the Commission, the BoC had not considered the waived off interest amount as a loss because it would be a bigger loss if the bank had kept these loans and ODs for a further period. He also informed the Commission that a short term loan obtained by the present board of Directors of Mihin Lanka in November, 2016 amounting to USD 2.5 million was also given an extension to complete the loan till March, 2018 but the Government Treasury as the loan guarantee had so far not settled the amount. He further informed the Commission that another loan obtained by the present Board of Directors of Mihin Lanka (Pvt) limited in 2016 amounting to Rs.1.6 billion was also extended till March 2019 and the Bank had sent the claims to the Mihin Lanka Liquidator. (Yoshitha Perera) At a reception for visiting State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Kazuyuki Nakane in Hanoi, Deputy PM Minh also said he expects the sides to continue their effective implementation of projects funded with the ODA. Deputy PM Minh mentioned official trips of Japanese Emperor Akihitio and Empress Michiko to Vietnam and of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang to Japan, saying these visits would bring the bilateral ties to a new stage of development. He recommended the sides continue to jointly organise visits by high-ranking officials in 2018, which marks the 45th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations. Deputy PM Minh also called for boosting economics-trade-investment cooperation, realising high-level agreements, and supporting each other at international and regional forums. For his part, Minister Nakane stated Japan is supportive of Vietnams sustainable development and hopes to raise its relationship with Vietnam toward practical outcomes. He thanked Vietnams engagement in and contributions to ASEANs cooperation mechanisms involving Japan and in the Mekong Japan cooperation. The minister expected Vietnam to increase its role once it becomes the coordinator of ASEAN - Japan ties for 2018 2021, as well as cooperate with Japan for the success of the Mekong Japan Summit slated for October this year. He emphasised that Japan supports the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN on the East Sea issue. State President Tran Dai Quang made the statement during a meeting with 200 outstanding children in Hanoi on August 10. The delegates are participating in the 2018 National Festival for Outstanding Leaders of the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneers Organisation from August 8-10 in the capital city. The festival gathered 200 outstanding children, who are the leaders of local Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneers units across the nation, as well as 63 teachers in charge of the teams and 23 representatives of ethnic minority children. Many of them have made great efforts to overcome difficulties and challenges in life in order to achieve good results in learning as well as in the organisations activities. On behalf of the Party and State leaders, President Quang praised the positive results that the children and the leaders of Young Pioneers units have achieved in recent years. The president also hailed the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Council of Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneers Organisation in carrying out their movements, as well as mentoring and helping children in their development. The senior leader stated that the Party and State have always put their trust in children and adolescents to follow their predecessors and become the future masters of the country, contributing to the building of a more prosperous Vietnam on a par with the great powers across the five continents, as late President Ho Chi Minh always desired. In order to assist children and youths to fulfill their dreams and aspirations, the President urged the Youth Union to continue effectively performing its role in taking charge of the Young Pioneers Organisation, focusing on building strong young pioneer teams both inside and outside of schools. President Tran Dai Quang (C) presents gifts to the outstanding children at the meeting. (Photo: tienphong.vn) President Quang also expressed his wish that children and teenagers would promote the tradition of the previous generations, showing their love for the country through practical actions, such as respecting the elders in their families, paying tribute to national contributors and assisting friends and people in difficulties. The State leader asked the authorities at all levels to strengthen child protection, care and education, while investing more in schools, children's houses and playgrounds to facilitate comprehensive development for children. Special attention should be paid on children of policy beneficiaries and those in mountainous areas and islands, he stressed, adding the need to actively prevent, promptly detect and strictly handle all acts of child abuse. First Secretary of the Youth Unions Central Committee, Le Quoc Phong, vowed to promote his unions duties in the near future, especially the tasks of caring for, protecting and educating children, while creating a favourable environment for childrens comprehensive development. By Collin Eaton 9 August 2018 NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) Pumping carbon dioxide into the air makes the planet greener; the United Nations puts out fake science about climate change to control the global energy market; and wind and solar energy are simply dumb.These are among the messages that flowed from the America First Energy Conference in New Orleans this week, hosted by some of the countrys most vocal climate change doubters and attended by a handful of Trump administration officials. The second annual conference, organized by the conservative thinktank the Heartland Institute, pulled together speakers from JunkScience, the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, and the Center For Industrial Progress, along with officials from the U.S. Department of Interior and the White House for panels that included: Carbon Taxes, Cap & Trade, and Other Bad Ideas, Fiduciary Malpractice: The Sustainable Investment Movement, and Why CO2 Emissions Are Not Creating A Climate Crisis. The day-long conference reflected the political rise of global warming skeptics in Donald Trumps America that is occurring despite mounting scientific evidence including from U.S. government agencies that burning oil, coal, and natural gas is heating the planet and leading to drought, floods, wildfires, and more frequent powerful storms. A similar conference blasting the link between fossil fuels and climate change last year drew then-Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt, who was appointed by Trump to reverse Obama-era climate initiatives and roll back regulation hindering drillers and miners but who has since resigned in a flurry of ethical controversies. The U.S. officials who joined included White House Special Assistant Brooke Rollins, Interior Department Assistant Secretary Joe Balash, and Jason Funes, an assistant in the office of external affairs at Interior. They praised the administrations moves to clear the way for oil industry activity, and steered clear of commenting on climate change. But their presence gave climate change doubters at the conference a boost: Its a step in the right direction, said self-described climate change doubter Roy Spencer, a principal research scientist at the University of Alabama, referring to the U.S. officials in attendance.In an email, Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift said department officials speak at thousands of conferences every year and share ideas with a diverse group of individuals. A White House spokesperson did not immediately comment. Tim Huelskamp, president and CEO of the Heartland Institute, said the views presented at the conference once on the fringes of U.S. politics would be proven right. The leftist claims about sea level rise are overblown, overstated or frankly just wrong, he said in an interview. Regarding the United Nations findings on climate change, he said it was fake science motivated by a desire for power and control. Evidence of sea level rise, however, is strewn across the state that hosted the conference. New Orleans has been ravaged repeatedly by hurricanes that scientists say will become stronger and more frequent due to climate change. And the rest of Louisiana is losing coastline at one of the fastest rates on the planet due to sea level rise and encroaching industry, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Its a nice world they live in, said Steve Cochran, campaign director of Restore the Mississippi River Delta, an environmental consortium involved in coastal restoration programs, referring to the attendees of the America First Energy Conference. Its not the world we live in. [more] NEW DELHI, 10 August 2018 (AFP) Flash floods have claimed at least 27 lives in the southern Indian state of Kerala, officials said Friday, prompting the US to advise its citizens to stay away from the tourist hot-spot. The coastal state, famed for its pristine palm-lined beaches and tea plantations, is battered by the annual monsoon every year but the rains have been particularly severe this season. Nationwide, more than 700 people have been killed in monsoon flooding. Last year 1,200 people perished. In Kerala the army has been roped in for rescue efforts after two days of rain that have forced authorities to open the shutters of 24 reservoirs to drain out the excess water.Some 20,000 people have been displaced and 260 relief camps have been set up. Fifty-seven tourists including 24 foreigners were stranded in the hill station of Munnar.One of the five shutters of a large reservoir in the mountainous Idukki district was opened for the first time in 26 years.Twenty-four dams have been opened so far, which is unprecedented and is telling of the seriousness of the situation, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wote on Twitter.People living in the downstream areas of these dams must be cautious. [ more ] Flash floods kill 27 in south India NEW DELHI, 10 August 2018 (India TV News) At least 29 people have lost their lives in Kerala owing to the incessant rains triggering overflowing of reservoirs and rivers in the state. Sections of highways collapsed and homes were swept away in severe flooding in more than half of Kerala due to the heavy rains that have left 54,000 people homeless. Five columns of Army were deployed in the states seven severely-hit northern districts, out of Keralas 14, to help evacuate people and to build makeshift bridges even as the Indian Navys southern command was put on alert after water level in Periyar river rose amid concern that parts of Wellingdon Island in Kochi could be inundated. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a survey of the flood affected areas in Kerala on Sunday, a Home Ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI. Almost all 40-odd rivers in the state are in spate, according to the officials of the state. Northern and central Kerala have been battered by heavy rains of the Southwest monsoon since 8 August 2018, which has left 29 people dead, including three today. Of them, 25 died in landslides and four in drowning. State officials said a total of 53,501 people are now housed in 439 relief camps across the state. Water level had crossed the maximum storage capacity of reservoirs of 24 out of the states 58 dams, forcing officials to release the water by opening the sluice gates, including three of the Idukki reservoir. Two more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, the biggest arch dam in Asia, were lifted around 7 am today. One shutter was opened yesterday after a gap of 26 years. This morning, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation and relief works being undertaken by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF. Due to the increase in the water level at Idukki dam, it is essential to release water three times (more) than what was being released now, Vijayan said, adding that this will lead to rise in the water levels of Periyar river and its tributaries. He appealed to people to be vigilant. [] According to eminent scientist and former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair, the monsoon fury in Kerala might be a part of global phenomena but local factors like deforestation and invasion of mountain slopes contributed significantly to flash floods and landslips in the state. He said from the statistics point of view, this weeks rainfall was a peak of the last 50 years, and was an unusual phenomena and could not be attributed to any systematic change. Also, in many parts of Europe and other places, heat wave is going on. Maybe it (rain fury in Kerala) is part of global phenomena, it is my assessment, Nair, who hails from Kerala, said. The incessant heavy downpour has wreaked havoc in Kerala as the toll due to landslides and other rain-related incidents continued to mound on Friday. As heavy rains continued to lash various parts of Kerala, all five shutters of the Cheruthoni Dam, part of the Idukki Reservoir, were opened today as the bridge in the town, connecting north and south Idukki district, has been flooded due to incessant heavy rainfall in the region. For the first time in the last 26 years, a shutter of the Cheruthoni Dam was opened yesterday and rest four were opened today. The full reservoir level is 2,403 feet and storage capacity is 69,268 Mcft and storage percentage is 97.61 per cent. The South-west monsoon has been vigorous over Kerala resulting in heavy rains in various parts of the state since the past two days. [] With water levels rising in various dams and reaching almost maximum capacity, shutters of at least 22 reservoirs in the state have been opened to drain out excess water. [more] >> More than 140 technologies to be showcased at Vietnam Laos TechConnect Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Science and Technology (MST), Tran Van Tung, made the statement while addressing the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Laos TechConnect in Vientiane, on August 9. The forum also aimed to deepen the cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao Ministries of Science Technology, as well as boosting exchange and coordination between scientists and businesses from the two countries, he added. Lao Minister of Science and Technology, Boviengkham Vongdara, stressed that the forum is the first of its kind to be held in order to facilitate the strategic goal of developing science and technology in the two countries, thereby opening up new opportunities for the participants to exchange information and set up cooperative ties. At the opening ceremony, six cooperation agreements were signed among universities and businesses from Vietnam and Laos. On the occasion, a delegation from the MST presented VND150 million to people who have been affected by the collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in the Lao province of Attapeu. 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 SEATTLE (AP) Seattle has accumulated more than $10 million in the first six months of its tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. The Seattle Times reports as of Tuesday, the city's Finance and Administrative Services department had received $5.8 million in second-quarter payments. . . . Delegates sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the Lao capital Vientiane on Aug. 8, 2018. China Southern Power Grid (CSG) has signed a MOU over feasibility study on cooperatively developing and building Laos' national power grid in Vientiane. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun) VIENTIANE, Aug. 9 -- China Southern Power Grid (CSG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) over feasibility study on cooperatively developing and building Laos' national power grid in the Lao capital Vientiane. With the witness of Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, visiting CSG Board Chairman Li Qingkui signed the document on Wednesday evening with Lao Minister for Planning and Investment Souphanh Keomisay and Managing Director of Electricite du Laos (EDL) Boun Oum Syvanpheng. According to the MOU, CSG will cooperate with the Lao side, with combined advantages and mutual benefits, to build a national integrated backbone power grid as to improve power transmission capacity and electricity supply reliability in Laos, and support the country's sustainable socio-economic development. At the same time, the CSG also donated 1.2 billion kip (some 142,000 U.S. dollars) to the Lao government at the singing ceremony, to help the flood-hit victims in southern Laos to rebuild their homes. On July 23, a saddle dam of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project, invested by South Korean, Thai and Lao companies, burst, unleashing flood water from the mountain to 13 villages of Sanamxay district downstream the Xe Pian River, some 560 km southeast of Vientiane. Six villages were almost submerged by the muddy flood with 13,000 villagers being affected. An CSG official told Xinhua that as the first Chinese power grid company going global, CSG actively implements the Belt and Road Initiative by enhancing power cooperation with Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries. China now has about 800 taught-in-English private schools. My guess is a 15% growth rate over the next 5 years, similar to American charter schools in the early 2000s. So lets say that in 2022, China will have 1,600 such schools. In the USA, each of 50 states decided its own approach for charter schools, so political risk is spread out. Arizona allowed many charters, Vermont forbid charters, Massachusetts chose a medium course. In China, however, education policy tends to be national. So the uneasy legal status of all these private schools could change at a moments notice. On Wednesday I described the shortage of British and American teachers there. It will only increase. Today Im thinking about parents. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, paired with Little Soldiers, are 2 great books from an American-Chinese perspective. I asked a couple of very sharp Chinese school leaders: How are you planning for increased competition? What will Chinese parents care about in 5 years that they dont care about now? They had sharply different responses. Chinese Edu CEO #1 predicted: Mike, 5 years is a short time horizon. Parents wont change much, in China or anywhere else in the world. Understand: China is a low trust society. So parents care about brand. Beautiful buildings. Affiliation with a famous school in USA or UK, with lots of Western sounding classes, like design thinking. Plus hopefully a few graduates who went to Harvard. Thats what brand means here. Teacher quality matters mostly on paper. Credentials, certifications, years of experience. But beyond that, parents dont really sit in the classroom. So theyre not good judges of teacher quality. Is that so different in American private schools? Can Andover parents describe the stylistic difference between their sons math teacher and history teacher? I doubt it. They have no clue. Your idea, to help start an English medium school built on quality teaching, is nice-sounding but naive. Very naive. Parents wont respond well because youll be putting money into teaching (which they cant see) and not in buildings (which they can see). Chinese Edu CEO #2 had a different take: As more private schools open, Chinese parents will become more sophisticated customers. They will care more about the actual day-to-day experience of their children. That will be determined largely by teacher quality and teamwork. WeChat (Chinas combo of Facebook, WhatsApp, PayPal) has parents constantly talking to each other. Over time, word-of-mouth will re-rank schools. Those with great teaching and good brand may overtake those with great brand but merely okay teaching. So, if you manage to bring a great team of American teachers over here, who do all this teamwork and parent engagement stuff you talk about, that should work with Chinese parents. Your teachers could even be a model that other schools study; Chinese are better than Americans at copying what works. Your problem is not the idea. Your problem will be finding a trusted Chinese partner who is aligned with your vision. Plenty of Americans have had school related partnerships here blow up, most unpleasantly. Who to believe? Basic psychology: I want CEO #2 to be right! But I heard CEO #1s narrative far more often while in China. Most American teachers there were resigned to that reality (and its why they planned to leave soon). And if thats true, Ill be wasting this next year of my life trying to start a school in China, because Ill fail. Ive spent a lot of time in the Harvard Innovation Lab, and a key idea there is Lean Startup. Test your ideas small. Fail fast. So a first step to opening a new high school in China maybe something real small: recruit perhaps 5 American teachers to move to China, launch an after-school English program, test hypotheses, and see what works. If Andy will have me back on Eduwonk, Ill check in with you, dear readers, in August 2019 to let you know what happened. In the meantime, get in touch to share any ideas/feedback/people-I-should-meet. Guest-blogger Mike Goldstein; cross-posted at NewSchoolInChina.org US poultry organisations applaud new market access for US poultry to Morocco The USA Poultry & Egg Council (USAPEEC) and the National Chicken Council (NCC) has welcomed the news made by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue that Morocco has agreed to allow commercial imports of US poultry meat and poultry products into Morocco for the first time, bringing to fruition a 14-year-long effort to gain entry to the market. "We are very pleased after 14 years, since a free trade agreement was signed between our countries, for poultry to finally to have access," USAPEEC president Jim Sumner said. Sumner noted that while the initial quota for imports is limited, "the good news is that by 2024 for turkey, and by 2030 for chicken, we will have full access." NCC president Mike Brown praised the action, saying: "This is welcome news and I commend the Administration for its continued efforts to open markets for US chicken around the world. Producers are very excited about this new market opportunity." "The Trump Administration continues to prioritise the opening of new markets for US agricultural products," Lighthizer said. "This new access to the Moroccan market is an important step in ensuring that American farmers and ranchers can continue to expand their exports." "Opening new markets for American poultry and other agricultural products is a top priority." Perdue added. "I am convinced that when the Moroccan people get a taste of US poultry, they're going to want more of it." The US had entered into a free trade agreement with Morocco in 2004, but a health certificate was never negotiated. Hence, no U.S. poultry has entered the market. Extensive negotiations this year involving the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and led by the US Trade Representative's Office, culminated with the opening of the market. The final step came with Morocco issuing a health certificate and the updating of the FSIS Export Library. Morocco is a growing market for further processed products as well as raw poultry. There will be a duty-free quota of 6,400 metric tons for chicken parts. The quota will increase by 200 metric tons each year until eventually becoming unlimited. Initial estimates indicate that Morocco would be a US$10 million market, with additional growth over time. "What's really great about this agreement is that the US is the only country with duty-free access for chicken," Sumner said. "Morocco, being mostly a live bird market, does very little of its own chicken processing. The US will have the opportunity to introduce many further processed chicken and even turkey products to the Moroccan market. We look forward to working with the Moroccan poultry industry to help grow the consumption of all poultry products, both domestic and foreign." - National Chicken Council A member of staff lifts a sheet of paper out of a bath of pulp at a workshop in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. ZHU LIXIN/CHINA DAILY The industry is in flux as machines replace manual production methods, lowering both prices and quality. Zhu Lixin reports from Hefei. In February, Yang Hongwei posted a video on his WeChat Moments feed that showed his grandfather leading a group of papermakers, including Yang, in singing a traditional song to help maintain energy levels as they pulped bamboo to make paper. In 2006, Yang's grandfather was recognized as the sole national inheritor of a traditional method of making paper from bamboo that was developed in Jiajiang, Sichuan province, centuries ago. Official recognition meant the Yang family, from Jiajiang's Macun township in the mountainous southwestern province, became the best-known of the county's hundreds of papermakers. The same year saw the Jiajiang technique listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Yang was still in college when his father died in 2015, and in February, when he shot the video, his grandfather's heath was deteriorating. The elderly man died in March, and Yang, as the family's only child, became the 14th-generation inheritor of the ancient handicraft. The 23-year-old is now struggling to maintain the family business. Jiajiang's handmade paper industry is also struggling as an increasing number of workshop owners embrace machinery and new business models, such as selling, not making, paper. "The situation is no better in the rest of the country, which is the birthplace of papermaking," said Tang Shukun, director of the Handmade Paper Institute at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, capital of Anhui province, who has been monitoring the handmade paper sector for 20 years. BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme People's Court (SPC) has issued a circular on enhancing legal support for comprehensive reform and opening-up in the island province of Hainan, said a statement from SPC on Thursday. To advance the establishment of the pilot free trade zone and a free trade port with Chinese characteristics on the island, the SPC stressed the importance to improve the implementation of trials to ensure a legal, international and convenient business climate and a fair, open and unified market in Hainan. The circular underscored the significant role of justice in protecting intellectual property, and the SPC supports the idea of establishing an intellectual property court and an international intellectual property exchange on the island. To secure financial market orders and promote the internationalization of the Chinese currency renminbi, financial cases must be judged carefully according to law, said the circular. In the document, the SPC required relevant authorities to pay special attention to commercial trials with foreign parties involved, equally protect the legitimate interests of both domestic and foreign parties, and safeguard international trade orders. The circular also demands careful judgment in cases involving tourism, the environment and resources. Havana, Aug 10 (EFE).- Tires recycled as brake pads, radiators made of pipes and engine gaskets sealed with the use of a pressure cooker are common in Cuba, where every motorist must also be a mechanic amid a shortage of new vehicles, gasoline and spare parts. "Here we invent a lot," Ramon Mongui, 52, quipped as he told EFE the story of the red and white 1956 Ford Fairlane Sunliner he uses to ferry tourists around Havana for $30 an hour, about as much as the typical Cuban worker makes in a month. When Ramon's car was leaking oil and he failed to find a replacement for the faulty gasket, he found a solution in his kitchen. "My wife told me, 'I'm making you some delicious beans.' When I opened the pressure cooker - an old Russian pressure cooker - I noticed the gasket was similar. I took it, we tested the pressure and it worked. Four years later the car keeps running," he said. With roughly 500,000 automobiles and more than 11 million inhabitants, Cuba has only 42 vehicles per 1,000 residents, compared with 600 per 1,000 in Spain and more than 700 cars for every 1,000 people in the United States, according to data from 2015. The main reason is government policy. Until 2011 it was illegal to buy a new car. That prohibition was dropped in 2013, but the purchase of a new vehicle is taxed at 800 percent, resulting in an effective price of $80,000 for a fairly basic ride. Absurd as it seems, there is a logical explanation, according to Diego Llorente, a Spanish financial professional living in Cuba. "Cars and gas are imported in hard currency, but are sold here in the local convertible currency (CUC) that lacks international value. Cuba has insufficient hard currency, which forces the country to limit imports, especially of such large and important devices," Llorente told EFE. Ramon Mongui worked hard to save up the $500 he paid for his Ford in 1992. "Now they offer me more than $50,000, but I'm not selling. My younger son will take it over from me," he said. TARGU JIU, Romania, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of 60 photos on China's Belt and Road Initiative kicked off this week in Targu Jiu, the capital city of Gorj County in southwestern Romania, featuring the outcomes the initiative has achieved so far as well as landscapes of participating countries. "The Belt and Road Initiative is the Silk Road of the new era. Today, the initiative proposed by China, which is experiencing rapid economic development, will undoubtedly benefit the economic development of the countries along the route, promote humanities exchanges between countries, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results," Gheorghe Nichifor, vice chairman of Gorj County Council, told the opening ceremony held in the Alexandru Stefulescu County Museum. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Romania, Cultural Counselor Zhao Li told the audience that the Belt and Road aims to align development strategies and support infrastructure construction and connectivity of the related countries in joint efforts to address challenges in the global economy. According to Zhao, the Chinese initiative belongs to the world and will promote policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds of all participating countries. Vice-mayor of Targu Jiu, Adrian Tudor, told Xinhua after the ceremony that the new exhibition opened a window to the local citizens to understand China's Belt and Road Initiative. "The new Silk Road not only bridges the economic development of countries along the route, but also creates opportunities for cultural and personnel exchanges," he added. The exhibition is scheduled to run to the end of August. Thanks to years of efforts on desertification control, green plants now prosper alongside a road running through Kubuqi desert in Hangjin County, Erdos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Photo by Wu Yong from Peoples Daily Thanks to decades of consistent efforts to fight desertification and reduce poverty, a story of greening the desert and bringing economic benefits to people has been written in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. From a vast barren desert to a land of green plants, Kubuqi desert is a masterpiece of Chinas ecological construction and offers a solution for global desertification control. Desertification is known as the cancer of the earth. Kubuqi desert, located in the north of Ordos Plateaus ridge, is Chinas 7th largest desert. It used to be the home of frequent sandstorms where no green plant could survive. In recent years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government, as well as the joint efforts of local people and enterprises, Kubuqi desert has experienced a historical change in beating desertification through afforestation. The desert was designated as an ecological economy demonstration zone by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The Kubuqi model of desertification control has also been introduced to ecologically vulnerable regions in west China. With the construction of the Belt and Road, it will bring hope to more desertified regions and introduce Chinas experience in fighting desertification to the world. The success of Kubuqi shall be attributed to the unique concept to increase income for local residents through afforestation. Over the past several decades, about 6,000 square kilometers of sand has been tamed, creating ecological benefits worth more than 500 billion yuan, providing jobs for one million people and lifting over 100,000 people out of poverty. The Kubuqi model is a vivid display of the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Chinese society has firmly implemented the Beautiful China initiative and made more remarkable achievements under the Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. The area of afforested land by Elion, a private ecology and investment enterprise in Inner Mongolia, equals the total area of desertification control over the last 20 years. More than 290 of the companys 343 scientific and technological innovations on curbing desertification were made in recent years. A number of major ecological industry projects were also launched in recent years. Practice has proved that by activating all sides and pooling support from the society, China can make greater strides in ecological civilization construction. The success of Kubuqi shall be attributed to the new mode it created. How to restore and manage ecological system in desert regions is a worldwide tough issue. The report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC pointed out that China will establish an environmental governance system in which government takes the lead, enterprises assume main responsibility, and social organizations and the public also participate. African media delegates plant trees in Kubuqi desert, July 2017. Photo by Ma Gengping The desertification control of Kubiqi is guided by government policies, invested by enterprises, participated by local farmers and herdsmen, and promoted by continuous scientific innovation. This unique model has brought ecological, economic and social benefits to farmers and herdsmen, making them the biggest participants, the strongest supporters and the largest beneficiaries of the desertification control. It is a model with Chinese characteristics that attaches same importance to both ecological and economic development. The success of Kubuqi shall be attributed to the energy it created. The way people in desert regions choose to develop their economy determines the sustainability of the sand control. People believe that the economic benefit created by the afforestation in the area is comparable to the ecological results. The market-oriented method is vital to the success of the regions desertification control. Without market, the enthusiasm of the enterprises could not be fully motivated; without industry, sand control could not be sustained. It is the market that has solved the issues such as source of capital, profitability and sustainable development and made desertification control a success. Led by enterprises such as Elion, over 80 companies are now involved in desertification control and sand-related industries. They have largely promoted the development of desert industry, enhanced technological innovation to curb desertification and injected strong impetus into the prevention and control of desertification. Ecology and civilization are closely related, and building an ecological civilization is of fundamental importance to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, Xi said at a national conference on environmental protection held this May. Efforts to pursue socialist ecological civilization should be made generation by generation. Only in that way can we create a better environment for the people and make new contribution to global ecological security. Galeton Borough sticking to its guns Free Access Another hurdle has been crossed in Galeton Borough Councils determined effort to save the towns signature lake, regardless of its cost or a paid consultants recommendation that it be eliminated.... COVID-19: numbers tell the story Free Access Coronavirus case counts across the region continue to rise. The numbers tell the story. In Potter County, there are now 128 active cases, meaning that the victim has contracted the... Pediatricians step up for Covid vaccine Free Access A statewide pediatrics organization is launching a campaign to educate parents, health administrators, community leaders and other citizens about the COVID-19 coronavirus and the importance of vaccinations. Pennsylvania Chapter of... Pollutions stalls Tractor Supply development Free Access Reckless waste disposal practices of yesteryear have come back to haunt another proposed business development in downtown Coudersport. Reports surfaced last week that construction of a Tractor Supply store has... The US has once again put domestic law above international law by imposing very unreasonable new tariffs on Chinese goods, said a spokesperson of Chinas Commerce Ministry on Aug. 8 after the US announced to implement 25 percent tariff on $16 billion worth of Chinese goods since August 23, 2018. To safeguard its interests and the multilateral trading system, China was forced to make countermeasures. It opted to impose 25 percent tariff on $16 billion worth of US imports, and the tariff is to be implemented in parallel with the US. The Trump administration insisted on starting a trade war against China and escalated the trade war step by step, attempting to force China into trade concessions through extreme oppression and blackmail. However, Chinas reaction indicates its comprehensive understanding of the trade war, which enables it to handle with calmness. China knows that the trade war is inevitable. The US is unwilling to see China develop and prosper and then surpass it; therefore it devotes great efforts to maintain its long-time hegemony and the so-called strategic advantages. The US wants to profit from its economic and trade relations with China, and it wants more to contain Chinas development. The Trump administration regards China as its strategic competitor which threatens the US in terms of geopolitics, strategic security, economy and trade and technology, as well as ideology. Its China policy, based on zero-sum mentality, will not change as China hopes it to. Therefore, China has to cast away illusions and resolutely respond to the US. China has seen through the double-dealing of the US. The US always treats China with two contrary approaches. It on one hand wants to contact, talk and cooperate with China and on the other hand guards against and oppresses the latter and couldnt stop containing and confronting the latter. The Trump administrations China policy is unconventional and changeable, but it is still a double-faced tactic. In these days, while announcing to increase tariffs on imported Chinese goods, the US also expressed its willingness to resume negotiations with China. In response to this carrot-and-stick diplomacy, China insists on taking reciprocal counteractions through promoting negotiations while fighting the trade war. China knows that the trade war is tough, and it grants more composure for the country. Inflicted with the largest-ever trade war in world economic history, China will inevitably suffer economic and trade losses, and be confronted with new difficulties in national economic transformation. But just as jade needs to be polished, China also needs to go through trials and tribulations to be strong. No hardship has ever stopped China from standing up, growing rich and becoming strong. Any external pressure will ultimately be turned into strong impetus for development. Chinas development is not a handout from other countries, and it has the ability to withstand pressures from external powers. It will calmly face this obstacle on the course of its rising and accept this test that a major country has to encounter on the path of development. China sees both the dark and bright sides of the trade war. The country has a belief that challenges can be turned into opportunities. Provoked by the US, China will fight back with wisdom and courage, stay restrained and adopt a long-term prospective. In the US-China trade war, China upholds justice and follows the trends of global development. The country will never be complacent or fear the US. China will continue upholding reform and opening up and focusing on its own development, as well as adhering to peaceful development. By doing this, the country will finally turn risks into opportunities and walk faster toward high-quality development. With a long history and profound strategic culture, China has gained rich experience in the fight against foreign forces. In the 1930s and 1940s, Chairman Mao Zedong said the War of Resistance against Japan is a protracted war and the final victory will be ours this is our conclusion, after in-depth analysis on issues concerning the War. In the 1980s and 1990s, western countries represented by the US imposed sanctions on China, casting shadow on the latters future. However, the chief architect of China's economic reform Deng Xiaoping firmly believed that nothing could defeat China. History has proved that China was not defeated and put into chaos; instead, it is developing more rapidly and better. Faced with complicated domestic and international environments, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that the country should maintain its strategic composure and have a calm mind in the face of major challenges. He also clearly pointed out that we should not allow our views to be blocked by intricate developments in observing the world. China is unprecedentedly approaching the center of the international arena, and getting closer to realize the rejuvenation of the nation, while the world is going through unprecedented changes. At this critical moment, a keen insight, a clear mind, decisiveness, and a strong execution will guarantee China to win the trade war and forge ahead. Perhaps China and the US will not know each other better without the trade war. In history, the two countries have been in conflicts for many times. Trumps tactic of oppressing, blackmailing, denigrating and demonizing China will not work at all. Jia Xiudong is a researcher with the China Institute of International Studies. Pence's 'Brunson threat' These days US and Turkeys relations are tense. Markets speculative rise in Turkey related to this threat. Foreign exchange market in Turkey is under speculative rise. Friday morning the Lira reach more than six lira to each dollar and then the currency had risen back to $5.911. Suddenly this rise brought the agenda the external interventions. US RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS RISE Of course when it comes to intervention the first country that comes to mind is US TRUMP AND PENCE THREATENED TURKEY OVER BRUNSON President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence threatened to impose "large sanctions" on its NATO ally Turkey if that country does not release an American pastor currently under house arrest. Pence's 'Brunson threat' WATCH THE INNOCENT MAN SHOULD BE RELEASED "The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson, a great Christian, family man and wonderful human being," tweeted Trump. "He is suffering greatly," Trump added. "This innocent man of faith should be released immediately!" HE IS UNDER HOUSE ARREST Brunson, an Evangelical Presbyterian pastor from North Carolina, was arrested in 2016. THE rise of the automated machines was one of the highlights at The University of WAs (UWA) recent industry forum, with the Kondinin Groups Ben White and Josh Giumelli sharing their experiences of automated technologies. Every two years the pair, who has worked together for 20 years, travel to Germany where they attend Agritechnica with 500,000 others. More than 2800 exhibitors from around the world demonstrate their machinery, equipment and technology under 40 hectares of roof. Mr White said it took a while to get around the software and sensor technology on display. We are certainly seeing a real drive towards the software pathway in agriculture, Mr White said. What is interesting is the past couple of times we have been to Agritechnica, there has been a real thrust towards autonomous machinery and equipment, not only prototypes but all the technology that sits behind that. Mr Giumelli said it was their job to get the information from the event and pass that onto WA farmers. We need to tell them about some of the technology that might be changing their lives in the future, Mr Giumelli said. There have been a lot of changes in agriculture. We all hopped off the horse and jumped on the tractor at some stage. We have gone to mechanical harvesting and recently we have started using GPS guidance systems. We are more than certainly on the cusp of a significant revolution of automation on farms. The men first saw a machine operate autonomously in a broadacre cropping situation four years ago. There has always been the issue if a tractor just drove off through the fence and into the house, Mr White said. There are some questions about social licence and safety. If we want to use this technology we might have to answer for it. Mr White said the Kondinin Group wanted to give farmers a snapshot of where automation was in agriculture, some of the machinery in the works and some of the things that were out there already. Below are a list of technologies the pair has seen in action and what they see for the future. Autonomous tractors Stablemates New Holland and Case IH released an autonomous concept vehicle a few years ago. The New Holland NH Drive and the CaseIH AV were some of the first released concept vehicles, although there is a big difference between the two the New Holland tractor still has a cab for an operator. The New Holland is probably for your more nervous adopter of this technology who still wants to be able to hop in and drive, Mr Giumelli said. The CaseIH tractor is for people who want to go gung-ho and not have anyone ever sit on the tractor again. Mr Giumelli said the autonomous car industry had pioneered a lot of the technology that agriculture was using. It has also made a lot of the components pretty cheap and readily available, he said. SWARMS Soil compaction is a big issue on Australian farms and as machinery gets bigger so does the compaction. SwarmFarm Robotics has created the well know SWARMS, which are a diesel hydraulically-driven bot. Including the pay load, no one machine weighs more than two tonnes. They are designed to work in teams out in the paddock, Mr Giumelli said. Why they might be small capacity singularly, with a few of them working together they can get a fair bit done. The Australian Centre for Field Robotics has also come up with a similar idea with an autonomous tool carrying platform. The centre is using a drone which flies around and spots for weeds. Once a weed is detected it sends a signal back to the machine on the ground which drives around autonomously and sprays the spotted weeds. Fendt MARS The Fendt MARS robot is the size of an esky on wheels, Mr White said. The MARS system is a number of bots that come out of the back of a van where they are charged up. You fill them with seed and out they go sowing a single row of seed at a time, he said. I dont think you would have any soil compaction issues there. Mr White said the MARS system was a prototype but he was sure it would be used more widely in the future, especially in horticulture. Smart spraying concept Bosch and Bayer created smart spraying system last year with green-on-green weed recognition, with some pretty powerful robotics and some computing power working to identify weeds from crops. It will look at a seedling, figure out what it is and then select one of four products it could spray it. It will direct inject the chemical into water then spray it out on the weed. Mr Giumelli expects to see this type of smart spraying on SWARM bots pretty soon. Jati laser weeder The Jati laser weeder is an alternate technology for killing weeds. The autonomous machine has a four-watt laser that drives along on tracks and zaps the weeds at the seedling stage, although the laser would need more power for bigger weeds. Mr Giumelli doesnt know if it will see on a broadacre scale any time in the near future. The hands-free hectare Mr White said the hands-free hectare was a very interesting project which was completed last year. The project involved a hectare of land which was sown to barley where no human stepped inside the fenced area. Whats interesting about this project is it didnt use high end technology, Mr White said. They used all off-the-shelf technology and freely available software to drive the machinery. It was low cost autonomy and it was applied across every operation in that paddock. The US fired the second shot in the trade war by announcing to impose additional 25 percent tariffs on $16 billion worth of Chinese products on Tuesday, following on from the 25 percent tariff on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports effective from July 6th. The newly imposed tariffs will be officially implemented since Aug. 23. A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) condemned the US on Wednesday for once again putting domestic law above international law by imposing very unreasonable new tariffs on Chinese goods. He said China has decided to impose an additional tariff of 25 percent on $16 billion worth of US goods and will implement it in parallel with the US. The second shot fired by the US is totally within the expectation of China, so the latter has grown more sophisticated in handling this issue. However, there are still something new that are worth paying attention to. The initial tariff list released by the US covered 284 product categories while this time the number was reduced by 5 to 279. The US side knows that it will suffer great economic losses if not removing additional tariffs on the 5 categories. It indicates that the US is seeing increasing difficulties in attacking China without hurting itself. In addition, the second round of tariff imposition received objection from related American industries immediately after it was announced. "We have made the case to the administration, in the strongest possible terms, that tariffs imposed on semiconductors imported from China will hurt America's chipmakers, not China's," President and CEO of the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) John Neuffer said in a statement. The US farmers used to be Donald Trumps firm supporters, but now more and more of them are feeling being betrayed. Tweets against the US-China trade war have spammed the twitter page of the American Soybean Association. Besides, according to the latest statistics from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, the US trade deficit with China continued expanding in the first half of 2018 to $185.7 billion, up 9 percent year on year. It indicates that the US will not be able to reduce trade deficits by starting a trade war against China. It has been a month since the trade war was initiated, and the performances of the two sides are in sharp contrast. The US has been acting arbitrarily while China shows restraint and rationality. What the US has done is just aggravate its blackmail from $50 billion, to $200 billion, and then the totally unrealistic $500 billion. It exerted extreme high pressure on China just to crumble the latter. However, such simple and crude method obviously had no effect on the handling of the interwoven trade relations between the US and China. On the contrary, Chinas practices have always been rational and restrained. The US has been acting impetuously while China adopts a calm mindset. The core decision makers of the US trade are making remarks almost every day to boost their courage, revealing their wishful thinking of ending the trade war with one-time effort. China, by contrast, is fighting back in self-defense and dealing with the issue with calmness, as it showcases the resolution to keep its head up and fight till the end. The US has been acting unfaithfully while China always keeps its words. This round of trade game between the two major economies exposed how the US has broken its promises to both China and the world. China has always made concise and explicit remarks, and its actions always followed its words. The US has been acting irresponsibly while China always bears in mind the bigger picture. The US is the only super power in the world, and the establishment of the modern global trading system was exactly guided by the country. However, Washington traded the world trading system and rules for private interests, which has led to unanimous critics from the international community. China always stands with the multilateral trade system and rules, paying attention to the interests of the whole. Obviously, Washington failed to act like a responsible major country in this trade war, but China still showcased its consistent calmness and composure even under the pressure placed by the US. The ancient Chinese divination text I Ching, also known as the Classic of Changes, said that even a dragon regrets flying too high, and fullness wont last long. Based on such ancient oriental wisdom, Washingtons practices are not able to be sustained. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Global professional services company Accenture (NYSE:ACN) has made two acquisitions in North America to expand its Industry X.0 practice. The company acquired hardware engineering company Mindtribe and entered into an agreement to buy smart embedded software company Pillar Technology. The two acquisitions will boost Accentures ability to support companies in redefining smart connected software and physical products. Accenture Industry X.0 provides industrial, high-tech, software, automotive, energy and utility companies with services to shift to digital products and services, transform their engineering, manufacturing and field operations, and digitize their enterprises. Founded in 1998, Mindtribe creates innovative connected hardware integrated with digital services for many iconic brands and high-tech companies. The company led by Steve Myers, CEO has a team of 40 professionals based in San Francisco. The team will work with Accentures Industry X.0 team and professionals from Accenture Interactives San Francisco Fjord studio. Founded in 1996, Pillar Technology brings its experience in the rapid/agile development of embedded software used in smart, connected products such as autonomous vehicles, working with many iconic brands and high-tech companies. Led by Bob Myers, CEO, the company has a team of 320 people in Columbus, Ohio, Des Moines, Iowa, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Palo Alto, California. Upon closing, Myers will continue to be responsible for the Pillar Technology business. In addition, he will lead Accenture Industry X.0s smart products & embedded solutions practice. The Mindtribe acquisition has been completed. Completion of the acquisition of Pillar is subject to customary closing conditions. FinSMEs 10/08/2018 Houston-based energy focused private equity firm Quantum Energy Partners closed its seventh fund, at $5.575 billion. Quantum Energy Partners VII received equity capital commitments from the General Partner and its affiliates. Led by Wil VanLoh, Founder and CEO, Dheeraj Verma, President, Quantum partners with entrepreneurs that a strong emphasis on operational excellence and that can demonstrate unique and sustainable competitive advantages to manage risk and enhance returns in their businesses. The firm has managed more than $16 billion of equity commitments since 1998. FinSMEs 10/08/2018 SenSat, a London, UK-based tech company that turns complex visual and spatial data into a real time simulated reality for computers to solve real world problems, raised 3.31m in seed funding. Backers included Force Over Mass, Round Hill Venture Partners and Zag (the venture arm of global creative agency BBH). Launched in 2017 by founders James Dean (CEO) and Harry Atkinson (Head of Product), SenSat provides a cloud-based technology platform that allows companies operating in physical domains, such as infrastructure construction, to make more informed decisions based on multiple variables at large scale and complexity. The company calls this Visual Intelligence, a subset of Artificial Intelligence focused on teaching computers how to understand and interact with the real world. The company intends to use the funds to develop uts its technology, including its novel 3D computer vision workflows and dimensional interpolation, both core features for building intelligent simulated realities and to invest in its San Francisco office. Since launch, SenSats simulated reality platform, Mapp, has supported over 3.5bn of civil infrastructure projects for clients such as National Grid and Highways England. The platform gives a deeper understanding of site workings in an accessible interface, allowing companies to track key project variables such as safety and progress. Aggregating digital data, Mapp has recreated the entirety of High Speed Rail 2 (HS2), using methods that are 75 times more efficient than previously possible. The company already has research streams looking at applications for 5G, where Swiss company U-Blox are using SenSats Cambridge City simulated reality to plan cellular mast locations, Autonomous Vehicles which can use the platform to run millions of hours of driverless simulation in a real-world environment and AR/VR which allows users to create content based on exact replicas of real world environments. Launched in 2017, SenSat currently employs 30 staff at its offices in Shoreditch, London and a recently-opened office in San Francisco. FinSMEs 10/08/2018 Chronograph chronology Chronograph chronology Since the acclaimed premiere of the Datograph 16 years ago, the Saxon watch brand has continuously leveraged its expertise in this domain... Since the acclaimed premiere of the... Egypt's health ministry has said that a 66-year-old Egyptian pilgrim died in Saudi Arabia ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage, which is due to begin on 19 August. The death of the man, who died in the city of Medina after falling into a coma due to hepatic failure, brings the death toll among Egyptian pilgrims in the Saudi kingdom this hajj season to five, the ministry said in a statement on Friday. Deaths from heat exhaustion, fatigue and natural causes are not uncommon among pilgrims on the hajj in Saudi Arabia. Last year, 110 Egyptians died of natural causes during the pilgrimage, according to figures released by the health ministry at the time. More than one million Muslim pilgrims so far have arrived in Saudi Arabia to embark on this year's hajj pilgrimage, due to take place from 19 to 24 August, a Saudi hajj security official said in TV comments on Thursday. All capable Muslims are required to perform the hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, at least once in their lifetime. Saudi authorities said more than 2 million Muslims from around the world took part in last year's hajj. Around 80,000 Egyptians are expected to go on hajj this year, Egyptian officials have said. Search Keywords: Short link: 439 . , , . 1730 . , . 1914 . -. 1922 . - . 1... In analyzing sodium levels of processed meat and fish in five major countries, a new BMJ Open study has revealed the highest concentrations can be found in China and the... Read More Egypt's finance ministry said on Friday that it will pay monthly salaries to state employees working in the country's administrative authorities nine days earlier than usual ahead of the Islamic Eid Al-Adha holiday. August salaries will be paid on 16 instead of 25 August, the ministry said on Friday. The four-day Eid Al-Adha starts on 21 August. September's salaries will also be paid five days earlier, on the 20th, the ministry said The ministry added that the early payment of salaries aims to make it easier for state employees to pay expenses ahead of feasts and national holidays, the ministry said. Around 4.7 million Egyptians work in state administrative authorities, provincial administration and service bodies, Egypt's official statistics agency CAMPAS said in October 2017. Search Keywords: Short link: By continuing to browse our site you agree to our Privacy & Cookie Policy. > Privacy & Cookie Policy I Agree Utility workers stumbled upon a mammoth piece of prehistoric history last month when a long bone fragment was found during the North 2 Utility Expansion Project. The bone, measuring just about one foot in length and 10 inches in width, is believed to be the remnants of a large extinct trunked-mammal, most likely a mastodon or woolly mammoth. Its a fairly large bone fragment and is unlikely to be the only bone in the area, said Ryan Franklin, assistant director of the Archeological and Historical Conservancy Inc., which was called to assess the fossil bone discovery. Their field assessment states that the bone likely came from a horizon of gray clayey sand below several more superficial horizons of fine poorly drained sands and clays. The bone recovered was part of the distal end of the humerus, or, the bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. This specific fossil would have connected the humerus to the elbow. The fragment is considered to be at least 12,000 years old, predating human life in Florida, though Franklin said, Dating is difficult. The report continues that finding fossils of this type are seldom found in isolation, and that there is likely a larger fossil bed in the immediate vicinity with the fossilized remains of this and other animals. It is not uncommon to find these fossils in the Caloosahatchee River area, the assessment stated. There are only two recorded sites in Lee County. This is a likely result of the sites being under-reported, rather than not existing, since most fossil beds are found during deeper excavations (quarrying, deep utility, and lake excavations), the report detailed. State statutes involving fossils only cover lands owned or leased by the state. If the land is not state owned, no additional assessment or stoppage is required. The AHC works in cultural resource assessments across south Florida, with their typical research being in the archeological field. The bone fragment will be donated to the Cape Coral Historical Society. Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj Those who simply can't wait for the all-but-confirmed mid-engine Chevrolet C8 Corvette can take solace in this. It's a 1993 Innotech mid-engine Corvette, it runs, and it's for sale right now. Nicknamed Mysterro, the car came from the mind of the late Vaclav Kral, namesake of Design Kral. Kral was a Czech car designer worked for Porsche among other automakers during his career. The Mysterro Corvette has Kral's hands all over it, and it's one-of-a-kind. We get major Lamborghini vibes from the profile; perhaps Kral was looking at the Diablo when penning the Mysterro. Underneath the bespoke body sits C4 Corvette components with a familiar 5.7-liter V-8 engine mounted amidship. The donor Corvette also provided the suspension components, steering column, and braking system. According to the sale listing, a custom 5-speed manual transmission is also onboard. However, the whole thing is based on a custom tubular spaceframe. Notably, the mid-engine Corvette doesn't have a roofat all. Best to check the forecast before heading out for a jaunt. Inside, it features red leather upholstery with Recaro bucket seats, a carbon-fiber dashboard, Momo steering wheel and shift knob, and an Alpine audio system. This one-off Corvette has some pedigree, too. The car made its debut at a Slovak international car show in 1993 and garnered a Czech National Design Award shortly thereafter. With a price of $120,000, this mid-engine Corvette won't come cheaply, but it will absolutely be a conversation piece wherever it goes. It's fresh, too, with just 100 kilometers (62 miles) on the odometer. The car is for sale in the UK through RaceCarsDirect.com. That means any American buyer will need to set up transport to the U.S. New York Times features writer Elizabeth Williamson on Thursday deleted what she called an "inappropriate" tweet that seemed to criticize the paper's controversial new hire Sarah Jeong. Williamson, who is based in the paper's Washington bureau, originally had tweeted out a link to a column by opinion writer Bret Stephens about Jeong's hiring. "Here's @BretStephensNYT offering a classy welcome to a colleague who has yet to prove she deserves one," Williamson wrote. After she deleted the tweet, Williamson linked to the column again, this time saying: "I just deleted my earlier tweet about this column. It was inappropriate. I apologize." The Times did not immediately respond to requests for comment or queries about whether Williamson was asked to delete the original tweet. The story was first reported by The Wrap. Critics slammed the paper over Jeong's hiring after social media detectives found she sent derogatory tweets about white people and made disparaging comments about her now-colleagues at the Times. "Oh man it's kind of sick how much joy I get out of being cruel to old white men," read one of the most notorious messages from July 2014. NY TIMES STANDS BY NEW TECH WRITER SARAH JEONG AFTER RACIST TWEETS SURFACE The Times issued a statement defending its hiring of Jeong, claiming that she was responding to online harassment "by imitating the rhetoric of her harassers ... She regrets it and The Times does not condone it." In the column that Williamson referenced, Stephens said many of Jeong's tweets were "racist" and noted what he called "the leftist double standard when it comes to social-media transgressions." However, Stephens added that Jeong's Twitter statements should be examined "with utmost caution." "The person you are drunk or stoned is not the person you are at least not the whole person," he wrote. "Neither is the person you are the one whos on Twitter ... So welcome, Sarah, to The Times." Ewan McGregor stepped out of the spotlight for nearly a year to focus on his children after the actor had an affair with his "Fargo" co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Photos of the 47-year-old kissing Winstead, 33, were published by The Sun on McGregor's teenage daughter Esther's birthday in 2017. McGregor was married to his wife of 22 years Eve Mavrakis, 52, at the time. In a new interview with "Good Morning Britain," the actor revealed that since shooting his latest feature in November, he has taken some time off from work. "Since the moment we wrapped, I havent worked since making this film last November," the "Christopher Robin" star said Thursday. "I just took this time off. I needed to, and I wanted to. Im about to start something in September, and I look back now and think, What have I done? And Ive done nothing really! But Ive been really busy doing nothing!" McGregor said he used the time to reconnect with his kids. He shares Clara, 22, Jamyan, 17, Esther, 16, and Anouk, 7, with Mavrakis. "In actual fact, its been brilliant having this time off," he shared. "Ive spent a lot of time with my kids. Ive spent a lot of time doing things that I like to do like riding my old bike and tinkering with old cars Things that I felt like I wasnt having any time to do and not really having a great deal of time." He added, "I was thinking, What am I working for? I was just working to work and I want to work to live." Despite the quality time McGregor has been spending with his children, his eldest daughter, Clara, called her dad's new girlfriend "a piece of trash" on Instagram in July. Her younger sister Esther also spoke out against their father's affair in January. She shared a song she wrote called "Made You A Man" in which she sings, "Seeing those pictures, theyre making me cry," seemingly in reference to paparazzi pictures of her dad caught kissing Winstead in October. "I dont know to forgive. I dont know if I can. Ruining me sure made you a man." WARNING: The following video contains graphic language Mavrakis filed for divorce from the "Star Wars" actor in January. The last time local council elections were held was in 2008. Now a new law regulating them has been delayed for the third year in a row no one is holding their breath they will be held anytime soon The House of Representatives concluded its third legislative season on 25 July without discussing new legislation regulating the election of local councils. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said in 2015 that local council elections should be held at the end of 2016. Outgoing prime minister Sherif Ismail told parliament in March that the government was preparing to hold local elections by the end of this year. Yet no steps have been taken, says Suez MP Abdel-Hamid Kamal. Parliament adjourned for its summer recess two weeks ago and once again local councils were left in limbo. In May Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal promised MPs the necessary law would be passed before the House adjourned for the summer. This law is one of the best pieces of political legislation in Egypts history and it will be a step towards ridding local councils of corruption, democratising and upgrading their performance, said Abdel-Aal. Ahmed Al-Sigini, head of parliaments Local Administration Committee, told reporters in May that the committee had completed its work on the draft law. Ahmed Raslan, an independent MP from Marsa Matrouh, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the absence of any political laws from the agenda of parliaments third session was worrying. Legislation regulating the performance and election of local councils has been completely ignored for a third year, said Raslan. Initially it was planned that the election of local councils would take place at the end of 2015 but the government then cited security concerns for delaying the poll. Now security has been restored and a National Election Authority [NEC] in charge of supervising municipal elections has been formed. Yet the government and parliamentary leaders still insist on ignoring the elections. There is no risk in holding the polls. They are necessary to revitalise political life, democratise local administrations and upgrade the public services they provide. At a press conference on 29 July, Parliaments Spokesperson Salah Hassaballah told reporters that the long-awaited law will be prioritised in parliaments next session (2018/19), scheduled to begin in October. Hassaballah said that although the Local Administration has finalised its drafting and discussions of the law it was postponed because it still needs to be the subject of a national dialogue. We will have a complete law regulating the performance and election of local councils and it will be a priority in the coming session, said Hassaballah. We want a national dialogue because the law covers controversial issues, including boundary changes and whether a list or individual system should be used. Hassaballah said the law as drafted by the Local Administration Committee comprises 157 articles of which 10 regulate the process of electing local councils and the remaining 147 cover the performance, make-up and roles of its members. Al-Sigini said the committee had held hearing sessions on the law over the last 18 months during which experts and a number of provincial governors were invited to give their views. The last local council elections were held in 2008 but were invalidated by the Supreme Constitutional Court because they took place without judicial supervision, says MP Abdel-Hamid Kamal. The newly elected councils were disbanded, leaving the pre-election councils in charge until new elections could be held. The absence of popularly elected local councils has undermined the supervision of municipal executives, says Kamel. Executive councils now operate without any oversight. Earlier this year the Administrative Control Authority issued a report estimating that corruption within local councils had cost LE2 billion. Article 180 of the constitution stipulates that local elections be held every four years with a quarter of council seats reserved for people under 35 and a quarter for women, and that half of all council seats be occupied by workers and farmers representatives. These stipulations made discussion of the law in the committee very delicate because we were keen that the final draft observed all of the constitutionally stipulated quotas, said Al-Sigini. Al-Sigini defended the decision to delay the law to allow for a national dialogue. First you have to make sure that the 54,000 members who will be elected meet the relevant constitutional stipulations and that the electoral system adopted a mixture of the list and individual ones can achieve this, he said. It will also be necessary that the boundaries of districts be finalised ahead of the poll, and the government must allocate a budget to cover the cost of the election. *A version of this article appears in print in the 9 August 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Local councils in limbo Search Keywords: Short link: During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night, Kanye West defended his decision to support Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election, and said he would not be bullied by those on the left. Just as a musician, African-American, guy out in Hollywood, all these different things, you know, everyone around me tried to pick my candidate for me, the Chicago rapper told Kimmel. "And then told me every time I said I liked Trump that I couldnt say it out loud or my career would be over; Id get kicked out of the black community because blacks -- were supposed to have a monolithic thought, we can only, like, we can only be Democrats and all. West said it took more than a year before he gained the confidence to stand up and publicly wear Trumps signature Make America Great Again hat which caused an uproar from many of his fans back in April. I didnt have the confidence to take on the world and the possible backlash and it took me a year and a half to have the confidence to stand up and put on the hat no matter what the consequences were, West explained. And what it represented to me is not about policies -- because Im not a politician like that. But it represented overcoming fear and doing what you felt, no matter what anyone said, in saying, you cant bully me. Liberals cant bully me, news cant bully me, the hip-hop community, they cant bully me. "Because at that point, if Im afraid to be me, Im no longer Ye. Thats what makes Ye. Marvel is reportedly hoping that Disney executives will consider bringing back recently fired Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn for the third installment of the franchise. Citing sources, Deadline reported that back channel conversations are taking place between Marvel Studios and Disney, regarding bringing Gunn back for the upcoming Guardians 3. Gunn was axed when some past tweets resurfaced in which he joked about rape and pedophilia. Gunn, who was set to direct the third installment of the popular superhero science fiction franchise, was fired July 20. Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn told Fox News that the studio had "severed our business relationship," but some are seemingly still in the embattled filmmakers corner. Marvel contingent is trying to persuade Disney to explore a compromise, Deadlines Mike Fleming wrote. Disney did not immediately respond for a request for comment. Earlier this week, The Hollywood Reporter noted Wednesday that the company plans to use the script he wrote for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3." Multiple sources told the THR that Gunn is stuck in "complicated negotiations with Disney over his exit settlement," and that Disney's plans to use his script is playing a role in that. Deadline noted that Gunn returning to direct the film would be a long shot but "the community is talking about it. He was swiftly fired by Disney last month when past tweets were unearthed by critics who oppose his political beliefs. Internet gumshoes discovered Gunns feed included offensive remarks regarding sex with minors, rape, jokes about the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, AIDS and the holocaust. One of the now-deleted tweets said, I like when little boys touch me in my silly place. Another message read: The best thing about being raped is when youre done being raped and its like whew this feels great, not being raped!' Gunn apologized for the years-old tweets. I have regretted them for many years since not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don't reflect the person I am today or have been for some time, Gunn said in a statement. "Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then." Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementeiff and Michael Rooker all signed an open letter addressing the issue and calling for Gunn to be reinstated as the films director. Fox News Nicole Darrah contributed to this report. Disgraced former Today star Matt Lauer has sold his lavish New York City apartment, making his exile to the Hamptons official as he raked in more than its $7.35 million asking price, real estate publication Mansion Global reported this week. Citing property records, Mansion Global reported that Lauer paid $5.88 million for the home in 2004. The site did not identify the buyer or exact sale price for the extravagant four-bedroom apartment. Lauers sprawling pad featured a private elevator landing, a living room complete with high ceilings, custom bookshelves, parquet wood floors and a view of lower Manhattan, according to Mansion Global. The site notes that the master bedroom includes two marble bathrooms. It is assumed that Lauer will now spend even more time at his estate in New Yorks exclusive Hamptons area on Long Island, where he has been known to spend the majority of his time. The former NBC News host was fired after he was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior. He was believed to be the highest paid personality in TV news, reportedly earning $25 million per year. NBC even paid for him at least for a time to be helicoptered back and forth every weekend to Manhattan from to the Hamptons. After an internal review, NBC declared earlier this year that NBC News management was completely oblivious to Lauers pervy past. The controversial review was conducted by in-house counsel despite calls for an independent investigation. The findings directly contradict a recent Washington Post bombshell that Ann Curry complained to two senior managers about Lauers behavior. Last month, Lauer gave his first interview since being fired and discussed an ongoing legal battle over another piece of property -- New Zealand land he purchased in 2017. The massive property controls the only way for the public to access Hawea Conservation Park, and Lauer is required to allow visitors to cut through his property to get to the park. He fired back at claims that he is denying the public access to pass through. Lauer said the only reason his ownership of a lakeside ranch is being called into question now is because of the "difficult times" he's been through lately. Lauer's termination triggered an investigation by New Zealand authorities, who require foreign buyers of important assets to be of good character. The provision is broad and includes criminal convictions as well as anything else that authorities decide reflects poorly on an owner's integrity. "I don't think I'm being a conspiracy theorist here, or paranoid, but I believe the groups are in some ways, unfortunately, taking advantage of some difficult times I've been through over the past six months and I think they see me as an easy mark," Lauer told Radio New Zealand from New York. He went on to claim that people "don't know" the full "circumstances" of the allegations against him. "I think most of the articles I've read...they make very frequent reference to that because they think, I believe...that New Zealanders are going to find some outrage there," Lauer said of his firing. "And would tell people they don't know the circumstances of that situation." He added, "I'm not at liberty to talk nor would I want to talk about that." Fox News Sasha Savitsky contributed to this report. Spike Lee is returning to the big screen in with BlacKkKlansman, a film based on the life of Ron Stallworth, an African-American police officer in Colorado in the 1970s who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan alongside his Jewish police partner. Lee and the films star, John David Washington, opened up about the movie's dense plot and how it addresses todays political climate by tackling issues such as racial tensions, the current administration and police brutality against African-American men. My co-writer, Kevin Willmott, who took the job, knew that as storytellers, we had to put stuff in the film that connected to the present day, so that people would not just look at us as a period piece, a history lesson, Lee told Fox News during the BlacKkKlansman press junket in New York. John David Washington, who is the son of actor Denzel Washington, said he was proud to play Stallworth, whom he called an "American hero." Youre doing the right thing, just do your job the right way, he said of his character. Always remind yourself why you decided to protect and serve your community, to protect and serve people like you and me strangers, really. "What you are doing is, unfortunately, a thankless job, that I think should be given more credit and highlighted men and women of color doing their job on that side of the law, Washington added. The 35-year-old actor continued on to say that he was inspired to play Stallworth and hoped to shed light on more people in law enforcement who are like his character. One of the motivating factors for me was being able to play this man and put him on display," he said. "People who are like him [should] stand up and be proud of what they are doing and know that they are making a difference." Lee said he hopes "BlacKkKlansman" sparks a dialogue about America's current political climate. I respect the audiences intelligence too much to tell them what they should think, but when they see this film, people are gonna have their opinions. One of the great things about 'Do the Right Thing,' when that film came out, people in the [movie theater] lobby theyd be discussing who did the right thing, Lee said of his classic 90s film. He said he expects a similar reaction to BlacKkKlansman. I think that this film is gonna generate that same discussion, which I think is great 'cause we need to talk about what the F is going on today. People have to be alert, be smart, and stop going for the okie doke because people are lying and we have to speak truth to power. Lees BlacKkKansman hits theaters on Friday, Aug. 10. A sexual assault case involving famed actor Steven Seagal is now under review by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office, according to The Wrap. The outlet reported that the case was brought to the DA from the Los Angeles Police Department on Wednesday and has since been under review. This is reportedly the actor's second case that the office is in the process of reviewing. Another case involving Seagal was brought to the DA in January. At the time that the first case was brought to the DA, actor Regina Simons and Dutch model Faviola Dadis told The Wrap that they had filed reports with the LAPD against the actor, but the DA would not reveal whose case was under review. A case was presented to our office on Jan. 31 by the Beverly Hills Police Department involving Steven Seagal and is under review, a spokesman for the DA told The Wrap in February. In March, both Simons and Dadis detailed their alleged encounters with Seagal in a press conference with their attorney Lisa Bloom. Simons claimed Seagal raped her 25 years ago at his home. He closed the door and approached me from behind; he started kissing my neck and taking off my clothes. I was in shock, she said. I was completely caught off guard. Seagal was more than twice my size and twice my age. I was not sexually active nor had I ever been naked in front of a man before. I froze I remember him taking off his robe and the next thing I knew he was inside of me. Faviola Dadis said she was 17 when she met Seagal in 2002. She claims their meeting took place at a hotel. Steven approached me and said he would like to act out a romantic scene ... I felt uncomfortable because I was in my bikini and I expressed this ... Steven slipped his hand under my bikini top and simultaneously slid his hand over my vaginal area I quickly yelled that this audition is over, and I began gathering my things. Steven sat there calmly as if nothing had happened while I was noticeably upset and terrified by the experience. Steven's security guard stood blocking the doorway and only moved when Steven motioned to him. In November 2017, The Wrap published a story in which Hollywood star Jenny McCarthy claimed Seagal asked her to take off her clothes during a 1995 audition for Under Siege 2. The 66-year-old actor denied McCarthy's claim, as well as another from former Bond girl Rachel Grant. Fox News' Sasha Savitsky and Leora Arnowitz contributed to this report. Mainstream media has often been accused of focusing on the flaws of Republicans while looking the other way when it comes to Democrats. Consider this week's coverage of the arrest of Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y. The Media Research Center reported that ABC, CBS and NBC combined to cover Collins arrest on evening and morning newscasts for a combined 18 minutes and 24 seconds during the first 24 hours of coverage. The MRC study also noted that similar ordeals involving a Democrat received little to no attention from the same networks. Former Democrat Rep. Chaka Fattah resigned in 2016 after being convicted of federal corruption charges including bribery, racketeering, money laundering and bank fraud. The networks spent more time on Collins in one day than they did on Fattah in over a year, according to the MRC. During the year-and-a-half period in between his indictment and conviction for bribery and fraud, the ABC, CBS and NBC morning and evening programs managed a scant 68 seconds, MRC associate editor Scott Whitlock wrote. Former Florida Rep. Corrine Brown was sentenced last year to five years in prison over a variety of charges including fraud, but the networks ignored it all together. ABC, NBC and CBS combined for zero minutes of coverage from Browns indictment through sentencing, according to the MRC. According to the MRC, CBS spent 7 minutes and 6 seconds on the Collins story, while ABC spent 5 minutes and 41 second and NBC dedicated 5 minutes and 37 seconds of airtime on the story. CBS, ABC and NBC did not immediately respond when asked about the study. Collins said he believes that charges filed against him "are meritless" and he will remain on the ballot for re-election. The indictment charges 68-year-old Collins; his son, Cameron Collins; and the father of his son's fiancee, Stephen Zarsky, with conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud and making false statements to the FBI. All three pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday afternoon. On Wednesday and Thursday, the networks not only offered a lot of time to Collinss arrest, but they also heavily emphasized the Republicans connection to Trump, Whitlock wrote. Is that the journalistic standard now? Corruption matters because Trump is President? Apparently, corrupt Democrats were of no concern during the Obama era. Collins, who has served New York's 27th District since 2013, ran unopposed in the Republican primary and holds what's largely considered a safe Republican seat in a state that went to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. He's being challenged by Democrat Nate McMurray, a Grand Island, N.Y., town supervisor. Fox News Nicole Darrah contributed to this report. When Sue Cameron went to interview one of the most sought-after pinups of World War II, the reporter was shocked by what she saw. It was 1970 and the longtime TV columnist for The Hollywood Reporter was meeting former 40s star Veronica Lake at Musso and Franks restaurant in Hollywood to discuss her new tell-all. THROWBACK TIME CELEBRITY FLASHBACK PHOTOS Cameron, who served as a reporter for the publication throughout the 70s, recently published a book titled Hollywood Secrets and Scandals, which details her many interviews and encounters with stars like Joan Rivers, Lynda Carter and Valerie Harper, among others. Lake, who died in 1973 at age 50, was one of her many subjects. My picture of her was this gorgeous screen siren with the beautiful blonde hair covering one eye, Cameron told Fox News. But there sat a woman who looked like a cleaning lady. I was really startled. I instantly knew here was someone who was probably struggling financially. You could see she was very damaged. Lake, once a bright star in Tinseltown, had fallen hard rapidly. Lakes acting career had faded by the time she was 30 and she was working as a cocktail waitress in New York City. Lake allegedly turned to alcohol during the height of her fame to relieve herself from the symptoms of schizophrenia, a mental disorder she was diagnosed with as a child. However, her deteriorating mental state, a domineering stage mother and the pressures of maintaining her skyrocketing career led to the destruction of her Hollywood career. The alcohol had wrecked Lakes sought-after beauty so much, Cameron claimed she appeared to be in her 70s when she was just 47. By then she had also suffered from several failed marriages. The Los Angeles Times added that in her later years, Lake rarely saw her three children or heard from them. By the 1960s, Lake had bitter memories about her time as one of Hollywoods reigning stars. 'I hated Hollywood,' Cameron recalled Lake telling her. 'I wasnt a person. I was a commodity. I was being suffocated here and I had to get out.' Cameron revealed Lake originally hesitated to do the interview because she wasnt sure if the young journalist would know who she was. Sometimes I wonder if anyone remembers me, Lake said. Cameron would go on to witness just how far down Lake had fallen in Hollywood. That day she was getting a star on the Walk of Fame, recalled Cameron, she asked me to go with her. I said of course. I had no idea there wouldnt be anybody there. There was not one person there. "Today, there are busloads of people that show up its insane. And here was one of the most extraordinary movie stars of the 40s... standing alone on Hollywood Boulevard with me and Gary Owens from Laugh In and her star sitting there. Cameron claimed there was no one to welcome Lake on what should have been a joyous celebration honoring her big screen accomplishments. There was no microphone, she claimed. There was nothing. It was just three people I was devastated for her. Just devastated It was really a stunning experience. I could see that she recognized what was happening. "She put on a brave face. She tried to smile through it. But you could see that she was just trying to get through it. She wanted to get it over with and she couldnt wait to leave. She literally left town as soon as that picture was taken. Before Lake left Hollywood for good, she told Cameron she hoped their meeting wouldnt be the last. It was. I now think it was a mistake for her to come back to Hollywood, Cameron admitted. She would have been better off staying where she was. She looked very haggard. She looked like she had been a drunk for years. But she wasnt drinking that day. Its possible, and this is just speculation, that she was sober. "And wherever she was living, she might have felt safe. But then she went off and dipped her toe again in Hollywood and got screwed over once again with nobody there. Ive been to so many star unveilings. Hers was really the only one where there were just no people it was strange. Lake died from hepatitis penniless. The New York Times reported not many people attended her memorial service. A longtime friend of Lakes told the publication her ashes remained at a Vermont funeral home until 1976. Another pal then paid the home $200 to ship the ashes and honor her request of spreading them in the waters off Miami. The newspaper added a spoonful of Lakes remaining ashes were reportedly found in a Catskills antique store. And while the shop owner insisted its the real deal, some have questioned its authenticity. Cameron said she believed Lake drank to drown out memories of being pushed around in Hollywood. She was a rebel from the very beginning, she explained. And I understand that she wasnt very nice on sets. That she yelled at people, yelled at her co-stars. I guess thats why she was thrown out of Hollywood. "Alcoholics seem to have a self-destructive button. And the many good things that happen to them? They tend to blow it up. I think she did it deliberately without even knowing. Cameron said she regretted not finding another opportunity for the two to reunite. When someone becomes a star and they dont have family or people who are really supportive and appreciative of them, they dont do well in Hollywood, said Cameron. Its very, very hard to be a public personality. And if you dont have stability, faith or a true sense of self, you will just perish She looked like she needed a friend." A Mississippi woman who claims she was hospitalized with salmonella after eating Goldfish crackers is now suing, seeking damages from Pepperidge Farm and its ingredient manufacturer, Associated Milk Producers, Inc. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, is thought to be the first since the company voluntarily recalled four different types of Goldfish on July 23 due to a possible salmonella contamination, according to a press release from Cory Watson Attorneys in Birmingham, Alabama, the firm that is representing the woman. The recall was due to whey powder found in four products that had had the potential presence of Salmonella, Pepperidge Farm said at the time. PEPPERIDGE FARM RECALLS GOLDFISH CRACKER VARIETIES DUE TO POSSIBLE SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION Bailey Finch, from Columbus, Mississippi, claims that she had no idea that certain flavors of the snack were possibly contaminated when she ate the "Blasted Xtra Cheddar" variety on July 19, just days before the company issued the recall. Not long after, she was treated at DCH Hospital in Tuscaloosa, for severe stomach problems, according to the press release, but was later taken to UAB University Hospital in Birmingham where she underwent four days of treatment for severe complications caused by the salmonella. Finch, 26, was taken to UAB University Hospital with organ failure and collapsed veins, news station WBMA reported. MCDONALD'S, CHIPOTLE AND OTHER CHAINS WITH FOODBORNE ILLNESS OUTBREAKS: HOW TO STAY SAFE The crackers Finch ate were defective and unreasonably dangerous and the defendants should have known of the defects and the danger posed, Finchs lawyers argue. The suit also claims that both Pepperidge Farm and Associated Milk Producers, Inc. failed to warn consumers of the threat posed by the crackers. As a result, Finch is now seeking damages for "medical expenses, mental and physical pain, emotional distress, lost wages and future medical expenses, according to the press release. "Salmonella kills. Pepperidge Farm failed in their duty to ensure that the food they produce is safe to eat, and as a result, our client almost lost her life," Bobby LeMoine, an attorney with Cory Watson Attorneys, said in a statement. Fox News Kathleen Joyce contributed to this report. Palestinian analysts urge caution amid rumours of a truce agreement between Hamas and Israel, seeing a possible replay of Oslo, which many in retrospect deem a carefully planned trap Palestinian observers and analysts assert that dividing the Palestinians is still viewed as a tactic by some players to create a separate entity in Gaza with independent policies, resources and rulers. They believe that since the media began reporting on a possible truce between Hamas and Israel that would lead to economic relief for Gaza, there was an avalanche of negative statements about Palestinian conciliation. This revived accusations and criticisms on both sides. Analysts add that conciliation dropped down the agenda during recent talks in Cairo because other topics took priority, such as the truce, an end of the March of Return demonstrations, and prisoner exchanges between Hamas and Israel. New players also entered the fray, including UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov, the US behind the scenes via Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, and Qatar via Ambassador Mohamed Al-Amadi (a veteran player). Despite intense efforts by Cairo to end divisions and bring about conciliation, since it serves Egypts strategic national interests and is part of Egypts national and moral obligation towards the Palestinian cause, it is clear that Egypt is but one only player amid other regional and international influences, and that some Palestinian players harbour dishonest intentions. The Gaza Strip still suffers truly tragic conditions, which is primarily the responsibility of Israeli occupation, but also Palestinian parties for being intransigent and serving their own narrow interests. Amid general apathy towards the suffering of Gazans under poverty, unemployment, disease and environmental deterioration, some are warning that Gazan suffering could be used a tactic to force Gaza and its residents to accept any deal that would alleviate their misery. Mohamed Qeneta, a writer and analyst, said the Palestinian national consensus government should have achieved an economic breakthrough, since it has a legal mandate. It should have convinced the world of the urgency of its mandate and to oppose anyone who obstructs it, even if Israel. Qeneta wants Hamas to avoid the precarious path set out before it, to protect the sacrifices our people made as part of our national Palestinian struggle. We understand there are hits and misses, but we cannot fall in the trap set by Israel and the US. Nothing good ever comes from Israel, whether through peace or war. Another writer and analyst, Mustafa Ibrahim, said that the slow separation of Gaza from the West Bank is something that has been happening for years, with the main political players surrendering to Israels decision to isolate Gaza and divide the Palestinian cause. It is untrue, he said, that this process began with the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007. Separation began, in reality, in the early 1990s. Ibrahim added that when Hamas expressed a desire for a truce and improved conditions in Gaza, the response of President Mahmoud Abbas to Egypts conciliation steps was to change the cabinet and appoint Nabil Abu Rudeina as deputy prime minister and information minister (which was an unusual step, since he is Fatahs information official and presidential spokesman), re-engineer Palestinian national and central councils, and the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation) executive committee. He views these steps as a continuation of Abbas attempt to shore up the power of Fatah at the expense of national interests. This means we should change our approach and our tunnel vision, which only expresses the views of one camp at the expense of others, and the absence of political partnership. Mohamed Mahmoud, a writer, said the truce initiatives being discussed these days are a response to the political climate in Gaza amid the March of Return demonstrations. Tensions are escalating on both sides and could trigger all-out confrontations between Palestinian resistance factions and Israel. Israel primarily, followed by regional countries, does not want escalation, since any confrontation could have unforeseen and serious consequences in this unstable region. Israel wants, and is strongly pushing for, a truce with Gaza so it can focus on the northern front with Hizbullah and Syria, and the growing crisis with Iran, Mahmoud explained. Abdel-Nasser Al-Najjar, a writer and analyst, said nothing is impossible in politics. There are no permanent rules or criteria. Politics has no morals, he said. It is based on evil not good. He asked: What if we reset the clocks back to 2014 or 2008, instead of 2018, and Israel finds out that members of Hamas politburo and military leadership are meeting in a building on the shores of Gaza. What would be the reaction? There would be no delay and the location would be bombed to smithereens. But todays calculations are different from four or nine years ago. Hamas entire politburo is in a beach hotel in Gaza, not for a vacation or to declare a long war for the liberation of Palestine from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River. The only reason they are allowed to be there is because Israel gave them security clearance to be there, Al-Najjar said. Yes, Israeli security clearance for Hamas leaders and they will not be harassed at this decisive time, he explained. The reason is because Hamas leaders are discussing the details of the truce that Israel wants, supported by Arab regimes and with the strong blessing of the US. But if the price for lifting the siege is a truce, then damn this price. Before 2006, the Gaza Strip was not under siege, had a safe corridor between Gaza and the West Bank, and the Rafah Crossing was always open. According to Al-Najjar, the US so-called Deal of the Century is not on the back burner, as some think, but is brewing as we speak. He warned that if the truce happens, if Hamas succeeds in ending the siege, and if Washington opens the tap for funding projects and the civil service there, the biggest loser will be conciliation. If that is the case, then the Palestinian cause will be frozen for 20 or 30 years. The West Bank, meanwhile, will only be cantons surrounded by settlements and Judaicisation. Akram Attallah, a writer, asks whether events in Gaza and with Hamas are unrelated to the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah or whether the PA is involved. If the PA is not involved, this means it is a plot to separate Gaza and the West Bank. But it is most likely the PA is involved. Israeli media is reporting a role for the PA in implementing the agreement, pertaining to suspended salaries or holding elections. Thus, it is a comprehensive, undefined plot that involves everyone, and holds obvious contradictions in terms of not only Hamas striking a deal separate from the PA but also talks about the return of the PA. More information is needed before a final opinion can be formed, he said. In all cases, Attallah is suspicious because Israel has shown it can lure the Palestinian side into mazes, webs and labyrinths away from Palestinian aspirations. Also, because the balance of power on the ground is not in favour of the Palestinians, even though recently Gaza has shown it can upturn prevailing equations. The PA increased pressure on Hamas during the past year, even though we warned against several possible outcomes. We said if Hamas is cornered it may seek more divisive options and that Hamas will not surrender to its dissolution. Those who think everything will work as preferred are mistaken. We relentlessly said that a partnership is the only way to protect Palestinian solidarity. We warned that if too much pressure is applied, it will engender an opposite reaction, and that Hamas views itself as part of the ruling regime, having a share in the ballot box, and wants to lead Palestinian political entities, both the PA and PLO. Does anyone think it will abandon all this? Of course not, he said. Attallah believes the Palestinian condition is currently at its weakest and the Arab world is fighting for survival, so what agreement would this climate result in? This is similar to the climate before Oslo, which we later found out was a true ambush for Palestinians, that led to a political labyrinth that never ends. So, where would the new deal lead if it ever took place? *A version of this article appears in print in the 9 August 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Trapped in the Israeli labyrinth Search Keywords: Short link: Heat waves or hot weather that lasts for several days is not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous to your health. From life-threatening heat strokes to unsightly heat hives, heres a breakdown of the top ways extreme heat can affect the body. Heat stroke The human bodys normal temperature is about 98.7 degrees Fahrenheit. In order for the body to stay within safe limits of this temperature, it must get rid of its excess heat. When your body is faced with internal or external factors that raise its temperature, like a steaming hot day, the brain sends signals that begin cooling mechanisms such as sweating. Cardiologist Dr. Kevin Campbell explained that when a heat stroke occurs, our bodies are unable to keep up with the cooling demands that a very hot and humid day can create. Our bodies are designed to cool themselves through sweating. In cases of an extreme heat stroke, a person may actually notice they are no longer sweating, Campbell told Fox News. This common summer condition is typically the result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures and happens when your body temperature rises to 104 F or higher. VIRGINIA WOMAN DONATES KIDNEY TO STRANGER: 'GOD CALLED ME TO DO THIS' Other heat stroke symptoms include fainting, confusion, lack of sweating, nausea and vomiting; seizures, rapid, shallow breathing, racing heart rate and headaches. Anyone can develop heat stroke, but certain groups are more at risk than others. The very young, the very old, and those with chronic diseases such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma and diabetes are much more susceptible than others, Dr. Campbell said. Heat stroke can be life-threatening, so it is important to take immediate action if you think you or someone youre with is experiencing these symptoms. The first thing people have to do when this happens is obviously remove yourself from the exposure, from the heat, Dr. Albert Ahn, an internal medicine specialist at NYU Langone, told Fox News. Get into a cool area and cool the body down. That can be done in a variety of ways. At home it can be done with cool baths, cold compresses, ice packs and things of that sort to certain parts of the body [like your head, neck and armpits]." You should also make sure someone calls 911 if you begin to experience chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or loss of consciousness, Dr. Ahn added. Heat exhaustion Heat exhaustion is more mild in severity than a heat stroke, but its cause is similar. It's due to your bodys temperature rising, and its often associated with dehydration. Heat exhaustion usually comes from an acute exposure to heat. It can happen when people are more active, exercising outdoors, working outdoors Its the effects of exertion in that type of weather, Dr. Ahn said. Unlike a heat stroke, when heat exhaustion occurs, you may find yourself sweating profusely. Other symptoms include headache, fainting, extreme thirst, dizziness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, muscle cramps, fatigue and rapid heartbeat. Heat exhaustion is often a precursor to heat stroke, so its important to get out of the heat and rest if you present any symptoms. You should also drink plenty of fluids, remove any tight clothing, and take a cool shower or bath. NAVY VETERAN WITH MS, 94, GOES FOR GOLD IN NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR GAMES Heat hives Heat hives, also known as cholinergic urticaria (CU), are a type of hives that occur when the bodys temperature is raised. They tend to break out when you're sweaty from a workout, nervous or just plain hot. Its one of the most common types of hives and occurs in at least 15 percent of the population. This condition is usually triggered by allergic reactions to heat and/or sweat. It can be triggered by a variety of scenarios like exercising, taking a hot bath or shower, being in a warm room, eating spicy foods, being upset or experiencing anxiety. The hives are an allergic reaction, and in this case its an immune reaction to the actual heat, the effects of heat on the skin, Ahn said. And the hives usually cause this very itchy, sort of raised circular lesions on the skin. CU hives can appear anywhere on your body, but usually show up on your chest, face, upper back and arms. They can occur very quickly after a person begins to sweat or gets overheated and usually go away on their own after the person is able to cool themselves down. Heat hives are more common in young adults, but they can happen to anyone at any age. Acute urticaria usually lasts less than six weeks, but chronic hives can last decades. One study found the average duration of CU was 7.5 years. About one in five adults with chronic hives are likely to have a physical or inducible-type hives that may be triggered by heat (warming of body temperature) as well as cold, and much less common, sunlight, Dr. Clifford Bassett, an allergist and founder of the Allergy & Asthma Care of New York, told Fox News. If you have CU, the best treatment is avoidance of activities that cause your body to overheat. Antihistamines can also help calm and control CU hives, and, in some more severe cases, your doctor may recommend steroids. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS To help prevent any heat-related illness, Dr. Ahn suggests staying out of the sun on extremely hot and humid days and drinking lots of extra water to preemptively combat dehydration. Load up on fluids beforehand and during your time being exposed [to heat], Dr. Ahn said. Id say probably 6 to 8 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes while youre out in the sun, thats going to be the best way to really prevent any of these things from happening. A Texas woman was arrested earlier this year, and her glamorous mugshot has sparked requests for a makeup tutorial. Marshala Perkins, 19, of Dallas, was arrested for marijuana possession on Feb. 6, the Star-Telegram reported Wednesday. Her mugshot was posted to the "Mugshot Baes" Twitter account, in which photos of attractive arrested women are featured. In her mugshot, Perkins appears to have her facial makeup contoured, with bright pink eyeshadow, with a hint of sparkles, and false eyelashes. Perkins told the newspaper that the night she was booked, she was just "bored," adding, "I was just going to go out with my friends looking the way I was looking," she said. One Twitter user quote-tweeted the photo, and said, "We need a tutorial! Free her!" which received 280,000 likes as of Thursday. MEGHAN MARKLE'S ROYAL WEDDING MAKEUP ARTIST SAYS PRINCE HARRY THANKED HIM 'FOR MAKING HER LOOK LIKE HERSELF' The aspiring makeup artist said she had performed a tutorial on Facebook Live before she'd gone out with her friends the night she was arrested. "I sat in my car for like two minutes waiting on my friends and while I was waiting a police car pulled up right behind me," Perkins said. The officer, after running her license and registration, reportedly smelled marijuana and asked her to get out of the car. Perkins said the cop found two grams of marijuana in the vehicle. Initially embarrassed that her mugshot was posted by police online, the former Texas A&M University at Commerce student has since come to appreciate the newfound appreciation for her makeup skills. "Someone has reached out to me about starting my own makeup line. Its crazy. My mind is blown," Perkins told the Telegram. "Now its turned into something so positive so Im just going to embrace it and see where it takes me." NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Before her father became president, Ivanka Trump received overwhelmingly positive coverage in the media as a successful business executive who combined career, marriage and motherhood. There were complimentary stories about her in Marie Claire, Forbes, Vogue and other publications, including articles headlined: Thank God: Ivanka Trump Is Redefining the Idea of the Working Woman; Ivanka Trump Celebrates #WomenWhoWork with a Bold New Business Venture; and Ivanka Trump knows what it means to be a Modern Millennial. In 2014, Ivanka Trump even earned a spot on the prestigious Fortunes 40 Under 40 list, which the magazine said was made up of the most influential young people in business. Another person on the list that year was Ben Rhodes, who was deputy national security adviser to President Obama at the time. Little did Ivanka Trump know in 2014 that three years later shed be in the White House instead of Rhodes, serving as a senior adviser to President Trump. But unlike the glowing media coverage Rhodes received that portrayed him as a brilliant young presidential adviser, Ivanka gets quite different treatment in the media today. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find much coverage of Ivanka Trumps vast White House portfolio and accomplishments. Have you heard about Ivanka moving forward bipartisan legislation that had been stalled for over a decade? Or her collaboration with multiple world leaders in spearheading a new billion-dollar initiative for impoverished women? How about her work for unemployed military spouses or her key role in winning enactment of tax cuts? If none of this is ringing a bell, it should come as no surprise. Thats because the same publications that once praised her now impugn Ivanka, her father and her family. Womens magazines that claim to be the vanguard of feminism undermine the very causes they tout by ignoring the progress Ivanka Trump has made for everyday Americans. Instead of ignoring the achievements of the presidents daughter, the same publications that lauded Ivanka then as a working woman ought to be praising her now as a fierce defender of working women worldwide. Ask yourself this: If the liberal media truly cared about feminism and working-class voters, why have you never heard the following? As a key player in the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Ivanka helped to shepherd through the presidents top legislative achievement, which put approximately $2,000 in the pockets of the average American family. Her months of lobbying lawmakers resulted in major victories like expanding of the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000 and doubling the standard family deduction. Ivanka Trump turned next to helping Americas best: our military families. Recognizing that military spouses face high unemployment rates, Ivanka convened experts for over a year, resulting in an executive order that prioritized military spouse hiring across the federal government. Beyond these meaningful gains for working families, Ivanka Trump remains focused on an ambitious paid family leave plan. Were still at zero weeks of paid leave. Were the only country in the developed world that thats true of, she said Thursday. The president has called for maternity and paternity and adoptive leave, and were working to make that happen. In fact, just this week, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced a paid family leave plan, one that Ivanka Trump said she looked forward to reviewing. In addition to providing support for hardworking families, the presidents daughter has worked on revamping the American workforce. In the midst of a roaring economy with wages growing at the fastest pace in a decade and unemployment at an 18-year low, Ivanka recognizes that its time to invest in American workers and equip our workforce with the skills to thrive in a modern economy. Her efforts prompted a presidential memorandum that allocated $200 million annually to prioritize STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education efforts and a $300 million private sector investment. Ivanka Trump was also a key proponent in reauthorizing the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, a $1.2 billion federal grant program for career and technical education. The program was noncontroversial and bipartisan, garnering the support of 350 organizations, but had not been reauthorized for 12 years because of policy disagreements. How did a stalled bill get past more than a decade of gridlock? Ivanka Trump began to call and have one-on-one meeting with lawmakers, according to Bloomberg News. After reaching preliminary agreement with a group of bipartisan lawmakers, secretarial authority became a sticking point one that Ivanka would resolve. In April, Ivanka hosted a dinner with senators from both sides of the aisle and key CEOs to resolve the issue of secretarial authority. That really signaled a shift in the direction we were going, of the critical importance of getting this done and getting this done quickly, one attendee told Bloomberg. In addition to legislative workforce development efforts, Ivanka designed the presidents Pledge to Americas Workers a bold initiative to train millions of American workers. Initially intended to reach 500,000 workers, the pledge ballooned into eight times that size under Ivankas leadership. Ivanka has worked with CEOs and leaders to get companies and associations across the United States to pledge to train and retrain over 4 million American students and workers, President Trump noted at a workforce development event at Tampa Bay Technical High School. Wow, an audience member replied. Wow is right, the president said. Meanwhile, on the international stage, Ivanka Trump has been recognized and applauded by world leaders. Her meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House led to Merkel extending a direct invitation for the presidents daughter to participate in the W20 Summit in Berlin. At the W20 Summit, Ivanka Trump worked with world leaders in establishing the World Bank Empowerment Fund (We-Fi) a global initiative announced at the G20 summit to help women in developing countries gain increased access to the finance, markets, and networks necessary to start and grow a business. By lobbying lawmakers and working with world leaders, Ivanka has made bold policy ideas realities and broken through legislative gridlock, bettering the lives of women and working families domestically and across the globe. Nevertheless, the liberal media derides her and ignores the progress she has made all because she has the last name Trump. What a shame. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Imagine if it emerged that the Republican chairman of the House or Senate intelligence committee had a Russian spy working on their senate staff. Think it would cause a political firestorm? Well, this week we learned that Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., had a Chinese spy on her staff who worked for her for 20 years, who was listed as an "office director" on payroll records and served as her driver when she was in San Francisco, all while reporting to China's Ministry of State Security through China's San Francisco Consulate. The reaction of the mainstream media? Barely a peep. Feinstein acknowledged the infiltration, but downplayed its significance. "Five years ago the FBI informed me it had concerns that an administrative member of my California staff was potentially being sought out by the Chinese government to provide information" Feinstein said in statement -- which means the breach took place while Feinstein was heading the intelligence committee. But, Feinstein insisted, "he never had access to classified or sensitive information or legislative matters" and was immediately fired. In other words: junior staffer, no policy role, no access to secrets, quickly fired -- no big deal. But it is a big deal. I asked several former senior intelligence and law enforcement officials how serious this breach might have been. "It's plenty serious," one former top Justice Department official told me. "Focusing on his driver function alone, in Mafia families, the boss's driver was among the most trusted men in the crew, because among other things he heard everything that was discussed in the car." A former top CIA clandestine officer explained to me what the agency would do if they had recruited the driver of a senior official like Feinstein. "We would have the driver record on his phone all conversations that Feinstein would have with passengers and phone calls in her car. If she left her phone, iPad or laptop in the car while she went to meetings, social events, dinners, etc., we would have the driver download all her devices. If the driver drove for her for 20 years he would probably would have had access to her office and homes. We would have had the source put down an audio device in her office or homes if the opportunity presented itself. Depending on the take from all of what the source reported, we would use the info to target others that were close to her and exhibited some type of vulnerability." "In short," this officer says, "we would have had a field day." It seems improbable that Feinstein never once discussed anything sensitive in her car over a period of years. But let's assume that Feinstein was extraordinarily careful and never discussed any classified information in front of her driver or on any devices to which he had access. Even so, one former top intelligence official told me, "someone in that position could give an adversary a whole bunch on atmospherics and trends and attitudes which are from time to time far more important than the things we call secrets." He added "It's like [having access to her] unclassified emails." (And we all know no one ever exposes classified information on unclassified emails). Washington is understandably focused on the threat from Russia. But according to FBI director Chris Wray, "China from a counterintelligence perspective represents the broadest, most pervasive, most threatening challenge we face as a country." It was China, after all, which hacked the Office of Personnel Management in 2015, stealing the SF-86 security clearance forms of many thousands of executive branch employees in the most devastating cyberattack in the history of our country. Beijing has successfully recruited FBI agents and State Department employees as spies, and has used information from U.S. informants to kill dozens of CIA sources inside the regime. And now, we know they recruited a high value senate staffer who worked in immediate proximity to the head of the senate intelligence committee. Feinstein owes the country a detailed explanation of how she let a Chinese spy into her inner sanctum. And the media should give this security breach the same attention they would if it involved Russia and the Republicans. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the New York congressional candidate many in the media have fallen in love with was handed rejection when many of the candidates she endorsed lost in Tuesdays elections. But her radical and totally impractical ideas continue to pose a threat. The 28-year-old candidate advocates for guaranteed federal jobs, free college for all, Medicare for all, and the abolishment of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Shed like to turn Uncle Sam into Santa Claus, handing out freebies 365 days a year all paid for by crushing taxes on all of us, a skyrocketing national debt or hey, whatever. The surprising primary victory that turned this grossly unqualified and woefully uninformed young woman into a candidate likely to be elected to Congress in a heavily Democratic district shows that the real battleground this election cycle is in the classroom. If we continue to laugh off Ocasio-Cortez as an ignorant and delusional radical, we will be blindsided by the soon-to-be largest voting bloc in America a generation of indoctrinated millennials. As a fellow millennial, I know firsthand that Ocasio-Cortezs college experience probably taught her that being a socialist absolves her of knowing much at all. All she needs to know is that anyone who opposes her is evil. And she needs to memorize a few bumper sticker slogans about the cruel and greedy 1 percent who aren't paying their fair share. Ocasio-Cortez is among the majority of millennials who now say they would prefer to live in a socialist or communist country over a capitalist one. Thats a troubling revelation to older generations. But can young people be blamed for having no memory of the widespread failures of socialism and communism if we never learned about them? Each year, more and more schools are doing away with basic economics and history courses and replacing them with anti-American, progressive propaganda. A survey by U.S. News & World Report found that 53 out of the 76 best colleges and universities in America no longer require history majors to take a single course on U.S. history. Meanwhile, the Communist Manifesto is among the three most frequently assigned readings at American universities and Karl Marx is the most studied economist. Never mind that his economic ideas make about as much sense as the economic theories of Groucho Marx. Campuses across the country are creating a breeding ground for an entire generation of socialist-embracing voters. The University of Massachusetts currently offers a course on resistance to capitalism. California State University recently held a teach-in charging that America was "built on a racist capitalist system, meant to weaken the minority." At Ocasio-Cortezs alma mater, Boston University, only three out of the 49 outside speakers invited to the campus last year were identifiably conservative. This is the same school that hosted a panel on the premise that Israel and America are fascist states. It's almost as if Ocasio-Cortez used those panel notes to prepare for her cringe-worthy Firing Line interview , where she slammed Israel as an oppressor and then backtracked in embarrassment when asked to elaborate. "Im not the expert on geopolitics on this issue," admitted the recent college graduate. No argument on that point. In fact, Ocasio-Cortez is not the expert on most of the issues she will have to deal with when she likely becomes a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in January. But did anyone expect her to be? Todays college students spend an average of just under three hours a day on education-related activities. They are learning significantly less than college students did years ago, and the little that they do learn is taught through a progressive lens that often gives them a warped perspective of reality. They learn how to memorize talking points and slogans but if you ask them to dive in and explain what theyre saying they cant, because theres no substance. So long as they are virtuously fighting the hateful and the cruel, their grades remain high and they are never challenged to explain the validity of their opinions. As a result, we see an entire generation quick to adopt socialism, but slow to define what it is or what it looks like throughout history. Theyre simply clueless. I think my strength is Im honest and authentic, Ocasio-Cortez told The Daily Show host Trevor Noah. To understand the mind of a millennial is to understand that he or she believes virtues like these absolve you from needing to possess any real knowledge. This is why we see radical ideas that fall apart on close examination becoming mainstream. The problem is that the millennials never give socialism a close examination. Universities have been held unaccountable for far too long and their agenda is now coming to fruition on a national platform. In 2016, a Cornell University history professor was filmed telling students that capitalism is an anti-human system, and then urging them to build a grassroots movement to defeat capitalism altogether because its not going to happen at the ballot box. Fast-forward two years to Ocasio-Cortezs upset primary victory over 10-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in New York and you find that it is in fact happening at the ballot box. This should be a wake-up call for Americans to stop writing off millennials as a hopeless generation of bleeding-heart Bernie-lovers. With a continuation of far-far left indoctrination in our schools and colleges, the American Dream might be replaced by a nightmare. Crazy as it sounds, some people are even talking about Ocasio-Cortez running for president someday. Will America put her in the White House with the slogan Make America Socialist? If the majority of millennials truly embrace socialism, candidates like Ocasio-Cortez are only one successful voter registration drive away from getting elected to our highest offices. And if that happens, we and future generations will get to experience the nightmare of economic failure and lack of freedom that the citizens of Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela, the Soviet Union, East Germany and other socialist and communist states have suffered through. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro challenged democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a debate, offering to donate $10,000 to her campaign if she accepted -- but it triggered a sparring match online. Shapiro initially tweeted a video on Wednesday in which he mocked Democratic National Committee chairperson Tom Perez for calling Ocasio-Cortez, a New York congressional candidate, the future of the Democratic Party, before issuing his challenge. Miss Ocasio-Cortez, Im really excited that youve been elevated to that position and I would love to have a real conversation with you about the issues. Youve noted that you think Republicans are afraid to debate you or talk to you or discuss the issues with you, Shapiro said. Not only am I eager to discuss the issues with you, Im willing to offer $10,000 to your campaign, today, for you to come on our Sunday special, he continued. We can have an hour long conversation about all the topics under the sun, really probe your belief system. Shapiro said he would also debate Ocasio-Cortez for charity. However you want to do it, I am more than willing to talk to you, Shapiro said. Lets make this happen. Shapiro, Daily Wire editor-in-chief, said that he wants to make America a more civil and interesting place, and feels a conversation with Ocasio-Cortez could do just that. Thursday night, Ocasio-Cortez compared Shapiro's offer to "catcalling" on Twitter. "Just like catcalling, I dont owe a response to unsolicited requests from men with bad intentions," she wrote. "And also like catcalling, for some reason they feel entitled to one." Shapiro responded: "Discussion and debate are not 'bad intentions.' Slandering someone as a sexist catcaller without reason or evidence does demonstrate cowardice and bad intent, however." Ocasio-Cortezs unanticipated victory over veteran Rep. Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary over Crowley's New York seat put her in a national spotlight earlier this year. Ocasio-Cortez lit up social media on Wednesday night when she appeared on CNNs Cuomo Prime Time and stumbled when discussing Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the House minority leader. This is painful. Its Miss South Carolina on maps bad, Shapiro tweeted in response to her interview. Donald Trump Jr. captioned video of her interview with, OMG this is insane and yet the liberal campaign to make her the rockstar face of the left will continue ... lets face it, I guess they dont have much else. Ocasio-Cortezs talk with Cuomo isnt her first media appearance to whip up criticism since her upset victory over Crowley. She has struggled to explain how many of her platforms -- such as Medicare for all and a federal jobs guarantee -- would be funded. Still, she has emerged as a liberal darling since bursting onto the scene though not everyone is a fan. Comedian Lewis Black, who also considers himself a socialist, told The Daily Beast in a recent interview that Ocasio-Cortez isn't the answer. The one thing Ive learned in my lifetime is that weve got to get to the middle before we start pushing things in other directions. Weve gotta get to the middle, and they have to sit down and decide how to do things, Black said when asked if Ocasio-Cortez provides a glimmer of hope. Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain contributed to this report. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobachs lead over Gov. Jeff Colyer in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary is now just 121 votes, after two counties reported discrepancies in their initial tallies, officials revealed Thursday. The counting is not complete because state law says mail-in ballots that are postmarked Tuesday can be accepted by the counties as late as Friday. And county officials still must review perhaps several thousand provisional ballots, given to voters at the polls when their eligibility is in question. They have until Aug. 20 to finish. Voters cast 311,000 ballots in the close contest between the embattled governor and a conservative lightning rod. Colyer released a letter after his campaign announced that it had set up a voting integrity hotline, and urged people to report their complaints about the election. Colyer spokesman Kendall Marr said it received countless reports, saying he personally knows of several dozen. It has come to my attention that your office is giving advice to county election officials as recently as a conference call yesterday and you are making public statements on national television which are inconsistent with Kansas law and may serve to suppress the vote in the ongoing primary election process, Colyer said in his letter to Kobach. As secretary of state, Kobach is the states top elections official, setting rules, giving county officials guidance and appointing election commissioners in the states four most populous counties. Kobach spokeswoman Danedri Herbert said the secretary of state would respond to Colyers letter Friday. Deputy Haskell County Clerk Emily Aragon said that the county was still missing a precinct when it sent initial results to the secretary of states office Tuesday night. The county sent updated results later that night, but hundreds of new votes were not made public until Thursday. Colyer received 220 votes in Haskell County, up from the 103 previously reported. Kobach received 257 votes, up from 110 previously reported. The net change in Haskell County is 30 votes in favor of Kobach, which moves his margin from 91 to 121 votes. The final, unofficial results posted on the secretary of states website showed Kobach perhaps President Trumps closest political ally in the state winning Thomas County in northwest Kansas, with 466 votes to Colyers 422. But the tally posted by the Thomas County clerks office showed Colyer with 522 votes, or 100 votes more for him, a number the clerk confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday. Bryan Caskey, state elections director, said county officials pointed out the discrepancy Thursday following a routine request to counties for a post-election check of the numbers. This is a routine part of the process, Caskey said. This is why we emphasize that election-night results are unofficial. Thomas County Clerk Shelly Harms said its possible that her handwriting on the tally sheet faxed to the secretary of states office was bad enough in the rush of primary-night business that the number for Colyer wasnt clear. They just misread it, she told AP. As Fox News previously reported, Kobach, an immigration hard-liner and a controversial figure nationally, climbed to the top of the field after receiving less than 24 hours before the polls opened a glowing endorsement on Twitter from Trump. The president referred to Kobach as a fantastic guy who would be a GREAT Governor. Colyer raised more campaign contributions, was endorsed by the National Rifle Association, and had the backing of a Kansas political legend, former Sen. Bob Dole. Colyer became governor in January, succeeding Sam Brownback. But Kobach was an early supporter of Trumps candidacy and the former chairman of his now-shuttered federal commission on voter fraud. He is best known nationally for his tough stance on illegal immigration, and for advising the Trump administration on immigrant policy, noncitizen voter registration and the 2020 census. The left has criticized Kobach over policies it claims have the effect of suppressing voter turnout. No state had gone further than Kansas in requiring prospective voters to provide papers documenting their U.S. citizenship when registering, until a federal judge struck down the law in June as a violation of voting rights. Fox News Nicole Darrah and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A federal judge in Washington threatened to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt of court Thursday after halting the deportation of a mother and daughter who were sent home in the middle of appealing their removal. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan learned Thursday that the two were on a plane headed to Central America after the Justice Department and the American Civil Liberties Union agreed Wednesday to delay their deportation until 11:59 p.m. the following day, the Washington Post reported. This is pretty outrageous, he said according to the Post. That someone seeking justice in the U.S. court is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing for justice for her? Officials reportedly said the plane was on its way back to the U.S. later in the day. The woman identified in court as Carmen is a plaintiff in an ACLU lawsuit filed this week over efforts to prevent immigrants from seeking asylum due to domestic and gang violence in their home countries. Sullivan said any delay in bringing them back would be intolerable and that Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen should argue why they shouldn't be held in contempt of court if they failed to comply. The DOJ declined to comment. DHS told Fox News that in compliance with the courts order, upon arrival in El Salvador, the plaintiffs did not disembark and were promptly returned to the United States. Jennifer Chang Newell, managing attorney with the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project, said in a statement that the administrations actions were putting immigrants in grave danger. In its rush to deport as many immigrants as possible, the Trump administration is putting these women and children in grave danger of being raped, beaten, or killed, her statement read. We are thrilled the stay of removal was issued but sickened that the government deported two of our clients a mom and her little girl in the early morning hours. We will not rest until our clients are returned to safety. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Michael Avenatti, the lawyer representing adult film star Stormy Daniels who has openly feuded with President Trump and his attorneys, announced in an interview Thursday he is looking into a run for the presidency -- and, he says, he hopes people take him "seriously." "Im exploring a run for the presidency of the United States, and I wanted to come to Iowa and listen to people and learn about some issues that are facing the citizens of Iowa and do my homework," Avenatti told the Des Moines Register. Iowa is a key early battleground state in presidential contests. Avenatti was attending the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, ahead of the Democratic Wing Ding fundraiser on Friday night. That event hosted Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in 2015, and Politico wrote at the time that Clinton had "crushed her speech," drawing several standing ovations and "swaying the doubters" in her candidacy. OPINION: MAINSTREAM MEDIA'S OBSESSIVE ROMANCE WITH STORMY DANIELS' ATTORNEY "I would never think to come to Iowa in order to use the state or the people of the state to raise my profile," Avenatti told the paper. "And obviously if I do this, then I intend to work hard and I know that ultimately the trust of the citizens of Iowa is going to have to be earned." Avenatti has raised his national profile in a variety of ways in recent months, including by making a slew of media appearances, engaging in public Twitter fights with Trump's attorneys, and even teaming up with a Hillary Clinton fixer to protest outside the White House with pots, pans, and high-capacity air horns. He previously had floated trial balloons about a bid for the White House. On July 4, Avenatti claimed on Twitter he would run against Trump "only if I think that there is no other candidate in the race that has a REAL chance at beating him." In an email to Fox News at the time, Avenatti claimed that he had been "approached by both the Republican and Democratic parties" about being a 2020 candidate. Later that month, Avenatti called Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani a "train wreck of a lawyer," after Giuliani called him a "desperate" liar. The spat emerged in the wake of reported claims, by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, that Cohen had arranged to buy Daniels' silence. AVENATTI PROTEST AIMS TO KEEP PRESIDENT TRUMP UP AT NIGHT -- LITERALLY Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, sued Trump in March, claiming the nondisclosure agreement she signed concerning an alleged Trump liaison wasn't valid because it lacked a Trump signature. She later sued Trump for defamation, saying he unfairly hurt her reputation by dismissing as a "con job" her account of being threatened into silence about her story in 2011. Avenatti told the Des Moines Register that his combative style would be a potential asset in a presidential run: "I think the party has yearned for a fighter a fighter for good, if you will for a significant period of time. And for many, Im probably seen as that individual. "I would like to think people would take me seriously," he added. "And I think, hopefully, the message that I deliver tomorrow night will be well received by Iowa Democrats." The leading Democratic candidate for governor in Arizona has accepted the resignation of a campaign staffer after a conservative blog uncovered some inflammatory tweets. Xenia Orona was the digital director for gubernatorial hopeful David Garcia. However, after her past tweets surfaced some from several years ago the campaign accepted her resignation, Fox News confirmed on Friday afternoon. "The language and the message of the tweets are not in line with the values and message of our campaign. The staff person involved offered her resignation and the campaign accepted it," a spokesperson for the candidate told Fox News in a statement. In November 2012, on Election Day, Orona reportedly tweeted, An open letter to Arizona: F--- you, according to a screenshot published by PJ Media. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney beat President Barack Obama in Arizona in 2012 with more than 54 percent of the vote. In another tweet, Orona appeared to call the U.S. a s---hole country. I am a business owner and a creative. I am a college graduate, the first of many in my family. I am involved in multiple campaigns to make Arizona a better place, she said. I am from 5 generations of border crossers between this [s---hole] country and la Madre Tierra of Mexico. In January, President Trump was accused of describing African nations as s---hole countries. Oronas tweet was published on Jan. 12, according to PJ Medias screenshot. Additionally, she called for the elimination of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a growing call among progressive Democrats and said law and order is the smokescreen that bigots hide their hate behind, according to PJ Media. Oronas Twitter account has since been made private. KPNX-TV reporter Brahm Resnik, who confirmed the resignation on Thursday night, said the campaign learned about the tweets from PJ Media's posts. The United Nations Security Council called for a credible and transparent investigation into a Saudi-led coalition air strike in Yemen that killed dozens of children, British U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce said on Friday. "They expressed their grave concern at these, and all other recent attacks in Yemen. They called for a credible and transparent investigation," Pierce, council president for August, said after a senior U.N. official briefed the 15-member council on the strike. Search Keywords: Short link: Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro responded Friday to accusations by democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that he catcalled her in his debate challenge, arguing that she didnt want to come across as being afraid. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Trish Regan, Shapiro was asked for his thoughts on his debate offer being compared to "catcalling" by the House candidate. While quipping that catcalling must be very weird in Queens, Shapiro accused people on the left of using a defense in which anybody who requests a discussion or a debate must be evil by their very nature. Its catcalling because, I guess, if I suggest that I want to have a conversation, Im demanding a response, he said. Well every request is a request. All she had to say here was, Nah. That wouldve been fine, I mean shes got that prerogative. BEN SHAPIRO, ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SPAR AFTER HE OFFERS $10,000 TO DEBATE HER DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST BELIEFS In a video posted Wednesday, in which Shapiro mocked Democratic National Committee chairperson Tom Perez for labeling the New York congressional candidate the future of the Democratic Party, he offered to donate $10,000 to her campaign if she accepted an offer to debate him. Miss Ocasio-Cortez, Im really excited that youve been elevated to that position and I would love to have a real conversation with you about the issues. Youve noted that you think Republicans are afraid to debate you or talk to you or discuss the issues with you, Shapiro said. Not only am I eager to discuss the issues with you, Im willing to offer $10,000 to your campaign, today, for you to come on our Sunday special, he continued. We can have an hour long conversation about all the topics under the sun, really probe your belief system. In a response on Twitter Thursday night, however, Ocasio-Cortez compared the debate request to catcalling and said she didnt owe a response to unsolicited requests from men with bad intentions. "And also like catcalling, for some reason they feel entitled to one," she continued. On Friday Shapiro said there was "no question" that Ocasio-Cortez was playing the "victim card." And the fact that she feels the necessity to go to this particular card, right, to play the Im a female and therefore Im being victimized, this is like catcalling the fact [that] she goes there instead of just saying You know, Im not interested in debate," Shapiro continued, "the reason she didnt say the latter is because she didnt want to look like she was afraid. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SHUNS HOLLYWOOD ELITS IN WEST COAST TOUR He went on to say that he didnt think there was a lot of upside for her to agree to the debate, saying she was unlikely to answer questions well. I mean, if she were to get into a discussion with somebody who asks her tough questions, I dont think she has the information or the philosophy at her disposal to actually answer those questions well, Shapiro said. And she knows that, which is why her best move here would have been either to just ignore or to say no. And then everybody wouldve moved on with their life. However, it turned into her invoking victim status, he said. Ocasio-Cortez gained national attention earlier this year following an upset victory over veteran Rep. Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary for the latters New York seat. Fox News Brian Flood contributed to this report. The indictment of Chris Collins, the Republican congressman from upstate New York, on insider trading charges is an unmitigated disaster for him, even though some prognosticators say he could win reelection anyway. But does it really threaten the GOP's chances of holding the House, as some are proclaiming? Even if Collins turns out to be guiltyand this is one of the strongest insider cases I've ever seencan every other House Republican running this fall really be tarred with this brush? I get that Collins was the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump, and that the opposition wants to tag him as part of the president's circle. Joe Scarborough said the "swamp" is now "up to Trumps neck" and "the fish rots from the head." But while it's fine to hold Trump accountable for people like Scott Pruitt and Tom Price, he appointed them to his administration. Collins was elected by voters in the Buffalo area. Nancy Pelosi declared that "the charges against Congressman Collins show the rampant culture of corruption and self-enrichment among Republicans in Washington today." Thats a standard partisan shot, and I'd expect Republicans to say something similar if a Democratic lawmaker was arrested. But that doesn't make it true. Paul Ryan tried to limit the damage by booting Collins from the Energy and Commerce Committee. Having an indicted member on the panel is, well, kinda awkward. Still, the Washington Post declares that "the Chris Collins indictment ensures that ethics will be a major issue in the midterms." Collins didn't help himself with a self-righteous denial at a "news conference" at which he took no questions. Despite serving in the House, Collins was on the board of an obscure Australian company called Innate Immunotherapeutics, which has no approved drugs but was working on one to treat MS. In June 2017, the indictment says, the CEO emailed the board that a crucial drug trial for the MS drug had been a failure. Collins, who happened to be at an annual White House picnic, emailed back: "Wow. Makes no sense. How are these results even possible???" Collins waited exactly 15 seconds after receiving the email before calling his son, and after they connected, Cameron Collins sold off his stock and avoided losses of $570,000. This was non-public information, obviously, and once the failed drug trial was announced, the stock plunged by 90 percent. Cameron Collins was also indicted, along with his fiancee's father, Stephen Zarsky, who avoided $140,000 in losses by selling his stock based on the tip, prosecutors say. The congressman couldn't sell his shares because he is a director. Collins said at the non-presser that he was only trying to help people by producing a miracle drug, that he himself had lost money and that he looks forward "to being fully vindicated and exonerated." With Democrats needing 23 seats to flip the House, the timing is pretty awful, although New York analysts say Collins might hang onto the seat (and would have to resign if convicted). But while the Democrats may run against Republican corruption, in this case the alleged wrongdoing doesn't seem to have extended beyond Chris Collins' immediate family. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that the mother of a teenager shot and killed in Mexico by a Border Patrol agent standing in Arizona can sue for damages, and that the agent does not have immunity. But just five months earlier, in March, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the family of another dead teenager, also shot by an agent in America while the teen was in Mexico, cannot sue. The two cases highlight how federal courts disagree over whether federal agents should have legal immunity at the border and whether foreign nationals are protected by the U.S. Constitution. The cases could end up making their way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Those who believe border agents should not have immunity trumpeted this weeks ruling, saying law enforcement agents are not above the law. The court made clear that the Constitution does not stop at the border and that agents should not have constitutional immunity to fatally shoot Mexican teenagers on the other side of the border fence, Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, said in a statement. Both courts had different interpretations of the 1971 case, Bivens V. Six Unknown Named Agents. Bivens actions allow individuals to pursue damages when there has been a violation of the U.S. Constitution by federal officers acting in the color of federal authority, according to Cornell Law School. According to the 5th Circuit, the Bivens decision broke new ground by authorizing such a suit for Fourth Amendment violations by federal law enforcement officers who handcuffed and arrested an individual in his own home without probable cause. The case, Rodriguez vs. Swartz, heard by a panel of judges in the 9th Circuit, alleged agent Lonnie Swartz shot and killed a teen, identified only as J.A., without warning or provocation. It is inconceivable that any reasonable officer could have thought that he or she could kill J.A. for no reason. Thus, (Agent) Swartz lacks qualified immunity, wrote Judge Andrew J. Kleinfeld in the 9th Circuits opinion. The 5th Circuit heard its case, Hernandez vs. Mesa, by all judges on the court after the Supreme Court sent it back to them for reconsideration. In 2010, agent Jesus Mesa shot and killed 15-year-old Sergio Hernandez. Mesa, however, said he was acting in self-defense because Hernandez was throwing rocks at him. The self-defense argument worked in Mesa's favor, but ultimately the court ruled that Hernandez didn't have a right to sue because he wasn't a U.S. citizen. The 5th Circuit wrote that because no federal statute allows foreigners to collect damages if they were injured by a federal agent on foreign soil, the Hernandez familys only opportunity to receive damages would be if the judge granted a Bivens claim. The Supreme Court ended up remanding the case, instructing the court to make special considerations. That included Ziglar vs. Abbasi, a case where the high court reversed the 2nd Circuits decision and refused to grant a Bivens claim against policy-making officials involved in terror suspect detentions following 9/11. Using Abassi as its guide, the 5th Circuit found the Hernandez case brought new context to the Bivens ruling. Because Hernandez was a Mexican citizen with no ties to this country, and his death occurred on Mexican soil, the very existence of any constitutional right benefitting him raises novel and disputed issues, wrote Judge Edith H. Jones, who authored the Fifth Circuits majority opinion. To date, the Supreme Court has refused to extend the protection of the Fourth Amendment to a foreign citizen residing in the United States against American law enforcement agents search of his premises in Mexico. The court was also concerned that a Bivens claim could undermine the Border Patrols ability to perform its duties. The court expressed concerns the judiciary could influence foreign affairs, diplomacy and how an officer should respond in certain situations. Implying a private right of action for damages in this transnational context increases the likelihood that Border Patrol agents will hesitate in making split-second decisions, one of the judges wrote. Thats where these two cases defer the most. In Hernandez vs. Mesa, Mesa said he was acting in self-defense because Hernandez was throwing rocks at him. But in Rodriguez vs. Swartz, J.A. did not pose a threat to Swartzs safety. Although Swartz was in the United States when he shot at J.A.," the Ninth Circuit wrote. "Mexico has both sovereignty and practical control over the street where J.A. was hit. Nevertheless, we conclude that J.A. had a Fourth Amendment right to be free from the unreasonable use of such deadly force. Democratic congressional candidates are revolting against Nancy Pelosi in even bigger numbers, amid fears that her grip on power could hurt the party's chances in the midterms and hold back its next generation of leaders. The list of candidates refusing to support the California Democrat for speaker -- or refusing to state their position -- has steadily grown, though estimates vary. The Washington Post counts at least 27 Democratic House candidates who won't commit support. Another count published by NBC News says over 50 Democratic candidates and incumbents would not support Pelosi for speaker should the party take back the 23-seat majority from Republicans. Rashida Tlaib, who just won a House Democratic primary in Michigan, was the latest to come out against Pelosi for speaker. Probably not. Thats my answer, no. Probably not, Tlaib said on CNNs New Day Thursday when asked if she would support Pelosi in a vote for speaker. For me, I need someone that, again, is connected with the different levels of poverty going on, the fact that there are structures and barriers for working families in my district that need to be dismantled, and supporting big banks and supporting efforts that I dont think put the people first is troubling. Tlaib said constituents in the district she hopes to representthe Detroit metro areadont feel like they are being heard in Washington. I think that starts at the top with leadership, Tlaib said. Pelosi's prominence, meanwhile, has served as a political weapon for Republicans, as it has across numerous election cycles. President Trump repeatedly sought to tie Pelosi to Ohio Democratic congressional candidate Danny OConnor in this week's special House election. Though the race has not been officially called, Republican Troy Balderson has claimed victory in that close contest. The National Republican Congressional Committee has put out an ad campaign tying many Democratic candidates to Pelosi and her policies. Democrats cannot escape the Nancy Pelosi leadership conundrum. Her potential return to the speakership should be a rallying cry for every Republican to get out and vote in November, Republican National Committee spokesman Steve Guest told Fox News in a statement Friday. Her number one priority would be to reverse the great American comeback ushered in by President Trump and Congressional Republicans. The Pelosi question also has led to some awkward TV moments for Democratic candidates. Before this week's election, O'Connor was pressed by MSNBCs Chris Matthews on whether he would vote for Pelosi as speaker if he were elected to the House. We need new leadership on both sides, the old ways arent working, OConnor said repeatedly. But when pressed on what he would do if Democrats absolutely needed him to vote for Pelosi to stop Republicans from keeping the speakers gavel, he admitted he'd support whoever the Democrats put forward. He later reiterated that he would not support Pelosi. Meanwhile, liberal darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who beat Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., in her primary, stumbled when asked whether she considers Pelosi the leader of the House Democrats. Of course. I think, absolutely, right now you know, she is the leader of ... I mean, um speaker, rather leader Pelosi hopefully, you know, well see, Ocasio-Cortez said on CNNs Cuomo Primetime. Shes, shes the current leader of the party and I think that the party absolutely does have its leadership in the House, we have our leadership in the Senate as well. Struggling to smooth her answer, Ocasio-Cortez said it was too soon to get ahead of ourselves. I've got to win my race first, she said. We've got to look at winning the House back in November and then once the House is won, we have to make that decision from there. Incumbent Democrats rallying against Pelosi include Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., Rep Linda Sanchez (from Pelosis home state of California), Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., and newly elected Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Pa., among others. Pelosi, though, has downplayed the pushback and the attack ads against her, and is focusing on taking back the majority. Leader Pelosi has always enjoyed the overwhelming support of House Democrats and that will continue into the majority shes so focused on winning, Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill told Fox News in an email Friday. Hammill also noted that Pelosi has not, at this point, asked anyone for support for her speaker candidacy. Last month, Pelosi claimed that some the calls for her to relinquish power in the Democratic Party were sexist. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Pelosi was asked whether she had ever been tempted to step away from her current post as House minority leader. Pelosi suggested a double standard was at play, compared with men in leadership positions. I think some of it is a little bit on the sexist sidealthough I wouldnt normally say that, Pelosi said in the interview. Except its like, really? Has anyone asked whatshisname, the one whos the head of the Senate? Pelosi seemed to momentarily forget Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConells, R-Ky., name, and was reminded by an aide during the interview. McConnell, she corrected. I mean hes got the lowest numbers of anybody in the world. Have you ever gone up to him and said, How much longer do you think youll stay in this job? Nobody ever went up to Harry Reid and said that. Nobody ever says that to anybody except a woman. But its a thing. Just hours after a Massachusetts man was arrested for allegedly offering $500 bounties for killing ICE agents, a Republican candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in the state said his Democratic opponent shared in the blame. GOP candidate Geoff Diehl demanded Thursday that incumbent U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren both retract and apologize for the criticism that he said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel have taken from her and other Democrats in recent months, the Boston Herald reported. We now have a man putting a bounty on the heads of ICE agents, Diehl said in a statement. Senator Warrens irresponsible statements are partially to blame. She has a responsibility to support our law enforcement officials. Her call to abolish ICE and painting the entire criminal justice system racists are reckless and dangerous. "Senator Warren ... has a responsibility to support our law enforcement officials. Her call to abolish ICE and painting the entire criminal justice system racists are reckless and dangerous. Geoff Diehl, Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Massachusetts The suspect, identified as Brandon Ziobrowski, 33, of Cambridge, Mass., was arrested Thursday in New York, charged with one count of use of interstate and foreign commerce to transmit a threat and injure another person. MASSACHUSETTS MAN SOLICITED KILLING ICE AGENTS FOR $500, TWEETED DESIRE TO SLIT THROAT OF McCAIN, FEDS SAY On July 2, Ziobrowski allegedly tweeted: I am broke but will scrounge and literally give $500 to anyone who kills ICE agent. @me seriously who else can pledge get in on this lets make this work. Federal officials also said Ziabrowski had tweeted a desire to slit the throat of U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. He appears to be very much against ICE and its mission. He appears to have a violent dislike for at least one Republican senator and law enforcement," U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said at a news conference announcing Ziabrowskis arrest. Diehl, meanwhile, suggested that Warren, too, seemed opposed to ICE and its mission. We need a Senator who will support our police and not throw (ICE) under the bus to score political points, Diehls statement continued. Warren should be putting public safety first. Instead she is prioritizing her White House political ambitions to the detriment of law enforcement. Speaking at a rally in Boston on June 30, Warren slammed President Trumps immigration policies, saying we need to rebuild our immigration system from top to bottom, starting by replacing ICE with something that reflects our morality and that works. Other top Democrats whove called for ICE to be abolished include U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders of Vermont and congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. DEMOCRATS CALLING FOR ICE TO BE ABOLISHED INCLUDE KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, ELIZABETH WARREN, OTHERS But in a response to Diehls comments, Warrens office told the Herald that the senator opposes any form of violence against law enforcement officers. We can have respectful discussions and civil discourse on policy while working together to improve lives, the senators office said in a statement. Diehl, 49, currently serves in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 7th Plymouth District. Warren, 69, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2013. Fox News Travis Fedschun and Kaitlyn Schallhorn contributed to this story. The National Institutes of Health is spending over $100,000 to combat "intersectional stigma" of transwomen in Nepal. The project will deploy a "stigma research initiative" in the South Asian country as a means to "explore anti-trans stigma" against transwomen, or biological men who identify as women. Researchers at Public Health Foundation Enterprises, a nonprofit based in California, said their taxpayer-funded project is necessary because no one has ever investigated trans stigma in Nepal before, and it is "past time" to do so. "There is no HIV prevention intervention for transwomen (TW) with evidence of efficacy outside the US. The largest burden of HIV among TW rests on those outside the US where intersectional stigma is a driver of HIV," the grant states. "No research in South Asia has examined the impact of intersectional stigma on HIV risk and care among TW." "TW's unique vulnerabilities related to stigma are different from those of [men who have sex with men] MSM and other key populations, and it is past time that their specific risks and intervention needs are explored," according to the grant. Click for more from Washington Free Beacon. Jeff Greene, vying for the Democratic nomination for governor in Florida, is facing calls to drop out of the race after old allegations of assault have surfaced. Greene was accused by a cocktail waitress at his West Palm Beach resort of having smacked her on the arm to get her attention to turn down the music in 2012, according to a police report obtained by WFOR-TV on Thursday. According to the police report, the waitress, who was 24 at the time, contacted law enforcement a few weeks after the alleged incident because she wanted documentation that it happened. She said she didnt believe that Greene intended to hurt her, and she did not want to prosecute. She did, however, resign her job, according to the police report. Floridas National Organization for Women (NOW) chapter has called on Greene to drop out of the race, citing the recent #MeToo movement, the Tampa Bay Times reported. This type of assault is rooted in power imbalance, and so its unfortunately not surprising that a billionaire like Jeff Greene victimized a female employee, Florida NOW President Terry Sanders said in a statement. It was incredibly brave of her to report the assault, and we stand with her. FOX NEWS MIDTERM ELECTION HEADQUARTERS The organization said it was disgusted by the allegations and maintained that Greene has no place in politics or public service because he uses his power and privilege as a weapon against others. Greenes campaign has dismissed the allegations as a non-story brought forth by Republicans to weaken Jeffs campaign, it said in a statement. Campaign spokeswoman Claire VanSusteren also accused Sanders of having chose to play politics with the critically important #MeToo movement. She said Sanders response to the allegations was just tit for tat because she didnt like Greenes campaign ads attacking Democratic opponent and former Rep. Gwen Graham. FLORIDA GOVERNOR RACE HEATS UP WITH TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, FBI PROBE: A LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES The former waitress declined to comment on the police report when reached by WFOR. Labor organization Unite Here criticized the Greene campaigns response to the allegations. Shocking. Not only because [Greene] behaved in a way that convinced a woman she should tell the police and quit working for him but because his campaign brushed it off saying this is simply a case of an employee having a bad day, it said on Twitter. Most women dont involve the police because theyre having a bad day. Most workers dont resign from their jobs because theyre having a bad day, it said. It would be a shame if thats how [Greene] thinks about people he wants [to] vote for him. Greene has billed himself as the candidate most opposed to President Trump, running commercials featuring a video of an argument he had with the president over Greenes support of Hillary Clinton in 2016. I am the only one who has stood up against President Trump, Greene said. I was on CNBC, and I said exactly what I felt that I would be scared to death to have Donald Trump as president. And let me tell you, it couldnt be worse. Greene also accused the National Rifle Association (NRA) of turning our kids into targets in a striking campaign mailer which included images of outlined children with backpacks as shooting targets. 'NRA TURNS KIDS INTO SHOOTING TARGETS,' FLORIDA DEM GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE SAYS IN NEW MAILER Graham, too, has decried the NRA and Trump. She said that as a mom, I am appalled with what this president represents. We can never normalize it. We can never make it OK. If elected, she said she would sign an executive order banning the sale of so-called assault weapons, even though she knows it would be challenged in court by the NRA. The gubernatorial primary is August 28. Rep. Ron DeSantis and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam lead the Republicans in the GOP primary. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A former Georgia congressional candidate was arrested this week and charged with the murder of her former campaign staffer. Kellie Lynn Collins, who ran as a Democrat in Georgias 10th congressional district, was charged with murder after police found 41-year-old Curt Cain fatally shot inside of his home in Aiken County, South Carolina on Tuesday, the Augusta Chronicle reported. Cain served as Collins treasurer during her campaign, according to election filings. She dropped out of the race prior to the Democratic primary. Police found Cain after they were called to the home to do a wellness check, according to WRDW-TV. Investigators said they believe he died on Aug. 4 from loss of blood due to the gunshot wound. GEORGIA DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR CONGRESS CONVICTED OF DUI, AWAITS SENTENCING I didnt think anything like this could happen, Clayborn Thigpen, her former campaign manager, told the Chronicle, adding he had not spoken to them in a few months. Captain Eric Abdullah told The State newspaper that the pair had been living together, and its possible they had gotten married. FOX NEWS MIDTERM ELECTIONS HEADQUARTERS Aiken County is located near the Georgia border. Tabitha Johnson-Green, a nurse, won the Democratic nomination in July. She will face incumbent Rep. Jody Hice, a Republican, in Novembers general election. Collins is being held at the McDuffie County Jail and is charged with murder and grand larceny. Hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh are now set to start on Sept. 4, according to the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley. Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement on Friday that he expects the hearings to go on for three to four days, with opening statements taking up much of Day 1. Grassley said his team has reviewed hundreds of thousands of pages related to Kavanaughs time as a federal judge, calling Kavanaugh one of the most respected jurists in the country and one of the most qualified nominees ever to be considered by the Senate for a seat on our highest court. My team has already reviewed every page of the over 4,800 pages of judicial opinions Judge Kavanaugh wrote, over 6,400 pages of opinions he joined, more than 125,000 pages of records produced from his White House legal service, and over 17,000 pages in response to the most comprehensive questionnaire ever submitted to a nominee. KAVANAUGH DOCS FROM BUSH ADMIN HIGHLIGHT POST-9/11 LEGAL CHALLENGES Kavanaugh was nominated on July 9 and since then, the committee has received 184,000 pages of records related to his work as a White House lawyer and for his work with Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr. Democrats have argued that Republicans are rushing the process for the lifetime appointment without proper vetting. They insist the Republicans are relying on the cherry-picked files being released primarily by President George W. Bush's lawyer, Bill Burck, who is compiling and vetting the documents, rather than the traditional process conducted by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Archives has said its review of some one million pages of Kavanaugh records the committee requested will not be available until the end of October. The top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, said scheduling the hearing before the documents are ready "is not only unprecedented but a new low in Republican efforts to stack the courts." Grassley took an opposing position on Friday, adding that at their current pace, we have plenty of time to review the rest of emails and other records that we will receive from President Bush and the National Archives. Republicans are eager to confirm President Trump's nominee ahead of the new court session Oct. 1, as Justice Anthony Kennedy retires. Fox News Mike Emanuel and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state locked in a tight Republican gubernatorial primary battle against incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer, said Thursday night that he plans to recuse himself from the vote-counting process. Earlier Thursday, Kansas election officials revealed that Kobach who received President Trumps endorsement was ahead of Colyer by just 121 votes after two counties reported discrepancies in their initial tallies from Tuesdays election. The tightening of the vote count prompted Colyer to issue a letter, demanding that Kobach the states top elections official -- refrain from instructing county election officials on the counting of ballots, and Thursday night Kobach said he would comply with the request. Ill be happy to recuse myself, Kobach told CNN. But as I say, it really doesnt make any difference. My office doesnt count the votes. The counties do. Ill be happy to recuse myself. But as I say, it really doesnt make any difference. My office doesnt count the votes. The counties do. Kris Kobach, candidate for governor in Kansas Colyer had publicly accused Kobach, the state's top elections official, of giving county election officials information about the handling of yet-uncounted ballots "inconsistent with Kansas law." In his letter, Colyer demanded that Kobach stop advising county officials and have the state's attorney general do the job instead. Earlier Thursday evening, Kobach had needled Colyer during a Fox Business network appearance, saying it would be "pointless" to remove himself from the process because the state's 105 counties handle the counting of ballots -- but he might do so just to make Colyer "feel good." But a little more than an hour later, Kobach told CNN: "I said, 'Of course, if he wants me to, I would, and he has said, 'OK, I do want you to,' so I will. The counting is not complete because state law says mail-in ballots that are postmarked Tuesday can be accepted by the counties as late as Friday. And county officials still must review perhaps several thousand provisional ballots, given to voters at the polls when their eligibility is in question. They have until Aug. 20 to finish. Colyer released his letter to Kobach after the governors campaign announced that it had set up a "voting integrity" hotline and urged people to report their complaints about the election. Colyer spokesman Kendall Marr said it received "countless" reports, adding that he personally knows of several dozen. "It has come to my attention that your office is giving advice to county election officials as recently as a conference call yesterday and you are making public statements on national television which are inconsistent with Kansas law and may serve to suppress the vote in the ongoing primary election process," Colyer said in his letter to Kobach. In the letter, Colyer questioned whether Kobach was advising counties not to count some mail-in ballots, including those with missing or unreadable postmarks, even if they arrived by Friday. He also said he heard reports that some unaffiliated voters who by law can declare an affiliation at the polls and vote in a primary were given provisional ballots instead of the regular ballots they were due. And Colyer wrote that circumstances "obviously increase the likelihood that one of the candidates may seek a recount, or even the possibility of litigation." Kobach, a vocal advocate of tough immigration and voter identification policies, advised Trump's campaign in 2016 and the White House afterward and served as vice chairman of Trump's now disbanded commission on election fraud. Trump tweeted his endorsement of Kobach on Monday, less than 24 hours before polls opened. As secretary of state, Kobach sets rules, gives county officials guidance and appoints election commissioners in the state's four most populous counties. Kobach spokeswoman Danedri Herbert said he would respond to Colyer's letter Friday. Kobach told reporters Wednesday that he knew of no significant reports of irregularities in Tuesday's primaries, outside of long delays in reporting results from the state's most populous county. There, Johnson County in the Kansas City area, results were delayed by problems with uploading data from new voting machines. But the totals for the GOP primary for the governor's race in at least two counties posted on the secretary of state's website did not match the totals from the counties themselves. First, in Thomas County in the state's northwest corner, the final, unofficial results posted on the secretary of state's website show Kobach winning there with 466 votes to Colyer's 422. But the tally posted by the Thomas County clerk's office shows Colyer with 522 votes, or 100 votes more, a number the clerk confirmed to the Associated Press on Thursday. Bryan Caskey, state elections director, said county officials pointed out the discrepancy Thursday following a routine request for a postelection check of the numbers to counties by the secretary of state's office. "This is a routine part of the process," Caskey said. "This is why we emphasize that election-night results are unofficial." Thomas County Clerk Shelly Harms said it's possible that her handwriting on the tally sheet faxed to the secretary of state's office was bad enough in the rush of primary-night business that the number for Colyer wasn't clear. But a copy she provided to the AP showed that the number for Colyer is unambiguously "522." "They just misread it," she told the AP. On CNN, Kobach suggested the mistake was among the kind of "keystroke errors" that happen routinely and are caught later. And in Haskell County, elections officials said they had not initially reported returns from one precinct. Once those votes were added, the net result was a gain of 30 votes. The Associated Press contributed to this story. A Saudi-led Arab military coalition said on Friday it would investigate an air strike that killed dozens of children in Yemen, an apparent shift of stance on an attack Riyadh has portrayed as a legitimate action against its Houthi foes. At least 40 children were killed in Thursday's strike on a bus in northern Yemen, the armed Houthi group which controls Yemen's capital said. That raised the toll of children killed in the raid from 29. The strike by the Western-backed alliance of Arab countries outraged human rights groups and was strongly condemned by U.N. officials. Henrietta Fore, executive director of the U.N. Children's Fund UNICEF, said the "horrific" attack marked "a low point in (Yemens) brutal war". People in Saada started to dig graves in preparation for funerals to be held on Saturday. "God may give us patience," said Hussein Hussein Tayeb, who lost three sons on the bus, on a trip with other pupils to visit a mosque and tombs. "I was one of the first to arrive on the scene, seeking to rescue the wounded; I lifted a body and I found that it was Ahmed's face. I hugged him, he was my son." Ahmed was 11. His brothers Yusef and Ali were 14 and 9. U.N. chief Antonio Guterres called for an independent investigation of the raid which hit the bus as it drove through a market in Dahyan, a town in the Houthis' home province of Saada. The U.N. Security Council on Friday called for a "credible and transparent" investigation after receiving a closed-door briefing on the strike by a senior U.N. official. A Reuters TV crew saw boys injured in the strike lying on beds in the Dahyan hospital, many with their heads wrapped. The face of one was covered in lacerations. The Arab states carried out new air strikes on Friday, killing a girl and injuring several other people whose home was targeted in Marib province, east of the capital Sanaa, the Houthis' al-Masirah TV said. Announcing the investigation into the strike on the bus, the Saudi Press Agency quoted an alliance official as saying: "The coalition is firmly committed to investigating all claims regarding mistakes or violations of international law, to sanction those who caused these incidents and to provide assistance to the victims." The Saudi-led Arab alliance, whose members receive Western political support and buy billions of dollars a year in arms from the United States, Britain and France, has been fighting for three years to drive out the Houthis, Iran-aligned fighters who pushed a Saudi-backed government out of the capital in 2014. Yemen is the poorest country in the Arabian peninsula, and the United Nations says the war has created the world's most urgent humanitarian disaster, with millions of people totally dependent on aid and at risk of famine if supply lines are cut. "LEGITIMATE" The Arab states initially said the air strikes on the bus were "legitimate military action" against missile launchers, carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law. Houthi-run al-Masirah TV cited the group's health minister Taha Mutawakil as saying that the estimated number of casualties stood at 51 killed including 40 children, and at least 79 people wounded, of whom 56 were children. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported the same toll on Friday, citing authorities in Saada. It had said on its Twitter account on Thursday that its medical team at the ICRC-supported hospital in Saada had received the bodies of 29 children, all under 15 years old. The hospital also received 48 wounded people, among them 30 children. Masirah TV said on Friday the Houthis had fired a number of ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia, targeting Jizan and Aseer provinces which lie at the border. Saudi Arabia intercepted two missiles fired at Jizan, Al-Arabiya TV reported. The head of the Houthis' supreme revolutionary committee, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, hailed Friday's call by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for an independent investigation into the air strike. In Paris, the French foreign ministry said France condemned the strike and backed a U.N. call to bring all parties in the war together for talks in Geneva on Sept. 6. The Houthis have however barred without explanation the head of the U.N.'s human rights office in Yemen from returning to the country, a U.N. spokeswoman said on Friday. Elobaid Elobaid, a Canadian citizen, had been based in Yemen since October 2016, leading 17 staff in Sanaa and 13 monitors in 11 of Yemen's governorates. His visa expired in June but was not renewed. The U.N. human rights office has frequently accused all sides of violating international law and committing war crimes. Search Keywords: Short link: Judge T.S. Ellis III mysteriously delayed testimony in the case of ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for five hours on Friday, pushing off the day's proceedings as prosecutors once again complained about his criticism of them. Later Friday afternoon, hours after proceedings were supposed to start, Ellis gaveled back in and called for the next witness to take the stand. He did not explain the delay. The postponement was significant, as prosecutors had been hoping to finish calling witnesses Friday -- and Ellis has a reputation as a stickler for keeping trials moving. Its not clear if the delay was connected to the complaint filed by Special Counsel Robert Muellers team. Earlier, Ellis empathically reminded the jury that they must refrain from talking about the case with others stoking speculation the delay could be related instead to juror issues. Ellis, meanwhile, did not address the Mueller team's motion, either, when the trial resumed. In the motion filed Friday morning, they accused the judge of unfairly criticizing them in court, saying its possible his recent comments could confuse and mislead the jury. Mueller deputy Andrew Weissmann and other attorneys on the team specifically noted how Ellis made negative comments this week about their focus on a bank loan Manafort applied for but did not receive. You might want to spend time on a loan that was granted, Ellis said in court Thursday. The prosecutors, in Friday's motion, asked Ellis to retract his comment, saying it misrepresents the law regarding bank fraud conspiracy and improperly conveys the Courts opinion of the facts, and is likely to confuse and mislead the jury. MUELLER TEAM FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST MANAFORT JUDGE OVER LATEST REPRIMAND Manafort is accused of committing tax and bank fraud with millions made through political work in Ukraine. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. On Friday, Dennis Raico of the Chicago-based Federal Savings bank testified, under immunity. Raico said one of his bosses, CEO Stephen Calk, took great interst in the Manafort loan and was instrumental in the loan being approved. Calk, Raico said, was interested in a Cabinet position in the Trump administration. On Thursday, Ellis expressed regret after prosecutors filed a similar motion complaining Ellis unfairly reprimanded them in front of the jury over allowing a witness sit in the courtroom before his testimony. This robe doesnt make me anything other than human, Ellis said. That truce between the judge and prosecutors, though, did not last long. Hours later, when prosecutors tried to introduce an exhibit that was dozens of pages long, Ellis interjected: "There might be some kind soul on the jury who thinks they need to leaf through all this stuff -- and it isn't true." And then, Ellis instructed the Mueller team to try and focus their questions, before joking prosecutors arent familiar with their own exhibits after they asked for a minute to pull out a piece of paper. Ellis has a reputation for making colorful comments and being tough on the prosecution. On Wednesday, Ellis explained that he would not ask the defense to reveal as much information as he has demanded from the prosecution because its sort of like poker -- you dont have to show your hand until youre called. Something like that, Im not a poker player, Ellis said. Earlier this week, Ellis seemed to accuse Greg Andres, the prosecutor, of crying in his courtroom. I understand how frustrated you are. In fact, theres tears in your eyes right now, Ellis said Monday, according to a Bloomberg-obtained transcript. When Andres denied Ellis claim, the judge said, Well, theyre watery. Earlier this week, the prosecutions star witness, Rick Gates who struck a plea deal to cooperate with the government -- testified that he and Manafort committed bank and tax fraud together. The prosecution had been expected to wrap up its case by Friday afternoon. Its unclear how Fridays delay will affect that. Fox News Anne Ball and Jake Gibson contributed to this report. United States and Colombian government officials pledged renewed efforts to fight drug trafficking here, yet critics claim theyre returning to failed efforts in a losing fight against cocaine production. With President Duque, he wants this to be a priority, as well as President Trump, said Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, while she toured coca fields in northern Colombia. Were looking at tons of coca behind usand it needs to be eradicated. Haley led the U.S. delegation to the inauguration this week of incoming Colombian president Ivan Duque. Colombia is the worlds largest cocaine producer and more than 90 percent of the cocaine seized in the U.S. originates in Colombia, according to the U.S. government. Even though the U.S. government has spent billions eradicating drugs in Colombia, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy said the country's coca cultivation hit an all-time high last year. Haley said Colombia and the U.S. are targeting to cut in half coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia. For the Trump and Duque administrations, that means increasing efforts to destroy coca crops before traffickers process them into cocaine for sale in the U.S. This is where it comes from. We are at the source where it comes from. And we have to go the source. Weve got to cut the supply, said Haley in an exclusive television interview with Fox News. Weve partnered with President Duque because hes as aggressive about it as we are. In 2015, Colombia suspended a U.S.-sponsored program that targeted coca fields with herbicide sprayed from airplanes after the World Health Organization determined the key compound the government used is probably carcinogenic to humans. This year, spraying resumed with drones. Haley said the U.S. and Colombia are searching for a substitute herbicide. Development experts have questioned the governments crop eradication efforts. Coca yields are more frequent than those of legal crops and farmers can protect coca against spraying. Their coca fields are often guarded by armed drug traffickers, IEDs and snipers. The choice for rural Colombian farmers is easy, they said. Traffickers will collect their coca crops and pay them enough to provide for their families in areas where infrastructure, economic opportunities and government services are poor. If the war on drugs is to continue to be fought, Colombia should stop aerial spraying campaigns aimed at destroying coca crops and instead focus its anti-drug strategies on those stages of production and trafficking where organized crime groups obtain the most profit, according to a report by Daniel Mejia, director of the Research Center on Drugs and Security at Universidad de los Andes in Bogota. Overwhelming evidence indicates that aerial spraying campaigns have little to no effect on reducing coca cultivation, but rather have produced high direct costs and negative secondary impacts on human health, the environment, and the political capital of the state. Former President Juan Manuel Santos pushed development and alternative crops in rural areas to encourage farmers to reject planting coca. Critics said Santos followed high expectations with insufficient implementation, especially as it can take multiple years to successfully replace coca with legal crops. Theyve got to be able to use not just eradication, not just substitution, but development as part of that three-way pillar to make sure were doing all of those things at the same time, said Haley. He and his government are committed and I think that the United States is ready to support and help in any way we can. President Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi were traitors to Hispanics in the U.S. for dithering on immigration when Democrats controlled the presidency and both chambers of Congress, a Cuban-American television journalist now seeking a U.S. House seat said Thursday. Maria Elvira Salazar, competing to represent Florida's 27th Congressional District, made the comments during an appearance on Fox News "Tucker Carlson Tonight." She cited an interview Obama gave to Spanish-language network Univision in 2008, where he promised an immigration reform bill during his first year in office. Democrats had large majorities in the House and Senate at the time. Obama told Univisions Jorge Ramos that one of his first legislative priorities would be immigration reform. "I cannot guarantee that it is going to be in the first 100 days," he said. "But what I can guarantee is that we will have in the first year an immigration bill that I strongly support and that I'm promoting. And I want to move that forward as quickly as possible." Salazar said Obama used his political capital to work on other efforts like ObamaCare despite the "magnificant opportunity" to address the immigration reform issue once and for all. Ramos, in a follow-up interview in 2012, asked Obama about the earlier promise. Obama defended himself by mentioning other issues he was dealing with at the time, like "the economy on the verge of collapse." Ramos told him, "A promise is a promise." Marc A. Thiessen wrote in the Washington Post that, If Obama really wanted to pass either the Dream Act or comprehensive immigration reform, Republicans were powerless to stop him. But he didn't do it. Salazar also pointed to the 1996 law President Clinton signed called the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act that she said gave the legal framework for President Trump to separate families at the U.S.-Mexico border. Thats why, she said, President Obama and Nancy Pelosi are traitors to Hispanics. The New York Times in 1996 reported that the law severely restricted the ability of federal courts to review decisions in deportation cases. In effect, the paper reported, it strips noncitizens of the right to take complaints against the [Immigration and Naturalization Service] agency to court. Vox wrote about the law in 2016 in an article titled, The Disastrous, Forgotten 1996 Law that Created Todays Immigration Problem. Clinton recently spoke out against the family separations, saying the policy makes no sense and was immoral. Politifact reported that experts said the 1996 law did make it easier to remove legal immigrants based on crime convictions, but did not touch on separating families. In late June, amid widespread outcry over U.S. policies that led to separations of migrant families along the border, a U.S. judge ordered that more than 2,500 children be reunited with their parents. But hundreds remained apart after the deadline, often in cases in which parents had already been deported without their children. Salazar said many Hispanics in the U.S. share values often associated with Republicanism, including a hands-off government. While congressional Republicans have been unable to repeal former President Barack Obamas health care overhaul in its entirety, two major changes could soon upend the program's insurance exchanges by encouraging customers to bolt. First, Republicans killed the tax penalty for individuals who dont purchase health insurance. Then last week, the Trump administration unveiled a new rule expanding short-term plans that typically cost less than ObamaCare policies. Both could lead to people choosing to leave ObamaCares marketplaces, because they want a less expensive plan or because they won't be penalized for exiting -- or both. This scenario helps explain why Democrats sounded the alarm over the short-term plan expansion. They have slammed the policies as junk insurance not required to cover pre-existing conditions and more. These new short-terms plans are nothing short of junk insurance and are so dangerous for Americans that it's no wonder not a single group representing patients, physicians, nurses or hospitals has voiced support. Democrats will do everything in our power to stop this, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said last week. The Trump administration moved to expand short-term health care plans from 90 days to 12 months, reversing an Obama rule limiting this type of coverage to less than three months. The new regulation is expected to go into effect by early October. The change is significant, because under the current system, those with short-term plans see their deductibles reset after just three months -- meaning they could be on the hook for thousands of dollars in medical expenses every year if they kept renewing. The expansion could make those policies more attractive. Speaking at the White House last month, President Trump called it "much less expensive health care at a much lower price; will cost our country nothing." The health care industry has pushed back, with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association warning that "the broader availability and longer duration of slimmed-down policies that do not provide comprehensive coverage has the potential to harm consumers." Short-term plans don't have to take people with pre-existing medical conditions, or provide benefits like coverage for maternity, mental health, prescription drugs and substance abuse treatment. But Bruce Telkamp, the CEO of AgileHealthInsurance.com, a provider of short-term policies, said the option is needed because of increasing premiums for Affordable Care Act plans. One year short-term plans will bring immediate relief to consumers needing low premiums and unrestricted provider network coverage so they will not join the ranks of the uninsured, Telkamp said. Meanwhile, under Obamas health care law, the individual mandate required most people to have health insurance meeting specific standards. The law imposed tax penalties for violations. But under last years final tax-reform bill, people no longer face a penalty for noncompliance as of January 2019. We eliminated the individual mandate that said that people had to buy government-approved insurance, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told Fox News last month. In a sense, it blew a big hole in ObamaCare. The idea behind the mandate was to make sure young and healthy customers are buying into the system, to offset the cost of taking on more sick and elderly customers. Of the two changes, the penalty repeal might have the bigger impact on enrollment. The elimination of the fine for individuals who lack ObamaCare-compliant coverage poses a much greater peril for exchange enrollment than the removal of the three-month restriction on short-term plans, said Kev Coleman, the head of research at HealthPocket, a health insurance comparison website. HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL OBAMACARE'S MEDICAL DEVICE TAX Coleman said a low-cost option like short-term insurance, though, could be more appealing to consumers than ObamaCare because they wont have to consider the fine. This will make a low-cost option like short-term insurance even more attractive, particularly if short-term insurers further adapt their benefits and conditions of coverage to better align with the needs of the unsubsidized population, Coleman said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Whether or not Christine Hallquist wins election in November to be Vermonts governor, her campaign has made history. Hallquist is the first openly transgender woman to run for governor in the United States a remarkable change for a woman who just a few years ago, when she was still living as a man named Dave, was terrified of letting anyone know about her gender dysphoria. I was sure when I transitioned, I'd end up sleeping in a gutter somewhere, Hallquist told Politico. But the former CEO of the Vermont Electric Cooperative, rather, was greeted with overwhelming acceptance. So much so that she began to think about a gubernatorial run. Hallquist is just the third openly transgender candidate in U.S. history to run for a statewide office along with Kim Coco Iwamoto in Hawaii and Wikileaks leaker Chelsea Manning, who recently lost a Maryland Senate primary. It wasnt until the 1990s and early 2000s that transgender candidates began appearing on ballots across the country. Iwamoto became the first transgender person to win statewide office after getting elected to Hawaiis board of education in 2006. Yet for all the talk nationally about Hallquists gender transition, its her transition from CEO to politician that has become the biggest campaign issue in the Green Mountain State -- as she touts her turnaround of the electric co-op as an example for how she would reverse Vermonts rural decline and combat climate change. It will be irrelevant in Vermont, former Gov. Howard Dean told Politico about Hallquists gender identity. Hallquist is touting a plan to lay high-speed, fiber optic cable across the state and create a path for a universal health care system -- and supports numerous progressive causes, including a $15 minimum wage and paid family leave. But Hallquist is far from a shoo-in for the governorship. A recent poll conducted by Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS found that none of the Democratic primary candidates had high name recognition, though Hallquist fared better than her rivals: Lake Champlain International executive director James Ehlers, Southern Vermont Dance Festival director Brenda Siegel, and yes, you read that correctly 14-year-old Ethan Sonneborn. But if she makes it through the primary, it's an uphill climb in November. Vermont is one of several New England states with a Republican governor seen as having a solid shot at re-election. Republican incumbent Gov. Phil Scott has recently seen approval ratings drop, but he still enjoys a sizeable lead over his Democratic rivals and his one Republican challenger -- grocer Keith Stern. Most race rankings, including those by Fox News, list the race as likely Republican. Hallquist, who voted for Scott in 2016, recently sent out a fundraising email going after Scotts declining approval ratings that said: Gov. Phil Scott's (R-Vermont) approval falls far amid re-election runI had to make sure you saw it." Vermont has made history before on gay and transgender issues. It was the first to grant full marriage rights to same-sex couples in civil unions and first to legalize same-sex marriage in the statehouse as opposed to through a court ruling. West Virginias House Judiciary Committee moved to impeach the states entire Supreme Court this week. The committee filed 14 articles of impeachment against the four judges on Tuesday, and they will now go to the full House of Delegates for a vote. The articles allege the justices Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justices Allen Loughry, Robin Davis and Elizabeth Walker have engaged in corruption, incompetency, neglect of duty, maladministration and certain high crimes. The justices are also accused of wasteful spending of taxpayer funds on lavish office renovations, using public vehicles for personal matters and creating a plan to pay certain senior judges more than is lawful, the committee said. This is truly a sad day for West Virginia, but it is an important step forward if we are going to restore the publics confidence in the judiciary, state Rep. John Shott, a Republican who chairs the judiciary committee, said in a statement. This committee did not take this effort lightly. After reviewing all the evidence available to us, it became clear that a culture of entitlement and disregard for both the law and taxpayer funds have damaged the reputation of our judicial system and that all justices had a part in violating the publics trust. Aside from the articles of impeachment, Loughry was previously suspended for allegedly repeatedly lying about using his office for personal gain. He pleaded not guilty in federal court in June to multiple counts involving alleged fraud. His trial is expected to begin in early October. If convicted, he faces up to 395 years in prison and $5.5 million in fines. WEST VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FACES 395 YEARS BEHIND BARS IN FEDERAL FRAUD CASE Among the offenses, Loughry is accused of using a government vehicle and credit card on personal trips, and unlawfully converting a historically significant piece of furniture for his own use a desk that belonged to famed architect Cass Gilbert. He has also been charged with attempting to corruptly obstruct and influence testimonial evidence of a Supreme Court employee in an imminent grand jury investigation. State Rep. Barbara Fleischauer, a Democrat, told the Charleston Gazette-Mail that the lumping of all the justices together in the articles of impeachment seemed to be a coup, of sorts, to help Republican Gov. Jim Justice appoint his choices to the court. FOX NEWS MIDTERM ELECTIONS HEADQUARTERS Normally, West Virginia has five Supreme Court justices who are elected to serve a 12-year term, NPR reported. However, Menis E. Ketchum resigned from the state Supreme Court in July after he was accused of alleged federal wire fraud. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge of defrauding the state and faces up to 20 years in prison, according to WSAZ-TV. The majority of the House will need to vote to move the articles of impeachment to the state Senate. There, two-thirds of the lawmakers will need to vote to adopt the articles to remove any justice from office. The full House of Delegates is supposed to come back to session on Monday, August 13. Loughry, who took office in 2012, was selected to serve as Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court in April 2017, but later that year was replaced amid reports that he and another justice spent more than a million dollars of public funds. He has since been suspended without pay. Fox News Andrew OReilly and The Associated Press contributed to this report. The White House is hitting back at former aide Omarosa Manigault-Newman, claiming her forthcoming anti-Trump book is full of lies while dismissing her as disgruntled. Instead of telling the truth about all the good President Trump and his administration are doing to make America safe and prosperous, this book is riddled with lies and false accusations, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Friday. Manigault-Newman, who got famous as the villain of Trumps The Apprentice reality show, is coming out with a book next week about her time as an adviser in the White House. According to excerpts in media outlets, Manigault-Newman questions Trumps mental state and accuses him of using racial epithets. Its sad that a disgruntled former White House employee is trying to profit off these false attacks, and even worse that the media would now give her a platform, after not taking her seriously when she had only positive things to say about the president during her time in the administration, Sanders said. Manigault-Newman, who campaigned for Trump and then took a job as director of communications for the White House Office of Public Liaison, left the White House in December 2017 after Chief of Staff John Kelly took over. OMAROSA LASHES OUT AT TRUMP, ALLEGES MENTAL DECLINE IN NEW BOOK The Guardian, which said it obtained an early copy of the book, published a story Friday saying Manigault-Newman writes that she realized Donald Trump was indeed a racist, a bigot and a misogynist. She also reportedly said she believes rumors Trump was caught on tape using the n-word while filming The Apprentice -- though she does not say she heard it herself. She also claims Trump used racial slurs to describe George Conway, the husband of White House adviser Kellyanne Conway who is half Filipino. George Conway has not shied away from criticizing Trump on Twitter. But on Friday, he said he doesnt believe Manigault-Newmans allegation. The allegation is not credible, and indeed is ridiculous, particularly in light of the timing of her departure from the White HouseDecember 12, 2017, he tweeted. Its absurd all around. The Washington Post also reported Friday that another passage claims she was offered $15,000 a month from Trumps campaign to stay quiet after her firing but she refused. Manigault-Newmans book Unhinged hits shelves next week. Fox News Tara Prindiville contributed to this report. NASA plans to make history Saturday when its Parker Solar Probe blasts off on an epic mission to the Sun. Workers at Cape Canaveral are making final preparations for the launch, which will take the spacecraft on an incredible journey through the Suns corona. Lifted by 2 million pounds of thrust, Parker will blast off aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The 65-minute launch window for the mission opens at 3:33 a.m. EDT on Aug. 11, 2018. Speaking to Fox News on the launch pad, Brian Taliancich, director and general manager of launch operations at ULA, said that everything is coming together perfectly, for the launch. NASA'S PARKER SOLAR PROBE SET TO 'TOUCH THE SUN' ON HISTORIC MISSION As Taliancich spoke, technicians traveled back and forth to the launch tower under a baking Florida sun. A sign warned visitors to the launch site to beware of the alligators that inhabit the sprawling Air Force base. A veteran of about 200 space launches, both during his time in the U.S. Air Force and the space industry, Taliancich said that all launches are high-pressure events. You never lose the stress levels associated with launch, theres a million little miracles making these things leave the pad, he said. SOLAR ECLIPSE, CRASHING SPACECRAFT, VOLCANOES AND MORE: BIGGEST SCIENCE STORIES OF 2017 The probe, which is housed inside a payload faring, was moved to Space Launch Complex 37 on July 30. The following day, the spacecraft was lifted to the top of the Delta IV Heavy rocket. Sitting atop the rocket, the top of the faring is more than 230 feet above the ground. Taliancich explained that just before sunset on Friday technicians will be moving the launch tower back. Then we will prepare all the ground systems and get ready for cryogenic operations, fueling the rocket, that starts around 10pm, he said. Then we get into actually fueling the rocket, preparing it for launch youre adding the super cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to fuel the rocket. We check out all the systems, make sure that that range systems are ready to go and confirm all the communications, Taliancich added. Then we get into the final countdown. MASSIVE MARS DISCOVERY: ORGANIC MOLECULES 'FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR SEARCH FOR LIFE' FOUND BY NASA ROVER There is a hold point 4 minutes before launch, when technicians make sure that everything is ready. Then at T-Minus 4 its an automated count, Taliancich explained. There are no [specific rocket launch] buttons. Parkers ascent into the Florida skies will be just the first stage of an audacious journey. On its closest approach, Parker will be 3.8 million miles from the Suns surface. This is seven times closer than the previous closest spacecraft, Helios 2, which came within 27 million miles of the Sun in 1976. ASTEROID DISCOVERY: RARE SPACE ROCK FRAGMENT FOUND The average distance between the Sun and Earth is 93 million miles. The probe is expected to reach the Sun in November. Harnessing Venus gravity, Parker will complete seven fly-bys over seven years to gradually bring its orbit closer to the star. On its closest approach, the probe will be traveling at approximately 430,000 mph. Scientists expect the $1.5 billion mission to shed light not only on our own dynamic Sun, but the billions of other yellow dwarf stars and other types of stars out there in the Milky Way and beyond. While granting us life, the Sun also has the power to disrupt spacecraft in orbit, and communications and electronics on Earth. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers Beachgoers beware: Portuguese Man OWars sightings and stings have been on the rise on at least one beach in South Carolina. City of Folly Beach officials on Wednesday issued a warning to visitors and residents alike to be wary of the creatures on the shore, which can deliver a venomous sting. MAINE CHEF FINDS RARE COTTON CANDY-COLORED LOBSTER IN TANK Getting stung by one of these sea creatures is incredibly painful, according to National Geographic. Even dead Man O'Wars can still deliver a sting. Officials said anyone who spots the creature which is a siphonophore, not a jellyfish, according to the publication should report the sighting. If stung, officials recommend using vinegar and warmth to to treat a Man OWar sting. More specifically, WebMD recommends rinsing the affected area with vinegar for 30 seconds before removing the creatures tentacles with tweezers. BERMUDA TRIANGLE IS NO MYSTERY, OCEAN SCIENTIST EXPLAINS Once the tentacles are removed, its best to then soak the same area with hot water for 20 minutes. In the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci first described a fascinating phenomenon involving water that later became known as the hydraulic jump. And a mere five centuries later, scientists have finally explained why it happens. This jump is not some obscure property that's only visible to scientists. You really just need to walk into your kitchen or hop into the shower to see it. If you turn on a faucet, notice what happens as the water hits the surface of the sink. It creates a very thin, fast-flowing, circular layer of water surrounded by a thicker, concentric ring of turbulant water. A hydraulic jump refers to the point where the water rises up and forms the thicker layer. [Images: The World's Most Beautiful Equations] Starting in 1819 with Italian mathematician Giorgio Bidone, many researchers have tried to explain what causes water to jump in this way. But all of the explanations and equations to date have leaned on gravity as the major force, said lead author Rajesh K. Bhagat, a doctoral candidate in the department of chemical engineering and biotechnology at the University of Cambridge in England. However, Bhagat and his team recently found that gravity scarcely has anything to do with these hydraulic jumps. Rather, the major forces behind them are surface tension and viscosity, they reported in their study, which was published online July 31 in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics. To rule out gravity, Bhagat and his team performed a simple experiment. They hit a flat, horizontal surface with a jet of water to create a simple hydraulic jump the same kind you would see if you turned on water at the kitchen sink. But then, they tilted this surface in various ways: vertically, at a 45-degree angle and horizontally so that at the last, the jet of water would be hitting a surface that became a ceiling. To capture the initial jump, they recorded what happened with high-speed cameras. In every case, the hydraulic jump happened at the same point. In other words, the thin, fast-moving inner layer was the same size no matter which orientation the plane was in. If gravity had caused the jumps, the water would have been "distorted," in any of the planes besides the horizontal one, Bhagat said. "This simple experiment proves it's anything but gravity." The new theory isn't down with gravity To study the other forces that might have been at play, the researchers varied the water stream viscosity a measure of how much it can resist flow by mixing it with glycerol, a type of alcohol with a surface tension that's similar to water's, but that's 1,000 times more viscous than water's. They also kept the viscosity constant and reduced the surface tension the attractive force that holds liquid molecules together at the surface by mixing in a common ingredient in detergent called sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). Finally, they varied both the viscosity and surface tension by mixing water and propanol, another kind of alcohol, so that the solution was 25 percent more viscous than pure water but had a surface tension three times weaker. This allowed the researchers to isolate the influence of each force, senior author Ian Wilson, a professor of soft solids and surfaces, also at the University of Cambridge, told Live Science. The point is to be "able to predict where this transition between a thin film and a thick film starts," Wilson said. A lot of the previous theories couldn't do that, because the location of the hydraulic jump changes once the thick layer hits some sort of edge, like the edge of the sink. The jump occurs at the spot where the forces from surface tension and viscosity add up and balance out the momentum from the liquid jet, the authors found. Knowing where this jump first occurs could have applications in industry, Wilson said. The thin layer that forms before the jump carries much more force than the thicker layer does, thus making the thinner area more efficient at transferring heat. High-speed jets of water are used in industrial applications, such as cleaning in milk processing and the cooling of aircraft turbine blades or silicon semiconductors , Bhagat said. Often in these applications, intermittent jets of water are more efficient, Wilson said. To improve the efficiency of these intermittent jets, you need to be able to predict where the initial hydraulic jumps happen, he said. Originally published on Live Science. Germany's exports to the United States in the first half of this year were worth 24.4 billion euros ($28.3 billion) more than its imports of U.S. goods, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed on Friday. The trade surplus was 100 million euros less than last year, but still meant Germany has the largest trade surplus with the United States than any other country, something U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to reverse. Germany's trade surplus has also come under attack from the International Monetary Fund, which says it contributes to trade tensions and adds to risks that could undermine global financial stability. Germany's trade surplus with the whole world was 121.5 billion euros in the first half, slightly higher that last year. The IMF has urged the German government to boost investments beyond the levels agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government which plans to increase spending by 4 percent this year. Higher government spending would stimulate imports. Trump hit the European Union, Canada and Mexico with tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium at the start of June, ending exemptions that had been in place since March. The EU and Canada responded with their own levies on U.S. goods. China imposed tariffs on U.S. goods in response to Trump's levies on Chinese imports, spooking German manufacturers who rely on the world's two largest economies for growth. Fears of an all-out trade war between the U.S. and the European Union eased after Trump agreed last month to refrain from imposing tariffs on cars imported from the bloc while the two sides negotiate cuts to other trade barriers. Germany's exports to the United States - its biggest export market - rose 0.8 percent to 56.1 billion euros in the first six months of the year. France was the second-largest importer of German goods, followed by the Netherlands. Search Keywords: Short link: Former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich was arrested early Friday and is in police custody for allegedly attacking an escort at a Frankfurt hotel. Police spokesperson Carina Lerch said the retired German cyclist was arrested after police were called to the hotel. She said Ullrich was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and could be charged with "assault or attempted murder." "It seems Mr. Ullrich and an escort women had a dispute and that he attacked her," Lerch said. "She alerted the hotel staff and they called police. Mr. Ullrich is still in custody." TTRUMP TACKLES THE NFL AND NATIONAL ANTHEM: A TIMELINE A police statement said the woman needed medical treatment. Lerch said no further details could be given on her condition while police were investigating. News agency dpa reported that the 44-year-old Ullrich had been arrested the week before in Mallorca, where he lives, after an incident on the property of his neighbor, actor Til Schweiger. On Monday, Ullrich had told German tabloid Bild of personal problems. "The separation from Sara and distance from my children, whom I have not seen since Easter and have barely spoken to, have had a great effect on me. I have done things as a result that I very much regret," Ullrich told the mass circulation daily. PETITION ASKS TRUMP TO NAME LEBRON JAMES NEW EDUCATION SECRETARY, REPLACING DEVOS Ullrich, the only German to win the Tour de France, was dogged by doping allegations over his career and admitted to German magazine Focus in 2013 that he received blood-doping treatment from Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. "Almost everyone took performance-enhancing substances then. I took nothing that the others didn't also take," the 1997 Tour champion said then. Ullrich served a two-year ban for doping in 2012, five years after he retired in 2007. When in Rome, tossing a coin into and snapping a photo at the storied Trevi Fountain is a must but a recent clash between two female tourists aiming for the perfect selfie erupted into an eight-person brawl that required four police officers to resolve. On Wednesday evening, a 19-year-old woman from the Netherlands and a 44-year-old Italian-American wanted to snap selfies in the same position, during a time of day when the light makes the fountain a perfect backdrop, The Guardian reports. Heated words were exchanged as the women jockeyed for the same angle and fists soon began to fly between the pair at the 256-year-old historic site. TRAVEL BLOGGER REVEALS HOW SHE STAYS AT FIVE-STAR RESORTS FOR FREE: 'IF I DID, ANYONE CAN' The womens family members soon jumped in and the spat culminated in a messy brawl that required four police officers to break up, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports. According to The Guardian, the eight people involved in the fight sustained bruises and were charged. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS News of the selfie spat arrives just days after a Roman city councilor revealed that officials are considering barring tourists from lingering at the monument to combat the fountains serious overcrowding, floating the idea of creating a route to pass it by. Were looking at the idea of having a route which would allow tourists to see the Trevi Fountain but without stopping, city councilor Andrea Coia said, as per The Telegraph. As the anniversary of the violent rally in Charlottesville approaches, Airbnb is once again reminding users that anyone found to be in violation of its policy of non discrimination faces a possible ban from the service. "When we identify and determine that there are those who would be pursuing behavior on the Airbnb platform that would be antithetical to the Airbnb Community Commitment, we seek to take appropriate action, which may include removing them from the platform," the company confirmed in a statement shared with Fox News. "We acted in advance of last year's horrific event in Charlottesville and if we become aware of similar information we wont hesitate to do so again." AIRBNB CANCELS GREAT WALL OF CHINA SWEEPSTAKES AFTER BACKLASH FROM CHINESE SOCIAL MEDIA The home-rental service further cited its Community Committment within the terms of service, which stipulates that users agree to treat everyone in the Airbnb community regardless of their race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or age with respect, and without judgment or bias. The companys announcement came just days before a second Unite the Right rally is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., and nearly one year after the Charlottesville rally on Aug. 12, 2017, during which protesters including white supremacists gathered to protest the removal of Confederate statues. The groups violently clashed with counterprotesters and Antifa demonstrators, which led to the death of one counterprotester, and the injury of several others, when a car driven by James Alex Fields struck and killed 32-year-old Heather Heyer. TRAVEL BLOGGER REVEALS HOW SHE STAYS AT 5-STAR HOTELS FOR FREE Airbnb made a similar announcement following the violent clash. A few days after the rally, Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk told Bloomberg that the site had quietly rejected white supremacists from making reservations the week before, and began deleting suspected white supremacists accounts after they were informed of the gathering. We make every one of our users sign a pledge when they sign up that they will not discriminate and exhibit hatred, Blecharczyk told Bloomberg. Whenever we become aware of such examples they are permanently banned from platform. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX TRAVEL NEWS In 2017, Airbnb had previously banned a former host who refused to rent out a property in Big Bear, Calif., to an Asian-American woman because of her race. Christopher Nulty, an Airbnb spokesman, called the hosts actions abhorrent and unacceptable. The host was also issued a $5,000 fine from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), making it the first such fine to be issued to a user since the DFEH partnered with Airbnb in 2017. A mother from Kent, England, and her young daughter were jailed in Dubai for three days where she was allegedly denied water and forced to clean toilets after she admitted to drinking a glass of wine on the incoming Emirates flight from London, but Dubai officials have a different side of the story. Its illegal to drink alcohol or be intoxicated in public in Dubai, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Ellie Holman, a 44-year-old dentist originally from Sweden who resides in Britain with her husband and their three children, was arrested on July 13 after landing in Dubai with her 4-year-old daughter, the Press Association reported. Upon arrival in Dubai, an official reportedly told Holman she needed to return to the United Kingdom immediately because of an invalid visa, at which point she took out her phone and started filming the encounter, according to human rights group Detained in Dubai. Holman said the official was dismissive and rude to her, and asked if she had been consuming alcohol. She admitted to the official that she had a complimentary glass of wine on the Emirates flight. Holman, unaware that it was an offense to film the encounter, and illegal to drink alcohol, was taken into custody, Detained in Dubai reported. The mother and her daughter also had their passports and electronic devices confiscated. HUMILIATED COUPLE KICKED OFF HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISE AFTER CAPTAIN ACCUSES PASSENGER OF PUSHING CREW MEMBER Holman said in a statement to Detained in Dubai that the prison guards also attempted to pull out her hair extensions, and the prison facility was hot and foul-smelling. She claimed she and her daughter were forced to sleep on a filthy mattress and to clean toilets. My little girl had to go to the toilet on the cell floor. I have never heard her cry in the same way as she did in that cell, Holman said in a statement. SEX TOYS IN AIRLINE PASSENGERS LUGGAGE PROMPT SECURITY ALERT AT BERLIN AIRPORT Holman added that she was given food that smelled like rotting garbage. She said her husband and friends tried to visit her in jail, but they were not allowed to see her. Holman was released on bail days later, but could face being detained in Dubai for up to a year while awaiting a court hearing, the Press Association reported. Her passport was confiscated until the case is finished, and she claims to have already lost thousands of dollars in missed wages and legal costs. Her daughter returned to the United Kingdom with her husband. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Holman was initially traveling to Dubai with her to daughter to visit friends for a few days. She has been in the country before. However, Dubai officials told The Sun a different story and disputed the dentists claim. We dispute Dr. Holmans account of her treatment," an official told The Sun. She was not turned away because she had a one-visit visa, as she claimed, because European citizens get a 30-day visa upon arrival. UAE law is strict on people recording others on their mobile phone without permission, which will not have helped Dr. Holmans case. She became abusive towards airport staff, which is not tolerated. We cannot comment further as Dr Holmans case is still under review but there is more to her story than she has told." Dubai's Attorney General's Office told Fox News in a statement that an investigation into the incident was completed and charges were dropped. The office said it decided to deport Hollman after she attempted to enter the country with an expired visa. The office also said Hollman and her child "remained in airport security for less than 24 hours while services were provided to them, taking into full account and consideration of her 4-year-old daughter." Radha Stirling, Detained in Dubais chief executive, said it is wholly illegal for any tourist to have any level of alcohol in their blood, even if consumed in flight and provided by Dubais own airline. It is illegal to consume alcohol at a bar, a hotel and a restaurant, and if breathalyzed, that person will be jailed." However, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says that being intoxicated, and not neccessarily just having a small amount of alcohol in your system, is what's actually forbidden, according to News.com.au. Its illegal to drink alcohol or be intoxicated in public, the department states. You can be arrested. Foreigners have been arrested on arrival after becoming intoxicated on incoming aircraft or while in transit. This story was updated to add a comment from Dubai officials. Two parents in Florida are calling out Frontier Airlines after their young children, who were traveling unaccompanied, spent the night in a hotel when their flight got diverted. The airline, however, claims it was standard procedure. Etta, 7, and Carter, 9, were traveling from Des Moines to Orlando on July 22 after a trip to visit their grandparents when bad weather caused their flight to divert to Atlanta late at night, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. DELTA PASSENGER RECORDS BAGGAGE HANDLER 'RECKLESSLY' THROWING BAGS, DROPPING STROLLER ON GROUND According to the airline, the children were taken by a Frontier supervisor to a hotel room where they were provided food and stayed overnight until they could fly out the next morning. But their parents, Jennifer Ignash and Chad Gray, claim they didnt know what was happening with their kids right away and think Frontier shouldve gotten their permission before transporting the children to a hotel. We never gave approval for that to happen, Gray told the Journal-Constitution. Etta and Carter allegedly had to borrow a phone from another unaccompanied minor in order to contact their parents. Without that child, we would have had zero idea where our kids were, Ignash said. But a spokesperson for Frontier Airlines told Fox News that the children were in contact with their mother before being transported to the hotel, although the father couldnt be reached until the next morning. The safety of our passengers is top priority at Frontier Airlines and the well-being of unaccompanied minors is no exception, the spokesperson said. We understand how an unexpected delay caused by weather can be stressful for a parent and our goal is to help passengers get to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible. Frontier charges $110 fee for unaccompanied minors ages 5 to 14, but will only allow them to travel on direct flights, according to the airline website. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Ignash said parents who might have children traveling alone need to understand what the airlines policy and procedure is and get a direct contact. Gray told the Journal-Constitution the worst part was not knowing what was happening with his kids. You like to minimize the risk that your kids have and you want to protect them. And not having any control over the process whatsoever, I think, is really, really frustrating, he said. Tuesday was not a stellar day for Germanys airports. On the very same day a terminal at Frankfurt Airport was forced to evacuate after a whole family made it through security without being properly screened, authorities were called in at Berlins Schonefeld Airport after screeners mistook sex toys for potentially dangerous devices. ALABAMA WOMAN PLANS FLASH MOB FOR HUSBAND, WHO DOESN'T MAKE IT TO AIRPORT Due to police investigation concerning a piece of baggage, check-in at Terminal D is currently restricted, the airport tweeted on Tuesday morning. Federal police told the Deutsche-Presse Agentur (DPA) that the luggage in which the devices were found belonged to a pair of 31-year-old travelers. The male passenger who had brought the bag initially told authorities it contained technical stuff when questioned, possibly out of embarrassment, according to CNN. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE TRAVEL NEWS Terminal D was opened a little over an hour later, after the bag was cleared by a bomb squad. The DPAs report suggested that not just one, but multiple sex toys were found in the passengers luggage. Police Investigation is over, the Berlin Airport Service tweeted shortly after 12 p.m. on Tuesday. Terminal D reopened. However, further impairments in passenger handling possible. Photos of bawdy behavior including one of a man in a bar with his head inside a womans shirt were recently sent to California Gov. Jerry Brown from a source who claimed to be a California State Lottery employee, according to a report. The photos were accompanied by a letter, on Lottery stationery, in which the source claims that some of the people depicted in the photos are members of the Lotterys management team, acting unprofessionally during business trips, the Sacramento Bee reported. These types of unprofessional shenanigans have become a regular practice of this management team when they travel to meetings, the letter reads, according to the Bee. These types of unprofessional shenanigans have become a regular practice of this management team when they travel to meetings. Letter to California Gov. Jerry Brown, alleging bawdy behavior by some state Lottery officials The man with his head up the womans shirt is described as a senior Lottery employee, the report said. One former Lottery employee told San Franciscos KGO-TV that a boys club developed among the Lotterys leadership in recent years, prompting her departure after 35 years. The climate got very bad, Donna Sullivan told the station. I think it would be better if the boys club was disbanded and the lottery would go back to doing business of the lottery -- giving money to education, Sullivan added. I think it would be better if the boys club was disbanded and the lottery would go back to doing business of the lottery -- giving money to education. Donna Sullivan, who retired from the Lottery after 35 years Paulina Vasquez, a shop steward for a union representing Lottery employees, said the unions leadership has received complaints about managements behavior, including bullying and use of inappropriate language, KGO reported. The Bee reported that the letter and photos sent to Brown were similar to a package sent to the governor about a year ago. Copies of both packages were simultaneously sent to the Bee, the report said. Browns office said late Thursday that the governor has asked the state Attorney Generals Office to investigate the matter, the newspaper reported. Russ Lopez, a Lottery spokesman, declined to comment, according to the Bee. The evangelist Franklin Graham recently asked thousands of people at an Oregon rally to pray for the state's Democratic governor, saying she should be a Christian. Yoga and meditation suit Gov. Kate Brown just fine, she told reporters Thursday when asked if she follows a certain faith. "I believe very much that each of us is a spiritual being, and that's how I see the world," Brown said, adding that she feels people should treat human beings with respect. Brown, who is up for re-election in November, was specifically named by Graham at a sermon to more than 12,000 people near Portland on Sunday, Willamette Week reported. "Let's pray for your governor, Gov. Brown. Wouldn't it be something if she got saved? Amen," Graham said, the Portland weekly reported. "We pray for Kate Brown. And Lord, I pray that she would come to know your son Jesus Christ as her lord and savior one day." Oregon is one of America's most liberal states, with Democrats also controlling the state Legislature. Graham, son of the late superstar evangelist Billy Graham, is an outspoken ally of President Donald Trump. "If the church went to the polls and voted, you could turn this state around," Graham told the crowd at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. "The enemy out there thinks the church is asleep." Asked by reporters during a phone-in news conference about her religious beliefs, Brown said she is a yogi, or one who practices yoga. While in India, yoga for many is a spiritual or religious practice, in America it is generally secular. Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. ___ Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky Two Illinois men face kidnapping and conspiracy charges in Mississippi after authorities say they lured a teenager from his home using a video game-centered chat program. Olive Branch police have charged Juan E. Andrade, 30, and Jason St. Aubin, 29, both of Creal Springs, Illinois. It's unclear if either man has a lawyer. Both men are being held on more than $600,000 bail and are supposed to be returned to Mississippi in coming days They're accused of picking up 14-year-old John Aubrey Peal III in the middle of the night Aug. 1 around the corner from his home in the suburbs of Memphis, Tennessee. Peal's father, John Aubrey Peal II, tells local news outlets that Andrade and St. Aubin had spent months manipulating his son using the Discord application, ultimately persuading the boy that Peal was saving the men from killing themselves. "I saw these two men's mugshots, and I've seen the devil," the father said. "These people are predators. They lured my son out with the false belief that he was saving their life from suicide." After four days during which Peal's disappearance was publicized on social media, Williamson County, Illinois, Sheriff Bennie Vick said Peal appeared Sunday at the Lake of Egypt Fire Department and asked firefighters to contact "proper authorities." He was reunited with his family later that day. The father credits the publicity with spooking the men. "The captors decided they needed to get rid of him," he said. The sheriff said St. Aubin was with Peal at the fire station. Williamson County deputies arrested Andrade and St. Aubin Monday after staking out their house. Illinois officials say they're considering additional charges. Peal doesn't think his son was physically hurt, but hasn't asked him much about what happened during the four days, during which the men fed the boy hot dogs and frozen pizza. "Right now, I'm bonding with my son," the father said. Developer Discord Inc. urges users to only chat with people they know. It also says it urges parents to teach children about the risks of communication with unknown people. A man charged with starting a Southern California wildfire that has burned 12 cabins and forced at least 20,000 people from their homes refused to go to court Thursday, delaying his initial court appearance. The arraignment for Forrest Clark was supposed to be Thursday, but the judge in the case said the suspect refused to go to court. His arraignment was rescheduled for Friday. Clark, 51, is charged with three counts of arson, resisting arrest and deterring an executive officer. He is being held on $1 million bail and faces life in prison if convicted. It's unclear if he has an attorney. Clark is charged with setting the Holy Fire, which has burned 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) in the Cleveland National Forest since it began Monday. At least 20,000 residents have had to evacuate their homes because of the blaze, which is just 5 percent contained. The Orange County Register reported that Clark owns a cabin in the community of Holy Jim, where the fire began, and that his was the only one to survive the flames. Michael Milligan, chief of the Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department, told the newspaper that Clark had a decade-long feud with neighbors and sent him threatening emails last week, including one that said, "this place will burn." At one point Tuesday, Clark stripped naked as investigators questioned him about the fire and a Register photographer snapped pictures. A man who identified himself as Clark spoke with a freelance video news crew the same day, telling them he had been terrorized by gangs and that "they told me they were going to send eight Mexicans, big Mexicans, and they were going to kill me." When asked if he knew how the fire started, Clark said he had no idea. "I was asleep. I had two earplugs in," he said. "I just woke up, dude." Orange County sheriff's deputies received a call reporting "erratic behavior" by Clark on July 23 and placed him on a psychiatric hold, said Carrie Braun, a department spokeswoman. Deputies fielded another call about Clark on Aug. 2 and tried to find him but couldn't, Braun said. She didn't have further details. Clark's arrest marks the second such detention in two weeks. On July 25, police arrested Brandon McGlover on suspicion of setting the Cranston Fire in the San Jacinto Mountains east of Los Angeles. That blaze destroyed five homes. McGlover also faces a life sentence if convicted. US President Donald Trump said on Friday he had authorized higher tariffs on imports from Turkey, imposing a 20 percent duty on aluminum and 50 percent one on steel, as tensions mount between the two NATO allies over Ankara's detention of an evangelical pastor and other diplomatic issues. "I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" Trump said in an early morning post on Twitter. "Aluminum will now be 20 percent and Steel 50 percent. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!" Trump's announcement came less than an hour after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged Turks to help defend the country against what he called economic war against the country. Erdogan appealed to a crowd in the city of Bayburt to exchange dollars and gold for Turkish lira to prop up the plunging currency. The United States, the world's biggest steel importer, imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum in March for imports from a variety of countries. Since then, its relationship with Turkey, the sixth largest steel importer to the United States, has deteriorated, prompting Ankara to send a delegation this week to Washington to meet with both the State and Treasury Departments. But those talks on Thursday showed no signs of breakthrough. Last week, the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey's justice minister and interior minister for not releasing pastor Andrew Brunson. Securing the release of Brunson, arrested in 2016, is a top priority for the United States, and it is also tussling with Turkey over the detention of three locally employed US embassy staff, trade issues and differences over Syria Search Keywords: Short link: Federal inspectors Thursday released images showing cracks in the concrete of a pedestrian bridge -- larger than what had been seen before -- on the campus of Miami's Florida International University days before it collapsed and killed six people. The photos were released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as part of another preliminary report in the investigation of the March 15 collapse. The agency previously released photos taken on Feb. 24, documenting small cracks at the ends of the bridge. The new photos featuring larger cracks were taken after March 10, when the prefabricated bridge was transported from a casting yard and set into place on permanent piers. Investigators interviewed employees from eight companies involved in the bridge's design and construction, the report said. Experts have also tested concrete, steel rods and a hydraulic jack. The report didn't include any test results or conclusions about what might have caused the collapse. The bridge was to span a busy highway and canal and connect FIU's campus to the neighboring community of Sweetwater. Five people in vehicles and a bridge worker were killed in the collapse; eight other people were hurt. The bridge had been highlighted by FIU officials as an achievement for an accelerated construction method that was supposed to reduce risks to workers and pedestrians and minimize traffic disruption. When the bridge fell, construction was behind schedule and millions over budget, in part because of a key change in the design and placement of one of the span's supports, public documents showed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A baby born in a Burger King restroom to a mother suspected of having used heroin was expected to survive, police said, while the mother awaits further court action after being arrested. Police in Chillicothe, about 49 miles south of Columbus, said the mother, identified as Elizabeth D. Sanders, 26, apparently overdosed and thought she had suffered a miscarriage. Officers found Sanders seated on the toilet inside a bloodied stall, with a suspected ball of heroin on the floor nearby and the baby floating face-up in the toilet, police said. Due to her level of impairment she was completely unaware, or at least believed to be unaware, that she was giving birth at the time, police told FOX28 Columbus. Medics told Sanders to stand up, which caused the newborn to turn facedown in the water, the Chillicothe Gazette reported. They baby, who was still breathing, was rushed to a local hospital. Police said the baby was expected to be OK, but details on the childs custody couldnt be provided, pending an investigation, a childrens services representative told the paper. Sanders was arrested on an outstanding theft warrant after her release from a hospital, the paper reported. She pleaded not guilty Monday and was released. Due to her level of impairment she was completely unaware, or at least believed to be unaware, that she was giving birth at the time." Chillicothe police Police said Thursday that they helped Sanders enroll in a drug treatment program. Meanwhile, the man who had accompanied Sanders to Burger King, identified as Zachary Frey, 26, was found passed out in the drivers seat of a running car outside the restaurant, FOX8 Cleveland reported. He was roused by officers and displayed drooling and slurred speech. Frey was arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired and possession of drug paraphernalia, the station reported. The lead backer of "Cal 3," a plan to divide California into three states, says he will no longer push the proposal after the state Supreme Court pulled it from the November ballot. In a letter to the court dated Aug. 2, Tim Draper, a Bay Area venture capitalist, said the court's decision last month to remove Cal 3 from the 2018 midterms, effectively put an end to this movement, and that he does not intend to appeal the decision, the Sacramento Bee reported. The letter was made public by his opponents Thursday. Draper had gathered more than 402,000 signatures when he submitted Prop. 9 in April to qualify for the November ballot. He argued that California had become too large to govern and would better represent its population by dividing into three separate states. He also made previous efforts in prior elections to break up California. But his plan to split California into six states didnt qualify for past ballots. Cal 3 was originally drafted as an amendment to the state constitution, but the environmental group Planning and Conservation League filed a lawsuit, maintaining that Drapers proposal amounted to a revision that would require support from two-thirds of the state Legislature before appearing on the midterm ballot, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. "At the end of the day, this was a billionaire's massive and illegal use of the initiative process, and the court was correct in stopping this folly." Carlyle Hall, attorney for Planning and Conservation League "At the end of the day, this was a billionaire's massive and illegal use of the initiative process, and the court was correct in stopping this folly," said Carlyle Hall, an attorney who worked on the suit with the environmental group. On July 9, Californias Supreme Court pulled Prop. 9 from the midterm ballot because of significant questions regarding the propositions validity. Draper was given a 30-day window to argue whether the proposal should be placed on the 2020 ballot. Draper contended the courts decision to remove the measure meant the desires of hundreds of thousands of Californians who signed the initiative petition have been disregarded because of some potential harm that would befall the voters if they were even presented an opportunity to discuss the failings of their government. Hall derided Drapers decision not to appeal as evidence that (Draper) has no serious interest in the policy implications of his foolish idea, but that he just wanted to piggyback on what he thinks is a political trend. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Department of Justice launched a federal civil rights probe into allegations of rampant sexual misconduct by correctional officers and horrific conditions inside a Florida womens prison. The investigation comes after years of complaints by former and current inmates who described the Lowell Correctional Institution in Central Florida as a brothel, legal prostitution, and a predators playground in a 2015 Miami Herald investigation detailing how inmates were forced to have sex in exchange for basic necessities such as soap and toilet paper. The inmates also alleged a lack of basic medical care. The DOJs acting head of the Civil Rights Division, John Gore, sent a letter to Florida government officials in April informing them the department had launched an investigation into the conditions at Lowell. We are obliged to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution of the United States...focusing on Lowells ability to protect prisoners from sexual abuse, Gore wrote. In July, the DOJs civil rights division subpoenaed the Florida Department of Corrections, demanding records ranging from policy and training manuals to a listing of staff members who were terminated, transferred, suspended or resigned from the prison as of July 1, 2015. The Florida Department of Corrections said it is committed to assisting the DOJ with the probe. The Department does not tolerate any form of abuse, FDC spokesman Patrick Manderfield said in a statement issued Wednesday. We take all allegations of this type of behavior very seriously, and reported incidents are aggressively investigated by the Inspector Generals Office. We have taken significant steps at Lowell recently to increase inmate security. The DOJ also took the unusual step of confirming the investigation in a flier distributed to activists and advocacy groups this week, inviting former inmates and families of current inmates to a meeting later this month. Your voice is important to us, the flier said. Your input and participation in the process is important. We invite everyone who may have a connection to Lowell to attend and share their experiences with us. Police in Maine are investigating two deaths Friday after a driver shot himself the day before during a traffic stop and then police found a second body inside the trunk of his vehicle. The traffic stop occurred Thursday afternoon along Interstate 295 in Gardiner, about 49 miles northeast of Portland. The operator, a man, immediately got of the vehicle and shot himself resulting in his death, Maine State Police said in a statement. While conducting the investigation a body was located in the trunk. Police did not disclose any details about the identities of both people, but said there is no ongoing threat to the public. The vehicle pulled over, according to a report, was a blue Subaru with Massachusetts license plates. Both bodies have since been sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta for investigation, police said. Fox News' Greg Norman contributed to this report. A fire at a home in the San Francisco Bay Area this week that killed a mother and her 14-year-old twin daughters started when the mother deliberately set herself ablaze, police said Thursday. Evidence at the scene as well as information gathered from witnesses showed that Mau Dao, 47, committed an act of self-immolation at her home in Vallejo, about 32 miles north of San Francisco, the Bay Areas FOX 2 reported. The blaze, which started around 2:45 a.m. Sunday, also killed twins Trinh and Tram Tran, who were about to become high school sophomores, the report said. One teen died at the scene, while the other teen died in a hospital and their mother died in a burn unit, FOX 2 reported. The twins 11-year-old sister was injured in the fire, but managed to escape from the home. A police officer on patrol spotted the girl, who told him the others were still inside the home, but the fire by then was too intense. The 11-year-old was expected to make a full recovery and was staying with her father, the Associated Press reported. According to FOX 2, the twins were remembered for sharing interests in wrestling and band class, but had distinctive personalities. One had a peppy, soft voice," friend Daniel Alencastro told the station. And one was really loving and caring. They would always give you a hug. Police on Sunday classified the fire as suspicious and began an investigation that led to the findings released Thursday. The Associated Press contributed to this story. The surge of Central Americans crossing into the U.S. claiming asylum is no secret around the world. Just a snapshot of those caught entering on any given day is stunning Nigeria, Romania, Nepal in addition to the hundreds of Mexicans, Guatemalans and Hondurans. But one of the fastest-growing groups of illegal immigrants come not from the barrios of South America or the slums of Africa, but mega-sized cities in India 8,000 miles away from the tiny town of El Centro, California, where a handful of Indian nationals are illegally entering the U.S. every day, officials say. "It's a common misconception that we just arrest Mexicans - that couldn't be further from the truth," said El Centro agent Justin Casterhone. "We arrest people from all over the world." Unable to obtain H1b visas, which are given to highly skilled workers, because of a crackdown on the visas by the Trump administration, and because of a fear that Sikhs are coming under attack by fundamentalist groups in their country, Indians are heading to the U.S. -- illegally -- in droves. In 2015, agents caught six immigrants from India trying to cross into the U.S. from Mexico. So far this fiscal year, the figure is already at more than 3,400. The U.S.-Mexican border is divided into nine sectors. The smallest is El Centro, a tiny 70-mile stretch just west of the Arizona-California border. That area has become a conduit for those from India fleeing their country. "Communication is very, very hard," said Casterhone, who like most border agents speaks fluent Spanish, but no Punjabi, the native language. "When trying to communicate, we are gonna have to get the interpreter to get the entire story." Agents said they arrest roughly five to 10 Indian nationals a day, with most young men claiming asylum as victims of political or religious persecution. Women, who often belong to a lower class in India's stratified caste system, claim abuse or fear of retribution from families in a higher social class. "When someone marries beneath their caste, or above their caste, the parents generally get really angry about it and can subject the couple to honor killing," said immigration attorney Judith Wood, who has represented and won a number of asylum claims on behalf of Indian nationals." Unlike those coming from Central America, who generally flee poverty and seek protection from gangs, most Indians claim persecution based on politics, social group and religion. People who are untouchables, the lowest caste, are basically not allowed to participate fully in society," Wood said. "Among members of the Sikh religion, there's a high incidence of torture." Most Central Americans pay an $8,000 smuggling fee to cross through Mexico to the U.S. For Indians, it is considerably more. El Centro Apprehensions 2008-2018 2008 Mexicans 40,159 Indians 0 2009 Mexicans 32,602 Indians 6 2010 Mexicans 31,704 Indians 11 2011 Mexicans 29,474 Indians 9 2012 Mexicans 22,511 Indians 9 2013 Mexicans 15,141 Indians 13 2014 Mexicans 12,511 Indians 32 2015 Mexicans 11,320 Indians 6 2016 Mexicans 14,361 Indians 1,455 2017 Mexicans 12,821 Indians 2,028 2018 Mexicans 15,885 Indians 3,408 "Some of these organizations are charging Indian nationals up to $25,000 dollars to get smuggled into the U.S.," said El Centro Sector Chief Gloria Chavez. "These traffickers, they are winning on this. Law enforcement is not." Chavez said Indians generally fly to Qatar then Ecuador, then travel on foot or by bus through the jungles of Colombia and Panama, through Central America and Mexico to El Centro. Most know to travel without any documents verifying their identity. "Many use their lack of identification to claim to be one person in Mexico and another one in the United States," she said. "In Mexico, they claim to be an adult because unaccompanied minors under 18 are arrested. In the U.S., the opposite is true. Here, they claim to be juveniles so they must be released." Asylum seekers without a criminal history in the U.S. are typically released. The Indian nationals usually head to the local Sikh Temple for a meal, change of clothes and a bus ticket. From there they will go live with relatives until an immigration judge can hear their case typically a year or two later. "They have the right to migrate wherever they want to go," Chavez said. "But there is a legal way and an illegal way. We want them to do it the legal way." A New York City imam linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing steered police to the decrepit New Mexico compound where his son was allegedly training school shooters, he told reporters Thursday. Siraj Wahhaj, who also leads a well-known Brooklyn mosque, said his daughter told him that family members were on the verge of starvation at the desert compound. The police came in because of information that we gave them, he said, adding a body found at the compound was that of his grandson, 4-year-old Abdul-ghani Wahhaj. However, the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigators told Fox News that officials were still working to identify the remains. The boy had been reported missing in Georgia in December. Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 39, the imams son, and four other adults were arrested at the makeshift compound last week, which was found shielded by old tires, wooden pallets and other debris. The Muslim cleric, who was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, appeared confused as to why his son would have allegedly been involved in the business of training kids to shoot up schools. He called his two daughters -- 38-year-old Hujrah Wahhaj and 35-year-old Subhannah Wahhaj, both of whom lived at the compound the sweetest kinds of people. To me, theres obviously something happening, some mental disorder, something I dont know what it is," he said. This doesnt seem like them. Were just trying to understand what happened. Authorities raided the compound after a months-long search investigating the disappearance of the boy. Upon authorities' arrival, Wahhaj was "heavily armed with an AR15 rifle, five loaded 30 round magazines, and four loaded pistols, including one in his pocket when he was taken down," Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said. The Clarion Project assisted authorities in their investigation into the compound, Clarion Intelligence Network Director Ryan Mauro told Fox & Friends First hosts Jillian Mele and Rob Schmitt. Ever since the raid happen, Ive been providing information to authorities about the ideology. About how I thought the group was operating, Mauro said. Mauro said he traced the compound leaders to a company that appears to be involved in security and investigation. He said he has seen Islamist groups act in a similar manner. Its a way of having an alibi to acquire weapons legally, to get training and to have the type of expertise you would need for this type of thing, Mauro said, adding he provided information about financial fraud and identity fraud. Fox News Nicole Darrah and Daniel Gallo and the Associated Press contributed to this report. A Los Angeles Opera musician who had his custom cellovalued at $100,000stolen from his hotel in San Diego on Wednesday is asking for the publics help in tracking down the instrument. John Walz, principal cellist for the orchestra, was out to dinner between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. when his room at the Town and Country Hotel and Resort in Mission Valley was broken into, police told the San Diego Tribune. Yesterday I checked into my hotel in San Diego, went out to dinner, and when I came back, my room had been broken into, everything stolen including my cello, Walz wrote on Facebook. [A]pparently the San Diego police dont think this is important enough to even send one officer over to the hotel to take a report, Walz wrote. Authorities arrived after Walzs Facebook post to collect evidence, according to KFMB-TV. Police said the instrument's one-of-a-kind status will make it harder to sell, and they have alerted local pawn shops to the theft. The cello was made by Mario Miralles, a well-known maker of stringed instruments, of Alta Dena, according to the Tribune. Its label reads: "Mario Miralles, 2010 Alta Dena, California." Walz, who has played on 1,500 film scores, including Titanic and Indiana Jones, told KFMB-TV the cello was part of the family and more priceless than its $100,000 value. Crime Stoppers offered a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case. A Mexican citizen who has been arrested by U.S. border agents at least nine times dating back to 2000 has been arrested for a 10th time. U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Great Lakes region revealed Thursday that Sergio Nunez-Barrera, a previously deported convicted felon, was arrested Tuesday on an outstanding warrant on burglary charges by the Lapeer County Sheriffs Office. Agents were contacted by the Lapeer Police Department to help identify a suspect as part of an ongoing investigation, according to CBP. When border agents questioned the man, he reportedly admitted that he had crossed into the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2014. TEXAS OFFICIALS GET NAME OF BABY WHO REPORTEDLY DIED AFTER LEAVING ICE FACILITY The man was identified as Sergio Nunez-Barrera, from Mexico, and it was determined that he had been arrested by CBP nine times dating back nearly two decades. Nunez-Barrera, whose age was not released, was convicted of improper entry by alien in September 2012 and sentenced to 30 days incarceration. MIDWEST ICE RAIDS TARGETED BUSINESSES THAT HIRED, MISTREATED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, OFFICIALS SAY CBP said that Nunez-Barrera was turned over to the Lapeer County Sheriffs Office and an immigration detainer was placed on him to be returned to immigration officials once he is released from the sheriffs custody. This is [an] outstanding example of our law enforcement community working together and taking a criminal off the streets, Chief Patrol Agent Douglas Harrison said in a statement. A CBE official said an investigation has been launched to uncover the source of the false report A Central Bank of Egypt official has dismissed reports claiming that Egyptian banks were directed to freeze clients' deposits in order to collect real estate taxes. Social media users have circulated an unofficial document claiming the Central Bank of Egypt issued letters ordering banks to freeze deposits of clients to force them to pay the recently declared real estate taxes. Such news is baseless, CBE Vice President of Council of State and legal adviser Tamer El-Daqaq said, adding that CBE Governor Tarek Amer and his deputy for banking supervision Gamal Negm are the only two people authorised to issue any directions to the banks. The circulated document was signed by a person not authorised to issue such directions, he said, adding that an investigation into the source of the fabricated document has been launched. Egypt's finance ministry announced Thursday it was extending the deadline for the payment of the real estate tax without imposing delay fees until 15 October. The ministry warned that this would be the only extension of a deadline that was set to expire on 15 August, saying fines for delays will be imposed on those who fail to meet it. *This story has been edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: A U.S. House district representing Detroit and some surrounding cities has made some major news: First came last year, when longtime Democratic Rep. John Conyers resigned after being accused of groping and sexually harassing women. Then this week, when Rashida Tlaib won the primary election that set her up to become the first female Muslim member of Congress. Amid the hoopla, however, is a quieter, quirky twist that's leading to some unexpected questions and late-summer research in Detroit and Washington: Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones won a special primary election on the same ballot that led to Tlaib's win to serve the final two months of Conyers' term. Will Jones take what's essentially a high-profile temp job in the nation's capital? Will she vacate her council job? Can she even do both? Here's a look at the issues and mysteries of the Case of the Double Detroit Election. ___ HOW DID WE GET HERE? After Conyers stepped down in December, it fell to Republican Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to call a special election. Snyder set it for this past Tuesday, the date for primary elections statewide. Critics sued, hoping to get the special election moved up and claiming Snyder had discriminated against black voters. But U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith in March said there was no evidence of discrimination. A state lawyer told Goldsmith that an earlier election would be "technically possible" but not "desirable" because of cost and the challenge of getting ballots to military members. Still, it laid the groundwork for the two side-by-side elections. And different ballot questions led to different results, in part because there were fewer candidates in the special primary election. ___ WHAT HAPPENS NOW? That's where things get cloudy. Jones hasn't publicly commented on what she will do, though The Associated Press left messages with her office seeking comment. Among the issues being studied: whether the council and Congress allow for someone to serve both positions simultaneously. "We are looking at a number of questions that are not the kind you get every day," Detroit Corporation Counsel Lawrence Garcia said in an email. "The election results for the US Congress 13th District race pose some interesting and unusual questions. The Law Department is reviewing these matters." U.S. House ethics rules say Jones could not get paid for both jobs simultaneously. The rules also say "a high state office is incompatible with congressional membership," but doesn't spell out what constitutes high state office. It also advises a House member considering state or local office to consult with the Ethics Committee "due to the manifest inconsistency of the respective duties of the positions." Jonathan Kinloch, chair of the 13th District Democratic Party, said he has spoken with Jones and he understands that she "definitely would love to serve in Congress" even for short time. "She is concerned about having that seat remain open. She's doing everything she can to see if it's lawful for her to hold both seats," he said. ___ HAS THIS HAPPENED BEFORE? Something similar, anyway. Thad McCotter quit Congress in July 2012, weeks after he didn't qualify for the summer primary election because of tainted petition signatures. A special primary election was held in September of that year for the suburban Detroit district, and an election for McCotter's two remaining months was held in November. ___ WHAT'S ON THE HOUSE AGENDA? This year's lame duck, or postelection session, likely will be important. There's a strong chance President Donald Trump and Congress will leave many decisions about next year's budget until after the election, including Trump's demand for money to build his proposed border wall with Mexico. Democrats and some Republicans oppose financing the wall. With that and other budget issues at stake, that means there could be face-offs that would raise the threat of a federal shutdown. There could also be legislative fallout related to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump's campaign was involved. It's unclear when Mueller will wrap up his probe. ___ Follow Jeff Karoub on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jeffkaroub and find more of his work at https://apnews.com/search/jeff%20karoub . ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram in Washington, D.C., and Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report. The Navy says there is an ongoing all-hands effort Friday to find a Marine who went overboard during operations in waters near the Philippines. The U.S.S. Essex reported the Marine missing in the Sulu Sea around 9:40 a.m. local time Thursday and immediately started search and rescue operations. "It is an all-hands effort to find our missing Marine," U.S. Navy Capt. Gerald Olin, commander, Amphibious Squadron One and the on-scene commander of the search and rescue operation, said in a statement. "All of our Sailors, Marines, and available assets aboard the USS Essex have been and will continue to be involved in this incredibly important search and rescue operation, he added. The Navy says the U.S. Marine Corps and their Philippines counterparts are also helping in the search. "As we continue our search operation, we ask that you keep our Marine and the Marine's family in your thoughts and prayers," said Col. Chandler Nelms, Commanding Officer of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Searchers say they have covered around 3,000 nautical miles so far and have gone looking through the amphibious assault ship multiple times. The Marines family has been notified, they said. Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report. The Florida sheriff leading a state commission on the Parkland high school massacre says there were multiple opportunities to stop Nikolas Cruz during the attack if only someone had confronted him with a gun. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County, citing surveillance footage taken from inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, told a New York Times reporter Thursday that Cruz had to stop firing his AR-15 rifle several times in order to reload. "If he had somebody in there with a gun, they could have mitigated this," the sheriff was quoted as saying. "There were opportunities for staff to have intervened if they had been armed." Cruz, a 19-year-old former student at Stoneman Douglas, is charged with killing 17 people in the Valentine's Day attack. Gualtieri added that during one of the reload breaks, a teacher was able to move his students to safety. "There were several other times when he was in that school that his gun was empty," he also told the New York Times. The comments came after prosecutors Wednesday released hours of video interrogation of Cruz, showing the young man slouching in a chair, being repeatedly urged by a detective to speak louder and punching himself in the face when he is alone. Gualtieri told the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission earlier this week that Cruz's fluctuating behavior through the years made it difficult for school officials to determine how he should be handled. "It was really a roller-coaster with Cruz really from birth," Gualtieri said. A report released last week by the Broward County school district said he began showing behavioral issues that got him kicked out of pre-kindergarten. He spent his school years shuttling between regular campuses and those for children with emotional and behavioral problems. "He had some really bad low times but at times he was without behavioral issues," Gualtieri said. The video made public Wednesday shows Cruz hunched over at times, leaning back at others. He is seen wearing hospital clothes and speaking so softly at the beginning that Broward Sheriff's Detective John Curcio has to repeatedly urge him to talk louder. Shortly after entering a small interrogation room, the detective asks Cruz: "You all right? Got to be able to speak so I can hear you." At one point, with the police out of the room, the video shows Cruz take two fingers, put them to his left temple and pretend to pull a trigger. He gave a little shake after doing this. Later, he is seen punching himself hard in the face with both hands and occasionally scratching at his right arm with a small object he picked up off the floor. Much of the interrogation focused on a demonic voice Cruz claims he has heard inside his head for years that urges him to commit violent acts. When asked what the voice usually said, Cruz answered, "Burn. Kill. Destroy." He also said the voice told him to cut himself. At another point with Curcio out of the room, Cruz mutters, "Kill me," and then, later, "I want to die." The Associated Press contributed to this report. A smoky haze caused by the California wildfires stretching from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range to Sacramento and San Francisco appears to have drifted as far east as New York and parts of New England. The National Weather Service revealed Wednesday that smoke from the wildfires has made its way to the East Coast and beyond. A map shows smoke spreading across the country, albeit more than a mile above the surface. Another map showed some smoke near the surface even in New England, NWS San Diego said via Twitter. Firefighters across California are battling at least three major wildfires that have claimed the lives of eight people, including three firefighters in the Carr Fire near Redding. FLAMES INCH CLOSE TO CALIFORNIA HOMES AS THOUSANDS EVACUATE On Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Orange and Riverside counties as an arson fire in the Cleveland National Forest forced more than 20,000 people from their homes. The four-day-old fire, named the Holy Fire for the canyon where it started, near Lake Elsinore is devouring brushy foothills, ridgetops and canyons. It has blackened 16 square miles and is only five percent contained. Forrest Clark, 51, is charged with arson and other crimes and could face life in prison if convicted. It wasn't immediately known if he had a lawyer. Wind speeds and temperatures dropped as night fell but gusty winds could pick up again Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service warned. 14,000 FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING 18 MAJOR CALIFORNIA BLAZES Meanwhile, two major wildfires one called the Mendocino Complex Fire that is the largest in California history were burning more than 100 miles north of Sacramento. Crews have turned a corner and achieved 51 percent containment of the Mendocino Complex actually twin fires that are being fought together. The fire destroyed more than 100 homes and has blackened an area about the size of Los Angeles. The fires all grew explosively in the past two weeks as winds whipped the flames through forest and rural areas full of timber and brush that is bone-dry from years of drought and a summer of record-breaking heat. Firefighters have almost contained a huge fire near Yosemite National Park. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Two teenagers were arrested Wednesday for allegedly burglarizing the same Georgia home twice in one day. Jarrell Bankston, 18, and an unidentified 16-year-old, both from Woodstock, were caught by a neighbor as they were attempting to break into a home on Braddock Circle, the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said Thursday. Spokesman Jay Baker said the teens had burglarized the same home earlier that day and were trying to re-enter it when a neighbor spotted them. The teenagers fled the scene when deputies arrived, but they were arrested a short time later, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Deputies recovered a backpack believed to be taken from the home two knives, a small amount of marijuana, drug-related objects and clothing. Bankston was arrested and jailed in the Cherokee County Jail on a $21,499 bond. The 16-year-old was taken to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Marietta. The teenagers face a slew of charges including burglary, theft by taking, criminal attempt to commit burglary and possession of marijuana. A homeless transgender woman, who strangled to death a man with whom she had a decade-long friendship after being invited to live in his Portland, Ore., apartment, was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison. Paris McConville, 35, pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault in the August 2017 death of Ryan Thompson, 35, FOX12 Oregon reported. In the end, he lost his life because he trusted the wrong person," Thompsons sister, Cecily Thompson-Thiel, said in court. McConville walked into a local police station 17 hours after killing her friend and confessed, the Oregonian reported. Police discovered she had moved his body to a bathtub and bound his hands with packing tape. Thompsons official cause of death was ruled as strangulation, but he also had a stab wound to an arm and blunt force trauma to the back of his head, police said. Investigators said the friends had an argument that turned physical, though a clear motive was never discovered, FOX12 reported. McConville had been homeless and living off food stamps preceding the invitation to stay at Thompsons apartment, the Oregonian reported. Authorities believe McConville suffers from mental illness. In the end, he lost his life because he trusted the wrong person." Cecily Thompson-Thiel, Ryan Thompsons sister McConville, who apologized in court, was originally charged with murder and faced life in prison, but the charge was downgraded because she surrendered and showed remorse, her defense attorney, Jason Steen, told the paper. She [went to police] on her own, before she had an attorney. ... I find Paris to be a bit mysterious, but one thing that seemed very clear to me is that right from the start, she was sorry, he said. Thompsons family addressed the court Thursday. They described their loved one as kind, sensitive, and exceedingly intelligent with a caring heart, FOX12 reported. "He was a good big brother, said Thompson-Thiel. He and I will never have the chance to grow old together." North Korea on Thursday threatened to stall the denuclearization of its missile program if the U.S. continues to abide by an "outdated acting script" amid Washington's calls to enforce sanctions against the regime. A statement from the nation's Foreign Ministry said that following President Trump's June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the North has worked to improve relations between the two countries and "make active contributions to peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and over the world." POMPEO SAYS NORTH KOREA NOT LIVING UP TO NUCLEAR PLEDGE The foreign ministry said that despite their efforts to work with the U.S. by stopping their missile launches and nuclear tests America continues to insist on "denuclearization first," and continues to encourage international sanctions against the North. U.S. officials, according to North Korea, "are making baseless allegations against us and making desperate attempts at intensifying the international sanctions," against what they believe to be Trump's intentions to better relations between the two countries. "As long as the U.S. denies even the basic decorum for its dialogue partner and clings to the outdated acting script which the previous administrations have all tried and failed, one cannot expect any progress in the implementation of the DPRK-U.S. joint statement including the denuclearization," the statement read. The North noted that they returned remains of U.S. soldiers who fought in the Korean War to the U.S. last week. The foreign ministry said actions taken by the U.S. equate to "throwing cold water" over their efforts, calling it an "indeed foolish act that amounts to waiting to see a boiled egg hatch out." POMPEO WARNS RUSSIA, CHINA ABOUT VIOLATING NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS At Trump and Kim's historic summit, the two signed a document stating that Pyongyang would work toward "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." But, following the meeting, U.S. intelligence officials said they believed North Korea was "deceiving" the U.S., saying the regime was bolstering production for nuclear weapons at "multiple secret sites" in recent months. Two police officers were among the four people shot and killed Friday morning in the Canadian city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, police said. The suspect taken into custody has been identified as Matthew Vincent Raymond, 48. He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder at an arraignment Saturday morning, the Globe and Mail reported. Raymond was hospitalized with gunshot wounds after a confrontation with police, authorities said. The suspect is due to appear in court Aug. 27, the report said. The slain officers were identified as Sara Mae Helen Burns, 43, and Lawrence Robert Costello, 45, officials said during a news conference. Burns had been on the force for two years before previously serving as an auxiliary officer for another two years, police said. She leaves behind a husband and three children. Costello was a 20-year veteran of the police department and leaves behind a partner and four children, police said. On Saturday, authorities identified the two slain civilians as Donald Robichaud, 42, and Bobbie Lee Wright, 32. A Facebook post by Wright earlier this month said the pair were in a romantic relationship, the Globe and Mail reported. Fredericton police responded to calls of shots fired around 7:10 a.m., Deputy Police Chief Martin Gaudet said. After arriving to the scene, officers saw two civilian victims on the ground before getting shot themselves. Earlier Friday morning officials tweeted to caution residents to avoid Brookside Drive due to an "ongoing incident." Later, police confirmed four people had been killed. It was not immediately clear what caused the shooting. Police urged residents to stay in their homes and lock their doors at the time of the incident. Residents told CBC News the gunshots sounded like popping noises. "With the tempo, it might've been a gunshot. It was sort of like a pop, pop, pop, pop," resident Robert Didiodato told CBC News. Didiodato said people were staying inside their homes and following the department's instructions. CTV News spoke to a woman who was escorted from her residence in the area and she told the station she heard what appeared to be gunshots. The media outlet reported police were talking to residents in the area asking what they heard or witnessed. David MacCoubrey, who lives in Fredericton, said he heard about 20 shots and was hiding on his kitchen floor. "I'm on my floor," he told the Associated Press in a phone interview. "The cops have come through my place. They have searched all the apartments in the building. It sounded like it started in the courtyard area." MacCoubrey said police have been searching the buildings, and hes been sitting away from windows. Travis Hrubeniuk said his fiancee had just left for work around 7:45 a.m. local time when he began hearing a steady stream of sirens. Hrubeniuk said residents have been advised to stay inside with their doors locked. The quiet residential neighborhood, which has houses, grocery stores, a church and an elementary school, is the last place Hrubeniuk said he expected to encounter a dangerous situation. "This is the first time I've even heard of any serious crime or violent crime in this city," he said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted his condolences following the incident. "Awful news coming out of Fredericton. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this morning's shooting. We're following the situation closely," the prime minister wrote. Fredericton has a population of about 58,000 and is located just northeast of Maine. The city is the capital of New Brunswick. Fox News' Elizabeth Zwirz and the Associated Press contributed to this report. For the first time in more than a year, Iran test-fired a ballistic missile in a brazen display of defiance months after President Trump pulled the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal and days before his administration slapped new sanctions on the Islamic Republic, three U.S. officials with knowledge of the launch tell Fox News. The test of an Iranian Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missile coincided with a large-scale naval exercise by Irans Revolutionary Guard forces late last week involving over 50 small gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz to rehearse swarm tactics which could one day potentially shut down the vital waterway, through which 30 percent of the worlds oil passes each year. While the U.S. military publicly acknowledged the naval activity, the missile test from an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps base in Bandar-e-Jask in southeastern Iran has not been previously reported. The launch was detected by U.S. spy satellites. According to the officials, the anti-ship Fateh-110 Mod 3 flew over 100 miles on a flight path over the Strait of Hormuz to a test range in the Iranian desert. It was shore-to-shore, said one U.S. official describing the launch, who like the others requested anonymity to discuss sensitive information. There were no U.S. military assets nearby or in danger when Iran conducted the test, the official added. The guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans has been escorting vessels through the strait in recent days. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the Iranian ballistic missile launch. Last weeks missile launch is the first known test of the Fateh-110 in over a year since a pair were launched on consecutive days in March 2017. One of the missiles last year destroyed a floating barge roughly 155 miles away, two U.S. officials said at the time. The top American commander for U.S. forces in the Middle East told reporters Irans recent naval activity was meant to send a message to the United States. "I think it's pretty clear to us that they were trying to use that exercise to send a message to us that as we approach this period of the sanctions, they had some capabilities," Gen. Joseph Votel said at the Pentagon Wednesday. Its not immediately clear if the missile test occurred Thursday or Friday, but U.S. officials say it occurred as part of Irans annual naval exercise, moved up from its typical fall timeframe ahead of the new sanctions imposed this week. Its routine to see Iran doing a missile test during this annual drill, one official said. Earlier this week, John Bolton, President Trumps national security adviser, said the new U.S. sanctions placed on Iran Tuesday were meant to pressure the government in Tehran over its military activity in the Middle East and its ballistic missile program. In an interview on Fox News, Bolton said the new sanctions targeting Irans automotive and airline sectors were not to bring about regime change in Iran despite dozens of protests taking place throughout the country and its currency losing value. U.N. resolution 2231 -- put in place days after the Iran nuclear deal was signed -- calls on the Islamic Republic not to conduct ballistic missile tests. The resolution bars Iran from conducting ballistic missile tests for eight years and went into effect July 20, 2015. But critics say the resolution leaves wiggle room by saying Iran is called upon not forbidden from carrying out such tests. Iran is "called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology," according to the text of the resolution. Despite this most recent example of Iranian saber rattling, its notable Iran has not harassed any U.S. warships or aircraft in nearly a year. The last unsafe interaction occurred nearly a year ago on Aug. 14, 2017, when an Iranian drone flew too close to an F/A-18 Hornet attempting to land aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, according to the Navy. Last September, Iranian state television aired footage of a ballistic missile launch of what Tehran described as a new type of medium-range ballistic missile hours after displaying the missile in a parade in Tehran, but the missile launch turned out to be fake and copy of a failed launch the previous January, according to U.S. officials. The failed late January launch was first reported by Fox News and prompted the White House to put Iran on notice days later. A year earlier, Iranian forces captured the crew of two small U.S. Navy patrol boats that strayed into Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf. The 10 American sailors were released roughly a day later. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 President Michelle Bachelet's unanimous approval as the next U.N. human rights chief on Friday sparked a sharp exchange between the United States and several key opponents over rights abuses a foretaste of some of the issues Bachelet will confront. With a bang of his gavel, General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak gave official approval by acclamation to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' selection of Bachelet. Diplomats from the U.N.'s 193 member states burst into applause. "Deeply humbled and honored to announce my acceptance as the @UN's new High Commissioner for Human Rights. I thank Secretary General @antonioguterres and the General Assembly for entrusting me this important task," Bachelet tweeted shortly after the assembly's approval. Guterres then touted Bachelet's qualifications: the first female president of Chile, first head of the gender equality agency known as UN Women, "a survivor of brutality" by a Chilean dictator, and a physician who understands people's thirst for health and economic and social rights. She has also "lived under the darkness of dictatorship," he said. Bachelet's father was imprisoned for treason for opposing the coup that ousted Marxist President Salvador Allende in September 1973. She and her mother were tortured in a secret prison for two weeks before they fled into exile. Her father, Gen. Alberto Bachelet, died of cardiac arrest following months of torture. Guterres told reporters Bachelet will take office "at a time of grave consequence for human rights." "Hatred and inequality are on the rise," he said. "Respect for international humanitarian and human rights law is on the decline. Space for civil society is shrinking. Press freedoms are under pressure." But some of the pressures that Bachelet will face were immediately evident in several speeches following her approval by the General Assembly. U.S. Minister-Counselor Stefaine Amadeo, speaking on behalf of the U.N.'s host country, said "it is incumbent" on Bachelet to avoid what the United States called the failure of the U.N. human rights system. She singled out the Geneva-based Human Rights Council's "consistent failure to address extreme human rights abuses in the Western hemisphere, in Venezuela and Cuba in particular." She also cited U.N. failures "to adequately address major human rights crises" in Iran, North Korea and Congo. Mohammad Hassani Nejad, a counselor in Iran's U.N. Mission, retorted that the biggest challenge for Bachelet "is to make it clear that human rights is not a means in the foreign policy toolbox of policies against who they dislike." He said the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights should speak out "for all victims," citing "migrant kids in cages, or the U.S.-made bombs that kill kids on a daily basis." Cuba's deputy U.N. ambassador Ana Silvia Rodriguez, echoed Nejad in speaking out against the polarization and politicization of human rights. She accused the U.S. of "flagrantly" violating human rights by imposing an economic and financial embargo on Cuba for decades, separating migrant parents and children and causing civilian deaths "by bombs and drone wars," as well as by "brutality and police abuse, particularly against the African-American population." Venezuela's U.N. Ambassador Samuel Moncada said his country will only believe the United States supports human rights when it stops separating Latin American children and parents, stops using drones and "claiming the use of torture as legitimate practice," ends discrimination against the people of Puerto Rico, and "stops insulting entire nations" Moncada called U.S. threats to use military force against Venezuela "the expression of the most racist and cruel government in the recent history of this country." "They have no moral right to talk about this topic (human rights) because this hatred has led them to be a threat to international peace and security," he stressed. As for Bachelet, Moncada said, "she will be facing a very powerful force in the next few years." Amadeo, the American diplomat, then took the floor saying the United States "notes with disappointment the incorrect misconstructions, fabrications and false criticism of the delegations of Cuba and Venezuela." Bachelet will replace Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, a Jordanian diplomat and member of the country's royal family whose four-year term ends Aug. 31. Secretary-General Gutteres paid tribute to Zeid Friday "for his leadership, passion, courage and skill" as high commissioner. Zeid, who has faced criticism from many quarters for being too outspoken, told a farewell news conference last week that his office doesn't "bring shame on governments, they shame themselves." He stressed that "silence does not earn you any respect none." Zeid said he will give his successor the same advice that his predecessor, Navi Pillay, gave him: "Be fair and don't discriminate against any country" and "just come out swinging." A battle between Syrian government forces and rebels for the northwestern Idlib province could affect the lives of more than 1 million children, many of whom live in refugee camps, the U.N.'s children's agency warned Friday. Food, water, and medicine are already in short supply in the largely rural province, which is now home to over 1 million Syrians displaced from their homes by government offensives in other parts of the country, said UNICEF. The agency said a battle for Idlib, the last major bastion for Syria's political and military opposition, would exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation there and potentially displace 350,000 children. The warning came as government forces bombed towns and villages at the edge of the contested area, killing at least three civilians, among them one child, a local search-and-rescue group said. The Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, said government aircraft bombed homes in the towns of Khan Sheikhoun, Altmana, Sukayk and Alteh. Hussein Kayal, a media activist in Khan Sheikhoun, said the attack was sudden and shattered nearly three months of calm in the town, as the government focused on defeating opposition forces in south Syria. "It's been three hours of non-stop bombing," he said. Government forces bombed rebel-held towns in adjacent Hama province as well, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Syria's government dropped leaflets across the province Thursday, urging residents to reconcile with its rule. Officials have warned that government forces will take back the province by force if necessary. The Observatory said the government was moving ground forces to the north in preparation for an all-out assault, including tanks and artillery. The U.N. has warned the consequences of such a campaign could be catastrophic. "War cannot be allowed to go to Idlib," said Jan Egeland, a top U.N. humanitarian adviser on Syria. There are 2.9 million people living in Idlib and surrounding opposition-held areas, according to U.N. estimates. The U.N. has appealed on Turkey to open its border to refugees, should the Syrian government decide to attack the province, Egeland said. Turkey, which has established itself as a sponsor of rebels in northern Syria, already hosts some 3.5 million Syrian refugees the most of any nation. It has also established 12 monitoring posts in Idlib and deployed 1,000 troops in the province. But Kayal in Khan Sheikhoun said there were doubts the Turkish presence would deter the Syrian government from attacking. "People here won't be surprised if there's a ground attack. The Turkish points are weak - they won't repel anything. We're scared that if anything happens, (the Turkish forces) will pull out immediately," he said. Syria's civil war has killed at least 400,000 people, according to monitors. More than 11 million or half of Syria's pre-war population have been displaced from their homes, according to the U.N., including some 5.6 million who have been made refugees abroad. [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.] On August 21st, one of the sagas that defined modern gaming is coming to PC, PS4 and Xbox One, and new players will be able to experience one of the most defining series in gaming history. In the meantime you can brush up on your Shenmue knowledge as we teamed up with Corey Marshall, the English-version voice actor of Ryo Hazuki, for a series of videos exploring the world of the Shenmue. Last week, our first episode detailed the storyline of Shenmue I & II and Ryos quest to avenge his father. Today, were delving deeper into the characters themselves: https://youtu.be/zsM_-HWDRa4 From Ryo himself to Lan Di, Corey introduces us to Shenmues key characters: the mysterious Shenhua appearing in Ryos dreams, Ren the Heavens gang leader, and many more friends, foes, and those whom Ryo would be wise to keep an eye on. Beyond the key characters that Ryo encounters, there are hundreds of NPCs awaiting you in the world of Shenmue: love interests, enemies, neighbours and merchants and of course, a cat. New players will be able to meet all the fascinating characters in Shenmue I & II when it re-releases this August 21st on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Shenmue I & II is now available for pre-order digitally on Steam, Xbox Marketplace and PSN with a 10% discount, and from SEGA approved digital retailers*. The physical edition is available to pre-order from US and EMEA retailers. For all the latest information on Shenmue I & II, go to: https://shenmue.sega.com/ *Please check here for an exhaustive list of digital retailers and more details as to what constitutes a SEGA approved retailer. Devastating fire : Destroyed homes sealed off from onlookers Siegburg A security service is controlling access to the neighborhood devastated by a fire in Siegburg just days ago. Meanwhile, residents whose homes were destroyed in the fire were allowed to return to see what remained. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken After the devastating blaze in Siegburg, residents were allowed to return and see what was left of their homes. But they were only allowed in with escorts from the fire department. Burkard Rick, spokesperson for the Siegburg police said there was a danger of the homes collapsing. According to Rick, the investigation of both the area damaged by fire and the surrounding area is completed. We have gathered the information we need and are now evaluating it in cooperation with the State Office of Criminal Investigation, he told GA. And they are still looking for witnesses who might have further information about the fire. Statements from witnesses up to now have not brought much insight, and the cause of the fire is still unknown. What is certain is that the dry weather and heat contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Police also surmise that a passing train could have stirred up the fire, which could have caused it to expand as well. City installs security protection On Thursday, calm returned to the area devastated by fire in the Siegburg neighborhood. The street where the fire occurred is called Im Urnenfeld and it has now been sealed off by authorities. Those who do not have permission to be there are not allowed to enter. Spokesperson Jan Gerull from the City of Siegburg said it was a security measure to protect people from getting hurt. Kim and Guido Duster live nearby but their home was not damaged in the fire. They welcome the street closing because they are irritated by people who come to Siegburg just to see the fire damage. They can tell the people are not from the area because their license plates give them away. Still, Guido Duster says they cannot yet think about things returning to normal. I still cant get over what happened here, he said. He witnessed the fire and says the fire in the scrub had nearly been put out when an ICE train went past and fanned the flames. I dont understand why the rail traffic had not been stopped earlier. Fire chief cites two crucial factors Responding to a GA inquiry, Deutsche Bahn (German railways) and the fire department said that the closure of the tracks began immediately. The fire department was at the place where the fire broke out and notified Deutsche Bahn within minutes. A Bahn spokesperson said the train conductor also reported the fire immediately. County fire department chief Dirk Engstenberg said the two crucial factors in the fire were the dry vegetation and the hillside to Bruckberg being steep - both allowing the fire to spread rapidly. He said these were the deciding factors. "Within ten minutes it spread to the residential buildings - that's extreme." It was impossible to stop the spread of fire any faster under these conditions. At first, water pressure was a problem. Several fire hydrants were tapped at the same time and the pressure went down. Engstenberg said the infrastructure of the water supply was not designed for fighting several burning houses at once. They had to obtain other sources of water in addition to those directly on location. Repair work at the tracks In the meantime, Deutsche Bahn continues to work towards restoring full operations. The ICE has been running since Wednesday, and regional traffic will pick up again on Friday. Affected are the lines RE 9, S 12 and S 19. In the fire, the overhead line was damaged for a length of about 350 meters. There is also considerable damage to cables for control and safety. Numerous trees damaged by the fire are also being removed as a precaution, according to the railways. Orig. text: Dominik Pieper, Marcel Dorsing Construction work : Godesberg tunnel closures begin this weekend BAD GODESBERG Motorists should be prepared for major traffic disruptions on the B9 beginning this weekend. Long term renovation work will get underway at the tunnel. Authorities suggest alternative routes. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken For some days already, one can see signs that are taped over on the way to the Bad Godesberg tunnel. Starting this weekend, things will get a bit tight in the tunnel and it will stay like that for one and a half years to come. The city engineering department expects traffic disruptions to be especially strong in the beginning. On Saturday, motorists will even have to deal with both tubes of the tunnel being closed for some time. On Saturday morning at 2am, the side of the tunnel that runs south will be closed off completely. According to civil engineering authorities, an 80-centimeter divider will be installed. It separates the two lanes, so that two-way traffic can flow through in the first nine months while work is being carried out in the tunnel tube on the Rhine side (in the direction towards Bonn, heading north), explains city deputy spokesperson Marc Hoffman. He added that they might be able to open the south running tube again on Saturday evening. Speed limit reduced to 30 At the very latest, that south running tube will be open again on Monday morning, August 13 - but this time for two-way traffic. It will remain like that for nine months, with a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour in the tunnel. When that is finished, there will be a flip-flop and the two-way traffic will move to the other tunnel tube running north. For this coming Saturday, the tunnel on the Rhine side will also be closed when intersections at the ends are remarked, traffic lights reprogrammed and trial runs carried out. Motorists will then need to use side streets to get around the tunnel. City engineering authorities promise the work will be done as quickly as possible. Keeping up with fire code is the reason for the work in the tunnel. Various systems have to be renewed or improved. For example, 15 ventilation flaps will be installed in the ceiling, while old jet fans are removed. Altogether, the cost of the improvements is expected to be 8.5 million euros. Traffic routing until mid-May next year Northern portal: If you drive from Elsasser Strae to the B9, you can no longer turn right into the tunnel. On Wurzerstrae on the opposite side, a left turn into the tunnel is no longer possible. The short tube to Bonner Strae (city) is closed in this direction, but still open to drivers in the direction of Bonn. The access and exit via the ramp Godesberger Strae (Obi-Markt) will be blocked. Southern Portal: The Koblenzer Strae ramp in front of McDonald's will be open only to cars coming out of the tunnel towards Mehlem. In the opposite direction it will be closed. Instead, the entrance on Friedrichallee (a few meters further) will be open, where all traffic is funneled to the left side of the tunnel. Pedestrians can then no longer directly cross Friedrichallee and will have to take a detour. Alternate routes: Authorities expect that the tunnel will no longer be able to accommodate the 40,000 vehicles that pass through daily and recommend using alternate routes. One is called the MUK route: Mittelstrae, Ubierstrae, Konstantinstrae and the other involves taking the roads that run parallel to the railway tracks: Oscar-Romero-Strae, Nahum-Goldmann-Strae, August-Bebel-Strae, Martin-Luther-Allee and Godesberger Strae. Local traffic: During times of congestion, bus lines 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615 and 631 will also be affected. "If you can, you should use the city tram lines 63/16 for going to Godesberg and in the direction of the city center," recommends municipal works spokesman Michael Henseler. One can also take regional trains. BLEACHING SAGA! Check Out This Viral Photo Of Lady With Different Skin Colours felicilin at 10-08-2018 03:24 PM (3 years ago) (f) This is a viral photo of a slay queen with two skin colours. This is a viral photo of a slay queen with two skin colours. She has a fair colour all over other parts of the body except her legs which retained her original dark skin colour. The picture is being circulated on social media to discourage ladies from bleaching their skin. Health practitioners have often warned that bleaching can predispose women to skin cancer and other diseases She has a fair colour all over other parts of the body except her legs which retained her original dark skin colour.The picture is being circulated on social media to discourage ladies from bleaching their skin.Health practitioners have often warned that bleaching can predispose women to skin cancer and other diseases Post Reply Posted: at 10-08-2018 03:24 PM (3 years ago) | Hero crocatum at 10-08-2018 03:35 PM (3 years ago) (m) horror Posted: at 10-08-2018 03:35 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac horror Reply crocatum at 10-08-2018 03:38 PM (3 years ago) (m) be yourself, don't try to morph into something you are not. Posted: at 10-08-2018 03:38 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac be yourself, don't try to morph into something you are not. Reply crocatum at 10-08-2018 03:39 PM (3 years ago) (m) but if you want to morph into something else, do proper research so you don't look scary. Posted: at 10-08-2018 03:39 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac but if you want to morph into something else, do proper research so you don't look scary. Reply horizontal at 10-08-2018 04:18 PM (3 years ago) (f) HMMMMMM Posted: at 10-08-2018 04:18 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac HMMMMMM Reply smart61 at 10-08-2018 04:53 PM (3 years ago) (m) na camera fault be that. low light level Posted: at 10-08-2018 04:53 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac na camera fault be that. low light level Reply fineboy77 at 10-08-2018 08:59 PM (3 years ago) (m) she is wearing sandals with black net What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 10-08-2018 08:59 PM (3 years ago) | Hero she is wearing sandals with black net Reply slimber at 11-08-2018 02:06 AM (3 years ago) (f) Women wahala Posted: at 11-08-2018 02:06 AM (3 years ago) | Hero Women wahala Reply teetaiwo32 at 11-08-2018 05:54 AM (3 years ago) (m) Nonsense.. Posted: at 11-08-2018 05:54 AM (3 years ago) | Newbie Nonsense.. Reply Governments around the nation are working to design the best vaccine policies that keep both their employees and their residents safe. Although the latest data shows a variety of polarizing perspectives, there are clear emerging best practices that leading governments are following to put trust first: creating policies that are flexible and provide a range of options, and being in tune with the needs and sentiments of their employees so that they are able to be dynamic and accommodate the rapidly changing situation. Sioux Falls, S.D., Metro Area: 77.2% Employment-to-Population Ratio Appleton, Wis., Metro Area: 76.9% Employment-to-Population Ratio Fargo, N.D., Metro Area: 75.9% Employment-to-Population Ratio Rochester, Minn., Metro Area: 75.5% Employment-to-Population Ratio Madison, Wis., Metro Area: 74.6% Employment-to-Population Ratio Other Regions Metro Area H.S. Grad or Less All Other Workers Difference Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL 70.5% 73.8% 3.3% Provo-Orem, UT 68.6% 74.5% 5.8% Prescott, AZ 59.6% 65.5% 5.9% Ogden-Clearfield, UT 70.2% 77.9% 7.7% Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 69.4% 77.3% 7.9% Barnstable Town, MA 71.4% 79.4% 8.0% Medford, OR 62.4% 70.7% 8.4% Fort Collins, CO 71.3% 79.8% 8.4% Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL 62.5% 71.0% 8.5% Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 67.8% 76.4% 8.6% Appleton, WI 76.9% 85.7% 8.9% Reno, NV 68.1% 77.0% 8.9% Salt Lake City, UT 71.5% 80.6% 9.2% Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 68.8% 77.9% 9.2% Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO 69.4% 78.6% 9.3% About the Data Workers holding college degrees have always had better luck finding jobs than those with less education, and todays economy is no different.According to Labor Department data published last week, 53 percent of adults with only a high school education or less were employed in July, compared to 72 percent for those with at least a bachelors degree. Similar discrepancies exist for unemployment rates.Despite these disparities, employment prospects for Americans without any education beyond high school have largely improved in recent years. Unemployment rates for this segment of the workforce have fallen by nearly half over the past five years.Some regional economies stand out as being particularly favorable for less-educated workers.Looking at data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, we computed regional employment-to-population ratios for prime-age workers -- those between the ages of 25 and 64. In four metro areas, more than three-quarters of prime-age workers with high school diplomas or less were employed: Appleton, Wis.; Fargo, N.D.; Rochester, Minn.; and Sioux Falls, S.D. Meanwhile, only about half of such workers were employed in select other regions with weaker economies.Generally speaking, regions where those without a college degree have the best chances of securing employment are in the upper Midwest and parts of the Northeast. These areas typically have tight labor markets where there aren't enough workers to fill vacancies, as well as low migration of workers relocating from other parts of the country.To gain further insight into these regional economies, we spoke with economists in areas where prime-age workers with low levels of education were employed at the highest rates in 2016, the most current Census data available.Workers without any college degrees havent had much trouble finding work in Sioux Falls. Approximately 77 percent were employed in the metro area -- the highest rate nationally of any region with a workforce of at least 100,000.South Dakotas economy weathered the recession relatively well, leading displaced workers to relocate there. Thats since changed, though, as the national economy has regained momentum. The spigot has been cut off from international migration and domestic migration, says Ernest Goss, an economics professor at Creighton University.The resulting smaller pool of potential employeeshas helped to keep down the regions unemployment rate, which was the fifth lowest of any metro area in June. The labor shortage has likely given many low-skill workers a shot at job opportunities they wouldnt otherwise have.Employers in Sioux Falls routinely cite a lack of qualified workers as a top concern, according to Goss. Many local companies, particularly manufacturers, are responding by investing in internal training or partnerships with community colleges. Its more common than it used to be," Goss says, "simply because of the skill levels of workers and the workforce not being as flexible and agile as it needs to be."Many of these low-education workers may be finding jobs in machine manufacturing or other types of manufacturing. The region is also home to an expanding health-care sector.Workers with no more than a high school education are similarly finding plenty of job opportunities in the Appleton, Wis., metro area comprised of two counties north of Milwaukee. In fact, the group is employed at a rate thats just 9 percentage points lower than that of all regional workers with higher educational attainment.Industries employing the bulk of low-education workers include food services, construction, health care and manufacturing. All of them are performing well in Wisconsin, according to Scott Hodek, an economist with the state's Department of Workforce Development. In the Appleton area, there's a large number of paper and motor vehicle manufacturing jobs.Hodek says the region, like many others across the upper Midwest and parts of the Northeast, isnt experiencing much in-migration from other areas. Thats made for a tighter labor market. It's harder for the region to attract workers, but those who are there want to stay, he says.As a result, Hodek says businesses are recognizing that theyll need to train workers. Accordingly, the state reports high demand for its Wisconsin Fast Forward grant program supporting worker training projects. During the recession, you had 50 people applying for a job, and they were all highly qualified, Hodek says. These days, you get three, and youve got to be willing to train.Fargos labor force, like other areas, benefits from ample job openings without enough workers to fill them. The regions unemployment rate was among the nations lowest in June, according to Labor Department estimates Fargos workforce is highly educated, with only about a quarter of adults age 25 and over never having attended college, compared to 40 percent nationally. Its likely these workers are thriving not only as a result of the strong economy overall but also from weaker competition for jobs not requiring a college degree.The area is home to North Dakota State University and a large medical provider employing more than 7,000 workers The areas job growth appears to have leveled off more recently as total employment remains nearly unchanged from a year ago.Rochester serves as a major health-care hub, propelling growth across the rest of the regions economy. Many of the recent job gains are tied to the Destination Medical Center , a $5.6 billion public-private economic development initiative supporting the expansion of the Mayo Clinic and other public infrastructure projects, according to state economist Laura Kalambokidis.Many health-care jobs in Rochester and elsewhere often dont require any college coursework. Employees may perform medical assistance, data entry or other administrative work.The metro areas leisure and hospitality sector has also steadily added jobs in recent years, and the agriculture industry further supports jobs that don't require college degrees.As in other parts of the state, there just arent nearly as many workers to fill vacancies as before. Its kind of a perfect storm in terms of labor demand, says Kalambokidis.While all the aforementioned regions are relatively small, the Madison metro area has a larger workforce of about 400,000, providing an array of job opportunities for workers of low-educational attainment.In addition to state government agencies and the University of Wisconsin, the area also benefits from a diverse private-sector economy. Epic, a health-care software company employing several thousand workers, is headquartered nearby, and several manufacturers maintain a presence in the surrounding counties.The most recent Labor Department estimates suggest one sector thats experienced particularly sharp growth lately is leisure and hospitality. Over the first half of the year, average monthly employment in Madison for the mostly low-wage sector is up about 6 percent compared to last year.All of these regions provide plenty of job opportunities for low-education workers. That doesnt necessarily mean, however, their overall economies are among the strongest nationally.Parts of the South and Northwest are experiencing significant in-migration, which may artificially lower their employment-to-population ratios. Wages, too, vary across regions, and many of the job openings in some places are largely low-wage positions.One might similarly assess labor markets by comparing employment-to-population ratios for workers not attending college with their more educated peers within the same areas. Places where the discrepancy is small, though, mostly reflect demographics and a heavy concentration of industries typically employing low-education workers. Many are retirement destinations or are supported by large tourism industries.The following table shows the smallest differences in employment-to-population ratios for the two education groups among metro areas with at least 100,000 prime-age workers:GoverningFive-year estimates were compiled from the Census Bureaus 2016 American Community Survey. Employment-to-population ratios for low-education workers were calculated by adding employment estimates for those between the ages of 25 and 64 reporting their highest level of educational attainment was either high school or less than high school. Other employment-to-population ratios reflect all other workers, including those with some college (without a four-year degree) or an associates degree. Figures exclude those in the armed services. Data was compiled for all metro areas where prime-age workers totaled at least 100,000.Labor Department figures referenced separately refer to seasonally adjusted estimates for workers 25 years and older, current as of July. Republicans and Democrats are often on opposing ends of voting rights debates. But a new law to automatically register people to vote received overwhelming bipartisan support in Massachusetts.The states Republican governor, Charlie Baker, signed the bill on Thursdayand it will take effect in January 2020.Oregon was the first state, in 2015, to adopt an automatic voter registration (AVR) system. Since then, 12 states and the District of Columbia have passed similar laws, and 20 states this year have introduced automatic voting registration proposals, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. The Massachusetts House approved the bill 130-20 in June, and the state Senate unanimously passed it two weeks later."People who believe in government of all political stripes want it to run effectively and efficiently," says Carol Rose, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Massachusetts. "In this era where theres so much concern about trust in government and trust in the election system, its certainly great to see a bipartisan effort coming out of Massachusetts."Under the new law, eligible citizens will be automatically registered to vote -- unless they opt out -- when they interact with the states Registry of Motor Vehicles and health-care system MassHealth. Most states currently have whats known as an opt-in system, which places responsibility on citizens to either register online or to find a nearby registration location.As life gets in the way, registering in time for an election can be a burden, particularly with Massachusetts policy requiring people to register at least 20 days before an election, says Cheryl Clyburn Crawford, executive director of the advocacy group MassVOTE.Advocates of automatic voter registration believe it allows for a more updated, secure and fair system. But not everyone agrees.If elected, Anthony Amore, a Republican candidate for Massachusetts secretary of state, would be responsible for helping to implement AVR."I dont want to give the impression that Im against voter participation," says Amore. "My concern is how cities and towns will deal with this information. ... Because people have to opt out of this rather than opting in, I anticipate that there will be a large amount of duplicates."Other Republicans have raised concerns over possible voter fraud stemming from duplicate or outdated information, registration of non-citizens, and threats to data security.One way to mitigate duplicates and keep information updated if a voter changes addresses or dies is to pull data from a number of agencies, says Jonathan Brater, counsel for the Brennan Center. By including MassHealth and the RMV, Massachusetts is in a better position than the states that only use their motor vehicle registries. But Marylands system, which will take effect in 2019, is the most comprehensive, pulling from the DMV as well as local social services agencies and the state health benefits exchange.A provision of the Massachusetts law also requires the state to join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a nonprofit group with 23 states and the District of Columbia as members with the goal of improving the accuracy of voter rolls. ERICalerts states when a voter has moved either within or between states and identifies when someone might be eligible and unregistered.But does automatic voter registration actually increase voter participation?The best example to assess at the moment is Oregon. Prior to the 2016 general election, Oregon registered about 230,000 voters through the automatic system. About 36 percent of them turned out for the election. By contrast, 80.3 percent of the state's total registered voters cast a ballot that November, according to a state summary Although people automatically registered to vote are less likely to show up to the polls than people who actively choose to register, many see the Oregon numbers as a success because more people voted overall.MassVOTEs Crawford praises automatic voter registration as the first step in increasing political participation. She also wants to see the state establish a same-day registration policy -- something 17 states and the District of Columbiahave. In the meantime, she hopes the energy her team spent working to register people can now be dedicated to educating them on the issues and motivating them to vote. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said in a cable news interview Thursday night that he plans to recuse himself from the vote tally process in the face of pressure from Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer and mounting confusion over vote totals.Kobach said that he would recuse himself in an interview with CNN hours after Colyer had sent a letter demanding that Kobach refrain from instructing county election officials on the counting of ballots in the primary race for governor on a day when the vote total narrowed to roughly 100 votes as multiple counties reported that vote totals were incorrect."I'll be happy to recuse myself. But as I say, it really doesn't make any difference. My office doesn't count the votes. The counties do," Kobach said in an interview with host Chris Cuomo.Colyer spokesman Kendall Marr told The Kansas City Star that the governor had not been notified by Kobach or his office that he intended to recuse himself. He said Coyler's team found out about it through news reports."We don't have an official recusal," Marr said. "We want to see what that looks like tomorrow. We want to make it's not a symbolic recusal. The secretary of state has a substantive role in this process and the recusal needs to be substantive."Marr added that "on top of the recusal, we're also asking that the secretary of state stop giving incorrect information to the counties, particularly related to the mail-in ballots."Colyer released a letter at 5 p.m. calling on Kobach to recuse himself from providing advice to local election officials. The letter comes after multiple counties reported that the election night totals on the secretary of state's web site were inaccurate, further clouding the results of a historically close election."It has come to my attention that your office is giving advice to county election officials _ as recently as a conference call yesterday _ and you are making public statements on national television which are inconsistent with Kansas law and may serve to suppress the vote in the ongoing primary election process," Colyer said in a letter.Marr explained in a phone call that the campaign has heard that Kobach's office told county clerks to disregard ballots with a smudged postmark. Marr said that ballots received before a Friday deadline need to be counted.Jamie Shew, the clerk of Douglas County Clerk, said the "recommendation was they could not be proven so could possible not count, but those would still be taken to the board of canvassers for consideration instead of the Friday count." Bryan Caskey, the state director of elections who works for Kobach, also said he had only seen news reports about the secretary's comments and had no first hand knowledge about what recusal would entail.The call for recusal was Colyer's biggest shot at Kobach since Tuesday's primary ended without a clear result and a major indication that the election may ultimately be decided in a courthouse.Kobach said Wednesday that he had no plans to recuse himself if a recount happens after the provisional ballots are counted. He said his office plays only an administrative role in that process and does not actually count ballots."I think I gave him the idea," Kobach said during his CNN interview. "I said to the press about a day or two ago there's really no point in doing it because the secretary of state doesn't actually have any role in the counting of provisional ballots or in any recount."Around the same time news broke that Colyer received 100 more votes in a western Kansas county than previously reported, the governor's campaign announced the establishment of a voter integrity hotline. Hours later, additional counties reported that votes had been incorrectly reported on Tuesday."We've received countless reports that voters experienced issues when they voted on Tuesday. Many Colyer voters had difficulties finding his name on the ballot, were forced to vote on provisional ballots, or were turned away outright for unknown reasons," Marr said in a news release.Patrick Miller, a political scientist at the University of Kansas, said the hotline was a clear indication that Colyer's campaign is preparing for a potential court case."Otherwise, what are you going to do with the hotline? You have to go to the courts," Miller said.He said that Democrats and the NAACP often use similar strategies in elections in which there are concerns about voter intimidation.In an election this close, he said, campaigns will fight for every individual vote possible."You often will sue over intimidation, errors in the voting process or something that allows you to go into court to claim that something was wrong in the voter process," he said.The hotline announcement coincided with the discovery of 100 more votes for Colyer in Thomas County near the Colorado border.Thomas County Clerk Shelly Harms confirmed that Colyer received 522 votes on election day rather than the total of 422 that had been reported by the secretary of state's office.She shared a scan of the form she submitted to Kobach's office, which clearly showed 522 votes for the governor, and said the secretary of state's office was responsible for the discrepancy, not the county.Caskey said in a phone call that he was "not assigning blame" for the error."I'm just saying there was a discrepancy," he said.Caskey said the missing votes were discovered through the secretary of state's office's routine verification process, which asks each county to confirm its reported vote total.Kobach's total of 466 in the county remained unchanged.Caskey said that the secretary of state's office would update its results page Friday. "We will adjust at some point. We're not doing it on the fly," Caskey said.Later Thursday, Haskell County confirmed that its reported vote totals also were incomplete. Colyer received 220 votes in the county, which was 117 more than previously reported. Kobach received 257 votes in the county, which is 147 more than previously reported.Deputy Haskell County Clerk Emily Aragon said that the county was still missing a precinct when it sent initial results to the secretary of state's office Tuesday night. The county sent updated results later that night, but the hundreds of new votes were not made public until Thursday.She stressed that these results are still unofficial until the county's canvas board meets.Wyandotte County's vote totals also didn't match up with the numbers posted on the secretary of state's web site on Thursday.Throughout Thursday, the Kansas secretary of state listed Kobach's vote from Wyandotte County at 2,737, while Colyer fetched 1,538.But as of Thursday at 10 p.m., Kobach had picked up 32 votes from Wyandotte County's tally, compared to the information posted on the secretary of state's web site. Colyer picked up 26 in an election where, truly, every vote will matter.Rawlins County's web site also differed from the state web site, showing two more votes for Colyer and four more votes for Kobach than what was previously reported.Caskey confirmed that Wyandotte County alerted him late Thursday about "a discrepancy of a handful of votes." He was not aware of any errors with the Rawlins County total, but said that it's possible.If the numbers on the county web sites are accurate, the difference between the two candidates stood at 129 votes as of Thursday night barring any additional changes.Totals posted on the secretary of state's web site on Friday will include mail-in ballots, Caskey said, meaning the gap between the two candidates could possibly narrow or widen again.Kansas law requires counties to count mail-in ballots that are received through Friday as long as they were postmarked by the end of election day.He said the website would be updated throughout the day, so Kansans can expect the total to change as mail-in ballots are counted in each of the state's 105 counties.The Friday totals will not include provisional ballots, which were not counted on the day of the election.The state's two most populous counties, Johnson and Sedgwick, will review a combined 3,700 provisional ballots when they hold their canvassing meetings on Monday.But even then the overall vote total in the race will remain unknown.Three of the state's other most populous counties, Wyandotte, Douglas and Shawnee, won't hold their canvas meetings until Aug. 16. Counties are allowed to continue canvassing until Aug. 20.In one more development Thursday, Kobach suggested in a statement to The Star that noncitizens could have voted in the primary election.Earlier this year, Kobach lost a high-profile federal court case when a federal judge struck down a state law, which he had designed, that required voters to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, to register to vote."It was established at trial that the judge's preliminary injunction allowed multiple noncitizens to register in Kansas. Her final order undoubtedly had the same effect, but we do not know how many of those noncitizens voted on Aug. 7," Kobach said in his statement Thursday.Kobach's campaign spokeswoman, who also works as his official spokeswoman, did not immediately respond to a follow-up question about whether Kobach was aware of the new totals in Thomas County when he made the comment about noncitizens.The comments from both campaigns expressing concerns about the integrity of the election results contrast sharply with a statement made by Kansas' state GOP chair Kelly Arnold earlier in the day about trusting the electoral process."Everybody knew this would be a close race. Nobody thought this would be this close a race," Arnold said. "Everybody does trust the process. At this point, there's not any evidence that any shenanigans happened."Arnold said such a close primary has never happened in a governor's race before but that party officials are used to tight contests in legislative races.In the 104th Kansas House district in Reno County, for example, challenger Paul Waggoner currently leads incumbent Rep. Steve Becker by a single vote in the GOP primary before any provisional ballots have been counted.The party must maintain neutrality in the race between Colyer and Kobach. Arnold said he waited until Thursday to reach out to either candidate.He said the party would be continuing on with its turnout strategy for the general election despite the absence of a clear nominee. Arnold said the party would actually be using the closeness of the primary race as a way to persuade GOP voters of the importance of turning out in November.He predicted a recount would have to take place before the party can declare a winner in the primary."If the final numbers are as close as it was on election night, I would expect a recount to happen," Arnold said. "You don't campaign for the past year-plus ... and not be 100 percent sure what that final result was." Josh Castro waited until the last minute to escape the massive inferno near his house in Southern California.Despite mandatory evacuation orders, Castro had stayed behind to protect his Lake Elsinore home from looters, he said. His wife, children and dog had evacuated as the bright orange flames from the Holy Fire swept through the canyon, sending ash and billowing black smoke in his neighborhood.Then the flames moved up the hill, closer to his backyard, and Castro decided it was time to leave. A sheriff's deputy banged on his door and told him it will only get worse, and Castro left his home of eight years and joined the line of cars snaking out of Lake Elsinore."I don't know anything about the neighborhood," Castro said Thursday. "Hopefully I have a house in the morning."As night fell Thursday, the Holy Fire had destroyed about a dozen structures since it erupted Monday at the Cleveland National Forest.In a week, it has scorched 10,236 acres and was 5% contained. California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Orange and Riverside counties, where more than 21,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders. In other public finance news: New Yorks MTA Downgraded Again California Is First State to Sign Green Bonds Pledge Whats true for one city isnt always true for another. Demographics and state policies say a lot about a city's ability to respond to a fiscal crisis. new report , published by the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program, looks at these factors, as well as how state and federal policies may influence how a city weathers a recession or other major disruption in revenue. Part of what were trying to understand here," says Michael Pagano, dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a coauthor of the report, "is if theres a shock to the system, [how will] cities respond to those changes.The report focuses specifically on the different limits cities have on their taxing power, such as the kinds of taxes a city is authorized by the state to levy, limits on raising the rates of those taxes and how a citys taxing structure aligns with its overall economy.Cities that the report identifies as "constrained" tend to have very limited revenue options. For example, they can only levy a property tax. Cities with more flexiblity, on the other hand, might be able to levy not only a property tax, but also income and sales taxes and real estate taxes. Or officials in some cities might have to get voter approval to raise a tax rate, whereas officials in others may be able to approve rate hikes themselves.Pagano further notes that populous cities with a higher demand for services tend to face more budget pressures than smaller cities. That means that in the event of a recession or some other unexpected revenue loss, these places -- many of which are in the Northeast and on the West Coast -- have a harder time raising revenue immediately through tax hikes. "Cities in low-demand areas are more able to address these unexpected events," says Pagano, "than cities that are already at the top of the spending structure.During the Great Recession, for instance, Sacramento, Calif., which has to get voter approval to raise taxes, responded to revenue losses by making major reductions in personnel and by raiding its budget reserve. By late 2012, however, the austerity helped convince voters to temporarily increase the sales tax rate by half a percent.Dallas, which faced fewer limits on taxing authority, was able to respond more rapidly. It raised its property tax rate to counteract reductions in both sales and property tax revenue. The city also increased fees and made budget cuts in public safety and other areas.The report offers state and federal policymakers an idea of how the policies they set may affect a city in times of fiscal crisis, says Pagano. Cuts in state aid to cities, he says, can have a drastically different impact on governments depending on how much flexibility cities have to counteract those cuts.The nations largest transit authority has been downgraded again by S&P Global Ratings based on the uncertainity surrounding the agencys ability to afford its debt payments. New Yorks Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which runs the citys subway and bus lines and operates the regional rail service, multiple toll bridges and tunnels, has faced chronic budget deficits and has roughly $39 billion in debt. S&Ps downgrade this week follows a previous one in March.Still, S&P says it believes the MTA, state, and potentially other local stakeholders will work together, as in the past, to solve the authoritys structural budget imbalance. The credit rating agency notes that proposed congestion pricing, which would impose tolls on drivers entering Manhattan's central business district, is one new revenue source that could help achieve budget stability. According to Dan Vock, a handful of large cities in other countries -- including London, Singapore, Stockholm and Milan -- use similar cordoned toll systems. But New York would be the first U.S. city to impose tolls on its most congested roads.Citing the increasing need to build climate-resilient projects, Californias treasurer announced this week that it will be the first U.S. state to sign the global "green bonds pledge." The pledge was created earlier this year by Christiana Figueres, the former United Nations climate chief. Governments and businesses that sign it are committing to infrastructure that is climate-resilient and low carbon.Its no surprise that State Treasurer John Chiang and Gov. Jerry Brown have joined the pledge. Both have been early champions of the idea of green bonds, which tend to require extra reporting on environmental outcomes. Still, its unclear whether financing environmentally-friendly projects under the green bond label is worth the extra effort for governments. Description GIS 10 August, 2018: Mauritius is commemorating the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day for the first time as recommended by the Conference of African Ministers, under the theme Promoting Innovative Universal Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System for Good Governance and Better Lives. Mauritius is commemorating the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day for the first time as recommended by the Conference of African Ministers, under the theme Promoting Innovative Universal Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System for Good Governance and Better Lives. In this context, the Civil Status Division under the Prime Ministers Office organised this morning a ceremony to mark the CRVS Day at the Emmanuel Anquetil Building, Port Louis. The Chief Guest, Mr Om Kumar Dabidin, Permanent Secretary of the Prime Ministers Office, Mr William Mario Ayelou, Registrar of the Civil Status Division, and other officials were present. In his address, Mr Dabidin highlighted the importance of civil registration which he underlined is an important aspect of human life. He pointed out that civil registration and vital statistics are essential for modern administrative systems, creating an inclusive society, protecting human rights, ensuring proper delivery of public services and tackling discriminations and inequalities among other related issues. The civil registry, he underscored, provides individuals with essential legal documents required to secure basic human rights to name, identity, nationality and civil rights as well as access to basic social services. A birth registration certificate, as a legal document with the proof of age, helps to prevent violations of child rights, including child marriage, child labour and trafficking and the use of child soldiers, particularly in emergencies, he stated. According to the Permanent Secretary, civil registration integrated with national ID management system ensures the financial inclusion of citizens, particularly women and the poor, to have access to microfinance as well as using modern banking services for transfers and collection of payments and inheritance cases. These interventions by national governments, he added, are tenets of good governance that lead to inclusive development and better lives of the society. Mr Dabidin underpinned the need for reliable, timely and disaggregated vital statistics from a well-functioning civil registration system which are instrumental for monitoring the progress on several targets of the Agenda 2030 and the Agenda 2063 that are related to health, food-security, clean water, education, migration and gender. Without a continuous supply of reliable data on vital events from a well-functioning and universal civil registration system national, regional and global development targets cannot be measured and monitored properly, he added. Furthermore, he highlighted Governments commitment to modernise such vital services adding that it is important to innovate and use latest technologies. According to him, investment in innovative, appropriate and affordable IT support has a great potential for efficient coordination and data interoperability, safe data handling, privacy and data quality verification system. He also pointed out that Mauritius is a model on the African continent and is viewed with high respect internationally as regards its civil registration service. For his part, the Registrar of the Civil Status Division, Mr Ayelou, recalled that the Civil Status Division dates back to the 18th century and is an archive of citizens events with Mauritius having the oldest civil registration in the world. He underlined the commitment of Government to transform the Division into a modern and leading organisation. As such, several initiatives have been taken to help the Division grow and meet challenges. They include: the implementation of Info-Highway project which aims to provide a robust service platform to facilitate the consumption of published data among Government agencies and private entities to improve operation efficiency in public administration and business operations; issuing of Overseas Citizen of India Cards; ISO certification of all the offices under the Civil Status Division; construction of a Marriage Hall at the Emmanuel Anquetil building to the tune of Rs 7,3 million; revamping of IT system of the Division to the tune of Rs 17 million; and birth and death capture exercise to restore its archives. Mr Ayelou also announced that in a bid to familiarise the population with the different services provided by the Civil Status Division, Open Days will soon be organised. He recalled that the Division comprises 33 Civil Status Offices including two in Rodrigues and one in Agalega. The ceremony was also marked by the unveiling of a Commemorative Shield by the Permanent Secretary of the PMO and the Registrar of the Civil Status Division. African CRVS Day African CRVS day will be celebrated every year on the 10th of August to increase public awareness of the importance of making everyone visible in Africa through a well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics system covering the entire population and all vital events occurring in a country. It is important to have in place appropriate national legal framework, IT infrastructure and innovative business process improvement to make the CRVS system responsive to public demands by improving accessibility and quality of civil registration and related services. Description GIS - 10 August, 2018: - 10 August, 2018: The National Cooperative College (NCC), a first-of-its-kind in Mauritius, will provide training and educational programmes with a view to give a professional edge to the cooperative sector. Government is investing massively to ensure that local existing and aspiring entrepreneurs benefit from necessary tools and resources for the development of competencies in the field of cooperatives. The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, made this statement yesterday at the inauguration of the NCC at Bois Marchand, Terre-Rouge in presence of the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, other Ministers and eminent personalities. In his keynote address, the Prime Minister highlighted that the NCC, constructed to the tune of some Rs 20 million, will offer structured courses to cooperative societies as well as promote an entrepreneurial attitude for the successful evolution for the sector. According to him, the college will better respond to the expectations of cooperatives and will contribute to further strengthen the sector in the future. Prime Minister Jugnauth pointed out that the cooperative movement in Mauritius earlier centred on the sugarcane industry has today evolved into a diversified sector including livestock, credit unions, transportation, handicraft, finance, agriculture and fisheries amongst others. He reiterated the commitment of Government which is to reinforce cooperatives and encourage them to further harness their enormous potentials while ensuring the protection of the environment. The Prime Minister underlined that around Rs 1 billion has been earmarked for the training of some 12, 000 unemployed people under various programmes. To this end, he emphasised that the training programmes enable unemployed to acquire necessary expertise as well as experience and facilitate the task of Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises in retaining the services of a trained graduate. Moreover, he encouraged enterprises to adopt the Work@Home Scheme for which Government is allowing a double deduction from tax of the wage and salary costs of employees for the first two years and an annual 5% tax credit grant for 3 years on investment in the required IT system. On this score, he called upon women and youth to benefit from the facilities and services that will be provided by the NCC. For his part, the Minister of Business, Enterprises and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, underscored that cooperatives contribute significantly to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. Government, he emphasised, is determined to give a new impetus to this sector by urging competition, innovation, research and by enabling training as well as capacity building opportunities for co-operators. He recalled that various incentives including the creation of the Cooperative Audit Unit, the Mauritius Cooperative Alliance Limited and the NCC have been put in place, along with the provision of several schemes under the Cooperative Development Fund to further consolidate the sector. He also spoke of the Cooperatives Act 2016 which has been instrumental in eliminating illicit activities in cooperatives as well as promoting transparency and accountability. The e stablishment of the NCC was part of the amendments brought to the Cooperatives Act 2016, he added. Minister Bholah emphasised that the NCC represents a milestone for the cooperative sector which in turn will help develop skills in the fields of green energy, aquaculture, fisheries and livestock, amongst others. The college, he highlighted, will also collaborate with international institutions to enable training as well as the exchange of other knowledge-based activities. In this regard, discussions between the NCC and the Cooperative College of Malaysia have already been initiated for further collaboration, he underpinned. Description GIS - 10 August, 2018: A two-day validation workshop on the Mauritius Action Plan for the African Union Malabo Commitments at the initiative of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security in collaboration with the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (Mauritius Node) A two-day validation workshop on the Mauritius Action Plan for the African Union Malabo Commitments at the initiative of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security in collaboration with the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (Mauritius Node) hosted by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, opened yesterday at the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority (MCIA) in Reduit. Some 50 participants are attending the workshop to deliberate and come up with recommendations and an Action Plan to meet the objectives of helping Mauritius attain a significant transition into sustainable agricultural development; and to be fully prepared to meet the challenges of food security and safety, with an agriculture well equipped to cope with the additional risks that climate change represents. The deliberations and recommendations as defined in the Action Plan will eventually be presented and validated at the Africa Green Revolution Forum, which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 3-7 September 2018. The theme for the Forum is Lead, Measure, Grow: Enabling new pathways to turn smallholders into future agribusinesses. The platform seeks to assist member states of the African Union to improve their performance for the up-coming 2019 Biennial Review of agricultural progress made against the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth. In his address, the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Mahen Kumar Seeruttun, highlighted the need for Mauritius to come up with the Action Plan which he added will help the country identify not only its best practices in the agricultural sphere but also the areas where improvements are needed to achieve the aims and targets of the Malabo Declaration. He recalled that the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods was signed and adopted by the African Union in 2014 under which seven commitments have been defined which marked a turning point in the way African states conduct agriculture. He further pointed out that regarding one of the commitment which is Mutual Accountability to Results and Action, characterised by a biennial review of agricultural progress heralded a process of measuring and reporting on respective countries progress. The result of the initial mutual accountability to results and action process was the launch of the inaugural Biennial Review Report in Ethiopia, in January 2018 whereby he added Mauritius obtained a score of 5 out of 10 against the 3.94 benchmark score for 2017, indicating that the country is on track with regard to the Malabo commitments. Minister Seeruttun also spoke of Mauritius performance within the SADC region and that the country has set a firm foundation for continuous improvement, as well as a source of best practices in the region. This, he added is the outcome of a series of measures adopted by his Ministry to improve the level of food security and food safety and promote more sustainable agriculture among which the implementation of the Mauritius Strategic Plan (2016-2020) for the Food Crop, Livestock and Forestry Sectors and other such initiatives being given to farmers, especially women, young graduates and others, to encourage them to engage in agri-business activities. After testing mobile phone voting powered by blockchain in its primary elections, news outlets are reporting that West Virginia has decided to extend its use of the technology to the midterm elections in November as well on a limited basis.The trial, which the state is undertaking with Boston-based startup Voatz , has been taking on a heap of criticism lately, running from voting rights advocates to security researchers to the popular Web comic XKCD West Virginia already tested out the system in two counties during its primary elections in May, and Secretary of State Mac Warner told CNN the state had no problems with it.The state is only offering the system to overseas voters and deployed military service members in other words, those voters covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.Since the scope is so narrow, its unlikely the system will see heavy use in November. Moreover, CNN reported that the state is leaving it up to individual counties to decide whether they want to try the system out.Mobile, remote voting has the potential to make voting easier and therefore increase participation in elections. But the test comes at a time when many most, perhaps are loudly calling for the U.S. to move in the opposite direction ; back to paper. Federal investigations have documented foreign attacks on U.S. voting systems in recent years, and physical documents fundamentally offer some advantages that digital, Internet-connected systems do not.For one thing, they offer voters tactile proof of their vote. One can physically hand their ballot to a poll worker and receive verbal confirmation that it will be counted. Paper also offers a backup record for recounts and disputes.Paper also cant be changed remotely.Blockchain has its own approaches to those concerns, including the ability for voters to verify their vote by looking up a hash that corresponds to their vote on the blockchain and a record that will show whether a third party has attempted to meddle with the results.But inherently, anything that connects to the Internet can be remotely accessed. Thats where a lot of concern with online voting lies the potential, no matter what mitigating factors a system might bring to the table, for adversaries to attempt to change votes at scale.Voatz has tested its technology in several other settings, including student government elections and state party conventions. The company received more than $2 million in investment funding at the beginning of the year. (TNS) Georgia Tech announced Thursday its starting an online masters degree program in cybersecurity, hoping to help fill what many labor economists say is a void of jobs in the field.The program will start in January, with Tech admitting 250 students. The tuition will be $10,000, which Tech officials say is lower than other nationally-ranked programs. Georgia Tech is partnering with edX, an online learning center created by Harvard University and MIT in 2012.The program is designed to serve working professionals who can study part-time and earn the degree within two to three years, Tech officials said.The United States will have 265,000 more cybersecurity jobs than skilled workers by 2022, according to the ISC Center for Cyber Safety and Education. Cybersecurity job postings have increased by 71 percent between 2012 and 2017. More than 40,000 Georgians now work in the field, state officials noted when it opened a cybersecurity center in July.Georgia Tech has put an emphasis on online learning in recent years, which has helped boost enrollment. Georgia Techs enrollment has increased by 36 percent since 2012, from 21,558 students in 2012 to 29,369 students last fall.The cybersecurity program is the third such program for the Midtown Atlanta campus. The others are in analytics and computer science.Georgia Tech remains committed to our mission as a public, technological research institution, and the traditional, residential experience will remain the core of our mission, Georgia Tech provost Rafael Bras said in a statement. But the Georgia Tech for the next generation must be transformed by redefining the fundamental approach to educational delivery. We call this approach the Georgia Tech Commitment to a Lifetime Education, and it envisions continual engagement with learners that extends from kindergarten to forever. Felipe Massa says he can understand why Daniel Ricciardo decided to quit Red Bull. Ricciardo, one of F1's top drivers, is leaving the top three team at the end of the year to join the works Renault project. Some think the Australian is moving solely for money, and his current boss Christian Horner suspects he might come to regret the decision. But former F1 driver Massa says he understands. "Daniel, like the rest of us, doesn't know what will happen with the Honda engines next year," he told Globo. "He is also not very happy with Max Verstappen. It's a risk, and it may or may not work out." Meanwhile, Red Bull chief Horner said Fernando Alonso will not be replacing Ricciardo in 2019 because of the "chaos" he brings to F1 teams. On Twitter, Spaniard Alonso reacted with multiple 'laughing' emojis, and a hashtag that included the words 'Nothanks'. (GMM) A.P. MollerMaersk and IBM announced the creation of TradeLens, jointly developed by the two companies to apply blockchain to the worlds global supply chain. TradeLens is a blockchain-enabled shipping solution designed to promote more efficient and secure global trade, bringing together various parties to support information sharing and transparency. IBM and Maersk also announced that as part of the TradeLens early adopter program, 94 organizations are actively involved or have agreed to participate on the TradeLens platform built on open standards. The TradeLens ecosystem currently includes: More than 20 port and terminal operators across the globe, including PSA Singapore, International Container Terminal Services Inc, Patrick Terminals, Modern Terminals in Hong Kong, Port of Halifax, Port of Rotterdam, Port of Bilbao, PortConnect, PortBase, and terminal operators Holt Logistics at the Port of Philadelphia, join the global APM Terminals network in piloting the solution. This accounts for approximately 234 marine gateways worldwide that have or will be actively participating on TradeLens. Pacific International Lines (PIL) have joined Maersk Line and Hamburg Sud as global container carriers participating in the solution. Customs authorities in the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Australia and Peru are participating, along with customs brokers Ransa and Guler & Dinamik. Participation among beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) has grown to include Torre Blanca / Camposol and Umit Bisiklet. Freight forwarders, transportation and logistics companies including Agility, CEVA Logistics, DAMCO, Kotahi, PLH Trucking Company, Ancotrans and WorldWide Alliance are also currently participating. TradeLens uses IBM Blockchain technology as the foundation for digital supply chains, allowing multiple trading partners to collaborate by establishing a single shared view of a transaction without compromising details, privacy or confidentiality. Shippers, shipping lines, freight forwarders, port and terminal operators, inland transportation and customs authorities can interact more efficiently through real-time access to shipping data and shipping documents, including IoT and sensor data ranging from temperature control to container weight. Using blockchain smart contracts, TradeLens enables digital collaboration across the multiple parties involved in international trade. The trade document module, released under a beta program and called ClearWay, enables importers/exporters, customs brokers, trusted third parties such as Customs, other government agencies, and NGOs to collaborate in cross-organizational business processes and information exchanges, all backed by a secure, non-repudiable audit trail. During a 12-month trial, Maersk and IBM worked with dozens of ecosystem partners to identify opportunities to prevent delays caused by documentation errors, information delays, and other impediments. One example demonstrated how TradeLens can reduce the transit time of a shipment of packaging materials to a production line in the United States by 40%, avoiding thousands of dollars in cost. Through better visibility and more efficient means of communicating, some supply chain participants estimate they could reduce the steps taken to answer basic operational questions such as where is my container from 10 steps and five people to, with TradeLens, one step and one person. More than 154 million shipping events have been captured on the platform, including data such as arrival times of vessels and container gate-in, and documents such as customs releases, commercial invoices and bills of lading. This data is growing at a rate of close to one million events per day. Traditionally, some of this data can be shared through the EDI systems commonly used in the supply chain industry; however, these systems are inflexible, complex, and cant share data in real-time. Too often, companies must still share documents via email attachment, fax and courier. TradeLens can track critical data about every shipment in a supply chain, and offers an immutable record among all parties involved. We believe blockchain can play an important role in digitizing global shipping, an area of the global economy that moves four trillion dollars of goods every year. However, success with the technology rests on a single factor: bringing the entire ecosystem together around a common approach that benefits all participants equally. Our work with Maersk and other enterprises in the shipping ecosystem has shown that blockchain can be used to form a strong, connected network in which all members gain by sharing important data and that together we can transform a vital part of how global trade is conducted. Bridget van Kralingen, senior vice president, IBM Global Industries, Solutions and Blockchain Since announcing the jointly developed solution to digitize global trade in January 2018, and based on feedback from various members of the global supply chain ecosystem who would like to adopt the technology, IBM and Maersk have modified the go-to-market model and will now deliver their solution through an extension of their pre-existing collaboration agreement instead of a joint venture. Standards discussions are actively underway with openshipping.org and work to align the TradeLens APIs with UN/CEFACT standards is in progress. The TradeLens APIs are open and available for developer access and feedback from participants in the platform. The TradeLens solution is available today through the Early Adopter Program. TradeLens is expected to be fully commercially available by the end of this year. Thomas Carter. Photo: Jody Wissner/New York Magazine Today in a report by Eater New York, restaurateur Thomas Carter was accused of a history of verbal abuse at his restaurants Estela, Cafe Altro Paradiso, and Flora Bar. In response to the allegations, Carter, through a statement provided by PR rep, says that he will take time off from the restaurants. The statement reads, in part: I am concerned and deeply embarrassed by the allegations made by some employees who were hurt and offended by my crude and offensive language I will be taking several months away from Matter House restaurants to reflect and continue the leadership and workplace training that has resulted in vast improvements in my choice of words and in our culture over the past year. Carter opened Estela with the chef Ignacio Mattos in 2013. The restaurant almost instantly became a critical darling and industry favorite, landing on the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list first as a runner-up in 2015 and then the actual list in 2016. The pair would subsequently go on to open the Italian Cafe Altro Paradiso in 2016, followed by the more Estela-esque Upper East Side spot Flora Bar in 2016. In comments to Eater, former Cafe Altro Paradiso sommelier Nathan Lithgow said, with Thomas, its a question of power dynamics. Another former employee, who reportedly worked in management, tells the website, Thomas has a tendency to speak to his staff in a way that makes them feel totally powerless. Sport Zampa, Warner star as Australia notch up second straight win with Sri Lanka romp Warner smashed 64 off 42 balls and Finch hit 37 off 23 deliveries as Australia romped to 155-3 in 17 overs for its second successive win in Group 1. Australia, which defeated South Africa in the first game, joined England at the top of the group. Haiti - FLASH : Adjourned find your exam center + All Bac results Thursday at a press conference, Meniol Jeune, the Director General of the Ministry of National Education affirmed that everything was ready for the organization of the examinations of the extraordinary session, scheduled from 13 to 17 August 2018. According to the figures of the National Bureau of State Examinations (BUNEXE) 38,319 candidates are adjourned, half of them come from the West Department. Renan Michel Director of BUNEXE took the opportunity to review the special cases of the ordinary session. Out of more than 5,000 cases noted, fewer than 300 meet the participation criteria of which 55 are admitted and 100 candidates ajourned. In addition, he explained that various provisions will be made to force school principals to respect the procedures and the deadline granted by the Ministry for registrations in state examinations, including the lists of year-end decisions and lists of class training. At the end of the press conference, Renan Michel indicated that the Ministry had done its best to publish the results online. To access your regular and permanent baccalaureate results (2017-2018) : Enter the order number = 10 NUMBERS in the registration number box and then click on the regular BAC (green) button or the Permanent BAC button (in blue). If you are ajourned and want to know your Center for the special session click in the same form on the Center button (in red). Note: If you notice any information errors in the form, you must contact the Ministry, which is solely responsible for the data displayed on this form. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Ratification of the PM, Gary Bodeau sets his conditions Gary Bodeau, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, advocates the formation of a Government of National Unity with representative political parties in Parliament as a condition for the ratification by the lower house of the General Policy Statement of Prime Minister named Jean Henry Ceant https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25163-haiti-flash-moise-chooses-jean-henry-ceant-as-new-prime-minister.html reminding him that President Jovenel Moise asked him to form an inclusive government. Bodeau warns Ceant about the consequences of his choices at the level of the ministerial cabinet if he does not consult "all the different political parties in Parliament (25) and even those who are not represented in chambers [...] Regarding the discussions for the formation of the government, we know very well that the ministers must have the qualities required by the Constitution and the law [...] but the conjuncture that allowed Me Ceant to become Prime Minister appointed does not does not give the right to form a government without political parties," recalling the low weight of "Renmen Ayiti" the Ceant Party in the lower house which has only 3 deputies In the meantime, negotiations and negotiations are continuing, in view of the formation of the next government. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25183-haiti-politic-presentation-of-the-prime-minister-appointed-to-the-national-palace.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25165-icihaiti-politic-presidential-order-appointing-jean-henry-ceant-as-prime-minister.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25163-haiti-flash-moise-chooses-jean-henry-ceant-as-new-prime-minister.html TB/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Environment : Workshop on how to access the Green Climate Fund Wednesday ended the 4th information workshop on the Green Climate Fund (GCF) organized by the Ministry of the Environment through the Climate Change Department (DCC), in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the benefit of the technical directors of the central and departmental offices of the Ministry, and representatives of the sectorial ministries (MEF, MPCE, MARNDR, MTPTC). This 2-day workshop enabled the Ministry to provide an information and awareness platform on the modalities of this climate finance mechanism, accreditation procedures and access to the GCF. In his speech, Joseph Ronald Toussaint, the Chief of Cabinet of the Minister of the Environment, explained the various opportunities presented by this funding mechanism, which is essential for the Haitian State as well as for the actors of Civil Society and the private sector. In addition, he highlighted the importance of the readiness program for access to the Green Climate Fund "READINESS", a financing program aimed at strengthening the country's ownership of the GCF access "Our country is one of the 10 most exposed territories in the world and the 5th most vulnerable country to the impacts of climate change and none of our provincial cities, our departments is safe from this threat. But to face the many challenges of this phenomenon, we need adequate means; and, which are offered by countries that emit greenhouse gases, through financing instruments. " James Cadet, Director of Climate Change at the Ministry, said, "We have arrived at a crossroads where we need to make a joint contribution to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change [...] It is for this reason that the Ministry is organize to equip the country with a national funding program that takes into account investment priorities in climate change mitigation and adaptation." Reactions were very lively among the participants who produced comments and recommendations to improve the initial version of the National Designated Authority (AND) operation manual. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24835-haiti-environment-access-to-the-climate-fund-haiti-dream-in-green.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24595-haiti-environment-workshop-on-access-to-the-green-climate-fund.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15387-haiti-environment-cop21-an-action-plan-of-over-25-billion-dollars-for-haiti.html Download the Haiti proposal : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/CPDN_Republique-d-Haiti.pdf HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : The Committee of the States General meets leaders of disadvantaged neighborhoods Wednesday, the Steering Committee and the Technical Secretariat for the Organization of the Sectoral General States of the Nation (EGSN) met with community leaders from various popular neighborhoods in the metropolitan area. These leaders of grassroots community organizations exposed various issues faced by their neighborhoods. They mentioned the lack of basic social services, technical and vocational training centers, recreation centers, canal cleaning programs, etc... They also talked about the problems of continuity in the actions of the State and the failure of the judiciary. The phenomenon of gun violence in some neighborhoods due to the presence of gangs was also discussed during this preparatory meeting. Community leaders advocated the implementation of social programs to combat social exclusion and poverty in marginalized areas and expressed their doubts about the purpose of these States-General, saying that they would like to see the application of documents emerging from this great national dialogue. In addition to the demands of popular neighborhoods, his preliminary consultation allowed the Committee and the Technical Secretariat to provide information on the progress of the Sectoral General States and the methodological tools used throughout the process. This preparatory meeting is part of the second phase of the sectoral General Estates of the nation, which consists in raising awareness and mobilizing the various sectors concerned, preparing sectoral notebooks, collecting information on the state of play of the sectors, make a summary of the sectoral public policy documents. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Social : Opening of a strategic road linking Canaan to national #1 and #3 The United Nations Migration Agency (IOM-Haiti) has completed the first road to Canaan, a fringe, partial internally displaced persons community that formed after the 2010 earthquake. The road will benefit approximately 200,000 Haitians currently living in Canaan, most of them with no access to electricity, toilets, essential amenities or state services. This new infrastructure will facilitate access to jobs, schools, and hospitals located outside the community. Let's recall that in February 2015, USAID and its funding partners embarked on a two-year long, approximately USD 14 million programme aimed at upgrading conditions for the Canaan community. They consulted with the Unite de Construction de Logements et de Batiments Publics (UCLBP, Office of the Prime Minister) to support the Government of Haitis vision to promote equitable and resilient urban development in the Canaan zone and funded IOM to assist in programme implementation. IOM Haiti was funded to oversee the construction of 1.3 km of concrete roadway, and the work was completed in the last week of July 2018. The road was designed for a 20-year lifespan with a significant drainage system following UN-Habitat hydraulic studies for the Canaan area. "Beyond the objectives of improving and contributing to the development of the Canaan area, this successful project will re-connect and integrate the communities affected by displacement to the urban and social environment and finally make the population 'visible' and recognizable," said Bernard Lami, IOM Haiti Acting Chief of Mission. The 1.3 km of the Canaan 3 road starts at the Boukambou canal (Bon Repos Community Hospital) and connects with a segment of path paved by the non-profit organization Global Communities. It now stretches all the way down to National Road 3. The complete loop built by IOM and Global Communities with co-funding from the American Red Cross and USAID creates a strategic roadway connecting Canaan to National Roads 1 and 3. This segment was identified as a strategic entryway into a densely populated part of Canaan by both the UCLBP and UN-Habitat in their Urban Plan of the Canaan area which was also funded by USAID. The design of this intervention has required close technical coordination between multiple stakeholders including Global Communities, the American Red Cross, MTPTC and the Municipality of Croix-des-Bouquets. "One kilometre might seem not significant until you observe the impact this road has had on changing peoples lives by providing them dignity and hope for the revitalization of Canaan their neighbourhood," said project manager Maria Oliveira Ramos, Head of IOM Haitis Urban Development and Engineering Unit. HL/ HaitiLibre The Finnish fashion house said it expects its full-year revenue to grow from the previous year and comparable operating profit to at least stay at level of the previous year. Marimekko announced yesterday it has upgraded its guidance for the rest of the year after recording an increase of 24 per cent in revenue, to 28.2 million euros, and one of 443 per cent in comparable operating profit, to 3.1 million euros, between April and June. The increase in second-quarter revenue was attributable especially to healthy growth in retail (11%) and wholesale sales (27%) in Finland, and an up-tick of 32 per cent in wholesale sales in the Asia-Pacific. Finland continues to account for roughly a half of the net sales of Marimekko. I think we can be quite pleased with the positive trend in our net sales, which was also partly strengthened by timing-related factors, comments Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, the chief executive of Marimekko. Part of the growth was due to the fact that deliveries for the third quarter were transferred to the preceding quarter, she adds. Marimekko also recorded a non-recurring gain of six million euros for the sale of its head office in Herttoniemi, Helsinki. Alahuhta-Kasko says the sale solidified the financial position of the company and that the options for using the sales proceeds will be explored by the board of directors in the autumn. She also viewed that the first half of the year demonstrated that the company has developed its collections and brand in the right direction. This encourages us to continue the long-term work by which we seek clearly stronger growth than before. Our core objective is for our products to appeal to a wider customer base, she said. Marimekko, she added, will also seek to step up investments in its branding and marketing efforts in China, where it set up a subsidiary in July. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Onni Ojala Lehtikuva The Ministry of Finance recommends in the proposal that resources be allocated for high-speed rail links that would be capable of whisking passengers between Turku and Helsinki and Tampere and Helsinki in less than 60 minutes. Politicians in Turku and Tampere have expressed their delight with the budget proposal unveiled on Thursday by the Ministry of Finance. It reveals that planning funds are to be used to accelerate general planning and launch track planning for a high-speed link between Helsinki and Turku. Another important objective, it adds, is enabling traditional rolling stock to make the journey between Helsinki Central Station and Tampere Railway Station in less than 60 minutes. The proposal was met with delight by Esa Halme, the head of the Council of Tampere Region, Lauri Lyly (SDP), the Mayor of Tampere, and Kari Hakamies, the head of the Regional Council of South-west Finland. Hakamies interpreted the announcement as an indication that the intention is not to leave the rail projects to gather dust on the drawing board. This is a boost to the development of Finland that's moving forward ever faster, he commented to Uusi Suomi. Mikael Nyberg, the head of the network department at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, told Uusi Suomi that the ministry has already begun mulling over the funding, timetable and implementation of the rail projects together with the Finnish Transport Agency. He reminded that additional funding and political decisions will be required for both projects. More funding will certainly be needed for the planning, he stated, revealing that planning costs typically account for 510 per cent of total project costs. Theyre easily in that ballpark for major rail projects such as these and the planning costs can be over a hundred million euros. Considerable funding will be needed. Nyberg added that the projects aim to expand the employment zone and, thereby, create growth, vitality and opportunities in and around Turku and Tampere, respectively. The projects would effectively link the regions to the capital region and promote movement, investment and residential building along the railway. Both are important projects, but I wouldnt say theyre competing against each other. The time frames are a bit different, but its certain that both will move forward, he affirmed. His assessment was echoed by Hakamies. Its a fact that the lack of labour mobility is a problem for the Finnish society. It isnt a simple problem because of the emphasis here on owner-occupied housing. Thats why we have to improve transport connections to really get people moving, he viewed. The market economy cant function unless the infrastructure is in good shape. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Emmi Korhonen Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi The Social Democratic Party consolidated its position as the most supported party in the country over the past month or so by registering an up-tick of 0.9 percentage points in popular support to 21.2 per cent a reading that represents an increase of 5.6 percentage points from mid-2017. Each of Finlands three most supported political parties saw its popularity increase between early July and early August, according to the latest opinion poll by YLE . Its now fair to say the SDP is currently the most popular party in Finland, Tuomo Turja, a research director at Taloustutkimus, commented to YLE. The SDPs growing popularity may partly be about people jumping on the bandwagon. With the SDP being by far the largest opposition party, its easy think that you should vote for the SDP, added Turja. The National Coalition Party trails the opposition party by 1.4 percentage points after its popularity crept up by 0.1 percentage points to 19.8 per cent. The Centre Party, in turn, saw its popularity to increase by 1.2 percentage points to 17.8 per cent as especially ageing voters declared their support for the party. The Green League, the Finns Party and the Left Alliance all saw their popularity fade the first by 0.3 percentage points to 13.6 per cent, the second by 1.6 percentage points to 8.7 per cent and the third by 0.9 percentage points to 7.7 per cent. The Blue Reform, meanwhile, slipped ever closer to political oblivion as support for the newly founder party fell by 0.3 percentage points to 0.8 per cent. The Blue Reforms future looks to be rather blues-focused. The question will be what kind of candidates its able to nominate especially in Uusimaa. Thats where the its future as a parliamentary party will be decided, viewed Turja. The Swedish Peoples Party registered an up-tick of 1.0 percentage points in popular support to 4.3 per cent and the Christian Democrats one of 0.2 percentage points to 3.8 per cent, according to the public broadcasting company. Taloustutkimus interviewed a total of 2,452 people for the poll between 9 July and 7 August. Roughly three-fifths (1,501) of respondents were able and willing to disclose which party they would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held today. The poll has a margin of error of +/-2.1 percentage points. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Roni Rekomaa Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi NEW YORK (JTA)-Cantor Philip Sherman gives me a call after having finished two circumcisions before noon on Tuesday. That's a light day, he explains. On Thursday, he will be performing circumcisions for four baby boys; on Friday, he'll do five. Sherman, 62, is a mohel (in fact he was featured as one of "America's Top Mohels" in a 2014 JTA article) and has performed over 20,000 circumcisions, both for Jewish and non-Jewish families. But in between performing multiple circumcisions a day and serving as associate cantor at Congregation Shearith Israel in New York-also known as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue-he has another gig: actor. Most recently, the Orthodox cantor, who lives in White Plains, New York, appeared in the Netflix hit series "Orange is the New Black," about a women's prison. Though the role was small-he played a judge presiding over a trial involving one of the prisoners-Sherman says it was his favorite to date. "The really amazing thing about that is that it's a real part in a real show, where I'm not playing a rabbi or cantor or some Jewish guy," he told JTA in a phone interview Tuesday. Sherman has appeared in about 15 other roles in commercials, TV series and movies, playing a religious Jew in most of them. He played a rabbi in a 1999 commercial with Whoopi Goldberg for Flooz.com, a now defunct digital currency, and a mohel in the 2011 comedy "Our Idiot Brother," where his appearance was cut from the final movie but made it into the extra materials on DVD. Sherman has also been featured as an expert on "Storage Wars," a reality show where the contents of unpaid storage lockers are auctioned off. Sherman's "Orange" scene lasts about a minute and a half, but was shot approximately a dozen times, and Sherman had to come in another time to re-record some of his lines. Sherman said he later received a call asking him to come back to the series in a recurring role, but he was not able to make the filming date because he was traveling in Israel at the time. Sherman thinks the outfit he wore to his audition may have helped him snag the part. He came in his black robe from Congregation Shearith Israel, which resembles those worn by justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. "When you have an audition, if you have the stuff to help make you look the part, you bring it and you wear it, so that's the idea," he said. Though the cantor belonged to theater groups in high school and college, he never studied acting. His acting career launched by chance in 1987, when the Philip Morris tobacco company decided to feature a shot of Shearith Israel in a commercial celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. Sherman mentioned to the producers that the music they had planned to feature in the background during that shot featured an Ashkenazi, not Sephardi, melody and therefore was not representative of the synagogue's culture. They ended up asking him to record a more appropriate song to play during the shot. "A few months later, checks started to come in," he said. "Apparently they put in my little voice, the thing that I did, and it was a 26-week nationwide commercial, which back then was like hitting the lottery." The voice appearance earned him a spot in the Screen Actors Guild, now known as SAG-AFTRA, and from there he hired an agent who helped him land further roles. "Over the years it's been a lot of fun," Sherman said. "It's just one thing that I get to do, and you get to meet all sorts of interesting people." Praise for Israel... I read this recently in a copy of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest and pass it along: "Speaking at a meeting organized by the Israel Council on Foreign Relations,which operates under the auspices of the WJC, Bulgarian President RUMEN RADEV noted that the Jewish community of Bulgaria remains an integral part of the country's society. He also stressed that Israel and Bulgaria "now enjoy better relations than ever." The event came at the end of Radev's official visit to Israel. During his address, the Bulgarian president stressed that "in Bulgaria, there is no negative image of Israel. Bulgarians have warm feelings toward Israelis. "I think Israel is an example of a model state," Radev added. "We see this in the hi-tech sector and the military. This model of keeping the citizens engaged, giving them the feeling that everyone has a part of the country's future, this is the strength of your model and I think it could be beneficial to many other countries." Asked about moving Bulgaria's embassy to Jerusalem, the president said that "recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is the important issue," but emphasized that "Jerusalem is only one element of the peace process. We are committed to facilitating an open, ongoing dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians." Radev also spoke of the heroic refusal of Bulgarian society to allow the Germans to deport Bulgarian Jewry in 1943, the 75th anniversary of which was marked earlier by the Bulgarian government, the Jewish community and the WJC. "Bulgarians opened their hearts and homes to the Jewish community," Radev underscored, expressing regret that the Jews of Thrace and Macedonia, which were under Bulgarian occupation during the war, were deported to their deaths in Treblinka." (Where are all those Holocaust deniers now?) Just a little personal note... I make it a habit to watch the Johnny Carson show and the Ed Sullivan show on television every night. I was watching the current Tonight show, but I didn't recognize any of the guest stars! (Ok, so I'm elderly (almost!) Sounds like my kind of fun... The Roth Family JCC in Maitland has a program called "HANGTIME," where kids can enjoy a game room, ping pong, board games, Lego and more. The fall session is from Aug. 13th to Dec. 21st. For more information, phone the JCC at 407-645-5933. The program is for children in grades K thru 5. (Att: ROBBY ETZKIN, I'm just a little older. Can't you make an exception?) A special volunteer... I'm referring to a lovely lady named BERNICE DAVIDS. For many years, Bernice and her beloved spouse, Joe (who passed earlier this year), have been volunteering with the Jewish Pavilion. They not only attended most functions and numerous programs, but also came into the office regularly to help with mailings, program preparation and other necessary tasks. Even in her grief, Bernice has reached out to the Jewish Pavilion to see how she could help them. Her commitment and dedication to them has been unending and is much appreciated. (A life well lived, Bernice, and you are much appreciated by all.) A fabulous performance... The show "Gigolo" officially opens the 2018-2019 Mainstage Series at the Winter Park Playhouse. It opened on July 27 and will run through Aug. 19. For tickets and other information, phone the Winter Park Playhouse at 407-645-0145. The Winter Park Playhouse is located at 711-C Orange Avenue, Winter Park. (This show is NOT to be missed!) The JCC39ers Cinema Sundays... On Aug. 12 in the Senior Lounge of the Roth Family Jewish Community Center in Maitland, the movie "The Imitation Game" with BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH will be shown, beginning at 2 p.m. Refreshments are also available. More JCC39ers... Bernice Davids On Meet & Mingle Monday, Aug. 13, "Senior Finances," presented by SUSAN TAYLOR & Associates will be discussed. Refreshments will follow the program, which starts at 1 pm in the Senior Lounge. One for the road... Max and Leah visit a plastic surgeon. When asked what they would like done, Max replies, "It's her tuchus, doctor, her backside is getting so large that I can no longer get my hands around it." "So," says the doctor, "you would like me to perform a tuchus reduction?" "No, no," replies Max, "I need a hand enlargement." (Oy vay! This reminds me of the time I went to Florida Hospital and asked for a facelift. They gave me a heart valve instead!) WASHINGTON, D.C.-Hillel International announced that former Israeli Justice Minister and Member of Knesset Dr. Yossi Beilin has been elected to serve as chair of the board of Hillel Israel, a volunteer position. His appointment was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Hillel Israel. In addition to his extensive public service career, Beilin is the visionary of the Birthright Israel program, which has brought more than 650,000 young Diaspora Jews to Israel for 10-day educational trips. The Hillel movement recruits more college-age students for Taglit-Birthright Israel trips than any other organization. "Yossi Beilin has spent his entire career devoted to strengthening the future of the Jewish community," said Hillel International President and CEO Eric D. Fingerhut, who also serves on the Hillel Israel Board of Directors. "His insights into Hillel's role in shaping tomorrow's Jewish leaders are invaluable and we are excited to build and grow with his leadership." Beilin was chosen to lead Hillel Israel in a two-step process that included his nomination to the board by Hillel Israel's shareholder assembly and his election to serve as chair by Hillel Israel's board. Both decisions were unanimous. "After a long career serving the people of Israel, I am thrilled to expand my role to serve the global Jewish people," said Beilin. "I will work hard to create and strengthen the bonds of Jewish students around the world to one another and to Israel." Beilin replaces Avraham Infeld, the former president of Hillel International, who stepped down as chair of the Hillel Israel board after six years of service. Infeld remains an active board member. "Hillel Israel's mission is to make Judaism relevant to the lives of young Israeli Jews, and to strengthen their sense of belonging to the global Jewish people" said Alon Friedman, Director General of Hillel Israel. "We enthusiastically welcome Dr. Beilin to the Hillel Israel family and are confident that his leadership will add immense value to our students and our work." Dr. Beilin's career in public service began with his appointment as Cabinet Secretary. As a member of Knesset for 20 years, Beilin has held ministerial positions in the governments of Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres and Ehud Barak. He has devoted his career to the pursuit of peace, Jewish continuity and a strong Israel-Diaspora relationship. The shareholders of Hillel Israel also appointed Israeli business leader and philanthropist Arie Mintkevich to serve on the board as a new member. Mintkevich previously served as General Counsel at Israel's Ministry of Finance, chair of Israel's Securities Authority, chair of Israel's Discount Bank and Vice Chair of IDB Holdings, a prominent Israeli business group. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves the stage after delivering an address at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, May 24, 2018. (JTA)-It's been nearly three years since Jeremy Corbyn became the leader of Britain's Labour Party, and he has riled British Jews more than any other politician in recent history. Last week, Great Britain's three leading Jewish newspapers united in publishing a front-page editorial warning that a Corbyn premiership would constitute an "existential threat to Jewish life in this country." In May, the previous president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews said Corbyn has "anti-Semitic views" and that his rising popularity is making Jews ask if they have a future in the country. This unprecedented rhetoric, accompanied by street protests against Corbyn by hundreds of Jews, follows his alleged inaction against, or tacit encouragement of, perceived increases in anti-Semitic speech within the party. A hard-left politician who has called Hezbollah and Hamas officials "friends" whom he was "honored" in 2009 to host in the Parliament, Corbyn is widely accused of tolerating or ignoring anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Israel speech, among other forms of Jew hatred. Recent revelations such as his defense in 2013 of an anti-Semitic mural, as well as membership around that time in Facebook groups rife with anti-Semitic discourse, have done little to improve his image. Ironically, though, the worst crisis yet in his troubled relationship with the Jewish community is currently unfolding not over his party's inaction on this issue, but over what Labour says is one of its major attempts at addressing the problem: the adoption this month of a four-page definition of what Labour considers anti-Semitism. Critics of the party's definition call it a defanged version of the British government's own definition. The government's definition, based on the "working definition" of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, outlines classic expressions anti-Semitism and ways in which criticism of Israel can also be perceived as anti-Semitic. Labour's definition trips many of the anti-Israel examples-suggesting, for example, that someone could compare Israeli policies to those of the Nazis and not be an anti-Semite. But Jennie Formby, Labour's general secretary, said the document "goes further" than the government's definition and will "foster deeper understanding about all forms of anti-Semitism within our movement." For example, she wrote, Labour defines anti-Semitism as the use of certain derogatory words and tropes not included in the IHRA definition. However, amid mutual suspicion and mounting hostility, the debate over the merits and faults of a quasi-legal document has deteriorated into a fight between Corbyn's Jewish critics and his advocates. It has featured expletives and shouting by lawmakers, racist conspiracy theories and growing despair even among staunch supporters for resolving the feud through dialogue. The main grievance raised by critics of Labour's definition is that it omits four Israel-related points featured in the one adopted by the British government in 2016. The Labour definition does feature some examples of anti-Israel vitriol that should be considered anti-Semitic, including accusing Israel of exaggerating the Holocaust. But it also states that Israel's own description of itself as "a 'Jewish state'" can "cause particular difficulty in the context of deciding whether language or behavior is anti-Semitic." To David Hirsh, a Jewish University of London lecturer who last year published a book on left-wing anti-Semitism in Britain, the Labour definition is essentially a loophole, or a way for Labour to articulate "their opposition to anti-Semitism which would not define their friends" as anti-Semitic. The Labour definition, he said, stipulates that offenders must have shown anti-Semitic "intent" in order to be disciplined. "If you can't prove intent, then you can't prove anti-Semitism. And nobody on the left has anti-Semitic intent," he said sarcastically. The new definition follows decades of accusations involving a former mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, who quit Labour in May following repeated claims that Zionists collaborated with Adolf Hitler. Livingstone went beyond the historical record that the Jews cut limited rescue deals with the Nazis, suggesting instead that Hitler was a Zionist before orchestrating the murder of 6 million Jews. Livingstone has a rich record of making statements perceived as anti-Semitic. In 1984, he said Jews were "basically a tribe of Arabs," and that "the Jews became reactionaries, turned right, nearly to be fascists." Corbyn, whose party had resisted repeated calls to kick out Livingstone, said Livingstone's resignation was a "sad moment." Sixty-eight British rabbis earlier this month published an open letter condemning Labour's divergence from the IHRA definition as "insulting and arrogant," and calling on the party to adopt the international document. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has issued a similar call. The row over the definition of anti-Semitism has prompted a spate of resignations from Labour, including by John Strawson, a University of East London School of Law lecturer and Palestinian rights advocate, journalists Jane Merrick and Martin Bright, and lawmaker John Woodcock. Other Labour moderates are said to be planning to resign in September. Other critics of the definition have been less polite than Hirsh and other Corbyn detractors. Among them is Margaret Hodge, a Jewish lawmaker from Labour. Turning to Corbyn during a July 17 meeting in Parliament, Hodge said "You're a f***cking anti-Semite and a racist. You have proved you don't want people like me in the party," according to several witnesses of the exchange. Hodge, a knighted dame, has denied using the expletive. In the aftermath of the interjection, Labour's ethics board has launched an internal investigation for disciplinary infractions. The board is also looking at another Labour lawmaker, Ian Austin, whose adoptive father survived the Holocaust. Austin said he had a "heated discussion" with Labour officials about the new definition but denies their claim that he "screamed abuse" at them. There are even claims that the conflict has descended to violence: Paul Mason, a journalist and influential Corbyn supporter, is accused of assaulting an activist from a Dutch Jewish group in the Hague during a visit there by Corbyn. The activist held up a banner during Corbyn's speech reading "Labour, for the many not the Jew" to protest the new definition, among other issues. Mason denies assaulting him. Separately, Damien Enticott, a Labour representative in the south of London, admitted this week that he shared on Facebook an anti-Semitic video accusing Jews of drinking blood for ritual purposes. Enticott has been suspended pending an investigation-one of at least 250 cases featuring alleged anti-Semitic rhetoric referred recently to Labour's ethics panel. And Peter Willsman, a key supporter of Corbyn, was recorded dismissing the Labour leader's Jewish critics, saying "I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics." He also said about the 68 rabbis: "Where is your evidence of severe and widespread anti-Semitism in this party?" Corbyn, who attended the meeting where Willsman made these remarks, did not react to Willsman's assertions, witnesses told The Jewish Chronicle. Labour's adoption of a homemade anti-Semitism definition follows several actions that the party under Corbyn thought would appease critics but only ended up inflaming them. In 2016, an internal review found that Labour has an "occasionally toxic atmosphere" against Jews but no institutional problem. The Board of Deputies of British Jews called the report a whitewash-an accusation that gained considerable traction after its author, Shami Chakrabarti, was promoted to represent Labour in the upper house of the Parliament months after submitting the document. Corbyn's attendance at an alternative Passover seder dinner in April was another controversial gesture. The left-wing group organizing the event, Jewdas, included a "Prayer Against the State of Israel" in its Haggadah that asks God to "smash" the Jewish state. It also included the "Ten Plagues of the Occupation of Palestine." Ian Forsyth/Getty Images Labour General Secretary Jennie Formby speaks at a miners' gala in Durham, England, July 14, 2018. "Either Jeremy Corbyn was deliberately provoking the Jewish community or making a catastrophic error of judgment," Jonathan Arkush, then leader of the Board or Deputies of British Jews, said about the seder event. "I don't know which of these is true." Keith Kahn-Harris, a Jewish left-leaning sociologist from London and advocate of reconciliation between the Jewish community and Corbyn, wrote in The Guardian that Labour's anti-Semitism definition "has only compounded the problem" that its authors said they seek to solve. But Kahn-Harris said he cannot ascertain whether it was a cynical attempt to give accused anti-Semites a loophole or a genuine but botched attempt to address the problem they present. "Maybe both things are true," he said. Around Corbyn, "there is both a widespread chaos and a small coterie of very ruthless people." SAN FRANCISCO (J. The Jewish News of Northern California via JTA)Campers and staffers were evacuated from Camp Tawonga in Northern California on Tuesday morning due to potentially harmful smoke from backfires set by firefighters battling the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park. A new crop of 330 campers arrived on Sunday, a day after officials at the Jewish camp were assured by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the U.S. Forest Service that the fire would not impact camp. But on Monday, Tawonga camp officials were informed that smoke from the backfires, set to slow the spread of the main fire several miles south, was creating very unhealthy air quality conditions. The main fire has so far burned 57,000 square miles of forestland. We were really surprised, said Tawonga Executive Director Jamie Simon. [Cal Fire] said there was no threat to camp, and that they thought the fire is getting better. The Health Department said the air quality is good. At least 16 active wildfires scorching California have killed at least eight people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses. On Tuesday morning, six buses picked up all 300 campers with their gear, 200 staffers and a 400-year-old Torah scroll for the four-hour return trip to the Bay Area. Among the group were 40 campers from outside the Bay Area, who will be hosted by local families. The last blaze to impact Tawonga was the Rim Fire in August 2013, which covered 250,000 acres and reached the grounds of the camp, where it burned three staff buildings. The Ferguson Fire started in the Sierra National Forest and is burning eight miles south of camp. The backfires are scheduled to burn through Thursday. Simon has been told the air quality is expected to improve by Sunday, and she is hopeful campers can return to camp that day. But the weather is unpredictable and fire is unpredictable, so there is no guarantee, she said. A wonderful time was had by the residents at Brookdale Lake Orienta and the children from Camp J at the third annual get together hosted by the Jewish Pavilion's Inter-Generational program. From quiet one-on-one time, tech talk, puzzles, coloring books, cards, singing and dancing, everyone did it all and loved every minute. -Walter Goldstein, Jewish Pavilion program director Tom Furstenberg, right, and a fellow congregant carry the Torah ark out of the Great Synagogue of Deventer, July 30, 2018. DEVENTER, Netherlands (JTA)-Four years ago, Tom Furstenberg proudly carried into his synagogue its first Torah scroll since the Holocaust, when local Nazis destroyed the building's interior. The scroll's introduction in 2014 was an important moment for the Beth Shoshana Masorti community that Furstenberg helped establish in 2010 in this city of nearly 100,000 residents located 60 miles east of the capital Amsterdam. After all, it was proof that Jewish life had finally returned to a place where it had been uprooted and destroyed. "I felt that this was it, nothing could reverse our presence as part of this city," Furstenberg, a 49-year-old teacher and chairman of Deventer's Jewish community, told JTA on Monday. Furstenberg had been overly optimistic. On Monday, he and a dozen other members of their congregation of 35 had to take away the scroll and all the other ritual possessions and load them into a white van. The building housing the Great Synagogue of Deventer was sold in January by the church that had owned it for decades. The developers, a Dutch-Turkish restaurant owner and his associate, then evicted the congregants amid a legal fight over the owners' plan to turn the place into an eatery. For Deventer, the eviction meant "the end of a Jewish presence in this city," Sanne Terlouw, a founding member of Beth Shoshana and a renowned author, told JTA with tears in her eyes on the day of the move. But for many other Dutch Jews, the demise of the Great Synagogue of Deventer signals a broader demographic shift: Jewish life and heritage are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain outside Amsterdam, where most Dutch Jews live, because of secularization and the echoing losses of the Holocaust. "Of course it's sad, we're losing a piece of our history," said Esther Voet, editor in chief of the NIW Jewish weekly in Amsterdam. "But the reality is that this small Jewish community cannot afford to stay in that huge synagogue. That's just the way it is." With no synagogue of its own, Beth Shoshana will move to the nearby municipality of Raalte, where it will share space with an existing congregation. Voet says she finds this "a reasonable solution" born out of a "regrettable reality." But in Deventer and beyond, the evicted congregants appeared less resigned to the change than Voet. On Monday, the congregation gathered one last time for a snack in the building they had just emptied of its possessions. Sipping black coffee and eating prune cake, they sang in passionate Hebrew "Am Yisrael Chai" and "Kol Ha'Olam Kulo"-"The People of Israel Live" and "The World is a Narrow Bridge." Some of the congregants cried; others tried to console them. 'This was our home for a long period," Ehud Posthumos, 79, a retired Royal Netherlands Air Force officer, told JTA. "On winter nights, we'd gather here in the cold-we never heated the place properly to save on utilities-and although outside it turned very dark early in the afternoon, here inside we had a great source of light. And now it feels like losing a home." Maurice Swirc, the former editor in chief of NIW, called the synagogue's sale "a scandal" and found it "very painful." Dutch authorities, he said, "were partially responsible for the fact that Deventer does not have enough Jews to maintain she synagogue. The least they could do is help preserve it." The affair prompted intense interest internationally. JTA's video report of the community leaving the shul has been viewed more than 200,000 times on Facebook. Ronny Naftaniel, a founder of The Hague Jewish Heritage group, said the synagogue's sale is unusual "for a city such as Deventer, where authorities have a high awareness for heritage." Deventer, where wealthy Jewish cattle dealers left an indelible mark and where a part of Naftaniel's family lived before the Holocaust, "could have set aside this space," he said. Until recently, Furstenberg's community was able to hold on to its synagogue thanks to the Christian Reformed Churches group. It bought the building in 1951 from the severely depleted Jewish community of Deventer and turned the structure into a church, complete with a massive pipe organ that the group installed. In 2010, Furstenberg and other Jews from the area began convening at a nearby Jewish club and asked the church's permission to re-establish a synagogue in the hall, which they began renting from the church at a subsidized rate. But the church had to sell the building this year. The highest bidder was Ayhan Sahin, the Dutch-Turkish developer, and his associate, Carlus Lenferink. This summer, the entrepreneurs announced their plan to turn the synagogue into a restaurant. Furstenberg objected and the city declined to approve the plan. Amid negotiations with the Jewish community, Sahin was quoted as saying: "If need be, I'll turn it into a mosque," according to De Stentor regional daily. He later said he would allow the Jewish community to stay, "but only if they pay full rent"-an unlikely prospect for the small congregation, which has no sources of income and could barely afford maintenance fees when it rented the shul at a subsidized price from the church. Maarten-Jan Stuurman, a spokesman for the Deventer municipality, told De Stentor that the city tried to help the Jewish community stay, but ultimately "it is not the city's task to buy religious properties it does not use." The issue of rent, eh said, "is at the discretion of the owner." Losing the synagogue is "a failure and a major step back for the city," Furstenberg said, his voice echoing in the tall and now empty space where his congregation would gather once every three weeks and on Jewish holidays. "Once again, the city is looking on as its synagogue is being destroyed." Furstenberg's j'accuse, spoken in Dutch in the presence of local reporters, was a reference to the unusual and painful wartime history of the building. Unlike most Dutch synagogues, the one in Deventer was not confiscated in the orderly and methodical Nazi manner. Instead it was ransacked by a rabble belonging to the Dutch Nazi party, NSB, on July 25, 1941. Under the gaze of local police officers, they smashed the furniture, hacked open the Torah ark, tore up the scroll, pulled down the chandeliers and dislodged the bimah of the building, which was built in 1892. But that violence paled in comparison to the deportations of the congregants the next summer. Of the 590 people registered as Jews in Deventer in 1942, the Nazis murdered 401. It was a typical statistic in a country where the Nazis and local collaborators were responsible for killing at least 75 percent of Jews-the highest death rate in Nazi-occupied Western Europe. Dutch Jewry, which numbered 140,000 before the Holocaust, never came close to replenishing its numbers. Today, Holland has about 45,000 Jews, according to the European Jewish Congress. The Deventer synagogue played a role in the survival of at least two Jews. Simon van Spiegel, his brother, Bubi, and Meier de Leeuw hid in the building's attic for a while. Bubi was caught by the Germans after they received an anonymous tip. His brother and de Leeuw escaped. Simon's daughter, Liesje Tesler-Van Spiegel, who lives in Israel, visited her father's hiding place for the first time last month. "I remember all of them," Roelof de Vries, 86, a carpenter whose family worked as caretakers at the synagogue before the Holocaust. "Even if this place becomes a restaurant, I'll never forget my friend Bubi, whom they gassed along with so many others," he said, weeping. Referring to the genocide, Furstenberg said "This is the reason there are not enough Jews to afford this place." In the cool interior of the Great Synagogue-a tall building in the neo-Moorish style-he added: "This is not just a story about a dwindling faith community, like all those churches that get turned into a discotheques. This is an aftereffect of the Holocaust." A beehive in flames from an incendiary kite at a honey farm in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip. (JNS)-When you drive into Israel's Sha'ar HaNegev Region in the northwestern Negev, the fields are burnt and black. The trees are broken, and the smell of acrid smoke stings the eyes and nose. "It is a very upsetting view," said Zeev Meidan, general manager of the Israeli Honey Council. Meidan, who in the past was employed as a beekeeper at the area's Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, has been spending extra time in the southern district to support the region's honey farmers, many of whom have been the target of arson attacks by Hamas. He said fires in the Gaza periphery caused by aerial arson attacks launched by flammable kites and helium balloons have caused millions of shekels worth of damage to the beehives of Kibbutz Erez and Yad Mordechai in the period just before Rosh Hashanah, the height of the honey harvest. On average, Meidan said, the hives would be producing as much as 50 kilograms of honey each this season. "After many months of labor, we were supposed to collect the honey from our hives," said Boaz Kanot, chairman of the Israel Beekeepers Association. "The recent fires have burned dozens of beehives full of honey just before it was meant to be packaged and distributed. This is a huge loss to the industry in general and the beekeepers specifically." Many beekeepers rely on income from this season to support themselves throughout the year, explained Yitzchak "Hakale" Amitai, manager of Kibbutz Erez's building and infrastructure. He said the beekeepers provide taxes from the profits to the kibbutz, which will also suffer a financial blow. The government has committed to help offset the loss to individual farmers, but only about half of the funds have been transferred thus far, said Meidan. Amitai said the beehives are not located inside the kibbutzim, but in open land all around their periphery. He explained that in addition to the bees themselves being scorched, when the fields are burnt then any remaining bees cannot produce honey because there are no flowers on which to graze. "Flowers do not grow overnight, so in the near future there will not be enough flowers to make honey," he said. Fewer bees also mean "that they will not be able to pollinate the fields." 'Nearly all the grove was burnt' According to Meidan, the country produces around 3,500 tons of honey per year, of which little or none is exported. The country imports about 1,000 tons of honey, which together with local production just meets the needs of Israelis, especially around the holidays. He said Israel's northern farmers and imports this year should make up for the loss of the honey in the Sha'ar HaNegev Region, and honey prices should remain stable through the High Holidays and Sukkot. Meidan said Israel has around 120,000 beehives, including 5,000 located near the border with Gaza. Of those 5,000, some 200 hives have been destroyed and thousands more indirectly impacted by the fires. And while annual plants can be planted and regrown with little impact on next year's honey season, he explained, other varietals, like eucalyptus trees, cannot be grown in a year. As such, there will be long-term impact on the industry that has yet to be determined. Additionally, Amitai said the situation has taken an emotional blow on the beekeepers who worked all year only to watch their efforts undone in a blaze. "It is terrible to watch your hives burn up alongside eucalyptus trees, flowers and grazing land," said beekeeper Ido Eden. "Nearly all the grove was burnt, and with it, my hives. We are talking about eight dunams of land with 32 hives. I was planning to go on vacation with my family, but now I'm not so sure. It just feels terrible." 'It is not only hurting the Jews' Yahel Ben-Aris, volunteer coordinator for the MetroWest New Jersey Federation-Kibbutz Erez partnership, expressed similar sentiments. "I don't know what to say ... you just look out at the fields and see fire-another kite, another balloon-it's crazy," said Ben-Aris. "It doesn't make sense." Ben-Aris lives in Kibbutz Erez. He said there are a minimum of six fires per week, and sometimes as many as three a day. The best way to contain them is to arrive on the scene fast. The kibbutz has put together an emergency response firefighting team with equipment purchased largely from donations made by the MetroWest New Jersey Federation. He said there is a constant need to replenish items like fire hoses, which are quickly worn down from the fires. "There were days that teams would go out to extinguish the fire and holes in the hoses would have water spraying everywhere," Ben-Aris said. "These are firefighters with day jobs, and when it happens on Shabbat, they have to leave their families three times. It's very hot right now, and these fires are so hot, too." Retirees from across the country have been volunteering in the area, sitting in watchtowers to monitor for aerial attacks and inform the firefighting response team. Strikingly, even as their fields are destroyed and fires sting the production of the area's sweet honey, residents and leadership alike say they have empathy for the plight of the Gazans and do not want to go to war with Hamas. Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council Mayor Alon Shuster told JNS that arson is not something new for the region. Rather, there were rounds of fires set by Gaza activists near the border for years. The big shift now is that these fires are reaching further into the region, propelled by kites and balloons. While he said that the results are tragic economically, emotionally and agriculturally, "we are lucky none of the burning kites have put people in danger." Shuster said he doesn't want a military solution to be the only solution. "A war will just temporarily stop the fires, but it will not stop Hamas from attacking us again," he said. "Of course, Hamas is a terrible partner for negotiations... But we must move to a situation where Israel opens dialogue with Hamas-for the people of Israel and Gaza. While this is hard on us, the people in Gaza are suffering in ways we cannot even imagine or describe." Meidan added that "Hamas should know that not only does the arson not help them, it is not only hurting the Jews. It is bad for nature and killing bees-innocent insects that don't deserve to die." And he believes the people of the Sha'ar HaNegev Region are resilient. "We will not be broken," he said. Ben-Aris said the first flowers that pop up as the land starts to recuperate are striking red anemones, which he said will ignite the fields in vibrant color. "It will be very pretty," he said. "This new life-that is the message I would send back to Hamas." WASHINGTON (JTA)David Kustoff, running for re-election in Tennessees 8th Congressional District, had three things in his favor: incumbency, a solid Republican district and President Donald Trumps endorsement. Kustoff was not taking anything for granted, though: In the Republican primary on Thursday, he faced a challenger, George Flinn, who spent more than twice what he has on the campaign and likes to remind voters that he is a Christian conservative. Which is notable because Kustoff is Jewish. Its unfortunate that someone would try and use Davids Jewishness against him as a wedge issue in the election, said Matthew Brooks, the CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition. The idea that someone would use race or religion or sexuality as a wedge stands against everything we hold true in the democratic process. Kustoff handily won the primary, 56 to 40 percent. This was not Flinns first run at public office. A radiologist who owns a network of clinics, Flinn has been a candidate for Congress three times previously and also for the state Senate. He has lost every time. His single win appears to be in 2006, as a county commissioner. In 2016, when Kustoff won his freshman bid for Congress, Flinn described himself as a Christian conservative on the eve of the primary, and in response to a negative ad from Kustoffs campaign. This time around it was a recurrent theme. In a post on his campaign website accompanying a video ad, Flinn deployed the Christian theme in a particularly loaded context: abortion rights. If you want someone who has voted to fund Planned Parenthood, vote for the same old Washington insider that has sold us out, Flinn said. Or, if you want someone who will protect and stand up for our Christian, conservative values and pledge to never vote to fund Planned Parenthood, then Im your candidate. (The Memphis Commercial Appeal said the ad made questionable claims; the Planned Parenthood funding was in a massive omnibus spending bill that drew more GOP votes than not.) In an April 22 Facebook post, Flinn drew a blunt contrast between his Christian, conservative values and those of Kustoff. After campaigning in Tipton County that day, Flinn said I talked with many who said they are fed up with the current congressman. They told me he has compromised our West Tennessee values and does not vote with our best interest in mind. I told them theres a clear choice in this election. I will NOT compromise our Christian, conservative values. One of two commenters on the post said Theres some shade. Christian values. The Kustoff campaign did not return multiple calls, but in an interview with JTA earlier this year, Kustoff said he was irked when Flinn invoked Christian conservative values on the eve of the 2016 primarybut was heartened by how enthusiastic voters were once they found out he was Jewish. When I campaigned for this office, I would literally knock on constituent doors, and I would get asked by some, Where do you go to church? and my response would be Temple Israel, he said at the time. Virtually every time I would give that response, the person would say I love Israel, what can I do to help? Brooks said Flinns gambit was obvious. Hes obviously, unabashedly raising the Christian vs. Jewish issue, said the Republican Jewish Coalition leader, who noted that his organization has strongly backed Kustoff. Brooks said he heard from Kustoffs campaign that people in the district had received push poll calls emphasizing Kustoffs Jewishness. Push polls advance a political agenda rather than accurately gauge opinion. Flinns campaign did not return multiple requests for comment. Deploying ones Christianity on the campaign trail is not unprecedented in U.S. politics, particularly in the South. Barack Obama drew Jewish ire for doing so ahead of the 2008 South Carolina primary, and another candidate in the 2016 Tennessee primary, Brad Greer, described West Tennessee as Christian, conservative territory in his campaigning. (Greer has endorsed Flinn.) Brooks said Kustoff could not afford to take any chances in a volatile election season that has seen the ouster of longtime incumbents. Flinn has spent $2.7 million of his own money on the campaign, while Kustoff has spent $1 million of funds he has raised. Flinn depicted himself as closer to Trumps values, but Kustoff has voted with the president 93 percent of the time. Additionally, Kustoff has precious currency in southern primary politics: Trumps enthusiastic endorsement. Trump tweeted his endorsement of Kustoff on July 27 and July 31, and he retweeted the July 27 endorsement on July 29. Congressman David Kustoff has been a champion for the Trump AgendaI greatly appreciate his support, the president said. David is strong on crime and borders, loves our Military, Vets and Second Amendment. Get out and vote for David on Thursday, August 2nd. He has my full and total Endorsement! Its an unusual intensity of involvement made weirder by the stakesTrump endorses to punish enemies, to reward loyalists or if he fears that one of the candidates in a close race would lose in the general election. He tends to boost the primary candidate he believes is the safe bet to beat the Democrat. None of that applied here: Kustoff and Flinn fell over each other to out-Trump one another on issues like immigration and health care, and the 8th is a lock for Republicans in November. Its not clear why Trump was so deeply invested in this race; the White House did not return a request for comment. Kustoff left little to chance. In a recent ad, he got former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a leading evangelist (and also a leader in the right-wing pro-Israel movement) to push back against Flinns negative ads on abortion. Huckabee noted that Kustoff has the National Right to Life endorsement. Dont believe what hes saying, Huckabee said of Flinn, whom he calls a failed career politician. Why? Because David Kustoff is a principled conservative. (JNS)-The Israeli Defense Forces said it launched an airstrike on Wednesday night, killing seven terrorists from the Islamic State who had infiltrated Israeli territory in the Golan Heights along the Syrian border. According to the IDF, Israel had been tracking the seven armed suspects from the Islamic State terror group in the southern Golan Heights near the area of the triangle of Israel, Jordan and the demilitarized zone of Syria when the Israeli Air Force aircraft struck them. IDF Spokesman Jonathan Conricus said the terrorists had managed to infiltrate approximately 200 meters (650 feet) into a region between the Alpha Line and the security fence, but did not cross the security fence into Israel. "IDF troops completed a search today where the seven bodies were located, and in the same area the following was found: five AK-47 assault rifles, explosives, and what appear to be grenades," the IDF Spokesperson Unit said. The IDF also said that it holds the Syrian regime responsible for "all violent acts or threats" emanating from Syria. "The IDF stands by the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement, which ended the Yom Kippur War and is still in effect today." Former head of the Counter terror Bureau at the Prime Minister's Office, Brig. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Nuriel said in a call with reporters organized by the Israel Project that Israel will not allow any changes to the 1974 cease-fire agreement with Syria. "We will not let anyone to change that cease-fire agreement from '74 [according to which only U.N. forces can be in the 'grey area' between Israel and Syria] and those seven people were inside that grey are which is unacceptable," he said. "When the Syrian forces with all their supporters are trying to capture the areas close to the borders we can expect more mistakes and more friction with us. Again, we told them very loud and clear, through the Russians and directly by UNDOF and others, Don't change the rules... we will not let anyone, the Syrians, as well as ISIS, Hezbollah as well as the Iranians [breach the cease-fire area]." The strike on the Islamic State terrorists comes amid a large-scale drill being held by the IDF's Northern Commander to test its military preparedness. Despite this latest incident, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that with Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces taking back territory in Syria from rebel groups, the situation is slowly returning to the one prior to the civil war, where Israel and Syria enjoyed decades of quiet along the border. "In Syria, as far as we are concerned, the situation is returning to the previous one before the civil war-meaning there is a clear address, there is responsibility and there is a central government," Lieberman said while touring northern Israel. View of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency building in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, July 26, 2018. (JNS)-New legislation introduced in Congress recently is seeking to make American aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the U.N. refugee agency that is solely dedicated to the Palestinian refugees, contingent on reform. According to the legislation, introduced by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), the "UNRWA Reform and Refugee Support Act would return UNRWA to its original framework and address this false narrative of an inflated refugee population." The bill seeks to make U.S. funding available to UNRWA to the extent that it resettles the original refugees from 1948. "Those original refugees must meet the standards in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which is how American law defines refugees. This will reduce the Palestinian refugee population from the inflated 5.3 million to an estimated 40,000," the bill says. Lamborn told JNS that UNRWA's wide definition of refugees has made a "mockery" of other refugee situations across the world. "UNRWA's twisted definition of refugee has made a mockery of both those who are true refugees in various conflicts around the world and those who are truly living in horrible conditions throughout the region, such as Syria," he said. "It is time to return UNRWA to its original framework and that is what H.R. 6451, the UNRWA Reform and Refugee Support Act, would do. This bill would ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars dedicated to refugees only contribute to UNRWA to the extent that it resettles the original refugees from 1948-not their descendants, who UNRWA also claim to be refugees." Unlike all other global refugee situations, which are handled by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, self-described displaced Palestinians and their descendants have had their own dedicated U.N. agency to provide education and social services to refugees scattered throughout the Middle East-mainly in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza. According to UNRWA, when the agency was launched, it provided services to about 750,000 refugees. But since Palestinian refugee status is "inherited," that number has grown about seven-fold to some 5.2 million today. Until earlier this year, the United States had been the largest donor to UNRWA, providing more than $355 million to the agency in 2016. However, U.S. President Donald Trump slashed contributions to the agency by approximately 80 percent to around $80 million. The legislation was announced last week at the annual Christians United for Israel (CUFI) conference, which has fully endorsed the bill as a means to help solve the Palestinian refugee situation. "UNRWA perpetuates the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by keeping the Palestinians captive as eternal refugees. Those educated on the issue, who truly aim to solve these crises as opposed to enable it, should support UNRWA reform and back this bill," said CUFI founder and chairman Pastor John Hagee told JNS. Asaf Romirowsky, executive director of the Scholars for Peace in the Middle East nonprofit and co-author of the 2013 book "Religion, Politics, and the Origins of Palestine Refugee Relief," told JNS that UNRWA reform is long overdue. "We have seen a complete and total Palestinian takeover of UNRWA is similar to regulatory capture, which occurs when a state regulatory authority is taken over by the interests or industries that it is designed to control. UNRWA is an international agency that is effectively managed by the interests that it is intended to serve," he said. Romirowsky said that UNRWA's own "coercive soft power" on international politics and media have help shield the organization from scrutiny. "This has been done in large part by members of the 'refugee' population itself working within UNRWA, with the help of the senior international managerial staff. By acting as a pressure group, the organization has thus been able to extend its mandate, and ward off oversight and reform," he said. "It might also be asked whether UNRWA's prerogatives and operations also constitute a deliberate infringement on the sovereignty and legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority." Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who is considered an anti-Semite by the Southern Poverty Law Center. (JNS)-A documentary featuring the notorious Louis Farrakhan will not be available to Netflix customers next month after all, with the media streaming giant citing an "internal miscommunication." "This film will not be released on Netflix. Due to an internal miscommunication, it appeared to be scheduled for release on Netflix, but it is not," a Netflix spokesperson told JNS. "We apologize for any confusion this has caused." The 2014 film, "The Honourable Minister Louis Farrakhan: My Life's Journey Through Music," was produced by Farrakhan's son and profiles the Nation of Islam leader's life as an extreme and polarizing figure. In a video post on Twitter on Tuesday, Farrakhan announced that the documentary would soon appear on Netflix. "My dear viewers and listeners, on August 1 you will be able to view the premiere on Netflix of the minister's life journey through music. And, if you would like to leave a comment of what you think about that documentary, and its music, you can go to LCTWMusic.com and leave your comment. May God bless you-As-Salaam Alaikum," said Farrakhan. According to a list of newly available films on Netflix, published on Monday, the documentary was scheduled to be released on Wednesday. Zionist Organization of America president Mort Klein told JNS on Tuesday that the ZOA was planning to launch a campaign against Netflix. "The media has legitimized Jew-haters Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, Jesse Jackson and Keith Ellison-now Netflix is attempting to do the same with the despicable Louis Farrakhan," said Klein. "It's both frightening and shameful." Farrakhan, who organized the 1995 Million Man March in Washington, D.C., is infamous for anti-Semitic and other bigoted statements made over the decades. For example, in 1972, he said that Jews were "in control of the media." In 1984, he again tooted this Orwellian horn and pronounced that "Hitler was a very great man." According to Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, Farrakhan's "lacerating speeches over more than three decades and more from his pulpit and perch at the Nation of Islam have repeatedly placed Jews at the center of conspiracy theories blaming them for everything from controlling the banks and media to engineering the slave trade." Despite this, Farrakhan still wields considerable influence today, with purported ties to at least seven Democrats in Congress, including Minnesota Congressman and Democratic National Committee Deputy Chairman Keith Ellison. Additionally, Women's March leader Tamika Mallory, who has been avocal critic of Israel, maintains a relationship with Farrakhan and attended his annual Saviour's Day address in Chicago this year, during which the minister labeled the Jewish people as "satanic." EFRAT, West Bank (JTA)-Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee laid bricks in a new neighborhood in this settlement in a ceremony Wednesday that took its language and cues from Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" rhetoric. During the ceremony in Efrat's Tamar neighborhood, organizers distributed red caps bearing the slogan "Build Israel Great Again" and spoke of how thankful they were for the president's support. Leaders of the Yesha Council, which represents the settlement movement, indicated the ceremony was part of an effort to garner American support for expanding the settlers' footprint in the West Bank. "I cannot tell you how proud I've been of the president as it relates to the land of Israel," said Huckabee, a Trump supporter, talk show host and ordained Southern Baptist minister. Speaking against the backdrop of red "Build Israel Great Again" signs, settlement leaders took turns alternately praising Trump and calling on him to lift limits on settlement construction. "We appreciate the American administration that appreciates the importance of us living here and the connection of the Jewish people to their homeland," said Efrat Mayor Oded Revivi, who also serves as Yesha's foreign envoy. Asking Huckabee to convey to the president what life is like in his city, Revivi said he hoped the White House would come to realize the importance of settlement building. While Trump initially declared settlement expansion to be "unhelpful," he subsequently changed his tune, declining to condemn Israel's decision to approve the construction of more than 2,000 settlement homes in May. According to Peace Now, Israel has approved plans and tenders for nearly 14,000 units since the 2016 elections, a significant increase over the 4,476 units approved in the year-and-a-half before Trump's victory. Earlier this week, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman visited the family of a terror victim in the Adam settlement. In prior administrations, embassy officials generally refrained from paying visits to areas over the pre-1967 lines, such as eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank. Huckabee's visit to the settlement and Friedman's condolence call constituted a message that "we should separate between the positive and negative vectors in this area," said Yesha Council Chairman Hananel Dorani, meaning, respectively, the 435,000 Israelis and 2.75 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. Comparing Israel to the United States in its commitment to liberty and peace, Dorani described the Palestinians as a violent people who "believe in terror and educate to hate." He said that lasting peace will only come when millions of Jews have been settled in the West Bank and the Palestinians realize that they have "no choice but to live side by side and not fight us." Yesha Council CEO Yigal Dilmoni was enthusiastic about the future, saying the settlers felt like there was "a new spirit in the period of Trump" and that the U.S. and Israel together could build up Judea and Samaria. Yesha is an acronym that includes Judea and Samaria, biblical names for the disputed area that are commonly used in Israel. Settlement leaders discounted the possibility that their embrace of Trump-style rhetoric could make the settlement enterprise even more of a partisan issue than it already is. Polls show that a majority of Republican voters support settlement expansion and most Democrats oppose it. "You can see the attitude of our PM, which [is] the same," said Dorani, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump "truly loves Israel, and we think it's an opportunity for us to get the process forward." New York physician Joseph Frager, a vice president of the National Council of Young Israel and one of the organizers of Wednesday's event along with Yesha and the Efrat municipality, approved the Trumpian rhetoric, saying it "helped the president in the United States get elected." "The idea is that Judea and Samaria have to grow," Frager said. "The president, I think, likes to see demonstrations of that fact. I think this catches his eye and his interest, and it could be helpful." Israeli politicians and American Orthodox Jewish leaders have been effusive in thanking Trump for his support for Israel and its government. During a reception celebrating the U.S. Embassy's move to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in May, Orthodox Union President Mark Bane described Trump as "God's messenger," while Israel's justice minister, Ayelet Shaked, called him "the [Winston] Churchill of the 21st century." Commenting at the time, Dan Shapiro, who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Barack Obama, said it was understandable that Israelis and American Jews were engaging in "hyperbole" because "it's become accepted in international circles that the way to gain favor with President Trump is to engage in excessive flattery." "The settlers are euphoric about Trump's victory," said Hagit Ofran of Peace Now, which regards the settlements as an obstacle to the two-state solution. "Together with Netanyahu, they feel they can do whatever they want in settlements. Netanyahu is seizing the opportunity of the carte blanche he got from Trump to set facts on the ground in order to prevent the possibility of a two-state solution. This is bad news for anyone who cares about Israel and wants to see it living in peace and prosperity side by side with its neighbors." In one of Obama's last actions as president, the administration abstained rather than veto a U.N. Security Council resolution that declared Israel's settlements illegal and demanded the building stop. When the parties to the peace process seemed committed to restarting it a year ago, Trump cautioned Israel against settlement expansion, saying it could frustrate the process, as his predecessors had. Now that the process is moribund, however, Trump and his administration officials barely mention settlement-a break from the Obama administration, which would speak out against any announced building in the settlements or eastern Jerusalem. While happy with the lifting of Obama-era censure, Dorani said settlement leaders still feel stifled. "During eight years of Obama we couldn't build like we wanted, and now under Trump we are building but not enough," the Yesha CEO said, turning to Huckabee and asking him to intervene with the president. "There are still limits. We can't build new settlements or big neighborhoods." Shashi Naidoo shown in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug. 3, 2017. She said she has "no desire to be a political tool." (JTA)-It's been a dizzying few weeks for South African model and actress Shashi Naidoo, who transformed herself from a harsh critic of the Palestinians to what some are calling a "cover girl" for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. It all began in an Instagram post last month, when Naidoo called Gaza a "s***hole" and accused Palestinian leaders of diverting aid in order to feed its "ambition to annihilate Israel." She explained that she was defending a South African record producer who had been vilified for performing in Israel. The backlash was swift. Naidoo said she received dozens of death threats, presumably from supporters of the Palestinians. She was dropped as an ambassador of Glampalm Africa, a hair-styling brand, and by jewelry designer Adila Dhorat. She hired personal security guards out of fear for her life after angry Palestinian supporters circulated her home address on social media. She then tearfully apologized in a video for having "little knowledge" of the issues surrounding Israel and the Palestinians, and said she would be willing to be "re-educated." She deleted her Instagram post in support of Israel, but it was preserved in screenshots. Days after her original Instagram post, on June 20, at a news conference organized by the BDS movement, Naidoo said she would participate in "a fact-finding visit to Palestine" led by the South African Council of Churches and South African Jews for a Free Palestine. On Wednesday, however, Naidoo was denied entry to Israel because she arrived under the auspices of the BDS movment. "It is sad that in today's South Africa, expressing support for Israel in its struggle against terrorism leads to death threats against those who expressed their support," the Israeli government said. Naidoo said she had come with an open mind in order to learn more about the issues between Israel and the Palestinians. "I'm not anti-Israel and I'm not anti-Jewish," Shashi Naidoo told the South African Jewish Report from Jordan on Wednesday. The South Africa Jewish Board of Deputies and South African Zionist Federation noted the head-snapping turn of events in its statement. "It took less than 48 hours for the BDS to do a complete turn-around over Shashi Naidoo," they wrote. "Indeed, the intention now is to set her up as a poster girl for the BDS movement." Being turned away at the border on Wednesday should not have come as a surprise to Naidoo, who was informed by the Israeli Embassy in South Africa last week that she would be denied access. "I believe that flagging an individual whose only intention was to push an agenda of love and light is dubious," she told the South African Jewish Report in a WhatsApp message. "I have said numerous times that I have no desire to be a political tool. My only hope was to meet the people, experience the land and give aid to those in need. It was never a BDS itinerary. I really am devastated." The model, who was married to a Jewish man, Mark Sandler, until their divorce in 2011 after two years, later sent a second message that read, "I was moving to Israel to do my Orthodox conversion. And now, nine months later I am not allowed entry." She did not elaborate. The newspaper reported that following the news conference with BDS South Africa and before flying to the Middle East, Naidoo had spent hours listening to lectures by BDS leaders. She declined to meet with the South African Zionist Federation. She also reportedly canceled a scheduled meeting with Israeli peace activists and well-known anti-apartheid journalist Benjamin Pogrund. Naidoo said her passport was marked with a stamp that makes her ineligible to enter Israel for the next 10 years. But Israel's public affairs minister, Gilad Erdan, seemed to indicate that the ban could be negotiable. "Dear Ms. @SHASHINAIDOO I'm sorry that we had to prevent your entry to #Israel today under our anti-#BDS laws You're welcome to visit Israel-but not under threats & pressure from hate-filled BDS groups, on a trip organized by BDS groups, in order to 'reeducate' yourself," Erdan said in a tweet. The statement also said: "I personally invite Ms. Naidoo to visit Israel on her own accord and experience the reality on the ground. She will soon discover that what she tweeted was true and accurate." Israel has turned away four active leaders of the BDS movement, including Jewish-American activist Ariel Gold. Some observers have said the policy only gives the BDS movement free publicity and activist cache. "This South African model and others are getting favorable publicity and street cred in their home countries for being barred from Israel for their political views. Isn't that the definition of a boomerang policy?" asked Allison Kaplan Sommer, a writer for Haaretz. South Africa's BDS movement is certainly capitalizing on the moment, as Naidoo was welcomed back to South Africa on Thursday by Nelson Mandela's grandson and member of parliament, Mandla Mandela. While Naidoo at a news conference continued to describe her trip as "educational" and did not endorse BDS or take sides, Mandela wasn't shy, calling on his government to downgrade relations with Israel. "We strongly condemn Apartheid Israel's refusal of entry to Palestine for Shashi Naidoo and this reveals the true Apartheid character of the occupation," Mandela said in a statement, according to MSN.com. "The denial of entry shows that apartheid Israel treats the occupied territories of Palestine as a bantustan in which it is the sole arbiter of access. This denial is not only tantamount to an infringement of fundamental human rights, it also violates the sovereignty of the Palestinian state." A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and southwest Africa as part of the policy of apartheid. In May, South Africa recalled its ambassador, Sisa Ngombane, "until further notice" after Israeli troops killed more than 50 Palestinian protesters and wounded hundreds during protests at the Israel-Gaza border in the so-called Great March of Return that has been ongoing since mid-March. The ruling African National Congress party recently called for the downgrading of the South African Embassy in Israel, which is located in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, due to what it said was the "lack of commitment from Israel on Palestine." Shaun Zagnoev, a spokesman for the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, said he welcomed Naidoo's effort to educate herself about the conflict. "Unfortunately, she has chosen to do so through the BDS organization," Zagnoev said. "The BDS is based on the premise that Israel should be boycotted until it ceases to exist as a Jewish state." Northern California Jewish camp cancels final session over forest fires (JTA)The final summer session of Camp Tawonga in Northern California has been canceled due to smoke from the Ferguson Forest Fire. In a letter to parents also posted on social media, the director of the Jewish camp, Jamie Simon, said that the U.S. Forest Service, the Tuolumne County Health Department and CAL FIRE all recommend that Camp Tawonga remains closed for at least another week due to unhealthy air quality and volatile fire conditions. She also said the camp property was not in danger. Our thoughts are with the thousands of brave men and women still fighting this fire and many others in California, she wrote. More than 300 campers from the previous camp session were sent home on July 31 due to the fire and the backfires set to contain the blaze. About 40 of the campers came from outside the Bay Area and were temporarily hosted by Camp Tawonga families. The campers are receiving full refunds, according to J. The Jewish News of Northern California. In Tawongas 93-year history, we have never before had to cancel a session, and we want to do everything we can to support our Tawonga families during this time, read the email sent to parents, according to J. The last blaze to impact Tawonga was the Rim Fire in August 2013, which covered 250,000 acres and reached the grounds of the camp, where it burned three staff buildings. The Ferguson Fire started in the Sierra National Forest and is burning eight miles south of camp. The 25-day old fire, which moved over the weekend into Yosemite National Park leasing to the closure of all but one entrance, as of Sunday evening had burned 89,633 acres (140 square miles) and was 38 percent contained. Full containment is estimated by Aug. 15, according to Cal Fire. Charlotte Rae, who starred as Mrs. Garrett on The Facts of Life, dies at 92 (JTA)Actress Charlotte Rae, who won acclaim playing the housemother Edna Garrett on the sitcom The Facts of Life, has died. She was 92. Rae, who was nominated for Emmy and Tony awards, died Sunday at her home in Los Angeles. She was diagnosed last year with bone cancer; she had survived pancreatic cancer. Rae first appeared as Mrs. Garrett in a recurring role as a housekeeper on the popular sitcom Diffrent Strokes, and then for seven years on its spinoff, The Facts of Life, beginning in 1979. Her Emmy nomination was for the show. Her career also featured appearances on more than 50 television shows. Rae worked in theater before her TV career took off, garnering two Tony nominations in 1966 as best featured actress in a musical in Pickwick, and in 1969 for best actress in a play for Morning, Noon and Night. Her last role in a feature film was alongside Meryl Streep in the 2015 movie Rikki and the Flash. She also appeared in films such as Woody Allens Bananas in 1971, Hair in 1979 and the Adam Sandler comedy You Dont Mess with the Zohan in 2008. Rae was born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Russian Jewish immigrants. Her mother, Esther, was a childhood friend of the future Israeli prime minister Golda Meir, also a Milwaukee native. Rae reportedly dropped her Jewish-sounding surname on the advice of an unnamed radio personality. She released her autobiography, The Facts of My Life, in 2015, co-written by her son Larry Strauss. Rae was married for 25 years to composer John Strauss, but divorced in 1976 when he came out as bisexual. Her son Andrew, who was diagnosed with autism, died in his mid-40s of a heart attack in 1999. She is survived by her son, Larry; three grandchildren; and a sister, Miriam Guten. Tens of thousands of Druze and their supporters rally against nation-state law JERUSALEM (JTA)Tens of thousands of Israels Druze community and their supporters rallied in Tel Aviv against the controversial nation-state law. Israeli media reported that at least 50,000 and up to 90,000 participated in the Druze-led rally on Saturday night in Rabin Square. Many protesters carried the Druze flag and the Tel Aviv city hall was lit up in the colors of the Druze flag. Were all proud of the democratic and free State of Israel, where human dignity and freedom are the supreme values. Weve never doubted the Jewish identity of the state. We recognized its Jewish character with full equality for its non-Jewish citizens, Druze religious leader Sheikh Mowafak Tarif said at the rally. No one can teach us what sacrifice is, and no one can preach to us about loyalty and devotionthe military cemeteries are a testament to that. We are determined to fight alongside you for the states character and the right to live in it with equality and dignity, Tarif, who received the honor of lighting a torch at last years national Independence Day ceremony, said. Despite our unconditional loyalty to the state, the state doesnt see us as equals. The cry of the Druze community is real. They feel justifiably that someone seeks to take their Israeliness away. Tarif also said that he sincerely believes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had several meetings with Druze leaders since the passage of the law, and who appointed a high-level committee to recommend and implement actions to cement the position of the Druze in Israel society, plans to fix the damage caused by the law. We came here to tell the entire Israeli nation, with all of the Israeli people, that this country is for all of us, retired Brig. Gen. Amal Assad told The Associated Press. We were born here, we will die here, we love this country, we have defended it, and we will continue to live here togetherJews, Arabs, Druze, Circassians, Bedouins, as equal brothers. We are all Israelis. Druze, unlike other Arabs who make Israel their home, are subject to the mandatory draft. Several Druze servicemen in the last week have announced that they would resign from the military due to the passage of the law. Assad, who spearheaded activity against the nation-state law passed last month, became more well known in Israel last week amid reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly left a meeting with him and other Druze leaders after Assad said that the new law would lead to apartheid. Ahead of the rally, 40 former Israeli diplomats released a statement against the nation-state law, saying that they are embarrassed and pained by its passage. During our years of service for the State of Israel, we could always look world nations in the eye and tell them with an honest heart that Israel, being the only democracy in the Middle East, is indeed a proud Jewish state, but one run in the spirit of Israels prophets and upholding equality between its different components, including by maintaining Arabic as an official language alongside Hebrew, the statement said. Being proud of the right we were given to represent the State of Israel, defend it publicly, promote its interests, its security and our governments policy, and act to advance science, the economy and culture in Israel, we express our protest against the legislation that excludes the minorities among usArabs, Muslims, Druze, Christians, Circassians and others, it also said. During the rally, opposition leader Tzippy Livni and Avi Gabbay, head of the Labor Party, announced in a statement that they would pass legislation making Israels Declaration of Independence, which calls Israel a Jewish and democratic state, the constitution of the country. Hours after the end of the rally, Netanyahu on Sunday morning at the regular Cabinet meeting addressed again the issue of the nation-state law. The State of Israel is the national state of the Jewish people. Israel is a Jewish and democratic state. Individual rights are anchored in many laws including Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty. Nobody has harmed and nobody intends to harm these individual rights but without the Nation-State Law it will be impossible to ensure for [future] generations the future of Israel as a Jewish national state, Netanyahu said. He also said that the deep bond between the Druze community and our commitment to it are also essential; therefore, today we will establish a special ministerial committee to advance this bond and this commitment and at the same time will appreciate those of all religions and all ethnic communities who serve in the IDF and the security forces. Amazon removes racist and anti-Semitic products from site (JTA)Amazon removed racist and anti-Semitic products from its site being offered by third-party sellers. Amazon announced the move in a letter to Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., dated July 31. In mid-July, Ellison in a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos called for the company to stop selling products that promote hateful and racist ideologies. Among the products removed were a Nazi swastika pendant, a Nazi eagle sticker and a cross-burning onesie for baby boys, according to BuzzFeed, which published the letter. Amazon also was offering books by white nationalist printing houses, including on Kindle. In its letter to Ellison, Amazon said that it prohibits the listing of products that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, or religious intolerance or promotore organizations with such views. The company said it had reviewed the products and contents referenced in Ellisons letter and removed the listings that were found in violation of our policies and permanently blocked the seller accounts that were in violation of Amazon policy. Amazon also said it is reviewing seller accounts for potential suspension. 2 American-Jewish activists living in Israel detained at border with Egypt JERUSALEM (JTA)Two American-Jewish activists who live and work in Israel were detained by Israeli authorities for more than three hours at Egypts border with Israel. Simone Zimmerman and Abby Kirschbaum were returning from a weekend in the Sinai with friends. They both carry type B1 work visas registered with Israeli nonprofit human rights organizations. Zimmerman said in a series of tweets that she was questioned by the agents from the Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet, and they asked her why she came to Israel to work with Palestinians as opposed to with Jews. She also told the Israeli media that the security agents asked her about what places she has visited in the West Bank and what she thinks about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Zimmerman, a founding member of the IfNotNow organization, served for a short time as Jewish outreach coordinator for the 2016 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders. She was fired over a Facebook post in which she used vulgar terms to describe Netanyahu and called him a murderer. The scariest part of this wasnt the fear that they would deport us, Zimmerman said in a statement. We had teams of people making calls and advocating for us, ready to raise hell. And the truth is that for Jews in the Jewish state, we still hold a ton of privilege. The scariest part is the horrifying realization of how badly the Israeli government wants to scare Jews away from Palestinians. They are using all tactics to make the cost of knowing & working with Palestinians so risky that we wont dare to do it at all. Kirschbaum said: The level of surveillance and intimidation we experienced tonight was unsettling, but it is a fraction of the lived reality for the Palestinians I know and am proud to work with. In July, Israel denied entry to Jewish-American activist Ariel Gold, who is active in the social justice NGO CodePink, because of her work with the BDS movement, despite having a valid student visa. Also last month, the prominent Jewish philanthropist Meyer Koplow, chair of Brandeis Universitys board of trustees and a longtime donor to pro-Israel causes, said he was aggressively questioned by Israeli airport security before leaving the country after going on a Jewish tour of Palestinian areas of the West Bank. Jeremy Corbyn again acknowledges anti-Semitism in Labour Party, this time in a video (JTA)British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn acknowledged that anti-Semitism has surfaced in the party and sincerely apologized for the hurt that has been caused to many Jewish people. Corbyn made the statements in a three-minute video posted on social media on Sunday. Anyone who denies this has surfaced in our party is clearly actually wrong and contributing to the problem, Corbyn said. I acknowledge there is a real problem of anti-Semitism that Labour is working to overcome. We have been too slow in processing disciplinary cases of, mostly online, anti-Semitic abuse by party members. Were acting to speed this process up, Corbyn also said, while pointing out that the number of offenders amounts to only 0.1 percent of the half-million party members, while saying that even one is too many. Jewish people have been at the heart of our party and our movement throughout history. No one should dismiss the concerns they have expressed about what has been happening in the party, he said. The video comes on the heels of a Corbyn op-ed that appeared Friday afternoon on the website of the British daily The Guardian, in which Corbyn said he respects the affinity that many Jews feel for Israel and appealed to critics to resolve differences over his Labour Partys policy on anti-Semitism that has drawn fire. Corbyn in his op-ed referred to a new round of consultations he has launched to reconsider Labours anti-Semitism definition, which departs from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance one generally recognized by the world community, acknowledging that the party had not fully engaged the Jewish community in the past. He defended the partys decision not to use one of the examples - which warns against claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor. He said this had sometimes been used by those wanting to restrict criticism of Israel that is not anti-Semitic. The Board of Deputies of British Jewry and Jewish Leadership Council on Saturday night criticized Corbyn for the publishing of his op-ed in the Guardian shortly before the start of Shabbat, which meant that the Jewish community did not have a chance to immediately respond. The joint statement called the op-ed ill-timed and ill-conceived and said: Once again Mr. Corbyn, of all people, has chosen to lecture Jews on antisemitism. Womans appointment to an Israeli rabbinic court is seen as a breakthrough JERUSALEM (JTA)A woman was appointed to serve as a judicial assistant in an Israeli rabbinic courtone of the most senior positions in the Orthodox-run court system. The appointment of Shira Ben-Eli was announced Sunday by the rabbinical courts administration and the Civil Service Commission to the Jerusalem District Labor Court. The position involves close contact with the courts decision-making processes, Haaretz reported. Nearly two years ago ITIM, an organization that seeks to help Israelis navigate the countrys religious bureaucracy, and the Rackman Center at Bar-Ilan University filed a lawsuit calling for equality in Israels rabbinical courts, particularly for non-rabbinic positions. The lawsuit included a restraining order against the Civil Service Commission and the rabbinical courts administration from hiring judicial assistants as long as they prevented women from obtaining the positions. The requirement that a judicial assistant have rabbinic ordination or qualification as a dayan, a rabbinic judge, ultimately was lifted. In an announcement, the Civil Service Commission and the rabbinical courts administration said: The respondents are pleased to inform the court that the committee that examined candidates for two positions of judicial assistant in the rabbinic court chose a female candidate for one of the posts. No candidate, male or female, was chosen for the second position as of yet because no applicant was found with suitable knowledge and experience. Rabbi Seth Farber, ITIMs director, said in a statement to JTA: This is a great day for women Jewish legal scholars who now have doors opened to them that were unimaginable even five years ago. It is also a great day for Israel, which has demonstrated that extremism can be countered by the forces of democracy and equality. Karen Horowitz, legal adviser to the Rackman Center, called the appointment an important step, but certainly not the last one, in the advancement of women. (JNS)Last Thursday, a Palestinian teenager stabbed a young Jewish father to death and wounded two others. On Sunday, a Palestinian teenager who assaulted Israeli soldiers was released from prison to international acclaim. Later on Sunday, two Palestinian teenagers with machine guns and bullet magazines were intercepted on their way to massacre Jews. Palestinian children are not born hating Jews or loving violence. Who is to blame for encouraging and inspiring these young people to engage in such murderous behavior? We can, of course, dismiss the tired cliche about how the occupation is what causes young Palestinians to turn violent. Israel stopped occupying 98 percent of the Palestinians back in 1995. Thursdays stabber and Sundays machine-gunners have spent their entire lives under the rule of the Palestinian Authority, not Israel. They had to leave their P.A.-ruled hometowns and go in search of Jews elsewhere precisely because the last Israeli soldier left their hometowns way back in 1995. So if its not the occupation, then what is it? The obvious answer is the P.A. school system. Every day, in every classroom, Palestinian children are taught that Jews are evil monsters, and Arabs who kill them are heroes and martyrs who will be rewarded with cash and virgins. And its not just the schools. Palestinian children are also exposed to newspapers, television and radio programs, movies, plays and novelsall of which are saturated with hatred of Jews and the glorification of terrorists. And dont forget the crucial role of the enablers. Lets start with the extreme-left wing of the Democratic Party in the United States. Twenty-eight members of Congress, led by Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota, have so far signed on to legislation that would prevent U.S. aid to Israel from being used to arrest Palestinian children. All 28 are Democrats. Any Palestinian under 18 qualifies as a child, according to the bill. That means that Israel would be penalized if its army arrested the 17-year-old who murdered the young Jewish father or the two 17-year-olds with the machine guns. Not surprisingly, the bill has been praised by Israel-hating organizations such as the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights and the American Friends Service Committee (the Quakers). But theyre not the only ones who approve of McCollums anti-Israel initiative. Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, which claims to be pro-Israel, was interviewed this week by the online news site Roll Call about the bill. Here was his response: These kinds of expressions from not just one member but a significant portion of the Democratic caucus, in my mind, is groundbreaking. Its part of an overwhelming trend. Fortunately, its not an overwhelming trend at all. There are 193 Democrats in the House of Representatives, of whom 28 have signed on to McCollums bill. Thats 14 percent of House Democrats who have endorsed the bill, meaning some 86 percent have not. Still, even though its not an overwhelming trend, its a worrisome trend. Whats especially worrisome is that J Street, which has a large budget and numerous lobbyists on Capitol Hill, is hailing this anti-Israel legislation as groundbreaking, and obviously encouraging members of Congress to endorse a bill that seeks to help shield teenage terrorists from being arrested by the Israeli military. The other enablers are, of course, the news-media outlets that downplay or even glorify teenage Palestinian violence. When Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi was released from prison this week after serving her sentence for assaulting an Israeli soldier, some major U.S. newspapers treated her like a hero. Washington Post correspondent Erin Cunningham authored a sympathetic tribute disguised as news. She could barely contain her admiration for the assaulter: As she spoke to reporters, Tamimis light, unruly curls fell over her black-and-white checkered scarf, long an emblem of Palestinian nationalism, Cunningham drooled. Imagine if an Israeli teenager was arrested for assaulting a Palestinian Authority security officer. Do you think Cunningham would be writing lovingly about her light, unruly curls? Of course not! Because from the Quakers to J Street, from Congresswoman McCollums office to the news columns of The Washington Post, violent Palestinian teenagers are praised, coddled and encouragedguaranteeing that their violence will only continue. Stephen M. Flatow is a vice president of the Religious Zionists of America, an attorney in New Jersey and the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. His book, A Fathers Story: My Fight for Justice Against Iranian Terror, will be published later this year. (JNS)In ancient times, people looked to portents involving the heavens and earthbound events in order to try to understand the baffling world in which we live, as well as to discern the will of their Creator. In the 21st centuryarmed with science, sophisticated technology and mass communicationwere much smarter than that. Instead of pondering the stars, we now expect the fall of a loose rock in an old stone wall to explain it all. When a boulder that was part of the ancient Western Wall fell this past week, it was just a matter of gravity, the loosening most likely caused by vegetation that grows in the ancient structure, the debris that birds place into crevasses or an accumulation of moisture. But the crash of a 220-pound piece of rock was enough to set off a storm of commentarysome of it serious and some delivered with tongue firmly planted in cheek. All of it was designed to score points in the wars Jews fight among themselves, in addition to the one Palestinians still wage against Israels existence. The Kotel is the last remnant of the retaining wall surrounding the Holy Temple in Jerusalem that was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. As such, it is more than a historical monument; it is infused with holiness for people of faith. Sadly, that has also made it a battleground on which efforts to ensure or suppress Jewish religious pluralism has played out. The rock fell into the area separated from the main Kotel plaza and in which a relatively small area has been set aside for egalitarian prayer. A plan to expand access to the area has been blocked by those who are offended by non-Orthodox prayer services. The ensuing controversy has angered many Jews in the Diaspora. So it wasnt surprising that some people claimed that the rock falling was a sign of heavenly favor or disfavor, made more profound since had it fallen a day earlier on Tisha BAvwhen the area was packed with thousands of worshipperssome people almost certainly would have been badly injured or even killed. Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Dov Kalmanovich of the right-wing Jewish Home Party said the non-Orthodox might be the reason for the incident, and that these quarrelmongers examine themselves, not the Wall. In response, a U.S. Reform rabbi wondered, in what was clearly intended as sarcasm, whether instead the all had spit out a stone in protest against the passage of the Jewish nation-state law days earlier. More thoughtfully, Alden Solovy, a Reform teacher and blogger, invoked traditional teachings about Tisha BAv by warning that perhaps the sinat chinamor senseless hatred that helped destroy Jerusalem 2,000 years agois now undermining the stability of the Kotel. But as is often the case, these Jewish internecine battles can obscure the war their enemies still wage against them. While the Orthodox and the non-Orthodox bicker about who can pray at the wall and where, the Palestinians are still denying that the site has anything to do with the Jews. As Khaled Abu Toameh reported in The Jerusalem Post, Omar Kiswani, director of the Al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount, claimed that the loose rock was the result of Israeli archeological excavations aimed at toppling the entire plateau and destroying Muslim holy places. Yusef Natsheh, director of Islamic Archeology and Tourism on the Mount, chimed in by saying that the slab falling was clearly a pre-planned test carried out by the Jews in order to test the strength the walls of the mosques before destroying them. The spokesperson for the Fatah Party that runs the Palestinian Authority also said that the rocks fall was proof that Israel was trying to destroy the mosque. Not confining himself to conspiracy theories, Fatahs Osama Qawasmeh, who works for P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas, made it clear that the Kotel prayer areas were the property of Muslims, not the Jews arguing about them. We affirm that al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings, including what is beneath it, are purely Islamic, Qawasmeh said. The Jews have no right to it. He also called the visits to the Temple Mount by Israelis a crime, even though Jewish tourists are forbidden to pray at the sacred site in a futile effort to mollify the Palestinians. If all this sounds familiar, it should. Palestinian leaders have been spewing such falsehoods, which amount to a blood libel against Jews, for a century in order to stir up hate. The recent stabbing intifada was set off in no small measure by Abbass claims that stinking Jewish feet were profaning Jerusalems holy sites. A stabbing murder of a Jew this week may well have been directly inspired by the latest P.A. lies about the Temple Mount. So while Jews fight each other over prayer at the Kotel, Palestinians continue to seek to deny all of them the right to be there. Even the supposed moderates of Fatah seem to want not just a Jew-free West Bank, but also a Jerusalem where Jews have no rightswhether they are Orthodox or non-Orthodox. Serious observers should know that its pointless for mortals to ponder whether their Creator moves around rocks, even the sacred ones of the Kotel, to send them messages. Rather, they should remember that its that the contemporary wars of the Jews against each otherlike the battles that took place inside Jerusalem while the Romans besieged the citythat undermine the unity needed to defend the Jewish people against those who would harm them and deny them their ancient home. Instead of using the rock as a weapon in a domestic squabble, this would be an apt moment for all Jews to stop trying to insult each other. And if its the only way for the message to get through, lets say that God moved that stone in order to send them a reminder to behave themselves and understand that their enemies make no such distinctions when seeking to spill their blood. Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNSJewish News Syndicate. Follow him on Twitter at: @jonathans_tobin. Should we worry about the future? Of course. But how far into the future? We should certainly complete the obligations we have committed to for today. And maybe next week. Beyond that, however, something unforeseen may get in the way. In matters of politics and public policy, its much more complex. How much to worry about the incompetence of the American president? Or the tilt to the right of the Israeli prime minister? Each of those characters may be the most weighty influence on the near future of the U.S. and Israel, but there is lots else that can mess up whatever they might be planning for tomorrow or beyond. Only someone obsessed with risk would bet more than a few cents (or agorot) on which of many possible domestic or international events can intrude. The most recent tussle between Donald Trump, his secretary of state, and vice president over what he said about Vladimir Putin suggests the coddling that a great leader may face. Did he mean what he said about an accord with Putin? Did he even realize that he had gone 180 degrees from the agreed script while extemporizing? Bibis great accomplishment in enacting a nationality law appears empty of substance, but nonetheless capable of exciting opposition from Druze and others. Great changes in and around Israel will depend on the Palestinians putting their house in order, and getting ready for accepting something that has occurred since 1948. And that doesnt seem likely to occur anytime soon. Its not a crap shoot, especially for stable democracies. Bureaucracies in the fields of social policy, diplomacy, and security do almost all of the work, and very important in their actions is established policy and precedent. Things move incrementally, usually in small changes from whats existed. Adjustments come in response to whats not expected, but big changes are infrequent and unpredictable. The headlines are likely to be dramatic, but thats more likely to reflect a concern for media ratings than any certainty about whats likely to be important. Lots of Americans and Israelis may be embarrassed by details of what their leaders have been saying, tweeting, or doing, but in neither place is there a promising alternative to the man in charge worth betting on. Israels left and center is neutralized by the conflicts within Palestine. Lots of Americans may be embarrassed by their president, but no fix appears to be obvious. Cynicism, or more likely whimsy, is appropriate for anyone concerned about the future. Cynicism may be too serious an option. Whimsy is less costly, and no less effective than donating to any of the do-gooders promising to fix, or call attention to the plight of the environment, inadequate social programs, corruption in government, the dangers lurking in migration, or evil outside of ones borders. In a mature society, like the U.S. or Israel, theres plenty of legislation, regulation, and administrative cadres in place. Most likely all the workable solutions have been considered on high. Security forces seem capable of defending against the likely threats. Both the U.S. and Israel, along with numerous other developed countries have programs that have helped ambitious individuals at the bottom of their societies get themselves out of misery. Nothings perfect, or anywhere close to ideal. None of the do-gooders seems likely to civilize the evils or incompetence prevailing among Palestinians, or the enmity that precludes Muslims from coming together and agreeing to modernize and liberalize their societies. For the meantime, we seem stuck with Trumps passion and grammar, and Bibis symbolic moves to the right. Those worried about Israels security can relax. The IDF and other organizations are active, imperfect, but largely successful. So far the damage from incendiary kites and balloons has been less costly than a military operation that will cost some Israeli lives and would not, in all probability, bring Gaza any closer to a peace-accepting, and stable locale, whose government can reach and honor agreements with the variety of armed Palestinian activists or its neighbors. Should the next balloon that brings fire to a kindergarten actually kill or injure children, then all bets are off. Alfred E. Neuman had it about right. There aint no cause for serious worry for those living in tolerable societies, at least partly because there aint any sure way of making them better. Contribute what you will of your money to the do-gooders, sign petitions and demonstrate. Chances are better that itll make you feel good than make things better for the rest of us. You might also comment, irashark@gmail.com. In late ad 74 Emperor Ming of Chinas Han dynasty assigned Geng Gong, a midlevel field officer, to command the 500-man garrison at Jinpu, a strategically important fortress on the northern slopes of the Tian Shan Mountains near the east end of the Silk Road. The emperor entrusted the garrison with three key missions: first, to patrol for bandits and protect the rich caravans that plied the famed trade route; second, to keep an eye on the subjugated Jushi kingdom, which had only recently been conquered by the Han; third, and perhaps most important, to prevent the advance of an ancient enemythe nomadic Xiongnu. In 221 bc King Zheng of the state of Qin completed his conquest of a half-dozen surrounding states and proclaimed the Qin empire (221206 bc), naming himself first emperor of a unified China. Toward the end of Zhengs reign, around 215 bc, the Xiongnu began encroaching on Qin lands, prompting Zheng to send General Meng Tian and an army of some 100,000 men to drive the nomads north of the Yellow River. That done, Zheng then ordered construction of the Great Wall to keep the barbarians out of his empire. The directive came just in time, as the emperor himself died in 210 bc, and the next year a nomadic chieftain named Modun set out to conquer several large northern tribes and establish the Xiongnu empire, which soon spanned Central Asia. Over the next century the Xiongnu sought to expand into the region held by the Chinesefirst under the Qin emperors and later the Han (206 bcad 220). During the latter dynasty the Xiongnu repeatedly threatened Han territory and almost captured Liu Bang, the first Han emperor, at the 200 bc Battle of Baideng. After that near debacle the Han emperor initiated a policy of rapprochement with the Xiongnu. Liu Bang and his successors sought to placate the nomads by sending them vast amounts of treasure, as well as providing imperial Han princesses as brides for Xiongnu chieftains. While the concessions forestalled full-scale war between the empires, Xiongnu riders continued to stage border raids into China, and the imperial Han army continued to mount punitive expeditions against the Xiongnu. Such expeditions almost always ended in Han victories, for the dynastys army was superior in discipline, weaponry and leadership. The centuries of nearly continuous combat during the Warring States period (475221 bc) had shaped the imperial Chinese army into a disciplined force that fought effectively as a cohesive unit. The nomads did boast one tactical advantage over the Chinesesuperior horsemanship. The Han military commanders acknowledged that superiority and resolved that the best way to counter the Xiongnu horsemen was with an equally robust cavalry force. Toward that end imperial administrators encouraged the general populace to raise horses, exempting those who did so from taxes and labor levies. During the reign of Emperor Wu (14187 bc) the imperial army launched full-scale attacks against the Xiongnu. In addition to cavalry, the Han employed large numbers of crossbowmen, whose weapons far outranged the nomads traditional recurve bows. During the subsequent century of protracted warfare between the realms, the Han conquered and assimilated many southern Xiongnu tribes. Some of the nomads wound up in the Chinese army, fighting against their northern Xiongnu cousinsnot unlike Roman recruitment of barbarians into the legions. Eventually, most of the remaining belligerent Xiongnu tribes withdrew to the north or west, counting among their descendants Attila and his Hun hordes. While the Great Wall largely barred the Xiongnu from venturing south against the Han empire, Geng Gong was further tasked with severing communications between the nomads and western kingdoms (thus deterring any alliance that might threaten the imperial realm) and with thwarting attacks from the west against the empire. In December 74 Emperor Ming summoned home the Han expedition that had conquered Jushi, stationing Geng Gong at Jinpu and another garrison commander at Liuzhong, on the southern slopes of the Tian Shan, to guard the frontiers. The following spring some 20,000 Xiongnu riders poured south, seeking to wrest control of Jushi. Geng Gong sent a deputy with 300 men to bolster the Jushi people, but the Xiongnu ambushed the relief column en route and wiped it out. The loss of 60 percent of his command was undoubtedly of great concern to Geng Gong, as he knew an attack on his own garrison was only a matter of time. In preparation for the inevitable assault, he reinforced the bulwarks at Jinpu and ordered his men to dip the heads of their arrows and crossbow bolts in poison. A nasty fight was in the offing. After making short work of the Jushi kingdom, the Xiongnu army advanced on Jinpu. As the enemy troops gathered for the attack, Geng Gong mounted the battlements and shouted down a warning to the nomads: Any man hit by Han bolts and arrows shall suffer painfully, because the missiles were sent by the gods to the Han emperor. It was not an idle threat, for when the Xiongnu troops launched their opening assault, those hit by the poison-tipped Han projectiles suffered caustic, festering wounds. The agonized warriors cries and mournful moans further demoralized their uninjured comrades, who withdrew in disarray. Then, under the cloak of darkness and a thunderstorm, Han soldiers raided the Xiongnu encampment. The violent surprise attack by troops wielding broadswords and halberds broke the siege and drove the Xiongnu away from the fortress. But the nomads werent beaten yet. In the aftermath of his victory against the Xiongnu, Geng Gong recognized the weakness of his own position and moved his command south to the Shule fortress, sited on more defensible ground along a stream that provided a reliable water supply for his men and animals. The Han commander also stocked up on food, weapons and other supplies and recruited several thousand Jushi auxiliaries to bolster his force. The move negated the nomads advantages in numbers, speed and mobility, again forcing them to attack fixed defenses. When the Xiongnu reappeared that July, Geng Gong was ready. Indeed, before the nomads could form for battle, the Han commander struck, sending out his professional troops and auxiliaries to engage the enemy. The Xiongnu had expected to face numerically insignificant Han defenders, and the startlingly large force fielded by Geng Gong panicked the nomads into another retreat. Within weeks the Xiongnu resumed their offensive. After repeated attacks failed to breach the fortress walls, they settled into a siege. Their first act was to dam the stream that provided water to the Han garrison. In the blazing summer heat the defenders quickly began suffering from dehydration. When newly dug wells sunk 150 feet failed to strike water, the desperate Han drank their horses sweat and urine to quench their thirst. Fortunately, a renewed well-digging effort personally led by Geng Gong was successful. On his direction the elated Han soldiers hauled jugs of water atop the battlements and symbolically poured the precious liquid over the attackers massed at the base of the walls. The demonstration demoralized the nomads, who must have been convinced the gods were indeed watching over the Han troops. Unfortunately for Geng Gong and his men, Emperor Ming died that September and left no one to authorize a relief force. To make matters worse, in the interim the king of Jushi had capitulated to the Xiongnu and sent his army to join the nomads in the siege of Shule. Geng Gongs Jushi auxiliaries soon melted away. Fortunately for the Han defenders, the Jushi queen was of Han ancestry. She smuggled food and supplies to the garrison and provided intelligence on the Xiongnu and Jushi attackers. Despite the queens assistance, Geng Gong and his men soon neared starvation. They resorted to boiling the leather and sinews from their clothing, armor, shields, helmets and bows to slake their hunger. Realizing the Han defenders were short of supplies, the Xiongnu chieftain sent an envoy to the fortress with generous terms for Geng Gong: If you surrender, we will name you as King Bai Wu and give you women for wives. Geng Gong glared down at the Xiongnu envoy, then back at the starving troops arrayed around him. The men looked to their commander to decide the garrisons fate. Geng Gong agreed to negotiate the garrisons surrender. Han soldiers lowered a rope and hauled up the enemy envoy. Then, to everyones shock, Geng Gong drew his sword and abruptly killed the man. He then ordered the body to be butchered and boiled in a large pot placed conspicuously on the forts rampart. While his soldiers feasted on the envoys flesh, Geng Gong hollered down to horrified enemy onlookers, This is what happens to any Xiongnu that reaches my battlements! While the killing and consumption of an envoy under a flag of truce was certainly ghastly and unprecedented, it did serve to alleviate the garrisons hunger and demonstrate the defenders resolve to continue the fight. At the same time, Geng Gong had preempted any possibility of surrender. Cannibalism of ones enemy was a clear declaration of no quarter. The onset of cool weather presented a new problem for Geng Gong, as he and his men had eaten much of their leather clothing and gear. If the garrison was to survive the winter, they needed new equipment. Geng Gong sent a subordinate named Fan Qiang through enemy lines to requisition supplies from the Han base at Dunhuang. But its garrison commander refused, explaining to Fan Qiang that any resupply or reinforcement required the new emperors authorization. Help was not coming. By the spring of 76 the besieged Han defenders at Shule were in dire straits. Though they had held off a 20,000-man Xiongnu army for a year, only Geng Gong and two-dozen of his original 500 men remained alive. Worse still, their most effective weaponthe crossbowwas useless, as archers had already dropped their bowstrings into the stewpot. Then came the fateful day when sentries reported vast numbers of mounted men approaching the fortress. Despair gripped the Han survivors as they struggled to the parapet, expecting yet another nomad attack. Instead, a familiar voice hailed them: I am Fan Qiang! The emperor has sent an army to bring you home! Pandemonium broke out within the fort. With tears streaming down their faces, Geng Gongs men threw open the gate and welcomed their saviors. The next day Geng Gong and the other Han holdouts joined the 2,000-man relief force for the 200-mile trek home. En route they struggled through massive snowdrifts in the Tian Shan Mountains and were harried by pursuing nomads. By the time they reached Yumen Pass, only 13 of Geng Gongs men, counting Fan Qiang, remained alive to stagger through the western gates of the Great Wall. Geng Gongs successful yearlong defense against a vastly superior enemy force, despite shortages of food and water, spoke well for the commander and his unit. More than a millennium later the feat inspired General Yue Fei to write a poemfeatured at the beginning of this storyto motivate his men to fight northern Jin invaders, descendants of the nomadic Xiongnu raiders. Despite his achievements, however, Geng Gong never rose to the general rank. The reason? While he had successfully defended the realm against barbarian invaders, he had failed to expand its borders to the glory of the Han emperor. Tang Long (aka William Tang) is a consultant on China. He wrote the Tales of the Dragon column for the WashingtonTimes.com and authored The Book of War, the first chronological account of ancient Chinese military history written in English. For further reading he recommends the Book of Han, by Ban Gu and Ban Zhao; Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, by Luo Guanzhong; and his own The Book of War. During the early stages of World War II, the Civil Air Patrol played a vital role in helping defend American merchant ships from marauding U-boats. Natural disasters always place high demands on the nations emergency services. The 2017 hurricane season was particularly difficult, with Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria battering the southern United States and Puerto Rico in rapid succession. For Harvey alone, more than 170 Civil Air Patrol volunteers from 19 states supported air operations in Texas, flying various disaster relief missions, including transporting medical supplies and conducting aerial photoreconnaissance of key infrastructure sites and inland waterways. Last year, the nationwide CAP fleet amassed more than 100,000 flying hours. The Civil Air Patrol came into being during the dark days immediately preceding Americas entry into World War II. In 1941 there were more than 128,000 licensed private pilots in the U.S., operating some 25,000 light aircraft from 2,500 airfields. Many of those pilots, including aviation writer Gill Robb Wilson, worried that when America was finally drawn into the war, all civil aviation would be grounded for the duration, as had happened in Germany. They also thought that if properly organized, private aviation could be a valuable national asset, relieving military fliers of some of the burden of liaison, light transportation and coastal and border reconnaissance work. With the backing of U.S. Army Air Corps chief General Henry Hap Arnold and the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA), Wilson was instrumental in establishing the New Jersey Civil Air Defense Services, the forerunner of CAP. Other states established similar organizations on the New Jersey model, which in turn led to the initiative to form a national-level organization. On May 20, 1941, the federal government established the Office of Civil Defense, with former New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia as its first director. Advocates for a national civilian air organization, including Wilson and publishers Thomas Beck and Guy Gannet, lost no time in petitioning LaGuardia with a plan for a Civil Air Patrol organized into 48 state wings as part of the Civil Defense office. LaGuardia, a former World War I bomber pilot himself, enthusiastically endorsed the plan, but he also knew that the support of the Air Corps (soon to be redesignated the U.S. Army Air Forces) was critical to its success. Arnold, in turn, established a board headed by Brig. Gen. George Stratemeyer to evaluate the proposal. The board quickly recommended that the Army Air Forces provide a team of officers to help set up and administer the new organization. LaGuardia signed the order creating the Civil Air Patrol on December 1, 1941six days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The AAF assigned Maj. Gen. John Curry as CAPs first national commander, with Wilson as his executive officer. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, the government placed limited restrictions on private civilian flights along certain areas of the West Coast. Captain Earle Johnson, another CAP founder, was less than impressed with the aerial security measures for the countrys interior, especially around airports and critical war industries. Taking off in his own private plane one night in early 1942, Johnson dropped sandbags onto the roofs of three war plants on the outskirts of Cleveland. Completely undetected, he notified the various plant managers the next morning that they had been bombed. The CAA reacted immediately by grounding all private flights until far more comprehensive security measures could be implemented. These included background checks on all licensed pilots, guards at all airports and approved flight plans required for all flights. The new rules resulted in a huge influx into the ranks of CAP, which gave private pilots greater opportunities to fly under the auspices of an official U.S. government organization. Members of CAP Tow Target Unit No. 22 in Clinton, Md., show off their personalized target sleeve. (CAP National Headquarters) Members of CAP Tow Target Unit No. 22 in Clinton, Md., show off their personalized target sleeve. (CAP National Headquarters) Although the Japanese attack initially caused federal authorities to focus on the West Coast, the first real threat emerged on the East and southeast coasts, as German U-boats started operating within a few hundred yards of the shoreline, often sinking merchantmen and tankers at the rate of two a day. The U.S. Navy was spread too thin to be everywhere at the same time along the 1,200-mile eastern sea frontier, from Halifax to the Florida Keys. Nor did the AAF have enough aircraft to screen the coast and provide adequate early warning to ships. The idea of using civilian pilots and their private aircraft for such a hazardous mission was a measure of desperation. It was a huge risk, but there was no viable alternative. CAP was authorized to establish and conduct the Coastal Patrol Experimental Program on a 90-day trial basis. Gill Robb Wilson stepped down as CAPs national executive officer to assume the mission of organizing the Coastal Patrol. Officially established on March 5, 1942, it flew its first over-water combat patrol that same day from a base in Rehoboth, Del. The other bases in the trial program were in New Jersey and Florida. By September CAP was operating from 21 Coastal Patrol bases from Maine to the Texas-Mexico border. The bases were initially under the operational control of the Eastern Defense Commands I Bomber Command, but in October they were placed under the 25th and 26th wings of the AAFs Antisubmarine Command. The initial flights were reconnaissance missions only, consisting of a pilot and an observer with a donated maritime radio. They operated as far as 150 miles from shore, and the crews only overwater gear consisted of kapok life vests. The volunteer pilots received $8 a day, the ground crewmen $5. Volunteers ranged from garage mechanics to millionaire sportsmen, farm hands and even grandfathers. Whenever a patrol spotted a U-boat, the crew broadcast its position to merchant ships in the area, as well as to the Navy and AAF. The CAP plane then stuck with the sub as long as possible to vector in any intercepting forces. The patrols also radioed in reports of tankers and merchant ships that had been hit, and the position of survivors in the water. In May 1942, one patrol sighted a U-boat sitting on the surface. Not knowing the aircraft was unarmed, the crew executed a crash dive, but the sub hung up on a sandbar. The CAP pilot circled the sitting duck for more than half an hour, but the U-boat finally managed to work loose and get away just before land-based bombers reached the target. Shortly after that, CAP planes started carrying bombs and depth charges slung from jury-rigged external racks. CAP claimed its first U-boat kill on July 11, 1942, when Captain Johnny Haggins and Major Wynant Farr, flying a Grumman G-44 Widgeon armed with two depth charges, bombed a sub they had been shadowing for three hours, just as it came up to periscope depth. The resulting oil slick and surface debris seemed to confirm the kill, and for many years after the war that and one later claimed kill were credited to CAP. However, no corroborating evidence has been found in the extensive records the Kriegsmarine kept on all 1,154 of its commissioned U-boats. Those records indicate no U-boats missing off the East Coast during the period that the Coastal Patrol was active. Nor do the war diaries of the Navys Eastern Sea Frontier and the Gulf Sea Frontier record any mention of CAP aircraft sinking a U-boat. The very legality of the Coastal Patrol was highly dubious, of course. Despite wearing semi-military uniforms and having military rank titles, the CAP crews were officially civilians. Had any of them been shot down and captured, they would not have received prisoner of war status under the Geneva Conventions. The CAP members knew this, yet they continued to volunteer to fly the hazardous missions. Coastal Patrol stood down on August 31, 1943, by which time both the Navys and the AAFs anti-submarine forces had grown large enough to handle the mission. During the almost 18-month period, CAP had flown 86,685 over-water sorties, spotted and reported 91 merchant vessels and 363 survivors in distress, reported 173 U-boat positions and dropped 82 bombs on 57 of those subs. In the process, it lost 90 aircraft and 26 crew members. After the war, 824 Coastal Patrol pilots and observers received Air Medals, and Edmond Edwards and Hugh Sharp were each awarded a second Air Medal with V Device for valor for their rescue of a CAP pilot who had ditched at sea. President Franklin D. Roosevelt awards Air Medals to CAP crewmen Edmond Edwards (right) and Hugh Sharp (middle) while Director of Civilian Defense John Landis looks on. (AP Photo/George R. Skadding) President Franklin D. Roosevelt awards Air Medals to CAP crewmen Edmond Edwards (right) and Hugh Sharp (middle) while Director of Civilian Defense John Landis looks on. (AP Photo/George R. Skadding) As the war progressed, CAP assumed additional missions to augment the AAF. Between August 1942 and August 1944, the Courier Service transported some 3.5 million pounds of cargo for the First, Second and Fourth air forces, flying combined daily routes spanning 16,380 miles. Seven Courier Service pilots died in the line of duty. Between October 1942 and April 1944, the Southern Liaison Patrol screened the 1,000 miles along the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas, to Douglas, Ariz., to prevent illegal border crossings. The patrol flew 4,720 missions, losing 13 aircraft and suffering two crew fatalities. For three years CAPs Target Towing Service supported searchlight target tracking and live-fire training for both aerial gunnery and anti-aircraft fire. The cost was 25 aircraft and seven pilots killed. Search and rescue was the wartime mission that still defines CAP to this day. CAP aircrews flew more than 25,000 hours of SAR missions during the war. With their ability to fly low and slow, and their knowledge of the local terrain, they were far more efficient at such missions than military pilots. In a single week of February 1945 alone, CAP pilots located the wreckages of seven military aircraft. Once a wreck was found, CAP often sent ground rescue teams to the location to secure the crash site and search for survivors. In the Florida wing, which was commanded by Zack Mosely, creator of the classic aviation comic strip The Adventures of Smilin Jack, ground teams pioneered the use of swamp buggies for rescue missions in the marshy Everglades. The Civil Air Patrol was a co-ed organization from the start, and attracted a large number of women pilots. By 1945 women accounted for some 20 percent of CAPs membership. More than half the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) started out in CAP. On October 1, 1942, the Cadet Program was instituted for boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 17. Within less than a year, there were more than 20,000 young people in the program. The CAP cadets received training in first aid, Morse code, meteorology, navigation, aircraft construction and other basic ground school subjects. Many went on to qualify for private pilot licenses. As the war progressed, the CAP Cadet Program became a screening point and an entry path for the AAFs Aviation Cadet program. Soon after the Coastal Patrol was up and running, Earle Johnson (by then an AAF major) replaced Currey as CAPs national commander, remaining in that role until February 1947. On April 23, 1943, a presidential executive order transferred jurisdiction for the Civil Air Patrol from the Office of Civilian Defense to the War Department, and CAP became an auxiliary of the Army Air Forces. That December the AAF loaned 288 Piper L-4 Grasshoppers to CAP for use in the Aviation Cadet recruiting program. By the end of 1944, CAP had given more than 78,000 prospective recruits orientation flights and had actually recruited an oversupply of aviation cadets. As World War II ended, it seemed to many that CAPs raison detre ended with it. Although most of the AAFs senior officers were enthusiastic supporters, the sharp budget reductions that started in 1946 brought increasing pressure on the militarys ability to fund CAP. Concerned about the organizations future, General Arnold convened a conference of the 48 wing commanders to plan a path forward. They decided to incorporate CAP as an organization dedicated to aviation education and civilian emergency services. On July 1, 1946, Congress passed Public Law 476, incorporating CAP as a nonprofit organization solely of a benevolent character. CAP members would never again participate in direct combat operations, and the organization intended to operate without the help of the Army Air Forces. But after the U.S. Air Force was established as a separate service in 1947, CAP and USAF officials started meeting to reevaluate their future relationship. On May 26, 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557, establishing CAP as the official civilian auxiliary of the Air Force. Cessna 172s, part of CAPs 560-aircraft fleet, await their next cadet training flights at Coles County Memorial Airport near Mattoon, Ill. (CAP National Headquarters) Cessna 172s, part of CAPs 560-aircraft fleet, await their next cadet training flights at Coles County Memorial Airport near Mattoon, Ill. (CAP National Headquarters) Headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., the Civil Air Patrol today operates under the USAFs Air Education and Training Command. It currently has 33,500 senior members and 24,500 cadets, and maintains a fleet of 560 light aircraft. In times of emergency, it can also draw from its members 4,300 privately owned aircraft. Although civilians in every legal sense, CAP members wear modified USAF uniforms with distinctive CAP insignia, and are organized along military lines. CAPs three primary missions are emergency services, aerospace education and the cadet programs. Today CAP flies 85 percent of all inland search-and-rescue missions under the operational control of the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. CAP members typically save the lives of 75 to 100 people a year. CAP also has formal operating agreements with many of the nations leading disaster relief and humanitarian agencies, including the FAA, National Transportation Safety Board, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross. Since 1986, CAP aircrews have also flown counter-drug missions under the operational control of the Air Force and the U.S. Customs Service. Cadet membership today is open to youths between the ages of 12 and 18. The Cadet Program is considered a parallel program to the high school Air Force Junior ROTC. CAP cadets who earn the Mitchell Award and achieve the rank of cadet 2nd lieutenant are eligible to enlist in the Air Force as airmen first class (E-3). Many cadets go on to either the U.S. Air Force Academy or to Senior ROTC in college. On May 30, 2014, Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, its highest civilian honor, to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol. According to Public Law 113-108: The CAPs wartime service was highly unusual and extraordinary, due to the unpaid civilian status of its members, the use of privately owned aircraft and personal funds by many of its members, the myriad humanitarian and national missions flown for the Nation, and the fact that for 18 months, during a time of great need for the United States, the CAP flew combat-related missions in support of military operations off the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. David T. Zabecki is HistoryNets chief military historian. From 1962 to 1965, he was a CAP cadet at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. Further reading: Minutemen of the Air, by Carroll V. Glines and Gene Gurney; and Americas Homefront Air War, by Roger Thiel. This feature originally appeared in the July 2018 issue of Aviation History. Subscribe here! Soviet sacrifice and criminality are the unspoken truths of World War II. As a prelude to various talks on the Second World War, I often present the audience with four or five simple questions: Can you name the five biggest battles of the war in Europe? Can you name the largest concentration camp that was operating in Europe in the years 193945? Can you name the European nationality (or ethnic group) which lost the largest number of civilians during the war? Can you name the vessel that was sunk with record loss of life in the wars largest maritime disaster? These have usually been followed by a deathly silence and then by a hubbub of guesses and queries. Quelling the hubbub, I offer the audience an opinion: Until we have established the correct answer to basic factual matters, we are not properly equipped to pass judgment on the wider issues. Over sixty years have passed since the end of the Second World War, and most people would assume that the broad outlines of that terrible conflict had been established long since. Innumerable books have been published on the subject. Thousands of films have been screened, portraying every aspect of military events and civilian ordeals. Countless memoirs of participants great and small have been collected. Hundreds of major monuments and scores of museums have been created to keep the memory of the war alive. One might think that there is nothing new to add. At least one is tempted to think that way until one starts to examine what actually is said and what is not saidand what is known by most people and what is not. Hardly anyone today knows that the Soviets fought the five greatest land battles of the European war (Moscow, Stalingrad, Leningrad, Kiev, and Operation Bagration) and operated the largest concentration camp (Dalstroy, in northeastern Siberia, where three million died); that the Ukrainians suffered the largest loss of civilian life of any nationality (five to eight million); and that a German transport sunk by a Soviet submarine was the wars greatest maritime disaster (eight thousand civilian refugees drowned). Every nation that participated in the war has its own version of events. Britons and Americans, Germans and Italians, French and Dutch, Russians and Poles, Jews and many others all accentuate the experiences of their own people. Wittingly or unwittingly, they all diminish the diversity of experience and obstruct an overall view. So much, given human nature, is inevitable. It is equally inevitable that the complexity of the Second World War should have produced a mass of myths and legends. These myths form a necessary strand of the story. Rather than banishing them, it is the historians job to examine them, to explain their origins, and then to demonstrate the difference between events and the perception of events. No narrative is ever going to win universal approval, however homogenized. Yet precautions can be taken against the grosser forms of inaccuracy. One principle is that like must be compared with like; proportions must be observed. For example, El Alamein and Stalingrad were both Allied victories which contributed to the turning of the tide in the dark days of 194243. Yet the two cannot be fully equated. One knocked out six Axis divisions in a peripheral theater; the other knocked out twenty Axis divisions in the central sector of the main front. By the same token, moral judgments cannot be based on the illusion that mass murder by the enemy was proof of despicable evil while mass murder by ones own side was merely an unfortunate blemish. The Katyn massacres were not the biggest atrocity by any means, but they act as a litmus test of historical honesty. Twenty thousand Polish POWs disappeared in Russia in 1940. Apart from forty-five hundred corpses uncovered by the Germans in the Katyn Forest, near Smolensk, in 1943, most of the missing men had never been found. There was no absolute proof, but the probability was high that the remaining fifteen thousand were lying in other mass graves and that their deaths had been ordered by Stalin, not Hitler. For once, Goebbels could have been telling the truth. Finally in 1990, on the eve of the fiftieth anniversary, President Mikhail Gorbachev came clean and admitted that the massacres at Katyn and at two other sites had been the work of Soviet security forces. President Boris Yeltsin later produced a document bearing Stalins signature and recording the execution order dated March 5, 1940. Yet for decades British officialdom had refused to comment, unless to point a finger at the Nazis. British officers were forbidden to participate in Katyn memorial ceremonies. Plans for a monument in London were quashed. And the British public showed no signs of interest in recognizing either a major crime or a reprehensible cover-up. The stance seemed to be, what did the Eastern Front have to do with us? Such are the ingrained prejudices of not only most members of the British and American public but most historians as well. These two core issuesproportionality and criminality prick the predominant complacency. The former is rarely explored by Western apologists. The latter is carefully avoided by Soviet apologists. Together they provide the key to what really happened. The problem of proportionality is easy to define and less easy to resolve. In history writing, it revolves around the requirement that the largest space and the greatest emphasis be given to the biggest and most decisive events. Everyone would agree that an outline history of the Second World War which devoted the greater part of its comment to Luxembourg would be distinctly odd. This is not because Luxembourgs wartime story is uninteresting or irrelevant, but because Luxembourgs fate was decided by battles fought and decisions taken elsewhere. How then should the historian decide where the emphasis should lie? One way, if the aim were simply to flatter the British or the American market, would be to put the emphasis on British or American affairs. This sort of approach would dismiss the Battle of Kursk in five lines while spending fifty pages on the D-Day landings. Another way would be to draw up a checklist of the main battles, decisive campaigns, and key policies of the war and then allot space and emphasis accordingly. As things stand, this approach is rather rare. For, in reality, the Soviet war effort was so overwhelming that impartial historians of the future are unlikely to rate the British and American contribution to the European theater as much more than a sound supporting role. The proportions were not fifty-fifty, or anything like it, as many imply when talking of the final onslaught on Nazi Germany from east and west. Sooner or later people will have to adjust to the fact that the Soviet role was enormous, and the Western role respectable but modest. Western commentators who accept the fact of Soviet predominance in the land war sometimes try to counterbalance it by stressing Western predominance in the air and at sea. This argument would carry greater weight if the strategic air offensive had achieved more decisive results and if Germany had been more vulnerable to naval operations. As it was, the Reich held out successfully against bombardment and blockade. And it was only finished off by the land assault to which the Red Army made by far the most effective contribution. Other commentators argue that the Red Armys success was dependent on Western aid and that the Western Allies, if necessary, could have achieved victory on their own. As one historian has written in this vein: It is not true to say that the Soviet Union won the war. Without her allies, the Soviet Union would have faced the full force of German air power, and would have been short of munitions and weaponsin 1943 Lend-Lease provision to the USSR was equivalent to one-fifth of total Soviet production. The Soviet Union could not have held out without Western help. The Western Allies, by contrast, could have won the war without the Soviet Union. The cost of doing so would have been terribly high, but sooner or later bombing would have ground Germany down and America would eventually have mobilized a vast army. If all else failed, America would presumably have settled matters by dropping an atom bomb on Berlin. Such a scenario has so many false assumptions one hardly knows where to start. The critical years for the Soviet Union did not start in 1943, when Lend-Lease was coming on full steam, but in 194142, when Western aid was marginal. At that time the Red Army did face the brunt of German air power; it did not run short of weapons or munitions, which of necessity were mainly home produced; in spite of everything, it did hold out. What is more, much of the early Lend-Lease aid was unusable. British tanks were not what the Red Army needed, and British Army greatcoats (like German greatcoats) were totally unsuited to the Russian winter. The Soviets had already gained the upper hand on their own account before Western aid began to reach them in quantity. As for the notion that the Western Allies could have won without the Soviet Union, it totally ignores the realities. If the Red Army had been knocked out, the Germans would not have stood idly by as the United States built up its strength and prepared to drop an atomic bomb on them. The German armed forces would have been immediately turned in their entirety on Great Britain; the outcome of the Battle of the Atlantic could have been reversed; the Western Allies would probably have lost the base for their bombing offensive; the vastAmerican army (which didnt exist) would have had no safe landing place; and a European counterpart of Enola Gay would have had nowhere to take off. The key reason why the Western input was significantly smaller than generally supposed centers on timing, in particular the lateness of American engagement. The Allied cause had been brought to the brink of collapse in the summer of 1940, and it had no hope of recovery in the West until the United States was fully engaged. Yet American involvement took time to organize. It did not begin until January 1942, and it could not reach peak efficiency instantaneously. Hence, in the months when the Americans were still girding their loins, the Soviets were already racing toward a position of near-total dominance. One need look no further than the second week of July 1943. At that point in the war, the very first American soldiers to set foot in continental Europe were being deposited on a distant beach in southern Sicily. At the same time, on the Eastern Front, the Red Army was breaking the Wehrmachts back to such an extent that the German war machine would never regain its offensive capacity. What is more, the American military buildup was far from complete by the time that the war in Europe ended. One forgets that the starting point had been extraordinarily low. In 1939 the establishment of the U.S. Army was even smaller than that of Poland. Thereafter, no one could seriously doubt that American military capacity would catch up rapidly. American industry, science, trade, and finance were providing the U.S. government with resources that no other combatant country could match. Yet the time scale was crucial. Despite titanic progress, America did not surge into an unassailable lead. In the last months of European fighting before May 1945, the United States did not possess either an atomic weapon or superiority in conventional arms. It had not yet moved into the nuclear league, where from July 1945 to 1949 it would be the sole player, and it possessed barely a hundred battle-ready divisions, compared with German and Soviet troop levels that were two or three times higher. America could not possibly have won in Europe single-handedly. Indeed, with the Japanese war still moving slowly, America desperately needed Soviet assistance both in Europe and in the Far East. As things were, the Soviet Union, not the United States, fought the final phase of the war as the strongest power in Europe. The Red Army scored the most crushing victories over Nazi Germany, culminating in the Battle for Berlin. And it was Soviet communism, not liberal democracy, that made the most striking advances. People forget. They are influenced by later developments. They tend to imagine that the United States was all-powerful from the start. And they are easily led to believe that the failure to challenge Stalin earlier or more energetically in the aftermath of the war must be put down to purely personal or political factors. Such was not the case. American forces had not gained parity with the USSR by May 1945, and their actions were duly constrained. As Generals George C. Marshall and Dwight D. Eisenhower were only too well aware, they could not possibly have risked a serious confrontation with the Red Army. Evaluations of criminality are equally central to any account of the Second World War. It was unusually prevalent, even if the full extent did not become apparent until many years afterward, when historians could make an informed assessment of the overall picture. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the long list of conjectures and estimates about the crimes of the Stalinist era finally could be documented. And only in the last decade or so could the Soviet record be properly compared with the better-known Nazi record. Winston Churchill, for example, writing in the late 1940s, simply did not possess the hard information which later became available. History will be kind to me, he said, because I intend to write it. Even so, the main obstacle to an impartial expose of wartime criminality does not lie exclusively in the poor flow of information. It has a psychological dimension, compounded by the reluctance of Western historians to stain the reputation of the Allied coalition. The psychological term for such reluctance is denial. Consciously or subconsciously, many Westerners continue to deny that the hard facts of massive Soviet criminality require them to modify their assessment of the war. The widespread characterization of the conflict as the Good War, therefore, is particularly dubious. Good does not seem to be quite the right adjective when one bears in mind the unprecedented killing and suffering of innocents that took place on all sides. To some extent it reflects the notion of a noble crusade (though one which was only partly successful), as well as the theological concept of a just war (which requires one to identify the just and the unjust). And it would seem to be inspired by a peculiarly parochial Anglo-Saxon perspective that has been strengthened in recent decades, and which in some respects does not match historical reality. It is used, in fact, as the necessary complement to the ultimate evil of the Holocaust. And yet, as is often pointed out, the Western Allies did not go to war to rescue the Jews, and when the first reports of the Final Solution leaked out, the Western response was little short of lamentable. Certainly in American eyes the principal action was thought for much of the war to be unfolding in the Pacific, not in Europe. Wartime attitudes are mirrored by the fact that the United States interned its Japanese American but not its German American citizens. All in all, therefore, the story line about the forces of democracy fighting the good fight and winning the war must be viewed with a strong dose of skepticism. Stalins assessment may have been nearer the mark: England provided the time, America provided the money, and Russia provided the blood. England, meaning the British Empire, passed much of the war in a state of convalescence. But Churchills defiance in 194041 preserved the springboard for subsequent Allied resurgence. America, meaning the United States, entered the war too late to take the leading part in Europe. Its role as the arsenal of democracy was no less significant than the contribution of its armed forces. Russia, meaning the Soviet Union, was called on to make incomparable sacrifices, and it deserves the largest laurels for the defeat of Nazi Germany. Even soand this is the central paradoxStalin, the chief victor, was also a mass murderer and a bloody tyrant in his own right. He had nothing in common with the normal concept of the Good or of the Good War. Moreover, from a purely soldierly point of view, caution must be expressed concerning the notion that the free citizens of democratic states supply the best fighting material. In 193945, the lions share of the fighting was undertaken by the forces of two totalitarian states, and the soldiers who came out on top belonged to the slave-driven cohorts of a ruthless dictatorship. When the armies of democracy clashed with the Nazi legions in Italy or Western Europe, the former did not perform particularly well. It is arguable that technology and tactical air power, rather than top-class soldiery, enabled the British and the Americans to compete on equal terms. In the 1950s, asked about the effects of the French Revolution, the Chinese foreign minister Zhou Enlai is reported to have replied,Its too early to say. His words are generally taken as a famous bon mot of no great seriousness. Yet they should make one think. The time span between Zhou Enlais education in France in the 1920s and Robespierres Reign of Terror in the 1790s was exactly 130 years. Hence, since the sixty-fifth anniversary of 1939 has already passed, the world has waited for over half the same span of time without establishing a firm framework of the Second World War. Current affairs appear to move at breakneck speed, while history moves at a snails pace. If one were to be asked, therefore, what stage historians have reached on their road to a final judgment about the war, one would be tempted to echo Churchills words after the Battle of El Alamein: It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. Hence, despite the arrival of the twenty-first century, many thinking people are still trying to grapple with the aftermath of this war. A leading British cardiologist with a flair for poetry expressed the problem perfectly: My patient lay in the hospital bed Unshaven, smelling of urine, And bitten by lice, Of no fixed abode, Living on the street, And unemployed, Without family or friends. In his Slavic accent He declared I fought at Monte Cassino. And my junior doctors in their ignorance Remained unmoved by man or by history. And I turned to them With my hand on the shoulder Of my patient, To address them on the greatness Of the Second Polish Corps And of the infinite value Of all human beings. Excerpt from No Simple Victory by Norman Davies (Viking, September 2007). Originally published in the October 2007 issue of World War II Magazine. To subscribe, click here. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! 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CAPE TOWNSouth African actress and wildlife advocate Pearl Thusi is collaborating with Humane Society International/Africa to warn residents and especially travellers to South Africa not to visit tourist attractions that offer lion cub petting and lion walks. These facilities breed lions in captivity, often under harsh conditions, exploit them for photo opps, and then sell them for canned hunts or for Asias lion-bone trade. South Africa is a popular tourist destination that welcomed approximately 10.3 million foreign tourists and facilitated 17.2 million domestic tourism trips in 2017 (South Africa Tourism Report 2017). Thusi, who appeared in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Quantico, and HSI/Africa launched their Snuggle Scam awareness-raising campaign today, on World Lion Day, with video of Thusis visit to a lion cub-petting and lion walk tourist attraction in Gauteng. The actress witnessed first-hand how easily well-meaning travellers can be hoodwinked into financing the cruel captive-breeding lion industry. HSI/Africa then took Thusi on safari, where she could see lions roaming free in the wild. Tell tourism operators to stop exploiting captive lions. Im so humbled and proud to be a part of the HSI family, said Thusi. Its been my lifes dream to make a change for wild animals and be part of the system that loves, appreciates and protects them. I pledge to do my best to learn, grow and fight for the rights of Africas wild lion and all animals that need the same assistance. Now that I know the truth behind the captive lion breeding industry and the sad exploitation of these lions from birth to death, I am horrified that this is how we treat the king of the jungle. We should promote Africa as an authentic, wild and rewarding tourism destination and not support this industry. I know that together we can all make a difference and improve things for wildlife and humanity. Breeders at tourist attractions that feature human-lion interaction often claim that the lions are orphaned and will be released back into the wild. The truth is that they are bred in captivity, removed from their mother, and have no ability to survive in their natural habitat. Lions imprinted on humans are dangerous and unpredictable. In the wild, lion cubs remain with their mothers for 18 months, and females rest for at least 15-24 months between litters. Cubs born on breeding farms are taken from their mothers when they are a few days or even hours old to be used as living photo props. The removal of cubs forces the mother into an exhausting and continuous breeding cycle while incarcerated in enclosures, sometimes without adequate food, hygiene, or the ability to express their natural behaviours. Fake orphan cubs are exploited for unsuspecting visitors, and volunteers from all over the world pay thousands of dollars to hand-raise them. Once cubs are no longer cute and cuddly, they are used for walking experiences. Once they are too dangerous for that activity, some are sold for canned hunts, in which they are shot by trophy hunters in fenced areas from which they cannot escape. Others are killed for the bone tradeeither for display or for use in bogus medicinal tonics in Asia. Audrey Delsink, Acting Executive Director and Wildlife Director of HSI/Africa said, Most people come to South Africa because they love lions and other wild animals. They would be shocked to learn that the cute lion cubs they pose with for selfies will one day be killed for profit. We are thrilled to work with Pearl to raise awareness of the Snuggle Scam, to urge people to stay away from these facilities, and instead to see these magnificent animals in the wild where they belong. Key facts: Only about 20,000 lions remain in the wild in Africa. Between 6,000 and 8,000 lions are suffering in captivity in some 260 facilities across South Africa, marketed to tourists as lion interaction experiences. With fewer than 3,000 wild lions, South Africa has more lions languishing in captivity than in the wild. Lions are a threatened species, listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). While the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of bones from wild lions, it does allow South Africa to export bones from captive ones. It is impossible to differentiate body parts from wild vs. captive lions, so the legal export of captive lion bones facilitates the illegal export of wild lion bones. It is difficult to distinguish between lion and tiger bone, so the legal trade in captive lion bones also undermines efforts to stop the trade in tiger bones, which is completely illegal. The Snuggle Scam initiative comes in the wake of South Africas announcement that it would nearly double its lion bone export quota from 800 to 1,500 skeletons, and as the South African parliament prepares to host a colloquium on captive lion breeding on August 22-23. On #WorldLionDay, HSI and Pearl Thusi urge travellers, travel guides, and tour operators to fight lion exploitation by refusing to participate in or promote human-lion interactions, such as bottle-feeding or cub-petting, walking with lions, or canned trophy hunting. Visit www.hsi.org/bloodlions for more information. Take action and donate to help. Photos and video: https://newsroom.humanesociety.org/fetcher/index.php?searchMerlin=1&searchBrightcove=1&submitted=1&mw=d&q=Lions0818 Media Contacts: SAN JOSE, Costa RicaToday concludes a week of training for more than 60 officials of the Judicial Investigation Agency (Organismo de Investigacion Judicial, or OIJ), the federal department responsible for enforcing the anti-cruelty law in Costa Rica. Humane Society International/Latin America and the OIJ held training sessions to help officials enforce animal protection Law No. 9458, which reforms the countrys penal code by establishing prison sentences for cruelty to animals, including dog fighting. Training topics included background on animal fights and their relationship to other serious crimes, investigating allegations and recognizing evidence of dogfighting and cockfighting, and studying cases such as animal neglect, puppy mills, and extreme cruelty. The training is part of an effort to help the OIJ comply with Law 9458 and increase the number of cruelty cases prosecuted in the country. It was led by Adam Parascandola, HSIs Director of Animal Protection and Crisis Response, and Janette Reever, HSIs Global Specialist on Dogfighting, Animal Protection, and Crisis Response. Give now to support our lifesaving work. HSIs experts also trained officers on different ways to collect evidence appropriately, maintaining the chain of custody, and correct handling of confiscated animals. They emphasized that animal abuse is often an indicator of a violent person who can commit to other criminal acts, such as drug trafficking and domestic violence. The last day of the workshop featured a crime scene simulation, in which the officers were able to implement everything they learned during the week. Amanda Chaves, program manager of Companion Animals for HSI/Latin America, highlighted the importance of support from authorities and society in general for the new law. We reiterate our commitment to continue fighting against animal cruelty in Costa Rica. We are grateful for the priority that the Government has given animal welfare and we are proud to contribute to the implementation of the law. We urge citizens to file complaints and work together to eradicate animal abuse in this country. All officials trained in the workshops will return to their jobs better able to identify animals that have been used for fighting. They will act with greater expertise when animals are in danger and can coordinate better with the appropriate entities to rescue animals in cruelty situations. Donate to help animals worldwide. Media contact: Amanda Chavez, Gerente del Programa de Animales de Compania de HSI/Latinoamerica, (+506) 7018-4621, achavez@hsi.org Streaming Musics Third Wave: Emerging Markets Music and media industry analysts MIDiA have just published a report that dives deep into how streaming is, and in some cases is not, gaining traction in emerging markets. The report, summarized here, focuses on Russia, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, China and India. The report Emerging Music Markets: Streamings Third Wave is immediately available to MIDiA subscription clTients and can also be purchased, along with its full dataset (including service- and country-level subscriber and free users numbers, as well as consumer data for India and China) on our report store here. From Mark Mulligan of MIDiA: Here are some of the key findings and themes of the report. With streaming growth set to slow in mature western markets by 2019, the next wave of fast growth will come from a mixture of mid-tier markets such as Mexico, Brazil, Japan and Germany. The lower income mid-tier markets such as Brazil and Mexico are so populous that the urban elites have been big enough to generate paid user bases that are comparable to those of smaller European markets. The real scale opportunity, however, exists in monetising lower income groups with much cheaper propositions. Beyond that, the streaming market will need to look towards emerging markets for growth. Emerging markets in Asia and Africa present a diverse variety of opportunities, but current evidence suggests that the outlook for these markets is far from uniform. The rule that defines emerging markets for streaming music is that there isnt one. China has a large base of free users and a solid base of subscribers. India has large numbers of free users, but a tiny paid base. Russia and the Middle East both have a solid ratio of free-to-paid users while Africa has the lowest per capita metrics for both paid and free. Arguably, the single most important reason for these differences is mobile data network availability and affordability. In China and India mobile data use is increasingly widespread, making streaming a compelling proposition, while in most sub-Saharan African countries coverage is patchy and expensive. Despite their differences, these regions will be crucial to the long-term outlook for streaming growth. So, mapping their respective trajectories helps to forecast long-term global market growth for streaming. Rights holders will need to innovate out of their comfort zone if they are to truly seize the emerging markets opportunity. The fact that Nigerias MTN only gets a retail ARPU of around $2 a year across sub-Saharan Africa for its music products, including ringtones and downloads, hints at where ARPU expectations may have to be set. Companies and brands mentioned in the report: Baidu Music, Gaana, Hungama, iRoking, Jio Music, Kugou, Kuwo, Mdundo, Mkito, MTN, MTN Music+, Mzliki, Netease Cloud Music, QQ Music, Quan Min K G, Saavn, Simfy Africa, Vkontakte, Vkontakte Music, Vuga, Wynk Music, Yandex, Yandex Music, Zvook Click here to view the report on MIDiAs report store. Share on: Department of Veterans' Services Secretary Francisco Urena spoke of the importance of recognizing the sacrifices soldiers and their families make. It was a foggy morning on the mountain but it quickly cleared up. DCR Commissioner Leo Roy. Alex Gilman of the Department of Conservation and Recreation reads the poem 'In Flander's Fields.' Centennial Commissioner John D. Monahan. Jennifer N. Pritzker, a founder of the centennial commission. Department of Veterans' Services Secretary Francisco Urena. State Sen. Adam Hinds. State Rep. John Barrett III. Adams Selectman Jim Bush. PreviousNext Veterans War Memorial Tower Rededicated as National Monument DCR Commissioner Leo Roy accepts the national designation from John Monahan and Jennifer Pritzker from the World War I Centennial Commission. ADAMS, Mass. In the 100 years since World War 1 came to an end, state officials and veterans groups have rededicated the War Memorial Tower several times. On Thursday, groups christened the tower again as honoring soldiers from not just World War I but from all wars. "Over the years, we have fought many more wars and the meaning of this memorial had grown to include all of the sons and daughters of Massachusetts that have served. Mount Greylock serves as a lasting symbol of sacrifice and Herculean effort," said Jennifer N. Pritzker, a founder of the centennial commission. The 93-foot tower sits at the state's highest peak. In 1933, some 1,500 people trekked up Mount Greylock and thousands of others listened on national radio broadcasts as it was dedicated to those who died in World War I. Last year, it was reopened after a $2.6 million restoration. The work included new ventilation systems, resealing of joints, installation of a new dehumidification system, improved access, new lights in the beacon, and a full repair of the interior finishes. After being closed off to the public, officials cut the ribbon on the re-opened tower last July. "Your tax dollars went into the aspect of restoration so that that memorial has a place of sense and honor that it depends upon to remember," state Secretary Veterans Services Francisco Urena. Now it is one of 100 World War I monuments across the county to be nationally recognized. The recognition also comes with matching grants to help maintain the tower. Nearly 200,000 Massachusetts residents served in the war and 5,775 were direct casualties. Nov. 11, 2018, will mark the 100th anniversary of the war's end Centennial Commissioner John D. Monahan said those 100 places include Soldier Field in Chicago and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The rededication helps to sustain the monument to be a continual reminder of those who died. "The fallen live in our minds and in our hearts," Monahan said. As part of the ceremony, a plaque was presented and Alex Gilman of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation read the poem "In Flander's Fields." State Sen. Adam Hinds said what is particularly important about monuments is that war has impacted every generation. He said his grandfather served in World War II, his father in Vietnam, and himself in a citizen's (diplomatic) role in Iraq. "We've dedicated the highest point in Massachusetts for this reason," Hinds said. Adams Selectman James Bush referred to the tower as the town's "most treasured landmark," and how the tower's image is used in multiple ways and residents always know they are home when they see it. The tower sits at an elevation of 3,491 feet in the middle of a vast wilderness. In 1898, the state of Massachusetts created the Greylock Reservation Commission as the first state wilderness park. "There are few places better than this that offer such incredible views on a clear day of the natural world around us. This place belongs to the people of Massachusetts," Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Leo Roy said. Roy said Mount Greylock is an attraction for tourist and provides an array of outdoor recreation options. State Rep. John Barrett III said the mountain and the tower are "so important to the Northern Berkshire area in so many ways." And he remembers the tower beacon going off and questions about its condition. He praised the renovation and said it reflects the county's strong conviction to honor veterans. "We honor our veterans and we hold them in very high esteem," Barrett said. Urena said while it is important to remember the past, it is equally important to honor those presently serving. "It is important to remember that we still have two wars, two fronts, and men and woman from Massachusetts and across the nation who are serving in combat, in harm's way," he said. Volunteers Replant Vandalized Eagle Street Park Raised beds and planters hold flowers at the Eagle Street park. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Tuesday night the pocket park on Eagle Street was vandalized. By Friday morning, the newly expanded space was beginning to rebloom with flowers and greenery. "Honestly, it really gives you more faith in humanity when the community comes together around something like that," said City Councilor Benjamin Lamb, one of the drivers behind the rejuvenation of Eagle Street, on Thursday afternoon. "They may not have been involved in the space but now suddenly they are taking ownership." The park is one of the key features of the NAMAzing Eagle Street Initiative, a largely community-funded facelift of the historic one-way street. The site was given to the city by owners Peter May and Eric Rudd when the building there burned down a decade ago. A small park was created but it was awkward and uninviting. The park was cleared and expanded and walkway and plantings installed that were funded through the initiative and with the elbow grease of volunteers. But sometime Tuesday night between 8:30 and the discovery at 10:15 one or more persons entered the dark park and trashed the plantings. Staff at Desperados restaurant nearby did their best to replant what they could. "We can neither afford to purchase new plantings to replace these nor do we have the volunteers available to repeatedly replant things because someone decides to be destructive. Unfortunately, some of the plants are not salvageable," the initiative posted on its Facebook page. "If we want to have nice things, we need to collectively support and respect when nice things are happening, and must stay vigilant in the face of those who have no respect for the human capital and financial expense that these projects cost." Almost immediately, people began reaching out directly and through social media about how they could help. "We've got dozens of people that are saying they're donating plants," Lamb said, while others asked about donations, volunteering, or installing video cameras. Motion sensor lights are planned for the park but had not yet been installed. The park's already looking better as people have planted flowers in the last couple days with more plantings expected for Friday morning during the weekly coffee date. "I'm amazed at the number of people who come out on Friday morning just to hang out and have coffee," Lamb said. "It's conversations with their friends and neighbors and people they've never met before." The Friday coffee klatches started on a whim with the installation of the parklet across from the park. The mobile "park" built by B&B Micro Manufacturing became an instant hit that's drawn dozens for the get-togethers that are often hosted with free coffee and pastry by local businesses and organizations. Between doubling the park space and the addition of the parklet, said Lamb, "you end up with an actual space you can hold events on Eagle Street without shutting down Eagle Street." The initiative is also installing new signage, trash containers, and public art. The ribbon-cutting on the street will take place next Wednesday during the annual Downtown Celebration and will feature a performance by Boston band Bad Art. With all the volunteers and donated greenery, the park should be in prime shape for the celebration. "The street itself has really taken ownership of that corridor now ... and they have for years but now there's like this gem that people are coming to and engaging with," said Lamb. "To see that collective ownership is really exciting." iciHaiti - Social : Soon the Haitians will be able to watch the TNH in DR Officials from the National Television of Haiti (TNH) had a fruitful meeting in Santo Domingo with representatives of the Dominican telephone company CLARO. At the end of this meeting, a memorandum of understanding was found and soon the images of the TNH will be available on CLARO. "Soon, our compatriots will be able to watch TNH in the Dominican Republic from the company CLARO. The launch is scheduled for September 2018," announced the TNH at the end of this agreement. IH/ iciHaiti Israels Principal Viola The Fellowship | August 10, 2018 Odon Partos Lived: October 1, 1907 July 6, 1977 Why you should know him: An Israeli pilot violist, composer, and teacher, Partos won the coveted Israel Prize. Born in to a Jewish family in Budapest, Hungary, Odon Partos studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, before taking the position of Principal Violinist in Lucerne. After also playing in other European orchestras, including Berlin, Partos returned to his hometown after Hitler took power in 1934. In 1936, Bronislaw Huberman founded the Palestine Orchestra in the Holy Land, which would later be renamed the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Huberman recruited many Jewish musicians who had been threatened by the Nazis rise, including Partos. But Partos could not at the time, having already signed a contract with the USSR. But after the USSR tried to make him join the Communist Party, Partos left and finally took the role of Principal Viola in the Holy Land, making aliyah (immigrating) in 1938. For the next 18 years, Partos was the Israel Philharmonics principal viola, while also playing solo pieces in the Holy Land and around the world. He also helped form the Samuel Rubin Israel Academy of Music in Tel Aviv in 1946 and the Thelma Yellin High School of Art in 1959, holding the position of director of the former until his death. Among the most important composers of Israel, as well, Partos was the first musical honoree of the Israel Prize, winning the award in 1954. Israel Hit with More than 180 Rockets from Gaza The Fellowship | August 9, 2018 Israel Hit with More than 180 Rockets from Gaza In another round of violence initiated by terrorists in Gaza, Hamas fired more than 180 rockets and mortars into southern Israel, injuring at least seven Israelis and causing damage to homes and infrastructure. Israel responded with airstrikes, targeting terror sites. In response to this latest barrage of rockets, the mayor of Sderot, near the Gaza border, called for a major military operation in Gaza to return quiet to the city. Fox News reported that a senior U.N. official has suggested that Israels U.N. membership should be reviewed or suspended for violating international law. In response, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley said, Attacking Israel is their favorite political sport. Israel hailed the U.S.s recent move to re-impose sanctions against Iran. Israeli officials said that the sanctions will work toward placing the Iranian tiger in a cage. The Fellowship, with a grant matched by the Israeli government and other agencies, is working to renovate 40 orphanages throughout Israel. This weeks Israel in the News Perspective looks at telling Israels story to future generations. Levi Strauss, Yelp and Lyft are leading a coalition of 1,200 businesses and cities that are pledging not to discriminate against employees or customers based on race, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. Normally, making a promise to serve every customer might seem like a no-brainer. But the Open to All coalition is launching in a highly charged atmosphere, with florists refusing to provide flowers for gay weddings and stores turning away Muslim customers. The aggrieved include a transgender woman who in June was harassed by staff at a Washington restaurant for using the womens restroom. It remains to be seen if the Open to All message on businesses Yelp pages or on stickers in their windows will calm frayed tempers or anger customers and businesses who might question its motives. Tia Agnew, co-founder and CEO of New Day Craft, an Indianapolis-based producer of mead and cider, is excited to put up her Open to All window sticker, which she says matches her personal and professional ethos. Shes not worried that it will be a turn-off to some potential patrons. All I can do is put our best foot forward and say, Hey, come on in and hang out, she said. But George Marinakos, the owner of The Exchange Saloon in Washington, isnt sold on the idea. His bar is near the White House, and he has served members of the Obama administration as well as White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, who was recently asked to leave a Virginia restaurant because of her affiliation with President Donald Trump. A chalkboard in front of the bar reads, Everyone welcome, but he thinks an Open to All sticker might raise questions. If he doesnt put it up, some people will wonder why; if he does, some people might not feel welcome because of what they interpret as a left-leaning message. Youre putting yourself in the position of being damned if you do or damned if you dont, he said. The Open to All coalition got its start late last year as the U.S. Supreme Court was preparing to consider the case of a Colorado baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple because it violated his religious beliefs. The court ultimately ruled for the baker but didnt give businesses a blanket right to discriminate against gays. Calla Rongerude, Open to Alls campaign manager, said businesses were asking civil rights groups how to make it clear they would serve gays and other minorities. The cities of New York and Oakland, California, are also part of the coalition, as are 190 civil rights groups, organizations and faith groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Interfaith Alliance, the Service Employees International Union and the NAACP. People have been really hungry to engage and let people know that theyre welcome, she said. Rongerude also says she doesnt think the campaign will face any backlash from conservatives. Having a business say, I am going to serve all of my customers on the same terms is inherently positive, she said. I think we want to get beyond the us versus them mentality. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Levi Strauss and Co. said it plans to display Open to All window stickers at nearly 200 U.S. stores and outlets. Yelp is adding a tab to its site so restaurants and other locations can note that they are Open to All. Owners will also have the option to leave that space blank or say the establishment is not open to all, said Luther Lowe, Yelps senior vice president of public policy. Yelp already bans speech on its site that attacks someone based on race, religion, sexual orientation and other traits. Up and down the company, these are issues that weve always leaned in on, Lowe said. Asked if the label might be divisive, Lowe said Yelp is simply trying to guide people to places that welcome them. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaws discrimination in public places on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. But only 21 states and the District of Columbia ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Rongerude said many businesses have gone further than the government. Uber, for example, includes sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status in its nondiscrimination policy. It dumped a Houston driver from its platform earlier this year after the driver made a gay couple get out of his car. Business really is in a unique place to lead right now, Rongerude said. But not every business contacted by Open to All plans to join the coalition. Target Corp., for example, said it wont join because it has a policy prohibiting third-party signs on its doors. Participants in the coalition risk turning off some customers. Mark McLean, a retired business owner and conservative blogger in Tennessee, says Open to All signs are divisive. He likens them to Gun-Free Establishment signs that infringe on gun owners rights. We cant govern how people think. Thats a dangerous slope to go down, McLean said. But Jacinta Gauda, principal and chief strategy officer at The Gauda Group, who counsels companies about diversity and inclusion, says businesses are also facing pressure from employees and customers to take a stand on issues and make their values clear. Im just of the mind that the movement to do this, driven by their employees and customers, is larger than the political risk, she said. They calculated this and said, We have more to gain than we have to lose. As our city turns its attention to the importance of the White River to our region, its important that we dont neglect waters impact on our economy. Regional water planning is paramount to ensuring that our state continues to have the natural resources needed to keep our communities safe and support our states economy, which is what we aim to do through the inaugural Indiana Water Summit. Indiana ranked first in the country in the percentage of the economy that depends on water, according to Innovating for the Blue Economy, a report commissioned by the University Research Center in Michigan. The report also found that more than 23 percent of the current economy depends on Indianas waters. As a fraction of Indianas gross domestic product, this translates into a staggering $70 billion for total economic impact. The report stated that Indiana leads the nation for citizens employed in water-related industries, with over 23 percent of Indianas total private sector employment in industries affected by water supply and quality. Water is a critical component to maintaining todays economy, and it will only grow in importance as we continue to use more in the future. Because of this, it is crucial for the public to be informed on proper water management actions. The White River Alliance, a leading voice for water resource protection in Indiana, recognizes Indianas need for comprehensive regional water planning. In order to facilitate these plans, the Alliance is bringing together dynamic speakers, national experts and interactive elements for the first Indiana Water Summit, a forum series slated to occur every year that examines the complex issues facing our states diverse water resources. One of the national experts who will serve as a keynote speaker at the Summit includes Charles Fishman, author of The Big Thirst: the Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water, the best-selling water book in a generation. This years inaugural Summit will be held on Aug. 12-13 in downtown Indianapolis, and the topics selected are meant to inform water policy discussions in Indiana. A few of the topics to be discussed at the Summit include regional water planning and coordination, the challenges and needs facing various water sectors and the state of our waters today. In regards to the current state of our waters, it may seem like Hoosiers have an unlimited supply. This is simply not the case. In fact, according to a 2014 Indiana Chamber of Commerce report, Indiana will face water shortages in the future unless government focuses their efforts on better water management around the state. The report revealed an increase in agricultural irrigation in Northern and Central Indiana, where large amounts of corn and soybeans are produced. Furthermore, Central Indianas growing population is projected to require an additional 50 million gallons of water per day by 2050. It is important for local policy makers, public officials and public works departments to inform the public on how extremely valuable our water is, and educate citizens on best practices for water planning and protection efforts. This education and collective understanding among citizens and stakeholders is a main goal for the upcoming Summit. The importance of Indianas waters on our local economy is apparent, and we need to be ready to respond to our changing relationship with water and create a greater sense of urgency around our need to care for it. The Indiana Water Summit is a step in the right direction to facilitate a broader discussion about water across sectors, users and levels of government, so that we might work towards awareness and planning to protect the states economic viability, along with the environmental integrity of our water resources. You can learn more about the Summit, or register for the event here. As we celebrate the 53rd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, it is worth taking a moment to recognize why it is still important today. This landmark legislation made it illegal to use discriminatory practices to block voters from voting or to make it harder to exercise our constitutional right to vote. Despite the guarantees provided by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, states and localities persisted for over 100 years in actively obstructing African-Americans from exercising their right to vote by imposing grandfather clauses, poll taxes, literacy tests, or tests to correctly guess the number of jelly beans in a jar. Today, these schemes seem absurd. But the Voting Rights Act helped eliminate discriminatory voting practices, and helped our country live up to its promise that everyone, no matter their race, has the right to vote. However, the VRA has recently faced new challenges, especially after the Supreme Court gutted a section designed to restrict violations by states with a history of discriminatory practices. A recent study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that states purged more than 16 million voters from the rolls between 2014 and 2016, 33 percent more than between 2006 and 2008. In light of this recent trend, Congress must do more to ensure all citizens are able to freely exercise this precious right. That is why I am a co-sponsor of legislation to fully restore Section 5 of the VRA and of the Voter Empowerment Act, legislation that will improve, modernize and help ensure that every voter is treated equally at the polls. The Voter Empowerment Act protects the integrity of elections by improving eligible voters access to the ballot box. It modernizes voter registration using existing technology to automatically and permanently enroll consenting eligible voters while also making certain voter information is secure and accurate. It would also provide for online registration, allow same day voter registration at the polls and simplify the registration process for members of the military serving overseas. I also support expanding early voting opportunities and am pleased to see the additional sites added in Marion County for our next election. The right to vote is the foundation of our democratic system. Instead of making it more difficult, lets make it easier for citizens to vote whenever possible because the first step of a truly representative democracy is participation. Prices in the non-metallurgical chromite market were formerly governed by a generally accepted system of premiums that maintained a close correlation between the various grades in the sector. But some markets have gradually moved away to take separate and more independent routes. Spreads between the main chromite grades have been changing significantly in recent times. This evolution has affected metallurgical chrome ore material, chemical grade and foundry grade chromite alike. Historically, a generally accepted set of premiums used to distinguish the UG2 met chrome ore price from the chemical grade and the foundry grade price. Until 2016, these three markets were strongly connected in price terms - chemical grade was priced around $20-30 higher than UG2 and foundry grade some $20-40 higher than the chemical grade price. Dried and bagged foundry chromite historically commanded a premium of $50 to the wet bulk foundry grade price. But much has changed over the past two years. The connection between UG2 and foundry has fractured since 2015-16; similarly, the link between UG2 and chemical grade has been waning. At present, UG2 and lower-purity 43-44% chemical maintain a close relationship, while 46% has taken an altogether separate direction. Ultimately, the premium system between wet bulk foundry and dried and bagged foundry has also become looser. Owing to widespread demand for dried and bagged material, its prices has risen quickly this year while wet bulk has lagged behind and is only now catching up. Chemical grade and UG2 The spread between low and high ends of the price range for chemical chromite 46% has also been widening as of early March. This split, which remains in place, reflects cheaper quotes for the markets of China and Southeast Asia but significantly higher prices for material traded in western destinations including Europe and the Americas. Meanwhile, a standoff between South African suppliers and Chinese buyers of chemical chromite has been maintaining prices to China at the low end. "There is no discernible end in sight for the stalemate," one trader said. Conversely, sellers have been able to secure higher prices by selling to other destinations, including the United States, Western Europe, Turkey and Russia. A perpetuation of this pattern over the past four months has resulted in most of the 46% chemical material trading elsewhere other than China and South-East Asia, where sellers can achieve better prices. Additionally, the trading of chemical-grade 46% material in China faces strong competition from UG2 chemical material, which has lower purity levels of 43-44%. This material is favored in some markets in Asia over standard 46% chromite for chemicals applications. This supported trading of significant volumes of 43-44% chromite into South-East Asia during the first half of the year. Higher availability of this grade, compared with tight supply of 46%, is ensuring a growing price differential between the two grades. While Industrial Minerals does not formally assess the price of 43-44% chemical grade chromite, it understands that market prices have moved from $230 per tonne cif China in the first part of the year to $250 per tonne up to June before edged down to around $220-240 per tonne as of mid-July. Industrial Minerals price assessment for chemical-grade chromite, 46% Cr2O3, wet bulk, remained at $285-340 per tonne fob South Africa on July 31, unchanged week on week since March 6. The spread between the low and high ends of the pricing range is more than $50 per tonne but historically it has been as low as $10 per tonne. Additionally, the spread between the 46% and 43-44% price stands at an average of some $70 at the moment. For comparison, this used to be closer to $40 in March 2017. Prior to that, the premium for 46% over the lower-purity grade used to be around $20. This shows how, especially during 2018, there was an additional rupture in the chemical grade chromite sector, with 46% material prices climbing and the market epicenter moving westwards, while 43-44% prices remained more competitive and established a stronghold in eastern destinations. According to multiple sources, this reflects limited production of 46% grade - output has dropped over the past year - while production of 43-44% has been more abundant. Foundry: wet bulk and dried and bagged Premiums and spreads in the foundry market have also evolved. Industrial Minerals has been pricing the wet bulk foundry sand market - seen as the industry benchmark for participants in the foundry sand sector - for many years. For dried and bagged sand, the market has historically applied a premium of around $50 on average - covering the drying and bagging cost plus a variable margin - to establish the dried/bagged price, based on an original wet bulk price. Changes in supply and demand patterns, however, have forced the two market prices apart; this has become evident since the second half of last year. Owing to a rebound in demand for dried and bagged material, supply does not cover the needs of the entire market. The rise in demand has been supported by improvements in foundry and refractory end markets as well as changes in trading habits. China formerly extracted its own foundry grade from metallurgical grade material, for example, so it was not particularly active in sourcing directly from South Africa. Because local processors have been using material that is unsuitable for foundry grade extraction, Chinese users were forced to import foundry sand material from South Africa, bolstering further demand. The apparent shortage has led to an appreciation of dried and bagged prices while wet bulk prices have lagged behind. Margins for dried and bagged have in some cases increased by half against what they used to be under the traditional set premium system. Industrial Minerals assessed the price of wet bulk foundry grade chromite 46% at $545-565 per tonne fob South Africa on July 31, up from $400-450 per tonne in January At the same time, dried and bagged had reached $550 per tonne fob South Africa and above by March. "Dried and bagged has been so much more bullish than wet bulk so suppliers focused on that. It appreciated more quickly, due to smaller parcel sizes and large number of end users. And the link with the wet bulk market gave in," a seller said. After closely following the progress of the two markets, Industrial Minerals has launched a separate assessment price for the dried and bagged foundry grade chromite sand to capture the movement of this specific market. The new price can be found in the price book under the following name: Chromite, foundry, 46% Cr2O3, dried and bagged, FOB South Africa $/tonne. Industrial Minerals assessed this price on Tuesday July 31 at $600-625 per tonne fob South Africa. Lithium carbonate and hydroxide prices fell week on week due to sluggish demand from downstream buyers. Lower technical and industrial-grade carbonate and hydroxide-lithium compound spot prices are the major factors for the lower battery-grade prices this week. Downstream consumers have started purchasing more material on a spot basis to avoid paying the premium prices, on a contract basis, suggested by suppliers amid the current downward price trend. Lithium carbonate spot prices fell in the rest of the world due to slow demand and cheaper Chinese material available in the global spot market. Lithium hydroxide prices decreased on new concluded deals but limited transactions, while lithium carbonate prices moved down in the rest of the world. The battery-grade lithium carbonate spot market prices in China have remained under pressure as a result of sporadic downstream buying activity while most consumers remain hesitant to place orders due to fear of further price decrease amid the current negative market price outlook. Industrial Minerals last assessed the Chinese domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate price (min 99.5% Li2CO3) at 94,000-100,000 yuan ($13,758-14,636) per tonne on Thursday 9 August, down from 94,000-102,000 yuan per tonne the previous week. "Lithium carbonate prices keep falling week on week and have done at a faster pace in the last two weeks owing to thin buying activity," a lithium producer told Industrial Minerals. "Our customers are unwilling to place long-term contracts due to the current continuous price decrease, and prefer to purchase materials on a weekly and monthly basis." Technical and industrial-grade lithium carbonate (min 99% Li2CO3) spot prices in China have also decreased week on week due to the cheaper material made available from brine production in the Qinghai region. Industrial Minerals last assessed the technical and industrial-grade lithium carbonate market price at 75,000-80,000 yuan per tonne on August 9, down from 80,000-85,000 yuan per tonne the week before. "The technical, industrial and battery-grade lithium carbonate produced from brine in the region of Qinghai has been dragging the carbonate prices down due to the much lower production costs than producing lithium carbonate from hard rock, therefore, its available in the spot market at a cheaper price," a consumer told Industrial Minerals. Amid this depressed consumption scenario, with downstream consumers holding back on further purchases and lower prices in the market, battery-grade lithium hydroxide prices decreased week on week. Lower technical and industrial-grade lithium hydroxide spot prices are also a major factor behind the price decrease in the lithium-hydroxide compounds market in China this week. Battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (min 56.5% LiOH.H2O) prices were assessed at 115,000-130,000 yuan per tonne on Thursday August 9, down from 125,000-135,000 yuan per tonne the previous week, according to Industrial Minerals market assessment. Technical and industrial-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (min 56.5% LiOH.H2O) prices were also assessed lower week on week at 111,500-121,500 yuan per tonne from 115,000-125,000 yuan per tonne on Thursday August 9. "Lithium hydroxide prices in China have a current wide price range as old producers are selling micronized material with a lower set of impurities and keep offering material above 130,000 yuan per tonne," a second producer told Industrial Minerals. "However, smaller battery-grade lithium hydroxide producers can place material [typically with higher set of impurities] in the market for use in the battery industry as low as 115,000 yuan per tonne," the producer added. "Combine that with the fact that technical and industrial-grade prices are being sold close to 110,000 yuan per tonne, this is increasing the pressure for lower lithium hydroxide prices in the spot market," the producer added. Seaborne carbonate prices down Lower lithium carbonate prices in the Chinese domestic market over the course of the past month, slow consumption and cheaper Chinese material available in the international market have pushed the lithium-carbonate seaborne market down this week. Industrial Minerals assessed the price of battery-grade lithium carbonate (min 99.5% Li2CO3) cif China, Japan and South Korea at $16.50-18.50 per kg on Thursday August 9 from $17-19 per kg the week before. "Lower Chinese domestic prices have been pushing down the rest of the world market as offers in the international market are as low as $16.50 per kg, whereas technical and industrial-grade material is just a dollar below this price," a third producer told Industrial Minerals. Despite the lower battery-grade lithium carbonate prices, the battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (min 56.5% LiOH.H2O) spot prices were assessed at $19-20 per kg on a cif China, Japan and South Korea basis on Thursday August 9, unchanged due to lack of spot activity. European, US prices carbonate prices down The European and US spot prices for battery-grade lithium carbonate compounds fell week on week on slow activity and lower global spot prices. Industrial Minerals assessed prices for battery-grade lithium carbonate, min 99.5% Li2CO3 at $17-18.50 per kg, ddp Europe and US on Thursday August 9 from $17-19 per kg last week. "The European market has been so slow that we had to decrease our prices and are now offering our material as low as $17 per kg," a distributor told Industrial Minerals. "Prices, globally speaking, are already below $17 per kg and we would be surprised if prices in Europe and the US dont fall soon." Moreover, despite the descending market trend in the global lithium market, lithium-hydroxide monohydrate, min 56.5% LiOH H2O, spot prices were assessed at $18.50-20 per kg, ddp Europe and US, on Thursday August 9 also stable on a lack of activity. Industrial Minerals trade log for battery-grade lithium carbonate in China for August includes all trades, bids and offers reported to Industrial Minerals. Learn more about Industrial Minerals' lithium pricing methodology and read the latest lithium price spotlight here. All lithium carbonate, hydroxide and spodumene prices are available in our Battery Raw Materials Market Tracker. Get a sample of the report here. Saudi, UAE, USA, UK and France Slaughter Dozens of People, Including at Least 29 Children on a School Bus There can be no case, for selling weapons to the Saudi Regime By ICH and Agencies August 09, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - "According to local officials a total of 50 people were killed and 77 were injured this morning. Of these, the ICRC hospital in Al Talh received 30 dead and 48 injured, of which the vast majority were children," Johannes Bruwer, the head of an ICRC delegation in Yemen, said in a Twitter post. Al Masirah, a pro-Houthi rebel TV network, said the bus, which was carrying a group of students attending summer classes learning the Holy Quran, was targeted. The official spokesman of Ansarallah, described the justifications of the US-Saudi aggression as Absurd. "Justifications of the spokesman of the US-Saudi aggression for his crimes are clear disregard for the lives of civilians. The stike targeted a school bus in the center of the city of Dahyan and between shoppers and pedestrians on the highway in Sa'ada." Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter ===== In case you missed it: U.S. Deepens Role in Yemen Fight, Offers Gulf Allies Airstrike-Target Assistance: American military to provide information to fine-tune list of targets in important port In case you missed it: US still pouring weapons into Yemen war: The United States sold more than $650 million in weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as the Yemen war expanded last year, according to a study released Thursday. In case you missed it: Britain and the US must stop fuelling the bloody Saudi war on Yemen: Beyond the US and the UK, many other countries including France, Spain and Italy profess their support for human rights and adherence to the treaty while similarly lavishing hi-tech weaponry on the Saudi coalition. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. ====== Note To ICH Community We are currently searching for a new comment system as we have run out of options on how to prevent the constant bickering and attacks by troll's, whose intention is to paint our website and newsletter as, anti-Semitic, anti-American, pro-Russian fake news. We can no longer afford to invest hours of our time each day, trying to have people behave in a manner befitting those who say they are concerned for others, while offering abuse and hostility to other ICH community members. When we have found such a comment system we will restore the comment function. We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. This would be a better use of out time than trying to prevent abuse of our comment system. Thank you for your continued support. Peace and joy Posted August 09, 2018 Have you ever heard of Senate Joint Resolution 59 (S.J.Res. 59)? Neither had I. A friend of mine saw a blurb about it on an obscure national security blog and brought it to my attention. At first glance it didnt seem to be any big deal. Its inelegantly named the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) of 2018. It was introduced on April 16, 2018 by Senators Bob Corker (R-TN), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). Officially, the bill would Authorize the use of military force against the Taliban, al-Qaeda, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and designated associated forces, and provide an updated, transparent, and sustainable statutory basis for counterterrorism operations. Its hard to oppose a bill that would keep Americans safe, as Corker said in the SFRC hearing. But this bill is so bad, such an affront to our freedom, such an attack on our civil liberties, that we should be compelled to oppose it. S.J.Res. 59 is bad for a number of reasons. First and most importantly, it would provide blanket permission for the president to launch a military attack of literally any size and intensity whenever he wants without specific congressional approval. That seems obviously unconstitutional to me, although Im not a constitutional scholar. Still, the constitution says in Article I, Section 8 that only Congress shall have the authority to declare war, among other things military. It does not allow the president the ability to launch a war. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Second, according to Marjorie Cohn, professor emerita at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and former president of the National Lawyers Guild, it also would write the president a blank check to lock up Americans who dissent against U.S. military policy. Thats right. If you oppose U.S. military policy, the president would have the right to lock you up indefinitely without charge. Certainly, our government already does that. But were told that this happens to the worst of the worstthose terrorists who happen to be American, but who also have planned large-scale terrorist attacks against the country or its citizens or who have taken up arms against the United States. Think dirty bomber Jose Padilla or the a-yet-unnamed Saudi-American currently being held somewhere and being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union. This is different. This would mean everybody would be at risk. It would mean you could be held in a gulag, incommunicado, if the White House doesnt like your politics. The reason this could come to pass is that, third, the bill is (probably unconstitutionally) broad. It says that the president may, use all necessary and appropriate force against Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban, and their associated forces anywhere in the world and without limitation. But it doesnt define what associated forces means, nor does it define a co-belligerent, someone acting in support of one of these countries or groups. It allows the White House to do that for us. Fourth, unlike almost every other bill in Congress, this one doesnt have a sunset clause, meaning it never expires. Congress, to remain relevant, almost always includes a sunset clause so that, if a law is working, it can be renewed. If it isnt, it can expire. And if its flawed, it can be fixed. This one would just go forever. Several weeks after the bill was introduced, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) wrote a letter to Corker and to SFRC ranking member Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), another S.J.Res. 59 supporter. CCR said that it had grave doubts about the appropriateness and the constitutionality of the bill, and that the bill would hand over broad authority to expand warthat should reside with Congressto the executive. CCR continued that passage of the bill would complete the erosion of congressional war-making authority set in motion by the 2001 AUMF passed in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Representatives Walter Jones (R-NC), the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued a letter to the SFRC saying that, The Corker-Kaine proposal would further limit congressional oversight of our perpetual wars. Replacing one blank check with another even broader one is a recipe for disaster. While conceding that some sort of military authorization is probably necessary, Jones and Lee added that any new bill must include a sunset clause; it must repeal the AUMFs of 2001 and 2002, which also had no sunset clauses; it must be mission-specific; and it must be transparent. This terrible bill is stuck in the muck of the congressional process right now. As the months tick by, theres a greater and greater likelihood that it will simply die. But that doesnt solve the problem. The problem is that Congress is generally made up of lemmings and cheerleaders for the military/industrial/intelligence complex. They do as theyre told, whether its by their leadership or whomever happens to be sitting in the White House. Thats bad for the country. Its bad for the constitution. And its bad for future generations. Theres an old saying in Washington. Dont kick a man when hes down. But if hes already down, dont stop kicking him. Now is the time to kick this bill until its dead. John Kiriakou is a former CIA counterterrorism officer and a former senior investigator with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. John became the sixth whistleblower indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act a law designed to punish spies. He served 23 months in prison as a result of his attempts to oppose the Bush administrations torture program. Canadas Liberal Image Gets Snared By $11.5bn Saudi Arms Deal By Finian Cunningham August 09, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - A dramatic spat with Saudi Arabia has forced Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to enter the public fray in a bid to calm tempers. But whats bothering Canada is the possible loss of a major Saudi arms contract. The row erupted last weekend when Canadas Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland issued a stern rebuke to Saudi Arabia over the arrest of womens rights activists in the oil-rich kingdom. One of those arrested, Samar Badawi, has family connections to Canadian citizens. The Saudis hit back immediately with a fierce response. Riyadh said it was expelling the Canadian ambassador, and recalled its own envoy from Ottawa. Saudi Arabia also warned it was cancelling all new trade and investments in Canada. Initially, Canadas Freeland refused to back down, saying on Monday that her country would always stand up for human rights. The Saudis then escalated the row by announcing new restrictive measures. Riyadh said it was suspending the state airlines flights to and from Toronto, as well as cancelling imports of Canadian barley and wheat, and recalling thousands of Saudi students, trainee doctors and patients who have been hosted as guests in the country. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Despite the defiant public comments on Monday, by Tuesday Canadas top diplomat was reportedly trying to patch things up through private phone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Abdel al Jubeir. Those conciliatory efforts came to naught. Early Wednesday, the Saudi minister was saying there would be no mediation. He insisted that Canada must correct its mistake of interfering in Saudi internal affairs. It was also reported that the Saudi central bank was disposing of Canadian equities, bonds and cash holdings. But it was the Saudis veiled threat of more punitive action that perhaps alarmed the Canadian government most. The Saudi foreign minister said his country was looking at additional measures against Canada. Its an open secret that the Saudis were referring to a major weapons contract that is being finalized with Canada. The arms deal is worth US$11.5 billion (Canadian $15bn). It involves the sale of some 900 combat vehicles with a 14-year follow-up support arrangement. To put that figure into perspective, total annual bilateral trade between Canada and Saudi Arabia is estimated at $4bn. The Saudi arms contract is therefore a very big deal for Canada. It had been speculated by Canadian officials that the Saudis could axe the arms contract as part of its reprisal over the latest row about human rights activists being arrested. Now it seemed that the additional measures mentioned cryptically by the Saudi foreign minister were indeed a reference to the weapons deal. After days of keeping silent on the row, Prime Minister Trudeau entered the fray in a bid to calm tensions. Trudeau didnt offer a public apology as demanded earlier that day by the Saudi minister, but he did call for diplomacy and dialogue. Canada will always speak strongly and clearly in private and in public on questions of human rights. We do not wish to have poor relations with Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic talks continue, said Trudeau. It was also reported earlier this week that Ottawa has appealed to Britain to mediate in the diplomatic impasse. That followed a surprise rebuff from Washington which said it was not going to get involved in the dispute and that it was up to Canada and Saudi Arabia to resolve the matter. It seems, therefore, that Canada was being hung out to dry by its North American neighbor. Alarmed by the growing threats of economic damage, the Canadians reached out to Britain to use its longtime ties to placate the Saudi rulers. Several observers have noted how Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has become more assertive in foreign relations in particular with regard to pushing back at Western governments complaining about human rights in the absolute monarchy. Last year, the Saudis reportedly curbed commercial ties with German companies after Berlin had made critical comments about Riyadhs relations with Lebanon and its apparent interference with the office of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Another factor is that the Saudi crown prince has been emboldened by having close relations with US President Donald Trump and the White Houses Middle East Envoy Jared Kushner. Trumps patronage has given the young Saudi ruler a license to take a swipe at critics both at home and abroad. When Trump verbally roughed up Canadas Trudeau at the G7 summit in Quebec in June, it was no doubt noted by the Saudis. Trudeaus limp response to Trumps ear-bashing would have given the impression that the Canadian leader is something of a pushover. So when Canadas foreign minister issued her public comments on the arrest of female rights activists, the Saudis knew they had their chance to crush the liberal Canadian image without any comeback. The Saudis are also demonstrating to other Western governments to watch their mouths and keep their noses out of internal affairs. Moreover, the Saudis know they have the upper hand over Canada because of the lucrative arms deal pending. Ottawa will take a severe hit if it loses US$11.5 billion on that contract and the thousands of jobs that come with the deal. In addition, the Saudis probably surmise that their get-tough tactics will pay off with the Trudeau government because its commitment to human rights and so-called liberal values seems to be superficial and expedient. Ever since Trudeau was elected in 2015, he vowed to make liberal values a centerpiece of his government. He has championed gender equality in his cabinet and has declared Canadas foreign policy to be feminist despite sniggers from critics. But then, incongruously, Trudeaus government has steadfastly rejected calls by Canadian human rights groups for the cancellation of the arms deal with Saudi Arabia. That deal was created by the previous Conservative administration of Stephen Harper. Nevertheless, it was Trudeaus Liberal party that signed off on the export of the armored vehicles. Ottawas adherence to the Saudi arms deal has been maintained in spite of embarrassing reports last year that previously-supplied Canadian military vehicles have been used by the Saudi regime in a crackdown against minority Shia communities. Freeland said a government investigation found there was no evidence of Canadian equipment being used in Saudi repression and alleged human rights violations. She refused, however, to release the official report. It has also been reported that Canadian military exports have been involved in Saudi violations committed against civilians in the war on Yemen. Those claims have not given the Trudeau government pause for thought about the pending arms deal, nor has Ottawa voiced significant protest over the Saudi bombing of civilian targets in Yemen. Thus, when Canadas Freeland fired off her comments last weekend over womens rights activists being detained in Saudi Arabia, she seems to have been preening her countrys supposed liberal image. What Ottawa did not reckon on was the Saudi backlash and veiled threats to ditch a lucrative weapons deal. The Saudis know they can play hardball too because they sense that when it comes to human rights the Trudeau government is snared by its own hypocrisy and liberal vanity. The Saudis have Ottawa sussed. Pseudo-Trudeau. 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 Home Search ICH America the Unexceptional Believing we're exempt from the moral law because we stand for "democracy" is the worst mistake we've ever made. By William S. Smith August 09, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - In the wake of President Trumps Helsinki press conference, National Review declared itself Against Moral Equivalence. The magazine claimed that there could be no equating American meddling in foreign elections with Russian interference in our election because the goal of the U.S. is to promote democracy and political liberty and human rights. Though while Americas actions might be noble and have the sanction of heaven, National Review did concede that its efforts to promote democracy have often been messyan adjective that the people of Iraq might find understated. Like many of Trumps critics, National Reviews embrace of American exceptionalism, of exempting the United States from the moral laws of the universe because of its commitment to democracy, is of a type the West has seen before. Swept up in their revolutionary enthusiasm, the French Jacobins made similar claims. In late 1791, a member of the Assembly, while agitating for war with Austria, declared that France had become the foremost people of the universe, so their conduct must now correspond to their new destiny. As slaves they were bold and great; are they to be timid and feeble now that they are free? Robespierre himself was taken aback by the turn of a domestic revolution into a call for military adventurism. Of plans to invade Austria and to overthrow enemies of liberty in other nations, he famously remarked, No one loves armed missionaries. (Robespierres advice might have also benefited the American occupiers of Iraq.) The Jacobins moral preening led France to declare war on Austria in 1792 and set in motion years of French military adventurism that devastated much of central Europe. Military imperialism abroad and guillotines at home became the legacy of self-declared French exceptionalism. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Hubristic nations that claim a unique place for themselves high atop the moral universe tend to be imperialistic. This is because claims of national exceptionalism, whether of the French or American variety, are antinomian, even nihilistic. The exceptional ones carve out for themselves an exemption from the moral law. And prideful claims of moral purity are the inevitable predicate to imposing ones will upon another. Once leaders assert that their national soul is of a special kindindispensable and not subject to the same rulesthe road to hell has been paved. While supporters of American exceptionalism are careful to claim the mantle of Western civilization, their philosophical orientation in fact amounts to a repudiation of the central principles of the West and the Constitution. Arguably, the tradition of the Judeo-Christian West has been special because it has asserted that human nature is not particularly special. And the Constitution has been exceptional because its warned Americans that we are not particularly exceptional. For example, the legacy of Pauline Christianity, Irving Babbitt tells us, is the haunting sense of sin and the stress it lays upon the struggle between the higher and lower self, between the law of the flesh and the law of the spirit. No person or nation is above this moral challenge. The uniquely American repudiation of exceptionalism shines brightly in The Federalist, where no angels can be found among men, and, because no ones behavior enjoys the sanction of heaven, extensive checks are placed upon peoples ability to impose their wills upon others. The foreign policy that flowed out of the worldview of the Framers was that of George Washington, a strong recommendation against hubris and foreign meddling. These historical and cultural warnings about human nature have since been swept away by acolytes of American exceptionalism. Our moral superiority, they claim, makes us Masters of the Universe, not careful and mindful custodians of our own fallen nature. We have been put on earth to judge other nations, not to be judged. Tossing the legacy of the Framers onto the ash heap of history, George W. Bush declared in his Second Inaugural Address that our exceptionalism creates an obligation to promote democracy in every nation and culture. In this endeavor, Bush pronounced, the United States enjoys the sanction of heaven, as history also has a visible direction, set by liberty and the author of liberty. Bushs Second Inaugural was probably better in the original French. Now, the puffed-up American establishment, many of whom supported the bloody Iraq war, drip with moral condescension as they brand Vladimir Putin an existential outlaw and the enemy of democracy, foreclosing the possibility of common ground with Russia on nuclear weapons, China, terrorism, and other issues that matter to the national security of the United States. That Washington has meddled in countless nations affairs from Iraq to Russiaand caused untold damageis of no account to the establishment. Rules do not apply to democracy promoters. After the Iraq war, we should have reconsidered our hubristic American exceptionalism. One can take pride in the American tradition without laying claim to a uniquely beautiful national soul that is exempt from the laws of nature and of natures God. The hysterical reaction to Trumps truthful admission that the United States too has made mistakes in its relationship with Russia is a sign that American exceptionalism is still in full flower among elites. Without the return of a certain humility, there will be more military adventures abroad and political strife at home. William S. Smith is research fellow and managing director at the Center for the Study of Statesmanship at The Catholic University of America. This article was originally published by " The American Conservative " - The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. ====== Note To ICH Community We are currently searching for a new comment system as we have run out of options on how to prevent the constant bickering and attacks by troll's, whose intention is to paint our website and newsletter as, anti-Semitic, anti-American, pro-Russian fake news. We can no longer afford to invest hours of our time each day, trying to have people behave in a manner befitting those who say they are concerned for others, while offering abuse and hostility to other ICH community members. When we have found such a comment system we will restore the comment function. We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. This would be a better use of out time than trying to prevent abuse of our comment system. Thank you for your continued support. Peace and joy 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. The Chinese embassy in Syria denied a Syrian media report that "China sent military forces to participate in Syrian government's military operation during the battle of Idlib." "China has never sent any military force in any military operation led by the Syrian government," and China firmly supports the peaceful political settlement of the Syrian crisis. But China supports Syria in its struggle with terrorism, said a statement in Chinese on the embassy's website on Thursday. An August 1 report on Syrian newspaper Al-Watan "misinterpreted" quotes from Chinese Ambassador to Syria Qi Qianjin and Military Attache Wang Ruizheng, the statement said. Another report by Al-Watan on August 1 said that Qi suggested Beijing could soon deploy forces to assist the Syrian Army in its forthcoming Idlib offensive, in addition to counter-terrorist operations in other parts of the country. The Al-Watan report also quoted the Chinese diplomat as saying that "they are monitoring the conflict," adding that the Chinese military "is willing to participate in some way alongside the Syrian Army fighting the terrorists in Idlib and in any other part of Syria." August 09, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Mohammed bin Salman has cut quite a swath since he was appointed crown prince of Saudi Arabia last year at the age of 31. Reckless MBS, the favourite son of 81-year-old King Salman, is not the kind of person who would ever get to run a democracy. Since his father put him in charge, he has been acting impulsively and violently, destabilizing the region. The first thing he did was consolidate his position by imprisoning many of his rival princes in the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton and, under threat of prosecution for corruption, shook them down for billions. He followed up by kidnapping Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who found himself locked up after flying to Saudi Arabia for a camping trip with the young prince. Hariri, looking terrified, read a resignation speech on camera, which he rescinded when he returned to Lebanon. MBSs thousands of rich royal cousinsthe only constituency that matters in the theocratic monarchyare supporting him because he is taking aggressive action to counter growing Iranian influence in the Middle East. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The Iranians took advantage of the chaos that followed the Iraq war to muscle into power positions in Iraq and Syria, threatening the interests of oil-rich Gulf states. When the Iranians moved to flank the Saudis by backing Shia Houthi militias in Yemen, on the kingdoms doorstep, it was a step too far for the Saudis. MBS won his spurs by leading the Saudis and other Gulf powers against the Houthis in a civil war that has led to a humanitarian disaster, killing thousands of civilians and displacing millions. Human rights activists want the world to pressure the Saudis and Iran to stop the war, but the Americansunder both Barack Obama and Donald Trumpare part of the Saudi coalition. The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada all sell arms to them. MBSs temper tantrum this week gives Canada the excuse it needs to wash its hands of the carnage. In 2014, Stephen Harper signed a $14-billion deal to manufacture armoured vehicles for the Saudis in a London, Ont., factory that had previously built vehicles for the Canadian military in Afghanistan. The Liberals did their hypocritical best to keep the secretive deal quiet, but the arrangement seems to violate Canadian law, which is supposed to prevent us from selling weapons to countries that violate human rights. Thanks to the methodical reporting of the Globe and Mails Steven Chase, and not our see-no-evil government, we have learned that the Saudis appear to be using Canadian weapons against Yemenis and their own Shia minority. Canada is hardly alone in this. Since 1945, when MBSs grandfather sealed a deal with Franklin D. Roosevelt on the deck of an American warship, the Saudis have been trading oil for weapons and greasing the palms of fixers, lobbyists and retired politicians of all stripes in western capitals. The colossal volume of money involved helps explain why Western politicians and media organizations treat Saudi human rights violations differently from the nearly identical human rights violations committed by Iran, for example. Saudis may have been behind the September 11 attacks, but they can always be relied on to endow a presidential library, bankroll a foundation, endow a university research chair or fund a think tank. This is how K Street lobbyists pay for their houses on Marthas Vineyard. Obama angered the Saudis when he made a deal to normalize relations with Iran in exchange for controls over Irans nuclear weapons program. Trump, who makes money off the Saudis, ripped up that deal and has cozied up to MBS and announced $300 billion in new arms sales. It was not surprising, then, that the United States did not have Canadas back when MBS expelled our ambassador, ordered Saudi students home and suspended air travel. MBS decided to go after Canada after our foreign affairs department sent a Tweet asking the Saudis to immediately release human rights activists the Saudis have locked up, including Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 1,000 lashes for writing blog posts critical of the government. Badawis wife is a Canadian citizen who lives in Quebec along with the couples three children. MBS is likely doing this because hes a hothead, because the Americans cant be bothered to keep him in check and because it acts as a useful nationalist distraction for the hotheads at home. To that end, he launched a laughable anti-Canada social media campaign, the highlight of which was a semi-official Twitter account sending an image of a passenger plane headed for the CN Tower, threatening a terrorist attack on Toronto. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland responded, quite properly, by reiterating her call for MBS to respect human rights. She needs to now take the obvious next step. The Saudi government has one of the worst human rights records in the world. It oppresses women and minorities and exports religious extremism. It has beheaded 600 people since 2014, including some who lost their heads for political crimes, non-violent drug offences and sorcery. We should never have started selling them armoured vehicles and should stop immediately. Recent warnings of an imminent Iranian cyberattack on the U.S. are dubious at best aimed at ending the U.S. isolation through dishonest intelligence, while justifying a U.S. preemptive counterattack on Irans infrastructure in a bid to further destabilize the nation. By Whitney Webb August 09, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Several reports in both American and Israeli media have recently been circulating the claim that Iran is increasingly likely to respond to draconian U.S.-imposed sanctions by conducting cyberattacks against the United States. According to this narrative, Iranian hackers have laid the groundwork to carry out extensive cyberattacks on U.S. and European infrastructure and on private companies, prompting the U.S. to consider launching a preemptive counterattack in response. Quoting anonymous U.S. government officials, think tanks and experts, these articles assert that the sanctions the U.S. re-imposed on Iran this Tuesday are likely to push that country to intensify state-sponsored cyber-threat activities, activities that one expert called the most consequential, costly and aggressive in the history of the internet, more so than Russia. However, upon closer examination, it is clear that these warnings of an imminent Iranian cyberattack are dubious at best aimed at ending the U.S. isolation on the issue through dishonest intelligence, while also justifying a U.S. preemptive counterattack on Irans infrastructure in a bid to further destabilize the nation, in service to the Trump administrations overall goal of regime change in Iran. Chatter by whom? Most of these articles, in introducing the threat posed by Iranian state-sponsored hackers, state that they originated with cybersecurity and intelligence experts. However, just sentences later, when these experts are quoted they specifically state that no evidence of such a threat even exists. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter For instance, an Associated Press story, which begins with the statement that the United States is bracing for cyberattacks Iran could launch in retaliation for the re-imposition of sanctions, quotes Priscilla Moriuchi director of strategic threat development at Recorded Future, a cyber-threat intelligence company as saying the following just two sentences later: While we have no specific threats, we have seen an increase in chatter related to Iranian threat activity over the past several weeks. In saying so, Moriuchi essentially admits that there is no threat from Iranian hackers, merely stating that there has been a jump in chatter related to Iranian threat activity. Notably, the chatter is not attributed, meaning that this increase could be a result of U.S. or Israeli intelligence hyping the possibility of a threat, not necessarily Iranians or their allies threatening a cyberattack. Considering the source Furthermore, Moriuchi is hardly unbiased, as her company, Recorded Future, counts among its clients several U.S. weapons manufacturers like Raytheon, and also regularly collaborates with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as well as technology companies that double as U.S. military contractors, such as Google and Palantir. Notably, Recorded Future was initially funded by both Google and In-Q-Tel, the venture-capitalist arm of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In addition, this report and others rely on the analysis of equally flawed experts to make their case. For instance, NBC cites Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu, who states that Iran has a penchant for using such tools against the West. However, Taleblu is a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), the hawkish neo-conservative think tank that has long championed preemptive bombings against Iran. The FDD is so stacked with notorious neo-conservatives that it has long been called the successor to the now-defunct think tank Project for a New American Century (PNAC), which was instrumental in promoting the invasion of Iraq under false pretenses. The FDD is also closely associated with National Security Adviser John Bolton, who promised just last year that the Iranian government would be toppled before 2019. However, NBC left out this important context, merely calling the FDD a conservative think tank in Washington. Another expert quoted in these articles was Norm Roule, who was introduced as the former Iran manager for the office of the Director of National Intelligence. Roule, who recently told the press that he believes that Iran will muster its cyberforces in response to U.S. sanctions, is a 34-year veteran of the CIA and, more importantly, a senior adviser to the group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). UANI is a think tank stuffed to the brim with Iran hawks, counting among its current members former Senator Joseph Lieberman; Richard Dearlove, former head of the UKs MI6; Tamir Pardo, former general director of Israels Mossad; and Jeb Bush. UANI was originally co-founded by Richard Holbrooke, John Bolton and Meir Dagan another former general director of the Mossad. Thus, given their associations to organizations that have long promoted the destruction of the Iranian state, Roules analysis, much like Taleblus, can hardly be considered impartial or objective. Self-isolated U.S. seeks a way out of the trap The U.S. warning of an imminent Iranian cyber-threat in response to the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran nuclear deal, and its subsequent decision to reimpose harsh sanctions against the Islamic Republic, comes at a crucial time, as many key countries, including many important U.S. allies, have declined to follow the U.S. lead on isolating Iran and have even rejected it outright. Indeed, as opposed to isolating Iran, the U.S. has become isolated itself, as E.U. countries have banned companies from complying with U.S. sanctions efforts and other key nations like China have refused to halt Iranian oil imports despite U.S. threats. However, were U.S. warnings of an Iranian cyber-threat to convince these countries, particularly Europe, that Iran was indeed on the offensive despite its desperate efforts to keep JCPOA alive, the U.S. isolation in terms of its Iran policy could well end. The Iranian government seems to have caught on to the U.S. game but seemed to think that rather than simply being intended to intensify Washingtons isolation campaign, the fear mongering over Iranian hackers was aimed at justifying imminent U.S. aggression against Iran. In a statement given to NBC by Alireza Miryousefi, spokeswoman for Irans UN delegation, she stated that Iran has no intention of engaging in any kind of cyber war with the U.S., adding, from our perspective, its more likely the U.S. wants the supposed suspicion of an attack as rationalization for a cyberattack against Iran. Miryousefi went on to call the U.S. the most belligerent cyber-attacker of any nation in the world, repeatedly attacking military and civilian targets across the world, including in Iran. Indeed, the U.S. famously targeted Irans civilian nuclear program with the Stuxnet virus it had jointly developed with Israel. It infected over 200,000 machines and destroyed around 20 percent of Irans nuclear centrifuges. Perhaps unsurprisingly, even the media reports themselves hint that this is the case, stating that while the U.S. has not yet decided whether it will retaliate in the event of an attack, it is already preparing new sanctions to impose on the country whether or not an attack occurs and is also building a case for its more confrontational stance in a bid to convince its wary allies to join its aggressive Iran policy. The reports also openly state that a preemptive attack against Iran is currently being debated by the Trump administration, but notes that officials are divided over the measure. However, given the increasing likelihood that Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who had supported JCPOA, is on the way out of the administration, the growing chorus of Iran war-hawks in the White House could soon make such divisions a thing of the past. Whitney Webb is a staff writer for MintPress News and a contributor to Ben Swanns Truth in Media. Her work has appeared on Global Research, the Ron Paul Institute and 21st Century Wire, among others. She has also made radio and TV appearances on RT and Sputnik. She currently lives with her family in southern Chile. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. ====== We are currently searching for a new comment system as we have run out of options on how to prevent the constant bickering and attacks by troll's, whose intention is to paint our website and newsletter as, anti-Semitic, anti-American, pro-Russian fake news. We can no longer afford to invest hours of our time each day, trying to have people behave in a manner befitting those who say they are concerned for others, while offering abuse and hostility to other ICH community members. When we have found such a comment system we will restore the comment function. We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. This would be a better use of out time than trying to prevent abuse of our comment system. Thank you for your continued support. Peace and joy No fewer than 10 persons including a policeman were yesterday evening feared killed in a failed attempt by armed robbers to road two banks after they invaded Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo local government area of Edo State. The armed men were said to have attacked a police station which is about 1.2 kilometre from the banks, set ablaze the official vehicle of the newly posted Area Commander and killed a policeman. It was gathered that two detainees at the police station said to have been arrested yesterday morning for minor offences were also killed. One of the detainees was reportedly arrested for incomplete vehicle particulars. While four persons were reportedly killed within the premises of the two banks as the robbers failed to get access to the vault of the banks, three other persons were reportedly killed near the police station. One of the youths in the community Ofei Obende said they tried to resist the robbers but were overpowered by their firepower but said that the police in the banks had exchange of gunfire which he said was responsible for the death of the three unidentifiable bodies. He said another unknown person was caught in the cross fire and could help police in their investigation. The Palace Secretary to the paramount ruler of the community, Otaru of Igarra, Elder Folorunsho Dania who confirmed the incident to Vanguard on phone said This is a serious case, armed robbers have besieged Igarra so many lives killed, 10 dead persons have been counted. The police station set ablaze, the Area Commanders new car set ablaze because we have an area commander now, then close to the police station, three people were killed and in the banks many persons were killed during the raid on the banks. It is a calamity. In all, 10 lives have gone. They could not access the strong room of the banks. The people that were killed in bank were outside the bank premises. Four persons killed within the bank premises, a policeman killed in the police station then a stone throw from the police station, three persons were killed, the car of the new area commander was set ablaze. Igarra is in a war scene, I am right at the police station. It would be recalled that six persons were killed in similar manner in November 2015 when armed robbers invaded the community. As at the time of this report, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor said information about the attack was still sketchy and would release more details later. Source: Vanguard An Instagram user, tagged The Sexy GrandPa is trending online for the right reasons and giving Irvin Randle who was dubbed #MrStealYourGrandma a run for his money, with his dreadlocks and physique. The Sexy Grandpa with his hunky figure, said to be 45-year-old, has 22 kids (12 girls and 10 boys) with 21 baby mamas. He is also a proud grandfather of one. Below are more photos of him: Few years ago, Irvin Randle also didnt ask to be famous. Until the end of June 2016, he was just an elementary schoolteacher in Houston, Texas. Admittedly, he was a particularly well-dressed schoolteacher, whos been dressing pretty swagger and pretty trendy all my life, he says. Then one of his Facebook friends asked if he could repost photos of Randle to Instagram, and Randles life changed overnight. Randles pictures received 37,000 likes in less than an hour. His daughter called him from California to tell him he was trending on Twitter. He didnt know what trending meant. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had asked the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to snap back to reality as it lack constitutional numbers to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki. The opposition party stated this in statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan. PDP noted that, the presidency knows this but has resolved to, using unconstitutional means like the National Assembly invasion on Tuesday. The @MBuhari Presidency and his failed and dysfunctional @APCNigeria should stop deluding themselves and come to terms with the reality that they lack the legislative number and constitutional facilities to impeach @SPNigeria @bukolasaraki & Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu pic.twitter.com/kSGo89dDml Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) August 10, 2018 The opposition party also cautioned the party to the APC to stop overheating the polity with these unlawful acts. The party also noted that it will the ruling party or change the resolve of Nigerians to vote them out in 2019. Consequently, we caution the @MBuhari Presidency and the APC to stop overheating the polity with their outbursts and shed future perverse attempts to circumvent our rules and constitution, as such will not help them or change the resolve of Nigerians to vote them out in 2019. pic.twitter.com/sESm1nhlvT Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) August 10, 2018 Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Femi Fani Kayode has dismissed as false, reports claiming he described his partyas being in a vegetative state. According to the former Aviation Minister, the publication is false and absurd fabrication of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Mr Fani Kayode also debunked report, he insulted the National chairman of the party, Uche Secondus and the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, who newly defected back to the PDP. He urges the public to view his verified social media handles, if they dont find it there, then those comments shouldnt be linked to him. He wrote via Twitter: A FAKE qoute has been spread by the APC claiming that I said our party, the PDP, is in a vegetative state and that I attacked our National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and other party leaders including Governor Nyesom Wike and Senate President Bukola Saraki. This is a TOTAL FABRICATION. It is FAKE NEWS. I have immense confidence in our National Chairman, the PDP and ALL our party leaders, including Saraki and Wike. If I had any doubts about that I would say so loud and clear. Members of the public should please take note that all my comments, quotes, contributions, posts, submissions and essays can be found on my verified twitter page, my verified Facebook page, my official website and any of my numerous columns. If they do not appear in any or all of these places it means that I never wrote or said them. The APC and the Buhari Media Centre live and thrive on fake news. We should expect more. Shalom. FFK tweeted this in reaction to the statement released by the ruling party yesterday August 9th in which Senate President Bukola Saraki was described as the most unfortunate senate president Nigeria has ever had. The party in its statement called Saraki a traitor who betrayed his father, sister (many times), his party PDP in 2014, the APC in 2015 by conspiring with opposition PDP senators to emerge Senate President, APC administration by sabotaging the executive and defecting to the PDP in 2018. Meanwhile, a trending video shows the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole making a terrible English blunder while addressing the press. (Read here) Senate President Bukola Saraki has reacted to the statement released by the ruling APC in which the party described him as a failure and the worst Senate president Nigeria has been unfortunate to have. While reacting to the comments made by the party, Saraki in a statement released by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said he cannot descend into the gutter with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). We cant descend into the gutter with these characters. Saraki said in his response On July 31st, Saraki announced his defection from APC to PDP. In the statement released by APC spokesperson, Yekini Nabena, yesterday, August 9, the ruling party described Saraki as a dismal failure who is unfit to be a senate president. Read the full statement below: In every democratic country, the position of the Senate President is one of the highest political offices one can attain. It is a position reserved for the best of the best, experienced and exemplary politicians who by their character and conduct in public offices, the younger generation look up to as role models. In terms of exemplary personage, the reverse is the case in respect of the current Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who has been a dismal failure and has been involved in one controversy or the other budget padding, filibustering, legislative rascality, sabotage of matters of national interest, among other criminalities too numerous to mention. Having suffered under the 16-year misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Saraki will go down in our countrys history as the worst Senate President Nigeria has had the misfortune to have. Since his usurpation of the coveted seat, achieved through a wicked conspiracy with members of the opposition PDP, it has been from one controversy to another the Code of Conduct trial for false declaration of assets; conspiracy with his deputy to fraudulently alter the rules of the Senate and links to the deadly armed robbers who wasted many lives in the Offa robbery attack. It is alleged that some of the robbery suspects were his political thugs used to rig elections; a common adage says: Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are. Dr. Saraki is definitely not our good example for political leadership. All over the world, the leadership of the legislature is provided by the political party with majority members. But Dr. Saraki would in the absence of many members of his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), connive and conspire with members of the opposition PDP to emerge Senate President, and in the process tradeoff the Deputy Senate President position to the opposition PDP a political betrayal and treachery even the devil would be envious of. Even at this time he has defected to the opposition PDP, and with APC still in the majority in the Senate, Dr. Saraki still has the impudence to present himself as the Senate President. Political ambition should be made of nobler stuff. One is of course not surprised as Dr. Sarakis greed, selfishness, treachery, disregard for protocol and constituted authority is well-reported. In terms of treachery, Dr. Sarakis public humiliation of his late father and sister comes readily to mind. A traitor will always be a traitor, however the time and place. The Senate must do everything possible to put Dr. Saraki where he rightly belongs the back seat. He is definitely not a fit and proper person to preside over the countrys upper and revered legislative house. A man who betrayed his father, sister (many times), his party PDP in 2014, the APC in 2015 by conspiring with opposition PDP senators to emerge Senate President, APC administration by sabotaging the executive and defecting to the PDP in 2018 has no character, principles, values and integrity. His only interest is Bukola Saraki, Bukola Saraki and Bukola Saraki. The question is not IF he will defect again from PDP if Bukola Sarakis interest is not served, but WHEN he will do so. Such mean men are not interested in the Nigeria of our dreams. Reno Omokri has attacked Adams Oshiomhole, the National chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, for calling former president Olusegun Obasanjo a thief. The APC national chairman was reported to have said that Obasanjo is a thief, who is regrouping other thieves. Omokri said it would be wrong to call Obasanjo, whom APC chieftains met during the 2015 electioneering campaigns to navigate for them. He added that, if Obasanjo, their navigator is thief, what does it make them? He said this via his twitter handle this morning, and wrote: Does Oshiomhole reason? How can he call Obasanjo a thief who is grouping with other thieves? Has he forgotten that Buhari, Tinubu and APC leaders grouped with this same Obasanjo and begged him to be their navigator in 2015? If your navigator is a thief, what does that make you? Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) August 10, 2018 The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP members also lambasted Oshiomhole for calling critics of president Muhammadu Buhari saboteurs. He asked if Aisha Buhari, who once criticised her husbands government is also a saboteur. U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken out against family-based immigration, the process by which a family member living legally in the United States may sponsor another family member who wishes to move to the U.S. Viktor and Amalija Knavs took the citizenship oath Thursday in New York City, according to an attorney for the Slovenian couple. The attorney, Michael Wildes, told reporters the couple applied for citizenship "on their own." He did not specify whether this meant the Knavses had been sponsored by their daughter. The parents of U.S. first lady Melania Trump have been sworn in as U.S. citizens, an upgrade from their previous status as permanent residents. Trump has said the process, which he has called "chain migration," allows potential terrorists to enter the United States. In response to a terror attack in New York City on Oct. 31, 2017, Trump tweeted, "CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE!" In January, in the president's annual State of the Union address, Trump said, "In recent weeks, two terrorist attacks in New York were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration. In the age of terrorism, these programs present risks we can no longer afford." Wildes told ABC News on Thursday that the Knavses had engaged in "a wonderful journey like most have -- millions have -- in getting citizenship and waiting the requisite period of time. The application, the process, the interview was no different than anybody else's, other than security arrangements to facilitate today." The Knavses took their oath of citizenship at a federal building guarded by police from the Department of Homeland Security. The Knavses raised daughter Melania in the city of Sevnica, while Slovenia was under communist rule. Viktor was a car dealer; Amalija worked in a factory. Melania changed her name to Knauss when she began modeling. She met Donald Trump in New York City in 1998. LOKOJASenator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), for a second time in a month did not show up in court, yesterday, to answer the charges on gunrunning against him and two others. Daily Trust Why I ordered invasion of National Assembly Sacked DSS boss, Lawal Daura The sacked Director General of the Department of State Security Service, Lawal Musa Daura, has confessed that he deployed hooded operatives of the secret service to the National Assembly on Tuesday based on intelligence report that unauthorised persons were planning to smuggle dangerous weapons and incriminating items into the complex. Thisday Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) thursday in Abuja dismissed calls for the resignation of the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun. The Sun Akwa Ibom State Government has denied renaming the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in the wake of the change of political allegiance by the former governor. Daily Times Governor, Rochas Okorocha Thursday said that he is more favoured to become the first President of Igbo extraction. Guardian Leadership Senator Abdullahi Adamu is the chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, and in this interview with select journalists, the former governor of Nasarawa State says that the Senate President seat is for the majority party in the Senate, among other happenings in the Red Chamber. The Nation SENATE President Bukola Saraki should step down as a matter of honour, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman Itse Sagay (SAN) said yesterday. Tribune At least 17 Nigerian soldiers were killed in a fresh Boko Haram attack on a military base in the countrys northeast, military sources told AFP Thursday, the third assault on three different bases in less than a month. Daily Independent Senate president Bukola Saraki and speaker of the House of representatives, Yakubu Dogara have released a joint statement. In the Friday evening statement, the lawmakers noted that theres a plot by the presidency to implicate them, and their colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the illegal invasion of the National Assembly on Tuesday. JOINT PRESS STATEMENT The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu have raised alarm that the Federal Government has commenced plans to implicate them and their colleagues in the PDP over the invasion of the National Assembly by men of the DSS Archive of the President of the 8th Senate (@SP8thNGRSenate) August 10, 2018 In a statement signed by their media aides, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Uche Anichukwu, the two legislative leaders stated that after receiving the interim report submitted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Idris Ibrahim Archive of the President of the 8th Senate (@SP8thNGRSenate) August 10, 2018 The mandate of this closet panel, the two legislators stated, is to turn facts on the head and blame the invasion of the National Assembly on the two leaders of the Red Chamber of the National Assembly. Archive of the President of the 8th Senate (@SP8thNGRSenate) August 10, 2018 They expressed fears that in the report, the presidency would accuse them of working hand-in-hand with the sacked Director general of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura. Whereas they intend to hide the fact that they(All Progressives Congress) had a late night meeting to convene at the NASS, with the intention to impeach Saraki. The Senate President and his Deputy, will then be presented as having worked in tandem with the sacked Director General of the DSS, Mallam Lawal Daura to stage the parliamentary security breach. Archive of the President of the 8th Senate (@SP8thNGRSenate) August 10, 2018 "They want to shield the fact that the previous night before the invasion and up till the early hours of Tuesday, there was a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators and that the plan was for them to be moved in a coaster bus into the National Assembly complex Archive of the President of the 8th Senate (@SP8thNGRSenate) August 10, 2018 later that morning for them to purportedly remove us and select a new Senate President and Deputy Senate President. Archive of the President of the 8th Senate (@SP8thNGRSenate) August 10, 2018 They( Saraki and Dogara) claim the ruling party wants to distort facts and blame them for a botched plot(all thanks to the media) to oust Saraki out of office. "Their plot only failed because the media, particularly social media, Nigerians and international community responded very swiftly as some legislators who came into the complex were refused entry by gun-wielding, hooded security operatives. Archive of the President of the 8th Senate (@SP8thNGRSenate) August 10, 2018 "Now, they want to turn facts on its head and blame us for their botched plot against democracy. We are hereby alerting all Nigerians and the international community that the present Nigerian government will stop at nothing to destroy, suppress and incapacitate the opposition. Archive of the President of the 8th Senate (@SP8thNGRSenate) August 10, 2018 The senate president and the Speaker for of the house of reps stressed that they refuse to accept any manipulation and fabrication. Presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie has quoted a Nigerian aspiring politician, Abubakar Sidiq Usman, who made shocking revelations about Senate President Bukola Saraki and the sack of Lawal Daura, Director-general of the Department of State Services(DSS). In a Twitter post earlier, Sifiq recounted how the sack of Lawan was not primarily because of the blockade Of the National Assembly but more. Following the invasion of the National Assembly on Tuesday by men of the DSS, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), ordered the immediate sack of Mr. Daura, but according to this new report, Mr Daura would have been sacked regardless, following findings by the National Intelligence Agency, NIA. The NIA were said to have tracked Dauras telephone conversation with Saraki, and that was what led to the sack. However, Sidiq revealed that Senate president Bukola Saraki, had called for a Tuesday meeting of the leadership of the National Assembly to discuss the request by the executive for the approval of virement for the conduct of the 2019 general elections and consideration of the 2018 Supplementary Bill. With the defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the call for his resignation and call by the presidency that the National Assembly be reconvened created suspicions all over the air. The suspicion was that, APC senators will use the opportunity of the meeting called by Senator Saraki to reconvene the Senate and carry out the immediate impeachment of the Senate President. This suspicion is without consideration to the fact that the APC now has a simple majority. Usman also mentioned that Saraki, quickly plotted the invasion because he was unsure of the move by the APC , enlisting the help of HIS FRIEND at the DSS, Lawal Daura. The fear was that with the possible reconvening of the Senate, APC senators will find their way to the National Assembly and carry out the rumoured impeachment plot of the Senate President. So, PDP senators were quickly alerted and asked to report to the National Assembly as early as possible on Tuesday so as to be able to check mate whatever the APC senators may have planned for the day. While the PDP Senators will be there on one hand, DSS agents will also be drafted to ensure that nobody gained access to the National Assembly complex so that the chance to reconvene does not even occur. According to Mr Usman, while quoting his sources said Daura provided 40 DSS operatives to carry out the blockade at the National Assembly. Usman, claimed also that the DSS officers were to ensure that APC a PDP lawmakers were denied access into the National Assembly, however the real target was APC senators. The plan however did go as expected as APC senators did not show up at the National Assembly, giving the fact that lawmakers were on recess. The meeting called by the Senate President was that of the leadership, scheduled for 12 noon while the text for the drama invited PDP lawmakers and the media said 7am. Consequently, PDP senators started arriving the National Assembly as early as 7am as directed and they met the resistance of the DSS who had orders not to let anyone in. OAP, Toke Makinwa took to her Instagram page to post a completely nude picture of herself. She simply captioned the photo: When you glow there is nothing to hide #InvestinyourGlow13.08.2018 cc @glowbytm Different reaction trailed the photo with some supporing her and others against her. See reactions below: Against her; ***thats the problem with us today. We would clearly see our brothers and sisters going astray but instead of cautioning them, well keep quiet because its mainstream and were all not perfect. Calling someone to order is referred to as judging or criticizing because its their body or their way of life. Im not judging, Im just saying we must not preach one thing and do another thing. *** Non of my business but this clearly is part of the new world demonic agenda to destroy what is left of Africa. They have succeded in eroding african culture, now they are wiping out morals. You probably did this, because Kim, beyonce etc do it and get applauded. But their fabric isnt the same as yours. Theirs have been ripped apart. Dont fall for the deception. ***f there is nothing to hide, why cant I see your pussy, uncultured woman In support; *** I dont see anything wrong with this!!! Yes she is a Christian, a grown up woman, and yes we young ladies look up to her.. she is promoting her brand!!! And who are yall that are judging. *** Women should be allowed to express themselves whichever way the chose to, this is not been naked in my opinion Some fans of Nigerian media personality, Toke Makinwa are unimpressed with her new campaign which sees her completely nude. Toke Makinwa took to her Instagram page to post a completely nude picture of herself. She simply captioned the photo: When you glow there is nothing to hide #InvestinyourGlow13.08.2018 cc @glowbytm The photo was used to advertise her soon to be launched brand, Glow by TM by glowing unclad.But some fans feel for a born again Christian, she is off line See reactions below: Against her; ***thats the problem with us today. We would clearly see our brothers and sisters going astray but instead of cautioning them, well keep quiet because its mainstream and were all not perfect. Calling someone to order is referred to as judging or criticizing because its their body or their way of life. Im not judging, Im just saying we must not preach one thing and do another thing. *** Non of my business but this clearly is part of the new world demonic agenda to destroy what is left of Africa. They have succeded in eroding african culture, now they are wiping out morals. You probably did this, because Kim, beyonce etc do it and get applauded. But their fabric isnt the same as yours. Theirs have been ripped apart. Dont fall for the deception. ***f there is nothing to hide, why cant I see your pussy, uncultured woman In support; *** I dont see anything wrong with this!!! Yes she is a Christian, a grown up woman, and yes we young ladies look up to her.. she is promoting her brand!!! And who are yall that are judging. *** Women should be allowed to express themselves whichever way the chose to, this is not been naked in my opinion See screenshots of reactions: The profit slide comes after the bank agreed to pay a AU$700 million fine the biggest in Australian corporate history for breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws that resulted in millions of dollars flowing through to drug importers. The last time the bank posted a fall in net profit was in the year to June 2009, according to Thomson Reuters. Commonwealths chief executive Matt Comyn, who replaced his predecessor Ian Narev this year amid the banks turmoil, said that it was certainly good to put the last financial year behind us. That enables us to really focus on the future, Comyn told analysts. While there will be subdued credit growth, particularly versus the last five years, long term we remain very optimistic about the economic prospects of Australia. Full-year cash profit from continuing operations, which excludes one-offs and non-cash accounting items, fell 4.8% to A$9.23 billion put down to higher funding costs and regulatory charges related to an ongoing inquiry into financial-sector misconduct. The cash profit does not include the performance of the life insurance unit CBA sold to AIA Group Ltd in 2017 and its loss-making digital banking unit in South Africa, which the bank said was being sold for an undisclosed sum, Reuters reports. The result wasnt good, and the outlook is not good either. Expectations for FY19 are pretty low, Omkar Joshi, a Sydney-based portfolio manager at Regal Funds Management, said in the report. But a lot of people were positioned for a very bad result and to be honest, it just wasnt that bad. gavel on wooden background tax Broadly speaking, the court confirmed the existing understanding of the law as it relates to UK withholding tax (UKWHT) on interest payments. Had the court done otherwise, the resulting upheaval could have led to UK taxpayers needing to re-examine a huge raft of debt arrangements. But while being suitably grateful to Lady Justice Arden, who gave the leading judgment on June 21, some taxpayers and their advisers may feel that an opportunity has been missed to simplify and streamline the law in this area. Even worse, Ardmore may actually make life more complex. Facts of the case Ardmore, a UK-based, family-owned construction company borrowed money from trusts in Gibraltar. Ardmore did not deduct UKWHT from interest payments to the Gibraltan lenders. In keeping with its long-standing position in such cases, HMRC determined that the interest payments had a UK source and so were subject to UKWHT. HMRCs view was that, because Ardmore was a UK company, the source of the interest was the UK. As Ardmore had not accounted for the UK tax due, HMRC assessed Ardmore for that tax. Ardmore and its advisers argued that, because the lenders were in Gibraltar, the debt arrangements were governed by Gibraltan law, and the loan documents included a Gibraltan jurisdiction clause, Gibraltar was the source of the interest and not the UK (and so no UKWHT was due). In short, Ardmore effectively thought it could justify this position by saying that the loan, rather than the debtor (and the funds from which the debtor serviced the interest), was the source of the interest. The UK Court of Appeal upheld the previous lower tier tribunal decisions. Lady Justice Arden dismissed the idea that the origination of the loan from Gibraltar meant that the interest also originated there. She said: The immediate search is for the source of the interest rather than a search indirectly for the source of the loan. The funds paid over as interest derived from funds generated in the UK. The activity of lending became passive once the loan was made, whereas the business of Ardmore was actively conducted to produce those funds. She added: Furthermore, relative to the links with the UK, the links with Gibraltar were of an insubstantial kind: there was no evidence that they were backed up by any kind of other activity within Gibraltar, nor was it explained why it was necessary for the trusts to form companies in the British Virgin Islands or what commercial purpose those companies served. Gibraltan law, she went on, would, under the terms of the loan, govern the arrangement only in the event of a default by the borrower, and this had not happened. However, the UK Court of Appeal did not endorse the hitherto-existing approach of HMRC, which is that a UK-resident debtor must, generally, deduct UKWHT from interest payments to overseas lenders (subject to the availability of any relief or exemption). Cases may be different, and HMRC should look at all the relevant factors in each case and weigh them accordingly. For instance, it may not be appropriate for HMRC simply to look to debtor residence where there is an active lender and a passive borrower. The correct approach, she added, was not merely multifactorial, but should also be acutely fact-sensitive. HMRC already considers a number of factors in such cases, but their position has for some time been that one of the most important factors is the residence of the debtor and the location of their assets. Other factors (upon which HMRC tends to place less weight) include the residence of any guarantor, the location of any security for the debt, the competent jurisdiction for any legal action and the relevant law of contract, and the method of payment of interest. Following Ardmore it may be prudent to reconsider how appropriate any such hierarchy is in light of the facts. A practical and substantive approach should be taken to weighing the factors in each case. As Lady Justice Arden said, the key test was whether a practical person would regard the source [of the interest] as in [the UK] or elsewhere. All factors ought to be considered and each has some relevance. That may sound reasonable, but in contrast to the existing HMRC priority given to a debtors residence and location of their assets advisers and HMRC must now weigh them all. An opportunity to simplify the rules in this area has been missed and the court declined to set out an objective test of universal application. If anything, the Ardmore judgment has made the job of hunting for a UK source more complex. However, the courts approach of having regard to the facts in hand is reasonable debt arrangements are increasingly complicated and very often more complicated than Ardmores arrangements as applying a one-size-fits-all approach would carry its own significant challenges. The courts action in broadly upholding the status quo, then, deserves two cheers. This article was prepared by Oliver Walker, a tax partner, and Stuart Pibworth, a tax associate, of Weil, Gotshal and Manges (London). 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 Russia said Thursday new sanctions the United States imposed in connection with the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain are illegal and that Russia had nothing to do with the March incident. The U.S. State Department announced the sanctions Wednesday, saying Russia broke international law by using a lethal nerve agent against its own nationals. The measures are set to take effect Aug. 22 and generally involve U.S. licenses for exporting sensitive national security goods to Russia, such as electronics. The Kremlin blasted the move as "unacceptable." "The restrictions are absolutely unlawful and don't conform to international law," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. A policeman found Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, slumped on a bench and unconscious in the British city of Salisbury. They were sickened by Novichok -- a Soviet-era nerve agent. Both survived but spent weeks in the hospital. The Russian Embassy in Washington said Wednesday the sanctions are based on "far-fetched accusations" and that Russia supports a transparent investigation of what happened. "We grew accustomed to not hearing any facts or evidence," the embassy said in a statement. Vancouver, British Columbia - August 10, 2018 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Nicola Mining Inc. (TSXV: NIM) (the "Company") is pleased to announce results on its 20-hole Phase 1 Reverse Circulation drill program ("Phase 1 RC Program") completed between May 23 to June 8, 2018, at its wholly-owned New Craigmont Project, located near Merritt, British Columbia. The Phase 1 RC Program provides a simple overview of copper grade and sectional volume of the approximate 80-90 million-tonne historical wastepile surrounding the Craigmont Mine pit, as well as insight if any sections merited further exploration. The Phase 1 RC Program also added to positive 3060-Portal RC drill results, as announced in the September 26, 2017, news release. Given that the wastepile material was placed in benches, there would be no direct mining costs associated with production. Assay results from the drill program are summarized in Diagram 1. Highlights of the results include: An average grade of 2463 ppm Cu (0.25% Cu) over 40 metres for the deepest RC hole in the program (CC-RC-18-12) Indication of potential high-grade Cu mineralization in the southern side of the waste piles that is believed to also contain the greatest volume On October 3, 2016, the Company announced that it had entered into an Exploration and Material Purchase Agreement with Teck Highland Valley Copper Partnership ("HVCP"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Teck Resources Limited, involving mine strip material (refer to Oct. 3, 2016, news release) surrounding the historic Craigmont open pit. A clear zone of interest has been found in the largest volume section of the wastepiles, which is located on the southern side of the pit. The Phase 1 RC program found the south-central quadrant contains the thickest and most potentially economic grade for the waste piles. Results have warranted a follow up program ("Phase 2 Program") to delineate copper mineralization and trace the extent of the higher grading material within the waste piles. The Company recognizes that an approximate 100-hole Phase 2 Program will provide only conceptual quantity and grades and will be insufficient data to complete a NI 43-101 resource. Phase 2 will, however, be able to provide insight into approximate in-situ calculations based on volume and grade. The Phase 2 Program will include additional holes at Portal 3060 which were not completed during the 2017 exploration program. The Company has the funds to complete the entire Phase 2 DrillingProgram. Figure 1: Map of 20-Hole Phase 1 RC Program Hole Locations Figure 2: Map of 20-Hole Phase 1 RC Program Results and Zone and Phase 2 Target Peter Espig, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "The Phase 1 RC Program proved extremely valuable, as it provides us with insight into the significant potential of the mine strip material surrounding the historic pit. We are encouraged that grading of the wastepiles are associated with location and not depth, which limits waste rock and allows the Company to focus on the eastern side of the historic pit. In addition, because the largest cost of mining, which includes engineering, infrastructure, surveying and blasting have all been incurred, the value of the wastepile is significant and warrants a follow up Phase 2 Program. Quality Control The Company implemented a quality control program for this program to ensure best practices are utilized for sample collection and analysis of RC cuttings. Samples were collected at 2.0 m intervals down hole with lithology, alteration and mineralization documented for each interval. Quality control measures include insertion of standards and duplicates into the sample stream at a frequency of 1 blank and 1 standard for every group of 20 samples, and field duplicates at a rate of 3 per 100 samples. Activation Laboratory (ISO 17025 Certified) in Kamloops, British Columbia, conducted sample analysis using ICP Aqua Regia 38-element (IE3) and fire assay gold (IA2) packages. Certified reference standards and rock blanks were placed in the sample stream with a ratio of approximately one sample out of 10. Qualified Person Kevin Wells, P.Geo, a consulting geologist to the Company, is the independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for the technical disclosure contained in this news release. About Nicola Mining Nicola Mining Inc. is a junior mining company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and is in the process of recommencing mill feed processing operations at its 100% owned state-of-the-art mill and tailings facility, located near Merritt, British Columbia. It has already signed four mill profit share agreements with high grade gold producers. The fully-permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes. The Company also owns 100% of Treasure Mountain, a high-grade silver property, and an active gravel pit that is located adjacent to its milling operations. About New Craigmont The New Craigmont Project (the "Property") is a wholly-owned copper property with an active mine permit (M-68), located within the world-class Highland Valley porphyry district. It benefits from excellent infrastructure. The Property is at the corner intersection of the Nicola and Guichon batholiths, of which the latter is the precursor to mineralization at Highland Valley. In November of 2015, Nicola became the first group in decades to consolidate ownership of the Property, and has been actively conducting mineral exploration since. There are currently no mineral resource estimates on the Property. Historical "non-NI 43-101" resource calculations are recorded in internal memos and geological reports for Placer Development. An internal memo written by J.F. Bristow on October 30, 1985, to Craigmont Mines Ltd. reported a zone known as Body No. 3 containing a historic estimate of 1,290,000 tons (1,170,268 metric tonnes) of copper grading 1.53% copper. * This estimate assumes a 0.7% copper cut-off and a 20-foot mining width between drill sections 6565E and 8015E. The material in Body No. 3 contains mineralization primarily in silicate-rich rocks. Additionally, J.F. Bristow reported in an internal memo on July 22, 1985, to Craigmont Mines Ltd. a rough calculation of +60,000,000 pounds (1.6 million short tons or 1.45 metric tonnes) of +1.5% copper from an original ore estimate of 27,754,000 short tons (25,178,005 metric tonnes) of copper grading 1.79% copper left behind in the sub-level cave. The material is from the previously mined out No.1 Body and No.2 Body. It should be noted that these historical estimates do not meet the requirements needed to conform to National Instrument 43-101 standards. The Company notes that an independent Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to verify and classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and is therefore not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. For further details on the Property, see the technical report entitled "TECHNICAL REPORT on the THULE COPPER IRON PROPERTY, Southern British Columbia, Canada," filed on May 8, 2013, on Sedar at www.sedar.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Peter Espig" Peter Espig CEO & Director For additional information contact: Peter Espig Telephone: (778) 385-1213 Email: peter@nicolamining.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. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp This collection features the arguments in favor of and against the renaming of Catt Hall on Iowa State's campus, which was named in Google has officially brought its celebrity oriented video app, known as Cameos, to the App Store. This app lets celebrities respond to some of the frequently asked questions by fans on Google. They will even get notified when a new search query pops up, allowing them to react immediately and keep their fans updated. Once the celebrity uploads their response on the app, Google claims that it automatically makes its way to Search. Further, the videos will also be highlighted on top of the celebritys feed on Googles mobile apps. Naturally, you will have to be a celebrity of some stature to be able to use this app. If youre famous enough to be searched on Google or have a decent fan following, you should probably use this app. This app can be hugely beneficial for the celebrities to clear out their name in the event of a fake rumor being spread on the internet. As Google puts it, this also ensures that the content stays recent and timely. While anybody can download the app, Google will only grant access to a known celebrity. Perhaps adding a feed section on the app will make this more appealing to the non-celebrities out there. The app is a free download from the App Store. Download Cameos on the iTunes App Store [Via MacRumors A former Metropolitan Transportation Authority official has been accused of purchasing nearly $60,000 worth of iPhones using taxpayers money. The Manhattan district attorneys office has charged the accused, Angel Barbosa, the former chief procurement officer at the MTA with grand larceny. As if that was not already enough, he was also caught faking documents from his previous job to get a higher salary at the MTA. He faked his previous salary documents to show more than $30,000 to get a higher salary at the MTA. Angel Barbosa has pleaded not guilty for all the charges levied against him. He voluntarily agreed to appear in the court and face the accusations levied against him. He managed to get a bail after paying the court $40,000. Angel Barbosa first cheated New Yorkers out of tens of thousands of dollars in the form of his falsely inflated salary, and then stole nearly $60,000 from taxpayers in a smartphone procurement-and-resale scheme, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said in a statement. Barbosa using his position as the chief procurement officer in 2016 and got an MTA employee to order 63 iPhones totaling nearly $60,000 which he got shipped to his home address. The ordering process did not follow the regular procurement procedure and once Mr. Barbosa received the iPhones, he asked one of his associates to sell them, with both of them then pocketing the money. Barbosa was fired from his post in 2017 as soon as his illegal actions were discovered. Just two days before he was fired, Barbosa had asked his employee to place an order for another 80 iPhones. [Via WSJ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres selected Chile's former President Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday to be the next UN human rights chief, a high profile and often controversial job that has sparked criticism from governments targeted for rights abuses. Guterres sent a note to the General Assembly announcing his choice of Bachelet and urging approval by its 193 member states. Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak followed up, sending letters to all UN ambassadors saying a meeting will take place Friday morning to vote on her nomination, which is virtually certain to be approved. Bachelet is no stranger to human rights abuses. The daughter of an air force general, she was a medical student when Marxist President Salvador Allende was overthrown in a coup in September 1973. Her father, Gen. Alberto Bachelet, was imprisoned for treason for opposing the coup and then-23-year-old Michelle and her mother were tortured in a secret prison for two weeks before they fled into exile. Following months of torture, her father died of cardiac arrest in March 1974. Bachelet has also been a pioneer for women and women's rights as a pediatrician, a moderate socialist politician, and a single mother of three. She was the first female president of Chile, in 2006-2010, and was tapped by then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to be the first head of UN Women, an agency that was created in July 2010 by the General Assembly to combine four UN bodies dealing with gender equality and the advancement of women under a single umbrella. In 2013, Bachelet returned to Chile to run for president again and was elected and served a second term in 2014-2018. Before Guterres' announcement, Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said, "If selected, Bachelet will be taking on one of the world's most difficult jobs at a moment when human rights are under widespread attack." "As a victim herself, she brings a unique perspective to the role on the importance of a vigorous defense of human rights," Roth said in a statement. "People worldwide will depend on her to be a public and forceful champion, especially where offenders are powerful." If confirmed by the General Assembly, Bachelet would replace Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, a Jordanian diplomat and member of the country's royal family whose four-year term ends Aug. 31. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which Bachelet would head, leads UN efforts to protect and promote rights and speak out against violations around the world. Mauritius High Commission Islamabad Medical Specialist Jobs Latest Mauritius High Commission Embassy Posts Islamabad 2021 Mauritius High Commission Islamabad, Pakistan required applications from experienced and professional candidates to fill the positions of Medical Specialist. How to Apply on Mauritius High Commission Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. National Integrated Development Association NIDA Jobs Latest National Integrated Development Association NIDA NGO Posts Shangla 2021 National Integrated Development Association NIDA-Pakistan a Non Governmental Organization require the service of Female Social Organizers in District Shangla. How to Apply on National Integrated Development Association NIDA Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. Sales at duty-free shops on the resort island of Jeju hit an all-time high in the second quarter thanks mainly to the return of Chinese tourists. According to Statistics Korea, the figures from April to June were up by around 58 percent on-year. The number of foreign visitors at Jeju International Airport also jumped by 140 percent compared to the same period last year. The key contributing factor is the rebound in Chinese tourists, after numbers dipped amid an unofficial boycott from Beijing. North Korea has rejected a denuclearization timetable from the U.S., media reports said Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had asked Pyongyang to hand over 60 to 70 percent of its nuclear warheads within six to eight months to Washington or a third party. It is unclear what if anything he offered in exchange. "It's unclear what concessions, if any, the U.S. would offer in exchange beyond sanctions relief or removing North Korea from the state sponsors of terrorism list," Vox said. Vox cited two people familiar with the discussions as saying Pompeo presented the timeline to North Korea numerous times over the last two months but was rebuffed each time by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand man Kim Yong-chol. "Even after months of talks, Washington and Pyongyang have made little progress toward ending the North Korean nuclear threat," it added. According to the Washington Post, U.S. intelligence agencies estimate the North has as many as 60 nuclear warheads, but the exact number is not known, so it would be difficult to establish how many constitute 60 percent. A source told Vox this is why Pompeo's main goal at the current stage of negotiations is to get North Korea to disclose how many nuclear weapons it has. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told reporters that the ball is in North Korea's court, adding the international community still expects Pyongyang to keep its promise to denuclearize. She said the U.S. is willing to wait if the international community wants to, but not for too long. 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. Officials from North and South Korea are to meet in the border truce village of Panmunjom next Monday to prepare for the next summit. The Unification Ministry said Thursday that North Korea proposed the meeting to check on progress in implementing the agreement from the first summit in April and also to discuss another meeting between their leaders. President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed at the April summit to meet again in autumn, but Seoul wants to bring the meeting forward to late August because denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S. have stalled and it wants to mediate. Seoul hopes the summit will happen before North Korea marks its 70th anniversary on Sept. 9. One former Unification Ministry official said, "North Korea had expected to sign a declaration ending the Korean War and get regime security guarantees through back-to-back summits with South Korea and the U.S., but things have not turned out that way. North Korea will try to pressure South Korea to make good on the agreements made during the inter-Korean summit." Hyundai will stop production of diesel versions of four models amid sluggish sales, the carmaker said on Thursday. "We decided to eclipse diesel sedans as they are quickly replaced with eco-friendly cars amid low demand," a Hyundai spokesman said. "In the long term, diesel versions are available for some popular SUV models only." Under the decision, the diesel versions of the Sonata sedan, i30 hatchback, Grandeur sedan and Maxcruz SUV are no longer manufactured as of Friday, and only those remaining ones in stock will be sold. Hyundai plans to launch a new large SUV at the end of this year, so it decided to discontinue the production of the Maxcruz SUV. The regime often holds massive parades to mark major anniversaries, such as the birthdays of regime founder Kim Il-sung and former leader Kim Jong-il, and the founding anniversary of the Workers Party. No movement of any missile launch vehicle has been detected yet, but troops and equipment are moving in the direction of Pyongyang. Several hundreds of North Korean troops have recently been practicing a parade at Mirim Airport in Pyongyang, a government source here said on Thursday. The airport is about 7 km from Kim Il-sung Square, where the parade will be held. North Korea is making preparations for a massive parade ahead of the 70th anniversary of regime founding on Sept. 9. The regime has regularly displayed new weapons or missiles during these parades, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, but amid the current flurry of diplomacy that is unlikely this year. "The North probably won't display an ICBM that can reach the U.S. mainland while talks with the U.S. are going on," a government official here speculated. Instead, the regime is expected to make a show of dismantling the Sohae missile test site in Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province on the occasion of its founding anniversary. The event would be a good opportunity for it to show off its willingness to denuclearize to international guests and the media. Other planned events include the queasy mass games mobilizing some 100,000 people who hop around and throw shapes in unison in conditions that have been widely criticized as human rights abuses. South Korean and U.S. surveillance satellites have detected tens of thousands of North Koreans practicing at the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang. The mass games are a draw for some tourists, especially from China, and the regime is selling package tours and has invited foreign leaders. At the ASEAN Regional Forum on Aug. 4, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho complained that the U.S. is pressuring other countries into not sending high-level delegations to the celebrations. PORTLAND, Ore. After 12 years on the run, authorities say that accused domestic terrorist Joseph Mahmoud Dibee has been arrested abroad and will be extradited to the US to face charges in multiple states, including Oregon. Now 50 years old, Seattle-native Joseph Dibee allegedly participated in an environmentally-motivated terrorist group with ties to the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) or the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). Dibee is suspected in crimes that took place in Oregon, California and Washington state. More than two decades ago, a loosely affiliated group of environmental extremists set out to express their views using force, violence, sabotage, mass destruction, intimidation, and coercion, said U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams. Thankfully no innocent lives were taken by these senseless acts...Dibee will now, as many of his co-conspirators have before, face the consequences of his actions. Using violent means to express ones views will never be tolerated nor forgotten. We will bring every last person responsible for these crimes to justice. An American citizen, Dibbee is charged in the District of Oregon with one count of conspiracy to commit arson, one count of conspiracy to commit arson and destruction of an energy facility, and one count of arson. He also faces one count each of conspiracy to commit arson, possession of an unregistered firearm, and possession of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence in the Western District of Washington and one count each of conspiracy to commit arson, arson of a government building, and possession of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence in the Eastern District of California. The US Attorney's Office says that Dibee will make an initial appearance in federal court on Friday before a federal magistrate judge in the District of Oregon. The government will seek his continued detention. According to court documents, federal authorities learned Dibee was traveling through Central America on his way to Russia with a planned stop in Cuba. With the assistance of the Cuban authorities, the FBI arranged for Dibee's detention before he boarded a plane bound for Russiawith the intent of returning him to the US to stand trial. Dibee fled the United States in December 2005. In 2006, a federal grand jury in Oregon indicted Dibee and 11 co-conspirators as part of "Operation BACKFIRE"a long-running FBI domestic terrorism investigation. The US Attorney's Office claims that the conspirators, known as The Family, have been linked to more than 40 criminal acts ranging from vandalism to arson between 1995 and 2001, causing more than $45 million in damages. Authorities are still looking for one fugitive from Operation BACKFIREJosephine Sunshine Overaker, an American citizen believed to be either 43 or 46 years old, fled to Europe in late 2001. Overaker faces 19 felony charges. The US Attorney's Office says that Overaker speaks fluent Spanish and may seek employment as a firefighter, midwife, sheep tender, or masseuse. The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to her arrest. SALEM, Ore. (AP) The evangelist Franklin Graham recently asked thousands of people at an Oregon rally to pray for the state's Democratic governor, saying she should be a Christian. Yoga and meditation suit Gov. Kate Brown just fine, she told reporters Thursday when asked if she follows a certain faith. "I believe very much that each of us is a spiritual being, and that's how I see the world," Brown said, adding that she feels people should treat human beings with respect. Brown, who is up for re-election in November, was specifically named by Graham at a sermon to more than 12,000 people near Portland on Sunday, Willamette Week reported. "Let's pray for your governor, Gov. Brown. Wouldn't it be something if she got saved? Amen," Graham said, the Portland weekly reported. "We pray for Kate Brown. And Lord, I pray that she would come to know your son Jesus Christ as her lord and savior one day." Oregon is one of America's most liberal states, with Democrats also controlling the state Legislature. Graham, son of the late superstar evangelist Billy Graham, is an outspoken ally of President Donald Trump. "If the church went to the polls and voted, you could turn this state around," Graham told the crowd at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. "The enemy out there thinks the church is asleep." Asked by reporters during a phone-in news conference about her religious beliefs, Brown said she is a yogi, or one who practices yoga. While in India, yoga for many is a spiritual or religious practice, in America it is generally secular. Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. ___ Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky MEDFORD, Ore. -- The fire fight is sitting at about $133.2 million dollars so far for the fires in the Southern Oregon region, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center. Miles Fire $30.1 million Snow Shoe Fire $1.6 million Taylor Creek Fire $17.4 million Klondike Fire $7.5 million Natchez Fire $16.3 million Hendrix Fire $9.2 million Timber Crater 6 $7.4 million Garner Complex $43.7 million There are many things associated with the costs of a fire. This includes the somewhat obvious things like paying fire crews, and paying for aerial support, as well as the retardant itself. But there are smaller things that add up. For example, Brian Ballou with the Northwest Area Coordination Center says this also includes food, water, and housing for the fire crews. It also includes everything from all the vehicle maintenance costs, to portable bathrooms at the fire camp, to the paying the people who pick up trash at the camp. "Every day, sometimes, you can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars feeding and watering and supporting your fire fighters," Ballou said. "Sometimes it's $1 million a day, especially if they're using a lot of aircraft, bulldozers and you have 1,000 people out there working the fire." According to Ballou, major fires in Oregon and Washington cost $577 million to fight last year. So far, it's cost $246 million. He says it's hard to determine if we're at a "normal" level. "It's hard to really say what's normal because firefighting costs go up every year," Ballou said. "And when you have areas [where] it's becoming much more common, the fires are very long -- you know the fires are very big and they last a long time." The Korea Customs Service on Thursday said some importers here knew that coal shipments disguised as Russian products came from North Korea. That would violate UN Security Council Resolution 2371, which ban import of North Korean minerals, as well as South Korea's own sanctions, and make them targets of a secondary boycott from the U.S. In an interview with Voice of America, U.S. Congressman Ted Poe, who chairs the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade in the House of Representatives, said third-party sanctions should be imposed on South Korean companies and added no countries should exempt. The U.S. government has already slapped third-party sanctions on Russian and Chinese businesses. GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- The Red Cross will close its evacuation shelter at Grants Pass High School Friday at 10 a.m. unless new level 3 evacuation orders are put in place. Joel King, Disaster Program Manager for Southwest Oregon, said a new shelter could possibly be opening up in Cave Junction if needed. Our shelter trailers are equipped to provide cots and blankets and the essentials for 100 people and thats typically a very large shelter," King said. Currently, King said 12 people are staying in the Grants Pass shelter. The majority of them evacuated from the Taylor Creek Fire. He said the most evacuees staying at one point since the shelter opened was 17. King also said if there is a big change in weather or new level 3 evacuation orders are put in place, the shelter will stay open. CENTRAL POINT, Ore. A large apartment complex development in Central Point promising affordable housing will receive a grant of more than $2.2 million, according to an announcement from Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) on Thursday. The grant comes from the 2018 federal 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and HOME awards "which leverage local, state, and private investments," according to OHCS. The City of Central Point approved initial plans for the Creekside Apartments project in April of 2017, submitted by the Housing Authority of Jackson County. Those plans identified a total of eight multi-family buildings in townhouse units and flat apartments, plus a community building, 76 parking spaces, landscaping, pedestrian walkways and a children's play structure. According to the project's proposal, Creekside will offer a total of 50 units24 units for tenants with "project-based" rent assistance, 25 which will be affordable to households earning 50 percent area median income (AMI) or less, and one "non-income qualified" unit for an onsite manager. Among the units will also be eight units of "permanent supportive housing dedicated to homeless veterans using project-based Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers," along with supportive services provided by local housing and veterans officials. There will also be eight units "set aside as Family Strengthening Units, subsidized with project-based vouchers." The Creekside Apartments are planned for 200 S Haskell St between Ash Street and Cheney Loop. FILE - In this May 16, 2018 file photo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt appears before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on budget on Capitol Hill in Washington. A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration endangered public health by keeping a top-selling pesticide chlorpyrifos on the market, despite extensive scientific evidence that even tiny levels of exposure could harm babiesAo brains. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to remove chlorpyrifos from sale in the United States within 60 days. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Children's backpacks are discarded a day after an airstrike in Saada, Yemen on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Yemen's Shiite rebels are backing a United Nations' call for an investigation into a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in the country's north that killed dozens of people the previous day, including many children.(AP Photo/Kareem al-Mrrany) South Korea is expected to dispatch a large permanent staff of 25 to 30 people to the cross-border liaison office that will open in the former Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea this month. A government official said staffers will be picked up from the Unification Ministry and other agencies. "The number will be in the double digits," a Unification Ministry official said. That is a larger staff than that of most of South Korea's overseas missions. There is speculation that the move is a first step to establishing a permanent mission on Pyongyang that could grow into a full embassy depending on developments in cross-border relations. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Department of Justice declined to open a criminal investigation into a complaint alleging that a ballot initiative agreement negotiated by Gov. Kate Brown, Nike and public employee union was illegal. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Department of Justice Criminal Justice Division chief counsel Michael Slauson says "a criminal investigation is not warranted in this matter." Slauson referred the complaint, filed last month by Portland resident Richard Leonetti, back to the Secretary of State's office to determine whether it should take civil or administrative action. Leonetti's complaint focused on an apparent deal to keep the public employee union's so-called corporate transparency initiative off the November ballot. Initiative Petition 25 would have required large companies such as Nike to disclose their taxes and other sensitive business information in filings with the state, or pay a fine. SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The evangelist Franklin Graham recently asked thousands of people at an Oregon rally to pray for the state's Democratic governor, saying she should be a Christian. Yoga and meditation suit Gov. Kate Brown just fine, she told reporters Thursday when asked if she follows a certain faith. She said: "I believe very much that each of us is a spiritual being, and that's how I see the world." She added that people should treat human beings with respect. Willamette Week reported that Graham, son of the late Billy Graham, on Sunday told a crowd of more than 12,000 at a county fairgrounds near Portland that it would be something if Brown got saved and accepted Jesus Christ as her savior. EUGENE, Ore. -- Firefighters are battling a field fire near Interstate 5 in north Eugene. The fire is west of the highway by N. Game Farm Road and temporarily closed southbound traffic. Oregon State Police say drivers were encouraged to expect lengthy delays and avoid the area, but the closure lasted less than thirty minutes. There is no word on what caused the fire. Kathmandu, August 10 Amidst competitions between India and China to invest in Nepals hydropower industry, Bangladesh is officially entering the sector with a memorandum of understanding between the two governments. Nepal and Bangladesh are signing the MoU on energy cooperation at a special function in Kathmandu on Friday. Bangladeshi Minister of State for Energy, Nasrul Hamid, is already in Kathmandu to sign the agreement. Before signing the agreement, minister-led delegations representing the two governments will hold a bilateral meeting. The meeting has been scheduled for 11 am in Kathmandu. Nepal will be represented by Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun. For last few years, the governments had engaged in a discussion to establish cooperation in the energy sector. Bangladesh is ready to purchase power or make investments or work together in whatever way possible, Joint Secretary at the Ministry Dinesh Ghimire says, The memorandum of understanding will include these issues. We are excited about the agreement. The two countries will also agree to exchange cooperation in the renewable energy sector and support each other for capacity building of personnel, according to Ghimire. Bilateral mechanisms will be established at various levels to implement the agreement by holding regular meetings. Currently, Nepal has such mechanisms to talk to India in the energy cooperation sector. UPDATE: The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office has given the all clear, and the vehicle will be removed. EYOTA, Minn. - Authorities are dealing with a bomb threat in Eyota. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office says it received a call at 11:43 am from Homeland Security about a Joshua Bernard Smith, 39, who reportedly claimed he had explosives in his car. Homeland Security said Smith was at a residence in the 200 block of Carolann Street in Eyota and deputies were sent to the scene. Officials also said Smith has "strong anti-government sentiments" and there's an active warrant for his arrest on a drug violation. Deputies say they found Smith near the vehicle he was driving and arrested him without trouble. A K9 Unit from the Rochester Police Department was brought in to check Smith's vehicle and the dog indicated the presence of explosives. The vehicle and the surrounding area was secured and the St. Paul Police Department's Bomb Squad has been called to the scene. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to stay away from this area until the situation is resolved. Home Just In Dahal to visit India and China in a single month Kathmandu, August 10 Nepals former Prime Minister and ruling Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to visit both neighbours of the country next month. Sources at Dahals secretariat says he will leave for the Indian capital of New Delhi on September 7. During the trip, he will hold meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others. Modi himself is coming to Nepal for the BIMSTEC Summit in the final week of this month. Recently, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri had handed over an invitation to Dahal for the visit. Likewise, the former Prime Minister to go to Beijing, the Chinese capital, for a visit in the final week of September, according to his secretariat. He is likely to hold meetings with top political leaders including President Xi Jinping there as well. Dahal, however, is yet to get an official invitation for the trip. PRESTON, Minn. - The Federal Veterans Administration is matching $2 for every $1 donated to the future Preston veterans home, but only until August 24th. People involved in the project are on a fundraiser push until the deadline because if they don't raise enough local funds, the government tells them they may have to decrease the size of the facility, serving less veterans. The goal is to have a 72-bed building. "We'd like to have the 72 with all the latest and best and the more we drum up, the more likely we'll be able to get it," explains co-chair of the project's committee, and a veteran himself, Don Gildner. "We'd like to see the best quality care we can have for the vets in this area." The goal is to raise $1 million in donations by the August 24th deadline, but Preston can't do it alone. "This isn't a Preston or Fillmore County project. This is a Southeastern Minnesota project," says Gildner. The home will serve veterans from all over Southeastern Minnesota, and the project is hoping for donations from all over the region as well. To donate, people can pick up a slip at the Preston City Hall or Preston F and M Community Bank. You can also click here to find the slip online to print off. CRESCO, IOWA - A northeast Iowa attorney is pleading not guilty to 1st degree theft. Todd William Kowalke, 56 of Cresco, is accused of stealing morethan $35,000 from the estate of Violent Brokken during the summer of 2017. Authorities say Kowalke used the money for business and personal expenses, as well as gambling. No trial date has been set. WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is asking the Federal Communications Commission to investigate a 911 outage in Minnesota. The loss of emergency communication services lasted about an hour on August 1 and affected several counties across the state, including Olmsted County, as well as the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Kolbuchar says she's been pushing as a member of the Senate Commerce Committee to expand communications infrastructure and improve 911 emergency services throughout the country. The text of Senator Klobuchar's letter to the FCC is below. Dear Chairman Pai, I am writing about the recent outage of 911 emergency services that occurred in Minnesota on August 1, 2018. I urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct a full investigation into the cause and extent of the outage as soon as possible. As you know, 911 did not work across many areas in Minnesota for approximately one hour. This outage affected law enforcement, first responders and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, constituting a significant threat to public safety. I urge you to examine the cause of the outage; how many customers were affected; how many 911 calls were disrupted; and how affected customers were notified. I also urge the FCC to develop recommendations regarding how future 911 outages can be prevented. With an estimated 240 million emergency 911 calls made each year in the United States, it is critical that 911 services are a reliable lifeline for Americans. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. WORTH COUNTY, Iowa A man clocked going 107 miles per hour on a motorcycle early Friday morning is facing an OWI charge. The Worth County Sheriffs Office said just before 1 a.m. Friday a traffic stop was initiated on Highway 105 at the intersection with Bluebill Ave. The driver, Thomas Casper, of Franksville, Wisconsin, was booked into the Worth County Jail. The Worth County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Lake Mills Police Department and the Winnebago County Sheriffs Office. DES MOINES, Iowa Some North Iowans were honored at the 2018 Iowa State Fair Oenology-Wine competition. Mary Hackman of Ventura was awarded Best of Hose for the Grape Wine Division, took third place for Homegrown Sweet Red, first for Homegrown Sweet White, and first place for Rhubarb. David Underwood of Clear Lake was third in the Dry White category. Roger Walston of Clear Lake was second in the Homegrown Grape Dry Red category. Thomas Waldschmidt of Mason City got third place for Appertif and Dessert, first for Berry Dry, second for Berry Sweet, and took first and third for Dessert. Eugene Huber of Clear Lake came in first in the Fruit Sweet category. ROCHESTER, Minn. Authorities say a man who had been drinking pointed a rifle at a woman and her 14-year-old son loaded a shotgun and was prepared to use it during a domestic incident late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Jason Finstad, 36, of Rochester, is facing charges of second-degree assault, terroristic threats and domestic assault. Police say Finstad was found highly intoxicated in the year burning items around 1 a.m. The woman and her two kids, ages 11 and 14, were able to get out of the residence and call police after being rounded up by Finstad, according to police. Authorities said the incident began due to a verbal argument before Finstad grabbed his firearm. The 14-year-old overheard the argument and got his shotgun loaded and ready to use, police said. AUSTIN, Minn. A man suspected in a shooting is going to prison for a gun crime. Ramiro Alejandro Pena, 21 of Austin, was sentenced Thursday to five years behind bars, with credit for two days already served. Pena was arrested in July 2017 after the shooting of Jesus Ybarra in the 800 block of 2nd Avenue SW in Austin. Jesus Ybarra Jesus Ybarra Though authorities said they suspected Pena was the shooter, he was only charged with being a violent felon in possession of a firearm after police found a shotgun and some ammunition in his home. He pleaded guilty in March. Ybarra, meanwhile, wound up being sentenced to eight years and four months in prison after officers investigating the shooting searched Ybarras home and said they found about 290 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 45 grams of marijuana. He pleaded guilty to two counts of 1st degree drug possession. ALBERT LEA, Minn. A California woman is pleading not guilty to 1st degree drug possession in Freeborn County. Martina Salazar, 50 of Huntington Park, CA, was pulled over on June 19 after the Minnesota State Patrol got a tip that two women would be driving south from the Twin Cities with methamphetamine in their vehicle. Law enforcement says they found about four pounds of meth in her vehicle. Salazar reportedly told the State Patrol she was driving to Nashville with her daughter to see Taylor Swifts House. Authorities say she denied knowing anything about the drugs and said she was going to complain to the place where she rented the vehicle. Salazar is set to stand trial on February 26, 2019. Development across sites: Engineers of KIT and Tongji University simultaneously work on the validation of electric drives in fuel cell vehicles. (Photo: Laila Tkotz, KIT) Germany and China intensify collaboration on the development of climate-friendly mobility technologies. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Tongji University Shanghai will study standardizable methods for joint technology development at different locations. Within the MorEH2 project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Chinese government, engineers in Germany and China will simultaneously work on the validation of electrified drives in fuel cell vehicles. Global production chains in industry are rather common. Automotive manufacturers produce vehicles from partial systems that are often prefabricated at several locations worldwide. Development work, however, usually takes place at one location. Traditionally, a vehicle is developed according to the conceptions of the manufacturer and the specific needs and regulatory requirements of the target markets. This an anachronism in our globalized world, says Professor Albert Albers, Head of IPEK, KITs Institute of Product Engineering. The CO2 problem, for instance, affects all of us and we have to find global solutions that can be adapted regionally. Our research is therefore aimed at enhancing flexibility and international exchange already in the development phase. To reach this objective, IPEK, in cooperation with the Clean Energy Automotive Engineering Center (CEAEC) of Tongji University Shanghai, China, will now develop validation methods and environments that also work over longer distances. Professor Albert Albers, Head of IPEK, in a fuel cell vehicle (Toyota Mirai) on the roller dynamometer. (Photo: Laila Tkotz, KIT) Within the MorEH2 (methods for distributed development of H2 fuel cell vehicles in cooperation with China) research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Chinese government, both universities will study electric drives of fuel cell vehicles. The validation process will take place at both locations. Spatial separation of the developers requires use of latest technologies and rapid data connections. The whereabouts of engineers in our joint team and the location of specific components are no longer relevant, says Dr. Matthias Behrendt, who coordinates the project on the German side. A test vehicle may be located on our roller dynamometer at KIT, while the driver is in China. Work will be based on the IPEK-XiL (X-in-the-loop) approach for validating mechatronic systems that was developed by IPEK and has already been established at the KIT Mobility Systems Center. Contrary to traditional validation methods, virtual and physical tests are combined. This means that a fuel cell may be located physically in a lab of KIT, but is integrated virtually into a test drive in Shanghai. The biggest challenge associated with a joint validation process, however, is not physical distance between the team members and systems, Albert Albers says. We have to remind ourselves of what validation of technical systems actually means. The question is not whether the technology was developed correctly. We rather want to know whether we have developed the right technologies for the people who are using them. China and Germany are very differently structured target markets, with the requirements on the vehicles varying accordingly. Whoever has driven a car in Shanghai, knows that car traffic there is quite different from ours. This influences the design of assistance systems, such as parking aids, distance controllers or automated driving. Hence, the possibility of an independent and, if necessary, different development of partial systems will be an important element of standardized methods for the spatially distributed validation of vehicles. With the research project, Germany and China want to support further development of eco-friendly mobility. KIT and Tongji University Shanghai already are strategic partners, with collaboration covering many areas, such as academic education. Since 2007, Professor Albert Albers has been guest professor there. Tongji University Shanghai also is an important center of fuel cell research in China. The German-Chinese research project is to contribute to initiating standardization activities in this area. More about the KIT Mobility Systems Center http://www.kit.edu/research/6720.php Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. By Rene Wagner BERLIN, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Germany's exports to the United States in the first half of this year were worth 24.4 billion euros ($28.3 billion) more than its imports of U.S. goods, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed on Friday. The trade surplus was 100 million euros less than last year, but still meant Germany has the largest trade surplus with the United States than any other country, something U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to reverse. Germany's trade surplus has also come under attack from the International Monetary Fund, which says it contributes to trade tensions and adds to risks that could undermine global financial stability. Germany's trade surplus with the whole world was 121.5 billion euros in the first half, slightly higher that last year. The IMF has urged the German government to boost investments beyond the levels agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government which plans to increase spending by 4 percent this year. Higher government spending would stimulate imports. Trump hit the European Union, Canada and Mexico with tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium at the start of June, ending exemptions that had been in place since March. The EU and Canada responded with their own levies on U.S. goods. China imposed tariffs on U.S. goods in response to Trump's levies on Chinese imports, spooking German manufacturers who rely on the world's two largest economies for growth. Fears of an all-out trade war between the U.S. and the European Union eased after Trump agreed last month to refrain from imposing tariffs on cars imported from the bloc while the two sides negotiate cuts to other trade barriers. Germany's exports to the United States - its biggest export market - rose 0.8 percent to 56.1 billion euros in the first six months of the year. France was the second-largest importer of German goods, followed by the Netherlands. ($1 = 0.8624 euros) (Writing by Joseph Nasr Editing by Robin Pomeroy) Messaging: joseph.nasr.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Friday have published a host of issues from various sectors of life on their front pages. Like always, political issues including activities of the government and Parliament, at central and provincial levels, have been discussed from different perspectives. Likewise, controversies regarding the death of two persons in a supposed police encounter also continue to be one of the most discussed topics as Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa has assured yesterday that the Ministry would launch an investigation into the case. Few other issues from sociocultural and economic spheres have been featured on the front page of major newspapers published from the capital. Important Province 1 CDOs defy provincial govts decision Nagarik, Kantipur and The Himalayan Times report from Biratnagar, the capital city of Province 1, that chief district officers of the Province have defied a decision of the provincial government to mark the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples by reporting to work and directive all offices in the districts to stay open. Till now, the CDOs work under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the federal government. Therefore, the officials have claimed that they are not bound to abide by the decision of the provincial government, reports Nagarik. Kantipur quotes Morang CDO Ramesh Kumar KC to say that the officials worked as the federal government directed them so. Meanwhile, most schools and local government offices remained closed in the region yesterday, according to reports. Ganesh Lama convicted of money laundering The Special Court on Thursday convicted notorious gangster and Nepali Congress leader Ganesh Lama of money laundering and sent him to jail for one year, according to reports in Gorkhapatra, Nagarik and The Himalayan Times. He has been convicted of laundering money worth Rs 14 million and 50,000, The Himalayan Times informs, adding the court has also ordered the confiscation of his property worth the same amount. Gorkhapatra informs that the Department of Money Laundering Investigation had accused him of amassing illegal property worth Rs 270 million. The verdict was delivered by a three member bench of Baburam Regmi, Dwarika Man Joshee and Ratna Bahadur Bagchand. Meanwhile, the court acquitted his wife Laxmi, his father, mother and brother, according to Gorkhapatra. Ignored 7,000 reconstructed schools do not have toilets The National Reconstruction Authority has completed the reconstruction of around 7,000 schools in 31 districts hit by the 2015 earthquake. However, the recently constructed buildings with four, six or eight rooms do not have toilets, Kantipur reports in a one-column snippet. The report informs that the Authority did not let schools to change the assigned design though some of the schools had requested that they would build toilets on their own. 500 Nepal-India border pillars lost Around 500 pillar erected to define the border between Nepal and India have been found missing, according to the lead story in Annapurna Post. Referring to the data collected by the Department of Survey, the report claims that around 1,2000 hectares of Nepali land are being claimed to be belonging to India subsequently. Govt team to probe Sikta Irrigation scam A brief story in Nagarik reports that the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has formed a six-member committee to probe into reports of irregularities in its Sikta Irrigation Project. Joint Secretary Sushil Chandra Tiwari heads the committee comprising two persons each from the Ministry and the Department of Irrigation, and an independent expert. 15,000 govt staff poor Naya Patrika reports in a brief story that around 15,000 government staff have been included on the list of poor recently prepared by the government with a plan of identifying them and providing various subsidies. Earlier around five years ago, the government had removed the name of around 3,000 civil servants from the list as they were apparently earning more than the poverty line status. Ambassadors being recalled Republica lead story reports that the government is preparing to call back at least 10 out of serving 14 ambassadors appointed by the previous coalition government of the Nepali Congress and then CPN-Maoist Centre. The recalling decisions will be made by early September. The report informs that those recommended by the Maoist party then, however, would be allowed to continue their assignment. Interesting US to gift Nepali Army four cargo aircraft The United States government is providing four sky trucks (cargo aircraft) to the Nepali Army soon, Karobar reports in its anchor story, adding the assistance is being provided considering a request made by Nepals national military organisation. The US government would provide military assistance to Nepal in the past also, but it was halted after then King Gyanendra Shah took over in 2005, according to the report. (Kitco News) - Gold prices are trading near unchanged in early U.S. dealings Friday, and seeing little benefit from a roiled world foreign exchange market. December gold futures were last up $0.60 an ounce at $1,220.40. September Comex silver was last down $0.087 at $15.375 an ounce. Global stock markets were mostly lower overnight, with European shares leading the way with solid losses. The currency markets are in keen focus late this week as the Russian ruble has sunk against the U.S. dollar and the Euro currency fell to a one-year low against the greenback. The Euro currency has taken a beating on the world foreign exchange market today, as the Euro zone has a heavier exposure to the Turkish lira, which has been pummeled recently on the foreign exchange marketlosing around 15% of its value just this week. All of the above have pushed the U.S. dollar index to a 13-month high today, on safe-haven demand. The world marketplace is especially concerned about the Turkish liras situation expanding into a contagion of secondary world currencies. The Financial Times has reported the European Central Bank is examining several European banks exposure to the lira. U.S. stock indexes are also pointed toward lower openings when the New York day session begins. The gold and silver market bulls are frustrated the currency market turmoil has not at all benefitted the safe-haven metalsat least not yet. The key U.S. data point of the week is Friday mornings consumer price index report for July, which came in at up 0.2% from June, which was right in line with market expectations. The precious metals markets showed little reaction. Thursdays producer price index for July came in lower than expected, at unchanged from June when a 0.2% rise was expected. Other U.S. economic data due for release Friday includes the monthly Treasury statement of receipts and outlays. Technically, gold bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage amid a price downtrend on the daily bar chart. Gold bulls' next upside near-term price breakout objective is to produce a close in December futures above solid resistance at $1,244.70. Bears' next near-term downside price breakout objective is pushing prices below solid technical support at $1,200.00. First resistance is seen at this weeks high of $1,226.00 and then at $1,230.00. First support is seen at last weeks low of $1,212.50 and then at $1,200.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 1.5 September silver futures bears have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Silver bulls' next upside price breakout objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $15.75 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $15.00. First resistance is seen at last weeks high of $15.635 and then at $15.75. Next support is seen at last weeks low of $15.25 and then at the July low of $15.185. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 1.5. MOSCOW, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees that a proposal to prop up the budget by raising more revenue from metals and mining companies should be discussed, but has not made any decision, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. Proposals seen by Reuters on Thursday were set out in a letter to Putin from Kremlin economic aide Andrei Belousov. Russia needs additional budget revenue to meet economic goals set in decrees signed by Putin for his new six-year term. The government has already raised value-added tax, effective from 2019. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth Editing by Maria Kiselyova) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Kathmandu, August 10 A team of Nepali officials is visiting various places of India in the third week of September to study operation of ships in various rivers there. The visit will be a part of Nepal governments preparation to launch the service in some rivers of Nepal as envisioned by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The team members will hold discussions with Indian officials and personnel about their experiences of ship operation during the trip, according to Madhav Belbase, Joint Secretary at Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, who heads a committee formed to study the feasibility of ship operation in Nepal. India has invited the Nepali team for the study visit, according to him. Meanwhile, Belbase claims the committee is studying various documents related to rivers of Nepal. Likewise, the team members are researching about international experiences in similar projects, according to him. Belbase hopes Nepals first ship will come into operation by the end of 2019. So far, Narayani River has been found most practical to launch the service. Louisiana State Police say they have arrested a 19-year-old on a charge of 1st-degree rape. Police say they arrested 19-year-old Richard Lockhart Jr. of Lake Providence. Lockhart was arrested after an investigation by the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit which began in November of 2017. Regarding the alleged crime, police say an investigation revealed the suspect had sexual intercourse with a juvenile. Lockhart was arrested on August 8th and transferred to the River Bend Correctional Center in Lake Providence. Police say this is an active investigation and are not releasing any more information at this time. Regarding the charge of 1st-degree rape, see Louisiana law below: ------------------ 42. First degree rape A. First degree rape is a rape committed upon a person sixty-five years of age or older or where the anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse is deemed to be without lawful consent of the victim because it is committed under any one or more of the following circumstances: (1) When the victim resists the act to the utmost, but whose resistance is overcome by force. (2) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act by threats of great and immediate bodily harm, accompanied by apparent power of execution. (3) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act because the offender is armed with a dangerous weapon. (4) When the victim is under the age of thirteen years. Lack of knowledge of the victim's age shall not be a defense. (5) When two or more offenders participated in the act. (6) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act because the victim suffers from a physical or mental infirmity preventing such resistance. B. For purposes of Paragraph (5), "participate" shall mean: (1) Commit the act of rape. (2) Physically assist in the commission of such act. C. For purposes of this Section, the following words have the following meanings: (1) "Physical infirmity" means a person who is a quadriplegic or paraplegic. (2) "Mental infirmity" means a person with an intelligence quotient of seventy or lower. D.(1) Whoever commits the crime of first degree rape shall be punished by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. (2) However, if the victim was under the age of thirteen years, as provided by Paragraph (A)(4) of this Section: (a) And if the district attorney seeks a capital verdict, the offender shall be punished by death or life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, in accordance with the determination of the jury. The provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 782 relative to cases in which punishment may be capital shall apply. (b) And if the district attorney does not seek a capital verdict, the offender shall be punished by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. The provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 782 relative to cases in which punishment is necessarily confinement at hard labor shall apply. E. For all purposes, "aggravated rape" and "first degree rape" mean the offense defined by the provisions of this Section and any reference to the crime of aggravated rape is the same as a reference to the crime of first degree rape. Any act in violation of the provisions of this Section committed on or after August 1, 2015, shall be referred to as "first degree rape". Acts 1978, No. 239, 1. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 707, 1; Acts 1984, No. 579, 1; Acts 1993, No. 630, 1; Acts 1995, No. 397, 1; Acts 1997, No. 757, 1; Acts 1997, No. 898, 1; Acts 2001, No. 301, 1; Acts 2003, No. 795, 1; Acts 2006, No. 178, 1; Acts 2015, No. 184, 1; Acts 2015, No. 256, 1. By Jin Yu-young Cover of "The Silk Roads" by Peter Frankopan Three South Korean firms imported coal from North Korea disguised as Russian products in violation of U.N. resolutions in a fresh sign of loosening sanctions, South Korea's customs agency said on Friday. Seoul has been examining nine cases of potential imports of North Korean coal, which would breach a resolution passed last August by the U.N. Security Council to choke off funding for Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The customs service did not identify the companies involved, but said about 35,000 tons of coal was brought into South Korea between April and October in 2017, worth 6.6 billion won ($5.8 million). "The firms appear to have illicitly brought it in expecting big trading margins after prices of North Korean coal had dropped due to the import ban," Roh Suk-hwan, deputy commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, told a news conference. The agency said it would press charges against the firms and individuals involved for violating the customs law and forgery of private documents. The government also plans to explore an entry ban or seizure of the 14 ships found to have transported the coal, the agency said. But there was no financial transaction made, which would constitute another violation of the U.N. sanctions, as the companies took coal in return for mediating trade between North Korea and Russia, Roh said. The U.N. Security Council banned North Korea's sale of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood in a bid to slash by a third the country's $3 billion annual export incomes, while capping imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products. The United States has led the sanctions campaign to press North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programs. But across the region, there have been signs that U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign for "maximum pressure" lost steam after Pyongyang sought to improve relations with Washington, Seoul and Beijing. North Korean officials have toured China to discuss economic development and speculators are snapping up property along their common border. And South Korea is studying ways to boost engagement with the North. Last month, Washington warned against loosening sanctions on Pyongyang after Russia and China suggested discussing such a move. (Reuters) By Lee Min-hyung Cho Hyun-chun, former chief of Defense Security Command Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Rain likely. High 57F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 47F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Angola, IN (46703) Today Rain likely. High 57F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 47F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Rain. High 57F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 48F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. On August 11, 2018 at 2:00 AM KYCW-LD will move from channel 19, broadcasting from our Fordland tower to channel 25 broadcasting from the studio tower at 999 West Sunshine in Springfield. This move is necessitated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as they begin their repack of television stations across the country into a tighter bundled broadcast spectrum. By moving KYCW from channel 19 to channel 25 it allows us to prepare for the move of KYTV, KSPR and The Ozarks CW later this year. Channel 25 will broadcast a directional pattern 30 degrees north at a much reduced height. This means that some over the air viewers will no longer be able to receive these signals (Antenna/Cozi/WX 24/7). The CW will still be on our full power KYTV transmitter, virtual channel 33-2. We recommend viewers rescan their TVs and have an outdoor antenna aimed toward our studio tower (999 West Sunshine in Springfield). For deeper technical help and explanations please call (417) 268-3000 and ask for engineering. Antenna, Cozi and The KY3 Weather Channel channels will be available, as usual, on Mediacom, Suddenlink, Fidelity, COMO cable and the Ozarks Go network. The long term plan is to move KYCW-LD back to the Fordland tower late this year after the KYTV repack construction is complete. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe A former watchdog of the Los Angeles Police Department claims he was retaliated against and fired after outing his boss, the then-inspector general, for releasing confidential information to the press, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday. The L.A. city attorney's office said it is reviewing the complaint and declined to comment. James Willis worked as an assistant inspector general under the former office head, Alex Bustamante. The lawsuit alleges Willis alerted officials at the police and the L.A. ethics commission when he discovered Bustamante allowed a KABC reporter to photograph "secret logs which were law enforcement sensitive." The logs were related to an investigation into a controversial 2015 LAPD gathering in downtown L.A., according to Gregory Smith, Willis' attorney. At that gathering, billed as "top secret," local law enforcement and business leaders met with an ex-Mexican Mafia shot caller who was serving life in prison for murder. City and law enforcement officials lambasted the gathering as inappropriate, potentially endangering the public and incurring unnecessary costs. Willis thought Bustamante overstepped when he shared the logs, which "contained the names of law enforcement officers, possibly judges, prosecutors, federal agents, and task force code names, connected to a senior gang member that had turned informant," according to the lawsuit. Smith said the information could hamper ongoing law enforcement investigations -- or worse. "By Bustamante turning over this information to the media, lives could be in jeopardy," the lawsuit claims. Bustamante did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident sparked an investigation by the city's ethics commission, according to the Los Angeles Times, which reported that Bustamante argued that the city attorney told him he could legally share the log. Bustamante also maintained that the information in the log could be found publicly elsewhere, the Times reported. In a statement to the paper, Bustamante said he showed the log to the reporter "to prevent the airing of a false and misleading story about the Los Angeles Police Department and other law enforcement agencies." California is one of the most secretive states in the nation when it comes to law enforcement conduct. As pressure has mounted for law enforcement agencies to be more transparent and accountable to the communities they serve, many city and county leaders established inspector general's offices and civilian oversight boards. But these entities' powers to collect and publicize information is often limited. Bustamante's disclosure of the log and Willis' lawsuit highlight a tension among authorities about which information should be released publicly, especially when it's sensitive or contains private personnel material - or when it involves situations that could embarrass a department. Willis' lawsuit is believed to be the first against the inspector general's office, which came under a new leader, Mark Smith, in January. Bustamante is now senior vice president and chief compliance and audit officer at the University of California. Willis claims he sounded alarm bells days after he discovered the KABC reporter had the logs. According to the lawsuit, Willis contacted the officer in charge of constitutional policing, the executive director of the L.A. Police Commission, and Matt Johnson, then-president of the commission. According to the lawsuit, the first question Johnson asked Willis was if he gave anyone the report he had "prepared for the commission outlining the serious charges against Bustamante." "Johnson appeared to be more concerned with containing knowledge of Bustamante's wrongful behavior than taking action," the lawsuit claims. Johnson, who still sits on the police commission, did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Willis continued to work for the office after the logs were disclosed and claims in the lawsuit he was subjected to "multiple adverse employment actions," including diminished investigative responsibilities. He was fired in April. Gregory Smith, Willis' lawyer, said Willis was fired not long after Mark Smith took the helm, because "Bustamante knew [Willis] couldn't be terminated during his tenure." "It would look like retaliation," Smith said. "So they waited ... in an attempt to make it look like team change." Willis' lawsuit requests compensation for loss of income as well as physical, mental and emotional injuries and other damages. READ THE CLAIM Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe The Holy Fire, which has burned at least 10,000 acres since igniting Monday afternoon, remains only 5 percent contained. Crews are having a hard time getting trucks and other equipment into this area of Orange County near Lake Elsinore. Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency declaration for Orange and Riverside Counties on Thursday as the fire threatened homes and led to mandatory evacuations of neighborhoods. That proclamation came as dramatic video and images of flames getting ever closer to Lake Elsinore was captured by news crews and homeowners. Thanh Nguyen, a spokesperson for the Holy Fire, explains what's making it so difficult to battle this blaze: "It's still hot and that terrain that we're working in is steep and it's got drainages that act like funnels for the fire. On top of it, we have strong downdrafts that come off the mountain that push the fire aggressively downhill." This screenshot from a USCD camera captured the Holy Fire on the night of Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (Courtesy of HPWREN) At a packed community meeting Thursday night streamed by fire officials on Facebook, firefighters told residents to take the current acreage estimates with a grain of salt since "you just look outside and you can see the fire's growing." At that meeting, authorities also told resident they should be ready to evacuate. And despite rumors of looters, officials said they haven't had any reports yet and have teams out on patrol. Fire officials also addressed other rumors: We have been receiving inquiries about the fire burning back towards #OrangeCounty. The fire is burning in Cold Water Canyon around Santiago Peak, & is not burning in OC. FFs are continuing firefighting effort in the area. #HolyFire @socalteam1 Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) August 10, 2018 The remote locale and steep canyons make it a supremely dangerous area when fires do flare up -- something that firefighters and longtime residents know all too well. WHERE TO GET UPDATES ON THE HOLY FIRE It was 59 years ago this week that six firefighters -- including three members of the El Cariso Hotshots -- died battling the Decker Fire, which roared through the precise area currently being scorched by the Holy Fire. Since then, firefighting equipment and techniques have improved by leaps and bounds but the terrain hasn't changed. Today that geography is proving to be as much of a challenge for crews as it was for the firefighters who faced down the Decker Fire. "It's very tough on crews on the ground and it's very difficult to access with engines in some places," said Steve Rasmussen, who works with an interagency team managing the Holy Fire. "Yesterday was the anniversary of the Decker Fire. That's what these firefighters are dealing with. The terrain is very difficult to navigate and fight fire on." Air tankers and water-dropping helicopters battle the Holy Fire near Lake Elsinore on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. This image was taken from Santiago Peak. (Photo by the Orange County Fire Authority via Twitter). Most of what we know about the tragedy of the Decker Fire comes from this report. Around 6:40 p.m. on the evening of August 8, 1959, 25-year-old John Guthrie and his five-person firefighting crew were driving along the Ortega Highway toward the Decker Fire. By then the fire was about 40 minutes old. It started after a couple of teens who had been drinking and partying at a nearby campground lost control of a pickup truck as they were driving down the Ortega Highway toward Elsinore. The truck plunged over an embankment and burst into flames, igniting the brush. Guthrie was behind the wheel of a tanker with a 500-gallon capacity. He pulled off at a hairpin turn, got out and started down a steep bank to get a better look at the fire below. He raced back up to the truck and told his crew to get into the cab and drive farther up the road. There wasn't room for Guthrie in the cab so he remained outside. According to the report, he planned to use the tanker's hose to wet himself down for protection. Suddenly, a wind shift turned the flames against the firefighters and a "wall of flames engulfed the truck and its occupants." Guthrie dove under the truck for protection. Two of the crew members received serious burns to their arms and hands. Three others had lesser injuries. Guthrie was burned over 85 percent of his body. He was rushed to Hemet Hospital, stabilized and then transferred to a hospital in Redlands. He died five weeks later, on September 14, leaving behind his wife and two young children. It was the first of three "burn-overs" that would kill five more men who were fighting the Decker Fire. That sad story should give you some idea of the tough terrain Holy Fire crews are currently facing. They're also dealing with temperatures in the 90s and 100s. Nearly 700 people and 60 engines are fighting the fire on the ground but because it's hard to get engines into the steep canyones, officials are relying on air support, specifically two dozen water-dropping helicopters and air tankers. "We rely heavily on our air resources," Rasmussen says. He's hoping they can slow the flames and give ground crews a chance to attack the fire. Fortunately, the Holy Fire hasn't been racing through the canyons the way the Decker Fire did. "It's actually not moving fast, it's just constant," Rasmussen says. "It's still always moving forward. It's not necessarily running. It's just a steady movement east." Until Thursday, evacuations had been limited to canyon areas. Authorities have now issued both mandatory and voluntary evacuations for neighborhoods close to the lake. CORRECTION#Holyfire new mandatory evacuations for Elsinore: in effect for all homes on the mountainside of Lake St and southwest of Grand Ave to Ortega Hwy https://t.co/E9Kb2qLuiB Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) August 9, 2018 #Holyfire VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS are in effect for the Shoreline community- area in pink pic.twitter.com/UZ8GepvjMh Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) August 9, 2018 "In the Lake Elsinore region, [the firefighters] are going to have to monitor extra close, because they may get wind changes just within a couple miles in the area," Alex Tardy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego, told KPCC/LAist. More images of the firefighting efforts: Air tankers and water-dropping helicopters battle the Holy Fire near Lake Elsinore on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. This image was taken from Santiago Peak. (Photo by the Orange County Fire Authority via Twitter). Air tankers and water-dropping helicopters battle the Holy Fire near Lake Elsinore on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. This image was taken from Santiago Peak. (Photo by the Orange County Fire Authority via Twitter). UPDATES: 10:15 p.m. Image added of fire from HPWREN camera. 9:55 p.m.: This story updates with tweet from fire officials that Holy Fire is not currently burning toward Orange County. 9:04 p.m.: This story was updated with Brown's declaration and new information about the fire from the community meeting. This story originally published at 3:41 p.m. All Things Considered producer Megan Erwin contributed to this report. News happens every day. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you and the community you live in. Now that we're part of KPCC, those stories (including this one you're on right now!) are made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism isn't cheap, but with your support we can keep delivering it. Donate now. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Things looked really, really bad Thursday night in Lake Elsinore. "Oh, it was horrible last night," said Sharon Holmes. "It was a nightmare," added Helen Zarb-Cousin. "Did you see the movie 'Inferno'? That's what it was, an inferno." The women had a front-row seat to the battle to save their community. Their mobile home community is right across from the evacuation zone. On Friday morning, they stood outside with another friend and cheered on Friday morning as fire trucks passed by. The slopes immediately above Lake Elsinore were singed and smoky, but mostly flame-free. "This looks wonderful," Holmes said, sweeping her arm toward the foothills. "We are really thankful." Still, a police officer down the street turned back residents who were hoping to check on their evacuated homes, despite begging. WHERE TO GET UPDATES ON THE HOLY FIRE It's way too early to declare victory in Lake Elsinore, said Kate Kraemer, a spokeswoman for Cleveland National Forest, which is coordinating the firefighting effort. Wildfires tend to "lay down" in the early morning hours, when temperatures drop and humidity increases. "We did the mandatory evacuations for a reason," she said, adding that there has been no discussion of lifting them. Kraemer said there is still no official estimate of damage to structures over the night but some is expected. "This fire, it's a dynamic creature," she said, adding that it spread in nearly all directions last night. A quiet smoky morning at Lake Elsinore. (Jill Replogle / LAist) By 11 a.m., the wind was starting to pick up and the temperature was rising. A tall, dark plume of smoke rose from the mountains west of Lake Elsinore. The Holy Fire has burned more than 19,100 acres since Monday afternoon. After growing substantially overnight Thursday, fire officials reported 10% containment on Friday evening. Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency declaration for Orange and Riverside Counties on Thursday as the fire threatened homes and led to mandatory evacuations of neighborhoods. Fire officials warned others they should get ready to get out. Porfirio Mendoza and his wife were among those already forced to flee. They spent last night at Temescal Canyon High School, along with around 85 other evacuees. He said that the flames were very close to his home when he and his wife got out. "Muy cerquitas y las llamas muy altas." Very close and big, he said. From the evacuation center, Mendoza could see his neighborhood up in the hills. He said so far it looked like homes has escaped the fire. #HolyFire evacuation center at Temescal Canyon HS in Lake Elsinore. School was supposed to start Monday but has been postponed. @KPCC @LAist pic.twitter.com/0lgks9wEKT Jill Replogle (@jillrep) August 10, 2018 Lindsay Howanec was also waiting for word as she and her sister walked their two dogs outside of the evacuation center. Her family spent the night in the school's parking lot in their motorhome. "We've heard houses are good, we've heard some have taken some damage so we're not really sure," she said. Fire authorities don't yet have an update on whether or how many homes may have been damaged or destroyed overnight. Teams are heading out into neighborhoods to assess the damage this morning. The fire is burning in a particularly difficult area, where winds are both strong and unpredictable. Alex Tardy, an NWS San Diego meteorologist, talked to KPCC's All Things Considered about what they call the Elsinore Conversion Zone -- a natural boundary where the winds collide in different directions. "The sea breeze is trying to make it from the ocean into the land where it's really hot and it can't make it through the Santa Ana Mountains, because they're just too big," Tardy said. "So it goes around it to the north and around it to the south and literally collides from Lake Elsinore all the way across the valley there to about Hemet." That means firefighters are facing winds that may not behave like they typically do in fire zones. The zone where the fire is being fought today is known for erratic wind behavior that creates a funneling effect in an area surrounded by mountains that keeps it very hot. Tardy says that means firefighters need to pay close attention. "They know that in the morning the wind will shift as the sun comes out and will start rising up the mountains. They know at night the wind change directions as the air gets heavier and slightly cooler and slides back down the mountain," he said. What they can't predict is when the winds might change. "The north winds battle the south winds and that might happen in the middle of the afternoon," he said. How deadly conditions can be in this area is well known. Six firefighters -- including three members of the El Cariso Hotshots -- were killed 59 years ago this week while battling the Decker Fire. The men were killed in three burnovers, that's when fire overtakes people. #HolyFire morning update: 18,137 acres and 5% contained. For those wondering about containment, the hand/containment line grows as the fire grows. We continue to actively engage, but cannot get ahead of the fire. pic.twitter.com/We1OJuJIbB Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) August 10, 2018 Check back for more updates. This story is developing. UPDATES: 7:09 p.m. This story updated with new acreage and containment information. 2 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from neighbors and Kraemer. 8:35 a.m.: This story updated with information from evacuees. 8:18 a.m.: This story updated with information about wind conditions. This article originally published at 7:43 a.m. News happens every day. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you and the community you live in. Now that we're part of KPCC, those stories (including this one you're on right now!) are made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism isn't cheap, but with your support we can keep delivering it. Donate now. Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe THIS STORY IS PART OF HOW TO L.A., OUR ONGOING SERIES OF PRACTICAL GUIDES FOR DAY-TO-DAY LIVING IN LOS ANGELES. In Los Angeles, home to the largest number of Filipino immigrants in the United States, Pinoy restaurant roots run deep. No city except Manila has a higher concentration of Filipinos -- and the restaurants to match. Filipino cuisine is blowing up. Like Italian, Mexican, Chinese and Thai food before it, its popularity has moved beyond its diaspora to dazzle the mainstream American palate. Old school bakeries, mom and pop establishments and turo-turo joints (Tagalog for "point-point," as in you point to the items you want) laid the foundation. We're talking about local favorites like Bahay Kubo, Max's of Manila, Leelin Bakery, Point Point Joint, Ilonggo Delicacies and Pinoy Pinay. Now, a new crop of restaurants run by classically trained first and second-generation Filipino chefs is familiarizing diners with flavors from their motherland. "I was at Canele, sauteing yet more pasta and the thought came to my mind, 'Why isn't this pancit?'" says Chad Valencia, about the indigenous stir fried noodle dish. At LASA, his award-winning Chinatown restaurant, he uses local, seasonal California produce to replicate -- and expand on -- familiar Filipino dishes. "We're just using our technique," Valencia says. "We keep the flavor profile on the traditional." (You can catch a longer interview with Valencia on today's Take Two segment.) Want to take a deeper dive into this cross-section of salty, sweet and sour flavors? Start at Eagle Rock Plaza for a sampling of old school joints. Anchored by a Seafood City Supermarket, it's also home to Leelin and outposts of fast food chains Jollibee, Crispy Town and Grill City. "It's like visiting a smaller mall in Manila," says USC professor Karen Tongson. For new school options, read on. Various dishes at The Park's Finest, a restaurant in Historic Filipinotown. (Courtesy of The Park's Finest) The Park's Finest Kicking off L.A.'s new wave of Filipino restaurants, The Park's Finest started as a catering company in 2009 before it opened as a restaurant in 2012. They infuse proteins with smoky Pinoy flavors to create dishes like Mt. Maladang pork ribs and Mama Leah's coconut beef. The cornbread bibingka, slightly sweet with a hint of coconut, is the perfect accompaniment to his meats. 1267 W. Temple St., HiFi. 213-481-2800. Big Boi Filipino Food Big Boi is Barb Batiste's sophomore effort, following her success with bread pudding mecca B Sweet. Named for her father, the mostly takeout restaurant with a few counter seats offers an affordable menu of classics such as a sour sinigang soup; salty, sweet and garlicky pork tocino and a punchy chicken adobo. Don't miss the freshly baked sweet rolls, which come with a sweet and savory housemade ube butter. 2027 Sawtelle Blvd., West L.A. 424-832-7199. Sari Sari Store James Beard-nominated Margarita Manzke (the pastry half of the Republique empire on La Brea) serves inspired garlic rice bowls, known as silog, inside Grand Central Market. Whether loaded with eggplant, organic chicken, crispy pork head, pork ribs or pork belly, the bowls are always topped with a fried egg. Enjoy one with a calamansi or passion fruit soda. The term "sari sari" means "whatever" in Tagalog and was inspired by the small stores in the Philippines that sell a cornucopia of items. 317 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. 323-320-4020. RiceBar Charles Olalia's first solo project after four years at Patina is a humble, ten-seat counter. Opened in 2015, it serves snacks such as shrimp and uni potstickers as well as rice bowls featuring housemade longganisa sausage (or Impossible Foods' vegan version), chicken adobo and beef kaldereta (a stew typically made with goat in the Philippines) on a bed of garlic, jasmine and tamarind rice. You can add SPAM and avocado for a California twist. 419 W. 7th St., downtown L.A. 213-807-5341. Ma'am Sir "If RiceBar is homestyle food, I want Ma'am Sir to present banquet party and drinking food," Olalia says. Palm frond wallpaper and hanging ferns decorate this tropically themed space. The bar boasts a weekday happy hour with discounts like $7 glasses of wine and $10 plates of lumpia topped with uni. Among the large plates, called ulam, the tart ribeye salpicao and the milkfish inihaw, grilled and served whole under a soy glaze and a crunchy relish, are standouts. Pica pica selections, meant to be enjoyed over rice, include pork sisig made with sweetbreads and butter roasted garlic prawns with black pepper noodles. 4330 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake. 323-741-8371 Tatang Filipino Food Chef-owner Jamby Roi Martin has a light touch when using high-end ingredients to prepare traditional dishes at this newish North Hollywood gem. He makes the crunchy spring rolls known as lumpia with free-range chicken (instead of pork) and tops sizzling sisig (normally finely chopped pig parts but also made from chicken) with organic eggs and li-em-po, heritage pork belly marinated in calamansi and seasoned with pepper, soy and garlic. His balatong, a mung bean stew with freshwater prawns and bacon, is a rare treat. 10829 Oxnard St., North Hollywood. 818-331-6771. Various dishes at LASA, a Filipino restaurant in L.A.'s Chinatown. (Courtesy of LASA) LASA It's hard to believe that brothers Chad and Chase Valencia only opened Food and Wine's L.A. Restaurant of the Year in April of 2018 -- as a pop-up. LASA continues to wow diners with its fast-casual lunch bowls and sit-down dinners. Shrimp inihaw are grilled with palm vinegar and served with a spicy, green garlic dipping sauce known as sawsawan. Seared octopus a la plancha is infused with smoke, paired with sweet housemade longanisa and served as "surf and turf." Rockfish kinilaw, a raw fish dish similar to ceviche, is brined in bright citrus, fish sauce and calamansi then combined with avocado and crunchy watermelon radish. 727 N. Broadway #120, Chinatown. 213-443-6163. The Mess Around cocktail at Genever, a new bar in the Historic Filipinotown neighborhood of L.A. (Courtesy of Genever) Genever Gin cocktails take center stage at this brand new bar, which showcases variations on gimlets, Tom Collins and Tiki drinks. Owners Patricia Perez, Roselma Samala and Christine Sumiller have created an elegant, retro lounge complete with a crystal chandelier, hand-painted gold walls and a Beaux Arts-style tin ceiling. The daily happy hour features $7 Negronis, martinis and gilmets. Or you can sample one of the 24 gins they carry. 3123 Beverly Blvd., HiFi. 213-908-5693. Beef cheeks served at Mari, a Filipino pop-up happening every Thursday in August 2018. (Courtesy of Mari) Mari This pop-up happens every Thursdays, from August 9th through the 30th. Filipino food was a fusion cuisine long before it arrived in the United States, an amalgam of colonialist influences from Spain, China, Malaysia, Singapore and America. Sous chef Brian Bellicourt pays homage to those multicultural influences -- and his heritage -- through imaginative hybrids of Filipino, Italian and American dishes. He makes the noodle dish palabok with spaghetti and annatto pork ragu and his spicy beef cheek kaldereta features pea puree. There's also chicharron-crusted sea bass and pork belly sisig toast. For dessert, he combines cashews and calamansi to make a multi-layered almond sans rival cake with a light, sweet, tropical note. InterContinental Los Angeles Century City: 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Century City. 310-284-6500. You made it! Congrats, you read the entire story, you gorgeous human. This story was made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism costs $$$$$. And now that LAist is part of KPCC, we rely on that support. So if you aren't already, be one of us! Help us help you live your best life in Southern California. Donate now. Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga, Head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police of the Swiss Confederation undertook a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, during which she called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The main highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Swiss Confederation on the establishment of a Migration Partnership. The MoU which was signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs & Wayamba Development S.B. Nawinna on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga on behalf of the Swiss Federal Council, enables the establishment of a regular and constant dialogue and common reflective process of migration matters beneficial to both countries, especially in the following areas: management of migration flows; prevention of irregular migration; readmission of nationals, stateless persons, and third-country nationals; return assistance and reintegration; capacity building in migration governance matters; prevention of smuggling of migrants and fight against human trafficking; visa issues, consular and related administrative matters; vocational training; promotion of safe and regular migration for sustainable development through a comprehensive engagement on all levels; strengthening framework conditions for diaspora investment in Sri Lanka; integration; and projects promoting rule of law and reconciliation. Delegation-level discussions between the two countries were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 06 August, with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake leading the Sri Lanka delegation. Discussions focused on a range of issues including steps being taken by Sri Lanka to strengthen democratic institutions, advance reconciliation and achieve economic development, and Sri Lankas active and progressive engagement with the international community. Foreign Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam, and officials of several ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined the Acting Minister at the discussions. During her stay in Sri Lanka, Councillor Sommaruga also visited Swiss assisted projects in the Eastern Province. Sinhala Tamil Ministry of Foreign Affairs Colombo 07 August 2018 In these three works of science fiction, the main characters live under the impression that figuring out how to survive in a cruel, merciless society is enough. But when they decide they need more, they risk everything to figure out whether its possible, regardless of what the cost may be. An Ocean of Minutes Thea Lim Touchstone: 320 pp., $26 Advertisement Polly is very much in love with her boyfriend, Frank, so when hes diagnosed with the flu that is killing so many people, she decides to take drastic action to get him the medicine he needs. A new technology allows people to travel through time; if Polly agrees to travel 12 years into the future to help rebuild America after the pandemic passes, Frank will receive treatment. But when she awakens, Polly is five years late, Frank is nowhere to be found and the America she left behind no longer exists. Its a complicated plot, but Lims steady prose and deft character development ensured that I was hooked on Pollys story from beginning to end. Lim paints a strange and unfamiliar world with her novel, full of fascinating social commentary on class differences, racism and sexism. When Polly makes one bad decision after another, she can be frustrating but her motivations are understandable. Its easy to fall into this novel and become emotionally involved in Pollys journey and her search to find the people she loves. Suicide Club Rachel Heng Henry Holt: 352 pp., $27 In the future, people are judged based on their genetic profile. Those who have the potential to live forever, called lifers, get the best of everything, while people who only have natural lifespans (referred to as sub-100s) live in poverty and are shunned. Lea Kirino is a lifer, and shes dedicated to the golden possibility of immortality. But after a chance meeting with her estranged father, a man who has shunned all the artificial enhancements society has to offer, it makes her rethink the way shes lived her entire life. Its a provocative read, to be sure, as Heng presents yet another way the society of the future could be stratified between the haves and have-nots. The author paints a disturbing picture of a government that values survival at any and all costs. Its a creative premise, and its fascinating to read about Leas carefully crafted life unraveling before her. Hengs confident prose makes this book an easy read, despite tackling difficult subjects such as suicide and the right to die. Before She Sleeps Bina Shah Delphinium: 256 pp., $25 Pakistani writer Bina Shah delivers a charged and thrilling novel with her latest work of literary fiction. Between nuclear war, disease and gender preference for boys, the men of Green City outnumber women by a significant margin. The government has decreed that women must take multiple husbands and bear as many children as possible for repopulation measures, but the women of the Panah fight back. This secret organization of women provides non-sexual intimacy to officials high in the government. In exchange, they are protected. Sabine veils herself and risks her life every night when she leaves the Panah, watched over by Lin, the organizations leader. But when Sabine disappears, a chain of events is set in motion that threatens to expose the Panah once and for all. Shahs work reads like a thriller. She develops her multiple characters beautifully, and she presents the stomach-turning plight of women well. The social commentary in the novel, specifically in the parallels between Sabines world and the patriarchal nature of conservative Muslim countries, is exquisite. The ending feels a little rushed, but this is a thoughtful novel that will stick with me for a very long time. Krishna writes for Engadget and Syfy Wire and is half of the podcast Desi Geek Girls. Those of us who make our livings from mining court papers know that divorce filings, replete as they are with the settling of scores and accusations of putrid behavior, can be pure gold. But its rare to find a divorce document as revealing as the $1-billion lawsuit filed Thursday by Tribune Media against its former corporate fiance, Sinclair Broadcast Group. The lawsuit, which landed as Tribune terminated the $3.9-billion merger deal the two companies announced in May 2017, portrays Sinclair as absolutely the merger partner from hell. The lawsuit suggests that if Sinclair had entered the deal fully intending in advance to blow it to smithereens and end up with nothing but a $1-billion claim, it could not have handled things better. Tribune is what remains of the Chicago media company that once was the parent of this newspaper. (The Times was spun off from Tribune in 2014 and is now privately-owned.) Sinclair is a Maryland-based broadcast chain known for its truculently right-wing editorial policy. Already the largest owner of local television stations in the country, Sinclair would have become even bigger after the merger, a broadcast behemoth with 200 stations. I do not intend to waste time responding to your most recent letter. Sinclair executive Barry Faber to his Tribune counterpart Advertisement Sinclair was widely assumed to be hankering to create the next Fox News network, a megaphone for right-wing politics. (For a hint of how it dictates the company line to its corps of robotic newsreaders, see this brief video compilation posted by Deadspins Timothy Burke.) According to Tribunes lawsuit, however, Sinclair wasnt smart enough to understand that its one thing to be outspoken in your news presentations, but when youre dealing with government regulators who have the power to quash your deal, the right approach is to be truckling, not truculent. That is, be nice. Instead, Tribune says, Sinclair misled and insulted government regulators. Sinclair released a statement asserting that it had not misled the Federal Communications Commission or acted in any way other than with complete candor and transparency. The lawsuit, it said, is entirely without merit. The Sinclair-Tribune merger was subject to approval from the FCC and the Department of Justice. By all that is holy, it should have been a slam-dunk. Under its President Trump-appointed chairman, Ajit Pai, the FCC had signaled a hands-off policy on a raft of regulatory principles. From the DOJs standpoint, the deal had all the hallmarks of a merger Trump would find especially gratifying. Indeed, once it started to unravel, Trump tweeted regretfully that it would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People. Yet Sinclair marched into the regulatory review with all guns blazing. Its executives fought, threatened, insulted, and misled regulators, belittling DOJ antitrust chief Makan Delrahim virtually to his face by saying that he hadnt realized how the world has changed in broadcast regulation. Although the merger agreement anticipated that Sinclair would have to divest stations in 10 markets where it would otherwise end up with multiple stations, Sinclair kept dithering on this commitment, and finally proposed station sales that the FCC commissioners unanimously questioned as sham transactions that would result in Sinclair effectively retaining ownership. So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldnt approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People. Liberal Fake News NBC and Comcast gets approved, much bigger, but not Sinclair. Disgraceful! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2018 Two of the proposed sales were especially dubious. Sinclair proposed to sell WPIX, a big New York station, to Cunningham Broadcasting Corp., which turned out to be the owner of several stations operated by Sinclair, had millions of dollars in debt guaranteed by Sinclair, and had been controlled by the estate of the late mother of David Smith, Sinclairs executive chairman, until January 2018. Then there was the sale of WGN, a Chicago station that was Tribunes flagship. Sinclairs buyer was one Steven Fader, a partner of Smiths in a car dealership who had no broadcasting experience. That was precisely why Sinclair chose him to purchase WGN, Tribune alleges. (The quotes around purchase are Tribunes.) Sinclair didnt disclose all the connections between its chairman and the buyers at first, which further ticked off the FCC, leading the commission to suggest that the sale proposals smacked of potential misrepresentation or lack of candor. That cast doubt, the FCC said, on whether granting any Sinclair applications would be in the public interest. Regarding WGN, the commission stated, We question the legitimacy of the proposed sale of such a highly rated and profitable station in the nations third largest market to an individual with no broadcast experience, with close business ties to Smith, and with plans to own only the license and minimal station assets. By the way, the sale price was $60 million, which the FCC thought suspiciously far below market value it noted that a lower-ranked Chicago TV station had been sold to Fox in 2002 for $425 million. Meanwhile, Tribune executives were becoming distinctly exasperated with their Sinclair counterparts. That was especially so after a conference call in mid-December when a DOJ official told representatives of both companies that if Sinclair would only follow through on divestitures in the 10 key markets, We would be done. In other words, DOJ would greenlight the deal. Instead, Sinclair offered to divest in only three and threatened to sue the DOJ if that wasnt good enough. It wasnt. A few days after the call, Tribune General Counsel Edward Lazarus wrote Barry Faber, the general counsel of Sinclair, to say that while Tribune was willing to afford Sinclair some flexibility in talks with the government, we are not willing to countenance your current path of shaking off DOJ suggestions and threatening to litigate. Faber essentially blew off Lazarus that very day, crisply informing him that he must have misunderstood the departments willingness to approve the deal and stating Sinclair was waiting for the DOJ to become more reasonable. A few days later, after Lazarus wrote him again to warn that Sinclairs strategy had led only to backward movement by the Department, Faber sent him an email brusquely stating, I do not intend to waste time responding to your most recent letter. There wasnt much more room for the deal to go downhill, but it did anyway. Finally, on July 16 the FCCs Pai announced that he had serious concerns about the merger and that as then proposed, it wouldnt be legal. He said he planned to refer the deal to an administrative law judge, which would delay it so long it was effectively dead. That made for one of the few regulatory outcomes in the Trump era that advanced, rather than undermined, the public interest. Trump himself was profoundly unhappy about the result, tweeting on July 24 that the FCCs refusal to approve the deal was so sad and unfair. Disgraceful! 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. UPDATES: 11:30 a.m.: This post has been updated to note that The Times was spun off from Tribune in 2014. If Elon Musks goal was to bury the Tesla short sellers, it hasnt quite worked out. As fast as Tesla shares surged after Musk tweeted about taking the company private, theyve come back down. Mounting skepticism and an inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission have erased most of an 11% gain. It always ends poorly for companies when theyre trying to squeeze the shorts, said Chris Brown, managing member at Aristides Capital, whose biggest position is a Tesla short. The idea of a transaction itself is idiotic. As always, audacity is proving a double-edged sword for Musk, the Tesla chairman and chief executive whose eight-year battle with public naysayers was a reason he gave for weighing the deal. After going public on Twitter without providing any financing specifics and igniting a frenzy of attention, the 47-year-old billionaires gambit has seen its market impact fade. Advertisement I doubled my short position the morning after Musks original tweet, Robert Chapman, money manager at Chapman Capital, said in an email. The more one learns about this situation, the more this appears to be a fakeover vs. takeover. Of course, Teslas stock is often portrayed as a pitched battle between fervid bears and a megalomaniacal iconoclast. But in reality, Musk has usually won. Shares of the electric-car maker have posted a 47% annualized gain since going public in 2010. And despite trading at more than 200 times next years earnings, the stock is up about 13% this year. Anchored by a famously loyal shareholder base, the shares suffered only brief setbacks this year when Musk called a British cave diver in the Thai rescue mission a pedophile and portrayed a former battery factory employee as a saboteur. Although he was urged last month by shareholder Baillie Gifford & Co. and bullish venture capital firm Loup Ventures to focus on execution, theres been no signs of a mass institutional defection. Tesla shares traded at $353.20 around 10 a.m. Pacific time on Friday. It was lifted overnight by a CNBC report that Musk previously talked with Saudi Arabias wealth fund about a take-private deal and that its board plans to meet with financial advisors next week. The stock was trading around $357 at the time of Musks Tuesday tweet. If somehow Elon Musk pulls the final rabbit out of the hat and gets the funding for this buyout, thats $67 upside from its close, said Brian Frank, portfolio manager at Key Biscayne, Fla.-based Frank Capital Partners LLC who was short the stock in the first quarter. Im personally skeptical. On Tuesday, those betting the stock would fall absorbed a blow that by some measures cost them more than $1 billion, but the short sellers resolve against Tesla sometimes hatred is proving hard to crack. Overall, accounting for positions that were covered, the loss shrank to about $304 million as of Thursday, according to Ihor Dusaniwsky, head of research at S3 Partners, a financial technology and analytics firm. Weve seen some of the larger shorts increasing their positions a bit, Dusaniwsky said in an email. In relative terms to the gains and losses Tesla shorts have incurred over the last several years, this is just a drop in the bucket and not enough to force large margin calls to well-capitalized large short players, and definitely not enough to scare any of them out of their positions. On Thursday, Bloomberg News reported that SEC investigators are intensifying scrutiny of Teslas public statements in the wake of Musks tweet saying he had funding secured for a transaction at $420. Enforcement attorneys were already gathering general information about Teslas public pronouncements on manufacturing goals and sales targets, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the review is private. Musk referred to his company as the most shorted stock in the history of the stock market in a Tuesday letter laying out reasons for going private. Hedge fund managers such as Jim Chanos and David Einhorn have been vocal public critics, and Teslas every utterance is parsed on Twitter by a phalanx of skeptics. Musks tweets did not send options traders into a buying frenzy more the opposite. Despite publication of a buyout target more than 10% above prevailing market prices, bearish contracts have seen greater demand in the aftermath. Implied volatility for puts betting on a 10% decline in the stock over the next three months, a measure of options cost, is 13.6 points wider than comparable calls, the widest gap on record, data compiled by Bloomberg showed. Hedge fund manager Joe Spiegel of Dalek Capital said he sold calls expiring next week, a position that amounts to a bearish bet on the stock. My rough calculation was that if this deal is real which I doubt the chance of a topping bid above $420 happening in the next 10 days was extremely low, Spiegel said. Even if the deal if real, it is so preliminary that the stock shouldnt really trade more than $367.50 or so. It was Emma Weibels lucky day. The Lake Oswego, Ore., resident received a letter from someone named Mike Ross informing her that an Aneta Weibel had died and left a $6-million estate. Ross said he wanted to have Emma declared Anetas next of kin so she could inherit the bulk of the money, with a modest portion for him for his efforts. The whole thing is, of course, a hoax, Weibel, 79, told me. But I can see this could be taken seriously by some people. I can see that too. Advertisement As it happens, my wife received a similar letter recently, and for the last few weeks Ive been corresponding by email and speaking on the phone with the scammers. This led me down the rabbit hole of an impressively elaborate fraud involving multiple characters; bogus medical, court and shipping documents; and repeated assurances that my wife and I were on the verge of enormous wealth. The FBI calls these advance-fee schemes, in which victims pay up front for an expected opportunity or financial windfall. Such ploys resulted in almost $58 million in reported losses last year. The variety of advance-fee schemes is limited only by the imagination of the con artists who offer them, the bureau says. Ours began with a snail-mail letter from Brian Cooks at the Co-operative Bank in London, which is a real bank. He identified himself as the former personal funds manager for Matsu Lazarus, who died some years back with his wife and only son while holidaying in Burma, a.k.a. Myanmar. A recent audit turned up a dormant account containing $25 million, Cooks said, and it appeared my wife was the closest thing Matsu Lazarus had to a next of kin. He was prepared to nominate her as his deceased clients sole legal heir. Overlooking the fact that Lazarus is my wifes married name, making it impossible for her to be the next of kin of anyone with the surname, this was very exciting news. I emailed Cooks, who was using a Gmail account, and told him we were thrilled to hear of our good fortune. What did we need to do? This began a near-daily correspondence in which Cooks kept us updated on his efforts. I kept waiting for him to spring the trap and ask for us to send him money, but the request didnt come. Instead we received a copy of Matsu Lazarus purported death certificate, as issued by Bawga Theiddhi Hospital in Myanmar. Its a real hospital but, not surprisingly, couldnt be reached to confirm the document. My favorite part of the certificate is the cause of death: Injuries from ghastly road traffic accident. The Myanmarese must be a colorfully descriptive people. This was followed by undoubtedly Photoshopped documents from the London Probate Registry and the High Court of England & Wales declaring my wife the official next of kin of Matsu Lazarus. Then came some probate materials and a form from the Co-operative Bank confirming that the transaction was being processed. Throughout, Cooks said he was spending an extraordinary amount of time and energy on this matter, and I thanked him profusely. He finally said we needed to talk about how my wife and I would take possession of the $25 million. I gave him my work number. When he called, I could hear an accent, but not a British one. Many advance-fee scams are known to originate in Nigeria and other West African countries. After the usual pleasantries and my repeating how grateful we were for Cooks diligence, he explained that the money couldnt be wired to our bank in the United States because it was, in fact, all in cash literally, $25 million, all in bills, like on a Costco pallet. For tax reasons, he said, it would be best for us to keep things this way and physically move the big pile of currency from England to Los Angeles. This wasnt Cooks first rodeo. He said he knew a London-based diplomat from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia who could bring the money to the United States in a diplomatic pouch. Were talking three or four boxes of $100 bills, but whatever. Five minutes after I got off the phone with Cooks, I received a call from the diplomat, who identified himself as Marvin Smith. His accent wasnt West Indian. It sounded like Cooks. I asked Smith where Saint Lucia is located and he said its in British Samoa, which doesnt exist, although theres an American Samoa in the South Pacific. Smith said the plan was for him to fly with the cash in a private jet to Atlanta, where Saint Lucia has a chancellery, which it does not. I received an email with an airway bill from Diplomatic Courier Services HK, which isnt a real company, showing that the Honorable Marvin Smith was flying from England to Atlanta with unspecified family treasures. A day later, good news: Smith called to say he was in Atlanta with the money. Now all we needed was to get the boxes out of a bonded warehouse. Smith said he was relying on a local contractor employed by his chancellery to make this happen. I soon received a call from the contractor, Joseph Jackson, who had the same accent as the others. I told him how delighted I was with the way things were proceeding. This is what I do for a living, Jackson replied. I have done this plenty of times. I had no doubt. And now that the hook had been patiently baited for weeks, it was time to reel me in. Jackson said hed need $18,950 to pay the duty fee for the boxes. Compared to the $25 million that was waiting, he stressed, this was a paltry sum. I said I understood his point, but $18,950 was a lot of money for me. Would it be possible for me to pay half up front and the other half after I received the cash? Jackson thought it over. You sound like a nice person, he decided. I dont know you but I like you. He said hed accept $12,000 up front, with the remainder to follow. I said Id have to think about that. When Jackson called the next day, I said my funds were a little tight. How about if I paid $6,000 up front? Jackson said hed need to speak with his supervisor. He called back to say they could make it work for $6,633. I said I could handle that. Jackson told me Id hear from Smith about making the payment. Smith called shortly afterward. He said he was very pleased that everything had worked out. He emailed me information about the bank account where I could wire the money. By this time, I was dazzled by the lengths to which these guys had gone to convince me everything was on the up and up. Id spoken with three different people. I had a stack of official-looking documents. Id invested a serious amount of time into pulling off the deal. Yeah, I could easily see how millions of dollars might be swindled annually from people, particularly those who may not check on pesky details such as the existence of British Samoa. When Smith called back a day later to ask why I hadnt wired the money, I told him lets stop playing games. I confessed Id been yanking his chain for weeks, just as hed been yanking mine, and I asked how often people fell for this scam. I dont know what youre talking about, he replied. Its no scam. Of course its a scam, I said. I just want to know how often it succeeds. There was a long pause. Finally Smith asked, Are we doing this or not doing this? Not doing this, I answered. The phone went dead. An email arrived the next day from Brian Cooks, the banker, inquiring about the status of the consignment. I wrote back to say he was welcome to call me; he had the number. That was the last I heard from my new friends. 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. Imagine happening upon an all-but-lost piece of history. That opportunity awaits at Will Geers Theatricum Botanicum, where youll find the 1938 play Haiti, created under the auspices of the Depression-era arts-funding program the Federal Theatre Project. The Theatricum folks think this is the first time that the drama about former slaves defeating Napoleons forces and securing Haitis independence has been performed since its introduction by the projects Negro Theatre Unit. The Theatricums wooded amphitheater in Topanga Canyon is a terrific location for this tale about the fight for what the French called Saint-Domingue and the revolutionaries called by the indigenous name Haiti. Shouts and drums reverberate across the hillside as the action progresses from 1802, a decade into the revolution, toward independence in 1804 and the beginning of the end of slavery in the New World. We can only imagine how segregated America must have responded to this depiction of black people standing up to oppression. Even New York and Boston wouldve been astonished. Advertisement Liberty, equality, fraternity if your skin is white enough, one of the islands military leaders sneers early in the tale, echoing the national motto of France and Haiti. Its the best line in the play, which William DuBois not to be confused with sociologist and NAACP co-founder W.E.B. DuBois structured as a melodrama. We could use more like it since, while revolution roils outside, were stuck in the salon of a former plantation house listening to strategizing and boasting. Its a long time until the action breaks into a sword fight, then a superhuman one-man-against-many showdown. The line is spoken by the dashing Gen. Henri Christophe (played by Max Lawrence), who is sometimes rash but unerringly ideal-driven. The French side has a hero too: Capt. Michel Duval (Dane Oliver), who disapproves of what hes been sent to do but remains resolutely honor-bound. The greatest hero of all, though, is Jaqueline (Earnestine Phillips), a gender flip of a character named Jacques in the script. Once a slave on this plantation, she was impregnated by its master. Her daughter, Odette (Tiffany Coty), was raised in Europe and is now returning as wife to the villainous Col. Boucher (Jeff Wiesen). Jaqueline presents herself to the French as their servant and thereby becomes a spy in their command post while also being close to the daughter who doesnt realize the family tie. Director Ellen Geer marvelously deploys a cast of 20, keeping the story moving and emotions running high. Among those emotions: Odette and Duval are an item, a mixed-race romance that was daring when Haiti made its debut. So was the decision back then to have the cast take its bows with black and white cast members alternating in line and linking hands. The world has changed in many ways since then. But Haiti reminds us not to be complacent. When racism is involved, theres bound to be struggle ahead. The French fight among themselves: Jeff Wiesen, left, and Dane Oliver. (Ian Flanders) Haiti Where: Will Geers Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga When: In repertory each weekend; see website for details; ends Sept. 29 Tickets: $15-$38.50 Info: (310) 455-3723, www.theatricum.com Running time: 2 hours daryl.miller@latimes.com Twitter: @darylhmiller Examine an actors choice of roles and even when they seem distinct and unconnected youll often find an underlying character trait that binds them. Jeff Daniels played wildly different roles in two acclaimed limited series this season, but even he is at a loss to find their similarities. Hes fairly Zen about digging into the guts of a psychopathic Old West outlaw and an erratic, super-dedicated, real-life counter-terrorism agent and the Emmy nomination he received for each. I dont think about them that deeply, says the 63-year-old actor, playwright, theater company founder and musician. I remember starting out with Terms of Endearment [1983]; I had research on that role for Flap Horton 300 pages typed out, what books he read, all of that. Its been fun to kind of just let [the character] come to you. Real-life FBI agent John ONeill is a deeply flawed hero in Hulus lead-up-to-9/11 chronicle, The Looming Tower, which received four Emmy nods. Meanwhile, the murderous and delusional Frank Griffin terrorizes frontier towns in the Netflix western, Godless, which received 11 nominations. Both characters inspire loyalty and hatred, and both move in worlds of righteous violence. Daniels didnt worry about the difficulty of making such extremes come across as real. Actors chase writing and Im not the only one. Its thrilling to be working at this time when all this is happening, all this writing. Jeff Daniels Advertisement Jeff Daniels in a scene from The Looming Tower. (JoJo Whilden / AP) WATCH: Video Q&As from this seasons hottest contenders The more I know, the less I want to know about how I got there, he says. Its choices, its motivations it just works for me to start thinking like he does between the lines. When they say Cut, its not like you have to do the Method thing, but let Frank Griffin think about that bird going by. Get in his head. Its trust. And it takes decades to learn you dont have to do a perfect take, he says, relying on the clarity of the writing and then serenely turning it all over to the directors and editors. Daniels has collected multiple awards nominations in the past including an Emmy win as Will McAvoy on Aaron Sorkins still-timely HBO series, The Newsroom. Hes now reteaming with Sorkin for the Broadway adaptation of Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird. He recognizes his great fortune in the writers whose material hes interpreted, including Sorkin, Lanford Wilson on Broadway, Scott Frank on Godless and Dan Futterman on Looming Tower. Jeff Daniels in a scene from Godless. (Ursula Coyote / AP) You do just enough with great writing, which is what youre finding on cable television because thats where all the writers have gone, he says. Actors chase writing and Im not the only one. Its thrilling to be working at this time when all this is happening, all this writing. The long-form storytelling of this new Golden Age of Television has torn apart formulas, allowing, for instance, Frank to tell an epic western story in seven parts episodes that are sometimes an hour and 10, an hour and 15 minutes long. Its like seven movies, Daniels says, then decries such Hollywood strictures as, At the 29th minute, this has to There are no minutes. It feels like youre shooting a novel. Daniels says he looked for those key thoughts to convey the characters, that thing, as I call it, that you can tape to the inside of your forehead and play through it. Sometimes its just a word. For Griffin, Daniels says, It might be, Ive seen my death; this aint it. Faced with mortal threats in the series, Griffin would invoke that talisman, giving him a kind of predestined quality and the accompanying fearlessness. It gave him such confidence. Maybe its not necessarily seeing it as knowing this isnt it. He just decided, This isnt it, just reveling in it. John ONeill rubbed many the wrong way as he doggedly pursued Osama bin Laden in the 1990s, when few believed the Al Qaeda leader posed a grave threat to the United States. The agents former colleagues told Daniels about ONeills bull-in-a-china-shop personality, his multiple affairs, his extravagant spending and his fiery dedication to the men and women who worked with him. He gulped life, says Daniels of the key thought that shaped his portrayal. FBI agent Mark Rossini told me that. He gulped life, professionally, personally. I could go to that and know how to play off that in whatever the scene required. Jeff Daniels in a scene from The Looming Tower. (JoJo Whilden / Hulu) He grilled the FBI agents whod gone running down the alleys with the guns with ONeill: Tell me about the mood swings. Tell me about his strengths, tell me about his weaknesses. What were his insecurities? Why so many women? They didnt have answers to everything, and that was OK. Because neither did John. Ive done well with these guys, not knowing why. This is their normal. They may know its a little chaotic, but this is their normal. For Daniels, part of normal is losing himself in that chaos. It has to do with being in the zone and thinking right, so at the end of it, you dont even remember what you just did, he says. Thats been kind of thrilling, when they yell Cut! and I dont really remember. I chased it all the way to the end, I believed it, I felt it. They say, Whatd you think about that? His response: A happily blank look. Jeff Daniels (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) calendar@latimes.com With all of the great TV occupying our waking (and in some cases, dreaming) hours, itll be impossible for the Emmy Awards to hand out prizes to every deserving actor, actress, story, show, twist and turn. Thats where the Envy Awards come in: Were here to give a big thumbs-up to the wondrous and misguided elements that would otherwise go unheralded. And now, the envelope please Most Misleading Series Title Lost in Space For the vast majority of Netflixs reboot of the classic Lost in Space series we were not, in fact, lost in space. We were lost on a planet. Semantics matter, people. Advertisement The So Very Cold Award The Terror OK, we get it that forcing actors to wear warm, fuzzy hats during scenes that take place in a frozen wasteland might make them harder to see or muss their perfect coifs. But at some point, verisimilitude counts: If you want us to believe your characters might die of exposure and hypothermia, we need to see folks on shows like Game of Thrones and Lost in Space with some kind of head covering. Thats one reason AMCs The Terror works so well: Those Arctic-bound explorers looked truly frozen and were, for the most part, realistically clad. Bad Day at the Beach Prize Jessica Biel as Cora Tannetti and Christopher Abbott as Mason Tannetti in The Sinner. (Illustration by Peter and Maria Hoey / For The Times | Brownie Harris/USA Network) The Sinner In the shows pilot, Cora Tannetti (Jessica Biel) is enjoying the day on the sand with her family right up until the point she stabs a man with a paring knife seemingly unprovoked. Someone needed a stronger sunscreen. Best Use of a Stagehand Nailed It! Alas, even in the below-the-line categories, someone like Weston Wes Bahr is likely to go overlooked for his wordless comedic moments on Netflixs Nailed It! And thats a shame: Whether hes hiding under the judges table trying to sneak the trophy into the shot or rolling around cakes and mixers to the adoring catcalls of host Nicole Byer, stage manager Bahr who has the build and hair of a metal band roadie is one of the funniest, unsung elements of the show. Greatest Dual Personality Costa Ronin Costa Ronin played a spy in two series this year, Homeland and The Americans. (Peter and Maria Hoey / For The Times) This year, Ronin was a spy who really came in from the cold twice and delighted us both times. In Homeland, his Yevgeny Gromov surfaced as an agent provocateur and assassin who nonetheless had some valid political points; while on The Americans he continued his longtime role as Oleg Burov, this time leaving his wife and child at home in Russia for one last mission and ended up in jail. The When Furniture Attacks! Prize Howards End Poor Leonard Bast (Joseph Quinn): Having taken the bad advice of the Schlegel sisters throughout the Starz miniseries and gone on a long road to ruin, he turns up at Howards End and is struck by Charles (Joe Bannister). He tries to right himself by grabbing a bookcase but it topples on him, and his weakened heart gives out. A truly bad end at Howards End. The When Household Appliances Attack! Award This Is Us Milo Ventimiglia in This Is Us. (Illustration by Peter and Maria Hoey / For The Times | NBC) We all knew Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) was going out on This Is Us, but we didnt know how until a slow cooker set the whole house on fire. The makers of Crock-Pots bubbled over with irritation at being implicated (it was shown to be a 20-year-old machine that had a wonky switch, people!) and rushed to insist that their current slow cookers are very safe indeed. Most Educational Episode Titles Billions There are many pleasures in Billions, small and large, but one of the most consistent is the moment when the obscure reference in the episode title is made both literally and metaphorically clear in the ensuing script: Elmsley Count, The Third Ortolan, All the Wilburys were just three of this seasons past standouts. Keep the Easter eggs coming, writers. Outstanding Use of a Musical Instrument Darius and the rainbow piano. (Illustration by Peter and Maria Hoey / For The Times) Atlanta We have to give credit to the object that was literally instrumental in kicking off one of the greatest bottle episodes ever: Teddy Perkins featured the convoluted, death-defying journey that Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) underwent to secure a free rainbow piano, whose keys were actually just colored over. WATCH: Video Q&As from this seasons hottest contenders calendar@latimes.com Acropolis Cinema In Milla, teenage lovers get by squatting in an abandoned house in a French fishing village until the baby-faced girl becomes pregnant and has a child. French-Armenian director Valerie Massadian made the 2017 film while a fellow at the Radcliffe-Harvard Film Study Center. Acropolis Cinema, Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., Los Angeles. Aug. 15, 8 p.m. $12. Fil mmm Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagninos 2009 melodrama of manners I Am Love is about a wealthy Italian family that gathers in their Milan abode to celebrate New Years Eve 1999. Frequent Guadagnino collaborator Tilda Swinton plays Emma, who finds herself drawn to a sensual chef. Metro Art, Union Station, North Patio, 800 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles. Aug. 17; food trucks at 5:30 p.m.; film, 8 p.m. Free. Dennis Hopper: The Last Rebel The actors 1986 turn as a violent, gas-inhaling sadist in David Lynchs surreal neo-noir Blue Velvet (along with his Oscar nomination the same year for Hoosiers) put his career back on track. That same year, Hopper was featured as the local crazy old dude in Rivers Edge, a film which uncannily portends both the grunge era and Lynchs Twin Peaks. Keanu Reeves, Ione Skye and Crispin Glover (never better) star as teens who remain largely indifferent when one of their peers is murdered in a rural Northern California town. Director Tim Hunter and actor Tom Bower will introduce the movie. American Cinematheque, Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 466-3456. Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m. $8-$12. The series will run Aug. 16-20. Japan Film Festival The 13th annual event featuring cinema depicting contemporary Japan kicks off on Aug 18: blank 13, 11 a.m.; Oh Lucy! (a feature version starring Josh Hartnett opened earlier this year), JAP, Rice Ball and other short films, 1 p.m.; black comedy The Scythian Lamb, 3:20 p.m.; the comedy-horror One Cut of the Dead, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19: Lost in Ramen, 11 a.m.; Forgive Dont Forget, 1:20 p.m.; We Are X, a rock documentary about a popular glam-punk-rock band, 3:05 p.m.; Hee, 5:20 p.m. Japanese American National Museum, 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles. The festival will also screen films at Newport Beach Higashi Honganji, 254 Victoria St., Costa Mesa, although times will differ. $15 for each screening. Day and weekend passes available. Advertisement Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Director Robert Zemeckis 1988 live-action/animated toon noir sits somewhere between Chinatown and L.A. Confidential as a great LA movie covering an array of still topical issues such as gentrification, classism, and public transportation ordeals. Lots of cameos from beloved characters of yore such as Betty Boop, Flip the Frog and Little Lulu. Journalist and public policy expert Jim Newton will introduce the film. Autry Museum, Wells Fargo Theater, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, (323) 667-2000. Aug. 18, 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Free with museum admission. Reservations recommended. ------------ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies Born to Australian-raised parents of Chinese and Taiwanese descent, Chris Pang grew up in Melbourne and trained in martial arts but never saw a clear path into an acting career until he stumbled into a casting agency and booked his first jobs. Even after starring in the dystopian 2010 Australian hit Tomorrow, When the War Began, he found the industry lacking in roles for diverse performers and subsequently moved to Los Angeles. Pang landed roles in Lionsgates I, Frankenstein and the Netflix film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny and series Marco Polo. In Crazy Rich Asians he plays leading man Nick Youngs easygoing best friend, whose upcoming nuptials to Araminta Lee is the event wedding of the century to the islands jet-set. Pang affirms the value of seeing oneself reflected on screen on such a significant scale and hopes that audiences wont have to wait another 25 years for the next opportunity. In your own words: Whats your Hollywood story? Hometown: Melbourne. Im Australian, if you cant tell from the accent. I just always loved the idea of acting, [but] as a kid I didnt really know that that was a proper career. It wasnt a realistic career path, I guess, until I found myself selling phones to businesses. Advertisement I was the annoying guy with the little bag that walks in and is like, I was just wondering if the business owner is in right now? I want to talk to you about your telephone bills. Its the guy that you immediately kick out of your office. I was that guy, but I walked into a casting studio and I was genuinely interested in what they do so I was talking to them. They were like, Can you do a Chinese accent? If you watch New Police Story 4, Im one of the English-speaking voices on it, and that was the first thing that I ever did. Australian actor Chris Pang talks about how he went from selling phones to Crazy Rich Asians. It is quite damaging to ones sense of self to not be validated, to not see your own image represented. Chris Pang, Crazy Rich Asians When you were young, did you see yourself reflected on screen? Growing up as an Asian in Australia Ive had similar stories to Asian Americans, and generally all over the world any Asian growing up outside of their own culture, outside of Asia, would have a similar experience growing up. I didnt see myself and my image in media and in films and on billboards and all that. Id walk around and as a kid I always felt left out in that sense, you know? It is quite damaging to ones sense of self to not be validated, to not see your own image represented. It was a big thing and I always wanted to change that if I could. So being an actor and putting myself on screen is part of that I feel the responsibility to be a part of the conversation. Crazy Rich Asians is the first movie of its kind in 25 years. What does it mean to you to be part of this moment? I feel like we all had an idea of what it could be in our head I didnt really know how much people would love it until more recently when people started watching the film. I felt the pressure right from the beginning because when I realized that there hasnt been a film with this much representation thats going to receive this much international attention ... Joy Luck Club was 25 years ago just as an exercise I went to look up articles and media surrounding the release of that film. There was a lot of talk about diversity, there was a lot of talk about representation and inclusion, and it was all great talk but then it kind of died out. We havent had a film like that for 25 years, and this is the first one since then to come out of a major Hollywood studio thats a modern-day representation of Asians. That said to me [that] it was happening at the time, we had those conversations, but the landscape didnt change that much, you know? Hopefully this time its a different story. Weve come full circle now and weve got the opportunity to do it again. But I really feel like people are responding to this film. Weve created something special, its a lot of fun, and I cant wait for people to see it. FULL COVERAGE: Why the historic Hollywood rom-com Crazy Rich Asians matters Director Jon M. Chu brings the vibrant world of Crazy Rich Asians to life with all the style and glamour of a big-budget Hollywood movie but early on in the project he had a big choice to make, joining author Kevin Kwan in turning down a massive Netflix payday to ensure the groundbreaking project would make its impact on the big screen. The Palo Alto-born USC graduate had spent the last decade becoming one of Hollywoods fastest-rising studio directors with credits including Step Up 2 the Streets, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and the Now You See Me films. But Chu, who will direct an adaptation of Lin-Manuel Mirandas In the Heights in 2019 and is developing a film based on the Thai cave rescue, realized the time had come to focus his message and put his money where his mouth was. Advertisement In your own words: Whats your Hollywood story? My moms from Taiwan. My dads from mainland China. They came over when they were 19, 20 years old. Im the youngest of five kids from the Silicon Valley Los Altos Hills, California, to be specific. They started a restaurant called Chef Chus. Fifty years, next year. My dad works every day, and they always taught us that Americas the greatest place in the world: If you work hard and focus on what you do, you can be the best and you can do anything you want. I went to USC film school, made a bunch of shorts there. Luckily, I got discovered off of my musical short When the Kids Are Away, and I started making movies. Its kind of an insane Cinderella story. I got a call from Steven Spielberg on a Friday night and got my catapult into the business. Ive done a bunch of movies, but it wasnt until a couple years ago where I really questioned what kind of movies I wanted to make. I found Crazy Rich Asians and I feel like this is the beginning of my Chapter Two. What made you feel that you had to be a part of bringing Crazy Rich Asians to the big screen? I wanted to find something that was more personal, and the most personal thing was tackling my own cultural identity something I was too scared to deal with before Hopefully through this movie you realize everyones trying to find their place. Everyones trying to find their role in this life, and youre not alone in your struggle. Jon M. Chu, director of Crazy Rich Asians, says that whats both personal and universal about the story is: Everyones trying to find their place. I want to bring back that old Hollywood charm. Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding Crazy Rich Asians is the first movie of its kind in 25 years. What does it mean to you to be part of this moment? I remember growing up as a kid and not seeing a lot of people on the big screen, or even behind the screen, that looked like me. So the fact that we get to show romantic leads in a contemporary movie, showing this experience of an Asian American going out into the world and discovering Asia, that were not just one blob of Asian people, means so much. I think about my young self. I think about my daughter who was just born a year ago, and the world I want her to live in. I want her to live in a world where shes seeing Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh and Lisa Lu be these strong independent people that dont need a man in their life to be fulfilled, and that love themselves and know that theyre worth every inch of their existence, and can be anything and do whatever they want. When you were young, who inspired you? I remember making my first project. I was making videos with my family and I got this Sharper Image mixer. I used all the VHS tapes to cut it together and I showed my parents in the living room and they cried when they watched it, and I felt heard for the first time. Being one of five kids, to be heard is a big deal! I knew I was going to do this for the rest of my life whether I was going to be paid for it or not. Growing up I remember seeing people like Rufio [played by Dante Basco] in Hook and being like, That guys so cool. I got to play him every time I was playing with my friends. Even though it was just a little small thing, I know how much that can mean to a kid. So as we make this, I hope it gives inspiration to others not just that they can be these characters, but that other writers and directors with other stories dont have to depend on one story with one set of characters. These other stories we can hear that we dont even know exist right now thats why Im really excited for the future. Where there are cracks is where the light can come in. FULL COVERAGE: Why the historic Hollywood rom-com Crazy Rich Asians matters When Rachel Chu finds herself at odds with the titular Crazy Rich Asians, its not boyfriend Nick Youngs high-rolling buddies or mean girl exes who prove her biggest adversaries, but BAFTA-nominated screen legend Michelle Yeohs character. How did a dance-loving young girl from Ipoh, Malaysia, grow up to play the elegant and powerful Eleanor Young, mother of all in-laws? From her early break in Hong Kong action classics like Yes, Madam and Supercop to her crossover turns in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and beyond, Yeoh has amassed an impressive resume of roles over three decades. (She even broke intergalactic barriers as a Starfleet captain in the CBS All Access series Star Trek: Discovery. Oh, yes, she smiles, flashing Spocks trademark hand gesture. Live long and prosper.) Advertisement In your own words: Whats your Hollywood story? I come from a really small mining city in Malaysia called Ipoh, and I believe unless you are from that part of the world you probably never heard of this place. When I was a young child I never, never imagined that one day I would be on the silver screen. I loved movies ever since I was a child because my mother was a big fan of cinema. We would watch Indian movies, Malay movies, Chinese movies, anything that came across. I was asked to go to Hong Kong to make a commercial and my first co-star was Jackie Chan. The first movie I did was an action film, but as the story normally goes, I played the damsel in distress because that was the trend at that point. By my second one I said I would like to be able to partake in the action sequences because it looks like a big choreography like dance. My first venture into a big Hollywood film was Tomorrow Never Dies. I think at that point the producers realized that Bond also had to stop being such a misogynist character... because women wanted to go and see the movies as well, wanted to be part of that excitement, and what better to have [a woman] comparable to Bond? I played a Chinese spy and I had the greatest time of my life. Was it the turning point of my career? I think it came with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a story that was brought to you by Ang Lee, one of the most incredible directors that I know of. Martial arts and the world of martial arts, which is something that we grow up with all the time, in America was much less known. If it was not done so poetically, perhaps it would not have been as well received as it was. Crazy Rich Asians star Michelle Yeoh remembers playing a character comparable to James Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies, her first Hollywood film, and says which movie she considers the turning point in her career. I want to bring back that old Hollywood charm. Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding How did you first hear about Crazy Rich Asians, the book? I heard about Crazy Rich Asians when the novel first came out. I had some very excited friends who called me and said, You have to read this novel. Its hysterical. Its funny. Its about us Asians. I read the book and I thought, wow. [Author Kevin Kwan] had me at the prologue, really. When Eleanor Young bought the hotel it was like, Damn sassy. Thats how it should be done. This is the first movie of its kind in 25 years. What does it mean to you to be part of this moment? I think the whole industry did not realize how important this movie would be for not just Asian Americans, but contemporary Asian talents. To have a movie that talks about them, today. Im so glad that its happening because Ive waited a very long time, and the last one was 25 years ago with Joy Luck Club. I think the audience is making the producers listen because this is what they want to see. Ive grown up in a community where we are not a minority We want to be included, not just as a token, but really with flesh and blood, with heart, with passion and with the storytelling that deserves to be told. FULL COVERAGE: Crazy Rich Asians Before embarking on her first-ever acting audition, English actress Sonoya Mizuno had to make a life-changing decision: Should she leave behind a successful career in ballet in order to take a shot at her own Hollywood dream? She leapt, quit her old job and made her acting debut as Kyoko in 2015s Ex Machina opposite Oscar Isaac. The former fashion model and professional ballerinas resume now includes La La Land, Annihilation (in which she played two roles, as one of Natalie Portmans students and as her mirror-movement double) and Netflixs upcoming sci-fi series Maniac. In Crazy Rich Asians, shes effervescent heiress Araminta Lee, the bride at the center of a massive event wedding. Born in Tokyo to a Japanese father and Argentinian English mother, Mizuno remembers growing up not seeing herself reflected on screen. Advertisement In your own words: Whats your Hollywood story? I was born in Japan and I grew up in England, and I wanted to be an actor when I was a child because I had an uncle who was an actor. I wanted to do everything he did, and he told me to learn how to dance first. So then I learned how to dance. I happened to be good at it and was sent to the Royal Ballet School, and then I became a ballet dancer. 15 years later, I still had this desire to act and I thought if I didnt act upon it now, then Id never do it. So I quit my job and I tried to act. Eventually I got parts which got bigger and bigger and I ended up in L.A. on my own accord. I thought there was more opportunity there to do what I wanted to do, especially looking the way I do, which is not like a typical English rose. Funnily enough, in the first few weeks that I was there I met [director] Jon Chu at a K-pop concert. He had just seen Ex Machina and we connected about telling Asian stories. When [Crazy Rich Asians] came around, I said I really want to audition for this film. The rest is history. Ex Machina and Maniac actress Sonoya Mizuno on feeling the effect of Crazy Rich Asians. Crazy Rich Asians is the first movie of its kind in 25 years. What does it mean to you to be part of this moment? Seeing and hearing the reactions of people particularly, of course, Asian people, Asian American, British Asian, Asian Asians, or wherever theyre from its so touching and it raises the stakes of the film. It makes me realize how important this film is. I feel privileged to be in this position to help push this moment forward, but also I feel like this film is just the beginning of something greater. When you were young, did you see yourself reflected on screen or onstage? Who were your role models? In the Royal Ballet Company there was a Japanese principal dancer, and onstage and in ballet they have colorblind castings so I did see Asian dancers, and they were always my favorite. When you have someone who looks like you, its something you can kind of grab onto and it makes you feel better about your place in the world. You had a successful career in dance, but had to take a leap of faith to try your hand at acting. How did you land in Alex Garlands Ex Machina? Ex Machina [was] the first audition Id ever done for acting in my life and the way it came about was just so unusual, because I was in a ballet company at the time. I really wanted to leave and do acting but I didnt know how to get into it. I had an old modeling agency in London and I went back to them and I said, Look, I really want to do acting. Do you know how I can get into it? While I was in the meeting they got an email about extras for Ex Machina, for the women in the closets. So I said, Ill just go and see what happens. And I went and somehow it went really well. Alex was like, I think youre fantastic. You can have the job. [The role] was one of the extras, but I was like, Thats fine, I dont mind at all. This is great. But I had to leave my ballet job in order to do it and the director wouldnt let me leave. At the same time, I had a call from the film production and they said that Alex was interested in me for a bigger part but I had to go to London to audition for it. I had to resign from my job not knowing if I was going to get the part. I didnt have anywhere to live in London, I had nothing and I was just like, OK Im going to go. I went to London. I auditioned. Thank God I got the job. I want to bring back that old Hollywood charm. Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding FULL COVERAGE: Why the historic Hollywood rom-com Crazy Rich Asians matters Movie recommendations from critics Justin Chang and Kenneth Turan. Ant-Man and the Wasp A bright, cheery distraction from darker, heavier Marvel Studios outings, this Peyton Reed-directed sequel to 2015s Ant-Man reunites Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly in a superhero caper of deliberately low stakes and enormous charm. (Justin Chang) PG-13 The Cakemaker A provocative, unexpected and very moving German-Israeli coproduction that is as unusual a love story as you are likely to find. (Kenneth Turan) NR Eighth Grade Starring a superb Elsie Fisher as a girl about to graduate from the eighth grade, writer-director Bo Burnhams debut feature paints a beautifully, painfully honest portrait of adolescent girlhood. (Justin Chang) R Advertisement Gavagai A German traveler (Andreas Lust) heads to Norway on a journey of loss and letting go in this haunting, melancholy film shot in beautifully supple, flowing long takes by the director and cinematographer Rob Tregenza. (Justin Chang) NR Hereditary Anchored by a bravura performance from Toni Collette, writer-director Ari Asters devastating, implacably terrifying film depicts an American family coming apart after tragedy. (Justin Chang) R Incredibles 2 There is good news in the world tonight: Writer-director Brad Bird has brought everyones favorite superhero family back to the big screen, and we are all better off for it. (Kenneth Turan) PG Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Led by a vivacious star turn from Lily James, Ol Parkers sequel to Mamma Mia! is a thoroughly unexpected delight, an ABBA jukebox musical that improves on its dreadful 2008 predecessor in every respect. (Justin Chang) PG-13 Puzzle Kelly Macdonald, one of the best actors out there and a perennial costar (Trainspotting, No Country for Old Men), steps out and shows us what she can do on a bigger stage. Working with Indian star Irrfan Khan, she is a knockout as a suburban housewife who discovers herself through an unexpected mastery of jigsaw puzzles. (Kenneth Turan) R. RBG One of the great services that this clear-eyed and admiring documentary on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg provides is to emphasize not just her work on the court but also how extraordinarily influential she was before she even got there. (Kenneth Turan) NR Sorry to Bother You Rapper-activist Boots Rileys joyous dystopian cackle of a directing debut stars a superb Lakeith Stanfield as an Oakland telemarketer who stumbles into that arrestingly surreal zone where racial identity, class rage and corporate malfeasance intersect. (Justin Chang) R Three Identical Strangers A scientific and philosophical inquiry by way of a detective story, Tim Wardles intensely compelling documentary tells the twistier-by-the-minute story of identical triplet boys who found each other 19 years after being separated at birth. (Justin Chang) PG-13 Wont You Be My Neighbor? The goal of this exemplary documentary is not to tell the story of TV host Fred Rogers life but to show the way of someone whose formidable task was, in his own words, to make goodness attractive and made it happen. (Kenneth Turan) PG-13 See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies The kicky 1982 cult classic The Atomic Cafe, enjoying a theatrical re-release in a new 4K digital restoration is, well, a blast to watch, particularly at this often head-scratching moment in American history. This documentary curio, directed by Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader and Pierce Rafferty, is a compilation of mostly black-and-white clips from post-World War II era government-produced training and educational films, newsreels, commercials and more, related to Americas then-obsession with the atom bomb. The U.S. was in a conundrum after dropping nuclear weapons on Japan: What if another country say, oh, maybe Russia built its own bomb and aimed it at us? The result of that nightmare scenario was a propaganda crusade aimed at preparing the average American for nuclear attack while, at the same time, selling folks on the virtues of the bomb. Talk about a mixed message. Although it was fear-mongering of the first order, this weirdo information campaign was frequently presented via jaunty, jingoistic, team-spirit-type films and civil defense broadcasts featuring everyday folks incorporating extreme and sometimes extremely silly survival techniques into their daily routines. Advertisement Viewers old enough to remember duck and cover drills and homemade fallout shelters (and suits!) will get a special charge out of Atomics many archival gems. But the film also serves as a vivid reminder of a deeply paranoid age when Russia was Americas most anathematic boogeyman, which is perhaps the most pervasive, often over-the-top sentiment expressed in many of the clips here. Its a delicious irony to behold given the current pro-Kremlin leanings in certain circles (ovals?). The movies time-capsule exuberance also includes pointed glimpses of such then-key politicos as Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson and the dreaded Nikita Khrushchev (who almost seems quaint compared to Russias current strongman, Vladimir Putin). Such 1940s and 50s touchstones as gather-round radios, newfound suburban bliss for perfect families (read: middle-class whites) and the advent of television and its oddball offshoot, TV dinners, also help set the scene. At the same time, there are some genuinely unsettling images involving the true-life effects of atomic bombing and radiation, Americas duplicitous nuclear testing program in the Marshall Islands and, of course, those iconic mushroom clouds. The film is shrewdly and smartly edited to make its paradoxical points without the need for a unifying voiceover to seal the deal. Besides, who needs narration when youve got such kooky romantic musical ditties as This Cold War With You and Atom Bomb Baby peppering the soundtrack? ------------- The Atomic Cafe Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 26 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica; also 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena, and Laemmle Claremont 5 See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com The ticktock of a grandfather clock. Droplets of blood on parchment paper. An eavesdropping housekeeper. Screams heard up and down the winding staircase of a stately English mansion. Advertisement Stylistically, Amazon Primes Ordeal by Innocence is Agatha Christie through and through, and that should come as no surprise. The limited series, out Friday, is adapted from her 1958 novel of the same name, the first of three original Christie adaptations to premiere on the streaming service. The unexpected twist here, however, is that the three-episode period drama deviates from the books narrative yet still manages to weave an equally intriguing whodunit. Christie devotees may find the off-the-book story lines disrespectful to the beloved author if not altogether blasphemous. But this series produced in the U.K. for BBC One does an artful job building out new puzzles atop the old while still honoring the work of Christie. Its the mid-1950s when we meet the Argyll family. Egyptologist Leo Argyll (Bill Nighy) is the patriarch of the well-to-do British family, his philanthropist Mrs. Rachel Argyll (Anna Chancellor) was murdered over a year ago, and one of the familys five adopted adult children was convicted of the crime. The perp, black-sheep son Jack (Anthony Boyle), has since died in jail. Left are Mickey (Christian Cooke), Hester (Ella Purnell), Mary (Eleanor Tomlinson) and Tina (Crystal Clarke) as well as drunken, bitter son-in-law Philip (Matthew Goode) and Leos new flame, voluptuous gold digger Gwenda (Alice Eve). But when a mysterious man who goes by the name of Dr. Calgary (Luke Treadaway) shows up on the Argylls polished doorstep claiming that the wrong man was convicted of Rachels murder, new questions arise around Rachels death and the family begins to suspect one another. Each hour-long episode takes audiences through a series of flashbacks that paints a vivid picture of the dysfunctional, mother-child relationships. No one particularly liked, let alone loved, the prickly, cold matriarch. The series does a great job in giving everyone here including maid Kirsten (Morven Christie) ample motives to stab her in the parlor, or was it the drawing room? The collective talent of the cast Nighy, Chancellor, Goode -- is another critical piece in bringing Christies tale to life by honoring the authors attention to detail in her characters. The Argylls in this adaptation are not particularly likable, but they are all intriguing and full of mystery. The drama is beautifully shot. Family secrets unfold in the foggy English countryside, the wooded forests and inside the ornate Argyll mansion. The wardrobe is also part of the rich viewing experience here: tweed jackets, elegant dinner gowns. As for the new twists? No spoilers here, but suffice to say this version of Ordeal by Innocence is a worthy if not slightly darker take on an old classic. Agatha Christies Ordeal by Innocence Where: Amazon When: Any time Rated: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under age 17) lorraine.ali@latimes.com @lorraineali If youve recently embraced the health trend of drinking collagen for stronger bones, dont feel so hip just yet. One clothing company wants you to wear collagen for softer skin. Seattle-based Buki, a clothing brand specializing in high-tech fabrics, released the Collagen Collection, a line of clothing embedded with collagen (a structural protein found in the bodys connective tissue), in June. Buki co-founders call it their most innovative, powerful fabric yet. The Collagen Collection includes womens turtleneck, scoop-neck and V-neck long-sleeve shirts, which are form-fitting and can be used as layering pieces; a hoodie; a scarf; and a pillow cover all in black priced from $98 to $178. Buki will release more womens clothing such as pajama sets in gray and blush pink in November as well as pants, a dress and mens T-shirts in 2019. The company also offers a variety of clothing options for men and women outside of the Collagen Collection. The current collection, composed of casual pieces with simple silhouettes, is meant to take women from desk to dinner in any season, Buki co-founder Joey Rodolfo said. Besides softening the skin, it also promises to regulate body temperature, dry quickly and resist pilling and it has UPF-50 to protect you from ultraviolet rays. Advertisement But does the fabric actually work as the brands co-founders claim? During a recent interview, Rodolfo said the fabric passed third-party testing services SGS and Intertek with flying colors. At the very least, they say its really, really soft. The clothing starts with a marine-sourced, skin-smoothing collagen powder, Buki co-founder Stacy Bennett said. The powder then becomes a fiber, which is combined with other fibers, such as modal and viscose rayon, to create the knit collagen fabric. Because the source of collagen is one of those fibers, the resulting fabric is essentially collagen, and so it never wears out, it never washes out and it truly is part of the fabric, Bennett said. Why combine skin care and clothing? Rodolfo said he believes that high-tech fabrics are the future of fashion. He and Bennett have worked with a Japanese fiber-technology company (they wouldnt disclose the companys name) on each of Bukis 10 technical fabrics. I started 15 years ago really focusing on the next generation of fibers, Rodolfo said. One of the things that was really apparent to me is that fibers were going to change fashion. People want all-around comfort, but beyond the comfort comfort with actual benefits. Everything from Bukis collection is machine washable, but Bennett recommends washing Buki items together and hanging them to dry. Were trying to start a wardrobe revolution where everythings mixed and matched, and everythings super comfortable, easy to take care of, great for travel just better for everyday, Bennett said. Once youve felt these technical fabrics, theres no going back. Cant make it to the Buki store in Seattle? The Collagen Collection is available online. If you want to try before you buy, its also available at two Southern California stores: Just Looking Boutique in Laguna Beach and Unique Accents in Dana Point. Rodolfo said he and Bennett have their eyes on other retailers and would eventually like to open a pop-up store in Los Angeles. As it turns out, the whole roasted guinea pig was not the most memorable dish from a recent trip to Peru and Ecuador. And it wasnt the tree tomatoes or polka-dotted potatoes either. Of all the new foods I experienced during my recent travels, its the ceviches that stand out. Familiar, yet so unlike the more common long-cooked Baja-beach-style ceviche, the dish became a gateway to cuisines that are predominantly a blend of indigenous (notably Quechuan) and Spanish colonial culinary traditions with a noticeable Japanese influence. Peru is known for its sashimi-like ceviches and crudo-style tiraditos, and Lima is the epicenter. At cevicherias and restaurants, youll find both simple and complex versions. In ceviches most basic form, cubes of fresh local fish, red onion, and thin rings of aji (Arawak for chile) are tossed with leche de tigre, a briny emulsion of lime, spices and fish, moments before it is served. It is traditionally accompanied by chunks of boiled sweet potato or yuca and indigenous large-kernel corn nestled in the juices and by aji amarillo, the vivid yellow-orange table salsa made from the Andean pepper of the same name, and toasted dried corn, the inspiration for our corn nuts. By contrast, Ecuadorean fish ceviches are milder, more fully cooked in lime and sometimes served with white rice. But most surprising was the Ecuadorean ceviche vegetariano, an umami-laden bowlful of mushrooms, lupin beans, avocado, bits of tomato and fresh hearts of palm in a refreshing lime broth. It was accompanied, as are all Ecuadorean ceviches, by plantain and yuca chips and, best of all, popcorn. This may be popcorns true calling: salty, crunchy, chewy, yet permeable enough to absorb ceviches zesty juices. Recipe: Huacatay table salsa I returned home inspired by how the ancient Quechuan attention to provenance foods from Mamaqucha, the Incan goddess of the waters, and Pachamama, goddess of the land influenced contemporary cooking, and I couldnt wait to host a fish- and plant-based ceviche party. Which ingredients would be available at nearby farmers markets and stores, and which would remain a taste memory?Romeo Coleman of Coleman Family Farms grows huacatay, Perus national herb (in the aster family but also called black mint), and Weiser Family Farms Alex Weisers first crop of yellow chiles is due in fall. Peruvian chef Ricardo Zarate of Rosaline in West Hollywood directed me to El Camaguey market near Culver City, where I found frozen and dried aji amarillo, rocoto and panco peppers; Andean corn; and superior canned hearts of palm (fresh are an air-shipped luxury here). Peruvian ceviche complimented with some corn, sweet potatoes, avocado and a colorful dip of purple onions. Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times Recipe: Peruvian fish ceviche Finding quality seafood for sashimi-style ceviche will be the hardest part, says sustainable-seafood expert Michael Cimarusti, chef-owner of Providence, Cape Seafood and Il Pesce Cucina. Stay as local as possible; its your best hope of getting fresh enough fish. Look for bright-eyed, glistening whole fish or translucent fillets with bright red, not oxidized, bloodlines and a fresh smell. Always keep it well-chilled. Fresh is actually one to two days post-catch, according to Cape Seafood fishmonger Ehder Dominguez, to allow the fish to settle into its flavor and texture. Choose a firm-fleshed fish that isnt too assertive. Rockfish (vermilion, ocean whitefish, tilefish), white seabass and yellowtail are good West Coast seasonal choices, says Sarah Rathbone, Los Angeles co-founder of the Dock to Dish network of sustainable seafood advocates. Alaskan halibut and cod are fine but not those from California, she cautions; they turn mushy in acid. For an East Coast ceviche, Cimarusti suggests black bass or flat fish (sole, sea bream, tai snapper, fluke) and recommends salting the fish to plump it before using, an optional but worthwhile step. Leche de tigre does more than cook the fish once its brought to the table. The protein-rich blend heightens ceviches savoriness. Its blended with ice cubes to make it colder and creamier and to calm the limes acidity. Vegan ceviche from Ecuador. Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times Recipe: Ceviche vegetariano To translate Pachamama ceviche to North American crops, use local ingredients that offer a mix of textures and hold their color and shape in acidic juices: firm-ripe Fuerte or Pinkerton avocados, fresh shiitake caps (avoid portobellos), dense vegetables such as cauliflower or carrots, and bean varieties such as flageolet, navy, white tepary and Tarbais (cassoulet), as well as edamame or young favas. For my ceviche party, I made three Peruvian salsas: sweet-spicy pluot-chile; one-ingredient aji amarillo (or other mild to moderately hot chiles); and huacatay (or amaranth or nettles), the nutty earthiness of which goes perfectly with summer new potatoes and guacamole. I stocked up on Andean snack foods and popped some corn. I grilled, instead of boiled, the sweet potato and summer corn for the fish ceviche and chilled beer and bone-dry gruner Gruner Veltliner and Basque txakoli wines. Recipe: Plum or pluot table salsa I didnt nearly replicate a Lima moment or Andean afternoon. But I believe I had Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinezs blessing for my Cal-Peru-Ecuador olio. When Martinez, who is chef-owner of Central Restaurante in Lima, visited Weiser Family Farms in Tehachapi last May, I asked him what SoCal cooks could substitute for hard-to-find South American ingredients. Use that, the chef said, gesturing to the surrounding fields and nearby hills. Use what you have in your own ecosystems. He was right. The best way to translate a culinary adventure is to keep it local. Aji amarillo to accompany Peruvian and Ecuadorean ceviches. Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times Recipe: Simple aji amarillo table salsa Where to find the ingredients Fish markets Cape Seafood, 801 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 556-2525, cape-seafood.com. 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays; also 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at Santa Monica farmers market, Arizona at 3rd Street. Dory Fleet Fish Market, 2111 W. Oceanfront, Newport Beach, doryfleet.com. 6:30 A.M. to noon Wednesdays to Fridays, 5:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays. Eataly, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 310.-8000, www.eataly.com. 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Fish King Seafood, 722 N. Glendale Ave., Glendale, (818) 244-2161, www.fishkingseafood.com. 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Santa Monica Seafood, 1000 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 393-5244, hwww.smseafoodmarket.com. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Also at 154 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa,, (949) 574-0274. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Latin markets El Camaguey Meat Market, 10925 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, (310) 839-4037. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Numero Uno Markets, www.facebook.com/NumeroUnoMarkets. Multiple locations. Superior Grocers, superiorgrocers.com. Multiple locations. Vallarta Supermarkets, www.vallartasupermarkets.com. Multiple locations. food@latimes.com @latimesfood At its next regular meeting, the Los Angeles Board of Education will consider holding an election in March to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Ref Rodriguez. Rodriguez, 47, who represented the school systems District 5, stepped down July 23 after pleading guilty to one felony and three misdemeanors related to political money laundering. School board President Monica Garcia and Vice President Nick Melvoin proposed the March election in a statement released Friday. As elected board members, our collective work is to ensure that the students, families, employees and all stakeholders of the school communities of Board District 5 are fully represented and receive uninterrupted services and support from L.A. Unified, Garcia and Melvoin wrote. Advertisement They did not say in the statement whether they favored appointing a temporary replacement with voting powers. But they did push for such an appointment previously, in a statement released on the day Rodriguez resigned. The boards next regular meeting is Aug. 21, when board member Scott Schmerelson also plans to introduce a resolution to name former school board member Jackie Goldberg as an interim replacement. A resolution at the next Los Angeles school board meeting will propose that former board member Jackie Goldberg serve as an interim replacement for Ref Rodriguez. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Goldberg, 73, also previously served on the L.A. City Council and in the state Legislature. For now, an interim appointment seems unlikely to win backing from a majority of the remaining six board members. Rodriguez had belonged to a bloc of four members elected with substantial funding from backers of charter schools. That bloc is down to three and may not agree on a choice with two board members elected with major funding from the teachers union. A possible swing vote, Richard Vladovic, said Friday he opposes any appointment and wants an election as soon as possible. It generally takes at least 120 days to schedule and carry out an election, so the earliest possible election date, at the moment, would be in late December, said Los Angeles City Clerk Holly L. Wolcott. People who have expressed interest in running for the seat include Rocio Rivas, a parent and neighborhood council leader who took part in protests calling for Rodriguez to resign; Huntington Park City Councilwoman Graciela Ortiz, a counselor in L.A. Unified; and Heather Repenning, board vice president for the L.A. Department of Public Works. Rodriguezs district zigzags from Los Feliz and Eagle Rock to the cities of southeast Los Angeles County. The allegations against him first were reported to investigators in March 2015, about two months before he won election to the board. They became public when prosecutors filed charges last September. If the case had been resolved by the beginning of July, the board could have scheduled a special election for the November ballot. In other district business Friday, Supt. Austin Beutner named an outside team to help move more resources and authority to schools. Taking part will be former county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky; Peter Taylor, former chief financial officer for the University of California; and Miguel Santana, former Los Angeles city chief administrative officer. howard.blume@latimes.com Twitter: @howardblume UPDATES: 6:10 p.m.: This article was updated with names of potential candidates, additional details about board politics and news of a new district team named by the superintendent. This article was originally published at 12:30 p.m. Yoshio Nakamura knows what its like to lose a home. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. government forced his family and 120,000 others of Japanese descent from their West Coast residences into desolate camps. The Rosemead native joined the U.S. Army and survived Nazi artillery in Italy, rising to staff sergeant with the highly decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team. When he returned to California after the war, his house was gone. He has no idea what happened to it. Now Nakamura, 93, is backing plans to provide long-term housing in Little Tokyo for veterans at risk of homelessness. As vets get older, they need more care, he said. His Go For Broke National Education Center, which preserves and promotes the legacy of WWII veterans of Japanese ancestry, has joined with the Little Tokyo Service Center to develop a five-story building on leased city land that would house the center and as many as 70 affordable housing units. Advertisement Go for Broke has leased the 37,000-square-foot property at Temple and Alameda Streets for a dozen years, but the lease originally for the education center came with a timeline the center failed to meet when it had trouble raising money. On Friday, L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar plans to introduce a motion that would direct the city to negotiate an extension for the now expanded project. In a statement, Huizar said he wanted to build on Go For Brokes incredible work and add affordable and veteran housing to one of the citys premier historic neighborhoods. Grant Sunoo, left, and Erich Nakano, executives with the Little Tokyo Service Center, stand in the courtyard of an affordable housing project at Casa Heiwa in Little Tokyo. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) In 1999, downtown Los Angeles had three times as many units of affordable housing as units renting at market rate, according to data compiled by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, a private entity financed by assessments to property owners. No longer. By the time all projects now under construction are complete, the district says, there will be nearly 30,300 apartments renting at market rate versus about 12,300 for lower-income tenants. More than 90% of 24,700 proposed new units are market rate with rent averaging $2,515 per month, the district said. Mitchell T. Maki, president of Go For Broke, said the organization decided to add affordable housing to its original plan in part because it offered a reliable source of revenue. The nonprofit approached the Little Tokyo Service Center, which formed nearly 40 years ago to provide culturally sensitive social services but branched into affordable housing in 1991 as private developers began evicting low-income residents. Little Tokyo leaders dont expect the proposed project to spark the kind of controversy that recently roiled Irvine and Koreatown over city plans for homeless shelters. Erich Nakano, deputy director of the Little Tokyo Service Center, said people generally more readily embrace permanent supportive housing. He said timing is right for the project now because of increased funding for affordable housing, including the $1.2 billion bond authorized by the citys Proposition HHH in 2016. Two state bond measures on the November ballot could provide $6 billion for housing for veterans, as well as low-income and homeless people. Over the past 27 years, his nonprofit has helped develop more than 950 low-income units in Koreatown, Chinatown, Thai Town, Historic Filipinotown and South Los Angeles as well as Little Tokyo. A decade ago, the Little Tokyo community was hesitant to embrace affordable housing and believed more affluent renters would bring the neighborhood new business, said Kristin Fukushima of the Little Tokyo Community Council, a coalition of neighborhood stakeholders. Then gentrification began to drive out some small business owners and change the neighborhoods historic character. Now theres a desire for more balanced development. Were not talking about creating Skid Row on 1st and Alameda, Maki of Go for Broke said. Were envisioning more permanent housing for low-income individuals and families, with a substantial portion for vets. Other Little Tokyo residents have benefited from just such a helping hand. Carol Collier and her dog Ritz live in affordable housing in the Far East Building in Little Tokyo. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Carol Collier said a series of poor financial decisions and bad luck led her to lose her Downey home and live in her car for a year. But in 2003, she was able to rent one of 16 affordable housing units half of them designated for homeless people in the Far East Building on 1st Street, which the Little Tokyo Service Center renovated that year. The 64-year-old pays $247 a month about a third of her Social Security check for a studio. Federal Section 8 housing vouchers cover the rest. It was very relieving, she said of finding a place to live. When youre out there, its very scary. Go For Broke National Education Center wants to build affordable housing in Little Tokyo behind its monument, which honors soldiers of Japanese descent who served in the U.S. military during WWII. The Little Tokyo Service Center has joined the project. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) teresa.watanabe@latimes.com Twitter: @teresawatanabe Facing mounting criticism for allowing Hollister Ranch landowners to keep 8.5 miles of Santa Barbara coastline largely closed to the beachgoing public, state officials indicated Thursday some regret about the controversial deal they quietly agreed to earlier this year. In an announcement met with applause at a public meeting in Redondo Beach, California Coastal Commission Chairwoman Dayna Bochco said the agency plans to ask the State Lands Commission to explore all potential options to obtain genuine public access by land to one of the states least tarnished stretches of coastline. The State Lands Commission has the authority to acquire private property for public use through eminent domain a costly, complicated process that comes with its own set of legal challenges. Doing so would be bold: State Lands has never used this authority before. Other options could include land exchanges or negotiating new boundary lines. The request itself does not guarantee that the State Lands Commission will intervene staff will likely conduct their own legal analysis and weigh their options. But it illustrates a newfound desire by coastal officials to fight for public access months after they ceded their claim to any public route by land into Hollister Ranch. Advertisement Pristine coastline on Hollsiter Ranch. (Tamlorn Chase / For The Times) Coastal Commissioner Mark Vargas said that when he and his colleagues had agreed during closed session to the settlement agreement, not all the details were clearly presented. During the commission meeting this week, he expressed interest in the possibility of withdrawing from the settlement. Just fundamentally, we should never give up the fight for more public access, particularly for this piece of the coastline where so much is off-limits to the public, Vargas said. He said the agreement the commission approved means they have unfortunately tied their hands. The move now is to make sure they exhaust all other options, he said. We have a duty, he said, to be as vocal as possible to ensure the public that weve got their backs when it comes to maximizing access. Read more about the Hollister Ranch settlement The agreement which prompted a public intervention from advocacy groups that said they felt the need to step in where state officials fell short grants beach access only to select organized tours and afterschool groups or those who can boat or paddle in. The commission and state Coastal Conservancy in return agreed to stop citing a legal technicality they had argued promised the state rights to one rugged road into Hollister Ranch. The settlement appeared to cap a bruising legal battle with powerful landowners, who for decades have kept this coastline almost entirely to themselves thanks to the ranchs complicated legislative history, which essentially exempted owners from typical beach access rules. With such limited options, coastal officials had reasoned that the deal at least provided the first opening of any public access at Hollister Ranch. Officials are looking into boat rides to the beach and other ways to expand public access by ocean. The deal received preliminary approval in May, but a Santa Barbara Superior Court judge said she was concerned that the public was not provided sufficient knowledge of the settlement and invited Californians to formally intervene as a third party to the case. As news trickled out, more than 1,500 people emailed the Coastal Commission lambasting the deal. Attempts of reaching the beach by kayak have proved treacherous even for the most able-bodied and experienced. The public seemed intentionally left out of the negotiations, advocates had said. They pointed to a court brief by the state attorney generals office arguing that offering the public an opportunity to intervene was unnecessary and would undermine the power of public agencies to settle cases and unnecessarily delay litigation. The change in tune this week is encouraging, they said. Many praised the commissions public commitment to push harder, saying that with renewed public scrutiny, theres finally a shot of correcting a wrong that should never have been allowed. The silver lining of this litigation and this very unfortunate settlement is that it has made us peel back so many of the layers, said Susan Jordan of the California Coastal Protection Network, one of the groups seeking a public intervention with the court. Im encouraged that the commissioners now seem to really understand the scope of this entire problem. rosanna.xia@latimes.com Interested in coastal issues? Follow @RosannaXia on Twitter. Theyve been crammed into toilets, tossed off balconies and set on fire. Theyve even been adorned with dangling bags of dog droppings. As cities like Santa Monica and Beverly Hills struggle to control a rapid proliferation of electric pay-per-minute scooters, some residents are taking matters into their own hands and waging a guerrilla war against the devices. These vandals are destroying or desecrating the vehicles in disturbingly imaginative ways, and celebrating their illegal deeds on social media in full view of authorities and the public. They throw them everywhere: in the ocean, in the sand, in the trash can, said Robert Johnson Bey, a Venice Beach maintenance worker who regularly comes across scooter parts on the Venice Beach boardwalk, Speedway and adjoining alleys. Sunday, I was finding kickstands everywhere, Bey said. Looked like they were snapped off. Advertisement The vandalism echoes a rash of pellet-gun attacks on so-called Google buses in the Bay Area and appears to be motivated in part by resentment over the increasing presence of tech corporations along the Southern California coast what is now dubbed Silicon Beach. But unlike the attacks on buses that ferry workers to their Google and Apple offices, the scooter destruction has elicited little sympathy or outrage to say nothing of criminal investigations. The Los Angeles Police Departments Pacific Division has received just one report of scooter vandalism that resulted in an arrest, but the case was rejected by the prosecutor. The Santa Monica Police Department said it hasnt received any such reports. Lt. Michael Soliman, who supervises the LAPD Pacific Divisions Venice Beach detail, said hes aware of some vandalism his team has seen scooters left in a pile 10 feet high. But because people arent reporting such incidents, its not something officers are responding to, he said. If we have to prioritize the allocation of our time and resources, first and foremost were going to prioritize the preservation of life, Soliman said. Protection of property comes second. Hailed as a cheap, clean-energy solution to urban gridlock when they first arrived in Los Angeles a year ago, Bird and Lime scooters now find themselves on the receiving end of a public and bureaucratic backlash especially on the Westside, where theyve established a buzzing omnipresence. In Venice, where Bird is headquartered, City Council members voted to cap the number of scooters on city streets while officials craft longer-term regulations. Beverly Hills officials ordered them banned for six months. Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz asked officials last week to take all available measures to outlaw the scooters within the city. While most tech entrepreneurs expect some criticism and calls for regulation when they introduce new and potentially disruptive products, they dont necessarily anticipate the outright destruction of their property. They also dont expect to see such carnage celebrated and encouraged on social media. Yet mayhem directed at dockless scooters is the order of the day on Instagrams Bird Graveyard, whose contributors relish publishing photos and videos of scooters that have been set aflame, tossed into canals, smeared with feces and snapped into pieces. The account has more than 24,000 followers. One moderator, a Westsider who declined to give his name for fear of prosecution, said that more than 100 videos and photos of scooters being defaced are submitted to the account each day. Only the most outrageous are published. Bird representatives were reluctant to discuss the phenomenon but urged people to report incidents of defacement. We do not support the vandalism or destruction of any property and are disappointed when it takes place, Bird spokeswoman Mackenzie Long said in a written statement. Nor do we support the encouragement, celebration or normalization of this behavior. Its unclear exactly how many scooters are being sabotaged on local streets. Bird declined to say how many of its scooters have been maimed, while a representative from Lime, based in San Mateo, said less than 1% of its scooters have been vandalized nationwide. Natanel Edelson, a mechanic who does repairs for Bird in Venice, said he sees a lot of scooters with cut power cables and smashed brakes. He only fixes a few each week, but said his friends who are also Bird mechanics all independent contractors making around $15 per repair fix dozens of scooters a day. A Bird electric scooter left in an alley near the Venice Beach boardwalk. (Gabriel S. Scarlett / Los Angeles Times) When Hassan Galedary of Culver City sees a Bird scooter, a knot in his stomach begins to twist and his teeth clench, he said. The 32-year-old film producer describes the sensation as one of violent bitterness. I hate Birds more than anyone, Galedary said. They suck. People who ride them suck. He loathes the scooters so much that he waged what he calls an insurgency against them, tossing the contraptions into trash cans on Abbott Kinney Boulevard and down the Culver City Stairs. He even designed a T-shirt of a chick perched on a scooter being shot in the head. Many of his anti-scooter antics have been featured on the Bird Graveyard account. So where does all this scooter scorn come from? Galedary grew up on the Westside and said he hates how kids there are paying to ride scooters instead of honoring the local traditions of surfing and skateboarding. He hates the traffic accidents they cause Bird on Bird, Bird on person and Bird on car and he hates how they can be left anywhere for pedestrians to trip over. The city is already losing so much culture due to gentrification, Galedary said. While not everyone is as angry as Galedary, others agree that the sudden influx of scooters has changed the character of the Westside. MORE: Cities crack down on electric scooter scofflaws, while trying to untangle the chaos of a new technology The scooters abrupt arrival in Venice last fall was viewed by some as another example of how the tech industry was encroaching on the community without asking for permission. It didnt help that Bird founder Travis VanderZanden a former executive at Uber and Lyft said the company wouldnt be happy until there are more Birds than cars. Its a very urban environment, said architect Kelly Boston, a longtime Venice resident. Were all close together, we need to be respectful of one anothers space, and these make it harder. The scooters might be affordable, residents say, but theyre left all over the place, blocking sidewalks and tripping up pedestrians. They complain that scooter pilots zip through and around traffic without obeying traffic signals. Tye Donaldson, a Venice barista, has a complicated relationship with the scooters. The 20-year-old loves riding them theyre super fun, she said and she appreciates them as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Theyre also affordable: It costs $1 to unlock a scooter and 15 cents per minute to ride one. But Donaldson began to reassess their place in the community after she was hit by a scooter not once, but twice in the same month while running on the Venice Beach bike path. The first time, the teenage rider was driving slowly; Donaldson described the collision as a forceful nudge. She avoided injury by flopping over into the sand. The second time, the scooter was going full speed, about 15 mph. She heard it approaching her from behind and whipped around in time to grab the scooters stem to keep it from slamming into her. I was holding on to this girls scooter with all my might, Donaldson said. I felt like I was in The Matrix. Donaldson thinks speed restrictions should be placed on the scooters in heavily trafficked areas. But she doesnt want them to disappear. Of course, there are still those who take a harder stance. Manny Torres, a postal carrier in Venice, pushed his mail cart down Innes Place recently and recounted several occasions in which he nearly hit scooters head-on with his truck. The scooter riders, he said, were swerving haphazardly down the narrow side streets of Venice all too often. I wouldnt mind if they just went away, he said. Bird declined to say how much its scooters are worth, saying that information was proprietary. However, similar motorized scooters on Amazon can sell for more than $1,000. Under the law, vandalism of property worth more than $400 is a felony. Yet the risk of arrest appears to offer little deterrent to those bent on scooter destruction. Dan Ariely, professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University, said contempt for technology may offer a partial explanation for why people feel inclined to vandalize the scooters, despite the risk. But a likelier reason, Ariely said, is that destroying a scooter owned by a corporation probably doesnt evoke much guilt within the vandal. Think about Uber, Ariely said. Even if youre upset with the company, you understand that destroying the car is going to cost the driver a lot of money. But if you wreck a Bird, no one in particular is getting hurt, he said. Ariely also compared scooter vandalism to road rage. When something upsets us, he said, it is natural to want to seek revenge, to teach the offending entity a lesson. The presence of images on social media of scooters being damaged may also lead some to view their urge to destroy as reasonable, Ariely said. If people get a sense that scooter vandalism is rampant, just as speeding on the highway is rampant, vandals can still consider themselves good people, he said. But oddly enough, it was rampant scooter vandalism that gradually led Galedary, the Culver City Bird cynic, to a change of heart. He said he stopped messing with scooters some months ago when he began feeling increasingly guilty. As much as I hate them, he said, I cant put bad energy into the world. I dont even kick them over anymore. But Galedary hasnt exactly quit his Bird high jinks cold-turkey. He recently placed a scooter in the middle of Abbot Kinney Boulevard, triggering an immediate snarl of honking cars. He said he wanted people to associate Bird scooters with the quintessential symbol of Los Angeles discontent: a traffic jam. laura.newberry@latimes.com | Twitter: @lauramnewberry Staffers for two of L.A.s most prominent politicians were united in marriage last year, celebrating the occasion with dozens of others at the historic Ebell of Los Angeles. The groom was Justin Wesson, son of City Council President Herb Wesson, who employs him as an aide. The bride was Alexis Marin, a staffer for Councilwoman Nury Martinez, who serves on Wessons leadership team. Turns out taxpayers were involved as well, paying $2,768 to have the Los Angeles Police Department provide security at the September 2017 event, according to information provided Thursday by the LAPD. Four police officers and a sergeant spent a combined 38 hours staffing the event, said Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman. The city was not reimbursed for the security costs, Rubenstein said. The LAPD spokesman also issued a statement saying the officers were sent to protect the politicians who went to the wedding a group that included Mayor Eric Garcetti and other elected officials. Advertisement Upon learning of the event involving Justin Wesson and Alexis Marin, the Los Angeles Police Department decided to provide a small contingent of on-duty personnel to ensure the safety and security of a number of prominent elected officials, who were attending as guests, the statement said. Vanessa Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for Wesson, declined to answer a series of questions about wedding security costs, saying the answers should come from the LAPD. A spokeswoman for Martinez, whose district is located in the San Fernando Valley, also referred wedding security questions to the department. Again, this was a private event that does not have to do with our office, spokeswoman Gabriella Landeros said in an email. Rubenstein said former LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, who stepped down in June, had sole discretion over security for the wedding, and that no one from outside the department requested it. Such decisions, said Rubenstein, are made on a case-by-case basis at the LAPD. Its not wedding security, Beck said in response to questions from The Times. We provide security at high-profile events and events with high-profile people who are at elevated risk. The council president is often in the second category. Still, the expense drew questions from Susan Shelley, vice president of communications for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., which weighs in on public spending. Shelley asked whether the LAPD provides the same type of security when multiple politicians go to campaign fundraisers or other private events. I dont think theres an additional risk because its a wedding, she said. Garcetti, who went to the wedding but not the reception, had his own two-person LAPD security detail with him at the event, said mayoral spokesman Alex Comisar. Justin Wesson, 35, works as the council floor director for his father, one of the citys most powerful politicians. Marin is the legislative director for Martinezs office, according to Martinezs website. The release of information by the LAPD comes as The Times is at odds with the city over security costs for Garcetti. Last month, the newspaper sued the city after officials refused to turn over records detailing taxpayer costs for security on out-of-state trips taken by Garcetti. The lawsuit accuses the city of violating the California Public Records Act and the California Constitution. The Times is seeking a court order to make city officials turn over any information that is not exempt from public disclosure. The wedding festivities included preparations for the bridal party at the Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles and dinner at the Ebell in Mid-Wilshire, where guests chose from artichoke ravioli, halibut or smoked tri-tip, according to photos previously posted on the blog of Wife of The Party, the weddings organizer. Rodriguez, the Wesson spokeswoman, said in an email that she spoke to Justin Wesson and was told that Justin and Alexis, with assistance from their families, paid for their entire wedding. Herb Wesson has had a series of financial issues in recent years, racking up five default notices in five years over two properties he owns in Los Angeles. The councilmans rental property in Ladera Heights came close to a foreclosure auction in July 2016. All five default notices were ultimately rescinded. In May, Discover Bank obtained a $4,529.52 judgment against Wesson and his wife, Fabian Wesson, over unpaid credit card bills. The bank said it had not received payment since July 2016. Wesson said last week that the Discover bill has now been paid. Wesson faces term limits in 2020 and his son has been discussed in city circles as a possible candidate for his seat. Asked last month if Justin Wesson was interested in running, Rodriguez said the younger Wesson is focused on today, not tomorrow. david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser UPDATES: 6:55 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Charlie Beck and Susan Shelley. This article was originally published at 6 p.m. A Northern California judge on Friday rejected the plea deals for two men charged with dozens of counts of involuntary manslaughter in a fire that swept through an electronic music concert at the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland, killing 36 people. The surprise move came a day after tearful relatives of the victims urged Alameda County Superior Court Judge James Cramer to reconsider the plea deals for property manager Derick Almena and Max Harris, who planned the concert the night of the fatal fire, calling the agreements a sweetheart deal and a slap on the wrist. The fire broke out during a Dec. 2, 2016, concert, trapping scores of attendees inside. All of the victims, ages 17 to 61, died of smoke inhalation, according to coroners reports. Almena, 48, the property manager who converted the Ghost Ship warehouse into an artists residence and underground concert venue, had agreed to plead no contest and accept a sentence of nine years in prison and three years of supervised release. Advertisement Max Harris, the self-described creative director of the warehouse, had agreed to spend six years in custody and four years on supervised release. In court Friday, Cramer said he had reviewed hundreds of pages of files in the case, including a letter Almena wrote to a probation officer where he described himself as a victim. Cramer said Almena had not shown enough remorse, according to local media. The agreement for Harris was sound, Cramer said, but the pleas were considered a package deal. Both men will now be tried for their roles in the 2016 fire unless they reach a new agreement. If I could give you my childrens lives, I would, Almena told the victims families in the courtroom Friday, according to local media. He also offered to have his body tattooed with flames and the faces of the victims. I am guilty, Almena said. I am guilty for believing we were safe. I am guilty for allowing it. I am guilty for not being there and sharing your childrens fate. Harris told the courtroom that he was deeply sorry, according to KTVU. I never would have begun to imagine that any of my actions over time would have led to this. Its completely unfathomable. The victims families are very adamant, and I empathize with their perspective, even though I think its a little bit irrational, Almenas attorney, Tony Serra, told reporters outside court Friday. They want 36 years. Serra could not be reached by phone for comment Friday. He told the Associated Press that the case has weaknesses, and that he wants prosecutors to consider another plea deal. Prosecutors have alleged that Almena and Harris allowed as many as 25 people to live at the illegally converted warehouse without providing fire suppression equipment, filled the warehouse with flammable art and furniture, and blocked the few fire exits. The night of the fire, Harris rented the upstairs area in the warehouse to a promoter and was there to oversee the party, prosecutors said. They accused him of blocking off a second stairwell that had served as an exit, leaving guests with only one exit when the blaze broke out. The buildings power went out soon after the fire started, and the concert-goers trying to flee had to climb down a narrow wooden staircase that some witnesses described as a gang plank. Prosecutors said Almena had ordered the illegal construction of that staircase. Almena had advertised the building on Craigslist as a hybrid museum, sunken pirate ship, shingled funhouse, and guerrilla gallery. He lived in the Ghost Ship with his girlfriend, Micah Allison, and their three children, all of whom survived. UPDATES: 7:50 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional quotes and background information. This article was originally published at 3:55 p.m. The man accused of setting the 18,000-acre Holy fire in Orange County that prompted thousands of residents to evacuate their homes this week made his initial court appearance Friday. Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, made several outbursts during the hearing in Santa Ana, calling the charges against him a lie, and insisting again that he was being threatened, according to City News Service. When a court commissioner ordered his bail to remain at $1 million, Clark said he could easily afford it. His arraignment was postponed until Aug. 17. Clark, who has been charged with multiple counts of arson in connection with the Holy fire, was originally scheduled to appear in court Thursday but refused to leave his jail cell, according to Carrie Braun, public information officer for the Orange County Sheriffs Department. Clark gave a rambling interview to a television reporter earlier this week, claiming to know nothing about how the fire started. Advertisement His Facebook page is littered with links to popular conspiracy theories involving the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, a mass shooting that left dozens dead in Las Vegas last year and QAnon, whose followers believe a secretive government source nicknamed Q has been leaking information that proves President Trumps election was part of a broader effort to take down an international criminal cabal involving Hillary Clinton and others. The movement, a cousin of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory that also made bizarre claims about prominent figures engaging in pedophilia, gained media attention in recent weeks after Trump supporters were seen holding Q signs at some of the presidents recent rallies. In postings published in mid-July, Clark also complained about a neighbor in Trabuco Canyon who he accused of using drugs and inviting gang members into the neighborhood. Clark also accused the man of stealing something from his cabin, according to the post. After reviewing Clarks social media posts, Brian Levin, director of the Cal State San Bernardino Center on Hate and Extremism, said Clark appeared to be an anti-government, anti-establishment conspiracy theorist. He expressed specific concerns about Clarks adherence to conspiracies involving land use. The Cleveland National Forest is federal land, and cabins located in the area where Clark lived and the fire started are not supposed to be used as full-time residences. The Holy fire started Monday near Trabuco Canyon and has grown over the last week to 18,137 acres. More than 20,000 people have been placed under mandatory evacuations with several more under an evacuation warning. At least 12 structures have been destroyed. The fire is at 5% containment. Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this story. Los Angeles prosecutors dropped all criminal charges against the alleged Skid Row Stabber on Friday, closing a 40-year legal saga complicated by a jailhouse scandal, overturned convictions and a defendant who may have only months to live. Bobby Joe Maxwell, who has been comatose since November, was released from police custody for the first time since 1979 on Friday morning, when Assistant Dist. Atty. Robert Grace asked a judge to dismiss five murder charges against the accused serial killer. Forty years. Forty years, his sister Rosie Harmon said outside the courtroom in between sobs. Finally. The district attorneys handling of Maxwells situation drew criticism from legal experts and civil rights advocates earlier this year, when it was revealed that prosecutors had yet to act on a request to dismiss the case despite his increasingly dire prognosis. Maxwell first fell into a coma after suffering a massive heart attack in late 2017, and nearly died while housed at L.A. County-USC Medical Center on July 4. Court records made public last month showed the chief physician of the jail ward believed Maxwell has less than six months to live. Advertisement Grace asked Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler to dismiss the case on compassionate grounds without prejudice Friday morning, meaning prosecutors could still bring Maxwell to trial if his health improves. Grace said he was glad to see the case come to a close, but he expressed concern for the victims relatives. I do hurt for the family members of the victims because they had anticipated getting their day in court and now theyre not going to be able to get that, he said. Capt. Patricia Sandoval, an LAPD spokeswoman, said Friday the agency understood and agreed with the prosecutions decision to drop the case. Police think a single serial killer dubbed the Skid Row Stabber killed 10 homeless men in downtown Los Angeles over several weeks in October and November of 1978. The slayings came at a time when the city was already reeling from serial predators such as the Hillside Stranglers, who preyed on women in 1977 and 1978, and another killer known as the Skid Row Slasher who targeted homeless men and was convicted of killing eight people years before the Stabber attacks began. The Stabber victims were Jesse Martinez, 50; Jose Cortez, 32; Bruce Emmet Drake, 46; J.P. Henderson, 65; David Martin Jones, 39; Francisco Perez Rodriguez, 57; Frank Floyd Reed, 36; Augustine Luna, 49; Jimmie White Buffalo, 34; and Frank Garcia, 45. In a statement issued Friday, Drakes daughter, Cindy Poulsen, said she and the relatives of the other victims had been denied justice. While the media has only chosen to focus on the current condition of Mr. Maxwell and how his family feels, there are several families involved who had no choice about the murder of our family members nearly 40 years ago, she wrote. Now, Mr. Maxwell, nor my father or the other family members will get their day in court. Legal experts and an appellate court have long raised questions about the validity of the evidence against Maxwell. No witnesses could identify him at trial, and the only forensic link between Maxwell and the killings was a palm print on a bench near one homicide scene. A knife found in Maxwells possession was consistent with the wounds suffered by victims of the Stabber, but there was no conclusive evidence it was the weapon used in the attacks. Maxwells prosecution hinged largely on the testimony of a jailhouse informant, Sidney Storch, who insisted Maxwell had confessed to the killings. A jury convicted Maxwell in two of the slayings in 1984, and he was sentenced to life in prison. Storch later was found to be at the center of a scandal involving several jailhouse snitches who were fabricating confessions in order to receive reduced jail time. He was charged with perjury, but died before he could stand trial. While questions about Storchs testimony were first raised in 1988, Maxwells convictions were not overturned until 2010. In its 41-page decision, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that Storch was unreliable and described the remaining evidence against Maxwell as circumstantial. Bobby Joe Maxwell shortly after his capture by the LAPD in 1979. (William S. Murphy / Los Angeles Times) At the time of the original trial, even the district attorneys office noted the case against Maxwell was weak from an evidential standpoint, according to the 9th Circuit ruling. Grace, however, downplayed the informants significance in the case. He believed the jury would have convicted Maxwell of additional murder charges at his original trial had they placed more stock in Storchs testimony. The only thing he told the prosecutors and law enforcement at the time was that Maxwell told him that he killed 10 people. He didnt give them any general details about what occurred, Grace said. Retired LAPD Det. Tom Lange, who was the original investigator at the time of the killings, also pushed back at attorneys and advocates who have proclaimed Maxwells innocence. In an email to The Times, Lange said a witness did see Maxwell at the scene shortly before David Martin Jones was killed. Lange said police also recovered items belonging to several of the victims including a specific piece of jewelry that belonged to Bruce Drake, as well as a commemorative coin and a set of nail clippers belonging to Frank Floyd Reed during a search of the home of the defendants sister Geraldine Maxwell. While it is understandable that this suspects family grieves for him, it must also be understood that there were men who also had families, who have been grieving for forty years! Lange wrote. Maxwells attorneys have long argued that another man committed the killings and have accused the LAPD of disappearing that suspect. Maxwell was the third man the Los Angeles police accused of being the Stabber but the only one who stood trial. Bobby Joe Maxwell has always maintained his innocence, said attorney Fred Alschuler, who alongside Pierpont Laidley represented Maxwell at the original trial. When he was facing the death penalty and was offered a plea bargain, he maintained his innocence. As she hurried around calling relatives to give them the news, Harmon said she hoped her brother would wake up one day, so she could tell him what happened. Im hoping and praying that hell be able to wake up and be a free man, she said. james.queally@latimes.com Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California. UPDATES: 1:20 p.m., Aug. 11: This story was updated with comments from a retired LAPD detective who investigated the killings at the time they occurred. This article was first published at 12:45 p.m. Aug. 10. The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously Thursday to order a Laguna Beach couple to pay $1 million in fines and tear down a sea wall that officials say protects a single mansion from erosion at the expense of the public beach in front. The decision prioritizes the rights of beachgoers over those of property owners, easing concerns among coastal advocates that the case could prompt more sea wall construction in a state that has long limited such reinforcement to emergencies. The sea wall needs to come down immediately, Commissioner Donne Brownsey said. This case is important in and of itself, but its also important as a harbinger of the issues that were going to have to face because of sea level rise, because of the certain knowledge that we now have that sea walls are destructive to our beaches. The vote came the same day the commission passed a resolution to ensure that sea walls are only permitted if necessary and if no less environmentally damaging feasible alternative is available. Sea walls can obstruct the natural flow and replenishment of sand, leading to smaller and smaller beaches until the sand disappears altogether. Advertisement Jeffrey and Tracy Katz, the owners of a 4,878-square-foot home that juts farther seaward and at a lower elevation than the surrounding properties along a stretch of coast known as Victoria Beach, said through their attorney that the law and facts were on their side. Without this sea wall, they said, millions of dollars could be lost to erosion and the rising sea. Citing technical consultants who analyzed the beach and property, attorney Steven Kaufmann said that there is no site-specific evidence that the sea wall had any impact on the beach. He presented a photo from last weekend of beachgoers enjoying the sand in front of the home. Its a wide and well-used beach, he told commissioners. No one is prevented from using this beach. Attorney Steven Kaufmann, left, talks with architect Jim Conrad during the California Coastal Commission meeting. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Read more about the battle over the Katzs sea wall The Katzes must tear down the wall within 60 days. The commission is also urging the couple to work with the state to find an alternative way to protect the home so that it does not require a sea wall. This could involve moving the house farther back from waves that are known to slam right onto the shore during intense storms, officials said, or perhaps reconfiguring the most seaward part of the home. Robert Moddelmog, an enforcement analyst for the commission, said they brought this issue before commissioners after numerous attempts to get the Katzes to stop new construction. The most important issue at hand, he said, is the future of Victoria Beach. In the end, its the public who loses if the Katzes violation remains in place, especially the next generation of beachgoers, he said. We have worked hard to craft a proposal that still allows the Katzes to apply to retain the portions of the home that do not need a sea wall, and to modify the house consistent with the law. It requires that they be held accountable, by removing the sea wall. Kaufmann said the sea wall and the work on the house was legal, approved by the city of Laguna Beach and did not require additional state permission. After a number of severe storms, the commission in 2005 had granted an emergency permit for a temporary 80-foot-long sea wall at the property. The next time new development occurred, the commission later ordered, the wall would have to come down. Citing past permits and city codes, Kaufmann said the sea wall did not have to come down until the house underwent a major remodel which he argued requires demolition of at least 50% of the actual frame. Enforcement officials went out of their way to skew the facts, he said, and recommended tearing down the sea wall based on biased photographs rather than a fair investigation. In a preemptive lawsuit against the commission earlier this year, Kaufmann said threats over the sea wall have had a devastating impact on the value and marketability of the residence, hindering the owners ability to rent the property for $70,000 per month or sell it for its appraised price of $25 million. The courts stayed the lawsuit, saying the owners should go through the administrative process first. Kaufmann declined to be interviewed after the vote. He said he will review next steps with his client. Commissioners, after hearing the arguments and examining the hundreds of pages of photos, letters and reports even looking up the dictionary definition of the word sand acknowledged that the balance between protecting property rights and beach access isnt easy. But in the case of the Katzes, they said they were appalled by how far the owners went to avoid the commissions oversight. Enforcement officials, in an attempt to get the owners to work with the state to find a way to save both the home and the beach, had suggested a penalty of $500,000. They recommended the commissioners give the owners 75 days to submit a removal plan and one year to demolish the wall. Commissioners instead demanded the demolition of the wall and $1 million to be paid within 60 days. The owners should have known that they were going to have to deal with us one way or the other, Chairwoman Dayna Bochco said. Youre on the beach, you just cant get away with this stuff. rosanna.xia@latimes.com Interested in coastal issues? Follow @RosannaXia on Twitter. Tennessee executed Billy Ray Irick on Thursday night, after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a final request to stay his execution. Convicted of the 1985 rape and murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer, Irick, 59, is the first state inmate to be put to death since 2009. He was also the first to receive Tennessees new and controversial three-drug cocktail. Thursdays lethal injection was made up of compounded midazolam, used to render a person unable to feel pain during an execution, a paralytic drug called vecuronium bromide, and compounded potassium chloride for the killing agent. Potassium chloride has been described by the U.S. Supreme Court as chemically burning at the stake. In recent years, there have been numerous executions where witness accounts raised questions about whether the inmates were sufficiently anesthetized when the killing drugs were administered. These performances have raised questions about Midazolams effectiveness as a sedative in executions. Thursdays application for a stay of execution followed a lower state court determination that the new combination of drugs may not be chemically appropriate. A second concern in Iricks case, according to Robert Durham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, was that Irick was mentally ill. Tennessee currently has pending legislation that, if passed, would make it illegal to apply the death penalty to a person with serious mental illness. Advertisement Billy Ray Irick (Tennessee Department of Correction / AFP) Its unseemly that Irick would be executed and then the case ultimately gets resolved in his favor, Durham said. The request to delay was referred to the U.S. Supreme Court by Justice Elena Kagan. The only noted dissent was from Justice Sonia Sotomayor; the courts order did not specify how the other justices would have voted. Iricks is the first death-penalty case thats come to the court since Justice Anthony M. Kennedy retired on July 31, which left the court shorthanded. Although the Midazolam may temporarily render Irick unconscious, the onset of pain and suffocation will rouse him. And it may do so just as the paralysis sets in, too late for him to alert bystanders that his execution has gone horribly (if predictably) wrong, Sotomayor wrote. The dissent echoes comments she made last year aimed at Midazolam in a case involving an Alabama inmate. In refusing to grant Irick a stay, the Court today turns a blind eye to a proven likelihood that the State of Tennessee is on the verge of inflicting several minutes of torturous pain on an inmate in its custody, Sotomayor wrote. " If the law permits this execution to go forward in spite of the horrific final minutes that Irick may well experience, then we have stopped being a civilized nation and accepted barbarism. Though controversial, the use of Midazolam has come before courts numerous times and been used in multiple executions, some of them highly criticized. In perhaps the most high-profile case, an inmate in Oklahoma grimaced and kicked during his 2014 lethal injection involving the drug. Authorities called off the execution, but he died not long after. A state investigation later blamed problems with the IV insertion. That same year, an Arizona execution using the sedative lasted for nearly two hours. Another execution that year in Ohio saw the inmate writhe and gasp for air and, in 2016, witnesses to an execution in Alabama said the inmate there coughed and heaved. The Supreme Court heard a challenge to Oklahomas use of Midazolam in 2015 and upheld the states lethal injection protocol in a 5-4 decision, holding that the drug cocktail did not violate the Constitutions ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Sotomayor referenced that decision in her dissent Thursday, writing that the court did not did not categorically determine whether a lethal injection protocol using Midazolam is a constitutional method of execution but instead found no error in a lower courts determination that the drug was highly likely to prevent a person from feeling pain. States have turned to Midazolam in recent years as they struggled to obtain the drugs needed for lethal injections, a shortage fueled in part by the objections drugmakers have to their products being used to carry out death sentences. In response to the shortage, states have turned to new and untested drug combinations or explored other execution methods. Jon Warkentin, of Nashville, gathers with protesters outside the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution before the execution of Billy Ray Irick on Aug. 9. (Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean) Oklahoma announced earlier this year that it would begin using nitrogen gas rather than lethal injections in response to the shortage, while Utah previously adopted firing squads as the states backup method of execution. Last month, authorities in Nevada were hours away from carrying out the countrys first execution using fentanyl when a judge called it off due to a challenge from Alvogen, a drug company. The firm objected to Nevadas plans to use its Midazolam, and in court filings the company listed the controversial executions in Oklahoma, Arizona and Alabama that all used the same drug. Arkansas similarly resumed executions last year after a 12-year lull, carrying out four lethal injections in eight days. Officials said that frantic pace was necessary because their stock of Midazolam acquired just days after the Supreme Court ruling upheld Oklahomas protocol in 2015 was about to expire. On Thursday, Irick was pronounced dead at 7:48 p.m. at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. In the room with him was Deputy Atty. Gen. Scott Sutherland, Sheriff Jimmy J.J. Jones, seven media witnesses and Iricks attorney witness, Eugene Shiles. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said late Thursday that he will recuse himself from overseeing the GOP primary race recount against himself and Gov. Jeff Colyer after discrepancies were discovered between unofficial results from the county and the state levels. But Kobach said the move will be merely symbolic because counties do the work of counting votes. On Friday, the Associated Press reported that Colyer said he believes Kobach has told counties as part of his job as the states top elections official not to accept some legitimate ballots in their hotly contested Republican primary race. Colyer, who already has accused Kobach of giving county election officials guidance not consistent with Kansas law, said Friday on Fox News that he is worried that some mail-in ballots in Tuesdays governors race are not being counted as required. He said he is not entirely comfortable with the counting of the remaining votes. Advertisement Kobach spokeswoman Danedri Herbert said Friday that Kobach would respond later in the day to Colyers demands, including a letter Colyer sent telling Kobach to stop advising county election officials and allow the states attorney general to take over that role. The vote-tallying discrepancies revealed Thursday whittled down the lead Kobach held over Colyer. Kobach, a hard-line opponent of illegal immigration who campaigned as a staunch ally of President Trump, originally had a 191-vote advantage over Colyer as of Wednesday. On Thursday, the state elections office said there had been an error in transmitting votes from Thomas County in northwestern Kansas, according to Colyer campaign spokesman Kendall Marr. It looks like someone may have flipped a key or something, Marr told the Washington Post. That error shortchanged Governor Colyer by 100 votes. State elections director Bryan Caskey confirmed the discrepancy. I would say its not uncommon for there to be mistakes discovered the next morning, keeping in mind [election-night numbers] are unofficial and we are working as fast as possible to get information to the public, Caskey said. Election results are a process, not a night. Thomas County elections clerk Shelly Harms said they had submitted 522 votes for Colyer on Tuesday night and a clerical error at the secretary of states office caused it to be entered as 422 votes. To complicate matters, the Haskell County Clerks Office said late Thursday afternoon that the secretary of states website did not accurately reflect their countys numbers either. The Haskell County results should show 257 votes for Kobach and 220 votes for Colyer, instead of 110 for Kobach and 103 for Colyer. Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, left, alongside Lt. Gov. Tracey Mann, addresses the media at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka on Aug. 8. (Chris Neal / Topeka Capital-Journal) The latest adjustments mean Kobachs lead over Colyer has been reduced to 121 votes. Colyer refused to concede the race Wednesday, saying there were still thousands of provisional and mail-in ballots left to count. This newly discovered error only reinforced his resolve, Marr said. This is exactly why we have canvass. Its exactly why we should be checking our math, Marr said. This is exactly why Governor Colyer will make sure every legitimate vote is counted in this election. Preliminary results Wednesday showed Kobach, who previously served as vice chairman of Trumps now-disbanded voting integrity commission, had 126,257 votes to Colyers 126,066, with 100% of precincts reporting. Kobach on Wednesday acknowledged that the results of the race could change as provisional ballots were counted but said he would begin campaigning immediately as if he were the winner. We have only three months [until the general election], and if we spend a week of that three months doing absolutely nothing, then we will have given our opponents a sizable lead in the footrace that we have, Kobach said at a news conference Wednesday. So it is imperative that we begin running with the full knowledge that I may hand the baton off to Jeff. On Thursday, Colyers campaign said the governor, like Kobach, would also continue campaigning as if he would be representing the Republican Party in November. Well, we are going to continue running as if we are the nominee at this point, Marr said. Theres no reason not to continue to operate [so] until we find out otherwise. They have reason to want to get a jump on campaigning for the general election: The winner of the Republican primary will face the projected Democratic nominee, state Sen. Laura Kelly, and independent candidate Greg Orman in November. Kelly earned more than 50% of the vote Tuesday, in the states first contested Democratic primary since 1998. Both parties are also aware that, since the 1960s, Kansas voters have not elected consecutive Democrats or Republicans to the governors office. This year, the GOP in Kansas also must overcome the additional obstacle of convincing voters that conservative policies can still succeed in Kansas after then-Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, enacted steep tax cuts that left the states economy, infrastructure funding and education systems reeling. That may be more of a challenge for Kobach, who has vowed to cut taxes further and reduce the size of state government agencies. Democrats, however, see a Kobach candidacy giving them a better chance of taking back the office in November because he swings so far to the right, according to University of Kansas political scientist Burdett Loomis. Their working assumption is Kobach is, for Democrats, the better choice to run against, Loomis said. Even with an independent in the race, if youre [a Democrat] running against a Republican with a ceiling that might be in the mid- to low-40s, you can find a path to win. Kansas law does not call for an automatic recount in close races. Candidates may request a recount, and the cost is borne by the candidate or the counties, depending on the result. At Wednesdays news conference, Kobach acknowledged his dual role as partisan gubernatorial candidate and nonpartisan state elections official. He said if a recount were requested in the race, the votes would be tallied at the county level but that his office would act simply as a coordinating entity. Kobach is not required by law to recuse himself from the recount process. Colyers campaign said it had not focused on whether it would ask Kobach to recuse himself from the process in the event of a recount. Were certainly not at a recount right now, Marr said. We need to finish the original count. The Associated Press contributed to this report. UPDATES: 1:35 p.m.: This article was updated with an Associated Press report of comments from Gov. Jeff Colyer on Fox News. This article was originally published at 5:55 a.m. Its been six weeks since a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fix the crisis it created when it separated more than 2,500 children from their parents under a heartless policy designed to deter desperate families from entering the U.S. illegally. But the job of reunification still isnt done, in part because the government failed to devise a system to track the separated families. Some 400 parents reportedly have already been deported without their children, and the government apparently has no idea how to reach them. Its a colossal snafu that is as appalling as it is inexplicable. Among the many inhumane immigration enforcement policies adopted in the first two years of the Trump reign, history may well regard this bit of idiocy as the worst. Or perhaps not; the competition hasnt closed yet. In fact, the Pentagon is working on plans, at Trumps direction, to house 20,000 detained immigrants including children this time in secured areas of military bases while they await deportation proceedings. Yes, the Obama administration did something similar when it tried to deal with the inflow of unaccompanied minors from Central America. It was a bad idea then, and its a bad idea now; kids dont belong in prisons on military bases. Under a court order, the government cannot hold minors for more than 20 days before releasing them to the custody of their parents, other relatives or vetted guardians. When it comes to immigration, there has been such a flood of bad policies and ham-handed enforcement acts since Trump took office that it can be hard to keep it all straight. Trumps immigration policy has been characterized by unnecessary detention and inadequate monitoring that has allowed for abuses at detention centers. Advertisement First there was the ban on travel of people from mostly Muslim countries and then the effort to eliminate protections for so-called Dreamers who have been living in the country illegally since arriving as children. Hard-line Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions has inserted himself in the immigration court system and overridden previous decisions over who qualifies for asylum; not surprisingly, the number of people granted protection has dropped as a result. President Trump also has throttled the flow of refugees resettled here; last year, for the first time since the passage of the 1980 U.S. Refugee Act, the United States resettled fewer refugees than the rest of the world, a significant step away from what had been an area of global leadership. (Over the last 40 years, the U.S. has been responsible for 75% of the worlds permanently resettled refugees.) Then theres this: The White House is reportedly drafting a plan that would allow immigration officials to deny citizenship, green cards and residency visas to immigrants if they or family members have used certain government programs, such as food stamps, the Earned Income Tax Credit or Obamacare. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion And this: The now largely abandoned zero tolerance policy of filing misdemeanor criminal charges against people crossing the border illegally led to a surge of cases in federal court districts along the southwest border as non-immigration criminal prosecutions plummeted, according to an analysis by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. In fact, non-immigration prosecutions fell from 1,093 (1 in 7 prosecutions) in March to 703 (1 in 17 prosecutions) in June, suggesting that serious crimes are taking a back seat to misdemeanor border crossing. Meanwhile, a Government Accountability Office report this week questions how U.S. Customs and Border Patrol set priorities in planning where to build Trumps border wall, and said the agency failed to account for wide variations in terrain in estimating the cost which means that extending the existing border walls and fences another 722 miles could cost more than the administrations $18-billion estimate. And while the president crows that the wall will secure the border, it wont, experts say. People will still find a way around, over or under it. And most drug smuggling already comes hidden in motor vehicles passing through monitored ports of entry. At best, Trumps wall if Congress is insane enough to approve funding would be little more than a symbol of his arrogance, and of this countrys determination to seal itself off from the world. Trumps immigration policy has been characterized by unnecessary detention and inadequate monitoring that has allowed for abuses at detention centers including sexual assaults and forced medication of children. The immigration court system is now overwhelmed by a backlog of 733,000 cases. In short, its been a disaster. And through all of these fiascoes, there have been zero serious efforts in Congress or by the president for comprehensive reform of a system everyone acknowledges is broken. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook For many decades now the GOP has sought to undo the New Deal and the Great Society. But a report released last month from the White Houses Council of Economic Advisors, lost in a sea of grabbier news items, applies a new logic to the goal of shredding the safety net. According to Expanding work requirements in non-cash welfare programs, comprehensive antipoverty programs are no longer necessary because 50 years of antipoverty programs yes, those same interventions long hated, and their effectiveness belittled, by the GOP have succeeded so spectacularly that poverty is largely a thing of the past. The report claims that the War on Poverty led to the success of the United States in reducing material hardship, but that it also came at the cost of discouraging self-sufficiency. It proceeds to lay out a case for limiting access to benefits and setting in place work requirements in exchange for basic nutritional and medical benefits. This is beyond disingenuous. Yes, in the years after 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson launched the War on Poverty, the percentage of poor Americans did significantly decline; by some measures it was cut in half from about 22% of the population down to about 11%. But over the last 40 years it has rebounded with a vengeance. Advertisement Only a government stocked with billionaires and reveling in its lack of empathy could conceivably claim that real poverty no longer exists in the U.S. Hunger is up again. Homelessness is up again though the report claims erroneously that, [f]ortunately, homelessness is rare in the United States. The number of casual and hourly laborers one accident or sickness away from a financial disaster is up, the number of elderly Americans financially unable to retire is increasing, and the proportion of the workforce with secure salaries and guaranteed pensions is down. Income inequality in todays America is as extreme as it has been at any point since the Gilded Age. In an era of flamboyant affluence and dot.com billionaires, the Princeton sociologist Kathryn Edin has found that at least 1.5 million Americans live on incomes of under $2 a day. In the downtowns of cities such as Los Angeles, tens of thousands of homeless live on the streets. Meanwhile, high-end homes in those same cities sell for tens of millions of dollars. All of this and more was pointed out in the recent United Nations report on the dangerous levels of extreme poverty and inequality in the United States. Somewhere between one in six and one in seven Americans live below the governments own, extremely cautious definition of the poverty line: less than $13,000 for a single person, just over $25,000 for a family of four. Thats vastly higher than in most other developed economies. Somewhere around one in five American kids live in poverty, and in many counties that number surpasses one in four. While reporting on American poverty, I encountered people in New Mexico who lived without running water in their homes. I met grandparents in Idaho standing for hours on food bank lines so they could feed their grandchildren. I met Wal-Mart workers earning so little they qualified for food stamps. I met a man in Pennsylvania bankrupted by bills from his quadruple bypass heart surgery. I met schoolchildren in Nevada who were homeless. I met day laborers working for far below the legal minimum wage. In Fresno and in Orange counties, Ive seen dozens crammed into two-bedroom houses. I have talked to old men and women who have lost homes and cars to predatory payday lenders. A couple of months ago, I interviewed the director of a medical clinic in Oakland, most of whose clients were impoverished immigrants. She talked of a poor patient so terrified of medical bills that he refused to go to the hospital even after she told him that he was having a stroke right in front of her. Only a government stocked with billionaires and reveling in its lack of empathy could conceivably claim that real poverty no longer exists in the United States. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Trumps ghastly regime is seeking to shred the food stamp system, Medicaid and other vital benefits. It is proposing to triple the rent for large numbers of poor families who live in public housing. It is about to unveil a new definition of public charge that would allow the administration to deny permanent residency to any legal immigrant who uses, or whose children use, food stamps, public health systems, low-income heating assistance or other vital programs. And it is aggressively pushing to impose onerous work requirements for benefits, not because the country is genuinely strapped for cash, but because, abetted by a far-right Congress, they have handed out hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts to the wealthiest among us and are now looking for a way to pay the bill. All of this is guaranteed to exacerbate the countrys already stark income divides, and to make the quality of life for Americas least fortunate even worse. I wonder how President Trump, Ben Carson, Steven Mnuchin, Jared Kushner, and the other architects of Americas war on the poor would cope were they to try to live on $2 a day. Something tells me that these pampered princelings would then quickly find that poverty is indeed something all too real, all too pervasive, all too soul-destroying. Sasha Abramskys most recent book is Jumping at Shadows: The Triumph of Fear and the End of the American Dream. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook To the editor: Im disappointed that the L.A. Times published a puff piece on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her Democratic Socialists of America. Until two years ago, Ocasio-Cortez was registered to vote in affluent Westchester, N.Y. not the Bronx and her primary election win was secured by only 16,000 votes. But what really bothers me is that Ocasio-Cortez campaigned in a Kansas congressional district against Sharice Davids the progressive, insurgent, historic female candidate of color in favor of a white, male, Bernie Sanders presidential campaign alum who only recently moved to the district. Davids, who won her primary, could be the first openly gay Native American woman in Congress. Ocasio-Cortezs side smeared her as corporate because Davids, a lawyer, had the nerve to work for an economic development corporation on an Indian reservation. This is not fresh, revolutionary politics. This is the politics of cynicism. What matters is not what Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders say; it matters what they do. Advertisement Jo Perry, Studio City Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: So L.A. Times correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky thinks Israel is losing its public relations war. The obvious question is, how does she know? She appears to reach this conclusion via observations of the general tenor of recent media coverage of Israel and critiques of Israels PR efforts. Yet many prominent media outlets are reflexively anti-Israel in orientation, and critics of Israels PR efforts appear to be focused largely on the organization of those efforts, as opposed to their outcomes. A more reliable indicator of the success of Israels PR efforts is polling data on American support for the Jewish state. On March 13, Gallup reported that American support for Israel was as high as it has ever been. Despite the many crises cited in The Times article, Israel does not appear to be losing a PR war, at least not in the United States, which is Israels most important ally. Daniel H. Trigoboff, Williamsville, N.Y. Advertisement .. To the editor: Every democratically elected governments first and foremost duty is the protection and care of its citizens. It must always remain beholden to its people and their welfare. World public opinion should play no role in Israels decision-making and must be of no consequence. It will not feed Israels people, nor will it protect them from those who wish to do them harm. The digital media must never assert any control or influence over any governments policy or its actions. The safety and welfare of Israelis should always take precedence over everything. Irith Venyige, Studio City Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Mario Marazzitis account of the evolution of Roman Catholicisms opposition to the death penalty centers on the wrongdoers intrinsic right to divine forgiveness: Whatever their misdeeds, a criminal remains a person and therefore capable of remorse, a conversion of heart, and redemption. Imagine if Adolf Hitler had been captured alive and sentenced to life imprisonment, or if Adolf Eichmann had been spared from execution by his Israeli captors. Then imagine further that they became practicing Catholics in prison, confessed their many sins and expressed heartfelt remorse for the millions of murders for which they were responsible, and then been spiritually absolved of these sins before they died. Are we to believe that under these circumstances, they should be considered to have been redeemed and forgiven, and to have earned their place in heaven? Cyril Barnert, Los Angeles Advertisement .. To the editor: Pope Francis has done the world a favor by declaring the death penalty inadmissible, a position in line with the three popes who preceded him. Regardless of often-mentioned reasons to support it, at the end of the day, taking a person out of a cage and killing him is barbaric. Not only is it an attack on the dignity of the condemned, but on that of the executioner as well. Nancy Oliveira, San Francisco .. To the editor: The writers global movement to abolish the death penalty is a movement against God. All five books of the Torah express Gods will that someone who murders another should be put to death. Genesis 9:6 is the earliest: Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed. Exodus 21:12 clarifies it: He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. Roy W. Rising, Valley Village Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: Last month my neighborhood burned down up to the fences on both sides of my house. Now I live in an ashy wasteland with five burned-out homes between my house and my mailbox. The fire happened on a freakishly hot night made worse by climate change. President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are using our pain and suffering in the most offensive way, as an excuse to hand over our public lands for short-term industrial gain to loggers, mining companies and oil and gas producers. These activities will only make our problems unimaginably worse. This is not about science-based forestry management, as the administration wants to eliminate scientific review. This is not about addressing the causes of wildfires. The White House wants only to divert our focus from the real cause: a rapidly changing climate that makes us all more vulnerable. This is about profiteering at the publics expense. Advertisement Katie Davis, Goleta, Calif. .. To the editor: Here I thought our government was no longer using torture, but the Trump administrations excuse for opening our forests to uncontrolled logging has to be the most tortured logic it has come up with yet. The White House wants loggers to go into our forests and cut down the trees, because trees cause forest fires. Huh? Of course, the logging companies are only going to cut down the trees that they can sell. Apparently the trees that will remain do not cause fires, right? According to one of the nations biggest logging firms, cutting down the trees will help the forests adapt to a hotter, drier climate. In other words, lets ignore the climate change thats creating this hotter, drier climate and just cut down those bad trees that cause the fires (and, by the way, also increase their profits). This is like a doctor who says: We know whats causing the problem with your leg, but dont worry, well just amputate your leg. Problem solved. The only thing that puzzles me is this: If the trees are cut down and there are no trees, is it still a forest? Anne Miller, Whittier .. To the editor: Just be sure the science is right. The policy to allow clear cutting and plant seedlings years ago did not turn out well. The U.S. Department of Interior controls most of the forests in California, and 50 years ago loggers were permitted to clear cut all foliage in harvest areas. To cover scars and reduce erosion, tiny Ponderosa pine seedlings were planted. Now, the Ponderosa pine trees planted by loggers 50 years ago in the Sierra National Forest have succumbed to drought and the bark beetle. The political decision to help the lumber industry has left fuel for an inferno. Sally Cook, Camarillo Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Newsoms budget proposes $3 million for Alzheimers research, brain task force By Melody Gutierrez Amyloid plaques, shown here in human brains, are a hallmark of Alzheimers disease. (UCLA School of Medicine) Gov. Gavin Newsom will call for the creation of a brain health task force and dedicate $3 million annually from the states general fund to Alzheimers disease research in the budget proposal he will release Thursday, a source close to the administration said. The money for Alzheimers research would target the new grants at understanding why the disease is more prevalent in women and people of color. Former California first lady and Alzheimers activist Maria Shriver pushed for the funding to be included in the state budget. Shriver said in a statement Wednesday that the funding would make California the first state to make understanding our brains a priority. The states former first lady, whose late father Sargent Shriver was diagnosed with Alzheimers, founded the Womens Alzheimers Movement, an advocacy group raising awareness about womens increased risk for developing the disease. In 2011, she wrote a comprehensive assessment on the disease, to which Newsom then mayor of San Francisco contributed a portion called What one city is doing. This is personal to me, just like it is to millions of California families, Shriver said. Alzheimers is one of the largest medical, social and economic crises in our state, and of our time. I am so proud that, once again, California is leading the way. Wiping out Alzheimers is going to require bold thinking, and there is no doubt in my mind that California is home to bold thinkers who can make this happen. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Gavin Newsom orders reinvention of troubled California DMV By Patrick McGreevy A line of people stretches around the South L.A. location of a California Department of Motor Vehicles Office on Aug. 7. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which has been plagued by hours-long wait times at field offices, computer crashes and voter registration errors involving tens of thousands of customers. Just a few days after taking office, Newsom appointed a top advisor to a new DMV Reinvention Strike Team to revamp the beleaguered agency over the next six months. By any metric, California DMV has been chronically mismanaged and failed in its fundamental mission to the state customers it serves and the state workers it employs, Newsom said in a statement, adding Its time for a reinvention. The governor appointed state Government Operations Agency Secretary Marybel Batjer to lead the strike team with a goal of modernizing the agency and enacting changes that improve customer satisfaction, employee performance and transparency. Newsom also ordered an accelerated review of initial findings of an ongoing audit ordered last year by Gov. Jerry Brown. The action was welcomed by lawmakers who have been critical of the DMV, including Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield). The egregious management failures of the DMV have been self-evident, which is why I have been calling for new leadership and a comprehensive independent audit of this troubled state agency over and over again as the problems grew significantly worse, Fong said. Last summer, Californians seeking new driver licenses complained of wait times of four to six hours at DMV offices, which the agency blamed partly on snafus caused by a rush of people trying to get Real IDs, a new identification card design required for airline passengers starting in late 2020. Delays were also blamed on computer crashes at DMV offices as the agency struggled to update its aging automation systems. The DMV also admitted that there were an estimated 23,000 errors as people either were unknowingly registered to vote or mistakes were made in their registration status as part of the states new motor voter program. The agency registered to vote as many as 1,500 people with legal U.S. residency but no citizenship. Last month, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto retired from the agency. Legislators were angered earlier this week when the DMV said it needed an additional $40 million to prevent the return of long lines at its field offices. In addition, the agency has been under fire for issuing driver licenses in the last year that do not comply with the federal Real ID standards requiring two forms of identification by applicants. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police unions are preparing to battle new transparency law in the courtroom By Maya Lau Just as a landmark police transparency law is going into effect, some California police agencies are shredding internal affairs documents and law enforcement unions are rushing to block the information from being released. The new law, which begins to unwind Californias strictest-in-the-nation protections over the secrecy of law enforcement records, opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. But the lawsuits and records destruction, which began even before the law took effect Jan. 1, could tie up the release of information for months or years, and in some instances, prevent it from ever being disclosed. The fact that police unions are challenging this law is on some level not surprising, said Peter Bibring, director of police practices at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, one of the principal supporters of the new law. They have a long history of fighting tooth and nail against transparency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Secretary of State Alex Padilla begins second term with challenge to ensure every Californian is counted By Jazmine Ulloa Secretary of State Alex Padilla takes the oath of office as his family stands by his side on Monday in Sacramento. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Secretary of State Alex Padilla was sworn in for a second term on Monday, saying he would continue the battle to protect the right to vote at a time when voter suppression efforts, online disinformation campaigns and interference from foreign adversaries have polarized the public and threatened to undermine trust in U.S. elections. I am doubling down on our fight here in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., to defend our democracy, he said. Working on the front lines with so many of you, I know that our collective resolve has never been stronger. But the loudest applause came when Padilla promised to fight back against the Trump administrations changes to the U.S. census, saying he will ensure every Californian gets counted. Padilla, a former state senator and Los Angeles City Council member from the San Fernando Valley, led the cause for a new motor voter registration law in 2015, and a new system for online business registrations. But the programs have had experienced problems: More than 23,000 Californians were registered to vote incorrectly by the state DMV, the agency reported last year. On Monday, Padilla said he would continue to push back against false claims of voter fraud in California and pointed to the states voter turnout as proof that his office was involving more people in the democratic process, a promise he made when he was first sworn in four years ago. More than 12.7 million voters cast ballots in the Nov. 6 midterm election, representing roughly 65% of the states registered voters, the highest number of any midterm election since 1982, according to state certified results. I made that promise based on a shared belief that we are a stronger democracy and a better California when we hear all voices from all corners of California, and when those voices are not just heard but counted, Padilla said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Ricardo Lara, Californias first statewide officeholder to come out as gay, sworn in as insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara on the floor of the state Senate in 2016. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Ricardo Lara took the oath of office as California insurance commissioner on Monday, pledging action to boost healthcare coverage and combat climate change. Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens, is the first elected statewide officeholder in California who has come out as gay. He began his speech in downtown Sacramento by thanking LGBTQ leaders who came before him and celebrated the occasion. Today, because of you, weve shattered the pink ceiling, Lara said. In his inaugural speech, Lara announced the creation of an executive position in his office to address climate change. There is no other industry that has the necessary expertise to ensure that California is prepared to mitigate and reduce risk to our communities and our environment, Lara said. Our planet cant wait. Im ready, and I hope you are too. Lara served as a state legislator and in 2017 introduced a bill to create a single-payer healthcare system in the state. He promised to work with new Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand coverage across California. Lara was sworn in by retired U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who declared unconstitutional Californias Proposition 8 gay marriage ban. State Sen. President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) was on hand for the ceremony along with multiple other state lawmakers. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis says she will help expand access to universities in the state New Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, center, is shown in June talking with attendees at the Power to the Polls rally in Sacramento. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) More Californians should be given access to public universities, Eleni Kounalakis said as she took the oath of office Monday to become the states first woman elected lieutenant governor. Kounalakis was given the oath of office by Gov. Gavin Newsom, her predecessor in the job, who pledged they would work together. As lieutenant governor, Kounalakis serves on the University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees, she noted in a speech at her swearing-in ceremony at the main Sacramento Library. In that role, she said, she will be committed to expanding access to affordable public higher education here in our state. Its wise, its smart and it is the best way to address our rapidly changing digital economy. Kounalakis is former president of a development company founded by her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos, and served during the Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to Hungary. In November, she won her first run for statewide office. Also attending the ceremony were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California meets Dutch Newsom, who steals the show at his fathers inauguration By Taryn Luna Gov. Gavin Newsom gives his inaugural address while holding his youngest son, Dutch. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) In the California political world, all eyes were on Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday until his 2-year-old son stole the show. Dutch, the youngest of four children in the Newsom brood, climbed onstage in the middle of his fathers inaugural address in a tent outside the Capitol on Monday. The unplanned moment saw the 51-year-old governors big day interrupted by the toddler, bringing levity to the ceremony. Newsom was recounting Gov. Jerry Browns last inaugural speech and reference to the Sermon on the Mount, a biblical story about two men who built separate homes on sand and rock, when Dutch approached his father, a pacifier in his mouth and blanket in hand. Now more than ever we Californians know how much a house matters and children matter, Newsom said, improvising as he scooped the boy into his arms. The governor kissed Dutch on the cheek and held him for several minutes as he continued with the speech. This is exactly how it was scripted, Newsom joked. Newsom eventually put his child down and Dutch walked to the edge of the stage before retreating behind the podium to hide from his mother, First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The crowd roared. Siebel Newsom was able to briefly divert her son only for him to return to the stage minutes later. She grabbed him again and this time, the crying toddler did not reemerge. When fires strikes, when kids cry and the earth shakes, well be there for each other, Newsom said. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who said the moment humanized Newsom, threw cold water on any theories that Dutchs cameo was planned. No, I know it was not, Garcetti said with a laugh after Newsoms speech concluded. I could see that look of absolute abject terror [on Newsoms face]. Weve all been there. Kids always think its about themselves and theyve proved it. California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) agreed. I worked in early childhood education for 20 years and theres no way you can ever get a child to do anything when you want them to do it, Rendon said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Fiona Ma takes oath as Californias new treasurer By Liam Dillon State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Fiona Ma took the oath of office in Sacramento on Monday as the states 34th treasurer, promising to boost Californias economy. Ma previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in the state Assembly and on the California Board of Equalization. I want to thank everyone for entrusting me with this important job. I understand my role here as your state treasurer is to build that financial wall around California so that we will remain the fifth-largest economy, Ma said in brief remarks. That is my promise to you. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye administered the oath to Ma. Following the ceremony, Ma held an ice cream social for guests. On Wednesday, she will host a public event in San Francisco to celebrate her swearing-in. State Treasurer Fiona Ma takes the oath of office. (Liam Dillon / Los Angeles Times) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Expectations are high for newly sworn-in state schools chief Tony Thurmond Tony Thurmond shakes hands with retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco after taking the oath of office. (Melody Gutierrez / Los Angeles Times) Tony Thurmond took the oath of office as Californias state superintendent of public schools on Monday, promising a labor-friendly agenda before the teachers, students and Democratic officials who filled an auditorium at McClatchy High School in Sacramento to watch him being sworn in. We cant close the achievement gap without a great teacher at the head of every class, Thurmond said Monday to applause. We have to make sure we provide quality compensation and support to our teachers and our classified staff and all the educators who support our kids. Thurmond, a Bay Area Democrat who served in the state Assembly, won a hotly contested and expensive race with the help of labor leaders against charter school executive Marshall Tuck. The race took several days to sort out after Tuck held an initial lead in early returns on election night before falling behind thereafter. Thurmond was sworn in Monday by retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco. He was joined on stage by labor rights leader Dolores Huerta and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount). Thurmonds former colleagues in the state Assembly took turns praising him and promising to be an ally in improving schools. Many said they expected Thurmond would be a strong leader focused on improving student outcomes. We know we are going to work hard to give you the money you need and the budget you need to fully fund education and our schools so we can put our money where our mouth is and make sure our children have everything they need, Assemblywoman Connie Leyva (D-Chino Hills) said. As state superintendent, Thurmond will oversee the education of 6.2 million students at 10,000 schools. Thurmond was a member of the West Contra Costa County School Board and a Richmond city councilman before he was elected to the state Assembly. Tony is the right man at the right time to fight the federal, Donald Trump, Betsy DeVos anti-child, anti-education, anti-civil and -human rights agenda, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said. Tony is going to do that for us. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State Controller Betty Yee takes oath of office with call for more affordable housing and healthcare State Controller Betty Yee California Controller Betty Yee took the oath of office Monday for a second term, saying she still has work to do addressing problems that include a lack of affordability in housing, healthcare and higher education. A San Francisco native, Yee is the chief financial officer of California the fifth-largest economy in the world having first won election to the post in 2014 before winning reelection in November. No region is spared from the widening inequality and increased poverty that plague our state, fueled by the lack of affordable, stable housing, the cost of healthcare and transportation, limited educational opportunities, student loan debt, displacement caused by disasters and more, she said. Yee was administered the oath of office by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento before an overflow crowd that included state Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. As a public official it is about governance that delivers results and stays accountable while upholding the underlying value of dignity for all, Yee said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra begins new term promising to fight Trump policies California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Monday took the oath of office for a new term, saying he would continue his role as a leading challenger to Trump administration actions that he believes are counter to the states interests. Becerra, a former 12-term congressman, has become a national opposition figure to Trump, having sued the federal government 45 times since he was appointed as the states first Latino attorney general in 2017. Weve been a little busy stopping the dysfunction and insanity in Washington, D.C., from infecting California, Becerra told an audience during a swearing-in ceremony at the California Museum in Sacramento. Whether its the criminals on our streets or the conman in the boardrooms or highest office of the land, Becerra said, the California Department of Justice, well, weve got your back. Becerra won his first statewide election as the states top cop in November, two years after he filled the post vacated when predecessor Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate. He has peppered the Trump administration with lawsuits challenging federal policies on healthcare, the U.S. census, the environment and immigration. Our state builds dreams, not walls, he said in a direct criticism of Trumps proposal to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Just last week, Becerra led a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general in announcing an appeal of a federal judge in Texas that ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. The ACA has been the law for nearly a decade and is the backbone of our healthcare system, Becerra said last week. This case impacts nearly every American workers covered by employers, families, women, children, young adults and seniors so we will lead the ACAs defense as long and far as it takes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California Democratic Party Vice Chairman Daraka Larimore-Hall announces bid to lead group By Christine Mai-Duc Daraka Larimore-Hall. (Dominic Parisi / Courtesy of Daraka Larimore-Hall) Daraka Larimore-Hall, a top official at the California Democratic Party, said Monday hes running to replace former chairman Eric Bauman, who resigned abruptly in November after being confronted with allegations of sexual misconduct. Larimore-Hall, a longtime state party activist and former chairman of the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County, was one of the party leaders who urged Bauman to resign following the allegations. In an email to supporters announcing his bid, he urged both structural and cultural change at every level of our Party. He also repeated his call for a top-to-bottom investigation of the allegations, the party and its culture. In a Times investigation, 10 party activists and staff members said Bauman made crude sexual comments and engaged in unwanted touching and physical intimidation in professional settings. In order to be where we need to be for 2020, we have to confront the culture of abuse and fear that allowed someone to behave in such a vile way for so long, Larimore-Hall said in an interview. We cant brush it aside or think that our activists or our candidates or our donors are going to forget about this overnight. Larimore-Hall said his first priority would be to fully investigate the allegations and restore rank-and-file confidence in the partys leadership. The second would be to refocus the party on political priorities as the 2020 presidential election nears. The Bauman episode, Larimore-Hall said, threatens to derail the Democrats plans to help defeat President Trump and keep the seven congressional seats gained in the midterm elections. Its definitely a crisis, Larimore-Hall said. But the component parts the energy, the enthusiasm, the volunteers, the infrastructure its still there. We just need to direct it toward something. Larimore-Hall was elected vice chairman of the state party in February following Baumans razor-thin victory over Bay Area activist Kimberly Ellis. Ellis has announced another bid for the chairmanship and former state Senate leader Kevin de Leon is also mulling a run. The vote will take place at the partys May convention in San Francisco. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom will vow to seize this moment, and swipe at Trump in Monday inaugural address By Melanie Mason Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family attend an Inauguration Family Event at the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Building on the theme of California exceptionalism that defined his campaign, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will depict the state as a guardian of progressive values and a counterweight to President Trump in his inaugural address Monday, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks. What we do today is even more consequential, because of whats happening in our country, read the excerpts obtained by The Times. Peoples lives, freedom, security, the water we drink, the air we breathe they all hang in the balance. The country is watching us. The world is waiting on us. The future depends on us. And we will seize this moment. The speech casts Californias political stakes in a decidedly national scope, promising an agenda that will unify and be an example to the rest of the country. It contrasts the governing goals of Newsom, a Democrat, with that of Trump, the incoming governors perennial foil. We will offer an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House, the excerpts say. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people. Newsom campaigned on an ambitious and wide-ranging platform, promising sweeping solutions on housing, healthcare, education and other issues that rank among Californians top concerns. In the weeks after his election, he struck a more muted tone, taking pains to emphasize his fiscal caution and need for patience in achieving those goals. The inaugural excerpts indicate a return to lofty pledges. While Newsom will vow to prepare for uncertain times ahead by building budgetary reserves and paying down debt, the prepared remarks quickly turn to a vow to be bold. Newsom has already floated several proposals for his first budget that carry significant price tags, including a nearly $2-billion plan to boost early childhood development for low-income families and a dramatic expansion of paid family leave from six weeks to six months. When asked for a preview of his inauguration speech during a news conference Sunday evening, Newsom predicted pundits would criticize his address as short on specifics. Well, of course, Im at an inaugural, Newsom said. But Ill be very detailed in the budget, a few days later. And then we will architect, in much more nuance and detail, in state of the state. I really see this as three opportunities to communicate over the next few weeks our agenda, our vision for the state. Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom-hosted benefit concert raises nearly $5 million for wildfire victims By Taryn Luna Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom speaks at a concert to benefit wildfire victims at the Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) On the eve of the gubernatorial inauguration, Californias political class rubbed elbows in Sacramento for a benefit concert hosted by Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and headlined by the rapper Pitbull. Newsom told the crowd gathered at the Golden 1 Center on Sunday evening that the fundraiser brought in nearly $5 million for the California Wildfire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports the families of fallen firefighters and communities affected by wildfires. You know, a lot of folks feel anxious about not just politics, but government, Newsom said on stage before introducing the rapper and activist Common. But those firefighters, they are the antidote to the fear and cynicism; they are the manifestation of why government matters and why you should care. Top sponsors, including Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente and other interest groups, paid up to $1 million each to support the cause and curry favor with the new administration. Nathan Click, a spokesman for Newsom, said organizers sold more than 7,000 tickets. Several state lawmakers attended the concert alongside Capitol staff, lobbyists and business types, who mingled on the floor of the arena and offstage in private VIP areas. The rock band X Ambassadors and a duo called the Cold Weather Sons from the town of Paradise, which was destroyed by fire in November, were among several performers who entertained the crowd during the four-hour event. The California Rises concert is the final in a series of festivities held Sunday to celebrate the inauguration of Californias 40th governor. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum and his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Newsoms inauguration is set to begin at 11 a.m. Monday on the steps of the Capitol. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Inauguration fever hits Sacramento as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom prepares to take office By Phil Willon Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom holds his son, Dutch, as he and his family attend an inaugural event at the at the state Railroad Museum Sunday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom doesnt officially take the oath of office until Monday, but the parties celebrating his inauguration were in full swing all day Sunday. Newsom and his family were mobbed by well-wishers at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront in the afternoon, where his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families. He just has charisma. Hes able to really connect with people, said Rosielyn Pulmano, an attorney from Elk Grove who came to see Newsom with her husband, two sons and her niece. I think he cares about working Californians and a lot of their issues. Newsom arrived with his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and their four young children, and the governor-elect spent a good deal of his time wading through crowds, taking selfies with supporters and signing autographs as music boomed in the background. As the family toured the inside of the museums locomotives and the bevy of exhibits, Newsoms two-year-old son, Dutch, was wide-eyed, impressed by all the train cars and seemingly a little overwhelmed by the crowd. Newsom said that for his son, all that was missing from the museum was Thomas the Train, popular fictional locomotive in childrens books and cartoons . If theres one thing I can contribute to Sacramento maybe its getting a Thomas the Train exhibit for the two years olds, Newsom joked when talking with reporters afterward. Newsom said he wanted to include such an event in his inaugural festivities to highlight families and children, whose wellbeing will be among the top priorities of his administration. Youll see that not only as a preamble to the inaugural and the budget that well be submitting next week, but I think itll be a big part of the administration, Newsom said. The museum event followed a private, high-dollar brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum. A steady rain failed to dissuade as many as 200 guests who sipped wine and dined on chicken and salmon while waiting for a photo with Californias new first couple. Seen at the event were representatives of some of the states most powerful political interests, among them organized labor, healthcare companies and tribal gaming interests. A few other high-profile guests attended, too, including Larry Baer, CEO of the San Francisco Giants, and Erika Jayne, a singer and cast member of the reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Im excited to see someone like Gavin young, vibrant taking over the state and leading us into the future, Jayne said after attending the brunch with her husband, attorney Tom Girardi. Hes got a lot of great plans. Attendees said the event, which was closed to reporters and held under a tent in the museums outdoor atrium, did not include prepared remarks by Newsom. Among those seen leaving the event were representatives of AT&T, the California Medical Assn., Uber, Kaiser Permanente and the State Building and Construction Trades Council. A fundraising invitation obtained by The Times offered bundled tickets to all of the inauguration events, including those on Sunday and the Monday ceremony, ranging in price from $25,000 to $200,000. The money will be collected by a committee specifically organized to pay for Newsoms inaugural weekend. Sundays festivities are scheduled to end with a benefit concert headlined by Pitbull at the Golden 1 Center, home of the NBAs Sacramento Kings, to raise money for the victims of Californias recent deadly wildfires. Among the attendees at @GavinNewsoms pre-inaugural leadership brunch: Real Housewife of Bev Hills @erikajayne. Im excited to see someone like Gavinyoung, vibranttaking over the state and leading us into the future. Hes got a lot of great plans. pic.twitter.com/561NHiy2XQ Melanie Mason (@melmason) January 6, 2019 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement As Newsom inaugural events begin, he unveils more state budget promises on education and paid family leave Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, seen here last April, will propose new state budget efforts on paid family leave and education subsidies. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Californias incoming governor, who must send his first state budget plan to the Legislature this week, has already signaled a significant new focus on programs to help families and children from infancy to college. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom campaigned on a platform that included a number of child-focused efforts specifically aimed at helping lower-income families. The price tag for the initial efforts is expected to approach $2 billion a cost paid out of an unrestricted tax revenue windfall that could be one of the largest in state history. Newsom may also seek help for families through new subsidies paid by California employers. The governor-elect is expected to propose a dramatic expansion of paid parental leave from six weeks to six months according to an internal document provided by a source close to the Newsom transition team, first reported on Sunday by the New York Times. The document doesnt offer a full explanation for how the program will be funded, saying instead that the budget will set a goal of ensuring that all newborns and newly adopted babies can be cared for by a parent or a close family member for the first six months. Employers across the state are currently assessed a payroll tax that helps offer a subsidy to parents who temporarily leave their job to care for a newborn. Newsoms plan, according to the document, would pay for some of the new costs by shrinking the mandated cash reserve of the state fund that administers the program, allowing more of the money to be paid in benefits. The increase in paid leave would not all happen at once but instead be phased in over a multi-year period. A task force to help implement the expanded care plan is also envisioned, according to the document. It would determine whether two parents could split the six months of paid leave and whether an extended family member could be enlisted to help care for the child of a single parent over the six-month period. The incoming administrations focus on young children will also include $1.8 billion in new spending on early childhood education programs, with a particular focus on training childcare workers and pushing for more California schools to offer full-day kindergarten. Those costs, according to an overview memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times, are considered to be a one-time expense while leaving the long-term costs of the effort to be determined later. More community college students would get free tuition under a third initiative expected in the new governors budget plan. Newsom will propose spending $40 million to offer a second year of tuition-free college to California students, according to an outline provided by a transition official, first reported by Politico. Students are already eligible for a single year of paid tuition under a plan agreed to by Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers in 2017. The incoming governor embraced the idea of free community college during the 2018 campaign as part of a broader focus on additional investments in higher education. Education is an economic development strategy, Newsom said at a higher education forum last spring. We need to significantly increase the investment from the general fund of this state on higher education. Theres no greater higher return on investment. Whether the proposal would be targeted to students based on a familys financial need is unclear. Many low-income students are already eligible for fee waivers at community colleges. The new governor must submit his full state budget plan to lawmakers no later than Thursday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gavin Newsom and his family decide Sacramento is the place to be The Old Governors Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will move his family into the mansion. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family will give up the Marin County life and move to the Victorian-style governors mansion in Sacramento after he takes the oath of office Monday. Newsom and his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, had debated whether or when to relocate to the state capital since his election in November. The couple have four young children and expressed reservations about moving in the middle of a school year. To best serve the people of California while also maximizing family time together, the Newsoms have therefore decided to move to Sacramento, said Newsoms spokesman, Nathan Click. On Monday, they will move into the Governors Mansion along with their four children, their two family dogs, and their family bunny rabbit and reside there for the immediate future. The Newsoms currently live in Marin County. Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife, Ann Gust Brown, moved into the grand house in 2015 after it underwent $4.1 million in renovations to update electrical and plumbing systems, as well as to remove lead-based paint and install a fire sprinkler system and other security features. The mansion was built in 1877 and has been home to 14 governors, but before Brown it had not housed a California governor for nearly half a century. The state bought the mansion from a wealthy Sacramento hardware merchant, Albert Gallatin, in 1903 for $32,500. It was one of the few California homes at that time to have indoor plumbing. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom announces top labor, business liaisons as he prepares to take office Julie Su will be secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency for Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday named two advisors on issues related to the California economy, each recognized for their expertise on business and labor. The incoming governor will appoint Julie Su as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and Lenny Mendonca as chief economic and business advisor and director of the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development. Su, 49, has served as state labor commissioner under Gov. Jerry Brown since 2011 and has led an office tasked with the enforcement of Californias labor laws. She won a MacArthur Foundation genius grant in 2001 and previously worked as a civil rights attorney representing low-wage workers. In her new position, Su will be tasked with coordinating the work of several workforce departments in state government, including those that administer unemployment benefits and oversee the relationship between agriculture workers and employers. Mendonca, 57, has been a longtime advocate for rethinking government operations as co-chairman of the nonprofit organization California Forward. Previously, he was partner at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm. While he will be a key advisor to Newsom on the states economy, Mendonca will also lead the office often referred to as Go-Biz, designated as a high-level way to encourage job growth and economic development. In his new role, Mendonca will help ensure that California is rolling out the welcome mat to current and future California businesses and growing a sustainable economy for every Californian, said a statement from the Newsom transition team. Newsom will take the oath of office as governor Monday. He has previously selected key advisors on the state budget, legislative affairs and the executive branchs wide array of agencies and departments. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Joshua Groban, aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, sworn in to California Supreme Court By Taryn Luna California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban gives remarks after he is sworn into the court by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday. (Taryn Luna) California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban, a lawyer and longtime aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, was sworn into the states highest court Thursday in Sacramento. The ceremony marked Browns fourth appointment to the state Supreme Court and gave the seven-member bench a Democratic majority. We live in a highly chaotic, ever-changing and ever-confusing world, Groban said in prepared remarks at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building. But Im happy to report that Im joining an institution whose fundamental purpose, at core, is to provide stability and consistency amidst this chaotic place we live. I look forward to doing that with a sense of reflection, respect, fidelity to the law and compassion. None of Browns appointees, Groban included, have judicial experience. Groban served as legal counsel to Browns 2010 gubernatorial campaign and joined the administration as a senior advisor to the governor, overseeing the appointments of some 600 judges over the last eight years. Prior to working with Brown, Groban, 45, practiced law for more than a decade. In perhaps his final public appearance before his successor, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, takes office next week, Brown pushed back on notions that he stacked the court. I dont want this to be known as a Brown court, the governor said before administering the judicial oath of office. First of all, the so-called Brown appointments do not agree with themselves and nor should they. They are individuals. They will differ. Its not anybodys court. The governor called the court a high calling and said Groban possesses the values for the job. Probably, next to my wife, Ive talked to no person as much as Ive talked to Josh Groban, Brown said. I think youve talked to him more, Californias First Lady Anne Gust Brown interjected. I cant tell you what the hell hes going to do, Brown later quipped. I warned him, dont screw up, at least not at first. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California campaign watchdog agency seeks law barring use of campaign funds to fight harassment claims Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). ( (Steve Yeater / Associated Press)) Elected officials accused of harassment or discrimination would be barred from using political contributions to cover their legal defense costs under legislation proposed by Californias campaign watchdog agency. The state Fair Political Practices Commission has agreed to pursue a law change to clear up confusion after an attorney for one former state lawmaker argued political funds could be used in such legal defenses. Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said putting a prohibition into the law would provide some much needed clarity. As chair, I would like to show the public their lawmakers are held to a standard that is above reproach, Germond said in a statement. People dont give money to campaigns for lawmakers to use it to defend their own bad behavior, so lawmakers shouldnt be able to use it in that manner. The issue came up a year ago when an attorney for former Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) sought a formal opinion from the FPPC after the Senate launched an investigation that later concluded Mendoza likely engaged in a pattern of harassment against female aides. Mendoza resigned in February under threat of expulsion by the Senate. In a Jan. 10, 2018, letter, Cassandra Ferrannini, an attorney for Mendoza, wrote to the FPPC that she believed Mendoza should be allowed to establish a legal defense fund able to defray his legal expenses in defending himself against the allegations. The use of campaign funds for attorneys fees under these circumstances would fall squarely within the scope of legislative matters, since it involves the alleged conduct of a legislator with regard to legislative staff that he supervised, Ferrannini wrote. The commission staff originally issued an advice letter that said Mendoza may use campaign and legal defense funds to defend himself from claims of sexual harassment that arose directly out of his activities or status as a candidate or elected officer. But the panel later rescinded the letter after some members questioned using campaign funds to fight sexual harassment claims. That left uncertainty about what was allowed, which Germond said could be cleared up by a new law. The FPPC is still looking for a legislator to carry the bill, a spokesman said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias landmark police transparency law takes effect after court denies police union effort to block it California Supreme Court building (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) A new state law allowing the public disclosure of internal police shooting investigations has gone into effect after the California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a bid by a police union to block it. The law opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. challenged the law last month, asking state Supreme Court justices to decide that the law only apply to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. The court rejected that request Wednesday, allowing members of the public to seek all applicable records held by police departments. Union president Grant Ward said in a statement that his organization was disappointed with the decision and is now seeking other legal options. We feel this is a statewide issue and should be considered accordingly, Ward said. Last month, the city of Inglewood authorized the destruction of more than 100 police shooting investigations and other records in advance of Jan. 1, when the disclosure law was scheduled to take effect. California law requires police departments to keep such records for five years, and Inglewood City Council voted to destroy records older than that. Mayor James T. Butts has said the decision had nothing to do with the new law. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Michel Moore has said that complying with the new disclosure rules could take hundreds of thousands of hours of work. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of the transparency law, has said she has no immediate plans to propose changes to it. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Few complaints of racial profiling are sustained by police agencies in California, state panel finds CHP Officer J. Nelson stands outside the office of Gov. Jerry Brown as activists in 2015 support requiring the tracking of police stops. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Law enforcement agencies in California sustain few citizen complaints of racial or identity profiling, according to a report Wednesday by a state panel set up to help reduce bias in policing. The states Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board recommended in its annual report that law enforcement agencies improve training and adopt clear guidelines for tracking and reporting data on who is stopped by officers. The panel said that 453 law enforcement agencies in the state received 9,459 civilian complaints in 2017, including 865 complaints alleging racial or identity profiling. Of the racial and identity complaints that reached a disposition that year, 1.5% were sustained, 14.6% resulted in officers being exonerated and 83.9% of complaints were not sustained or were determined to be unfounded, the report said. A clearer picture of the issue is expected from a 2015 law that requires police agencies to report demographic data on all detentions and searches. The first reports by the eight largest agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, are due to be submitted in April. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, whose office oversees the board, said tracking of all detentions and searches will be helpful to understand the scope of the issue. The Boards recommendations will help make our law enforcement agencies more transparent and promote critical steps to enhance, and in some cases, repair the public trust, Becerra said in a statement Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California housing crisis podcast: What Minneapolis decision to end single-family zoning might mean for California A view of downtown Minneapolis in 2014 (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images) Theres a national movement brewing to roll back zoning rules in cities that only allow one house on a plot of land. The epicenter of that movement is Minneapolis, which passed a plan last month to eliminate single-family zoning citywide and let landowners build duplexes and triplexes on residential property. On this episode of Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast, we talk about the reasons why Minneapolis leaders took this action, including their desire to combat a history of racial exclusion and spur more housing density to fight climate change. We also debate how Minneapolis decision might affect housing politics in California. Our guest is Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender, who helped shepherd the new zoning rules to passage and a former San Francisco city planner. The episode also crowns 2018s Avocado of the Year the most ridiculous story exemplifying Californias housing woes and includes our predictions for the most under-the-radar important themes in housing politics in 2019. Gimme Shelter, a biweekly podcast that looks at why its so expensive to live in California and what the state can do about it, features Liam Dillon, who covers housing affordability issues for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau, and Matt Levin, data and housing reporter for CALmatters. You can subscribe to Gimme Shelter on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement How young immigrant Dreamers made flipping control of the House a personal quest By Jazmine Ulloa Gabriela Cruz, who was brought to the U.S. illegally when she was 1, couldnt vote, but in the final hours before the Nov. 6 election, she was making one last run to get people to the polls. The sun was setting in Modesto when she found Ronald Silva, 41, smoking a cigarette on a tattered old couch behind a group home. He politely tried to wave her off until she reminded him he had a right that she as an immigrant without citizenship didnt have. It could really make a change for us, said Cruz, 29. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose almost $2 billion for early childhood programs (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Seeking to frame his new administration as one with a firm focus on closing the gap between children from affluent and poor families, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose spending some $1.8 billion on an array of programs designed to boost Californias enrollment in early education and child-care programs. Newsoms plan, which he hinted at in a Fresno event last month, will be a key element in the state budget proposal he will submit to the Legislature shortly after taking office Monday, a source close to the governor-elects transition team said. The spending would boost programs designed to ensure children enter kindergarten prepared to learn, closing what some researchers have called the readiness gap that exists based on a familys income. It would also phase in an expansion of prekindergarten and offer money to help school districts that dont have facilities for full-day kindergarten. The fact that hes making significant investments with his opening budget is really exciting, Ted Lempert, president of the Bay Area-based nonprofit Children Now, said Tuesday. Whats exciting is the comprehensiveness of it, because its saying were going to focus on prenatal through age 5. A broad overview document reviewed by The Times on Tuesday shows that most of the outlay under the plan $1.5 billion would be a one-time expense in the budget year that begins July 1. Those dollars would be a single infusion of cash, an approach favored by Gov. Jerry Brown in recent years. Most of the money would be spent on efforts to expand child-care services and kindergarten classes. By law, a governor must submit a full budget to the Legislature no later than Jan. 10. Lawmakers will spend the winter and spring reviewing the proposal and must send a final budget plan to Newsom by June 15. Though legislative Democrats have pushed for additional early childhood funding in recent years a key demand of the Legislative Womens Caucus those actions have typically come late in the budget-writing season in Sacramento. Quite frankly, to start out with a January proposal that includes that investment in Californias children reflects a new day, state Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said. The governor-elect will propose a $750-million boost to kindergarten funding, aimed at expanding facilities to allow full-day programs. A number of school districts offer only partial-day programs, leaving many low-income families to skip enrolling their children because kindergarten classes end in the middle of the workday. Because the money would not count toward meeting Californias three-decades-old education spending guarantee under Proposition 98, which sets a minimum annual funding level for K-12 schools and community colleges, it will not reduce planned spending on other education services. Close behind in total cost is a budget proposal by Newsom to help train child-care workers and expand local facilities already subsidized by the state, as well as those serving parents who attend state colleges and universities. Together, those efforts could cost $747 million, according to the budget overview document. An expansion of prekindergarten programs would be phased in over three years at a cost of $125 million in the first year. The multiyear rollout would, according to the budget overview, ensure the system can plan for the increase in capacity. Lempert said the Newsom proposal is notable for trying to avoid the kinds of battles that in recent years pitted prekindergarten and expanded child care against each other for additional taxpayer dollars. The reality is we need to expand both simultaneously, he said. Another $200 million of the proposal would be earmarked for programs that provide home visits to expectant parents from limited-income families and programs that provide healthcare screenings for young children. Some of the money would come from the states Medi-Cal program, and other money from federal matching dollars. Funding for the home visits program was provided in the budget Brown signed last summer; the Newsom effort would build on that. Emphasizing a policy area with broad appeal in his first state budget could reflect Newsoms political sensibility about the challenges ahead. Democratic lawmakers and interest groups will be especially eager to see how Newsom addresses the demand for an overhaul of healthcare coverage in California especially after a 2017 effort to create a single-payer, universal system fizzled. The path forward on healthcare is complex and costly, making early childhood education a more achievable goal in the governor-elects early tenure. Newsom is likely to face considerable demands for other additional spending. In November, the Legislatures independent analysts projected that continued strength in tax revenues could produce a cash reserve of some $29 billion over the next 18 months. Almost $15 billion of that could be in unrestricted reserves, the kind that can be spent on any number of government programs. Kim Belshe, executive director of the child advocacy organization First 5 LA and a former state health and human services secretary, said the initial Newsom budget proposal suggests the next governor will focus on a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for children from low-income families. School-ready kids deserve quality early learning, strong and well-supported families, and access to early screening services, Belshe said. Newsom understands the whole child, multifaceted needs of our kids and is clearly ready to lead. Mitchell, the chair of the Senate budget committee, said shes eager to see the details of the governor-elects proposal to determine whether it might signal the beginning of an even broader expansion of early education efforts. Similar efforts have been hindered by a lack of money and ongoing debate over which services to help children 5 and younger need state funding the most. Universal preschool, in particular, has been debated for more than a decade. California voters rejected a ballot measure to fund a full prekindergarten system in 2006. Its clear theres a new movement afoot trying to engage on investment for universal preschool, Mitchell said. How we invest, and how we prioritize that investment, is going to be a great conversation for the coming months. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: A final conversation with Gov. Jerry Brown No Californian has served longer as governor, signed more laws, granted clemency to more felons or waged more high-profile campaigns than Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown will leave behind a unique legacy when he packs his last belongings for the trip from the governors mansion in Sacramento to his Northern California ranch. His final two terms in office could be his most consequential. The governor reviewed some of the more notable moments from the past eight years in a far-reaching interview with The Times on Dec. 22. This weeks podcast episode includes extended portions of that conversation. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A sagging economy could doom a 2020 ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes, Gov. Jerry Brown says Gov. Jerry Brown, at his Colusa County home on Saturday, said a ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes could struggle in 2020. (Randall Benton/For The Times) An effort to remove commercial property in California from the tax limits imposed by the landmark Proposition 13 could be felled by an economic slowdown, Gov. Jerry Brown said. In a Saturday interview with The Times at his Northern California ranch, Brown said liberal activist groups that have successfully placed the proposal on the November 2020 statewide ballot shouldnt read too much into early poll numbers showing support for the plan. That isnt as easy as you think, Brown said. Because youre going to be in a downturn of the business cycle. And youre talking many kinds of business. And the cost of doing business in California is already high. The ballot measure would allow counties to more frequently assess the market value of commercial property in California than allowed under Proposition 13, a 1978 ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to place strict limits on assessing property values and taxation for both homeowners and businesses. An analysis of the new measure, which qualified in October for the 2020 ballot, estimates it could bring in some $10.5 billion a year in new tax revenue. The business community will fight it, Brown said. And the minimum wage, the family leave, the environmental rules business[es] have left California, thats going to be the big argument. And I think thats something you really have to think a lot about. The governor, who leaves office early next month due to term limits, declined to either endorse or oppose the ballot measure. He said Californias economic health in two years time could be a key factor in how voters weigh the proposal. Well be in a recession by then, Brown said. So its anybodys guess. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Inglewood to destroy more than 100 police shooting records that could otherwise become public under new California law By Jack Dolan Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) The city of Inglewood has authorized the shredding of more than 100 police shooting and other internal investigation records weeks before a new state law could allow the public to access them for the first time. The decision, made at a City Council meeting earlier this month, has troubled civil liberties advocates who were behind the state legislation, Senate Bill 1421, which takes effect Jan. 1. The law opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The legislature passed SB 1421 because communities demanded an end to the secrecy cloaking police misconduct and use of force, Marcus Benigno, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said in a statement. Inglewood PDs decision to purge records undermines police accountability and transparency against the will of Californians. California law says police departments must retain records of officer shootings and internal misconduct investigations for five years. The city of Inglewood, however, had kept records longer than that, including case files of police shootings dating to 1991. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of SB 1421, intended for her bill to allow public access to all qualifying records held by a department, no matter the date of the incident. Inglewood City Council approved the destruction of records that have been in the police departments possession more than 100 cases longer than required by law. The city staff report and council resolution describing the action makes no mention of the new police transparency law. Instead it says the affected records are obsolete, occupy valuable space, and are of no further use to the police department. It added the traditional method of destroying such records is to shred them. It is unclear whether the records have since been destroyed. A spokesman for the Inglewood Police Department along with Inglewoods city manager, attorney, clerk, four council members and Mayor James T. Butts, a former Santa Monica police chief, did not respond to requests for comment. Inglewoods City Hall is closed the last two weeks of December. The Inglewood Police Department has a reputation for secrecy and using excessive force. In 2008, the departments officers fatally shot four men in as many months, three of whom turned out to be unarmed. The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights probe and found significant flaws in the way the department oversaw use-of-force cases and investigated complaints against officers. Civil rights advocates still question why Inglewood police opened fire on a couple found sleeping in a car in 2016, killing them both. California police have a long history of shredding records to avoid scrutiny of their actions. In the 1970s, the LAPD famously destroyed more than four tons of personnel records after defense attorneys began requesting them as part of criminal cases against their clients. The move resulted in the dismissal of more than a hundred criminal complaints. In response, the Legislature demanded that records be preserved but then took other measures, supported by police unions, to ensure the public had very little access to them, making California the most secretive state in the nation when it comes to police misconduct. Skinners legislation begins to unwind those laws, which have been on the books since 1978. No video or audio of the Dec. 11 council action is available on the citys website and neither are meeting minutes or any record of the decision. A city spokeswoman, Courtney Torres, confirmed that the council had voted in favor of the police records purge, and said all the relevant reasons for the decision were included in the city staff report. The Jan. 1 implementation for SB 1421 has prompted other police officials to act. A police union in San Bernardino is asking the state Supreme Court to determine that Skinners bill only applies to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner earlier this month warning that complying with the law in regard to older records in the departments possession could take hundreds of thousands of work hours. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Federal officials question California DMVs process for issuing Real IDs (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has notified the California Department of Motor Vehicles that its process for providing residents with federally recognized identification cards is not adequate. DMV spokesman Armando Botello said Friday that 2.3 million residents who received Real IDs under the current process will have to submit additional documentation when their cards are renewed in five years but will be able to use them in the meantime. The DMV is developing a way for residents to submit more documentation online or via email to comply with the stricter federal requirement, he said. But some state legislators are upset about delays in notifying them of the problem and say Homeland Security could eventually require additional documentation provided by current holders. The DMV has known for a month that millions of Real IDs theyve been dolling out are potentially invalid, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said. The DMVs only hope is that the Department of Homeland Security takes pity on California and gives the DMV more time to fix this mess. Real IDs are a new kind of driver license and identification card that federal law will require legal residents to present when boarding domestic flights or visiting military bases and other federal facilities starting Oct. 1, 2020. The DMV has only been requiring one form of documentation, including a current lease or utility bill, to verify the residence of a card applicant. But the federal government said in a Nov. 21 letter to the agency that two such documents are needed. On Friday, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto released a letter defending the current process but said her agency will start requiring a second document to prove residency in April. In order to minimize confusion among our customers, the CADMV will work to inform individuals who have been issued a Real ID under the current process that their card will be accepted for official federal purposes, even if their renewal occurs after the October 1, 2020, final enforcement date for Real ID, Shiomoto wrote to the federal agency. Legislative officials worry there is still a possibility that those issued Real IDs in the past might be required to present a second document to have their cards designated as compliant. The more complex process for obtaining Real IDs has led to hours-long waits for customers at DMV field offices this year, although wait times have been reduced recently by an increase in staffing. Shiomoto last month announced that she is retiring amid problems with the motor voter registration system and after the governor ordered an audit of her agency in response to the long wait times. On Friday, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido blasted the DMV for waiting a month to tell legislators of the problem. This is unacceptable and flies in the face of security for our citizens, which is what Real ID was created for in the first place, she said in a statement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom taps Keely Bosler to be his finance director Keely Bosler, the director of the California Department of Finance, will continue in that role under Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (California Department of Finance) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday appointed Keely Martin Bosler as director of the California Department of Finance, continuing the role she has served under Gov. Jerry Brown since August. Bosler will become Newsoms chief fiscal advisor, and will play a pivotal role in shaping Newsoms spending plan for the state that will lay the foundation for his top policy priorities. Newsom must roll out his first budget plan within days of taking office on Jan. 7. Californias brighter future depends on a strong, stable fiscal foundation, Newsom said in a statement released Friday afternoon. Keely is an accomplished public servant of sound fiscal judgment. She understands that state budgets are more than numbers on a page they are value statements affecting the fate and future of millions of families reaching for the California Dream. We are fortunate to have her on our team. Prior to being appointed finance director, Bosler served as Browns cabinet secretary for two years and, before that, as the chief deputy director for budget in the Finance Department for three years. Earlier this year, Brown picked Bosler to lead an audit of the Department of Motor Vehicles, which had come under fire for long wait times at DMV field offices and numerous computer problems, including errors in the new motor voter program that registered Californians to vote. As we have discussed, long wait times at the Department of Motor Vehicles do not reflect the high standards of service that Californians expect from their state government, Bosler wrote in a letter in September to DMV Director Jean Shiomoto. The audit is still ongoing, but Shiomoto has since announced she will retire at the end of the year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias legislative analyst, after decades of nonpartisan research for lawmakers, calls it a career Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, who has led the state research unit since 2008, will retire on Dec. 31. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Only five people have led the independent research office of the California Legislature since its creation in 1941. And each of them has had a pretty simple mantra to live by in reviewing public policy proposals and government programs: Call it like you see it. The job of any analyst, to me, is you maintain that nonpartisanship, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor said. Taylor, 65, will retire from the post at the end of December after a four-decade career with the research team that began, as he likes to tell it, just after the passage of the landmark property tax rollback, Proposition 13, in 1978. He became the leader of the office, with the title of legislative analyst, in October 2008. Two months later, state government found itself in arguably the worst fiscal crisis in its history a projected shortfall that ultimately grew to $42 billion by the following winter. There were forces beyond our control, Taylor said of that time. But dont underestimate the policy changes that were made afterward. Those changes, most notably a boost in taxes paid by high-income earners and a robust state budget cash reserve fund, have helped lead to successive years of fully funded government services. The state is projected to have some $24 billion in reserves by the end of the current fiscal year. Taylor announced his intention earlier to step down this year. Leaders from both houses of the Legislature select the analyst, who leads a staff of almost five dozen researchers. The office provides in-depth reports on pending legislation, as well as on broader policy topics like education and healthcare, and produces an independent analysis for every proposed ballot measure. A succession of lawmakers and governors alike have praised or panned the work of the Legislative Analysts Office based on their own political worldview. Taylor said his staff is mindful that they work for legislators, but try to ignore the rhetoric that follows the release of a major report. People are going to do what theyre going to do with our information, he said. They dont always like it, but they appreciate that we give them our best advice. Taylor oversaw a transformation in the way the Legislative Analysts Office distributes its information, embracing the release of research reports through social media instead of relying on traditional printed copies and journalist roundtable events. But he said the work of the researchers has remained largely unchanged through the decades. Having an independent take on things, I think, is good for the Legislature, he said. No replacement for Taylor has been announced, which means a short transition for his eventual successor before Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom sends his first budget proposal to lawmakers in early January. Taylor, who lives in the Sacramento suburbs, said he will honor the tradition of his predecessors in stepping away from public policy debates in order to give the new analyst space to lead the team as he or she sees fit. He said he hopes to travel in the coming years and spend time with his children who have moved to the East Coast. Forty years in state government, Taylor said in why he was stepping aside now. Isnt that enough? Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown sues to save California sentencing laws By Don Thompson, Associated Press (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown sued Thursday to protect one of his signature actions in office, a voter-approved measure that allows most prison inmates to seek earlier release and participate in rehabilitation programs. His administration filed a lawsuit challenging a pending 2020 initiative that seeks to toughen criminal penalties as part of an effort to roll back reforms adopted by voters within the last decade. Browns lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court contends the measure lacked enough valid signatures to overturn a previously approved constitutional amendment. County officials and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla certified the signatures in July but said they were submitted too late to qualify for last months election. The lawsuit names Padilla and the ballot measures official proponent, Nina Salarno Besselman, president of the advocacy group Crime Victims United. Padilla said the measure exceeded the required roughly 366,000 valid signatures, equal to 5% of votes cast for governor in 2014. Browns lawsuit says he used the wrong threshold. It says changing the state Constitution requires 8%, or more than 585,400 signatures. That makes the pending initiative more than 150,000 signatures short, the lawsuit says. Hes wrong, said Jeff Flint, a spokesman for the campaign backing the measure. He predicted a judge will be reluctant to reject a measure that already has qualified for the ballot. The secretary of state told us how many signatures are required, and thats how many we collected, Flint said. Padillas office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The measure would reverse reforms adopted by voters through Proposition 47 in 2014 and Proposition 57 in 2016. Proposition 57 allows most inmates to seek earlier paroles, and Proposition 47 reduced some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The combination has helped keep Californias inmate population below a population cap set by federal judges. Corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters said the measure gives corrections and parole officials broad discretion to protect our communities and fashion a rational system of rehabilitation and punishment. This new initiative unlawfully seeks to supplant the departments constitutional authority to implement these critical reforms to our criminal justice system. The pending initiative would shorten the list of crimes that qualify for earlier parole and change some theft crimes from misdemeanors back to felonies. It would also increase the number of crimes for which DNA is collected, a list that was limited when some crimes went from felonies to misdemeanors. Those supporting the tougher penalties say easing criminal penalties has increased the number of dangerous criminals on the streets, but those backing the changes say they have helped reduce mass incarceration and rehabilitate convicted criminals. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Supreme Court orders records unsealed in pardon of ex-state Sen. Roderick Wright Former state Sen. Roderick Wright (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) The California Supreme Court has granted a request to unseal court records involving Gov. Jerry Browns decision last month to pardon former state Sen. Roderick Wright for felony convictions involving lying about living in his legislative district, officials said Thursday. The court order was in response to a request by the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition, which argued that the public has a right to know what information went into the governors decision to grant clemency to Wright. This is an important victory for public access to court files involving the exercise of executive clemency, said coalition spokesman Glen A. Smith. We are gratified the court has recognized that these decisions should be subject to the same public access rules that apply to other judicial records under California law. The court gave Browns office until Jan. 2 to redact confidential material before giving the court documents that can be released to the public. The court files submitted by the governors office include letters of support for a pardon and an internal review of Wrights case. The court denied a motion to unseal the records of all clemency cases but left open consideration of requests on other individual cases. Browns office is currently evaluating the courts decision, said spokesman Brian Ferguson. The governor argued against unsealing records in a recent court filing that said confidentiality is consistent with historical practice and is supported by state law. In pardoning Wright on Nov. 22, the governor wrote: He has shown that since his release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law abiding citizen. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California political watchdog agency fines BART, urges prosecution over using public funds for campaign A Bay Area Rapid Transit train leaves the station in Oakland in this 2013 file photo. (Ben Margot / AP) Californias state political watchdog agency on Thursday imposed a $7,500 fine against the Bay Area Rapid Transit District and called for a possible criminal or civil prosecution over allegations the district used public resources to campaign for a 2016 bond measure. The state Fair Political Practices Commission levied an administrative fine against BART for its failure to disclose spending on YouTube videos, social media posts and text messages to promote Measure RR, which authorized $3.5 billion in general obligation bonds. Though the panel lacks authority to seek criminal charges over the misuse of public funds, it also urged county district attorneys in the BART service area and the state attorney general to pursue possible criminal or civil charges over the spending of taxpayer dollars for campaign purposes, Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said. It is the concept of misusing public funds that I think we all here are very disturbed about, and we want to send a warning and not create a precedent that is a minor, little slap on the wrist, Germond said, adding that the referral to criminal prosecutors would further send a message that this is wrong. Commissioner Brian Hatch also called for the state Legislature to consider granting the FPPC power to go after public agencies that spend taxpayer money on campaigns. Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) called on the agency to increase the fine to the maximum level of $33,375. The proposed $7,500 fine represents a slap on the wrist for a very serious violation of the law and the publics trust, Glazer said in a letter to the panel. In supporting the fine recommended by the staff, Germond said BART has agreed to pay the penalty. Somebody did something wrong and they have admitted it, she said. A staff report said there were factors in favor of a fine below the maximum. Although the Commission considers BARTs violations to be serious, the absence of any evidence of an intention to conceal, deceive, or mislead; the voluntary filing of the delinquent campaign statement; and the absence of a prior record are mitigating, the report said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police union seeks state Supreme Court review of new law disclosing internal investigation records Los Angeles Police Department officers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A police union is asking the California Supreme Court to block the release of internal officer investigations before a new state law takes effect next year. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. filed a petition Tuesday asking justices to rule that only investigations of incidents that occur after Jan. 1 would be available under the law and not those the department has on file from years prior. The litigation comes after this years passage of Senate Bill 1421, which opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, and the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department has told the union it intends to make available in response to public records requests all the information it has. The union is very concerned about any plans to retroactively apply Senate Bill 1421, Grant Ward, the unions president, said in a statement. We believe retroactive application violates our members rights and we hope the California Supreme Court will consider the serious issues raised by our legal challenge. The bills author, Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), does not agree with the unions interpretation. She has said her legislation should apply to all the records in a police departments possession because the law simply declared that affected records were no longer confidential. If the record exists, its disclosable, Skinner said. A decision on what records will be available under the law is key to how far-reaching it will be. If the court restricts access to incidents that occurred prior to 2019, those cases will not be subject to public scrutiny. The police union in San Bernardino County is not the only one raising concerns about the law. Earlier this month, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner expressing concern that his agency would be overwhelmed if the law required the department to disclose older incidents. Even if the law only applied to the previous five years, Moore wrote, it could take nearly 300,000 hours of work to comply with its provisions. The LAPD operates with a guiding principle of Reverence for the Law; as such, we will diligently comply with SB 1421, Moore wrote. We maintain, however, that a retroactive implementation of SB 1421 will be exceptionally burdensome and would require significant reallocation of front-line investigative personnel. Skinner said if complying with the law becomes untenable for law enforcement agencies that maintain records for a long time, she would consider modifications. But she said agencies did not raise this concern during discussion over the bill. SB 1421 went through multiple committee hearings, multiple floor debates, extensive opportunity for all parties to weigh in on concerns with its structure, she said. That was not an issue that was raised by law enforcement at the time. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Brown warns of backlash for Republicans in 2020 if Obamacare repeal is upheld Gov. Jerry Brown at the National Press Club in April. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown warned Republicans on Tuesday that repeal of the Affordable Care Act would devastate the partys political chances in the 2020 election. Brown, speaking at a Sacramento Press Club event moderated by Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton and Brown family historian Miriam Pawel, said a federal judges ruling last week to strike down the 2010 law if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court will build such a backlash that the Democrats will not only take over the Senate, theyll win the presidency and will win with the kind of momentum, particularly on the issue of healthcare, that [the law] will be replaced probably with something even better. The governor, who leaves office in less than three weeks, said he did not believe the ruling by a Texas judge would ultimately prevail. I think the decision will probably be overturned, Brown said. Few states have embraced the law championed by former President Obama more than California, both through its healthcare exchange, Covered California, and by expanding access to government-funded services under Medi-Cal. Some 12 million Californians now receive healthcare through Medi-Cal, and Brown said a final ruling affecting the federal dollars that subsidize that care would be a serious blow. California would not be able to afford it without the subsidy, the governor said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bars in Los Angeles, San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks (acuna-hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses, and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors, and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bars in Los Angeles and San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks. (Acuna-Hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias DMV director announces retirement amid problems with motor voter program (Kent Nishamura/Los Angeles Times) The director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles will retire at years end with a number of questions unanswered about the implementation of a major voter registration system and long wait times experienced by customers for much of the past summer. Jean Shiomoto will not continue in her current role as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom takes office, and announced to staff several weeks ago her intent to retire at the end of the year after 38 years in state service, spokesman Armando Botello said in an email to The Times on Friday. Newsoms transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who might lead the department in 2019. Shiomoto was appointed DMV director by Gov. Jerry Brown in the fall of 2013, having served in prior leadership roles with the department. DMV officials have been sharply criticized by lawmakers in recent months for delays in serving customers at its field offices across the state. Last week, DMV officials revealed errors in registering California voters for the November election mistakes that followed a series of problems in the rollout of the states new motor voter registration system. Secretary of State Alex Padilla last week said he had lost confidence in Shiomotos leadership as a result of the voting registration problems. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New law could break the stalemate over housing on the site of a near-vacant Cupertino mall By Liam Dillon For more than a decade, developers have tried to build new housing on the site of an all-but-empty mall in Cupertino, a city in the heart of Silicon Valley and home to Apple headquarters. A well-organized group of neighbors, upset about traffic, building heights and the potential loss of the communitys suburban lifestyle, turned away every plan. Now, for the first time, the stalemate might be broken thanks to a decision made in the state Capitol. In an effort to address Californias housing affordability problem, legislators passed a law last year that requires cities and counties to approve housing projects if they comply with local zoning rules and other standards, forcing some resistant communities to agree to new homebuilding. In September, the city of Cupertino, citing the state law, approved developer Sand Hill Property Co.s proposal to build an office park and more than 2,400 homes where the Vallco Shopping Mall sits. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Local government was a last bastion for struggling California Republicans. Not anymore By Mark Z. Barabak Theres no shortage of watery metaphors to describe the disaster that befell California Republicans this midterm election. A blue wave. A Democratic tsunami. But the most apt may be a flood, with the casualties steadily rising as the vote count climbed in the days and weeks following Nov. 6. Eventually half the GOP congressional delegation was washed away, along with the entire slate of statewide Republican candidates. In Sacramento, Democrats claimed 29 of 40 state Senate seats and seized three-quarters of the 80-member Assembly the largest number since 1883, when Chester A. Arthur was serving in the White House. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print For the Republicans left in Californias Legislature, fewer lawmakers will have to do more work By John Myers From January to late summer every year, the California Legislature is a perpetual motion machine. And in the new year, the people most likely to struggle in keeping up will be Republicans, vastly outnumbered but still responsible for representing millions of the states residents. There are 22 standing committees in the state Senate, plus at least a dozen more subcommittees or special committees. And after Novembers election, only 11 Republican senators will be left to divvy up the work. To the victors go the spoils. To the vanquished go the extra assignments. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias DMV failed to finish registering 329 new voters before November election (Los Angeles Times) Officials at the California Department of Motor Vehicles said Friday that the agency failed to send information for 329 new voters to state elections officers in time for the November election, the latest revelation in a string of mishaps regarding voter registration. Secretary of State Alex Padilla responded with a blistering letter, calling on Gov. Jerry Brown or Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom to replace Jean Shiomoto, the DMV director. The Director of DMV has lost my confidence and trust, Padilla wrote. In all, the agency revealed that 589 mailed voter registration records that should have been processed under election deadlines werent sent to Californias secretary of state until late November, including forms from 260 drivers who had intended to update their address on existing voter registration records. The DMV had been instructed to not send registration forms that came in after Oct. 22, but the voters in question had forms that were postmarked before the deadline. In some cases, when the postmark wasnt legible, the agency said, documents inside indicated the voter had intended to finish their registration in time for the Nov. 6 election. The DMV recognizes the pause in transmittals was an error and affected the timing of the registration of the 589 individuals referenced above relative to the November election, Shiomoto wrote in a letter to Padilla on Friday. The pause was due to a misunderstanding on the part of the department, for which we take responsibility. Those who were trying to update their address for voter registration would not have been blocked from casting ballots. But officials said its unclear whether any of the 329 new voters were able to participate in the election. Shiomoto said in her letter that DMV will work with elections officials. The errors were not related to previous DMV mistakes about registering voters, problems associated with the rollout of the states new motor voter law. In those cases, multiple registration forms were sent to local elections offices for some voters, some people were assigned the wrong political party preference and others who are noncitizens were incorrectly placed on the list of registered voters. DMV officials have yet to respond to questions posed by The Times over the last several weeks about who knew of those mistakes and when. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom appoints a labor advocate and a former staffer as his chief deputy Cabinet secretaries By Taryn Luna A labor advocate and a San Francisco political operative have accepted positions in Gov.-elect Gavin Newsoms new administration. Angie Wei, a Capitol insider with deep ties to organized labor in California, will serve as a chief deputy Cabinet secretary with a focus on policy development. As a legislative director and chief of staff at the California Labor Federation, Wei has represented more than 1,200 unions and 2.1 million workers in Capitol fights over a host of policy issues, including drug-pricing transparency and paid family leave. The governor-elect also tapped Jason Elliott, a policy advisor to Newsom during his time as mayor of San Francisco and a chief of staff to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, as another chief deputy Cabinet secretary overseeing executive branch operations. Elliott and Wei will serve under Ana Matosantos, Newsoms previously After months of hammering President Trump in frequent television interviews, lawyer Michael Avenatti has arrived in Iowa to explore a potential run for the White House. The attorney for porn actress Stormy Daniels toured the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on Thursday. Hell be the star speaker Friday at the Democratic Wing Ding dinner in Clear Lake. And hes meeting with farmers to hear how Trumps tariffs are affecting the state that kicks off the 2020 contests for the Democratic presidential nomination. Advertisement I am seriously considering it but have not made a decision, Avenatti said by email. I would be running in an effort to end this disaster of a presidency and restore America to its rightful place, both domestically and internationally. Avenattis pugnacious manner has made him a ubiquitous presence on television news and talk shows in the five months since Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, sued the president to void a confidentiality pact that bars her from talking about her alleged 2006 affair with Trump. Anyone that thinks the Dem party can nominate another career politician like the other 16/17 Trump beat in 2016 and defeat him in 2020 is kidding themselves. What makes you think #18 is going to be different? All the experience in the world means nothing unless you can beat him. Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) August 10, 2018 Avenatti, 47, is a Newport Beach plaintiffs lawyer who specializes in lawsuits against powerful companies accused of wrongdoing. I have over 18 years fighting on behalf of Davids vs. Goliaths, he said. I have extensive knowledge as to how government functions, how laws are made, and how they are enforced. I also have extensive experience dealing with Constitutional law matters. Avenattis aggressiveness toward Trump and his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen has made him a hero to some on the left and a loathed figure to some on the right. Trump and I may share some of the same form but there is no comparison when it comes to substance, Avenatti said. I can run circles around him from an intelligence perspective and as it relates to understanding the rule of law, the judicial branch, how legislation is enacted, and how government operates. There is no comparison. Avenattis professional history poses political challenges, though. He chaired the company that ran the troubled Tullys Coffee chain in Washington state as it shut down its outlets and struggled with lawsuits over delinquent rent and liens for unpaid payroll taxes. Also, Eagan Avenatti, the Newport Beach law firm he runs as managing partner, emerged in March from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Since then, it has been mired in U.S. Bankruptcy Court proceedings over its default on millions of dollars in debt and $880,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest that it owes the Internal Revenue Service. Asked whether he was concerned about potential political fallout from his business troubles, Avenatti said, Anyone that has had great success has had great challenges. I am no different. michael.finnegan@latimes.com Twitter: @finneganLAT UPDATES: 10:40 a.m. This article was updated with details about Avenattis professional history. This article was originally published at 8:40 a.m. After roughly two dozen witnesses and nine days of testimony, federal prosecutors are expected to finish presenting their case against Paul Manafort on Monday. Then lawyers for President Trumps former campaign chairman will present his defense. The trial is the first on charges brought by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Manafort has pleaded not guilty to tax evasion, bank fraud and conspiracy. Reporters and spectators have packed the stiff wooden pews every day of the trial. Heres what weve learned so far. The case really isnt about Russia. Prosecutors disclosed before the trial that they didnt expect to present evidence of an election-related conspiracy with Russians, and theyve stuck to that. There has been no talk of Russian meddling in the campaign nothing about hacking of emails, social media misinformation or secret back channels to the Kremlin. Advertisement But there could be Russia connections at some point. The trial has still produced some bread crumbs that could lead to Moscow, although their significance is unclear. For example, the jury learned that Konstantin Kilimnik had access to some of Manaforts offshore bank accounts. Kilimnik was Manaforts business partner in Ukraine, but hes also alleged to have ties to Russian intelligence. There have also been references to Oleg Deripaska, a businessman close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Deripaska paid Manafort $10 million disguised as a loan to evade U.S. income taxes, according to testimony from Manaforts former accountant. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington Manafort was broke when he started working for the Trump campaign for free. Its one of the enduring mysteries of Manafort. He joined the Trump campaign in March 2016 and didnt take a salary for the five months he stayed. It was a strange decision for a businessman under tremendous financial pressure. He was still trying to collect more than $2 million for his work in Ukraine two years earlier, and he was struggling to pay mounting bills for an exorbitant lifestyle involving lavish homes, custom clothing and expensive cars. Its possible that Manafort figured the Trump campaign would catapult him back into the top ranks of political operatives and Washington lobbyists after years of working overseas. In a situation like that, working for free could pay off in the end. But there are darker insinuations as well. Did Manaforts dire straits make him vulnerable to coercion? Was he still seeking overseas work while steering a U.S. presidential campaign? There could be more to learn here. Manafort didnt do anything alone. Not everyone went along with Manaforts alleged criminal schemes. But a constellation of people looked the other way or helped out. Cindy Laporta, who worked as an accountant for Manafort, handled financial documents she believed to be false, submitting them to banks or the Internal Revenue Service. (She received immunity to testify.) Then there was a lawyer in Cyprus nicknamed Dr. K, who worked with Manafort to set up offshore accounts in the Mediterranean island nation and later in the Caribbean. And of course there was Richard Gates, Manaforts right-hand man at his company and his deputy on the Trump campaign. Gates apparently was indispensable. He testified that he doctored documents, arranged wire transfers and submitted false information to banks, all so Manafort could pay less in taxes or obtain fraudulent loans. Richard Gates, right, answers questions from prosecutor Greg Andres in this courtroom sketch of the trial of Paul Manafort, seated second from left. (Dana Verkouteren / Associated Press) Gates is dirtier than we realized. When Manafort was first indicted last October, Gates was charged with some of the same financial crimes. Those charges and more were dropped in February when he cut a deal to cooperate with prosecutors. On the witness stand, Gates admitted to those crimes and much more, giving defense attorneys plenty of ammunition to question his credibility and his character. Not only has he already pleaded guilty to lying to federal prosecutors, he admitted to inflating his income in applications for mortgages and credit cards and embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from Manaforts company. His personal life appeared a mess as well. He had an apartment in London where he conducted an extramarital affair, and he admitted to spending far more money than he could afford. Defense attorney Kevin Downing took every opportunity to highlight what he calls Gates secret life. On Wednesday, he suggested that Gates may have had not just one, but four sexual affairs but the matter was dropped after prosecutors objected. There are connections to the 2016 campaign and the Trump inauguration. The charges against Manafort are mostly unrelated to his work for Trump, but not entirely. He helped Stephen Calk, chief executive of the Federal Savings Bank of Chicago, secure a position as an economic advisor on the campaign after Calk approved one of Manaforts bank loans. After Trump won, Gates was still working for Trump, and Manafort tried to leverage the connection to get Calk an administration job. We need to discuss Steve Calk for Sec of the Army, Manafort wrote Gates in a November 2016 email. I hear the list is being considered this weekend. Theres more overlap with Trumps inaugural committee, which Gates served on as a deputy chairman. During cross-examination of Gates, Downing asked whether he used any of the committees funds for personal expenses. Gates didnt deny it. I dont recall, he said. Its possible. The judge is a wild card. Judge T.S. Ellis III has been a constant source of drama during the trial, drawing laughter with his bon mots and quieting the courtroom with his outbursts. He has frequently pushed prosecutors to present their case more quickly, and theyve striven to pare down their questioning of witnesses when possible. But the prosecution has still taken heat in the courtroom. On Wednesday, fuming at the bench, Ellis berated Assistant U.S. Atty. Uzo Asonye for allowing an IRS agent testifying as an expert witness to sit in on the court proceedings. After the special counsels office objected to the judges outburst in front of the jury, Ellis retreated on Thursday, telling the jurors to put that aside and admitting he might have been wrong. This robe doesnt make me anything other than human, and I may have made a mistake, he said. chris.megerian@latimes.com Twitter: @chrismegerian UPDATES: 2:56 p.m.: This story was updated after court adjourned Friday. This story was published at 3 a.m. California lawmakers who vowed to craft a plan to address the growing danger of wildfires this summer knew theyd spend a lot of time talking about life and death. Few may have known how much time they would spend talking about the survival of electric utility companies. In public and private discussions at the state Capitol, a pitched battle is underway over how much slack the Legislature should or can provide for the states utility companies facing liability under a strict standard they have been held to for more than a half-century. Industry representatives have warned that those rules, combined with the forecast of a hotter and drier California, mean that proactive fire policies wont be enough to prevent the kinds of costs that could lead to bankruptcy. Even if the utilities take all those actions, and even if they are without fault, they could nonetheless be held liable, Henry Weissmann, an attorney representing Southern California Edison, said during legislative testimony Thursday. As many as seven public hearings on the issue easily the most high-profile and heavily lobbied topic of the summer in Sacramento are expected to be held by the time the Legislature adjourns for the year on Aug. 31. Legislators are not required to change the rules governing utilities and the impacts of wildfire, but those who support such efforts are working to instill a sense of urgency under the Capitol dome. Additional attention was drawn to their case this week by thick smoke from fires in Lake and Shasta counties that hung heavy over Sacramento, a poignant reminder of what scientists call the new normal for wildfires in California. Advertisement While each of the hearings convened so far was expected to focus on different ways for utilities to improve wildfire prevention, the sessions have all been drawn back to the thorny topic of legal liability. On Thursday, lawmakers discussed the merits of a proposal by Gov. Jerry Brown to create a new standard for inverse condemnation, the legal principle that governs billions of dollars in payments made by utility companies whose equipment contributed to sparking a fire. Gov. Jerry Brown warns Californias climate change efforts hinge on changing wildfire liability law If there were any legislators who supported Browns plan, they didnt speak up. In particular, they criticized it for attempting to set a standard for a utilitys actions without consensus on what a companys responsibility is in preventing its equipment from causing fires. Whos to decide at this point, when there arent any standards, what is and isnt negligent conduct? state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) asked. Californias current crop of deadly fires has not been linked to sparks caused by power lines or other equipment, attributed instead to a vehicle mishap and alleged arson, among other things. Last years fires, however, saw a strong linkage to the utilities. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., which owned equipment that state officials blamed for multiple Northern California fires last year, has estimated liability costs of at least $2.5 billion. PG&E is also asking the Legislature for help borrowing money to cover those costs, which would be paid back over time. Lawmakers were adamant in Thursdays hearing that they wouldnt do anything to push costs onto utility customers. Last year, state regulators refused a request by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. to recover some $379 million in fire costs from ratepayers. Im particularly concerned about affecting the ratepayers with anything we do, Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) said. The existing liability standard potentially puts a utility company on the hook for all costs, even if it followed safety rules. But legislators have received sharply conflicting advice throughout their July and August deliberations on whether they have the power to overhaul the liability standard: State regulators and the utility companies say they do, while local governments and consumer groups insist the California Constitution limits any changes. The issue has been the focus of intense lobbying by both investor-owned and municipal utility companies. State records show the industry has spent a record-high $34.5 million on lobbying for the year through the end of June. PG&E, in particular, has stepped up its spending on legislative lobbying. The company also sent $110,000 in contributions to the California Democratic Party earlier this week. Lawmakers were told last month that only Alabama has a liability standard similar to Californias. James Ralph, an attorney with the state Public Utilities Commission, said the governors proposal would allow discretion by judges in assigning responsibility for a fires origins. That would include taking into account whether the utility company followed all regulations, the nature of the harm to property and whether a safer electrical system was available but not used. Ralph said that Californias three large investor-owned utilities Southern California Edison, PG&E and SDG&E could face lower credit ratings and higher insurance costs as fire dangers rise around their power lines that stretch across the state. It leads to higher costs to ratepayers, Ralph said. Representatives of local governments and the insurance industry, however, urged the Legislature not to loosen the liability standard even if Browns plan would pass legal muster. They want a financial shift to vulnerable people, Rex Frazier of the Personal Insurance Federation of California said of the utility companies. It is irresponsible to solve one problem by creating many others. John Dunbar, the mayor of Yountville in Napa County, told lawmakers the money paid after fires is urgently needed by victims. A change in the system, he and others argued, could result in lawsuits that drag on for years. It violates an individuals right to receive just compensation, Dunbar said of the governors plan to loosen the liability standard. Whether the Legislature can navigate the contentious issues regarding liability in just three weeks until the legislative session ends remains unclear. In the remaining days, lawmakers might also consider proposals that would connect Californias electrical grid to a new multi-state partnership, and a sweeping plan to require utility companies to speed up the transition to renewable energy sources. In both cases, last-minute negotiations could become entangled in the debate over the utility industrys wildfire responsibilities. And some lawmakers expressed frustration Thursday that so little time was being spent on ways to prevent the fires, including vegetation removal and the permits needed for utility companies to access private property and create more defensible space around the states estimated 4 million electrical poles. Our citizens at home they want us to get down to business, Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Temecula) said. I think were being hamstrung by this one issue. john.myers@latimes.com Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast UPDATES: 1:28 p.m. Aug. 10: This story was updated to provide additional details about lobbying by PG&E and Thursdays legislative hearing. This article was originally published at 7:15 p.m. Aug. 9. This weekend, in the dark hours before dawn, NASA plans to send a spacecraft to touch the sun. The Parker Solar Probe, which could blast off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as early as 12:33 a.m. Pacific on Saturday, will dip down to within 4 million miles of the solar surface or nearly 10 times as close as sun-scorched Mercury. Each of its 24 orbits will provide an extraordinary glimpse at the suns ethereal corona and offer a taste of the solar wind. Each pass also comes with terrible risk, forcing the spacecraft to face powerful electric and magnetic fields, speeding-bullet dust grains and obliterating heat. Advertisement The years of work building a spacecraft tough enough to survive this environment and sophisticated enough to send back valuable data are well worth the effort, scientists say. Were going to explore unknown territory, said Marco Velli, a UCLA space physicist and the probes observatory scientist. People are hugely excited about this, said Robert Rosner, a computational physicist at the University of Chicago who was not involved in the mission. Talk of such a solar probe, he said, probably goes back at least 40 years. This handout released by NASA shows the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy Rocket payload with the NASA and Parker Solar Probe emblems at Launch Complex 37, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla . (AFP / Getty Images) A combination of Icarus-like daring and Daedalian planning, the Parker spacecraft seeks to answer fundamental questions about our nearest star that have stymied space physicists for decades. Among them: Why does the corona the ghostly halo of plasma, or ionized gas, surrounding the sun reach temperatures higher than 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, hundreds of times hotter than the suns broiling surface? And what powers the solar wind, the stream of charged particles that flows outward from the corona at speeds on the order of a million mph? No human efforts to study our home star telescopes that scan the surface, X-ray observations of the corona, spacecraft that pass over the poles have fully answered these questions, said Justin Kasper, a space scientist at the University of Michigan and leader of a particle-sampling instrument suite. We cant agree on whats actually going on, Kasper said. When you look at what gets to Earth or to these spacecraft, its ambiguous. The answers that Parker finds would not just help scientists understand the behavior of the sun, Kasper and his colleagues said. They could potentially shed light on coronal structures around massive galaxies, the jets from powerful black holes and accretion disks where young planets are forming. What we learn here, we apply to other astrophysical systems, said Stuart Bale, a space plasma physicist at UC Berkeley and leader of an experiment measuring electric and magnetic fields. These findings could also help researchers better understand coronal mass ejections enormous bursts of high-energy particles that can erupt from the suns surface. This subatomic tsunami can potentially knock out satellites and disable power grids on Earth. With a fuller portrait of our sun, scientists may also be able to better shield both our infrastructure as well as future space travelers, said David McComas, a Princeton University space physicist who leads an instrument suite studying energetic particles. If you go out to the moon or if youre planning on going out to Mars or elsewhere, these solar energetic particles provide potentially a very dangerous radiation environment for astronauts, McComas said. The Parker probe, which is managed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland, has four suites of instruments. The Fields experiments antennas will measure the suns electric and magnetic fields. The Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun experiment will observe extremely energetic electrons, protons and heavy ions for insight into the solar wind and corona. The Wide-field Imager for Parker Solar Probes telescopes will take snapshots of the corona and inner heliosphere the huge region of space affected by the solar wind. And the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons Investigations sensors will survey the most abundant solar wind particles: electrons, protons and helium ions. But many of the phenomena that the spacecraft seeks to measure are the same ones that could destroy it. The Parker probe will get so close that the pressure from mere sunlight will be enough to flip the spacecraft around in less than a minute, Kasper said. And without shielding, most of its instruments would quickly melt. Thats not to mention the remote but still real possibility that high-speed dust particles could slam into the spacecraft from the opposite direction at a relative speed of 400 kilometers per second. We call that a hyperkinetic impact, Kasper said. A dust grain moving that fast would blow a hole the size of a quarter through a metal plate. So the teams scientists and engineers have gone to extraordinary lengths to protect their instruments. Theyve built a roughly 8-foot-wide carbon-composite shield that will always face the sun. That heat shield will bear the brunt of the solar onslaught, rising to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, while the instruments it protects will hover at a balmy 85 degrees. Meanwhile, the spacecrafts powerful reaction wheels will work overtime to keep the spacecraft stable and the shield in place. It was all an act of heroic thermal engineering, Bale said. Testing the spacecraft and its instruments for such a grueling environment forced the scientists to think outside the box, the researchers said. Years ago, Kaspers team had to devise a system that could expose a test model to sun-like torment. They ended up simulating the sun using older-model IMAX projectors purchased on EBay, because their bulbs had roughly the same effective temperature as the solar surface. At first, the test model didnt quite work. A cable snapped; the high voltage broke down. They adjusted parts, changed out materials and tried again. And then ... it ran beautifully, Kasper recalled. It ran overnight thinking it was close to the sun, this light just roasting it and thats probably the biggest moment when I was like, OK fundamentally, this thing is going to work. After launch, the spacecraft will head toward Venus, whose gravity will bend its path into the correct orbit. After that late September flyby, the Parker should make its first close approach to the sun on Nov. 1 the first of about two dozen solar passes and seven gravity assists from Venus. Its final encounter with the suns atmosphere will come in June 2025. Scientists who study the sun say they are eager for the data that Parker could send back. Rosner, of the University of Chicago, recalled the first time he witnessed a total solar eclipse in person, after years of studying it from afar. It was breathtaking, breathtaking, he said. The chance to get up close and personal with the sun thanks to the Parker probe, he said, evoked that same awe. Being able to get at something that youve been working at for years, and finally saying, Oh my god, Im going to get this data, wow, is just awesome, he said. amina.khan@latimes.com Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE IN SCIENCE A Burbank man under federal investigation since 2017 for his alleged involvement with a prescription drug ring was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of immigration fraud. The U.S. Attorneys office is accusing 44-year-old Armen Simonyan of unlawfully gaining U.S. citizenship and lying on his passport application. Ben Barron, a federal prosecutor, said Simonyan was already under investigation for his alleged ties to a series of sham medical clinics that were issuing fraudulent drug prescriptions, prompting investigators to look into his immigration history. Simonyan had been out on bail relating to the drug investigation at the time of his arrest this week. Barron added that Simonyan is also wanted in Armenia for passport fraud. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to the grand jury indictment, Simonyan first arrived to the United States in September 1997 under a travel visa and reportedly had a fake Armenian passport with a stolen identity, Rafayel Khachatryan. He previously applied for a visa using his real information but was denied. The following year, he applied for asylum under his real name but using a fake date of birth, according to the indictment. Officials said he made numerous false statements in his application and in the sworn testimony he gave to an immigration officer. Simonyan claimed he was born in Azerbaijan and was fleeing from the country after the murder of his parents. [He] falsely stated that his mother had been hacked to pieces that his father had been killed during ethnic violence in the early 1990s. the indictment states. He also claimed to have entered the United States by crossing into the country from the Mexican border. Authorities said he was actually born in Armenia, his parents are still alive and he came to this country on a flight into Los Angeles International Airport. Simonyan went on to give more false statements about his past when he applied for permanent residency in December 2002, according to the indictment. The U.S. Attorneys office is seeking to revoke Simonyans naturalization. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. He also faces a maximum of 60 years in prison if hes convicted in the drug-ring case. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc For more than 40 years, the Orange County Woodcarvers have preserved a dwindling practice. The 80 or so members of the nonprofit meet weekly at Church of the Foothills in Santa Ana to craft works of art out of wood, which are on display from noon to 9 p.m. at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa through Sunday. Bill Bahret, vice president of the nonprofit, said the carvers began displaying work and providing demonstrations at the fair decades ago. The exhibition is meant for educational purposes; the woodwork isnt for sale. Orange County Woodcarvers is a chapter of the California Carvers Guild, which has 51 active chapters. For members like Bahret, woodcarving is a unique form of art that cultivates creativity and handiness. While many of the members are retired, the club attracts all ages. The youngest is 12, the oldest 92. Bahret, 77, of Tustin, believes its important to get young people involved. They dont teach woodworking at schools anymore, Bahret said. The kids arent learning to use their hands to be creative. This is something we think is important, and its why we teach them. The group partners with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, who can earn a merit badge in return for learning about knife safety. Bahret said its difficult to get kids interested in working with their hands; video games and computer screens easily distract. Art is a good thing, whether its singing or woodcarving, Bahret said. I am not saying that video games are bad, but art is important, and it broadens your abilities. Bahret said his 40 years of woodcarving experience have not just strengthened his imaginative muscle but also made him better at working with his hands. Being part of the community is important to the members of the Orange County Woodcarvers. Aside from the weekly meetings, the group takes part in a number of events throughout the year, including the April Imaginology educational event at the OC Fair & Event Center and the September Tall Ships Festival in Dana Point. The most substantial gathering is the annual Orange County Woodcarving Show and Competition in October. Last year, the group had 60 tables full of carvings. We are hoping to keep this art going, Bahret said. Its a relaxing hobby, and once you get going its inexpensive. Even if people dont stick with us for 20 years, and just maybe six months, its something they wont forget. The Orange County Woodcarvers meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Church of the Foothills, 19211 Dodge Ave., Santa Ana. For more information about the group, visit ocwoodcarvers.net/index.html. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot Virtual reality and other gaming experiences will be featured this weekend at the second iBuyPower GameFest at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. The digital carnival will be open to fair-goers at no extra charge from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Hangar inside the fairgrounds at 88 Fair Drive. For the record: The iBuyPower GameFest at the Orange County Fair will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The original version of this article stated incorrectly that it would open at 6 p.m. Admission to GameFest after 7 p.m. both days will cost $25. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/2ucnsAd. Laguna Beach nonprofit to deliver 1-millionth toothbrush to promote dental hygiene Laguna Beach nonprofit Global Grins will deliver its 1-millionth toothbrush Friday at the Friendship Shelter in Laguna Beach. Global Grins has donated toothbrushes to people in more than 100 countries in an effort to combat poor dental hygiene. When Todd [Miller] and I created Global Grins, we wanted to do something really simple that makes a big difference, Joselyn Miller, co-founder of Global Grins, said in a statement. Toothbrushes are easy to transport anywhere around the world. We are so thankful to our supporters who have helped us change the lives of so many people and we look forward to delivering millions more toothbrushes to people that need them. Huck Finn Fishing Derby returns to Huntington Beach The 55th annual Huck Finn Fishing Derby will cast away at the Huntington Beach Pier from 9:15 a.m. to noon Saturday. The free childrens event will include prizes for the largest fish and the best-dressed Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher impersonators. For more information, visit bit.ly/2MsC2uv. Surf lessons and beach games to support clean water Saturday An event with surf lessons and beach games to promote clean water will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at lifeguard Tower 3 at Huntington State Beach. Proceeds from the event will benefit Costa Mesa-based environmental organization Orange County Coastkeeper. For more information, visit splashseries.org. Rotary grant supports Laguna Food Pantry The Rotary Club of Laguna Beach recently provided the Laguna Food Pantry with a grant to buy peanut butter. The nonprofit collects and gives out 4,000 pounds of groceries to about 80 families every weekday. With this generous funding from the Rotary, we can make sure our shelves are stocked for the summer with plenty of protein-rich peanut butter for kids who are out of school, said Anne Belye, executive director of the Laguna Food Pantry. Laguna Beach gets $4.2-million grant for fire prevention The city of Laguna Beach was awarded a $4.2-million fire prevention grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protections California Climate Investments program, according to a city news release. The money will fund hazardous-fuel reduction, fire planning and fire prevention education, said Fire Chief Michael Garcia. This is a huge award for our city and our ability to reduce the risk of wildfire potential in Laguna Beach, Garcia said in a statement. The city submitted the grant request alongside partners including the city of Irvine, Orange County Fire Authority and Laguna Canyon Foundation. Nearly all the work will be done within Laguna city limits. About a week after being disqualified from running for city attorney because he didnt graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Assn., Huntington Beach resident Jerry Friedman is asking the California Supreme Court to declare the requirement unconstitutional and reinstate him in the race. Friedmans attorney Christine Kelly filed a writ of mandate Thursday on his behalf against City Attorney Michael Gates and City Clerk Robin Estanislau, calling on the court to stop the city from enforcing the rule. She also is requesting that the city pay her attorney fees. Kelly contends the ABA accreditation requirement one of four city prerequisites for running for city attorney is unique, arbitrary and capricious and violates Friedmans fundamental right to hold elected office. She said the state Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the right to hold office is a fundamental right because it is inextricably intertwined with the right to vote. The accreditation requirement, Kelly contends, also demonizes attorneys from non-ABA-accredited schools. It is oppressive and punitive on the basis of socioeconomic class and is invidiously discriminatory, according to her filing. ABA-accredited law schools tend to have greater prestige than other law schools, tend to charge higher tuition than other law schools and tend to be attended by wealthier students than other law schools, Kelly wrote. Friedman earned his law degree at the University of West Los Angeles in 2013. His Inglewood-based alma mater lacks the ABAs endorsement, though it is accredited by the Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges and the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. Friedman referred questions Thursday to Kelly, who could not immediately be reached for further comment. Gates called Friedmans lawsuit politically motivated and inappropriate and said it doesnt make sense to challenge only one of the four requirements. Estanislau notified Friedman by email July 30 that he had failed to meet the accreditation rule. While I hold no personal opinion of you or your worthiness as a candidate for the elected position of city attorney, based on the guidelines of Charter 309 I have no choice but to disqualify you from taking further action during the candidate nomination period for the Nov. 6, 2018, general municipal election, Estanislau wrote. Estanislau said in an interview that she gave Friedman feedback the day he submitted paperwork stating his qualifications and made a comment in response to the question about his education. Friedman wrote unconstitutional, see letter attached and included his attorneys rebuttal. I knew he might challenge it, Estanislau said. I went ahead and put something in writing that night. In 2010, the city reviewed proposed charter amendments intended to clean up obsolete language, according to Estanislau. Voter-approved amendments that year included stricter qualifications for city attorney, city clerk and city treasurer. This is Friedmans second recent dispute with the city. In April, Gates took legal action intended to stop Friedmans client, Daniel Horgan, from circulating a petition seeking a ban on semiautomatic and automatic guns in Huntington Beach. Gates argued that Horgans proposal was unconstitutional, invalid and not entitled to a place on the ballot. Friedman hit back in May by filing a motion accusing the city of violating Horgans free-speech rights. At the end of May, Gates asked the court to drop the citys lawsuit after learning that Horgan wouldnt submit signatures from his gun petition, making the case moot. Last week, Orange County Superior Court Judge Robert Moss denied Friedmans request for $14,385 for 46 hours of work in July. Friedman essentially lost to the city in court a week ago, Gates said Thursday. He has really had no victory against the city in his legal actions thus far. He just keeps striking out. Priscella.Vega@latimes.com Twitter: @vegapriscella Who is Harley Rouda? I wanted to know more about the Democratic candidate challenging the 48th Districts incumbent congressman, Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa). According to Roudas campaign website, the Laguna Beach resident is a husband, father, successful businessman, philanthropist, attorney and tech entrepreneur. The day we spoke I asked if had ever held office. He hadnt. I wondered why a first-time candidate wouldnt start at the City Council, Board of Supervisors or Assembly levels. Rouda tells me he considered running for City Council when he was younger, but was busy growing his real estate business. During the economic downturn, It was all hands on deck. He saved his business and now says he mostly does board work. With the 2016 elections it was time to get engaged in the political process, he says. It was the Trump agenda and Rohrabachers support of it, and the type of representative hes been, that motivated him to make the leap to a congressional run, Rouda says. Rouda, a former Republican who registered Democratic last year, considers himself a moderate and feels more are needed in government. Which brought our discussion to partisan politics and the polarization of the two parties. Rouda says voters need to deal with this one elected official at a time. He says in the 2016 election cycle, his observation was both political parties were guilty of party first, country second, debating personalities and not issues. There is more we agree on and less that we dont, he says. When I made the decision to run, I was tired of party first and country second. I will reach across the aisle to put country first. Rouda points to shifting county voting demographics, which indicate the number of registered Republicans declining as the number of unaffiliated independent voters rise. He feels this indicates voters are moving more to the center. I asked Rouda about local issues like John Wayne Airport and the proliferation of sober-living homes, which are important to residents in his district. Rouda says the sober living proliferation problem is more of a county and state issue. I agree thats an element to the solution, but what about revising the Americans with Disabilities Act on the federal level by declassifying alcoholics and drug addicts as disabled, as his former primary opponent Republican primary candidate Scott Baugh had suggested? From a local standpoint there are hundreds in the 48th, and they dont need hundreds to meet the critical needs, he says. Rouda says there are good and bad operators, and the bad need to be weeded out. He says government funding for addiction needs to be tightened up to provide accountability and locally more control, and that may require ADA modifications to address the issue. He says there needs to be accountability by providers some of the underlying issues are not having health care in place and the opioid issue across the U.S. As far as the airport issue, Harley says this goes way beyond JWA, Long Beach Airport and Los Angeles International Airport because flight patterns have been altered. We need the FAA to honor the current curfew agreement, and we need political leaders who will stand up for that at the federal level, he says. He says Rohrabacher has done a horrible job regarding airport issues, and points to the fact the FAA makes amendments regularly all over the country, though the congressman has failed at his attempts. Another issue we touched on was cities unfunded pension liabilities. Since Roudas campaign is financially supported strongly by labor unions, could that close union alliance scare off moderate voters who want pension reform? Rouda doesnt think so, saying, Some unions have turned their pensions around, and some have a long way to go. Some negotiations need to take place to meet the anticipated obligations and the ability to stay solvent, he adds. Get all relevant parties to sit at the table and be honest about the facts. During our conversation we touched on many issues, which I plan to discuss at the upcoming Feet to the Fire Forum Sept. 22 at Orange Coast Colleges Robert B. Moore Theatre. Rouda tells me he looks forward to discussing the issues with Rohrabacher. So far Rohrabachers people havent committed to the date, telling me it was too far in advance. But if things work out, Rohrabacher might attend, they say. I asked Rouda if he could speak directly to Rohrabacher what would he say about this. We, the people, are your constituents that you took an oath to represent, and who want to meet with you and hear your answers, he says. So do your job and meet with us. Barbara Venezia is an opinion columnist writing political and social commentary since 2007. She can be reached at bvontv1@gmail.com Homelessness is one of the most pressing issues in Costa Mesa, and if elected mayor in November, I will continue to work toward eliminating homelessness in our city. A 2017 study conducted by UC Irvine, United Way and Jamboree Housing estimated the annual cost of homelessness in Orange County to be $299 million, $120 million of which is shouldered by cities. Because so much of our first responders time is spent on the homeless, the rest of the communitys public safety is at greater risk. Additionally, the study found, homelessness costs our countys hospitals $77 million annually, making health care more expensive for everyone. We must solve homelessness, not only because it is so costly, but also because it erodes our quality of life and leads to profound human suffering in our community. While serving as mayor in March 2017, I brought together the City Council and executive staff to prioritize our efforts. We all agree that addressing homelessness is a top priority. For years, we have had an extensive program to address homelessness in Costa Mesa. Each Thursday at City Hall, the Network for Homeless Solutions, which includes city staff and representatives of local nonprofits, meets to discuss specific cases and developments in our efforts to reduce homelessness in Costa Mesa. The city devotes about $1 million each year to combating homelessness. Funds are expended on outreach workers as well as police officers assigned to our community policing unit. In the 2018-19 budget, we allocated an additional $100,000 to mitigate the effects of homelessness, such as trash and loitering. This was in direct response to a survey I initiated to local businesses conducted earlier this year in which business owners emphasized these effects hurt their bottom line. Costa Mesans encounter homelessness every day, but without the consistent work of city staff and our community partners, such as Trellis, things would be much worse. Through these efforts, including the humane enforcement of our anti-camping laws, we have avoided dangerous and unsanitary encampments, such as those experienced in Anaheim at the Santa Ana River trail and at the Santa Ana Civic Center. Still, there is more that can and should be done, especially on a regional level. My City Council colleague John Stephens is the chairman of the Assn. of California Cities Orange County Task Force, an advocacy group for Orange County cities. In February, I attended a meeting held by the ACC-OC, along with Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do and elected officials from 31 cities in Orange County. At that meeting, the ACC-OC rolled out a plan to develop 2,700 permanent supportive housing units countywide over the next seven years. Both private and public funding would be used to achieve this goal, and pending legislation (Assembly Bill 448) would establish the Orange County Housing Trust, which may be used to pool public (i.e., state grants) and private funds to provide financing for the permanent supportive housing projects. In June, Costa Mesa sent a letter to the state Senate endorsing AB448, which is sponsored by most state legislators from Orange County. The Orchard, developed by Community Development Partners and operated by Mercy House, is a successful example of a permanent supportive housing project in Santa Ana. Formerly a dilapidated, abandoned motel, most of the residents of the 71-unit project were relocated from the Civic Center encampment. These individuals are now permanently off the streets. Another noteworthy example is the Cove in Newport Beach, recently launched by Community Development Partners and and Mercy House. The Cove is a permanent supportive apartment complex serving formerly homeless veterans and seniors. Projects like the Orchard and the Cove provide hope that we can substantially reduce homelessness in Orange County in the foreseeable future if we have a regional plan (including public and private funding) and stick to it. Preventing Homelessness and addressing its impacts requires thoughtful consideration, long term planning, intentional effective interventions and compassionate enforcement, not just talking points. My sleeves are rolled up and I will continue to work to make the city better for our families. Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley is running for mayor. Thieves struck a trio of La Crescenta residents last week, targeting their vehicles catalytic converters. The Crescenta Valley Sheriffs Station said the thefts happened around the same time period, with residents parking their cars last Wednesday only to return later in the week, some as soon as the next day, to find their catalytic converters missing. The victims would start their engines and notice a loud, unusual sound coming from their cars, according to the sheriffs incident reports. The reports stated two residents noticed several screws underneath their vehicles where the converters had been, and the thefts occurred in the 2900 block of Los Olivos Lane, 5000 block of Ramsdell Avenue and 2900 block of Stevens Street. According to the Los Angeles Times, the antipollution device contains precious metals such as platinum and palladium, which can be sold at salvage yards for around $150 or more per converter. However, The Times also reported the cost for victims to replace the stolen auto part can be as much as $2,500. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc Rocio Gonzalez-Villa dreams of the day she wont be sleeping in her living room. Gonzalez-Villa, 49, and her family live in a one-bedroom apartment on West Windsor Road in Glendale. Her three children sleep in a bedroom with little space to do their homework. Next summer, the Gonzalez-Villa family is expected to move into one of six townhouses being built at 700 E. Lomita Ave. The construction of those homes is part of Habitat for Humanitys sweat-equity program. The rent [for an apartment] is really expensive, and it gets higher every year. Im very glad Im one of the selected families, Gonzalez-Villa said. Were finally going to have a place where we can be comfortable. This is the 23rd year of the affordable-housing partnership between the city of Glendale and Habitat for Humanity. When construction on the Lomita Avenue project is finished in June, the nonprofit will have built 43 homes in the city since 1995. Families must complete a total of 500 hours of sweat equity 335 hours of community service and 165 hours of homebuyers education. As part of the sweat-equity program, a member of the Gonzalez-Villa family traveled to Pasadena once a week to help construct townhouses for a local family there. In exchange, the Pasadena family will help build the six 1,300-square-foot townhouses on Lomita Avenue. The townhouses will each have three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a two-car garage. We call it sweat equity because theyve given their blood and sweat to build these homes, said Lindsey Lottie, marketing coordinator for the nonprofits San Gabriel Valley chapter, which includes Glendale. Lusine Asatryan said her family helped build the Pasadena homes, and it made her value the work done on her future home on Lomita even more. We really appreciate every effort, every volunteer, said Asatryan, 31. We are so thankful to them for coming and helping us. The first thing that comes to mind is we are going to have do something to payback the community. Asatryan said her favorite task was painting. Installing drywall was a challenge because the work was new to her, and the attire left her stumped. We had to wear these really baggy looking, white plastic stuff all over ourselves to do installation, Asatryan said. Rick Spracher of Burbank volunteered for the program because he wanted to do more than usual to help his neighbors. I was looking for something different than a fundraiser. I wanted to get involved, he said. Spracher said it was a great experience to help people get into a home they normally wouldnt be able to afford. Shervin Dana, director of construction for the San Gabriel Valley chapter, is at the worksites every day and said the families really put in the work to learn about construction and home maintenance. Some of them dont know anything but we show them the way. They learn how to maintain their homes so if any issues come up, they can do it on their own, Dana said. Dana has worked for the nonprofit for more than two years and said its a unique and inspiring feeling watching people build their future. Thats what we are here for, Dana said. Were helping people who cant help themselves. michael.livingston@latimes.com @MLivingston06 Do you stop at stop signs? So few drivers do that Glendale posted temporary electronic signs informing drivers to stop at stop signs. Whats next: breathe in and out? Maybe Im a dinosaur, but I actually stop, not slow down, not a California stop, but an honest to goodness full and complete stop. About the only place where you see this is at the rides at Disneyland. I do this even when no one else is around to see me do it. I want to have the muscle memory to instinctively make full stops just in case a police officer may be around. Because there are so many four-way stops in my neighborhood, I am extra sensitive to drivers who view the stop sign as optional. Not a day goes by that I dont observe dozens of motorists brazenly cruising through with barely a decrease in speed. Last week, city workers were putting on a fresh coat of paint on a crosswalk near a school. There were orange cones all around this four-way stop as they did their work; they were impossible not to be seen. Yet a truck driver going 30 mph drove through the intersection as if the stop sign was not even there. All the workers could do was mockingly applaud as he flew by. About the only time people slow down or even stop is when multiple motorists arrive at the same time. Then the merry-go-round game begins figuring out which driver arrived first, which one is to the right, etc. The other day I pulled up to such an intersection. Cars were at each of the four stop signs. To my left was a car making a left turn. The next driver to go was supposed to be me. Just as I released my brake ready to enter the intersection, the car immediately behind the one that made the turn quickly followed right behind so closely that it appeared one car was towing the other. It was one of those eye-popping did that just happen moments. There were at least five other drivers who witnessed that illegal and highly dangerous maneuver. What was going through the mind of that man behind the wheel? Obviously, he did not give a whit about the rules of the road and was determined to shave off a few seconds from his commute to hell with everybody else. More disturbing was to realize he did not care what anybody there thought of his daredevil antic. He had no shame or embarrassment. Those who ignore traffic laws must convince themselves that driving recklessly outweighs the financial penalty of being caught once in a blue moon. In what little research that exists on the matter, there is no correlation between getting moving violations and changing ones driving habits. So if the law does not alter peoples behavior, the only thing left is for individuals to have a moral responsibility to do the right thing and be courteous to others. I recognize this is so 1960-ish. However, we all could benefit from more teaching of ones civic duty both in the home and at school. One quick fix at four-way stops would be to install speed bumps; at least they would slow people down. A more draconian solution would be too expensive to implement: embed spikes into the white lines where cars need to stop. A computer can detect which car arrives first and if a car makes a complete stop. Not until that is determined do the spikes recede allowing clear passage. Until then, it wouldnt hurt to update defensive driving tip No. 1: watch out for all the other guys. BRIAN CROSBY is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at www.brian-crosby.com. The Dodgers awoke Friday morning uncertain how long they would be without closer Kenley Jansen. Scheduled to fly home from Denver late on Thursday after experiencing an irregular heartbeat, he remained grounded when his flight was canceled, a team official said. He was expected to land in Los Angeles on Friday and visit with his cardiologist soon after his arrival. Jansen has experienced several episodes related to his heart, two of them in the thin air of Denver. He was prescribed blood thinners in July 2011 and missed a month. He missed three weeks in 2012 when given a similar prescription. He experienced altitude-related symptoms on a visit to Coors Field in 2015 but was cleared to pitch soon after. An exact timetable for Jansens return is unlikely to be discerned before he visits with his doctor. He underwent an evaluation at a Denver hospital on Thursday, but general manager Farhan Zaidi cautioned the team needed the opinion of Jansens primary cardiologist before proceeding. Hes feeling pretty normal right now, from what we understand, Zaidi said Thursday. But obviously its too soon to tell any sort of timetable, or how long he might be out, until we get him fully evaluated tomorrow. Advertisement The Dodgers used Scott Alexander to close a wild 8-5 victory on Thursday over the Rockies. Alexander is likely to remain the primary closer if Jansen misses a significant chunk of time, although another option could become available in a few days. Kenta Maeda is scheduled to start for the Dodgers on Friday. He excelled in the bullpen last October, and the Dodgers were expected to relocate him there again down the stretch. After this start, Maeda could return to the bullpen and split save opportunities with Alexander. andy.mccullough@latimes.com Twitter: @McCulloughTimes Former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich was arrested early Friday and is being investigated on suspicion of attempted manslaughter after allegedly attacking an escort at a Frankfurt hotel. It seems Mr. Ullrich and an escort woman had a dispute and that he attacked her, Frankfurt police spokesperson Carina Lerch said. She alerted the hotel staff and they called police. Lerch said the retired German cyclist was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Lerch said the 31-year-old woman needed medical treatment, but that no further details could be given on her condition while police were investigating. Advertisement Later, a police statement said Ullrich had resisted arrest. As part of the police interrogation, the woman provided extensive information on the attacks of the accused. The accused so far makes use of his right to refuse to testify, the statement said. Currently, the accused is being investigated for attempted manslaughter and dangerous assault. The investigation has not yet been completed. Police said Ullrich was to be released later Friday after consultation with the prosecutors office in Frankfurt because the conditions for detention are not met. News agency dpa reported that the 44-year-old Ullrich had been arrested the week before in Mallorca, where he lives, after an incident on the property of his neighbor, actor Til Schweiger. On Monday, Ullrich told German tabloid Bild of personal problems. The separation from Sara [his wife] and distance from my children, whom I have not seen since Easter and have barely spoken to, have had a great effect on me. I have done things as a result that I very much regret, Ullrich told the mass circulation daily. Ullrich, the only German to win the Tour de France, was dogged by doping allegations during his career and admitted to German magazine Focus in 2013 that he received blood-doping treatment from Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. Almost everyone took performance-enhancing substances then. I took nothing that the others didnt also take, the 1997 Tour champion said then. Ullrich served a two-year ban for doping in 2012, five years after he retired. As dedicated stargazers know, you need really dark skies to take in the stars, planets and galaxies. These five places are so far from city lights that they have been recognized for their remarkable darkness by the International Dark Sky Assn. All offer star parties or sky tours that make for an inspiring tour of the universe. Nevada Great Basin National Park in the eastern part of the state near the Utah border is one of the least discovered dark places in the U.S. On a clear night, you can expect to see thousands of stars, five of our solar systems eight planets, star clusters, meteors, man-made satellites, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way with the naked eye, the parks website says. A good time to go: Sept. 6-8, when a squad of Dark Rangers and volunteer astronomers set up telescopes during the parks annual astronomy festival (free). Advertisement Info: Great Basin Astronomy Festival In summer, you also can board a vintage locomotive, called the Sky Train, in nearby Ely, Nev., operated by Nevada Northern Railway. Dark Rangers hop aboard for a ride and star tour on moonless evenings in summer (September is the last date in 2018, and its sold out. 2019 dates are May 17, June 7, July 12, Aug. 2 and Sept. 6.; $39 for adults, $20 children 4 to 12. Info: Great Basin Star Train California A view of the Milky Way over a spot in Joshua Tree National Park. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Late fall is a great time to go stargazing in Southern Californias eastern deserts, after the blistering heat of summer has passed. Joshua Tree National Park will hold a Night Sky Star Party on Nov. 10 in which astronomers line up with 20 telescopes and serve as guides to the heavens while guitarist Sharma Vikas plays. Tickets cost $50 for adults, $35 for kids younger than 12; funds benefit a local arts council. Those who want to up their game and learn night photography and whats called light painting, photographer John Van Vliet leads a workshop Nov. 9 and 10 for $160 a person. Info: Night Sky Festival California Death Valley National Park, the largest dark sky park in the U.S., also will host star parties Nov. 2 and 3 at the Oasis at Death Valley (formerly the Inn at Furnace Creek). The nighttime events are free and organized by the Las Vegas Astronomical Society. Info: Stargazing, the Oasis at Death Valley Canada The tiny Rocky Mountain town of Jasper in Alberta invites all to power down and look up during its Dark Sky Festival from Oct. 12 to 21. You can take a Skytram journey more than 7,200 feet above the city, tour the solar system (and maybe even catch the northern lights) with astronomers, and enjoy a three-course meal (starting at $129). Other highlights: Telescope viewing for daytime solar gazing and planetarium visit ($39 for adults) and keynote speakers Mark and Scott Kelly, identical twin astronauts, on Oct. 19 ($100). Info: Jasper Dark Sky Festival Hawaii The Maunakea Visitor Information Station in Hilo on Hawaii Island stands at 9,200 feet above sea level. It can be one of the coldest places on the island better known for its tropical temperatures. Its also one of the darkest places around that offers good views of the night sky, but the ride to the top is long and winding. Free stargazing programs are offered 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Guides and rangers answer questions and give a star tour with a laser pointer. Two big caveats: Check the weather to make sure visibility is good before you go, and dress warmly; this is a part of Hawaii that can get snow. Go early to get one of the 115 parking spots given out first come, first served. Info: Maunakea Visitor Information Station ALSO That spewing river of hot lava at Kilauea volcano? Its now a trickle, but that could change again Bringing in the sheep in Iceland is a fall celebration full of laughter, drinking and music Royal Caribbean creates video-making tool that uses AI to add original music and its free travel@latimes.com @latimestravel After being sold, surplus Pacific Electric trolleys were shipped to Argentina for use in Buenos Aires. A brief story in the Sept. 7, 1959, Los Angeles Times reported: Eight former Pacific Electric streetcars were loaded aboard ship at Los Angeles Harbor yesterday, bound for use in Buenos Aires. They were moved to the harbor from the old Subway Terminal tunnel near 4th and Hill Sts. where they had been stored since making their last trips on this county's former network of suburban trackage. The Moore-McCormack freighter SS Mormacland will transport them to Buenos Aires. These photos were taken by Long Beach-based reporter Grant MacDonald. The photo above appeared in the Sept. 7, 1959, Los Angeles Times. This post originally was published on May 22, 2014. Sept. 6, 1959: A barge-mounted crane, left, loads a streetcar onto vessel. Grant MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Sep. 6, 1959: Old Pacific Electric streetcars sit at Berth 232 on Terminal Island waiting to be loaded aboard Moore-McCormack Lines Mormacland for shipment to Buenos Aires. Grant MacDonald / Los Angeles Times See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here The presidential election in Indonesia next year may see a reprise of the testy 2014 contest between President Joko Widodo and retired general Prabowo Subianto after both men registered their candidacies Friday. The incumbent, popularly known as Jokowi, selected a 75-year-old cleric as his running mate, a move designed to shore up his support from Islamists as he seeks a second five-year term leading the worlds most populous Muslim country. Jokowi is the early favorite to win the April election as a former political outsider who has spent his first term focusing on infrastructure projects. He is the first president from outside Indonesias political and military elite since the dictator Suharto resigned in 1998. Since then, Indonesia has emerged as one of a diminishing number of electoral democracies in Southeast Asia, where Thailand is run by a military junta, Vietnam and Laos are single-party communist states and Cambodias authoritarian president recently won reelection after banning the main opposition party. Advertisement The 2014 election campaign, the closest since the end of the Suharto dictatorship, was tarnished by dirty campaigning and internet rumors falsely accusing Jokowi of being a communist of Chinese origin labels that are used to discredit politicians in Indonesia. Prabowo initially refused to accept Jokowis six-point victory margin, and his supporters protested outside Jakartas main court buildings for weeks after the result was announced. In 2017, a Jokowi ally, the Christian governor of the Jakarta capital region, was unseated in an election and later jailed for two years on disputed charges of insulting Islam. The ugly campaign showed how Islamists could whip up ill feeling among the countrys Muslim majority against minorities such as Christians, who represent about 10% of the population of 260 million. Jokowis announcement Thursday that he had chosen the 75-year-old cleric Maruf Amin was aimed at staving off a similar smear campaign against him, analysts said. A secular Muslim, Jokowi has been accused by some critics of being too pro-minority. Maruf is head of the Indonesian Ulema Council of religious scholars and supported the campaign against the former Jakarta governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. I think we complete each other, nationalistic and religious, Jokowi, 57, told reporters after announcing his running mate. Alexander Arifianto, research fellow with the Indonesia Program at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Jokowis choice meant he is clearly trying to win over Islamist voters. While the move was likely to disappoint younger, reform-minded voters who backed Jokowis 2014 campaign which had echoes of Barack Obamas hope and change message those voters were seen as unlikely to support Prabowo, a populist who has been accused of presiding over human rights abuses by soldiers during his time in the army during the Suharto era. You know, he cannot make everybody happy, said Midian Sohitang, a Jokowi supporter who stood among a crowd awaiting the vice-presidential announcement Thursday. But I have seen that he is the best choice for the next five years. Retired general Prabowo Subianto, second from left, and his running mate, Sandiaga Uno, in blue shirt, register as candidates for the 2019 Indonesian presidential election on Aug. 10. (Bay Ismoyo / AFP/Getty Images) Prabowo, 66, chose as his running mate Sandiaga Uno, a wealthy businessman who has been serving as deputy governor of Jakarta. Sandiaga resigned the position early Friday before joining the retired general for lunchtime prayers at a Jakarta mosque. Afterward, Sandiaga, 49, told The Times that Prabowos allies had asked him to be the vice-presidential nominee at the last minute after another contender, Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, withdrew from consideration. In a country where vote buying has been widely documented and where campaigning across a vast archipelago is difficult and expensive Sandiagas selection was mostly for his fundraising capability, said Indonesian political analyst Wimar Witoelar. The campaign will start next month, with voting scheduled for April 2019. The election is a mammoth undertaking in a country that comprises 17,000 islands many of them prone to earthquakes spread across 3,000 miles, involving more than 800,000 polling stations. While Jokowi remains popular, he is vulnerable on the issue of the economy due to Indonesias annual economic growth rate of slightly more than 5%, short of the 7% target he set upon taking office in 2014. Were going to focus on the economy, on jobs, on prices, Sandiaga said. Jokowis administration has made upgrading the nations creaky infrastructure a priority, but many transport and communications projects have been beset by delays. Siwage Dharma Negara, a researcher in economics at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said the governments record was mixed but that in the long run, we expect there will be a productivity boost to the economy due to various infrastructure projects. Special correspondent Roughneen reported from Jakarta and Times staff writer Bengali from Mumbai, India. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Inside a sleek but unobtrusive office building a few blocks from the River Danube, conference rooms and executive suites that once buzzed with activity will stand vacant by the months end. What was previously the second-largest international outpost of the Open Society Foundations, a sprawling international philanthropic and pro-democracy network, is in the final stages of pulling up stakes in Budapest, Hungary, and moving to Berlin. The exodus was propelled by unrelenting official harassment targeting its staff but ultimately directed at its 87-year-old founder, George Soros. Soros, a naturalized U.S. citizen, is among Hungarys most famous native sons. A Holocaust survivor and a billionaire many times over, he has directed the bulk of his personal fortune to his foundation, which advances progressive political causes and supports an array of human rights, health and education initiatives across the globe. But for anyone with even a passing familiarity with the darker and more conspiratorial corners of the internet, Soros name is synonymous with a vast and sinister network spanning decades and vaulting continents. Advertisement He is portrayed as a baleful puppet master out for world domination, a wily architect of perfidious acts such as currency manipulation and plotting the slaughter of Christian children. Crude anti-Semitic tropes call attention to his Jewishness, and an often-invoked smear accuses him falsely of colluding with the Nazis in his youth. Sometimes it seems he is everywhere: name-checked last month in Helsinki, Finland, by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, his face looming over Budapest on anti-migration billboards, reviled in a Roseanne Barr tweet, feverishly invoked by followers of the QAnon movement that has lately begun capturing media attention. For a time, it seemed that large historical forces favored Soros pro-democracy aspirations for his native region, just as hedge-fund fortune had smiled upon him. Liberated from communism, former Soviet satellites such as Poland and Hungary moved to embrace political pluralism as they began to recover economically. Civil society groups backed by his foundation took root and flourished. But watershed political events of the last two years Donald Trumps ascent to the presidency, Britains vote to exit the European Union and the rise of populist nationalism in Europe fly in the face of the ideals advanced by Soros, who said that the collapse of the Berlin Wall and an opening of the closed societies behind it would energize democratic and liberal forces to the benefit of all. Its been a dizzying reversal, and one that Soros himself ruefully acknowledges. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, he declared in a Paris speech in May that centered on Europe but alluded to wider woes. The worldwide financial shocks of 2008 helped loosen democratic moorings, he said. The wave of migration that washed over Europe in 2015 was exploited by unscrupulous leaders even in countries that have accepted hardly any refugees including Hungary, whose autocratic Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been in ascendancy. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, center, visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem on July 20. Orban pledged zero tolerance for anti-Semitism after being accused of stoking anti-Jewish sentiment at home. (Menahem Kahana / AFP/Getty Images) But longtime associates say Soros, while frustrated, remains undaunted. The world now may be more like the Eastern Europe into which he was born than the complacent world of Western freedoms, said Mark Malloch Brown, a former deputy United Nations secretary-general who sits on the board of Soros foundation. In a strange way, the setbacks hes facing remind him of the lessons he learned as a youngster. Those lessons could scarcely have been harsher. Soros, who was born Gyorgy Schwartz in Budapest in 1930, has credited his father, Tivadar, with a prescient grasp of events that would result in the near-obliteration of Hungarian Jewry. Soros earliest years were spent in a comfortable middle-class existence in a cultured and cosmopolitan European capital. But as anti-Jewish racial laws took hold in Hungary in the mid-1930s, his lawyer father changed the family name, and after the Nazi invasion, the Soros clan survived by assuming false identities and staying on the move, ever alert to the growing dangers. Ultimately, some 600,000 Hungarian Jews perished, accounting for a full tenth of Jews killed in the Holocaust. Soros, together with his parents and his brother, Paul, survived. After the war, Soros left Hungary to pursue his education in London. Following hardscrabble years that famously included stints as a railway porter and a waiter, he emigrated to the United States in 1956 and amassed a fortune as an investor and financier. George Soros speaks to reporters in Moscow on March 4, 1998, when he pledged to contribute more than $100 million to Russian libraries, museums and health and education programs. (Misha Japaridze / Associated Press) For more than 20 years, Soros vast wealth and political engagement, together with latent but virulent anti-Semitism in Europe and elsewhere, have made him an ideal target for right-wing forces, political analysts say. More recently, the growth of social media and the success of nationalist movements in Europe turbocharged his role as a scapegoat for the worlds ills. He fulfills the criteria the conspiracy theorists search for, said Gustav Gressel, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, which receives support from Soros. There is a growing skepticism against elites, free capitalism, free trade and freedom of movement. The new right uses that. Its not only the extremist fringes that have aligned against Soros; mainstream U.S. conservatives were angered by his vocal opposition to the war in Iraq and his heavily bankrolled hostility toward then-President George W. Bush. And even some critics whose liberal worldviews align fairly closely with his own consider Soros to be cantankerous and out of touch. Recently, he unleashed sharp criticism of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat touted as a potential presidential contender, faulting her for pushing fellow Democratic Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota to resign in the face of sexual misconduct allegations. Gillibrand and her own backers were dismissive. If standing up for women who have been wronged makes George Soros mad, thats on him, Gillibrand told HuffPost. In his native country, the incitement against Soros carries almost Shakespearean overtones. Nearly 30 years ago, a Soros-funded scholarship enabled Orban, the Hungarian leader who is now a self-proclaimed champion of illiberalism, to study at Oxford and hone the political skills that helped him launch his Fidesz movement. Soros at one time considered him something of a protege. As Fidesz and Orban moved sharply to the right, the falling-out grew increasingly bitter: Last year, in a speech in Brussels, Soros accused the Hungarian leader of building a mafia state. Orbans government used the tag Stop Soros to whip up support for harsh legal measures targeting migrants and nongovernmental organizations. One particularly painful pressure point in the Hungarian governments campaign against Soros has been a labor of love for him: Central European University, which he founded in 1991 and which his foundation continues to support. Its status as an accredited independent educational institution is under threat in what critics describe as part of a concerted government campaign against other democratic touchstones, including a free press and judiciary. The university, a warren of elegantly restored structures in one of Budapests most charming neighborhoods, with nearly 1,500 graduate students from scores of countries, is embarking on the new academic year after a series of difficult bureaucratic negotiations with the government over the legality of its operations, but is making contingency plans in case it is forced to relocate the main campus to Vienna. The decision by Soros New York-based foundation to uproot its Budapest office and move to Berlin an echo of its effective expulsion from Russia in 2015 was a wrenching one, said spokesman Csaba Csontos. But senior Open Society officials felt they could not protect the local staff from harassment and intimidation, including surveillance, monitored communications and outlandish smear stories carried by outlets loyal to the government. Csontos described an incident targeting his own family, in which his son was hospitalized for a surgical procedure and news reports publicized the boys private medical records and then mocked his father as a supposed malingerer who ducked reporters queries. You come to feel a certain helplessness, he said, glancing around a conference room soon to be emptied of its fittings and furnishings. Soros boyhood home is only a short distance from the Hungarian parliament building, where lawmakers in June overwhelmingly approved a package of measures criminalizing aid to asylum seekers and whose targets included nongovernmental groups aided by his foundation. In a city dotted with historic monuments, no plaque or marker designates the building where his family lived until driven into hiding. On a Budapest Jewish-heritage tour, a friendly guides face clouded over when asked about young Gyorgy Schwartz, who went on to attain the kind of wealth and fame that usually brings a measure of hometown pride and remembrance. That family does not exist here, she said flatly. They went away. They are gone. laura.king@latimes.com Twitter: @laurakingLAT Walid Tafesh tried for more than a decade to escape the Gaza Strip. The dancer applied seven times for permission to train and perform outside the Palestinian enclave. But Israel which has enforced a blockade on the territory since the armed Islamist group Hamas took control in 2007 denied him. Then in late 2015 Tafesh spotted a somewhat cryptic post on Facebook inviting artists in Gaza to join a workshop in London without crossing any borders. The aim is to create a performance piece that surpasses the intervening borders by creating a third shared space through an innovative use of the internet, it said. Advertisement Intrigued, Tafesh fired off an application with links to his dance videos on YouTube. It was the beginning of a collaboration that landed the 27-year-old on stages in London and Liverpool, England, this summer thanks to video technology that melds performances in Gaza and Britain in real time for theater audiences in both places. It was, Tafesh said, a dream come true. More shows are planned in Manchester and other cities next year. The project, titled At Home in Gaza and London, is the brainchild of two London-based directors. Julian Maynard Smith founded the Station House Opera, an experimental theatrical company that has been using live video feeds for over a decade to link performance spaces, making it appear as if artists in different cities are interacting in the same rooms and streets. But it was Taghrid Choucair-Vizoso, who grew up in Lebanon, home to about 450,000 Palestinian refugees, who hit on the idea of using the technology to partner with artists in Gaza. He was working with places like Berlin and even Sao Paulo, she said of her co-director. But it dawned on me at one point that artists in those cities are able to readily travel for the most part. And then I thought how powerful this technology could be in bringing together people that cant work in the same space. The resulting performances in which five Gazans and four Londoners explore each others worlds through dance, song, food, play and conversation are a poignant reminder of the Gazans isolation and a creative way for the performers to break free. Of course, it was about the most difficult place you could choose to do it, Maynard Smith said. London-based dancer Tara Fatehi Irani is shadowed on screen by her Gazan partner, Walid Tafesh, during a performance at the Battersea Arts Center. (Rob Harris / Station House Opera) Gaza gets only about four hours of electricity a day, requiring the use of an expensive generator to keep the lights and computers on. Internet connections are slow and unreliable. And even basic equipment, such as a backup power supply, was hard to find because Israel restricts the entry of components it deems could be used for military purposes. Time and again during rehearsals at the Battersea Arts Center in London and the Wedad Society for Community Rehabilitation in Gaza City, the connection between the venues was lost because of power cuts in Gaza. Rather than fight the inevitable glitches, the directors decided to incorporate them into the show. When the audience in Gaza was plunged into darkness during a performance in late June, lights were switched off in London too, and prerecorded audio was played in which a Gazan cast member described how she copes with the frequent outages. When the connection was restored, the show picked up where it left off. Maynard Smith tried to bring better computers and cameras with ultra-wide-angle lenses to the team in Gaza. But the Israeli authorities did not allow in the equipment. Maynard Smiths trip, which took place in March, lasted just two days. When deadly protests broke out along the security barriers between Gaza and Israel, he left because the aid group that had facilitated the visit was concerned about his safety. It was the only time he got to meet the cast and crew in Gaza in person. Even so, close bonds were forged during hours of intense discussion and improvisation over the video links. At the end of each rehearsal, the performers would gather around monitors at both locations and blow kisses to each other. I do forget that were over 2,000 miles apart, Choucair-Vizoso said. I finish the days work, and I feel like I have been in Gaza, rather than in London. The participants tried to steer clear of politics, drawing instead on their own experiences and the questions they posed to each other about life in their respective cities as they developed the script together. There are scenes about dating, marriage, children and the lousy British weather. But in Gaza, politics have a way of bleeding into everything else. In one scene, Hamza Saftawi, a Palestinian journalist with no previous acting experience, discusses the imminent release of his father from an Israeli jail with one of the shows directors. Saftawi was 9 when his father was arrested. It is like he is just raising up again from the ashes, he confides to Maynard Smith. I dont have any idea how Im going to deal with that. In another scene, the London-based actor Owl Young asks one of his Gaza counterparts about the massacre, a reference to the ongoing protests that have claimed the lives of more than 150 Palestinians by Israeli fire. What massacre? the Gazan actor, Ali Hassany, replies sharply. Its not the first massacre, and it wont be the last. There were heated discussions about how to address the bloodshed in the show. For Choucair-Vizoso, the protests seemed too momentous to ignore. But Hassany and others in Gaza wanted no part in that. Im tired of being portrayed as the victim, Hassany says in a scene lifted straight from those debates. I just want to make a show about love, about life. There isnt much of a theater culture in Gaza, a conservative and deeply impoverished place where most people are too busy trying to make ends meet to indulge in such pursuits especially if they cost money. Abeer Ahmed and Walid Tafesh rehearse a scene from At Home in Gaza and London in Gaza City on May 19, 2018. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Tafesh had never seen professional theater before he answered the Facebook post in 2015. Born in Saudi Arabia, he was 10 when his Palestinian parents moved the family back to Gaza. He struggled to adjust and was often teased by other children about his missing right arm, a birth defect. One summer, his parents sent him to a camp for children with disabilities. There he discovered a talent for dabke, a traditional Arab line dance. It became a refuge from the isolation and other cruelties of life in Gaza. He joined a troupe that is frequently invited to perform at weddings and festivals. But he yearned to learn contemporary dance styles too. So he started teaching himself by watching dance videos on YouTube. Now he has a partner abroad: Tara Fatehi Irani, an Iranian performance artist who joined the project in London. Together, they choreographed a duet, which they perform to London Can Take It, a track by the band Public Service Broadcasting that begins with the sound of air raid sirens during Germanys Blitz of London in World War II. On the screens that tower over them in Gaza and London, their movements appear as intimate as if they shared the same stage. He reaches out to touch her hair. She gently strokes his face. Tafesh doubts they could get away with such gestures if they were in the same theater. In Gaza, female dancers dont typically perform with men or in front of mixed audiences. As the music picks up, their images are superimposed over each other to create a ghostly new form with both long and short hair and seven frenetically moving limbs. She completes me, he said later. He completes me too, she added. Times staff writer Zavis reported from Gaza City and London, and special correspondent Salah from Gaza City. alexandra.zavis@latimes.com Twitter: @alexzavis Three months after Iraqs parliamentary elections, the long-awaited results of a recount are in, and the faction allied with Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada Sadr, a once implacable U.S. foe turned nationalist leader, is still in the lead. Sadrs bloc, known as Sairoon, which means marching to reform, kept all of its 54 seats. The Conquest Alliance, a coalition of paramilitary groups with varying degrees of allegiance to Iran, remained in second place but picked up one seat, bringing its total to 48. That came at the expense of a bloc led by Prime Minister Haidar Abadi. Its total fell to 42. The results, released Friday by the Independent High Electoral Commission, still must be ratified by the Supreme Court. Once that is done, the the current president, Fuad Masum, will have 90 days to convene parliament to elect a new speaker, president and prime minister and then form a Cabinet. Advertisement Though Sadr remains the winner, his bloc holds too few seats to form a government on its own. That requires the backing of at least 165 members of the Council of Representatives or more than half of the 329 legislators. The election was held May 12. Parliament ordered the manual recount in response to concerns about the voting system, which used machines to read ballots digitally linked to each voters ID registration card and fingerprint. Many voters and political parties complained of machines breaking down and alleged wide-scale fraud, especially in the multiethnic city of Kirkuk and the Kurdish province of Sulaymaniya. The results remained the same in 13 of the countrys 18 provinces. Also unchanged was voter turnout, which remained at 44.5%, the lowest participation since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The dismal participation was widely viewed as a mass rejection of the countrys almost comically corrupt political class, which, despite Iraqs oil riches, has not been able to provide reliable services for the last 15 years. The lack of electricity, chronic water shortages and high unemployment were particularly galling in the southern city of Basra, which supplies most of Iraqs oil but according to its residents enjoys none of its privileges. With temperatures reaching as high as 120 degrees, residents there took to the streets last month, sparking a wave of protests that have spread to major cities, including the capital, Baghdad. The demonstrations have been damaging for Abadi. Though his bloc finished in third place, he has been trying to amass support for a unity government that would keep him in office for a second term. Abadi dismissed the electricity minister last month, and this week he sacked four directors from the ministry. Still, protests continued Friday. Sadr, meanwhile, released a list of 40 demands that he said would counter the deep state that sought to reassert the hegemony of corrupt political forces by barring officials previously in power from the government. Legislators with dual nationality would also be blocked from taking office. If his demands were not met, he said, he would take the course of political opposition and constructive populism, insisting he would safeguard protesters. nabih.bulos@latimes.com Twitter: @nabihbulos After an intense two-day flare-up of violence, Israel and Hamas the Palestinian militia that rules the Gaza Strip appeared to back away from the brink of all-out war, but there was no official cease-fire. Thursday night, the Al Jazeera television network quoted Egyptian sources as saying a truce had been achieved between the two sides, but Hamas did not confirm it and the Israeli government sent local reporters an unsigned text message reading the report on a supposed cease-fire is not correct. A meeting of Israels Security Cabinet concluded with a statement that it had directed the Israel Defense Forces to continue taking strong action against the terrorist elements. Despite the denial, all the restrictions imposed by the Israeli army on Israelis living near the Gaza border were lifted Friday. On Wednesday and Thursday, about 200 rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel. In the exchange, Israel bombed a similar number of sites in Gaza. Advertisement Hamas Al Aqsa TV channel on Thursday said peace would hold on the basis of mutual calm, claims that have been repeatedly made in recent weeks, to no significant effect. It remained unclear if Fridays pause in attacks was because of ongoing Egyptian and United Nations efforts to mediate or signaled an end to the two-day burst of violence, in which at least three Palestinians were killed. On Friday, at least two Palestinians were killed one of them a medic and 242 wounded during protests along the border with Israel, according to Palestinian authorities. Several thousand Palestinians demonstrated along the border after Hamas called for mass participation, saying Israeli aggression was an incentive to continue their popular protest. Contradicting recent reports that Hamas was stepping away from violence, a statement said, Palestinians will continue resisting the occupation by all means possible until their rights are regained. Gaza has been under a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas took control of the territory in 2007. Alon Davidi, the mayor of Sderot, a city that repeatedly has been struck by rockets launched from Gaza, where a woman was gravely injured by a rocket this week and one house suffered a direct hit, said on Friday that the unconfirmed cease-fire was a mistake. I understand the desire of the government to enter into negotiations, but Israel must end the terror with the help of the military, he said. This on and off war is unhealthy. More than 90,000 students are heading to school this morning, ready to tackle either their first, or another school year. School District of Lee County spokesperson Rob Spicker said the district-wide enrollment projection for the 2018-2019 school year is 95,052 students, 3,364 more students than last year. The attendance number typically drops approximately 2,000 students once a 10-day count is conducted. The attendance figure will be different than the projected enrollment, he said. One of the reasons the decrease in numbers occurs is because families move and forget to let the district know they no longer will have a student attending the school. Some students going to schools in Cape Coral will meet a new principal this year. Principal Shelly Markgraf moved from Caloosa Elementary to Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary. The new principal for Caloosa Elementary is Ashley Lamar. Principal James Moreland moved from Hector Cafferata to Gulf Middle. Principal Dr. Michelle Cort-Mora moved from Gulf Middle to Island Coast High. Mariner Highs new principal is Thomas Michel, the previous assistant principal at Challenger Middle. There are a few new features this year for students and parents. Spicker said the first is the Wheres the Bus app, which allows parents to know how far their childs bus is from their stop both in the morning and afternoon. This should eliminate a lot of confusion and improve efficiency, he said. Another new feature, School Messenger, is a new app that will improve communication. Our teachers have new curriculum maps that gives them the resources to build lessons aligned to our standards and helping students reach those academic standards, Spicker said. To help those students achieve their academic potential, all 79 district schools and 17 special centers, will offer a free breakfast and lunch. Elementary students have the choice of such lunch menu items as the fishermans platter, vegetable dippers, potato smiles, assorted fruit and milk, or oven roasted chicken, dinner roll, vegetable dippers, mashed potatoes, assorted fruit and milk. Middle school students have the opportunity to choose such lunch menu items as cheese calzone, tossed salad, marinara sauce, fresh green beans, assorted fruit and milk or teriyaki chicken, fried rice, vegetable dippers, chopstick vegetables, assorted fruit and milk. Some of the lunch items for high school students include Asian chicken bites, seasoned sweet potato fries, Sidekick fruit cup, Grahams, assorted fruit and milk or barbecue pork sandwich, vegetable dippers, baked beans, assorted fruit and milk. Safety is another high priority for this school year. Spicker said there will be an school resource officer in every school. Two-thirds of our schools now have Red Lock doors, which can be locked from the inside, so the class doesnt have to be exposed to a threat in the hallway to lock the door, he said. The remaining third will be installed during the school year. The district is also installing a video entrance system at all of their schools. Guests will press a button at the door, announce who they are and why they are there before being admitted into the school. These are in high demand after Parkland so they are being installed in batches as they arrive, Spicker said. The district also has three new zone security managers, he said, who will make sure the best security practices and protocols are being implemented. We have started the training process for threat assessment teams at every school. Spicker said. We have started the first phase of PREPARE, which is our mental health awareness training. Every staff member is going to be trained on what to look for in students that will help strengthen safety and security. Two joint budget workshops between the Cape Coral City Council and its Budget Review Committee were an exercise where both looked at numerous what-if scenarios through the eyes of a computer model and lengthy discussions. But a few things stood out at the sessions held Tuesday and Thursday at City Hall. The City Council has little desire to subsidize the Cape Coral Charter School System with the BRC recommending a nuclear option in its report. A majority on the elected board also wants to bring in more code enforcement officers to address the many violations residents say they see on a daily basis as well as hire grant writers for the Fire Department as it could result in a great return on investment. City Manager John Szerlag presented the funding core of the proposed General Fund budget of $211,642,492: a property tax rate of 6.75 mills with a rollback rate of 6.4402; a 62 percent cost-of-operations fire service assessment and a public service tax on electric bills of 7 percent, the current rate. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable valuation. The rollback rate is the rate at which the same amount of revenue would be raised from property taxes. Peter Napoli of Stantec, formerly Burton & Associates, brought the computer model and showed the council and the BRC real time results of any variable they could come up with over a 10-year period. When it showed a proposal for the municipal charter school system getting $3 million in assistance by having the city to take over some of the services, there was disagreement. There needs to be another revenue source for the charter schools. I really dont agree with bailing them out, Councilmember Rick Williams said. Without that $3 million we look pretty good. But we cant anticipate what the economy will be. Szerlag said the citys charter schools system isnt a mom-and-pop operation anymore and is being challenged to change its business model to fulfill the citys insistence it be self-sustaining. Theres this rural/urban continuum. Were not a small town but we continue to be like one even though were grown. No ordinance has said the city will not fund public schools, Szerlag said. When George Starner, chairman of the BRC, made his groups recommendations Thursday, it went one step further, saying the system should consider shelving the high school in favor of another elementary school. Starner said educating high school students is a financial loss of $2,234 per student, with its inability to fill the school, creating a total burden of $330,000 per year. Since the elementary and middle schools have waiting lists, it would make sense to turn the high school into one or the other. The city is expected to finish its best-practices tracking of the charter schools in January. In the General Fund budget there are 28 new full-time employment positions proposed. Most are new school resource officers required by the state. Some city council members want to see additional code enforcement officers added to the new positions list. Department of Community Development Director Vince Cautero showed his proposed budget on Tuesday, which called for only one new position for a code enforcement officer. Thats not enough, some on the board said a the first workshop. We have had an increase of 75 percent in population, but code enforcement isnt keeping up. They want more code enforcement on Chiquita and Skyline. The optics speak for themselves, Councilmember John Carioscia said. Code enforcement always comes up at town meetings. Theres room for improvement because this is a quality-of-life issue, Councilmember John Gunter said. We need to be proactive and reevaluate. On Thursday, Szerlag said he found the money by taking money from the General Fund and putting it into the building fund. Also questioned early on was funding for Public Works sidewalk program. Councilmember Jessica Cosden, upon hearing the city funds its sidewalks entirely through grants, said she found that unusual. I want to see us start budgeting for sidewalks instead of using just grants. Were a big city, Cosden said. Ill see that and Ill raise you streetlights, Councilmember David Stokes said. We have kids walking to school in the dark. We have $100,000 budgeted for lights. Cant we take some money out of paving and into lights? He wanted to see more invested in streetlights, since many kids go to school or wait for the bus in the dark, Stokes said Stokes was told that LCEC only has the capacity for $200,000 per year, or about 350 to 400 streetlights, though some money could come from the transportation fund up to $100,000. Those discussions morphed into the importance of grant writers, people who can get money from non-profits and state and federal governments for things the city needs. Ryan Lamb, chief of the Cape Coral Fire Department, said he has been looking for a grant writer and said they are worth the investment. Mayor Joe Coviello said he wants to push the button for grants because there are so many that the city may be missing out on. We have missed out on a few of these grants. There is so much money that can be obtained. Is there any way we can have one for the city? Its one of the best returns on investment a city can have, said Gunter. They pay for themselves if you have a writer with the right skills. A third workshop will be held Aug. 23. Public hearings will be held Sept. 6 and Sept. 20 at 5:05 p.m. in council chambers. City and country unite In a first for Western Australia, the Town of Victoria Park in metropolitan Perth, and the Shire of Morawa 400 km to the north, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to recognise the importance of an effective working relationship between the two councils. Morawa Shire President, Karen Chappel, said, This gives us an exciting future, with an opportunity for both local governments to work and grow together. Town of Victoria Park Mayor, Trevor Vaughan, said, The MOU in a visionary approach between local governments to support each other, share knowledge, resources and the experience of staff. Town of Victoria Park Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Vuleta, said, We are taking a partnership approach and working on a model to set the bar for other local governments to copy, so the benefits might be seen across all of local government in Western Australia. Unlike an amalgamation process, without boundary connections, we can be truly cooperative with no conflict or competitiveness. Partnering and doing things differently is the key. Morawa Chief Executive Officer, Chris Linnell, said, We expect it will also provide career development opportunities for staff and better community outcomes. We are governed by the same legislation and regulations, we have very different communities, landscapes, service demands and challenges and welcome the opportunity to share technical skills, cultural learnings and new ways of thinking. In a workshop held amongst combined senior management staff opportunities were identified for working together on financial management, economic development, town planning, community development, civil engineering, asset management, governance and regulatory compliance. Disaster resilience strategies learned locally Knowledge gained by Bundaberg Regional Council staff in the wake of the 2013 flood event has been instrumental in providing strategies that will provide for a more disaster resilient Queensland. Resilient Queensland 2018-21 Delivering the Queensland Strategy for Disaster Resilience was launched at the Floodplain Management Australia national conference on the Gold Coast. Minister for State Development, Cameron Dick, said Resilient Queensland 2018-21 was a blueprint for use across government, the community, not-for-profit sector, business and industry. The Minister said that central to the creation of the new state-wide Strategy was the success of the pilot Burnett Catchment Flood Resilience Strategy, which was finalised in June. Bundaberg Regional Council Disaster Management portfolio spokesman, Councillor Greg Barnes, said Council staff had contributed significantly to the development of the Burnett Catchment strategy. Councils Manager of Design, Dwayne Honor along with Disaster Management Officers, Matt Dyer and Emma Anderson represented the interests of the Bundaberg Region through the pilot study which involved the collaboration of North and South Burnett Regional Councils, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and Cherbourg Aboriginal Council. Dwayne Honor was also part of an expert panel at the Gold Coast national conference which discussed the new resilience measures. Dwaynes significant experience in the wake of the 2013 flood and in particular his study of flood impacts on catchments across the region including the Burrum, Kolan and Burnett provided invaluable information to guide the Strategy. Cr Barnes said the receipt of a prestigious Churchill Fellowship in 2015 had allowed Dwayne to further his studies overseas with a focus on the impacts of extreme storm surge on coastal communities. This is one reason why Dwayne is currently heading up our Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS) and Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP). Discover smart cities of the future* The Smart City Expo, headquartered in Canada, is a global initiative taking place annually in Australia, Canada and Dubai, combining co-located conferences with state-of-the-art expo floors on the theme of Smart City and Internet-of-Things (IoT). Smart City Expo provides thousands of attendees with a combination of inspiring keynote speeches and the cutting-edge technologies that enable the move towards smart cities of the future. The Smart Cities Expos Annual Australia Programme for 2018, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 3-4 September, will provide a platform where government officials, city council representatives, chief information officers, urban administrators and researchers are able to brainstorm ideas about smart Australian cities of the future. The event is designed to close the knowledge gap to allow local, state and federal government departments and agencies to collaborate, share knowledge and foster innovation. The Smart City Expo International Conferences will be hosted at Metro Toronto Convention & Exhibition Centre, 9-10 October 2018, and at the Metropolitan Hotel in Dubai, 2627 November, 2018. The 2018 Australia Programme will entail a number of keynote speeches covering Smart City Vertical Applications such as Smart Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Health, Industry 4.0, Cities 4.0, Smart City Data ISO Standards, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Cloud Computing, Smart Building Management Systems, Smart Lighting, Enterprise IoT, Big Data Analytics and Smart Governance. The events keynote speakers will include The Hon. David Davis, MP, Shadow Minister for Public Transport and Planning, Victoria; The Hon. Jackie Watts, Councillor, City of Melbourne; Declan Clausen, Deputy Lord Mayor, The City of Newcastle; Albert Jacob, Mayor, City of Joondalup; Craig Chung, Councillor, City of Sydney; John Marinopoulos, Partner, Infrastructure & Urban Renewal, PwC; and Dr. David Soldani, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Huawei. *Copy supplied by Smart City Expo Inclusive strategy Life is about to become a whole lot more accessible for people living with a disability in Moreton Bay, Queensland, where the regions first Disability Access and Inclusion Plan has just been adopted, committing Council to the development of an inclusive community. People living with a disability make up 18 percent of the national population. As a key provider of community infrastructure, services and information, Local Government has an important role in supporting people with disabilities. Under the Federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992, discriminating against people with disabilities is against the law, including through the provision of services provided by local governments. To assist in compliance with the Act, the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 has provided a 10-year plan for working towards enabling people with disability to participate as equal citizens in Australian society. It commits all levels of government to improving the lives of people with a disability and to providing leadership for a community-wide shift in attitudes. Council has an important role in supporting people with disabilities living in and travelling to the Moreton Bay region to have full and equal access to participate in community life. Mayor, Allan Sutherland, said, The plan articulates a clear strategy starting this year through to 2022 to make our region more accessible and inclusive for people living with disabilities and to improve access and inclusion in our community. An extensive community engagement process conducted by Council resulted in a number of actions being proposed to improve accessibility and inclusiveness under five priority areas: pedestrian mobility, parking and transport, buildings and facilities, parks and open spaces, events and programs, and council services. Through this plan, council can identify opportunities to improve infrastructure and services for people with disabilities so they can better access our stunning nature trails, beaches and fun-filled events, the Mayor said. There are a number of actions that Council is already undertaking to ensure we are supporting the needs of residents of all abilities such as region-wide inspection of our footpaths and upgrading bus stops to meet the required standard for accessibility. Some areas identified by the community that provide opportunities for Council to improve accessibility include: investigating the delivery of Changing Places toilets in key locations throughout the region to meet the high-care needs of individuals with profound disabilities and their carers engaging with Surf Life Saving Queensland to investigate the provision of accessible beach chairs and matting at Suttons Beach in Redcliffe and Woorim Beach in Bribie Island providing AUSLAN interpretation as part of selected Council events and programs investigating the installation of Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) at key Council managed community buildings and facilities investigating opportunities to trial recharge points for electric mobility vehicles at appropriate council facilities identifying and promoting appropriate accessible trails in natural areas throughout the region. Council received strong support from the community for its proposal to incorporate inclusive play elements into new and existing playgrounds so that they are accessible to children of all abilities. Council has already begun improving access. The multi-million dollar upgrade of Scarborough Beach Park completed last year included wide shared pathways, unique wheelchair-accessible tables and handrail and ramp access to make the area more accessible to park users. Spokesperson for Lifestyle and Amenity, Councillor Denise Sims and Councillor Matt Constance, who both worked closely on the plan along with local access and inclusion advocates, said they were pleased the community had provided constructive feedback during the consultation period. Cr Sims said, Its important to remember that this is a living document that is updated to respond to the ever-changing needs of Moreton Bay, and the only way we have been able to do that is with [community] feedback. I thank my colleagues for their unanimous support in backing this initiative and the council staff and local advocates who have poured their hearts, time and energy into this excellent piece of work. Cr Constance said, To see so many people taking the time to provide feedback on this plan is fantastic and demonstrates just how important this issue is for many of our residents and visitors. Simple changes like widening footpaths, installing voice recognition technology and changing the height of locks or buttons can make an enormous difference to peoples lives. Local Disability Advocate and Kallangur resident, Elisha Wright, said the launch of Councils first Disability Access and Inclusion Plan was great news for the entire Moreton Bay community. What this plan means for us is that we know that things are going to change and they are going to change on a broad spectrum of things, Ms Wright said. There is so much that has been included in this plan that we can really be excited about and there are going to be things that we didnt expect would happen. Mayor Ed Warren Longreach Regional Council Our region is quintessentially Australian steeped in history, our towns are iconic in Australias history. But for me its our lifestyle we enjoy the best of the Australian lifestyle. Ive been Mayor here since 2016, but I was elected to Winton Shire Council in 1997 and was Mayor at Winton from 2007-2012. Local Government gives you a chance to shape the future of your community more than any other kind of public service. I was a stock and station agent, so Ive got a broad understanding of the issues facing our agricultural industries and primary producers. I was inaugural chair of the Central West Hospital and Health Board from 2012-2016. I really enjoyed that role because we had to set up all the governance from scratch and we actually saw improved outcomes as a result. I love attending the many great events in our community, but I have a soft spot for country racing Im often a volunteer official at our race meets. Im also a long time member of Rotary and our local Parish Council which keeps me busy and helps me keep my finger on the pulse of our communities. Money worries Financial sustainability keeps most mayors up at night. We have a very low rate base, and thanks to the worst drought in living memory our population dropped 12.5 percent between the 2011 and 2016 censuses. Local Government is being called on for more services. A key challenge is building capacity in the community to avoid them becoming overly dependent on Council. Energy and water are the keys to our future Given our local conditions we have been seriously exploring options for the development of a massive scale solar farm. Were also interested in other forms of renewable energy, including geothermal. If we could offer some of the cheapest energy in Australia just imagine what that would mean for our economy. Securing our water will allow for the diversification of our agricultural industries and will mean we can offer a standard of liveability to attract people to come and live in our towns. Proud moment Im so proud of our Longreach Wild Dog Exclusion Fence Scheme. The one-off loan of $17.9 million from Queensland Treasury Corporation will enable the construction of 2,500 km of exclusion fencing, protecting 900,000ha of land from wild dog predation. Weve struggled with this drought for the last five years and its impacted the whole community, not just the farmers. People forget about the businesses and services that flounder when theres no money going around in a drought stricken community. The decline in wool production since the nineties saw people getting into cattle, which doesnt require as many people. A lot of places now only bring in help once or twice a year. Sheep contribute much more to the economy, theyre still shearing and pressing bales much the same way they did one hundred years ago. So this scheme means people can go back into sheep and by getting on top of predation itll also mean they can actually grow their flocks. Theyll be able to invest in infrastructure like yards and sheds thatll make a huge difference to the whole community. Shearing teams and roustabouts will come back to the region, thats more money into local businesses, more kids in our schools, it makes whole communities more sustainable. Securing the scheme was one of the proudest moments of my career. Its the people you work with My fellow councillors, the talented staff, and of course the community the interactions with our team and our community really make being a councillor an incredible privilege. I honestly believe there is no downside to being in local government. The future Weve set a target to increase our population 52 percent by 2027. To get there were going to need to broaden our economic base. That could mean new types of agriculture including horticultural enterprise, manufacturing, any number of things. Its important for us as councillors to think beyond our own tenure, look to the future, and set an agenda that can be taken up by yet unknown Mayors and Councillors. National landscape architecture award The Shire of East Pilbara, Western Australia, is celebrating after being awarded a Landscape Architecture Award for the Newman Town Square, as part of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) awards. The AILA said the Square rivals its urban counterparts in terms of addressing complex social, economic and organisational considerations whilst remaining comfortably casual and reflecting the unique regional community it serves. Additionally the AILA praised the in-depth planning and design process of the Square emphasising the intense community cross-cultural consultation process and cultural healing which re-positioned traditional and custodial owners of Newman, the Nyiyaparli and Martu respectively. Shire President, Lynne Craigie, said, The Square is without a doubt one of our most important pieces of public infrastructure in Newman, so we are thrilled to be recognised with a national award. We are particularly excited that the AILA has recognised and celebrated how the design of the Square reflects the uniqueness of our community. The Square is the lively heart of Newman and has been purposefully created to be an inviting and safe public space for the whole community, celebrating Newmans diversity of culture, heritage, creativity and learning. The AILA is the national advocacy body representing landscape architects and promoting the profession. The annual awards program acknowledges the growing impact of landscape architecture and recognises projects that stand out for their innovative approaches, that push the boundaries, or are considered to be of national significance. Online a possible cause of out of control behaviours - Presidents comment In this climate of seemingly increased aggression and hostility, perhaps it is time for us to calm down and reconsider our behaviour. While social media has increased our connections to one another, the value of these connections is now being questioned. What started out as a forum for shared experiences has quickly turned into a breeding ground for disparaging comments fired out by keyboard warriors, and has insidiously risen to a new level of harassment and assault. A Mayor was attacked and ended up with a bleeding temple at a community meeting, while two councillors had decapitated rat carcasses placed on their doorsteps in an act of intimidation. Local Government has always encouraged the community to have their say through healthy debate. While it is common to see arguments between people with different opinions, elected members should not be expected to deal with bullying, abuse or acts of violence. After all, making defamatory remarks rarely results in a productive outcome. Last years Local Government election campaigns were viewed as reaching a new low in personal attacks, with some elected members suffering continuous abuse from candidates and the community. Unfortunately, some of the abuse persists. A lot of it is nasty, often it is inaccurate, occasionally it is actionable but it always seems to attract the like-minded, or the small-minded. For example, my last column that defended councils against false claims of unjustified rate increases saw faceless users, hiding behind the anonymity of the internet, making baseless accusations and abusing the Association on social media. This widespread descent into derogatory behaviour has rippled across the entire community. The President of WA Council of State Schools Organisations pleaded for civilised behaviour from parents after irresponsible, sometimes defamatory social media comments led to infighting in Parents and Citizens groups. A smear can stick, with potentially lasting damages on a reputation. How we deal with it as individuals and as a sector is a growing problem. With increasing concerns around the impact of social media on Local Government operations, WALGA has released a template social media policy. It addresses social media use of staff and elected members as well as guidelines on social media behaviour. An environment of respect and civility can only be achieved if everyone takes responsibility for our own actions. And lets go one step further call out unacceptable behaviour such as harassment or bullying as soon as you see it. Proposal for waste to energy Tenterfield Shire Council, New South Wales (NSW), has put together a proposal to deal with its ongoing waste problem by converting waste into energy at a local scale. Initially Council is seeking support from all levels of government and government agencies to provide seed funding for the completion of a feasibility study to determine if such a project is economical, practical and achievable. A conglomerate of 18 Councils in two States, two Territories and an Island, together with Regional Development Australia-Northern Inland have been asked to assist with funding. Initial support was sought from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) who have expressed in principle support and the availability of grant funding to enlist the expertise to conduct the research and compile the feasibility study. Local Federal and State Members, The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP and The Hon Thomas George MP, together with the State Member for Northern Tablelands, The Hon Adam Marshall MP have also indicated in principle support. The proposal has also gained considerable impetus through the newly formed New England Joint Organisation (NEJO), comprising the Councils of Tenterfield, Armidale, Moree Plains, Glen Innes Severn, Uralla and Narrabri. Chief Executive Officer, Terry Dodds, said, Currently waste to energy facilities operate on a large scale and have done for many years in European and Asian countries. Should the project prove viable, this could be the first time that similar technology is put into practice in Australia on a small scale. Tenterfield Mayor, Peter Petty presented Councils waste to energy proposal to the NSW Country Mayors Association in Sydney recently and received unanimous support from the 80 Mayors present, along with an invitation for Mr Dodds to address the next meeting in August 2018. Mayor Petty said, As well as assisting with the waste problem, the facility would feed power into the grid, which in turn could provide councils with a new income stream to assist with addressing some of their critical infrastructure issues by helping to offset our waste management costs. Find not too frequent updates from the Livesay family here #industrial output Production, consumption rebound in Sept. despite resurgence in virus cases South Korea's industrial output and retail sales rebounded in September in the latest sign that economic recovery momentum has been maintained despite the fourth wave of the pandem... The Forrest Gump of All Future Democrat Election Losses Julian Assange has received an letter from the US Senate asking him to testify in front of them. What to make of that is not entirely clear. Far as I know, Assange offered such testimony multiple times, under the right standards. The Senate ostensibly wants this to take place behind closed doors, and its hard to see how that would fit Assanges standards. But who knows? What struck me was that the letter was signed by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Mark Warner (D-VA). and especially the latter runs like a red thread through everything that has to do with Assange and the US. It reminded me of what John Solomon said in his June 25 piece How Comey Intervened To Kill Wikileaks Immunity Deal about Assange lawyer Adam Waldman, who according to Solomon has a Forrest Gump-like penchant for showing up in major cases of intrigue. Mark Warner has that, too. What made me return to this is that in his piece yesterday on the Senate request, Tyler Durden, referring to Solomons article, wrote: After Assanges request was run up the flag pole, Senator Warner was issued a stand-down order by Comey.. And I thought: Im not sure thats entirely correct, and not only because Comey cannot order a US Senator to do anything. The stand down order was not for Warner, he just passed it on to Waldman and his counterpart acting for the DOJ, David Laufman, head of Justices counterintelligence and export controls section. NOTE: we dont even know if the stand down didnt really come from Warner, or Comey AND Warner, or someone else altogether. What we do know is that it was a very peculiar order at a very peculiar moment in time, because the intelligence community could have gotten something tangible and valuable out of the negotiations. Solomon: ..officials understood any visibility into his thinking, any opportunity to negotiate any redactions, was in the national security interest and worth taking, says a senior official involved at the time. They were well on their way to -at least potentially- save the lives of CIA operatives and assets. Negotiations had been going on for at least 2 months, and probably more like three. But then Assange offered to provide evidence that he didnt get the DNC files from Russia. And that seems to have changed the atmosphere. Tyler has some more about this, outside of the Solomon piece: Last August, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher travelled to London with journalist Charles Johnson for a meeting with Assange, after which Rohrabacher said the WikiLeaks founder offered firsthand information proving that the Trump campaign did not collude with Russia, and which would refute the Russian hacking theory. After Trump denied knowledge of the potential deal, Rohrabacher raged at Trumps Chief of Staff, John Kelly, for constructing a wall around President Trump by people who do not want to expose this fraud. NOTE: that meeting took place 4-5 months AFTER the Comey (et al?) stand down order. So Assange was still reaching out and offering to spare individual CIA assets. He has released a lot of the CIA Vault 7 files, but not all. To my knowledge he has held back on that to this day. I dont know how much you still follow from the pro-Russiagate press, which is about the entire US MSM, but Rohrabacher is habitually called a traitor, a Putin puppet and worse for talking to Russians, just like he is for going to see Assange. Once you start trying to find a way out of the ever tighter woven Russia Russia web, youre fair game. Even if thats simply your job as a Congressman, or at least your interpretation of what the job entails. Back to Solomon for a bit. What he describes is not some amnesty deal, but a Queen for a Day proffer. Which in this case was essentially a safe passage guarantee for Assange to leave the Ecuador embassy only to go talk to US government people. We dont know all the prospective topics of the talks, and they dont seem to have agreed on a location (London, Washington?!) before the Comey order. Solomon: Not included in the written proffer was an additional offer from Assange: He was willing to discuss technical evidence ruling out certain parties in the controversial leak of Democratic Party emails to WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. The U.S. government believes those emails were hacked by Russia; Assange insists they did not come from Moscow. Mr. Assange offered to provide technical evidence and discussion regarding who did not engage in the DNC releases, Waldman told me. Finally, he offered his technical expertise to the U.S. government to help address what he perceived as clear flaws in security systems that led to the loss of the U.S. cyber weapons program. That is just funny: Assange offered to help the CIA on its security systems. That must have pissed them off mightily, because it can only mean they really needed to strengthen security (or he wouldnt have brought it up). But then Waldman reaches out to Warner, in what may well have been a fatal mistake. The talks with the DOJ were going well, and might have been enough. Getting politics involved in it was one took over the line: [..] Just a few days after the negotiations opened in mid-February, Waldman reached out to Sen. Warner; the lawyer wanted to see if Senate Intelligence Committee staff wanted any contact with Assange, to ask about Russia or other issues. Warner engaged with Waldman over encrypted text messages, then reached out to Comey. A few days later, Warner contacted Waldman with an unexpected plea. He told me he had just talked with Comey and that, while the government was appreciative of my efforts, my instructions were to stand down, to end the discussions with Assange, Waldman told me. Waldman offered contemporaneous documents to show he memorialized Warners exact words. Waldman couldnt believe a U.S. senator and the FBI chief were sending a different signal, so he went back to Laufman, who assured him the negotiations were still on. What Laufman said to me after he heard I was told to stand down by Warner and Comey was, Thats bullshit. You are not standing down and neither am I, Waldman recalled. A source familiar with Warners interactions says the senators contact on the Assange matter was limited and was shared with Senate Intelligence chairman Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). But the source acknowledges that Warner consulted Comey and passed along the stand down instructions to Waldman: That did happen. Okay, so we have Warner very much in the thick of the DOJ negotiations with Assange. Fast forward to late June 2018, when his name pops up again in a list of 10 Democratic Senators who asked Vice President Mike Pence to, on a visit to Ecuador, ask new president Lenin Moreno, to revoke Assanges asylum on the London embassy. Warner is there, along with such fine human beings as Dianne Feinstein, and the two Dicks Durbin and Blumenthal. Wikileaks, which posted the list, suggested: Remember them. Looks like an idea. Why would the Democratic party want Assange delivered to the lions? Oh, right, Russia Russia, the entirely unproven allegations which they are so desperate to tie Assange into. They cant prove any of the many allegations of Russian meddling, let alone their role in Hillarys election loss, and they cant prove any allegation against Julian Assange, at least none that he could be charged for/with, but tie Russia and WikiLeaks together and they feel they no longer have to prove anything at all, that mere allegations are strong enough. If there is no crime Assange can be accused of, you just label him a terrorist, and all your legal problems disappear. Because terrorism can be anything, and because of national security reasons, any evidence, whether it exists or not, must be treated in secret. What reason, what grounds, do these Senators have to ask Ecuador to revoke Assanges asylum? What legal grounds could possibly exist? We have no way of knowing, and because they label Julian a terrorist, we have no right to, either. Or so they claim. This is called abomination of justice. In the same way that America and Britains treatment of him is called torture. And no, that is not too strong a term. A man who has never been charged with a crime by anyone, in any country, is being tortured. Julian has severe, painful, dental problems, he has developed a condition that makes his legs swell, and his bone density is dropping fast due to extended lack of sunlight. These people have simply decided to wait it out, so they dont have to go through elaborate legal procedures that they may well lose, to wait until Assange has no choice but to walk out of the embassy, or be carried out on a stretcher or in a coffin. Its not even possible to list all the British, American, Ecuadorian and international laws his treatment violates. Someone should give it a try, though. Just like someone should investigate Mark Warners role in all of this. Warner was pivotal in killing off the Assange legal teams talks with the DOJ, he asked Ecuador to stop Assanges asylum (which is so illegal you dont even want to go there), and now he requests for Assange to appear before the US Senate. Someone investigate that guy. If I can say one last thing, it would be that Warner exemplifies all that is wrong with the US Democratic Party. Hes the Forrest Gump of all their future election losses. The Democrats should be standing up to protect people like Assange, but instead they follow the example of Hillary, who said about Assange cant we drone this guy?. Yeah, the very guy whos never been charged with a single crime. She undoubtedly said it in the same tone of voice as her insane cackle of We came, we saw, he died about Gaddafi. Looked at Libya lately? The essence of this is that we will be better people, and better societies, with Julian Assange around to help us be better. Without him, things look a whole lot darker. We need to be able to hold politicians, corporations and secret services to account. And the more they resist this, often in illegal ways, the more we must insist. The idea was never that we must answer to them. They must answer to us, and we must be able to throw them out when they cross legal and moral lines. Its beyond the pale that that has to be explained once again. And trying to explain that, with examples, is all that Julian Assange has ever done. By Raul Ilargi Meijer Website: http://theautomaticearth.com (provides unique analysis of economics, finance, politics and social dynamics in the context of Complexity Theory) 2018 Copyright Raul I Meijer - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Raul Ilargi Meijer Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. SPX Testing Its First Support Level SPX futures appear to have visited Shot-term support at 2833.27 this morning, but havent put up a challenge, yet. The sideways consolidation is over without making a new high. Now we must establish that a new downtrend has taken hold. All the Cyclical indicators say that the rally is over. ZeroHedge reports, For once it's not about trade wars... but the alternative is hardly better. European stocks tumbled most in a month, following Asian shares lower following contagion fears that Turkeys economic problems will spill over into the euro zone and beyond. The Euro sank, while the safe haven dollar advanced alongside Treasuries, with the 10Y back under 2.90%. The Turkish Lira initially plunged and fell 45 big figures, with the USDTRY hitting a record high of 6.3005, or up more than 11%, before holding below 6.0 for the bulk of the session. NDX made a final probe higher yesterday, but still short of the all-time high. This mornings futures sell-off puts to rest the idea of a new high, at least for now. The reason I say that is because NDX is still in a powerful uptrend, from many different perspectives. People still want to own the FAANGS. It may take the puncturing of the lower trendline of the Broadening Wedge to begin to discourage investors who are programmed to buy the dip. This is frustrating many professionals who have been made to look stupid by this market. ZeroHedge observes, "Don't ask me what you should figure out yourself," is the blunt message from former fund manager and FX trader Richard Breslow this morning. What do you think? is a question you hear over and over again in the trading world. At least some people are still asking at a period of time when you are more likely to get, Do you agree with me or not? Still, the proper answer should be Why do you want to know? VIX futures are climbing in a classic reversal out of a Master Cycle low. No one appears to be paying attention, since the big play is to be short the VIX. The shorts are starting to feel the pain with the biggest move in the VIX in two months. The Commitment of Traders tells us that both large and small speculators are short the VIX with 109,595 contracts as of July 30 with the commercials on the other side of the trade. This is not a timing tool, since the reports are delayed, but it can tell us which way the wind is blowing. TNX has plunged beneath the mid-Cycle support at 29.00, creating a sell signal for TNX. This tells us that liquidity is favoring treasuries. The most likely source is the proceeds from the stock sell-off. Yesterday ZeroHedge wrote, After a poor 3 Year auction on Tuesday, a strong, and record-sized, 10 Year auction yesterday, at 1pm the US Treasury sold $18 billion in 30 Year bonds at a yield of 3.090%, 0.3bps above the When Issued 3.087% - this was the 3rd consecutive 30Y tail - and higher than July's 2.954% if below the May and April equal highs of 3.13%. The auction was mediocre with the Bid to Cover sliding from 2.337 last month to 2.274, below the 6 auction average of 2.357 and the lowest since February's 2.257. Overall, an unremarkable auction which despite some weakness on the top line and a decline in overall interest, saw foreigners step up once again to keep the US government machine well funded. USD futures hit a new high of 96.03, putting a lock on the point 7 target. Today shows the most strength in the Cycles Model, but the turn may not come until Monday. (Reuters) - The euro sank to its lowest levels in more than a year on Friday after a report that the European Central Bank (ECB) was growing concerned about the exposure of banks to a dramatic slide in the Turkish lira. The plummeting lira, caused by a deepening rift with the United States and worries about Turkeys economy, has sent ripples across markets. Nervous investors jumped into the safe-haven dollar, yen, and Swiss franc and dumped riskier currencies like those in emerging markets. The euro was hit hard after the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing two sources, that the ECB had concerns about banks in Spain, Italy and France and their exposure to Turkeys woes. Banks wont be exempt from the sell-off. Yesterday happened to be the last day of Cyclical strength for BKXand a Master Cycle high. This sets up BKX for its next Master Cycle low in mid-September. The EW pattern appears to give us the wind-up for a mighty decline during that period. Bloomberg opines, In the decade since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, regulators around the world have taken steps which, they argue, have greatly strengthened the resilience of the financial system. Buoyant asset prices and rising bank shares suggest that investors largely believe them. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain. That will only become clear in a real downturn, rather than a simulated stress test. The focus on raising collateral requirements exemplifies the problem. Regards, Tony Our Investment Advisor Registration is on the Web. We are in the process of updating our website at http://mrpracticalinvestor.com/ to have more information on our services. Log on and click on Advisor Registration to get more details. If you are a client or wish to become one, please make an appointment to discuss our investment strategies by calling Connie or Tony at (517) 699-1554, ext 10 or 11. Or e-mail us at tpi@thepracticalinve4stor.com . Anthony M. Cherniawski, President and CIOhttp://mrpracticalinvestor.com As a State Registered Investment Advisor, The Practical Investor (TPI) manages private client investment portfolios using a proprietary investment strategy created by Chief Investment Officer Tony Cherniawski. Throughout 2000-01, when many investors felt the pain of double digit market losses, TPI successfully navigated the choppy investment waters, creating a profit for our private investment clients. With a focus on preserving assets and capitalizing on opportunities, TPI clients benefited greatly from the TPI strategies, allowing them to stay on track with their life goals. Disclaimer: The content in this article is written for educational and informational purposes only. There is no offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security and no information contained here should be interpreted or construed as investment advice. Do you own due diligence as the information in this article is the opinion of Anthony M. Cherniawski and subject to change without notice. Anthony M. Cherniawski Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Sinclair Television of Montana, LLC, the parent company of local NBC affiliate KECI (and stations in Butte, Kalispell and Bozeman) filed a civil action in Missoula District Court on Aug. 3 seeking the release of detailed legal bills related to the citys purchase of Mountain Water. At a May 7 City Council meeting, Mayor John Engen said, "As of today, acquisition costs are $9,163,724.54." Attorneys Quentin Rhoades and Nicole Siefert are counsel for the plaintiffs. The suit states its claim under MCA section 2-3-221, the states "right to know" laws. "There was an appeal to the Montana Supreme Court that indicated that certain information about the fees and costs incurred by the City of Missoula would be shared with the defendant on remand to the district court," Jones says, "but that order was very specific, and said that did not authorize the defendants to engage in a fishing expedition that would allow them unrestricted access to all the citys itemized billing statements and attorney-client communications." Susan Elizabeth Shepard https://missoulanews.com/news/missoula-television-station-sues-city-for-mountain-water-legal-bills/article_7d598a86-9bfb-11e8-8795-8fc50cb29605.html *** Tribune Media nixes $3.9B Sinclair merger, cites misleading FCC as contract breach http://www.matr.net/article-84210.html Les membres du Cabinet ont pris connaissance de la promulgation du the Finance and Audit (Rodrigues Subsidy Account) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 ainsi que celui Finance and Audit (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2021, COVID-19 (Closing Down of Premises and Restrictions of Activities) (No. 3) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 2021 la signature dun Protocole daccord entre Economic Development Board et Invest India entre autres. 1. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development would promulgate: (a) the Finance and Audit (Rodrigues Subsidy Account) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. The object of the Regulations is to change the basis of preparation of financial statements of the Rodrigues Subsidy Account from International Financial Reporting Standards to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), in line with the reform initiated by Government since 2017 to gradually implement accrual IPSAS in the public sector; and (b) the Finance and Audit (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2021 to amend the Schedule to the Finance and Audit Act so as to include the Rodrigues Subsidy Account as a new item. 2. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development would promulgate the Statutory Bodies (Accounts and Audit) (Extension of time during COVID-19 period 2021) Regulations 2021. The object of the Regulations is to prescribe a new deadline, as provided in the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021, for the submission of annual report and audit report by the auditor to the Board of a Statutory Body given that the submission date, i.e. 30 April 2021, fell during the COVID-19 period for year 2021. The auditor would have to submit the annual report and audit report to the Board of a Statutory Body not later than two months after the COVID-19 period for year 2021 lapses, i.e. 30 June 2021. 3. Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Economic Development Board and Invest India, the National Investment Promotion Agency of India. The Memorandum of Understanding has, inter alia, the following objectives: (a) strengthening the bilateral investment relations and developing reciprocal business cooperation between Mauritius and India; (b) providing practical investment information to enterprises with a view to facilitating foreign direct investment; and (c) establishing a practical framework agreeable to both jurisdictions and taking into account the national legislation to promote bilateral investment and exchanging experiences and relevant information on their respective investors and investment initiatives. 4. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity with the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) as the implementing arm, for the execution of various agricultural projects to support the beneficiaries of NEF. The Memorandum of Understanding would have the following objectives: (a) training of beneficiaries in the fields of agriculture, food processing and livestock breeding; (b) facilitating the registration of small planters, farmers and bee-keepers; and (c) provision of technical assistance and resources to beneficiaries to start agri-business activities. The Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute would extend its assistance to the beneficiaries in terms of training in crop production, livestock breeding and agro-processing. 5. Cabinet has taken note that a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping and the Federal Agency for Fishery of the Russian Federation on 08 September 2021. The purpose of the Memorandum is to develop cooperation in the field of fisheries and aquaculture on a mutually beneficial and equitable basis in accordance with the national legislation of each party. 6. Cabinet has taken note of the activities which would be organised by the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage in collaboration with the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund to commemorate the 187th Anniversary of the Arrival of Indentured Labourers in Mauritius on 02 November 2021. 7. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the 42nd Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) Task Force of Senior Officials and 21st Council of Ministers Virtual Meetings which were held recently. The applications made by Mauritius for the upgrading of Recommendations 8, 24 and 33 were considered and had been rated as follows: (a) Recommendation 8 (Non-Profit Organisations) from Non-Compliant to Largely Compliant; (b) Recommendation 24 (Transparency and Beneficial Ownership of Legal Persons) from Partially Compliant to Largely Compliant; and (c) Recommendation 33 (Statistics) from Partially Compliant to Compliant. Following the upgrading of the above three Recommendations, Mauritius is now Compliant or Largely Compliant in 39 out of the 40 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations on Technical Compliance with only Recommendation 15 (New Technologies) rated as Partially Compliant. 8. Cabinet has taken note of the participation of the Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade in the First Africa-CARICOM Summit held virtually on 07 September 2021 under the chair of the President of the Republic of Kenya. The theme of the Summit was Unity across Continents and Ocean- Opportunities for Deepening Integration. The Summit was held in line with the Declaration on Promoting Closer Collaboration and Cooperation between the African Union, the African Diaspora and People of African Descent in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions, adopted by the 33rd Ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in February 2020. The main objectives of the Summit were, inter alia, to promote ties and engagements between peoples of African descent in Africa and the Caribbean, and to build social, economic and political linkages that would promote prosperity and progress in the two regions. 9. Cabinet has taken note that the President of the Republic has appointed Mr Telkraj Parbhunath as Commissioner on the Commission of Inquiry set up to inquire and report on, inter alia, the circumstances in which the Contract of Affreightment was awarded to Betamax Ltd. He would replace Dr Pushpawant Boodhun who has tendered his resignation as Commissioner. 10. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Health and Wellness has promulgated the COVID-19 (Closing Down of Premises and Restrictions of Activities) (No. 3) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 2021 to allow certain activities to be carried out on public beach/sea, namely: (a) any sports activities, boating activities and licensed Class I commercial activities under the Beach Authority (Traders Licence) Regulations 2004; and (b) for the celebration of the religious ceremony of Ganesh Chaturthi to be held on 11 September 2021. 11. Cabinet has taken note that the travel restriction for passengers coming from Brazil and South Africa or having transited through those countries during the last 15 days before entering Mauritius has been lifted on 09 September 2021. The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been cancelled accordingly by the Director of Civil Aviation. 12. Cabinet has taken note of the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic prevailing across the world. Some 224 million cases have been reported globally, of which 200.6 million persons have been successfully treated. With regard to Mauritius, as at 10 September 2021, there were 3,584 active cases of COVID-19, out of which three were serious cases. Over the past week, nine deaths were attributed to COVID-19. Cabinet has also taken note of progress in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. As at 09 September 2021, 838,127 persons had received a first dose of vaccine (representing 66 percent of the population). 776,923 persons had been fully vaccinated (representing 61 percent of the population). Some 500,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine were received on 09 September 2021. 13. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to mark World Patient Safety Day 2021, celebrated on 17 September. The theme for this year is Safe Maternal and Newborn Care. The Ministry of Health and Wellness would organise the following activities: (a) launching of the Preconception Care Services at Caudan Arts Centre on 17 September 2021, followed by a half-day workshop; (b) capacity building of healthcare professionals on antenatal, postnatal, newborn care and breastfeeding; (c) launching of a booklet entitled Guide: Votre sante avant la grossesse, pamphlets on Soins Preconceptionnels and three short videos on planning a pregnancy; (d) radio and TV programmes to sensitise the population at large on the need of safe maternal and newborn care; and (e) sensitisation sessions for youths on preconception care and breastfeeding. The Fourth Edition of the Guidelines on the Clinical Use of Blood would also be launched. 14. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by Local Authorities in the context of World Clean-Up Day 2021 which would be celebrated on 18 September. The World Clean-Up Day is held annually in more than 180 countries on the third Saturday of September with the aim to be the biggest waste collection day and the intention to raise awareness of the mismanaged waste crisis by mobilising all spheres of society to participate in clean-up actions. The campaign started with a training programme on the importance of cleaning for a sustainable environment for Local Authorities by the African Network for Policy Research and Advocacy for Sustainability. The activities for the World Clean-Up Day are being held over a two-week period starting on 04 September 2021 to culminate with a major clean-up, thematic bulky wastes collection and embellishment campaigns during the weekend of 18 and 19 September 2021. 15. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Taxi Operators Welfare Fund Board with Mr Mohammad Parwez Nunnoo as Chairperson. 16. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Professional Architects Council for the period 2021 2023. 17. Cabinet has taken note of the appointment of Mrs Francoise Marechal-Charlotte as Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the National Women Entrepreneur Council. 18. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of Le Morne Heritage Trust Fund Board with Mr Jean Claude Jance as Chairperson. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn [August 09, 2018] Hytera Offers Communications Support in Indonesia's Lombok Earthquake A magnitude-6.9 earthquake hit the Indonesian islands of Lombok and Bali at around 6.45pm on August 5th, 2018, with more than 90 people dead and hundreds more injured. The immediate focus is search, rescue and meeting the basic needs of people affected by the earthquake. To improve collaboration efficiency in the search, rescue and evacuation, Hytera donated communications devices in the first minute to Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI), the Indonesian Red Cross, and also has stayed connecting with the Blue Sky Rescue and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to stand by per the nation's request for international rescue efforts. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180809005363/en/ PMI members were binding a wound of an earthquake survivor (Photo: Business Wire) In the morning of August 6, Hytera Indonesian subsidiary in Jakarta set up a 7-member emergency response team and immediately contacted PMI, as its volunteers and staff have been providing medical support to the survivors and also helped to evacuate people from the coastal areas. After confirming PMI was in need of mobile communications support, Hytera local team soon came out with a mission critical communications solution, consisting of advanced digital two-way radios, mobile radio an repeater. On August 7, Tuesday morning, a joint meeting between Hytera engineers and PMI technicians was organized to go through the solution details and possible scenarios where the solution could be used for. At 3pm on August 7, Hytera communications devices were handed over to the PMI team, and its emergency response team were standby to provide assistance for upcoming rescue efforts. "About one week ago I saw Basarnas (Indonesia Emergency Rescue Department) was using your devices in the last Lombok Earthquake. I am familiar with your brand. When you proposed to donate equipment, I am so excited. I hope that those devices could be used into the rescue as soon as possible. Thank you for your help," said Mr. Sunarbowo Sandi, Head of the PMI Headquarter, when receiving devices from Jerry Gao, Sales Manager ASEAN of Overseas Sales Department at Hytera. At the same time, Hytera headquarters CSR (News - Alert) team in Shenzhen, China, contacted the Blue Sky Rescue and the East Asia of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to offer necessary help once needed. Gwendolyn Pang, Head of East Asia, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said, "I was informed that yesterday that Mr. David Yang, a Hytera Regional Marketing Manager from Shenzhen, delivered 50 handsets, 1 mobile radio and 1 repeater to the Indonesian Red Cross office in Jakarta. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Indonesian Red Cross welcome more donations for the earthquake operation. IFRC would like to establish a regional or global partnership with Hytera. Together, let's make the world safer!" Hytera will continue to pay attention to the disaster and provide communications support to help reconstruction in the first moment. Hytera, a leading global provider of innovative Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) communications solutions, is committed to fulfilling its social responsibilities by leveraging cutting-edge technology and product portfolio to support rescue and relief operations on a global scale. Hytera played an active role in providing support to emergency response efforts such as the Japan Tsunami in 2011, the Nepal Earthquake in 2015, the floods in Myanmar in 2016, Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas in 2017 and Laos Dam Collapse in last month. About PT. Hytera Communications Indonesia PT. Hytera Communications Indonesia started its business back in August 2010 as an office of Hytera Communications Corporation Limited. With seven years' efforts, Hytera Indonesia office upgraded to PT. Hytera Communications Indonesia. Hytera Communications Indonesia has built its reputation as a leading supplier in Indonesian Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) industry, supporting channel partners and clients in different industries, such as Public Safety and Security, Oil and Gas, Civil Aviation, Railway Transportation, Commercial Business, etc. Hytera can be found throughout the country from INP (Indonesia National Police), Kejaksaan Republik Indonesia (Attorney General of Indonesia), Tanjung Priok Port to Pertamina Oil and Gas plant, Wilmar plantation, and Marriott Hotel, etc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180809005363/en/ [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] [August 09, 2018] American National Bank of Texas Selects Newgen to Deliver Superior Lending Services McLEAN, Virginia, August 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Newgen Software Inc., a provider of banking software solutions, announced the American National Bank of Texas (ANBTX) has selected its consumer loan origination solution to digitize and automate its retail lending process. This will enable ANBTX to offer a more proactive and comprehensive end-to-end solution while delivering an enhanced customer experience. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/676258/Newgen_Logo.jpg ) "Today's consumers need a fast, efficient loan process from start to finish-whether they're buying a car or having to finance unexpected expenses. That's why we're focused on adopting a platform that's both agile and adaptable," said Sharon Lee, Senior Executive Vice President of Client Services for ANBTX. "Not only are we automating our consumer lending process, but we're providing effective risk management across all our channels," continued Lee. "There is a need for dynamic and evolving applications to help banks keep up with changing market conditions, competition, and regulatory compliance. Newgen solutions are based on Business Process Management and Enterprise Content Management platforms and can offer ANBTX a configurable unified platform for rapid automation of their core lending processes," said Mr. Diwakar Nigam, Chairman and Managing Director, Newgen Software. ANBTX will leverage Newgen's comprehensive retail lending solution to optimize itsconsumer loan processes-from pre-screening and application processing to underwriting, closing, and funding-across a range of loan products. The solution is flexible and responsive allowing ANBTX to independently run most of the changes in a paperless and electronically-driven workflow environment. The solution drives straight-through processing and delivers intelligent automation, reducing funding time and improving the customer's experience. About American National Bank of Texas: American National Bank of Texas (ANBTX), founded in 1875 in Terrell, Texas, is one of the oldest and largest independently-owned banks in the state. With assets of $2 billion, the bank has more than 28 locations throughout North Texas serving Collin, Dallas, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Van Zandt Counties. As a community bank, American National Bank of Texas offers traditional banking products and services to individuals, businesses, and municipal governments. They also provide individual and corporate trust, investment and estate planning services through their Wealth Management Group as well as personal and commercial insurance and risk management services through ANBTX Insurance Services. ANBTX has consistently been ranked one of the Top 100 Places to Work by the Dallas Morning News. Visit American National Bank of Texas online at http://www.anbtx.com. Member FDIC. For more information, please visit https://www.anbtx.com About Newgen Software Inc.: Newgen Software Inc. (subsidiary of Newgen Software Technologies Limited) is a global provider in banking process automation with more than 200+ banks and financial services institutions as its clients. Newgen's banking process management framework automates critical business processes for banking institutions across commercial lending, consumer lending, customer on-boarding, online account opening, trade finance, digital and mobile customer experience strategy. Newgen offers flexible on premise and cloud-based solutions to its banking customers. For more information, please visit https://newgensoft.com/ Connect with us: Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter Watch our videos on YouTube Media Contact: Asif Khan asif.khan@newgensoft.com SOURCE Newgen Software Inc. [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, HARRISBURG >> Whitewater boating enthusiasts once again will converge on Bucks Countys Tohickon Creek Saturday and Sunday, November 6 and 7, when the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) releases water from Lake Nockamixon into Tohickon Creek. Releases are historically scheduled on a semi-annual basis, usually occurring on the third weekend in March and the first weekend in... Lifelong Santa Clara County resident Tony Bowden was appointed by the board of supervisors as the county fire departments new fire chief. Bowden, who is currently working as the Santa Clara County Fire Departments Assistant Chief, will begin his new assignment Aug. 13, according to county staff. Chief Bowden is a trusted, dedicated leader who knows our county and cares about our residents. I have no doubt that he will maintain the level of excellence that the Santa Clara County Fire Department is known for, said Supervisor Mike Wasserman. Bowden began his firefighting career with the Los Altos Fire Department in 1996. He joined the county fire department later the same year when the City of Los Altos and town of Los Altos Hills contracted with the county for services. Bowden has worked his way up the ranks since then, holding every rank in the organization. I look forward to this new opportunity, Bowden said. I was born and raised in this community and have worked for the fire department nearly all of my adult life. I am honored the board of supervisors has entrusted me with leading County Fire as we serve the community. The Santa Clara County Fire Department provides emergency response and preparedness services to unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, and the communities of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga. County Fire is a unique organization, Bowden said. We provide emergency services throughout Santa Clara County, including our recent partnership to assume management of the countys 911 Communications Center. Upgrading the centers critical infrastructure, as well as other department facilities, will be my near-term focus to ensure we can continue to meet the changing needs of the communities we serve. As County Fire Chief, Bowden also serves as the Santa Clara County Fire Marshal. Bowden, a San Jose resident, holds a bachelors degree in Fire Administration from Waldorf University, and is completing a masters degree in Organizational Leadership. He is a state certified Fire Officer, Chief Officer and Fire Instructor. Bowden will replace County Fire Chief Kenneth R. Kehmna, who will be retired as of Aug. 12 after more than 30 years of service. County staff did not immediately provide Bowdens salary details. Kehmna received a salary of $259,213 in 2016, according to the website transparentcalifornia.com. Kehmna also received benefits worth about $125,429 in 2016. For more information about the Santa Clara County Fire Department, visit www.sccfd.org. 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. Its officially opening weekend for the Levitt Pavilion Dayton! Starting tonight at 7pm tonight there will be four concerts in a row to kick off the grand opening of this new outdoor venue. The $5 million dollar venue will host over 30 FREE concerts featuring rock, blues, jazz, folk, R&B, country, pop and family friendly acts this summer, increasing to over 50 in 2019 when they will have the entire summer to program. Showtime will be 7pm for Thursday- Saturday shows with the Sunday performance beginning at 3pm. What you need to know: Bring your own lawn chair or blanket. Bring your own food & drink (yes that includes alcohol- just no glass please). Your dog is welcome, if its well behaved and on a leash. No smoking on the Levitt Pavilion Dayton lawn, including e-cigarettes or vapor cigarettes. Wheelchairs can be parked all along the sidewalks or on the lawn. Ramps lead to the lawn on the Jefferson Street side of the park. Weather Permitting- if a show has to be cancelled due to weather it will be posted on Levitt Pavilion website, Facebook page and Twitter. Dont have time to pack a picnic? Some local merchants are posting some great eats to gp making it easy for you to grab before you head to a show. Heres what weve seen on facebook today: Crafted and Cured 531 Wayne Ave, Dayton, OH 45410 Offering a carryout package with everything you need for the shows. For only $25, receive two chef paired meat & cheese cones and one fresh canned 32oz Crowlered beer of your choosing. Transportable cone vessels double as cups for your Crowler. Trolley Stop 530 E 5th St, Dayton, Ohio 45402 Let Trolley Stop pack your picnic. Theyve got hummus, falafel, tabouli, fruit with cottage cheese, chili dogs and burgers, as well as salads they are happy to pack up for you all in guilt free packaging! Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar 46 W 5th St, Dayton, Ohio 45402 Pick up your wines or snack pack from Third Perk. $5 wines or $10 wine snack packs that include grapes and cheesek Food trucks will also be lined up around the park: Thursday, August 9 Drunken Waffle, Twisted Taco, Graeters Ice Cream, El Meson Friday and Saturday D Fish D Chicken and Garys Italian Ice The Talent For Opening Weekend: Opening Night: WORLD MUSIC Gina Chavez . AUGUST 9, 2018 AT 7 PM Gina Chavez is blending the sounds of the Americas with tension and grace. As a multi-ethnic Latin pop songstress, Chavezs passionate collection of bilingual songs traverse cumbia, bossa nova, vintage pop, indie-folk and reggaeton that takes audiences on a journey through the Americas as she discovers her own Latin roots through music. An eight-time Austin Music Award winner, Gina and her band have opened for Grace Potter, GRAMMY winners La Santa Cecilia, Gaby Moreno and Grupo Fantasma, and are winning audiences throughout the U.S. and abroad while on tour as official ambassadors with the U.S. State Departments American Music Abroad program. She took home the Grand Prize in the 2014 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for Siete-D, a song about her experience volunteering in a gang-dominated suburb of San Salvador where she founded Ninas Arriba, a college fund for young Latinas. EICHELBERGER JAZZ SERIES: Paul Brown ft. Chris Standring AUGUST 10, 2018 AT 7 PM Two-time GRAMMY winning jazz guitarist, engineer, and producer Paul Brown career spans over two decades and includes the release of eight solo albums and countless collaborations with well-established smooth jazz artists like George Benson, Jeffrey Osborne and Kirk Whalum. His newest release One Way Backfeatures the #1 hit Put It Where You Want It. The Funky Joint had two #1 hits and was on the jazz charts for a year and a half, solidifying Paul as one of the prominent jazz guitarist on the scene today. Performances in Dubai, Iceland, Japan, Canada, throughout Europe and the United States he has taken his trademark smooth groove with catchy melodic sound and made his mark on the international jazz scene. The Paul Brown sound is warm and inviting. His music is funky yet has elegance and beauty. He woos the crowd with understated confidence, as every note falls in the perfect place. Called the Baby Face of Smooth Jazz, the 2011 Canadian Smooth Jazz Best Vocalist nominee currently has over 60 #1 hits on the Radio & Records smooth jazz chart, is considered to be the genres #1 producer and has earned the distinction of having a #1 Radio & Records chart hit as both an artist and producer. While Standring became a popular force in contemporary urban jazz with infectious, ubiquitous R&B-driven hits. When it comes time for Standring to start a new project, he seeks out that small, indefinable and sometimes hard-to-articulate moment of inspiration that becomes a catalyst and provides the perfect sonic through line. One can trace the multitude of cool, trippy textures on his new album Sunlight to the sparkling, hypnotic sound of what he calls swirly guitarssplit between a panning to the left and then the right on the sonic spectrumthat sparked three of the albums key tracks. He will join Paul Brown as his special guest. LEVITT NATIONAL TOUR . Paul Thorn & Blind Boys of Alabama AUGUST 11, 2018 AT 7 PM The 2018 Levitt National Tour presents a one-of-a-kind collaboration between acclaimed Southern raconteur Paul Thorn and his five-piece band and GRAMMY-winning gospel legends Blind Boys of Alabama. Billed as the Mission Temple Fireworks Revival, the show will include songs off of Thorns 2018 album Dont Let The Devil Ridewhich journeys through classic gospel, soul and spirituals, featuring guest vocals by Blind Boys of Alabama. Thorn is celebrated for his muscular brand of roots musicbluesy, rocking and thoroughly Southern American, while speaking universal truths. He has performed on major television shows like Late Night with Conan OBrien and Jimmy Kimmel Live!; been the subject of numerous National Public Radio (NPR) features; charted multiple times on the Billboard Top 100 and Americana Radio Charts; and performed alongside living legends like Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Sting, and John Prine. Co-headliner, Blind Boys of Alabamadubbed gospel titans by Rolling Stone magazinepush musical boundaries with innovative approaches to traditional gospel and contemporary spirituals by songwriters such as Eric Clapton, Prince and Tom Waits. Blind Boys 75-plus-year career has been honored with five GRAMMY Awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). Theyve recorded with fellow musical greats Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Patty Griffin and Taj Mahal. Blind Boys of Alabama have appeared on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, The Grammy Awards, 60 Minutes, The Colbert Report and many other television shows. Levitt National Tour audiences are in for an electrifying evening of gospel meets blues meets rock! BERLIN Getting treatment for colds, cuts and concussions will be easier after the opening of an urgent care clinic. It is a much needed service, said Dr. Thomas Brown, who said hes been interested opening his third Kathys Urgent Care Clinic in Berlin for years. The lack of such clinics could force those in need of care into hospital emergency rooms, he said, which tend to have longer wait times and more expensive costs. We are thrilled because, again, we dont have a medical walk-in, said Economic Development Director Chris Edge, adding that he had been courting various urgent care clinics in neighboring towns to open a branch in Berlin. Its been one of the goals Ive (had) for the last year and a half. After working as a primary care physician, Brown opened his first urgent care clinic in Wethersfield in 2015 and a second in Rocky Hill, which opened in 2017. The Berlin site, which opened Monday, is located at 175 Webster Square Road, adjacent to Harbor Freight Tools. Incorporating the experience hes had working with patients long term, Brown aims to provide more care than the typical walk-in clinic. For instance, he said many clinicians treating a broken shoulder would diagnose the issue and recommend that the patient seek further treatment from a specialist. Brown aims to do more of the preliminary treatment in the clinic, which he said results in faster and cheaper care. He will work with the patient to schedule an appointment with a specialist while they are in the clinic, and he can perform some scans and send the results to the doctor following up, reducing waiting time and redundancy. He has also declined to become formally associated with any of the hospital networks, since he prefers to be able to refer patients to wherever would be most convenient and beneficial to them. I think the patients deserve to go wherever they want, he said. Since many patients he sees struggle with obesity and diabetes, he is also partnering with Don Maleto, who will be teaching health and nutrition. Maleto is also executive director of the Connecticut Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. Brown also aims to make patients feel comfortable throughout their treatment, a practice he says hasnt been prioritized by many physicians. Since his customers are visiting an urgent care clinic, he said many patients are already having a bad experience and he doesnt want to see extended to their treatment. Formerly the site of Acular Furniture, Brown said it took creative thinking to nestle examination room along the walls, careful to leave enough space for patients to be comfortable. You feel welcome, you don't feel like heres a big huge glass window and a wall between you and the (doctor), Edge said. Im amazed at how it looks, the effort and investment they put into it. Its not your mother and fathers walk-in. dleithyessian@record-journal.com 203-317-2317 Twitter: @leith_yessian The Capitol Region Council of Governments is recommending changes to the transit system that could add a bus through Plainville and Southington and move a Meriden-New Brtain route from the Chamberlain Highway over to the Berlin Turnpike. The CRCOG board approved the 102-page transit service analysis which collected ridership data, analyzed existing bus routes, and conducted a market analysis to identify new service areas. CRCOGs Comprehensive Transit Service Analysis of the New Britain/Bristol Division of CTtransit is now complete, as CRCOGs Policy Board endorsed the studys Final Report earlier this summer. The study area for the effort, which began in 2015, included Berlin, Bristol, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. The document serves as a planning tool for future CTtransit bus service in the New Britain-Bristol Division. The recommendations of this study represents a potential scenario and are not a final service plan, the report said. The document will serve as an example for improved bus transit service in the study area and provide a potential blueprint for future service. Any service changes will need to be approved by the Department of Transportation. Phase One would be cost neutral and include a new Route 542 connecting Bristol and Plainville to Southington. The new route would operate along West Street, West Queen Street and Queen Street. Under Phase Two, which would include an 11 percent cost hike, service would be extended farther south and operate via West Street, West Main Street, South Main Street to serve the Plantsville park and ride, Main Street and Queen Street. Connecticons to other services would be available in downtown Bristol, the Lake Avenue and Plainville park and rides and Connecticut Commons in Plainville. Study authors say there is a need for increased transit services in the downtown Southington area, where there are some seniors without cars and low-income residents. However, Democratic Town Councilor Dawn Miceli said there have been no discussions about the need for bus service among town residents. Weve never had formal discussions during my 10 years on the council, Miceli said. This has not been a big topic of need from constituents or businesses. Town senior citizens have expressed a need for a ride service, and the United Way has obtained grant funding from Main Street Community Foundation to provide one. The service would assist senior citizens without cars to get to shopping and doctors appointments. Thats what we do in this town, Miceli said. Rather than waiting for public this or that, we take it on as our own. Economic Development Coordinator Louis Perillo said that although he is no longer a member of CRCOG, he expects the need for transit service in Southington would increase as areas become more dense. The study also takes a look at the existing route that brings riders from Arch Street in New Britain to the Westfield Meriden mall and onto MidState Medical Center. That route, 501, currently travels non-stop along Chamberlain Highway. Phase One would change the route to go from Target to the mall to North Colony Road, to the Berlin Turnpike, along Farmington Avenue and into New Britain. Route 501 offers fast and direct service between New Britain and Meriden, but the route operates mostly closed-door along the Chamberlan Highway, the report states. Other alignments, although approximately five minutes slower, demonstrate higher ridership potential through areas of Berlin with underlying demand but no current service. mgodin@record-journal.com 203-317-2255 Twitter: @Cconnbiz As Connecticut continues to struggle with its economic recovery, Richard Dupont said its critically important for voters in the 5th Congressional District to elect a representative with an ability to collaborate. Dupont, who has drawn from his experience in manufacturing to work with congressmen from both parties on workforce development, said he has a well proven track record to win over voters. To me, what we have an opportunity right now to do is take a look at our inner cities, take a look at the challenges that our people have young, middle-aged and older to take care of themselves right now, he also said Thursday during a visit to the Record-Journal for an episode of the Morning Record. Dupont, of Watertown, is one of three Republicans vying for the 5th Congressional District nomination in the Aug. 14 primaries. He faces endorsed candidate, and former Meriden mayor, Manny Santos and Ruby Corby ONeill. The nominee will face the winner of the Democrats two-way race in the November election. U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty isnt seeking re-election. Dupont is president of Resource Development Associates, a manufacturing consulting firm, but his experience also includes working with public officials, including congressmen, on training and workforce development. He said his more than 30 years in manufacturing shows that breaking cycles of poverty in our inner cities is something that I work on every day and Ive been working on my entire career. Dupont said growing more good paying jobs is the key to ending a system of dependency, and would provide benefits that would address a range of issues. For example, he said increased access to insurance under the Affordable Care Act through the expansion of programs like Medicare has also driven up costs, and the focus should be getting people into jobs that offer health insurance coverage. He also said people with jobs are likely to feel more satisfied with their lives, leading to a reduction in crime and drug use. Dupont praised President Donald Trumps use of tariffs, saying he expects the U.S. economy will see benefits over time. He also credited Trump with trying to improve relations with traditional enemies, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, although he also said hed like to see a more cautious approach. He admitted, for example, that he was concerned Trump dismissed evidence from intelligence officials that Russian interfered with the 2016 elections. My intent in going to Washington is never to be a yes man to the president, he said. My intent is to understand what the expectations are from the constituents of this district, understand what is going on in Washington, and try to bring the two things together. Dupont said he supports the tax cuts Republicans approved last year, but now Congress needs to make spending reductions to get the budget in balance. To hear more from Dupont, listen to the Morning Record, the Record-Journals daily news podcast, at https://bit.ly/2vyFGwh msavino@record-journal.com 203-317-2266 Twitter: @reporter_savino The National Assembly Session has been prorogued on Friday, the 22nd October, 2021 Committee Meetings:10:00 AM: Meetings/Visit of the Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Cooridor (CPEC) at Serena Hotel, Gilgit | 11:00 AM: Sub-Committee of the S.C. on Information Technology and Telecommunication at Committee Room No. 7 | 02:00 PM: Economic Affairs Division at Committee Room No. 7 | By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Flipkart on Thursday launched its grocery store Flipkart Supermart, a private label in the staples category as it looks to expand this to other food and non-food offerings too, in Bengaluru. By the year-end, it plans to expand the service to six metros including Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai. Sources say it plans to invest close to $250 million in the service over the next three years. This is Flipkarts second attempt in the segment. In 2016, the e-commerce giant shut down its grocery app Nearby, which failed to take off. Grocery is the biggest category in the overall retail market and a major part of the consumer wallet. Consumer interaction happens every week. This is a big opportunity, said Manish Kumar, head of grocery at Flipkart. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Delhi Police and the Delhi administration asking for a detailed report within four weeks regarding the rape of a minor girl in a government school on Friday. Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports that the six-year-old girl, studying in a government school in Central Delhi, was raped by a man working as an electrician with the school, the NHRC issued notices to Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash and Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik. Also Read: Class two student raped by electrician in NDMC school "Being the custodian of the students, the school authorities are responsible for the safety and security of its students, especially the girl students. Prima facie, the incident indicates towards negligence by the school administration. The Chief Secretary is expected to inform whether all the guidelines/directions issued by authorities for safety of students are being followed by the schools in Delhi," the NHRC notice read. The human rights watchdog also stated that in its opinion, there should be a separate state human rights commission in Delhi to deal with such cases of violation of human rights. Also Read: Angry parents protest outside NDMC school where girl was raped According to the reports, the sexual abuse took place when the girl was about to return home after her classes ended. The accused also allegedly warned the victim not to tell it to anyone. The victim was medically examined and the reports confirmed that she was raped. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Hyderabad MP and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen supremo Asaduddin Owaisi, on Thursday, took the menace of potholes to the parliament and posed a question at the floor of Lok Sabha. He asked the union minister for transport, during the question hour, if any measures were taken to solve the menace of potholes in the country. The MIM MP asked if contractors responsible for poor roads would be booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Last year in all terrorist and Naxal attacks, the security personnel and civilians who died is 803. In pothole fatalities, it is 3,597. My question is have you framed guidelines for standardised road construction and maintenance, he questioned. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The rough sea and subsequent restrictions for visitors at the Shangumugham beach are expected to create chaos during the Karkidaka vavubali on Saturday. Shangumugham is one of the largest bali venues in the capital district where thousands could offer the ritual at a time. But this year, only the Travancore Devaswom Board will be allowed to set up bali mandapam on the beach. TDBs twin mandapams on the beach can accommodate 800 persons at a time, said Ayyappan, Shangumugham sub-group officer of the board. The mandapams will be adjacent to the aarattu mandapam. Each mandapam can accommodate about 400 persons at a time. Eight showers will be set up for the devotees to take the ritualistic bath. An adequate number of people will be deployed to help the devotees perform the ritual in comfort, Ayyappan said. Devotees will be allowed to take bath at a specific area on the beach under the strict surveillance of lifeguards and police personnel. But, this will be denied, if the condition of the sea worsens, officials said. Police will restrict entry to the beach by erecting barricades at the entrance to the beach. Only about 1,000 persons will be allowed in the area at a time. 800 can perform the ritual at a time at Shangumugham and that is not even the quarter of last years capacity At most locations, the ritual will begin at 2.30 am and end just before noon Varkala Restrictions will be in place at Varkala beach as well. Devotees will be allowed to take bath in specific places while lifeguards keep vigil. Thiruvallam There will be nine bali mandapams at the Thiruvallam Sree Parasuramaswami temple, one more than the previous year. The new mandapam can accommodate 500-600 persons. Altogether, 3,500- 4,000 persons can offer the ritual at a time, said the temple administrative officer. There will be 25 priests, 50 co-priests and 250 helpers to help the devotees. A total of 200 showers will be available at the ghat. By Online Desk Both Houses met today on the last day of the Parliament's monsoon session. The much-debated Triple Talaq Bill was expected to be heard in the Rajya Sabha today but as there was no consensus among parties, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu deferred it to the next session. The Bills that were passed by the Rajya Sabha today are: Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018. The Lok Sabha had passed a total of 21 Bills in its 17 sittings during the monsoon session. Newly elected Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh adjourned the Upper House twice today as the government and Opposition couldn't agree on the legislative business. The House faced constant disruptions over the Rafale deal. Meanwhile, Congress MPs led by Sonia Gandhi attacked the Centre on the Rafale deal, demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Here are the highlights of the proceedings: By Express News Service JAIPUR: Three seemingly Islamic-sounding villages will now have Hindu names as the Rajasthan government has notified their renaming after the proposal was cleared by the Union Home Ministry a few days ago. Ismailpur village in Jhunjhunu district will now be known as Pichanwa Khurd while Miyon ka Bara in Barmer district has been rechristened as Mahesh Nagar. In Jalore district, a village known as Narpara until now will henceforth be called Narpura. The move, which comes just a few months before the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, is being seen as part of the Vasundhara Raje governments bid to woo voters. The government has offered two reasons to justify the move behind renaming Miyon ka Bara (house of Muslims) one, it was called so despite having only four Muslim families (in a population of around 2,000); and secondly, the residents had been complaining that the youths were not receiving marriage proposals because of the misleading name, which gave an impression that it was a Muslim-dominated village. According to officials, locals had pleaded the district administration to change the name of the village. A district official claims that the village was known as Mahesh Ro Baado prior to Independence. Hameersingh Bhayal, BJP MLA from Siwana in Barmer, said the demand to rename the village was 10 years old. It has been named Mahesh Nagar due to the presence of a Shiva temple in the village, he said. Government sources disclosed that a proposal is in the pipeline to rename three more Islamic-sounding villages in Chittorgarh district - Mohamadpura is proposed to be renamed as Medi Ka Kheda; Nawabpura as Nayi Sarthal and Rampura Aajampur as Sitaram Ji ka Kheda. The renaming has received flak from the Opposition Congress that described it as a bid to isolate Muslims and polarise the state for electoral gains. They want to divert people from core issues. The Raje government has fallen flat in fulfilling the basic promises it made. Now, they want to divide people in the name of cows or by renaming villages, said Archana Sharma, Congress spokesperson. Political commentator Rajiv Gupta alleged the move was yet another example of the BJPs bias against the Muslims. The BJP can survive only when they are successful in establishing the fact that they are against the minorities, he said. Fear mongering In April, BJP MLA Banwari Lal Singhal had courted controversy when he urged Hindu families not to allow Muslims to enter their houses. The BJP MLA had claimed that he neither allowed Muslims to enter his office nor sought votes from the community. By Express News Service CHENNAI: The 13 Rajya Sabha MPs of AIADMK played a key role in the election of NDA candidate and JD (U) MP Harivansh Narayan Singh from Bihar as the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The number of votes polled in the election for Deputy Chairman clearly indicated this. While Harivansh Narayan Singh polled 125 votes, the opposition candidate BN Hariprasad polled 105 votes. This indicated a close contest and the support of AIADMK MPs was much required for the NDA candidate to get elected. The support of AIADMK MPs to NDA candidate came after the recent embarrassment caused due to denial of audience to Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman though the former was waiting at the latters office. Opposition parties criticised the AIADMK and BJP in this regard. AIADMK sources said that in 2014, M Thambidurai was elected Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha with the support of NDA and as a reciprocal gesture, AIADMK supported the NDA candidate for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman. On Wednesday, the party leadership had issued a directive to the MPs to support the NDA candidate. Although the AIADMK MPs have been vehemently opposing the Central government on the Cauvery issue, Dam Safety Bill, etc., during Parliament sessions, the party has been supporting the BJP-led NDA government on key issues. Recently, they voted in favour of NDA government when opposition moved a no-confidence motion. A fortnight ago, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami went on record saying that the AIADMK government was having a cordial relationship with the Centre for ensuring welfare and developmental schemes to Tamil Nadu. We are not allies; yet, we are not foes too, he had said. Offering support Although the AIADMK MPs have been vehemently opposing the Centre on the Cauvery issue, Dam Safety Bill, etc., during Parliament sessions, the party has been supporting the BJP-led NDA government on key issues. Recently, they voted in favour of NDA government when opposition moved a no-confidence motion Sana Shakil By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The centre has started collecting data on the incidents of Nikah Halala and polygamy--Muslim practices whose validity has been challenged in the Supreme Court. While the government has given indications of opposing the two practices, it is yet to present its official position before the court and statistics regarding the prevalence of these practices will help in strengthening its stance against the two practices, sources said. Official sources added that the government is also studying the prevalence of these practices in other countries in order to understand the relevance of these practices among the Muslim society worldwide. While polygamy allows a Muslim man to have four wives, 'nikah halala' is a controversial practice which forbids a divorced couple from remarrying until the woman marries someone else, consummates her new marriage and gets divorced or widowed. The PILs challenging the validity of the two practices is likely to be heard next month by the Supreme Court.In that hearing, the government is likely to point out that many countries, including those that have large Muslim population, have undertaken reforms and regulated polygamy and divorce laws. Sources in the know of the matter said that the government is preparing a list of countries which have either banned polygamy or have regulated the controversial practice to avoid its misuse. Afghanistan, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Indonesia, Iran and even neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are some of the countries where polygamy has either been banned or regulated by the law, sources said. Pertinently, the government had carried out a similar exercise even when it strongly opposed in court the practice of instant triple talaq which was eventually banned by the Supreme Court as violative of women's right to equality under the Constitution. In March this year, a three-judge Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had issued notices to the union government and the attorney general on a petition filed by Delhi-based woman, Sameena Begum, who alleged that she was subjected to cruelty in her marriage over dowry and eventually dumped by the first husband. She claimed that her second husband, a married man, divorced her illegally through triple talaq. Besides Sameena, several others have also approached the court challenging the validity of these practices. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it is opposing the release of Rajiv Gandhi's killers as it will set a very dangerous precedent. The case has already been decided by judiciary and executive and will lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in future. Submitting a three-page affidavit, government told the court that the former prime minister's assassins cannot be released and that the President of India has earlier already rejected a proposal to release the convicts. Assasination of Rajiv Gandhi was the most heinous and gruesome crime, the brutal act brought the Indian democratic process to a grinding halt in as much as the general election to the Lok Sabha and assemblies in some state had to be postponed and that is why the perpetrators do not deserve any leniency, reads the affidavit adding that Tamil Nadu had been informed of the decision on April 18. It further states that in pursuance of section 435 of Criminal Procedure Code do not concur to the proposal of Tamil Nadu government for grant of further remission of sentence to seven convicts. The affidavit came in response to the Supreme Court asking the government to explain its stand on Tamil Nadu's 2016 decision to release the seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The seven convicts are serving life terms. The Tamil Nadu government's decision was challenged in the Supreme Court, following which the court asked for the Centre's opinion. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, around seven years after his mother Indira Gandhi was gunned down by her bodyguards in New Delhi. Rajiv Gandhi died after a suicide bomber approached him at a political rally in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur. Investigations later revealed that the Sri Lanka-based militant organisation Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was behind the assassination. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Congress today alleged a Rs 4,000 crore scam in the procurement of groundnuts in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat, and demanded a judicial probe into it by a sitting Supreme Court judge. Addressing a joint press conference here, Congress leaders Rajeev Satav and Paresh Dhanani alleged that the multi-crore scam had links to the chief minister's office and other higher-ups in the BJP, who was trying to bury it. Satav said while the Congress had given representations to the state government to initiate a probe monitored by a Supreme Court judge, it was open to taking legal recourse through a PIL or other measures in case the government did not order a judicial probe. Dhanani, who is the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in the Gujarat Assembly, said the party gave several representations to the state government, which had started investigating the matter and 27 people, including officials, were arrested. He, however, said the bigwigs and the "real accused" in the scam were getting away. Dhanani said the scam involved the procurement of groundnuts from farmers. He said the procured groundnuts were sold to millers and the stocks were then adulterated with sand and pebbles to show zero loss. He added that before the Assembly elections, the government had announced on October 24, 2017, that it would procure groundnuts from farmers at a higher rate of Rs 900 per 20 kg against an earlier rate of Rs 550 after the polls. "We demand that the state government order a judicial probe into the groundnuts scam by a sitting Supreme Court judge," they told reporters, alleging that the scam involved Rs 4,000 crores. "If the government continues to suppress the truth in this case, the path to file a PIL or other legal recourse is open before us," he added. He alleged that the state government was seeking to bury the groundnut scam, the threads of the which were linked to the chief minister's office. Dhanani said the Congress was protesting in every district and outside the godowns where the groundnuts were stored. The Congress alleged that several BJP leaders were involved in the scam, along with officials of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), the Gujarat State Co-Operative Cotton Federation Limited (GUJCOT), as well as local politicians, who allegedly stole and sold off procured groundnut to oil millers. The stocks of groundnut were then adulterated with sand and pebbles to show that there was no loss in weight of the stocks, the party alleged. The leaders also alleged that there were four incidents of fire at the warehouses where such stocks were kept over the last six months. Anuradha Shukla By Express News Service NEW DELHI: What can be a setback for the Air India, the Finance Ministry has opposed request of a bailout package from the Civil Aviation Ministry worth Rs.11,000 crore, citing the fiscal constraint and has communicated the same to the Prime Ministers Office. According to the sources in the Finance Ministry, the Civil Aviation Minister had approached the finance ministry with a request of fresh bailout package for the revival of ailing Air India to the tune of Rs, 11400 crore, after the plan to disinvest failed in May. The ministry says that the package would be utilised to reduce high-cost working capital loans of Air India. However, the Finance Ministry, which is already managing revenue deficit and subsidies, is strongly opposed to the move. The cabinet has recently approved about 980 crore for the Air India. But government cannot eternally bail them out. We have to look at fiscal targets also. Even when the stake sale plan has not worked, the Carrier had to find out some way to be profitable. We are already opposed to the move and has communicated the same to the PMO, a senior official from the Finance Ministry told TNIE. According to the official the final call, however, will be taken by the PMO. According to the governments own admission in Lok Sabha, since 2012, Air India has received an equity infusion of Rs 27,195.21 crore till date. In the current financial year, the airline has received an equity infusion of Rs 650 crore up to June. The recent infusion of Rs.980 crore will be used by the cash-strapped Air India to pay salaries and payment to vendors. It was delaying salaries of staff for last seven months. However, the trouble is not just limited to Air India. High fuel cost is hitting the margins of all peers, including even super-efficient carriers like Indigo, which posted a 97 per cent drop in net profit and caused major financial stress for jet airways, which had estimated debt of Rs 943 crore. Jet Airways deferred announcing their June quarter numbers to an unspecified date. The development came late evening after the company's AGM on Thursday. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry may reconsider its decision to conduct medical entrance exam NEET twice a year, following recommendations from the Health Ministry. According to sources, the Health Ministry has written to the HRD Ministry, raising concerns on conducting the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) twice a year as the examination calendar may put additional pressure on the students. It has also voiced concern about the students living in the rural areas, who may suffer if the exam is conducted only in the online mode. "However, no final decision has been taken in this regard," a source said. Last month, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had announced the ambitious plan of conducting the medical and dental entrance exam, along with the Joint Entrance Examination - Main for admission to engineering colleges, twice a year by the newly-formed National Testing Agency (NTA). It was also announced that all the exams to be conducted by the NTA would be computer-based. The ministry has also announced the tentative dates for the exams, according to which, the NEETUG is scheduled for February, 2019 with a repeat in May 2019. By PTI NEW DELHI: India has conveyed its concern to Beijing over Chinese construction activities in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and has asked them to stop it, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, V K Singh, Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry, said India's consistent and principled position has been that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. He asserted that Pakistan was in illegal and forcible occupation of a part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. "Government is aware of Chinese construction activities in PoK. The government has conveyed to the Chinese side, including at the highest level, its concern over these activities, which we see as violating our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have asked the Chinese side to cease these activities," Singh said. In response to another question on 'Pakistan-promoted propaganda' on social media to mislead the people of Kashmir, the MoS said the government consistently monitors the situation and takes all possible measures to maintain law and order and safeguard national interest and security. He said during an informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan on April 27-28 this year, the two leaders discussed the possibility of cooperation between India, China and Afghanistan. "Both sides agreed to undertake capacity building programme for Afghan diplomats in India and China later this year," Singh added. By PTI SRINAGAR: Two civilians were injured in a clash with security forces during a cordon and search operation against militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district today, police said. Security forces launched an operation at Tangwari Tukra village early this morning after receiving information about the presence of militants there, a police official said. As they started the search operation, a large number of people assembled and started hurling stones at them, he said. He said they used force to disperse the protestors during which two people - Fayaz Ahmad Padder and Jehangir Ahmad Bhat - were injured. Padder was shifted to SKIMS hospital after he received injury in his chest, they said. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice within minutes during the pre-lunch session today amid protest by Congress members over their demand for a JPC probe into the alleged scam in the Rafale jet deal. Congress members were up on their feet since the start of the day in the Rajya Sabha creating uproar over the Rafale issue. [FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES HERE] Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who chaired his first session today, kept appealing to agitating members to allow the Zero Hour to function where other members were seeking to raise matters of public importance. Though the Zero Hour continued amid the din, Congress members raised their pitch and some other opposition members entered the well to raise their issues. The Deputy Chairman then adjourned the House a few minutes before the Zero hour was to end. Sonia Gandhi with Congress MPs protesting against the Rafale deal demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe outside Parliament House in New Delhi on Friday. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav/EPS) When the House met for the Question Hour at noon, Congress members again raised their demand with several of them raising slogans standing in the aisles. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu then adjourned the House till noon. Earlier, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that the Rafale deal was a "big scam" and there should be a JPC probe into it. Congress Deputy leader Anand Sharma said whenever such issues have been released earlier during previous Congress rules, a JPC probe was ordered and reiterated his party's demand. Meanwhile, Derek O'Brien (TMC) raised a point of order saying legislative business should not be taken on a day when private members' bill are listed. To this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said it was agreed in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) that legislative business would be taken up as the House was adjourned as mark of respect to DMK leader late Karunanidhi for a day. However, Derek and Sharma said there was no such agreement in the BAC meeting. Goel alleged that the opposition was creating din in the House as they did not want the Triple Talaq Bill to be taken up for passage. Later, the Chairman said it was suggested during the BAC meeting that bills would be taken up on Friday. By IANS NEW DELHI: With growing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and India in the fields of education and health, Saudi Arabia has donated $5 million to the Jamia Hamdard University in New Delhi as a contribution towards the cost of building the medical college and expanding the existing Majeedia Hospital. The new building of the hospital will be named after the late custodian of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Medina, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, an announcement by the Saudi Embassy here said. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Al-Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University and the Jamia Hamdard University in March 2014 envisaging implementation of an exchange programme that will include exchange of staff, students, curricula and research collaborations as well as joint organization of seminars and conferences. Saudi Ambassador Saud bin Mohammed Al-Sati hailed the agreement between the two universities, terming it as "an excellent initiative that comes in the context of promoting cultural and scientific cooperation between the two friendly countries". By Express News Service MUMBAI: After panic spread due to the death of a 12-year-old girl, in the Baiganwadi slum area of East Mumbai on Friday, around 200 children from the area were admitted to civic hospitals, health officials have said. Chandani Sahil Sheikh, the girl, who died on Thursday night, studied at the Municipal Urdu School No 2 in Govandi area. All the students of the school were administered iron and folic acid tablets on Monday under national program to fight anemia. After Chandanis death on Thursday night, her parents blamed the death on the tablets given to the students at the school. This led to panic and around 200 children were admitted to civic hospitals in the vicinity by Friday noon, officials from BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have said. All the children were examined by paediatricians and advised discharge from hospitals soon after. According to the statement issued by the BMC, While details of her previous illness are not known, there were no reports of any untoward incident during the national programme to fight anemia. Padmaja Keskar, Executive Health Officer, BMC said the tablets given to the students were "tried and tested", adding that the cause of the girl's death would only be known once the post-mortem report came in. The officials said that while 161 the other students from the school who were panicked after the death, were taken to the civic body-run Rajawadi Hospital at Ghatkopar and around 40 others were admitted to the Shatabdi Hospital at Govandi. "A few children complained of nausea and giddiness. However, no one had major signs or symptoms," a senior BMC official said, who added that all the children were examined by paediatricians and advised discharge from the hospitals. Police said the incident was being probed. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today termed as "grave" the rising incidents of rioting and vandalism of properties during protests across the country and said that it will not wait for the government to amend the law. The observation came when Attorney General K K Venugopal told the bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that riots and protests are happening almost every week in one or other part of the country and referred to recent violent incidents involving kanwariyas. "Kanwariyas are overturning vehicles in Delhi. When the film 'Padmavat' was to be released, one group gave an open threat that it will cut the nose of the lead actress. Nothing has happened.No FIR," the law officer told the bench which also comprised justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud. Venugopal referred to protests on the Maratha reservation in Maharashtra, nationwide violence following the apex court verdict in the SC/ST matter. "Then what is your suggestion," the bench asked the top law officer. "Fix the responsibility on the officers concerned like Superintendent of Police," Venugopal said and referred to an illustration and said that unauthorised constructions in Delhi have stopped after it was decided that the DDA officer concerned would be held accountable for such construction in his or her area. He then said that the government has been contemplating an amendment in the existing law to deal with such kind of protests and asked the courts to allow the legislature to change the law suitably. However, the bench denied got furious and said it will not wait for the legislation. The apex court, in 2007, had taken a serious note of various incidents of large scale destruction of public and private properties in the name of "agitations, bandhs, and hartals" and had initiated suo motu (on its own) proceedings and had come out with guidelines on the issue in 2009. It had considered the reports of two committees headed by former apex court judge K T Thomas and senior lawyer F S Nariman respectively. It had said that organisers of any protest would be personally held accountable for the loss of private and public properties. The organisers shall meet the police to review and revise the route to be taken and to lay down conditions for a peaceful march or protest, it had said. All weapons, including knives, batons and the like shall be prohibited, it had said, adding "An undertaking is to be provided by the organisers to ensure a peaceful march with marshals at each relevant junction". "The police and state government shall ensure videography of such protests to the maximum extent possible," it said, adding, "the person in charge to supervise the demonstration shall be the SP (if the situation is confined to the district) and the highest police officer in the state, where the situation stretches beyond one district". By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The triple talaq bill failed to clear the Rajya Sabha hurdle with no consensus in the upper house as the opposition demanded the bill be referred to a select committee for further scrutiny. With the bill being pushed to the winter session, there is a strong buzz that the government may bring an ordinance soon. The Muslim Women (Protection of rights on marriage) bill, 2017, was listed in the legislative business of the day in the house but Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that he will not take up the bill as there has been no consensus on it. "I cannot take it up if there is no consensus in the house on the bill," Naidu said as the government demanded the bill be taken up and passed on the last day of the monsoon session. The government passed the bill without consensus among all parties as it doesn't have number on its own to push the bill on the lines in the lower house in December. The cabinet Thursday amended which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, by watering down controversial provisions -- providing for the grant of bail by a magistrate against the accused and only a woman or her family members could lodge a complaint against a husband for practising instant talaq. Minister of Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad attacked the Congress for holding up the bill and doing injustice to several Muslim women. "When all bills are passed, why aren't they allowing the triple talaq be passed? Everyday, I receive complaints from several women being given triple talaq. Why is Congress opposing it and it can't be held upon the name of select committee," Prasad told the house, amidst protest by the opposition. There was a strong buzz that the government may bring the ordinance soon, keeping in mind the benefit it can reap ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Ends Prasanta Mazumdar By PTI GUWAHATI: Assam Police have registered a case against Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain for allegedly raping and threatening a 24-year-old married woman in Nagaon district, a senior police officer said today. Gohain has also filed a counter complaint of blackmailing against the woman and her family, his officer on special duty Sanjiv Goswami said when contacted. He claimed that the case against the minister has been withdrawn. Asked about it, Nagaon police station officer-in-charge Ananta Das said the woman had pleaded to withdraw the case in the court but the "case still stands. we will do our own investigation". Nagaon Deputy Superintendent of Police (headquarter) Sabita Das said the case was registered against Gohain on August 2 after receiving a complaint at Nagaon police station. "We have registered the case. The investigation has already begun and we will proceed as per law," she told PTI. Das, however, refused to share any detail about the case. A senior official of Nagaon Police Station said that the case was registered last week bearing the number 2592/18. "The FIR was registered under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation). We are investigating and have already noted the lady's statement," he said adding the woman has refused medical examination. "The complaint says that the alleged incident took place seven to eight months ago. Both Gohain and the woman knew each other for a long time and the Union minister used to visit her home," the official said. Gohain had allegedly committed the crime at the woman's home when her husband and other family members were not present, he said. Asked if Gohain's arrest is imminent, the police official said, "We are probing now. If required, arrest will happen only after the probe is complete." The Union minister did not answer the phone himself when called on his mobile phone. Goswami said the minister "will not speak to the media". When asked about the alleged rape case, Goswami said that it has been withdrawn. "There is no case as of today and as of now." When Nagaon police station was contacted, its officer-in-charge Ananta Das said the woman had pleaded to withdraw the case in the court two days of filing it. "The case still stands and it cannot be withdrawn. We will do our own investigation," he said. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concern over the recent cases of rape and sexual abuse of women at shelter homes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. "Tell us what is this?" a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta said, referring to the recent incident at Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh where 26 women have been reported to be missing from two shelter homes. "Yesterday, I read so many women have been raped in Pratapgarh. How will these things stop?" Justice Lokur asked. "When it is going to stop?" Besides Pratapgarh, rape and sexual abuse of women and girls at shelter homes run by NGOs have also surfaced recently at Muzaffarpur in Bihar and at Deoria in Uttar Pradesh. Advocate Aparna Bhat, assisting the court as amicus curiae in the matter, said the Centre was supposed to come out with a report on list of child care institutions (CCIs) as well as status of their social audit. The counsel representing the NCPCR said the Commission was not allowed to conduct social audits in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Mizoram, and added that a rapid social audit was already been done in around 3,000 such homes. The counsel representing the Centre said the government would furnish all the information as directed by the court within a week. The bench has slated the hearing for August 21. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: Congress president Rahul Gandhi amid assurance that no outsiders parachuted in ahead of polls would be allowed, had exhorted the party cadres to gear-up to win the upcoming Assembly elections and work zealously for the cause and dreams of poor, farmers, youths, women. He told the Congressmen that those delivering excellent results at the grassroots levels will stand eligible for the party tickets and key positions after the Congress forms the government. "No outsiders who are parachuted in would be allowed in the days before the elections", he affirmed. Launching a scathing attack on PM Narendra Modi, the Congress chief accused the BJP-led NDA government of having involved in the biggest defence scam in the history of India on Rafale fighter jets deal with the France. "The Modi government has entered into an overpriced deal with France and purchased Rafale plane at Rs 1670 crore, while the unit price of each aircraft was Rs 540 crore earlier negotiated under UPA regime", he pointed out. Rahul Gandhi was in Chhattisgarh capital to inaugurate the party's new state officer 'Rajiv Bhawan' in Shankar Nagar. The foundation stone of the new building was laid by him on 16 June 2016. Rajiv Bhawan is set to function as war room for the opposition Congress ahead of the Assembly polls due later this year. He reiterated that the Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif who was ousted and sent to jail in the Panama Papers scandal but in Chhattisgarh the action is yet to be seen against the chief minister Raman Singh's son. "This is what the BJP-led NDA's chowkidari", he said. Gandhi said that the media persons even under pressure at times show their courage during the regime of the Modi government. "But the journalists who dare to expose the truth are removed from their job. I understand their (journalist) fear", he said. Rahul Gandhi targeted the Central government on demonetisation and said that the money saved by small traders and businessmen were taken away as GST which he referred as 'Gabbar Singh Tax'. "Modiji gave the collected money to 15 top industrialists", he alleged. Defence deal or loan wave-off of top corporates were paid from the money taken from common people, small shoppers, traders. He also blamed the Modi government for its failure for not keeping its promise of 2 crore employment for the youths every year. "Now the women and girls are not feeling safe in the BJP-ruled states", he alleged and questioned the silence of PM Modi on the incidents of rape reported in Bihar, UP, MP. During his almost four hours stay in Raipur, the Congress president interacted with the party leaders, cadres, traders, doctors and editors. Anand ST Das By Express News Service PATNA: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials probing the sexual abuse of minor girls at the shelter home in Bihars Muzaffarpur have hit upon evidence suggesting that the husband of former social welfare minister Manju Verma had links with Brajesh Thakur, the main accused in the case. Despite Verma, who was forced to resign from her post on Wednesday, claiming that her husband, former MLC Chandeshwar Verma, is innocent, sources said CBI officials have learnt that he and Thakur spoke over phone several times and that Chandeshwar Verma also visited Muzaffarpur at least nine times. Examination of the phone call details and mobile phone tower locations show that the ex-ministers husband visited Muzaffarpur nine times between January and May this year. He spent hours in the town during each of these visits, said a source familiar with the ongoing probe. Since both Manju Verma and her husband belong to Begusarai and have little to do with Muzaffarpur, his frequent visits to Muzaffarpur and his telephonic conversations with Thakur have reportedly led CBI officials to believe that Chandeshwar Verma had a role in the scandal. It was alleged that Thakurs friendly relations with the Vermas were the reason behind the horrific sexual abuse of the minor girls remained undercover for a long time. Police sources said Chandeshwar Vermas photographs were not among those that were shown to the inmates of the shelter home during the probe before an FIR was lodged in May. The ongoing probe by CBI is currently focused on mainly two aspects identifying all those people who allegedly sexually exploited the minor girls and Thakurs links with the influential people that helped his NGO continue getting funds and keep the abuses concealed. Thakur has already admitted before the media that he had had telephonic talks with Chandeshwar Verma, but he has denied that these conversations were related to the shelter home of minor girls. Sources said CBI will take Thakur into custody for interrogation shortly. Meanwhile, the Muzaffarpur district administration on Friday put a ban on sale of any properties belonging to Thakur and his NGOs. The move followed information that his son Rahul Anand had sold off 11 katthas of land in the heart of the town for the government-approved price of Rs 2 crore and pocketed far more money. By Express News Service MUMBAI: After all round criticism of the violence in Pune and Aurangabad during Maratha agitation on Thursday, the Maratha Kranti Morcha Organizers on Friday made it clear that henceforth there won't be any kind of agitations on the street to press for quota demand. We had ended our agitation at around 1 pm after handing over charter of demand to the district collector. When everybody was expected to return to their homes, some miscreants resorted to violence, the Maratha Kranti Morcha committee members said at a press conference in Pune on Friday. The violence on Thursday was a deliberate attempt to malign the image of the Maratha agitation and hence, to avoid repetition of any such incidents we have decided to not to take the agitation to streets anymore, the committee members said. They also added that henceforth cyclic hunger strikes would be carried out on taluka levels till their demands are met. The committee members also took responsibility for the damage done to the Pune district collector's office and said that the organization would pay the fine to compensate it. However, they also blamed the police for not withdrawing cases against innocent agitators even after assuring so. While some of the Maratha protestors had vandalized premises of Pune district collector's office, other had vandalized vehicles including state transport corporation buses. While state transport minister Diwakar Raote had pegged the losses to the MSRTC to Rs 50 crore over past few days, In Aurangabad the Industries Association condemned the Maratha agitation for vandalism in Valunj industrial area. The all round criticism put the Maratha agitators on back foot. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and Tibetans in Karnataka expressed their gratitude to the state for accommodating Tibetans at five settlements in the state here on Friday. The event, which Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy also attended, was part of the Central Tibetan Administration's 'Thank you India' initiative. The year 2018, which marks 60 years of life in exile for the Tibetan community, has been dedicated as the 'gratitude year.' Speaking at the event, Nobel laureate Dalai Lama said Tibetans' gratitude showed that they never forget kindness. Speaking of the time he had spent in Beijing in the 1950s, he recalled how he had forged good friendships with people there and laughed when he told the gathering that he had even expressed an interest to join the Chinese Congress Party. The leader singled out former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for praise, and said he had found Nehru's advice very useful. "He fully supported our wish to preserve Tibetan culture and set up a committee headed by the Union Minister for Education to set up separate schools for Tibetans," he said. He said his latest commitment was to gain knowledge of ancient Indian teachings, which modern India had neglected. Expressing gratitude for Nehru's policy to give them refuge, he said, "When we arrived here, we were very demoralised. But during these 60 years, we have developed self-confidence, and it has been possible only with the help of Indian government and Nehru's policy." He said he was heartened by knowing that several Chinese citizens were showing an interest in Tibetan Buddhism. "When I see our cultural heritage and knowledge, I see a great future for Tibet. So we should not feel demoralised," he said. At the event, he felicitated Prof SN Kiran Shankar, son of former Chief Minister of Karnataka Nijalingappa who had volunteered to provide land for Tibetan settlements in the state in 1959. At the event, Lobsang Sangay, President, Central Tibetan Administration, spoke about the oppression of Tibetans living in Tibet by China. "A total of 152 Tibetans have immolated themselves in Tibet. The Chinese government has carried out environmental destruction of resources by mining. Tibetan language is discouraged, citizens are discriminated and treated as second-class citizens, there is also economic marginalisation," he said. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy spoke of the good relationship between Indians and Tibetans, and added that it was a pleasure to listen to the Dalai Lama. By Express News Service BENGALURU/UDUPI: The man who allegedly facilitated the suspected killers of journalist Gauri Lankesh to practise firing at his land in Belagavi and provided other logistic support to the murder has been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). He is the 12th man to be arrested in the case. He is also suspected to have helped the killers escape soon after committing the murder. Bharat Kurne alias Tamatar (37), a resident of Sambhaji Galli in Belagavi who runs a dhaba and also sells vegetables, is the arrested person. He is said to be the member of a pro-Hindu outfit. He was picked up by a SIT team from Belagavi on Wednesday and was brought to the city. He was formally arrested on Thursday and was produced before the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court. The SIT sought his police custody for 14 days but the magistrate remanded him in judicial custody and directed the SIT to seek his police custody from the III ACMM court, which regularly hears the case. The SIT, in its remand application, stated that the Kurne had a room at Shastri Nagar in Belagavi, where the other accused in the case held conspiracy meetings there. Kurne also actively participated in the meetings. He has a three-acre land at a remote location in a forest area in Khanapur. There, the accused were trained in firing air guns and other firearms. There was no mobile phone network in the remote area and the accused stayed there during the night in a small room constructed in the land. Kurne had also arranged vehicles from his room in Belagavi to his land in the forest to facilitate the other accused to commute easily, the remand application stated. Two more picked up The SIT took two men associated with Hindu Jagarana Vedike from Padubidri area in Udupi district into their custody on Thursday. Sources said SIT sleuths interrogated them and shifted them to the jurisdictional Padubidri police station before shifting them to Bengaluru. The local police claimed they were not informed about the detention earlier and only their support was sought around 7 am on Thursday. The first suspectSandesh Shetty (32) is a resident of Padebettu and the other Yuvaraj (31) is a resident of Kanchinadka near Padubidri. Yuvaraj, when he was in Belthangady, was in contact with Rajesh D Bangera, the 10th person arrested. The two were participating in the programmes organised by right-wing organisations. Sandesh was picked up from the milk dairy where he worked, and Yuvaraj from his home around 8 am. There were two personnel from the SIT to detain the duo, a source said. Both the youths are bachelors. Yuvaraj, who did centering work, had shifted from Belthangady to Kanchinadka near Padubidri about 10 years ago. He was staying with his parents. Sandesh's father had expired some years back while his brother works in Mumbai. He has two sisters. They both were associated with Hindu Jagarana Vedike. Yuvaraj had also formed Bhagavathi Trust, through which he was said to be helping the poor people by giving them financial aid. Sandesh and Yuvaraj were in good contact, the source added. Kurne was in Bluru on the day of murder Sources in SIT said that Kurnes name was revealed by suspected shooter Parashuram Waghmare and biker Ganesh Miskin. Waghmare had confessed that he was trained at Khanapura forests and was staying in a room in Belagavi during that period. He had revealed that the man who gave shelter to them in Belagavi was also staying with him in the house in Kumbalgodu. Miskin also gave the same description about Kurne, an official said. Kurne is believed to be the driver of a vehicle that ferried Waghmare and Miskin after killing Gauri Lankesh. Kurne was in direct contact with Kale from several years. Firing practice had continued even after Gauris murder indicating that they were preparing to kill other progressive thinkers, the official said. Kumar Vikram By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Calicut airport will witness operation of wide-bodied aircraft as the aviation regulator DGCA on Thursday granted permission for this. Moreover, Saudi Arabian Airlines will also be able to operate direct flights from the city in Kerala. Union Civil Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu said that after the operation of international flights from Calicut, it would also likely to become an embarkation point for Haj pilgrims. "The DGCA has today decided to start operations from Calicut, which will facilitate a large number of people from Kerala who are living abroad," Prabhu said. The minister was accompanied by minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha and Tourism minister Alphons Kannanthanam. Speaking further, Sinha said that the Saudi Arabian national carrier has also planned to fly aircraft like A 320 and Boeing 777 to Calicut and technical clearance had been given for these wide-bodied planes. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had suspended wide-bodied aircraft operations at Calicut airport in May 2015 following a directive from the DGCA, citing safety concerns. However, there were heavy demands to restart the operation from local representatives. "Safety and passenger convenience are our primary concern and we have to ensure that these are not compromised," Prabhu said adding that AAI has informed that all mitigation measures (to enable wide-bodied flights) will be in place by August 20. Ministry officials said the Saudi Airlines had not intimated a date for starting operations from Calicut. Officials said that the Calicut airport will witness a revamp and work is underway to construct a new international terminal which will increase its current passenger handling capacity of 3.5 million people per annum to 5 million. Officials said that Kerala's fourth international airport at Kannur will start commercial flight operations in October. Moreover, Suresh Prabhu said that Kerala will also soon start twin-engine sea-plane operations following the DGCA's issuing of the regulatory framework for such aircraft and the waterdrome certification. By ANI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At least 26 people have lost their lives so far across rain-battered Kerala due to flooding and landslides caused by the torrential downpour in the state. Owing to incessant rains and a subsequent rise in the water level in various dams, shutters of few reservoirs are being opened to accommodate the additional flow of water. On Thursday, the Karnataka government agreed to release 75000 cusecs water from Kabini reservoir in Mysuru district as the backwaters were adding to the woes of the flood-hit state. In a bid to assist the Kerala government in rehabilitation and rescue operations, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had announced a relief fund worth Rs. 10 crores to all flood-affected areas. He also directed his Chief Secretary T.M. Vijayabhaskar to send relief materials and a team of doctors to the state. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, via a telephonic conversation with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, took stock of the situation and offered all required assistance. In a pre-empt action to tackle the situation, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed six flood rescue teams at Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Palakkad to carry out Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) work. To augment the deployment, four additional teams were airlifted from Rajali Airbase, Arakkonam, to Kozhikode, fully equipped with lifesaving equipment and armed with modern communication gadgets, including satellite phones. The NDRF also said that additional teams were kept on standby at Arakkonam and would be mobilised as per demand. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Eighteen years after allegedly murdering his employer, a 60-year-old lorry driver was arrested from Rajasthan by Tiruvallur police here on Thursday. Dewar Singh (44), a lorry owner based in Tiruvallur, was beaten inside the lorry cabin at Gummidipoondi in October, 2000. Lorry driver Abdul Saleem, who was then 42, and lorry cleaner Premchand (25), who attacked Dewar Singh, later pushed him along the roadside and torched his body alive, dumping dry banana tree barks on the body. They then fled from the spot, said an investigation officer. After the passers-by saw the body, they alerted the police who arrived at the spot. A case was registered by the Gummidipoondi SIPCOT police in connection with the incident. A few days later, the police nabbed Premchand and remanded him. However, Abdul Saleem was still on the run. The newly appointed Tiruvallur district Superintendent of Police R Ponni recently reviewed the pending case and instructed the officers to nab the absconding suspect. The special team nabbed Abdul Saleem, who turned 60 recently, from a hideout in Rajasthan. Preliminary inquiries revealed that Saleem had gone into hiding near Pakistan border to escape police arrest for the past several years. As the police ignored the case, he returned to his native village and was employed in a transport company. Police team brought him from Rajasthan to Gummidipoondi and he was remanded in prison. Jayanthi Pawar By Express News Service CHENNAI: Just hours after a court here pulled up the city police for arresting activist Thirumurugan Gandhi on frivolous grounds, he was again rounded up by the cops on Friday and taken forcibly in a car as he was walking out of the office of the Joint Commissioner of Police. Gandhi was released by the police in the evening after a magistrate court refused to remand him since the court found the sedition charges slapped against the activist were baseless. But as Gandhi had hardly walked a few metres on the Pantheon Road from the office a group of policemen suddenly surrounded Gandhi and asked him again to come with them. As he refused and demanded the police to show arrest warrant, he was forcibly taken into a vehicle by the police. Later, a police officer said they have to picked up again Gandhi since they want to interrogate him in a 2017 case of "unlawful protest" that was pending in the Royapettah police station. Gandhi was initially arrested on Thursday early hours as he landed in the Bengaluru airport from Geneva. He had addressed the United Nations Humans Right Council (UNHRC) there last month about the Thoothukudi police firing on anti-sterlite protestors. The Chennai police booked him sedition charges since the video of his speech at the council, uploaded in social media, is "instigating hatred among the people." When Gandhi was produced by the city police before magistrate S Prakash on Friday, the police faced tough questions from the judge on why the activist was arrested for a video that was uploaded by the UNHRC. Sources said the magistrate Prakash asked the police to list the incidents of violence that broke out after the video was uploaded. Also, the judge pointed out that the video was not uploaded by Gandhi in the first place. It was uploaded by the UNHRC. Since the speech was delivered at UN forum where India is also a representative, Thirumurugan cannot be held responsible for it as the videos were uploaded by the UNHRC, the court pointed out. The complaint against Gandhi was filed by Haja Amir Hussain of the AIADMK's IT wing, last month days after the video of Gandhi's speech uploaded in the internet. Thirumurugan Gandhi also produced the documents, including the invitation for him to speak at the UNHRC and the recordings of what his speech. The court subsequently said it cannot remand Gandhi, but allowed police to have him in custody for 24 hours to interrogate him. The police took him to the Joint Commissioner of Police office on Pantheon Road. He was let off by the police in the evening only to be again rounded up in a few minutes. "It was just a few minutes since Thirumurugan walked out of the police office when a team of policemen rushed and again detained him. Despite, asking for an arrest warrant, the police did not pay heed and took him again in a car," said Praveen Kumar, Coordinator of May 17 movement. A senior police officer said Gandhi was picked up for interrogation in a 2017 pending case for staging a protest at Royapettah without police permission. By AFP YEMEN: The remains of victims and children's clothing were strewn across a market in northern Yemen on Friday, as the US and UN called for an investigation into an air strike the previous day by a Saudi-led coalition that killed at least 29 children on a bus. Thursday's strike on the Dahyan market in the Huthi rebel stronghold of Saada injured at least 48 others, including 30 children, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. Children's backpacks lie at the site a day after an airstrike in Saada, Yemen. (Photo | AP) An AFP photographer at the shocking scene said the bus carrying the children had been turned into a mass of twisted metal, and that the remains of victims and their personal items were still scattered across the ground. "There are remains everywhere, we are still trying to confirm identies," Yahya Shayem, a health official in Saada, told AFP. An injured child rests in a hospital a day after an airstrike in Saada, Yemen. (Photo | AP) He could not confirm when funerals for the victims would take place. The coalition, which has been fighting Yemen's rebels since 2015, acknowledged responsibility for the strike, but claimed the bus was carrying "Huthi combatants". It said the coalition had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels. At a press conference in Dahyan on Friday, Huthi health minister Taha al-Mutawakel put the death toll from the "horrible crime" at 51 people, including 40 children. "This toll is not final... a lot of people are missing and the remains are still scattered around the crime scene and nearby," he said. The Red Cross could not immediately confirm the new figures. Thursday's strike sparked calls from both United Nations chief and the US State Department for the strike to be investigated. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an "independent and prompt" probe, while State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington was "calling the Saudi led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident". "We call on the parties to take appropriate measures to protect civilians," Nauert said. Massacre of children In comments Friday on Twitter, the rebels' revolutionary council head, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, welcomed the UN call for an investigation and said his side was "willing to cooperate". Ahmed al-Mansouri, the director of Saada's Al-Jumhuri hospital, condemned what he called the "massacre of children". The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. The wreckage of a bus remains at the site of an airstrike in Saada, Yemen. (Photo | AP) Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told AFP that claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading", and that "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants". He said the rebels have "ballistic missiles threatening our national security, Saudi cities and villages on the border. The attack today was a follow-up process to neutralise that threat." Earlier, Maliki accused the Huthis of "recruiting child soldiers, throwing them in battlefields and using them as tools". Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said. The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said. Huthis ramp up missile attacks The Huthis have in recent months ramped up missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh usually says it intercepts. Wednesday's attack brings the tally to 167 rebel missiles launched since 2015, according to the coalition. On August 2, attacks on a hospital and a fish market in the strategic rebel-held port city of Hodeida killed at least 55 civilians and wounded 170, according to the ICRC. The coalition denied responsibility for those attacks. Aid agency CARE International noted that Thursday's strike came a week after the Hodeida bombardment. This image made from video taken on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, shows a child injured in an airstrike being treated at a hospital in Saada, Yemen. (Photo | AP) "This latest air strike, only a week after the attacks on Hodeida city, demonstrates a continued disregard for human life and suffering," said Johan Mooij, the agency's country director in Yemen. "It is beyond cruel; innocent children's lives have been lost." The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, last week told the Security Council "a political solution" to Yemen's war was "available" and that the warring sides would be invited to talks on September 6 in Geneva. UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government. SANAA (YEMEN): An attack on a bus at a market in rebel-held northern Yemen killed at least 29 children Thursday, the Red Cross said, as the Saudi-led coalition faced a growing outcry over the strike. The coalition said it had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels. ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia to resume oil exports through Red Sea lane Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told AFP that claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading", adding that the bus carried "Huthi combatants". The International Committee of the Red Cross said the strike hit a bus filled with children at the Dahyan market in the Huthi stronghold of Saada. "A hospital supported by our team in Yemen received the bodies of 29 children under the age of 15 and 48 wounded, including 30 children," the ICRC said on Twitter. A spokesman for the Red Cross in Sanaa told AFP the toll was not final as casualties from the attack were taken to several hospitals. The Huthis' Al-Masirah TV, quoting the rebel health ministry, reported that 50 people were killed and 77 wounded, "mostly children", though it was not possible to verify that toll. The Save the Children charity, quoting its staff, said that at the time of the attack the children were on a bus heading back to school "from a picnic when the driver stopped to get a drink". "Save the Children condemns this horrific attack and is calling for a full, immediate and independent investigation into this and other recent attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure," it said. 'Innocent children's lives' Both the United Nations chief and the US State Department called for investigations into the strike. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an "independent and prompt" probe, while State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the US is "calling the Saudi led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident." "We call on the parties to take appropriate measures to protect civilians," Nauert said. Geert Cappelaere, the UN Children's Fund regional director in the Middle East and North Africa, said the children were "reportedly under the age of 15". "Does the world really need more innocent children's lives to stop the cruel war on children in Yemen?". Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said: "civilians continue to pay the highest price after three years of war in Yemen, thousands of them have been killed, injured or maimed". Footage provided by the rebels' Ansarullah Media Centre showed a number of wounded children lying two to a hospital bed, while in a separate shot medics tended to casualties in a crowded room. The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. Coalition spokesman Maliki confirmed the strike had hit a bus, telling AFP "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants". He said the rebels have "ballistic missiles threatening our national security, Saudi cities and villages on the border. The attack today was a follow-up process to neutralise that threat". Earlier, Maliki accused the Huthis of "recruiting child soldiers, throwing them in battlefields and using them as tools". Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said. The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said. Huthis ramp up missile attacks The Huthis have in recent months ramped up missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh usually says it intercepts. Wednesday's attack brings the tally to 167 rebel missiles launched since 2015, according to the coalition, which that year joined the Yemeni government's fight against Huthi rebels. On August 2, attacks on a hospital and a fish market in the strategic rebel-held port city of Hodeida killed at least 55 civilians and wounded 170, according to the ICRC. The coalition denied responsibility for those attacks. Aid agency CARE International noted that Thursday's strike came a week after the Hodeida bombardment. "This latest air strike, only a week after the attacks on Hodeida city, demonstrates a continued disregard for human life and suffering," said Johan Mooij, the agency's country director in Yemen. "It is beyond cruel; innocent children's lives have been lost." The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, last week told the Security Council "a political solution" to end the Yemen war was "available" and that the warring sides would be invited to talks on September 6 in Geneva. UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government. SAN JOSE: Costa Rica's Supreme Court has ordered a statutory ban on same-sex marriages be struck down as unconstitutionally discriminatory and has given lawmakers -- including a high proportion of evangelicals who promote heterosexual-only unions -- 18 months to change the laws in that sense. ALSO READ: Gay marriage debate rocks uncertain Costa Rica election The decision, issued late Wednesday, complies with an opinion given seven months ago by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights declaring that homosexual couples have the same rights as heterosexual ones to marry. Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado welcomed the Supreme Court's order. "We continue to deploy actions that guarantee no person will face discrimination for their sexual orientation or gender identity, and that the state's protection be given to all families under equal conditions," he wrote on Twitter. Gay rights associations also hailed the decision. Costa Rica has a strong Catholic tradition and has also seen a proliferation of evangelical churches in recent decades. Many followers of those denominations are opposed to gay marriages. ALSO READ: Ruling party candidate Carlos Alvarado elected Costa Rica's next president In April this year, Alvarado, a centrist, was elected to the presidency by comfortably seeing off a challenge by an evangelical preacher, Fabricio Alvarado (no relation), who campaigned against homosexual unions. But evangelical lawmakers fill 14 of the single-chamber Legislative Assembly's 57 seats -- their highest proportion ever. They are unlikely to back a lifting of the gay-marriage ban currently enshrined in family law. "I see it as not very likely that in 18 months the Legislative Assembly will work out a law," said Enrique Sanchez, a lawmaker in President Alvarado's Citizen Action Party. "What I see happening is that the norm (the gay-marriage ban) will simply be declared unconstitutional in 18 months' time," said Sanchez, who is the country's first openly gay member of the legislature. One evangelical lawmaker, Jonathan Prendas, complained that the Supreme Court decision "put a gun to our head" to change the law as directed. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan today submitted a written apology and an affidavit to the election commission for violating the electoral code of conduct while casting his vote in the general election on July 25, media reports said. ALSO READ: First session of Pakistan's 15th Parliament summoned; Imran Khan's oath-taking delayed The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its verdict in the case, Geo News reported. The ECP had sought a signed apology from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Khan for violating the electoral code of conduct by casting his vote publicly instead of going behind the voting screen. The written reply and the affidavit were submitted by Khan during the hearing held by a four-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza, the report said. The commission yesterday rejected the response submitted by his counsel Babar Awan who had stated that his client did not intentionally stamp his ballot publicly. He had sought an end to the case and requested the ECP to issue the notification for Khan's victory from NA-53 Islamabad constituency. The suo motu case against Khan was heard after the ECP took notice of him publicly stamping the ballot paper in NA-53 Islamabad constituency, instead of going behind the voting screen to cast his vote in secrecy. ALSO READ: Imran Khan wants to build trust-based relationship with US According to the reply by Khan's counsel, photos of Khan's ballot were taken without his permission and the curtain, used around the ballot for secrecy, had fallen due to the crowd inside the polling booth. Imran won NA-53 seat by defeating former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, bagging 92,891 votes in contrast to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader's 44,314 votes. The electoral body has withheld the notification of his success from the constituency in view of the pending case. According to the election act, a person can be given a six-month jail sentence and/or fine of Rs 1,000 for not casting his/her vote in secrecy. On July 30, the ECP had sought a written reply from Khan, who has been nominated by the PTI as the next Prime Minister after the party emerged as the largest in the National Assembly in the election. The 65-year-old PTI leader had contested from five constituencies and had won from all of them. But the ECP has only granted him temporary permission to take oath as a Member of the National Assembly, pending the outcome of the case of violation of an electoral code of conduct. By Associated Press SEOUL: The rival Koreas plan to hold high-level talks on Monday to prepare for a third summit between their leaders, as Pyongyang called on the United States to reciprocate its "goodwill measures" by easing sanctions and stopping demands that the North denuclearise first. The plans by the Korean leaders to meet come as Washington and Pyongyang try to follow through on nuclear disarmament vows made at a US-North Korea summit in June between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In the most recent sign of growing frustration between Washington and Pyongyang, North Korea criticized senior American officials for insisting that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons first before easing sanctions. Notably, the statement didn't directly criticize Trump. ALSO READ: Will lift North Korea sanctions when US is sure there are no more nukes: Donald Trump North Korea said in a statement Thursday that "some high-level officials within the US administration" were making "desperate attempts at intensifying the international sanctions and pressure." "We hoped that these goodwill measures would contribute to breaking down the high barrier of mistrust" between Pyongyang and Washington, the North's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. "However, the US responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure." Those American officials are "going against the intention of President Trump to advance the DPRK-US relations, who is expressing gratitude to our goodwill measures for implementing the DPRK-US joint statement," it said referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. ALSO READ: Japan remembers Hiroshima bombings on 73rd anniversary, hopes for North Korea's denuclearisation Washington has said that sanctions will not be lifted until Pyongyang fully and finally dismantles its nuclear weapons. Some experts say that North Korea does not want to denuclearize first or maybe denuclearize at all because it wants a long, drawn-out process that sees external aid shipped in return for abandoning nuclear weapons. Pyongyang has also stepped up its calls for a formal end to the Korean War, which some analysts believe is meant to be the first step in the North's effort to eventually see all 28,500 US troops leave the Korean Peninsula. A South Korean official at the Unification Ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of office rules, said the two Koreas will also discuss on Monday ways to push through tension-reducing agreements made during an earlier summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Among the agreements was holding another inter-Korean summit in the fall in Pyongyang. The rival Koreas may try to seek a breakthrough amid what experts see as little progress on nuclear disarmament between Pyongyang and Washington despite the Singapore summit in June and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's several visits to North Korea. Pyongyang insisted that the US should reciprocate to the North's suspension of missile launches and nuclear tests and other goodwill gestures such as the return of remains of American troops killed in the Korean War. The United States cancelled a joint war exercise with South Korea that was due to take place this month while dismissing calls to ease sanctions until the North delivers on its commitments to fully denuclearize. The inter-Korean meeting on Monday will be held at Tongilgak, a North Korean-controlled building in the border village of Panmunjom. South Korea's unification minister will lead the delegation from Seoul but North Korea, which proposed the Monday meeting first, did not confirm the makeup of its delegation. It wasn't clear when another inter-Korean summit might happen, but if the April 27 summit agreements between Moon and Kim are followed through on, the leaders will likely meet in Pyongyang in the next couple of months. In the meantime, both Koreas are seeking an end of the Korean War. South Korea's presidential spokesman said last month that Seoul wants a declaration of the end of the 1950-53 war sooner than later. The Korean Peninsula is still technically in a state of war because the fighting ended with a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. Earlier Thursday, North Korea's Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary that ending the Korean War is "the first process for ensuring peace and security not only in the Korean peninsula but also in the region and the world." Kim and Moon met in April at a highly publicized summit that saw the leaders hold hands and walk together across the border, and then again in a more informal summit in May, just weeks before Kim met Trump in Singapore. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has pitched for a 'space force' of the US military by 2020. The Trump administration says it will work to build bipartisan support in Congress for the plan. Pointing to growing threats and competition from Russia and China, the White House on Thursday announced ambitious plans to create the U.S. Space Force as a sixth, separate military warfighting service by 2020. The proposal taps into the American public's long fascination with space but with a military focus. The plan faces daunting hurdles and requires congressional approval. Military leaders and experts have questioned the wisdom of launching an expensive, bureaucratic new service branch. Vice President Mike Pence announced the new force during a Pentagon speech, fleshing out an idea that President Donald Trump has extolled in recent months as he vowed to ensure American dominance in space. Pence described space as a domain that was once peaceful and uncontested but has now become crowded and adversarial. "Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America's best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation," Pence said. Trump marked Pence's announcement with a tweet: "Space Force all the way!" Pence portrayed the change as a response to foes' potential aggression rather than any offensive U.S. military effort. Citing Russia and China, he said that for years U.S. adversaries have "pursued weapons to jam, blind and disable our navigation and communication satellites via electronic attacks from the ground." "As their actions make clear, our adversaries have transformed space into a warfighting domain already, and the United States will not shrink from this challenge," he said. In June, the president directed the Pentagon to create a "separate but equal" space force, a complicated and expensive move that could take years to gain Congress' approval and become operational. On Thursday, Pence said the administration will work with Congress on the plan and will outline a budget next year. The last time the U.S. created a new uniformed military service was in 1947, when the Air Force was launched after World War II. It joined the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has endorsed steps to reorganize the military's space-warfighting forces and create a new command, but he previously opposed launching an expensive new service. A new branch of the military would require layers of bureaucracy, military and civilian leaders, uniforms, equipment and an expansive support structure. Asked about the cost, Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters the Pentagon doesn't have a number yet but will when the legislative proposal is finished by the end of the year. "I would assume it's billions," he said. Shanahan said Mattis' opposition to a separate service last year was rooted in concerns about spending more on overhead while under strict budget caps implying that those worries may not be as great now. Deborah James, who served as Air Force secretary for the final three years of the Obama administration, estimated it would be five to 10 years before a separate service would be fully formed. "Eventually, it'll settle out, but you will go through years of thrashing. And is that thrashing going to slow your momentum or is it going to help you achieve your goals and address the real challenges that we have on our plate?" she said at Brookings Institution last week. "I don't think so. I don't. I wouldn't vote in favor of it." The military's role in space has been under scrutiny because the United States is increasingly reliant on orbiting satellites that are difficult to protect. Satellites provide communications, navigation, intelligence and other services vital to the military and the national economy. U.S. intelligence agencies reported earlier this year that Russia and China were pursuing "nondestructive and destructive" anti-satellite weapons for use during a future war. And there are growing worries about cyberattacks that could target satellite technology, potentially leaving troops in combat without electronic communications or navigation abilities. The Pentagon proposal delivered to Congress on Thursday lays out plans to consolidate U.S. warfighting space forces and make organizational changes to boost the acquisition and development of technologies. It says the department will establish a Space Command to develop warfighting operations, a Space Development Agency to more quickly identify and develop new technologies, a Space Operations Force of leaders and fighters and a new support structure. In the second phase, the Pentagon would combine all the components into the new sixth branch of service. In the meantime, the Space Command would be led by a four-star general, and Pence said a new high-level civilian post assistant defense secretary for space would also be created. "We are glad that the Pentagon is finally taking these steps in enhancing our space strength," Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., leaders of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, said in a statement. They said the Pentagon report was the start of a "multi-year process that we think will result in a safer, stronger America." Much of the military's current space power is wielded by the Air Force Space Command, which has its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The command has about 38,000 personnel and operates 185 military satellite systems, including the Global Positioning System and communications and weather satellites. It also oversees Air Force cyberwarfare. Under the new plan, space elements that are now scattered across the department would be gathered under one command, which Pence said would better ensure integration across the military. Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). Champaign, IL (61820) Today Occasional rain. High 57F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 51F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Reporter Tim Mitchell is a reporter at The News-Gazette. His email is tmitchel@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mitchell6). Multimedia Specialist Anthony Zilis is a multimedia specialist at The News-Gazette. His email is azilis@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@adzilis). We believe that Mr Bitis conduct is tantamount to political grandstanding. Acts of political grandstanding will not be allowed to usurp public peace and good order. If such conduct is contrary to the law, then the National Prosecuting Authority will not hesitate to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. We will do so in an apolitical manner, without fear or favour, he said. Vice President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga has arrived in Moscow Russia, where he is expected to deliver a special message to the government of Russia following the just ended harmonised elections and hold meetings with some business leaders interested in investing in Zimbabwe. Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X (Newser) The Huffington Post takes a detailed look at the case of a Guantanamo Bay detainee whose plight illustrates the hurdles involved in gaining release. Abdul Latif Nasser, 53, has been held at Gitmo without charge since May 2002. The Pentagon accused him of being a terrorist loyal to Osama bin Laden who followed bin Laden to Afghanistan, though Nasser's attorneys dispute that and his family says he has a stable home waiting for him in Morocco. The story, however, is more about Nasser's near-release in the waning days of the Obama White House. Nasser went up for review before the Periodic Review Boarda system akin to a parole board set up by the Obama administrationand learned in July 2016 that he had been recommended for release. His attorneys then rushed to complete the red tape before President Trumpa Gitmo backertook office. story continues below One key part of that process is that defense chief Ash Carter needed to give Congress 30 days' notice of his release, and Nasser's attorneys learned in late December it still hadn't happened: Dec. 21 marked 30 days before Trump's inauguration, but Morocco didn't agree to the security conditions the US proposed until Dec. 28. Nasser's attorneys filed an emergency motion in January, but the Justice Department successfully opposed it, and Jessica Schulberg points out the reason: While Obama had sought to close Gitmoand had set up the PRB to speed releaseshis administration still had to legally defend the detention of prisoners as long it remained open. "The Obama administration had won," writes Schulberg. "It had successfully defended the legality of continuing to imprison a man it had fought for months to release." Nasser is still imprisoned today. Read the full story. (Read more Longform stories.) (Newser) Aurelia Brouwers tried to kill herself many times, and ultimately succeededwith the government's help. The 29-year-old Dutch woman won the right to die after squeaking through an approval process that usually denies psychiatric cases, the BBC reports. "When I was 12, I suffered from depression," she says. "And when I was first diagnosed, they told me I had Borderline Personality Disorder. Other diagnoses followedattachment disorder, chronic depression, I'm chronically suicidal, I have anxiety, psychoses, and I hear voices." In her words, "I just want to be free." Unable to get doctors' support for euthanasia, she applied to the End of Life Clinic in The Hague and received approval among 6,585 others. Critics say that number is alarmingly high and 10% higher than the year before, the Guardian reports. story continues below "Supply has created demand," says Theo Boer, a professor who supported a 2002 law allowing euthanasia in cases of "unbearable" pain with "no reasonable alternative"; but he quit a regulatory body two years ago as numbers climbed. "We're getting used to euthanasia, that is exactly what should not happen." Psychiatric cases are especially hard, experts say, because one never knows if a death wish is part of the illness or more treatment could help. But Brouwers was committed to the end, posting on Facebook that "I'm ready for my trip now" and assembling with loved ones and two doctors in January, less than a month after her approval. "She had a smile on her face, and then she went softly into sleep" upon drinking the poison, a friend says. "It was very serene and calm. It was beautiful." (Read more mental health stories.) (Newser) Imagine strolling down the beach and discovering a razor-sharp tooth from a shark twice the size of a Great White. Well, meet Philip Mullaly: "It was an awesome creature, it would have been terrifying to come across," the amateur fossil hunter and schoolteacher tells the New York Times of his 2015 discovery on a beach in Victoria, Australia. After prying the nearly 3-inch tooth loose from a boulder, he came back and found more teeth. "It dawned on me when I found the second, third and fourth tooth that this was a really big deal." So he showed them to paleontologist Erich Fitzgerald, who went back with Mullaly and a team of experts to find over 40 more teeth and some vertebrae of the awesome Carcharocles angustidens. story continues below Known also as the Great Jagged Narrow-Toothed Shark, this prehistoric creature traveled the oceans 25 million years ago and probably measured over 30 feet. "They preyed upon and ate small whales," as CNET puts it. "Whales." The find, announced Thursday, marks only the third set of Carcharocles angustidens teeth in the world and the first ever in Australia. Fitzgerald's team also came across the teeth of a sixgill sharka creature that swims around Australia to this dayand concluded that a school of sixgills had fed on the massive Carcharocles angustidens on the sea floor. "It's shark eating shark," says Fitzgerald. Mullaly donated the find to the Melbourne Museum for future scientific research and education, per a press release. (Read more sharks stories.) (Newser) Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway accepted more than $450,000 in kickbacks and bribes, in part through a phony consulting agreement, gambling money, and trips to Las Vegas and elsewhere, federal prosecutors said Thursday. Caraway, the second highest-ranking elected official in Dallas, pleaded guilty to two federal charges in the public corruption case and has resigned from the Dallas City Council, per the AP. Federal court records show he received kickback funds from Robert Leonard, president and owner of Force Multiplier Solutions, and Leonard's business associate. US Attorney Erin Nealy Cox announced Thursday that a judge accepted the guilty pleas from Caraway and Leonard. story continues below Cox says that Leonard, aided by his associate, paid a combined total of more than $3.5 million to Caraway and Rick Sorrells, former superintendent for Dallas County Schools, in return for favorable action related to Force Multiplier Solutions, a technology company that puts cameras on school buses. The effort, she says, helped the company and Leonard secure more than $70 million in contracts and agreements with Dallas County Schools, the troubled agency which residents last year voted to dissolve. The organization had provided transportation for thousands of students. "An entire public entity relied upon by parents and school children alike was destroyed in the wake of this scandal," Cox said Thursday. Click for the full story. (Read more Dallas stories.) (Newser) On learning that the mother and daughter at the center of a lawsuit before him were being deported, a federal judge called the move "outrageous" and ordered its reversal. US District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan warned Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security officials that they could be held in contempt of court if the woman, named in court papers as Carmen, and her daughter were deported back to El Salvador while their appeals were underway. "This is pretty outrageous," Sullivan said, per the Washington Post. "That someone seeking justice in US court is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing for justice for her." story continues below The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that it had brought the pair, who'd been placed on a deportation flight, back to a family detention center in Texas, the BBC reports. "In compliance with the court's order, upon arrival in El Salvador, the plaintiffs did not disembark and were promptly returned to the United States," an official said in a statement. The AP reports that the woman is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of a dozen women and children who were at risk of deportation despite having said they were fleeing violence in their Central American homelands. They faced "extreme sexual and gang violence" in El Salvador before they fled in June, the lawsuit states. (Read more Jeff Sessions stories.) (Newser) An environmental scientist bestowed the Order of Australia was killed by her own daughter in the aged-care facility where she lived with dementia, according to police. Mary White was found dead in her room at the Warrigal aged-care home in Bundanoon, New South Wales, on Sunday. Police now allege her daughter, Barbara Eckersley, killed the 92-year-old with an overdose of medication during a 4.5-hour span that evening, per ABC Australia and the Guardian. Charged with murder, Eckerlsey, 66 or 67, is reportedly cooperating with investigators. During a Friday court appearance, her lawyer said White had "been in constant discomfort or pain and had no enjoyment of life." story continues below White previously lived with Eckerlsey but moved in 2016 after suffering a second stroke, per ABC. Eckerlsey's lawyer says family members visited White at least once a day but were concerned about her treatment and believed officials "weren't able to deal with Dr White's agitation and pain." He adds the defense will attempt to downgrade the murder charge to manslaughter, citing Eckerlsey's "underlying psychiatric and psychological issues or problems related to stress associated with her mother." Born in a British colony in Africa, White moved in 1955 to Australia, where she established a Gondwana rainforest sanctuary and in 2009 received the Order of Australia "for service to botany." (Read more murder stories.) (Newser) A soybean-laden US cargo shipped that was cheered on as it sped from Seattle to Dalian, China, in hopes of arriving before a 25% tariff went into effect on July 6 didn't just not make it. The Peak Pegasus spent a month sailing in circles while still carrying its 70,000 tons of soybeans in hopes the tariff would be reversed and it could hold off unloading its cargo until then. The Guardian did the math and found that it was perhaps a sensible move: Unburdening itself in China would, under the new tariffs, cost it an additional $6 million or so. The beans belong to the Amsterdam-based company Louis Dreyfus, which is thought to be paying the ship's owner, JP Morgan Asset Management, $12,500 per additional day it's chartered. story continues below So a little over a month in, its tab has gone up $400,000, meaning it could theoretically continue this way for months and still come out on top. But it looks like that won't be the case. China Global Television Network reports it learned from the Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration that the Peak Pegasus will dock in Dalian on Saturday. As for the details, CGTN simply says the soybean purchaser, Sinograin, "will settle the relevant import duties and tax according to the customs regulations of China." (Read more tariffs stories.) (Newser) He calls himself Jack Justice, has a YouTube channel in which he puts on a wig and fake beard and spouts conspiracy theories, and said last year on a radio show: "Hitler was right about what was taking place in Germany. And who was behind it." Steve West also just won the GOP primary for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives by 25 percentage points, besting three other candidates and leaving the state's Republican Party disgusted and a regional director for the Anti-Defamation League scratching her head as to how West "flew under the radar." "I'm not sure I have a great answer," Karen Aroesty tells the Kansas City Star about West, who won the 15th District nomination in Clay County for his party. Splinter News reports he has also aired anti-vaccine diatribes and conspiracy theories about liberals molesting children on the radio. story continues below West tells the Star his Hitler comment was taken out of context, that Islam isn't a religion but a political movement, and that "Jewish people can be beautiful people, but there's ideologies associated with that that I don't agree with." As for how he thinks Missouri Jews will take to his candidacy: "Well, maybe they shouldn't vote for me." The Missouri Republican Party also weighs in, noting, "Steve West's shocking and vile comments do not reflect the position of the Missouri Republican Party or indeed of any decent individual. ... We wholeheartedly condemn his comments." Aroesty says candidates like West are no longer a rare anomaly. "I'd like to say he is unusual this year but there are a whole variety of folks," she says. (Read more Missouri stories.) (Newser) A 26-year-old Ohio woman is heading to drug rehab in the hope of securing custody of her week-old son, born in the toilet of a Burger King bathroom stall. Authorities responding to a report of a man passed out behind the wheel of a running car say they found Zachary Frey, 26, "nodding off" in the parking lot of a Chillicothe Burger King with a bag of what they believed to be heroin in his pocket, reports the Chillicothe Gazette. His girlfriend was of greater concern. Found in a bathroom stall with a ball of suspected heroin beside her, Elizabeth Sanders said she believed she'd had a miscarriage. However, the infant in the toilet was found to be breathing after a movement briefly caused the boy's face to be submerged in water, according to police. story continues below Sanders, who admitted to using heroin a few days before going into labor, said she "thought she had to pee and then it happened and she does not remember anything else after that," the police report reads, per McClatchy. Given Narcan at a hospital, Sanders was later arrested on a charge of stealing money from a bartending job, while Frey was charged with drug possession and operating a vehicle while impaired. Released Monday after pleading not guilty, Sanders said she would go to rehab in the hope of getting custody of her son and has since secured a spot with help from officers, reports the Gazette. As of Tuesday, her son remained in the hospital; According to police, Sanders said he was showing signs of withdrawal but "doing well." (Read more Ohio stories.) (Newser) The last time a CNN crew got to fly over the South China Sea with the US Navy was in 2015, when a stern warning was issued by China's military to keep away from what it says is China's territory. On Friday, CNN got another "rare look" at this region, staring down from a US Navy reconnaissance plane onto four contested artificial islands built by China (there's some video here). They also got another warning. "Leave immediately and keep out to avoid any misunderstanding," a voice reprimanded the Navy's P-8A Poseidon, with five more warnings following in short order. The US Navy's response, however, didn't waver. story continues below "I am a sovereign immune United States naval aircraft conducting lawful military activities beyond the national airspace of any coastal state," was the US retort. "In exercising these rights guaranteed by international law, I am operating with due regard for the rights and duties of all states." The plane had been flying over Subi Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Johnson Reef, and Mischief Reef, where CNN spied multi-story buildings, "large radar installations, power plants, and runways sturdy enough to carry large military aircraft." Many different countries say parts of the South China Sea are their own, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, but China's claims have been the most "far-reaching," per CNN. China's sovereignty claims in the region aren't widely accepted, per the Council on Foreign Relations. (Read more China stories.) (Newser) Country group Rascal Flatts abruptly ended an Indiana concert because of what police call a "security issue" that remains under investigation. Concertgoers say the band didn't return for an expected encore Thursday night at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center in suburban Indianapolis, after which a public-address announcement said the show was over and security guards told people to leave, per the AP. One fan tells the Indianapolis Star he saw a disruption in the general-admission area closest to the outdoor amphitheater's stage. story continues below "Lights come on and security is pulling some guy looking to be in his 20s out of the pit," he says. "Everyone is standing around, looking at each other and wondering what is going on." The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department said Friday the matter is an open investigation, but did not release further details. Rascal Flatts said on Twitter that everyone was able to leave safely and thanked fans for their understanding. (Read more Rascal Flatts stories.) Thane: Two brothers from Maharashtras Thane district, who were allegedly kidnapped while on a business tour to Malaysia, arrived in Thane on Friday after being released in the south east Asian country, police said. Rohan Prakash Vaidya (36) and Kaustubh Prakash Vaidya (31), from the districts Dombivali area, had gone to Malaysia on August 1 after their fish export firm called Rock Frozen Food landed an order from Malaysia-based Mis Lee Frozen Foods. Their uncle, Rajiv Vaidya, had filed a complaint of kidnapping with Thane police on August 4. According to the complaint, one of the brothers called up home on August 2 at around 10.30 pm to inform the family that they had been kidnapped by unknown persons who were demanding a ransom of Rs 1 crore. Also Read | Arrest of cow protector: NCP, Cong demand ban on Sanatan Sanstha Thane police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar on Friday said that the brothers were kidnapped after a meeting with representatives of the Malaysian company in Kuala Lumpur and kept captive till August 6. Police refused to divulge details of the events leading to the release of the two men in Malaysia. New Delhi: At least 37 people have died and over 54,000 people rendered homeless as incessant rains caused massive destructions in Kerala. Rivers and dam reservoirs overflowed, several areas flooded and parts of highways collapsed, officials said on Friday. Heavy southwest monsoon rains have been lashing northern and central Kerala since August 8. And 40-odd rivers in the state are in spate, triggering crisis situation in the state, officials said. Water in 24 dam reservoirs overflowed. Officials had to release the water by opening the sluice gates, including three of the Idukki reservoirs. Two more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, the biggest arch dam in Asia, were lifted around 7 am on Friday. A red alert was sounded for Idukki and its adjoining districts in view of the possibility of release of more water from the Idukki reservoir. In view of the disastrous situation across the state, the Navys Southern Command launched Operation Madad on Thursday after water in Periyar river rose to the danger level. The Navy has evacuated over 55 people from flood-hit areas in the state. A total of 53,501 people are now housed in 439 relief camps across the state, the officials said. Also Read | Operation Madad: 55 people evacuated from flood-hit areas in Kerala Tourists were warned not to enter the hilly Idukki district after roads caved in at many places. Army soldiers were building small bridges to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad. Five columns of Army have also been deployed in the states northern districts to help evacuate people and to build makeshift bridges. As many as 69 tourists, including 24 foreigners, stranded at the Plum Judy resort at Munnar since Wednesday were rescued and taken to safer places, state Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran told reporters. State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation on Friday morning and checked the relief works being undertaken by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF. Vijayan has cancelled all his public functions till August 12, and will monitor the situation from the state capital. Also Read | 69 tourists stranded in Munnar as heavy rains, landslides damage roads Due to the increase in the water level at Idukki dam, it is essential to release water three times (more) than what was being released now, Vijayan said, adding that this will lead to rise in the water levels of Periyar river and its tributaries. He appealed to people to be vigilant. People living downstream of Periyar river in Kochi, and Cheruthoni river in Idukki have been warned of a possibility of inundation of banks. Union minister Alphons Kannamthanam said he discussed the flood situation in Kerala with Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning. Singh also spoke with Vijayan, and will make an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Sunday. The Government of India is providing all the required assistance including services of armed forces, disaster management team and other required assistance. Any other immediate assistance requested by the Government of Kerala will be provided, Alphons said in a Facebook post. Meanwhile, state Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan reviewed the flood situation and the precautionary measures to be taken in Aluva near Kochi airport and nearby areas in view of the possibility of increase in the water level following release of more water from Idukki reservoir. Periyar river in Aluva is already in spate following release of water from Idamalayar dam, and people living in low-lying areas have been asked to be vigilant. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Vijayan on Thursday, and offered all possible assistance to those affected. However, Cochin International Airport Limited sources said operations at the airport had not been affected. The operational area is intact. No cancellation of services so far, an airport spokesperson said. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: Salman Khan is enjoying a trip in lovely Malta. After wrapping up the first schedule of Bharat in Mumbai, the actor has started the second schedule of the film in Malta. One of the most awaited films of 2019, Bharat went on floors in July and the first schedule in Mumbai has been wrapped up. And the team of Bharat is now in Malta, getting on with the second schedule of the film. Salman took to social media to announce the beginning of the second schedule of Bharat and posted a photo with the caption: Starting the shooting schedule of #Bharat in Malta, lovely country. Also Read | Priyanka Chopra has no place in my films, says Salman Khan Director Ali Abbas Zafar earlier shared a sneak peek from the first schedule of the film which included a grand circus sequence featuring Salman Khan riding a motorbike amidst a fire ring. Salman Khan and Disha Patani shot for the first schedule of Bharat which also included a song choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant. Disha Patani plays a trapeze artist in the film and will be seen doing some action sequences and daredevil stunts, including fire for the same. With Bharat, Salman Khan and Ali Abbas Zafar are working towards an Eid release after the 2016 Blockbuster Hit, Sultan. The hit director-actor duo will be marking a hattrick with Bharat after their last outing - Tiger Zinda Hai. Also Read | Being part of Karan Johars Takht big deal for me: Janhvi Hopefully, Salman Khan will yet again treat the audience on the festive season of Eid in 2019 with the release of Bharat, produced by Atul Agnihotris Reel Life Production and Bhushan Kumars T-Series. In the film, Salman will be sporting five different looks spanning 60 years, wherein a crucial part will showcase the actor in his late 20s, looking much leaner and younger. The actor will be recreating his Karan-Arjun look which has created immense excitement among the audience. Apart from Malta, Bharat will be shot across exotic locations in Abu Dhabi, besides Punjab and Delhi. Also starring Katrina Kaif, Tabu and Sunil Grover, the Ali Abbas Zafar directorial promises power-packed performances. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Melbourne: Tabrez Nooranis film on sex trafficking Love Sonia on Friday officially started the 12-day-long Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). Bollywood actor Rani Mukerji, film director Rajkumar Hirani, Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadha, Noorani, Freida Pinto and Ali Fazal are in Melbourne to attend the festival. The festival will screen over 60 films in 22 languages over the next two weeks. Speaking on the occasion, Australian Minister of Creative Industry, Martin Foley said, This years festival is expected to attract more than 35,000 people to events across Melbourne, bringing together diverse communities through a shared love of film. Also Read | Arvind Kejriwal, Rituparna Sengupta inaugurate Bangla Cine Utsab-2018 Alongside the film program, there are plenty of ways to get involved from masterclasses to the perennially popular Bollywood Dance Competition, he added. Foley said festivals like IFFM were making several contributions to the state of Victoria -socially, culturally and economically. Rani, who is the chief guest of the festival, thanked the Government of Victoria for supporting the Indian film industry. On behalf of the Indian film fraternity, I would like to thank the Victorian government for supporting the Indian industry as it is so diverse with so many languages and styles, she said. The actor will also be hoisting the Indian flag at the iconic federation square building on Saturday to mark Indian Independence Day celebrations in Melbourne. Read More | Priyanka Chopra welcomes Aayush Sharma, sends wishes for Loveratri Its a matter of great pride for our country to showcase our films here and reach out to people. Hirani, who is here with writer Abhijat Joshi to showcase his latest movie Sanju to the Australian audience, said he would love to shoot in Australia. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Union Environment Ministry on Friday revealed that over 237 tigers died in the country in the last two years. In 2016, 122 tigers died across the country while 115 died in 2017, Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. Around 23 per cent of total deaths of the tigers between 2012 to 2017 were due to poaching, the minister said, adding, Madhya Pradesh accounts for the highest number of tiger deaths in the country. And, 55 per cent of the tiger deaths between 2012 to 2017 were due to natural causes while seven per cent were attributed due to unnatural causes, minister said. He said 23 per cent (of tigers) died due to poaching while 15 per cent have been tiger body part or derivative seizures. Also Read | Previous governments failed to take ethanol blending programme seriously: PM Modi However, the government asserted that unnatural deaths have not had an impact on tiger numbers which are growing at the rate of 5.8 per cent per annum. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) coordinates with other tiger range countries, like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China and Russia for sharing information on tiger skin seizures, to ascertain their source and ensure conviction of criminals. Government through Project Tiger and National Tiger Conservation Authority, has taken a number of initiatives towards anti-poaching operations. These include creation of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), formulation of Security Plan guidelines which form part of the overarching Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP), development of a security audit framework and creation of an online wildlife crime database, the minister said. Read More | Release of Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts will have global ramifications: Centre Asked whether the government has assessed the impact of such unnatural deaths on the growth of the number of tigers, he said, Unnatural deaths have not had an impact on tiger numbers which are growing at the rate of 5.8 per cent per annum. Sharma said the National Tiger Conservation Authority has a collaborative project with the Wildlife Institute of India to customize drones for various tasks including surveillance in 13 tiger landscapes. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The death toll in Kerala touched the 26 mark as heavy rains destroyed several parts across the southern state on Thursday. At least 26 people have lost their lives as landslides and heavy rains with 17 of them died in landslides in Malappuram and Idukki districts. The National Disaster Response Force have sent four teams from Chennai to Kerala, comprising of 45 officials each. A Central team will visit the flooded area and Army support will be deployed from Bengaluru, the home ministry said in a statement. ALSO READ: Triple Talaq Bill with 3 amendments to be tabled in Rajya Sabha today At least 24 reservoirs in the state have been opened due to excess water with water levels reaching its maximum capacity in various dams. A shutter of the Idukki dam was opened for the first time in last 26 years after the water level his the 2,398.98 feet mark. Kerala: Death toll due to flooding and landslides following heavy and incessant rains in the state rises to 26. pic.twitter.com/1sJ61QgDU3 ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 The government has urged the tourists to stay away from the dam sites and high range areas. Meanwhile, the annual Nehru Trophy boat race, which was set to take place on 11 August has been postponed due to floods. ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi to inaugurate new Congress office in Chhattisgarh "There is a possibility of water level increasing in Kuttanad in the district in the event of the Kakki reservoir lifting shutters. So, the boat race has been postponed. The new date will be announced later," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the reporters, adding that the situation in the state is very grim. A 24x7 review cell has been set up to coordinate the relief works with district collectors in the flood-hit areas. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Indian Navy under its Operation Madad on Friday evacuated over 55 people from flood-hit areas in Kerala even as the death toll rose to 28. Following heavy rains that caused massive destruction in the state, the Southern Naval Command Navy launched Operation Madad on Saturday to assist the state government. Two teams with Gemini boats began rescue operations at Kalpetta, Wayanad and at Panmarum, 13 km south of Mananthavady, and evacuated 55 stranded people till 12 noon on Friday, according to a defence statement. Also Read | Navy put on alert as heavy rains lash Kerala, claim 28 lives Another team was airlifted by a Seaking Helicopter to Kalpetta with all gear and two electric generators, which was requested by Wayanad District Collector. Three additional diving teams have been sent to Aluva in coordination with the Deputy Collector for utilisation by the District Collector in affected areas to augment the rescue, the release stated. One of the teams is likely to be deployed at Idukki, apart from the two diving teams on standby at Aluva for relief operations since Thursday in anticipation of flooding expected in Ernakulam and Aluva, the defence said in the release. One contingent of 50 men, fully equipped for any kind of assistance, has been positioned at Naval Armament Depot, Aluva. The Naval Hospital, INHS Sanjivani, is also ready to render medical aid as required and all preparations towards setting up community kitchen by naval personnel from INS Venduruthy have been made in case the need arises. Also Read | 69 tourists stranded in Munnar as heavy rains, landslides damage roads Naval helicopters are also being deployed to ferry divers, power tools, axes and relief material to flooded areas to augment ongoing relief operations, the release added. The Indian Navy under its Operation Madad on evacuated over 55 people from flood-hit areas in Kerala even as the death toll rose to 28. Following heavy rains that caused massive destruction in the state, the Southern Naval Command Navy launched Operation Madad on to assist the state government. Two teams with Gemini boats began rescue operations at Kalpetta, Wayanad and at Panmarum, 13 km south of Mananthavady, and evacuated 55 stranded people till 12 noon on , according to a defence statement. Another team was airlifted by a Seaking Helicopter to Kalpetta with all gear and two electric generators, which was requested by Wayanad District Collector. Three additional diving teams have been sent to Aluva in coordination with the Deputy Collector for utilisation by the District Collector in affected areas to augment the rescue, the release stated. One of the teams is likely to be deployed at Idukki, apart from the two diving teams on standby at Aluva for relief operations since in anticipation of flooding expected in Ernakulam and Aluva, the defence said in the release. One contingent of 50 men, fully equipped for any kind of assistance, has been positioned at Naval Armament Depot, Aluva. The Naval Hospital, INHS Sanjivani, is also ready to render medical aid as required and all preparations towards setting up community kitchen by naval personnel from INS Venduruthy have been made in case the need arises. Naval helicopters are also being deployed to ferry divers, power tools, axes and relief material to flooded areas to augment ongoing relief operations, the release added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: As the passing of the Triple Talaq Bill by the Rajya Sabha was on Friday stalled to the next Parliament session, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held Congress party president Rahul Gandhi responsible for it. The passing of the Triple Talaq Bill was strongly opposed by the Oppostion parties led by the Congress party on the last day of Parliament Monsoon session. Ultimately, as the session closed in the evening, Rajya Sabha chairman and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu announced that the Triple Talaq Bill would not be taken up as there was no consensus over the said bill. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters that the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi are directly responsible for the stalling of the bill. The bill seeks to make the act of instant divorce in Islam a criminal offense. The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved three amendments to the Triple Talaq Bill. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 29 December 2017. Kumar, however, termed the Monsoon Session a landmark session, saying 21 bills were passed in the House which sat for 20 hours more than the allocated time. Highlights from Parliament Monsoon Session 2018: # Rajya Sabha Monsoon Session adjourned sine die Monsoon Session of the Rajya Sabha, which began on July 18, adjourned sine die. pic.twitter.com/rJJgnJ4Rf8 ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 # Venkaiah Naidu gives stock of developments during the Rajya Sabha Monsoon Session. # Private Members' Business (Resolutions) negated after voting in Rajya Sabha; # Lok Sabha Monsoon Session which began on July is adjourned Sine Die. Monsoon Session of the Lok Sabha which began on July 18 adjourned Sine Die. pic.twitter.com/2uH9LMdqMM ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 # Lok Sabha passes Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018; # Rajya Sabha defers Triple Talaq Bill; Venkaiah Naidu said the bill could not be taken up on Friday as there was no consensus overe the said bill. # Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourns Lok Sabha till 2 pm, after preceding over the zero hour. # Bill to remove leprosy as ground for divorce introduced in Lok Sabha # Congress, CPM demand special package for Kerala floods # Congress demands JPC into Rafale issue and after a chaos Rajya Sabha is adjourned till 2.30 pm # DMK demands Bharat Ratna for M Karunanidhi # Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) should be formed to look into Rafale deal, says Ghulam Nabi Azad. # Uproar by Opposition in Rajya Sabha over Rafale Deal deal issue. Uproar by Opposition in Rajya Sabha over #RafaleDeal issue. pic.twitter.com/JflHuL1ssU ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 # Chairman Venkaiah Naidu with Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh plants trees at the Parliament. # Sonia Gandhi at the protest by Opposition in Parliament premises over Rafale Deal issue Delhi: Sonia Gandhi at the protest by Opposition in Parliament premises over #RafaleDeal issue pic.twitter.com/IAMt3VxJN3 ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 # Opposition MPs including Congress MPs and AAP MP Sushil Gupta hold protest outside Parliament over Rafale deal issue Delhi: Opposition MPs including Congress MPs and AAP MP Sushil Gupta hold protest outside Parliament over Rafale deal issue pic.twitter.com/PFTJ8G2iuf ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 # Our party's position is absolutely clear on this, I will not say anything on this further: Sonia Gandhi, Congress on Triple Talaq Bill Our party's position is absolutely clear on this, I will not say anything on this further: Sonia Gandhi, Congress on #TripleTalaqBill pic.twitter.com/dGnU84zsB1 ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 # Women treated unfairly in all communities, not just Muslims, even Hindus, Christians, Sikhs etc. In every society, there is male domination. Even Shree Ram Chandra ji once left Sita ji after doubting her. So we need to change as a whole, news agency ANI quoted Congress Rajya Sabha MP Hussain Dalwai as saying. # Congress, CPI, RJD, and AAP hold protest outside Parliament over Rafale deal issue Delhi: Congress, CPI, RJD and AAP hold protest outside Parliament over Rafale deal issue pic.twitter.com/hNnnM2ZB0D ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 # Triple Talaq Bill to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha today with three amendments For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) appeal challenging the acquittal of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the 2008 twin murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj. CBIs appeal along with Hemrajs wifes long-pending petition would be heard by a bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The CBI has also challenged the acquittal of the Talwars by the Allahabad High Court on October 12, 2017. The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Navin Sinha and K M Joseph has granted leaves. Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, who is representing the CBI, attributed to the plea filed by Hemrajs wife, listening to which the bench said the probe agencys appeal would be tagged with it. Also Read | Aarushi murder case: CBI moves to Supreme Court challenging clean chit to Talwar couple Fourteen-year-old Aarushi Talwar was found dead inside her room, with her throat slit, at Talwar residence at Noida in May 2008. The body of the first murder suspect, Hemraj, was recovered from the terrace of the house two days later. The then Chief Minister Mayawati had recommended a CBI probe into the matter. The case was subsequently handed over to the agency. The Talwars were later sentenced to life imprisonment on November 26, 2013, by the verdict passed by a CBI court at Ghaziabad in connection with the case. However, the High Court later released them of the charges on the ground that they could not be held guilty on the basis of the evidence on record. On March 8, the CBI moved the apex court challenging the Allahabad high court verdict, months after Hemrajs wife, Khumkala Banjade, had on December 15, 2017, approached the top court against the verdict of October 12, 2017, on the basis on the evidence on record. Also Read | Ryan School Murder Case: Talwars lawyer to defend juvenile accused in all probability On February 9, retired special CBI judge Shyam Lal, who had earlier convicted the Talwar couple in 2013, also moved the apex court against the high court judgement expunction of certain observations. He mentioned that the criticism held against him in the Allahabad High Court verdict was disparaging and unwarranted. The high court verdict blamed the trial judge for taking the evidence and circumstances of the case for granted and also said it tried to solve it like a mathematical puzzle when one solves a given question and then takes something for granted in order to solve that puzzle and question. It also added that the trial judge cannot act like a maths teacher who is solving a mathematical question by analogy after taking the certain figure for granted. Also Read | Aarushi murder case: Former CBI director says court stated what he said long back Ambushed by the criticism, the retired judge had filed a plea against the high court verdict, saying that strictures passed against him were ultimately going to affect his reputation as an impartial and transparent judge and should be expunged. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The much talked about Triple Talaq Bill is set to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Friday after the Union Cabinet gave its nod to an amendment to the bill on Thursday. The Cabinet proposed three changes in the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, 2017 only the victim, a relation by marriage or a blood relation are allowed to file FIR in the case, the case can be dismissed if the wife and husband mutually agree to settle their disputes, and the magistrate can grant bail to the guilty party, but the offence is still non-bailable. However, if the amended bill is given the nod in the Rajya Sabha, then it will be sent back to the lower house, i.e the Lok Sabha for approval. ALSO READ: Modi cabinet to take up Triple Talaq bill in Rajya Sabha today; makes certain changes to prevent misuse On 29 December, the lower house passed the bill to make instant triple talaq, a criminal offense, just a day after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government proposed it in the Lok Sabha. The Bill proposes a three-year term for men who is found guilty of divorcing his wife by spoken words, written or by means such as SMS, WhatsApp or email. ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi to inaugurate new Congress office 'Rajiv Bhawan' in Chhattisgarh Triple Talaq is verbal divorce practiced by a section in the Muslim community to give instant divorce to their wives by saying the word talaq three times For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday is scheduled to address a gathering at an event at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on World Biofuel Day. PM Modi will deliver his speech to the scientists, students, farmers, government officials, entrepreneurs and legislators on the occasion of World Biofuel Day, according to a government statement. ALSO READ: Triple Talaq Bill with 3 amendments to be tabled in Rajya Sabha today "At 10 AM today, PM Narendra Modi will attend an event to mark World Biofuel Day in New Delhi. He will address a diverse gathering, consisting of farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, students, government officials, and legislators," tweeted PMO India ahead of the occasion. At 10 AM today, PM @narendramodi will attend an event to mark World Biofuel Day in New Delhi. He will address a diverse gathering, consisting of farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, students, government officials, and legislators. PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 10, 2018 To mark the importance of biofuels, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has scheduled the programme. The event will also draw the attention to various efforts by the Modi government in the biofuel industry. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has been observing the World Biofuel Day since the last three years. Biofuels have the collaboration of different initiatives taken by the government like Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, enhancing farmers incomes, the official statement read. The ethanol blending in petrol has spiked up to 141 crore litre in 2017-18 financial year due to the efforts made by the NDA government, the statement further read. ALSO READ: Kerala: Death toll rises to 26 as heavy rains trigger flash floods, landslides The Centre in June, also approved the National Policy on Biofuels. Biofuels contribute to a cleaner environment and help in lessening the human dependency on crude oil while generating additional income for farmers. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bengaluru: It is unfortunate that a progressive legislation to protect the rights of Muslim women against the pernicious practice of triple talaq or instant divorce has been stalled in the Rajya Sabha at the altar of political expediency. That in the forefront of the scuttling of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, in the House was a woman (Congress leader Sonia Gandhi) makes it doubly regrettable. Clearly, the Opposition led by the Congress is taking advantage of the fact that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is not in a majority in the Upper House. The Bill had been passed in the Lok Sabha in January last where the BJP has a comfortable majority. Whether the party would now resort to an ordinance to bring the new provision into effect remains to be seen. In any event, it would have to legislate within six months and clear the Rajya Sabha hurdle. Having brought about key changes in the Bill on suggestions of members the Bill should have sailed through, but the Congress and its allies were clearly looking for alibis to stall the Bill and they found one in the fact that very little time was available for debate after the Bill was tabled on the last day of the monsoon session. Also Read | Triple Talaq Bill with 3 amendments to be tabled in Rajya Sabha today The Modi government indeed can be faulted for having waited until the last day of the session to introduce the Bill. By doing so, it has given the Opposition a handle to beat it with. It is also pertinent to acknowledge that some of the key changes proposed by the members and accepted by the Government were worthy. In the modified version, the complaint against a man responsible for triple talaq can be filed only by the woman or her family. The woman can also drop charges if her husband is open to a compromise. The possibility of bail has been brought in; a judge can decide whether to grant bail after hearing the wife. As Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad acknowledged, earlier even neighbours could file complaints and the couple had no chance to compromise. To that extent, the modified Bill is an improvement on the original one. Also Read | BJP blames Rahul Gandhi for Triple Talaq Bill not being passed But having accommodated the critics, the Opposition should not have stood in the way of an otherwise necessary piece of legislation which was intended to reform a retrograde practice which militated against gender justice. The cold reality is that the Congress and its anti-BJP allies were looking to appease its vote bank of Muslim men and were hopeful that Muslim women could be brought around through coercion and browbeating. The BJP, on its part, has alienated the Muslim community by its standpoint and behaviour over decades and thought it had little to lose but could get a windfall of womens votes in the upcoming general elections next year. A clever polarisation of Muslim women votes is what it was looking for. Read More | Child Marriage Act: UP, Meghalaya, Nagaland yet to set rules, says Maneka It would be foolhardy for the BJP to give up its attempt to push through the legislation. In principle, the BJP is indeed on strong and legitimate ground and it would be doing this section of the population a great service in defeating male chauvinism which is so deeply embedded in Muslim society. Even when the law is finally enacted, there will be attempts to confine it to paper. In that, enlightened Muslim women and public-spirited NGOs, lawyers and public men would have to rise to the challenge and defeat the designs of their male oppressors and their political backers. There cannot be any illusion that even when the Bill is passed, Muslim women will be emancipated. But the fight for gender justice has to go on relentlessly. CLICK HERE for MORE OPINION New Delhi: The state and national level poll tie-ups and alliances do not necessarily percolate down to the grassroots democracy and there are chances that the hyper local political alignments could be diametrically different. Like in the case of Mysore where Janata Dal (S) and the BJP continue their understanding reached in 2015 to defeat the Congress mayoral candidate in the Mysuru City Corporation elections continues even till date as the JD (S) and the BJP have not announced breakup even after they ended up opposite side after the assembly elections of May 2018. ALSO READ: DMK under strain a challenge for Stalin The ruling JD (S) teamed up with the Congress in a post-poll coalition arrangement to edge out the BJP from the state. Chances are, observers on the ground say, the local level understanding of the grassroots leaders of these two parties could continue if conditions so arise. One thing is clear the local body polls are fought fiercely and always independently without entering into alliances or ties up before the polls. It is only after the votes are counted and results declared that tie ups and understandings and coalition of forces get firmed up. Karnataka is in poll mode now with elections to 105 urban local body polls scheduled for August 29. These polls will doubtless be the first test for the ruling JD(S) and its ties with the Congress ahead of the 2019 general elections. Said a political analyst, at no time anywhere local body polls are fought in alliance and each party tries out its own strength. The two coalition partners in Karnataka government have formally come out with declarations that they will fight the urban local body polls separately. Making it very clear that JD (S) will go it alone in these polls, former Prime Minister and party chief HD Deve Gowda said we cannot ally at the grassroots for these elections but this will in no way affect the alliance for 2019 general elections. ALSO READ: Tamil superstars will have to sweat a lot to make it count in politics Similarly, the local Congress leaders from districts wanted their leadership not to enter into any binding arrangements for the ULB polls. In fact, the leadership of both the parties had discussed the issue and decided to fight out the polls separately, something that the BJP does not tire of taunting them. In over 2500 wards of 105 ULBs, spread over eight districts in South Karnataka, three in coastal Karnataka and 11 in North Karnataka go to polls on August 29. In South Karnataka, it will be a direct fight between the JD (S) and the Congress. Workers and leaders at the local village and town levels are not in favour of tie up and will revolt if such a decision was forced upon them, admitted a Congress leader. Besides, the BJP was only waiting in the wings to cash in on any rift or dissent in the party, so the Congress will play it very safe. Only in seats where the BJP appeared to be winning, some local level understanding could be reached by the local leaders, a Congress MLA said. ULB poll results would cause no undue worry for the government or its continuation. ALSO READ: North Karnataka poses fresh headache for Kumaraswamy Only, the performance in the polls would be an indicator of relative strengths and weaknesses for the key players ahead of the Lok Sabha general elections. Although these polls are fought purely on hyperlocal issues and popularity and strength of individuals rather than of parties, the one dominant issue that could hold sway would be the loan waiver. BJP leaders are already canvassing among the people and speaking about the unholy alliance of Congress and the JD (S) that robbed them a legitimate chance to rule the state. The ULBs is more like a dress rehearsal for the 2019 general elections, to test out the efficacy of issues that will fetch them electoral dividends. READ MORE IN OPINION Karachi: A presiding officer of a polling station in Pakistan's Balochistan province has claimed he was abducted by security forces and forced to submit fabricated votes in favour of a candidate of religious coalition Mutthaida Majlis Amal (MMA). The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has uploaded a letter on its website in which the presiding officer of polling station number 45 in Washuk district has made the claim. In his letter, verified and stamped by the returning officer of the constituency PB-41 in Balochistan Assembly, the poll official has claimed that he was "abducted by security forces which later forced him to submit the form 45 with the fabricated number of votes written on it" to favour an MMA candidate. ALSO READ: Pak decision on Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony makes perfect sense The matter had come up for hearing yesterday by the ECP in Quetta where a returning officer (RO) from the province told the ECP that two presiding officers were allegedly abducted by masked men on the election day, which led to their polling stations' results not being included in the final count of the constituency PB-41. The ECP took up the issue after losing candidate, Baluchistan Awami Party's Mir Mujeebur Rehman Mohammad Hasani, drew its attention to the fact that the results of the polling stations 44 and 45 were missing from the final result of Baluchistan Assembly constituency PB-41. ALSO READ: US hits Russia with sanctions over nerve agent attack in Britain The RO quoted the two presiding officers as claiming that they did not compile the results of their constituencies themselves and that "they were forced to submit the results compiled by their abductors." When the ECP asked as to who had abducted them, Kamran Murtaza, the counsel of PB-41 seat winner belonging to MMA, quoted the presiding officers as saying that they were "abducted by security forces". For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Beirut: Syrias civil registries recorded 68,000 deaths in the war-torn country in 2017, pro-regime daily Al-Watan reported its head as saying on Thursday. Last year, we confirmed 68,000 without specifying the nature of their death and 32,000 this year, civil registries chief Ahmad Rahal said. He did not provide any additional details about those who had died, including in what part of Syria they had lost their lives or whether they had been victims of the ongoing conflict. ALSO READ: French hotels, restaurants look to migrants to fill 100,000 jobs The news come after activists accused authorities of quietly updating civil records to mark detainees in regime jails as deceasedsome backdated by several years. Human rights defenders say tens of thousands of Syrians are held in government jails across the country. Relatives and advocates say they are often tortured, denied a fair trial, and deprived of contact with their families. But Rahal said employees at the civil record did not have a missing box to tick. If a document comes through from any government bodywhether a hospital or anotherto confirm a death, it is confirmed without specifying if they were missing or not. ALSO READ: Indonesia minister says quake deaths cross 300 The Syrian Network for Human Rights has documented around 400 cases in recent months, including those of nine children, where civil registry employees have told family members that their detained relative has died. There could be further such instances which are yet to be documented. Around 80,000 remain forcibly disappeared by the government, the rights group says. More than 3,50,000 people have been killed since Syrias civil war started in 2011, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor says. More than 33,000 were killed last year alone, including more than 10,000 civilians and 7,000 pro-regime fighters, it says. During the first seven months of this year, at least 14,000 people lost their lives among them more than 5,000 civilians and 7,000 soldiers and loyalists. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Manama : The Deputy Prime Minister, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, yesterday handed over the final report on key policies and initiatives to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. The report that will form the Government Action Plan (2019-2022) was handed over at Gudaibiya Palace. The report follows directives issued by HRH the Crown Prince during the 2017 Government Forum for government officials to conduct workshops to identify mechanisms and key priority areas for incorporation into the governments future goals. A series of workshops and coordination meetings were conducted between November 2017 and May 2018, which led to the development of over 106 new initiatives and 29 policies. He hid the rod in the mosque courtyard for the right opportunity to carry out his crime. The crime has shaken the Bahraini society, prompting Sheikh Dr Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Hajri, Chairman of the Sunni Awqaf Council, to put an end to appointing foreigners in these positions and open doors to nationals to carry out the functions of the Imams and muathens. The head of Muharraqs prosecution province, Hussein Khamis said that the Bengali suspect had confessed to the crime, explaining that the complaint of the imam to the Awqaf (endowment) administration led to the crime. The Awqaf had decided to terminate his work, giving him time for final settlement to return to his country, Khamis said, adding that the man used an iron rod to kill the imam. The muathen had made the mosque a hub for his illegal visa trade. This led to the sheikh (Imam) to raise this issue to the Sunni Awqaf (endowments) to show that this man is not fit to be a muathen. He was interrogated and fired last Thursday. On Saturday the imam was found killed, a source told The Tribune. The imams body was found in a scrapyard in Aksar a few days ago. Manama : A large number of Bahrainis and residents bid a tearful adieu to Shaikh Abduljalil Hmood, the imam of the Bin Sheddah mosque who was brutally murdered by the mosques muathen (caller to prayer), a Bangladeshi national, a few days ago. The mourners, who attended the funeral, called for death penalty to the prime accused and the perpetrators who carried out the crime with the help of his accomplices. Bangladeshi community condemns murder TDT| Harpreet Kaur The Bangladeshi community in the Kingdom has condemned the brutal killing of the imam, taking a firm stance against the injustice hoping the incident doesnt create a wave of xenophobia. The Embassy of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh expresses deep shock at the brutal, gruesome killing of the Imam of Muharraq mosque, Shaikh Abduljalil Hmood, the The Embassy of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh said in a statement. The Embassy condemns this horrendous and inhumane act of crime in the strongest possible terms. The killer should be given exemplary punishment. The Embassy would like to convey its deepest condolences to the bereaved family members of late Imam Shaikh Abduljalil Hmood. May Almighty Allah give them mental strength to bear this irreparable loss, the embassy said. I have been in the Kingdom for ten years now. Just like the others the news has come as a shock to us too. It is extremely brutal and I cant imagine anyone being so heartless. Its very unfortunate, most of us have come here for a better life and support our families. I am not the same person as the person who is accused of killing the Imam, similarly, all the Bangladeshi community in the Kingdom is not bad. There are good and bad people both in the world and we hope that people wont generalise us based on one incident, said Mohammad Kaykobad Ovi, a Bangladeshi national. I feel ashamed when an incident like this happens, you cant blame an entire community for an individual act. Of course, there should be harsh punishment for such cases. Blaming an entire community wont do any good for any of us. It disregards the rest of the good and hard working people that have been part of Bahrain for a long time. Many of us consider Bahrain as our home especially those who are born and raised here and we are proud and lucky to have been born in such a wonderful country. People who commit such crimes are the black sheep of our community. Time and again such people and acts have hurt and degraded our image. Although our community is not known for achieving great things many of us are indeed trying their level best and working hard to live a peaceful life. As people know most of the Bangladeshi nationals here are labour class who work hard day and night to meet ends meet and support their family back home, said Salman Yousuf, another Bangladeshi national. There are a lot of Bangladeshis in Bahrain who is against violence. It is a very unfortunate incident but its solely based on an individuals actions. We can never generalize the entire community for an individuals actions where an individuals actions are his own alone. Generalizing the entire community will be unfair to the community, said Hassan Gazi, another Bangladeshi national. Manama : Fourteen men jailed for smuggling alcohol worth around BD200,000 have had their appeals rejected. The defendants, Asians by nationality, will serve six months in jail, followed by expulsion from the Kingdom. They were among 21 suspects tried in connection with this case. The remaining seven suspects decided not to appeal the initial ruling. They received three months in prison, followed by deportation from Bahrain. The men, according to court files, attempted to smuggle alcohol bottles hiding inside a ship importing sand to Bahrain. They were caught while unloading the bottles at the seaport. The first defendant, court files said, was supposed to distribute the bottles locally. A gateman at the seaport facilitated the entry of the suspects to the ports cargo area to unload the bottles. The defendants were charged with smuggling bottled alcohol in a bid to sell them in Bahrain illegally. Its worth noting that the General Directorate of Investigation and Criminal Evidence revealed earlier that the defendants used the ship as a cover to manipulate the customs authorities. The seized items included vehicles used to transport smuggled items along with BD36,000 in cash money. The alcohol bottles were worth more than BD200,000. The Royal Navy (RN) yesterday handed over command of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Force 150 (CTF150) to the Royal Saudi Navy (RSN) after conducting a change of command ceremony at CMF Headquarters in Bahrain. Commodore Al-shahrani RSN assumed command of CTF150 from Commodore Steve Moorhouse OBE RN. The ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Scott Stearney USN, Commander US Naval Forces Central Command, Commander US Fifth Fleet and Commander Combined Maritime Forces. The assumption of command of CTF150 by Saudi Arabia is particularly notable as this will be the first time any Gulf nation will have undertaken this role in CMF. In addition to this, the RSN will continue its present lead of CTF152. In his address to guests from the 33 member countries off CMF, Vice Admiral Stearney said: I have every faith and confidence that Commodore Al-shahrani and his team will be as successful in protecting this great regions maritime traffic and international waterways as Commodore Moorhouse and his team have been. The principal mission of CTF150 is to deter terrorism, narcotics smuggling, charcoal and other illegal activity in the maritime environment across an area of almost 3.2 million square miles, encompassing the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin and Southern Red Sea. During the next four months, the Saudi Arabian-led team will continue their work to counter terrorism and drug smugglers and reassure legitimate users of the high seas while ensuring the free flow of commerce across the area of operations. During his tenure as CTF150, Commodore Moorhouse was successful in leading a multinational staff, comprising personnel from the United Kingdom, Canada, France and New Zealand. Under his command, CTF 150 conducted four narcotics seizures, despite the monsoon season making maritime operations in the Indian Ocean extremely challenging. He also undertook several visits to countries such as Djibouti, the UAE and Kenya to further strengthen relations and improve information exchange. Manama : You can call him Thor. But dont confuse yourself. He is not the God of Thunder who uses a tremendously massive hammer to propel into the sky in a moment. Our Thor or Torbjrn C. Pedersen dont have a hammer, but that never stopped him from crossing continents. Instead, he decided to do it by land, without boarding any flights. As he puts it: Flight would be the easy choice to visit many countries. But what is the fun in easy? Born in Denmark of Scandinavian parents, Pedersen is on a one-man journey to travel around the world and has reached Bahrain. The Kingdom is the 154th country in his quest using ground transportation: train, buses and boats of sorts. I will not buy, borrow or rent a vehicle in order get from A to B and I definitely do not have a chauffeur. This way I will ensure a lot of time spent with locals and travellers alike an amazing way to see the World! he wrote in his blog. In his journey through Bahrain, Tribune caught up with him to find Bahrain through his eyes and to learn about the countries he had visited in the Middle East during his journey which started in 2013 to do what no one has ever done before. Small country with a big heart Bahrain, he said, is a small country with a big heart. The sights of the juxtaposition of the traditional and the modern that is so common in the country give it a soul. Bahrain is one of the most impressive countries I have visited in the Middle East. I had a wonderful time here, which is annoying as now I want to stay longer but I cant. However, that is a very positive situation to be in. I have been received here with much care and enthusiasm. It is astonishing to see the depth of Bahrains history which stretches back so many thousands of years. And that is somewhat unusual for the Gulf where many countries have been influenced by other civilizations and havent had their own. I like that the architecture of Manama, which is a mix of traditional design along with modern buildings. It gives Manama a soul, he said. Promoting Red cross Initially, a thirst for adventure was the only reason for Thor to set out on his travel. However, now he is using his fame and travelling to raise awareness about and promote the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Having a background in logistics helped him plan an optimal route around the world without ever boarding an aeroplane. Next stop Palestine Bahrain is one of the last countries that he marks off as visited in the Middle East. Palestine remains as the only country he is yet to travel in the region which is where he is headed next. Dodgy part of Panama When asked about the dangers he encountered he said, I once found myself in a very dodgy part of Panama City where the residents looked at me in disbelief that I visited the area as a tourist. I stayed very cautious and made my way out again. Later on, I learned that it was the most dangerous part of the city. With 2 strangers in a boat Another instance was when I crossed from Venezuela to Trinidad in a small open boat with two strangers and no safety equipment. In hindsight that might not have been smart. But it went well. Anxious moments in Congo Finally, I was travelling in a taxi on a dirt road in the jungle near the Cameroun/Congo border at 03:00 am. Three men in military uniforms stopped the car to question us. They were very drunk, armed and hostile. I thought that was it. There were no villages nearby and no people. After about 45 minutes they suddenly let both the driver and I go without any reason. We left as fast as possible! Fighting storm in a ship There was also an instance when I was in this container-ship which I was on board and we hit a bad storm. I thought we were in serious trouble. I couldnt stay in bed without falling out. It was hard to eat. It was impossible to take a shower. The ship was really moving in the waves. I remember being on the bridge with the officers looking at the waves crashing in over the containers!! I quietly asked: Is this normal? They all laughed at me and someone said: Son, this is nothing! After that, I knew they were confident and then I could relax. The storm lasted 4 days. Logistics, Bureaucracy Detailing some of the other challenges he encountered, he said, I am normally challenged by either logistics or bureaucracy. Logistical issues like when I cannot reach an island or cross a conflicted area. Bureaucracy when I cannot get the visas I need and travel permits. Also I have been challenged in various ways. The world that we live in is not made for such a project like this. Where there are islands there are not always ferries and many countries which offer visa on arrival at the airport do not do the same at land borders. I spent more than four months getting into Equatorial Guinea, I had to become a resident to get inside DR Congo, I waited 80 days for my visa to Syria and I have been working seven months on getting a visa for Saudi Arabia and only received a transit visa. Furthermore sometimes I need to board container ships in order to reach far away islands and cross oceans, he added. Bogota : Colombia recognized Palestine as a sovereign state in the days before new President Ivan Duque took office, according to a letter from the foreign ministry made public on Wednesday. I would like to inform you that in the name of the government of Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos has decided to recognize Palestine as a free, independent and sovereign state, said the letter dated August 3. The letter was signed by Santoss foreign minister Maria Angela Holguin. New Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes said he would review the implications of the previous governments decision, in accordance with international law and good diplomatic practice. It is a priority for this government to maintain cooperative relations with its allies and friends, and to contribute to international peace and security, Holmes said. Before the announcement, Colombia had been one of only two countries in the region, along with Panama, not to recognize Palestinian statehood. Bogota, an ally of the United States, has historically maintained close ties with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been scheduled to arrive in Colombia on Monday but called off the trip at the last minute, saying he needed to focus on developments along his countrys border with the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian mission in Bogota told AFP that they were told of the decision last Friday. It welcomed the move by Bogota as evidence of profound efforts to reach a rapprochement. Manama : The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) yesterday announced the creation of a Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), building on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)s proposal earlier this year to create a global sandbox. The launch was held in collaboration with FCA and 11 financial regulators and related organisations. The network will seek to provide a more efficient way for firms to interact with regulators, helping them navigate between countries as they look to scale new ideas. The move, according to CBB, will also create a new framework for co-operation between financial services regulators on innovation-related topics, sharing different experiences and approaches. The collaborative effort, involving regulators from around the world, has also launched a consultation on the role the GFIN should play in delivering its objectives, including the tools it will use. The three main functions of the GFIN are act as a network of regulators to collaborate and share the experience of innovation in respective markets, including emerging technologies and business models; provide a forum for joint policy work and discussions; and provide firms with an environment in which to trial cross-border solutions. As part of the consultation, the group is seeking views on the mission statement for the GFIN, its proposed functions, and where it should prioritise activity. The group is also keen to hear from other interested regulators or related organisations who wish to get involved. Speaking on the occasion, Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, the Governor of the CBB, praised the successful experience of the CBB with its own Regulatory Sandbox since its launch in mid-2017, which attracted many companies that are involved in testing innovative financial solutions. Through its participation in GFIN, the CBB will seek to enhance cooperation with leading global financial centres to drive economic growth. The parents of Princess Mako of Japan have informed the mother of her commoner fiance that they will not permit the wedding to go ahead until a financial dispute within his family is solved. Underlining their concern at the union, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko have also asked Kei Komuro, their possible future son-in-law, to present a "life plan", including details of his future career, Kyodo News reported yesterday. The 26-year-old princess is the eldest grandchild of the Emperor Akihito and caught royal-watchers off-guard in September when she announced her engagement to Komuro, whom she had met at university in Tokyo. Since graduating, Komuro, also 26, has been working as an assistant at a law firm in Tokyo. The couple announced that they had received the emperor's blessing and would marry in November 2018. In February, however, those plans were abruptly put on hold, with the Imperial Household Agency announcing that the couple were delaying the wedding on the grounds of a "lack of time for preparation". It was soon reported in Japan's tabloid media, however, that the real reason for the delay was a financial dispute between Komuro's mother and her former partner. The reports claim that she borrowed the cost of her son's education from her former fiance and has not yet repaid the money. Komuro's mother has had several face-to-face meetings with the princess's parents, with Prince Akishino saying that the wedding and the couple's subsequent life together could be impacted by her reported debts. Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, will on Monday be honoured with a Doctorate in Humanity by Sun Moon University, Asan, South Korea.Professor Hong Young-Shik recently presented at the State House the letter notifying her of the award.Your humanitarian activities have caught the attention of the world and the Senate of the Sun Moon University, especially your outstanding work with women and children through Future Assured Programme the letter said.According to a programme released by the University, the investiture ceremony will take place at the International Conference Hall of the University.Mrs. Buhari would also be invested with a World Leadership Award by Ajou University in Suwon, South Korea for her humanitarian activities on Tuesday, 14th August, 2018.She will also commission a Seminar Hall named after her at the same University. Gunmen have killed at least nine people in Tse Ujoh, a community in Ikyurav-Tiev in Katsina Alla local government area of Benue state. Gunmen have killed at least nine people in Tse Ujoh, a community in Ikyurav-Tiev in Katsina Alla local government area of Benue state. Moses Yamu, spokesman of the state police command, confirmed the incident, saying it happened on Friday morning. Yamu said security personnel had been deployed in the area to bring the situation under control. Commenting on the attack, Samuel Ortom, governor of the state, said three persons had been arrested. The governor, who spoke through Terver Akase, chief press secretary, said steps had been taken to prevent further attacks in the area. Governor Ortom reassured the people of the state that his administration will not allow armed militia to continue to terrorise communities, read a statement issued on behalf of the governor. He encouraged anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of the gang to contact the police, Department of State Services or the military. The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Rivers State, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma SAN, is dead. The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Rivers State, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma SAN, is dead. Dailypost reports that the senior advocate died of an undisclosed ailment abroad. However, the Rivers State Government is yet to issue an official statement on the sad development. Tam David-West, former minister of petroleum resources and an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, says the presidents mistakes are haunti... Tam David-West, former minister of petroleum resources and an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, says the presidents mistakes are haunting his government. In an interview with The Guardian, he said Buhari made a mistake in the first four months of his administration with the people he surrounded himself with and are working against him. David-West said that the economy is not doing well because the president made a mistake in appointment. He added that Buhari should have appointed Udo Udoma, who is the minister of budget, as the minister of finance instead of Kemi Adeosun who currently holds the position. The former minister, nevertheless, stated that the president suffered a lot to be elected and should re-contest in 2019 because of his high moral standard. You are elected to change and you can do the change. He made a mistake in the first four months. The mistake is what is haunting his government. The people, who he surrounded himself with, now cabals are not working in his interest. I told him before his wife went to the press, that the people are working against him, he said. I have said it before that the economy is not doing well. People are suffering. I told him to alleviate the suffering. Give greater happiness to the greatest number. Let me be personal, if I were Buhari, the person I would have appointed the minister of finance is Udo Udoma, who is the minister of budget. That is not a good place for him. The economy is not doing well because of the mistake in appointment. I am not saying the minister of finance is not doing well. I do not know her. From what I have seen on television, she talks well, but talk is not enough. People are suffering. I am a diehard Buharist, but I cannot close my eyes and my conscience to admit there is not a lot of suffering. And something should be done about it. Senate President Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, have raised the alarm over the alleged plan of the federal gov... Senate President Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, have raised the alarm over the alleged plan of the federal government to incarcerate them. In a statement on Friday, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Uche Anichukwu, their media aides, the legislators said this is part of the plot to remove them from office. The All Progressives Congress (APC) have been mounting pressure on Saraki to step down for defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But the senate president has vowed not to relinquish power except two-thirds of the senate removes him. In the statement, Saraki and Ekweremadu alleged that the presidency had set up a panel to indict them over the invasion of the national assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The presidency has today constituted a closet panel to review the report and submit a final recommendation. The mandate of this closet panel, the two legislators stated, is to turn facts on the head and blame the invasion of the national assembly on the two leaders of the red chamber of the national assembly, who will then be presented as having worked in tandem with the sacked director-general of the DSS, Mallam Lawal Daura to stage the parliamentary security breach, the statement read. We have been reliably informed that instead of the presidency to set up a public inquiry or judicial commission to probe last Tuesdays early morning Invasion of the national assembly as being demanded by the general public, they have commenced a process of manipulation and fabrication. The presidency has set up a closet panel, which would work to a predetermined conclusion in which they will now claim that the senate president and the deputy senate president worked in collusion with ex-DG of DSS, Lawal Daura to stage the invasion. They want to shield the fact that the previous night before the invasion and up till the early hours of Tuesday, there was a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators and that the plan was for them to be moved in a coaster bus into the National Assembly complex later that morning for them to purportedly remove us and select a new senate president and deputy senate president. The presiding officers added that they have also uncovered a sinister plot in which the government plans to use the anti-graft and security agencies to incarcerate them and some members of their families from next week, all in a bid to break their will and effect their removal. Contrary to news that circulated on Thursday that the sacked Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura has b... Contrary to news that circulated on Thursday that the sacked Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura has been released, latest information has confirmed that he is still in the custody of the Nigeria Police. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, made this known in a report on Tuesdays siege at the National Assembly. The findings on the probe into the DSS action was contained in a memo Idris addressed to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. The IGP said Daura was still in custody and that he was awaiting presidential order on the next line of action. He wrote: There is need to search the houses and premises of all identified suspects. All communication gadgets such as computers, mobile phones and other electronics devices of the suspects will be thoroughly analysed. Conclusion: It is crystal clear that the Principal suspect Lawal Musa Daura may be acting the script of some highly placed politicians to achieve selfish political goals., hence, his unilateral and unlawful decision to invade the National Assembly Complex. As it stands, the principal suspect, Mr. Lawal Musa Daura is undergoing further interrogation at our facility and is currently placed on house arrest at a private property in Birnin Kebbi close, off Birnin Kebbi Crescent, Garki II, Abuja, awaiting further directions from Your Excellency. The presidency has since appointed Matthew Seiyefa, the most senior director in the agency. Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday afternoon arrested a former DSS DG, Ita Ekpenyong. He was reportedly arrested in connection with alleged N17billion fraud in the agency. The arrest was said to be part of ongoing probe of the sacked DG, Daura. It was gathered that two ex-DSS chiefs could not account for the cash in the last three years. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called for unity, sacrifice and commitment from all stakeholders in order to put Kwara state on the path of good governance and also win the state for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections.The Minister, who made the call at a stakeholders meeting organized by the Congress of Kwara Progressives in Ilorin on Thursday, said the time is ripe for the people of Kwara to take back their state from plunderers.What an auspicious time for all of us! Never before have we had a great opportunity like we have now to take our state back from the rapacious few, who have held the state by the jugular and prevented it from meeting the hopes and aspirations of its people.From my consultations with key stakeholders so far, I can say, categorically, that Kwarans have all resolved to take their destiny into their own hands and take back what rightly belongs to them. This is unprecedented in the history of our state, and we must not waste this opportunity, he chargedAlhaji Mohammed stressed the need for unity on the part of the people, saying if we all remain united, we cant and we wont lose the looming battle for the survival of our dear state. All that is required is for us all to subordinate our individual ambitions to the collective efforts to wrest our state from the hegemony of one man and his cohorts.He said that, on his part, he wont be running for any office during the forthcoming elections, adding: For me, it is not about any clamour for office. It is about working with all like minds for the greater benefit of our people.The Minister warned that the battle ahead would not be easy, and that those who are opposed to change in the state will deploy all strategies, including blackmail, to retain their stranglehold on powerMake no mistake about it, the battle ahead will be tough. No one with power will ever give it up easily. But the power of the people supersedes all powers. Thats why I am delighted, and indeed encouraged, that the good people of our state, whether from the North, South or Central, are all united in their singular determination to rescue their state from the grinding poverty, monumental misgovernance and the general state of funk that has enveloped it, he said.Alhaji Mohammed said it is a mere blackmail to say he does not like the people of Ilorin, and went ahead to enumerate his antecedents, which include actively supporting an Ilorin indigene for governor in 2011.He assured that under the new dispensation in the state, every Kwaran counts and will have a voice, saying: The resources of Kwara will be used for the development of the state and its people. Never again will our people be turned to panhandlers, never again will our people be made to eat crumbs from the masters table. We must become the masters of our own destiny. A female victim of human trafficking recently rescued from Saudi Arabia says many Nigerian girls in the country were raped and made to wor... A female victim of human trafficking recently rescued from Saudi Arabia says many Nigerian girls in the country were raped and made to work 18 out of 24 hours. file photo The victim, who was veiled, disclosed this while narrating her ordeal at the ministry of foreign affairs in Abuja. She said she left for Saudi with other girls in December 30, 2017, and went through hell in the country before being rescued by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The victim said many were made to sleep in very poor condition and not paid in accordance with what the trafficking agencies promised them. It all started through a friend who claimed that she was living in Dubai. She introduced me to a woman agent in Abuja. I was living in Lagos and was later invited to meet her in Abuja, NAN quoted her to have said. When I came, I was taken for a medical check-up in Dr Wadas hospital. The agent promised that I would go to Saudi as a sales girl and that I would be earning equivalent of N150,000 there. Everything was processed through her and when we got to Saudi, it was a different thing entirely, my passport was seized and I ended working as a house help. She reportedly said when the condition became unbearable, she called the woman and said that she could no longer cope but the agent said she could not leave and that she had to pay N1.7 million before regaining freedom. And if I could not pay I would have to work for two years, so I contacted a journalist friend who contacted NAPTIP that contacted the Nigerian Embassy through the ministry of foreign affairs, she said. I want government to assist those other girls that are stranded because it is not easy. Nigerian girls are passing through hell in Saudi, there may not be work in Nigeria but it is better to stay back. The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Nigeria and ECOWAS has condemned the action of the operatives of the Department of State Serv... The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Nigeria and ECOWAS has condemned the action of the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Tuesdays blockade of the entrance to the National Assembly, Abuja. The delegation made its position on the development known on Thursday in Abuja through its Press Officer, Mr Modestus Chukwulaka. It expressed concern over the action of the security agency, describing it as an interference in the democratic process by law enforcement services. The body admonished all the security agencies to remain neutral and non-partisan in the countrys democratic process. The EU Heads of Missions have noted with concern the recent interference in the democratic process by law enforcement services, the most recent case being the barring of access to the National Assembly on Aug. 7. It is imperative for all law enforcement agents to stay neutral and ensure that independent institutions operate in line with their constitutional mandates, free from interference and intimidation, NAN quoted the body as saying. The delegation reaffirmed the unions commitment to the growth of the nations democracy, saying, The EU is fully committed to supporting democracy in Nigeria. The union lauded the Federal Governments swift action to protect the independence of the National Assembly as a critical pillar of democracy. It underscored the importance of the 2019 general elections to national stability, peace and prosperity for all Nigerians. It further stated the need for Nigerians to be allowed the freedom to decide the outcome of the polls. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the invasion of National Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS... Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the invasion of National Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS. Obasanjo said the action of the secret police was an indication of how low the current administration had taken Nigerias politics and democracy. He spoke while delivering a lecturer entitled The challenges in Ethics in National Development at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State. According to Obasanjo, Emphasis on socioeconomic development was limited only to self, families, clans, region before the nation in that order, so much so that the all-important matters of state were subverted. Nigeria has been established, but we are yet to establish and build Nigerians. The real socioeconomic issues that could impact on the people directly for their welfare and well being are handled with levity and with discriminating political considerations. Let nobody deceive us, economy feeds on politics and because our politics is depressing, our economy is even more depressing today. What happened at the National Assembly on Tuesday, August 7th 2018, and which has been roundly condemned is an indication of how low our politics and our democracy have been taken. Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says Nigerian children will inherit failure and probl... Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says Nigerian children will inherit failure and problems if corruption is not checked. Ribadu said this in a chat with TheCable at the one year anniversary of the implementation of the whistleblower, a project by Corruption Anonymous (CORA). The programme took place in Abuja on Thursday He said for the country to succeed in the fight against corruption, there must be a synergy between government and the citizens. We are going to give our children problems. They are going to inherit failure, Ribadu told TheCable. We are desperate, we have problems, we just need to make extra efforts, extra attention, extra everything for us to be able to say yes to so we can move forward. We have challenges, we have bad people fighting everywhere, we have killings. Unless we stop this corruption, ability for us get this resources that we have and use it maximally to address this type of problems. Certainly we will continue to be in problem and not move forward. We will continue to be in problems for years and years and decades. And the only we could stop it, take it from me, its if we stop stealing, if we stop people taking public money. He added that to achieve success in the anti-graft war, against there is a need for uniformity of purpose. What is corruption? It is just simple stealing. Stealing from the public. Stealing from our Commonwealth. Taking what ordinarily belongs to all of us that ought to be used for the good of all of us, he said. Money that should be used for the police that will be workable and functioning. A police that will be honest, a police that will work and not steal from the people. Or a military that will be able to do its work, that will be able to stop insurgency. In a short period of time, why are military all over the world succeeding? Why did we allow insurgency to remain for 10 years in our country? Why did Algeria stop it in one year? Why did Mali stop it in a year? Why did Pakistan stop it? Why not Nigeria? I am telling you its all about corruption. Corruption is the cancer that eats and destroys, -that makes you ineffective and makes you useless. Details of how Senate President Bukola Saraki, fearing that he might be impeached by senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC), plot... Details of how Senate President Bukola Saraki, fearing that he might be impeached by senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC), plotted the blockade of the National Assembly on Tuesday by officials of the Department of State Services have been released by the presidency. Lauretta Onochie, Special Assistant to the President on New Media, posted on facebook that the blockade of the National Assembly was masterminded by Saraki who, in the aftermath of his defection to the PDP, feared that he might be impeached by the APC senators who are in the majority in the senate. Saraki was said to have called his longtime friend in the presidency, Lawal Daura, the sacked boss of the DSS, to send some of his men to the National Assembly to prevent APC legislators from removing him. At the same time, he sent a text to PDP senators to arrive the complex by 7am on Tuesday to thwart the purported plan by the APC senators to impeach him. Meanwhile, there was no such plan by the APC senators as none of them showed at the National Assembly complex on the day. Only PDP senators mobilised by Saraki were present at the complex. Thinking that the lawmakers present were the ones planning to impeach Saraki, the DSS personnel prevented them from going in. Meanwhile, some senators and aides of Saraki with cameras were allowed into the complex to post pictures and broadcasts of DSS personnel preventing lawmakers from entering the National Assembly. Read more of Onochies posting below: Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), on Tuesday, gave orders for the immediate sack of the Director General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura following the invasion of the National Assembly by operatives of the DSS. But contrary to the wildly held belief that the sack of Daura was solely over the blockade of NASS yesterday, there is more to it. Senate President Bukola Saraki had called for a Tuesday meeting of the leadership of the National Assembly to discuss the request by the executive for the approval of virement for the conduct of the 2019 general elections and consideration of the 2018 Supplementary Bill. With the defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the call for his resignation and call by the presidency that the National Assembly be reconvened created suspicions all over the air. The suspicion was that, APC senators will use the opportunity of the meeting called by Senator Saraki to reconvene the Senate and carry out the immediate impeachment of the Senate President. This suspicion is without consideration to the fact that the APC now has a simple majority. Saraki, not sure how events of that day will plan out, plotted to be a step ahead of whatever plans the APC senators might be putting together and so reportedly enlisted the help of HIS FRIEND at the DSS, Lawal Daura The fear was that with the possible reconvening of the Senate, APC senators will find their way to the National Assembly and carry out the rumoured impeachment plot of the Senate President. So, PDP senators were quickly alerted and asked to report to the National Assembly as early as possible on Tuesday so as to be able to check mate whatever the APC senators may have planned for the day. While the PDP Senators will be there on one hand, DSS agents will also be drafted to ensure that nobody gained access to the National Assembly complex so that the chance to reconvene does not even occur. To do this, the sacked DSS DG, Lawal Daura sources said, provided 40 DSS operatives to carry out the blockade at the National Assembly. The order was not to allow any legislator, whether APC or PDP access into the National Assembly, but the real target was APC senators. Incidentally, no APC senators showed up at the National Assembly since they were on recess and the meeting called by the Senate President was that of the leadership, scheduled for 12 noon while the text for the drama invited PDP lawmakers and the media said 7am. Consequently, PDP senators started arriving the National Assembly as early as 7am as directed and they met the resistance of the DSS who had orders not to let anyone in. Suffice it to add that some persons including some aides of the Senate President were also already stationed at the National Assembly in readiness to dish out messages and videos of the blockade that PDP senators were denied access into the complex. Working according to plan, the DSS prevented PDP senators from gaining access into NASS premises, while the men stationed to video began sending messages across social media platforms reporting the event. The videos soon got to the mainstream media who also began to report the blockade with some of them using the videos sent my the aide of the Senate President. With the suspicion that the plot was to impeach the Senate President, Senator Ben Bruce was quick to go on air to say that APC senators were allowed entry into the NASS complex through an alternate gate and are gathering at the chambers. It turned out to be false. At the same time senator Ben Bruce alleged that APC senators are already in the chamber, aides to the Senate president were spreading messages in the social media that the same APC senators are meeting inside Sheraton Hotels to impeach Saraki. Many of those who had earlier believed that APC senators were already on the chamber as alleged by Senator Ben Bruce began to doubt the whole thing. But the question that remained on the lips of many was, What was the DSS doing at the National Assembly preventing lawmakers from gaining access and who sent them on that mission? Sources revealed that they were on a mission particularly to prevent what was rumoured and suspected to be plans by APC senators to reconvene and impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki and they were sent by the sacked DG, Lawal Daura, Sarakis ally. The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) according to sources was detailed to track Dauras move especially his telephone conversation with Saraki. The outcome of the NIA findings sources said was quickly communicated to President Buhari, who is on a 10 day working holiday in London, following which approval for the sack of Daura was reached. While Dauras sack may have happened nonetheless, the blockade of the National Assembly yesterday resulted in the quick dispensation of his sack. Dauras sack and reported arrest by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is as a result of the findings on him by the NIA. The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has expressed condolence to Bayelsa State Gov., Seriake Dickson, over the death of his mother, Mrs Gold Coast Dickson.In a statement issued by his Media Aide, Ike Abonyi on Friday in Abuja, Secondus said the news came to the PDP family as a shock.Secondus said Mrs Dickson would be remembered for the unique motherly role that enabled her to raise good children which included the governor.Even as we take solace on her reaching the ripe age of 72 years and leaving behind huge legacies, we are not oblivious of the fact that death, no matter how and when it comes, is always a painful experience.This is even more difficult to bear when it happens to a beloved and admirable mother.PDP family shares in your pain and prays that Mamas soul rests in the bosom of her creator, he said.Secondus urged the governor and the rest members of the Dickson family to take solace in the fact that the deceased left behind blessings and legacies.It is our prayer that the good Lord will grant her soul eternal rest and the immediate family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Secondus said. A Chinese restaurant in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, has gone viral for selling the new worlds most expensive beef noodle soup, priced at a whopping 13,800 yuan ($2,014). The outrageously expensive Haozhonghao Beef Noodle Soup sold at the Niu Gengtian restaurant in Shijiazhuang has been getting a lot of attention on Chinese social media after a photo of the menu showing its price went viral online. Considering that a bowl of the now second most expensive beef noodle soup sold by Taiwans Niu Ba Ba restaurant costs only $329, its easy to see why this 13,800 yuan ($2,014) soup has become the talk of the town. Photo: Hebnews.cn So what makes Haozhonghao soup so expensive? Well, its tough to say, really. Local media visited the restaurant and asked the manager, surnamed Yan, the same question, but didnt get much information. The man said that the delicacy is prepared using 12 very expensive ingredients four from the sky, four from land and four from sea but didnt go into details about them. He also mentioned that it takes 12 chefs to prepare the soup, and that an order must be placed a month in advance, so all the needed ingredients can be procured. Haozhonghao soup was added to the restaurants menu six months ago, and Yan said that he has sold four bowls of it since then to financially well-off business owners. In response to accusations that he is scamming his customers, the manager said that the cost of the ingredients and of the cooking process is so high that he doesnt really make any money selling the soup. Photo: Twoeggz.com At first, most people who saw the photo of the menu and the 13,800 yuan price thought that it was a joke or a simple typo, but Sin Chew Daily and other media outlets that visited the restaurant later confirmed that the price was real. In light of these revelations, Chinese netizens joked that the beef noodle soup was more expensive than a cow, while others accused management of using it as a gimmick to promote the restaurant. Some even notified the Xiaxi District Pricing Bureau of Shijiazhuang City about the outrageously priced soup, but officials there put out a statement that as long as the price is clearly stated to customers, there is nothing illegal about it, so the bureau has no right to intervene. So if youve got $2,000 to burn on a soup, head on over to Shijiazhuang. Just remember that you have to order it a month in advance, so better plan in advance. A cafe in Venice, Italy has been slammed as a tourist trap after recently charging a man 43 ($50) for two espressos and two small bottles of water. Venices St. Marks Square is known for its notoriously pricey cafes and restaurants, but one such establishment has been getting a lot of negative attention online after a bill of 43 for two espressos and two small bottles of water went viral online. Juan Carlos Bustamente, a 62-year-old Chilean political consultant currently living in Italy, posted the receipt from Caffe Lavena on his Facebook page and it quickly went viral, with many commenters expressing their outrage about the insanely high prices. Photo: ChrisSampson87/Wikimedia Commons I dont know how you feel about it, but 43 euros for two coffees and two bottles of water is outrageous! Bustamante wrote on his Facebook page, and most people seem to agree with him. Posted about a week ago, the the 62-year-olds photo of the receipt has been shared nearly 10,000 times on Facebook alone and has received over 1,800 comments, mostly from outraged people. Bustamantes Facebook post eventually received worldwide media attention, which prompted a reaction from Caffe Laverna. A spokesperson recently told reporters that prices are very clearly stated in the menus, but tourists just dont pay attention to them and then end up complaining when they get the bill. People get annoyed when the bill arrives because they do not listen when we hand them the menu even though it states clearly enough that prices are higher to sit outside. They just wave us away and if we insist they get irritated. the spokesperson said. If they just want a coffee they can have it at the bar for 1.25 euros. If they want to sit outside and enjoy the music of the orchestra, look at the bell tower and the Basilica of St Marks, then they are paying for an entirely different experience. This explanation didnt seem to appease the outraged masses, many of whom took to TripAdvisor reviews to recount their own negative experiences at Caffe Laverna. We naively didnt look at the menu before ordering water and coffee for a family of five. 78 (69)!!! Including 11 (9) per latte and 9 (8) for a glass of milk for a three year old. Avoid at all costs, one tourist wrote. Positives: the view, the music, the Aperol spritz. Negatives: the price which suggests the plates are made of gold and the food would be Michelin star (spoiler: its not), another person poster on TripAdvisor. The Telegraph recently reported that Caffe Laverna has had to deal with complaints about its outrageous prices for years. For example, in 2013, after a group of patrons took to Facebook to express their outrage about their 95 ($109) receipt for four espresso coffees laced with liqueurs. Then-manager Massimo Milanese offered a very similar explanation: The prices are there for everyone to see, there really is no doubt. It is for customers to decide whether they want to have a coffee standing up at the bar, or to sit down in the piazza. The cafe was established in 1750 so we are one of the most historic in Venice. It was patronised by Richard Wagner and many other famous people. Its part of the citys history. But while Caffe Laverna may be in the spotlight right now, its certainly not the only cafe in Venice to charge outrageous prices for what the call the experience. With an increasing number of complaints from tourist regarding this practice, the citys mayor promised to investigate and step in if necessary. If this disgraceful episode is confirmed, well do all we can to punish those responsible. We are for justice always, mayor Luigi Brugnaro said in response to the case of four Japanese tourists who had allegedly been charged 100 for a plate of fried fish, four steaks and a bottle of wine at an unnamed restaurant close to St Marks Square. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. 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. Lecture six of six delivered by the Reverend James Myoun Ford on the 10th of August at the Eliot Institute at Seabeck Conference Center, Seabeck, Washington. The monk Fayan visited Master Dizang who asked the young student of the way, Where have you come from? Fayen replied, I wander from here to there on my pilgrimage. The master asked, What is the point of your pilgrimage? Fayan answered, I dont know. Master Dizang replied, Not knowing is most intimate. Case 20, The Book of Serenity Here are the facts on the ground as Ive come to understand them. I am here as this body as this life. And my life over these past seventy years has been filled with many experiences, so many joyful, too many sad, some just plain terrible. While often bittersweet, sometimes bitter, I find life is nonetheless, lovely. I am so grateful. And. And, I know that this all ends. Im in no rush, but I know my death will come, eventually. No doubt. This knowing of life and death is our common inheritance as human beings. The question is how do we react to these twin knowings? Many find themselves wracked with anxiety and fear about death. And, in response, there are those offering all sorts of nostrums to address these questions. Some even claim we dont die. The variations on this assertion include those who claim there are secret, or not so secret ways, and all one has to do is buy their product or service, and your body will live forever. Others say our real selves are not our bodies, and should we buy their product or service our souls will disentangle from our corpses and live forever. Many variations on the theme out there, many. Some are cons, plain and simple. Others are sincere, indeed heart achingly sincere. But the bottom line for me is Ive never encountered a claim of individual human immortality of either the physical or spiritual sort that stood up to close examination. The facts on the ground as I encounter them seem profoundly otherwise than are presented by those who would live forever. I look around and it is pretty obvious my body cannot live forever. Actually, nothing does. I mean even stars die. As to a soul-as-separate from my body, if there is some part of me that isnt completely caught up with my physicality I cant find it. (And, I promise, Ive looked hard at this) Everything I experience is best explained, and simply enough explained to be very hard to ignore, through natural means. To be clear. Here, today, Im simply confessing who I am and where I am. Although out of this, I hope I can also offer you all something of use on your own individual ways through life and death. I am asserting what you see is what you get. As it says in the Diamond Sutra, a Mahayana text closely associated with the Zen way, life is a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream; a flash of lightening in a summer cloud, a flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream. And, so, out of this bubbling knowing I find my whole body asks why and for what purpose do I have, as Mary Oliver calls it, this one wild and precious life? If this is it, if this world in which we rise, live, and die, is it; how would a completely naturalistic view of the matters of life and death manifest as a spiritual perspective? And, I believe that is a fair question. For me constant touchstones that have led to a healing of my heart and a compass pointing true for my life are the teachings of the Buddha and the school of Buddhism that arose in early Medieval China and spread to Korea, Vietnam, and Japan, in Japan taking on the name Zen, and then coming West, together, and is important in my life, together with the naturalistic and rationalist perspectives that arose in the European Enlightenment and evolved into both modern evolutionary thought and Unitarian Universalism. East and West informing each other and allowing something wonderful to present itself. It is the life of the wise heart, and it speaks the language of dragons. With that first a few words about engaging Buddhism, at least as I do, and with that suggesting what might be useful, and what may not be so helpful. Near as I can tell we moderns have taken the fact that the Buddha himself wasnt particularly concerned with questions of deity or cosmology as evidence he had a generally skeptical attitude about these matters. Me, I go along with that. Although, some have also pointed to the Agganna Sutta, which uniquely among texts that claim to relate what the historic Buddha actually said, does have him making some cosmological assertions. In the Agganna if someone squints hard and tilts her head, it is just possible to see a form of Big Bang cosmology. And if while continuing to squint, one stands on his head, it is just possible to discern a rough version of evolution. But you really, really have to want to find it, to do so. I dont. I feel no need to. Ive never felt that Buddhist thought anticipated anything especially relevant to contemporary science, in any particular given field. Well, except maybe psychology. No, let me restate that: except psychology. What I find within Buddhism, and particular Zen, are the perspectives that lead to a sense of meaning and direction. And that has been as important to me as my very life. Here, throughout this week, and today, I have been suggesting a meeting of East and West, of Buddhism, particularly Zen Buddhism, together with rationalism, naturalism, and, most of all, the deepest longings of our human hearts. What has resulted, as Ive said, helped to heal my heart and gave me that compass I so deeply need. And, maybe this can be useful for you. Ive been exploring aspects of this all week. Today, I want to try to summarize it all. As best I can. This leads us for a moment or two, at least, to consider Thomas Huxley, and the rise of what Ive found so powerful within the Western traditions of naturalism and rationality. Huxley was central to the establishment of evolutionary theory in the minds of the public. My own introduction to Huxley as anything more than a name associated closely with Charles Darwin or as Aldous Huxleys grandfather, comes through the controversial contemporary Western Buddhist Stephen Batchelor, author of the seminal study Buddhism Without Beliefs. along with a host of other studies and reflections. I consider this particular book within the entirety of Batchelors work of enormous importance for contemporary liberal spirituality. I personally embrace a considerable part of his perspective on my own spiritual way. Although not all of it. I hope to touch on that a little as we go forward. Stephen today prefers that stronger term atheist to describe himself, although he rushes to assert his atheism shouldnt be tied too closely with those for whom atheism is an emotional assertion, more anti-theism than simple disbelief. He isnt angry, just doesnt find deities or actually the whole supernatural realm likely enough to even consider possible. Most of us who hold similar views to his regarding the supernatural actually prefer the term nontheist to describe ourselves. Whatever. More importantly to me Stephen also makes much of the term agnostic, which Thomas Huxley coined in the late nineteenth century. And, while he continues to be a really important thinker. Oh, here you can see him and me together at a conference. In an essay titled the Agnostic Buddhist Stephen writes how Huxley coined agnostic as something of a joke. Huxley belonged to a small philosophical circle in London in which he increasingly felt out of place. While everybody else in the group could readily identify themselves as a Christian or a Rationalist or a Schopenhaurian, or whatever, he felt perplexed that no such term seemed applicable to him. So he decided to call himself an agnostic in order that he too could have a tail like all the other foxes. By combining the prefix a to gnostic, agnostic means without knowledge, or not knowing. However, not in the sense we commonly find today, I dont know and I dont particularly care. Modern agnosticism is often a rather tepid cup of tea. Huxleys agnosticism had a lot of heart about it. Huxley even described his view as the agnostic faith, thus giving it the kind of seriousness that one might otherwise expect only amongst religious people. And Huxley followed this way with great passion. As Stephen explained, Huxley saw agnosticism as demanding as any moral, philosophical, or religious creed. Well, maybe not creed. Actually, he seemed to have much the same reservations about formal creeds contemporary Unitarian Universalists usually feel. Because, Huxley wasnt seeking pat answers. For him agnosticism was first and foremost, a method. The method he had in mind is broadly the same as which underpins scientific inquiry. And for him this method led to a naturalistic, and what we might call today a humanistic spirituality. It is that generous skepticism of which Ive spoken several times this week. That generous skepticism, that not knowing allows us to see things in new light, to discern much about the human heart. And Huxleys rigorous observations within the spirit of not knowing led to some basic principles. And these are principles that can inform us and takes us deep into the ways of wisdom. Actually, whether God exists was not a primary concern for Huxley although he saw no particular reason to postulate a deity. And I find this terribly important. Huxleys real challenge for most of us cut much closer to the bone. He challenged how we see ourselves. He was adamant that human beings did not exist outside the flow of events and their intimate interrelatedness. Huxley wrote, In the whole universe there is nothing permanent, no eternal substance either of mind or of matter. He felt any idea of an abiding self, an eternal individual personality is a metaphysical fancy; and in very truth not only we, but all things in the worlds without end of the cosmic phantasmagoria, are such stuff as dreams are made of. As we go forward I will suggest understanding this viscerally becomes a key to authentic wisdom. As I repeat a lot, and cited on our first day together. Unitarian Universalist theologian and minister Forrest Church observed the genuine work of religion flows out of our knowledge we are alive and that we are going to die. I would add to that religion, spirituality addresses the hurt, fear and anxiety that seems to haunt the human condition. I find much of that hurt and fear and anxiety in our lives arises out of a fundamental cognitive error. The error is that we are isolated beings. Certainly, as I look at myself honestly, relentlessly, in the spirit of a generous skepticism, a not knowing, frankly I find it impossible to discern any part of me that isnt formed by conditions coalescing out of my genetic makeup and my ongoing encounters with events and people. I am this because of that. And the that which makes this, is both multitudinous and changes in a heartbeat. Who I am as this skinbag changes sometimes slightly, sometimes dramatically with the very next addition of experience. Me, I find this an inescapable truth. I am as mutable as the events that occur all around me. There are all sorts of reasons why we see ourselves as discrete and separate from each other. To me it seems obvious it is an unfortunate psychological side effect of our amazing ability to divide the universe, to find the information that allows us to survive. A way of seeing, thanks to Koko, we know we share with Gorillas, at the very least. And I believe that list is in fact quite long. And there certainly is a truth that in any given moment, we are in fact separate. You are you and I am I, at least in the moment. And at the very same time there is a larger sense in which we are totally wrapped up together in a very real web of mutuality. The intuition of the spiritual enterprise is that we can reconcile these apparent contradictions, our separateness in the moment, and our essential connectedness. This is sometimes called the nondual perspective. Through his commitment to not knowing, Huxley found the nondual perspective. While he was writing before the discovery of genes, like the Buddha, he got the principle that we are all moments in the great rush of time and space, verbs rather than nouns, notes in a symphony. The spiritual enterprise as I see it, is to find how this is in fact our truth, yours and mine. And it is discovered when we open our hearts and minds, as we embrace a way of deep agnosticism, of truly not knowing. Susan Blackmore in her delightful book Consciousness: An Introduction reflects on these assertions and asks. Have these people really seen nonduality, directly, in their own experience? If they have, could we all see it? Might the psychologists, philosophers and neuroscientists working on the problem of consciousness see nonduality directly for themselves? If so, it seems possible that they might bring together two apparently totally different disciplines: the third-person discipline of science and the first-person discipline of self-transformation. If they did so, might they then understand exactly what had happened in their own brains when all the illusions fell away and the distinction between first and third person was gone? This way the direct experience of nonduality might be integrated into a neuroscience that only knows, intellectually, that dualism must be false. Deep agnosticism, not turning away, remaining present, heals many wounds. As to what this really looks like theres a story from Blackmores book. John Wren-Lewis was a physics professor with decidedly anti-mystical views when in 1983, at the age of sixty, he was poisoned while traveling on a bus in Thailand. A would-be thief gave him some sweets laced with what was probably a mixture of morphine and cocaine, and the next thing he knew was waking up in a dilapidated and dirty hospital. At first he noticed nothing special, but gradually it dawned on him that it was as if he had emerged freshly made, completely with the memories that made up his personal self, from a radiant vast blackness beyond space and time. There was no sense at all of personal continuity. Moreover, the dazzling darkness was still there. It seemed to be behind his head, continually re-creating his entire consciousness afresh, instant by instant, now! And now! And now! He even put his hand up to feel the back of his head only to find it perfectly normal. He felt only gratitude toward everything around him, all of which seemed perfectly right and as it should be. Im very taken that Blackmore didnt chose an example from the traditional spiritual literature. This wasnt a thirty-year practitioner of an austere spiritual discipline. This was someone drugged and robbed. This experience is accessible to all of us because it is a natural part of how our brains naturally work. Meditation and other disciplines help, a lot. But in the last analysis all we need do, is let go of our certainties. As the lady said, Its all in your head. We, if you will, evolved to be able to do this. Why I dont know. And, you know, we dont need to know the answer that particular question. Within the scheme of the universe it is probably a nonsequitur. And, while questions of meaning are important to us as humans, we need to be careful as to what might actually be worth pursuing. And, how. In my experience the really big questions of meaning have been resolved in a full on turning into the moment. The answers are not words, but presence itself. And as it happens, some sense of this experience never abandoned Wren-Lewis for the rest of his life. In his own words Wren-Lewis described the place of not knowing as a living experience. I feel as if the back of my head has been sawn off so that it is no longer the sixty-year-old John who looks out at the world, but the shining dark infinite void that in some extraordinary way is also, I. Just this moment. And. Only dont know. This is where not knowing takes us, each following our own trajectory, each with our own moments, and all joined. For me I found it sitting in a Buddhist monastery, eating a thin cabbage soup. For you, perhaps playing with a child. For another, perhaps listening to Mozart. Another, perhaps just noticing that it is possible for this moment only, to not have that drink. For another, well, who knows? The secret is only not knowing. As the master Dizang said, Not knowing is most intimate. So, from here let me return to the personal. Here I open my heart to you. I have walked the way for a life time and what I share here is the best I can to present what I find, and along with it, what I find might be useful for others on their paths. I suggest a deep agnosticism; truly engaging not knowing is the universal solvent. It will release us from our hurt and fears by showing us, not in some abstract cognitive therapy sort of way, but in the deepest, most visceral way, who we really are. This has been my experience. At the beginning of his Buddhism Without Beliefs Stephen Batchelor gives two quotations. I find they neatly summarize the issues. The first is from the novelist Marcel Proust. We do not receive wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness, which no one else can make for us, which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world. Ive given religions some hard hits here and there this week. Mostly I have problems with crowd control and the perpetuation of various social norms, particularly what we call patriarchy. Frankly, I think they deserve the knocks. However, I believe the worst of religion, as with the rest of our lives, comes through what I have to call reification, a term with several meanings, but by which I mean taking that which is passing for that which is permanent. This is a human inclination, it seems. But religions, at their worst, seem more than other institutions to enshrine what really seems to me to be the fundamental conceptual error of human consciousness. Now I genuinely believe one can find what one needs through any of the worlds religions. To paraphrase one tradition, they contain everything necessary to salvation. But, they are also veritable magpie nests, with all the noxious stuff, sometimes, often leading with the unhelpful, and even poisonous. But, that said, and meant, dig deep enough, and there is much of value. Still, historically, only one religion seems to address the fundamental problems in a way I find plain, straightforward, and helpful. In the Dhammapada, an ancient collection of sayings of the Buddha, he offers three pointers. They are, in my paraphrase: All elements of conditioned things are without some special essence. When you fully understand this your heart will be liberated. All conditioned things are impermanent. When you fully understand this your heart will be liberated. Trying to hold tightly onto conditioned things as they pass is the source of the hearts pain. When you fully understand this your heart will be liberated. Two things. First, fully understand is an invitation into a body knowing, something a bit deeper than intellectual assent to a hypothesis, theory, or even prophetic pronouncement. And, second, these concepts themselves must, I find, must be engaged cautiously. Remember that generous skepticism. Although this time for a slightly different reason than is often the case. It appears the closer any concept is to what might be called truth, the greater the danger of reification. And, here I think we have a description of our human dis-ease in life and its cure that is as true as any statement can be. Always hold truths lightly. They can liberate and they can add layers of entrapment. This noticed, if we avoid the trap and dont let the spirit become so many dead letters, dont, if you , verbs), then the many spiritual traditions begin to sing of the way. Maybe, I suspect, all of them, if sometimes only through that glass, darkly, point to our possibility. It really seems within all religions there are voices calling to a depth that I find my heart resonates with, and which engages my mind, and compels me forward on the quest. Here I find that second quote at the beginning of Batchelors book particularly helpful. It is what is revealed as Ive journeyed along this way. It comes from the medieval Chinese koan anthology, the Blue Cliff Record. Emperor Wu of Liang asked the great master Bodhidharma, What is the highest meaning of the holy truth? Bodhidharma siad, Empty, without holiness. The emperor said, Who is facing me? Bodhidharma replied, I dont know. For me this is the whole of the path. Our journey is to that cloud of unknowing. To what turns out to be god beyond god. This not knowing is a profound opening. It is not simply a call to humility, although it includes humility. Rather, it is a call to our true home. I believe. Ive found. I confess. I offer. And, here we are. Me, Ive found for much of my life the context of liberal religion the best place to explore this way. For me. I genuinely cannot claim this is so for everyone. But I believe Ive stumbled upon a pearl of great price. And, it turns out we each of us must find that pearl for ourselves, and it often turns out to be different. Liberal religion embraces a broad tolerance, a provisional acceptance of many truth claims, and a belief that attention will sort it out. Actually, Ive seen this spiritual liberalism, a heartful universalism, a belief that the deepest truths cannot be contained, occurs in just about every religion. At least within modernity. In the West Ive certainly encountered it among Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and Muslims. Although, also, I find those individuals all near the edge of their traditions, each claiming varying degrees of unique authority. But also pretty much full on with members of the United Church of Christ, Episcopalians, Hicksite or Meeting Quakers, and Reconstructionist and Reformed Jews. Still, the principal and almost unvarnished expression of this spiritual liberalism, I feel, is found within Unitarian Universalism. (picture seven) At least within its more mature lived into expressions. So, for me Liberal Religion is broad and tolerant, and it creates a context for deep inquiry. Although it puts the onus upon the individual to dig in and to find for themselves. As a spiritual community it becomes a warm and embracing place to raise a family, a healthful place we can gather together and make the world and ourselves a little better. Ive been so grateful to be given a home and work among this crowd for so much of my life. But agnostic, well, thats a spiritual practice. More or less starting with its original use when coined by Thomas Huxley, as an engaged not knowing, is the method of wisdom. I believe this not knowing is the way itself. This is my heart. This is my path. I suggest it is the very language of dragons. Only dont know. Which is found when one applies the principle: dont believe anything you think. And start with yourself. Dont trust your own ideas of what is and what is not just because you thought them up. Here is the deep agnosticism which Ive been coming back to over and over of late. Thats the deep agnosticism I find in at least aspects of contemporary spiritual writers like Stephen Batchelor, Ranier Maria Rilke, Don Cupitt, Mary Oliver, Shunryu Suzuki, John Tarrant, Susan Murphy, Ken Jones, Barry Magid, Diane Rizzetto, Ezra Bada, Elizabeth Hamilton, Susan Blackmore. Oh, and the songs of Leonard Cohen. Perhaps this spiritual practice of generous skepticism, of not knowing is all best expressed through the Zen tradition. I know of all the spiritual disciplines it has been Zen that has most helped me. The practices, zazen and koan introspection, lots of zazen and koan introspection; and the literature that accompanies these disciplines have shown me the way. As a final example for our time together, I want to return to one famous anecdote that particularly captures the heart of all this. For me. It is captured, well, as captured as any dragon can be, as case twenty in the great koan anthology, the Book of Serenity, recorded here with my own running commentary Fayen and some companions were caught in a snowstorm and took refuge at Dizang Monastery where the abbot, Luohan Guichen asked Fayen, What is your journey? In a Zen context always a dangerous question. How are you doing? Becomes the stuff of life and death. It becomes the meeting of dragons. Fayen replied, Going around on pilgrimage. Not a bad answer, but not sparkling, either. Is there actually a dragon present? Dizang, abbots are often known by the name of their temple and the mountain upon which it rests, pushed a bit further, inquiring, What do you expect from pilgrimage? Then Fayen gave the simplest of answers. I dont know. The time was ripe, what in Christian theology is sometimes called kairos, the time of fulfillment. Dizang didnt even need to pluck the fruit, it was so ripe. Instead he simply blew on it, gently, saying Not knowing is most intimate. And Fayen understood. Iran, Iraq, Syria to join hands against Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) 08/09/18 Source: Tehran Times TEHRAN - A plan on combating sand and dust storms (SDS) is scheduled to be prepared in a collaborative initiative with three countries of Iran, Iraq and Syria under the auspices of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the current Iranian calendar year (ending on March 20, 2019), head of national working group on SDS has said. A Sand Storm in Zabol, Iran August 2018 photo by Mehr News Agency "An international agreement with neighboring countries can convince them to take action toward tackling SDS and take steps to halt the external SDS hotspots affecting Iran," IRNA quoted Mohammad Ali Tahmasebi-Birgani as saying on Tuesday. Since the [Iranian calendar] year 1376 (March 1997- March 1998), a number of memorandums of understanding have been signed with Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Qatar and Bahrain, but nearly all have not been efficient, he regretted, adding, so, "we have decided to pursue the issue through international conventions to ensure the implementation." The budget needed for implementing the plan will be paid partially by the three countries, he highlighted. "Studies and researches on the origin of external SDS sources hitting the southwestern part of the country is scheduled to be conducted this year, in cooperation with the Meteorological Organization," he highlighted. As sand and dust storms put many Iranian specially those residing southwestern areas of Iran to considerable inconvenience, Iran has proposed a draft of a resolution on combating sand and dust storms to turn it into a global issue which can garner international support to tackle its detrimental effects, at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly which closed on December 22, 2017. The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution, which has recognized the negative effects of sand and dust storms on the citizen's health and considered it as an obstacle to achieve sustainable development goals and has called for urgent measures. The resolution has also underlined the need for increased technical support and capacity building for addressing the issue and assign UN Environment Program (UNEP), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and WHO to provide the necessary support to the affected countries. Following Iran's incessant efforts to foster international support to fight sand and dust storms representatives from more than 40 countries convened in Tehran on July 3-5, 2017 to look collectively into dust and sand storms. The meeting entitled "International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms: Challenges and Practical Solutions" was hosted by Iran's Department of Environment and Foreign Ministry. Along with the meeting, Erik Solheim, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and UN Environment Executive Director, had a trip to Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, Tahmasebi-Birgani stated, adding that during the trip, he said that "the UN's priority to eliminate SDS in Iran goes to Ahvaz and the issue will also be raised at the UN General Assembly in New York". Plan on combating SDS to implement within 3 months The national plan on combating SDS is currently drawn up to some extent, and it will be fully prepared by June 22, 2019, Tahmasebi-Birgani said. Studies on eliminating SDS sources, have been carried out on some 89,000 hectares of the country and some 320,000 hectares of areas are currently under research, he said, adding that it was partially conducted by the Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Organization and Ministry of Agriculture and Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Pointing to the priorities of the plan to combat SDS in four provinces of Khuzestan, Kerman, Sistan-Baluchestan and Hormozgan, he noted that "so far, studies on eliminating SDS in Khuzestan province have been completed, while in other provinces will be fully conducted by the end of this year." After being approved by the provincial working group on combating SDS, the plan needs to be approved by the national working group, it is scheduled to be implemented in Khuzestan province on [Iranian calendar month of] Aban (October 23- November 21), he stated. He also explained that earlier on January, a total fund of $150 million from the National Development Fund has been earmarked to counter dust storms and devise a system to prevent power cuts in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. Some $100 million out of this amount is planned to be allocated for elimination of SDS sources and 50 million dollars to the utility projects, he added. He further announced that so far, some 1.05 trillion rials (nearly $25 million) have been provided to the provincial management and planning organization of Khuzestan province nearly 10 days ago (July 30). Water channels not environmentally assessed Elsewhere in his remarks, Tahmasebi-Birgani said that according to the plan on containing SDS hotspots in southern and eastern Ahvaz approved by the president following severe sand and dust storms on March 2017, the rehabilitation of vegetation and dried wetlands in the areas suffering severe sand and dust storms have become priority this year. To do so, an idea of transferring water by channels to SDS sources such as dried wetlands around Ahvaz was suggested, which have not been environmentally assessed, he also added. In addition to supplying water to moisturize lands prone to dust generation and providing water right of local wetlands around Ahvaz, the water channels have been proposed to be used for irrigation of Shadegan palm trees, he further explained. Khuzestan suffering SDSs Currently, over 700,000 hectares of the lands in province of Khuzestan are prone to dust generation, some parts are due to sandstone erosion and the rest constitute the main hotspots, he concluded. The early signs of sporadic SDS in southwestern regions, especially Khuzestan Province, was appeared in 2005. This challenge showed its strength and reached a degree that in late January the concentration of fine dust was recorded as 20 times above the standard range in some cities of the province. According to Iran Meteorological Organization, SDS is fed by external hotspots in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Although most of these sand and dust storms arise from external sources but one cannot neglect the internal hotspots which, as estimations show, account for about 30 percent of the problem. Excessive water withdrawal, dam building projects and not granting the water right of wetlands are listed as the main causes for turning wetlands and once fertile grounds and pastures in the province to internal SDS hotspots. A Landmark Caspian Agreement (To Be Signed On August 12) -- And What It Resolves 08/10/18 By Bruce Pannier, RFE/RL It has taken more than 20 years. But on August 12, the leaders of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan will meet in the Kazakh port city of Aqtau, reportedly to sign a new convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea. Caspian Sea An 18-page draft of the agreement, posted briefly on Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's website in June and obtained by RFE/RL, lists 24 articles, including territorial waters, maritime borders, rules for navigation, fishing rights, environmental matters, and, importantly, use of the sea's resources. The Caspian seabed hides some 50 billion barrels of oil and nearly 9 trillion cubic meters of gas in proven or probable reserves. At current market prices, that is several trillion dollars' worth of energy resources; with further exploration, it could turn out to be much more. So it is perhaps unsurprising that it has taken this long to reach a deal on the Caspian's legal status. Debate has always hinged on whether the Caspian is a "sea" or a "lake." It is an inland body of water, with no exits to any seas or oceans. The draft suggests the five littoral states will agree in Aqtau that the Caspian is a sea. Classifying it as a lake would mean the resources of the Caspian should be divided equally among those five countries. The sea designation means the five countries should draw lines extending from their shores to the midway point with littoral neighbors. Iran is arguably the loser under such an arrangement, as it would get only about 13 percent of the Caspian -- and the deepest and saltiest part at that. That has seemingly led Tehran to resist any deal recognizing the Caspian as a sea. Kazakhstan is seemingly the biggest winner under the "sea" definition, since more than half of the Caspian's hydrocarbon wealth is said to lie in what would be Kazakhstan's sector. The absence of an agreement has not stopped Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan from exploring and developing sections of the Caspian they have always believed to be their sectors. In that sense, the convention will formalize what was de facto already decided by those four countries years ago. Last TCP Hurdle Cleared? The intriguing part of the convention is Article 14, which according to the draft text states that "the parties can lay underwater pipelines along the Caspian floor" (Section 2) "according to consent by the parties through whose sector the cable or pipeline should be built" (Section 3). Turkmenistan has wanted for more than 20 years to build a gas pipeline to ship its gas across the Caspian to Azerbaijan, where it would be pumped into pipelines leading west to Turkey or the Black Sea and, ultimately, to Europe. Some felt that under international law, there was no obstacle to this Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP) being built -- even without an agreement on the Caspian's legal status from all five states -- so long as Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, through whose territories the pipeline would pass, approved the deal. Source: Public Domain Russia and Iran have opposed the TCP on the grounds that it poses a potential environmental hazard to the Caspian's unique biosphere. The claim seemed especially suspect from Russia, since Russia's Gazprom has laid gas pipelines along the Black Sea to Turkey (Blue Stream) and is planning to build another one (TurkStream), and has also completed one pipeline across the Gulf of Finland to Germany (Nord Stream) and is hoping to build another pipeline to Germany (Nord Stream 2). All those pipelines are said to be more technically challenging than construction of the TCP, and appear to face greater obstacles -- the best example being unexploded bombs from World War II in parts of the Gulf of Finland. Some felt Tehran and Moscow's environmental concerns were actually economic concerns, stemming from the desire of each to hinder gas-exporting competitors, in this case Turkmenistan, from selling to markets in Europe. The European Union supports construction of the TCP and has included it as a potential part of the EU's Southern Gas Corridor strategy. Environmental Concerns While Article 24, Section 2, of the draft allows littoral states to lay pipelines, it goes on to stipulate that such activities hinge on "the condition of the accordance of their projects with ecological demands and standards." It appears to be the same loophole that has held up construction of the TCP for all these years, though it is unclear whether this would represent an effective veto that other littoral states could employ to halt projects. Other parts of the agreement hold individual countries responsible for any damage they cause to the sea through exploration, development of sites, or construction of platforms or pipelines, which seems to place the responsibility for safety on the parties involved in future hydrocarbon development or export projects. There is a precedent for pipeline accidents in the Caspian. Two pipelines (one oil, one gas) leading from Kazakhstan's offshore Kashagan site ruptured and leaked shortly after production started in September 2013. The other littoral states did not take any action, or even voice any criticism of Kazakhstan on that occasion. However, it should be remembered that the Caspian Sea is home to sturgeon that produce the world's finest caviar. Iranian Almas caviar, for example, is the most expensive in the world, selling for more than $30,000 per kilogram. Turkmenistan has anticipated concerns about potential environmental damage to the Caspian and has hosted several recent conferences on ecological safety and publicly touted the efficient and thorough work of the country's environmental organizations. A report on August 8 on the Caspian Environmental Service (CaspEcoControl) in Turkmenistan "monitoring the environment, surface seawater and bottom sediments, groundwater of coastline, atmospheric air [and] analyzing the hydro-chemical regime in the sea at the stations located in Turkmenbashi Bay, Kiyanly Bay, Garabogaz, and Avaza." Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan also have plans to build the Kazakhstan Caspian Transportation System (KCTS) oil pipeline to bring Kazakh oil across the Caspian from the Kazakh port town of Quryq to Baku. If construction of that pipeline goes ahead, it is difficult to imagine that the TCP would not be built. The agreement also forbids the presence on the Caspian of any military forces except those of the five littoral states. This part of the document would appear to favor Russia, which has by far the largest and most advanced naval force in the region. The signing of the convention on the legal status of the Caspian would draw to a close nearly 22 years of work to reach an agreement. The document appears to resolve many of the problems that have given the littoral states, and potential foreign investors, pause when considering whether to go ahead with projects. But given the Caspian's oil and gas wealth, it is unlikely this single document will settle all the differences that exist over the sea's division and use of its resources. The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL About the author: Bruce Pannier (PannierB@rferl.org) writes the Qishloq Ovozi blog and appears regularly on the Majlis podcast for RFE/RL. Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful is unhappy about the negative impact poor internet services in Ghana and Africa on the development agenda of the country and the continent as a whole. According to her, poor internet connectivity impedes the countrys development. The Minister noted that a collaboration between tertiary institutions in the country was imperative for the enhancement of information and communication technology (ICT). Poor internet connectivity in Africa is one of the issues that is forestalling our development and widening the gap between developing and industrialized countries. The collaboration between tertiary education institutions in Africa is imperative to make them keep players in the enhancement of information and communications technology for the development of all our society, she said. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful who was speaking at the launch of the Ghana Academic and Research Network (GARNET) early this week praised the efforts of heads of various institutions in advancing the cause of academic research through technology. She observed that Africa is underserved in the area of information and communication technology. Residents of Eguafo in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region had given up on ever using an ICT Centre which was inaugurated in 2016. The facility, with close to 50 computers, meant to serve as an IT learning center for pupils and other community members, has been abandoned for the past two years due to the lack of internet access. Eguafo is about 10-minute drive away from Ataabadze Junction, which is on the Cape Coast-Takoradi highway, and the town boasts of some primary schools and a public Senior High School. The ICT Centre was initially started by the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM), but the Commission abandoned it, and the Municipal Assembly took over and completed it. In April, this year, Denmark has provisionally handed over the Eastern Corridor Fibre Optic Network Extension Project to the Ministry of Communications, which will be managed by the National Information Technology Agency (NITA). Source: The Finder 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 Chief Justice Sophia Abena Akuffo has warned that any judge or magistrate caught in any act of misconduct or unprofessional conduct will not be spared and they would be dealt with swiftly in accordance with law. Ms Akuffo said the importance of maintaining a high moral character constituted the hall mark of every Judicial Officer adding at that as Magistrates maintaining a high moral character is an honour. The Chief Justice said this when she sworn in the first batch of nine professional career magistrates comprising four females and five males at a ceremony in Accra. The magistrates were employed by the Judicial Service as career magistrates. They undertook study leave and pursued the law degrees as well as attended the Ghana School of Law. They also underwent interviews and their various judgements were assessed. The Chief Justice drew the attention of the magistrates to the nations peace and stability noting that the peace and stability was not sustained by wishes. They are largely as a result of the confidence people have in our legal and administration of justice regime. Ms Akuffo said it is not our job to please, but if done right, our decisions must bring satisfaction. This requires extreme dedication, integrity and unyielding adherence to the code of conduct for Judges and Magistrates. She said a robust judiciary needed in equal measure good quality laws, statutes and judges and that a good judge decides cases on their merits and within the confines of the law. A good quality judge is motivated by the search for justice for all- victim and aggressor, complainant and defendant and that judge conducts proper case management. Our job is to lead various actors in the court room in the united pursuit of truth and justice guided by the principles of equality and fairness. The Chief Justice told the magistrates that as part of her tenure, she was committed to the improvement of conditions of service of the judiciary. This commitment manifest in our efforts to improve the infrastructure and conditions of service and training of staff. Ms Akuffo said the judiciary would not continue to accept horrible working environment anymore. She appealed to magistrates and judges to also take interest in what is happening around the courts by ensuring that courtrooms were sanitised and dockets are well kept. Push your Registrars to get results, she declared. Ms Akuffo entreated magistrates to take part in the Judicial Services continuous legal education in order to abreast themselves with trends in the law profession. Ms Gloria A. Akuffo, Minister of Justice and Attorney General in speech read on her behalf urged the magistrates to uphold the Constitution by dispensing justice without fear or favour. Ms Akuffo said as ambassadors of the judiciary, they were also to keep lawyers on their toes by reading their case dockets and conduct research before sittings. Mr Tony Forson, who represented the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), urged the magistrates to be conversant with the law in order to earn respect from the bar. Mr Forson said the GBA and the Judiciary would however not hesitate to crack the whip when any member misconducts his or herself. 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 US President Donald Trump has signed into law a bill that imposes tough new conditions that have to be met before sanctions are lifted. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that his country is open for business, but this new law - the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act - could scupper those plans as far as the US is concerned. Official results show that Mr Mnangagwa won last month's presidential election with 50.8% of the vote, but the opposition alleges that the figures were manipulated. The US law says that in order for sanctions to end the election has to be "widely accepted as free and fair". One condition mentioned is that the army has to "respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons and to be nonpartisan in character". In the days following the poll, six opposition supporters died in clashes with the army, which has led some to question its neutrality. Zimbabwe is also required to take steps towards "good governance, including respect for the opposition". In recent days, the US has criticised the treatment of opposition supporters and in particular key opposition figure Tendai Biti, who has been arrested in connection with the post-election violence. "The United States government is gravely concerned by credible reports of numerous detentions, beatings, and other abuses of Zimbabweans over the past week, particularly targeting opposition activists", State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said. "We call on Zimbabwes leaders to guarantee Mr Bitis physical safety and ensure his constitutional and human rights are respected." The US started imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2001. They target individuals, as well as banning trade in defence items and direct government assistance for non-humanitarian programmes. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video National Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams is urging Ghanaians to decide with the urgency it deserves to end the administration of President Akufo-Addo in the next general elections in 2020. According to him the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by President Akufo-Addo is ruling with lies and also giving excuses, as well as blaming others for his failure as a leader. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Kofi Adams bemoaned Ghana is in the reverse gear as nothing seems to work anymore in the area of education, infrastructure and the economy. From the beginning President Akufo-Addo sang the mantra Im unaware; we have unaware government and clearing agent government, and now we have a misled government, so what at all can this government do right in this country with 110 ministers? he quizzed. He again asserted that truth has lost its value in this country due to the government we have today." Kofi Adams was responding to President Akufo-Addo's action regarding the AMERI deal after speculations that he was 'misled' by the Energy Minister to agree to the revised AMERI deal. However, AMERI has come out to deny entering into any new agreement with the government of Ghana. Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo in a statement has directed the Energy Minister, Mr. Boakye Agyarko to hand over his position to the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu. Kofi Adams wondered how President Akufo-Addo with 110 choristers as ministers surrounding him could be 'misled'. What is left again and what should Ghanaians expect again from this government before they can take a decision to end this government? It is really clear that we are faced with a government which doesnt know what its doing for the country, Kofi Adams said. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Founder and Leader of Hope Generation Ministry International, Prophet Eric Kwasi Amponsah, popularly known as Computer Man says he is no longer a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). Accoridng to him, he together with his church members are moving to another party over neglect of the ruling party. Computer Mans anger is borne out of what he says is total disrespect shown him by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), of Tano South Collins Offinam Takyi over the building of a community centre for the people in the Dwomo, a farming community near Bechem in the Brong Ahafo Region. The man of God claimed the MCE has failed to accord him the necessary recognition for his role in the building of the ultra-modern community centre. This was after the Tano South MCE at a news conference on Friday, March 16, 2018 claimed Computer Man played no role in the building of the centre. At the said press conference, the MCE had allegedly indicated that the project was not built by the man of God, and dared Prophet Amponsah to provide documentary evidence to prove that he financed the building of the centre for the community. The project Mr. Offinam Takyi said was built by the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South Constituency, Mrs Hannah Bissiw, under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government through the Assembly. But Prophet Amponsah, who is a native of Dwomo in a response described the claims made by the MCE as damaging and heart-breaking, and vowed to exploit every available avenue to prove his case. I want to state on authority that the ultra-modern community centre was not built by the previous MP through the Tano South Municipal Assembly, but l built it with my own money and I have all the necessary documents to prove my case. Prophet Amponsah argued that, he funded the project, therefore the MCE by his actions was sabotaging and stifling development in the area and, therefore, needed to be called to order by the President. Computer Man said he personally reported the MCE to the Chief of Staff, Madam Frema Osei Opare but nothing was done about it. He has given a Monday deadline for President Akufo-Addo to act on the matter or would be forced to defect to another party. We have supported the NPP for so many years and I am a native of the town and so I dont understand why this MCE will sabotage me. I personally went to the President and spoke to the Chief of staff at the Jubilee House. They promised to do something about it but as Im speaking with you, nothing has been done. I want the President to call him to order. If the President fails to do something about it, I will defect to another party with my members. I am a prophet and a stunt NPP man and so why should they treat me badly he quizzed on Accra based Okay FM monitored by Adomonline.com. This notwithstanding, Prophet Amponsah said he has sued the MCE for defamation at the Sunyani High Court. He said the MCEs utterances have adversely affected his finances as his donors and philanthropists now have serious reservation in donating to his mission. Source: adomonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Information circulating on social media indicate that the Eastern Regional Deputy Minister, Hon. Joseph Tetteh, has resigned. In a letter cited by The Publisher, the Minister, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Upper Manya Krobo Constituency, said his resignation was as a result of the dismissal of former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, by the President. The letter, dated August 6th, on the letter head of the Deputy Minister, and addressed to the presidency, read: I wish to tender my resignation from the position of Deputy Eastern Regional Minister. This is due to the current happenings in your Government especially the dismissal of my senior brother and colleague, Honorable Boakye Agyarko, who has been a strong pillar in the Krobo bloc and whose support led to the annexing of the seat from the NDC in the Upper Manya Krobo Constituency. Municipal Chief Executive for Manya Krobo, Simon Kwaku Tetteh, is one of the first high profile appointees of the President to circulate the letter on the Lower Manya Krobo NPP WhatsApp platform, and was cited by the paper. Mr. Agyarko, it would be recalled, was dismissed by the President following some loopholes in the controversial AMERI deal. However, the displeased Deputy Minister, popularly known as Joe Tee, who opted to part ways with the President, explained that the former Energy Minister had played a pivotal role during the 2016 election, which led to the party securing the Upper Manya Krobo Constituency seat, and therefore did not deserve to have been sacked. He, in conclusion, thanked President Akufo-Addo for the opportunity offered him to serve under his government. As at the time of going to bed, the paper had received unconfirmed reports that, an aide to the Deputy Minister, one Charles Katey Adabah, had denied that his boss had resigned. Source: the publisher Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Information available to Peacefmonline.com indicates that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has put a stop to the long convoy that follows him anytime he goes on tours. According to our sources, all Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, Municipal and District Chief Executives who are mandated or wish to accompany the President on his 5-day tour of the Ashanti Region will have to make themselves comfortable in an STC bus provided by the state. With this new directive, government appointees willing to follow the President on his 5 day tour to the Ashanti Region would not get the pleasure of using their V8 Landcruisers and Pickup trucks. Akufo-Addo begins 5-day Ashanti Region tour President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to commence a five-day working tour of the Ashanti Region today, Friday, 10 August 2018. President Akufo-Addo will visit the Manhyia South, Asokwa, Nhyiaeso, Bosomtwe, Bantama, Sekyere Central, Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo, Mampong, Subin, Ahafo-Ano South, Kwadaso, Atwima Kwanwoma and Oforikrom constituencies Beginning with a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace, President Akufo-Addo is expected to launch the Kumasi Roads Facelift Programme at Atonsu in the Asokwa Constituency and visit the Vesta Oil Factory at Bosomtwe. He will also inspect ongoing works on the Manhyia-Bantama Asphalt Overlay Project at Abrepo in the Bantama Constituency. Other engagements will include interactions with the Chiefs and religious leaders of the region, inspection of ongoing construction works of a 1-District-1-Warehouse project at Mampong, cutting of the sod for the construction of the Wioso-Mpasaaso Road Project. On Monday, 13th August, 2018, President Akufo-Addo will launch the Youth in Afforestation Programme, and also inspect ongoing works on the Trede-Ahodwo Road Project, as well as visit a 1-District-1-Factory Project site in Kaase. Before ending his tour, the President will participate in the 29th Biennial General Council Meeting of the Assemblies of God Church, to be held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The President will end the tour of the region on Tuesday, 14th August, 2018. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers [COPEC], Mr. Duncan Amoah has emphatically stated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was right to remove former Energy Minister Boakye Ayarko from office. According to him, the President did no wrong and couldnt have taken any better decision because the Minister acted on his behalf as an expert by doing thorough investigations before briefing him. Anyone who will be against Boakye Agyakos removal from office does not understand the terms in which the sector operates, and I say the President acted perfectly on his decision taken on the matter, he said. To him this happened because the President believed Boakye Agyarko as a professional who understood the sector better. Boakye Agyarko need to immediately break his silence on the persons involved in the negotiations, he advised. Mr. Duncan Amoah in an interview on UTVs Adekye Nsroma programme called on all Public Officers and political appointees to make sure their deliveries are made based on value for money, public good and geared towards the presidential agenda. We pray Peter Amewu, the newly appointed Energy Minister will restructure a lot of things in the energy sector because there are a lot of set-ups that could be done to cut down debts in most of the agencies under the energy sector, which will in return generate income for government. BACKGROUND Ex- President John Dramani Mahamas administration signed a $510 million contract with AMERI to build power plants, own and operate it for five years before transferring it to the Government of Ghana during the energy crisis in 2015. This was done on a sole-sourced basis after a meeting between the former President of the Republic of Ghana and the Crown Prince of Dubai. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) then in opposition described the agreement as a stinking deal which will be re-looked at when it assumes power. A 17-member committee established by the Ex-Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko advised the government to re-negotiate the $510m power deal with UAE-based AMERI energy after a report revealed it was over-priced by $150million. In responding to two letters from the Ex-Energy Minister requesting for legal advice to suspend monthly payment to AMERI, the Attorney General kicked against the move because the deal is valid and satisfies Ghanas procurement processes. In her response dated November 27, 2017, Ms. Akuffo noted the Government of Ghana entered into a very unfavourable agreement with AMERI, adding the only way out is for the government to renegotiate the deal with AMERI with a view to achieving a more favourable term. Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi/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 Shatta movement fan has built a statue for his boss Shatta Wale ahead of the release of his yet-to-be-released album titled Reign. The Sculptor who is a student of Tarkoradi Technical Univesity built the statue for the self-acclaimed Dancehall king in Ghana as a gift to show how much he loves and appreciates his music. The statue sees the Shatta Wale wearing his usual gold chains, holding a microphone and as youll see below and what he normally wears to make an appearance on stage. See the pictures below; Source: ghpage.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 Krakus Market, one of the last bastions of Polish cooking and culture in Port Richmond, closed Aug. 8 after three decades, the owners announced on Facebook. The post said the Gardyasz family was retiring. "The decision to retire was not made lightly and we will miss each and every one of you who shopped under our roof, recommended our products to friends and family, and visited us regularly including holidays," it said. "This has always been a family-run business and we are so grateful to have expanded that family to all of our wonderful customers and employees over the years." Reaction was swift and passionate. "Thank you for making my Polish roots deeper," wrote one customer. "You will be missed dearly," wrote another. "It was great to have a Polish market that was full of traditions not to mention that outstanding kielbasa and Polish food. Proud of my Polish heritage and proud to be a customer of Krakus for many years. Wish you all the best. With love from the Polish hills of Manayunk." A representative of the family has not yet replied to my messages seeking elaboration. The business began in the mid-1960s as a small butcher shop in Wissinoming owned by recent immigrants Franciszek Gardyasz and his son, Zenon. They moved to a double storefront on Richmond Street near Allegheny Avenue in the heart of the city's Polish enclave in the mid-1980s, expanding it into a supermarket and deli with a restaurant in the front that served such specialties as golabki, hunter's stew, soups, and pierogi. Its line of kielbasa was unsurpassed. In recent years, since Zenon Gardyasz's death, his daughter Sylvia had run the business. >>Read more: Columnist Mike Newall visits Krakus just before Easter 2016 "When our Grandfather and Father started this business over 30 years ago, they had no idea that Krakus would turn out to be so much more than an ethnic food deli," the post said. "It became part of their legacy, a place for reunions and new relationships to form, as well as countless memories to share. "Most importantly, Krakus Market provided tradition. You brought us home to your family's dinner table to keep Polish traditions alive and for that we are so grateful! Beginnings can be scary and endings are usually sad, but it's what's in the middle that counts. Thank you ALL for making it count!" Teenage gun control activists from the March For Our Lives movement held a town hall in South Philadelphia Tuesday night. Among the panelists were Philly students from Parkway Center City Middle College. Read more For one veteran officer, the gunshots that brought police to a North Philadelphia address in 2016 were simply an "ordinary occurrence." The officer wasn't exactly wrong. And she wasn't saying anything that countless others haven't said before. The area in the Fairhill neighborhood has a reputation for drug sales and gunfire. On the night police responded to calls of shots fired, three men were hit, two fatally. Now, a man is on trial for murder, and as I listened to the policewoman's testimony this week, I couldn't get past her casual characterization of the deadly gunplay. Ordinary This, I thought, is exactly what the Philadelphia students who participated in a town hall about gun control organized by the national, teen-led March for Our Lives movement just a couple of days earlier in South Philly were up against. This feeling, this acceptance, that gunshots are the everyday, ordinary backdrop in so many of the city's neighborhoods. Expected. Normal. Daily shootings have been reduced to a collective shrug. Families mourn fathers and uncles and brothers and sisters gunned down, sometimes right in front of them. Children wonder if they will get to grow old, as kids their age and younger are ripped apart by bullets. At least 97 young people ages 18 and under have been shot in Philly so far this year. "It's painful to hear people call shootings ordinary," said Dena Hill, a student at Parkway Center City who participated in the town hall. "That's not the way it should be. It shouldn't be normalized. That's what we have to change." She's absolutely right, and yet it's hard to argue that it's not routine, as the shootings and killings in Philly keep adding up and most barely register outside the neighborhoods. As of the morning of Aug. 10, there have been 802 shooting victims; 160 of them died. Numbers that will likely be outdated by the time you read this. My heart ached for the Philadelphia students at the town hall the first time I met them at their school, Parkway Center City Middle College. That was in March, and the ninth graders were debating whether they'd stand in solidarity with the Parkland, Fla., school shooting victims calling for gun reforms when the violence many of them faced daily in their Philly neighborhoods went ignored. >>READ MORE: Philly teens to Florida teens: Would you have stood in solidarity with us? My heart soared as I watched them onstage Tuesday with student activists from all over the country demanding that their pain be seen, their voices heard. This must be what it's like to be a parent, I thought, chest swelling with pride while I took photo after photo of the Philadelphia students speaking to an audience at Universal Audenried High School. >>READ MORE: Dear Philadelphians of privilege Two of the students, Simone Akridge and Anissa Wheeler White, were panelists. Hill was co-moderating. Summer hasn't slowed down their activism. They are planning their own anti-violence event in September. Inspired by the call to action by Parkland students who insisted that all victims of gun violence be heard, they stepped into their own power to speak for the lives of kids who looked like them. Parkland matters. But so does Philly. All mass shootings should matter, whether they happen at suburban schools, in movie theaters, at nightclubs, or on a Philly street corner, where on Wednesday six people were wounded two fatally in a drive-by shooting in North Philadelphia. On stage the night before, the students sat in front of a sign that read "Road to Change" as they discussed the obstacles to combating gun violence, and I found myself wondering, once again, what that road would look like in Philadelphia. "It doesn't always make the news, but we want it to stop," Akridge said. Everyone seems to have an idea, some better than others. Theories, too, as to why gun violence persists. Too many that conveniently place the blame on those being victimized, and that conveniently erases their realities and their voices by insisting that they aren't stepping up. Some aren't, but many are. People and institutions in positions to help or amplify their efforts have just chosen not to acknowledge them. At the town hall, I sat next to Yullio Robbins, a mom who is relentlessly seeking justice in the slaying of her 28-year-old son, executed in 2016 on a Germantown street in the middle of the day by someone who pumped 12 bullets into him as he begged for his life. What did she think that road looked like? I asked. She paused, and then gestured behind and in front of her. Like them, she said, pointing to the young people on the stage and in the audience. Young people from different backgrounds and experiences, but with the same message. Gun violence is anything but ordinary. It took Philadelphia's City Council over a year of hearings and behind-the-scenes wrangling to create a dedicated funding stream for affordable housing. Developers had to be arm-twisted into shouldering a new tax on construction. Housing advocates had to be assured that the city's poorest would truly benefit. When the compromise finally passed, just days before the end of Council's spring session, it made national news. Since then, there has been radio silence from Mayor Kenney, who has until Sept. 13 to sign or reject the bill. Jim Engler, the mayor's new chief of staff, insists the administration is merely using the summer recess to study the legislation, but Kenney has made no secret of his distaste for the proposal, which uses a tax on market-rate construction to pay for subsidized housing. Housing advocates are convinced he will use his veto power for the first time since taking office in 2016 to kill the measure, and they've started a social media campaign to ratchet up the pressure. Still, a high-ranking elected official told me, "I'd be really shocked if he doesn't veto it." Then what happens? While Philadelphia isn't anywhere close to experiencing the gentrification-fueled housing shortages that have plagued Seattle and San Francisco, the success of the bill demonstrated broad support here for getting ahead of the problem. The construction tax might not have been a perfect solution, but it was the best solution that the largest number of people would accept. If Kenney vetoes Council's plan, the burden is on him to come up with something better. The administration knows that, Engler said. "We understand the need for additional resources for affordable housing," he explained, but the mayor worries that Council's approach may do more harm than good. The administration contends that the logistics and cost of collecting the money will be daunting, and the tax could scare away some developers. Most experts I interviewed think those concerns are overstated. The stronger argument for rejecting the construction tax now is that it puts the cart before the horse. The administration is in the process developing a comprehensive housing strategy for the city. That plan, which will roll out in the fall, is expected to take a big-picture approach to the interconnected problems of poverty and housing. It will look at ways to boost, and pay for, the production of all kinds of housing for the homeless, the working poor, the elderly, debt-burdened college graduates, and plain-old middle-class buyers. The fear is that the 1 percent construction tax could box in the administration by making it politically difficult to impose other kinds of fees. My reservations with the construction tax have more to do with how it will complicate efforts to modify the 10-year property-tax abatement. Although the abatement has played a vital role in Philadelphia's revival and has boosted revenue to the city's general fund over the long term, it has effectively become a subsidy for the wealthiest, most successful parts of the city. It's hard to continue justifying this two-decade-old policy in its current, one-size-fits-all form when the need for affordable housing is growing. Recently, more policy leaders have begun to speak out about the fairness issue. Those cries for reform grew louder after Philadelphia homeowners discovered this spring that their property taxes were going up by an average of 10.5 percent, thanks to a citywide reassessment. But making revisions to the abatement could be a heavier lift if developers can argue that they already took a hit when they agreed to the construction tax. Some developers jokingly call the 1 percent construction tax a tax on the tax abatement. Andrew Frishkoff, who runs the nonprofit Philadelphia office of the Local Initiatives Support Corp. and serves on the task force that has been working on the city's housing plan, believes there is growing momentum to update the abatement. "The way it's currently structured no longer feels equitable," he says. Controller Rebecca Rhynhart, who recently completed a study of the abatement, agrees. Her report lays out several ways to reform the incentive without jeopardizing the long-term revenue gains it brings. Whatever happens to the construction tax, Council is likely to hold hearings on the abatement when it returns to work in September. In a way, it's impossible to separate the two issues. Several economists argue that Philadelphia could even use the abatement to realize its affordable-housing goals. By setting aside the revenue it gains when abated houses come onto the tax rolls, the city could create a steady stream of money to fix up old houses and build subsidized housing. It would be like getting a raise and immediately putting the bonus into a 401(k) plan. But the city could easily be tempted to divert the money to other purposes. Philadelphia is hardly the only city trying to strike a balance between stoking new development and making sure its struggling neighborhoods are treated fairly. After a decade of growth and revival, many cities are fighting to contain the side effects of gentrification and prevent the poor from being forced out by rising rents. But Philadelphia's situation is so unique that many approaches adopted by our peer cities won't work here. Our housing is remarkably cheap compared to a city like New York, and we have plenty of vacant land to build new homes. The majority of residents 52.2 percent still own their homes, making them more resistant to displacement. The real issue in Philadelphia is our stubborn poverty rate, now 26 percent. Even a bargain apartment isn't a bargain for a family subsisting on a minimum-wage income. While plenty of seniors own their homes, many are too poor to pay for crucial repairs needed to keep them livable. As Jeffrey Allegretti, an affordable housing developer in Point Breeze, often says: "Philadelphia doesn't really have an affordable housing problem. It has a housing quality problem." The money from the construction tax is meant to address the quality issue by funding repairs and providing small loans. Many experts, like Alan Mallach, author of The Divided City, believe Philadelphia needs to repair whole neighborhoods, not just individual houses. In the book, he argues that the city should stop talking about gentrification and focus instead on its declining middle neighborhoods, places like Frankford and Tacony, where there is good housing stock, but too many people living just above the poverty line. Done right, the city's forthcoming housing plan could combine a housing strategy with a preservation strategy. Older homes are always more affordable than new construction. The right policies would not only keep ruined and abandoned houses from bringing down Philadelphia's middle neighborhoods, they could also go a long way toward preserving the city's special architectural character. In theory, Mayor Kenney doesn't have to veto the construction tax to kill it. He could ask Council to recall the bill and offer to collaborate with its members on a new version. Since taking office, Kenney has gone out of his way to try to work with Council. For all the weaknesses of the construction tax, Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, who has taken the lead on the affordable housing issue, remains skeptical about finding a better option. "This was a compromise of a compromise of a compromise," she said. "I'll be interested to see what alternative the mayor comes up with." Bucks County state Rep. Marguerite Quinn, left, and Chester County state Sen. Tom Killion, right, are Republicans whose bills to protect domestic violence victims from gun-slinging abusers have been felled by leaders of their own party and the gun lobby. Read more Republicans in suburban Philadelphia wanted it to become law. So did every single member of Pennsylvania's GOP-controlled state Senate from both parties. So did Democrat Gov. Wolf, advocates trying to keep domestic-violence victims alive, and just about anyone with more than two brain cells to rub together. It was a GOP-backed bill that would order all alleged domestic abusers to give up their guns after being slapped with a protection-from-abuse order. And as it appeared on the verge of passage this past June, Republican leaders in the House stopped it dead in its tracks. It was a sickening display of swamp-like servitude to the gun lobby by a body whose committee and caucus leaders overwhelmingly hail from the more uber-conservative, rural districts in our state. Instead of using their 120-83 Republican majority to help save a woman from a raging spouse or boyfriend with a Smith and Wesson, this group of elected state employees blew a kiss to the gun lobby. They did it despite the fact that two of their own members, Republicans Sen. Tom Killion of Chester County, and Rep. Marguerite Quinn of Bucks County, were the sponsors. They did it despite this being a common-sense change. They did it because it would have required standing up to the kooks in their caucus and the lobbyists who think the right to bear arms includes having the right to kill your girlfriend with a gun, and pursue justice for the victim afterward. No one will tell me exactly what happened or at whose urging. I spent hours calling around Harrisburg and beyond, only to be left with that familiar pang of disgust you get when trying to force transparency in government. Let's start with the locals. Killion and Quinn pushed versions of this bill in the Senate and House, respectively. Both are Republicans from the Philadelphia suburbs and, as such, are now marginal players in state GOP politics. That's because the state Republican House caucus is now home to some pretty loud tea party types. Killion's version passed the Senate unanimously this spring. His bill would no longer allow alleged abusers to give up their guns to friends or family members after being hit with a final PFA order. The new law also would make it mandatory and not up to a judge, as the law currently allows for a PFA defendant's guns to be taken away. If you're separately convicted in criminal court of misdemeanor domestic violence, Killion's bill no longer gives you 60 days to turn in your guns. You get 48 hours. The gun lobby did not oppose its passage in the Senate. But then, not-good stuff happened. The House Judiciary Committee, led by veteran conservative Rep. Ron Marsico, held unprecedented gun-control hearings on a large number of bills that resulted, unsurprisingly, in virtually zero legislative action. They were a dog-and-pony show following the Parkland, Fla., shootings. Marsico's committee then took action on a domestic-violence bill authored by Quinn. Staffers replaced the text with the Senate version. So far, so good. But then staffers rewrote a provision that, despite domestic-violence advocates warning it would make the gun lobby ballistic, did just that. Instead of forcing convicted criminal abusers to relinquish their guns in 48 hours, as the Killion bill proposed, Marsico's people changed that to 24 hours. Marsico's office would not make him or anyone on his committee available to publicly explain what happened. A spokesperson for House Republicans told me the change was intended to bring the gun-turnover period in line with the 24 hours currently given to PFA defendants. He was unclear about whether it had been done at any outsider's behest. This turned into a poison pill. Just days after the bill passed out of committee on June 19, and within hours of an expected vote by the full House on June 25, gun lobbyist Kim Stolfer blitzed the General Assembly. Stolfer said he texted his displeasure to Pittsburgh-area House Speaker Mike Turzai. Rank-and-file members got emails, too. House leaders didn't do what they get paid to do whip their members behind a vote for a good bill. They instead scotched it. With just 11 days left when the House reconvenes next month, the bill is viewed as all but dead. "It is definitely the intention to bring this bill back up when we come back in September and October," House Republican spokesman Steve Miskin told me on Thursday. "We wanted to give the members the opportunity this summer to fully ascertain what is and what isn't in the bill. When members have a lot of questions, they usually vote no." There are no assurances it can pass. Killion still calls this bill a "no-brainer." In November 2017, Mayor Jim Kenney announced that the controversial statue of former mayor Frank Rizzo which sits on Thomas Paine Plaza will be moved. Read more From 1992 until 2015, Jim Kenney sat in his City Council office across the street from the Frank Rizzo statue in front of the Municipal Services Building, and it wasn't racist. Kenney was in office when private funds were raised for the 10-foot bronze statue, and he was in office when it was placed on the steps of Thomas Paine Plaza on Jan. 1, 1999 and it wasn't racist. It wasn't racist in 1993, when Mayor Ed Rendell and District Attorney Lynne Abraham co-chaired a $75-a-plate dinner Oct. 29 at Palumbo's in South Philadelphia to help raise almost $75,000 for the statue. The city approved the location, selected by the Art Commission, and for almost 20 years it stood across from City Hall, in which black mayors and Council people worked. It wasn't racist. Then came the white nationalist march in Charlottesville in 2017. Councilwoman Helen Gym, the bloodhound of imagined insult, found the statue was racist, equivalent to Confederate statues around the country that were being removed. The councilwoman, who previously unsuccessfully attacked an Asian food truck as being racist, found more traction with the massive memorial. The statue had become racist. She tweeted that it should come down and a citywide debate was on. After a noisy few months, Kenney said he would let the Art Commission decide what to do. But in November he made a U-turn and said he had decided the statue would be moved, and the Art Commission would only get to say where. Things quieted down until Friday, when the "Clout" column in the Inquirer and Daily News reported that Kenney was going to delay moving the statue until at least 2020. This may have come as a surprise to some, but not to Frank Rizzo, or his statue, anyway, which I interviewed in May. He said, and I quote, "He's yellow. He's gonna delay until after the election." Prophecy fulfilled. Kenney denies a political component in the decision to delay the statue's move, which is like denying water is wet. "It's a political decision," says longtime Rizzo loyalist Jody Della Barba. "There must have been a poll where he's not too good with Rizzo supporters." Center City lawyer George Bochetto has the statue as a client. "I think that the whole idea of moving the Rizzo statue is bad politics and bad business for government," he says. If a decision to move it gets made, he'll go to court to block it, he says. Frank Rizzo Jr. says the decision is political and moving the statue is wrongheaded. "As police commissioner, he served the entire city. As mayor, he served the entire city," he says. "My dad loved South Philadelphia, but he served all of Philadelphia." He adds that his father integrated two-officer police cars (we had two-man cars back then), he trusted his life to his security team led by African American officers Tony Fulwood and Jimmy Turner, and he found funding for the African American Museum. If Mayor Kenney, who once co-sponsored a bill to rename the Municipal Services Building for Frank Rizzo, actually believes that the late mayor's legacy is nothing but racism and police brutality, why delay moving that despicable monument? Wouldn't Justice call for immediate action (unless the politics were bad)? Since he's changed his mind a couple of times on the statue not to mention reversing himself on where Made in America would be staged Kenney might as well do another about-face and leave the statue where it always has been. Lucy Wiese, who just turned 10, was diagnosed at age 3 with a very rare disorder called Jobs syndrome, which can result from a spontaneous genetic mutation. Read more Lucy Wiese's birth in June 2008 at a hospital in Richmond, Va., followed an uneventful pregnancy. Doctors noted what they characterized as a benign newborn rash that blanketed her body. To her mother, Jan Wiese, the rash looked like little freckles, which scabbed over and then fell off. Lucy also had a mild case of jaundice common in newborns which required a week of light-exposure therapy at home. At nine months, she developed an infection near her toenail. The area grew swollen and pus-filled, but it wasn't painful. The pediatrician drained it and the toe healed. Three months later, something similar happened to two of Lucy's fingers, which she habitually sucked. Lucy was given antibiotics, and the doctor advised that she be prevented from sucking her fingers easier said than done, her mother observed. Lucy had also developed periodic patchy outbreaks on her face and torso that resembled a heat rash and puzzled her doctors. Wiese and her husband, Scott, then a fourth-year medical student, thought Lucy might simply be vulnerable to the germs he was bringing home from the hospital. Around the time of her first birthday, the family moved to Charlottesville, where a new pediatrician noted the large size and unusual shape of her head, which was somewhat long and narrow. A CT scan revealed sagittal craniosynostosis, a birth defect that results in premature closure of the bones in a baby's head. A specialist deemed her case mild and recommended against surgery, which can be risky. Five months later, Lucy developed an abscess behind her left ear. More serious than the previous infections, it needed to be surgically drained and required that she be hospitalized for IV antibiotics. This infection, unlike the previous ones, healed more slowly and required a round of oral antibiotics as well as corticosteroids. Then, weeks before her third birthday, the little girl developed a severe case of oral thrush, a fungal infection that causes white patches inside the mouth and esophagus. "It was so painful she couldn't swallow her own saliva," her mother recalled. Lucy was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital where her father was an anesthesiology resident. An infectious-disease specialist noted that thrush, one of the opportunistic infections that can affect patients with HIV, was extremely unusual in a patient Lucy's age and strongly suggested a malfunctioning immune system. Less than a month later, Lucy was back at Georgetown with a second case of thrush. This time, she saw Charlotte Barbey-Morel, then the hospital's chief of pediatric infectious diseases. Wiese recalled that the specialist told her she was fairly confident she knew what was wrong. Solution Lucy's symptoms were consistent with a rare disorder called Job's syndrome, also known as Hyper IgE syndrome. The immunodeficiency, which is estimated to affect roughly one person in a million, is caused by a mutation in the STAT 3 gene. This defect both overstimulates and understimulates the immune system, causing severe bacterial and fungal skin infections that result in lesions and boils. (Hence the biblical moniker.) Other features include lung infections, fractures, skeletal problems including a curved spine or craniosynostosis, hyperflexible joints, and dental problems. Some cases of Job's are inherited a parent with the disorder has a 50 percent chance of having a child with it while others occur as a result of a spontaneous mutation. There is no cure. Antibiotics and antifungal drugs are commonly prescribed to prevent and treat related infections. A definitive diagnosis requires sophisticated genetic testing. And the best place to get that, Wiese was told, was the National Institutes of Health, home to one of the world's largest Job's treatment programs. In 2007, two teams of scientists, one from NIH, identified the gene responsible for the disorder, which had been first reported in 1966. In early 2012, testing revealed that Lucy had the mutation. Because her parents and younger brother do not, Lucy's case is considered not hereditary but rather one that occurred by chance. For her mother, Lucy's diagnosis was difficult but not unexpected. "I was starting to get a little bit desperate," she said. "I think we were just feeling like, finally, we can get some answers." She enrolled her daughter in a long-term study of the disorder led by Alexandra Freeman, director of the primary immune deficiency clinic at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Freeman, who has seen about 130 Job's patients, said that unlike many in her study, Lucy was diagnosed at a young age. Some of her other patients, who include multiple generations from the same family, were not diagnosed until they were in their 40s, although they had been ill virtually their entire lives. "This disease is especially tricky because it's multisystem," Freeman said. When she was 4, Lucy landed in Georgetown's pediatric intensive-care unit with a lung infection that nearly killed her and led to a cascade of recurrent severe infections. Three years later, in the spring of 2015, Freeman proposed an experimental treatment to Lucy's parents: a bone-marrow transplant. Although unlikely to provide a cure, a transplant might reduce the severity and frequency of Lucy's lung disease, which posed a continuing threat to her life, Freeman said. The Wieses, who had moved back to Richmond, agreed that a transplant was worth a try, and Lucy became the first of three Job's patients at NIH to undergo the grueling procedure. "Her parents are amazing," Freeman said. "They're so upbeat." "I knew it wasn't a cure, but it was an experimental procedure that could help her," Wiese said. In the past year, Lucy's health has improved significantly. "She's doing much, much better," said Freeman, who saw her in June. "Her lungs are looking really good" and she has had no skin infections since the transplant. "We're hopeful that the transplant and lung surgery helped her turn the corner," her mother said. Although Lucy is being home-schooled for health reasons, "she's got friends" and in many ways her life is no different than that of other 10-year-olds. "We do anticipate her going to college one day," Wiese said. "I do think and hope she'll live a normal life." Pennsylvania officials have awarded $810,000 in tax credits for five historic-rehabilitation projects throughout Philadelphia, including $200,000 each for work at the Beury Building on North Broad Street and the Penn Wynne House apartments in West Philadelphia's Wynnefield neighborhood. The Philadelphia awards are part of $3 million in credits to preserve historic buildings statewide for the fiscal year ended June 30, Gov. Wolf's office said in a release Thursday. "Pennsylvania is proud of the historic buildings that define our unique cities and towns," Wolf said in the release. "The economic benefits of historic rehabilitation and the impact of the historic tax credit program go far beyond one building and has the potential to spur reinvestment and revitalization in historic communities across the state." The Beury Building funding will go toward converting the long-blighted historic high-rise at Erie Avenue into apartments, a block of which are to be set aside as affordable units, the governor's office said. The $38.1 million project is being undertaken by socially minded development group Shift Capital. The credit for Penn Wynne House on Bryn Mawr Avenue near Wynnefield Avenue, meanwhile, will fund a $47.4 million face-lift for the Midcentury Modern apartment building, which previously accommodated largely low-income renters. Developer Cross Properties, which acquired the 17-story building in 2016, has rechristened it "the Dane," with plans to finish upgrades, including a dog park and saltwater pool, early next year, according to its website. Other grants include: A $200,000 credit for work at of the former Max Levy Autograph Inc. precision instruments business near SEPTA's Wayne Junction Regional Rail station. Developer Ken Weinstein's Philly Office Retail LLC is converting the three-story 1902 warehouse into a 21-unit apartment building as part of a larger revitalization initiative involving at least seven properties in the station area. A $150,000 credit to help renovate the Mecky Co. building, a former tricycle factory near 17th Street and Allegheny Avenue in the city's Tioga section, as part of a new campus for Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, a private Catholic school for low-income students. A $60,000 credit for Civetta Property Group's rehabilitation of the rowhouse building at 257 N. Third St. in Old City into apartments with ground floor retail. The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Kayden Mancuso at her mother Kathryn's wedding to Brian Sherlock in 2016. Read more Jeffrey Mancuso grew up in the New Jersey suburbs, earned a college degree, and started his own consulting business. He became a father and appeared to cherish his daughter, Kayden. But he also had problems with alcohol and rage that over time not only left him estranged from his family, but consumed him. "His hatred for us was greater than his love for his daughter," said Mancuso's sister, Allyson. The child, she said, became the "ultimate sacrifice." On Monday, Mancuso, 41, and his daughter were found dead in his Manayunk home after he beat her to death with a 35-pound dumbbell in a murder-suicide that shocked the region. Now, as 7-year-old Kayden Mancuso is laid to rest Saturday, her relatives are left to struggle with the wrenching memories of a troubled man. "My brother is a monster, and what he did was unthinkable," Allyson Mancuso, 42, of Marlton, said in a two-hour telephone interview. She said he had struggled with alcohol and prescription drugs, had gotten into fights since high school, and later cut off ties with her, their older brother and their mother. Yet she also described a man who cared for his daughter and a little girl who loved her father. "She just thought the world of him," Allyson said of Kayden. "She just loved him. And he loved her, too." Still, she feared that her brother could harm his daughter. "I've seen him at his most aggressive, violent" behavior, she said. "I saw it. He would scream at you, and he would spit at you. He just was not emotionally stable." She said she had wanted to testify against her brother, to tell Bucks County Judge Jeffrey G. Trauger, who was overseeing a custody battle between Mancuso and Kayden's mother, Kathryn Sherlock of Langhorne, about her fears and that he regularly threatened to kill her and Sherlock. But she said she didn't receive the subpoena in the mail for the May 1 hearing until May 2. Trauger, in a May 21 order, continued to give Sherlock primary custody of her daughter, but restricted Mancuso's visitation rights to 10 a.m. Saturday until 6 p.m. Sunday every other weekend. Although Sherlock had argued for Mancuso to have supervised visits, family members said, the judge allowed him unsupervised visits with Kayden. "Those courts should have saved her, but they didn't," Allyson said. Trauger has not responded to the family's criticisms. Stephen Heckman, the Bucks County court administrator, said Trauger can't comment on individual cases. Earlier this week, a family friend started a Change.org petition seeking Trauger's removal from the bench, contending that "he allowed a historically violent man to have unmonitored visits even after the child expressed fear." As of Friday afternoon, the petition had more than 17,500 signatures. Allyson said her brother never hit his daughter. "That's how the court rationalized their decision. He never showed aggression toward her," she said. Growing up in Medford, her younger brother was "loving," she said. Their parents divorced when she was about 3, but the siblings maintained a close relationship with their father. Later, the family, raised by their mother, moved, and Mancuso attended Haddon Heights High School in Camden County. Mancuso drank heavily and fought often, his sister said. He punched a teacher and was expelled, she said. His drinking and fighting continued when he attended Towson University in Maryland, from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business, she said. "He always had to have things his way," Allyson said. "If he didn't see it his way, he would argue with you." Efforts to interview other relatives of Mancuso were not successful. When a reporter went to his mother's home, his brother shut the door without a word. On Friday, Mancuso's father hung up the phone when asked about Jeffrey. After college, Mancuso worked for a headhunting firm in Cherry Hill, but was fired several months later after a dispute with his boss, his sister said. He then started his own headhunting company, A.E.C. Personnel Consultants, and found jobs for people in architecture, engineering, and construction. In summer 2009, he met Kathryn Giglio in Avalon, N.J. She moved in with him in Manayunk shortly before Kayden was born in October 2010. They never married. In an interview, the girl's mother said she didn't consider Mancuso a boyfriend, but tried to parent with him. They slept in separate bedrooms. He began abusing her. She recalled a time when he smashed her face with a plastic bottle. "I was terrified by him," she said. After Mancuso bit off part of a 52-year-old man's ear in a South Philadelphia bar on New Year's Day 2012, things spiraled downward, she said, and she left him. In recent years, Mancuso withdrew from people. About a year ago, he cut off communication with his sister. Kayden's mother started a relationship five years ago with Brian Sherlock, whom she married in 2016. Mancuso continued to harass her, she said. On Aug. 2, four days before she was found dead, Kayden went to Ocean City, N.J., with her father's sister and mother. While hanging out on the beach the next day, they received a text from Kayden's mother saying that if they wanted, they could bring Kayden to Mancuso's home that Saturday for his court-allowed time with her. But Kayden said, "No, Daddy will be mad," Allyson recalled, crying. She believes that Kayden was fearful her father might have gotten angry if his mother or sister dropped her off, realizing that Kayden had spent time with them. "He would call us 'traitors' because we were seeing her behind his back," Allyson said. So instead they drove Kayden back to her Langhorne home Friday. The next morning, Aug. 4, Kayden's stepfather dropped her off at her father's Manayunk home. On Monday morning, her stepfather and grandfather found her dead inside the house. A spokesperson for the city Medical Examiner's Office said that Kayden died of "blunt-impact injuries of the head," and that Mancuso hanged himself. Family members said authorities told them that Mancuso likely killed Kayden on Aug. 4 by striking her head at least three times with a 35-pound dumbbell. Mancuso left a note and the dumbbell on his daughter's body, Allyson said. The note "expressed retribution" against his family and Kayden's mother's family, she said. After killing Kayden, Mancuso put a bag over her head and killed himself in an upstairs room, police have said. Mancuso's body was to be cremated this week, Allyson said. Kayden's mother planned to attend a private Friday night viewing of her daughter. "I've been a nurse for a long time," said Kathryn Sherlock, who works in Trenton. "I have seen dead bodies. I don't want to see hers." A public viewing for Kayden Mancuso will be from 9 to 11:15 a.m. Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 752 Big Oak Rd., Lower Makefield. A Funeral Mass will be said at 11:30. Burial will follow at All Saints Cemetery, Newtown. Bullet holes with markers in a police car at 20th and Snyder in South Philadelphia, Thursday, August 9, 2018. Read more A man killed by Philadelphia police gunfire Thursday allegedly fired seven shots at two officers in South Philadelphia after he ran from officers who had tried to stop him as he rode his bicycle the wrong way down a street, according to authorities. Neither officer was hit, but Charles Meadows, 48, was fatally wounded when he encountered two other officers in a patrol car a few blocks away, police said in a news release Friday. Those officers fired through the window of their cruiser, at 20th Street and Snyder Avenue, fatally striking Meadows in the groin and arms, police said. The details offered in the news release provide a more complete picture of the second incident this week in which city police officers fatally shot someone. It was the third time in 2018 someone has been killed by police gunfire, according to department statistics. Thursday's incident began around 11 a.m., police said, when two officers patrolling the area around the 2000 block of McKean Street saw Meadows riding his bicycle the wrong way on that block. The officers tried to stop him, police said, but Meadows dropped his bike and began running. One of the officers chased after Meadows, police said, and drew his firearm when he noticed Meadows holding something under his shirt. Meadows fell to the ground and dropped his .40-caliber handgun, police said. The officer giving chase told Meadows not to pick it up, police said, but he grabbed the gun and began firing at the officers pursuing him. Meadows then got up and ran while continuing to shoot, police said, and the officers returned fire. Police said Meadows had fired seven shots but did not strike either officer. Capt. Sekou Kinebrew, police spokesperson, said both officers fired back several times but that ballistics work was still being completed to determine how many shots each officer fired. Meadows ran south on 20th and, at Snyder Avenue, encountered two other officers driving eastbound in their patrol car, police said. Although police on Thursday said Meadows had exchanged shots with those officers, on Friday they said he pointed his gun at the patrol car but did not shoot. The two officers in the car began shooting through the windshield and struck Meadows several times, police said. Police did not specify how many times the officers shot, but news photos from the scene show at least 10 bullet holes in the car's windshield. Meadows was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Kinebrew said that Meadows did not have a permit to carry a gun, and that the weapon he used Thursday had previously been reported lost in Upper Darby. Police did not identify any of the officers involved. The shooting remains under investigation, police said. Under department protocol, officers who fire their weapons are placed on administrative duty until an investigation is complete. Court records show that Meadows was sentenced in 2011 to 11 to 23 months in prison after being convicted of a drug-related offense. In this Monday, Aug. 6, 2018 photo, a No Trespassing sign is displayed in front of a statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Va., at the park that was the focus of the Unite the Right rally. A second rally, Unite the Right 2, is being held on Aug.12, the one-year anniversary of the violent Charlottesville protest. Read more The controversial Unite the Right movement will hold another protest this weekend, a year after the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., left one dead and 35 injured when a car plowed through counter-protesters. Counter-protesters are again expected to confront the white nationalists, this time in Washington, D.C. Last year's events sparked debate across the country about the place for Confederate and other controversial monuments, including Philadelphia's monument to former Mayor Frank Rizzo. Here's a look at what's expected for this weekend's events and a recap of what happened in the 2017 deadly rally and its repercussions nationwide, including in Philadelphia. The 2018 protest The event will be held in Lafayette Square in Washington on Sunday, Aug. 12. According to the rally's website, protestors will assemble at the Vienna Metro Station in Virginia at 2 p.m. on the day of the rally. From there, they will take the train to D.C.'s Foggy Bottom Station and march to Lafayette Square, where a demonstration will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. In an interview with NPR, organizer Jason Kessler contended that white people are "not allowed" to have organizations catering to their specific interests. "I'm not a white supremacist, I'm not even a white nationalist," he said. "I consider myself a civil and human rights advocate focusing on the underrepresented caucasian demographic." Kessler also said neo-Nazis were "not welcome" at his rally. According to Kessler's permit application, about 400 people are projected to attend the march. However, this number doesn't include law enforcement or expected counter-protesters. >> READ MORE: Judge: App user not entitled to anonymity in rally case Kessler initially wanted the rally to be held in Charlottesville but was denied a permit from the city, which cited its inability to protect protesters from violence, among other reasons. Kessler filed a lawsuit in response to the denial. A state of emergency has been declared in Charlottesville ahead of the anniversary. The Unite the Right 2 website also provides a list of instructions on remaining peaceful, including a reminder that "antifa, the media and law enforcement know everything that [protesters] do." Antifa is shorthand for anti-fascist, a label adopted by radical leftists who have also engaged in violent protests. While the website instructs attendees to leave guns, shields and other weapons at home, it does encourages them to bring water, body cameras and American or Confederate flags. The counter-protest Like one year ago in Charlottesville, counter-protesters will be present. One of the larger counter-protests, Shut it Down DC, is being held from noon to 3 p.m. in Freedom Plaza, also on Sunday. Their call to action is signed by 38 groups including Philly Antifa. >> READ MORE: Facebook page's removal angers Washington protest organizers "Jason Kessler will find no rest, no refuge, no respite," the call reads, "Communities in D.C. will unite against hate, borders, prison, and the vision of Unite the Right." >> READ MORE: Charlottesville gave momentum to Confederate monument foes Shut it Down DC is also encouraging individuals outside of the D.C. area to stage counter-protests in their local communities. Earlier this month, Facebook controversially removed the counter-protest's page on the social media giant, saying it violated a ban on "coordinated inauthentic behavior." In Charlottesville, the site of the original event, an organization is working to encourage citizens to stand with the counter-protestors. >> READ MORE: Hate has no home in Philly. What to do if you see hate and bias incidents | Opinion The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a Joined in Strength campaign Wednesday to show "solidarity against racism," spokesperson Adam Healey wrote in an email. "It took strength for Charlottesville to stand up to hate," Healey wrote. "And it will take strength for our brothers and sisters in D.C. to do the same." The Charlottesville violence The 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville originated as a protest of the city's planned removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, and was colored by white supremacist and white nationalist ideals. Violence had already been bubbling up before a vehicle plowed through a group of counter-protesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer. People in attendance "chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays," said a television news report from the event, describing the scene. >> READ MORE: A year after Charlottesville, Confederate nostalgia continues to undermine democracy | Opinion The chaos prompted then-governor Terry McAuliffe to declare a state of emergency and sent police in riot gear to order the rally's dispersal. Aftermath and repercussions in Philly The violent protest's aftermath sparked nationwide controversy surrounding neo-Nazism and modern white supremacy and nationalist organizations. The violence in Charlottesville prompted marches in Philadelphia and other cities to condemn racism, fascism and President Trump. The ensuing debate also brought conflict over Confederate statues and memorials of leaders with questionable civil rights records, leading to some racially fueled clashes. >> READ MORE: Was Frank Rizzo racist, or just a product of his time? Many cities, including Philadelphia, decided to remove contentious memorials. In November, in response to dissenting Philadelphians, Mayor Kenney authorized the removal of a statue of former mayor and police commissioner Frank Rizzo. Rizzo's critics say he oppressed black citizens and played into whites' racial fears during the 1960s and 1970s. The statue, however, will not be removed from Thomas Paine Plaza for a few more years, as the city develops plans to find a new location for the statue and rework the plaza. >> READ MORE: The moments that made Frank Rizzo Philly-famous Meanwhile, a mural of Rizzo in the Italian Market has been vandalized and Mural Arts Philadelphia sought feedback on what should happen with the artwork. Officials said this week that the mural would stay up, though private funding is being sought to pay for future costs. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings will be held the first week of September, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R., Iowa) announced Friday. The hearings for President Trump's pick to replace retired Justice Anthony Kennedy will be held Sept. 4 to 7, according to a notice sent to Senate Republican offices Friday and obtained by the Washington Post, although the committee noted that the hearing could be three or four days. "As I said after his nomination, Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most respected jurists in the country and one of the most qualified nominees ever to be considered by the Senate for a seat on our highest court," Grassley said in a statement Friday. "He's a mainstream judge. He has a record of judicial independence and applying the law as it is written. He's met with dozens of senators who have nothing but positive things to say." The first day of hearings will be dedicated to opening statements from senators. Kavanaugh will go under questioning Sept. 5. Then outside witnesses, legal experts, and the American Bar Association will follow. "He'll get confirmed. It won't be a landslide, but he'll get confirmed," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said in an interview Friday morning with WKDZ radio in Kentucky. He said the Senate was "moving right along" for Kavanaugh to be confirmed by Oct. 1, when the Supreme Court will convene for its fall term. Grassley's team of counsels and other aides have reviewed 4,800 pages of legal opinions that Kavanaugh wrote, more than 17,000 pages related to Kavanaugh's committee questionnaire, and more than 184,000 pages of the nominee's documents from his tenure working in the George W. Bush White House and for independent counsel Kenneth Starr. But the documents have been a major point of contention in the Senate. Democratic senators have been infuriated with how Grassley and other Republicans have released Kavanaugh's documents in a slow trickle since the papers began arriving at the Senate late last week. Those pages are being released on a rolling basis by the committee, after a team of lawyers for former President George W. Bush reviews them and clears them for public release. But thousands of pages which are a fraction of all the documents from Kavanaugh's tenure as Bush's associate White House counsel that have already been given to the committee are still considered "committee confidential," which means no one outside the panel's senators and staff can review them. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.), the Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, raised concerns about a "lack of transparency" in releasing Kavanaugh's papers in a new letter to Grassley on Friday. The committee has received about 175,000 pages from the Bush library, but has only publicly released 5,700 pages. "Simply stated, this is unacceptable. The senators and the public must have access to Mr. Kavanaugh's full record," Feinstein wrote to Grassley. "Additionally, this committee has never allowed a third party to control what information is kept confidential, and should not do so now when we are considering a lifetime appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court." A spokeswoman for Feinstein said the senator is "reviewing options in the event he continues to restrict access to only senators on the committee." Grassley's aides have said they expect to release more of those papers on a rolling basis. Bryan Rickards, an Abington Township police officer, was exactly the kind of guy you'd want by your side in a crisis. A K-9 officer, emergency vehicle operator, medic, and firearms instructor, he could handle any police call. "He was just the most funny, witty person. He'd make you smile no matter what," said Officer Tom Nyman, his colleague and best friend. "But when you were working, and things got bad, he could be a tough guy." In February 2017, Officer Rickards was 19 years and four months into his career when tragedy struck. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He fought to live as normally as possible between treatments for the debilitating disease. The public, inspired by his courage, rallied around him and his family, contributing $32,000 to a GoFundMe page. On Monday, Aug. 6, after holding ALS at bay for nearly two years, Officer Rickards, 48, died at home in Warrington surrounded by his wife, Cindy, three children, and Nyman. The announcement of his death was made "with deep sadness" by Patrick Molloy, chief of the Abington Police Department. His wife remained in seclusion, and his K-9 partner, Ivan, "is just lost without him," Nyman said. Now 11 and retired from patrol duty, the dog will work as protector of his master's family. Officer Rickards was born in 1969 in Philadelphia. Though he had always wanted to be a police officer, he had only firefighters in his background. He graduated from George Washington High School in Northeast Philadelphia and from the Montgomery County Police Academy in 1997. Officer Rickards served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1988 through 1992 at the Coast Guard Station at Beach Haven, N.J., as a medic and a rescue crewman. Although he "always wanted to do something to help people," the role as medic pointed him toward police work, Nyman said. In 1996, Officer Rickards joined the Abington police force as a patrolman. In November 2006, he joined the K-9 Unit. He trained with the New Jersey State Police and received certification to patrol with a dog and take the dog on drug and SWAT team assignments. His first dog was named Ransom. Ivan was his second dog. Over the course of his career, Officer Rickards received many commendations for valor. He also was recognized for putting in almost 17 consecutive years of service without a sick day before his ALS diagnosis. "In fact, Bryan continued to work during the early stages of this horrible disease," Molloy said in a tribute. "Officer Rickards was a warrior until the end, and he served as an example of the consummate public servant." His wife plans to set up a foundation to help ALS patients and their families, Nyman said. The two met while both worked at the King of Prussia Mall. They married in 1998. In addition to his wife, Officer Rickards is survived by daughters Abigail, 10, and Emily, 2, and a son, Gavin, 15. A viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the John F. Givnish Funeral Home, 10975 Academy Rd., Philadelphia. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, at St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, 81 Swamp Rd., Newtown. Burial with full military honors will be in Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown. Memorial donations may be made in care of the Abington Township Police Association, to the Bryan Rickards Memorial Fund, Box 211, Abington, Pa. 19001. Donations will be used to fund his children's education and support other families struggling with ALS. MAKERERE Dr James Ocita a senior lecturer at Makerere Universitys department of Literature has blasted the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe over irresponsible statements and conducting personal attacks on lecturers telling him off the office of the Vice Chancellor existed before you. Dr Ocita, in an e-mail circulated on the staff mailing list on Thursday, accused, Prof Nawangwe allegedly made statements that were concealed referenced to Dr Ocita accusing him of recruiting his wife on a PhD programme. Some university officials when left in office in acting capacity decided to recruit their wives and are now the ones who are suing the University, the VC was quoted as saying in Dr. Ocitas circulated e-mail. Dr Ocita is a husband to one Judith Ikiring Obore, a PhD student who dragged Makerere and Prof. Muhamood Mamdani, the Makerere Institute of Social Research (Misr) to High Court over malice and victimisation of students and abuse of academic procedures, negligence of duty, and breach of contract among others. Dr Ocita in an email said he was aggrieved by the statements made by the VC saying he should not be held liable for his wifes actions. It was absolutely unnecessary for a respectable Chair of Senate to bring up my name in the deliberations before Senate when there was no single case on or about me personally, he said. Please, show that you are different from the leadership of MISR and that you can differentiate between my wife (who has independently sued the University) and myself. In the same way that my wife should not be victimized for my actions, I too should not be held liable for the actions of my wife, which I fully support, he added. Ms Ikiring was admitted on March 13, 2014, as a graduate student at Makerere University. Her admission followed an award of scholarship by MISR under which she was to pursue a five-year Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Social Studies from January 2014 to January 2019. The scholarship award letter states that continuation of funding required her to be in good academic standing. In her suit before the High Court Civil Division, Ms Ikiring, through her lawyers Kobs Advocates and Solicitors, claims that MISR manipulated the stipulated requirements for good academic standing to target particular students and avert a financial shortfall arising from the expiration of several grants which left 16 MISR students without funding for 2017. She alleges in the plaint that in planning for the 2017 academic year, Misr sought how to cut the 16 slots across four cohorts to avert the looming financial crisis. MISR identified the 2014 cohorts to which she belonged as the one from which the highest number of scholarships could be conveniently terminated. As a result, the examination process which involves compiling two sets of annotated bibliographies, setting two sets of research questions and subsequently writing two comprehensive examinations was manipulated to predetermine who would progress to the fourth year, that is to the PhD stage, and who would lose their scholarship, Ikiring maintains in her plaint. She adds that Prof Mamdani and Dr Lynn Ossome, the chairperson of her reading committee, who is also a respondent in the case, were advised that it would be illegal to terminate any students scholarship midway provided the student had complied with the conditions of the scholarship and maintained good academic standing. Ms Ikiring adds that contrary to existing requirements, practices and university regulations, the writing of a PhD research proposal was also arbitrarily added to the third year examination requirements and for the first time, a deadline by which the said research proposal should be submitted was set to coincide with the end of the 2016 academic year. She says this was unprecedented and did not go through the right university procedures to make it binding. Ms Ikiring contends further that the manipulation of academic procedures involved redefining good academic standing, well into the examination process and revising previous practices to predetermine students results. Mamdani responds In his response to the suit filed through his lawyers of M/s Tumusiime, Kabega & Co Advocates on May 3, 2018, Prof Mamdani denies all the charges leveled against him, arguing that at the commencement of the trial he will seek to raise preliminary objections to the effect that Ms Ikirings suit is bad in law and, therefore, should be struck out. He explains that Ms Ikiring did not fully comply with the rules and regulations governing the scholarship awarded to her by MISR. He says she failed to submit her doctoral research proposal to the MISR Academic Board before the set deadline of August 31, 2016, and instead submitted it on September 8, 2016, contrary to the set guidelines. Prof Mamdani adds that Ms Ikirings doctoral research proposal was rejected by the Misr Academic Board because it lacked a problem statement as required by the regulations. Therefore, the plaintiff could not be permitted to progress to the PhD segment without a valid research proposal, Prof Mamdani says. Dr Ocita denied the accusations that he plaid any part whatsoever in his wifes admission on the PhD programme. In fact, I was in South Africa at the time and not even part of the Makerere University establishment, Dr Ocita said. He said that he joined MISR in January 2015, when his wife was already a student there, having been admitted (not recruited) in 2013 for a programme that began in January 2014. According to Dr Ocita, it had become clear to the affected students that the Universitys internal dispute resolution structures could not grant them justice. Before resorting to the courts of law, the students had patiently been trying to seek an amicable solution for twenty months in one case, and for twenty-five months in the other. The plenteous documents, minutes of proceeding and correspondences on these cases show how officials at various levels, either through negligence, collusion, manipulation, or cover-ups left the affected students without any hope for an amicable solution, Ocita explained. He faulted the University officials for circumventing justice and subjected the cases to numerous procedures and deliberations in disregard for sub judice rule. Dr Ocita also accuses Prof Nawangwe of conniving with perpetrators at MISR saying that the University allows one of the parties in the dispute (in this case MISR represented by Prof. Mamdani and Dr Lyn Ossome) to be part of and therefore guide deliberations in which they have unconcealed interests. When has a monkey ever been fair in adjudicating on the fate of the forest? There is something called conflict of interest which has repeatedly been ignored in these deliberations, including the processes at CHUSS. Then there is also the ignoring of the sub judice rule and subjecting a case that is before High Court to deliberations of this nature, he added. He added that despite several infractions against established rules been reported to the VC, instead seemed more committed to bending rules and penalising victims while protecting the perpetrators in MISR. If your office cannot fairly enforce such compliance without fear or favour, which office below you will work miracles and ensure that justice is served? Which student is so stupid to believe that after trying in vain to seek redress from the Universitys internal structures, their interest can be best served by them withdrawing the case from an impartial court of law, given the circulating correspondences, minutes of proceedings, and the kind of partial statements that a whole Vice Chancellor can callously make before the University Senate, he said. Related Screen grab of a video posted to Facebook of an ariel view of a Philadelphia car that was riddled with bullets in a running gun battle between a gunman on a bicycle and pursuing police on Thursday morning. Image courtesy of ABC-TV / Facebook. A Philadelphia car was riddled with bullets and a suspect shot dead in a running gun battle between a gunman on a bicycle and pursuing police on Thursday morning. Officers approached the 48-year-old man who has not yet been identified because they suspected seeing a firearm on him. Philadelphia police say the man then ditched the bicycle and fled on foot while tucking the gun under his shirt, according to the Philadelphia Tribune. Police spokesman Sekou Kinebrew told WCAU-TV that the gunman fired at the officers in that vehicle and they fired back out through the windshield. "Were trying to determine now if the bullet holes you see in the windshield are from him firing at us, the police, or the police firing back at him," Kinebrew said. No officers were injured in the incident. Two Canadian officers and two civilians have been killed in a shooting in the New Brunswick city of Fredericton. A suspect is in custody and has what police described on Twitter as serious injuries. The shooting happened around 7:15 Friday morning in a residential area of Fredericton, which is the capital city of New Brunswick. Police have not released the names of the officers or the suspects. For as yet unrevealed reasons, two Fredericton Municipal Police officers were responding to an apartment building. One witness told CBC that a gunman in the basement of one of the apartments opened fire on the courtyard, hitting the officers and residents of the complex. Police have not said what type of weapon was used in the attack. One witness described it as a long gun. Another said it sounded like a shotgun. Witnesses say they heard up to two dozen shots. It's likely that some of that fire was directed at the gunman by responding officers or the two officers who were killed since the suspect was seriously wounded. Fredericton officers and Royal Canadian Mounted Police are at the scene. Fredericton police have notified the public through Twitter that there is no longer a threat to public safety in the area, but the scene is closed. Local authorities have scheduled a press conference for 3 p.m. Eastern time. In an emotional Facebook post, Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister wrote, "Words can barely describe how embarrassed, dejected, and hurt my wife, daughters, and I feel right now." Image courtesy of Union City (CA) PD. A San Francisco Bay Area police chief wrote in an emotional Facebook post that his family is "shaken to the core" after his son was arrested in the beating of a 71-year-old Sikh man. Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister wrote, "By now you are probably aware of news stories about a 71-year old Sikh man was accosted by two young men as he innocently walked down a Manteca sidewalk next to a park. The two men confronted the man, apparently in an attempt to rob him, but when the elder did not cooperate, one of the men violently kicked the man in the chest, catapulting him to the ground, and then kicked him again several times as he lay defenseless on the pavement." McAllister went on to say that he is "completely disgusted in sharing with you that, later yesterday evening, I received a call from the Manteca PD that the suspect in this horrific crime turns out to by my 18-year old son." Tyrone McAllister, 18, and a 16-year-old boy could face charges including attempted robbery, elder abuse and assault following Monday's attack in the city of Manteca, which is about 40 miles northeast of Union City. Police said Sahib Singh who doesn't speak English was attacked while putting up campaign signs for local Republicans candidates in an upcoming local election. Chief McAllister said that his son has been estranged from the family for several months, reportedly having committed several theft-related crimes and spending several months in juvenile detention late in his childhood. "Words can barely describe how embarrassed, dejected, and hurt my wife, daughters, and I feel right now," McAllister said. "Violence and hatred is not what we have taught our children; intolerance for others is not even in our vocabulary, let alone our values. Crime has never been an element of our household, our values, nor the character to which we hold ourselves," he wrote. One of the two detectives shot in a Tuesday night ambush in Camden, NJ, was released from the hospital on Thursday morning, according to NJ.com. Two plainclothes officers who are detectives with the Camden County Police Department were shot as they sat in their SUV at a red light. Police are still looking for two men who fled the scene in a white van, with multiple agencies participating in the manhunt. The New Jersey State PBA offered a $20,000 reward for information on the gunmen. "We want these dangerous criminals brought to justice as quickly as possible and we are confident that this reward will help," PBA President Patrick Colligan said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with both detectives as they recover from this assault." A man accused of murder in connection to a shooting last week in Farmington, NM, according to the Farmington Daily Times. The Farmington Police Department said that 41-year-old Pedro "Peter" Lucero was shot and killed during an arrest attempt by the U.S. Marshals Service in Mesa, AZ. Authorities said Lucero of Albuquerque was accused of shooting Francine Delgado and Rebecca Jacquez. Delgado died from her injuries while Jacquez was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and was discharged from the hospital. According to a release from U.S. Marshals Service in Phoenix, Lucero attempted to avoid capture, and an officer-involved shooting occurred during the arrest attempt. Lucero was shot and killed by task force members No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident. The hilarious 70-minute stand-up comedy special reflects on Griffin's long-standing career incorporating hysterical one-liners and popular impersonations, all while paying tribute to close friends and late comedians Charlie Murphy, Bernie Mac, Dick Gregory and Richard Pryor. Viewers can expect to learn about Griffin's life experiences and relationships through a series of humorous anecdotes, as he celebrates 30 years of his stand-up comedy career. "Undeniable" is available to rent for $4.99, and $14.99 for purchase, featuring five never-before-seen bonus clips. "The international launch of 'Undeniable' is special because now fans all across the globe can laugh along to some of the funniest jokes in history," said Eddie Griffin. "Before, my special was available only to Showtime subscribers, and now, I'm sharing it with the world. Enjoy!" Rent or purchase "Undeniable" here, vimeo.com/ondemand/undeniable. Griffin currently headlines a stand-up comedy residency titled, "The Eddie Griffin Experience," inside The Sayers Club at SLS Las Vegas . The comedy show runs weekly, Monday through Wednesday, at 8 p.m. In addition to Griffin's residency at SLS Las Vegas, the Eddie Griffin: Undeniable Tour is trekking across the United States, while the comedian also tours in his fifth year of "The Comedy Get Down" with comedians George Lopez, Cedric 'The Entertainer' and D.L. Hughley. Become a Griffin Insider and get updates straight from Eddie by visiting www.eddiegriffin.com. ABOUT EDDIE GRIFFIN Griffin's career as an actor and comedian spans the stage and the screen with more than 50 movie and television credits to his name, including starring roles in the feature films "Undercover Brother" and "John Q," as well as his own television series currently in syndication, "Malcolm & Eddie." Currently, Griffin headlines a comedic residency at The Sayers Club inside SLS Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. He makes a special guest star appearance in, "A Star is Born," to be released fall 2018 and stars opposite Dave Chappelle, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Griffin has also been named one of the "100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time" by Comedy Central. More information is available at eddiegriffin.com. Stay connected and become a part of 'Team Griffin' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/727908/Eddie_Griffin_Undeniable__2.jpg Related Links http://eddiegriffin.com/ SOURCE Eddie Griffin BANGALORE, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, one of the world's leading online training providers for digital economy skills, in partnership with People Matters, a global human resources (HR) media company dedicated to solving talent challenges, announced their release of a joint research study on 'Trends & Best Practices in Onboarding'. The report provides insights into how Indian companies are approaching employee onboarding. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/535442/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg ) 106 organizations participated in the survey and some of the key findings of the report include: The Current State of Onboarding : Trends and Challenges 93 percent of companies have a formal onboarding process, 61 percent of which have different programs for fresher and lateral hires. The most sought after methods by companies to engage and assimilate new hires include: Orientation programs (70 percent), Impeccable Day 1 Experience events (80 percent) and engagement activities during pre-boarding such as technical skills training, and projects and mentoring sessions by leaders and managers (68 percent). Top challenges companies face in their onboarding programs include: Getting new hires accustomed (44 percent), getting managers involved (44 percent), and providing learning engagement activities (42 percent). However, only 27 percent of companies are satisfied with the outcomes of their current onboarding programs. Use of Technology in the Onboarding Process The overall adoption of technology solutions in onboarding is yet to reach critical mass in India . A whopping 76 percent of the participating companies responded that they do not have a dedicated onboarding technology solution. . A whopping 76 percent of the participating companies responded that they do not have a dedicated onboarding technology solution. The top areas where technologies are being leveraged in onboarding programs across organizations include orientation (57 percent), constant communication during pre-boarding (46 percent), first-day experiences (45 percent), goal setting and expectation management (44 percent), and training and assessments (36 percent). The top technical fields for upskilling new hires, according to the survey, are Big Data, AI & Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Programming, Cyber Security, and Data Science and Business Intelligence. How Can Organizations Improve Their Onboarding Practices? The study revealed that it takes 3-6 months to train campus hires and make them productive for the job. Hence, it is necessary for organizations to begin their onboarding right from the time the campus hire accepts the offer, i.e. pre-boarding. 44 percent of the companies said that they begin pre-boarding the new hires while they are still on campus. 58 percent of the participating companies confirmed having a planned engagement during pre-boarding. However, the pre-engagement activities primarily included communication and new hire documentation. It was also unusual to find that while Indian companies have expressed their discontent with the skilled talent available to perform jobs on new technologies, only a few of them (32 percent) are implementing skilling and training initiatives for new hires while they are still on campus. Speaking on the findings of the report, Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO at Simplilearn said, "Onboarding is the golden period for companies and new hires to get aligned. In this age of digital transformation where upskilling is a critical focus, it was surprising to observe that only 24 percent of the companies leverage technology in onboarding. Companies endeavor to save time and costs to get their new hires up to speed with the core technical skills required for the job. I believe there is a huge potential for companies to leverage technology to engage and offer training during onboarding which leads to employee productivity and clear business ROI." "Onboarding is often overlooked as a formality rather than a key strategy to ensure well-performing new employees become productive and culturally aligned in an organization," said Ester Martinez, CEO and Editor-in-Chief at People Matters. "Onboarding offers a great opportunity to augment competitive advantage by creating a committed talent pool that gives the desired performance. It remains an untapped area of creating an impact to the bottom line." About Simplilearn Simplilearn enables professionals and enterprises to succeed in the fast-changing digital economy. The company provides outcome-based online training across digital technologies and applications such as Big Data, Machine Learning, AI, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Digital Marketing and other emerging technologies. Based in San Francisco, CA, Raleigh, NC and Bangalore, India; Simplilearn has helped more than one million professionals and 1000 companies across 150 countries get trained, acquire certifications and reach their business and career goals. The company's high-engagement curriculum blends self-paced online learning, instructor-led live virtual classrooms, hands-on projects, student collaboration and 24/7 global teaching assistants. Simplilearn is a GSA IT-70 contract holder and was recognized by Training Industry as a Top 20 IT Training Company for 2017. For more information, visit https://www.simplilearn.com. Media Contact: Rishabh Sekhar [email protected] +91-7736711536 Simplilearn SOURCE Simplilearn NEW DELHI, August 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The South Asia Connect (SAC) program is funded and supported by the United States Embassy and run by the Austin University Texas. It is an initiative to promote entrepreneurs from South Asian countries and give them a platform to get mentoring, guidance, networking support and a chance to explore in the Asian countries market. South Asia Connect leader from India Ms. Tripti Shinghal, CEO, KGS Advisors (http://www.triptishinghalsomani.com ) and Ms. Sonali Bhope, Founder BizMentors, invites applications for the second Batch of South Asia Connect program from Indian start-ups. The American Centre in Delhi recently hosted a bunch of young and enthusiast entrepreneurs from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The young entrepreneurs were obliged to get a platform to showcase their innovation to leaders and mentors from the United States and other five countries. The program will select 16 entrepreneurs from these five countries each and after fulfilling the initial selection criteria five of them will undergo extensive training program at Nexus Centre, Delhi. The training program is funded by the US Embassy. The first batch of entrepreneurs has finished two levels of training and the final training will be conducted in the month of September, 2018. In the first batch, last week, four Indian entrepreneurs with two leaders attended the Entrepreneurs Week. The four entrepreneurs Ruchi Rastogi- Hunar Foundation, Ruchika Beri- Jewelove, Lalrinngheti Sangsiama and Vibha Tripathi- Swajal competed against 35 other companies from India to make it to Entrepreneurs Week. The final four competed against 16 other companies from South Asia for five slots in a two-month long incubation center to enhance their business models, products, and services. South Asia Connect (SAC) program is inviting applications for next batch of entrepreneurs who are looking for mentoring, guidance, networking and technological support for building their start-ups as successful business ventures. Second batch of receiving applications began from August 6, 2018 and last date of applying is August 31, 2018. The selection shall be declared by September 07, 2018 and batches will start by November 05, 2018. Interested entrepreneurs may apply online on https://startupnexus.net/connect/apply/. The entrepreneurs may also get in touch with SAC India Leaders Ms. Tripti Shinghal, CEO, KGS Advisors at [email protected] and Ms. Sonali Bhope, Founder BizMentors at [email protected]. Leaders from other countries includes Zimana Ahmed and Tanvir Mosharraf from Bangladesh, Tashi Wangdi from Bhutan, Heminda Jayaweera and Vithushan Vijayarat from Sri Lanka, Bibhuti Neupane and Mahim Sing from Nepal. The program coordinators are Divya Rajput, Dr Cliff Zintgraff and Gregory P. Pogue, Ph.D., Interim Executive Director at IC Institute. About KGS Advisors KGS Advisors is a distinctive platform that provides advisory services to SMEs / Start-ups in India as well as to foreign companies looking to establish a presence in India. The range of services is tailor-made for the unique requirements within the wide array of Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Legal, Business advisory, Market research, Human resource management and B2B Handling services etc. along with assisting the start-ups in raising funds (equity as well as debt). Being a long-standing prestigious entity active in the SME & Start-up ecosystems, KGS Advisors are poised to be the partner of choice in the Indian start-up ecosystem. For more information, kindly visit: http://www.kgsadvisors.com Media Contact: Sandeep Thakur [email protected] +91-8285439515 Project Manager South Asia Connect SOURCE KGS Advisors 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 The UKs first shared living members community, Lyvly, has secured 3.5m investment from venture capital firm, Mosaic Ventures and entrepreneur Greg Marsh. Lyvly will be using the Series A funding to expand its portfolio of London homes by targeting private and corporate landlords and institutional funds. - Targets the rapidly growing shared housing market for 25-35 years olds utilising existing stock - Management team previously helped build the Realstar residential portfolio and onefinestay - Works alongside fund managers and Build to Rent developers in new and existing portfolios to increase income and reduce voids - Currently manages over 100 units for London landlords, including institutional funds Lyvly is a platform that provides high-quality shared homes to a large waiting list of professional members aged 25 to 35, by working with landlords who provide furnished apartments for long-term rental. Lyvlys tried and tested structure allows members to share apartments on 12 to 24 month assured shorthold tenancies. Its membership community model helps to ensure Build to Rent landlords have higher quality tenants that stay for the long term and who create a dynamic and meaningful community within buildings, resulting in lower voids and higher net income. Lyvly also provides its members with networking opportunities and events in the blocks they live, as well as with the wider Lyvly community who gather outside of the buildings where they live. In blocks with no existing operator Lyvly can also provide management services. The investment will enable Lyvly which was founded by ex Realstar executives Philip Laney and Dario Favoino and unicorn tech founder Siraj Khaliq - to expand its operations with the aim of creating the worlds largest shared living community. London-based venture capital fund Mosaic Ventures has an investment portfolio that includes property and technology start-ups Blockchain and Habito. Greg Marsh was the founder of hospitality startup onefinestay and joins the Lyvly team as chairman. Lyvlys members concept is based around utilising existing residential units to provide a highly engaging community to professionals aged 25 - 35. Members share apartments on a long-term basis, receive targeted services and become part of an engaging community across cities. Its membership model is designed for renters who wish to build meaningful connections with like-minded people in their home and with other members within the wider Lyvly community across major cities. For landlords, Lyvly works alongside their existing management structure and provides a new way to access demand for 25 - 35 year olds, not traditionally accessible through conventional channels such as Rightmove, or high street branches. Sharing apartments is nothing new, and most landlords have sharers in their properties already. Lyvly allows them to have clarity, structure and control around this, providing the opportunity to deliver a better service for those tenants, and generate a higher income. The result are substantially lower void rates and, in some cases, significantly higher returns. To become a member of the Lyvly community, potential renters and landlords are carefully vetted. For renters, a member of the team at Lyvly will speak with all applicants to ensure Lyvly is right for them, offer them the opportunity to meet members in available homes and complete the application process by finally being approved by a committee made up of other existing members of the community and in some instances, the property owner. Having helped build an institutional BTR platform, its not surprising that Lyvly utilises best in class renter checks and processes, but in addition, they also layer on further checks to ensure the community is right for them. Philip Laney, co-founder and CEO of Lyvly, said: Cities across the world, including London, are growing rapidly, and the average age of their population is getting younger. The average amount that new city renters can pay is less than before, yet rents continue to rise. So there is an increasing affordability crunch in central locations, and the new housing that is being built cant fix this. Todays renters are looking for much more than existing housing offers. They want community, connectivity, and social purpose. Lyvly provides that by bringing like-minded people together at similar life stages to live together at a more accessible rental level and helping them to get more out of life with simple services and great connections. Its been so exciting to bring this community to life, as almost all institutional landlords, BTR brands, and individual property owners that we have spoken with are excited to work with Lyvly. Lyvly is a lifestyle brand that massively increases a landlords reach to potential tenants, and they can see the value of appealing to professional renters aged 25 - 35 that they struggle to effectively communicate with through traditional portals. Vacancy rates with Lyvly are absurdly low, and in the large majority of instances landlords achieve zero days void between tenancies. Landlords understand that affordability is an increasing problem resulting in slower than expected lease up and higher void rates, but they cant change the existing built environment or the space standards required for building new homes, so they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They already have sharers, but with Lyvly they can manage them to great benefit of the building and the residents. Lyvly members help create community and social buzz in buildings which in the long term leads to lower voids and higher rents throughout. We designed Lyvly to plug right in to existing management structures and work very much along the lines of an estate agent and/or property manager. We can do it all, or just find the renters. It really depends on what a landlord needs and what they have in place. Consequently, landlords can earn 10-50% more by working with Lyvly, and the void rate is on average 0.5% compared to Londons average of 3.5%. Our model works as well for institutions with a portfolio of thousands as it does for professional and corporate landlords with dozens of homes, or private buy to let investors with just one or two properties. Simon Levene, Partner and CoFounder of Mosaic Ventures, said: "Long term residential rental is a multi-billion dollar asset class where business model innovation is overdue. Leveraging community for shared living offers such potential. Lyvly provides a platform for renters to be matched with great properties and flatmates, taking care of logistics and much of the hassle. Landlords win too, with happier tenants/fewer voids and a better property management service. Greg Marsh, Chairman of Lyvly, said: "Im delighted to be involved with Lyvly at a pivotal stage in its development. Co-living is a powerful innovation in the residential real estate market, and with Phil at the company's helm, I believe Lyvly will be the company which leads the development of that new category in the UK and beyond." Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Ex-principal of Russian school acquitted in extortion case admin.studenttorget.no 11:28 10/08/2018 MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI) A court in Russias Republic of Kalmykia has acquitted ex-school principal Marina Gederim charged with abuse of office in a case on extortions in a educational institution, the victims attorney Vitaly Zubenko has told RAPSI. Prosecutors have demanded a 2-year suspended sentence for the defendant. Earlier, victim Larisa Yakupova complained that the school authorities demanded money from parents for various needs including buying new school furniture and schoolbooks. According to Zubenko, in 2017, Gederim asked parents of first-grade pupils to buy the furniture masquerading as voluntary donation. Victims appeal sentences of Russian law enforcement officers in torture case RIA Novosti, Igor Zarembo 12:59 10/08/2018 MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI) Victims in a torture case have appealed a ruling of the Nalchik Garrison Military Court sentencing seven law enforcement officers of Russias Ingushetia Republic to prison terms ranging from 3 to 10 years, lawyer Andrey Sabinin has told RAPSI. The lawyer noted that victims believe the sentence was too mild, especially in the light of recent changes to Russian legislation decreasing real prison terms. Employees of the Center for Counteracting Extremism (Center E) of the Interior Ministrys Directorate for the Republic of Ingushetia as well as regional Federal Security Service (FSB) directorate, depending on their individual actions, were charged with murder, robbery, extortion, burglary, theft of documents, forging of documents, and abuse of office using violence leading to grave consequences. According to investigators, the law enforcement officers used violence against a cashier of a bank and his wife, demanding their victims to confess to organizing and committing robbery of Rosselkhozbank regional branch in Ingushetia. Investigators found that the victims were harshly beaten with a cashier being at one point asphyxiated, resulting in his death. Investigators believe that the criminals were responsible for numerous other crimes. The court sentenced the former head of the Centers regional directorate Timur Khamkhoyev to 7 years in a regular penal colony. The Centers employee Alikhan Bekoyev was sentenced to 10 years in a high security penal colony, while his former colleague Andrey Beznosyuk received a 6-year prison term. Yet another officer of the Center Isa Aspiyev was sentenced to 5.5 years in jail. Ex-FSB employee Mustaf Tsaroyev was sentenced to 5 years in a regular penal colony. Ex-head of a local police station received a 3-year prison term. The former deputy head of the Centers directorate Sergey Khandogin received a 3-year suspended term. Inter RAO ex-board member charged with espionage to stay detained until mid-November / 13:59 10/08/2018 MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI) Moscows Lefortovsky District Court has extended detention of a former board member for Inter RAO energy holding Karina Tsurkan charged with espionage until November 14, the courts press service has told RAPSI. According to attorney Ivan Pavlov, the case documents read that in August 2004 Tsurkan became an agent involved in confidential and unofficial cooperation with a Moldovan secret service. In April 2015, while staying in Moscow she allegedly received a digital version of a document on project prepared by the Ministry of Energy. The project was allegedly related to the actions of Russian energy companies in the sphere of international cooperation. In September of the same year, she allegedly transferred the document to a secret service. Tsurkan could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The defendant denies wrongdoing and claims that she does not know representatives of foreign secret services and did not see the document in question. She also asked to provide her evidence in the case. Aside from being the holdings board member, Tsurkan also headed its trading department. Prosecution demands 5.5 years for former high-ranking investigator Nikandrov RAPSI 15:35 10/08/2018 MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI) Prosecution has demanded a 5.5-year prison sentence for the former high-ranking investigator of Russias Investigative Committee, General Denis Nikandrov, charged with corruption, prosecutor Igor Potapov has told RAPSI. Moreover, prosecutors asked a court to fine the defendant 65 million rubles ($970,000), prohibit him from holding law enforcement and government posts for 3 years and deprive him of the general rank. Sentencing of Nikandrov has been scheduled for August 16. Earlier, detention of Nikandrov was extended until September 19. Trial of Nikandrov is held behind closed doors due to secret information contained in the case documents. The case is reviewed without examination of evidence and witness questioning because the defendant pleaded guilty and made a deal with investigators. Ex-First Deputy Head of the Investigative Committees Moscow Directorate, General Nikandrov, former Deputy of ex-chief of the Investigative Committees Internal Security Directorate Mikhail Maksimenko, and his deputy Alexander Lamonov have been arrested and detained as part of a case over extortion of 8 million rubles (about $138,000 at the current exchange rate) that involved an alleged gang leader Zakhariy Kalashov. In addition, investigators believe that they extorted 10 million rubles (about $170,000) from a head of a large joint-stock company. The defendants denied their communications with Kalashov. On April 20, Maksimenko was found guilty of taking two bribes and received a 13-year prison sentence. The defendant was also fined 165 million rubles ($2.8 million). According to prosecutors, in 2016, Maksimenko and his accomplice received $500,000 bribe for help with one of criminal cases. He was also charged with taking $50,000 bribe in 2015 for organizing unlawful criminal prosecution of law enforcement officers in the interests of a bribe-giver. On July 26, the court sentenced Lamonov to 5 years in prison for corruption. Additionally, he was also fined 32 million rubles ($508,000) and lost his rank. Apple seeks to recover $2.1 million from Moscows Sheremetyevo customs service iphones.ru 16:51 10/08/2018 MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI) Apple Rus, the Russian subsidiary of the U.S. corporation, has asked the Moscow Regional Commercial Court to recover over 146 million rubles ($2.1 million) from the Sheremtyevo customs service, the court ruling reads. The court postponed review of the case until August 31. The plaintiff seeks to return excessive customs payments of 42.9 million rubles ($638,300) and 103.2 million ($1.4 million) rubles of interest. In September 2017, the Supreme Court of Russia granted an appeal by Apple Rus and invalidated the Federal Customs Services decision on classification of Apple smart watches. The court therefore vacated lower courts rulings in favor of the Russian Customs. In late 2015, the Federal Customs Service changed the classification of Apple Watch devices from duty-free communication units to ordinary wristwatches, which import custom rate may reach up to 10%. The company disagreed with the new classification and turned to court. According to Apple Rus, Apple smart watches must be classified as communication units because these high-technology devices contain electronic elements. Apple Corporation was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1976. The company is engaged in producing personal and tablet computers, audio players, cellphones, smart watches and software. 3D printed gun files have been all over the news with lawmakers like Steve Israel, Ed Markey, Richard Blumenthal, Chuck Schumer, and others making largely inaccurate claims about how easy it is to print a gun. Further claims by lawmakers that the printed guns will be wielded by terrorists and criminals have fueled a rather heated debate. Back in 2013 Defense Distributed was told by the US State Department that they wouldn't be able to share the 3D firearm files on the internet due to an interpretation of ITAR. Why? Because the files and plans were being treated in the same manner as firearms being exported. In 2015, Defense Distributed filed a lawsuit against the State Department for violating their First Amendment rights. Defense Distributed filed a lawsuit and solicited donations on their website to fight the State Department's decision. On July 10, 2018, a settlement was reached that allowed Defense Distributed to put the files back online. Days later a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order that blocked Defense Distributed from releasing the files on defcad.com. Firearm Policy Coalition has set up the website codeisfreespeech.com so that potential 3D printers have an easy-to-reference source for the files. The website was taken down by Amazon initially but FPC has found a suitable host for the file-sharing site. THE ONE BIG FILE Google user Branwolfe1 has uploaded a giant zip file to Google Drive (you can find it here) that includes just about every 3d printing file and blueprint that you can imagine. If downloading a giant Zip file isn't your thing, check out GetHub user maduce's FOSSCAD Library or go straight to the FOSSCAD website and download the FOSSCAD Megapack. Some of the more notable files are as follows: Flying Swallow Revolver Glock .22LR Revolver Unit (Attaches to accessory rail) Partisan Revolver Super Liberator Liberator Marvel Revolver Supreme Revolver Zig Zag Smart Phone Gun Zig Zag Revolver FOSCAD Bump Stock Ruger 10/22 Receiver AR15 Lower Also in the giant zip file are plans for a drop in auto sear, suppressors, grenades and more. Keep in mind that 3D printing a gun isn't an easy task and many of the files mentioned will likely not result in a working firearm. PRINTABLE GUNS Liberator Pistol https://archive.org/details/Liberator Gun, 8mm, Printable https://3dsha.re/product/gun-8-mm-printable/ Printable Liberator Gun https://3dsha.re/product/gun-printable-liberator/ 10/22 Receiver https://github.com/maduce/fosscad-repo/tree/master/Rifles/10_22_Receiver-Unnamed Shutty Pistol https://github.com/maduce/fosscad-repo/tree/master/Pistols/9mm_Shuty_AR-15_Pistol_v4.0_MP-1-unnamed PM522 Washbear https://github.com/maduce/fosscad-repo/tree/master/Firearms/PM522_Washbear_Revolver_v2.0-JamesRPatrick Flying Swallow Revolver https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2630109 Grizzly Handgun https://github.com/maduce/fosscad-repo/tree/master/Firearms/Grizzly_Handgun-Canadiangunnut Sacramento Pistol https://github.com/maduce/fosscad-repo/tree/master/Firearms/Sacramento_Pistol-Caboose PRINTABLE SUPPRESSORS We also found several plans for 3D printed suppressors while compiling this list. 5mm Supressor https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2828534 Monocore 5.56/.223 Suppressor https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2599322 Gryphon .22 Suppressor https://github.com/maduce/fosscad-repo/tree/master/Muzzle_Devices/22_Suppressor_Baffle_Gryphon-Remove_Kebab Mystique Suppressor https://github.com/maduce/fosscad-repo/tree/master/Muzzle_Devices/FOSSCAD_Mystique_Suppressor-unnamed PRINTABLE GUN PARTS & TOOLS How about a bunch of useful 3d printed gun parts and tools? UpLULA M&P Shield Spacer https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2734617 Reinforced Liberator Pistol Trigger https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1615992 P320 Magazine Limiting Blocks https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2979623 Adjustable Blade Arm Brace for AR Pistol https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2934481 Colt 1911 Grips https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2852983 Glock 43 Grip Plug https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2849561 Sig P210 Grips https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2822530 AR15 Grip https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2806009 5.56/.223 Chamber Flag https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1609864 Vortex Strike Eagle Throw Lever https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1724289 XDs .45 Rear Slide Plate https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2802422 California Compliant AK Grip https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2690189 Smith & Wesson 586 & 686 Barrel Vice Pads https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2087868 Sig Sauer P938 Grips https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2323101 1911 Barrel Bushing Wrench https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5649 Glock 19 Gen4 Grip Plug https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1036926 PRINTABLE AMMO BOXES, MAGAZINES & EXTENSIONS There are even 3d printed magazines, magazine extensions, and ammo boxes to print. DPMS AR15 .22LR 10-Round Magazine https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2782642 PMAG Gen3 Magazine Coupler https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2664449 3D Printed Glock Magazine Extention http://www.printedfirearm.com/3d-printed-glock-basepad-extension/ Chiappa M1-22 Extended 19-round Magazine https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2685411 200 Round .22 LR Ammo Box https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2927662 10 Round Limiter For Black Dog .22 Magazines https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2266735 Speed Loader Model 27A https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2858227 SP101 .327 Speedloader https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2418575 Glock 43 Plus 2 Mag Extention https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2464038 Shockwave Blade Adaptor https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2551583 Glock Gen3 Magazine Catch https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2569574 PRINTABLE GUN STANDS, MOUNTS, HOLSTERS & MAG POUCHES Pistol Stand https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2883255 Stack-On Security Cabinet Mount https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2859508 Glock 19 Stand https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2846384 Walther PPK Magazine Pouch https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2831049 AR15 Wall Mount With Hinge https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2829239 12-Gauge Shot Shell Holder https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2770518 AR15 Floating Wall Mount https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2757790 Walther P22 Under Table Holster https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2733761 An industry executive said The Oberoi had a lot of C-Suite guests and most such companies decide to give a new or renovated property some time to stablise before they start booking. The capitals iconic luxury hotel The Oberoi, which reopened in January after a two-year renovation, does not only have lesser rooms, it also has fewer guests. According to three executives tracking the Delhi hotel market the hotels occupancy is low - 48-50 per cent - compared with a 65-70 per cent occupancy enjoyed by most peers in the city. The hotel, however, claims it has better revenue per available room (Revpar) than most rivals. BSE-listed EIH, which runs hotels under the Oberoi brand, invested Rs 600 crore in the renovation that started in early 2016. The renovated hotel has bigger but lower room strength of 220 compared with 283 earlier. It is learnt that the hotel enjoyed an average room rate of Rs 14,700 in the first four months of FY19, with an occupancy level of approximately 48 per cent. That translates into a Revpar of just about Rs 7,000. Revpar is the real measure of revenue and is derived by multiplying the average rate by the per cent occupancy. In July, there has been some improvement in the average rate, but the occupancy was still about 51 per cent, said one of the three executives. The hotel is critical to the companys revenue and profits. It contributed Rs 187 crore or 14 per cent of EIHs annual revenue of Rs 1,341 crore in FY15, the last full year when the hotel was operational. EIHs results for the April-June quarter, announced this week, shows a profit of Rs 10.19 crore, marginally lower that the profit of Rs 11.5 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year when the Delhi hotel was closed for renovation. Revenues, however, grew about 17 per cent to Rs 334 crore. The Oberoi, New Delhi, reopened three months ahead of schedule. A company spokesperson did not comment on the occupancy rate but said the hotel opened with the highest average room rate (ARR) in the city and have maintained the lead throughout. In February, The Oberoi, New Delhi, achieved a Revpar 1 position in the city. "The hotels ARR is considerably higher than the average of its competitive set, which comprises the Leela, Imperial and Taj. "This trend has continued in the summer months, the spokesperson said. The company said the hotels Revpar is 17 per cent higher to FY16 numbers. The hospitality industry has recovered since FY16, both in rates and occupancy. EIH said increasing corporate business at hotel is the next thing on the companys agenda. A lot of this business comes through request for proposals (RFPs) and these inspections and acceptances will happen starting this fall. "Guest feedback on the hotel has been excellent and this too will help position us as Delhis leading luxury hotel. "We remain optimistic on the hotels performance for FY19, the spokesperson said. An industry executive said The Oberoi had a lot of C-Suite guests and most such companies decide to give a new or renovated property some time to stablise before they start booking. Many companies who book such hotels for outstation meetings of their teams were expecting the hotel to open after April 2018. That business is also yet to pick up. A large number of corporate lawyers who visit Delhi regularly used to stay at The Oberoi due to its proximity to the Supreme Court and the high court. At any working day, Oberoi used to cater to at least 30-40 lawyers. "While the hotel was shut, this business went to Taj Palace, Imperial and ITC Maurya. "These lawyers have been pampered at the rival hotels and it may take a long time before they go back to Oberoi, the executive said. Photographs: Kind courtesy, The Oberoi, New Delhi During the first round of discovered field auctions, there were 134 bidders for the 34 blocks on offer The Centre announced on Thursday a second auction of Discovered Small Fields (DSF-II) in the petroleum and gas sector. It hopes for an investment of Rs 1 trillion from these, also contributing about Rs 45,000 crore in revenue to it. Bidding for DSF-II will start in September and will conclude by December. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Centre will also be signing contracts for the first round of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) in a week. OALP and DSF have replaced bidding under the earlier New Exploration and Licensing Policy. Under the current round of DSF, 25 contract areas covering 59 discovered fields, spread over 3,000 sq km, will be on offer. "These blocks are expected to have in place a volume of 190 million tonnes or 1.4 billion barrels of oil or oil-equivalent gas, the minister told reporters. During the first round of discovered field auctions, there were 134 bidders for the 34 blocks on offer. Of these, 30 contracts were awarded to 20 companies, with 13 being new entrants in the exploration and production segment. From the first round, where Rs 460 billion worth of assets were on offer, the gross royalty collection and state royalty are expected to be around Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 2,100 crore, respectively. The Centres revenue share will be in the range of Rs 9,300 crore. From the first round, it expects cumulative peak production of 15,000 barrels of oil a day and two mscmd (million standard cubic metres a day) of gas over the economic life of the fields awarded. During the earlier DSF round, revenue was calculated on the basis of an international oil price of $45 a barrel, which has since risen to $55 a barrel, Pradhan said. He said the question of whether there should be preference for government-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India (OIL), needed to be examined. We want competition and more production of oil and gas through the entry of private players, he added. During OALP-I, Vedanta got 41 of the 55 blocks on offer. OIL, Hindustan Oil Exploration Company and ONGC got the others. Vedanta got 41 blocks, while ONGC got only two through a competitive bidding process. That is not the fault of the government, Pradhan said. ONGC, despite bidding for 30 blocks, got even less than OIL. The 55 blocks were spread across 10 sedimentary basins, covering an area of 60,000 sq km. Photograph: Raheb Homavandi/Reuters As a result of the mass state-led scheme, the processes in the health insurance market could get simplified over time and become uniform Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) Chairman Subhash Chandra Khuntia recently said in one of his speeches that there should be some "simplification and rationalisation of health insurance" products. According to insurers, the regulator wants to ensure that customers understand policies more easily. The focus should be to make the process online, enhance the use of technology, and increase awareness and understanding of insurance products, said Khuntia. As a consequence, the Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) will have a net-effect in terms of standardising and simplifying certain processes and aspects of the health insurance business over time. ICICI Lombard chief operating officer Sanjay Datta says: Even as the methodology of the scheme will be varied in different states, the scheme will lead to an increased awareness about health insurance and developments in the healthcare ecosystem, given the way the scheme has been designed. He adds: The guidelines for the information technology (IT) platform and the definition of business practices across insurers, hospitals and third-parties are clearly defined. "It will not change the cover too much. Differentiation and competition among health insurance players will continue, but there will be some standardisation of products. "From a regulatory standpoint, this will include ensuring exclusions are standardised, and some processes and definitions are streamlined. Once AB-NHPM is rolled out, there will be a structural shift in the health insurance market, with a large number of families (as identified by the Socio-Economic Caste Census) availing of a robust health insurance cover. According to a report by CRISIL, the scheme will improve health insurance penetration to over 50 per cent from 34 per cent at present. It says, citing an analysis of incurred claims and hospitalisation rates, that the national average premium should be Rs 1,765 per family, against the very low Rs 1,085 per family at present. Further, insurance executives say that the scheme, if implemented well by governments, companies and their third-party administrators, will lead to a disruption in the health insurance market. Given that a specific authority, the AB-NHPM, has been appointed to monitor and regulate the scheme, the health insurance product under the scheme has been structurally (clearly) defined for different states, say insurance executives. Since there is regulatory standardisation of how the scheme will work, this will extend to the wider health insurance market over time to ensure that there is clarity on certain issues for customers and smooth operations among insurers. Antony Jacob, chief executive officer, at Apollo Munich Health Insurance says, "There is a committee which has been recently formed to study and look into the need to rationalise some of the processes and exclusions for retail customers in particular. "It is too early to say whether there will be uniform regulations across all categories of products. Product-specific differentiation and offerings will continue, even as important processes like the payment of claims and collection of medical records could be made uniform across the industry. This, though, would be subject to regulatory decisions to be notified by IRDAI. A questionnaire sent to the IRDAI Chairman remained unanswered at the time of writing of this article. In the near term, Datta says, There could be innovation from companies based on the scheme; people could buy higher health insurance covers as AB-NHPM will be universal." Across states, depending on the existing healthcare infrastructure, both in terms of hospitals and professional personnel, there are differences in the prices of packages and the premium rates charged by insurers. The emergence of new business models augurs well for the entire value chain, not just hospitals. "One such model entails a volume-driven approach where hospitals expand into Tier-II and -III cities and provide affordable treatment. "That will reduce the geographical skew in quality healthcare, said Binaifer Jehani, director at CRISIL Research, in a recent article. Overall, there are 23,582 government hospitals, with 710,761 beds, in the country at present. This may be a woefully low number when compared with the number of beneficiaries entitled to health services under AB-NHPM. To address this, the government had in its Budget for 2018-19 committed Rs 1,200 crore to strengthening the existing physical health infrastructure for primary and secondary care. Further, CRISIL estimates that the central government will need at least Rs 6,500 crore per year for premium payments under AB-NHPM. According to reports, the government will spend Rs 5,000 crore this year to scale up the AB-NHPM scheme; once it is implemented across the country next year, the annual cost to the exchequer is estimated to be Rs 10,000 crore. During his speech, Khuntia said that under the AB-NHPM scheme, scheduled to be launched by the prime minister next week, the regulator will work with health insurance companies under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. S Prakash, chief operations officer at Star Health and Allied Insurance Company, told Business Standard: "The regulator wants to ensure that there is standardised information coming from different insurance companies so that customers are not taken by surprise while filing claims." "This is in the best interest of policyholders. At present, state governments cannot handle the patient load under AB-NHPM solely using government hospitals. "So, there is a need for using the infrastructure and expertise available with private hospitals, so the regulator is seeking a PPP model," said Prakash. Insurance executives that Business Standard spoke to said they will not need a final regulatory approval from IRDAI once a company wins the tender contract for providing health insurance coverage to recipients under AB-NHPM. They say, under the trust-model, the health insurance policy will be provided and accounted for like group mediclaim policies. Health insurers offer companies and societies customised policies to benefit all those eligible in a group based on their needs. "IRDAI has all the right to ask for the assumptions a company makes when participating in bids during the AB-NHPM tender process and insurance companies would need to submit the actuarial workings to them to justify the price said Jacob. Unlike in the case of regular retail products where the company applies for the regulators approval, in group mediclaim policies like AB-NHPM the regulator is simply informed of the companys actuarial calculations. They can always query the insurance companys calculations and seek clarifications, he said. Apollo Munich has won the tender for providing insurance covers to beneficiaries in Nagaland. The company banked on its 3-year experience in the state with the RSBY scheme and has hired personnel to flag-off the scheme in the next few weeks. The IT management system for running AB-NHPM in Nagaland will be made operational in the next 10 days, Jacob said. For corporate employees, the term of the policy concludes with the term of their employment with the company concerned. However, the Group Mediclaim policy for AB-NHPM will continue through the life of the beneficiary, as long as her annual income and socio-economic status remain unchanged. Datta says the learnings from the scheme will definitely begin to influence and change the companys processes over time. As the ecosystem changes, we will adopt some parts. "Given that both the regulator and the government want to improve health insurance penetration, the government might over time come out with subsidies for regular customers not eligible under the scheme under different categories, such as self-employed or government employees, said Prakash. As many as 28 states have joined the AB-NHPM scheme, with around 23 of them opting for a trust model. Others are structuring the scheme through a market-based insurance model, while Chhattisgarh has a hybrid model of both market-based insurance offerings being backed by a state-led trust. What's the prognosis Total expenditure on health-care is at 1.25 per cent of GDP As of 2017, 437.5 million have health insurance Government provides financing only for 22 per cent of total health insurance Ayushman Bharat offers 100 million familes with Rs 500,000 cover each 60:40 funding split between the Central Government and State Governments Out-of-Pocket Expenditure accounts for 67 per cent of persons' health expenditure Package rates for 1,350 treatments and surgical procedures have been fixed by National Health Agency Photograph: PTI Photo Sources said Adani had not been able to tie up any financing for the coal project For the Ahmedabad-headquartered Adani group, the fate of its ambitious coal mine-to-rail project in Australia could hinge on a court case, filed by native owners of the land in question, near the Carmichael mine in the province of Queensland. The verdict will be coming soon. However, that is not where the problems of the groups first international project ends. It has not been able to do any mining since acquiring the mine in 2010. The Carmichael project involves constructing a thermal coal mine in the North Galilee Basin and a 388-km rail line linking the mine site with Abbot Point Port. The mine is to be developed at a cost of at least $16 billion. Adani Group has till now spent A$1.1 bn on the mine, A$0.2 bn on the rail line and A$1.8 bn on the commissioned port facility of 50 million tonnes. Environment groups and others in opposition have alleged the current ruling party in that country has helped Adani in getting regulations and clearances for the project. Adani had signed a land agreement with the local authorities, being contested in court by the native Wangan and Jagalingou land claimants. Adani Group says it remains committed to the project and is confident on the legal front. We have obtained 112 approvals for the project and been successful in multiple court challenges to reach this stage. We have also been successful in three court challenges related to the port (to be developed as part of the project), a group spokesperson said in an e-mailed response. The Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) Traditional Owners in the area did not consent to the Carmichael mine. Since 2012, their claim is that group meetings rejected a Land Use Agreement with Adani four times, the latest in December 2017. Five members of the W&J Native Title filed case in the high court on behalf of the claim group in August 2017. If Adani wins, the next problem will be arranging the financing. It is a 10-year project and I do not think anyone, including the company, is at present excited about it, said an analyst on condition of anonymity. Sources said Adani had not been able to tie up any financing for the coal project. Jeyakumar Janakraj, chief executive and country head, Adani Group Australia, told this publication last year that the company was in talks with leading global financers and export credit funds from China and Korea in this regard. Two leading banks in Japan - Nippon Life and Dai Ichi Life - refused to fund the project. The company had earlier claimed it would get a line of credit from China but four leading Chinese financers have refused to be associated with the project, said an Australian executive. Also, he said, the South Korean government under the new president had adopted a low emission and low carbon strategy. This prevents their leading bank from funding a coal project of this size and alleged environment implications. Adani continues to work to secure finance for the project. This process is progressing well. Finance for the mine is contingent on securing finance for the rail component of the project, as both are inter-dependent, the spokesperson said in his response. Last month, the ruling Liberal Party of Australia lost all five seats at stake in by-elections. A general election is due around the same time as in India next year. It could be a game changer. Environment groups globally have condemned the government for granting clearances to Adanis project. If the Liberal party loses the election next year, it will be a big bolt to the firms plans. Some crucial clearances are pending. For that matter, the future of the project heavily depends on any change of government, said an industry watcher in Australia. The project is expected to be made a big political issue by the opposition Australian Labor Party. Though the Adani spokesperson said the company had been granted licences by the government of Queensland to use groundwater for the coal mine, sources claimed at least $20 billion would be needed to meet the annual requirement of 12 bn litres. The New South Wales area in the country is under drought, something the opposition party has highlighted several times. The price of coal in the global market has touched a record high of $110 a tonne but market demand is expected to taper. As more countries move towards more environment-friendly alternatives to coal, projects like Carmichael are seen as facing an uncertain future. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters 'A hotline between the Chinese and Indian military establishments is essential if the possibility of conflict is to be minimised.' 'When relations are uneasy, even minor incidents can spiral out of control,' warns former senior RA&W officer Jayadeva Ranade. IMAGE: China's Defence Minister Wei Fenghe, left, and United States Defense Secretary General Jim Mattis review an honour guard in Beijing, June 27, 2018. Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/Reuters China and India appear to be making another effort to introduce stability in the bilateral relationship by putting in place a much needed, tangible, confidence-building measure. Discussion on establishing a hotline, first proposed in 2013, between the armed forces of the two countries who have a disputed 4,057 kilometre-long border, will be on top of the agenda for discussions when Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe visits India later this month. This is General Wei's third visit abroad since taking over as defence minister -- the first two being to Russia and Belarus -- and his first to India as defence minister. The visit follows up that by Lieutenant General Liu Xiaowu, deputy commander of the western theatre command in July. 1954-born General Wei, who was appointed China's defence minister in March 2018, served his entire military career in the secretive People's Liberation Army Second Artillery, or China's strategic missile force. Well versed with technology, he was chief of staff of the PLA Second Artillery from 2006 to 2010 before taking over as its commander and, as such, is aware of the need for prompt and timely defusing of tension when nuclear powers are involved. As commander of the PLA Second Artillery, General Wei was in the top echelons of China's military establishment and witness to the unusually protracted and qualitatively different tense confrontation that developed following the Chinese intrusion in the Chumar area of Ladakh, which overlapped Xi Jinping's first visit to India as China's president in September 2014. While Beijing was undoubtedly fully informed of developments by the many Chinese agencies embedded in its embassy in New Delhi, yet the armed forces of both sides withdrew only after Indian diplomats were able to finally effect contact with the Central Military Commission in Beijing. More recently in 2017, the 73-day tense standoff at Doklam -- when China sought to unilaterally resume building a road through the Doklam Plateau in violation of a tripartite agreement signed in 2012 agreeing not to alter the status quo -- once again highlighted the need for direct, speedy communication between the two military establishments at the appropriate level. Reports suggest that China will again propose a hotline between the Indian Army's director general of military operations at army headquarters and the commander of the PLA western theatre command. This implies a link with, in effect, the commander of the western theatre command who would probably have approved any military operation along the India-China border in the first place. A hotline between the Chinese and Indian military establishments is essential if the possibility of conflict is to be minimised. When relations are uneasy, even minor incidents can spiral out of control. Calculations that intrusions are unlikely to escalate can be unfounded as demonstrated by the two instances in 2014 and 2017. Moreover, it is essential that the hotline links the two militaries at a level where decisions blend political and military considerations. A hotline to the western theatre command will not meet this criteria. As shown in tackling the tense situation at Doklam, the decision to 'disengage' was conveyed to the western theatre command by Beijing. Since in the Chinese system it is the Communist party leadership that takes decisions and after Xi Jinping's taking over as commander in chief in January 2018, the final authority for even operational decisions now resides in the Central Military Commission, the hotline should be between the DGMO and the responsible officer in the CMC's joint staff headquarters or the CMC general office. Additionally, General Wei, who is understood to be leading a 25-member delegation, which includes a couple of generals on what might be a stand-alone visit, is likely to discuss India's relations with Pakistan. He will probably urge India to ease tensions with Pakistan -- something Beijing has been pressing India to do since April 2015 -- and work with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. He will point to Imran Khan's statements expressing a desire to improve ties with India and urge India to respond positively to the overture. China's interest is in ensuring uninterrupted implementation of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Meanwhile Qian Feng, a research fellow at the National Strategy Research Institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing, sought to put a positive spin on the visit. Qian claimed it showed that 'relations between the Chinese and Indian armed forces have generally recovered' and that 'the two armies have actively implemented the results of the Wuhan summit of the leaders of the two countries' and relations between the two militaries have entered a positive development track. Jayadeva Ranade, former additional secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, is President of the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy. 'Many BJP MLAs and ministers tell us the police does not listen to them.' IMAGE: The scene of the 2006 blast in Malegaon. On the night of August 9, the Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad arrested Vaibhav Raut, a member of a Hindu outfit and seized explosives from his residence at Nallasopara in Palghar district, a town close to Mumbai. The ATS sleuths raided Raut's home and shop where they discovered the explosives, including crude bombs. In a statement, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti termed Raut's arrest as 'Malegaon part II' and described it as the continuing harassment of activists of Hindu organisations to implicate them in false cases. "This is a conspiracy on the same lines of Malegaon," the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti's Sunil Ghanvat tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf. Why is the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti terming the Nallasopara arrest and recovery of explosives as 'Malegaon part II'? We have experienced this in the past too. Sadhvi Pragya was kept in jail for eight years and six months and later acquitted as she was found to be innocent. Colonel Purohit too is out on bail. In the case of Sudhakar Chaturvedi, the police kept RDX at his home. Therefore, we do not believe this news too. It is a ploy to blame Hindutva activists. The police want to defame them. This is the conspiracy on the same lines of Malegaon. All the accused were innocent, still they spent nine years in jail. Therefore, we issued a statement saying Vaibhav Raut's arrest is Malegaon part II. How can you come to this conclusion even before an investigation has begun? We said the same thing during Malegaon too. Sadhvi Pragya was a sadhvi, but you see what happened to her later on. They arrested five Sanathan Sanstha activists in that (case). The police said these Sanatan activists were involved in the blasts. But all of them were acquitted. Therefore, we do not believe the Vaibhav Raut arrest story. Whatever happens will happen in court. Let them prove it in court. Will Raut's arrest revive the debate over Hindu terror, this time under a BJP government? Many BJP MLAs and ministers tell us the police does not listen to them. How can you say this? Take the example of the arrests in Pune of Bank of Maharashtra top officials. Only Maharashtrians were arrested. Even Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis did not know about this. The police does whatever it wants, then the blame comes on the government. Many times the police does things which they want to do on their own. Whatever happens in this case will be proved in court. Don't you think Raut's arrest will re-ignite the debate on Hindu terror? Vaibhav Raut was a good gau rakshak. He worked in this field very sincerely. I feel if the police wants to prevent him from doing his work, they can go to any extent. Just because this incident has happened, you cannot say that this is Hindu terrorism. Do you think his arrest is linked to Gauri Lankesh's murder? Right now we are only talking about Vaibhav's case. Kindly note: The photograph has only been published for representational purposes. IMAGE: Main accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case Brajesh Thakur, after a woman allegedly threw ink on his face while he was being taken to a special POCSO court, in Muzaffarpur on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo The Bihar government has cancelled the registration of Brajesh Thakurs NGO, which ran the infamous shelter home in Muzaffarpur where 34 girls were allegedly raped over a period of time. Besides, the sale of the NGOs assets was banned and the bank accounts were frozen, an official said on Friday. According to Muzaffarpur District Registration Officer Sanjay Kumar, the orders to freeze the bank accounts and ban the sale or purchase of any movable or immovable assets of the Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti were passed by District Magistrate Mohammad Sohail on August 7 and 8. The DMs orders had followed an August 6 missive from the state registration department, wherein it was stated that the NGOs registration was being cancelled as it was blacklisted by the social welfare department for the alleged sexual abuse of inmates at the shelter home. Henceforth, there should be no transaction through the bank accounts of the Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti nor should there be any sale or purchase of movable or immovable assets in its name, Kumar said, adding that the office-bearers and members of the NGO were also restrained from carrying out any activity in its name. Interestingly, Thakurs name does not figure among the list of office-bearers and members of the NGO. The non-governmental organisation had, in its registration document, stated that it aimed to promote education and development of women and children as well as the protection of their lives. Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights teams separately met the DM in connection with the shelter home scandal. The CBI team is also understood to have taken into its possession the medical test report of Thakur, the key accused in the sex-scandal case, whose remand it may seek from the court if he is declared fit enough. The three-member NCPCR team is said to have inquired with the DM about the well-being of the former inmates of the shelter home who have been shifted to Madhubani, Patna and Mokama. Thakur has been lodged in a Muzaffarpur jail for over two months now. Currently, he is in the jail hospital. Meanwhile, political parties continued to use the horrific Muzaffarpur episode to attack their rivals. While women supporters of the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal took out a procession in Patna on Friday demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, another procession was taken out by the workers of the ruling Janata Dal-United, demanding the resignation of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the leader of opposition in the state assembly. Former Union minister Kanti Singh, who took part in the RJD procession, alleged that Kumar had all along tried to shield those involved in the scandal, while claiming that a CBI inquiry in the matter was ordered under opposition pressure. She also said Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma resigned only after Thakurs phone call details showed his links with her husband. Asked who should become the chief minister if Kumar resigned, she said there should be fresh elections. The JD-U supporters said Yadav had no moral right to hold the position of leader of opposition because of his association with certain people accused of sexual crimes. A class two student of a New Delhi Municipal Council school was allegedly raped by an electrician in the institutes premises, police said on Friday. IMAGE: Police personnel deployed at the goverment school, where a minor girl was allegedly raped, in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo Following the incident, the Delhi Commission for Women and the National Human Rights Commission issued notices to Delhi Police demanding details of the case. The NDMC too has initiated disciplinary action against the school authorities. The girl was leaving school on Wednesday when the accused, Ram Ashray, 37, allegedly took her to a pump room in the school premises and forced himself on her, police said. He threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about it, they. On reaching home, the girls mother found her bleeding from private parts and took her to a hospital where doctors informed them that she had been sexually assaulted. Her parents approached the police on Thursday, following which a case was registered and the accused arrested. Police said the accused was a permanent electrician employed with the NDMC. A case under relevant sections of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against him, they said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), Madhur Verma, said the accused had been working with the school for around two months and was arrested after the victim identified him. Police said the accused was being interrogated. They said the spot where the incident happened did not have CCTV cameras. The NDMC suspended four officials. They are accused Ram Ashray, headmistress Santosh Rawat, assistant engineer (electric department) Tulsi Ram and assistant teacher Shikha. While the civic body has initiated disciplinary proceedings against them, it has also terminated the contract of junior engineer Saurabh Bisht, who was Ashrays supervisor. DCW sent notices to the police and the schools authority, asking them to inform it about the safety measures at the institute. The NHRC issued notices to the Delhi government and the police seeking a detailed report about the incident. A representative from the school said the victims parents came to them at 10 am yesterday to inform them about the incident, and claimed that the accused was not employed with their school. From what we know, the incident occurred after 1:30 pm, when the school gets over. Our school employee not involved in it. Investigation is underway and the child is doing fine. We have been in regular contact with the parents of the victim, she said. The parents of the victim have been called for a counselling session on Monday to assure them of their childs safety. Another employee of the school said CCTV cameras were installed on the school premises and four security guards are always posted at the school gate since it is a girls school. A number of parents staged a protest outside the school and raised questions about the safety of their children inside the institute. What is the surety of our childs safety in the school premises? The principal has been on leave for a week. Shouldnt teachers and the vice-principal show more accountability? a parent said. Another parent said strict security measures were in place for parents to enter the school premises, and asked whether the same measures were in place for others. According to Delhi Police data, more than two children were raped in the national capital every day in the first four months of this year. Till April 30, 282 cases of child rape were reported as opposed to 278 last year during the same period. Last year, 894 such cases were reported, the data stated. In September last year, a five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 40-year-old peon inside the premises of a private school in Shahdara, following which he was arrested. Citing security concerns, Osmania University on Friday declined permission for Congress chief Rahul Gandhis proposed meeting with students on its campus during his visit to the state on August 13 and 14. University Registrar Ch Gopal Reddy said they declined permission as they had no mechanism to provide security to the congress leader. However, they might review the decision if local police or any other government agency such as the special protection group assures the university of Gandhis security, he said. We declined the permission on security grounds. Since he (Rahul Gandhi) is a person under Z plus category security cover, we will not be able to provide security for him. Some students are opposing his visit while some welcome him. It may also lead to tension during his visit. So we told them (group of students) about our inability to provide enough security for his visit, Reddy said. Telangana Congress leaders had earlier said Gandhi would address students at the campus during his visit. Asked about the proposed meeting at the University, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said university students had invited Gandhi. They applied to the university vice-chancellor and police for permission and the matter was under consideration, he had earlier said. He alleged that some senior leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi did not want Gandhi to visit the university. The University is said to be the hotbed of the separate Telangana agitation. Naramalli Sivaprasad dresses depending on the political point he wants to convey. IMAGE: Naramalli Sivaprasad said he decided to don the Fuehrers avatar to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his promise to give Special Status Category to Andhra Pradesh, post bifurcation of the state. Photograph: PTI Photo Clothes make the man, it is said, and sometimes maybe the politician too, as in the case of Telugu Desam Party MP Naramalli Sivaprasad who on Thursday dressed up as Hitler to send Prime Minister Narendra Modi the message that he should not follow the the Nazi dictators footsteps. Sometimes a woman, other times a farmer or a cattle herder, depending on the political point he wants to convey, Sivaprasad said he decided to don the Fuehrers avatar to remind Modi of his promise to give Special Status Category to Andhra Pradesh, post bifurcation of the state. Wearing a khaki coat and sporting a toothbrush moustache, Sivaprasad said, I wanted to send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to follow Adolf Hitler. During elections, he promised SCS to the people of the state but has then back-tracked. He does not get the pulse of what people want and I want to urge him to not be like him. Sivaprasad, who attended the House in his Hitler costume, also raised his hand in Heil Hitler salute for camerapersons outside. IMAGE: The many characters that Sivaprasad has depicted during Parliament. Photograph: PTI Photo The TDP was a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance until March this year, but quit the government and the NDA over the demand for special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Ours is a democracy and it is necessary to understand the aspirations of the people, said the two-time MP who represents Chittor in Andhra Pradesh. An actor, whose has worked in several Telugu films, Sivaprasad has in the past donned various avatars to attract attention. During the last Budget session, Sivaprasad had dressed up as a woman, a farmer, a cattle herder, a Muslim cleric and a swachch Bharat worker. I am an artist and cannot sit quiet. I have to express myself. To represent the plight of women who were hit by demonetisation, I also dressed like one, he said. Dam reservoirs and rivers overflowed, sections of highways collapsed and homes were swept away in severe flooding in more than half of Kerala, after days of incessant rains left nearly 54,000 people homeless and killed at least 29, officials said on Friday. IMAGE: A view of a flooded locality after heavy rains, at Elloor in Kochi. Photograph: PTI Photo Five columns of the Indian Army were deployed in the states seven severely-hit northern districts, out of Keralas 14, to help evacuate people and to build makeshift bridges even as the Indian Navys southern command was put on alert after water level in Periyar river rose amid concern that parts of Wellingdon Island in Kochi could be inundated. Almost all 40-odd rivers in the state are in spate, officials said. Northern and central Kerala have been battered by heavy rains of the Southwest monsoon since August 8, which has left 29 people dead, including three on Friday. Of them, 25 died in landslides and four in drowning. State officials said a total of 53,501 people are now housed in 439 relief camps across the state. IMAGE: Rescue personnel patrol the flooded waters on the banks of Periyar River after the opening of Idamalayar and Cheruthoni dam shutters following heavy rains, on the outskirts of Kochi. Photograph: Sivaram V/Reuters Tourists were barred from entering the hilly Idukki district after roads caved in at many places. Army soldiers were building small bridges to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad. A red alert was issued for Idukki and its adjoining districts in view of the possibility of release of more water from the Idukki reservoir. At least 50 tourists, including 24 foreigners, stranded at the Plum Judy resort at Munnar since Wednesday were rescued and taken to safer places, state Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said. People living downstream of Periyar river in Kochi, and Cheruthoni river in Idukki have been warned of a possibility of inundation of banks. IMAGE: An aeriel view of the flooded locality of Aluva after heavy rains, in Kerala. Photograph: PTI Photo Water level had crossed the maximum storage capacity of reservoirs of 24 out of the states 58 dams, forcing officials to release the water by opening the sluice gates, including three of the Idukki reservoir. Two more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, the biggest arch dam in Asia, were lifted around 7 am on Friday. One shutter was opened on Thursday after a gap of 26 years. On Friday morning, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation and relief works being undertaken by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force. Due to the increase in the water level at Idukki dam, It is essential to release water three times (more) than what was being released now, Vijayan said, adding that this will lead to rise in the water levels of Periyar river and its tributaries. He appealed to people to be vigilant. Vijayan has cancelled all his public functions till August 12, and will monitor the situation from the state capital. IMAGE: Two more shutters of Idukki dam were opened on Friday morning. Photograph: ANI/Twitter Union Mminister Alphons Kannamthanam said he discussed the flood situation in Kerala with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday morning. Singh also spoke with Vijayan, and will make an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Sunday. The government of India is providing all the required assistance including services of armed forces, disaster management team and other required assistance. Any other immediate assistance requested by the Government of Kerala will be provided, Alphons said in a Facebook post. IMAGE: Land near a house is seen washed away following a landslide, triggered by heavy rains, at Vythiri in Wayanad district of Kerala. Photograph: PTI Photo Colonel Ajai Sharma, the commandant of DSC Centre, who is overseeing relief and rescue operations, said five columns of army have been deployed in the northern districts since Thursday night. The haphazard development along the streams has affected the natural flow of rivers, which is a challenge right now, he said. IMAGE: A view of houses submerged in water following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, in Palakkad. Photograph: PTI Photo Small bridges have been constructed to evacuate stranded people in various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad areas, and rescue operations are currently underway. The situation is under control, he said. IMAGE: Rescue operations being carried out following a landslide at Adimali, in Idukki, Kerala. Photograph: PTI Photo Meanwhile, state Revenue minister E Chandrasekharan reviewed the flood situation and the precautionary measures to be taken in Aluva near Kochi airport and nearby areas in view of the possibility of increase in the water level following release of more water from Idukki reservoir. Periyar river in Aluva is already in spate following release of water from Idamalayar dam, and people living in low-lying areas have been asked to be vigilant. IMAGE: Roof of a house collapses following a flash flood at Kodencheri in Kozhikode district. Photograph: PTI Photo Cochin International Airport Limited sources said operations at the airport had not been affected. The operational area is intact. No cancellation of services so far, an airport spokesperson said. IMAGE: A building is seen submerged in water following a flash flood at Kodencheri in Kozhikode. Photograph: PTI Photo Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Vijayan on Thursday, and offered all possible assistance to those affected. In Palakkad district, the flood waters started receding on Friday as the quantity of water being released from Malampuzha dam was reduced. However, many areas are still inundated and people were seen trying to save their belongings. The contentious Triple Talaq Bill which criminalises the practice of instant talaq could not be taken up for discussion and passage on the last day of Monsoon session on Friday, owing to lack of consensus among political parties on the issue. The Congress-led Opposition has been demanding that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 be sent to a Select Committee for further scrutiny. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, which does not have a majority in the Upper House, had also made efforts to get the bill cleared in the Budget Session also. On Friday, when the Rajya Sabha reconvened at 2:30 pm after two adjournments in the pre-lunch session, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has decided that the bills on which there is some sort of broad consensus will be taken up for discussion and passage later in the day. Naidu also clarified that the Triple Talaq Bill will not be taken up on Friday as a consensus has not yet been evolved on the issue. The Union Cabinet had on Thursday cleared some amendments to the draft Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 bill, including adding a bail provision to it. The amendments came after the Supreme Court on August 22 last year had struck down triple talaq, calling unconstitutional. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill in December. However, amendments to the draft legislation, once cleared by the Rajya Sabha, will again be sent to the Lower House for passage. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice within minutes during the pre-lunch session on Friday amid protest by Congress members over their demand for a JPC probe into the alleged scam in the Rafale jet deal. The Union Cabinet has approved three amendments to the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, which has been cleared by the Lok Sabha and is pending approval of the Rajya Sabha. Most incidents of triple talaq are eloquent examples of the failure of Muslim society to instil in its men the teachings of the Quran; instead, they end up relying on the Quran's interpretation by local maulanas, says Ziya Us Salam. A fascinating excerpt from Till Talaq Do Us Apart: Understanding Talaq, Triple Talaq And Khula. *IMAGE: Imams and maulanas answer by rote, even when answering matters of marriage and divorce. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters In less than 24 hours after the Supreme Court set aside instant triple talaq (divorce), Jharkhand's Fatima Suraiya was divorced by her husband through instant triple talaq. Without ever having got a hint that instant divorce was coming her way, the 27-year-old resident of Hazaribagh was thrown out of her home along with her daughter. The words 'talaq, talaq, talaq', spoken in anger, were sufficient to end her marriage. Her attempt to get help from the local clerics only resulted in the latter asking for a period of about 20 days before they could come to a conclusion! Less than a month later, in Jodhpur, a woman called Afsana was divorced by her husband over the phone. Munna, her husband of eight years, divorced her on September 18, 2017. Two days later, he married another woman. A few days later, in Rajkot, 23-year-old Rubina Lakhani complained to the police that she had been thrashed to unconsciousness by her husband, Afzal. Then he pronounced 'talaq, talaq, talaq'. The woman got to know of the divorce -- completely against Islamic procedure -- when she came to her senses. She was then thrown out of the house by her husband and his family members, claiming that she had been divorced. The man was booked by the police. The three incidents do not merely prove the limitations of a judicial order in a society where ignorance renders the best of laws ineffective. They relate a story of local maulanas unable to give the right advice at the right time, and men and women, even educated ones, not sure of their rights and duties in Islam. It is drilled into almost every other man that instant triple talaq is the best, or maybe the only, way to end a marriage. And the maulanas seldom rise to the occasion to save a marriage. The incidents also speak eloquently of the failure of Muslim society to instil in its men the teachings of the Quran; instead, they end up relying on the Quran's interpretation by local maulanas. *IMAGE: It is not uncommon to see men seeking out an imam or a maulana to calculate zakat, which is usually paid in the month of Ramzan. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters The reasons are to be found as much in our patriarchal society as in people's complete ignorance of the Quran. Most common Muslim families in small-town India depend on the local imam to interpret the Quran for them, or even advise them on any issue pertaining to religion. It is not uncommon to see men seeking out an imam or a maulana to calculate zakat, which is usually paid in the month of Ramzan. Every year, the questions are the same: Is it 2.5 per cent of my earnings or savings? Do I count all my property, including the house I am living in? And what about the car? Also, do I have to give zakat for my wife? Every year, the imam or the maulana answers by rote, even when answering matters of marriage and divorce. Then people ask, 'Should the marriage take place when the moon is in the ascendance?' or 'Is marriage disallowed in the entire month of Muharram or only in the first 10 days?' *IMAGE: A protest against a bill passed by the Lok Sabha earlier this year that aims at prosecuting Muslim men who divorce their wives using the triple talaq method. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters.com Unfortunately, the local imams are often not well versed with the Quran. Probably all of them are hafiz, that is, they have memorised the Quran from the first surah, Fateha, to the last surah, Naas. But they know not what they read or recite. They have no knowledge of Arabic or of Arab society at the time of the revelation of the Quran. Hence, they read the Quran, even commit it to memory, without understanding it. It would probably be the only instance across the world where a book of around 6,000 verses and 114 surahs across 30 chapters is memorised by millions without their understanding a sentence. Worse, most of these imams are not reliably conversant with the Hadith either. They usually come from poor families and join a madrasa at least partly because it offers affordable-to-free food and accommodation. This supposedly free accommodation is usually nothing more than a floor to sleep on and two simple meals. *IMAGE: Most imams usually come from poor families and join a madrasa at least partly because it offers affordable-to-free food and accommodation. Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters At the first stage in the madrasa, they learn to read the alphabet and join letters to form words before going on to read the Quran. This, in turn, is succeeded by memorising sessions under a senior maulana. Mistakes in recitation are often met with physical punishment. Once these boys are able to memorise the Quran, with a little ceremony held in the Islamic month of Shaban, they leave the madrasa as the prospect of earning Rs 8,000 to 12,000 a month is too attractive to ignore or delay acceptance. The madrasas usually impart knowledge of the root words of the Quran, the circumstances of the revelation of each surah, etc, and also the knowledge of the authentic Hadith, but only at a later stage. In the first five years, only the Quran is memorised. There is tarjuma (translation), which is taught at a place like Darul Uloom, Deoband, but not in most smaller madrasas. It is only in the sixth year at the madrasa that tafsir (commentary) of the Quran is taught. Soon after, the students get to read Ibn Kasir. Much before that, most needy boys step out as hafiz, all keen to start their careers as imams in a nondescript masjid on a paltry salary, with nothing like paid leave, gratuity or medical compensation, etc. The only free thing that comes their way is a Thursday meal offered by a benevolent local, or a little token offered at the end of taraweeh prayers during Ramzan. *IMAGE: At the first stage in the madrasa, they learn to read the alphabet and join letters to form words before going on to read the Quran. Photograph: K K Arora/Reuters If, in their years at the madrasa, nobody taught them to reason, to explore, to ask questions, as professionals, they neither have the resources nor the opportunity to attain higher knowledge. These hafiz boys become imams in smaller towns and villages across India, particularly in the Hindi-speaking belt. They recite with perfect diction, their voices well-trained. Unfortunately, they know not what they recite. Hence, when a local resident comes to them for advice, they are not always able to give an informed opinion. Their ignorance often impedes the community's development. There have been instances of imams in areas populated by the poorer sections advising the residents to withdraw their children from public schools if they want them to grow up to be alims! It does not strike them that the first word revealed to the Prophet was 'Iqra', which means 'read', and that Islam makes seeking knowledge the duty of every being, with one verse in the Quran saying, 'Oh Lord! Increase me in knowledge.' In a case of talaq, the situation can have particularly dire consequences. Despite being hafiz, they are not well versed with the chapters pertaining to different kinds of divorce. As part of a patriarchal society, they would have only heard that three pronouncements of divorce mean that a marriage is over. Nobody at home or at the madrasa tells them that there is a process of effecting a divorce clearly outlined in the Quran. Thus, when the father of a woman approaches the imam for advice after his daughter has received triple talaq through a letter or a text message, the imam is not able to say that this form of divorce is invalid or to substantiate his argument with verses from the Quran. Some responsible ones merely direct the aggrieved to Deoband or Lucknow which, again, are often beyond the reach of the poor. The ignorance of the local imam or maulana often has disastrous consequences for many marriages. *IMAGE: The ignorance of the local imam or maulana often has disastrous consequences for many marriages. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters In this context, it is important to remember that the main petitioner in the Supreme Court, Shayara Bano, claimed that nobody told her that her marriage subsisted after receiving triple talaq through the post. And no maulana told her about the option of khula being open to a woman to end an unhappy marriage. A well-informed maulana in Allahabad, her husband's residential town, or a caring one in Kashipur, her ancestral place, could have saved her much agony, perhaps even her marriage, and those of Afsana in Jodhpur and Fatima Suraiya in Hazaribagh. However, it is not just maulanas or local imams in small mosques who are accountable. The rot runs deeper. There is ignorance, at times even opposition, to understanding the Quran. *IMAGE: Once these boys are able to memorise the Quran, with a little ceremony held in the Islamic month of Shaban, they leave the madrasa as the prospect of earning Rs 8,000 to 12,000 a month. Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters In most Muslim households, when a child starts going to school, his Islamic education also starts at home or at a madrasa nearby. To term it 'Islamic education', though, would be an overstatement. The child begins to learn the Arabic alphabet. Once he is able to join the letters well enough, he starts reading the Quran under a maulana. Since the last chapter of the Quran contains the smallest surahs, often recited in compulsory prayers, the maulanas start the childs tuition with this section. From one chapter to the next, to the next, the child reads them all. Unfortunately, reading is all he does. He does not understand a sentence of what he reads. The maulana teaches him the right diction, the right sound for a 'noon' and a 'quaf', but never is the child told the meaning of any surah or verse. As a result, he grows up like his teachers: Reading the Quran but unaware of its meaning. As an adult, when faced with a problem at home or in the office, such a man is not able to consult the Quran, simply because he never comprehended its meaning, never understood that the solution to his problems lay in the book, not outside. The problem is compounded by the fact that the same man is imparted no knowledge of the authentic Hadith. It is not uncommon to come across educated households with no commentaries of the Quran to be consulted in times of need, or even copies of the authentic Hadith, like Bukhari or Sahi Muslim, etc. This inherited aversion to seeking knowledge is passed on to the next generation. When this man goes to the local mosque, all he hears is a sermon in Arabic. He understands it not. He sits there out of reverence. Occasionally, when there is a Hadith related in a little chat after prayers, no reference is made to its book. Is it authentic? Or is it zaif or weak? No maulana ever tells him to consult Bukhari or Sahi Muslim or Daud for reliable Hadith. The wheel of ignorance rolls on. Excerpted from Till Talaq Do Us Apart: Understanding Talaq, Triple Talaq And Khula by Ziya Us Salam, with the kind permission of the publishers, Penguin Random House India. Kindly note: *Images only published for representational purposes. HOUSTON, Aug. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archrock, Inc. (NYSE:AROC) today announced that Brad Childers, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Doug Aron, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective August 13, 2018, will meet with investors at the Citi One-on-One MLP/Midstream Infrastructure Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 15-16, 2018. The presentation to be used in the investor meetings will be available on Wednesday, August 15, 2018, prior to the commencement of the meetings, under the Investors tab of our website, www.archrock.com. About Archrock Archrock, Inc. is a pure play U.S. natural gas contract compression services business and a leading supplier of aftermarket services to customers that own compression equipment in the United States. Archrock is headquartered in Houston, Texas, operating in the major oil and gas producing regions in the United States, with approximately 1,700 employees. For more information, visit www.archrock.com. SOURCE: Archrock, Inc. For information, contact: Paul Burkhart, Vice President Finance 281-836-8688 investor.relations@archrock.com BURLINGAME, Calif., Aug. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AeroCentury Corp. (the Company) (NYSE American: ACY), an independent aircraft leasing company, today reported a second quarter net loss of $81,000, or $(0.06) per share, compared to net income of $371,000, or $0.22 per share, for the first quarter of 2018 and net income of $356,000, or $0.25 per share, for the second quarter of 2017. In the first six months of 2018, net income decreased 76% to approximately $236,000, or $0.17 per share, from approximately $997,000, or $0.67 per share, in the first six months of 2017. The second quarter and first six months of 2018 included $0.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of other income resulting from payments received from a lessee of three aircraft that were returned to the Company during 2017. Such payments were received after the aircraft were returned and were applied toward unpaid maintenance reserves as well as amounts owed for unsatisfied return conditions of the applicable leases. The unpaid amounts were not booked as receivables by the Company at the time of lease termination based on managements evaluation of the creditworthiness of the lessee. Therefore, the Company is accounting for payments from this lessee as they are received and they are recorded in other income. In the second quarter, we continued on our path of modernizing our portfolio, purchasing two mid-life Dash 8-Q400 turboprop aircraft after having previously sold five older aircraft in late 2017 and early 2018. An unanticipated delay in closing our second quarter acquisitions resulted in a lag in reinvestment of the previous sales proceeds, and this created a short-term drag on our revenues in the first half of 2018. The short-term effect of potential lags in reinvestment is a necessary occasional consequence of dynamic and strategic portfolio management, and we believe it is more than outweighed by the potential long-term benefit of modernizing our portfolio in terms of value retention and asset marketability, and we remain committed to continuing on this path. The average age of aircraft we are holding for lease is now approximately 11 years, said Michael Magnusson, President. Mr. Magnusson also commented on the progress of the Companys proposed acquisition by merger of JetFleet Holding Corp. (JHC), the corporation that has managed the Companys operations and aircraft portfolio since the Companys founding in 1997. A special meeting of the Companys stockholders to approve the Merger is scheduled for August 31, 2018, and is the final procedural step to be accomplished before we can consummate the Merger. Although the consummation of the Merger of the Company and JHC has taken somewhat more time than we originally anticipated, both companies remain fully committed to the transaction, stated Mr. Magnusson. Second Quarter Highlights Purchase of two Dash 8-Q400 aircraft on lease to Croatia Airlines, the government-owned flag carrier of the Republic of Croatia Operating lease revenue of $6.8 million EBITDA 1 of $5.4 million of $5.4 million Book value per share of $33.60 as of June 30, 2018 91% portfolio utilization during the quarter $32.5 million unused credit facility amount as of June 30, 2018 Second Quarter 2018 Comparative Data: Average portfolio utilization was 91% during the second quarter of 2018, 90% in the first quarter of 2018, and 94% in the second quarter of 2017. The change between periods was primarily due to asset sales during late 2017 and 2018, as well as the return of several aircraft at lease end in 2017. Total revenue and other income decreased 1% to $7.8 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $7.9 million in the preceding quarter, and decreased 4% from $8.1 million in the second quarter a year ago. Operating lease revenues increased 6% to $6.8 million in the second quarter of 2018 from $6.5 million in the preceding quarter and decreased 4% from $7.1 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting assets sales during 2017. Operating lease revenues accounted for 88% of total revenues in the second quarter of 2018, compared to 82% in the first quarter of 2018 and 88% in the year-ago quarter. The Company recorded no maintenance reserve revenue in the first or second quarters of 2018 and $0.7 million in the second quarter of 2017. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company recognized $18,100 in gains from disposal of assets, compared to $8,200 in losses in the preceding quarter and losses of $147,700 in the second quarter of 2017. Total expenses increased 6% to $7.9 million from $7.4 million in the preceding quarter, primarily due to higher depreciation and interest and the second quarter provision for impairment, the effects of which were partially offset by a decrease in professional fees. Total expenses increased 4% from $7.5 million in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to higher depreciation and interest, the effects of which were partially offset by lower maintenance costs and a smaller provision for impairment. AeroCentury's portfolio currently consists of twenty-three aircraft and one engine that are held for lease and nine aircraft that are held under sales-type or direct finance leases. The Company also has two turboprop aircraft that are held for sale, which are being sold in parts. The Company's portfolio consists of eleven different aircraft types. The current customer base comprises eleven customers operating in nine countries. 1 EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. See below for its method of calculation and reconciliation to its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as well as other information about the use of non-GAAP measures generally, at the end of this press release. The following table shows the status of the Company's portfolio of aircraft and engines held for lease as of June 30, 2018, December 31, 2017, and June 30, 2017. AIRCRAFT AND ENGINES HELD FOR LEASE June 30, 2018 % of net book value December 31, 2017 % of net book value June 30, 2017 % of net book value Turboprop aircraft: On lease 4 16 % 2 4 % 6 16 % Off lease 6 10 % 8 13 % 5 5 % Total turboprop aircraft 10 26 % 10 17 % 11 21 % Regional jet aircraft: On lease 13 73 % 13 82 % 14 77 % Off lease - - % - - % - - % Total regional jet aircraft 13 73 % 13 82 % 14 77 % Engines: On lease 1 1 % 1 1 % 0 - % Off lease2 0 - % 0 0 % 1 2 % Total engines 1 1 % 1 1 % 1 2 % About AeroCentury: AeroCentury is an independent global aircraft operating lessor and finance company specializing in leasing regional jet and turboprop aircraft and related engines. The Company's aircraft and engines are leased to regional airlines and commercial users worldwide. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements that are purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding (a) the Companys path of modernizing its fleet, (b) the benefits of fleet modernization, and the potential for these benefits to outweigh the negative effect of lags in reinvestment, and (c) the Company's proposed acquisition of JHC. The Company's beliefs, expectations, forecasts, objectives and strategies for the future are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to (a) the ability of the Company to dispose of older aircraft on attractive terms, acquire younger aircraft on attractive terms, or generate greater revenues from a portfolio of younger aircraft, (b) unanticipated changes of value in the Companys portfolio due to market changes or obsolescence, and (c) the failure of the Companys acquisition of JHC to be consummated, as a result of the failure to satisfy conditions precedent or otherwise. The forward-looking statements in this press release and the Company's future results of operations are subject to additional risks and uncertainties set forth under the heading "Factors that May Affect Future Results and Liquidity" in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K, and are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof and speak only as of such date. The Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release. For these reasons, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. 2 Information as of 6/30/18 and 12/31/17 includes one engine that had previously been installed on an aircraft that is now being parted out. Selected Financial Information (in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended June 30, March 31, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2018 2018 2017 2018 2017 Operating lease revenue $ 6,824 $ 6,463 $ 7,110 $ 13,287 $ 14,427 Maintenance reserves revenue (1) - - 686 686 Finance lease revenue 361 379 432 740 758 Gain on disposal of assets 18 (8 ) (148 ) 10 (134 ) Gain on sales-type finance leases - - - - 297 Other income 581 1,051 1 1,632 1 7,784 7,885 8,081 15,669 16,035 Depreciation 3,150 2,942 2,943 6,092 5,879 Interest 2,365 2,254 1,743 4,619 3,353 Management fees 1,502 1,447 1,498 2,949 3,005 Provision for impairment 298 - 454 298 454 Maintenance costs 69 91 405 160 662 Professional fees and other 478 680 499 1,158 1,100 Bad debt expense - - - - - 7,862 7,414 7,542 15,276 14,453 (Loss)/income before income taxes (78 ) 471 539 393 1,582 Income tax provision 3 154 183 157 585 Net (loss)/income $ (81 ) $ 317 $ 356 $ 236 $ 997 Earnings/(loss) per share: Basic $ (0.06 ) $ 0.22 $ 0.25 $ 0.17 $ 0.67 Diluted $ (0.06 ) $ 0.22 $ 0.25 $ 0.17 $ 0.67 Shares used in per share computations: Basic 1,416,699 1,416,699 1,416,699 1,416,699 1,482,997 Diluted 1,416,699 1,416,699 1,416,699 1,416,699 1,482,997 June 30, March 31, December 31, June 30, 2018 2018 2017 2017 Total assets $ 245,237 $ 226,188 $ 236,410 $ 241,590 Total liabilities $ 197,634 $ 178,504 $ 189,043 $ 200,625 Shareholders' equity $ 47,603 $ 47,684 $ 47,367 $ 40,965 (1) Maintenance reserves revenue is dependent upon the amount of reserves retained upon lease terminations. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement the Companys financial information presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), this press release includes the non-GAAP financial measure of EBITDA. The Company defines EBITDA as net (loss)/income, plus depreciation expense, plus interest expense and plus (minus) income tax expense (benefit). The table below provides a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures such as net income or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Rather, the Company presents this measure as supplemental information because it believes it provides meaningful additional information about the Companys performance for the following reasons: (1) this measure allows for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management, as management uses this measure to assess the Companys operating performance and for financial and operational decision-making; (2) this measure excludes the impact of items management believes are not directly attributable to the Companys core operating performance and may obscure trends in the business; and (3) this measure may be used by institutional investors and the analyst community to help analyze the Companys business. The Companys non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies because they may not calculate such measures in the same manner as the Company does. For the Three Months Ended June 30, March 31, June 30, 2018 2018 2017 Reconciliation of Net income to EBITDA: Net (loss)/income $ (81 ) $ 317 $ 356 Depreciation 3,150 2,942 2,943 Interest 2,365 2,254 1,743 Income tax provision 3 154 183 EBITDA: 5,437 5,667 5,225 Toni Perazzo Chief Financial Officer (650) 340-1888 Washington, D.C., Aug. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Handwritten notes, a memory stick and an admission of a Hail Mary leak reveal the flaws plaguing the early Russia collusion according to The Hills investigative reporter, John Solomon. Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson paid by Hillary Clintons campaign to find dirt on her GOP rival met secretly with a top Justice Department official, right after Trump won the 2016 election, wrote Solomon. The revelation that the FBI investigation was instigated by spurious, paid opposition research aimed at hurting President Trump is damaging to Special Counsel Robert Muellers case. According to Solomon, further evidence reveals how the political report was passed from the DOJ to the FBI, setting off the Mueller investigation. Solomon reports, Two days after Ohr's meeting with Simpson, the senior DOJ official met with the FBI and submitted to an interview about what he had learned. And all wondered why a Justice official Ohr who was not in the chain of command in the Russia counterintelligence probe, and whose wife worked for Fusion GPS on the Trump project, interviewed Simpson at all, Solomon wrote. Solomon also reveals how the private investigation was leaked to the public: [Fusion GPS Founder Glen [Simpson] asked Chris [Christopher Steele, intelligence operative] to speak to the Mother Jones reporter. It was Glens Hail Mary attempt, Ohr wrote. The Hills John Solomon exposes the flaws plaguing the early Russia collusion case. Click here to Read THE FULL STORY. About The Hill: The Hill is one of the fastest-growing news sites in the United States.The Hill is published by Capitol Hill Publishing Corp, a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc. About Hill.tv: The Hill launched Hill.tv in June as a first of its kind digital channel that provides the most bipartisan coverage of todays breaking news and analysis. To learn more about the network, visit Hill.tv and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. John Solomon is an award-winning investigative journalist whose work over the years has exposed U.S. and FBI intelligence failures before the Sept. 11 attacks, federal scientists misuse of foster children and veterans in drug experiments, and numerous cases of political corruption. He is The Hills executive vice president for video. ### Crude oil prices declined on Thursday, extending previous session's weakness, amid concerns the U.S.-China trade war could result in a drop in demand for crude. On Wednesday, China slapped additional import tariffs of 25% on $16 billion worth of U.S. goods in retaliation for tariffs on China imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Another factor set to weigh on global is the U.S.' decision to impose new sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. The sanctions would take effect around August 22. Saying that its too early for possible retaliatory sanctions to be discussed, Russia reiterated it was not involved in the poisoning of the former spy. Crude oil futures for September delivery ended down $0.13, or 0.2%, at $66.81 a barrel. On Wednesday, crude oil futures ended down $2.23, or 3.2%, at $66.94 a barrel, recording its biggest slide in over three weeks. Crude oil prices edged higher earlier this week, amid rising concerns about global crude supply after U.S. reimposed sanctions on Iran. The first wave of sanctions against Iran came into effect at 12:01 on Tuesday. U.S. said more sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector and Central Bank will come into effect in November. A notable drop in Saudi Arabia's crude output last month and supply disruptions in Venezuela and Libya hurt as well. Data released by the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday revealed U.S. crude stockpiles fell by 1.351 million barrels for the week ended August 3, as against a forecast for a drop of over 3 million barrels. According to a report released by the American Petroleum Institute a day earlier, U.S. crude inventories dropped by 6.02 million barrels last week, much more than a 3 million barrels fall predicted by a survey by Bloomberg. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis German stocks plunged on Friday as a fresh turmoil in Turkey as well as renewed fears of a trade war between the U.S. and China sapped investors' appetite for risk. The benchmark DAX was down 195 points or 1.54 percent at 12,481 in opening deals after rising 0.3 percent in the previous session. Banks led the downtrend, with Commerzbank down 2.3 percent and Deutsche Bank losing 3.5 percent after the European Bank reportedly expressed concerns over the impact of a weak Turkish lira on European banks. The lira tumbled more than 14 percent in early trade to hit a new low amid a deepening rift with the United States and intensifying worries about the state of the . Energy group Innogy dropped almost 1 percent on reporting a 10 percent fall in first-half operating profit. RWE shed 0.7 percent and E.ON gave up 1.5 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com European stocks fell sharply on Friday as a banking crisis in Turkey coupled with lingering worries over a trade war between the world's two biggest economies dent demand for riskier assets. The Turkish lira tumbled more than 14 percent in early trade to hit a new low amid a deepening rift with the United States and intensifying worries about the state of the . The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was down 0.9 percent at 386.37 in late opening deals after closing up 0.1 percent on Thursday. The German DAX was down as much as 1.7 percent, France's CAC 40 index was losing 1.3 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was declining 0.7 percent. Spanish lender BBVA slumped 4.2 percent and Italy's UniCredit tumbled 3.4 percent on worries about the contagion effects of a dramatic fall in the Turkish lira. Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas lost 2-4 percent after the European Bank reportedly expressed concerns over the impact of a weak Turkish lira on European banks. Miners Anglo American, Antofagasta and Glencore were down about 2 percent while energy firms BP Plc, Tullow Oil and Total SA fell between 0.7 percent and 1.5 percent. Biotechnology firm Novozymes declined 2.8 percent after its second-quarter results came in below expectations. Budget carrier Ryanair Holdings declined 1.8 percent after grounding 400 flights amid a coordinated 24-hour workers strike. Diageo was little changed after announcing it would start buying back up to 1.4 billion pounds ($1.79 billion) of its shares until Jan. 31. In economic releases, U.K. economic growth doubled in the second quarter driven by stronger growth in both services and construction sectors, first quarterly estimate from the Office for National Statistics showed. Gross domestic product rose 0.4 percent, matching expectations and faster than the 0.2 percent expansion seen in the first quarter. U.K. industrial production also expanded in June after falling for three straight months. Output climbed 0.4 percent month-on-month, reversing a 0.2 percent fall in May. This marked the first increase in four months. France's industrial and manufacturing output rebounded in June, driven by a recovery in petroleum output. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com The Initial Coin Offering (ICO) market has more than doubled in a year, but more than half of all ICOs failed to complete their crowd funding, according to a new report. ICOrating.com has released its second quarterly report, titled ICO Market Research Q2 2018. $8,359,976,282 is the total funding amount raised by 827 projects over the second quarter, which is a 151 percent increase from the first quarter of 2018. Funds raised by EOS project account for most of this increase, the report says. They have collected $4,197,956,135 for a year-long ICO. Collectively, ICOs of 2018 have already raised $11,690,981,663 of investments, which is 10 times bigger than the cumulative sum of investments from ICOs in the first two quarters last year. Despite a significant increase in issuing ICOs, the overall quality of projects has significantly worsened, the research shows. Half of the ICO projects announced in Q2 of 2018 were not able to attract more than $100,000. Comparing the current state of affairs with what was happening a year ago, the percentage of ICOs which could not raise $100,000 has increased from 13 percent in Q1-Q2 2017 to over 50% in Q1-Q2 2018. Only 7 percent of all announced ICOs were able to be listed on exchanges. 55 percent of all ICOs failed to complete their crowdfunding in Q2. In Q2, the majority of ICO projects were launched in Europe 46 percent of all projects. North America was the leader in terms of funds raised 64.67 percent of all funding attracted. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. The Turkish Lira nose-dived against the U.S. dollar in the European session on Friday, plunging to an all-time low, following a news report that the European Central Bank has raised concerns over the impact of a weak lira on European banks. The ECB is more concerned about the exposure of some banks in France, Italy and Spain to Turkey's problems, according to a report in the Financial Times. Those banks are particularly BBVA of Spain, Italy's UniCredit and BNP Paribas of France. The currency has been falling amid widening rift between the US and Turkey and intensifying worries about the state of the . Diplomatic talks between Washington and Ankara in Washington to resolve issues appeared to break down this week. Both the nations were at logger-heads over the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey on terrorism charges, as well as U.S. sanctions on Turkish ministers. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday played down concerns over the falling currency, calling citizens to "ignore campaigns against Turkey." "Don't forget, if they have their dollars, we have our people, our God. We are working hard. Look at what we were 16 years ago and look at us now," he told supporters in the Black Sea province of Rize. The Lira depreciated around 9.6 percent to a record low of 6.0792 against the greenback, from Thursday's closing value of 5.5451. Since the beginning of the year, the currency has fallen almost 60 percent versus the U.S. currency. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Blockchain startup Zulu Republic has launched Lite.im which enables users to interact with the Litecoin (LTC) blockchain to send and receive funds from anywhere in the world where a mobile phone signal is available. The user just has to send a simple message via encrypted messenger app Telegram for fund transfers. It will also support a simple SMS message to send and receive LTC later on. Zug, Switzerland-based Zulu Republic's Lite.im brings Litecoin services to anyone with even the most basic mobile phone, regardless of whether or not they have access to the Internet. Telegram is used as it has become widely used, accepted, trusted and most secure messenger within the cryptocurrency community. It also provides a perfect proof of concept environment for releasing this . Using Telegram for fund transfers will give people the ability to manage their funds within an environment they are already regularly engaged with. Telegram also makes transacting in Litecoin as simple as possible for users, with programmable bot commands that require a minimum of user interaction to function. In mid-April, Zulu Republic had acquired the Litevault Litecoin web wallet, and announced their commitment to open borderless finance to the Litecoin ecosystem. Litevault offers secure, easy, private access to Litecoin for anyone with an internet connection, without the need for any additional software and regardless of device. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Technology News TORONTO, Aug. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trisura Group Ltd. (Trisura or Trisura Group) (TSX: TSU), a leading international specialty insurance holding company, today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2018. Greg Morrison, CEO of Trisura, stated, Our Canadian business continues to demonstrate strong topline growth and profitable underwriting. We are very pleased with the progress of our US business, which received significant support from our distribution partners and the international reinsurance markets, resulting in gross premiums written of over $7 million in the second quarter of 2018, alongside an attractive pipeline of future opportunities. We look forward to continuing to develop across all business lines in the second half of the year. Highlights Continued strong premium growth in our Canadian Specialty P&C business, increasing gross premiums written by 18% in both Q2 and YTD driven by Risk Solutions and Corporate Insurance. Significant progress of our US platform, with $7.6 million of gross written premium. Profitable underwriting in our Canadian business, producing a 92.5% second quarter combined ratio versus 83.5% in Q2 2017 (and 88.3% compared to 85.5% on a YTD comparison) and driving a 13.2% trailing twelve-month ROE in Canada. Consolidated net income of $1.0 million compared to net income of $1.8 million in Q2 2017. Q2 2018 was impacted by higher claims activity in our Canadian Specialty P&C business and costs of building out our US platform See Section 3 for further detail. Basic and diluted EPS of $0.14 for the quarter and $0.42 on a year-to-date basis. Book value per share of $19.13, a 5.2% increase over past 12 months. A.M. Best reaffirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) of Trisura Guarantee Insurance with stable outlook and increased the financial size category of Trisura Specialtys A- (Excellent) rating from VI to VII. Amounts in millions of Canadian dollars Q2 2018 Q2 2017 variance Q2 2018 YTD Q2 2017 YTD variance Gross Premiums Written 58.7 43.3 35.4 % 93.5 72.0 29.9 % Net Premiums Written 30.4 27.0 12.6 % 54.3 46.4 16.9 % Net Underwriting Income 0.0 1.4 (97.2 %) 1.2 2.9 (57.5 %) Net Investment Income 2.1 1.6 30.5 % 4.0 2.3 70.7 % Net Income (Loss) 1.0 1.8 (44.1 %) 2.8 (2.3 ) 5.1 EPS Basic and Diluted, $ 0.14 0.05* nm* 0.42 0.05* nm* Book Value Per Share, $ 19.13 18.18 5.2 % 19.13 18.18 5.2 % Debt-to-Capital Ratio 19.0 % 22.3 % (3.3pts) 19.0 % 22.3 % (3.3pts) ROE Trailing Twelve Months 4.1 % n/a n/a 4.1 % n/a n/a Combined Ratio - Canadian Specialty P&C 92.5 % 83.5 % 9.0pts 88.3 % 85.5 % 2.8pts Canadian Specialty P&C ROE - Trailing 12 months 13.2 % 8.6 % 4.6pts 13.2 % 8.6 % 4.6pts *Following spin-off from Brookfield Asset Management Inc. on June 22, 2017. Variance is not meaningful. Underwriting Over $7 million gross premiums written by our new US Specialty P&C business. Our Canadian Specialty P&C business generated underwriting profits with a combined ratio of 92.5% compared to 83.5% in Q2 2017 with the increase mainly due to lower favourable prior year claims development in Q2 2018. Capital The minimum capital test (MCT) ratio of our Canadian subsidiary was 227% as at June 30, 2018 (242% as at March 31, 2018), which comfortably exceeds regulatory requirements of 150%. The reduction in MCT was due to a short-term collateral charge which is anticipated to reverse in Q3 2018. The capital and surplus in our US subsidiary of $65.1 million as at June 30, 2018 is well in excess of the $19.8 million minimum capital requirements of the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Our international subsidiary had capital of $27.9 million as at June 30, 2018 which was well in excess of its regulatory capital requirement of $0.2 million. Consolidated debt-to-capital ratio of 19.0% as at June 30, 2018 is below our long-term target maximum of 20%. Investments Net investment income of $2.1 million compared to $1.6 million in Q2 2017. Interest and dividend income was slightly higher in Q2 2018, as we continued to benefit from the deployed US portfolio. In Canada, investment income reflected a realized gain from the rebalancing of our preferred share portfolio. We continued to develop our in-house investment management capabilities including implementation of portfolio administration systems. About Trisura Group Trisura Group Ltd. is an international specialty insurance holding company operating in the surety, risk solutions, corporate insurance and reinsurance segments of the market. Trisura has three principal regulated subsidiaries: Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company in Canada, Trisura Specialty Insurance Company in the US and Trisura International Insurance Ltd. in Barbados. Trisura Group is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSU. Further information is available at http://www.trisura.com/group. Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information. Details regarding the operations of Trisura Group are also set forth in regulatory filings. A copy of the filings may be obtained on Trisura Groups SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com . For more information, please contact: Name: David Clare Tel: 416 607 2177 Email: david.clare@trisura.com Trisura Group Ltd. Consolidated Statements of Financial Position As at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except as otherwise noted) As at June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 Cash and cash equivalents 97,739 165,675 Investments 263,298 190,641 Premiums and accounts receivable, and other assets 31,679 23,172 Deferred acquisition costs 50,927 40,266 Recoverable from reinsurers 81,330 65,254 Capital assets and intangible assets 2,600 2,612 Deferred tax assets 781 740 Total assets 528,354 488,360 Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities 19,092 19,795 Reinsurance premiums payable 21,732 17,555 Unearned premiums 148,014 115,357 Unearned reinsurance commissions 11,076 5,566 Unpaid claims and loss adjustment expenses 172,074 178,885 Loan payable 29,700 29,700 Total liabilities 401,688 366,858 Shareholders' equity 126,666 121,502 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 528,354 488,360 Trisura Group Ltd. Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) For the three and six months ended June 30 (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except as otherwise noted) Q2 2018 Q2 2017 Q2 2018 YTD Q2 2017 YTD Gross premiums written 58,661 43,336 93,485 71,951 Net premiums written 30,378 26,968 54,289 46,434 Net premiums earned 21,291 19,948 40,545 37,577 Fee income 403 128 3,679 3,057 Total underwriting revenue 21,694 20,076 44,224 40,634 Net claims (4,196 ) (3,072 ) (8,899 ) (7,337 ) Net commissions (7,448 ) (6,256 ) (15,045 ) (12,888 ) Premium taxes (1,126 ) (1,093 ) (2,062 ) (1,990 ) Operating expenses (8,884 ) (8,227 ) (17,005 ) (15,562 ) Net claims and expenses (21,654 ) (18,648 ) (43,011 ) (37,777 ) Net underwriting income 40 1,428 1,213 2,857 Net investment income 2,079 1,593 3,989 2,337 Foreign exchange (losses) gains (207 ) 130 (324 ) 115 Interest expense (235 ) (263 ) (466 ) (539 ) Change in minority interests - - - (5,158 ) Income (loss) before income taxes 1,677 2,888 4,412 (388 ) Income tax expense (693 ) (1,128 ) (1,565 ) (1,887 ) Net income (loss) 984 1,760 2,847 (2,275 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) 1,942 (3,436 ) 2,244 (2,671 ) Comprehensive income (loss) 2,926 (1,676 ) 5,091 (4,946 ) Trisura Group Ltd. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the three and six months ended June 30 (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except as otherwise noted) Q2 2018 Q2 2017 Q2 2018 YTD Q2 2017 YTD Net income (loss) from operating activities 984 1,760 2,847 (2,275 ) Non-cash items to be deducted 1,443 98 2,632 336 Change in working capital operating items 4,819 14,702 (2,245 ) 8,652 Realized gains (losses) on AFS investments (191 ) (336 ) 301 (364 ) Income taxes paid (1,010 ) (967 ) (1,941 ) (5,155 ) Interest paid (236 ) (256 ) (469 ) (524 ) Net cash from operating activities 5,809 15,001 1,125 670 Proceeds on disposal of investments 26,356 15,420 32,118 19,832 Purchases of investments (40,532 ) (115,618 ) (104,749 ) (119,662 ) Net purchases of capital and intangible assets (86 ) (66 ) (315 ) (107 ) Net cash used in investing activities (14,262 ) (100,264 ) (72,946 ) (99,937 ) Change in minority interests - - - 5,158 Dividends paid (24 ) - (48 ) - Common shares issued - 140,270 - 140,270 Issuance of new loan payable - - 29,700 - Repayment of note payable - (36 ) - (355 ) Repayment of loan payable - (1000 ) (29,700 ) (3,700 ) Net cash (used in) from financing activities (24 ) 139,234 (48 ) 141,373 Net (decrease) increase in cash (8,477 ) 53,971 (71,869 ) 42,106 Cash at beginning of the period 104,627 109,344 165,675 122,096 Currency translation 1,589 (2,971 ) 3,933 (3,858 ) Cash at the end of the period 97,739 160,344 97,739 160,344 Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information Note: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, include statements regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of Trisura Group, as well as the outlook for North American and international economies for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods, and include words such as expects, anticipates, plans, believes, estimates, seeks, intends, targets, projects, forecasts or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as may, will, should, would and could. Although we believe that our anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Trisura Group to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors in the countries in which we do business; the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates; global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; strategic actions including dispositions; the ability to complete and effectively integrate acquisitions into existing operations and the ability to attain expected benefits; changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the ability to appropriately manage human capital; the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation within the countries in which we operate; governmental investigations; litigation; changes in tax laws; ability to collect amounts owed; catastrophic events, such as earthquakes and hurricanes; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts and cyber terrorism; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada. We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by law, Trisura Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Kerala government ' title=' Kerala government '>Kerala government on Thursday sought the Army's help as the death toll in the rain-related incidents rose to 24 with large-scale damage reported from various parts of the state. A team of the Army's Military Engineering Group is set to arrive at Kozhikode and Ernakulam, officials said, adding that some Army officers from Kannur had already reached the flooded Wayanad. The worst affected districts include Idukki, Malappuram, Palghat, Kozhikode, Wayanad and parts of Kannur. Following the opening of the Idamalayar dam gates, the flood water from the Periyar river entered the Cochin International Airport compound, forcing the authorities to temporarily shut operations in the afternoon. The airport reopened after the water receded at 3 p.m. A Home Ministry statement said 22 persons died in overnight rains and landslides on August 8-9. Idukki alone accounted for 11 deaths. Two Class 12 students who ventured out for fishing in the flooded waters near Kochi were also swept away. Their bodies were found, officials said. Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force have left Chennai for Kerala. An inter-ministerial Central team is visiting the flood-ravaged area and Army support is also being mobilized from Bengaluru, the statement said. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said rains have caused extensive damage to life and property across the state. "The Centre has agreed to extend all help," he said. Since more rains are forecast, as a matter of abundant caution, it has been decided to postpone the upcoming Nehru boat race on the Punnamada lake, he said. "We call upon all to donate to the Chief Minister's Fund," Vijayan said. Power Minister M.M. Mani, who is from Idukki, said the situation in the district was "pretty bad". "The shutters of the Idamalyar dam were opened. We will open a shutter of the Idukki dam also," he said. The capacity of the Idukki dam is 2,403 meters. At 12.30 p.m., when the water level crossed 2,399 meters after a gap of 26 years, one shutter of the dam was opened. "At the moment everything is under control," said Idukki legislator Roshy Augustine. The Malampuzha dam, which was opened a few days, sent out waters which have created havoc in certain areas of Palghat, which borders Tamil Nadu. Water has entered houses in many low-lying areas of the district. Earlier, Vijayan held an emergency meeting and appointed senior official P.H. Kurien to lead the rescue and relief operations. Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, has confirmed charges being laid against a nurse implicated in the deaths of two toddlers at Safotu hospital last month. Her identity has not been revealed by the Police. Speaking to the Samoa Observer when giving an update on the Police investigations yesterday, he said the Police have charged the nurse with alleged negligence resulting in death and perverting the course of justice. I believe theres two charges count on that one is negligence causing death and the other one is perverting the course of justice, he said. Its very unfortunate that it has resulted to this or what had happened to the two toddlers. However, because it is now in the hands of the law enforcement we have done our own investigation and all the element of the crime has been satisfied and those charges were the ones that stood out. The Commissioner said police investigators had to go to the scene of the incident, which subsequently led to the arrest of the individual and her being taken into custody. We had to go to Savaii and then we have to return to where the incident occurred and subsequently that individual has been arrested and charged and is now in custody on those two charges. When he was asked which fatality was the nurse responsible for, Fuiavailili refused to comment saying the investigations are continuing. He did not want to give more details. I cant really comment on that because its a pending case so I cant really go into details other than one of the nurses is being charged and that charge has been laid. However, most likely there will be additional charges as investigations are still ongoing. Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff said the nurse will appear in Court next week Tuesday. This is the latest development with the on-going Police investigation into the deaths of two infants in Savaii in July. It can be confirmed that one of the nurses involved with the vaccination injections of the two babies who passed away 6th July 2018, was charged by police on Saturday 4th August 2018, the statement stated. She is set to appear in Court 14th August 2018, where the charges will be confirmed publically. Lemalu said the file was referred to this office for advice last week, after swift and hard-working investigations by the CID section of the Ministry of Police both in Apia and Savaii, which is to be commended. And the decision to charge was thereafter supported by advice and it is also confirmed by Police that investigations are still active and ongoing. A man who stabbed his wife with a screwdriver ten times in public, while their children looked on, has been jailed for two years and six months. Supreme Court Justice, Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren, issued a suppression order prohibiting the publication of the names and details of all parties involved in the case. The defendant appeared in Court on charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and armed with a dangerous weapon, a screwdriver. The defendant pleaded guilty to both charges. According to the prosecution summary of facts, the accused and the victim were walking their two children to school along a sealed road next to S.M.I. towards the main road around 7.00 a.m. on July 17, 2018. Once they passed a couple of women, the victim turned around to see the accused slightly kneeling. Straightaway the accused lunged at the victim with a blunt screwdriver and stabbed her. The victim defended herself with her hands but lost her balance and fell into a shallow storm water drain on the side of the road. The accused sat on the victim and continued to stab her between five and 10 times. The victim lost consciousness. This was done in the presence of their children, the nine-year-old and the seven-year-old. The accused stopped when a bystander threatened to throw rocks at him. He turned himself into Police the same day, the summary of facts stated. The medical report indicated that the victim sustained stab wounds on her back, the right side of her neck and the upper right side of her chest, swollen right forearm and her fingers on her left hand. Surgical intervention was required for chest wounds, hairline fracture of radius of right forearm, and fracture of third digit of left hand and was admitted to hospital for nine days. According to the victims impact report, the first three weeks after the incident were worse with the victim suffering from nightmares. She also needed assistance with bathing, dressing, eating and going to the toilet. These casts were only removed before she was released from hospital but today cannot lift heavy objects, cook, do laundry or chores around the house due to spasms and pain caused by excessive use of her hands. At work she cannot do any heavy lifting. She says she still experiences back pains and random pains in her hands. She is self-conscious about the scars on her body and tries to hide them, avoiding certain types of clothing. In terms of psychological effects, the victim says that she feels ashamed, shy and self-conscious about the incident, not only because of what others are saying about her but also because of what her own family thinks. The impact of her injuries on her familys finances is also big as they have to find transport fees for their children due to her inability to walk them to school The financial impact on her is the result of increased expenses whilst she was recovering. These were transport expenses for the children to and from school as she could no longer walk them to school. The victim has told the Court of the hardship she now experiences in taking care of the children without the help of the accused, said Justice Tafaoimalo. The defendant has apologised to the victim and she has accepted his apology. I also find it aggravating that this stabbing took place in a public place. Despite the place of the offending being on or near a public road, with the possibility of it being witnessed by members of the public, the accused could not control his anger. This level of anger indicates rage, which is also seen in the number of times he stabbed the victim. He stabbed her until a bystander threatened to throw him with rocks. This offending, in public view exposed members of the public who were present to a traumatic event. The attack was unexpected and therefore the victim was vulnerable as she was caught off guard and completely unaware. He stabbed her while she could fend him off and continued to stab her while she lay helpless on the ground. He stabbed her more than five and less than ten times. It is an aggravating feature that this offending took place within the context of a domestic relationship, Justice Tafaoimalo said, noting the attack that was planned by the defendant. He says he had threatened to kill the victim on the phone a few days earlier and then take his tool box that particular morning. I do not accept his explanation that he had decided to go job searching that morning. He and the victim had been having marital issues in the lead up to the offending with the victim telling him a few days before the incident that they were separated. He told probation that his anger was provoked because of this. Justice Tafaoimalo told the defendant in court that although he was provoked he shouldnt have responded in the way he did. Your actions, even though provoked, are blame-worthy and culpable. Justice Tafaoimalo noted that as a community, we are seeing a frightening pattern emerge in domestic violence. It is the public nature of domestic violence, and in particular stabbing offences. This portrays a disturbing profile of those who commit these crimes. Such offenders are no longer deterred by being in view of members of the public. Their anger and rage is publically displayed for all to see. As a community, we should be extremely concerned about this. Justice Tafaoimalo emphasised the need for the Court to send a strong message about its stance on domestic violence through its sentencing, to stop others from committing similar offences. Although the accused was the primary caregiver for the children while their mother worked, he has, in effect, destroyed any trust they had in him. They no longer want to see him. This response by the children is understandable. Long after he has served his term of imprisonment, he will be faced with the difficulty of regaining the trust of his two young children who were present. Justice Tafaoimalo noted that prior to the offending, the couple had marital problems. Digital marketing and e-commerce were the focus of an all-day conference for business owners in Samoa. Held at the Samoa Stationery and Books conference room, the Samoa Business Network (S.B.N.) hosted the digital marketing workshop to teach people about the effectiveness of going digital and online with their marketing and advertising. Mealofa Sulutolu travelled further than most of the participants to attend the seminar coming from Falealupo, Savaii. Running a small supermarket and a plantation with her husband in their village, Mealofa told the Samoa Observer that after much planning she was ready to take their business to the next level starting with their ava product. Mealofa said they have been growing and selling ava locally for a long time but have been working to ensure it meets the standard of Samoa ava. We have been going through a lot of testing with our ava and its been identified as a premium product. We grow the noble ava and as you know, it was the other variety (Tudei kava), which was the harmful one that caused the collapse of the ava market some years ago, she said. Were just in the process of completing everything such as the log and the packaging. Ive got a U.S market ready to export our ava to and we are just on the cusp of launching. Were not at that stage where we can supply a great deal, but it was about finding that small niche market which is very high end because we have a premium product. Being on a remote side of the big island, taking advantage of the digital online marketing and advertising workshop were ideal for Mealofa to make her and her husbands grander vision come to life. Ava is only just a little snippet of our grander vision for our businesses, in the big scheme of things we also want to incorporate some community building starting with the itu- Asau. We are hoping to export and I have a vision to create a business model that cuts out the middleman and share the wealth equally. Theres nothing wrong with those businesses that make a lot of money being the middleman, its how you rock and roll in the world of commerce, but just for me its something that I would like to create for our communities. Dr. Vanya Taulealo, owner of Legends Taumeasina and Vanya Taulealo Gallery, was also part of the workshop. Online marketing is essential to my business, she said. So far, I have really only been using Facebook, and I have sat back and relied on what I have been doing for the past two or three years, so I can take that a lot further. She said shes eager to learn from other business leaders experience in this field. Hotelier from Taumeasina Hideaway, Tauiliili Sara Iona said the workshops opportunity to network was essential. All these people here are business owners, so if we all work together I think business here in Samoa will improve and go forward, she said. As a business owner, all you want is for your business to grow. Tauiliili said getting together with other businesses is a good option for Samoan businesses to develop. To further support Samoas businesses, the workshop finished with a networking event hosted by Tanoa Tusitala hotel. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES. DENVER, Colo., Aug. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pure Energy Minerals Limited (TSX VENTURE:PE) (OTCQB:PEMIF) (the Company or Pure Energy) announces that it will undertake a private placement offering (the Offering) of a Senior Convertible Promissory Note (the Note) with a related party of the Company. The outstanding principal of the Note shall be paid to the Holder on or prior to the Maturity Date of October 4, 2019, unless previously prepaid or converted, at the option of the Holder, into fully paid and non-assessable shares at US$0.10 per share. Pursuant to the Offering, if the principal amount of the Note is prepaid on or before February 15, 2019, no prepayment penalty will be payable. If the principal amount of the Note is prepaid from February 16, 2019 through June 30, 2019, a prepayment penalty of 3% of the principal amount will be payable. If the principal amount of the Note is prepaid from July 1, 2019 through August 31, 2019, a penalty of 2% of the principal amount will be payable. If the principal amount of this Note is prepaid from September 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019, a penalty of 1% of the principal amount will be payable. At the option of the Holder, any prepayment penalty may also be converted to shares of the Company. Pursuant to the Offering, the Notes will bear interest at the rate of 10% per annum, accruing daily and payable in installments on November 15, 2018, February 15, 2019, May 15, 2019, August 15, 2019 and at the Maturity Date of October 4, 2019, with the exception that the Company shall have the option to request that the Holder accept the issuance of the Companys common shares in satisfaction of one quarterly payment of interest, whereupon the Holder will have the option to either accept the Companys shares in satisfaction of the quarterly interest payment or to defer payment of that quarters interest until the next succeeding quarterly payment date. If the Holder elects to receive shares in satisfaction of the payment, pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the number and terms of any securities issued to pay such accrued interest shall be based upon a price per security that is not less than the Market Price of the Companys shares at the time the accrued interest becomes payable. If the Holder elects to defer payment, interest shall also accrue on the deferred interest amount at 10% per annum until paid. No finders fees are payable. Any shares issued upon conversion of the principal amount of the Notes and any accrued interest will be subject to certain resale restrictions, including a restricted (or hold) period of four months following the distribution date, under applicable Canadian securities legislation. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Note Offering for general corporate purposes and working capital needs. Quality Assurance Patrick Highsmith, Certified Professional Geologist (AIPG CPG # 11702), is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information in this news release. Mr. Highsmith is not independent of the Company as he is an officer and director. About Pure Energy Minerals Limited Pure Energy Minerals is a lithium resource developer that is driven to become a low-cost supplier for the growing lithium battery industry. The Company is developing the Clayton Valley Project (CV Project) in Clayton Valley, Nevada. The Company is also exploring a lithium brine project in the Lithium Triangle of South America, the Terra Cotta Project (TCP). The TCP is located on Pocitos Salar in Salta, Argentina, where it enjoys some of the best infrastructure and access of any lithium brine exploration project in Argentina. Pure Energy has developed core strengths in innovative development and processing technologies for lithium brines and lithium mineral deposits. Key attributes and activities include: A large, strategic land position with excellent infrastructure in a first-class mining jurisdiction: approximately 10,542 hectares (26,050 acres) in Clayton Valley, Esmeralda County, Nevada, located a 3-hour drive from the Gigafactory; An inferred mineral resource of approximately 247,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide (218,000 tonnes of LCE) at the CV Project with an average grade of 123 mg/L lithium; The only lithium brine resource in North America to yield a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) including an estimated after-tax NPV (8% discount) of US $264 million and an estimated IRR of 21%; Advanced metallurgical test work demonstrating the improved efficacy of a new, environmentally responsible lithium processing technology that produces low-cost battery grade lithium hydroxide; An early stage exploration program on the 13,000-hectare (32,000 acre) TCP, located on Pocitos Salar in Salta Province; and An active business development program, applying Company expertise to the evaluation of new lithium targets around the world. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Patrick Highsmith Chief Executive Officer CONTACT: Pure Energy Minerals Limited (www.pureenergyminerals.com) Email: info@pureenergyminerals.com Telephone 604 608 6611, ext 5 Cautionary Statements and Forward-Looking Information The information in this news release contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry. Forward-looking statements in this release may include, completion of the private placement and the amount to be raised by the Company, successful development of a new lithium process, and future exploration on the CV Project and the Terra Cotta Project. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The economic analysis contained in the PEA is based on inferred resources, which are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. The PEA is preliminary in nature and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. See the Companys most recent technical report on the CV Project, filed under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, for a discussion of the key parameters and assumptions used in the preparation of the economic analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Whether we like it or not, parking in downtown Apia will no longer be free. The Land Transport Authority (L.T.A.), the implementing agency, is proceeding as planned with eight parking meters installed from the ANZ Bank down to the S.N.P.F. Plaza on the street side of the main road to jump start the pilot project. The eight devices will cover 84 parking spaces and in September commuters will have to pay to park in the designated area. The parking fee starts from $1 tala for the first 15 minutes and will continue to increase depending on the parking time. For instance, for $4 tala will cover one hour of parking. And for 8 hours of parking from 8:00am to 4:00pm, the fee is $32 tala. The meters will be operable only from Mondays to Fridays during the pilot period with plans to include Saturdays. L.T.As Chief Executive Officer, Galumalemana Titi Tutuvanu Schwalger, did not discount concerns by media practitioners noting that the parking meters is more than just to generate new revenues but designed for the convenience of commuters and to ensure that traffic congestion are under control. The revenues generated from parking meters will fund part of road maintenances costs, she added. It is no great secret that L.T.A. does not have the financial resources to meet the demands of our country and maintaining roads for the safety of our travelling public is paramount to the authority. Between now and September when the fees are enforced, Galumalemana says that the grace period will allow the L.T.A. time to run promotional and publicity awareness programmes. As for enforcement, Assistant Chief Executive for L.T.As Traffic Division, Muagututia Mark Tominiko, said the process is one that both the Police and L.T.A. will take charge. He said that legislative approval mandates a minimum fine of $50 tala per violation and ultimately vehicles which violate the parking meter laws are liable to be towed. Admitting that it will take time to re-adjust, L.T.A. and Police will do its part in assisting motorists to understand the law. It boils down to freedom of choice, said Muagututia. Legislatively, parking meters is the law and its up to motorists to choose a parking space in the town area where they are not required to pay a parking fee at their own free will. Apia town area is a rapidly growing economy and can quickly turn into a traffic nightmare for the downtown area if traffic is not managed properly. For the future, the success and outcome of the pilot project will assist the L.T.A. with the next phase and the parking meters have long been under the L.T.As microscope as part of the Authoritys strategic plan to address future traffic needs. New Zealands deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vaovasa Winston Peters, is scheduled to touch down at Faleolo International Airport today. He is here to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting, and meet Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi. It is Vaovasas second trip to Samoa this year, following his visit with his Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, earlier this year. The Foreign Ministers Meeting is an opportunity for Pacific Ministers to consider key regional issues ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nauru in September, Vaovasa said in a statement. A priority focus for the meeting will be the development of a new regional security declaration, as agreed at last years Pacific Islands Forum. Other key issues include climate change, ocean management and sustainable development. The Government is committed to re-setting New Zealands approach to the region, including deepening our partnerships with our Pacific neighbours. While in Apia, Vaovasamanaia will also hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Tuilaepa. I also look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Tuilaepa. New Zealand and Samoa share a special relationship, which is underpinned by 56 years of our Treaty of Friendship, he said. Vaovasa and his delegation will be in Samoa until tomorrow. It has taken a while but alas it is finally happening. Better late than never. Today, we believe the Government, Police, Office of the Attorney General, Australia Federal Police and everybody else who played a role in setting up Samoas Sex Offenders Registry must be commended. Justice Vui Clarence Nelson deserves a special mention for championing the cause. Having made the initial call several years ago out of concerns for the number of repeated sex offenders who found it so easy to re-offend, Justice Vui did not give up. When at times it appeared that nothing was going to happen, the Supreme Court Justice did not give up. Instead, he would continue to advocate and push for the registry. Today, that insistence and perseverance has paid off with the Samoa Sex Offenders Registry finally becoming a reality after it was launched on Thursday. Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, hailed the development as a step forward in efforts to protect our women and girls from sex predators. So what does the Registry do? The purpose of this legislation is to also mandate them (sexual offenders) to provide their personal details, prevent registered sex offenders from working in child related facilities and to facilitate the monitoring compliance that this Act, Commissioner Fuiava explained. Though basic, this newly created database has all the necessary function to capture and maintain permanent information on every sex offender in Samoa. The computerised database to name a few, lists offenders name, contact, numbers, address, nicknames, affiliation, photographs, fingerprints, tattoos, body scars and so on. This is to protect the women and children of Samoa. In launching the Sex Offenders Registry, Samoa becomes the first country in the Pacific to take that bold step. Inspector Efo Mualele Tuua will lead a team that will collect all information and ensure coordination with the Office of the Attorney General and the Court Registrar. The Registrar at the Court will notify the registry when an individual is convicted of a sex crime. We will then work at getting the individuals information and enter them and put it all in the system and we have to tell this individual that there are certain criteria they have to follow. At the launch, Commissioner Fuiavailili appealed for support from the community, church, village leaders and government agencies. Today, we join the Police and the law enforcement bodies in calling for support to make this registry work. The launch of the Sex Offenders Registry is a deterrence measure, which certainly sends out the message that there is no place in this country for sex predators. We repeat, this is something that should have been established a long, long time ago. We say this because over the years weve become extremely concerned about serial sex offenders and sexual predators roaming the streets including sex offenders sent back to Samoa from abroad. The problem is a lot more than that of course. Weve also had international sex offenders and pedophiles who arrive as so-called investors, setting up businesses and mixing with our people. They end up going about their business completely undetected. Its scary but that has been our reality. How many girls, boys and young women have become their victims, we dont know? But now at long last, we are getting somewhere. Many years ago, the man who made the initial call for Samoa to establish a Sex Offenders Register was Justice Vui. As we look to the future, we believe it is worth revisiting what led to the call. Justice Vui had apparently become increasingly concerned about the number of cases where repeated sex offenders had surfaced. The last straw was when he jailed a father found guilty of 13 counts of rape against his biological daughter. The Court heard that the man was previously convicted and imprisoned in New Zealand in 2009 for indecently assaulting a female between the age of 12 and 16 years. After he was sent back to Samoa, the Court was told that the defendant treated his daughter like his wife. He imprisoned her in her own home and his behavior was rightly described by Justice Vui as sick. I find it astounding how a convicted sex offender deported from an overseas jurisdiction because of his offending, considered dangerous enough to warrant being accompanied to Samoa not by one but two police officers, can then be permitted to live freely and anonymously in our community with no restriction whatsoever, Justice Vui said at the time. With nothing in place to prevent possible reoffending, this case once again highlights the need for a Sex Offenders Register for registration of serious sex offenders. So that such offenders can be supervised and monitored post-release from prison. Irrespective of whether they are convicted and imprisoned in Samoa or elsewhere. It seems to be a normal practice now that sex offenders convicted in overseas jurisdictions are returned to Samoa upon the expiry of their sentences. Then (they) are released back into an unsuspecting community which is blissfully ignorant of the criminal past of these people who walk and live among them. This is the proverbial insertion of the wolf into the sheeps den. Weve said this before and we will say it again. We acknowledge that protecting the human rights of an offender is obviously an important consideration. But we believe that the rights of an offender should become subservient to the rights of unsuspecting ordinary citizens. Dont get us wrong, the Register will not solve all our problems right away. But this is certainly a step in the right direction. We have had enough of seeing our young girls being destroyed by these ruthless animals. We pray that the Registry achieves what it sets out do and we hope that it would spare innocent girls and women the anguish of becoming victims of sex crimes. Have a safe weekend Samoa, God bless! Dear Editor, Re: Nurse faces charges Sounds like a scapegoat for others. The government needs to take responsibility for the lack of resources, employee development and proper safety procedures/audit to prevent these unfortunate events. A childs life is priceless and someone up the ladder needs to have his head roll for this incident. Typical of our island to go after the small guy, but the big bad wolf is hiding and behind the scene. Many people failed in the process of this unfortunate event and is responsible for the life of this child. Hope you are prepare to pay for the millions of $ lawsuit that is coming your way. K. Fiaola Vanuatu has asked Pacific Islands Forum (P.I.F.) member states to support its resolution to the United Nations General Assembly next year to give West Papuans self determination. The plight of the indigenous population in Indonesias restive province continues to be highlighted on the international stage by the Vanuatu government, despite the Melanesian Spearhead Group (M.S.G.) Secretariat director general Amena Yauvoli declaring recently that the issue cannot be raised at the Port Vila-based sub-regional grouping. The issue of West Papua was put forward by Vanuatu as part of its agenda, which went before the Forum Officials Committee (F.O.C.) in its Pre-Forum Session in Apia, Samoa from August 7-8. According to the committee, Vanuatu had asked for the support of member states for the resolution to the United Nations General Assembly in 2019. Listed under other matters of agenda 9(b), the committee stated that it: Considered Vanuatus request for support from Members on a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly (Realisation of the right of the Papuan peoples self-determination in the former colony of the Netherlands New Guinea (West New Guinea)). Recalling the Leaders current position regarding Papua (West Papua), the Committee noted Vanuatus intention to take the resolution forward at the UNGA in 2019. The outcomes from the two-day conference of the F.O.C. were put to the Forum Foreign Ministers conference in Apia yesterday, which then used it to determine the agenda for next months Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit in Nauru. There was no reference to West Papua in the outcomes document that was distributed to the media, following a press conference that was convened after the conference. However, the joint statement released by the Forum Foreign Ministers conference late yesterday does make reference to the Biketawa Plus Declaration, wherein the foreign ministers meeting in Apia agreed to a draft recommendation to address emerging security issues which will be put to leaders in Nauru. The region continues to be divided on the West Papua issue, with the Papua New Guinea (P.N.G.) Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato, last month reportedly assuring the Indonesian government in a meeting in Jakarta that P.N.G. supports Indonesian control of West Papua. The Nurses Association of Samoa has questioned the decision of the Ministry of Police to charge a nurse over the deaths of two toddlers in Savaii when the findings of a postmortem are yet to be made known. The Nurses Association president, Solialofi Papalii, told the Samoa Observer in an interview that they are still confused over the decision as the postmortem results are not known and another nurse who allegedly administered the vaccine remains free. There are the two flat sides and the wheel in the middle. These are the charges from the police and their investigation and we are so confused on how they were able to have charges, when results of the postmortem that was conducted by an Australian specialist is not here yet. Another thing is that they have charged the senior Nurse and yet there was a manager who oversee everything as well as other nurses that were there and yet she is the only one that been charged and held in custody. There is one other nurse who administered the other vaccination and yet she is not charged so we are puzzled that this information is not clear to us. We were told that the nurse that is now in custody was the one who mixed the vaccination but we are not sure whether she was the one who mixed both vaccinations for both toddlers, said Solialofi. The nurse who was recently arrested and charged by the police has 37 years of experience and has worked in the pediatric as well as surgical and obstetrics wards, and is a senior nurse at the Safotu hospital. She is a very competent person and she is very honest with her work so Im not sure what happened but within the association we were always told that if we werent sure of anything then we have to double check it and ask the doctors. When it comes to the caring for the patients, doctors and nurses have to work together to ensure the patient are given the right dose or the right vaccination. So there is a big question mark on how the charges were made when the Commission of Inquiry is not complete and most especially the post mortem result is not here. Solialofi said there are inconsistencies in the decision to lay charges against the nurse but they will let the police to do their work and wait for the findings from their investigations. All we can do is firstly sent out our deepest sympathy to the families of the two toddlers that were affected from this. Secondly we have to ensure that our nurse in custody is okay we have to visit her and encourage her to be strong during these difficult times. We will give her our full support while she goes through these rough times, she added. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has called for a fruitful discussion about the greater security of the Blue Pacific region. He made the call when he opened the 2018 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting at Taumeasina Island Resort yesterday. Our agenda today provides us with an opportunity to discuss how we can work together to promote the security and development of our Blue Pacific, Tuilaepa said. We also have the opportunity to discuss how we can promote greater security of our Blue Pacific through seeking certainty over our maritime boundaries. And we will discuss a proposal offered by the Forum Fisheries Minister for an aerial surveillance programme. Tuilaepa, who is also Samoas Foreign Affairs Minister, said the theme for this years Forum Leaders meeting to be held in Nauru, Building a Strong Pacific Our Islands, Our People, Our Will calls on Pacific leaders to strengthen their collective will in order overcome persistent development challenges. The theme is indeed a timely one. As the global geopolitical landscape shifts, the Pacific is again becoming the focus of increasing strategic competition and cooperation, presenting us with both opportunity and challenge, Tuilaepa said. As Foreign Ministers we are charged with navigating this intricate environment to promote the interests of our countries and our region. And while our world is inherently unpredictable and complex, I believe that the Blue Pacific narrative provides us with a sense of focus and coherence, so that we can steadily and strategically progress our regional priorities and achieve our goals under the Framework for Pacific Regionalism. Tuilaepa added he is pleased to see Forum Leaders are able to advance the discussion of issues such as strengthening the Forums international engagement and advocacy. As we well know, as Ministers and Leaders we may agree within the context of the Forum to new positions and initiatives to address our various challenges and realise our ambitions. But we also need to gain the support of other countries, and other organisations for support, action and resources. The Taumesaina meeting will consider proposals for enhancing the effectiveness of our international engagement and advocacy through a dedicated strategy for engagement and advocacy, and clearly identified priorities. I am particularly interested to see how we can better maximise our Pacific voice as we head into COP 24 in Poland later this year. Last year, Foreign Ministers also considered that the time was right to build on the Forum existing security declarations to take account of current and emerging security issues. Leaders accepted this recommendation and the Secretariat subsequently embarked on an extensive process of consultations. Today we will have the opportunity to reflect on the outcomes of those consultations, and consider a proposal for a Biketawa Plus Declaration. The meeting will also consider the application by Wallis and Futuna for Associate Membership of the Forum. Among the leaders present in Samoa are Baron Divavesi Waqa, President of Nauru, Akilisi Pohiva, Prime Minister of Tonga, Henry Puna, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Vaovasa Winston Peters, deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Julie Bishop, Australias Foreign Ministers. Having lived in the United States for 38 years, Muliagatele Iuga Tialino returned to contribute to the development of Samoas economy. Not only that, Muliagatele believes with the establishment of his business, Pioneer Systems, he will also help the locals through employment. The fact that I am back to help Samoas economy and more importantly to employ our people, I think so far, we are doing very well, he said. Pioneer Systems employs about seven local technicians and a few office personnel. I returned to Samoa to retire and look at something to do here, so its been very good coming back to Samoa and help the people, Muliagatele said. Established in May, 2013, Pioneer Systems provides alarm services for businesses and houses as well as closed circuit TVs, access control, refilling and maintenance of fire extinguishers and the designing, engineering and installing of fire alarm services. Its the kind of work I enjoy, like I said Ive been doing it for many years and as I return, I noticed there was an opportunity for us,Muliagatele said. In the beginning it took a little while for people to know who I was and what I can do and its been very well for us. This year weve grown quite a bit, weve added more people to the staff. We started with one technician, then we went to two, four and now were at seven. I think people have realised that a native has returned and from the competition, weve won a lot of work, a lot of new work and a lot of old work, maintenance work from the competition. I can see that more will be coming our way probably by the end of this year, winning projects that have tendered. Theres more that weve yet to receive confirmation on. Muliagatele wants to add more services to his business in the future and he believes he provides quality products that the Pacific needs. The owner of Pioneer Systems from Tuanai village will be hosting a product show in October this year to be held in Apia and he looks forward to inviting engineers, decision makers and his suppliers from New Zealand and Australia. The goal is to let people know that we are here and the type of service we provide, Muliagatele adds. The fire alarm system is a different trade altogether. A lot of the products like the fire alarm products that we use are from overseas and everything else too because its hard to find everything in Samoa. According to Muliagatele, he serves about 70-75 percent of businesses in Samoa. I treat every customer as my one and only and I talk to them like weve known each other for so long. Countries wanting to help development in the Pacific region should give priority to productivity and economic growth. Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Australias Minister for International Development and the Pacific, said this recently in an interview with Samoa Observer on the sidelines of the Forum Foreign Ministers Conference, which was convened in Apia yesterday. She said investments across all sectors of society should yield productive results, which can contribute to the economic growth of the region. Development challenges in the Pacific are significant. We welcome partnerships, but the important criteria is to ensure investments support sustainable growth and respond to core priorities of Pacific Island governments, she added. The Australian Senator said Australias framework for development and aid is to respond to foreign government requests and work with them to meet that countrys priorities. Samoa and Australia signed an Aid Partnership Agreement in 2016 ensuring close cooperation in economic development, education, health and good governance. Her visit to Samoa coincided with the launching of the Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map, which concluded that China has emerged as the second largest aid donor in the region behind Australia. The online tool showed data on where aid to the Pacific came from, as well as how much of it is invested versus committed. Despite concerns at the increasing influence of China in the Pacific, the aid map showed that 8 per cent of all aid to the Pacific between 2011 and 2016 came from the Peoples Republic of China. Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells made headlines early this year for criticising Chinas aid program in the Pacific, saying infrastructure projects built under the China aid program should have economic and health benefits for citizens in recipient countries. Four Pacific Island nations have agreed to pool resources to create a $1.5 billion climate change fund which states can access to build their own infrastructure. Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (P.I.F.) secretary general, Dame Meg Taylor, said the proposed climate change fund was discussed during the Small Island States (S.I.S.) conference early in the week. She said the establishment of the fund is important as it is an initiative for the Pacific Islands by the Pacific Islands. We have different framework from a policy side that leaders did want to have to set up, like the framework of resilient development in the Pacific. In this meeting and the work the Secretariat is doing with very small task force of people from Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji and New Zealand on the Pacific Resilience facility, which has been endorsed by the Economic Ministers. That would be to set up a fund in the region to retrofit our own infrastructure, so that we are prepared for disaster instead of waiting for it to happen and then asking for help after, said Dame Meg. The signatories to the fund want to raise $1.5 billion, which is one per cent of the gross domestic product (G.D.P.) of the Pacific multiplied by five years. We really hope that we get a lot of donors supporter, we want to raise $1.5 billion, which is one per cent of the G.D.P. of the Pacific multiplied by five years, which will be accessible to government, private sector and communities. We are working on that, by next year we have something underway and set up and it has given us quite a bit of discussions around that and I think why is this important is how the pacific can help itself, added the P.I.F. secretary general. The S.I.S. is one of several regional meetings convened in Apia in the lead up to the Forum Foreign Ministers conference yesterday, which Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi chaired. Jonathan Pryke, the Lowy Institutes Pacific Islands program director, described the proposed climate change funding mechanism as a good initiative by the P.I.F. I think it is a good initiative where Pacific Island countries should chip in a bit, but I think there is expectation also that donors will be putting in a lot of that money, like Australia and New Zealand. Dalradian mails shareholder materials for August 31 meeting TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dalradian Resources Inc. (TSX: DNA/AIM: DALR) (Dalradian or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has mailed its management information circular, related voting materials and letter of transmittal (collectively, the Meeting Materials) to its shareholders in connection with the special meeting (the Meeting) of Dalradians shareholders to consider the previously announced transaction with certain affiliates of Orion Mine Finance (Orion). At the Meeting, Dalradians shareholders will be asked to approve the acquisition by Orion of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company (Dalradian Shares) by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the Transaction), other than Dalradian Shares owned by Orion or its affiliates, and by certain members of Dalradians senior management team, Sean Roosen and Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (collectively, the Remaining Shareholders). Each Dalradian shareholder (other than the Remaining Shareholders) will receive cash consideration of C$1.47 for each Dalradian Share held. The Meeting of Dalradians shareholders to consider the Transaction will be held on August 31, 2018 at the offices of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, 2100 Scotia Plaza, 40 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3C2, at 10:00 am (Toronto time). The record date for determining the Dalradian shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting was July 16, 2018. The Meeting Materials are available on Dalradians profile on SEDAR (www. sedar.com) and Dalradians website (www.dalradian.com/investor-centre/Shareholder-Meetings). Shareholders are encouraged to read the management information circular in detail. The Transaction will require the approval of: (i) 66 2/3% of the votes cast by the holders of Dalradian Shares; and (ii) a simple majority of the votes cast by holders of Dalradian Shares after excluding any votes of Orion and the Remaining Shareholders, which are required to be excluded under MI 61-101, all at the Meeting. If the Transaction becomes effective, there will be no reason for the Dalradian Shares to continue to be admitted to trading on AIM as the Dalradian Shares will then be held by Orion and the Remaining Shareholders. As a result, if the Transaction becomes effective, the admission of the Dalradian Shares to trading on AIM will be cancelled. It is expected that the Dalradian Shares will be cancelled from admission to trading on AIM by 8:00 a.m. UK time on September 10, 2018, with the last day of dealings on AIM in Dalradian Shares being September 7, 2018. EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS 2018 Shareholder Meeting 31 August Obtain Final Order 4 September Effective Date of the Transaction 7 September Last day of dealings on AIM in Dalradian Shares 7 September Cancellation of trading on AIM of Dalradian Shares 10 September The dates and times given are indicative only and are based on the Companys current expectations and may be subject to change. If any of the expected times and/or dates above change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to shareholders by an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service. Shareholders who have questions regarding the Transaction or who require assistance with voting may contact our proxy solicitation agent, D.F. King & Co., by telephone toll-free in North America at 1.800.926.7043 (1.212.771.1133 by collect call) or by email at inquiries@dfking.com. About Dalradian Resources Inc. Dalradian Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company that is focused on advancing its high-grade Curraghinalt Gold Project located in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The Curraghinalt Project is in permitting, with various technical studies ongoing to build on the positive feasibility study released in January 2017. For more information: Marla Gale Vice President Communications +1 416 583 5600 investor@dalradian.com Grant Thornton UK LLP (Nominated Adviser) Philip Secrett / Richard Tonthat / Harrison Clark +44 (0)20 7383 5100 Numis Securities Limited (Broker) John Prior / James Black / Paul Gillam +44 (0)20 7260 1000 FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking information which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to anticipated meeting date and timing for completion of the Transaction and delisting from both the TSX and AIM, the delivery of an updated feasibility study and an updated technical report, future financial or operating performance of the Company and its subsidiaries and its mineral project, the future price of metals, test work and confirming results from work performed to date, the estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves, the realization of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital, operating and exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, costs and timing of future exploration, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, limitations of insurance coverage, the timing and possible outcome of pending regulatory matters and the realization of the expected production, economics and mine life of the Curraghinalt gold deposit. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are based on various assumptions that management believes are reasonable, such as the receipt of all shareholder and regulatory approvals, no undue delays with respect to the Transaction, effects of general economic conditions, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, continued political stability in Northern Ireland, that permits required for Dalradians operations will be obtained in a timely basis in order to permit Dalradian to proceed on schedule with its planned exploration and mine development, construction and production programs, that a permitting application for mine construction will be approved, that skilled personnel and contractors will be available as Dalradians operations commence and continue to grow towards production and mining operations, that the price of gold will be at levels that render the Dalradians mineral project economic, and that the necessary capital will be available to finance Dalradians operations and realize on mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates and current mine plans. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Dalradian to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk that the required Dalradian shareholder approval or necessary court approvals may not be obtained in connection with the Transaction, uncertainties associated with negotiations, misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking information, the Transaction may not close when planned or at all or on the terms and conditions set forth in the Arrangement Agreement, the benefits expected from the Transaction not being realized, risks related to the integration of acquisitions, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; legal challenges to permits or permitting applications; the actual results of current and future exploration activities; the actual results of reclamation activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; meeting various expected cost estimates; changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be refined; future prices of metals; possible variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2017 dated March 15, 2018. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Samoa Family Health Association (S.F.H.A.) has opened the doors of its new family planning clinic in Motootua. The new clinic is a project three years in the making, and is on the site of an old colonial medical building. It is wheelchair-accessible, is close to public transport, and within the vicinity of the hospital for easy referrals. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop officially opened the new health facility. I know that it will be a very appropriate and serviceable space for the needs and operations of the Samoan Family Health Association, she said. The Minister described Australian aid to Samoa as what families do to look out for each other. Australia works in partnership with the Samoan Ministry of Health to focus on providing support for families and individuals in sexual and reproductive health, family planning, and in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. She acknowledged the work of health professionals in the S.F.H.A. and said Australia is determined to continue supporting Samoa in this area. The Foreign Minister was praised by the S.F.H.A. for Australias donation of $1 million towards the opening of the clinic in 2016. Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr. Leao Talalelei Tuitama, acknowledged the work of non-government organisations such as the S.F.H.A. and the role they play in assisting the Government provide essential services. It is expected of government to provide essential services to the people of Samoa, we acknowledge that at times our resources are stretched thin, he said. Dr. Tuitama said the government of Samoa will continue to support the S.F.H.A. in partnership with the government of Australia. We will always encourage such initiatives which contribute to the realising of our goal in service provision, he said. I call on the people of Samoa to come and experience the services the S.F.H.A. is offering in an effort to reduce unmet needs of our people. JERUSALEM (AP) Violence erupted at the Gaza border Friday after the territory's militant Islamic Hamas rulers and Israel appeared to be honoring a cease-fire that ended two days of intense violence amid efforts by neighboring Egypt to negotiate between the two sides. Israel's military said no rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel overnight and it conducted no airstrikes in Gaza against Hamas targets. Israel's government hasn't confirmed the truce. On Friday evening, however, two Palestinians, including a paramedic, were shot and killed by Israeli fire at a Hamas-led protest along the border, Gaza's Health Ministry said. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the deaths. The military said a tank fired shells at a Hamas positon after Palestinians threw explosive devices and a grenade at forces stationed near the border. It was not immediately clear whether the Hamas protests at the border were included in cease-fire negotiations. Hamas' Al Aqsa TV channel reported late Thursday that the Egyptian-brokered deal took hold "on the basis of mutual calm." It was at least the third such truce in recent weeks. But the deal did not seem to address the deeper issues that have prevented the bitter enemies from reaching a longer cease-fire arrangement. Gaza militants fired some 200 rockets at Israel and the Israeli military carried out a similar number of airstrikes in Gaza in the latest round of violence this week. Also on Friday, the Israeli military lifted restrictive recommendations for residents of some areas in southern Israel that it had set amid the Palestinian bombing, including suggestions to avoid open areas and beaches. "Following a security assessment," residents can resume their daily routine, the military said. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007. In this week's fighting, the Palestinian Health Ministry said three Palestinians were killed. Israeli officials said seven people were wounded by rocket or mortar fire on the Israeli side. Israel and Hamas have come close to serious conflict in recent weeks after four months of violence along Gaza's border. Hamas has led weekly border protests aimed in part at drawing attention to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after Hamas took control of Gaza. Large turnout at the protests has also been driven by widespread desperation in Gaza, amid worsening conditions linked to the blockade. Power is on for just a few hours a day, unemployment has sky-rocketed and poverty is widening. Gaza's Health Ministry said Abdullah al-Qutati, 26, was shot and killed and 70 others were wounded by live fire as thousands protested at the border Friday evening. A 55-year-old Palestinian was also killed, it said. Another paramedic, Mohammed Suhwail, told The Associated Press he witnessed the shooting. He said after treating wounded al-Qutati " began walking toward the (field hospital) but was shot in the back and the bullet existed from his chest." Israel has also been battling almost daily airborne arson attacks from Gaza caused by kites and balloons rigged with incendiary devices flown across the border that have sparked large fires that destroyed forests, burned crops and killed wildlife and livestock. Over the past four months, 164 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including at least 121 protesters and three medics according to the Hamas run Gaza Health Ministry and a local rights group. An Israeli soldier was killed by a Gaza sniper during this same period. Israel says it is defending its border and accuses Hamas, a group sworn to its destruction, of using the protests as cover for attempts to breach the border fence and attack civilians and soldiers. Palestinians have thrown explosive devices and opened fire at forces along the border in numerous instances over the past few months, the military says. But the high casualty rate among mainly unarmed protesters has drawn international criticism. San Diego Gas & Electric has a new chairman and CEO, with the announcement that Kevin Sagara is moving over from Sempra Renewables, to take over the reins of the utility, effective Aug. 25. SDG&E and Sempra Renewables are subsidiaries of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 company based in San Diego. Sagara has served as the president of Sempra Renewables for the past four years and has worked for Sempra or its subsidiaries for 22 years. Sagara will report to Sempra President and Chief Operating Officer Joseph Householder. Sustainability and innovation have become an increasingly important focus of SDG&Es approach to customer service and Kevin Sagaras expertise in these areas will further enhance the depth of SDG&Es already strong leadership team, Householder said in a statement Friday. Advertisement SDG&E boasts that about 45 percent of the utilitys power supplies come from renewable energy sources. Scott Drury will remain SDG&Es president, a role he has held since January 2017, and report to Sagara. Sempra and its subsidiaries have a history of grooming executive talent and hiring from within. Sempra Energys current CEO, Jeff Martin, served as CEO at SDG&E from 2014 to 2016. Prior to Sagaras promotion, the CEO position at SDG&E has remained open since Martins departure. The 57-year-old Sagara first joined SDG&E in 1992 as an attorney, left to work in the technology sector from 1999 to 2003 before returning to Sempra Energy as a vice president and an associate general counsel. Fridays news comes just six weeks after Sempras leadership announced it was selling all of Sempra Renewables solar and wind assets and investments, including its wholly-owned facilities. The parent company is also selling off some natural gas storage facilities in the Deep South. The sales are part of what the parent company called a portfolio optimization effort to sharpen the companys focus and create value for all shareholders. A group of activist investors with a combined 4.9 percent stake in Sempra Energy have recently called on the company to make dramatic changes to its board and corporate structure, saying Sempras performance is lagging in comparison to its peers. The activist investors have called for streamlining the company by selling or spinning off some of Sempras assets. Sempra officials have insisted the decision to sell some of its assets came from its own comprehensive strategic review of the companys businesses. Business rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski ALSO CPUC rejects $639M pipeline project by SDG&E Powering up by the beach? SDG&E looks to expand locations for electric vehicle charging stations Ratepayer group says SDG&E and SoCalGas made false statements about natural gas pipeline A divided San Diego City Council said no Thursday to putting a measure on the ballot to expand the citys bayfront convention center, rebuffing Mayor Kevin Faulconers pleas to do so. The council had been asked to move the measure forward after a citizens initiative that would have boosted the hotel tax to finance the expansion project failed to secure enough valid signatures to make it onto the ballot. The measure would have also funded homeless initiatives and road repairs. The vote was 4-4, with four of the councils Democratic members Barbara Bry, Georgette Gomez, David Alvarez and Myrtle Cole rejecting the mayors request to deviate from the councils own policies in order to place the measure on the ballot. Absent was Councilman Chris Ward. Said Faulconer following the meetings conclusion, Four members of the City Council put politics over progress. We hear all the time about the need for homeless services, the need to repair our roads and the need to expand our convention center. The council had the ability to put that on the ballot -- to let San Diegans decide -- and unfortunately four members said no. Advertisement In a formal statement posted on Twitter, the mayor was even more blunt, saying The City Council talks a big game about making our city better, but when the time came for action all we heard were excuses. Countered Alvarez on Twitter, Stop projecting your failure onto us. Today, the City Council showed courage and stood up for the people and for transparency. The council decision represents a remarkable rejection of one of Faulconers top priorities ever since he took office in 2014. He had tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade the council just last year to hold a special election in November 2017 for a slightly different hotel tax hike measure for the expansion and was banking on the citizens initiative to gain favor with voters. The action came one day after the county Registrar of Voters revealed that a citizens initiative that would have raised the citys hotel room tax to bankroll the expansion fell short of the required signatures needed to qualify it for the ballot. A full verification of the signatures, which could take up to 30 business days to complete, is now required, putting the initiative well past this Fridays deadline for placing anything on the November ballot. Like the initiative, the ballot measure sought by the mayor would have asked voters to raise the citys effective room tax of 12.5 percent to as much as much as 15.75 percent to not only bankroll the expansion project, but also provide considerable funding for housing and services for the homeless, as well as for road repairs. The city estimated that the ballot measure would have generated an estimated $5.9 billion in revenues over a period of 42 years. The greatest share of revenues from the tax increase - nearly $3.5 billion - would have gone for the convention center project, including continued upkeep and marketing. More than $1.8 billion would have been set aside for addressing homelessness, and $551 million would have gone for road repairs. A coalition of business and organized labor interests launched a signature-gathering effort earlier this year in hopes of getting the measure before voters this November. As a citizens initiative, there was a possibility that it would have only required a simple majority of the voters to prevail, based on a court ruling last year. With hopes now dashed for a near-term decision on a long-sought expansion of the center, supporters say they are banking on the citizens initiative having enough valid signatures to qualify for a future ballot. A full verification is currently underway. The next general election would not be until 2020. The Yes! For a Better San Diego campaign behind the initiative said as much in a statement following the afternoon hearing, which drew several people both in support of and opposed to placing a measure on the ballot. Our citizens coalition is disappointed that our initiative was not able to qualify for the November 2018 ballot, spokeswoman Laura Fink said. We remain optimistic that our measure will qualify for a future ballot, and the will of the 114,000 San Diegans who signed our petition will be heard. We are proud of the work of our bi-partisan coalition of business and labor, homeless advocates and community leaders to alleviate homelessness, create jobs and repair our neighborhood streets. The coalition also announced earlier in the day that it plans on suing the signature-gathering firm it hired, alleging fraud and breach of contract. With no immediate plan,though, for an expansion of the center, the council vote could clear the way for a $300 million hotel project known as Fifth Avenue Landing, which is planned for the same site as the convention center project. In anticipation of the initiative moving forward, the city had approved a $33 million payout to longtime port tenants Ray Carpenter and Art Engel in order to gain control of their leasehold. But the full payment was contingent on the success of the initiative. Some of the longtime supporters of an expanded center appeared sullen following the vote. San Diego Tourism Authority CEO Joe Terzi, who has long said a much larger center was needed to remain competitive with the citys biggest rivals that are also expanding their centers, called the council action a sad day for San Diego. San Diego residents, he said, will be the ones who lose as a result of the decision because there will not be enough funding to address homelessness and bolster the San Diego economy with more convention business. Frankly, Ive been here 23 years and to me, this is the worst decision in my 23 years, Terzi said. Deacon Jim Vargas, CEO of Father Joes Villages, had pushed the council to move forward because of the critical need for homelessness funding. Without this funding, we run the risk of falling behind other California cities making major investments in homeless services, he said. The council, though, heard from a number of people who urged members to not place the measure on the ballot with so little time for the public to weigh in. No matter what suggestions the public might have made Thursday, the council was advised by the City Attorneys office it could not make substantive changes to the ballot measure language. The public process was the big winner today, and I commend those council members for supporting the public, said former Councilwoman Donna Frye, long a strong advocate for public transparency. For me, my primary focus today was open government and the publics right to participate and to not have to digest hundreds of pages of documents in 24 hours. Councilwoman Barbara Bry, who said she remains a strong supporter of a convention center expansion, said she could not say yes to advancing the ballot measure because she did not want to start making exceptions to the citys own policies. Im very disappointed there is no revenue measure to address our homeless crisis on the ballot and no convention center expansion, she said following the meeting. The expansion is a driver for our economy. I am like almost in tears today. Thursdays vote comes two weeks after supporters of a separate $900 million housing bond decided to postpone their effort until 2020 in response to pressure from backers of the convention center measure. That pressure was based on concerns that two tax increase measures related to housing and homelessness on the same ballot could prompt San Diego voters to reject both. But now neither measure will be on the November ballot. Backers of the initiative had spent more than $1.4 million through the first half of this year on the initiative effort, including more than $824,000 alone on signature gathering. The campaign relied on large contributions from hotel operators, as well as major companies, including Sempra Energy. We will know soon whether the citizens initiative goes on the 2020 ballot, said Tom Lemmon, business manager for the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council, which backed the initiative. I hope the coalition can stick together for two more years. I know for the folks I represent, the finish line is building an (expanded) convention center. Staff writer David Garrick also contributed to this report. Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg Oceansides City Council asked staffers this week for a study of ways the city can lead its own project to get more sand out of its clogged harbor and onto its eroded beaches. The city is growing increasingly concerned over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failure to dredge the harbor this year, along with the federal agencys inability to complete other projects that could beef up Oceansides beaches. A recent survey showed the harbor entrance channel is now only 16 feet deep at points, Dena ODell, Army Corps deputy chief of public affairs, said in an email Thursday. A month ago, the channel was reported to be 20 feet deep and, when freshly dredged, it can be 26 feet deep or greater. Compounding navigation difficulties is a sand shoal, an underwater sandbar, that builds on the tip of the rock jetty at the harbor entrance and increases the size of waves. Advertisement The south side shoal, extending from the top of the south jetty, is from 8 and 10 feet deep, ODell said. Army Corp officials are working closely with the city to determine when the next dredging will occur, she said. City officials have been unhappy for some time with the way the federal agency has handled Oceanside projects. Sand on the beach is a significant tourism driver, an economic driver, said Mayor Peter Weiss, who asked the council to take on the issue at a meeting Wednesday. Ocean currents, tides and waves constantly push sand into the harbor entrance, and without the annual spring dredging, the harbor would eventually fill up. Also, sand from the harbor entrance is piped onto nearby beaches to keep them wide and attractive for Oceanside residents and visitors. However, this year for the first time in a decade or longer, there was no dredging. The Corps of Engineers was unable to get a permit needed from the Regional Water Quality Control Board to do the dredging as planned in April. Since then, the harbor entrance has grown steadily more shallow. Some captains already have cancelled trips on days with large surf, which means lost business for the marina. Public safety is the citys top priority, said Councilman Chuck Lowery. As the harbor entrance grows more shallow, the chances increase that a large wave could flip a boat. The situation is worse now than it has been in the past, Lowery said. We have waited long enough, said Councilman Jack Feller. In the last couple years, weve had a tough dance with the Army Corps. Dredging the Oceanside harbor has been the citys most consistent source of beach sand since the 1960s. But sand can come from other sources. Oceanside has been waiting 20 years for the Corps of Engineers to excavate the San Luis Rey River, a flood-control project that would protect homes along the river and produce as much as 230,000 cubic yards of sand to spread along the coast. That work was scheduled to start in 2016 and 2017, but fell through both years when the Corps failed to get the permits required from state and regional agencies. Im tremendously frustrated with the Army Corps of Bureaucrats, Councilman Jerry Kern said Monday. They have become increasingly unreliable. We need to take the lead and try and do it ourselves. Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said she supports the citys study, but she has concerns that by itself the city may be unable to afford the project, which is likely to cost millions of dollars. The Corps of Engineers is responsible for keeping the harbor, built in the 1960s, open and safe, and the agency pays most of the costs for that, about $5 million annually. Last year, Oceanside and the U.S. Navy paid a portion of the costs to get extra sand on the beach. Some people have said that the extra sand dredged last year lessened the need for the job this year. Others have said the increased work in 2017 only took sand levels back to normal because of dredging problems that reduced the amount of material moved in 2016. The Corps of Engineers and the city Police Departments Harbor Patrol monitor sand levels to assure that the harbor entrance is safe. Other funding sources also may be available for the sand project, city officials said. One possibility is a half-cent sales tax the citys voters will see on their November ballot. The San Diego Association of Governments also has helped with sand projects. SANDAG administered a $23 million program in 2012 that pumped a total of 1.5 million cubic yards of sand from nearby ocean deposits onto eight different county beaches, including Oceanside. The California Department of Boating and Waterways paid a large share of the costs, with help from the cities involved. Those offshore deposits could be tapped again, Oceanside officials have said. Another possibility Oceanside wants to look at is the sand bypass system that the Corps of Engineers operated in the harbor from 1989 to 1993, when the federal funding for that effort was discontinued. The year-round system vacuumed sand from the entrance and piped it onto nearby beaches. In the meantime, council members said, they continue to push for the Corps of Engineers to complete the dredging work it had planned for this year. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl Addressed directly to the doctor, the letter arrived in a plain business envelope with a return address of the San Diego County medical examiners office. Its contents were intended, ever so carefully, to focus the physician on a national epidemic of opioid abuse and his or her possible role in it. This is a courtesy communication to inform you that your patient [name, date of birth inserted here] died on [date inserted here]. Prescription drug overdose was either the primary cause of death or contributed to the death, the letter read. In the blandest of clinical language, the courtesy communication went on to inform the doctor of how many medication-related deaths the San Diego County medical examiner sees each year (between 250 and 270). It offered five prescribing tips (or evidence-based interventions) proven to help lower overdose death rates. And it steered the doctor to an online program designed to help medical professionals who are dedicated to avoiding prescribing controlled substances when they are likely to do more harm than good. Advertisement The letters signed by San Diego Countys chief deputy medical examiner, Dr. Jonathan Lucas, who has since become Los Angeles Countys chief medical examiner were part of an experiment to gauge how to reduce the prescribing of drugs implicated in fatal overdoses. At a time when legally prescribed opioids and other medications are claiming 174 lives a day in the United States, the research aimed to test a new way to get physicians to rethink their prescribing habits. Medical societies, state boards and the federal government have sought for several years to educate doctors and dentists about the risks of prescribing opioids, with limited results. The new research is among the first to take a different tack: Get physicians, who are inclined to view the opioid crisis as stemming from other doctors poor management, to understand how their own decisions may contribute in small ways to a national epidemic. And then give them tools to guide a change in behavior. The study, written by a group of researchers led by Jason Doctor of USCs Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, was published Thursday in the journal Science. Dated Jan. 27, 2017, the letter went out to 388 doctors. All had prescribed at least one of several drugs with known risks to a patient within a year of that persons overdose death. The letters were careful not to suggest that the death was directly attributable to the doctors actions: Of the 82 deceased patients named, most had received prescriptions from several sources. An additional 447 physicians found to have prescribed the same range of drugs to 85 patients who died of overdose got no such letter. But like their colleagues who got the letter, this comparison groups prescribing practices were tracked over the next three months in an effort to discern whether the communication had made a difference. It did. Compared with the doctors who did not get a letter, those who did reduced their prescribing of opioid medications by almost 10% over the three-month study period. Doctors who got the courtesy communication started 7% fewer patients on a regimen of prescription opioids. And they were between 3% and 4.5% less likely to write prescriptions for the highest doses of opioid medication those implicated most often in fatal overdoses. Lucas acknowledged that such a shift may seem marginal. But he called it just a piece of a broader raft of initiatives that can nudge physicians in the direction of safer prescribing practices. With time, consistent messaging and a bit more insight into the role that they may play in the epidemic, doctors increasingly will rethink their prescribing of opioid medications, he said. Its sort of a process, said Lucas, who reported that he got only five or six calls from physicians wanting to follow up on the letter with him. Given the growing awareness of the issue, he said, if we had extended the study period out to a year or so, we probably would have seen a bigger difference. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, San Diego County soon will be routinely sending courtesy letters that notify doctors when an overdose of certain drugs has claimed the life of a patient. Los Angeles County is exploring the feasibility of sending similar letters to physicians, Lucas said. We are definitely thinking about it, he said Thursday. Its the right thing to do. Few experts doubted that the letter got doctors attention at least in the short term. I have to imagine its gut-wrenching, said Dr. Sean Michael, a University of Colorado emergency physician who has studied opioid prescribing habits but was not involved in the new research. The job that everybody is trying to do on a daily basis is the exact opposite of this outcome. The intention when people wrote these prescriptions was to try to help someone, not to accidentally kill them. But thats the problem: The edge is so narrow and the risk is so high with these medications. Knowing that those prescribing decisions may have contributed to a patients death appears to challenge a comforting delusion that Michaels research shows is shared by most doctors that they are less likely than their peers to prescribe opioids, or to do so in ways that have been found unsafe. It tells them, I might be part of the problem here, Michael said. It turns out that a decent proportion of them are probably prescribing more than their peers and dont have the insight to recognize that. Whether getting such a letter will spark long-term change is a matter still to be studied. Stanford University pain medicine specialist Dr. David Clark is hopeful. But, he said, it could take years for the letters effects to reverberate through a doctors practice. You dont change doctors prescribing habits or patients consumption habits overnight, said Clark, who teaches anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. I imagine if a physician has to change their practice, they have to initiate a long and difficult conversation with a patient and we all experience pushback, he said. Dr. Andrew J. Schoenfeld, an orthopedic surgeon at Brigham & Womens Hospital in Boston who has studied the opioid prescribing habits of surgeons, said that notifications of a patients death might help doctors who are on the receiving end of that pushback. It gives a doctor something objective to present to a patient and say, Im not just deciding out of the blue that we should reconsider your opioid medication use, said Schoenfeld, who was not involved in the new research. It helps answer that question from patients, Why now? Physicians also will have to put aside years of conventional wisdom much of it fostered, funded and promulgated by the makers of opioid narcotics that the medications are safe and effective for a wide range of pain conditions, Clark said. This is likely to be generational in the field of medicine, he said. Invoking the physicians oath of First, do no harm, he added: We probably havent lived up to that in our opioid prescribing practices. melissa.healy@latimes.com @LATMelissaHealy MORE IN SCIENCE While everyones attention is focused on the wildfires spreading devastation across California, a couple of developments tangentially related have gone largely unnoticed. Were talking about roughly $1 billion in settlements reached by California utility companies with regulators, much of which is to be credited to ratepayers as compensation for the companies malpractice, error or venality. The settlements break down as more than $775 million and possibly up to $900 million that will be charged to Southern California Edison shareholders, not customers, related to its shutdown of its San Onofre nuclear plant in 2012, and $119.5 million to be paid by Southern California Gas Co. for its Aliso Canyon methane leak. The utilities involvement is what ties those settlements to the wildfires. The states electric utilities already are on the hook for billions of dollars in costs connected to wildfires in recent years; more is certain to be assessed, for utility operations rank high among the leading causes of fires. To give utilities a blank check on the ratepayers backs gives them a disincentive to operate properly. Maria Severson, San Diego attorney Advertisement But the states major utilities Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric Co., and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. are working the Legislature hard to place limits on their liability for the fires. And they appear to have won the ear of Gov. Jerry Brown, who has proposed a change in the rule that would relieve utilities of liability as long as they were found to have acted reasonably to mitigate the chance of fire. But critics argue that could shift the cost of wildfires to insurers, who would pass them on to their own customers in the form of higher premiums. These cases all are iterations of an ancient battle over whether ratepayers or shareholders should pay when a publicly owned utility encounters unexpected costs. Traditionally, the answer has turned on prudence: If a utility operates prudently, even if its activities result in a costly error, then the ratepayers may have to shoulder that cost. If the companies took unreasonable risks, skimped on safety measures or committed avoidable errors, the shareholders should get the bill. But theres more to the issue as it applies to wildfires. Under Californias strict liability doctrine, which is applied to fire damage related to utility facilities, owners of damaged property can collect from the utility even without showing that a fire resulted from negligence. The utilities argue that strict liability no longer makes sense for wildfires, since climate change has driven the frequency, severity and costs of these events higher, out of all proportion to reasonable expectations of utility liability. PG&E has even warned that its billions of dollars of exposure to fire costs could drive it into bankruptcy. Consumer advocates warn, however, that lessening the companies liability would invite less prudent behavior. To give utilities a blank check on the ratepayers backs gives them a disincentive to operate properly, says Maria Severson, a San Diego lawyer who participated in the San Onofre negotiations. Their only incentive would be to operate for the highest profit. The San Onofre case illustrates how hard a utility sometimes will fight to avoid sticking its shareholders with a big bill. The apportioning of costs stemming from Edisons decision in June 2013 to permanently mothball the nuclear plant received final approval from the California Public Utilities Commission only on July 26. The time span between those two dates was fraught with all the twists of a political thriller, including an alleged attempt by Edison at a secret deal with regulators and multiple threats of lawsuits. The case began with a botched attempt by Edison, the plants principal owner, to upgrade its steam generators. The new equipment began to show unusual wear and tear within two years of its installation, decades too early, forcing the plant to be taken off line in the first months of 2012. It would never be restarted. Utility lines rank high among causes of wildfires. (Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention) The battle soon began over how to divide up the cost of building and running San Onofre prior to the generator fiasco between customers and shareholders. A negotiated settlement between Edison and consumer advocates in April 2014 called for ratepayers to cover about 56% of the costs, or about $3.1 billion, with Edison and its junior partner in the plan, San Diego Gas & Electric, splitting 27%. The remaining 17% would be covered by insurers and from other recoveries. In February 2015, however, it was discovered that Edison executives had secret contacts with PUC President Michael Peevey and other commission representatives regarding settlement terms including a face-to-face meeting between Peevey and then-Edison Executive Vice President Stephen Pickett at an industry conference in Warsaw two years earlier. The consumer groups bailed out of the deal and the PUC fined Edison $16.7 million for failing to report the meetings. The second round of settlement talks resulted in a better deal for ratepayers, whose share of the costs was reduced to 40%. In effect, at least $775 million was shifted to the shareholders accounts. Edison is portraying the result as an unalloyed boon for consumers, though it hasnt said much lately about its years of efforts to bill them more. The settlement will result in a one-time bill credit averaging $11 per residential customer, reflecting customer charges Edison collected in excess of the final settlement, and a permanent bill reduction averaging 2%, or $2 a month. SDG&E residential customers will get a one-time credit averaging about $6.84, and a permanent reduction of about 0.9%, or $1.33 per month. Consumer advocates say the key to the revised settlement was the transparency of the process. The game-changer was that we had a history of scandalous behavior by the utilities and Peevey that was on the record, Matthew Freedman, a staff attorney at the consumer group TURN who participated in the talks, told me. There was a much bigger level of public scrutiny on the outcome. That gave the ratepayer groups a lot more leverage to negotiate a superior deal. That brings us back to the wildfires. Brown is concerned that we could lose our utilities if their fire-related financial burden intensifies, as he said during a news conference on Aug. 1. And if we do that, our whole program, of trying to deal with renewable energy and mitigate climate change, would be adversely affected. So hes looking for a way to reduce the utilities liability without encouraging them to slacken their efforts to reduce fire risk for example, by requiring them to file and comply with fire mitigation plans that include trimming vegetation around power lines. Utility critics argue that no pre-filed plan can possibly impose the same incentive for fire safety as the threat of a financial drubbing. In two reports on the 2017 fire season released earlier this summer, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, associated PG&E equipment with the causes of most of the 16 fires it investigated. Cal Fire referred 11 of the fires to district attorneys in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Humboldt counties to review allegations that PG&E had violated state law, generally by allowing vegetation to come in contact with live wires. Twelve people died in the 16 fires. Investigations of other fires are continuing. And last November, a PUC administrative law decision rejected San Diego Gas & Electrics bid to pass $379 million in expenses from three 2007 wildfires on to its ratepayers, on the grounds that the utility failed to operate prudently in the fire zone and did not reasonably manage and operate its facilities prior to the blazes. This allowed sparks and other faults to start the fires. As state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) asked at a Sacramento hearing Thursday on Browns proposal, Why should we reduce utilities liability and expect them to do more to mitigate fire risk? Shes right. There arent many ways to keep profit-making utilities sensitive to their responsibilities, but strict liability is one of them. The Legislature should be very cautious about loosening the chains. 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. An all-hands effort is underway near the Philippines to find a U.S. Marine reported overboard Thursday morning from the amphibious assault ship Essex. The unidentified Marine is deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit based out of Camp Pendleton. The Essex left Naval Base San Diego with its complement of Marines on July 10. The Navy, Marine Corps and Philippine ships and aircraft are searching the Sulu Sea, where the ship was conducting routine operations, the Marines said in a news release Friday. Advertisement It is an all-hands effort to find our missing Marine, said Navy Capt. Gerald Olin, the amphibious squadron commander leading the search and rescue operation, in a statement. All of our sailors, Marines and available assets aboard the USS Essex have been and will continue to be involved in this incredibly important search and rescue operation. The Marines statement said multiple searches had been conducted inside the ship while round-the-clock searches from the air were underway. Additional Navy P-8 aircraft and Philippine Coast Guard vessels have expanded the search to about 3,000 square nautical miles. The operation began as soon as the Marine was reported overboard at 9:40 a.m. local time Thursday 6:40 p.m. Wednesday in San Diego. The Marines said the missing Marines family has been notified, but the name is being withheld while the search is ongoing. Col. Chandler Nelms, the commanding officer of the unit, asked people to keep the Marine and the Marines family in their thoughts and prayers. We remain committed to searching for and finding our Marine, he said. Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter. August 10, 1989 The Tribune The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year. Thursday, August 10, 1989 In 1989, Escondido letter carrier John Merlin Taylor shot and killed his wife, then drove to the Orange Glen Post Office and killed two co-workers before ending the spree by shooting himself in the head. The rampage triggered a rash of complaints by local postal employees about job-related stress. A congressional inquiry into working conditions followed, and the Postal Service instituted reforms. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: Escondido postal worker kills two; 3rd body found By J. Harry Jones, Steven De Salvo and Paul Telles, Tribune Staff Writers A postal worker who two days ago joked about a bloody shooting spree in an Oklahoma post office brought similar horror to an Escondido post office today, shooting two men to death and wounding another before turning a gun on himself. An hour after the shooting at the Orange Glen post office annex at 1770 E.Valley Parkway, police discovered the body of a woman in her 40s shot to death in the man's home in the 900 block of Begonia Street, also in Escondido. The woman, who police said had been shot several times in the head, was not immediately identified. Escondido homicide Det. Hal Espy said the woman was found in bed with her night clothes on. The gunman was identified by police as John Merlin Taylor, 52. He was in grave condition at Palomar Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the head. Johnny Sims, a co-worker of Taylor, said he and Taylor were talking just two days ago about an Oklahoma shooting in 1986 in which a postal employee shot 14 co-workers. "We were just joking about somebody going berserk in a post office," Sims said. "We were talking about how some of these carriers just go crazy. "He said: `You got to watch out for those carriers. You never know when they might come and shoot you.' " Escondido police Lt. Earl Callander said two men on the loading dock area outside the Orange Glen post office were fatally shot about 7:35 a.m. when a gunman, later identified by police as Taylor, fired a .22-caliber handgun at them. One worker inside the post office was shot moments later. The names of the dead postal employees were not immediately released. Authorities said one man was 38 years old and the other was 56. Two women were injured at the scene but were not hit by gunfire. A postal worker who witnessed the shooting and did not want to be identified said the gunman walked past the supervisor and said, "I'm not going to shoot you." The employee said the man then shot a clerk in the arm. "Fortunately it was very early, and most people don't come to work until 8:15," the witness said. View anniversary front pages online at sandiegouniontribune.com/150-years. For more from the Union-Tribune digital archives, go to newslibrary.com/sites/sdub. Searching is free, with registration. A fee is required to view full stories. Sacramento, CA, Aug. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spotlight Growth has published new content on Great Lakes Graphite, Inc. (OTCQB: GLKIF) (TSXV: GLK). The company is currently in the process of changing its name to NovoCarbon Corp., pending shareholder vote. NovoCarbon Corp. operates as a clean technology minerals processing company. The report provides an overview of NovoCarbon Corp., its operations, recent updates, and an overview of the Trump Administrations efforts to secure reliable supplies of minerals and commodities that are deemed critical for the U.S. economy or national security. President Trump Signs Executive Order 13817: A Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals On December 20, 2017, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13817 called A Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals. In the executive orders report, the White House described that the United States is heavily reliant on imports of certain mineral commodities that are vital to the Nations security and economic prosperity. This dependency of the United States on foreign sources creates a strategic vulnerability for both its economy and military to adverse foreign government action, natural disaster, and other events that can disrupt the supply of these key minerals. The presidents executive order effectively called upon the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Defense to draft a list of minerals and commodities that are deemed critical to the U.S. economy or national security interests. Furthermore, the executive order calls for increasing activity across all levels of the critical mineral supply chain, as well as streamlining leases and permitting process. On May 18, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Interior published its final list of critical minerals for 2018. The list contains thirty-five different minerals and commodities. Among the list of critical minerals was graphite. Graphite is a critical mineral used in batteries, coatings, brakes, paints, powdered metal compounds, and more. According to MarketsAndMarkets.com , the global graphite market is estimated to be worth $29.05 USD by 2022, which represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% between 2017 and 2022. Furthermore, ResearchAndMarkets.com estimates the global lithium-ion battery market to grow at a CAGR of 15.50% between 2017 and 2025. NovoCarbon Corp.: Submitted Initial Materials and Application to U.S. Department of Defense NovoCarbon Corp (doing business as name for Great Lakes Graphite, Inc.) is a Canadian clean energy minerals processing company, which supplies customers with proprietary, high-quality, and value-added carbon products. The company has effectively been selling high-purity micronized synthetic graphite products since 2016. Recently, NovoCarbon Corp. added a high- purity micronized natural graphite flake product to its lineup. The company recently announced that it is actively pursuing graphite-related business opportunities with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). On July 23, 2018, NovoCarbon Corp. announced that it has submitted the initial required materials and white paper brief detailing of the proposed initial steps to enhance the resiliency of the supply chain for highly processed graphite required for the manufacture of batteries and energy storage systems. Prior to submitting the application, NovoCarbon Corp. CEO Paul Gorman visited Washington D.C. earlier this year to attend high-level meeting with officials from the U.S. Department of Defense and Energy. Management feels the meetings were very productive and gave them a clearer picture on what specifics the U.S. government is looking for in a supplier. While there is certainly no guarantee of success, we are confident in our prospects and are highly encouraged by the preliminary feedback we have received in meetings with personnel at the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, we have become aware of additional opportunities that are available through the DOD and are preparing to pursue them. We are being supported by the team at J. A. Green & Company, whose assistance has been invaluable, details CEO Paul Gorman. For more information on NovoCarbon Corp., please visit http://novocarbon.com and http://spotlightgrowth.com/index.php/2018/08/09/great-lakes-graphite-inc-otcqb-glkif-tsxv-glk-aggressively-seeking-to-become-a-key-graphite-supplier-to-the-united-states-government-under-the-white-houses-critical-minerals-executive-order/ SpotlightGrowth.com is a digital hub for micro-caps, small-caps, crowdfunding, cryptocurrency, and other emerging growth investors. SpotlightGrowth.com serves as our media subsidiary and provides insights on small cap companies. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated one thousand five hundred dollars cash for the creation and dissemination of this content. This material does not represent an investment solicitation. Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Companys plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Companys industry, managements beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions. Firefighters pounded the Holy fire by air Friday as the blaze continued to threaten thousands of Riverside County homes. The fire has destroyed at least 12 structures, but the U.S. Forest Service said that no additional homes had been lost as the flames spread. On Friday night, officials said the fire had grown slightly to 19,107 acres, but containment jumped from 5% to 10%. About 1,000 firefighters are on the scene, and more crews and aircraft continue to pour into the area. Residents cheered as plane after plane dropped water and retardant in the fire zone in an all-out air assault. Advertisement A squadron of 12 fixed-wing planes and 14 helicopters are pounding the fire. The hot conditions and unpredictable weather have made it difficult for firefighters to get ahead of the blaze. But they have one big advantage in easy access to water from Lake Elsinore, which they have used for repeated air drops. The short distance from the lake has proved a key factor in tamping down the flames. If you have to travel a long distance you risk allowing the fire to regrow, said Thanh Nguyen, public information officer for the fire effort. Air bombardments occurred both day and night. They were halted for a short time Thursday night because of poor visibility. At least one aircraft had to make an emergency landing in San Bernardino on Friday after striking a bird. The air operations have been relentless, Nguyen said. When we drop so many gallons of water, were doing it to overwhelm the heat with the coolness of the water. (Jon Schleuss / Los Angeles Times) Ana Tran and a friend had fled Trans McVicker Canyon home Thursday, rushing to their car and speeding past firefighters who were heading toward the blaze. Thick black smoke billowed above homes, and cars were blanketed in pinkish fire retardant. The residents, like many others, made a frantic escape after winds picked up in Lake Elsinore and pushed the fire within feet of homes. More than 20,000 residents were urged to leave. When Tran returned to her neighborhood, she found her home still standing under a smoky sky. It feels like a war zone, she said, ash collecting on her forehead as she snapped photos of flames igniting behind a row of homes on Woodbridge Street near Crest Drive. I dont even recognize the neighborhood, added her friend, Bao Vinh. 1 / 53 A firefighter douses hot spots in the McVicker Canyon neighborhood of Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 53 Kenneth Leishmans home is pink from fire retardant in the McVicker Canyon neighborhood of Lake Elsinore. Leishman stayed to protect his house from the fire. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 53 A bird perches on a rock Saturday morning at a lookout on Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 53 An air tanker drops fire retardant on a flare-up of the Holy fire on a mountain ridge above Lake Elsinore, Calif. Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Gina Ferazzi) 5 / 53 People watch as the Holy fire rages on a mountainside in Temescal Valley. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 53 Fire crews from Ventura County brace themselves as fire retardant falls on them after being dropped from the sky while they work to stop the progression of the Holy fire in Lake Elsinore. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 53 Helicopters make drops near homes threatened by the Holy fire in Lake Elsinore. (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 53 As the sun rises above Lake Elsinore on Saturday morning, the overnight crew working to contain the Holy fire prepares to leave. Containment levels have continued to rise since the fire broke out Monday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 53 The charred remains of vehicles lie along Ortega Highway on Saturday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 53 Residents keep watch Friday night as the Holy fire burns out of control in the hillsides above Temescal Valley. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 53 Firefighters try to stop the progression of the Holy fire as it makes its way toward homes due to the strong evening winds from Lake Elsinore. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 53 Stephen Woodward looks towards the sky as helicopters make rounds from Lake Elsinore to the hillside in their fight against the Holy fire on Friday. (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 53 Residents keep watch Friday night as the Holy fire burns out of control in the hillsides above Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona. (Gina Ferazzi / Los AngelesTimes) 14 / 53 Jeff Qualls stands on his roof to watch an air tanker drop fire retardant on flames from the Holy fire as it make its way down the hillside in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 53 Fire retardant paints a Lakeland Village neighborhood pink in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 53 Firefighters try to stop the progression of the Holy fire as it makes its way toward homes due to the strong evening winds in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 53 An air tanker drops a load of water to save a home in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 53 A helicopter fighting the Holy fire drops water on flames at North Main Divide along Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 53 Firefighters battle to save a home from a wall off flames as the Holy fire continues to burn out of control in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 53 Residents and law enforcement wear breathing mask to avoid the thick smoke created by Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 53 Chief Mark Lamont, center, oversees firefighting operations at North Main Divide along Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 53 Two dozers cut a fire line next to flames at North Main Divide along Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 53 Afternoon winds fan flames close to a home north of Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 53 Firefighter Jon Polansky rest after working an overnight shift at a lookout on Ortega Highway above Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 53 Kai Cano rest after working an overnight shift at lookout on Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 53 Firefighters watch for flareups as they prevent the flames from the Holy fire from crossing the Ortega Highway in Lake Elsinore. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 53 Firefighters conduct a burn operation to remove fuel around homes on Grand Avenue as the Holy fire grows to more than 10,000 acres. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 53 Fire crews watch as a helicopter makes a water drop on a flareup as they prevent the Holy fire from crossing the Ortega Highway above Lake Elsinore. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 53 The Holy fire, which has grown to more than 10,000 acres, is reflected off the water of Lake Elsinore. (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 53 Jeff Itschner, 43, sprays water on the bushes at his in-laws home on Amorose Street near Leach Canyon in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 53 A helicopter makes a water drop on burning brush on a hill across from homes in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 53 Manuel Trujillo packs his belongings as flames from the Holy fire approach his Lake Elsinore neighborhood. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 53 Firefighters struggle to keep the Holy fire from jumping Lincoln Street toward homes in Lake Elsinore. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 53 Residents evacuate the 29000 block of Sandpiper Drive in Lake Elsinore as the Holy fire approaches homes. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 53 Flames come close to homes in the 29000 block of Sandpiper Drive in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 53 Worried residents watch as flames advance toward their homes on Sandpiper Drive in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 53 Stephanie Caceres packs her belongings into her car as the Holy fire approaches homes on Sandpiper Drive in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 53 Cal Fires Mario Gonzalez keeps an eye on the Holy fire raging near homes in Leach Canyon. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 53 An air tanker fights the Holy fire, which forced more evacuations of neighborhoods in the Lake Elsinore area Wednesday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 53 The Holy fire on Wednesday approaches Lake Elsinores McVicker Canyon neighborhood, which is under mandatory evacuation orders. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 53 Two men monitor the Holy fire from a rooftop as it approaches the McVicker Canyon neighborhood in Lake Elsinore. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 53 The Trabuco Canyon home of arson suspect Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, stands untouched amid charred remains in his neighborhood. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 53 Chris ONeal, a video journalist from Laguna Niguel, is silhouetted by a smoke-obscured sun as a fire helicopter keeps an eye on the Holy fire approaching McVicker Canyon. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 53 The Holy fire reached very close to homes in a Lake Elsinore neighborhood forcing evacuation and deployment large air tankers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 53 The Holy fire burns toward homes in a Lake Elsinore neighborhood, forcing evacuation orders and the deployment of large air tankers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 53 Smoke from the Holy fire darkens the sky over the Glen Ivy Golf Club as the blaze burns on the mountain ridges around Corona. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 53 The Holy fire in the Cleveland National Forest pushed closer to some homes Wednesday, prompting a new round of mandatory evacuations. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 53 Lester and Blanca Fronk watch for planes fighting the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 53 Felipe Montiel fishes at Lake Elsinore as the Holy fire reflects across the water while burning in the Cleveland National Forest above homes in Lake Elsinore. (Los Angeles Times) 50 / 53 U.S. Forest Service fire crews make their way to the Holy fire, burning on mountain ridges in the Cleveland National Forest near Corona. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 53 Bob Tyler clears his driveway covered by ashes from Holy Fire falling on his neighborhood of 11000 block of Kingbird Drive in Corona. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 53 A plane drops fire retardant on the Holy fire burning in Cleveland National Forest above a home in Lake Elsinore on Aug. 7. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 53 A man prepares to fish as smoke rises from the Holy fire in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore on Aug. 6. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) A mile or so away, Apolonio Escalante and his wife walked around scanning the aftermath of the fire that had swept through their Rice Canyon neighborhood. Hundreds of homes sit across from the canyons; some are snuggled deeper in the terrain. The fire left trees stripped bare, everything black. Street signage was damaged. Before the fire came through, Escalante said, hed been at his construction job when his wife called with an urgent request: Get home, flames are nearby. The couple loaded valuables and corralled their 6-year-old German shepherd, Muneca, into a dog crate and put her onto the bed of their truck. Then they got the hoses out, watching flames rise 40 to 100 feet high. We were watering everything, his wife, Josefina Escalante, said. It looked like someone had poured gasoline on the fire. It took off. The fire had burned close to Rice Canyon Elementary School, but the campus did not appear damaged. The Escalantes said their home has water, power and gas, so they wont have to find shelter elsewhere. Prosecutors on Thursday filed several charges against a man suspected of setting the blaze. In an interview with a reporter before his arrest, Forrest Clark, 51, said he had no idea how the fire started. I was asleep. I had two earplugs in, Clark said, according to a video obtained by KABC-TV Channel 7. The Trabuco Canyon resident faces one felony count each of aggravated arson of five or more inhabited structures, arson of inhabited property, arson of forest and criminal threats, and two felony counts of resisting an executive officer. If convicted, Clark faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison. Full coverage: Californias summer siege of wildfires Meanwhile, the Lake Elsinore Unified School District announced that the start of the school year, set for Monday, would be postponed a week, until Aug. 20. In Los Angeles County, two men were charged with setting a separate brush fire near the Morris Dam, a reservoir in the San Gabriel Mountains. Christopher Paul Ortega, 20, of Glendora, and Santino Francisco Gnaulati, 21, of Covina, each face one felony count of arson of a structure or forest. Sheriffs deputies and prosecutors say the men, who have pleaded not guilty, started the fire near Highway 39 in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Glendora early Tuesday. Firefighters quickly got a handle on the blaze, which burned a quarter of an acre. If convicted, Ortega and Gnaulati face up to six years in state prison. They are due back in court later this month. Early Friday morning, Tera Swick stood in the front yard of her Lake Elsinore home, her arms behind her head, watching the flames coming down the mountain. I dont even know which way to watch, she said. Only two hours earlier the fire had seemed to slow, moving away from the neighborhood. But now ash was falling and the wind was picking up. A truck loaded with motorbikes and other valuables stood running on Nottingham Way, slowing the movement of firetrucks. That guy has to move his truck, Swick said. Two minutes later, a man came running toward the vehicle, apologizing and moving the truck. Swick and her mother and brother-in-law sat by the driveway waiting for authorities to force them to leave. She and her family praised the firefighting aircraft. Theyre just amazing, she said. Were cheering them on every time theyre making drops. Firefighters are battling nearly 20 fires across the state, and officials on Friday announced new progress. Yosemite Valley will reopen to visitors at 9 a.m. Tuesday after being closed for 20 days because of the Ferguson fire. The National Park Service also announced Friday that the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday. ruben.vives@latimes.com alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Vives reported from Lake Elsinore and Tchekmedyian from Los Angeles. UPDATES: 7:50 p.m.: This article was updated with new numbers. 3 p.m.: This article was updated with more from PIO. 2 p.m.: This article was updated with details about the reopening of Yosemite Valley. Noon: This article was updated with a bird strike report. 11:05 a.m.: This article was updated with new weather information. 10 a.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire officials. 8:35 a.m.: This article was updated with details from overnight fire developments. 7 a.m.: This article was updated with Friday conditions. This article was originally published at 3 a.m. Fairbanks Ranch Country Club is facing a federal lawsuit accusing the club of failing to protect female employees from a manager who allegedly groped them, solicited nude photographs and even offered one woman to male customers for lap dances. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit Thursday after the agency and the club failed to reach a pre-litigation settlement, the agency announced in a news release. The lawsuit alleges the club violated laws against sexual harassment and discrimination and retaliation against employees who complain. For the record: This story has been corrected to reflect a change made by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, which is now referring to the subject of the lawsuit as a manager instead of using a more specific title. The manager could hire and fire employees at will, according to the EEOC. He allegedly used his power to require sexual favors in exchange for job benefits and threatened to fire or cut the work hours of employees who refused. The hostile workplace allegedly had some of the women feel their only option was to quit their jobs. The allegations of this case are especially shocking, being that a manager was involved, Christopher Green, director of the EEOCs office in San Diego, said in a statement. Having ultimate hiring authority does not permit leveraging that power to take from those who work for you. Advertisement The EEOC also alleges the manager choked one of the clubs female employees. Because the managers sexual harassment was so prevalent at the club, other male employees felt free to sexually harass their female coworkers as well, the EEOC alleged. Annie Appel, executive vice president for The Bay Club Company, a group of private member clubs including Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, provided a statement Thursday in response to a request for comment on the lawsuit. The Bay Club Company is aware of the EEOCs allegations and will respond in a timely manner to the claims made in the complaint, the statement said. TBCC is committed to a safe, harassment free work environment for everyone. The EEOCs lawsuit seeks compensation and punitive damages for the alleged victims and a court order to prevent Fairbanks Ranch from future discrimination. A Torrey Pines High School graduate whose online threats in May prompted school officials to cancel classes for a day was sentenced Friday to a residential treatment facility and placed on probation for five years. Kevin Matlak, 21, pleaded guilty in July to one count of making a criminal threat. He posted a photo on his Instagram account showing himself holding an AR-15 assault rifle, an image of a decapitated head, the phrase I hate all of you and a veiled threat that no one was going to graduate from Torrey Pines High, authorities said. Another post said Get the (expletive) out of San Diego 2K18 before I find u. Advertisement San Diego Superior Court Judge Polly Shamoon sentenced Matlak to up to one year in custody, starting immediately at a residential substance abuse treatment facility instead of county jail. He is to undergo at least six months of substance abuse and mental health treatment at a rural East County facility, Genesis Recovery Inc. You cant leave without the courts express approval, Shamoon told Matlak. The judge also ordered Matlak to stay 1,000 yards away from his former high school, to allow law enforcement access to his electronic devices, and to stay away from the three individuals who read his online posts and felt threatened. Defense attorney Brian Watkins told the judge his client doesnt know those people. This satisfies the public safety that were very concerned with and hopefully gets him the help he needs, Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco said after the sentencing. The three former classmates of Matlak, who graduated in 2015, reported seeing his Instagram posts on May 30 and reported them to San Diego police. Police confiscated the rifle Matlak had posed with and the next day arrested him in Point Loma. Greco did not say how or where police obtained the rifle. As soon as Matlak was released from jail on bail, he had himself admitted into a treatment facility, Watkins said at a previous court hearing. Matlak later was released from the facility and booked into jail. The high school principal decided to cancel classes on May 31 as a precaution because of the threats. Principal Robb Coppo wrote a letter to the court saying what an impact that day had on him and his staff, Greco said. The letter said that, before getting word of the arrest, administrators came to the realization that they were going to have to put themselves in harms way in order to ensure that the school was closed, Greco said. He said Matlak originally was charged with three counts of criminal threats, involving the three reported victims, and could have spent up to four years and four months in prison. The plea bargain included dismissal of two of the counts and agreement that he would not spend more time behind bars unless he violates the terms of his five-year probation. A second case against Matlak, in which he was accused of stealing an acquaintances credit card and using it, was dismissed when he pleaded guilty in the school threats case. pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard The effort to locate and reunite nearly 400 migrant children whose mothers and fathers were deported without them has taken a giant leap forward, with government officials reporting Thursday that contact has been made with three-quarters of the overseas parents over the past week. The progress report suggests the massive search mission for deported parents may not be as painstaking as initially expected. Still, locating the parents is only the first step in what is sure to be a major operation. The status report filed in San Diego federal court outlines how the federal government plans to pull off the task with help from the American Civil Liberties Union and other volunteers and non-profits. Advertisement Nearly 2,000 children have been reunited thus far under an order from U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw in San Diego. The bulk of those cases involved parents in immigration custody or on parole in the U.S., and now attention is turning to the hundreds of parents who are scattered across the globe, far away from their children still in U.S. custody. Last week, government attorneys told the judge that the ACLU which brought the lawsuit challenging the Trump administrations practice of separating families at the border should be responsible for locating the deported parents. While the ACLU has long offered to assist in the effort, along with a host of volunteer resources, its attorneys countered that the government created the problem and must bear the ultimate burden. Sabraw agreed, telling the government that the responsibility was solely theirs. For every parent not found will be a permanently orphaned child, Sabraw said. That will be 100 percent of the governments responsibility. There has to be a plan so that does not happen. The new plan, which will be discussed in a court hearing Friday, appears more cooperative. As per the judges order, both the government and ACLU have created steering committees that will oversee the international effort. The governments group includes officials at the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services. The ACLUs committee will be headed by corporate New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and include Kids in Need of Defense, or KIND, Womens Refugee Commission and Justice in Motion. The government will communicate with heads of state in the various countries involved and continue to try to make contact with the parents. It will also facilitate communication between the parents and the children in government care. Meanwhile, the volunteers will track down the parents and help the families decide whether to reunite or to keep the child in the U.S. to stay with a sponsor or pursue asylum claims. A flurry of activity has already been underway, with the Office of Refugee Resettlement, an arm of HHS, collecting contact information for the parents of 360 of the 386 children. Of those, the agency has made contact with 299 over the last seven days. An unverified list of phone numbers has been collected for other family members of 245 children. A plan outlining how the families will be reunited is under final review and will be released soon, the government said. A smaller number of children remain separated for other reasons, including 27 whose parents have serious criminal histories. The ACLU is asking the government for the underlying information that led to the determinations, but federal attorneys are pushing back saying the analysis should not be subject to second-guessing. The government reported that 163 parents, many of them outside the U.S., have indicated their desire to waive reunification. But the ACLU has argued that many parents who have made such indications likely did so without realizing and have asked to verify the parents wishes. Meanwhile, families with final orders of removal who have been reunited remain in the U.S. in legal limbo. Sabraw is contemplating a request for a preliminary injunction to allow reunited families or at the very least the children credible fear interviews to determine if there is a viable asylum claim to pursue. Lawyers in a separate case filed in Washington, D.C., who made the request argue that the typical procedure for claiming asylum was disrupted when the families were separated at the border. Sabraw has extended a freeze of family deportations while he considers the request. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis Canadian police said Friday that two of the four people killed in a shooting in the eastern city of Fredericton are police officers. Fredericton police said one suspect is in custody and that they are not releasing the names of the slain officers yet. The shooting happened in an apartment complex. David MacCoubrey, who lives in Fredericton, said he heard about 20 shots and hid on his kitchen floor Advertisement Im on my floor, he said in a phone interview. The cops have come through my place. They have searched all the apartments in the building. It sounded like it started in the courtyard area. He said he awoke in his apartment on Brookside Drive around 7 a.m. local time to the sound of three gunshots about 30 feet from his bed. MacCoubrey said his apartment complex has four buildings in a square, and that it sounded like the shots were coming from the middle of the complex. He said police have been searching the buildings and that hes been sitting away from windows. Its not something that happens here regularly, he said. In 2014, a shooting in Moncton left three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers dead and two wounded. Fredericton has a population of about 58,000 and is located just northeast of Maine. New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant tweeted his condolences to the victims and their families. During this difficult time, our thoughts are also with the courageous women and men on the front lines working to keep us safe, he said. Bill Henwood, a funeral director at York Funeral Home, whose business is located inside the cordoned-off area on Brookside Drive, said the lockdown occurred before anybody got to work. Henwood said people are sitting in their cars or just standing near the blockade of police and fire vehicles hanging tight and waiting for word on what comes next. All the businesses even on the outside of the lockdown area have their lobbies and their business areas closed. They arent letting customers in at the moment, he said. Henwood said the situation is a shock. Its not something that we expect in Fredericton to wake up and hear about. To see that theres actually fatalities is pretty extraordinary for this area. It doesnt normally happen. UPDATES: 7 a.m.: This article was updated with a police report that two of the dead were police officers. This article was originally published at 5:05 a.m. The Army is suspending discharges of foreign-born recruits who enlisted as part of a special military program that put them on the path to U.S. citizenship, following lawsuits by soldiers who say they have been expelled unfairly and without explanation. In a July 20 memo, a top Army personnel official ordered the service to suspend processing of all involuntary separation actions for individuals in the program and ordered a review of the discharge procedures for affected soldiers by Aug. 15. Marshall Williams, acting assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, also asked the Army deputy chief of staff in charge of personnel to recommend whether additional guidance should be issued regarding the discharge procedures for individuals who enlisted through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program (MAVNI). The existence of the memo, which emerged in a court proceeding, was first reported Thursday by the Associated Press. Advertisement The Armys decision to halt the discharges temporarily comes amid a raft of legal actions by soldiers who enlisted through the program and have now been discharged, potentially complicating their promised path to citizenship. The service issued the July 20 memo days after reversing its decision to discharge Lucas Calixto, a 28-year-old reservist from Brazil, who entered the military through the program and sued the Pentagon because he faced an uncertain future in the United States owing to his separation. The decision is the latest controversy surrounding a pilot program that the Pentagon established in 2008 offering expedited American citizenship for foreign-born recruits with highly desired language and medical skills. More than 10,000 recruits have enlisted in the U.S. military through the program, in some cases obtaining citizenship by the end of their basic training. It wasnt clear if the Army suspension would lead to fewer MAVNI recruits being discharged in the future. The Pentagon suspended the program in 2016 after judging that its procedures presented an unacceptable risk of insider threats including espionage and terrorism. The department ordered that those service members who enlisted through the program be subjected to enhanced security screening -- a procedure that would be impossible for many of them to pass. An increasing number of service members in the program have been receiving discharge orders since then. They have argued in court filings that they havent received proper explanations about why they are being pushed out or opportunities to appeal the decisions. Cynthia Smith, a spokeswoman for the Army, said in a statement that the service had suspended discharges of individuals recruited through the program in order to conduct a thorough review of the administrative separation process. Smith added, We continue to abide by all requirements to include completing a thorough background investigation on all MAVNI applicants. Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokesperson, said the required security screening can be difficult and time-consuming for MAVNI recruits because they are foreign nationals and the military has a limited ability to verify information in the individuals home country. Margaret Stock, a lawyer and retired lieutenant colonel in the military police, who helped create the program, said she believed the Army memo was a reaction to Calixtos lawsuit and an admission by the Army that they are violating the soldiers rights. It violates Army regulations to discharge them without telling them why they are being discharged, Stock said. She said the program had been designed to recruit qualified immigrants and now the Pentagon was expelling them in some cases for having foreign relatives. Its clear to me that they just want to get rid of people -- and it looks like a good clean excuse to get rid of people to make it look like they failed a background check, Stock said. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last year that the Pentagon would like to find a way to save the program. Rockville, MD, Aug. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Growing imperativeness of information and data protection in light of increased concerns regarding cyber-crimes and leak of personal data has supported the initiation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) assessment tools. Superseding the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC, GDPR facilitates harmonizing of data privacy laws across European countries in order to empower and streamline processes in organizations that are involved with personal information. That said, GDPR assessment tools support organizations in Europe to maintain standards of information security as per GDPR compliance. Albeit a situation of anxiety among IT and related sectors owing to GDPR, high penalties associated with avoidance of the regulation has compelled organizations to adopt GDPR assessment tools. With an ultimate focus to reduce a penalty worth 20 million, organizations across the European Union are adopting GDPR assessment tools to comply with GDPR. Moreover, the GDPR is also applicable to non-EU organizations that operate under the EU premises or if they are concerned with handling an EU client. This aspect has significantly pushed the use of GDPR assessment tools in the European Union during the forecast period. Request Report Sample - https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=989 Fact.MR, understanding the need for GDPR as a vital regulation act for enhancing security of personal data, has compiled various valuable insights in its recent publication focusing on acceptance of GDPR assessment tools across the European Union. The report on GDPR assessment tools market is projected to expand at a meteoric CAGR of 35.6% in terms of value throughout the period of forecast, 2018-2028. GDPR Assessment Tools Market: Surging Adoption Among Large Enterprises Albeit a comparatively lower count of large enterprises in European Union, the market for GDPR assessment tools is expected to witness a surging demand from large enterprises that are anticipated to chiefly contribute to the growth of the GDPR assessment tools market in the region. That said, sales of GDPR assessment tools among large enterprises in EU are expected to sky-rocket as compared to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the coming years, given their higher spending capacity as compared to SMEs. However, SMEs being larger in number are expected to pave potential growth opportunities for GDPR assessment tools market. That said, given the mandatory compliance regulations for adopting GDPR standards for organizations under the EU regulatory framework, future of GDPR assessment tools is expected to remain optimistic in the forthcoming years. GDPR Assessment Tools Market: Germany to Reign Supreme; UK to Follow the Suit Since the implementation of GDPR across EU, the adoption of GDPR assessment tools in Germany is expected to remain high in the coming years. Being the first EU member state to sanction the new Data Protection Act in order be in alignment with the EU GDPR, the demand and adoption of GDPR assessment tools continue to witness a significant boost in the country, making it the most attractive among other EU member states. To know more about Europe GDPR Assessment Tools Market Trends, Visit - https://www.factmr.com/report/989/europe-gdpr-assessment-tools-market On the contrary, United Kingdom has reported few of the larger and serious data breaches in the past two years. That said, GDPR assessment tools have never been more vital to organizations in the UK, with an ultimate goal to eliminate the possibilities of server hacks and data breaches across a multitude of IT firms and related industries in the country, be it a coordinated attack or a bunch of concentrated attacks on a specific industry. This factor has tremendously boosted the demand for GDPR assessment tools in the UK that is expected to showcase a higher level of lucrativeness in the forthcoming years with respect to incorporation of GDPR assessment tools. GDPR Assessment Tools Market: Cloud-Based Deployment Platform to Speed Up GDPR has witnessed a humongous proliferation across the EU, albeit a level of complexity associated with GDPR. That said, deployment of GDPR assessment tools using cloud platform has gained significant traction. Companies relying on cloud technology such as Salesforce and Dropbox are bound to ensure data practices that are in compliance with GDPR. Pervasiveness of cloud platform has led to the introduction of GDPR assessment tools that deliver solutions for cloud services. Consequently, increasing reliance on cloud platform has boosted the demand for cloud-based deployment of GDPR assessment tools. To Buy this Report, Visit - https://www.factmr.com/checkout/989/S About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports. Contact Us Backers of a convention center expansion initiative that failed to qualify for the November ballot announced Thursday that they plan to sue the signature-gathering firm they hired, alleging fraud and breach of contract. The announcement by the Yes! For A Better San Diego campaign comes a day after the campaign learned that its initiative to increase the hotel tax to underwrite the expansion project failed to secure enough signatures to make it onto the ballot, based on a random count of more than 114,000 signatures submitted to the county Registrar of Voters. The initiative needed more than 71,600 signatures of registered voters to qualify. Because the petitions failed the random count, a full verification of all signatures is needed, which would take too long to make the deadline this Friday for placing anything on the November ballot. The target of the planned lawsuit is Arno Petition Consultants, which says on its website that over the last 35 years it has guided a vast array of political, corporate and issue-based clients through the initiative and referenda process. Along the way, weve gained ballot access for over 700 issue proponents. Advertisement However, in a news release from Yes! For a Better San Diego, the campaign group alleges it uncovered what appears to be a fraud perpetrated by Arno. Campaign officials found information suggesting that the firm fabricated signature reports for months making apparent misrepresentations about how many signatures had been collected, what the validity rate was and how many gatherers were being paid. Arno Petition Consultants could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday afternoon. A phone number on its website connects callers to a bookings group. After discovering issues with the signatures late in the signature-gathering process, the campaign said it launched a last-ditch volunteer effort, reaching out to every corner of the community to recover from the damage, engaging hundreds of community volunteers, workers and businesses small and large. While the campaign ultimately submitted to the county registrar more than 114,000 signatures, including more than 5,000 gathered by volunteers in the final weeks, these herculean efforts were not enough to recover from damage inflicted by Arno, the campaign said. Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg San Diego is making swift progress on its plan to have a local supply chain for its marijuana dispensaries, with 15 indoor pot farms and cannabis edible factories slated for final city approvals in coming weeks. Those businesses will follow the citys first approved marijuana production facility, a food products factory for Otay Mesa that cleared its final city hurdle last week. The accelerated progress comes just a few months after leaders of the local marijuana industry expressed concerns that rigorous city environmental approvals and other regulatory hurdles were slowing the process down. Since then, city officials have become more comfortable with these previously unfamiliar businesses, allowing the city to streamline the environmental approval process and less frequently require expensive greenhouse gas studies. Advertisement In addition to the 15 marijuana production businesses scheduled for approval hearings between now and early October, another nine have been declared exempt from state environmental law and will soon get their own hearing dates. Most of the proposed businesses are located in Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa and Otay Mesa, with a handful in other neighborhoods that have the necessary light industrial zoning. San Diego officials want the 18 legal dispensaries theyve approved to have a local supply chain as soon as possible to eliminate the need to truck marijuana in from elsewhere and to prevent a local black market of marijuana producers. Boosters expect the businesses to boost the local economy, create jobs and improve the quality and safety of local marijuana. They are also expected to generate millions in revenue for San Diego from a 5 percent city cannabis tax, which took effect in January with the beginning of recreational sales in California. That tax is slated to increase to 8 percent in July 2019, but the City Council has the discretion to raise it to 15 percent at any time. The revenue it generates for San Diego is in addition to sales tax that local marijuana businesses collect. While the first two dozen marijuana production businesses appear headed toward swift approvals, city officials and industry leaders say they expect things to get more complex as San Diego nears a cap of 40 such businesses set by the council. Businesses competing against each other for the final few spots are expected to appeal each others environmental exemptions, which hasnt happened so far with the 24 businesses deemed environmentally exempt. In addition, project approvals granted by the citys hearing officer may be appealed to the San Diego Planning Commission, which would then hold a public hearing at which it would be asked to provide a final approval. The first marijuana production facility was approved by the citys hearing officer on July 18, and that approval became final last week when 10 business days passed without anyone appealing the decision to the Planning Commission. Elyse Lowe, director of the citys Development Services Department, said she expects appeals to become the norm as the city approaches the cap of 40. There are some folks who are trying to rush through and be first on the agenda because of the cap of 40, she said. Bottom line is we have 67 applicants for 40 positions. Lowe said city officials have prioritized an atmosphere of fair play as they work with the applicants to move them through the approval pipeline and schedule hearings. Our biggest concern is to keep parity in the process for the applicants, Lowe said by phone on Wednesday. Everyone is being treated equally -- no one is getting special treatment. Appeals were much more common during the approval process for dispensaries. That was partly because the city set a cap of four dispensaries in each of the citys nine City Council districts, making the competition more intense earlier in the process. With marijuana production facilities, there is no cap per council district, only a citywide cap of 40. In addition, dispensaries are prohibited from opening within 1,000 feet of each other, while production facilities are not. Gina Austin, a local attorney who represents six of the 24 marijuana production businesses at the head of the pack, said she expects the appeals to start soon. San Diego recently approved a sharp increase in the cost for an environmental appeal from $100 to $1,000 to accelerate approvals of housing developments and other projects. Scott Chipman, an opponent of marijuana legalization, said the change could deter his group, San Diegans for Safe Neighborhoods, from filing appeals. Chipman said by phone on Tuesday that he hopes to persuade community planning groups to file the appeals, because they can do so for free. Austin said city officials began expediting approvals for marijuana production businesses in similar fashion to how things accelerated for the early dispensary approvals in 2014 and 2015. They had increased requirements at the beginning, but things loosened up once the city got its feet wet, understood whats going on and made sure everything is consistent, Austin said by phone on Tuesday. The biggest hurdle was greenhouse gas emissions studies that the city was initially requiring of applicants which cost about $25,000 each. City officials considered them necessary because San Diegos climate action plan, adopted in 2015, commits the city to slashing its greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent below 2010 levels by 2020 and 50 percent below that benchmark by 2035. Austin said, however, that city officials have since changed their perspective, primarily because most of the marijuana production businesses are proposed for existing industrial spaces. Upon further analysis, an industrial use is an industrial use whether its cannabis or whether its steel manufacturing, Austin said. The zones for industrial use were already analyzed under the climate action plan with the structures as they exist. PJ Fitzgerald, who leads the marijuana permitting team in the citys Development Services Department, said only a few of the 67 proposed businesses would be new construction requiring an expensive greenhouse gas study. Jessica McElfresh, another local marijuana attorney, said she expects approvals to slow a bit because the 24 leading projects are mostly free from any controversy about their locations. Like dispensaries, production facilities cant be within 1,000 feet of sensitive land uses like parks, churches, schools and youth-oriented facilities. Proposed businesses that clearly meet those requirements have moved quickly to the front of the pack, while proposed businesses facing questions about those requirements may still be working their way through the process, McElfresh said. Kimberly Simms, another local marijuana attorney, suggested there may be appeals coming from resident groups in areas where the production facilities would be concentrated, particularly Mira Mesa. Community planning groups in Mira Mesa and Otay Mesa changed their typical approach and decided to delay recommendations until after the businesses have obtained environmental approvals. Rob Hixson, chairman of the Otay Mesa Planning Group, said the process has worked well. His group has recommended approval for three of the four projects on which its provided advisory votes to the citys hearing officer. Hixson said the fourth was rejected because community planners didnt get enough information about the proposal from the applicant. Chipman, the marijuana opponent, criticized the city for combining three types of marijuana businesses cultivation, manufacturing and distribution into one city permit: marijuana production facility. He said that decision means San Diegos marijuana industry will be far larger than people realize, because many of the businesses will tackle all three of the areas. They havent really approved 40 new businesses, theyve approved 120 new businesses, Chipman said. The first marijuana production business approved in San Diego is proposed for 9874 Via de la Amistad in Otay Mesa. Four more are scheduled for approval on Wednesday. They are located at 9565 Heinrich Hertz Drive in Otay Mesa, 8859 Balboa Ave. in Kearny Mesa and 7542 Trade St. and 5550 Oberlin Drive, both in Mira Mesa. david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick A bicyclist was hospitalized with serious injuries Thursday in Bay Park after he collided with an SUV, police said. The 33-year-old cyclist was riding in the alley between Morena Boulevard and Chicago Street about 1:45 p.m. when he crossed into the eastbound lane of Kane Street, San Diego police Officer Steve Bourasa said. He was struck by a 2017 GMC Denali headed east on Kane. Medics took the rider to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries to his upper body and one of his legs, Bourasa said. He was expected to survive. The 36-year-old man driving the Denali was not injured, Bourasa said. Advertisement Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com Escondido police arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of killing two women one found Thursday in a house with sleeping children, the other in a burning SUV. Juan Carlos Ortega was booked Thursday night on two counts of murder and one count of arson in the deaths of the two women. He was arrested Thursday at his unspecified place of work in Carlsbad, police said. Police did not describe the relationship between the women and Ortega or a possible motive for the slayings. Though Ortega was arrested at work, investigators dont believe his employers had any knowledge of the incidents and they have been fully cooperative with the investigation, Escondido police Lt. Kevin Toth said in a statement. Advertisement The victims names were not released. Due to the conditions of their bodies, investigators planned to withhold their names until the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office could conduct scientific verification of their identities, Toth said. The case was pieced together after a womans body was found in a white SUV that was burning just outside the Escondido city limits at Kauna Loa and Country Club drives about 4:15 a.m. Thursday, Toth said. Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department crews doused the fire and found the body. Sheriffs deputies were called in because the fire occurred in an unincorporated area. The SUV was registered to an owner in Escondido on West 11th Avenue, Toth said. Officers went there and found a woman dead inside and two young children sleeping. The children were not injured and were taken into protective custody, Toth said. Toth did not say how the two women were killed. Staff reporter Alex Riggins contributed to this report. pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard UPDATES: 4:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the suspects arrest and the investigation. This article was originally published at 8 a.m. A girl investigators believe was likely in her early teens was struck and killed Thursday morning while trying to walk across Interstate 5 in the far northern reaches of San Diego County, authorities said. The girl, who had yet to be identified Thursday afternoon, apparently reached the freeway from a side road somewhere between Oceanside and the San Clemente Border Patrol Inspection Facility, California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Mark Latulippe said. She was first spotted about 9:45 a.m. on the freeways right shoulder. She put her hand up for people to see her and started crossing to the west, Latulippe said. Traffic slowed as people saw her, and those in the right lanes were able to slow down to avoid her. The girl made it across several lanes but was struck when she got to the second lane from the left, Latulippe said. The 21-year-old San Diego driver who struck the girl tried to stop his 2008 Chevrolet, but traveling at about 30 mph, he was unable to avoid her. Advertisement Latulippe said the girl was transported by helicopter to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where she died. The collision prompted freeway closures in the area until about noon, and the crash remained under investigation Thursday afternoon. Latulippe wasnt sure how close the crash was to the Border Patrol inspection point and said it was unclear if her presence on the freeway was related in any way to the inspection point. Investigators did not yet know the identity or age of the victim but said she was Hispanic and estimated she was in her early teens, possibly around 14 years old, Latulippe said Thursday afternoon. Anyone with information about the girls identity or any other information about the deadly collision was urged to call the CHPs Border Division at (858) 637-3800. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com An 18-month-old boy taken by his non-custodial father in Pacoima was found in Chula Vista Friday morning and returned to his mother, authorities said. An Amber Alert was issued about 11 p.m. Thursday for Jaden Jose, who was taken from a home on Laurel Canyon Boulevard near Branford Street about 3:30 p.m. by his father, John Jose, according to police. John took Jaden without the biological mothers consent and threatened to take Jaden out of state,' according to a police statement. John also threatened to kill himself.' The search for Jaden led authorities to the San Diego area Thursday night. Deputies went to a home on Bonita Mesa Road in Bonita to search for the boy and his father, according to Lt. A. Aldana of the San Diego County Sheriffs Department. Advertisement Neither the boy nor his father was at the location, Aldana said. John Jose was last seen in a 2004 dark blue four-door Audi with the license plate number 7ZVX343. #AmberAlert Jaden Jose, 18 months old, was taken by his suicidal father, John Jose, at 3:30pm from Arleta, CA. John Jose is described as a 30 year old Filipino 55, 130 pounds, last seen in a 2004 dark blue 4 door Audi, License plate number 7ZVX343. If seen please call 911 pic.twitter.com/Zo9Owv4DBY LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) August 10, 2018 San Diego police dispatchers reported that John Jose called the Los Angeles Police Department around 11:20 p.m. Thursday and told them he was in the San Diego area, though he did not specify his location. About five minutes later, authorities pushed out an Amber Alert, including to phones with San Diego County area codes. Authorities sent this Amber Alert to the public, including to phones with San Diego County area codes, about 11:25 p.m. Thursday. (Alex Riggins/SDUT) Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com Law enforcement officials are seeking the publics help to track down a rare cello valued at $100,000 that was stolen Wednesday night from a Mission Valley hotel room. The burglary happened sometime between 8 and 10 p.m. at the Town and Country San Diego on Hotel Circle North and Fashion Valley Road, according to San Diego police Sgt. Ken Impellizeri. The instruments owner, John Walz, the principal cellist with the Los Angeles Opera, posted about the theft on Facebook Thursday, saying he needed to get the word out there. Yesterday I checked into my hotel in San Diego, went out to dinner, and when I came back, my room had been broken into, everything stolen including my cello, Walz wrote. Im still in shock. Advertisement The accomplished musician, who also performs as a soloist and in the group Pacific Trio, criticized the San Diego Police Departments response to the theft. Apparently the San Diego police dont think this is important enough to even send one officer over to the hotel to take a report, Walz wrote. Impellizeri, the police sergeant, could not be reached for comment Thursday or Friday regarding Walzs complaint. Dozens of officers were tied up earlier Wednesday evening investigating a fatal police shooting in Southcrest. Around 11:30 p.m., officers responded to a drive-by shooting in Mt. Hope. San Diego County Crime Stoppers issued a news release on the theft around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Investigators said the suspect or suspects forced their way into the unoccupied guest room between 8 and 10 p.m. and made off with several items, including the custom cello. It wasnt immediately clear if the burglar or burglars were targeting the instrument. The cello was made by Mario Miralles, a well-known maker of stringed instruments from Alta Dena. Police said it has a label that reads, Mario Miralles 2010 Alta Dena California. Walz wrote on Facebook that the instrument was in a red carbon fiber case with a single latch. Inside the case there were also two bows a gold-mounted Garner Wilson and an Arcus. Anyone with information about the burglary or the whereabouts of the rare instrument was asked to call the San Diego Police Departments Western Division at (619) 692-4800, or San Diego County Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in the case. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com A fire that apparently started in a backyard shed in Ramona early Friday spread to the main house, destroying both buildings while the family of eight escaped safely, authorities said. Sheriffs deputies happened to be driving by the home on B Street near Sixth Street at 5:30 a.m. and saw flames, sheriffs Lt. Karla Menzies said. The deputies stopped and helped residents, including at least one in a wheelchair, get out of the burning residences. We were in the right place at the right time, Menzies said. Advertisement Four adults and two children were displaced. The Red Cross was assisting them. The fire burned the shed to the ground and spread into the two-story Victorian-style house, sending smoke and flames high into the air. Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser said the house likely was historic. Ramona Cal Fire crews drenched the flames for hours, and continued fighting hot spots past 8 a.m. The fire scorched grass in a neighbors yard, seen in helicopter news video from NBC7. Bortisser said an initial report that the backyard structure was a granny flat was incorrect. Cal Fire and sheriffs fire investigators were trying to determine what started the blaze. pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard Newly unclassified CIA documents provide fresh details on the brutal treatment of a terrorism suspect in late 2002 at a secret prison in rural Thailand then run by Gina Haspel, who was confirmed in May as CIA director after a contentious Senate hearing. The 16 redacted cables between CIA headquarters in Virginia and the so-called black site prison in Thailand, which the National Security Archive at George Washington University obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, describe extended sessions of physical violence, forced nudity, sleep deprivation, box confinement and waterboarding of an Al Qaeda suspect. The CIA closed its original black site years ago. But its legacy of torture lives on in Thailand The cables dont dramatically change the understanding of what the CIA called enhanced interrogation techniques and critics called torture at a now-shuttered network of secret detention sites overseas. But they do provide more graphic details of what happened when Haspel was in charge of an interrogation site the CIA had code named Green. Advertisement One cable, dated Dec. 1, 2002, is especially vivid. It says an interrogator strode, catlike, into the well-lit confines of the cell at 0902 hrs [redacted], deftly removed the subjects black hood with a swipe, paused, and in a deep, measured voice said that subject having calmed down after his (staged) run-in with his hulking, heavily muscled guards the previous day should reveal what subject had done to vex his guards to the point of rage. The CIA had refused to release the material during Haspels Senate confirmation hearing, but the Archive posted them online Friday. The cables all focus on the interrogation of Abd al Rahim al Nashiri, a Saudi citizen suspected of helping to orchestrate the 2000 bombing of the U.S. destroyer Cole in a Yemeni port, killing 17 U.S. sailors. Now imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, he was captured in Dubai in October 2002 and taken to the Thailand prison in mid-November, where he was interrogated for three weeks. According to one cable, the aggressive interrogation phase began at 4:15 a.m. one day. Subject was warned not to lie, and was told that if he lied, he would suffer the consequences, and his life would become infinitely worse, the cable said. The Sept. 11 attacks were barely a year old, and interrogators demanded information about future terrorist strikes. When Nashiri did not immediately respond, subjects clothes were ripped off of him by security team members while the interrogator told subject we knew he was lying, the cable said. As interrogators demanded answers, subject whimpered that he would do anything the interrogators wanted. The episode ended when one of the interrogators pointed at a large box in the room and told Nashiri, It was now his new home. He was then hooded and locked in the coffin-sized box for about 12 hours. The harsh treatment continued for days, sometimes lasting for hours. Interrogators repeatedly walled Nashiri, meaning they slammed him into a wall, or locked him inside an even smaller box than before. After several days, subject was told that he was going to suffer, and interrogators began to waterboard him, a painful and terrifying technique that involves forcing water down a prisoners throat to simulate drowning. In all, he was waterboarded three times. When strapped to the table, Nashiri began to cry and he promised to tell everything he knew, but added that he knew nothing. Interrogators continued the water treatment, the cable said, and left Nashiri on the table, moaning, shaking and asking God to help him repeatedly. Theres no indication that Nashiri provided useful intelligence about future plots. An extensive report from Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee released in 2014 said the brutal interrogations did not help prevent imminent terrorist attacks, and they sometimes led to false confessions as suspects desperately sought to stop the abuse. Haspels name does not appear in the redacted cables. But Tom Blanton, the director of the National Security Archive, said Haspel would have written them or authorized their transmission while serving as chief of base. The CIA has never publicly confirmed that Haspel supervised the Thailand black site while Nashiri was interrogated there, nor has it officially confirmed the existence of the secret prison. It was closed in December 2002 after tensions with the Thai government and fears a newspaper would report its location, but the CIA transferred Nashiri to a similar site in Poland and used other secret prisons around the world, according to the Senate report. The CIA declined to comment on the cables. Torture was a key issue during Haspels confirmation process in May, and she was narrowly confirmed, by a vote of 54 to 45, after a handful of Democrats supported her. Haspel told her confirmation hearing that she would not restart the interrogation and detention program. Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership, CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation program, she said. Her answers did not satisfy some congressional critics, especially after she pledged to follow her moral compass as CIA director, but wouldnt say whether previous practices were immoral. Im not going to sit here, with the benefit of hindsight, and judge the very good people who made hard decisions in extraordinary circumstances, Haspel said. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington chris.megerian@latimes.com Twitter: @chrismegerian First Lady Melania Trumps parents were sworn in as U.S. citizens on Thursday, completing a legal path to citizenship that their son-in-law has suggested eliminating. Viktor and Amalija Knavs, both in their 70s, took the citizenship oath at a private ceremony in New York City. The Slovenian immigrants, a former car dealer and textile factory worker, had been living in the U.S. as permanent residents. The Knavses slipped in and out of a side entrance at a Manhattan federal building flanked by Department of Homeland Security police. Some workers inside didnt know what was going on. The couple said little, other than Viktor telling a reporter thank you when asked how they felt about becoming Americans. Lawyer Michael Wildes said the Knavses applied for citizenship on their own and didnt get any special treatment. He confirmed that Melania Trump sponsored their green cards. Her husband, President Trump, has proposed ending most family-based immigration, which he refers to as chain migration. Advertisement This golden experiment, these doors that are in America, remain hinged open to beautiful people as they have today, Wildes said after the ceremony. Amid a bitter debate over immigration particularly the Trump administrations separation of children from families crossing the border illegally Wildes said the Knavses attaining citizenship was an example of it going right. Melania Trump, who has been vacationing with her husband in Bedminster, N.J., did not accompany her parents. Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, declined to comment. She said the first ladys parents are not part of the administration and deserve privacy. Along with targeting illegal immigration, President Trump has proposed sharply curbing legal immigration. The Republican president proposed replacing most family-based immigration with a skills-based system after an attempted bombing by a Bangladeshi immigrant in New York last December. He also called for eliminating a visa lottery program for people from countries under-represented in the U.S. The plan, which Trump reiterated last week at a Wilkes-Barre, Penn., rally, would limit immigrants like his wife to sponsoring only their spouses and underage children to join them in the U.S. not their parents, adult children or siblings. Experts estimate those measures, so far resisted by Congress, would cut legal immigration into the U.S. nearly in half. Wildes wouldnt say how long the Knavses have lived in the U.S. Under the law, permanent residents must live in the country for at least five years before applying for citizenship. The Knavses citizenship ceremony was kept hush-hush around the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building. Security guards and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services workers in offices adorned with President Trumps portrait said they were unaware of anyone being sworn in there on Thursday. New citizens are normally minted on Fridays, they said, and often the ceremonies are held at the federal courthouse across the street. The Knavses raised Melania, born Melanija, in the rural industrial town of Sevnica while Slovenia was under Communist rule. She attended high school in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, and changed her name to Melania Knauss when she started modeling. She settled in New York in 1996 and met Trump two years later. They married in 2005. Viktor Knavs is 74, two years older than his son-in-law. Amalija is 73. Trump hasnt commented or tweeted about his in-laws newfound citizenship. Around the same time the Knavses were completing the ceremony, he was tweeting his rage about the ongoing Russia probe (an illegally brought Rigged Witch Hunt) and his excitement about plans for a sixth branch of the military (Space Force all the way!). Xiomara started dating him when she was 17. He was different then, not yet the man who pushed drugs and ran with a gang. Not the man who she says berated and raped her, who roused her out of bed some mornings only to beat her. Not the man who choked her with an electrical cord, or put a gun to her head while she screamed, then begged, Please, please dont kill me I love you. Fleeing El Salvador with their daughter, then 4, the 23-year-old mother pleaded for help at a port of entry in El Paso on a chilly day in December 2016. After nearly two years, her petition for asylum remains caught in a backlog of more than 310,000 other claims. But while she has waited for a ruling, her chance of success has plunged. Advertisement Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions in June issued a decision meant to block most victims of domestic abuse and gang violence from winning asylum, saying that private criminal acts generally are not grounds to seek refuge in the U.S. Already, that ruling has narrowed the path for legal refuge for tens of thousands of people attempting to flee strife and poverty in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. You can tell there is something happening, said longtime immigration attorney Carlos A. Garcia, who in mid-July spoke to more than 70 women in one cell block at a family detention center in Texas. Most had received denials of their claims that they have what the law deems a credible fear of persecution. More than Ive ever seen before, he said. In North Carolina, where federal immigration agents sparked criticism last month when they arrested two domestic-violence survivors at a courthouse, some immigration judges are refusing to hear any asylum claims based on allegations of domestic abuse. Other immigration judges are asking for more detailed evidence of abuse at the outset of a case, a problem for victims who often leave their homes with few written records. Under the Refugee Act of 1980, judges can only grant asylum, which allows a person to stay in the U.S. legally, to people escaping persecution based on religion, race, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. As drug-war violence escalated over the last two decades in Mexico and Central America, fueled by a U.S. demand for drugs and waged by gangs partly grown on American streets, human rights lawyers pushed to have victims of domestic violence or gang crime considered part of such a social group when their governments dont protect them. After years of argument, they won a major victory in 2014 when the countrys highest immigration court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, ruled in favor of a woman from Guatemala who fled a husband who had beaten and raped her with impunity. Sessions, in June, used his legal authority over the immigration system to reverse that decision, deciding a case brought by a woman identified in court as A.B. Asylum was never meant to alleviate all problems even all serious problems that people face every day all over the world, he said, ruling that in most cases asylum should be limited to those who can show they were directly persecuted by the government, not victims of private violence. Immigration advocates reacted with outrage. Karen Musalo, a co-counsel for A.B. and a professor at the University of California Hastings College of Law, called the decision a return to the dark ages of refugee law, a move inconsistent with a steadily evolving principle that womens rights are human rights. Dilcia Molina, a gender and health program manager, right, speaks with Candelaria at La Clinica Del Pueblo in Washington DC. (Al Drago / For The Times) Neither the government, nor the police, could help Xiomara in her rural town, where gangs were deeply embedded. Are you kidding? she said, asking to be identified by only her first name out of concern about possible retaliation. I would go to the police department and wouldnt come back alive if I came back at all. Within a year of when they started dating, she said, her boyfriend took up drinking and drugs, making friends with the wrong crowd. He grew meaner, more violent. One day he put a gun to her head, her asylum claim says. On another evening, on the roof of his home after another fight, she had been weeping in the dark, when she felt a cord tighten around her neck. He would have killed me if his family hadnt appeared, she said. Other women offer similar stories. Candelaria, 49, who also asked that her last name not be used, said she left an abusive husband of 20 years in Honduras after his drinking became more severe. And always the criminal bands of men roamed. My children sent me a photo of me in those days and I look so old, so sad, said Candelaria, whose asylum case has been pending for four years. For more than two decades, U.N. officials and human rights lawyers have argued that women victimized by domestic violence in societies where police refuse to help are being persecuted because of their gender and should be treated as refugees entitled to asylum. But Sessions and other administration officials have a very different view, and they have made a broad effort to curb the path to asylum. The number of people entering the U.S. by claiming asylum has risen sharply in recent years, and administration officials have portrayed the process as a loophole in the nations immigration laws. In October, Sessions labeled asylum an easy ticket to illegal entry into the United States and called on immigration judges to elevate the threshold standard of proof in credible fear interviews. In March, he restricted who was entitled to full hearings. From May to June, federal officials limited asylum seekers from gaining access through ports of entry, with people waiting for weeks at some of the busiest crossings in Southern California. The government does not keep precise data on how many domestic-violence survivors claim asylum, but figures released last month give a glimpse of the effect that Sessions decision has begun to have at one of the earliest stages of the asylum process. People claiming asylum when they reach the border typically have an early interview with an immigration official to determine if they have enough of a case to proceed to a full hearing. Since January, immigration judges found asylum seekers had provided enough evidence in those credible fear interviews, as they are known, in only 14.7% of cases about half as often as the same period in 2017, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. The denials can lead to swift deportation. The effect has been most drastic along the Southwest border and in Texas, where at a detention center in Hutto, immigration attorney Whitney Drake of American Gateways, an immigrant advocacy group, has seen a tripling in some week of the number of people asking her legal aid. Women are terrified and confused, said Drake. They come and tell us: I dont understand the decision. I dont understand why he [the judge] didnt believe me. The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday filed a lawsuit on behalf of 12 parents and children it says were wrongly found not to have a credible fear of return. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on Thursday stopped the deportation of a mother and her daughter in the case, threatening to hold Sessions in contempt. At his law office in Arlington, Va., Joseph M. Perez, an immigration attorney, said Sessions hadnt been wrong to limit some asylum claims based on domestic violence, which can fall on a wide spectrum of abuse, from brutal attacks to only verbal threats. But he said he found the approach cruel. He has been calling all of his clients to warn them their cases could be denied. He recalls the hard conversations with a deep pause. We are only buying them time, he said, fighting back tears. Sometimes, I cant sleep. People walk by La Clinica Del Pueblo in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood in Washington DC, a free health clinic for Latino immigrants recently displaced by conflict. (Al Drago / For The Times) For domestic-abuse survivors waiting for hearings, the uncertainty has been excruciating. Candelaria wants to go home, but her older children back in Honduras tell her to have hope. Youve endured enough, they tell me, she said. Dilcia Molina, a program director at the Clinica del Pueblo in Washington and once an asylum seeker herself, said the decision has been especially tough on LGBTQ asylum seekers. They think, Why even bother to apply? she said. Some dont even come for mental health counseling anymore. The latest from Washington Outside an immigration courtroom in Virginia, Ingrid, 29, said she made her way across the border illegally in November 2016, about a month after her now 13-year-old son came home beaten up by gang members at school. She couldnt afford a lawyer before and cant find one now. My friend was abused by her husband, and three lawyers have refused to take her case, she said. I dont think Ill have any luck. Xiomara, now 25, wont have her asylum hearing for another year. For months, she scraped by on meager wages, babysitting and waiting on tables. She was relieved to find a job at a factory that pays $10 an hour. The American dream is one big lie, she now says. But at least here, she said, she and her daughter are alive. More stories from Jazmine Ulloa jazmine.ulloa@latimes.com @jazmineulloa A former foster child who is suing San Diego County for allegedly failing to protect him from years of sexual abuse by his former foster father has filed a new lawsuit accusing the governments attorneys of snooping through his confidential juvenile files without required court authorization. The lawsuit names the county and one of its attorneys, Erica Cortez. The lawyer who filed it, Shawn A. McMillan, is also seeking a temporary restraining order blocking the countys attorneys or others involved in litigation from looking in the juvenile files without court authorization. The plaintiff, known in court papers as A.G., was abused for years by his foster father and later adoptive father, Michael Jarome Hayes. Hayes pleaded guilty in 2014 to felony charges of molesting A.G., his twin brother and another boy placed in Hayes care. Hayes is now serving a 20-year, 8-month prison sentence. Advertisement Juvenile and child welfare case files are confidential and protected by law. Any attorney representing a party in civil litigation -- even when an attorney is in-house counsel defending the county -- must seek judicial authorization before so much as looking at the private records, according to the lawsuit. Counties maintain child welfare records, but they should not use their special access to provide their defense lawyers with documents other defendants or plaintiffs have been unable to obtain through juvenile courts or normal discovery, said Robert C. Fellmeth, executive director of the Childrens Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law. That information should all be allocated between and among counsel for the conflicting parties -- without one getting everything because they are the county counsel, Fellmeth said. County Counsel needs serious instruction on how it should handle a case against an aspect of its operation that involves liability of county employees -- particularly in the context of privacy concerns that either side may abrogate. Cortez is among the lawyers defending the county in the lawsuit filed by A.G. and his twin in 2016. According to the lawsuit, Cortez told the plaintiffs attorney that she had access to A.G.s juvenile case file, which the plaintiffs attorney had never seen. McMillan had requested the record but the county refused to give it up, citing privacy laws that required the plaintiffs attorneys to get judicial authorization for disclosure. The county, however, had gotten access to the record without seeking judicial permission from the juvenile court, the lawsuit said. During a hearing in May, another of the twins attorneys, Stephen D. Daner, told the judge, All these records they are accessing, including this delivery service log that was just provided to you, are documents we were not provided. He continued, To get that delivered service log that they provided to your honor, even if you look at at the Superior Court rules, they had to file a request with the court and obtain judicial authorization because they are county counsel that represents the HHSA for purposes of civil litigation. Cortez said during the hearing that she and other county lawyers also advise the county on policy and compliance issues having to do with juvenile dependency cases. I would maintain that we need to review our clients records in its entirety in order to serve in our multiple roles as in-house counsel, Cortez told the judge. Cortez also noted that the plaintiffs had not shown that the county had used information in the records to harm the plaintiffs case. They have not proven that I am going into their records and getting information willy-nilly in order to sandbag them or attack them, Cortez noted in the hearing. The judge, Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia, said he agreed that plaintiffs had not shown that the county had improperly used its access to the confidential document against them. Battaglia said he declined to issue any orders regarding the records-access question because a juvenile court had recently ordered the release of the child welfare documents for A.G. that the county allegedly viewed without judicial authorization. While Battaglia did not rule on the issue, he repeatedly told the county lawyers he was not convinced that county counsel has a unique right to access juvenile case files when defending the agency in civil court, where the information could be used as an unfair advantage. You cant have it both ways, Battaglia told the countys lawyers during the hearing. You cant be in there, cherrypicking information, keeping it from the plaintiffs counsel, and then at trial try to impeach A.G. or somebody on some documents you sequestered under some veil that because you are county counsel and this is an agency of the county, you get free rein and nobody else gets to see it. Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35 morgan.cook@sduniontribune.com At least four people, two of them police officers, were killed during an early-morning shooting Friday morning at a residential neighborhood in Canada, authorities said. Chief of Police Leanne Fitch identified the officers killed as Fredericton constables Sarah May Burns, 43, and Lawrence Robb Costello, 45. The names of the other two victims, an adult male and female, have not been released. Burns and Costello were responding to an incident on Brookside Drive in New Brunswick around 7 a.m. local time when they discovered the two victims. As the officers approached, they were both fatally shot. The suspect, a 48-year-old Fredericton man, is in custody and officials confirmed there is no further threat to the public just after 11 a.m. The area will remain contained for the foreseeable future as officials continue to investigate. Advertisement During this most difficult time, this dark time, I can say with certainty that citizens of Fredericton were being exceptionally well served. And those that were killed this morning were taken very well care of. I couldnt be prouder of the men and women that serve this city, Fitch said during a press conference Friday afternoon. I want to assure the public we will continue to do so, in the days, and months and years ahead. The regional hospital was treating multiple victims from the early hours attack, according to a tweet from Horizon Health. The suspect is also being treated for serious injuries related to the incident, police said. Costello, a 20-year veteran of the police force, leaves behind a partner and four children. Burns, who put in two years of service, leaves behind a spouse and her three children. Authorities have not released any other details surrounding the shooting, including the motive behind the deadly incident. There is no greater gesture than to put oneself in harms way to protect the life of another. This morning, first responders rushed to the scene of danger, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement. They did not think twice about what they had to do to keep their fellow Canadians safe. They were unflinching in their duty. We will not forget the two fallen police officers whose sacrifice no doubt saved lives and prevented even greater tragedy. Robert DiDiodato, who lives on a street connecting to Brookside Drive along the citys north side, said he heard what sounded like a firecracker Friday morning. With the tempo it might have been a gunshot. It was sort of like pop, pop, pop, pop, he told CBC. Doors are locked and everybodys inside. Police and RCMP officers survey the area of a shooting in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. (Keith Minchin / AP) Another Fredericton resident, David MacCoubrey, said he heard as many as 17 shots fired. Brian Gallant, New Brunswicks premier, said he was upset and saddened by the mornings events. On behalf of all the people of New Brunswick, I offer my condolences, my thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families, he tweeted. Our thoughts also turn to the courageous men and women on the front lines working to keep us safe. New Brunswick mayor Mike OBrien said in a statement that our hearts are broken by the murder of our two brave police officers. Their lives were lost while protecting ours. In this time of shock and grief, our city will no protect their families and their colleagues. Fredericton, the capital of the New Brunswick Province, has a population of about 60,000. New Brunswick was the site of another mass shooting in 2014, which resulted in the deaths of three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers. Another two were injured in Monctcon, which is about 100 miles outside Fredericton. At the time, it was one of the worst shooting incidents of its kind in Canada, where gun laws are significantly stricter than they are in the United States. Orkla ASA has on 10 August 2018 bought 353,000 Orkla shares through broker at an average price of NOK 69.95 per share. Orkla's total holding of treasury shares after this transaction is 15,946,259 shares. Orkla ASA Oslo, 10 August 2018 Ref.: Senior Vice President Group Treasury Geir Solli Tel.: +47 9954 2789 This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. One year ago, the nation was gripped by the shocking scene of hundreds of white supremacists taking to the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, bellowing racist and anti-Semitic chants. While some wore polo shirts and others waved Nazi flags, their message was clear: nonwhites and minorities have no place in todays America. During Charlottesville, the alt right showed the country it was no longer just an internet nuisance but a real-world movement that could bring together more than 600 extremists for an event where raw hatred was on full display. For many unfamiliar with Americas dark underbelly, the rally was a moment of awakening to the hatred that many of us assumed was a relic of our past. In our own city of San Diego, it would be easy to view the events of Charlottesville as an outlier, led by people who dont exist in towns like ours. But we know that this conclusion is not only naive but dangerous. We now know that Unite the Right attracted participants from at least 36 states. So while Charlottesville was the geographic locus for protesters, the ideas behind the rally generated interest among people from across the country. Unfortunately, in todays political climate, white supremacist groups are more emboldened than ever, spreading their vitriol online, on college campuses and in our communities. Advertisement The data reflects this new reality: a recent Anti-Defamation League report shows incidents of white supremacist propaganda on college campuses more than tripling in the 2017-2018 school year from the previous academic year. Locally, in the same school year, there were 16 reported white supremacist propaganda incidents on at least five of our local college and university campuses. We have also documented a nationwide increase in incidents of anti-Semitism, including vandalism, harassment and assaults, which were up by nearly 60 percent in 2017 over the previous year. In California, there were 479 reported anti-Semitic incidents between 2016 and today. While white supremacists were not responsible for many of those incidents, we are concerned that the climate created by Charlottesville had an impact on those numbers last year. And the most recent FBI statistics show that hate crimes are up across the nation in virtually every category. Since January 2017, the national increase in anti-Semitic incidents and white supremacist propaganda efforts have manifested locally in San Diego. In addition to the presence of white nationalist groups on college campuses, we have received a sharp increase in anti-Semitic incidents in our local K-12 schools including bullying, harassment and vandalism. Local business and religious institutions have also been the targets of hate crimes. The trend of rising hate incidents must be met with counter measures that combat hateful speech, shine a light on extremist trends and incidents, and community actions to uplift unity and inclusion. There is good news: In the wake of Unite the Right, decent people in our community have shown a willingness to stand up and publicly reject hate groups and their messages. We were especially inspired by the words of Mayor Kevin Faulconer who, after Charlottesville, made clear that hate has no place in our city, tweeting, We must reject this violence. America is strong because we accept all are created equal. Indeed, we are strong when we stand together to fight hate and extremism, bias and bigotry. In the year since Charlottesville, the San Diego ADL has vigorously pursued our work to fight hate and build hope: We are active participants on San Diegos Hate Crimes Coalition and ADL experts regularly speak at community events and provide trainings to identify and respond to hate crimes; We hosted our first annual Walk Against Hate in San Diego, bringing over 1,300 community members together in a show of unity against hate and extremism; We work with families and school administrators to respond to anti-Semitic or extremist incidents and provide leading anti-bias programming to build inclusive school communities. Charlottesville should be remembered as a warning to America: This is what happens when bigots unify under one banner. It will take an ongoing and coordinated effort by public officials, private industries, the corporate sector and civic institutions to ensure that our societys hateful elements are pushed back into the margins where they belong. Gillies is regional director of the Anti-Defamation Leagues San Diego region. A 3-2 split vote from the Poway Unified School District Board of Education resulted in the hiring of Richard Nash as the new principal of Poway High School. At their Aug. 9 meeting, board members T.J. Zane, Darshana Patel and Michelle OConnor-Ratcliff voted in favor of hiring Nash. Board members Charles Sellers and Kimberley Beatty voted against Nashs hiring. Previous Poway High principal Ron Garrett left the position in June, pursuing other opportunities within the district. Nash comes from James Madison High School in the San Diego Unified School District, where he had been principal for nine years. He began teaching at James Madison High in 2004 and then served as vice-principal before becoming principal. During his time there, he was honored for increasing access to A.P. courses and providing support for underrepresented students, raising API scores by 97 points over the last three years it was measured, overseeing an award-winning CTE program, with a culinary arts pathway ranked 1st in the state and 6th in the nation, starting a marching band program where there previously was none, improving school climate, and establishing a focus on cultural diversity, said Supt. Marian Kim-Phelps in a letter to the Poway High community. James Madison High School, at 1,125 students, has about half the population of Poway High School, which has 2,250. He will be joined at Poway High by a mostly-new administration team, including current Poway High Assistant Principal Aaron Little, as well as Assistant Principal Colin Young, who was previously an assistant principal at Mt. Carmel High School and a former teacher at Poway High, and Assistant Principal Brianne Froumis, who was previously an assistant principal at Black Mountain Middle School. I am confident that this very experienced and highly effective team can collaboratively and collectively help take Poway High School to the next level, said Kim-Phelps. Nashs hiring drew some controversy, after news about his selection as the finalist was spread among the Poway High community (a Poway High parent said at the meeting she was told Nashs identity by a SDUSD employee). Candidates for educational administration are generally promised confidentiality until their contracts are approved. One parent, Janet Lettang spoke at the public comment section of the boards closed session prior to its regular open meeting on Thursday, asking the board members to remember who they represent and to hire the best principal for Poway High. She also questioned if the district had spent enough time getting the best candidate for the position and not the best available. The board voted to hire Nash during the closed session meeting. Lettang said Poway High needs a high-level principal and was concerned about Nash coming from a school with low test scores. Instead, she said, Poway High should be pulling a principal from a high-achieving school district, like Torrey Pines. Lettang said she was also concerned because James Madison High School does not have a high-achieving performing arts program like Poway High. If hes not the best candidate, lets keep looking, she said. Nash was one of three finalists for the position, selected after being interviewed by a panel of nine people. The panel included a parent representative, a teacher, former Poway High principal Scott Fisher and district representatives, among others. The three candidates were unanimously selected by the panel, said Kim-Phelps. The superintendents cabinet interviewed the three finalists and unanimously selected Nash as best for the position, she added. The process used to hire Nash is the exact same process the district uses for hiring all principals, Kim-Phelps said Thursday night. In a letter to the community, Kim-Phelps expressed her confidence in Nash despite the differences between James Madison High and Poway High, saying Poway High is obviously a different school, with more resources and a diverse makeup of students and staff, and I am confident that this is an environment where Mr. Nash can lead and succeed. I know you will get to know him better as you meet and interact with him personally in the months to come, with his highly visible presence in classrooms and all school events. Please join me in extending a very warm Poway welcome to Mr. Richard Nash, your new Principal. Lettang spoke again at the regular board meetings open session Thursday night following the hiring of Nash, thanking the board for taking the time to listen to feedback from the Poway High community and welcoming Nash. Email: news@pomeradonews.com Logan Allens next start will be in the Pacific Coast League. Ranked No. 87 in MLB.coms top-100 and eight among Padres prospects, the 21-year-old left-hander will be promoted to Triple-A El Paso for a Saturday start after a breakthrough campaign saw Allen fan a Padres system-best 125 batters in 121 innings at Double-A San Antonio. Allens 10 wins are tied for both the system and Texas League lead while his 2.75 ERA leads qualifying starting pitchers in the circuit. Allen was a mid-season all-star with the Missions and was twice the leagues pitcher of the week. The last time was after pitching seven innings of a combined no-hitter with reliever Jason Jester. Advertisement Allen struck out seven and walked five before handing the ball off to Jester for the final two innings. Allen struck out a season-high 12 batters on May 30, 10 on June 10 and held the opposition to one run or less in 11 of his 20 appearances (19 starts). Allens opponent average (.205), WHIP (1.05) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.29) are all career-lows. Bostons eighth-round pick in 2015, Allen joined the Padres alongside Manuel Margot, Carlos Asuaje and Javy Guerra in the Craig Kimbrel trade. Margot and Asuaje are in the majors and Allen and Guerra are now in the Pacific Coast League. Padres Videos On Now Padres pitcher Chris Paddack on start vs. Mariners and possibility of making rotation On Now Meet the Padres: Ian Kinsler 5:18 On Now Catching up with Padres OF Franmil Reyes 5:18 On Now Meet The Padres: Greg Garcia 5:11 On Now Catching up with Padres reliever Craig Stammen 5:33 On Now Meet the Padres: Logan Allen 6:23 On Now Meet The Padres: Manny Machado 9:08 On Now Meet The Padres: Chris Paddack 5:08 On Now Three things that stood out from Machado's first day with the Padres 1:53 On Now Padres manager Andy Green on Machado joining his roster jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutSanders Owen Miller went undrafted out of Ozaukee High School in Fredonia, Wis. He played in just two Cape Cod League games the summer after his sophomore season at Illinois State when he was released from a temporary contract. He is moving quickly in pro ball, all the same, after the Padres used their third-round pick on the 21-year-old shortstop in June. In low Single-A Fort Waynes 4-0 win at Lake County on Thursday, Miller homered for the second day in a row since his promotion to the Midwest League, his reward for a blistering start to his career as an all-star at short-season Tri-City. I think Ive been playing well, Miller said by phone before picking up three hits Thursday. Im pretty much trying to do the same thing I did in college and just know the type of player I am. Im sticking to my approach, trying to have good at-bats and sticking to the middle of the field and not selling out. The right-handed-hitting Miller paired a .335/.395/.400 batting line with two homers, 20 RBIs and nearly as many walks (15) as strikeouts (24) to punch his ticket to Tuesdays Northwest/Pioneer League all-star game as the starting shortstop. Advertisement Only Miller and fellow infielder Olivier Basabe didnt pack their bags for a few days in Grand Junction, Colo. They packed for good for Fort Wayne. After enjoying Mondays banquet and Tuesdays festivities, the two woke at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday for a flight to Denver, a connecting flight to Cleveland and then a ride to Eastlake, Ohio. Along the way, Miller learned he was hitting cleanup as the TinCaps designated hitter (Basabe was the starting second baseman). In his third at-bat, Miller greeted reliever Riley Echols with a go-ahead, two-run homer. Figured Id jump on something quick, Miller said. He threw me a fastball and I put a good swing on it. It was pretty cool to hit a home run in my first game. The second home run came in his first at-bat Thursday, a solo shot that matched the two homers that Miller hit in 191 at-bats with Tri-City. The 6-foot, 190-pound Miller hit 17 in three years at Illinois State, including six while fashioning a .384/.433/.537 batting line the year after he was unceremoniously released from the Cape Cod League, the preeminent summer showcase for collegiate stars hoping to up their draft stock. Miller used the slight to his advantage. I wasnt going to let that define who I was, Miller said. You cant just dwell in the past. I used it as motivation to get better every day. THURSDAYS GAMES TRIPLE-A EL PASO (65-50) Sacramento 2, Chihuahuas 1: 3B Ty France (.500) went 2-for-4 and homered in his Pacific Coast League debut. LHP Dillon Overton (2.97) allowed on a run on six hits and two walks in six innings and RHP Seth Simmons (1-1, 4.50) allowed a run in two innings. DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (23-23, 65-41) Springfield 4, Missions 3: RHP Chris Paddack (1.38) allowed a run on four hits and no walks in five innings while striking out four. RHP Elliot Ashbeck (0-1, 18.00) allowed two runs in the sixth and RHP Miguel Diaz (0-1, 2.47) struck out four and allowed a run in three innings. 3B Hudson Potts (.000) went 0-for-2 with two walks, a steal and a run scored in his Texas League debut and C Webster Rivas (.294) went 2-for-4 with an RBI. HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (23-24, 57-60) Visalia 11, Storm 0: RHP Ronald Bolanos (5-8, 5.23) allowed nine runs on nine hits and a walk in five innings. LHP Travis Radke (9.00) allowed two runs on four hits in two innings. SS Chris Baker (.239) doubled for the Storms only hit. LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (21-24, 53-61) TinCaps 4, Lake County 0: LHP Osvaldo Hernandez (10-4, 1.81) struck out five and allowed only one hit in six shutout innings, lowering his Midwest League-leading ERA. Hernandez threw 50 of his 85 pitches for strikes. RHP Reiss Knehr (9.00) struck out four over two shutout innings of one-hit ball and RHP Jose Quezada (4.15) struck out one in a scoreless ninth. Millers second-inning homer paced the offense and CF Jeisson Rosario (.279) tripled in two runs in four at-bats. SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (5-9, 23-29) Hillsboro 3, Dust Devils 0: In their Northwest League debuts, SS Xavier Edwards (.333) went 1-for-3 with a walk and 2B Tucupita Marcano (.000) went 0-for-4. LHP Sam Keating (3-5, 5.31) struck out five and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks in five innings in the loss. ROOKIE AZL PADRES 1 (8-4, 18-22) D-backs 2, Padres 1: RHP Efrain Contreras (1-2, 3.55) struck out five and allowed a run on four hits and no walks in five innings in relief in the loss. 1B Carlos Luis (.281) went 1-for-2, walked and collected the Padres only hit. ROOKIE AZL PADRES 2 (5-6, 20-19) Royals 3, Padres 2: LF Mason House (.316) went 3-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a steal. RHP Jean Cosme (3.00) allowed a walk in two hitless, shutout innings in the start. Transactions In addition to a flurry of moves highlighted by RHP Michel Baezs and 3B Hudson Potts promotion from Lake Elsinore to San Antonio (click here for all the details), INF Diego Goris was placed on El Pasos restricted list. and 3B promotion from Lake Elsinore to San Antonio (click here for all the details), INF Diego Goris was placed on El Pasos restricted list. INFs Xavier Edwards and Tucipita Marcano were transferred from the Arizona League to Tri-City. Padres Videos On Now Padres pitcher Chris Paddack on start vs. Mariners and possibility of making rotation On Now Meet the Padres: Ian Kinsler 5:18 On Now Catching up with Padres OF Franmil Reyes 5:18 On Now Meet The Padres: Greg Garcia 5:11 On Now Catching up with Padres reliever Craig Stammen 5:33 On Now Meet the Padres: Logan Allen 6:23 On Now Meet The Padres: Manny Machado 9:08 On Now Meet The Padres: Chris Paddack 5:08 On Now Three things that stood out from Machado's first day with the Padres 1:53 On Now Padres manager Andy Green on Machado joining his roster jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutSanders Unique Bella was one of eight horses nominated by Thursday for the Aug. 18 Pacific Classic, the highlight of the Del Mar season. But that left a bigger question: Will she run? It seems to be highly unlikely. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer rarely races his fillies against males at the 1-mile distance of the Pacific Classic. And it just so happens that Unique Bellas regular jockey, Mike Smith, is committed to riding in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on the same day as the Pacific Classic. Unique Bella was one of two horses nominated by Hollendorfer for the Pacific Classic on Thursday. Full of Luck also was nominated for Del Mars premier race, along with Accelerate, Ann Arbor Eddie, Catalina Cruiser, Pavel, Prime Attraction and The Lieutenant. Advertisement While $300 nominations closed at midnight Thursday, supplemental entries at a fee of $10,000 can be made until Aug. 14. At least four more nominations are anticipated. But the nomination of Unique Bella drew the most interest Thursday, if for no other reason than the probability that the Eclipse Award-winning, 4-year-old filly wont take on the males in the $1 million, Grade I Pacific Classic. Were nominating her and well take a look at the other nominations, Hollendorfer said Thursday, without commenting on the possibility of Unique Bella actually running in the Pacific Classic. Only five females have run in past Pacific Classics with Beholder winning the 2015 edition and placing second to California Chrome the following year. Hollendorfer last year rejected requests to run Unique Bella in the Kentucky Derby and had her headed toward the Kentucky Oaks before an injury sidelined the horse for four months. Hollendorfer has had four previous starters in the Pacific Classic and won with Shared Belief in 2014. Other horses mentioned as possible nominees for the Pacific Classic are Dr Dorr, Mubtaahij and Roman Ross who are all trained by six-time winning trainer Bob Baffert plus Sharp Samurai and Beach View. Espinoza granted stay San Diego County Superior Court Judge Timothy M. Casserly granted jockey Assael Espinoza an indeterminate stay of serving his 10-day suspension until the appeal of the penalty can be heard by the California Horse Racing Board. The decision means that the apprentice, who was sanctioned for triggering Saturdays 10th-race accident which sent jockeys Corey Nakatani and Geovanni Franco to the hospital and resulted in the death of Irish Spring could be able to ride for the rest of the Del Mar meet. The suspension was due to start Sunday. Following the stay, Espinoza received six mounts on Sundays card. Notable * Instagrand has been made the 1-2 favorite for Saturdays $200,000, Grade II Best Pal stakes. The six-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds on the main track has drawn five horses, with Owning, Synthesis, Mason Dixon and Sparky Ville outside of Instagrand and jockey Drayden Van Dyke on the rail. * Defending champion Skye Diamonds will face five rivals in Sundays $100,000, Grade II Rancho Bernardo Handicap at 6 furlongs on the main track for older fillies and mares. The field will also include Anonymity, Deer Valley, Moonshine Memories, Turkish and Yuvetski. * Cordiality is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the field of nine for todays $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes for older California-bred fillies and mares. Cordiality will be breaking from the outside post with Tyler Baze up. * Espinoza rode Ike Walker to victory in Thursdays $65,000 feature, rallying past Lookie Loo late in the stretch and winning by a nose in the mile run on the main track. The Hollendorfer-trained Ike Walker has won five of his seven starts at Del Mar. Center is a freelance writer. 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. Not for dissemination or distribution in the United States or through U.S. newswire services. TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maricann Group Inc. (CSE:MARI) (Maricann or the Company) announced today that it has closed its previously disclosed private placement of special warrants ("Special Warrants") at a price of $1.60 per Special Warrant raising gross proceeds of approximately $37.4 million (the "Offering"). Canaccord Genuity Corp. and GMP Securities L.P., acted as joint bookrunners and co-lead agents (together, the Agents) to the Offering. Each Special Warrant is automatically exercisable (without payment of any further consideration) into units of the Company (the Units) on the date that is the earlier of: (i) the date that is three business days following the date on which the Company obtains a receipt from the applicable securities regulatory authorities in the Province of Ontario and each of the jurisdictions in Canada in which the Special Warrants are sold (collectively, the Securities Commissions) for a (final) prospectus qualifying the distribution of the Units issuable upon exercise of the Special Warrants (the Qualification Prospectus) and (ii) the date that is four months and one day after the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), subject to adjustment in certain events. In the event the Company has not received a receipt from the Securities Commissions for the Qualifying Prospectus before October 4, 2018, each unexercised Special Warrant will thereafter entitle the holder to receive upon the exercise thereof, at no additional consideration, 1.05 Units (instead of one Unit). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a Common Share) and one common share purchase warrant of the Company (a Warrant). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a Warrant Share) for a period of two years following the Closing Date at an exercise price of $1.75 per share, subject to adjustment in certain events. The Company may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants on not less than 30 days notice should the daily volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE) (or such other exchange on which the Common Shares may trade) be greater than $2.00 for any 10 consecutive trading days. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release will not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. All securities issued will be subject to a four month hold period subject to the Company obtaining a receipt for the Qualification Prospectus prior thereto. In connection with the completion of the Offering, two officers entered into securities lending agreements pursuant to which they lent (together, the "Loans") two of the subscribers in the Offering an aggregate of 2,708,000 freely-tradeable common shares (the "Loaned Shares") until the date that is four months and one day following closing of the Offering (the Securities Lending). As collateral for the Securities Lending, the borrowers of the Loaned Shares have pledged a total of 2,708,000 Special Warrants which they acquired in connection with the Offering. In connection with the provision of the Loans, the Company has agreed to pay the officers an aggregate fee in an amount equal to $216,640, to be allocated between such officers pro rata based on the number of Loaned Shares lent by each of them pursuant to the Securities Lending. About Maricann Group Inc. Maricann is a vertically integrated producer and distributor of marijuana for medical purposes. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and Munich, Germany, with production facilities in Langton, Ontario where it operates a medicinal cannabis cultivation, extraction, formulation and distribution business under federal licence from the Government of Canada. The Company also has production operations in Dresden, Saxony, Germany and Regensdorf, Switzerland. Maricann is currently undertaking an expansion of its cultivation and support facilities in Canada in a 942,000 sq. ft. (87,515 sq. m) and will continue to pursue new opportunities in Europe. For more information about Maricann please visit our website at www.maricann.ca Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this document, including statements with respect to the proposed Offering and Closing Date and use of proceeds thereof, contain forward-looking statements which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as believes, expects, may, desires, will, should, projects, estimates, contemplates, anticipates, intends, or any negative such as does not believe or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. No assurance can be given that potential future results or circumstances described in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. By their nature, these forward-looking statements, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties, including those discussed herein, that could cause actual results to significantly differ from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the view of the Company with respect to future events, and are based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions, which it considers reasonable. Management cautions readers that the assumptions relative to the future events, several of which are beyond Managements control, could prove to be incorrect, given that they are subject to certain risk and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: fluctuations in operating results; the impact of general economic, industry and market conditions; the ability to recruit and retain qualified employees; fluctuations in cash flow; increased levels of outstanding debt and obligations under a capital lease; expectations regarding market demand for particular products and the dependence on new product development; the impact of market change; and the impact of price and product competition. Management disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Contact information: Investor Relations Graham Farrell Director of Investor Relations graham@maricann.com 647-643-7665 Corporate Headquarters (Canada) Maricann Group Inc. (Toronto) 845 Harrington Court, Unit 3 Burlington Ontario L7N 3P3 Canada 289-288-6274 European Headquarters (Germany) Maricann GmbH Thierschstrasse 3, 80538 Munchen, Deutschland NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Horizons ETFs Management (US) LLC announced today that they will be terminating the Horizons Cadence Hedged US Dividend Yield ETF (the ETF) effective at the close of business on August 28, 2018 (the Termination Date). Due to a change in business strategy, it has been determined to close the ETF. Details of the ETF are as follows. ETF Ticker CUSIP Horizons Cadence Hedged US Dividend Yield ETF USDY 44053G884 August 22, 2018 is expected to be the last date that Authorized Participants may create and redeem units in USDY and trading will be suspended on the Cboe BZX Exchange on August 24, 2018. At the request of the manager, the ETF is expected to be de-listed from the Cboe BZX Exchange at the close of business on or about August 24, 2018, with all units still held by investors being subject to a mandatory redemption as of the Termination Date. Any remaining unitholders of the ETF as of the Termination Date will receive the net proceeds from the liquidations of the assets, less all liabilities and all expenses incurrent in connection with the dissolution of the ETF, on a pro-rata basis. The Horizons ETF Group: The Horizons ETFs Group consists of innovative financial services companies offering regional families of ETFs in Canada, Colombia, Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, and the United States. Currently, all of the ETFs offered by these companies use the Horizons ETFs brand with the exception of the BetaShares family of ETFs in Australia and the Mirae Asset Tiger ETFs family in Korea. All of the Horizons ETFs Group companies and affiliates are subsidiaries of Mirae Asset Global Investments Co., Ltd. As of March 31, 2018, Horizons ETF Group total global AUM stood at US $21 billion. Horizons ETFs Management (US) LLC is the investment advisor of the Fund. The Fund is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, which is not affiliated with Horizons ETFs Management (US), LLC or any of its affiliates. More than 40 years after the injustice of Japanese Internment, the United States offered an apology and restitution with the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II remains a stain on American history. From 1942-1946, close to 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were relocated to internment camps in the western United States. Over sixty percent of the interned people were American citizens. The motivation for this program was born out of wartime fear following the attack on Pearl Harbor and an underlying current of racist discomfort that was already present. More than 40 years after the final camp closed in 1946, and 30 years ago today, President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, a law that awarded restitution to over 80,000 people. Internment began in February, 1942, following President Franklin Delano Roosevelts signing of Executive Order 9066. Initially, Roosevelt and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover put little stock in rumors of anti-American activity and potential sabotage. However, the U.S. had just seen the unexpected Pearl Harbor attack after years of Japanese conquest in the Pacific between 1936 and 1942. Japanese occupied or controlled areas included all of Korea, portions of mainland China, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and many more. A fear that an invasion of the West Coast of the U.S. was imminent festered and grew, exacerbated by the Roberts Commission report on the Pearl Harbor attack and statements by Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt, head of the Western Defense Command, spreading a myth that Japanese immigrants remained loyal to the Emperor no matter where they lived. Testifying before Congress in 1943, DeWitt went so far as to say, I dont want any of them [persons of Japanese ancestry] here. They are a dangerous element. There is no way to determine their loyalty It makes no difference whether he is an American citizen, he is still a Japanese. American citizenship does not necessarily determine loyalty But we must worry about the Japanese all the time until he is wiped off the map Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today The order resulted in thousands being moved to camps and detention facilities in nearly 70 locations spread throughout the U.S. A number of the long-term camps were labeled as relocation centers, while detention camps also held a sizeable number of German and Italian-Americans. Over 30,000 of the detainees were children, among them George Takei, who would later gain fame as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek. Takei, who was first interned at five and spent time in multiple facilities, would later star in the Broadway musical Allegiance, based on his own experiences in the camps. Japanese Relocation, produced by the Office of War Information, attempted to justify the governments case for internment. After the war, the internment locations went through a closing process that lasted, in some cases, until 1946. The internment experience had cost the victims property, careers, and, in a few cases, their lives. Widespread depression and trauma among detainees was observed in reports from the War Relocation Authority. An early attempt to compensate the population came with the American Japanese Claims Act of 1948, which allowed Japanese-Americans to try to recoup property losses. Unfortunately, detainee records destroyed by the IRS and documentation lost due to the movement of families between their homes and various facilitiesed to a number of unsuccessful filings; over 26,000 claims were filed, but of the possible total award of $148 million in requests, only $37 million was ever paid out. By the late 1970s, public calls for restitution had increased. In 1979, the National Council for Japanese American Redress filed a class action suit against the U.S. government. A year later, Congress appointed a committee to study the internment and possible paths to compensation; subsequent investigative hearings led to testimony from more than 750 citizens about their camp experiences. The bill, the Civil Liberties Act of 1987, Restitution for World War II internment of Japanese-Americans and Aleuts, was introduced as a result. While the bill faced opposition from House Republicans on spending grounds, it eventually made its way through voting (243-141 in the House; 69 to 27 in the Senate) and was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on August 10, 1988. Reagan opened the signing ceremony by saying, We gather here today to right a grave wrong. The Act covered a number of items, including a formal apology to those interned on behalf of the government, and a tacit acknowledgement that the relocations were an injustice. The act granted every living detainee the sum of $20,000; beginning in 1990, checks were sent to 82,219 survivors. Items 6 and 7 of the Purposes section of the Act remain strikingly relevant today, as they discourage the occurrence of similar injustices and violations of civil liberties in the future and make more credible and sincere any declaration of concern by the United States over violations of human rights committed by other nations. Furthermore, that Act codified that the entire policy of internment was based on race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership, rather than any genuine threat. Reagan concluded the signing evening by sharing a homespun story, as he so often did: One young actor said, Blood that has soaked into the sands of a beach is all of one color. America stands unique in the world: the only country not founded on race but on a way, an ideal. Not in spite of but because of our polyglot background, we have had all the strength in the world. That is the American way. The name of that young actorI hope I pronounce this rightwas Ronald Reagan. And, yes, the ideal of liberty and justice for allthat is still the American way. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join This column by American studies professor Ben Railton explores the connections between Americas past and present. On August 12th, 2017, as my sons and I drove from Boston to my childhood hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia for our annual visit with my parents, the small Central Virginia city erupted in violence. A gathering of white supremacists, neo-Confederates, and neo-Nazis known as the Unite the Right rally spurred counter-protests from antifa and other groups, and conflicts broke out again and again. In the days most horrific moment, a white supremacist named James Alex Fields Jr. drove his car into a group of counter-protesters, injuring thirty-five and murdering a young Charlottesville resident named Heather Heyer. Well be driving down to Charlottesville again this coming weekend, on the one-year anniversary of those events. At the same time, many of the rallys organizers and participants will be attending their own anniversary event, another Unite the Right rally in Washington, D.C. As that D.C. rally makes clear, these are national issues and conflicts that extend far beyond Charlottesville. Yet there are two distinct but interconnected histories within Charlottesville that provide vital contexts for these contemporary events: histories of Confederate memory and racial segregation. Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today Charlottesville saw no direct military action during the Civil War, but it was home to one of the wars largest Confederate hospitals (which cared for more than 22,000 by the wars end), and not coincidentally to one of its largest cemeteries for the Confederate dead (with more than 1000 buried there). For a few decades after the war, that cemetery remained largely private and unacknowledged. But in 1893 the Ladies Confederate Memorial Association (a predecessor to the Daughters of the Confederacy) dedicated a more formal Confederate Monument and Cemetery. The monument goes beyond the cemeterys specific contexts to narrate a broader and striking reframing of Confederate memory, focused both on an idealization of the past and an extension of that heroic mythic history into the present, as it honors the bravery, devotion, and performance of every Confederate soldier and the honor due every Confederate veteran. While the cemetery monument represented a significant step in the citys memorialization of the Confederacy, it was more than two decades later that the city erected the now infamous downtown statues of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Dedicated in 1921 (Jackson) and 1924 (Lee), these statues were funded by, and constructed on land donated to the city by, Paul Goodlue McIntire, a local boy who had made a fortune on the New York Stock Exchange and returned to give much of it back to his hometown. McIntire also funded three other city parks and two different Charlottesville statues in honor of the Lewis and Clark expedition (Lewis was born in neighboring Albemarle county and the expedition set off from the area in 1804), so its fair to say that his interests in public land and collective memory extended well beyond the Confederacy. Yet the Lee and Jackson statues are located in Charlottesvilles most historic and central area, adjacent to its city hall and county courthouse (Jackson is directly outside the courthouse building), and thus occupy powerfully symbolic space in the city. Moreover, there is at least one piece of direct evidence that McIntires public contributions were intended to preserve and further racial segregation in Charlottesville. As discovered by a Charlottesville Daily Progress reporter in 2009, the mid-1920s deed for the citys McIntire Park, the only one of these McIntire-endowed parks named directly for the benefactor, includes this requirement: Said property shall be held and used in perpetuity by the said City for a public park and playground for the white people of the City of Charlottesville. Of course all Southern cities practiced racial segregation in a variety of small and large ways throughout the Jim Crow era, but Charlottesville represents a particularly extreme case. Thats most especially true of the citys public school system, which was one of the last in the United States to desegregate after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. All of the citys public schools resisted desegregation for more than five years, supported by white supremacist officials such as U.S. Senator Harry Byrd and numerous members of the state General Assembly. The Assemblys massive resistance bills gave Governor Lindsay Almond the authority to close any school where black and white students would attend together, and in the fall of 1958 he used that authority to close Charlottesvilles all-white Lane and Venable Elementary Schools for five months rather than admit African American students. All the citys schools remained segregated throughout that school year, including Lane and Venable when they reopened in February 1959. That autumn, the first three African American students attended Lane High School, marking the start of integrated public education in the city. Although some Charlottesville public schools did not accept their first African American students for another year or two, the Supreme Court had ruled massive resistance unconstitutional in 1959, and the formal battle against educational integration in the city was over. These were only the most nationally prominent of the citys many late 1950s and 60s battles over integration. A mixed-race group of University of Virginia students and activists attempted to integrate the white-only University (movie) Theater in 1961, but the theater remained segregated until after the Civil Rights Act passed in July 1964. An even more overt conflict took place in 1963 at Buddys Restaurant, a popular establishment that, like many in the city, served only a white clientele. Inspired by the Civil Rights Movements demonstrations across the South, and supported by the local NAACP chapter, a mixed-race group of protesters led by community activists and ministers Floyd and William Johnson attempted to stage a sit-in at Buddys on Memorial Day in 1963. They were denied entrance to the restaurant and met with violence by white customers and counter-protesters; both Floyd and William Johnson were physically assaulted (Floyd had to spend two nights in the hospital), and other protesters including University of Virginia History Professor and Civil Rights ally Paul Gaston were likewise bloodied. The resulting press coverage caused a number of local establishments to voluntarily desegregate, but Buddys remained segregated until the Civil Rights Act passedand then its owner Buddy Glover chose to close rather than desegregate. All of these histories came together in the current movement to remove the citys Confederate monuments. While that campaign has been driven in part by city councilors such as Kristin Szakos and Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy, another prominent argument for removing the statues came from Charlottesville public school students of color. Zyahna Bryant, an African American student at Charlottesville High School (my own alma mater), organized a March 2016 change.org petition to the City Council requesting that the Lee statue in particular be removed. Bryant and hundreds of her high school peers (along with many other Charlottesville residents) signed off on the statement, which reads in part, As a younger African American resident in this city, I am often exposed to different forms of racism that are embedded in the history of the south and particularly this city. My peers and I feel strongly about the removal of the statue because it makes us feel uncomfortable and it is very offensive. I do not go to the park for that reason, and I am certain that others feel the same way. How each American community remembers the various histories out of which it has developed, and just as importantly how it engages with what has been included and what has been left out of its public and collective memories, are thorny and vital 21st century questions. Charlottesville is poised to help us answer those questions, but only if we resist the kinds of divisive and violent voices, and their white supremacist visions of the past, that dominated the city in August 2017. IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (the Company) today announced the date of a Special Meeting of the Company's 9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ("Series B Preferred Shares"). The Special Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. local time, at the Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel, 4500 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach, California 92660. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on August 10, 2018 as the record date for the determination of holders of Series B Preferred Shares entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting. The Special Meeting has been called by the Companys Board of Directors in accordance with the Court Order issued on July 16, 2018 by the Circuit Court of Baltimore City. The purpose of the Special Meeting is for the holders of the Company's Series B Preferred Shares to elect two directors (the Preferred Directors) to the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the terms set forth in Articles Supplementary dated May 26, 2004 (the 2004 Articles Supplementary). The 2004 Articles Supplementary and the Bylaws contain certain advance notice and information requirements for the nomination of any individual for election as a Preferred Director, some of which have been waived by the Companys Board of Directors with respect to the nomination of any individual for election as a Preferred Director at the Special Meeting. In order to nominate an individual for election as a Preferred Director, the following steps must be taken: (a) notice of the proposed nomination of such individual must be provided in writing to the Secretary of the Company, or such person as the Secretary designates to receive notice, on or before August 20, 2018, by a person who is a beneficial owner of Series B Preferred Shares as of the date of such notice and as of the Record Date for the Special Meeting, (b) such notice must be accompanied by (i) the name, address and professional qualifications of such individual, (ii) such individuals consent to serving as a Preferred Director, if elected, and (iii) as to the person giving the notice, the name and address of such person and the number of Series B Preferred Shares held of record and beneficially by such person as of the date of such notice and as of the Record Date for the Special Meeting, and (c) each individual so nominated, prior to the Special Meeting, upon the request of the Company, must provide a completed questionnaire (including a consent to conduct a background search) in form substantially similar as that provided to the Companys other directors in connection with the Companys annual meetings, with respect to information required to be disclosed by the Company with respect to its directors pursuant to applicable laws, rules or regulations or the rules of any securities exchange or quotation system upon which any securities of the Company are listed or traded. Notice of nominations of individuals for election as Preferred Directors may be sent to the Companys Secretary by fax at (949) 706-6208 or email at ron.morrison@impacmail.com. After receipt of a timely and complete notice of a nomination, the Company will provide a questionnaire (including a consent to conduct a background search). This questionnaire must be completed and returned to the Company the day prior to the date of the Special Meeting in order for a nominee to be properly presented at the Special Meeting. Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. has not nominated any persons for election as Preferred Directors and is not soliciting proxies in favor of the election of any nominees for election as Preferred Directors. Holders of Series B Preferred Shares are requested not to send any proxies to Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. in connection with the Special Meeting. Camac Fund, LP has provided notice of its intent to nominate Eric Shahinian and Michael Cricenti for election as the Preferred Directors at the Special Meeting. No individuals may properly be nominated for election as Preferred Directors unless they complete and return to the Company the questionnaire and consent to a background search described above on or before the day before the date of the Special Meeting. The Company intends to issue a press release containing the names of any other individuals if proper notice of their nomination is received on or before August 20, 2018. Please refer to the charter of Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., including the 2004 Articles Supplementary, for a description of the Series B Preferred Shares and to the Bylaws for a description of the procedures for nominating a director. A copy of the 2004 Articles Supplementary and Bylaws will be made available upon request and can also be found as exhibits to the Companys reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at its website at www.sec.gov. About the Company Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (IMH or Impac) provides innovative mortgage lending and warehouse lending solutions, as well as real estate solutions that address the challenges of todays economic environment. Impacs operations include mortgage and warehouse lending, servicing, portfolio loss mitigation and real estate services as well as the management of the securitized long-term mortgage portfolio, which includes the residual interests in securitizations. For additional information, questions or comments, please contact Alliance Advisors, LLC at 844-670-2148. Company changes name and has new OTC Symbol: WLAB DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE -- Simply Innovative Products, Inc. (the "Company") announced today that the Company has finalized its "Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization" (the "Merger") with White Label Liquid, Inc., a privately-held Florida corporation, headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. As a result of the Merger, the Company has changed its name to "White Label Liquid, Inc." and has changed its trading symbol to WLAB. In addition, effective immediately Yaron Elkayam, CEO of White Label Liquid, Inc., becomes the sole officer and director of the Company. All prior officers and directors resigned immediately following the Merger's completion. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed. Yaron Elkayam, the new CEO of the Company, stated, "We are extremely excited to be able to bring White Label Liquids, Inc. into the public marketplace. Our team at White Label Liquid has developed an exceptional business that has experienced rapid growth. We will now share our experience and the growth that it delivers with the SMPI shareholders." He added, "Going forward, our business will remain focused on the formulation of e-liquids and a variety of products containing hemp-derived CBD oil. We look forward to the years of growth ahead as a publicly held company and to enhancing shareholder value." About White Label Liquid, Inc.: White Label Liquid is a leading one-stop e-liquid manufacturing service providing premium custom-blended products containing hemp-derived CBD oil, and "E-Juice" and eliquids for vaping, all of which are sold to a wide variety of companies including major and small brands, chain stores, vape shops, distributors and dealers worldwide. The Company has the capability of producing up to 50,000 units per day in various packaging sizes and shapes using custom labels and customized presentation packaging. It's E-Juice and eliquid products are available in a wide range of specially formulated flavors with over 400 readily available and up to 50,000 combinations. For more information on the Company, visit its website at: https://www.whitelabelliquid.com. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this release, words such as "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "projected," "planned," forecasted" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are, by their very nature, not guarantees of Coastal Integrated Services Inc.'s future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Due to the risks and uncertainties, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For More Information, Visit the Company's Website at: https://whitelabelliquid.com Contact: Top Priority Investor Relations at IR@whitelabelliquid.com Total revenues of approximately $6.8 million for the second quarter of 2018 compared to $6.1 million for the second quarter of 2017. Net income attributable to SWK Stockholders of $3.7 million, or $0.28 per share, and non-GAAP Adjusted net income of $5.6 million, or $0.43 per share for the second quarter of 2018. Closed one financing during the quarter, deploying $7.6 million with additional $10.0 million deployed through existing portfolio company milestones and add-ons. Closed fourth financing year to date in July, bringing year to date capital deployment to $62.3 million. Raised $20 million revolving credit facility. Book value of $16.49 per share as of June 30, 2018 vs. $15.93 per share as of December 31, 2017. DALLAS, Aug. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SWK Holdings Corporation (SWKH.OB) (SWK or the Company), a life science focused specialty finance company, announced its second quarter 2018 financial results. Second Quarter 2018 Highlights: Reported total revenues of approximately $6.8 million for the quarter, compared to $6.1 million for the second quarter of 2017. Reported net income of approximately $3.7 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the quarter, as compared to $3.4 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2017. Total income producing assets (defined as finance receivables, marketable securities and investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries; less non-controlling interests) were approximately $171.8 million as of June 30, 2018, an 11.6% increase compared to $153.9 million as of December 31, 2017. We had a very active first half of 2018, closing four new transactions year to date through July and deploying $46.7 million into new opportunities, stated Winston Black, Chief Executive Officer of SWK. "We are encouraged by the quality of and activity in our pipeline. We believe we have built a high-quality platform in the life science finance sector, becoming a reliable partner for companies seeking non-dilutive finance alternatives to focus our efforts on executing our long-term strategy. With our new credit facility, we are well positioned to continue growing our finance receivables portfolio. Note: All references to growth rate percentages and shares compare the results of the period to those of the prior year comparable period. The Company reports its financial results in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the U.S. (GAAP). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users with additional meaningful financial information that should be considered when assessing the Companys ongoing performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Companys reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Companys non-GAAP financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. Management also uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company's performance. Non-GAAP Adjusted net income and its components and Non-GAAP Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) are not, and should not be viewed as, substitutes for GAAP net income and its components and basic and diluted EPS. Despite the importance of these measures to management in goal setting and performance measurement, we stress that these are Non-GAAP financial measures that have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, have limits in their usefulness to investors. Because of the non-standardized definitions, Non-GAAP Adjusted net income and its components (unlike GAAP net income and its components) may not be comparable to the calculation of similar measures of other companies. Portfolio Overview As of June 30, 2018, the Company's total income producing assets were approximately $171.8 million, an 11.6% increase as compared to $153.9 million as of December 31, 2017. (in thousands) June 30, December 31, 2018 2017 Finance receivables $ 170,661 $ 151,995 Marketable investments 1,152 1,856 Total income producing assets $ 171,813 $ 153,851 Warrant Assets 1,349 987 Total Portfolio Balance $ 173,162 $ 154,838 During the quarter, the Company closed a new royalty financing for $7.6 million and realized $9.2 million of proceeds on an exit of a loan position. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company closed a new loan transaction for $12.2 million and received another loan payoff, receiving $16.4 million in proceeds. On a gross basis, the Company has deployed $62.3 million year to date through August 10, 2018. Net of payoffs, the Company has deployed $36.7 million year to date through August 10, 2018. As of August 10, 2018, the Company and its partners have executed transactions with 30 different parties under its specialty finance strategy, funding an aggregate $445 million since 2012 in various financial products across the life science sector. At the end of the second quarter, the weighted average projected effective yield of the finance receivables portfolio was 13.1%. The projected effective yield is the rate at which income is expected to be recognized pursuant to the Companys revenue recognition policies, if all payments are received pursuant to the terms of the finance receivables. The decrease in the effective yield from the first quarter of 2018 is primarily due to the payoff of a loan position and another loan position becoming non-accrual during the quarter. Total portfolio investment activity as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017 was as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Beginning portfolio $ 169,075 $ 135,678 $ 154,838 $ 136,985 Early pay-offs (8,500 ) (8,500 ) Impairment expense and provision for loan credit losses (1,179 ) Interest paid-in-kind 48 424 96 807 Investment in finance receivables 17,460 7,374 46,710 11,012 Loan discount amortization and fee accretion 850 550 1,497 1,378 Changes in unconsolidated entity investment, net of noncontrolling interest (6,985 ) Net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable investments and derivatives (808 ) (238 ) (658 ) 1,110 Principal payments received on investments (5,027 ) (35 ) (5,742 ) (60 ) Proceeds/realized gains from sale of investments (101 ) Royalty (paydowns ) accretion (33 ) 44 (14,255 ) (349 ) Warrant investments, net of cancellations 97 431 355 431 Ending portfolio $ 173,162 $ 144,228 $ 173,162 $ 144,228 Results of Operations Revenues We generated revenues of $6.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, which consisted primarily of interest and fees earned on our finance receivables. We generated revenues of $6.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, driven primarily by $5.7 million in interest and fees earned on our finance receivables. The increase in revenue is primarily due to a $1.0 million increase in interest and fees earned on new and existing finance receivables and a larger portfolio. Revenue also reflects a $0.6 million decrease in royalty revenue on our Narcan investment. Royalty revenue from our Narcan investment will be substantially less going forward, as we reached the 1.5x cash on cash royalty cap during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase is partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in income from our investment in an unconsolidated entity, which sold its US marketing rights to its underlying intellectual property. Provision for Credit Losses We did not recognize an allowance for credit losses during the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. General and Administrative General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation, stock-based compensation and related costs for management, staff, Board of Directors, legal and audit expenses, and corporate governance. General and administrative expenses increased to $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, which was primarily due to an increase in the performance-based bonus accrual payable to Company management and employees. Other Income (Expense), Net Other income (expense), net for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, reflected a net fair market value loss of $(0.2) million and $(0.1) million on our warrant derivatives and a net fair market value loss of $(0.5) million and $0 on our equity securities. Income Tax Provision We recognized $1.1 million of deferred income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2018. We recognized $1.4 million of deferred income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in deferred income tax expense was primarily due to a reduction in the Federal statutory tax rate signed into law on December 22, 2017. The new legislation decreased the U.S. corporate federal income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, effective January 1, 2018. Liquidity and Capital Resources As of June 30, 2018, we had $21.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $30.6 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2017. The primary driver of the net decrease in our cash balance was new and add-on investment funding of $46.7 million, partially offset by interest and fee payments of $28.5 million earned on our finance receivables, including $13.7 million of royalty-related receipts from our Narcan investment. As of June 30, 2018, we had $11.9 million of unfunded commitments outstanding. Adjusted Net Income Net income in accordance with GAAP for the three-month period ended June 30, 2018, was $3.7 million, or $0.28 per diluted share. During the same period adjusted net income was $5.6 million, or $0.43 per share. The table below provides a reconciliation of SWKs reported (GAAP) consolidated net income to SWKs adjusted net income attributable to SWK Holdings Corporation Stockholders (Non-GAAP) for the three and six ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017. The table eliminates provisions for income taxes, non-cash mark-to-market changes on warrant assets and marketable investments and SWK's warrant liability. (in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Consolidated net income $ 3,668 $ 3,580 $ 7,312 $ 13,849 Plus: income tax expense 1,142 1,400 2,095 5,106 Plus: (gain) loss on fair market value of equity securities 541 664 Plus: (gain) loss on fair market value of derivatives, net 238 143 (61 ) 614 Subtract: gain on realized value of equity securities (243 ) Adjusted income before provision for income tax 5,589 5,123 10,010 19,326 Adjusted provision for income tax Non-GAAP consolidated net income 5,589 5,123 10,010 19,326 Non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to non-controlling interest 171 5,204 Non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to SWK Holdings Corporation Stockholders $ 5,589 $ 4,952 $ 10,010 $ 14,122 Non-GAAP adjusted basic income per share $ 0.43 $ 0.38 $ 0.77 $ 1.08 Non-GAAP adjusted diluted income per share $ 0.43 $ 0.38 $ 0.77 $ 1.08 Weighted average shares - Basic 13,059 13,038 13,056 13,035 Weighted average shares - Diluted 13,063 13,042 13,060 13,038 About SWK Holdings Corporation SWK Holdings Corporation is a specialized finance company with a focus on the global healthcare sector. SWK partners with ethical product marketers and royalty holders to provide flexible financing solutions at an attractive cost of capital to create long-term value for both SWKs business partners and its investors. SWK believes its financing structures achieve an optimal partnership for companies, institutions and inventors seeking capital for expansion or capital and estate planning by allowing its partners to monetize future cash flow with minimal dilution to their equity stakes. Additional information on the life science finance market is available on the Companys website at www.swkhold.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements including words such as believes, expects, anticipates, intends, estimates, plan, will, may, look forward, intend, guidance, future or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Because these statements reflect SWKs current views, expectations and beliefs concerning future events, these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Investors should note that many factors, as more fully described under the caption Risk Factors in SWKs Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as otherwise enumerated herein or therein, could affect the Companys future financial results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these risk factors. These are factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We assume no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except par value and share data) Derived from unaudited financial statements June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 21,281 $ 30,557 Accounts receivable 1,584 1,637 Finance receivables, net 170,661 151,995 Marketable investments 1,152 1,856 Deferred tax asset 20,630 22,725 Warrant assets 1,349 987 Other assets 659 126 Total assets $ 217,316 $ 209,883 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,506 $ 1,840 Credit facility revolver 370 Warrant liability 36 91 Total liabilities 1,912 1,931 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively Common stock, $0.001 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 13,063,915 and 13,053,422 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively 13 13 Additional paid-in-capital 4,433,729 4,433,589 Accumulated deficit (4,218,338 ) (4,225,863 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income 213 Total SWK Holdings Corporation stockholders' equity 215,404 207,952 Non-controlling interests in consolidated entities Total stockholders' equity 215,404 207,952 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 217,316 $ 209,883 SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands, except per share data) Derived from unaudited financial statements Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenues Finance receivable interest income, including fees $ 6,764 $ 5,734 $ 13,581 $ 10,390 Income related to investments in unconsolidated entity 335 10,539 Other 3 5 7 9 Total revenues 6,767 6,074 13,588 20,938 Costs and expenses: Provision for loan credit losses 1,179 General and administrative 1,178 951 2,399 1,612 Total costs and expenses 1,178 951 3,578 1,612 Other income (expense), net Unrealized net gain (loss) on derivatives (238 ) (143 ) 61 (614 ) Unrealized net loss on equity securities (541 ) (664 ) Gain on sale of marketable securities 243 Income before provision for income taxes 4,810 4,980 9,407 18,955 Provision for income taxes 1,142 1,400 2,095 5,106 Consolidated net income 3,668 3,580 7,312 13,849 Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 171 5,204 Net income attributable to SWK Holdings Corporation stockholders $ 3,668 $ 3,409 $ 7,312 $ 8,645 Net income per share attributable to SWK Holdings Corporation stockholders: Basic $ 0.28 $ 0.26 $ 0.56 $ 0.66 Diluted $ 0.28 $ 0.26 $ 0.56 $ 0.66 Weighted Average Shares: Basic $ 13,059 $ 13,038 $ 13,056 $ 13,035 Diluted $ 13,063 $ 13,042 $ 13,060 $ 13,038 SWK HOLDINGS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Derived from unaudited financial statements TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gratomic Inc. (GRAT or the Company) (TSX-V: GRAT) (FRANKFURT:CB81) (WKN:A143MR) is pleased to announce that it has closed its over-subscribed non-brokered private placement announced on July 31, 2018 and raised $2,342,500 (the Offering) through the issuance of 23,425,000 working capital units (the WC Unit). Arno Brand, Co-CEO of the Company, said we are grateful to our shareholders for their continued support of the Company. Part of the proceeds from the Offering will be used to expand the Aukam Processing facilitys capacity from 600 tonnes per annum to 10,000 tonnes per annum and to expand its mining fleet. Each WC Unit is priced at $0.10 and consists of one (1) common share and one (1) common share purchase warrant (WC Warrant). Each WC Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) common share (a WC Warrant Share) at a price of $0.20 per WC Warrant Share until the earlier of: (i) August 10, 2021 (the Closing Date); and (ii) in the event that the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange is at least $0.30 for ten (10) consecutive trading days, and the 10th trading day (the Final Trading Day) is at least four (4) months from the Closing Date, the date which is thirty (30) days from the Final Trading Day. The Company paid eligible finders cash compensation of $50,650 and issued 474,000 Broker Warrants as selling commissions. Each broker warrant (a Broker Warrant) issued in respect of the sale of WC Units entitles the holder to acquire one (1) common share of the Company at $0.10 for a period of three (3) years from the Closing Date. The Company paid First Republic Capital Corporation (First Republic) a corporate finance fee of $46,850 and issued to First Republic 468,500 corporate finance Broker Warrants along with its pro rata share of selling commissions. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four month hold period expiring on December 11, 2018. Insiders of the Company and their affiliates subscribed for $576,500 of the Offering. The insider private placements are exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (MI 61-101) by virtue of the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1) (a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration for the securities of the Company issued to the insiders did not exceed 25% of its market capitalization. About Gratomic Inc. Gratomic Inc. is an advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products most notably high value graphene based components for a range of mass market products. For more information: visit the website at www.gratomic.ca or contact: Arno Brand, Co-CEO +1 416-561-4095 abrand@gratomic.ca Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect managements current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). First voyage Nov. 4, 2019 Cruises from Miami and San Juan will start with a 12-day sailing aboard Seabourn Sojourn departing Miami on Nov. 4, 2019. Seabourn will offer five departures. The 11-, 12- and 14-day sailings will visit five Cuban ports, calling at three or four on each itinerary. All five voyages feature overnight stays in Havana. 'We are excited to finally be able to include Cuba in our itineraries, and our guests and travel partners have been anxiously awaiting an ultra-luxury travel experience with a wider selection of destinations in this relatively undiscovered Caribbean treasure,' Seabourn president Rick Meadows said. Havana, Antilla, Cienfuegos, Punta Frances, Santiago Ports include Antilla (Nipe Bay), near Cayo Saetia National Park, a natural reservation with wide flora diversity and exotic fauna. Holguin province is home to communities like San Isidoro de Holguin, with 18th-century churches and sleepy plazas. The Sierra del Cristal range holds lush pine forests and Pico Cristal and Mensura national parks with the twin Guayabo waterfalls, Cuba's highest. Cienfuegos is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its remarkable concentration of 19th-century architecture. An overnight stay allows exploration of the city's highlights, as well as cultural experiences and a visit to the colonial town of Trinidad, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Havana celebrates its 500th anniversary in 2019. An overnight stay offers opportunities to experience its history and the thriving music, dance and graphic arts scenes, as well connecting with artists, dancers and community projects. A highlight is Old Havana and its Fortification System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Punta Frances is located on Isla de Juventud, where Cuban vacationers snorkel and dive on coral reefs and shipwrecks in the National Marine Park. A hidden gem, the island was once a pirate hideout. Now it supports farms dedicated to breeding sea turtles and crocodiles. Founded in 1515, Santiago de Cuba is filled with monuments to colonial and revolutionary history, including UNESCO World Heritage Site San Pedro de la Roca Castle. A two-day stay gives time to see cathedrals and the museums of the Moncada Barracks, the Velazquez House, the Lucha Clandestina museum and the neighboring community of El Cobre and its Basilica de la Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre. UNESCO Partner Tours While off the ship, Seabourn travelers can join UNESCO Partner Tours exploring World Heritage cities. The Nov. 4 round-trip from Miami calls at Havana, Antilla, Santiago and Cienfuegos, and visits Port Antonio, Jamaica, and West End, Cayman Brac. The same ports are on the Nov. 16 and 28 departures, also 12-day round-trips from Miami. On Dec. 10, an 11-day Miami to San Juan sailing goes to Havana, Punta Frances, Cienfuegos and Santiago, plus West End, Cayman Brac, Port Antonio and Isla Catalina, Dominican Republic. On Dec. 21, a 14-day voyage from San Juan to Miami visits Havana, Santiago and Antilla, along with Port Antonio; Gustavia, St. Barthelemy; St. John's, Antigua; Carambola Beach, St. Kitts & Nevis; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Carnival Corp. & plc sister brands Fathom, Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line are also approved for Cuba visits. The group said in a stock market announcement that its management and operating contracts with the joint venture yard in Azerbaijan had been terminated, although Keppel Offshore & Marine (KOM) retains an 8.5% stake in the joint venture. KOM in 2013 established together with State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) the shipbuilding and shiprepair facility in Baku, Azerbaijan. KOM had been managing and operating the facility but amid the slump in the global oil and gas industry, the Singapore-based multinational looks like it has pulled the plug on this segment. Read More: Keppel bags $242m jackup rig order The termination of the agreements effective June 30, 2018 were made following the successful development, start-up and initial operational phases of Baku Shipyard, and in view of the updated operational requirements based on current business conditions, Keppel said in its announcement, adding that management of the yard has been handed over to SOCAR. Earlier this year, KOM wound up Caspian Shipyard Company, its other joint venture yard in Azerbaijan which it established in 1997, after letting the joint venture agreement lapse. Meanwhile in 2014, KOM had reportedly bailed on Kazakhstan after selling its stake in Keppel Kazakhstan. This yard had seen few orders apart from a barge building contract in 2006 and one jack up rig in six years later in 2012. Meanwhile a strike had plagued management in 2013, soon after the contract to build the only jackup. SHEPHERDSTOWN One in 59 children are on the autism spectrum, according to an April 26, 2018 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder has risen about 30 percent in two years, making it necessary for more autism-related educational opportunities to be offered to educators and families with autistic children. On Saturday, Shepherd University banded together with the West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University and Eastern Panhandle Indigo Children to offer a two-hour Back to School Strategies workshop, to help prepare autistic children, their families and their educators to have a successful school year. Its all about the students thats the main thing, said Shepherd University Assistant Provost for Academic Community Outreach Virginia Hicks. Hicks said the seven stations at the workshop were designed to teach effective strategies to reduce stress and help with autistic students transitions back to school. Manning the All About Me station with two of her interns, WVU Medicines Assistant Professor of Behavior Medicine Jocelyn Stokes said she hoped parents would take advantage of the resources and strategies offered at the event. All of these stations here can be really helpful, because theyre helping parents figure out what their children like and need help with, Stokes said, mentioning she often conducts evaluations to diagnose those with ASD. According to Hicks, many people misunderstand the educational limitations of those with ASD. With the autism spectrum, many people dont think autistic students can handle college, but these students are amazing what they can study when they enter college, Hicks said, mentioning Shepherd University is trying to educate local educators and the community about ASD. Although Back to School Strategies was the first community workshop of its kind offered in the Eastern Panhandle, this was the third WVATC-led workshop on Shepherd campus. Two workshops were held last fall one for Shepherd staff and faculty and the other for student leaders to help support Shepherd students on the autism spectrum. According to WVATC Eastern Panhandle director and event coordinator Tara Davis, those with ASD often exhibit quirks, resulting from their neurodevelopmental disorder. The public sometimes assume autistic students are incapable of successfully handling higher education because of their quirks, but higher-functioning students on the spectrum are often extremely intelligent and capable of having successful careers, with the right guidance from parents and educators. A lot of times, we think that everybody should be the same, and people on the spectrum are not. Their little quirks are necessary for them, and we need to be mindful and respectful of that, Davis said, mentioning Back to School Strategies was specifically focused on children ages five to 12, although anyone was welcome to attend the free event, held at the Shepherd University Amphitheater. To learn more about WVATC, visit www.marshall.edu/atc or call 304-696-2332. The undertaking was made before a division Bench comprising Justices R Mahadevan and P D Audikesavulu, constituted to hear cases regarding idol theft. The bench is expected to resume hearing in six weeks. The Idol Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police team has given an undertaking to a Madras High Court bench that it will not arrest Venu Srinivisan for six weeks in an idol theft case. Srinivasan's legal team applied for an anticipatory bail within hours of the Madras High Court ordering a probe into alleged thefts of idols and antiquities, mainly from Tiruchurapalli's Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple (Srirangam) and Mylapore's Kapaleeswarar temple. The High Court initiated a probe upon receiving petitions from individual complaints and a writ petition by Chennai based Advocate Elephant Rajendran. Complainants allege several artifacts from the Srirangam temple being stolen and the main Perumal idol in the temple being damaged. Rangarajan Narasimhan, a complainant from Tiruchi alleged that a peacock representing Goddess Parvati doing puja for Lord Shiva at the Srirangam temple has been replaced. Srinivasan's legal team believes that Rajendran's subsequent FIRs may have named the TVS chairman. With cops in Chennai making several arrests lately, including officials of the HR & CE (Hindu Religious and Charitable endowments) department, Srinivasan's legal team approached the High Court as a "precautionary measure". Details of the Bail Application: Srinivasan's bail application says he had spent Rs 70 lakhs from his personal funds in 2004 for repairs of Sanadhis, Gopurams, and setting the flooring. The application also explains that Rs 25 crores was spent on renovation and repairs of Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam. In the case of the Lord Kapaleeswarar temple, he claims of having no connection with the temple except that he was a Shiva devotee. The TVS Chairman also conceded that a trust run by him had been entrusted of renovating nearly 100 temples across states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The bail application says that in view of the allegations and FIR, he had sought an anticipatory bail. On Friday, the TVS Motor Company share price was trading at Rs 531.55 a share, down by 5.50 points or 1.02% at the end of trading hours on the Bombay Stock Exchange. With Agency inputs Cosmopolitan India has stirred a controversy by posting a photo of the 'new cover girl' for its August issue, Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon. In the picture, posted by the magazine's official Instagram account, the Raabta star can be seen in a black high-neck top paired with silver glossy trousers and black stilettos, striking a pose with a giraffe that appears to be suspended in the air. "I'm not someone who gets angry easily, but when I read about atrocities against women, it really upsets me.' Meet our cover girl @kritisanon being her candid self in our August issue," the caption read. Social media users, however, gave the post a thumbs down, calling it distasteful for its animal-offensive content. A user commented, "Are people performing this shoot blind? What is happening to this world? So disrespectful to animals @peta @petaindia we need to get rid of this issue" Another said, "Such a shame! You guys are so shameless. Talking about atrocities while portraying animal cruelty in the name of fashion." Highlighting the hypocrisy of the post, another user commented, "What the f*** is she talking about atrocities on women when she is posing next to a hanging girrafe?! Real or fake, its bloody cruelty to even post such pictures. @kritisanon shame on you for even agreeing to pose next to this" "Guys it doesn't matter if it's fake or real. The entire picture is just wrong. If a women dummy was hanging with a male model posing..will that be justified? No," read another comment. Demanding an apology from Kriti, another user said, "You should take this post down. And delete that picture. And like apologize to every f*****g giraffe. Actually the entire animal kingdom. You want to make a point of subjugation with more subjugation. Ridiculous!" In March this year, Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor was also clicked at the same location, with the same prop, a picture of which was shared on the location, Aynhoe Park's Instagram page. In the still, Sonam can be seen posing in front of the same giraffe in a red Ralph & Russo ensemble. Text: IANS Images: Instagram Vishwaroopam-2: Kamal Haasan's one-man show Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam-2 is a dialogue and drama drive film unlike the first part Source: SIFY By: Critic's Rating: 3/5 Friday 10 August 2018 Movie Title Vishwaroopam-2: Kamal Haasan's one-man show Director Kamal Haasan Star Cast Kamal Haasan, Andrea, Pooja Kumar, Rahul Bose, Shekhar Kapur By Moviebuzz If you are a big fan of Vishwaroopam (2013), the second part would certainly be an underwhelming experience for various reasons. The first part set the standards very high in terms of visual quality, CG works, and stunts but in the second installment, things are more predictable and if you haven't watched the first part, its difficult to follow. But having said that, part-2 will keep you engaged till the end and at a little over 140 minutes is well-executed and engaging. Vishwaroopam-2 is both a prequel and sequel to its first part, writer Kamal Haasan has justified all the unanswered questions and director Kamal Haasan has packaged the spy thriller with enough awe moments, without having a solid story. Vishwaroopam-2 is a dialogue and drama driven film unlike the first part which had a superb introduction scene, suspense, emotional moments and a strong villain. Rahul Bose is wasted here, as he is not as powerful as in the first part. The first half of Vishwaroopam-2 has scenes explaining the relationship between Wisam (Kamal) and Ashmitha (Andrea) and we also get to know how the former becomes an espionage agent. In the climax of the first part, there are many quickly edited shots including the confrontation scenes featuring Kamal, Rahul Bose, and Nassar. A brief intimate scene between Kamal and Pooja Kumar was also placed at the end of first part. All those scenes are explained in detail in Vishwaroopam-2, so basically most of the time, Kamal goes back and forth to rekindle our memory which tests our patience. The much publicized mother sentiment sequences featuring Waheeda Rahman fails to create any impact.Vishwaroop II (Hindi) review: The film is virtually Kamal Haasan's show | The Spy Who Dumped Me review: Entertaining in spite of mishmash genres | Redrum: A Love Story review - A rehash of skewed love stories On the positive note, there are some very powerful dialogues depicting the patriotism of Wisam, a Muslim espionage agent, especially his debate with Ananth Mahadevan is a clap worthy moment. The films biggest plus point is none other than Kamal Haasan who shines in each and every scene. At the age of 63, the actor looks fit and effortlessly pulls off the daredevil action sequences. On the whole it is Kamal Haasan's one-man show which has never a dull moment. In the first part, Andrea doesn't have much screen space but in Vishwaroopam-2, she is in top form with her one liners and she nicely slips into the skin of a committed officer. Pooja Kumar and Shekhar Kapur are just okay. Technically, Ghibran proves his brilliance in background score and songs. Overall, Vishwaroopam 2 is watchable and its race-against-time thriller mode is the its major plus! Vishwaroopam-2 - Verdict: Kamal Haasan's one-man show Reactions from Social Media: vasu @vasuchidambaram #Vishwaroopam2 another episode In RAW agent life .. highly detailed and engaging with subtle humor spiced up here and there .. good first half AirJordan @VJ_C #Vishwaroopam2 USA Review Believe it or not this is one of the best indian sequels you will see in recent times.This movie deserves an oscar nomination for visual sound effects..mind blown.@ikamalhaasan and supporting cast did overwhelming job.Worth every penny.#Blockbuster S Abishek @cinemapayyan This is just outstanding! Bringing back the story after years, @ikamalhaasan stays true to the genre and at the same time, engages audiences by respecting their expectations! #Vishwaroopam2 Kasi Theatre @kasi_theatre Absolutely thundering atmosphere here for the #Vishwaroopam2 . Here we go, #Vishwaroopam2 FDFS !! #Vishwaroopam2AtKASI TRolleshwaran @TRolleshwaran #Vishwaroopam2 - First half moves at a steady pace with two well executed action blocks. Underwater sequences stand out. Dwarakesh @dwaru007 #Vishwaroopam2 wow just out of FDFS .@ikamalhaasan sir pls don't stop acting and directing .Vera level marana mass action movie.Simple straight forward action movie.First half dialogues we're toooo good.The way you added detailed credit in the end s master touch.Kudos fr the team TheReelReviewraja @reelreviewsraja #Vishwaroopam2 - 1.75/5 Boring to the core apart from few action episodes , the film goes nowhere.. Poor vfx, lengthy scenes, camera angles, tone etc., will test our patience. One of the worst climax ever & ending was forced. Waste of time & money!! Vijay Nathan @280Karthik #Vishwaroopam2 : A Mysorepak without sweet fragrance in it !! Prasant189 @Prasanthu12 #Vishwaroopam2 watched it great detailing by kamal sir by connecting story of part one with this vfx are just OK climax could have been much better vishwaroopam 2 is no where near vishwaroopam meyyappan @meyyappanram #Vishwaroopam2 enjoyed it. Only thing is the sentiment scene in 2nd half makes us to feel a bit draggy but other than that worth a watch. 2nd half could have been extended the duration feels ended quickly. King Balu @balurocks99 Average first half.. No intense action scenes or engaging screenplay. Dop is too good. #Vishwaroopam2 Vicky K Str @vicky_kstr The story he narrated along with the 1st part is simply awesome. #Vishwaroopam2 Russia, China block US bid to slap N.Korea sanctions United Nations, United States, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 Russia and China on Thursday blocked a US request to add a Russian bank to a UN sanctions blacklist along with a North Korean official and two entities, diplomats said. The United States last week asked a UN sanctions committee to slap an assets freeze on Agrosoyuz Commercial Bank for allegedly helping North Korea evade UN-imposed restrictions on financial transactions. The request also targeted Ri Jong Won, the deputy representative of North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank and two North Korean front companies. In a response to the council, Russia raised doubts about the allegations while China told the council that it objected to the proposed sanctions designations put forward by the United States. "We would like to underline that designation requests submitted to the committee should be adequately substantiated by sufficient information," said the Russian mission to the United Nations in a message to the council seen by AFP. The request followed a US Treasury Department decision to impose unilateral sanctions on the Russian bank, the North Korean official and the two entities. The two companies were named as the Dandong Zhongsheng Industry & Trade Company and the Korea Ungum Corporation. Russia and China have called on the Security Council to consider easing sanctions to reward North Korea for opening up dialogue with the United States and halting missile tests. But the United States has called for maintaining "maximum pressure" from sanctions until North Korea has fully dismantled its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Earlier Thursday, the North Korean foreign ministry issued an angry statement, denouncing the United States for responding to its overtures by "inciting international sanctions and pressure." The council last year adopted three rafts of sanctions targeting North Korea's economy through export and import bans, as well as restrictions on banking. It was the second time in three weeks that Russia and China have objected to a US request to tighten sanctions on North Korea. On July 19, the two countries put a six-month hold on a US request to halt all deliveries of refined oil products to North Korea. The United States had made the request to the sanctions committee after finding that North Korea had exceeded the cap on fuel imports though illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea. UN sanctions resolutions place a ceiling for North Korea of 500,000 barrels of refined oil products per year and four million barrels of crude. A cut-off of oil and fuel would have to be enforced primarily by China, which supplies most of North Korea's energy needs, but also by Russia, which delivers some oil to Pyongyang. 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 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd45806a0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd4578920)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd45806a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd4578920)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd4b00ec0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd4578920)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd4578920)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd3ebfa78)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd4b2ad68)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd4b2ad68)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd47df6c8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd48ce9d0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd47df6c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd48ce9d0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd48cde48)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd48ce9d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd48ce9d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd3ebf2a0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd48cc058)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd48cc058)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd4e1fc18)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd47c37a0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd4e1fc18)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd47c37a0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd47b8fa0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd47c37a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd47c37a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd47c3bc0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd4479fa0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd4479fa0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 'Time has come' for US Space Force, sixth military branch: Pence Washington (AFP) Aug 9, 2018 Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday unveiled details of plans to build a US Space Force that would become the sixth branch of America's massive military, saying the time has come to prepare for "the next battlefield." President Donald Trump ordered the creation of Space Force in June, arguing the Pentagon needs it to tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert US dominance in orbit. Its creation however is not a done deal, as it needs to be approved by Congress, and the concept has met with som ... read more The Department of Sanitation driver who struck a cyclist in Bushwick earlier this month will not face charges, police said, despite fleeing the scene of the reportedly gruesome crash. The NYPD has deemed the hit-and-run collision, which left a 25-year-old victim in critical condition, an "accident," Brooklyn Paper reports. "Both the bike rider and driver gave us their statements, theres nothing else to investigate, Sgt. Lee Jones explained to the paper. We believe he accidentally struck her, or she accidentally went into the vehicleone of those circumstances occurred and she was injured." A spokesperson with the NYPD said the investigation was "ongoing," but confirmed to Gothamist that no charges or violations have been issued. Took this video to show how tight it is on Evergreen Ave in Bushwick. Last night a city sanitation truck hit a bicyclist. Driver left the scene. Police investigating. More on #abc7NY https://t.co/aCNuTdvPdw pic.twitter.com/0exP1xYbov Derick Waller (@wallerABC7) August 2, 2018 The cyclist was struck on August 1st, while riding in a bike lane on Evergreen near Menahan Streetnot far from where cyclist Leah Sylvain, 27, was killed by a truck driver two years ago. After hitting the woman, whose name has not been released, the DSNY employee continued driving, and was reportedly stopped by police at Varick Avenue and Mesorole Street, nearly two miles away. The driver was taken into custody for questioning and released without charges, and police sources told the Daily News that he was "possibly oblivious" that he'd hit the woman. The victim was rushed to Brookdale University Hospital, where she was stabilized. She suffered a broken clavicle and an open wound to her right arm, police said. Half her arm was hanging off. It was awful, one witness told the Post. "She was just laying in the bike lane, not really moving." Following the incident, the Department of Sanitation said they were placing the driver on modified duty, and would be conducting their own internal investigation. The department did not respond to a Gothamist inquiry into the status of that investigation. An inquiry made to Teamsters Local 831, which represents about 6,000 sanitation workers, was also not returned. We'll update if we hear back. Japan ex-defence minister to challenge Abe as party chief Tokyo, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 Former Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday announced a long-shot bid to unseat Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as leader of the country's ruling party in elections next month. Abe is widely expected to win another term as head of the Liberal Democratic Party with Ishiba likely to be his only challenger. Polls suggest the premier is supported by around 70 percent of LDP members and winning the vote would put him on the path to becoming Japan's longest-serving prime minister ever. Despite the odds, 61-year-old Ishiba said he had decided to challenge Abe to "restore confidence in the government, which should be at the service of citizens". Earlier this year, Abe's popularity ratings slumped with his administration mired in two cronyism scandals. But he has recovered from the rows, and is viewed as a shoo-in to win the internal election next month, which is held every three years. In 2015 he ran unopposed, and in 2012 he beat four other contenders, including Ishiba, who was then seen as the front-runner. Ishiba has expressed surprise at the dearth of challengers to Abe. "It's a chorus of 'I won't run. I support Abe'," he told a local television station this week. A defence hawk, Ishiba favours a revision of Japan's pacifist constitution along more radical lines than Abe, and has even controversially suggested Japan should consider having nuclear weapons. He may well end up being Abe's sole rival, with another potential challenger, former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, already ruling out a bid. Internal Affairs Minister Seiko Noda has reportedly considered running, but lacks support from enough party members. US launches airstrikes as Taliban attack Afghan city Ghazni, Afghanistan, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 US forces launched airstrikes Friday to counter a major Taliban assault on an Afghan provincial capital, where terrified residents cowered in their homes amid explosions and gunfire as security forces fought to beat the insurgents back. Officials said Afghan special forces were also being deployed to the southeastern city of Ghazni after the latest attempt by the Taliban to capture an urban centre, with the assault coming as pressure builds on the insurgents to enter peace talks. Ghazni -- less than two hours by road from Kabul -- has been under threat from massing Taliban fighters for months, with residents saying the complex nature of the attacks was unprecedented in its scale. A spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan said the fighting had "ceased" as of Friday morning, hours after the insurgents began the assault late Thursday from several positions around the city. Sporadic gunfire continued to echo amid intermittent clashes, with officials telling residents to stay in their homes as Taliban fighters roamed the streets. Power has been cut to the area since fighting erupted. Earlier, residents described heavy gunfire ringing out and a government building set on fire. "We are scared for our life. The Taliban are roaming everywhere in and around the city," shopkeeper Mohammad Haleem said. Another resident, Yasan, said the Taliban were using loudspeakers at the mosque to warn residents to stay in their homes. "Heavy explosions and gunfire can be heard. We are terrified," Yasan wrote in a Facebook post. - Bodies in the street - Civilian houses and army checkpoints came under mortar attack and the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters were in the streets, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori said. The US said that the city remained under government control. "U.S. Forces responded with close-air support this morning in #Ghazni," the official account for US Forces in Afghanistan tweeted Friday. "Afghan forces held their ground and maintain control of all govt. centers. Another failed attempt by Taliban to seize terrain, while creating strategically inconsequential headlines," it continued. "Initial reports indicate minimal Afghan security force casualties," the US spokesman later told AFP, adding that American forces deployed attack helicopters and conducted a drone strike in the response. Baz Mohammad Himmat, head of the civilian hospital in Ghazni, said at least 16 people had been killed in the melee, including 14 soldiers and two residents. A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban had suffered heavy casualties in the onslaught and confirmed the airstrikes. Police special forces have also been deployed to help block the Taliban advance, an Afghan security official said. The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured "most of the government buildings inside the city", and claiming to have killed and wounded 140 security forces. The insurgents frequently exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay losses incurred during fighting. - Growing pressure - Afghan forces have been struggling to hold back the resurgent militant group since the withdrawal of NATO combat troops at the end of 2014. In May the Taliban attacked the western city of Farah. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and US air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. The insurgents have also so far ignored an offer by Ghani in February of unconditional peace negotiations. However there are tentative signs that diplomatic efforts to bring the insurgents to the table for peace talks may be starting to bear fruit. The Taliban has long insisted on direct talks with the United States. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. But Washington indicated a change in its longstanding policy in June when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks. Pompeo also said the role of foreign forces in Afghanistan would be on the table. Last month Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar. Kabul-based analyst Haroun Mir said Friday's attack may have been aimed at securing maximum leverage before engaging in formal peace talks. "They want to enter the talks from the position of strength, and they want to capture big cities before potential peace negotiations," said Mir. Anticipation has also been mounting about the possibility of a government ceasefire announcement for the Islamic holiday of Eid-al Adha later this month. An unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary halt, giving war-weary Afghans some welcome relief from violence. str-us-mam-ds/ceb Yemen in shock after Saudi-led strike on bus kills 29 children Dahyan, Yemen, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 The remains of victims and children's clothing were strewn across a market in northern Yemen on Friday, as the US and UN called for an investigation into an air strike the previous day by a Saudi-led coalition that killed 29 children on a bus. Thursday's strike on a bus filled with children at the Dahyan market in the Huthi rebel stronghold of Saada injured at least 48 others, including 30 children, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. An AFP photographer at the scene said the bus carrying the children had been turned into a mass of twisted metal, and that the remains of victims and their personal items were scattered across the ground. "There are remains everywhere, we are still trying to confirm identies," Yahya Shayem, a health official in Saada, told AFP. He could not confirm when funerals for the victims would take place. The coalition that has been fighting Yemen's rebels since 2015 acknowledged responsibility for the strike, but claimed the bus was carrying "Huthi combatants". It said the coalition had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels. Thursday's heavy toll sparked calls from both United Nations chief and the US State Department for the strike to be investigated. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an "independent and prompt" probe, while State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington was "calling the Saudi led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident". "We call on the parties to take appropriate measures to protect civilians," Nauert said. - 'Massacre of children' - A spokesman for the Red Cross in Sanaa told AFP the toll was not final as casualties from the attack were taken to several hospitals. "We need blood," said Jameel al-Fareh, an emergency room doctor at Saada's Al-Jumhuri hospital, calling on local people to donate blood to treat the wounded. Ahmed al-Mansouri, the hospital's director, condemned what he called the "massacre of children". The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told AFP that claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading", and that "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants". He said the rebels have "ballistic missiles threatening our national security, Saudi cities and villages on the border. The attack today was a follow-up process to neutralise that threat." Earlier, Maliki accused the Huthis of "recruiting child soldiers, throwing them in battlefields and using them as tools". Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said. The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said. - Huthis ramp up missile attacks - The Huthis have in recent months ramped up missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh usually says it intercepts. Wednesday's attack brings the tally to 167 rebel missiles launched since 2015, according to the coalition. On August 2, attacks on a hospital and a fish market in the strategic rebel-held port city of Hodeida killed at least 55 civilians and wounded 170, according to the ICRC. The coalition denied responsibility for those attacks. Aid agency CARE International noted that Thursday's strike came a week after the Hodeida bombardment. "This latest air strike, only a week after the attacks on Hodeida city, demonstrates a continued disregard for human life and suffering," said Johan Mooij, the agency's country director in Yemen. "It is beyond cruel; innocent children's lives have been lost." The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, last week told the Security Council "a political solution" to Yemen's war was "available" and that the warring sides would be invited to talks on September 6 in Geneva. UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government. Yemen in shock after Saudi-led hit on bus kills at least 29 children Dahyan, Yemen, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 The remains of victims and children's clothing were strewn across a market in northern Yemen on Friday, as the US and UN called for an investigation into an air strike the previous day by a Saudi-led coalition that killed at least 29 children on a bus. Thursday's strike on the Dahyan market in the Huthi rebel stronghold of Saada injured at least 48 others, including 30 children, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. An AFP photographer at the shocking scene said the bus carrying the children had been turned into a mass of twisted metal, and that the remains of victims and their personal items were still scattered across the ground. "There are remains everywhere, we are still trying to confirm identies," Yahya Shayem, a health official in Saada, told AFP. He could not confirm when funerals for the victims would take place. The coalition, which has been fighting Yemen's rebels since 2015, acknowledged responsibility for the strike, but claimed the bus was carrying "Huthi combatants". It said the coalition had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels. At a press conference in Dahyan on Friday, Huthi health minister Taha al-Mutawakel put the death toll from the "horrible crime" at 51 people, including 40 children. "This toll is not final... a lot of people are missing and the remains are still scattered around the crime scene and nearby," he said. The Red Cross could not immediately confirm the new figures. Thursday's strike sparked calls from both United Nations chief and the US State Department for the strike to be investigated. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an "independent and prompt" probe, while State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington was "calling the Saudi led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident". "We call on the parties to take appropriate measures to protect civilians," Nauert said. - 'Massacre of children' - In comments Friday on Twitter, the rebels' revolutionary council head, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, welcomed the UN call for an investigation and said his side was "willing to cooperate". Ahmed al-Mansouri, the director of Saada's Al-Jumhuri hospital, condemned what he called the "massacre of children". The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told AFP that claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading", and that "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants". He said the rebels have "ballistic missiles threatening our national security, Saudi cities and villages on the border. The attack today was a follow-up process to neutralise that threat." Earlier, Maliki accused the Huthis of "recruiting child soldiers, throwing them in battlefields and using them as tools". Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said. The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said. - Huthis ramp up missile attacks - The Huthis have in recent months ramped up missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh usually says it intercepts. Wednesday's attack brings the tally to 167 rebel missiles launched since 2015, according to the coalition. On August 2, attacks on a hospital and a fish market in the strategic rebel-held port city of Hodeida killed at least 55 civilians and wounded 170, according to the ICRC. The coalition denied responsibility for those attacks. Aid agency CARE International noted that Thursday's strike came a week after the Hodeida bombardment. "This latest air strike, only a week after the attacks on Hodeida city, demonstrates a continued disregard for human life and suffering," said Johan Mooij, the agency's country director in Yemen. "It is beyond cruel; innocent children's lives have been lost." The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, last week told the Security Council "a political solution" to Yemen's war was "available" and that the warring sides would be invited to talks on September 6 in Geneva. UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government. New York City has been infused with CBDif you don't want to simply drop it on your tongue, you can get a calming hit of it in your ice cream, brownies, lattes, craft beers, and fancy cocktails. The latest spot to offer up the latter is a full-on CBD-focused cocktail bar and restaurant, which just opened in Astoria. Adriaen Block is named after the Dutch privateer who was the first white man to navigate the treacherous waters of the tidal strait Hell's Gate and set eyes on Astoria, in 1614. Zsolt George Csonka, the Hungarian owner of Adriaen Block, is also an explorer of sorts, having traveled the world, working in the hospitality industry, before setting his eyes on the soothing shores of CBD cocktails. Csonka came to New York in 2009, where he earned a bachelors in economics at John Jay College. It was that economist's mindset that got him thinking of opening a CBD-focused cocktail bar, as more and more people seemed centering in on mindfulness and wellness. "These people, they don't want to get a hangover from hard liquor, they want to have one or two drinks... and tomorrow they still want to go to the gym, he told Gothamist. Since CBD cocktails are a relatively new trend, I was curious how Csonka figured out how to incorporate it into his recipes. His rule: nothing too strong. There is an equal number of zero proof CBD cocktails on his roster as well. The menu, watermarked with a pot leaf garnishing a cocktail, explains "CBD will not get you high, but you may experience a calming sensation." The explanation is probably necessary, since the drink names lean heavily on stoner puns: Stoney Negroni, Bakin' & Eggs, Rolled Fashion. You get it. But the science on mixing CBD with booze is mixed. Some studies have shown that combining CBD with alcohol could have a beneficial effect. But the combination could also intensify the experience. On CBD, youre very chill, very lighthearted, mellow. The alcohol will make that more intense, James Giordano, professor of neurology and biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center, told Vice. "If youre a happy drunk, then CBD could make you a happier drunk," Giordano says. If youre an angry or violent drunk, the CBD may certainly disinhibit some of that. There is a two drink limit for CBD cocktails, whether alcoholic or non. And if you are getting the CBD sauce for your entree (they recommend it on the side of their steak and truffle fries), or the CBD whipped cream on a dessert, then your CBD drink limit goes down to one. Csonka said that everyone on the waitstaff has been trained to enforce the limit. "It's a very delicate product," he said. Csonka told Gothamist that he researched what other CBD cocktail bars on the west coast were doing in order to determine how much CBD to add to each drink. It's added with a dropper after the drink is made. While he did not say how much is added to each cocktail exactly, a publicist for Adriaen Block explained, "There are different potencies of CBD oil tinctures, so for each drink at they follow manufacturer's recommendations and use half of the suggested daily amount." When Gothamist's Ben Yakas took a deep dive into the world of CBD, he found that the amount recommended varies widely, and different amounts affect people differently. Many suggestions we've found online recommend anywhere from 10mg to 1500 mg. "That's a big problem!" said Dr. Orrin Devinsky, director of the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center who has been closely studying CBD for the last five years. "Outside of epilepsy, we have precious little scientific data on that." Most experts I spoke with recommend a trial-and-error process of calibrating your own needs, starting with a tiny amount then building up from there. "It's important to understand that CBD is biphasic in its nature, so in small doses it's gonna make you feel more alert and activated, and then in larger doses, it's going to have more of a calming, sedating effect," said Berg. "With that being said, a large dose may not be suitable for every application of CBD, and that's why we kind of suggest microdosing. We also suggest that because your absorption rate depends on your metabolic rate. So with larger people it might be the case that they would need more to assimilate." Adriaen Block, open now. 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, Queens. The hours are 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Sun-Thurs) and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Fri-Sat) Adriaen Block Opening Food Menu by Jen Carlson on Scribd Adriaen Block Opening Cocktail Menu by Jen Carlson on Scribd Afghan forces search for Taliban fighters after major attack Ghazni, Afghanistan, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 Afghan forces launched a clearing operation Friday, searching for Taliban fighters following a major assault on the southeastern city of Ghazni, after US air strikes targeted insurgents trying to overrun the city. Afghan special forces were deployed to Ghazni after the latest attempt by the Taliban to capture an urban centre, with the assault coming as pressure builds on the insurgents to enter peace talks. Ghazni -- less than two hours by road from Kabul -- has been under threat from massing Taliban fighters for months, with residents saying the complex nature of the attacks was unprecedented in its scale. A spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan said the fighting had "ceased" as of Friday morning, hours after the insurgents began the assault late Thursday from several positions around the city. However, sporadic gunfire continued to echo into the afternoon amid intermittent clashes, with officials telling residents to stay in their homes as scattered Taliban fighters roamed the streets. Power has been cut to the area since fighting erupted. AFP was unable to confirm the status of the clearance operation as communications in the city appeared to be down Friday evening. Earlier, residents described heavy gunfire ringing out and government buildings set on fire during bouts of tense fighting. "We are scared for our lives. The Taliban are roaming everywhere in and around the city," shopkeeper Mohammad Haleem said. Another resident, Yasan, said the Taliban were using loudspeakers at the mosque to warn residents to stay in their homes. "Heavy explosions and gunfire can be heard. We are terrified," Yasan wrote in a Facebook post. - Bodies in the streets - Civilian houses and army checkpoints came under mortar attack and the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters were in the streets, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori said. The US said that the city remained under government control. "U.S. Forces responded with close-air support this morning in #Ghazni," the official account for US Forces in Afghanistan tweeted Friday. "Afghan forces held their ground and maintain control of all govt. centers. Another failed attempt by Taliban to seize terrain, while creating strategically inconsequential headlines," it said. "Initial reports indicate minimal Afghan security force casualties," the US spokesman later told AFP, adding that American forces deployed attack helicopters and conducted a drone strike in response. Baz Mohammad Himmat, head of the civilian hospital in Ghazni, said at least 16 people had been killed in the fighting, including 14 soldiers and two residents. A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban had suffered heavy casualties in the onslaught and confirmed the airstrikes. Police special forces have also been deployed to help block the Taliban advance, an Afghan security official said. The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured "most of the government buildings inside the city", and that they killed and wounded 140 security forces. The insurgents frequently exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay losses incurred during fighting. - Growing pressure - Afghan forces have been struggling to hold back the resurgent militant group since the withdrawal of NATO combat troops at the end of 2014. In May, the Taliban attacked the western city of Farah. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and US air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. The insurgents have also so far ignored an offer by Ghani in February of unconditional peace negotiations. However, there are tentative signs that diplomatic efforts to bring the insurgents to the table for peace talks may be starting to bear fruit. The Taliban have long insisted on direct talks with the United States. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. But the US indicated a change in its longstanding policy in June when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks. Pompeo also said the role of foreign forces in Afghanistan would be on the table. Last month, Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar. Kabul-based analyst Haroun Mir said Friday's attack may have been aimed at securing maximum leverage before engaging in formal peace talks. "They want to enter the talks from the position of strength, and they want to capture big cities before potential peace negotiations," said Mir. Anticipation has also been mounting about the possibility of a government ceasefire announcement for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha later this month. An unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary halt, giving war-weary Afghans some welcome relief from violence. str-mam-ds/qan Saudi-led coalition announces probe into Yemen bus attack Riyadh, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 The Saudi-led coalition on Friday announced a probe into an air strike on a bus that killed at least 29 children in Yemen where it is fighting Huthi rebels. "The leadership of the coalition has ordered the immediate opening of an investigation to assess the events, clarify their circumstances and announce the results as soon as possible," a senior coalition official said, quoted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The announcement came a day after the raid in the northern Yemeni rebel stronghold of Saada that also left at least 48 others wounded, stirring calls for an investigation from the United Nations and Washington. The senior official said the decision to investigate the strike followed information reported by "media and international organisations working in Yemen, regarding an operation by coalition forces in the province of Saada Thursday, and of a passenger bus which suffered collateral damage in this operation". A hospital supported by the International Committee for the Red Cross received the bodies of 29 children after the strike, the organisation said. Huthi health minister Taha al-Mutawakel on Friday put the death toll at 51 people, including 40 children, while warning the number of victims could rise further. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an "independent and prompt" probe into the incident, while the US State Department urged the coalition to undertake a "thorough and transparent" investigation. UN to meet on Saudi-led hit on Yemen childrens' bus Dahyan, Yemen, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 The UN Security Council prepared Friday to discuss an air strike by a Saudi-led coalition that killed at least 29 children, whose remains and clothing were left strewn across a market in northern Yemen. The coalition itself, following calls from the UN and United States, announced an investigation into Thursday's strike. The raid that hit the bus in Dahyan market in the Huthi rebel stronghold of Saada also injured at least 48 others, including 30 children, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. An AFP photographer at the shocking scene said the bus transporting the children had been turned into a mass of twisted metal, and that the remains of victims and personal items were still scattered across the ground. "There are remains everywhere, we are still trying to confirm identies," Yahya Shayem, a health official in Saada, northern Yemen, told AFP. The coalition, which has been fighting Yemen's rebels since 2015, claimed the bus was carrying "Huthi combatants". It initially said the coalition had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels. At a press conference in Dahyan on Friday, Huthi health minister Taha al-Mutawakel put the death toll from the "horrible crime" at 51 people, including 40 children. "This toll is not final... a lot of people are missing and the remains are still scattered around the crime scene and nearby," he said. The Red Cross could not immediately confirm the new figures. - Children 'excited' for trip - At the time of the attack, the children were on a bus heading back to school "from a picnic", the Save the Children charity said, quoting its staff. One of the children's teachers told AFP the pupils had eagerly awaited the journey. "The mothers told me that their children did not sleep for two days because they are were too excited to take part in this trip," said Yahya Hussein. The Huthis' Islamic affairs ministry said the children were from a Koranic school. The strike prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call for an "independent and prompt" probe. And the US State Department urged the coalition to conduct a "thorough and transparent" investigation, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. In comments Friday on Twitter, the rebels' revolutionary council head, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, said his side was "willing to cooperate" in a probe. In the wake of international criticism, the coalition announced Friday it would open an investigation. The decision followed details on "a passenger bus which suffered collateral damage in this operation", a senior coalition official said, quoted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The Security Council was set to meet behind closed doors on Friday to discuss the attack, at the request of five countries which are non-permanent council members. - Rebel missile attacks - The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki on Thursday said claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading", and that "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants". He said the rebels have "ballistic missiles" which threaten Saudi security and described Thursday's attack as "a follow-up process to neutralise that threat". Earlier, Maliki accused the Huthis of "recruiting child soldiers, throwing them in battlefields and using them as tools". Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said. The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said. The Huthis have in recent months ramped up missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh usually says it intercepts. On August 2, attacks on a hospital and a fish market in the strategic rebel-held port city of Hodeida killed at least 55 civilians and wounded 170, according to the ICRC. The coalition denied responsibility for those attacks. The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, last week told the Security Council "a political solution" to Yemen's war was "available" and that the warring sides would be invited to talks on September 6 in Geneva. UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government. Air strikes kill 14 civilians in north Syria: monitor Beirut, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 Air strikes killed at least 14 civilians and wounded dozens more on Friday in a rebel-held town in northern Syria, a war monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights could not say whether the raids on Orum al-Kubra in Aleppo province were carried out by regime or allied Russian aircraft. "A series of air strikes on the town killed 14 civilians, including three children, and left dozens of people injured," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. "The toll may rise... because people are trapped under the rubble," Abdel Rahman told AFP. The strikes came as heavy bombardment slammed into the neighbouring province of Idlib, held by jihadists and rebels. At least nine civilians were killed Friday in that shelling, said Abdel Rahman. UN Security Council calls for probe in Yemen bus attack Dahyan, Yemen, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2018 The UN Security Council on Friday called for a "credible" probe after an air strike by a Saudi-led coalition that killed at least 29 children, whose remains and clothing were left strewn across a market in northern Yemen. The coalition itself, following calls from the UN and United States, announced an investigation into Thursday's strike. In New York, Britain's Ambassador Karen Pierce, whose country holds the Security Council presidency, told reporters after a closed-door meeting on Yemen that "if any investigation that is held is not credible, the council will obviously want to review that". The raid that hit the bus in Dahyan market in the Huthi rebel stronghold of Saada also injured at least 48 others, including 30 children, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. An AFP photographer at the scene said the bus transporting the children had been turned into a mass of twisted metal, and that the remains of victims and personal items were still scattered across the ground on Friday. "There are remains everywhere, we are still trying to confirm identies," Yahya Shayem, a health official in Saada, told AFP. The coalition, which has been fighting Yemen's rebels since 2015, claimed the bus was carrying "Huthi combatants". It initially said the coalition had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels. At a press conference in Dahyan on Friday, Huthi health minister Taha al-Mutawakel put the death toll from the "horrible crime" at 51 people, including 40 children. "This toll is not final... a lot of people are missing and the remains are still scattered around the crime scene and nearby," he said. The Red Cross could not immediately confirm the new figures. - Children 'excited' for trip - At the time of the attack, the children were on a bus heading back to school "from a picnic", the Save the Children charity said, quoting its staff. One of the children's teachers told AFP the pupils had eagerly awaited the journey. "The mothers told me that their children did not sleep for two days because they are were too excited to take part in this trip," said Yahya Hussein. The Huthis' Islamic affairs ministry said the children were from a Koranic school. In the wake of international criticism, the coalition said it would open an investigation. The decision followed reports about "a passenger bus which suffered collateral damage in this operation", a senior coalition official said, quoted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The Security Council met behind closed doors on Friday to discuss the attack, at the request of five countries which are non-permanent council members. "We have seen the images of children who died," Dutch Deputy Ambassador Lise Gregoire-van Haaren told reporters. "What is essential at this moment in time is to have a credible and independent investigation." UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Lise Grande, deplored the death of the children as "heart-breaking". "The costs of this terrible war rise higher and higher," Grande said of the Yemen conflict. - Rebel missile attacks - The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 in Yemen to try to restore the government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki on Thursday said claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading", and that "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants". Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said. The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said. On Friday, the coalition said it intercepted and destroyed two more ballistic missiles fired by the Huthis from Saada towards Jizan. No damage or injuries were reported. The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths told the Security Council last week "a political solution" to Yemen's war was "available" and that the warring sides would be invited to talks on September 6 in Geneva. UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government. 'Time has come' to create US Space Force, sixth military branch: Pence Washington (AFP) Aug 9, 2018 Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday unveiled details of plans to build a US Space Force that would become the sixth branch of America's massive military, saying the "time has come" to prepare for "the next battlefield." President Donald Trump ordered the creation of Space Force in June, arguing the Pentagon needs it to tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert US dominance in orbit. Its creation however is not a done deal, as it needs to be approved by Congress, and the concept has met with s ... read more The man who police believe threw his dead baby's body into the East River returned to the United States on Thursday night and was in court on Friday. James Currie was taken into custody after his flight from Thailand landed at JFK Airport, and was charged with concealment of a human corpse. Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea had said earlier this week that Mason Saldana, 7 months old, was given to Currie for his scheduled visitation on August 4. On August 5, he was seen leaving his Bronx apartment with the baby in a backpack fashioned as a baby carrier. Shea said that investigators believe the baby was dead at that time, and noted that Currie was seen on surveillance footage with the backpack walking near the South Street Seaport and heliport toward the river that afternoon. Around 4 p.m. on Sunday, Mason was spotted floating in the East River, near the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side, that afternoon, and taken out by a concerned tourist. The baby was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. According to the Daily News, "Accessing his MTA-issued MetroCard, investigators learned that Currie boarded a bus in the Bronx, then entered the subway station on at 23rd St. in Manhattan on Sunday. At about 4 p.m., he entered the transit system again, this time at Chambers St. Cops recovered video surveillance of Currie at the Chambers St. station, but he didnt have his baby with him." The baby's mother called 911 on Monday night, saying that her child didn't appear at day care and then broke down while saying she heard on the news that a baby was discovered in the river. Currie had fled to Thailand, and once there, he texted the baby's mother. The Post reports, "In response to a text from the boys distraught mother asking where her 7-month-old was, [Currie] replied, 'the good news we [sic] will never see each other again.' He then told her that 'I am not in the usa' and 'you will never see [the victim] again.'" The Medical Examiner's office is still determining the baby's cause of death. Currie, an MTA employee, was held without bail. Currie's lawyer said, "Everybody needs to keep an open mind and not convict this man until there is evidence that he did something wrong." Algiers, August 10, 2018 (SPS) - Algeria "has positively appreciated" the briefing by the United Nations Secretary General's personal envoy for Western Sahara, Horst Kohler, before the United Nations Security Council on his recent visit to the region, said Thursday the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdelaziz Benali Cherif. This briefing was "favourably welcomed" by all members of the UN Security Council, he said. In reply to a question by APS on Algeria's reaction to the UN envoy's briefing on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson "reiterated Algeria's support to the UN's efforts and to the UN Secretary General's envoy for Western Sahara, Horst Kohler." Benali Cherif also underlined "Algeria's readiness to cooperate, as it has always done, with the UN for the settlement of the Western Sahara issue, in accordance with the international law and Security Council's resolutions, which guarantee the right of Sahrawi people to self-determination."SPS 125/090/700 As the industry prepares for Brexit, professional development and business acumen will be vital farming attributes, according to head of shows Alan Lyons. The industry is facing a period of drastic change, both through political upheaval and exciting technological improvements. Its therefore more important than ever that we work together to help producers take dairying into a profitable future. This year the Dairy Show which will be held on 3 October near Shepton Mallet, Somerset - welcomes on board a new chairman, David Cotton. Bringing a wealth of experience and industry knowledge, Mr Cotton is only the fourth show chairman to head up the 33-year old event. Based at Bridge Farm, Glastonbury, fourth generation farmer Mr Cotton milks 250 Holstein Friesians, keeps all his own replacements and rears beef and youngstock. His involvement with the Royal Bath and West Society stretches back many years, and he has previously been chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers and the Dairy Event. He also sits on the AHDB Dairy board and is a non-executive director at the RPA. There havent been many Dairy Show chairmen, so its quite an honour to take on the role, says Mr Cotton. I hope I can help shape the direction of the Show over the next few years as it is an increasingly specialist market. Next year will see NSA hold five summer events stretching from Devon to the Highlands of Scotland providing sheep producers across the UK with an ideal opportunity to hear from industry experts, meet with exhibitors to discuss the latest innovations and catch up with sheep farming friends on an enjoyable day out. The summer will start with NSA Welsh Sheep, this year travelling further north to set up at Glynliffon Agricultural College, Caernarfon, on Wednesday 21st May. This will shortly be followed by NSA North Sheep on Wednesday 5th June, hosted by long standing NSA members, brothers Richard and Chris Frankland of Frankland Farms, Rathmell, Settle, North Yorkshire. NSA Highland Sheep will then take place on Wednesday 12th June at Sydmister Farm, near Thurso, Caithness by kind permission of the Sutherland family. With this quickly followed by NSA Sheep South West on Tuesday 18th June at Burrington, North Devon and NSA Sheep Northern Ireland on Monday 1st July at Ballymena Livestock Mart, County Antrim. NSA Sheep South West is of particular interest this time, as it will be hosted by NSA Chairman Bryan Griffiths. He and wife Liz will open their farm gates to accommodate the event and offer farm tours to showcase their 900-head flock of commercial Mules and Suffolk Mules ran over over 300 acres. Now UK agri-tech start-up PBD Biotech, developers of the first rapid test for live mycobacteria, has secured 400,000 in its first major strategic investment round to fund international trials and launch a suite of products. In the past year, in the UK alone, bovine TB has led to the slaughter of over 30,000 cattle and cost the UK taxpayer more than 100 million as, until now, there has been no accurate way to test for the disease. Actiphage addresses this challenge. Early private investor Tom Green, former CEO of EU agri-business Spearhead International Ltd, explains the Actiphage tests potential: Mycobacterial disease is a global challenge for the whole livestock industry, so the scale of the problem PBD Biotech is addressing is enormous, and the targets for the new technology are very clear. This new technology has the potential to transform the way we operate in agriculture, and, additionally has huge application in the food industry. Set up just over 12 months ago, PBD Biotech has developed Actiphage, a rapid, highly sensitive test for bovine TB, Johnes and other mycobacterial diseases in livestock, wildlife and exotics. Actiphage accurately identify the presence of live bacteria in blood, milk or other tissue in as little as 6 hours and can also distinguish between infected and vaccinated animals. It has the UK Governments approval for chronic herd breakdowns, and the company is currently conducting a number of field-based trials. Tom, who was appointed Chair of PBD Biotechs board in September 2017, commented further: The first challenge in disease management is diagnosis and there is a huge need for improved accuracy in the current testing regime. The ability to confidently eliminate false negatives - diseased animals which go undetected - is fundamental to both the maintenance of disease free herd status, as well as to the proactive control, management and reduction of disease in infected herds. Having your senator come back from Washington to take questions from constituents seems like it should be standard practice. Its a feedback loop! It feels so functional. But lets be clear, elected officials have to hold them and people have to show up in order for the whole relationship to work. I attended Senator Kirsten Gillibrands town hall in Brooklyn to peer into this part of the democratic process, looking (hoping?) for transparency, humanity and candor. Quick assessment: It more or less happened that way. Last nights event, at the Pratt Institute, was Gillibrands second of three in a row. She held one for constituents in Manhattan on Wednesday; she held another in the Bronx today. There was no specific agenda or theme to these meetings, according to Gillibrands staff, other than hearing from as many constituents as possible. People could ask whatever they wanted. And she opened by playing to her Brooklyn audience, touting local craftsmanship, business and manufacturing. We have this amazing culture of making things that people want to buy to be innovators, to be entrepreneurs, said Gillibrand. I have a lot of issues I want to work on and ways to enhance that. The large auditorium was only about a third full (hey, its August), and from the eight or so people I spoke with they attended because it was not totally inconvenient: one woman lived across the street, several others I spoke with worked at Pratt, another young man was a student there. One woman did travel from Midwood a trek! with a specific question on federal funding cuts to the program that pays for her mothers home health aide (the woman didnt get to ask her question, but plans to write the senator). Here are some other questions asked: What concrete steps can the government be taking to reunite the remaining migrant families, once and for all? Gillibrand did not give direct, concrete solutions to move out of the crisis at hand other than we should do everything we can. Instead she spoke of more global reforms to immigration policy and taking steps to help people seek asylum. How will the Democratic Party defend the Mueller investigation? That one was from a fifth-grader, by the way. Gillibrand told the eager young citizen that Democrats are trying to make sure that the Republicans do not obstruct justice, or enable the president to obstruct justice. Here in New York, will you support Democratic challengers to members who formed the Independent Democratic Conference? "I'm not here to make any endorsements today. But I do not support the IDC. This state has overwhelmingly elected a Democratic Senate. It should be a democratic senate." The more general: why are the Democrats letting the Trump administration get away with everything?! "If we take back the House and Senate its really important that we create oversight and accountability over the Trump administration. Its the most important thing we can do." Gillibrand is a shrewd politician. She did not always give direct answers to certain questions, but shared relevant information in those moments instead. Thats obviously not the most satisfying. But, to be perfectly honest, I was more curious about the effect of the exchange itself. Does showing up, getting face to face with your elected representative, strengthen the democratic process just on its face? Perhaps yes. People like it when you give them time, elected officials! One woman, in a dig at Chuck Schumer, prefaced her question during the event: Were so glad youre holding town halls so regularly, unlike another senator that also is from New York. So there. And, besides facing your constituents, convening people isnt a bad idea either. Charlene Davis said she decided to attend because specific issues aside shes concerned with how divided the nation is and the tenor of debate. As a public school educator, she said, she was alarmed by the message being sent to young people. The government was something we were always able to look up to, Davis said. And because of the division, the disharmony, the acrimony, the infighting Im concerned that our leaders are not focusing. Jessica Hochman said she decided to attend with her 8-year-old daughter because being a mom makes me a better civic participant. Its a reason that resonated with me, too. That need to set an example, to muffle some internal cynicism about politics and at least offer your kids a look at the potential in a democratic process. I have a very powerless feeling a lot of the time, said Hochman. So all the small things I can do I have to remind myself I have to do these things, she said of showing up. The town hall seemed to breeze by. In all, there were about a dozen questions asked. But Gillibrand did stay for pictures afterward, and took a selfie with every single person who wanted one. Many of them did. An American Resident is Illegally Imprisoned in China -- Here's How You Can Help MEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 9, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- North Carolina resident and pastor John Cao has been wrongly held in a Chinese prison for more than a year. As he crossed between Myanmar and China on March 5, 2017--a route he took often while establishing schools for impoverished children--Cao and his colleague, Jing Ruxia, were detained and charged with "organizing illegal border crossing." Photo: Pastor John Cao preaching ( high-resolution version ). For almost a year, the two of them remained imprisoned without trial. While Jing went free shortly after her sentencing on Feb. 9, 2018, Chinese courts handed Cao a seven-year sentence and fined him approximately $3,000. To this day, he is still imprisoned, separated from his wife, American citizen Jamie Powell, and sons, who all reside in the United States. Since Cao often similarly crossed the border without incident, ChinaAid believes Chinese authorities unjustly framed him because of his religious beliefs. In response, we are launching a White House petition on Aug. 2 to call upon the U.S. officials to pressure China to release him and allow him to be reunited with his wife and sons. To do this, we need your help. In order to gain presidential attention, the petition needs 100,000 signatures in just 30 days, making yours absolutely critical. To tell China to release Pastor Cao, please click here Let's bring Pastor John Cao home! Contact ChinaAid Office phone: (432) 689-6985 Media phone: (432) 553-1080 Dozens more Central Park raccoons may have canine distemper virus, and city officials are urging dog owners to keep their pups on leash for the foreseeable future to keep them "safe and away from wildlife especially during dusk and dawn, off-leash hours." Last month, at least two dozen raccoons were believed to have the virus, which isn't dangerous to humans but can be very serious to unvaccinated dogs and puppies. The Parks and Health Departments said: NYC Parks and Health Department, in relation to the distemper outbreak affecting raccoons in Central Park, today issued an advisory strongly recommending that visiting dogs be kept on leashes. The two agencies are specifically concerned about dogs in the park during dusk and dawn, off-leash hours, after two incidents where dogs had encounters with raccoons. Parks and Health have been working in coordination since raccoons in the park first tested positive for the virus. Distemper does not cause a threat to humans, but unvaccinated dogs and other wildlife can be affected. To date, 85 sick or dead raccoons have been collected by NYC Park Rangers. None of the collected raccoons submitted for testing have been positive for rabies. If the public sees a sick or injured raccoon they are asked to call 311 and request the NYC Parks Rangers to address. Central Park off-leash hours are from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.; park hours are from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. CAPTURED: @Van_Tieu spotted this raccoon as rangers nabbed it Thursday in Central Park. Officials say it bit a woman after her dogs chased it. The city is advising dogs to stay on leashes in the park due to an outbreak of the distemper virus among raccoons. pic.twitter.com/OStKrB5CLi Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) August 9, 2018 Last week, the NY Post reported that 69 raccoons had signs of the disease. A member of the Health Department told the Post that some raccoons "looked like they were circulating, wandering, having spasms. Some of the raccoons had some sort of nasal discharge." Scout the Australian Shepherd would like to go off-leash, please (Jen Chung / Gothamist) In Central Park on Thursday night, dog owners appeared to be unaware of the new warning (no signs were posted along the Central Park West entrances between 69th Street and 72nd Streets). Janet Schroeder, who was with her Australian shepherd Scout, said, "That's frightening, I knew about the raccoons but I didn't really picture them going up to dogs." She added she felt a little reassured because "my dog has the distemper vaccine" though "not every dog does." Crystal Howard of the Parks Department previously told us, "There is no concern for pets if their vaccinations are up to date. DOHMH requires rabies vaccine for all dogs and cats. Dogs are required to be vaccinated for distemper and a few other things only if attending a boarding or grooming facility. However, it is a core canine vaccine that is routinely administered to puppies and updated as needed in adults." Andrew Wood had let his dog Cannoli off-leash on a patch of lawn, but admitted that the news made him think twice. "I feel as long as we keep an eye on him and keep him in open spaces, I feel comfortable about the situation," he said, after explaining Cannoli had all his shots. "But obviously as it gets dark, it's good to know [the distemper outbreak] is going on so we can be mindful of it and as it gets later, we'll definitely keep him on a leash." Cannoli, off-leash (Jen Chung / Gothamist) The American Veterinary Medical Association described canine distemper as a "contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs. The virus can also be found in wildlife such as foxes, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, mink and ferrets and has been reported in lions, tigers, leopards and other wild cats as well as seals...Puppies and dogs most often become infected through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) to the virus from an infected dog or wild animal. The virus can also be transmitted by shared food and water bowls and equipment. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months, and mother dogs can pass the virus through the placenta to their puppies." 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. Russia has learned a lot about modern combat in Syria. Russian advisors were often called on to help devise new tactics to deal with problems Syrian troops were encountering. One of the more vexing situations had to do with the rebels using ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles), including Russian models like the Kornet or the American TOW. Russian armor experts drew on their own history and more detailed knowledge of Israeli innovations (developed during the 1973 war) when they encountered Egyptian troops using lots of older model ATGMs. The Russians came up with several new techniques that they are now teaching to their own troops after the Syrians tried it successfully. One of the key lessons was that even with modern ATGMs a moving vehicle is much harder to hit than a stationary one. Modern fire control systems enable tanks (at least the more modern ones, which the Russians supplied Syria with once Russian troops arrived in Syria in mid-2015). With tanks that can fire accurately on the move, the Russians developed the carousel maneuver in which attacking tanks adopt a circular formation of up to ten tanks moving around in a circle and firing on targets when tanks are on the side of the circle facing the enemy. The tanks can concentrate on suspected ATGM positions until there is no more ATGM fire then direct all their fire at enemy vehicles and infantry positions. If a tank in the carousel is disabled by an ATGM the other tanks adjust the circle of tanks to put the disabled tank inside the circle and continue firing. Another innovation was the castle fortification for defense against suicide car (or truck) bombers and ATGMs, especially for Syrian tanks that cannot fire accurately on the move. This tactic involves building a berm high enough to conceal tanks behind it but containing openings (as seen on a castle wall providing protected firing positions for archers). This enables tanks to move up to one of the openings and open fire on an approaching suicide car bomber or an ATGM position. The tank is moving along behind the berm with its gun turned to face the opening. The tank can quickly fire and then quickly move away from the opening. The rebels often used large numbers of suicide car bombs, supported by ATGMs and the castle parapet tactic neutralized this. Even before the Russians showed up in force the small number of Russian advisors with Syrian troops innovating in combat. One thing that impressed the Russians was the Syrian use of civilian vidcams (in this case the GoPro) attached to Syrian Army armored vehicles for use in training and analyzing the effectiveness of the troops and tactics. The videos that got out were some of those that proved useful enough to have a voiceover narration added explaining what was actually going on and describing any useful tips or lessons to be learned from watching this action. What that description also showed was some new tactics developed by the Syrians and/or their Russian advisors, often with the help of the vidcams and/or because the vidcams were also used in real-time during combat. When an armored vehicle is put out of action the vidcam usually survives and the video can be examined for useful information on how the crew might have avoided getting hit. Even if none of the vehicle crew survive, watching the video up to the moment the vehicle is hit is instructive. Studying several of these videos revealed that the Syrians also often employ their armored vehicles as a ready reaction force. This is not unique as most other armies do this, but with a combination of ground forces and warplanes and helicopters. The Syrian Army never had a lot of high-quality weapons or equipment to begin with and appear to be improvising. The use of vidcams on missions is not unique either, it has been used by over a decade by American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet the Syrians deserve credit for effectively adapting these old ideas (that predate the 20th century) for their current situation. That videos indicate that Russians were involved before 2015 but the degree of the Russian contribution was never spelled out. These new tactics appear to involve using accompanying infantry as spotters for the tanks and IFVs (BMP Infantry Fighting Vehicles). The guys on the ground point out targets for the armored vehicles to fire on with 125mm gun or 12.7mm (.50 caliber) machine-gun. The rebels are equipped with RPGs, automatic weapons as well as roadside bombs, anti-vehicle mines and, occasionally, ATGM. The Syrian infantry (and pro-government militia) have a better view of the battlefield and can go places the vehicles cannot. Armored vehicles taking information from infantry around them is nothing new, but modern electronics (vidcams and cheap but powerful walkies) make possible new opportunities which the Syrians have taken advantage of to give the infantry more precise and timely firepower and the armored vehicles more protection from attack. It was known that the Russians had some advisors in Syria, and had shipped lots of military equipment, especially spare parts and tools needed to keep aircraft and armored vehicles operational. What was later found out was that the Russian experience in Syrian combat had a large impact on combat training back in Russia. Government efforts to project the image of a modern, professional and constantly improving armed forces is proving more difficult to sustain. During the decades of communist rule the state had complete control over the media, a massive internal security forces and, most important, no Internet or smartphones. Those last two items have crippled efforts to persuade Russians and foreigners that Russia was still a major developer and manufacturer of new weapons. The constant stream of press releases detailing new weapons the Russian forces will be equipped with is undermined by the reality, often documented vis-a-vi smartphone video spread via the Internet. The new weapons often do not work at all and even if they do there is never enough money to produce them in the quantities implied. Russian development and manufacturing efforts are still crippled by shortages of cash and talent. Arms exports are hurt by this, especially with competitors like China continuing to produce Russian designs more efficiently (more effective, reliable and less costly in the long run). New gear that does get produced in significant numbers is usually for export customers who have the cash for procurement that the Russian military still lacks. This poverty of money and talent is very visible with the Russian military efforts in Ukraine (Donbas) and Syria. Both are being carried out on the cheap and with as much discretion as possible because these operations are unpopular with the Russian people. They see Russian money and Russian lives being wasted on expensive political games that do the average Russian no good at all. Thus the government efforts to mask just how much these operations cost in terms of resources and casualties. Hiding the spending is easier than concealing the number of dead. But the government keeps trying. Some with morale in the military. That is not a new problem and that was why the government tried, in 2013, to revive the old communist era ideological training for troops and increased use of informants and opinion surveys to monitor morale and loyalty in the military. In effect, the government has returned to using the communist era "Zampolit" (political officer.) In Soviet times, every unit commander had a deputy (Zampolit) who represented the communist party and could veto any of the commanders decisions. The Zampolit was responsible for troop loyalty and political correctness. Sort of a communist chaplain. In 2010 the Russian Army reintroduced chaplains, something that the communists did away with in the 1920s. The new chaplains are, however, expected to report on the loyalty of the troops, to church and state. Now, additional officers are being added to handle ideological training and monitoring morale. Not exactly the return of the Zampolit, but a return of most of the Zampolits duties. Like their Cold War era counterparts the Zampolits proved better at reporting the bad news than dealing with it. Morale did not improve but at least the regular use of opinion surveys did by showing the troops were well aware of deceptive press releases about nonexistent new equipment. The troops also knew what low budget charades the operations in Donbas and Syria were. While many details of the surveys could be kept secret the actual attitudes of the troops could not. No wonder why some Russians are nostalgic for the good old days of communist rule. If you want to see the future, look at China where newly (for the first time in history) modernized Chinese forces are a long-term threat to Russia. In China, there is lots of new gear and plenty to go around. China has a more effective economy and lots more money. But there many ways to weaponized wealth. Examples abound in far eastern Russia and that is most unwelcome with most Russians. Chinese entrepreneurs have quietly taken control of the local economy in those parts of Russia that border China and North Korea. That explains why China has ignored North Korea using Russia and Chinese cargo ships to illegally export coal. North Korea moves the coal (illegally) into Russia via truck where it is exported on ships owned by Chinese companies. China is tolerating this because Chinese firms have been exploiting corruption in Russia (where it is worse than in China) to dominate the economy in the Russian Far East (the area between Mongolia and the Pacific coast). China has a historical claim on this area, claims which China revived after World War II when the communists took over China. Those revived claims led to border skirmishes during the 1970s that were halted when Russia made it clear it was prepared to risk nuclear war over the issue. That Russian policy still stands, although it is not publicized. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and the Russian economy went free market and open to foreign trade and investment China saw an opportunity to get back its lost lands in the Russian Far East. The plan is for China to slowly absorb the Russian Far East economically and demographically (with more Chinese settling in the Russian Far East, legally or otherwise.) Eventually, Russia finds that Chinese comprise most of the population in their far eastern provinces and control the economy as well. This approach takes longer but is less likely to trigger a nuclear war with Russia. Despite that threat, Russia has made itself more vulnerable by becoming more dependent on the Chinese currency (the yuan) as a way to deal with the growing list of Western (especially American) sanctions. By selling off euro and dollar-denominated assets (bonds, government debt) and switching to yuan-denominated equivalents Russia becomes more dependent on (and vulnerable to) China. Yes, all is going according to plan Meanwhile, the most potent threat to Russia is internal. The corruption has been much more extensive than in China and, in comparison to China, Russia has been a much more difficult place to start and profitably run any kind of enterprise. That is one reason why Russian shipbuilding (both military and commercial) is considered below par while Chinese efforts are world class and a major part of the much larger Chinese economy. Same with most defense firms in China. The greater corruption in Russia not only drives more of the local talent out of the country but also a lot of new wealth. China created all of its new wealth with a rapidly developing and expanding local economy and that persuades many talented Chinese expatriates to return. Chinese who made money and preferred to invest it in China. In contrast, much more of the new wealth in Russia (largely because of oil exports) was stolen and illegally moved outside Russia. Syria In Syria, the alliance between Russia, Iran and Turkey is coming apart because all three nations have different goals even though the three have been cooperating with the Assad government since 2015 to win and end the war. Such alliances can be difficult to manage and the one in Syria is in real danger of coming apart. With the rebels no longer a major threat to the Assad government each of these three allies are more interested in their own objectives in Syria. For Russia, it is to maintain its two bases there and that is only possible if the Assad government (which granted the use of an airbase and port facilities) survives. Iran is in Syria to keep the Assads in power so Iran can mass forces there to attack and destroy Israel. Turkey is mainly there to destroy Turkish and Syrian Kurdish separatist groups, as well as any Islamic terrorists that are seen as a threat to Turkey. To accomplish this Turkey wants to clear all Kurdish separatists from the Syrian side of the border and turn that security zone over to the FSA (a Syrian rebel group that not works for the Turks). After that, there has been some vague talk of forming and leading an Arab alliance that would destroy Israel. At the moment there are few Arab states interested in that sort of thing (because of Iran) or doing anything under Turkish leadership (bad memories). All three of these unlikely allies have run into different, although sometimes interrelated, problems with achieving their goals. The Russians want an end to the seven years of fighting and are now in conflict with Iranian plans to attack Israel. Russia and Israel have long been on good terms and the Russians want to keep it that way. Iran doesnt really care much what the Turks do in the north and are more concerned with their growing (and so far failed) effort to do some damage to Israel. Russia is trying to convince Iran that the Israelis are really, really serious about getting Iranian forces out of Syria. Israel demands this. Turkey agrees with that and the Assads would prefer Iranian forces to leave. So far Iran appears to be ignoring this advice. Iranian leaders need a win against Israel and they are not having much luck in getting one. This is one reason Russia makes it clear that it sides with Israel when it comes to Syria and a long-term peace deal. Despite that Israel has concluded that Russian pressure will not persuade Iran to back off on their efforts to increase Iranian controlled military forces in Syria and then launch attacks on Israel. But Russia will cooperate with Israel. Russia backed this up by openly accepting Israeli use of Jerusalem as their capital and moving functions normally held in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This angers many Moslems, and especially Iran. This support for Israel is one the few things the United States and Russia agree on these days. The durability of this alliance is mainly a matter of paying attention to who can do what. For example, unclassified rankings of the most powerful nations tend to include tiny Israel in the top ten, as in; U.S., Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France, Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE (United Arab Emirates). These rankings combine economic, technical, military and diplomatic capabilities. Israel may be small in population but they are world class in many technology areas, have nukes and the most capable armed forces in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and UAE have much of the world oil reserves and armed forces they have built up over decades at great expense and, to the surprise of many (including Iran) made it work. Their combat pilots are competent and their anti-missile defenses work (as they have intercepted over a 100 ballistic missiles, many of them Iranian made, fired by Yemeni Shia rebels at targets in Saudi Arabia.) Iran and Turkey are not in the top ten and Russia notices that. Despite all that the Israeli alliance with Russia is unwritten and has limits. Yet it is real because Israel has not attacked any Russian targets with its growing air offensive against Iranian forces. Israel has told the Assads that if they stick with Iran they will be destroyed. The Assads realize that the Iranians are fanatics about destroying Israel and that the Israelis have demonstrated their ability to counter any move the Iranians make. Moreover, all the other Arab states consider the Assads traitors for aligning themselves with the Iranians, who are quite openly at war with Arab control of Arabia and much else. Worse, no one has much sympathy for the Assads, who have very few good qualities. Despite this, the Assads apparently try to side with Russia and Israel rather than Iran. What this comes down to is the fact that Iran is a foreign (Indo-European, not Arab) power that wants to increase its direct control over Syria. Russia and Israel do not. Many Iranians (but few of their leaders) note that the three most powerful Middle Eastern states (Israel, Saudi Arabia and UAE) are now allies, mainly against Iran. While the Turks are now led by a nationalistic Islamic leader who also wants to destroy Israel the Turks also admit that Iran is a traditional rival and the Arabs are not as weak as they were during the centuries the Turks (the Ottoman Empire) ruled them. Many Turks are smitten with the nationalism thing, just as they once were when they had an empire. But the Turks didnt get their empire and then transition to a modern, industrial age state when the empire collapsed a century ago by being stupid. The only dummies at this point are key factions of the religious dictatorship that rules Iran. Ukraine Interrupted Russia seems unconcerned that the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) observer teams who continue operating in Donbas keep reporting violations (of ceasefire and other agreements) and Russia simply denies it, calling the photos and witness accounts contrived. The OSCE personnel are still targets for rebel fire. The 600 OSCE staff (most of them roving monitors) in eastern Ukraine and Donbas, whose job is to oversee the ceasefire, have been complaining since 2015 that they are being restricted by rebels and, less frequently Ukrainian forces from carrying out inspections. There are satellite photos available as a backup and local sources on the ground. Russia believes that because the front lines have not moved much in years, they can do what they want with no consequences. In the four years that OSCE has been monitoring the Donbas violence, they have suffered some casualties but these could be explained away as accidents. In general, the OSCE personnel have not been targets of assassination. From the beginning of the OSCE monitoring operation, Russia has regularly been accused of interfering. The OSCE presence is recognized by Russia and is supposed to be monitoring the situation in Donbas and verifying who is doing what. That has proved to be difficult because the Russian backed rebels (and sometimes Russian troops pretending to be rebels) regularly interfere with OSCE monitoring teams. The Russians ignore or harass OSCE whenever they decide they need to, or simply feel like it. The pro-Russian rebels continue to block the movement of observers in their territory. OSCE has been less aggressive because of all this but because new team members constantly arrive there are still observers willing to do the job right. The OSCE has found that Russian backed rebels are responsible for most (sometimes 90 percent) of the violent incidents in eastern Ukraine. The UN estimates that 10,600 people have died in eastern Ukraine between April 2014 and August 2018. Nearly 30 percent of the dead were civilians. The violence continues but at a lower intensity. In the last few months, there has been more Russian armored vehicles operation in the Donbas but these have not been used much, even though their presence in Donbas is forbidden by the current ceasefire agreements. The most effective Russian moves have been economic, like the effort to block water access to Ukrainian coastal areas on the Sea of Azov (east of Crimea.) August 8, 2018: The U.S. imposed the first round of new sanctions on Russia for its March 2018 use of nerve gas in Britain. The details of this use of Russian nerve gas has been confirmed. British investigators identified the Russians who were involved with the use of nerve gas to try and murder Sergei Skripal on March 4th. Skripal was a former Soviet intelligence officer, who worked for Britain as a double agent. He was found unconscious on March 4th, with his adult daughter, on a park bench near a British pub they had visited. The two were hospitalized and survived what turned out to be an assassination attempt using a form of nerve gas (novichok) developed in Russia and, as far as anyone knows, not possessed by anyone but Russia. Three of the police officers who responded to the call about the unconscious people on the park bench also fell ill, one of them seriously. Everyone recovered and provided information on what happened. Four months later the container (a small perfume bottle) the Russian assassin carried the liquid novichok in was found. This was because a couple had found the discarded novichok bottle nine days after the March attack and kept it. The assassin had tossed the bottle away in a park. Eventually, the couple opened the bottle and both ended up in the hospital, where the woman died. When her companion regained consciousness he provided information leading to the novichok container and further analysis of it. Worldwide, four different labs analyzed the samples and all agreed it was novichok, a chemical weapon never manufactured outside Russia. In response to the March incident, Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats suspected of being intelligence agents and Russia responded by expelling 23 British diplomats. More nations said they would expel Russian diplomats and after the June confirmation that it was Russian novichok, the U.S. ordered a series of additional sanctions on Russia into effect. These could be limited if Russia admitted it used novichok and provided assurances it would never do so again (with any banned weapons). Russia has said it will do neither and denied any involvement. This assassination effort was nothing new for Russia. Skripal was still working for British intelligence when he was arrested in Russia at the end of 2004 and prosecuted for espionage. He was sent to prison in 2006 but got out in 2010 when Russia agreed to use him as one of the three imprisoned spies to get back several Russian illegals who were caught in the United States. Russia was reluctant to part with Skripal, who had apparently done enormous damage to Russian overseas spying efforts. But they wanted their imprisoned agents in the U.S. back. This was not the first time Russia had gone after people like Skripal in Britain. This sort of thing has happened elsewhere in Europe before and after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Russia insists that it does not do this and have been saying that since the Soviets started hunting down and killing traitors overseas back in the 1930s. August 6, 2018: Russia is expelling 13 Greek diplomats after Greece banned four Russian diplomats from Greece and accused Russia of attempting to interfere with internal Greek politics. Russia denied it and retaliated. August 4, 2018: Ukrainian intelligence noted that Russia had replaced all the rebel faction leaders in Donbas with Russian officers. The rebel forces in rebel-held portions of the two provinces of Donbas (Luhansk and Donetsk) are organized (unofficially) into the 1st and 2nd corps of the Russian 8th army, which is based across the border in Novocherkassk. Russia. The 8th army provides supplies, replacements and all manner of support. A growing number of the rebels are actually Russian soldiers although many Russian volunteers are still around. While the Russians commanding rebel units pretend to be a rebel, not Russian army, old habits die hard and the rebels units are operating more and more like Russian army units and not improvised rebel groups. Russia is only sending career (non-conscript) troops or Russian speaking mercenaries to Donbas. Every rebel is now on the Russian payroll because Russian cash and economic aid are all that keeps the rebel-controlled half of Donbas going. August 2, 2018: In southern Syria Russian military police are operating with UN peacekeepers so that, for the first time since 2014, the peacekeepers can patrol the 1974 UN demilitarized zone (extending 24 kilometers from the Israel-Syrian border). By the terms of the 1974 deal, any Syrian violation of that zone would be considered an act of war and would be met with force from Israel. Russia has also agreed to keep Iranian forces 85 kilometers from the Israeli border. This includes Hezbollah and other Iranian mercenaries. The Russian military police are also taking possession of the abandoned Syrian observation positions which, along with their Israeli counterparts, monitored the border and the actions of the UN peacekeepers. The Russians will soon turn over these observation posts to the Assad forces. August 1, 2018: In Syria American forces operating there, especially on the ground, have to receive additional training before arriving in Syria so they know how to operate under constant attack by Russia EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment. The Americans have made the most of this and are sending new EW gear to their troops in Syria to not only deal with the Russian EW but to see how well the new EW equipment performs against the formidable inventory of new Russian designs. For many American troops in Syria, the most difficult aspect of being there is dealing with the Russian EW. July 31, 2018: In southern Syria, on the Israeli border, Iranian forces appear to be pulling back. Russia says it has persuaded the Iranians to stay at least 85 kilometers from the Israeli border. The problem is constantly monitoring and verifying compliance. The Iranians regularly make peace deals like then and then devote a lot of effort to developing ways to violate the terms of their agreement and not get caught. Russia has also told Israel that Iran has rebuffed Russian suggestions that Iran withdraws its forces from Syria. July 30, 2018: In the Central African Republic (CAR) three Russian journalists were murdered in an ambush 50 kilometers from the capital Bangui near the town of Sibut. The journalists were working on a documentary report about the Wagner Group, a Russian military contractor that has a training and advisory presence in the CAR. Apparently one or more of the Russians resisted what turned out to be a case of robbery, resulting in gunfire and the death of the three Russians. There is a suspicion that the deaths were part of a Russian effort to inhibit wealthy Russian exile (and critic of Vladimir Putin) Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who financed the project the dead journalists were working on. In 2017 the UN authorized Russia to provide training and some light infantry weapons to the CAR security forces. July 29, 2018: The government announced an expansion of efforts to improve morale and patriotic attitudes among military personnel. The new move establishes a directorate within the military high command to increase efforts to ensure the loyalty of military personnel via more propaganda and ideological education. This is an old communist era technique that did not work out so well but the communist era Zampolit did prove useful, if only in a limited sense. July 28, 2018: The Navy commissioned a new warship, the Admiral Gorshkov the first of four new, 5,400 ton stealth frigates. These ships can operate in distant waters and are replacing Cold War era destroyers, few of which can still get to sea. July 25, 2018: In Moscow Sergei Lemeshevsky, the head of a Russian space satellite development firm, was arrested and charged with fraud and embezzlement which involved stealing $5.2 million in the last three years. The Russian space programmed has suffered from a growing number of very visible and very expensive failures, usually involving launch rocker or satellite failures. July 20, 2018: Outside Moscow, FSB agents raided a space research center seeking evidence of who was providing the United States with details on Russian research into hypersonic spacecraft. At least ten Russian researchers are believed involved. Earlier a search was conducted in the offices of space equipment manufacturer Energia. July 18, 2018: Russia is trying to delay or sidetrack American efforts to have the UN investigate well-documented incidents of Russians aiding North Korea to evade economic sanctions. Russians on the Pacific Coast are helping North Korea to obtain oil supplies and move illegal exports to pay for it July 16, 2018: One of the Baltic States, Estonia complained to Russia of an incident in which two Russian commercial aircraft, an A319 and an Il-96 entered Estonian airspace without permission and refused to respond to air traffic controllers. July 13, 2018: A senior Iranian official announced that Russia was going to invest up to $50 billion in Iranian oil and gas facilities. Russia quickly responded that there was no such commitment. This was a very public embarrassment for Iran, especially in the wake of recent (July 5th) Chinese warnings about Iranian threats to close the Straits of Hormuz. South Korea complained to Russia after two Russian military aircraft violated South Koreas ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone). The Russians did this four times as they flew south off the east coast towards the Dokdo Islands. The Russian aircraft left the ADIZ quickly in each case. South Korea is seeing a lot more ADIZ violation activity west coast because of Chinese intrusions. In 2013 China announced a new ADIZ that overlapped South Korean, Philippine and Japanese airspace. China demanded that any foreign military or commercial aircraft request permission before flying into this zone. South Korea and Japan protested while the United States quickly flew some B-52s into the disputed zone without asking for Chinese permission. China protested and the United States ignored them. David Edgar CASTING for the RSCs timely new staging of David Edgars powerful play Maydays is announced today. The play was first staged by the RSC at the Barbican Theatre in 1983, with the new production being performed as part of the Autumn Mischief Festival in The Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon from 27th September to 20th October. Geoffrey Beevers will play Trelawney/Pugachev, alongisde Gillian Bevan (Mrs Glass/Weiner), Richard Cant (Jeremy), Sophie Khan Levy (Clara/Judy), Chris Nayak (Phil/Korolenko), Lily Nichol(Amanda/Erica), Mark Quartley (Martin), Christopher Simpson (James Grain/Paloczi), Liyah Summers (Bryony/Tanya) and Jay Taylor (Lermontov). Edgars award-winning and epic play is revived in what is the 50th anniversary year of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedys assassination, the student-worker uprising in Paris and the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. It tells the story of the idealistic young who came of age in 1968 and were drawn into revolutionary politics. Maydays was fiercely topical when first premiered, and is now relevant again in a new age of radical leftism and global politics, providing startling parallels to the political revolution of the Millennial Generation. The production is directed by Owen Horsley who was last at the RSC in 2017 directing Salome in the Swan Theatre. Prior to that, he worked as Gregory Dorans associate director on the King and Country cycle of Shakespeares Henry IV and Henry V which toured to New York, China and Hong Kong. He also directed the Chinese version of Henry V in Shanghai as part of the RSCs Chinese Folio Translation project. There will also be three performances of Edgars one-person solo show Trying It On at The Other Place on 18th, 19th and 20th October, 2018. Edgar was caught up in the student revolt aged 20 in 1968, which defined his politics and gave focus to his playwriting. In Trying It On he confronts and is confronted by his 70-year-old self today. Do they still share the same beliefs? Has the world changed, or has he? Why did his generation supposedly so radical in its youth - vote Brexit? Has he sold in or sold out? The text for Trying It On has been developed through interviews conducted by the playwright with activists, past and present, and marks Edgar's professional debut as a performer after 50 years of writing. The production is directed by Christopher Haydon and produced by China Plate as part of their new partnership with Warwick Arts Centre. It premiered at the Warwick Arts Centre in June before transferring to the Birmingham Rep, and then following its three-day run at The Other Place - to the Royal Court in London in October. On two days at Stratford it will be possible to see Trying it On in the afternoon and Maydays in the evening. On Saturday, 6th October, at 5.45pm, at The Other Place, Edgar will also take part in a special panel discussion called Theatre and Political Change. The discussion will explore ways in which theatre and the arts can reflect and effect change. Other speakers will be announced soon. In his 70th birthday year Edgar sees a number of revivals of his work. As well as Maydays and Trying It On, there are revivals of his adaptations of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and his new adaptation of Dickens A Christmas Carol, which returns to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre this December. He is the RSCs most produced living playwright. Further information about the RSCs current Mischief Festival of new work at The Other Place see https://www.rsc.org.uk/mischief-festival/ When it feels unbearably hot outside, just be grateful that you dont have to pull a carriage full of tourists. As the summer heat keeps beating up New York City residents, animal rights advocates say the citys carriage horses in Central Park almost definitely have it worse than the rest of us. Listen to WNYC's Mara Silvers report on the debate about carriage horses' working conditions during the extreme heat I think its rational to ask if there is a citywide heat advisory in effect, that horses should not be be allowed out of their stables those days, said Edita Birnkrant, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets, or NYCLASS. Its too dangerous for them. When heat advisories go into effect, carriage horses are often still lined up along Central Park South, or clomping through Columbus Circle. The city does not require horses to be stabled unless it hits 90 degrees in the summer, or goes below 18 degrees in the winter. The Health Department works with the NYPD to both enforce temperature regulations and help determine if conditions are too hazardous for carriage horses to work, said department spokesman, Christopher Miller. Once a determination is made that operations will be suspended, the NYPD will monitor the hack stand where carriage horses congregate, and the Health Department will notify stable owners. The 90 degree cut-off, advocates say, is too high. Their proposal, that carriage horses be stabled during a citywide heat advisory, is part of a years-long campaign to pressure city officials to improve conditions for the horses. NYCLASS has long argued that horses should be taken off the streets entirely, but has also said it is open to negotiating about reforms. Mayor Bill de Blasio was once an ardent supporter of NYCLASSs proposal to ban carriage horses, but has not been so outspoken since reform efforts hit a series of brick walls in the City Council. The push to eliminate the use of carriage horses failed in de Blasios first term. A second set of reforms to keep the horses routes within Central Park and to relocate their stables fell apart in 2016. Working conditions for horses still need to be improved, advocates argue, including lowering the standard for when it is considered too hot for horses to work. On Monday, Birnkrant took a video of a horse standing on Central Park South a little before 10 a.m. The high that day reached 92 degrees. The video shows the horse panting, in what Birnkrant called respiratory distress. Weve had the same heat regulation for 35 years without issue, said carriage driver spokeswoman Christina Hansen. This is nothing new. This wave of activist concerns comes as 2018 remains on track to become the fourth hottest year on record. The last three years also broke heat records. Since 2001, 17 out of 18 years have been the warmest recorded since 1880, according to analyses from NASA and NOAA. Nevertheless, the laws surrounding summer working conditions for horses dont need to change, according to Hansen, who said NYCLASS is wrong to apply the heat advisory measurement to carriage horses. Thats for humans who are elderly, sick, or doing real physical labor, she said. Our horses are just walking and standing. Discomfort and dangerous working conditions for horses go beyond overheating in the summertime, said Birnkrant. On Thursday afternoon, she and another NYCLASS volunteer were stationed outside of the Clinton Park Stables on 52nd Street, between 11th and 12th Ave. A carriage driver whose horse had open wounds on its lower legs had come there after being questioned by police, said Birnkrant, and the two activists decided to follow him. Carriage horse with sores (Image courtesy of Edita Birnkant / NYCLASS) Birnkrant and the volunteer called the NYPD after noticing the sores. Two officers proceeded to file a report, but the Department of Health said no suspensions were made. A spokesman for the department said it was aware of this horse and we are looking into [the] matter. Conor McHugh, Clinton Park's stable owner, confirmed there is not a full-time veterinarian on site. He declined to make the driver available for comment. Spokeswoman Christina Hansen said Friday that the veterinarian who had looked at this horse in the past had been contacted. Despite the health departments investigation and the police report, Birnkrant said she is generally concerned about the horses well-being. I dont know how this horse got these kinds of wounds on its legs, or how any responsible horse owner could take a horse out, especially in this heat, with festering wounds, said Birnkrant. In response to NYCLASSs argument that horses should not work during heat advisories, a spokeswoman for the mayor said it plans to aggressively enforce the current policy that dictates the 90 degree cap, but will always evaluate changes if they can improve the health of the horses. Mara Silvers is an assistant producer at WNYC. You can follow her on Twitter at @mara_silvers. Ballots are due Tuesday on a proposal to amend the LB840 economic development plan. The question before voters is Shall the City of Sidney establish an economic development program by appropriating annually from local sources of revenue only, namely the presently existing sales and use tax, the amount of $300,000 each year for 10 years as well as any grants, donations or stand and federal funds received by the city subject to any restrictions of the grantor, donor or state and federal law? The change in the current plan does not allow for the economic development office to receive pri... A multi-disciplinary team of University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers will conduct a two-year study to see how soil nitrogen levels affect protein levels in the grain that comes from Nebraska wheat fields. The team hopes to evaluate how grain quality, yield and field stands are affected by nitrogen fertilizer rates and application timing. The trials will be conducted across the state and with variations in the amount of precipitation the plots receive. The project also will test the effectiveness of crop sensors in monitoring wheat crop conditions and whether inputs are needed during the... In 1974, Spain was still governed by a dictatorship and Francisco Franco, albeit in poor health, would live for more than a year. However that did not stop some law changes to bring the country slowly into a world of equal opportunities. One of this steps forward came on 10 August of that year when the government decreed the suspension of the article in the Bullfighting Regulations that prohibited women from taking on a bull on foot in the ring. This particular ban, which still allowed women to play a part in a bullfight on horseback, had been in force since 1940, however a previous prohibition had been brought in by decree in 1909, and lasted until 1934, when the brief Second Republic declared equal rights for all Spaniards. In her book Women and the Bullring, published in English in 2003, Muriel Feiner looks at the history of women in the male-dominated world of bullfighting, not just those who aspired to become 'toreras' themselves but also women taking on other roles such as breeders, journalists, photographers, managers, artists and impresarios. Feiner, who moved from her native New York to Spain in her 20s having fallen in love with the world of bullfighting, pays long overdue attention to women whose presence was ignored by traditional historians. The most important female bullfighter of the 19th century, according to Feiner, was La Pajuelera, who was painted by Goya spearing a bull on horseback. Taking advantage of the equality ruling in the Second Republic, the Palmeno Sisters, Enriqueta and Amalia Almenara, whose father ran a bullfighting school in Perpignan, earned a name for themselves in bullrings around the country in the late 1930s. During the same period, Juanita Cruz demonstrated her skills in Spain, until the Civil War forced her into exile in Mexico and a career in American bullrings. One name linked especially to the decree of 10 August 1974, however, is Angela, the first 'torera' to earn her licence after the lifting of the ban. Maria de los Angeles Hernandez Gomez - Angela - was born in Alicante in 1946, but moved with her family to Algeciras. Her enthusiasm for bullfighting was such that at just 13 she jumped into the bullring at a charity event in Alicante. She then learned how to ride a horse, the only way that regulations would allow her into the ring. Other countries did not have the same rules, however, and her desire to face a bull on foot took her to Mexico, Guatemala, Panama and Venezuela. She returned to Spain in 1970 and started her campaign to lift the ban, which culminated in the decree of 1974. Angela appeared in a bullring as a fully fledged torera in September that year in Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz). After struggling with repeated injuries she was forced to retire, but reappeared in the ring in America in 1986; her last bullfight was in Elche (Alicante) in 1990. She continued to work in the business however, as a representative of breeders and a manager for bullfighters. Angela died in Madrid in 2017. The night the earth shook was darker than any other. "When the earthquake hit, we all ran outside because we had never experienced one that strong," says Pablo Martin, a 31-year-old from Malaga, speaking in Kuta, south of Lombok. Pablo was not on holiday: Lombok has been his home since 2012. With his partners Cristian Santana and Alberto Rico, he owns the Kuta Baru hotel and Sushi-k restaurant. There were two major earthquakes in one week and more than 130 aftershocks of different magnitudes. Fourteen were killed by the one on 29 July, but more than 100 have died after the one on Sunday. That's why, once they were no longer in danger, Pablo and other local business owners decided they had to help. They realised that in the north, in Nusa Tenggara were the epicentre had been, the situation must be considerably worse. "In Kuta, the buildings aren't very high and they are well-built. Also the aftershocks were weak and quite a distance apart," he says. He and his partners discovered that rescue attempts in the north were hampered by bridges collapsing and no electricity or telephone cover. "We collected money among the nearby hotels and raised 2,000 euros," he says. What was needed most was drinking water and medication, so they loaded two 4x4 vehicles with those, food and clothing, and set off early in the morning. Normally, the journey from Kuta would take three hours; they were heading for the top of the Rinjani volcano. It was nightfall by the time they arrived. "It's the poverty that causes this disaster, not the earthquakes," says Pablo. Houses with no foundations, simply built of brick and wood, collapsed with the first signs of the earthquake. The north of Lombok looked like "a war scene,"not because of the earthquake but for what it left behind it. More solidarity "People have to stop looking at Lombok with fear and start doing so in solidarity," says Pablo. The compensation offered by the government is laughable: the equivalent of 895 euros for the families of people who died, and up to 150 euros for the injured. The Disaster Mitigation Agency is working flat out, but international aid is only arriving bit by bit and there is a lack of coordination. Pablo says the authorities are trying to provide resources, but many villages are difficult to reach. He and his colleagues have made contact with the Balanced World Indonesia association, which is trying to take treatment plants to the most hidden areas, and they are facilitating the arrival of 12,000 bottles of water and tinned foods from the Herbal Pharm company in Singapore. "Money from abroad is important. Even a small amount of euros is a lot here and can buy many things," he stresses. They have set up a Paypal account so that people can make donations which will arrive as directly as possible: kutabaruhotel@hotmail.com. Nor does the "alarm" and "tension" in some of the media help matters. "If you come here, especially to the south, you will see that life is going on as normal," he says. But there is still a lot to do. At midnight tonight, Friday 10 August, Malaga kicks off its huge annual fair with fireworks on the central La Malagueta beach. The official opening of what is Spain's biggest summer feria will mark the culmination of months of intense preparations by local authorities, bar and restaurant workers and entertainers. This week all were busy putting the finishing touches to plans, which will see normal working life in the city grind to a halt as locals and visitors descend on both the city centre and the feria showground on the western edge of the city. In all, some 1,300 extra, temporary jobs are expected to be created. Over 1,000 police on duty The city council brought together all police forces and emergency services this week to finalise their part of the plans. Over 1,000 police officers will be seconded during the nine-day event. Meanwhile the local bar and restaurant association, Mahos, has been sending out guidelines to its members to ensure their businesses portray the best image of the city. The festivities in Malaga, which start properly on Saturday and run until the evening of Sunday, 19 August, are unusual because of the twin venues. The so-called Feria de Dia (day fair) fills the streets of the old city with dancing, music and celebration from midday until 6pm. A few kilometres further west, the huge showground opens up at midday and slowly changes its mood, moving from traditional, colourful horse and carriage processions with local people alongside over 100 'casetas', for eating, drinking and dancing, to the bright lights and high energy of the nighttime fairground rides and partying younger generation. In recent years the town hall has been encouraging more daytime activity at the out-of-town showground with the increasing saturation of the city centre and locals' complaints that the feria had lost its traditional feel. At their joint meeting this week at city hall, the emergency services called on the local population and visitors to act responsibly and to watch out for anything unusual. Among the points on the list of top ten things for bars and restaurants to remember, sent out by Mahos, are; decorate your bar and put local food on the menu; always smile at tourists; advise customers to use public transport; recycle and support street cleaners; keep your bar or restaurant at a cool temperature. A strike by refuse workers in Fuengirola is due to start today, Friday 10 August. Employees at Urbaser, the contract holder for refuse collection and part of the street cleaning services in the resort, are to start a partial stoppage over pay and conditions. Public arbitrators have set a minimum service obligation on the strikers, which will see half of the service operating on weekdays and 65 per cent at weekends from 10-19 August at least. The start of industrial action comes as little surprise to residents of Fuengirola who have been following disputes between Urbaser and both the town hall and the concession holder's own employees. Dispute with the town hall Urbaser won the contract in a 2016 tender to run the service that includes all rubbish collection and some street cleaning. Street cleaning in some areas is still under direct council management. However immediately problems started when a delay in starting the contract and alterations that Urbaser says were made to the conditions led to Urbaser claiming it was losing money on the deal and wanting to cancel its contract. The town hall refused and the contract still stands. Critics of Urbaser say that the firm underbid on the contract and were looking for ways to get out of it. In the meantime, discontent among workers continued to grow, with Urbaser refusing to renegotiate terms and conditions last year, freezing pay and conditions. A strike last year was averted with a promise by the company to look at pay and conditions this year. The failure of the company to start those negotiations with staff has led to the industrial action, say workers' representatives. Employees are demanding improvements in holiday pay, that they say currently doesn't match the law, and fairer treatment over extra hours for longer-serving staff compared to new starters. They also want to return to a 35 hour week that was increased to 40 hours during the financial crisis. Fuengirola town hall has said that it has been trying to arbitrate in the dispute. For five years the two gigantic depots, which the Adif railway infrastructure company built in Bobadilla, near Antequera in inland Malaga province, have lying empty. They were originally built in preparation for the Antequera 'railway loop', but when that project was cancelled these buildings, which together cover over 19,000 square metres, were just abandoned. Now, thanks to an agreement which has just been signed between Adif and Virgin, they are to be used: as the first European development centre of the multinational's Hyperloop supersonic train. HOW DOES IT WORK? Passengers. The passenger capsules move through the interior of steel tubes supported by cement pillars. The capsule. It moves through the tube, where there is very low pressure, allowing it to move with very little friction, and rise thanks to a cushion of air which forms below the capsule. This also enables it to reach high speeds. The air cushion. This is achieved thanks to a turbine in the nose of the capsule, which compresses the air it meets as it passes and redirects it to the lower and rear part of the apparatus. Acceleration system. Through an electric induction in the tube. Only needed when starting and at certain points where speed is lost (hills, bends etc). The energy needed comes from external solar panels. The president of Adif, Isabel Pardo, and the CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One, Rob Lloyd, signed a route map earlier this week. The agreement is for ten years, and can be renewed. Virgin expects the new centre to be operative in 2020; it will develop, test and certify components and technological subsystems for the Virgin Hyperloop One systems. Once the testing and validation phases are completed, the centre will remain open to provide support for the operations, maintenance and international expansion of the system. In the long term, the aim is to make it "a leading installation where other transport companies can test and certify new technologies," say sources at Virgin. "The capacity of this centre will enable Virgin Hyperloop One to work with regulators to certify systems and, eventually, increase the production capacity to satisfy future demand". The investment, of around 431 million euros, is conditional on 126 million in grants and loans in exchange Virgin will be investing about 431 million euros in the project, which will include manufacturing areas, testing platforms and equipment for Virgin Hyperloop One. "In exchange," says the company, it will be given 126 million euros of public funds (in the form of loans and grants for R+D+i for the facilities). Neither Virgin nor Adif have said which administration or authorities will be providing these funds. Impact on employment The new centre in Bobadilla will create 250 direct jobs for highly qualified professionals in the next five years, and hundreds of indirect jobs from the creation of the "necessary ecosystem" for the manufacture of Hyperloop systems at world level, according to Adif. The two parties will collaborate on the implantation of this ecosystem, which will enable participating companies to export their products and services to other countries where the Virgin Hyperloop One projects are sold. Virgin will be renting the Adif buildings which, due to their combined size of over 19,000 square metres, will be able to accommodate the equipment required for the hardware tests needed for the development of this leading-edge technology. "In order for Hyperloop to be commercially viable it has to be safe and trustworthy; security is our number one priority," said Josh Giegel, the co-founder and head of technology of Virgin Hyperloop One. "We have been testing and improving our technology for the past four years, including the only Hyperloop system to real scale in the world. Eventually this centre will help us to complete our first projects and then go on to satisfy future demand from all over the world," he said. Why did Virgin choose to come to Spain, and particularly Malaga? "With its solid high-speed transport, aerospace and high technology sectors, plus the excellent talent here, Spain is ideal for the Virgin Hyperloop One testing and development centre," said Rob Lloyd, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One. With regard to Andalucia, sources at Virgin also stressed that: "With more than 9,000 transport and logistics companies, the second largest aerospace conglomerate in Spain and 20,000 people working in R+D, it is consolidating itself at a global level as an industrial hub for transportation and aerospace innovation. The region has an excellent business ecosystem and access to highly qualified professionals who can support the development of the centre". Background This agreement, signed off by the new Spanish government, comes after months of negotiations started by the former minister of Public Works, Inigo de la Serna. In May there was talk of discussions between Virgin and the Junta de Andalucia about using part of the infrastructure of the abandoned Antequera-Seville railway line, of which 77 kilometres have been built and never used, but this does not form part of the agreement signed this week. Although Virgin is not ruling out the possibility of other collaboration in the future, at the moment it is limiting itself to the Adif buildings in Bobadilla. Sources associated with the project say it will also seek synergies with The Railway Innovation Hub, a group of companies based in Adif's Railway Technologies Centre (CTF) on the Andalusian Technological Park in Malaga. This is a cluster of 60 companies which are expert in different fields of innovation in railway technology. Reactions The president of the Junta de Andalucia, Susana Diaz, said the agreement between Adif and Virgin for the experimentation centre for the new supersonic hyperloop train is "excellent news" for the region, and reinforces its reputation as a benchmark for innovation and research. "The supersonic trains of the future are to be developed in Antequera," she posted on Twitter. Meanwhile, the regional government's delegate to Malaga, Jose Luis Ruiz Espejo, has also described the agreement as "very positive". He pointed out that a few years ago there had been plans for a high-speed experimentation track in Bobadilla, the so-called 'railway loop', but the project was eventually dropped "and the government of the time was not able to come up with anything to replace it; they said there was no interest among the private sector," he said. The mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, also expressed his approval of the agreement and said he hoped it would have "the best possible result". He said the news had not come as a surprise to him, because he knew months ago that discussions were being held. "I was told about it by the former minister of Public Works, by the team at Adif and the Railway Technologies Centre," he explained. The mayor of Antequera In his response Manuel Baron, the mayor of Antequera, stressed the "quality employment" that this project will bring to his municipality. "I am very happy, very pleased. This is fantastic news for Antequera because it will generate top-level quality technological employment and will place Antequera and the whole of Malaga province at the top of the railway technology sector in Spain," he pointed out. Baron said that in May Inigo de la Serna had announced that "very advanced" discussions were taking place between Virgin and Adif, and the agreement signed this week by Virgin Hyperloop CEO Rob Lloyd and Adif president Isabel Pardo was the result of those discussions. He commented that he had been very pleased when Pardo was appointed to the post by the new government, "because she understands the reality of Adif and its projects and she knew that it had participated in others associated with Antequera in the past, he said, referring to the works which were reactivated to build the station for the AVE high speed station in the municipality. It was back in 2013 that Tesla-founder Elon Musk announced his idea of building an ultrasonic train based on vacuum tubes and magnetic levitation, and strangely enough, that was also the year in which the two giant structures which were to be part of the 'railway loop' project were completed. Now, to everyone's satisfaction, they are to be brought together. Mext Monday, 13 August, at 7am, a 500-kilo bull will run through the streets of San Roque chasing hundreds of thrill seekers. It's fair to say it's not everyone's cup of tea, but several hundred people are set to literally run for their lives through the streets of San Roque for the town's annual bullrun. FACTS Antiquity. The event dates back to 1649 and takes place the morning after the last day of San Roque's feria. Welfare. No harm comes to the bull and it is sent back to the stockbreeder's estate in the countryside afterwards. Of interest. There is no outer corridor in the San Roque bull ring as the plans for it were drawn up by a local mathematics teacher who made a mistake in his calculations. The event takes place on the last day of the town's feria and sees a fighting bull chase locals for 500 metres through a steel barricaded route to the town's bull ring. Dating back to 1649, the bull run started when the original Spanish inhabitants of Gibraltar would go to the old Shrine of Saint Roque (built in 1508) in pilgrimage and hold a bull run. The shrine was located in the historical centre of the town where the parish church is today. The tradition then continued after the Spanish population founded San Roque in 1704 when British and Dutch forces took the Rock. Next Monday's bull run will see the fighting bull spend an hour in the bull ring with the runners, before three younger bulls replace him. During the event no one is allowed to touch the bull and a local association runs alongside the animal to make sure no one hurts it. Afterwards the bulls are sent back to a stockbreeder's estate in the countryside. For more information, visit www.sanroque.es Take A Mulligan: The Big 7-0 Here is the $64,000 question. Just exactly how old is old? In my teens, I figured it was about 35 but when I was getting close to that age, it ... Abhina Aher is the national program manager with the India HIV/AIDS Alliance. She's an advocate for the rights of transgender people in India, and her work is internationally recognized. Aher presented a poster at the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam called Hidden and Covered: Underreporting of Violence, a Transgender Women Project, Even After Empowerment Process, and discussed the poster and the issues that transgender women in India face with TheBody. Terri Wilder: Can you tell me a little bit about your poster? If you'll just take me through the background methods, the results, and your conclusions? Abhina Aher: Thank you, Terri, for giving this opportunity. We represent the India HIV/AIDS Alliance, and this poster is presented from the program called Wajood, which means empowerment. Now, what you need to understand is that in India, when we talk about the transgender community, it's just not black and white. We have different identities that come under the larger umbrella of the transgender community. We have been implementing the program with them for the last two-and-a-half years, and we found that the major barriers that transgender people are facing for service access are violence, service denial, stigma, discrimination, gender inequality, and lack of support from their own family members. Terri, you have to understand, a lot of transgender women, especially at a young age when they come out to their families as transgender people, they've been kicked out, and they've been left to survive by themselves. They don't have any money. They don't have any legal documentation. They don't have any certificates. And they have to travel to other states and stay there in precarious conditions that are very vulnerable for them. As a result, a huge amount of violence happens. We did a demographic [survey] of the people that we are working with, and we found out that the majority of people who are facing violence are between 18 and 35 years. Now, this is also the sexually reproductive age, which means they are having a high number of sexual partners. When we looked into the occupation of these people, we found out that the majority of them are relying on sex work. They have no other option than to do sex work. Which means, every day, they are vulnerable for violence, and stigma, and trauma. Further, when we sought this data, Terri, we wanted to understand what kind of crisis these people are facing. And we found out it is just not physical violence which is affecting them, but the trauma of being transgender women is much more intense. So, if you are a transgender woman, and if you've been bashed or belittled every day, by the way you look, the way you behave, the way you are, you know, your aspirations to live a healthy life dies, and you want to commit suicide. You want to die; you become subject to substance abuse. And you start hating yourself, big time. And that trauma is a very, very serious trauma. I'm part of a hijra community. Now, a hijra community is basically a socioeconomic identity, which means that we are close to the gods. We are god-women, because we castrate ourselves. We don't have a vagina or something like that. Because we don't have any organ on our body, which would present either male or female, that's the reason why we are considered to be pious and pure. In India, there's a saying that whatever it is, it will come true. So, we have a particular way of behaving. Like, for example, there is a very famous hijra [hand] clap, if you look at it. This is a very specific clap that you cannot clap, but I can do that because this is part of the culture, of the community. We have a separate vocabulary, which has been developed in the community. It's a community which has developed among them to create support for the transgender women. But since we consider ourselves as god-women, many times we don't want to access health care services. Because we see that nothing will happen to us. You know, we will be cured by the gods. We don't have to have any other medication for curing ourselves. What we found out is, there's a lot of forced sex happening on [transgender women] -- forced sex, rapes, humiliation -- and the majority of this forced sex which was happening was from rowdy people, goondas, the people who are goons; and they are exploiting people, and they are hampering people, other related aspects. Other than that, there are also family members of the goondas, the family members of transgender people are also doing forced rape, collective rapes on them, which is traumatizing. You can imagine, you are at the age of 12 and 13, when you are expressing yourself as a transgender woman, and your own uncles and your own cousins and brothers are raping you. That will force you to leave your house. I am the survivor of rape. I remember when I was [school age], other children who were older than me actually raped me. There were 10 male children who raped me. And they beat me up; they tore my clothes apart. Because, for them, I was an unusual case. For them, I was an abnormal person. Many times, these physical injuries do not get medical treatment or do not get reported within the periphery of the legal paradigm. Because I fear to go to a law enforcement agency, to the police, and say, "Listen, I've been harassed; I've been raped." The police would say, "Huh? You've been raped? No, you must have gone by yourself." You know? Police will not understand that I could be a subject of a violence case, because for the police, also, I am an unwanted entity of society. They don't want to address that case. What we are seeing is that forced crisis, forced rapes and other related aspects, affect the empowerment of transgender women. As a result of that, they fail to live their life with aspiration. They're always traumatized. They don't access help. And they always feel inferior in front of any other gender. Unfortunately, Terri, the data are not recorded well enough for the transgender community. The data are only recorded in binary -- either male or female. And that is a larger issue. So, I'm trapped in a vicious circle. People don't know my numbers. People don't know the intensity of trauma that I'm going through. There are no resources, and my community is dying on the roots. TW: We're at an international HIV conference. So, when transgender women experience violence, as you said, they're going to be less likely to access any kind of health care. So, are there alternative ways for the transgender community to access health care, in terms of HIV testing? Is there a program that's just for transgender women that is trusted and safe so that the women, at a minimum, could get tested for HIV? AA: In India, we are doing, Terri, a couple of things. One thing that we are doing is that we are sensitizing health care providers, with the help of transgenders. So, first, we are empowering transgenders. Then we are using them to empower health care providers -- where transgenders are openly talking about their physical issues with their health care providers. And that is helping. The other thing is that we also have some community clinics where everybody from the community is providing services to the community. So, it's a community-led clinic. So, even a doctor's community, from a sexual minority region, a nurse's community, a counselor's community. TW: When you say community, they are transgender? AA: No, they are from sexual minority people. But some of them could be men having sex with men [MSM]. Some of them would be transgenders -- all the community. They feel safe to come and access the services. We have almost tested around 10,000 people, who are from the MSM and transgender community. Out of them, around 4,000 transgender people have come forward and are getting tested and tested. But the HIV prevalence rate among transgenders at the national level is 7.5% at this point in time. And some of the states, and some of the cities, could go to 40% and 50%. Because you see that 51% of the population is completely surviving on sex. And the other people, who are also doing begging; they are also doing sex work, which is hidden in nature. So, I'm begging throughout the day, but in the night, I will stand for the sex work. You know? They don't have any other option besides that, because they are not only taking care of themselves; they are taking care of their families, also. A lot of them are actually giving money to their families for survival. And that's a larger issue that is at this point. TW: So, if our readers wanted more information about your organization, is there a website they could go to? AA: Yes, absolutely. My organization's name is India HIV/AIDS Alliance. And you can go to our website. It is called Alliance India. TW: Perfect. Thank you so much. AA: Thank you so much, Terri, for covering our news. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity. Hello there readers: If you have been following my blog regularly, then you know that I have been in prison for more than two decades for non-disclosure of my HIV status, which got me a long sentence. I have been in awe of how much things have changed over the years. States like California have made non-disclosure, unprotected sexual intercourse, and even HIV transmission no longer a felony that can land someone in prison for decades. The charge is now a misdemeanor and punishable by county jail time. There is no way I would ever advocate to anyone to engage in reckless behaviors, even if HIV is now a chronic illness. Just because antiretroviral therapy (ART), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are available now, this doesn't mean that anyone has the right to not protect themselves or the person they are engaging in sexual acts with. Had I gotten this through my thick head when I was younger, it would have changed my reckless behavior and my career in prison. Just because I am stuck behind these prison walls doesn't mean that I can't still be of some value to society and help get the message out there. Just about 34 months ago (Aug. 31, 2015), I mailed a clemency application to Oregon Governor Kate Brown asking her to take a long look at my case and consider letting me out of here. I had help from a friend that posted a petition on change.org asking for signatures supporting my release from prison. As of the last count, there were 358 signatures so far. If you are reading this and want to add your name, please sign my petition. There are several HIV/AIDS organizations across the U.S. that I have asked for letters of support for my clemency application. Some have responded, but one here in Oregon I have been working with for more than a couple of years now. It is the oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, housing, education, and advocacy and is called the Cascade AIDS Project (CAP). It has finally answered my request to write a letter of support for my clemency application to the Oregon governor, which I am sharing with you, my readers, to show how I am being blessed with a great opportunity. Now, I am going to make myself a humble representative of the HIV community, especially if I get to again be a part of society! I refuse to let anyone down who is taking a chance on me by lending their support to me personally or through an AIDS organization. I am eternally optimistic about my future freedom and advocacy work. I was encouraged when the deputy director of CAP told me in an email that he has been working with Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek's office, "on an effort to modernize Oregon's HIV statutes." "In particular," he said, "we are hoping to limit the ability of prosecutors to use HIV status to enhance the severity of sentencing." The fact that this is finally happening now is a great thing for HIV-positive people in my state. When I finally get out of prison, I'll contact CAP and get assigned a caseworker who should then plug me into the social services network. There will be a lot that I will have to do for myself to get adjusted back into society, which is a challenge I welcome. When I got to prison, it was the most stressful thing I ever had to do, and it was scary too! Getting out scares me, but I will remain optimistic and open minded to the changes I need to make to be a success story after release. There are so many people that I am in contact with around the globe from them reading my blog who have given me positive feedback and are supportive of my release. I think I am in a much better situation because of the contacts I've made in the HIV community to transition out of here. Thank you to the staff at TheBody! Stay healthy & stay safe. Tim Send Tim an e-mail. Read Tim's blog, HIV on the Inside. The Financial Oversight Board (JSF) stated on Thursday that it was ready to continue the process of confirming the adjustment plan, so there was no need to enter into an arbitration process."Approved by the Legislature of Puerto Rico and before Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anbar Jayadi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 16:36 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5266b08 3 Opinion class-action,Facebook,data-breach,cyber-security,privacy-violation,Cambridge-Analytica Free The scandal of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica has ignited debates about data privacy enforcement. The pressing question is twofold. First, it is about compliance and enforcement mechanisms against Facebook and CA and similar entities. Second, it is about compensation for the Facebook users as well as assurance for the future, that data misuse like this will not happen again. Indonesia is no exception to these questions. There is an ongoing class action lawsuit against Facebooks California headquarters and Jakarta office and CA in London. The Institute for the Development of Indonesian Information Society Empowerment, and Indonesia ICT Institute has filed the lawsuit to the South Jakarta District Court. The first trial is set for the third week of August 2018. The central issue of the lawsuit is on Facebook users data misuse especially Indonesian users. As Facebook is recognized as an electronic system provider under the Electronic Information and Transaction Law, the plaintiffs argue Facebook is subject to Indonesian laws. Cambridge Analytica also is believed to obtain personal data of Indonesian users because the Facebook policy on third-party apps allowed them to do so. This lawsuit is paramount because it will hold the critical answers to the questions of first, whether our current legal rules are adequate for a data privacy related case. Second, how far can Indonesian authorities including the courts ensure compliance through effective measures against Facebook and CA and similar outfits? Third, what are possible compensations for Indonesian citizens as Facebook users whose personal data was abused? To this date, relevant legislation about data privacy is the above cyberlaw, where one core provision is the importance of consent for any use of personal data utilizing the electronic medium. The implementing regulation is the ministry regulation no. 20/2016 on Personal Data Protection in Electronic Systems. In this lawsuit, the plaintiffs refer further to the Governmental Regulation No. 82/ 2012 on the Operation of Electronic Systems and Transactions, the basis for their charges of Facebooks wrongdoing of not notifying Indonesian users of the data misuse. The plaintiffs also demand consumer protection and disclosure of public information and refer to the constitutional right to communication and obtaining information. Further, the plaintiffs call on the government to block Facebook and suspend its operational activities in Indonesia. The plaintiffs also demand compensation for material and immaterial loss for Indonesian citizens. The plaintiffs arguments seem valid as they raise the central issues of the scandal of Facebook and CA and protection of Indonesian users. Nevertheless, there are at least two aspects of the case that might affect its degree of significance to Indonesia. First is the extraterritorial effect of this lawsuit. While Facebook has an office in Indonesia, CA does not. At the very least collecting evidence would need cooperation between Indonesian authorities with those in the United Kingdom and the United States. Secondly, CA, part of a bigger business group, has reportedly begun proceedings of insolvency both in the UK and the US. By the time of trials here, CA may have ceased to exist. Further, as Indonesian courts generally do not recognize jurisprudence, any ruling may not largely impact further legal protection of personal data in Indonesia. Nevertheless, we need to keep our eyes on the case, at least as a learning experience in the hopes of better efforts towards protection of our privacy in cyberspace. *** The writer is a junior member of the International Law Department, Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (UI) and a Brussels Privacy Hub Visiting Scholar, July-August 2018. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrio Adiwibowo (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 10:53 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df524ce02 3 Opinion Lombok-earthquake,#LombokEarthquake,tourism,natural-disaster,disaster-mitigation,relief-efforts Free Lets face it: Indonesia is prone to natural disasters, ranging from a 24-meter-high tsunami that devastated Aceh to a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rattled Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday. The Aceh tsunami in 2004, the Yogyakarta earthquake in 2008 and the Padang temblor in West Sumatra in 2009 all alarmed us and we have learned a lot since then. Over the past decade, we have obtained more knowledge, skills and equipment to handle various disasters. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) deserve our tribute for proving their professionalism in coping with disasters. Yet, a gap remains and the Lombok earthquake shows it. There is a big difference between Lombok and Padang, even though both have experienced an earthquake. Lombok is a popular tourist destination and faces a more complicated situation than Padang did. Meaning to say, Lombok is frequented by foreigners as well as domestic tourists, especially during the holiday season. A brief look at what happened on popular Gili Trawangan Island shortly after the earthquake struck indicates that we are hardly prepared for evacuation measures during a disaster in a tourist hot spot. Thousands of tourists swarmed the Gili Trawangan shores and waited for hours for rescue boats without any clue as to what will happen and without basic necessities. Unfortunately, the number of boats available was very limited for such a large-scale evacuation. Even 24 hours after the disaster, around 100 tourists were still stranded there. Simon, a tourist from London, told The Guardian, We spent the night on the beach and then in the morning we went to the harbor. The response was completely uncoordinated, there were hundreds of people surrounding the jetty. The Lombok mainland was a similar mess. All the lights were out and many buildings had crumbled. Scores of people were killed and wounded after being hit by collapsed buildings. Clearly, we are unable to support tourists in a time of disaster. Tourism has flourished rapidly but we lack awareness of disaster mitigation. Multistory hotels have been built, but they are probably not earthquake-resistant. Worse, they may lack building safety standards and the authorities may have never inspected them. Tourism agency staff and hotel employees are not equipped with the basic knowledge and skills on how to deal with a disaster. To make matters worse, backup power and water supply are not available either. When drafted, Tourism Law No. 10/2009 did not anticipate a state of disaster. Now that we have set an ambitious target of recording 20 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2019, the relevant question is whether we have designed adequate emergency measures for when a disaster hits a tourist destination. Tourism is by no means a matter of providing fancy swimming pools and serving tequila; more importantly, it is about preparing responsible and coordinated actions as well as sufficient access to water, food, medicine and shelters when lives are at stake. In recent years, disaster-sensitive tourism has emerged as a global phenomenon, particularly because of the vulnerability of tourist destinations to natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunami. The main idea is simple: How can tourists lives be saved and injuries minimized? Each disaster may present different and complicated challenges, but a tourist destination could rely on a well-regulated system to deal with it. The basic understanding of tourism disaster planning is rooted in stakeholders understanding of the hazards, natural disasters and emergency planning. Building infrastructure is ineffective without changing and transforming the mindset and behavior of the stakeholders. Meanwhile, Nina Mistilis et al in Knowledge Management for Tourism Crises and Disasters argue that knowledge is a powerful resource to help the authorities, tourism operators and tourists prevent, mitigate, plan for and recover from disasters and crises. Destinations need knowledge in the three stages of disaster management: pre-disaster prevention and planning, disaster situation management and post-disaster phases of resolution and return to normality. Education, training and exercise, followed by routine disaster drill are some of the feasible and affordable programs that can increase awareness, capacity, preparedness and readiness. Second are the coordination, regulation and law enforcement aspects, which are often the weak spots. The government, in this case the tourism authority, needs to go beyond the traditional tourism intervention and policy by having close coordination with health, transportation, public works and search and rescue authorities. Tourism officials need to actively implement current intervention on tourism practices that emphasize on disaster preparedness, response and recovery. To make sure all the strategies work, they have to be safeguarded by strong law enforcement. Tourism authorities supported by law enforcement need to be strict on tourism permits. Those authorities need to conduct close and routine examinations of building safety code, evacuation procedures and access, recovery plans and the availability of power, water, medical supplies and emergency shelters. In the financial aspect, more local revenues collected from tourism should be channeled first to building emergency infrastructure prioritized in remote yet popular tourist hot spots like Gili Trawangan. The emergency facilities include boats, helipads, quake resistant jetties, hospitals and shelters. As most of our popular tourist destinations are natural sceneries that are prone to natural disasters, a disaster-sensitive tourism strategy is pressing. We have a moral obligation to protect our guests. The goal is to have them return to the tourist destinations as quickly as possible after a disaster. If we can save our tourists, we can save the future of Indonesias tourism. *** The writer is a researcher for public health research capacity building at the University of Indonesia (UI). The views expressed are his own. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 09:05 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df524876a 4 Editorial #Editorial,Lombok-earthquake,#LombokEarthquake,earthquake,West-Nusa-Tenggara,relief-efforts,disaster-mitigation,disaster-victims,donation,volunteer,zakat,CSR,corporate-social-responsibility-programs Free Following the earthquakes in the past two weeks in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, donations have been pouring in. The hundreds of aftershocks have also affected neighboring Bali and fears of a tsunami remain. The national disaster mitigation authorities reported more than 160 had been killed as of Thursday while rescuers and aid workers struggle to reach remote areas, particularly in the north of the island. Foreign governments have also been evacuating their citizens from the area as hundreds of tourists were enjoying the summer holiday season around the coasts or trekking routes of the beautiful eastern islands. Even though Indonesians live on fault lines or near volcanoes or the ocean, each disaster across the archipelago catches us largely unprepared. Nevertheless, following calamities such as the 2004 tsunami and earthquake in Aceh, and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Yogyakarta and North Sumatra, waves of donations immediately flow in. Rightly our instinct is solidarity with all those affected, and we tap away at our gadgets or go to the nearest ATM to transfer whatever sum we can in the hopes of making a difference. While such solidarity is praiseworthy, what is also vital is more certainty of availability of funds in a country with a constant threat of disasters, not to mention harrowing accidents blamed on human recklessness. Despite developing technology regarding earthquakes, for instance, experts say it is still impossible to detect the precise moment a quake will hit with enough time to warn a large and dense population. Therefore, when settlements become suddenly isolated, there is a considerably long timeframe between the breaking of the news, spontaneous fundraising among the public and delivery of aid to those in need. This week, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNBP) said several villages in the north had not received any help as five bridges connecting them had collapsed. Beyond our tradition of spontaneous solidarity, which we practice daily, the nation lacks institutionalized philanthropy beyond instant donations. Communities and individuals take a long time to recover, years after the headlines shift to other issues and other tragedies. The Islamic community has an advanced degree of organized charities as zakat, or tithes, are obligatory for Muslims, with a government body managing the funds. Several private organizations have long conducted philanthropic measures, which are understood to be longer term and more focused compared to charity. Many companies are trying to improve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities despite unclear regulations. Lack of clarity includes tax incentives for philanthropy and CSR, concerns that have been raised over the past few years. In the absence of clear rules, public benchmarks have been formed around organizations that have long established credibility. More importantly, clear rules on the supervision of such organizations and their transparency are also crucial. Sustained funds with a guarantee of no leakage and mismanagement would better help disaster-hit communities to move on. Ikeas blue-and-yellow stores are instantly recognizable: iconic, monolithic and now, as India's first store throws open its doors to the masses, operating in more than 400 stores in some 50 countries. But while every branch of the world's largest furniture retailer has that most unmistakable whiff of flat-pack conformity, regional differences do exist not least where their famed Swedish meatballs are concerned. In many countries, the Ikea business model has been subtly tweaked to fit local preferences and customs. Opening hours are altered, menu options are adjusted and very occasionally, women are airbrushed out of catalogs. Heres how a multinational company built on the principles of mass production caters to national tastes. Read also: Indonesian artist creates glass art for Ikea's limited collection The restaurant The cafeteria in Ikeas new Hyderabad store will have 1,000 seats; what it wont have is Swedish meatballs. Out of respect for Hindu beliefs, the pork-and-beef dish will be dropped from the menu in favor of chicken meatballs, biryani, samosas and vegetarian hotdogs. Its not the first time the retail giants best-known meal has got mixed up in religion. In 2013, traces of horsemeat were discovered in batches from a Swedish supplier, forcing Ikea to release statements in Malaysia and United Arab Emirates reassuring customers that the pork-free Swedish meatballs in those countries were halal certified (and not, in fact, produced in Sweden). Most often, menus are tweaked simply to appeal to regional tastes: Crayfish in Japan, fish and chips in the U.K., shawarma in Dubai. In a daring move that would pit popularity against convenience, Ikeas menu may yet become available without a diner having to go anywhere near a stick of furniture: the company is reportedly considering opening standalone restaurants in the U.S., although no decisions have been made, according to a spokesperson. The catalog Unsurprisingly, the product lines in the catalog vary somewhat from country to country: the kitchenware section in India will feature spice boxes and idli (rice cake) makers, according to the AFP, while its Chinese cousin goes heavy on woks, cleavers and steamers. The catalog itself has been more controversial. A woman-free catalog was produced last year for Israels ultra-Orthodox community by the companys local franchisee, featuring photographs of men and boys only. Ikea later apologized, but the furor cant have come as a surprise: in 2012 a Saudi catalog appeared with some photos of women airbrushed out, sparking a similar response. The floor space In densely-populated Hong Kong, where flats are typically small and streets are crowded, Ikea is a place to relax as well as shop. The soft-furnishing section is often crowded with locals taking an air-conditioned break from the city, lounging around on the sofas. Meanwhile, in mainland China, shoppers make themselves even more comfortable: its common to find people sleeping in the display beds and armchairs, a habit that isnt tolerated so readily in other parts of the world. Limited space is an issue for the company itself in crowded European capitals like London, Stockholm and Madrid, where its opened small-scale stores of less than 1,000 square meters. Thats good news for the maze haters who cant stand following the arrows around a typical big-box Ikea, which typically sprawls across 25,000 square meters. Read also: Ikea, Royal Caribbean take aim at single-use plastics Home sweet home The local touches arent just in-store they follow you home. Hong Kong deliveries are priced depending on the number of steps up to your apartment (perhaps not unreasonable in such a high-rise city). In the US and UK, you can have your self-assembly furniture built for you using TaskRabbit, an online service that matches freelance labor to one-off jobs, which was acquired by Ikea in 2017. In London, having your kitchen assembled could set you back anywhere between about 13 and 52 ($17 to $67) an hour. Meanwhile in Dubai, the local assembly service will charge you about 300 dirhams ($82) for the entire job. Does the thought of all this global mega-retail have you itching for a long evening browsing the modular storage systems? Head to Hyderabad. In a part of the world where many peoples day starts and ends late, Ikeas newest branch will be open to 11 p.m. a full three hours later than branches in the chains home country. If, however, youve suddenly gone right off the idea of leaving your tastefully furnished house, dont worry, you can now shop online for your stainless steel shelving, your printed cotton pillowcases and sometimes even your meatballs in all but a handful of Ikeas markets. The viola might not be a popular instrument in Indonesia, but a preview in an online newspaper might have been the boost needed to generate public enthusiasm in violist Adam Cordles recent concerts in Jakarta. The article was cleverly titled The handsome American violist will perform in Jakarta and most probably it was the mixture of the word handsome and the mystery of the viola that attracted the audience. The audience was not at all disappointed, not only because of his physical appearance, but even more his high musicianship and virtuosity. The viola is slightly larger than a violin and has a lower sound. It serves as a bridge between the violin and the cello in chamber music, and for centuries it was considered as merely a filling instrument. It was not until the 20th century that viola earned the stature it deserves, as an instrument with a poignant, warm and mellow sound. Thanks to composers such as Paul Hindemith, William Walton, Toru Takemitsu and Alfred Schnittke, the viola became popular through their works for solo performances and orchestra. Cordle, who has performed throughout North America and Europe with different partners, chamber groups and orchestras, is at the moment in Jakarta and has performed with his duo partner who equally impressed the audience, Indonesian pianist Edith Widayani, as Duo 590. The 590 is a code for courses that Eastman School of Music doctoral students take as part of their curriculum. Adam and Edith met on one of these courses in their first semester of graduate study. Also, one of the main interstates in Rochester where Eastman is located is named 590. So, the name Duo 590 references both how and where they were founded. This year, both musicians have earned their doctorate degrees in Music from that prestigious institution. Duo 590 performed two concerts last week in Jakarta and will perform again this weekend. On Aug. 2, they performed at the Institut Francais dIndonesie (IFI), with a program of exclusively French Women Composers of the early 20th century: Nadia Boulanger, Fernande Decruck and Marcelle Soulage. From the French womens program at IFI, Nadia Boulanger was the only name that was known by most of the Jakarta audience. Her work played was Three Pieces for Cello & Piano and it was Cordles initiative to play it on an instrument one octave higher and it worked so well. But it was Marcelle Soulages Sonata in A minor, op. 25 that convinced the audience as a forgotten (or ignored?) great work. Soulage (1894-1970) composed prolifically, sometimes writing under the pseudonym Marc Sauval but then was almost totally forgotten after her death. Many of her works remained unrecorded, and in fact a YouTube video of Duo 590 playing the abovementioned sonata is the only available recording of it. Listening to this four-movement work really aroused the audiences curiosity to discover more works by this fabulous composer, and the dazzling Duo 590 should definitely make a CD recording of this forgotten musical gem. The next day they presented a lighter program, for an afternoon of High Tea at the Writers Bar in Raffles Hotel. This time, Duo 590 performed shorter and easier listening works by Gabriel Faure, Franz Liszt, two movements of the Soulage Sonata (at the request of the audience who loved the piece the day before) and the writers Someones Stolen Her Heart written during my early conservatory days and as the title implies evoking a not-meant-to-be teenage crush. Cordle will perform again, this time as a soloist with a chamber orchestra, on Sunday, Aug. 12 at the Soehanna Hall of The Energy Building in SCBD at 3 p.m., giving the World Premiere of the writers new work, Sebuah Simfoni Tentang Perempuan (A Symphony on Women). This 20-minute Symphony was commissioned by former Indonesian president BJ Habibie through the Habibie-Ainun Foundation to mark the 20th anniversary of the reformasi in Indonesia, focusing on the merits and contribution of women on this aspect. The work is written for solo viola, narrator and eight instruments. The narration was written by prominent writer Putu Fajar Arcana and will be read by actress Maryam Supraba. Before the new work is performed, Cordle will show his prowess by performing my virtuosic works for viola and piano, again with Edith Widayani. *** The writer is a composer & pianist August is a busy month in Indonesia as the country commemorates Independence Day. The month is even busier this year as Indonesia is hosting the Asian Games and wishes to showcase the best of the country to the worlds watchful eyes. With this timing, and being fully aware of the culinary wealth it owns, practitioners in the retail and hospitality industries are keen to offer an array of Indonesian food in festivals. Mal Ciputra in West Jakarta, for instance, presents Kampoeng Legenda (Village of Legends), a culinary festival held annually that is now returning for the fourth time. Ferry Irianto, general manager of Mal Ciputra, said to The Jakarta Post that Kampoeng Legenda aims to bring legendary Indonesian food to citizens of Jakarta, particularly visitors of the mall. Now that many Jakartans are keen on exploring the archipelago, it is good for them to get an idea of the local food of their travel destinations here in this mall, said Ferry on the opening of the festival on Thursday. More than 70 Indonesian foods presented by "legendary vendors" are available at the festival. Theses vendors hail from many cities in Indonesia, from Yogyakarta, Central Java, to Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Some food vendors from Jakarta and Bogor are also participating in the festival. The opening of the festival also aims to tap into the millennial generation by featuring a talk show with Indonesian culinary expert William Wongso and young actress Yuki Kato. Ferry, along with Febriyanto Rachmat, founder and CEO of JisComm, who organized Kampoeng Legenda, shared a concern that millennials may not be interested in cooking Indonesian food even though they like eating it. Their parents may still be able to cook Indonesian home food. But what if they dont pass the skill and recipe down to their millennial children? Or what if the children are not interested in cooking? We organize this event to instill awareness within millennials that it is also important for them to cook Indonesian food, said Ferry, who believes that it is a good way to preserve the culinary heritage. Read also: Go-Food eyes 100 culinary festivals across Indonesia by year-end Food vendors who participate in the event are examples of culinary businesses that have lasted decades. Febriyanto and Ferry quickly pointed out the vendors from Semarang when asked which were the most recommended. Among those vendors are Asem-Asem Koh Liem, established in 1978 and mainly selling beef and cow innards soup cooked with tamarind, tomato, and bilimbi; Pisang Plenet Mbah Toerdi (flattened grilled banana with margarine and other toppings) from Jl. Pemuda, established in 1952; and Warung Makan Mangut Manyung Bu Fat, who has been selling smoked manyung fish cooked with an array of herbs, spices and coconut milk since 1969. William Wongso at Mangut Manyung Bu Fat stall in Kampoeng Legenda, Mal Ciputra Jakarta (JP/Muthi Kautsar) Following the talk show, William Wongso was seen buying the smoked manyung fish head from Bu Fats stall. Kampoeng Legenda is slated to run at Mal Ciputra until Aug. 19. New Zealand became the latest country Friday to outlaw single-use plastic shopping bags, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying they will be phased out over the next year as a "meaningful step" towards reducing pollution. New Zealand uses "hundreds of millions" of single-use plastic bags each year, many of which end up harming marine life, Ardern said. "We need to be far smarter in the way we manage waste and this is a good start," she said. "We're phasing-out single-use plastic bags so we can better look after our environment and safeguard New Zealand's clean, green reputation." Ardern said her coalition government, which includes the Green Party, was facing up to environmental challenges and "just like climate change, we're taking meaningful steps to reduce plastics pollution so we don't pass this problem to future generations." Single-use plastic bags are among the most common items found in coastal litter in New Zealand and the environmental group Greenpeace welcomed the decision to outlaw them. Read also: Chile enacts historic ban on plastic bags "This could be a major leap forward in turning the tide on ocean plastic pollution and an important first step in protecting marine life such as sea turtles and whales, from the growing plastic waste epidemic," Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner Emily Hunter said. A United Nations report in June said up to five trillion grocery bags are used globally each year, which is nearly 10 million plastic bags per minute. "If tied together, all these plastic bags could be wrapped around the world seven times every hour" and like most plastic garbage barely any is recycled, said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment. The UN said more than 60 countries had introduced bans and levies on single-use plastic items like bags. But better waste management, financial incentives to change consumers' buying habits and research into alternative materials were needed to make any real change, it added. A cavalcade of both local and international talent marks this years Salihara International Performing-arts Festival (SIPFest). Split, by Australian choreographer Lucy Guerin, which opened the festival on Saturday evening, won a Helpmann Award in the Best Dancer category in 2017. Guerin said she had created the choreography after a time working on some very large projects. I was working with some large companies, and there were commissions with artists I was not familiar with so much, but I felt that I wanted to go to my own studio, close the door, and just work with the more pure elements of dance and choreography, Guerin said. She explained that the piece, Split, was really about time and space, and its quite an intense work. The two dancers dance for 20 minutes in the whole space, and then they divide the space in half with a strip of tape and then they dance for 10 minutes in half the space. [] It keeps being halved; it keeps reducing the space and time in which they can dance until theyre just crammed up in a tiny back corner, just dancing for a few seconds, she explained. Guerin said she had had people interpret the dance in a number of ways, including two sides of the same person grappling with their personality, as well as the fact that we have less space and time in our lives these days. The festival, which runs until Sept. 9, also comes at a time when the Salihara community and art center is celebrating its 10th anniversary, which fell on Aug. 8. Peering: Lucy Guerin's Split received a Helpmann Award in the Best Dancer category in 2017. (Komunitas Salihara/Witjak Widhi Cahya) SIPFest is the peak of Saliharas cultural programs, representing the best of Saliharas programs from a curatorial standpoint, said the festivals director Nirwan Dewanto. He said this years festival would be different than previous ones since they also produced a contemporary dance performance from choreographer Otniel Tasman as well as a theatrical performance titled Monolog Sutan Sjahrir with director Rukman Rosadi and actor Rendra Bagus Pamungkas. Otniels piece, titled Cablaka, featured five dancers, including himself, portraying the strength, honesty and firmness of Banyumas, Central Java, while being connected to the regions traditional lengger dance. Otniel, himself from Banyumas, said he was ketiban indang lengger (possessed by the spirit of lengger). Life with lengger is not as easy as it seems, as there is a conflict between the personal and the social. [] There will also be a dialectic between the masculine and feminine, as well as the merger between the two energies, Otniel said. Apart from award-winning performances, the festival also has lectures on music, theater and dance. Pianist Ananda Sukarlan, for instance, will join a discussion on Piano Compositions of the 20th Century, while actor, choreographer and dancer Kwee Tjoen Lian, better known as Didi Nini Thowok, will give a talk titled Cross-gender Traditions in Indonesian Performing Arts. Veteran actor Jim Adhi Limas, who is one of the founders of Studiklub Teater Bandung, will discuss the early days of contemporary theater in Indonesia and his groups role in post-independence modern theater in a lecture-performance titled Indonesias Contemporary Theater and I. Contrasting: Split is a piece about time and space. (Komunitas Salihara/Witjak Widhi Cahya) Jim will also present in Omongobrolan, in which he will read his own translation of short sketches written by French writer Roland Dubillard. Other international artists, such as Ayelin Parolin of Belgiums Heretics and Paralleles from Frances Abderzak Houmi, will also highlight the festival. Meanwhile, music performers for this years SIPFest include Canadian string quartet Quatuor Bozzini, Ju Percussion Group of Taiwan, Quasar Quatuor de Saxophones of Canada and Malaysias Toccata Studio. For theater, actors Reza Rahadian and Sita Nursanti will read the script of White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Iranian scriptwriter Nassim Soleimanpour, while Five Arts Center of Malaysia will perform a documentary play titled Baling, based on the history of Malaysia. Apart from performances and lectures, visitors can also enjoy site-specific visual art installations by artists Achmad Krisgatha, Meliantha Muliawan and Gabriel Aries Setiadi. Achmad said he had been exploring art by using the medium of light for the past five years. Exploring light as a medium is interesting because a camera captures light as images, whereas our eyes capture light as a window to our souls, he said. Gabriel, who has a background in sculpting, created an art piece using LED lights that light up in the dark and wire mesh in the shape of a rock, which can be seen on Saliharas rooftop area. With my background in sculpting, the site can be used in mischievous ways, such as toying with the public perception when seeing a large object situated on a corner. The element of light can also bring a contemplative mood to the piece, Gabriel said. Dr. Isima Sobande was in medical school when she first heard of mothers who bleached the skin of their babies. She dismissed it as an urban myth. But it wasn't long before she saw it with her own eyes. At a health centre in Lagos, a mother brought in a two-month-old infant who was crying in pain. "He had very large boils all over his body," the soft-spoken 27-year-old Nigerian told AFP. "It seemed like they weren't normal." The baby's mother explained that she had mixed a steroid cream with shea butter and slathered his skin with it in order to make it whiter. "I was very appalled. It was distressing," said Sobande. Shocked, the young doctor now takes a different view on skin bleaching, also called lightening or whitening. For many Nigerians, it is a "standard procedure," a gateway to beauty and success, she said. "It's a mindset that has eaten into society. For a lot of people, it's the path to getting a good job, having a relationship." Africa risk Skin lightening is popular in many parts of the world, including South Asia and the Middle East. But medical experts say that in Africa -- a continent where regulations are often lax or scorned -- the widening phenomenon is laden with health risks. Cultural watchdogs, for their part, see it as the toxic legacy of colonialism. Read also: Thai penis whitening fad drives social media nuts Africa is experiencing a "massive trend of increased use (of skin bleaching), particularly in teenagers and young adults," said Lester Davids, a physiology professor at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. "The older generation used creams -- the new generation uses pills and injectables. The horror is that we do not know what these things do in high concentrations over time in the body." Where statistics about Africa's skin-bleaching industry exist, they are often old or unreliable. But evidence from the range of products, suppliers and services points to a continent-wide market that may number tens of millions of people and possibly more. In Nigeria alone, 77 per cent of women -- by extrapolation, more than 60 million people -- are using lightening products on a "regular basis", the World Health Organization (WHO) said in 2011. Bootleg creams Experts say the African market is rapidly expanding as companies seek to cash in on the continent's booming youth population. "More clients want insight on the lightening market," said Rubab Abdoolla, a beauty analyst at market researchers Euromonitor International. The rich tend to opt for pricier registered products which are available in standard doses. Others are likely to buy creams, often bootleg concoctions mixed in the back streets, that may be dangerous and are blatantly sold in defiance of official bans or constraints. Ingredients may include hydroquinone, steroids, mercury and lead -- the same element that, at high doses, poisoned Elizabethan courtiers who powdered their faces ivory white. "These chemicals damage respiratory, kidney and reproductive systems," an official from the Nigerian drug control agency warned. "They cause cancer, affect the nervous system, deform unborn babies." In spite of the risks, authorities are struggling to control the bleaching innovations, which include a compound called glutathione, taken as injections or pills. Read also: Ghana to ban whitening cosmetics containing hydroquinone Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya have all banned skin bleaching products with high amounts of hydroquinone and mercury, with the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa urging people to "reject all colonial notions of beauty". In July, Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority issued a statement telling pregnant women not to take glutathione pills to bleach their unborn babies saying that there may be "serious toxic side effects" such as "asthma, renal failure and chest pains." The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stresses that it has not given approval for any of the injections on the market today. "These products are potentially unsafe and ineffective, and might contain unknown harmful ingredients or contaminants." 'Addiction' Those who start using skin lightening say they invariably stay with the practice. "Before you know it, it has become some sort of an addiction where you want to maintain that look," said Dabota Lawson, a Lagos socialite and cosmetics entrepreneur. "Just like with plastic surgery, it begins to feel like it's never enough." In Lagos, the creams are assembled by a legion of cosmetologists and sold at a price anywhere from 5,000 naira to 20,000 naira ($14-55, 12-47 euros), a prohibitive amount in a country where the minimum wage is just 18,000 naira ($50, 42 euros). Instagram skincare star Pela Okiemute's "Russian White" body cream claims to give "firmness, intense beauty and a mixed race complexion". His "Cleopatra Royal" cream, whose label features Elizabeth Taylor in her famous role as the Egyptian queen, promises to "lighten and radiate". Customers should start seeing results in two weeks, says Okiemute, explaining that his creams, which include collagen, kojic acid and "anti-ageing" snail slime are safe, though he declined to divulge his formula. "We have a lot of customers who have used a lot of wrong products, they come to us and we give solutions," he says. Read also: Tall, pale and handsome: Why more Asian men are using skin-whitening products He flicked through his phone to show before-and-after photos of a client who had a problem with dark knuckles, a telltale sign of a skin bleacher. Intravenous injections and pills of glutathione -- an antioxidant naturally found in the body that has a lightening side effect -- are the new frontiers of skin bleaching. At his clinic on the outskirts of Lagos, beside an abandoned Chinese restaurant, plastic surgeon Aranmolate Ayobami charges clients 150,000 naira ($415, 350 euros) for a five-week course of glutathione injections. Known as the "Buttmaster" for helping patients seeking an hourglass figure, Ayobami buys the injections from companies he trusts in the United Arab Emirates or the United States. He only gives certain dosages for a limited amount of time, he said. But sometimes clients will bring in their own cheaper product that they bought online and urge him to inject them. "We try to discourage that," he said. #Melaninpoppin If many millions of Africans lighten their skin without regret, others are dismayed. "Skin bleaching is one manifestation of folks trying to get power and privilege aligned with whiteness," said Yaba Blay, a researcher at North Carolina Central University. "We're seeing folks attempt to be perceived as having more value because of their complexion." Recent black movements are trying to challenge that perception. #Melaninpoppin, a hashtag celebrating black skin, and the smash-hit movie "Black Panther," which featured an almost all-black cast wearing African-inspired outfits and natural hair, are held up as testaments to a shift away from longstanding Eurocentric standards of beauty. But whether the tide of opinion is turning in Africa itself is another question. "The truth for me was that my beauty was more accepted abroad than at home," said Ajuma Nasenyana, a model from northern Kenya, who has walked for Victoria's Secret and Vivienne Westwood. "In the African industry the lighter your skin tone the more beautiful you are. Hopefully the industry is changing and starting to appreciate darker skin." Sobande, the doctor, said, "We're living in a more positive environment than a few years before. "But it's going to take a lot of effort to change the mindset." The surgery room at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital was quiet when Sutopo Purwo Nugroho arrived on a Thursday morning in February, except for the continuous buzz of his cell phone. The hospital situation was an extraordinary for him, but the buzzing from his phone was not. Sutopo, after all, is a communications officer for one of the countrys most important institutions, and he is very good at his job. That morning, disaster struck. There had just been a massive landslide in Pasir Panjang village, Salem subdistrict, Brebes regency, Central Java, and dozens of farmers were feared to be buried under the mud. And like every time in the past eight years that there has been a disaster somewhere in the nation, journalists have turned to Sutopo, the spokesperson of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), for accurate information. Sutopo took a deep breath the pain in his chest had gotten worse those days, and he could feel it spreading around to the bones in his back. The doctors verdict was out a month ago: he had stage four lung cancer. He had promised his wife that he would not work too much these days, but as he scrolled through the internet and social media, no local authorities had spoken about the deadly disaster. In his surgical blue gown, he contacted several local authorities in Brebes, gathered information from the field and wrote a 200-word-long official press release from his hospital bed. Five killed, 15 missing and 14 survived in Brebes landslide, he wrote as the first sentence. And before the doctors gave him the anesthetic for the first transarterial chemotherapy infusion, Sutopo had sent the release to more than 1,000 journalists across the archipelago in six WhatsApp groups that he personally managed. He also gave updates on the situation to his 74,000 followers following his Twitter account, @Sutopo_PN, along with videos and pictures. Battling hoaxes while doing chemo Sutopo, affectionally called Pak Topo, now must go through chemotherapy once every three weeks. But as he described himself in his Twitter profile, he is a survivor. So he still manages most of the interviews, releases and press conferences on his own. Earthquake-affected children play in the parking lot of a mosque in Mataram on West Nusa Tenggara province on August 7, 2018, two days after the area was struck by the temblor. (AFP/Sonny Tumbelaka) When a disaster strikes, everyone needs valid information that they can rely on, and that kind of information must come from the BNPB. I always try to give it to the media and public as soon as possible. Because if I cant deliver that, they will receive the hoaxes and fake news that cause panic, and we dont want that to happen, Sutopo told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. Sutopo understands that in the event of a disaster, clear information is crucial. Apart from the official release and updates on social media, he is swift in his responses to reporters questions and tackling hoaxes through phone calls and WhatsApp messages. And it can happen at any time of the day or night. To deliver valid information to the media and public, I also must act like a reporter I must call several people in the field to verify the information. They did not send me all of the information just like that; I must compile the data and background. And after that I must write it clearly so people will understand, he said. When the two massive magnitude 6.4 and 7 earthquakes hit West Nusa Tenggara over the past two weeks, Sutopo had just finished his third chemotherapy treatment and immediately held a press conference at the BNPB headquarters for the media regarding the deadly earthquake. Thousands of personnel deployed for handling emergency earthquake in Bali and NTB. 259 people, 1,033 people hospitalised, 270,168 people displaced. The number of victims is estimated to still grow because not all verified up to 9/8/2018. pic.twitter.com/GJPzgRMTWH Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) August 9, 2018 He provides 24/7 updates on his Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp, including guiding families concerned about their loved ones trapped on Mount Rinjani or the Gili islands when the earthquake struck. Since doctors told him that his cancer was terminal, every day when he showed up to public he looked thinner than before. Doctors told me with chemotherapy and radiation, I probably have one to three years left, he said. Exemplary public officer Sutopo, however, always shows up to BNPB press conferences. I might look strong when I talk in the press conference, but to tell you the truth, nowadays I find it hard to stand for a long time like that. Breathing has also become harder. Lying in bed is actually the best thing for me, he said recently after one of the Lombok earthquake press conferences. His dedication to accurate information in times of disaster has won him numerous awards, including the outstanding spokesperson from Serikat Perusahaan Pers in 2013 and the Asia Geospatial Excellence Award 2017 from Geosmart Asia. His institution also got an award for data, something he is passionate about. The BNPB got the best disaster database in Southeast Asia award from the United Nations for Development Program in 2013. He is not only informative about any update on disaster conditions, but he is also very resourceful about the data, disaster management, culture, nature's condition, climate, human activities and every background story. He knows a lot of information, and it makes it easier for me to analyze the disaster when writing the story, Lusia Arumingtyas, a Jakarta-based environmental reporter, told the Post. Journalists, used to dealing with tight-lipped public communication officers, loved him for his openness. He is not a communication expert by training but he completed his doctoral degree on management of natural resources and environment at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) in 2010. His first big responsibility was after the eruption of Mt. Merapi in Central Java in 2010, which killed more than 300 people. When Mt. Merapi erupted in 2010, I found it hard to reach out to journalists. Its hard to send press conference invitations or any updates. There was no WhatsApp in those days, so I used BlackBerry groups. But nowadays, WhatsApp is more effective, and I can even attach videos and pictures in it, he said. The job might be tough, but Sutopo has admitted that he fell in love with the job. My background as a researcher and my aspiration to be a writer makes me enjoy this job. Sickness or death is in Gods hands, but while Im still alive I still want to do my best to serve others, he said. Semoga cepat pulih pak... penjelasan2 bapak banyak sekali membantu warga.. semangat! St. Rajo Basa (@felagonna) August 9, 2018 On his Twitter account on Thursday, Sutopo posted a picture of him talking to media. "Official information is important to keep the public calm," he said. "Although I had to bear back pain while giving the explanation." And like in many of his tweets, some netizens will reply and say, Get well soon Pak. Your explanation has helped the citizens a lot. Keep up the good spirit! (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 08:04 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5246bf0 1 National McDonalds,Sosro,food,relief-efforts,Lombok,Lombok-earthquake,#LombokEarthquake,West-Nusa-Tenggara Free Following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Lombok and West Nusa Tenggara on Aug. 5, fast food giant McDonalds has collaborated with beverage company PT Sinar Sosro to distribute food packages to Lomboks displaced. McDonalds Indonesia associate director of communications Sutji Lantyka said the company started distributing food on Monday, the day after the quake. The company distributed over 5,000 food packages, each of which consisted of McDonalds signature crispy chicken, rice, mineral water and Sosro tea. Our deepest condolences for those who were affected by the earthquake in Lombok. We are currently focusing on helping the victims who have limited access to food sources, Sutji said through a written statement received by The Jakarta Post on Thursday. The company, Sutji said, had visited several emergency shelters in heavily damaged areas, including Pemenang and Tanjung districts in North Lombok and Sembalun district in East Lombok. We will keep on delivering food if it is still needed by Lombok residents, she said. (dpk) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fri, August 10, 2018 07:44 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5244fb2 2 World #SaudiArabia,Yemen,strike,children,victims Free An attack on a bus at a market in rebel-held northern Yemen killed at least 29 children Thursday, the Red Cross said, as the Saudi-led coalition faced a growing outcry over the strike. The coalition said it had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told AFP that claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading", adding that the bus carried "Huthi combatants". The International Committee of the Red Cross said the strike hit a bus filled with children at the Dahyan market in the Huthi stronghold of Saada. "A hospital supported by our team in Yemen received the bodies of 29 children under the age of 15 and 48 wounded, including 30 children," the ICRC said on Twitter. A spokesman for the Red Cross in Sanaa told AFP the toll was not final as casualties from the attack were taken to several hospitals. The Huthis' Al-Masirah TV, quoting the rebel health ministry, reported that 50 people were killed and 77 wounded, "mostly children", though it was not possible to verify that toll. The Save the Children charity, quoting its staff, said that at the time of the attack the children were on a bus heading back to school "from a picnic when the driver stopped to get a drink". "Save the Children condemns this horrific attack and is calling for a full, immediate and independent investigation into this and other recent attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure," it said. - 'Innocent children's lives' - Both the United Nations chief and the US State Department called for investigations into the strike. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an "independent and prompt" probe, while State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the US is "calling the Saudi led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident." "We call on the parties to take appropriate measures to protect civilians," Nauert said. Geert Cappelaere, the UN Children's Fund regional director in the Middle East and North Africa, said the children were "reportedly under the age of 15". "Does the world really need more innocent children's lives to stop the cruel war on children in Yemen?". Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said "civilians continue to pay the highest price after three years of war in Yemen, thousands of them have been killed, injured or maimed". Footage provided by the rebels' Ansarullah Media Centre showed a number of wounded children lying two to a hospital bed, while in a separate shot medics tended to casualties in a crowded room. The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. Coalition spokesman Maliki confirmed the strike had hit a bus, telling AFP "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants". He said the rebels have "ballistic missiles threatening our national security, Saudi cities and villages on the border. The attack today was a follow-up process to neutralise that threat". Earlier, Maliki accused the Huthis of "recruiting child soldiers, throwing them in battlefields and using them as tools". Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said. The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said. - Huthis ramp up missile attacks - The Huthis have in recent months ramped up missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh usually says it intercepts. Wednesday's attack brings the tally to 167 rebel missiles launched since 2015, according to the coalition, which that year joined the Yemeni government's fight against Huthi rebels. On August 2, attacks on a hospital and a fish market in the strategic rebel-held port city of Hodeida killed at least 55 civilians and wounded 170, according to the ICRC. The coalition denied responsibility for those attacks. Aid agency CARE International noted that Thursday's strike came a week after the Hodeida bombardment. "This latest air strike, only a week after the attacks on Hodeida city, demonstrates a continued disregard for human life and suffering," said Johan Mooij, the agency's country director in Yemen. "It is beyond cruel; innocent children's lives have been lost." The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, last week told the Security Council "a political solution" to end the Yemen war was "available" and that the warring sides would be invited to talks on September 6 in Geneva. UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Vienna, Austria Fri, August 10, 2018 18:45 1175 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df526ec02 2 World #USA,Austria,sex,underage-sex Free An Austrian teenager arrested in Florida for having had sex with a 15-year-old girl he met on the internet has been released on $200,000 bail, Austria's foreign ministry said on Friday. The arrest of the man, who turned 18 in June and who has been named as Leo, has attracted much attention in Austria, with a campaign being launched to raise funds for his bail and legal expenses. "We're very happy that this Austrian has been released and that he is under the care of his parents," foreign ministry spokesman Thomas Schnoell said. His arrest has caused particular concern as in Austria sexual relations with an adult are legal from the age of 14 as long as they are not in the context of an unequal relationship and there is no coercion. However, in Florida, sexual relations with anyone under 16 can be punishable by heavy prison sentences. The man's release was on the condition that he not leave the Orange Country area and that he refrain from contacting the girl. He must also remain under the care of his parents, who have travelled to Florida to be with him before he appears in court on September 14. Leo had built up a romantic relationship over several months with the girl online before flying to Florida to meet her. He was arrested on July 30 after the girl's mother reported her missing. According to Austrian media, he was questioned without a lawyer or interpreter present and was beaten by a fellow detainee while in custody. His father told the OOeNachrichten daily that the relationship was "a totally normal love story" and claimed the girl had told Leo that she was 16. The money for his bail was raised by a fundraising effort launched from Leo's hometown of Mitterkirchen in the northern region of Upper Austria. Much of it was donated by an anonymous businessman. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Maxime Popov (Agence France-Presse) Moscow, Russia Fri, August 10, 2018 16:11 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5266447 2 World #Russia,Russia,USA,sanctions Free Russia warned Friday that if the US followed through with threats to impose further harsh economic sanctions it would be seen as a "declaration of economic war". The warning by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev came after Washington unveiled a raft of new sanctions against Russia over its alleged use of the Novichok nerve agent against a former double agent which Britain has blamed on Moscow. The incident, which took place in a city in southern England in March, triggered a major diplomatic crisis despite Russia's denial of any role. The announcement of the sanctions prompted Russian stocks and the ruble to tumble on Thursday. "While I don't want to comment on the talk about future sanctions, I can say that if we end up with something like a ban on banking activities or the use of certain currencies, we can clearly call this a declaration of economic war," Medvedev was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. "And we must absolutely respond to this war. By economic means, by political means and if necessary by other means," he added. "Our American friends must understand this." Announced late on Wednesday, the first set of sanctions, which will take effect in just under two weeks, impose a ban on the export to Russia of "national security sensitive" US technologies. Until now such exports had been previously allowed on a case-by-case basis, with a senior State Department official saying the move could cut off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of exports to Russia. - Further sanctions loom? - A second round of sanctions that could go into effect 90 days later would cut far deeper, including blocking all American bank loans to Russian entities, an outright ban on US exports to Russia, and suspension of diplomatic relations. The State Department said the sanctions were aimed at punishing Moscow for having "used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law", mandated under the Chemical and Biological Weapons and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991. However the sanctions announcement could bolster US President Donald Trump's claim that his administration is taking a tough stance on Moscow, even as he continues to denounce as a "witch hunt" an independent probe whether his election campaign colluded with Russia. According to the 1991 Act, the president shall tighten the penalties within 90 days -- unless the party in question provides "reliable assurances" that it no longer engages in such activities, and allows on-site inspections by United Nations observers. Russia had on Thursday responded furiously to the sanctions, denouncing them as "categorically unacceptable" as the markets tumbled and the ruble fell to its lowest level in almost two years. On Wednesday, Russia's Kommersant daily published excerpts from another piece of draft US legislation which proposes a ban on US citizens purchasing Russian sovereign debt as well as steps against the country's biggest banks as well as its oil and gas sector, a key driver of the economy. The sanctions follow the US Treasury's imposition of sanctions in March against 19 Russian citizens and five entities for interfering in the 2016 US election -- the toughest steps against Moscow since Trump took office. Also in March, Washington ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats, and the closure of Russia's consulate general in Seattle over the Novichok incident. The Russian economy has only recently started to recover from international sanctions imposed on Moscow in 2014 over its actions in Ukraine and a crash in oil prices the same year. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 12:47 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df525526a 4 Business OSS-online-single-submission,business-permit,issuance Free The government has issued 7,004 business permits through the online single submission (OSS) system within its first month of operation, a senior official said on Thursday. The OSS data was collated through 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, said Susiwijono, the secretary to the Coordinating Economic Minister. official said. We have issued 304 business permits per day, including Saturdays and Sundays, Susiwijono said in Jakarta, as quoted by kompas.com. Susiwijono said that most of the 30,505 visitors the OSS website recorded were simply testing it, and were not actually interested in opening a business. Most of the visitors were our colleagues who were trying out the OSS system, he said. Meanwhile, the website had recorded 5,587 visitors, or 243 unique visitors per day, who had successfully obtained commercial/operational licenses. He also explained that the OSS processing comprised five stages: registration, account activation, business registration number issuance, business permit issuance and commercial/operational license issuance. The government launched the OSS on July 9 in its effort to eliminate red tape in the business licensure process. The OSS system is currently under the management of the office of the Coordinating Economic Minister while the Investment Coordination Board (BKPM) restructures its organization and personnel to accommodate the new system. BKPM head Thomas Lembong said the board planned to take over the OSS system in November. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10 2018 Acting Jakarta Tourism Agency head Asiantoro has apologized to those who felt their names had been misused in the formation of the National Monument (Monas) events approval team. Historians JJ Rizal and Anhar Gonggong said they had not been invited to join the special team tasked with reviewing and approving events to be held at Monas Park in Central Jakarta, which has an operational budget of Rp 461 million (US$32,000). It was said that the coordination was poor. I apologize to anyone who felt that they had not been contacted beforehand. Well improve together as a team, Asiantoro said on Wednesday, kompas.com reported. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10 2018 Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno has said that the management of online ride-hailing company Grab has lobbied him to exempt its partners cars from the odd-even license plate traffic policy. They asked me to exempt Grab drivers cars that have stickers and vehicle roadworthy test [KIR] certificates because those cars should fall under the special car category, Sandiaga said on Wednesday as reported by kompas.com. According to Sandiaga, Grab argued that its drivers cars that had special stickers and had taken the KIR tests should have the same rights as conventional taxis, as stipulated in Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 108/2017 on non-route public transportation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 14:50 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df525f129 4 Business currency-swap,agreement,Indonesia,Australia,extension Free The central banks of Indonesia and Australia have agreed to extend the Bilateral local Currency Swap Arrangement (BCSA), as the existing agreement that has been in place for three years will expire in December. Bank Indonesia (BI) international director Erwin Haryono said in Jakarta on Thursday that the extension of the agreement was needed by Indonesia and also Australia to strengthen the central banks foreign exchange reserves. Under the agreement, the value of currency swap can reach up to Rp 100 trillion (US$6.92 billion), Erwin said, adding that in implementing its monetary policy, BI could not only rely on the adjustment of its seven-day reverse repo rate. He said the agreement would also help the government keep the economy's resilience, particularly to maintain its current accounts. [Under the agreement,] trade transaction between the two countries could use the local currency, not necessarily with the [United States] dollar, Erwin said at the central banks headquarters as reported by tribunnews.com. The agreement was important because the majority of international transactions used US dollars, he said, adding that the extension of the agreement was made on the sidelines of the Central Banks Executives Meeting of East Asia-Pacific (EMEAP) in Manila on Aug. 5. Separately, BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said the extension of the agreement would help expand the trade between the two countries because the transactions could be implemented by using the local currencies. The extension of the agreement reflects the wish to strengthen financial cooperation between Indonesia and Australia. Each country could use their respective currencies in the bilateral trade to reduce dependency on US dollar, Parry added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 11:53 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5252579 1 Politics Democratic-party,Prabowo-Subianto,Susilo-Bambang-Yudhoyono,presidential-election Free The Democratic Party has decided to back Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Unos presidential bid, despite a dramatic falling out between the Democrats and Prabowos Gerindra Party in the last two days. The High Council of the Democratic Party decided in its meeting this morning to endorse the candidate pair of Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno, High Council deputy chairman E.E. Mangindaan said on Friday. Democrat executives had previously said the party did not support Sandiaga as Prabowos running mate, citing his low electability ratings in recent polls. Democrat politician Andi Arief went so far as to accuse Sandiaga of paying off the other two parties in Gerindras coalition, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN). The Dems have been pushing Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, son of chairman Susilo Bambang, for the VP slot. In a series of angry tweets he posted on Wednesday, Andi called Prabowo a jenderal kardus (cardboard general). As of Thursday night, the party still voiced its opposition to Sandiagas nomination. We want someone with a bigger chance [of winning], Democrat deputy secretary-general Ferdinand Hutahean said late Thursday night. But the party made an about-face on Friday with Democrat secretary-general Hinca Panjaitan saying, About who the vice presidential candidate is, well now its Pak Sandi and that is the prerogative of the presidential candidate, so we have accepted it. (ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 17:38 1175 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5269329 1 City Kalibata-City-apartment,prostitution,eradication,management Free The management of the South Jakarta apartment complex Kalibata City says it has redoubled efforts to tackle prostitution. The Jakarta Police conducted a raid on the 18-tower complex on Wednesday, in the course of which they arrested 32 suspected prostitutes in 17 apartments, six of whom were underage. Kalibata City general manager Ishak Lopung said the management had listed three measures to prevent the problem and would make them standard procedure. "Brokers or owners are not allowed to rent out their apartments on a per-day basis. The minimum rental period is three months. The rental agreement is submitted to us, Ishak said on Thursday, as reported by tempo.co. The management would also brief the security staff and instruct them to take firm action on unidentified people, he said. The management would also get involved directly in security monitoring, Ishak said, by checking whether residents were listed in the database in every tower and whether they were renting daily or staying permanently. Furthermore, Ishak said, the management would take serious action, especially in the case of underage sex workers, that would involve the parents of the minors. What we can do is to contact their parents [], Ishak said. (stu) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 14:01 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df525ac11 1 Politics mahfud-md,Jokowi,2019-presidential-election,2019-elections,#2019PresidentialElection,Maruf-Amin Free Former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD said he did not feel hurt by President Joko Jokowi Widodo's decision to pick Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma'ruf Amin as Jokowis running mate for the 2019 presidential election instead of him. On Thursday, TV stations prepared drafts of Mahfud's profile, as well as posters of him and Jokowi to promote their live coverage of the much anticipated announcement slated for Thursday afternoon in Plataran restaurant in Central Jakarta. Mahfud was reportedly waiting at a cafe near the restaurant in the afternoon. However, in a surprise announcement Thursday evening, Jokowi said Maruf was his running mate. Mahfud began his series of tweets with an apology for not being able to reply to all the messages sent to him since yesterday evening. (Pilpres 1): Sy minta maaf dan berterimakasih kpd masyarakat yang mengirim pesan/pertanyaan dan simpati kpd sy terkait keputusan Pak Jkw memilih KH Makroef Amin sbg cawapresnya. Ada ribuan WA, SMS, Twitter, dll. Sy minta maaf krn sy hanya bs membaca tanpa bs menjawab 1 persatu Mahfud MD (@mohmahfudmd) August 10, 2018 I apologize and thank whoever sent me messages, questions and sympathy regarding Jokowis decision on Maruf Amin as his VP. There are thousands of WhatsApp chats, SMS, Twitter, etc. I apologize because I can only read them without replying to them one by one. Mahfud said he had met personally with Jokowi and told the President not to feel guilty about it. Pak Jokowis decision is inevitable in the reality of politics. I am shocked but Im not hurt. I have met personally with Pak Jokowi. I understand the decision was inevitable. I said, Pak Jokowi, no need to feel guilty. That was his right to decide for the best. Mahfud ended his statement by persuading all Indonesian people to respect the decision, putting aside names for the good of the country. "What's more important is the Republic of Indonesia is well maintained. It is much more important than the name of Mahfud MD and Ma'ruf Amin. In my religion, my friends and I have tried, but God has another plan." Mahfuds name had been floating among the top names considered as Jokowi's potential running mate, but speculation about his candidacy peaked on Wednesday, following a Twitter post made by United Development Party (PPP) chairman M. Romahurmuziy. Romahurmuziy suggested that Jokowi's running mate would have the widest experience in every branch of government and represent the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). National Awakening Party (PKB) secretary-general Abdul Kadir Karding confirmed on Thursday that Mahfud was among the strongest names considered to run as Jokowi's running mate. "Yes, [Mahfud] is one of them," he said. However, there was a turnaround when Jokowi announced Maruf on Thursday afternoon as his running mate. In terms of influence among Muslim voters, Maruf is seen as being more representative of the NU than Mahfud, who is often described as only culturally involved in the NU. (sau) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari and Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10 2018 It has been nearly one year since Southeast Asian leaders signed a regional pact on the protection of migrant workers on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, and yet an immediate follow-up to a more legally binding agreement still seems like a distant goal. Following up on the ASEAN Consensus on the Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, regional civil society organizations (CSOs) have started drafting an action plan to supplement the consensus document and offer recommendations to governments in the region. Indonesias permanent representative to ASEAN, Ade Padmo Sarwono, said migrant workers protection was not an issue discussed at the most recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Singapore last week. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Carole Landry (Agence France-Presse) United Nations, United States Fri, August 10, 2018 11:03 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df524e6ae 2 Business North-Korea,China,Russia,US Free Russia and China on Thursday blocked a US request to add a Russian bank to a UN sanctions blacklist along with a North Korean official and two entities, diplomats said. The United States last week asked a UN sanctions committee to slap an assets freeze on Agrosoyuz Commercial Bank for allegedly helping North Korea evade UN-imposed restrictions on financial transactions. The request also targeted Ri Jong Won, the deputy representative of North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank and two North Korean front companies. In a response to the council, Russia raised doubts about the allegations while China told the council that it objected to the proposed sanctions designations put forward by the United States. "We would like to underline that designation requests submitted to the committee should be adequately substantiated by sufficient information," said the Russian mission to the United Nations in a message to the council seen by AFP. The request followed a US Treasury Department decision to impose unilateral sanctions on the Russian bank, the North Korean official and the two entities. The two companies were named as the Dandong Zhongsheng Industry & Trade Company and the Korea Ungum Corporation. Russia and China have called on the Security Council to consider easing sanctions to reward North Korea for opening up dialogue with the United States and halting missile tests. But the United States has called for maintaining "maximum pressure" from sanctions until North Korea has fully dismantled its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Earlier Thursday, the North Korean foreign ministry issued an angry statement, denouncing the United States for responding to its overtures by "inciting international sanctions and pressure." The council last year adopted three rafts of sanctions targeting North Korea's economy through export and import bans, as well as restrictions on banking. It was the second time in three weeks that Russia and China have objected to a US request to tighten sanctions on North Korea. On July 19, the two countries put a six-month hold on a US request to halt all deliveries of refined oil products to North Korea. The United States had made the request to the sanctions committee after finding that North Korea had exceeded the cap on fuel imports though illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea. UN sanctions resolutions place a ceiling for North Korea of 500,000 barrels of refined oil products per year and four million barrels of crude. A cut-off of oil and fuel would have to be enforced primarily by China, which supplies most of North Korea's energy needs, but also by Russia, which delivers some oil to Pyongyang. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 11:03 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df524f227 1 City Sandiaga-Uno,election,Gerindra-Party,anies-baswedan Free Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno submitted on Friday his resignation letter to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan following his decision to run for vice president in the 2019 presidential election in a pairing with Gerindra Party leader Prabowo Subianto. In his resignation letter dated Aug. 9, Sandiaga said he hoped the governor could process his request in accordance with the prevailing regulations. Sandiaga and Prabowo are set to register themselves with the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Friday. Meanwhile, Anies posted on his Instagram account a photo of him hugging Sandiaga. Our time working as a pair in City Hall has finished. A routine discussion in the governors room on Thursday evening was our last discussion. A new chapter has started. May Allah protect and strengthen you in your further endeavor, Bro @sandiuno, Anies wrote in the caption. On his Instagram account, Sandiaga posted a similar picture of him sharing a final embrace with the governor. Mas @aniesbaswedan, I ask for prayers and blessings to fight for something bigger; that is, to bring prosperity to all the people of Indonesia, Sandiaga said. The name of Jakarta Council Deputy Speaker M. Taufik from Gerindra has emerged as Sandiagas potential successor. Taufik said on Thursday he had yet to be informed about a replacement for Sandiaga. I still dont know about it, because the political parties have yet to propose names. Just pray for it, Taufik said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, August 10, 2018 13:55 1176 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5259254 4 Business soekarno-hatta-airport,LCC-terminal,tourism-industry Free State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II (AP II) president director Muhammad Awaluddin has elaborated on his company's plan to change terminals 1 and 2 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, into low-cost carrier (LCC) terminals. The process has begun. Terminal 1 will become a domestic LCC terminal, Terminal 2 will become an international LCC terminal and Terminal 3 will become a full-service terminal for both domestic and international flights, he said in Jakarta on Thursday as reported by kompas.com. Awaluddin explained that initially, the government would revitalize terminals 1 and 2 to become full-service terminals but later, the plan was changed because President Joko Jokowi Widodo wanted to boost tourism by establishing LLC terminals in a number of airports. With the LCC terminals, more tourists are expected to come to Indonesia because of more competitive prices of airline tickets. We project that the number of passengers [passing through terminals 1 and 2] will increase by 100 percent to become 36 million, said Awaluddin, adding that the LCC terminals were targeted to be ready late this year or early 2019. AP II needs to spend Rp 3.7 trillion (US$256.37 million) to renovate the two terminals, Awaluddin said, adding that all the budget would come from AP IIs internal fund. AP II also plans to construct Terminal 4 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after all renovations of the LCC terminals are completed, he added. (bbn) Baer Island in Maluku hardly rings a bell for most vacationers. As part of Kei Islands, Baer Island actually offers beautiful scenery comparable to Raja Ampat in West Papua. According to kompas.com, Baer Island is still untouched. Travelers can still visit the island without paying an entrance fee. All they need to do is rent a longboat from Dullah or Watdek Ports. With prices starting from Rp 500,000 (US$34.50), a longboat can accommodate up to 15 people. Read also: Guide to visiting Raja Ampat for first-timers The journey takes around an hour. Once the boat enters the bay, travelers will see picturesque views of turquoise sea surrounded by hills, similar to Raja Ampat. Behind the pier, travelers can find a blue lagoon. Here, sea lovers can go swimming or snorkeling. Those brave enough can jump into a lagoon from a 20-meter cliff. Alternatively, visitors can also go hiking. However, the activity can be a tad challenging as there are no facilities, such as stairs. Since there are no tourist facilities on Baer Island, travelers are recommended to prepare their own food and beverages prior to visiting. (jes/kes) Sometimes a quesadilla, a glass of margarita and some vibrant Latin music are all you need to spice up a dull day. These places around Jakarta are ready to serve Mexican-inspired culinary delights and cocktails treat to spoil your palate. Amigos, Kemang Club Villas Amigos restaurant. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) Amigos was one of the first restaurants in Indonesia to serve Latin-inspired dishes. First established in Central Jakarta in 1979 by Ron Mullers, Amigos moved and opened its doors in Kemang Club Villas, South Jakarta, two years later and remains a local favorite to this day. The menu offers Tex-Mex (Texan and Mexican) cuisine, a fusion of Mexican and American flavors served inside its uniquely decorated interior featuring Mexican-themed hand-painted murals and colorful decor. The establishment also prides itself as being a long-standing music hub, where the Amigos stage welcomes various musicians across different genres regularly throughout the week. Where: Kemang Club Villas Apartemen, Jl. Kemang Selatan I, Bangka, Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta 12730 Crowd: With different themes and music offered daily, the crowd at Amigos varies greatly. Being a restaurant first and foremost, Amigos is open to people of all ages and serves alcoholic beverage to legal-aged patrons. Sunday is Family Day, when children below the age of 10 can eat for free. Things can turn wild, however, on Monday after hours, when the Monday Madness theme slashes the price of alcoholic drinks by half (except for wine). Most evenings, Amigos welcomes a crowd of professionals after work, and on Fridays, opens up the floor for salsa dancing. Music: Latin music, including typical salsa and familiar Mexican beats, is played most of the day. In the evenings, the bar welcomes performing musicians or hosts open-mic night. Live music in Amigos. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) On the house: Amigos serves a delightful plate of quesadilla, a soft tortilla filled with cheese. The nachos grande plate is a perfect entree to share among a group or over drinks while chatting and catching up with friends. Cheesy quesadilla at Amigos. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) - quessadilla Amigos puts a special emphasis on quality meals with quality assurance officer Sumit Sharma overseeing preparations of its menu. "We focus first on good food," Sharma said. Another favorite is the grilled bean burrito, which includes meat, cheese and veggies. Tex-Mex cuisine at Amigos. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) - food and drink Many of the dishes are also available with a choice of vegetarian, chicken or beef fillings. The bar also serves a giant margarita drink to spice up any night. Dress code: Casual Quirks: Amigos has different themes every day and also regularly organizes events. Make sure to check out its Instagram account for the latest schedule. A post shared by Amigos Jakarta (@amigosjakarta) on Jul 13, 2018 at 2:39am PDT Spend: Approximately Rp 500,000 (US$ 34.66) for two people, including alcoholic beverages. Read also: Jakpost Nightlife: Wine hangouts Hacienda Mexican Bar and Grill, Plaza Senayan Arcadia A post shared by Hacienda Mexican Bar & Grill (@hacienda.indonesia) on Dec 22, 2017 at 6:17am PST Hacienda is an upscale Mexican restaurant and bar located inside Plaza Senayan Arcadia. With a plush setting, warm-toned decor and unique brick wall interiors, Hacienda offers an eclectic atmosphere to enjoy authentic Mexican delights. Where: Plaza Senayan Arcadia X-105, South Jakarta 10270 Crowd: Professionals in their 20s-40s Music: Latin On the house: The restaurant offers an extensive list of hearty Mexican dishes, including the traditional and staple favorites of tasty burritos, richly-flavored chimichangas and crispy tacos. Additionally, Hacienda also offers a wide range of meat dishes, steak varieties and seafood platters. For lighter options, there are also Mexican-inspired soups and salads, such as the taco salad, which is a dish of mixed veggies served on a bowl of crispy taco. A rich choice of cocktails is also available, many of the signature drinks include tequila-based mixes. The Gulf of Hacienda cocktail, for example, includes Sauza Gold Tequila, Bols Blue Curacao, orange and pineapple juice. Dress code: Smart casual. Quirks: Hacienda is renowned for its food and beverage offerings, as the restaurant serves an extensive list of unique and authentic Mexican flavors, so make sure to look through the entire menu before making your choice. Spend: Approximately Rp 400,000 per person, including one alcoholic beverage. Read also: Jakpost nightlife: Rooftop Bars Super Loco, Pacific Place A post shared by Super Loco Jakarta (@superlocojkt) on Apr 5, 2018 at 12:30am PDT Located inside Pacific Place in Jakarta's SCBD, Super Loco is a contemporary Mexican restaurant and bar. The kitchen offers a more laid-back concept and a diverse menu, including fusion-style brunch dishes, as well as various street foods and desserts. Where: Pacific Place, Ground Floor Unit G-05D, East Lobby, South Jakarta 12190 Crowd: Young adults and office crowd of 22 to 45 years old. Music: Mexican music, Latin sound and hip hop. On the house: The restaurant prides itself on serving a modern take on Mexican dishes, inspired by street food in Mexico. The tacos are available in various fillings, such as Baja, which consist of crispy fried fish, chili mango salsa, mint, white cabbage and chipotle mayo, as well as Carnitas, which features slow-cooked pork belly, jicama and cilantro mayo. A post shared by Super Loco Jakarta (@superlocojkt) on Aug 1, 2018 at 11:16pm PDT The signature drinks include the classic Margarita and the Sexy Sangria. Dress code: Smart casual. Quirks: Super Loco has a unique menu that also serves fusion-style brunch dishes, such as the fried rice Nasi Mexigoreng and Breakfast Burrito, which includes chicken, beans, rice, egg, kangkung (morning glory) and sambal (chili paste) mayo. Spend: Approximately Rp 250,000 per person. Read also: Jakpost Nightlife: Asian-inspired bars Gonzo's Tex Mex Grill & Margarita Bar, Lotte Shopping Avenue A post shared by Gonzos TexMex Grill & Bar (@gonzostexmexnbar) on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:13am PDT Gonzo's Tex Mex Grill & Margarita Bar is a Mexican-inspired restaurant that also serves alcoholic beverages. Located inside Lotte Shopping Avenue in South Jakarta, the restaurant draws a more casual and family-friendly crowd. Where: Lotte Shopping Avenue, LG floor, Karet Kuningan, South Jakarta 12940 Crowd: Office crowd on weekdays and families on weekend. The restaurant does not open until late. Music: Mexican music. On the house: Gonzo's sets apart its tacos and other typical staples with filling options of barbacoa rojas (shredded beef), sirloan steak, spicy carne or a vegetarian option of roasted butternut squash. One of its popular drinks is the El Classico Nectar de Agave, which is a mix of tequila, orange, lime and golden syrup. Dress code: Casual. Quirks: Gonzo's offers buy-one-get-one lunch deals every day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as all day buy-one-get-one margarita deals on Wednesdays and Fridays. Bandar Lampung and South Lampung in Lampung province are set to host Lampung Krakatau Festival from Aug. 20 to 26. The event is expected to welcome 5,000 foreign tourists and 20,000 domestic tourists, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said. "Lampung Krakatau Festival is the only event in Lampung province that is part of the 100 Calendar of Events Wonderful Indonesia program this year. Hopefully, it can help to bring in more tourists to Lampung," Arief said during the event's launch in Jakarta on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com. Krakatau was the perfect tourist destination for Lampung, as it already possessed a strong brand globally, Arief said. Read also: Six must-see destinations in Lampung Meanwhile Lampung Governor Ridho Ficardo said the festival aimed not only to increase the number of tourist arrivals, but also strengthen Krakatau's brand. "This event has to become an interesting tourist attraction as well as promotion platform for tourist destinations while still highlighting and preserving the region's authentic art and culture," he said. The four main activities scheduled for the festival are Pesona Kemilau Sai Bumi Ruwa Jurai from Aug. 20 to 25, Lampung Krakatau Expo from Aug. 20 to 26, Krakatau Trip on Aug. 25 and Lampung Culture and Tapis Carnival on Aug. 26. (saz/kes) Nam Air, a subsidiary of Sriwijaya Group, has opened a new route between Balikpapan in East Kalimantan and Tanjung Selor in North Kalimantan. The carrier began serving the new route on Thursday using ATR 72-600 aircraft that can accommodate 72 passengers. The scheduled departure time for Nam Air flight 130 from Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan is 6 a.m. and the arrival time at Tanjung Harapan Airport in Tanjung Selor is 7:05 a.m. Additionally, the carrier also flies from Balikpapan to Malinau, also in North Kalimantan, later in the afternoon, following the Balikpapan-Tanjung Selor flight. Read also: Nam Air launches Semarang-Karimunjawa route The regency of Malinau is famous for its nature and outdoor tourism in destinations like the Kayan-Mentarang National Park. "Hopefully this new service can help boost the local economy and efficiency," said North Kalimantan Governor Irianto Lambrie during a recent event to inaugurate the new services. (kes) With its stunning shorelines and ocean views, Newport, Rhode Island is a beautiful setting for a beachside wedding. Last month I attended a very special wedding at the Belle Mer: A Longwood Venue - located on the edge of Narragansett Bay. It was for former Martha Stewart Weddings stylist and editor, Colleen Banks, and her betrothed, Stephen McManus. They married on a gorgeous summer day in front of 275-guests - it was a spectacular celebration. Enjoy these photos. The Spanish language horror film Veronica, released late last year, was hailed the scariest movie of all time upon its release, horrifying audiences and critics alike. But is it really frightening enough to be awarded such a title? Im sceptical. I do not doubt that Veronica is a stylish and thoroughly engaging horror film, but the scariest movie of all time is somewhat of a stretch. The movie is set in 1991 and centres around the 15-year old Veronica living in Madrid with her struggling single mother and three younger siblings; twins Lucia and Irene, and brother Antonito. Her father has long since passed away and while her mother is working all hours to provide for the family; Veronica is left to care for her young siblings. During a solar eclipse at school, Veronica, in an attempt to contact her father, conducts a seance with an old Ouija board and two of her friends. The seance of course does not go to plan and Veronica is left haunted by an inescapable supernatural presence that slowly but surely torments her and her siblings throughout the rest of film. Paco Plaza (director of the critically acclaimed REC horror franchise) has turned out an effective and stylish horror in Veronica. The slow but careful pacing allows tension to be wrung out of almost every moment. Meanwhile the setting of an inner city residence block in the bustling city of Madrid is unconventional in the genre of horror, where films are too often set in remote, inaccessible locations like the typical cabin in the woods or old mansion on the outskirts of town that people can easily dismiss by saying well I would never go there. However, using such a familiar and unavoidable location is deeply unsettling and I guarantee will make you feel slightly uneasy. Another thing to note, the acting is simply outstanding. Relative newcomer Sandra Escacena gives a breakout performance as the eponymous Veronica and child actor Ivan Chavero does a really remarkable job in the role of Veronicas young brother Antonito. Their relationship in the film works really well, and in moments of peril the fate of the adorable Antonito undoubtedly becomes the audience's main concern. Plazas choice to cast newcomers in the film again furthers this sense of realism that he works to establish in the movie, as we see the otherwise unknown performers simply as nothing more than the characters they are playing. We are not reminded of previous roles or an already existing reputation in Hollywood, as is the problem with actors like Jennifer Lawrence. It is a technique made famous by the original Paranormal Activity movie in which the two leads were played by complete newcomers to Hollywood. It essentially tricked the audience into believing that what they were watching was the truth and that the characters were indeed real people. The most frightening aspect of this film is undoubtedly the fact that it is based on a true story. The story of Veronica is said to be based on the case of Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro, who began experiecning hallucinations and seizures after conducting a seance in her school. The case is notorious as it is the first known case where a police officer reported witnessing supernatural activity in an official police report. So many horror directors nowadays make a claim to this fact: that their film is somehow based in truth, and it is so frequently used in Hollywood that it is becoming somewhat of a gimmick. However, somehow Plaza pulls it off. His use of police reports and actual photographs from the original case at the end of the film are deeply disturbing as we are shown photographs of the incident we have just watched play out on screen. It really does leave you questioning as to whether what youve just seen is the truth. Ultimately, Veronica is not the scariest film of all time; to award such a title, a film needs to make me feel on the verge of walking out at any moment. Sadly, as I was able to watch Veronica all the way through without a problem, I find it hard to bestow such a title. Having said that, Plazas film remains an extremely well thought out and deeply unsettling horror that leaves you with a disturbing sense of uncertainty about the truth of what you have just watched. It may not be the scariest film of all time, but its scary nonetheless. Veronica is available to watch on Netflix now. The 28-year-old woman was fined by police after she got into a fight with a woman who allegedly tried to remove her niqab in a shopping centre north of Copenhagen. The new law that bans full-face veils came into effect last week, it imposes a fine of 1,000 krones (119) to anyone found wearing a full face garment in public.Initial reports suggested that the woman had attempted to remove her niqab during the fight. Police have since said after watching CCTV footage that her niqab fell off as a result of the fight. By the time police arrived at the scene of the scuffle, the woman who has not yet been idenitifed, had put her veil back on. The woman was handed the 1,000 krones fine and told either to remove her veil or leave the public space; she decided on the latter. Later on that day, women wearing niqabs and burqas were joined by protestors wearing makeshift face veils in demonstrations in central Copenhagen. The police did not fine the women or the protestors, however, as those who wear face veils in peaceful protests are exempt from the law. There are several different types of Muslim headdress which women wear. They are worn to show modesty and to honour their religion. This is a guide to three types:This is a general term which refers to modesty, it comes from the Arabic word for veil and is also used to specifically refer to a scarf which covers the hair.A veil that covers the face and only shows the eyes.A full face and body covering which covers everything, including the eyes which are covered by a mesh screen. 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 Local Realtor Sam Baydoun bested another newcomer, Brian Stone, in the race to replace Gary Woronchak for the Wayne County Commissions 13th District seat. The position represents Dearborn and Allen Park. I am so incredibly thankful to all of you, Baydoun said. Our grass roots campaign relied on your support for donations, for making calls, standing at the polls, and knocking on doors. You helped deliver our message to thousands of residents. We put in the sweat equity and because of all of you we are victorious, finishing first place in this primary election. Baydoun won with 10,419 votes to Stones 6,256. Thank you to all of the great organizations that have endorsed me and to all of the elected officials that rallied in support of my candidacy, Baydoun said. To my family, talented campaign team and volunteers, this is your victory. You are the reason why (won). A longtime Dearborn resident, Baydoun is a successful associate broker of Century 21 Curran & Christie, with a career spanning more than 31 years in the real estate business, 27 of which are punctuated with the highest Century 21 International awards, including induction into the Centurion Hall of Fame. For nearly a decade, Baydoun has led the local Realtor organization as the chairman of the Government Affairs Committee, which subsequently piqued his interest in public affairs and his support for the Realtor Political Action Committee. Baydoun said he believes it is time to serve his country, state and county by giving back to the country that gave him a great opportunity to advance in his life, raise his family and realize the American Dream. I believe it is time for me to step forward and serve the community and the people of Wayne County, he said. Varga wins primary Ilona Varga won the county commissions 4th District primary over challengers Abe Shariff and Lisa Carter. Varga got 4,103 votes to Carters 1,860 and Shariffs 1,306. The district includes parts of Southwest Detroit and all of Lincoln Park and Melvindale. It was one of the closer races in recent years for Varga, who still garnered nearly 1,000 votes more than her two competitors combined. After the election results were posted, she lamented that the people of Melvindale didnt pick here, instead going heavily toward Shariff, and vowed to work harder in the smallest part of her district to ensure they know she is still working for them. Varga, of Lincoln Park, has been on the commission since 1999. Before that, she served from 1987-98 as a state representative. Both commission seats are unopposed in the Nov. 6 general election. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Filmoption International recently announced the release of Sino-Quebecois production A Touch of Spring (Un printemps dailleurs) written and directed by Xiaodan He. This drama features Wensi Yan, Emile Proulx-Cloutier, Xuan Zhao, Cheng Yan and Kefa Cui. A Touch of Spring has already built momentum on the festival circuit as it was presented at Cinefest Sudbury, Montreals Festival du Nouveau Cinema, as well as internationally at the Shanghai International Film Festival and the Asian American International Film Festival where Xiaodan He won the award for Best Emerging Director. The film was also selected at the Rome Independant Film Festival where he was nominated in the Best Drama, Best Editing (Tao Gu) and Best cinematography categories (Glauco Bermudez). The film premiers Wednesday, Aug. 22 at opens Aug. 24 at Cinema du Parc. Li Fang (Wensi Yan) is a Chinese immigrant who has been living in Montreal for over 10 years. Her infertility and her violent separation from her Quebecois husband, Eric (Emile Proulx-Cloutier), have pushed her to the brink of despair. Escaping the chaos in Montreal, Li Fang visits her grandfather in Dazu, her birthplace in south China. The support and inspiration provided by her family and an old lover helps her break the impasse in her life. The lead actress, Wensi Yan was born in Shanghai and is presented in her first role on the big screen. She moved to Montreal at the age of 11. She is an actress, pianist, dancer and she is the head choreographer and artistic director of the Phoenix HuaYun Artistic Troupe, a group of Chinese artists renowned in Canada for the past ten years. Born in 1975, Xiaodan He is a Chinese-Canadian filmmaker who studied feature film production at the Beijing Film Academy from 1993 to 1997. A member of the Naxi minority in China, she worked for Yunnan Minority Film Studio as an assistant producer, and then as assistant director. In 2002, Xiaodan made her first film, La danse de letoile, which shows how the ancient culture of the Naxi, the Dongba, has been lost in modern China. That same year, she moved to Montreal, where she continued to work as a director. In 2005, her short film Cairo Calling received many accolades, as well as two peoples choices awards. It was screened in more than 50 festivals around the world. In 2009, Xiaodan completed her documentary, The Fall of Womenland. In the film, Xiaodan, born into the same ethnic group as the Moso, returns to explore what lies behind the controversial sexual customs that once forced her to conceal her origins. Produced by Aonan Yang, Andreas Mendritzki and Nguyen-Anh Nguyen (GreenGround Productions) and the director Xiaodan He (Red Dawn Productions), A Touch of Spring is distributed by Filmoption International and will be theatrically released on August 24. Filmoption International facebook.com/IXIONComm twitter.com/IXIONComm instagram.com/ixioncomm AB Budget hotel operator Easyhotel has bought a site in Cardiff CARDIFF HOTEL Budget hotel operator Easyhotel has bought a site in Cardiff and has planning permission at Fitzalan Place for a 120-bedroom hotel to open in 2019-20. IRISH TIES British lawyers have scrambled to register in Ireland so they can carry on serving overseas clients after Brexit and now make up more than 9per cent of all those listed in Ireland. It means they should face no disruption and will not have to open offices abroad. PROFITS RISE Warehouse investment fund Tritax Big Box unveiled profits of 107.1million for the first half of 2018, up 33per cent on the same period last year. It hiked the interim dividend 4.7per cent to 3.35p per share. SHRINKING DEFICIT The pension black hole at Britains top 350 listed firms shrank by 27billion in the last 18 months, says consultant Barnett Waddingham. They now have a collective 35billion pension deficit due to better market performance and life expectancy that is rising more slowly than previously thought. TRADES TRIUMPH Plumbers, builders and electricians are reporting stronger levels of confidence about their future workloads. Retailer Screwfix claims tradesman were busier than expected in May and June. Its survey of 500 workers revealed higher levels of confidence than a year ago. BOSS OFF Des Crowley, the UK boss of Bank of Ireland Group, the oldest Irish bank, is to step down next year after more than 30 years there. He will remain a senior executive until his retirement. DISASTER PAYOUT Miner BHP will pay 38million to settle a class action lawsuit from depositary receipt holders in New York over the Samarco dam disaster in Brazil in 2015, with no admission of liability. GOLD BOON Londons biggest listed miner, Randgold Resources, said production rose 9per cent during the quarter to 313,302 ounces of gold. It sold for an average price of 1,007 per ounce. ON BOARD Lucinda Bell, a non-executive director of FTSE 250 components maker Rotork has been appointed as a non-executive director of Derwent London, the FTSE 250 real estate group. DIAMOND SALES Canada-based Lucara Diamond Corp sold 12 diamonds worth more than 775,000 in the second quarter. Topshop boss Sir Philip Green's deal with a Chinese partner has ended in a major blow to his global plans. Under a deal with online retailer ShangPin, Topshop and Topman were being sold online in China via ShangPin and they planned to open 80 stores together. However, no stores have opened and the deal is off. Topshop boss Sir Philip Green's deal with a Chinese partner has ended in a major blow to his global plans It is believed that Topshop bosses are understood to be looking for new partners. They remain desperately keen to crack China, which has a womenswear industry worth 101billion, but it is a country where Topshop has no stores other than a concession in Beijing. A company spokesman said in a statement: 'British fashion brands Topshop and Topman and Chinese franchise partner, ShangPin, have reached a mutual agreement to an early termination. 'Topshop, Topman and ShangPin have enjoyed a successful working relationship since September 2014. 'Topshop and Topman consider China a hugely significant market for development. 'The company is currently exploring opportunities to further grow the brands in China.' Over the past three years, Armenias Ministry of Health has allocated some AMD 400 million ($830,000) in business contracts to a company owned by Aleksandr Sargsyan, the brother of former Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan. The company, Gandzaghbyur LLC, was registered in 1999 and operates a health resort and spa in the community of Arzakan. According to a contract signed earlier, the ministry is supposed to allocate 143.218 million drams to the company this year to provide rehabilitative medical services to patients. As of May 31, the ministry has paid the company more than 44 million drams. The contract hasnt escaped the scrutiny of newly appointed Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan, who ridiculed it in a Facebook post. The resort dates back to the Soviet era and Hetq was unable to find any information regarding its privatization and how it wound up in the hands of Aleksandr Sargsyan. Over the years, Gandzaghbyur has been getting its fair share of ministry money handed out to the countrys medical centers. The AMD 143 million contract the company won this year, is nearly the same as that given to the Malayan National Eye Institute in Yerevan. In 2017, the Ministry of Health allocated AMD 115 million to Gandzaghbyur LLC, the same amount it gave to Malayan National Eye Institute. Only eleven medical centers financed by the government got more last year. In 2016, the ministry signed a 155.760-million-dram contract with Gandzaghbyur, making it tenth on the list of hospitals receiving the most state assistance. The resort has received state money before 2016. From 2011-2012, the resort was included as one the countrys medical centers where socially vulnerable people were sent for treatment. In 2013, 120 of the 208 free medical treatment slots granted by the Yerevan Municipality, wound up being assigned to Gandzaghbyur. In 2011, 90 of the 187 free medical treatment slots granted by Yerevan were allocated to Gandzaghbyur. As governments financial woes continue to mount, public sector associations are unsympathetic to this plight and are pursuing their demand for a cost of living adjustment that now stands at 6.5 per cent. Governments efforts to issue a circular freezing all hiring and promotions may not be enough to deter calls for the salary adjustments. If anything, recent promotions in the security services make a mockery of the circular. A collision course is almost certain, which is the last thing we need at a time the country should be focussed on creating more jobs as the economic situation looks set to get worse following regional and global trade and domestic developments. One of the major developments that will most likely affect us is the recent move by our neighbours, South Africa, whose government has announced the expropriation of land without compensation. The first impact is the devaluation of the South African Rand to which the Lilangeni is pegged. This affects the cost of doing business in the country, making it more expensive for our cash strapped government to borrow money. The move will slow business growth in a weak SA economy. Hurting our pockets Where it will hurt our pocket is the decline in the trade receipts of the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), which funds over 60 per cent of the national budget. Our share is already down by around E1.5 billion and we cant afford to drop any further as our government, which is languishing in a precarious financial position, would not be able to service its debts or meet most of its financial obligations. Consequently, more service providers would go unpaid for longer periods; forcing them to close and leaving more people unemployed. Ideally we should be taking advantage of the developments in SA to lure the weary white land owners to Eswatini with their businesses, but we may have long shut the door with Circular 1 of 2017. This circular, issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, bans non-Eswatini citizens from purchasing residential property in the country. The local business community, through the Federation of Swaziland Employers and Chamber of Commerce (FSE&CC) has called a meeting with the registrar of deeds later this month to discuss this ban on purchase of land by non-Eswatini citizens. The meeting with the registrar is expected to address the validity of land purchases between 2005 and 2017, processes for exemptions and the potential impact on our investment climate, among other related issues. For a country that has struggled to lure investors over the past decade, the incentive for an investor to be able to settle in the country and own residential property is a must. Like South Africa, anti-property ownership restrictions have pushed this country down the property rights global rankings. According to the recently released 2018 International Property Rights Index on property rights, South Africa was previously ranked 27th overall and 1st in the African region. It has now declined by 0.65 from 7.00 in 2017 to 6.35 in 2018. This is the largest decline by any country measured in the index. With the dramatic decline in its score, South Africa is now ranked 37th overall and second in the region (Africa) behind Rwanda, reads the report. This plummet by SA does not make the Kingdom of Eswatini any better by the way. We are ranked 86th in the world and 10th in Africa. If its any consolation, in SADC we are less restrictive on land rights than Zimbabwe (117th), Madagascar (114th), Mozambique (105th), Malawi (97th) and Zambia (92nd). The negative investor confidence impact on such rankings is huge, given that property rights are a key indicator of economic success and political stability. Weak property rights systems In the report, released this week by Property Rights Alliance, renowned economist Hernando De Soto said; Weak property rights systems not only blind economies from realising the immense hidden capital of their entrepreneurs, but they withhold them from other benefits as evidenced through the powerful correlations in this years Index: human freedom, economic liberty, perception of corruption, civic activism, and even the ability to be connected to the internet, to name a few. A South African political party, the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), members have come out to confess that the land they possess was obtained by concession from our ancestors. They now want to give it back to its rightful owners. However, even though the prospects of finally getting our land back from the Afrikaners look promising, as ignited by a visit to His Majesty the King by the FF+, we may need to put celebrations on hold for a while. The immediate challenge for us is how we address the impact of the land expropriation move by the SA government on our economy. Otherwise, the desired cost of living adjustment by public sector associations will serve as a source of conflict if rejected and a catalyst for financial ruin if granted. MBABANE Public transport drivers should heed passengers advice and be polite to them as one of them might be in possession of a gun. Mthunzi Patrick Dlamini, an employee of the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), has been accused of attempted murder after he allegedly shot Derrick Mchamuki Lukhele with a pistol in the left shoulder. This is according to a charge sheet attached to Dlaminis urgent bail application, which was heard by Judge Sipho Nkosi. According to the charge sheet, Dlamini allegedly wrongfully, unlawfully and with intent to kill, shot Lukhele with a pistol in the left shoulder and he sustained injuries. Dlamini, in his bail application, alleged that he was shocked when he was informed that he was charged with attempted murder as he neither shot at anyone nor did his bullet strike any person. Stating his side of events, the accused alleged that on August 4, while aboard a bus towards Manzini at or near Maloma, the bus he was travelling in burst its rear tyre. Dlamini alleged that the tyre burst was heard inside the bus after which he and other passengers alerted Lukhele, who, however, continued to drive. He alleged that the passengers demanded that Lukhele stop and attend to the tyre but he did not. He alleged that he then joined the other passengers to make the demand and took the initiative to move to him and inform him of the situation. In his submission, he alleged that the situation was dangerous as the bus might have overturned. Dlamini also alleged that instead of being polite, Lukhele told him to back off. He claimed that this angered him but he allegedly did nothing about it and went back to his seat. He alleged that the other passengers made noise and stood up to compel the driver to stop. He alleged that the bus eventually stopped and they alighted to allow Lukhele to attend to the tyre. As we were standing outside, a number of vehicles approached the bus loaded with people who were sort of an army, alleged Dlamini. MBABANE PSPF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cleopas Dlamini is free from his extremely religious wife. This comes after the High Court yesterday issued a final decree of divorce between him and his estranged wife Cynthia Simelane. Dlamini and his wife had been embroiled in a court battle since 2006. The final decree of divorce was issued by Judge Cyril Maphanga yesterday after Cynthia reportedly failed to restore conjugal rights as previously ordered by the court. Dlamini had instituted divorce proceedings against his wife because, among other things, she practised religious beliefs obsessively and intolerably. Another major source of disquiet was that Cynthia became extremely preoccupied and would neglect her duties due to her heavy engagement in church activities which often entailed frequent church services even during the course of the week and weekends, being away from home to attend prayer meetings for days. emerged It emerged from Dlaminis evidence that what really led to the marital difficulties was the radical transformation in the attitude and personality of the defendant (Cynthia) which he described as obsessive and overzealous. He described some of the changes in his wife as including manifestation and expression of beliefs in the prevalence of evil spirits. So deep seated these beliefs and practices were that it was alleged that Cynthia appeared to have hallucinations about alleged evil spirits and would wake up in the middle of the night to blow a horn. She reportedly did this for the purpose of warding off and exorcising these spirits much to Dlaminis consternation and with little if any regard for the family. disapproval The CEOs further lamentations stem from the defendants annual pilgrimages to Israel as part of the church organised events in complete disregard to Dlaminis disapproval of these trips. Dlamini stated that he became concerned at the effects these travels were having on Cynthia when he noticed that whenever she had been abroad, she returned a completely changed and more obsessed person. It has been 11 years since Dlamini and his wife had been living apart, but during the hearing of the matter, Cynthia told the court that she was still waiting for him to return. She said she was aware that Dlamini allegedly lives with a certain woman. The director of Kusile Enterprise said it did not matter that Dlamini was with another woman and that he had a child with another woman. Cynthia said her husband made a vow that he would stay at their matrimonial home. indication In his judgment, Judge Maphanga said he found no reference or any indication of any evidence that the behaviour or conduct of Cynthia had changed. There is a glaring absence of any expression of a change of heart or mind nor is there any renunciation of the religious practices complained of nor any expression of any willingness at the very least to either denounce or tamper these practices and beliefs at all, said Judge Maphanga. MBABANE He will rot in jail. A 27-year-old man who raped two women in a space of two days has been sentenced to 53 years imprisonment. Bhekani Mlotshwa of Khiza under Chief Nyakeni, was sentenced by Judge Titus Mlangeni yesterday. This was after he found him guilty of raping the two women who were in their late 20s. Both incidents occurred at Mathendele Location in Nhlangano. Mlotshwa raped one of the women three times within a period of three hours and further proceeded to forcefully have sexual intercourse with the other. He also used a gun to induce fear upon the survivors. In his judgment, Judge Mlangeni noted that Mlotshwa used a firearm to induce fear upon the complainants and he did not use a condom. He committed one of the offences on February 26, 2010 and the other on February 28, 2010. The judge further observed that one of the women was raped three times within a period of three hours. This cruelty is phenomenal and it demonstrates not only a sense of pride in this sordid act, but also the absence of remorse, said Judge Mlangeni.He also noted that between the cruel acts, Mlotshwa would rest, have a smoke and chat with one of the women as if nothing wrong was happening. It was also the courts observation that in absolute despair, one of the survivors befriended Mlotshwa with the hope that he would stop the ordeal such that they referred to each other as mkhaya, a colloquial reference between people of the same area. Judge Mlangeni said he was unable to find words that adequately captured the scenario in which this poor lady was trapped. In common law system throughout the world, it is recognised that rape is one of the most heinous, barbaric and dehumanising crimes whose effect upon the survivor cannot be adequately described in words, added the judge. A Tzaghkadzor ski lift owned by Prosperous Armenia party head and businessman Gagik Tsarukyan hasnt undergone a safety inspection since 2006, despite repeated attempts by a government run technical agency. Tzaghkadzor, which boasts a modern ski resort, is a popular resort town located north of Yerevan. In January of this year, the Ministry of Emergency Situations told Hetq that it had reached an agreement with the company operating the lift allowing the safety agency to inspect the lift within the month. No inspection has been conducted to date. Hrachya Rostomyan, the new Minister of Emergency Situations, and a member of the Tsarukyan Alliance, confirmed the news to Hetq a few days ago. A company called Larnatur operates the lift. Its 50% owned by the National Olympic Committee of Armenia, whose president is Gagik Tsarukyan. Rostomyan is the committees general secretary. The remaining 50% is owned by Hesper Ventures LLC, registered in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Titusville Police Patrolman Aaron Madden (center) fulfills the roll of Michael Jackson in the departments lip sync challenge video. The video has gone viral online, nearing a quarter-million views and garnering attention in states across the nation. Bathhouse dated to the 4th century BC was unearthed during an excavation at the Small Theater of Ancient Amvrakia. Photo Source: Ephorate of Antiquities in Arta A pebble mosaic in a bathhouse dated to the 4th century BC was unearthed during an excavation at the Small Theater of Ancient Amvrakia conducted recently by the Ephorate of Antiquities in Arta, ANA reports. The round mosaic consists of small white, off-white and dark river pebbles showing scenes related to water. Besides a border decoration setting it off from other spaces, it features cupids playing with animals, swans, fish, water fowl and an octopus. The pebble mosaic is earlier than the theater, and is related to a similar mosaic found in the '70s, partly covered by the eastern part of the theater and later removed to the Archaeological Museum of Arta. Photo Source: Ephorate of Antiquities in Arta In a press statement, the Arta ephorate said the dating was based on architectural evidence and on comparisons with pebble mosaics found at the Ancient Corinth baths, dated to the mid-4th century. The supervision of the excavations is carried out by archaeologist Nektarios-Petros Gioutsos and three conservators have already taken measures to preserve and stabilize the new find. Arta, in western Greece, has been inhabited continuously from antiquity to the present, and the layered remains of older settlements are still visible in various parts of the present city. The Small Theater is situated in the center of the modern city. The excavation is funded by the EU's NSRF funding plan for 2014-2020. Arta in Antiquity Arta (Greek: ) is a city in northwestern Greece, capital of the regional unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia (Ancient Greek: ). Arta is known for the medieval bridge over the Arachthos River. It is also known for its ancient sites from the era of Pyrrhus of Epirus and its well-preserved 13th-century castle. Arta's Byzantine history is reflected in its many Byzantine churches; perhaps the best known is the Panagia Paregoretissa (Mother of God the Consoling), built about 1290 by Despot Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas. The first settlement in the area of the modern city dates to the 9th century B.C. Ambracia was founded as a Corinthian colony in the 7th century B.C. In 294 BC, after forty-three years of semi-autonomy under Macedonian suzerainty, Ambracia was given to Pyrrhus, king of the Molossians and of Epirus, who made it his capital, using Ambracia as a base to attack the Romans. Pyrrhus managed to achieve great but costly victories against the Romans, hence the phrase "Pyrrhic victory" which refers in particular to an exchange at the Battle of Asculum. Nevertheless, Pyrrhus found the time and means to adorn his capital with a palace, temples and theatres. In 146 BC, Ambracia became part of the Roman Republic. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report After his book focused attention on the village and the brutality of the civil war, Gage built a small hotel there 35 years ago with 10 rooms and he comes each summer to where he was raised An art museum in the tiny village of Lia in northwest Greece near the Albanian border, the site of vicious fighting during Greeces civil war after WWII, will open on Aug. 13 before a host of dignitaries, including writer Nick Gage, whose book about his mothers execution there was turned into a movie bringing renewed attention. It will feature newly-discovered works by the primitivist painter Theofilos and paintings created especially for the museum by the renowned modern artist Sotiris Sorogas, who traces his roots to the region. The museum will be housed in a converted school in the village, located on the timberline of the Mourgana mountains in Thesprotia, less than a kilometer below the Albanian border. After Gage was turned down by a number of prominent foundations to help fund the museum, the money came from Alekos Ifantis, whose family owns the Ifantis food company and is from there. Ifantis brother Haralambos, and other members of his family will attend the inauguration along with US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt. The design of the museum was directed by architect Magdalena Pantazi in collaboration with the Byzantine scholar Varvara Papadopoulou. The gallery will be known as the Ifantis Museum in honor of its donors and will feature permanent exhibitions of the works of Theofilos, who died in 1934 and whose paintings of three icons were found in the village and were said to be among his most important. Created especially for the museum in Lia The Sorogas contributions are four paintings the artist created especially for the museum in Lia, the birthplace of his paternal grandmother. In addition to the works of the two artists, displayed in two exhibition halls in the museum, the exterior walls of the galleries will feature photographs depicting scenes from the region over the past century, as well as photographs of some of the famous visitors to the village, including former Greek Prime Minister Constantinos Mitsotakis, former Democratic Presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, film directors Elia Kazan and Peter Yates, and actor John Malkovich, who portrayed Gage in the movie Eleni about his mother and the turbulent time of the civil war that split families. There will be a wall dedicated to three writers from the area: the poet Mihalis Ghanas, who was born in the nearby village of Tsamantas; the novelist Sotiris Dimitriou, born in Povla (now Ambelona), and Gage, whose family name is Gatzoyiannis, and who is also a renowned journalist and film producer. All three are expected to attend the opening along with Sorogas. After his book focused attention on the village and the brutality of the civil war, Gage built a small hotel there 35 years ago with 10 rooms and he comes each summer to where he was raised. Since then, 50 new houses have been built in the village. If you do things that promote villages it helps keep them alive. What Id like to see is what the Swiss do, in an area of 15-20 villages, build a factory in the middle somewhere so people can have jobs, he said. Weve had many famous people come to this village, dozens of Ambassadors all read the book and wanted to see the village where this happened its very satisfying to me because it shows the destruction and hatred the civil war brought did not prevail the sacrifice of my mother and many other people whose lost their lives in these mountains helped defeat that kind of hatred. Read more at thenationalherald.com RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The oldest church of the Greek island of Santorini is Panagia Episkopi, a former bishops church from the Middle Byzantine period. Situated at Mesa Gonia on the foot of the mountain, Profitis Ilias, it is dedicated to Virgin Mary, it was founded at the end of the 11th century by the Emperor Alexios I Comnenos. It is an inscribed-cross, four-columned church with a dome. Preserved in the interior are wall paintings of superior quality and a wooden, carved templon (iconostasis), decorated in the technique of mastic wax. There are two stories to why it was constructed at the end of the 11th century. The first says that an icon of Panagia repeatedly moved from its place on a hillside chapel close by to appear again in a different place. The locals understood this as a sign to build a new church for the icon. Another legend notes that the Emperor Alexius I Komnenos was the donator of the church because he passed by on the entire countryside outside the villages of Gonia and Pyrgos to the church. After a traditional, almost completely destroyed inscription, the church replaced the predecessor of a three-aisled early Byzantine basilica at the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century. Since 1207, there is a recorded history of this important and historical church. The Venetians expelled the Orthodox bishop off the island and appointed a Latin bishop. The church was called Panagia Episkopi, as the seat of the expelled Orthodox bishop, while his Latin successor took his seat at Skaros Rock on the cliffs of the caldera. Next, to the Orthodox altar at the Panagia Episkopi, a Catholic one was built. The next conqueror was the Ottoman Empire in 1537, where the island, as well as the whole Aegean, was taken over. Following that, the Orthodox bishop returned to Santorini and accepted the church again as his episcopal seat. The Catholics did not accept this, mainly because of the valuable property of the church and the income from it. The dispute escalated until 1614 when the churchs lands were shared and both denominations were allowed to hold their services in the church. The church is considered the top example of the traditional ecclesiastical architecture of the island. On the walls of the interiors, several icon stands are lined up. The most famous icon that remained in the church is that of Panagia Glykofilousa, which is kept in a special glass case under controlled conditions on the south side of the central church space. The 12th-century portrait is considered the most valuable icon of the church as it refers to Mary as Sweet Kissing Madonna. The icon shows her embracing Jesus, who caresses her chin. The church gathers very large crowds of locals and visitors on August Fifteenth, which is also the Feast Day of the church. Read more at greekcitytimes.com RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Klearchos Kapoutsis License: CC-BY-SA Redhawks make triumphant return The early jitters were obvious. North Tamas first set was filled with errors and anxiousness, and the Redhawks went down 25-17. What happened ... A Rohingya family relocated by UNHCR in June 2018 outside a refugee shelter in Bangladesh. UNHCR/David Azia Amid one of the heaviest monsoon seasons in years in Coxs Bazar area, UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, together with the Bangladeshi authorities and partners, is pressing on with the relocation of thousands of Rohingya refugee families at high risk of landslides and floods. To date, nearly 24,000 of these refugees have been moved more than half of an estimated 41,000 deemed to be in greatest need of relocation to the safer areas. The toughest trial of monsoon preparedness measures and emergency response came at the end of July, with the heaviest monsoon downpours thus far across Coxs Bazar district (around 463 mm of rain fell on 25 July alone). The rainfall in both June and July was over 1,000 mm. This is more than half of the average annual rainfall for this area and a striking departure from the long term monthly average rainfall which is 500 mm for June and 600 mm for July. The refugee settlements have largely weathered the storms, proving the value of months of mitigation efforts. However, since 11 May, an estimated 49,000 refugees affected by adverse weather more than 25,000 by strong winds and storms, over 15,000 have been affected by landslides, another 5,400 by flooding. Water-logging and fires affected over 3,000 refugees so far. Dozens of life-threatening and other incidents are averted daily through swift action. UNHCR and partners, working in support of Bangladeshi-led efforts, quickly mobilised emergency response teams to support and urgently assist thousands of weather-stricken refugee families. Hundreds of trained refugee volunteers, including Community Outreach Members, Safety Unit Volunteers, and Community Health Workers, were mobilized and provided support. The training provided to these volunteers in the past months was put to the test to the full extent over the past weeks and their response and actions demonstrated cohesion, spirit, organisation and coordination. These activities go hand in hand with continuing intense efforts to ensure the massive refugee settlements can cope with the adverse weather. The scale is immense as for example Kutupalong refugee settlement, shelters more than 600,000 refugees on 13 square kilometres and it is today the largest such settlement in the world. So far 32 kilometres of roads have been constructed (including brick roads, footpaths and the main logistics road through Kutupalong site built by the Bangladeshi Armed Forces); 45 kilometres of steps; 63 kilometres of retaining walls and structures; 94 kilometres of drainage completed or repaired; 2,324 meters of bridges. We have also strategically prepositioned 116 storage containers with emergency aid and upgraded 20 community buildings and facilities in the Bangladeshi host communities. Eleven months into the Rohingya refugee crisis, the humanitarian response in Bangladesh remains focused on meeting the massive humanitarian needs and on mitigating the impact of the monsoons. Additional international support is needed to step up the assistance from purely humanitarian and day-to-day support towards addressing medium-term challenges. To date, the UNs Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya refugee situation in Bangladesh is only 32 per cent funded. UNHCR is grateful for the generous support of multilateral, state and private donors so far, but more funds are urgently needed to support refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh. For more information on this topic, please contact: Venezuelans wait to register their exit from Colombia before entering into Ecuador, at the Rumichaca International Bridge, Colombia August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Tapia On August 8th, in response to the massive influx of Venezuelans arriving to the country, the Government of Ecuador declared a state of emergency in human mobility in the provinces of Carchi, Pichincha and El Oro. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, welcomes and supports this decision, which allows Ecuador to assign additional resources and step up its response and reaffirms Ecuadors long tradition of welcoming refugees and other persons on the move. The exodus of Venezuelans from their country is one of Latin Americas largest mass population movements in history. Since the beginning of the year, some 547,000 Venezuelans have entered Ecuador through the Colombian border at a daily average of between 2,700 and 3,000 men, women and children. However, the influx is now accelerating and, in the first week of August, some 30,000 Venezuelans entered the country (more than 4,000 per day). Many of the Venezuelans are moving on foot in an odyssey of days and even weeks in precarious conditions. Many run out of resources to continue their journey and, left destitute, are forced to live rough in public parks and resort to begging and other negative coping mechanisms in order to meet their daily needs. Up to 20 per cent of the new arrivals are identified as showing specific protection needs and other vulnerabilities, including women and children at risk, single parents or caregivers and persons with disabilities in urgent need of assistance. Women and girls represent 40 per cent of the new arrivals and face serious risks of sexual violence, in particular survival sex and trafficking. Xenophobic reactions to the exodus have been noted in some quarters. With the declaration of emergency Ecuador is already assigning resources and stepping up its response to this dramatic increase in arrivals of Venezuelans. An example of this has been the swift upscaling by the Ecuadorian immigration authorities of their capacity to register as many as 5,600 people entering the country each day and ensure that people no longer have to sleep out in the open on the Ecuadorian side of the border while waiting to be processed.) The majority of the Venezuelans entering Ecuador continue onwards to Peru and Chile. Up to 20 per cent, however, remain in the country, some 7,000 of whom have sought asylum since 2016. The government-run asylum system is feeling the pressure. Ecuador has also provided other forms of legal stay to tens of thousands of Venezuelans. UNHCR is stepping up its response to establish a contingency plan and the necessary actions for humanitarian assistance. Under the leadership of the Ecuadorian Government, together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and in close cooperation with the UN country team and NGO partners, UNHCR will continue to respond to the immediate protection and assistance needs of the Venezuelan influx. UNHCR has strengthened its presence at the key border crossings in the north, and is planning to do so in the south of the country; it is stepping up its overall emergency and operational response capacities; providing technical assistance and supporting the Government in shoring up its refugee status determination, registration and other protection delivery mechanisms; working to identify vulnerable Venezuelans for protection and assistance referral; and ensuring that asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants have consistent protection and other vital information. For more information on this topic, please contact: Comilla incident to push Sheikh Hasina's govt into controversy: BDesh foreign min 29 Oct 2021 | 2:37 PM By Mir Afroz Zaman Dhaka, Oct 29 (UNI) Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. AK Abdul Momen said in the Comilla incident recently, till to-date only six people died during the religious violence. see more.. China is strong voice for developing nations in UN: Pakistani FM 29 Oct 2021 | 2:13 PM Islamabad, Oct 29 (UNI/Xinhua) China has emerged as a strong voice for the developing countries in the United Nations (UN) and championed the purposes and principles of the UN charter, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said. see more.. Manila under alert level 3 despite reducing COVID cases 29 Oct 2021 | 2:07 PM Manila, Oct 29 (UNI/Xinhua) Metro Manila will remain under alert level 3 until November 14 though the number of Covid-19 cases is falling in the capital region, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday. see more.. Indians stranded in Kabul appeal to Govt of India to evacuate them 29 Oct 2021 | 2:05 PM Kabul, Oct 29 (UNI) A group of around 40 Indians stranded in Kabul have appealed to the Government of India to help them with visas and evacuate them to be with their families in India. see more.. Two inter-state drug peddlers held, 110 kg Ganja seized 29 Oct 2021 | 3:22 PM Hyderabad, Oct 29 (UNI) Special Operations Team (SOT) in L B Nagar here on Friday arrested two inter-state drug peddlers and seized 110 kg of Ganja from them. see more.. Tripura royal scion criticised role of oppositions in communal violence 29 Oct 2021 | 3:21 PM Agartala, Oct 29 (UNI) The ruling TIPRA Motha Chief of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman has criticised opposition Congress and CPI-M for not doing enough to maintain communal harmony and raised strong voice against the fringe elements for disturbing communal integration. see more.. Mamata's Goa mission begins with Leander, Nafisa on board 29 Oct 2021 | 3:20 PM Panaji, Oct 29 (UNI) "Dilli ka dadagiri nehi chalega," said West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee as she launched her partys assembly election campaign in Goa on Friday with the likes of Tennis ace Leander Paes and veteran actress Nafisa Ali coming onboard. see more.. Killing of Judge: HC raps CBI once again over progress in probe 29 Oct 2021 | 3:18 PM Ranchi, Oct 29 (UNI) The Jharkhand High Court on Friday once again raped the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) over the progress made so far in connection with the killing of Additional district and sessions judge of Dhanbad Uttam Anand. see more.. Published: August 10, 2018 UT Awarded National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to Study the Role Played By the Immigrant Communities of Tampa in Cuban Independence The University of Tampa has been awarded a $190,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to offer a summer institute in 2019 focusing on the rise of the U.S. as a global power in the early 20th century as a consequence of its intervention in Cubas War of Independence. The four-week institute, Jose Marti and the Immigrant Communities of Florida in Cuban Independence and the Dawn of the American Century, will take place on the UT campus from June 17 to July 13, 2019. Up to 25 university and college professors from throughout the U.S. will be selected to participate. The grant was prepared by James Lopez, UT professor of Spanish, and Denis Rey, associate professor of political science and international studies, who together coordinate the Center for Marti Studies affiliate at UT. The institute will closely examine an often overlooked aspect of Cubas War of Independence, namely, the role played by the Cuban immigrant communities in the U.S., particularly in the unique and vibrant cigar towns of Florida, especially Ybor City. The lessons of this history continue to be resonant today, Lopez said. The institute seeks to heighten awareness of how American immigrant communities have helped usher in political transformations both at home and abroad, and to accentuate the rich and complex cultural world established by the Cuban, Sicilian and Spanish immigrants around the cigar industry in turn-of-the-century Florida. The institute will also study the work of Jose Marti, the man whose oratory, poetry, journalism and essays would transform the movement for political independence into a formulation of Cuban patriotic identity that would outlast the U.S. military intervention, and establish Marti, known simply as the Apostle in Cuban society, as the most important symbol and source of national identity on and off the island. The immigrant cigar workers of Tampa played an important role in Martis biography and intellectual evolution, both of which will be closely examined during the institute. The study of this seminal period from the perspective of the working class immigrants who organized, financed and, in many cases, fought and died for a patriotic ideal that they helped inspire by their example, will enrich any cross-cultural approach to the teaching of U.S. history, race and ethnicity, Latin American studies, Caribbean/Cuban studies, international relations, cultural studies, and Hispanic language and culture, Lopez said. The institute will include expert lectures, guided readings, archival materials and visits to significant historical sites. All of these are directed toward the development of innovative course modules and teaching plans to enrich the college curriculum and disseminate this history. The institute is one of 218 humanities projects across the country funded by NEH, which total $43.1 million in awards. For more information, contact Lopez at james.lopez@ut.edu, or Rey at denis.rey@ut.edu. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. (Aug. 10, 2018) -- The University of Texas at San Antonio has lost a good friend with the passing of Tom C. Frost Jr., a renowned business leader, philanthropist and passionate advocate of UTSA. Tom Frost made a lasting impact on San Antonio that will continue to be felt across our city for decades to come, said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. I am grateful for his loyal support of UTSA, and for his sincere interest in seeing our university excel for the benefit of the city. His leadership, vision, and passion for his work were remarkable he was an inspiration to me and so many others. Frosts belief in education as a catalyst to success was evident through his years of support of UTSA. His many notable contributions to the university included chairing the UTSA Development Board and serving as a leadership committee member for the universitys first ever capital campaign, which concluded in 2016 with more than $202 million raised to support scholarly efforts at UTSA. In 2013, Frost, along with Frost Bank, established a $1 million fund for the Frost Chair in Finance in the UTSA College of Business. The chair supports faculty excellence in research and teaching to develop the next generation of leaders in the financial industry. In 2010, Frost and his wife, Pat, provided a $300,000 gift to support UTSAs Generating Educational Excellence in Mathematics and Science (GE2MS) program, also known as UTeach. The program recruits and prepares UTSA science and math majors to become educators. The gift brought Frosts overall commitment to UTeach to more than $1 million. Since 1998, Frost Bank has partnered with the UTSA College of Business to host the Frost Distinguished Lecture Series. During its 30-year history, the lecture series has featured prominent business and community leaders who share their knowledge and experience with students. Tom Frost was a visionary who believed passionately in San Antonio and challenged all of us to be the best we can be, said UTSA Vice President for External Relations Marjie French. He stood with UTSA from the very beginning and was instrumental in helping to set the course of success we are on today. He was so dedicated to others and to the power of education to improve lives. He was the real deal. In recognition of his unwavering commitment to UTSA, Frost was named an honorary life member of the UTSA Alumni Association and was the first non-UTSA alumnus to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the association. In 1994, Frost participated in an oral history project at UTSAs Institute of Texan Cultures where he assisted in creating a living history for San Antonio. His story can be read here. Also, listen to the San Antonio Library Foundation's A Conversation with Tom C. Frost IV. Remarks: In 1987 this became her last top-ten hit on the US R&B chart. The first minute sounds like the late 1980s, but then it sounds like Donna Summer. I... 4 days ago WTBC Sheridan Sponsors Second Annual Start-Up Challenge The Wyoming Technology Business Center (WTBC), a business development program of the University of Wyoming, kicked off its second annual Sheridan Area incubator Start-Up Challenge competition at its e2e Wyoming networking event last week. The event, patterned after longer-running similar events at the WTBC Laramie and Casper incubator locations, hopes to build on the success of the inaugural challenge competition that took place in Sheridan last year. According to WTBC Sheridan Director Scot Rendall, the first event was enthusiastically supported by the Sheridan community. We had a terrific number of applicants for the first challenge and a great turnout at the pitch event, Rendall says. Before our kickoff of the 2018 process, we had many inquiries about this years challenge, so we expect that a number of entrepreneurs with good business ideas will step forward. The Sheridan Start-Up Challenge is designed for anyone in Sheridan County who has recently started a business or is interested in launching one. Startup businesses can be a key cornerstone of an areas economic development strategy, in addition to attracting new businesses and expanding existing businesses in Sheridan. In past experience with early-stage companies, we have found that lack of access to even small amounts of capital can be a significant barrier, Rendall says. Through the challenge, we would like to remove that barrier if there are promising business ideas that need a spark to catch on. Applicants will compete for $5,000 in seed fund awards that will go to challenge qualifiers, and participants will make appeals for additional funding as business plans develop. Finalists also will receive opportunities to set up their offices at the Sheridan incubator free of charge for one year and receive ongoing counseling. Each finalist will receive counseling from WTBC staff on the business idea, formulation of a business plan and development of pitch content. The actual pitch competition is scheduled at the WYO Theater in Sheridan Thursday, Nov. 8. Registrations are now being accepted through Sept. 14. There is no cost to enter. The application process is handled online, and WTBC staff will be available to answer questions and help entrepreneurs through the initial requirements. A local judging panel will review entries, and finalists will be selected by early October. The WTBC is administered by the UW Office of Research and Economic Development. It is a not-for-profit business incubator system that provides startup and early-stage companies with the expertise, networks and tools necessary for the development of successful businesses. For more information about the Sheridan Start-Up Challenge, call Rendall at (307) 675-1939 or email srendall@uwyo.edu. After a Facebook reader pointed out the term's use and asked that it be changed, the editor stepped in. The sentences are now modified, the piece says, to reflect more "precise" quotes. The story went on to see the term used again: BLOOMINGTON - Good Morning America host Amy Robach had to apologize two years ago for slipping on what is considered a racial slur, "colored people," and it just may be that WGLT's new reporter Amy Cullen may have to follow Robach's lead. The situation caused quite the stir among the station's following - so much so, a reader pointed it out to Illinois Review. Is the term "colored people" offensive? we asked conservative Dr. Eric Wallace, publisher of Freedom's Journal Magazine. "Yes," Wallace said. "The word 'colored,' when referring to Black Americans, is an archaic reference. Its been out of our vocabulary for decades because it is seen as derogatory toward Blacks and used mostly by White southern good ole boys." "Its almost as bad as calling a Black man 'boy' or using the 'N' word. Anyone who uses such a term is clearly out of touch and possibly borderline racist. He or she is definitely insensitive. The proper term is 'African American' or as many Conservatives Blacks prefer, 'Black American,'" Wallace said. Should the radio station apologize for the use of those terms - obviously a mistake? "From what you told me, it sounds like an unfortunate use of a word. Id give her the benefit of the doubt and just thank them for making the change," Wallace, who also serves as a pastor in Chicago's south suburbs, said. "I dont get bent of of shape over this kind of stuff. We need to extend grace whenever possible. I dont think it was meant as a slight against Blacks. She probably meant 'people of color.'" Those upset about the original wording of the story told Illinois Review the community is already on edge because of a recent tax hike and the superintendent's substantial salary hike. Illinois Review has reached out to Ms. Cullen for a comment. We'll update as soon as we hear back. illustration photo In the red In Vietnam, Lotteria and KFC are considered the leading fast food brands. However, the financial statement of Lotteria showed that the fast food chain recorded after-tax losses were VND118 billion ($5.22 million) and VND135 billion ($6 million) in 2015 and 2016 respectively. By the end of 2016, Lotterias accumulated losses were more than VND413 billion ($18.27 million), while its charter capital reached only VND433 billion ($19.16 million), as reported by local media. In the meantime, Lotterias competitor, KFC also reported losses with a low profit margin at around 15 per cent in 2016. This was even lower in the previous year, at only 10 per cent. As a result, KFC lost VND25 billion ($1.1 million) in 2015 and made a profit of VND15 billion ($664,000) in 2016. The Fast Food in Vietnam report by Euromonitor International reveals that many international fast food brands in Vietnam have declined in 2017, including Burger King, Popeyes, Subway, and Carls Jr. Lotteria and KFC, despite maintaining their leading positions in 2017, only recorded very low-value sales growth. When VIR contacted Vietnam Lotteria Co., Ltd., marketing manager Truong Ham Liem did not deny these above-mentioned losses. He said that Lotterias market development plan focuses on the expansion of outlets. Lotteria invested heavily into developing and advertising its chain of outlets between 2014 and 2016. It is only when Lotteria achieves its intended scale that the company will consider profitability, Liem said, adding that the Vietnamese market is growing rapidly, so Lotteria continues to invest in the market to achieve the companys original goals despite the losses. The scale of Vietnams fast food market has yet to hit the profitable point, so the chain is committed to ongoing investment, Liem said. In 2017, Lotteria continued to increase the number of its outlets, which will lead to revenue growth and shrinking losses. The fast food chain is expected to generate profits this year. According to Sean T. Ngo, CEO of VF Franchise Consulting, there are many reasons for ongoing losses among foreign fast food chains, despite having been present in Vietnam for years. It is a combination of increasing competition for both local and foreign companies, high rental costs, and limited supply of affordable premises. Other reasons include a supply chain that needs significant improvement and depth in terms of the number of qualified suppliers in Vietnam, fast-rising labour costs as evidenced by nearly annual increases in minimum wages throughout the country, and generally lower disposable incomes as compared to many regional neighbours. The good news is that many of these areas are improving over the medium to long term, Ngo said. Indeed, Vietnams fast food markets size has almost doubled in the last five years, from VND11.84 trillion ($524 million) in 2012 to VND20.22 trillion ($894.7 million) in 2017, at a compound annual growth rate of 11.3 per cent. Moving forward, the market is expected to hit VND24.99 trillion ($1.11 billion) by 2020, according to Euromonitor. New growth Over the last 10 years, fast food brands have sprung up across Vietnam. It is very easy to find a fast food store with modern furniture, glass doors, and cool air conditioning. The density of fast food outlets is increasing, not only in the commercial centres and big cities, but also in other provinces. Fast food companies have proactively conducted franchising to open more and more new stores in lucrative sites. Currently, Lotteria and KFC have the largest number of stores in Vietnam. Lotteria opened in Vietnam in 1998 and leads the fast food industry with 222 stores nationwide now. It had 140 stores by late 2012, which rose to 207 in 2015, meaning Lotteria increased the number of its locations by 150 per cent between 2013 and 2015, and over 20 stores were launched each year. Meanwhile, KFC, the worlds most popular chicken restaurant chain, has been present in Vietnam since 1997, when Vietnamese customers were still unfamiliar with the concept of fast food. KFC suffered losses for seven consecutive years. The increase in the number of stores was very slow, reaching 17 stores after seven years. KFC then adjusted its strategy, and the number of stores rose to 100 in 2011. During the most exciting phase for fast food, 2012-2015, the number of KFC outlets rose to 140 across 18 cities and provinces. The number remains unchanged now. Another brand developing well in Vietnam is the Philippines Jollibee, which has taken part in the Vietnamese market since 1996 and marked the milestone of 100 stores in 2017. Jollibee Food Corporation (JFC) has recently gained a controlling stake in SuperFoods Group, which owns and operates Highlands Coffee and PHO24. Ernesto Tanmantiong, JFCs president, is upbeat about the outlook in Vietnam. Vietnam is growing fast and has a young population, and both Jollibee and Highlands Coffee are growing very well. We are very excited about Vietnam, because it will be a large consumer country due to its population, and there is a lot more room to grow, Tanmantiong said. Meanwhile, McDonalds, which began operations in Vietnam in 2014, has launched only 17 outlets so far. Explaining this modest figure, Nguyen Huy Thinh, CEO of McDonalds Vietnam, told VIR that the McDonalds strategy is to ensure good performance in every outlet. The speed of opening will become faster and the target of 100 stores within 10 years is possible, he said, noting that the business results of McDonalds are very positive, with annual growth rates of 30-40 per cent. According to Euromonitor, Lotteria maintained the leadership position on the market in 2017 with 17.9 per cent of market share, followed by KFC (11.4 per cent), Jollibee (8.3 per cent), and McDonald (1.7 per cent). Moving forward Fast food brands are urged to switch their development strategies to reverse the slump. Ngo noted that some fast food chains are already making profits, while others are still struggling and a few have clearly failed and exited the market. Fast food chains that are open to localisation of menu items and sourcing while maintaining their quality and service standards are more likely to succeed than those that have to import nearly every raw material into the country, thereby facing higher costs. Some chains are also realising that smaller footprints are critical to success as they cost less and, if the location is chosen correctly, can generate more returns and thus revenue for the company. KFC and Lotteria are slowly, but surely heading in the right direction and towards better profitability, as branding power and economies of scale become ever more important in an increasingly competitive market, he said. A French consumer group claimed victory against Twitter, saying "the conviction has a gigantic scope for the protection of users' personal data". (AFP/JOSH EDELSON) UFC-Que Choisir claimed victory in its case against the US social media platform, saying "the conviction has a gigantic scope for the protection of users' personal data". The consumer association had called on the high court "to recognise the abusive or illegal nature" of 256 clauses contained in Twitter's terms and conditions that it said breached users' privacy. In particular, UFC-Que Choisir said the court's decision guarantees Twitter users that their photos and tweets can no longer be "commercially exploited" if they have not given their consent. "By ticking a small box to accept the terms of service, the consumer has not expressly accepted their data can be exploited," the group said. Twitter was also fined 30,000 euros, a sum UFC-Que Choisir said was "insignificant for the social network which generated in 2017 a global turnover of 2.1 billion dollars". The social network has one month to appeal. But "whatever his decision, this victory bodes well for similar procedures against Facebook and Google, still in progress," the group said. Those judgments are expected in "the coming months", according to UFC-Que Choisir. Pham Hong Phong Advanced technology is taking centre stage in almost all aspects of our daily lives. How far has it transformed the way businesses operate here in Vietnam? In Vietnam, Ive seen that IT has won the trust of local residents, enterprises, and the government, as they all perceive the clear benefits of its application in everyday life and work. In an era of digital transformation, Ive seen the local government be very active in welcoming and promoting Industry 4.0, embracing artificial intelligence (AI), deep machine learning, blockchain, and, above all, cloud computing. Cloud computing in particular has changed how businesses go about developing their IT system. It used to be complicated, requiring the enterprises to recruit IT specialists and invest in equipment and software to deploy and operate such systems. This was costly and time-consuming. Now, with cloud computing, these issues are all solved by simply signing up with a cloud provider which equips them with the necessary services and software, and they then can be effectively and efficiently managed by companies like Oracle. Enterprises can ultimately focus on their core business, with resources that used to be spent on IT infrastructure available to invest in innovation and bringing their products to the market more quickly. In Vietnam, everyone from customers and businesses to the government is excited about the applications of cloud computing, as it can clearly bring added value to each party. How challenging would it be for chief information officers (CIO) in Vietnam to switch to cloud computing this way? CIOs may face numerous challenges, including switching from a traditional IT structure to an Industry 4.0-oriented system. This challenge is encountered by CIOs we have come across in all industries, from banks and telecommunications to governments, it is the issue of how to transform their current internal business processes and procedures, as well as customer services, into an internet-based approach, taking advantage of the power of the internet. For instance, as banks are heading in the direction of digital banking, they are digitalising their products and services, which means opening an account will be simple, with no physical presence at the bank needed and no hassle of carrying personal ID there, while lending will not require the same complicated procedures as before. All of these tasks will be conducted through the internet, with scanned IDs, attached documents, and other information that can be fetched directly from social media accounts. This is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity for them: to once and for all get their business processes digitalised with the help of advanced technologies like AI, big data, and cloud computing, with the ultimate goal of meeting their customers needs and being creative in the products and services they provide. What does Oracle have to offer these CIOs and how are your cloud products becoming the norm? Oracle is a premier company in databases and we are working towards being a leading provider of cloud services. We currently offer a comprehensive range of products including infrastructure (computing, storage, networking) solutions that come with a data management platform for database workloads and big data; software services specialised on customer experience, human capital management, and enterprise resource planning; and data services that aggregate and analyse consumer data for customer understanding. As you can see, enterprises demand, from infrastructure to applications, are all met by Oracle Cloud and provided in an autonomous manner, which requires minimum interference from users. Cutting costs, enhancing productivity, reducing risks, and minimising the time to launch a product to the market are what Oracle can offer our customers. Can you give an example of local companies that have successfully implemented Oracle Cloud products? One of the local companies we have successfully co-operated with is Bac Ky Logistics, which has a port warehouse. It has the demand to manage some 200 trucks and 300 drivers, as well as their warehouses, customers, and sub-contractors for logistics services. Solving the puzzle of how to manage these drivers, trucks, and routes of transport, as well as driver rosters and accounting, was a real headache, especially since Bac Ky also has its river logistics route from the province of Bac Ninh to Haiphong. Given these requirements, Oracle has come up with Oracle Transportation Management Cloud and the Internet of Things Fleet Management applications, to help them improve their speed of service, optimise costs, and improve transparency. In addition, with analytics embedded into the solution, they will also be able to visualise their supply chain and relevant logistics and trade information in real time. MGA Vietnam, source: Internet The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, and the Vietnam-Japan Economic Committee under the Japan Business Federation last week signed a memorandum of understanding, kick-starting the seventh phase of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative (VJJI). The VJJI is an important policy dialogue between Japanese businesses and Vietnamese government agencies, through which practical proposals and recommendations have been made over the past 15 years, greatly helping improve the local business climate, said Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Planning and Investment. To be carried out over 17 months, from August 2018 to the end of 2019, the plans of action will cover 10 groups of issues, including those left by the previous phase as well as new content. The issues include regulations for foreign investors in Vietnam as prescribed in the laws on Investment and Enterprises, the Land Law, and others; the reform of state-owned enterprises and the stock market; supporting industry development policies; labour and salary; the legal framework for public-private partnership (PPP); the legal framework for the construction of gas pipelines; and the establishment of companies and opening of branches in the services sector. According to the Japanese side, the removal of retroaction for incentives approved in investment certificates and business registration caused difficulties for foreign investors and even unpredictable losses. Besides, while the Law on Investment (LoI) (2005) had regulations to ensure foreign investors legitimate rights, the current LoI does not. Therefore, the new action plan will work on the policies for keeping retroaction for incentives approved in the aforementioned legal documents, while amending Article 13 of the LoI towards adding more subjects to be ensured with legitimate rights. In regards to salary and labour, overtime and sectors subject to labour leasing remain major problems for Japanese investors, making them insecure about their future developments. Under the action plan, both sides will discuss the possibility of revising these regulations towards allowing them to decide the overtime cap based on their work demands, in line with prevailing rules, while enlarging the list of sectors subject to labour leasing. As for the PPP legal framework, Japanese investors are concerned about the transformation of public projects into PPP projects, especially when using official development assistance (ODA) funds; incentives for PPP bidders; government guarantees for foreign currency exchanges and conditions for contract cancellations; and land use rights and land-related asset mortgages. Nguyen Dang Truong, director of the MPIs Public Procurement Department (PPA), said that the PPA is working with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on building a legal mechanism for the use of ODA as Vietnams counter-funding in PPP projects, then creating an important foundation for development in the PPP Law, which will be considered at the National Assembly in November 2019 and is slated to be approved in May 2020. Launched in April 2003 as a result of the special co-operation between the two governments, the VJJI has been implemented in six phases with a total of 473 plans of action. Over the past 15 years, the VJJI has contributed significantly to increasing Japanese investments in Vietnam, while helping competent Vietnamese agencies fine-tune laws and policies. As shown in the latest survey on the performance of Japanese businesses in Asia and Oceania in 2017, announced in February 2018 by the Japan External Trade Organizations Hanoi Office, 46.9 per cent of respondents in Vietnam complained about the imperfect legal system and the inconsistent performance of legal documents, down 1.5 percentage points from the year before. In addition, 39.5 and 38.2 per cent expressed concern about complicated administrative procedures and underdeveloped infrastructure, respectively, down 2.3 and 6.2 percentage points. According to the MPIs statistics, Japan overtook the heavyweight South Korea to become Vietnams biggest foreign investor in the first seven months of 2018 in the country, with the total registered investment capital of $6.88 billion, or 30 per cent of Vietnams total registered foreign direct investment capital during the period. PetroVietnams Binh Son Refining State-run PetroVietnams Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC (BSR), which operates the countrys first operating oil refinery Dung Quat in the central province of Quang Ngai, last week reported that in first seven months of 2018, its output reached 4.14 million tonnes, hitting 66 per cent of the whole years plan. Between January and July, BRSs total revenue reached VND66.49 trillion ($2.94 billion), 47 per cent higher than the seven-month plan and equal to 85 per cent of the whole years plan. BSRs after-tax profit totalled VND3.597 trillion ($159.16 million), which is 72 per cent higher than its seven-month plan. In another case, the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Plant (NSRP) in the central province of Thanh Hoa has, over the past few months, been in a commissioning stage, with most of its units achieving 50 per cent of their designed capacity. As planned, the complex will increase its commissioning capacity to 75 per cent in early August, and to 100 per cent in early September, said an NSRP bulletin released last week. The factory will officially begin its commercial operation in November. It is expected that in 2018, NSRP will import six million tonnes of crude oil, and produce and market four million tonnes of products. In the first seven months of this year, NSRP contributed to a 28 per cent increase in the industrial production of Thanh Hoa. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), BSR and NSRP have significantly contributed to a big rise in the Vietnamese economys manufacturing and processing sector, which holds 80 per cent of the countrys industrial growth, during the first seven months. As a result, in this period, the index for industrial production rose by 10.9 per cent, also the highest seven-month rise since 2011. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), since 2017, some other big projects have commenced operation, including projects backed by South Koreas Samsung and Taiwans Formosa. Formosa put its second furnace into operation, with an annual capacity of 3.8 million tonnes of steel, and Samsung launched its new products, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. In the first half of this year, Samsung and Formosa contributed 26 per cent of the value of Vietnams total industrial production sector, and 46 per cent of the value of the countrys manufacturing and processing sector, an official from the GSOs Industrial Department told VIR. Between January and July, Formosa contributed to a 149.3 per cent rise in the industrial production of the central province of Ha Tinh, where its facility is located. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung expressed his hope that in the second half of 2018, a number of new major projects will come into operation, which will serve as a new driving force for the economy to grow further, and especially to contribute to helping the economy reach its growth target of 6.7 per cent this year. Local production will surge strongly this year if big industrial projects such as the NSRP come into commercial operation, greatly contributing to the countrys economic growth, Minister Dung said. It is expected that Hoa Phat Group will put a new steel manufacturing facility into operation in August, with an expected output of 200,000 tonnes per year, while Hoa Sen Group will also likely put its new steel sheet manufacturing facility into operation, with an annual capacity of 350,000 tonnes. The GSO also reported that in the first seven months of this year, many key industrial products saw high on-year growth, including steel (41.1 per cent), cloth (19.1 per cent), sugar (18.9 per cent), and animal feed (18.5 per cent), and electricity (10.7 per cent). It's Statham vs. shark in 'The Meg,' and you're gonna need a bigger popcorn Companies providing insurance and banking services have been threatened with regulatory action if they continue to do business with the NRA. Why? Because the Governor wants to silence the NRA for their stand on defending the Second Amendment, and feels he has the public support for this (alleged) unconstitutional action. This may well constitute extortion under the color of law . ( Hobbs Act, 1951 ). The National Rifle Association (NRA) filed suit against the State of New York, Governor Cuomo and the NY Department of Financial Services (DFS) in Federal District Court, for allegedly blacklisting the NRA with various insurance and financial institutions. In a further move against the NRA, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on August 6th, 2018, urged governors in other states to target the National Rifle Association, which, according to Cuomo, has suffered tens of millions of dollars in damages because of financial sanctions imposed in New York. The primary target of Cuomo is Carry Guard insurance sponsored by the NRA to protect citizens who are justified in using a legally carried firearm to defend their life and limb. A person who uses a gun for defense is often subjected to major legal expenses, even if the shooting is beyond reproach. Even if the shooting is ruled justifiable by authorities, a civil suit often arises by the alleged victim or family members. If the shooting is found justifiable, most states will dismiss such suits with prejudice (cant refile) and assess legal costs to the plaintiff; however, that can take years while the costs continue to mount. Cuomo claims such insurance is illegal and supports legal murder. He compares it to insurance against traffic violations, including legal assistance, which was deemed illegal decades ago; however, ticket insurance encourages illegal behavior, while Carry Guard insurance protects you for legal behavior, even if some politicians disagree. Cuomo doesnt stop there. Also blacklisted is ordinary business insurance for the NRA for their day-to-day operations, special events like National Convention, and rallies. Banks and credit card companies are threatened if they process payments for the NRA, including membership dues and donations. This is highly reminiscent of Operation Choke Point, instituted by President Obama, forbidding financial institutions to do business with blacklisted companies and activities such as PayDay Loans, gambling and illicit drug sales. Obama and the DOJ went further by blacklisting licensed gun dealers and manufacturers, without any evidence of wrong doing while performing a constitutionally protected activity. These actions have forced the closing of many small dealers, and have induced businesses like PayPal and Amazon to ban transactions of firearms, firearm parts and ammunition. Operation Choke Point officially ended under President Trump, but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is still implementing Obama era rules, despite attempts by President Trump to trim its claws. The Federal Depositors Insurance Commission (FDIC) continues to threaten banks with unfavorable reviews for serving gun dealers, under the guise of poor support for community welfare. The Illinois Concealed Carry Act of 2013 prohibits legal carry in establishments which post a legal warning sign, the familiar "beretta with a red circle and slash. The act also requires businesses which derive 51% or more of their gross sales from on-premises liquor consumption (not sales for off-premises use), to post a carry ban sign. But the City of Chicago goes one step further, requiring any business with a liquor license, including liquor stores and most restaurants, to ban concealed carry, under threat of losing that license. Although the Illinois Concealed Carry act of 2013 (430 ILCS 66/1) preempts and denies any concealed carry restrictions by local governments, Chicago uses liquor licenses to bypass the state law. Relatively few license holders actually comply with the Chicago ordinance, deferring to State law. Chicago is probably reluctant to force a court case which would almost certainly go against it. As in New York City, the town bully is still standing in Chicago waving a big stick. Chicago seems to fear citizens exercising their right to self defense, despite statistics to the contrary, and even after the shooting spree that occurred this past weekend in Chicago when at least 72 people were shot, including 12 fatally, in what is not an unusual happening in Chicago at a time when national homicide rates are near an historic low. Concealed carry permits are costly and difficult to obtain. There are no shooting ranges in the City of Chicago, so residents must travel to suburbs for training and the mandatory proficiency test. The cost of 16 hours of training, licensing and fingerprinting fees can easily top $600, not counting transportation and lost work. Nonetheless, Illinois has issued more permits per capita in Chicago than for nearly any other city. Democrats denounce the huge sums the NRA bestows on supporters of the Second Amendment, mainly Republicans. It amounts to about $30 million each year (a day in the Hillary campaign), compared to $80 million, this year alone spent in opposition by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A bond measure intended to fund new trucks and other equipment for the Clay Township Fire Department failed Aug. 7 in a close race that drew strong opinions from both sides. Voters weighed in at the polls during the primary election, with 1,226, or 52.6 percent, saying no to the funding proposal and 1,105, or 47.4 percent, voting in favor of it, results from the St. Clair County Clerks Office show. The measure would have raised roughly $2 million to replace the townships aging fleet of fire trucks, purchase lifesaving equipment and make needed repairs at the mainland and Harsens Island fire stations. I just cant afford more, Clay Township resident Judy Cummings said, citing the passage of a school sinking fund millage in May. There comes a point when they need to sharpen their pencils and get real and stop asking us for things we cant afford. With the bond defeated, the township board will have to seek alternative ways to address the issues facing the fire department. Clay Township Supervisor Artie Bryson said maintaining the aging fleet of trucks is a major financial burden on the department. Several of the fire departments vehicles have reached the end of their usable lives. Despite the vote, the township will still be able to upgrade the ventilation systems in the communitys two fire stations thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agencys Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters recently announced the Clay Township Fire Department would receive nearly $105,000 for the upgrades. Our firefighters in Clay Township put their lives on the line to protect our families, homes and communities, Stabenow said in a news release. These new resources will help keep the public safe and give our first responders the equipment they need to do their jobs more safely and effectively. The grant is expected to cover 95 percent of the cost of installing the vehicle exhaust ventilation system at the Harsens Island fire station and repairing the existing system at the mainland station. Ventilation systems are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Firefighters in Clay Township are the first to respond when disaster strikes, Peters said, and this funding will help keep firefighters safe while serving their communities. Bryson said the funding will help keep firefighters in a safe work environment. Receiving this grant plays a crucial role in protecting the citizens of Clay Township, he said. We are very thankful for the continued support of Sens. Stabenow and Peters. The Clay Township Board of Trustees will conduct a special meeting at 5 p.m. Aug. 15 to discuss alternate options for funding equipment upgrades for the fire department. The meeting will take place at township hall, located at 4710 Pointe Tremble Road. Colleen Kowalewski is a staff writer for The Voice. She can be contacted at 586-273-6197 or ckowalewski@digitalfirstmedia.com. The former president of Iran, Mahmud Ahmadineyad, currently under house arrest, broadcast a video through his Telegram account calling for his successor, Sheikh Rohani to resign. Before the United States walked away from the Iran nuclear deal (also known as 5 + 1 agreement or JCPOA), President Rohani assured Iranians that he had the situation under control. But everyone can see that this is a grossly distorted version of reality. The Rohani government had full faith that an economic rapprochement with Washington would dawn and clipped away at the hedges that the Rohani administration had assembled to buffer US sanctions. Now look whats up: the Iranian economy is being brutally affected by the change in the United Statess change in attitude. Since the beginning of this year, the Iranian currency abruptly has abruptly had 60% knocked off its value compared to the United States; the rate of unemployment is approaching 40% and several public services have stopped working, to the extent that in a number of places in Iran, drinking water is running out - a serious problem among many others. In 8 months an important wave of demonstrations against the Rohani government, initiated in December 2017, has spread throughout the country. The banners of the demonstrators protest against the financial support by Iran to the Palestinian Hamas and certain Iraqi Militia, but rarely mention the support to Syria and the Lebanese Hezbollah. From the very beginning, demonstrators have been calling upon President Rohani to resign, but now they have begun to demand that the Guide of the Revolution Ali Khamenei also resigns from office. Ayatollah Khamenei entered into conflict with Mahmud Ahmadineyad, at the end of the second presidential mandate of the latter. Khamenei went on to qualify Ahmadineyad as a bad Muslim and the presidential candidate backed by Ahmadineyad was not authorized to participate in the election. Mahmud Ahmadineyads big idea is to pursue the anti-imperialist revolution of Imam Khomeiny (leaving out the clerical class). Photo: LAPD Emma Watson gives an impressive performance as Nicki, one member of the Hollywood thieving ring depicted in Sofia Coppolas latest film, The Bling Ring. But it makes us wonder: What ever happened to Alexis Neiers, the real-life criminal who inspired Watsons role? And did Paris Hilton ever get her jewels back, by the way? And how many of those kids charged with robbing celebrities actually saw the inside of a prison cell? If youre as curious as we are to know whats up with the real-life Bling Ring, here you go. Rachel Lee According to pieced-together testimony, Lee (renamed Rebecca in the film and played by Katie Chang) was the mastermind behind the Bling Ring. Her obsession with celebrity or at least the Lindsay Lohan, reality-TV kind led her to want to experience first-hand the big-money lifestyle she read about in the pages of US Weekly. Named Best Dressed in her 2007 yearbook and driving a white Audi A4 to school, Lee had already been fined and put on probation for shoplifting at a Sephora with fellow Bling Ring member Diana Tamayo. After taking her fair share of jewels and jeans from various celebrities homes, she headed to Vegas to live with her father. Both in Coppolas film and in real life, the authorities eventually caught up with her. Did she serve time? Yes! After pleading no contest and being sentenced to four years (the harshest punishment among the crew), she served one year and four months. Alexis Neiers The Bling Rings most public figure, Alexis Neiers was busy shooting a reality show that would become E!s Pretty Wild when police stormed her Westlake Village house in search of stolen property. Emma Watsons impression of Neiers, now 21, is spot-on, as Neiers has graciously left a series of blog posts, YouTube vlogs, and VICE interviews in her wake. Since those days spent tagging along on sorties to rob the houses of various celebrities, Alexis has since given birth to a baby girl with her husband, Evan (whom she met while attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings). And for the record, regarding her famously contested courtroom outfit: I was certainly not wearing Louboutins. Did I own Louboutins? Yes. Did I walk into court wearing Louboutins? Never. Was I really wearing a little tweed skirt and four-inch BeBe kitten heels? Yes, I was. Did she serve time? Not really. Neiers pleaded no contest to felony burglary charges and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, of which she served only 30. She also got three years probation and had to pay a fine of $600,000 (to Orlando Bloom!). Courtney Ames Fellow Bling Ring crew member Jonathan Ajars ex-girlfriend, Ames had the famously awesome idea to wear a necklace that belonged to Lindsay Lohan to court. These days? According to her lawyer, Robert Schwartz, she is currently a student at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, where she is taking classes in psychology, speech, and child development. Did she serve time? No. After she pleaded no contest to having a jacket stolen from Paris Hilton, Ames was sentenced to three years probation and 60 days of community service. Nick Prugo He confessed to crimes we didnt even know he committed, Officer Brett Goodkin, the lead investigator in the Bling Ring case, said to Nancy Jo Sales in her Vanity Fair piece about the crimes. Prugo reportedly not only talked to the police for hours, but he even went on an extensive talk-show circuit afterward. His initial desire to brag is part of what got him caught in the first place: Facebook photos revealing the crew showing off their stolen wares is partially what led police their way in the first place. Since then, according to the Daily Beast, Prugo is more wary about his Facebook activity. He declined to chat with them about his recent whereabouts. Did he serve time? Yes. After pleading no contest to two counts of first-degree residential burglary, he was the last of the crew to be tried in court and was sentenced to two years in jail. He served one year and was just released this past April. Diana Tamayo Unlike her Audi-driving friend Rachel Lee, Tamayo lived with her family near Calabasas in one of its few apartment buildings. She is also an undocumented immigrant, according to Vanity Fair and Colorlines, causing police officers to initially threaten her with deportation if she didnt cooperate. Before joining Lee in robbing houses, she had previously gotten in trouble for shoplifting at a Sephora. In the film, the teens make the younger Neiers sister crawl through a certain celebritys doggie door, but the pint-size Tamayo did that during the real burglaries. Did she serve time? No. After pleading no contest for burglary, Tamayo served 60 days of community service and is still finishing up her three years of probation. Jonathan Ajar, a.k.a. Jonnie Dangerous Charged separately from the rest of the Ring, Ajars main gig was selling the stolen property that the teens would amass from their robberies. When he was busted in 2009, he already had an extensive criminal record that included both drugs and guns and served jail time. Before that he had been a popular party promoter and drug dealer hanging out at all of Hollywoods hot spots, including Green Door, where he first met future girlfriend and Bling Ring member Courtney Ames. He helped get Ames and her friends into the club that first night, and he would go on to help fence stolen goods. Since serving time related to both Bling Ring activities and the sale of illegal drugs, Ajar is doing quite well, at least according to his Instagram. Check out those pictures of shiny Rolexes, bowls of weed, and bottles of liquor! Did he serve time? Yes. And it wasnt his first time. He pleaded no contest for a slew of things, including selling cocaine, illegally possessing a firearm, and receiving the Bling Rings stolen property. He did three years in jail and has been out since March 2011. Ray Lopez Jr. Courtney Ames didnt just recruit Jonathan Ajar; she also pulled in bouncer Ray Lopez Jr., who grabbed most of the valuable valuables, including jewels owned by Paris Hilton valued at $3 million. Apparently, he couldnt find a buyer for them, so they werent worth much to him and his fellow thieves. Did he serve time? No. After pleading no contest to receiving stolen property, Lopez received three years probation. Los Angeles Police Department officer Brett Goodkin Perhaps the most interesting postscript of the the Bling Ring case revolves around policeman Brett Goodkin, who appears as himself in The Bling Ring. It seems that Goodkin might lose his job owing to the suspicion that he may have been advising on the film while still working the case a no-no, even in Hollywood. After receiving a reported $12,500 for consulting on and acting in The Bling Ring (hes the officer who appears at Nickis door and orders her to put her hands behind her back), Goodkin is being accused of not properly informing the LAPD or the L.A. County district attorney of his Hollywood turn. Not only that, he also is facing accusations that he made inappropriate contact with one of the witnesses on the case. At the hearing of Courtney Ames, the judge referred to the drama surrounding Goodkin by saying, You should all write a thank-you letter to Goodkin because his judgment is as poor as it gets. You can have a field day with his credibility during trial Its a shame what he did. Its harmful to the Peoples case. Did he serve time? Not yet. He first has to deal with the LAPDs Board of Rights, and then possibly face counts against his dealings with the Bling Ring witness. Jeff Fager. Photo: Tommaso Boddi/WireImage As CBS continues to conduct internal investigations in the wake of allegations that chairman Les Moonves sexually harassed employees and promoted a hostile work environment across the company, the Washington Post has a new report claiming that toxic behavior by a producer at 60 Minutes was tolerated for years. According to the Post, 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager knew about violent behavior allegedly committed by senior producer Michael Radutzky, who worked at the show for decades and left CBS this spring. The report includes more details of an incident described in Ronan Farrows New Yorker expose on CBS, in which Radutzky allegedly grabbed 60 Minutes executive producer Vicki Gordon, threatened to throw furniture at her and twisted her arm behind her back. Radutzky has claimed that the incident was fabricated, but Post sources said the incident occurred as described, and took place over the allotment of Oscar screeners in the office. In The New Yorker piece, Gordon claimed that Fager told her not to go to human resources to report the incident, though Fager denies doing so. The Post also reported on other alleged incidents surrounding Radutzky. Several sources told the paper that he left a threatening voice-mail for colleague Tanya Simon more than a decade ago, who reported the episode to a manager, and screamed at another female colleague. Radutzky denied both incidents, though other employees claimed that he had a history of throwing items in the workplace, often directly at his co-workers. In Farrows New Yorker report, Fager was accused of touching employees at company parties in ways that made them uncomfortable. Former employees also said Fager routinely protected men accused of harassment, and he and Radutzky were close. Michael made it clear to everyone that he had Jeffs ear, one employee told the Post. He held that as sort of a latent threat over everyone. 6ix9ine. Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images Brooklyn rapper 6ix9ine (or Tekashi69), who most recently featured Nicki Minaj on his single FEFE, might soon be a jailed sex offender. The controversial rapper, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, pleaded guilty to the use of a child in a sexual performance back in 2015 over videos he posted of himself partying with a 13-year-old girl. The plea agreement included a stipulation that he not get in trouble again, and since then hes been arrested for assault, driving on a suspended license, and assaulting a police officer. Its not a great look, and so at a sentencing hearing on Thursday the Manhattan District Attorneys office asked the judge to revoke the plea deal, sentencing the rapper to between one and three years in jail and requiring him to register as a sex offender. The plea deal wouldve also prevented him from having a criminal record after completing probation, but the DA is arguing that because of his arrests, and his social-media posts, which they argue promote a culture of violence and glorify gang activity, he no longer deserves the clean slate. Defendants behavior undermines any argument that the interests of justice are served by relieving him from the onus of a criminal record, prosecutor Sara Weiss wrote. Hernandez is due back in court on October 2. American Woman The Breakthrough Season 1 Episode 9 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Photo: Patrick Wymore/Patrick Wymore This is exactly what we have been waiting for: a magic-mushrooms episode. Well, I dont know if weve necessarily been waiting for it, but now that its here I am as happy as a hippie spotting a double rainbow. Bonnie starts off the episode at work when her stupid boss asks her to take a stupid wedding dress for a stupid alteration when shes done with her stupid shift. She stupid agrees to it! This means missing a chance to go on a picnic with her hot boyfriend Adam, who has ridden up on his motorcycle to whisk her away in a 1970s stoner sex fantasy, which we all have one time or another engaged in. As soon as she decides to go on the picnic rather than getting the dress altered you knew that dress was never going to make its final destination. I had no idea the detour it would take though. While on their picnic, Bonnie is bitching about everything going on in her life and Adam knows the perfect solution: to drop mushrooms. While I love a drug trip on any sitcom, there is literally nothing about Bonnies personality that would make someone think that the answer to her problems is going to be drugs. Theyll make you forget about everything, Adam tells Bonnie before dosing her on a picnic blanket in a (very fake looking) park in Los Angeles. Sorry, Adam, but I have a bit of experience with mushrooms and I will let you know that they will, in fact, not make you forget about anything. First of all, theyll probably make you throw up because they taste disgusting and they wreck your stomach like eating a burrito made with spicy curry and washed down with some water from a Colombian prison toilet bowl. Secondly, they will make you think of absolutely everything. They will heighten every thought and emotion, so if Bonnie was freaking out about her family and not having any money before she took those mushrooms, its going to be ten times worse afterward. Instead they just sort of look really intently at the grass and hug a tree like extras in a Belly video. Bonnie, of course, puts on the wedding dress and we find out that she never had a wedding of her own but she eloped to the courthouse after Steve got her pregnant. Then they go back to her house to play Monopoly because Bonnie never got to babysit Adam or something? It doesnt entirely make sense because they are tripping after all. When theyre at Bonnies house, she gets a call that her daughter is going to be suspended and she has to go to the principals office to get her. Adam drives her on his motorbike and shes still high, wearing a wedding dress, and her hair is blown out like she just had sex on the top of a yacht in a hurricane. She asks Adam to smack her to sober her up and he has the funniest line of the episode, I dont think its good to hit a woman wearing a wedding dress standing in front of a school. If ever there was a #MeToo moment. Inside Bonnie finds out that one of Beccas teachers told her to shut up because he doesnt like it that she questions his authority and what hes teaching her. This strong woman strands up for the strong woman that her daughter has become and they stomp out of there in a huff. Later that night, after Steve tries to put the moves on her, Bonnie takes Becca and Jessica and they vandalize the mean teachers car with lipstick, which is a just revenge. But my question is: What the hell happened to the dress? Shouldnt Bonnie be worrying more about trying to keep her job and getting the dress altered like she was supposed to in the first place rather than getting a bit of petty revenge on an equally petty tyrant? Im not saying they should be nice to the dude, but doesnt Bonnie need to get her priorities in order? The story lines for Diana and Kathleen also didnt make a ton of sense. Dianas new boss Jeff, who got the promotion over her, is now making her do all of her work. She gets so frustrated with her job that she calls Gay Alan to come meet her at the Red Target to talk about sleeping with all of those dudes. I dont see how this tracks. Diana tells him what we knew all along, that she felt so out of control over her own life that she actually felt in control when bedding down with all of those dudes. Whats Alans response? Oh, lets get up and dance with all of these gay dudes. It doesnt resolve anything and it doesnt entirely make sense, but it continues Dianas trajectory to become the Fag Hag of the Year for 1974, so I will allow this one to continue. Kathleens story makes a bit more sense. She goes to her first EST meeting and finds out that it is nine hours long and that there are no breaks. How is that even physically possible? I couldnt sit still for nine hours even if someone was feeding me Junior Mints and I had an adult diaper to clean up all of the mess. Shes the first person called on in the class and it doesnt go well. She sees herself as the victim in her relationship with Greg and he doesnt think that she has it in her to change. But Kathleen requires attention, and she finally stands up to talk about her relationship with her father, who always loved her brother more. Her father gave her money until she could find a husband to take care of her but never gave her the attention and support that she really deserves. She realizes that she has been going from man to man to get approval from them because she never got approval from her father. Wow, EST is really working. It works so well that she goes home and tells her father that hes an asshole. Um, thats not such a great idea when she has a home renovation to pay for. Maybe if she just takes some magic mushrooms shell find all the answers she was missing. When asked in the past about the two sexual-harassment lawsuits filed against him by female co-workers who worked with him on the 2010 film Im Sill Here, Casey Affleck dismissed their allegations. People say whatever they want, he told Variety about the lawsuits. Now, in a new Associated Press interview, the Manchester by the Sea star takes a more contrite tone, acknowledging that he helped create an unprofessional environment while working on the Joaquin Phoenix mockumentary. He still maintains that he doesnt agree with everything, the way I was being described, and the things that were said about me. Over the past couple of years, Ive been listening a lot to this conversation, this public conversation, and learned a lot, says Affleck, crediting #MeToo with his self-reflection. I kind of moved from a place of being defensive to one of a more mature point of view, trying to find my own culpability. And once I did that I discovered there was a lot to learn. According to the actor, Affleck says he didnt think of himself as the boss while making Im Still Here, an attitude he seemingly blames for the unclear boundaries that, as director and producer, he was ultimately responsible for setting. The cast was the crew and the crew was kind of the cast and it was an unprofessional environment and, you know, the buck had to stop with me being one of the producers and I have to accept responsibility for that and that was a mistake, explained the actor. And I contributed to that unprofessional environment and I tolerated that kind of behavior from other people and I wish that I hadnt. And I regret a lot of that. Said Affleck, I behaved in a way and allowed others to behave in a way that was really unprofessional. And Im sorry. Producer Amanda White and cinematographer Magdalena Gorka both sued Affleck after working on the film, accusing the actor of verbal and physical harassment. According to White, Affleck allegedly told her about his sexual exploits, asked a crew member to show her his penis, and, when she turned down his request that she stay in a hotel room with him, he purportedly grabbed her in a hostile manner in an effort to intimidate her into complying. Gorka described a similar on-set environment, in addition to an incident in which she awoke to find Affleck had his arm around her, was caressing her back after the films crew had crashed at her apartment following a long shoot. When Gorka told Affleck to leave her room, he allegedly became angry. The actor eventually settled both suits. When asked what changes have been made at his production company Sea Change Media to avoid an unprofessional repeat on the companys future film sets, Affleck didnt really have a specific answer other than listen to women. Said the actor, I think bigger picture, in this business women have been underrepresented and underpaid and objectified and diminished and humiliated and belittled in a bazillion ways and just generally had a mountain of grief thrown at them forever. And no one was really making too much of a fuss about it, myself included, until a few women with the kind of courage and wisdom to stand up and say, You know what? Enough is enough. Those are the people who are kind of leading this conversation and should be leading the conversation. Kanye West stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! tonight and, as with every Kanye appearance, theres plenty to unpack. Kanye came out with his happy face on, which was nice, and he sportingly agreed to design the uniforms for Space Force. But Kimmel then eased into the more direct Trump stuff, and the Kanye weve gotten to know so well this year emerged. When asked about his support for the president, Kanye admitted he kind of enjoys when people are mad at him, and that his Trump support was mostly about being courageous enough after his hospitalization to do the thing everyone was telling him not to, like Galileo, ya know? Hes also not concerned about the specifics of this mentality, which must be nice! He then explained breaking out of the matrix by telling a surprisingly detailed story about a 2-year-old on a coffee table being told to get down by a family member he doesnt like. Which is just such a specific example we almost have to assume that Saint is literally on a coffee table somewhere right now being scolded by Kris Jenner. Related Photo: Kerry Brown/Netflix Spoilers below for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, based on the novel of the same name, tells the story of writer Juliet Ashton (Lily James), who receives a letter from a pig farmer (Michiel Huisman) on the English island of Guernsey. The farmer tells her about the book club he participated in while his island was under German occupation during World War II as he tells it, the group offered a little bit of light in a very dark world. Ashton is so moved that she goes to visit him and his club; romance, tragedy, and pie ensue. Apparently it was bad pie, though. The trailer for this film literally shows Lily James gagging on this pie. The recipe for the titular pie, which is available on The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book website, tells the story of a very sad pie containing just a potato, a beet, and a drop of milk (its authentic to the World War II occupation, and everything was terrible then). When I found said recipe, I knew immediately that I had to make this pie while watching this film. As far as this pies place on the pop-culture pie scale, I knew going in that I wouldnt be baking anything to rival Keri Russells creations in Waitress, but I did hope it would be somewhat better than the poop pie from The Help and the people pie from Sweeney Todd. What follows is my entirely true account of making a very bad pie while watching a movie that purports to be a rom-com but is actually extremely sad. 0:00:10 Our movie begins on the island of Guernsey in 1941. Four friends are stumbling home full of gin, secret ham, and potato peel pie when they are stopped by the Nazis. To avoid being arrested, they invent their book club, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. One dude, Eben (Tom Courtenay), immediately vomits up all of his potato peel pie. This is alarming because Im still peeling my potatoes, but everything is totally cool and Im opening up a bottle of Chardonnay. The ingredients. Photo: Maggie Fremont 0:03:38 Pro tip: Do NOT look up while peeling potatoes, even if it is because you want to see Matthew Goode wearing glasses. He plays Sidney, Juliets publisher and best friend. You may wish this movie was actually about him viewing available real-estate properties and buttering toast, but it is not, and it is not worth possibly cutting your finger over. 0:08:48 Heres the first time I really wanted to quit this endeavor YEAH, I KNOW. But Lily James and Glen Powell (her rich, American military boyfriend Mark) are dancing and having the postwar time of their lives and Im over here still peeling potatoes and beets. If youve cooked with raw beets, you know how messy this is. Why must my hands be stained red instead of doing the Lindy Hop with Glen Powell? 0:10:48 Juliet gets her first letter from the pig farmer on Guernsey. The pig farmer, Dawsey, is played by Michiel Huisman and already I can tell this movie is going to turn me on to pig farmers. Is my pot of water boiling because of the already building sexual tension between Juliet and Dawsey via the written word or because of the laws of science? Either way, the potatoes and beets are going in. 0:19:59 I guess the important part of this section is Juliet learning how the Society came to be they wanted to share Amelias (Penelope Wilton) secret pig and then all that Nazi stuff happened but there is a shot of Michiel Huisman eating ham. As I stare at my purple-colored water and the meager amount of peels covering the bottom of my pie dish, I can only wonder how different things would be if they had named themselves The Guernsey Literary and Michiel Huisman Eating Ham Society. The potato peel crust. Photo: Maggie Fremont 0:20:14 The first official appearance of the potato peel pie!! Mine will not look like this!! (The movie version is all potatoes and no beets, but dont worry, Im pretty sure beets will only make it taste worse.) 0:23:12 Holy hell. The pig farmer is writing Juliet letters about how reading saved them from despair and darkness and now Im considering dating sites for pig farmers. I thought Id just be baking a weird pie and watching a movie, but will I find true love, too? I stick a knife in my boiling potatoes still too hard for my weak arms to even think about mashing. 0:26:20 Oh lord. Now Mark is proposing to Juliet before she heads off to Guernsey to meet the book club shes become obsessed with. On one hand, you know this is not going to work out. On the other, one of my firmest beliefs is that every human should be proposed to on a dock at least once. Im very torn here. 0:27:17 Juliet is setting out toward Guernsey as I put the peels in the oven to crisp them up a bit (not part of the recipe, but it seems right). We both feel like something special is about to begin. 0:30:11 Juliet has already had her meet-cute with Dawsey featuring near-death by roof shingle (ah, romance!), but the most important meeting happens here: She runs into Eben, inventor of the potato peel pie! Eben is a dear old man who rules the post office and tells Juliet shes beautiful. Basically, your ideal pie maker. 0:34:03 Juliet meets the rest of the group, including prickly Amelia and strange-but-lovable Isola (Katherine Parkinson).There is a major player missing, though: Elizabeth McKean (Jessica Brown Findlay), the woman who brought them all together. Everyone is pretty cagey as to her whereabouts, so you know something tragic happened. Suddenly, I am thankful Im preparing a dish that is all carbs. 0:35:28 OH MY GOD THE PIG FARMER PICKS JULIET FLOWERS THAT ARE SIMPLE BUT SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE FANCY ROSES MARK KEEPS SENDING HER. Everyone should be all-in on the pig farmer by now. 0:38:39 FINALLY! The pie is back!! Juliet takes a bite and she gags on it! Eben refers to it as The Worst which feels very ahead of his time! I am so excited to put this pie in my mouth! 0:40:50 My potatoes and beets are out of the boiling water and as I prepare to mash them (Im using a masher, please see my previous note re: lack of upper body strength), Juliet announces plans to write an article about the Society and the power of reading for the London Times. Amelia is extremely opposed. As she yells that people wouldnt understand, I survey the mess Ive created in this kitchen and cant help but share her sentiment. 0:44:46 Matthew Goode reappears in a gorgeous blue robe and has to choke back vomit when he hears Juliet and Mark are engaged. I use the anger he has to stuff down inside of him to help me mash these fucking beets. Mashing the fucking beets. Photo: Maggie Fremont 0:46:09 Things take a turn. Im over here complaining about how hard it is to mash beets and potatoes together; meanwhile, the movie goes into this whole horribly sad sequence about the kids of Guernsey being evacuated before the Germans arrive. Eben and his grandson Eli are split apart, and Elizabeth gives Eli a medal her father won in WWI for courage. Anyone who keeps it close cant help but be brave, even when theyre scared, she tells the boy. I didnt expect to be openly crying into this pink mash Ive created. Silver lining: This is a great way to get around the salt limitations Ive put on myself in the name of authenticity. 0:54:06 No. No. No. Before, this movie was all terrible pie and discussing the Bronte sisters, but now Juliet learns that Elizabeth was best friends with Amelias pregnant daughter Jane. Jane died in the bombings and now has lost Elizabeth, who was arrested by the Germans. In the flashback to Janes death, Amelia does that horrific thing when she is crying so hard that no sound is coming out. When will my damn carb pie be finished? The red slop just went into the oven, so T-minus 20 minutes until I can replace feelings with starch. 1:00:10 Juliet is catching pigs with Dawsey and Elizabeths daughter Kit! Is this what you do when you fall in love with a pig farmer? Asking for a friend. 1:01:23 Juliet gets a call from Sidney. He is concerned because Juliet still hasnt come home and now shes working on a book about the Society without their permission. I get a text from my mom. She is concerned because she knows I cant cook and I havent checked in since beginning this exercise. 1:04:44 Sidney and my mom were right to be concerned because shit is going down in Guernsey! We learn that Kit is Elizabeths love child from an affair with a Nazi soldier and Dawsey is taking care of her until Elizabeth comes back and I have never wanted to munch on some potato-beet mash as much as I do in this moment. She must be dead, right? WHERE ARE MY CARBS? 1:08:38 Agh! Now Juliet and Dawsey meet in a pub and make eyes and tell each other that neither was what the other expected. No one is making out yet like my dumb pie, this is a travesty. Things are happening. Photo: Maggie Fremont 1:12:07 Just kidding the real travesty is Penelope Wiltons character opening up about the guilt she feels over shaming Elizabeth for falling in love with a Nazi. Listen, I signed up for this for the self-deprecating pie work NOT for a gutting performance from Penelope Wilton. Theres too much of me crying and not enough of me eating gross pie. 1:15:12 Ive seen things I never thought could happen, happen. Do you think shes talking about how bad my pie is? 1:22:00 My pie is out of the oven and cooling off just as things are heating up in Guernsey. And if you dont think that I celebrated the fact that the timing of my pie worked out perfectly for me to use that line, well, you dont know me at all. But seriously: Juliet spends the day with Kit. When Dawsey comes home, he and Juliet do that thing where two people are in a big room but are standing really close to each other and you know they want to kiss but they cant. Also Dawsey uses the phrase fond of and my pie starts melting. The final product. Photo: Maggie Fremont 1:27:48 I bite into my pie in the middle of the most harrowing moment of this movie. Juliet learns that Elizabeth was arrested after trying to help a teenager who escaped from the German camp on the island. Dawsey couldnt persuade her to change her mind. You guys, this movie and my potato peel pie are one and the same: They both sound whimsical and fun. They both look like something you could really get into (the beets give my pie a festive red hue). But when you finally do get into them, they are both terribly, terribly sad. 1:31:04 Of course the fiance shows up just as Juliet and Dawsey are about to kiss. Mark is basically Billy Zane from Titanic at this point. He is not into how close Juliet and the pig farmer are standing, he waltzes in and drops the bomb that the war office figured out Elizabeth was killed in a German camp, and then callously pulls Juliet away from all these people shes come to love. If anyone deserves to eat bland pie, its this guy. 1:39:36 Dawsey cant even look at Juliet as she leaves Guernsey and all I want is more pie. WHAT A PLOT TWIST. 1:44:00 This pie really comes in handy when Juliet dumps Mark at dinner. There is so much bitchy drama, YOU WILL NEED A SNACK. After Mark storms out, he comes back to give Juliet a kiss on the forehead and also to take the bottle of Champagne from the table. Hes sort of a dick, but also Im impressed. 1:46:00 Ah yes, the requisite writing montage. I choose this moment to tidy up because I have several beet-stained dishes and I already know what it looks like when a person uses a typewriter as the weather changes outside. 1:47:57 Matthew Goode says the phrase Crikey, thats quite a mouthful while wearing glasses and I am forever changed. 1:49:05 Juliet tells Sidney that shes going to buy a property on Guernsey, if theyll have her. Sidney: Darling girl, anyone would be lucky to have you. Juliet: And I am so lucky to have you. I look at the still very full pie dish and think perhaps I have been ragging on it too much. 1:51:48 OKAY NOW WE ARE GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS. The Society gets Juliets manuscript about their story and a letter about belonging to people before even knowing them. Dawsey cannot help but GO TO HER. It works out because she also must GO TO HIM. They cross paths on the dock and she is so terribly in love with the pig farmer that she proposes to him on the spot. He replies, My god yes. Yes, and I choke on my potato peel pie because (1) holy shit thats a hot response, and (2) this bish gets two dock proposals and all I have is this fucking pie. 1:57:08 Im extremely into this happy ending Juliet and Dawsey are married and reading A Midsummer Nights Dream to Kit on the front lawn but it dawns on me that we have not seen nor heard from the potato peel pie in some time. After everything Juliet and Dawsey and me and my pie have been through, this Happy Ending Picnic feels like a wasted opportunity. And suddenly my takeaway from this immense carb-fueled journey is clear: The movie needed more pie, and the pie needed more salt. Glenn Close on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Photo: NBC Have you ever seen Glenn Close covered in puppies? Its joyous yet jarring maybe because she had to pretend to hate dogs as Cruella de Vil in the live-action 101 Dalmations. She alternates between cooing sweet nothings to the animals and cackling like an evil witch. She even murmured to her lil doggo charges that they would make an excellent fur coat. Close knows how to do a callback. Close joined Finn Wolfhard on The Tonight Show this week in a game of Pup Quiz. For every dog-related question answered correctly, Wolfhard or Close got a Goldendoodle puppy with a ludicrous full name. Theyre all newscaster puppies, said Jimmy Fallon as an NBC page passed yet another puppy to Wolfhard. So that was Rhonda Jiparski and Chip Gibbons. Almost as good as seeing Glenn Close covered in puppies is seeing puppies taken away from Finn Wolfhard. Im sorry!!! he screamed at Chip Gibbons but also probably at God. Dog stunts abounded on late night this week. On Late Night With Seth Meyers, Taylor Schilling showed off her French bulldog that can maybe talk. Apparently whatever you say to Tank, the puppy of Piper, she attempts to repeat it like some sort of canine Yak Bak. Schilling even brought a video. And on The Late Late Show, James Corden explored the inner life of dogs with sunglasses. Lemme talk to you about this guy, he said as he held up a picture of a dog in sunglasses and a leopard print hat. This guy hasnt seen a decent Met Ball since 1999. Bill Hader once said that right before he went onstage for his first Vincent Price sketch, Lorne Michaels looked at him and asked, I like this, but why now? It is a question I ask myself often. Why do a Vincent Price sketch decades after the mans death? Why a week of Quality Dog Content? In the case of Bill Hader, the time had come for a sketch that acts as a Hollywood Babylon companion, reintroducing the children to the drunk/pill-addled stars of yore. Olds like to think their culture was classier than the TMZ era, but celebrities have always been horror shows. They just used to be better at covering it up. But this week with the dogs, I cant fully explain. Trump is on vacation, but there have still been plenty of tweets to dissect. Everyone got a wonderful son joke in, and were all very proud. And many of the Cabinet underlings are releasing pet projects. Sessions has his Religious Liberty Task Force (which Colbert covered), the new EPA head is continuing to roll back regulations on coal (which Seth Meyers checked in on), and Pence unveiled the Space Force (which Full Frontal wrote an anthem for). Before you ask, yes here are the lyrics to your new favorite military anthem. #SpaceForceOfCourse #SamanthaBee pic.twitter.com/ztal2OT3mv Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) August 9, 2018 There was also the news that we may have missed our last chance to stop the final catastrophic descent into global warming. Kimmel did a fun bit about trying to convince Trump to give even one shit about the planet. But its hard to get anyone to give a shit about the planet. Notoriously hard. When faced with forces one cannot easily surmount, its easier to just look at a cute dog. A pupper, a doggo, a thing that will always smile at us because we control its food. The world is tonally confusing. Its that episode of Orange Is the New Black where they go swimming, or the lawn mower episode of Mad Men. Stuff just happens, bad stuff crammed right next to the good. We had a bunch of cute dogs because we needed a bunch of cute dogs, and because Alyssa Milanos son thinks that Trump banned unicorns for being too free. Alyssa Milano talked about her dogs with Seth Meyers, by the way. And the fact that her 3-year-old daughter has been to enough protests to do the this is what democracy looks like chant. Cool. But can we get back to the dogs? Melanie Scrofano. Photo: Getty Images If a sci-fi Western is even remotely your thing, the charms of Wynonna Earp are impossible to resist. Thats why it was no surprise, during the shows San Diego Comic-Con panel last month, that the cast was met with a rock stars reception. Fans of the Syfy series they call themselves Earpers sparked a pre-panel series of ecstatic call-and-response chants, and once onstage, the cast responded by surprising the room about Earps season-four renewal: Cast member Shamier Anderson ran through the crowd and then hopped up on a table to lead the faithful in another chant: When I say season, you say four! The show, created by Emily Andras, is fronted by actress Melanie Scrofano as the titular Wynonna Earp. In a more traditional TV landscape, the center of the story would likely be Wynonnas on-again, off-again love interest, Doc Holliday (Tim Rozon), but this show belongs to its leading lady and her sister, Waverly (Dominique Provost-Chalkley), whose relationship is very much the central love story. Scrofano knows her series is a genuine unicorn in a cynical world, and shes ready to welcome everyone into the loving big tent of Earp fandom. I just want people to see themselves in it, and just see that whatever their perceived flaw is, that its actually kind of cool, she told Vulture in San Diego. Its actually the thing that makes you cool, so just lean into it. If you just take a minute to get to know the person in the next bubble over, youre going to find that you have a lot in common, and that you can have a lot of fun together because of your differences. Amid the madness of Comic-Con, Scrofano found a quiet place to chat about how Earpers actually make Twitter a nice place, the pressures of leading such a beloved show, how her role as Wynonna has affected her professional outlook, and even to cry a little about the triumph of sincerity. Its hard to talk about Wynonna Earp without talking about its fans. We wouldnt be here without the Earpers. They have been so vocal and so enthusiastic about this show from day one. Every time we get new ones, they continue the legacy that the OG Earpers created, which is this really inclusive, positive community of people who genuinely love our show and love what it means to them. My manager was telling me a story about an Earper he was talking to in line [at Comic-Con], and she didnt get a ticket to the signing. It was her second time trying and her second time failing, and there was an Earper in the line who had already gone through and gave her a signed poster that she had just got. It is literally no Earper left behind there is a button you can have as a solo Earper, so they know if you are alone and then they can come get you. It really is special. What are the expectations that come along with that, being the face of such a precious thing? It is hard in some ways. At the end of the day, we are storytellers. The thing that becomes tricky and this is not exclusive to our show is you have to balance what people would like to see and what is honest to the people who created it. Thats why I get off Twitter when we shoot because its like, Wow, I am being very influenced. I see my own face in the GIF and I am like, I am doing that face! I have to get off Twitter. The community seems to provide a nice online experience, too. Could you tell the folks at home what its like to have a safe space on Twitter? We dont know of what you speak! It is a pleasure to go onto Twitter and see what people are saying because I know that it is going to be funny or thoughtful or heartfelt and full of love. In season two, I was very worried. I was just used to what you normally see online, so I thought I would get a lot of comments about Oh, she looks fat, because I was pregnant and we were not telling people. Nobody said anything like that. It was like they were heat-seeking missiles for positivity, and they were just finding it and projecting it. The show is so genuine, its almost resistant to snark. A glib take on Wynonna Earp would be useless because its heart is on its sleeve. Yeah, you nailed it. I think the strength of our show is that there is so much heart. A lot of times in genre, people think, Oh, this show is cheesy, so they dont commit. We commit. We just say, There is a demon coming. Run! because the demon in that world is real. Patty Jenkins is like, I hate the word cheesy, and you are not allowed to use that anymore. The type of cheesy that I think she is talking about, which I am all for, is the complete sincerity, completely abandoning yourself to the feelings and emotions of this world. If thats cheesy to you, well, then you are watching it wrong. Related You have done a ton of TV work. How has this experience been different? I am learning to trust that there is an audience who will get it, and an audience who wont. Dont play for them. You are playing for the audience who will get it, and if you play for them, your work is going to be good. In trying to please everyone, you are neither here nor there. You cannot really commit to what youre doing. Through this I realized, Oh my God, the people that matter to me are going to keep watching, and we are going to glom together through this shared love of what we are doing. What is the effect of that? I imagine theres an element of empowerment to it, sort of like getting paid more in one movie and then the next time, you can say, I demand this much because I know its what Im worth. That is a great analogy. It also just makes you more fearless. Before I met Emily [Andras], I didnt play these characters necessarily. A lot of the roles I didnt get, I probably didnt get them because I was playing them more complicated than the producers or the network wanted. The notes are always like, Its a bit too cable. Meaning its too interesting. They just really want to play it safe and boring. I learned through Emily that the people who matter will get it. The people who I want to work for, and with, will let me explore a different side of a character and a different way to play her than what has been allowed in the past. How was the feedback when you decided to have another baby? Did you feel like it was a safer space to do that, given the message of the show? No, because people say a lot of things. At the time, I thought, I work with great people, but I am not in their house and their heads and their marriage. So I was just like, Im going to lose some friends here. I am really going to take a bullet on this one. The thing that we do not talk about enough, the people there who allowed this to happen are men, which was like, Oh, things are changing. You are the people I want to be with. You are my people. Like, of course Emily was although, Emily scares the shit out of me. I wasnt sure. Ive heard you say that in interviews before. I mean it with respect, and I love that about her. I dont want a pushover for a boss, but I was scared to tell her because she was going to be honest with me. And she was. But then all these dudes at Syfy and IDW were like, Im all-in, to quote Doc Holliday. It was incredibly empowering and gave me hope. It should give others hope. I have heard from a lot of other young actresses, It is such a relief to see how things turned out for you because I was so scared. This honestly feels possible because youre making the show in Canada. I buy that. We are very lucky that we live in Toronto, which is just an easy place to be. I think we realized after the election that we live in quite a bubble. Not to get too political, but there are bubbles in the world, and in ours, women are allowed to work when they get pregnant and men are pretty supportive and cool. Im sorry, do you actually live in Neverland? Yeah, the houses are made of candy. But yes, the show is a cooler visual representation of where we live. No wonder the Earpers are so invested in keeping this world alive. Yeah, we dont have a bad life. Wynonna Earp had one of Comic-Cons must-see panels this year. What was that like, when you started as this little Syfy show with so much gumption? [Pause.] Im sorry, I dont mean to get overwhelmed. Youre crying, Im crying. I think it is just we worked so hard on something that is so special to us. [Tears up.] Im sorry, now youll have to go back to hair and makeup. Its just you start to get used to We are the underdog and thats cool, but it would feel nice sometime for people to get it. Until that day, we have such a good thing. So it is powerful. It clearly hasnt clicked. Its very cool. It makes it feel like the bubble you live in can be bigger. Yeah, thats a good way of putting it. White nationalists and other right-wing groups will gather along the lawns and brick paths of Lafayette Square in the shadow of the White House on Sunday for a controversial "white civil rights rally." The event is being organized by Jason Kessler, the same man who organized last year's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville. 2017 Charlottesville white nationalist rally Charlottesville Continents and regions Discrimination Donald Trump Government and public administration Government bodies and offices Ku Klux Klan Misc organizations Nationalism North America Political Figures - US Protests and demonstrations Racism and racial discrimination Right-wing extremism Societal issues Society Southeastern United States The Americas United States US federal government Virginia White House White supremacy and neo-Nazism Civil rights That quaint Virginia college town, still wrestling with slavery's legacy, was the scene of protests, violent clashes and the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer, who was struck down by a speeding car that plowed into a group of counterprotesters. The permit application for the Washington rally said 400 people were expected, and described the event as a protest against "civil rights abuse in Charlottesville." Authorities will be scrambling to prevent violence between participants and counterprotesters. Here's what you need to know about white nationalists and what they want: What is white nationalism? The term white nationalism originated as a euphemism for white supremacy, the belief that white people are superior to all other races and should therefore dominate society, according to Oren Segal, director of the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism. Do they sometimes go by other names? Yes. They include the "alt-right," "identitarians" and "race realists." However, Segal said, such words are simply a rebranding -- "a new name for this old hatred." Richard Spencer, president of the National Policy Institute and the editor of Radix Journal, is credited with coining the term alt-right. "I don't use the term white nationalist to describe myself," he said. "I like the term alt-right. It has an openness to it. And immediately understandable. We're coming from a new perspective." Other white supremacist groups include the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis. Why are there so many different names? Most white supremacists aren't affiliated with an organized group, Segal said. Some take measures to distance themselves from known hate groups, such as the KKK. "This lack of affiliation makes them harder to track, and also means that any groups that do emerge tend to be extremely flexible and porous," he added. Some Klansmen still favor white robes and hoods. But groups such as the alt-right, overwhelmingly made up of millennial men, prefer khakis and collared shirts. They're active on social media and employ irony and humor in their messaging, Segal said. What is their goal? Their goal is the same: a white ethno-state, where each race lives in a separate nation. White supremacists and their ilk see diversity as a threat, Segal said. A popular white supremacist slogan is "Diversity is a code word for white genocide." George Hawley, a political scientist at the University of Alabama, said a sense of white victimhood is key to the movement. "There is a sense that whites are under siege and being deliberately dispossessed by hostile elites who wish to usher in a new multicultural order," Hawley said. "They dislike the culturally foreign immigrants who enter the United States and work for low wages, and they dislike the political and economic elites that invite them in. They are also hostile to the media and academia, which they contend push an anti-white message." What would a white nationalist US look like? You're getting a glimpse of it now, according to Daryl Johnson, owner of domestic terror monitoring group DT Analytics and a former counterterrorism expert at the Department of Homeland Security. "The anti-immigration xenophobia is rising," Johnson said. "US policy is becoming more isolationist -- the building of the (border) wall, the travel ban, mass deportations. These were ideas that I read about 10, 15 years ago on white supremacist message boards. Now they're being put forth as policy." Heidi Beirich, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups and extremists, said some white supremacists advocate genocide and ethnic cleansing. "You would have to forcibly remove people," she said. "This is cattle-cart stuff. It also shows that their plans aren't very well thought out. They're at best aspirational." Instead, Beirich envisioned a tyrannical government under such a system. "All civil rights for nonwhites would be removed," she said. "All political power would be in the hands of white people, in particular white men because this movement is an extremely male and, many would say, toxically masculine movement. They also have pretty retrograde views about what women should be doing." She added, "If anything, their vision of America's future looks a lot like the 1600s or perhaps earlier." How realistic are their aspirations? Experts agree that the possibility of such a society developing is extremely remote. "Real political leadership is so far from reality you aren't going to find much in the way of alt-right policy papers with detailed instructions for different government agencies," Hawley said. Segal called it a "dystopian fantasy that has virtually no chance of actually happening." "But it's safe to say that a white nationalist state is not a place most Americans of all races would want to find themselves living." How much of a threat do these groups pose? Few white supremacists belong to organized groups. So it's difficult to assess the size of their movement and the threat they pose. The alt-tight, for example, has no formal organization or membership, and most who identify as such are "anonymous and online," according to Hawley. But the ADL's Segal said the alt-right appears to be growing, with more adherents moving from a largely online presence to engaging in events such as "Unite the Right" rallies. "They want to take advantage of the current political climate, which they feel is unprecedentedly welcoming to their worldview," Segal said. ADL research found that people with ties to the far right were responsible for 74% of homicides by extremists in the United States between 2007 to 2016, according to Segal. "Extremists of all kinds are always a threat," he said, "but when any extremist group feels emboldened, that's cause for serious concern." How many people like this are there in the US? Johnson placed the number of white supremacists connected to groups such as the KKK, neo-Nazis, Aryan prison gangs and skinheads "probably in the hundreds of thousands in the United States." The Southern Poverty Law Center counts more than 900 hate groups in the country, compared with about 600 in 2000, Beirich said. However, not all of them are white supremacist groups. Why are these groups becoming more vocal? Many "Unite the Right" rally participants have latched onto President Donald Trump's controversial comments about Muslims and Mexicans, according to Beirich. "They feel validated," she said. "They feel like all of sudden we can be a part of the political system. The history of the last few decades of white supremacy in this country is that they viewed both the Republicans and the Democrats as a waste of time. In other words, politics was a dead end for them. But that has all changed with Trump." Trump has sought to distance himself from white supremacist groups. But his initial statement on last year's violence sparked outcry, when he condemned "hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides." Critics said the President should have been more direct and forceful in condemning white supremacy and not equating the violence of counterprotesters with that of hate groups. Before the violence in Charlottesville, former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke called the "Unite the Right" event a fulfillment of the promises of Trump. "This represents a turning point for the people of this country," Duke said at last year's rally. "We are determined to take our country back." Former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is attempting to revive his battered reputation on social media after his administration ended in scandal. The story was one of the top ten stories of 2017 at WAAY 31. The former governor recently launched the "Bentley for Alabama" website and reactivated his social media accounts. The website discusses positive achievements such as his promise to not take a state paycheck until the unemployment rate significantly declined. Bentley told The Associated Press that he started the site as "a historic record of our administration." Bentley resigned last year as he faced an ethics investigation and calls for his impeachment. The actions against him were prompted by allegations that he had an affair with a top aide. The governor agreed to step down and plead guilty to misdemeanor campaign-finance violations. A former Madison County Sheriff's Office investigator pleaded guilty to a second degree sex abuse charge. Roland Campos, 64-years-old, will serve one year of supervised probation in Madison County. The victim in the case was between the ages of 12 and 16, according to an indictment. The second degree sex abuse charge is a misdemeanor and carries up to one year in jail or a fine up to $6,000. Campos must also comply with the Alabama Sex Offender Notification and Registration Act. He is also ordered to pay $100 to the Alabama Crime Victim Compensation Act and a $175 bail bond fee. A grand jury indicted Campos in January, according to court documents. The incident allegedly happened in February 2017 and was reported at the victim's school in August, police said. Campos resigned from his job at the sheriff's office the same day he was arrested. The Huntsville City Council will pay the legal expenses for a Huntsville Police Officer Indicted with murder. They council voted Thursday night in a 4-0 vote to use $75,000 towards Officer William Darbys legal expenses. Councilman Will Culver is the only member of the council to abstain from a vote. It was Friday, August 3rd we learned Officer Darby had been indicted for murder by a grand jury. According to court documents, William Darby was charged with the murder of Jeffery Louis Parker. The murder charge stems from an incident that happened back in April. Officer Darby's indictment was announced by Madison County District Attorney Robert Broussard after the case was brought before a grand jury. William Darby was booked on Friday, August 3rd and released the same day on a $20,000 bond. The Huntsville Police Department told us Darby is still employed with the department. He is on paid administrative leave until the criminal case against him is complete. A gag order was issued in the case by a judge, meaning no one is allowed to talk outside the courtroom about the case. People in Huntsville have mixed reactions about the cities decision to pay for Darby's legal fees, but only people not happy with the decision would go on the record with us. "I don't think that's right. We have so much more to do with that money," said Jeffery Johnson. Marcus Green of Huntsville is not a fan of the decision, because the city would not do that for him. "If had been me did it then will they take out money for me," said Green. Huntsville City Councilman Bill Kling said the council would not consider covering the costs of the Parker family lawyer, because Parker was not a city employee. For Kling, the decision to support paying for Darby's legal fees hinges on him being initially cleared of all wrong doing by the police department. "It was a city employee who had to make a very close decision and we don't know all of the details, whether his life was in danger, but I think the city council made the right decision," said Kling. Mayor Tommy Battle agrees with that sentiment, "we need to back him. We don't need to put a dollar tag on him. We need to back him," said Battle. Councilman Will Culver did not vote on the resolution even though he fully supports police. He said this vote could open up a can of worms. He would would like to see other policies in place to handle situations like this. "If there would have been an insurance policy that would cover a police officers liability then that could be something that once they are hired in they enroll in that plan. Maybe we the city pay half of that for them just like we do insurance," said Culver. Johnson would feel more comfortable with his tax dollars paying for darby's defense if he had more information. "Lets look at the video, so we can all have a good perspective of what it is. Lets see that before I pay our money. Lets see the video before we pay our money," said Johnson. The Huntsville Police Department's policy is to not release any body camera video, because it is considered investigative materials. If the legal fees exceed $75,000 the city council can vote to pay even more. A missing teenager is back home. Lawrence County Sheriffs Deputies say Brandon Cagle, 17, returned to his home on County Road 200 in Danville around 6 Friday morning. Brandon has autism and was last seen walking away from his home Thursday night. Deputies say Brandon told his mom when he returned home he had gotten lost on a nearby road and fell asleep in a ditch. His family says he is alright, just a little scared. WAAY31 received a tour behind the doors of the new Athens High School on Thursday, and learned the building may not be ready in time for the new school year. The construction site for the school located on U.S. Highway 31, next to the Athens Board of Education central office. From the outside, the brand new 58-million dollar Athens High School looks almost completed. However, after walking the halls, the inside of the school still has plenty of work to do. Chris Hamilton is with Athens City Schools, and says the rain has caused problems. "I know we've had a much wetter than usual Summer, Hamilton said. "It has caused a lot of delays." Hamilton says they have accumulated almost 50 rain days, halting the construction and progress of the new school. Terri Da Cruz was enrolling her son into the new school when she was told construction may not be completed until around Christmas. "The secretary that is over there when I enrolled him, said that you will be at the middle school," Da Cruz said. Athens City Schools said no official announcement has been made about when the high school will be ready to open. Hamilton says if the high school is not ready by August 30th when school starts back, the middle school will be. "They've been doing cleaning and some light painting of that building," Hamilton said. "...making some more instructional classroom areas in case we end up having to start over there with our students." There are some rooms almost completed inside the high school, including a new safety area. In case of a severe weather emergency, the entire school will be moved downstairs into a new tornado safe room. The room can hold roughly 2,000 people and includes bathrooms and first aid facilities. Da Cruz sees the new high school having an important impact on the community. "You know it's going to help with housing, it's going to help with jobs, it's going to bring us up a little bit more onto the map I believe," Da Cruz said. She isn't worried about the school. Give it some patience she says, and it will come soon. "The outcome is going to be fantastic when it's done and I just think if we wait and have a little patience, It's going to get over there," Da Cruz said. Hamilton tells WAAY31 there will be a news conference on Monday announcing the official plans for when the new school will open. Thursday, the WAAY 31 I-team talked to a man who couldve killed a triple murder suspect 30 years ago. Our victim in this case did not want his identity revealed, because that's how dangerous Jimmy Spencer is. He told us he was in the Franklin County Courthouse in 1990 when Jimmy Spencer was sentenced to life in prison. Our victim said he breathed a sigh of relief that day, but that relief is now replaced by anger at the Alabama Parole Board and regrets. "I'm extremely angry and there is a lot of anguish involved in this. This should have never occurred," said Spencer's original victim from Franklin County. He tells us it was a January night in 1989 that changed his life. A friend of the man's had just come by and mentioned the police were after Jimmy Spencer and warned him to be careful, because he had been spotted in the area. Our victim said he dozed off on the couch, with a 357 magnum pistol close. He told us at his home in Vina one of the windows wouldn't lock and he's a light sleeper. That night he woke up to strange noises and went to check it out near that window that gave him trouble. "He [Spencer] was fully inside the house except for his right leg. I thought, I don't want to kill this man. I don't want to kill this intruder but i'm not going to let him get in my home," said the man. He showed us the gun he used to shoot Spencer with. Spencer already had numerous burglary charges, and was actually out on parole in 1989 when he broke into our victims home, which was a parole violation. People in Franklin County knew how dangerous Spencer could be and our victim said he terrorized the area. "People in the Vina community were scared. They were actually frightened. They were afraid to leave home and if they did, they were afraid to come back," said the man. With one shot to the shoulder, our victim took people's fears away. Spencer was caught and sentenced to life. Our victim fought to keep him there. He said he wrote letters to the parole board in 2008 and 2013 after they notified him that Spencer was up for parole, asking the parole board to keep Spencer locked up. He said he was not notified in 2017 about Spencer's parole hearing, Spencer was released in January 2018. Hes charged with killing three people in Guntersville last month. "They let scum like this out. This is an insult to everyone," he said. Our victim said it's hard to describe the moment he heard about the new charges against Spencer. "I cried. Hurt, mad, bitter," he said. Our victim said he regrets not killing Spencer in 1989. "Some people might think that's morbid, but that's exactly how I feel about it. Vermon like this need to snuffed out like a candle," said the victim. We have called the parole board numerous times, and filed multiple open records requests to find out how Spencer fell through the cracks of the justice system. once we get those documents we will let you know. "They have failed the state of Alabama completely," One of Jimmy Spencer's original victims out of the Shoals spoke to us, and thinks that Governor Kay Ivey needs to get involved in this case. Jimmy Spencer was sentenced to life in prison for breaking into homes in Franklin County, yet he was paroled. One of Spencer's victims from Franklin County, who wants to protect his identity, wants to know why. "I believe Governor Kay Ivey and the Attorney General should get involved in this. I think this needs a thorough investigation." WAAY 31 repeatedly reached out to the parole board once again Thursday to ask questions on the Jimmy Spencer case, specifically why he was granted parole. One of Spencer's first victims from more than 30 years ago wants to know why, too. "Two people that voted to release him have the blood of three people on their hands today," Spencer's victim told us. Spencer was sentenced to life in prison for breaking into our victim's home. He actually shot Spencer to stop him. In 2008 and 2013 when Spencer was up for parole, our victim showed us letters from the parole board notifying him about Spencer's parole hearings. He fought to keep Spencer in prison. He said he never received notice about Spencer's parole hearing last November. "He had assault charges, he had all kinds of charges. He had disciplinary measures against his record while he was in prison. This was not acknowledged, no one even looked at his record in the proper manner. The parole board let this slip, they failed to do their job." We showed him the reasons the parole board let Spencer out. They included a positive conduct record in prison and a low to medium chance of re-offending. But Spencer did act up while in prison, escaping three times and assaulting another inmate. "This is an insult. This is actually an insult to the people in the state of Alabama that go out and enforce the laws and try to conduct themselves in the proper manner and even the prisoners that are in prison now and want rehabilitation, and they let scum like this out." This man is furious Spencer was released. He says be releasing Spencer and not giving him a chance to tell the parole board why he should stay in prison is a catastrophic failure. And he has this message for the parole board. "Pack up. Go home. Get out of dodge. You don't belong here." We have sent open records requests to the parole board asking them to give us proof they notified or even tried to notify this victim or officials in Franklin County about Spencer's parole haering, but they have yet to get back to us or produce that proof. Thursday they told us we needed to resend our open records request, so we did. We've also asked the department of corrections for Jimmy Spencer's complete conduct record while in prison. Just after 11 p.m. Thursday, police responded to 114 Killick Pond Road in Hollis to investigate a reported drug overdose. Upon arrival, troopers discovered several active one-pot style methamphetamine labs inside the residence. The scene was secured overnight and a search warrant was served Friday morning by the MDEA Laboratory Team. In all, eight active one-pot methamphetamine labs and approximately 25 used labs were located at the home. Chemicals to manufacture meth were also discovered at the home, according to police. Arrested were 54 year old Joseph Allman, Jr, 34 year old Joseph Allman, III, 31 year old Kyle Allman, 35 year old Shawn Brown, 60 year old Sandra Brown, 26 year old Shelby Morris, 28 year old Josie Kimball, 30 year old Derek Berube, 28 year old Dillan Libby, all of Hollis, and 27 year old Ashley Norton of Limington. The Allmans were charged with operation of a methamphetamine laboratory and the remaining individuals were charged with criminal conspiracy. All charges are felonies . Big Brown Truck Pull for Special Olympics Aug. 10, 2018 By Aug. 10, 2018 The Big Brown Truck Pull for Special Olympics returns to the Paducah Flood Wall on Saturday, Aug. 11. This will be the third year for the event at the floodwall, after several years on the streets of downtown Paducah. More than 20 teams from local companies, organizations and schools are expected to participate, and teams can still sign up to compete at the event. The pull features teams in five divisions, vying to see who can pull a loaded UPS 18-wheeler a distance of 12 feet in the fastest time. On-site registration starts at 4 pm, followed by opening ceremonies at 6 pm and the first pull at approximately 6:30 pm. Teams are limited to 15 pullers and can be made up of friends, family members or coworkers. Many teams that participate in the Big Brown Truck Pull come from companies and other community organizations, but they could just as easily be any 15 friends or neighbors. Pullers raise a minimum of $750 per team to compete. Food vendors will be present, with proceeds from their sales being donated back to Special Olympics. Prizes will be awarded for the fastest pull time in mens, womens and co-ed (minimum of six women) and two youth divisions (youth and pee wee), as well as to the team that shows the most team spirit and the team with the best team T-shirt. There will also be an award for the top fundraising Special Olympics athlete participant, top fundraising individual and top fundraising team. Youth and pee wee divisions will pull a UPS delivery truck. All participants receive the official Big Brown Truck Pull T-shirt, but teams who raise more money can earn prizes including Special Olympics Kentucky can koozies, sun shades and blankets. Proceeds from the event go to benefit Special Olympics athletes in McCracken Co and throughout the state. To register or donate to the event go to paducahtruckpull.com. The 2017 Paducah Big Brown Truck Pull continued a successful run for the event, with 20 teams combining to raise more than $38,000. IL House passes amendment to allow those who refuse vaccine to be fired Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. Williamson, WV (25661) Today Rain, possibly heavy at times, ending this morning. Remaining cloudy in the afternoon. High 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Occasional rain. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Enabling youth to power the digital economy Hundreds descended upon Wits to hear the legendary Jack Ma, Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, address entrepreneurs, students and policy makers. Wits University was selected as the site of the important event, Netrepreneurs: The Rise of Africas Digital Lions, organised by Alibaba and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in support of their mission to grow African economies through entrepreneurship. The charismatic e-commerce billionaire enthralled the audience with his journey of humble beginnings and lessons learnt along the way. During his talk he advocated for tax breaks to aid small businesses stating that big business does not need these as much as budding entrepreneurs. The event also served to launch the Jack Ma Foundation Netpreneur Prize for small businesses working to grow the continents digital economy. Entrepreneurs will compete for $1 million in prize money every year for the next 10 years. The digital economy, which is set to revolutionise the economy, is seen as an equaliser and an opportunity for Africa which has the worlds youngest population and thus poised to benefit from the new economy provided that the lions and lionesses of Africa rise to the challenge. Universities will continue to play a key role in unlocking Africas potential in the digital economy. Wits Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe opened the event watched by audiences across the world. He later participated in a panel discussion themed Digital Talent: Enabling Africas to Power the New Economy, where he shared current and future steps by Wits University to accelerate entrepreneurship and the digital economy. Wits is tackling head-on the challenge of nurturing innovation and youth entrepreneurship through the Tshimolong Digital Precinct and the Wits Centre for Entrepreneurship. In another bold move to shift thinking and embed entrepreneurship in the lives of students and the University, Wits has launched the Entrepreneurs ways said Kupe. This means that all Wits courses will directly or indirectly have an entrepreneural component that includes a digital dimension, Kupe. Entrepreneurship has been identifie as one of the solutions to the high unemployent rate in the country. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey released in July 2018 by Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate has increased to 27.2 percent from 26.7 percent in the previous period. Government has often been criticed for its failure in supporting small businesses. Ma however said this is common across the world. Banks and governments do not give to the little guys. "Don't wait for government, by the time government comes it will be too late" he said adding that by the time government delivers the infrastucture, entrepreneurs would have missed out on the opportunities to deliver that which government is struggling to provide. High above one of the most hotly contested regions in the world, CNN was given a rare look Friday at the Chinese government's rapidly expanding militarization of the South China Sea. Aboard a US Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance plane, CNN got a view from 16,500 feet of low-lying coral reefs turned into garrisons with five-story buildings, large radar installations, power plants and runways sturdy enough to carry large military aircraft. Asia Beijing China Continents and regions East Asia Military North America Oceans and Seas (by name) Physical locations South China Sea The Americas United States Aircraft Aviation and aerospace industry Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Environment and natural resources Islands and reefs Landforms and ecosystems Military aircraft Military operations Surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft Unrest, conflicts and war Government and public administration Government bodies and offices Government organizations - US US Department of Defense US federal departments and agencies US federal government US Navy Armed forces International relations International relations and national security Territorial and national borders During the flight the crew received six separate warnings from the Chinese military, telling them they were inside Chinese territory and urging them to leave. "Leave immediately and keep out to avoid any misunderstanding," a voice said. The US Navy jet flew past four key artificial islands in the Spratly chain where China has built up fortifications: Subi Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Johnson Reef and Mischief Reef. On Subi Reef, the Poseidon's sensors picked up 86 vessels, including Chinese coast guard ships, moored in a giant lagoon, while on Fiery Cross Reef rows of hangers stood alongside a lengthy runway. "It was surprising to see airports in the middle of the ocean," said Lt. Lauren Callen, who was leading the air combat crew aboard the Navy flight. Each time the aircraft was challenged by Chinese military, the US Navy crew's response was the same. "I am a sovereign immune United States naval aircraft conducting lawful military activities beyond the national airspace of any coastal state," the response said. "In exercising these rights guaranteed by international law, I am operating with due regard for the rights and duties of all states." CNN has reached out to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment. Competing claims The Chinese government staunchly maintains large areas of the South China Sea have been part of the country's territory "since ancient times." Beijing's "nine-dash line" extends more than one thousand kilometers from its southernmost province, taking in more or less the entirety of the waters, through which the United Nations estimates one-third of global shipping passes. The South China Sea is also believed to contain rich oil and natural gas reserves that have yet to be fully explored. Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei all claim overlapping portions of the sea which spans 3.6 million square kilometer (1.4 million square miles), but the most far-reaching claims have been made by China. Beijing's sovereignty claims are considered by most other countries as unsubstantiated, a view backed by an international tribunal in 2016. Despite this however, little has changed in China's approach to the region in recent years. To reinforce its claims of sovereignty, Beijing has been reclaiming land on and around reefs and shoals to construct artificial islands which are then militarized with airfields and radar equipment. China has spent much of the past two years fortifying these islands, including placing missiles on the Spratly island chain during naval exercises in April. This is despite a promise made by President Xi Jinping to then-US President Barack Obama in 2015 that the Chinese government would not be militarizing the artificial islands. Rapid expansion The last time CNN was given access to a US Navy mission over the South China Sea was in September 2015, when the aircraft was also warned off by Chinese military. Since then, Beijing's island building in the contested waters has moved forward at a rapid pace. Flying over Fiery Cross Reef on Friday, a five-story building was visible, as well as a large radar installation, which looked like neatly arranged golf balls on the Navy plane's infrared camera. Though no Chinese missiles were seen on Friday's flight over the South China Sea, Navy officers said some of the structures seen could potentially be used to house them. Cmdr. Chris Purcell, who leads Patrol Squadron Four which undertook Friday's mission, said the US has been doing these flights for five decades and they show US commitment to maintaining free passage in international waters. "The reason we're here hasn't changed," Purcell said. "The reason (the Chinese) are here has changed." Within hours of the trip, Chinese state tabloid Global Times posted a reaction to CNN's report on its Chinese-language website. The article called for all readers to "give a thumbs-up to Chinese servicemen" for their defense of China's territory. China claims US sparking militarization Beijing says its growing military presence in the South China Sea is necessary to protect its sovereignty, blaming Washington and its allies for tensions in the region. Chinese military exercises in April included the largest naval parade in the country's history, with President Xi Jinping overseeing drills that included 10,000 troops, 48 naval vessels and 76 fighter jets. Beijing points to the regular US Navy patrols and flyovers of the South China Sea as an example of US militarization and provocations, and a justification for the increased Chinese military presence. "By playing up the so-called China's militarization in the South China Sea, certain people in the US are staging a farce of a thief crying "stop thief"," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in May. "It is self-evident to a keener eye that who is militarizing the South China Sea." In the past year, the US has stepped up freedom of navigation operations in the region, sailing US naval vessels within miles of China's artificial islands across the South China Sea. The exercises, which the US also conducts in other parts of the world, assert the navy's right to travel wherever it pleases in international waters, a vital component of Washington's naval power across the world. Time may be running out to effectively challenge China's claims in the South China Sea however. Adm. Philip Davidson, the recently installed head of the US Pacific Command, told Senators during a confirmation hearing in April that China is already very firmly entrenched. "China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States," Davidson said. The US has made repeated proposals to North Korea on denuclearization, all of which have been rejected, according to senior diplomatic sources. The United States has made, and continues to make, "specific proposals for starting and proceeding to the end point of fully verified denuclearization," including a timeline, these sources say. Arms control and disarmament Asia Continents and regions Donald Trump East Asia Government and public administration Government bodies and offices International relations International relations and national security Kim Jong Un Military Military weapons North America North Korea North Korea nuclear development Nuclear weapons Political Figures - Intl Political Figures - US The Americas United States US federal government US-North Korea summit Weapons and arms Weapons of mass destruction White House North Korea has rejected all of these proposals, considering them "gangster-like," one of the sources said. The impasse has brought the rocket-like trajectory of Trump administration diplomacy with North Korea down to earth and the more typical grind of talks with Pyongyang that have stymied prior administrations. The vague promises that emerged from President Donald Trump's June summit with leader Kim Jong Un have led to a diplomatic disconnect. The brief document produced after the leaders met included no time frame, no specific promises or milestones to meet, allowing both sides to interpret it as they wished. A 'bold move' While the US is demanding full, verifiable denuclearization and says it will maintain sanctions until that happens, North Korea says it wants sanctions pressure lifted and a peace treaty before it will take further steps. Continued negotiations between the United States and North Korea hinge on Washington's willingness to make a "bold move" and agree to a peace treaty with Pyongyang, according to an official with close knowledge of North Korea's position on the matter. The US has been asking for a big gesture on the part of North Korea, in the form of giving up a portion of its nuclear weapons in the near term. The diplomatic sources did not know of specific percentages or timeframes. Kim Jong Un is insisting he will make a step towards denuclearization if the US moves on security concerns -- likely meaning a peace proposal but will not move otherwise, the diplomatic sources say. Pyongyang points to goodwill gestures they say they've already made, including a halt in missile testing and the repatriation of US remains, arguing that the US is backtracking. On Thursday, North Korea issued a forceful statement at the United Nations, saying that elements of the US government are not adhering to the spirit of the dialogue established by Trump and Kim at their Singapore summit. Pyongyang said while it had taken "such practical denuclearization steps as discontinuing nuclear test and ICBM test fire" and "broadminded measures" like the repatriation of US Korean War remains, "the US responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure against (North Korea)." The statement, credited to North Korea's Foreign Ministry, notably did not blame Trump, but singled out "some high-level officials within the US administration," who it said were going against the President's will. It also echoed criticism of previous administrations' approaches to North Korea that Trump himself has made. The statement seems intended to hit a target audience in the US, being released in English by North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York, rather than just through the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the usual avenue for government announcements. The State Department did not respond to requests for comment. Look out Donald Trump, while you're not watching, China is quietly stealing a continent from you. And India may not be far behind. Currently, the battle for supremacy on the African continent is being fought out between the leaders of Asia's two superpowers -- China and India -- and, for the most part, the United States is nowhere to be seen. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi all but tripped over each other last month crisscrossing the continent on personal goodwill visits. Meanwhile, the President of the African Development Bank had to come hat in hand to Washington, where, a source with knowledge of the situation told me, all he got to see were some officials in the Treasury Department President Trump has still not visited the continent and has not announced plans to do so. Why should we care? China and India care deeply. After all, Africa is home to Nigeria -- poised to become the world's third most populous country and all the challenges that poses in terms of more jobs for an increasingly youthful population, not to mention food and infrastructure. But it's also where critical, strategically essential minerals including lanthanum, cerium and neodymium, essential for the electric cars of the future, are located. And as Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank, told me this week, "there are 400 million hectares of arable land in the savannas of Africa" that will "determine the future of food in the world." Not surprisingly, Modi announced in an address to the Ugandan Parliament, the first by a serving Indian Prime Minister, that India would be opening 18 new embassies, "deepen[ing] our partnership and engagement across the vast expanse of Africa." Xi came with an even grander proposal -- membership in China's mega development project: the Belt and Road initiative, initially involving development of massive land and trading corridors across Eurasia and extending its scope even more broadly. Already, it has loaned some $94 billion to African governments and state-owned companies. But these Chinese-led initiatives and this push into Africa have only been accompanied by considerable peril and deep challenges to the United States and its interests there. Public debt in sub-Saharan Africa has soared from 28.5% of gross domestic product in 2012 to 48% of GDP this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, meaning broad swaths of the continent must use large chunks of their output just to service their debt. All too often, pledged against this debt are the natural resources ranging from oil in Nigeria and Angola to rare minerals in Congo and deeply important geo-strategic locations like Djibouti. At the same time, two-way trade between the US and Africa has plummeted from roughly $142 million in 2008 to $55 million last year, largely because the US has become increasingly energy self-sufficient, removing the need for African crude oil. Meanwhile, as China and the US are embarking on a virulent trans-Pacific trade war, China is embedding itself in country after country across Africa, often quite profitably, occasionally quite toxically. Take Djibouti, the tiny nation barely the size of Vermont, which occupies a strategic corner of Africa overlooking the Gulf of Aden, through which some 12.5% to 20% of global trade passes annually. The US maintains Camp Lemonnier with 4,000 personnel stationed in what the Navy describes as "the primary base of operations for US Africa Command in the Horn of Africa." As it happens, the base is located not far from a massive new billion dollar Doraleh Container Terminal complex that includes roads and a hotel, in addition to the port, all built by Dubai-based DP World, the mammoth owner and operator of ports and related facilities in more than 40 countries. Last year, China opened its first overseas military base right next door. On February 22, armed Djibouti troops, without any warning, seized control of the DP World facility and claimed it for Djibouti's government. The London Court of International Arbitration ruled the seizure illegal. "Before the Chinese arrived, we had no problems here," Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chief efecutive of DP World, told me in an interview. "But as soon as the Chinese moved in, of course, the Chinese basically loaned them more than what they neededto the point there the government became helpless." China has failed to take any note of this, while the Djibouti government has said it was simply rewriting the terms of its contract with DP. The London Arbitration Court disagreed and termed it an outright seizure. Sultan Sulayem paused and continued, "What is killing Africa is the infrastructure is collapsing and the only way to improve it is through public-private partnerships. And now, after Djibouti, who is going to invest?" Djibouti is hardly the only African nation to be seduced by wbhat would appear to be easy Chinese money that will be difficult if not impossible to repay without selling its patrimony of raw materials at wholesale prices, thereby holding them hostage to or tying them ever closer to the Chinese sphere. Nigeria agreed to a three-year $2.5 billion currency swap to boost its reserves with the understanding that the yuan would become a Nigerian reserve currency. The African Development Bank, Adesina told me, has a number of programs designed to stem this drift away from western-style capitalism. But China's commitments may be simply too large and too seductive. The US has few such profound ties to Africa. Yet it has become quite clear since the late years of the Obama administration that Africa is where instability can quickly morph into direct attacks on American security. Al Qaeda and ISIS have discovered vast new reservoirs and support in terms of manpower, funding and easy plunder in several African nations. American troops have begun dying in terrorist incidents, most recently in Niger, where four US soldiers died in an ambush by ISIS. Yet American interests diverge quite dramatically from China's in many corners of this complex continent. China has little interest in building strong, democratic institutions and states. Its goal is to create dependencies that will advance its own agenda of control and security. So, it is long past time for Trump to pay more than lip service to Africa's needs and undertake a substantive visit to this region where he is losing a vast and potentially quite deadly war. The United Nations Security Council is calling for an investigation into Thursday's Saudi-led airstrike that hit a school bus in Yemen and killed dozens of children, many under the age of 10. After private discussions on the airstrikes, the council said in a statement Friday that there should be a "credible, transparent" investigation, but it did not specifically indicate that it wants an "independent" probe. Bombings Continents and regions Government organizations - Intl Investigations Middle East Middle East and North Africa Military Military operations Saudi Arabia United Nations Unrest, conflicts and war Yemen Automotive industry Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Education Motor vehicles School facilities and transportation School transportation United Nations Security Council The Security Council said it "expressed grave concern" about the airstrike and all other recent attacks in Yemen. At least five Security Council nations called for the session, which included a briefing from a senior UN official. A field trip Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015 in an attempt to sway the outcome against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who took control of Yemen in an uprising and now say they are fighting to defend the country from outside attack. The children were on a field trip when their bus was struck at a market, the first stop of the day, killing 50 and injuring 77, according to the Houthi-controlled Health Ministry. Most of the children were inside the bus when the airstrike hit, according to a local medic, Yahya al-Hadi. The International Committee of the Red Cross said a hospital it supports in Saada had received 29 bodies of "mainly children" under 15 years of age, and 40 injured, including 30 children. Asked why the Security Council statement did not mention the word "independent," UK Ambassador Karen Pierce, serving as this month's council president, said the council will hold talks with the UN and others to determine how any investigation would proceed. The UN secretary-general called for an independent investigation on Thursday. The Saudi-led coalition said Friday that it would start its own probe, according to state-run Saudi media. On Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition defended the airstrike as a "legitimate military operation" and a retaliation for a Houthi ballistic missile that targeted the kingdom's Jizan province on Wednesday night, according to the country's official news agency. "The targeting that happened today in Saada province was legal military action to target elements that planned and executed the targeting of civilians in the city of Jizan last night, killing and wounding civilians," the Saudi Press Agency quoted Col. Turki al-Malki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, as saying. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Thursday that the US doesn't have full details of the Saudi-led strike and called for a "thorough investigation." The US supplies Saudi Arabia with data for targeting and equipment. "We don't have the full details of what happened on the ground," Nauert said Thursday. "We've seen reports. We can say we're concerned about these reports, that there was an attack that resulted in the deaths of civilians. We call on the Saudi-led coalition to conduct ... an investigation." Before the events of August 11 and 12, 2017, Charlottesville was, for those who knew of it at all, a college town or a weekend getaway from Washington, DC. Or, for the history buffs among us, the home of our third president. After those events -- the torch-wielding march at the University of Virginia, the "Unite the Right" rally and the violence and injuries it wrought, and of course the horrific murder of Heather Heyer -- Charlottesville has been a national wound for many Americans, a symbol of violence at the heart of America's relationship to race. But for the more than 45,000 residents of Charlottesville and tens of thousands more who live nearby in Albemarle County, this town isn't a symbol -- and what happened to it on August 11 and 12 isn't an abstraction. For them, Charlottesville is home, a place now marked by a trauma they walk near and live with daily -- and respond to differently, each according to his or her own experience. 2017 Charlottesville white nationalist rally Activism African Americans Belief, religion and spirituality Black Lives Matter movement Buildings and structures Charlottesville Churches and cathedrals Civil rights Continents and regions Curricula Demographic groups Discrimination Education Education systems and institutions Financial aid in education Graduate and professional schools Heather Heyer Heroes and heroism Higher education Internet and WWW Jewish people Ku Klux Klan Law and legal system Legal education Legal services Minority and ethnic groups Misc organizations Misc people North America Points of interest Population and demographics Protests and demonstrations Racism and racial discrimination Religious buildings Right-wing extremism Social media Societal issues Society Southeastern United States Student expenses and financing Students and student life Technology The Americas United States Universities and colleges University of Virginia Virginia White supremacy and neo-Nazism To mark the one-year anniversary of this tragedy, CNN Opinion reached out to a diverse group of residents and people directly affected by the events of August 11 and 12, 2017. Here, in their own words, women and men of many backgrounds, faiths, and ages answer the question: What were you doingi on August 11 and 12, 2017 and what have you done since? Where do you think America stands when it comes to issues of race and justice? Susan Bro: My world was demolished On August 11, I was a secretary and bookkeeper. I spent that Friday reviewing records from fiscal year 2017 in preparation for an audit. I already had a plan for the files I planned to pick up with on Monday. After supper, I sat down to work on a crochet baby sweater and blanket set for a friend. Twenty-four hours later, my world was demolished. A young man drove his car into a crowd of peaceful counter-protestors, wounding many and killing my daughter, Heather Heyer. She was gone in an unbelievably public murder, filmed by so many that day. Her death was shown over and over again on TV, but I didn't even know details of her final moments, even what she was wearing. I cried all night long. When the first knock on the door by members of the media came at 7 a.m. on August 13, I had a choice to make -- turn inward from the grief, or maybe forgive her murder. Everyone would understand if I called for vengeance. But none of those felt truly from my heart. They were not sustainable and offered nothing of value. My decision was to respond with a call to action. It made me so angry to have my daughter silenced that I determined I would speak for her instead. Heather always had a passion for making sure everyone was treated fairly. Even as a child she often stood in defense when she saw a need to speak up for others. Not only would I speak, but I would also encourage others to speak up. In response to one voice lost, there would be hundreds more in her place. My work with the Heather Heyer Foundation is a means to that end. The Foundation was formed to provide a legal and accountable structure for handling the donations pouring in the first weeks. The initial purpose was to provide scholarships for those individuals who were already positive, non-violent social activists and wanted to further their education to support continued activism. We joined forces with The AIDS Health Care Foundation to have youth show how they were able to #StandAgainstHate. Winners received over a total of $8,000 in scholarships from AHF and $1,000 from us. Those winners also expressed a strong desire for a youth empowerment program, which they named "Heyer Voices." This program, which is in development now, will help young activists get hands-on training and support from adults on how to handle the details of developing a youth-chosen, positive, nonviolent campaign for justice. We have also given three high school graduation scholarships from our fund at $1,000 each and are continuing to expand our programs to offer more scholarships in the future. Our focus is to support the education and training of the next generation of activists, advocates and allies. Our country must take the time to root out the disease of hate. We should not hasten to "heal" without dealing with the underlying issues of hurt and mistrust and inequity. People of color have never been treated as if they matter in our country. When one group of us is marginalized, we all suffer for it. We must work together to clean the infection of hatred. I hope that what I do will support that goal. Susan Bro is the mother of Heather Heyer and the co-founder of the Heather Heyer Foundation. She will be on Anderson Cooper Full Circle live on Facebook at 6:25p ET Friday. Wes Bellamy: We are on the path to clear water My grandmother always told me that before getting to the clear and clean water, you have to go through the mud. August 11 and 12, 2017 and the months thereafter have been muddy for my city of Charlottesville. August 11 was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life. I defended my dissertation at Virginia State University early that afternoon and officially became Dr. Wes Bellamy. Unfortunately, there was no huge celebration. A cloud hung over my head as I knew that as soon as I finished the presentation, my city was about to be swamped by white supremacists who were intent on invoking terror. As the vice-mayor of the city, the only African-American on the city council at that time, and thus the target demographic that the majority of hate and vitriol was aimed at, I had to be present. That weekend I sat in a church Friday night and saw the fear on hundreds of peoples' faces as we sat trapped inside a church while white supremacists walked outside with tiki torches. On Saturday morning I led a march and chanted in the middle of the street from First Baptist Church throughout the city to claim what was ours and defy the hate. I then watched as evil marched throughout our city. It was as if the KKK of old had been reincarnated, and sent back to simply invoke fear. In the midst of all that hate, I also went to a righteous community back-to-school bash on August 12 led by young, black leaders. A conscious group of brothers and sisters were intent on not allowing white supremacists to define our city. They gave away 200 backpacks, free food, and created an atmosphere of safety and community in the midst of chaos. My city will never be the same, but we will no longer quietly walk in the mud of white supremacy. We are on the path to clear water. Wes Bellamy is the vice mayor of Charlottesville. In 2016, he called for the removal of a local statue of Robert E. Lee in the park, a move which the "Unite the Right" organizers were protesting. Lisa Woolfork: The problem with politeness Charlottesville is a city of illusions. Those for whom Charlottesville is the Happiest City in America rarely see beneath this facade. As a black professor at the University of Virginia who also organizes with Black Lives Matter Charlottesville, I recognize the ways in which the city sanctions white supremacy through polishing its veneer of civility and politeness. I spent the weeks leading up to the white supremacist attacks (and the year since) being told directly by polite moderates that the KKK should be ignored and that I should stay home when white nationalists in our streets threaten my very existence. Last year, Charlottesville granted permits for men in Nazi uniforms and Klan robes to march in our streets. Charlottesville failed to prevent and then failed to prosecute men using lit torches to attack undergraduate students. Charlottesville uses legal shields to preserve racist monuments. And when community members respond in grief and rage, as we did when we marched for DeAndre Harris and Corey Long, we are targeted with social pressure under the polite gaze of white moderates, with demands to simmer down and behave with "decorum," a code word for complicity. They say they want peace and quiet, but they'll settle for just quiet. Politeness and civility are the very actions that brought us here in the first place. Thomas Jefferson's nearby Monticello, epitomizing the politeness of Southern hospitality, enslaved 607 Black people during his lifetime. Generations lived and died in bondage at plantations known for their hospitality. The Lost Cause mythology, the ideological devotion in the 19th and into the 20th century to falsely portraying the Confederate cause as heroic, then used the veneer of politeness to obscure one of the greatest human rights atrocities of all time. Yesterday's "Lost Cause" is today's "civility." Politeness is political: those who urge tolerance in the face of racist violence weaponize civility. Just as institutions of liberal democracy are harnessed by white supremacists for their fascist agenda, so too are civic virtues such as politeness, decorum, and civility used by white moderates to conceal and enable fascist actions. Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Virginia and organizer with Black Lives Matter Charlottesville. Andrew Griffin: Since Charlottesville, America has collectively taken steps backward on race I watched alongside the rest of the nation in utter shock as the events of August 12 unfolded in the last place I could have possibly imagined. As the Communications Director for Tom Garrett, the member of Congress representing Charlottesville, I remember speaking to my boss that morning and was proud to see his swift and very public denunciation of the vitriol coming from these hate groups and subsequent efforts in the aftermath. Since this tragic day, America has collectively taken steps backward in appropriately addressing race relations. Political partisanship has driven a wedge between families, races, and genders which has fast-tracked a loss of the elements that once made this country a model for all others to follow. In some convoluted and misguided attempt to quick-fix our shortfalls, many have channeled their efforts into removing monuments and renaming schools, completely disregarding the potential to repeat mistakes of the past by pretending history never happened. This is why I think it's imperative to emphasize the importance of not allowing our emotions to control the narrative. There is no doubt that this extreme minority of torch-wielding bigots represented the absolute worst our society has to offer. However, ignoring history only affords a larger platform for a handful of racists to spew their hate while doing nothing to actually address the issue of race relations in our nation. America is ground zero for freedom of thought, religion, and opportunity. While we have had shameful moments in our history, we have overcome those moments and grown as a society. Let's not take steps backwards by accepting hate on either side of the spectrum. The next generation of Americans depend on what happens next, and the world is watching. Andrew Griffin is a former congressional candidate and student-athlete at Virginia Tech who is completing his Master's in Strategic Public Relations at George Washington University while serving as deputy chief of staff and communications director for Rep. Tom Garrett (R-VA). Alexis Gravely: I was a student reporter covering a national tragedy I remember last August. 11 and 12, in segments. I remember chants of, "You will not replace us" booming in my ears as the torchlit march passed the building that houses the Cavalier Daily office. I remember being in front of Emancipation Park on Saturday, choking and gasping for breath through the chemicals that filled air (I still don't know whether it was tear gas, pepper spray, or some horrible combination of the two). I remember receiving the notification on my phone, stunned, when our editor-in-chief texted us that a car had purposefully run into a crowd of counter-protesters downtown. I remember hugging a stranger at Heather Heyer's vigil as we cried into each other's shoulders, releasing a piece of the mountain of emotion the weekend had brought. I'm often asked how things have changed since last August. On the surface, a lot has changed. Being on the university grounds and being in Charlottesville doesn't feel the same, and in many ways, it isn't the same. I've grown and shifted considerably as a person since last year. But fundamentally, I'm still doing what led me to being at Emancipation Park in the first place -- writing and reporting. This is a time when lots of Americans are amplifying their voices on issues of race, protest, and justice. I'm inspired as a reporter to not only project and amplify those voices even further, but also to bring life to those who are unheard. Our country has a lot of progress to make, but I'm hopeful that up-and-coming journalists like me will continue to tell the stories that help us all find common ground. Alexis Gravely is a student at the University of Virginia. She is the assistant managing editor of the Cavalier Daily and has been a fellow with The Nation and Anna Julia Cooper Center. Nicole Hemmer: One question I always asked was: 'Do you have hope?' There's a lot I remember about August 12. The sound of low-hovering helicopters. The choking taste of smoke and pepper spray. The echoing crack of clubs against a young man's skull. A wail of terror. A street clogged with bodies and blood. There are also things I don't remember, a part of the day that trauma wiped away. Yet I'm unlikely to forget the events of August 12, even as my memory of that day will never be whole. I provided on-the-ground coverage via social media of both the violence at the park and the car attack that killed Heather Heyer. In the days that followed, I wrote about my experiences and continued to speak to the media. After one interview, I sat in my car and cried. I was used to being asked about my scholarly work on conservatism and the alt-right. I wasn't used to being a witness. That tangling of personal experience and professional expertise felt messy and uncomfortable. And yet several months later, I realized that discomfort meant I had more to say. Over the past four months, I've worked to create a podcast, A12, that explores what happened last summer. The episodes include the voices of more than 20 activists, witnesses, scholars, and city and university leaders. It moves from the events of what is locally known as the Summer of Hate into the deeper history of Charlottesville, the alt-right, and the challenges of policing and law that last summer revealed. The interviews were often tough, because lots of folks were reliving trauma and talking about some of the darkest forces in our politics and history. So one question I always asked was: "Do you have hope?" Each time, I think I was asking as much for myself as for the podcast. And every single person I asked said yes. They said yes, I think, because while the world may have seen only violence in Charlottesville on August 11 and 12, they saw something more in the year since. Resistance. Resilience. And if that's the story Charlottesville tells not just tells, creates in the aftermath of last summer, then their hope is very well-founded. Nicole Hemmer is an assistant professor in presidential studies at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia and the author of "Messengers of the Right." She hosts the history podcast "Past Present" and has just released the new podcast "A12." Brenda Brown-Grooms: We are still working together to keep the American Dream alive I was at the sunrise service at First Baptist Church on Main at 6 a.m. on August 12, with Cornell West, Tracy Blackmon, Osagyefo Sekou and various groups soon to be deployed to our respective stations (mine to First United Methodist Church, a designated safe space, prayer fortress, first aid station, food and water replenishing). We prayed, sang, read Scripture, counseled with those coming in for respite. We were tear gassed (it wafted up from the park across the sidewalk), were locked down more times than I can now remember, and watched Heather Heyer being killled and others injured in real time, via livestream, while hearing a helicopter hovering over our heads. A little more than a month before the July 2017 gathering of the KKK in Emancipation Park (in protest of the city's approved plan to remove the statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee) we all got word of this coming August gathering. Concerned citizens, rightly discerning this to be, above all, an issue of morality and not just policy, called on their faith leaders to lead Charlottesville's response. Indeed, they were crystal clear: if you don't lead, we won't follow. We mounted prayer vigils, monitored KKK/alt-right social media, tried to work with various police departments in this area, and quickly discovered that they were not listening to us, which later bespoke their unpreparedness for the situation. After the July protest, those of us in the faith community realized the enormity of the coming situation and sought to prepare ourselves and our congregations as best we could. Our biggest hindrance was the intransigence of the city government, university administrators, and Charlottesville's elite in convincing themselves that something like what did happen would never happen in beautiful, iconic, happy Charlottesville! THIS ISN'T WHO WE ARE! However, beautiful Charlottesville has an ugly underbelly. If you have enough money, enough power, the right zip code, preferably no Jewish ancestry, and are not a person of color, you may well be able to position yourself, isolate yourself,so that none of what poor, powerless, native Charlottesvillians of color experience. I am an African American native of Charlottesville and a graduate of the University of Virginia. I remember and have always experienced the ugliness of this beautiful place. To those who stubbornly thought it "couldn't happen here," I say: Are you insane? Of course this is Charlottesville. What planet do you live on? Yes, some Nazis and KKK and alt-righters came from out of town, but a lot more of them than you think live right here. On August 11, I participated in a glorious worship service at St. Paul's, across the street from the Rotunda at UVA, where the tiki torch gathering happened and Nazis cried, "Jews will not replace us." I, along with about 500 people, was locked down in the church. I had a premonition that something would happen on Friday. They had to announce their presence some way. Last summer crystallized for me, yet again, that America has yet to live out her creed (that all people are created equal, endowed by our Creator, with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness). Everyone ever labeled a "minority" in this country knows America's failure, its original sin. And yet, each generation, we hope and work for the American Dream. The original sin that infects our republic, our religious practices and citizenship in the world is white supremacy. We must admit it. Rout it out. Begin again. We must talk about who benefits and who does not. We must admit that our institutions are shot through with unfairness, injustice and death. We must hear and include the stories that have been and are still being suppressed in order to perpetuate a false, an incomplete narrative--leaving out Native Americans, Asian Americans, South Americans, African Americans, Immigrants, Refugees and those left without homelands and others in any of the myriad ways we humans know to "other." Since last year's open summer of hate, I have found brothers and sisters of all races, creeds, faith or no faith traditions, who have been willing to sit together, talk together, argue together, cry together, think together, plan together, walk together, to keep the American Dream alive, one more generation. We are working together to raise up another generation to follow us, who will do the same. Shalom. Brenda Brown-Grooms is a pastor with the New Beginnings Christian Community and part of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective (CCC), a group of clergy and laypeople dedicated to dialogue about the challenge of race relations in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. She is also part of and Congregate Cville, an activist organization which grew out of CCC. Risa Goluboff: I found the resolve to keep asking MLK's question, 'Where do we go from here?' After the violence and hatred of August 11-12, I cycled through a whole host of emotions: grief, revulsion, fear, anger. I eventually settled on resolve resolve to render meaning out of tragedy, and to reignite progress to make the world, my hometown, and my university more just, equal, and inclusive places. That resolve was put into motion when UVA President Teresa Sullivan asked me to lead the working group charged with the University's response to the events. I had to say yes. It was not only that I wanted to help heal and empower the university that had been my professional home for fifteen years. It was also that, as a civil rights historian, I needed to understand whether this newly violent and visible form of bigotry was the last gasp of a backlash to a half century of civil rights progress or the beginning of a new upsurge against it. And I needed to do whatever I could to prevent it from becoming the latter. I spent the better part of last year asking Martin Luther King, Jr's pointed question: Where do we go from here? Beyond enhancing the future safety and security of our community, our working group had two overarching objectives. First, we recommitted to our values of diversity, humanity, equality, mutual respect, and honest and empathetic exchange across our many differences. Second, we asked how we could put our resources and expertise toward better understanding August's events and their relationship to the wider world. The concrete steps we took followed from those goals: expanding scholarships for students from diverse backgrounds; dedicating funds for new professorships to help understand, respond to, or prevent events like those of last August; reviewing how the University physically represents its history, including through public symbols and historical markers; and developing and supporting programming that helps people from diverse backgrounds communicate, learn, and work together. I am proud of what we have accomplished in answer to King's question, even though more remains to be done. When I reflect on the University's response, I am especially heartened by the fact that so many students, staff, and faculty across our community took action. They stood up to hate, organized events, brought in speakers, held teach-ins, wrote op-eds, raised critical questions, and engaged in difficult conversations. This overwhelming reaffirmation of our values, this simultaneous outpouring of support for one another and condemnation for white supremacy, reveals the big picture. It is this: the white supremacists took the spotlight for a day, but we have resolved to resist the hate they peddle forever. As I wonder what lies in store this year, I have no doubt that our resolve will endure. We will continue to work hard to transform the name of our hometown, "Charlottesville," from a lament to a rallying cry. Risa Goluboff is dean of the University of Virginia School of Law, a civil rights and constitutional law scholar, and a 15-year resident of Charlottesville. She is the author of "The Lost Promise of Civil Rights" and "Vagrant Nation." Emily Gorcenski: It didn't surprise me that it happened in Charlottesville The question I get most often these days is, "Did you ever think that this could happen in Charlottesville?" And I think it surprises people when I answer, "Yes, absolutely." Charlottesville imagines itself to be a happy, progressive college town. We have spent the past decade receiving accolades from lifestyle magazines whose target audience is wealthy and predominantly white. "Happiness is a place called Charlottesville," said one such headline. But the city has always had a dark past when it comes to race, and not everyone has been able to live happily in here. Of all the cities and counties in Virginia, it's the one with the worst income inequality, according to a 2016 report from the Economic Policy Institute. So no, it didn't surprise me that the "badges and incidents of slavery" would once again rear their ugly heads in a town whose legacy includes the labor of Thomas Jefferson's slaves. Until we acknowledge that history, we will never move forward and never heal. Despite all the harassment and violence I have been subject to as an activist speaking out about these issues, I am in a way still very fortunate: I was able to leave to find peace. But no one should have to leave a place called "Happiness," and the most vulnerable among us aren't able to. Emily Gorcenski is a data scientist and activist. She is a former resident of Charlottesville now based in Berlin. Michele St. Julien: The day I moved to Charlottesville I arrived in Charlottesville, VA, on August 12, the second day of the white nationalist rallies, to move into my new apartment and begin law school. I had traveled from New York with my family in two cars and one U-Haul truck. Charlottesville is the furthest south that I have ever lived, and I did not quite know what to expect. I heard about the rallies first through friends from back home who frantically texted me the breaking news headlines. I came that day as a Black, queer woman, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, and a first-generation law student. I easily felt like the target of the hatred brewing just around the corner from a place I would call home. My family and I were moved to witness the rally with our own eyes and therefore ventured to the downtown mall area. I remember seeing men carrying large rifles, confederate flags, and clusters of what looked to be Klansmen. As the interactions between the rally participants and protesters seemed to be growing more tense, we decided to leave and head back to my apartment. I was home for about an hour when I heard the news about the tragic event that took Heather Heyer's life. That moment still sits with me in a very uneasy way and I continue to think about her bravery and pray that her family finds peace. While arriving to Charlottesville that day felt like an esoteric experience, somehow, I felt that my journey over the years had led me to that very moment. My own identity gives me a passion to insert often unheard groups and interests into the proverbial rooms where decisions about our laws, public policy, and commercial transactions are made. It informs how I approach the study of law. Ultimately, what those rallies represent to me are an effort by individuals, emboldened by the current administration, to attempt to recreate an era when bigotry and racism were woven more comfortably into the fabric of everyday life. What should not be lost upon us is that depending on one's identity, status and location, overt racism has never stopped being a reality. Furthermore, the systemic injustices faced by certain residents of Charlottesville and those everywhere else continue to thrive in our policies, laws, and practices. My hope is that, as a community, we can and will fight for the freedoms of our most marginalized with the same fervor that we defend all Americans' right to freedom of speech and expression. Michele St. Julien is the Social Action Chair for the Black Law Students Association at the University of Virginia School of Law. Karim Ginena: I wasn't going to sit and watch as bigots came to my town As a Muslim who is active in the local community and cares about social justice, I know all too well what it feels like to be disenfranchised. But still, I never imagined that one day I'd be protesting the KKK and white supremacy in my town. One month before the events of August 11 and 12, 2017, several hundred protesters and I were faced with this grim reality when 50 Klan members showed up in downtown Charlottesville wearing Klan robes, carrying Confederate flags, and screaming, "White power!" Although this KKK rally gave fuel and encouragement to the alt-right rallies of August 11 and 12, it received more limited media attention. My wife and I were blessed with a child just weeks before the July rally, and she was opposed to me attending these protests, counterprotesting, out of concern for my safety. I understood, but I had to go anyway, as I felt a need to fulfill my communal responsibility of voicing opposition. I wasn't going to sit and watch as bigots preached their ideology in our backyard. In the months after August 12, I served alongside leaders from other faiths and minority groups in a newly formed Charlottesville Community Leadership Council, a group that aimed to strengthen community bonds through outreach and collaboration. We hosted dialogues across our city. As I reflect on the state of America at the one-year anniversary of these events, I realize that the rhetoric and policies adopted over the last year have hurt individuals and families. They have resulted in further racial segregation, as well as a rise in bigotry and inequality. That is painful to realize, but I can't let it stop me. If we, the people, aspire for a better America with equal justice for all, then we must be willing to stand for our ideals, put them first, and work together toward a better future! Karim Ginena is a Ph.D. candidate in management at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. He served as the outreach secretary on the board of the Islamic Society of Central Virginia at the time of the August 11 and 12, 2017, events in Charlottesville. He has been named a young policy professional by Harvard Law School's Institute for Global Law and Policy and an emerging scholar by the Society for Business Ethics. Amanda Moxham: It woke me up to the conversations we MUST have with our children On August 11, 2017, I watched in horror via live video as torch-bearing Nazis marched across the grounds of the University of Virginia and violently attacked students and community members. On August 12, I provided childcare for counter-protestors while assisting with information flow as white supremacist violence tore through downtown. Juggling a need to create a day free of fear for the younger children while keeping the teenagers aware of any key actions downtown required an immense amount of calm and composure. In retrospect, it was eye-opening to realize how unprepared I was for this level of communication. Since that time, I have intentionally engaged in unpacking systemic racism and implicit bias with my children in ways I never knew I could. That day really woke me up to critical conversations that we MUST be engaging in with our children. The events as they unfolded triggered in me fear, anxiety, anger, and ultimately in the days that followedaction. I immediately began learning and unlearningunpacking my own deeply held biases about race and engaging in dialogue to understand how oppression was codified into law and are consistently upheld by government, legal, corporate, and educational systems. Amanda Moxham is an organizer with the Hate-Free Schools Coalition of Albemarle County, a coalition of students, teachers, parents, and community members holding our school system accountable for dismantling racism from policy to the classroom. Kibiriti Majuto: I felt like I was in a history book I came to the United States from East Africa Democratic Republic of Congo to pursue a better life, but last year's Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville has shown me that I cannot outrun white supremacy. Last summer, I couldn't believe that I had to go protest the Ku Klux Klan in the 21st century. I felt like I was in a history book watching them march through my town in their white robes, an outward display of their disgust for my blackness. The white supremacist attacks in Charlottesville showed that we have got to lay siege to both overt and covert white supremacy. It's not just Nazis marching in the streets. It's also the institutions that legitimize their views. Many people think the white supremacists attacked Charlottesville because it's perceived as a liberal college town. But the real Charlottesville is a place plagued by a history of black displacement for white profit, massive racial disparities in housing and education, and a university that refuses to pay its black and brown service workers a living wage, which the board has continually delayed despite having an $8.6 billion endowment. [Editor's note: Local media reported in June that UVA board members said new president Jim Ryan is working with community members on a living wage plan.] When the white supremacists show up and show their hate, it's a symptom of the underlying disease. As we approach the one-year anniversary of Charlottesville, I challenge you to confront white supremacy in all its forms, wherever it lies in your community. Kibiriti Majuto is a student organizer and a board member with the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice. He attends Piedmont Virginia Community College and is a 2017 graduate of Charlottesville High School. Mimi Arbeit: Posting on social media is meaningful, but it's not enough Anti-racist community members in Charlottesville scrambled for weeks before August 12 because we knew the Nazis wanted to kill people -- they had made clear plans in their online message boards and had already been threatening Charlottesville leaders. We took evidence of the violent intentions of white supremacists directly to the city council, to no avail. In response, white liberal politicians demanded civility and expressed little concern. But no matter how we tried to send the message -- protesting, shouting in city council meetings, or sternly presenting documented threats of white supremacists' violent intentions -- our desire to live, and to live without racial terror, was dismissed. As our democratic institutions succumbed to the fascist agenda, I called and called and called friends and other contacts who might have skills or resources to invest in anti-racist community organizing in Charlottesville. When I talked to people outside Charlottesville about what was about to happen, they did not believe me, or did not understand, or did not push themselves to give me the help I was asking for. We needed (and folks still need) so much help: solidarity, strategy, mental health resources, financial resources, interpersonal connections, collaboration, child care, cooking. Put some food in someone's freezer, so they have a good meal to microwave to get through the next crisis. We need to let our lives be changed by the urgency of this moment. I can no longer conceive of my own personal and professional flourishing without daily joining with targeted communities to build power together, to flourish together. We need to dig deep to dismantle the foundations of white supremacy within our daily lives. This fight will require change, which requires loss. This year will continue to ask more from us than we maybe knew we had in us. Disagreeing with racism is not enough. Posting on social media is meaningful, but not enough. I need you to act with urgent outrage. Take care of each other and push each other to fight against fascism and for racial justice. Mimi Arbeit is a former organizer with Showing Up for Racial Justice Charlottesville. In July 2018 she relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, where she will be an assistant professor of psychology. Rachel Schmelkin: I learned a lot that day about what it means to truly support and protect each other On August 12, 2017, I took a few cautious steps out of First United Methodist Church, a designated "safe space" for anti-Nazi demonstrators, to survey the park where Nazis were screaming ugly white supremacist chants. "Jews will not replace us!," still rings in my ear as I recall that dreadful weekend. I'd never seen such hate up close, and for the first time I felt afraid to be a Jew in America. A few days before the rally, I told my close friends, Reverends Phil and Robert that I was worried that I would be a target, but that it was important to be to be visible and present despite the risks. They promised me that they would watch out for me. They said "We will not let anybody get near you. In fact, we'll stay with you as long as you're out there. We will not leave you alone." I trusted them, and they held to their word. That day, I continued further out of the door and did my best to project songs of love and peace that might drown out the hate. With my guitar in hand and my brother standing next to me, we sang out "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!" I learned a lot that day about what it means to truly support and protect each other, and to have others support and protect me. A black friend confided in me that she's felt unsafe in her body her entire life. As a Jew, I felt that same visceral fear that August day in Charlottesville when neo-Nazis threatened to torch the Jews. Anti-Semitism animates white supremacist ideology and is tightly integrated with its other racist and xenophobic views. Charlottesville's "summer of hate" taught me that alliances across faiths, across race, across all kinds of differences are the best way to combat racism, anti-Semitism, and all types of bigotry and hate. Since August 12, courageous citizens of Charlottesville have consistently come together to make Charlottesville a miserable place to be a white supremacist; they're not welcome here. Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin is with Congregation Beth Israel in Charlottesville. Jalane Schmidt: We can't let hate become normalized On August 11, I was one of several people who warned the UVA administration that white supremacists planned to march that night. When that hour arrived, I was trapped on lockdown, with hundreds of others, in a church across the street from UVA while hundreds of torch-wielding white supremacists descended, some of whom assaulted my students. University police looked on without intervening -- which foreshadowed the next day, when the police stood by while marauding Nazis beat members of my community. I already distrusted the police, because they're too often not held accountable for their assaults on black civilians. That's why I'm involved in Black Lives Matter. August 11th and 12th in Charlottesville broadened my existing critique of law enforcement: When we protested against white supremacy, the police allowed white supremacists to attack us. The way I see it, police aided and abetted white supremacy. Afterward, I got involved in advocating for a civilian review board to oversee the local police. The alt-right has a fascist ideology, and their hero is in the White House. When the alt-right come to rallies in Charlottesville, they wear MAGA hats, chant pro-Trump slogans and even shout "Russia is our friend!" We must be vigilant and protest racist hatred and authoritarianism, so they do not spread unchecked and become normalized. Jalane Schmidt is an associate professor of religious studies at UVA and an organizer with Black Lives Matter Charlottesville. The Oneida County Sheriffs Office has identified the West Winfield man killed in the three-vehicle crash on State Route 233 along the Westmoreland and Whitestown border on Thursday. Deputies say 60-year-old Douglas Atkyns of West Winfield was killed in the crash. At approximately 10:43 a.m., Thomas Stiles of Christiansburg, Virginia was driving a tractor trailer northbound on Route 233, according to deputies. As he passed the intersection at Sutliff Road, Atkyns drove his pickup truck into the intersection from Sutliff Road, striking the rear passenger side of the trailer. Deputies say Atkyns truck then spun and struck a vehicle driven by Anthony Rocco of Whitesboro, who was waiting to turn left onto Sutliff Road from Route 233. Atkyns was pronounced dead at the scene, and he was then transported to the Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office. Stiles and Rocco were both uninjured in the crash. Deputies say that according to witnesses at the scene, the tractor trailer driver had the green light at the time of the crash. The tractor trailer was inspected by New York State Police and no violations were found. Deputies say the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. The Stanwix Heights, Westmoreland and Oriskany fire departments assisted at the scene, along with Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corp. The invitations have all gone out, and Friday is the deadline by which the United States Secret Service must have the names of those who are attending a fundraiser for incumbent 22nd District Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, hosted by President Trump in Utica on Monday, August 13. The location of the event has not yet been disclosed. Donors will pay between $1,000 and $15,000 to attend, and Tenney says the event will sell out. Congresswoman Tenney's opponent, Democrat Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, is holding a fundraiser of his own Monday night, at the Chesterfield in east Utica. The price tag is 1 percent of the price of seeing the president. "We took a stance early on in the campaign we're not taking any corporate PAC money in our election, so we really wanted to have another event for people who can't afford to spend $15,000 to come to our event," Brindisi said. "$10, food, friends and really enjoy themselves and be able to talk to a candidate who's running for Congress." When asked if his campaign was mining for a big name to host a local fundraiser for him perhaps Barack Obama, Joe Biden or Bill Clinton Brindisi said he's currently relying on the strength of his campaign, and that at the end of the day, it's going to be his and Tenney's names on the ballot. The presidential fundraiser will likely put hundreds of thousands of dollars in Tenney's campaign warchest. In terms of visibility, it's not everyday the President of the United States comes to your town to host a fundraiser in your honor. But does President Trump's trip bode well for Tenney's challenger? "They know that we're running a strong campagin. That's why they've gotta bring in the president," Brindisi said. "But what they don't know is that when I'm elected, I'm gonna work with the president when it's gonna help benefit this area, and if he's doing something that's going to harm the people in this region, I'm going to stand up." A dog, now being called "River," was left abandoned next to the Erie Canal in Rome. Police are asking the publics help in trying to find the owner of the dog. SPCA Animal Cruelty Investigator William Pulaski says theres one detail about this case that has police concerned. "Its definitely remote. Somebody went out of their way to come down here to do this. At this point were looking at it as intentional that somebody abandoned a dog, and intentional where they placed the dog. It didnt arrive here on accident." Dee Schaefer works in Humane Education for the SPCA. She says theres an even bigger reason for finding the owner, and its potentially dangerous. "The link. The link is there. 85% of people of people who do violent crimes have started out hurting an animal." RELATED: SPCA looking for info on dog found tied up in Rome canal Animal Control Officer Kimberly Vaughn tells us there are other possibilities for the dog being tied up along the water, and although nobodys looking yet, theyre not ruling out a drowning. "Those types of things are always in the back of your mind. We kept the dog in our facility for the required hold. We were hoping that someone knew something, or maybe something accidental happened, and the dog got away from somebody, or you know theres always people stealing each others dogs and etc., we havent heard a thing." Right now River is doing well and showing no signs of having been hurt, beaten, or underfed. Anyone with any information that could help find the owner of the dog is asked to call the SPCA in Syracuse. The SPCAs already received a number of phone calls from people wishing to adopt River, but that may take months before the case is resolved in court. A raccoon in the town of Mt. Vision has tested positive for rabies, according to the Otsego County Department of Health. Health officials say the raccoon attacked a dog on Aug. 8, and on Aug. 9 the raccoon tested positive for rabies, which is a fatal viral infection that can be transmitted through the bite, scratch or saliva of an infected animal. A person came into contact with the raccoon while they were attempting to rescue the dog, which was up to date with its rabies vaccine and received the rabies booster that evening. Health Department officials are cautioning the public to stay away from any stray or wild animals. Under New York State Law, pets must be vaccinated for rabies. If an unvaccinated pet comes into contact with wildlife thats confirmed to be rabid or suspected to be rabid, the pet will have to be euthanized or quarantined for six months. The Health Departments next rabies clinic will be 6-8 p.m. Aug. 14 at Neahwa Park in Oneonta. For more information about rabies, you can call the Otsego County Health Department at 607-547-4320, or visit otsegocounty.com. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) A Lafayette man was sentenced Friday for attempted murder related to a police call last year. Loren Gary was sentenced to 32 years in prison and three years of probation for attempted murder, attempted battery by means of a deadly weapon, two counts of intimidation, pointing a firearm and criminal recklessness. Related: Loren Gary found guilty on all counts including attempted murder Gary was found guilty of attempting to kill Deputy Lieutenant Travis Dowell in July. In Dowell's dash cam video, jurors saw Gary positioned behind a car in the driveway. Lt. Dowell was parked in the courtyard standing outside his truck. In the video, jurors saw Gary fire his gun toward Dowell, and ballistic evidence showed it hit Dowell's front license plate. "For 43 seconds after that first round was fired at him, the defendant continued to point a weapon at Lt. Dowell," said Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington. "He did not return fire." Harrington believes Gary would have kept firing at Dowell, but his gun stopped working. Evidence showed the gun was jammed. But Gary's sister isn't so sure he even knew it was an officer. She thinks he meant to shoot at her car. "He didn't say he was going to murder anybody. I don't think that was his intent," said Tammara Beard. Tippecanoe Circuit Court Judge Sean Persin recognized Gary's mental health as a mitigator but didn't allow it to excuse Gary's actions. Attempting to kill a deputy is a serious crime. One Harrington hasn't seen in his 12 years as Prosecutor. "There are people in our community that face an every day struggle with mental health and they don't grab a weapon and threaten a family member, remember, there are two victims here," said Harrington. But only one of the victims testified during sentencing. Lt. Travis Dowell said this experience had him thinking about retirement. "He could have lost his life that night and today on the stand you saw those raw emotions," said Harrington. "I don't think that my brother should get off scot-free," said Beard. "He made choices, choices that you and I wouldn't have made but we don't have mental illness." She thinks if anything good comes out of this, it would be treatment for her brother. "And we need to make it harder for people to get guns we need more background checks. He should never have been able to obtain a gun," said Beard. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)- Tippecanoe School Corporation officials hosted an open safety forum Thursday night at McCutcheon High School. The goal of the presentation was to allow parents to get their questions answered, as well as become familiar with the school safety updates. School resource officers and a guidance counselor from McCutcheon spoke on several topics, including school emergency plans and building security; both exterior and inside the classroom. They even discussed recent initiatives that other schools across the nation are participating in, but TSC is not. Those include unplanned fire alarm procedures and hand-held metal detectors. However, a majority of the open forum was focused on what TSC does have, which is school resource officers. Aaron Gilman, TSC School Resource Officer, said he and his fellow SRO are there for the students to utilize them. "I want them to be comfortable and reporting anything to us, good or bad. I tell kids I love to hear the good things too. So if they scored well on a test or they're just having a great day I want them to share those experiences with us because that's all a part of that relationship and that connection," Gilman said. "At the end of the day we want them to be happy and healthy and safe and comfortable coming to school and we hope that we can provide that confidence to them." The Tippecanoe School Corporation will start class August 14th. If you were unable to attend TSC's safety forum and have questions you need to be answered- click here to submit them. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page North East Wales Search & Rescue awarded 1000 for new defibrillators This article is old - Published: Friday, Aug 10th, 2018 A search and rescue team based in north east Wales are celebrating after being awarded a grant of 1,000 for new defibrillators. NEWSAR (North East Wales Search & Rescue) in Denbighshire have received the grant as part of rural energy provider Calors annual funding scheme. The aim of the Calor Rural Community Fund is to give off-grid communities the chance to gain grants for projects that will improve local life. With a total fund of 50,000, this year the scheme offered funding for 21 different projects, with prize pots ranging from 1,000 up to 5,000. NEWSAR volunteers go to the aid of casualties in danger of cardiac arrest due to medical issues or traumatic injury in semi-rural, remote, or dangerous places across North East Wales. The Calor grant will be used to purchase defibrillators for NEWSAR team members to use when they are first on scene delivering life-saving treatment at the request of North Wales Police. Gill Brailsford, volunteer & fundraising officer from North East Wales Search & Rescue said: Time is critical in our line of work. Quick application of CPR along with the use of a defibrillator will dramatically improve a casualtys chance of survival. NEWSAR is on-call 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, yet we receive virtually no government funding and are almost entirely funded by public donations. Thats why Calors generosity in awarding us this grant has been so well received as it means we can provide immediate life-saving treatment to those in a critical condition. Paul Blacklock, Calors corporate affairs manager added: As a rural energy provider, we understand that country living can be challenging and access to community facilities can be especially difficult. We set up the Calor Rural Community Fund to be able to give something back to these rural communities, and this year we were inundated by a number of deserving projects. Were delighted to award North East Wales Search & Rescue with 1,000 to fund new defibrillators for its team members to use when they are first on scene of an emergency. This years scheme was so successful we plan to relaunch it again in 2019, so keep an eye out on our website and social media channels for updates as we hope to be funding more fantastic projects near you! For further information, please visit the Calor website. You can also find about more about NEWSAR and the work it does on its website. Centre mulls review of proposed National Integrity Policy after flak The government is mulling over to review the proposed National Integrity Policy currently under consideration at Prime Ministers Office (PMO). UPDATE 8/27/19 @ 5:25 p.m. A man pleaded guilty to using a stolen credit/debit card and failing to update his status as a sex offender, according to the Kanawha County Prosecutor's Office. Christopher Scott Adkins, 42, of Raleigh County, West Virginia, pleaded guilty Aug. 22 to fraudulent use of an access device and second offense failure to update sexual offender. Investigators say it was determined in October 2017 that Adkins, who's required to register as a sex offender due to a 2006 conviction for first-degree sexual assault, failed to update his employment information. Adkins had a previous conviction for failure to update his sex offender registry in 2012. In May 2019, Adkins used a stolen credit/debit card to make more than $600 of purchases at the Walmart in Southridge, investigators say. UPDATE 8/10/18 @ 10 a.m. A man wanted by West Virginia State Police is now in jail. Troopers in Lincoln County tell WSAZ that Christopher Scott Adkins was arrested by South Charleston Police earlier this week. He was already wanted on 11 counts of failure to register as a sex offender and in connection to the theft of at least one car. He picked up two additional charges in Kanawha County during his arrest, fleeing from police and obstructing an officer. Adkins is booked in the South Central Regional Jail on a $50,000 cash only bond, plus an additional $2,000 for the Kanawha County charges. ORIGINAL STORY 8/3/18 West Virginia State Police are asking for the public's help to track down a sex offender wanted for not registering. The last known address of Christopher Scott Adkins, 41, is on Coal River Road in Tornado. That's in Kanawha County. Adkins is wanted for 11 counts of failure to register as a sex offender. WVSP also say he is wanted in connection to the theft of at least one car. Troopers believe he now lives in the Lincoln County area. Anyone with information is asked to call WVSP. In a brazen act of lawlessness, the Trump administration attempted to deport a mother and her daughter to El Salvador yesterday before the immigrants hearing had concluded in federal court in Washington, DC. The Justice Departments efforts to remove the two immigrants came in defiance of a court order staying the deportation. The government sought to remove the immigrants from the US while their lawyers were preoccupied with arguing the case in court. A remarkable scene unfolded in court yesterday morning when American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney Jennifer Chang Newell received an email informing her that two of her clientsa mother named Carmen and her daughterwere forced onto an airplane and were bound for El Salvador. Chang Newell asked US District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan for a recess, which the judge granted. According to the Washington Post, the Justice Department attorney claimed to have no idea where the mother and daughter were located. When Judge Sullivan learned the airplane carrying the mother and daughter was already bound for El Salvador, he ordered the Trump administration to turn the plane around. Sullivan then said, This is pretty outrageous, that someone seeking justice in US court is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing justice for her? Im not happy about this at all. This is not acceptable. The judge then granted the ACLUs request to postpone the hearing and stay the deportations. He threatened to hold Trump Attorney General Jefferson Sessions in contempt of court if the government violated the order. Eunice Lee, an attorney representing the two immigrants and 10 other immigrants challenging administration policies denying the right to asylum, told the Post : It must have been absolutely terrifying for them to think they would be returning to a country where they raised very credible claims of persecution and death. Its outrageous to me that while we were working around-the-clock filing briefings for this cases early morning hearing that people in the government were actively arranging for Carmens deportation. The government hoped that if the immigrants had passed out of US territory by the time the court learned of the deportation, they would have technically lost any due process rights attached to being present within the United States. The federal case is a civil suit filed by 12 plaintiffs challenging the Trump administrations new asylum rules, which effectively block victims of domestic violence and gang violence from winning asylum in the US. In its complaint, the ACLU requested the court halt the pending deportations of the plaintiffs, all of whom had been denied asylum: Without an injunction, Plaintiffs and thousands of other immigrants like them desperately seeking safety will be unlawfully deported to places where they fear they will be raped, kidnapped, beaten, and killed, the ACLU said in the complaint. In his decision from June titled Matter of A-B-, Attorney General Sessions ruled: Generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang violence perpetrated by non-governmental actors will not qualify for asylum. The mere fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimessuch as domestic violence or gang violenceor that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim. The chief reason why Central America is overrun by gangs, government-run death squads, and corrupt national police is the disastrous role of American imperialism in the region over the last 125 years. More recently, in the 1970s through the 1990s, US imperialism either directly installed or backed dictatorships that killed hundreds of thousands of poor peasants and workers. The region has never recovered from Americas touch of death. Corruption, an absence of social services, and the worlds most extreme levels of inequality have led to high levels of child enslavement, sex trafficking, murder, rape and gang violence. Of the roughly 3,000 children who were separated from their parents, a majority originally hail from the Northern Triangle of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. To date, 572 children remain separated from their parents. The corporate media in the US has effectively dropped coverage of family separation despite growing reports of sexual and physical abuse at detention centers and foster care centers across the country. In the wake of a recent ruling from the US District Court Judge Dana Sabraw, the government has abdicated most responsibility for locating the already-deported parents of children who have been alone in the US for weeks. The Trump administration claims 163 parents voluntarily waived their right to unite with their childrena bogus lie that hides the fact that desperate and isolated parents were coerced into signing paperwork they did not understand. Ben Ferencz, the last surviving member of the prosecuting team at the Nuremberg trials, said in an interview with outgoing UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein that the US governments family separation policy is a crime against humanity. Ferencz, now 99-years-old, was chief prosecutor during the Einsatzgruppen trial, in which he and Chief Counsel for the Prosecution Telford Taylor successfully prosecuted 22 leaders of SS death squads for the murder of over one million people. The Hungarian-born US Army attorney said: "It was outrageous. I was furious that anybody would think that its permissible to take young children5, 4, 3 years of ageand take them away from their parents and say the parents go to another country and the children go to another country, and well get you together, maybe, at some later date. We list crimes against humanity in the Statute of the International Criminal Court. We have other inhumane acts designed to cause great suffering. What could cause more great suffering than what they did in the name of immigration law? Its ridiculous. This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Fifth National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party in the US, which was held July 22 27, 201 8. The Congress was introduced with a report by David North , the National Chairperson of the Socialist Equality Party and of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site . The Congress also passed the resolution, Free Julian Assange! The resolution was initially published in parts. The entire document is available here. The significance of the resurgence of strike activity 62. A genuine movement against the Trump administration will not come from the ruling class or from the upper-middle class, but from the broad mass of the population, the working class, which is completely excluded from political life. The reality of the capitalist crisis has already led this year to significant initial expressions of working class struggle. Over the past 30 years the trade unions suppressed virtually all organized expression of the class struggle. But since the beginning of 2018, teachers have engaged in a series of strikes and walkoutsin West Virginia, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Arizona, North Carolina, Colorado and Kentucky. There have also been strikes by telecommunications workers in West Virginia and University of California service workers. 63. The growth of the class struggle confirms the fundamental theoretical principles of Marxism and the political perspective elaborated and developed by the International Committee of the Fourth International. It has demonstrated: That class is the fundamental social division in American and world society, not race, gender or sexual identity. It has exposed the fraud of the division of the US into red and blue states, with many of the class battles this year erupting in Republican states, where the working class has been slandered by the Democrats and their political adjuncts as racist and backward. That the working class is the basic revolutionary social force upon which a movement against war, authoritarianism, censorship and inequality must be based. That the class struggle is an international struggle. As the ICFI wrote in 1988, Given the new features of capitalist development, even the form of the class struggle must assume an international character. Even the most elemental struggles of the working class pose the necessity of coordinating its actions on an international scale. That the nationalist and pro-capitalist trade unions are not workers organizations, but corporatist arms of management and the state that serve to block and suppress opposition to inequality and the capitalist system. 64. Each of the major teachers strikes this year was initiated by rank-and-file teachers, not the trade unions. In the first of these strikes, in West Virginia, an expanding wave of local wildcat strikes forced the unions to call a limited, statewide walkout to let off steam and contain teacher discontent. When the unions issued a back-to-work order, based on an agreement with the states billionaire governor, teachers rebelled, forcing a continuation of the strike. The unions then intensified their efforts, supported by pseudo-left organizations around the Democratic Party, to shut down the struggle without meeting any of the teachers main demands. The unions played a similar role in every strike, working to suppress and shut down opposition from workers. 65. The true function of the unions was spelled out by union lawyers in oral arguments in the Supreme Court case of Janus v. AFSCME on the constitutionality of agency fees, which require workers in public-sector unions in some states to pay the equivalent of union dues, even if they do not belong to a union. David Frederick, representing AFSCME Council 31 in Illinois, stated: The key thing that has been bargained for in this contract for agency fees is a limitation on striking. And that is true in many collective bargaining agreements. Fredrick continued: The fees are the tradeoff. Union security is the tradeoff for no strikes. If the court makes the decision to overturn prior precedent allowing states to mandate agency fees, he warned, you can raise an untold specter of labor unrest throughout the country. 66. The nature of the trade unions is manifest in the corruption scandal that has engulfed the United Auto Workers, concerning the payment by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) executives of more than $1.5 million to UAW officials involved in contract negotiations. In exchange for these payouts, the UAW pushed through, by means of intimidation and fraud, contracts that abolished the eight-hour day, halved the wages for a new class of second-tier workers, and expanded the number of temporary part-time workers who pay union dues but have no rights. 67. The character of the unions is rooted, fundamentally, not only in the corruption of individual leaders, but in the nature of the organizations themselves and changes in the structure of world economy. The nationalist and pro-capitalist unions reacted to the rise of globalized production and the crisis and decline of US capitalism by abandoning the struggle for even limited gains. The union apparatus integrated itself ever more directly into the framework of corporate management, with the proliferation of union-management partnerships that ensured a continued increase in the income of the union executives, even as membership in the organizations declined and the wages and benefits of workers collapsed. 68. The growth of the class struggle is an objective process. As the WSWS stated in Palace coup or class struggle: The interaction of objective conditions of crisis, both within the United States and internationally, and the radicalization of mass social consciousness will find expression in the eruption of class struggle. The decades-long suppression of the class struggle by the trade union bureaucracy, the Democratic Party and the affluent sponsors of various forms of identity politics is coming to an end. The social counterrevolution of the ruling elites is about to encounter an upsurge of the American working class. The many different forms of social protestin work places, communities and entire citieswill acquire an ever more distinct working class identity, anti-capitalist orientation and socialistic character. Struggles in individual workplaces and communities will draw into unified struggle broader sections of the working class. The logic of the class struggle and the general strike 69. The United States is a social powder keg. The eruption of social struggles on a scale never before seen in the United States is all but inevitable. There are many factorsthe commonality of social interests among broad sections of the working class, the erosion of sectional differences, the racial and ethnic integration of the working class, the impact of Internet-based social mediathat are working toward the coalescence of mass protests. Thus, it is to be expected that the outbreak of serious social protestswhatever the immediate issue or wherever the locationwill rapidly expand and draw millions of workers into active participation in the struggle. Given the historical experience of the working class, the logical outcome of this coalescence of social struggles will be a general strike, which will raise the question of political power. 70. Therefore, preparation for mass working class struggles requires the development of an interconnected network of popular workplace and neighborhood committees. The necessity for such committees arises out of the experiences of the workers themselves. The organizations that claim to represent them, the trade unions, are not only deeply hostile to the organization of working class struggles, they have abandoned even the most limited forms of representation, including the resolving of grievances and the enforcement of contract provisions. Workplace and factory committees will raise demands such as workers control over line speed, an end to multi-tier labor, the enforcement of an eight-hour day, with full and livable wages for all workers, and an end to unsafe working conditions. 71. The Socialist Equality Partys call for the formation of rank-and-file factory committees, totally independent of the corporate-controlled trade unions, has enraged not only the reactionary bureaucrats but all tendencies among the pseudo-left. How dare the SEP challenge the political and organizational sovereignty of the trade unions over the working class! Some of the pseudo-left spokespeople, feigning adherence to Trotskyism, accuse the SEP of abandoning the Transitional Program. These petty-bourgeois attorneys for the corporatist union executives have either never read or have long forgotten what Trotsky actually wrote in the founding document of the Fourth International. He called upon the members of the Fourth International to create in all possible instances independent militant organizations corresponding more closely to the tasks of mass struggle against bourgeois society; and, if necessary, not flinching even in the face of a direct break with the conservative apparatus of the trade unions. If it be criminal to turn ones back on mass organizations for the sake of fostering sectarian factions, it is no less so passively to tolerate subordination of the revolutionary mass movement to the control of openly reactionary or disguised conservative (progressive) bureaucratic cliques. Trade unions are not ends in themselves; they are but means along the road to proletarian revolution. 72. In advocating the formation of factory and workplace committees, Trotsky explained that they raise the question: Who shall be the boss of the factory: the capitalist or the workers? From the moment that the committee makes its appearance, a factual dual power is established in the factory. By its very essence it represents the transitional state, because it includes in itself two irreconcilable regimes: the capitalist and the proletarian. The fundamental significance of factory committees is precisely contained in the fact that they open the doors, if not to a direct revolutionary, then to a pre-revolutionary periodbetween the bourgeois and the proletarian regimes. The tasks of the Socialist Equality Party 73. The urgent political task is to build the political influence of the Socialist Equality Party in every section of the working class. The SEP is spearheading the fight to arm the developing objective working class movement with an uncompromising revolutionary strategy and perspective. It is fighting to connect struggles against declining wages, attacks on health care and the destruction of public education to opposition to the assault on immigrant workers, police brutality, the destruction of democratic rights and the danger of world war. 74. The basic task of the SEP is to build a revolutionary vanguard and impart an ever-greater level of understanding to the working class of its aims, and clarify the nature of the movement that is developing. The SEP must fight to connect the growth of struggle in the working class to a socialist, internationalist and anti-imperialist political movement to take state power and reorganize economic life on the basis of social need instead of private profit. To the ruling class policy of war and social counterrevolution, the working class must advance a program of socialist revolution. 75. The political activity of the SEP and the International Committee of the Fourth International is increasingly connected to the course of political events. Over the past year, the ICFI and the SEP have been in the forefront of the fight against Internet censorship and the defense of Julian Assange. The partys campaign for factory committees, independent of the pro-corporate trade unions, is winning growing support among teachers, autoworkers and other sections of the working class. 76. A study of social revolutions in the twentieth century reveals that political defeats were frequently the consequence of incorrect policies by the socialist party in the course of revolutionary struggles. The policies of the POUM during the Spanish Civil War (193639) rank among the most tragic examples of a defeat resulting from incorrect policies. But another cause of defeats is the failure of the Marxist party to recognize and respond, in a timely and sufficiently determined manner, to the approach of a revolutionary crisis. The defeat of the German Revolution in 1923 is the most significant example of such a failure of political initiative. In the present situation of deepening crisis, it is the latter mistake that the revolutionary movement must be determined to avoid. 77. The specific tasks that flow from this perspective are: A. The development of the partys base in key sections of the working class, including auto and other manufacturing workers; workers in the extraction, mining and steel industries; teachers and other public-sector workers; health care workers; Amazon, UPS and other shipping workers; and service workers. The SEP must connect an aggressive campaign to organize factory, workplace and neighborhood committees independently of the trade unions with the political mobilization of the working class against the capitalist system. Every effort must be made to coordinate the actions of workers within the United States to those in other countries, making conscious the objective unification of the working class on an international scale. All party branches should work systematically to recruit into the party the most advanced workers. B. The development of a campaign against the victimization of immigrant workers and the fascistic policies of the Trump administration. The fight against the persecution of immigrants must be brought into the working class, based on an understanding that the attack on immigrants is an attack on all workers, and that the police state methods being used against immigrants will be used against every form of social and political opposition. This campaign must be developed in opposition to the Democratic Party and all its peripheral organizations. C. The development of a new antiwar movement of the working class. The SEP reaffirms its support for the ICFI statement Socialism and the Fight Against War and the principles it outlines as the essential political foundations of an antiwar movement: i. The struggle against war must be based on the working class, the great revolutionary force in society, uniting behind it all progressive elements in the population. ii. The new antiwar movement must be anti-capitalist and socialist, since there can be no serious struggle against war except in the fight to end the dictatorship of finance capital and the economic system that is the fundamental cause of militarism and war. iii. The new antiwar movement must therefore, of necessity, be completely and unequivocally independent of, and hostile to, all political parties and organizations of the capitalist class. iv. The new antiwar movement must, above all, be international, mobilizing the vast power of the working class in a unified global struggle against imperialism. The permanent war of the bourgeoisie must be answered with the perspective of permanent revolution by the working class, the strategic goal of which is the abolition of the nation-state system and the establishment of a world socialist federation. This will make possible the rational, planned development of global resources and, on this basis, the eradication of poverty and the raising of human culture to new heights. D. The intensification of the campaign against Internet censorship, the persecution of Julian Assange and all attacks on democratic rights, through the broadest mobilization of the working class. It is not just that the working class is necessary to defend democratic rights, but democratic rights are critical for the working class. As the initial eruption of class struggle has demonstrated, a free and open Internet is an essential tool for workers to organize and communicate independently of the capitalist media, the instruments of the state and the trade unions. The censorship of the WSWS must be countered through an aggressive campaign to expand its readership and develop its content, including through the more systematic use of social media. E. A broad and active campaign to build the International Youth and Students for Social Equality on campuses and schools and among working class youth. The first half of 2018 has seen significant expressions of a politicization of young people, including the mass protests against school violence. This radicalization must be turned to the working class and consciously directed to the source of inequality, war and violence: the capitalist system. F. Support for the campaign of Niles Niemuth, the SEPs candidate for Congress in Michigans 12th Congressional District in the 2018 midterm elections. This campaign is advancing a socialist program for a workers government to secure the rights of the working class, expropriate the wealth of the financial oligarchy, transform the giant banks and corporations into publicly controlled utilities, and establish workers control over the workplace and the process of production. 78. To carry out its immense political responsibilities, the party and its cadre must be firmly rooted and educated in the historical experiences of the Marxist movement, above all the eighty-year history of the Fourth International, founded by Leon Trotsky in 1938. There is no other political movement that represents the continuity of the fight for Marxism in the working class. The immense history embodied in the International Committee of the Fourth International must be brought into the developing movement of the working class. The intersection of the objective radicalization of the working class and the practice of the party will create the conditions for the victory of the working class, the abolition of capitalism, and the socialist transformation of world economy. Concluded Ryanair pilots in Ireland, Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany are expected to strike Friday in opposition to attacks on their pay and working conditions. The strikes are over a range of issues. A large number of the pilots who fly for Ryanair are not employed by the airline. They are forced to form a one-person company and even set up a bank account in Ireland. In that country, some 100 full-time pilots are striking over issues of seniority. In Germany, 400 pilots are opposing the increasing use of agency workers and demanding a higher base salary so that variable payments based on hours flown make up a smaller part of overall remuneration. They are also demanding higher sick pay and equal pay across German operations. In Sweden, pilots are in dispute because the trade union involved has been unable to reach a collective agreement and claims that Ryanair is refusing to negotiate. In the Netherlands, workers are demanding a collective contract in which Dutch labour law is applied, including full-time jobs, improved sick pay and pension provisions. In Belgium, pilots are walking out in defence of cabin crew who struck in June and have faced intimidation by management. Pilots in all five countries have voted in favour of strike action, with unions in the Netherlands and Germany yet to formally decide on when to strike. Pilots in the Netherlands expressed the common determination of pilots in all of the countries involved to fight back by voting by 99.5 percent for industrial action. German pilots voted for strike action by a similar margin. Ryanair pilots in Ireland, where the company is headquartered, have already staged four one-day strikes this year. The strikes must be seen in the context of a developing resurgence of the class struggle internationally. In a January 3 Perspective article, World Socialist Web Site Chairperson David North wrote that 2018 would be characterized, above all, by an immense intensification of social tensions and an escalation of class conflict around the world. North continued: The essential contradictions of the capitalist system are now rapidly approaching the point where the further suppression of mass working class opposition to capitalism is impossible. This assessment is being borne out, with struggles erupting all over the world against attacks on workers pay, conditions and livelihoods, including the mass strikes by teachers in the United States, the strike by industrial workers in Germany, the fight by 50,000 university lecturers in the UK in defence of pension rights, and the strikes and protests by rail workers in France against pro-business legislation imposed by the Macron government. Last month, an article in Politico referred to the initial Ryanair strikes as the harbinger of a continent-wide rebellion by cabin crew and pilots. This rebellion is gathering paceas a global struggle against a transnational corporation employing 13,000 workers and operating from 86 bases in 37 countries across Europe and North Africa. This has implications for the global airline industry. Carrying 130 million passengers last year, Ryanair is Europes largest airline by passenger numbers. It plays a critical role in setting new benchmarks of super-exploitation based on its business model of imposing low pay and long working hours. Ryanair recruits staff at rock bottom rates of pay, using agencies to scour low-wage countriesparticularly in eastern Europeto hire cabin crew who can reportedly be paid as little as 10 a flight. According to information obtained by the ryanairdontcare blog, over 4,000 Ryanair staff are on zero-hour contracts, earning as little as 600 a month. Ryanair cabin crew report that they work unpaid for up to five hours a day. The firm has maintained a policy whereby staff must be available for airport standby and are paid just 3.75 per hour. Pilots previously had to pay Ryanair a training course fee of 29,500, which was reduced only this year. However, cadets are still forced to hand over an upfront fee of 5,000. The pressure placed on workers is intolerable. Last Friday, a Dutch Ryanair pilot with 10 years at the company, Jouke Schrale, was found dead in a staff car park at Malaga airportreportedly having committed suicide shortly before he was scheduled to fly a plane to Brussels. This is the second suicide of a Ryanair pilot since 2011, when Paul Ridgard, based at John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, took his own life. The Ryanair strike shows that the struggles of the working class are reaching a higher stage of development and intensity, posing strategic issues before every section of the international working class. In 1988, the International Committee of the Fourth International made a far-sighted appraisal of the impact on the future course of the class struggle of globalised production and the domination of economic life by huge transnational corporations. The ICFI wrote: It has long been an elementary proposition of Marxism that the class struggle is national only as to form, but that it is, in essence, an international struggle. However, given the new features of capitalist development, even the form of the class struggle must assume an international character. Even the most elemental struggles of the working class pose the necessity of coordinating its actions on an international scale. The main obstacle to such an offensive is the nationalist, pro-capitalist trade unions, which function as an industrial police force on behalf of the corporations, banks and national governments. Fridays joint action will take place due only to an incipient rebellion against trade unions that have worked for months to prevent such an outcome. Germanys Cockpit union did not announce a date for a strike because it was desperately seeking a last-minute, face-saving agreement with Ryanair. Ahead of this weeks strikes, the Sepla union, representing 500 of the 800 Ryanair pilots in Spain, announced that it would not be calling strikes despite failing to reach a collective bargaining contract with Ryanair. It would initiate legal action instead. Some 25 percent of Ryanairs pilots are located in the UK. Throughout the latest wave of international strikes, the BALPA trade union, recognised by the company in January, has continued fruitless negotiations with Ryanair, seeking an end to a fragmented pay structure, to reduce the number of contract pilots and the acceptance of seniority. For its part, the Irish pilots union (Ialpa-Forsa) has agreed to third-party negotiations beginning next week. Not only are the unions keeping pilots strikes in the various countries separated from one another wherever possible, they are also isolating pilots from Ryanairs super-exploited cabin crews. At the end of July, cabin crew workers held strikes for two days in Spain, Portugal and Belgium, with no involvement by the pilots. In stark contrast, corporations such as Ryanair utilise the global economy to impose ever greater levels of exploitation. The company relies on the divisions between workers deliberately fostered by the trade unions on the basis of their reactionary perspective of economic nationalism. Ryanair has threatened to sack more than 100 pilots and 200 cabin crew workers based at Dublin Airport, with CEO Michael OLeary warning that the company will move jobs to Poland from Ireland if they continue to strike. The only way to combat this global offensive by the employers is for workers to mount a global offensive of their own! Ryanair pilots, cabin crew and ground staff must break free of the grip of the trade unions and take the struggle into their own hands. Rank-and-file committees must be formed, wholly independent of the trade unions. They must link up the fight of all Ryanair workers across all national divisions, while making an appeal for support from airline, transport and delivery workers across the globe. This requires the adoption of a socialist, internationalist programme, as fought for by the ICFI, including placing the airline industry under public ownership, to be run democratically as part of a planned global economy based on human need, not the accumulation of private profit. Ryanair workers in agreement with this perspective should write to the WSWS and share your experiences with your co-workers internationally. With a statement hailing fascist dictator Francisco Franco, 181 retired top Spanish army officers have declared their support for Francos policy of mass murder to crush opposition in the working class. It is a warning to workers not only in Spain, but across Europe and internationally. Amid rising social anger and strike activity against austerity and militarism across Europe, the ruling class in desperation is plotting civil war to suppress social opposition. The July 31 manifesto, Declaration of Respect to General Francisco Franco Bahamonde, Soldier of Spain, signed by a group of retired generals, colonels, admirals and frigate captains including the former head of Spains land army until 2016, General Juan Enrique Aparicio, is unambiguous. Published in the pro-Francoite Asociacion de Militares Espanoles (AME-Association of Spanish Soldiers), it endorses as the savior of Spain a fascist dictator who butchered hundreds of thousands of workers during the Spanish Civil War and founded a brutal, 40-year fascist dictatorship. They criticize the new Podemos-backed minority Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) governments cynical attempt to rally support among workers and youth with a few impotent criticisms of Franco, including plans to move Francos remains out of a mausoleum in the Valley of the Fallen. They are well aware that the PSOEs pro-austerity government is deeply unpopular due to its austerity policies, and that it hangs by a thread. Attacking the PSOEs hypocrisy, they note that its anti-Franco campaign promotes a false progressiveness that hides the reality of the Nations current territorial collapse and the evident inequality among the Spaniards. They denounce constant attacks on the person of General Franco since his death, slowly but surely erasing all traces of his work for Spain in the historical moments that he had to live. They blame the political left for unleashing an unprecedented campaign that is incomprehensible if one forgets its visceral drive to erase a half-century of our History, through the final attempt to erase the chief architect that prevented that history from disappearing. They hail Francos unique command of Spain, assaulted and besieged by international communism and taken over by the Popular Front. Francos infamous record is well known. He led an illegal fascist coup in 1936 that plunged Spain into a three-year civil war, shattered cities across the country, and led to the murder of 200,000 political oppositionists, left-wing intellectuals and militant workers. An additional 400,000 people were imprisoned in jails and concentration camps, where many died of malnutrition and starvation. A half-million people fled Spain as political refugees. Under the four decades of the Francoite regime, thousands were arrested, tortured and killed by the secret police. Strikes, political parties and unions were banned, and democratic rights suppressed. Newspapers and books were censored, and higher education was only available to the privileged. The fact that a broad swathe of Spains officer corps sees this as a positive example is a warning. Fascism was not a political accident of the 20th century, but the inevitable political outgrowth of capitalism. After a quarter century of increasing war and militarism since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union, and a decade of deep austerity since the 2008 Wall Street crash, ruling circles are again envisaging such policies as they face an ever more hostile and angry population. The European Union (EU) has shifted far to the right, and ultra-right forces increasingly shape its political agenda. This summer, the EU agreed to drastically intensify its anti-refugee policy, with plans to hermetically seal off Fortress Europe, deport refugees en masse to war zones in the Middle East and Africa, and build a vast network of concentration camps across Europe and the Mediterranean. These camps, as the WSWS has warned, will inevitably be used against political opposition in the working class. The Spanish officer corps decision now to hail the Franco regime confirms that these reactionary policies are setting into motion the drive to civil war within Europe itself. At the same time, particularly this year, the class struggle has sharpened internationally. There have been powerful strikes by US teachers, German and Turkish metalworkers, and French and British rail workers. In Spain, 8 million working hours were lost due to strikes in the first quarter of this year, 51 percent more than the same period last year. Amazon workers struck last month. Industrial action among pilots, ground staff and air traffic controllers in Spain has reached historic levels. As the ruling class hails fascism and war, the alternative is the building of the revolutionary vanguard of the working class. The key question is the political mobilisation of the entire Spanish and European working class in struggle on a revolutionary and socialist program. For this, the working class needs to build sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in Spain and across Europe. Critical lessons must be drawn. If the army feels emboldened to hail Francos mass murder of the working class, it is due above all to the reactionary role of the PSOE, the Stalinist forces inside Podemos, and also Podemoss Pabloite faction, consisting of allies of Frances New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA). Podemos and a broader layer of petty-bourgeois, anti-Trotskyist parties working in its periphery are totally bankrupt and hostile to the working class. The Podemos-backed PSOE government is now implementing an austerity budget while ramming through the highest military expenditure since Francos death over 40 years ago. During Madrids violent crackdown on the Catalan independence referendum last year, which left 1,000 injured as voters attempted to protect the ballots from police, the PSOE supported the right-wing Popular Party (PP) governments brutal repression. Together with Podemos, they then backed the imposition of an unelected government in Catalonia, the jailing of Catalan nationalist leaders on fraudulent charges, and the holding of Spanish nationalist rallies in Barcelona. The PSOE-Stalinist forget and forgive pact with the Francoites during the Transition from authoritarian rule to parliamentary democracy in the 1970s, in order to block a revolutionary seizure of power by the working class, stands exposed as completely rotten. Despite mass opposition to fascism, the PSOE and the political ancestors of Podemos entered into a deal that saved the entire Francoite apparatus. Now the retired generals, who grew up in the waning years of Francoism, and having backed the mass assault on peaceful Catalan voters, look again to the legacy of fascist repression. Indeed, the issuing of this letter points to some of the ways the Transition allowed the fascists to survive. After decades of PSOE government since 1978, the AME still has offices in army barracks, receives state subsidies and publishes the newspaper Militares (Soldiers) that is freely distributed among Spanish soldiers. Many of the signatories of the AME statement were promoted under successive PSOE governments. They base their defence of Franco on Article 21 of the Royal Ordinances for the Armed Forces, approved in 2009 under PSOE Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, which stipulates, Members of the Armed Forces will feel as heirs and depositaries of the Spanish military tradition. It is their duty and a reason for encouragement for the continuation of its work to give tribute to the heroes who forged Spains military tradition and to all those who gave their lives for Spain. Amid an unprecedented social and economic crisis, the cynical and symbolic anti-fascist measures of the PSOE and Podemos, like the removal of Francos remains from his mausoleum, are only emboldening the fascists. As of this writing, the PSOE and Podemos have still maintained a cowardly and deafening silence on the generals statement. These events are a historic confirmation of the enduring significance of Trotskys struggle against both fascism and the social democrats and Stalinists, who in Spain suppressed the revolutionary struggles of the working class during the Civil War. The only force fighting for a Trotskyist political perspective for the working class to take power is the ICFI. Rejecting the Stalinists strangling of the mass struggles against the Francoites in the 1970s and the Pabloites adaptation to it, the Trotskyist movement struggles to arm the working class with a socialist and internationalist programme against social inequality, militarism and the turn to authoritarian forms of rule. The way forward in the struggle against the growth of police-state and fascist forces is building sections of the ICFI in Spain and internationally. Chinese Embassy refuses to vet papers claimed fake by bidders The controversy began last month after the Kathmandu-based Kalika Construction, Rasuwa Construction Company, and their Chinese joint venture partner CICO filed a complaint at the Office of the Prime Minister, claiming that other contractors that bid for the project had filed fake documents. The Vote No on UPS Contract Facebook page, whose administrators are part of the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), a faction of the Teamsters union, has censored a post of a video by Shannon Allen, an injured homeless Amazon employee, appealing for a united struggle between Amazon and UPS workers. The post was taken down on Tuesday. Shannons video is a response to Democratic Party Senator Bernie Sanders, whose campaign published advertising material featuring another video she posted on YouTube about being evicted from her home and forced to live in her car while working at Amazon because of the poverty-level wages. Shannon states in the censored video: I am not a Bernie Sanders supporter. He is just another Democratic Party politician whose job is to keep workers like me chained to a two-party system. Shannon also reveals that the Teamsters union wanted to use her story to help boost their image and secure a position taking the dues money from hundreds of thousands of Amazon workers. I told them no, Shannon said, because the problems me and my fellow workers face wont be solved by giving dues money to unions that are all in cahoots with the corporations. Shannon concludes by calling for the building of a rank-and-file committee run by the workers themselves, independent of the Democratic and Republican Parties and the unions. We need to link up the working class. We need to link up Amazon and UPS workers. We need to link up across the world. [Amazon workers in] Germany, Poland, Spain, I stand and support you. These are the plain truths spoken from an Amazon worker to her counterparts at UPS that the Teamsters union, including the TDU, does not want workers to hear. The action makes clear what the TDUs real attitude is to workers. The TDU is calling for a no vote against the sellout contract that the Teamsters released last month. But it is no less hostile than the current Teamsters leadership to the efforts by workers to break free from these corrupt and pro-business organizations and form their own rank-and-file committees of struggle in the hubs and warehouses. The entire Teamsters apparatus is terrified of the prospect of UPS workers linking up with their coworkers at Amazon, USPS, FedEx and elsewhere in the US and internationally. The Vote no on UPS contract page about section states that the Facebook group is for Teamsters who work for United Parcel Service in the United States, only. In other words, workers at Amazon, at USPS, other Teamsters members in other industries, and workers from other countries should not be allowed to speak to their US-based coworkers. UPS has international operations, including in Germany, China and Canada, but the TDU is opposed to workers linking up across national borders in a common fight. The administrator for the Vote No on UPS Contract Facebook page who removed the post told World Socialist Web Sites Kayla Costa, who posted the video to the page, that the video violated the pages rules because we cant have any posts referencing politicians, i.e., Sanders. The administrator said that Mark Timlin, who founded the Facebook page in 2013 while a member of the TDU steering committee, told us other group administrators and moderators that he doesnt want any posts having to do with government politicians because they distract from the purpose of the group. The claim that workers engaged in struggle must avoid politics only means that workers should not challenge the politics of the capitalist class and the unions efforts to subordinate workers to the Democratic Party, to which the TDU and Teamsters have close and longstanding ties. The call for no politics means, in practice, no socialist politics and no revolutionary politics. Since Shannons video was removed, other articles posted from the World Socialist Web Site UPS Workers Newsletter have also been removed. The same anti-democratic action was taken by the Oklahoma Teachers United Facebook page, used by tens of thousands of teachers during the wave of teachers strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona this year. The OTU censored articles from the World Socialist Web Site exposing the preparations by the teachers union for a sellout, with the justification that there could be no politics allowed. UPS management and the corporations do not have a strategy of no politics. As many workers know, any strike at UPS will be met with ferocious opposition by the ruling class and its state, from court injunctions, police repression, and attacks by the Trump administration, the Democratic Party, and the entire corporate-controlled media, who will immediately rush to the side of the company and its shareholders and denounce the workers for their irresponsibility and disruption of the economy. How can workers possibly fight against these forces if they are forced to submit to the unions diktat: no politics? The logic of the UPS workers struggle, from which the Teamsters apparatus is seeking to blind them, poses the necessity of expanding their struggle. Rank-and-file factory committees must be built to turn out to other sections of workers across the United States and internationally, in opposition to all the political parties of the ruling class, including the Democrats and the Republicans. UPS workers should demand an end to all acts of censorship by the administrators of the Vote No on UPS Contracts Facebook page, and that workers have the right to discuss and share whatever they want, free from the censorship of the Teamsters and the TDU. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Aldi's is looking to fill more than 150 positions in stores across Indiana and northern Kentucky. The chain is working on a product expansion nationwide, including in Terre Haute. It will be to offer more fresh products for customers. It will be a $5 billion investment. The plan will expand Aldi's store count to more than 2,000 stores by 2022. They will be hosting a one-day hiring spree on August 18th. Locally, there will be one at the Holiday Inn on U.S. 41 in Terre Haute. The event will last from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. They are looking for manager trainees, shift managers, and store associates. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - We often talk about how far health care has come in such a short time. Even 10 to 20 years ago, medical practices looked different. It was the passion of two local doctors that put Union Hospital in Terre Haute on the map. Thats where you'll find life's biggest blessings in the newborn intensive care unit. They just so happen to come in small packages. "I came to the NICU kind of by accident," said Colleen McConnell, R.N. McConnell never planned to call herself a NICU nurse. She was transferred to the unit three years into her nursing career and fell in love. "You only had two nurses who worked the whole NICU," said McConnell. Operations looked a little different in the 1970s. "One nurse would take one side of the hall and the other nurse would take the other side and that's how we divided up the patient load," said McConnell. She's talking about the first NICU established in Indiana. It started at Union Hospital in Terre Haute thanks to Dr. Thomas Conway, M.D. and Dr. William Scully, M.D. "Our leadership team in the history of our existence is not scared to try something new, especially when its evidence-based," said Jaimee Goodman, Director of Womens and Childrens Services. Since 1968, the unit has seen many upgrades. So has their care. McConnell remembers introducing surfactant, a new medicine, in 1990 that helped babies breathe easier. "That made a big improvement in the outcomes of those babies," said McConnell. Results that saved lives. "It just makes you feel good all over because you were part of that. So you helped them and that's what nursing is all about, said McConnell. When this summer rolled around, McConnell decided it was time to hang up the badge after 43 years. "It was hard to leave too," said McConnell. This Terre Haute nurse saw health care transform and families blossom. And if you ask her if she could go back in time, shed say, If I did it all over, Id do the same thing. The hospital is celebrating 50 years of NICU miracles. You're invited to join the big celebration on October 20 from 1 3 p.m. in Union Hospital East Lower Level Atrium. You can preorder a shirt to wear to the event and proceeds will benefit the Union Health Foundation NICU fund. Order through this link. The celebration will include honoring Dr. Conway and Dr. Scully, visiting with NICU caregivers and families, and information on whats next for NICU care at Union Hospital. If you are a Union Hospital NICU graduate or have a child who is a NICU graduate, please email a photo to Jennifer Harrah jharrah@uhhg.org with the year of birth. VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Two women are facing several charges after a traffic stop in Vermillion County. Indiana State Police told us a trooper stopped a speeding car on Interstate 74 on Wednesday. The trooper said he thought the two people in the car were being deceptive. The trooper and his K9 partner performed a consensual search of the car. Police said they found 11 counterfeit $100 bills along with marijuana. That is when police arrested the driver, Cherith Hadnott and passenger Aniya Harris. Both women are from Indianapolis. CBS News - Crocs Inc. said that it's closing all of its manufacturing facilities, and announced that its chief financial officer will resign. Crocs (CROX), based out of Niwot, Colorado, noted in a press release Tuesday that a facility in Mexico will shutter and there are plans to close one in Italy. It's unclear what the future of production will be. The company said Carrie Teffner, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will leave Crocs effective April 1, 2019. Her successor will be Anne Mehlman, who comes from Amazon-owned online shoe retailer Zappos. Mehlman will begin her duties August 24, 2018. Crocs became popular among hospital and restaurant workers and others toiling on their feet all day after its 2002 launch, with annual sales soaring past $100 million before a fall from favor and experiencing a mixed road business-wise ever since. In July, the company debuted a high-heel version of its rubberized footwear at $50 a pair. It sparked a spirited conversation online. Shares of the company have climbed 43 percent since the beginning of the year, while the stock itself has more than doubled in the last 12 months. Crocs said it closed 28 retail sales locations in the latest quarter, Denver Business Journal writes, which leaves the company with less than 400 locations globally. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Facebook is looking to expand into financial services and has reportedly asked several U.S. banks for customer information as part of a move to build out its Messenger application, the Wall Street Journal reported. The social media giant reached out to several large U.S. banks about the topic last year, including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo & Co. and Citigroup, the Journal reported Tuesday. It asked for information including card transactions and account balances, according to the report. The move would help Facebook pull in more information on its users' financial habits, while banks would have another way to reach out to customers, WSJ reporter Deepa Seetharaman told CBSN. "The vast majority of our credit card transactions occur off Facebook, so that would be pulling in a lot more information into Facebook's servers," Seetharaman said. "I think the pitch from Facebook is, Hey, your consumers are already here ... why not just have this convenient add-on feature and this ability for them to interact with your bank on Messenger, since they are already there?" Top of mind for potential bank partners and customers are Facebook's recent disclosures regarding its failure to protect user data as well as the use of the network by malicious actors looking to scam people and influence elections. One bank pulled out of talks due to privacy concerns, the Journal reported. "Facebook is trying to become a one stop shop for the internet," CNET executive editor Ian Sherr said in an interview with CBSN. "They are trying to connect you with all of your friends, obviously they are the largest photo site on the web, and so it would make sense that they would try to become kind of a banking site too." In a statement, Facebook denied that it was seeking information on transactions and said it was looking to help banks with their customer service. "The idea is that messaging with a bank can be better than waiting on hold over the phone - and it's completely opt-in," the statement said. "We're not using this information beyond enabling these types of experiences - not for advertising or anything else." TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana is ranked as one of the most unhealthy states in the country...and the Wabash Valley is even worse. On Thursday, an event held at Ivy Tech Community College in Terre Haute hoped to help improve those statistics. City, county, and state government officials...along with medical providers and business leaders gathered to gain focus and insight on the current health of Hoosiers. Doctors say education, funding, and prevention is also key to improving health across the state. New Head Lice Policy/Procedures for Vigo County School Corp. It is the position of the National Association of School Nurses, CDC, and American Academy of Pediatrics, that the management of head lice in the school setting should not disrupt the educational process of the student. Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice. Students will not be excluded from school for having head lice, although school nurses have the authorization to exclude a child with repeated infestations or with an apparent lack of adequate follow through by parents. Transmission: Lice do not hop or jump, they can only crawl, and pets do not play a role in the transmission of human lice. In most cases, transmission occurs by direct contact. Indirect spread through contact with personal belongings of an infested individual is much less likely to occur. The major focus of control activities should be to reduce the number of lice on the head and to lessen the risks of head-to-head contact. Procedure: Screening for head lice should be done only by the school nurse, health assistant, or health assistant designee or individuals trained by the school nurse. The health assistant, health assistant designee, or school nurse may check all who have close contact (siblings or others who are symptomatic or who were most likely to have direct head to head contact with the infested student) with a confirmed case of live lice. This is not mandatory. Students with live (crawling) lice or nits within inch or less of the scalp should have a note sent home with student or parents contacted by phone. Treatment should not be initiated unless there is clear evidence of live lice. The child should be allowed to remain in class and participate in school-sponsored activities when live lice or nits (the eggs of head lice) are found on their heads. The student should be discouraged from close direct head contact with others. If a parent chooses to take the student home they may but this is not required. Students having no evidence of infestation do not need treatment. The next day when student returns to school the student's head should be checked and treatment verified. Check student periodically (once or twice the week lice are found). If progress is being made may stop head checks. If no progress in nit removal is occurring, contact the school nurse. A student may be sent home if treatment and nit removal is not occurring. Nit removal may decrease diagnostic confusion, decrease the possibility of unnecessary retreatment, and help to decrease the small risk of self-infestation and social stigma. No nit policies that require a child to be free of nits before they can return to school have been discontinued for the following documented reasons: u Many nits are more than inch from the scalp. Such nits are usually not viable and very unlikely to hatch to become crawling lice, or may in fact be empty shells, also known as "casings". u Nits are cemented to hair shafts and are very unlikely to be transferred successfully to other people. u The burden of unnecessary absenteeism to the students, families and communities far outweighs the risks associated with head lice. u Misdiagnosis of nits is very common during nit checks conducted by nonmedical personnel. The child does not need to be sent home immediately. Parent notification should be made by the end of the school day by phone or note being sent with student. Screening for nits alone is not an accurate way of predicting which children are or will become infested, and screening for live lice has not been proven to have a significant effect on the incidence of head lice in a school community over time. Because of lack of evidence of efficacy, routine classroom or schoolwide screening will not be done. Notification of lice in class room letters are not routinely sent to parents of other students in the classroom. They may be sent, at the nurse and principal discretion, when a significant number of cases occur in a single classroom or grade. Lice Quick Facts: Head lice are not a health hazard or a sign of poor hygiene and are not known to cause disease; however secondary bacterial infection of the skin resulting from contaminated scratching and related lesions can occur. If infection is suspected, contact the school nurse. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice. There is significant stigma resulting from head lice infestations resulting in children being ostracized from their schools, friends, and other social events. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend excessive environmental cleaning, such as home pesticides. While it is unlikely to prevent all cases of head lice, children should be taught not to share personal items such as combs, brushes, and hats. Regular observation by parents can also be an effective way to detect and quickly treat head lice infestations. TAOS, N.M. (AP) The father of a missing Georgia boy was training children at a New Mexico compound to commit school shootings, prosecutors said in court documents obtained Wednesday, as authorities waited to learn if human remains found at the site were those of the boy. The documents say Siraj Ibn Wahhaj was conducting weapons training with assault rifles at the compound near the Colorado border where authorities say they found 11 hungry children living in filthy conditions in a raid Friday. Prosecutor Timothy Hasson filed the court documents while asking that Wahhaj be held without bail after he was arrested last week with four other adults facing child abuse charges. He poses a great danger to the children found on the property as well as a threat to the community as a whole due to the presence of firearms and his intent to use these firearms in a violent and illegal manner, Hasson wrote. Prosecutors did not bring up the school shooting accusation in court on Wednesday during an initial appearance by the abuse suspects. A judge ordered Wahhaj held without bond pending further proceedings. In the court documents, authorities said a foster parent of one of the 11 children removed from the compound had told authorities that the child had been trained to use an assault rifle in preparation for a school shooting. A New Mexico sheriff says searchers have found the remains of a boy on property where authorities raided a makeshift compound last week in search of a missing Georgia child. (Aug. 7) Authorities say human remains found at the compound were being analyzed by medical examiners to determine if they are those of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, who is severely disabled and went missing in December in Jonesboro, Georgia, near Atlanta. In a Georgia arrest warrant, authorities said the father had told the boys mother that he wanted to perform an exorcism on the child because he believed he was possessed by the devil. He later said he was taking the child to a park and didnt return. The father was among those arrested at the compound. He is accused in Georgia of kidnapping the boy and a warrant for his arrest was issued. The warrant said the missing boy had severe medical issues, including a defect caused by lack of oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth. It said he cannot walk and requires constant attention. For months, neighbors worried about the squalid compound built along a remote New Mexico plain, saying they took their concerns to authorities months before sheriffs officials raided the encampment, described as a small camping trailer in the ground. Authorities said during the raid Friday that they had found the father armed with multiple firearms, including an assault rifle. They also said they believed there was a shooting range on the site. The group arrived in Amalia in December, with enough money to buy groceries and construction supplies, according to Tyler Anderson, a 41-year-old auto mechanic who lives nearby. He said he helped the newcomers install solar panels after they arrived but eventually stopped visiting. Anderson said he met both of the men in the group, but never the women, who authorities have said are the mothers of the 11 children, ages 1 to 15. Anderson did not recall seeing the Georgia boy who was missing. But he said some of the smaller children from the compound turned up to play with children at neighboring properties after the group first arrived. We just figured they were doing what we were doing, getting a piece of land and getting off the grid, Anderson said. As the months passed, however, they stopped seeing the smaller children playing in the area. They also stopped hearing guns fired off at a shooting range on the property, he said. Jason Badger, who owned the property where the compound was built, said he and his wife had pressed authorities to remove the group after becoming concerned about the children. The group had built the compound on their acreage instead of a neighboring tract owned by Lucas Morton, one of the men arrested during the raid. I started to try and kick them off about three months ago and everything I tried to do kept getting knocked down, said Badger said. A judge dismissed an eviction notice filed by Badger against Morton in June, court records said. The records did not provide further details on the judges decision. After the raid, Anderson went over and looked at the property for the first time in months. I was flabbergasted from what it had turned into from the last time I saw it, he said. ___ Hudetz reported from Albuquerque. Associated Press writer Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI)- Heading back-to-school typically means riding the school bus, packing a lunch, and carrying a backpack. However, that's not the case for some students. The first day of school is a completely different experience for a family in Brazil. There are no extra supplies needed, no uniform, just a solid Wi-Fi signal that is critical for these students. Lindsay Ison is the mother of six children. "I know what they {her children} are learning. I know if there is something that disagrees with our religion, values, or our morals it is something I can address right away," Ison said. Arleigh Ison is starting 7th grade. "I did Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies," Arleigh said. All kids are learning form behind a screen through Indiana Connections Academy (INCA). It's basically public schooling at home. "I am making sure that they are showing up for class," Lindsay Ison said. "If they have questions, I am directing them to the right place." Courses are taught by the state curriculum with real teachers to virtually interact with. It is what the Lindsay Ison says is a better pace for her children with more individualized attention. "Our job is to raise our children right now," Lindsay said. "It does take work, it does take effort. But, children takes work and effort. And, if you want to be a part of a kid's life when they are in a brick and mortar school, I feel like that takes even more effort than having it in my home." More than 4,500 Indiana students return to school while attending INCA (4,300 students) and INCC (200 students). INCA (grades K - 12) and INCA (grades 9 - 12) are public, online schools serving students statewide. To learn more about INCA, click here. Death toll from Indonesia quake climbs over 320 The death toll from a huge 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Indonesias Lombok island has climbed to more than 320, officials said on Friday, even as relief efforts picked up pace, Reuters reported. MARSHALL, Ill. (WTHI) - Kids are packing school buses as they head to and from school...but one bus is being filled in an entirely different way. The United Way Stuff the Bus Tour made a stop in Marshall, Illinois. People dropped off donations. From there, local schools will receive the donations and get them to kids who need them. This was the last stop for the Stuff the Bus Tour. HELENA, Mont. (AP) Superman actress Margot Kidders death has been ruled a suicide, and her daughter said Wednesday its a relief to finally have the truth out. Kidder, who played Lois Lane opposite Christopher Reeves Superman in her most famous role, was found by a friend in her Montana home on May 13. At the time, Kidders manager, Camilla Fluxman Pines, said Kidder died peacefully in her sleep. A statement released Wednesday by Park County coroner Richard Wood said the 69-year-old Kidder died as a result of a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose and that no further details would be released. Maggie McGuane, Kidders daughter by her ex-husband Thomas McGuane, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that she knew her mother died by suicide the moment authorities took her to Kidders home in Livingston, a small town near Yellowstone National Park. Its a big relief that the truth is out there, she said. Its important to be open and honest so theres not a cloud of shame in dealing with this. Kidders death is one of several high-profile suicides this year that include celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer Kate Spade. McGuane noted that Montana has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation and she urged people with mental illness to seek help. Its a very unique sort of grief and pain, McGuane said. Knowing how many families in this state go through this, I wish that I could reach out to each one of them. Kidder struggled with mental illness much of her life, and it was made worse by a 1990 car accident that left her in debt and led to her using a wheelchair for almost two years. Kidder and Reeve starred in four Superman movies between 1978 and 1987. She also appeared in The Great Waldo Pepper with Robert Redford in 1975, Brian De Palmas Sisters in 1973 and The Amityville Horror in 1979. She later appeared in small films and television shows until 2017, including R.L. Stines the Haunting Hour. She received a Daytime Emmy Award as outstanding performer in a kids series in 2015 for that role. Kidder, a native of Yellowknife, Canada, was a political activist who was arrested in 2011 in a Washington, D.C., protest over the proposed Keystone XL pipeline from Canadas oil sands. Her final years were troubled by conflicts with people who were down on their luck that she took into her home. Between August 2016 and her death in May, authorities were called to her house 40 times on reports of people trespassing, theft and other disturbances, according to police logs released to the AP under a public-records request. The calls include responses by ambulances five times in seven months, including at the time of her death. Joan Kesich, a longtime friend who found Kidders body, said Kidder was fearless and always spoke the truth, regardless of the consequences. In her last months, she was herself same kind of love, same kind of energy, Kesich said. The challenges that she had were very public. I want what I know about her to be out there because it was glorious. She was really a blazing energy. The Taliban launched a brazen attack on the strategic Afghan city of Ghazni, south of the capital Kabul, early on Friday, seizing key buildings and trading fire with security forces. Afghan soldiers fought back as the heavily armed militants converged from four sides of the province. At least 16 people were killed and 40 injured, the majority of them Afghan security forces, Ghazni public health director Zahir Shah Nikmall told CNN. Afghanistan Afghanistan war Asia Conflicts and wars Continents and regions Ghazni International relations and national security Middle East Middle East and North Africa National security South Asia Taliban Terrorism Terrorism and counter-terrorism Terrorist attacks Unrest, conflicts and war Kabul Bombings Military Military operations Armed forces North America The Americas United States United States forces responded to the assault with attack helicopters and a drone strike, according to US Forces Afghanistan spokesman Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell. Heavy fighting was continuing as of Friday afternoon in the city, where Afghan and NATO forces were engaging fighters "by air and ground," Ghazni government spokesman Mohammad Arif Noori told CNN. Mohammad Radmanish, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, said that the Taliban had been pushed back to the outskirts of the city. He estimated that more than 150 Taliban fighters have been killed or wounded. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that hundreds of fighters armed with heavy and light weapons entered Ghazni at around 1 a.m., capturing a number of strategic sites within the city and killing more than 140 Afghan soldiers. The US disputed that figure, saying initial reports indicated there were "minimal Afghan security force casualties." In a tweet, US Forces Afghanistan called the attack a "failed attempt" to seize territory "while creating strategically inconsequential headlines." An ambitious assault on a key city Ghazni, the capital of the province of the same name, is less than 100 miles south of Kabul. It lies on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, an important artery connecting the capital to the country's southern provinces and some of its western ones. The assault on a major population center was one of the group's most ambitious military moves in years, and was further evidence that a violent stalemate between the government and the Taliban persists. In May, the inisurgent group briefly overran the western city of Farah, but Ghazni is far more important and the scale of the attack much greater. If the city fell to the Taliban, it would compromise the security of the capital and the eight provinces it borders. However, while the Taliban is capable of controlling rural areas, the combination of Afghan troops with US air support has prevented its fighters from taking and holding population centers. Friday's assault could imperil any chances of a potential ceasefire between the government and the extremist group for the Eid al-Adha festival in less than two weeks. Ongoing violence The assault is the latest insurgent attack in the country since the Afghan government unilaterally called off a ceasefire that it had in place for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Taliban, along with other militant groups such as ISIS, routinely attack military and civilian targets in the country. At least seven people were killed and more than 15 were wounded in Kabul in a suicide attack at a ministry in early June, and a further 14 people were killed and 60 injured in a suicide bomb attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport outside the capital in late July. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack. The continuing violence comes amid the release of a UN report stating the number of Afghan civilians killed in the first six months of this year has reached a record high. Almost 1,700 civilians were killed from January 1 to June 30, a total higher than any comparable time over the past 10 years, according to the UN. Late last month, American diplomats met face-to-face with Taliban representatives in Qatar to discuss laying the groundwork for peace talks, according to The Wall Street Journal. US diplomats met with Taliban representatives in Qatar without Afghan government officials present, the New York Times said, citing two senior Taliban officials. The State Department did not confirm or deny the talks, which would be a reversal of a longstanding policy and strategy toward the Taliban in Afghanistan. Opinion: Reasons for hope amid Afghanistan's endless war Special counsel Robert Mueller has subpoenaed Randy Credico to testify before a grand jury next month, according to Credico's attorney. Martin Stolar told CNN he received a subpoena Thursday and Credico intends to comply and testify on September 7. Continents and regions Eastern Europe Europe Government and public administration Investigations Law and legal system Political Figures - US Politics Robert Mueller Roger Stone Russia Russia meddling investigation Subpoenas Trial and procedure Non-profit and NGO organizations WikiLeaks Julian Assange Misc people Credico, a comedian and radio show host, will likely meet with Mueller's team for a voluntary interview first. Credico previously declined a request from Mueller's team for a voluntary interview. Roger Stone claimed Credico was his back channel to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during the 2016 campaign. Stolar said it's unclear exactly what Mueller's team wants to question Credico about. "My speculation is that they probably want to talk to him about Roger Stone and Julian Assange," Stolar said. Credico had told CNN in June he was expecting to be subpoenaed because he had turned down the interview request. MSNBC reported Thursday that Mueller intended to issue the subpoena. Stone on Friday said he urges Credico to "simply tell the truth." "I have testified truthfully before the House Intelligence Committee that Randy Credico was the source who confirmed Assange's June 2016 CNN interview in which the Wikileaks publisher said he had substantial information on Hillary Clinton," Stone said in a statement. "As I testified Credico told me this material would be released in October. I now realize that Credico's source was a Wikileaks lawyer and not Assange himself. At no time did Credico tell me what the source, content or scope of the WikiLeaks disclosures would be. I would note that Mr. Credico has avoided testifying on these matters under oath. If he is compelled to testify I would urge Mr. Credico to simply tell the truth." Update: This story has been updated with additional context around the subpoena. BRUCE, Miss. (WTVA) - A former teacher at Bruce High School made a court motion to move his criminal trial out of Calhoun County. Court officials in Calhoun County confirm Loray Jordan made the motion Monday. A judge denied the motion. His trial is set for the November term of circuit court in Calhoun County. Jordan was arrested last year accused of inappropriate contact with a student. ITAWAMBA COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - Multiple law enforcement agencies performed a search of employee vehicles at Jackson Furniture in Mantachie, leading to an arrest. The search was conducted Wednesday by North Mississippi Narcotic Unit agents, along with Mantachie police, Itawamba County deputies, Fulton police K-9 unit and Tupelo police K-9 unit. According to the Itawamba County Sheriffs Department, a K-9 directed officers to Nicholas Gardners vehicle. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of meth inside the vehicle, reports the sheriffs department. Gardner, 34, was arrested and charged with the possession of a controlled substance. TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - WTVA's Wayne Hereford brought the blues Thursday night at Steele's Dive to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi. This fundraiser was part of his participation in this year's Dance Like The Stars. The event was free to the public. If you were unable to attend, you still have a chance to donate on behalf of Wayne by going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi's website. Dance Like The Stars will be Saturday night, August 11th. Tickets are available for purchase on the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi's website as well. The dance routines are judged by a panel of three judges. The dancer with the best routine is crowned "Dance Champion", while the dancer who raises the most money earns the title of "Grand Champion". Democratic fighter Durga Subedis autobiography launched Democratic movement fighter Durga Subedi has launched his autobiography titled Biman Bidhroha: Euta Rajnitik Apaharan Bayan on Friday. In the book, Subedi has chronicled his experience of hijacking an aircraft for political purposesthe one and only incident of hijacking the political aircraft in Nepal. According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, on Tuesday, a witness saw that the girl was in Dyess van with him at the mobile home park and that he was kissing her on the neck. When witnesses were trying to find the childs mother to tell her what was going on, Dyess drove away with the victim still in his vehicle. Dyess reportedly took the victim to a nearby retail stores parking lot and attempted to molest her inside his van, according to MCSO. Witnesses then began driving around to look for Dyess and the girl and found them in his van in the stores parking lot. The witnesses told the child to get out of the van, which she did, and Dyess fled the scene. Law enforcement was then notified. Dyess was located and arrested by the Levy County Sheriffs Office at a residence within their jurisdiction Wednesday evening. He is currently being held in the Levy County Jail on MCSOs warrants for kidnapping and simple battery and is awaiting transportation back to Marion County to face his charges. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Florida retailers feel last weekend's back-to-school sales tax holiday went better than expected, considering electronics were not on the list of tax free items for 2018. While official sales numbers wont be available until next month, shops are saying the weekend event was good for business. The tax-free period on clothes, footwear and school supplies ran from Aug. 3-5. It is estimated the average consumer saved about $50 in state and local taxes over the weekend. Everybody just feels good about their own economic situation. People have a little more money in their pockets to spend," said James Miller, with the Florida Retail Federation. "A lot of people are employed. Add all of those factors together, and I think it made up for what was feared to be a lower season because of no technology." Miller says retailers will push for a 10 day sales tax holiday next year that once again includes tax breaks for electronics and tech items. This year's back-to-school holiday was part of a larger tax-cut package totaling about $170 million passed by lawmakers during the 2018 legislative session. The tax package was scaled back in the final weeks of session, as lawmakers shifted budget priorities after the February 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A former school counselor, who was accused of inappropriately touching a child in an apartment complex pool in 2016 has been sentenced. 29-year old Kathgret Rentz was charged with six counts of lewd and lascivious conduct toward a child. Rentz was sentenced on Friday to serve 20 years concurrently for each offense followed by 10 years of sex offender probation. She is also to have no contact with the victim or the family and has been designated a sexual predator. The judge heard from eight witnesses, one called by the defense and seven called by the state. Those witnesses included a psychologist, the principal of Chaires Elementary, and people present during the incident. Her attorney recommended to the judge that she be incarcerated as close to Georgia as possible to be near her family. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The sentencing hearing for former Chaires Elementary School guidance counselor Kathgret Rentz is delayed. The 29-year old is charged with lewd and lascivious conduct toward a child. Rentz was set to appear in a Leon County courtroom Tuesday morning but instead filed a motion for substitution of counsel. In August 2016, witnesses told police they saw Rentz hugging and kissing a child under the age of 16 at a Tallahassee apartment complex pool. In April Rentz plead no contest on the charges. She is expected back in court next week. CAIRO, GA (WTXL) - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Cairo Police Department are investigating the shooting in Cairo Thursday afternoon as a homicide. On Thursday at about 4:20 p.m., GBI was asked to help the Cairo Police Department with the death investigation of 60-year-old Willie Bell. GBI states Bell was found in the yard of his home in the 600 block of 15th Street in Cairo. After further investigation, it was determined that Bell was shot. The case is being investigated as a homicide at this time and no arrests have been made at this point. Bell's Body was sent to the GBI Crime Lab where an autopsy was performed. GBI Agents and Cairo Police are in the area continuing to identify and interview witnesses as well as collecting evidence. The case is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call GBI Thomasville at 229-225-4090 or the Cairo Police Department at 229-378-3096. CAIRO, GA (WALB) - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Cairo Police Department are investigating a death. According to Grady County Coroner Rusty Powe, he was called to the scene of a death around 12:20 p.m. on Thursday. Powe said the person was found in the 600 block of 15th Street Southwest in Cairo. He said the person's death was not natural. Officials have not released the identity of the person found at this time. This investigation is active and ongoing. We will update this story as details come in. Copyright 2018 WALB. All rights reserved. Flood forces Mohanpur residents to flee to India Residents of Mohanpur in Kailari Rural Municipality-3, Kailali have been compelled to take refuge across the border at Dudhwa National Park of Uttar Pradesh in Indiaafter the floodwaters of Mohanan River inundated their settlement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-09 23:46:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia is working towards enhancing its hospitality industry capacity and welcome more foreign tourists, said an official with the tourism ministry on Thursday. Speaking to Xinhua, Gezahegn Abate, Public and International Relations Director of the Ethiopia Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCIT), said his ministry has been working with public and private stakeholders to boost the country's hospitality industry capacity and diversify the nationality of foreign tourists visiting the African country. Ethiopia earned 3.5 billion U.S. dollars from 934,000 tourists who visited the country in the Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2010 (2017/2018), that ended on July 7, said the official. Abate mentioned the MoCIT's work in attracting tourists from the world's most populous nation, China, which he said has shown a steady increase in the past several years despite the unrest the East African country went through since 2016. "MoCT is encouraging Chinese investment in Ethiopia's hospitality sector with a view to dramatically increasing the number of Chinese tourists," Abate said. With a view to making tourism a major hard currency earner, Ethiopia is implementing incentives for entrepreneurs involved in the tourism and hospitality industry, including duty free arrangements for construction materials. Chinese tourists are the third largest group of tourists to Ethiopia, only surpassed in numbers by tourists from the United States and UK. Ethiopia earned 169.6 million U.S. dollars from 45,3017 Chinese tourists that visited the country in 2017. The 2017 Chinese tourists' figures have shown a steady increase from 2016 numbers, which stood at 41,659. The national flag carrier Ethiopian airlines already flies to five destinations in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chengdu and Guangzhou and plans to start flights to Shenzhen later this year. U.S. President Donald Trump (L) meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa) by Xinhua writers Zhu Dongyang, Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. experts have said the announcement on Wednesday of fresh U.S. sanctions against Russia over an alleged nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter will further worsen the ties between Washington and Moscow. Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said Washington determined on Monday that the Russian government "used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law or has used lethal chemical or biological weapons against its own nationals." She added that sanctions, which are based on the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, will take effect on or around Aug. 22, following a 15-day congressional notification period. According to senior State Department officials, the sanctions will come in two phases. The first phase will ban the granting of licenses to sell "all national-security sensitive goods or technologies" to Russia. At the moment, such sales applications are being scrutinized on a case-by-case basis, and Washington "will be presumptively denying such applications" after the sanctions come into force. They said unless Russia, within three months since the sanctions become effective, provides "reliable assurances" that it will no longer engage in chemical weapons use and allows on-site inspections by the United Nations or other internationally recognized impartial observers, the second batch of "more draconian" sanctions will be imposed. The officials estimated that the sanctions may affect hundreds of millions of dollars worth of exports, dealing a blow to some 70 percent of the Russian economy and resulting in an approximately 40-percent fall in workforce. Sergei Skripal, a 66-year-old double agent who worked for the Soviet military's intelligence services before defecting to Britain, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping center in the southwestern British city of Salisbury on March 4. The British government accused Russia of masterminding the poisoning, which it said involved the use of Novichok nerve agent. Russia has denied any involvement. In a separate case on June 30, 44-year-old Dawn Sturgess and her partner, Charlie Rowley, were hospitalized after being exposed to what British authorities confirmed was Novichok in Amesbury in southwestern England. Sturgess later died while Rowley remained in critical condition. Britain on Monday asked the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the international chemical weapons watchdog, for assistance in the investigation of the Amesbury attack. The OPCW said Tuesday in response to the request that it "will deploy a technical assistance team for a follow-up visit and to collect additional samples." Russia has vehemently denied any role in both attacks. The Russian Embassy in Britain said Wednesday that London's invitation of the OPCW lacked transparency. "The technical assistance requested by the British authorities to 'independently confirm the identity of the nerve agent,' unfortunately, lacks transparency and attests to UK's arbitrary interpretation of the CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention)," the embassy's press officer was quoted by Russia's Sputnik news agency as saying. Given that the chance for reconciliation from Moscow is slim, U.S. experts said the sanctions may continue to hurt the Russian economy and drive further the vicious cycle of U.S.-Russia hostilities. Ford O'Connell, a Republican and news commentator who frequently shows up on TV, told Xinhua that "this is a situation where Trump has been tough on Russia, particularly when Russia is perceived to be bad actors threatening the world order." Nile Gardiner of the Heritage Foundation said U.S. policy toward Russia is strengthening rather than weakening following the Helsinki Summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "President Trump gave Russia the opportunity to change its aggressive ways, but clearly Putin is not interested in doing so." The scholar foresees "a further deterioration of U.S.-Russian relations, and an increasingly hardline stance from Washington towards Moscow." William Courtney, an adjunct senior fellow at RAND Corporation, took a similar tough stance on Russia, arguing that Washington has other interests with Moscow beyond maintaining good bilateral relations, such as deterring Russia's continued use of weapons that are illegal under the CWC. Carrot-and-stick diplomacy is not unusual, he said. "U.S. and Western strategy with Russia is to cooperate in areas of mutual advantage, but also to deter and raise the cost to it of malign activities." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 01:16:32|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Vaccines involved in recent online reports about suspected inoculations of expired vaccines into children in Shangluo City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province have proved to be valid, said the National Health Commission (NHC) Thursday. The online reports mainly involve five kinds of vaccines including those against DPT, ECM, and MMR, which were inoculated by three vaccination clinics in the city, according to the NHC. On-site inspections showed all the vaccines were inoculated within the term of validity, the NHC said in a statement on its website. The clinic staff, however, registered the vaccines with the wrong and expired batch numbers on the inoculation certificates issued to recipients, leading to a mismatch, according to the statement. The wrong batch numbers were copied from an outdated list and not verified during the inoculations, which violated the standard inoculation procedure, said the statement. The three vaccination clinics were also found to be understaffed, equipped with substandard facilities, and under lax supervision. The investigation team has asked the local government to work out plans for rectification, conduct inspection and supervision on vaccination institutions, and fix loopholes in vaccine management. Government dawdles over key bodies Provincial governments have urged the federal government to establish State Police and the State Public Service Commission as per the constitution. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 01:21:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The South African government has embarked on a range of measures to accelerate comprehensive land reform and expand agricultural production, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday. "These measures, in addition to correcting a historical injustice, aim to unlock the economic potential of our land and our people," Ramaphosa said at an event marking the National Women's Day in Paarl near Cape Town. The president took advantage of the opportunity to defend the government's policy on land reform which has met with strong criticism. "The return of the land will have little meaning and limited effect unless it is returned to all those from whom it was taken, both women and men," Ramaphosa said. He stressed that the land reform should not exclude women. "It is essential that we use this process to ensure equitable access for women to land in both rural and urban areas - for agriculture, for housing and for business purposes," the president said. Women who live in rural areas must have their right to land recognized and enforced, and must have the means to use their land to improve their lives and the lives of their families, he said. Poor and working class women have the same right, and need to have the same opportunity, as men to own property in well-located urban areas, Ramaphosa said. "As we embark on the distribution of title deeds to our people we are committed to ensure that women are, at minimum, equal beneficiaries of government programs to address asset poverty," he added. Ramaphosa was speaking amid growing fears that South Africa would become another Zimbabwe where a failed land reform had once plunged the country into anarchy. On July 31, Ramaphosa announced that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) would change the South African Constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation. AfriForum, an association of South African white farmers, has called on the international community to get Ramaphosa to stop the proposed plans. "We know that disrespect for property rights will have a negative effect on any country," AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said, citing Venezuela and Zimbabwe as examples. Ramaphosa has repeatedly said his government will not allow land grabs and anarchy in the process of finding a solution for the land issue. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 01:51:37|Editor: zh Video Player Close Palestinians search in the rubble of a building following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Aug. 9, 2018. The Israeli war jets launched 12 successive airstrikes on a building in west Gaza in response to rockets firing from Gaza into Israel, eyewitnesses and security sources said. Sources in western Gaza city said at least 18 civilians were injured in the new round of airstrikes carried out by Israel Thursday afternoon. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar) GAZA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sources in western Gaza city said at least seven civilians were injured in the new round of airstrikes carried out by Israel Thursday afternoon. The Israeli war jets launched 12 successive airstrikes on a building in west Gaza in response to rockets firing from Gaza into Israel, eyewitnesses and security sources said. Huge smoke was seen billowing from the building, which known as Al-Misehal Center for Culture and Arts, that includes a theater, according to the sources. Israel resumed airstrikes on Hamas facilities after only a few hours of calm. It was reportedly in response to the earlier rockets fired from Gaza into Israel. Earlier on Thursday, several rockets were fired from the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave into the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheba. Tension between Israel and Hamas in Gaza mounted again after an Israeli army tank shell killed two Hamas militants in northern Gaza on Tuesday. Israeli army and Hamas militants have witnessed several rounds of fire exchange since Tuesday. Gaza Health Ministry said that three Palestinians were killed overnight, including a Hamas militant, a pregnant woman and her female toddler, adding that more than 12 others were injured in the airstrikes all over the Gaza Strip. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 02:41:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on member states to protect the rights and identities of indigenous peoples across the world. In his message for the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, the secretary-general said that indigenous peoples "have a profound spiritual connection to their lands and resources. However, many have been forced to migrate due to climate change, violence and conflict, and displacement by authorities without their consent." The UN chief called on the member states to adopt later this year the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, which seeks to protect the rights of vulnerable migrant groups. This year's theme is "Indigenous peoples' migration and movement." There are an estimated 370 million indigenous peoples in the world, living across 90 countries. They make up less than 5 percent of the world's population, but account for 15 percent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world's estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures. The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed on Aug. 9 each year to promote and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous peoples make to improve world issues such as environmental protection. It was first pronounced by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1994. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 04:22:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close LONDON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Pioneering scientific research to create the world's first map of all the cells in the human body will be able to go ahead following a 7-million pound (about 9 million U.S. dollars) grant, it was announced on Thursday. Wellcome, a charitable scientific foundation, announced the grant for the Human Cell Atlas project, which aims to transform biological research and medicine by allowing scientists to define the exact characteristics of every single cell type, creating a map of human bodies. The cutting-edge international research has been compared to the Human Genome Project in its scale and ambition. The Wellcome grant is the first major financial commitment to fund the British contribution to the research which will power the collection, sequencing and analysis of cells. The entire project currently covers 27 scientists in 10 different countries. The project will build on a long history of research in genomics and biomedical issues by British scientists, aided by strong links between research groups, tissue biobanks and hospitals. Researchers hope that insights gained from the atlas could give a better understanding of how diseases such as asthma and cancer develop and progress, or point to new diagnostic tools and treatments. "The human body is made up of 37 trillion cells and the atlas seeks to create a three-dimensional map of those cells -- where they are, what kind of cells they are, what are their features, how do they relate to each other, where do they sit," Dr. Katrina Gold, of Wellcome, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Thursday afternoon. "That is the first layer of information and then when you know what a healthy organ, for example, looks like you can zoom into the organ and understand in a detailed way what is there and how cells talk to each other and start to compare that to a situation where a tissue may be diseased and understand what is going wrong," said Gold. "Because this is a fundamental research science project looking at the nature of cells, most of the problems are caused by cells misbehaving in some way and in order to understand these processes you have to go back to how are those cells working when normal and how they react when they are disturbed by disease," Gold also said. The research on both donated adult and developing tissues will allow scientists to compare the properties of cells and tissues present at different stages of life. The aim is to understand a period of human development that has previously been a dark area for researchers. This could include new understanding about cancers, many of which hijack the same pathways that are involved in early development, or answer specific questions such as why adult tissue scars, but developing skin does not. "The grant is to be spent over about two to three years; this is the first draft atlas and there is an estimated five years needed for that," said Gold. "There will probably be another phase, when things will be scaled up to give a more solid final draft. This is roughly a 10-year timescale." The new project will be led by Dr. Sarah Teichmann, head of cellular genetics at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge. She said: "The Human Cell Atlas will transform our understanding of human health and disease, and we are excited to be able to embark on the next stage of this important project." Five British institutions besides the Sanger Institute will collaborate on the project, including Newcastle University, King's College London, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and the European Bioinformatics Institute. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 04:32:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will have a plenary meeting Friday to approve the nominee of the next UN human rights chief, a UN spokesman said Thursday. Brenden Varma, spokesman for the UNGA President, said at a daily news briefing that member states will be meeting Friday at 10:00 a.m. in the Trusteeship Council Chamber on this topic. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday proposed to appoint former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet for the key post of High Commissioner for Human Rights. It remains unknown whether Bachelet will show up at the meeting herself, said Varma, adding that it will "definitely" have a decision on Friday. The General Assembly used to approve the nominees of human rights chief by acclamation, said Varma, noting whether it will follow the traditional way to approve the nominee this time still remains unknown. Bachelet served as president of Chile from 2014 to 2018 and 2006 to 2010, and was appointed in 2010 as the first Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women). She also served in the Chilean government as defense minister during 2002-2004 and health minister during 2000-2002. The UN human rights chief is the principal official who speaks out for human rights across the whole UN system, strengthening human rights mechanisms, enhancing equality, fighting discrimination in all its forms, widening the democratic space and protecting the most vulnerable from all forms of human rights abuse. The job is currently being held by Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, whose four-year term is due to expire at the end of this month. The office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is headquartered in Geneva. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 05:37:17|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close President of Greek Red Cross Nikolaos Oikonomopoulos (3rd L) receives donation from the charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Athens Wang Qiang (3rd R), on behalf of the Chinese Red Cross, to help Greece's wildfire victims, in Athens, Greece, on Aug. 9, 2018. The Red Cross Society of China on Thursday donated 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Greek Red Cross to support relief efforts for fire-stricken Greeks. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou ATHENS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Red Cross Society of China on Thursday donated 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Greek Red Cross to support relief efforts for fire-stricken Greeks. The check was handed to the President of the Greek Red Cross Nikolaos Oikonomopoulos by the charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Athens Wang Qiang. The fire on July 23 has killed at least 93 people and injured dozens in addition to property losses, according to the latest official data. "Each contribution is important, starting from one euro and reaching as much as one can offer. In the case of the Chinese Red Cross the donation is moving as well as very significant," Oikonomopoulos said, welcoming the Chinese delegation to the Greek Red Cross premises in the center of the Greek capital. "These funds we are raising, which will be given to the people in need, up to the last euro, are very important, as well as the psychological and social aid we are providing," Oikonomopoulos stressed, speaking to Xinhua during the event. In coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Greek Red Cross will run a nine-month program to assist fire-stricken people at Kineta, Mati and Rafina, he said. On his part, Wang underlined that from the first hours after the tragedy Chinese leaders contacted their Greek counterparts to express solidarity with the people suffering. The Chinese community in Greece also mobilized quickly to offer help to the fire-stricken areas, he noted. Chinese nationals living across Greece collected clothes, shoes, personal care items, food products, money and donated blood for the injured. "We believe that with the co-effort of the Greek government, the Greek Red Cross and the Greek people, those affected by the disaster will overcome this temporary difficulty and rebuild their homes. We stand by your side," Wang said. (1 euro= 1.16 U.S. dollars) Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 06:17:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GAZA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement announced on Thursday that a truce with Israel on halting escalation in the Gaza Strip started from midnight, a Hamas source told Xinhua. The agreement, brokered by Egypt and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov, will end another round of military confrontation between Israel and Hamas, the source said. "A calm-for-calm deal has been brokered by Egypt and by the UN Special envoy on condition that the Israeli occupation should respect the agreement," the Hamas source said on condition of anonymity. "The Palestinian resistance has the right to respond to any Israeli violation," the source added. Meanwhile, a source from the Popular Resistance Committees, a coalition of armed Palestinian groups in Gaza, said the agreement came into effect at midnight. Israeli war jets have struck more than 150 sites in Gaza since Wednesday overnight, killing a pregnant woman, her baby and a Hamas fighter, while Gaza militants launched more than 100 rockets toward southern Israel, injuring over 20 Israelis. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 07:17:36|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- As accusations grew over U.S. reported support of the Saudi-led coalition in the recent attack in Yemen that had caused huge civilian casualties, U.S. State Department on Thursday urged to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the airstrikes. In a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said although Washington does not have full details of the attacks on the ground, it is certainly "concerned about" the reports of civilian casualties in the war-torn Middle East nation. "We call on the Saudi-led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident. We take all credible accounts of civilian casualties very seriously. We call on the parties to take appropriate measures to protect civilians in accordance with international law and urge all parties to investigate all reported incidents of civilian casualties," she said. Washington has been reportedly provided weapons, training and targeting data to Saudi Arabia that had facilitated the attacks. As questions has also mounted over the Saudi-led coalition's earlier assertion that the attacks had been conducted in accordance with international law, the call for further investigation into the issue by independent bodies has been rising. Nauert dodged the questions, only saying that "we regret any loss of civilian life" and "Saudi Arabia is an important strategic partner in the region to the United States." At least 43 civilians, mostly children, were killed on Thursday when Saudi-led coalition air strikes hit buses in Yemen's northern province of Saada. The Saudi-led coalition later defended the airstrike as "legitimate" response to a deadly Houthi attack on the Saudi border city Jazan. Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam mocked the statement, saying "this is a war crime." Henrietta Fore, head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), strongly condemned the airstrike. "Attacks on children are absolutely unacceptable," said Fore. "I'm horrified by the reported airstrike on innocent children, some with UNICEF backpacks. Enough is enough." "Attacking children is the lowest any party of this conflict can go," UNICEF Yemen Resident Representative Meritxell Relano told UN News. "There is no justification whatsoever to attacking children." The Saada attack was the latest in a series of recent airstrikes against civilians launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen. Last week, the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes struck the gate of al-Thawra hospital and adjacent fish market in Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, killing 52 civilians and wounding 102 others. Saudi Arabia has led an Arab military coalition that had intervened in the Yemen war since 2015 to support the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Internally displaced children from the Sea Port city of Hodeidah stand outside a door of the shop where they are sheltered, in Sanaa, Yemen, on July 3, 2018. Armed confrontations between the Yemeni government forces and the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi group forced thousands of people to flee their homes in the strategic port city of Hodeidah amid lack of basic necessities including food, clothing and water. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed) UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has strongly condemned the airstrike against a school bus in northern Yemen on Thursday, which has reportedly killed more than two dozen children. "Attacks on children are absolutely unacceptable," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on Thursday. "I'm horrified by the reported airstrike on innocent children, some with UNICEF backpacks. Enough is enough." The attack hit the school bus in a market in Dahyan, in the northern province of Saada. While the exact death toll remains to be confirmed, initial news reports indicate that the number of casualties could be well above 60, with dozens severely injured. Many of the children were reported to be under the age of 10. Fore called all warring parties to "respect international humanitarian law," and spare children, civilians and civilian infrastructure to prevent Yemen from falling "further into the abyss and the humanitarian catastrophe" it has been facing for over three years. Since conflict between pro-government forces and Houthi rebels escalated in 2015, about 2,500 children have been killed and 3,600 maimed in Yemen, according to the UNICEF. Yemen's conflict has its roots in uprisings that date back to 2011, but fighting escalated in March 2015, when an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened militarily at the request of Yemen's president. "Attacking children is the lowest any party of this conflict can go," UNICEF Yemen Resident Representative Meritxell Relano told UN News. "There is no justification whatsoever to attacking children." Attacks against civilians have been the scourge of this conflict. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "tens of civilians were killed in violence in several governorates" in the past 10 days alone, UN News reported. Last Friday, during a particularly deadly attack, one of the last functioning hospitals, Al Thawra in Al Hudaydah, was struck, reportedly causing the death of dozens of vulnerable, sick and injured civilians. US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis speaks alongside US Vice President Mike Pence about the creation of a new branch of the military, Space Force, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on August 9, 2018. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP) WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon said on Thursday that U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis will embark Sunday on his first trip to South America. In a statement, the Pentagon said the tour, which would take him to Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, will underscore Pentagon's strong defense ties with these nations as the White House declared 2018 the "Year of the Americas." These relationships are critical to a collaborative, prosperous and secure Western hemisphere, it said. In Brazil, Mattis will meet with senior officials and defense leaders. He will also speak at the Escola Superior de Guerra, the country's war college, and visit the national monument to Brazilian service members killed in World War II. Mattis will then visit Argentina, where he will meet with senior defense officials to discuss defense issues of mutual interest. He will later exchange strategic perspectives with Chilean senior officials and then conclude his trip in Colombia, where he will meet members of the newly elected administration. As U.S. ties with the region have been at odds over immigration, trade, drugs and cross-border crimes, U.S. President Donald Trump in April skipped his first Latin America trip to stay in the United States to "oversee the American response to Syria." He had been scheduled to pay a visit to Peru and Colombia and attend the Summit of the Americas in the Peruvian capital city of Lima. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence replaced him to travel to the region instead. Bishwakarma handcuffed for breaking the law: Home Minister Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa has said that Netra Bikram Chand led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma was arrested for breaking the laws. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 07:47:40|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- New Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Wang Donghua and San Francisco Mayor London Breed have agreed to enhance cooperation between China and San Francisco. Wang met the mayor Thursday afternoon on the second day after he arrived in the U.S. west coastal city as the new Consul General, and they discussed deepening cooperation in various sectors. He spoke highly of San Francisco's efficient cooperation with the Chinese side in economy, trade, tourism, science, technology, and cultural fields. In his capacity as the new Chinese Consul General, Wang said he will work hard with the San Francisco government led by Breed to bring the pragmatic cooperation to a new level. Breed said China is a major trade partner of San Francisco and the city attaches great importance to developing its friendship and cooperation with China. The San Francisco mayor said she is always ready to keep close communication with the Chinese side, work jointly to deepen their cooperation and achieve win-win results. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 07:54:15|Editor: zh Video Player Close People have fun at the Maral Waterfall, a tourist attraction nearby Turkish-Georgian border, in Turkey's northeastern province of Artvin, on Aug. 5, 2018. Turkey's tourism sector is recovering with growing visits by foreigners in the country, and the increasing revenues bring good news for the struggling economy. The number of tourists visiting Turkey in the first half of 2018 increased 30 percent year on year, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy said. (Xinhua/Bayram Sarayoglu) Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 08:47:45|Editor: zh Video Player Close SYDNEY, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- An Australian-led international study has discovered that changes to ocean currents like the Gulf Stream, may have driven the erosion of Arctic glaciers in southeast of Greenland 13,000 to 11,500 years ago. "The whole ocean system is like one big conveyer belt and the Gulf Stream is part of that in the North Atlantic," author of the study Professor Chris Turney from the University of New South Wales told Xinhua on Thursday. "As that warm water goes up north it evaporates and the salt in the water becomes more concentrated and cools, so what you have is cold dense water." "So as it moves further and further north it eventually becomes so dense it sinks to the sea bed and heads back to the equator and as it does this it draws more warm water from the Gulf Stream." While Arctic glaciers are predicted to contribute between 19-30mm to sea level rise by 2200, Turney said these projection take into account what effect ocean circulation may have. He suspects that based on past events, future meltwater from Greenland could disrupt North Atlantic circulation and drive an increase in erosion. "Because its fresh water, it's not as dense as salt water, so it sits on the top of the ocean and is more vulnerable to freezing," Turney said. "So you have this melting Greenland ice sheet which freezes on the top which caps the ocean's surface but because of that huge amount of fresh water coming into the north Atlantic it draws up that warm water to the edge of the ice sheet." "You end up getting what they call positive feedback, where the surface is cold but the warm water below in melting the Greenland ice sheet, drawing down more fresh water which then caps the surface even more, so it's like amplifier." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 09:17:50|Editor: zh Video Player Close SANTIAGO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera presented a bill on Thursday to promote both remote jobs and working from home. Pinera said the bill would not only make home and family life more compatible, but also "make Chileans' work life easier." The proposed law "puts Chile in the modern world of the 21st century" and allows Chileans to "take advantage of the opportunities provided by the technology revolution," said Pinera. He also highlighted the environmental benefits of the proposal, which cuts down on commuting and helps to lower air pollution. That has been the experience in other countries where remote work is an option, he said. The bill is the latest in a week filled with proposed laws unveiled by his administration, including universal childcare for working parents. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 09:37:53|Editor: zh Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is facing pressure to explain a large grant given to a foundation that never applied for the funding. Turnbull and Josh Frydenberg, Minister for Energy and the Environment, offered the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) a 444 million Australian dollars (327 million U.S. dollars) grant in a private meeting with directors of the foundation in April, the largest non-profit grant in Australian history. However, it has since emerged that the foundation was given the grant without going through the tender process or planning how it would spend the money. Graham Richardson, a political commentator, described the decision as "the worst piece of public administration I have seen." "The foundation employs only a handful of people and is spectacularly ill-equipped to manage the huge task handed to it," Richardson wrote in a column for News Corp Australia on Friday. "The 444 million Australian dollars given to the GBRF without tender and without any consultation with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is arguably the worst piece of public administration I have seen in more than four decades of close observation," he wrote. "Sooner or later, the prime minister will have to answer detailed questions on this." The prime minister has insisted that the process was "very thorough," a claim that has been challenged by current and former directors of the GBRF. Michael Myer, a member of the GBRF board between 2000 and 2002, described the grant as "unthinkable," saying that the organization only had six staff. "The notion of an organization with six staff members suddenly having to manage 444 million Australian dollars, from a not-for-profit and philanthropic point of view is unheard of," Myer told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday. "It actually is quite shocking and almost mind-blowing. I think the government's judgment is really poor." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 09:37:53|Editor: zh Video Player Close PYONGYANG, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday condemned the United States for placing fresh sanctions on it and called on the country to respond to its efforts to improve bilateral ties. The DPRK remains unchanged in its will to implement agreements made by the top leaders of the DPRK and the United States during their Singapore talks, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying. Pyongyang hoped that "goodwill measures" such as suspending nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test fire, dismantling its nuclear test ground and repatriating POW/MIA remains would contribute to improving relations. "However, the U.S. responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure against the DPRK," said a statement. The U.S. Department of the Treasury earlier this month announced sanctions on an individual and three entities -- including a Russian commercial bank -- for alleged links with the nuclear program of the DPRK. With such moves, "one cannot expect any progress in the implementation of the DPRK-U.S. joint statement including the denuclearization, and furthermore, there is no guarantee that the hard-won atmosphere of stability on the Korean Peninsula will continue," said the spokesperson. DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un met with U.S. President Donald Trump in June in Singapore, where they signed a joint statement, agreeing to push for establishing diplomatic ties, building peace on the Korean Peninsula and completely denuclearizing the peninsula together. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 09:42:56|Editor: zh Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Puerto Rican government has sharply raised the death toll from Hurricane Maria on the island last year to 1,427, about 20 times more than the previous official count. In a draft report to Congress posted online Thursday, the government said the number of deaths was revised based on public health records. "Although the official death count from the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety was initially 64, the toll appears to be much higher," the report said. It also said 527,000 homeowners reported damage to their homes and about 40 schools permanently closed because of structural damage caused by the storm in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, with a population of 3.4 million. Pedro Cerame, a spokesman for the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration, told The New York Times that the latest death toll figure is unofficial, but is a "realistic estimate." "The official number will come, and it could be close. But until we see the study, and have the accuracy, we won't be able to recognize the number as official," said the spokesman. The study the spokesman was referring to was carried out by George Washington University and was commissioned earlier this year to examine the death toll. The Puerto Rican and the U.S. federal governments have come under scrutiny over the accounting of the deaths caused by the storm, which struck the island as a Category 4 hurricane in September 2017 and caused widespread destruction and plunged it into a months-long blackout. The death toll is a contentious topic, in part because federal and island governments haven't responded as rapidly to the disaster as they have in other hurricane emergencies. Perhaps about 5,000 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria in 2017, according to another study published in May by scientists at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The U.S. federal government has been heavily criticized for its response to the storm and the island's recovery efforts. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 09:47:58|Editor: zh Video Player Close HAVANA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Tourism in Cuba is booming despite negative press generated in the United States, the country's Tourism Ministry said Thursday. International travelers consider Cuba to be a "a safe, peaceful and sound destination," said the ministry. Some 3 million international tourists have traveled to the island so far this year, according to the ministry. Cuba's biggest tourism market continues to be Canada, followed by France, Germany, Britain, Russia, Spain, Mexico, Argentina and Chile, it added. The government is banking on tourism growth, with plans to build 9,000 more hotel rooms in 2019 to accommodate the influx of visitors. However, Cuba received some negative press when at least 16 people from the U.S. Embassy community in Cuba experienced "some kind of symptoms" from a mysterious health attack last August, according to the White House. It is suspected sonic wave machines were used in the homes of embassy employees, The New York Times reported. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 10:08:01|Editor: zh Video Player Close CARACAS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan authorities have seized the assets of Osman Alexis Delgado Tabosky, who was accused of financing the failed assassination attempt against President Nicolas Maduro, the country's minister of the interior said Thursday. During a press conference, Minister Nestor Reverol said Tabosky, who allegedly directed the operation from Miami, had two health clinics, a rehabilitation center, commercial properties, a farm, apartments and phantom businesses set up "to commit terrorist acts," which were all seized. Reverol said Tabosky has an international arrest warrant and that Ryder Alexander Russo Marques, Yilber Alberto Escalona Torrealba and Gregorio Jose Yaguas Monje were also being sought, along with others implicated in the crime. So far, authorities have arrested seven people and more than 25 people are being investigated in connection with the failed assassination attempt that happened Saturday as Maduro was giving a military speech, according to Reverol. "We will go to the bottom to find those involved in this act against the homeland and people. We will take all necessary action to ensure peace, which will always be our main victory," the minister said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 10:38:08|Editor: zh Video Player Close KINSHASA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The tenth death of a confirmed Ebola case was recorded Thursday in North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the country's health ministry reported. Health Minister Oly Ilunga told Xinhua that with the tenth Ebola outbreak declared, the virus has become endemic in the equatorial forested areas of the country. The epidemic, declared to have ended in DRC last month by the World Health Organization (WHO), made a comeback with a fresh case confirmed in the city of Beni on Aug. 1. The 10 confirmed Ebola cases were among the total recorded 37 deaths from hemorrhagic fever in the DRC, according to the on-site health team. Besides, 17 cases out of another 44 under treatment with this fever have been confirmed Ebola. There are 54 suspected and 27 probable cases yet to be tested, the team said. Local authorities have deployed 3,220 doses of vaccines from the capital to the central repository in response to a vaccination campaign primarily launched by first responders in fighting Ebola. Despite challenges to eliminate the virus, Ilunga expressed confidence in the timely and effective response of the local medical team. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and his deputy in charge of emergency interventions, Peter Salama, arrived in Kinshasa Thursday for a joint evaluation with the Congolese health authorities. Home Minister Thapa assures probe into encounter killings A day after the National Human Rights Commission formed a five-member team to look into the Bhaktapur encounter in which two suspected kidnappers were killed, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa has said the government will also probe the incident in view of the questions raised over the police approach. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 10:53:11|Editor: zh Video Player Close by Abu Hanifah MATARAM, Indonesia, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Survivors of Sunday's powerful earthquake in most affected areas in Indonesia's tourist island of Lombok are trying hard for living, as supplies came to them are not sufficient yet. The victims have been depending on aids provided by volunteers and provincial authorities, which passed through the road near their devastated villages. In Malaka area's Nipah village, which is located in the tourism spot of Senggigi beach, people experienced the worst days of their lives as large parts of their houses were severely damaged due to the 7.0-magnitude quake that forced them to stay in makeshift tents made from house wreckages. Their lives are in despair, as some had to beg for food and water from street vendors who previously sold food for tourists visiting Lombok's popular beach before the earthquake. Among them was Syarifuddin's big family of 50 people whose houses have turned into ruins as rooftops stumbled down to the ground. "I've got a headache when I recall that moment. These houses that we built piece by piece collapsed in front of my eyes. All was in a sudden," the 60-year-old man told Xinhua near the ruins, recalling the moment when the earthquake totally destroyed six houses built close to each other. The bottom ground was lifted up, Syarifuddin said. "The water became cloudy, not as clear as before the earthquake. We used to collect water from that well to cook and bathe," said the man, pointing at his family's well near his son's collapsed house. Lack of electricity was another hard part. The village is totally dark at night. The residents have to wait until morning when they are able to move from makeshift tents. Trying to relieve himself, Syarifuddin said that the only lucky thing is that none of his family members died. "All of us got out from our houses in the first shock and stayed away from the houses," he said. He added that one of his neighbors, an older woman, did not survive as she failed to flee. "She died inside the house as the wall fell on her," Syarifuddin said. Syarifuddin used to run a restaurant selling grilled fish for tourists on Senggigi beach. Now, he had to walk far away from home to the nearest refugee shelter, which was around 1 km away, to get water for his family. "My son and I brought three or four bottles of drinking water for my whole family. We have to drink sip by sip," he said. He however does not prefer to live in the shelter as he had to watch his belongings, including equipment of the restaurant, placed around ruins of the houses. "I was wondering when the aid teams will drop by to our village periodically so my grandchildren have enough food and water," he said helplessly. Walking deeper to the back of the village, Xinhua's reporters learned that most of the residents' houses were flattened to the ground. Only a few remained with major cracks on walls, or were partly damaged. Lalu Rahman, a 44-year-old villager whose house was seriously cracked, said that his house was just renovated before the earthquake struck. "I am very sad now. Most of my money spent on the renovation was eventually useless," he told Xinhua. Lalu had planned to use the renovated house as a grocery shop. "I have to entirely break it down first if I want to rebuild it brick by brick. But what if the earthquake strikes again?" he said. He is not keen on living in the refugee shelter as he has to look after the cattle which he set free in lawns. Lalu entrusted his neighbor to take care of his toddlers at night, while he and his wife sleep in the cold at a tent. "I was lucky to have a kind neighbor whose house was not affected by the earthquake. At least my children can stay in a warmer place, not bitten by mosquitos," he said. Misery and problems faced by people in Nipah village were common in other villages affected by the powerful earthquake in Lombok. They are now in need of supplies and electricity. Indonesia's meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency has said that aftershocks may continue in following weeks. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 11:08:14|Editor: zh Video Player Close BOGOTA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Three Colombian soldiers were kidnapped by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) in the country's northeast Arauca region, Colombia's military said Thursday. The kidnapped soldiers' vehicle was intercepted by two armed men on a motorcycle and they were forced out of their vehicle, according to a statement by the military. The Ombudsman's Office of Colombia, via its Twitter account, demanded the prompt release of the soldiers who were on leave, unarmed and not in uniform. The ombudsman went on to say that the soldiers were in a public vehicle and on their way to the municipality of Tame. Ricardo Alvarado, governor of Arauca, said the kidnapping was not an isolated case. "Unfortunately the number of kidnappings in Arauca has increased and the individuals are being taken to the neighboring country of Venezuela because the police on the border and along the Arauca River are accomplices," he said. For his part, the new Minister of Defense Guillermo Botero said the soldiers were at fault for their own kidnapping. "From what I understand, it was reckless on the part of the soldiers and the commander who did not follow the established protocol. They know this type of thing can happen," Botero told Blu Radio. The kidnapping comes a week after the rebels kidnapped four military personnel and two civilians in the country's department of Choco. The issue of kidnappings was discussed during the last round of peace talks that took place in Havana, but a bilateral cease-fire agreement could not be reached. During his inauguration speech on Tuesday, Colombia's new President Ivan Duque said his government will assess the unfinished peace process with the ELN. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 11:13:14|Editor: zh Video Player Close LONDON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The British Museum said here Thursday that it is returning a group of 5,000-year-old looted antiquities to Iraq, local media reported. The museum said that the eight items, namely clay cones with cuneiform inscriptions and a bull-shaped marble pennant, were seized by British police in 2003 from a now-defunct dealer in London. Earlier this year, police handed them to the museum, where experts determined they came from a temple at Tello in southern Iraq. Normally it is difficult to find the origin of such items, but some of the antiquities gave archaeologists a clue. The fired clay cones were identical to cones found on a site in Tello, which was the ancient Sumerian city of Girsu. "The broken objects the robbers left next to the looting holes were broken cones with exactly the same inscription that we have on the cones that were seized," the team's lead archaeologist Sebastien Rey said. The objects will be handed to Iraq's ambassador to Britain during a private ceremony at the museum on Friday. Ancient Mesopotamia, which today roughly corresponds to most of Iraq, was the cradle of urban civilization, and pre-war Iraq's museums held precious collections from the Assyrian, Sumerian and Babylonian cultures. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 11:23:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks during an announcement of the Trump Administration's plan to establish the U.S. Space Force by year 2020 at the Pentagon, Virginia, the United States on Aug. 9, 2018. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that the United States plans to establish a Space Force by 2020, an idea floated by President Donald Trump and questioned by many top officers at the Pentagon. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that the United States plans to establish a Space Force by 2020, an idea floated by President Donald Trump and questioned by many top officers at the Pentagon. "The time has come to establish the United States space force," Pence told a gathering at the Pentagon, citing Trump's directive earlier this year to form the sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces. "It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space. We must have American dominance in space and so we will," Pence said in his speech. In concurrence with Pence's speech, the Pentagon laid out its plans to form the new branch of the U.S. military in a 15-page report, identifying immediate steps of action. This includes establishing a Space Development Agency, which is "a joint organization charged with rapidly developing and fielding next-generation capabilities." The report also called for the creation of a Space Operations Force, which it said will be comprised of career space experts who are "trained, promoted and retained as space war fighting professionals." Also part of the plan is a United Combatant Command-level Space Command, which will have the task to "improve and evolve space war fighting." Although not clearly outlined in the report, Pence announced that the Pentagon will create a new Assistant Secretary of Defense of Space, the top civilian position to oversee the creation of the new branch who will report to the Pentagon chief. Pence said funding for the new military branch will be requested in the fiscal year 2020 defense budget. He called on Congress to approve an "additional eight billion dollars in space security systems." With foreseeable opposition from Congress and top officers in the Pentagon, Pence said that "creating a new branch of the military is not a simple process." Jim Inhofe, a Republican Senator and the number two at the Senate Committee on Armed Services, has openly rebuked the suggestion of creating a new branch of the military. "I know the president has strong feelings. I think we can do that without a new branch," he told media early this month. Trump said in June that he was moving to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces. A resident passes by a collapsed building in Lombok island, Indonesia, on Aug. 9, 2018. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) by Abu Hanifah MATARAM, Indonesia, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Survivors of Sunday's powerful earthquake in most affected areas in Indonesia's tourist island of Lombok are trying hard for living, as supplies came to them are not sufficient yet. The victims have been depending on aids provided by volunteers and provincial authorities, which passed through the road near their devastated villages. In Malaka area's Nipah village, which is located in the tourism spot of Senggigi beach, people experienced the worst days of their lives as large parts of their houses were severely damaged due to the 7.0-magnitude quake that forced them to stay in makeshift tents made from house wreckages. Their lives are in despair, as some had to beg for food and water from street vendors who previously sold food for tourists visiting Lombok's popular beach before the earthquake. Among them was Syarifuddin's big family of 50 people whose houses have turned into ruins as rooftops stumbled down to the ground. "I've got a headache when I recall that moment. These houses that we built piece by piece collapsed in front of my eyes. All was in a sudden," the 60-year-old man told Xinhua near the ruins, recalling the moment when the earthquake totally destroyed six houses built close to each other. The bottom ground was lifted up, Syarifuddin said. A resident passes by a collapsed building in Lombok island, Indonesia, on Aug. 9, 2018. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) "The water became cloudy, not as clear as before the earthquake. We used to collect water from that well to cook and bathe," said the man, pointing at his family's well near his son's collapsed house. Lack of electricity was another hard part. The village is totally dark at night. The residents have to wait until morning when they are able to move from makeshift tents. Trying to relieve himself, Syarifuddin said that the only lucky thing is that none of his family members died. "All of us got out from our houses in the first shock and stayed away from the houses," he said. He added that one of his neighbors, an older woman, did not survive as she failed to flee. "She died inside the house as the wall fell on her," Syarifuddin said. Syarifuddin used to run a restaurant selling grilled fish for tourists on Senggigi beach. Now, he had to walk far away from home to the nearest refugee shelter, which was around 1 km away, to get water for his family. "My son and I brought three or four bottles of drinking water for my whole family. We have to drink sip by sip," he said. He however does not prefer to live in the shelter as he had to watch his belongings, including equipment of the restaurant, placed around ruins of the houses. "I was wondering when the aid teams will drop by to our village periodically so my grandchildren have enough food and water," he said helplessly. Walking deeper to the back of the village, Xinhua's reporters learned that most of the residents' houses were flattened to the ground. Only a few remained with major cracks on walls, or were partly damaged. A woman lights a bulb at her temporary shelter in Tanjung, North Lombok, Indonesia, Aug. 9, 2018. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.) Lalu Rahman, a 44-year-old villager whose house was seriously cracked, said that his house was just renovated before the earthquake struck. "I am very sad now. Most of my money spent on the renovation was eventually useless," he told Xinhua. Lalu had planned to use the renovated house as a grocery shop. "I have to entirely break it down first if I want to rebuild it brick by brick. But what if the earthquake strikes again?" he said. He is not keen on living in the refugee shelter as he has to look after the cattle which he set free in lawns. Lalu entrusted his neighbor to take care of his toddlers at night, while he and his wife sleep in the cold at a tent. "I was lucky to have a kind neighbor whose house was not affected by the earthquake. At least my children can stay in a warmer place, not bitten by mosquitos," he said. Misery and problems faced by people in Nipah village were common in other villages affected by the powerful earthquake in Lombok. They are now in need of supplies and electricity. Indonesia's meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency has said that aftershocks may continue in following weeks. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 12:43:31|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close PARIS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- A German man in his 70s who was helping supervise children at one of the summer camps in southern France went missing Thursday after heavy floods ripped through the region, local police said. The 75-year-old man was accompanying 119 German children who were evacuated from a camp site in Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas in the Gard region, one of the areas worst hit by the floods. According to France's AFP news agency, the man was trapped by a muddy, fast-flowing torrent after the Ardeche river burst its banks. He then sought shelter inside his caravan, but the vehicle was swept away. The police said it was later found "empty and in pieces" near the river. Hundreds of firefighters, divers and helicopters have been dispatched for the rescue. The interior ministry said a total of 1,600 people, most of them campers, were evacuated as a precaution in the Gard, Ardeche and Drome regions. The storm, which caused flash flooding and transformed rivers and streams into torrents, came after southern France experienced weeks of unusually hot weather. Authorities have warned that the waters would take time to recede and urged people to be vigilant. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 12:58:34|Editor: zh Video Player Close GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants early on Friday launched a massive offensive on Ghazni city, capital of Ghazni province in eastern Afghanistan, and gun battle continues, provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal said. "Countless number of Taliban rebels launched multi-pronged attacks early today on several parts of Ghazni city including police department, national directorate for security and provincial governor's office," Mashal told Xinhua. However, the official claimed that the government forces have launched counter-offensive and cleanup operations are underway. Meanwhile, locals said all shops remain closed and smoke is seen rise out of some areas of the city. Zabihullah Majahid, Taliban's purported spokesman, has confirmed the offensive, telling media that the Taliban militants have overrun several security checkpoints outside Ghazni city. Bangladesh students are studying in Chinese Academy classroom in Dhaka. (Xinhua/Liu Chuntao) DHAKA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- There were hardly any private institutions in Bangladesh's capital to study the Chinese language in the past. Even a decade ago, students only had the opportunity to learn Chinese at a handful of private and public universities with a limited number of spaces. But now things are changing as students who went to China a decade earlier upon returning home started teaching Chinese at their own institutions. Mohammed Sady is one such student. He first learned Chinese at the Confucius Institute in Bangladesh's top leading North South University in Dhaka. In 2009, he got a scholarship to study the Chinese language in China. "I went to the Southwest University in China to learn Chinese," said Sady. Later on he went to China again to study for a doctorate. Upon returning to Bangladesh in 2016 finally, along with likeminded friends, he established an institute called the "Chinese Academy" that now has more than 300 students, he said. Students planning to study higher education in China as well as service holders who are with Chinese companies especially come to the academy to study the Chinese language, said Sady. "Students attend six classes three days a week. The classes focus on listening, writing and reading. The students are also encouraged to learn new vocabulary, he said, adding they teach their students Chinese through various easy innovative methods and organize events that help them practice speaking and listening. Sady said there is a general perception that it is very difficult to learn the Chinese language. "We tell people here that Chinese is not as hard as they think. We teach them Chinese using easy methods and encourage students to visit China for higher study." He said more and more students come to their academy as they think the institute can better support them in learning Chinese and assist their efforts to go to China for higher study. Al-Adnan Parvez, a student at the Chinese Academy, said he has come to Dhaka from the Nilphamari district, some 360 km northwest of the capital of Dhaka, just to learn Chinese. "Some Chinese companies are working at an EPZ (export processing zone) in Nilphamari. If I can speak Chinese, I might be able to work for a Chinese company. I could also work as an interpreter." Since his childhood, Parvez said he was interested in learning a second language and that is why he finally entered the academy to learn the Chinese language. Bangladesh students are studying in Chinese Academy classroom in Dhaka. (Xinhua/Liu Chuntao) Another Chinese Academy student, Yasmin Akhtar who comes from Khulna, about 140 km southwest of Dhaka, said, "I have a very special feeling towards Chinese people. I really like them and so I have come to learn their language. I also want to go to China for study." The Chinese Academy has some quite experienced teachers who studied Chinese in China and returned to Bangladesh and took up teaching Chinese as a profession. Mohammad Manzur Alam Bappi is one such teacher at the Chinese Academy. He studied Chinese at Wuhan University and successfully completed the HSK5 qualification. Bappi used to work for a Chinese company after studying sociology at Bachelor's and Master's levels at Dhaka College, under the National University. "I got a job in a Chinese company and noticed that of my colleagues that spoke Chinese there was a demand to study more." It was then I too decided to learn Chinese. I was admitted to this academy and after learning here I went to China for higher study, Bappi said. Another Chinese Academy teacher Sweety Khatun who studied mechanical engineering in 2014 and worked for a company, said she realized that learning Chinese would help her to develop a bright future. "I received the opportunity to conduct dummy classes while studying at this academy. Teaching is an opportunity for further learning. I fell in love with the Chinese language," she said. "Now I teach Chinese here as my profession." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 14:18:45|Editor: zh Video Player Close SUVA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The evacuation of residents from Vanuatu's volcanic Ambae island has been underway as eruption risks continues. According to Vanuatu's Daily Post news website on Friday, the impact of Ambae's devastating volcanic ash fall has wiped out all pandanus leaves on the island, threatening the supply of the island's unique basket and red and white mats as well as the handicraft industry in Port Vila, capital of the South Pacific Island nation. Pentecost, Vanuatu's largest supplier of baskets and treasured red mat will reduce its supplies due to the threat of volcanic ash fall on North Pentecost which is closest to Ambae. The decision by the Vanuatu government to compulsorily evacuate more than 11,000 people of Ambae to the evacuation site on the island of Maewo was made following continuous escalation of the Marano Vui volcano activity on Ambae. The explosions and spewing of volcanic ash including the associated risks of lava flow and other related volcanic hazards based on the observation and monitoring of the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazard Department (VMGD) showed it was too risky for the people of Ambae to continue to live on their island. There are no signs of slowing down of the volcano and there has been strong magmatic activity of the volcano measured through seismic stations on the island. The Volcano is at the Alert level 3 but recent observation has shown some aspects of the volcano had increased 10 to 20 times. A clear example was the explosion which occurred on July 28 spewing volcanic particulars over 12 km high and emitting over 300.000 tons of gases into the air, spreading across the Pacific including Fiji and Solomon Islands causing cancelation of international flights between these countries and Vanuatu. The Vanuatu government remains concerned about the life of over 11,000 people of Ambae and had arranged evacuation sites on Maewo. A state of emergency was declared over Ambae and has been effective since July 26. The state of emergency will last till September 26, 2018. Arrangements are underway through the National Disaster Management Office and the Penama disaster Emergency Operating Centre for evacuation. The Vanuatu government said Maewo offers a unique solution to the people of Ambae as a second home option with sufficient vacant land to cater for all the Ambae population. Maewo and Ambae have strong cultural linkage and the chiefs and leaders of both islands have agreed to settle on Maewo following their customary heritage. The last significant eruption on the Ambae island happened in 2005. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 14:33:47|Editor: zh Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Brazil registered a record 63,880 violent deaths in 2017, a report published by the Brazilian Public Security Forum showed Thursday. There are 175 violent deaths per day on average in the South American country. Compared to 2016, the number of murders has increased by 2.9 percent. According to the forum's Annual Public Security Report, the state of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil had the highest murder rate in Brazil: 68 murders for every 100,000 inhabitants. The state of Acre in the north ranked second with 63 deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Ceara state in the northeast, with 59.1 murders for every 100,000 inhabitants. The lowest murder rate was registered in Sao Paulo -- 10.7 murders for every 100,000 inhabitants. The forum's director Renato Sergio de Lima blamed the rise in violent deaths on both a new wave of organized crime and outdated, inefficient public security measures. Crime against women has risen as well in Brazil in 2017, with rapes up by 8.4 percent to 60,018 cases. Domestic violence cases totaled 221,238, an average of 606 per day, and murders of women totaled 4,539. Indian goods train from Jayanagar arrives in Janakpur Officials successfully completed the test run of Janakpur-Jayanagar broad-gauge railway on Wednesday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 14:38:48|Editor: zh Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj called for the unification of the country's military Thursday, on the 66th anniversary of the establishment of the Libyan army. "On this occasion, I commend our sons of the armed forces who have sacrificed in the war on terror," the prime minister, who is backed by the United Nations (UN), said in a statement. The prime minister praised the "armed forces who, despite the division and lack of equipment, stand valiantly alongside the security forces against the terrorists, mercenaries, smugglers, and human traffickers, who are trying to tamper with the stability of the homeland." "We stress again the necessity to unify the military establishment. A united army is the basis of a united homeland. It expresses the national unity of our people of all walks of life and in all areas," the statement said. Since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's government in 2011, Libya has been suffering insecurity and political division between two governments, which are both competing for legitimacy. Since last year, the Egyptian capital Cairo has been hosting extensive meetings of Libyan military officials in order to unite the Libyan army. The Royal Libyan Army was formed after Libya gained its independence in 1951. Currently, the Libyan government is re-establishing the country's national army after its Gaddafi-led national army was defeated and disbanded. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 14:48:50|Editor: zh Video Player Close SUVA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor warned on Friday that Pacific Island states are not making an impact to reduce child obesity, which is worrying for the people living in the islands. Taylor said the numbers are worrying with latest data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealing at least 20 percent of children between the ages of five and 19 were obese in 10 Forum member countries. "The really worrying fact is that we are not making an impact, we've now got a problem that obesity in children is one of the biggest concerns," she said. "If we have obese children, we have obese adults and diabetes rate will go in shock." This is the reason behind subcommittees, currently meeting in the Samoa capital city of Apia to formulate an agenda for next month's Pacific Islands Forum (P.I.F.) Leaders Summit in Nauru. They agree that it should be put back on the agenda for the leaders'deliberations. Taylor acknowledged that the different approaches that leaders adopted to address the issue within their respective states was their prerogative. Obese children are more likely to develop a variety of health problems as adults, which includes cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, musculoskeletal disorders, some cancers and disability, according to the WHO. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 16:44:13|Editor: mmm Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba officially declared his candidacy on Friday for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership race next month. Ishiba, 61, a lower house member, has in the past been outspoken about Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his policies and this will be the third time the veteran politician will attempt to win the ruling party's top post. While Abe has yet to officially declare his candidacy, he is widely believed to win his third three-year term as LDP President and in doing so becoming the longest-serving prime minister. But Ishiba, who has the support of a powerful LDP faction and has held key posts in the party including defense minister, LDP secretary general and minister in charge of revitalizing local economies, may be able to take advantage of slumping support rate for Abe and his Cabinet following a slew of cronyism and document tampering scandals. While many believe Abe's success will be a foregone conclusion, some believe that Ishiba's "honest and fair" politics may for some be a refreshing change from Abe who has long been caught up in cronyism scandals. Ishiba has also been a vocal critic of Abe's plans to revise Japan's Constitution and actually rewrote his own constitution revision proposal in February. While acknowledging some of the positives of "Abenomics", Ishiba is a proponent of introducing more methods to bolster regional economies. In light of the government's tardy handling of a spate of recent natural disasters, Ishiba has proposed to set up a new ministry dedicated to taking charge of disaster prevention. The LDP presidential election, which will also effectively decide Japan's next prime minister, is slated to be held on on Sept. 20, with official campaigning starting on Sept. 7. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 16:54:14|Editor: mmm Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- India's anti-graft Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which rules the national capital, has ruled out joining any opposition alliance against the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the general elections due next year. This was announced by AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the northern Indian state of Haryana's Rohtak town Thursday evening. "The AAP will not be a part of any alliance in 2019. The parties who are joining the proposed alliance have no role in the country's development," Kejriwal said, in a U-turn to his party's anti-BJP stance since coming to power in Delhi. The announcement also comes as a sort of blow to the country's opposition parties struggling to cobble together a Third Front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP-led National Democratic Alliance for next year's general elections. Led by Kejriwal, a former civil servant-turned-politician, AAP won 67 of 70 Delhi assembly seats in 2015, decimating the BJP as well as the country's main opposition Congress party. He promised to bring in good governance, end corruption and make Delhi safe for women. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 17:04:17|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close MOSCOW, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Moscow considers Washington's new anti-Russia sanctions over the ex-spy poisoning as a declaration of economic war, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday. "All I can say is: if they ban banking operations or the use of any currency we will call it a declaration of economic war," he said during his visit to the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. "And we'll have to respond to it - economically, politically or in any other way, if need be. Our American friends should make no mistake about it," he added. On Wednesday the U.S. State Department announced a new round of sanctions against Russia over the latter's alleged use of chemical weapons on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the United Kingdom in March. Moscow regards these sanctions as unfriendly moves harmful to the constructive atmosphere created after the recent summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 17:04:18|Editor: mmm Video Player Close DOHA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised the efforts done by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to support the Palestinian people, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported on Friday. The remarks came during the meeting held between the two leaders on Thursday in Doha. In an interview with QNA, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Saeb Erekat described the meeting as fruitful. Qatar's emir stressed the need for Palestinian national unity, and renewed his support for the Palestinian project, said the QNA, quoting Erekat. "We are with you. We are with Palestinian legitimacy. We are with the Palestinian project. We cannot accept any solution except the independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital on the 1967 borders," the emir was quoted as saying. Abbas praised Qatar's position in rejecting the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. embassy there. The Palestinian president reiterated his readiness to achieve reconciliation in "the supreme Palestinian interest." Meanwhile, Abbas hailed Qatar's efforts in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Qatar has maintained good relations with most Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah. Qatar has provided large sums of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which has undergone Israeli blockade and assaults that massively damaged its infrastructure. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 17:39:29|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two people have been confirmed dead after a local Japanese government helicopter that went missing earlier in the day was found to have crashed on a mountain in the central Japanese prefecture of Gunma on Friday. The condition and possible other fatalities of the other seven members aboard the chopper remains unknown as the Self-Defense Force and local rescue officials attempt to attend the scene in extremely foggy conditions, local authorities said. According to the authorities, the chopper was one of the prefecture's disaster prevention helicopters and lost contact with air traffic controllers shortly past 10 a.m. local time after taking off at 9:15 a.m. local time. The helicopter was being flown by Noriyuki Amagai, 57, an experienced pilot who had logged many flying hours, sources close to the matter said. The chopper was scheduled to return to its heliport in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, at 10:45 a.m., prefectural officials said. The helicopter was supposed to be observing a hiking trail, which spans Gunma, Nagano and Niigata prefectures when contact was lost, officials said. The transport ministry said the helicopter was a Bell 412EP helicopter and had began operations in May 1997, clocking up around 7,000 flight hours. The same model of helicopter crashed in March last year killing all nine occupants and in November last year another crash involving the same model crashed killing four people aboard. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 18:24:38|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close ABUJA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were confirmed killed following a robbery attack on two commercial banks in southern Nigeria's town of Igarra, according to local media on Friday. Four security personnel attached to the banks were among the dead victims of the Thursday evening attack in the town located in Akoko Edo area of Nigeria's Edo State, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported. The armed robbers had earlier invaded a police station in the area, before proceeding to wreak havoc in the banks, some local sources said. A community secretary Folorunso Dania said the police station was set ablaze by the armed robbers. Edo State police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor, who also confirmed the incident, said the police had already launched an investigation to apprehend the suspects. In November 2015, at least six people were killed when armed robbers raided the same town. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 18:24:38|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people have been confirmed dead and 33 others sustained injures as Taliban militants launched massive offensive on Ghazni city the capital of eastern Ghazni province early Friday. The clash, according to provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal erupted early Friday morning after hundreds of Taliban insurgents stormed important government entities including police department, national directorate for security and provincial governor's office. "Up to 16 dead bodies including 14 in uniform and two civilians as well as 33 injured people including eight civilians have been taken hospital," head of provincial hospital in Ghazni city Baz Mohammad Humat told Xinhua. Meantime, provincial police chief, without mentioning the possible casualties on either side said that the militants had retreated from their positions and operations are underway to wipe out militants from in and around the city. Taliban militants have yet to make comment on the situation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 19:44:51|Editor: mmm Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Suspected Al-Shabab militants have kidnapped five aid workers in southern Somalia in the latest series of abduction in the Horn of African nation, official said Friday. Mohamed Isak Ibrahim Aflow, director of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Bay region, confirmed the abduction of the Somali Red Crescent Society workers on Friday. Aflow told journalists in Baidoa, capital of Bay region, that the aid workers were distributing nutrition supplies in Busle village on the outskirts of Baidoa when they were kidnapped by the militants on Thursday. He said efforts are underway to secure the release of the three female and two male aid workers. There was no comment from the Somali Red Crescent Society on the abduction. No group has claimed responsibility for the latest abduction, but Al-Shabab which is fighting to topple the government has been targeting aid workers for political gain, sometimes demanding ransom in order to free the hostages. A police officer who did not want to be named said they also suspect al-Shabab are behind the latest abduction of the local aid workers. Attacks against humanitarian workers operating in the Horn of Africa nation are common and have increased in the recent past in the country, which has been torn by factional fighting since 1991 but has recently made progress toward stability. Marshyangdi corridor 220 kV transmission line: Indigenous people demand their say in power project Indigenous communities in Lamjung district have demanded that the Marshyangdi Corridor 220 kV Transmission Line Project respect their rights and seek their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) before beginning construction. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 19:54:55|Editor: mmm Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun said Friday that fighting corruption will be the first priority of the new government, local media reported. "We have adopted a strategy for the fight against corruption to be implemented upon the formation of the new government," he was quoted by Elnashra, an independent online newspaper. Aoun said that the strategy includes administrative and structural reforms. His remarks came during his meeting with a delegation from the General Labor Union headed by Bechara El Asmar. "Some people voice their commitment to fighting against corruption, but when the time for implementation comes, they do just the opposite," said Aoun. "We want to see who will really commit to this goal." He also called upon the General Labor Union to take part in the reform process. Meanwhile, Asmar called for the formation of a new government to deal with the economic challenges facing the country including the housing loans crisis, electricity shortage and high unemployment rate. Asmar also called for the necessity to make changes to salaries in the private sector in addition to approving social security laws and environmental projects. "We also emphasize the need to support agriculture and industry sectors by preventing unfair competition from other countries," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 20:10:01|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's aviation industry has expanded its cooperation platform to facilitate connectivity along the Belt and Road, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said Friday. China has so far signed bilateral intergovernmental air transportation agreements with 125 countries and regions, 62 of them along the Belt and Road, Zhang Qing, a senior official of CAAC, told a press briefing. China has launched direct air routes with 45 countries along the Belt and Road with about 5,100 flights every week, Zhang said. The CAAC will continue to support connectivity along the Belt and Road and bridge economic, trade and cultural ties among Belt and Road countries, she said. Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond ancient Silk Road trade routes, with industrial cooperation a crucial part. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 20:30:05|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close MOSCOW, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia said Friday it blocked a U.S. request Thursday to the United Nations (UN) Security Council Committee to impose sanctions against certain entities allegedly cooperating with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "The United States evidently wanted to obtain a blessing of the UN Security Council Committee 1718 to the unilateral restrictions it had imposed under baseless pretexts," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The evidence presented by the United States in support of their proposal is completely inconclusive, the statement said. Last week, the United States imposed sanctions on an individual and several entities, including Russian commercial bank Agrosoyuz, for allegedly practicing illegal activities bypassing international restrictions on the DPRK. According to the statement, Russia also rejects the methods used by the U.S. delegation to the UN Security Council and its subsidiary bodies, which attempted to impose hasty decisions advantageous to it without due consideration of other members' opinions. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 20:50:09|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two suspected serial killers who allegedly shot dead seven people have been caught after being at large for 25 years, police in northeast China's Jilin Province announced Friday. Qi Zhihua, 52, and Qi Zhifeng, 49, allegedly murdered seven people using homemade guns in three cases in 1989, 1992, and 1993 in the city of Siping, a local police officer said at a press conference. The two men are brothers. In the 1993 case, the head of the city's taxation bureau surnamed Zhang and his 18-year-old son were killed after Zhang refused to give the brothers jobs at the taxation bureau. They also stole some cash before escaping. The two also allegedly killed two faculty members at a high school in a robbery, and a 45-year-old woman and her two daughters at their home in Siping. The suspects were caught in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Tuesday after police combed registration information and compared photos, confirming "Qin Zhonghua" and "Qin Zhongfeng" registered in Inner Mongolia to be the Qi brothers. Murders involving guns sometimes occurred up to the early 1990s. In 1996, China enacted an arms management law, banning civilians from possessing guns. A hawker sells non-woven cloth bags in a market in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 28, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Baishuan) NAIROBI, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The waters of Nairobi River in Kenya's capital flowed aggressively on Thursday, sweeping along all the dirt as they snaked through Mukuru, an informal settlement. It had rained in the capital and its environs two days earlier, thus, helping the river's water increase intensity. As the water flowed, among the things that it swept away from upstream were plastic bottles and bags, sticks and recyclable shopping bags of various colors. The reusable bags are the latest addition to the pollutants of the river, and several others across the East African nation. The bags were introduced in Kenya last year in August after the East African nation banned plastic bags to curb pollution of the environment. Kenya banned the plastic bags and imposed what has been termed as the strictest penalty in the world. Anyone found with plastic bags commits an offence attracting a fine of between 19,417 dollars and 38,834 dollars, a jail term of between one and two years, or both. The bio-degradable bags were, therefore, dubbed the panacea to river, lake and ocean pollution as people would recycle them. However, the reality is dawning in the East African nation that pollution was due to poor waste disposal habits and not the presence of plastics in the country. With the new bags once again choking rivers, and the environment, it is evident Kenya should go back to the drawing board. "Most of those bags in the market are of low quality that you cannot reuse them. This is the reason many are ending up in the environment," shopkeeper Grace Mutuku told Xinhua recently. Mutuku, who runs the shop on the east of Nairobi, said some of the bags get torn before they are even used. "The other day a customer bought a head of cabbage and potatoes and put in the bag I sold her and it got torn immediately. This is what is making the bags un-reusable," she said. The bags go for between 0.05 U.S. dollars and 0.10 dollars for smaller ones and up to 0.50 dollars for the bigger one. The price for the smaller bags is same as that of the banned plastic bags. The low price is seen as one of the causes of the bags ending up in rivers as people can buy new ones each time they go for shopping rather than reuse. "The challenge with the bags is that for most of them, you can only recycle at most three times before they get torn. This means the waste resulting from the bags is still high," said Simon Njiru, an accountant in Nairobi and a lover of shopping. Since the ban, the National Environment Management Agency has been conducting impromptu inspection of markets to ensure it eradicates the banned plastic carrier bags. Henry Wandera, an economics lecturer in Nairobi, blamed the situation to poor waste disposal habits and bad waste management. "We introduced the reusable bags and touted them as the panacea to environmental pollution but that was not the case as our bad waste management practices remained intact. This is the reason the bags are still polluting rivers," he said. He further noted that a majority of the Kenyan public is apathetic to good public waste disposal due to ignorance. "Besides the ban on plastics, the environment agency should have educated people in public campaigns on the importance of good waste disposal methods," he said, adding quality of bags in market must be improved to encourage long-term use. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 21:00:13|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Warplanes of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition bombed an ammunition depot of the Shiite Houthi group in the Red Sea coast city of Hodeidah on Friday, a Yemeni army officer told Xinhua. "An air operation was conducted against Houthis and destroyed their arms and ammunition depot in Raymia area of Hodeidah province, causing huge blasts," a local army officer said on condition of anonymity. The army officer loyal to Yemen's government said that the targeted site was a source of ammunition supply for the Houthi fighters positioned in various battlefields in Hodeidah. "The fighter jets managed to destroy the warehouse after receiving clear information tips from the ground intelligence sources," the officer added. Other gatherings and Houthi-controlled sites in Hodeidah were targeted during the early hours of the day, causing an unknown number of casualties. Meanwhile, a government official told Xinhua that the Houthi fighters arrested scores of citizens after accusing them of cooperation with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces in Hodeidah. "The Houthis kidnapped dozens of innocent citizens and transferred them to the central prison following baseless accusations," the government source said. On June 13, the Arab coalition, backing internationally-recognized government of Yemen's President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, declared a major assault to recapture Hodeidah and the Yemeni western Red Sea coast from the Houthis. Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly accused the Houthi rebels of using Hodeidah's port to smuggle Iranian weapons. Both Houthis and Iran denied the accusation. Hodeidah is the single most important point of entry for food and basic supplies to Yemen's northern provinces controlled by Houthis, including the capital Sanaa. The Arab coalition intervened in Yemen's conflict in March 2015 to roll back Shiite Houthi rebels and reinstate Hadi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 21:20:18|Editor: mmm Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich has been arrested in Frankfurt after being accused of physically-assaulting a sex worker in his hotel room, a spokesperson for the Frankfurt State Prosecution Office confirmed on Friday. "Apparently there was a fight which led to a physical attack on the woman. The suspect is accused of having strangled the woman until she fainted in this context," the spokesperson told press. The prosecutors noted, however, that no formal arrest warrant had been filed against Ullrich so far and that he had only been taken into temporary police custody for the time being. According to the German prosecutor, the cyclist, who was recently arrested on the Spanish island of Mallorca for rowdy behavior, was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he attacked the sex worker. Police officers who rushed to the scene reported that the victim required medical attention due to injuries suffered. The 44-year-old former cyclist had travelled from Mallorca to Germany on Thursday night where he was scheduled to begin therapy at a clinic in Bavaria to address his addiction problem. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 21:20:18|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan government forces repulsed a massive Taliban offensive on Ghazni city, the capital of eastern Ghazni province, on Friday, the Defense Ministry said. "Around 150 rebels have been killed or injured, and the enemies were forced to flee," the ministry said in a statement. However, the statement confirmed that a group of militants had taken positions inside residential houses in the fourth precinct of Ghazni city and continued sporadic firing. In a surprise move, Taliban militants launched multi-pronged offensive on Ghazni city, infiltrated the city early Friday morning, and blocked the road linking the capital city of Kabul to the southern Kandahar and western Herat city. The Defense Ministry, however, did not mention the casualties of security personnel. Meanwhile, hospital sources in Ghazni city confirmed that 16 dead bodies including 14 in uniform and two civilians, and 33 injured people including eight civilians had been taken to the provincial hospital. Backing the Defense Ministry's statement, Ghazni police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal claimed that the militants after suffering huge casualties had fled away and cleanup operations were underway to wipe out the insurgents in and around the city. Locals, however, said that sporadic fighting was still going on and many buildings in Ghazni city had been badly damaged. Zabihullah Majahid, a purported spokesman for the Taliban outfit, claimed that the militants had overrun several checkpoints after inflicting casualties on security personnel. It is difficult to verify the claims made by both of the warring sides with independent sources. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 21:30:20|Editor: mmm Video Player Close MOSCOW, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia said Friday that new U.S. sanctions on Moscow over an alleged nerve agent attack five months ago is "illegitimate." Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the issue of possible new U.S. sanctions at a meeting with the country's security council members on Friday, the Kremlin said in a statement. "Total illegitimacy of such actions from the point of view of international law has been underlined," the statement said. The U.S. State Department Wednesday vowed to take punitive measures against Russia over an alleged nerve agent attack on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the British city of Salisbury in March. Russia has denied the accusations and demanded direct participation in the investigation. On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the U.S. decision on new sanctions and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow will consider retaliation. The Russian Security Council, a consultative body for the president, consists of key government ministers and agency heads. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 21:35:21|Editor: mmm Video Player Close LONDON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Britain's world-leading researchers and entrepreneurs were given a billion-dollar boost Friday by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond. Hammond announced an additional 780 million pounds (nearly 1 billion U.S. dollars) to create the technologies of tomorrow. It builds on 180 million pounds already announced by the government. Hammond is expanding successful "catapult centers" which are fuelling innovation across the country as part of Britain's ambitious, modern Industrial Strategy. "This new funding backs Britain's brightest talent, supporting work in high-tech labs, cutting-edge factories and advanced training centers," said a spokesperson from HM Treasury. Innovations and inventions already benefiting from investment include a portable pollution sensor that parents can attach to a child's buggy, cellular therapies to fight cancer and improve recovery of stroke victims, LED treatment for blindness, and more-efficient wings for aeroplanes. Hammond made the announcement during a visit to the West Midlands region of England on the day GDP figures showed the UK economy has grown by 0.4 percent. Hammond said: "We are working hard to build a stronger, fairer economy. Unemployment is at its lowest since the 1970s, our national debt is starting to fall, and the economy has grown every year since 2010." "It is by backing innovative British companies to grow and create jobs that we will continue this progress and build an economy fit for the future. Today's 780 million pound investment will support innovators across the country to create the technologies of the future, and the better, highly-paid jobs we urgently need." Ian Campbell, Interim Executive Chair of Innovate UK, said: "Today's significant announcement means our world-class network of catapults can build on their success and continue helping thousands of businesses across the UK to undertake innovative R&D." "This long-term investment will mean the catapults can help deliver the Grand Challenges of the Industrial Strategy in their sectors and help the UK achieve its ambition to raise investment in R&D to 2.4 percent of GDP by 2027." In their first five years, the catapults have supported around 3,000 small businesses to develop and exploit new technologies. They operate world-class facilities and are also training hundreds of apprentices and doctoral students. Kantipur scribe Miya bags Community Forest Journalism Award The Kantipur Publications scribe Abdullah Miya has bagged Community Forest Journalism Award-2018 for his reporting on forest conservation and environment. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 21:41:41|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close A worker examines product quality at a factory in Laoting Economic Development Area in Laoting County, north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 10, 2018. Laoting government has actively promoted economic development by introducing relocated industries from Beijing-Tianjin area. Since 2014, a total of 57 industrial projects have been transferred to Laoting County with a total investment of 25.66 billion Yuan (3.75 billion U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao) Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 21:45:25|Editor: mmm Video Player Close ANKARA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged on Friday his nation to change all savings in U.S. dollar and gold into Turkish lira. "Dollar will not block our way. Let's respond them with our national currency," Erdogan said in his address to crowds in the northern Province of Bayburt of the Black Sea Region. "Change your dollars and gold under the mattress to the local currency," he added. The Turkish president described the campaign as a "national struggle" in response to "those who declared economic war" against Turkey. Meanwhile, Erdogan ascribed the current "economic problems" to "artificial financial instability waves" stoked by foreign actors, rather than structural issues involving employment or the banking system. He also blamed foreign meddling in Turkey's economy because of "some bilateral disagreements," hinting at the tension between Turkey and the United States. Earlier in the day, the Turkish lira hit an all-time low of 6.3 against the U.S. dollar, a day after a deadlock in bilateral talks in Washington which aimed to resolve the political crisis between the two countries. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 22:02:31|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on Aug. 10, 2018 shows a flower field in Hongshigou scenic spot in Shahe City, north China's Hebei Province. Recent years, tourist industry in Shahe has seen an all-round development with three scenic spots approved as national 4A level scenic spots. Shahe City welcomed 1.1 million tourists in 2017. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 22:18:19|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next Owner of the tourist yard "Guli's Home" places copper bowls on the head of a staff who will give a performance in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 7, 2018. Located in the ancient city of Kashgar, "Guli's Home", a local resident's yard converted into a tourist resting place, has become a hot tourist attraction where visitors can experience everyday life in Kashgar. Kashgar greets the peak season for tourism from June to October. The development of tourism has brought changes for local people's life. (Xinhua/Ma Kai) Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 22:15:30|Editor: mmm Video Player Close ATHENS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Greece on Friday criticized Russia's decision earlier this week to expel two Greek diplomats in a retaliatory move. The Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Russia's decision is "arbitrary, retaliatory and not based on any evidence." Russia said Monday that it had summoned the Greek ambassador to Moscow and told him it was responding in kind to Greece's expulsion of two Russian diplomats last month, which it called an unfriendly decision. In July, Greece expelled two Russian diplomats and barred two other people from entering the country, accusing them of attempting to bribe Greek officials. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 22:15:30|Editor: mmm Video Player Close KHARTOUM, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has chosen President Omar al-Bashir as its candidate for presidential elections slated for 2020, official SUNA news agency reported Friday. This decision came after the NCP's consultation council approved amendments to its constitution on Thursday evening, where the limit on presidential candidacy to two terms was cancelled. The amendments also demand to increase women's participation in the state's bodies from 25 percent to 30 percent. The NCP's consultation council, known as Shura, is the second highest authority of the party after the 400-member General Congress. Among its tasks is the election of the members of the party's leadership bureau. Al-Bashir assumed power after a military coup in 1989. He won presidential elections in April 2010, before running for the presidency again in April 2015, where he scored a sweeping victory. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 22:19:00|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on Aug. 9, 2018 shows a view of Tiegong Paozi Village in Duolun County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Under policy support of local government and joint efforts on afforestation by villagers, the eco-environment of the village has witnessed sound improvement. (Xinhua/Liu Lei) Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 22:20:32|Editor: mmm Video Player Close KUNMING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The site of the Battle of Mount Song during the Second World War in Yunnan Province has become a place well-remembered by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The battle, which took place in the city of Baoshan in 1944, was part of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression. Over 4,800 people from Taiwan have visited the battle site over the past five years, according to the local government. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council has approved the establishment of a cross-strait exchange base at the site, with the construction of supporting facilities underway. More than 60 such bases have been set up on the mainland so far. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 22:35:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close OTTAWA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen are among four confirmed dead in a shooting incident on Friday morning in Canada's New Brunswick province, according to CTV Television Network. The shooting happened in the city of Fredericton at around 7 a.m. (1100 GMT). "At this time, we can confirm multiple fatalities. The incident is ongoing. More information will be available when we can. Please continue to avoid the area of Brookside Drive between Main and Ring Road," Fredericton police tweeted. Police have arrested one suspect, local media reported. Local residents have been told to avoid the Brookside Drive area and stay inside their homes with the doors locked as the police are investigating "an ongoing incident." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences to the victims' families. "Awful news coming out of Fredericton. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this morning's shooting. We're following the situation closely," he tweeted. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 22:50:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed Syrian issues during a phone conversation Friday, according to a Kremlin statement. "Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of the international community continuing to restore the social and economic infrastructure of Syria and return refugees and temporarily displaced people to their places of permanent residence," it said. The two leaders appreciated the Russian-French operation in July to deliver and distribute humanitarian aid to the people in Syria's Eastern Ghouta, it said. A Russian military transport aircraft delivered 44 tons of humanitarian aid, including medicines, clothes, tents and other essential items, from France to Syria on July 21, the Russian Defense Ministry said then. The cargo was distributed to the civilians in urgent need of assistance in Eastern Ghouta, a collection of farms and towns near the Syrian capital of Damascus. Lama sent to one year in prison for laundering money Ganesh Lama was among five 'notorious dons against whom the Department of Money Laundering Investigation had filed cases on charges of amassing millions of rupees illegally. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:15:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni security forces on Friday thwarted a coordinated attack after defusing three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the southern port city of Aden, a government official told Xinhua. Three suspected militants were arrested before the three roadside bombs were defused, the government source said on condition of anonymity. The three militants were captured while trying to detonate bombs remotely in Aden's neighborhood of Mansourah, the source added. Meanwhile, an officer of the Criminal Investigation Department in Aden revealed to Xinhua that the arrested militants plotted to "assassinate a high-ranking leader." Drive-by shootings and roadside bomb attacks have been growing in Yemen's government-controlled city of Aden, triggering fears that terror groups might maintain presence in the southern city. Government officials, including security commanders and high-ranking intelligence officers, have become the prime targets of armed attacks in recent days. Considered Yemen's temporary capital city, Aden is where the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has based itself since 2015. The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since late 2014, when Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:25:51|Editor: zh Video Player Close United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to journalists on the appointment of Michelle Bachelet at the UN headquarters in New York, Aug. 10, 2018. The United Nations General Assembly on Friday approved former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet as the next UN human rights chief by acclamation. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations General Assembly on Friday approved former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet as the next UN human rights chief by acclamation. Bachelet will replace Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, and begin her 4-year term starting Sept. 1, 2018 and expiring Aug. 31, 2022. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday proposed to appoint Bachelet for the key post of High Commissioner for Human Rights that is headquartered in Geneva. Bachelet served as president of Chile from 2014 to 2018 and 2006 to 2010. The UN human rights chief is the principal official who speaks out for human rights across the whole UN system, strengthening human rights mechanisms, enhancing equality, fighting discrimination in all its forms, widening the democratic space and protecting the most vulnerable from all forms of human rights abuse. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:30:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 30 people have died in floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains in the southern Indian state of Kerala in the past 48 hours, officials said Friday. The deaths were reported from the districts of Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Ernakulam. "With more deaths in the past 24 hours, the toll now stands at 30. The most deaths were reported from Idukki district. Several people are also missing in these flood-affected districts," a disaster management official said. Apart from 10 teams of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), the Indian military has been deployed in the state. The Indian Air Force (IAF) said it had deployed a number of aircraft and helicopters in the rescue operations. "Five An-32 transport aircraft have been pressed into service to transport National Disaster Response Force teams. Two Mi-17 V5 helicopters and an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) have also been deployed," an IAF spokesperson told the media. Authorities said schools and colleges have been closed in large parts of the state and the annual Nehru boat race in Alappuzha district has been postponed because of the heavy showers lashing Kerala. State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has attributed the floods to the opening of many dams across Kerala because of rise in water levels in major reservoirs. "The situation in the state is really serious. We are forced to open 22 dams in the state due to incessant rains. Such a situation never arose in the recent past. This is really unprecedented," the chief minister said. Meanwhile, the state government has asked the central government to declare it a national tragedy. "This is a national tragedy. I request the government to proclaim it as a national tragedy and rush assistance to the people of Kerala immediately," Binoy Viswam, a lawmaker from Kerala said in parliament this morning. Last month, some 40 people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the state. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:35:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China will remain committed to opening-up its agricultural industries despite trade tensions with the United States, a senior Chinese official said, adding that tariffs will only have a limited impact on the country's markets. "China's diversified sources of imports from a wide range of overseas markets will ensure its countermeasures against U.S. tariffs will only have a limited influence on the domestic market," said Han Jun, deputy director of the office of the central agricultural work leading group and vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs, during a press briefing Thursday. The government will work to minimize the impacts on industrial production and people's everyday life, Han said. The vice minister's remarks came on the heel of an escalation of a U.S.-ignited trade war. Among rising tariffs against a wide range of goods traded in both directions, China introduced extra levies on more than 900 U.S. agricultural product lines, including soybeans, grains, cotton, and meat, which make up nearly 90 percent of U.S. farm exports to China. "China is not willing to engage in a trade war but was forced to implement necessary countermeasures in response to the U.S. moves," Han said, noting the country's tariffs, put forward after extensive public input and a careful assessment on the impact, are "rational and restrained." The impact on U.S. agriculture is foreseeable. "American farmers are likely to lose the Chinese market that they have worked for decades to explore, despite the agricultural subsidies worth up to 12 billion U.S. dollars announced by the White House and U.S. Department of Agriculture," Han said. Soybeans, the most important agricultural product in the bilateral trade, are at the forefront of this trade war. The U.S. is expected to export more than 30 million tonnes of soybeans to China this year, according to a previous forecast, but this number is now unlikely to materialize, as Chinese companies have largely stopped purchasing U.S. soybeans after an additional 25-percent duty took effect on July 6. A hearing by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 19 reflected the concerns of farmers and agri-business groups about the scenario of a shrinking market share in China. After the soybean season begins in October, the sector will face a worsening situation that features falling prices, increasing export pressure and a long export cycle. The United States exports about half of its annual soybean production, around 100 million tonnes. In a fiercely-competitive Chinese market, soybean producers from other countries will occupy the market share that belonged to U.S. farmers if trade frictions continue to worsen, Han said. Han cited remarks of Brazilian Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi that the South American country is capable of doubling the cultivated area of soybeans. "Many countries have the will and ability to replace the U.S. presence in the Chinese agricultural market. If other countries become reliable suppliers to China, it will be difficult for the United States to regain the position." Han said. China is capable of dealing with the gap left by dropping soybean imports from the United States, Han said. With limited arable land resources, it is hard for China to ensure the sufficient supply of land-intensive products including soybeans after securing enough staple grains like rice and wheat. The country relies on global markets to fill its 90 million tonne soybean demand each year. China has made thorough preparations to prevent the impacts on domestic food prices, Han said, citing responding measures including seeking new sources, reducing the use of soymeal in animal feed, buying substitutes, and raise domestic soybean production capacity. Despite the trade frictions, Han stressed China would promote the opening-up of the agricultural sector in an active, steady and orderly manner, with more imports from the global markets. "It is China's established policy to actively expand agriculture imports." China has become the largest importer of agricultural products worldwide and the second largest agricultural trading nation. The country is the world's biggest buyer of soybeans, sugar, and cotton. In fact, China and the United States are highly-complementary in agricultural trade and strengthened cooperation in the area would be beneficial to the agriculture of both sides, Han said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:35:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ABUJA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least nine residents in Nigeria's north-central state of Benue were killed in an attack by gunmen early Friday, the police said. Eight people were killed on the spot and another victim died later amid sporadic shooting as the gunmen went on the rampage in Tse Ujoh community located in Katsina-Ala area of the state, police spokesman, Moses Yamu, confirmed to reporters. The police did not confirm the number of wounded victims, but eyewitnesses said more than 15 people were hurt. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue also confirmed the number of dead casualties, describing the killing as "unacceptable." Ortom said troops have been quickly deployed to the area to bring the situation under control. The governor said three suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack and assured the local people of more security to prevent further attacks. Killings have increased since the start of the year in Benue, where relations between herdsmen and farmers remained tense. Benue is one of the middle-belt states in Nigeria predominantly inhabited by three tribes. Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari recently ordered the deployment of troops to the state, to forestall further killings. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:35:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- German Ryanair staff have joined colleagues across Europe in the biggest-ever pilot strike experienced at the Irish budget airline, the pilot trade union Cockpit (VC) confirmed on Friday. Germany is the epicenter of the industrial action that saw 250 Ryanair flights being cancelled during the peak of the European holiday season. As a result, 42,000 passengers will experience serious disruptions to their travel plans. The strike is scheduled to last for a 24-hour period from 03:01 am (CET) on Friday until 02:59 am (CET) on Saturday. Across Europe, a total of 55,000 passengers are affected by the latest episode in a long-standing labor dispute at Ryanair. Pilots in Sweden, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands announced that they would abstain from work on Friday as well. Trade unions have only been recognized by the management at Ryanair since 2017. Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary has repeatedly resisted calls from staff for better pay and working conditions which he warns would endanger the ultra-low-cost business model of Europe's largest budget airline. Cockpit president Martin Locher explained earlier that the strike decision was a response to the unwillingness of Ryanair to engage in constructive discussions with pilots. "Ryanair alone is to blame for the escalation of the situation which has now occurred." The trade union representative argued that improving working conditions would inevitably also require higher personnel costs shouldered by the company for cockpit staff. Cockpit wants employer representatives to sign Ryanair's first ever collective wage agreement with staff and has already been negotiating on behalf of German pilots towards this end since January. Collective wages are widespread and legally binding in Germany as part of the country's "social partnership" model. The arrangements form part of a post-war political settlement between employer- and employee representatives which granted workers significant rights with regards to their labor conditions and their role in the cooperative management of companies. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:40:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Germany has recorded an increase in the surplus on its national current account balance in June, figures published on Friday by the German Central Bank (Bundesbank) showed. According to the Frankfurt-based institute, the German current account surplus was measured at 26.2 billion euros in June, up from a 12.9 billion euros in May. The current account is an important economic indicator that measures the sum of a country's balance of trade (imports and exports) and net income (or losses) from international investments. The monthly increase measured by the Bundesbank was due growth in the surplus on the so-called "invisibles" account which refers to the rendering of cross-border services in which no physical objects are transferred, as well as flows of capital between countries. By contrast, the size of the traditional surplus run by Germany on trade in goods was largely unchanged in June compared to the previous month. U.S. president Donald Trump and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have repeatedly criticized Germany for allegedly contributing to global current imbalances by pursuing a narrowly-export-driven growth model. The IMF argues that permanent surpluses above six percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) endanger economic stability because they imply corresponding deficits and a build-up of international liabilities in other countries. In an unusual public intervention, IMF chief economist Maurice Obstfeld recently urged German policymakers in the newspaper Handelsblatt to take steps to reign in the country's "excessive surpluses." According to recent data by the IMF and World Bank, Germany has run current account surpluses above 8 percent of GDP for the past three years. Obstfeld argued that a high surplus was "not necessarily a sign of strength but an indicator of weak domestic investment and a household and corporate savings rate which is higher than needed." As a consequence, Berlin would be well-advised to increase government spending, especially in public infrastructure, in order to animate firms to invest more at home. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:40:57|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The property markets in major Chinese cities are expected to continue stabilizing, as local governments have been rolling out more control measures. According to a recently published report, in the southern Guangdong Province, some 65.6 million square meters of commercial houses were sold, with a sales volume of about 833.4 billion yuan (121.6 billion U. S. dollars) during the first half of this year, a drop of 12.1 percent and 1.4 percent respectively from the same period last year. The metropolis of Shenzhen in Guangdong saw its average transaction price of new houses remain at 54,142 yuan per square meters in July, up by 0.09 percent from June. Previously, the city has seen drops in home price for 21 months in a row since October 2016. The eastern coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian Province, saw transactions of 10,479 existing houses during the first half of 2018, down by 28.63 percent from the second half of 2017. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), housing prices in major Chinese cities remained stable in June. On a yearly basis, new residential housing prices in four first-tier cities including Beijing and Shanghai saw no change from a year ago. New home prices declined year on year in seven of the 15 "hotspot" cities, where speculative home purchases are monitored, while eight other cities posted growth. During previous years, rocketing housing prices, especially in major cities, fueled concerns about asset bubbles. To curb speculation, local governments rolled out various measures, such as restricting purchasing homes and increasing the minimum down payment required for a mortgage. According to Centaline Property research center, over 270 property control announcements were made by different cities and departments in 2017. During the first seven months this year, major cities announced 260 control measures, up by 80 percent from the same period last year. More controls are on the way, as the central authorities showed firm resolve in regulating the property market at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on July 31. The meeting said "rises in home prices should be firmly curbed," and that the establishment of a long-term mechanism to promote the stable and healthy development of the property market should be accelerated. On July 31, Shenzhen released a circular saying that commercial apartments bought by individuals, companies, and public institutions are not allowed to be sold within five years. Meanwhile, newly-built commercial residential houses and existing houses bought by residents are not allowed to be sold within three years. Companies and public institutions are not allowed to buy new commercial houses and existing houses for the time being, according to the circular. On August 6, Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning Province launched policies to strengthen regulation of the property market, such as expanding the area subject to commercial house purchase restrictions. The city also announced an increase in the supply of commercial residential houses and land for residential house construction. On August 8, Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province said that the municipal government will carry out a campaign to crack down on speculation, illegal agents, and illegal activities by developers from August to December. At a meeting held by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in Shenyang on August 7, local governments across China were ordered to analyze the problems and major risks existing in their respective housing markets and implement tailored measures to stabilize the market expectation. Mao Shengyong, NBS spokesperson, said the property market still has some structural problems, as several third- and fourth-tier cities have experienced price spikes since the beginning of the year, and some remote areas are facing housing inventory oversupply. Therefore, more targeted and individualized control measures should be adopted by different cities, he said. Jia Kang, chief economist at the China Academy of New Supply-side Economics, said, on the one hand, governments should offer more subsidized rental houses and shared ownership houses for low-income groups, while on the other hand, more higher-end housing should also be provided to meet market demand. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:45:58|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Social movement participants from 14 countries started a conference in the Palestinian West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday to share experiences in the struggle against colonialism. The two-day conference, which aims at establishing common grounds for people with shared plights, provided opportunities for speakers to illustrate their goals and means of struggle. Aghsan Barghouti, press officer of the Union of Agricultural Work Committee, one of the organizing groups, said the conference "tries to collectively point out the strengths and weaknesses to build on." The debates focused on the emerging social movements in Palestine, union works, the international status of the Palestinian cause, and the internal relationships between Palestinian social movements. Cassia Bechara from Brazilian Landless Workers Movement told Xinhua that "the relationship between people struggling all over the world is always very important." The conference brings together people from the world who are organizing struggles in their countries, Bechara said. The main recommendations of the conference included establishment of an international platform for social movements, development of infrastructure of civil society organization, and a social change movement that works with political movements to reach independence and freedom. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:45:59|Editor: zh Video Player Close Photo taken on Aug. 10, 2018 shows Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he has authorized to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Turkey to 50 percent and 20 percent respectively. The White House has since confirmed the tweet. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he has authorized to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Turkey to 50 percent and 20 percent respectively. The White House has since confirmed the tweet. Tensions ramped up between the two countries over the detention of an American pastor by Turkey. Trump tweeted Friday that the U.S.-Turkey ties "are not good at this time!". Trump added that the Turkish currency Lira "slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" The Turkish lira has fallen more than 10 percent since last week when the United States slapped sanctions on two Turkish ministers. Early Friday, the currency hit an all-time low of 6.30 against the U.S. dollar. Turkey and the United States are currently experiencing rocky relations after the U.S. imposed sanctions last Wednesday on two Turkish ministers over the continued detention of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges and up to 35 years in prison if found guilty. Brunson was indicted for allegedly having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party and Fethullah Gulen, an exiled Turkish preacher who has allegedly masterminded the failed coup attempt in 2016 to topple Erdogan. A Turkish court has agreed to move Brunson from prison to house arrest over health concerns, but it still does not allow him to return to the United States. As a result of U.S. sanctions, any property or interest in property of both Turkish ministers within U.S. jurisdiction is blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry vowed to "retaliate" against U.S. "aggression" over the case of Brunson "without any delay," and called on Washington to reverse its decision. Last Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo met in Singapore on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers' meeting. Ankara and Washington agreed to work together to resolve problems between them, Cavusoglu said after the meeting. The two sides seemed to have failed to resolve the deadlock though bilateral talks in Washington earlier this week during the visit of a Turkish delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal and made up of officials from Turkey's justice, finance and foreign ministries. U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Thursday that although the two sides "had wide-ranging meetings at the State Department and with other departments here in Washington," the U.S. side "would define progress as Pastor Brunson being brought home." "The progress that we want to be made is to have Pastor Brunson return home," she added. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday also dismissed concerns over the tumbling lira and called on his nation to "have no worries." Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry announced a "new economic model," aiming to stabilize their economic growth. In March, the United States had imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum for imports from a variety of countries. Turkey was reportedly the sixth largest steel importer to the United States. Related: Spotlight: Will U.S. sanctions push Turkey further towards Russia? ANKARA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The rising tension in the ties between Turkey and the U.S. has led to speculation that Turkey would further strengthen its relations with Russia. Full story Mega cement factory set to begin production The factory will be able to produce nearly 2,800 tonnes of cement daily. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:51:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- High costs and a dearth of wind have weighed on the earnings of Innogy during the first half of 2018, figures published on Friday by the German renewable energy provider showed. Gross revenue at the publicly-listed company fell by an annual rate of 4.8 percent to 20.6 billion euros (23.6 billion U.S. dollars) between January and June. During the same period, earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) fell by 10 percent to 1.6 billion euros. The Essen-based company attributed the development to higher costs for the purchase of Dutch natural gas, as well as a dearth of wind during the first six months of 2018. "Innogy's financial development during the first half of the year was in line with our expectations," said chief financial officer (CFO) Bernhard Guenther. Guenther re-affirmed an earlier forecast that the company would record adjusted net annual profits of 1.1 billion euros in 2018. Innogy is on the verge of being dismantled in a major energy sector deal agreed between its parent company RWE and E.ON, its German rival. E.ON wants to acquire Innogy completely and is offering RWE a stake in its own business for the 76.8 percent of Innogy shares which it currently holds. E.ON would then take over Innogy's lucrative grid business, while its renewable energy generation is concentrated under the corporate umbrella of the RWE mother corporation. As a consequence, Innogy, which was created as a RWE subsidiary only two years ago, would cease to exist. The 20-billion-euro deal has largely been welcomed by German policy makers and trade unions as an example of positive corporate restructuring. Innogy's management initially expressed concern over the plans by RWE and E.ON to reduce the company's current headcount of more than 70,000 staff by 5,000, but has since reached an agreement which seeks to effectively prevent any layoffs. Innogy announced in July that it would support the plans for its own break-up and help obtain the necessary regulatory approval. "I have the feeling that we now have clarity (with regards to the future of the company)," Innogy chief executive officer (CEO) Uwe Tigges said on Friday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 23:51:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ANKARA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation on Friday over bilateral and regional issues, presidential sources said. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with mutual economic and trade ties, and continuing cooperation on defense and energy, the sources said on condition of anonymity. Erdogan and Putin also discussed recent developments in Syria and relevant peace talks in Astana. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Ankara next week on the sidelines of a forum attended by ambassadors to Turkey, to meet with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. The meeting will focus on "the current international agenda in Syria, in the Middle East, the Caucasus region, Central Asia, in Ukraine and in the Black Sea region," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday. They will also discuss the development of economic and trade ties, in particular the building of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant and the Turkish Stream Gas pipeline, she added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 00:06:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- German Interior ministry statistics suggest that a recent asylum policy agreement between Berlin and Madrid will have little impact on the number of migrants reaching Germany via Spain, the newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Friday. Responding to a query by Handelsblatt, the ministry admitted that not a single individual would have been affected by the agreement which interior minister and Christian Social Union (CSU) leader Horst Seehofer has described as an integral part of his "migration master plan". Under the bilateral deal secured by Seehofer this week, Madrid has offered to take back asylum seekers who were first registered in Spain within 48 hours. However, the Spanish offer to help prevent so-called "secondary migration" of asylum seekers within the Schengen free-travel area only applies to individuals who are intercepted by authorities at the German-Austrian border. The interior ministry told Handelsblatt on Friday that although eight asylum seekers who were already registered in Spain had entered Germany during the past two months, none of them had crossed the border with Austria. The data seemed to confirm the critics' suspicion of the deal who have accused Seehofer of trying to score points with anti-immigrant symbolism. Given the geographic location of Spain in the far west of Europe, it is unlikely that refugees and other irregular migrants take a detour Germany's South-Eastern neighbor Austria to reach the country. German authorities have only been recording instances in which new asylum seekers have been previously registered in a different European Union (EU) country under the bloc's "Eurodac" system since mid-June. During this period, a total of 150 illegal border crossings were registered which fell into the category of secondary migration. Around half of the cases were technically the responsibility of Italy under the so-called "Dublin regime" governing European asylum policy. In spite of a "low current number of cases", the federal government insists that the German-Spanish asylum seeker deal which will be formally enacted from Saturday is worthwhile. According to a spokesperson, the agreement constituted an "important step to ordering and controlling migration policy and strengthening the integrity of the joint European asylum system." Seehofer has repeatedly argued that a normalization of German asylum policy is needed again after the massive influx of new arrivals from 2015 onwards led to a temporary suspension in the operation of Dublin regime. At the same time, critics of the system, including Italy and Greece, have drawn attention to what they view as its unfair institutional division of labor and called for reforms. States located at the external borders of the Schengen area are currently legally responsible for the vast majority of arrivals. So far, EU interior ministers have been unable to agree on the shape of a "Dublin IV" regime to replace the third iteration thereof. As of the first half of 2018, Spain has overtaken Greece and Italy as the biggest destination for asylum seekers and migrants coming to Europe from Africa. German chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is scheduled to travel to the country on Saturday where she will hold informal talks on European migration policy with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 00:06:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SANAA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Houthi top official welcomed on Friday the call by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for an independent investigation into the Saudi-led airstrikes which killed dozens of children on a bus in Yemen's northern province of Saada. "We welcome the call of the UN secretary-general and we are ready to cooperate," Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, chief of Houthi Supreme Political Committee, said on his Twitter account. On Thursday, two Saudi-led airstrikes hit passenger buses in the Dhahyan popular market, killing at least 43 people, mostly pupils under 10, and injuring 64 others, Yahya Shayem, head of Saada health office, told Xinhua. The attack triggered popular anger across Yemen and drew mass condemnation from international humanitarian agencies. Guterres condemned the airstrikes and called for an "independent and prompt investigation," his spokesman said. The International Committee of the Red Cross also condemned the Saudi-led airstrikes, saying "civilians must be protected during conflict under international humanitarian law." Henrietta Fore, head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), expressed his shock at the incident. "I'm horrified by the reported airstrike on innocent children, some with UNICEF backpacks. Enough is enough," he said. However, the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition said in a statement that what it targeted were "Iran-allied Houthi rebels who fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday at the Saudi commercial city in the border region of Jazan." In response, Houthi Spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam mocked the coalition statement as "absolutely ridiculous." The Thursday's attack was the latest in a series of deadly airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen. The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since the Houthi rebels overran much of Yemen and seized all northern provinces in late 2014, including the capital Sanaa. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in the Yemeni war in 2015 to support the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. More than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war, with about 3 million others displaced. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 00:16:14|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close HARBIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen cutaneous anthrax cases have been confirmed in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, local authorities said Friday. One of the 14 patients has been cured and discharged from hospital, the information office of the provincial government told a press briefing. The epidemic is under control and the patients have been under effective treatment, it said. Local authorities are examining the pathogens. A total of 818 sheep in the affected and high-risk areas in Huanan and Yilan counties have been culled. Cutaneous, or skin, anthrax is the least serious form of the disease. It is usually contracted when a person with a cut or sore on their skin comes into direct, unprotected contact with anthrax spores on a sick or dead animal. The Heilongjiang Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau has sent three expert teams to handle the situation. Meanwhile, it has sent 112,500 ml of anthrax vaccine to immunize livestock in the two counties . The provincial health authorities also have sent experts to investigate the infections in a bid to roll out more effective control and prevention measures. Chinese doctors attend to patients in Kayunga district, central Uganda, March 23, 2018.(Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping) KAMPALA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China donated medicines and medical supplies to China-Uganda Friendship Hospital in the Ugandan capital Kampala. Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, on Thursday handed over the medicines and supplies worth 70,000 U.S. dollars to Ruth Aceng, Ugandan minister of health. "I believe that this batch of materials will effectively improve the current shortage of medicine for the hospital," he said. Zheng said public health cooperation is an important part of the ten major China-Africa cooperation plans as announced during the 2015 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa. He said apart from the annual donation of medicines and supplies, China has since 1983 been sending medical teams to Uganda. Aceng said the donation will go a long way in improving the patient care at the 100-bed hospital, which was also donated by the Chinese government. Aceng said government is in the process of making final preparations to kick start the renovation and expansion of the hospital. She said the hospital in future will be changed into a trauma and orthopedics center. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 01:21:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KIEV, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least six people, including five children, were killed and 12 others injured on Friday when a passenger minibus collided with a truck in Ukraine's south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region, police said. The accident occurred at 2:30 p.m. local time (GMT 1130), when the minibus with about 20 people aboard and the Kamaz heavy truck collided on Kharkiv-Simferopol highway, the National Police said in a statement. Meanwhile, local media, who cited eyewitnesses, reported that the truck lost brake control and crashed into the minibus on the opposite lane. The police have launched an investigation into the accident. In the first half of 2018, a total of 1,237 people were killed and more than 12,800 injured in about 68,700 road accidents in Ukraine. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 01:56:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Libya's eastern-based army, led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar, on Friday explained its request for Russian intervention to solve the country's crisis. The Russian intervention in Libya will be requested through the UN to lift the international weapons embargo on the army, Ahmad Al-Mesmari, the army spokesman, said in a statement. Al-Mesmari's statement came days after his interview with Russian news agency Sputnik, where the spokesman called for a greater diplomatic Russian role in the Libyan crisis. "The Libyan problem also needs engagement from Russia and President Putin himself, to remove other external actors, for example, Turkey, Qatar, and especially Italy from Libya," Al-Mesmari told Sputnik on Wednesday. His comments sparked backlash from some Libyan political parties, some of which considered them an explicit request for military intervention in Libya. Despite a UN-sponsored political agreement signed in December 2015, Libya remains politically divided between rival governments in the east and west of the country, both competing for legitimacy. Yemenis dig graves for children, who where killed when their bus was hit during a Saudi-led coalition airstrike, that targeted the Dahyan market the previous day in the Houthi rebels' stronghold province of Saada on August 10, 2018. (AFP photo) SANAA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Houthi top official welcomed on Friday the call by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for an independent investigation into the Saudi-led airstrikes which killed dozens of children on a bus in Yemen's northern province of Saada. "We welcome the call of the UN secretary-general and we are ready to cooperate," Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, chief of Houthi Supreme Political Committee, said on his Twitter account. On Thursday, two Saudi-led airstrikes hit passenger buses in the Dhahyan popular market, killing at least 43 people, mostly pupils under 10, and injuring 64 others, Yahya Shayem, head of Saada health office, told Xinhua. Yemenis gather next to the destroyed bus at the site of a Saudi-led coalition airstrike, that targeted the Dahyan market the previous day in the Houthi rebels' stronghold province of Saada on August 10, 2018. (AFP photo) The attack triggered popular anger across Yemen and drew mass condemnation from international humanitarian agencies. Guterres condemned the airstrikes and called for an "independent and prompt investigation," his spokesman said. The International Committee of the Red Cross also condemned the Saudi-led airstrikes, saying "civilians must be protected during conflict under international humanitarian law." Henrietta Fore, head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), expressed his shock at the incident. "I'm horrified by the reported airstrike on innocent children, some with UNICEF backpacks. Enough is enough," he said. However, the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition said in a statement that what it targeted were "Iran-allied Houthi rebels who fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday at the Saudi commercial city in the border region of Jazan." In response, Houthi Spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam mocked the coalition statement as "absolutely ridiculous." The Thursday's attack was the latest in a series of deadly airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen. The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since the Houthi rebels overran much of Yemen and seized all northern provinces in late 2014, including the capital Sanaa. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in the Yemeni war in 2015 to support the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. More than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war, with about 3 million others displaced. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 02:51:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian forces on Friday launched over 80 airstrikes on areas in the northwestern province of Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria, in what could be a prelude for a wide-scale campaign, a war monitor reported. The Syrian Air Force launched intensive aerial bombardments on the southern countryside of Idlib, mostly the Khan Sheikhun area, the first escalation after four weeks of a lull in that area, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Britain-based watchdog group said last month the Syrian forces targeted the western countryside of Jisr al-Shaghour area in Idlib countryside, after the rebels there unleashed a wide-scale offensive on government positions in the northern mountains of Latakia province. The war monitor noted that the intensification of shelling on the southern countryside of Idlib could be a prelude for an anticipated wide-scale offensive by the government forces on Idlib. Idlib has emerged as the main destination for the rebels who were being defeated by the Syrian army in several Syrian area, and all evacuation deals of the rebels included their departure to Idlib, making that province the last major stronghold for the rebels after the Syrian army restored nearly two-thirds of the country. A day earlier, Syrian aircrafts dropped leaflets on areas in the countryside of Idlib, urging the rebels to accept reconciliation deals with the government. Bashar Jaafari, the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations, said recently that the Syrian government is exerting efforts to encourage the local reconciliations in Idlib, otherwise the Syrian army has the right to force. Idlib is largely controlled by the Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham, or the Levant Liberation Committee (LLC), whose backbone is the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front. The LLC has recently been rounding up opposition figures who are advocating the need to accept the reconciliation deals with the government, according to the observatory. The watchdog group placed the number of apprehended reconciliation advocates in Idlib at 250 since last week. Moreover, the LLC in Idlib has been dismantling and selling Syrian relics and antiques to "regional and international markets," making "tens of millions of U.S. dollars," said the observatory. It added that the LLC has also dismantled the railway between Idlib and Aleppo province and sold the iron and wood used in the construction of the railway amid rampant looting. Additionally, Idlib is now living in a state of severe lawlessness amid assassinations, explosions, and infighting. All of these factors could pave the way for the Syrian army to restore Idlib, after which the rebels would be left with some areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo province near Turkey. But the situation is not that easy as the recapture of Idlib by the Syrian army demands an understanding between Russia and Turkey, which is the patron of several rebel groups there, and already has posts deployed there as Idlib is the fourth de-escalation zone agreed upon with Russia. In his latest remarks, Jaafari said the Turkish side didn't live up to its commitment in the Astana talks about the de-escalation zones. He said the Turkish side was supposed to send Turkish police with light weapons to the points agreed upon to observe the de-escalation of violence. Instead, he continued, Ankara send army forces with heavy weapons to Idlib. Jaafari said the Syrian government has the right to restore all Syrian areas, stressing that the validity of the Astana agreement about the de-escalation zones is only six months and could only be renewed upon the consent of Damascus and its allies. The Syrian government's push toward Idlib comes after the sweeping victory of the Syrian army in several areas, mainly the southern region where the government forces retook the provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, the birthplace of the Syrian war. The army has recently been hunting down the remaining Islamic State (IS) fighters in the desert region in the eastern countryside of the southern province of Sweida before declaring the full victory in southwestern Syria. Observers believe that the rebels in Idlib will have three choices: the first is to reconcile; the second is to fight until the end, and the third is withdrawing to areas under the control of the Turkish-backed rebels in the northern countryside of Aleppo near Turkey. But for the government, the first choice is the most plausible, given the fact that some people on the ground in Idlib are supporting the reconciliation as well as the leaflets the Syrian helicopters recently dropped on Idlib. The leaflets included two illustrations of pre and post-war times in Syria. They read in Arabic: "Which do you prefer? This was Syria before terrorism and its militiamen, and this is what armed terrorism has done to Syria and its people. The fate and future of your family and children depend on your decision." A group of diverse but like-minded individuals, the members of ARC have come together in their common desire to fight hatred, bigotry, intolerance and violence because of the harm these antisocial behaviors cause to our society. In that effort, we will not use or sanction the use of illegal actions (such as violence or intimidation) in pursuit of our desired aims and if we learn of anyone who does use these unethical methods we will report those individuals to the authorities. Instead, we will use the guarantees found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that ensure freedom of legal speech and expression. Metros trim house rent tax by 2pc Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Metropolitan City and Biratnagar Metropolitan City have reduced house rent tax 12 to 10 percent while Birgunj Metro has kept the old rate of 12 percent. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 02:51:58|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GENEVA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said Friday it deplores Thursday's attack in Yemen, when a coalition air strike hit a bus carrying children in Dahyan market in Saada, reportedly killing 40 people and injuring another 60. According to initial information the rights office has, at least 21 boys, most of them aged under 15, were among those killed and 35 others were injured, Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the office said a UN briefing here. "These latest deaths come amid a recent spike in civilian casualties over the last week that tragically demonstrates how the conflict continues to blight the lives of Yemenis," she said. The UN rights office said that between March 26, 2015, and Aug. 9, 2018, it has documented a total of 17,062 civilian casualties -- 6,592 dead and 10,470 injured. The majority of these casualties -- 10,471 -- were as a result of airstrikes carried out by the Saudi-led Coalition, said Throssell. Concerning last week's attacks in the port city of Hudaydah, the rights office in Yemen has documented that at least 41 civilians, including six children and four women, were killed and 111 others injured, among them 19 children and three women. At least three attacks hit the city, which is controlled by the Houthis on Aug. 2, with mortars landing in different locations in Al Hawak district. These include Hudaydah fishing port where mortars struck the dock and hangar, at the time full of fishermen and street vendors. "Shortly afterward, three mortars fired in quick succession hit Al-Thawra Hospital and its surroundings, also causing many civilian casualties," said Throssell. The UN human rights office reminded the parties to the conflict that "hospitals must be respected and protected in all circumstances." Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened in Yemen's civil war in March 2015, after Houthis seized many populated cities in the north and forced President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi along with his government into exile in Riyadh. UN agencies reported that the war has killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, and displaced over 3 million others. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 03:17:05|Editor: zh Video Player Close KHARTOUM, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The United States, Britain and Norway on Friday described the recently signed South Sudan peace deal in Khartoum as "not realistic or sustainable." "Considerable challenges lie ahead, and we are concerned that the arrangements agreed to date are not realistic or sustainable," said the three countries in a joint statement Friday. "Given their past leadership failures, South Sudanese leaders will need to behave differently and demonstrate commitment to peace and good governance," added the statement. The three countries stressed that they now expect to see a change in the situation on the ground, beginning with a further significant reduction in violence, and all parties taking measures to allow full humanitarian access. However, the three countries expressed support for the engagement of the region in the recent Khartoum-based negotiations on outstanding governance and security issues and acknowledged the role of Sudan in hosting these negotiations. South Sudan's conflicting parties, on Aug. 5, signed a final deal in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on power-sharing and security arrangements. The deal was signed by South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, major opposition leader Riek Machar and representatives of other South Sudanese opposition factions. It stipulates that Kiir will continue his post during the transitional period, while Machar will be the first vice president among the four vice presidents from different political parties. Under the agreement, the transitional cabinet would be composed of 35 ministers, including 20 ministers from the government, and nine from Machar-led Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO). The deal stipulates a transitional national legislative body would be composed of 550 members, with 332 from the government, and 128 from the SPLM-IO. South Sudan has been witnessing a civil war since December 2013, which has left about 10,000 dead and millions of others displaced. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 03:32:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday expressed "grave concern" about the level of food insecurity in South Sudan, said British ambassador to the United Nations Karen Pierce, whose country holds the council presidency for the month of August. The members of the council noted that the ongoing conflict is one of the main direct causes of the food security crisis in the country, Pierce told reporters after chairing closed-door Security Council consultations on South Sudan and Yemen. The council members demanded all parties to the conflict in South Sudan allow safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need, she said. The council members welcomed the region's role in reaching agreement on outstanding governance and security issues in the peace process, but noted that considerable challenges remain on the path to peace, stability and security, including the need for detailed plans for implementation. They asked the parties to conflict to immediately implement cessation of hostilities and cease-fire agreements to demonstrate their commitment to a revitalized comprehensive peace agreement, said the British ambassador. Dutch deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Lise Gregoire-van Haaren, whose country, together with some other council members, requested the consultations on South Sudan, said the situation in the African country is between hope and despair. On the one hand, there is a cease-fire agreement. But on the other hand, there is a dire situation on the ground with 60 percent of the population in food insecurity, she told reporters before the consultations. Friday's consultations were held in the context of a Security Council resolution on conflict and hunger that was adopted in May. The Security Council heard briefings from UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock, UN secretary-general's special representative for Sudan and South Sudan Nicholas Haysom, and head of the UN mission in South Sudan David Shearer. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 04:07:19|Editor: mmm Video Player Close Mourners and relatives gather around the body of Palestinian Ali Sa'eed Aloul, 55, during his funeral in the southern Gaza Strip City of Rafah, on Aug. 11, 2018. Two Palestinians were killed and 242 injured on Friday during protests and clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel, medics said. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar) GAZA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two Palestinians were killed and 242 injured on Friday during protests and clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel, medics said. Ashraf al-Qedra, health ministry spokesman in Gaza, told reporters that Abdulla al-Qutatti, a 20-year-old volunteering paramedic and Ali Sa'eed Aloul, 55, were killed east of Rafah town in southern Gaza Strip, adding that five of the injured are in serious condition. Among the casualties, there are 26 children, five paramedics and two journalists, he added. Protests and clashes that broke out between hundreds of Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers stationed at the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel had turned fierce during Friday. Although Israel and Gaza Hamas-led militant groups had reached a calm deal on Thursday, hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated on Friday afternoon close to the border. The demonstrations in eastern Gaza Strip on Friday are part of the weekly protests and rallies, which have been going on since March 30 on weekly basis, known as "the Great March of Return." On Friday, activists of the Hamas-led high commission of the rallies called on the coastal enclave's populations to join the 20th Friday march, which was called "Friday of liberty and life." Hundreds of demonstrators gathered from all over the Gaza Strip and went to demonstrate at the border area with Israel. They burned tires, waved Palestinian flags, tried to cut parts of the barbed wire of the fence of the border and flew arson balloons. Hazem Qassem, Hamas spokesman in Gaza said in an emailed press statement that in spite of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, "our people will carry on with their marches of return until it achieves its goals, mainly lifting the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip." "Every round of confrontation, the Israeli machine of killing tries to break our people's determination on keeping their struggle and every time it fails, so our people will join today the marches of return to challenge the Israeli machine of war," he said. Gaza Health Ministry said that since March 30, the Israeli army shot dead 160 Palestinian demonstrators and wounded more than 17,000 others; most of them were hospitalized after being shot with Israeli soldiers' gunfire. Friday's protests came one day after Egypt and United Nations Special Envoy Nicolai Mladenov brokered a calm agreement between Israel and Gaza Hamas-led militant groups following two days of exchanging fire in the Gaza Strip. Since Tuesday, a pregnant woman, her female toddler and three Hamas militants were killed in the Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response to militants' rockets fires from the coastal enclave into Israel. Calm has dominated in the Gaza Strip on Friday following two days of military confrontations between Israel and Gaza Hamas-led military groups which left five more Palestinians killed, three militants and two civilians, and more than 40 injured. The exchange of fire in Gaza was reached following international and regional mediation overnight. Both Egypt and UN special envoy Nicolai Mladenov exerted efforts on Thursday to stop more military escalation between the two sides. Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza said in an emailed press statement that the recent rounds of fighting with the Israeli occupation proved that "this entity (Israel) is very weak and can be easily defeated." Abu Zuhri stressed that the Palestinian armed resistance, mainly Hamas will be on alert and ready to retaliate any violation, adding that Hamas will keep defending its people before any Israeli aggression. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 04:17:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu on Friday said the east African nation was on the highest alert after reports of fresh outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). "People could be at risk of the deadly Ebola disease owing to interaction with those of neighbouring DRC," Mwalimu said in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. She added: "Tanzanians need to take the highest precaution in order to prevent contracting the disease." According to her, the ministry had put the people on high alert, particularly those living in regions bordering the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda. Regions on high alert were Mwanza, Kagera, Kigoma, Katavi, Rukwa and Songwe. "Precautionary measures need to be taken at all border posts when interacting with passengers who get in and out of the country," she said. The minister said there were currently no cases of Ebola in Tanzania since the discovery of a patient suffering from the disease in North-Western Kivu province in the DRC bordering with Uganda and Rwanda. Last week, DRC's Ministry of Public Health announced the second outbreak of Ebola. A total of 44 cases have been reported so far, 17 of which have been confirmed. Following the outbreak, the Congolese government launched an Ebola vaccination drive for high risk populations in North-Western Kivu province. "Ebola is a constant threat in the DRC," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General. "What adds to our confidence in the country's ability to respond is the transparency they have displayed once again. Working closely with the Ministry of Health and partners, we will fight this one as we did the last," said Adhanom. Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness, in humans. Its symptoms become increasingly severe and may include nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea (may be bloody), red eyes, raised rash, chest pain and cough, sore throat, stomach pain and severe weight loss. WHO, including other international bodies and the government in the DRC, has been battling to contain the outbreak of the disease since the report of the first case in May. WHO Emergency Committee had earlier in May advised the Congolese government and all other actors to remain engaged in a "vigorous response" and called on the international community to support efforts on the ground. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 04:22:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SANTIAGO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chile's ex-President Michelle Bachelet on Friday said she was "honored" to be the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The two-time president was elected earlier in the day by the UN General Assembly in New York. "Deeply humbled and honored to announce my acceptance as the UN's new High Commissioner for Human Rights," Bachelet tweeted "I will execute this role with all my strength, energy and conviction. This work looks to bring dignity and wellbeing to all people," Bachelet added in a video posted on her social media channels. On Wednesday, UN chief Antonio Guterres announced Bachelet was his choice for the key role and urged member nations to approve his choice. She will officially begin the four-year term on Sept. 1. Chile's President Sebastian Pinera congratulated Bachelet, saying "this is a reflection of the active role Chile plays in the defense and respect of human rights." She served as Chile's president from 2006-2010 and again from 2014-2018. Bachelet was also the head of UN Women from 2010-2013. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 04:37:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council said Friday that it would consider renewing the mandate of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) by another three years. The Security Council noted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' recommendation that the mandate of UNOCA be extended for another three years, from Sept. 1 2018 to Aug. 31, 2021. The council expressed its intention to consider this recommendation, said the Security Council in a statement. The Security Council requested Guterres to conduct a strategic review regarding the scope of UNOCA's mandate and activities and present recommendations to the Security Council by Aug. 1, 2019. The council voiced deep concern about the grave security situation and related violations and abuses of human rights in parts of Central Africa, in particular the continuing terrorist activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin, the persistent violence perpetrated by armed groups in the Central African Republic, the ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the worrying increase in violence in the northwest and southwest regions of Cameroon, said the statement. The council expressed its concern regarding maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, the illegal wildlife trade and transnational organized crime, including the threat of mercenary activities, it said. The council also voiced concern at continuing tensions linked to disputed electoral processes, social and economic difficulties, and conflicts between farmers and herders. The Security Council expressed grave concern at the devastating humanitarian consequences of ongoing violence and conflict in the region, including food insecurity, health emergencies and the threat of epidemics, sexual and gender-based violence, and increased numbers of internally displaced persons and refugees. In this file photo taken on July 11, 2018 U.S. President Donald Trump (L) talks to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) as they arrive for the NATO summit, at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. (Photo by Tatyana ZENKOVICH/POOL/AFP) WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he has authorized to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Turkey to 50 percent and 20 percent respectively. The White House has since confirmed the tweet. Tensions ramped up between the two countries over the detention of an American pastor by Turkey. Trump tweeted Friday that the U.S.-Turkey ties "are not good at this time!". Trump added that the Turkish currency Lira "slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" The Turkish lira has fallen more than 10 percent since last week when the United States slapped sanctions on two Turkish ministers. Early Friday, the currency hit an all-time low of 6.30 against the U.S. dollar. Turkey and the United States are currently experiencing rocky relations after the U.S. imposed sanctions last Wednesday on two Turkish ministers over the continued detention of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges and up to 35 years in prison if found guilty. Brunson was indicted for allegedly having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party and Fethullah Gulen, an exiled Turkish preacher who has allegedly masterminded the failed coup attempt in 2016 to topple Erdogan. A Turkish court has agreed to move Brunson from prison to house arrest over health concerns, but it still does not allow him to return to the United States. As a result of U.S. sanctions, any property or interest in property of both Turkish ministers within U.S. jurisdiction is blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry vowed to "retaliate" against U.S. "aggression" over the case of Brunson "without any delay," and called on Washington to reverse its decision. Last Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo met in Singapore on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers' meeting. Ankara and Washington agreed to work together to resolve problems between them, Cavusoglu said after the meeting. The two sides seemed to have failed to resolve the deadlock though bilateral talks in Washington earlier this week during the visit of a Turkish delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal and made up of officials from Turkey's justice, finance and foreign ministries. U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Thursday that although the two sides "had wide-ranging meetings at the State Department and with other departments here in Washington," the U.S. side "would define progress as Pastor Brunson being brought home." "The progress that we want to be made is to have Pastor Brunson return home," she added. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday also dismissed concerns over the tumbling lira and called on his nation to "have no worries." Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry announced a "new economic model," aiming to stabilize their economic growth. In March, the United States had imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum for imports from a variety of countries. Turkey was reportedly the sixth largest steel importer to the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 05:17:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- UN Support Mission in Libya on Friday condemned eviction of internally displaced people (IDP) of Tawergha from the capital Tripoli by gunmen. "The UN in Libya strongly condemns the forced eviction of displaced Tawerghan families from Tariq al-Matar Camp early this morning, leaving them homeless for a second time in seven years," the mission said in a statement. "Entering an IDP camp while people are sleeping, demolishing homes and forcing people to flee, rendering them homeless, violates their dignity and their right to have protection under International Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws," said Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General to Libya Ghassan Salame. The mission called on Libyan authorities to "provide shelter and protection to the evicted IDPs, release those arbitrarily detained, and bring those suspected of having committed crimes to justice without delay." The mission also expressed willingness to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected and work with the Libyan authorities to solve the crisis of all displaced people in the country. The Association of the Families of Martyrs, Missing Persons, Detainees and Victims of Tawergha confirmed in a statement that "60 armed men and 20 vehicles of different types carried out an armed attack on Tariq al-Matar camp." It added that the armed men "attacked the camp and entered at dawn, terrorizing families, women, children and the elderly by shooting indiscriminately, disrespectfully searching the whole camp and stealing property." During the 2011 uprising, some residents of Tawergha allied with the forces of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi against the rebels in the nearby Misurata. They fled to other cities in Libya after Gaddafi's regime was toppled. The return of Tawerghans, which was scheduled on Feb. 1, was halted after armed groups from Misurata denied them entrance. Misurata city also demanded the postponement of the return a day earlier. Misurata and Tawergha, only 40 km apart, in June signed a peace treaty which allows nearly 40,000 Tawerghans to return home after seven years of displacement. The National Committee for Human Rights in Libya expressed deep concern over security officers of the Ministry of the Interior storming the camp, evacuating the displaced people, and arresting some of them. The committee said despite the peace agreement, Tawergha is not ready for the return, still in need of reconstruction. The committee also demanded the government to release the detained Tawerghans, ensure the safety of the displaced people, guarantee that such acts are not repeated, and bring those responsible to justice. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 05:43:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TIRANA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Eight persons were killed on Friday afternoon at Resulaj Village in southwest Albania, where a 24-year-old man opened fire at his relatives over a property dispute, Albanian police said. According to the police, all the victims were member of two Zykaj families, living in the same village. Local media reported that the 24-year-old man Ridvan Zykaj, armed with Kalashnikov, first entered the home of his grandparents, shot them and two of their uncle's family members. He went further to the other uncle's house, 30 meters away, to kill four others. There are also reports for a wounded person. According to the police, Ridvan Zykaj quickly left the scene and is still being chased by police forces, from Vlora and Tirana. He is considered extremely dangerous and armed. Albanian Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj, as well as director of State Police, Ardi Veliu, arrived at Resulaj Village, in the evening to follow closely the police operation. Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 06:53:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CARACAS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's government on Friday asked Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant against former opposition deputy Julio Borges. Borges is wanted in connection to the failed assassination attempt against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday. Jorge Rodriguez, minister of communications and culture, said Borges, a right-wing opposition leader, must answer for his alleged involvement before the Venezuelan courts. At a press conference, the minister showed a video in which opposition Deputy Juan Requesens talks about how Borges asked for his help to smuggle one of the prime suspects in the assassination plot out of the country and into neighboring Colombia. In the video, Requesens said Borges contacted him several weeks ago, asking him to intervene with Colombian officials to allow Juan Carlos Monasterios entry. The Venezuelan government has identified Monasterios as the mastermind behind the plot. Requesens said they contacted Colombian immigration supervisor Mauricio Jimenez in an attempt to get Monasterios into Colombia. According to Rodriguez, Requesens "is the key accomplice in the plot," given that "he confesses his complicity in the failed assassination attempt," and attests that "he did it under orders from Julio Borges." On Wednesday, Venezuela's Constituent National Assembly voted to strip both Requesens and Borges of parliamentary immunity to move forward with the investigation. Venezuela has requested extradition proceedings for those believed to be involved in the plot. Maduro was unharmed, but seven soldiers were injured when two drones carrying explosives detonated near the presidential platform where he was giving a speech at a military ceremony. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-11 06:58:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HAVANA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Cuban Industrial Property Office (OCPI) published a new set of rules on Friday with the aim of boosting trade, scientific cooperation and innovation. The new rules -- two laws, three decrees and five resolutions -- take effect in October, providing a legal framework to guide business dealings between national and foreign companies, and provide guarantees for foreign investment. Updated regulations are "necessary," Maria Sanchez Torres, the OCPI's director, told reporters. The rules protect industrial processes, designs and trademarks, and as a result promote innovation, and regulate the transfer of technology, national and foreign investment, and trade in goods and services, she said. At the same time, the rules protect against the abuse of industrial property rights, which serve to restrict trade or limit the transfer of technology. Today, the export of biotechnological and biopharmaceutical products is one of the most profitable sectors of the Cuban economy. "It's important to preserve the current Cuban know-how and inventions, and ensure the protection of future results that emerge from collaboration with foreign entities," said Sanchez. According to the National Statistics Bureau, in 2016 a group of 163 Cuban patents were requested by foreign entities, 40 of these patents were requested by U.S. companies, despite Washington's trade embargo against the Caribbean island. A month ago, the government called on Cuba's private entrepreneurs to register their trademarks and distinctive logos with the OCPI. Experts from LEX S.A., a Cuban law firm specializing in industrial property, told reporters that the boom in self-employment has led to increasing numbers of business owners registering their trademarks. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-10 22:20:33|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he has authorized to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Turkey to 50 percent and 20 percent respectively. Tensions ramped up between the two countries over detention of an American pastor by Turkey. Trump tweeted Friday that the U.S.-Turkey ties "are not good at this time!" He added that the Turkish currency Lira "slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" The Turkish lira has fallen more than 10 percent since last week when the United States slapped sanctions on two Turkish ministers. On early Friday, the currency hit an all-time low of 6.30 against the U.S. dollar. The two sides seemed to have failed to resolve the deadlock in bilateral talks in Washington, as U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Thursday that "we would define progress as Pastor Brunson being brought home." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday also dismissed concerns over the tumbling lira and called on his nation to "have no worries." Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry announced a "new economic model," aiming to stabilize their economic growth. A left-wing columnist fears that the new BMW factory announced in Debrecen will not benefit Hungary. A pro-government economist finds such suggestions absurd, and welcomes the opening of the new car plant. BMW has announced that it will open a new factory in Debrecen in eastern Hungary. The German auto producer will invest one billion Euro, and the Hungarian government will also help the project through favourable tax agreements. The factory will create 1,000 new jobs and increase its purchases from Hungarian car part producers. Nepszavas Robert Friss causions against celebrating BMWs decision to open the new plant in Debrecen. The left-wing columnist acknowledges that Hungary needs foreign investment, but fears that multinational companies are the primary benefactors of such deals. Friss wonders whether it is really in the interest of Hungarian tax payers to subsidize a new factory that will create huge profits for BMW. He adds that the government has also acknowledged the need to help small and medium-sized Hungarian companies rather than multinational firms. Finally, Friss finds it weird that the government helps multinational producers so willingly, despite its staunch criticism of multinational investors and foreign capital. In Magyar Hirlap, Imre Boros dismisses left-wing criticism levelled against the BMW factory. The conservative economist finds it absurd that left-wing critics might expect BMW to invest in Hungary without expecting a profit. The investments of the car producer will not only boost economic output and create new jobs, but will also help Hungary to further reduce its dependency on foreign currency. Boros thinks that fears over Hungarys over dependence on the car industry are exaggerated, bearing in mind that in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the car production sector plays a much bigger role in the national economy. Boros also suggests that Debrecen was selected not only for the great infrastructure and the availability of cheap labor, but also for the political stability and clear policy line followed by the Hungarian government. 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 Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade As the head of the State Audit Office accuses hospitals of wasteful and corrupt practices, commentators on Right and Left wonder if the government will have the courage to reform the inefficient and less than transparent health care management system. Laszlo Domokos, head of the State Audit Office in an interview with Magyar Idok harshly criticized the operation of hospitals. Domokos said that the State Audit Offices inspection revealed an anarchic situation and regular violations of tendering and other regulations as well as wasteful and corrupt procedures. The Alliance of Hospitals dismissed the accusations, and said that hospitals are managed efficiently, despite severe underfunding. It is time to start systematic reforms in the health care system, Eva Haiman writes in Magyar Idok. The pro-government columnist points out that despite the fact that central government took over the management of most hospitals, centralization has had little impact so far on the way they are run. While the endemic financial problems in the health care sector are widely known, the government has from time to time bailed out endeared hospitals, Haiman recalls. It requires considerable political courage to reform the health care system, as leading doctors and hospital directors have a vested interest in maintaining the current, less than transparent system, she underlines. Haiman, however, hopes that the government will finally start to reform and make health care more efficient and transparent. But she also cautions against simplistic solutions and suggests that the State Audit Offices reports do not factor in the complexity of health care financing. On Index, Sandor Joob suspects that Mr Domokoss attack on hospitals is an indication that the government wants to appoint government commissioners to supervise the management of hospitals. The liberal commentator notes that the inspections cited by the State Audit Office were completed between 2016 and 2017. Joob citing unnamed sources writes that the attack on hospitals was authorized by high ranking government officials. He goes on to acknowledge that hospitals indeed operate in a way akin to socialist factories and corruption is rife in many institutions. Joob, however, doubts whether the government can reform the health care system. One of the main obstacle to rational operation would be to acknowledge that we need less hospitals and more out-patient day clinics, he suggests. 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 Pal Fabry, founder of the Pulitzer Memorial Award for Hungarian journalists, died in New Orleans on Wednesday, the board secretary of the Pulitzer Memorial Award Foundation, Peter Barandy, said. Fabry was born in Budapest in 1919 and emigrated to the US in 1949, after the Communist takeover in Hungary. He was awarded the Hungarian Republics Medal of Honour, Officers Cross, in 2009. He was a member of the Hungarian resistance in 1944 and, besides the Pulitzer Memorial Award, founded the Association of World Trade Centres in the US. The Pulitzer Memorial Award, named after Hungarian-born journalist Joseph Pulitzer, awards the performance of Hungarian journalists and TV and radio reporters, aiming to encourage them to take a part in renewing Hungarian news broadcasting, the awards site said. It is independent from the Pulitzer Prize honouring American journalists, which is awarded annually in New York. Police have arrested six foreign nationals at the Budapest Sziget Festival on drug-related charges, the Budapest police headquarters (BRFK) said on its website. Police on Wednesday arrested three Italian men at the festival on suspicion of drug possession after uncovering 114 suspicious pills and hundreds of thousands of forints and foreign currency in cash among their belongings. Also on Wednesday, the authorities arrested two other Italian men and an Uzbek woman on suspicion of drug dealing. They were caught trying to sell drugs to festival-goers. A search of their belongings yielded more than 100 pills, eight bags containing white powder and eight bags containing suspicious brown substances, BRFK said. MTI Photo: Soki Tamas Trucks laden with hop bines are showing up on the roads around the Yakima Valley, and soon the air will be filled with the aroma of this year 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. Over 400 Nepalis head back to Korea with no jobs at home Unlike the first-timers, 439 young Nepali men and women returning to South Korea for their second stint as migrant workers believe their experience will be the most valuable asset when they join the Korean labour market. 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... AmerisourceBergen, one of the country's largest wholesale drug distributors, disclosed on Thursday that it received a grand jury subpoena from federal prosecutors about opioids in May a sign of ongoing fallout for the Chesterbook-based company that's become entangled in the opioid crisis. The subpoena came from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, and requests documents "primarily relating to certain opioid products and communications with a pharmaceutical manufacturer," according to AmerisourceBergen's financial filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said it's in the process of responding to the subpoena. The filing also detailed a growing list of subpoenas AmerisourceBergen has received in the last nine months from federal authorities about how the company controls and monitors for drug diversion. That list now encompasses subpoenas from federal prosecutors in West Virginia and Michigan, and from the DEA's Orlando office, in addition to subpoenas from federal prosecutors in New York and Colorado that the company disclosed earlier this year. The company said those subpoenas are similar to one it received from U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey last year. AmerisourceBergen disclosed, as well, that it spent $39 million last quarter on litigation costs, mostly from "opioid lawsuits, investigations, and related initiatives." That amounts to about 10 percent of the $389.2 million in operating income the company earned in the same time period. For the previous three quarters combined, the company reported spending $49.5 million on litigation. As a distributor, AmerisourceBergen buys drugs from manufacturers and sells them to pharmacies. And it has obligations to report "suspicious orders" of controlled substances, such as opioids, to the DEA which the company says it does, using complex computer algorithms to identify and freeze shipments. But hundreds of cities and counties across the U.S. including Bucks, Delaware, and others in Pennsylvania have taken aim at both distributors and manufacturers in lawsuits over damages from the opioid epidemic. A group of 41 state attorneys general, including Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro, launched an investigation into opioid manufacturers and distributors last year. AmerisourceBergen said in the filings that it's facing litigation from a "significant number" of counties, municipalities, and other arms of the government across a majority of states, and that it's "vigorously defending itself in the pending lawsuits." The distributor says products made with opioids make up less than two percent of its sales. "We are dedicated to doing our part as a distributor to mitigate the diversion of these drugs without interfering with clinical decisions made by doctors, who interact directly with patients and decide what treatments are most appropriate for their care," the company told the Inquirer and Daily News in a statement. "Beyond our reporting and immediate halting of potentially suspicious orders, we refuse service to customers we deem as a diversion risk and provide daily reports to the DEA that detail the quantity, type, and the receiving pharmacy of every single order of these products that we distribute." Steven Collis, right, chairman, president, and CEO of AmerisourceBergen Corp., testifies with other distributor executives during a congressional hearing about combating the opioid epidemic, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. Read more Police can easily tick through the tactics that people use to steal painkillers in Gaston County, N.C.: Pick through garbage, target an elderly person's home, or visit a real estate open house, just to find prescription drugs. The county has one of the highest overdose rates in the state. And like hundreds of other counties and cities across the country including at least 39 municipalities in Pennsylvania Gaston filed suit against companies in the opioid supply chain. That was in late January. The next month, officials in the county's town of Stanley got word from their U.S. congressman about a grant to help citizens dispose of opioids from their medicine cabinets. The offer was from the charity run by one of the same distributors named in the lawsuit: Chesterbrook-based AmerisourceBergen Corp. The company that ranks No. 12 on the Fortune 500 established its namesake AmerisourceBergen Foundation as a public charity in 2014. But its initiatives on the opioid epidemic have proliferated this year, as manufacturers and distributors have come under assault by virtually every level of government. The foundation overseen by senior executives has made more than $800,000 in grants so far in 2018 aimed at preventing opioid misuse and promoting recovery. And through its "municipal support program," it has given away drug disposal kits in 34 states, Pennsylvania among them. Recipients, from police officers to nonprofit groups, have welcomed the resources as a benefit to their communities and their programming. At the same time, foundation grants have set the stage for press events, social media posts, and rosy PR material with members of Congress, including those who have received contributions from the company's political action committee, or lobbyists. AmerisourceBergen's PAC or its employees have made $1.1 million in political donations for the 2018 cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The company's federal lobbying spend $1.12 million for the first half of the year is on track to eclipse the $1.57 million it spent in 2017. And the charitable grants represent, in some ways, another classic strategy for voicing a message: A company in trouble needs to build up goodwill, people confronting the crisis acquire more funding, and politicians can share in the credit. "Companies who are offering small grant programs now are most often working toward public relations-driven strategies to minimize damages, and not actually trying to solve the very expensive issue at hand," said Greg Williams, the executive vice president of the nonprofit Facing Addiction with NCADD, which was approached by the foundation, and decided not to apply for a grant. In response to questions about its strategy, AmerisourceBergen spokesman Gabe Weissman said "we are committed to participating responsibly and ethically within the political process" and to being transparent about its political spending. Weissman said it would be "irresponsible" for the foundation not to address the opioid epidemic, and that they are convening a wide range of experts and groups to work on the issue. "We're proud of our efforts and are eager to do more." The police department in Stanley, N.C., applied for, and received, 1,000 pouches of a drug disposal mixture called Deterra. "Those are things they do to try to improve their image because they're getting so much bad publicity now," said detective Judy Billings, expressing her views, and not those of her department. "Does it benefit me and my municipality? Sure it does." On April 2, a press event at Stanley's fire department drew U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, (R., N.C.), along with AmerisourceBergen executives. On April 16, McHenry touted the company's "collaboration" with local communities in an AmerisourceBergen press release. That same day, filings show, AmerisourceBergen's PAC donated $2,500 to McHenry, who as chief deputy whip holds the highest-appointed position for House Republicans. That was on top of a $2,500 donation on April 10. Outside lobbyists for AmerisourceBergen donated $9,000 to several McHenry political committees between April and June, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. "AmerisourceBergen and their foundation has been a great partner in making this happen," McHenry said at another event in his district, in early May, where his remarks were introduced by an AmerisourceBergen director of government affairs. "They reached out to our office and asked for the best way to work with local officials to get this product in our hands, in the community's hands." A spokesman for McHenry didn't address the congressman's association with the charity, but said he's met with community leaders and people impacted by the opioid crisis, as well as local law enforcement and first responders "to learn more about what they need to stop it." In Tega Cay, S.C., a foundation grant to the police department gave way to a similar press conference last month with Rep. Ralph Norman, (R., S.C.) An AmerisourceBergen director of government affairs attended, as well. The company PAC donated $1,000 to Norman last year. Norman told the Inquirer and Daily News that if Congress can "provide funding and if private companies can help provide materials to fight this then I will support those initiatives." Here in AmerisourceBergen's home state, the foundation had also been planning on an event on July 30 in Olney with U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat, to recognize a donation of disposal kits to Public Health Management Corp., a nonprofit. But, the company later said the event was postponed due to "scheduling conflicts." Boyle's communications director Sean Tobin said: "These types of events are fairly routine and something the congressman would participate in on a regular basis lifting up policy issues that are important to his constituents." AmerisourceBergen's PAC or employees have donated $5,000 to Boyle this election cycle, and gave $4,500 in 2016, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Tobin said campaign donations "wouldn't be something to influence the congressman's decision" about attending the event. In May, the foundation donated $50,000 to sponsor a one-day symposium at Thomas Jefferson University, featuring the top public health officials from the city and state. AmerisourceBergen Foundation president Gina Clark was featured on one of the panels, about corporate philanthropy. Clark is the company's chief communications and administration officer who oversees marketing and government affairs. "The symposium allowed thought leaders to come together to further a constructive conversation about how to address the multifaceted problem," said Brian Swift, Jefferson's chief pharmacy officer. He said funds from the foundation "made this event possible, but they had no influence on the topics of conversation and the content presented." The opioid epidemic is a monumental public health problem one that was initially fueled by prescription painkillers, and now, street drugs like heroin and illicit fentanyl. According to the CDC, more than 42,000 people died from an opioid-related overdose in 2016. Last year, just in Philadelphia, 1,217 people died from a drug overdose, and the city found opioids present in 88 percent of those deaths. Beyond those stunning numbers, cities and counties and state attorneys general have itemized costs they say they've incurred for medical treatment, for coroners in lawsuits against companies that manufacture and distribute the painkillers. A federal judge in Cleveland, Ohio, has consolidated more than 1,000 suits from municipal governments, Native American tribes, and other entities, which could lead to a Big Tobacco-like settlement. More than 800 complaints are lodged in local courts. Meanwhile, some state attorneys general have filed their own lawsuits against Big Pharma, and a group of 41 state attorneys general, among them Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro, announced a joint investigation last year. In recent financial filings, the company disclosed that its legal bills for opioid-related lawsuits and investigations grew by $39 million last quarter, jumping to $49.5 million for the previous three quarters combined. For the distributors who buy medications from manufacturers, and sell them to pharmacies the scrutiny largely centers on the companies' obligations to report "suspicious orders" to the DEA and accusations that they didn't do enough of that as pills coursed into drugstores and towns. The Charleston Gazette-Mail uncovered that AmerisourceBergen's oxycodone shipments shot up from 292,000 pills to 1.2 million a year in just one West Virginia county. Last year, AmerisourceBergen reached a $16 million settlement with West Virginia over claims that the company profited from sending excessive amounts of painkillers into the state and failed to report suspicious orders. AmerisourceBergen denied the allegations and any wrongdoing. Earlier this month, the company disclosed a host of new subpoenas it has received from federal prosecutors and DEA related to opioids and the company's systems for keeping tabs on controlled substances. "You can think of the manufacturers as having lit the fire," said Andrew Kolodny, co-director of the Opioid Policy Research Collaborative at Brandeis University. "The distributors really poured fuel on the fire. And then I would say the manufacturers and distributors together prevented the fire department from putting out the fire." He believes the foundation's grants are linked to the litigation. "They're engaged in these activities because they want a jury to be able to hear this," he said. "Or they want a judge to see that they're stepping up to the plate." The firm is fighting the suits and says it is committed to doing its part to stop the epidemic. CEO Steve Collis has defended the company's system for monitoring suspect orders as "robust." He impressed upon members of Congress that the DEA needs to be more "collaborative" and provide more guidance on what constitutes a "suspicious order" a sore point for distributors who say current regulations are too vague. More broadly, Collis and other distributors maintain their companies didn't contribute to the opioid epidemic. Four current or former chairmen and CEOs, including Collis, told a House subcommittee as much on May 8. The industry has argued they're not the ones prescribing the medication. Nor are they in charge of setting the quotas for how many opioids can be produced each year a job that belongs to the DEA. Rather, the industry holds out that it occupies one facet of a highly regulated supply chain. It is a lucrative one at that. AmerisourceBergen constitutes one of the "Big Three" wholesale distributors along with McKesson and Cardinal Health that control the vast majority of the market. Under Collis, who took over as CEO in 2011, the company's annual revenue has nearly doubled, from $80.2 billion to $153.1 billion last year. Opioid-based products make up less than two percent of its sales, the company says. As both a businessman and a patient himself, Collis has stressed that the company owes a responsibility to people who need those medications for pain. "I've got a back problem that just keeps on occurring," he said on an earnings call in May, "and sometimes opioids are the only things that will help." He has written on LinkedIn that it would be "amoral" for a corporation to stop distributing an FDA-approved therapy. All three members of the Big Three have trained philanthropy dollars on the opioid epidemic initiatives they highlighted for Congress back in May. For AmerisourceBergen, its foundation has expanded its reach during Collis' tenure. The first year it made donations, in 2015, it reported handing out $634,325 and more than a third of that money went to Project Home, Philadelphia's well known anti-poverty nonprofit. The next year, the foundation's grant-making nearly doubled, to $1.13 million, and last year that figure rose to $1.4 million. The charity has nearly $15.9 million in assets, its most recent IRS filing shows. Former Pennsylvania congressman Jason Altmire, a Democrat from western Pennsylvania, worked as a health-care industry lobbyist for the Pittsburgh-based health-care giant UPMC. Now he is serving on an advisory committee to the AmerisourceBergen Foundation. He said the organization is providing "immediate help to communities." "I don't see a problem with using your resources now that everyone understands the gravity of the situation using your resources to help communities address a very serious problem," he said. Greg Williams heard about another one of the foundation's grant programs recently when the charity invited him to consider applying. Williams has spent the past 17 years in recovery from addiction. "I got hooked on OxyContin when I was 17, and it took me down very fast," he said. He produced a documentary The Anonymous People about others recovering from addiction, too. This past spring, his group joined with the Fed Up! Coalition to start an advocacy campaign called "Billions Not Millions." It argues that any settlement to the opioid litigation should be big enough to pay for long-term treatment, public health services, and other remedies. About 75 supporters rallied in front of the Cleveland courthouse, now home to so many of the lawsuits, on a cold morning in May. Williams' solicitation from the AmerisourceBergen Foundation addressed "Dear Facing Addiction" showed up in his inbox on June 25. The email commended his group's work, and outlined a program for grants up to $100,000, to work on "innovative and constructive solutions to the opioid epidemic." For Williams, though, the source of the funding linked to an opioid distributor that's being sued by communities nationwide made it a nonstarter. "Some of these resources might even help people and save lives," Williams said. "I don't want to dismiss the intent. What we would like to say is, no matter how much corporate citizenship they try to do at this point, if it's not tens of billions of dollars, it's not enough." The U.S. Department of Education also is investigating the misreporting of rankings data by Temple University's business school. Read more The rankings scandal at Temple University spread beyond the Fox School of Business on Friday after officials announced that reports from two other schools submitted to U.S. News and World Report also included errors, though the online rankings site said the errors did not affect its graduate school rankings. University officials identified incorrect data from the College of Education and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine that were collected for U.S. News' graduate program rankings for 2019. The rest of the data from the two schools were verified, the university said. All data from the College of Engineering and the Beasley School of Law were verified. The education school underreported the number of students receiving grants and or scholarships, mistakenly included students graduating from Temple's Japan campus in its graduating class of master's students, and entered the amount of fees as per credit rather than per semester. >> READ MORE: Temple business dean forced out over falsified M.B.A. data used in rankings The Katz School underreported the number of minorities, along with the number of applicants interviewed. The medical school also corrected full-time and part-time faculty figures. The information Temple shared with U.S. News "did not have an impact on its 2019 Best Graduate Schools rankings," Robert Morse, chief data strategist at U.S. News, said in a statement. Temple discovered these errors after U.S. News asked the university to certify the accuracy of its ranking submissions. >> READ MORE: U.S. Department of Education investigating Temple business school scandal Temple also announced Friday that the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business the group that accredits Temple's Fox School has moved up its re-accreditation review from spring 2020 to early 2019. In addition, Temple said it notified the Princeton Review that at least one inaccurate data point reported to U.S. News also was used in reports to the Princeton Review. In January, U.S. News dropped Temple's online M.B.A. program from its ranking after the school self-reported that it had provided inaccurate data. The online M.B.A. program had been ranked No. 1 for four years and the university had been touting the ranking. In July, a law firm Temple hired to investigate the issue reported that a rankings-focused strategy led to some of the misreporting. On July 9, Temple announced that it had removed its long-time business school head, Moshe Porat, from his leadership post, replacing him with interim dean Ronald C. Anderson, who headed the school's finance department. Later in July, Temple officials announced that they had found more misreporting to U.S. News from the Fox School, involving six other programs. Anderson has apologized for the rankings scandal and said the school is aiming for a "thorough scrubbing" of its human resources and data oversight in hope of rejoining outside rankings in the next six to eight months. The university is updating its community about the rankings issue at www.temple.edu/about/data-integrity. Police arrest CPN district in-charge Police on Thursday arrested Yogendra Kumal, the Gorkha district in-charge of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal. The new Giant grocery story in Feasterville will feature a similar Beer and Wine Eatery to the one inside the Exton GIANT food store. Read more Giant is opening a new Feasterville store as part of a $70 million investment to expand and improve its properties in Pennsylvania, the company's home state. The new store opened Friday at 176 W. Street Road and is 25 percent larger than the previous location under a mile away, Giant announced. It will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week and include a full-service pharmacy, more fresh produce options, beer and wine, and a floral department, among other amenities. It will also include a "Starbucks on the Go" kiosk. GIANT president Nicholas Bertram said the company is aiming to be "this grocer who is connected with people however they want to connect," whether that is in store or online. "We want to connect with customers emotionally so that we're part of their life," Bertram explained. "I get so much hope when I see customers who choose to use Peapod by Giant and also shop in the store." The grocery stores that saw success in 2017 "focused on healthy foods, affordable offerings, private labels, and improving digital platforms," according to a JLL report on grocery trends. The new Giant store will be focusing on these aspects, too. There will be a full salad bar, fresh-squeezed juices, and products from Pennsylvania and New Jersey farmers and producers. If customers want to pick up a quick bite instead of shopping for groceries, they'll be able to choose from a "grab-and-go meals" selection, a bakery, and a full-service deli, among other options. There will also be a floral department with arrangements. The "Beer & Wine Eatery" will be outfitted with 30 seats and fresh meal options, including sandwiches, salads, sushi, and a hot bar. It will be open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Giant also worked with 13 breweries in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to help stock the eatery with more than 400 options of craft, domestic, and imported beer, according to the news release. The company plans to construct six stores, remodel two, and open five fuel stations in the next two years, according to an April announcement. Tim Feoli, who Giant called a "36-year grocery veteran" in its news release, will be the store manager. The company said the expansion allowed Giant to add 65 full- and part-time jobs to up the total of associates at the Feasterville location to 205. "We can't wait to debut our new look featuring fresh products from local farms and suppliers in an easier-to-shop layout," Feoli said in the release. "We're excited to show the entire Feasterville-area community all the fresh ideas that their new store has to offer." Former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah exits the federal courthouse in Philadelphia after being sentenced to 10 years in prison on Dec. 12, 2016. Read more A federal appeals court in Philadelphia on Thursday overturned U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah's bribery convictions in a decision that offered a small measure of vindication for the former Democratic congressman but may not dramatically affect the decade-long sentence he received for other corruption-related crimes. The ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held that jurors in Fattah's case had not been properly instructed on the legal definition of "political graft" one narrowed by a U.S. Supreme Court opinion issued just days after they convicted the congressman in 2016. Still, wrote Chief Judge D. Brooks Smith: "There is more than sufficient and distinct evidence to support Fattah's conviction on all of the other counts," including allegations that he stole federal grant funds, charitable donations, and campaign cash to pay off his personal and political debts. It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors would seek to retry Fattah and Herbert Vederman, the congressman's wealthy benefactor, whose bribery convictions the Third Circuit also overturned Thursday. In a statement, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said he was pleased that the appellate court had affirmed most of his office's case. As for the overturned bribery convictions, McSwain said: "The government will carefully study the matter and determine whether the interests of justice warrant a retrial or whether it is sufficient to dismiss those counts in light of the fact that both Fattah and Vederman remain convicted of serious federal crimes." Fattah's lawyers declined to comment on the situation Thursday. Vederman's lawyers did not respond to a request for comment. >> RELATED: Read the Third Circuit's opinion In its 142-page opinion, the Third Circuit panel relied heavily on McDonnell v. United States a 2016 Supreme Court decision that vacated the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, raised the bar for prosecutors bringing political bribery cases, and, in the two years since, led to the toppling of a number of high-profile corruption cases. The court held that federal bribery laws do not cover gifts exchanged for routine courtesies such as setting up meetings, hosting events, or making calls on behalf of constituents. >> RELATED: The McDonnell case: All you need to know about the ruling that upended the legal landscape for political corruption In Fattah's case, Vederman, a former Philadelphia deputy mayor, showered the congressman with benefits including cash payments to the congressman's children, college tuition for his South African au pair, and $18,000 to help with the purchase of a Poconos vacation home. Fattah, in exchange, gave Vederman's girlfriend a job in his district office and lobbied other government officials including then-President Barack Obama and Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) in hope of landing Vederman a job as an ambassador. Smith, writing in the appeals court decision Thursday, concluded that even under the new McDonnell standards at least one of Fattah's actions hiring Vederman's girlfriend would clearly support a bribery conviction. But because it was not clear whether the jurors reached their guilty verdict on that action alone or by also considering meetings and phone calls Fattah made to get Vederman a posting abroad, the convictions should be overturned and retried, the appellate panel which also included Circuit Judges Joseph A. Greenaway Jr. and Cheryl Ann Krause concluded. "Faced with such uncertainty, we cannot assume the jury verdict was proper," Smith said. "Nor can we determine whether Fattah's efforts to secure Vederman an ambassadorship crossed the line." It was not immediately clear how the appeals court's decision might affect Fattah's 10-year prison sentence, one of the longest imposed on a member of Congress convicted of corruption-related federal crimes. Even if prosecutors decide not to retry the case, he still will have to be resentenced although that proceeding may not change the length of his incarceration. In crafting Fattah's punishment in 2016, U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III gave the congressman 17 decade-long sentences each tied to a specific charge on which he had been convicted and all set to run at the same time rather than back to back. Although the appellate court threw out four of those convictions Thursday, the remaining 13 and their punishments still stand. Complicating matters further, the Third Circuit also reinstated convictions for both Fattah and Vederman on two counts that Bartle himself had previously tossed both tied to the congressman's efforts to forge documents suggesting that his wife, former NBC10 anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, had sold a 2012 Porsche convertible to Vederman in an attempt to cover up what prosecutors described as an $18,000 bribe. Fattah, 61, was first elected in 1994 to represent a district that encompassed parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County. In his 21 years in Congress, he held several high-level positions, including a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee. He lost a primary reelection bid to his successor, then-State Rep. Dwight Evans, just before the trial began and resigned his seat under pressure from House colleagues shortly after his conviction. Fattah remains housed in a federal detention center in McKean County, Pa., with a 2025 release date. Vederman, who had been sentenced to two years in prison, remains free while he appeals his case. Both men have 14 days to decide whether they will seek to have their appeal reheard before a full panel of Third Circuit judges and could press their claims to the U.S. Supreme Court. Also on Thursday, the Third Circuit affirmed the convictions of two additional Fattah codefendants Karen Nicholas, the former executive director of the Fattah-founded Educational Advancement Alliance, and Robert J. Brand, a family friend and businessman. Both remain incarcerated. Police officers guard a statue of former Philadelphia mayor and police commissioner Frank Rizzo in Philadelphia, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. The statue that has spurred protests and vandalism from critics who argue that his policies alienated minorities. Read more The Rizzo statue could have been a ton of trouble for Mayor Kenney just months before his reelection campaign. But the grinding gears of government bureaucracy will stall with sweeping serendipity the controversial relocation of the statue of the late Mayor Frank Rizzo until long after it could have consequences for Kenney's bid for a second term. In November, the Kenney administration announced that the 2,000-pound, 10-foot-tall bronze statue would be "moved to a different location." But on Thursday, Kenney acknowledged to Clout that the statue will continue to loom over Thomas Paine Plaza, across the street from City Hall, for at least two to three more years. Kenney insisted politics didn't play a role in the delay. "It doesn't impact my election one way or the other," he said. Some history: Tuesday marks the one-year anniversary of City Councilwoman Helen Gym's tweet about the national debate "to remove the monuments to slavery and racism" in the wake of the violent clash in Charlottesville, Va. "Take the Rizzo statue down," Gym demanded, setting off a wave of roiled emotions about Rizzo. The Rizzo statue pits two key parts of Kenney's electoral coalition against each other. On one side of the clash, Kenney's old-school base in South Philly sees the statue as a monument to a city hero. On the other side, Kenney's progressive fans deride it as a reminder of racist police and city actions of the past. Kenney played it down the middle, calling for residents to provide suggestions about the statue's fate. That resulted in 3,601 replies, which were funny, profane, angry, proud, and, of course, thoroughly Philadelphian. ("Keep it right where it is you crumb bums!!!!!" wrote one Rizzocrat.) Jane Slusser, Kenney's chief of staff, said the administration spent the last year identifying potential new sites for the statue, narrowing them to five locations in South Philly, where Rizzo was born. Next, the mayor's office will reach out for discussions in those neighborhoods, one by one, until a site is picked, she said. Then comes a feasibility study next year. The city's Home Rule Charter also gives the Philadelphia Art Commission the final say on any change to public art like the Rizzo statue. But nothing will happen until 2020 or 2021, as the city works on budgeting, proposals and contracts to rework Thomas Paine Plaza, following similar projects to revitalize Dilworth Park next to City Hall and JFK Plaza, a.k.a. LOVE Park, across the street. The Rizzo statue move will be part of that work. By then, Kenney's bid for a second term next year will be in the history books. Is that a factor of cost, or political convenience? Kenney said it would cost the city $200,000 to take down the statue now and store it until a new location is determined. And he cast the one-ton statue as a small thing on his agenda. "Of all the issues on my scale of important things to do, this is not even in the top 100," he said. Rizzo's son, former City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr., thinks Kenney is pushing off the controversy until it can cause him no harm. "I think this is all about politics," he said. Rizzo, who helped raise the money to install the statue at the conclusion of the Mummers Parade on New Year's Day in 1999, said it should stay where it is. "My father wasn't the mayor of South Philly exclusively," he said. "I don't understand why any redo of Paine Plaza can't include a statue that has been there for a long, long time." Speaking of Frank The Kenney administration on Thursday also issued a verdict on the mural of Rizzo overlooking Ninth and Montrose Streets in South Philly's Italian Market: It can stay as long as someone else pays. A spokeswoman for Kenney said repeated vandalism of the mural "has made the cost to care for it too great a burden on taxpayers." So the city has asked Mural Arts to continue to maintain the three-story artwork while private funding is sought to pay for future costs. Mural Arts will also "install signage noting that the mural has been a source of controversy, while also recognizing the role of public art to be a catalyst for reflection on our past and dialogue about our hopes as a city for the future of Philadelphia," the mayor's office said. The mural, created in 1995, is Philadelphia's most commonly defaced piece of public art. Before feud with Jay-Z, Kenney got free tickets to his Made in America festival The summer of 2017 was a simpler time for the relationship between Mayor Kenney and Jay-Z, anyway. That was before the Kenney administration revealed that Jay Z's Made in America festival had to move from its usual location on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. And before Jay-Z said in response that Kenney had "zero appreciation for what Made in America has built." And before Kenney ultimately did a 180 and decided the event actually could stay on the Parkway. Before all that, Kenney got $1,875 worth of tickets to the Made in America music festival during Labor Day weekend in 2017. Kenney listed the tickets as a gift in his statement of financial interests filed earlier this year. Clout asked the mayor's spokesman, Mike Dunn, if Kenney gave the tickets away or soaked up the sun at the fest himself. "The mayor had 15 tickets. Each was priced at $125," he said. "He gave them to family and friends. He himself did not attend." On the anniversary of a rally that explicitly sought to "Unite the Right" under a banner of bigotry, we are reminded that it's not enough for people of good will to stand up against hate. We must stand together. And that sometimes requires hard work to repair relationships that have frayed over time. Case in point: In the early days of the civil rights movement, Jews and blacks literally stood arm in arm against hate, discrimination, and bigotry. At the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, national director Ben Epstein and the entire leadership of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) marched alongside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and other leaders of the movement. Dr. King, in turn, was a staunch supporter of the Jewish people: In a 1958 address to the American Jewish Congress, he said of blacks and Jews: "Our unity is born of our common struggle for centuries, not only to rid ourselves of bondage, but to make oppression of any people by others an impossibility." Yet as the movement made gains, some in both communities began viewing their former allies with suspicion. Some blacks saw Jewish participation as disingenuous and disempowering. Some Jews, in turn, felt betrayed by such sentiments. Many were dismayed by evidence of lingering racism among Jews and anti-Semitism among blacks. Meanwhile, the haters and bigots were only too happy to see us fighting among ourselves. Today, more than ever, we cannot afford to be divided by our differences. In the words of the ADL mission, we must "secure justice and fair treatment to all." As early as last year, representatives from the ADL Philadelphia office began talking with members of the black community to explore how to rebuild the relationship between the groups. Those discussions led to the establishment of the Black-Jewish Alliance of the ADL. Just a few months later, the events in Charlottesville added new urgency to those efforts. Even so, we proceeded cautiously. We understood that old resentments could derail attempts at constructive dialogue. We also grappled with the issue of legitimacy: The coalition doesn't claim to speak for the communities at large; our voices are only our own. How, then, could we make a difference? And where would we begin? We started with the idea that community comes from shared experience. We initiated a series of conversations called "Sharing Our Stories, Sharing Ourselves" and enlisted houses of worship to help us bring these stories to a wider audience. The goal of these conversations is simply to help people understand the day-to-day experiences of one another. They are not a platform for people to express political viewpoints or engage in debate. We ask black and Jewish panelists to describe a time where it felt challenging to be black or Jewish and to share something that makes them feel good about being part of their group. Afterward, the audience breaks into pairs or small groups to share their own stories. These conversations empowering, alarming, astonishing, enlightening have a profound effect on the people telling them and the people hearing them. They end in hugs, tears, and new friendships formed. They would continue for hours if we had time. Perhaps we need to find the time. We plan to hold more of these conversations in the future, and invite organizations interested in hosting one to contact us through the Philadelphia regional office of the ADL. Blane F. Stoddart is co-chair of the Black Jewish Alliance of the ADL and president and CEO, BFW Group LLC. Alan B. Gubernick is board chair, ADL Philadelphia, and shareholder, St. Clair/CPA Solutions. In this Monday, Aug. 6, 2018 photo, a No Trespassing sign is displayed in front of a statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Va., at the park that was the focus of the Unite the Right rally. Read more This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va. The white nationalist event, organized to protest the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue from public grounds, degenerated into violence and even homicide. Its aftermath provided the opportunity for a national reckoning over persistent uses of Confederate symbolism to manipulate history and subvert democracy. Unfortunately, national leaders and much of the mainstream media failed to facilitate this type of reckoning. Over the last year, two questions have dominated public remembrance of the rally: Who was at fault for the violence white supremacists or leftist counterprotesters? And was President Trump right to speak about "very fine people on both sides"? Overwhelming attention to these questions which inspired debates among politicians and pundits over abstract questions of blame and competing definitions of honor represented a lost opportunity. But Americans can still choose to remember the Unite the Right rally in even more illuminating ways. They can examine how uses of Confederate iconography distort history and subvert democracy whether in Charlottesville or, say, in Pennsylvania communities (the Pennsylvania Light Foot Militia participated in the rally, and the commonwealth is home to dozens of hate groups). As a former resident of Charlottesville and current resident of Pennsylvania, I can attest that two aspects of the violence deserve far more attention than they have received. Confederate mythology is designed to make racism seem honorable. First, Confederate iconography like the Lee statue in Charlottesville has always symbolized an invented mythology, not accurate history. National discussion about the riots focused on what politicians said, or failed to say, in response. Questions about why so many Americans still embrace such a historically illegitimate mythology received comparatively little attention. Confederate mythology including tales of dignified Confederate generals, benevolent plantations, and noble Christian armies distorts history into propaganda. Hate groups invoke this mythology to justify a political ideology based on racial subjugation and indiscriminate violence. Confederate mythology is undeniably part of U.S. history, with continuing national implications for our political processes. But it should not dictate the terms of debate about U.S. history and political processes, whether locally or nationally. Lee himself is a fitting example. He has been remembered as a kindly gentleman soldier, a personification of Confederate nobility. White House chief of staff John Kelly called Lee "an honorable man" in a post-Charlottesville interview. "Lee's elevation," Adam Serwer wrote in the Atlantic, "is a key part of a 150-year-old propaganda campaign designed to erase slavery as the cause of the war and whitewash the Confederate cause as a noble one." In fact, Lee was not an especially benevolent slave owner, and he waged war to defend a government based on principles of fundamental racial inequality. Confederate mythology is designed to make systemic racism and violence seem not only honorable but consistent with American nationalism. Accepting neo-Confederate claims about history at face value, or focusing on politicians and pundits who see potential honor in those claims, hinders constructive dialogue about the deeply ahistorical meaning and purpose of Confederate symbolism. Confederate symbolism is used as a destabilizer of democracy. Second, hate groups use Confederate symbolism to subvert democratic processes. Post-Charlottesville debates about abstract questions of blame and honor undermined the opportunity to nationally confront the antidemocratic nature of Confederate nostalgia. The Charlottesville City Council democratically voted to remove the city's Lee statue early in 2017. The Unite the Right rally constituted armed resistance to local democratic processes by outside groups. Hate groups organized the rally and paraded Confederate symbols to disrupt democracy and hijack civic space not to constructively participate within. Indeed, Confederate movements routinely flourish in U.S. history following periods of democratic advocacy for civil rights. Charlottesville's recent past illustrates the antidemocratic influences of Confederate nostalgia. In 1965, the city demolished a large African-American neighborhood known as Vinegar Hill and displaced hundreds of residents in the name of "urban renewal." These events unfolded amid resurgent Confederate "pride" in response to federal desegregation policies. Past and present, Confederate symbolism has carried inherently antidemocratic meaning in Charlottesville and throughout the nation. Media fixation on politicians' statements and punditry following the Unite the Right rally overshadowed more difficult and substantive discussions about its meaning. But there's still time, only a year later, for Americans to commemorate the violence in Charlottesville in even more constructive ways: by recognizing how Confederate nostalgia intentionally impedes a full understanding of the past while undermining democracy in the present. Bradford Vivian is a professor of communication arts and sciences and director of the Center for Democratic Deliberation at Pennsylvania State University. Mayor Jim Kenney annoyed that the relocation of the controversial statue of former mayor Frank Rizzo which sits on Thomas Paine plaza will be delayed. ED HILLE / Staff Photographer. Read more Violent protests a year ago in Charlottesville, Va. left three dead, 33 injured, and the country stunned at the ugliness of white nationalists carrying tiki torches protesting the removal of a Confederate statue of Robert E. Lee. More disturbingly, Charlottesville was a flash point for the suspicion, hatred, violence, and racism that our president through words and actions has encouraged since his election. Trump's rhetoric around immigrants, people of color, and others created a space for white supremacists to dominate last year's protests, and his comments immediately following Charlottesville gave comfort to those who hate. Confronting that underbelly of hatred and racism that has larded our history for decades was still shocking. We were forced to address a tough question: Did Charlottesville show us what we've become, or what we've always been? We can find part of the answer in an investigation that occurred 50 years ago following a series of riots in U.S. cities. The Lyndon Johnson administration assembled the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission, to investigate the riots and provide answers for the future. What's striking is how familiar it still sounds: "Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white separate and unequal. "Reaction to last summer's disorders has quickened the movement and deepened the division. Discrimination and segregation have long permeated much of America life; they now threaten the future of every American. "This deepening racial division is not inevitable. The movement apart can be reversed. Choice is still possible. Our principal task is to define that choice and to press for a national resolution. "To pursue our present course will involve the continuing polarization of the American community and, ultimately, the destruction of basic democratic values. "Violence cannot build a better society. Disruption and disorder nourish repression, not justice" It's sobering to realize these words were written 50 years ago. By some measures, we have evolved. But, as Charlottesville showed us, ugliness remains. One ray of hope amid the divisiveness in this country has been the actions of cities stepping forward to push back against violence, racism, and fear. Philadelphia in particular has taken pains to stand its ground against immigration policies and to speak out against racism. The city has steadfastly remained, through court battles, a sanctuary city and recently ended an arrangement with ICE that would no longer grant them access to arraignment data. And when the national conversation focused on Confederate statues, the city and Mayor Kenney were quick to begin a process of review following councilwoman Helen Gym's suggestion that the Frank Rizzo statue be moved from the Municipal Services Building. That's why last week's report revealing that the Rizzo statue won't be moved anytime before 2021 or 2022 is such a disappointment. Mayor Kenney has taken pains to publicly underscore the value of our city as welcoming and diverse. That's a message undercut by the delay in moving the controversial statue that for some stands for oppression. That it was confirmed so near the anniversary of Charlottesville is sadly tone-deaf especially at a time when better listening is critical. Minister Thapa backs out, says 'fake encounter allegation is rumour Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa has refuted the rumors alleging the police of staging a 'fake encounter' to kill the 'kidnappers' involved in the abduction and murder of an 11-year-old boy in Bhaktapur on Monday. Amish Raj Mulmi is a columnist for the Post, and the author of All Roads Lead North: Nepals Turn to China. 1. Yes. It makes me wonder why Killeen is having the problem and other cities arent. 2. Yes. The city also had water issues after the winter storm, so this is rather troubling. 3. No. Its good that the city is dealing with the problem and playing it safe with consumers. 4. No. Its more of an annoyance than a concern. The city will take the necessary steps. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say until more information about the issue becomes available. Vote View Results The two powers vetoed new US-led sanctions against North Korea. A member of Chinas Communist Party Politburo will visit to Moscow for strategic bilateral talks. The trade war between China and the US could boost Sino-Russian ties. Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) China and Russia blocked a request from the United States to add a Russian bank to a United Nations sanctions blacklist against North Korea. Both countries, which have veto power in the Security Council, also rejected the inclusion of two companies on the same list. For a number of observers, this move shows how Beijing and Moscow are strengthening their anti-US stance. Financial sanctions on North Korea after its nuclear tests in the past few years have never completely stopped the financial transactions of the Stalinist regime. Through shell companies and shadowy banks, Kim Jong-uns regime has continued to operate on the London and Moscow stock exchanges. The US Treasury Department had recently asked China and Russia to give a "decisive signal" to stop such operations. For many, the UN move can be seen as a sign of stronger Sino-Russian ties ahead of the escalating trade war between China and the United States as well as Russias Russian mistrust of the US. Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Yang Jiechi, a member of Chinas Communist Party Politburo, will travel to Moscow for a bilateral strategic security consultation. Mr Yang is also expected to meet with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. By MICHEAL WONIALA. Police is heavily deployed in Mbale district ahead of the Imbalu circumcision celebrations to be held at the Mutoto cultural grounds tomorrow. High profile dignitaries including President Yoweri Museveni and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta are expected to witness this cultural celebration. The Mbale District Police Commander Matthias Turyasingura says dozens of its officers both uniformed and non-uniformed have been deployed to ensure security of all people and property. He howeverwarns revelers against carrying expensive gadgets and huge sums of money. Participants in this special cultural event are drawn from the districts of Manafwa, Bulambuli, Sironko, Mbale, Bududa and Namisindwa, while othersare from the Kenyan side. By Benjamin Jumbe. The ruling NRM has warned that Uganda would end up in chaos if the opposition FDC took charge. According to the NRM Electoral commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi, the tension and unwillingness by some party leaders to give up their positions is proof that the party is not democratic and as such have no moral authority to demand for change anywhere. His remark follow the recent reshuffle in parliament by the FDC party president that saw the leader of opposition Winnie Kizia dropped and re[placed by Gulu Woman MP Grace Achan. By Samuel Ssebuliba. Refugee host communities especially those receiving people from the Democratic Republic of Congo have raised concern over the likely spread of Ebola. The Member of Parliament for Kyaka South Constituency Jackson Karugaba Kafuuzi told parliament that his constituency is hosting Kyaka 11 refugee camps that continue to receive refugees from DR Congo on a daily basis. He said that people in this area are worried about the likely spread of the disease since the outbreak has been confirmed in the neighboring Congo by the World Health Organisation with over 20 deaths reported. However the health minister Dr Ruth Acheng says a team of health experts has been sent to all boarder points to screen whoever enters the Uganda from Congo. By Nelson Wesonga. The Uganda Communications Commission executive director Godfrey Mutabazi has said Parliaments planned radio station will broadcast on one of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation redundant frequencies. This is because all frequencies on the frequency modulation spectrum for Kampala are taken. Mutabazi was responding to a question by the chairperson of the House Committee on Information and Communication Technology, Annet Nyakecho on why UCC had not yet granted a license for the House radio. However when contacted this morning, UBCs managing director, Winston Agaba said the national broadcaster does not have any redundant frequency. In February this year, Parliaments Director for Communication and Public Affairs, Chris Obore said a radio station was needed to supplement private medias coverage of Parliament. Union City: Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister`s estranged son Tyrone Keith McAllister has been arrested for physically assaulting a 71-year-old Sikh man in Manteca here. Union Minister for Food Processing, Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Wednesday shared a CCTV footage on her Twitter handle, in which Tyrone and his accomplice confronted the elderly Sikh man, at what looked like a deserted road near a park. Second incident of racial attack on Sikhs in the US in last 7 days! This is a serious matter @SushmaSwaraj Ji and we need to raise it on global level to ensure safety for Sikhs who are always at the forefront of community service. pic.twitter.com/Vy3V6wJAQn Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) August 8, 2018 In a statement, the Union City Police Department said that one of the two perpetrators involved in the assault of an elderly Manteca man on August 6 was the son of Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister, Tyrone Keith McAllister. Tyrone, who was believed to be wearing a dark coloured hoodie and jeans kicked the elderly man to the ground in a fit of rage. He then continued kicking the man, yelling something and spit on him, before fleeing the scene. "Chief McAllister`s status as a law enforcement leader has no bearing or relation to the case whatsoever, but he is devastated by how much the nature of his son`s actions are such a departure from everything he has stood for in his personal life and 37 year career of compassionate, engaging police work," the statement added. It continued that Chief McAllister and his wife worked with the Manteca Police Department to help track down and arrest Tyrone. The statement further said, "Chief McAllister expresses deep concern for the victim and the victim`s family and he remains steadfast that his son, an adult, must be accountable for his actions. "Harsimrat, who is the Member of Parliament from Punjab, had raised concern over the rising incidents of alleged racism against Sikhs in the United States and sought External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj`s help. Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President, Gobind Singh Longewal requested the central government to take up the incident with US authorities. He said, "This is a sad incident, an elderly innocent man was a target of racial abuse. I appeal to our government to take up this matter with US authorities and ensure punishment for the culprits." New Delhi: After delivering the hit film 'Hasee to Phasee', Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra are all set to rule the silver screens yet again. The two have collaborated for a film which is titled 'Jabariya Jodi', reports DNA. The title of the film was 'Shotgun Shaadi' but now, it has been changed. The report further says that the movie is based on the concept of groom kidnapping. A source revealed to DNA that the movie is based on 'pakadwa vivah' (groom kidnapping) and hence the makers felt that the name 'Jabariya Jodi' was apt. The source further said that in the Bhojpuri language, jabariya means zabardasti (forcefully) and so, the title refers to a couple who is forced to get married. Parineeti and Sidharth have already shot for the posters which will be out soon, reveals the source. As per the report, the movie was initially titled 'Shotgun Shaadi'. Talking about the title of the film, the source told DNA that Sidharth came across the word during readings and told the team about it. The team liked it and hence the title of the movie was changed to Jabariya Jodi. The film is backed by Ekta Kapoor's production house. Talking about the producer, Sidharth told DNA, Balaji will always be special because till date, my biggest film (Ek Villain, 2014) is with Ekta. Thats why the thought of calling her up about this script earlier this year was obvious. Shes good at presenting and marketing a film. We have had great energies which have worked for us in Ek Villain and we are going to amplify it further with this movie, The same report further quotes Sidharth as saying, Its an exciting film for both of us to come back together as a couple on screen. This movie has a mix of humour and good content. New Delhi: Protesting against the alleged rape of Class 2 student inside New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school in Gole Market, several parents gathered outside the premises questioning the security arrangements of the institute. 'Even women have to register their entry before going inside the school. How did a man enter just like that?' questioned an agitated parent. Delhi: Parents of students protest outside govt school in Gole market, where man was arrested yesterday on charges of sexually assaulting 1 of the students. A parent says,'even women have to register their entry before going inside the school, how did a man enter just like that?' pic.twitter.com/3dT0ebfQUh ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 A Class 2 student was allegedly raped by an electrician inside the institute premises on Thursday. The accused, 37-year-old Ram Asre, had been working in the school for around a month and is a permanent electrician employed with the NDMC. Asre allegedly took the six-year-old victim inside a pump room within the school premises and raped her. The incident came to light after the minor's mother found her bleeding from private parts after returning from school on Thursday. On enquiring, the child narrated the incident to her parents, said the police. Asre has been arrested and a case has been registered against him under the relevant section of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. With agency inputs New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday issued notices to the Delhi Chief Secretary, Delhi government and the Delhi Commissioner of Police calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks in the alleged rape of a class two student in the capital. The incident took place on August 8 in a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school premises in upscale Gole Market area. Taking a serious note of media reports of the incident the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) observed that it amounts to violation of the victim's human rights. According to a statement by the human rights panel, the chief secretary has been asked to also inform the commission whether all the guidelines and directions issued by authorities for the safety of students are being followed by the schools in Delhi, it stated. The girl was leaving school on Wednesday when the accused, Ram Asre (37) allegedly took her to a pump room in the school premises and forced himself on her, police said, adding he also threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about it. The accused, who has been working in the school for over a month and is a permanent electrician employee with the NDMC, has been arrested and a case under relevant sections of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act registered against him, they said. The incident came to light after the minor's mother found her bleeding from private parts after returning from school on Thursday. On enquiring, the child narrated the incident to her parents, said the police. Protesting against the alleged rape several parents gathered outside the premises questioning the security arrangements of the institute. "Even women have to register their entry before going inside the school. How did a man enter just like that?" questioned an agitated parent. Los Angeles: Director James Wan's 'Aquaman' will not have appearances by other DC characters. The 41-year-old director, best known for films such as 'Furious 7' and 'The Conjuring', told Entertainment Weekly that he wanted to tell the story of Jason Momoa's Aquaman and that is why he chose not to include any other characters from the DC Extended Universe. "'I wanted to keep the story to the world of Aquaman and not have to worry about what other characters are doing in their films and how that would affect us," Wan said. "I just thought the simplest way was to keep it clean - keep it simple and let it be an Aquaman story," he added. The director also said that he insisted on a certain level of independence during his talks with the DC and the Warner Bros as he wanted to fulfil his vision for the project. "I told them I understand and respect that it's part of a bigger universe but at the end of the day I have to tell the story I want to tell, and I want to develop the character as well," Wan said. "It was something the studio was respectful about .In my movie he starts off one way and becomes very different by the end. It's a classic hero's journey. I equate our story to The Sword and the Stone, it's a very Arthurian story about a journey to becoming king," he added. The film, which also features Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren and Nicole Kidman in supporting roles, has a release date of December 21. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has accepted the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI's) plea challenging dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar's acquittal in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case. The top court will hear the arguments in the sensational double murder case along with the pending plea filed by domestic help Hemraj's wife. "Leave granted," said the bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising of Justices Navin Sinha and K M Joseph. In October last year, the Allahabad High Court ruled that the Talwars did not murder their daughter and their domestic help, Hemraj. "No chain of evidence has been found. The CBI failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Talwars killed Aarushi. The Talwar couple cannot be convicted on the basis of mere suspicion. They must be given the benefit of doubt," the high court had said at the time. On May 16, 2008, 14-year-old Aarushi was found murdered in her bedroom in the Talwar's flat in Noida's Jal Vayu Vihar - her throat slit with surgical precision. It was initially suspected that Hemraj had killed Aarushi. But the case took a shocking turn when Hemraj's body was found two days later from the rooftop of the same apartment building. The suspicion then shifted to the Talwars, both of whom are dentists. UP police theorised that Rajesh Talwar had acted on impulse after finding Arushi and Hemraj in an "objectionable" position. The Talwars and their friends alleged that the blame was being shifted to Aarushi's parents to cover up a botched investigation. However, the high court freed them of the charges on the ground that they could not be held guilty on the basis of the evidence on record. NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, the authorities have seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from two places in national capital while a suspected Bangladeshi terrorist was nabbed in Bengaluru. According to reports, a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including carbines and cartridges, were recovered from two suspected arms peddlers in two separate operations by the Delhi Police late on Thursday. The two accused have been identified as Mohammad Azimuddin Sheikh lias Azim, a resident of Malda in West Bengal and Soyyam alias Aas Mohammad, a resident of Shamli in Uttar Pradesh. Sharing details of the police action with media, Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) said, ''Soyyam was arrested from Singhola village on GT Karnal road on Thursday while Azim was arrested earlier this week from northwest Delhi.'' The accused were involved in supplying arms to Delhi-based criminals for the last four-five years, the official said. With just few days left to the Independence Day, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has been keeping a tight vigil on the movement of arms suppliers and those with suspected terror links. The recovery of the arms and ammunition leading to the arrest of the two suspects is part of our vigit, the officer said. ''The Special Cell has launched a drive against supply of illegal firearms in Delhi from other parts of the country. Concerted efforts have led to busting of several gun selling rackets and seizure of huge cache of sophisticated/semi-automatic weapons,'' the officer said. According to the DCP, the teams of the Special Cell have successfully busted two interstate gun-selling rackets with the recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition from the accused. Azim was arrested by one of the teams of the Special Cell on August 6 following a tip-off, he said. Azim along with Akil had come to deliver the huge consignment of illegal firearms to Hazi Kayum in Delhi. Following specific inputs, a team laid a trap at the vantage points near Tara Chowk, Dheerpur in northwest Delhi here, the officer said. Around 11.55 am, Azim was found waiting for Kayum, carrying two trolley bags. He was subsequently overpowered and nabbed. From the trolley bags two automatic sophisticated carbines, 38 pistols and 50 live cartridges concealed in clothes and newspapers were recovered, the ACP said. Another team of the Special Cell nabbed Soyyam, a key member of arms supplier syndicate of Kairana (UP) from near CNG station in village Singhola near GT Karnal road, added the DCP. Twelve sophisticated .32 bore pistols and 19 magazines were recovered from his bag, the DCP said. During interrogation, it came to light that after the police crackdown in Bihar's Munger, the arms manufacturers have shifted their base to West Bengal and weapons are being manufactured at different places. The weapons manufactured in West Bengal are being supplied in Delhi and its neighbouring areas. The DCP said raids are being conducted to nab more associates of the arrested duo. In a related incident, the Army too seized a large quantity of arms and explosive materials, including 7 firearms, 14 grenades and 401 rounds, during a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday. Army troops discovered the weapons during a search operation in the Chapriyan-KP Nala area of Mandi tehsil, a defence spokesperson said. The recoveries include four 9mm pistols with seven magazines and 31 rounds, four carrying bags, one AK-56 rifle (with sling) along with three loaded magazines, one 7.62mm rifle of foreign origin, one revolver, 14 hand grenades and one AK-47 Bayonet, he added. Meanwhile, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) has arrested a suspected member of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh in Bengaluru. The arrest was made a day after the NIA nabbed the outfit's top leader Mohammed Jahidul Islam, wanted in several terror cases. 29-year old Adil Alias Assadullah, a resident of a village in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, was arrested near the Cantonment Railway station on August 7 in connection with the bomb blast at Kalchakra Maidan in Bodh Gaya on January 19, the NIA said in a statement. He is believed to be the close associate of Jahidul Islam, who was arrested by an NIA team from nearby Ramanagara. Assadullah was produced before an NIA special court which granted transit remand for being taken to Patna. (With PTI inputs) NEW DELHI: Days after triggering a controversy by saying that India and Pakistan would have remained united had Muhammad Ali Jinnah become the Prime Minister as desired by Mahatma Gandhi and not Jawaharlal Nehru, the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has now apologised for saying so. Speaking to ANI, the Dalai Lama said, ''My statement has created a controversy. If I said something wrong, I apologise.'' Dalai Lama had kick-started a new political storm by saying, ''Mahatma Gandhi ji was very much willing to give the prime ministership to Muslim League leader Jinnah but Pandit Nehru refused." Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama made these remarks while addressing an event at the Goa Institute of Management. Speaking on the occasion, the 14th Dalai Lama said that Mahatma Gandhi was 'very much willing' to give the leadership to Jinnah but Nehru's self-centred attitude resulted in the mistake. Mistakes always happen. Now, look at India. I think Mahatma Gandhi ji was very much willing to give prime ministership to Jinnah. But Pandit Nehru refused. I think Pandit Nehrus was a little bit self-centred, he said. Nehru, who was a wise man, made a mistake since he harboured the ambition of becoming India's first Prime Minister, he suggested. Pandit Nehru, I know very well, was a very experienced person, very wise, but sometimes mistakes happen, he said. #WATCH Dalai Lama says, "Mahatma Gandhi ji was very much willing to give Prime Ministership to Jinnah but Pandit Nehru refused." pic.twitter.com/WBzqgdCJaJ ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2018 The Dalai Lama stressed that had the wish of Mahatma Gandhi been fulfilled then India-Pakistan would have remained united today. The Tibetan spiritual leader has been living in exile in India since he fled Chinese forces in 1959. I had a lot of discussion with Nehru. On one occasion, Nehru told me that America will not go to war with China to liberate Tibet... And, he told me that sooner or later you will have to discuss the issue with the Chinese government. So in 1974, we decided not to seek independence. But history is history, the Dalai Lama said. During the event, he also appealed to Indian Muslims to make efforts to reduce Shia-Sunni conflicts that are prevalent in some other countries and asserted that Islam is a religion of peace. The ruling BJP latched on to the issue and used Dalai Lama's remarks as a tool to attack Congress and blamed if for the Partition. Since its inception, the BJP leadership has been of the view that Nehru's political ambitions were to be blamed for the creation of Pakistan and the riots which followed soon after the Partition. New Delhi: The accused in the alleged rape of a class 2 student in the capital was sent to a 14-day judicial custody on Friday. The child, a student of a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school, was allegedly raped by an electrician in the institute's premises, said Delhi Police. The accused, who has been working in the school for over a month and is a permanent electrician employee with the NDMC, was earlier arrested and a case under relevant sections of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against him. The girl was leaving school on Wednesday when the accused, Ram Asre (37) allegedly took her to a pump room in the school premises and forced himself on her, the Delhi Police said, adding he also threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about it. The incident came to light after the minor's mother found her bleeding from private parts after returning from school on Thursday. On enquiring, the child narrated the incident to her parents, said the police. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday issued notices to the Delhi Chief Secretary, Delhi government and the Delhi Commissioner of Police calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks in the alleged rape of a class two student in the capital. Taking a serious note of media reports of the incident the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) observed that it amounts to a violation of the victim's human rights. According to a statement by the human rights panel, the chief secretary has been asked to also inform the commission whether all the guidelines and directions issued by authorities for the safety of students are being followed by the schools in Delhi, it stated. Her parents approached police on Thursday, following which a case was registered and the accused arrested. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), Madhur Verma, said the accused had been working with the school for around two months and was arrested after the victim identified him. Police said the accused was being interrogated. They said the spot where the incident happened did not have CCTV cameras. The NDMC suspended four officials. They are accused Ram Ashray, headmistress Santosh Rawat, assistant engineer (electric department) Tulsi Ram and assistant teacher Shikha. While the civic body has initiated disciplinary proceedings against them, it has also terminated the contract of junior engineer Saurabh Bisht, who was Ashray's supervisor. DCW sent notices to the police and the school's authority, asking them to inform it about the safety measures at the institute. A representative from the school said the victim's parents came to them at 10 am on Thursday to inform them about the incident, and claimed that the accused was not employed in their school. "From what we know, the incident occurred after 1:30 pm, when the school gets over. Our school employee not involved in it. The investigation is underway and the child is doing fine. We have been in regular contact with the parents of the victim," she said. The parents of the victim have been called for a counselling session on Monday to assure them of their child's safety. Another employee of the school said CCTV cameras were installed on the school premises and four security guards are always posted at the school gate since it is a girls' school. A number of parents staged a protest outside the school and raised questions about the safety of their children inside the institute. "What is the surety of our child's safety in the school premises? The principal has been on leave for a week. Shouldn't teachers and the vice-principal show more accountability?" a parent said. Another parent said strict security measures were in place for parents to enter the school premises and asked whether the same measures were in place for others. According to Delhi Police data, more than two children were raped in the national capital every day in the first four months of this year. Till April 30, 282 cases of child rape were reported as opposed to 278 last year during the same period. Last year, 894 such cases were reported, the data stated. In September 2017, a five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 40-year-old peon inside the premises of a private school in Shahdara, following which he was arrested. New Delhi: Delhi Police on Friday inducted 36 women as part of an all-women Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to fight against terrorists. This is the first time that any police force in the country has created an all-women SWAT team. The induction ceremony was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh who said that the team would be deployed at key locations in the city ahead of Independence Day celebrations. "The 36 women SWAT commandos have undergone rigorous 15-month training which includes basic, commando and advanced honing of skills under the tutelage of NSG (National Security Guard) trainers. The Delhi Police has raised the commandos for anti-terrorism duty under the Special Cell unit of the force," Rajnath said. He also said that recruitment of 4000 personnel for Delhi Police is under consideration and that the police force should become an ideal model for forces around the country. NEW DELHI: Even as the Narendra Modi government prepares to push the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha, a senior Congress leader on Friday compared the sufferings of Indian Muslim women with that of Goddess Sita who was abandoned by her husband Lord Ram. The remarks were made by Congress MP Hussain Dalwai, who also called for further modification in the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, which criminalises instant divorce. Speaking to Zee News, Dalwai said, ''The Modi government is not interested in the welfare of Muslim women. The government's promise of giving more rights to the Muslim women and empowering them is just an eye-wash.'' Though the Union Cabinet has proposed three changes in the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, a lot still needs to be done, the Congress MP said. While expressing his views on the amended triple talaq bill, Dalwai triggered a controversy by saying, ''Women are being treated unfairly in all communities, not just Muslims, even Hindus, Christians, Sikhs etc. In every society, there is male domination. Even Shree Ram Chandra ji once left Sita ji after doubting her. So we need to change as a whole.'' Dalwai later clarified on his remarks made on Lord Ram. The Congress MP said that he is a devotee of the deity too. But, what he said was meant to highlight the fact that even Hindu women had suffered a lot since the ancient times. The Maharashtra Congress leader, however, said that what he said was not meant to malign any religion. Dalwai had last year written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, saying the move to criminalise the practice of triple talaq was extremely problematic. The Congress MP said that while he was opposed to the practice of triple talaq in principle, the governments move was selectively targeting Muslims. BJP's Rakesh Sinha, an RSS ideologue who was recently nominated to the Rajya Sabha, hit back at Dalwai, saying that he has no right to drag Lord Ram's name in the debate over triple talaq. Those opposing the triple talaq bill had the Taliban-like mindset, Sinha said. Several BJP MPs too raised objections to Dalwai's statement in the Rajya Sabha and the demanded the same to be expunged. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today urged the Congress to support the amended triple talaq Bill. Prasad said the bill seeks justice for crores of women. However, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today said that her party's stand on the triple talaq bill is quite clear. The war of words between the government and the Congress-led Opposition comes at a time when ruling side is preparing to push the much-debated triple talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha on Friday. Importantly, the Union Cabinet on Thursday proposed three changes in the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, 2017 - first, only the victim, a blood relation or relation by marriage are allowed to lodge FIR in the case, second, the case can be dropped if the husband and wife agree to settle their differences and third, a magistrate can grant bail to men found guilty of giving instant triple talaq to their wives. However, the offence still remains non-bailable. If the amended bill is passed in the Upper House, it will have to go back to Lok Sabha for approval of the amendments. On December 29, the Lok Sabha passed the bill which seeks to make instant triple talaq a criminal offence, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government tabled it in the lower house. The Bill proposes a three-year jail term for a Muslim man who divorces his wife in any form of spoken, written or by electronic means such as email, SMS, and WhatsApp. Triple talaq, or verbal divorce, is practised by a section in the Muslim community to instantly divorce their wives by uttering `talaq` three times. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: The Maldives wants India to withdraw military helicopters and personnel posted there following the expiry of an agreement in June, its envoy said, the latest snub to New Delhi by President Abdulla Yameen`s China-backed government. India and China are going head to head in the Maldives, the Indian Ocean island chain where Beijing is building roads, bridges and a bigger airport, upstaging India which has been the country`s prime provider of military and civilian aid for decades. India has opposed Yameen`s crackdown on political rivals and the imposition of an emergency this year and some of the president`s rivals have called on New Delhi for military intervention, creating worries in the Maldivian government. The tensions are impacting aid programmes such as security assistance that New Delhi has given to smaller countries in the region to help them protect exclusive economic zones, carry out surveys and combat piracy. The Maldives` ambassador in India, Ahmed Mohamed, told Reuters that two military helicopters provided by India were mainly used for medical evacuations but were no longer required as the islands had built up enough resources of its own. "They were very useful in the past but with the development of adequate infrastructure, facilities and resources we are now in a position to handle medical evacuations on our own," he said. However, India and the Maldives are still conducting joint patrols in the islands` exclusive economic zone every month, Mohamed said. The Maldives, 400 km (250 miles) to the southwest of India, is close to the world`s busiest shipping lanes, between China and the Middle East. Along with the helicopters, India had stationed around 50 military personnel, including pilots and maintenance crew, and their visas had expired. But New Delhi has not yet withdrawn them from the island chain. "We are still there, our two helicopters and the men," an Indian navy spokesman said on Wednesday, adding the foreign ministry was handling the situation. The foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters` request for comment. "IT`S THE PERSONNEL" India has been demanding that Yameen free political rivals including former President Abdul Gayoom and Supreme Court justices. It also criticised Yameen`s decision to hold elections in September saying the rule of law should be restored before embarking on such an exercise. India was a close supporter of Gayoom during his long years of stewardship of the island chain and sent troops to foil an attempted coup against him in 1988. China, which opened an embassy in the Maldives in 2011, has rapidly built ties with the tropical island chain as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. It says it is opposed to any country interfering in the internal affairs of the Maldives. Providing helicopters and patrol boats and satellite assistance to countries such as the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles has been part of India`s naval diplomacy to retain influence in the Indian Ocean. But in recent years China has moved in, building ports and roads backed by loans. In the Maldives, Beijing Urban Construction Group Company Limited took over a project to expand the airport servicing the capital Male, after the government cancelled a $511 million deal with India`s GMR Infrastructure. Maldives has also given the Chinese a few islands to develop, officials said. Abhijit Singh, a former Indian naval officer who specialises on Indian Ocean politics at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, said the Indian helicopters were deployed near the islands where the Chinese were present. "Now the issue is Yameen wants the helicopters out, but more importantly he wants the personnel out. It is not the helicopters that trouble him so much, it is actually the fact that there are these people there." "Yameen has invited China to do a lot of infrastructure building and he suspects that India is trying to keep a watch on what the Chinese are doing and so wants to keep the Indians out," said Singh. Ambassador Ahmed declined comment on that view. NEW DELHI: In the backdrop of reports that United States President Donald Trump has been invited as the Chief Guest of the Republic Day celebrations in 2019, highly placed government sources have said that the invite sent to the White House is not date-specific. The sources close to the establishment here said that the invitation to President Trump's office is not date and time-specific, adding that the two sides are in constant touch with each other over the same. The date, time and occasion of the possible trip are under consideration, official sources were quoted as saying by the PTI. The sources further indicated that India was not exclusively looking at his presence at the Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest and that various other options are also being explored. "The date, time and occasion of the visit is still being under consideration," said an official source. This comes days after it was reported that the Government of India has extended an invitation to the US President to visit the country next year. The sources said that the option of Trump gracing the Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest in 2019 was also explored during several meetings between the two sides on New Delhi's invite. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders had confirmed last week that President Trump's office has indeed received an invitation to visit India, but no decision has been taken yet. "I know that the invitation has been extended, but I do not believe that a final decision has been made," Sanders told reporters when asked whether PM Modi has invited Trump to be the Chief Guest at the next year's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited President Trump for a bilateral visit to India during their talks in Washington in June 2017. If President Trump accepts the invitation, it would be one of the major highlights of the Narendra Modi before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Trump's decision to grace the 2019 R-Day celebrations is also expected to give a major boost to ties between the two strategic partners in key areas of defence, security and trade. The Trump administration has been pushing for deeper strategic cooperation with India, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region where China was expanding its influence. Every year, the GoI invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations. In 2015, the then US President Barack Obama had attended it as the Chief Guest which was his second visit to India as US President. This year, leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations. In 2016, the then French President Francois Hollande was the Chief Guest of the parade while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations in 2014. So far Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac are among the heads of the states who have attended the Republic Day celebrations. (With PTI inputs) Hyderabad: Citing security concerns, Osmania University on Friday declined permission for Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's proposed meeting with students on its campus during his visit to the state on August 13 and 14. University Registrar Ch Gopal Reddy said they declined permission as they had no mechanism to provide security to the Congress leader. However, they might review the decision if local police or any other government agency such as the special protection group (SPG) assures the university of Gandhi's security, he said. "We declined the permission on security grounds. Since he (Rahul Gandhi) is a person under 'Z' plus category security cover, we will not be able to provide security for him. Some students are opposing his visit while some welcome him. It may also lead to tension during his visit. So we told them (group of students) about our inability to provide enough security for his visit," Reddy told PTI. Telangana Congress leaders had earlier said Gandhi would address students at the campus during his visit. Asked about the proposed meeting at the University, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said university students had invited Gandhi. They applied to the university vice-chancellor and police for permission and the matter was under consideration, he had earlier said. He alleged that some senior leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) did not want Gandhi to visit the university. The University is said to be the hotbed of the separate Telangana agitation. New Delhi: Attacking Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh once again over his son's name appearing in Panama Papers, Rahul Gandhi said at Raipur on Friday that even Pakistan's Prime Minister has been jailed for the same reason but that no action has been taken in the case of Abhishek Singh. It has been alleged that Abhishek has assets in the British Virgin Islands and the opposition has repeatedly flayed the government for not initiating action or probing the matter. Ahead of elections in the state - scheduled for later this year - Rahul Gandhi ramped up the attack on the state's BJP CM. "When the name of former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif appeared in Panama papers, he was convicted in it. In Chhattisgarh when the name of your CM's son comes in Panama papers, investigation doesn't even begin," he said at an event to mark the opening of Congress party office. "This is BJP-NDA's 'chowkidari'." While Congress has pointed fingers at him time and again, Abhishek Singh has said the accusations are "false, mischievous and politically motivated." He is a a Lok Sabha member from Rajanandgaon in Chhattisgarh. New Delhi: The seven prisoners, convicted of assassinating former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, cannot be released, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday. Objecting to the release, the Centre said that setting the convicts free will send a wrong message across the country and world. "Releasing convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case will have international ramifications, set dangerous precedents," said Centre. The Tamil Nadu government had earlier proposed to release seven convicts. The CBI, which investigated the case, has also opposed the release of the convicts. The seven convicts have been in prison for last 27 years. Highlighting the sensitivity of the case, the Home Ministry in a report stated that the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi is one of the most heinous and gruesome crime carried out by international terrorists. Over 16 innocent people and some security personnel died while many were injured, added the MHA. The President had rejected the proposal to release seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and adjourned the matter. The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was the most heinous and gruesome crime, the brutal Act brought the Indian democratic process to a grinding halt in as much as the general election to the Lok Sabha and the perpetrators do not deserve any leniency, the Centre added. The trial court has observed that the involvement of a woman as a human bomb to kill the former Prime Minister is the rarest of rare case, a fact accepted by High Court and Supreme Court, said the Centre. Nearly 27 years after the assassination of the former PM, his son and current Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said he and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have completely forgiven their father's killers. Speaking to a large audience of IIM alumni at an interactive session in Singapore on Saturday, the Gandhi scion said, We have forgiven our father's murderers. Whatever may be the reason, I don't like any violence of any kind. "We were very upset and hurt and for many years. We were quite angry. But, somehow, completely...in fact, completely (forgiven), said Rahul. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a woman suicide bomber of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the terrorist group in Sri Lanka led by Prabhakaran, on May 21, 1991, at an election rally in Tamil Nadu. Images | kazinform.kz Kazakhstan needs to invest $650bn in low carbon technologies to achieve its carbon neutrality target, Minister of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan Serikkali Brekeshev told todays briefing at the Central Communications Service. Estimates indicate investments to the tune of $650bn in low carbon technologies are needed to achieve the carbon neutrality target in the period of 40 years," he said. The minister also named the sectors that need most investments, they are electricity and thermal energy - $305bn, transport - $167bn, mining and manufacturing - $65bn, housing and public utilities - $57bn, and agriculture - $49bn. He went on to note that according to the model review investments in coal, and oil and gas production will reduce due to reduction in demand in the long-term period. The Government is working to attract investments in the renewable energy sector, including investment cooperation with the UAE to carry out major renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan, aiming at reducing CO2 emissions," he said. New Delhi: Certain remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Congress MP BK Hariprasad in the Upper House of Parliament on Thursday were expunged by Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday as they were found to be "objectionable" and "derogatory". Modi had made the remarks after Hariprasad lost the election to the post of the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson to National Democratic Alliance's Harivansh Narayan Singh. The remarks were expunged after some members made a demand in this regard, according to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. Naidu had on Thursday said in the House that he will look into the remarks and see if there was something objectionable. The remarks were made by the prime minister while felicitating newly-elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh in the House on Thursday. Hariprasad said it was unfortunate that the prime minister had lowered the dignity of the House. The chairman also expunged a word uttered by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale during the felicitations. In a closely fought election, NDA candidate and JDU member Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected as the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson, defeating Hariprasad. As the voice vote remained inconclusive, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called for the division of votes in the House. After the voting, Harivansh Narayan Singh emerged as a winner with 125 votes, while Hariprasad got 105 votes in his favour. Soon after the announcement, PM Modi went to Harivansh Narayan Singh to congratulate him on the win. "I congratulate Harivansh ji on behalf of the whole house. He has been blessed with the talent of writing. He was also a favourite of former PM Chandra Shekhar ji," PM Modi said. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad also congratulated Singh and expressed hope that as a Deputy Chairperson, he will pay heed to the objections raised by the Opposition and won't be partial towards the NDA government. The post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman had been lying vacant since the retirement of PJ Kurien on July 1. with PTI inputs Cochin: The death toll in the Kerala rains touched 26 on Friday morning after heavy downpour caused havoc in the state leading to a series of landslips in the hilly district of Idukki and northern parts. Large-scale damage has also been reported from various parts of the state. Sources in the State Disaster Control Room said 26 people have died in rain-related incidents since Wednesday with 17 of them being killed in landslides in Idukki and Malappuram districts alone, reported news agency PTI. More than 10,000 people have been shifted to 157 relief camps across the state in the last two days, the government said. In an unprecedented development, shutters of 24 dams in different parts of the state have been opened. Six flood rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Palakkad to carry out Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) work, said the Home Ministry in a statement. A 24x7 NDRF control room has been set up in Delhi to closely monitor the situation. The Army has deployed three columns comprising about 75 personnel each in flood-hit areas of Kerala including Ayannkulu, Idukki and Wayanad. Two more columns have been requisitioned and are moving to Kozhikode and Malappuram. Three Engineer Task Force are expected to assist in the operations. Describing the situation as "very grim", Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that rescue operations have been intensified. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took stock of the situation and offered all necessary assistance to the state. "Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the state. Offered all possible assistance to those affected. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Kerala in the wake of this calamity," he tweeted. Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the state. Offered all possible assistance to those affected. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Kerala in the wake of this calamity. @CMOKerala Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2018 All educational institutions including professional colleges at Kothamangalam, Kunnathunad, Aluva, Paravur Taluk, and Kadamakkudy will be closed on Friday. The Kerala State Disaster Management (KSDM) Authority has issued an advisory in light of the possibility of water release from Idukki Reservoir via Cheruthoni Dam Shutters. Asking people to stop panicking and spreading fake messages, the KSDM advised citizens against travelling to Vazhathopp, Mariyapuram, Kanjikkuzhi, Vathikudy and Konnathadi panchayaths of Idukki. It further warned people against crossing the rivers after water is released from dams and to avoid crowding small bridges and river banks. The Kerala state electricity board has already issued the third red alert in Idukki reservoir. The dam will be opened on Friday morning to maintain the water level. Earlier, in the first time in 26 years, the administration was compelled to open the sluice gates of Cheruthoni dam on Idukki reservoir. The incessant rains caused rivers in the region to swell, urging the authorities to open the shutters of as many as 24 dams. Heavy rains for the past two days and release of water from the Idamalayar dam resulted into localised flooding in low-lying areas in the northern districts of Kerala. The flood water also triggered landslides at some places. Flight and train services were affected in the state, following heavy downpour and flood in Ernakulam district. The Cochin International Airport shut down its arrival operations on Thursday as a precautionary measure. With agency inputs MUMBAI: A team of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) raided a house in the Nala Sopara locality in the Palghar district near Mumbai in the wee hours of Friday during which some suspicious material was recovered. According to ANI, the ATS team raided the house of a man called Vaibhav Raut in the Nala Sopara locality following specific intelligence inputs. The ATS team recovered some suspicious material, believed to be explosives. Early morning visuals from Vaibhav Raut's residence in Mumbai's Nala Sopara area from where Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) recovered some suspicious material yesterday. Vaibhav Raut detained. More details awaited. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/fVeZVQRuAc ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 Vaibhav Raut has been detained for interrogation. Ahead of that, the ATS team also raided a shop in the same locality. Mumbai: Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) conducted a raid at the residence of a person named Vaibhav Raut in Nala Sopara area yesterday and recovered some suspicious material from the house and a nearby shop. Vaibhav Raut detained. More details awaited. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/UwaI8WOTgb ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2018 According to some reports, a huge quantity of explosives, suspected to be RDX, were recovered by the ATS officials after they raided the shop in the Nala Sopara locality late last night, reports said. The explosives were recovered from Bhandar Gali in Nala Sopara west, the reports said. After getting information about the explosives, officials of the Maharashtra ATS and senior officials of Palghar Police had rushed to the spot and recovered the explosives, an official said. The official added that forensic experts have been called to determine if the material recovered is RDX. An investigation is also underway into the matter. Meanwhile, the lawyer of Vaibhav Raut has slammed the ATS for arresting his client. ''The ATS has not intimidated us about the arrest of Vaibhav Raut. I wonder what kind of law is being followed in this country and in Maharashtra. We'll take all legal steps,'' Sanjiv Punalekar, lawyer of Vaibhav Raut, told ANI. Mumbai: Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor slammed British Airways and called it 'racist' after an Indian passenger and his family were allegedly asked to deboard a flight in the UK. The veteran actor went on to reveal that even his own experience with the airline was not pleasant. Rishi took to Twitter on Friday to slam the airline and wrote, "Racist. Don't fly British Airways. We cannot be kicked around. Sad to hear about the Berlin child incident. I stopped flying British Airways after the cabin crew were rude and had attitude not once but twice even after being a first class passenger. Fly Jet Airways or Emirates. There is dignity." Racist. Dont fly British Airways.We cannot be kicked around. Sad to hear about the Berlin child incident. I stopped flying BA after the cabin crew were rude and had attitude not once but twice even after being a first class passenger. Fly Jetair or Emirates. There is dignity. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) August 9, 2018 The incident took place on July 23 when an Indian family was travelling from London to Berlin on a British Airways flight. The development comes after the passenger, identified as A.P. Pathak a Joint Secretary level officer in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, complained that he and his family were discriminated against on racial lines. Narrating his ordeal in an interview to new agency ANI, Pathak said, "When we were travelling to Berlin from London in British Airways, our son started crying and a flight attendant came and threatened to offload us if our kid doesn't keep quiet. Another Indian family sitting behind us offered the child some biscuits to console him. My wife again put the boy on his designated seat and fastened the seat belt even though he kept on crying.." "The same crew member came again and shouted at my son that you keep quiet otherwise you will be thrown out and (said that) we would be offloaded." The plane then returned to the terminal. The father says that after that security was called in and their boarding passes were taken away and they were asked to deplane. "My family and the other Indian family, which had offered biscuits to my son, were offloaded.." He recalled that even after repeated requests and apologies, they were offloaded from the flight without any compensation. Taking note of the incident, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu directed the aviation regulator to obtain a detailed report from British Airways over the incident. Beijing: Tamil film "Mersal" has been picked by Chinas HGC Entertainment, which is planning to release it in the country. The Vijay-starrer will be dubbed into Mandarin later this year or in early 2019, reports variety.com. Directed by Atlee, the action thriller released in India in 2017, and had garnered a lot of positive response from the critics and audience. The background score and soundtrack of the film were composed by Oscar and Grammy winner AR Rahman. HGC President's Li Ying said: "We found the story of 'Mersal' to be a particularly touching story." Be it superstar Salman Khan-starrer film "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" or recently added "Sultan" or Aamir Khan's "Dangal", in recent times, many Indian "content-driven" stories have connected with Chinese audiences on an intellectual and emotional level. HGC is one of China's oldest indie distributors that has previously released "Dhoom 3", "The Mechanic" and "Hellboy 3". New Delhi: Famous telly producer Vikas Gupta became a household name after his successful stint inside the reality show 'Bigg Boss 11'. He remained one of the most popular and talked about contestants throughout the show. Vikas, who is currently a part of yet another reality show 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 9' has apparently left it midway. Vikas along with other participants is in Argentina where the shoot is currently on for the reality show. However, the latest buzz right now is that he has been asked to leave the show because of his health issues. DNA quotes an inside as revealing that despite Vikas being the top performer so far, he has been asked to leave the show because of his shoulder injury. Apparently, he didn't reveal his shoulder injury issue to the makers and was performing the stunts after taking painkiller injections that could have become lethal. However, keeping the safety of the contestants in mind, the channel has booted him from the competition. In fact, the doctors too refused to give him a clean chit and he was asked to leave. The medication which he was taking increases the heart rate and combined with physical activity can prove fatal, therefore, the makers thought it would be best to ask him to leave the show instead. Vikas was bitten by a snake on the show a few days back. Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi is hosted by ace director Rohit Shetty. Last season was won by Shantanu Maheshwari while Hina Khan was the finalist. Dehradun: An embarrassing gaffe with the Indian tricolour ahead of Independence Day by Congress workers has left the party red-faced. In a rally taken out by Uttarakhand Congress leaders and cadres, images of the tricolour being hoisted upside down surfaced on social media. The rally was observing the 76th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. Uttarakhand Congress is currently working towards strengthening the party at the grassroots level in the hilly state. The rally was a part of the exercise. In the 2017 Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janta Party won by a landslide margin, to form the state government with Trivendra Singh Rawat as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 57 seats in the 71-member Assembly, while the Congress won just 11 seats. The country observed the 76th anniversary of Quit India movement on August 9. On this day in 1942, father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi gave the clarion call of Do or Die to all Indians to drive away Britishers from the country. The movement had begun from Gawalia Tank in Mumbai. The day is observed as August Kranti Day every year. SANA, YEMEN: Three men on Wednesday were publicly shot and hanged here for raping a 10-year-old boy in October last year. According to a Metro's article, the accused kidnapped the boy while he was on his way to his grandmother's house on October 29. The accused were identified as Abdul Jalil al-Ashhab (19) Mohammed Said al-Uqri (27), and Ghaleb al-Rashdi (19) The kidnappers covered the boy's mouth with a cloth, took him to the nearest school and abused him. After the torture, the trio choked him to death and hid the body in a deserted house. The paedophiles were initially paraded in front of the crowd and then asked to lie on the ground where they were shot five times in the heart. They were later hanged on a crane and put to display for the public to watch. The public display of the corpses was to discourage people from committing such crimes. Yemen is still one of those countries where capital punishment is followed. Shooting is the primary way through which the death penalty is given to the people. Pelting of stones is another way under the Yemeni government but is rarely used. Yemen is a country which still has one of the highest execution rates per capita in the world. Toronto: At least four people were killed in a shooting incident in the eastern Canadian city of Fredericton, police said on Friday. The police confirmed that one suspect has been taken in police in custody. The Fredericton police said in a post on Twitter the incident was ongoing and there were multiple fatalities. Here are the updates by Fredericton Police: * At this time we can confirm that we have one suspect in custody. Police continue to have the Brookside area contained for the foreseeable future as the investigation is ongoing. Please continue to avoid the area. * IMPORTANT: Please do not post information about the position or activities of police or first responders. We are still working an active incident. We will release confirmed information as soon as we can. Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018 * Thank you for your patience as we continue to work at this active incident. * Police continue to on scene of a shooting on Brookside Drive. Please avoid the area. Due to the volume of calls, please refrain from calling the police station directly, and in case of emergency continue to call 9-1-1. * Police continue to on scene of a shooting on Brookside Drive. Please avoid the area. Due to the volume of calls, please refrain from calling the police station directly, and in case of emergency continue to call 9-1-1. * Please continue to avoid the area of Brookside Drive between Main and Ring Road. An incident has resulted in at least four people killed. More information will be available when we can confirm. *At this time, we can confirm multiple fatalities. The incident is ongoing. More information will be available when we can. Please continue to avoid the area of Brookside Drive between Main and Ring Road. * Fredericton Police are responding to Brookside Drive area. The public is asked to avoid the area and stay in their homes with doors locked at this time for their safety. * We are asking people to avoid the area of Brookside Drive this morning due to an ongoing incident. We will provide more details as soon as we can. Read the original text at 112.ua. Recently, a diplomatic scandal erupted in the relations between Canada and Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada expressed concern about the arrests in the kingdom of social activists and activists in the field of protecting women's rights, including human rights defender Samar Badawi, and demanded immediate release. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued similar statements. Badawi participated in the campaign for allowing Saudi women to drive. In 2012, the US State Department awarded her a prize for her contribution to the development of women's rights. Last week law enforcement officers of Saudi Arabia arrested Badawi. Since 2012, her brother blogger Raif Badawi is kept in a prison for criticizing the ruling regime. He was sentenced to a thousand lashes (in 2015 he received 50 lashes). Since May 2018, the Government of Saudi Arabia has strengthened the persecution of human rights defenders. In a few months, 15 activists were arrested. Official Riyadh walks into the situation all flash and fire. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia called the statements of Canadian colleagues an insult that deserves a harsh response, an act of interference in internal affairs and violation of the sovereignty of the kingdom. Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dennis Horak was declared persona non grata, and he was given a day to leave the country. Saudi Arabia froze all new trade and investment agreements with the Canadian counterparties. Since August 13, Saudi Arabian state airlines cancel the transport links with Toronto. It is planned to transfer 7 thousand Saudi students, participants in state scholarship programs from Canadian universities to universities in the United States, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. The anti-Canadian actions of the Saudis were supported by Bahrain. However, even after the response of Saudi Arabia, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland stressed that her country will still protect human rights throughout the world. The problem of observing human rights in Saudi Arabia has already been raised more than once. The non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch presents Saudi Arabia as one of the most problematic countries in the sphere of observance of human rights. In April, the German government considered the possibility of imposing a ban on the supply of arms to Saudi Arabia because of the human rights violations. Last year, US Secretary of State Nikki Haley said that the United States does not support Saudi Arabia when it comes to respecting human rights. Saudi Arabia is an important military-political and trade-economic partner, a major supplier of oil and a buyer of American weapons. Freeland did not say something new when once again stating about a violation of human rights in Saudi Arabia. This is how it used to be and will be in this Middle Eastern country due to its religious and mental specifics. Saudi Arabia is a secular monarchy. However, the Constitution states that the kingdom is an Islamic state that protects human rights in accordance with the Sharia. Sunni Islam, especially its radical socio-political current of Wahhabism, plays an important role in the way of life of local society. Wahhabism is also professed by Islamic extremists of the North Caucasus, terrorist organizations Al-Qaeda, and ISIS. Saudi citizens were the majority of hijackers during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Former leader of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, field commander Amir Khattab, who took part in the second Chechen war, were originally from the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is a patriarchal country where there has never been equality between men and women. There is a system of male guardianship: a woman must get permission from her husband, brother and even her son to go abroad, get a passport, get married or solve some other questions. Physical punishment, including lashes, and even the death penalty by cutting off the head are practiced there. Last year 50 people were executed this way. Punitive measures are applied for intimate relationships outside marriage. Religious minorities of Shiites and Ismailis in the sphere of education, the judiciary, and the labor market are discriminated against in the country. Even labor migrants have limited rights. Saudi employers can take their passports from them, force them to work against their will. Before returning home, the migrant worker must obtain permission from the employer. The authorities are conducting an information campaign to discredit human rights defenders, presenting them as traitors and a threat to national security. The Badawi family are not the only activists who were imprisoned. In 2014, the court has sentenced activist Waleed Abu al-Khair to a 15-year prison term for criticizing human rights abuses in the kingdom. Last year, almost all the participants of the Saudi Civil Political Association for the Protection of Human Rights were behind bars. In January of 2018, for eight years, oppositionist Nadir Al-Majid was imprisoned for participating in the 2011 protests against discrimination against the Shiite religious minority, for communicating with the foreign press and human rights organizations. Co-founder of the Al-Adah human rights center, Nassim al-Sadah, was recently arrested. Saudi Arabia can be compared only with Shiite Iran, which is also subject to criticism from human rights advocates, where Sharia law and opposition are pursued. However, the lack of democracy is perceived by the habitually significant part of the local population. About 94.4% of the Saudis support the modern course in the political and socio-economic spheres. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed are pursuing a course to develop high-tech, alternative oil production industries and want to make Saudi Arabia an open economy for Western capital. Dissidents are a minority in Saudi society. There is nothing surprising that Canada is one of the most active countries that talk about violations of human rights in Saudi Arabia. Since the end of the Second World War, Canada has established the image of the peacemaker country, the abode of liberalism and multiculturalism, a society free of discrimination. Canadians were among the first to approve humanitarian intervention - the use of military force in the territory of a sovereign state for the protection of people in the event of large-scale violations of human rights. Since the 50s, Canada has sent more than 120,000 of its military to various parts of the world to participate in UN peacekeeping operations. In 1962, human rights were enshrined as one of the priorities of Canada's foreign policy. Canada promotes respect for and observance of human rights in the world, cooperating with other governments, international organizations, the private sector, individuals, including human rights defenders. Criticism of violations of women's rights in Saudi Arabia fully fits into the humanitarian priorities of Canada's foreign policy. Although the enforcement of Saudi Arabia's human rights is contrary to the interests of the Canadian business. Freezing new contracts by Riyadh will negatively affect bilateral trade. Last year, the trade between Canada and Saudi Arabia amounted to $ 3 billion. Since 2006, Saudi Arabia has invested $ 6 billion in the Canadian economy. Tanks, armored personnel carriers, spare parts, vehicles accounted for 45% of Canada's exports to Saudi Arabia. Canada imports oil and copper ore from Saudi Arabia. There is an opinion that Canadians protect human rights abroad on the basis of rational calculation and personal interests. For some reason, Freeland talked about the violation of human rights in Saudi Arabia precisely in the context of the United States' rapprochement with the kingdom and a cold snap in relations with NATO allies, including Canada. Canadians do not support the US withdrawal from the Paris agreement on climate protection, from a nuclear deal with Iran, a policy of protectionism and a toughening of the migration regime. At the G7 summit, the US president accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of imposing 270 percent duties on American dairy products, he promised to take retaliatory measures. Trump is dissatisfied with the fact that Canada spends less than 2% of GDP on defense within NATO. The Canadian military believes that until 2024 the country's military expenditures will amount to only 1.4% of GDP. Canadians are annoyed that the Americans are demanding from them and Europeans to increase defense spending and do not want to pay attention to NATO, but at the same time are going to create a new military-political bloc in the Middle East together with Saudi Arabia. In May 2018, Trump and Crown Prince Mohammad have discussed the prospects for the establishment of the MESA (Middle East Strategic Alliance) and the conclusion of new arms contracts worth $ 350 billion over the next 10 years. The United States is going to supply anti-missile systems, warships, and missiles to the countries of the region. The Americans want to create an analog of NATO in the Middle East to deter Iran's regional expansion. In addition to the United States and Saudi Arabia, other countries of the Persian Gulf, Egypt and Jordan can become MESA members. In more detail, this idea will be discussed in October in Washington at the level of the heads of state and government of the possible participating countries. The US is compelled to take such a step because they could not find support among other NATO member states on the issue of withdrawing from the nuclear deal with Iran. Canada uses a demarche against Saudi Arabia, trying to shed light on the US's double standards. Say, the States withdraw from NATO, get out of a nuclear deal with Iran, which is accused of violating human rights and sponsoring terrorism, but at the same time, it creates a military bloc with Saudi Arabia, where the situation in the humanitarian sphere is not that better. Ottawa spoils Washington's atmosphere on the eve of the meeting on the creation of MESA. Canadians want to demonstrate that the White House is turning a blind eye to the violation of human rights in Saudi Arabia for its own interests. The President went on to note that members of the Assembly talk about Kazakhstan abroad, familiarize foreign guests with the culture of the Kazakh people, calling for the continuation of such work. The militants opened fire in the areas of the settlements: Luhanske, Zalizne, Bohdanivka, Vodyane, Lebedynske and Shyrokyne Open source From 7:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m., the militants violated ceasefire regime ten times during the day including the one with the use of the prohibited by the Minsk Agreements weapon. The press office of JFO reports on their page on Facebook. The occupants were opening target fire from grenade launchers and small arms at JFO positions in the areas of the settlements: Luhanske, Zalizne, Bohdanivka, Vodyane, Lebedynske and Shyrokyne. Along with this, the enemy shelled the defenders of Lebedynske from 120mm mortar. 'One of the servicemen received a shrapnel wound,' reads the message. Earlier, OSCE SMM in Ukraine reiterated that since the beginning of the year, 31 civilians perished and another 137 were wounded in Donbas because of the combat action and ammunitions detonation. Alexander Hug, the first deputy head of the OSCE SMM said this as quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency. 'The total number of victims among civilian population makes 168 victims', he said. Ukraine news on 112.international Two servicemen of the Ukrainian military were wounded On August 9, two Ukrainian army servicemen were wounded in Donbas combat area. The HQ of the Joint Forces Operation reported this via Facebook on Thursday evening. Since early morning till 6 p.m., the enemy opened fire six times. Russian occupant forces used mostly grenade launchers and small arms to attack positions of Ukrainian troops in the area of Novotoshkivske, Mariinka, Starohnativka, Bohdanivka and Lebedynske. 82 mm mines hit Hnutove. Earlier, OSCE SMM in Ukraine reiterated that since the beginning of the year, 31 civilians perished and another 137 were wounded in Donbas because of the combat action and ammunitions detonation. Alexander Hug, the first deputy head of the OSCE SMM said this as quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency. 'The total number of victims among civilian population makes 168 victims', he said. According to him, 17 died and 42 were wounded because of the detonation of mines and ammunition. The traffic to and from Russia is observed not far from the camps of Russia-backed militants OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reports active traffic of army trucks in the borderline area in militant-controlled Donbas. This was mentioned in the Mission's report released on Thursday, August 9. The movement was observed in the areas where there are no border control checkpoints. An SMM drone 'spotted convoys of trucks entering and exiting Ukraine via a dirt track where there are no border crossing facilities in the middle of the night'. 'At 22:15 on 7 August, an SMM long-range UAV spotted a convoy of eight canvas-covered six-wheeled cargo trucks (five KamAZ-4310 and the rest undetermined) travelling east along a road near Chystiakove (non-government-controlled, 62km east of Donetsk). Near Manych (non-government-controlled, 76km east of Donetsk), approximately 3.5km before reaching Ukraines border with the Russian Federation, the convoy turned east onto a dirt track that leads across the border', the report says. Another convoy that consisted of a roadster and KamAZ trucks was spotted while moving on the same road, away from the Russian border and on to the west. Another two trucks joined the convoy later. 'On 7 August, the SMM for the first time observed what it assessed to be an improvised camp consisting of six armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM variants) and 15 military-type trucks (two KamAZ variants, four Ural variants, two KrAZ variants, six ZIL variants and one of undetermined manufacture, all painted in shades of green), one bearing white-on-black licence plates with the prefix DK in Cyrillic letters, 2km east of Cheremshyne (non-government-controlled, 59km south-east of Luhansk). The vehicles were parked close to one another and camouflage netting was strung from one of them. About 1.6km east of the camp, there is an unguarded road crossing into the Russian Federation which is barricaded with a metal bar', the report reads on. The Mission reiterated that the observers continue to monitor the process of weapons withdrawal from the areas, specified by Minsk agreement. Open source Monitors of OSCE SMM claim that the occupational forces are building strongholds in the gray zones in Donbas, and delivering trains and trucks with weapons and ammunition. The Joint Monitoring and Coordination Center claimed this, as the press office of JFO reports on Facebook. On August 7 in the evening, SMM drones detected convoys of trucks, which were entering Ukraine through the uncontrolled border area with Russia. They went by minor roads with no checkpoints around. In particular, 12 Kamaz-4310 trucks with tarpaulin-covered cargo bays having crossed the border moved west in 62km from Donetsk, reads the message. Moreover, the same night, near Luhansk, convoys of 15 military-type trucks and six armed reconnaissance vehicle were discovered. The illegal armed formations keep increasing the number of weapons and manpower. Also, SMM drones discovered 32 T-72 tanks near Ternove settlement and ten T-72 tanks near Pokrovka settlement in Donetsk region. The same day, the monitors of OSCE SMM discovered the establishment of the radar station and air defense weapons by the armed formations, Joint Monitoring and Coordination Center added. Along with this, it is stated that there is a dramatic increase in ceasefire regime violations. Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint is going to be shut down for several hours, as the technicians intend to defuse the remaining explosive items in the adjacent area, which includes the checkpoint and the namesake town. The Joint Forces Operation HQ reports that the checkpoint will be closed from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 11. During this period, citizens will not be allowed to proceed through it onto the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region. As we reported earlier, Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint (Ukraine-controlled area of Luhansk region) will be closed for maintenance works. The press service of Luhansk regional administration reported that on Facebook. 'Starting on August 6, the service zone of entry-exit checkpoint of Stanytsia Luhanska will be undertaking refurbishment works. It will keep running; the local residents should be advised that the checkpoint will work as usual', said Yuriy Klymenko, the deputy head of the authority. The entry-exit operations will be suspended from August 27 till August 31, if the parties to the Minsk talks group decide so during the next session, which is slated for August 22. During the time, maintenance workers will set the temporary constructions on the premises, and plug them into the local electricity and water supply systems. The representatives of the JFO HQ informed that the deceased was the native resident of Donbas, Dmytro Ukrainsky A Ukrainian intelligence operator, with whom the connection was lost on August 8, died in Donbas conflict zone, as the JFO HQ reported. Unfortunately, he died and the body of the hero fell into the hands of the occupants who ruthlessly and cynically used him for the propaganda of the Russian peace and war, the message says. The representatives of the HQ added that the deceased was the native resident of Donbas, Dmytro Ukrainsky. The deceased was carrying out an intelligence mission on August 8 in the so-called grey zone. Being the commander of the cover team he understood that he was trapped and accepted the fight. The main group, having received the report from Dmytro Ukrainsky about the entrapment, started retreating. Dmytro Ukrainsky along with his colleague, who was just 19 years old, was conducting battle with the enemys superior forces. Having found out that the main group had retreated, he ordered the 19-year-old intelligence operator to retreat. Junior Sergeant Dmytro Ukrainsky died as a hero, the HQ informs. It was noted that he was presented to the state award postmortem. Dmytro Ukrainsky served in the 24th mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Earlier, on August 8 the connection was lost with one of the Ukrainian soldiers. Later it was reported that on August 9 one Ukrainian soldier died and two more were wounded. It's been 89 days that the Ukrainian filmmaker starves in the Russian prison, demanding to release all political prisoners from Ukraine; his health conditions remain of big concern Harlem Desir, OSCE High Representative for media freedom asked the Russian government to release the illegally judged and detained Ukrainian Oleg Sentsov. 'It is urgent now', his Twitter post says. Very alarmed by the deteriorating health of Crimean writer/filmmaker #OlegSentsov, on hunger strike in a Russian prison. I repeat my call for his release. It is urgent now. See my previous statements: https://t.co/b99spNhgEn @OSCE_RFoM Harlem Desir @harlemdesir August 9, 2018 Previously, Ukraine's parliamentary ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova received the images of political prisoner Oleg Sentsov, who keeps on starving within his hunger strike in the Russian penal colony of Labytnangi. Denisova's counterpart Tatyana Moskalkova sent her these images, and the Ukrainian official published them on Facebook. 'Oleg looks active; he watches TV, reads books and writes something from time to time. Everyone, I quote, 'everyone amazed at his fortitude'. His health conditions are satisfactory,' she wrote. Earlier on Thursday, Dmytro Dinze, the lawyer of political prisoner Oleg Sentsov said that his defendant suffers another protracted crisis. Lyudmyla Denisova quoted Dinze as saying. 'Twice, they wanted to send him to a hospital where they would plug him to life support systems and start feeding him by force, she wrote. The Kremlin may use economic, political and 'other' means to respond, Russian PM says The implementation of new U.S. sanctions against Russia may be seen as the declaration of economic war. Russian Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev said this as quoted by TASS news agency. According to the head of the Russian government, one will have to react, using economic, political and 'other' means, as he put it. 'If anything like a ban of banking activity or use of any currency will follow, one can fairly describe it as a declaration of the economic war. And one will surely have to respond to this war with economic methods, political methods - and, if necessary, other means as well. And our American friends should realize that,' Medvedev said. He added that there's 'nothing good about sanctions', because 'any sort of limitations eventually have the impact on the economic welfare, on the currency rate fluctuation'. The U.S. government announced new sanctions against Russia, related to the poisoning of former GRU agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. The restrictions are supposed to take effect on August 22. Earlier, the Kremlin described the sanctions as 'draconian', as the Russian embassy in the U.S. protested against the decision of the American government. After the verdict was announced, Savchenkos supporters started a brawl with the guards in the session hall Open source Scandalous Ukrainian MP Nadiya Savchenko, charged with preparing terrorist acts in Kyiv will stay in custody. Kyiv appeal court decided so after another hearing in her case. The prosecutors are fine with the decision, and the lawyers are obviously not. They already promised to address the European Court for Human Rights. After the verdict was announced, Savchenkos supporters started a brawl with the guards in the session hall. Savchenko protested and shouted that her sister Vira had her arms twisted. Nadiya Savchenko, MP is suspected of organizing a terrorist act in the Ukrainian Parliament and in the government district of Kyiv. Yuriy Lutsenko, Prosecutor General claimed that he has proof that Savchenko planned an armed coup d'etat, which would have brought to mass civilian casualties. In particular, according to the information of Prosecutor General's office, she planned to shell Kyiv from a grenade launcher. Furthermore, she together with early detained Volodymyr Ruban are suspected of an organization of assassination of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Open source Ukraine has filed a lawsuit in ECHR against Russia due to its violation of Ukrainian political prisoner rights. Ivan Lishchyna, Deputy of the Minister of Justice, Commissioner for ECHR cases claimed this on Facebook. We have just filed a new international complaint in the European Court of Human Rights regarding the Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin, Lishchyna claimed. He noted that the complaint describes the violations of 71 political prisoners. In particular, the Ukrainian Government states on the systemic violations of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by the Russian side. Concerning Klykh, Balukh, Kuku, and Litvinov, additional application have been filed under the Rule 39 of the provision of adequate health care and health information. It is the sixth lawsuit filed against Russia by Ukraine. Two cases consider the annexation of Crimea and the violation of human rights on the peninsula. Two more consider violations in Donbas, and one lawsuit concerns the export of children group from Donbas to Russia. The pro-Kremlin mercenaries have been holding the journalist captive since June 2017 Open source The U.S. Congress Group for Media Freedom urges the militants of Donbas to set Stanislav Aseev free; the Ukrainian reporter has been held in captivity for more than a year now. According to Radio Liberty, the co-chairmen of the group Adam Schiff and Steve Chabot released the respective statement on August 8. The congressmen are 'deeply concerned' that the Kremlin-supported groups of self-styled 'Donetsk People's Republic' hold the reporter in detention since June 2017. According to them, Aseev is 'one of the few independent journalists that stayed in the separatist-controlled area in order to provide objective information'. The officials described this situation as 'horrible', since Aseev went on a hunger strike in June. In September 2017, the mercenaries included Aseev in the exchange list; however, the actual exchange did not take place, and the reporter remained in captivity. The vessel is Mekhanik Pogodin IMO 9598397 flying the flag of the Russian Federation Open source Russian vessel, which is under sanctions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine entered Kherson port. Borys Babin, Permanent Representative of the Ukrainian President in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea claimed this on Facebook. The vessel is Mekhanik Pogodin IMO 9598397 flying the flag of the Russian Federation The vessel entered the Kherson Sea Trade Port. I am sure that the vessel wont leave the port soon. Also, I am sure that no one will be able to break up the case. As the sanction issues and the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine are different things. We take the case for steady control within the limits of authority, he said. Reportedly, on June 22, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a law on the decision of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine On the application and introduction of amendments into personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions). Later, the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine introduced a refreshed sanction list, which increased to 1762 physical and 786 legal persons. Open source Russian Embassy in the US called new anti-Russian sanctions, imposed due to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, draconian, as the statement of Embassys website says. On August 8, 2018 our Deputy Chief of Mission was informed in the State Department of new draconian sanctions against Russia for far-fetched accusations of using the Novichok nerve agent against a UK citizen S.Skripal and his daughter by the Russian Government. We grew accustomed to not hearing any facts or evidence, the statement says. Earlier, on August 8, the US imposed new anti-Russian sanctions due to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. The sanctions are supposed to come into force on August 22. It remains unknown, what sanctions the US Administration imposes. Yet, according to The Washington Post, the new sanctions are divided into two parts. First one includes a ban on selling some items of goods in Russia, such as electronic devices. The other part will be imposed on Russia if it does not agree to stop using the chemical weapon and does not let UN observers conduct an inspection within a 90-day term. As it was reported earlier, ex-colonel of Russias GRU, Chief Intelligence Department, Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, poisoned in the center of Salisbury town in the evening of March 4, are still struggling for life in the intensive care unit of the local hospital. The British special services suppose that Skripals were poisoned by his ex-colleague Andrey Lugovoy, who acted on orders from Moscow. British Prime Minister Theresa May decided to expel 23 Russian diplomats due to the incident in Salisbury. Russian diplomats had a week to leave Great Britain. Besides, the law enforcers will tighten control at the customs and check of private planes for the same reason. In return, Russia said it would expel 23 British diplomats as a reaction to Britains actions. Russian Foreign Ministry informed in its announcement. As we reported earlier, more than 20 states have expelled Russian diplomats due to Skripals poisoning in Salisbury. Ukraine expelled 13 Russian diplomats, and Russia as a reaction has declared 13 Ukrainian diplomats personae non-gratae. According to Oleksandr Turchynov, Russia is trying to start an economic blockade of the region Russias military-political leadership regards Azov-Black Sea region as a platform for its further expansion, as Oleksandr Turchynov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, said, the website of the service reports. Russia's buildup of the military presence is combined with "a brutal violation of international maritime law in the Azov Sea, which manifests itself, in particular, in the illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge and the growing number of incidents involving the detention of Russian military domestic and foreign vessels. We see Russia's efforts to actually unleash a military-economic blockade of the Azov coast of Ukraine, he said. Turchynov noted that the Mariupol direction remains one of the most threatening in the JFO area, and it is possible that the enemy could conduct both ground and sea landing operations along the Azov coast". "In the southernmost confrontation zone, a steadily high number of shellings of our positions and military provocations by the Russian-terrorist troops is observed", he stressed. According to Turchynov, to counterwork the Russian expansion it is necessary to enhance Ukraines Naval Forces presence in the region by re-deploying of a part of Armed Forces Navy ship-boat group, deployment of additional coastal defense posts and effective counteraction to land and sea provocations by the Russian Federation. It should be noted that over the past three months the Russian activity in the Sea of Azov has increased. Russians do not allow trade vessels, which enter and exit the Ukrainian ports, to freely cross the Kerch Strait. Moreover, on July 15 Russia detained 148 ships for inspection in the Sea of Azov. Due to this, Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, entrusted the Defence Minister, the Head of the General Staff and Command of Ukraines Naval Forces to take measures to stop Russian provocations concerning the blockade of Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov. Ukraine also supports the imposition of sanctions against Russian Black Sea ports due to the blockade of the Sea of Azov. Davyd Stulyk has also urged Russia to release all the Ukrainians illegally kept in Russian and on the Crimean Peninsula The representatives of the European Union in Ukraine hope that Russian will provide an appropriate treatment for the Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov, as Davyd Stulyk, the Spokesperson of the EU representatives in Ukraine, stated. It was reported that Sentsovs health worsened. We expect Russia to provide him with appropriate treatment in a medical facility according to a temporary measure of the European Court of Human Rights as of July 25, the message says. Besides, the European Union expects that the international norms of human rights will be obligated on the peninsula. Stulyk has also urged Russia to release all the Ukrainians illegally kept in Russian and on the Crimean Peninsula. As is known, the native of Crimea, film director and political activist, Sentsov has been serving time in the Russian penal colony in Labytnangi since May 2014. This spring, he announced a hunger strike, demanding to release all Ukrainian political prisoners, illegally held by the Kremlin. Oleg Sentsov was illegally detained in Crimea in 2014, then taken to Russia. They judged him and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment at a high-security penal colony. The prosecutors charged Sentsov with preparing terrorist acts in the occupied Crimea. Sentsov denies his guilt. Ukraine's government, common citizens and the international society - politicians, artists, public figures - urge the Kremlin to release him. Sentsov enjoys the wide support of the many in Ukraine and abroad. Rallies, where participants urge to release him, are held worldwide - in Ukraine, Russia, the EU and the U.S. Open source Protesters blocked the pedestrian zone on Poshtova Square in Kyiv because of the excavation site has been flooded for two days. This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine agency. Currently, the passage to Kyiv River Port, transport department of Kyiv city administration and other nearby objects is obstructed. As Annabella Morina who participated in closure of the pedestrian zone, explained the flooding of excavations began due to the main pipeline break two days ago. "Water main was busted. Kyivvodokanal Company shut it off and repaired tonight, but as the representatives of the Emergency Service state, the outflow from drainage systems continues," she said. Because of the flooding, artifacts of XI-XII centuries were damaged. "Apparently the drainage system had to cope with it, but it was not constructed properly by the developer and did not perform its functions. Excavations are under the threat, pedestrians are also at risk, because the reliability of construction is a compromised, "Morina added. It is noted that the protesters blocked the Poshtova Square with stop tapes and warned the pedestrians of the impossibility of passage. As it was reported earlier, On June 7, a fight occurred at the session of Kyiv city council. The activists who demand to create the Museum of Kyiv's History at Poshtova Square, broke the doors in the session hall of the city council's building. Kyiv city council failed to vote for suspension of the agreement with the tenant builder, not collecting enough votes. The respective draft law was only approved in the first reading in April. The draft foresees passage of the land parcel and the unfinished museum to the state-run Centre of Kyiv Archaeology. Various construction projects are now considered on the international contest; the winner will get the right to construct the building. Poshtova Square (Poshtova Ploshcha) is the main entrance of the Podil district of Kyiv. Here, near the Church of the Nativity of Christ, at a depth of 100 meters underground a street of the Kyivan Rus is situated. So, three years ago, during the archaeological excavations, many artifacts of the Middle Ages were found here - prince prints, coins, rings, wooden piles, balls and pendants. In February 2015, the archaeologists found a part of the ancient Kyiv's street - deep under the ground at Poshtova Square. The Culture Ministry ruled that the tenant builder will have to change the construction project. The archaeologists suspended their work in the area because of the landslide in March 2015. The prosecutors on the cases did not attend the court sessions Open source Kyiv District Court in Poltava ordered to close the criminal proceeding on Hennady Kernes, Kharkivs Mayor, and on his safeguards Vitaly Blinnyk and Yevgen Smitsky, as 112 Ukraine reports. As the judge explained, the reason for such decision was the prosecutors refusal to support the prosecution on the case and participation in the trial debates which is considered as a refusal from the prosecution. This decision can be appealed in the Court of Appeal within seven days. Kernes himself stated that he did not commit the crimes mentioned in the court. Besides, he explained the decision with a regular absence of the prosecutors at the court sessions. Answering the question if the accused is satisfied with such decision Kernes said: Obviously, there will be an appeal, I think, that we will consider it in terms of the entire text. When we examine the whole text, we will say whether we are satisfied or not. I expected acquittal. Later, the representatives of the General Prosecutors Office informed about the intention to appeal against this decision. Earlier this year, Kernes with accomplices was accused of kidnapping, torturing and threatening to kill Kharkiv EuroMaidan activists Oleksandr Kutyanin and Serhiy Ryapolov. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko calls on European partners to defend their own energy security and not to go along with the Kremlin on the construction of North Stream 2 pipeline. This was stated in a message posted on the presidents Facebook page. "North Stream 2 is a Trojan horse of the Kremlin against European energy and, ultimately, geopolitical security ... I call on our European partners to cast off deceptive and disastrous spells of the Kremlin as fast as possible and firmly defend their own energy security," Poroshenko said. According to the president, Gazproms refusal of to implement this project within the Third Energy Package of the EU and its deliberate failure to comply with decisions of the Stockholm Arbitration gas disputes with Ukraine is a clear signal on the real motives behind the North Stream 2 construction and its potential catastrophic consequences for the European Union. As it was reported, American President Donald Trump claimed on July 16 that the United States will compete with Nord Stream 2, the Russian gas pipeline. Putin claimed that the Russian Federation is ready to save the gas transit through Ukraine after the launch of the Nord Stream 2. As is known, Gazprom and his partners are intended to begin the realization of the Nord Stream 2 project, which costs ten billion dollars in April 2018. It is expected that the 1200 km gas pipeline will be laid through the Baltic Sea, and will connect Russia and Germany passing Ukraine, Poland, and Baltic countries. The capacity of the gas pipeline will be twice increased than the first Nord Stream. The construction is estimated to be completed by the end of 2019. Ukraine is adamantly opposed to the construction by calling it politically motivated and suggesting the EU to create a consortium with the involvement of European companies to manage the existing more efficient transportation route through Ukraine. A number of EU countries have expressed their disagreement with the Nord Stream 2 project in particular Poland and Lithuania. Igor Raynin, the Head of Presidents Administration, is responsible for the preparation of the draft Open source The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko ordered to prepare a draft of the Presidents annual address to the Verkhovna Rada on the internal and external state of Ukraine, as the relevant decree of the President says. Igor Raynin, the Head of Presidents Administration, is responsible for the preparation of the draft. The working group has to define the structure and schedule of the drafts preparation of the address within two weeks. Besides, it must prepare and submit the draft and a collection of statistical material attached to it. Reportedly, Poroshenko informed that the greeting Glory to Ukraine! would be an official one of Ukraines Armed Forces and would be used at the military ceremonies starting from the parade on Independence Day. As it was reported, Poroshenko ordered to capture a military greeting Glory to Ukraine! in legislation. In February 2018, Ukraines Parliament registered the bill which provides amendments in the Internal Service Regulations of the Armed Forces, in particular, an introduction of a new military welcoming Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes!. Pavlo Klimkin reminded that it's been the 89th day of Sentsov's hunger strike Pavlo Klimkin, Ukraines Foreign Minister, asked the world to support the Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov and to demand his release, as he wrote on Twitter. As is known, the native of Crimea, film director and political activist, Sentsov has been serving time in the Russian penal colony in Labytnangi since May 2014. This spring, he announced a hunger strike, demanding to release all Ukrainian political prisoners, illegally held by the Kremlin. Oleg Sentsov was illegally detained in Crimea in 2014, then taken to Russia. They judged him and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment at a high-security penal colony. The prosecutors charged Sentsov with preparing terrorist acts in the occupied Crimea. Sentsov denies his guilt. Ukraine's government, common citizens and the international society - politicians, artists, public figures - urge the Kremlin to release him. Sentsov enjoys the wide support of the many in Ukraine and abroad. Rallies, where participants urge to release him, are held worldwide - in Ukraine, Russia, the EU and the U.S. Select board members and some municipal staff toured the property last week. Scarborough Leader A bond for up to $1.9 million to renovate it will be on the Nov. 2 municipal ballot. As the journalists found out, the employers do not hurry to help Ukrainians in trouble. Many of them worked abroad illegally that is why the owners fear fines and punishment Ukrainians get injuries and become victims of violence during the earning abroad, as Obozrevatel reports. As the journalists found out, the employers do not hurry to help Ukrainians in trouble. Many of them worked abroad illegally that is why the owners fear fines and punishment. Often Ukrainians in Poland are under attacks. For instance, a Ukrainian was beaten in Poland in May. He was returning from a shop with his friends when a Polish attacked him. With a head injury, he was hospitalized, as the news agency reads. Ukrainian woman Oksana was found on a bench in Polish Poznan with a blood-stroke. It appeared that she was working illegally, though the employer promised to employ her officially. She had a blood stroke and the man took her to the park and left on a bench. Though, he called the police and reported a drunk woman lying in a park. Later, many Polish people were raising money for her treatment. Two Ukrainians died in Italy recently. In January, a body of a 30-year-old Oksana Yatskiv was found on railway tracks in Naples. Oksana arrives in this country to work with her mother from Ternopil region. The mother was searching for Oksana for a week when she found her in a morgue. Her friends are convinced that she was murdered. She had two kids in Ukraine. A few years ago Volodymyr from Lviv died in Spain at a construction site. According to different versions, he fell from staging from electrocution or he suddenly felt sick. However, his wife Iryna believes that someone took out his organs in Spain. Mass media reported that she was trying to find the truth for many months but no progress has been made. Reportedly, according to krainianpeopleleaks.com one Ukrainian leaves the country every 30 seconds seeking a job abroad. Education Readings By Allan Alach Bruce Hammonds and I collect articles to share with teachers to encourage a creative approach to teaching and learning. I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz Every weekand I collect articles to share with teachers to encourage a creative approach to teaching and learning. I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email it to me at Why Are We Still Personalizing Learning If Its Not Personal? despite our good intentions, personalized learning in practice often falls short of those ideals. And thats due to a number of misconceptions that persist around personalization. As an ideal, personalized learning aims to provide instructional experiences tailored to each learners preferences and interests, and at a pace appropriate to their needs.Butof those ideals. And thats These Educators Are Using Personalized Learning to Think Differently Abo ut Teachin g Students have more agency in their education and are becoming creators and contributors in the learning process. The goals aim to ensure that learning is still focused on rigor and hitting the standards, but that students are also learning soft skills and advocating for their own education and needs as learners. The Role of Advisory in Personalizing the Secondary Experi ence The goal of an advisory is to help students figure out who they are, where theyre headed and how 3 Challenges for the Future of Education Thanks to Michael Fawcett for this article. I was recently sent an email and asked to identify some of the challenges I see for the future of learning in education. These are things that I have noticed through my travels and after countless conversations with educators, and things that I have seen in my work. Although I am providing challenges, I am not necessarily giving solutions but am using this space to work out some of my ideas. These are things that I have noticed through my travels and after countless conversations with educators, and things that I have seen in my work. Although I am providing challenges, I am not necessarily giving solutions but am using this space to work out some of my ideas. What Makes a Good School Culture? As she explains, researchers who have studied culture have tracked and demonstrated a strong and Once principals understand what constitutes culture once they learn to see it not as a hazy mass of intangibles, but as something that can be pinpointed and designed they can start to execute a cultural vision. significant correlation between organizational culture and an organizations performance. once they learn to see it not as a hazy mass of intangibles, but as something that can be pinpointed and designed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: Why I want arts and culture integrated into all areas of NZ society. Maybe she needs to have a quiet chat to Minister of Education Chris Hipkins Art and wellbeing, the idea that creativity and joy should never be just the domain of the privileged few, but accessible to all, isn't new, but hopefully it's coming of age. Peter Fraser was onto it back in the 1940s when he was Prime Minister. He knew that creating a foundation to allow the seeds of art and culture to take root was a key ingredient in establishing a sense of identity. , but hopefully it's coming of age.was onto it back in the 1940s when he was Prime Minister. Beyond Recess: How to Explore the Forest as a Kindergarten Class 'American kids are spending less time outside. Even in kindergarten, recess is being cut back. But in one small town in Vermont, a teacher is doing something different: one day a week, she takes her students outside - for the entire school day. Its called Forest Monday. Sis key principals that Finnish schools excellent. So, what makes Finnish schools consistently excellent? A curriculum reform adopted by the Finnish National Agency for Education in 2016 set key goals that I think are clear reflections of the Finnish approach to education. LISTEN: Dylan Wiliam on the role of research in your classroom thoughts on growth mindset, cognitive load and how research can be used in schools. The acclaimed academic offers his From Bruces goldie oldies file: Elwyn S Richardson 1925 -2012 Creative teacher Elwyns educational philosophy was based on the belief that all real learning must be anchored in personal experience. It was this conviction that provided the foundation for his developmental approach to education. Central to this was his theory of integration, a personalised process whereby children moved from one expressive medium to another, between all subject areas. . It was this conviction that providedwhereby children moved from one expressive medium to another, between all subject areas. Experience and Education -John Dewey 1938 Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 1 Vote(s) - 5 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer The Deplorable Lunatic Registered User User ID: 290096 08-10-2018 05:30 AM Posts: 434 Post: #1 Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer Advertisement https://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/coun...1356928959 5 p.m. The execution team will arrive and report to a special waiting area. Their identities are known by the fewest number of staff necessary. Beginning at 5 p.m., the only staff allowed in the capital punishment unit are: Commissioner or designee Warden Associate Warden Lethal Injection Recorder Death Watch Supervisor and Officers Chaplain Physician and Associate Executioner IV Team Extraction Team Irick will be dressed in cotton pants, a shirt and cotton socks or cloth house shoes. 5:30 p.m. Witnesses will report to the Administration Building conference room by 5:30 p.m. and moved to a waiting room, where they will wait to be moved to the witness room. 6:15 p.m. Immediate family members of the victim report to the Administration Building by 6:15 p.m. and are greeted by escort officers and processed through the checkpoint. Read More: Attorneys ask for new constitutional rule which would halt Irick's execution The medical examiner's staff and the physician are stationed at the capital punishment garage. 7:00 p.m. The extraction team will approach the holding cell and ask Irick to approach the cell door and be handcuffed. After he is handcuffed, he will be asked to step back and place his hands above his head on the wall at the rear of the holding cell. If he refuses to cooperate, the extraction team will enter the cell and remove him. THE CONDEMNS LAST WORDS An Associated Press reporter who witnessed Irick's execution said his last words, spoken at 8:27 p.m. Eastern time, were, "I just want to say I'm really sorry. And that, that's it." https://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/atto...1356463873 THE EXECUTION Irick then began gulping and coughing. His eyes closed at 8:28 p.m. and he began snoring. Ten minutes later, he was pronounced dead. The death penalty is constitutional and it is the law of the State of Tennessee. It has taken decades and multiple court hearings, but justice was finally served for the murder and aggravated rape of 7-year-old Paula Dyer," said Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III. "Justice was delayed too long for this little girl and her family. I hope tonights lawful execution in some way eases the heartache Paulas family has lived with and brings a degree of closure to a chapter of their lives that has been indescribably difficult. Billy Ray Irick was executed earlier this evening for the rape and murder of a 7 year old girl. He committed the crimes in 1985. lets look at how Billy's last evening on earth unfolded...5 p.m.The execution team will arrive and report to a special waiting area. Their identities are known by the fewest number of staff necessary.Beginning at 5 p.m., the only staff allowed in the capital punishment unit are:Commissioner or designeeWardenAssociate WardenLethal Injection RecorderDeath Watch Supervisor and OfficersChaplainPhysician and AssociateExecutionerIV TeamExtraction TeamIrick will be dressed in cotton pants, a shirt and cotton socks or cloth house shoes.5:30 p.m.Witnesses will report to the Administration Building conference room by 5:30 p.m. and moved to a waiting room, where they will wait to be moved to the witness room.6:15 p.m.Immediate family members of the victim report to the Administration Building by 6:15 p.m. and are greeted by escort officers and processed through the checkpoint.Read More: Attorneys ask for new constitutional rule which would halt Irick's executionThe medical examiner's staff and the physician are stationed at the capital punishment garage.7:00 p.m.The extraction team will approach the holding cell and ask Irick to approach the cell door and be handcuffed. After he is handcuffed, he will be asked to step back and place his hands above his head on the wall at the rear of the holding cell. If he refuses to cooperate, the extraction team will enter the cell and remove him.An Associated Press reporter who witnessed Irick's execution said his last words, spoken at 8:27 p.m. Eastern time, were, "I just want to say I'm really sorry. And that, that's it."Irick then began gulping and coughing. His eyes closed at 8:28 p.m. and he began snoring. Ten minutes later, he was pronounced dead.The death penalty is constitutional and it is the law of the State of Tennessee. It has taken decades and multiple court hearings, but justice was finally served for the murder and aggravated rape of7-year-old Paula Dyer," said Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III. "Justice was delayed too long for this little girl and her family. I hope tonights lawful execution in some way eases the heartache Paulas family has lived with and brings a degree of closure to a chapter of their lives that has been indescribably difficult. The Deplorable Lunatic Registered User User ID: 290096 08-10-2018 05:40 AM Posts: 434 Post: #2 RE: Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer https://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/tenn...1355773655 Then the execution proceeded. A minute later, his eyes closed. Snoring and heavy breathing were heard. At 7:34 p.m., there was coughing, huffing and deep breaths. An attendant began yelling "Billy" and checked the inmate and grabbed his shoulder, but there didn't seem to be any reaction. Minutes later, Irick let out a cough or choking sound, as his face turned dark purple. Then he appeared to stop making noise and was soon after pronounced dead. silversides The bare necessities of life User ID: 148291 08-10-2018 05:46 AM Posts: 30,468 Post: #3 RE: Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer Good... Voodoo'd LunaC \_()_/ User ID: 441651 08-10-2018 05:47 AM Posts: 20,943 Post: #4 RE: Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer I still can't believe they choose 33 years in prison and that torture over a bullet. I thought we were supposed to be better than the criminals we execute? Flectere Si Nequeo Superos Acheronta Movebo I never dreamed I'd grow up to be an asshole. But here I am. Killing it. (This post was last modified: 08-10-2018 05:47 AM by LunaC .) D3VILSR3J3CT ... User ID: 455834 08-10-2018 05:48 AM Posts: 15,604 Post: #5 RE: Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer silversides Wrote: (08-10-2018 05:46 AM) Good... I was going to post this. I was going to post this. D3VILSR3J3CT ... User ID: 455834 08-10-2018 05:48 AM Posts: 15,604 Post: #6 RE: Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer Without the ... LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 430723 08-10-2018 05:59 AM Post: #7 RE: Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer It had been a decade, so it's not like it's very common for TN. silversides The bare necessities of life User ID: 148291 08-10-2018 06:02 AM Posts: 30,468 Post: #8 RE: Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer Some people do hellish things. Fully and consiously aware of what their doing. Voodoo'd The Deplorable Lunatic Registered User User ID: 290096 08-10-2018 06:16 AM Posts: 434 Post: #9 RE: Tennessee executes child rapist and murderer On the day of the hanging Sheriff Mayes took Honeycutt to Academy Hollow, the prisoner sitting atop his coffin. It was reported that 50 guards prevented anyone from approaching the procession. The site of the hanging rests only thirty feet off of Highway 25E where vehicles now pass. The horses were halted when the wagon was directly under the hanging tree. Sheriff Mayes and deputies escorted Honeycutt up the scaffold where three preachers waited. http://www.bereaonline.com/2016/12/the-h...honeycutt/ Rev. Greer gave Honeycutt a handkerchief and asked that he shift it from one hand to the other in his dying moments if he was innocent. The sheriff placed a black hood over his face and head and stretched the noose around his neck so tight that Honeycutt had to step on his tiptoes. The wagon was pulled forward at 2:10 p.m. Honeycutt was left suspended in mid-air. Struggling, he methodically moved the handkerchief from one hand to the other and back. People screamed. Some fainted. Sobs and moans echoed through the massive crowd as the hanging man twisted about. Fifteen minutes later the end came for Ananias Honeycutt. The body was taken down and taken to Powell Valley for burial. The horrible spectacle, the hanging of Ananias Honeycutt, led to the discontinuance of public hangings in the state of Tennessee. the reason we cant see public executions in Tennessee is a spectacle that occurred over 100 years ago in my hometownOn the day of the hanging Sheriff Mayes took Honeycutt to Academy Hollow, the prisoner sitting atop his coffin. It was reported that 50 guards prevented anyone from approaching the procession. The site of the hanging rests only thirty feet off of Highway 25E where vehicles now pass.The horses were halted when the wagon was directly under the hanging tree. Sheriff Mayes and deputies escorted Honeycutt up the scaffold where three preachers waited.The wagon was pulled forward at 2:10 p.m. Honeycutt was left suspended in mid-air. Struggling, he methodically moved the handkerchief from one hand to the other and back. People screamed. Some fainted. Sobs and moans echoed through the massive crowd as the hanging man twisted about.Fifteen minutes later the end came for Ananias Honeycutt. The body was taken down and taken to Powell Valley for burial.The horrible spectacle, the hanging of Ananias Honeycutt, led to the discontinuance of public hangings in the state of Tennessee. Lunaticoutpost.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , anaffiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.Don't be a pest to the forum.No profanity in thread-titles or usernamesNo excessive profanity in postsNo Racism, Antisemitism + HateNo calls for violence against anyone..This website exists for fun and discussion only. 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This could be potentially a crime against Public Health. Delito Contra La Salud Publica which is typified in the Spanish Criminal Code and which could hold any government potentially responsible And if this isnt enough Congo declares Ebola outbreak Four new cases of ebola surface in Congo Congolese health officials prepare to disinfect people and buildings at the general referral hospital in Mbandaka, Congo, on May 31. At least four new cases of the Ebola virus have emerged in Congo's northeast, just a week after an outbreak in the northwest was declared over, the country's health ministry said. AP KINSHASA, Congo (AP) At least four new cases of the Ebola virus have emerged in Congos northeast, just a week after an outbreak in the northwest was declared over, the countrys health ministry said Wednesday. There was no indication the two outbreaks, separated by more than 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles), are related, Health Minister Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga said in a statement. Although we did not expect to face a tenth epidemic so early, the detection of the virus is an indicator of the proper functioning of the surveillance system, Kalenga said. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world...our-new-ca I think Legal Action should be taken against anyone, wether they are in public office or not, whom allegedly potentially threaten Public Health and National Security. To allow these migrants happily in without the normal quarenteen and in depth health inspections is not acceptable in my opinion. Mods PLEASE PIN: Thank you. 1-http://www.alertadigital.com/2018/08/10/ingresado-en-el-hospital-clinico-con-una-cuadro-de-malaria-unoMalaria from an illegal migrant in Malaga, first case reported in hospital2-http://www.alertadigital.com/2018/08/09/muere-un-hombre-en-avila-por-fiebre-crimea-conMan dies in Avila from Congo-Crimea fever3-https://www.diariosur.es/costadelsol/junta-declara-brote-20180802222311-nt.htmlseveral cases of scabies in Malaga4-http://elpueblodeceuta.es/not/31534/la-policia-aconseja-vacunar-de-hepatitis-b-a-agentes-en-contacAlarm among Spanish Police for possible contagion of infectious diseases from contact with illegal migrants, several scabies among police officers reported, police force requests massive vaccinations especially against hepatitis BThis is the panorama which mainstrammedia seems to be waltzing around. This could be potentially a crime against Public Health. Delito Contra La Salud Publica which is typified in the Spanish Criminal Code and which could hold any government potentially responsibleAnd if this isnt enough Congo declares Ebola outbreakFour new cases of ebola surface in CongoCongolese health officials prepare to disinfect people and buildings at the general referral hospital in Mbandaka, Congo, on May 31. At least four new cases of the Ebola virus have emerged in Congo's northeast, just a week after an outbreak in the northwest was declared over, the country's health ministry said.APKINSHASA, Congo (AP) At least four new cases of the Ebola virus have emerged in Congos northeast, just a week after an outbreak in the northwest was declared over, the countrys health ministry said Wednesday.There was no indication the two outbreaks, separated by more than 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles), are related, Health Minister Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga said in a statement.Although we did not expect to face a tenth epidemic so early, the detection of the virus is an indicator of the proper functioning of the surveillance system, Kalenga said.I think Legal Action should be taken against anyone, wether they are in public office or not, whom allegedly potentially threaten Public Health and National Security.To allow these migrants happily in without the normal quarenteen and in depth health inspections is not acceptable in my opinion.Mods PLEASE PIN: Thank you. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455872 08-10-2018 12:21 PM Post: #2 RE: Spain starts to suffer first cases of rare contagious diseases allegedly from ill Grey Lensman please pin this LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455872 08-10-2018 12:24 PM Post: #3 RE: Spain starts to suffer first cases of rare contagious diseases allegedly from ill http://www.alertadigital.com/2018/08/07/...sanchez-de Italy accuses Spain of allowing an out of control massive migration into Europe LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455872 08-10-2018 12:26 PM Post: #4 RE: Spain starts to suffer first cases of rare contagious diseases allegedly from ill The meeting, according to Spanish news outlet OKDiario, lasted about an hour and a half. Soros is one of the most powerful fortunes in the world, known for his opposition to Trump and Brexit, his fostering of the illegal immigration into Europe and his involvement in the illegal Catalan referendum last year. https://voiceofeurope.com/2018/06/spanis...te-george- The president of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, has met in the Moncloa Palace with George Soros, one of the billionaires linked to the illegal Catalan referendum of October 2017. The meeting took place in secret this Wednesday afternoon and no stenographers were present.The meeting, according to Spanish news outlet OKDiario, lasted about an hour and a half. Soros is one of the most powerful fortunes in the world, known for his opposition to Trump and Brexit, his fostering of the illegal immigration into Europe and his involvement in the illegal Catalan referendum last year. Estrella Forum Mascot User ID: 453925 08-10-2018 01:12 PM Posts: 3,795 Post: #5 RE: Spain starts to suffer first cases of rare contagious diseases allegedly from ill This is nothing stuff. When 100 000 people die within a couple of days then we have a problem. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455698 08-10-2018 02:11 PM Post: #6 RE: Spain starts to suffer first cases of rare contagious diseases allegedly from ill illegal migrants Wrote: (08-10-2018 12:16 PM) 1-http://www.alertadigital.com/2018/08/10/ingresado-en-el-hospital-clinico-con-una-cuadro-de-malaria-uno Malaria from an illegal migrant in Malaga, first case reported in hospital 2-http://www.alertadigital.com/2018/08/09/muere-un-hombre-en-avila-por-fiebre-crimea-con Man dies in Avila from Congo-Crimea fever 3-https://www.diariosur.es/costadelsol/junta-declara-brote-20180802222311-nt.html several cases of scabies in Malaga 4-http://elpueblodeceuta.es/not/31534/la-policia-aconseja-vacunar-de-hepatitis-b-a-agentes-en-contac Alarm among Spanish Police for possible contagion of infectious diseases from contact with illegal migrants, several scabies among police officers reported, police force requests massive vaccinations especially against hepatitis B This is the panorama which mainstrammedia seems to be waltzing around. This could be potentially a crime against Public Health. Delito Contra La Salud Publica which is typified in the Spanish Criminal Code and which could hold any government potentially responsible And if this isnt enough Congo declares Ebola outbreak Four new cases of ebola surface in Congo Congolese health officials prepare to disinfect people and buildings at the general referral hospital in Mbandaka, Congo, on May 31. At least four new cases of the Ebola virus have emerged in Congo's northeast, just a week after an outbreak in the northwest was declared over, the country's health ministry said. AP KINSHASA, Congo (AP) At least four new cases of the Ebola virus have emerged in Congos northeast, just a week after an outbreak in the northwest was declared over, the countrys health ministry said Wednesday. There was no indication the two outbreaks, separated by more than 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles), are related, Health Minister Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga said in a statement. Although we did not expect to face a tenth epidemic so early, the detection of the virus is an indicator of the proper functioning of the surveillance system, Kalenga said. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world...our-new-ca I think Legal Action should be taken against anyone, wether they are in public office or not, whom allegedly potentially threaten Public Health and National Security. To allow these migrants happily in without the normal quarenteen and in depth health inspections is not acceptable in my opinion. Mods PLEASE PIN: Thank you. 36 DEAD EBOLA VIRUS SPREADING http://www.ebolaoutbreakmap.com/listings...d-36-dead/ 36 DEADEBOLA VIRUS SPREADING Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 1 Vote(s) - 5 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 3 Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 441631 08-11-2018 12:03 AM Post: #1 Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 Advertisement The test of an Iranian Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missile coincided with a large-scale naval exercise by Irans Revolutionary Guard forces late last week involving over 50 small gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz to rehearse swarm tactics which could one day potentially shut down the vital waterway, through which 30 percent of the worlds oil passes each year. While the U.S. military publicly acknowledged the naval activity, the missile test from an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps base in Bandar-e-Jask in southeastern Iran has not been previously reported. The launch was detected by U.S. spy satellites. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/08/10/...s-say.html For the first time in more than a year, Iran test-fired a ballistic missile in a brazen display of defiance months after President Trump pulled the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal and days before his administration slapped new sanctions on the Islamic Republic, three U.S. officials with knowledge of the launch tell Fox News.The test of an Iranian Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missile coincided with a large-scale naval exercise by Irans Revolutionary Guard forces late last week involving over 50 small gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz to rehearse swarm tactics which could one day potentially shut down the vital waterway, through which 30 percent of the worlds oil passes each year.While the U.S. military publicly acknowledged the naval activity, the missile test from an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps base in Bandar-e-Jask in southeastern Iran has not been previously reported. The launch was detected by U.S. spy satellites. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455959 08-11-2018 12:10 AM Post: #2 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 MAGA Thanks, Donald!! Great leadership!MAGA FD on probation lop guest User ID: 431006 08-11-2018 12:14 AM Post: #3 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 That was a mistake . LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455959 08-11-2018 12:20 AM Post: #4 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:14 AM) That was a mistake . Nah, paper tiger America can't do shit.. it only attacks weak nations that can't fight back. Nah, paper tiger America can't do shit.. it only attacks weak nations that can't fight back. FD on probation lop guest User ID: 431006 08-11-2018 12:23 AM Post: #5 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 LoP Guest Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:20 AM) FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:14 AM) That was a mistake . Nah, paper tiger America can't do shit.. it only attacks weak nations that can't fight back. Try not to think so one-dimensional he. It could lead to more sanctions or freezing of assets like we did after the hostage crisis . Try not to think so one-dimensional he. It could lead to more sanctions or freezing of assets like we did after the hostage crisis . LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455959 08-11-2018 12:27 AM Post: #6 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:23 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:20 AM) Nah, paper tiger America can't do shit.. it only attacks weak nations that can't fight back. Try not to think so one-dimensional he. It could lead to more sanctions or freezing of assets like we did after the hostage crisis . Have you not noticed that the impotent American sanctions are not being followed? China, the EU, Russia, etc.. don't give a shit about the Iran sanctions. They're all continuing to trade with Iran. Hence: paper tiger America Have you not noticed that the impotent American sanctions are not being followed?China, the EU, Russia, etc.. don't give a shit about the Iran sanctions. They're all continuing to trade with Iran.Hence: paper tiger America Soul Registered User User ID: 450566 08-11-2018 12:29 AM Posts: 22,697 Post: #7 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 FD on probation lop guest User ID: 431006 08-11-2018 12:30 AM Post: #8 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 LoP Guest Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:27 AM) FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:23 AM) Try not to think so one-dimensional he. It could lead to more sanctions or freezing of assets like we did after the hostage crisis . Have you not noticed that the impotent American sanctions are not being followed? China, the EU, Russia, etc.. don't give a shit about the Iran sanctions. They're all continuing to trade with Iran. Hence: paper tiger America They have some affect. But anyway if they aren't working we can freeze their assets. So your point is ? They have some affect. But anyway if they aren't working we can freeze their assets. So your point is ? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 352770 08-11-2018 12:31 AM Post: #9 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 Russia benefits greatly if Trump gives Iran to Putin LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455959 08-11-2018 12:41 AM Post: #10 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:30 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:27 AM) Have you not noticed that the impotent American sanctions are not being followed? China, the EU, Russia, etc.. don't give a shit about the Iran sanctions. They're all continuing to trade with Iran. Hence: paper tiger America They have some affect. But anyway if they aren't working we can freeze their assets. So your point is ? What assets? What assets? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455959 08-11-2018 12:52 AM Post: #11 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:30 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:27 AM) Have you not noticed that the impotent American sanctions are not being followed? China, the EU, Russia, etc.. don't give a shit about the Iran sanctions. They're all continuing to trade with Iran. Hence: paper tiger America They have some affect. But anyway if they aren't working we can freeze their assets. So your point is ? The point is that Iran was already given their frozen assets back and they are not dumb enough to make anything available to the US to freeze again. Soooo, paper tiger America has no real power over Iran if countries are ignoring their impotent "sanctions". The only thing America could* do is to attack Iran but it won't because it only attacks weak countries that cannot defend themselves. America will just make a bunch of impotent noise and make itself look weak and more and more ineffectual. It's what happens when an empire falls.. MAGA The point is that Iran was already given their frozen assets back and they are not dumb enough to make anything available to the US to freeze again.Soooo, paper tiger America has no real power over Iran if countries are ignoring their impotent "sanctions". The only thing America could* do is to attack Iran but it won't because it only attacks weak countries that cannot defend themselves.America will just make a bunch of impotent noise and make itself look weak and more and more ineffectual. It's what happens when an empire falls..MAGA FD on probation lop guest User ID: 431006 08-11-2018 12:53 AM Post: #12 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 LoP Guest Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:41 AM) FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:30 AM) They have some affect. But anyway if they aren't working we can freeze their assets. So your point is ? What assets? So you're saying Iran doesn't have any assets in the US despite dealing in the US dollars . Or with the Obama guarantee to convert 5 billion through US banks into euros ? Which was just recently exposed . You're going to have to prove that . So you're saying Iran doesn't have any assets in the US despite dealing in the US dollars . Or with the Obama guarantee to convert 5 billion through US banks into euros ? Which was just recently exposed .You're going to have to prove that . FD on probation lop guest User ID: 431006 08-11-2018 12:55 AM Post: #13 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 LoP Guest Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:52 AM) FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:30 AM) They have some affect. But anyway if they aren't working we can freeze their assets. So your point is ? The point is that Iran was already given their frozen assets back and they are not dumb enough to make anything available to the US to freeze again. Soooo, paper tiger America has no real power over Iran if countries are ignoring their impotent "sanctions". The only thing America could* do is to attack Iran but it won't because it only attacks weak countries that cannot defend themselves. America will just make a bunch of impotent noise and make itself look weak and more and more ineffectual. It's what happens when an empire falls.. MAGA Read my last reply . You don't know dick about what's going on in the real world . Is France one of the countries ignoring the sanctions ? Read my last reply . You don't know dick about what's going on in the real world .Is France one of the countries ignoring the sanctions ? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455959 08-11-2018 12:58 AM Post: #14 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:53 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:41 AM) What assets? So you're saying Iran doesn't have any assets in the US despite dealing in the US dollars . Or with the Obama guarantee to convert 5 billion through US banks into euros ? Which was just recently exposed . You're going to have to prove that . They were given the 150 billion or whatever, of their frozen funds a couple of years ago. There's not much left.. at least not that I could find. Maybe you can? I did read about some real estate that has been under seizure for decades, but don't know much about it. Iran sells oil in Euros or other currencies outside of the dollar. This is why uncle Sam is punishing Iran.. and it's also why uncle is impotent;) Iran should sell its oil directly for gold if it wants to totally fuck impotent uncle Sam.. They were given the 150 billion or whatever, of their frozen funds a couple of years ago. There's not much left.. at least not that I could find. Maybe you can?I did read about some real estate that has been under seizure for decades, but don't know much about it.Iran sells oil in Euros or other currencies outside of the dollar.This is why uncle Sam is punishing Iran.. and it's also why uncle is impotent;)Iran should sell its oil directly for gold if it wants to totally fuck impotent uncle Sam.. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 455959 08-11-2018 12:59 AM Post: #15 RE: Iran test-fires ballistic missile for first time in 2018 FD on probation Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:55 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-11-2018 12:52 AM) The point is that Iran was already given their frozen assets back and they are not dumb enough to make anything available to the US to freeze again. Soooo, paper tiger America has no real power over Iran if countries are ignoring their impotent "sanctions". The only thing America could* do is to attack Iran but it won't because it only attacks weak countries that cannot defend themselves. America will just make a bunch of impotent noise and make itself look weak and more and more ineffectual. It's what happens when an empire falls.. MAGA Read my last reply . You don't know d*ck about what's going on in the real world . Is France one of the countries ignoring the sanctions ? Listen, dummy.. all that matters is that the impotent sanctions are NOT being followed by all countries. It means they don't mean shit.. China, the EU, Russia, etc. Okay? Listen, dummy.. all that matters is that the impotent sanctions are NOT being followed by all countries. It means they don't mean shit..China, the EU, Russia, etc.Okay? Advertisement ABC/Lou RoccoFemale pop stars are having a hard time of it in Australia lately. First, Pink canceled multiple shows due to illness, and now Mariah Carey has canceled her entire tour Down Under. A statement on the website of the concert promoter, MJR Presents, says that the diva's "upcoming tour dates in Australia & New Zealand during October 2018 will be cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. New dates for the areas are yet to be determined." In her own statement, Mariah adds, "It is with much regret that I am unable to visit Australia & New Zealand later this year, however I promise to find new dates soon. Ive been working away on new music and I cannot wait to share it with you later this year. The promoter adds, "We are disappointed that Mariahs shows are cancelled but look forward to hearing her new material soon. Full refunds will be given to all ticket holders from their original point of purchase and we apologize for the inconvenience to fans and ticket holders. All ticket holders will receive emails indicating that they've received a refund. This marks the second time these tour dates have been postponed. They were originally scheduled for February, and then moved to October. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Filipino dancers win in Hong Kong posted August 10, 2018 at 06:20 pm by Manila Standard Lifestyle August 10, 2018 at 06:20 pm Saint Benilde Romancon Dance Company members Red Arboleda, Mark Juelar, and Cheska Vasallo, together with Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance alumnus Michael Patrick De La Tore win gold in the Flamenco category. Jireah Cariaso in a rousing performance of a poem of broken parts. Dance majors Aileen Quilatan and Jaja Dapat Sy win gold for their self-choreographed performance Three Filipino contingents bagged awards at the Hong Kong Challenge Cup Dance Competition, an annual contest that promotes dance and cultural exchange.Members of the Saint Benilde Romancon Dance Company, the official dance company of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Red Arboleda, Mark Juelar, and Cheska Vasallo together with Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance alumnus Michael Patrick De La Tore took home the Gold prize in the Flamenco category. They were choreographed by the Colleges Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance chairperson Christine Crame.DLS-CSB dance majors Aileen Quilatan and Jaja Dapat Sy were likewise awarded Gold for their self-choreographed performance for Latch.Dance major Jireah Cariaso bagged the Bronze prize for a poem of broken parts choreographed by Kim Clarete. COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section. The framework for the proposed joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea is expected to be ready before Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Manila in November, the Palace said Thursday. The President has repeatedly said that he is open to joint exploration. Number one, because the Supreme Court said its constitutional in [the case of] La Bugal; and number two, because it is pursuant to the national interest. But he will not give up even an inch of Philippine territory. Thats our stand, said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque. We are working with the realities of modern day life. We are working with the realities of geopolitics. But we are promoting the national interest first and foremost, he said. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a constant critic of the administration, said the Philippines would be at a disadvantage if it pushes through with joint energy exploration with China. Trillanes said Filipinos may be reduced to just mere observers in a joint exploration deal with China because of its technology. We expect China to dominate the whole engagement because Filipinos right now do not have the capability and the technology to do such undertaking, Trillanes told the ANC news channel.Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said the administration is working on a framework for possible oil exploration with China where companies can work on a commercial level without damaging the countrys claims. Malacanang also maintained that the proposed joint exploration with China was constitutional, and featured a 60-40 sharing scheme similar to that used in the exploration of the Malampaya gas field. But Trillanes warned that while a 60-40 sharing policy looks fair at face value, China may crunch the numbers differently and manipulate the deal to its advantage. Once they crunch the numbers, they can manipulate stuff and make you believe you are actually getting is 60 percent when in reality you may actually just be getting 10 percent, Trillanes said. Canada has contacted two European allies to help iron out the unprecedented diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia, a Canada senior official has told AFP. Germany and Sweden according to the Canadian government senior official who asked not to be named because not authorized to speak on the diplomatic matter, were contacted by Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. Freeland sought to learn how they resolved those disputes, and asked for their support, the official said, according to AFP. Both Germany and Sweden were also rebuked in the past for denouncing human rights deficit in the kingdom. Riyadh in a report by Bloomberg News early this year said was scaling its dealings with some German companies amid a diplomatic spat with Berlin. The move according the media came after German top diplomat in November during the political crisis in Lebanon caused by Saad Hariris announced resignation on a Saudi state television, said Lebanon was a pawn of Saudi Arabia. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Stockholm over criticism by the Swedish foreign minister of Riyadhs human rights record, AFP reports. Ties between Canada and the Gulf most powerful country flattened early this week after Saudi Arabia in rejection of a call by Canada to release all civil rights activists, banned the North American countrys envoy from returning to Riyadh and also called back its own diplomat in Ottawa. The Saudi authorities have also frozen all trade and investment in addition to suspension of all academic cooperation between the two countries. Canada despite Saudi Arabias demand to fix its biggest mistake bolstered Wednesday its position on the situation of human right in the largest Sunni country. Canada will always speak strongly and clearly in private and in public on questions of human rights at home and abroad, wherever we see the need, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Canadians expect that, and indeed people around the world expect that leadership from Canada, he added. The Canadian leader also confirmed talks between both sides to resolve the crisis. Freeland according to Trudeau held a long conversation with her Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir. Another Canadian source told Reuters this week that Ottawa would call upon Abu Dhabi and London to help calm Riyadh. The U.S., an ally of the two protagonists has refused to play go-between. Written by: KanelkaTagba on August 10, 2018. Last revised by: Last revised by: Jaber Ali , our reviewer, on August 11, 2018. Results of the recount of May pools by the Independent High Election Commission (IHEC) have confirmed Shia and national figure Moqtada al-Sadrs bloc winner of the disputed electoral process, reports say. The IHEC on its website said Sadrs joint list has retained its 54 seats of the 329 parliament seats he won during the May 12 elections. Iran-backed Conquest Alliance also has remained runner-up but won more seats while outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis bloc keeps its third place with 42 seats. The commission in June under the parliament instructions began a nationwide manual recount of the ballot after allegations of large scale electoral fraud emerged. The recounts according the electoral body took place in15 provinces of the 18 that make up the Middle East country. The recount which was completed on Monday, was cut short in capital Bagdad over lack of voting records which went in smoke two months ago following the parliaments decision for recount. Part of A warehouse where ballot-boxes caught fire burning 882 ballot-boxes, IHEC spokesman, Judge Laith Hamza said. Three police forces and an employee of the electoral commission were arrested in the connection with the arson. After the allegations of fraud were leveled against the IHEC, the legislature replaced all its members by judges. The United Nations on Monday praised the credible vote recount while urging political groups to quicken the formation of the government. We are very pleased that its been concluded and we look forward to the next steps in this process towards the formation of the new government, said a statement by Alice Walpole, a UN envoy to Iraq. Parties can appeal the Friday results before they are sent to Supreme Court for validation. After the court rubber-stamps the results, winning parties have 90 days form the cabinet. Sadr has for moment ruled out becoming the next Prime Minister. He stroke an alliance deal with the Iran-backed bloc and Abadi who wants to keep his position. Also Shia, Abadi is currently leading a caretaker government. Gov. Rick Scott demanded Friday that Sen. Bill Nelson provide proof of his claim that Russians have penetrated Florida voting systems. "Either Bill Nelson knows of crucial information the federal government is withholding from Florida elections officials, or he is simply making things up," Scott said in remarks prepared for delivery at a campaign event in Tampa. "Did Nelson illegally release some classified information? Or did he make this charge of Russian penetration up?" Scott's statement said. Scott's criticism of Nelson adds a new dimension to their U.S. Senate race. Nelson, a Democrat, told reporters on Tuesday in Tallahassee that he was aware of Russians being "in Florida's election records," but when pressed for details, he said: "That's classified," and a brief media availability then moved on to other topics. Nelson repeated the assertion at a campaign event Wednesday in Tampa, saying: "This is no-fooling time." Nelson has stood by his statement but has declined to elaborate. The audio of Nelson's statements in Tampa can be heard here. At both stops, Nelson referred to a July 2 letter that was signed by him and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio that urged Florida's 67 election supervisors to ask for cyber-security help from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The letter cited Russian attempts to infiltrate Florida voting systems in the 2016 election. Referencing a recent Senate Intelligence Committee report, the letter said: "It is possible that additional activity occurred and has not yet been uncovered." Nelson is not a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. In a statement Thursday evening, Nelson said: "For months, (Rubio) and I have been warning Florida's elections officials about the threat they face and urging them to reach out to the federal government for help. I hope the appropriate federal officials find a way to immediately provide them all the information they can to protect our elections." Rubio, a Republican, has pointedly raised alarms of possible Russian interference. But he has declined to comment on Nelson's remarks. Two county election supervisors -- Paul Lux of Okaloosa and Craig Latimer of Hillsborough -- attended a private meeting on May 30 with Rubio at the Orlando airport at which each man said Rubio seemed to make an indirect reference to more Russian meddling. When supervisors pressed Rubio to identify which counties were targeted, Lux said Rubio told them: "'I don't think it's anybody in this room.'" Scott's chief elections official, Secretary of State Ken Detzner, on Thursday sent a letter to Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., seeking additional information about Nelson's claim. Here's the transcript of Scott's remarks to the media on Nelson, as provided by Scott's campaign. Before I take your questions, I want to address a very serious issue. All of Florida election officials have been working very hard to keep our elections fair and free from any meddling by anyone. This includes investing millions of dollars in cyber security, hiring additional cyber security staff, and securing election security grants for all 67 counties in Florida. We have free and fair elections in Florida with no fraud. And while we know there are threats out there, we have taken every precaution to keep it that way. Its also important to note that we have worked constantly with our state and federal partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. And of course we have an election underway right now, with people casting absentee ballots and early voting starting in a matter of days. Floridians are confident in our elections systems and they should be. But earlier this week, Bill Nelson made some very serious allegations in a press conference. Lets review what he said, as this is important: Bill Nelson said the chairman and vice chairman of Intelligence Committee requested that he let supervisors of election in Florida know that Russians are inside our records. Bill Nelson said that the Russians have already penetrated certain counties in the state and they now have free rein to move about. And, when pressed for more details, Bill Nelson only said its classified. As you know, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday asking for immediate clarification on all these sensational claims. The Department of State hasnt received any evidence or details for this, and with early voting beginning Monday, Floridians must maintain confidence in our elections systems. Then, in response to the letter yesterday, Nelson alleged that the federal officials are withholding crucial information from election officials here in Florida. Heres Bill Nelsons quote: "I hope the appropriate federal officials find a way to immediately provide them all the information they can to protect our elections." Nelson is now accusing the Administration of withholding important information from Florida election officials that could protect our election process here in Florida. That is a very serious charge, for which Bill Nelson has provided no proof. This cannot be overlooked either Bill Nelson knows of crucial information the federal government is withholding from Florida election officials, or he is simply making things up. And in our conversations with federal officials, and in public statements including from our supervisors of elections, so far, no one seems to know what Nelson is talking about. This cannot be swept under the rug. Bill Nelson must come clean and provide a thorough explanation. Elections are not something to try to scare people about. Americans have died fighting for the right to vote. The next issue is also very serious. If Nelson does have secret classified information on this, how did he get it? Did Homeland security give him a briefing on it? Hes not in the intelligence committee. Did the intelligence committee provide him with a briefing on this classified information he says he knows? Where and how did he obtain this classified information? Also, if Nelson does have classified information, why is he releasing it in statements to reporters while campaigning? And only releasing pieces of it like this is a game of Clue? Illegally releasing classified information is a violation of the public trust and the oath of office. Did Nelson illegally release some classified information? Or did he make this charge of Russian penetration up? All of us are focused on having fair elections. But Nelson owes Floridians a real explanation, and simply stating that hes worried about Russian interference isnt going to cut it he must provide evidence for his claims. You can be sure of this, all of Floridas election officials are working overtime to make sure we continue to have free and fair elections with no fraud. We take every threat seriously, and we take every precaution. I urge everyone to get out to vote in these primaries, and then in the general election in November. Our goal is always 100% voter participation, and 0% fraud. Times Washington Bureau Chief Alex Leary contributed to this report. Kenyan music producer Tedd Josiah is one of the most celebrated hitmakers in the region. He started as a musician, first briefly with the group Ebony Affair before forming a new group, Hart in 1993. The group was disbanded in 1995 and Josiah joined Sync Sound Studios as a producer. But that is just a tip of the iceberg in Tedd Josiahs illustrious career. In an interview with the Play House YouTube Channel, he recalled his musical journey. I fell in love with music when I was very young. My dad bought me a record player so I got to listen to music a lot. I spent a lot of time creating and listening to music. Thats where my passion started, he said. After living with his grandmother in Nakuru during his early childhood, Josiah moved to Chicago where he grew up. When I moved to the United States, I just knew Kikuyu, Luo and broken Kiswahili. I knew no English, but with time I picked up, Tedd said. He later joined high school back in Kenya, where he studied at two different institutions before completing his studies and joining the church. After high school, I became a born-again Christian. One day, I went to Nairobi Baptist and saw what the youths were doing, in terms of singing, and I told myself, Hmm, I can do this. I started doing background vocals more and lead vocals. Then I realised that they were making mistakes in the arrangement, and in the digital space there are different things happening, and we start putting the music together like this and do this with the intro and stuff. And I didnt know that what was happening was that I was becoming a producer, he said. I was just arranging stuff and telling people no dont do this here, wait until this particular point and do that. And people would go into the studio and say we need Ted the technician to come in and help, though I didnt know what I was doing. I was just moving faders up and down for things to balance. When he was 18, Tedd mixed his first album and continued to perfect his art in his 20s before joining Sync Sound Studios in 1995. My salary was 10k and house rent was 12k, and I still needed to top up this salary for rent. I then decided to talk to my employer and told them, Youre paying me very little. I want 40 percent of everything I bring in. They agreed and we signed a contract. From then on, Tedd got down to serious work, and the rest is history. First thing I did, I recorded a track and walked to Coca-Cola offices and asked to meet the MD. We had a meeting and at the end of the day, I made 40k. I did all the Coke brands and thats how people started looking for me for adverts and radio shows. Kenya Wildlife Services wardens have killed a crocodile and slit open its stomach in search of a body of a girl who was reportedly mauled by reptiles at the Kiambere dam in Karura village, Embu County. Mawia Mwendwa Kingola, a Standard Two pupil at Karura Primary School, had been sent to fetch water at around 6 pm on Tuesday when the attack is said to have happened. Kiambere MCA Lenny Masters Mwaniki said residents saw two crocodiles pull the 10-year-old girl into the water before they started pelting them with stones. The Ward Representative said he had contacted the local Kenya Wildlife Services officials who started a rescue operation on Wednesday morning. The KWS officials, with help from locals, managed to kill one crocodile before cutting open its huge stomach in search of the girls remains. They did not find the girls remains. The incident has sparked reactions from Kenyans who accused the embattled KWS of incompetence in the handling of the matter. One social media user posed: How do you expect to find a body in a crocodiles belly, the animal does not swallow its meals whole, I thought KWS wardens should know this! Another added: Lakini kwskenya wanatumia bangi gani kweli? Tangu lini crocodile ikameza mtu? Crocodiles huwa zinararua into pieces. Can someone educate these felas for real. A third commented: These guys should be sent home for the competent team to take over. Another was sarcastic as he advised: Here is an idea kwskenya. continue killing them, one by one, until you find the child. isnt that brilliant? A fifth commenter wondered: does that mean theyll kill all the crocodiles in the area in search of the body. Just wondering. While another said: Its very painful that some people can be this stupid and ignorant in this time and age..but the leadership has shown them the way Najib Balala and KWS..See your proteges are learning very Quickly..What are X-Rays for?? Simple logic Are you still going to tell KOT to go to hell after this? Umemaliza rhino Sasa umeanza crocodiles!!!! another asked Wildlife CS Najib Balala. How stupid can we be..?? Its now nauseating, another exclaimed. 15:19 | Chengdu (China), Aug. 10. As is known, the previous edition had successfully taken place in Beijing on July 29. The festival held at the Hilton hotel was aimed to spread Inca gastronomic culture in both cities and boost tourism to Peru, as well as the consumption of national products. Chefs Mariano Lopez and Reymundo Curo were in charge of delighting attendees' palates. During the ceremony, the diplomat stressed that the origin of Peru's gastronomic wealth comes from its geographic and biological diversity, as well as its cultural roots. Within this framework, he highlighted the contribution from over 100,000 Chinese citizens, who had arrived in the Inca country in the 19th century. On the other hand, local authorities mentioned that both Arequipa and Chengdu two cities well-known for their gastronomy are currently engaged in a twinning process which would boost their economic and cultural ties. On the occasion, attendees were able to taste Peruvian dishes such as Arequipa's adobo (a stew-like dish), rocoto relleno con pastel de papa (stuffed chili peppers with potato cake), cebiche and seco con frijoles, among others. Approximately 150 guests including government officials and businesspeople attended the event. (END) NDP/DTK/MVB Organized by the Embassy of Peru in China, the 2018 Peruvian Gastronomic Festival was held in the city of Chengdu on August 2-8.Published: 8/10/2018 Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Venimos a Andahuaylas para escuchar sus necesidades y demandas y asumir un compromiso con ustedes. #ElPeruPrimero pic.twitter.com/wRU8zheYcY President Uhuru Kenyatta has reiterated that the ongoing demolition of properties built on riparian land will continue. Speaking on Thursday, the President said the government will also punish officials who approved the construction of properties on riparian land. We will continue to demolish properties constructed on riparian lands, equally punish officials who made approvals for those properties, said Uhuru. He said that the State is doing everything to fight corruption, noting that it is possible to do clean business in the country. We are doing everything to discourage corruption. It is possible to do clean business in Kenya, this is what we want to encourage. Uhuru was speaking during the official inauguration of the Prism Towers, which he said has transformed Nairobis skyline. As a Govt, we have been taking various steps to enhance physical infrastructure & to improve the business environment, he said. Prism Towers, by Nairobi-based real estate firm Kings Developers Ltd, is 34-storey steel and glass architectural marvel in Upper Hill. Located on 3rd Ngong Road Avenue, it is designed to appear as prisms stacked on one another. Kings Vice President for sales and marketing Vinayak Karambalkar said the building has seven levels of parking. The tower also incorporates a range of environment-friendly systems that include rain-harvesting to conserve water for watering the surrounding landscape. The large windows make the most of the available natural light, reducing lighting costs and energy consumption added the real estate company. Some multinationals have already booked space in the building, including Standard Chartered Bank, Regus a corporation that provides a global workplace, and Pfizer, a biopharmaceutical company. Offices are located from the sixth floor upwards. Presidente @MartinVizcarraC inspecciona las obras de mejoramiento y ampliacion de los sistemas de agua potable y alcantarillado de la ciudad de Abancay. Esta obra cuenta con una inversion de mas de S/ 74 millones y beneficiara a mas de 63 mil habitantes de la region. pic.twitter.com/m8Lob7waEE YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. As of now, Venezuelan authorities have detained ten people on suspicion of involvement in the August 4 attempt to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol was quoted as saying by the AVN news agency, TASS reports. The ministry earlier said that the number of detainees has reached 25 people. The Venezuelan authorities have officially asked Colombia to extradite fiver suspects in the attack, including Venezuelan opposition lawmaker Julio Borges as well as retired Colonel Oswaldo Palomo. The attempt to kill the Venezuelan president with the use of drones took place as he was delivering a speech in the capital Caracas on August 4. The drones were shot down, but seven law enforcement officers were wounded. Maduro and senior officials of the country were not injured. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the attempts to exert economic pressure on Turkey, including by means of destabilizing the financial system, have no prospect, TASS reports citing Anadolu news agency. Various campaigns are underway against Turkey, pay no attention to them. While they have dollars, we have our people, law and Allah, the Turkish leader said addressing citizens in the Black Sea city of Rize. He added that attempts to exert economic pressure on Turkey are futile. The Turkish lira fell against the US dollar due to mounting tensions between Turkey and the US in the wake of Ankaras refusal to release American pastor Andrew Brunson who is suspected of being involved with a terrorist group. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. The attorneys of MP Manvel Grigoryan have submitted an appeal to the Court of Cassation against the 1st instance courts ruling to remand Grigoryan in custody, attorney Arsen Mkrctchyan told Armenpress. We have repeatedly stated both at the 1st instance court and the Court of Appeals that Manvel Grigoryans life is in danger, but the courts made illegal decisions, he said. He added that Grigoryan suffers cancer, as well as other diseases. Asked whether a medical examination has been carried out, the attorney said its in process. MP Manvel Grigoryan has been charged for illegal possession of firearms and embezzlement. He is remanded into custody for two months. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a decision, according to which Arsen Manukyan has been relieved from the position of secretary general of the Civil Aviation Committee, reports Armenpress. The respective decision is posted on e-gov.am Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Within the frameworks of his working visit to Tavush province, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Tavush Textile LLC, Armenpress correspondent reports. Accompanied by the company founder Suren Yeritsyan, the PM toured the factory, got acquainted with the production capacities and the achievements. Yeritsyan told the PM that the company faces a problem of qualified specialists. He said there has been an agreement with the college of Berd to provide tools, materials for preparing specialists, so that later they will work at the factory, but no progress has been achieved yet. This is a very important issue. The colleges should start working. The problem of our education system is that the student graduates, but there is no place for him/her to work. But now the education system should be put in a logic linked with practice, the PM said. Tavush Textile LLC has been established in 2015 by businessman Suren Yeritsyan. At present the company has productions in Choratan, Artsvaberd, Berd communities and service production unit in Movses community. Nearly 520 people work at the factory with an average 135.000 AMD salary. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan BERD, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. If our country has not been in good situation till now, it means each of us hasnt done something little to make it better, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the meeting with the Berd community residents of Tavush province. Before the meeting the PM laid flowers at the cross-stone dedicated to the Artsakh liberation war heroes, reports Armenpress. What the government has to do, will definitely do that, dont doubt, but in order to have powerful country each of us should take actions in his/her place. If our country has been in bad situation as of now, it means none of us has done a little to make it better, the PM said. He added that he and his team carried out a revolution because the people wanted so. I have said that we are going to create a chance for the people to decide whether they want to live in new Armenia or not. This issue has been determined by you, rather than by me and our political team. Overall, I was the same person both in February and May, but your perception, your self-assessment have changed. Previously it was said that you didnt decide anything, but later you understood that you decide everything, Nikol Pashinyan said. He assured that the government will do its tasks completely and unconditionally, but highlighted an important factor: If garbage is thrown at our feet, we should not wait for the PM to come to collect it or send people to collect it, each of you should understand that he/she determines what town Berd should be like. He brought the example of the founder of Tavush Textile LLC, who didnt wait for any invitation, arrived in Armenia, overcame many difficulties and created a unique factory in Berd. Today I saw a wonderful production unit which is unique in the Berd region, the PM said, stating that of course, not all can make such investments, but everyone will be provided with that opportunities. PM Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Tavush province on a two-day working visit on August 10. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. The Court of Appeal continues examining the appeals of attorneys to change the 1st instance courts ruling to remand 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan in custody, reports Armenpress. The examination of the appeal launched on August 9, but later the court suspended the hearing which lasted nearly 8 hours and made a decision to start it on August 10. Robert Kocharyan has been charged on July 26 over the 2008 March 1 case, under the Article 300.1 part 1 of the Criminal Code for breaching the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia. He is currently remanded into custody. 45 MPs signed a petition to change Kocharyans precautionary measure, but the Prosecutor Generals Office rejected it, stating that the grounds to keep Robert Kocharyan in custody are maintained and the selection of another precautionary measure not related to detention is still unable to guarantee the uninterrupted process of the investigation. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan The project 955 SSBN Yuri Dolgorukiy will undergo repairs at the Zvyozdochka ship repair yard, yards Director-General Sergei Marichev said. The project 955 SSBN Yuri Dolgorukiy will undergo repairs at the Zvyozdochka ship repair yard, yards Director-General Sergei Marichev said. The K-535 SSBN "Yuri Dolgoruky" of Project 955 of the Northern Fleet on 05/20/2018. Picture by CrazyMk / forums.airbase.ru "The day when the project 955 Yuri Dolgorukiy nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine arrives in Severodvinsk is near. There is no doubt that the Yuri Dolgorukiy should undergo repairs at Zvyozdochka," he said without clarifying when the repair works were due to begin. Marichev explained that the SSBN had covered thousands of miles during trials even before becoming part of the Russian Navy. The Yuri Dolgorukiy was intensively operated while it was in commission. "When the (Defense) Ministry decides to send the ship to repairs, we are going to accept it," Marichev said. "In order to be legally authorized to work with fourth-generation ships we had to ask the Russian Defense Ministry for permission and for project documents. We have received it now," Zvyozdochkas director-general said. He added that at present Zvyozdochka was waiting for permission to start preparing its production capacities for repairing fourth-generation vessels. The Yuri Dolgorukiy, project 955 Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, is armed with the Bulava inter-continental ballistic missiles and torpedoes. It can also carry cruise missiles. Full displacement is 24,000 tons; the length and the width are about 160 meters and 13 meters, respectively. The submarine was laid down in 1996 and came into service with the Northern fleet in 2013. This year the Yuri Dolgorukiy salvo fired four Bulava missiles from the White Sea for the first time in the Russian fleets history. The missiles hit the assigned targets at the Kura test range in Kamchatka. The Project 955 and Project 955A submarines were developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering in St. Petersburg in northwest Russia. The Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk in north Russia continues the construction of the first series of eight submarines. Three Project 955 Borei-class submarines, in particular, the lead submarine Yuri Dolgorukiy and the serial-produced submarines Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh, have already been put into operation with the Russian Navy. The remaining five submarines, namely the Knyaz Vladimir, Knyaz Oleg, Generalissimo Suvorov, Emperor Alexander III and Knyaz Pozharsky, were laid down and are being built under improved Project 955A. Copyright 2018 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. During his working visit to Tavush province, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the request of reporters commented on the recent developments over the case of 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, Armenpress correspondent reports. The reporters asked that Kocharyan, who is currently remanded in custody, insists that political persecution is being carried out against him. I think its not right for me to make any comment on this topic since any comment can be viewed as interference in, influence on the case. I think you all, each citizen of Armenia has the answer to this question, Nikol Pashinyan said. The PM also commented on the observations of reporters according to which the Russian foreign minister recently stated that Armenias new leadership has deviated from its promises. You know, I think this is a new situation, we need to adapt to this situation, including our Russian partners, so everything is good, the PM said. Asked whether the August 17 upcoming meeting is linked with the statement of the Russian FM, Pashinyan said it is linked with 100 days of his term in office. Robert Kocharyan has been charged on July 26 over the 2008 March 1 case, under the Article 300.1 part 1 of the Criminal Code for breaching the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia. He is currently remanded into custody. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Meeting-discussion was held in the Armenian government over the USAID programs being implemented in Armenia, the government told Armenpress. The meeting was attended by first deputy prime minister Ararat Mirzoyan, deputy PM Mher Grigoryan, US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills, USIAD Armenia Mission director Deborah Grieser, as well as representatives of the ministries and other concerned agencies. In his welcoming remarks deputy PM Mher Grigoryan attached importance to the cooperation of the Armenian government with the USAID, which, in addition to financial support, also provides right consulting for ensuring development in key sectors based on its experience and capacities. The deputy PM highly appreciated the implementation of the USAID programs in key sectors of Armenia, stating that the goals of the ongoing joint programs are in accordance with Armenias development vision. He attached importance to holding similar meetings which enables to discuss the future joint actions, exchange views on the implementation of new joint programs. US Ambassador Richard Mills thanked for hosting such meeting in the government, as well as talked about the USAIDs 25-year activity in Armenia and the cooperation with the government. Armenia can be proud of the fact that the USAIDs activity has been shifted from the humanitarian aid to the promotion of trade and proper governance. This contributes to the economic growth and attraction of foreign investments, by leading to improvement of living conditions in the long-term prospect. Together with our partners we are building a future that is beneficial for both peoples, the Ambassador said. During the meeting USAID Armenia Mission director Deborah Grieser introduced the agencys overall activity, goals and main principles, as well as the ongoing programs in Armenia and the reforms based on these programs. Thereafter, the meeting participants exchanged views on the issues existing in different areas and the opportunities to implement joint programs with the USAID aimed at solving them. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, 10 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 10 ugust, USD exchange rate is up by 0.12 drams to 481.81 drams. EUR exchange rate is up by 0.43 drams to 558.66 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.27 drams to 7.32 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 3.51 drams to 621.00 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price is up by 3.11 drams to 18736.59 drams. Silver price is up by 0.06 drams to 237.7 drams. Platinum price is down by 12.31 drams to 12764.21 drams. YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime MInister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan assures that the era of enforcing the will upon the people has passed, and thereafter the will of the citizens will be compulsory and as a PM he is the guarantor of that. The correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan met with the residents of Noyemberyan on August 10, during which he also said, We all together, comprehending what we are to do, assuming our share of responsibility, will solve the problems facing our country. I have visited your region to assure you that the Government of Armenia is confident that it will manage to make Armenia free, powerful and happy. The PM emphasized that those who plundered Armenia and used the resources of the country for the welfare of their families thereafter have no right to stand in front of the people of Armenia. Today you are the authority and the government is your servant. Never doubt that the government will always serve you, he said, adding that the time of officials who plunder the country has passed. Nikol Pashinyan documented with satisfaction that its already 3 months that emigration from Armenia has not only stopped but the number of people arriving in Armenia is by 4 thousand more than those leaving Armenia compared to the previous years. In addition, the prices for apartments in Yerevan and regions have increased and this means that people buy apartment, because Armenia has become the place where one should live, but not run away, PM Pashinyan said. In his speech addressed to the residents the Governor of Tavush Province said that the problems have been fully identified and presented to the Government. The solutions will be difficult but we hope the Government will be fast to react, the Governor said. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan wishes Armenia not to be like Singapore or Israel, but to become an example for those countries. ARMENPRESS reports answering the question of an Armenian woman from New York in a meeting with Noyemberyans residents about how they can support Armenia to withstand the challenges, Pashinyan said, The most important thing is to inform about the present realities of Armenia and encouraging them to come to Armenia with investments. The traditional relations between Armenia and the Diaspora has been a relation of donator-consumer. Now a new period has come. Our Diaspora businessmen should think of making investments in Armenia and creating new jobs together with their partners. The PM assured that there are no more obstacles for that. Equal opportunities for investments are guaranteed, and business protection is at a high level. Lets consolidate over one issue, which is to show the world the new face of Armenia. Foreign reporters often ask me if I want Armenia to be like Singapore, I say no, they ask like Israel? I again say no. I say I want Armenia to be like Armenia. Armenia, the grounds of which we have set together. The examples of Israel or Singapore should not be brought for us, but the example of Armenia should be brought there. We have such great ambitions, the Prime Minister added. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan The Perth mother of a little girl who died after receiving controversial treatment for an inoperable brain tumour in Mexico has shared a heartbreaking message to her daughter after waking up for the first time without her. Five-year-old Annabelle was not meant to live past her fourth birthday after she was diagnosed with a rare and incurable brain tumour. Her parents, Sandy and Choong Nguyen, sold everything including their home to fly to Mexico so Annabelle could undergo experimental cancer treatment. Annabelle Nguyen, a little girl who died after receiving controversial treatment for an inoperable brain tumour in Mexico, pictured with her family parents Sandy and Choong Nguyen, and sister Alyssa. Source: Sandy Nguyen / Facebook Ms Nguyen confirmed her daughter had lost her battle on Thursday, saying Annabelle died peacefully in my arms this morning. Waking up for the first time without her girl, Ms Nguyen shared a heartbreaking message to her daughter on Facebook on Friday. Annabelle, it is the first day I wont get to see your beautiful face anymore. Annabelle Nguyen was flown to Mexico for experimental treatment to try and cure an inoperable brain tumour. Source: Facebook/ Fighting DIPG with Annabelle In the post, accompanying a beautiful picture of the family, Ms Nguyen shared the pain of hearing her other daughter, Alyssa, talk about how her sister was not coming home. Her mum said Alyssa told her: Annabelle is not here anymore, she is in the sky. The five-year-olds condition got worse and she went into a coma in June. Source: Facebook/ Fighting DIPG with Annabelle My heart shrank. Weve not [had] the courage to tell her yet. We dont know how and where to start but how did she know? the grieving mum said. She ended the post with a poignant farewell to her baby girl, saying: Annabelle, youre very loved. We love you very much Annabelle, rest now baby. You are free now, no more cancer, no more pain and no longer trap in your own body. Doctors in Mexicos Monterrey injected her with a mix of chemotherapy drugs through a catheter inserted in an artery, which was sent to the tumour lodged in her brain. Australian doctors urged caution, saying the treatment was unproven, expensive and risky with no studies to back it up. In February this year doctors said her scans were clear, but just three months later the little girl was in a coma that she never woke up from. In a quiet summer week, a disparaging quip about the burqa by ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson has sparked a frenzied debate in Britain drawing in religion, politics and Brexit. The former London mayor wrote a column in the Daily Telegraph newspaper on Monday saying the full Muslim face veil should not be banned but women who wear it look like "letter boxes" and "bank robbers". The comment prompted a frenzy of reaction, with campaigners accusing Johnson of encouraging Islamophobia. Brandon Lewis, the chairman of the ruling Conservatives, asked him to apologise and the party launched an investigation after receiving dozens of complaints. But some Tory MPs defended Johnson's right to speak out, while he also drew support from some unexpected areas. "Mr Bean" and "Blackadder" star Rowan Atkinson noted on Friday that "all jokes about religion cause offence", and apologies were only required where the joke was not funny. In the letter pages of The Times, meanwhile, Muslim scholars sparred over whether the niqab and burqa had a basis in the Koran, and veiled British women were interviewed on live TV. Britain's top police officer, Cressida Dick, was even asked whether Johnson may have committed a hate crime, concluding that he had not, even if many people found his words "offensive". - Leadership ambition - Johnson let it be known he would not be apologising, with a source close to him saying it was important to "speak up for liberal values". He publicly said nothing and is now on holiday. Some critics suspect him of deliberately creating controversy at a time when, with the British parliament in recess, political reporters are desperate for something to write about. A colleague at the Telegraph, for whom Johnson has worked on and off for decades, said he often wrote his articles at the last minute, without thinking too much about it. But critics accuse him of wooing right-wing Conservatives with a populist message about Muslims, with an eye on a future party leadership contest. Johnson resigned from the government last month in protest at Prime Minister Theresa May's plans for Brexit, a move that won him support among many Conservative activists. The eurosceptic Daily Mail newspaper reported Friday that the vast majority of its readers support his stance on the burqa, with 19 out of 20 letters received offering their backing. Meanwhile The Telegraph -- which also backs Brexit -- reported that many Conservative MPs were furious at party chairman Lewis for asking Johnson to apologise. One unnamed source said that the move, which helped turn the issue into a major news story, was an attempt to "knee cap" Johnson in any forthcoming leadership race. Johnson did not excel as Britain's top diplomat -- the Chatham House think tank called him the "least successful" of all British foreign ministers in the past 70 years. But he remains the most recognisable politician in Britain, known widely just as "Boris" -- and proved this week that even out of government, he can still drive the news. Boris Johnson arriving in Downing Street in London in March, before he quit as Britain's foreign secretary in July The national referendum to ratify Cuba's new constitution will take place on February 24, 2019, state television said Thursday. The Caribbean nation's parliament in July approved a new draft constitution that will be submitted for citizens to debate from August 13 to November 15. The current version was passed in 1976. "We have a very important challenge, which is to prepare ourselves to participate in the consultation process for our new constitution and the unconditional support on February 24," Revolutionary Armed Forces major Lazaro Arronte told channel Cubavision. The new constitution would recognize for the first time the role of the market and private sector in the island's heavily controlled socialist economy, though under the watchful eye of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). The changes would give legal backing to economic reforms initiated a decade ago by former president Raul Castro, which have now been left in the hands of his successor Miguel Diaz-Canel. The document would also provide a legal path for same-sex marriage, an important demand of the socialist island's LGBT community. Cuba plans to let its 1.4 million expatriate citizens contribute to its new constitution, the first time emigrants will have a say in the island's affairs since the 1959 revolution. However, it is not known if they will be able to participate in the referendum. The referendum's date coincides with the anniversary of the proclamation of the current 1976 constitution -- and with the beginning of the Cuban War of Independence in 1895. The new constitution would give legal backing to economic reforms initiated a decade ago by former president Raul Castro, which have now been left in the hands of his successor Miguel Diaz-Canel Bedaso Bora danced alongside his neighbours in the streets of Ethiopia's lush coffee-growing south after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in April promising better days. But just weeks later, Bedaso and hundreds of thousands of others of the Gedeo ethnic minority were on the run, fleeing those same neighbours from the Oromo ethnicity. "I saw houses being burnt and people throwing stones," said Bedaso. He abandoned an Easter meal of goat meat and fresh coffee and fled to a squalid camp in the town of Kercha, about 480 kilometres (300 miles) south of the capital Addis Ababa. Nearly a million people were driven from their homes in the weeks of violence between the Oromos and Gedeos that followed Abiy's inauguration. Abiy's aggressive reform agenda has won praise, but analysts warn that shaking up Ethiopia's government risks exacerbating several long-simmering ethnic rivalries. "The speed and magnitude of the change happening in Ethiopia equates to a revolution," said Ethiopian political analyst Hallelujah Lulie. "Whenever people think that there is a vacuum of power, they try to capitalise on that to pursue their interests. I think the violence comes from that." - Border tensions - Ethiopia is divided into nine ethnic federal regions, but recently the borders between these regions have been the scene of multiple deadly confrontations. Last year, long-running tensions between Oromos and neighbouring Somali people over the ownership of farming land in southeast Ethiopia erupted into violence that killed hundreds and forced over a million to flee. Similar tensions have existed between the Oromos -- Ethiopia's largest ethnicity whose region Oromia is the country's biggest -- and the Gedeos who make up part of the ethnically diverse Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR). Many Gedeos farm coffee on the Oromia side of the border in towns such as Kercha, but complain that Oromo authorities discriminate against them. A letter of complaint from the Gedeo community to a regional administrator earlier this year was misinterpreted as a bid to claim Oromo land, said Zinabu Wolde, head of the agricultural bureau in the Gedeo Zone of SNNPR. Land is always a flashpoint, he said. "Land has its own value, great value" and when disputes arise "it brings conflict," he added. - Running for their lives - The violence began soon after. "This is not your region, this is not your country, you should leave," Shiferaw Gedecho, a Gedeo who farmed coffee around Kercha, recalled being told by men with rocks and machetes who attacked his neighbourhood. Tit-for-tat, Gedeos targeted Oromos. "We have no problem with the Gedeos, but they came and attacked us and they killed our sons and daughters," said Lucho Bedacho, an Oromo who fled to a displacement camp after her 21-year-old nephew was killed on his way home from school. The International Organization for Migration reports approximately 820,000 people have been uprooted in Gedeo and 150,000 in the West Guji zone of Oromia. The government has given no death toll but Gedeos told AFP of dozens killed. Two district administrators accused of inciting the violence have been removed from office and are being prosecuted, Zinabu said. Meanwhile, aid workers warn of dire conditions and a shortage of shelter with the dispossessed seeking refuge from Ethiopia's seasonal rains in half-built structures filled with smoke from open fires lit for warmth. - Aggressive reforms - Abiy, himself an Oromo, took office after more than two years of anti-government unrest and has moved to placate protesters. In his four months in office, he has won over many Ethiopians by touring the country preaching unity and criticising heavy-handed tactics used by politicians and the security forces. But despite the rhetoric, communal violence has flared nationwide. A western diplomat in the capital Addis Ababa said Abiy's apparent liberalism may have been interpreted as weakness and emboldened some to use violence to settle local scores. "My sense is he has inadvertently exacerbated the situation," the diplomat said. While the fighting between the Gedeos and Oromos is the most serious crisis, recent weeks have seen bloody ethnic clashes in the western city of Assosa and the Somali regional capital Jijiga. Gedeos and Oromos lived side-by-side for years. Many say they are willing to do so again, but only if there is accountability. "The people who committed these crimes are still out there," said Zeleke Gedo, 32, a displaced Gedeo farmer. "Unless they're brought to justice, I won't feel safe." Hundreds of thousands of ethnic minority Gedeos have fled their homes following clashes with the Oromo ethnicity Displaced Gedeo people wait in line for a water at a camp, after fleeing their homes Aid workers warn of dire conditions and a shortage of shelter with the dispossessed seeking refuge from Ethiopia's seasonal rains in half-built structures Displaced Gedeo women have been forced to take regfuge in a temporary shelter after a surge in tensions that spilled over in to violence Three people have died from West Nile fever after an outbreak in Athens which has infected 60 people this year, Greek authorities said Friday, indicating they were monitoring the situation carefully. "Since last week, we have registered 17 new cases," of the mosquito-borne disease, the Greek centre for disease control and prevention (Keelpno) said. Sixty cases have been recorded since the start of the year, with 16 people still in hospital, including four in intensive care, Keelpno added. The bulk of infections have occurred within the last month. "That is why we are warning the public," an official said. The cases, mostly in the western suburbs of Athens, mark a reappearance of the virus after an outbreak last year when Greek authorities registered 48 cases, resulting in five deaths. The virus can cause symptoms similar to those of the flu, but in extreme cases, it can result in tremors, fever, comas and a lethal swelling of the brain tissue known as encephalitis. It can also cause meningitis. First discovered in Uganda in 1937, the virus is carried by birds and spread to humans by mosquitoes. It is indigenous to Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. "It is necessary that health professionals and national and local authorities are vigilant, because there is no way of predicting which regions the virus could spread to," said Keelpno. Cases of the West Nile virus have also been reported in 2018 in Hungary, Italy, Romania and Serbia, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. West Nile fever is a mosquito-borne disease A man has allegedly asked a teen to flash her breasts on a train platform in exchange for money. Police are investigating after the man allegedly committed the offensive act in Richmond in Melbournes southeast on July 4. The 17-year-old girl was approached by the man at about 8.25am when she was standing on platform nine. Police allege the man asked the woman to expose her breasts in exchange for money. The girl refused and the man boarded a train and got off at East Richmond Railway Station. Police have released an image of the man they want to speak to in relation to the incident. Source: Victoria Police Police believe the man had travelled on the Pakenham line to Richmond Railway Station before he approached the teen. The man is described as being Asian in appearance and about 40 years old. He was wearing a blue puffer jacket, black pants and black sneakers with orange shoelaces. The man was wearing prescription glasses and carrying a black bag. Source: Victoria Police He had prescription glasses and was carrying a black bag. Police have released images of the man they wish to speak to in relation to the incident. Anybody with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report online. A mum of three who claims she was thrown in a Dubai jail cell with her four-year-old daughter, faces a year detained in the strict Arab country after drinking what she says was a single glass of wine provided on an Emirates flight. British dentist Ellie Holman, 44, was arrested by immigration officers and thrown in an airport detention centre after her international flight landed in Dubai on July 13. Following an eight-hour flight, Dr Holman said airport officials stopped her because her visa had expired and told her she would have to immediately return to London. A British mum claims she was thrown in a Dubai jail cell with her four-year-old daughter, and could face a year detained in the strict Arab country after drinking a single glass of wine provided on an Emirates flight. Source: Ellie Holman / Facebook The idea of getting back on a long-haul flight with her young child was unthinkable and she entered into a heated argument with the immigration officer who asked her if she had been drinking, The Sun reported. I told him I had a glass of wine on the flight. It was given to me free by Emirates Airlines staff, she said. The officer told her alcohol consumption was a crime in the United Arab Emirates. The dentist from Kent, UK, was arrested by immigration officers and thrown in an airport detention centre after her international Emirates flight landed in Dubai. Source: Getty Images Dr Holman then began recording the conversation to use it as evidence, until she was reportedly swarmed by armed police who arrested her and her child, and confiscated her phone and the pairs passports. The woman was taken to a police station for an alcohol test, which she said revealed 0.04 per cent of alcohol in her blood. Dr Holman described having to beg police for food and water. The Kent woman claimed she and her daughter Bibi were also denied permission to use the toilet, so her little girl had to urinate on the baking hot and foul smelling cell floor, The Sun reported. Story continues Detained in Dubai with an agonising wait Upon finding out what happened to his family, Dr Holmans frantic partner Gary rushed to Dubai. He was allowed to collected his daughter and bring her home, but was forced to leave the frightened mum behind. The prisoner was released on bail three days later, but said she now faced up to a year in the strict Arab country away from her three children and partner while she waits for her case to be heard. My passport remains confiscated until the case is settled, which I have been told will take at least a year. My practice is closed. All our savings have gone, Dr Holman said. She has been staying with friends in Dubai but said the ordeal has so far cost her more than $52,000 in legal fees, expenses and missed employment. Emirates has been contacted for comment. The New Zealand government have announced single-use plastic bags will be banned. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage announced on Friday the plan to phase out the bags across the country over the next 12 months. Were phasing out single-use plastic bags so we can better look after our environment and safeguard New Zealands clean, green reputation, Ms Ardern said. Every year in New Zealand we use hundreds of millions of single-use plastic bags a mountain of bags, many of which end up polluting our precious coastal and marine environments and cause serious harm to all kinds of marine life. The New Zealand government have announced single-use plastic bags will be banned. Photo: AAP New Zealand is one of the top producers of urban waste in the developed world per capita, according to Waste Management World. A petition was started earlier in the year to ban plastic bags in the country and was signed by more than 60,000 New Zealanders. Ms Ardern said the government had listened to those who had signed the petition. Retailers have been given six months to start phasing out the bags and could be fined up to $89,621 if they do not comply, The Australian reported. In Australia, all states and territories except NSW have moved towards a ban. Our office desks may be dirtier than a standard toilet seat, with more than 10 million bacteria lurking on our keyboards, phones and the computer mouse. Dr Libby Sander, assistant professor of Organisational Behaviour at Bond University, told Yahoo7 there was 400 times more bacteria on your desk than a public toilet seat. Studies have shown up to half of people in the workplace dont wash their hands or use hand soap, Dr Sander said. Hand hygiene is core, and thats transmitting a lot of bad bacteria to our desk. The news is worse for those who hot desk. Dr Sander said half of employees did not use sanitation wipes to clean their desks at the end of the day. A lot of people cant be bothered when hot-desking. If its your own desk youre more likely to care about the state of it, but people who hot-desk dont have any attachment, she said. More than 10 million bacteria can be found on our desks. Source: Getty The dirtiest spots in the office A 13-month study conducted by American researchers found high bacterial counts on elevator buttons, office phones, water fountains, computer keyboards and vending machine buttons. The office kitchen is one of the dirtiest areas in the workplace, with the highest bacteria recordings on sink faucets and microwave and fridge handles. Dr Sander said dirty offices led to high rates of absenteeism due to sickness. Its an issue because its a huge cost to employers, Dr Sander said. Absences due to sickness cost employers in Australia $7 billion a year. Source: Getty According to the Workplace Wellness in Australia report, absenteeism is costing employers about $7 billion a year. The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine said 62 per cent more people in open-plan offices called in sick, compared to those in private offices. Dr Sander said it became a bigger problem when people came to work while they were sick. They are not productive and are also making people sick around them, she said. Why are our desks so dirty? Its not just hand hygiene thats causing our workspaces to become riddled with germs. Dr Sander said people eating at their desks because they were too busy to take a break was a major contributor. Story continues Leaving dirty cutlery, plates and cups on a desk can cause more bacteria to creep across your desk. Putting food waste in bins at desks also invites germs. The bin at the desk is designed to put paper in, its not designed for people eating fish curry for lunch and banana peels, Dr Sander said. Food waste is not meant to be going in here and people are too lazy to walk back to the kitchen. Dr Libby Sanders says eating at your desk can spread bacteria. Source: Getty Dr Sander said when it came to cleanliness, people in the office were slacker than they were at home. People in the office tend to think someone else is responsible for cleaning so people behave quite differently in the workplace, she said. Dr Sander said people should practise good hygiene habits at work and wash their hands and clean dirty dishes. She said workers should also clean desks, keyboards, phones and their computer mouse with sanitisation wipes. While the ease of ordering a meal from the comfort of the couch may be too good to pass up for some, fed-up restaurant owners are pleading with customers to re-think their dining methods. Two prominent Melbourne eateries are urging customers to boycott parasite food delivery apps, including Uber Eats, Menulog, Foodora and Deliveroo, saying the increasingly popular way of eating is killing small businesses. Marios Cafe has been trading on Brunswick Street since for more than 30 years but as they confirmed in a strongly worded Facebook post, they have no intention of joining in the delivery app trend. We do not use Foodora , Deliveroo or Uber and we encourage u not to , they are parasites that take high percentages from the establishments that they have sucked into dealing with them, (up to 30 per cent), the post read. Marios Cafe on Brunswick Street, Melbourne pleaded with customers to avoid ordering food via delivery apps. Source: Google Maps Please spare a thought for the people who are loosing (sic) money for your comfort factor and the delivery people are earning next to nothing for their work, while the people in their ivory towers are earning big time for doing nothing: parasites. If you need to have your food delivered make sure the establishment you are ordering from has their own delivery. They told customers either get off youre a** and pick it up or alternatively dine in at the restaurant. Taste of Texas BBQ said they would also no longer be offering their food via Menulog as it was unsustainable for small businesses to employ drivers and pay commission for deliveries. Hoewver, they said they would continue to offer a limited menu through Uber Eats. Beginning next Tuesday (Aug 7) there will be no home deliveries thru Menulog, Taste of Texas app or by phone while the Posted by Taste Of Texas BBQ on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 Foodora pulling out of Aust to avoid millions in back pay The boycott-plea comes just weeks after Foodora pulled out of Australia, with a key union suggesting the exit is an attempt to avoid paying workers millions of dollars owed in back pay. Story continues Workers will only be given one week of normal shifts before the company begins winding down before they officially exit on August 20. The company, in a statement released on Thursday, said it would cease operations in response to a shift in focus towards other markets where the company currently sees a higher potential for growth. Foodora will cease their Australian operations by August 20. Source: Reuters The Fair Work Ombudsman took the company to the Federal Court in June alleging two Melbourne bike riders and a Sydney driver were classed as independent contractors when they did the work of full-time employees. Another rider appealed to the Fair Work Commission saying he was unfairly dismissed after speaking out over low pay and poor condition for delivery riders. His campaign attracted the attention of the Transport Workers Union who, on Thursday, accused Foodora of abandoning Australia while owing millions of dollars in back pay. Ever since they arrived in Australia, Foodora, like other food delivery companies, has denied its riders fair rates, superannuation, workers compensation, annual leave, the right to collectively bargain and even forces them to work shifts for no pay at all, TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon said in a statement. Yahoo7 News has contacted Uber, Menulog and Deliveroo for comment. Romanian police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse anti-corruption protesters in Bucharest on Friday, after tens of thousands rallied to call on the leftwing government to resign. Local media said between 50,000 to 80,000 people turned out for the protest, including many Romanian expatriates who returned home to show their anger at the graft in one of the EU's most corruption-plagued members. About a thousand officers in riot gear intervened to clear the crowds assembled in a central square outside the main government building after some protesters tried to break through the police cordon. Nearly 250 people required medical attention after inhaling tear gas and pepper spray, while 10 police officers were injured by hurled stones and bottles, the emergency services said. Centre-right President Klaus Iohannis said he "strongly condemned the brutal intervention of the police, which was disproportionate to the attitude of most demonstrators," but added that "any form of violence is unacceptable". In a Facebook post, Iohannis, who has frequently clashed with the government, also called on the interior ministry to explain why the event had been so mismanaged. The protesters had earlier chanted "resign" and "thieves" at the rally. Stefan and Ileana Anghel, Romanian nationals living in Spain, waved a Spanish flag after travelling across Europe to take part in the demonstration. "Unfortunately nothing has changed in Romania," Ileana told AFP. "We want to see modern roads and schools and above all to not have to pay bribes to the left and right," added Ileana who, like her husband, works in the Alicante region. - 'Corruption and embezzlement' - Last month Iohannis approved the dismissal of top anti-graft prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi -- considered a symbol of the country's fight against corruption -- after long resisting attempts to remove her by the ruling Social Democratic Party. With Kovesi at the helm, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (DNA) had led a crackdown on corruption among local and national elected officials in recent years, earning accusations of abuse of power and the enmity of many in Romania's political class. Among the protesters in Bucharest on Friday was 60-year-old Vlad and his wife who flew in from New York where they have lived for 30 years. "Corruption and embezzlement, which profit the ruling class, are what bothers me," said Vlad, an estate agent in the US. "A force is being born here (at the protest) and I hope that the message is heard," he added. Thousands of people also joined demonstrations in other main Romanian cities, including Cluj in the northwest, central Sibiu and Timisoara in the west. Around four million Romanians work abroad from an overall population of 20 million. Half of the expatriates are living in Italy and Spain, according to official figures. Last year those working abroad sent 4.3 billion euros ($4.9 billion) back to their families at home, nearly 2.5 percent of the national GDP in one of Europe's poorest countries. Romanian anti-riot police clash with protesters during an anti-government demonstration in Bucharest on Friday Romanian police used pepper spray and tear gas to quell demonstrators during the anti-government protest in Bucharest Romanian protesters try to break through the police cordon during the anti-government protest Rwanda turned its back on the French-speaking world when it chose English as the language of education a decade ago, but with bilingualism seen as an asset French is reviving. As the language of coloniser Belgium, French began losing ground to English in the aftermath of Rwanda's 1994 genocide when a new political elite, dominated by anglophone Tutsi refugees, took charge. Underpinning Rwandan antipathy towards French was the accusation of France's complicity in the genocide that killed at least 800,000, mostly Tutsis. In 2003, rebel-turned-president Paul Kagame, himself a Uganda-educated Tutsi, made English an official language alongside the country's first language, Kinyarwanda, and French. Five years later English replaced French as the language of education. At the same time, Kagame's government began conducting official business in English, although laws continue to be published in all three official languages, with Swahili added as a fourth last year. The pivot away from French language and influence deepened with Rwanda's joining of the anglophone East African Community regional bloc and the Commonwealth club of former British colonies. - Renewed French vigour - But Rwanda's top diplomat, now vying to lead the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the world association of French-speaking nations, said rejecting the language was never the plan. "This is a misinterpretation, it was necessary for Rwanda to try to be part of this club of English-speaking countries," foreign minister Louise Mushikiwabo told AFP, in a French-language interview ahead of October's vote. "The interpretation that suggests that Rwanda turned to English against French may have been the result of relations between France and Rwanda," the long-serving 57-year-old added. "I think there was confusion between the relations of Rwanda and France, and the relations of Rwanda with the Francophonie." The abrupt change in the language of primary education has had its problems. A shortage of anglophone teachers meant many were forced to teach subjects in a language they had not mastered. Despite an enthusiastic embracing of English, French has lingered and recently rallied. The vast majority of Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda primarily or exclusively, but in 2015 the OIF estimated that 700,000 Rwandans, or six percent of the population, were French-speaking making it still the most popular foreign language, ahead of English. French news and satellite television channels are widely viewed and French newspapers and books fill bookshops in the capital Kigali. French has also been reintroduced to the primary school curriculum -- but as a foreign language -- and the French school in Kigali, which reopened in 2010 after four years closed, is oversubscribed with Rwandan students. - 'At the crossroads of the two worlds' - "It depends on the audience. If you want to speak to Rwandans about simple, clear, understandable things, you use Kinyarwanda. If you want to speak to a class that is a little more cultivated, a little more international, you write in French," said Antoine Mugesera, a Rwandan historian. He added that transcripts of Rwanda's long and rich oral history exist in French, not English. "It's a heritage that we must carefully protect," he said. French-English bilingualism, adopted by the Rwanda elite, is the true social marker, but French maintains a noble image. "It's true that when you speak French, people immediately assume a certain level of education," said hip hop poet Eric Ngangare, known as "1key". Bilingualism is simple pragmatism for a small country seeking to grow, to extend its influence and ties, argued Mushikiwabo: "The omnipresence of English is perhaps inevitable, but that does not mean that the French language can not assert its advantages, its assets." "We are at the crossroads of both worlds," said Mugesera. "One language is poverty, two languages ??is wealth. We have to keep both, that would be a huge asset for us." France and Rwanda once had close cultural ties, as this 2006 photo of a map in a Kigali school shows Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo is bidding to be next secretary-general of La Francophonie, the group of French-speaking nations Posted by Mark Williams | August 10, 2018 We recently had a chance to drive one of the newest hybrid plug-in pickup trucks available. Now that it's over, we think this could be the moment in time we look back to in 20 years when we're driving hybrid micro pickups with payload capacities of more than 5,000 pounds. All right, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but not by much. The truck we drove in the Los Angeles area was built by XL, a Massachusetts company that develops and provides electric vehicles for commercial and municipal fleets. In April in Detroit, we drove a Ford Super Duty F-250 equipped with XL's hybrid power assist system. Our short drive in that truck, which was equipped with a 6.2-liter V-8 engine, resulted in a 25 percent gain in fuel economy over a regular Ford F-250 without any substantial trade-offs. The only thing we noted was that the engine dropped about 500 rpm during normal conditions. The hybrid-assist system consisted of a power-assist module that sits in the middle of the driveshaft and a 1.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack that replaced the spare tire. The cost of that upfit system runs around $9,000. This time we drove a light-duty 2018 Ford F-150 (maybe a better fit for XL systems than an F-250) equipped with XL's plug-in hybrid system featuring a 15-kwh battery pack. The regular-cab long-bed F-150 in XL trim had the 3.3-liter V-6 and six-speed transmission with auto stop-start. This XL system has a top speed of 80 mph and comes with a three-year/75,000-mile warranty. It works with 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains. How It Works At first glance, the Ford F-150 looks like a normal fleet truck if you can ignore the attention-grabbing XL stickers. But once you look in the bed, you notice a good-sized steel black box that houses the liquid-cooled battery pack. Additionally, there are two downsized cooling radiators outboard of the frame rails, electric traction motor grafted to the rear driveshaft and a funny-looking bumper flap near the license plate that houses the charging cord. XL chose a bumper mount because it was easier to place it there than in a body panel and many fleet buyers reported that they back their vehicles into the same spots each night. So, putting the charging apparatus at the back of the truck makes sense. We immediately took the truck to our local scales to weigh it and discovered the system weighs about 700 pounds, which is what XL reports in its spec sheet. According to the door tag, our truck had a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,170 pounds and a payload of 1,948 pounds. That meant the Ford F-150 still offered about 1,200 pounds of usable payload. The truck was equipped with 3.55:1 gears. Looking under the hood you would never know there was anything special about the truck, and that's the way XL wants it. Inside the truck there is no way to know you're getting hybrid powertrain assistance unless you download the XL app that allows owners to see, in real-time, how much juice is left in the battery pack and how many miles they have until the truck enters a more aggressive regeneration mode to keep a minimum charge flowing. It does so by creating a small amount of resistance in the electric motor during braking and off-throttle coasting. How It Works Empty To test this plug-in system, we created a city-biased drive route following U.S. Route 66 through Los Angeles. We drove from stoplight to stoplight in city traffic for more than three hours over 100 miles. For the empty run, we had the transmission in Normal mode (there are also Tow/Haul and Sport modes), all the windows rolled up and the air conditioning on. We used a moderately sensitive throttle foot. For both our test loops (empty and fully loaded), we fully charged the truck overnight, plugging it into a 20-amp Level II Leviton charging station. The battery pack assisted acceleration for the first 90 miles, then switched to battery regeneration for the rest of the route. Auto stop-start was active, engaging at just about every stoplight. For our empty run, the XL Ford F-150 achieved 34.3 mpg. As for the driving experience, we didn't notice anything different about how the hybrid truck drives on the streets when empty compared to a regular F-150 with the same specs. The only thing we noticed is that the V-6 in this application seemed unusually energetic when touching the throttle. We have to say it's not a bad feeling at all. Likewise, when easing off the throttle, coasting had a small drag to it. Enough of a drag that we found ourselves looking ahead to use longer distances than we usually would to slow down when approaching the next light. If you've driven hybrids, this feeling and drive strategy will be familiar to you. However, unlike other hybrids, there aren't any dashboard displays that provide the driver with the fuel benefits you're achieving. We think that needs to change with the next iteration. How It Works Loaded For our loaded run, we duplicated the procedures outlined above but loaded 1,100 pounds of gravel over the rear axle. Although the XL representatives assured us we could put any appropriate load on top of the battery box, we opted to keep the load on the bed floor. This pretty much maxed out our calculated payload capacity and we saw a good amount of squat from the F-150 rear end along with rear tire bulge. To conduct more of a real-world test, we put the transmission in Tow/Haul to accommodate the load just as a normal driver might do and the owner's manual suggests. Using Tow/Haul eliminated auto stop-start. We kept longer distances in front of us in case of an emergency braking situation and found ourselves needing to give the throttle more input to get us moving from a stop. Again, we started our mpg loop with full battery levels after an overnight charge. At the end of our loaded run, the XL F-150 returned 21.2 mpg, which is close to the gas Ford F-150's EPA combined rating of 22 mpg; the F-150 XL regular cab gets 17/25 mpg city/highway. When driving with a load, we discovered that the hybrid's regeneration system becomes much more pronounced, almost as if it was using a more aggressive program. Both braking and acceleration provided significantly more peddle feedback. During acceleration, the truck felt like a normally loaded pickup with only a slight hint of resistance or extra drag; however, when letting off the throttle for an upcoming stop or coasting situation, it seemed like the re-gen braking couldn't accommodate the extra inertial forces of the truck at its max GVWR. It almost felt like the software parameters didn't quite expand to the heavier truck ratings, which, we assume, should be an easy computer programming fix. At the end of our test loop, we experimented with Tow/Haul, Sport and Normal modes but found no appreciable difference in the ride feel between any of them. Putting our payload at the rear of the bed could have created some strange readings and possible driveshaft angles that, in turn, could have affected the hybrid-assist operation. Once we removed the gravel, the slight chattering when braking or coasting went away. Still, more than 21 mpg at max GVWR in exclusively city driving is impressive. Will It Be Successful? It's difficult to judge whether a hybrid plug-in system like this will work for today's popular half-ton trucks, especially given their expense. The additional cost means it will take longer for a fleet manager see a return on his investment in this technology, and much of that will be determined by the duty cycles of the trucks themselves. If you need a truck to drive the same 85-mile densely populated city loop for 10 years, saving more than $1,000 in fuel a year could make sense. Right now, the company's standard hybrid system (called XLH) costs close to $9,000 and the more sophisticated plug-in system tested here (called XLP) costs more than $20,000. That's on top of the cost of the Ford truck. Both systems are relatively simple retro-fits and do not affect the Ford factory warranty because XL is one of Ford's certified partners. Of course, all cutting-edge powertrain technology has a steep cost curve, but as we see more iterations of these systems we would expect to see the price come down by half or even more. Then, we're guessing, the big truckmakers might start getting interested. With as much as a 25 to 50 percent gain in fuel economy, we're guessing that quite a few consumers might be willing to spend the extra money up front to save even more money over time, especially if fuel prices continue to climb. Of course, at this stage that means holding onto a vehicle for at least 10 years or so to make your money back. We'll have to wait and see if more companies start to offer similar hybrid power-assist options for big pickups or if the major truck players come to market with their own solutions. Until then, smaller diesels and more efficient gas engines in the half-ton class will have to do. Cars.com photos by Mark Williams The UN Security Council called for a "credible" investigation Friday after at least 29 children were killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition in northern Yemen. The appeal followed the coalition's announcement that it had ordered a probe of Thursday's raid in the northern rebel stronghold of Saada. Britain's Ambassador Karen Pierce, whose country holds the rotating Security Council presidency, said after a closed-door meeting on Yemen that "if any investigation that is held is not credible, the council will obviously want to review that" and decide "if more is necessary." The raid hit the bus at Dahyan market in Saada, injuring at least 48 others, including 30 children, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. The bus was turned into a mass of twisted metal, and remains of the victims and personal items were still scattered across the ground on Friday. The coalition, which has been fighting Yemen's rebels since 2015, claimed the bus was carrying "Huthi combatants." It initially said the coalition had carried out a "legitimate military action," targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia by Huthi rebels on Wednesday. At a press conference in Dahyan, Huthi health minister Taha al-Mutawakel put the death toll from the "horrible crime" at 51 people, including 40 children. "This toll is not final... a lot of people are missing and the remains are still scattered around the crime scene and nearby," he said. The Red Cross could not immediately confirm the new figures. - Children 'excited' for trip - At the time of the attack, the children were on a bus heading back to school "from a picnic," the Save the Children charity said, quoting its staff. "The mothers told me that their children did not sleep for two days because they were too excited to take part in this trip," Yahya Hussein, one of the children's teachers, told AFP. The Huthis' Islamic affairs ministry said the children were from a Koranic school. As international outrage over the attack mounted, the coalition said it would open an investigation. US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the images of the strike that killed children were "appalling" and called on the coalition to quickly complete its investigation, release the findings and take accountability measures. The Security Council met behind closed doors to discuss the attack, at the request of five countries that are non-permanent council members. "We have seen the images of children who died," Dutch Deputy Ambassador Lise Gregoire-van Haaren told reporters. "What is essential at this moment in time is to have a credible and independent investigation." But the council did not request an independent investigation -- as demanded by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who condemned the attack. Human Rights Watch criticised the council's failure to demand an impartial investigation. "The sad truth is the Saudis have been given a chance to investigate themselves and the results are laughable," said HRW's deputy UN director Akshaya Kumar. Out of 75 cases of civilian deaths investigated by the coalition, only two have resulted in an admission of fault, she said. - Rebel missile attacks - The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in Yemen to try to restore the government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading," and that "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants." Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said. The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said. The coalition said it intercepted and destroyed two more ballistic missiles fired by the Huthis from Saada towards Jizan. No damage or injuries were reported. The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths has invited the warring sides to talks on September 6 in Geneva. Yemenis dig graves on August 10, 2018, for children killed in an air strike on their bus in northern Yemen A Yemeni child awaits treatment at a hospital after he was wounded in the strike A Yemeni child stands next to the destroyed bus Chile's former president Michelle Bachelet will face a world of rising hate and inequality as the newly-appointed UN human rights chief, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday. The General Assembly approved the appointment of Bachelet to be the next UN high commissioner for human rights, replacing Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, a sharp critic of US President Donald Trump's policies. Bachelet, 66, served twice as president, championing socialist policies in her country. During the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in the 1970s, she was detained for several weeks and tortured. Speaking to reporters, Guterres praised Bachelet as "perfectly suited" for the job but warned she takes office "at a time of grave consequence for human rights" in the world. "Hatred and inequality are on the rise," he said. Respect for human rights law is on the decline, civil society is being squeezed out and press freedom is under pressure, Guterres added. In a video posted on Twitter, Bachelet said in Spanish that she was "deeply humbled and honored" by the appointment and pledged to bring "all of my energy and convictions" to the job. Bachelet steps into a position that has drawn much controversy under Zeid, who decided not to seek a second term after losing support from the United States, Russia and China. - Strong advocate - Zeid criticized Trump for his policies on refugees, his attacks on the media and more recently for his decision, which was later reversed, to separate migrant children from their parents at the US-Mexico border. Guterres made clear he believed Bachelet could resist pressure to refrain from speaking out on human rights. "To navigate these currents, we need a strong advocate for all human rights," said Guterres. "We need a person who can ensure the integrity of the indispensable human rights mechanisms of the United Nations." Zeid said in a statement he was delighted with the appointment of Bachelet. "She has all the attributes ? courage, perseverance, passion, and a deep commitment to human rights ? to make her a successful high commissioner," he said. Bachelet will take up her new position on September 1. She will be the seventh high commissioner for human rights since the office was created in 1993. Chile's first woman to hold the presidency, she served in that office from 2006 to 2010, and again from 2014 to March of this year. A trained pediatrician, Bachelet was appointed in 2010 as the first director of UN Women, the UN agency promoting gender equality worldwide. Born in Santiago, Bachelet is the daughter of a general who opposed Pinochet's overthrow of Salvador Allende. Afer her release from detention, she went into exile in Australia and East Germany where she continued her studies in medicine. Bachelet returned to Chile in 1979, but was prevented from working as a doctor for political reasons. She continued studying, specializing in pediatrics and public health. After democracy was restored in 1990, she worked for the health ministry and in 2000 was appointed health minister, followed by defense minister four years later. As president, Bachelet offered a dramatic break from Chile's highly conservative political class. She reformed the pension system and improved health and social services, focusing on Chile's working poor. Two-time former Chilean president Michelet Bachelet, who was tortured by the Pinochet regime, will face a world of rising hate as she becomes the new UN human rights chief, the head of the United Nations secretary-general has warned The UN Security Council called Friday for a credible and transparent investigation into the death of at least 29 children in a Saudi-led coalition attack on a bus in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition earlier announced that it had ordered an investigation into the air strike on Thursday that also wounded at least 48 others in the northern rebel stronghold of Saada. British Ambassador Karen Pierce, who holds the council presidency, told reporters following a closed-door meeting on Yemen that "if any investigation that is held is not credible, the council will obviously want to review that" and decide "if more is necessary." The council did not order a separate investigation but "will now consult with the UN and others as to how the investigation can best be taken forward," said Pierce. The council met at the request of five countries: Bolivia, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, and Sweden, which are all non-permanent council members. Kuwait, also a non-permanent council member, is part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting Huthi rebels in Yemen. The United States, France and Britain -- three of the five permanent council members -- have supported the Saudi coalition in its military campaign, but have expressed concern over the heavy toll on civilians. Ahead of the meeting, the Netherlands had stressed that the investigation must be independent, suggesting that the coalition's decision to open up a probe was insufficient. "We have seen the images of children who died," Dutch Deputy Ambassador Lise Gregoire-van Haaren told reporters. "What is essential at this moment in time is to have a credible and independent investigation." - Saudi investigation - The council did not specify in the agreed statement to the press that the investigation should be independent -- a demand that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also made in a statement condemning the attack on Thursday. Council members expressed their "great concern" and "called for a credible and transparent investigation," Pierce said. Human Rights Watch criticised the council's failure to demand an impartial investigation. "The sad truth is Saudis have been given a chance to investigate themselves and the results are laughable," said HRW's deputy UN director Akshaya Kumar. Out of 75 cases of civilian deaths investigated by the coalition, only two resulted in an admission of fault, she said. Last year, the coalition was put on a UN blacklist of child rights' violators for killing or injuring 683 children, and attacking dozens of schools and hospitals. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a military campaign to restore the internationally recognized government to power and push back the Huthis, who still hold the capital Sanaa. The war has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The Saudi-led coalition ordered an investigation into the air strike that killed at least 29 children on a bus Venezuela was pressing Colombia and the US to extradite its former National Assembly speaker as the country's opposition pushed back Thursday, saying the arrest warrant for the prominent lawmaker Julio Borges was "political in nature." Venezuela's Supreme Court one day prior had ordered the arrest of Borges for "attempted murder," suspecting his involvement in what officials said was a drone "assassination" attempt on President Nicolas Maduro. The opposition-dominated legislature said the arrest warrant was "political in nature and should not be recognized by any foreign court." The National Assembly also denounced the "forced disappearance" of another lawmaker -- Juan Requesens, who was seized by intelligence officers overnight -- demanding his "immediate release." The main opposition Justice First party later announced on Twitter intelligence agents had raided the homes of Borges and Requesens on Thursday night without warrants. Former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said he was concerned authorities may be tempted to plant evidence to incriminate them. Venezuela's superagency the Constituent Assembly announced on Wednesday it was stripping Borges and Requesens of their parliamentary immunity, as the president accused the opposition of being behind an alleged assassination attempt against the president on Saturday. The government said seven soldiers were injured after two explosive-laden drones blew up in the confines of a military parade at the weekend. Borges accused Maduro of "a set-up to persecute and convict anybody that opposes your dictatorship." The National Assembly said it would resist any attempt to remove its members' immunity -- but it has been left powerless by what the opposition described as a Maduro "coup." Maduro created the legislative Constituent Assembly -- now the nation's top authority -- a year ago to effectively replace the opposition-dominated National Assembly. Although the National Assembly is the only body under Venezuela's constitution with the power to lift the immunity of individuals, it has been left impotent while the Constituent Assembly, filled exclusively with Maduro loyalists, reigns supreme. Opposition legislator Julio Borges lives in Colombia having fled Venezuela over fears of persecution A woman has been caught on camera shaving her legs in a public drinking fountain. The woman was grooming herself in a Spanish park called Parque de Malaga, in Malaga, at around midday on Wednesday. Unaware she is being filmed, she hoists her left leg onto the sink of the marble drinking fountain where she appears to lather up her skin and proceeds to shave her leg. At one point, she turns around and appears to see people gawking at her public pampering, but simply continues shaving, carefully removing hair from both sides of her leg. The outrageous footage was captured by a British tourist who was shocked to see the womans shame-free public shave. According to eye witness Jason Wills, moments after the woman stopped shaving, he spotted people drinking from the water fountain. Source: The Sun Jason Wills said that he was resting in the park near the water fountain, when he saw the woman shaving her legs into the sink. It was disgusting. I wasnt in the quietest part of the park, more like the main path walking through it, Mr Wills told the Sun Online. I didnt get my camera out in time but she actually cut herself and was washing the blood into the fountain. However, the most disturbing part was soon to follow. Soon after shed finished, people were drinking from the fountain, due to the language barrier I couldnt stop them, he said. The news comes just weeks after a woman was filmed shaving her legs at a Queensland public pool. In July, footage of a woman shaving at the Airlie beach lagoon sparked fierce debate about the appropriateness of grooming in public. The war in Yemen has since March 2015 left around 10,000 people dead, the vast majority civilians, and caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. The conflict pits government forces against Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who seized control of the capital Sanaa in 2014. The conflict escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition launched military operations to come to the aid of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and his internationally-recognised government. - Civilians on front line - Civilians, in particular children, pay a heavy price during the conflict. On Thursday, at least 29 children were killed in an air strike on a bus blamed on the coalition. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the conflict has killed since 2015 around 10,000 people, including 9,500 civilians, and left more than 55,000 injured. The UN children's fund UNICEF last month slammed the devastating impact of the conflict on children, with some 2,200 minors killed and 3,400 injured in the fighting. "These are only numbers we have been able to verify. The actual figures could be even higher," said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF executive director. Children make up half of the some 22 million people in Yemen. Several raids blamed on the coalition have left many civilian victims, including on a wedding hall in the town of Mokha in September 2015, killing 131 people. The alliance denies responsibility. In October 2016, a coalition air strike at a funeral in Sanaa killed 140 people. The coalition, accused of multiple mistakes, has admitted responsibility for certain raids, but accuses the rebels of using civilians as human shields. - Cholera - Yemen has seen more than a million suspected cholera cases, including 2,200 deaths, amid the conflict. In early August the WHO announced that a new "major wave" of cholera cases is likely to hit Yemen. The warning came a day after a deadly strike on Yemen's largest hospital in the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, where WHO staff were preparing the cholera vaccination drive at the time of the attack. - Lost generation - According to a UNICEF study in March 2018, nearly half a million children have abandoned school since the conflict escalated, bringing to two million the number of children without schooling. "A whole generation of children in Yemen is faced with a dark future due to the limited or inexistent access to education," a UNICEF representative in Yemen said. More than 2,500 schools are out of use, of which two thirds have been damaged in attacks, 27 percent closed and seven percent used by the military or as shelters for displaced people. According to UNICEF, at least 2,419 children have been recruited as soldiers since 2015. - Poverty - In March 2017, Stephen O'Brien, the UN's under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, said that Yemen was the scene of "the largest humanitarian crisis in the world". Two thirds of the population are in need of assistance and more than seven million have no regular access to food, he said, pointing to massive displacements of people due to the conflict. According to UNICEF, 78 percent of Yemenis live in poverty. 1.8 million children under five and 1.1 million pregnant or breastfeeding women suffer from acute malnutrition, an increase of 128 percent since late 2014. More than half of minors do not have access to drinking water or adequate sanitation, it said. - 'War crimes' - In March 2018, Amnesty International accused Western countries of supplying Saudi Arabia and its allies with arms for attacks "many of which may amount to war crimes". In July, Amnesty said human rights violations in a string of Yemeni prisons run by the United Arab Emirates, a key coalition member, could amount to war crimes, in a report rejected by Abu Dhabi. The conflict pits government forces, a member of which is seen here in western Yemeni town of Mokha, against Iran-backed Huthi rebels People gather next to the destroyed bus at the site of a Saudi-led coalition air strike in northern Yemen that killed at least 29 children on August 9, 2018 Yemen has seen more than a million suspected cholera cases during the conflict According to UNICEF, 78 percent of Yemenis live in poverty, with the UN describing the situation as "the largest humanitarian crisis in the world" Zimbabwe's MDC opposition party lodged a court bid Friday to overturn the results of presidential elections that it alleges were rigged to ensure victory for Robert Mugabe's successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has accused the ruling ZANU-PF party and the election commission of ballot fraud in the July 30 vote, Zimbabwe's first poll since the ousting of Mugabe in November. Mnangagwa's inauguration -- planned for Sunday -- was immediately postponed until the court makes its ruling, which is due within 14 days. "We will rest when this country is liberated," Jameson Timba, a senior member of the MDC, told journalists outside the Constitutional Court after party lawyers arrived accompanied by plastic boxes full of paperwork. Party leader Nelson Chamisa tweeted: "Our legal team successfully filed our court papers. We have a good case and cause." Mnangagwa, who is seeking to reverse Zimbabwe's economic isolation and attract desperately-needed foreign investment, had vowed the elections would be free and fair, and would turn a page on Mugabe's repressive 37-year rule. International monitors largely praised the conduct of the election itself, although EU observers said that Mnangagwa, a former long-time Mugabe ally, benefitted from an "un-level playing field" and some voter intimidation. Mnangagwa narrowly won the presidential race with 50.8 percent of the vote -- just enough to avoid a run-off against the MDC's Nelson Chamisa, who scored 44.3 percent. - Court bias? - The MDC arrived at the court less than an hour before it closed on Friday, the last day that the petition could be lodged. Analysts say that the legal challenge has little chance of success given the courts' historic tilt towards ZANU-PF, which has ruled since independence from British colonial rule in 1980. But the delay to Mnangagwa's inauguration drew further attention to concerns over the election's credibility. Judges have 14 days to rule on the case, and could declare a winner, call another election, or order a run-off or recount, according to the Veritas legal group. The inauguration should take place within 48 hours of the court's ruling, it added. "We've managed to place before the court forms that show the (results) figures were erased," MDC party lawyer Thabani Mpofu told reporters. "We are seeking a declaration to the effect that the presidential election was not properly conducted." The aftermath of the election has been marred by allegations of a crackdown on opposition members, including beatings and arrests. On August 1, soldiers opened fire on MDC protesters, killing six people and sparking an international outcry. - Opponents targeted - Also on Friday, lawyers for senior opposition figure Tendai Biti asked judges to throw out charges against him over the protests against alleged election fraud, in a case raising further international concern about the new government. Diplomats and election observers were present at the hearing in Harare after Biti fled to Zambia but was handed back to Zimbabwean police despite claiming asylum. He faces charges of inciting the protests last week by proclaiming victory for the opposition. "Zimbabwe faces a terrible threat from a group of people that has no respect for the law," Biti, who was granted bail Thursday, told the court before his case was adjourned until next week. Mnangagwa wrote on Twitter that Biti was released after he intervened personally in the case. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, established under the 2013 constitution, on Friday released a damning report into the post-election crackdown. It said it had received numerous complaints of "hunting down" and intimidation, often by men in military uniform, of voters thought to have backed the opposition. The EU, US, Canadian and Australian missions to Zimbabwe urged authorities to guarantee Biti's safety and human rights, and said they were "deeply disturbed" by reports that opposition supporters were being targeted by the Zimbabwean security forces. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, left, was credited with a slight overall majority in the first round of voting -- enough to avoid a runoff ballot. Opposition Nelson Chamisa, right, says the result was rigged Opposition figure Tendai Biti arrived in handcuffs at Harare Magistrates Court after being deported from Zambia As Gov. Andrew Cuomo considers whether to sign a bill to establish a state commission on prosecutorial conduct, Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann believes the proposed panel is unnecessary. State Sen. John DeFrancisco, a Syracuse-area Republican, sponsored the measure. It received bipartisan support in the state Legislature. After passing both houses in June, it was delivered to the governor on Wednesday. Budelmann has many concerns with the legislation. District attorneys, he explained, are subject to the attorney grievance process. He referenced an attorney grievance committee's decision in June to ban former St. Lawrence County District Attorney Mary Rain from practicing law for two years due to misconduct. But cases like Rain's are rare. The District Attorneys Association of the State of New York studied 2.5 million adult criminal cases between 2010 and 2015 and found 54 claims of "substantiated prosecutorial misconduct." The District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, like Budelmann, opposes the creation of a commission on prosecutorial conduct. "The idea that this is a rampant problem that needs to be reeled in is wrong," Budelmann said in a phone interview Thursday. He noted that district attorneys are not only subject to the attorney grievance process, they also are subject to judicial oversight. If there is a claim of wrongdoing during a case, the judges review it. The judges, he continued, have the authority to sanction the district attorneys, hold evidence out, dismiss charges or file grievances against the prosecutors. There is additional scrutiny of prosecutors, Budelmann added, from the public and the press. And in the case of district attorneys, it's an elected position. "I appear in front of the voters every four years," he said. "If I'm doing something wrong, they have a very quick remedy, which is to remove me." DeFrancisco, a longtime attorney in central New York, insists the commission is necessary. The panel would be modeled after the state Commission on Judicial Conduct, which was established in 1974. After the state Senate delivered the bill to the governor, DeFrancisco released a statement urging Cuomo to sign the legislation. "Prosecutors have substantial power, and defendants who go through the criminal justice system and have been wronged by a prosecutor must have an independent body to review the alleged conduct," he said. Budelmann questions the constitutionality and motivation for the bill. He also expressed concern about the fiscal impact of creating the commission. According to the legislation, the commission would cost $5.5 million when it's fully operational. If Cuomo signs the bill, the commission would form at the beginning of 2019. Cuomo has until Aug. 20 to determine whether to sign or veto the bill. His office said Thursday that the bill is under review. "You have a solution in search of a problem," Budelmann said. "There's no issue of rampant prosecutorial misconduct. There's plenty of oversight of district attorneys." Love 1 Funny 4 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Today on the Eye on NY podcast: The 50th Senate District race is set. It will be one of the most important state Senate races in New York this year. I'll discuss the general election matchup and who the candidates are in the race. In the 51st Senate District race, state Sen. Jim Seward has been endorsed by former Democratic challenger Jermaine Bagnall-Graham. Bagnall-Graham, who is no longer a Democrat, ran for state Senate in 2016. Two years later, he's supporting his one-time foe. A preview of President Donald Trump's visit to central New York. This is his first trip to the region as president. He will headline a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney and visit Fort Drum, where he will sign the National Defense Authorization Act. SUBSCRIBE: Listen on iTunes, Google Play or PodBean. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A bipartisan trio of New York congressional representatives hopes Amtrak will reconsider its decision to cancel the Marine Corps Toys for Tots train that operated in parts of upstate for nearly two decades. U.S. Reps. John Faso, Elise Stefanik and Paul Tonko sent a letter urging Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson to restore the Toys for Tots train. Earlier this year, Amtrak announced that it would no longer operate charter and special trains on its routes. This includes the Toys for Tots train. Amtrak released a statement last week explaining its decision to end its operation of the Toys for Tots train. "Amtrak's objective is to operate its core, scheduled train service safely, on time and efficiently, and must therefore decline to operate this charter," the company said. "Amtrak will continue to proudly support the Toys for Tots program through the collection of toys at participating stations." The upstate New York members of Congress explained that ending the train service will have a negative impact on families in need. "The benefit that the Toys for Tots charter brings to families in our region is immense," they wrote. "This program is about supporting our community and remembering people who are less fortunate during the holiday season. We ask you to consider the special circumstances involved here and act to preserve this unique and deeply valued Toys for Tots charter." The Toys for Tots program collects toys and other items for children. The train's deliveries benefited tens of thousands of children over the years. This year's run would have been the 20th year for the train. The members of Congress said discontinuing the charter service will prevent approximately 40,000 children and their families from receiving donating gifts, winter hats and gloves. "We have been deeply moved by the spirit of community and love for our children that are expressed through this program and we sincerely hope that the tremendous good it does will not be lost this holiday season," they added. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Rhythm nations: Experiencing a culture through its drums You can learn about a culture by studying its language, its food, its traditional dress. Why not its drumming? Percussion is interwoven through every culture on the globe, says Kenneth Broadway, a University of Florida music professor whose work has taken him to the Caribbean, Africa and India. As we become more globally connected, learning the djembe, the steel pan, or the cajon is like learning a different language. UF students on professor Kenneth Broadway's study abroad trip to Cuba World music has earned a place alongside orchestral instruments in music programs across the United States and Canada, giving majors and non-majors alike a chance to dabble in steel drums or congas. But Broadway wants students to explore not just the instruments, but the cultures that gave rise to them. Music can build a bridge for communication, he said. We draw borders between nations, arbitrary lines in the sand or the forest that separate people. But tribes cross those arbitrary lines, and the great thing about music is that it can, too. Broadway helps his students understand how music can pass down stories or deliver encoded messages of danger or celebration. He shares the cultural context of different styles, so they can distinguish nightclub rhythms from hymns. He also exposes them to other approaches to learning music. In music programs in the U.S., were focused on reading, but many students learn better by listening. Theyll have more success as teachers if they can also teach and learn by ear. Broadway learning from an ensemble in Vadadora, India Students might also find that studying other musical traditions shapes their approach to their primary instrument. When Broadway started playing Indian ragas on the tabla ten minutes to learn, a lifetime to master it transformed his approach to jazz improvisation on the drum set. But even if it doesnt shape their careers, Broadway sees cross-cultural studies, especially abroad, as critical to the music curriculum. In spring, hell lead a second group of students on an overseas study trip to Cuba. Its so easy to connect through Google or YouTube, but its not the same as being in a living room with people sharing a meal and learning from them. It breaks down barriers and solves issues of miscommunication, he said. When Im in Cuba, I can communicate a little through language, but I can communicate a great deal through music. In 2016, Jermaine Bagnall-Graham said state Sen. Jim Seward was part of the status quo in state government. Two years later, the former Democratic challenger is supporting the longtime Republican lawmaker. Bagnall-Graham announced in a letter submitted to The Citizen that he has endorsed Seward, R-Milford, in the 51st Senate District race. He also revealed that he is no longer a registered Democrat. He is now an unaffiliated voter. Seward, who was first elected to the state Senate in 1986, has been endorsed by Republican primary challengers after past elections. But never has a former Democratic opponent supported the Mohawk Valley legislator. "This is a bit unique," Seward said in a phone interview Friday. Bagnall-Graham, who lost to Seward by 42 points in the 2016 election, explained his decision in an interview with The Citizen. He has exchanged emails with Seward since the election and they had an in-person conversation a few weeks ago. After that meeting, he decided to support his former foe. Seward, Bagnall-Graham said, has visited Sherburne, his hometown, "quite a bit." One example of Seward's work he mentioned was a bill to allow for the sale of beer and hard cider ice cream. Gilligan's, a restaurant in Sherburne. The business also makes ice cream, and wanted to offer beer- and hard cider-infused ice cream. To make that possible, the state Legislature needed to change the law. Seward sponsored a bill to allow the sale of beer and hard cider ice cream. It was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. "That's not something I would eat," Bagnall-Graham admitted, "but that made Gilligan's happy and customers happy. Gilligan's is one of the local businesses in our area. That was huge for them." In his letter to The Citizen, Bagnall-Graham highlighted Seward's work to advocate for education funding and his support for the Chobani-backed Greenhouse Agricultural program in Sherburne. Bagnall-Graham doesn't agree with Seward on many issues. The Democrat-turned-independent supports the Reproductive Health Act, a bill that would codify Roe v. Wade into state law and update New York's abortion laws. Most Senate Republicans, including Seward, oppose that measure. Seward voted for legislation that would decouple state tests from teacher evaluations, but it also included a provision to raise the cap on the number of charter schools allowed in New York. Teachers' unions opposed the bill, and Bagnall-Graham disagrees with the senator's position. "I don't agree with some of his very conservative votes or party line votes," he explained. "But overall, I think he's doing a good job as far as taking care of our district." Seward does have a Democratic opponent this year. Joyce St. George, a Delaware County resident with a background in law enforcement and crisis management, is the Democratic nominee. Bagnall-Graham is aware of St. George's campaign and her platform. But he believes Seward's focus on Chenango County sets him apart. "He's been doing a lot of things in Sherburne that are making people happy," Bagnall-Graham said. "To me, that falls in line with the local issues and not the bigger picture of what she's campaigning on." Seward said he's grateful for Bagnall-Graham's support. "I serve all of the people of the district in a bipartisan way," he said. "This is just another indication of that." Bagnall-Graham was a candidate for state Assembly this year. He announced in July 2017 that he would challenge Assemblyman Gary Finch, a Republican, in the 126th district. He bowed out of the race in March. Cayuga County Legislator Keith Batman, a Democrat, is challenging Finch. Despite no longer being a Democrat, Bagnall-Graham said he supports Batman in the state Assembly race. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 AURELIUS In December 2013, Meeghan Seastrom started a Facebook group with about 25 other people called Friends Helping Friends of Cayuga County with the goal of connecting those who needed help with people, programs and services who could assist them. Less than five years later, Seastrom's Facebook group has grown into a community with over 5,500 members and, as of Monday, a new food pantry. The pantry is located in the Fingerlakes Mall, near Savannah Bank, and has a stock of perishable and nonperishable food items, men's and women's hygiene products, diapers and pet food. The group previously had a pantry in a volunteer's home, but when the volunteer was no longer able to store the donations, Seastrom began searching for businesses that would house the nonprofit's pantry for free. Seastrom has been looking for a few months when Tiffany Whittaker, the director of marketing at the Fingerlakes Mall, reached out to her and asked if the group would be interested in hosting a back-to-school giveaway at the mall. The two women began talking and then Whittaker offered Seastrom the spot in the mall. "We think (the pantry) is a good cause, and it gets us involved in the community, and it's going to lead to other things," Whittaker said. "The mall is more of a community-based center now than a shopping center. We want to make it a place for the community." Friends Helping Friends is renting space in the mall free of charge for the first year, Seastrom said, until the group is able to register with the Food Bank of Central New York in October to receive a grant to help pay operating costs, as well as receive food and personal care product donations. The pantry is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until noon for the rest of August. Once school is back in session, the hours will change slightly, Seastrom said, but she will post those updates on the Friends Helping Friends website and Facebook page. Assistance is open to any Cayuga County residents in need they just need to show ID and proof of residency and household size. Then, that individual or family can visit the pantry once a month for the items they need. Seastom said the group helps an average of 30 families each month. Seastrom said the pantry is more of an "emergency" pantry for people who have already gone to their local food pantry or used other assistance but are still coming up short. "We're here for more of an emergency help, like if you've already gone to the pantry but you still need to get through for a few days at the end of the month, we're here for that." In addition to the pantry, the group also holds giveaways during the holidays and back to school time. The group will hold a school supplies giveaway on Saturday, Aug. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the mall. Seastrom said there will be a bounce house and other activities to occupy the kids while their parents get their supplies. "Anyone in Cayuga County is welcome as long as they haven't received help from another school supply giveaway, that way we can spread the help to as many people as possible," Seastrom said. If you go WHAT: Friends Helping Friends of Cayuga County school supply giveaway WHEN: 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25 WHERE: Fingerlakes Mall, 1579 Clark Street Road, Aurelius Parents will need to show ID and proof of address and provide the name of their children, their grades and which school they attend in order to receive supplies. Seastrom said the pantry is most in need of perishable food items, such as meat, eggs and milk, diapers, hygiene products and school supplies, such as pencils, crayons, markers, paper, binders, folders and notebooks. To donate, people can bring their items to the pantry. To make a monetary donation via PayPal, visit friendshelpingfriendsofcc.org. Monetary donations can also be made in person. Staff writer Natalie Brophy can be reached at (315)282-2239 or natalie.brophy@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @brophy_natalie. Love 16 Funny 1 Wow 3 Sad 3 Angry 10 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. A Moravia man is facing charges for intentionally hitting a man with his car in Geddes in July, according to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office. Police said that Martin Barrington, 48, of Cayuga Street, became involved in an altercation in a parking lot after a concert at St. Josephs Health Amphitheater around 11 p.m. on July 22. Police said Barrington intentionally hit a 31-year-old man as he sped away. The car he was driving was later found abandoned in Cayuga County. Police said that the victim, whose name has not been released, suffered serious injuries and has since undergone several surgeries at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. Barrington was charged Thursday with first-degree assault, a felony; tampering with physical evidence, a felony; fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor; and leaving the scene of a serious personal injury automobile accident, a misdemeanor. Barrington was arraigned in the Village of Solvay Court and was released on his own recognizance. Love 11 Funny 5 Wow 6 Sad 6 Angry 21 HIT: To proactive community policing. The Auburn Police Department took part in Tuesday's National Night Out, an effort that encourages better relationships between officers and the communities they serve. The APD partnered with other law enforcement and community agencies to bring a night of family fun to Hoopes Park. We applaud the effort and hope it becomes an Auburn tradition. MISS: To an invasive bug making its way into New York state. Environmental officials are asking the public to be on the lookout for Asian Longhorned beetles because they have been destroying trees across the country. Keeping track of the progression of the pest can help the state put up the best defense possible, and citizens can do their part to help. Since the beetles are sometimes found in swimming pools, the state Department of Environmental Conservation is asking pool owners to keep an eye out for the bugs. For more information, visit dec.ny.gov/animals/7255.html. HIT: To preparing for the future. Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES recently hosted area students for a summer program with a robotics theme. Educators say that increased knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics can help prepare students for in-demand careers that require strong problem-solving skills. Robotics camp is a fun and educational means of helping to achieve that end. The Citizen editorial board includes publisher Rob Forcey, executive editor Jeremy Boyer and managing editor Mike Dowd. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stormy Daniels this year filed not one, not two, but three lawsuits against Donald Trump or at least against his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohenand over the last week she won small but significant victories in two of them, most recently on Wednesday when a federal judge in New York agreed to move her defamation suit against Trump to the Central District of California, a federal court in Los Angeles. Daniels filed the defamation suit on April 30, as AVN.com reported, after she and her lawyer Michael Avenatti released a forensic sketch of a man who, according to Daniels, had physically threatened her in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011. The man, Daniels said, warned her to leave Trump alone. The day after Daniels and Avenatti released the sketch, Trump posted a message to his Twitter account saying, A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)! Trump used his national and international audience of millions of people to make a false factual statement to denigrate and attack [Ms. Daniels]," Avenatti wrote in the defamation lawsuit. Avenatti said that he and Daniels wanted the defamation suit moved to California because, "it will allow the defamation case against Mr. Trump to move along more expeditiously. ... It is all about getting maximum accountability as quickly as possible." Daniels is also suing Cohen and her former lawyer, Keith Davidson, claiming that in 2016, when Davidson was supposedly negotiating her $130,000 hush money payoff to keep quiet about her sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier, he and Cohen were actually conspiring to get the best deal not for her, but for Trump. Daniels filed the suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court in June, but the case was shifted to a federal court the following month at the request of Cohens lawyers. Now, a month after that, Federal Judge S. James Otero said that the move by Cohen was gamesmanship and that the case is better suited to the California state court after all. Avenatti called the move a blow to Michael Cohen, and said that in state court, the case will move at a quicker pace. 2018 has been a busy year for Daniels on the legal front. In addition to her three lawsuits against Trump and Cohen, she is now being sued for divorce by her husband, Brendon Miller, who charges that she committed adultery in their marriage. On Thursday, a judge in Texas granted Daniels and Miller joint custody of their seven-year-old daughter. Daniels herself is the target of a defamation lawsuit by the owners of a horse farm where Daniels boarded seven horses. The suit alleges that after one of the horses was killed in a flood, Daniels blamed the owners of the business and defamed them on social media. Stormy Daniels at the 2018 AVN Awards Show; photo by Jeff Koga BROOKLYN, N.Y.The founders of Emojibator recently took to the streets of Brooklyn to interview people about their favorite phallic fruits, what emojis to use in booty call texts and more. Kris Fritz and Joe Vela (who dressed up in a banana suit for the occasion) spent World Emoji Day last month filming their encounters for the inaugural episode of Sex With Strangers. The first video is available on Emojibators Facebook page. Emojibator creates high-quality, body-safe vibrators that are inspired by emojis. We believe in humor and education to promote a society that celebrates pleasure, the Philadelphia-based company states on its website. Designed with this in mind, our products deliver countless health benefits while empowering women with delicious orgasms. If you seek self-pleasure, the playful and perfect gift, or are embracing your inner vegan, Emojibator will certainly deliver. Those who were willing to be interviewed on camera were given gifts for their participation: their very own Banana Emojibator. (The company also makes the Eggplant Emojibator and the Chili Pepper Emojibator.) The 4-minute video was produced by NSFW. For more, visit Emojibator.com. BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.Iconic retailer Hustler Hollywood has officially announced that today, its Dallas store is open for business. The boutique, located at 9341 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, just off the highway, marks the company's first store in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex area and the 25th location for the retailer in the U.S. The location will be open until 12 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and is currently hiring sales floor staff and looking for qualified candidates that are excited about connecting with and educating customers regarding their intimate needs in their local community. There will be a grand opening event during September at which Larry Flynt will make an appearance, sign autographs, and connect with local fans and customers. The specifics of the event will be announced at a later date. Hustler Hollywood is an upscale boutique that offers all the top pleasure product brands, lingerie and much more, including an extensive selection of high-quality toys, apparel, sportswear, accessories, jewelry, gifts and novelties, along with bath and body items. The store has knowledgeable staff who are trained to provide education and recommendations based on individual needs and who are dedicated to ensuring every customer feels welcome and comfortable while experiencing a high-end shopping environment. The store carries something for pretty much everyone. The first Hustler Hollywood opened in 1998 on the famed Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. For more information, please visit the Hustler Hollywood website. Pastry chef Albert Adria is to launch a cake cafe and sparkling wine bar inside Londons Hotel Cafe Royal this November. Called Cakes & Bubbles, the Piccadilly-based concept will serve classics including egg flan with dark caramel, homemade doughnuts, decadent fruit cakes, light waffles with caramelised banana and Japanese-inspired chocolate ningyo yaki cake balls. Adria, who runs a string of restaurants including avant-garde tapas bar Tickets in Barcelona, will also introduce the signature Tickets cheesecake, which has hazelnut notes and a non-traditional rind of white chocolate, as well a classic Spanish variant. I believe London is the capital of the world, and Im looking forward to this new challenge, said Adria, who was voted the worlds best pastry chef by The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants. Its a project that excites me as a pastry chef Ive never opened anything specifically related to the sweet world. Our approach and menu will be a cross between the classical and contemporary. I am looking forward to bringing this concept to Hotel Cafe Royal, Londons only modern grand hotel and the place I feel I belong whilst in the city. People in Japan are observing 73 years since American forces carried out their second atomic bomb attack on the country during World War Two. A memorial service was held in the city of Nagasaki where the bomb was dropped, just 3 days after the first one leveled Hiroshima. For the first time a United Nations Secretary-General took part in the Nagasaki ceremony. The city's Peace Park fell silent at 11:02 AM -- the exact moment the bomb exploded in 1945. More than 70,000 people died in that year alone, and many others from long-term effects. 3,511 survivors passed away in the last 12 months, including a leading advocate for nuclear disarmament. Among the thousands in attendance were dignitaries of more than 70 countries. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also joined. The average age of the remaining survivors, known as hibakusha, is now over 82. An atomic bomb survivor, Terumi Tanaka said, "To this day, I cannot erase from my memory the horrifying scene I witnessed in the Urakami area that day. In a matter of seconds, the atomic bomb indiscriminately stole many lives and injured a great number of people. It will continue to haunt the hibakusha until the day they die. Of all the things humans can do to one another, this is one that can never be forgiven or tolerated." Tanaka was 13 at the time of the blast and lost 5 relatives on that day. He led a national group of bombing survivors for nearly 2 decades and has dedicated his life to telling his story to people around the world. The anniversary comes as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted at the UN last year. Nuclear powers such as the US and Russia didn't support the adoption and have not signed it. Japan which is protected by America's nuclear umbrella also has not signed it. For the treaty to come into force, 50 countries need to ratify it, but so far only 14 have. The mayor of Nagasaki made an appeal to nuclear powers and countries that depend on their protection -- he then specifically called on the Japanese government. The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear reactors said Thursday it had stopped selling a souvenir at the plant after facing a storm of online criticism saying it was inconsiderate. Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said it had pulled the plastic folders decorated with six photos of the battered nuclear plant from the shelves of an on-site store. The company started selling the files -- three for 300 yen -- from Aug 1 after receiving a number of requests from workers and visitors wanting a souvenir of their visit. Previously, visitors would take receipts from the store as a souvenir to show family and friends. But the firm suspended sales of the folders on Wednesday as critics said it was inappropriate to sell a souvenir at the site of the worst nuclear accident in a generation. African lion in the wild. Photo by Adam Peyman 752 shares Today is World Lion Day, a global celebration of one of the most majestic of big cats, the African lion. Travelers flock from all over the world to Africa to realize their dream of seeing the king of the jungle in the wild and South Africa is a prime wildlife viewing destination. More than 370,000 Americans traveled there last year, making the United States the second-largest source of tourists to South Africa among non-African countries. However, South Africa has a dark secret which it keeps from these visitors. Thousands of lions between 6,000 and 8,000 are languishing in captivity at some 260 operations across the country marketed to tourists as lion interaction experiences. Incredibly, there are more captive lions than there are in the wild (less than 3,000). South African actress and wildlife advocate Pearl Thusi, who appeared in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Quantico, is collaborating with Humane Society International to warn travelers to South Africa not to visit tourist attractions that offer lion cub petting and lion walks. Promoters of the industry flood social media with images of tourists cuddling lion cubs or walking with lions. Operators lead visitors to believe that they are interacting with orphaned cubs and rescued lions, but thats a lie. These cubs are born to mothers kept on lion breeding farms, and ripped away at just a few hours old to be used as living photo props. Some of the visitors and volunteers who come to these facilities even pay substantial amounts to hand-raise these fake orphans. Tourists are often told these cubs will one day be released back into the wild, but the grim truth is that they are destined for an early death, each and every one of them. Its all part of a Snuggle Scam conservation con that tricks well-meaning and animal-loving tourists every year. Once the cubs are no longer cute and cuddly, they are used for lion walking, which furthers the deception of visitors, who are led to believe that theyre helping young lions to become comfortable and aware of their bush habitats. Eventually, they become too dangerous for that activity (there have been deaths related to lion walking), and this is the stage of their exploitation where things take the darkest turn. Some are sold for canned hunts, where they are shot by trophy hunters in fenced areas from which they cannot escape. Others are killed for the bone trade for use in bogus medicinal tonics in Asia. The bone trade underscores just how corrupt the lion experience industry can be. Lions are a threatened species, listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Additionally, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates trade in listed flora and fauna, prohibits the trade of bones from wild lions. However, that body allows South Africa to export skeletons from captive lions, and the country has just announced that it will soon nearly double its annual lion skeleton export quota from 800 to 1,500 lions. What this means is that captive lion breeding facilities and the lion experience industry are literally killing lions hundreds at a time and exporting them as bags of bones for profit, with the full sanction of the South African government. The allure of big cats, including the African lion, has reached the United States, where there are thousands currently held in private ownership. Like their African counterparts, breeders profit from selling these animals, and they are exploited in traveling exhibits, roadside zoos or inappropriately kept as pets. This #WorldLionDay, you can make a difference. HSI urges travelers and tour operators to fight lion exploitation by refusing to participate in or promote human-lion interactions, such as bottle-feeding or cub-petting, walking with lions, or canned trophy hunting in South Africa. Here in the US, please do not visit traveling exhibits and roadside zoos that feature lions and other big cats. You can also support the Big Cat Public Safety Act by contacting your elected officials in Washington, DC. But above all, please spread the word about the plight of lions worldwide and support our campaigns to protect them from harm. Theres still time to make this world a better one for big cats, and we need your help to bring that about. Bears like these were victims of trophy hunting on Esther Island. Photo by Jos Bakker 28.1K shares There isnt sufficient outrage in the world to cover the depravity of the father and son who were charged with breaking Alaska state law in mid-April when they killed a mother bear and her shrieking cubs on Esther Island in Prince William Sound. The details of their wanton crime, revealed just this week in an Alaska State Troopers dispatch, are chilling. They skied to a remote den, where they killed a mother bear in front of her cubs, and then killed the cubs. Then, discovering an Alaska Department of Fish and Game collar on the bear, they took steps to cover up their illegal action. They removed the collar, butchered the bear, and tossed the cub carcasses. According to the charges, they even returned to the site two days later to remove all signs and evidence of their deed. The father provided false documentation and accounts concerning the killing of the bear when he appeared at a state wildlife office several weeks later. What the two didnt know was that a motion-controlled video camera placed at the site by ADFG and the US Forest Service, as part of a study of bear populations in Prince William Sound, had documented their misconduct from start to bloody finish. Alaskan authorities, to their credit, have charged the pair with unlawful take of a female bear with cubs, unlawful take of bear cubs, and possession and transportation of illegally taken game. However, these are mere misdemeanor charges, so its good to know that the father has also been charged with tampering with physical evidence a felony and for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, as well as unsworn falsification. Whenever trophy hunters display such reckless disregard for law and animal life, the organizations that promote trophy hunting, and the elected officials who support their agenda, eventually move to condemn the scofflaw. I hope that they will do so now. But its not that simple this time around, because many of these same parties are working to make this sort of killing legal in Alaska. Thats right. The US Department of the Interior under Secretary Ryan Zinke has been pushing to overturn a 2015 rule that prohibited taking any black bear, including cubs and sows with cubs, with artificial light at den sites, harvesting brown bears over bait, taking wolves and coyotes (including pups) during the denning season (between May 1 and August 9), taking swimming caribou, taking caribou from motorboats under power, taking black bears over bait; and using dogs to hunt black bears on National Park Service Preserve lands in Alaska. Its worth noting that a recent poll demonstrated that Alaskans by a strong majority oppose such methods and dont want to see them condoned or encouraged in their state. There used to be a code of ethics within the North American hunting community, grounded in the notion of fair chase. But these days, it seems, all were seeing is a stampede to the bottom rung of moral sensibility. 28.1K shares Feds Bust Five in $73M Fake Air Jordan Bust You don't need to be a sneaker head to know the value of Air Jordans. Since their release 1984, annual releases of Nike's signature product are anxiously awaited, and some editions of the shoe can cost thousands of dollars on the secondary market. And if you can fool someone into thinking some fake Air Jordans are some real Air Jordans, you're making that profit instead of Nike. You're also breaking the law. Federal prosecutors are claiming five New Yorkers -- Miyuki Suen, Jian Min Huang, Songhua Qu, Kin Lui Chen, and Fangrang Qu -- were part of an international counterfeit ring putting hundreds of thousands of fake Air Jordans on the street, and tens of millions of dollars in their pockets. From Generic to Counterfeit According to the federal charges (one count each of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods and trafficking in counterfeit goods), the scheme was fairly complex: [T]he Counterfeit Sneaker Ring imports containers filled with sneakers manufactured in China. These sneakers are produced to resemble Air Jordan sneakers in design and color, but, significantly, are "generic." That is, these sneakers are imported into the United States without the inclusion of logos that are trademarks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Once the Generic Air Jordans arrive in the United States, they are altered within the New York area to add trademarked logos to the shoes. Once this alteration takes place, the shoes are considered "counterfeit." Thus, the Counterfeit Sneaker Ring arranges for the importation of Generic Air Jordans, the addition of USPTO-trademarked logos and marks to Generic Air Jordans to make them Counterfeit Air Jordans within the United States at a significant profit. Fake Shoes to Real Money That profit must've been enormous -- the shoes, if real, would've been worth $73 million, according to reports. Prosecutors claim the five men imported at least 42 shipping containers holding an estimated more than 380,000 pairs of sneakers. The counterfeiting crew now face a maximum of 20 years in prison. Related Resources: Thanks to climate change, folks living in regions that were once tick-free zones have had to begin getting used to the blood-thirsty little bastards. Just as these unfortunate souls were getting used to this new reality, it seems that the bugs, which up until now have been happy working solo, are ganging up for all new levels of blood-draining terror. According to Ars Technica, a species of tick that's been a massive pain in the ass in Asia has made its way to North America. Currently doing its thing on the United States' eastern seaboard, the Asian Longhorned Tick travels in swarms and has the potential to spread all sorts of ugly diseases to livestock, pets and humans alike. From Ars Technica: Key to the tick's explosive spread and bloody blitzes is that its invasive populations tend to reproduce asexually, that is, without mating. Females drop up to 2,000 eggs over the course of two or three weeks, quickly giving rise to a ravenous army of clones. In one US population studied so far, experts encountered a massive swarm of the ticks in a single paddock, totaling well into the thousands. They speculated that the population might have a ratio of about one male to 400 females. Most troubling is the fact that the Asian Longhorned Tick is known to carry a recently discovered virus that causes SFTS: severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Those that contract SFTS can expect a wide range of terrifying symptoms including "fever, vomiting, hemorrhaging, and organ failure." With a mortality rate of up to 30%, it's definitely nothing to scoff at. Never go outside. Ever. Image via Center for Disease Control On the @movie_goofs Twitter account, a fellow named Sean posts brilliantly funny "movie goofs" that aren't actually goofs. And for additional fun, see the responses from folks who don't seem to get that Sean is just kidding. Lost in Translation (2003) Production error Human actress Scarlett Johansson does not convincingly portray a Japanese person. movie_goofs (@movie_goofs) August 2, 2018 Star Wars (1977) Factual error After Luke (Mark Hamill) wears a helmet with a blast shield, he's able to defend against a remote with his laser sword. In reality, once his eyes were covered, Luke would not have been able to see as well as before and would have done worse. pic.twitter.com/Noq06bQVRf movie_goofs (@movie_goofs) August 2, 2018 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Factual error After Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) reaches the submarine containing the ark, the next scene shows him, soaking wet, hiding in a base as the submarine arrives. But a human being couldn't outswim a submarine over such long distances. pic.twitter.com/P64I0Cgc5h movie_goofs (@movie_goofs) August 8, 2018 (Daily Dot via Neatorama) DogEden (DogeDen, surely?) is a doghouse designed to be mostly buried, with a tiny entrance above ground and a cavernous space beneath grade level. That way, the temperature is kept cooler in summer and warmer in winter, ensuring doge a more comfortable snooze. And when the fascist death squads come for you, they'll be a great place to hide the children! Smart engineering coupled with good common sense. Dogs weren't meant to live above the ground in a wood or plastic box, they instead prefer a den-like home dug into the ground, away from the sun, wind and rain and extreme cold. No other doghouse on the market takes this into account, only the DogEden. We thought long and hard on this and designed our doghouse to intelligently take advantage of what dogs instinctually desire; they desire a comfortable den, integrated into the earth. Read below where we discuss the temperatures our doghouse maintains, and other smart features and benefits no other doghouse on the market has. DogEden 60 [Amazon Link] Saitama Prefectural Police and Tokyo Customs on Thursday announced the bust of a marijuana smuggling ring that has netted 12 persons, reports the Sankei Shimbun Between late March and early April, customs officials found 29 kilograms of marijuana concealed inside clothing packed in cardboard boxes shipped through the postal mail from Los Angeles. The packages were addressed to eight men and women, aged in their 20s and 40s, living in Saitama and Tokyo, police said. Following the arrest of the eight persons on suspicion of violating the Marijuana Control Law, the involvement of Shun Watanabe, 24, and three other persons emerged. Police did not reveal whether any of the suspects admit to the allegations. During a search of the ringas headquarters, an apartment in Tokyoas Nerima Ward, and other locations, officers found an unspecified amount of kakuseizai, or stimulant drugs, syringes, and more marijuana. The estimated value of all of the contraband seized in the case is 290 million yen, police said. For years, the big social media platforms have used their market dominance to decide who could speak and on what terms: they forced drag queens and trans people to use their "real" names; kicked Black Lives Matter activists off their platforms; and allowed autocratic rulers to force opposition activists to expose themselves to arrest and torture as a condition of using their platforms. At the same time the decades-long conservative ideological attacks on antitrust law and regulation (which kicked off with Reagan and were accelerated by his successors) have allowed the platforms to grow to dominate our online spaces, so that exile from their environs means all but disappearing from the public discourse. Meanwhile, the anti-state ideology of the right means that there are no "public spaces" on the internet: in the real world, the fact that you can't protest on the private property of a mall is mitigated by the fact that you can protest on the public sidewalk in front of it. But the right has created a digital world where all spaces are private, and the owners of private spaces have the absolute right to set policy in those spaces. Enter the American Conservative. Peter Van Buren, a right wing former US State Department official, writes in the American Conservative that the increasingly organized left has figured out how to use the lack of public online spaces, and the strong property rights regimes in the concentrated private spaces, to get right of right-wing speech, which is, you know, actually true, and he says that this is alarming because when a handful of capricious, high-handed, unaccountable, profit-driven corporations control our speech, that is bad for a free society, which is also true. But then he goes off the rails. He says that: Our protection against corporate overreach used to rely on an idea Americans once held dear, best expressed as "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend your right to say it." This ethos was core to our democracy: everyone supports the right of others to throw their ideas into the marketplace, where an informed people push bad ideas away with good ones. That system more or less worked for 240 years. This is radioactively untrue. America is a country where union organizers would be kidnapped by mobs hired by the town's richest citizens, beaten, covered in molten tar, dipped in feathers, and dumped at the city limits. It's a country where white sheriffs, with the support of wealthy white townsfolk, sicced attack-dogs on peaceful black protesters. It's a country where the Klan operated with impunity, routinely murdering and mutilating black people who voiced even the most timid and innocuous professions of equality. It's a country where registering black people to vote could lead to your secret execution, with the killers going free. It's a country where business owners used their right to police speech on private spaces to fire workers who were trade unionists, or communists even after laws were passed banning this practice, they kept doing it. It's a country where unarmed protesters were met with tanks, teargas and militarized police. And the thing is, that's all terrible. America has never been a nation where people may disagree with what you say, but defend to the death your right to say it. Old chestnuts like, "Well, of course you can't shout fire in a crowded theater" come from court-cases where people were imprisoned for speaking out against a war. America is a place where people holding establishment-friendly views that did not threaten the super-rich would fight to the death to defend the free speech of other people who held establishment-friendly views, even if they disagreed about the particulars. It was also a place where those people would find common cause in firing, arresting, beating, and murdering people holding views that threatened the status quo and the power of white supremacy and financial dominance. That's terrible. America would be a better country if we had a marketplace of ideas, rather than a cash-money marketplace where the more power you wielded, the more your ideas could be heard. The American Conservative, Van Buren, and American conservatives more generally are awakening to the problems of a fully privatized speech regime where there is no First Amendment; they're waking up to the problems of market concentration; they're waking up to the problems of corporations acting in the interests of their shareholders without any consideration for how that action plays out in the wider world. People on the left are understandably relieved that Alex Jones has lost much of his ability to torment innocent people with disgusting lies that sell bogus vitamin supplements. But they're letting that glee blind them to something that the right ironically is more and more aware of: that letting corporations get as large as they want, allowing them to operate in service of profit above the public good, and having no publicly owned alternative to concentrated commercial giants is terrible, and it bodes very badly for anyone with unpopular political beliefs and not much political power. It was a fluke that Jones was booted from Big Tech. He stepped over the line again and again, until it was inevitable. But the far-right media that's one tiny hair less terrible than Jones will ride the line, never crossing it, magnifying their power and influence. Meanwhile, poor and marginalized people, who lack the resources of the astroturf groups that front for billionaires, will be increasingly targeted by the platforms' willingness to police speech, and when they get knocked off, they will find themselves with nowhere else to go. Of course, values shift, and what seems good to block today might change tomorrow. But the biggest issue is that companies exist to make money. You can't count on them past that. Handing over free speech rights to an entity whose core purpose has nothing to do with free speech means it will inevitably quash ideas when they conflict with profits. Those who gleefully celebrate the fact that @jack who runs Twitter is not held back by the First Amendment and can censor at will seem to believe he will always yield his power in the way they want him to. Google (until May) had a slogan commanding its employees: "don't be evil." Yet in China, Google is deploying Dragonfly, a version of its search engine that will meet Beijing's demands for censorship by blocking websites on command. Of course, in China they don't call it hate speech; they call it anti-societal speech, and the propaganda Google will block isn't from Russian bots but from respected global media. Meanwhile, Apple removes apps from its store at the command of the Chinese government in return for market access. Amazon, which agreed to pull hateful merchandise from its store in the U.S., the same week confirmed that it is "unwaveringly committed to the U.S. government and the governments we work with around the world" in using its AI and facial recognition technology to spy on their own people. Faced with a future loss of billions of dollars, as was the case for Google and Apple in China, what will corporations do in America? Once upon a time an easy solution to corporate censorship was to take one's business elsewhere. In 2018, the platforms in question are near-global monopolies. Pretending Amazon, which owns the Washington Post and can influence elections, is just another company that sells things, is to pretend the role of unfettered debate in a free society is outdated. Censored on Twitter? Try Myspace, and maybe Bing will notice you. Technology and market dominance have changed the nature of censorship so that free speech is as much about finding an audience as it is about finding a place to speak. Corporate censorship is at the cutting edge of a reality targeting both speakers (Twitter suspends someone) and listeners (Apple won't post that person's videos made off-platform). Ideas need to be discoverable to enter the debate. In 1776, you went to the town square; in 2018, it's Twitter. I Was Banned for Life From Twitter [Peter Van Buren/The American Conservative] The Trump administration's plan to bring back asbestos is right in line with Trumpist ideology that any science that interferes with profits is a hoax (Trump claims that the asbestos-cancer link is a conspiracy to help the mafia make money on asbestos removal contracts), and the fact that the leading Russian asbestos company (which has ties to Putin) put Trump's face on their packaging is just an extra too-shitty-to-be-true detail for all of us to ponder as we die of mesothelioma in a few years. The New York Times has obtained a trove of internal EPA memos showing that the agency's own staff are just as frightened and upset by this reckless maneuver as the rest of us. "Upper management asked us to take a different approach," wrote Robert T. Courtnage, an associate chief in E.P.A.'s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, in an April 25 email sent to 13 members of an agency group working on the then-forthcoming proposal. Specifically: Rather than call for all new uses of asbestos to come before the E.P.A. for a risk review, the rule would include just 15 specific uses that would trigger a federal assessment. E.P.A. Staff Objected to Agency's New Rules on Asbestos Use, Internal Emails Show [Lisa Friedman/NY Times] Juan Carlos Bustamente, 62, is a Chilean political consultant living in Rome. On a recent trip to Venice he sat down at Caffe Lavena in the popular tourist area called St. Mark's Square and ordered two bottles of water and two espressos. The bill was 43 (about $50). He thought it was ridiculous and he posted the receipt to Facebook. Other people commented about being overcharged at Caffe Lavena. Then they headed over to TripAdvisor and left a lot of 1-star reviews, like this one from Jacob U of Orinda, CAe: 18 for a budweiser beer, 12 for a bottle of water!! And then the waiter tried to tell me that even though is not a spot for a tip in the credit card slip he wants to know how much would I like to leave him and stares me down and does not leave my table. when I say gratuity is already included in Italy he told that is not true and demanded a tip. I ended up leaving with my wife and kids after spending $83 on drinks because I did not pay attention to the price with him giving my family a dirty stare!!!!!!!! A spokesman for Caffe Lavena issued a caveat emptor statement, expressing no shame in their prices: "People get annoyed when the bill arrives because they do not listen when we hand them the menu even though it states clearly enough that prices are higher to sit outside. They just wave us away and if we insist they get irritated. If they just want a coffee they can have it at the bar for 1.25 euros. If they want to sit outside and enjoy the music of the orchestra, look at the bell tower and the Basilica of St Mark's, then they are paying for an entirely different experience." Caffe Lavena has been getting away with the high prices for years. From Oddity Central: The Telegraph recently reported that Caffe Laverna has had to deal with complaints about its outrageous prices for years. For example, in 2013, after a group of patrons took to Facebook to express their outrage about their 95 ($109) receipt for four espresso coffees laced with liqueurs. Then-manager Massimo Milanese offered a very similar explanation: "The prices are there for everyone to see, there really is no doubt. It is for customers to decide whether they want to have a coffee standing up at the bar, or to sit down in the piazza. The cafe was established in 1750 so we are one of the most historic in Venice. It was patronised by Richard Wagner and many other famous people. It's part of the city's history." Image: Dimitris Kamaras/Flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) One of two teen boys who kicked and beat a Sikh man in Manteca, California, turned out to be a local police chief's own son. Tyrone McAllister, 18, the son of Union City, California, police Chief Darryl McAllister, was one of the two arrested, police in the city of Manteca, California, said. The other suspect was identified as a 16-year-old boy whose name was withheld because he's underage. The two were taken into custody Wednesday for investigation of attempted robbery, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon, Manteca police said. Is it bad to pressure kids to get good grades? Will playing too many videogames rot my kid's brain? How can I raise my children to be anti-racist? There's an (over)abundance of answers to those questionsand everyone is more than happy to tell you why their answers are rightbut most of what parents hear isn't READ THE REST We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor necessarily reflects their views. If you like the idea of owning houseplants but always struggle to keep them alive, you've probably since searched for alternatives that aren't as fickle. Fake plants, crystals, and even art are options READ THE REST Matt "Metafilter" Haughey got a postcard from his home state of Oregon informing him that he'd been purged from his voter roll because his signature has drifted too much since he first signed up to vote, 15 years ago. He has to go through a bureaucratic process to re-register to vote. Voter purging attacks aren't hard to counter. Registering to vote if you already have ID and so on is pretty straightforward (creating ID requirements is another matter, since people who have historically been able to vote without ID now have to get ID, and red states often sabotage that process, for example, by closing all the offices that dispense valid ID that are within easy traveling range of poor and/or black neighborhoods). The reason voter purging works is that its victims only discover that they've been purged when they go to the polls, when it's difficult or even impossible to fix the problem. But if you just check in a couple weeks in advance (or better yet, bookmark your state's webpage for confirming your registration and set a calendar reminder to check it every two weeks between now and election day), you can easily re-register yourself and nullify the attack. Here's a state-by-state guide to registering to vote in ever US state and territory. Democracy dies in the darkness [Matt Haughey/A Whole Lot of Nothing] Many of today's "red" states have historically had strong trade union movements think of Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin but after Citizens United opened the floodgates to dark money from the super-rich in state politics, the states saw their legislatures fill up with ideologue Republicans who passed anti-union laws designed to weaken labor and allow employers to pay their workers less, cut their benefits, fire them more easily, and subject them to less safe, less dignified working conditions. Missouri's anti-union "right to work" law was signed into law last year by the state's disgraced, loathsome (now ex-)governor, Eric Greitens. At the time, it seemed the fix was in: between voter suppression campaigns and gerrymandering, the Missouri legislature was effectively insulated from the will of the people it governed, able to secure re-election by doing the dirty work of the state's wealthy elite to the detriment of the state's majority of (disenfranchised) working people. But Missourians fought back. The state's trade unions canvassed for signatures to put the right to work law on the ballot during the August special election. The law was so unpopular that the AFL-CIO was able to get more than 300,000 signatures on direct ballot petition (they only needed 100,000), and when Missourians went to the polls this week, they easily carried the day and the law is dead, with 65% of Missourians voting to kill it. Missouri organizers say that the 1% have awakened a "sleeping giant": that working people have woken up to the risk posed by the concentration of money into fewer and fewer hands, the hoarding of America's prosperity, the distorting of its policies, and they are not going to take it anymore. The special election was also a litmus test for Missouri politicians: many of the politicians who campaigned to keep unions down during this race are up for re-election in November, and the triumphant labor activists who scored this victory will make sure voters are reminded of their representatives' positions when those campaigns kick off. "Working people needed 100,000 signatures to get that issue on the ballot. We submitted over 300,000," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in a speech Tuesday, anticipating a positive outcome for unions. "Working people are writing a comeback story unlike any I've seen in my 50 years in the labor movement." The Missouri vote represents a victory for unions in a political landscape that is increasingly hostile toward them. The state's debate received national attention after the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to public-sector unions in June. In that case, Janus v. AFSCME, the justices ruled it is unconstitutional to require "nonconsenting employees" to pay fees to unions. "Anti-union forces awoke a sleeping giant," says Philip Dine, a former labor reporter and author of State of the Unions. "I think unions have become energized and realize they have to fight back." 'Anti-Union Forces Awoke a Sleeping Giant': Voters Overturn a New Anti-Union Law [Candice Norwood/Governing] (via Naked Capitalism) Birgit Schlosser specializes in spare, clean architecture photography, and that aesthetic is also in play in Volcanic Dreamscapes, a new series of works depicting the beauty of sparse volcanic ecosystems. The Fire Mountains, a group of volcanoes, are part of the Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote. It is not allowed to wander through it at will. Only a narrow road leads through, which is allowed for vehicles and bicycles, but without the possibility of stopping or parking. So I decided to walk along the road for hours to photograph this impressive archaic and pristine volcanic landscape. Ultimately the ideal opportunity to experience this fascinating surroundings intensively. Her Instagram has a lovely curation of her architectural shots: Volcanic Dreamscapes (Behance / Birgit Schlosser) Gotta give credit where credit is due, this beard trimmer gets the job done. I recently returned home from a multi-week roadtrip with my daughter wherein I forgot to bring my battery operated beard trimmer. I had left the trimmer in my bathroom, on the windowsill where it has lived for 10 years. I returned home to find my cat had gently displaced it. I tried to put it back together and thought I had it working. About half way through my beard the trimmer ceased to work. I ordered this Norelco as a replacement, spent two days looking silly and voilla! Back to normal. This Norelco MULTIGROOMER MG3750/50 sure has a pretty name. Aside from that it works exactly as you'd expect. On and Off. There are a wide selection of blade guards, for beards, heads and canine pals cause I'm not discerning. Norelco claims you won't have to oil the blade, and it stays sharp for atleast 2 years. I did not notice the old one had gone dull, just exploded from a fall, however this does just feel 'stronger' in every regard. Could be its newness, or sharper blades. You can also buy replacement blades, which seems pretty handy. I was unaware of this with prior models. I am pretty sure it is the newness of the trimmer that is making me want to try strange new trimming options. My daughter absolutely vetoed a French Musketeer look. Philips Norelco Multi Groomer MG3750/50-13 piece, beard, face, nose, and ear hair trimmer and clipper, FFP via Amazon This making-of documentary not only shows how much preparation goes into a YouTube-friendly high-octane stunt, but it's also an interesting explanation of why BASE jumper Sean Chuma goes to such great lengths. Chuma describes their moment of success as a high point in his life: It all began with the combination of the dreams of 4 individuals. Those individuals are Donald Schultz, Sean Chuma, Joey California and Travis Tripp. We always thought Russian swings were very exciting and very powerful. When Travis came along it was time. He built the Russian swing and then the new sport began. In this film you can see how it all started and where it will go. It is a truly amazing and powerful thing. Intro Photo by Chris Hoyte. It's really about friendship, trust, and dedication as much as it is thrill-seeking. Russian Swing BASE (YouTube / Sean Chuma) Marine Imaging Technologies CEO Evan Kovacs tested out his new HYDRUS camera in low-light conditions in the Cayman Islands. Via their site: Eight cameras in a horizontal radial array with an additional two on the vertical axis creates a larger than traditional overlap of images, allowing for the 8k or 4k stitched image or a 4k 3D image. The subsea monitor provides realtime monitoring for eight simultaneous cameras and one primary camera. The system also incorporates Genlock tri-level sync and over 2 hours of recording time when using the internal camera media storage. Hong Kong's famed neons signs are slowly fading, replaced by other kinds of signage. Hong Kong Instgrammer Edward KB leads this whirlwind neon tour of some of the best remaining spots. My favorite Instagram account on the topic is The Neon Archives curated by Dennis Isip: The best Instagram Neon Spots in Hong Kong! (YouTube / ANYDOKO) News / National by Staff reporter THE United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) have raised the red flag over the alleged illegal deportation, arrest and persecution of opposition MDC Alliance co-principal Tendai Biti and called on Zimbabwean authorities to guarantee his safety after his bid to get asylum in neighbouring Zambia collapsed.Biti skipped the border to Zambia on Wednesday, but the Edgar Lungu-administration denied him asylum and handed him back to Harare yesterday morning, despite a court order barring his deportation.The former Finance minister, who is facing two counts of unlawfully and unofficially announcing results of the July 30 harmonised elections and another one of public violence, was yesterday granted $5 000 bail by a Harare magistrate with stringent conditions. His lawyers indicated that they would challenge circumstances surrounding his arrest today.UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed concern over the decision by Lusaka to hand over a politician who has expressed an intention to seek asylum to his country of origin."Refoulement of forcibly returning refugees and asylum-seekers to their country of origin is a serious violation of international refugee law. The UNHCR calls on Zambia to investigate this reported incident urgently," the UNHCR statement read.The EU delegation, heads of mission of EU member states present in Harare and the heads of mission of Australia, Canada, and the United States, in a joint statement yesterday also condemned the targeting of opposition politicians in a post-election crackdown."The heads of mission of the EU, Australia, Canada and the United States are deeply disturbed by continuing reports that opposition supporters are being targeted by members of the Zimbabwean security forces," the statement read."The heads of mission urgently call on the government of Zimbabwe to guarantee the physical integrity and safety of Mr Biti, to ensure that his constitutional and human rights are respected, and that he will be treated in full accordance with the rule of law."The EU has not publicly endorsed Mnangagwa as the winner of the July 30 polls, and in its preliminary report, poked holes into Zimbabwe's electoral system with a comprehensive report expected in due course.The British embassy in Zimbabwe also said it was monitoring the developments closely and had been in touch with both Zimbabwe and Zambia to seek clear assurance on the safety of Biti and the full respect of his constitutional rights. News / National by Staff reporter SOCIAL movement group #Tajamuka /Sesijikile yesterday joined the MDC Alliance in disputing results of last week's elections, claiming President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa did not win the July 30 polls.Addressing journalists in Harare, #Tajamuka /Sesijikile spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said the group was ready to resist Mnangagwa's government."We will not accept or recognise Mnangagwa as a legitimately elected President, we will resist his leadership with every means as provided by the Constitution as it provides for that," he said."The bottom line is we are not going to accept an outcome if the court rules in favour of Mnangagwa because this election doesn't represent the will of the people of Zimbabwe. The election wasn't free and fair."This comes as MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has vowed to challenge the presidential election results at the Constitutional Court, most likely today. Tajamuka condemned the use of live ammunition by the military on unarmed civilians during last week's protest against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the arrest of MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti."We want to ensure that the next leader of Zimbabwe is genuinely, truthfully and honestly elected by the will of the people without intimidation, manipulation and without all these things to tilt elections in one way or the other."The elections were not free and fair and they do not represent the will of the people and this is self-evident," Mkwananzi said.The social movement group claimed to have evidence of ballot stuffing in some constituencies and lamented that some of polling stations were located in areas which the opposition's political agents failed to access.Mkwananzi said the judiciary must be allowed to exercise its authority without undue influence from the executive. News / National by Staff reporter HUMAN rights groups have expressed concern over the treatment of people with disabilities (PWDs) during the just-ended elections, with most of them experiencing challenges at polling stations.The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), in their latest report on the elections, said the inclusion of PWDs was of great concern, particularly in Chipinge, where they recorded a high number of persons that were visually challenged that ended up being assisted to vote."The issue of inclusion of all citizens in the electoral process was of significant concern in the case of persons with disabilities and women, where they faced various challenges during the registration process at polling stations," the ZPP report said."In Chipinge only, about 50 visually-impaired persons complained about giving up the secrecy of their vote by being assisted to vote, either by their elected assistants or by polling officers if the assistant was less than 18 years."ZPP said while at some polling stations vulnerable groups were attended to earlier than everyone else, including people with albinism, they noted that this was not standard practice at all polling stations."ZPP is happy that Zec, after appeals by PWDs for disability-friendly polling booths introduced for the first time polling booths for those on wheelchairs and those of a short stature," they said.The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) also pointed out in its preliminary report on the elections that at some of the provinces, they noted cases of general disorganisation on the part of the electoral management body with some polling stations missing and voters having to be redirected.They also raised the issue of PWDs failing to get the correct infrastructure at polling stations to enable them to cast their votes properly."The ZHRC noted that as raised in its previous monitoring reports, some of the venues were not accessible to persons with disabilities and the elderly. It was observed there were steep steps at some school voting venues," the ZHRC report stated.They said some polling stations did not have adequate lighting, particularly in tents, which slowed the voting process."The process was slow with some voters having to wait for up to three hours to cast their vote," ZHRC said. News / National by Staff reporter Former President Mugabe's son-in-law, Simba Chikore, is tipped to land a top post at Government's second airline, Zimbabwe Airways, which has roped in a British consulting firm - Evan Consulting - to process its manuals as it seeks to get an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).The AOC allows an aircraft to start flying on its designated routes.Chikore, who is said to have wide experience or networks in aviation, has previously held the position of chief operating officer (COO) at Air Zimbabwe. News / National by BBC World Service Journalists waiting for Chamisa's legal team to arrive at the Constitutional Court. Chamisa' election petition expected to be submitted today. pic.twitter.com/aqR7Nc2TCa Violet Gonda (@violetgonda) August 10, 2018 Crowds of reporters have gathered outside Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court in the capital, Harare, where the opposition MDC Alliance is due to mount a legal challenge to last month's presidential election.The coalition claims ballot boxes were stuffed and figures inflated to give Emmerson Mnangagwa his narrow victory.If the court decides in favour of the challenge it could order a recount or nullify the election results.The MDC Alliance has until midnight to submit its challenge; the court must then make its judgement within 14 days. Opinion / Columnist An opinion poll conducted just a month before the election by Afro Barometer gave Mnangagwa a slim lead. This evidence was brushed aside.The response of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)-Alliance, to the defeat of their presidential candidate suggests that its supporters might be victims of their own propaganda.Nelson Chamisa lost with 44,3 percent of the vote to Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF), who garnered 50,8 percent. Zimbabwe's elections are won and lost in rural areas, home to about 70 percent of the voter population.The 2018 harmonised elections were no different. Viewing elections through an urban lens can be highly misleading, as rural voters are often motivated by different considerations to those of their urban counterparts. Without ignoring the fact that Zanu-PF has considerable and ardent support among rural voters, it is clear that clientelism plays an important role. Many rural voters in Zimbabwe seem to view elections as an opportunity to show fealty to those in power rather than an exercise of democratic choice.Loyalty is rewarded in the form of food aid and free agricultural inputs. Backing the "wrong" candidate can attract harsh reprisals - an election "promise" ZANU-PF has a reputation for keeping. A rural voter then may make a pragmatic and carefully considered calculation as to who will win, and vote with head rather than heart. To win an election, the candidate needs to look at if he or she will win.The MDC-Alliance did a remarkable job at persuading many that Chamisa had massive nationwide support. It was aided and abetted by opposition-leaning political analysts who willingly spread the alliance spin...Deposed ex-president Robert Mugabe, it was claimed, enjoyed massive residual support in some provinces. Mugabe's statement on the eve of polling that he would not vote for his "tormentors" was seen as a cue to this support base to vote for Chamisa.Chamisa, only just the minimum age for a presidential candidate at 40, was presented as the natural choice for the 60 percent of the voter population under 40, rather than the 75-year-old Mnangagwa who represented the old order. Insiders, it was said, knew the rural population was "fed up" with Zanu-PF's misgovernance and that Zanu-PF had lost its ability to command the rural vote.The mood throughout Zimbabwe was one of euphoria, not experienced since Independence in 1980. The election would be the country's second liberation. There was scant evidence to support this spin. An opinion poll conducted just a month before the election by Afro Barometer gave Mnangagwa a slim lead. This evidence was brushed aside.If Chamisa didn't win, the MDC-Alliance insisted, it could only mean that the election was rigged. Zimbabwe's elections are won and lost in rural areas, home to about 70 percent of the voter population The MDC-Alliance appears to have been convinced by its own propaganda.Chamisa declared that he had won resoundingly before the tally of the votes had been completed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). Then, as soon as it became apparent that Mnangagwa had won, MDC-Alliance supporters claimed the election was rigged. The evidence? Of course Mnangagwa couldn't have won because of the mood in the country, and the "large number of Mugabe supporters", "fed-up rural voters" and the youths who would have voted for Chamisa.There was, however, the small problem of conflicting evidence in the form of X's on ballot papers. The votes are tallied at the polling stations and the results entered onto a V11 form. Party representatives are invited to sign the V11 form and are given a copy. The V11s go to the ward-counting centres.The totals from the polling stations in the ward are calculated and entered on a V23. The process is repeated as the tallies are forwarded to constituency and provincial levels. Despite these safeguards, the MDC-Alliance alleged that ZEC had altered the numbers on the returns... The allegation was readily believed, as throughout the latter part of the electoral period, ZEC seemed to go out of its way to earn the distrust of opposition parties...MDC-Alliance officials, said they would render the country ungovernable if they didn't get their way. In response, ZEC published spreadsheets showing all the totals at each level of counting, inviting anyone with documentary evidence showing an incorrect entry to come forward. No one did.This didn't stop Chamisa from claiming he had copies of returns proving fraud, but then declining to reveal them. Before the polling, MDC-Alliance officials said they would render the country ungovernable if they didn't get their way.Chamisa had threatened that if the vote were stolen, he would get what was rightfully his, not through the courts, but through people taking to the streets in anger. By refusing to accept the election results and alleging fraud, Chamisa has kept tensions high. He has also retained support among party cadres that might otherwise have dissipated had he conceded defeat.This has been accomplished at considerable cost. These are excerpts from an article by Derek Matyszak, senior research consultant, Peace and Security Research Programme.The original article was published by ISSAfrica.org Opinion / Columnist THE 2018 harmonised elections have come, but not exactly gone because the main opposition MDC Alliance has signalled its intention to approach the Constitutional Court to challenge the results, which gave the governing Zanu-PF complete victory.But it ought to be pointed out that the results compiled by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) largely tallied with projections made by reputable pollsters Afrobarometer. Afrobarometer has always been fastidiously, meticulously and uncompromisingly scientific in its surveys. The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a non-governmental organisation, also made more or less the same projections.That pointed out, what are some of the takeaways from the announced election results as they stand?One is that both Zanu-PF led by Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance proved once again that they are the biggest players in Zimbabwean politics with nationwide support, but like in all contests, there is one winner. Neither of them was disgraced, but only that one of them performed better this time around. Maybe it was because the MDC Alliance was ill-prepared for the elections in comparison to Zanu-PF, and this is partly due to the fact that the alliance was cobbled up or rushed into existence rather than organically formed or coming into being as a result of ideological coalescence.As if to confirm the disjointedness of the MDC Alliance, its top official Chalton Hwende this week said: "MDC Alliance was an electoral pact. Now that elections are over, individuals are free to join political parties of their choice." You cannot go into an election more strategically unprepared than that a repeat of when Jonathan Moyo moved to Zanu-PF soon after getting elected through a loose electoral pact with MDC-T in 2013.Or, to put it bluntly, the MDC Alliance resembled a shotgun marriage like when the father of a pregnant girl forces the man responsible to marry his daughter at gunpoint. This take is not far-fetched going by this observation made by Harare-based journalist Barnabas Thondhlana: "The alliance was shoved down (the late MDC-T leader) Morgan Tsvangirai's throat by (Western) donors as a precondition for the release of funds last year. They (the donors) thought it would not happen. When it did, they still did not release the money."So, as one can see, the MDC Alliance faced many constraints whereas Zanu-PF, deeply divided as it was, still had some ideological form and shape and the crucial advantage of incumbency which it used and in some cases abused, particularly in the rural areas, where elections are won and lost.The other takeaway is that, according to leading scholar and Institute for Security Studies senior researcher Derek Matyszak, the overreaction of the MDC Alliance to the defeat of Chamisa suggests that its supporters might be victims of their own propaganda. Wrote Matyszak: "The MDC Alliance did a remarkable job at persuading many that Chamisa had massive support nationwide. It was aided and abetted by opposition-leaning political analysts who willingly spread alliance spin."Note the uncomplimentary and negative connotations of the term "aided and abetted", which is ordinarily confined to criminal offenders. Indeed, it was almost criminal how the MDC was done a crippling disservice by its supposed special advisors who misread the signs from their ivory towers.Continued Matyszak: "As this spin would have it, Zimbabwe's intelligence services had done their own opinion poll that showed that Mnangagwa was intensely disliked and would get no more than 11% of the vote."Eleven percent really? Could this be why Chamisa mysogyonistically said he would give his 18-year-old younger sister to Mnangagwa as his second wife if his Zanu-PF rival won as much as only 5% of the vote? It's possible that there was a sophisticated State intelligence operation to pull the wool over Chamisa's eyes, to deceive him to the extent of declaring himself the winner before even a single ballot was cast. Well, this spin was of the same proportions as the Baba Jukwa hoax of the 2013 elections which the MDC-T again swallowed hook, line and sinker only for the supposedly finished then President Robert Mugabe to almost pulverise the opposition out of existence. Again this time around the opposition was looking in the wrong direction, distracted by hoax opinion polls reinforced by cliched and stale talk over the years that Mnangagwa was unelectable whereas the political dynamics had changed after Mugabe's ouster, resulting in Zanu-PF closing ranks and regrouping for self-survival.Another takeaway is that the opposition itself is not beyond disinformation and misleading propaganda, which had been hitherto the monopoly of Zanu-PF. In a front-page apology this week titled "We were misled", NewsDay said: "We would like to apologise to our valued readers, advertisers and other stakeholders over our lead story yesterday titled 'Chamisa files court challenge', which was factually incorrect . . . Our story was based on information supplied by senior party officials . . . Some of the sources even had the audacity to post messages on social media platforms, substantiating their claims, before Nicodemously pulling them down down after it emerged that they were lying." (NewsDay, August 8, 2018)From that takeaway can be extrapolated another misleading lie that led to the tragic death of seven people after soldiers deployed on the streets fired live ammunition on not-so-peaceful demonstrators in Harare who were protesting against what the MDC Alliance alleged was the suspiciously delayed announcement of presidential election results by Zec. Wrote legal advisor, commentator, analyst and former university law lecturer Paul Kaseke: "For the presidential election, (the specific law) accords Zec five days from the date of polling to release results . . . Zec was well within the prescribed time . . ." (NewsDay, August 8, 2018).But before the five days were up, MDC Alliance demonstrators took to the streets marching against a non-existent delay, resulting in a tragic escalation which left seven people dead.What was the immediate cause of that? Kaseke identified it, saying: "Unfortunately, the hype created about the delays was not based on law, but emotions. While it was understandable that the results be released as soon as possible, it was premature for parties to call on their supporters to protest for the results to be released. It was also premature for claims of an unreasonable delay to be made because the five days had not lapsed." Indeed.But the MDC Alliance, with all its surfeit of lawyers, chose not to guide its supporters accordingly as expected of professionals. This was most expediently irresponsible for the MDC Alliance to do as this directly led to the unnecessary loss of lives at the hands of overzealous and trigger-happy soldiers.That's why Joshua Matambo, whose sister Sylvia Maphosa died in the crossfire as she walked home from work on that fateful day in Harare, understandably fumed: "We have heard no word from government, no word from the MDC Alliance, yet my sister is gone. I don't have a (kind?) word for both Mnangagwa and Chamisa. They are useless. Their squabbles are not helping us look, we have lost lives. I am pained."Concluded Kaseke pointedly: "It is regrettable that parties chose to mislead the citizenry on what the law says." (Read "MDC Alliance" we cannot mince words on that.)Concurred Matyszak separately: "By refusing to accept the election results and alleging fraud, Chamisa has kept tensions high. He has also retained support among party cadres (read 'vanguard') that might have dissipated had he conceded defeat. (But) this has been accomplished at considerable cost."It's time to move on, as the United States embassy said, with the winners being magnanimous in victory and the losers being gracious in defeat not to prolong the pain of the nation just to save someone's political face. Opinion / Columnist The move that was taken by the MDC-Alliance supporters, early this month to demonstrate against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, (ZEC), criticising it, of failing to announce the Presidential election results at their convenience and claiming the elections were rigging was a well-orchestrated manoeuvre to discredit the polls they knew they would not win.It was still within the Electoral Law's five days period within which the election results could have been announced and only ZEC had the mandate to announce these election results. It then begs the question, why the MDC Alliance principals, including Tendai Biti jumped the gun to announce that their leader, Nelson Chamisa had won the election and that they would not accept any election results other than that. For sure their supporters needed no further motivation than that to protect what they alleged was their "stolen vote".Hence, violent protests ensured and some retailers lost their commodities and their properties were widely damaged. The signed peace pledge was quickly thrown out of the window by the MDC-Alliance leadership as if they ever followed it anywhere because their rallies were characterised by hate and threats of violence if ever they lost the elections.Truthfully, Zimbabwe is not a banana republic where the public can do whatever they like. People should be governed by the law.However, what surprises most is that the MDC-Alliance claim that the election was rigged, forgetting that when elections are carried out all political parties send representatives to the polling stations. Additionally, observers were also present to observe the electoral process.Following the opening up of the political space by President Mnangagwa, this year's elections were being observed by a number of foreign observers from the Commonwealth, SADC, European Union, and African Union among others. Under such a scenario, one will certainly wonder where exactly the alleged rigging could have taken place.It is an open secret that the MDC-Alliance is aggressive and the loss of lives on the day of the demos should be squarely on their shoulders. Biti was in the forefront inciting their supporters to go in streets and protest, telling them that he was prepared to die; he was nowhere to be seen during the protests. His first public appearance was only noticed at Chirundu border post fleeing to Zambia where he wanted to seek political asylum.After all is said and done, the recent MDC-Alliance demonstrations were sorely to tarnish the image of the entire nation and mar the whole electoral process for the opposition to continue with its mantra of continued sanctions as already indicated by Biti that the Zanu PF government is not going to get a cent as they will mobilise for the sanctions to stay.The fact that the MDC-Alliance demonstration was held in the midst of showers of praises from foreign election observers for holding a peaceful election infuriated the opposition and Chamisa had already promised "Hakudyiwi rinopisa muno . . . mukaita zvokutamba ndinodira jecha muupfu. Hamuridyi sadza iroro." True to his word that is what unfolded.It is worth to note that violence is never a solution to anything. The MDC-Alliance leader, Chamisa and his cronies should be reminded that an election is won through the ballot box. It is the vote that counts for one to be duly elected as a leader and not any form or amount of violence.On the other hand, it is known that opposition parties in Africa have a tendency of alleging election fraud whenever a ruling party wins. Firstly, the majority of these opposition parties suffer from severe structural weaknesses. Unlike most revolutionary parties that have strong structures some of which date back to the liberation struggle, opposition parties lack firm party structures a situation which contributes largely to their electoral loss.In previous years, the MDC-T battled to win elections. The late MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai lost elections since the time he joined politics. Despite his obvious losses, Tsvangirai would always dispute the election results, but without any proof of how the elections were being rigged.Lastly, the MDC-Alliance leaders should be encouraged to put their house in order and warn its supporters against any acts of violence. Zimbabweans had heeded President Mnangagwa's call for peace for the opposition to mar the process to massage their bruised egos.Regardless, the nation should be united and build a better Zimbabwe.United we stand divided we fall. By Ahmed Eljechtimi RABAT (Reuters) - Blockchain company Soluna plans to build a 900-megawatt wind farm to power a computing center in Dakhla in the Morocco-administered Western Sahara, its chief executive John Belizaire said in an interview. Work on the initial off-grid phase will start in 2019 and complete a year later, with the possibility of connecting the site to the national grid, Belizaire told Reuters. Soluna told the Moroccan government it expected to complete the site in five years at a cost of 1.4-2.5 billion dollars. It would invest 100 million dollars in an initial phase, from which it hoped to generate 36 megawatts. Bitcoin is earned -- or 'mined' -- by using your computer to help process the uncrackable "blockchains" or digital transaction records that underpin the currency. This requires huge computing capacity, and a lot of electricity, and so is mostly done with huge machines in aircraft hangar-sized warehouses in the cooler climates of Iceland, Canada, northern China and Russia, where it costs less to disperse the heat generated. Digiconomist, a cryptocurrency analysis platform, estimated in June that bitcoin mining used approximately 71 terawatt hours (TWh) per year, equivalent to almost 10 percent of China's annual energy usage. Soluna is backed by private equity group Brookstone and will mostly likely seek private equity and large institutional investors, Belizaire said. The project will cover 37,000 acres in one of the world's windiest regions enabling the company to own sustainable energy resources along with a utility-scale blockchain computing facility. Belizaire said the company will not make cryptocurrency transactions in Morocco where financial authorities have warned against the use of cryptocurrencies. The computer center will provide computing to blockchain networks offering calculation capacities to foreign entities in exchange for foreign currency, he said. Morocco annexed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, in 1975, and since then the territory has been the subject of a dispute between it and the Polisario Front, an independence movement backed by neighboring Algeria. Morocco has attracted investment in solar and wind power as part of a goal to generate 52 percent of its electricity from renewable energies. (Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) It could be at least another week before Nova Scotia Power knows how long it will take to clear last week's oil spill at Tufts Cove. Five thousand litres of oil leaked into Halifax harbour Aug. 2 and contractors are in the process of hiring more people to help with the cleanup. According to Nova Scotia Power, there are about 65 people at the site using vacuum trucks and absorbent materials. Sixteen of those people are short-term labourers working to clean the shoreline. Manual labour positions MFR Oil Response is one of the companies contracted by Nova Scotia Power to do the cleanup work. Mark Ring, the company's president, said he's looking to hire more people to do manual labour at the site. "We have main oil responders that are fully trained and constantly trained, constantly trained in operating all the equipment the boats and skimmers and so on," said Ring. "Once you get into a larger spill, we don't want to utilize these individuals for smaller tasks: moving absorbents, cleanup, just little stuff that needs to be done around the job site to keep things safe." Training, safety gear provided Ring said those hired will receive job training, safety training and will be provided with safety gear. "After they're into their roles, then we bring in more bodies to fill in gaps and we keep going until we have the right number to make everything flow smoothly," he said. No special skills are needed, but those applying must be at least 16 and be physically able and immediately available to do the work. The pay works out to be $16.50 per hour and workers will be needed five days a week for the next one to three months. Ring said he was able to pull together a crew immediately after the spill was reported, but is now tapping into those on employment insurance looking for work, the local Syrian refugee population and the general public. "My wife and I and four families in the neighbourhood created a family of five where we fundraised and brought in a family ourselves so we've been involved with the Syrian refugee for about two years now," said Ring. "So I know there are a lot of individuals that are around who are studying to learn English as a second language and get involved in the communities and they would like to get out to do some work, so we reached out to that group." Read more articles at CBC Nova Scotia Hundreds of bikers rumble into town as Calgary hosts Women in the Wind for first time About 200 women bikers have descended on Calgary for an annual gathering of Women in the Wind. The group started in the United States in the 1970s and has since branched out internationally, with chapters in Canada, the U.K., Portugal, New Zealand and Nepal. "It's lady riders, it's the sisterhood. It's promoting motorcycle safety and awareness and just encouraging each other just to get out and ride," said Tina Buckthorp, who helped organize the Calgary gathering. "And these ladies ride." The Calgary chapter has been around since 2006. It has 47 members, ranging from women in their 20s to one woman in her 80s. First time in Calgary It's the first time the annual summer gathering has been held in Calgary, The event includes group rides like the one out to Elbow Falls on Thursday. "So far they're loving it," said Buckthorp. "It's a little smoky so they're not getting as quite as crystal clear views of places like Lake Louise, but we've got good temperatures for them." Joyce Troyer drove her three wheeler all the way from North Carolina. "I liked it. It gave me time for me," she said. "It gave me a new life when I started. I started riding when I was 57, almost 10 years ago." The Sisterhood She says Women in the Wind is like a big family. "I've had a lot of losses in my life, and when I joined them it was like, they were uplifting," Troyer said. "If you screw up, they're there for you. If you do good, they're there for you." Lee Hoerchel is the president of the local chapter, Chinook Outriders. She said the group meets once a month to discuss things like motorcycle safety. She said it was a no-brainer to join a women's biker group. "It doesn't matter how far away they've come from, you meet so many ladies that you've never seen before, but you just have that connection with them, right?" she said. Story continues Next weekend many from her the Chinook Outriders will be heading north for the Canadian gathering of Women in the Wind and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Edmonton chapter, the oldest in Canada. - MORE CALGARY NEWS | Circus, a Japanese festival, free outdoor movies: What's on in Calgary this weekend - MORE CALGARY NEWS | Calgary breaks city's all-time heat record on Friday - Read more articles by CBC Calgary, like us on Facebook for updates and subscribe to our CBC Calgary newsletter for the day's news at a glance A South Carolina woman sobbed as she taken to a police station after being arrested for driving under the influence on August 4, telling the officer she was a pretty girl, a good student, and a clean, white girl to persuade him not to jail her. Officer Baker Odom was not moved, however, and cited Lauren Cutshaw for driving under the influence, speeding, ignoring a stop sign, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Im a very clean, thoroughbred, white girl, Cutshaw told Odom at the police station, according to his written report. Im a white, clean girl. Odom wrote: I asked what that had to do with anything and she replied among other things, You should know what that means. She later stated, Youre a cop you should know what that means, and Youre a cop you should know based on the people that come in this room, Odoms report said. Odom arrested Cutshaw when she failed field sobriety tests. During the 20-minute drive to the station, Cutshaw told Odom she was a cheerleader, had a 3.8 grade point average, was almost valedictorian in high school, and went to a high accredited university with a scholarship. She repeatedly asked the officer to check her record. Cutshaw had a .18 percent blood-alcohol breath test, according to the police report. The legal limit in South Carolina is .08 percent. Credit: Bluffton Police Departement via Storyful The retro-theme of Illusione Cigars booth made it one of my personal favorites at the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show. While the retro-theme is nothing new for Illusione Cigars, it was very appropriately this year as owner Dion Giolito revived the OneOff brand. It was the featured cigar for Illusione at this years IPCPR. OneOff was created by Andrea Molinari in 2001. Molinari was a tobacconist who ran a La Casa del Habano in Milan, Italy. After failing to get his own brand made in Cuba, he turned to the Plasencia family, who would create the cigars at Segovia Cigars S.A. Eventually, Plasencia stopped making the cigars and Molinari sold the brand to Cuban Crafters. OneOff is a brand that had always that intrigued Giolito. Since it will qualify as a grandfathered blend under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deeming Regulations, it was an appealing brand for someone like Giolito to bring into his portfolio. Giolito decided to make an offer for the brand, it was accepted and he became the new owner. Once he was in possession of the brand, Giolito turned to his longtime manufacturing partner Aganorsa Leaf to set up production at the Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.(TABSA) factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Giolito isnt discussing details around the blend. The core blend is being made available in seven sizes: Canonazo (6 1/8 x 52), Cartuchos (3 7/8 x 52), Corona (5 1/2 x 42), Corona Gorda (5 3/8 x 46), Julieta (7 x 47), Piramides (6 1/8 x 52), and Robusto (4 7/8 x 52). The cigars are packaged in ten-count boxes and Giolito kept the brands signature peace-sign logo. Pricing-wise, its a more premium line with pricing ranging from 11.95$17.95 OneOff actually made its debut about a month before the Trade Show. There was an eighth size that was planned known as the +53 Super Robusto (5 3/4 x 48). Like the rest of the line, the +53 is shrouded in mystery other than its a different blend than the core OneOff blend. What was intriguing about this cigar is it was priced at $30.00 per cigar, Illusiones most premium offering to date. This cigar was sight unseen prior to IPCPR, so the trade show was the first time it was seen. These cigars feature a special secondary band. The other main feature seen at the booth were two line extensions to Illusione Haut 10 with a Churchill (6 3/4 x 48) and Gordo (6 x 56). These cigars were released this past spring and joined the original Robusto Extra (5 1/2 x 52) size. Haut 10 consists of a Nicaraguan Cafe Claro Corojo wrappes over a blend of Nicaraguan Criollo 98 and Nicaraguan Corojo 99 tobaccos. The sizes are presented in 12-count boxes. Just prior to the IPCPR Trade Show, Dion Giolito was a guest on Episode 58 of the Prime Time Show, where we discussed OneOff and all things Illusione (and more). 2018 Product Reports Photo / Video Credits: Cigar Coop HOUR 1: Chris White and Maria Hawkins talk with Silvana Valentone and Wendy Robbins. In their work with the Catholic Centre for Immigrants (CCI), they design and implement programs that provide opportunities for seniors from multicultural backgrounds to socialize and develop language skills. Chris also talks with Marjorie Sams, one of a group of young adults who are heading to Zambia tomorrow to help run a children's summer camp. HOUR 2: Nicaragua Interview Part 2 with Pablo Luis Maradiaga and then an Interview with Mr. & Mrs. Something, on tour in Canada. Morceau de Bintou Jah Youssouf - Son son son World Go Round Linda Morrison - Line By Line - Line By Line I Know Who I Am Sinach - Shout It Loud Brand New Day Bec & Rusty - Tea for Two - Tea for Two Invitation Mr. Something Something - Mr. Something Something - Mr. Something Something Turn The Page Mr. & Mrs. Something - Turn The Page - Turn The Page We Are Bound Mr. & Mrs. Something - Turn The Page - Turn The Page Union Cabinet has approved extension of term of Commission to examine the issue of Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Central List till November 2018. This is third extension granted to commission for submission of its politically crucial report on creating quotas within quotas. Background The five member Commission was constituted under article 340 of Constitution in October, 2017 with approval of President. It is headed by former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Justice (Retd) G. Rohini. Its report was to be submitted within three months (i.e. by January 2018). But since then, it has sought and was granted extensions twice citing voluminous nature of its task. The commission has been formed under Article 340 of the Constitution which was also used to establish landmark Mandal Commission (set up in 1979) more than two decades ago which recommended 27% reservation for socially and educationally backward classes in higher education and government jobs. Over the years, benefits of this reservation was mostly cornered mostly by dominant OBC groups. The sub-categorisation commissions report is expected to recommend earmarking sub-quotas for the extremely backward classes within the OBCs. Even National Commission for Backward Classes had in 2015 had noted that unequals cannot be treated equally and recommended that OBCs be categorised into extremely backward classes, more backward classes and backward classes. At present, 11 states have sub-categorised OBCs for their state services. Centre based on devise a similar methodology for the central OBC list The Sub-categorisation commission was tasked to examine extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among castes included in broad category of OBC in central government jobs and educational institutions especially with reference to OBCs included in Central list. It was also tasked to take up exercise of identifying respective castes, sub-castes, communities synonyms in Central List of OBCs and classify them into their respective sub-categories. It is mandated was to work out mechanism, norms, criteria and parameters, in scientific approach, for sub-categorization within such OBCs. Government has informed Lok Sabha that Non-Resident Indians (NRI) cannot file Right to Information (RTI) applications to seek governance-related information from Central government departments. It mentioned that only citizens of India have the right to seek information under the provisions of RTI Act, 2005 and NRIs are not eligible to file RTI applications. Right to Information Act 2005 This law was passed by Parliament on 15 June 2005 and came fully into force on 12 October 2005. It mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information by various public authorities under Central Government as well as the State Governments. The law imposes penalty for wilful default by government officials. Citizens can ask for anything that government can disclose to Parliament. Objectives of RTI are to empower citizens (as right to information is fundamental right of the citizens under Article 19), promote transparency and accountability in working of Government, check corruption and make our democracy work for the people in real sense. Public authorities defined under this law are required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days of the request. The law also mandates every public authority to computerise their records for wide dissemination and proactively certain categories of information so that citizens need minimum recourse to request for information formally. Note: Information that can prejudicially impact internal security, relations with foreign countries, intellectual property rights, breach of parliamentary privilege and impedes investigations cannot be shared with public under RTI. Cabinet papers are exempted from RTI until decision has been implemented. However, discussions within Cabinet are never disclosed under RTI. India and Bangladesh: Human chain in protest of Indian trawler and pirates August 10,2018 | Source: Dhaka Tribune A human chain in Bargunawas organized to suppress pirates and illegal trespassing of Indian fishing trawlers in the Bay of Bengal. The protest on Wednesday took place at the Sheikh Russel Square of the Pathorghatamunicipality. Fishermen of the region took part in the protest. Later an application was submitted to the prime minister through the Pathorghata UNO. Meanwhile, Senior Fisheries Officer Azharul Islam also expressed solidarity with the fishermen. District Fisheries Trawler Owners Association President Golam Mostafa Chowdhury presided over the program. The Fishermen's Trawler Owners' Association's Vice-President Abul Hossain Farzi, trawler owners Jahirul Haque Chinu, Sagir Hossain and many other leaders spoke at the program. They said due to illegal catching of fish by Indian fishermen, different species of fish are on the verge of extinction. The Sundarbans-centered armed pirates are once again extorting the fishermen by torturing and kidnapping them. They demanded regular joint operations of the navy, coastguard and RAB, for immediate action against the pirates and the intrusion of Indian trawlers. Meanwhile, Barguna District Fisheries Trawler Owners Association has said the pirate group Choto Bhai Bahini has demanded Tk5 lakh per head for each of the fishermen they abducted. The pirate group abducted 25 fishermen on Sunday from the deep sea region of the Bay of Bengal. The kidnapped fishermen are from the Pathorghata, Bagerhat and Mohipur areas. Of them, Zafor, Khalil, Jashim and Zakir are from the Pathorghata area. Trawler owners Mosharraf Hossain and Md Nurul Islam said the pirates called from cell phone numbers 01707916053 and 01783768023 and demanded Tk5 lakh each for each of the 25 fishermen. The pirates demanded Tk10 lakh for Zafor Majhi as he showed much resistance during the kidnapping. The trawler owners also said the pirates did not mention where they haveheld the abducted fishermen. Sri Lanka: Thousands still stranded in Sri Lanka flooding August 10,2018 | Source: Mission Box While, as we reported recently, parts of northern India are suffering from a major drought, southern parts of the country have been besieged by flood-producing monsoons. Either problem can generate both immediate tragedy and long-term suffering. Indias island neighbor of Sri Lanka is still suffering from the effects of monsoons that hit the nation in May 2018. Recent reports indicate that about 120,000 people across the country are still dealing with the aftereffects of being displaced from their homes as a result of the May monsoon. Even those who have been able to remain in or return to their homes are faced with a continuing lack of access to supplies. The massive flooding has been due not only to the downpour itself but also by the number of river banks bursting and the resulting mudslides that partially or completely destroyed over 5,000 homes. According to Mission Network News, Its been hard for them to get any kind of a reprieve and, as you can imagine, with all this flooding in an island nation, there are all kinds of mudslides and people have lost everything in a lot of instances. So, their homes have been washed away. Theyre left homeless. All of their possessions are gone and theyre just still digging out from it here several months later. Faith-based NGOs are doing their best to bring aid to these families to provide comfort, shelter, and sustenance. Believers Eastern Church pastors in Sri Lanka traveled by boat to visit families in the Diocese of Colombo to distribute meals in the immediate aftermath of the storms. As the waters receded and travel by convention means became available, the pastors added complete ration kits consisting of 10 kg rice, 1 kg sugar, 1 kg flour, 1 tin canned fish, 400 gm table salt, 180 gm soya meat, 400 gm milk powder, 190 gm biscuits, 100 gm curry powder, 100 gm chili powder and 100 gm tea leaves. World Mission is another group that follows the pattern of working through national pastors first proposed 30 years ago by Dr. K.P. Yohannan in his ground-breaking book, Revolution in World Missions published by Gospel for Asia. A spokesperson described the point of Christian organizations aid efforts. We believe that just doing good works without a Gospel presentation or without showing them the motivation, were just making people more comfortable on their way to eternity. And, we want to give them the reason, the motivation behind why were doing it, which is Jesus. Indeed, as these organizations know, providing relief often opens the door to redemption by introducing the flood victims to Jesus and to his plan of redemption. We just need to be mindful that Sri Lanka is a country in great need of the Gospel and we need to make it a priority. Bangladesh: Pirates run rampant in deep sea by Kazi Alim-uz-Zaman and Himel Barua August 10,2018 | Source: Prothom Alo Fishermen in Chattogram have pirates are making their lives impossible. These robbers seize their boats, take them hostage and demand ransom from the owners of the boats. Sometimes the sea pirates loot their fish and nets if the owner refuses to pay ransom. They also often beat up or even kill the fisherman. Twenty fishermen went missing in such incidents over one month. Locals think the pirates killed them. Pirates killed 32 fishermen and threw their bodies into the sea on 2 April in 2013. Several fishing boat owners said, the coast guard responsible for their security did not take any action despite repeated complaints. These Prothom Alo correspondents found out that armed pirates attack trawlers in the deep sea. After seizing the boats they use the fishermen's mobile phones to demand ransom. Fishermen and boat owners in Bashkhai said that the main bastions of sea robbers are in coastal areas of Kutubdia, especially in Rimshakhali and Durumbazar area. President of the boat owners association, Yar Ali, spoke to Prothom Alo about this predicament. The pirates seize a boat, call its owner and demand ransom of Tk 200,000. If the owners disagree, they take away the fish and kill the fishermen. In most cases, the owners are left with no options but to pay the ransom, he said. East zone coastguard Lt Mohammad Alauddin said, No one informed us of such incidents yet. We asked Bashkhali police station to inform us if there was any case of abduction so we can act accordingly. However, there are no records of missing fishermen in Upazila Fisheries Office. Fisheries officer Altaf Hossain told Prothom Alo, A number of families of fishermen who were killed by pirates have applied for government assistance. We have a list of their names. Despite promises to have a new execution protocol drafted by July, officials said this week that implementation remains unfinished with no planned date for executions to resume. Officials with the Attorney General's Office and the Department of Corrections, meanwhile, now say there is no estimated completion date for the state's new nitrogen hypoxia protocol. "I don't know that there's necessarily been a holdup," said Matt Elliott, a corrections spokesman. "We're still working with the AG's Office in developing a protocol that is effective and humane." In March, Attorney General Mike Hunter and Department of Corrections Director Joe Allbaugh announced Oklahoma would stop using lethal injection because the execution drugs were increasingly difficult to obtain. The officials said they planned to implement a 2015 law that allows executions using nitrogen hypoxia. If successfully implemented, Oklahoma would become the first state to execute inmates using the untried method of inert gases. At the time, the men said they hoped to have the new gas protocols drafted within 120 days. Executions would resume as soon as possible after that. State law also allows for executions by firing squad or electric chair. Executions have been on hold since 2015 following several mishaps. A bungled procedure in 2014 left an inmate writhing on the gurney. In 2015, an execution was reportedly carried out with the wrong drug, and a 2nd halted after a similar issue was discovered. Meanwhile, 16 death row inmates have exhausted all appeals and are awaiting execution dates, according to state records. A 17th inmate, who also had exhausted all appeals, committed suicide earlier this year. "It's really just about getting it right," said Alex Gerszewski, a spokesman for the AG's Office. "It's important to get it right. And (the Department of Corrections) is still working on the protocol." Hunter's office will review the protocol after it's completed. Typically, officials don't tell anyone when states start working on new execution protocols, said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. The nonprofit provides information and analysis on death penalty issues. Oklahoma officials had to reveal their plans because the state remains under court order not to conduct any executions until it has a new protocol in place that can survive legal challenges, he said. "It reached the point that it had to say something to show it was doing something to move forward," Dunham said. Still, it's not unusual for states to spend at least a year developing protocols, he said. What is unusual is that Oklahoma publicly said it could develop a protocol for new execution method within 120 days, he said. "I think that they did not appreciate the difficulty in ironing out all the details, and I think that's in large measure because the Legislature acted first and left it to the department to investigate what was really necessary to bring it to reality," Dunham said. He said Oklahoma officials may be grappling with concerns about how to safety administer the deadly, odorless gas without poisoning prison employees and execution bystanders as well as design and cost questions. "It did not appear that the Oklahoma (Legislature) had taken into consideration all of the difficulties in using nitrogen hypoxia in carrying out executions," Dunham said. "The bill rocketed through the Legislature without much critical thought." | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Tahlequah Daily Press, August 10, 2018 Death row inmate Billy Ray Irick died at 7:48 p.m. Thursday after Tennessee prison officials administered a lethal dose of toxic chemicals. He was 59. His execution, the first in Tennessee since 2009, comes after his 1986 conviction in Knox County for the rape and murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer. Witnesses to the execution included members of Paula's family, Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones, Tennessee Deputy Attorney General Scott Sutherland, Irick's attorney Gene Shiles and seven members of the media. Irick is the 133rd person put to death by Tennessee since 1916. Before Irick, all but six executions occurred before 1961. Before his death, Irick ate his last meal: a burger, onion rings and a Pepsi soft drink. Shiles said earlier Thursday that Irick was in good spirits and understood he would be executed. Family of Paula Dyer among witnesses inside prison Irick lived with Paula's mother and stepfather, Kathy and Kenny Jeffers, in 1985. Although the family allowed the then-26-year-old Irick to live with them for some time, years after the crime they reported he exhibited signs of mental illness. Kathy Jeffers was among the small group of Dyer's family members seen entering Riverbend Maximum Security Institute Thursday evening. They were quiet and remained clustered together as they walked inside to where Irick would be executed. Jeffers had warned her husband she didn't want to leave the children with Irick the night of Paula's killing, that she'd seen him muttering to himself in a half-drunk rage on the porch before she left for work. Court records show the family reported Irick heard voices and was "taking instructions from the devil." He also reportedly, while carrying a machete, chased after a young girl in Knoxville in the days proceeding Paula's death. On April 15, 1985, Irick called Kenny Jeffers to say Paula would not wake up. Her parents found Paula dead on their bed. An autopsy showed she died of asphyxiation. Irick initially tried to hitchhike out of town, but was caught by police the day after Paula's death. Irick's death carried out Thursday after U.S. Supreme Court denied request Before and during his 32 years on death row, Irick repeatedly attempted to convince courts he was too mentally ill to be executed or that the drugs set for use in a lethal injection would violate his constitutional right not to be tortured to death. While courts did delay his execution several times, most recently in 2014, no court decided to weigh in to prevent his death this time. Roughly five hours before Irick's death, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan denied his request to delay his execution. However, fellow Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor blasted the decision not to delay the execution while the state reviewed its lethal injection method. "In refusing to grant Irick a stay, the Court today turns a blind eye to a proven likelihood that the state of Tennessee is on the verge of inflicting several minutes of torturous pain on an inmate in its custody, while shrouding his suffering behind a veneer of paralysis," Sotomayor wrote in her dissent. "I cannot in good conscience join in this 'rush to execute' without first seeking every assurance that our precedent permits such results ... if the law permits this execution to go forward in spite of the horrific final minutes that Irick may well experience, then we stopped being a civilized nation and accepted barbarism." Thursday afternoon, Catholic bishops in Nashville and Knoxville noted Pope Francis' recent rebuke of the death penalty to condemn Irick's execution. "The state has the obligation to protect all people and to impose just punishment for crimes, but in the modern world the death penalty is not required for either of these ends," wrote Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville and J. Mark Spalding of Nashville. Appeal continues against Tennessee's lethal injection protocol It's unclear what impact Irick's execution will have on a pending legal challenge to the state's lethal injection protocol. Irick joined 32 other death row inmates in a lawsuit arguing the three drugs Tennessee uses for lethal injections would violate their constitutional right to not be tortured to death. Experts at a trial in Davidson County argued the first drug, midazolam, does not always work as intended to render an offender unconscious and unable to feel pain. If the midazolam does not work, then the second and third drugs will cause pain similar to being burned alive and drowned, argued experts and attorneys for the death row offenders. Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle agreed the condemned may feel pain as he or she dies, but noted there is no legal right to a painless death. She rejected the inmates' lawsuit, prompting an appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Citing a procedural bar for the first time, a majority of the state's high court determined the inmates had a low chance at succeeding and therefore Irick's execution should not be delayed. "By applying the law and requiring satisfaction of this legal standard, we are not 'rush(ing) to execute' Mr. Irick. In fact, this suggestion is astonishing, actually, given that Mr. Irick was convicted and sentenced 32 years ago and has obtained multiple stays over the years," the four-member majority wrote in a footnote of their opinion. In a relatively unusual move, Justice Sharon Lee dissented. "The harm to Mr. Irick of an unconstitutional execution is irreparable," Lee wrote in a forceful break with the majority. "Yet the harm to the State from briefly delaying the execution until after appellate review is minimal, if any." Immediately after the state Supreme Court's decision, Gov. Bill Haslam also announced he would not intervene. "My role is not to be the 13th juror or the judge or to impose my personal views, but to carefully review the judicial process to make sure it was full and fair," Haslam said in a news release earlier this week. "Because of the extremely thorough judicial review of all of the evidence and arguments at every stage in this case, clemency is not appropriate. In January, the Tennessee Supreme Court scheduled an Oct. 11 execution for Edmond Zagorski and a Dec. 11 death date for David Earl Miller. Tennessee executes Billy Ray Irick, first lethal injection in state since 2009 Death row inmate Billy Ray Irick died at 7:48 p.m. Thursday after Tennessee prison officials administered a lethal dose of toxic chemicals. He was 59. His execution, the first in Tennessee since 2009, comes after his 1986 conviction in Knox County for the rape and murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer. Witnesses to the execution included members of Paula's family, Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones, Tennessee Deputy Attorney General Scott Sutherland, Irick's attorney Gene Shiles and 7 members of the media. Irick is the 133rd person put to death by Tennessee since 1916. Before Irick, all but 6 executions occurred before 1961. Moments before officials began administering the fatal doses, Irick, held down by straps over his chest and arms, muttered his final words: "I just want to say I'm really sorry. And that ... that's it." The execution began later than scheduled, the blinds to the execution room being lifted at 7:26 p.m., 16 minutes later than the expected time of 7:10 p.m. Irick, dressed in a white prison jumpsuit and black socks, was coughing, choking and gasping for air. His face turned dark purple as the lethal drugs took over, media witnesses reported. "I never thought for one moment that it would come to this," Shiles said inside the prison before the execution began. "I never did." Witnesses entered the execution viewing chamber at 6:43 p.m., where prison officials turned out the lights until the blinds to the glass were lifted. Shiles and Deputy Attorney General Scott Sutherland left the viewing room at 7:12 p.m., presumably to go into the execution chamber and observe Irick's IV being adminsitered. When the 2 men returned into the observation room around 7:25 p.m., Shiles told witnesses that he kissed Irick and touched him. Moments later the blinds lifted and Irick made his statement, the administration of a combination of powerful and deadly medications commenced. First the executioner injected Irick with midazolam, a drug intended to render Irick unconscious. After Riverbend Warden Tony Mays determined Irick was unconscious, the executioner injected vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride. The drugs are intended to stop Irick's lungs and heart. Around the country, death row offenders have writhed, screamed, groaned and gasped as lethal injection drugs take longer than expected to work or don't work at all. At least twice in Ohio, the state had to call off executions after prison staff could not find a viable vein for the intravenous injection of the drugs. Irick was a heavy-set man. Tennessee does not change its execution protocol depending on the body type of the condemned. But midazolam has a different effect on different people. Appeal continues against Tennessee's lethal injection protocol It's unclear what impact Irick's execution will have on a pending legal challenge to the state's lethal injection protocol. Irick joined 32 other death row inmates in a lawsuit arguing the 3 drugs Tennessee uses for lethal injections would violate their constitutional right to not be tortured to death. Experts at a trial in Davidson County argued the 1st drug, midazolam, does not always work as intended to render an offender unconscious and unable to feel pain. If the midazolam does not work, then the second and third drugs will cause pain similar to being burned alive and drowned, argued experts and attorneys for the death row offenders. Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle agreed the condemned may feel pain as he or she dies, but noted there is no legal right to a painless death. She rejected the inmates' lawsuit, prompting an appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Citing a procedural bar for the first time, a majority of the state's high court determined the inmates had a low chance at succeeding and therefore Irick's execution should not be delayed. "By applying the law and requiring satisfaction of this legal standard, we are not 'rush(ing) to execute' Mr. Irick. In fact, this suggestion is astonishing, actually, given that Mr. Irick was convicted and sentenced 32 years ago and has obtained multiple stays over the years," the four-member majority wrote in a footnote of their opinion. In a relatively unusual move, Justice Sharon Lee dissented. "The harm to Mr. Irick of an unconstitutional execution is irreparable," Lee wrote in a forceful break with the majority. "Yet the harm to the State from briefly delaying the execution until after appellate review is minimal, if any." Irick becomes the 7th condemned inmate to be put to death in Tennessee since the state resumed capital punishment in 2000. Irick becomes the 15th condemned inmate to be put to death in the USA this year and the 1480th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977. Tennessee executes killer with controversial drugs that Justice Sotomayor said could inflict torturous pain Tennessee executed Billy Ray Irick on Thursday night, after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a final request to stay his execution . Convicted of the 1985 rape and murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer, Irick, 59, is the first state inmate to be put to death since 2009. He was also the first to receive Tennessees new and controversial three-drug cocktail. Thursdays lethal injection was made up of compounded midazolam, used to render a person unable to feel pain during an execution, a paralytic drug called vecuronium bromide, and compounded potassium chloride for the killing agent. Potassium chloride has been described by the U.S. Supreme Court as chemically burning at the stake. In recent years, there have been numerous executions where witness accounts raised questions about whether the inmates were sufficiently anesthetized when the killing drugs were administered. These performances have raised questions about Midazolams effectiveness as a sedative in executions. Thursdays application for a stay of execution followed a lower state court determination that the new combination of drugs may not be not chemically appropriate. A second concern in Iricks case, according to Robert Durham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, was that Irick was mentally ill. Tennessee has pending legislation that, if passed, would make it illegal to apply the death penalty to a person with serious mental illness. Its unseemly that Irick would be executed and then the case ultimately gets resolved in his favor, said Durham. The request to delay was referred to the U.S. Supreme Court by Justice Elena Kagan. The only noted dissent was from Justice Sonia Sotomayor; the courts order did not specify how the other justices would have voted. Iricks is the first death-penalty case thats come to the court since Justice Anthony M. Kennedy retired July 31, which left the court shorthanded. Although the Midazolam may temporarily render Irick unconscious, the onset of pain and suffocation will rouse him. And it may do so just as the paralysis sets in, too late for him to alert bystanders that his execution has gone horribly (if predictably) wrong, wrote Sotomayor. The dissent echoes comments she made last year aimed at Midazolam in a case involving an Alabama inmate. In refusing to grant Irick a stay, the Court today turns a blind eye to a proven likelihood that the State of Tennessee is on the verge of inflicting several minutes of torturous pain on an inmate in its custody, Sotomayor wrote. . . . If the law permits this execution to go forward in spite of the horrific final minutes that Irick may well experience, then we have stopped being a civilized nation and accepted barbarism. Though controversial, the use of Midazolam has come before courts numerous times and been used in multiple executions, some of them highly criticized. In perhaps the most high-profile case, an inmate in Oklahoma grimaced and kicked during his 2014 lethal injection involving the drug. Authorities called off the execution, but he died not long after. A state investigation later blamed problems with the IV insertion. That same year, an Arizona execution using the sedative lasted for nearly two hours . Another execution that year in Ohio saw the inmate writhe and gasp for air and, in 2016, witnesses to an execution in Alabama said the inmate there coughed and heaved. The U.S. Supreme Court heard a challenge to Oklahomas use of Midazolam in 2015 and upheld the states lethal injection protocol in a 5-to-4 decision, holding that the drug cocktail did not violate the U.S. Constitutions ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Sotomayor referenced that decision in her dissent Thursday, writing that the court did not did not categorically determine whether a lethal injection protocol using Midazolam is a constitutional method of execution but instead found no error in a lower courts determination that the drug was highly likely to prevent a person from feeling pain. States have turned to Midazolam in recent years as they struggled to obtain the drugs needed for lethal injections, a shortage fueled in part by the objections drugmakers have to their products being used to carry out death sentences. In response to the shortage, states have turned to new and untested drug combinations or explored other execution methods. Oklahoma announced earlier this year that it would begin using nitrogen gas rather than lethal injections in response to the shortage, while Utah previously adopted firing squads as the states backup method of execution Last month, authorities in Nevada were hours away from carrying out the countrys first execution using fentanyl when a judge called it off due to a challenge from Alvogen, a drug company. The firm objected to Nevadas plans to use its Midazolam, and in court filings the company listed the controversial executions in Oklahoma, Arizona and Alabama that all used the same drug. Arkansas similarly resumed executions last year after a 12-year lull, carrying out four lethal injections in eight days . Officials said that frantic pace was necessary because their stock of Midazolam acquired just days after the Supreme Court ruling upheld Oklahomas protocol in 2015 was about to expire. On Thursday, Iricks execution began at 7:26 p.m. at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. He was pronounced dead at 7:48. In the room with him was Deputy Attorney General Scott Sutherland, Sheriff Jimmy J.J. Jones, seven media witnesses and Iricks attorney witness, C. Eugene Shiles. Source: The Washington Post , Deanna Paul and Mark Berman, August 9, 2018 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court has made it clear that it was within the domain of the Chief Minister to make his choice and advice the Governor as to who shall be appointed as the minister in the Council of Ministers. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice V. Ramasubramanian was dismissing a PIL by a practising advocate Dara Srisailam from Warangal seeking to declare the act of Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in not referring the names of women MLAs name to the Governor since June 2, 2014 till date to appoint them as ministers in his Cabinet which he said was violative of Article 14, 15, 16, 21 and 164 of the Constitution. The bench noted that there was no provision in Article 164 of the Constitution, except those relating to some of the states enumerated therein, which provides any constitutional compulsion as to inclusion of any particular community. The bench pointed out that Article 164 has been made in such a way that there was no room for any exclusion either on the basis solely of gender, or on the basis of religion, caste or community and similarly, it was within the domain of the Chief Minister to make his choice and advice the Governor as to who shall be appointed as the minister. The bench said, The due procedure in relation to the advice of the Chief Minister having been made, the Governor is always within the jurisdiction to appoint the Ministers in the Council of Ministers. That is not a matter which would be justiciable in terms of Article 226 of the Constitution unless the particular person so included is disqualified to hold such office in terms of the Constitution and the Laws. Referring to the argument of the petitioner that the constitutional vision was to push forward the SC, ST, and BC communities and womenfolk thereof, the bench said, We are of the view that it would not be within judicial domain to take cognisance of any such proposition, having regard to the limits of judicial review in relation to matters falling under Articles 163 and 164 of the Constitution. 26 years on, HCMC seeks new investors for mega urban area The Binh Quoi-Thanh Da Urban Area Project has been delayed for 26 years. Photo by VnExpress HCMC authorities have instructed the Department of Planning and Investment to identify investors for the Binh Quoi-Thanh Da Urban Area Project via auctions. The long-delayed urban area project, in Binh Thanh District, is estimated to cost VND30 trillion ($1.32 billion). The municipal People's Committee has also instructed the Department of Construction to allow local residents to repair and upgrade houses, which they have been unable to do for many years because no such work is allowed on the project site. At a meeting with the Peoples Council last month city Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong had assured there would be no further delays in the project. The Binh Quoi-Thanh Da Urban Area project was approved by the Peoples Committee in 1992. In 2004 the Saigon Construction Corporation was chosen as the developer. But with the company unable to go ahead with the project, in 2015 the city handed it to a consortium comprised of Vietnams leading private firm Bitexco and Dubais Emaar Properties. In 2017 Emaar Properties pulled out two years later blaming it on delays in land acquisition. Last year the city sought government approval to name Bitexco as the sole developer investor, a move expected to end the 26-year delay. Jorge Martin-Martinez - General director of DKSH Vietnam believes that talent attraction and retention strategy are crucial for a business, especially in a changing world like nowadays. The way people work and connect with each other has been changing dramatically because of technology. Artificial intelligence and big data play a major role in shaping gradually how we live and do business. A Goldsmiths research team predicts that 80 percent of repetitive jobs will soon be accomplished by machines. As a result, the coming workforce will change rapidly to fit these changing forces. Thanks to the application of artificial intelligence, the tasks left for humans will become more complex. Jorge Martin-Martinez - General director of DKSH Vietnam believes this enables employees to challenge themselves and unleash their full potential. "Complexity comes hand in hand with versatility and diversity, talents are now required to have a skill set that can nurture something beyond creativity and innovation", said Martin-Martinez. Jorge Martin-Martinez - General director of DKSH Vietnam. Besides, the attractiveness of a workplace is now determined by how cultured and diverse it is. Employees expect quality leadership and inclusion in a work environment where they are given chances to become a better employee. The representative of DKSH Vietnam suggests companies should be ready to adapt to this rapidly changing business environment and to transform ourselves accordingly with these disruptive trends. First, employers must create a work environment that can reshape itself quickly around these changes. Second, employees should be constantly made aware of these changes and what impacts their businesses. Third, it is crucial to implement an optimized organization that helps sustain the best efficiency and productivity. A long-term goal should be set for human resources. Workforce should be strategic partners in the journey of enabling a proactive leadership culture and applying technology to enhance the work quality which will result in sustainable and profitable businesses. To making the work experience valuable, DKSH Vietnam provide a wide range of services to several clients, industries and regions with diverse products. This has opened for employees a variety of hands-on learning and development opportunities. Therefore, employees become the experts in their fields and have chances to learn about other areas of expertise. This helps promote versatility and adaptability among employees. DKSH offers a dynamic growth environment and a unique work culture. Thanks to this HR strategy, in March 2018, DKSH Vietnam was named as one of Vietnam best places to work 2017. This annual award is announced by Anphabe, a leading career network of management professionals and Intage Vietnam, an experienced market research company. The award also demonstrates DKSH nurture the potential in people and offer an attractive work environment that satisfies employees' needs. The survey was conducted independently, with in-depth interviews, qualitative and quantitative surveys to capture the most objective comments. This year's survey is the largest ever with over 26.100 candidates from 24 industries. The survey team also conducted in-depth interviews with 50 HR managers, of which 25% came from Vietnamese enterprises and 75% were foreign. Anh Nguyen The country's refined fuel deficit will still remain though Nghi Son Refinery's imminent start of production is to improve its self-sufficiency. Vietnams second standalone oil refining and petrochemical complex will be operated by a joint venture between Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and its partners, Fitch Solutions Macro Research said in a freshly-released outlook for Vietnams fuel processing sector. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in November after performance tests are completed. The $6 billion project in the central province of Thanh Hoa will have a processing capacity of 200,000 barrels per day (b/d) of crude, mostly from Kuwait, to produce gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Petrochemicals production is slated to start next year when Nghi Sons polypropylene, naphtha and aromatics units come on stream. The output from Nghi Son will primarily serve the domestic market, which continues to suffer a shortage of refined fuels and depends on imports, the Fitch report said. The production of diesel and gasoline - the two most widely consumed fuels in Vietnam - would contribute more than half of the plants capacity, with 38 percent of diesel and 14 percent of gasoline. However, the output from Nghi Son will not be sufficient to stop imports, only reduce it. Nghi Son and the existing Dung Quat Refinery will struggle to keep pace with the rising demand, which is forecast to grow annually by 5 percent on average from now through 2027, outperforming the average of 3 percent in emerging Asia. The report added that reduced fuel flows into Vietnam will likely be offset by demand growth across Asian emerging markets, though risks exist due to higher oil prices and potential spillover from rising global trade tensions. People pass a branch of Ocean Bank located at the PetroVietnam's building in Hanoi. Photo by Reuters Vietnam will allow foreign investors to fully acquire weak banks, says Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue. The government would sell banks it has acquired to foreign investors based on the Law on Credit Institutions, he told a forum on mergers and acquisitions held in HCMC on Wednesday. On the list are Oceanbank, Vietnam Construction Bank, and Global Petro Commercial Joint Stock Bank. Many investors have expressed interest in this new policy, he said. Vietnam will also limit or possibly stop issuing new licenses for the establishment of 100-percent foreign owned banks in the country, Hue said. The restructuring of the financial-banking industry has helped reduce its bad debts from 10.08 percent in early 2016 to 6.9 percent last June, and the government continues to encourage the acquisition of small banks and credit institutions by large banks. The number of credit institutions in Vietnam is still too high and we need to restructure the system, Hue said. The government plans to let the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank), the only 100 percent state-owned lender, launch an initial public offering next year. The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam JSC (BIDV) and Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) will further sell state stakes. The banking-finance sector accounted for 4 percent of the total M&A value in Vietnam last year, which stood at $10.2 billion, the highest ever. In the first half of this year that ratio climbed to 19.06 percent out of $3.55 billion. A major M&A deal announced in the first seven months of the year is Warburg Pincuss acquisition of stakes in Techcombank, one of Vietnams largest private lenders. A bank announcement in March said two separate legal entities managed by the global private equity firm, which focuses on growth investing, will invest over $370 million in the bank. South Koreas Shinhan Bank Vietnam last year acquired the retail business of ANZ Vietnam in the latest move to secure new growth engines in the emerging Asian market. Earlier Shinhan Financial Group said its subsidiary, Shinhan Card, had completed the acquisition of Prudential Vietnam Finance. Vietnam has nine wholly-owned foreign banks, four state-owned banks and 31 joint-stock banks. Vietnam might have to import power from China and Laos after 2020, says a senior official. There is a real risk of power shortages in 2021-2023, and the risk will get higher if consumption surpasses forecasts in the coming years, Hoang Quoc Vuong, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, told the Vietnam Energy Forum in Hanoi on Thursday. Although the sole power distributor Vietnam Electricity (EVN) is currently able to meet the countrys demand, there is a strong likelihood that the increasing needs of a 95-million population outstrip the capacity. This can happen as early as 2020 if the generators dont operate well or there is not enough coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to produce power, EVN Deputy Director Ngo Son Hai said at the forum. While more coal power projects are being built in the south, shortages can happen if these constructions run behind schedule, he noted. Power shortage will increase by 7.2-7.5 billion kilowatts hours a year in the southern region for each delayed project, Hai said, adding that there were seven underway at present. Southern provinces need more coal power projects be built to provide over 18,000 megawatts needed in the next five years, but none of them have opened yet, he said. Deputy Minister Vuong proposed that Vietnam starts importing electricity from Laos and China, to meet rising demand in the country. Vietnam should also create favorable conditions for renewable power projects, like solar and wind power, be developed near high consumption areas, he said. Vuong noted encouraging the installation of rooftop solar power systems could be one solution to address the looming power shortage. To meet the high demand for power, Vietnam needs to produce 278 billion kilowatt hours in 2020, and this number needs to double by 2030, according to EVN. The countrys installed power capacity is estimated to reach 47,800 megawatts by the end of 2018, 5.4 times that of 2003, making the country second in ASEAN and 25th in the world, EVN said. A central Vietnam province is trying to buy back acacia plantations to save critically endangered douc langurs. A group of grey-shanked doucs in Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province, are on the verge of extinction due to food shortage and habitat loss. Authorities in the central province are scrambling to expand the habitat of the critically endangered douc langurs in an attempt to save the last members of the rare primates, which are protected by Vietnamese and international laws. Quang Nam Vice Chairman Le Tri Thanh said local authorities were buying acres of acacia trees from local farmers to revive natural forests. A grey-shanked douc looks for food on Hon Do Mountain in Quang Nam Province. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh The langurs are living in a limited natural forest area covering 10 hectares on top of Hon Do Mountain. The species is in peril because many local residents have cleared forests to plant acacia trees for timber, Thanh said. Therefore, local authorities are making efforts to revive natural forests to provide the douc langurs somewhere to live and access fresh food sources, he added. The species are on the verge of extinction due to a lack of food, loss of natural habitat and harsh weather conditions. In addition, illegal hunting and forest fires are to blame for the disappearance of the primates, a representative of the GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Center in Da Nang told VnExpress. Locals said there used to be roughly 100 members of the species in the province, but now only around 20 can be spotted. The population started shrinking around 10 years ago when the forest was cleared to make way for acacia tree plantations, they said, echoing Vice Chairman Thanh. Grey-shanked doucs have been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and are among the 25 most threatened groups of primates in the world. The animal is native to Quang Nam and several other central provinces. In 2016, the Fauna and Flora International announced a discovery of more than 500 individuals in the region, bringing the groups global population to around 1,000. Ding Ning Shan, one of two Chinese thieves caught in Quang Ninh this week, is held at a police station. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency Two Chinese tourists who robbed a petrol station in Quang Ninh should face criminal charges, police have recommended. Ding Shi Jie, 30, and Ding Ning Shan, 36, entered Vietnam illegally on Tuesday through the Mong Cai border gate in the northern province. The same night, the duo broke into the office of a petrol station in Hoa Lac Ward in Mong Cai Town, around 156 kilometers (96 miles) northwest of the world-famous Ha Long Bay. When a female staff of the petrol station spotted the duo and raised an alarm, they gagged her and tied her hands before ransacking the office. They also took a cell phone and VND210,000 ($9) from the woman. Residents who heard the commotion alerted the local police. They also caught Shan and took him to the police station, while Jie escaped with a car at the petrol station. Jie then rammed the car into the police and managed to rescue his accomplice before fleeing. Yet both were arrested after they crashed into a street divider and the car plunged off the road. A car that two Chinese robbers stole from a petrol station in Quang Ninh to flee from the police on Tuesday is badly damaged. Photo by VnExpress/B.M. Cases of Chinese nationals illegally entering Vietnam via the border in Quang Ninh are common. In several instances, they have been caught overstaying their visas after a trip to Ha Long. A 70-year-old Khmer pagoda in Saigon meditates on the Buddha in the bustling urban air. A golden Buddha shrine in the Chantarangsay Pagoda, also known as Chandaransi (Moonlight), the first Khmer pagoda opened in Saigon in 1946, welcoming devout Buddhists to pray and meditate. The 4,500-square-meter pagoda, lying along the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal in District 3, has undergone seven restorations. The Chantarangsay Pagoda is a religious and cultural haven for the Khmer people in the south of Vietnam. The pagoda also houses monks from Theravada sect, the most ancient branch of Buddhism. The sanctum has two floors with four gates in the front, back and east side. On the top of the sanctum are three golden stupas, which stand out from a distance. The main entrance is decorated by delicate and skillfully made reliefs of Gautama Buddha. Adhering to Theravada Buddhism, the pagoda worships the Gautama Buddha but not the East Asian Bodhisattva Guanyin or other gods. On the ceiling and four walls are pictures that depict the Gautama's journey to Buddhahood and beyond. Statues of Garuda and Naga, the legendary bird and snake that are deities in Buddhist and Hindu mythology, are found on many walls, pillars and roof of the pagoda. Right next to the sanctum is a shrine that holds the earthly remains of monks and other Buddhist devotees. The pagoda is not too big, but visitors can feel its tranquil vibe amidst a bustling city. Many sacred festivals and holy days in the Buddhist tradition are celebrated and commemorated in the Chatarangsay Pagoda, like Choi Chnam Thmay, Buddhas Birthday and Ok Om Bok. Chantarangsay also houses many Khmer monks who visit or study here. Three destinations near Saigon make for perfect weekend getaways A short ride from Saigon and you will immerse yourselves in fresh air away from the turbulent and noisy urban life. 1. Cao Minh Tourist Area - A version of the Sword Lake Around 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Ho Chi Minh City, the Cao Minh Tourist Area in Dong Nai Province offers nature lovers a serene weekend spot with its green trees and grass carpets. Photo by Xu Kien The ecotourism spot has three lakes with emerald green waters, with the one in the middle of the place having a small tower that evokes a feeling of being in Hoan Kiem (Sword Lake) in Hanoi. Photo by Xu Kien Entry tickets costs VND15,000 ($0.65) while visitors can also opt to camp overnight at VND70,000 ($3) per person, and there are also around 30 homestays along the lakes. Photo by Xu Kien If you visit as a group, try some outdoor activities to recharge your batteries such as rowing, fishing or sliding on a zip line. 2. Tri An Lake Tri An Lake, around 75 kilometers from Saigon, is one of the top camping destinations in southern Vietnam but has been overlooked by tourists. Tourists travel on a boat to an island in Tri An Lake. Photo courtesy of Dong Nai Tourism Center The lake is blessed with around 40 small islands, of which Dong Truong and O (eagle) are considered the most beautiful and beguile tourists with their pristine beauty where visitors can feel free to take a camping trip. Camping is prohibited in the rest of the lake area, which stores water for the Tri An hydropower plant. From a wharf at Dong Truong, visitors can hire a boat or canoe for VND110,000-130,000 to glide over the crystal blue waters of the lake on a 40-minute trip to O Island, which is right next to Dong Truong. Photo courtesy of Dong Nai Tourism Center Since these deserted islands are still off the beaten path, tourism services are not fully developed: There are no luxury hotels or fancy restaurants, only homestays where you can stay the night for VND120,000 per room. 3. Mini Ha Long Bay Buu Long Park, which is about an hours drive from Saigon downtown, is dubbed a mini version of the UNESCO-recognized Halong Bay thanks to its mix of rocky mountains rising above clear waters. Long An Lake at the foot of Long An Mountain, which was created over hundreds of years as locals mined stones, is an enthralling sight and one that is waiting to be discovered. Photo by VnExpress The photograph of a stunning fence of old television sets in southern Vietnam has gone viral within and outside the country. During a family trip to Phu Quoc Island, Tien Thanh, a Hanoi resident, found this unique fence and posted a photo on Facebook earlier this month. A traveler takes picture in front of the fence made of old TVs. Photo by Tien Thanh We spotted the houses fence made with old TV sets as we were on our way to the Hon Thom cable car, Thanh said. The 20-meter-long fence has five levels and extends to both sides of the gate. I could not learn much more since the house owner was not there when the picture was taken. I was very impressed. Thanh also noted that there were pathways at the two bottom levels that would allow people to walk between two rows, while the top three levels are stacked immediately on top of one another, created a perfect background for taking photos. He also said that beside his group, other tourists and travelers were also taking pictures in front of this striking house. The stunning TV fence in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. as shown in a photo shared on Facebook. Phu Tan, a resident of An Thoi Town, said the home owner has been collecting and displaying the TV fence for more than 10 years. The unique fence has also been picked up by some international sites like Wakkinews and Odditycentral, with interesting comments. How those old cathode ray tubes havent been shattered by strong winds or vandals is a mystery, as is the reason why the owner decided on this particular material for the fence, Odditycentral wrote. The house is in Quarter 6, An Thoi Town, Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province. Smugglers are increasingly using drones to move cigarettes from Ukraine to Europe where they can be sold tax-free at a tidy profit. Three smugglers attacked a Ukrainian border guard in a village bordering Romania this week, after the guards detachment caught them flying illegal cigarettes across the border on a drone. The guard surmised the location of the drones pilot by tracking its movements. As he approached the hideout, however, three men rushed out, beat him, and shot him with a rubber bullet, according to OCCRP. Police reinforcements called in arrested the three. Smugglers are increasingly using drones to move cigarettes from Ukraine to Europe where they can be sold tax-free at a tidy profit, according to Ukraines State Border Guard. The trade has been estimated at over US$2 billion annually. As UNIAN reported earlier citing an investigation by Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung, Ukraine's annual losses caused by flourishing corruption at customs amount to more than EUR 4 billion. One of the schemes involves altering in the process of customs clearance the markings on goods imported into Ukraine. For example, more umbrellas "turn into" much cheaper brushes or handmirrors. The state is missing thousands of euros on every single batch imported under the corrupt scheme. According to the publication, Ukrainian police, prosecutors, and security operatives are involved in the fraud. To carry out illegal transactions, new firms are founded, controlled by the entourage of customs agents, prosecutors, and police. Ukraine boosts petroleum products imports by over 31%, to almost US$2.8 bln in Jan-July The two major suppliers are Russia and Belarus. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ukraine's agriculture ministry, grain exporters agree on wheat export volumes in 2018 EBA The ministry and the market players are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding today, August 10. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Poroshenko says Nord Stream 2 is a 'Trojan horse' of the Kremlin against European energy and geopolitical security. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called on European partners to abandon the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. "Nord Stream 2 is a 'Trojan horse' of the Kremlin against European energy and, ultimately, geopolitical security," he wrote on Facebook. The president says the refusal to implement the project within the framework of the Third Energy Package of the EU and deliberate failure of Gazprom to implement the decisions of the Stockholm Arbitration on cases with Ukraine these are clear and unambiguous signals about the true motives of the gas pipeline and its potential catastrophic consequences for the European Union. "I call on our European partners to get rid of the deceptive and destructive Kremlin spell as soon as possible and firmly defend their own energy security," Poroshenko said. As UNIAN reported earlier, in late July, Petro Poroshenko and newly appointed U.S. Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources Francis Fannon have coordinated approaches and practical measures of the Ukrainian and American sides in countering the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Meanwhile, Germany-based Uniper, one of Gazprom's European partners in the construction of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine, has announced that the pipes start being laid in the Baltic Sea. The airline expected the travel plans of 42,000 travelers to be hit by the action in Germany alone. Ryanair faced its worst one-day strike on Friday after a walk-out by pilots in five European countries disrupted the plans of an estimated 55,000 travelers with the budget airline at the height of the summer holiday season. Ryanair, which averted widespread strikes before last Christmas by agreeing to recognize unions for the first time in its 30-year history, has been unable to quell rising protests over slow progress in negotiating collective labor agreements, as reported by Reuters. Read alsoNumber of vacation charter flights from Ukraine doubles minister In response to unions serving strike notices, Ryanair had announced the cancellations in recent days of 250 flights in and out of Germany, 104 to and from Belgium and another 42 in Sweden and its home market of Ireland, where around a quarter of its pilots were staging their fifth 24-hour walkout. The airline expected the travel plans of 42,000 travelers to be hit by the action in Germany alone, with the majority of passengers switched to another Ryanair flight and the remainder either refunded or rerouted. This application will not substitute the current application which was filed in April 2017. Nord Stream 2 AG has handed in an application and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to the Danish Energy Agency for a route passing through the Danish exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to the north-west of Bornholm. This is an alternative route that does not pass through Danish territorial waters, according to the official website of Nord Stream 2. It is reported this application will not substitute the current application which was filed in April 2017. Nord Stream 2 maintains that the first application provides the optimal route for the pipelines in Danish waters and will remain the preferred route. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked Ukraine's European partners to abandon the Nord Stream-2 project, calling it the Kremlin's "Trojan horse" against European energy and geopolitical security. Ukraine ranks sixth among Europe's largest beer suppliers in 2017 Ukrainian beer exports grew by 50% in 2017 from 2016. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter The people of Zimbabwe recently went to the polls to elect a new president. According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling Zanu-PF party won the July 30 election by a narrow margin. But the opposition said the results are fraudulent and has challenged the results in court. This election presented Zimbabwe with an historic chance to move beyond the political and economic mismanagement of the past and toward democratic change. The Zimbabwean people turned out massively to cast their votes, underscoring their aspirations for a better future, despite challenges during the pre-election period. Unfortunately, according to international observers, while election day itself was peaceful, the period directly after was marred by violence and disproportionate use of deadly force by security forces against protestors. The United States extends its condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured and calls on the leaders of all parties and their supporters to act peacefully. The United States welcomed the commitment by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release comprehensive and transparent election results, said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. The United States will continue to review the data collected by its own observation teams, by international observation missions, and by local observers to make a complete assessment of the overall election. We encourage all stakeholders and citizens to pursue any grievances peacefully and through established legal channels, said Ms. Nauert, and we encourage all political leaders to show magnanimity in victory and graciousness in defeat. The United States remains focused on working with Zimbabwe as its people and government strive toward still-needed comprehensive electoral, political, economic, and human rights reforms. Sayf al-Adl is a fugitive and suspected high-ranking member of the al-Qaida terror network who is wanted in connection with the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. He is an Egyptian citizen, with black hair and dark eyes. He is also believed to be affiliated with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. He is also known as Ibrahim Al-Madani and Muhamad Ibrahim Makkawi. Hundreds of people were killed in the embassy attacks and thousands wounded, most Kenyan and Tanzanian citizens. Twelve Americans died. For these and other acts, al-Adl is charged with murder, conspiracy to destroy United States property and other crimes. For information leading to al-Adls arrest or conviction, the U.S. Department of States Rewards for Justice program is offering a reward of up to $10 million. The U.S. guarantees that all reports will be investigated and the identity of all informants will be kept confidential. If appropriate, the U.S. is prepared to protect informants by relocating them. As promised, President Donald Trump has re-imposed a series of U.S. nuclear-related sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. After the U.S. ceased its participation in the deal in May and a wind-down period of 90 days ended, sanctions went into effect August 7 targeting, among other things, Irans purchase or acquisition of U.S. bank notes; its automotive industry, and transactions related to Irans currency, the rial. All remaining U.S. nuclear-related sanctions, including those targeting Irans energy sector and transactions by foreign financial institutions with the Central Bank of Iran, will be re-imposed on November 5, 2018. In a written statement President Trump said, The United States is fully committed to enforcing all of our sanctions, and we will work closely with nations conducting business with Iran to ensure complete compliance. Individuals or entities that fail to wind down activities with Iran risk severe consequences. President Trump welcomed the decisions by many international firms to leave the Iranian market, and noted that several countries have indicated they will end the imports of Iranian oil. We urge all nations, he said, to take such steps to make clear that the Iranian regime faces a choice: either change its threatening, destabilizing behavior and reintegrate with the global economy, or continue down a path of economic isolation. U.S. officials have noted that the revenue Iran received because of sanctions relief under the nuclear deal was used to spread terrorism and instability from Syria, to Yemen, to Gaza and beyond, instead of being used to improve the lives of the Iranian people. In his statement, President Trump emphasized that while the United States continues to apply maximum economic pressure on the Iranian regime so that it changes its destructive policies, he remains open to reaching a more comprehensive deal that addresses the full range of the regimes malign activities, including its ballistic missile program and its support for terrorism. In addition, President Trump stressed continued support for the Iranian people who are the rightful heirs to Irans rich heritage and the real victims of the regimes policies. We look forward to the day, he said, when the people of Iran, and all people across the region, can prosper together in safety and peace. UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia 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 Google Ad The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden. "The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer Generation A 13 your chance to be the change President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev "uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road 440 Diaspora Armenians step towards home (video) 440 young Diaspora Armenians came homeland within the framework of the Step Towards Home program. The opening ceremony of the Step Towards Home program took place at the Armenian-Russian University. Minister of Diaspora Mkhitar Hayrapetyan considered important that the young people are really in a revolutionary new Armenia and congratulated everyone for the launch of the Step Towards Home program. Previously, there were not 440 participants at the same time. This is a challenge, this is for the first time that such a big event is being implemented and there will be shortcomings. We must approach them with a sense of humor, the minister said in his speech. The Minister of Diaspora expressed confidence that young people would love this country and will be crazy about it. I know that many of the program participants will move to Armenia. You are not guests here, you are the owners, said Mkhitar Hayrapetyan. Medical students require their right to be lieutenant (video) Medical students note that they do not want to give up military service, but they require their right to be a lieutenant: Students who graduated from Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) require a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for solving the issue of their specialization. The young men claim that, according to the law, they must receive a title of lieutenant and then be conscripted to the army, but the Ministry of Defense refuses to provide it and offers an internship option that creates a number of problems and is not unacceptable by the students. One of the students Vardan Shahinyan mentions: "The Defense Ministry offers us to study internship for one year and then to conscript army as a lieutenant. The disagreement here is that first we must learn in internships and become ordinary soldiers. So why should we be deprived of the title of our lieutenant, which we actually have, and then get it? The second option is to be conscripted as an ordinary soldier, ignoring the military knowledge and doctor's diploma. Our rights are being violated here. The title of lieutenant is our right. We demand that he gives us it." The students have had meeting with Minister of Education and Science Arayik Harutyunyan. The latter agreed with them, understanding that the problem should be solved. Currently, the number of these students is 33, who have study excellent and free for over 6 years. They also stress that in case of serving and returning back as an ordinary military serviceman, they will no longer be able to use the free internship, and according to them there are a lot of students who have been deprived of free internship because of this. More information is in the video. Plenipotentiary Representative of Yerevan Mayor receives Nikol Pashinyan's announcement The Plenipotentiary Representative of the Mayor of Yerevan received the information by the citizens of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Vahagn Hovakimyan, about having a rally on August 17, at 18.30-23.00 in the Republic Square, and marching on the routes of Republic Square - Amiryan Street - Mashtots Avenue - Sayat-Nova Avenue - Khanjyan Street - Tigran Mets Avenue - Republic Square at 20.00. To remind, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called for huge rally on August 17 on the occasion of his being prime minister for 100 days. "I have missed you so much, I want to have a chance to communicate with you again. Besides, I want to have an important conversation about what happened in the Republic of Armenia during the last 100 days and what will happen later," stated Nikol Pashinyan on his Facebook account. The prime minister attached importance to the participation of all citizens in the rally and mentioned that it is necessary for launching the development of Armenia in practice. Nikol Pashinyan also mentioned that during the rally, they will address the problems and challenges faced by the government during this time and deal with solutions of them at present. UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia Google Ad 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 Google Ad The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden. "The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer Generation A 13 your chance to be the change President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev "uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road Document about Manvel Grigoryan contains medical secrets The RA Ministry of Justice responded to the Ombudsman's announcement on Manvel Grigoryan's health condition at Yerevan-Kentron penitentiary. Nune Hovsepyan, Head of Public Relations at Human Rights Office, told "A1 +." "The Ministry of Justice has received the necessary clarification, but since there is data containing a medical secret, I cannot give other information right now. The case is under discussion," she said. Also, we were informed that since the first day of the arrest of Manvel Grigoryan, the Human Rights Defender was always in active contact with him. "As for his health, an additional visit was made to the penitentiary to get acquainted with healthcare materials. Grigoryan's lawyer also provided additional information. A final note about that was made and sent to the Ministry of Justice with relevant questions," said Nune Hovsepyan. To remind, Manvel Grigoryan's advocate Arsen Mkrtchyan recently warned that Grigoryan's health condition is very poor and it is getting worse every day. Manvel Grigoryan was arrested on June 19. He is charged with unlawfully keeping weapons and ammunition, and committing large-scale embezzlement. International audit results will speed up the criminal investigation into PrivatBank refinancing, National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) Director Artem Sytnyk has said. During a briefing in Kyiv on Friday, he said PrivatBank case was highly complex, adding that NABU is investigating events that preceded the nationalization of the bank. "The fraud in the banking sector is not the legacy of NABU, but the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), whose employees dealt with the nationalization of the bank. We will examine how the [NBU refinancing] loans were distributed ... to each of the 193 enterprises. This information is being processed and materials are being collected for each and examinations are being scheduled," Sytnyk said. Sytnyk said NABU's international work in the case is another matter. "To say that no one is doing anything is not to know at all what is going on in this case," he said. "One problem is that after PrivatBank's nationalization an audit was conducted by an independent international independent company. The auditors had access to all the information, including the Cyprus branch. This audit is of great importance for the case. We do not have the audit results yet. At a certain stage, the Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) looked into the alleged illegality of this audit, and later, a court in Odesa court banned publication of the audit results. The situation has stabilized, and SAPO has closed its investigation," the NABU director said, adding that results of the audit would be given to NABU and would speed up the investigation. The NBU earlier claimed that prior to its nationalization in December 2016, PrivatBank was involved in large-scale and coordinated frauds, which caused at least $5.5 billion in damage. The NBU hired Kroll to audit PrivatBank. After the nationalization, the bank became 100% owned by the state and UAH 116.8 billion (over $4.4 billion at the current rate) in additional capital was injected into it through the issue of government bonds and an exchange of them for the bank's shares. Late in June 2017, the Cabinet decided to inject another UAH 38.5 billion (almost $1.5 billion) into the bank on the basis of NBU proposals and conclusions by EY, which audited PrivatBank. The first tranche worth UAH 22.5 billion was allocated in July 2017 and another UAH 16 billion in December 2017. PrivatBank in December 2017 filed suit in the High Court of England against former owners of the bank, Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholiubov, as well as companies Teamtrend Ltd., Trade Point Agro Ltd., Collyer Ltd., Rossyn Investing Corp., Milbert Ventures Inc. and ZAO Ukrtransitservice Ltd., which allegedly belong to the businessmen or under their control. The court subsequently issued an international order to arrest Kolomoisky's and Boholiubov's assets, including those held by the six companies, in the amount of $2.5 billion. In addition, the court ordered Kolomoisky and Boholiubov to disclose information about all their assets and persons who will be involved in the case. Kolomoisky has said court hearings on the case will not begin before 2020. Kharkiv mayor Hennadiy Kernes has said he expected to be acquitted after a judicial hearing of the case of the abduction of two activists of EuroMaidan in 2014. "I was waiting for an acquittal," he told journalists after the decision of the Kyivsky district court of Poltava to close the case. "I understood this decision in such a way that the proceedings were terminated due to the fact that prosecutors did not systematically attend the courtroom at the appointed time and the judge regarded this as a systematic failure to appear," Kernes said. Sentsov tells activists visiting him doesn't consider himself sick, refuses to be placed in civilian hospital Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who has been on a hunger strike at a penitentiary in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district since mid-May, has told public activists who visited him at the penitentiary that he did not need a transfer to a civilian hospital and did not consider himself sick, the regional office of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service said in a statement seen by Interfax on Friday. "Members of the Public Monitoring Commission visited the medical ward of the correctional facility, where they met and talked with Sentsov," the statement says. The rights activists asked Sentsov about his health, conditions, and medical aid he receives, it said. "The convict did not voice any complaints during the conversation. Sentsov declined a proposal by the activists that he be transferred to the municipal hospital, saying that he did not consider himself sick," it said. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has once again called upon the heads of the Islamic Republics three branches of government to step down. In a video message posted on his Telegram Channel, hardliner former President tells his moderate successor, Hassan Rouhani, that people do not accept him anymore and the continuation of his presidency will be detrimental to the country, as well as to himself. Its better for you to step down, Ahmadinejad has reiterated, adding, Mr. Rouhani; the nation does not accept you; how else could they make that clear? Your continued presence [as President] is at the expense of the country. Ahmadinejad who had a fall-out with the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during his second presidential term, turned into a vocal critic of the elite and senior officials in 2017; even questioning Khamnei's leadership. While blaming the heads of the Islamic Republics executive, legislative and judicial branches of power for Irans current situation, Ahmadinejad has called upon the trio, Hassan Rouhani, Ali Larijani and his younger brother Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani to seek peoples contentment, and the best way to achieve that goal, is probably stepping down. Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad, who, for his part, had repeatedly been accused of lying during his presidency, insisted that people of Iran are completely frustrated by watching authorities lie to their face. Regretfully stressing that the national treasury is broke, silos and warehouses are empty and the governments balance-sheet is in red, Ahmadinejad has accused the Rouhanis Administration of presenting false and misleading statistics. Ahmadinejad, 61, the president of Iran from 2005 to 2013, was blocked from running in last years presidential election. Khamenei had earlier advised Ahmadinejad not to run and the Guardian Council responsible for vetting candidates later disqualified him. During his presidency Ahmadinejad was a populist and distributed a lot of subsidies and assistance to people. This has made him a somewhat popular figure among lower-income citizens. However, at the same time that his closest allies are currently behind bars for financial corruption, Ahmadinejad has kept his seat as the representative of the Supreme Leader to the influential Expediency Council of Discernment. Ahmadinejads barrage of criticism has targeted president Rouhani at a time when Tehran is struggling with a chaotic forex market, nosediving national currency, sporadic protest rallies and uncertainties resulting from President Donald Trumps withdrawal from Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) JCPOA) or 2015 Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers. A senior Trump administration official told Fox News earlier this week that the reintroduced sanctions are designed to constrict the revenue Tehran uses to fund terrorists, dictators, proxy militias, and the regimes own cronies. The uncertainty caused by the re-imposition of the sanctions have proven devastating for the Iranian economy, which was already weakened by decades of previous sanctions and mismanagement and theft by high-ranking officials. Iran's rial now trades over double its government-set rate to the U.S. dollar, the Associated Press reported, and has lost nearly 80 percent of its value compared to last year at this time, according to the New York Times. In the meantime, Rouhani is under pressure almost from every corner to reshuffle his already weakened cabinet. Furthermore, on Wednesday, majlis (Islamic Consultative Assembly or parliament) voted to sack Rouhanis labor minister. The looming water crisis in Iran is much more severe than what has already been predicted, the head of Islamic Republics Department of Environment (DoE) and deputy President, Isa Kalantari has said, warning, There will be no water in Iran within less than fifty years. The Islamic Republic authorities have repeatedly warned over the shortage of water, in recent years. In fact, water can run out sooner than Iran's oil reserves. Isa Kalantari had earlier warned that more than 70% of Irans population is facing water shortage and the volume of consumption per person has passed the critical point. DoEs head has made his comments in an interview with the state-run Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA), in response to alarming remarks of a prominent university professor, Parviz Kardovani, renowned as father of Irans Geology. Director of Irans Desert Studies Center, Professor Kardovani has been warning over water crisis in the country for more than a decade. Large swathes of Iran will be on track for severe water shortage in fifty years, Kardovani cautioned about a decade ago, adding, Because of excessive water consumption, the Central Plateau of Iran will be facing water crisis within half a century. According to Kardavani, human activities, lifestyle, poor management of resources and urban development are the main causes of the looming crisis. Meanwhile, Kardavani has repeatedly blamed what he describes as excessive construction of dams in wrong spots, for aggravating water crisis in Iran. Miserable will be the ones born fifty years from now; then there will be no surface or underground water resources left in the country, Kardavani has speculated, noting that the disaster might occur even sooner than that. As there is no plan for rationing water in the country, Kardavani has predicted that all the wells and dam reservoirs will dry up in half a century, or less. Citing these ominous predictions, DoEs head, Kalantari has described Kardavanis remarks as over optimistic, noting, Iran will be left with no water much sooner than fifty years. Lambasting proponents of population growth in Iran, Kalantari had earlier said, Stop repeating the shibboleth and saying our country is great. Our resources are limited. The Islamic Republics Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the main proponent of population growth. In 2014, he issued an edict for reducing the legal age for marriage and encouraging families to have more children. Kalantari had previously echoed other experts warnings, asserting, Irans 8,000-year-old civilization will be destroyed if the level of our water consumption is not reduced. He further warned that if Iran does not change its approach to water use, the result would be mass migration. If water consumption for agriculture remains at this level, in less than 25 years Irans eastern and southern areas will be completely deserted, and 50 million people will have to emigrate, he added. Widespread protests have broken out in Iran since the beginning of the Iranian new year (March 21) over water, a growing political concern due to a drought which residents of parched areas and analysts say has been exacerbated by mismanagement. On February 14, hundreds of enraged farmers from eastern parts of Isfahan stormed the Friday Prayer location in the provincial capital, among them many women, to protest water mismanagement. Chanting, America is not our enemy, our enemy is right here, the farmers called for a fair distribution of water. Months later, city of Kazeroon, southern Iran, experienced a similar incident concerning a dispute over a plan for dividing the city and re-distributing its water resources. Oil-rich Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran and Borazjan in the south have also witnessed protest rallies over the shortage of water in recent months. All these protests have occasionally turned into bloody clashes between the demonstrators and security forces. According to the Minister of Interior, Abdor-Reza Rahmani Fazli, there had been at least twenty cases of protest rallies held over the shortage of water in past five months across Iran. However, the Islamic Republics Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei believes that all these uprisings are provoked by foreign enemies, i.e. Israel, Saudi Arabia and US. A United Nations agency says Syria's seven-year-long civil war has cost the country $388 billion in economic damage. The U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) says it estimates the cost of the material destruction damage to roads, infrastructure, homes and other physical objects is $120 billion. It says the cost of lost productivity or losses to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) is $268 billion. As most of Syria comes under government control, the issue of dealing with humanitarian needs and reconstruction come into focus. The agency convened a two-day conference in Beirut on of Syrian and international experts to discuss Syria's reconstruction on Tuesday and Wednesday. Monitoring groups say at least 400,000 people have been killed in Syria's civil war. More than 11 million others or half of Syria's pre-war population have been displaced from their homes, according to the U.N., including more than 5 million who have been made refugees abroad. President Bashar Assad's forces continue to press their battles against rebels and Islamic State group insurgents in pockets around northwest and south Syria while refusing a U.N.-mediated political settlement to end the war. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Friday with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and discussed the situation in Syria, RIA news agency cited the Kremlin as saying. The presidents discussed humanitarian aid to the war-torn Middle Eastern country, the Kremlin was cited as saying. There is no word if France was asked to render any assistance. Last week it was revealed that Russia made similar overtures to the United States in July. Reporting by AP and Reuters Details added (first version posted on 18:49) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 Trend: A general meeting of the Azerbaijan-Russia Business Council was held today, the Azerbaijani Economy Ministry said in a message Aug. 10. Samad Gurbanov was elected head of the Board of the Azerbaijan-Russia Business Council. During the event, a number of organizational issues were discussed and the Council's new composition was approved. During the meeting, it was stressed that the Azerbaijan-Russia relations continue to successfully develop in various spheres, including the economic sphere. Russia is one of the main trade partners of Azerbaijan. Taking into account the existing potential, measures are underway for new mechanisms to expand trade and economic cooperation. The Azerbaijan-Russia Business Council was established in 2016. The main goal of the Business Council is further intensification of ties in economy, mutual investment between Azerbaijan and Russia, and cooperation between businessmen. For this purpose, the Azerbaijan-Russia Business Council closely cooperates with similar organizations of Russia and regularly holds joint meetings of business councils with the participation of businessmen. Details added (first version posted on 09:09 ) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.10 Trend: Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have a good ground for strengthening the cooperation, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during a one-on-one meeting with President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon in Baku. "On the eve of this visit, our delegations carried out very active work, discussed many issues on trade and economic development and transport infrastructure. There is a good ground for strengthening the cooperation," President Ilham Aliyev said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.10 Trend: President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has visited the Alley of Martyrs to pay respect to Azerbaijani heroes who gave their lives for the country`s independence and territorial integrity. A guard of honor was lined up for the President of Tajikistan at the Alley of Martyrs. He laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument. The state anthems of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan were played. Emomali Rahmon enjoyed a panoramic view of Baku as he was informed on the history of the Alley of Martyrs and redevelopment works in the capital of Azerbaijan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 Trend: Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ogtay Asadov and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon have had a joint working dinner. They hailed friendly and brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, and exchanged views over prospects for the development of the bilateral ties, including inter-parliamentary cooperation. The sides noted that the Tajik president's visit to Azerbaijan will contribute to further strengthening of the relations. They stressed the importance of the meetings held and the documents signed during the trip. Details added (first version posted on 11:28) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 Trend: Following the expanded meeting, a ceremony to sign the Azerbaijan-Tajikistan documents was held in the presence of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. The Joint Declaration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the President of the Republic of Tajikistan was signed by heads of state Ilham Aliyev and Emomali Rahmon. Acting President of AZPROMO Yusif Abdullayev and Chairman of the State Committee for Investments and State Property Management of Tajikistan Farrukh Hamralizoda signed The Memorandum of Cooperation between the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and the State Committee for Investments and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan. Director General of the Azerbaijan Industrial Corporation OJSC Kamran Nabizade and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tajik Aluminum State Unitary Enterprise Kabir Sherali signed The Memorandum of Understanding between the Azerbaijan Industrial Corporation and Tajik Aluminum State Unitary Enterprise. Chairman of the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint Stock Company Arif Alishanov and Chairman of the Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting under the Government of Tajikistan Mahmadsaid Shohiyon signed The Memorandum of Cooperation between the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint Stock Company and the Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tajik Aluminum State Unitary Enterprise Kabir Sherali signed The Memorandum of Understanding on supply of petroleum coke between SOCAR and TALKO companies. Chief of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elchin Guliyev and Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan, Commander of the Border Forces Rajabali Rahmonali signed The Agreement between the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan on training servicemen of the border troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan at the Academy of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Chairman of the Azerbaijan Food Security Agency Goshgar Tahmazli and Chairman of the Committee for Food Security of Tajikistan Farhod Kamolzoda signed The Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of veterinary service. Minister of Education of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Education and Science of Tajikistan Nuriddin Said signed The Protocol on mutual allocation of annual education quotas between the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan. Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan Nematullo Hikmatullozoda signed The Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan. Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan Shavkat Bobozoda signed The Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in the fields of industry and new technologies. Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov and Prosecutor General of Tajikistan Yusuf Rahmon signed The Agreement on Cooperation between the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Tajikistan. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Muhriddin Sirojiddin signed The Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2019-2020. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 Trend: President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, who is in Baku on an official visit, has expressed confidence that bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan will continue to develop on the basis of friendship and partnership as he met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Novruz Mammadov. Mentioning the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, Mammadov hailed the high-level of the bilateral ties. Stressing that the official visit of the Tajik president to Azerbaijan will be important in terms of deepening political, economic and humanitarian cooperation, Mammadov noted that the high-level meetings and talks held between the presidents of the two countries and the signed documents will open new prospects for the multifaceted relationship and encourage mutual investment making. President Rahmon congratulated Mammadov on his appointment as prime minister and wished him success in his activities. The Tajik president said he is pleased to visit friendly Azerbaijan, one of the most developed countries of the region, adding that this trip is very fruitful. President Rahmon pointed out that mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic, trade, mining, agricultural, transport, educational, cultural and other spheres meets the interests of the two countries' peoples. Mammadov highlighted the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The prime minister blamed Armenia's non-constructive position for the delay in the settlement of the conflict, saying this poses a threat to peace and stability in the region. They had a broad exchange of views over the development of regional cooperation between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan in the areas of mutual interest. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 Trend: A general meeting of the Azerbaijan-Russia Business Council was held today, the Azerbaijani Economy Ministry said in a message Aug. 10. Samad Gurbanov was elected head of the Board of the Azerbaijan-Russia Business Council. During the event, a number of organizational issues were discussed and the Council's new composition was approved. During the meeting, it was stressed that the Azerbaijan-Russia relations continue to successfully develop in various spheres, including the economic sphere. Russia is one of the main trade partners of Azerbaijan. Taking into account the existing potential, measures are underway for new mechanisms to expand trade and economic cooperation. The Azerbaijan-Russia Business Council was established in 2016. The main goal of the Business Council is further intensification of ties in economy, mutual investment between Azerbaijan and Russia, and cooperation between businessmen. For this purpose, the Azerbaijan-Russia Business Council closely cooperates with similar organizations of Russia and regularly holds joint meetings of business councils with the participation of businessmen. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: There is a great potential to extend the cooperation with Azerbaijans Food Safety Agency to other food safety, plant and animal health related issues, where the Agency has a mandate, Melek Cakmak, Head of FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan, said in an interview with Trend. "I highly value the recent establishment of the Food Safety Agency. Such a public institution can contribute to the efficient functioning of the food safety control system in Azerbaijan. This will enhance safety of food products in the country by improving respective legislation and standards, and by the provision of risk-based quality inspection and certification services," she said. Moreover, Cakmak pointed out that the existence of the Agency will positively affect interactions with food safety authorities in other countries, when needed, and facilitate Azerbaijans participation in the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission. She noted that besides food safety related operations, the Agency will provide veterinary and phytosanitary control in the country both for imported and exported products, and other goods produced for local consumption. Further, talking about cooperation with Azerbaijan, Cakmak said that FAO has a long, established relationship with the government of Azerbaijan, specifically with the Ministry of Agriculture. "Many projects have been implemented since 1995 in different agricultural sectors. The establishment of the FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan in 2016, and the approval of the Country Programming Framework Agreement (2016-2020) can be considered as signs of mutual trust and successful cooperation between the partners," she said. Head of FAO Partnership and Liaison Office added that strengthening the specific agricultural sectors (such as veterinary and phytosanitary control, seed, organic agriculture, forestry, livestock, etc.), timely support to the Government of Azerbaijan to align its legislation with international standards, improving rural livelihoods, increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring food safety these are a few from FAOs several priorities in the country. She went on to add that FAO contributes to the nationalization and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically on the achievement of sustainable food and agricultural production through poverty reduction and gender equality in rural areas, ensuring food security, responsible consumption and production (no food waste), and sustainable management of natural resources. "We provide support to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Statistics Committee, the Food Safety Agency, and the Ministry of Economy and the national SDG Council in monitoring, implementation and reporting on SDG targets," said Cakmak. With regard to the Food Safety Agency, she noted that FAO provides crucial support to develop technical and infrastructural capacities as well institutional structuring for the better management of import and export controls and certification from the phytosanitary and quarantine diseases perspectives under the on-going project on strengthening the phytosanitary control services in Azerbaijan. "And there is a great potential to extend the cooperation with the Food Safety Agency to other food safety, plant and animal health related issues, where the Agency has a mandate," she said. Cakmak noted that soon FAO will launch a new Technical Cooperation Program project for the Improvement of the Veterinary Laboratory Network and Food Safety Quality Management System in Azerbaijan. "Food safety hazards should be better prevented with the new organizational set-up. Additional focus on practices at the beginning of the food chain, such as contaminants from animal feeds, pesticide residues, zoonotic diseases, veterinary drugs residues, antimicrobial resistance and so on will also be very beneficial. Furthermore, FAO is about to start another project designed specifically to cover the urgent needs of the newly-established Agency in this critical period," she added. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend: Azerbaijan's Sumgait Technology Park (STP) has carried out major deliveries of fire-resistant halogen-free cables to Kazakhstan, STP told Trend Aug. 10. A big batch of cable products exported to the country will be used in the construction of the large shopping center, Kyzylorda Plaza. The total area of the center reaches 30,000 square meters. Currently, STP's cable products are also exported to Georgia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The company's long-term plans include expanding exports to Asian countries as well as to Eastern Europe and Africa. Currently, the high-voltage cables designed for 220, 330 and 500 kV are produced at STP. The technology park is the largest enterprise implementing new infrastructure projects in the power industry of Azerbaijan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: There are no restrictions on the sale of foreign currency by banks in Azerbaijan, the Financial Market Supervisory Authority of Azerbaijan (FIMSA) told Trend on Aug. 10 commenting on the information spread earlier about the introduction of restrictions on the sale of foreign currency in the country. "FIMSA has not given any instructions to banks to restrict the sale of foreign currency. At the same time there have been no complaints from citizens about such problems," FIMSA said. The financial regulator stressed that banks have enough foreign currency to meet the customers' demands. "This issue is under our control. In case if bank customers face any restrictions with the sale of foreign currency to them, they can contact us and we will take the necessary measures," FIMSA added. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli Details added (first version published at 16:15) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: Tajikistan is very interested in close cooperation with Azerbaijan in production and further export of aluminium, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan Nematullo Hikmatullozoda said Aug. 10 at the presentation of the country's capabilities at an Azerbaijani-Tajik business meeting. In particular, Tajikistan is interested in using the transit potential of Azerbaijan for the export of aluminum, Hikmatullozoda added. "Tajikistan plans to increase the production of aluminum to 245,500 tons in 2019. The country produced a total of 46,700 tons of aluminum worth $99.5 million in the first half of this year. So, we want to increase the transit of Tajik aluminium through Azerbaijan and to arrange the supply of alumina from Azerbaijan to Tajikistan", said Hikmatullozoda. In addition, an agreement on the import of oil coke from Azerbaijan has also been reached today between the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) and the state company SOCAR, the minister said. Trade turnover between the two countries amounted to about $2.5 million in 1H2018, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Ilkin Shafiyev Trend: SOCAR Turkey Enerji company (Turkish subsidiary of the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR) is studying and evaluating new investment opportunities within the framework of its activities, the company's Chief External Affairs Officer Murat LeCompte told Trend Aug. 10, commenting on SOCAR's interest in the assets of the Turkish division of the German giant EWE AG - EWE Turkey Holding. Trend reported earlier referring to Turkish media that EWE AG company is preparing to withdraw from the energy market of Turkey and to sell its stake in gas distribution networks Bursagaz AS and Kayserigaz AS. It was reported that the executive staff of EWE Turkey Holding has already held a number of meetings with potential buyers. The price of the German company's share in the gas distribution enterprises in Bursa and Kayseri offered for sale is $ 200-250 million. EWE AG owns a total of 80 percent of the shares of Bursagaz AS and Kayserigaz AS, the remaining 10 percent is owned by the Calik Enerji Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. company and the relevant municipalities. "No specific meetings have been held on this topic. In general, we are constantly studying and evaluating various investment opportunities within the framework of our activities. They must be in line with our activities and strategy. Following the principle of "One Nation Two States", we will continue our activities and will invest in both Azerbaijan and Turkey with the aim to improve the welfare of the two countries", LeCompte noted. It is expected that SOCAR Turkey Enerji's consolidated turnover will reach $ 15 billion in 2018, and the company will become the second largest industrial company in Turkey with 5,000 employees and $3 billion of export potential. It aims to become the largest Turkish industrial company by 2023. The company also owns a controlling stake (51 percent) in the Petkim petrochemical complex on the Aliaga Peninsula. Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend: Azerbaijan presented data on its daily oil production in July 2018 to the OPEC Joint Technical Committee as part of the Vienna Agreement, the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry told Trend on August 10. Daily oil production stood at 773,000 barrels in July 2018, of which 728,000 barrels accounted for crude oil and 45,000 barrels - for condensate. The ministry said that Azerbaijan again fully fulfilled its obligations under the oil deal. In January 2018, daily oil production stood at 814,600 barrels, in February 2018 at 806,000 barrels, in March - 794,000 barrels, in April 785,700 barrels, in May - 801,000 barrels and in June 792,000 barrels of oil per day. OPEC Joint Technical Committee was created on Jan.22, 2017 to monitor the implementation of countries commitments to cut oil production. In December 2016, at a meeting of oil producers in Vienna, 11 non-OPEC member countries, including Azerbaijan, 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: @IlkinShafiyev Baku, Azerbaijan, August 10 Trend: Pakistans energy ministry rejected reports that huge oil reserves have been found in the country near the border with Iran. In a recent statement, the Pakistani energy ministry said no oil reserves, reportedly bigger than Kuwaits, have been discovered near the Iran border by US energy giant Exxon Mobil, Pakistani media reported. It added that no license for oil and gas exploration has been awarded to Exxon Mobil and that the American multinational oil and gas company is currently not involved in any drilling operations in the country. On August 4, Pakistani caretaker Minister for Maritime Affairs and Foreign Affairs Abdullah Hussain Haroon said Exxon Mobil Corp was close to discovering huge oil reserves in Pakistan near the border with Iran. The statement further said, The caretaker minister has given an irresponsible statement on a sensitive matter which needs inquiry as it has added problems for the ministry, intelligence forces and concerned departments. Foreign ministers statement contained exaggerated figures. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.10 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Since the arrival of the first US LNG carrier in the Portuguese port of Sines April 2016 and today, EU imports of liquefied natural gas from the US have increased from zero to 2.8 billion cubic meters, said a message on the European Commissions website. In their Joint Statement of 25 July in Washington D.C., President Juncker and President Trump agreed to strengthen EU-U.S. strategic cooperation with respect to energy. In this context, the European Union would import more liquefied natural gas from the United States to diversify and render its energy supply more secure. The EU and the US will therefore work to facilitate trade in liquefied natural gas. "The European Union is ready to facilitate more imports of liquefied natural gas from the U.S. and this is already the case as we speak. The growing exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas, if priced competitively, could play an increasing and strategic role in EU gas supply; but the U.S. needs to play its role in doing away with red tape restrictions on liquefied natural gas exports. Both sides have much to gain by working together in the energy field, said the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Canete, for his part said: that diversification is an important element for ensuring the security of gas supply in the EU. Increasing imports of competitively priced liquefied natural gas from the U.S. is therefore to be welcomed. This is happening at a time when EU indigenous gas production is declining more rapidly than foreseen and there is an accelerated phase-out of coal power plants in the EU, he added. The global liquefied natural gas market is becoming increasingly fluid and competitive. Between 2017 and 2023, global liquefied natural gas trade is expected to grow by more than 100 billion cubic meters, from 391 to 505. The International Energy Agency expects liquefied natural gas imports to Europe to increase by almost 20 percent by 2040 compared to 2016 levels. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Ilkin Shafiyev Trend: The decision of German energy company EWE about the possible sale of its assets in Turkey is related to the optimization of the company's activity, EWE told Trend Aug. 10. Presently, the German giant is represented in Turkey by its subsidiary EWE Turkey Holding A.S. In the past 10 years, EWE has built up valuable companies in Turkey, which are able to manage investments entirely on their own, EWE said. Nevertheless, EWE regularly reviews whether all current measures ensure sustainable growth for the Group in the defined future areas. Therefore, we conducted a market investigation for our Turkey business, the company said. We noticed that there are some interested parties for this business. If a prospective customer wants to continue this business and offers us an acceptable price, EWE will divest this business. At the same time, the company did not comment on the information about negotiations with potential buyers. The German giant EWE AG is preparing to withdraw from Turkeys energy market and to sell its shares in gas distribution companies Bursagaz AS and Kayserigaz AS, Trend earlier reported citing the Turkish media. The management of EWE Turkey Holding has already held a number of meetings with potential buyers. Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR was among them. The price of the German company's shares in the gas distribution companies in Bursa and Kayseri proposed for sale is $200-250 million. EWE owns a total of 80 percent of the shares of Bursagaz AS and Kayserigaz AS; the remaining 10 percent belong to the Calik Enerji Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. and the corresponding municipalities. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Ilkin Shafiyev Trend: Net profit of Petkim Petrochemical Holding AS, where the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR owns a controlling stake, amounted to 356 million Turkish liras in the second quarter of this year, the Turkish media wrote referring to a statement released by Petkim. Thus, the net profit increased by 183 percent compared to the first quarter, the message says. Net sales of Petkim increased by 25 percent to 2.3 billion liras in April-June 2018. Petkim's EBITDA increased by 80 percent to 439 million liras. The production capacity of the enterprise was used by 96 percent in the reported period. "Successful operations, fruitful cooperation and investment in technologies are the keys to successful results. In general, 2018 is a watershed year for us. STAR oil refinery, to start its operations in 4Q2018, will fully satisfy our needs in raw materials," the media quoted General Director of Petkim Petrochemical Holding AS Anar Mammadov as saying. He noted that at the moment Petkim satisfies 20 percent of Turkey's needs in petrochemical products. Petkim produces plastic packages, fabrics, PVC, detergents, and is the sole Turkish manufacturer of such products, a quarter of which is exported. The production capacity of Petkim is 3.6 million tons per year. The complex includes 14 plants that produce 20 different types of products. (5.9362 TRY = 1 USD on August 10) --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: National air carrier Uzbekistan Airways will start regular flights on the Tashkent-Vladivostok-Tashkent route from Sept. 15, 2018, the Uzbek company announced. According to the information, the regular passenger flights between Tashkent and Vladivostok will be performed once a week. Uzbekistan Airways noted that only charter flights had been previously carried out in this direction. Flights will be performed on comfortable Boeing-767 airplanes on Saturdays. It was earlier reported that the Russian airline Aeroflot has increased the frequency of flights on the Moscow-Tashkent-Moscow route from August 2018. The airline started carrying out two additional flights on Mondays and Saturdays. Another Russian air carrier Ural Airlines has resumed the regular flights on the Moscow (Domodedovo) - Karshi (Uzbekistan) route from the Aug. 1. Ural Airlines has also launched a new regular Sochi-Tashkent flight since July 18. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 Trend: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has approved the action plan for improving aviation security, developed by the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Investments and Development of Kazakhstan, the Kazinform news agency reports. "The Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) of the Ministry of Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan has developed and approved a plan of corrective measures, based on the ICAO aviation security audit held at the end of 2017. The plan was forwarded to the headquarters of ICAO (Montreal, Canada), where the plan was approved and recognized as positive by the Aviation Security and Facilitation Office of ICAO," the CAC official page on Facebook says. "Kazakhstan passed the ICAO audit in 2017. The republic showed an 83 percent implementation of ICAO standards and recommended practices, according to the final assessment. This figure is 21 percent higher than the results of the previous ICAO audit," the CAC added. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 10 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: It is expected that the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea will be signed during the 5th summit of the heads of the Caspian states in Aktau on August 12, the "Neutral Turkmenistan" newspaper wrote Aug. 9. The work on multilateral documents, on which the solution of the environmental and economic problems of the Caspian sea depends, will continue in Aktau, the message says. Turkmenistan once initiated the first summit of the heads of the Caspian states, which was held in 2002 in Ashgabat. "Our country took an active part in the subsequent high-level meetings, contributing to the development and promotion of five-party agreements in the field of environmental protection, shipping, fishing, rational use of biological resources of the Caspian sea", the newspaper wrote. An initiative to develop an agreement on cooperation in the field of emergency prevention and response, as well as an agreement on the conservation and rational use of biological resources was put forward at the third summit held in November 2010 in Baku. The Turkmen side prepared drafts of these documents. An agreement on cooperation in the field of security was signed in Baku, which was ratified by the Caspian states and entered into force in 2014. A proposal to prepare a draft agreement on trade and economic cooperation between the Caspian states and to establish a permanent Caspian economic forum was made at the 4th summit, held in September 2014 in Astrakhan. Ashgabat also initiated work over an agreement on cooperation in the field of transport and announced a proposal to establish a Caspian regional transport and logistics center. Ashgabat held several working meetings to reconcile the drafts of these documents during 2016-2017. The Turkmen side also initiated the development of two protocols on the safety of navigation and on the fight against poaching, to be attached to the agreement in the sphere of security in the Caspian sea. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 10 Trend: A member of the Supreme Council of Provinces in Iran said overfishing by Chinese ships in waters off the southern Iranian coasts in the Persian Gulf has put seafood resources at risk there. Excessive fishing by huge and industrial Chinese ships (in the Persian Gulf) is endangering species of aquatic animals, Kianoush Jahanbakhsh said, ISNA reported on August 10. What I say is what Iranian fishermen, locals and eyewitnesses (in Hormozgan province) say. He noted that this has affected local fishermens livelihoods. Earlier, an Iranian lawmaker had said, Overfishing by Chinese vessels in Irans southern waters has drawn the ire of local fishermen whose livelihoods have been affected by the practice. Ahmad Moradi added industrial vessels must not be authorized to fish in the countrys coastal waters. I feel there are [profiteers getting] rake-offs from fishing by Chinese vessels on the countrys southern coast, and these people have, by cashing in on legal loopholes, arranged overfishing by Chinese ships, said the MP. Traditional fishermen have no way to make a living other than fishing, but industrial ships disrupt local fishermens economic situation by catching small and big fish, the lawmaker noted. He underlined that industrial ships jeopardize stocks of marine animals by excessive fishing. Industrial vessels catch big and small fish using satellite equipment, and under such circumstances, domestic fishermens nets dont deserve to be empty, Moradi said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10 By Matanat Nasibova Trend: The Baku-Moscow-Ankara regional axis is a promising format and it is expected to become even more important if it is expanded, Head of the Strategic Analysis Center of the Russian Innovative Development Institute, well-known Russian expert Andrey Ivanov told Trend. Ivanov was commenting on the significance and prospects of this trilateral format. The Azerbaijan-Turkey-Russia regional axis meets a single goal, focused on maintaining a stable and secure situation in the region, he said. "The cooperation of Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey benefits all those who are interested in stability not only in the South Caucasus but also in a big region around the Caspian Sea," Ivanov said. The Moscow-Baku-Ankara axis is extremely important for the development of good-neighbourly relations, but it can also be part of other, broader associations. BRICS summit has been recently held in South Africa, he said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the summit. Iran thinks about it. One can recall SCO. Iran has already entered it and a proposal was made for Turkey to join it. I think the more we have such formats for honest and open discussion of pressing problems, the better. Ivanov stressed that there is the format of the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Union in the post-Soviet area, which are also open to the countries which are friendly to Russia. "Politicians must communicate more often with each other, look for a compromise on everything, even insignificant issues, he added. As a result, big conflicts will be avoided. We see Azerbaijans current balanced policy. It is not a member of any unions, but cooperates with everybody. Today, Turkey pursues a fairly pragmatic policy. It is a NATO member and thinks about SCO and BRICS. In its turn, Russia stands for interaction with all countries and this is extremely important today in the system of international relations. The attack on a bus carrying children in Yemen's northern Saada province killed and injured dozens on Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said, calling on the conflicting sides to protect civilians, Sputnik reported. According to the latest information from the International Committee of the Red Cross, the attack took lives of at least 50 people, injuring 77 more. As the international body specified, the majority of the victims are children. "Children shouldn't pay the price for a very adult war," the ICRC stated in their Twitter post. "Following an attack this morning on a bus driving children in Dahyan Market, northern Sa'ada, @ICRC_yemen- supported hospital has received dozens of dead and wounded. Under the international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected during conflict," the ICRC delegation in Yemen wrote on Twitter. Earlier in the day, Yemeni media reported that the Saudi-led coalition warplanes had struck a school bus at a busy market in the northern Yemeni province of Saada, a stronghold of Houthi rebels, who are engaged in violent conflict with the government supported by the coalition. The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that the attack killed 39 and wounded 51, mainly children. According to the Al Arabiya broadcaster, the coalition later claimed that the strikes had targeted missile launchers. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling for an independent and prompt investigation into the deadly Saudi-led coalition deadly airstrike that hit a bus carrying children, United Nations deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said in a press release, Sputnik reported. "The Secretary-General condemns the air strike today by the coalition forces in Saada, which hit a busy market area in Majz District, and impacted a bus carrying children from a summer camp," Haq said on Thursday. "He calls for an independent and prompt investigation into this incident." Earlier, Yemeni media reported that the Saudi-led coalition jets had struck a school bus at a busy market in Yemeni. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), citing local officials, a total of 50 people died in the attack, while another 77 were injured. US Department of State spokesperson earlier called on the Saudi-led coalition operating in Yemen to carry out a thorough investigation into the attack. New Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Wang Donghua and San Francisco Mayor London Breed have agreed to enhance cooperation between China and San Francisco, Xinhua reported. Wang met the mayor Thursday afternoon on the second day after he arrived in the U.S. west coastal city as the new Consul General, and they discussed deepening cooperation in various sectors. He spoke highly of San Francisco's efficient cooperation with the Chinese side in economy, trade, tourism, science, technology, and cultural fields. In his capacity as the new Chinese Consul General, Wang said he will work hard with the San Francisco government led by Breed to bring the pragmatic cooperation to a new level. Breed said China is a major trade partner of San Francisco and the city attaches great importance to developing its friendship and cooperation with China. The San Francisco mayor said she is always ready to keep close communication with the Chinese side, work jointly to deepen their cooperation and achieve win-win results. The Slovenian Left and five parties involved in coalition talks signed a cooperation protocol on Friday, paving the way for the appointment of Marjan Sarec as prime minister-designate and for the formation of a minority government, Xinhua reported. The Left will also provide votes for Social Democrat (SD) president Dejan Zidan, the current deputy prime minister and minister of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, to become parliamentary speaker, the Slovenian Press Agency STA reported. "There are no more obstacles ... we have 52 votes," Sarec, a 40-year-old former comedian and mayor whose party came second in the June 3 election, told the local press after the meeting of six parties on Friday. The Left pledged support for Sarec in the prime minister-designate vote next week, and said it would not vote against his government team in September. Luka Mesec of the Left confirmed to the press that the protocol provides that Sarec would discuss ministerial candidates with the Left in exchange for the Left not opposing his picks. Both Sarec and Mesec, however, said that a potential cabinet was not discussed on Friday, said the STA report. If the formation of a minority government fails, Slovenia is likely to head for a snap election, an option advocated by the June election winner Janez Jansa, whose Democrats (SDS) have been unable to form a government after being outright rejected by the majority of other parties due to the party's radical stance, in particular on migration and human rights. At least two children, and an assailant, were killed and 10 people wounded in a suicide bomb blast in Afghanistan's western city of Herat on Thursday, Xinhua reported citing local media Tolo News TV. The incident occurred roughly at 05:30 p.m. local time in Police District 1 of the city after a suicide bomber approached and detonated his explosive vest near a vehicle carrying a former Afghan Local Police (ALP) official, the report said. It was not immediately known if the official was hurt in the blast. The wounded were shifted to a regional hospital in the city, which is the capital of western Herat province. Those among the injured were several children. Earlier reports said two police were killed in the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The provincial officials blamed Taliban militants. The Taliban-led insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015 when Afghan security forces assumed full responsibilities of security from the U.S. and NATO troops. On Tuesday night, nine ALP personnel were killed and one other injured after Taliban attacked a security checkpoint in Pashtum Zarghon district of the province. To date, Venezuelan authorities have detained ten people on suspicion of involvement in the August 4 attempt to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol was quoted as saying by the AVN news agency on Thursday, TASS reported. The minister said the number of suspects has risen to 25 people. Earlier in the day, the Venezuelan authorities have officially asked Colombia to extradite fiver suspects in the attack, including Venezuelan opposition lawmaker Julio Borges as well as retired Colonel Oswaldo Palomo. The attempt to kill the Venezuelan president with the use of drones took place as he was delivering a speech in the capital Caracas on August 4. The drones were shot down, but seven law enforcement officers were wounded. Maduro and senior officials of the country were not injured. Maduro accused Venezuelan ultra-right in alliance with Colombian ultra-right, and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. He also assumed that some of those plotting to kill him lived in the US. On Sunday, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said the authorities had detained six suspects. The Colombian Foreign Ministry dismissed Maduros accusations as absurd. Four people, including two police officers, were killed in a shooting in eastern Canada on Friday in the latest eruption of gun violence across the country that has led to calls for weapons bans in cities, Reuters reported. Police in Fredericton, a city of about 56,000 that is the capital of the province of New Brunswick, said a suspect was taken into custody and was being treated for serious injuries. Witnesses said the shooting occurred at an apartment complex, and local media images showed emergency vehicles converging on a tree-lined residential street. Nearby facilities were closed and authorities imposed a lockdown for residents before issuing an all-clear message. Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters he could not discuss details of the latest shooting. He said the police were assisting Fredericton authorities in the investigation. Well see where this investigation leads in terms of what exactly happened, who did it, what was the motivation for doing it and the instruments of destruction that were used, he said. But broadly speaking, the government of Canada is obviously taking the issue of gun violence very seriously. Gun laws in Canada are stricter than in the United States but a proliferation of weapons has led to an increase in gun-related crimes in recent years. Tanzanian Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu on Friday said the east African nation was on the highest alert after reports of fresh outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Xinhua reports. "People could be at risk of the deadly Ebola disease owing to interaction with those of neighbouring DRC," Mwalimu said in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. She added: "Tanzanians need to take the highest precaution in order to prevent contracting the disease." According to her, the ministry had put the people on high alert, particularly those living in regions bordering the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda. Regions on high alert were Mwanza, Kagera, Kigoma, Katavi, Rukwa and Songwe. "Precautionary measures need to be taken at all border posts when interacting with passengers who get in and out of the country," she said. The minister said there were currently no cases of Ebola in Tanzania since the discovery of a patient suffering from the disease in North-Western Kivu province in the DRC bordering with Uganda and Rwanda. Last week, DRC's Ministry of Public Health announced the second outbreak of Ebola. A total of 44 cases have been reported so far, 17 of which have been confirmed. Following the outbreak, the Congolese government launched an Ebola vaccination drive for high risk populations in North-Western Kivu province. Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness, in humans. Its symptoms become increasingly severe and may include nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea (may be bloody), red eyes, raised rash, chest pain and cough, sore throat, stomach pain and severe weight loss. KYODO NEWS - Aug 10, 2018 - 12:58 | All, Japan, Feature Chugoku Electric Power Co. on Friday applied to the government for safety screening of a nuclear reactor it is constructing, opening up the possibility of it becoming Japan's first newly built reactor to go into operation since the 2011 Fukushima crisis. Work on the No. 3 unit at the Shimane plant in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, is almost complete and safety checks by nuclear regulators may proceed faster than for another reactor in northeastern Japan that is also under construction. The No. 3 reactor will have a maximum output of 1,373 megawatts, making it one of the largest in the country. It is a boiling water reactor, the same type as those at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s disaster-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Chugoku Electric was initially aiming to activate the reactor in December 2011 after starting construction in 2006. But the plan was postponed following the Fukushima nuclear crisis, triggered by a massive quake and tsunami disaster that hit northeastern Japan. The crisis led to the introduction of more stringent safety standards for nuclear power plants. Around 10 reactors have resumed operation in Japan after clearing the safety hurdles, but there has been no case in which new reactors have been activated after the disaster. (Municipalities within a 30-km radius from the Shimane nuclear plant) "With existing nuclear reactors currently restarting, we thought it is possible to file for checks of the No. 3 unit (even though it is a new reactor)," Tatsuo Kitano, managing executive officer of the utility based in Hiroshima Prefecture, told reporters. The latest development came a day after Shimane Gov. Zembee Mizoguchi officially gave the green light for Chugoku Electric's application for government screening. But prospects remain unclear on when the reactor will be put into service as the utility will not just have to clear the safety tests but also again seek local consent for operation. Chugoku Electric is spending around 500 billion yen ($4.5 billion) on safety measures for the No. 3 reactor, aiming to finish the work by September 2019. The other new reactor that is seeking to start operation is being built at Electricity Power Development Co.'s Oma nuclear power plant in Aomori Prefecture. The company known as J-Power applied for government safety checks in 2014, but the process has been drawn out. The Oma reactor is expected to become the world's first commercial reactor to run fully on plutonium-uranium mixed oxide fuel. The Kyoto Shimbun - Aug 10, 2018 - 19:06 | All, Arts The third "Rimpa Rock" festival, produced by Kyoto-based painter Hideki Kimura, will be held at the Heian Jingu shrine from 6 p.m. on Oct. 12. Scheduled to take part are 24 groups of singers, choreographers and other artists, including Heian Gagaku Kai, a band using ancient Japanese musical instruments, Yamato no Hibiki Kyo, who play Japanese "wadaiko" drums, chanson singer Wasaburo, and MDP Masaki, who performs dances of the late Michael Jackson. Recently at the Kyoto Takashimaya department store, Kimura, 76, whose nickname is Ki-yan, explained what Rimpa Rock is about, surrounded by his own artwork -- a folding screen -- on the occasion of the traditional Gion festival. MDP Masaki and all-girl dance group DTG performed to promote the festival. (Hideki Kimura) "We are doing this without thinking about gaining profit," Kimura said of the event that brings together selected artists. "We want many people to come see our performance." "We are doing this without thinking about gaining profit," Kimura said of the event that brings together selected artists. "We want many people to come see our performance." Advance tickets are available for 5,000 yen. Rimpa Rock was first held in 2015, which marked the 400th year since the birth of Rimpa, one of the major traditional schools of Japanese painting, at the Alti hall of Kyoto with the aim of taking Japanese pop art to the world and doing what Tokyo cannot do toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Looking back at the inaugural festival, Kimura said, "It was at a time when the initial design of the Tokyo Olympic logo faced (plagiarism allegations), so I thought we couldn't count on Tokyo to spread information about our country." The second Rimpa Rock took place in 2017 at Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Theater. A high alert has been sounded across Karnataka. The state government directed theatres to be shut, apprehending violence by mourning fans, who flocked to the hospital. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China-based EV startup Qiantu Motor will roll out more new models based on its three major vehicle platforms, following the Qiantu K50, the automaker's EV roadster which officially hit the market on August 8, according to the startup's chairman Lu Qun. Qiantu Motor currently has three major vehicle platforms. The mid-full size PV platform manufacturing the Qiantu Concept 1 and the small-sized PV platform boasting the K2 Concept have been scheduled to produce 3 to 5 new models respectively. The high-performance sport car platform on which the K50 based is also on course making other models. Lu Qun said that the company's products will gradually penetrate into various segments with prices widely ranging from over RMB 10 thousand to roughly RMB 500 thousand. Following the K50, the K20 is the next that will be put into mass production. Positioned as a small-sized two-door roadster, the K20 Concept made its debut at the 2018 Auto China, boasting uniqueness in the body proportion and exterior design. Going forward, the mass-produced model of the K20 will be lightened by using aluminium alloy chassis, while the auto-body panel will be made up of the composite materials cheaper than carbon fiber to control the costs. The Qiantu Concept 1, which was unveiled at the 2018 Auto China as well, is the first model based on the startup's mid-full size PV platform. It could be speculated that the mass-produced model of the Concept 1 will be positioned as a mid-to-large pure electric model, similar to the Tesla Model S. New Delhi [India], Aug 10 (NT): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday attend an event to address a diverse gathering at Vigyan Bhawan on the occasion of World Biofuel Day. PM Modi will deliver his address to the farmers, scientists, students, entrepreneurs, government officials, and legislators during the event, as per the government statement relesed on Thursday. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is conducting the programme to mark the importance of biofuels and to draw attention on the various efforts made by the PM Modi -led Government in the biofuel sector. Worth mention here The ministry has been observing the World Biofuel Day for the last three years on August 10. Biofuels have synergies with different Government initiatives, such as enhancing farmers' incomes, and Swachh Bharat, the official statement read. It further stated that as a result of the efforts of the NDA led Centre, ethanol blending in petrol has increased to 141 crore litres in financial year 2017-18, as compared to 38 crore litres in 2013-14.The Government also gave its nod to the National Policy on Biofuels in June. Biofuels help lessen import dependency on crude oil, the statement further said. It also added that it can also contribute to a cleaner environment, generate additional income for farmers, and generate employment in rural areas of the nation. (NT) At 3:33 a.m. EDT on Aug. 11, while most of the U.S. is asleep, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will be abuzz with excitement. At that moment, NASA's Parker Solar Probe, the agency's historic mission to touch the Sun, will have its first opportunity to lift off. Launching from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Parker Solar Probe will make its journey all the way to the Sun's atmosphere, or corona -- closer to the Sun than any spacecraft in history. "Eight long years of hard work by countless engineers and scientists is finally paying off," said Adam Szabo, the mission scientist for Parker Solar Probe at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Nestled atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy -- one of the world's most powerful rockets -- with a third stage added, Parker Solar Probe will blast off toward the Sun with a whopping 55 times more energy than is required to reach Mars. About the size of a small car, it weighs a mere 1,400 pounds. "That's a relatively light spacecraft," said Andy Driesman, project manager for the mission at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. "And it needs to be, because it takes an immense amount of energy to get to our final orbit around the Sun." Zooming through space in a highly elliptical orbit, Parker Solar Probe will reach speeds up to 430,000 miles per hour -- fast enough to get from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in a second -- setting the record for the fastest spacecraft in history. During its nominal mission lifetime of just under 7 years, Parker Solar Probe will complete 24 orbits of the Sun -- reaching within 3.8 million miles of the Sun's surface at closest approach. "We'll be going where no spacecraft has dared go before -- within the corona of a star," said project scientist Nicky Fox of APL. "With each orbit, we'll be seeing new regions of the Sun's atmosphere and learning things about stellar mechanics that we've wanted to explore for decades." But getting so close to the Sun requires slowing down -- for which Parker will use the gravity of our neighbor planet, Venus. "Parker Solar Probe uses Venus to adjust its course and slow down in order to put the spacecraft on the best trajectory," said Driesman. "We will fly by Venus seven times throughout the mission. Each time we fly by we get closer and closer to the Sun." In an orbit this close to the Sun, the real challenge is to keep the spacecraft from burning up. "NASA was planning to send a mission to the solar corona for decades, however, we did not have the technology that could protect a spacecraft and its instruments from the heat," said Szabo. "Recent advances in materials science gave us the material to fashion a heat shield in front of the spacecraft not only to withstand the extreme heat of the Sun, but to remain cool on the backside." The heat shield is made of a 4.5-inch thick carbon composite foam material between two carbon fiber face sheets. While the Sun-facing side simmers at 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, behind the shield the spacecraft will be a cozy 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Parker Solar Probe is also the first NASA mission to be named after a living individual: Dr. Eugene Parker, famed solar physicist who in 1958 first predicted the existence of the solar wind, the stream of charged particles and magnetic fields that flow continuously from the Sun, bathing Earth. The spacecraft's path through the corona allows it to observe the acceleration of the very solar wind that Parker predicted, right as it makes a critical transition from slower than the speed of sound to faster than it. The corona is also where the solar material is heated to millions of degrees and where the most extreme events on the Sun occur, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections -- accelerating particles to a fraction of the speed of light. These explosions create space weather events that can pummel Earth with high energy particles, endangering astronauts, interfering with GPS and communications satellites and, at their worst, disrupting our power grid. This will be the first time that solar scientists can see the objects of their study up close and personal. "All of our data on the corona so far have been remote," said Nicholeen Viall, solar physicist at Goddard. "We have been very creative to get as much as we can out of our data, but there is nothing like actually sticking a probe in the corona to see what's happening there." And scientists aren't the only ones along for the adventure -- the spacecraft holds a microchip carrying the names of more than 1.1 million participants who signed up to send their name to the Sun. Sometime between Aug. 11 and 23, the close of the launch period, these names and 1,400 pounds of solar protection and science equipment will begin their journey to the center of our solar system. Three months later, Parker Solar Probe will reach its first close approach of the Sun in November 2018, and will send the data back in December. "For scientists like myself, the reward of the long, hard work will be the unique set of measurements returned by Parker," said Szabo. "The solar corona is one of the last places in the solar system where no spacecraft has visited before. It gives me the sense of excitement of an explorer." Stay tuned -- Parker is about to take flight. ### Hurricane Hector continued to move west through the Central Pacific Ocean when NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead and saw the storm's large eye that was a result of eyewall replacement. Now that Hector has passed the Hawaiian Islands and is headed west, a tropical storm watch is in effect for Johnston Island. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours. On the forecast path, the center of Hector is expected to pass to the north of Johnston Island late Friday, Aug. 10. At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Aug. 9 (11 p.m. HST on Aug. 8) NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center said "Based on reflectivity data from the South Point WSR-88D radar om the Big Island, microwave images, and satellite data, it appeared that Hector went through an eyewall replacement cycle late this afternoon. Since this reorganization of the hurricane appears to be complete now, the eye of Hector has warmed and become much better defined in infrared satellite imagery during the past few hours." On Aug. 9 at 8:25 a.m. EDT (1225 UTC) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite analyzed Hurricane Hector's cloud top temperatures in infrared light. MODIS found cloud top temperatures of strongest thunderstorms were located west of the center. In that area, cloud top temperatures were as cold as or colder than minus 70 degrees (red) Fahrenheit (minus 56.6 degrees Celsius). Cloud top temperatures that cold indicate strong storms that have the capability to create heavy rain, so the heaviest rain was likely falling on Hector's western side. Hector's Strength and Position At 11 a.m. EDT (5 a.m. HST/1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Hector was located near 16.6 degrees north latitude and 160.1 degrees west longitude. Hector was moving toward the west near 16 mph (26 kph) and this general motion is expected to continue through today. A gradual turn toward the west-northwest is expected from tonight through late Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 kph) with higher gusts. Hector is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Little change in strength is forecast through Friday night. The estimated minimum central pressure is 957 millibars. Hawaii Dealing with Dangerous Surf Swells generated by Hector should begin to impact Johnston Island tonight. This will likely produce large and dangerous waves along portions of the island from late tonight through Friday night. Keeping Watch as Hector Moves Interests in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, including Midway and Kure Atolls and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument west of Pearl/Hermes, should monitor the progress of Hector. This does not include the main Hawaiian Islands. For updated forecasts on Hector, visit the CPHC website: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/ ### Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB) recently delivered somewhat lackluster second-quarter results as its growth engine stalled out. However, while that quarter was bland, CEO Alan Armstrong made it clear on the accompanying conference call that the company is about to enter an exciting new phase, which makes him optimistic that it can make lots of money for shareholders in the coming years. Here are three of the points he wanted to stress: 1. We delivered a predictable but exciting quarter Armstrong started the call by saying: "This was another very predictable quarter for us from a financial metric perspective. It was just slightly above our internal plan for the quarter that was used to forecast our guidance that we provided." Overall, earnings at both Williams and its MLP Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ) were down slightly versus the year-ago period due to asset sales, while cash flow modestly increased thanks to lower interest expenses. Pipelines with a blue sky in the background. Image source: Getty Images. "However, the extraordinary thing about the quarter was the tremendous amount of progress on projects, plant expansions, and new business that was contracted during the quarter that gives us even more confidence in our growth rate for years to come," Armstrong added. Two things stood out: First, the company and its joint venture (JV) partner Crestwood Equity Partners (NYSE: CEQP) approved the expansion of their Jackalope gathering and processing business in the Powder River Basin. The expansion projects will supply Williams with some incremental cash flow as they come on line over the next year, while giving the smaller Crestwood some additional fuel to help grow its earnings at a 15% compound annual rate through 2020. Second, Williams formed a new JV with private equity giant KKR (NYSE: KKR) to acquire Discovery DJ Services for $1.173 billion. Williams will initially own 40% of this JV, but will boost its stake up to 50% by investing an incremental $250 million into expanding Discovery's asset footprint over the next few years. Story continues Meanwhile, Williams also announced that it's selling its Four Corners Area for $1.125 billion in cash in a high-value trade that will pay for the Discovery transaction as well as provide funding for higher-returning expansion projects within that JV and elsewhere. 2. We're about to hit the accelerator While Williams' growth engine ran out of gas in the second quarter, Armstrong stated that "we are obviously looking forward to more dramatic growth in the second half of the year as the Atlantic Sunrise project nears completion, and producer activity on our systems in the Northeast and in Wyoming continues to ramp up." These factors are expected to help drive 9% cash flow growth this year, and another 13% increase for 2019. Further, Armstrong pointed out that the company has improved its financial position and growth prospects with the moves it recently announced. He stated that "selling assets in a very mature basin and at attractive multiples, and then redeploying that capital to higher-growth basins, allows us to capitalize on future growth opportunities without stretching the balance sheet or issuing equity." A stack of pipelines with a blue sky in the background. Image source: Getty Images. 3. We think we are an attractive investment opportunity In addition to the company's organic expansion projects and recently announced transactions, the other major strategic item in the hopper is its pending acquisition of Williams Partners. That deal will strengthen Williams' financial profile and growth prospects, making it a compelling investment opportunity. Armstrong laid out why he believes this on the conference call: Williams is certainly a unique investment among the S&P 500 companies. The post-merger entity will provide a large-scale entity focused on natural gas with significant growth opportunities, low volatility, and highly predictable fee-for-service cash flows. After the WMB/WPZ merger closes, we'll have a much more simplified structure ... and impressive market capitalization. Our attractive dividend yield and growth, along with our strong focus on improving our [return on capital employed], will deliver significant advantages for shareholders. Williams fares extremely well when compared to other S&P 500 companies in dividend yield, adjusted EPS, adjusted EBITDA growth, and dividend growth. In fact, Williams is so unique that you'd be hard-pressed to find another S&P company where consensus estimates meet or exceed Williams' outlook for these key measures. What makes Williams stand out is that it's one of the few companies in the S&P 500 offering a high-yield dividend and a high growth rate. Here's how it stacks up versus the average stock in the S&P 500: Metric Williams Companies Median S&P 500 Dividend yield 4.3% 1.8% EBITDA growth rate (2018-19) 9.9% 7.4% Dividend growth rate (2018-19) 12.5% 6.4% Data source: Williams Companies investor presentation. That combination of a more generous income stream and a higher-octane growth rate creates the potential for Williams Companies to deliver market-beating total returns over the next couple of years. More-exciting days are ahead While Williams Companies' second-quarter results were a bit of a yawner, the company is on the cusp of much more exciting growth. It has a major expansion project coming on line in Atlantic Sunrise that will accelerate cash flow in the back half of this year, and it added more fuel to its growth engine during the quarter. Add those catalysts to the upcoming completion of its merger with Williams Partners, and Williams Companies has become a very compelling dividend stock to consider buying. More From The Motley Fool Matthew DiLallo owns shares of Crestwood Equity Partners LP. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Chinese President Xi Jinping (front row, center) and fellow delegates raise their hands as they take a vote at the closing session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, in Beijing, China October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/Files By Ben Blanchard and Kevin Yao BEIJING (Reuters) - A growing trade war with the United States is causing rifts within China's Communist Party, with some critics saying that an overly nationalistic Chinese stance may have hardened the U.S. position, according to four sources close to the government. President Xi Jinping still has a firm grip on power, but an unusual surge of criticism about economic policy and how the government has handled the trade war has revealed rare cracks in the ruling Communist Party. A backlash is being felt at the highest levels of the government, possibly hitting a close aide to Xi, his ideology chief and strategist Wang Huning, according to two sources familiar with discussions in leadership circles. A prominent and influential academic whose views have found favour in some party quarters has also come under attack for his strident views on Chinese power. Wang, who was the architect of the "China Dream", Xi's vision for China to become a strong and prosperous nation, has been taken to task by the Chinese leader for crafting an excessively nationalistic image for the country, which has only provoked the United States, the sources said. "He's in trouble for mishandling the propaganda and hyping up China too much," said one of the sources, who has ties to China's leadership and propaganda system. The office of the party's spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on Wang and his relationship with Xi, or on whether China had erred in its messaging in the trade war. There is a growing feeling within the Chinese government that the outlook for China has "become grim", according to a government policy advisor, following the deterioration in relations between China and the United States over trade. The advisor requested anonymity. Story continues Those feelings are also shared by other influential voices. "Many economists and intellectuals are upset about China's trade war policies," an academic at a Chinese policy think tank told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. "The overarching view is that China's current stance has been too hard-line and the leadership has clearly misjudged the situation." That view contrasts with the thinking at the beginning of the year of many Chinese academics who had touted China's ability to withstand the trade row in the face of Trump's perceived political weakness at home. China thought it had reached a deal with Washington in May to avoid a trade war, but was shocked when the Trump administration, in Beijing's eyes, went back on that agreement. "The evolution from a trade conflict to trade war has made people rethink things," the policy advisor said. "This is seen as being related to the exaggeration of China's strength by some Chinese institutions and scholars that have influenced the U.S. perceptions and even domestic views." One official who is familiar with China's propaganda efforts said the messaging had gone astray. "In the trade war, the line of thinking in the propaganda has been that Trump is crazy," said the official. "In fact, what he is scared of is us getting strong." CONFIDENT CHINA? Under Xi, officials have become increasingly confident in proclaiming what they see as China's rightful place as a world leader, casting off a long-held maxim of Deng Xiaoping, the former paramount leader who said the country needed to "bide its time and hide its strength". That confidence has been apparent as the government pushes its Belt and Road initiative to develop trade routes between East and West and takes a hard line on territorial issues such as the South China Sea and Taiwan. Hu Angang, an economics professor at Tsinghua University and an expert in the field of "Chinese exceptionalism", is one prominent advocate for the view that China has achieved "comprehensive national power". In recent weeks, Hu has faced a public backlash, with critics blaming him for making the United States wary of China by trumpeting and exaggerating its relative economic, technical and military might. That view of Hu is also shared by some people in official circles, according to the policy advisor. Hu declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. The cracks within the party come as China's stock markets and currency have slumped, and the government has struggled to shore up the economy to cushion the impact of the trade war. China in recent weeks has encouraged more lending and pledged to use fiscal policy - including tax cuts and more funding for local governments - to combat slowing economic growth and rising uncertainty driven in part by the escalating trade war. Xi has had other fires to hose too, including public anger over a vaccine fraud case and protests in Beijing this week by investors in failed online lending platforms. Meanwhile, top leaders are believed to be meeting for secretive annual talks, most likely at the seaside resort of Beidaihe, leaving a policy vacuum as Xi and other officials all but vanish from state media. Based on what has happened in previous years, that could be for up to two weeks. It is unclear if Wang, the propaganda boss, will face any consequences, and there may be other reasons for the tensions within the party related to him. A third source with ties to the leadership told Reuters the tension had to do with Wang opposing a cult of personality that has been forming around Xi. Wang still features in state media and diplomats and leadership sources say he is unlikely to be removed from the Standing Committee, the party body that runs China, in what would be an unprecedented move. Though official media has in recent days been filled with defiant commentary regarding the United States and the trade war, there have been signs of a shift in China's messaging. Beijing has begun downplaying Made in China 2025, the state-backed industrial policy that is core to Washington's complaints about the country's technological ambitions. State television's English-language news channel CGTN, which is aimed at foreigners, has also been focusing on how ordinary Americans will be affected by more expensive prices for cheap made-in-China consumer goods and the damage tariffs will do to the U.S. economy. But the thinking in Chinese government circles is that the damage has already been done - and that China has learned the hard way that its domestic propaganda is now being scrutinised abroad in a way it never was before. "It's impossible for China to 'bide its time and hide its strength', but at least we can control the volume of our own propaganda and tell China's story the proper way," the policy insider said. "When the size of China's economy was small, it got little outside attention but China is now closely watched." (Additional reporting by Michael Martina, Christian Shepherd, Zhang Shu, Philip Wen and Yawen Chen; Editing by Philip McClellan) (Corrects name of the company to Votorantim SA, not Votorantim Participacoes SA) SAO PAULO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Brazilian conglomerate Votorantim SA is looking for acquisition targets in infrastructure, energy and real estate to invest the proceeds of the sale of its stake in pulpmaker Fibria Celulose SA , senior executives said on Wednesday. Chief Executive Officer Joao Miranda told journalists the group is planning to invest in industries that will provide a more stable stream of dividends. "We are still considering which would be the best segments to invest within infrastructure", Miranda said. Votorantim agreed last March to sell its controlling stake in Fibria to Brazilian rival Suzano Papel e Celulose SA , and expects to close the deal by year-end, after approval of regulators in Brazil, the United States, Europe and Asia. The company announced on Wednesday the development of an app by its foundation for social development to help voters chose their candidates in the upcoming October elections. (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Chinese and EU goods worth billions of dollars. Photograph: Reuters World trade has enjoyed 70 years of boom. But when Britain voted to leave the European Union with no set plan on how to do that and US president Donald Trump started following through on protectionist trade proposals, many analysts warned that this was the beginning of the end of globalisation. However, economists Ric Deverell and Hayden Skilling from financial firm Macquarie say that even though the Trump trade war is likely to be disruptive and even the most extreme threats will unlikely cause a spike in global trade tariffs, last seen pre-1950. Over recent years, the concept of globalisation has come under pressure, with the UK vote to leave the European Union, and the election of President Trump often portrayed as clear evidence that the halcyon days of global integration are over, they say in a note to clients. While there is little doubt that the dramatic increase in the trade intensity of the global economy has stalledthe ratio of trade to GDP has flat-lined since the Great Recessionit is notable that we remain dramatically more integrated than at any other time in human history, with global trade in 2017 around 60% of global GDP, up from around 6% in 1820. Disruption to come, not disassembling. America First Ever since Trump entered the White House, he has been slapping tariffs on goods from China and the EU in a bid to enact his raft of protectionist trade measures, under his political branding of America First. Now the president has threatened to smack tariffs on more than $200bn worth of Chinese goods. His administration has already implemented duties on $34bn worth of imports, and there will be an additional $16bn placed on Chinese goods on 23 August. This has, of course, sparked a trade war as China, the worlds second largest economy behind the US, will not take this lying down. The countrys Ministry of Commerce has been clear that it will retaliate by imposing its own tariffs on US goods. On top of that, Trump has tried to take on the EU, which is made up of 28 member countries until Britain leaves on 29 March 2019. After the White House administration threatened to impose a 25% tariff on European autos, a key industry for the blocs biggest economy Germany, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker seemed to get Trump to put a freeze on an all-out trade war. Story continues We agreed today, first of all, to work together toward zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers and zero subsidies on non-auto industrial goods, Trump said. We will not go against the spirit of this agreement unless either party terminates the negotiation, he said. So, were starting the negotiation right now but we know very much where its going. While this seems like a pertinent staving off of a trade war, it should be noted that this is just putting a tariff slap frenzy on pause. The risk of returning to retaliatory levies is still very much there. Cant live, with or without EU Meanwhile, the world is awaiting what will happen when Britain leaves the EU. There has not been a solid plan ever since Britain voted to leave the EU on 23 June 2016. Over the last two years, the UK government has gone back and forth on what they envisage Brexit to look like, all the while having significantly different implications to how trade between the bloc and the UK would look like. There are only two real scenarios in the event of Brexita soft Brexit and a hard Brexit, also known as a no-deal Brexit. A soft Brexit is pretty much what Britain has now except a seat at the decision-making table unified tariffs, same free migration rules to live and work, and common laws. This is the markets preferred option as it keeps Britain within favourable trading and working conditions with the bloc. About 43% of UK exports in goods and services go to EU member states and 54% of imports to the UK come from countries in the bloc. A hard Brexit would be like walking over a cliff-edge as there would be no deal in place when it comes to tariffs, rules on free movement, which is one of the prerequisite of being part of the EU, as well as unified regulations that allows the goods and services to seamlessly being bought and sold across EU country borders. The hit on the economy has been predicted to be vast by many and therefore would trickle down and hit the pockets of the person on the street. But while Brexit and the increase in protectionism emanating from the US are undoubtedly huge headaches for various economies, the Macquarie economists say they are unlikely to spark a sharp reversal of the centuries-long trend towards increasing global interconnectedness. Indeed, increased global trade over time has been driven by a range of factors, most of which will remain largely unaffected by recent economic and policy developments, they add. (This Aug 8 story was refiled to attribute report to both Fitch and CRU Group) MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian aluminium giant Rusal is concerned about an impending catastrophe if U.S. sanctions are not lifted, with some of its production halted as early as September, two sources close to the company said. Under the terms of the sanctions, imposed in April in response to Moscow's alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, U.S. customers must wind down business with Rusal by Oct. 23. "If sanctions are not lifted in the near future, then contracts will expire and from Oct. 1, all of the company's production, intended for the external market, will once again go into the warehouses," a source close to Rusal said. "Considering that before the sanctions were introduced, Rusal sold around 80 percent of its output for export, the situation could be catastrophic not only for all the company's plants around the world, but also for the global aluminium market," the source said. Rusal declined to comment. On Tuesday the company said it was putting a halt to production at its small Nadvoitsky plant as a result of the sanctions, since all of its output was geared to the U.S. market. The production, for export, of alloys and of value-added products - such as foil and rolled products - could be stopped as early as September, another source close to the company said. In a joint report, ratings agency Fitch and CRU Group said on Wednesday that global aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange could rise towards $3,000 per tonne by 2021 if no "acceptable resolution to Rusal sanctions is found". That is compared to an expected 2021 price $2,470 if the situation is resolved. Aluminium is now trades at $2,106 (CMAL3) on the exchange. Story continues Fitch also outlined why Rusal could start shutting down operations as early as September. Rusal's ability to agree products deals on all value-added goods for the coming year could be limited, as negotiations take place between September and November, the ratings agency said. "Furthermore, the annual period where volumes and prices are agreed for the following year between buyers/sellers also starts in September," the Fitch and CRU Group report said. "If Rusal remains under sanctions, then it cannot agree new deals," the report said. (Reporting by Polina Ivanova and Diana Asonova; Editing by David Evans) (Adds background) Aug 9 (Reuters) - Cheniere Energy Inc Chief Executive Jack Fusco said on Thursday he does not expect proposed Chinese tariffs on U.S. liquefied natural gas to have an economic impact on the LNG's company's existing contracts. "We don't foresee an economic impact to Cheniere as it relates to our existing long-term contracts with PetroChina," Fusco told analysts in a call following the release of the company's second-quarter earnings. He was referring to China National Petroleum Corp's (CNPC) PetroChina subsidiary, which in February agreed to buy about 1.2 million tonnes of LNG per year, or 0.16 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, from Cheniere through 2043, with a portion of the supply beginning in 2018. One billion cubic feet of gas is enough to fuel about 5 million U.S. homes for a day. China, which is embroiled in a trade war with the United States, added U.S. LNG to the list of prospective products it is considering for a 25 percent import tariff. Prior to the recent slowdown in shipments, China was on track to import 141.6 bcf of U.S. LNG in 2018, up from 103.4 bcf in 2017 and 17.2 bcf in 2016. It imported no LNG from the United States in 2015. "We are awaiting details of the proposed tariffs and are hopeful that the U.S. and China can resolve the trade dispute without these tariffs being implemented," Fusco said, noting that U.S. LNG is an "important variable to help resolve trade issues" with China. "Our business is a very long-term one, and it is well understood that China needs more LNG over the long term," Fusco said. "We expect to sell meaningful amounts of LNG into China over the long term." China, which is trying to wean itself off coal to reduce pollution, became the world's second-biggest LNG importer in 2017. The United States is on track to become the world's third-biggest LNG exporter by capacity in 2019 as liquefaction trains under construction enter service. Cheniere, the biggest U.S. seller of LNG, operates four liquefaction trains at its Sabine Pass LNG export terminal in Louisiana and has four other trains under construction - one at Sabine and three at its Corpus Christi export terminal in Texas. The deal with PetroChina helped support Cheniere's decision to move forward with the construction of the third train at Corpus. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino Editing by Susan Thomas and Paul Simao) BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iran's utmost authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic had nothing to be concerned about, a report on his official website said on Wednesday, as the country's clerical leadership faces biting U.S. sanctions. The sanctions imposed on Tehran this week have already led banks and many companies around the world to scale back dealings with Iran. Companies doing business with Iran will be barred from the United States, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday. "With regard to our situation do not be worried at all. Nobody can do anything," his website Khamenei.ir quoted him as saying in one of his speeches in the past weeks, but was published only a day after the new U.S. sanctions took effect. Trump tweeted on Tuesday that the new sanctions, which were lifted under a 2015 international nuclear deal, were the most biting sanctions ever imposed. Iran has denounced as "U.S. unilateralism" the reimposition of sanctions in line with Trumps decision to pull out of the agreement over Irans nuclear program. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshrou, in a commentary published by Britain's Guardian newspaper on Wednesday, said that Trump was making history by violating a U.N. Security Council resolution it voted for three years ago. The resolution, which underpinned the pact between Iran and six powers, calls on U.N. member states to refrain "from actions that undermine implementation of commitments" under the nuclear accord. U.S. officials have said in recent weeks that they aim to pressure countries to stop buying oil from Iran in a bid to force Tehran to halt its nuclear and missile programs and involvement in regional conflicts in Syria and Iraq. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that a U.S. plan to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero will not succeed, according to the Iran state newspaper. "If the Americans want to keep this simplistic and impossible idea in their minds they should also know its consequences," Zarif told the Iran newspaper. "They cant think that Iran wont export oil and others will export." President Hassan Rouhani hinted last month that Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route, if the United States attempted to stop the Islamic Republics oil exports. Trump responded by noting that Iran could face serious consequences if it threatened the United States. "The Americans have assembled a war room against Iran," Zarif said. "We cant get drawn into a confrontation with America by falling into this war room trap and playing on a battlefield." Last month, Trump offered to meet Iran's leaders "without preconditions". But Rouhani on Monday said there could be no talks as long as Washington was reneging on the deal. Zarif said that Oman and Switzerland have acted as mediators in talks with America in the past but that there are currently no direct or indirect talks being held with the United States. Rouhani, speaking in a meeting with North Korea's foreign minister on Wednesday, said that America cannot be trusted, according to the State news agency IRNA. "Today, America is identified as an unreliable and untrustworthy country in the world which does not adhere to any of its obligations," Rouhani said. (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by James Dalgleish) The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announces a 25 percent charge on $16 billion worth of U.S. goods, including vehicles such as large passenger cars and motorcycles. China's announcement comes after the U.S. Trade Representative's office released a finalized list of $16 billion worth in Chinese goods that will be hit with tariffs. China said Wednesday it will retaliate against the latest round of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced a 25 percent charge on $16 billion worth of U.S. goods. The 333 goods being targeted by China include vehicles such as large passenger cars and motorcycles. Various fuels are on the list, as well as fiber optical cables. China is also going after coal, grease, Vaseline, asphalt and plastic products, and recyclables . China's announcement comes after the U.S. Trade Representative's office released a finalized list of $16 billion worth in Chinese goods that will be hit with tariffs. The U.S. charges will take effect on Aug. 23. The latest U.S. list brings the total worth of Chinese goods facing a 25 percent tariff to $50 billion. "This is tit-for-tat exactly," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley FBR. "Our $16 billion comes at a scheduled time, which comes up on the 23rd. China said we see your $16 billion and we'll match your $16 billion." "They'll pretty much match what we do until they have no more levers to pull. The bad news is the trade war fears in China are escalating. The major concern right now in trade is China," Hogan said. Tensions between the U.S. and China have been simmering in recent months as the Trump administration takes a more protectionist stance when it comes to trade. Just last month , tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods came into effect. Chinese state media has hit back at the U.S. in light of the levies that have been threatened, saying the Asian nation would retaliate. Story continues On July 25, President Donald Trump said China is "being vicious" on trade, noting it is targeting U.S. farmers on purpose. Trump tweet Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said it must retaliate against the U.S. tariffs " to defend the nation's dignity ." More From CNBC Defensive sectors, such as real-estate, consumer staples and utilities are likely to gain popularity in the current scenario. On Aug 8, China declared that it would retaliate against fresh tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese imports. The countrys ministry of commerce announced that China has decided to impose a 25% tariff on U.S. goods worth $16 billion. This follows the U.S. Trade Representatives move to impose tariffs on Chinese goods worth the same amount. The latest exchange in a simmering trade conflict was one of the reasons for stocks closing largely in the red on Wednesday. With bitterness increasing between the United States and its trading partners, defensive stocks have grabbed investors attention. These stocks offer slower but stable growth during periods of uncertainty. Since they also hold out the promise of higher-than-average yields, investing in defensive stocks looks like a prudent option at this point. China Retaliates With Fresh Tariffs On Wednesday, China said that it is imposing a 25% tariff on U.S. goods worth $16 billion. Chinas ministry of commerce has characterized the Trump administrations decision to levy a 25% tariff on U.S. goods of an identical value as very unreasonable. This is why it feels that China should retaliate to protect its legitimate interests. These tariffs will come into effect from Aug 23 and are targeted at 333 goods. This list of U.S. goods includes large passenger cars and motorcycles. A wide variety of fuels and fiber optic cables also feature on the list. China is also targeting asphalt, Vaseline, coal, grease, plastic products and recyclables. Trade Tensions to Continue With the United States and China imposing tit-for-tat tariffs, there seems to be no end to the trade war in sight. Fresh U.S. measures mean that $50 billion worth of U.S. goods now face a 25% tariff. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is thinking about imposing a 10% duty on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. This rate could even be raised to 25% after a comment period ends on Sep 6. In such an event, China would likely impose tariffs on a further $60 billion of U.S. goods. Analysts feel that the point of no return hasnt been reached but it is getting closer. In fact, Trump has indicated that he could impose duties on all Chinese imports, which exceeded $500 billion in 2017. Story continues Defensive Picks in the Limelight Given this backdrop, defensive sectors, such as real-estate, consumer staples and utilities will likely gain popularity among investors. These stocks grow at a slower pace than the rest of the economy. However, they are more stable in nature and safer during periods of economic uncertainty. These also offer dividend yields that are higher than the overall market. Such a characteristic had actually decreased their attractiveness during a year when treasury yields have peaked. But with trade tensions cropping up, they may prove to be popular, especially among risk-averse investors. Our Choices Chinas decision to impose retaliatory tariffs indicates that trade tensions with the United States are likely to continue. Several more rounds could be played out before the countries reach a point of no return. However, that point is inching ever closer with Trump determined to expand the scope of his protectionist measures. Investing in defensive stocks, which offer a safe and stable choice during periods of uncertainty looks like a good option at this point. Further, they carry the promise of above-average dividend yields. We have narrowed down our search to the following stocks based on a good Zacks Rank and other relevant metrics. NRG Yield, Inc. NYLD, along with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a diversified portfolio of contracted renewable and conventional generation, and thermal infrastructure assets in the United States. NRG Yield has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The company has expected earnings growth of 38.9% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 16.8% over the last 30 days. The stock has a dividend yield of 6.7%. Archer Daniels Midland Company ADM is one of the leading food processing companies in the world. Archer Daniels Midland has expected earnings growth of 35.1% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 6.2% over the last 30 days. The stock has a dividend yield of 2.7%. It has a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Sutherland Asset Management Corporation SLD is a commercial mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT). Sutherland Asset Management has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company has expected earnings growth of 16.6% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 2.2% over the last 30 days. The stock has a dividend yield of 9.8%. DTE Energy Company DTE is a holding company with subsidiaries engaged in regulated and unregulated energy businesses. DTE Energy has a Zacks Rank #2. The company has expected earnings growth of 10.1% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 6.7% over the last 30 days. The stock has a dividend yield of 3.2%. City Office REIT, Inc. CIO focuses on acquiring, owning and operating office properties in the United States. City Office REIT has a Zacks Rank #2. The companys expected earnings growth for the current year is 17%.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 0.9% over the last 30 days. The stock has a dividend yield of 7.4%. Matthews International Corporation MATW is a designer, manufacturer and marketer principally of memorialization products & brand solutions. Matthews International has a Zacks Rank #2. The company has expected earnings growth of 8.3% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 0.3% over the last 30 days. The stock has a dividend yield of 1.5%. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> 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 DTE Energy Company (DTE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Matthews International Corporation (MATW) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sutherland Asset Management Corp. (SLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report NRG Yield, Inc. (NYLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report City Office REIT, Inc. (CIO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research If implemented, China's proposed 25 percent tariff on U.S. LNG will cause shifts in the LNG market. China is the number 2 importer of LNG globally while the U.S. is climbing up the ranks of major LNG exporters. China threats of new tariffs on $60 billion worth of United States imports will create shifts in the energy market , as American liquefied natural gas makes the list of goods Beijing will target, analysts said. The move to include LNG raised eyebrows as China had previously held back at including the fuel on the list of products subject to tariffs. That is as the country looks to natural gas as part of its efforts to clean up politically sensitive air pollution . But things have changed since trade tensions with the U.S. escalated dramatically in recent weeks and some have questioned if Beijing's move will hit American gas exports. The U.S. is the world's top producer of natural gas and is a growing major exporter of LNG. If implemented, a tariff on LNG "would deal a serious blow to the U.S. gas industry and President (Donald) Trump's 'energy dominance' agenda," said Hugo Brennan, senior Asia analyst at consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. "Chinese gas demand forecasts are underpinning a raft of proposed LNG export terminals along America's East Coast, which align with the Trump administration's bid to turn the U.S. into an energy superpower. But some of these projects will struggle to attract financing if (China) goes ahead and raises tariff barriers on U.S. LNG," Brennan wrote in a Tuesday note. China was the world's second-largest importer of LNG last year. The country is expected to become the world's top importer of the super-chilled fuel next year, the International Energy Agency said in June. Last year, about 15 percent of U.S. LNG exports went to China. The current standoff is a sharp shift from the situation earlier this year when Beijing offered to buy more U.S. energy exports to reduce the massive bilateral trade deficit. Story continues Now, that "looks like a distant prospect, given that high-level talks have broken down against a backdrop of threats and counter-threat," said Brennan. Still, there are analysts who counter that the U.S. gas export boom is something that cannot be stopped with or without China. Currently, most U.S. LNG exports are secured on long-term contacts, so the impact will be fairly limited until the deals expire. However, the spot LNG market which has been growing steadily will be hit. Longer term contract negotiations could also be affected. Winners and losers "A 25 percent import tariff, amid a backdrop of strong government rhetoric against U.S. energy imports, is likely to see U.S. LNG priced out of the lucrative Chinese gas market," said analysts at Fitch Solutions Macro Research. Brennan echoed that sentiment, writing in his note that "geopolitical dynamics will undermine American exporters' bid to become major gas suppliers to China." Indeed, U.S. LNG customers from China have told energy information firm Platts that companies will be deterred from ordering American supplies in the near-term as the tariffs will push prices above what they can afford. Platts cited unnamed sources at state-owned and privately-held Chinese companies. Fitch Solutions said it expected major LNG players such as Shell, RDSA-GB Total FP-FR and Trafigura to be the most affected as they acquire cargoes from U.S.-based projects before selling them onto markets where demand and prices are the strongest. On Wednesday, official data from China showed U.S. imports of LNG fell to their lowest level in a year for the month of July, Reuters records showed. That softening came amid the backdrop of strong 2018 gains: China imported about 17 percent more U.S. LNG from January to July this year than it did in all of 2017, S&P Global Platts Analytics data showed. Still, Giles Farrer, research director for global gas and LNG supply at Wood Mackenzie, said in a note last week that the U.S.-China spat was "unlikely to be terminal" for American suppliers because "plenty of appetite exists from other buyers in Asia and Europe." Analysts are now expecting China to look toward alternative sources with major LNG suppliers like Australia and Qatar likely benefiting from the developments in the long run. "The boost to Australia could be bigger over the next five to ten years as the opportunity of grabbing a larger share of China's growing LNG market may prompt Australian producers to expand capacity and output. That could help mitigate the long-term hit to Australia from a rise in global trade barriers," research consultancy Capital Economics said in a recent note. Demand for piped gas from suppliers like Central Asia and Russia may also get a lift, experts said. China, meanwhile, could find itself more vulnerable to energy price spikes if its potential pool of LNG suppliers is reduced. Although U.S. LNG makes up a relatively small component of China's overall gas mix, seasonal spikes in household and industrial demand can drive up the need for short-term cargo purchases such as those from the U.S. to supplement long-planned volumes, said Fitch Solutions. The need for flexible cargo demand in the winter is evidenced by China importing more U.S. LNG from November 2017 to January 2018 than it did during the first 10 months of 2017, Fitch Solutions added. More From CNBC U.S. stocks slid on Friday as a deepening economic crisis in Turkey dragged on bank stocks and triggered fears that it could spread to other global economies. Todays topics include trouble in Turkey, Tesla, and the early release of Starbuckss pumpkin latte being. Catch The Final Round at 3:55 ET p.m. with Yahoo Finances Jen Rogers, Andy Serwer, and Jared Blikre. Also joining the show today, Tasha Keeney of ARK Invest. Winners and Losers Stocks in the red include News Corp, with shares dropping the most in five years after the company said it will invest more in its Australian cable network; Dropbox, as for the most recent quarter, the personal cloud company posted 27% revenue growth year to year, but investors are on edge by the departure of CEO Dennis Woodside; and Intel, as Goldman Sachs lowers the rating on the computer chip manufacturer from sell to neutral citing repeated delays in moving to the next generation chip process technology. Stocks in the green include Stitch Fix, as SunTrust rated the personal styling companys stock as a buy in new coverage. They called Stitch Fix a disruptor that is in position to gain more attention from investors; Overstock.com, with shares soaring on news that Hong Kong private-equity firm GSR capital is buying shares in the online retailer, as well as investing in its blockchain subsidiary tZero; and Planet Fitness as it reported its third straight quarter of accelerating earnings growth. News Brief: The latest State of the Industry report for small orbital-class launch vehicles tracks 101 reported efforts to create such rockets, compared with a mere 31 in 2015. But many of those efforts are defunct or in limbo, Northrop Grummans Carlos Niederstrasser said today at the SmallSat Conference in Logan, Utah. Were definitely starting to see attrition in the industry, he said. Niederstrasser said only four small launch vehicles have entered service since 2015: three Chinese rockets and Rocket Labs Electron. He also noted that the per-kilogram price for putting a payload in orbit can go as high as $50,000. These small launch vehicles are not going to be the cheapest way to get into the orbit, Niederstrasser said. Their main selling point is convenience. If you really want the cheapest access to space, youre still pretty much left with the rideshare domain. Check out the full report. More from GeekWire: Malaria is spread to people by mosquitos, which transfer the parasite while sucking blood from humans (AFP Photo/PHILIPPE HUGUEN) Athens (AFP) - Three people have died from West Nile fever after an outbreak in Athens which has infected 60 people this year, Greek authorities said Friday, indicating they were monitoring the situation carefully. "Since last week, we have registered 17 new cases," of the mosquito-borne disease, the Greek centre for disease control and prevention (Keelpno) said. Sixty cases have been recorded since the start of the year, with 16 people still in hospital, including four in intensive care, Keelpno added. The bulk of infections have occurred within the last month. "That is why we are warning the public," an official said. The cases, mostly in the western suburbs of Athens, mark a reappearance of the virus after an outbreak last year when Greek authorities registered 48 cases, resulting in five deaths. The virus can cause symptoms similar to those of the flu, but in extreme cases, it can result in tremors, fever, comas and a lethal swelling of the brain tissue known as encephalitis. It can also cause meningitis. First discovered in Uganda in 1937, the virus is carried by birds and spread to humans by mosquitoes. It is indigenous to Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. "It is necessary that health professionals and national and local authorities are vigilant, because there is no way of predicting which regions the virus could spread to," said Keelpno. Cases of the West Nile virus have also been reported in 2018 in Hungary, Italy, Romania and Serbia, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. On Tuesday night, Missouri voters delivered a crushing defeat to a right-to-work law passed by Republicans in 2017. In a referendum, 67.5% of voters opposed the law and only a smattering of counties voted to enact it. The law would have weakened unions at a time when the ability to organize is under attack at the federal level. Heres what you need to know. What was the law? In 2017 Missouris Republican-led legislature passed a so-called right-to-work law that would allow private-sector workers to opt out of paying union dues. According to the National Right To Work Legal Defense Foundation, 27 states have similar laws, including Alabama, Indiana, Nevada, and Virginia. Proponents argue that compelling an individual to join a union curtails his or her freedom, particularly freedom of speech, and that such laws are good for a states economy. Opponents argue that these laws weaken unions and, as the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) says, tilt the balance toward big corporations and further rig the system at the expense of working families. Why was it on the ballot? Although the Missouri law passed last year, labor groups succeeded in petitioning to put it to a state-wide vote. They gathered around 300,000 signaturestwice the number they neededand later outspent proponents of the law by nearly 5 to 1 in the campaign. Missouri is now the first state to overturn right-to-work legislation by a referendum. Why does it matter? The rejection of this law stands in direct opposition to the Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME earlier this summer that declared workers have a constitutional right not to pay union dues. That ruling applies to public-sector unions in the 22 states that did not have right-to-work lawsMissouri is now the 23rd state to which that ruling applies. As the first major fight over unions since the Janus decision, some see Missouris referendum as an indication of the publics support for unions beyond the states borders. Mackenzie Mauller bought a mother a cup of coffee, and her thank-you note is going viral. (Photo: Noah Gainy) A teens sweet offer toward a stressed-out mother at Starbucks has made a surprising impact on both womens lives. On Tuesday, 19-year-old Mackenzie Mauller of Union Town, Ohio, tweeted, Yesterday I bought coffee for the lady behind me at Starbuckslater in the day I found this [in] my mailbox. Small acts can make a big difference folks, spread some kindness. Mauller also posted a soon-to-be viral photo of the handwritten note from the woman, whose name is Nicole Clawson, which read, Thank you for the coffee. I rarely go to Starbucks and treat myself but the last couple of months have been a bit of a struggle. Clawson wrote that her family was experiencing lots of transition: Her father, who had provided daily care for her children, had recently passed away; that morning, her babysitter had called in sick, forcing Clawson to take the day off work; and the mom was soon leaving her job to become a stay-at-home mother, a role she was not emotionally and financially prepared to assume. Yesterday I bought coffee for the lady behind me at Starbucks.. later in the day I found this is my mailbox. Small acts can make a big difference folks, spread some kindness. pic.twitter.com/awNi4LSGJq Mackenzie (@mackey2399) August 7, 2018 Story continues I cried when I found out you were so sweet to buy my coffee, wrote Clawson, and thrilled to see you pull in a couple houses down from where I live. I felt it necessary for you to know that what you did for me was more than just a coffee. It was something that has turned my whole day around, put tears in my eyes and a smile on my face and I feel so grateful. That day, Clawson felt guilty while sitting in the drive-through lane of Starbucks. Its been hard because I am no longer providing income, but I decided to buy coffee for myself and breakfast for the kids, the 32-year-old tells Yahoo Lifestyle. An employee at the order window said my coffee had been paid for I was shocked. Nicole Clawsons thank-you note to a teen who bought her coffee is making people happy. (Photo: Courtesy of Nicole Clawson) On the way home, Clawson found herself trailing the car driven by the stranger, who eventually pulled into a driveway across the street and a few houses down from Clawsons home. I thought to myself, How often do people pay it forward and learn the impact of their actions? she says. So, she and her children, ages 3 and 6, wrote a thank-you note and slipped it into Maullers mailbox. Mauller, an aspiring pilot who is studying flight technology at Kent State University, says she can relate to Clawson. Strangers have bought me coffee in the past, and I always wished I could have thanked them, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle, adding that she nearly cried when she read Clawsons note. So that evening, Mauller went door-to-door in search of Clawson, and when the women met in person, they hugged. Mauller says strangers on Twitter have sent her $150, which she spent on a Starbucks card for Clawson (Im giving it to her tonight), and shes offered her babysitting services. Mauller has exemplified selflessness for Clawsons children. Now my kids want to pay it forward, she says. Mackenzie makes me proud as a mom. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. An artists conception shows three Bigelow Aerospace B330 modules linked together to create a space station being serviced by SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Such a configuration would provide as much pressurized volume as the International Space Station. (Bigelow Aerospace Illustration) Thirteen companies, including Boeing and Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos Blue Origin space venture, will be doing studies for NASA on the future of commercial human spaceflight in low Earth orbit. All of the studies are due in December, and are supposed to cost no more than $1 million each. NASA still has to negotiate the contract amounts with the study groups, but it expects the total cost of the effort to come in at around $11 million. The exercise is in line with NASAs initiative to commercialize low-Earth-orbit operations by 2025. The options include handing over of the International Space Station to commercial management, or creating brand-new orbital outposts. The gist of the effort is also in line with Bezos long-term vision of having millions of people living and working in space. For now, Blue Origin is focusing on suborbital and orbital launch capabilities, plus a lunar lander program known as Blue Moon. But the companys involvement in these new studies suggests that itll be thinking about space outposts as well. Boeing, too, has been thinking ahead. In May, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg laid out a vision for having up to a dozen outposts orbiting Earth within a decade or two as part of a new space ecosystem. The 13 studies are expected to lay out business plans for habitable platforms in low Earth orbit, and make recommendations about the International Space Stations role in the transition to non-governmental orbital enterprises. When the International Space Station was established, we could not have anticipated all of the benefits it would provide, Sam Scimemi, director of the International Space Station division at NASA Headquarters, said in a news release. Were excited to receive this input from the commercial market and aerospace experts to help shape a future thriving space economy in which companies contract with each other to conduct research and activities in low Earth orbit, Scimemi said. Story continues NASA says shifting operations in low Earth orbit to commercial ventures will help the space agency focus more fully on exploration beyond Earth orbit. But there are limits to how far commercialization can go. In an audit issued last month, NASAs inspector general questioned whether there was a sufficient business case for turning the space station into a self-sustaining, profit-making commercial venture by 2025. In addition to Blue Origin and Boeing, the study groups include three companies with plans on the books for orbital outposts Axiom Space, Bigelow Aerospace and NanoRacks and Space Adventures, which has sent seven paying spaceflight participants to the International Space Station since 2001. The list also has a few companies that are better known for government and business consulting than for spaceflight per se such as Deloitte Consulting, McKinsey & Co. and KBRwyle. One company thats not on the list is SpaceX, which is already transporting cargo to and from the space station, and will soon transport astronauts as well (along with Boeing). Its not yet fully clear why SpaceX wasnt included. Neither NASA nor SpaceX provided an explanation in response to GeekWires inquiries. However, it could be that NASA is already getting enough input from SpaceX through its existing relationship. And besides, SpaceX founder Elon Musks focus has always been more on Mars settlement than on putting new outposts in low Earth orbit. Heres the full list of 13 companies: Axiom Space , Houston Bigelow Aerospace , Las Vegas Blue Origin , Kent, Wash. The Boeing Co. , Houston Deloitte Consulting , Manhattan Beach, Calif. KBRwyle , Houston Lockheed Martin , Littleton, Colo. McKinsey & Co. , Washington, D.C. NanoRacks , Webster, Texas Northrop Grumman , Dulles, Va. Sierra Nevada Corp. , Louisville, Colo. Space Adventures , Vienna, Va. Space Systems/Loral, Palo Alto, Calif. More from GeekWire: By Jessica Resnick-Ault NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude oil prices rose more than 1.0 percent on Friday as U.S. sanctions against Iran looked set to tighten supply, but futures contracts posted a weekly decline as investors worried that global trade disputes could slow economic growth and hurt demand for energy. Benchmark Brent crude oil settled 74 cents higher at $72.96 a barrel on Friday. U.S. light crude was 82 cents higher at $67.63 a barrel. A sell-off on Wednesday left both benchmarks down for the week overall, with Brent off 0.5 percent and U.S. crude 1.2 percent lower. Hedge funds and other money managers cut their bullish positions on U.S. crude in the week ending Aug. 7 to the lowest level since June, data showed on Friday. Prices are expected to remain under pressure as U.S. gasoline demand slows going into the autumn and refiners shut for maintenance, pushing more crude into storage, said Tariq Zahir, managing member at Tyche Capital in New York. "I think it now comes down to the point of what we see in demand numbers." U.S. crude supplies fell less than expected in the latest week, and data released on Friday showed U.S. energy companies this week added the most oil rigs since May. Drillers added 10 oil rigs in the week to Aug. 10, bringing the total to 869, the most since March 2015, General Electric Co's Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday. [RIG/U] Escalating trade disputes between the U.S, China and other countries have dimmed the outlook for economic growth and boosted the U.S. dollar, making oil more expensive for consumers using other currencies. Currencies of major emerging economies including China, India and Turkey have slumped. Despite these worries, prices got a boost from U.S. sanctions against Iran, which from November will affect oil exports from that country. Although the European Union, China and India oppose the U.S. sanctions against Iran, many are expected to bow to U.S. pressure. Analysts expect Iranian crude exports to fall by between 500,000 and 1.3 million barrels per day, with buyers in Japan, South Korea and India already dialing back orders. The reduction will depend on whether buyers of Iranian oil receive waivers that would allow some imports. The International Energy Agency said on Friday the oil market could see more turbulence. "The recent cooling down of the market, with short-term supply tensions easing, currently lower prices, and lower demand growth might not last," the IEA said in a monthly report. "As oil sanctions against Iran take effect, perhaps in combination with production problems elsewhere, maintaining global supply might be very challenging." Investors are wary of the trade dispute between Washington and Beijing. In the latest round of levies, China said it would impose additional tariffs of 25 percent on $16 billion worth of U.S. imports. Although crude oil was removed from the list, replaced by refined products and liquefied petroleum gas, analysts say Chinese imports of U.S. crude will fall significantly. (Additional Reporting by Christopher Johnson in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Dale Hudson and David Gregorio) Making plans for what will happen to you after your death is always kind of weird, whether you believe in an afterlife or not. Where your earthly remains end up is something that is often discussed with your closest family members, but the end of the road is often a well-manicured field with tasteful headstones. In Florida, some folks are choosing to handle things a little bit differently. The Neptune Memorial Reef is an underwater burial ground for people who want to trade the grass and soil of a traditional cemetery for something a bit more unique. Inspired by the mythical Atlantis, the reef hosts memorial stones priced at up to $8,000. Don't Miss: Amazon has MacBook Pro and MacBook Air refurbs at deep discounts As the NY Post reports, the site has gained a lot of attention since it was built, and the organization that maintains the reef recently expanded it to allow more room for memorials. Since its original opening roughly a decade ago, the reef has gained 1,500 residents, and the expansion will add enough space for another 4,000 memorials. The idea behind this seemingly bizarre burial site is to allow for a unique memorial for people who also want to give back to the planet in some small way. The reef welcomes all manner of aquatic flora and fauna, and the organizers believe that it will remain a sustainable ecosystem for many years to come. Were seeing animals here that we havent seen before. Ones that have been missing for a long time, Jim Hutslar, a co-founder of the reef, told the Post. We actually found a long spine sea urchin that was considered extinct in the Caribbean Sea. This mission to create life after life has brought plenty of positive press for the reef, and while its not super cheap to secure an underwater memorial there, a starting price of around $1,500 is fairly reasonable. If youre a sea lover, theres probably no better place to end up. BGR Top Deals: Trending Right Now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) might be trying to jawbone electronic cigarettes into becoming the future of its business, as well as the industry, but traditional combustible cigarettes remain its primary profit center. With its stock down 28% from its 52-week high, let's see whether investors should buy into the tobacco giant on the premise that its legacy cigarette business will be carry it far enough that its next-generation products can then take up the baton. Man breaking cigarette in half Philip Morris International wants people to quit smoking and start using electronic cigarettes. Image source: Getty Images. A dominant presence Smoking remains a habit in decline, both here in the U.S. and around the world. Still, billions of cigarettes are smoked every year, and even if the numbers are steadily falling, Philip Morris International is selling a lot of them. Over the first six months of 2018, the global tobacco leader shipped 355 billion cigarette units to international markets, a 3.3% drop from the year-ago level, and its Marlboro brand is still the worldwide favorite, shipping almost 127 billion, nearly half the total, and giving Philip Morris the leading market share in many countries. The cigarette company has a 51% share in Italy, a 45% share in France, a 70% share in the Philippines, and a 73% share in Argentina. Marlboro has a 41% share all by itself in the U.S., where it is marketed by Altria (NYSE: MO). Yet it's an expensive business to operate as governments around the world impose heavy taxes on its product. Of Philip Morris' $21.1 billion in second-quarter revenue, 63%, or $13.3 billion, went to excise taxes, leaving it $7.7 billion in net revenues. But it's still a profitable business. After subtracting out its expenses, the global tobacco giant produced operating margins of over 40%, a rate it has achieved fairly consistently since it was spun off from Altria in 2008. It also pays investors a dividend that's currently yielding 5.3%, and it has raised the payout to shareholders every year since the spinoff. Story continues Prior to the current drop in its share price, returns on Philip Morris International stock had been outpacing those of the S&P 500, but now it lags the market index. Man exhaling vapor from an electronic cigarette Image source: Getty Images. Electronic cigarettes suddenly fizzle That drop was due to the surprising softness in the company's electronic cigarette business. Japan is Philip Morris' most developed market, and shipments of its heated tobacco iQOS device exceed those of combustible cigarettes. The popularity of the e-cig caught rivals like British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco by surprise, and they have since rushed their own products to market. Still, the iQOS practically owns the Japanese e-cig market, with an 80% share, so when Philip Morris unexpectedly reported a slowdown in sales earlier this year, saying it had captured most of the early adopters and now had the much harder task of convincing older, more conservative smokers to switch, its stock sharply dropped. Japan is unique in that most competing types of electronic cigarettes are effectively banned. The e-liquids used in devices such as those that are popular here in the U.S. are classified as a pharmaceutical ingredient in Japan, and the heavy regulation has largely prevented competing products from entering the market. Investors are seemingly questioning now whether the iQOS can be as popular or dominant elsewhere -- particularly in the U.S., the world's largest cigarette market -- since consumers have access to many different types of e-cigs. Philip Morris is awaiting word from the Food & Drug Administration on whether it can market the iQOS with a reduced-risk label. If it gains approval, that could give it a competitive edge, though with the agency's advisory panel recommending against it, it seems like a long shot. Is Philip Morris International a buy? The cigarette leader is still operating a profitable business. And though its mainstay combustible cigarettes are slowly fading away -- and Philip Morris itself is actively trying to wean smokers off of them -- it remains a business that is not going away anytime soon. That means Philip Morris International will continue to churn out profits for investors for years to come. Even if its iQOS heated tobacco product doesn't cause the mass migration to electronic cigarettes originally hoped for, it is still likely to be a leading product in the marketplace -- and for the tobacco company. Although the drop in share price has caused Philip Morris to trade at just 16 times trailing earnings and 15 times next year's estimates, it still goes for four times its sales and 72 times the free cash flow it produces. That's not cheap, and it may take a further erosion in its stock's value to put it in a price range that would make it more interesting to investors. More From The Motley Fool Rich Duprey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. By Zandi Shabalala LONDON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Randgold Resources is not yet paying the higher royalties and taxes required by the Democratic Republic of Congo's new mining code as the gold miner is still negotiating with the government, its executives said on Thursday. Congo's new mining law, effective from June, removes a 10-year stability clause despite fervent opposition from companies operating in the country, including Glencore, MMG Ltd, Ivanhoe Mines and China Molybdenum . Miner and trader Glencore said on Wednesday it was paying the higher royalties, and at least one other copper and cobalt producer said it is also doing so. "They (Congo) have not applied the code to us yet," Randgold Chief executive Mark Bristow told Reuters, however. London-listed Randgold, which runs Kibali gold mine, would have to fork out $10 million more per year under the new code if it is applied as is, Bristow told a results presentation in London on Thursday. Randgold, which also operates in Mali, Senegal and Ivory Coast, is still negotiating with the Congo government over the removal of the stability clause in the previous code, chief financial officer Graham Shuttleworth said. The gold miner was also seeking more favourable treatment under the new code through a clause that gives mines located in land-locked areas tax and royalty breaks, he said. "So we are able to negotiate, on a case-by-case basis, a new set of rules," Shuttleworth said. "We are running both of those processes in parallel to see whether we can get to a result which is acceptable." The Congo mines minister was not immediately available to comment. (Additional reporting by Aaron Ross Editing by Pratima Desai and xxxx) Samsung Galaxy Watch Drew Angerer/Getty Images Samsung unveiled a new smartwatch called the Galaxy Watch on Thursday. The Galaxy Watch is a fitness-focused smartwatch. It's waterproof, has LTE connectivity, and gets "several days" of battery life on a single charge. The Galaxy Watch will come in two sizes and three colors. It will be available to buy on August 24 and starts at $330. With the Galaxy Watch, Samsung is abandoning the Gear branding from its smartwatches. "It was about simplification," Elina Vives, Samsung's head of marketing for computing, audio, smartwatch, and VR, told Business Insider. Samsung has a brand-new smartwatch. At its Unpacked event on Thursday to introduce the new Galaxy Note 9, Samsung also revealed the new Galaxy Watch. The Galaxy Watch has two stand-out features: battery life (Samsung says it can get up to four days, depending on the watch size), and a rotating bezel, which allows you to control the watch without always needed to use the touchscreen display. Besides those features, the Galaxy Watch is a fitness-focused smartwatch. It will have 39 different exercises built in, will be able to automatically detect six of the most common workouts, and will also have sleep tracking. The watch is waterproof and can be worn swimming as well. A version of the Galaxy Watch will have LTE connectivity, which means you can make calls or listen to music without being tethered to your smartphone. The watch will be able to charge wirelessly on Samsung's new Duo wireless charging pad, which can charge a smartphone and the watch at the same time. Like Samsung's past smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch will run Tizen OS, Samsung's smartwatch operating system. The Galaxy Watch has an AMOLED display and "military-grade durability." It comes in three colors silver, black, and rose gold and two sizes: 42 mm and 46 mm. The 42 mm watch will cost $330, while the 46 mm watch will cost $350. Story continues Both watches will be available to buy on Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung.com starting on August 24. However, the LTE-enabled watch won't be available until later this year. Galaxy Watch 46mm Samsung Goodbye, Gear The Galaxy Watch isn't Samsung's first wearable, but it's the first with the Galaxy brand name in the past, Samsung's smartwatches have been under the "Gear" branding. "It really just makes sense from a nomenclature standpoint, from a brand equity standpoint, that when you interface with Samsung devices, you're interfacing with the Samsung Galaxy," Elina Vives, Samsung's head of marketing for computing, audio, smartwatch, and VR, told Business Insider. "The other reason is that, it's pretty obvious I think, but people go, 'Gear?' Our consumers are used to it because we're on Series 3 [of the Samsung Gear watches] but it was also about simplification and making sure we continue to bring new consumers into the category," she said. Current Gear products like the Gear Spot watch or Gear VR will keep their name, but as time goes on, Vives said, Samsung will lean into the Galaxy name. Vives said she hopes the Galaxy Watch will attract customers who are looking to upgrade from a Gear S2 watch, but also new customers or Samsung loyalists. While it's a fitness-focused watch, Samsung hopes certain features, like battery life, will interest people looking for both connectivity and "seamlessness." And from a design perspective, Vives is hoping the watch will attract more women. "It's definitely gender-neutral, but we want to invite more women into the category," Vives said. "If you are very fashion-forward, I think this is extremely competitive it's the only smartwatch that looks like an actual watch." NOW WATCH: These 13 medical technologies are changing lives See Also: SEE ALSO: Samsung just announced the Galaxy Note 9 and it has the same price tag as the iPhone X One stock that might be an intriguing choice for investors right now is Texas Instruments Incorporated TXN. This is because this security in the Semiconductor - General space is seeing solid earnings estimate revision activity and is in great company from a Zacks Industry Rank perspective. This is important because, often times, a rising tide will lift all boats in an industry, as there can be broad trends taking place in a segment that are boosting securities across the board. This is arguably taking place in the Semiconductor - General space as it currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 22 out of more than 250 industries, suggesting it is well-positioned from this perspective, especially when compared to other segments out there. Meanwhile, Texas Instruments is actually looking pretty good on its own too. The firm has seen solid earnings estimate revision activity over the past month, suggesting analysts are becoming a bit more bullish on the firms prospects in both the short and long term. Texas Instruments Incorporated Price and Consensus Texas Instruments Incorporated Price and Consensus | Texas Instruments Incorporated Quote In fact, over the past month, current quarter estimates have risen from $1.47 per share to $1.53 per share, while current year estimates have risen from $5.48 per share to $5.66 per share. This has helped TXN to earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), further underscoring the companys solid position. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. So, if you are looking for a decent pick in a strong industry, consider Texas Instruments. Not only is its industry currently in the top third, but it is seeing solid estimate revisions as of late, suggesting it could be a very interesting choice for investors seeking a name in this great industry segment. 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 Texas Instruments Incorporated (TXN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. (Reuters) - The New York City Council on Wednesday agreed to cap the number of licenses for ride-hailing services such as Uber Technologies Inc for one year, dealing a blow to the companies that have relied on the largest U.S. metro area for a major source of their revenue. The first such cap by any major U.S. city was part of a package of measures that also includes setting a minimum wage for drivers. The package, opposed by major ride-hailing companies, is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and increasing driver paychecks in the wake of the explosive growth of for-hire vehicles. The drop in incomes has demoralized many drivers and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance said there have been six suicides among cab and livery drivers in recent months. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he intended to sign the bills into law, which would start the 12-month period where no new for-hire vehicle licenses would be issued, with an exception for wheelchair-accessible vehicles. "This action will stop the influx of cars contributing to the congestion grinding our streets to a halt," he said in a statement. The number of ride-hailing vehicles operating in the city has jumped from about 12,600 in 2015 to about 80,000 this year, according to the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. About 14,000 yellow cabs operate in the city. The effort to cap the services in New York, Uber's largest U.S. market, was opposed by ride-hailing businesses, including Uber, Lyft and Via. "The citys 12-month pause on new vehicle licenses will threaten one of the few reliable transportation options while doing nothing to fix the subways or ease congestion," Uber said in a statement. Lyft said: "These sweeping cuts to transportation will bring New Yorkers back to an era of struggling to get a ride, particularly for communities of color and in the outer boroughs." Via, which operates shared rides with established stops, hopes the city will make an exception for carpools, which it says reduce congestion and provide drivers with the most money. Story continues In emails to nearly 5 million New Yorkers last month, Uber said riders would face higher prices, longer wait times and less service in the city's outer suburbs by drivers. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance, an 18,000-member union representing the city's taxi drivers, hailed the council's vote as a victory. "New York City is the first city in the country enact drivers' demands into legislation," it said on its website. Last month Ubers CEO and Lyfts president both addressed the traffic congestion complaints at a technology conference in Aspen, Colorado. They said they are trying to broaden their services by reducing reliance on cars, which can be seen in Ubers acquisition of JUMP bikes and a deal with Lime scooters. Lyft has acquired the Motivate bike-sharing company. It has also pledged to make half of its trips carpools, with multiple passengers by 2020. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas and Heather Somerville in San Francisco; Editing by Bill Rigby and Lisa Shumaker) WASHINGTON -- RFE/RL and Human Rights Watch (HRW) on August 9 welcomed a finding by the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) that the government of Turkmenistan was responsible for the 2006 death in custody of a human rights activist. In an opinion issued in May and made public this month, the UNHRC said that Ogulsapar Muradova, who was also a regular contributor to RFE/RL, was arrested and detained by the government of then-President Saparmurat Niyazov for her journalistic and human rights work. The committee also said the Turkmen government must conduct an impartial investigation into Muradovas death, compensate her family, and rehabilitate her name. In a statement, RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said the UN finding confirms what rights groups have long contended: that the death of Ogulsapar Muradova was a politically motivated crime by Turkmen authorities because of her human rights advocacy and reporting. Kent added that the finding was particularly significant because of continuing government actions against the news services correspondents. Finally, theres an authoritative [UN] acknowledgment of the Turkmen governments responsibility for the monstrous torture and death of Muradova, Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at HRW, said in a statement. The Turkmen government should now identify all those responsible for Muradovas death and hold them to account, Denber said, adding, Its been 12 years, but its never too late for justice. Along with being an RFE/RL contributor, Muradova was co-founder of the Turkmen Helsinki Foundation, an independent rights group that works on issues regarding Turkmenistan from exile in Bulgaria. She reported on several hundred dissidents she identified as being imprisoned by Niyazovs government in the Central Asian nation that has been subject to much international criticism over rights issues. Muradova was arrested in June 2006 by police in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, and later convicted with two other activists -- including her brother Annadurdy Khadzhiyev -- on what the rights groups called bogus charges in a closed trial that lasted just two hours. Muradova was sentenced to six years in prison. However, on September 13, 2006, her family was informed she had died in custody. A government autopsy, the results of which were never released, reportedly found that Muradova died from blows to the back of her head. After diplomatic intervention, Muradova's family was allowed to see her body. A family member reported seeing a deep cut in on her forehead, a dark mark around her neck that could indicate strangulation, open wounds on her hands, and severe bruising on her legs. Rights groups cited unconfirmed information from a law-enforcement official stating that Muradova died from torture during an interrogation. Another person told activists that a suicide was staged to cover the truth. The government claimed Muradova died of natural causes and did not investigate her death. In 2013, lawyers with the Open Society Justice Initiative filed a complaint to the UNHRC on behalf of Khadzhiyev. It alleged acts by the Turkmen government, including retaliation for her journalism and torture leading to her death in custody, that constitute violations of the states obligations under the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights. In a response to the complaint issued on May 24 this year, the committee condemned the governments conduct, drawing attention to its responsibility to care for [the] life of individuals who are arrested and detained; its failure to properly investigate allegations of torture and the cause of her death in custody, including its failure to release the results of an autopsy; and numerous violations of Muradovas due process rights. The rights committee also called on the current government of Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov to take all steps necessary to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future. Journalists associated with RFE/RL and their family members have suffered harassment, violence, and imprisonment for decades in Turkmenistan, a country that ties with North Korea for the worlds worst record on press freedom, according to Freedom Houses Freedom of the Press 2017 survey. In 2014-15, RFE/RLs Turkmen Service lost half of its reporting network to a systematic, government-sponsored intimidation campaign, RFE/RL officials said. The targeted campaign has continued into 2018, with veteran correspondent Soltan Achilova suffering at least eight physical assaults over the past 15 months, officials said. Known locally as Azatlyk Radiosy, RFE/RLs Turkmen Service has for 65 years provided audiences with accurate and uncensored news and information as an alternative to the state-run media monopoly. A Pakistani recruit, 22, who was recently discharged from the Army holds an American flag as he poses for a picture. The Army has stopped discharging immigrant recruits who enlisted seeking a path to citizenship at least temporarily. Why there are still so few minority women CEOs Your banking data was once off-limits to tech companies. Now they're seeking it. Smoke rises from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike on a building of Said al-Mishal cultural center in Gaza City on Thursday. In Colorados legendary fruit valley, Mother Nature giveth the warm days and cool nights, that breeze through the walls of DeBeque Canyon that James A. Clark and fellow settlers 120 years ago came to know as the million dollar breeze, stirring the soils just right, a blessing on the land destined to grow the sweetest peaches. And Mother Nature taketh. Of the 80 men who struck Americas first, and arguably most famous, retaliatory blow in World War II, Lt. Col. Dick Cole is the last living. And while he misses his comrades, the 102-year-old Cole had a sense of humor about his long-lived status after he was lauded Thursday at the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs. Its not my fault, he said with a grin as he sat in the shadow of a B-25 Mitchell bomber like the one he helped fly in Americas first raid against Tokyo in one of World War IIs most audacious missions. Just months after Japan struck Americas Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, Cole and his comrades were called to fly a secret mission. They were given few details other than that it posed great risk. They took their land-based B-25s and trained to launch them from the deck of an aircraft carrier. The bombers, which normally used more than a mile of runway to get airborne, would take off in just 500 feet. After training in Florida, the Raiders found themselves in mid-Pacific. Their mission had to take off prematurely when the task force was spotted by Japanese fishing boats adding even more danger to a mission that required the planes to fly their maximum range. Still, Cole says, the well-trained crews had no fear as they launched from the carriers rolling deck. It was no different than if we were taking off from a runway, the Ohio native said. Cole was co-pilot for the leader of the operation, then-Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, who became such an Air Force hero after the mission that he has a building in his name at the Air Force Academy. As they neared the Japanese coast, the complete surprise of the secret raid became evident. We were expecting anti-aircraft fire, Cole said. Instead, the B-25s flew unopposed over downtown Tokyo. Our target was northwest Tokyo, because we had firebombs, Cole recalled. Accuracy in bombing wasnt part of the Doolittle plan. The bombers had their high-tech sights removed so the enemy wouldnt capture them. The replacement was a simple device crafted from sheet metal that gave only rudimentary aim to the bombs. That wasnt a problem, Cole said. With a massive neighborhood as a target, it would be impossible to miss. He could drop them anywhere, Cole said. The bombing was the easy part. Finding a safe place to land afterward was hard. While the B-25s could take off from a carrier, it was impossible to land them back on the ships. The mission called for the airmen to fly to an airfield in China to land. But they had taken off hundreds of miles farther from Tokyo than planned because theyd been spotted by the fishing boats. Cole talked to the navigator aboard his B-25 about the predicament. They didnt have enough fuel to make it. He told us that we would be 180 miles short of China, Cole said. But luck sometimes favors the bold. A mysterious tailwind blew in from the Pacific, pushing the planes along even as their fuel tanks ran dry. Cole remembers seeing the Chinese coast. We were just happy to be there, he said. Cole and Doolittle realized that while they had made landfall, they would never make it to a Chinese airfield. So as the engines of the B-25 started to sputter, the crew bailed out, parachuting into enemy territory. Three of the Doolittle Raiders died in landing attempts as the 16 crews of the B-25s crash-landed or bailed out. Eight Raiders were captured, and four of them died as prisoners. Cole and his crew were assisted by Chinese troops, American missionaries and other well-wishers and made it back to American lines. The museums Scott Klaers said local efforts to restore World War II planes are driven by legendary figures such as Cole. We are here every day to honor these men and women, Klaers said. Cole donated a copy of the Congressional Gold Medal given to the Raiders that will be displayed at the museum, at 755 Aviation Way on the west side of the Colorado Springs Airport. Cole said he hopes his story and the medal are a reminder for young people in the Pikes Peak region that liberty has a cost. If you want to enjoy freedom, you have to step forward in case of emergency, he said. Contact Tom Roeder: 636-0240 Twitter: @xroederx TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS, Aug. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- August 7, 2018: Exportadora del Atlantico a Dinant subsidiary company and the Texiguat Wildlife Refuge, recently hosted an Environmental Fair in Lean to raise awareness of the importance of protecting local flora and fauna. Dinants Company Spokesman, Roger Pineda, commented, Dinant has invested heavily in recent years to ensure that our African Palm plantations have less impact on the environment, and we were delighted that our colleagues at Exportadora del Atlantico were able to partner with Texiguat Wildlife Refuge to share our experiences with local people and businesses. Since 2014, Dinants African Palm plantations have significantly cut their impact on the natural environment: water consumption has been reduced by 73%, production processes use 54% less energy, and over 95% of the waste produced is reused, marketed or recycled. Furthermore, Dinants Aguan and Lean extraction mills have net zero water and waste operations. Mr. Pineda continued, As Dinants African Palm plantations have matured, our agricultural organic practices and reduced use of chemical fertilizers have enabled flora to flourish, providing animals with better nutrition, shelter and wildlife corridors. In recognition of Dinants investment in the environment, its African Palm oil extraction mills and plantations have received two International Sustainability and Carbon Certifications ISCC EU and ISCC Plus for the sustainability of raw materials and products, the traceability of supply chains, and the control of greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, Dinant last week donated 1,500 trees to the Municipal Environmental Unit (UMA) of Aguan that were distributed to environmental protection areas in Tocoa. Dinant also planted 150 trees in the area. Since 1996, the Miguel Facusse Foundation has planted nearly 10 million trees as part of its national soil conservation and reforestation program. About Dinant Dinant is a family-owned consumer products manufacturer founded in Honduras in 1960. Its products are sold across Central America and the Dominican Republic. The company employs 7,200 people worldwide, supports a further 22,000 livelihoods, and contributes significantly to the Honduran economy. Dinant rigorously benchmarks its African Palm business against stringent international standards regarding economic, environmental and social impacts. This material is distributed by Tricuro LLC on behalf of Corporacion Dinant. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Attachment English Lithuanian Lietuvos Energija, UAB, (hereinafter the Company) identification code 301844044, registered office placed at Zveju str. 14, Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania. The total nominal value of issued bonds 600 000 000 EUR; ISIN codes XS1646530565; XS1853999313. Pursuant to the decision of the Managing Board dated 16 July 2018 and approval of the Companys shareholder to the decision of the Managing Board dated 27 July 2018, the Company and UAB Stemma Group concluded share sale-purchase agreements for the acquisition of 100 percent shares of UAB Vejo vatas and UAB Vejo gusis and the shareholders claim rights on 10 August 2018. UAB Vejo vatas operates a wind farm of 14.9 MW and UAB Vejo gusis operates wind farms with the capacities of 10 MW and 9.1 MW. On 18 July 2018, the Company appealed to the Commission for the Protection of Objects of Importance to Ensuring National Security of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter the Commission) with a request to verify the transactions. The Commission adopted a decision not to commence a verification process of compliance of the transactions with the interests of national security. The Company is planning to appeal notification regarding assessment of concentration to the Competition Council of the Republic of Lithuania. Such acquisitions correspond to the strategy of the Company, expand and diversify its activities, increase the Groups value, as well as dividends paid to the State. For more information: Head of Lietuvos Energija Corporate Communication Projects Arturas Ketlerius, +370 620 76076, arturas.ketlerius@le.lt Bunuel wrote: Malteses, which originated in south central Europe, have long been a prized dog when ancient Egyptians are thought to have worshiped them and Queen Elizabeth I kept them as pets. A. Malteses, which originated in south central Europe, have long been a prized dog when B. Malteses, originating in south central Europe, have long been prized dogs to C. Originated in south central Europe, Malteses have long been a prized dog; D. Originating in south central Europe, Malteses have long been prized dogs; E. Malteses originate in south central Europe;they also have long been prized dogs when OFFICIAL SOLUTION: Correct Choice: (D)This question is almost impossible to answer without first reading all of the answer choices. The adverbial conjunction when seems to set up an impossible sequence of events; the correct answer should alter or even dispose of when altogether. Choice (D) replaces when with a semicolon to express several ideas in a clear, concise way. It also correctly uses the plural dogs to describe Malteses.Choice (B) begins well, streamlining the relative clause (originating from...), but, in altering whento to, it makes Egyptians have the impossible double function of object of to and subject of are thought. Choice (C) needlessly uses the past participle originated to modify Malteses instead of the present participle (originating). Choice (E)also uses a semicolon, but the division of ideas is awkward and the when problem is uncorrected._________________ 'Godavari Flowing to Laurel, Maryland' Godavari, The fastest growing South Indian restaurant chain is now opening their second location in Laurel, Maryland this Saturday i.e., August 11th 2018. This will be the second location in Maryland after Gaithersburg which will be more accessible to cities like Baltimore, Ellicott city. Godavari is now operating in more than 26 locations across the country along with Niagara Falls which made the chain's brand image unique. Godavari took over the "Curry Leaf" brand in Laurel which was operating for more than 5 years in Laurel, MD. This location is very conveniently located and very well known to lot of Indian community in the Tristate area with a nice private room for 30 members. "We have been with Godavari for past two and half years operating Gaithersburg and we are more euphoric to serve our community through our second location in Maryland" says Kamakshi who also owns Godavari Gaitehrburg. Godavari Laurel location will be serving a huge population of Indians and others. There is no authentic Indian food within 30 minutes of drive in this location says Arvind Kumar, who was a resident in Laurel for more than 12 years and used to go to Curry Leaf. "In this age of acquisitions and mergers, "Godavari" has started the corporate style of acquiring brands like "Curry Leaf" and many others. We work hard to serve thousands of people across the country every day. "Godavari" is soon opening its first international store in Muscat, Oman". We are also venturing into Canada, Australia along with different concepts in USA says "Team Godavari". The Grand Opening Lunch Buffet will serve the delicacies like Chilli Idly, "Kothimeera Mamsam", "Pitapuram Peethala Vepudu", Kodi "Chips", Pineapple Rasam and lot more from Godavari Culinary team. CLICK HERE!! for the 30 mins Special Program Telecasted by TV9 on the journey of "Godavari" and was the tribute to the entire team. Come and enjoy the special delicacy from Godavari this weekend in Laurel. Location: GODAVARI LAUREL 13919 Baltimore Ave #4, Laurel, MD 20707. Contact: Murthy 781-869-0274 Laurel@GodavariUS.com Thanks again. Hope you all enjoy our cooking.. www.GodavariUS.com Press release by: Indian Clicks, LLC Click Here for Latest Direct-to-OTT Releases (List Updates Daily) The Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara, Horst Kohler, looks forward to relaunching talks on the Sahara in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2414, say U.S. press reports. The last round of UN-brokered negotiations on the issue was held in 2012. The Former UN envoy for the Sahara failed to settle this regional dispute due to the intransigent stand of the Algeria-backed Polisario front. Six years after the suspension of Sahara talks, UN Security Council adopted end of April 2018 resolution 2414, which stressed the need to make progress in the search for a realistic, pragmatic and sustainable political solution to the Sahara issue. The text also called on neighboring countries, namely Algeria and Mauritania, to make an important contribution to the political process and to engage further in the negotiations with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable political solution, conducive to regional integration in the Maghreb and to regional peace and stability. On Wednesday, Kohler briefed the UN Security Council on his second tour in the Maghreb that led him to Algeria, Mauritania and Morocco in a bid to revive the negotiations on the Sahara. After holding closed-door consultations, President of the Council, British ambassador Jonathan Allen said the UN Envoy wants to move forward the UN-led political process by convening fresh talks. According to the British envoy, Horst Kohler, a former German president and ex-director of the IMF, got a lot of support from the council for his approach and for his proposal to try and see if he can bring the parties together by the end of the year. In his briefing at the Security Council, Kohler thanked Morocco for facilitating his trip to the southern provinces wherein he met with local MPs, dignitaries and civil society activists. According to diplomatic sources at the UN, the majority of the Council members urged the German UN Envoy for the Sahara to continue working and interacting with all parties to maintain the momentum to resume the UN-sponsored process. They also renewed their full support to the Moroccan autonomy plan described as a serious and credible solution to the regional dispute. The Council members praised the efforts made by Morocco to promote the political empowerment and enhance the socioeconomic development of the southern provinces. In Rabat, Moroccan authorities hailed the support voiced by the UN Security Council to the Moroccan autonomy initiative, while insisting on the role of Algeria as main party responsible for the start and perpetuation of this dispute. No settlement of the Sahara issue is possible outside the full sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara, nor outside the autonomy initiative that the international community has recognized as serious and credible, they stressed. The UN is pushing for a political solution to this long-standing dispute, convinced that the settlement of the Sahara issue will boost cooperation between Maghreb countries and lead to stability, economic prosperity and security in the region and in the Sahel. 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 Shanghai (Gasgoo)- SST Qianfeng announced on August 8 that its company name has been changed from BeiJing QianFeng Electronic Co.Ltd to BAIC BluePark New Energy Technology Co.,Ltd and the company's business scope and by-laws have been varied at the same time. Xu Heyi, chairman of BAIC Group, had said that BAIC BJEV will go public in the third quarter. The change of company name may indicate that BAIC BJEV's back-door listing is close to completion. According to the announcement, SST Qianfeng's business scope has been expanded to cover such areas as design, R&D and sale of vehicles, auto parts, mechanical equipment and electrical apparatuses, import and export of goods and services, software development, economic and trade consultation, property management as well as the development, service, consultation and transfer of technologies. The company previous registered business scope was mainly relevant to electronics and communications. SST Qianfeng announced on January 20 that Beijing authority had agreed the transfer of 100% equity of Sichuan Xintaike Digital Equipment Co., Ltd, which held by Beijing First Capital, to BAIC Group without compensation. Sichuan Xintaike Digital Equipment Co., Ltd. holds a 41.13% stake in SST Qianfeng, which was the latter's largest shareholder. From then on, BAIC BJEV initiated the preparation to go public through back-door listing. On June 1, SST Qianfeng claimed that it had been approved by China Security Regulatory Commission to issue stock shares to acquire 100% stake of BAIC BJEV. According to the approved files, SST Qianfeng will replace its whole assets and debts to BIAC BJEV, issue stock shares to buy 100% stake of BAIC BJEV, and raise supporting funds worth of RMB 2 billion. Specifically, BAIC BJEV will inject RMB 28.85 billion in SST Qianfeng. After exempting the RMB 187 million worth of SST Qianfeng's total assets and debts, BAIC BJEV only needs to inject RMB 28.669 billion to SST Qianfeng. SST Qianfeng will issue 761 million shares with each share of RMB 37.66 to 35 BAIC BJEV's shareholders, including BAIC Group. Spanish boat Open Arms has rescued 87 African migrants off Libyan coast after their inflatable raft was found floating with a broken motor in the open sea. The NGO ship docked in Thursday in the southern port of Algeciras after Italy refused to take the African migrants nearly all from Sudan. The migrant-rescue boat, which is operated by the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms, has rescued more than 5,000 people from the Mediterranean over the past three years. The charity says that migrants fear if they were returned to Libya they could face imprisonment and torture. Illegal immigration across the Mediterranean has fallen dramatically, with about 60,000 people making it to Europe across the sea to date this year compared to over a million in 2015. Faced with a crackdown by Libyan authorities and Italys hardline approach in dealing with African migrant flow, Spain has now become the main destination for those trying to get to Europe from Africa. More than 23,700 people have arrived in Spain by sea so far this year with 307 dying in the attempt, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Spanish new Socialist government has also allowed the docking of three NGO rescue ships since June for humanitarian reason, while the new Italian government has closed its ports to charity ships operating in the Mediterranean, saying the European Union must share the burden of hosting hundreds of migrants. In 2017, about 119,000 migrants and refugees arrived in Italy from across the Mediterranean and, according to IOM, more than 3,100 died making the crossing. In 2016, 181,000 made it to Italy wherein Migration has become a key issue in the countrys political life. Major parties, including Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia and the Right-wing League, formerly the Northern League, say Italy can no longer accept such high numbers and call for the hundreds of thousands of migrants already in the country to be sent home. Erdogan has made it clear to the world that he supports the Iranian Regime, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In fact, he even called Iranian President Hassan Rouhani when the Iranian anti-regime uprising began in December to voice his support for the mullahs in charge. His foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, did the same. More recently Turkish spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said that Turkey rejected the returning US sanctions on Iran and that Turkey would not abide by them. This is clear support of the Khamenei Regime, which causes so much strife in the Middle East, including recently ordering its Houthi militia in Yemen to attack two Saudi oil tankers in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Why does Turkey support Iran? There are many reasons floating around, from Turkeys need for Iranian gas to the ongoing feud between Turkey and the current US administration, who have been notably tough on Iran. While Saudi journalist Mashari Althaydi, who presents Al Arabiya News Channels daily show Maraya, wrote: Erdogans Turkey is clearly with the camp of states that support the project of political Islam, whether Shiite or Sunni. It is political and media support, and perhaps security support, to Dohas authorities and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are examples of the role, which Turkey wants to assume under the directions of populist President Erdogan. Most experts seem to be indicating that it is a mixture of those three, which is why all of them need to be tackled to stop Erdogan from supporting Iran. Its fairly easy to find another gas supplier for Turkey, but the other things are much harder. There are many things that stand between a good working relationship between the US and Turkey, including Turkeys jailing of an American pastor and the USs harbouring of Fethullah Gulen, an enemy of Erdogan, and currently it represents an ongoing deep crisis. Its not just inflammatory statements, but also the freezing of ministers accounts and economic wars. Thats why diplomatic efforts have been launched by NATO, which both countries are a member of. Hopefully, these discussions will bring forward peace, but international diplomacy also needs to help Turkey realise that basing their support on sectarian view will not help. The Iranian Regime cares little for Shiite or Sunni and instead supports any rogue state or terrorist militia that will help them achieve regional control. We know Sharice Davids is a primary winner. But is she a progressive or a centrist? Photo: Sharice for Congress The ever-present Struggle for the Soul of the Democratic Party, most recently seen in the endless relitigation of the 2016 primaries, has gained new life as a media and activist narrative during the 2018 primaries. That became particularly clear this week in the warring claims about which supposed crystal-clear faction won or lost in primaries in Michigan and Kansas. It is reasonably clear that Bernie Sanders and his distinct movement (joined on the campaign trail by the new Democratic Socialist megastar from New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), had a rough night on Tuesday, when candidates they had backed in person, Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Kansas congressional aspirant Brent Welder, both lost races many expected them to win, against (respectively) Gretchen Whitmer and Sharice Davids. But were those defeats for progressivism or victories for centrism? That depends on whom you ask. The Third Way organization, an influential think tank that doesnt do actual campaigns, was quick to get on speed-dial with political reporters and pundits and claim victory, as reflected in this quote from a piece by the Washington Posts Dave Weigel: This is a fantastic night for centrist Democrats, said Jim Kessler, senior vice president for policy at the center-left Third Way think tank. We nominated the right candidates who can win House seats and governors mansions for the Democratic Party. Theres a quiet enthusiasm in the middle. Theres a quiet voice that people are not hearing in the media, but its loud at the ballot box. A piece on the Democratic primaries by influential New York Times columnist Tom Edsall similarly described the primaries as pitting Sanders-style policies against the centrist advice of Third Way. But The Nations Joan Walsh a self-conscious progressive who is not, however, exactly enamored of the Bernie Sanders movement pushed back on the whole narrative with gusto: Im not aware of Third Way, a centrist think tank, actually lifting a finger for any of Tuesdays candidates, by the way. Im not sure either Whitmer or Davids would label themselves Third Way centrists. The real story is that progressives won big on Tuesday might, because by only the most cramped and divisive standards would Davids and Whitmer be considered centrist. Both are open to Medicare for All as an end goal but favor Medicaid expansion in the meantime. Both are staunchly pro-choice and proPlanned Parenthood funding, favor gun-safety reforms and protections for DACA youth as well as comprehensive immigration reform. Whitmer supports a $15 minimum wage. So how do you define Democratic candidates like Whitmer and Davids? They arent from Bernieland, and would actually fail some lefty litmus tests (like immediate and unqualified support for single-payer). But nor are they out there objecting to class warfare or criticizing teachers unions or separating themselves from their party on controversial positions. Part of the definitional problem is the long war over ownership of the word progressive. During the 1990s, when after decades of demonization by the right the term liberal fell into disrepute, progressive more or less became a default term of self-identification for nearly all left-of-dead-center folk. Its no accident that the think tank of the quintessential (if now defunct) centrist organization the Democratic Leadership Council named itself the Progressive Policy Institute (which is not at all defunct). And very term Third Way, in both the U.S. and U.K., originally connoted an effort to modernize the progressive tradition, not just to move the traditional left parties to the center (hence the names New Democrats and New Labour). That all seems to be ancient history at this point, but the idea that progressive means following Bernie Sanders or espousing democratic socialism is most definitely disputed, as Joan Walshs argument shows. Some prefer distinctions like Establishment Democrats versus Insurgent Democrats. That may be useful temporarily in primaries where one can track where official party and elected official money and endorsements are and are not going. Trouble is, though, that once primaries are over, the Establishment almost invariably backs Democratic nominees regardless of any prior insurgent labels. And in this particular election year, that sort of dichotomy (and for that matter, the progressives versus centrists framing) collides with the reality that a large number of Establishment-backed women are winning primaries with substantial help from EMILYs List, a cause-oriented pro-choice group. Some critics claim that this powerful organization doesnt like risk-taking progressivism these days, or is too beholden to rich donors, or is too close to the Democratic Party itself. But it has its own criteria for picking candidates (early, as its name suggests), and only someone who thinks progressive means Bernie Sanders supporters would call EMILYs List centrist. It has supported all sorts of pro-choice Democratic women, including, as it happens, Gretchen Whitmer and Sharice Davids. The bottom line is that left-of-center folk probably need a new vocabulary, or at the very least a clear and thorough debate over what the terms they actually use actually mean. It would probably be wise to undertake that debate after the November midterms. At that point they may be in a better position to determine whether voters even care about all these labels. If the state had let Kobach use his ballot box from the 1890s, none of this would be happening. Photo: The Washington Post/The Washington Post/Getty Images Kansas secretary of State Kris Kobach said on Wednesday that he had no plans to recuse himself from a potential recount in the states GOP Republican primary, though Kobach himself was just 191 votes ahead of incumbent governor Jeff Colyer. Theres no law requiring him to do so, and Kobach a voter-fraud crusader suggested hed merely be coordinating recount efforts at the county level. He reversed his position on Thursday, hours after it was revealed that a typo had inflated his unofficial lead by 100 points. Thomas County clerk Shelly Harms said her office reported that Colyer got 522 votes, but for some reason the secretary of States website listed his total as 422. CNN explains: Harms shared with CNN the document she faxed the Secretary of States office on election night listing Colyers total as 522. She said she hadnt had time to inform the Secretary of States office that its unofficial result total was inaccurate. Reports of discrepancies between the listed vote totals in the race from Wyandotte and Haskell counties also came in on Thursday. As of Thursday evening, the county sites showed slightly different results from the Secretary of States corresponding results for each county. CNN reached out to both the Secretary of States office and the counties to confirm that their websites unofficial totals reflect a discrepancy and to see how it would be resolved. Those offices did not respond to CNNs request for comment Colyer had issued a public letter calling on Kobach to recuse himself, citing these discrepancies. It has come to my attention that your office is giving advice to county election officials as recently as a conference call yesterday and you are making public statements on national television which are inconsistent with Kansas law and may serve to suppress the vote in the ongoing Kansas primary election process, Colyer said. Accordingly, I hereby request that you recuse yourself from rendering further advice in these matters and that you designate the Attorney General of Kansas to provide this function. On CNNs Cuomo Prime Time, Kobach said hed recuse himself, though he suggested his opponent is being a bit ridiculous. Theres really no point to it, but I said if my opponent wishes me to, Id be happy to, Kobach said. But its purely symbolic. I dont think he understands the process. Kobach said he would formally respond to Colyers request on Friday, the same day the results from mail-in ballots will be reported. Next week county election workers will begin examining thousands of provisional ballots and deciding whether they should be counted. It seems likely that the second-place challenger will request a recount, which he will have to pay for. Now that Kobach has recused himself, he wont be setting the fee. Big Changes at 102.3 Radio Free KJLH Facebook has been a blaze for Los Angeles users as news began to come out over the past several days regarding several fixtures of the KJLH brand that have been laid off. Greg Johnson a longtime KJLH employee and community jewel was one of the causalities. Big Pee Wee along with other employees were let go as well. ADVERTISEMENT Tammi Mac announced that Don Amiche would not be returning to the Mac and Amiche show on Tuesday August 8. It is unclear if she will return or for how long. Don Amiche posted a video explaining why he would not be returning to KJLH but later deleted the Facebook live post. Take a look at some of the post: This is a developing story College Employee on Leave For Calling Cops on Black Student A Massachusetts college employee who called campus police to investigate a black student eating her lunch in a common room has been placed on leave. Smith College, in a statement posted on its website Friday, said the staff member, whose name has not been released, will remain on leave while an external investigation is conducted. Officials say that person called 911 Tuesday to report someone appeared out of place in the building on the Northampton campus. ADVERTISEMENT The school says there was nothing suspicious. College President Kathleen McCartney has apologized to the student, who posted on Facebook that it was outrageous she couldnt eat her lunch in peace. She added: All I did was be Black. McCartney has said every Smith staff member will undergo mandatory anti-bias training. Democrats are challenging President Trumps nominee from the Midwestern state of Illinois for the post of U.S. ambassador to Kenya. State Sen. Kyle McCarters conservative views run the gamut from opposition to gay rights, restrictions on immigration and locking up former Senator Hillary Clinton. A White House release said McCarter would be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Kenya. The post requires Senate confirmation. Last week, State Sen. McCarter was questioned by members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. ADVERTISEMENT Senator Chris Murphy asked Mr. McCarter about his opposition to state legislation protecting immigrants from being detained solely because of their immigration status. At the same time, the U.S. is pushing Kenya to accept more immigrants who are housed in Dadaab, the worlds largest camp for refugees. A quarter of a million registered refugees and asylum seekers live in Dadaab. Since last year, nine refugees awaiting resettlement in the U.S. took their lives after President Trump slashed the number to be admitted from 110,000 a year to 45,000. Senator Tim Kaine questioned Mr. McCarter on an election night tweet he sent out that read Hillary for Prison. No, really. Do you honestly believe Hillary Clinton should be in prison? the Senator asked. I am not one to say anyone should be accused unjustly, Mr McCarter replied. There is hype in an election that was perhaps not called for It was perhaps not the wisest of tweets, he acknowledged. Mr. McCarter and his family were missionaries in Kenya from 1987 to 1989, working for a charity established by McCarters father called Each One Feed One. Upon returning to Illinois, Mr. McCarter won a state senate seat with the backing of the local Tea Party. ADVERTISEMENT His legislative history includes a support for a bill to allow Catholic charities to discriminate against gay and lesbian couples and unmarried couples in adoption and foster care placements. He helped defeat an anti-bullying bill because, he said, it would promote homosexuality. In 2015, he opposed a bill to fund treatment for heroin addicts even though his daughter, Amber, died of an overdose of heroin and fentanyl. I dont think these government sponsored programs work, he said, by way of an explanation. Rosa Parks letter about 57 bombing bought by targeted pair A letter written by civil rights activist Rosa Parks describing the 1957 bombing of her neighbors home has been purchased at auction by the couple who were targeted in the attack. Alabama State University announced that the Rev. Robert Graetz and his wife Jeannie purchased the letter by Parks describing the bombing of their home. The couple plan to donate the letter to the university. The Graetzes were among the few white supporters of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the civil rights movement. Parks, who was the couples neighbor and friend, sparked the boycott after refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. ADVERTISEMENT The parsonage where the Graetzes lived was bombed for the second time in 1957, not long after the boycott ended, in a wave of attacks on civil rights leaders and churches. Four black churches and the home of the Rev. Ralph Abernathy were also bombed that night. A crude package of 11 sticks of dynamite wrapped around a small box of TNT was first thrown at the parsonage earlier that night but failed to explode. A second bomb was thrown and damaged the house. The Graetzes were at home with their children at the time. When the bomb detonated at 2 a.m., it blew our roof completely off of the home, as well as all of the doors; it shattered every one of the windows and did considerable other damage to the rest of our house, Jeannie Graetz said in a statement released by the university. Parks and her husband came over to help the couple after the bombing. Several men with ties to the Ku Klux Klan were arrested in the wave of bombings, but were not convicted. Jeannie Graetz told the Montgomery Advertiser that the letter, in which she described the family as unharmed but badly shaken, just reminds you of a friend that we miss. ADVERTISEMENT Its like she was just talking to us, like she was coming over to help, Jeannie Graetz said of the letter. The family purchased the 1957 letter from New York Citys Guernseys Auction for $9,375. Two Parties Declare Victory in Zimbabwes Presidential Polls Let us look forward with hope and love. Let bygones be bygones Let us turn over a new leaf and renew ourselves. Those were the hopeful words of Emmerson Mnangagwa as he settled into the chair of former president Robert Mugabe last December. Mr. Mugabe was not present, having been removed in a soft coup by members of his own party. Now, some six months later, Mr. Mnangagwa has been elected to the top job, fair and square according to the nations electoral commission, but his soldiers appear not to have gotten the word. Streets in the capital city Harare were battlegrounds with tanks speeding through, guns firing at citizens running for cover and spilt blood staining the ground. ADVERTISEMENT Vote tallies were not announced in the days following nationwide polls, opening the way for opposition candidate Nelson Chamisa, reviewing his own tallies, to declare he had clearly won the election and that the official results were unverified and fake. A spokesman for Chamisa addressed a press conference: I make a difference between the president-elect and the president-declared, said Nkululeko Sibanda, because we do know that President Chamisa won this election. No details have been announced on the suit being prepared to challenge the election outcome. Mnangagwas victory was endorsed by the African Union and SADC, the Southern African Development Community, South Africa and Zambia, but international observers and human rights groups filed separate assessments of the elections fairness. The British government said it was deeply concerned by the post-election violence and the disproportionate response from the security forces. Amnesty International said more than 60 people were arbitrarily arrested in a vicious campaign of torture, intimidation and suppression of dissenting voices. On Monday, 22 members of Chamisas Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) appeared in court facing charges of inciting violence and causing malicious damage to the ruling ZANU-PF party offices. They must return for bail hearings because it was no little time for the judge to hear their cases. Mnangagwa has said the armys use of violence in Harare would be investigated independently, although he also suggested he understood the use of military force, saying that police were overwhelmed by opposition protesters. ADVERTISEMENT Inauguration of the new president is slated for August 12. Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images It wasnt so long ago that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia was doing the rounds of various American muckety-mucks in business, politics, and pop culture. On his world tour, the fawning was extraordinary. He met Oprah and the Rock, Bloomberg and the Clintons, Bush after Bush, Gates and Bezos, Hollywood moguls and Wall Street machers, as well as his plutocratic wing man, Jared Kushner. Here was the new face of the Saudis, a reformer, a member of a new generation well, take it away, Tom Friedman: [MBS is] a young leader who is driving religious and economic reform, who talks the language of high tech, and whose biggest sin may be that he wants to go too fast. Then this: His potential is vast. M.B.S. is trying to forge a societal transformation in Saudi Arabia. To be fair to Friedman, he also expressed some concerns: about the young princes aggressive foreign policy (a.k.a. near-genocidal pulverization of Yemen) and ostentatious wealth. But the general tenor of the public-relations campaign was that of a Saudi spring, especially for women, and a thawing of some of the most repressive theocratic tendencies of the regime. So it must come as a surprise to all of MBSs friends in the American elite that this youthful reformer returned from his Western tour and soon launched a new campaign against the very women who had most fervently resisted the theocracys misogyny. On May 19, the Saudi Arabian authorities and government-aligned media launched a public smear campaign to try to discredit six prominent detained womens rights defenders as traitors following their arrest. Official statements in state media accused six activists and one other individual of forming a cell, posing a threat to state security for their contact with foreign entities with the aim of undermining the countrys stability and social fabric. This campaign was completed last week with the detention of the last two prominent womens rights activists, Nassima al-Sada and Samar Badawi. Badawi is the sister of a Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who set up an open forum website and was therefore lashed a thousand times in public and is currently serving a prison term of ten years. Both women have been persecuted for years. Amnesty International notes that in 2014, [Badawi] was subjected to a travel ban and was also arrested in 2016 for her human rights work Al-Sada has campaigned for civil and political rights, womens rights and the rights of the Shia minority in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia for many years. She stood in municipal elections in 2015, but was banned from participating. In response to the latest crackdown, the Canadian government tweeted its concern: Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and womens rights advocates in #SaudiArabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful human rights activists. Chrystia Freeland, Canadas foreign affairs minister, spoke out in part because Raif Badawis wife and three kids now live in Canada, and have been citizens since July. In response, MBS has thrown a hissy fit of Trumpian proportions. The Canadian ambassador was given 24 hours to leave; 15,000 Saudi students in Canada were recalled home; trade with Canada was suspended; an order to sell all Saudi central bank and state pension fund shares in Canadian interests was proclaimed, according to the Financial Times. Saudi subjects receiving medical treatment in Canada are being transferred out of care, and about 800 Saudi medical residents and fellows in Canada have been ordered home. Saudi television channels have been gushing with anti-Canadian invective, and a Saudi propaganda channel tweeted a picture of a large plane heading into the center of Toronto, with the words: Sticking Ones Nose Where It Doesnt Belong! attached to this threat: As the Arab saying goes: he who interferes with what doesnt concern him finds what doesnt please him. The piece de resistance of the counterattack was a Saudi assertion that Jordan Peterson is a political prisoner. Hows that for peak 2018? As a kind of coda to the entire affair, the Saudis decided to, yes, crucify a criminal this week, a rare but gruesome spectacle, in which someones executed corpse is hung out in the open as a warning to others. You may remember such scenes from Game of Thrones. But this kind of barbarism still exists and the regime that behaves this way has our presidents full support, and billions in arms sales. Then, of course, there is the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The crown prince has been waging a brutal war on the Shia of Yemen, the Houthis, in coalition with the U.S. and the U.K. The relentless bombing campaigns including indiscriminate attacks on civilians have killed thousands, uprooted more, and generated famine and disease. This week in the horror show saw the Saudi coalition forces bomb a bus of schoolkids, many under the age of 10. A little under 30 children were killed, along with many others, in what the Saudis described as a legitimate military action, after the Houthis, still in charge of Yemens capital, landed a missile in a Saudi city. And this record of regional mayhem doesnt even count the time when MBS decided it would be a great idea to invade Qatar, another U.S. ally. Its at this point that you begin to absorb quite how indifferent the Trump administration is to any concept of human rights. Trumps initial response to the Saudi attacks on Qatar was to endorse them enthusiastically (even as what was left of the State Department tried to keep the peace). And his administrations response to the Saudi assault on Canada is to take no side in the dispute. Between a barbaric absolute monarchy that jails and tortures dissidents, obliterates womens opportunity, and crucifies criminals in the streets and Canada, for Petes sake, Trump cannot pick a side. In 2012, the State Department gave Samar Badawi the International Women of Courage Award, but now the State Department will not criticize her arrest. (The U.K. has been miserable in this regard as well.) Trump, of course, is not the only U.S. president to suck up to the theocratic tyrants in Riyadh. Every previous president has done so, for obvious realpolitik reasons (oil, and the defense of Israel). But the Saudi connection is tighter now. Despite no official relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, MBS and Netanyahu are now joined at the hip with Trump because they all want a war against Iran (and are having considerable success laying the groundwork). The Saudis are also useful to the Israelis as a way to delegitimize any genuine form of Palestinian self-determination because the Saudis have been prepared to throw their Arab neighbors under the bus in order to fight a regime in Tehran that MBS has said makes Hitler look good. Trumps hatred of Iran and Kushners hopes for Israels expansion keep this unholy trinity together. The idea that either Trump or his mute dauphin give a hoot about human rights is preposterous. The more brutal a regimes human rights abuses are, the more likely it is that Trump admires it. Canada will survive, of course, despite the intense international bullying from the Saudis, and Americas and Britains abandonment of their ally. Canada will even survive Trump (though whether America does is another matter). But to watch the West disintegrate as a moral force, even on a purely rhetorical level, is beyond depressing. And yet it appears to be our future. Its also a much darker one for every dissident in every political prison across the planet. How Trump Is Beating the Russia Probe The second-biggest fear I have about the Mueller investigation is that it will indeed show a conspiracy between a foreign government and an American campaign to deploy stolen emails to damage their mutual opponent. My biggest fear is that it will not matter in the slightest. The way in which Trump has driven the narrative on this with his usual crude, blaring denials has largely worked to frame the story to his favor. Mickey Kaus, as I recall, once summed up this kind of strategy with the phrase: Im not guilty. Im not guilty. Im not guilty. Its old news. Trump has repeatedly lied and lied and lied again with respect to the Trump Tower meeting and the Don Jr. press statement. But when each lie is exposed, there is no catharsis, no sudden recognition that hes acted in a treasonous fashion, and clearly broken the law. There is merely a trivial tribal realignment, in which the lie and what the lie was covering up change almost no ones mind, and the bar for actual malfeasance keeps getting raised so Trump is not guilty of anything. And in our short-attention-span culture, the ability to see all of it in one piece, and to be as shocked by it as we should be (and once were) is attenuated. Then there is the way Trump has successfully tribalized the entire investigation. Mueller, a lifelong Republican, is really a Democrat, according to Trumps constant propaganda, in charge of 12 other Angry Democrats on his staff. The real collusion was between the Clinton campaign and Russia. Its a witch hunt. A WITCH HUNT! The FBI is rigged. The CIA is out to get him. And so on. None of this persuades anyone with an open mind in fact, the multitude of conflicting excuses, deceptions, and accusations suggest someone extremely guilty but it does keep the 40 percent of the country that is wedded to Trump engaged and angry and suspicious of Mueller enough that there will never be enough votes in the Senate to convict Trump of anything. So hell get clean away with whatever crimes he may have committed. He may even benefit from it politically, if it stirs up the base in the run-up to a presidential election. The only piece of evidence that suggests that justice might indeed be served is that weird new recording of Devin Nunes that Rachel Maddow played last Wednesday night. He seems so so so desperate to keep the House because of the Mueller investigation, you cant help wondering if he really thinks Mueller could bring down the president: If Sessions wont un-recuse and Mueller wont clear the president, were the only ones, which is really the danger. Thats why I keep and thank you for saying it by the way I mean, we have to keep all these seats. We have to keep the majority. If we do not keep the majority, all of this goes away. All of what goes away? But again: its going to take a very dramatic revelation of evidence for Mueller to put the skids under Trump. The tribalism is so intense at this point that much of the GOP base would probably support collusion with Russia if the alternative were impeachment or a Democratic president. All of which means to say that Trump has probably already won the Russia challenge. I say probably, because we simply do not know what Mueller has found out, and perhaps some of it will be so shocking it will change everything. But we may soon be facing the very real possibility that a sitting president will be clearly guilty of conspiring with a foreign government to tamper with a domestic American election and will face no political or legal consequences. The political system will have effectively declared him above the law. That is not a republic in decline and fall. It is a republic committing suicide. Corbyns Anti-Semitism Debacle The crisis over anti-Semitism in the British Labour Party appears to be reaching a critical moment. At issue this time is whether the party should adopt the near-universally accepted definition of anti-Semitism, approved by the International Holocaust Remembrance Association, as a way to monitor and discipline Jew-baiting when it emerges among party members. Labour recently did just adopt the definition but decided not to endorse four of the eleven examples of anti-Semitism cited in the document. It was a revealing set of omissions. Labour did not regard it as anti-Semitic to compare Israel to Nazi Germany; to imply that Jews are more loyal to Israel than their own country; and to deny the Jewish people the right to self-determination. Given the now countless outbreaks of anti-Semitic rhetoric on the left of the Labour Party, youd think it would be a no-brainer just to adopt the full definition as a way to begin to regain trust with the Jewish community. When youre buried in a mountain of anti-Semitism, best not to keep digging. But no. For Corbyn and his inner circle, these were real sticking points. And you can see why: these formulations have become quite common on the far left in the U.K.; if they were adopted, a large number of Labour members would be subject to expulsion (including a large swath of Corbynista Twitter). Corbyn himself, for example, once attended an event on International Holocaust Day with the title: Never Again For Anyone: From Auschwitz to Gaza. A Corbyn appointee once criticized the British Ambassador to Israel because he proclaimed himself to be a Zionist, whereas he should have had roots in the U.K. so that he cant be accused of having Jewish loyalty. Many hard leftists do believe that the creation of the Jewish state was a racist act. And so no decision has yet been taken even though a big majority of Labour MPs want to get this past them, and even though the Labour Party desperately needs to draw a line under this scandal if it is to get a hearing on anything else. Last Saturday, the deputy-leader of the party, Tom Watson, spoke out. This is one of those moments when we have to take a long, hard look at ourselves, Watson said in an interview with the Observer, stand up for what is right and present the party as fit to lead the nation or disappear into a vortex of eternal shame and embarrassment. Twitter was then swamped by Corbynistas deploying the hashtag #ResignWatson. Yesterday, Corbynite Twitter was organizing a protest of the BBC #BBCswitchoff for its continuing focus on the issue. But even Corbyns closest allies in his activist group, Momentum, are losing patience. Its leader, a veteran Jewish Labourite, Jon Lansman, is putting pressure on Corbyn to give way. Corbyns close ally, John McDonnell, is also apparently lobbying for compromise. A meeting will be held in early November where the issue will be settled. According to the Independent, Corbyn is willing to allow the first three examples of anti-Semitism, but is still resisting the fourth. Hes still insisting that to call Zionism racism or to oppose the existence of a Jewish state is not necessarily anti-Semitic. This tells you something about Corbyn, as I explain in an essay in these pages this week: He is close to incapable of changing his mind. And this issue of Palestine/Israel has been extremely dear to his heart for decades and is also deeply important to his closest circle, particularly Seumas Milne, who appears to have something of a grip on Corbyns not-too-agile mind, and who is on record believing the creation of Israel was a crime, and that it is a racist state. This may well drag on through August. Its almost a parable of how Corbyns radicalism is undermined by his extremism, and how a newly emboldened and popular left is sometimes its own worst enemy. See you next Friday. Chinese computer maker Chuwi is updating its line of thin, light, and low power laptops with the new Chuwi Lapbook SE. Its a 3.2 pound fanless notebook that measures 0.6 inches thick, features a full HD display, a backlit keyboard, quad speakers, and an Intel Celeron N4100 quad-core Gemini Lake processor. The notebook also has 4GB of RAM, 32GB of eMMC storage, and a 128GB SSD. It will be available for pre-order from Gearbest next week for $270. Thats the pre-order price if you order between August 13th and August 20th. After that the price goes up to $300. While itd be nice to have options for additional memory or a faster processor, thats a pretty intriguing price point for a laptop with a 1920 x 1080 pixel IPS display, backlit keyboard, and quad speakers features which are often reserved for higher-priced machines. If the 128GB SSD isnt enough for you, its also possible to pop it out and add a higher capacity M.2 SSD. The RAM is also upgradeable. Other features include two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, a 3.5mm headset jack, and a microSD card reader. There are dual microphones with support for Microsofts Cortana voice assistant, and a 2MP webcam. And the laptop has a 33.7 Wh battery that Chuwi says should be good for up to 8 hours of run time. The notebook supports 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. Meanwhile, if youre looking for a Gemini Laptop from a more established brand, the Asus E406MA is already up for order in Canada. That model has a Pentium Silver N5000 processor and a 56 Whr battery, but it lacks an M.2 SSD and sells for $399 CAD. Share this article: Share this: Facebook Twitter Reddit Pocket Tumblr Pinterest LinkedIn Email Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Steve Bannon. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux A decade now after the 2008 financial crisis, the cultural and psychological imprint that it left looks almost as deep as the one that followed the Great Depression. Its legacy includes a new radical politics on both the left and the right; epidemics of opioid abuse, suicides, and low birthrates; and widespread resentment, racial and gendered and otherwise, by those who felt especially left behind. This week, New York continues our retrospective on the crash and its aftermath by publishing interviews with some of those who were closest to the events. Here, Steve Bannon, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker turned face of Trump-era populism, on how the bailouts led directly to the 2016 election, why we need to break up the banks, and his goal to turn the GOP into a worker-based party. I was hoping we could talk about the legacy of the financial crisis. How would you characterize it? The legacy of the financial crisis: Donald Trump. The legacy of the financial crisis is Donald J. Trump. And I can give you the specific moment: When they put Lehman in bankruptcy, and the geniuses didnt understand that it was inextricably linked to the commercial paper market. Hank Paulson, Treasury secretary, and Ben Bernanke, the head of the Federal Reserve, they went to see Bush three days later. They told him, We need a trillion dollars in cash, and we need it by five oclock. And in a profile of courage, President Bush says, Not my problem. You gotta go to Capitol Hill. They go up to Capitol Hill, they put everybody in a room. They make them all put their BlackBerrys outside, and they walk in, and Bernanke, whos not an alarmist, says, If we dont have a trillion dollars by today, the American financial system will melt down in 72 hours. The world financial system will melt down in two weeks, and there will be global anarchy. And by the way, this was completely brought on by the elites of the country and Wall Street. When I got to Harvard Business School in 1983, a bunch of professors were coming up with a radical idea thats had a horrible negative consequence on this country and to the fabric of our society: the maximization of shareholder value; this was preached as High Church theology. The whole thing of the financialization of Wall Street, of looking at people as pure commodities and of outsourcing and globalization, came from the business schools and the financial community that had these radical ideas, and nobody kept them in check. Go back and look at the postwar period. These companies had profit margins, and they traded on Wall Street, but there wasnt this maniacal focus on the financialization. Companies forgot about the social fabric, forgot about your workers. Everything became commoditized. That led to the financial crisis of 2008. It all came home to roost. From the long-term credit crisis in the late 90s, to the implosion of the stock market in 2000 on the internet, to then the financial crisis every couple years were having another financial crisis. And theyre building in intensity. The one in 2008 was three orders of magnitude worse than the crash of 1929. So write down, the match got lit that led to November 9th at 2:30 in the morning when Donald Trump was named president of the United States. What does the impact of the financial crisis look like for the American people? I think youre starting to see it. I think youre starting to see the deindustrialization of the country. We stopped investing in the country. Domestic investments all going over to China. We deindustrialized Western Europe. Brexit and 2016 are inextricably linked, okay? Workers know this. Its the labor vote in the midland counties that drove Brexit. This is whats so obvious the Democratic Party misses. Donald Trumps president because of working-class Democrats. The Trump movement is made up of people like my father, the Marty Bannons. My whole household was working-class Democrats. These are adamant Trump supporters because they understand Trump supports working-class people. Heres the outrage about it: The balance sheet of the Federal Reserve in September 2008 is about $1 trillion. The balance sheet the day Donald Trump raises his hand, after eight years of the most progressive Democrat in recorded history, is $4.5 trillion. The elites save themselves. They just created money. They flooded the zone with liquidity. If youre an asset holder, if you owned real estate, stocks, or intellectual property, if youre an owner, you had the best run in human history, okay? If youre a deplorable, you got fucked. You know why the deplorables are angry? Theyre rational human beings. We took away the risk for the wealthy. Look, you have socialism in this country for the very wealthy and for the very poor. And you have a brutal form of Darwinian capitalism for everybody else. Youre one paycheck away from oblivion. Do you think the founders of this country, you think thats what they wanted to have in the 21st century? Dude, this is fucked up. Heres what it should have been. We go into Goldman Sachs, everybody, every partner, every guy zero. Youre wiped out. Just like wed do any deal at Goldman Sachs. I wipe out all the equity. Im getting rid of Lloyd Blankfein and Gary Cohn. But the guys that follow them, they can make beaucoup dollar after my moneys paid back and the companys successful, just like every transaction we do. You should have done that across corporate America and every bank. Of all the criminal referrals that came out of the thing, where are the fucking guilty? Wheres the accountability of the 200 criminal referrals made by Eric Holders Justice Department? Now Holder works for Covington & Burling. The biggest white-collar criminals, theyre all Burling clients. Its a scam. Its a total scam. You know why the deplorables are pissed off? Because they understand its a scam. The burden is on their shoulders. Were deplorables, the Bannons. There aint nothing special about the Bannons. Were just a bunch of fucking hardheaded Micks. All blue-collar company guys, firemen, shit like that. Were just average people and they love Donald Trump. You know why? Hes the first guy to tell the Establishment to go fuck themselves. And were just in the beginning stages, and thats why right-wing populisms gonna win, because the left wing, youre a bunch of pussies. The Democratic Party is owned and paid for by Wall Street. And heres a great thing. You would think that after being 16 points down with 88 days to go, and having billions of dollars in cash, and Trump having nothing that to lose youd think thered finally be some accountability. But no, no. It had to be Russia. Had to be Russia. Going back before the crisis, given that you had worked at Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs changed. When I worked there, it was a private partnership. You had partners who understood that they had joint and several liability when they did the underwriting. And it was a place of tremendous middle-class values and tremendous work ethic. The partnership was predominantly Jewish, and these are the best guys in the world. They were absolutely about the client and about the people that bought the security. The term was long-term greedy. Its not any one deal that makes things; its the reputation of the firm. After the Blankfeins and the Cohns and those guys came and started to run it, it became a totally different firm. The dynamic that youre describing more broadly sort of happened to all of Wall Street. Yes. I think it started in the 90s, and a lot of it came out of the business schools. It became a set of numbers and mathematics. It led to the financialization and the securitization of everything. All value had to go back to the equity-holders. The employees didnt matter; the communities didnt matter. Nothing mattered. Thats not the capitalism this country is based upon. The financial collapse talked about the rot at the heart of the system. And they all made it Bernie Madoff. Fuck Bernie Madoff, Bernie Madoffs irrelevant. You have bad guys that scam people all the time in history. Its always gonna happen. Bernie Madoffs a little nothingburger. Im talking about systemic rot. Im talking about the people that during that financial crisis, the banks that looked the other way, the law firms that looked the other way, the accounting firms that looked the other way. The elite that looked the other way. The business media that looked the other way. They, everybody looked the other way. Theyre still kind of looking the other way today. Theyre living in the Hamptons and they dont want to rock the boat on the system. The systems too big, too complicated, so they just go along. What was the moment when it sunk in for you that the crisis had hit? My dad worked at AT&T, the phone company, for 50 years. AT&T is like the Catholic church, okay? It is a permanent part of your life. My dad would tell stories about his father owning one share of stock, and thats the thing that they would borrow against to get Christmas gifts with that. The concept of selling stock is not in his vernacular. Hes still living hes 96 today and the crisis was, what, ten years ago? So he was 86 years old. Jim Cramer went on national TV and had a meltdown. He says, If you need any cash to pay for anything in your life, sell everything you have. Sell everything you have. I mean, they had to throw a net over him. My dad is sitting there, and he blows. He sold his stock. That was when it hit me personally. By the way, I would have told him not to sell it. Would you say the financial crisis and the recession had a greater impact on the country than 9/11? Yes, absolutely. I dont think theres any comparison. And by the way, you dont know that from reading the press, because the opposition-party media is bought and paid for by the advertisers and all the stuff in the financial community. People dont know today theres no criminal referrals, that nobody went to jail about that. Nobodys been held accountable for that. Obama came in and had the stimulus, almost a trillion dollars, and nobody knows where the money went. Wheres all the value-added jobs? Where are my hospitals? You know, Robert Moses built shit. We spent a trillion dollars did we just repave everything? I mean, seriously, its a trillion dollars. Wheres all our great shit? It looks like the same place it was ten years ago. Its worse than Afghanistan as far as the use of proceeds. Where do you say it went? I think it went to bail out the wealthy. I think it went into this stock-repurchasing thing, I think it went into supporting real estate and things like that. Theres a direct correlation between the factories that left, the billets and jobs that left with them, and the opioid crisis. This is what the Democrats miss: Tariffs are more than economics, its about dignity and self-worth. Youve got to get those jobs back. These guys said theyre not coming back. I go, Is that a law of physics? You treat this like the second fucking law of thermodynamics. The jobs get shipped over there for financial reasons, we can bring them back. Those jobs can come back, and theyre going to come back. Youre seeing them already coming back today. Now were telling guys, You can build your factory here, or were going to throw big tariffs on you. Its about using your leverage to browbeat people, and Donald Trump has got a big enough set of balls to do it. So I dont want to hear all this yammering, particularly on the left, all these guys yammering about the tariffs. Fuck you. This time, weve got to bring things back. Heres the concept of right-wing populism. If the 80s and the way we got in this debacle was this radical idea of maximization of shareholder value, heres what right-wing populism stands for. Its very simple concept. Were going to maximize the value of citizenship. Were going to maximize citizenship value. If youre an American citizen, you get a special deal. I dont care if youre Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, black, white, red, pink, green. I do not care. If youre an American citizen, you get a better deal. Heres how many H-1B visas I want: none. Until we get Baltimore, Detroit, and St. Louis with, you know, youth unemployment down to zero, and people making high value-added jobs, I dont need any foreigners. And Im not a racist. What I want is our citizens to get the jobs. Right now illegal immigration is used as nothing more than a scam to suppress workers wages. All the economic textbooks youve got before 2008? Throw them out. Theyre totally irrelevant. Your generation, the readers of New York Magazine, youre nothing but 18th-century Russian serfs. Youre better fed, and youre better dressed, and youre better educated. But you dont own anything. And youre not going to own anything. The state capitalism of the big technology companies has taken away your digital, your data sovereignty. Theyve totally taken it away. You generate intellectual property all day long, and they dont pay you for it. They take it for free, they monetize at huge margins. But what right-wing populism does is break that. You agree with that? There are parts of it that are not exclusive to right-wing populism But on the left, your problem is that identity politics is stronger than your populism, and thats why you cant lift out of it. You cant be a populist and buy into the globalist system and the globalist system is open borders. Its the Kochs. Its Wall Street. The Kochs are the biggest open-borders guys in the world. The libertarian Cato Institute, look how radical they are. Cato hates my guts much more than the left. In 2013, I sit there with Jeff Sessions at the Breitbart Embassy, and were looking at the 2012 election. A lawyer named Sean Trende did a three-part analysis of the working class on RealClearPolitics. About how the working class did not come out to vote for Romney. And I told Sessions, I said, Thats the path to victory right there. So I tried to talk Jeff Beauregard Sessions into running for president of the United States. I said, The whole purpose of this campaign is, were going to make immigration No. 1 and trade No. 2. I said, Trade and immigration are just two sides of the same coin. And Sessions bought in. Sessions goes, Were gonna do it, its absolutely brilliant, and we can do it. But Im not the guy. Our guy will come along. I saw early on in 2013 that Dave Bossie started putting on these cattle calls. Little, mini cattle calls in New Hampshire and Iowa. And I noticed Donald J. Trump would get up there, and they had everybody. Id sit in the back, and I looked at the audience. These are all activists at this time, but theyre principally working class and lower-middle class. And this is in New Hampshire? All over. I went to New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina. And May of 2014 was when it hit me. Im sitting in New Hampshire, I think its Hanover, New Hampshire. And I notice that Trump gets an amazing response, and hes just laying bombs on trade, on China, stuff other guys arent talking about. Theyre talking happy talk. But its that political vernacular. But these guys are all loved, these guys are rock stars in the Republican Party. Do you think that this was something that Trump believed, or just like a current that he picked up on and chose to run with it at that moment? He was listening to Lou Dobbs. I tell people, You wanna know what Trumps economic policy is? Just get a show of Lou Dobbs from 30 years ago. He was talking about immigration ten years ago And China 30 years ago. And trade deals. Trump believes this to the marrow of his bones. So I had Trump come over and interviewed him at my little radio show with [Breitbart editor-in-chief] Alex Marlow. Donald Trump had one interview that day, on Sirius XM. Nobody else paid attention. And then in 2015 he actually announces, and we have, as you described it, this Republican field that decades of donor cultivation has bought. He goes through them like a scythe through grass. Hes talking trade deals and nobody can respond to that. The seminal moment in that is, Ted Cruz goes to Wisconsin and he makes a 30-second spot on a state hes got to win. He says, What we need is fair trade deals. That phrase comes across Ted Cruzs Heritage Foundation lips, right? A fair trade deal. I tell the boys, I said, We got him. Now were talking fair trade from Ted Fucking Heritage Foundation Cruz. Were winning. So trade is picking up. And the Republicans go, Hang on, thats High Church Orthodoxy. You cant. And so when you start getting to the general election, where are you at? Its very simple. I get announced [as the campaigns chief executive] in August, okay? Hes down by 16 points, all this stuff. Hillarys on the beach, in the Hamptons. She was raising money. Because you guys are gonna win. Now you gotta win the House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court. Its all over. Conservatives are done. You guys basically run America for 100 years. Everybody says Trumps so far gone that hes running a mad bomber from Breitbart just to tear his enemies on the way down. Theyre not gonna win. Bannons never been in a campaign in his life. This Bannon is a bigger attack dog than Trump. Hes going to go out to destroy his enemies. Okay. She comes off the beach the next week to Reno, for her first big speech. And her speech is Steve Bannon, Breitbart, alt-right, white supremacy, misogynist. Im sitting there going, Good God, shes wanting to be the commander-in-chief, the most powerful job in the world, and shes talking about Breitbart? Are you fucking kidding me? I told the guys right there Id already told Trump Youre gonna win I told the whole rest of the staff, Its over. I said, If shes going to run this, we got them. For all their brilliance, they had no earthly idea what the campaign was about. Then on September 9th, its a Sunday this year, the high holy day for the deplorables, is when she gave that speech where she calls these people deplorables. The backbone of the country. Trump understood where the people were in the country. Theyre sitting there telling them, Do you think anybody gives a fuck about Breitbart or Steve Bannon or the alt-right? So then you get to November, and these trends continue and continue, and then Trump narrowly wins. But remember, part of our platform, one of the things I put in speeches all the time, was, were going to break up the banks. Were going to break Citi up. Were gonna bifurcate commercial banks from investment banking. That was your agenda on day one? Well, what happened? Well, we picked Gary Cohn as the Treasury secretary. They picked Jared Kushner, right? Picked a bunch of progressive lefties who are all stupid. Steve Mnuchin, Gary Cohn, progressive Democrats. You have to understand something, shipmate: Progressive Democrats on Wall Street are not populists. They want to throw you a few bones on social issues, that I think are kind of marginal, to cover the economic issues. Just look at it. But now McMaster is gone, Cohn is gone, Tillersons gone. Look what Trumps done in six months. Hes reorganized the worlds commercial system. Were very close to having a massive reorganization in six months. The Wall Street stuff will all come. Trump wants to make sure first, get the economy revved back up again What if it doesnt? Well, the economy is going to be at 4 percent growth. Wages are going to start to follow. Weve got time. You cant do everything at one time. Lets change the worlds commercial relationships and change the supply chain away from China, okay? First off, that would be Herculean, because for 30 years we looked the other way and exacerbated and we helped its growth. Trump is a truly transformational president. And youre seeing it right now. Youve got to go for Wall Street hammer and tong. Im a big believer in Glass-Steagall. I think youve gotta go up and break up these money-center banks. Im a huge believer in the Volcker Rule, right? I think all that stuff can be put back in prop trading. Were all on the same page. Youve got to look at the leveraging of things. All of the problems we had pre-2008, the casino mentalitys starting over again. Its all gotta be stopped. I think right-wing populisms the only way to do it. The Democratic Party is much more bought and paid for by Wall Street than we are. It just is. And what happens if the Democrats win the house? The very first thing theyll do is impeach him. Yeah. On the basis of what the Mueller investigation digs up? Who knows? And who cares? Theyll think of something. It doesnt matter. Theres not a search for truth. Theyll have the votes. You gotta remember, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Scarborough and Rahm Emanuel all the smart guys are sitting there going, Its not about impeachment. Dont say impeachment. Its about your local congressman and making your life better. Because theyve seen the same data Ive seen. The way to get the deplorables out is very simple: Its talking impeachment. They want to shut you up, and they want to impeach Trump. So if you like Trump, you gotta show up. Its very simple. Look, my whole focus in life is very simple: Im trying to turn the Republican Party into a worker-based party. Because in a worker-based party, you can control the United States of America. It strikes me that the only reason its even feasible to make the Republican Party something that stands for the working man is because ten years ago, a bunch of bankers got bailed out Yes, exactly. Youre 100 percent correct. At eleven in the morning on September 18th of 2008, in the Oval Office, when the secretary of Treasury and the chair of the Federal Reserve told the president of the United States, We need a trillion dollars by 5 p.m. boom. That lit a match, and the explosion was Trump. *A version of this article appears in the August 6, 2018, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now! A proposed bill suggests that the Macau law regulating casino workers entry to casinos while off-duty should include an entry ban for all gaming operators employees. On Wednesday, government representatives, including the director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), Paulo Martins Chan, met with the First Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly (AL) to discuss the bill. The bill proposes that employees of gaming concessioners and sub-concessioners should be prevented from entering casinos during their spare time, as criminals had been taking advantage of casino employees addicted to gambling. The employees banned would include dealers, public relations workers, cashiers and security guards, among all others. The government [had initialy] informed that it had no intention of including public relations workers, and restaurant, cleaning, and security staff in the interdiction. However, following the public consultation, the government recognized that these types of workers can also be easily influenced and become addicted to gambling, explained lawmaker Ho Ion Sang. The ban means approximately 100,000 people will not be allowed to enter casinos in their spare time. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people are directly employed by casinos, while the rest include junket promoters. A few lawmakers pointed out that providers of outsourced casino services were excluded by the law, which means that some cleaning, security and catering staff can still enter casinos without restrictions. Chan noted that the idea of protecting casino workers is shared by the government and deputies. Regarding the gaming policies to avoid gambling addiction, everything was peaceful among the deputies and government. However, there were some technical difficulties related to a few details and related to certain areas where entry should be forbidden. Nevertheless, these issues are easily solved, said Chan. The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) hoisted typhoon signal no.1 yesterday and the warning is expected to remain in place for a while. According to SMG, floods could occur during the mornings at the Inner Harbor until August 13. An SMG representative told Radio Macau that the chance of issuing a higher signal in the next few days was slim. Scholar asks for national security office Luo Weijian, professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Macau (UM), deems it urgent for Macau to establish a specific department to manage matters of national security. In Luos opinion, the lack of a specific department responsible for national security is a vulnerability that should be rectified urgently. Furthermore, he believes that Macau faces infiltration from all kinds of external forces, which could threaten national security. He emphasized that a department is urgently needed and that it is reasonable to propose that Macau should have such an organization. Oh, bother. The misfortune of Christopher Robin is not only that it comes a year after Goodbye Christopher Robin, an earnest if sentimental tale about Winnie-the-Pooh author A.A. Milne and his son, Christopher Robin Milne, but that it arrives a few months after the screwball radiance of Paddington 2. When it comes to bears in London this movie year, our hearts are already spoken for. But for those who prefer honey to marmalade, Christopher Robin is a more gentle and melancholic fable about recapturing the joys of childhood as an adult with the help of a wise and innocent bear. Its telling that in Marc Forsters comparatively somber but sweet movie, the standout of Milnes furry creatures all of them rendered digitally as worn- out stuffed animals is that old grump Eeyore (voiced by Brad Garrett), whose morose mutterings land nearly all the films laughs. Humor has never been the forte of Forster (Finding Neverland, Quantum of Solace), so dont come to Christopher Robin expecting hijinks from Tigger or a single overstuffed bear stuck in a doorway. Instead Forster has fashioned a meticulously handsome post-WWII period drama perhaps one more for adults than children leaning much closer to The Velveteen Rabbit than Saturday morning cartoon. Theres a degree of atonement in the stylistic shift; the real Christopher Robin (never a fan of the books) lamented the Disneyfication of his fathers characters and never accepted royalties. And as with Disneys 2106s Petes Dragon, theres an unlikely, largely indie collection of filmmakers behind a relatively modest live-action revival. Alex Ross Perry (Listen Up Philip), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) and Allison Schroeder (Hidden Figures) wrote the script. In the opening scenes in the fictional land of the Hundred Acre Wood, Pooh and the rest are giving young Christopher Robin a farewell party. Dont you get all grow-ed up on us, Tigger tells him. But after a page-turning montage, Christopher Robin has indeed done just that. Hes now a working, married man in London, wed to Evelyn (Haley Atwell), with a daughter named Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) and a grueling job. Hes an efficiency manager for a luggage company housed in a towering gray building. The demands of his work have drained all the fun out of Christopher Robin, whose middle name has been upgraded to surname. He hasnt so much as smiled in years, Evelyn says. But on a particularly crucial work weekend, out pops Pooh from a Hundred Acre Wood portal from the trunk of a tree outside Christophers town house. The voice is instantly recognizable (Pooh veteran Jim Cummings voices him, as well as Tigger) though the form is a little novel. Like the other characters, Pooh looks more a glassy-eyed teddy bear than he has before, and more frizzy than E.H. Shepards illustrations. The digital effects impressively double for tangible, hand-hewn felt creations, but (aside from Owl) they crucially lack lively eyes. That keeps the gang (theres also Piglet, Rabbit, Kanga and Roo) always secondary on the screen to McGregor. Naturally, Christopher is pulled back into Hundred Acre Wood where his priorities are straightened out. He relearns Poohs wise advice that doing nothing often leads to the very best something a message that proves surprisingly relevant to the midcentury workplace policies of Christophers luggage company, even if Pooh mishears his job as a fish-in-the-sea manager. It all fits together a little too well, too predictably and, well, too Disney. Pooh and company have always been a wonderfully neurotic bunch, but in Forsters polished film, theyre a little suffocated, a little lifeless. Any semblance of authentic childlike glee remains purely theoretical. Its surely not a good sign when Eeyore is the one stealing the show. Watching Christopher Robin, I couldnt help feeling a bit like Tigger when he arrives in London and wonders: How come nobodys bouncin? Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer Christopher Robin, a Walt Disney Co. release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for some action. Running time: 104 minutes. Seven MGM team members enrolled in the MGM High School Diploma Program successfully completed their courses and received diplomas from Escola Secundaria Luso-Chinesa de Luis Gonzaga Gomes (ESLC) last month. The company partnered with ESLC under the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) to provide complimentary education for local team members completing their high school diplomas. A feature of the MGM High School Diploma Program is that classes take place at the company, with re-arranged rosters to better accommodate team members study. This encourages participants to complete the courses necessary to earn qualifications that are essential to career advancement, the gaming operator noted in a statement. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be presented with junior high and high school diploma certificates recognized by DSEJ. Graeme Croft, MGMs Vice President of Table Games, said, Our Company supports our team members 100 percent. We always encourage them to further their education. Bene elevates brunch offerings Sheraton Grand Macao Hotels Bene Italian Restaurant will elevate its Sunday brunch by adding free-flowing beverages (including prosecco, cocktails and beer), new artisanal pass-around dishes, and an interactive kids corner, the hotel has announced in a statement. The new Great Big Bene Sunday Brunch will feature cold antipasti, salads, Italian premium cheeses and cold cuts, along with a range of carpaccio, pizzas and freshly baked treats such as egg tartlets and panini, as well as Eggs Benedict with sauteed mushrooms, Parma ham, black truffle and parmigiana hollandaise. An array of fresh imported lobsters, crab legs, prawns on ice, and freshly-shucked seasonal oysters are also on offer. A live carving station with tempting charcoal-grilled and slow-roasted meats including Australian skirt steak, New Zealand lamb chops and marinated chicken can also be seen at Sunday brunch. At the Sweet Escape area, guests can indulge in a dessert spread featuring traditional Italian sweets such as tiramisu, panna cotta, limoncello and ricotta cake, pistachio crostata, as well as a selection of ice creams. A contrarian snowflake in his ideological safe space. Photo: Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images Identity politics will be the death of the center-right. There was a time when Americas Burkean contrarians felt compelled to engage with the substance of their critics arguments; to meet facts with facts, disputations with counter-disputations. Now, theyre content to merely assert their identity as tellers of uncomfortable truths (and dont you dare ask them to validate that identity, empirically; if a center-right contrarian identifies as unfailingly rational and free of racial, gender, or class biases, then one must accept this as her personal truth). In fact, these intellectual dark web browsers have become so defensive of their identitarian ideology, theyve grown blind to any and all realities that might complicate their worldview. If this dire assessment of the center-right sounds overwrought, just take a gander at Caitlin Flanagans new essay on Jordan Peterson in The Atlantic. The thesis of the column is simple: For years, a silenced majority had been suffering under the tyrannical hegemony of left-wing identity politics until Jordan Peterson set their minds free with his devastating rebuttal of that creeds bogus premises. Flanagan writes that what Peterson and the other members of the so-called intellectual dark web are offering is kryptonite to identity politics; that Peterson provided her son and his friends with the only sustained argument against identity politics they had heard in their lives; and that the left is afraid of Petersons ideas because they are are completely inconsistent with identity politics of any kind. Not once in her (nearly 2,000-word) column does Flanagan define the identity politics shes inveighing against, or so much as summarize Petersons argument against them. She does offer some examples of what she considers to be representative of the former: The Nations decision to apologize for publishing a poem written in African-American vernacular by a non-black poet; the alt-rights pursuit of a white ethno-state; and former president Barack Obama whom she dubs the poet laureate of identity politics. Theres a strong case that the first item in this litany is, in fact, a genuine instance of left-wing ideological excess. And plenty of progressive writers have been making it. In fact, if Flanagans son is still in the market for sustained arguments against certain manifestations of progressive identity politics, he can find no shortage of them from left-wing intellectuals. But Flanagan would rather attack an imaginary, monolithic left than contend with the actual one. And by positing Barack Obama as an exemplary practitioner of identity politics, she renders her conception of that phrase incomprensible. Obama literally launched his political career by proclaiming that African-Americans must eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white and that there was not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; theres the United States of America. The mans commitment to a politics of universalism was so emphatic and unyielding, he spent his last year in office lecturing college students about the evils of political correctness. If there is a reason that Flanagan associates Barack Obama with identity politics beyond the fact that he is an African-American who participated in politics she feels no need to spell it out. For an identitarian contrarian like Flanagan, assertion is sufficient; argument, unnecessary. People from her intellectual tribe recognize that Jordan Peterson is good, and identity politics (a phrase that ostensibly covers the political worldview of most everyone to her left or right) is bad. The fact that a person like her is making this claim is all the substantiation required; because people like her, her son, and Jordan Peterson are capable of perceiving objective reality, unmediated by ideology. Flanagan actually implies this: She writes that once her son and his friends had digested Petersons thought, they found that it was suddenly possible to talk about all kinds of thingsreligion, philosophy, history, mythin a different way. They could have a direct experience with ideas, not one mediated by ideology. Here is how Petersen, who never allows identity to color his thought and perceives ideas from myth, history, and philosophy, directly, unmediated by ideology assesses The Feminine Mystique: I read Betty Friedans book because I was very curious about it, and its so whiny, its just enough to drive a modern person mad to listen to these suburban housewives from the late 50s ensconced in their comfortable secure lives complaining about the fact that theyre bored because they dont have enough opportunity. Its like, Jesus get a hobby. And here is how such a man perceives the feminine, in general: You know you can say, Well isnt it unfortunate that chaos is represented by the feminine well, it might be unfortunate, but it doesnt matter because that is how its represented. Its been represented like that forever. And there are reasons for it. You cant change it. Its not possible. Flanagans suggestion that Jordan Peterson looks down on human existence from the Archimedean point is risible. But her essays most preposterous and telling claim the one that exposes the center-right contrarians incapacity to even comprehend the existence of ideologically inconvenient facts is this: There are plenty of reasons for individual readers to dislike Jordan Peterson There are many legitimate reasons to disagree with him on a number of subjects, and many people of good will do. But there is no coherent reason for the lefts obliterating and irrational hatred of Jordan Peterson. By definition, there can be no coherent reason for anyones irrational hatred of anything. But if we take Flanagans argument to be that the left has no rational basis for seeing Peterson as contemptible and dangerous, then her argument is absurd. Peterson argues that human beings do not yet know whether it is possible for men and women to work together without the former sexually harassing the latter, to such an extent that segregated workplaces are preferable. He has stated, point blank, that women who do not want to be sexually harassed at work but nevertheless wear makeup to the office are hypocrites. In her essay, Flanagan accuses the left of mendaciously attaching reputation-destroying ideas to Peterson. But rest assured, Peterson has attached these ideas to himself: Perhaps, Flanagan agrees with all of this. Perhaps, she thinks that, Can men and women work together in the workplace? is an open question, and that the only reason why women put on lipstick is to trigger thoughts of sex in mens minds and thus, if women who wear lipstick to the office get sexually harassed, they bear some responsibility for their own plight. But does Flanagan really believe that it would be incoherent for feminists to detest Peterson on the basis of these views? Or did she simply ensconce herself in an ideological safe space that shielded these remarks from her awareness? For the sake of argument, lets say that Flanagan did not intend to defend Petersons thoughts on the propriety of wearing makeup to an office. After all, she claims to specifically prize the public intellectuals dissection of identity politics. Is it actually the case that Petersons argument against identity politics is profound, and that the left has no coherent reason for disdaining him on the basis of it? To answer this query, lets take a look at what Petersons own fans have identified as his finest moment his nutshell case for rejecting identity politics and embracing the individualist, free market traditions of the West. This viral clip from one of Petersons lectures begins with the professor arguing that every single person in his audience is oppressed. The ensuing rant is worth quoting at length: God only knows why. Maybe youre too short, or youre not as beautiful as you could be, or, you know, your parent, your grandparent was a serf likely, because almost everbodys grand-, great-grandparent was. And youre not as smart as you could be. And you have a sick relative, and you have your own physical problems and its like, frankly, youre a mess. And youre oppressed in every possible way including your ancestry and your biology. And the entire sum of human history has conspired to produce victimized you, with all your individual pathological problems. Its like: YES! TRUE! OKAY! But the problem is that, if you take the oppressed, you have to fractionate them and fractionate them, and its like: Youre a woman? Yeah, okay well Im a black woman. Well, Im a black woman who has two children. Well, Im a black woman who has two children, and one of them isnt very healthy. And then, well, Im a Hispanic woman, and I have a genius son who doesnt have any money, so that he cant go to university and, you know, I had a hell of a time getting across the border. It was really hard on me to get my citizenship. My husband is an alcoholic brute. Its like, well, yeah, that sucks too. And so, lets fix all your oppression. And well take every single thing into account, and then well fix yours too. Well take every single thing into account. Its like: NO, you wont because you cant. You cant. It is technically impossible. First of all, you cant even list all the ways that youre oppressed. Second, how are you going to weight them? Third, whos going to decide? And thats the bloody thing: Whos gonna decide? Thats the thing. Well, whats the answer in the West? Its like, in free markets Were going to outsource it to the marketplace. Youre going to take your sorry pathetic being, and youre gonna try to offer me something that maybe I want. And Im going to take my sorry pathetic being, and Im gonna say, well, all things considered, as well as I can understand them, maybe I could give you this much money, which is actually a promise for that thing. And youve packed all of your damn oppression into the price. And I packed all my oppression into the willingness to pay it. And that solution sucks. Its a bad solution. But compared to every other solution man, its why 10 percent of us have freedom! Here, Peterson argues that seeking political solutions to problems of identity-based oppression is futile; that attempts to do so will inevitably bestow arbitrary powers on some tyrannical authority (Whos gonna decide?); and thus, that the best society can do is to maintain free markets, where all individuals can seek to transcend their oppression by selling goods and services that other individuals wish to buy. This narrative rests on so many flimsy premises its hard to know where to begin. Does Peterson genuinely believe that free markets are the best solution the West has found for a woman whose genius son cant afford to go to college? Or for a mother with a sick child? Is he unaware of the existence of public universities, and his home countrys single-payer health-care system? Or does he not understand that people had to organize collectively around shared identities of oppression (as with workers in trade unions or people who suffer from disabilities, in lobbying groups) to bring these kinds of public goods into being? And is the question of who will get to decide whose oppression the state should prioritize redressing really so confounding? Didnt the West develop republican institutions precisely so that the peoples elected representatives could adjudicate such claims, and be voted out of office if they do so in way that displeases a majority of the public? But the core problem with Petersons argument the one that best justifies the lefts contempt for him is that it proceeds from the premise that it is impossible to draw a categorical distinction between oppressions that are rooted in race, gender, or class, and ineluctable misfortunes like being less tall than one might prefer. A moments scrutiny reveals the absurdity of this idea. But for anyone who finds comfort in Petersons claim anyone who does not wish to believe that he has benefited from unearned privileges, or that America has racked up unpaid debts to the poor, to women, or its black citizens the notion is superficially plausible enough to be taken at face value. Which is why it is so popular; and therefore, dangerous; and therefore, contemptible. The fact that I am five feet and eight inches tall, instead of six-one, as I might prefer, is not a legacy of official government policies that were in operation during Jordan Petersons lifetime. The fact that the median white family lays claim to roughly nine times as much wealth as the median black one in the United States is. For most of the 20th century, de jure segregation was a reality in both the North and South. Through the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. government promoted homeownership by providing Americans with low-cost mortgage insurance unless they lived in a neighborhood with a significant population of dark-skinned people. The government considered the mere presence of Negroes in an area to be dispositive evidence of its instability, and thus, made such places ineligible for mortgage insurance. One effect of this policy was to exacerbate white racism by endowing it with rationality: An African-American moving next door didnt just challenge a white homeowners tolerance for diversity, but represented a clear and present danger to the value of his familys home (typically, its primary source of wealth). Meanwhile, federal authorities built officially segregated public housing complexes, and rendered many African-American neighborhoods objectively undesirable by concentrating toxic waste sites in their boundaries. These policies, combined with the deindustrialization of Americas cities; white Americans (heavily subsidized) flight to the suburbs; and the fact that many basic government services in the U.S. are funded from local property taxes trapped millions of African-Americans in segregated inner cities with few employment opportunities, underfunded public schools, and copious health hazards. Jordan Peterson claims to be a champion of equality of opportunity. In many of his other lectures on the folly of identity politics (and of the left, more broadly), Peterson insists that Western societies have largely achieved such equality because the personality traits of intelligence and conscientiousness heavily correlate with success in the United States and Canada. In his ideological blindness, the Canadian contrarian fails to consider the possibility that the socioeconomic conditions a person is born into might limit her opportunity to develop such traits. But anyone with an interest in engaging with history and social science, unmediated by center-right identity politics, knows that this is a certainty. Thanks to the legacy of de jure segregation (and Jim Crow, and slavery), black children in the U.S. are several times more likely than white ones to grow up in neighborhoods and buildings that expose them to hazardous concentrations of lead. Such exposure can do durable damage to a childs cognitive faculties, including her memory, attention, reasoning, and motor skills. Which is to say: By the time they arrive at kindergarten, many black children will already find themselves at a (potentially permanent) cognitive disadvantage, as a consequence of the inequitable housing conditions that they were born into. And then, such children will likely find themselves in an elementary school that has lower per-pupil funding and a higher concentration of poverty among the student body (socioeconomic segregation has been shown to be detrimental to the educational outcomes of individual low-income students) than their white peers. Is the oppression that such children suffer indistinguishable from that weathered by people who are not as beautiful as they could be? Are free markets really a better solution to their plight than federal programs to remove lead from their housing complexes, and to increase funding to their schools? Would African-Americans organizing, as an identity group, to pressure lawmakers into passing such programs really be an invitation to tyranny? If the government decides to take no further action to remedy the racial inequalities that it engineered, would that be triumph for free markets? Would it mean that we averted the terrifying hypothetical of an arbitrary state power deciding which groups interests should be privileged and which should not? Should black people in poverty-stricken, segregated communities stop complaining because Jordan Petersons great-grandfather was a serf? Is it difficult to understand how people as manifestly intelligent as Jordan Peterson and Caitlin Flanagan could possibly find that argument compelling (unless one stipulates that their political perceptions are biased by their racial identity and class position)? In truth, only a tiny (albeit loud) minority on the American left reject the liberal, universalist ideals that Peterson and Flanagan claim to cherish. But one of the major obstacles to realizing such ideals in the United States is the refusal of wealthy, white America to recognize what doing so requires. If we want to live in a country where all children have a genuine opportunity to meet their potential, we must redistribute a massive amount of material resources to the people that we, as Americans, collectively conspired to deprive. Petersons sustained argument against identity politics is antithetical to that project. That Peterson packages his 11th-grade libertarianism, and pseudoscientific misogyny, with genuine insights from clinical psychology, and stimulating reflections on mythic archetypes only makes him more dangerous; because it enables center-right ideologues like Caitlin Flanagan to blind themselves to those parts of his work that threaten their identity and ideology just as they blind themselves to those parts of our society that do the same and to then ask, incredulously, why the left is so afraid of engaging with their ideas. Tuesdays Legislative Assembly (AL) plenary session was an unprecedented and rather peculiar debate on democracy, Macau style. The reflection was prompted by a gang of nine lawmakers who rounded on Sulu Sou on the grounds that he was mischievous and abusive and disrespectful of the House Rules among other offenses. All concerning his heated yet legitimate intervention last week proposing changes to legislation before the vote by the plenum. Jose Pereira Coutinho, in a seminal letter to President Ho Iat Seng, complained about errant decisions by Ho himself regarding the House Rules and vehemently criticized his peers for the inappropriate gang-like attack against Sou. Seven out of the nine were appointed to the assembly by the Chief Executive the very executive they are mandated and paid to scrutinize. The other two were indirectly-elected by the most obscure vote of the AL elections, representing business interests. Nothing would stop them from calling democracy into the debate in attacking Sou, who was elected by universal suffrage. They called him absolutist and arrogant. In the course of this orchestrated rant against the ever-resistant lawmaker, they said he wasnt deserving of being part of the democratic party [sic, from translations]. They may not know the House Rules a minor thing for a member of the AL but the gang of nine sure know nothing about Macaus political system. There are no parties! But, hey, that is just a detail, right?! My favorite nemesis (of Sulu) is Ma Chi Seng. Both born of the same generation, there is a whole galaxy of thought and action between them. While young Ma sounds like his grandfather, and is backwards in form and substance, Sou sounds like a proper young adult wanting to change the world. Ma on democracy: It is impossible to put democracy into practice just with slogans that ignore juridical facts. To the appointed lawmaker I would say: it is impossible to put democracy into practice while we have appointed lawmakers that serve none other but the interests of the Chief Executive. Summing it up and this one is precious one Kou Hoi In said that the core of democracy is respecting others. No, Mr Kou, that is the essence of civility. The core of democracy is one person one vote and the respect for the rule of the majority while giving room to minorities. A subtle note: we do not have that in Macau. There is no democracy in Macau and according to you, the oligarchs and the other cronies, there never will be. Unlike Sou and the other outstanding advocates of full democracy, like Pereira Coutinho, none of the nine lawmakers have ever said or done anything to improve the electoral system toward a democratic AL, as is postulated in the Basic Law. So, do us all a favor and do not invoke the name of democracy in vain. It is blasphemy. The fifth module of the Global Leadership Development Program, co-organized by the University of Macau (UM) Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics and Management (APAEM) and the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), was held recently in Kyushu and Nagasaki, Japan. With assistance from the Kyushu Economic Forum and Kyushu Association of Independent Entrepreneurs (AIE Kyushu), the module attracted more than 60 senior executives from various industries in mainland China, Macau and Japan. The opening ceremony took place at Nagasaki International University and was chaired by Professor Shigemi Furuta, program director of APAEM. The three-day module, comprising seven seminars and a group presentation, was focused on the current development of integrated resorts in Japan and explored Macaus experience and practices in this area, with the aim of nurturing globally competitive and socially responsible senior executives in the industry. The core theme of this module was Strategy, Growth and Responsible Gaming in Kyushu Integrated Resort. Participants were also invited to visit Huis Ten Bosch, a potential site for a new integrated resort project in Japan. Every year, APAEM organizes a variety of executive development programs. The previous four modules were focused on hospitality and MICE events (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), and were held in Macau, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Singapore and Seoul. The academy plans to hold its sixth module in Macau from November 29 to December 3, with the theme Contextual Mindset in Integrated Resorts. Nevadas chief gambling regulator said Wednesday shes been encouraged by the input shes received from casino executives and workers as the states Gaming Control Board considers rules addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Board Chairwoman Becky Harris said shes reviewing a revised draft of the proposed regulations and expects to circulate them for public comment soon. The drafting of regulations for harassment in the industry for the first time was spurred by the sexual misconduct scandal surrounding former casino owner Steve Wynn. He has denied the allegations against him. Members of the union representing thousands of casino workers told the board in May the final regulations should address sexual harassment by guests and high- rollers as well as employees. We have I think an improved method for how sexual harassment claims might be reported to the board should those regulations be enacted, Harris said after the panels regular monthly meeting Wednesday in Carson City. I dont have exact timing with regard to when the updated sexual harassment regulations will be circulated. I have a new draft and need to read it, she said. The regulatory changes as written would apply to all licensees. The largest casino operators have previously said they meet many of the proposed criteria, which employment attorneys say are standard for most large corporations. The move to adopt the regulations comes after the Wall Street Journal reported in January that several women said Wynn harassed or assaulted them and that one case led to a $7.5 million settlement. He resigned Feb. 6 as chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts. Wynn has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Associated Press for its reporting on a separate allegation made to police. Regulators in Nevada and Massachusetts are now investigating the allegations leveled against Wynn. Harris said the Nevada regulatory board is in the final stages of its probe and remains on schedule to complete it within the next two months. But she would not comment on details, including the number of interviews conducted or documents reviewed. It is confidential, she said. Wynn Resorts on Monday disclosed it has finished an internal investigation into the allegations. The company said it will share the findings with gambling regulators. Harris said shes been pleased with the high interest the industry has shown in participating in the effort to implement sexual harassment regulations in the workplace. She said they plan at least one more workshop to gather input in southern Nevada and one in northern Nevada. We have some very supportive licensees who want to make sure that however the board chooses to handle this matter that it is done in a thoughtful, fair way, Harris said. The licensees have really stepped up. Scott Sonner, Carson City, AP The Consumer Council in Hong Kong has recently found that the uniforms of two secondary schools contain cancer-causing chemicals from dyes. The uniforms contained more than eight times the safe level of 4-amino azobenzene, a chemical that was banned in Europe and Japan some years ago, yet is still permitted in mainland China. At least two of about 40 suppliers in the city had sold uniforms containing the toxic chemical to the schools. Both suppliers have since said that they have stopped selling the uniforms, adding that the toxic material came from mainland China, which has only banned dyes containing more than 20mg per kilogram of 4-amino azobenzene, according to reports. The consumer watchdog in Hong Kong said that these dyes can release carcinogenic substances called aromatic amines, which were found in the waist belt of a school dress and in the trimmings of a blouse. In a press release, the council said that the finding was most unsettling and unsatisfactory. These uniforms were tested for their durability after washing, the pH level of the material, and the presence of toxic substances such as fluorescent brighteners and formaldehyde. Meanwhile, the council also found eight uniforms that contained traces of formaldehyde, a cancer-causing industrial chemical. However, the amounts were lower than the maximum amount allowed under Chinas regulations. The Times inquired with Macaus Consumer Council as to whether it checks local uniforms in the region, however, it noted that there are no planned tests currently. The Consumer Council is concerned about the report, however, we do not have any planned tests for the relevant items, the Councils representative replied. For consumers safety, the Council has published periodic or random Consumer Alerts to remind consumers that new clothes must be washed thoroughly before putting them on. LV Representatives from the Macau Delegation of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCILC), led by president Leong Wa Kun, recently visited the office of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macau) and were received by Secretary-General Xu Yingzhen, deputy secretary-general Rodrigo Brum and Deputy Secretary-General Gloria Batalha Ung. Xu said she was willing to further strengthen co-operation with the Chamber in future, to pursue the same common goal together. Meanwhile, she hoped that Macau would be well-prepared for development opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, taking advantage of the role as a platform. In this regard, the Permanent Secretariat will push for promotion and co-operation with various enterprises. Leong said that the Chamber will continue to recruit Chinese enterprises members, allowing both Chinese and Portuguese enterprises to exchange ideas and promote multilateral co-operation through the platform offered by the Chamber, in a bid to further push for economic and trade co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Chinas HNA Group Co. said its been questioned by a U.S. government panel over its ownership of a building in Manhattan near Trump Tower. The scrutiny from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which assesses deals posing potential national-security risks, involved some unique facts and circumstances regarding the location of the building, a representative for the Chinese conglomerate said in a statement. Those issues didnt exist when HNA bought the 850 Third Avenue property in New York, it said. The 21-story building houses one of only two police precincts that are within a mile of Trump Tower, the presidents base when hes in New York. HNA said its taking steps to address concerns voiced by the committee. The scrutiny comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China, which is said to have decided to help HNA pull itself out of recent liquidity challenges. The Chinese conglomerate, which has sold more than USD17 billion in assets to lower its massive debts, has dangled the Manhattan building as one of several properties it is considering unloading. Amid an escalating trade war with the worlds second- largest economy, President Donald Trumps administration has stepped up its meddling in inbound investments involving China, resulting in the scuttling of some high- profile deals such as Broadcom Ltd.s $117 billion attempt to buy Qualcomm Inc. CFIUSs powers may also be expanded under a bill that Congress is expected to pass in August. The Chinese conglomerate has also been caught in the crossfire. In late April, it abandoned plans to buy SkyBridge Capital from former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci. The group has also faced heightened attention across its holdings worldwide, partly because of questions about its ownership. HNA agreed to buy the 850 Third Avenue building before Trump was elected. Separately, the New York Post earlier reported that Trumps administration is poised to seize a majority stake in the building. Responding to the article, HNA said there is no seizure or forced sale of 850 Third Avenue underway or pending, and it is grossly inaccurate and misleading to suggest otherwise. Gillian Tan, Bloomberg President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein/Bloomberg via Getty Images Suppose I told you Democrats and Republicans were arguing over the design of a federal entitlement program. One party wants to give money away to everybody, regardless of whether the spending has any useful effect. The other party wants to limit who can get the money based on whether the people getting it are promoting employment. Youd probably guess that the no-strings-attached spenders are the Democrats, and the tight fists are the Republicans. On the issue of student loans, its actually the other way around. The Education Department today rescinded measures enacted under the Obama administration to impose accountability standards on student loans for for-profit colleges. The for-profit college industry is notorious for exploiting students who hope to obtain marketable skills, and are instead stuck with impossible debts while learning nothing useful. Many students at for-profit colleges earn less money after they graduated than they did beforehand. The Obama-era regulations required colleges to demonstrate that a reasonable percentage of their graduates had obtained gainful employment. Trump, and his Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, is replacing the standard, and the lever of withdrawing federal subsidies, with a, uh, webpage. Instead of targeting schools simply by their tax status, this administration is working to ensure students have transparent, meaningful information about all colleges and all programs, boasts DeVos. This will ensure students never enroll in terrible for-profit colleges that ruin their lives, assuming those students seek out the Department of Education website, and are already good at using statistical analysis to figure out which schools provide an effective return on investment in their chosen field. In the far more likely event that most students fail to seek out this information and analyze it correctly, the for-profit college industry will again enjoy a world in which they can enroll students with subsidized federal loans without having to provide anything of value to them or the taxpaying public. DeVoss department is also freezing enforcement of another Obama-era measure to protect students from predatory colleges the borrower defense, which enables defrauded students to get their money back. DeVoss advisers on this policy have included former lobbyists for the for-profit college industry, who are now pursuing with the power of government behind them what they had pursued on behalf of their employers before. Of course, Trump himself agreed in a court settlement to compensate the victims of Trump University. If you believe independent reporters, rather than Trumps own claims, it was not a university at all, but an elaborate scam designed to suss out marks, determine how much money they had, and take it all. There has never been much mystery where his sympathies would lie in any contest between educational scammers and their victims. One might explain DeVoss stance as free-market ideology run wild. But theres no free market to speak of here. The question isnt whether for-profit colleges can operate, its whether they can operate with federal subsidies. The liberal position is that, if the government is going to finance higher education, it should impose some measures to make sure its actually getting some higher education. The Trump position is that business is entitled to federal subsidies, and the grifting business is especially welcome. John Bolton stands on stage with Trump at a press conference during the NATO summit on July 12, 2018, in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images One of the many ironies of the Trump presidency is that despite his obsession with deep state actors plotting against him, he employs advisers who cook up ways to manage him, rather than simply carrying out his orders. Sometimes Trump knowingly cedes presidential powers, like when he gave his generals much more control over the war in Afghanistan. But more often than not this happens behind his back for instance, when the Pentagon limits the military options it presents to the president, or when Trumps attorneys in the Mueller investigation argue he shouldnt do anything rash, because the probe will probably be over in a matter of weeks. Anonymous staffers have described using distraction and stalling tactics to keep Trump from going off the rails, prompting GOP senator Bob Corker to label the White House an adult day care center. The latest example comes from the New York Times, and weirdly, national security adviser John Bolton who seems bent on starting a war plays the defender of diplomacy. The paper reports that while policy agreements produced by NATO summits usually involve intense, last-minute negotiations, Bolton demanded that the latest NATO agreement be hammered out before Trump even set foot in Brussels last month. Bolton had help from other top U.S. national security officials, per the Times: In June, weeks before the meeting, Mr. Bolton sent his demand to Brussels through Kay Bailey Hutchison, the American ambassador to NATO. He wanted the NATO communique to be completed early, before the president left for Europe, according to five senior American and European officials familiar with the discussions who described them on the condition of anonymity to avoid angering the White House. NATOs secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, reinforced Mr. Boltons directive during a gathering of the ambassadors on July 4. The usual infighting over the summit agreement, he said, had to be dropped He asked the delegations to finish their work by July 6 at 10 p.m. Brussels time. U.S. officials and their NATO counterparts had good reason to be concerned about Trumps involvement in negotiations, as weeks earlier hed refused to sign a joint communique at the G7, escalated his trade war, and picked a fight with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. NATO officials managed to complete their work before the deadline, and presented Trump with just the bullet points (though, were guessing, fewer graphs and pictures than he would have liked): At a 2016 meeting in Warsaw, last-minute changes in the communique were shown to President Barack Obama. By contrast, American officials said, this year Mr. Trump was presented with only the broad outlines of what the meeting would deliver not details of the document of 79 paragraphs, running 23 pages. Hurriedly preparing the agreement without Trump let NATO officials achieve several key goals from the two-day meeting, even as the president blathered about Germany being a captive of Russia, and NATO nations being delinquent in their military spending. From the Times: Against Russian objections, the military alliance would formally invite Macedonia to join. It would establish an Atlantic Command post, hosted by the United States in Norfolk, Va., to coordinate a swift alliance response in the event of, for instance, a war in Europe between Russia and NATO allies. And, most important, allies pledged to build up their militaries and provide 30 mechanized battalions, 30 air squadrons and 30 combat vessels, all ready to use in 30 days or less, by 2020 a force to quickly respond to any attack on an alliance member. After the meeting, Trump officials were able to point to the meaty agreement as the president repeatedly suggested that the U.S. might not come to its NATO allies defense. His account of the summit has grown more and more belligerent in the telling; in the latest version, Trump makes it sound like he went to Brussels to collect on a mob debt. Trump: "Do you want protection or not?" pic.twitter.com/bXWd75TWVo Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 2, 2018 Thats why while this genre of Trump report provides some momentary relief, its ultimately so frightening. Even if you embrace the idea of unelected officials circumventing the president on the national stage, for now at least, they can only keep it up for so long. Trumps attacks on the global order have been relentless and unpredictable, and you cant count on his national security advisers especially Bolton to keep thwarting his worst impulses. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- JAC delivered 37,896 vehicles in July, leaping 19.89% from a year ago. During the past seven months, JAC handed over 290,166 vehicles with a YoY drop of 5.26%, according to the data from official website of JAC. Specifically, sales of JAC SUVs and sedans reached 12,077 units and 4,758 units in July, surging 76.44% and 84.2% respectively from the same period last year. In July, JAC sold 3,601 MPVs with YoY growth of 32.22%. During the first half of 2018, JAC carried out several aggressive steps in NEV segment to boost its NEV sales growth. In July, sales of pure electric passenger vehicle reached 5,188 units, soaring 110.04% on an annual basis. Its cumulative sales achieved a 112.45% surge to 11,871 units during the first seven months. Additionally, JAC exported 12,297 units, skyrocketing 174.43% compared with the previous year. Its cumulative export volume reached 40,653 units, representing a 30.22 YoY growth during the past seven months. It is said that JAC has built up 19 KD plants in foreign countries. By far, JAC has shaped a worldwide sales network covering more than 130 countries and areas in South America, Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. Moreover, it has expanded its footprint in Turkey, Italy and Mexico. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Stacey Abrams, and Gretchen Whitmer are among the Democratic women who have won highly competitive primaries this year. Photo: Getty Images Is it really the Year of the Democratic Woman? To answer that question, FiveThirtyEight did a comprehensive analysis of Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate, governor, and U.S. House this year. And yes, women are doing very well, if not in any way out of proportion to their share of the electorate (and particularly the Democratic electorate). Women make up 48 percent (114 out of 2384) of the Democratic nominees in primaries that have been decided so far even though only 32 percent (263 of 811) of the candidates we analyzed were women. So, women are clearly having greater success than men. If you take out incumbents and only focus on open races, Democratic women are doing even better: [W]omen have won 65 percent (90 of 138) of decided open Democratic primary races featuring at least one man and one woman. About 46 percent of all women who ran for office won the nomination a stat well call win rate. Mens win rate has been just 23 percent. Some of that last number reflects the many dude-versus-dude primary contests, but still, the success rate for Democratic women running for high office this year is impressive, particularly if you consider the historical record: Although womens representation in Congress has almost doubled since 1992, the House and Senate combined have never been more than 20 percent women. But this years surge in the number of female candidates could change that, because studies have found that a major hurdle to womens equal representation is that women are just less likely to run. But with women competing in 69 percent of open Democratic primaries this year, according to our data, that hurdle seems lower. All else being equal, its good for women if this does shape up to be a Democratic wave election. FiveThirtyEight has not (so far at least) conducted a parallel analysis of Republican women running for high office. But there is evidence that among GOP congressional candidates (a) a record number of women are running (one calculation is that 123 Republican women have run or are running for Congress) but that (b) they arent winning primaries at the same clip as Democratic women. As of early August, according to Tara Golshen, their win percentages were not impressive: Just 35 Republican women have won their primaries, and there are only 79 Republican women still in the running. One female Republican incumbent, Alabamas Rep. Martha Roby, was forced into a runoff election, which she won in mid-July. Some Republican women who are incumbents are in serious trouble, too: California Rep. Mimi Walters will face off against UC Irvine law professor Katie Porter, a progressive who has endorsed Medicare-for-all and has the support of Sens. Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Kamala Harris (CA). In Virginia, Democrat Jennifer Wexton wants to pick off Rep. Barbara Comstock, who is one of a handful of Republicans representing a district Hillary Clinton won in 2016. And in New York, Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney, who has been known for embracing President Donald Trump, is in a toss-up district. Other Republican women are far from a guaranteed loss but they all represent districts that could be swept up in a blue wave. A June poll found Utah Rep. Mia Love in a tight race with her Democratic challenger, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the only Republican woman in House leadership, is also facing a tough reelection bid this year as her Democratic opponent, state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, has been working to tie Rodgers to Trump. And Republican women as a whole have not necessarily done well by running for higher office. Tennessee has two women (Marsha Blackburn and Diane Black) in their House delegation. Black lost her gubernatorial primary, and Blackburn is in a tough Senate race. Both were replaced by men in House primaries in their districts. We obviously wont be able to determine the overall impact of the midterms on representation of women in governors offices and Congress until November. But among Democrats, at least, expectations have been heightened to the point where women will either have a breakthrough year or will enter 2020 vowing to break the glass ceiling once and for all. Credit: George Hodan/public domain When compared to European Americans, Asian-American firstborns feel the additional burden of being cultural brokers and having to take care of their immigrant parents and young siblings at the same time, says a University of Michigan researcher. Kaidi Wu, a U-M doctoral candidate in social psychology, was lead author of a study that explored how both groupsages 18 to 25viewed sibling relationships, their birth order and family relations. Several positive themes of siblingship emerged from the study's interviews: feeling supported, appreciated and comforted during interactions with their siblings. Some participants disclosed that siblings alleviate pressure from parents that might otherwise cause conflict. Along birth order themes, firstborns from both groups felt motivated to become role models for their younger siblings by having high-achievement levels, confidence and behavior. However, for some Asian-American later-borns, the pressure to measure up also stemmed in part from parents' tendency to compare their children, according to the study. For firstborn Asian Americans, the sibling caregiving and cultural brokering responsibilityregardless of gendercreated dual pressure, the study showed. In Asian cultures, the oldest son traditionally has greater obligations in the family, but more firstborn females are taking on these roleseven when there are young male siblings in the household, Wu said. Asian-American families may rely more heavily on the firstborn than their counterparts for various reasons. But the increased family obligations may have an adverse impact on the older Asian-American siblings, such as greater depression and anxiety, the study cautioned. Nevertheless, Wu said having siblings can be beneficial to Asian-American firstborns, when firstborns struggle with their parents' more traditional cultural perspectives (such as marrying a Chinese person because they are Chinese) and have their younger siblings to relate to. This finding contrasts with previous research in which older siblings closely resemble parents' stance on Asian values and differ from later-borns who acculturate more easily into the mainstream American culture. The findings appear in the Journal of Family Issues. Explore further Childhood sibling dynamics may predict differences in college education More information: Kaidi Wu et al. Perception of Sibling Relationships and Birth Order Among Asian American and European American Emerging Adults, Journal of Family Issues (2018). Journal information: Journal of Family Issues Kaidi Wu et al. Perception of Sibling Relationships and Birth Order Among Asian American and European American Emerging Adults,(2018). DOI: 10.1177/0192513X18783465 Working with colleagues in the U.S. and in China, University at Albany School of Public Health faculty and students have released new findings about the cardiovascular health impacts of environmental factors, including results suggesting that current extreme-weather warning thresholds may not be sufficient and that owning pets might provide protection against hypertension. The three projects featured below are collaborative efforts between a team led by Shao Lin, professor of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and colleagues from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Weather Service, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and other universities including Sun Yat-sen University in China. Heat Exposure During Pregnancy: Does it Matter? According to Lin, previous experiments on animals and limited human studies suggest that a pregnant mother's exposure to extreme heat may increase the likelihood that her child will be born with an adverse birth outcome. Now, Lin said, results from her recent study show good and bad news. As the principal investigator of a project funded by National Institute of Health, Lin worked with students Ziqiang Lin and Yi Lu, a visiting scholar from Guangdong General Hospital, NYSDOH, CDC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Stanford University and others. Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, they studied 5,848 congenital heart defect cases and 5,742 babies with no major structural deficits as the reference group by linking and comparing weather conditions experienced in the critical development period of the fetus. Overall, they found no significant relationship between extreme summer heat during the fetus' critical development period and congenital heart defects in most regions studied. However, the team found that 3-11 days of exposure to extreme heat during summer and spring was significantly associated with an increase in certain congenital heart defects study-wide. Further, ventricular and atrial septal defects, known as a "hole" in the interior wall of the heart, are the conditions most likely to be related with exposure to extreme spring heat. This was especially evident in the Northeast and Southern United States, but more research is needed to confirm these findings, Lin said. According to the American Heart Association, ventricular and atrial septal defects are among the more common, treatable heart defects. "We found that the long duration of unseasonable heat may be related to the increased risks of certain heart defects" said Lin. "Our findings recommend possible early warnings against heat in transitional seasons for pregnant women." Cold Weather Warnings: Is a Change Needed? Lin and doctoral students Wayne Lawrence and Ziqiang Lin collaborated with colleagues from the National Weather Service to determine if the current thresholds for cold-weather warnings in New York State are sufficient to protect cardiovascular health. Using discharge data provided by NYSDOH on 662,625 cardiovascular disease-related emergency department visits, the study compared the effects of wind chill and cold air temperatures on CVD. Meteorological factors, including air temperature, wind speed and barometric pressure were collected from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The team found an increase in cardiovascular disease effects occurred when the wind chill temperatures were as high as 25F, significantly warmer than the current wind chill warning standard of -20F. Wind chill temperature was a sensitive indicator of cardiovascular ED visits during winter, and among cardiovascular disease subtypes, hypertension related emergencies had the strongest relationship with both wind chill temperature and air temperature. Lin, who is also the also associate director for global health research, says the team recommends that modifications be made to the current cold warning temperature threshold. "Given that larger proportions of cardiovascular disease cases are happening at considerably higher temperatures than the current criteria, it's something that should be considered," Lin said. "We also recommend issuing cold warnings during winter transitional months, rather than only during the typical winter months." Pet Exposure, Air Pollution and Hypertension: Is there a Link? Lawrence, a doctoral student in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Lin collaborated with a team of researchers at Sun Yat-sen University to investigate the interactions between exposure to pet ownership and air pollution on hypertension. Together with Guanghui Dong, the project's principal investigator and a professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Sun Yat-sen University, the team studied 9,354 children aged 5-17 years from 24 districts in China. They obtained hourly concentrations of air pollutants from a municipal air monitoring system, monitored the subjects' blood pressure and obtained information about past and current pet ownership and exposure. The team discovered the association between exposure to air pollutants and hypertension was stronger in children without pet ownership compared to those with pet ownership. When examining differences by age, pet exposure was more protective against hypertension among elementary age children, suggesting a potential age effect. Additionally, the effects of passive smoke exposures on hypertension was greater among children without pets than children exposed to pets. The buffering effect was generally strongest for pet exposure in utero. "Our findings suggest exposure to pet ownership may act as a buffer against hypertension risk in children exposed to air pollutants, especially in utero," said Lawrence. "Though further research is needed to better understand the potential mechanism, pet ownership may have a beneficial effect." Explore further Measuring the risks of extreme temperatures on public health More information: Wayne R. Lawrence et al. Pet exposure in utero and postnatal decreases the effects of air pollutants on hypertension in children: A large population based cohort study, Environmental Pollution (2018). Wayne R. Lawrence et al. Pet exposure in utero and postnatal decreases the effects of air pollutants on hypertension in children: A large population based cohort study,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.030 Shao Lin et al. Are the current thresholds, indicators, and time window for cold warning effective enough to protect cardiovascular health?, Science of The Total Environment (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.140 Shao Lin et al. Maternal ambient heat exposure during early pregnancy in summer and spring and congenital heart defects A large US population-based, case-control study, Environment International (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.043 Journal information: Environmental Pollution , Science of the Total Environment , Environment International Bullying is a significant issue for young people with disability. Credit: University of Melbourne Compared to those without a disability, adolescents with a disability have much poorer health and wellbeing, new research has found. They also experience bullying at a higher level than their peers. A University of Melbourne-led Australian study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, has found that almost 50 per cent of the poorer mental health of adolescents with disability is due to bullying by peers. The longitudinal study of 3500 adolescents saw researchers from the University of Melbourne, Sydney, ANU and Otago use cutting edge statistical methods to estimate how much the poor mental health that we see in adolescents with a disability is related to bullying. Melbourne Disability Institute Academic Director Professor Anne Kavanagh said the results provided the strongest evidence internationally that adolescents with disability were significantly harmed by bullying. "We were shocked to find that nearly half of their poorer mental health was explained by adolescents with a disability being bullied by their peers," Professor Kavanagh said. "Bullying is likely to have life-long consequences for these young people not just affecting their mental health now but also learning outcomes and wellbeing as adults. If we are serious about inclusion of adolescents with disability in schools, we must address this problem." Professor Kavanagh said anti-bullying programs focused on other marginalised groups, such as Indigenous Australians, ethnic minority groups and LGBTIQ+ adolescents, but should also focus on adolescents with disability. She said school anti-bullying programs had to acknowledge the link between having a disability, being bullied and poorer mental health. Interventions should take a whole school approach and include teacher training, promoting an inclusive school culture through clearly defined rules, individual counselling and conflict resolution policies and plans. "It is a sad reflection on our current school system that children and adolescents with disability experience such poor treatment from their peers," Professor Kavanagh said. "We call on schools and government to take action to turn the situation around for adolescents with disability so that schools can be a supportive, nurturing, learning environment for children with disability." Explore further A group of friends is better protection against bullying than one best friend More information: Tania King et al. To what extent is the association between disability and mental health in adolescents mediated by bullying? A causal mediation analysis, International Journal of Epidemiology (2018). Journal information: International Journal of Epidemiology Tania King et al. To what extent is the association between disability and mental health in adolescents mediated by bullying? A causal mediation analysis,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyy154 When it comes to migration trends, young people aged 15-24 are among the most itinerant in Australia. According to the 2016 census statistics, slightly more than half (50.5%) of people in this age bracket changed their residence in the five-year period from 2011-2016. The rates are slightly higher for young people living in rural communities compared to their urban counterparts. But when factoring in gender, one notices a big difference between young women and men, particularly in rural Australia 55.3% of 15-24 year old women changed their residence during this time frame, compared to 48.4% of young men. The same split was evident in the five-year period from 2006-2011 (55.6% of young rural women moved vs. 48.7% of young rural men). In the past, the exodus of young people out of rural areas has been interpreted as a sign of the long-term decline of rural and regional Australia. Indeed, research reveals that the out-migration of young people from six regions in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria has led to the accelerated ageing of these areas. But the opposite can also be true. The out-migration of young people can also help spur the regeneration of rural areas if they leave these communities to acquire the skills needed for regional development and come back. But this assumes that young people return to rural Australia. And this is where we need a reframing on rural depopulation. The focus of our debate should not solely be on the reasons why young people leave rural communities. We need to also understand why they are not returning to these towns after acquiring suitable experience or education elsewhere. The factors influencing this decision sometimes differ by gender. As our research finds, young women find it harder than young men to make such a move (or return) to these rural communities. Career concerns and compromises As part of a wider project examining rural youth out-migration in northern NSW, we interviewed a number of 18-to-24 year olds who had left the regional city of Armidale to live in Sydney. Our research revealed gender to be an important factor when these young people contemplated whether they would return to Armidale, or how they would do it. For some female respondents, the potential impact on their careers was seen as a significant barrier to their desire to move back or relocate to another rural area. For the young men we interviewed, the potential career challenges did not seem as insurmountable. As one female interviewee explained: "I am struggling with (the idea of returning to a rural location). I've thought about that because I really feel in a year's time, I could try and say, 'Yeah, I can move back to the country'. But my job's here and I love my job and I don't want to leave it." Gender also influenced the way respondents talked about returning to rural areas for "family" reasons. Male respondents were more unequivocal about the idea of return migration for family. They also expressed wanting to return to Armidale because they felt a sense of "ownership" and "responsibility" for the town and its people. As a male interviewee explained: "I feel responsible and I want to make (Armidale) a better place. This, it's just - I don't own anything here (in Sydney). I'm not responsible for it." This was juxtaposed with the responses of young women, who used terms like "struggle" and "compromise" when talking about returning to rural areas. One young woman described how she felt pulled in many directions when it came to making a return move to Armidale: "family's the big thing, having kids, but also what your partner's doing. I don't know. It's hard that one. I feel like it always has to be a bit of a compromise, which is mine." Challenge of selling rural Australia to women Australian rural communities have a lot to offer young people, including affordable housing, access to nature, easy commutes and a better work-life balance. Both the male and female respondents in our research project were aware of these benefits. However, the young women were more sceptical of their ability to maintain a fulfilling career if they made the return. Rural development strategies face a considerable challenge in convincing young women that moving or returning to these communities will be beneficial both in terms of lifestyle and career opportunities. Rural communities ignore this at their peril. By not engaging with and addressing the fears that young women have about their employment prospects, rural communities will continue to see an out-flow of this segment of the population to big cities and continued uncertainty over whether they'll return. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Photo: Steven Gottlieb/Corbis via Getty Images Back-to-school shopping means loading up your cart with notebooks, pens, colorful stationery doodads, and perhaps most importantly, pencils. Whether youre getting a little one ready for her very first day of school or stocking up on supplies for a high schooler, its likely that pencils will be on your list. But with dozens of options, navigating the pencil aisle to find the best ones for your needs can end up feeling like homework. We asked four pencil pros Caroline Weaver, owner of CW Pencil Enterprise; Jaylon Hicks, salesperson at Goods for the Study; Nick Sese, e-commerce manager at Pencils.com; and Johnny Gamber, editor of Pencil Revolution and co-host of the pencil-themed Erasable podcast to recommend pencils for everyone from pre-K kids learning their letters to college students tackling high-level mathematics. Dixon Ticonderoga My First Ticonderoga Primary Size #2 Beginner Pencils, 12-Count $6 now 17% off $5 Young children just learning to write letters and words benefit from easy-to-use pencils made with their needs in mind. Little hands tend to have an easier time with larger-diameter pencils because they are easier to grip with tiny fingers that are less skilled at fine motor skills, says Gamber. Moreover, beginner pencils often have softer graphite to prevent children from developing the painful habit of pushing down on the pencil too hard. He recommends looking for a fat pencil thats easy to grip, like the My First Ticonderoga, which he says has a soft core and surprisingly good eraser. Another wide-bodied pencil he likes is the Big Dipper from Tennessee-based Moon Products, which Weaver says she fondly remembers using in kindergarten. $5 at Amazon Buy $5 at Amazon Buy Faber-Castell Grip Jumbo Pencil, 12-Count $22 now 14% off $19 Triangular pencils also encourage a proper grip, and this one from German company Faber-Castell has raised nubs to prevent slipping. Gamber says its his toddlers current favorite. Seses also a fan of jumbo-size pencils for kids learning to write. The size makes it so that their fingers arent so compressed when writing, and it seems to make it a bit more comfortable in the early learning stages, he says. $19 at Amazon Buy $19 at Amazon Buy Dixon Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Graphite Pencils, 48-Count $15 now 53% off $7 Because grade schoolers can be rough on their pencils (think worn-out erasers and well-chewed wood), Gamber says pencils for this age group should be the right balance of value and consistent quality. He likes Dixon Ticonderoga pencils as their cedarwood casing is easy to sharpen, and the erasers are sturdy and reliable. Hicks says this versatile No. 2 pencil is a must-have for students since its dark enough to register on a Scantron or during standardized tests. Besides, does anything say back to school quite like a pack of freshly sharpened Ticonderogas? $7 at Amazon Buy $7 at Amazon Buy Palomino ForestChoice, 36-Count Weaver acknowledges that durability should be an important factor when buying pencils for this age group. The pencil needs to be able to withstand over-sharpening, heavy-handedness, and have a good eraser, though kids tend to mutilate them anyway, she says. For kids wearing out their pencils quickly, she likes these affordable pencils made from sustainable wood harvested through responsible environmental practices. Sese adds that the ForestChoice is a high-quality pencil [that] sharpens easily and neatly. A set of 12 colored pencils is also available if your kids school-supply list calls for them. Buy at Amazon Buy Buy at Amazon Buy Staedtler Norica #2 HB Woodcased Pencils Black, 36-Pack $15 While elementary schoolers often use pencils from a shared class cabinet, once kids hit middle school theyre going to be using their own pencils and may want ones that are unique and stylish. Gamber says this is the time to upgrade to something more sophisticated than a standard yellow pencil, such as the Staedtler Norica. In black, the Norica has an air of quiet elegance. For another sleek, all-black option, Weaver likes the Element 2 pencil from Danish brand Viking. $15 at Amazon Buy $15 at Amazon Buy General Pencil Company Cedar Pointe #2 Pencil, 12-Pack $10 now 10% off $9 Gamber calls the Cedar Pointe pencil, naturally finished in unvarnished cedar, charming for the vaguely French extra E in the name. Despite the European undertones, the Cedar Pointe is all-American. Its made in Jersey City from California cedarwood by General Pencil Company, one of the few brands to still manufacture pencils in the U.S. They also made Seses list of best pencils for secondary school. $9 at Amazon Buy $9 at Amazon Buy Tombow Mono Graph Zero Mechanical Pencil $8 For Hicks, the Tombow mechanical pencil is a standout because of its twist eraser rarely seen on pencils. Twist erasers are really long, he says. Thats really helpful for people who have a lot of erasing jobs to do. The eraser is also extra-thin, so students can correct mistakes without disturbing the rest of their work. $8 at Jet Pens Buy Dixon Ticonderoga Wood-Cased #4 Extra Hard Pencils, Box of 12 $7 If students are doing lots of on-paper problem-solving and calculations, experts say to look beyond the standard No. 2 pencil to harder grades. You need a pencil that holds a sharp point for as long as possible, so you can write small details and not have to sharpen often, says Weaver. Gamber likes the harder graded pencils for this because they require far less sharpening than softer pencils, they make lines that are more easily erased and which are more difficult to smear or smudge. Harder pencils with a higher H rating like these No. 4 pencils have a higher proportion of clay to graphite and make lighter, less smudgy lines that are easier for math teachers to decode. $7 at Amazon Buy $7 at Amazon Buy Viarco Desenho 250 Pencil H $1 Two grades harder than a No. 2, Weaver likes this Portuguese-made pencil thats still dark, not at all smudgy, and has amazing point retention. Its also a hit among lefties who are more prone to smudging whether theyre doing math problems or taking notes. $1 at CW Pencil Enterprise Buy Palomino Blackwing 602 Pencils, 12-Pack $25 A status pencil if there ever was one, and New York Magazine city editor Christopher Bonanoss pencil of choice, the Blackwing only became more popular when it was discontinued back in 1998. Blackwing devotees hoarded boxes and drove up prices on eBay until Palomino resurrected the pencil in 2010. For a lot of writing and problem-solving, Blackwings are great because the graphite is so soft that you dont need a lot of pressure when writing, says Sese. Hicks likes the Blackwing because of the unique, replaceable eraser design thats great for students. $25 at Pencils.com Buy Staedtler Mars Lumograph Graphite Pencil Set, Set of 12 $24 now 46% off $13 Compared to the hard pencils preferred by engineers and architects that are best for mathematical work, softer pencils with a higher ratio of graphite to clay are preferred by artists because they create darker marks without much pressure and can be used for shading. Hicks says he grew up drawing with Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils and appreciates that their hardness is consistently labeled. Its good to have a set of drawing pencils that covers the entire spectrum of shades, he says. This Staedtler set ranges from a hard, fine-lined 4H pencil to a soft, inky black 6B. (The higher the H rating, the harder the pencil; the higher the B rating, the softer and bolder itll be.) $13 at Amazon Buy $13 at Amazon Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best womens jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. The heatwave kick-started towards the end of May earlier this year, and has become one hottest United Kingdom summers on record. Met Eireann has said that today will be cloudy with potential rain and drizzle, though clearer weather is expected to break through in the north west in the afternoon. The heaviest downpours in the East of England are likely to hit Essex and Suffolk, before thundery rain moves eastwards after midnight with most parts dry by dawn. However, the heatwave is forecast to return towards the end of August with the Met Office brieifing local authorities to expect a three month heatwave. Met Eireann has dismissed a prediction that the current spell of warm weather could last into October. However, forecasters believe above-average temperatures could remain until October. We could have warmer-than-average temperatures in the autumn, according to the Met Office. A long-range weather forecast by the Met Office suggests temperatures between August and October this year could be warmer than average. After a sweltering hot summer, the United Kingdom could see warmer-than-average temperatures in the autumn, according to the Met Office. Statement from NCAA leaders on college basketball reforms The NCAA's new rules allowing "elite" prospects to hire agents has blindsided top officials from the NBA and USA Basketball. It's a bunch of people sitting in a room who have never dealt with the problems. Ms Diamond said: "This means there is an increased likelihood of warmer-than-average temperatures and below-average rainfall". "This also increases the chances of above-average United Kingdom temperatures, particularly in the early part of the forecast period". "Sea surface temperatures close to the United Kingdom have reached near-record levels as a result of the prolonged hot and sunny weather", said the Met Office. Temperatures are expected to soar above 30C on Monday and Tuesday this week as Britain continues to feel the effects of the record-breaking heatwave boiling Europe. Temperatures in parts of the United Kingdom were set to edge past 30C (86F) on Monday, with yet another hot day forecast for Tuesday when the mercury could reach 34C in Essex or Norfolk. The three-month outlook suggests a greater likelihood of high-pressure systems near the United Kingdom, meaning settled conditions are more likely than unsettled weather. The spokesman warned of hard driving conditions in areas hit by heavy rain and winds. THE sun might not set on summer until the end of October with the next three months forecast to be the hottest for 38 years. More low pressure from the Atlantic looks set to arrive by the weekend, threatening every region of the United Kingdom with torrential downpours and cooler temperatures. The Taliban attacked an eastern provincial capital early on Friday, leaving dead and wounded before Afghan forces pushed the militants out of the city, officials said. The attack on Ghazni followed a similar assault on Farah in May, when insurgents came close to overrunning the city in western Afghanistan. The attack on Ghazni city began overnight on Friday. An investigation is also underway on how the insurgents had managed to infiltrate so deep into the city, barely 120 kilometres south of the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least one Afghan soldier had been killed and seven others wounded in the fighting in the southeastern city of Ghazni, a provincial governor spokesman told AFP on August 10. Defense ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said the army helped the police and the city was under control of government forces. Sporadic gunfire continued to echo amid intermittent clashes, with officials telling residents to stay in their homes as Taliban fighters roamed the streets. "This is yet another failed Taliban attempt to seize terrain, which will result in yet another eye-catching, but strategically inconsequential headline", he said. Air strikes called in to quash the offensive also killed dozens of Taliban, he said. Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak Charged with Money Laundering Police also seized jewelry and valuables valued at more than 1.1 billion ringgit ($270.2 million) from properties linked to Najib. Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho (better known as Jho Low) allegedly bought the yacht using funds stolen from 1MDB. Taliban fighters hiding inside homes in the city's residential areas slipped into the streets attacking Afghan security forces, provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal told Associated Press. Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for USA forces in Afghanistan, said American forces and US attack helicopters had assisted Afghan troops in pushing back the Taliban during the night's multiple attacks in Ghazni. They came close to repeating the feat in 2016, and in May this year they almost overran the western city of Farah before being beaten back with the aid of US forces. More than 1,000 Taliban fighters struck at night, shelling homes and destroying police checkpoints. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and U.S. air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. The attack comes as pressure continues on the Taliban to enter peace talks with the Afghan government. It has so far ignored President Ashraf Ghani's offer of unconditional peace negotiations. But Washington indicated a change in its longstanding policy in June when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks. However, even while conducting preliminary discussions with US officials, the Taliban have launched a series of operations that underscored their ability to inflict severe damage on Afghan forces. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will face new charges in court Wednesday under the nation's anti-money laundering act, in a case tied to allegations that he and his associates embezzled billions of dollars from a state investment fund, officials said. Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak arrives in court in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia August 8, 2018. On the three charges, Najib was alleged to have received RM27 million, RM5 million and RM10 million, respectively, which were proceeds from unlawful activities, via Real Time Electronic Transfer of Funds and Securities (Rentas) into two AmIslamic Bank Berhad accounts of his bearing the numbers 2112022011880 and 2112022011906. Najib, 65, has been consistent in saying he is not guilty of any of the charges brought against him. On July 4, Najib pleaded not guilty in the High Court to three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and one charge of abuse of power involving RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd. Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has claimed trial to three counts of money laundering at the High Court here. Reopening the investigations into 1MDB after Najib lost power, Malaysian anti-graft officers have revealed how their earlier investigations were obstructed by Najib's government. Credibility of star witness questioned as Gates wraps testimony at Manafort trial His defence team is seeking to pin the blame on Gates, who they say was responsible for day-to-day operations of the business. Gates served as a deputy for Manafort's political consulting business, and then as his deputy on the Trump campaign in 2016. The attorney general at the time cleared Mr Najib of wrongdoing, and said that the money had been a donation from the Saudi royal family. Najib had founded 1MDB and headed its advisory board. The case was earlier heard before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi, who allowed the prosecution's application to transfer the case to the High Court. 1MDB was set up by Najib in 2009 to spur Malaysia's economic development. All the charges relate to SRC International, an energy company that was originally a subsidiary of 1MDB. Police also seized jewelry and valuables valued at more than 1.1 billion ringgit ($270.2 million) from properties linked to Najib. He's accused of stealing more than $13 million from a state investment fund, just part of the $4.5 billion U.S. investigators claim was siphoned from the fund known as 1MDB. Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho (better known as Jho Low) allegedly bought the yacht using funds stolen from 1MDB. Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life! Pacific Union International names Russum to lead St. Helena office Olin Russum has been named regional executive at Pacific Union Internationals St. Helena office. Russum comes to the position with a deep history of building strong sales teams with Ricoh America, working with Fortune 500 corporations including Google and Gap Industries, and experience in the real estate industry in mortgage services and as a Bay Area real estate professional, said a news release. Russum lives in Napa. Geitner and Meyer join Vintage Wealth Advisors Vintage Wealth Advisors announced that Michael Geitner and Amanda Meyer have joined its team. Geitner has joined the Napa office as a wealth advisor. Geitner has been in the financial services for the past 10 years and will concentrate on financial planning, insurance services and 401(k) plans. Meyer is responsible for assisting the teams wealth advisors, reviewing and preparing client documents and additional administrative duties. John Cordeiro is the president of the firm. Davis Taylor named interim publisher of Napa Valley Publishing Davis J. Taylor has been named interim publisher of Napa Valley Publishing, which includes the Napa Valley Register, St. Helena Star, Weekly Calistogan and American Canyon Eagle, among other publications and services. Taylor, 69, is currently the publisher of Lee Central California Newspapers, based in Hanford. He will continue in that job while Napa Valley Publishing searches for a permanent replacement for former Publisher Brenda Speth, who left in July. He has 31 years of media experience, including sales and marketing executive positions at the Oakland Tribune and Media News Group, San Jose Mercury News and Harte-Hanks Communications. Before joining Lee Central California Newspapers, he was sales and marketing director for the Gannett-owned Times-Delta Media Group in Visalia and directed national, local and target marketing sales teams at The Seattle Times. Were figuring out a sustainable business model and new ways of relating to our communities; that makes this an exciting time to be in the business, he told California Publisher magazine shortly after joining Lee Enterprises. Its especially exciting to be working in small community media, which is undergoing a rebirth right now. Taylor and his wife, Vanessa, live in Visalia, though he intends to be active in the Napa community during this period. As publisher, he has served on the boards of Kings Economic Development Corporation, Kings Partnership for Prevention and Main Street Hanford, and was a member of Hanford Sunset Rotary. Napa Valley Publishing says it intends to name a permanent publisher in Napa later this year. Lee Enterprises is a leading provider of local news and information, and a major platform for advertising, in its markets, with 46 daily newspapers, rapidly growing digital products and nearly 300 specialty publications in 22 states. A 22-year-old Antioch man convicted of felony human trafficking of a minor was sentenced to six years and four months in state prison in Napa County Superior Court on Friday, according to the Napa County District Attorneys Office. Jaquian Iscell Burton, who was on probation for robbery in San Joaquin County, was arrested by the Napa Special Investigations Bureau in March during an undercover operation targeting human traffickers. Burton, who admitted to being a pimp, came to Napa with the intention of picking up a female he believed to be a sex worker, officials said. Burton expected her to make him at least $1,000 a day. Further investigation revealed that Burton had used social media to contact and recruit a 16-year-old girl in Kings County to work as a sex worker for him, officials said. Knowing that she was a minor, officials said, Burton told the girl not to tell her friends or family about their communication. Burton was convicted of felony pandering and human trafficking of a minor in July. 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. In the latest of a series of videos capturing racially charged interactions between residents in the Bay Area and elsewhere, an Oakland woman threatened to call police on a family during a parking dispute outside her house before claiming to be an immigration attorney and questioning their citizenship status. In a Facebook post to his account Wednesday, Jordann Cordova said family members were heading to a party, and had just parked their car on an East Oakland street outside the womans house when she confronted them and began yelling. Keep in mind that as soon as I saw her come out of her home, I sincerely asked her why she wanted us to leave. Never did i disrespect her in any way, Cordova wrote in the post. She wanted us to leave, [and] as we refused she approached our car and tried to open the doors. At that point, Cordova said he decided to reach for a phone. Thats when I began recording because we felt attacked, and we know these situations have happened already to black and brown people because of how we look, Cordova wrote. In the exchange caught on video, the woman threatens to call the police and goes back into her house. She then returns wielding her own phone and asks the group, Where are you from? The family members told her that didnt matter, but when one of them said he was a resident and had papers, the woman responded, A resident isnt a citizen, you know. When the family urged the woman to call police, she said, You know what theyll do? Theyll take you! Cordova wrote: This woman targeted us AND even questioned our status in this country. I ask people to share and find who this women who claims is immigrants attorney. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the woman was identified Thursday as psychologist Lesleigh Franklin by Franklins partner, Marisol Reyna. The women are co-founders of the East Bay Family Institute, whose website says it is a multiethnic, multilingual, multicultural agency specializing in working with children, youth, and adults, couples and families needing mental health services. Speaking to the Chronicle, Reyna said Franklin had stepped down Thursday as the institutes chief executive officer. Although mention of Franklin had been removed from the site Thursday, a biographical statement captured on a November 2017 version of the institutes site cached at the Internet Archive described her as a licensed clinical psychologist who has been working with diverse populations in both school-based and clinical settings for over 20 years, as well as a clinical forensic psychologist who specializes in providing psychological assessments and expert witness testimony in civil, criminal and immigration court. A call to the institute Thursday was not immediately returned. Previous incidents have included Aprils #BBQBecky incident, where a white woman called police on people barbecuing near Oaklands Lake Merritt; Junes #PermitPatty incident, where a marijuana-edibles company CEO called police on a black girl who was selling water near San Franciscos AT&T Park without a permit; the #JoggerJoe incident involving a white man who attacked a passer-by filming him after he threw a homeless mans belongings into Lake Merritt; and last months #HighwayHolly road-rage incident on Interstate 80 in Emeryville. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In many states, there's no punishment for adultery. But in North Carolina, it can be a serious offense, as one man came to realize recently. A judge ordered Francisco Huizar III to pay $8.8 million to Keith King, whose wife he had been seeing for 16 months. Why so much? Well, most of the money awarded consisted of punitive damages, solely meant to penalize the defendant. But about $2.2 million of it was in compensatory, or tangible damages. King's attorney, Joanne Foil, said that after finding out about the ongoing infidelity of his wife, Danielle Swords, his company lost revenue and an employee --- his wife. The pair eventually separated. King filed the suit on grounds of criminal conversation, alienation of affection, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and assault and battery. How the affair played out Swords and Huizar met at a bike show in 2015, a little more than five years after she and her husband got married. Swords (who previously went by Danielle King) was in New York to see a bike show put on by her husband's company, King BMX Stunt Shows. Huizar, a Texas resident, was working at the event. Huizar pursued Swords, Foil wrote in an email to CNN. In the following months, Huizar positioned himself near Swords when he could. He rented a room down the street from the King household. When King treated his wife to a spa day, Huizar joined her.When King treated his wife to a trip for her birthday, he stayed in a nearby hotel, Foil said. King first noticed inappropriate texts between the pair. Later, Swords recorded video of an altercation between King and Huizar. Huizar allegedly put King in a chokehold after he became irate, which prompted the assault and battery charge. Swords did not respond to CNN's attempts to contact her. King provided call logs, hotel receipts and social media posts to the court as evidence. Huizar's attorney, Cheri Patrick, claimed her client did not break up their marriage because it was already in decline. "Verdicts like these ignore the realities of how and why marriages fail, and remove personal responsibility for a person's own marriage," she said. "There are no winners in these cases." Patrick and Huizar will appeal the decision. Adultery laws in North Carolina In North Carolina, it is legal for a person to sue an individual his or her spouse has engaged with outside of the marriage, referred to as alienation of affection. "The alienation of affections law in North Carolina is archaic, demeans the obligations of spouses in a marriage, and should be stricken," Patrick said. Alienation of affection laws exist in five other states: Hawaii, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota and Utah. Another charge brought against Huizar was criminal conversation, which refers to extramarital sexual acts. The charges were able to stand because there was no proof that the two were unhappy before Swords embarked on her affair. Additionally, there was proof that Huizar came between the couple. King said he tried to save his marriage because of his daughter, but then learned about the state's adultery laws, CNN affiliate WRAL reported. "My marriage was murdered. It was destroyed," King told the publication. There's also a state statute that defines "marital misconduct" as a variety of things aside from sexual activities, including spending a large amount of a spouse's income, drinking or doing drugs excessively, and going to jail or prison, causing "involuntary separation." Judges can rule based on wide interpretations of the laws. For example, the person outside the marriage does not have to intentionally aim to destroy it. If that person could have known his or her actions would have an impact, that is enough basis to find them guilty. Or, showing there was at least some love in the marriage is enough to place adulterers in the wrong. Several similar cases in North Carolina have yielded high settlements. In 2011, Betty Devin was ordered to pay $30 million to Carol Puryear, the ex-wife of Donald Puryear. after an affair. The-CNN-Wire & 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. No state has been more visible than California in resisting the environmental policies of President Trump, filing 38 lawsuits by the beginning of this month. Now the states massive early fire season is demonstrating the merit of those legal actions. For every authority analyzing the unprecedented level of early summer blazes here and around the world agrees that one major cause is heat record heat that has beset almost every place in the world from Switzerland to Hong Kong, from San Francisco to parts of Finland north of the Arctic Circle. Yes, Finland, where Trump staged his lugubrious July summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has seen temperatures in the 90s this year, for the first time in recorded history. Meanwhile, England sweated through a record heat wave, while Greece saw the deadliest fires in its long history and Europes worst since 1900. Several prominent waterfalls in Switzerland fed by Alpine snowmelt stopped flowing months earlier than usual. And then theres California, where at one time in July, 19 wildfires burned simultaneously, taking well over 1,000 homes and some lives. Scientists at the state universities of Colorado, Nebraska and Nevada (Reno) report regional temperature averages in the West have increased by 2 degrees since the 1970s, resulting in drier and more combustible plant growth. At the same time, NASA scientists say this climate change helped kill thousands of trees and bushes in Californias mountains, providing unprecedented amounts of tinder. Rather than act to help mitigate this crisis, Trumps administration has taken myriad actions appearing to further it. Trump is trying to roll back automotive emission standards. Hes shrunk several national monuments to make way for mining. The President ended NASAs climate monitoring program, a head-in-the-sand move that allows him to keep denying climate change. Hes cut programs designed to find new renewable energy sources and shut down instruments on existing satellites that measure heat on the earths surface. Hes loosened regulations on toxic emissions from industrial sources and dropped climate change from the official list of threats to national security. California is resisting some of that, but its lawsuits are likely just a delaying action ultimately doomed to failure when they reach the U.S. Supreme Court, to which Trump has nominated two judges long opposed to environmental regulations. That can only help things get worse and hotter before they get cooler and better. But victims of the fires who lose homes and businesses and loved ones will not be able to sue Trump or his appointees for helping cause their woes because its difficult to parse out a direct link between, say, enabling toxic emissions in Pennsylvania and the degree of fury in a California fire. But there is a connection, and virtually every other government in the world besides ours has seen it and agreed to act on it even China, long noted for high levels of smog and other pollutants in its cities and countryside. If climate change could cause cool and foggy San Francisco to see record heat reach 106 degrees over last years Labor Day weekend, then it likely also is one reason there is less snow on the Alps and the Canadian Rockies now than 10 years ago and also why its difficult to see a glacier anymore from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. The lesson of all this is that if Trump and the West Virginia coal miners who overwhelmingly voted for him in the last election see no harm in greenhouse gases they are creating and furthering, California has no choice but to resist. The lawsuits at the heart of such resistance wont end the far longer fire seasons that have become a regular feature of California life, but they may help the world fend off an even bigger crisis than it faces right now, even if Trump and his many supporters choose to ignore whats before them daily. After all, this is a President who exhorted a crowd the other day, Dont believe what you see It was reminiscent of the joke about the husband, caught in flagrante and denying anything untoward, asking his wife, Who are you going to believe: me or your lying eyes? 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. Dear Citizens of Saint Helena, I applaud your desire to replace your aging City Hall and Civic Center with a new facility. Every city deserves a Civic Center with adequate facilities for all vital services that are essential to the health of the community. Theres no question that you, of all of Napas cities, need a new one. I would recommend you take some lessons from the city of Napa who has also embarked on a new civic center. First of all, a City Hall, with all its departments and agencies, should embody the character and vision of its community. It should reflect the architectural character and history that has made that place a home for its citizens over the years, decades and centuries. The present design for Napa City Hall is anywhere USA. It could be Kansas City, Modesto, or - perish the thought - L.A. There is no there there. Second, it should not be a monument to infinite, indefinite resources. Surpassing $100 million, our Napa leaders and their over-enthused supporting staff think the economic boom will continue to fill the city treasury with infinite Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) funds forever. Whatever happened to prudence and fiscal responsibility? Third, rely on from where you came and where you want to be in 100 years or more. Draw from the environment around you that we all cherish so much. The Napa city design has been driven by staff and is a mile-long wish list for every conceivable option available. Its like a modern cellphone: more apps than necessary but, who knows? You might need them -- maybe. Fourth, design for elasticity. Shopping center developers understand that departments expand, and contract: others come and go. Assume every department will morph into something different and provide the elasticity to change. And a quick last one: if you tear down the existing and move into temporary facilities, remember: there is nothing more permanent than temporary. Saint Helena, if you have a vision to build a new City Hall, be sure it is rooted in the Napa Valley agricultural heritage. It should look, feel and, exude Saint Helena, not L.A. The St. Helena Star and Napa Valley Vintners Tasting Panel sat down on a warm Thursday afternoon in the last week of July to taste four flights of Napa Valley Cabernet Franc, totaling 24 wines. The first three flights were composed of seven wines each from the 2015 vintage, and the last flight made up of three wines from the 2016 vintage. The wines ranged in price from $45 to $140 a bottle. Panelists included a list of Napa Valleys top winemakers, Karen Cakebread (Ziata), Simon Faury (Merryvale), Jennifer Lamb (Herb Lamb Vineyards), Shawna Miller (Luna Vineyards), Gabrielle Shaffer (Gamling & McDuck), Tom Rinaldi (Pellet Estate), John Skupny (Lang & Reed), Scott Sublett (Trinchero Family Estates), Andy Schweiger and Becca Wolf (Schweiger Vineyards), Linda Trotta (Jamieson Ranch) and Alan Viader (Viader), joined by Peter Molinari of Domaine Storage and Christie DuFault and Master Sommelier Bob Bath, both instructors at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, where the tasting panel was held. What is Cabernet Franc? It is a black-skinned French wine grape variety grown in most wine-producing nations. The variety is most famously known as the third grape of Bordeaux and can be found in many of the worlds top Bordeaux-style blends. Cabernet Franc most commonly appears in blended red wines, where it adds herbaceous accents of tobacco and dark spice. As a varietal wine, Cabernet Franc is light- to medium-bodied and often shows vegetal characteristics, particularly green bell pepper. This has led many wine drinkers to incorrectly identify Cabernet Franc as unripe Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc is commonly compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, which is not without justification Cabernet Sauvignon is the result of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. (Recent DNA profiling has shown that Cabernet Franc is also one of Merlots parents.) But in the vineyard, Cabernet Franc ripens at least a week earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. While it has thinner skin and lower acidity, it is also known for its hardiness and often grown as an insurance grape. Cabernet Franc prefers cool, inland climates, according to Wine Searcher. For each acre planted to Cabernet Franc in the Napa Valley, there are six devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc plantings amount to 1,286 acres, while Cabernet Sauvignon amounts to 22,042 acres, according to longtime Cabernet Franc grower and producer John Skupny, who attended the tasting. In 2017, grape cost per ton in the Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon shot up to an average $7,421 per ton, an increase of 9 percent over 2016. Cabernet Franc grape cost per ton was even higher, commanding $7,969, up 10 percent from 2016. Panelists comments: Really interesting price range , from $45 to $140, said Bob Bath, who was impressed overall with the ripeness and oak levels. Cabernet Franc is an expensive grape, and the wines can be hard to find. Jennifer Lamb mentioned the diversity of the wine she had tasted. While some wines appeared ready to drink now, other wines were showing the potential for further aging. Although most of the wines hit all of the descriptors typically associated with the grape variety, some of the wines were more difficult to distinguish from Cabernet Sauvignon. Following the discussion, the wines scores were revealed. Panelists selected the following first-place wines: Barlow Vineyards 2015 Cabernet Franc, Calistoga ($45) with luscious red cherry, raspberry, blackberry and black currant notes, hints of eucalyptus and vanilla. The wine displayed nicely integrated tannin and acidity, conveying a sturdy structure. Cornerstone Cellars 2015 Cabernet Franc, Oakville ($75) was showcasing bright red cherry, strawberry and raspberry, with hints of vanilla. Oakville Ranch Vineyards 2015, Roberts Vineyard, Oakville ($110) A lush and complex wine, with black and red fruit, hints of eucalyptus, and a pleasant balance of acidity and tannin. Roberts Cabernet Franc is produced using grapes grown in the red volcanic soil of Oakville Ranchs highest mountain vineyard blocks. Mt. Brave 2015, Cabernet Franc, Mount Veeder ($80) The unique terroir of the high elevation Mt. Brave vineyard (1,400 to 1,800 feet) creates distinct concentrated flavors of black cherry, black berry, white pepper and eucalyptus for this Cabernet Franc. Balanced acidity and tannin combine with subtle vanilla characters to produce a wine with a long finish. Clos du Val 2016, Cabernet Franc, Stags Leap District ($100) A savory wine with delicious rich blackberry, plum and red and black cherry flavors. The wine is nicely balanced with a long finish. Editors note: Regina LaConti, WSET Level 3, is the student success advisor at the Napa Valley Wine Academy. There is more to New Zealand wine than Sauvignon Blanc and the first few labels that come to mind. Of course, that may be hard to believe when Sauvignon Blanc makes up approximately 84 percent of New Zealands exports. But, New Zealand offers breadth and depth beyond the grassy, citrusy Sauvignon Blancs. An afternoon with Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas demonstrated that as he introduced 10 wineries from throughout New Zealand that represent higher quality wines at competitive prices. The wines are part of NZ Wine Navigator, Americas New Zealand wine specialist. NZ Wine Navigator was founded by Graham Painter who, during a visit to the U.S., was disappointed by the selection of New Zealand wines available on our retail shelves. Graham and his daughter, Kristen, set out to source family-estate, top-quality producers from throughout New Zealand and import them to the U.S. To assist with the selection of these wines, they reached out to Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas. Douglas is the only Master Sommelier currently in New Zealand. He is based in Auckland and is a lecturer at the University of Auckland where he is in charge of the Wine and Beverage Management Program. Douglas also consults for six restaurants, judges in wine competitions and writes for two magazines. In his spare time, he carefully chooses the selection of New Zealand wines for NZ Wine Navigator. New Zealand is made up of three islands the North Island, the South Island and Stewart Island which is the smallest and southernmost island. New Zealand sits between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The wine regions are maritime climates, except for Central Otago, which has the only continental climate, and there is a thinner ozone layer during the growing season. Due to the climate, higher acidity is natural and crunchy clear aromas are typical in the wines. NZ Wine Navigator represents wines currently from Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, and Martinborough from the North Island and Marlborough, Nelson, Waitaki Valley and Central Otago from the South Island. Here is the journey I took with Cameron Douglas and NZ Wine Navigators: No 1 Family Estate Cuvee Methode Traditionelle NV, Marlborough ($32). From Champagne to Marlborough, the Le Brun family has been making Champagne for 12 generations. Daniel Le Brun has been making method traditional wines in Marlborough since 1980 and was the first producer to label his wines Marlborough Methode Traditionelle. The wine is fresh and crisp with brioche aromas and lemon, grapefruit and apple notes on the palate. The Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Marlborough ($22). Sauvignon Blanc is the flagship of Marlborough and it needs to be different if it wants to be noticed. Winemaker Chris Darling makes a Sauvignon Blanc that stands out. This wine is all about texture. Ten percent is barrel fermented, and the wine spends time on the lees. The wine has mineral and citrus notes and explodes with flavor on the palate. Brightwater Sophies Kiss Rose of Pinot Noir 2016, Nelson ($22). Established in 1993, Gary and Valley Neale established Brightwater south of Nelson, the smallest wine region that sits in the shadows of Marlborough which is just over the hill. The bright pink rose is made via saignee and has classic aromas of rose petals and strawberries. There is a touch of sweetness on the finish. Ceres Swansong Vineyard Pinot Gris 2015, Bannockburn, Central Otago ($25). Ceres is the name of the Goddess of Agriculture as well as a winemaking region in South Africa. The Dicey family, originally from South Africa, are the owners of Ceres, as well as Mount Difficulty, both in Central Otago. The Pinot Grigio, which grows in schist and rose quartz soils, is fragrant, fruity and refreshing with notes of white pepper, stone fruit and minerality. Clearview Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2015, Hawkes Bay ($49). Located on the coast of Hawkes Bay, Clearview was started in 1988 by Tim and Helma, who were told their site was too cold for wine grapes. They persevered and today are focused on future generations by working with Sustainable Wine Growing New Zealand. The Chardonnay is made in a more California style with 30-40 percent of the wine going through malolactic fermentation and 30 percent of the wine in oak. The oak pops on the nose and the palate is rich and bold with stone fruit notes and a creamy finish. Vidal Estate El Legado Chardonnay 2014, Hawkes Bay ($53). Vidal Estate, owned by Villa Maria, is named after winemaker Anthony Joseph Vidal who came to New Zealand from Spain over 100 years ago. Winemaker Hugh Crichton crafts wines that represent the region. Only 21 barrels of the Chardonnay are produced. The wine, likened to a small Burgundy producer, has citrus, nutty and flinty aromatics and shows restraint on the palate. Big Sky Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2014, Marlborough ($28). Big Sky is based in Marlborough, and owners Katherine Jacobs and Jeremy Corban are focused on expressing the place in their wines. Five percent of the Pinot Noir is whole cluster and the grapes, which go through natural fermentation, spend 28 days on the skins. The wine then spends 10 months in 15 percent new French oak for a wine that has aromas of strawberries and raspberries. Ceres Composition Pinot Noir 2015 Bannockburn, Central Otago ($32). This Pinot Noir spends 35 days on its skins. The wine has notes of bramble, ripe black cherry, wild thyme, licorice and dry herbs that continue onto the palate. The wine is medium-bodied with a juicy finish. MillsReef Elspeth Syrah 2013, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay ($46). Started in 1989 by the Preston Family who converted a cowshed into a working winery, MillsReef applies a green approach to energy use as part of their sustainability model. The Syrah has intense flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, pepper and licorice and on the palate is well-integrated with a long finish. Squawking Magpie SQM Big Red 2013, Hawkes Bay ($76). Named after the magpies that are synonymous with the Hawkes Bay region, Squawking Magpie is owned by Gavin Yorrt. The Big Red is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It is big and bold with notes of black fruits, cedar and nutmeg. Ostler Riesling 2012, Lake Waitaki ($31). The Waitaki Valley is a cool climate area north of Central Otago. Ostler founders Jeff Sinnot and Jim Jerram discovered the area in 1998. The north-facing limestone-based slope is ideal for Riesling, which has a flinty, stony, citrus and petrol nose. Classified as medium-dry, the wine is vibrant on the palate and spritzy on the tongue. The best part of NZ Wine Navigator is that they sell direct to consumer. So, if you want to explore the quality and diversity that New Zealand has to offer, head to www.nzwinenav.com. Allison Levine is owner of Please The Palate, a marketing and event-planning agency. A freelance writer, she contributes to numerous publications while eating and drinking her way around the world. Contact her at allison@pleasethepalate.com. The Israeli military destroyed a cultural center in Gaza City, claiming it was a Hamas military base, while militants fired rockets toward Israel throughout the evening. Israel's military declined to comment. Nearly 200 rockets and mortar shells were fired from within Gaza by Hamas and other Palestinian movements at towns and villages in Israel, provoking a similar number of attacks by the Israeli Air Force. If confirmed, it would be the third such indirect truce agreement between Hamas and Israel in a month, with tensions remaining high. Beginning on Wednesday night and into Thursday, fireballs and explosions shook the Gaza Strip while plumes of smoke rose from the enclave. Over the past four months, 163 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including at least 120 protesters, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and a local rights group. The strike came after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit an open area deep inside Israel near the major city of Beersheba, causing no damage or injuries. A statement issued by his office before reports a truce had been reached said the forum instructed the military to "keep acting with force against the terrorists". Across the border rocket warning sirens sounded nearly non-stop from sunset on Wednesday in Israeli towns and villages where residents sheltered in bunkers. In the first incident of its kind since Operation Protective Edge in 2014, a rocket launched from Gaza reached the outskirts of Beersheva on Thursday. But at least 11 Israelis were injured after projectiles slammed into residential areas, blowing out windows and leaving cars and buildings pockmarked with shrapnel. It said the Palestinian "resistance" had fired a large number of rockets at "enemy positions in the Gaza envelope". The ministry said Khammash was also pregnant. Also killed was a fighter with Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. Tottenham make history by signing ... nobody? He said: 'Being courageous is the most important thing. "We didn't sell players and with 25 players in the squad it is hard to add players". Neither Greenblatt, the foreign ministry, nor the army made any mention of the killing of Inas Khimash and her daughter Bayan. In Sderot, the Israeli city near the Gaza Strip, a gaping hole could be seen in front of a small, three-storey building. "Let's not forget that Hamas bears ultimate responsibility for the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza", Nauert said. "What I can say is that we targeted by definition only military targets that were clearly used by Hamas where there was an active presence of Hamas and nothing else", he told journalists. Egypt and the United Nations are trying to mediate a truce to prevent the escalation in fighting turning into another all-out war over Gaza, a narrow strip of land that is home to 2 million Palestinians, mainly stateless descendants of people who fled or were driven from Israel in war at its founding in 1948. "If current escalation, however, is not contained immediately, the situation can rapidly deteriorate with devastating consequences for all people". Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called on the global community to "immediately and urgently intervene". Israel has killed more than 150 people since March when Palestinians began to stage protests on the border to demand an end to the blockade and the return of the Palestinians to the occupied territories. This comes less than 24 hours after Israeli airstrikes killed three Palestinians on Wednesday night. Rocket warning sirens sounded nearly non-stop in the southern Israeli towns and border communities near Gaza from sunset on Wednesday. During the last few days, I had the pleasure of traveling through Japan. I landed in Tokyo where I spent the majority of the time as a return judge to the Japan Wine Challenge, the International Sake Challenge and the Fuji Cider Challenge. Having some time to spare and the whole country to explore, I considered several options. Yamanashi was certainly a strong contender being arguably the most prolific wine grapegrowing region of the country, Nagano being a close second in production and recognition sparked my interest. Wakayama, located in the south of the main island certainly winked at me when considering a landing spot. A friend and fellow judge Neal Martin from Vinous suggested visiting Kamakura, a magical spot akin to Kyoto in the sense of having a rich historical value full of ancient shrines, restaurants and the beach. Ultimately, I followed my sake heart and I headed to Tochigi City in Tochigi Prefecture north of Tokyo. Knowing ahead of time that the sake brewing season is dormant during the warm months, roughly April through October, I decided to explore the region firsthand and see what the culture and lifestyle were all about. I left central Tokyo around 11 a.m. on an already a steamy day, dancing around the high 90s Fahrenheit. After the usual and highly enjoyable lost period, I found the train that would take me there. There was a stop and transfer north Tokyo, which allowed me enough time to pick up a random snack and a pairing sake, of course. Th snacks consisted of a salmon onigiri, one of my favorite bites, a rice triangle filled with salmon and wrapped in nori (dry seaweed). I also noticed a couple grilled chicken skewers were winking at me, so I took a chicken and asparagus and a chicken liver treat, which reminded me of Miminashi downtown Napa. For the beverage portion, I went out of the comfort zone: a quirky and funny- looking label of Honjozo sake with a smiling face of sorts on the label and a funny top that turned out to be a cup upside down once the label came off. The sake paired great alongside the beautiful countryside views of Japan, which included a heavy dose of rice fields and farming homes. After a ride that lasted shy of an hour, I arrived in Tochigi City. At first glance, I saw a modern design station adorned by women walking around in colorful kimonos. I took a wild guess and headed down a random wide road. A couple blocks of really nothing to see complemented by the humid, warm weather and my luggage companion. After a few minutes, I observed some people, a few colorful signs and cars. Quite a sign of relief considering I hadnt planned ahead as far as accommodations. A few blocks down the road, I spotted what seem to be the tallest building out of the town of 150,000 people. It turned out to be a hotel so I considered myself lucky until they told me there was no vacancy. In true Japanese hospitality, they called a couple places until they found a room. I proceed to the hotel, which, funny enough, was a block away from the train station. I checked in with a lovely elder lady who spoke no English but managed to explain very well. I put my bags down, grabbed my camera, washed my face and headed to explore. I knew I had no time to waste. I came across a series of beautifully adorned canals, which were full of colorful koi fish that followed you as you walked. I stopped at a beautiful shrine adjacent to a breathtaking cemetery and I took it all in. As it started to cool off, I spotted more people out and even some kids feeding the fish. By then, it was very much time to check out the dining options. I proceed to walk to a random neon sign, which looked promising. A wide fare of fried river shrimp, octopus concoctions and grilled items were visible. I asked for one of each paired with a popular Shochu Sour, Japanese Shochu, lemon and soda water, thirst-quenching and delicious. While dining I enjoyed watching the people around me gathered in groups, smiling, laughing and having a great time aided by a healthy dose of drinks. After eating my weight in fun little bites, I needed to stretch and walk again only to come across a bright luminous square with a martini and a microphone. I knew I was in for a treat. Sure enough, as I climbed multiple sets of tiny stairs I opened a door to a scene from the 1940s. A seasoned crowd above 60 years old, dressed up for the occasion and drinking whiskey highballs, lounged in red velvet couches and gathered around a gold-trimmed bar reminiscent of the Golden Era. A very accommodating and picturesque host ran to the door with a smile and offered me a seat. For an hour or so, the bar guests practiced their English with me while I polished off my limited Japanese vocabulary. We imbibed on Japanese whiskey with soda and they even convinced me to sing a Frank Sinatra song. At the end of the day, it became clear that Tochigi people are quite jolly, hospitable and welcoming to foreigners. A highly recommended stay. As for the sake poduced in this magical region look for Sawahime Sake from Inoue Shuzo, which offers an exciting take with good acidity and citrus tones. Until next time! Eduardo can be reached at eduardo@sakedrinker.com. Nepal Communist Party Co-chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal will embark on a five-day India visit on September 7. The former Nepal PM will hold meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, communist party leaders and others during his India visit. He will leave India on September 12 and then will leave for China on September 17 on a week-long visit at the invitation of the Communist Party of China. Dahals visit to two neighbouring countries is aimed at conveying the new Nepal governments priority for Nepal-India-China trilateral cooperation to attain the goal of economic prosperity. According to sources within the Nepal Communist Party, Dahal will hold discussions with Indian leaders on political, economic and bilateral relations. The NCP leader will meet China President Xi Jinping and discuss issues related to trade and transit, projects under the belt and road initiative, and reopening of the Tatopani border point. Nepal had signed a memorandum of understanding for the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017 when Dahal was Nepals prime minister. The NCP sources further informed that the Chinese and Indian sides had wanted to hold meeting with Dahal on Nepal governments future plans after Olis visit to the two countries. T Armstrong Changsan, Ambassador-designate of India to Iceland, called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Changsan, who hails from Dima Hasao district of Assam was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Iceland in June last. Changsan, belonging to the 1997 batch of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers, is presently the Consul General at the Indian consulate at Osaka-Kobe in Japan. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Born on 24 January 1969, he obtained his B Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1997. Before taking up his assignment as Consul General of India to Osaka-Kobe, he served as Deputy High Commissioner of India to South Africa and earlier posted at Indian Missions/ Embassy in Lagos and Tokyo in various capacities. At headquarters, he served in the United Nations Economic and Social Division, dealing with a wide range of issues from climate change to human rights. He also served as Director/Head of Ministry of External Affairs Branch Office and Regional Passport Office in Guwahati. It was during his tenure that he streamlined the passport issuance system, opened the passport seva kendra in Guwahati, and laid the groundwork for the other passport seva kendras all over the Northeast, thus rendering valuable service to people in far-flung areas of the north-eastern region. During the same tenure, he was instrumental in the opening of the MEA Branch Secretariat in Guwahati. Israeli Arab leaders on Tuesday filed a almost 60-page-long petition against the newly enacted Jewish Nation-State law, calling the legislation "racist, massively harmful to fundamental human rights" and in contradiction to global law. On the concern about establishing Jewish-only communities, Greenberg said that until today Israel's Supreme Court has only allowed the establishment of non-Jewish only communities and that a clause in the legislation had been meant to correct this disparity. The law, which the petition described as "racist, colonialist and illegitimate", was passed by Israel's parliament late last month. Meanwhile, supporters believe it ensures the Jewish character of the state for generations to come. According to the same statement, the assertion that Israel is the "nation state" of the Jewish people totally excludes Israel's Palestinian citizens, who account for roughly 20 percent of the country's total population. The petition filed Tuesday asks for the nullification of the new Basic Law based on its violation of global norms. Michael Moore: Trump is the 'Last President of the United States' Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 11/9 is a provocative and comedic look at the times in which we live. The ensuing voiceover goes on to pronounce Trump "the last president of the United States". This law - which has distinct apartheid characteristics - guarantees the ethnic-religious character of Israel as exclusively Jewish and entrenches the privileges enjoyed by Jewish citizens, while simultaneously anchoring discrimination against Palestinian citizens and legitimizing exclusion, racism, and systemic inequality. Israeli political leaders, however, argued that the Jewish nature of the state needed to be enshrined in the Basic Laws, Israel's de facto constitution. "[The law also] demotes Arabic from its previous status as an official language and declares that Arabic will not be an official language in this land for the first time in modern history". Israel's justice minister, Ayelet Shaked, said on Sunday that any move by the High Court to overturn the nation-state law would lead to "an quake, a war between the authorities", Haaretz reported. At least 50,000 Israelis attended a Druze-led demonstration against the law in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on Saturday night. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) meets with Sheikh Muafak Tariff, spiritual leader of Israel's Druze community, Communications Minister Ayoub Kara (L) and other Druze leaders at his office in Jerusalem to discuss the nation-state law on July 27, 2018. Many people, myself included, disagree with that decision, inter alia because constitutional legislation should reflect a broad consensus, whereas many Basic Laws were approved by only narrow majorities or even minorities of the Knesset. Damage to building after 6.2 quake hits Lombok, Indonesia, Thursday, August 9, 2018. Indonesian soldiers unload relief aid for quake victims from a plane at an airbase in Mataram, Lombok, Indonesia August 9, 2018 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. "Our latest update is that 319 people died", said Indonesia's chief security minister Wiranto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, adding that rescue efforts were ongoing and complicated by aftershocks. Journalists reporting on the aftermath of the fatal quake saw people running into the streets in panic. The government said more than 1400 people were injured and more than 270,000 displaced. Damaging aftershocks continue in Indonesia days after a powerful natural disaster hit the island of Lombak, as the country struggles to care for the injured and displaced and the death toll rises into the hundreds. A humanitarian crisis is also looming in Lombok, where thousands have been left homeless and in desperate need of clean water, food, medicine and shelter. The quake was the second in a week to hit Lombok. Everton sign Barcelona defender Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes and Bernard Andre Gomes , meanwhile, will sign on a season-long loan - with Everton paying a loan fee of 2m for the Portuguese worldwide midfielder. The death toll for the earthquakes is believed to have topped 300, with the latest 5.8 magnitude quake further damaging buildings and causing panic. Reuters said witnesses reported buildings collapsed. But disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement the information from those sources was incomplete and hadn't been cross-checked for duplication. 'The building was cracked before, just after the natural disaster last Sunday, but it still operates, sometimes open, sometimes not, ' a witness told local media. Some villages have collapsed entirely. Almost 1,500 people have been hospitalized with serious injuries and more than 156,000 have been displaced due to the extensive damage to thousands of homes. "I know stay in the evacuation spot", she said. Kurniawan Eko Wibowo, a doctor at the field hospital, said most patients had broken bones and head injuries. Thousands of tourists visiting Lombok - as well as the nearby Gili Islands and Bali - have been evacuated or have chosen to leave since the weekend. If I Were Imran Imran Khan (IK) has yet not taken over but a subtle scheme of affairs has already been started against him by his opponents to not let him succeed. In that a doubt is being created about his capabilities in the mind of the innocent Pakistanis by some of the paid TV anchors aided by the Noonie, Jiala and Mullah panellists who sarcastically and impishly ask each other on the tv talk shows as to how would he change Pakistan into a Medina State? How would he do away with the terrorists within 90 days? Or, how and where will he produce jobs for the jobless millions? How would fight the menace of rampant corruption in the country, etc. I am sure Imran knows what to do. However, if I were Imran, and just to tackle corruption, I shall caution in no uncertain terms all govt., semi govt, autonomous and semi-autonomous governing bodies and all other agencies dealing with public to be from here on wards absolutely honest in their dealings and work. In any office, the immediate superior shall be held equally responsible and considered an accomplice in the dishonesty and misdeeds of his subordinate and would be tried for the same offence as committed by his subordinate. This means if a Clerk is caught of corruption his Superintendent would also be charged for the same offence. If a Patwari is caught the Qanoongo, the Naib Tehsildar or the Tehsildar himself, who so ever is his immediate superior, would also be held responsible for the same offence. This would be like To catch a thief set a thief and Nip the evil in the bud. No one knows better about one in an organisation than ones colleagues and imme! diate superior as well as juniors. This will also demolish the culture of vertical alignment of corruption in our offices where the booty travels upwards, at times to the highest officer. There are a few more similar solutions to the other evil problems, but one at time. I intend writing about them in a series, If I were Imran. Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd) CANIH Invigorate Celebrates Caribbean Culture Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang The sun emerged and a gentle breeze was blowing. It was the perfect day to take a cultural journey to the Caribbean. On June 21, NIHers enjoyed regional Caribbean cuisine, music and dance on the Bldg. 31 patio at CANIH (Caribbean Association at NIH) Invigorate. The celebration, in its 11th year, featured foods from Haiti and Jamaica, reggae-Zumba, health and community information tables and international crafts. We called this years event CANIH Invigorate in an effort to support and motivate others to learn about Caribbean culture and food, said CANIH founder and president Althea Grey-McKenzie, an event associate with the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences. Were restructuring the Caribbean Association here and, as we grow, we welcome the contributions of others to the group. The event, a collaboration with NIHs R&W Association and the Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise for the Greater Washington Area Network, donates proceeds to NIH charities. This year and last, CANIH donated to the Childrens Inn at NIH. This event supports the community, said Grey-McKenzie. Its one way we give back. Grey-McKenzie started CANIH shortly after then-President George W. Bush signed a proclamation in 2006 designating June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Having an official heritage month, she said, is a source of pride and gives the Caribbean-American community an opportunity to share their rich and diverse culture with the nation. We have done so much here to build the fabric of this country, she said. A native of Jamaica, Grey-McKenzie added, I love the beauty, creativity and tenacity of Jamaica and its people. Our saying Wi likkle, but wi tallawahmeaning we may be a little country, but we have huge aspirationsis how I share what makes us great. During the event, several CANIH members who dub themselves the Fuego Dancers led a reggae-Zumba workout. One of the dancers, Fiona Vaughans, is the treasurer of CANIH and has worked at NIH for 14 years. Originally from Jamaica, she came to the United States to pursue her doctorate in cybersecurity. Shes now an IT program manager at NCI. What does she miss most about Jamaica? I miss the gorgeous beaches and the peace of mind. The Globe and Mail, by Steven Chase Prime Minister Justin Trudeau isnt backing down as the Canada-Saudi Arabia rift continues to escalate, saying his government will not shirk from raising concerns about human-rights violations in other countries. Asked if he would express regret to Saudi Arabia for his governments public call last week for the release of arrested womens rights activists in the kingdom, Mr. Trudeau offered no apology. Instead, he told journalists on Wednesday his government will continue to stand up for Canadian values and human rights. Canadians have always expected [us] to speak strongly, firmly, clearly and politely about the need to respect human rights at home and around the world." Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answers questions from the media in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, August 8, 2018. Mr. Trudeaus comments came just hours after Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir ruled out mediation in this dispute and warned of more measures to further punish Canada. He said its up to the Canadian government to make things right. There is nothing to mediate. A mistake has been made and a mistake should be corrected, Mr. al-Jubeir told a news conference in Riyadh. Also on Wednesday, news emerged Saudi Arabia is selling government-held Canadian investments to further punish this country. In an indication the quarrel may worsen, Mr. al-Jubeir said the kingdom was still considering additional measures against Canada, but did not elaborate. Explainer: What we know so far about the Saudi Arabia-Canada spat Opinion: Why two words set off our diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia Wednesday was Mr. Trudeaus first time addressing the conflict since the dispute erupted suddenly on Sunday. He told reporters Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland had conducted a long conversation with Mr. al-Jubeir on Tuesday and that diplomatic talks continue. With practiced patience, the new police leadership has looked on quietly as soldiers deployed by the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) go about snatching civilians off streets in broad daylight or under the cover of darkness. Officially, the police force has carefully avoided addressing journalists questions about alleged torture of such victims at the hands of ISO agents in ungazetted and undisclosed locations. But inside the force, sources say considerable unhappiness is building over what some see as the irregular usurping of policing duties by other agencies. In recent multiple interviews, police insiders privately voiced their displeasure with ISO chief, Col Kaka Bagyendas methods of work. According to police sources, through these actions ISO seems to have appropriated powers from police. We have left them to do their thing, one angry police official said during an interview. Police boss Okoth Ochola (L) Public interest in these developments took hold when military intelligence first began by picking up senior police officers, around the time Gen Kale Kayihura was sacked as inspector general of police in May. The arrests occurred against the backdrop of a wave of violent crime sweeping through parts of the country. Soon after, civilians who were close to the former police chief were also taken into custody by either the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence or ISO. Those lucky enough to regain their freedom so far have narrated tales of torture and other abuse allegedly at the hands of ISO agents in safe houses around Kampala. The military crackdown has left the police open to public criticism for abdicating its constitutional role although police spokesman Emilian Kayima this week refused to be drawn on this, saying the question of whether they have given up their policing function, can be answered by ISO. When a case is reported, we investigate it and make arrests. I am yet to find out at police but there are no complaints so far by people kidnapped by security agencies. The state doesnt kidnap; they arrest criminals, he said. In this environment, other insiders say Col Kaka regularly visits police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala to meet with Kayihuras replacement, John Martin Okoth Ochola. The two principals, sources say, talk for hours. This picture of close cooperation at the top is, however, contradicted by ISOs lone ranger tactics. Security sources told The Observer that while ISO shares some of its intelligence reports with police, the force which is otherwise legally mandated to detect, prevent and investigate crime, and to carry out arrests is not fully in the loop. Both ISO and the External Security Organisation (ESO) came into being with enactment of the Security Organisations Act of 1987. Role of ISO/Police Section 3 which lays down the functions of these agencies states that their main role is to collect, receive, and process internal and external intelligence on the security of Uganda; advise and recommend to the president or any other authority as the president may direct on what action should be taken in connection with the intelligence information collected. Contrary to what is happening, the Act under section 4(1) is specific about arresting powers. The section states that; No officer or employee of either organisation shall take action directed against or affecting any person following intelligence gathered pursuant to section 3 unless that action has first been sanctioned by the president or such other authority as the president may direct, except that either of the directors general may direct the police to arrest and detain, in relation to intelligence gathered any person for not more than forty eight hours pending a report by the Director General under section 3 (b) and a decision by the President, Section 4(2) states further that that No officer or employee of either organisation shall have power to arrest, detain, or confine any person by virtue only of being an officer or employee of the organisation. The law goes on in section 12 to state that any officer or employee of the organisations who arrests, detains or confines any person in contravention of the Act is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding ten years. The Constitution under Article 212, states that the polices roles are to protect life and property, to preserve law and order and to prevent and detect crime. Article 212(d) says police will cooperate with the civilian authority and other security organs. Detailed explanation of these roles can be found in the Police Act 1994 (as amended). Interviewed about the arrests of civilians by ISO, Col Kaka was unapologetic. He wondered why other people can pick civilians off streets without presenting an arrest warrant and soldiers cannot. I dont know why it is so special when army officers arrest people who commit crime yet people on streets, and villages arrest others when they are not even in security uniforms, he told The Observer on Monday, August 6. His understanding of how suspects should be handled is reported to have attracted police opposition recently. Police insiders said that weeks ago Ochola declined an ISO request for police officers to parade on camera suspects the agency had arrested from upcountry. Ochola, according to interviewed sources, didnt want to sully the reputation of his officers, given the constitutional protections and rights of suspects until one is proved guilty. More worrying is that the manner in which ISO operations are being conducted has increased the risk of a friendly fire incident with police personnel. They can easily be mistaken for thugs by police, one officer said. DPP The Director of Public Prosecutions Mike Chibita on Monday said his office always responds to cases of human rights abuse like torture when brought to their attention. We call upon the public; lawyers and civil society organisations if they know people held beyond 48 hours in custody, they can bring the matter up...The lawyers can take the matter to court and the suspects are brought to court or victims released, he said. Human Rights Human rights lawyer and activist with the NGO, Chapter Four, Nicholas Opiyo draws attention to what Ugandas laws says about torture of suspects. According to Article 44 of the Constitution, if anybody is tortured, the person who has tortured him, commits an offence. In the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture act, that person is liable and can be prosecuted or sued for the offence of torture, he says. zuraneetah2015@gmail.com bakerbatte@observer.ug On the face of it, this was a traditional marriage (kuhingira) between former prime minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazis niece Bridget Birungi Rwakairu and Andile Ramaphosa, son of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa. But away from public view, this union offered another political opportunity to advance efforts to restore a political marriage through which Ugandas leadership once enjoyed unquestioned say over government. It is said that Bridget and Andile, quite unwittingly, offered President Museveni a way to reach out to Mbabazi, his former ally, long-time comrade in arms and enforcer-in-chief. Amama Mbabazi (C) talks to President Museveni (L) as his wife Janet looks on Museveni was among the guests at the highly billed ceremony last Saturday, August 4 at Mbabazis Kampala residence in leafy and upscale Kololo. He arrived with his wife, Janet at about 1:30pm and sat through the function till 10pm when it ended. Ugandas president sat at the same table with the Mbabazis, facing the in-laws. Little interaction was seen between Museveni and Mbabazi although the former premier frequently exchanged pleasantries with Janet. Museveni and Mbabazi fell out in 2014 after the former premier developed presidential ambitions. To head him off, ruling party MPs were whipped into passing a resolution declaring Museveni as NRMs sole presidential candidate for the 2016 elections. This was during a retreat at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi. Later in the year, Mbabazi was sacked as prime minister and one year after, he was ultimately kicked out of government, ousted from the powerful position of NRM secretary general. The party constitution was quickly amended, placing the powers to appoint the secretariat leadership in the chairmans (Museveni) hands. Andile and Bridget with their daughter DISTANT THIRD Previously, the secretary general was elected at an NRM delegates conference. Mbabazi still went on to run for president as an independent but finished a distant third. He lodged an unsuccessful petition in the Supreme court contesting the 2016 election results before retreating from public life. But now, knowledgeable sources say Mbabazis skills as an able administrator, accomplished workaholic bureaucrat and effective political operator are sorely missed by Museveni. Unlike during Mbabazis time as leader of government business, today ministers publicly quarrel and insult each other. Party MPs have taken to holding Museveni at ransom he cannot seem to get his political agenda through parliament without paying what looks like a hefty sweetener to his own MPs. The chaotic run of things has infected the NRM secretariat where top officials are engaged in open warfare over resources and whatnot. Such unrest was unheard of under Mbabazis disciplinarian days. And so, Museveni is reported to be making overtures to mend fences with Mbabazi. These efforts are said to have begun early last year but are yet to yield any fruits. The former premier is notorious for keeping his cards very close to the chest! When the South African president flew in on Friday afternoon aboard a commercial South African Airways flight, he headed straight to State House Entebbe for a meeting with Museveni. The Observer has heard that the Ramaphosas entry into Mbabazis family offered a new window of opportunity for Museveni. After all, the visiting president was a mutual acquaintance before the two men fell out. On the sidelines of the Saturday merrymaking, The Observer learnt that Museveni had taken advantage of his trip to South Africa last week for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) conference to draft Ramaphosa into his other plans. The hope is that as an in-law, the unpredictable Mbabazi would be more agreeable to Ramaphosa as a mediator. Indeed, one member of the delegation which flew in for the kuhingira hinted that during the flight from Johannesburg the subject came up. That flight had more than 100 people - Ramaphosas relatives, business and political associates. Andile helping his wife to Bridget to sit The Observer saw one of these individuals whispering quite animatedly with Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda last Saturday. Rugunda is friends with Mbabazi. They also come from the same part of the country which probably explains why he was chairman of the organising committee for Bridgets give-away ceremonies. The prime minister, more or less, confirmed what other sources had intimated about Ramaphosas silent role in trying to repair broken ties between Museveni and his erstwhile former ally. It is our prayer, they [Museveni and Mbabazi] surely need to reconcile, Rugunda said when interviewed by The Observer on Saturday. Rugunda, however, declined to respond to any questions related to the reconciliation process. My son, there are several other issues for you to write about, leave the process to go on...if I were you, I would concentrate on the speeches of His Excellency President Museveni and Hon Amama Mbabazi, Rugunda told this writer. THE SPEECHES Museveni was the first to speak but steered clear of his post-2014 relationship with Mbabazi, preferring to speak at length about how they got together in 1974 after a disastrous 1972 attack on dictator Idi Amins government. Mbabazi and Justice Minister Kahinda Otafiire were among those Museveni recruited into his Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) after the 1972 defeat. Mbabazi and Otafiire, Museveni said, were to build new internal networks after Rugunda and others fled into exile after being exposed by the fateful attack. Museveni also spoke about Ramaphosa whom he came to know in the late 1990s. At the time, Ramaphosa had come to Uganda as part of a group of high-powered businessmen leading the MTN telecommunications bid to invest in the country. He was part of the team that brought the first mobile phones to Uganda. Someone came to me with akabiriiti; a small gadget, the size of a matchbox, saying I could use it to talk to Nelson Mandela, I said, you are joking, they tried it and it worked. Ramaphosa was part of that team. I later found out that he is a sharp businessman and freedom fighter, Museveni said. On the second visit, Ramaphosa became Musevenis customer, buying from his farm 43 long-horned Ankole cows with which he has established two farms, one in Kenya and another in South Africa. REUNION Ramaphosa said he first discussed Andiles marriage with Mbabazis niece during the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London. Speaking after the two presidents, Mbabazi said the wedding was a reunion of former comrades, some of whom he had neither met nor spoken to for a while. Given the reported reconciliation propositioning taking place behind the curtain, it was not surprising when Mbabazi immediately launched into politics. I am not going [back to] government and I am not thinking of doing so at all, but I told the president that my relationship with Rugunda is strong, so strong that even when he (Rugunda) voted against me, I will not allow that to affect my relationship with him, Mbabazi said. He said the same of Museveni. We may disagree politically; you may champion a different political line but for me, the life-long associations I have had will not be broken, Mbabazi said. In January 2017, The Observer reported that Museveni was trying to reach out to Mbabazi through his eldest daughter, Rachel Kiconco. (See: Mbabazi, family split over Museveni talks, The Observer, January 6, 2017). Following Musevenis engagement with Kiconco, he reportedly asked Rugunda, his younger brother Gen Salim Saleh, and Archbishop Stanley Ntagali to further explore avenues for rapprochement. It was only Saleh who missed last Saturdays kuhingira although he telephoned Mbabazi to express his regrets at not being able to attend the function. Mbabazi said he had invited all living former FRONASA fighters. While organisers had asked journalists not to drag political undertones into their reporting on this social function, it became inevitable for the politics to take centre stage. Andile and Bridget pose for pictures Politicians from across the political divide were on the guest list. Notable among the guests were NRM vice chairman Alhajji Moses Kigongo, former minister, turned NRM critic Miria Matembe, former army commander and former FDC president Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, FDC chairman Wasswa Biriggwa, regime critic and former Kampala assistant bishop Dr Zac Niringiye and Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Sseggona. Buganda Kingdom Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga and one of his deputies Apollo Nelson Makubuya, Buganda kingdoms minister for Local Government and Attorney General David Mpanga, Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu and former Katikkiro Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere represented the Mengo establishment. US ambassador Deborah Malac led the team of diplomats at the event that also attracted a number of businessmen and industrialists such as Sudhir Ruparelia, the Madhvanis and Mukwanos, among others. During a break in happy proceedings last Saturday, Mbabazi stood up and led the Ugandan businessmen to make acquaintances with the South African president. This rather smooth and pointed display of political clout was typical Mbabazi in action. To the watchers, it further confirmed why they want him back. sadabkk@observer.ug 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 Last Friday, Forum for Democratic Change party president, Patrick Oboi Amuriat shuffled leadership of committees held by the opposition in parliament, knocking out those who never supported him during the November 2017 presidency race. But the decision to purge was made before he became party president, as SULAIMAN KAKAIRE writes. During the 2017 race, the pro-defiance FDC faction led by Dr Kizza Besigye was concerned that Amuriat and Mubarak Munyagwa running separate campaigns could divide their support and favour the then incumbent party leader, Maj Gen Gregory Mugisha Muntu. We banked on the group that voted Dr Besigye during the FDC presidential flag bearer race in 2015We thought that if this number was to be divided among the two; it would automatically favour Gen Muntu who already had a consolidated figure that was between 400 and 500 votes. It was to this end that Munyagwa pulled out in Amuriats favour. Former FDC party presidents Kizza Besigye (L), Mugisha Muntu (2nd left) and current president Patrick Amuriat Oboi (R) Party sources say that the deal had a caveat: Amuriat promised to make Munyagwa opposition chief whip in parliament, replacing Muntu loyalist and Kira municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, among a string of changes. This new shadow cabinet was supposed to be communicated around March or April. Besigye and group were reportedly careful not to totally alienate party members; so, it was important to have other posts open to fringe supporters After Amuriat won, the sharing was expected as promised but this had to wait until last week. Their rival, Muntu, who had been defeated by 200 votes, despite being backed by 27 FDC MPs, had embarked on countrywide consultations. Muntu was asking how his group would work within the FDC party where they have been slandered as moles and non-Ugandans? How is the party going to reconcile the defiance strategy with the strategy of exhibiting democratic credentials before taking power? And, what is the position of FDC founding president, Besigye in the party? Besigyes continued domineering presence bothers some of the Muntu group, who argue that if left uncontrolled it can be counterproductive to FDCs internal democracy and potentially grooms dictatorship in the opposition. After Muntu concluded the first round of consultations and some senior members were pushing for a split, Besigye initiated a meeting with Muntu and some senior members of his group, including Ronald Reagan Okumu (Aswa MP), who is FDC deputy president for Northern Uganda. Muntu confirmed the said meeting that happened around March. Just know that the meeting took place and there were concerns raised that some members, who agree with me, were raising issues that should be resolved internally, the retired general said this week For fear of what the Muntu group was planning, Besigye advised Amuriat against shaking things up in parliament. JUGGLING PICKS As they watched for Muntus next move, they also continued to assess possible choices. William Nzoghu was considered for the LoP position but he turned it down for fear of being castigated back home in Kasese by FDC supporters amongst whom Kiiza enjoys considerable support. Buhweju county MP Francis Mwijukye was tapped next but he was dropped in favour of Gulu Municipality MP, Betty Aol Achan. Munyagwa turned down the chief whip post for fear of antagonising Muslims in Buganda amongst whom Ssemujju enjoys favourable reviews. He was considered for COSASE. Habib Buwembo, who is the FDC secretary for labour, said Tuesday the delay could be attributed to the president himself because members have always asked him why he was delaying to change the leadership. These people dont agree with the defiance strategy and they are not only enriching themselves with these positions but they are funding activities that are against the party. Each of the MPs was reportedly contributing between Shs 1 to Shs 2 million every month towards Muntus activities. Around May, this information leaked to the Besigye faction. It was also revealed that the Muntu group was closely working with the individuals leading the Democratic Partys reunion and providing solidarity to Kyadondo East MP, Robert Kyagulanyis countrywide tours. The DPs reunion has considerably undermined Besigyes wow factor in the wider opposition. Buwembo, who is an insider within the Besigye group, said these concerns were considered last week. On Thursday, there was a demonstration after a team from nowhere came and refused members from leaving the party offices. They locked us from outside. Even, the party chairman who was supposed to meet a doctor was refused from leaving before they could sort out their demands, he said. According to Buwembo, this group stormed the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi after Amuriat again delayed announcing the changes in parliament. The changes were supposed to be made on Monday but they delayed to make them due to some issues that were pending before NEC. Among the issues was the Bugiri municipality issue. It is the reason why a significant number of MPs were at the party headquarters. However, when the matter was not considered in the Wednesday and Thursday NEC meetings, the youths stormed the party offices on Thursday. Buwembo says that the youths alleged; there was some money channelled to Asuman Basalirwa. In fact, it was alleged that on the voting day, Shs 27 million was collected by that leadership and given to [Jeema party president] Asuman Basalirwa which he used to defeat our candidate [in Bugiri municipality]. The other allegation was that all the people who supported Muntu, except Kira municipality MP have never stepped at the party headquarters and yet they dont even want to table reports to the party about what takes place in parliament. Consequently, on Thursday night Amuriat called up some of the individuals that were to take the positions. Among them was Ssemujju. Ssemujju was reportedly reconsidered for two reasons. One, he is the party spokesperson who had to communicate this decision or explain it to the public and if he is fired, it would be difficult to explain some of these things. In fact, some people said he would put everything about our move in the media. Secondly, having him in would be a counter balance of criticism from the Ssuubi group [a loose coalition of Buganda politicians including Medard Sseggona Lubega (Busiiro East), Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala)and Mathias Mpuuga (Masaka municipality)], FDC defiance faction sources said. At first Ssemujju, turned down the offer to retain his chief whip post on grounds that he will not be comfortable working with people he does not agree with. Secondly, he does not believe in working with colleagues who will feel they are being undermined by him. Amuriat, however, persuaded Ssemujju saying he sees him as the loop that will strengthen the new team since most of his choices were newcomers or weak. When contacted , Ssemujju refused to comment. I cant comment about that, please. Call the party president. I was called like anyone else, Ssemujju said. When the NEC was summoned on Friday evening, only the LoP position was discussed. Abed Nasser Mudiobole, the FDC secretary for legal affairs, said the discussion was only on the name proposed for leader of opposition. There was concern raised that why would you appoint someone from Acholi yet it has ever had that position and why not some other region, Mudiobole said. Amuriat stood his ground. I am appointing people who have been loyal to the party and these people have been despising me, he said. Some concerns were voiced that if this was the basis for changing the leadership, then Amuriat would be personalising the party or victimising people. At this point, Salaamu Musumba, the FDC vice chairperson for Eastern Uganda, intervened by advising Amuriat: Dont explain yourself. These are your powers and you have used them. AMURIAT EXPLAINS While announcing the changes on Friday, the FDC leader told the media that his changes were made so as to realign the parliament leadership with the defiance strategy. However, Mudiobole says that even if that is the case, everything must be done in accordance with the party constitution and practice. There was no minute or resolution made, contrary to the ideal way of doing things. Everything was rushed through NEC. The party constitution and practice has always been that a name or individuals are proposed, then they are debated by NEC because the practice is that the president appoints with the approval of NEC. If NEC is not allowed to debate or discuss the presidents appointments or proposal, then NEC, which is ideally meant to be a check and balance on the presidents powers, is being reduced to a mere rubberstamp, Mudiobole said. There is also the issue of accusations being raised against some people. It is also fair to have them heard on those accusations before you turn the party organs into a jungle. Ideally, practice should be that you inform them about it and let them be heard about it. And this is not that people are meant to serve forever in whichever position, but lets make sure that we follow the right processes and procedures because that is what distinguishes us from the crowd of other parties, Mudiobole said. On Monday, Kiiza told the media that she had learned of her firing from press reports. PURGE NOT RESHUFFLE Former COSASE chairman, Abdu Katuntu confirmed Amuriats line that this reshuffle was a purge. This is about purging those who dont agree with the way things are being done. You cannot victimise one for holding a view contrary to yours. They formed this view since last year; that they will be sacking those who dont agree with them, Katuntu said. A political decision like this has political consequences and it can be responded to in a political way. Time is there to vindicate us. We are not fighting for positions but we should understand that this party was formed by those who were victimised for not supporting the removal of term limits. I hope we are not walking towards that path. On Monday, Muntu told like-thinking FDC members in Iganga that whatever decision they make must be made in a mature way. We have to be patient about this. From the 17 consultations that have been carried out across the country, there are voices that are saying we should leave and form a party of people who believe in the values we espouse. There are others saying that the issues we are raising can be resolved from within. To reach a good decision the results of the findings will be tabled before the party before a final decision, is made, he said. Jinja Municipality East MP Paul Mwiru, Muntu ally, told The Observer that the continuous victimisation of their group is pushing them to one end point. These people are showing us that our differences are irreconcilable. And some of us dont believe in wasting time in a political formation without playing any role, which our colleagues want us to do. It is better to form another formation after all we have the same ultimate result of changing government, although we also believe in changing governance, he said. Whatever the outcome, the Muntu group seems to have gravitated towards Kyagulanyis (Bobi Wine) so-called third way. When the break comes, those in the know say, it will be triggered a year to the elections to avoid the MPs having to lose their seats on account of the law on changing political alliances midterm. The group has close to 60 MPs, including some in the NRM. skakaire@observer.ug Canadian ONTD-ers: Narcan is available for free in some provinces (I know ontario for sure) at pharmacies. If you know someone who may be addicted to opiates, do yourself and them a favour and get a narcan kit and training. You could save their life. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-abuse/prescription-drug-abuse/opioids/naloxone.html#a3 Opiates are terrifying.Canadian ONTD-ers: Narcan is available for free in some provinces (I know ontario for sure) at pharmacies. If you know someone who may be addicted to opiates, do yourself and them a favour and get a narcan kit and training. You could save their life. Reply Thread Link FYI, you may want to get multiple doses b/c most people are ODing on fent, and you may need 3-4 doses to bring them back. Just saying this cause some people think one dose of Narcsn will solve everything, and while it can help, it might not be enough. Reply Parent Thread Link This is actually really bad advice. Narcan taken intra-nasally can take anywhere from 3-5 minutes to kick in and work, and once administered one should wait and prioritize a clear airway. The additional doses are often not necessary, and are usually given before the first dose has a chance to take full effect. There is a shocking lack of training being given to people who carry this drug like police officers, and they're frequently over administering the drug. Too much Narcan (literally anything more than 2 doses) can and often causes severe edema in the lungs which can be irreversible and cause the person to die when they would have been fine with just one dose and a clear airway while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Wow thanks for the link. Tbh I never heard of this before (I don't know anyone in my immediate circle that would be at risk). But it's good to know! Reply Parent Thread Link OMG RIP I guess. Bethenny made comments on the show that Dennis has problems. I assumed they were infidelity issues (and it could have been) but maybe this is what she was talking about. I do believe LuAnn that Bethenny was sleeping with Dennis while he was married. This has been a hard year for B. Going through custody issues, Bobby died, then Carole dissolved and now Dennis. I wonder if she's even coming back to RHONY after all this. I would hope she does because it could be therapeutic I think at this point to vent all of her emotions on the show. Reply Thread Link I wonder if they are going to try to re-edit the reunion because they said it was a pretty big pile on from all the ladies onto Bethenny about their various issues. Reply Parent Thread Link Doubt it. If anything Bravo will LIVE to allow that to play out. Also Bethenny has always been the type to want her shit to play out on TV. Like she iphone taped her reaction to regaining her old apartment back. Other than Brynn there are very few things off limits to B. I don't doubt one minute there was a pile on from the group towards Bethenny, she de-friended all of them sans Sonja. I do think RHONY is going to have a cast shake up next season tho and the cast may realize that. With Carole gone, Lu being a legal liability, Tins on the cusp (with no Allies) we'll see those three gone for sure. Bravo has been wanting to get rid of Ramona for years and this might be the year they do it (I think Andy will save her tho). Sonja, B and probably Ramona will survive this season. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link out of all of Bethenny's relationships/drama she's seemed the most genuinely hurt and upset with Carole. hopefully they can put everything aside. although at this point a lot of their issues seem trivial but then just snowballed into multiple issues. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Might be better for her to vent in therapy or something. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She called his daughter at the reunion, on speaker phone, and his daughter said it was not true. And his daughter isn't a child but a grown woman. LuAnn was having a breakdown and was just looking to hurt anyone who looked her way. That being said, I hope she doesn't quit the show but if she has to then I'd get it. The ratings will surely suffer. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link omg I thought that said Bethenny was found dead. Edited at 2018-08-10 06:02 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link I saw dead and Trump in the same sentence and got excited for a minute. Reply Thread Link Im waiting impatiently Reply Parent Thread Link I didn't know much about his background but watching the most recent episode when Bethenny was talking about how she loves him/her person but basically saying that sometimes it just doesn't work :( I've been in a couple situations where the person knew they were overdosing and knew they needed narcan and it was too late for their body. It hurts even more because you never want their final moments being scared. Reply Thread Link sad :( i wonder if any of the ladies have publicly said anything yet Reply Thread Link the story just came out, so I don't think so. Reply Parent Thread Link Carole just tweeted something. Reply Parent Thread Link this is really sad. he looked like a really fun guy, and after everything she's been (and is still) going through, for her to trust him enough to be with him must speak volumes of how he treated her. I just hope she didn't find out through social media bc she was posting as of two hours ago. Reply Thread Link holy crap!!!! Reply Thread Link Holy shit. This is so awful. Reply Thread Link People living or staying at any Trump name properties are not on my listed of wanting to be associated with. Reply Thread Link my husband's friend (he used to do A & R for Atlantic records when it was a thing) lives there. from the few time's i've met him, he's pretty progressive so no idea why or how the heck he is living there. we're supposed to meet up with him in nyc in a few weeks but it makes me completely question his character and i refuse to meet at his place. Edited at 2018-08-10 10:33 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link he was friends with Michael Cohen too. Cohen actually texted Dennis to get out when that fire happened Reply Parent Thread Link My friend was a planning a trip for us girls and said her travel agent had a deal on a trump property and I was like girlllll even free thats not an option Reply Parent Thread Link Wow this is awful. I feel bad for his family and for Bethenny. Reply Thread Link yikes Reply Thread Link Damn, this is so sad. Reply Thread Link Lol this song is 4 years old and their label decided to repackage it in Japanese for their Japanese promotions? They deserve better Reply Thread Link Station is still going huh. Reply Thread Link there's something about the video for EXID i don't like, idk. it feels kind of off, but i still like the song and seeing solji back! i wonder how fans are gonna react if it's revealed on KoMS that it's not her though i think it is, lol. Reply Thread Link IDK if this is what you were noticing in EXID's MV but the cutting apart of their bodies felt like an objectifying trope I've seen a bunch of times before and don't really love, Hani with the feather was also kind of... Reply Parent Thread Link IA. EXID is my fave and I love this song but this vid is... lacking energy or something. It feels kinda weird when they've graduated to more mature concepts. Reply Parent Thread Link Solji is back!!!!! Im so glad shes feeling better! Reply Thread Link OP, the mv is out if you want to add to the post (: Page 0 everything is lovely.OP, the mv is out if you want to add to the post (: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X46z6f24c7o Reply Thread Link woops I thought I had posted the video lol Reply Parent Thread Link Umm, with what budget are BerryGood doing double title tracks with? This did NOT work out well for your sister's group Seoyul! LOL Reply Thread Link ikr?! where are all these companies getting the money for these GG/BG? like loona's budget must be off the roof by now, and they haven't apparently "debut" Edited at 2018-08-10 10:23 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link their stans hate when ppl bring this up but Loona's company is an arm's dealer for the military so they're unlikely to run out of money tbh LOL although their final debut is shaping up to be surprisingly thrifty so far... Reply Parent Thread Link i'm not worried about Loona's money but BG's last full group comeback was a makestar and looked cheap as hell. Who gave them the dollars? Reply Parent Thread Link RIP that iceskate concept Reply Parent Thread Link Something HAD to have happened! I just do not get it Reply Parent Thread Link yall better buy on itunes cause those songs sound like bops! Reply Parent Thread Link Oh no, Solji girl, those fillers... I know no one wants to talk about it but it made me so sad that I couldn't really recognize her at first =/ following girl groups as a woman gets so depressing after awhile, watching all these perfectly conventionally attractive women suddenly show up with brand new faces. Berry Good's budgets just keep getting lower, it's such a shame, they've had a handful of good songs but their company seems broke. Reply Thread Link BerryGood's Dont Believe is sooooo good and underrated Reply Parent Thread Link she had orbital decompression surgery fpr her illness. we can't really say what she could've felt insecure about after that. Reply Parent Thread Link I considered that but google image search led me to believe orbital decompression surgery doesn't generally change people's appearance much, if at all? So I honestly suspect it's just the usual feeling pressured to keep up with younger idols =/ Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=orbital+decompression+surgery&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUqJn6veXcAhVITcAKHQD0B_8Q_AUICigB&biw=2560&bih=1303#imgrc=QJysaMY40SH67M: um reconsider that maybe? um reconsider that maybe? Reply Parent Thread Link lol I'm loving the unwarranted condescension! But these are the exact same pics I looked at and in most, yes, the difference is pretty subtle. The appearance of the eyes is the only thing generally affected, sometimes the browbone slightly. Not the entire face. Reply Parent Thread Link yikes, i wasn't trying to be condescending, the pics were just shocking and i didn't think you actually saw the same pics. also i think it's tacky as hell to talk about a person's facial appearance after they've gone through something like that so if you wanted condescending there you go. Reply Parent Thread Link Even if the U.S. Administration decides to release crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), American drivers are unlikely to see gasoline prices coming down, because U.S. refiners already have enough oil to run at maximum rates, and much of the oil products that would be produced could be exported, analysts briefed by Reuters say. Last month, reports emerged that the Trump Administration was considering tapping into the SPR to try to reduce gas prices before the mid-term elections in November. Options being reviewed range from a test sale of 5 million barrels to the release of 30 million barrels from the SPR, Bloomberg reported in July, citing people familiar with the deliberations. As of August 3, the SPR inventory stood at 660 million barrels of oil, including 254.6 million barrels of sweet and 405.4 million barrels of sour crude. Various analysts who have spoken to Reuters think that even if a potential SPR release manages to bring crude oil prices down temporarily, this would not automatically mean that prices at the pump would also drop. Its unlikely to have any measurable impact on the diesel or gasoline market in the United States, Zachary Rogers, refining and oil products analyst at Wood Mackenzie in Houston, told Reuters. Theres already enough crude to run at max rates, Rogers noted. According to Kenneth Medlock, a fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at Rice University, U.S. demand is not as high as to take in all the refined oil products. Related: The Shale Boom That Will Never Happen And if an SPR release ended up as exports outside the U.S., this would lead to a very negative reaction among American taxpayers, Barry Worthington, executive director of the United States Energy Association, told Reuters. For the week ended August 6, the average U.S. regular gasoline price was $2.852 a gallon, up by $0.474 from a year ago, EIA data shows. In the early days of August, the national gas price average was $2.87/gallon, which is the most expensive gas price seen in August since 2014, AAA says. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: More supply from Russia and Saudi Arabia has weighed on oil prices this week, but with oil sanctions on Iran looming, markets remain bullish. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) Friday, August 10, 2018 The IEA said in a new report that more supply from Saudi Arabia and Russia has eased supply concerns, but that the current lull in the oil market might only be temporary with sanctions on Iran looming. IEA: Oil market sees cooling down this summer. The International Energy Agency said that higher output from Saudi Arabia and Russia have tamped down concerns about supply. The partial recovery in Libya has also dialed down the danger to the oil market. The IEA slightly revised up its forecast for demand growth in 2019 to 1.5 million barrels per day (mb/d), up 0.1 mb/d from last month. For this year, however, demand growth slowed in the second and third quarter, after a blistering first quarter. This cooling down of the oil market both in terms of fewer disruptions and slower demand has caused prices to fall back from a few weeks ago. But it could be temporary. With Iran sanctions set to take effect in November, it could be very challenging to ensure adequate global supply, the IEA said. ExxonMobil shopping long-term oil deals. ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is reportedly trying to sign up refiners to long-term oil purchasing deals. A lot of Middle Eastern oil producers conduct their trade under long-term contracts, but it is uncommon for oil shipments from the U.S. to be done this way. Exxon is hoping to sign up some Asian refiners to purchase its growing supply in the Permian basin. Related: Canadian Oil Crisis Continues As Prices Plunge China refrains from slapping tariffs on U.S. crude. Despite having proposed to include American crude oil under its list of tariff targets, China left oil off of its list this week when it imposed $16 billion worth of tariffs on U.S. products. The decision, analysts say, is a reflection of Chinas import needs, particularly with supplies from Venezuela in decline and supplies from Iran potentially disrupted. Still, Chinese refiners have begun ratcheting down purchases of American oil and LNG anyway, in anticipation of potential tariffs. The trade fight helped push down oil prices this week, even though crude oil was not caught up in the new tariffs, as the oil market grew concerned about the impact on the global economy. Chevron and Exxon double down on Permian. Pipeline constraints are slowing drilling in the Permian, but Chevron (NYSE: CVX) and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) are unbowed as they ramp up their presence in West Texas, according to Argus. Chevrons Permian output rose to 270,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe/d) in the second quarter, and the company said it is not materially exposed to the Midland basis differential, a discount that has consistently exceeded $10 per barrel relative to WTI in Houston. Exxon added 7 rigs to the Permian in the second quarter, taking its total up to 34. Exxons output hit 250,000 bpd, a 30 percent increase from a year earlier. U.S. judge authorizes seizure of Citgo. A U.S. federal judge authorized the seizure of Citgo Petroleum Corp. in lieu of failed payment on Venezuelan government debt. Citgo, a subsidiary of PDVSA, is the only U.S-based asset by the Venezuelan state-owned oil company. The decision could set off a scramble to seize assets and deepen the crisis in Venezuela, but the extent of the impact is still unclear because the full opinion by the judge is sealed. U.S. predicts Iran will lose up to 1 mb/d. U.S. officials reportedly expect Iran to lose between 700,000 bpd and 1 mb/d of oil exports by November, according to Bloomberg. The Trump administration wants to take exports to zero, but clearly recognizes that the process will take time. Shale drillers starting to step up spending. The capital discipline mantra has taken hold over the U.S. shale industry over the past two years, but higher oil prices are starting to lure shale drillers into higher spending levels. Parsley Energy (NYSE: PE), Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD) and Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR) recently announced spending increases, joining others in the industry, Reuters reports. U.S. selling more oil to India. Indias state-owned Indian Oil Corp. signed a term tender for American crude for delivery for November through January, a move that will ensure Indian receives supply at a crucial time when Iran begins to feel the pinch of sanctions. Related: Who Has The Right To Resources In The Caspian Sea? U.S. sanctions on Russia could impact oil sector. New U.S. sanctions on Russia will take effect later this month, banning the export of sensitive goods and technologies. Russia depends on imported technology and equipment for much of its oil sector. The sanctions, particularly if Europe follows suit, could be damaging, as it would take time to switch over to Asian suppliers or develop home-grown technology. New LNG, refinery, and petrochemical projects may be under threat, Dmitry Marinchenko, oil and gas director at Fitch Ratings, told Bloomberg. Oil production may be affected on the more complicated projects. China oil futures contract suffering from volatility. While Brent and WTI have been bouncing around modestly, Chinas oil contract in Shanghai has been gyrating much more intensely, undermining the contracts ability to compete with the more widely-traded benchmarks. The price action does not do the contract any favors as it shows how speculative day-traders remain firmly in control and with that we can see temporary dislocations to the international market, Ole Sloth Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank A/S in Copenhagen, told Bloomberg. The Shanghai contract is being driven by speculative forces, and there is a disconnect with the global oil market, Citibank said. Exxon signs on to support Permian Highway pipeline. ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) signed a letter of intent to be a shipper on the proposed Permian Highway pipeline, a $2 billion pipeline that would carry Permian natural gas to the Gulf Coast. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Beijings decision to not impose tariffs on U.S. crude oil imports has relieved local state refiners, who have been expanding their purchases from U.S. suppliers, sources from the industry told Reuters. China last slapped 25-percent import tariffs on U.S. products worth US$16 billion, but stopped short of adding crude oil to this list. The crude oil imports were worth around half of this, based on Sinopecs forecast of an average daily rate of U.S. oil imports of 300,000 bpd. One Reuters source says Sinopec, the largest refiner and buyer of U.S. crude in Asia, had lobbied with Beijing to make sure it will not add crude oil to the tariff list. Also, The U.S. will be the single largest source of new oil supplies outside OPEC. Its in Chinas interest to diversify supplies, another source told Reuters. But some believe that the removal of crude oil from the tariff list is only a delay tactic, and that Beijing will keep the oil card for the future as the trade war shows no signs of approaching any sort of an end. China could perhaps use oil as a bargaining chip in future negotiations with Washingtonespecially, Reuters notes, if it loses any amount of Iranian supply as a result of the sanctions. Such a loss may or may not happen: China gave in to a request from Washington to stop increasing its shipments of Iranian oil but said it will not suspend purchases. The country imports some 650,000 bpd of Iranian oil currently, which is worth US$15 billion annually. State oil majors Sinopec and CNPC have also invested heavily in their own equity production in Iran. But imports of Iranian oil could still be threatened, according to analysts, so China could be taking precautions with the exclusion of oil from tariffs. Nothing is certain, however. The latest threat from President Trump is to slap tariffs on US$200 million worth of Chinese goods. This move could sap the patience of Beijing and make it add crude oil to the next list of U.S. goods facing tariffs. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The U.S. Administration expects that it will be able to persuade Irans oil customers to cut their crude imports from Tehran by as much as 1 million bpd, Bloomberg reports, citing two people familiar with the Trump Administrations efforts to cut off Iranian oil supply. The forecast 1-million-bpd reduction would be equal to roughly half of the average Iranian oil exports over the past year, but well below the U.S. target of reducing the Islamic Republics oil sales to zero. Nevertheless, 1 million bpd of global oil supply choked off in early November would boost oil prices, analysts say. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Irans oil exports have averaged 2.1 million bpd over the past year. Most analysts have estimated that the return of the U.S. sanctions would cut Iranian exports by between 500,000 bpd and 1 million bpd. In view of the persistent efforts of the United States to have as many countries as possible on board with halting Iranian oil imports, however, some of them now expect the figure to be closer to 1 million bpd than to 500,000 bpd. Bank of America Merrill Lynch sees oil prices hitting $90 a barrel by the second quarter of 2019 as Iranian oil barrels are removed from the market and other supply disruption risks threaten the tightening oil market. Related: Canadian Oil Crisis Continues As Prices Plunge According to Helima Croft, managing director and global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, the U.S. sanctions on Iran are incredibly coercive, and more than 1 million bpd of Iranian oil would be taken out of the market. The question regarding Iranian oil supply now is, can the Trump Administration get everybody else except China, which has already said it wont recognize U.S. sanctions on Iran, out of the market, according Croft. The United States hasnt been able to persuade ChinaIrans biggest oil customerto reduce Iranian oil purchases, but Beijing has reportedly agreed not to increase its oil imports from Iran. The U.S. can get Europe out of the market, and IndiaIrans second-largest oil customer after Chinawill likely reduce Iranian purchases even if it doesnt get entirely out the market, Croft told CNBC last week. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Two Palestinians including a medic were killed by Israeli fire on the Gaza border Friday, but away from protests the calm reached after a deadly flare-up between the enclave's rulers Hamas and the Israeli army mainly held. At least 131 Palestinians were shot by Israeli fire in the protests, Gaza's health ministry said, with volunteer medic Abdullah al-Qatati killed after being hit in the chest east of Rafah in southern Gaza. Relatives of the 21-year-old medic gathered in the morgue of a hospital in Khan Yunis where his body lay, while outside his colleagues mourned. A 55-year-old Palestinian, Ali al-Alul, was killed by Israeli fire on the same stretch of the border. A few thousand protesters had gathered in different locations along the border with Israel, setting tyres ablaze and throwing stones, but there were fewer people demonstrating that in previous weeks, AFP correspondents said. In Friday's demonstrations a total of 307 people were wounded, some by tear gas, including two journalists and five medics. The Israeli army said a grenade had been thrown at troops in northern Gaza which did not injury any soldiers. "In response to the violent riots, IDF (army) tanks struck two Hamas posts in the northern Gaza Strip," the military said on Twitter. The protests came after a deal to end all rocket fire into Israel and air strikes on the Gaza Strip appeared to go into effect around midnight (2100 GMT) on Thursday. There was no official confirmation from Israel or Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas but there were no fresh strikes Friday. - 'Dangerously close' to conflict - Thursday had seen extensive Israeli raids in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies on Wednesday night. Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, including a pregnant woman and her 18-month-old daughter, while seven Israelis were wounded by Palestinian rocket fire as hundreds took refuge in bomb shelters. The European Union on Friday said "the death of the pregnant Palestinian mother and her child in this latest escalation is a tragic loss". It was one of the most serious escalation since the 2014 Gaza war and followed months of rising tensions. Late on Thursday, an Israeli air raid flattened a five-storey building which hosted a cultural centre in Gaza City but which the army said was used by Hamas security forces. The Israeli security cabinet and the Hamas leadership met separately on Thursday, with the truce offer brokered by Egypt and the United Nations on the table. Neither Israel nor Hamas officially confirmed any truce had gone into effect, although that has also been the case with previous informal arrangements. It would be the third such truce in a month. Reserve General Doron Almog, former head of Israel's southern command which deals with Gaza, told army radio on Friday morning that the next 24 hours would be crucial. "We are closer to an arrangement than we have been in the past because Hamas's interest in a deal is greater than its wish for escalation," he said. The European Union said Gaza and Israel are "dangerously close" to a new conflict, calling for urgent "de-escalation" to keep civilians from further risk. Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008. - Diplomatic efforts - The Israeli daily Maariv wrote that during the security cabinet meeting on Thursday Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman was a lone voice in support of a new war in Gaza. "He was the only one who demanded to launch a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu was opposed. The (Israeli army) also didn't recommend it," he said. Palestinians have been protesting along the Gaza-Israel border on Fridays since late March. They are calling for an end to the decade-long Israeli blockade of Gaza and the return of Palestinian refugees to their ancestral homes inside Israel, which they fled or were expelled from during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948. Israel says its blockade is necessary to isolate Hamas, although critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's two million residents. It says any significant return of refugees would mean the end of it as a Jewish state. At least 167 Palestinians have been killed since protests began on March 30. Most were killed by Israeli fire during the protests but others died in air strikes. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper. Revolution Precrafted: could Philippines first unicorn become the Ikea of homes? A start-up from the Philippines is looking to blaze a trail in the emerging sector of property technology, or proptech, by supplying limited-edition, luxury prefabricated homes to a global market primed for new modular dwelling options. Revolution Precrafted recently became the Philippines first unicorn, a start-up valued at more than US$1 billion, amid efforts to bring its luxury prefabricated houses composed of modular parts that can be snapped together on-site like Lego bricks into 25 countries by the end of this year. Despite its high valuation, the company is yet to make its first shipment of prefabricated homes. We want to be the Ikea of homes, said Jose Roberto Antonio, the founder and chief executive of Revolution Precrafted, in an interview. We want to be able to create homes that can be built in 60 to 90 days, as opposed to two years. The Manila-based company, which expects to soon start talks with property developers in China, will deliver its first 100 modular home units this December in its home market. Answer to Hong Kong housing crisis lies in prefabricated container homes Its expansion initiative has come at a time when residential property prices are surging across Asias major economies, and prefabricated homes are increasingly viewed by many experts as cheaper and faster-to-build alternatives to traditional housing units. A housing crisis in Hong Kong, for example, has led the citys government to embark on its first social housing project using prefabricated container homes, with the first batch of units expected to be ready for families to move in around September next year. With an ageing construction labour force, and a five-year wait to get into low-rent public housing, the need to build quickly and cheaply has become paramount in Hong Kong. Such modular buildings have already become commonplace in larger markets, such as mainland China and the United States. While there are many companies around the world that specialise in modular homes, Antonio said Revolution Precrafted was the first one to focus on luxury prefabricated homes. Story continues The firm sells direct to property developers that establish the sites for prefabricated homes. Its first 100 units will be installed this December in Batulao Artscapes, a project described as a liveable art park under the Antonio family-owned Century Properties. Antonio has enlisted the help of more than 80 prominent architects, artists and designers to create an exclusive range of prefabricated homes. These include experts from such firms as Zaha Hadid Architects, Jean Nouvel Design, Ron Arad Architects and Kravitz Design. The average price of homes from Revolution Precrafted costs around US$120,000. A 23-square metre home, however, starts for about US$10,000, which is estimated to be 72 times less than what a similarly sized flat would cost in Hong Kong. How proptech is changing Hong Kongs property industry Antonio, 41, hoped to get costs down over time to make his firms prefabricated homes more affordable, especially in other countries in Southeast Asia. I want to sell homes to the mid-market and later down the road, to the affordable market, he said. The goal, he added, was to help more people be able to afford their dream homes even if they are not wealthy. Asa Bruno, a director at Ron Arad Architects, said the firm has already designed for Revolution Precrafted what it calls an Armadillo Tea Canopy an independent shelter made of timber that is shaped like the leathery armour-shelled mammal for both indoor and outdoor use. For us, it was very important to make [the tea canopy] affordable, Bruno said. So while its luxurious, its not completely beyond the means of most people. The asset-light model of Revolution Precrafted, in which it strikes deals with developers and works with factories to produce the homes, has helped make the firm profitable, according to Antonio. The company, which counts 500 Startups and K2 Global as investors, currently has construction projects in 22 countries, including Myanmar, Japan, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates and Spain. It is among a growing number of proptech start-ups in the Asia-Pacific, which have raised funding of about US$4.8 billion of the US$7.8 billion total invested globally from 2013 to June 2017, according to a report published in February this year by real estate consultancy JLL and regional start-up platform Tech in Asia. What Revolution Precrafted is doing is structural disruption, and most of all, they make huge revenues from the get-go, said Khailee Ng, a 500 Startups partner who manages the venture capital firms Southeast Asian fund. We want to be able to create homes that can be built in 60 to 90 days Jose Roberto Antonio, chief executive of Revolution Precrafted We always look for large industries which have little or no innovation. The property sales and construction value chain is one of the biggest there is, and has essentially been the same for too long. The total value of investible global commercial real estate is forecast to reach US$65 trillion by 2020, with the Asia-Pacific accounting for more than 30 per cent of that amount, according to JLL. Still, Antonio said the market for his companys luxury prefabricated homes would be places like Malaysia or China, where it was looking for a trusted developer as a partner and where there is plenty of land for such development. The company would not be able to provide value in densely populated markets, such as Singapore and Hong Kong, he said. This article Revolution Precrafted: could Philippines first unicorn become the Ikea of homes? 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: A Chinese state-owned steamed bun store made famous after receiving Chinese President Xi Jinpings surprise visit in 2013, announced that it has raised investment from a key subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Fosun International, the Chinese owner of Club Med, and two other investment parties, paving the way for a listing. The Qingfeng Steamed Dumpling Store restaurant chain is a unit of Beijing Huatian Restaurants Group, which is in turn owned by the Beijing government. The venture received 35 million yuan (US$5.13 million) from Shanghai Fosun High Technology Group, a wholly owned subsidiary under Hong Kong-listed Fosun International, whose business spans property, wealth management and tourism. In 2014, Fosun invested US$35 million in Malaysian lifestyle cafe chain Secret Recipe, its first major investment in the food and beverage segment. The Qingfeng restaurant chain also received 50 million yuan from state-owned investor Beijing Financial Street Capital Management on Wednesday, according to The Beijing News. The company said it was graduallying pushing through with a stock market listing, without disclosing a time frame. Proceeds from the capital raising will be used for upgrading and expanding the companys current network and supply chain, the company said. Qingfeng announced in January it planned to bring in outside investors for a 7 per cent stake for around 33.5 million yuan, according to a statement published on Beijing Equity Exchange. After receiving the investment, Huatian will remain the biggest shareholder with a 81.6 per cent stake, while Fosun and the state-owned asset management firm will hold a 7 per cent and 10 per cent stake, respectively. While seemingly small in scale, the investment raised by Qingfeng was lauded by Chinese media as a milestone for Chinas mixed ownership reform a government initiative that allows private investors to hold stakes in state-owned enterprises to improve efficiency and profitability. The development strategy coincides with Beijings deleveraging campaign among publicly-owned companies. Data released in April showed that eight state-owned companies have brought in private investors, while another 31 are in process of vetting investors, according to the National Development and Reform Commission, which oversees the initiative. Story continues Originally a household name that was recognised solely by Beijingers, the baozi shop rose to nationwide prominence in late December 2013, when President Xi paid a surprise visit to one of its branches in a central district of the capital city. In China, unannounced visits by top politicians are extremely rare. As such, the presidents visit went viral on Chinese social media. Xis selection, a combo of pork and onion baozi, green vegetables and stewed liver, cost just 21 yuan. While the dish coined Chairmans combo was never formally introduced onto the menu, the publicity brought by Xis visit helped Qingfeng expand to 345 outlets across the country. Last year the companys revenue totalled 407 million yuan, up from 59 million yuan in 2015. Fosun and Huatian did not immediately reply to requests for comment for the story. This article Xi Jinpings favourite baozi shop gets a financial lifeline from Fosun, eyes a stock market listing first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Credit: CC0 Public Domain A team of researchers led by Costanza Argiroffi, an astronomer at the University of Palermo in Italy, has found evidence of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from a star that was not our sunthe first ever observed. They reported their findings at this year's Cool Stars 20 meeting in Massachusetts. A coronal mass ejection occurs when a star spews a glob of plasma and charged particles from its corona into surrounding space. They quite often occur with our sun following a solar flare. In this new effort, the researchers found evidence of a CME from a large star (approximately three times the mass of the sun) called HR 9024it is approximately 450 light-years from Earth. The researchers reported that they were studying data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory from a decade ago when they found what they claim is evidence of a CME. They further report that they were looking at changes in wavelengths of X-rays (Doppler shifts) emitted from the star to study material in the corona, when they noticed material that appeared to move away from the star after a flare had ceased. They reported that they detected the material moving back and forth in a loop extending out from the surface of the star and then back again. The also reported that the ejected material was made up of approximately 1 billion trillion grams of material, which they note fell within predicted estimates. But they also found that the kinetic energy produced by the material as it escaped was a lot lower than had been predicted by theory. They also pointed out that prior research has suggested that material from a CME may not be able to escape a large star's strong magnetic field, which would explain why the material they observed was continually pulled back in the loop. They suggest this might also explain why CMEs for other stars have not been spotted before. Other space scientists have suggested that the behavior the researchers observed might also serve as an indicator of the survivability of life on planets orbiting such a star. On the one hand, it could serve to protect such planets from being struck by material in a CMEbut on the other, it could also mean that such planets would be subjected to more discharge if the energy not released by ejection of material results in more solar flares. Explore further Tabby's star dims again More information: Julian D. Alvarado-Gomez et al. Suppression of Coronal Mass Ejections in Active Stars by an Overlying Large-scale Magnetic Field: A Numerical Study, The Astrophysical Journal (2018). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Julian D. Alvarado-Gomez et al. Suppression of Coronal Mass Ejections in Active Stars by an Overlying Large-scale Magnetic Field: A Numerical Study,(2018). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/aacb7f 2018 Phys.org Illustration of a three-dimensional hypersurface. Credit: Wang and Braunstein. Published in Nature Communications In recent years, some physicists have been investigating the possibility that gravity is not actually a fundamental force, but rather an emergent phenomenon that arises from the collective motion of small bits of information encoded on spacetime surfaces called holographic screens. The theory, called emergent gravity, hinges on the existence of a close connection between gravity and thermodynamics. Emergent gravity has received its share of criticism, however, and a new paper adds to this by showing that the holographic screen surfaces described by the theory do not actually behave thermodynamically, undermining a key assumption of the theory. Zhi-Wei Wang, a physicist at Jilin University in Changchun, China, and Samuel L. Braunstein, a professor of quantum computational science at the University of York in the UK, have published their paper on non-thermodynamic surfaces in a recent issue of Nature Communications. "Emergent gravity has very strong claims: that it can explain things like dark matter and dark energy, but also reproduce the decades of work coming out of regular general relativity," Wang told Phys.org. "That last claim is now knocked on its head by our work, so emergent gravity proponents will have their work cut out for themselves in showing consistency with the huge canon of observational results. We've set them back, not necessarily knocked them out." In the cosmological context, surfaces refer generally to any two-dimensional area in spacetime. Some of these surfaces, such as the horizons of black holes and other objects, are confirmed to be thermodynamic. For black hole horizons, this has been known since the 1970s, since the very laws that define black hole mechanics are directly analogous to the laws of thermodynamics. This means that black hole horizons obey thermodynamic principles such as energy conservation and having a positive temperature and entropy. More recently, surfaces that are not horizons have been conjectured to obey the laws of thermodynamics, with the holographic screens in the emergent gravity theory being one example. However, so far these conjectures have not been fully justified. In the new paper, the scientists tested whether different kinds of surfaces obey an analogue of the first law of thermodynamics, which is a special form of energy conservation. Their results reveal that, while surfaces near black holes (called stretched horizons) do obey the first law, ordinary surfacesincluding holographic screensgenerally do not. The only exception is that ordinary surfaces that are spherically symmetric do obey the first law. As the scientists explain, the finding that stretched horizons obey the first law is not surprising, since these surfaces inherit much of their behavior from the nearby horizons. Still, the scientists caution that the results do not necessarily imply that stretched horizons obey all of the laws of thermodynamics. On the other hand, the finding that ordinary surfaces do not obey the first law is more unexpected, especially as it is one of the key assumptions of emergent gravity. Going forward, researchers will work to understand what this means for the future of emergent gravity, as well as explore other possible implications. "We spent a large amount of time working out how to reproduce the original results for black holes from the 1970s," Braunstein said. "Although the methods from the 1970s were extremely tedious to replicate in detail, we found them very powerful and are thinking now about whether there is any way to generalize these results to other scenarios. Also, we think that our formula for the deviation away from the first law as one moves away from horizons will have important implications for quantum gravity." More information: Zhi-Wei Wang and Samuel L. Braunstein. "Surfaces away from horizons are not thermodynamic." Nature Communications. DOI: Journal information: Nature Communications Zhi-Wei Wang and Samuel L. Braunstein. "Surfaces away from horizons are not thermodynamic.". DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05433-9 2018 Phys.org Frost damage to young beech leaves on the Zugerberg, taken on 24 April 2017 only a few days after a heavy frost. Credit: Christof Bigler/ETH Zurich Climate change is bringing with it not only drier summers, but warmer springs too. This causes trees and shrubs to bud earlier, making them vulnerable to late frost, as ETH forest scientists have now proven. During the hot summer months, humans and animals alike enjoy the shade offered by the leafy canopy of trees and shrubs. In order for deciduous woods to make maximum use of the growing season, when growth and reproduction are possible, they must bud early in the springtime. Climate change favours this: with rising temperatures, the growing season in Switzerland has generally shifted forward. Frost frustration for trees Yet this presents plants with a dilemma: while early leaf unfolding extends the period in which plants can grow, early budding also increases the risk of frost damage to leaves and blossoms. The heavy late frost around 20 April 2017 provides a striking example of this: after an extremely warm March and April, temperatures in the lowlands dropped well below zero degrees Celsius for several days with dramatic consequences for vegetation, not least for Swiss fruit and vines. Senior Scientist Christof Bigler and Harald Bugmann, ETH Professor of Forest Ecology, have now examined in more detail whether and how the frost risk has changed for the leaf unfolding of 13 European tree and shrub species in Switzerland over a period of 60 years. To this end, they analysed temperature measurements and 48,000 observations of leaf unfolding carried out by MeteoSwiss at 264 stations since 1951. The researchers reported on their results in Scientific Reports. Increased risk safety margins exist Since around 1980, the time of leaf unfolding has shifted forward as a result of global warming, and the leaves and needles of some species are budding earlier, particularly at higher elevations. This means that the time between the last late frosts and leaf unfolding has shortened. "The risk of frost damage has therefore tended to increase," says Bigler. Nevertheless, in most of the years studied, the last intense late frosts have occurred before the leaves have unfolded, leading Bigler and Bugmann to conclude that many European tree and shrub species have relatively large safety margins with regard to frost risk. Yet the safety margins are distributed unevenly, as Bigler explains: "Species that bud early at an elevation above 1,100 metres, such as larch, have the lowest safety margins." Weakened vegetation Even if springtime frost after leaf unfolding is relatively rare, every now and then above-average spring temperatures followed by intense cold results in frost damage to leaves and needles, as in April 2017, when Bigler observed that some affected spruces could no longer bud after the cold snap. "Since spruces have perennial needles, they can handle this in contrast to deciduous trees, which often bud again." And yet some seedlings and saplings would have barely survived last year's frost. Frost damage weakens trees. If the leaves bud again, they lack the required resources to grow taller and thicker and to form roots. This makes them less competitive, as can be seen in tree rings, which are narrower after such frost events. A finely tuned moment For plants, the time of leaf unfolding is a compromise between minimum frost risk and maximum vegetation period, and they adapt continuously. "The time of leaf unfolding has been fine-tuned over a very long evolutionary period," says Bigler. In spring, however, trees also react to the rising temperatures: when it becomes warm, frost is less likely. Bigler and Bugmann assume that extreme late frosts will continue to occur in a warming climate, but the trend towards earlier leaf unfolding will continue for some time. A better understanding of how local trees and shrubs react to changing conditions will allow forest ecologists to estimate more precisely how quickly our forests will grow in the future and how species composition will develop. Explore further Broadleaf trees show reduced sensitivity to global warming More information: Christof Bigler et al. Climate-induced shifts in leaf unfolding and frost risk of European trees and shrubs, Scientific Reports (2018). Journal information: Scientific Reports Christof Bigler et al. Climate-induced shifts in leaf unfolding and frost risk of European trees and shrubs,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27893-1 Molecule designed by the Center for Research and Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery killed malaria parasite in mice and in vitro culture . Credit: CIBFar A novel laboratory-synthesized molecule, based on natural compounds known as marinoquinolines found in marine gliding bacteria, is a strong candidate for the development of a new antimalarial drug. In tests, the molecule proved capable of killing even the strain that resists conventional antimalarials. The molecule displays low toxicity and high selectivity, acting only on the parasite and not on other cells of the host organism. The molecule was developed in Brazil at the Center for Research and Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery (CIBFar). The researchers tested the molecule in strains cultured in vitro as well as in mice using Plasmodium berghei, since mice are immune to infection by Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the most aggressive type of malaria. "In mice, the number of parasites in the bloodstream (parasitemia) had fallen 62 percent by the fifth day of the test. After 30 days, all the mice given doses of the molecule were still alive," said Rafael Guido, a professor at the University of Sao Paulo's Sao Carlos Physics Institute (IFSC-USP). Guido co-authors an article published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, in which the researchers describe the molecule's inhibitory action in the blood and liver stages of the parasite's asexual cycle, which is responsible for the signs and symptoms of the disease. Potentializing the molecule's pharmacological activity Marinoquinolines were first isolated from marine gliding bacteria and, when discovered, were evaluated for activity against malaria, Chagas disease and tuberculosis. However, the natural products exhibited only weak to moderate activity against these pathogens. "The core of these molecules, known as pyrroloquinoline [which contains 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]quinoline], drew our attention. This is a rare structure among natural products and is rarely discussed in the scientific literature," said Carlos Roque Duarte Correia, a professor at the University of Campinas's Chemistry Institute (IQ-UNICAMP) and principal investigator at the FAPESP center. In 2012, the research group published a description of one of the first molecules synthesized from natural marinoquinolines. "During the synthesis procedure, we realized the huge pharmacological potential of these molecules," Guido said. "We then made new structural modifications to the pyrroloquinoline portion using efficient catalytic processes, and from the structure obtained, we created a new molecule with hundreds of times more firepower against P. falciparum and no increase in toxicity." Starved to death The molecular mechanisms of action are not yet fully understood, but one of them is clearly hemozoin metabolism, a classic pathway for inhibiting the parasite. The strategy consists of maintaining low levels of hemozoin, which is toxic to the parasite. Infection of the host begins in the red blood cells, as the hemoglobin they contain is the only source of energy for the parasite. Hemoglobin contains heme groups, which are highly toxic to the parasite in their free form (when separated from hemoglobin). As the parasite has evolved, it has developed a mechanism that polymerizes heme groups to eliminate their toxicity. "This strategy for obtaining energy without toxicity is like sweeping dust under the carpet. The heme group stays there, but in a polymerized insoluble form that isn't toxic to the parasite," Guido said. Among other mechanisms, the molecule developed by the CIBFar group of researchers inhibits this polymerization so the parasite is killed by the heme group. "The molecule prevents formation of the polymer hemozoin, which the parasite has created to rid itself of the heme group's toxicity. If you prevent hemozoin formation, you kill the parasite," said Celia Regina Garcia, a professor in the University of Sao Paulo's Pharmaceutical Science School (FCF-USP) and a coauthor of the article. Garcia partnered with CIBFar on the project and was responsible for testing the molecule's mechanisms of action against the parasite. Drug-resistant strains Another indication that the marinoquinoline derivative is a promising drug candidate is the finding that it kills strains resistant to the three main antimalarial drugs, namely, chloroquine, pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine. "Chloroquine is no longer used much to treat falciparum malaria, which accounts for the severest cases and most deaths from the disease," Garcia said. "The same is expected of artemisinin, which is still the main antimalarial and still effective, but its days are numbered because of resistance. The drug-resistant strains are spreading throughout Asia. Hence, there is a worldwide concern to develop drugs for malaria. I believe Brazil has the potential to lead in this area." Malaria kills some 445,000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "If the number of deaths is so high while we have an effective drug, it will be even higher in future if we don't develop new drugs," Guido said. "Malaria is the world's deadliest parasitic disease, even with the relatively effective treatment we currently have." Next steps According to Duarte Correia, the first 50 molecules developed from marinoquinolines were tested in the FAPESP-supported study. "This work hasn't ended with this publication. We're still developing other compounds," he said. The researchers are also characterizing the potential of this class to treat malaria caused by P. vivax, the most prevalent form in Brazil and are developing the pharmacokinetic part of the project (how drugs move through the organism). "If the pharmokinetic properties, especially solubility, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, aren't adequate, the compound can build up in the organism and become toxic to the patient, making it inappropriate for treatment. After completing this step, we plan to perform preclinical and clinical trials," Guido said. Explore further Designer molecule kills malarial parasites More information: Anna Caroline Campos Aguiar et al, Discovery of Marinoquinolines as Potent and Fast-Acting Plasmodium falciparum Inhibitors with in Vivo Activity, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2018). Journal information: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Anna Caroline Campos Aguiar et al, Discovery of Marinoquinolines as Potent and Fast-Acting Plasmodium falciparum Inhibitors with in Vivo Activity,(2018). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00143 Immo Hansen, associate professor in New Mexico State Universitys Department of Biology, inspects mosquitoes in his lab at Foster Hall. Credit: NMSU photo by Andres Leighton What do burning coffee, eating bananas and drinking gin and tonic have in common? They are among the unconventional mosquito repellents people say they use. Last summer, New Mexico State University professors in the College of Arts and Sciences: Immo Hansen, associate professor in biology and principle investigator of NMSU's Hansen Lab, and Mary Alice Scott, associate professor of anthropology, released a survey seeking homemade mosquito repellent methods and strategies. The goal was to discover cheaper and more easily available repellents beyond commercial products to test them in a future study against traditional repellents such as DEET. They received responses from more than 5,000 participants and recently released a paper detailing their findings. The survey was available in English, Spanish and Portuguese and was distributed in countries in which residents were likely to speak one these languages. In addition to open-ended questions about repellents, there was a multiple-choice question listing 13 repellent control methods. As a precursor to this research, Scott previously observed residents of Veracruz, Mexico, using three different methods to repel mosquitoes. "These were burning mosquito coils that were commercially produced, though I did not learn what the ingredients of these coils were, sprinkling small amounts of gasoline around the perimeter of an area to be protected from mosquitoes, although this was probably the least common method, and burning bundles of dried herbs, which I believe was to produce smoke to keep mosquitoes away since different herbs were used at different times," she said. "I did not test the effectiveness of any of these techniques, so I can't say how effective they are. "From the responses, we compiled a table of more than 200 techniques people use, from stuff they eat or drink such as garlic or gin and tonics to burning various herbs, plants, and even animal dung, to stuff they rub on their skin again, like garlic to spatial repellents," said Hansen. For me the most surprising answer was the use of dryer sheets," said Scott. "I had not heard of dryer sheets being used before, although some other members of our research team were familiar with that method." As an anthropologist, Scott's expertise is in qualitative research. "My role on this project was to develop the qualitative components of the survey used to collect the data that were analyzed for this project," Scott said. Stacy Rodriguez, laboratory manager for the Molecular Vector Physiology Laboratory at New Mexico State University, discusses testing wearable mosquito repellents inside the wind tunnel at NMSU with graduate student Kristina Gonzales (right) while undergraduate student Hae-Na Chung looks on from inside the enclosure behind them. Credit: NMSU photo by Minerva Baumann The majority of respondents to the survey resided in the United States, 67 percent of whom were female, 81 percent of whom had a university degree, and 50 percent of whom were 18 to 37 years old. "The most commonly used repellent was DEET spray, which made up 48 percent of the responses," Hansen said. "This also corresponds with our research that says DEET spray is the most effective repellent." The DEET spray particles adhere to mosquitoes' odor receptors, which prevent them from locating a human with DEET particles around him. From Hansen's research, mosquitoes have not developed any kind of resistance to DEET, as they have to large-scale insecticides used by public-health agencies to control populations. Interestingly, the second most-used method of repelling mosquitoes involved citronella candles, which made up 43 percent of the survey's responses. Citronella is an essential oil obtained from lemongrass. Based on their previous research, Hansen says citronella has no effect as a repellent. "We tested citronella-based repellents in two different assays," Hansen said, referring to a clear enclosure used to observe behavior and actions within. "We used a Y-tube assay, where we inserted the mosquitoes at the bottom, then put a hand with citronella repellent on it at one end and a hand with no repellent at the other. If citronella were an effective repellent, the mosquito would fly to the hand with no repellent but that's not what happened." The second assay experiment his lab conducted involved a wind tunnel in which a fan blew around someone with citronella-based repellent on, blowing his scent in the direction of the mosquitoes, and this also failed to prevent the mosquitoes from going near the human. "To be clear, we only ran these experiments on Yellow Fever mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, which are the ones we're most concerned with here in southern New Mexico," Hansen said. "They're the carriers of viral diseases like Chikungunya, Dengue fever and Zika. There's nothing to say that citronella isn't an effective repellent for other types of mosquitoes, such as albopictus, rusticus, or any of the other species." Hansen described citronella as having a placebo effect, which, coupled with the oil's pleasant aroma, could explain why it's used so much as a mosquito repellent even when it doesn't work. "With these responses, we want to start testing some of the methods, like various types of smoke that some people used as a repellent, as well as some of the topically applied methods," Hansen said. Hansen and Scott's study lays the foundation for future research in alternative methods to repel mosquitoes that may be culturally acceptable and more affordable for people. Explore further For mosquito repellents, stick with the spray More information: Emily Lucille Moore et al. An online survey of personal mosquito-repellent strategies, PeerJ (2018). Journal information: PeerJ Emily Lucille Moore et al. An online survey of personal mosquito-repellent strategies,(2018). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5151 Researchers from the Bristol Glaciology Centre look over the vast Greenland Ice Sheet, which stretches beyond the horizon, during a field campaign lasting over three months in 2015. The researchers camped in a remote region of Greenland, monitoring a large meltwater river and taking samples to look at the silica concentration and isotopic signature. Credit: Dr Jon Hawkings, University of Bristol New research led by glaciologists and isotope geochemists from the University of Bristol has found that melting ice sheets provide the surrounding oceans with the essential nutrient silica. Silica is needed by a group of marine algae (the microscopic plants of the oceans) called diatoms, who use it to build their glassy cell walls (known as frustules). These plankton take up globally significant amounts of carbon they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via photosynthesis, and act as a natural carbon sink when they die and fall to the bottom of the ocean and form the base of the marine food chain. The study published today in the journal Nature Communications suggests that glacial meltwater, both in the present and during past ice ages, contains silica that could be useful in sustaining the growth of diatoms in the oceans around ice sheets, which are home to economically important fisheries and marine life. The researchers show that the silica in glacial meltwaters from the Greenland Ice Sheet has a distinctive isotopic signature, different to the that found in other rivers. Researchers have previously found that diatoms and sponges (which build their skeletons from silica) gradually buried in ocean sediments since the last ice age have a different silicon isotopic signature to their modern-day relatives. This lighter isotopic signature was thought to be the result of changing diatom activity and ocean currents during and between ice ages. However, researchers now think that a change in the isotopic signature of the river waters supplied to the ocean might account for these shifts. Vast quantities of milky glacial meltwaters sourced from Greenland Ice Sheet make their way toward the ocean. The milky colour of meltwaters is caused by the large quantities of finely ground rock flour carried by the meltwater. Credit: Dr Jon Hawkings, University of Bristol Dr Jon Hawkings, lead author of the study from the University of Bristol's School of Geographical Sciences, Bristol Glaciology Centre and Cabot Institute for the Environment said: "In this study we wanted to find out if silica in glacial meltwaters from a large ice sheet (Greenland) has a distinctive isotopic signature. "If it does, then the huge quantities of meltwater coming from melting ice sheets during the deglaciation could account for some of the change in ocean silicon isotopic signature that have been recorded previously. Rapid ice sheet melting during the last ice age led to periods of sea level rise great than 3 cm per year (compared to around 0.3 cm per year at present). "At peaks, ice sheets melting an estimated 25,000 km3 of water was entering the oceans from melting ice sheets every year this is more than three times the amount of water currently flowing from the Amazon river. "If silica carried by ice sheet meltwaters does have a distinctive isotopic signature, then this reshapes how important ice sheets, and large deglaciation events, are in global biogeochemical cycles." Researchers examined silica concentrations in meltwaters and the silicon isotopic signature of those meltwaters (referred to as 30Si, which we're using as a "marker" of glacial silica), alongside a computer model using this data, and results from a marine sediment core off the coast of Iceland which shows distinctive changes in the silicon isotopic composition of sponges during periods of ice sheet collapse. They wanted to determine: If glacial meltwaters have a distinct silica signal that can be used to trace inputs into the ocean If there were any changes to the isotopic signal over the course of a summer melt period (which might reflect where the silica comes from within a glacier) To predict the impact from rapidly melting ice sheets of the last ice age on marine ecosystems The study concluded that glaciers and ice sheets are an under-appreciated component of the silica cycle, exporting large quantities of reactive silica into the ocean, which could be used by diatoms. This might, say researchers, have major implications for the health of marine siliceous organisms during periods of significant ice cover and rapid deglaciation. Glacial meltwaters carrying silica with a distinctive isotopic signature flow into marine ecosystems, where microscopic algae known as diatoms use the silica to build their glassy cell walls. Credit: Dr Jon Hawkings, University of Bristol The study showed ice sheet runoff has the lightest silicon isotopic composition ever measured in running water - values for glacial meltwaters are much lower than any measurements of non-glacial riverine runoff. Using this data combined with a simple computer model of the ocean since the last ice age maximum (around 21,000 years ago) the study predicts that up to a third of the observed changes in the silicon isotopic signature of siliceous organisms can be explained by the melting of the massive ice sheets that at their peak covered up to 30 percent of the land surface, including much of North America and Europe, including much of the United Kingdom. The isotopic composition also helps to explain that meltwater is sourced from further into the ice sheet as the annual melting period progresses, flushing liquid water stored hundreds of meters under the ice. Dr Hawkings added: "Our findings re-frame the traditional view of the importance of ice sheets in biogeochemical cycles, specifically of the silica cycle. "Previously the huge quantities of water and sediment delivered from the ice sheets of the last ice age wasn't fully considered as having a significant impact on marine chemistry and biology, but our study points that this is likely an oversight. "Our interpretation of a number of other isotopic systems, and of changes to biogeochemical cycles since the last glacial maximum therefore likely needs re-evaluating." There is still a lot of work needed to discover the importance of ice sheets in global nutrient cycles. The research team will now work to establish if other glaciers carry significant quantities of isotopically distinctive silica to the oceans, by visiting a range of glaciers around Greenland (and further afield) to see if this relationship holds. Explore further Study reveals new Antarctic process contributing to sea level rise and climate change More information: Jon R. Hawkings et al. The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Jon R. Hawkings et al. The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05689-1 The Meg: Jaws, but considerably larger. Credit: IMDB After 20 years of development hell, the film The Meg opens in Australia this week. The screenplay is based on the first of Steve Alten's six-book, horror sci-fi series. The film has been pitched as an action-packed thriller, centring on our hero, naval captain and diver Jonas Taylor (played by Jason Statham) and his monstrous fishy nemesis. The pre-launch trailer, featuring frightening scenes of the Meg set to Beyond the Sea, a chirpy love song first popularised by Bobby Darin, suggests we shouldn't take the film too seriously. But, then again, perhaps we should. Meg, a larger than life, 22-metre, toothsome monster, is only the latest in a long history of human representations of sharks. Our fascination with these imagined monsters is apparently insatiable. But fictionalised versions, with their threatening fins, chomping jaws and general grudge against humanity, have tended to blind us to what is truly amazing about the sharks in our oceans. Confusing what we know about sharks in movies with what we know about real sharks is chiefly what has led to them being seen as pests that must be slaughtered. Historically, shark research has been underfunded, which is why so much mystery and so many myths have surrounded them. Yet we are beginning to realise just how crucial sharks are to the healthy oceans on which all human life depends. Sharks have lived on the planet for around 450 million years and proven to be extremely resilient in having survived, in various forms, all five mass extinctions. Their current challenge, however, is to survive the Anthropocene. Megalodon, or Carcharocles megalodon, was probably more closely related to a group of extinct sharks rather than the ancestor of today's great white sharks. It first appeared around 23 million years ago, roughly 42 million years after the extinction that wiped out the larger dinosaurs, and was last in evidence around 2.6 million years ago. Most taxonomists will agree that there are currently between 450 and 500 species of shark in our oceans. Some have evolved to survive at depths of 3,000 metres while others live much closer to the surface. Most can only survive in salt water, but the bull shark can also navigate in fresh water. They range from the 15-22 cm, krill-eating, dwarf lantern shark, among the smallest fish, to the 12 m plankton-eating, whale shark, the largest fish of all. Sharks are extraordinary and diverse creatures. They are tasked with maintaining a healthy balance in the oceans by keeping other fish and mammal populations in check, and by cleaning up dead and dying organisms from the 70% of our planet that we still regard as a blue refuse bin. Yet with around 100,000,000 sharks being fished out of the oceans each year, it is perilous for us to ignore marine scientists' warnings of the devastating consequences of over-fishing. Large shark species can take years to reach sexual maturity, have slow reproductive cycles and produce only a few pups, which are highly vulnerable to larger oceanic predators. Sharks imagined If sharks' vital contribution to the health of our planet has tended to be ignored, the evidence of their contribution to human culture is ubiquitous. Uses for sharks vary from weaponry to "pharmazooticals". Shark teeth have served as clubbed weapons, cutting tools and ceremonial and general ornaments; their fins as food, their skin as sandpaper, and their liver and cartilage as treatments for ailments from the common cold to cancer. Sharks have long been imagined and represented across the world's languages and cultures as a force to be reckoned with. An increasing body of archaeological and anthropological work testifies to the incorporation of sharks in Mayan culture, for instance, as part of its language system, in the representation of deities (with ritualised use of the teeth of sharks and even fossilised Megalodons), and in exquisite stone carvings depicting human and shark relationships. Whale sharks are the largest living fish. Credit: Shutterstock Australian Aboriginal cultures have long used sharks in their Dreamtime to explain natural phenomena such as the emergence and shape of rivers. Polynesian cultures honoured sharks as their ancestors in stories, songs and dances that are still remembered today. Whether of Mayan "xoc", German "sherk" or French "cherquier" origin, "shark" officially became an English word in 1569 in a brief, illustrated pamphlet. This described how a "marveilous straunge" creature caught in a mackerel fishing net was subsequently dissected, displayed and finally eaten by excited Londoners. Since then, there have been thousands of printed accounts of sharks: from short museum descriptions to exaggerated reports of monstrous attacks in newspapers to photos of bleeding trophy catches in fishing magazines. Poets have also been drawn to sharks. Andrew Marvell used shark teeth to describe crippling commodity taxes in his Last Instructions to a Painter (1667), while John Greenleaf Whittier chillingly described sharks as the partners of slave-traders as they waited beneath boats for the diseased and dead to be tossed overboard in The Slave Ships (1894). James Fenton's shark was the focus of a shared community supper in The Milkfish Gatherers (1993) and Carol Ann Duffy's shark was the central metaphor for being Jealous as Hell (1998). From the 16th century onwards, sharks have appeared in plays. William Shakespeare used sharks in the Witches' toxic brew of Macbeth (1606), while William Congreve, (though not alone in this respect), used sharks to describe the theatre critics of his day in The Double Dealer (1693). In Joe Clifford's Every One (2010) the shark on the fish counter shouts out to Joe's conservation manifesto. Sharks have been prominent in visual art since John White's depictions of hammerheads helped to create the exotic landscapes of the North American Indians in his The Manner of Their Fishing (1585). John Singleton Copley's Watson and the Shark (1778) remains the most famous shark painting, while Damien Hirst's The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) puts sharks at the centre of the modern art controversy. Visual art has more usually depicted sharks and men in confrontation, although more recent conservation shark art by divers such as Wolfgang Leander has refreshingly challenged the dominant perception of sharks as monsters. A Mayan vessel of a shark with a man in its mouth, circa AD 1450-1550. Credit: National Museum of the American Indian The staple representation of sharks in novels has been that of the monstrous man-eater, from R.M. Ballantyne's The Coral Island (1858) to Peter Benchley's Jaws (1974) which firmly fixed the great white shark as the villain. This misrepresentation of great white sharks found its way into the most powerful visual medium of all with Stephen Spielberg's Jaws (1975). The movie propelled this species of shark to stardom as the ultimate monster, and the ensuing slaughter of real sharks caused Peter Benchley to devote himself to shark conservation for the rest of his life. Shark attack Horrific shark attacks are usually written by screenwriters to excite audiences, but in real life there are some very unfortunate shark encounters every year. Often simplified by the media, fatal shark attacks are complex and many factors must be considered in each case. Since sharks use their mouths to test what is in their midst, it is thought that most non-fatal injuries are due to shark mistakes. We are usually made aware of them through on-line sharing sites such as YouTube or through on-line news reports. However, these are rarely without some form of framing device that influences the way we understand what we are being shown. When we do see someone being pulled off a surfboard or struggling out of the water with a wound, the reaction of those immediately involved is rarely that of the panicked screaming typical of movies. As any lifeguard will agree, physiologically, panicking is just about the most dangerous thing we can do when we are in difficulty in the ocean, shark or no shark. It is interesting to compare the recent encounter between a shark and the surfer Mick Fanning, as it happened, with the numerous reports that followed. Fanning was knocked off his board during the J-Bay Open in South Africa on 19 July, 2015 with the world's cameras trained on him. One of Damien Hirsts shark artworks in 2013 in Doha. Credit: Gazanfarulla Khan/Flickr Unprepared, journalists watched as Fanning pushed the shark off without any further trouble from it. Within moments, this encounter was being represented as a shark attack. An article in The Guardian ran with the headline "Mick Fanning battles shark attack at surfing competition: 'I'm just trippin'". According to Fanning's account in this article, the shark didn't even show its teeth, but most likely got caught in his leg rope. Although viewers with Jaws on their minds might have been imagining a bloody spectacle as a fin came in with the wave, what was most impressive about that footage was the calmness with which Fanning dealt with the situation. All oceanic swimmers and surfers who pursue their sport at the surface of the water, where sharks are likely to be looking for something floating and dead, know that there are far greater dangers in lurking rocks and rip tides. They accept this as a condition of being in a wild environment. Of the 7.6 billion people on the planet, an average of six a year die following a negative shark encounter. The question remains: why are we so afraid of sharks? The obvious answer is because we have repeatedly misrepresented them as our enemies. Fear of the unknown, or unseen, fear of being attacked while off-guard, fear because humans are not in their natural element when in the ocean, fear of being eaten alive, fear of being reminded that there is something bigger and more powerful than us out there. These are all possibilities that screenwriters work with to make us scream at screens. But as you can see from the following footage, shot with a hand-held Go-Pro, although we are fascinated by sharks, they aren't really that interested in us. I started diving with sharks when photographer Wolfgang Leander persuaded me that I couldn't study sharks without getting wet. He was right. Certainly, being able to dive freely with the tiger sharks of the Bahamas is a privilege. They are majestic, elegant creatures that seem comfortable around divers as long as a few simple procedures are followed and no liberties are taken. They are, however, large and powerful and if they were at all interested in eating us a punch on the nose would not deter them. Close to Guadalupe Island, Mexico, where great whites can be viewed in reliably clear blue water, it is now, unfortunately, impossible to swim freely with sharks. Partly because of the hysteria surrounding shark encounters, and perhaps partly to protect the sharks, authorities are introducing regulations that prevent people from getting too close to them. The great whites in this footage display very interesting behaviour towards each other, circling, maintaining distance, never getting in each other's way even when there is food around. We continue to enjoy the depiction of great whites as crazed, chaotic monsters so we can scare ourselves in the comfort of cinemas, but we need to appreciate the difference between the creatures of the natural world and our cultural representations. In Alten's book. the Megalodon's opportunistic menu includes a T-Rex. In reality, this king of dinosaurs would have been extinct for 42 million years by the time Meg starts to eat it. I wonder if they will include this scene in the film? Tiger sharks in the Bahamas. Great white sharks off Guadalupe Island, Mexico Explore further New shark species could be swimming toward UK as seas warm This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Credit: CC0 Public Domain On social media, people can be quick to call attention to racist, sexist or unpatriotic behavior they see. But when that outcry goes viral, those challenging the behavior may be perceived less as noble heroes doing the right thing and more like bullies doling out excessive punishment, say Stanford researchers in a new paper for Psychological Science. Through a series of laboratory studies, Stanford psychology Professor Benoit Monin and graduate student Takuya Sawaoka found that while comments against offensive behavior are seen as legitimate and even admirable as individual remarks, when they multiply they may lead to greater sympathy for the offender. Outrage in the internet era "One of the features of the digital age is that anyone's words or actions can go viral, whether they intend to or not," said Sawaoka. "In many cases, the social media posts that are met with viral outrage were never intended to be seen by people outside of the poster's social circle. Someone doesn't even need to be on social media in order for their actions to go viral." Because of social media, responses to questionable behavior reach further than ever before. "We've all either been in one of those maelstroms of outrage or just one step away from one as bystanders on our social media news feeds," said Monin, noting how frequent these public outcries have become on social media. For example, in 2013 there was public outcry over a young woman who tweeted that she couldn't get AIDS while traveling to Africa because she was white. Her post, which she said she intended as a joke, went viral across social media and quickly made its way into the news. It led to her being fired from her job. "On the one hand, speaking out against injustice is vital for social progress, and it's admirable that people feel empowered to call out words and actions they believe are wrong," said Sawaoka. "On the other hand, it's hard not to feel somewhat sympathetic for people who are belittled by thousands of strangers online, and who even lose friends and careers as a result of a poorly thought-out joke." Testing reactions to outrage Sawaoka and Monin put their observations to the test. They conducted six experiments with a total of 3,377 participants to examine how people perceived public outcry to an offensive or controversial post on social media. They set up a variety of scenarios, including asking people how they felt when there were only one or two comments versus a mass of replies. In one study, the researchers showed participants a post taken from a real story of a charity worker who posted a photograph of herself making an obscene gesture and pretending to shout next to a sign that read "Silence and Respect" at Arlington National Cemetery. They asked participants how offensive they found the photograph, as well as what they thought about the responses to the post. Sawaoka and Monin found that when participants saw the post with just a single comment condemning it, they found the reaction applaudable. When they saw that reply echoed by many others, they viewed the original reply that had been praiseworthy in isolation more negatively. Early commenters were de facto penalized for later, independent responses, they said. "There is a balance between sympathy and outrage," said Monin about their findings. "The outrage goes up and up but at some point sympathy kicks in. Once a comment becomes part of a group, it can appear problematic. People start to think, 'This is too much that's enough.' We see outrage at the outrage." Different degrees of sympathy? The researchers were curious to know whether people would feel less sympathetic depending on the status of the offender. Would they feel differently if something offensive was said by a well-known person, or by someone many people regard as abhorrent, like a white supremacist? Sawaoka and Monin tested for that as well. In one study, participants were shown a social media post taken from a real story where a comedian ridiculed overweight women. The researchers set up two conditions: one where they referred to him as an average social media user, and another where they said he was an up-and-coming comedy actor. Mirroring their earlier findings, the researchers found that a high-profile persona did not elicit any less sympathy than the average person despite the fact that people believed they could cause more harm from their post. And like their previous results, the researchers found that individual commenters are also viewed less favorably after outrage went viral. When Sawaoka and Monin tested for affiliation to a white supremacist organization, they found similar results. Although participants were less sympathetic toward a white supremacist making a racist comment, they did not view the individuals who participated in the outrage any differently. They still perceived the display of viral outrage as bullying. "These results suggest that our findings are even more broadly applicable than we had originally anticipated, with viral outrage leading to more negative impressions of individual commenters even when the outrage is directed toward someone as widely despised as a white supremacist," Sawaoka and Monin wrote. The outrage dilemma The question about how to respond to injustice in the digital age is complex, Sawaoka and Monin concluded in the paper. There is no easy solution, the researchers said. "Our findings illustrate a challenging moral dilemma: A collection of individually praiseworthy actions may cumulatively result in an unjust outcome. Obviously, the implication is not that people should simply stay silent about others' wrongdoing," said Sawaoka. "But I think it is worth reconsidering whether the mass shaming of specific individuals is really the best way to achieve social progress." Explore further In social hierarchies, moral stigma spreads down more than up More information: Takuya Sawaoka et al. The Paradox of Viral Outrage, Psychological Science (2018). Journal information: Psychological Science Takuya Sawaoka et al. The Paradox of Viral Outrage,(2018). DOI: 10.1177/0956797618780658 The US Naval Research Laboratory's Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe, or WISPR, will launch aboard NASA's Parker Solar Probe Aug. 11, 2018. Credit: US Naval Research Laboratory/Jamie Baker The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's unique expertise in sun-viewing telescopes will be an integral part of the historic NASA Parker Solar Probe mission scheduled to launch Aug. 11 to better understand how the Sun affects our solar system. The mission to "touch the Sun" is 60 years in the making and will bring a spacecraft carrying a suite of instruments the closest ever before to the Sun with NRL's Space Science Division's coronagraph telescopes called the Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe, or WISPR, being the only imager. WISPR is built with telescopes that create a solar eclipse type image by blocking the actual sun so its atmosphere, or corona, can be captured. These images show the Sun's emissions, including streamers, plumes, and the energetic coronal mass ejections that burst from the star. According to Dr. Russell Howard, the NRL WISPR principal investigator, and a leading world authority on coronagraph telescopes, it's not just the pictures that are importantit's where that energy goes. Understanding how the Sun's atmosphere then flows through the solar system, called space weather, is extremely important because it can have dramatic effects on communications, power and other essential technologies that the U.S. Navy fleet relies on, said Howard. "What this mission is going to be able do is pin down exactly what the structure close to the sun isthe overall structure. We'll be able to image that," said Howard. "But also, there's an experiment that will measure the strength of the magnetic fields, the electric fieldsthe structure of the plasma we're running through." This imaging capability is building on 40 years of NASA mission success with NRL's coronagraph telescopes, starting with the seventh of NASA's Orbiting Solar Observatories launched in September 1971. Since then, NRL telescopes have captured extraordinary images of the Sun's atmosphere, including two of the most recent missions: The European Space Agency/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission [11] in 1995 and the NASA STEREO mission launched in 2006. For Howard, who has personally worked on nearly all NRL coronagraph telescope launches, the Parker Solar Probe will be a culmination of decades of work. While the previous NRL telescopes are on spacecraft either on lower Earth orbit or just outside of Earth's orbit, they are still getting fuzzy views of the Sun. With the closeness of the Parker Solar Probe to the Sun, WISPR will be capturing images with clarity like never before, he said, because those images actually pick up nearly at the same point where the other telescopes loose resolution. "What we're going to achieve is just absolutely amazing. Stay tunedwe're going to see stuff that we just never would have imagined, I'm sure," said Howard. Explore further Ready for its day in the sunthe SWEAP investigation Alexander Komissarov, one of the developers and a NUST MISIS research associate. Credit: Sergey Gnuskov/NUST MISIS The peculiarities of oil development technology in Russian oil fields have created demand for a new steel grade. Existing oil field pipes operate in conditions of constant contact with a corrosive water-emulsion mixture of oil and concentrated salt solutions. This leads to short operation periods (about two years) and unpredictable accidents, which are often accompanied by the pollution of large swaths of surrounding areas. NUST MISIS scientists have proposed an innovative technology for the production of rolled steel to manufacture corrosion-resistant field pipes with improved mechanical characteristics. The new steel grade, SeverCorr, will significantly reduce environmental risks and the operating costs of oil extraction, including in the hard-to-reach fields of Western Siberia, where repairing and replacing pipes is complicated by the conditions of their delivery and the necessary composition of hydrocarbons that lead to an increased level of corrosive wear. "The new technology of rolled steel production for the manufacturing of straight-seam oilfield pipes provides them with increased corrosion resistance and cold resistance. The development of new alloying schemes (adding impurities to the composition of the materials to improve the properties of the base material) and providing the necessary structural and phase steel composition to the production of rolled and sheet metal has become our main task," said Alexander Komissarov, one of the developers and a NUST MISIS research associate. NUST MISIS scientists have already calculated the conditions of the complex micro-allocation of the melt with elements like chromium, copper and nickel to obtain the necessary properties. The introduction of these metals into the liquid steel allows manufacturers to regulate the composition of corrosion-active non-metallic inclusions in the steel, thereby reducing their negative impact on its properties. According to the developers, this technology will significantly reduce both operating costs and environmental risks of oil extraction. The production of pipes through welding will help to reduce their cost and increase the efficiency of oil extraction. According to Komissarov, the technology is competitive by global standards. This year, the developers intend to obtain an international patent, and in the future, they plan to issue a guarantee of at least double the life cycle of pipes manufactured with this technology. As part of the project, several promising steel concepts have been developed. A series of melting and smelting experiments of a batch at Severstal Enterprises have already been conducted, and the SeverCorr samples passed the corrosion tests with flying colors. Full-scale pilot tests of the new steel pipeline at the West Siberian oil fields of Lukoil, Gazprom Neft, and Irkutsk Oil Company are being prepared for launch. Evgeny Fedotov, senior manager of the Department of Technical Development & Quality at Severstal, says that the high requirements for steel purity and structural uniformity, combined with this unique concept of alloying, required the solution of complex, partly contradictory technological tasks. He was impressed when NUST MISIS scientists did just that. The results of lab tests have shown that the scientists have discovered a solution to this complex task. They have prepared the samples of SeverCorr pipes to conduct pilot tests and confirm the enhanced corrosion resistance of the new brand in comparison with analogues in oil fields around the world. Real-world tests should confirm the new steel's high performance. Explore further Scientists develop elastic metal rods to treat scoliosis Provided by National University of Science and Technology MISIS This map shows how Syrian refugees fled danger back home to find relative safety in Australia and how policymakers can better help them resettle. Credit: S. Juneja Maps are an important part of our everyday lives. We use them for driving directions, to look up restaurants or stores and parse election data. We can even use smartphone maps to locate friends when they're out on the town. What digital mapping tools like Google Maps or Citymapper generally don't tell us is how a certain street got its name, or what issues are of critical cultural importance to a community. But "story maps" an interactive form of drawing the world around us and an increasingly popular form of mapping can do all this and more. As geographers, we believe story maps can also help people better understand such complex global issues as human rights, climate change and refugee resettlement. Here are a few examples. Untold histories Story maps typically combine geographic maps with narrative text, images and multimedia content to tell a richer, often hidden story of a given place. Julian Barr, a geographer at the University of Washington and an LGBTQ historian, has transformed a printed walking tour of Seattle's Pioneer Square into a digitized, interactive self-guided tour of Seattle's queer history. A new digital tour of Seattles Pioneer Square allows users to interact with the citys queer history. The Pioneer Square walking tour, first created by the Northwest Lesbian and Gay History Museum Project in the late 1990s, was designed simply to commemorate the area's history. "It was conducted a couple of times a year to engage the public with a queer history that is not obvious or apparent," Barr explains. In 2017, Barr decided to make the tour available to a wider audience and offer it in a more interactive format. He took it online and added historical photographs from newspaper archives about Occidental Square, the site of major protests against a 1978 anti-lesbian bill, and on the backstory behind every gay bar in the area. People can now learn more about how each stop on the walk has helped build Seattle's local LGBTQ community since the 1890s. "Digitizing the tour allowed me to make this important local history more accessible and engaging" for a broader audience, he says. Personal journeys Story maps can provide insights into the experiences of refugees as they settle into new lives far from home. In 2017, as part of doctoral research at Australia's University of Wollongong, interviews were conducted with 26 people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Myanmar, Syria and Uganda about their experience of resettling in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The Illawarra is safer than the war zones the refugees fled. But it is also home to a range of seasonal hazards, including flooding, bush fires, hail, strong winds and lightning. Ten of the 26 refugees interviewed reported being caught unaware by severe weather during their first years of living in the Illawarra. Mapping climate change on Post-Its in Ticatilin-Macalo Grande, Ecuador. Credit: Jin-Kyu Jung. 18 June 2016., Author provided The detailed, hand-drawn charts that emerged from the interviews plot refugees' experiences en route to Australia, showing their journey from "risks" flooding, fire and the like to the "safety" of family, neighbors and community. These charts, now available online in digital form, offer insight into how refugees apply their past disaster-survival experience to stay safe in Australia. City councils, local emergency agencies and community groups are now working directly with former refugees to design more responsive and relevant disaster preparedness and response services in the Illawarra. Mapping climate change Story mapping can even be done in places with little or no regular internet access by building on the visual and oral mapping traditions of local communities. In 2016, University of Washington professor Jin-Kyu Jung, working with Ecuadorian subsistence farmers, used Post-It notes to facilitate a community discussion on climate change. "The locals have a very limited understanding of maps," Jung told us. "And they really couldn't precisely point out where climate changes are happening." So Jung asked 16 male and female farmers from the Ticatilin-Marcalo Grande community in the mountainous central Ecuadorian province of Cotopaxi to answer three questions: Has your community changed since you were a child? How has the climate changed since then? Are there any past climate-related events that affected you the most? They wrote their answers on Post-It notes and stuck them on a map of the area. Aberystwyth Universitys Global-Rural project explains how globalization impacts the Welsh town of Newtown by tracing the sourcing, production and sale of the soft drink Fanta. Credit: Global-Rural Project The result was a deeply personal and geographically detailed narrative about climate change in this swath of the high Andes. Farmers observed that local grasslands were drying up, making food and water for livestock harder to find. Some said they had changed how they farmed in response. Others prayed before heading to their fields for the harvest, understanding severe climate events as a punishment from "taitita (father) God." Jung hopes his story maps along with the journal article that they helped inform can help Ecuadorian policymakers design responsive and relevant climate policies for the Andean region. What story maps can teach us next The three projects outlined here are just a snapshot of a much broader universe of story maps. Story mapping is a versatile tool for engaging with people whose tales often go untold, informing how communities and governments think about the history and future of the places they call home. By making uber-local or highly personal experiences more visible, story maps have the potential to tell a more nuanced, complex story about some of the most important issues of the day, from globalization to migration and beyond. Our research suggests its power as a storytelling tool, not for just geographers but activists, policymakers and neighborhoods alike. Explore further Nursing researcher's storytelling tool brings together small stories and big data This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. A peculiar X-ray source spotted in the globular cluster NGC 6540 as part of a collaboration between scientists at the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) in Milan, Italy, and a group of students from a local high school. In 2005, ESA's XMM-Newton saw this source undergo a flare that boosted the luminosity of the source by up to 50 times its normal level for about five minutes. Too short to be an ordinary stellar flare, but too faint to be linked to a compact object, this event is challenging our understanding of X-ray outbursts. Credit: ESA/XMM-Newton; A. De Carlo (INAF) An enigmatic X-ray source revealed as part of a data-mining project for high-school students shows unexplored avenues hidden in the vast archive of ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray Observatory. When XMM-Newton was launched in 1999, most students who are finishing high school today were not even born. Yet ESA's almost two-decade old X-ray observatory has many surprises to be explored by the next generation of scientists. A taste of new discoveries was unveiled in a recent collaboration between scientists at the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) in Milan, Italy, and a group of twelfth-grade students from a secondary school in nearby Saronno. The fruitful interaction was part of the Exploring the X-ray Transient and variable Sky project, EXTraS, an international research study of variable sources from the first 15 years of XMM-Newton observations. "We recently published the EXTraS catalogue, which includes all the X-ray sources about half a million whose brightness changes over time as observed by XMM-Newton, and lists several observed parameters for each source," says Andrea De Luca, one of the scientists who coordinated the student project. "The next step was to delve into this vast data set and find potentially interesting sources, and we thought this would be an exciting challenge for a student internship," adds Andrea. Scientists at INAF in Milan have been cooperating with local schools for a few years, hosting several groups of students at the institute for a couple of weeks and embedding them in the activities of the various research groups. "For this particular project, the students received an introduction about astronomy and the exotic sources we study with X-ray telescopes, as well as a tutorial on the database and how to use it," explains Ruben Salvaterra, another scientist involved in the programme. "Once they were ready to explore the data archive, they proved very effective and resourceful." The six students analysed about 200 X-ray sources, looking at their light curve a graph showing the object's variability over time and checking the scientific literature to verify whether they had been studied already. Eventually, they identified a handful of sources exhibiting interesting properties a powerful flare, for example that had not been previously reported by other studies. "One of the sources stood out as especially intriguing," says Andrea. Featuring the shortest flare of all analysed objects, this source appears to be located in the globular cluster NGC 6540 a dense grouping of stars and had not been studied before. After presenting their findings to the scientists in a seminar, the students went back to school. But the work for Andrea, Ruben and collaborators had only just begun. "The source identified by the students displays brightness changes like no other known objects, so we started looking more in detail," says Ruben. An otherwise low-luminosity source of X-rays, XMM-Newton saw it brighten by up to 50 times its normal level in 2005, and quickly fall again after about five minutes. Stars like our sun shine moderately in X-rays, and occasionally undergo flares that boost their brightness like the one observed in this source. However, such events normally last much longer up to a few hours or even days. On the other hand, short outbursts are observed in binary star systems hosting a dense stellar remnant such as neutron star, but these outpourings of X-rays are characterised by a much higher luminosity. "This event is challenging our understanding of X-ray outbursts: too short to be an ordinary stellar flare, but too faint to be linked to a compact object," explains collaborator Sandro Mereghetti, lead author of the paper presenting the results. Another possibility is that the source is a so-called chromospherically active binary, a dual system of stars with intense X-ray activity caused by processes in their chromosphere, an intermediate layer in a star's atmosphere. But even in this case, it does not closely match the properties of any known object of this class. The scientists suspect that this peculiar source is not unique, and that other objects with similar properties are lurking in the XMM-Newton archive but have not yet been identified because of the combination of low luminosity and short duration of the flare. "The systematic study of variability that led to the compilation of the EXTraS catalogue, together with this first attempt at data mining, suggests that we have opened a new, unexplored window on the X-ray Universe," adds Sandro. The team plans to study the newly identified source in greater detail to better understand its nature, while searching for more similar objects in the archive. "It is exciting to find hidden jewels like this source in the XMM-Newton archive, and that young students are helping us find them while learning and having fun," concludes Norbert Schartel, XMM-Newton project scientist at ESA. Explore further First catalogue of X-ray sources in overlapping observations published More information: Sandro Mereghetti et al. EXTraS discovery of a peculiar flaring X-ray source in the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6540, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2018). Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics Sandro Mereghetti et al. EXTraS discovery of a peculiar flaring X-ray source in the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6540,(2018). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201833086 The Lummi police boat heads to the west side of San Juan Island in an attempt to feet chinook salmon to an ailing young orca, J50, seen from the King County Research Vessel SoundGardian, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Teams of whale experts raced out to sea Thursday to help an ailing young killer whale, but they don't plan to intervene to help a mother orca in the same critically endangered pod that has been pushing the body of her dead calf for more than two weeks. (Alan Berner/The Seattle Times via AP, Pool) Teams taking drastic measures to save a young, ailing killer whale loaded up two boats with live fish and rushed to waters near an island off Washington state Friday, preparing if needed to feed the critically endangered orca a day after injecting it with medicine. But by early afternoon, it appeared the 3-year-old female orca known as J50 was too far north in Canadian waters and that any trial feeding effort would not happen Friday, said Brad Hanson, a wildlife biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who is leading response efforts on the water. The team led by the U.S. agency lacks a permit to feed the sick whale live salmon in Canadian waters, though it had one for medical treatment. NOAA would apply for the feeding permit if conditions are right, said Lynne Barre, NOAA Fisheries' recovery coordinator for the whales. The team will decide in the field whether to feed the orca, which is emaciated and possibly suffering an infection, depending on a number of factors, including the animal's behavior and location, Barre told reporters. With the whale not close by, crews did a practice run for the feeding, sending salmon through a turquoise tube off the back of a boat. Researchers with the Whale Sanctuary Project took a sample of the fish scales so they can later genetically track whether the whales consume that fish, while other crews with the Lummi tribe scooped the salmon out of a large bin and sent it into the water. Chinook salmon from the Marblemount hatchery on the Skagit River are loaded onto the King County Research Vessel SoundGuardian at the dock in Bellingham, Wash., Friday, Aug., 10, 2018. The salmon are intended to feed ailing killer whale in a rare effort to save her. (Alan Berner/The Seattle Times via AP, Pool) The whale was given a dose of antibiotics from a dart Thursday, and a veterinarian was able to do a health assessment. Marty Haulena, head veterinarian at Vancouver Aquarium, thinks about half of the dose went into the young orca. He says the whale is incredibly skinny but was swimming well and there were no obvious signs of abnormality with her skin. They didn't observe whether J50 had been eating or not. It was dramatic how thin she was, Haulena said, adding that he wants to know more about her digestive system and whether she's been eating. He said she's breathing normally, taking deep dives and easily keeping up with her group, so respiratory disease is falling down the list of concerns. The team of experts who followed the whale on the water for about six hours Thursday got a breath sample to analyze whether she might have bacteria or fungus in her airway. Lummi tribal members and Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife untangle a chinook salmon from a net used to transfer it to the King County Research Vessel SoundGuardian in Bellingham, Wash., Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. The salmon are intended to feed an ailing young orca, J50. (Alan Berner/The Seattle Times via AP, Pool) The young whale is one of just 75 of the fish-eating orcas that frequent the inland waters of Washington state. There hasn't been a successful birth since 2015. They face nutritional stress over a lack of their preferred food source, Chinook salmon, as well as threats from toxic contamination and vessel noise and disturbances that disrupt their ability to communicate and forage. Another female orca in the same pod has triggered an international outpouring as she clings to the body of her dead calf that died two weeks ago. Scientists are worried about her and will watch her but don't have plans to help her or remove the calf. She was last seen Thursday still carrying her calf. The last time scientists rescued a killer whale in the region was in 2002 when a northern resident killer whale known as Springer was found swimming alone in Puget Sound. Experts say Springer's case was different because she was isolated. She was moved into a floating net pen and veterinarians assessed her medical condition and treated her. She was fed live salmon in the pen. She returned to her family of whales in Canada later that year and in 2013 was seen with her new calf. In this Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, Southern Resident killer whale J50 and her mother, J16, swim off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew, B.C. J50 is the sick whale that a team of experts are hoping to save by giving her antibiotics or feeding her live salmon at sea. The experts now have authorization to intervene with medical treatment in both U.S. and Canadian waters once the critically endangered orca shows up again in the inland waters of the Pacific Northwest. (Brian Gisborne/Fisheries and Oceans Canada via AP) Explore further Vets ready for rare efforts to save ailing endangered orca 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 9 minutes ago Sofi Technologies Stock Can Rise Against the Grain Digital financial services company Sofi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) stock is gaining a new resurgence as it attempts to climb towards all-time highs. The fintech has expanded its financial services to become a one-stop shop for banking, investing, lending, budgeting, wealth planning, and credit cards suited for Millennials and Gen-Z customers. Read Article Election results: Wisconsin and Milwaukee-area fall primary election Wisconsin and Milwaukee-area residents headed to the polls Tuesday to vote in a number of contested state and local primary races. Here are the results. Checkmarks next to candidates' names indicate they have moved on to the November 6 general election. Into the 29th year as independent states, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia still have not managed to ride themselves of Russia in one key area: the transmitting of electricity. Although the Baltic States have, in recent years, ended their electricity isolation by building new power cables with Finland, Poland and Sweden, for historical reasons, their electricity grid is still operated in a synchronous mode with the Russian and Belarusian system, commonly known as the BRELL ring. Although the synchronization of the three Baltic States' electricity grids with the continental European network has always been a key political priority of the European Union, its been delayed numerous times. The sticking point has been a failure to reach a consensus among the Baltic States as to whether the local grid should be linked to continental Europe by one or two cables between Lithuania and Poland. The Baltic countries are connected with Poland by the 500 MW LitPol Link and with Sweden by the 700 MW NordBalt cable. A 350MW link connects Finland and Estonia, which is the smallest of the Baltics. Estonia has initially backed the idea of linking the region with continental Europe through a subsea cable via the Baltic Sea with Sweden. Then it vehemently supported the idea of laying out a second 500 MW cable from Lithuania to Poland. However, Lithuania is increasingly nervous about Russia and Belarus disconnecting from the BRELL ring before 2020. That would leave the Baltics vulnerable to power disruptions, prompting Lithuania to push hard for its northern neighbor to accept its proposal. Related: Turkeys Currency Crisis Sends Shockwaves Through Global Markets Latvia and Poland were also in favor of synchronizing the grid with Europe via the existing power cable with Poland. The countries were able to eventually iron out the differences and hammer out a deal on the synchronization last June, with the three and Poland signing an agreement in Brussels envisioning that it will take place via the single LitPol Link, complemented by a new undersea cable between them and a number of technical solutions. The synchronization process is regarded as a technically complex process, requiring a comprehensive analysis of the electricity networks and technically feasible, secure and cost-effective solutions. But no ones breathing easilyjust yet. While the agreement has been signed, apprehensions remain because the completion of the synchronization cannot occur before 2025 due to the complexity. Meanwhile, Russia is expected to operate its electricity network without a BRELL interconnection to Kaliningrad, its enclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, by the end of this year. The commissioning of an LNG terminal at Kaliningrad will enable Russia to supply the region without the gas pipeline that runs through Lithuania. Recently, Russia has also significantly ramped up power generation in the exclave by building three power plants. Related: Emerging Markets Hit Hard By Feds Trillion Dollar Experiment With Russia and Belarus out of the BRELL system by 2020, the Baltics are increasingly prone to power disruptions and outages, experts say. However, the heads of the Baltic transmission system operators are hoping that this scenario is unlikely as the countries will have accumulated local power reserves. In the past, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania constituted an energy island. Their electricity networks were not connected to the systems of any other EU Member States after joining the bloc in 2004. Other EU members from central and eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, synchronized their systems with the continental European network between 1995 and 2004. By Linas Jegelevicius for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com The first round of American sanctions against Iran began this week following a 90-day wind-down period, with the second round to hit in November following a 180-day wind-down meant to allow businesses to wrap up or termination operations in the country. The first round of sanctions bans purchase or acquisition of U.S. bank notes by the Iranian Government as well as limitations on Irans trade in gold, precious metals and automobiles. The second, and bigger, phase will kick off on Nov. 5 and will target Irans all-important oil and gas industry. And now Iranians are responding to the crisis by trading off the greatly weakened rial--down 70 percent since May--to purchase gold and, ironically, the U.S. dollar. USD vs. Rial Exchange Rate (Unofficial) (Click to enlarge) Source: Bonbast Weakened Economy According to reports by Bloomberg, the gold markets in Tehran were packed with people trying to trade in their near-worthless rials for gold on the day the sanctions went into effect and having a hard time finding exchange centers willing to accept rials. Related: Emerging Markets Hit Hard By Feds Trillion Dollar Experiment Irans sanctions could not have come at a worse time. A series of past economic sanctions have greatly weakened the economy as well as the national currency. Things took a turn for the worse in May after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the landmark nuclear deal signed by the Obama administration in 2015, thus defying diplomatic intervention. (Click to enlarge) Source: Bloomberg The deal, signed in Vienna with six world powers, saw international sanctions against Iran lifted, allowing it to sell oil and gas, after the country agreed to scale back its uranium enrichment program, and also promised to desist from pursuing nuclear weapons. President Trump has broken the initial accord despite the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) repeatedly reaffirming that Tehran had been meeting its nuclear commitments. The country has been characterized by absolute chaos over the past few weeks, including a 50 percent surge in prices of crucial food items, power and water shortages amidst growing protests against president Hassan Rouhanis administration. But bad as things are right now, they are likely to get a lot worse down the stretch. The mere prospect of the restrictions have caused the rial to crash spectacularly since May. The governments efforts to stabilize the beleaguered currency by pegging it at a set rate against the greenback badly backfired and only served to speed up its decline. Related: What Is Vanadium And Why Did Its Price Just Skyrocket? The real pain is likely to come when the U.S. reimposes sanctions on the Irans energy industrythe countrys lifebloodin a bid to force it to renegotiate the 2015 pact that Trump has termed as the worst deal ever. Record Gold Reserves (Click to enlarge) The Iran crisis is a good case study of the role that gold can play during political and economic crises. Gold prices in the country are soaring above fair value even as fiat currency loses value. Demand for gold in Iran is so high that the price of an Emami coin (Iranian gold coin) has climbed nearly 10 percent, despite spot gold prices having crashed about seven percent in the year-to-date. Meanwhile, Irans forex and gold reserves ($133.7 billion) have outstripped those by the United States ($117.3 billion), with the two countries ranked 19th and 20th respectively in terms of global reserves. By Alex Kimani for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com Even though the Baltic States unanimously agree that Russia poses menace to them, theyre allowing Yandex.Taxi--a popular Uber-like ride-sharing Russian company--to operate in their territories, but not without serious reservations. Now Lithuania, the largest of the three is urging the public not to download the ride-sharing app because it may be enabled to unlawfully collect the personal data of users. Lithuanias National Cyber Centre (NCSC), a new body of the countrys Ministry of Defence tasked with identifying and cordoning off cybersecurity threats, issued a statement, saying that the app potentially creates conditions for unlawful collection and storage of personal data, causing concern regarding their security. The NCSC pointed out that the Yandex.Taxi app requests access to a large amount of sensitive information and permission to use such functions of a user's device as activating its camera or microphone, or managing its wireless network access. According to the Center, data from a user's device is stored on the servers of the organization headquartered in Russia and may be provided to public bodies, regulatory authorities, courts and other third parties. Yandex Lithuania vehemently denied the suspicions, saying said that Dutch-registered Yandex.Taxi BV, which administers the app, fully complies with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Client data security is our key priority... All the companys client data are processed and stored strictly in line with EU legislative acts, including the data protection regulation (GDPR), Natalia Zhuravleva, head of the international press service of Yandex.Taxi, said. Related: What Is Vanadium And Why Did Its Price Just Skyrocket? According to her, the functions available in the users mobile devices such as access to GPS data are in order to locate the client hailing the taxi. It was Vilnius mayor Remigijus Simasius who alerted the State Security Department (VSD) and the Competition Board that the Russian tax-hailing app might not be in accordance with Lithuanian laws. The former was asked to opine on the possible breaches of the strict-than-ever personal data law and the latter for an alleged violation of Law on Advertising. The taxi app's headquarters is in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and it is part of Russia's top-three internet search-engine company, Yandex. Yandex is said to hold 65 percent of all searches, popular maps and public transit apps in Russia. Unlike other similar services in the Baltic nations, Yandex.Taxi alerts the user about the price of the ride right after the address of the place of departure and the address of the destination have been put in. The fare stays the same even when the ride takes longer due to a traffic jam or road works. Estonia was the first of the Baltic States to launch Yandex Taxi and the second EU member state where Yandex started its service. Yandex Taxi launched in Latvia in mid- March, and during the first month, 50,000 people used the service in Riga, the capital of Latvia. Yandex.Taxi has around 300 cars in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. Despite the warnings from the authorities, some 300,000 Vilnius residents are believed to have installed the app in the first three days. In July, the ride-sharing company Uber said it was merging with Yandex in Russia and five other ex-Soviet republics. Yandex will own about 59 percent and Uber roughly 37 percent of the combined company. Uber invested $225 million and Yandex $100 million dollars in the joint venture. By Linas Jegelevicius for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com Education Reporter Mathew Burciaga is a Santa Maria Times reporter who covers education, agriculture and public safety. Prior to joining the Times, Mathew ran a 114-year-old community newspaper in Wyoming. He owns more than 40 pairs of crazy socks from across the globe. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes " " The EPA's new proposal regarding asbestos could end up allowing more uses of the dangerous product, despite it being a known carcinogen. Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Asbestos is one nasty, cancer-causing mineral. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), by virtue of name alone, probably ought to have a say in keeping this group of fibrous minerals, once widely used in manufacturing building materials (among other things), as far away from humans as possible. So why are people who care about the environment and human health so up in arms about the EPA's "significant new use rule" (SNUR) proposal announced on June 1, 2018? After all, the EPA claims the SNUR would close loopholes regarding asbestos use and would prohibit any "manufacturing, importing or processing" of asbestos that's currently unregulated and identified in the SNUR. Well it's more complicated than that. And it's political. And money may have something to do with it. "It has a lot to do with politics, it has to do with big industry and big business and who influences who," Jeff Camplin, the president of Camplin Environmental Services in Rosemont, Illinois, and someone who has testified before Congress on asbestos risks, says. "My position as a safety professional is to say, look, as long as I know a hazard exists or not, I can take appropriate steps." So, then ... is the EPA creating risk with its new rules on asbestos or lessening it? Advertisement The EPA Makes Its Move Let's back up a bit. As we mentioned, on June 1, 2018, the EPA announced what it calls a "significant new use rule" proposal that "would prevent new uses of asbestos the first such action on asbestos ever proposed," the statement read. The SNUR "would require manufacturers and importers to receive EPA approval before starting or resuming manufacturing, and importing or processing of asbestos." That all sounds great. But instead of calling for all new uses of asbestos to be reviewed, the rule includes just 15 specific uses that require federal review. This is why many believe the new rule (combined with another move by the EPA) would actually end up allowing more new uses of asbestos instead of fewer. Considering the nastiness of the stuff asbestos kills 40,000 people each year with illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis that little bit of political disingenuousness immediately hacked off a whole bunch of environmental, health and safety experts. In fact, some health groups objected to the EPA's stance on asbestos well before this latest news for one simple reason: More than 50 countries have banned asbestos outright, but the U.S. is not one of them. In 1989, the EPA passed the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule, but that was overturned in 1991. However, the 1991 ruling did keep intact the ban on all new uses of asbestos. But the law still allows several uses for asbestos including for disc brakes and brake linings, vinyl floor tile, cement piping and some clothing although the EPA claims that the SNUR "would prohibit these uses." Still, it's clear to many that the Trump administration isn't going for an all-out ban despite the hazards involved. Linda Reinstein, the president and co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, had this to say in a statement after the EPA trumpeted the new ruling: "It is incredulous to know that the EPA has ignored the science, the history and the carnage that asbestos has caused throughout the nation each year. From the World Health Organization to the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, there is global consensus that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure or controlled use of asbestos." Advertisement Health and Safety vs. Big Business Something potentially much more dangerous is at work here, too, something done not with the health of the people or the planet in mind (according to EPA critics), but rather the bottom line of big business. In conjunction with its new SNUR proposal on asbestos, the EPA will now, it says, change how it evaluates the risk of certain chemicals (including ones in asbestos) covered under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Now, it will not take into account risks posed by chemicals in the air, ground or water. From "The Chemical Industry Scores a Big Win at the E.P.A.," in The New York Times: "Instead, the agency will focus on possible harm caused by direct contact with a chemical in the workplace or elsewhere. The approach means that the improper disposal of chemicals leading to the contamination of drinking water, for instance will often not be a factor in deciding whether to restrict or ban them." That will, according to reporting by Fast Company, effectively turn a "blind eye to improper disposal, contamination, emissions, and other long-term environmental and health risks associated with chemical products, including those derived from asbestos." This is a clear victory, as The Times says, for the chemical industry and, quite possibly, for those wanting to import or use asbestos in building materials. "The EPA abruptly retreated from a posture of moving toward more protection for Americans from these dangerous chemicals to a position that can only be seen as placating the chemical industry," Melanie Benesh, a legislative attorney at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), said in a statement. The EWG, along with government watchdog group American Oversight, is petitioning the courts for any contact former EPA chief Pruitt had with chemical manufacturers before this agency's decision. "The American people deserve the fullest account of how Pruitt and his aides may have colluded with chemical companies and their lobbyists," Benesh says. "When a top public health agency has the power to ban asbestos, and it doesn't, something is amiss." Other possible winners in this are manufacturers, including Russia, which stands to become the leading exporter of asbestos to the U.S. An aside: President Trump himself, who made his bones in real estate before politics, is evidently a believer in asbestos. He claimed on Twitter in 2012 that New York City's Twin Towers would not have "burned down" if asbestos had been used there and, according to Rolling Stone, in his 1997 book "The Art of the Comeback", Trump wrote that asbestos is "100 percent safe, once applied." Advertisement What's Next for Asbestos? Asbestos is still being used in what Camplin calls "non-friable" uses. "Friable" refers to materials that can easily be crumbled by hand. If something with asbestos is friable like old ceiling panels or insulation the fibers become airborne and easily inhaled. Non-friable uses of asbestos, though, as in cement blocks or pipes or disc brakes, are thought to be much safer. But even in those cases, asbestos can eventually be risky. "Cement piping is still legal to use and manufacture in the United States. The EPA currently estimates that there are about 500,000 miles of cement water lines carrying our water supply," says Camplin, who's also a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals. "Over the years, these pipes are deteriorating, and we're getting higher amounts of asbestos in our drinking water supply. "What happens when all that water evaporates, those fibers are left in our environment. I think the risk of continuing to use cement asbestos pipes is something that needs to be looked at. It's one of those hidden hazards that's out there." NOW THAT'S SCARY The New York Times broke another story on Aug. 10, 2018, this one complete with internal EPA emails showing how EPA officials pushed the SNUR measure through, despite objections of the agency's own top scientists and attorneys. From nature lovers to shopaholics, we zoom in on the best Singapore locations to rent in based on your personality type . 1) For the hipsters - Tiong Bahru Tiong Bahru listed under has been named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world by American fashion and lifestyle magazine Vogue. The quaint neighbourhood is especially popular amongst hipsters for its various insta-worthy cafes in Tiong Bahru. Rental condos in the area start at the following: Check out more condos you can rent around Tiong Bahru. 2. For the shopaholics - Orchard Singapores Orchard is famously known as the shoppers paradise. Popular malls such as ION Orchard Mall and Somerset@313 are amongst the highlights on Orchard Road. Rental condos in the area start at the following: Check out more condos you can rent around Orchard. 3. For the nature lovers - Bukit Panjang Bukit Panjang is the perfect spot for nature lovers. There are various locations for outdoor activities in vicinity, such as Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm Nature Park and Kampong Trail. Rental condos in the area start at the following: Check out more condos you can rent around Bukit Panjang. 4. For frequent JB visitors - Woodlands Many Singaporeans regularly travel to Malaysias Johor Bahru (JB) for staycations, food and its various cafe offerings. If youre one of those folks who travel often to JB, you can consider renting a place around Woodlands to save some travel time. Rental condos in the area start at the following: Check out more condos you can rent around Woodlands. Story continues 5. For the beach lovers - Changi Known for its beaches, nasi lemak, and ferries to Pulau Ubin, laidback Changi is ideal for those seeking an idyllic lifestyle. It is also where Changi Beach Park, one of Singapores oldest coastal park in Singapore is located. It stretches about 3.3km long, starting from Changi Point and ending around Changi Ferry Terminal, where the beach overlooks Pulau Ubin. Changi Food Village, famous for its local hawker delicacies is another highlight in the area. Rental condos in the area start at the following: Check out more condos you can rent around Changi. Related Articles From EdgeProp.sg What you need to know before upgrading your HDB flat to a condo Singapores high-end homes offer stunning designs and sophistication What you need to know before taking the plunge into waterfront properties 5 things to consider before buying your first private property One of the many side effects of climate change is the gradual shift in territories of some species. Most animals have certain temperature thresholds that they just wont abide, but as the Earth continues to creep into higher and higher average temperatures these animals can either be pushed away or lured into new areas that were previously too hot or too cold. In a new study, scientists now believe that black widow spiders are moving farther north than ever before thanks to more agreeable temperatures. The research, which was published in PLOS One, explains that regular sightings of black widow spiders in more northern areas has steadily picked up over the last half century or so, and the range of the potentially deadly spider has increased by over 30 miles. Don't Miss: Beats Solo3 wireless headphones are back down to their lowest price ever To determine what the true range of the spider is, researchers compiled a wealth of data both from professional scientific observers and from citizen scientists who now have the power to contribute their discoveries to the scientific community thanks to the internet. In our project, the citizen science data was essential in modeling distributions of spiders, Christopher Buddle, McGill professor and co-author of the research, explains. People who are excited about discovering where species live can contribute in meaningful ways to scientific progress and this is exciting, important, and is changing how we do research. The team now believes their species distribution map to be the most accurate, and its quite a bit different than the previously agreed-upon range of the black widow. The northernmost range of the spider now stretches well into parts of Canada, while sightings have also come in from parts of Wisconsin, which had previously not been considered within the spiders range. This is of course not the first example weve seen of manmade climate change causing species to move into entirely new areas. Last year, scientists published a study that showed the problem isnt even limited to animals, and that tree species are now migrating due to the rapidly-changing temperatures. Story continues BGR Top Deals: Trending Right Now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com Two boys from a leading Hong Kong secondary school who pleaded not guilty to using hidden cameras to record girls changing had charges against them dropped on Friday, while a third schoolmate who pleaded guilty was given a one-year protection order. After a closed-door Juvenile Court hearing in the morning, the prosecution dropped five charges against two of the 16-year-old defendants. A source said the rare move was prompted by insufficient evidence. Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan gave the third defendant, 16, who was the only one to plead guilty to two conspiracy charges, a one-year protection order. He needs to fly back from the United States every month to report to a probation officer on his progress in school there and on his behaviour. But the source said his two co-defendants were also given a similar protection order. The court heard earlier that the boys were accused of taking more than 40 videos and photos of schoolgirls, with the files shared on a Google drive folder called vids for life. On Friday, lawyer Felix Ng Ka-ho, representing the third defendant who pleaded guilty, told the court during the open hearing session that the boy had apologised to his classmates. I hope one day to get a job and not be affected by what happened in the past Third defendant He was genuinely remorseful for what he did and apologised to the girls affected, Ng said. The boy said in court that he hoped for a new start in life. I am ready to shoulder my responsibility [in the case] and hopefully get into a good university. I hope one day to get a job and not be affected by what happened in the past, he said. The boy had previously pleaded guilty to helping another defendant place a smartphone in a girls changing room and acting as a lookout during the installation. He was 14 years old at the time. He admitted to a probation officer that he committed the offence as he was seeking recognition from his peers and was curious about sex, but stressed that he never initiated the taking of videos and photos of victims. Story continues The Juvenile Court heard more than 40 videos were recorded using GoPro and iPad cameras across four locations at the school for about six months starting in September 2016. Some of the videos were later uploaded to Google Drive and YouTube. The two other boys, who pled not guilty, faced five counts including conspiracy and obtaining access to a computer with a view to dishonest gain. The maximum penalty is five years imprisonment. The defence previously challenged the submission of footage and photos at the trial, which were mostly from investigations by teachers. But the prosecution on Friday would not confirm if this contributed to the dropping of charges. All three boys were ordered to report to the Juvenile Court at Eastern Court this December and February next year. Neither the pupils nor the school can be named for legal reasons. This article Charges dropped against schoolboys accused of hidden camera recordings in Hong Kong first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Chinas biggest contract chip maker, SMIC, announced solid revenue growth for the second quarter as state subsidies soar amid the escalating trade war. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), which is listed in Hong Kong and the US, said its revenue for the second three months of the year reached US$890.7 million, up by 7.2 per cent from the previous quarter and 18.6 per cent year on year. Profit for the second quarter declined 5 per cent from a year ago to US$31.7 million, or 5 cents per share. SMIC is in a period of transition and preparation, said Zhao Haijun, co-chief executive officer of the company, in a conference call on Friday morning. State subsidies have surged since the beginning of the year, rising by more than 20 per cent from 2017, said Gao Yonggang, the companys chief financial officer. The company received research and development subsidies worth about US$19 million from the state in the second quarter. For the whole year, the subsidies are expected to reach US$100 million, he added. The executives said they have achieved significant progress in developing 14 nanometre FinFET technology similar to the 16nm processing technology produced by the Taiwanese chip maker TSMC, which Apple adopted for its iPhone 7 core processor chips in 2016. The first version of the products is ready for circuit evaluation by customers, Zhao said. The trade war between the US and China has so far had a limited impact, even though the firm relies heavily on equipment and wafers thin slices of semiconductor material from American suppliers. We have limited exposure on the end products, but we have been closely observing progress, Zhao said. The Trump administration on Tuesday finalised plans to impose new tariffs on US$16 billion worth of Chinese imports, mainly chemicals and electronic parts, which will bring the total value of products covered by the duties to US$50 billion by the end of the month. Story continues The tariff impact has still been relatively modest for the semiconductor industry as both sides are still avoiding directly targeting areas that both countries suppliers have high exposure to, including PCs, servers and smartphones, which account for a sizeable portion of chip demand, said Randy Abrams, an analyst with Credit Suisse in Taipei. He said Chinese chip makers still have an opportunity to benefit from domestic policy aimed at supporting the industry and building up a local ecosystem to enable better self-sufficiency. For SMIC, there is still a wide gap in resources, scale and dollars even with the government support to match the leader TSMC, so it will take time, even with the broader support. The risk here is if foreign governments put more export controls on critical technology, though, to limit this progress, he said. After the first batch of tariffs kicked off on July 6, only about 10 per cent of Chinas tech exports to the US would come under the tariffs, according to a report issued by Credit Suisse. The latest US$200 billion tariff amount announced from the US and subject to a review in the next few months still largely spared direct technology categories, although it did add TVs and covers a number of consumer products (appliances, home products, tools, and seafood), said the report issued in mid July. This article Chinas top chip maker SMIC sees revenue grow as state subsidies surge amid trade war first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. A Dutch court told Ryanair pilots in the Netherlands Thursday they could join a wave of strike action planned across Europe, set to plunge thousands of passengers into summer travel misery. "The strike may go ahead," judge Theo Roell told the Haarlem District Court, where Ryanair had filed for an urgent court order to halt the industrial action. Ryanair pilots in the Netherlands announced Wednesday they were joining a European-wide walkout on Friday to ratchet up pressure on the cut-price airline in a row over pay and conditions at the height of the summer season. Ryanair, which in the Netherlands flies to holiday destinations such as Malaga in southern Spain, the Canary Islands and Ibiza, said it would have to axe around 400 out of 2,400 European flights scheduled for Friday, affecting 55,000 passengers. Germany will be the worst hit with 250 flight cancellations. In the Netherlands around 22 flights from Eindhoven airport could potentially be affected, the ANP news agency reported. Europe's second biggest airline has been grappling with staff unrest since it recognised trade unions for the first time in December 2017, in a bid to ward off widespread strikes over the Christmas period. But unions say little progress has been made on their demands for better wages and fairer contracts despite months of talks. Ryanair sought an urgent court order in the Netherlands to prevent pilots from joining the strike, but the Dutch airline pilots' union told judges only a small number of flights from Dutch airports could potentially be affected. Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich was arrested early Friday for allegedly assaulting a prostitute in Frankfurt, police said, just a week after the German national was briefly detained in Spain. "He is in police custody," a German police spokesman told AFP, adding that the 44-year-old "was under the influence of alcohol and drugs". Ullrich had allegedly called on the services of a prostitute at the five-star Villa Kennedy Hotel in Frankfurt, Bild daily reported. But he then got into a quarrel with the "escort lady" and "physically attacked and injured her," police said. Ullrich's latest woes came a week after he was detained for 24 hours in Spain for allegedly forcing his way into the home of his neighbour, German actor Til Schweiger, and threatening him. Following the scandal in Spain, Ullrich said early this week he would go into rehab and seek help for his drink and drug addiction. He had only arrived back in Germany on Thursday evening to start his therapy before he got caught up in the latest drama, Bild daily said. The former cyclist's dramatic fall from grace came two decades after he became the only German to have won the Tour de France, in 1997. He also won Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000. But he was then embroiled in doping allegations and excluded from the 2006 Tour de France over his links to the Operation Puerto scandal that centred on disgraced doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who gave performance-enhancing blood transfusions to top cyclists. Ullrich finally came clean in 2013 about his doping past. A Japanese politician accused by pro-Beijing media of advocating Taiwan independence and criticised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for intervening in Hong Kong elections was denied entry to the city early on Friday morning. The ban imposed on Kenichiro Wada, a city councillor from Shiroi, Japans Chiba Prefecture, has renewed concerns that Hong Kong is under pressure to bar visitors deemed unacceptable to Beijing. Wada said about 10 immigration staff had taken him to a room soon after he arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on Thursday and informed him of the ban, without providing any reasons. I find it regrettable if the Hong Kong government mistakes me as its enemy because of the inaccurate media such as [newspaper] Wen Wei Po, Wada wrote on his Facebook page. I believe the misunderstanding will be solved some day. A spokesman for the Immigration Department said it would not comment on individual cases. The spokesman would not say if the ban was requested by Beijing or the Hong Kong government, nor comment on the possible existence of a list of people to be denied entry. The department only said that it would make decisions in accordance with the citys laws and prevailing immigration policies. Wada visited Hong Kong in March this year to support pan-democrat Au Nok-hin in the Legislative Council by-election. Au was subsequently elected as a representative for the Hong Kong Island constituency. Au, who spoke to Wada, said the Japanese politician had arrived in the airport on Thursday night and was informed of the ban at about 1am on Friday. During his detention, immigration officials asked Wada where had he been during his previous visits to the city and why the hotel number he provided did not work. Immigration officers also turned down Wadas requests for a translator and to contact the Japanese government, Au added. Story continues The Hong Kong lawmaker said Wada had already repeatedly dismissed the accusations by pro-Beijing media as inaccurate, and slammed the governments move for eroding the one country, two systems principle. Wadas visit in March drew criticism from pro-Beijing newspapers and eventually Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Several media outlets, including Wen Wei Po, Ta Kung Pao and Commercial Daily, accused the Japanese politician of supporting Taiwan independence. They argued Au should be disqualified from the race too because of his association with Wada. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed Wada for openly intervening in Hong Kongs elections, which it said had recklessly violated international law. The ministry added it had also lodged a protest with the consulate general of Japan in Hong Kong regarding the visit. Wada, who has kept an eye on Hong Kongs political development, had also met Agnes Chow Ting of Demosisto in 2016, when the pair exchanged views on youth participation in politics. Chow was stripped of her rights to stand in the 2018 by-elections on the grounds that her party advocated the idea of self-determination for Hong Kong a move legal scholars deemed unconstitutional. Wada is only one of a number of overseas politicians and activists who have been denied entry to Hong Kong in recent years for political reasons. Last October, the British government demanded an urgent explanation from Hong Kong after Benedict Rogers, a human rights campaigner known for raising concerns about political freedom and human rights in Hong Kong, was refused entry to the city. In 2016, Freddy Lim Chang-zuo, of the pro-independence New Power Party and a member of the Taiwan parliament, was denied a travel visa to Hong Kong. At the time Lim said Hong Kongs freedom was being eroded quickly. The ban came just days ahead of a talk by Andy Chan Ho-tin, the Hong Kong National Party convenor, at the Foreign Correspondents Club, which the Ministry of Foreign Ministry asked the club to scrap as it argued the FCC should not provide a platform for separatists. Occupy movement student leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung, Demosistos secretary general, accused Hong Kong of bowing to political pressure from Beijing by placing certain people on a blacklist. In a statement, Demosisto demanded the Immigration Department and the Security Bureau explain the decision to deny Wada entry. It further urged authorities to make public any list of banned foreign politicians and the standard by which the government decides who should be allowed to enter the city. As long as the individual does not pose immediate harm to the general public, regardless of their political views, they should naturally be able to obtain legal travel documents which would grant them the freedom of movement, the Demosisto statement read. The governments refusal to let foreign politicians enter Hong Kong based on their political stance in recent years is a clear violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as a manifestation of the state of corruption of the one country, two systems principle. The group called on the international community to pay attention to the banned foreign politicians to prevent the government from hindering the exchange of ideas among global civil societies. This article Immigration officers detain Japanese politician Kenichiro Wada at Hong Kong airport for two hours before denying him entry to city after pro-democracy stance upsets Beijing first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. FILE PHOTO - Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who's bloc came first, meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who's political bloc came third in a May parliamentary election, in Najaf, Iraq June 23, 2018. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani By Ahmed Aboulenein BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Populist Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr retained his lead in Iraq's May parliamentary election, results of a nationwide recount of votes showed on Friday, positioning him to play a central role in forming the country's next government. Iraq's Independent High Election Commission (IHEC) released the results of the recount on its website early on Friday. Parliament ordered the recount in June after widespread allegations of fraud cast doubt on the integrity of the ballot. The IHEC said the results of the recount matched the initial results from 13 of Iraq's 18 provinces. The winning parties are still embroiled in negotiations over forming the next governing coalition three months after the vote, with no sign of an imminent conclusion. The recount did not alter the initial results significantly, with Sadr keeping his tally of 54 seats. A group of Iran-backed Shi'ite militia leaders remained second behind Sadr's bloc but gained an extra seat that pushed them to 48, with incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's bloc still in third place with 42 seats. Abadi, who is seeking a second term in office, is heading a fragile caretaker government until a new one is formed. The political uncertainty over the makeup of the new government has raised tensions at a time when public impatience is growing over poor basic services, unemployment and the slow pace of rebuilding after a three-year war with the Islamic State militant group. Anger is mounting with frequent protests, backed by Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, taking place in the Shi'ite southern provinces. Sadr, who also backs the protests, has issued a list of 40 conditions he says the new prime minister has to meet, including being politically independent and not running for re-election, for his bloc to join a governing coalition and that he would go into opposition if the conditions were not met. Story continues CONTENTIOUS RECOUNT The manual recount has been politically contentious from the start, although it was never expected to widely alter the results. The IHEC said on Monday it had completed the recount but was forced to cut the process short in the capital, Baghdad, because voting records had been destroyed by a warehouse fire two months ago. The fire broke out hours after parliament ordered the recount and suspended the electoral commission's leadership, replacing it with a panel of judges, after a government report concluded there were serious violations in an initial count using an electronic vote-counting system. The digitised system was intended to help regulate and speed up vote-counting. However, critics have claimed the tabulation system in electronic voting machines that were used for the first time were not secure enough from tampering. The IHEC ignored an anti-corruption body's warnings about the credibility of the electronic machines used in the election, a document seen by Reuters showed. The devices, provided by South Korean company Miru Systems under a deal with the IHEC, are at the heart of fraud allegations that led to the manual recount. Concerns about the election count centre on discrepancies in the tallying of votes by the voting machines, mainly in the Kurdish province of Sulaimaniya and the ethnically mixed province of Kirkuk, and suggestions that the devices could have been tampered with or hacked into in order to skew the result. CONSTITUTIONAL TIMELINE The United Nations had originally raised concerns about irregularities in voting, particularly in Kirkuk, which helped trigger the recount. The initial results there were disputed by the Turkmen and Arab communities of the region which is also inhabited by a large Kurdish population. However, the recount results showed no changes in Kirkuk and very limited changes in Sulaimaniya. The results announced on Friday can be contested by parties and still have to be ratified by Iraq's Supreme Federal Court in order to become final. When the court ratifies the result, a 90-day timeline for the formation of government spelled out in the constitution kicks in. Lawmakers will gather to elect a speaker, then president, and finally a prime minister and their cabinet. The position of speaker is usually reserved for a Sunni Arab, the mostly ceremonial presidency for a Kurd, and the powerful prime minister always goes to Iraq's Shi'ite majority. Negotiations are still expected to drag on, however, as the winning parties - who have competing interests and varying views on issues ranging from U.S. and Iranian influence on government to the integration of militias into the formal security apparatus - try and edge forward in Iraq's complex system of government formation based on coalition building. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Additional reporting by Mohamed el Sherif in CAIRO; Editing by G Crosse, Toni Reinhold, Paul Tait and Michael Perry) Coconuts is now online. Well, okay, not really now weve always been an internet publication from the start. But what we have recently launched is an all-new, all-fresh app thatll let you read all the latest news, viral happenings, food features, lifestyle events and more from the Little Red Dot and beyond. With the Coconuts mobile app, youre free to voraciously consume all the top stories from Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong, KL, Jakarta, Bali, and Yangon free from the algorithmic filter bubbles of Facebook and Twitter. Yeah, yeah, youve got so many apps on your smartphones already whats the selling point of our app? Well, its best if you download it (on both iOS and Android) right now and well walk you through the features. Get notified directly about news as it happens Follow stories from across the region as they unfold and stay updated with the latest details and news. As long as youve got a healthy internet connection (you should because youre in Singapore), and keep your phone notifications turned on for the app. Swift access to all of Coconuts Medias original features Oh, and youre not just getting notifications on breaking news either. The app lets you read the compelling investigative stories, quality features, and in-depth explainers from our editors from all over Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. A Thai woman fighting to get sex toys legalized in her country? Yeap. A young dominatrix whipping dudes for money in sterile Singapore? Check. An exclusive interview with a diver who was 22 meters deep when the Lombok earthquake hit? We got it. Optimization prime Cant we just read your stuff on our phones Chrome browser?, we hear you ask. Of course, you can, dear reader nobodys stopping you from doing that, we say as we gently stroke your hair. No, the app makes Coconuts pages look way cleaner, properly optimized for reading on mobile. With a minimalist user-interface to boot to let you switch smoothly from one Coconuts city to another. Story continues With you wherever you are In Singapore, most of our lives are spent waiting for something for the bus, for the taxi, for the ATM, for our turn to order at hawker centers, for the train service disruption to end. Kill the pain of waiting with our app to get some knowledge instead of mindlessly thumbing through games and dating apps. It integrates with COCO+ Membership functionalities For our beloved COCO+ patrons: youll still have access to your membership privileges on our app. Youll have no restraint in reading our articles, and you can keep up with the awesome giveaways/events that youre invited to as a COCO+ Member. In fact, signing up with COCO+ is the best way to enjoy our app its your all-access pass to everything that our site has to offer (including original stories!) for only USD3.33 (less than SGD5) per month. Want to know more about COCO+? Check out the posts below where our editors give the lowdown on why it shouldnt be missed. Say hello to COCO+ 7 reasons why COCO+ may very well be the most spectacular membership program this planet has ever witnessed In defense of paid content, or how we learned to love the paywall The latest and greatest Coconuts Originals: Yangon dump fires, Singapore LARPers, Bali volcano refugees, and nervous Uber drivers in Hong Kong 9 things that cost more than joining COCO+ Treat yoself with dining, drinking, music, and travel perks every month, courtesy of COCO+ COCO+ IRL: Be part of excellent events happening around Southeast Asia The post Get the lowdown on everything Singapore, the region and beyond on the new Coconuts app appeared first on Coconuts. The Malaysian government came under fire Thursday for ordering the removal of two LGBT activists' portraits from an exhibition, with campaigners labelling it an attack on the "dignity" of the gay community. The photos of Nisha Ayub and Pang Khee Teik were taken down from display at an arts festival in the northern state of Penang this week following the government order, festival organisers confirmed. Authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia often take a dim view of homosexuality, and the country retains its colonial-era ban on sodomy. Officials have been criticised for introducing programmes directed at the LGBT community, such as a competition launched last year by the health ministry offering cash prizes to whoever could create the best video explaining how to "prevent" homosexuality. In the latest controversy, Mujahid Yusof Rawa, a minister overseeing Islamic affairs, said he had ordered the portraits' removal as they promoted LGBT activities, the Star newspaper reported. "I have consistently repeated in parliament that we do not support the promotion of LGBT culture in Malaysia," he was cited as saying. The portraits at the annual George Town Festival showed Nisha, a transgender woman, holding the Malaysian flag, and Pang, a gay man, with the Malaysian flag draped over his shoulders, holding the rainbow gay pride flag. Nisha told AFP she feared the portraits' removal could lead to people who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender being targeted more. "A lot of the community out there, especially trans women, they're exposed to a lot of violence," she told AFP. Thilaga Sulathireh, co-founder of transgender activist group Justice for Sisters, said that LGBT people should be protected under Malaysia's constitution. "We should be able to live with dignity and personal freedoms," she told AFP. Mujahid has attracted much controversy recently. Earlier this week, he sparked anger by announcing the government was working on a plan to introduce a dress code for Muslim women in the private sector. It will comply with Islamic principles, although no details were disclosed. Female civil servants in the multi-ethnic country are already subject to guidelines which typically require them to dress modestly. Rights group the Women's Aid Organisation slammed the plan as "extremely sexist". Singaporean actor Pierre Png at the premiere of Crazy Rich Asians at TCL Chinese Theatre on 7 August, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (PHOTO: AFP) UPDATE: Warner Bros said in a statement on Saturday (11 August) that the lettering of the STB logo melted due to hot weather. Crazy Rich Asians was filmed mostly in Singapore but the premiere of the romantic comedy in Hollywood earlier this week may have caused a bit of head-scratching for some of the attendees. Where exactly is this place called Sincapore as shown on a backdrop panel at the red carpet event on Tuesday (7 August)? A number of photos showing the panel with the words Sincapore Passion Made Poss ble have been circulating online, which was a misspelling of the Singapore Tourism Boards (STBs) tagline, Singapore: Passion Made Possible. The i in the word possible was also missing in the tagline. The errors can be seen in photographs showing several celebrities including Singaporean stars walking on the red carpet at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Other photographs showed that there were no errors in the STB tagline on other panels. STB, Singapores government tourism agency, initially said the error was likely due to the lettering falling off the panel; Warner Bros, the studio behind the movie, later said the lettering melted due to extreme heat. According to the US National Weather Service, the temperature in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening ranged from 25 degrees Celsius to 31 degrees Celsius. Other photographs showed that there were no errors in the STB tagline on other panels at the red carpet. (PHOTO: Warner Bros Pictures) STB has been riding on the Crazy Rich Asians hype to promote the city-state as a travel destination. Based on a best-selling novel by Kevin Kwan, the movie has been highly anticipated as it is one of the rare Hollywood productions to feature an all-Asian cast. In response to queries from Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore, STBs regional director for the Americas, Kershing Goh, said, Prior to the official start of the premiere, STB had inspected and ensured the accuracy of our Passion Made Possible logo on the numerous event backdrop panels. It is most unfortunate that some time during the red carpet, part of the lettering of our logo on one of the panels must have fallen off, Goh added. Story continues Goh said an STB team on the ground was asked to leave the red carpet prior to the arrival of the cast, in line with the protocol at movie premieres. As Warner Brothers is our partner in this matter, STB has reached out to them for comments and is awaiting a reply from them, she said. A Warner Bros spokesperson said on Saturday (11 August), The Los Angeles premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures Crazy Rich Asians was a celebration of both the film and the beauty and excitement of Singapore. Unfortunately, due to extreme heat that day, some of the lettering on our red carpet wall melted after the event commenced and, in some photography, Singapore appears to be misspelled. We sincerely apologise for any distress or embarrassment this may have caused. Crazy Rich Asians revolves around the romance between an American-born Chinese economics professor (Constance Wu) and her Singaporean boyfriend (Henry Golding), who is from a fabulously wealthy family. The movie also stars Malaysian superstar Michelle Yeoh and Singaporean actors such as Pierre Png, Tan Kheng Hua, Selena Tan and Fiona Xie. Follow Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore on Facebook. Related stories: PHOTOS: Singaporean stars strut out at Crazy Rich Asians premiere in Hollywood Singaporean Crazy Rich Asians cast members wanted to speak more Singlish The thrill and burden of making Crazy Rich Asians, the rare Asian-American-led studio film Crazy Rich Asians stars share their favorite Singaporean dishes The UN Security Council called Friday for a credible and transparent investigation into the death of at least 29 children in a Saudi-led coalition attack on a bus in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition earlier announced that it had ordered an investigation into the air strike on Thursday that also wounded at least 48 others in the northern rebel stronghold of Saada. British Ambassador Karen Pierce, who holds the council presidency, told reporters following a closed-door meeting on Yemen that "if any investigation that is held is not credible, the council will obviously want to review that" and decide "if more is necessary." The council did not order a separate investigation but "will now consult with the UN and others as to how the investigation can best be taken forward," said Pierce. The council met at the request of five countries: Bolivia, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, and Sweden, which are all non-permanent council members. Kuwait, also a non-permanent council member, is part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting Huthi rebels in Yemen. The United States, France and Britain -- three of the five permanent council members -- have supported the Saudi coalition in its military campaign, but have expressed concern over the heavy toll on civilians. Ahead of the meeting, the Netherlands had stressed that the investigation must be independent, suggesting that the coalition's decision to open up a probe was insufficient. "We have seen the images of children who died," Dutch Deputy Ambassador Lise Gregoire-van Haaren told reporters. "What is essential at this moment in time is to have a credible and independent investigation." - Saudi investigation - The council did not specify in the agreed statement to the press that the investigation should be independent -- a demand that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also made in a statement condemning the attack on Thursday. Council members expressed their "great concern" and "called for a credible and transparent investigation," Pierce said. Human Rights Watch criticised the council's failure to demand an impartial investigation. "The sad truth is Saudis have been given a chance to investigate themselves and the results are laughable," said HRW's deputy UN director Akshaya Kumar. Out of 75 cases of civilian deaths investigated by the coalition, only two resulted in an admission of fault, she said. Last year, the coalition was put on a UN blacklist of child rights' violators for killing or injuring 683 children, and attacking dozens of schools and hospitals. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a military campaign to restore the internationally recognized government to power and push back the Huthis, who still hold the capital Sanaa. The war has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Zimbabwe's MDC opposition party lodged a court bid Friday to overturn the results of presidential elections that it alleges were rigged to ensure victory for Robert Mugabe's successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has accused the ruling ZANU-PF party and the election commission of ballot fraud in the July 30 vote, Zimbabwe's first poll since the ousting of Mugabe in November. Mnangagwa's inauguration -- planned for Sunday -- was immediately postponed until the court makes its ruling, which is due within 14 days. "We will rest when this country is liberated," Jameson Timba, a senior member of the MDC, told journalists outside the Constitutional Court after party lawyers arrived accompanied by plastic boxes full of paperwork. Party leader Nelson Chamisa tweeted: "Our legal team successfully filed our court papers. We have a good case and cause." Mnangagwa, who is seeking to reverse Zimbabwe's economic isolation and attract desperately-needed foreign investment, had vowed the elections would be free and fair, and would turn a page on Mugabe's repressive 37-year rule. International monitors largely praised the conduct of the election itself, although EU observers said that Mnangagwa, a former long-time Mugabe ally, benefitted from an "un-level playing field" and some voter intimidation. Mnangagwa narrowly won the presidential race with 50.8 percent of the vote -- just enough to avoid a run-off against the MDC's Nelson Chamisa, who scored 44.3 percent. - Court bias? - The MDC arrived at the court less than an hour before it closed on Friday, the last day that the petition could be lodged. Analysts say that the legal challenge has little chance of success given the courts' historic tilt towards ZANU-PF, which has ruled since independence from British colonial rule in 1980. But the delay to Mnangagwa's inauguration drew further attention to concerns over the election's credibility. Judges have 14 days to rule on the case, and could declare a winner, call another election, or order a run-off or recount, according to the Veritas legal group. The inauguration should take place within 48 hours of the court's ruling, it added. "We've managed to place before the court forms that show the (results) figures were erased," MDC party lawyer Thabani Mpofu told reporters. "We are seeking a declaration to the effect that the presidential election was not properly conducted." The aftermath of the election has been marred by allegations of a crackdown on opposition members, including beatings and arrests. On August 1, soldiers opened fire on MDC protesters, killing six people and sparking an international outcry. - Opponents targeted - Also on Friday, lawyers for senior opposition figure Tendai Biti asked judges to throw out charges against him over the protests against alleged election fraud, in a case raising further international concern about the new government. Diplomats and election observers were present at the hearing in Harare after Biti fled to Zambia but was handed back to Zimbabwean police despite claiming asylum. He faces charges of inciting the protests last week by proclaiming victory for the opposition. "Zimbabwe faces a terrible threat from a group of people that has no respect for the law," Biti, who was granted bail Thursday, told the court before his case was adjourned until next week. Mnangagwa wrote on Twitter that Biti was released after he intervened personally in the case. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, established under the 2013 constitution, on Friday released a damning report into the post-election crackdown. It said it had received numerous complaints of "hunting down" and intimidation, often by men in military uniform, of voters thought to have backed the opposition. The EU, US, Canadian and Australian missions to Zimbabwe urged authorities to guarantee Biti's safety and human rights, and said they were "deeply disturbed" by reports that opposition supporters were being targeted by the Zimbabwean security forces. Zimbabwe's defeated opposition faced a deadline Friday to file its legal challenge to try to overturn the July 30 election result, which has been mired in fraud allegations and a government crackdown on opponents. The MDC party alleges that the vote result was rigged and President Emmerson Mnangagwa's narrow victory was due to a falsified vote count in Zimbabwe's first election since the end of Robert Mugabe's rule. Mnangagwa, who is seeking to reverse Zimbabwe's economic isolation and attract desperately needed foreign investment, had vowed the elections would turn a page on Mugabe's repressive 37-year rule. International monitors largely praised the conduct of the election itself, although EU observers said that Mnangagwa, a former ally of Mugabe, benefited from an "un-level playing field" and a degree of voter intimidation. Mnangagwa of the ruling ZANU-PF party won the presidential race with 50.8 percent of the vote -- just enough to avoid a run-off against the MDC's Nelson Chamisa, who scored 44.3 percent. The aftermath of the polls has been marred by allegations by rights groups as well as by the MDC of a crackdown on opposition members, including beatings and arrests. On August 1, soldiers opened fire on MDC protesters, killing six people and sparking an international outcry. Chamisa has called the election results as "falsified and inflated" in favour of Mnangagwa. His party must lodge its appeal at the Constitutional Court by 1400 GMT, when the court closes. Also on Friday, lawyers for opposition figure Tendai Biti asked judges to throw out charges against him over the protests against alleged election fraud, in a case raising further international concern about the new government. Diplomats and election observers were present at the court hearing in Harare after Biti fled to Zambia but was handed back to Zimbabwean police despite claiming asylum. He faced allegations of inciting the protests last week by proclaiming victory for the opposition. In a joint statement, the EU, US, Canadian and Australian missions to Zimbabwe urged authorities to guarantee Biti's safety and human rights. Western nations added they were "deeply disturbed by continuing reports that opposition supporters are being targeted by members of the Zimbabwean security forces". If ever there were a movie destined for Netflix, its The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Helmed by Four Weddings and a Funeral director Mike Newell, the filmwhich well just call Guernsey, for brevitys sakewasnt necessarily created with the streaming service in mind, seeing as it was given a more traditional theatrical run in the U.K. and elsewhere. But on Friday, Guernsey will go straight to Netflix in the U.S., and rightly so, since its perfect for the sites algorithm-driven design, made with ingredients that seem selected to create the most palatable version of a particular genre. Start with a cast plucked straight from the halls of Downton Abbey, a love triangle representing the tension between city and country life, and lengthy discussions of literary staples like Charles Lamb and the Bronte sisters. Next throw in some lingering shots of the scenic English coast. Slap the word potato into the middle of its unwieldy title, and youve got a movie fit for British Period Drama Featuring a Strong Female Lead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guernsey takes that title from a 2008 novel written, ironically, by an American, Mary Ann Shaffer, and her niece, Annie Barrows, who finished the manuscript when Shaffer became too sick to complete it. The story, which in the novel is told entirely through letters and journal entries, follows Juliet Ashton, a London-based author who takes up correspondence with members of a peculiarly named book club on the isle of Guernsey shortly after World War II. Tasked with writing a column about reading for the Times, Juliet interviews her pen pals about life under the (real) Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands, during which a handful of citizens took refuge in meetings of the (fictional) Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Advertisement Before she was singing and dancing as a young, overall-clad Meryl Streep, Lily James made her name playing period-drama ingenues, with a resume that includes Downton Abbey, BBCs War and Peace, and a breakout performance as the star of Disneys live-action Cinderella. Maybe thats why she looks right at home under a 1940s-style pancake beret in Newells adaptation of Guernsey as Juliet. How you feel about the movie as a whole will probably depend on how you feel about James herself, whether you find her oft-knitted brows and earnest delivery endearing or irritating. (I fall into the former camp.) On the island, she manages at the very least to charm two members of the Potato Peel Pie Society: The elderly Eben (Tom Courtenay), the inventor of the societys unappetizing titular dish, and Isola (Katherine Parkinson), an eccentric bootlegger with a fondness for Victorian novels. Advertisement The principal love interest spends his days wearing sweat-soaked shirts in a way that would make even Colin Firth jealous. The club also counts two other Downton Abbey alumnae among its members: Penelope Wilton as Amelia, whose pregnant daughter was killed when the Germans invaded, and Jessica Brown Findlay as Elizabeth, an idealist who was sent away for a rebellious act of mercy during the occupation, leaving behind a young child of her own. Fans of Downton will note the typecasting of both actors, though Wilton performs maternal grief so well that its hard to blame Newell for letting her do her thing. Matthew Goode rounds out the Downton reunion back in London as Juliets publisher Sidney, who, she coyly reveals to Isola, prefers to date Georges and Toms. Advertisement Given that Sidney spends all of his time giving Juliet pep talks over the phone or scolding his hapless secretary, leaving none for romantic escapades of any kind, I can only conclude that Juliet drops this information lest we, like Isola, think of Sidney as a viable love interest for her. Shes hardly starved for choice on that front, since her chief pen pal on Guernsey is Dawsey (Game of Thrones Michiel Huisman), a sensitive pig farmer in the mold of Far From the Madding Crowds Gabriel Oakthough hes made of much blander stuff. When not dutifully raising the absent Elizabeths daughter, Dawsey mostly spends his days wearing sweat-soaked shirts plastered to his chest in a way that would make even Colin Firth jealous. Still, he has competition for Juliets affections in her brash, American fiance, Mark (Everybody Wants Some!! scene-stealer Glen Powell). Advertisement Advertisement Guernseys screenplay quickly abandons the books letter-writing premise for the sake of getting Juliet to the island as soon as possible and trims down the society to just a few members. The result is a less-complete picture of Guernsey under occupation and more of a mystery, with the missing Elizabeths fate at the center of it. The love triangle is brought to the forefront, too. In fact, the most interesting deviation from the source material involves Mark, who in the novel is little more than a Big American Obstacle to Juliet and Dawseys inevitable romance. Here, hes wisely given a larger role and shaped into a far more sympathetic character, one who actually aids Juliet on her mission and whose worst crime is giving Juliet an engagement ring so enormous shes embarrassed to be seen wearing it. Advertisement Thats not to say that Guernsey, a movie in which the bad guys are Nazis and the good guys talk very solemnly about the sanctity of literature, holds any mind-blowing revelations in store. Though Mark is the most compelling vertex on the love triangle, hes still the James Marsden to Dawseys Ryan Gosling, and its never really in doubt which of them Juliet will end up with. Still, theres something reassuring about a movie as conventional as Guernsey. Unlike the meager potato peel pie of its title, which is cobbled together from the only rations available to the islanders, the movie is comfort food through and through, as wholesome and predictable as a Sunday roast and as sickly sweet as sticky toffee pudding. A poster is a promise on which a movie has to deliver, and the posters for The Meg, the new Jason-Statham-versus-a-giant-prehistoric-shark movie, have been making some pretty big promises all year. Each new image has offered a variation on the same theme by putting the gaping maw of the films megalodon in compositions that show it dwarfing helpless human swimmers, helpless human rafters, and dogs (and a less helpless-looking Statham). The most effective of the bunch shows a scuba diver fleeing a great white thats in turn pursued by a megalodon whose massive jaws make it look like a sardine by comparison. The suggestion is unmistakable: You think youve seen crazy shark movies before? Wait until you see this! Advertisement Yet, when it comes to crazy shark movies, The Meg faces considerable competition. Im not talking about the tongue-in-cheek, made-for-TV Sharknado movies. Im not even talking about Deep Blue Sea, which pits Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J, and a parrot against some superintelligent sharks. Im talking about 1987s Jaws: The Revenge, the fourth and to-date final entry in the Jaws series and one of the strangest sequels ever released in any franchise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A short history: After the success of Steven Spielbergs 1975 adaptation of Peter Benchleys bestselling novel about a New England resort town named Amity Island menaced by a ferocious great white shark, Universal wanted a sequel. In 1978s Jaws 2, Roy Scheider returned as Amitys police chief Martin Brody to do battle with another great white. In the 1983 film, Jaws 3-D, Brodys sons Michael and Sean have grown up, with Michael working for a SeaWorld-like park menaced by a shark. Advertisement But forget all that, because Jaws: The Revenge does. When the film opens, Martin is dead of a heart attack, Seans working for the Amity police, and Michaels a marine biologist in the Bahamas. Though she still mourns her husband, Ellen Brody (Lorraine Gary, the films only returning principal cast member) has adjusted to life without him when Sean is killed while investigating a log thats drifted into the harbor. The killer: yet another great white shark. The mourning Ellen travels to the Bahamas to be with Michael (Lance Guest), her daughter-in-law Carla (Karen Young), and her granddaughter Thea (Judith Barsi). But it doesnt take long for her to suspect the shark has followed them thousands of miles in a few short days. Could it be seeking revenge? (Hint: Check the title.) Advertisement Advertisement So which is the crazier film? Lets break it down. Production History Adapted from Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror, a 1997 novel by Steve Alten, The Meg has bounced around Hollywood for a couple of decades. At one point, Jan de Bont was going to direct it. At another, Guillermo Del Toro. In the end, the job fell to Jon Turteltaub, a journeyman whose filmography includes everything from While You Were Sleeping to the National Treasure films. By contrast, Jaws: The Revenge was a rush job, given the go-ahead by Universal head (and Garys husband) Sid Sheinberg in September 1986 for a July 1987 release. Joseph Sargent, best known for directing The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, took on the unenviable task of making a releasable blockbuster in a short stretch of time. It didnt work. Everything about Jaws: The Revenge, from its borderline incoherent story to its chaotic action to its iffy effects to co-star Mario Van Peebles attempt at a Bahamian accent reveal it as a patchwork movie with little holding it together. Advertisement Advertisement Winner: Jaws: The Revenge. British Hero Jason Statham can throw a punch and wear a natty suit. He has a tough-looking face but can make a glower fade into a grin (and then back into a glower) with ease. He looks good holding a gun, doesnt mind taking his shirt off and, as Spy proved, can be hilarious when called upon. Theres a reason hes an in-demand action hero: He fits the part, but he can also wink at it when required. Michael Caine is one of the finest actors of his generation. Hes also always in demand, and he goes where hes wanted, which is why his filmography is a mix of titles like The Man Who Would Be King and Interstellar and The Swarm, The Hand, and, well, Jaws: The Revenge, in which he plays Hoagie, a pilot who strikes up a flirtation with Ellen Brody and, eventually, fights a shark. I have never seen it, but by all accounts it is terrible, Caine has said of the film. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific. Advertisement Advertisement Winner: Tough call. Both Statham and Caine know theyre in silly movies, and both have fun with it. However, in one scene Statham is dragged by a motorboat trying to outrace the Meg. Also, Caines character is named Hoagie. Advantage: Statham. Winner: The Meg. Romance Theres a lot of time-filling canoodling in Jaws: The Revenge. Hoagie romances Ellen. Michael and Carla are tight. Van Peebles Jake has a warm relationship with his wife Louisa (Lynn Whitfield). In The Meg, Stathams Jonas Taylor and co-star Li Bingbings Suyin Zhang embark on a romance so chaste it wouldnt be out of place on the Hallmark Channel. Characters talk about them liking each other, but they rarely make eye contact, much less kiss. Its one of the weirdest non-Megalodon elements of the movie. Advertisement Advertisement Winner: Jaws: The Revenge, if only because the characters seem to live in a world in which sex actually happens. Shark Heres where it gets tough. The effects in Jaws: The Revenge are, to put it kindly, not great. Its almost as if shark-effect technology devolved in the 12 years between the original Jaws and this one. It sometimes seems as if the chaotic editing is just an attempt to cut around the phoniness of the shark. The Meg has much better effects mostly. Sometimes the Meg looks impressive, as when it menacingly approaches the research stations massive windows. Sometimes it just looks like janky CGI that wouldnt look that out of place, Im sorry to report, in a Sharknado installment. Advertisement Advertisement Winner: The Meg. Though the quality varies wildly from shot to shot, it at least occasionally looks like the characters are fighting an actual giant shark. Beach Attack Most of The Megs action takes place far from the shore until the giant shark gets wise and decides to head for the easy pickings of Chinas Sanya Bay and a beach filled with swimmers, rafters, and at least one guy in a giant plastic gerbil balltype contraption. (Things dont go well for him.) The attack contains some of the films most striking images, especially an overhead shot of the Megalodon swimming beneath unsuspecting beachgoers, but the actions more frenzied than exciting. Jaws: The Revenge, on the other hand, features a shark trying to pick a kid off a banana boat. (Remember, this is a shark focused on destroying one family, not just eating indiscriminately.) Advertisement Winner: The Meg, even if the scene doesnt live up to its full potential. Climax This ones pretty easy. Jaws: The Revenge was released in American theaters with an ending audiences found so unsatisfying that Universal shot a different ending before releasing it to Europe and used that for all subsequent releases of the filmand its still among the films worst scenes. (Good luck finding the original version, which is presumably in Sheinberg and Garys basement.) The Meg features Jason Statham stabbing a giant shark in the eye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winner: Figure it out. Literary Connections Alten has followed Meg with six sequels (to date). Jaws: The Revenge, as was typical of the era, arrived accompanied by a novelization based on the screenplay and penned by an author whod never seen the finished product. Written by Hank Searls, it is, by all accounts, even stranger than the movie. Where Sargent makes frequent hints of a psychic connection between Ellen and the shark, the novel offers a more convoluted explanation involving a Voodoo priest whos using the shark to exact revenge on the Brody family. Which, to be fair, makes more sense than a shark choosing to seek revenge on its own, but is still pretty silly. Advertisement Winner: Altens Meg books have helped earn him a loyal following, so this should probably go to The Meg. But its hard to beat a novelization that suggests a more bizarre version of a movies story existing just below the surface of the movie itself. Lets call it a draw. Tagline The Meg: Chomp On This Jaws: The Revenge: This Time Its Personal Winner: Theres a clear winner here, and its not The Meg. This Time Its Personal even outdoes Jaws 2s Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water Its a phrase you can use, and probably have used, in everyday life without even knowing its source. That its source is referring to a shark with a grudge against a specific New England family whose patriarch once killed one of its own just makes it extra delightful. Final Judgment Tough call, honestly. The Meg has a giant prehistoric shark and Jason Statham, and yet its still only fitfully entertaining. In bare description, its the crazier movie, but its also kind of a slog, never as scary or silly as it ought to be. Jaws: The Revenge, on the other hand, doesnt work at all, but its a fascinating train wreck whose many low points are entertainingly awful. The psychic-shark-with-rage-issues probably gives it a slight lead. But ultimately this exercise suggests theres an even weirder shark movie waiting to be made. Maybe one about a prehistoric shark whos inherited a millennia-old grudge against the direction taken by evolution itself? Teaming Statham and Caine as heroes who, for some reason, are both telepathic? Theyre both available and eager to work. Everyone needs a new house once in a while, after all. Better Life Lab is a partnership of Slate and New America. Americans embraced sharing their homes and cars, creating billion-dollar industries. Nannies are next. As child care costs outpace housing, food, and transportation expenses, parents are searching for new ways to save. Finding quality home care can be a zero-sum game, as deficits in the supply of in-home care and day care centers plague cities, suburban regions, and rural towns alike. Parents often prefer having one care provider, a nanny, focused just on the children at home over day care centers where kids might not get the same level of attention. But the price of such dedicated care, especially as minimum wage approaches $15 an hour in some metropolitan areas, can be untenable for most families. Sharing arrangementswhere a nanny cares for children from two families on a regular basiscan both allow families who couldnt afford a nanny to hire one and lift nannies economic fortunes, allowing them to make thousands of dollars more a year than they would working for just one family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until recently, families looking to share a nanny did it ad hoc, connecting on Craigslist, Facebook, or regional websites for moms groups. Most cant afford to hire an agency, which can charge up to $5,000, to orchestrate headshots and resumes and hold parents hands through the interview process to find a nanny. But one company is looking to turn these informal arrangements into another moneymaker in the sharing economy. Toronto-based Nanny Lane began rolling its matchmaking service out earlier this year and is among a portfolio of sites operated under CareGuide. The company recently raised $6 million in new equity to double its staff to 80 in the next year. John Philip Green, who calls himself the chief executive dad of CareGuide, says he could foresee the site bringing the sharing economy to child care. If you think about what the travel industry and hospitality industry looked like before Airbnb, bed and breakfasts would have been a tiny sliver, he adds. Airbnb has gone on to be a $20 billion industry. They redefined it and formalized the price of staying in peoples homes. Advertisement There isnt anything thats been built specifically to help nannies with nanny sharesthats what gobsmacked us about a year ago, says Green. There are a lot of nanny matching serviceswe run one of the largest onesbut they are not suited to sharing a nanny. You have to facilitate family-to-family conversations. Advertisement To use the site, families and nannies post profiles specifying their needs and experience. They then can message through the site and interview people who might meet their specifications. That service is free. The company also manages payroll and other duties for about 1,200 families for an $80 monthly fee. Nanny Lane is focusing on markets in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston, although its available to people anywhere in the U.S., where company employees work to find matches for families and nannies in remote areas. Advertisement Advertisement The interface doesnt allow parents to plug in hourly rates that dip below the minimum wage in the area where they live. Nanny Lane encourages families to pay about two-thirds of what they would pay to hire a nanny solo, instead of just halving what they would pay for a single child. For example, if a single family paid $3,000 a month for a nanny, that family would be advised to pay $2,000 a month if they chose to share the nanny with another family, Green says. The nanny would receive a total of $4,000 a month, to reflect the increased responsibility when caring for children from several families. Advertisement Nanny sharing is making a sole caregiver affordable for families on many rungs of the economic ladder who might not have given such a situation a second thought in the past. A Nanny Lane spokeswoman says that sharing a caregiver can save a family more than $13,000 a year. Advertisement Were a family of teachers, and sharing was the only way for us to afford a nanny, says Merri Gonsalves Johnson, a high school English and special education instructor in Portland, Oregon. Last year we paid $3,000 a month between two families. This year our half will be about $100 a month more, or $1,600. For nannies, the formalized hiring process on Nanny Lane and the requirement that families adhere to an hourly minimum wage when posting a profile on the site are a hedge against being overworked and underpaideven as prices for nannies rise and the supply of nannies decreases due to increasingly restrictive federal immigration policies. The median pay for nannies increased to $18 an hour in 2017 from $16 in 2012, according to a 2017 survey from the International Nanny Association. The study also found more nannies are receiving paid time off and yearly raises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maggie and Joelle Schwartz decided to share a nanny with another family in San Francisco after their son, Elyan, was born nearly two years ago. Joelle Schwartz worried that paying for a nanny could cut her paycheck in half. In the Bay Area, a nanny can easily run $25 an hour. The Schwartzes entered a nanny share with another family for a combined $30 an hour. That extra $5 went straight to the nanny, making it cheaper for the families and better pay for the nanny. The couple recently moved and hired a nanny through Nanny Lane, but they posted a profile to the site looking to find a family to share the new caregiver with, even though the hourly cost in their new city is the same as what they paid for their San Francisco nanny share. For us, looking for a nanny share is not motivated by cost at all at this point, says Maggie Schwartz. Its having somebody that Elyan could form a close bond with. We have two friends who share a nanny, and their kids are like brothers. Theyve been together since they were babies. Advertisement These sharing arrangements also make relationships between families and a nanny more complicated. When youre working for two families, you have to consider what happens if the host familys kid is sickdo you go to the other house? says Eileen Conway, 31, whos been nannying since she was 20 and is currently looking for a nanny-sharing position on Nanny Lane in the Hoboken, New Jersey, area. They also have to be on the same page in terms of how they want their kids raised and disciplinedotherwise the nanny is being pulled in two ways, and it will never work. Like its sharing-economy brethren, the matchmaking site is unlikely to alleviate affordability issues for many of the nations families who struggle with the costs of child care. But like ride-sharing and Airbnb, Nanny Lane is also hoping to reshape an industry desperately in need of an overhaul. Another week, another string of humiliations for Americas top diplomats. On Wednesday, Vox reported (and a knowledgeable source confirmed to me on Thursday) that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has, on several occasions, given his North Korean counterparts eight months to turn over 60 or 70 percent of their nuclear weaponsbut the North Koreans have simply ignored him. This should be no surprise. First, Pompeo offered nothing in return for the rather significant act of disarmament he demanded. Second, it was a meaningless proposal to begin with, since the North Koreans havent yet given the Trump administration a list of the weapons they possess. (If the North Koreans wanted to be particularly mischievous, they could have shaken hands on the deal, dismantled three of their bombs, and said, We did have five, so this is 60 percent of them. U.S. intelligence agencies estimate they actually have as many as 60 bombs.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Above all else, this is slipshod diplomatic practice. No competent negotiator comes out of the pen with such a specific demand, and such a specific timetable, without having a Plan B for what to dohow to turn up the pressureif the other side does what the North Koreans have done: basically, given him the finger. It is unclear whether Pompeo, a former West Point valedictorian and Tea Party congressman who served as Trumps CIA director before taking his current job, is in way over his heador whether hes just carrying the presidents bucket of turbid water. Trump believes that the vaguely worded one-page joint statement that he and Kim signed at their June summit in Singapore was an agreementat one point, he called it a contract. He also came away from the summit hailing Kim as an honorable man (I trust him, and he trusts me) who would start to de-nuclearize immediately upon returning home. (In fact, construction continues on two new ICBMs.) It is, therefore, doubtful that Trump will turn up the heat and prod Kims negotiators into action; that would constitute an admission that hed misjudged the funny little man whod shaken his hand and smiled and treated him with such respect. Even if he suddenly realizes hes been had, its unclear what kind of pressure he would apply: After the bonhomie of Singapore, Russia and China have resumed trading with North Korea; South Korean President Moon Jae-in would loudly oppose a renewal of U.S. military threats. Trump has fumbled away whatever leverage he once had. Advertisement Advertisement Its also possible that Pompeo is following instructions drafted by national security adviser John Bolton, who took office in April, full of zesty hopes that the hard lines hed long been advocating against Russia, North Korea, and Iran would finally become U.S. policyonly to see Trump turn to mush on the first two of those targets. In the case of North Korea, all it seemed to take was a very nice note from the tyrant that Trump had previously trashed as Little Rocket Man and threatened with fire and fury like the world has never seen. I suspect that Bolton is lying in wait for Trumps illusions to dissolveand meanwhile, doing all he can to ensure that the talks with Kims officials go nowhere (which they were likely to do anyway). Advertisement Advertisement In the weeks other diplomatic disgrace, which also occurred on Wednesday, Republican Sen. Rand Paula periodic Trump critic who has found common ground with him as a Putin-admirertraveled to Moscow, carrying a handwritten letter from the U.S. president proposing resumption of talks on arms control, counterterrorism, and cultural exchanges. If this is what the letter really says (we have only Pauls tweet to go by), it isnt a bad thing; Moscow and Washington cooperated on issues of converging interests through the darkest years of the Cold War, when tensions were much sharper than those of today. Advertisement But heres the thing: Delivering messages of this sort, from the American president to the Russian president, is properly the job of the U.S. ambassador. Trumps ambassador, Jon Huntsman, is a true professionala former governor of Utah who has served under every president since Ronald Reagan, including as Barack Obamas ambassador to China. Advertisement Yet Huntsman must be wondering what the hell hes doing at this job. Even before this week, hed had to juggle two conflicting U.S. policies toward Russia: on the one hand, the more traditional views of the State Department and every other relevant Cabinet officer (sanctions and containment in response to Russias violations of Ukrainian sovereignty and to the nerve-gas poisonings of former spies now living in England, combined with pragmatic cooperation where possible); on the other hand, Trumps unseemly obsequiousness to Putin, reflecting a desire for good relations across the board at all cost. And now Pauls ascension as Trumps messenger boy has, in effect, rendered Huntsman irrelevant. Should he ever call on Putin or his various ministers, to protest some human-rights violation in Russia, or atrocity in Syria, or some other objectionable act, the Russians canquite reasonablydismiss his complaints as mere noise. Trump has shown them that, when it comes to real messages from the White House, Huntsman is no longer his manand therefore, of no use in Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huntsman, like any other ambassador in his position, should resign. If he left now, he would do so with his integrity, and the prospects of a political future, intactsomething that cant be said of many other high-ranking officials, who have dunked themselves in the swamp too many times to walk away untainted. Finally, the New York Times reported on Thursday that, in early July, senior national security officials, led by Bolton, urged NATO ambassadors to sign a crucial policy document before Trump arrived at the alliances summit in Brusselsfearing that, otherwise, he would wreck the meeting and foment disunity, just as he had at the G-7 meeting in Toronto a few weeks earlier. In other words, Trumps officials know that theyre working for a bad egg, a disruptive force. Meanwhile, the world is now divided into two types of leaders: those who wonder what the hell is going on in Washingtonand those who are exploiting the confusion. This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy. When the administration of President George W. Bush sought legal justification for enhanced interrogation techniques such as stress positions, sleep deprivation, and waterboarding, it needed to get around the firm prohibition of torture in international law. One of its strategies was to claim that international law has limited authority over the United States. Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trumps nominee to replace Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court, holds a stark version of this view. His confirmation would threaten the protection of fundamental human rights, including the right not to be tortured. Advertisement Torture is prohibited by customary international law and several treaties ratified by the United States. My book The Promise of Human Rights argues that a long-standing policy of marginalizing international human rights law facilitated the United States use of torture after 9/11. The battle over the domestic authority of international human rights law is still being waged in Congress and the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump once vowed that he would bring back waterboarding and a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding. The composition of the Supreme Court may determine whether he or a future president could act on this promise. While torture is prohibited by congressional statute, international law provides vital reinforcement. Bush administration lawyers proved adept at manipulating loopholes in federal anti-torture legislation. Advertisement The Bush administration almost succeeded in creating a permanent legal framework for unhampered detention and interrogation policies. Resistance from the Supreme Court was belated and partial, and the addition of one or two supportive justices would have given the Bush administration a free hand. In four major cases, Justice Kennedy voted with narrow majorities to restrain the governments treatment of foreign captives. Two of the four cases relied crucially on international law norms. In Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004), Justice Sandra Day OConnor invoked international law principles to hold that Congress authorization of military force after 9/11 could not justify indefinite detention for the purpose of interrogation. In Hamdan v. Rumsfeld (2006), Justice John Paul Stevens ruled that detainees in what the administration had called the war on terror were entitled to basic humanitarian protections of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. Advertisement Several opinions that Kavanaugh has issued as a judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals suggest that he would have voted contrary to Kennedy. Of particular note is his position on international law, spelled out in a lengthy minority opinion in the 2010 Guantanamo case of Bihani v. Obama. Ghaleb Nassar al-Bihani, captured while serving as a cook for a Taliban-allied militia, claimed that his detention violated international law. Kavanaugh rebuffed this argument on the grounds that international law norms, unless written into congressional statutes or included in a limited subset of U.S. treaties, are not part of domestic U.S. law. Advertisement Advertisement Kavanaughs claims are controversial. The United States international law obligations derive principally from its treaty commitments and from customary international law, a set of rules originating in a general practice and normative consensus among states. Kavanaughs position that international law norms are generally not part of domestic law conflicts with language in the Constitution declaring that all treaties made by the United States shall be the Supreme Law of the Land. It is also contrary to a long history of Supreme Court decisions, including OConnors opinion in Hamdi. One of Kavanaughs controversial claims is that customary international law does not form part of domestic U.S. law. The Supreme Court has never taken this position, and has repeatedly stated the opposite. Advertisement The law of nations, as customary international law used to be known, is referenced in the Constitution. In the Federalist Papers, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton took it for granted that U.S. courts would have authority to enforce it, and Jay wrote as the countrys first chief justice that the United States had, by taking a place among the nations of the earth, become amenable to the laws of nations. In Murray v. the Charming Betsy (1804), the Supreme Court ruled that, whenever possible, statutes should be interpreted so that they comply with the law of nations. Arguably, Kavanaughs most controversial claim in Bihani is that courts should no longer apply customary international law via the Charming Betsy rule. Advertisement Customary international law is a central pillar of the prohibition of torture. In the 1980 case of Filartiga v. Pena-Irala, a federal appeals court judge ruled that, under customary international law, the torturer has becomelike the pirate and slave trader before himhostis humani generis, an enemy of all mankind. The judge consequently affirmed that foreign torture victims could seek civil remedies in the U.S. under the Alien Tort Statute, a 1789 law permitting lawsuits by noncitizens for torts committed in violation of the law of nations. Advertisement Advertisement Kavanaughs position resembles some of the radical views that underpinned the notorious torture memos of the Bush administration. Last August, three torture victims used the Alien Tort Statute to win a settlement against two CIA contractors who had conceived and designed the U.S. torture program. But the Filartiga precedent has been challenged, and Kavanaughs views suggest he might join those seeking to end the use of the Alien Tort Statute for making human rights claims. Kavanaughs own record on human rights lawsuits is troubling. In 2009, he joined an opinion that introduced a new doctrine of battlefield pre-emption to dismiss claims against private military contractors who had tortured prisoners in Abu Ghraib. Its hard to find statutory authority for the majoritys argument, as Judge Merrick Garland pointed out in a forceful dissent. Advertisement Kavanaughs position on international law resembles some of the radical views that underpinned the notorious torture memos of the Bush administration. A secret January 2002 memo by John Yoo and Robert Delahunty claimed that customary international law cannot bind the executive branch under the Constitution, thus freeing the Bush administration to ignore the customary international law prohibition of torture. The same memo claimed that the president had constitutional authority to unilaterally suspend, contravene, or terminate treaties. Advertisement Kavanaugh served as associate White House counsel between 2001 and 2003, and White House staff secretary between 2003 and 2006. Its unclear how much he knew about, and joined deliberations over, the administrations detention and interrogation policies. The nominees views place him in the company of the New Sovereigntists, the name given by legal scholar Peter Spiro on the eve of the Bush administration to a group of academics and policy analysts seeking to limit the authority of international law over U.S. policy. Among those profiled in Spiros 2000 article were John Yoo, a law professor who went on to join the Bush administration and write many of the torture memos, and Jack Goldsmith, another law professor who became director of the administrations Office of Legal Counsel in 2003. The following year, Goldsmith withdrew one of the principal torture memos and resigned in the fallout, but he did not withdraw authorization of the enhanced interrogation techniques previously approved on the basis of the memo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldsmith had co-authored an influential Harvard Law Review article in 1997 challenging the authority of customary international law. Described by Spiro as the opening salvo in the New Sovereigntist Crusade, the article is invoked in the Yoo-Delahunty memo, and helps build the foundation for Kavanaughs Bihani opinion as well as a 2004 minority opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia arguing that the Alien Tort Statute may not be used to enforce customary international law. While Goldsmiths views have moderated over time, Kavanaugh situates himself at the far end of the New Sovereigntist movement. Goldsmith has argued that Congresss post-9/11 authorization of military force does not authorize (though neither does it prohibit) acts that violate the international law of war. In Bihani, Kavanaugh expressly rejected any such interpretive limit on the congressional authorization of military force. Advertisement Kavanaugh does not even seem to think that executive and legislative officials are obligated to follow international law, for he writes in Bihani that they may choose whether or not to do so. Kavanaughs radical views have momentous implications. A core purpose of international law is to shield individuals from the worst abuses of state power. If Kavanaugh is elevated to the Supreme Court, his insistence on marginalizing international law will severely undermine human rights. More from Just Security: DHS Spins the Border Numbers Again Al-Qaeda and ISIS Are on Their Heels in Yemen but Will Return Unless We Help Build a Lasting Peace California is burning. More than 15,000 firefighters have been fighting wildfires across the state. As of Monday, the Mendocino Complex fire became the largest in California history. Donald Trump recognized the tragedy by inaccurately condemning the states water policies. This should give us pause, not because of what the president says, but because of the point this marks in Trumps long, ongoing war with California. Heres what he said on Monday: Governor Jerry Brown must allow the Free Flow of the vast amounts of water coming from the North and foolishly being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Can be used for fires, farming and everything else. Think of California with plenty of Water - Nice! Fast Federal govt. approvals. Advertisement Plenty of digital ink has been spilled by journalists and experts responsibly trying to parse the presidents bizarre declaration. His claims have no scientific basis and have little to do with the tragedy going on right now. You might notice a few strange things about that tweet, aside from his neglecting to express any sympathy for the Californians who have lost their homes, and some their lives. One odd note is the appearance of farming in a tweet thats ostensibly about wildfires. Another is Fast Federal govt. approvals. What does federal government approval have to do with the fires? Approvals of what? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most obvious answerthough not the only one, as Ill argue shortlyis disaster relief. The Trump administrations aid to California has been stingy. Consider the presidents response to the 2017 wildfires. While some hurricane relief funding (including funds to rebuild) was supplied to Southern states in the White Houses November 2017 disaster aid request to Congress, not a cent was initially designated for victims of the California wildfires to rebuild. (Even Republican Sen. John Cornyn called the White Houses disaster relief budget wholly inadequate.) Trumps long-standing hostility to California is no secret: In February 2017, he told Bill OReilly that California was out of control and said withholding federal funds would be a weapon hed use to punish the state for opposing him. Given this admission, lawmakers nervous about a Trump vendetta have taken peculiar steps: 13 of 14 California Republicans refused to sign their own states request for federal aid following the 2017 floods and wildfiresthe Republicans signed a separate letter, one uncontaminated by Democrats. Advertisement These are the sorts of real effects a petty, vindictive president achieves. Nor is there much reason to believe things have changed since last year. While Trump approved a disaster declaration this past Sunday that would make some federal aid available to Shasta County (where the Carr fire has raged since late July), he had to tweet something nasty about Californias governor. (Its also not unreasonable to note that the county went for Trump in the 2016 election.) More funds have been requested by lawmakers to provide relief for other affected California countiesLake, Mendocino, and Napa counties now have huge blazes of their own with which to contend. Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has added his voice to the bipartisan request for additional aid. But will Trump help? The earliest an answer would come is the end of this week after a damage assessment is completed, but the mere fact that theres a question about this is symptomatic of the government-by-suspense he inflicts on the countryand on California in particular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps ill will toward a state that wont bend to him (it has in fact filed 29 suits against his administration) has a long and bitter history. He certainly couldnt be happy about the vandalism of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which he bought in 2007perhaps, some speculated, to distract from a feud with Rosie ODonnell. But now the star has been vandalized so often that West Hollywoods City Council has approved a symbolic resolution to remove it. Hollywoods repulsion of the man has been near universal (as any awards show will attest), and Trumps other efforts to make his mark on the state have been similarly disappointing. During the campaign he liked to say hed be the first Republican to win the state in decades, but he lost to Hillary Clinton by an incredible 4.3 million votes. That figure became the basis for Trumps false claim that there was rampant voter fraud. He couldnt have lost the state by that much; it must have been the illegal immigrants! His plan in the 1980s to build a structure on Wilshire Boulevard that would be the tallest building in L.A. fizzled. When he visited Los Angeles for a mere 22 hours in 2018, as president, he made a point of spending the night in the building currently bearing that tallest tower designationthe Wilshire Grand. Advertisement Advertisement This is a man furious with a state that seems invulnerable to him. But its as a political project that California has been a fly in Trumps ointment. The worlds fifth-largest economy is succeeding wildly in defiance of Trumps every prescription. As Bloombergs Matthew Winkler argues, the state disproves Trumps policies at every turn. Trump credits environmental deregulation and cutting taxes for the rich for the humming American economy, and yet Jerry Browns agenda, which almost perfectly opposes Trumps, has accompanied even better growth: Californias 4.9 percent increase in GDP last year was more than twice the gain for the U.S. and enabled the states jobless rate to slide to 4.2 percent, the lowest on record since such data was compiled in 1976. And the state has done it while leading on policies meant to combat climate change. Advertisement Advertisement So far, Trump has not been able to bring this out of control, pro-immigrant state to heel. His attempt to punish California for sanctuary cities by weaponizing federal funds backfired: the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the president had exceeded his authority since only Congress can put conditions on federal funds. The same man who in 1988 was hyping the dangers of California earthquakes has slashed the earthquake budget. Hes currently attacking Californias ability to regulate its own fuel emissions; his administration is now in the business of arguing that looser gas-mileage requirements would actually be better for the environment. He made a point of looking at wall prototypes while in California, knowing that the majority of residents here abhor the idea. This is a man furious with a state that seems invulnerable to him. Advertisement Advertisement That brings us back to the fires. Here, as ever with Trump, the urgent underlying question is not the issue itselfthe man clearly considers the fires beside the pointbut what grievance or financial opportunity is currently driving the presidents decision-making. And the tweeted statement was not about fire. It was about water. As I read it, specifically, it was about his administrations efforts to increase the height of the Shasta Dam, which stands in the one county that has so far received federal aid. The dam is an odd little episode in the larger story of Californias water wars, but it may yet turn out to be one of the weirder chapters in the tale of the Trump administrations corruption. In brief: The Trump administration wants to fund a $1.3 billion project to increase the dams height by two stories, ostensibly for water storage and (you guessed it) farming. Advertisement Advertisement This proposal would violate California state law (including one requiring that the natural flow of rivers be maintained), so who does a bigger dam benefit? Central Valley farms, for one, especially those that grow water-intensive crops like almonds. The project would also massively benefit Westlands Water District, the biggest irrigation district in the state, whose interests were until quite recently represented by a lobbyist named David Bernhardt. David Bernhardt is now the No. 2 at Trumps Interior Department, an agency his previous firm sued four times while collecting more than $1 million from Westlands for promoting its water interests and challenging endangered species protections for fish like the California salmon. Advertisement Advertisement Despite assurances at a Senate committee hearing, Bernhardt has not recused himself when it comes to the Shasta Dam. He has also been found to have continued doing work for Westlands Water long after he said hed quit. Advertisement If the dam project goes through, it would flood miles of the McCloud River, in violation of state law. The Winnemem Wintu Tribe, which has already lost much of its land in the initial construction of the dam, would see much of its remaining sacred ground flooded. The project would hurt salmon. But those are likely minor side stories in the larger offensive the federal government seems to be launching against Californias own laws. As Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman put it, The Trump administration would have to abrogate a century of federal deference to state laws on California water to go ahead with this. Congress, undeterred, has approved $20 million for pre-construction planning. While this sounds like a bingo card of things Trump loveseliminating environmental protections, disenfranchising Native Americans, sacrificing public lands to private interests, and richly rewarding specifically the Californians who voted for him, all while flouting the laws of a state whose disobedience he resentsthere is no proof Trump has all this in mind while the wildfire-ravaged state requests his help. But consider this: Californias main objection to the dam expansion pertains to protecting the McCloud under the states Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, passed in 1968 to preserve a rivers free-flowing condition. The strangest part of Trumps tweet about the fires is the capitalization of Free Flow. Trump likes using capitalization on Twitter the way others use hashtagshe highlights the phrases that matter to him. We know, too, that he likes repurposing phrases (fake news) for his own needs. That the words he capitalized echo the precise legal reasoning against the dam might, of course, be a simple coincidence. But his key phrases usually come from somewhere. Whatever his intent may be in falsely asserting that the state is sending away extra water, or in pairing Free Flow and Fast Federal govt. approvals, or in telling Jerry Brown what he should do, Trump cant help but tell us what he is thinking about. And its not Americans in need of help. On this weeks episode of my podcast, I Have to Ask, I spoke to David D. Kirkpatrick, an international correspondent for the New York Times and the author of the new book Into The Hands of the Soldiers: Freedom and Chaos in Egypt and the Middle East. Currently based in London, Kirkpatrick reported extensively throughout the Middle East for the Times, especially in Egypt, where he lived with his family during the fall of Hosni Mubarak. His book is a portrait of Egypt during the Arab Spring, as well as an examination of the ways that Egypts depressing path over the past several years has both initiated and mirrored the path of the region as a whole. Advertisement Below is an edited excerpt from the show. In it, we discuss exactly where the Egyptian revolution went off the rails, the ways in which American presidents have differed in their approach to the Middle East, and how the Obama administration helped undermine the Arab Spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can find links to every episode here; the entire audio interview is below. Please subscribe to I Have to Ask wherever you get your podcasts. Isaac Chotiner: Why, throughout history, has Egypt been such an important country to the Middle East? David D. Kirkpatrick: Well, 1 in 4 Arabic speakers live in Egypt. So, Egypt is by far the giant of the region, and for a long time, it was the most advanced country, the largest economy, the most influential historically. The Nile is an extraordinary thing in a desert region like that, and then on top of that, over the last hundred years or so, you add the Suez Canal, which makes it a gateway for commerce. So for Arab culture, for history, for geopolitics, its an extraordinarily influential place. Advertisement When did you get a sense that Hosni Mubaraks rule was teetering and he really could fall? There was a moment several days into the [2011 Arab Spring] protests when an anonymous spokesman for the military came out on state television, and said that we will not harm civilians, we are going to respect the legitimate demands of the people. And it was a heck of a thing because Hosni Mubarak was nominally still president and yet his military had clearly broken with him. And I thought to myself, well, its over, hes toast. But my editors prevailed on me that things might be more complicated, as indeed they were. We couldnt yet be sure that it wasnt some sort of hoax, that the military wasnt waiting for orders, that this wasnt some sort of a ruse, and indeed, he hung on for roughly another 10 days after that before he was finally gone. But in retrospect, after that moment, when the military publicly broke with him, when they endorsed what they referred to as the demands of the people and they did so evidently without telling him, he was dead. He was over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason Im dwelling on that is because the sequence of events has become somewhat mythologized. After that point, once it was really pretty clear that Mubarak was on his way out, President Obama for the first time began to say he ought to go. But the truth is, the American government didnt really, in any meaningful way, break with Mubarak until it was absolutely clear that he was no longer viable. You write that you struggled not to sound starry-eyed about Tahrir Square and the uprising against Mubarak. Can you talk about the challenge of being a journalist when something like that is going on? The thing of it is that what happened in Tahrir Square in 2011 really was kind of a miracle, and theres almost no way to sugarcoat that. It was just an extraordinary thing because what defined that moment was a sense of solidarity bringing together people who have almost nothing in common. So what you saw in Tahrir Square as it really got going was not only young people but also old people, and not only rich people but also poor people, and not only Islamists but also Christians. Advertisement They were setting up communal kitchens, they were distributing food, they were running checkpoints, and unlike the Egyptian police, who were so routinely abusive, their checkpoints were very polite. They apologized as they patted you down, and yet they made sure that no one brought in any weapons. At night, they had poetry readings. It was a lovely, lovely time, and its hard even now to describe that without sounding like youre falling for something. Advertisement After Mubarak fell, when did you first get a sense that things were going to go in a direction that culminate where they are todaywith Egypt under a pretty brutal military dictatorship? Advertisement After Egypt had held several successful parliamentary elections and their first free presidential election, and then held a fair and free referendum to establish a new constitution, I thought they really had a chance. And not just me, the American Embassy did too. I remember very vividly attending an off-the-record briefing at the embassy in March of 2013 and they were saying that they thought military intervention was extraordinarily unlikely. So I was skeptical, as late as June of 2013 if Im honest, that the Egyptian people would allow their hard-won democracy to be squashed, and in that, I was totally wrong. Advertisement Why do you think they did let that happen, if in fact they did and it wasnt sort of forced upon them? If in fact they did. Thats the interesting question. You know, as those 30 months of freedom went on, there was a phenomenon thats a little bit abstract but I came to think of it like this: Everybody in Egypt said they wanted democracy. They said they wanted pluralism. They looked at the governments of the West and they wanted that kind of a government. Not because they thought it was Western, but because they thought thats what they deserved. Advertisement But they were afraid that some other group, some other constituency, was going to rig the system, was going to hog all the power and run things the way Mubarak had run things. So the Islamists were afraid of the old regime, the liberals were afraid of the Islamists, and for a while, the military was afraid of the people in the street. And those fears kept things in balance for a while, but then as the politics began to set in, as it began to be like two different factions fighting for power, the civilians became divided. Advertisement Advertisement Your book presents a pretty intriguing portrait of Mohammed Morsi, the man who was elected president in 2012 from the Muslim Brotherhood, as a very flawed leader and person. Do you think that someone who was more competent could have taken Egypt on a different course, or whether a military rule was inevitable? I dont think it was inevitable. I dont think anything about this was inevitable. I know that the person who is now president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, was telling American officials but also his Egyptian confidants, well into the Morsi presidency that he was happy to have a Muslim Brother as the fairly elected president of Egypt. Advertisement Advertisement Could a more competent president have pulled it off? He was not the most competent possible president. Its easy to imagine a wilier or more strategic leader, or even a better politician, in that role. I found it frankly sort of winning that he was such an amateur. When you think that Egypt is going through this historic change, theres something sort of sweet about the fact that theyve cast aside the old order and drafted a civilian with no experience, from out of nowhere, to run the government. The downside, of course, was he didnt really know how to run the government. Advertisement What were his biggest mistakes? Well, bar none, his biggest mistake was in November of 2012. He felt that the constitutional court was poised to wipe away a draft constitution and the assembly that had drafted it, and to forestall that, he sent his spokesman out on television to read a proclamation that his rulings were above the courts. So it looked to all the world like he had made himself a dictator. It looked even to me at the time like he had made himself the dictator. Now, he was only asking to have this authority for a period of weeks, until the constitution was passed, and in his defense, the courts really seemed to be out to get him. I mean, he was probably right about that. But his tactic, this unilateral self-aggregation of power, was ham-fisted and in retrospect, stupid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And what was the ultimate breaking point that you think caused Sisi and the military to take the country back over? I think thats when it began. Im not sure were going to find a single moment, but if you look at it from Sisis point of view, during those final months, the Persian Gulf states were saying, Please take out Morsi, weve got a lot of money and well bankroll this thing if you do. The liberals inside Egypt were so afraid of the Islamists, they were saying, Please take out Morsi, we will help justify this to the world and call it a revolution if you do. The businessmen of the old elite inside Egypt were saying, We feel like our livelihoods are at stake here. Our enterprises are at stake here. We think you should take out Morsi. Advertisement So a lot of people were saying, Come on, Sisi, just do this. Nobody was really saying theres going to be a price if you do. And under those circumstances, you know, maybe George Washington, there may be someone out there who would say, you know what, Im going to turn down this easy opportunity to take all the power in my country. But that person was not Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Advertisement In your book, theres certainly a cynicism to Obama, but he comes across as less cynical than the American military, which wanted to deal with Sisi, less cynical than his defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, and even his secretary of state, John Kerry. Do you think thats a fair characterization, and did that surprise you at all? It seems like Obama was sort of more willing to try to make things work with Morsi and less enthusiastic about the coup. Advertisement Advertisement Its certainly true that Obama was more willing to make things work with Morsi. You know, youre using the word cynical, and Im not sure thats the one that I would use. Some of the people who were most sympathetic to the coup were in their own way ideological. If you look at the current secretary of defense, James Mattis, he was convinced no matter what anyone told him that the Muslim Brotherhood was effectively al-Qaida. And if you take that as your outlook, then youre being idealistic when you say the military should remove this menace. So Im not sure its a case of cynicism. But certainly down to the wire, as things got complicated in Egypt, Obama thought that the best outcome was to avoid Morsis removal and try to keep the political process going, and there were people around him that had long ago given up on that, and I believe were probably signaling to the Egyptians that they had long ago given up on that. Advertisement Advertisement Right, although Obama wasnt willing to go to the mat for it. No. After the military removed Morsi, I have in the book an account of a meeting on July 4, 2013, in the White House, and Obama comes into the room and says right at the outset, Well, obviously we cant call this a coup, because that would have necessitated cutting off aid to the Egyptian military. And then someone else reopens the question and says, you know, You could call it a coup without actually demanding that they reinstate Morsi. And that gets Obamas interest. He thinks about it. And its, you know, theres some back and forth. Even Gen. [Martin] Dempsey from the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the time, Look, arent we going to lose creditability if we dont call what is obviously a coup a coup? But in the final hour, Obama clearly chose the more pragmatic route, which was also the more popular route inside his government, which was to not call it a coup and thus recognize it. Advertisement Advertisement Mattis has a reputation now as this scholar warrior who sits in his library when hes not working and reads all this stuff on warfare and is considered by a lot of liberals to be the most heroic figure in the Trump administration. The portrait in your book is a little bit more simple-minded, sort of almost shockingly simple-minded. Advertisement Advertisement You know, I agree with you. Ive found the portrait that is emerging from the media now to be at odds with his attitude specifically toward the Middle East and political Islam. His statements during the interregnum, when he was no longer in the military and not yet in the White House, he spoke quite a bit publicly about his thoughts on those subjects and its very clear that he considers Islam itself to be troubled and somewhat problematic. [His thinking is] a little bit of a more sophisticated form of the kind of thinking that we also saw from Gen. Mike Flynn, the former national security adviser. Advertisement How much of an impact did the Egyptian revolution and then the coup a couple years later have on the rest of the region? And do you think that if things had gone differently in Egypt, we might be seeing a happier story in various places in the Middle East? From where I stood, it seemed like the coup in Egypt cast a pretty long shadow. Its hard to remember now, but as of June of 2013, it still looked like things might turn out OK in Syria, and it looked quite a bit like things might turn out OK in Libya, and all in all, you could still speak seriously of an Arab Spring, of a democratic opening. After the tide turned in Egypt, jihadis everywhere gave out a giant I told you so. We told you that you couldnt trust elections, we told you that you couldnt trust the West. We told you they would never let Arabs and Muslims govern themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And at the same time, the authoritarians all over the region, whether theyre Bashar al-Assad of Syria or the Gulf monarchs, had a new spring in their step as well. So in many ways, the coup really returned the region to the kinds of dynamics that we saw before the Arab Spring, where it looked like your choices were extremists on the one side or autocrats on the other. And thats the heads I win, tails you lose that the autocrats in the region want. Yeah, thats the bogeyman for them. Its, you know, its us or al-Qaida. Thats what Mubarak was telling American officials for decades. And for a while, for those 30 months between 2011 and 2013, it looked like there might have been another way. Advertisement In terms of practical policy differences, do you see a noticeable difference from Obama to Trump? You have to separate the president from the rest of the government. I mean, the differences between Obama and Trump are vast, of course, on the level of rhetoric and even on policy, but then you get into the larger question of just how much can one president steer the ship, if you know what I mean. Its got a momentum all its own. Theres a lot of historic policy and bureaucracy that is quite difficult to shift. Advertisement Advertisement On the other hand, rhetoric has its own weight. If the American president is saying, We support the principle of self-rule, that makes a difference. If an American president is saying, Look, it really bothers us that youre locking up your human rights activists and not allowing free elections, that has a kind of weight in the region all its own. And then, of course, we get to the Iran deal. Advertisement Advertisement But in terms of Egypt? Oh, in terms of Egypt, yeah, it makes a difference. If you ask liberal Egyptians, they will say, yeah, sure, we always knew the American government was cynical. We always knew the American government was going to back Mubarak, but at the same time, when there was a different kind of president, it gave us a margin to operate. You know, the gap between Americas rhetoric and its pragmatism gave us a little bit more leverage that we could use to get somebody out of jail or to stop some torture or to press for some greater free speech rights. If you look back at President George W. Bush, he actually put quite a bit of pressure on Egypt to open up, and in retrospect, whether because of American pressure or not, the last years of Mubarak were a golden age of freedom of expression in Egypt and even political participation. How would you define Egypt today? Is there anything about Sisi that you think differentiates him from other strongmen in the region or around the world? Well, the question about Sisi is how strong a strongman is he? He is broadcasting quite a bit of anxiety. He does not seem very confident in his own rule. As soon as someone barely sticks their head above the parapet as a possible challenger at any level, he locks that person up. Hes even locked up other generals who he thought might be questioning him, and hes changing positionslike his defense minister or his head of general intelligencein a kind of a nervous way. You know, he recently gave a speech where he was complaining a little bit about some of the hashtags that people are using to criticize him on Twitter. And his insistence on winning both elections with more than 90 percent of the vote: He doesnt seem very confident in his own staying power, and that makes him distinctive. Update, 10:45 p.m.: The Washington Post is reporting Kris Kobach will recuse himself from his oversight role as secretary of state of the closely contested GOP primary he is a candidate in. Kobach had initially resisted calls to step aside, saying his role in the process was merely symbolic. His opponent Gov. Jeff Colyer called on Kobach to step down in a letter Thursday. Original Post: The winner of the Republican primary in the Kansas gubernatorial race isnt any clearer two days after the vote, as a mistake in reporting one countys vote total by the secretary of states office halved the already slim lead of challenger Kris Kobach over interim Gov. Jeff Colyer to 91 votes from 311,000 cast. Adding to the mayhem of the razor thin primary that appears destined for a recount, and likely a court battle, is the fact that the Kansas secretary of state overseeing the process also happens to be the leading candidate, Kris Kobach. Kobach, of course, made a national name for himself by actively attempting to suppress voter turnout locally in Kansas, catching the eye of one Donald Trump who then tasked Kobach with heading his voter fraud task force to investigate the fictitious claim that millions of noncitizens voted in the last election. The commission under Kobachs leadership quickly crashed and burned under the weight of its own bad faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding to the whiff of bad faith that trails Kansas secretary of state is the fact that Kobach has refused to recuse himself from his role as secretary of state during the next phase of vote tally, which includes counting some 10,000 absentee and provisional votes and a likely recount. The clear conflict of interest came under even more scrutiny Thursday when discrepancies were reported in Thomas County between the county clerks tally of 522 votes for Colyer and the 422 votes the secretary of states office published. The mistake was caught and corrected by the secretary of states routine verification process, according to the state director of elections, but the error made it even more abundantly clear that Kobachs refusal to step aside is laughably improper. Kobachs insistence that he oversee the vote count of his own election is like Donald Trump Jr. demanding he be allowed to oversee the Russia investigation. Another county, Haskell County, confirmed to the Kansas City Star that its published totals were also incomplete with Kobach picking up 30 more votes than Colyer in the final tally. Advertisement The Colyer campaign sent a letter Thursday to the Kobach in his capacity as secretary of state requesting he step aside and allow the state attorney general to oversee the remainder of the count. It has come to my attention that your office is giving advice to county election officialsas recently as a conference call yesterdayand you are making public statements on national television which are inconsistent with Kansas law and may serve to suppress the vote in the ongoing primary election process, Colyer said in the letter. I believe that the designation of the Attorney General as a neutral party to advise county election officials on these matters will help ensure the confidence of the voting public in the outcome of the primary election. Inasmuch as you are a licensed attorney, I also want you to be comfortable that your role is consistent with Kansas Rule of Professional Responsibility 1.7(a)(2), which prohibits an attorney from giving advice in a matter in which they are personally interested. According to state elections director, new updated totals will be posted Friday that will include mail-in ballots, which will likely rejigger the race once again. In a final credibility-draining flourish Thursday, the Kansas City Star reported that in a statement to The Star on the same day that the Thomas County votes were discovered, Kobach suggested that noncitizens could have voted in the primary election. Former White House adviser and The Apprentice contestant Omarosa Manigault Newman says in a new book that she believes there are tapes from the program in which President Donald Trump used the N-word, the New York Times and Guardian reported on Friday. In the book Unhinged, which is set to be released next week, Manigault Newman says that Trump never said the word in front of her, but claims to have been privy to multiple conversations by the end of 2016 in which other sources described a tape of him using the word. Advertisement By that point, three sources in three separate conversations had described the contents of this tape, she said. They all told me that President Trump hadnt just dropped a single N-word bomb. Hed said it multiple times throughout the shows taping during off-camera outtakes, particularly during the first season of The Apprentice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was told exactly what Donald Trump saidyes, the N-word and others in a classic Trump-goes-nuclear rantand when hes said them, Manigault Newman continued. During production he was miked, and there is definitely an audio track. Its important to note that Manigault Newmans sourcing here, how she left the White House, her description of that departure, and the fact that shes trying to sell a book do not bolster her credibility. Advertisement Persistent rumors of outtakes in which Trump uses the N-word have been floating around Hollywood at least since his presidential campaign. And Mark Burnett, the creator of the show, has refused to publicly divulge the shows video archives, generally citing vague legal concerns. But Manigault Newman is not actually adding anything of substance to that conversation and shes making the claim in a book that shes obviously hoping will make some money. Further, she is now saying that the Trump administration fired her because of her hunt for the tapes, which would give her another motive to push the unsourced claim. According to the Guardian: She says she confided in the former White House communications director Hope Hicks, who said, I need to hear it for myself, and continued to ask her frequently about what progress she was making. She believes that Hicks told the White House chief of staff, John Kelly, that Omarosa was close to getting her hands on the tape, and this gave him cause to terminate her job, though he found a different pretext. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Politico reported that Manigault Newman had been fired for abusing a White House car service, and it was previously reported that Kelly had fired the former reality TV star as part of his effort to rein in a chaotic White House when he first became chief of staff. Advertisement [T]his book is riddled with lies and false accusations, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. Its sad that a disgruntled former White House employee is trying to profit off these false attacks, and even worse that the media would now give her a platform, after not taking her seriously when she had only positive things to say about the President during her time in the administration. Advertisement While the books claims taken from second-hand conversations should perhaps be taken with a very big grain of salt, some of the substance of Manigault Newmans direct interactions with Trump are still fascinating. For example, she says he used a different racial slur about a family member of one of his closest advisers. From the Guardian : She also claims that she personally witnessed Trump use racial epithets about the White House counselor Kellyanne Conways husband George Conway, who is half Filipino. Would you look at this George Conway article? she quotes the president as saying. F**ing FLIP! Disloyal! Fucking Goo-goo. Both flip and goo-goo are terms of racial abuse for Filipinos. Advertisement (George Conways Twitter feed has been fairly consistently critical of the president.) Advertisement Manigault Newman also cites a growing realization that Donald Trump was indeed a racist, a bigot and a misogynist as explaining her turn against the president. Tom Arnold, who has made many public claims about an Apprentice outtake tape, has claimed that Trump uses the C-word in one of the clips. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the owner of The Apprentice archives, was subpoenaed in May by a former contestant who has accused Trump of sexual harassment. That subpoena seeks to force the company to release any tapes in which Trump talks about women in any sexual or inappropriate manner. Advertisement Update, Aug. 10, 1:35 p.m.: Conway says he doesnt believe that the allegation about Trump slurring him is credible. He wrote an article supportive of the Mueller investigation in June, well after Manigault Newman left the White House. Advertisement The allegation is not credible, and indeed is ridiculous, particularly in light of the timing of her departure from the White HouseDecember 12, 2017. Its absurd all around. George Conway (@gtconway3d) August 10, 2018 When asked if the statement could have been about other articles in which he appeared critical of Trump, Conway said he didnt believe it was. Advertisement Hi George. CNN, WaPo and others published articles in June 2017 about your tweets criticizing the travel ban. Is it possible Omarosa heard Trump reacting to one of those articles? She was still in the White House in June 2017. Alison Frankel (@AlisonFrankel) August 10, 2018 No. There was one tweet, it didnt criticize the travel ban, and it was clear at the time from my and others personal interactions with him that he didnt hold it against menot one bit. From what I saw and heard, any suggestion he would have used such slurs is preposterous. George Conway (@gtconway3d) August 10, 2018 Ultimately, without knowing which article Manigault Newman was talking about and when, its hard to know the truth. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that she had secretly recorded some of her conversations with Trump. Welcome to the Hot Seats, Slates weekly guide to the seven midterms races that everyone is talking about now. 1. Kansas Governor If Democrats cant finish this one off This weeks No. 1 remains too close to call, three days after Tuesdays primary, but Secretary of State Kris Kobach is still ever-so-slightly ahead of current Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Republican primary. Kobach is a notorious anti-immigration loon whose twins victories these last two years include service on President Trumps collapsed, scammy election integrity commission and a loss in court so severe that the judge ordered Kobach to take more legal education classes. Trump, against the establishments hopes, endorsed Kobach anyway. If Kobachs margin holds, hell face Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly, who, by God, should just beat this loser once and for all. One problem: The independent candidate Greg Orman is running again, whom Democrats backed in a 2014 Senate campaign, and this time he could play the spoiler. 2. Ohios 12th District Democrats appeal to fall short but are happy? Though there are still some provisional and absentee ballots left to count in this one too, it looks like Democrat Danny OConnor came up just short to Republican Troy Balderson in the last special election of the cycle. Both sides are arguing that they have plenty to be happy about andtheyre both sort of correct? Republicans can be happy that they, uh, won, and that they successfully were able to grind out a win in what had become a toss-up. Getting over the top matters, even if its in a seat theyve held for 100 billion years. And for Democrats: You came within 1 percentage point in a seat that Republicans have held 100 billion years! There are 60-some districts that will be easier to win that this one, and the dramatic swing toward Democrats in Columbus suburbs augur well for all of the metropolitan-area seats theyre targeting. Everyone wins! Although in this specific case, more the Republicans. 3. Washingtons 5th District A toss-up? The top-ranking House Republican woman, Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, is in for a real race. One of the main election handicappers, Sabatos Crystal Ball, moved the race in this Spokane-area, eastern Washington district to toss-up status following her less than impressive top-two primary performance Tuesday night. Rodgers is only edging out her Democratic rival, former state Senate Minority Leader Lisa Brown, by 1 percentage point; the total spread between all Democratic and Republican votes castwith plenty of mail ballots left to countis 52 to 47. This race has gone under the radar, but it would be the biggest-profile pickup for Democrats if Brown can pull it off. 4. New Yorks 27th District Chris Collins wont let one lousy indictment stop him. Id say Ill miss the dangerously chatty New York Rep. Chris Collins, who along with his son, was indicted on comically straightforward insider trading charges this week, except that its not clear hes going anywhere. I mean, except for jail, but that would take some time. But its really not clear that this indictment mortally threatens his re-election chances. Collins is a close Trump ally in New Yorks Trumpiest district, outside Buffalo in western New York. An R+11 district, Collins won with 67 percent of the vote in 2016 while Trump carried it by 24 percentage points. The indictment did lead the Cook Political Report to move the race in Democrats directionbut only from safe to likely Republican. 5. Maryland Governor Someone said a curse word! Youve got to watch this video. At a press conference earlier in the week, Maryland Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous, a former NAACP president and top Bernie Sanders surrogate, was asked to respond to Republican attacks about whether hes a socialist. Jealous, who faces a daunting task in trying to unseat popular GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, has been trying to moderate since winning the Democratic primary, and delivered a roughly 90-second spiel about how hes actually a venture capitalist. (Is that good?) When a Washington Post reporter tried to clarify, then, whether he identified with the term socialist, Jealous said, Are you fucking kidding me? As the reporter has made clear, he was snapping at the GOP talking point and not at the reporter. That, of course, is not being reflected in the Fox News coverage of this profane radical commie. 6. Florida Senate Whats going on with Bill Nelson? Some unusual moves from Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, whos facing a stiff challenge from the states wealthy goblin of a governor, Rick Scott. Nelson on Wednesday said that the Russians have already penetrated the voter registration systems of certain Florida counties and they now have free rein to move about. Uh-oh. He went on: We were requested by the chairman and vice chairman of the intelligence committee to let the supervisors of election in Florida know that the Russians are in their records. It would be nice for him to clear that up. In another episode, Nelson criticized Scott for pushing the EPA to delay a water-quality standard in 2010without recognizing that he offered similar pushback to the EPA at the time. That led a major Republican super PAC to start making cracks about Nelsons age, and how hes no longer dealing from a full deck. Nelson is 75, the equivalent of ones mid-30s in Senate years. 7. West Virginia Senate Republicans are still losing in the Trumpiest state of them all. Isnt it odd that Republicans are having such trouble picking off a Democrat running for federal office in West Virginia? The Republicans, themselves, find it odd. But thats where things are. Politico reported this week about how Republican operatives are now acknowledging that it has slipped out of the top tier of Senate contests. But! They have a secret plan: They will mention Trump more. In the interview, [Patrick Morrisey] declined to name a single issue on which he disagreed with the president, Politico writes. Hes previously joked he wants the whole Trump family to buy vacation homes in the state and set up shop between now and November. The longer incumbent Joe Manchin maintains his lead, the more pathetic the worship of Trump will become. Hawaii voters will go the polls Saturday in the states midterm primaries. The most watched race is perhaps the Democratic contest in the states Honolulu-area 1st Congressional District, where a crowded field of candidates is running and the Democratic nominee-elect will very likely win Novembers general election. A poll last month suggested the states Democratic moderates have a lock on the race. Former congressman Ed Case was in the lead at 36 percent. Current Lt. Gov. Doug Chin was in second at 27 percent. Former state Senate President Donna Mercado Kim came in third with 14 percent. But it is the fourth-place candidate, 29-year-old state Rep. Kaniela Ing, who has received the most national attention. Advertisement Ing has been endorsed by the progressive group Justice Democrats and the Democratic Socialists of America as well as democratic socialist and Democratic NY-14 candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who stumped for Ing this week. The team behind a viral ad that brought Ocasio-Cortez to national prominence earlier this year has been making ads for Ing as well. The first, a largely biographical ad released late last month, highlights housing costs in the state, student loan debt, and Democratic political complacency. The campaigns new ad, released Wednesday, is more abstractalmost existential in its concerns. It is one of the most remarkable campaign spots released by a major party candidate in recent memory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As he sits on a beach at sunset plucking away at his ukelele, Ing offers nothing short of a new way of living: Advertisement What dreams would you pursue if your basic needs were met? Our message is mainstream; it just makes sense. Hawaiian values are @DemSocialists values. pic.twitter.com/FyUaBodmcx Kaniela Ing (@KanielaIng) August 8, 2018 When we talk about policies like Medicare for All, universal health care, housing for all, public education through college, cancelling student debtthese are policies that would just make everyday working peoples lives dignified, and would make sure that theyre not just living just to work. []This idea that we just need to grind, grind, grind, grindyou have billionaires that barely lift a finger. The money just works for itself. Theres more than enough resources to go around for everyone. [] If you ask people the question, What would you do if you didnt have to worry about finances and you had your basic needs met? the answers are amazing. People would start businesses. Theyd get into art, theyd get into music and all these things that are lacking in our world. All this stuff is possible. Advertisement Advertisement There have been a lot of debates over the past several months about whether the policies being advocated by self-described socialists like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez actually amount to socialism at all rather than a return to the welfare state liberalism that defined the Democratic Party from the New Deal through the 1980s. What Ing offers in this ad is bona-fide Marxism. It is a case for policies like single payer not just to materially benefit the middle class and workers, but to allow them to radically de-center the role of work in their livesa case for the redistribution of wealth specifically with the intention of enabling leisure. The history of post-work leftism is long; an early text is a section of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels The German Ideology: Advertisement Advertisement [A]s soon as the distribution of labour comes into being, each man has a particular, exclusive sphere of activity, which is forced upon him and from which he cannot escape. He is a hunter, a fisherman, a herdsman, or a critical critic, and must remain so if he does not want to lose his means of livelihood. In communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and thus makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticise after dinner, just as I have a mind, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, herdsman or critic. Advertisement Advertisement It goes without saying that this kind of talk has few precedents in mainstream politics. We are used to politicians who go out of their way to venerate work. If Ing pulls off a stunning upset on SaturdayJulys poll put him at 6 percentit will be one of the most significant moments in the Democratic Partys ongoing ideological and rhetorical realignment. Even if he loses, the rise of the socialist left seems likely to produce more candidates willing to speak this way about our working lives. And given decades of flat real wages despite rising productivity and Americans working longer hours, its possible that many voters wont find rhetoric about ditching the grind all that radical. On Thursday, Pew Research released new data on the 2016 electorate that gives more definition to the resilience of support for Donald Trump. They asked a representative sample of Trump voters to rate the president on a scale from 0 to 100with 100 representing purely positive or warm feelings about himand had them revisit their opinions over time. As of March, a 62 percent majority of Trump voters feel very warm about him, having given him a rating of 76 or higher. Thats only a notch down from the 63 percent who felt very warmly immediately after the election in November 2016, and substantially more than the 43 percent who felt so in April 2016, just before Trump clinched the nomination. Advertisement The report goes on to classify Trump voters into four groups: skeptics who have consistently disliked Trump despite voting for him; the disillusioned, who have soured on Trump substantially; converts, who were cold or neutral about Trump but have since grown more positive; and enthusiasts whove consistently been positive about Trump. According to Pew, there are nearly four times as many converts whove come to think more highly of Trump (23 percent of Trump voters) as there are disillusioned Trump voters (6 percent). Fifty-nine percent of Trump voters are enthusiasts. The average rating for Trump given by those Pew classified as converts in April 2016 was 27. By this past March, that rating had shot up to 85, just slightly under the average rating given by enthusiasts, 88. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These results should be considered alongside a recent analysis of Gallup data that challenges the theory that Trumps consistently high approval ratings among Republicans have been inflated by Trump critics leaving the party in disgust. On Twitter last month, Pollsters Charles Franklin noted that Republican Party affiliation was only down 3 to 4 points in 2017 from the year before. Gallups numbers show moreover that the party took a sharper dip of about 4 to 5 points in the aftermath of the 2012 election before rebounding in time for the 2014 midterms. When voters who lean Republican are factored in, the GOP is only one percentage point below its average proportion of supporters since 2004. It should be obvious, given these and other numbers, that no large exodus away from Trump by supporters appalled by his presidency looms, and any political strategy that hinges exclusively on Trump voters seeing the light is certain to fail. One year ago, a torch-wielding mob chanting Jews will not replace us invaded my hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. The following day, I was in the streets watching in horror as the modern-day Klan announced itself, flanked by heavily armed soldiers of hate in full fatigues and alt-righters chanting Heil Trump while flashing Nazi salutes. The Unite the Right rally was not an isolated incident but rather the culmination of a six-month campaign of escalating events to recruit members, stoke racial fear within local communities of color, and refine its tactics. One of these tacticsturning cars into weapons of terrorwas used to murder Heather Heyer and severely wound dozens more. Advertisement That day, the modern-day Klan seared images of hate and white power into the national consciousness. They dealt beatings to people of color and white allies, many of whom are still struggling to recover or have felt compelled to leave town. And perhaps beyond their wildest dreams, they received the blessing of the president of the United States, who stunned the nation by including this violent, racist horde in his definition of very fine people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hate groups hoped for images of uniformed white bands facing off against black crowds, not the highly integrated resistance that emerged. But a year later, thanks to the tireless efforts of racial justice advocates, that hate-filled rally is beginning to look more like a wellspring of progress. The soldiers of hate that day were far outnumbered by those standing for justicea force that crossed every line of race, class, gender, and faith. Subsequent hate rallies across the country fizzled. Some of the movements most vicious leaders have been prosecuted, fired from their jobs, or isolated and bankrupted. New legal precedents are being forged to bankrupt powerful figures who enable the weaponization of hate. Charlottesville is now led by fearless justice advocate Nikuyah Walker, the first black woman elected mayor. And the nation has inched closer toward a more honest rendering both of our past and our present. Advertisement After that emotional weekend, I offered my first draft of history. A year on, here is a first draft of what I hope will prove, over time, to be the legacies of this tragedy. White (House) supremacists named and shamed. The most immediate national impact of the modern-day Klans rally was the loss of its two most powerful allies inside the White House: Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka. While President Donald Trump continues to attack and dehumanize people of color with his senior adviser Stephen Miller at his side, the media grew more comfortable after Charlottesville accurately labeling his agenda and the rhetoric of todays GOP as racist, openly exploring the ideology of white supremacy, and acknowledging the threat of violent white nationalism. Even as the media provides far too many platforms to white supremacists, the slow death of both sides journalism may have begun that weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Bankruptcy and jail time for Nazis. Unite the Right organizers I met that day were ready for a race war, but a year laterthanks to investigations by local researchers like Emily Gorcenski and national reporters like Shaun Kingsome of the most violent leaders have been outed and held to account. The platforms of the lead organizers of the rally, among them Jason Kessler and Richard Spencer, have collapsed. The networks fueling and funding these hate groups are facing bankruptcy from a couple of creative, potentially precedent-setting legal cases. Conspiracy theorist and Infowars host Alex Jones faces a promising libel lawsuit for his false flag claims that one of the protestersBrennan Gilmore, who posted video of the vehicle attackhad masterminded the event as an operation to validate a deep state coup. (Disclosure: Gilmore is a friend and my former chief of staff, and I play a supporting role in Jones conspiracy theory.) Advertisement Advertisement 2017 election landslide becomes a 2018 blue wave. That fatal weekend took place three months before Virginia held the countrys most consequential political test of the Trump era. Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie, who had barely won the GOP nomination over neo-Confederate Corey Stewart, responded with a deluge of racist, nativist ads, flooding the airwaves with calls to protect, as the New Jersey native put it, our monuments. In contrast, Democratic nominee Ralph Northam, a veteran and mild-mannered traditionalist who grew up in rural Virginia, made advancing an inclusive Virginia central to his message and declared that these monuments belong in museums. Northam won by 8 points, and Democrats picked up 15 state delegate seats in Virginia with the most diverse set of candidates in history. Since then, Democrats have overperformed in special elections across the country as the GOP has been reduced to the party of white grievance. As I have argued elsewhere, Trump is to the national GOP what Proposition 187 was to the California GOPa racist play to win one last election while accelerating the demise of any moral or electoral credibility for a generation. Advertisement Advertisement Real history replaces revisionist propaganda. The controversial statues may still stand in Charlottesville, but the Lost Causes revisionist propaganda has not faced this big of a defeat since Appomattox. Far more Virginians today know that these monuments were erected as part of the fight against integration and that this racist propaganda campaign deliberately erased some of the Souths most successful generals, like James Longstreet, who embraced black citizenship during Reconstruction. Thanks to the work of University of Virginia professor Jalane Schmidt and others, awareness is growing that a majority of people in Central Virginia during the Civil War were black, yet even today we erase their experience of the war when we think of Virginian or Southern heritage. Justice advocates in Charlottesville recently inaugurated a powerful pilgrimage carrying soil from the site of a local 1898 lynching across key Civil War and civil rights spaces, ending in Montgomery, Alabama, at the first museum dedicated to the reign of terror during and after Reconstruction. More voices have joined calls for a systematic approachsuch as a national truth commission on raceto correct the false legacies of the Lost Cause and Dunning School mythology. A growing number of Americans after Charlottesville understand what museum creator Bryan Stevenson means when he says, We cannot heal the deep wounds inflicted during the era of racial terrorism until we tell the truth about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raising the bar for white allyship. During the same six months that the modern Klan was planning its attacks, longtime activists were doing the deep work of building trust across racial, faith, and class lines. Groups spoke bluntly in planning about the moral obligation of white allies to be present, and even out front, when physical risks were acute. The frightening images from the Friday night torch rally kept some at home the next day but convinced hundreds of others that failing to show up was no longer an option. As one white childhood friend said to me that day, I have never attended any protest, but I figure its on us to show that these racist assholes dont speak for all white folks. Advertisement These decisions mattered. The hate groups hoped for images of uniformed white bands facing off against black crowds, not the highly integrated resistance that emerged. My former colleague Sam Fulwood, who was part of the civil rights struggle in his native North Carolina, noted that dangerous marches back then tended to include just a handful of fearless white peoplea few nuns and a few rabbiswho you see up front in the pictures, but the bulk of courage came from African Americans, mostly women and young people. While people of color, particularly black women, continue to shoulder far too much of the struggle, todays white allies are more numerous, less expectant of being in charge, and more prepared to use white privilege as a shield on the front lines. Heather Heyer represented the best of this emerging tradition that understands history will judge our actions by the standard of moral courage, not civility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do not yet know how this storyor even this anniversary weekendends. It took only a few days for the community to reclaim UVAs campus to make clear that the hateful mobs had in fact been replaced. Meanwhile, a year later, deep wounds fester, inequalities remain, and serious questions about accountability remain unanswered. But a growing body of evidence suggests that the true legacy of Unite the Right will be the unity thats been forged by those on the other sidethose who dare to face down the evils of historical revisionism and injustice to forge a better future. In one important way, Jack Dorsey is a lot like the guy in charge of the Hair Club for Men: He isnt just Twitters chief executive; hes also a user. Unlike the head of just about any other consumer-facing company, he has a public, accessible presence on the product his customers complain about. You cant walk up a few aisles during a flight and complain to the airlines CEO, but on Twitter, @jack is always there. This means that for any user with beef, hes always just an @ sign and an easy-to-remember four lettersof course he has a coveted first-name-only handleaway. Advertisement Lately, Twitter users are invoking @jack a lot. They want to know why Dorsey hasnt banned conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, why he instead seems to have banned various people they do like, why he went on Sean Hannitys radio show, what actually constitutes hate speech on Twitter, when hes going to resign from the company, and so on. So they tag him, early and often. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hey @jack did I do this right pic.twitter.com/OafLJsO12F Caroline Moss (@socarolinesays) August 8, 2018 You are not fit to do this job, @jack. You have violated a sacred trust with us and you should walk away while the problem can (maybe) still be fixed. But to stay in your position is to double down on your own hubris and ego. And dont you ever speak of principles again. Mike Monteiro (@monteiro) August 10, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement You know @jack, I like twitter. Its addicting and can be harmful. But I see the good in it. You say its up to us to police the endless malicious lies of your worst users. OK. Does that sound fun? Does that sound like a place people will want to spend their time? Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) August 8, 2018 Advertisement .@jack has a point. Twitter does naturally fact check itself. As a woman on here, I have a team of about 40,000 fact checkers ready to let me know if I ever make a logical fallacy or grammar mistake or have a wrong opinion or look ugly or am feeling myself too much! It just WORKS Sara Schaefer (@saraschaefer1) August 9, 2018 Advertisement MySpaces Tom automatically became every MySpace users first friend back in the MySpace era. Mark Zuckerberg littered early Facebook with lots of personal touches but stopped short of giving every user a direct line to him. Facebook has been in the news a lot this year thanks to privacy scandals that have even inspired some user exoduses, but the platform, with its closed circles of friends, has largely continued to look like its normal self, a stream of pictures of pets and kids from familiar users. The debate about Twitters moderation of its network, though, is perpetually playing out on Twitter itself, a place that has traditionally operated as more open and public than other social media. On Twitter, users are able to transition seamlessly from being harassed or having some other unpleasant experience that goes against the companys terms of service to CCing the companys CEO about said interaction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already an assertive bunch, Twitter users on the whole have never hesitated to tag companies with gripes. The extended rant directed to a cable company or airline is a well-established genre of tweet (or tweetstorm). Sometimes the goal is to expedite a response from customer service via the threat of negative PR, but tagging can also function as a public callout, more symbolic than anything else. Thats why you sometimes see New Yorkers tagging Mayor Bill de Blasio about problems with their morning subway commutes. Something similar is going on when people tag Dorsey. Its unlikely theyre looking for an individual response; what they really want to do is help direct a broader outcry in his direction so that the company is eventually spurred to action. Advertisement Twitter users with complaints could tag the official Twitter account or the support-specific account, and its true that they often do. But tagging Dorsey escalates the complaint by going straight to the source. If it seems petty, it only emphasizes the petty problems that have been born of Twitters ineffective policies while repositioning the companys CEO as both the deity hovering above this corrupted Eden as well as the worlds most harried volunteer message board moderator. Tagging @jack conflates Dorsey with the company itself; the two become interchangeable, and that makes each @jack appeal more urgent. For all the talk about how companies arent people, when consumers or users are angry at a company, they sure appreciate having a specific person to direct their rage toward. Imprecise as it may bea whole bureaucracy interprets and updates a set of rules in order to determine what is and is not appropriate on Twitteryou cant deny the rhetorical usefulness of simply @-ing Jack. Hes a Twitter user too, and while his own user experience shouldnt be his top priority, theres also the indisputable fact that his replies right now must be a mess. Anytime hes tempted to say, RIP my mentions, he has to know that the company he runs is largely to blame. A federal court has given the Trump administration until Friday, Aug. 10, to figure out a plan for the 28 immigrant children still detained at the Shiloh Treatment Center in southeast Texas. Any child who is not deemed to pose a risk of harm to self or others must be transferred to a less restrictive facility, per Judge Dolly Gees July 30 ruling in a lawsuit filed earlier this year. She also addressed the lawsuits claims that residents at Shiloh have been given forced injections and prescribed antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotic drugs without consent. The government must stop this practice, she determined, and make sure that psychotropic drugs are given to detainees at Shiloh only in accordance with Texas child welfare laws and regulations. Advertisement For weeks now, this misuse of psychiatric medications has been cited as a prime example of the White Houses despicable, reprehensible, inhumane and unconscionable border policies. President Donald Trumps zero tolerance policy stands to create a zombie army of children forcibly injected with medications, said the article from the Center for Investigative Reporting that first brought the allegations to light. The president has to be ordered not to give children psychotropic drugs, but Im the one thats tripping? one Democratic candidate for Congress said a few days ago, in defending progressives call to defund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The standard gloss on this medication scandalthat the Trump administration isnt merely ripping children from their parents but turning all those childrens brains to mushis substantially misleading. It makes it sound as though the problem was created by our current president when the blame could just as well be placed on the Obama administration. Unaccompanied immigrant children first arrived at the Shiloh Treatment Center in 2009, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting, despite the fact that three children had already died at Shiloh and affiliated centers while being physically restrained by staffers. These were not the only horrific incidents on record. Another time, for example, staff encouraged a group of girls with cognitive disabilities to fight each other gladiator-style for after-school snacks. And while Trump is now responsible for the children in federal custody, and certain medication-related abuses appear to have continued under his watch, most of the cases of abuse included in the lawsuit occurred before he set foot in the Oval Office. Advertisement If a child can be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, then medications arent likely to be the most useful form of treatment. The suspect framing of the Shiloh scandal as a cause for partisan anti-Trump outrage also serves to minimize the problem. When commentators link the overmedication of child immigrants to Trumps zero tolerance policy at the border, they imply that the children who were forcibly separated from their parents earlier this year are the only ones at risk for this abuseor, at the very least, that these kids are at higher risk than others in residential treatment. Thats wrong. The 2,500 kids subject to family separation are just a subset of the children held around the country by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. ORR already oversees the placement of some 10,000 minors who arrived at the border on their own, without parents or guardiansand the Shiloh Treatment Center has been housing, treating, and potentially abusing detainees from this larger population for about a decade now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even that doesnt capture the full scale of the problem, which affects not just immigrants but kids throughout the nations child welfare system. The court exhibits from the recent lawsuit suggest a scene out of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest: In addition to receiving forced injections of antipsychotic drugs to calm them down, former residents say they were dosed with as many as nine different pills at a time without being told what they were taking or why. These medications were allegedly prescribed without consulting the childrens parents or their other adult relatives or otherwise securing a court order. Children who refused to swallow their pills, the lawsuit says, were physically made to do so or were coerced in other ways. They told me that the only way I could get out of Shiloh was if I took the pills, one child explained. I have not refused taking the pills because I was told that would make me stay at Shiloh longer, said another. Advertisement As awful as these details sound, theyre not unique. Experts on the use of psychotropic drugs in foster care and residential treatment settings say overmedication is widespread. Studies find that foster kids are given psychotropic drugs at least twice as often as other children served by Medicaid, despite a lack of solid evidence for these drugs efficacy in children and little knowledge of what long-term hazards they might pose to developing brains. (Most such medications are FDA-approved only for adults, so their use with children is off-label.) Advertisement The prescription of several different psychotropic drugs to children at the same time doesnt represent some new perversion of psychiatry cooked up by the Trump administration or put in place by reckless doctors at a converted trailer park in Texas. Rather, polypharmacy is a mainstream approach to medicating children in residential treatment settings. In responding to the recent lawsuit, an ORR official informed the court that Shiloh follows Texas state guidelines for the use of such drugs in foster carewhich means, she said, that they strive to use no more than four [psychotropic] medications concurrently. Again, theres a lack of data to support this standard practice. Very few studies have shown safety and efficacy for two or more psychotropics used concurrently in children, and none, virtually, have shown safety or efficacy using three or more, says Erin Barnett, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth who studies evidence-based practices for traumatized children. Yet this kind of bad treatment is going on all over the country. Advertisement Advertisement There are some specific ways in which the methods reportedly used by Shiloh Treatment Center do stand apart. Even when a given childs parents were reachable, the lawsuit says, the center did not bother to reach out to them regarding the use of drugs. (This apparent indifference to informed consent provoked a major portion of the judges recent ruling.) In practice, though, adherence to the rules on consent does not prevent the overuse of medications in residential treatment settings. Many parents and guardians acquiesce to polypharmacy when its recommended by a doctor, and officials tasked with overseeing wards of the state may also sign off on a smorgasbord of psychotropics provided that a child has been diagnosed with several different mental health conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Its also not enough to have a relatives informed consent when treating psychiatric issues in these settings. The kids themselves should also give assent to treatment, which means theyre willing to accept the drugs. Thats often not the case in residential treatment settings, though. Kids who have been placed in these facilities tend to have long, complicated histories of treatment and may be suspicious of whatever care theyre being offered. When they do refuse their medication, their behavior is often chalked up to emotional problemsan oppositional defiant disorder, perhaps. According to both Barnett and Robert Foltz, a clinical psychologist and member of the board for the Association of Childrens Residential Centers, health care providers will at times cajole these children into taking meds, perhaps by threatening to remove their privswhich is to say, depriving them of activities they enjoy. Barnett cites a study of 50 adolescents taking psychotropic drugs, which found that nearly half reported feeling forced or pushed to take their medications. Advertisement The use of psychotropic drugs with kids detained at the border raises unique concerns. For one thing, we might guess that these childrens mental health issues stem, in large part, from whatever troubling events led them to leave their home countries, combined with the stress of being held in custody andfor those detained this year under Trumps family-separation policythe trauma of having been pried away from their parents. If it is possible to identify clear environmental causes of their distress, or if a child can be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, then medicationseven when theyre ethically appliedarent likely to be the most useful form of treatment. According to Foltz, psychotropic drugs barely work for PTSD and are not considered front-line treatments; the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends cognitive behavioral therapy instead. Another problem arises from the fact that, in most cases, health care providers for these children wont have access to their patients detailed case histories, so whatever psychiatric diagnoses they make will be off the cuff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are many reasons to be furious and fretful over whats gone on at Shiloh and how the alleged abuse of children there could and should have been avoided. Over the past nine years, the federal government has paid tens of millions of dollars to house troubled detainees at a residential treatment facility with a well-earned, highly suspect reputation. But if theres any bigger lesson to what happened at this 43-bed facility in rural Texas, its not that Trumps border policies are inhumane. (There are plenty of other, better ways to come to that conclusion.) Nor does it suggest that anti-child ideologues have somehow come to power in Washington. No, this ugly scandal spanning two administrations should be taken as a sign of what can happen to the nations most damaged and defenseless kids no matter whos in power. Jack Dorsey is, by his own admission, left-leaning. So it might seem perplexing that the Twitter CEO has spent the past week sticking up for one right-wing conspiracymonger and sitting for a special interview with another. First, Dorsey defended Twitters decision not to ban Alex Jones, even after Facebook, YouTube, Apple, and numerous other media platforms cracked down on the Infowars host for hate speech and bullying. The reason is simple, Dorsey wrote on Tuesday evening. He hasnt violated our rules. (That assertion, echoed by Twitter Vice President Del Harvey in a letter to employees on Wednesday, was debunked by CNNs Oliver Darcy on Thursday.) Advertisement Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Dorsey appeared on Fox News host Sean Hannitys radio show for an extended interviewsomething he almost never grants to mainstream media organizations. Hannity, perhaps the farthest-right host on Fox News (and its most popular), isnt half as loopy as Jones, but he championed the baseless and harmful Seth Rich conspiracy theory. An evidently grateful Hannity showered Dorsey with praise for coming on his show and lobbed him softball questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why, at a time when all the momentum in the social media industry was aligned against the likes of Alex Jones, is Twitter taking a stand in his favorand promoting it on a right-wing radio show? Few outside of Twitters executive offices can make sense of the companys reasoning. In a piece that circulated widely on Thursday, the Atlantics Adrienne LaFrance found Dorseys stance on Alex Jones so absurd that she could only conclude that he and other tech CEOs dont give a damn. While her critique was powerful, the conclusion doesnt jibe with what insiders know of Dorsey, who cares deeply about Twitters impact on the world (and also, by some accounts, his own public image). Advertisement To get a better sense of what Dorsey might be up to, I talked with some knowledgeable sources inside and outside the company, who agreed to speak candidly on condition of anonymity. Even those sources, all of whom have worked with Twitters leadership team in one capacity or another, differed in their assessments. But between them, they offered at least four theories that help explain why Twitter hasnt banned Alex Jonesand when and whether it might. Advertisement Twitters leaders are earnest in their intentions but politically naive, especially about conservatives. Thats why they struggle to distinguish hateful lunatics such as Jones from run-of-the-mill right-wingers, and hacks like Hannity from more respected right-leaning journalists. At the same time, theres still a strong profree speech ethos within the company, even if its no longer the free-speech wing of the free-speech partyso its leaders tend to err on the laissez-faire side. And, one source noted in Twitters defense, there really are good reasons for the company to resist public pressure to punish someone like Jones for his offline actions: Banning users for what they do off Twitter could open a Pandoras box, especially when you consider the platforms global reach. Advertisement Advertisement While theres probably truth to this theory, it feels a bit thin as an explanation for why Twitter has continued to tolerate Jones even amid intense scrutiny and Darcys reporting about his rule-breaking. Twitters leaders dont want to be perceived as partisan. That might partly be because they do tend to lean left, and they also could be overcompensating in response to an outcry by conservatives over the companys shadow-banning policy (a phrase that Twitter rejects). According to this theory, theyre not reacting to any particular threat by giving Jones leeway or granting Hannity a one on one with the CEO. These are just part of the companys long game to demonstrate to conservatives that its nonpartisan. This theory is buttressed by a Washington Post report that Dorsey had also met privately in June with a group of conservatives in Washington to mollify their concerns about liberal bias and censorship on the platform. And it squares with the account of a Twitter spokesperson who told me the Hannity interview had been planned well before the Jones controversy boiled over, and that the two were unrelated. By this account, Twitter understands that its taking a PR hit from the left and perhaps the center by not cracking down on Jones, but its more concerned about losing the trust of conservatives, who view the company with even deeper suspicion than most liberals. Advertisement Advertisement Twitters leaders are worried about Republican lawmakers in Washington. In particular, they fear an attack on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a bedrock law of internet speech that lets social media platforms eschew responsibility for the content their users post. This theory shares in common with the previous one the notion that Twitter is trying to accommodate conservatives. But it differs by framing Twitters concerns as predominantly about politics and policy, rather than public perception. Indeed, Twitter increasingly has good reason to worry about the climate on Capitol Hill. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been harping on the social media companies about liberal bias for more than two years, and has been building a case that they dont deserve protection under Section 230. Recently, the shadow-banning controversy has persuaded other prominent conservative leaders to join his cause. Last week, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican, targeted Twitter and Dorsey specifically, calling on Dorsey to testify before the Energy and Commerce Committee on filtering and censorship practices on his platform. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz told the Hill last week that he feels victimized and violated by Twitter. Even Donald Trump has joined the Twitter-bashing. Advertisement Advertisement Twitter SHADOW BANNING prominent Republicans. Not good. We will look into this discriminatory and illegal practice at once! Many complaints. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2018 To be clear, the source who advanced this theory said its meant to explain Dorseys outreach to Hannity and Republicans on the Hillnot its tolerance of Alex Jones. Its a compelling explanation that has received little attention this week, and theres almost certainly something to it. That said, its worth noting that two other sources downplayed the potential legislative threat, doubting that Congress could pass something as complex and hostile to the industry as Section 230 reform amid the current chaos in Washington. Advertisement Twitter actually will ban Alex Jones, perhaps quite soonit just wants to do so on its own terms. According to this theory, all the handwringing and hypothesizing about why Twitter is keeping Jones on the platform is misguided. Jones is not long for Twitter, but the company didnt want to boot him off all of a sudden simply because Facebook, Apple, and others had done so. Advertisement Advertisement This theory draws on the personalities and philosophies of Twitters leadership team, in particular Dorsey, his legal and policy right hand Vijaya Gadde, and VP of trust and safety Del Harvey. Gadde, a keen legal mind, has long pushed Twitter to make decisions based on consistently enforceable policies, rather than ad hoc public pressure or personal favors. (She explained the companys thinking on Jones in some depth in a July interview with Slates If Then podcast.) Harvey has a background in law enforcement, specifically catching pedophiles. And Dorsey is a free thinker and idealist who doesnt mind zigging when others zag. All would be glad to see Jones gone, according to this theory, but theyre determined to do it only when they have a hard-and-fast case based on Twitters own rules. That could mean waiting until Twitter has introduced some new policies, which Harvey has indicated are already in the works, against dehumanizing speech. That would help explain why Dorsey focused so heavily on transparency in his Hannity interview, where he did not commit to tolerate Jones but did commit to better explaining such decisions when they happen. This theory got a boost Thursday evening, when the Jones posts that CNNs Darcy had flagged were suddenly taken down. A Twitter spokesperson said the company had specifically asked Jones to remove one of those posts; the rest were evidently removed voluntarily by Jones or a member of his team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full answer to why Jones hasnt been banned probably involves at least a bit of each of the theories above. And it seems likely that theres also a fifth explanation at work: Twitter is to some extent flying by the seat of its pants here, and its inaction may be as much a product of internal disagreement and hesitation as any long game or master plan. In other words, Jones is still on Twitter partly because Twitter is different than other social media companies in key ways, including some of those described abovebut also partly because it just hasnt found the right way to boot him off yet. Slovak Peter Janicina spent seven years in Scotland. Now, the owner of U Kubistu is using his international experience to promote local change. I started working as a dishwasher in Scotland and slowly moved my way up I worked for a very intimate, family business on the Island of Iona. My first years abroad felt like relief. Scotland just felt like home straight from the beginning, I really was not planning on coming back to Slovakia. What blew my mind was that the Scottish didnt spend their days complaining In Slovakia complaining is like a national sport. Dont get me wrong, I know why the complaints exist. Read also: Read also: Slovak migrant shares the stories of other migrants to understand her own Read more Its a product of our history, it has to do with the post-traumatic shock I started to observe a change in behaviour with the Slovaks that were coming back. They werent complaining as much. Leaving and returning over the years, I could see how things had changed Life in Slovakia was improving. The society was getting nicer and more open, which is why after 7 years abroad, I decided to come back. From the moment I decided to return, the job creation happened at lighting speed Every single thing fell into place, one after the other, like a beautiful puzzle. Everything just flowed, easily and smoothly. I fell in love with Slovakia again, after a very long time I could see how people were holding it together in our country. They were creating new things, they were trying, they were opening new shops and cafes. We opened one of the first bistros in Slovakia, today we are an icon in the community The way we run our business is changing the mindsets of people, from our customers to our employees. Our goal is to create an honest environment where we can all grow together. Abroad, I really started to feel like I was living in a golden cage At one point, I even considered foreign citizenship. I lived a very comfortable life there, in very comfortable conditions. Thats when I realized I wanted to experience something more before I died. I wanted to give something back to my community I never want to just have a job; I want to change the world through my job. Of course, the challenges of operating a business in Slovakia have been great. Slovaks are very conservative about certain things, like how much food should cost. It has to do with the oppression of the communist regime. It taught us very clear boundaries and never to cross them. We take an honest approach when it comes to food Its very simple, our motivation is purity. We try to source our produce locally, from farmers that plant, grow and harvest their fruits and vegetables.The same goes for our kitchen, we do not cut the size of our servings or dilute our ingredients just to make more money. I dont care what others are doing, I am only in competition with myself We are not a very easy target to hate, because we are a genuine company that is very nice to our customers. If you honour Slovaks with honest food, they will keep coming back I believe Slovak customers are some of the most loyal on the planet. If you treat them well, they will not mind the rising prices. This testimony was originally published in Zuzana Palovics book, The Great Return. For more visit http://thegreatreturn.eu/ 10. Aug 2018 at 10:00 | Zuzana Palovic Slovakia is revamping support of renewable energy sources New legislation keeps a controversial tariff paid by electricity producers In Slovakia, green electricity is supported by a scheme of feed-in tariffs, which however, has resulted in higher electrical prices for end consumers. Now the government is going to modernise the support scheme and emphasise market principles more. But, some proposed changes have raised criticism of green electricity producers, claiming that the change would instead mean support for electricity distribution companies than producers of electricity from renewable energy sources. The revision to the law on the support of renewable energy sources (RES) and the highly effective combined production of electricity and heat prepared by the Economy Ministry introduces a so-called local source, compensation for energy-intensive companies as well as a green energy auction scheme. Producers generating electricity from supported sources will be more exposed to market forces, what is also in line with the EU plans and the Energy Union, said Economy Minister Peter Ziga. We took stock in the support scheme for electricity production from renewable energy sources and now we are going to set it anew. Auction as well as support of energy-intensive companies The revision will change the support for producers of electricity from RES. While existing producers will keep the so-far granted feed-in tariffs, new producers with an installed capacity of more than 500 kW will sell produced electricity to the state via auctions. The state will choose the producer it will support, explains the ministry. The final price will be the result of a tender. The revision further introduces compensations for energy-intensive companies in order to make Slovak industry more competitive. This way final energy prices will be lower for these companies. The ministry estimates that annual aggregate compensations of 80 million should be paid out to about 200 companies. The revision also introduces a new institute of local source. The idea is that the local source generates electricity in the place where it is also consumed. In practice, this means the producer generates electricity for the coverage of its own consumption while trying to utilise as much electricity produced at the source as possible. Such a producer with an installed capacity up to 500 kW will be not obliged to be connected to the grid and pay the tariff for operation of the system. G-tariff remains a problem The Slovak Association of the Photovoltaic Industry (SAPI) sees the introduction of the local source and green electricity auctions as the only two positive things of the revision. It especially criticises the ministrys plan to make payment of the controversial G-component obligatory for electricity producers in Slovakia. This is a payment, which electricity producers connected to the grid and the distribution network and supply electricity pay for reserved capacity. The proposed revision benefits electricity distribution companies, said Jan Karaba of SAPI, adding that it also benefits electricity producers from abroad. SAPI points out that electricity producers from abroad as well as traders with electricity are not obliged to pay the G-component. This makes electricity generated by local producers more expensive and thus less competitive. As Slovakia is not self-sufficient in electricity production, it needs to import almost 10 percent of the total consumption annually. In SAPIs opinion, distribution companies are importing electricity from abroad and thus benefiting from the fact that they do not pay the G-tariff. The Economy Ministry is making the G-tariff as compulsory on the basis of the principle that each participant of the market that uses the grid and distribution network should have signed contracts on access to the distribution network and distribution or about access and transmission, Maros Stano, spokesperson of the Economy Ministry, told The Slovak Spectator. Catch-22? The Regulatory Office for Network Industries (URSO) introduced the G-component or G-tariff in 2013. It is collected by regional distribution companies. A group of parliament members challenged the tariff with the Constitutional Court. It ruled over the matter in 2016. The verdict arrived in several layers. While the court has not found the new tariff as unconstitutional in general, it objected to the way in which URSO introduced it. Another aspect of the verdict was that those who do not have signed contracts about access to the distribution network with distributors are not obliged to pay the tariff. Based on this ruling several electricity producers have filed charges against regional distribution companies. SAPI has registered about 20 won lawsuits so far and should now return the paid G-tariff to the producers. But regional distribution companies have challenged the verdicts with regional courts. The first rulings are expected to be issued this autumn. In the meantime, distribution companies argue that it is URSO that has obliged them to collect the controversial tariff from electricity producers and that they do have no other possibility but to collect it. They have indicated that if they lose the lawsuits, they will sue the state. If the distribution companies will be forced to return something to the producers, we will sue the state or the regulator because the state obliged the distribution companies to collect the G-tariff, Frantisek Cupr, head of the board of directors of the regional distribution company Stredoslovenska Distribucna, told the Hospodarsek Noviny daily. What next? The draft revision has already gone through an inter-departmental review. The Economy Ministry received more than 600 comments from the expert as well as lay public. The ministry accepted completely or partly more than 280. The ministry plans to consult the revision also with the European Commission. If the cabinet approves the revision, the parliament will deal with it in the autumn. 10. Aug 2018 at 5:17 | Jana Liptakova In July, Intelligentsia teamed up with Root Capital to put on the first-ever ECWx, an offshoot of the coffee companys Extraordinary Coffee Workshop (ECW). Longtime readers of Sprudge may recognize that acronym; the weeklong signature innovation of Intelligentsias Direct Trade takes place yearly in producing countries all around the world, and we have been covering it since 2011. ECWx, the TEDx to ECWs TED, as Intelligentsias Michael Sheridan calls it in his most recent blog post, took place in Narino, Colombia and focused on issues relevant to local smallholder farmers with a deep-dive on all things Colombian. Now in its 10th year, ECW wanted to do something a little different in scope, something smaller. Thus, ECWx was born. According to the Sheridans post, ECWx was created explicitly and exclusively for smallholder coffee farmers. We believe specialty coffees clearest path to improving social impact at origin is through the inclusion of the coffee chains two most marginalized groups of participants: smallholder farmers and coffee farmworkers. Contributing to greater participation and profitability among smallholder farmers, and helping expand opportunity and improve working conditions for farmworkers, are the best ways to expand the promise of specialty coffee. ECWx is part of that effort, bringing the value we create for Intelligentsia Direct Trade supply chain partners every year through ECW to a broader audience of smallholder growers. With the help of Root Capital, a non-profit financial services providerwhom Sheridan refers to as the Apple of non-profitsIntelligentsia is hoping to help those in the missing middle, those too big for micro-finance loans but too small or risky for commercial banks. According to the post, coffee coops and other coffee-based institutions at origin fall in the missing middle, a billion-dollar segment that is systematically underserved. Expect to see more local-focused ECWx events from Intelligentsia in the future. Next month, ECW will land in Bolivia, where more than 50 producers from 15 countries will be in attendance. For more information on the inaugural ECWx, Michael Sheridans full blog post can be found here. And be sure to check out the ECWx in Pictures, a photo-journal recap of the weeks events. Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge. All images via Intelligentsia Coffee. Disclosure: Intelligentsia Coffee is an advertising partner on Sprudge Media Network. Offical release by Ohio Secretary of State Office olumbus Secretary of State Jon Husted has announced that with 100 percent of precincts now reporting, unofficial results show 202,738 ballots cast with 37.23 percent turnout in the 12th Congressional District Special General Election. A detailed breakdown of the unofficial results is available at https://Vote.Ohio.gov/(opens in a new window). County boards of elections reported that 3,435 provisional ballots were cast and there were 5,048 outstanding absentee ballots. Under state law, boards of elections cannot begin counting these ballots until the 11th day after the election, August 18, when boards may begin the official canvass. The bipartisan teams of officials who administered todays special election did so with the professionalism that has become the standard in Ohio, Secretary Husted said. This standard of professionalism will be upheld in the coming weeks as election officials begin the process of tabulating provisional and absentee ballots in order to certify the official election results. The procedures and deadlines for the official canvass are the same following every election and established by Title 35 of Ohio Revised Code. Prior to election officials beginning the official canvass, voters who cast a provisional ballot because they did not provide proper ID at the polls can return to their county board of elections to provide an accepted form of ID so that their ballot may be considered for counting. This must be done by August 14. Additionally, boards will continue to receive outstanding absentee ballots and provided they were postmarked by August 6, and received by August 17, they will be eligible to be counted. Military and overseas ballots are not required to have a postmark to be counted; however, they must be received by August 17. Also prior to the start of the official canvass, board of elections staff will begin to sort provisional ballots, but they cannot be opened or counted. The four appointed members of each board of elections two Republicans and two Democrats will determine which provisional ballots are eligible in a public meeting. Board of elections staff will check to make sure all information required by law has been provided on the provisional ballot envelope, which includes the voters printed name, signature and identification. During the official canvass ALL eligible provisional and absentee ballots cast WILL be counted. Once the official canvass has been completed by every county, which must be done by August 24, the most populous county board of elections Franklin County will certify the official results. At that point in time, if the result margin is equal to or less than one-half of one percent (.5 percent), an automatic recount is triggered. In a multi-county district race, like the 12th Congressional District, the Secretary of State orders the recount. A county-by-county breakdown of outstanding absentee ballots, provisional ballots cast and overall ballots cast is available by going to the unofficial results website, https://Vote.Ohio.gov/(opens in a new window), and clicking on the "Ballots Cast" tab. Additional Information Official Canvass: Tabulation of all eligible ballots cast that includes absentee, Election Day and provisional ballots. County boards of elections cannot begin this process until August 18 and must have it completed by August 24. This process also involves the validation of the outcomes that form the basis of the official certified results. Provisional Ballots: Ballots cast by voters whose identity and/or eligibility could not be verified. These are not part of the unofficial canvass on election night. Absentee Ballots: Includes all ballots cast prior to Election Day outside of Election Day polling locations: Absentee ballots cast by mail; absentee ballots cast in-person prior to Election Day, and military and overseas ballots cast either by mail or in-person prior to Election Day. Those received prior to Election Day are tabulated as part of the unofficial canvass on election night. Outstanding Absentee Ballots: This includes ballots sent to voters but not yet returned and ballots returned with incomplete identification envelopes that the voter may correct in the 10 days following the election. If postmarked by August 6 and received by August 17, these ballots are eligible to become part of the official canvass. Where Persecution Comes From Religious nationalism is the main cause of Christian persecution in Nepal, with radical Hindu groups, the government and local communities all working to maintain Nepals Hindu identity. While the countrys new constitution (adopted in 2015) officially promotes secularism, radical Hindu groups seek to make Nepal a Hindu state again, and the government has declared conversion and proselytism illegal. Because Nepal has one of the fastest-growing Christian populations in the world, persecution of believers is intensified. Pressure from neighboring India has led to an increase in radical Hindu activity as of late, much of it targeting Christians. How Christians are Suffering All Christian communities in Nepal are experiencing some form of persecution, but at varying levels of intensity. Roman Catholic churches and others where foreigners gather experience the least problems. Converts from Hinduism experience the worst pressure, as they are viewed as deviating from the faith of their ancestors. Converts and Protestant churches are particularly pressured by family, friends, community and local authorities to recant their faith. From time to time, Hindu radicals take advantage of the ongoing political instability by attacking Christians, oftentimes with impunity. Examples The Christian community is petitioning the government to allot them land to officially bury their dead, but the issue remains unresolved. In June 2016, seven people, including proprietors of two private schools, were arrested in the Dolakha district, accused of converting others to Christianity because they were distributing Bible handbooks to children. A few days later, authorities also took Rev. Shakti Pakhrin into custody for his ties with people already under investigation for proselytizing. They were all acquitted in December 2016. In April 2017, unknown persons attempted to set the Catholic Cathedral in Kathmandu on fire. The fire damaged the priests residence and the western part of the church. A car and two motorbikes were also completely burnt. No casualties were reported. (source: UCAN) Citwan, Nepal: Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa has vowed to take action against the Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist leaders and cadres including the arrested one spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma, aka Prakanda under the criminal act. Speaking at a press meet jointly organized by Press Chautari and Press Centre Chitwan here at Bharatpur Airport on Friday, Minister Thapa, who is also the former leader of the erstwhile Maoist, said anyone involve in the criminal activities will not let free. As the government has the responsibility of controlling the criminal activities, Prakanda was arrested on the charge of involving in the criminal activities, Thapa said adding that Prakanda found to have violated the law by involving in extortion, coercion and other various violent activities. Mountain Shadows in Wayanad is just the place for a dreamy vacation The UN Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Horst Kohler pleaded in his briefing Wednesday to the UN Security Council for the resumption by the end of this year of direct negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front, an option that Rabat rejects totally. Morocco categorically refuses to engage in direct talks with the Polisario as such talks would mean a de facto recognition of the pseudo-Sahrawi republic SADR, which is not recognized by the UN nor by any world power. Rabat demands the involvement in any talks of Algeria as a stakeholder in this territorial dispute that it created in the 1970s in collusion with the Libyan regime of Gaddafi. It is well known that it is Algeria that hosts the Polisario Front, finances its propaganda campaigns and the functioning of its representations abroad and supplies its entire military arsenal. On Wednesday, UN mediator Horst Kohler briefed members of the Security Council on his plan to restart negotiations on the Sahara conflict, which have been suspended since 2008. Horst Kohler got a lot of support from the council for his approach and for his proposal to try and see if he can bring the parties together by the end of the year, British ambassador Jonathan Allen, whose country holds this August the rotating chairmanship of the Security Council, told reporters after the briefing. Kohler wants to move forward the UN-led political process and will consult all parties concerned about modalities, format and all the rest, added the British diplomat. Horst Kohler toured the region from June 23 to July 1 to try to sound out the predisposition of the parties to the conflict (Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and Polisario) to get involved in the settlement process of the Sahara issue as recommended by the Security Council in its latest resolution 2414 adopted in April 2018. The Security Council stressed in this resolution, the imperative need to achieve a realistic, achievable and sustainable political solution based on compromise. The council has thus excluded any reference to a self-determination referendum claimed by the Polisario and its mentor, Algeria. According to diplomatic sources in New York, the Council members also reaffirmed their support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as a serious, credible and sustainable solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. The History channel will premiere a new documentary series The Lost World of Joseph Banks on botanist and explorer Joseph Banks, who travelled to Australia with Captain Cook. This is a 5 part UK series screening ahead of the upcoming The Pacific: In the Wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill which starts on August 27. Sir Joseph Banks, naturalist, explorer, collector, patron and President of the Royal Society for more than 40 years was one of Australias founding fathers, and among the most outstanding figures of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. He rose to lasting renown when, as a young botanist, he accompanied Captain Cook on his circumnavigation and voyage of discovery to The South Seas, and yet a true picture of Bankss life has never emerged nor an appreciation of his enduring importance. In this first ever television documentary of Banks life, journalist Ian Cross explores his influence over five decades during a critical period of great change in the world, from 1770 to 1820. The Lost World of Joseph Banks uncovers the relationships, achievements and controversies associated with this enigmatic figure. Banks was instrumental in establishing Kew Gardens as the greatest botanical centre in the world, and he used his influence and friendship with King George the 3rd, and in society, to further the careers of many navigators, explorers and naturalists including William Bligh and Matthew Flinders. Far from being merely the Colossus of Science traditionally imagined, Joseph Banks true genius lay in promoting the enthusiasms of others. His legacy survives not only in his collections, notably his magnificent Herbarium and Florilegium both housed in the Natural History Museum in London, the record of his botanizing in the South Seas, but in his pivotal role in the founding of Australia first as a convict settlement and its development as a British colony. Sundays from August 19 at 5.00pm on History. Be warned. Manly Beach may look picture postcard and inviting but its concealing killer sharks and serial killers. At least it is in Nines new drama, the arrestingly-titled Bite Club. The name refers to a club of shark attack survivors who gather to compare scars, both physical and psychological at the local pub. Amongst them is Detective Constable Dan Cooper (Todd Lasance) who, three years earlier, lost a leg in a grisly attack when he came to the rescue of his then-girlfriend Detective Senior Constable Zoe Rawlings (Ash Ricardo). The attack was enough to lead to a split, something both have some trouble equating whenever they happen to sight one another. After travelling the world and returning to Manly, Dan is ready to get back to work. But he needs the approval of Dr. Kristof Olsen (Damian Walshe-Howling) who just happens to be the new boyfriend of Zoe. Meanwhile the torso of a woman related to one of Dans old cases washes up on the beach but there are fishy signs of foul play that will leave Zoe thinking a serial killer is in their midst. Local Detective Superintendent (Deborah Mailman) and Detective Sergeant (Robert Mammone) are added to the force along with dog squad wrangler Senior Constable Stephen Langley (Dominic Monaghan). A young surfer and shark Bite Club member Amber (Marny Kennedy) also represents Dans path back to facing his fears. The opening episode, written by John Ridley & Sarah Smith, devotes much screen time to the unease between Dan & Zoe, whether they have moved on and whether can work together on a case. Despite the fact their break-up was 3 years ago its perplexing that neither has extricated themselves from the world if it causes such angst. Melodrama is part of the problem of this drama which needs to commit to one of the two genres it straddles. For a crime about a serial killer the travelogue shots and warm hues is pretty confusing. But director Geoff Bennetts sluggish pace is a bigger concern. Despite the killer high stakes it somehow lacks energy. Maybe this will improve after the opening chapter. Amongst the cast Dominic Monaghan gets the more interesting role, while seasoned actors Deborah Mailman & Robert Mammone take a back seat to the youthful Lasance and Ricardo. But its good to see an indigenous woman in the senior authority role. Bite Club doesnt compare with the dark (and sometimes twisted world) of Top of the Lake, which had a killer at Bondi Beach, but nor is it on Pay TV. With the added distraction of commercial breaks it really needed a stronger episode and a bit more teeth to take hold. Bite Club airs 8:40pm Wednesday on Nine. Amended. The Footy Show My Room telethon raised $1,551,462 million on Thursday night, topping its 2017 tally of $1.083m. All monies raised go to the childrens cancer charity My Room. Maurizio Marcocci, the chairman of My Room, said, On behalf of the My Room committee and families, I want to say we are overwhelmed by the support from Channel Nine and The Footy Show, as well as the corporate sponsors and volunteers. Most importantly, a big thank you to the public for their generosity. This magnificent result will help us with the fight against childhood cancer. Matt Scriven, Managing Director of Channel Nine Melbourne, said: We want to thank the Footy Show community who reached into their pockets last night and donated to this incredible cause to help kids who are suffering through this terrible disease. Through the amazing support of our corporate partners and volunteers, and the Nine talent and other well-known faces who volunteered in the Telstra Celebrity Phone Room, we are able to ensure that every cent of every dollar donated will assist My Room and the Monash Childrens Hospital Cancer Centre in making a difference to the lives of many young Australians and their families. But the night also saw Footy Show regular Chris Judd after a comment he made in a live cross to the green room. It came when Shane Crawford was referring to cologne. Im using a natural deodorant. The by-product of that is that it doesnt actually work, but Im not going to die of cancer, Judd replied. Judd was soon under fire across social media. He later apologised on air. I said something that was insensitive before. I had no intention to be offensive, but no doubt its come across that way to some people, he said. So my apologies, were all here for the right reasons tonight and I hope it doesnt detract from the night. British personality Ant McPartlin (pictured left) will not present Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! alongside Declan Donnelly this year after dropping out of Saturday Night Takeaway and entering rehabilitation. In April he was fined 86,000 ($A158,000) and disqualified from driving for 20 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving for a collision which resulted in injuries to other passengers. In a statement he said, My recovery is going very well and for that to continue having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off. Id like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year. Donnelly added: Whilst I am obviously sad at the thought of being without my best friend in Australia this year, I am proud of the work Ant has been doing privately and I am fully supportive of his decision. Im looking forward to us both being reunited on screen in 2019. Ant & Decs Saturday Night Takeaway is to also be rested, to resume in 2020. ITV Director of Television Kevin Lygo said: ITV is completely supportive of Ant taking as much time as he needs in his recovery and of this mutual decision to rest Takeaway in 2019. Ant is clearly making good progress and we wish him all the very best and look forward to him returning to ITV next year. An announcement on Im A Celebrity plans will be made in due course. Britains Got Talent, which airs in Australia on Nine, also saw Declan Donnelly hosting solo this season. Wikileaks just got served with a tweet. On Friday, the law firm representing the Democratic National Committee served Wikileaks with a single tweet, linking to a number of legal documents related to its lawsuit against the organization founded by Julian Assange. @wikileaks By Court order, you are being served with the following legal documents: https://t.co/ICg8qWnsUy, https://t.co/ZP2tTPJ4pb, https://t.co/RKue30s4hM, https://t.co/q5g0G1rQpQ. All of these documents may be found here: https://t.co/NOCgvQhh2j. Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll Process Server (@ProcessServiceC) August 10, 2018 Cohen Milstein, the firm representing the DNC, set up the Twitter account @ProcessServiceC just this August, and fired off that single tweet the accounts first and only posting so far at Wikileaks today, effectively serving them with the lawsuit. In April, the DNC filed a lawsuit against Russia, the Trump campaign, and Wikileaks, alleging a conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election for Donald Trump. Three months later, the DNC filed a motion at a federal court in Manhattan requesting permission to serve Wikileaks with the complaint over Twitter. Being that the Wikileaks account tweets daily on the platform and has more of a virtual than a physical presence, the DNC argued, the court should authorize service via Twitter. The Wikileaks account, which posts regularly and is fairly active, had even previously claimed it read the DNC lawsuit and wrote about it on Twitter. Democrats have gone all Scientology against @WikiLeaks. We read the DNC lawsuit. Its primary claim against @WikiLeaks is that we published their "trade secrets". Scientology infamously tried this trick when we published their secret bibles. Didn't work out well for them. pic.twitter.com/NfCJEMiPCo WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 22, 2018 Shockingly, there is legal precedent to serving a lawsuit over Twitter, as the DNC argued. The motion cited a U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California decision in 2016, which approved of serving a defendant over Twitter because he had an active Twitter account. Story continues In that case, one of the defendants being sued by the nonprofit group St. Francis Assisi for allegedly funding ISIS was an overseas Kuwaiti national. The group was unable to locate this man. Because of his large following, active Twitter account, and use of the platform to fundraise, a judge approved of serving the lawsuit over Twitter. Twitter isnt the only social media platform that someone has been served over. Back in 2014, a family court judge ruled that a man could serve his ex-wife over Facebook because she had an active account there. And, just earlier this year, a lawyer in Toronto obtained an order to serve a defendant over Instagram. By Yimou Lee and Stephen Nellis TAIPEI/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Mobile chipmaker Qualcomm Inc will settle an anti-trust case with Taiwanese regulators for about $93 million, and has also pledged to invest $700 million in Taiwan over the next five years. The settlement replaces a fine of roughly $778 million imposed by Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission in 2017, when it accused the U.S. firm of refusing to sell chips to mobile handset makers that wouldn't agree to its patent-licensing terms. It was also accused of cutting iPhone maker Apple Inc a royalty discount in exchange for the exclusive use of Qualcomm's modem chips in the past. Under the settlement, Qualcomm will have to provide reports every six months to Taiwanese officials for five years to show it is negotiating in good faith with handset makers in patent-licensing deals. Moreover, Qualcomm will be required to offer patent licenses to rival chipmakers such as Intel Corp and MediaTek Inc <2454.TW> on fair terms before seeking to enforce its patent rights against them in court. Qualcomm also is in the midst of appealing a $927 million fine from the Korea Fair Trade Commission and a $1.2 billion fine from the European Commission. It also faces a lawsuit from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and is in a wide-ranging legal dispute with Apple. As part of the Taiwanese settlement, Qualcomm will continue to be allowed to charge a royalty based on the selling price of a handset - a core part of its licensing model that Apple and others have objected to. Because the settlement replaces the original decision and fine, other anti-trust regulators and legal foes will now be less likely to be able to use the commission's findings as a basis for their own legal actions. Mediatek said the Commission's decision failed to protect a fair competitive environment as Qualcomm was not required to adjust its business model of charging a royalty fee. Story continues "It will have negative impact on Taiwan's 5G industry and therefore hurt Taiwan's global competitiveness," the company said in a statement on Friday. As part of the deal Qualcomm said it had agreed to build new manufacturing and operations facilities in Taiwan and work with Taiwan universities and start-ups on technology initiatives around so-called 5G technology, the next generation of wireless networks. Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission said that amounted to an investment pledge of $700 million over five years. "With the uncertainty removed, we can now focus on expanding our relationships that support the Taiwanese wireless industry and rapid adoption of 5G technology," Alex Rogers, Qualcomm's patent licensing chief, said in a statement. (Reporting by Yimou Lee in TAIPEI and Stephen Nellis in SAN FRANCISCO; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and Manolo Serapio Jr.) One person is missing and more than 1,600 people have been evacuated with the aid of helicopters after torrential rain caused flooding in southern France. Five campsites in the Gard region were evacuated by hundreds of firefighters as the rainwater swelled rivers. A total of 1,600 people, most of them campers, were helped in Gard and the nearby Ardeche and Drome regions, according to France's interior ministry. More than 400 firefighters and police officers, many sent in from other areas, were involved in the operations. The missing person is a 70-year-old German man who is feared to have been swept away by floodwaters while inside his caravan, police said. The man was supervising a group of about 100 German children from the city of Leverkusen, who were evacuated from a campsite in Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas, 83 miles northeast of Montpellier. He was sheltering inside the caravan - said by police to have later been found "empty and in pieces" - after being trapped by muddy, fast-flowing water after the Ardeche river burst its banks. Divers were reported to be taking part in the search for the man, although a top regional official said it was not known for certain whether the man was in his caravan at the time it was swept away. Officials said 119 children in Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas were sent to an emergency shelter. "No one has suitcases. We just have what we're wearing," Rita Mauersberger, a German who was among the campers taking shelter, told France Info radio. Four German children suffering from hypothermia were taken to hospital in Bagnols-sur-Ceze, about 65 miles away from Montpellier. They were among 10 people treated for minor injuries. The Bagnols mayor told BFM-TV many Dutch tourists were among the 350 campers evacuated there. Helicopters were used to spot campsites and occasionally to perform rescues. Several parts of central and southeast France are on flood alert after a blazing heatwave ended abruptly in storms on Thursday. Locals are being urged to keep a close eye on weather conditions and warned flooding would take time to recede. Numerous roads in the affected area remained cut off as night fell. About 17,000 homes in the southwest and northeast were without power. Ali Mushaima, the son of a prominent opposition figure jailed in Bahrain, has been on hunger strike outside the Bahraini embassy in London since August 1. Mushaima has demanded medical care for his 70-year-old father, Hassan Mushaima, and accused the Bahraini authorities of refusing treatment. He has also asked for family visits and the delivery of books to his father to be allowed. This footage here shows two British policemen talking to Ali Mushaima, who is seen sitting outside the Bahraini embassy in London. Amnesty International said in a statement released on August 6 that Bahraini authorities deliberately denied proper medical care for four elderly jailed activists, Hassan Mshaima, Abdel-Jalil al-Singace, Abdel-Wahab Hussain and Abdel-Jalil al-Miqdad, subjecting them to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and putting their lives at risk. The four were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2011, Amnesty said. Credit: Moosa Abd Ali via Storyful By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Afghanistan told the United States that Islamic State fighters who surrendered last week will be treated as prisoners of war, and not honoured guests, despite the warm welcome they had initially received, a top U.S. general said on Wednesday. While pressure has been building for peace talks between the Western-backed government in Kabul and the Taliban insurgency, U.S. officials say Islamic State's branch in Afghanistan is not part of any reconciliation push and instead must be wiped out. Even by the bloody standards of the Afghan war, Islamic State has gained an unmatched reputation for brutality, routinely beheading opponents or forcing them to sit on explosives. But last week, an Afghan governor's office floated the possibility of amnesty for a large group of Islamic State fighters, including two senior commanders, who gave themselves up after being driven from their strongholds by Taliban insurgents. U.S. Army General Joseph Votel, head of the U.S. military's Central Command, said the Afghans acknowledged the surrender, the largest of its kind so far by Islamic State, "could have been handled better." "The government of Afghanistan has assured us that these ISIS-K fighters will be treated as war prisoners," Votel told a news briefing at the Pentagon, using an acronym for the Afghan affiliate of the group. Votel said that the fighters would be investigated and held to account for any war crimes they committed. Civilians who fled the last clashes have accused Islamic State fighters of atrocities, giving detailed accounts of women and young girls being taken from their families, raped and, in some cases, murdered. "They have essentially waged a pretty vicious campaign against the people without regard to civilian casualties," Votel said. In another example of Islamic State's tactics, the group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on a Shi'ite Muslim mosque in eastern Afghanistan that killed 39 people and wounded at least 80 others. Story continues As the U.S.-backed Afghan army presses Afghan insurgents, the central government in Kabul is also pursuing peace with their main enemy, the Taliban, even declaring a three-day ceasefire in June that saw unarmed Taliban fighters mingling with soldiers on the streets. Perhaps in that context, local Afghan officials had initially hoped that treating this batch of Islamic State fighters well would entice more of them to surrender. That, however, was not the approach of the United States or of the central government in Kabul, Votel said. Although Washington ultimately seeks an Afghan-led peace agreement with the Taliban, Votel said the U.S. and Afghan position on Islamic State was clear: "We've all agreed (it's) an organisation that just needs to be destroyed." The back-and-forth over Islamic State speaks volumes about confusion as Kabul and the West are trying to find a way to end 17 years of war against insurgents. U.S. President Donald Trump a year ago reluctantly agreed to an open-ended deployment of U.S. military advisers, trainers and special forces and increased air support for Afghan forces. Roughly 14,000 U.S. troops are deployed in Afghanistan along with 8,000 other coalition forces, according to Pentagon data. But Trump has proven capable of reversing himself and U.S. officials privately acknowledge a sense of urgency to show that America's longest war can still bring a degree of stability to Afghanistan. A senior U.S. diplomat met with a Taliban representatives in Doha in July. Votel acknowledged that the incoming U.S. commander, Army General Scott Miller, would do his own review but predicted no major changes to the war plan approved by Trump last year. "I can't predict exactly what General Miller may say in terms of this. But as I've commented, my personal view is that the strategy we have in place is the right one," Votel said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; editing by Grant McCool) A menu board at Sydney's Old Fitzroy Hotel displays the slogan 'Parma for a Farmer', meaning that sales of the dish of fried crumbed chicken topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese, called parmagiana or parma for short, will result in proceeds going to farmers in Australia's parched interior for drought relief, in Sydney, Australia, August 9, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray Thomson Reuters By Stefica Nicol Bikes SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thirsty city slickers are pitching in to help farmers in Australia's parched interior by eating a pub delicacy called a "parma," with some of the proceeds marked for drought relief. The dish of fried crumbed chicken topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese, called parmagiana, or parma for short, is staple pub food across a country in the depths of a big dry. Winter's wheat crop is failing in the east and graziers are struggling to keep livestock alive on bone-dry pastures. All over a continent where "the bush" looms large in the public psyche, that's prompted bars to promise a dollar in donation from each meal sold, as well as collecting cash from barflies, as part of the "parma for a farmer" drive. "We thought let's double that, we'll do two dollars," James Martin told Reuters at the Old Fitzroy Hotel in the Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo where he is chef. "It resonates for me to jump on board, to help do what I can," he said. "We use a lot of produce, a lot of meat and the drought issue is obviously massive for the farmers, but there is this huge ripple-on effect that's occurring throughout Australia." A thousand other pubs have signed on as well in just a week, illustrating the depth of feeling for drought-stricken farmers, which has deepened further still as images of starving sheep, dry waterholes and fields turned to moonscapes have hit the city press and evening bulletins in recent weeks. "We've all seen the horrendous pictures on the news, it's shocking," said Amanda Kinross, a cake decorator from rural Victorian town Bendigo, who began the campaign with a Facebook post. "Within minutes pubs were saying: 'Yep, we're on.'" (GRAPHIC: Australia's missing rainfall - https://tmsnrt.rs/2LXOaXl) Australia's government has already pledged almost A$600 million ($440 million) in aid but proceeds from the "parma" drive will be directed especially to assist with buying and sending emergency livestock feed to affected farms. Story continues "Sometimes in the city we don't realize how tough it is out there, and it's a bit of a tough time at the moment, so supporting in any way that we can," said Andy Casey, who tucked in to a huge A$24 parma, with chips and salad, for lunch. "It was fresh, it was delicious," he said, washing it down with a beer. (Writing and additional reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Michael Perry) See Also: Reuters LONDON (Reuters) -Britain is fully in compliance with the rules of its post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, and wants further talks with French and EU officials over why a UK trawler has been detained by France, a government spokesman said on Thursday. Earlier on Thursday Britain condemned France's seizure of a British fishing boat in French waters as "disproportionate" in a dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights that risks spinning out of control. A spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said London's ambassador to France was in touch with Paris's Europe minister over the matter and Britain's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister was working with the EU commissioners. AIM-120 AMRAAM missile US Air Force HELSINKI (AP) Estonia's defense minister says he has ordered a halt to NATO's air exercises in Estonia pending an investigation after a missile was accidentally fired over the Baltic country's airspace by a Spanish fighter jet on exercises this week. Minister Juri Luik said Thursday the air-to-air missile that was erroneously launched Tuesday over southern Estonia has not been found but could have crashed in a remote nature reserve in the Jogeva region or triggered its built-in self-destruct and exploded in midair. The exercise was carried out in an area reserved for such activity about 60 miles from the Russian border. All of the planes are based in Siauliai in northern Lithuania, and the jet that launched the missile was able to return to the base. The Eurofighter Typhoon of the Spanish Air Force was part of NATO's Baltic air-policing mission and carried AMRAAM-type missiles containing up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of explosives. Luik reiterated Estonia's trust in NATO's Baltic air mission, which started in 2004 as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the military alliance. NOW WATCH: In 1959, the US sent mail by replacing a missile's nuclear warhead with mailboxes See Also: A British mum claims she was thrown in a Dubai jail cell with her four-year-old daughter, and could face a year detained in the strict Arab country after drinking a single glass of wine provided on an Emirates flight. Source: Ellie Holman / Facebook A mum of three who claims she was thrown in a Dubai jail cell with her four-year-old daughter faces a year behind bars in the country after drinking what she says was a single glass of wine provided on an Emirates flight. Dentist Ellie Holman, who lives in Sevenoaks in Kent with her English partner Gary and their three children, was initially denied water and made to clean toilets while in custody, according to human rights group Detained in Dubai. The 44-year-old was arrested by immigration officers and thrown in an airport detention centre after her international flight landed in Dubai on July 13. Ms Holman travelling to Dubai for a five-day break to visit friends (PA Images Following an eight-hour flight, Dr Holman said airport officials stopped her because her visa had expired and told her she would have to immediately return to London. The idea of getting back on a long-haul flight with her young child was unthinkable and she entered into a heated argument with the immigration officer who asked her if she had been drinking, The Sun reported. I told him I had a glass of wine on the flight. It was given to me free by Emirates Airlines staff, she said. The officer told her alcohol consumption was a crime in the United Arab Emirates. Dr Holman then began recording the conversation to use it as evidence, until she was reportedly swarmed by armed police who arrested her and her child, and confiscated her phone and the pairs passports. Bibi was terrified by the experience, Ms Holman said (PA Images) The woman was taken to a police station for an alcohol test, which she said revealed 0.04 per cent of alcohol in her blood. She claimed she and her daughter Bibi were also denied permission to use the toilet, so her little girl had to urinate on the baking hot and foul smelling cell floor, The Sun reported. Upon finding out what happened to his family, Dr Holmans frantic partner Gary rushed to Dubai. He was allowed to collected his daughter and bring her home, but was forced to leave the frightened mum behind. She was released on bail three days later, but said she now faced up to a year in the strict Arab country away from her three children and partner while she waits for her case to be heard. Story continues My practice is closed. All our savings have gone, Dr Holman said. She has been staying with friends in Dubai but said the ordeal has so far cost her more than $52,000 in legal fees, expenses and missed employment. Emirates has been contacted for comment. FILE PHOTO: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a joint press conference of the leaders of Greece, Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria during a mini summit to discuss regional cooperation, in Thessaloniki, Greece, July 4, 2018. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - President Aleksandar Vucic suggested on Thursday he is prepared to compromise on defining Serbia's borders with Kosovo, to end a conflict with Europe's newest independent state, a key condition for the Balkan country to join the European Union. Most Serbs regard Kosovo as the cradle of their nation and Orthodox Christian faith, and Belgrade has so far refused to recognise the independence of its former Southern province. Under its constitution Serbia considers Kosovo an integral part of itself. With the help of Russia, its ally and a veto-wielding member of the U.N. Security Council, Belgrade is blocking Kosovo's membership in the United Nations and other organisations. But normalisation of relations with Pristina is a key condition for Serbia to come closer to membership in the European Union, which the government has set as its priority. On July 31, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci dismissed suggestions that ethnic Albanian-dominated Kosovo, which has a five percent Serb minority, should be divided on ethnic lines. Most Kosovo Serbs, mainly in its northern part bordering Serbia and where they are dominant, oppose the Pristina authorities. But during a visit to the northern town of Sid, Vucic suggested that delimitation, a wording understood by many in the region to suggest partition, between Serbia and ethnic Albanian-dominated Kosovo would be a way out. "POTENTIAL CONFLICTS" "It takes two to tango," he said, referring to EU-led talks with Kosovo on the subject where he leads Serbia's delegation. "I am striving, and that is my policy for the delimitation with Albanians. To have a territory where one does not know who administers it and how, and what belongs to whom - that is always a source of potential conflicts." "Whether this will receive popular support it remains to be seen," Vucic said in a TV broadcast, referring to public opinion in Serbia and among Kosovo Serbs. In the past he said that a plebiscite would be required to verify the solution. Story continues Many in Belgrade, politicians and analysts alike, say that a partition, allowing Serbia to maintain control over northern Kosovo, in exchange for the Presevo Valley, an ethnic Albanian-populated area in Serbia's south, could be acceptable to both sides. Dragan Janjic, editor in-chief of the Belgrade-based Beta news agency, said that because of sharply divided positions, Belgrade and Pristina are still far from a negotiated solution. "Belgrade speaks about an exchange of territories and Pristina speaks about correction of borders, which brings us to the conclusion that Vucic and Thaci do not have a concrete agreement," Janjic told Reuters. "It is all still very hazy." Serbia also wants broader autonomy for Serb enclaves in Kosovo, a protected status for Orthodox monasteries and financial compensation for what Serbia claims as its property including industrial and energy facilities. Vucic, who is leading the Serbian team in EU-led talks with Kosovo and is expected to meet Thaci in Brussels soon, said the solution must be "comprehensive, not simplified," but declined to elaborate and "open negotiating cards." Kosovo split from Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after NATO air strikes ousted Serbian forces and halted a crackdown on ethnic Albanians during a brutal two-year counter-insurgency. But since Serbia does not recognise independent Kosovo it does not recognise the pre-war administrative boundary as an international border. Serbian nationalists and the influential Serbian Orthodox Church are adamantly opposed to the carve-up of Kosovo as the move would mean abandoning Serbia's constitutional claim on its whole territory. Kosovo has been recognised by over 100 countries, including 23 out of 28 EU members. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by William Maclean) Smoke rises from a residential area where gun battle is going on between Taliban and Afghan forces in Ghazni province, Afghanistan August 10, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Heavily armed Taliban fighters attacked the strategic central Afghan city of Ghazni on Friday, burning police checkpoints and seizing control of parts of the centre before being driven back by U.S.-backed forces, officials said. U.S. attack helicopters and drone aircraft provided government forces with air support. But with Taliban fighters believed to be hiding in residential areas, it was unclear whether the government had full control of the city, with communications badly hit after a number of telecoms installations were destroyed. The attack on a city straddling the main highway between the capital Kabul and southern Afghanistan was a show of strength for the Taliban, underscoring how volatile the security situation remains less than three months before parliamentary elections in October. The defence ministry in Kabul said the attackers had been beaten back but were still present in one area of the city and had occupied civilian houses, from where they were still keeping up occasional fire on security forces clearing the area. It said around 150 attackers had been killed or wounded but gave no estimate of casualties for civilians or security forces. A local health official said at least 16 people had been killed. A statement from U.S. military headquarters in Kabul said fighting had ceased by 8.00 a.m. (0330 GMT) and Afghan forces had held their ground and maintained control of all government centres. "U.S. forces responded with close-air support (U.S. attack helicopters) and conducted one strike (drone). In addition, U.S. aircraft conducted a show of presence," Lt Col. Martin O'Donnell, spokesman for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, said in an emailed statement. Officials said clashes between security forces and the Taliban started at around 2.00 a.m., forcing the closure of the main highway linking Ghazni to Kabul, 150 km (95 miles) to the northeast. "The Taliban are dropping missiles near residential and commercial areas. There has not been a single minute of silence for the last eight hours," said a senior government official in Ghazni early in the day. Story continues Local residents said Taliban fighters were walking openly in the streets in parts of the city. Ghazni police chief General Farid Ahmad Mashal said the Taliban seized several parts of the city, which has been under threat for months, with local officials warning that heavy fighting in surrounding districts showed the city was increasingly vulnerable. HOPES FOR PEACE TALKS President Ashraf Ghani held a meeting with top commanders in Kabul to discuss the situation in Ghazni, where the Taliban appear to have repeated the tactics that almost gave them control of the western city of Farah in May. As helicopters circled overhead in the early morning, a second government official said it was too dangerous for people to venture on to the streets. "It is not possible to get out of our homes to help the injured or collect bodies," he said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement saying multiple attacks were launched overnight in Ghazni. As many as 140 Afghan soldiers and police had been killed and large quantities of weapons and equipment had been seized, he said. However, O'Donnell said initial reports indicated minimal casualties among security forces. "This is yet another failed Taliban attempt to seize terrain, which will result in yet another eye-catching but strategically inconsequential headline," he said. The attack came amid growing hopes of talks to end 17 years of war in Afghanistan and less than two weeks before the Eid al-Adha festival, when the Western-backed government in Kabul had been considering offering a ceasefire. In June, a three-day truce over the Eid al-Fitr holiday brought unprecedented scenes of unarmed Taliban fighters mingling with security forces in Kabul and other cities, offering a glimpse of peace and fuelling hopes of negotiations to end the war. However, even while conducting preliminary discussions with U.S. officials, the Taliban have launched a series of operations that underscored their ability to inflict severe damage on Afghan forces. Just last week, an attack on an army post in Uruzgan, a province bordering Ghazni, killed dozens of soldiers, adding to what one U.S. report called the "shockingly high" casualties taken ever since NATO ended its main combat mission in 2014. The Taliban have so far failed to take and hold any provincial centre since they overran the northern city of Kunduz in 2015 before being driven off with the support of U.S. air strikes and Special Forces units. They came close to repeating the feat in 2016, and in May this year they nearly overran Farah before being beaten back with the aid of U.S. forces. (Reporting by Reuters Staff, Ahmad Sultan in JALALABAD; Writing by Rupam Jain and James Mackenzie; Editing by Nick Macfie and Hugh Lawson) FILE PHOTO: A United Airlines Boeing 737-900ER plane takes off from Los Angeles International airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, U.S. March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake Thomson Reuters CHICAGO/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The United States' three largest airlines said they are in the process of amending their systems to address Chinese requests over how they refer to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, after Chinese state media reported that they had yet to complete revisions in time for a Thursday deadline. The Global Times newspaper on Thursday singled out Delta Air Lines , United Airlines , American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines in a report which said that the companies had yet to meet requirements set by China's aviation regulator. China has demanded that foreign firms, and airlines in particular, do not refer to self-ruled Taiwan as a non-Chinese territory on their websites, a demand the White House slammed in May as "Orwellian nonsense." The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which has been pushing airlines to make the change, had originally set a deadline for July 25. However, it said last month that the four U.S. airlines had asked for another extension as it perceived their amendments as "incomplete". It was unclear what the exact deadline was in view of the time difference between the United States and China or what additional amendments the U.S. carriers were making. Checks on Thursday showed Delta, United and American Airlines now list only Taipei's airport code and city, but not the name Taiwan, while there is no mention of Taipei or Taiwan on Hawaiian Airlines' website. "United Airlines has begun to roll out changes to its systems to address China's requirements," a company spokesman told Reuters. "United abides by and respects local laws and regulations in all markets and jurisdictions where we operate and conduct business. United flights to mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan will continue to operate normally." Delta said that it, and other U.S. carriers, were "in the process of implementing website changes" in response to the CAAC's request. It added that it remained in close consultation with the U.S. government throughout the process. Story continues Shannon Gilson, a spokeswoman for American Airlines said: "Like other carriers, American is implementing changes to address China's request." Hawaiian Airlines, Airlines for America, a trade group which represents major U.S. carriers, and the CAAC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Global Times reported the CAAC as saying that it was closely monitoring the situation. It is unclear how China might punish airlines that did not comply with its requests, but in December it added a clause to rules governing foreign airlines in the country, saying regulators could change a company's permit if it did not meet "the demand of public interest". Taiwan is China's most sensitive territorial issue. Beijing considers the democratic island a wayward province of "one China". Hong Kong and Macau are former European colonies that are now part of China but run largely autonomously. (Reporting by Brenda Goh in SHANGHAI and Tracy Rucinski in CHICAGO; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) See Also: Royal Bank of Scotland 's earnings and excess capital are being undervalued by the market, said UBS on Friday, upgrading the shares to 'buy' from 'neutral'. UBS, which upped its target price to 300p from 285p, said RBS's second-quarter capital generation was much stronger than forecast and left its CET1 capital ratio at 16.1%. That makes it 4bn, or 13% of market cap, above target despite having dealt with the US Department of Justice investigation, 2bn in pension contributions and a chunk of restructuring spend. Even though RBS declared the first dividend in a decade, this barely made a dent in the balance sheet. UBS said, "significant special dividends or buybacks perhaps direct from government are needed to stop this undervalued surplus capital from growing further". Directors are targetting 34p of EPS in 2020 and a return on tangible equity above 12% at that point, but even with UBS estimating a more cautious 28p of EPS analysts expect 5bn in buybacks by the end of 2021 to take the stock to 6.5x EPS by then, with a growing dividend yield to provide decent income support too. If Brexit negotiations lead to a no-deal divorce from the EU, UBS expects pressure from margins from rate cuts, lower house prices hitting margins, and higher levels of risk-weighted assets. Liberum cut its price target on Card Factory on Friday to 195p from 210p following the greeting cards retailers profit warning a day earlier. Card Factory shares tumbled on Thursday after it said it now expects full-year underlying earnings of between 89m and 91m, down from last years 94m and below consensus of 93.5m due to Brexit uncertainty and "extreme" weather. Liberum downgraded its FY19 EBITDA forecast to 88.2m from 93.9m and cuts it growth assumption for Getting Personal, from 10% growth year-on-year to 5% growth, which flows through to an earnings per share reduction of 7% for FY19-21. "Lowering our numbers today continues the cycle of downgrades we have seen, where at this point last year we forecast FY19E EBITDA at 103.9m, which suggests a circa 15% downgrade in 12 months, highlighting the direction of travel," the brokerage said. Still, Liberum said that while the overall like-for-like performance for the first half was "clearly disappointing", in the wider context of the retail environment and reporting, it could have been worse. It noted that the Card Factory website, which accounts for 0.6% of group sales, delivered a strong performance, while the performance of the online gifting business, Getting Personal, was disappointing in the face of tough competition and rising customer acquisition costs. Liberum rates the stock at hold. Analysts at Credit Suisse upgraded Paddy Power Betfair to 'neutral' on Friday but noted that uncertainty remained around the bookmaker's exchange business and the scale of investments required to get its US operations off the ground. Factoring in what the Swiss broker called "reasonably conservative assumptions", Credit Suisse lowered its long-term exchange growth forecast to 0% per year from its previous 1.5 to 2% estimates and assumed losses of roughly 9m for the bookmaker's US sports-betting wing in the second half of the year. However, with the downside to its new target price of 7600p ( was 8,000p) now exhausted, it moved from an 'underperform' recommendation to 'neutral', adding that the valuation was "more reasonable here". The Swiss broker also penciled-in 19.0m of losses at the US sports-betting arm for 2019. Its 2018 EBITDA estimate for the firm was marked-down too, by 3% to 455m, with Credit Suisse highlighting that if it were to exclude US sports-betting losses, then at 464m its estimate was in-line with the company's own guidance range for between 460.0-480.0m. "In 2019E, we lower our EBITDA estimate by 8% (half due to US sports-betting and the rest due to lower Exchange and Retail profits) to 411m," CS added. The broker expects Paddy Power's third-quarter update in November will "give crucial colour" on the expected scale of US investments. Analysts at Credit Suisse upgraded Paddy Power Betfair to 'neutral' on Friday but noted that uncertainty remained around the bookmaker's exchange business and the scale of investments required to get its US operations off the ground. Factoring in what the Swiss broker called "reasonably conservative assumptions", Credit Suisse lowered its long-term exchange growth forecast to 0% per year from its previous 1.5 to 2% estimates and assumed losses of roughly 9m for the bookmaker's US sports-betting wing in the second half of the year. However, with the downside to its new target price of 7600p ( was 8,000p) now exhausted, it moved from an 'underperform' recommendation to 'neutral', adding that the valuation was "more reasonable here". The Swiss broker also penciled-in 19.0m of losses at the US sports-betting arm for 2019. Its 2018 EBITDA estimate for the firm was marked-down too, by 3% to 455m, with Credit Suisse highlighting that if it were to exclude US sports-betting losses, then at 464m its estimate was in-line with the company's own guidance range for between 460.0-480.0m. "In 2019E, we lower our EBITDA estimate by 8% (half due to US sports-betting and the rest due to lower Exchange and Retail profits) to 411m," CS added. The broker expects Paddy Power's third-quarter update in November will "give crucial colour" on the expected scale of US investments. Liberum cut its price target on Card Factory on Friday to 195p from 210p following the greeting cards retailers profit warning a day earlier. Card Factory shares tumbled on Thursday after it said it now expects full-year underlying earnings of between 89m and 91m, down from last years 94m and below consensus of 93.5m due to Brexit uncertainty and "extreme" weather. Liberum downgraded its FY19 EBITDA forecast to 88.2m from 93.9m and cuts it growth assumption for Getting Personal, from 10% growth year-on-year to 5% growth, which flows through to an earnings per share reduction of 7% for FY19-21. "Lowering our numbers today continues the cycle of downgrades we have seen, where at this point last year we forecast FY19E EBITDA at 103.9m, which suggests a circa 15% downgrade in 12 months, highlighting the direction of travel," the brokerage said. Still, Liberum said that while the overall like-for-like performance for the first half was "clearly disappointing", in the wider context of the retail environment and reporting, it could have been worse. It noted that the Card Factory website, which accounts for 0.6% of group sales, delivered a strong performance, while the performance of the online gifting business, Getting Personal, was disappointing in the face of tough competition and rising customer acquisition costs. Liberum rates the stock at hold. At 0925 BST, the shares were up 0.9% to 189.70p. Russia has threatened to restrict the sales of rocket engines to the United States in response to sanctions over a former Russian agents poisoning in the UK in March. Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev warned the US on Friday that the sanctions it imposed on Moscow over the nerve agent attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter might be treated as the beginning of a trade war. He also said Russia would respond to this 'war' by other means. Sergei Ryabukhin, head of the budget committee in the upper house of parliament, said Moscow will respond to the sanctions and suggested, in particular, the restriction of exports to the United States of the RD-180 rocket engine, which powers the first stage of the Atlas 5 rocket made by Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The relationship between the US and Russia came under strain this week as the US government announced on Wednesday it would impose sanctions on Russia to prevent them obtaining access to weapons, financial assistance or technology related to US security. The government blames Moscow for the poisoning of the Russian ex-spy and his daughter living in Britain in March. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman denied again any involvement from the Kremlin in the attack: "We deny in the strongest terms the accusations about the possible connection of the Russian state to what happened in Salisbury," the spokesman said. "This is out of the question. Russia did not and does not have, and could not have, any connection to the use of chemical weapons." Washington said it would impose a second round of "draconian" sanctions in 90 days unless Russia provided assurances that it would abandon the use of such chemical weapons. Turkey's President did not deliver any policy-relevant remarks on Friday, instead invoking God, telling an audience at a public rally he wanted to put their well-being in the Creator's hands. The lira weakened following his speech, with the selling intensifying following a 'tweet' from the US President announcing new sanctions against the country. I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar! Aluminum will now be 20% and Steel 50%. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018 Speaking in front of a large poster carrying his image, next to that of Kemal Ataturk, the reformer who founded the modern Turkish republic, Erdogan limited himself to defending his government's programmes in support of stone-carving and hand-made textiles in the region. With the support of his audience, Erdogan said, "there is no crisis, no terror organisation we cannot fight". His remarks echoed those made on Thursday evening, when Erdogan said: "If they have dollars, we have our people, our righteousness and our God." Immediately afterwards, his son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, the country's recently-appointed finance minister, delivered a presentation of what he dubbed as the country's 'new economic model'. Analysts at TD Securities described his remarks as "uninspiring at best", with the only 'positive' being a verbal commitment to strengthen the independence of the central bank. "The Central Bank's independence should always continue as a principle. Its independence is very important. Reinforcing financial stability will be one of our high priority targets," Albayrak said. However, Albayrak also spoke of "strong coordination under one leadership of fiscal and monetary policy", which TD said was "not necessarily a good omen". "Unless the CBRT hikes promptly (we think to around 30%), the lira may suffer its worst crisis in nearly two decades," TD added. As of 1329 BST, soon after Albayrak began speaking, the US dollar was 9.43% higher versus the Turkish lira to 6.0740, following a brief second spike to the 6.3005 mark. But by 1500 BST, the Greenback as 17.68% higher against the lira, at 6.5320, having hit an intra-session high of 6.8703. Amazing how little chatter there is about the 1.15 level on Euro. Its very, very crucial and the head and shoulders top neckline break suggests 1.05 (sorry, no chart as Im on holiday in Spain without Bberg!) Raoul Pal (@RaoulGMI) August 9, 2018 Stoking the selling, Donald Trump said via social media, "I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar! Aluminum will now be 20% and Steel 50%. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!" Airline staff walk out over pay, conditions Low-cost airline Ryanair was forced to ground almost 400 flights on Friday as Europe-wide strike action by pilots over pay cause major disruption. Staff in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands walked off the job for 24 hours. Around 55,000 passengers would be affected by the strikes, Ryanair said, which has offered customers refunds or the option of rerouting their journey. Germany will be worst hit by the industrial action, with 250 flight cancellations at 10 airports. Ryanair denounced the strikes adding that it had taken every step to minimise disruption. "The majority of customers have already been accommodated on another Ryanair flight. We want to again apologise to customers affected by this unnecessary disruption and we ask the striking unions to continue negotiations instead of calling anymore unjustified strikes." However, the pilots argued that the company has refused to enter meaningful talks about collective labour agreements since recognising unions last December. Germany's Cockpit union accused Ryanair of "categorically" ruling out higher personnel costs for cockpit crew, leaving no room for a compromise. "Ryanair alone is responsible for the escalation we are now seeing," Cockpit president Martin Locher told a news conference on Wednesday. "We are extremely sorry for the affected passengers. The responsibility lies with Ryanair management, he said. Londons FTSE 100 was down 1% to 7,662.61 in afternoon trade on Friday, tracking broader losses amid worries about Turkey. Tui was the standout gainer following heavy losses the day earlier on the back of its third-quarter results. The travel operator said on Thursday that it was sticking to its guidance for full-year underlying earnings growth but posted a drop in third-quarter underlying earnings. Bernstein said that although the results undoubtedly showed the tour operation business to be at the mercy of external effects, these - this year it was hot weather - may be industry impacts and non-recurring but the impact on profitability when they hit shows the potential operational leverage to them. "However, the results also show the resilience and diversity of TUI. The non-tour operator parts of the business will generate 62% of EBITA this year and are growing strongly, offsetting the weakness in the tour operator and, despite the perfect (lack of) storms, enabled TUI to retain guidance at more than 10% (albeit closer to 10% than the market expected)," it said. Diageo ticked up as it told its broker to kick off the first swathe of its 2bn share buyback. Citigroup will begin purchasing the drinks giant's shares up to a value of up to 1.4bn, with further tranche to be announced by the FTSE 100 company later in the financial year to June 2019. On the downside, Russia-based steelmaker Evraz slumped a day after its first-half results. CMC Markets analyst David Madden pointed to the fact that relations between the US and Russia took a hit on Thuesday after Washington DC revealed plans to impose fresh sanctions on the country for its alleged role in the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK. Meanwhile, Accendo Markets analyst Artjom Hatsaturjants said: "While direct US sanctions have so far been limited to state-owned Russian companies and President Putins close associates (Oleg Deripaskas Rusal comes to mind), how long before another US policymaker starts talking about Evrazs billionaire owner Roman Abramovichs friendship with Putin and Evraz suffers the fate similar to that of deeply-damaged aluminium giant Rusal? "While Evraz can certainly take steps to address its exposure to Russian market or its ownership structure, FX headwinds are entirely out of companys hands. More wild share price swings to come?" The stock was also knocked lower by a downgrade to sell at VTB Capital, while Rolls-Royce was weaker after a downgrade from JPMorgan Cazenove. Bookie Paddy Power was under the cosh as Credit Suisse upgraded it to neutral from outperform but cut the price target to 7,600p from 8,000p and reduced its estimates. "Previously, we were valuing the cash flows generated separately and adding the result to our valuation. As a result of this (and tweaks to our numbers for the remainder of the business), we lower our 2018E EBITDA estimate by 3% to 455m (was 468m). This is below guidance of 460-480m, but if we exclude US sports-betting losses to be consistent with guidance, our estimate is in-line at 464m." FTSE 100 - Risers TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 1,570.50p 1.82% Carnival (CCL) 4,611.00p 1.77% Royal Mail (RMG) 466.30p 1.48% WPP (WPP) 1,227.50p 0.82% National Grid (NG.) 816.80p 0.79% SEGRO (SGRO) 673.80p 0.36% Diageo (DGE) 2,806.50p 0.32% Ocado Group (OCDO) 1,060.00p 0.28% Tesco (TSCO) 265.60p 0.23% Pearson (PSON) 919.00p 0.22% FTSE 100 - Fallers Evraz (EVR) 507.00p -9.53% Fresnillo (FRES) 972.00p -4.89% Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,412.96p -3.31% Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 1,052.00p -2.95% Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 7,350.00p -2.65% Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 2,693.00p -2.36% Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,412.00p -2.07% Anglo American (AAL) 1,676.60p -2.04% Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,807.50p -1.91% Glencore (GLEN) 324.00p -1.88% London's FTSE 250 index finished down 0.7% at 20,667.45 on Friday, led by a group of stocks based in or focused on Eastern Europe. Ukraine-based Ferrexpo's shares lost ground despite the commodity trading and mining firm having extended a credit facility a day earlier. Deutsche Bank analysts said it was a "positive development for the company and largely removes any refinancing risks for 2019". The dip in the firm's shares was more likely related to its Ukrainian assets, which include iron mines and pellet processing facilities, which could well be feeling the heat from rising economic tensions between the US and neighbouring Russia. The Trump administration said on Wednesday that it intends to punish Russia further for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal with a chemical weapon in Salisbury earlier this year. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev reportedly likened the evolving situation between the two nations as one of economic war. In a similar vein, Polymetal International has likely dipped due to the heightening tensions, as the firm possesses a portfolio of gold and silver mines in Russia, as well as neighbours Kazakhstan and Armenia, and is listed on the Moscow Exchange. Also worth noting is that Bloomberg has reported that a top economic aide to President Putin has proposed increasing taxes on mining companies that could potentially gross $7.5bn a year. Bank of Georgia and TBC Group, Georgias largest banking group was the top faller in afternoon trading ahead of the Tbilisi-headquartered firm's scheduled first half results release next Wednesday. Amid the drama of the run on Turkey's lira, travel stocks were moving in different directions. Travel agent Thomas Cook and online rival On The Beach were both in the red. Conversely, gambling operator Rank Group was one of the afternoon's top movers ahead of its year end results release next Thursday, with investors potentially anticipating that the firm's May acquisition of QSB Gaming Limited, which owns Spanish language digital bingo business YoBingo.es, may have offset declines in UK business. The acquisition followed Rank's April downgrade of its full-year operating profit guidance to between 76m and 78m, when the company stated that the impact of UK decline would continue to be felt into the new financial year. BTG bounced back in afternoon trading after falling on Thursday following the rejection of its Elevair emphysema treatment by the US food and drug administration. An advisory panel had recommended rejecting the treatment in June and so the blow was not completely unexpected. Hill & Smith fell after being cut to hold from 'buy' by Berenberg, who cited weak interim results from Wednesday and argued that the firm will need to put in a strong performance in the second half of the year in order to achieve its positive long-term outlook. Market Movers FTSE 250 (MCX) 20,695.34 -0.53% FTSE 250 - Risers Alfa Financial Software Holdings (ALFA) 170.80p 4.27% Rank Group (RNK) 186.20p 4.14% Charter Court Financial Services Group (CCFS) 348.45p 3.46% Games Workshop Group (GAW) 3,285.00p 2.66% Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,830.00p 2.23% Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 1,264.00p 2.18% Just Group (JUST) 101.40p 1.86% Clarkson (CKN) 2,595.00p 1.76% BTG (BTG) 521.50p 1.66% Keller Group (KLR) 1,038.00p 1.57% FTSE 250 - Fallers Bank of Georgia Group (BGEO) 1,737.80p -4.00% TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 1,649.13p -3.78% Ferrexpo (FXPO) 170.55p -3.78% On The Beach Group (OTB) 419.00p -3.46% Hill & Smith Holdings (HILS) 1,092.00p -2.93% Intu Properties (INTU) 168.70p -2.91% TP ICAP (TCAP) 282.20p -2.76% Centamin (DI) (CEY) 111.55p -2.75% Polymetal International (POLY) 651.60p -2.72% Investec (INVP) 525.00p -2.38% The roof caved in on steel stocks Evraz and Ferrexpo at the end of the week following a report that some Russian authorities favoured increasing taxes on mining companies and after the US raised steel tariffs on Turkey. In a letter sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin's top economic aide, Andrey Belousov, and seen by Bloomberg, the advisor said raising taxes on mining firms could generate $7.5bn in annual revenues for the Kremlin's coffers. Belousov reportedly also argued that miners were enjoying so-called 'windfall' profits following the rally in commodity prices and depreciation in the Russian rouble and yet were not paying any taxes on such "excess income". Acting as a backdrop, investor sentiment was also taking a hit after the US administration said it would double-down on tariffs on imports of aluminium and steel from Turkey, raising them to 20% and 50%, respectively. Turkey was the world's sixth largest steel producer. That saw selling in the Turkish currency accelerate on Friday, adding to investors' concerns around other Emerging Markets. To take note of, as of 1609 BST the US dollar spot index, which tracks the Greenback's value against the currencies of its main trading partners (but not those of emerging markets such as Turkey or Russia), was up by 0.66% to 96.1310, establishing a fresh 52-week high. There were multiple implications for global capital markets stemming from dollar strength, with the most immediate being weakness in metals' prices. Indeed, three-month LME copper futures were down by 0.57% to $6,189 per metric tonne. Against that backdrop, miners were broadly lower on the FTSE 350, with shares of Anglo American, Glencore or Rio Tinto all lower. Precious metals miners were also in full retreat, despite, somewhat curiously, small gains in gold futures, with the December gold contract on COMEX up by 0.30% to $1,223.50/oz.. Top performing sectors so far today Leisure Goods 8,155.95 +2.19% Industrial Transportation 3,209.84 +0.85% Automobiles & Parts 10,918.81 +0.75% Gas, Water & Multiutilities 4,927.73 +0.12% Alternative Energy 0.00 0.00% Bottom performing sectors so far today Industrial Metals & Mining 4,552.12 -9.02% Forestry & Paper 24,395.00 -2.61% Mining 17,522.69 -2.37% Fixed Line Telecommunications 2,581.00 -2.35% Chemicals 16,810.50 -1.76% Nationwide Building Society warned of a subdued UK housing market and fierce mortgage product competition as first quarter pre-tax profits fell 12.73% to 281m pounds. Gross mortgage lending rose 3.7% to 8.4bn as the British lender kept its outlook for the full year unchanged, noting it expected the housing market to remain relatively subdued despite a forecast of modest UK economic growth over the next year. Nationwide's chief financial officer Mark Rennison told Reuters that the group's net interest margin, which fell to 1.28% during the period from its previous 1.35%, was expected to continue on its downward spiral over the next 18 months as rivalry in the mortgage market necessitated the bank offer up more competitive deals. Chief executive Joe Garner said he expected "intense competition to persist in our core markets". Former-president Barack Obama recently celebrated his 57th birthday with his wife Michelle and a group of select friends. The venue they selected was The Cardboard Box restaurant in Oak Bluffs located at Martha's Vineyard. The former president has a special rapport with everyday people and is always a big draw with the people. Therefore, their appearance brought crowds onto the streets. Daily Mail UK reports that the Obamas dined at a restaurant in Martha's Vineyard. The restaurant is owned by Ben DeForest and he posted a video showing the crowds of people who greeted the visitors. Barack Obama, for his part, acknowledged their greetings and waved back as he and Michelle walked towards their cars. The Obamas love Martha's Vineyard Ben DeForest holds Barack Obama in high esteem. As reported in Daily Mail UK, while interacting with a media outlet. the Boston Globe, he said that the Obamas are regular visitors to the Red Cat Kitchen which is an older restaurant in Martha's Vineyard. This time, they chose The Cardboard Box which is a new food outlet situated on Circuit Ave. Ben expressed his feelings by saying that "Circuit Ave hasn't looked this full in YEARS! There's something very special about that energy." The immense popularity of Barack Obama, the president who served for two terms, continues to be on a high, even though he has been out of office for more than a year. The reception he received in Martha's Vineyard has been likened to the reception that the Beatles used to get in their heyday. Discuss this news on Eunomia A special occasion for Martha's Vineyard According to Mass Live, as news spread about the arrival of Barack Obama and Michelle, people gathered in thousands and took up vantage positions near the eatery. They wanted to get a glimpse of the former president and first lady who have always been popular guests. Ben DeForest, the owner of the eatery, described the scene as the craziest he had seen in the area for a long time. After the Obamas dined at The Cardboard Box, its owner confirmed that they had a "full dinner." They are frequent visitors to Martha's Vineyard and used to drop in during summer when he was the president. Like any other person, he made use of these breaks to unwind and recharge his batteries. This time around he and Michelle could remain on the island for the entire month of August. The famous couple went to Hawaii earlier. It is nice they can get a break as it won't be all relaxation in the future. Barack Obama has already been contracted by Netflix to make TV programs and also by Penguin to pen his memoirs. He will probably devote his time to working on these projects. It's nothing new for family members to have opposing political views. There are times when the differences are hardly noticed, and there are also times when it leads to heated confrontations at the dinner table. This holds true in today's polarized political climate. In Michigan, twins that hold different political views are running for office Twin sisters could oppose each other as members of county board of commissioners Jessica Ann Tyson and Monica Sparks are twin sisters from the Grand Rapids region in Michigan. The two had a rough early childhood before being adopted together. Jessica is a small business owner and Monica is a radio talk show host. Both are looking to win a seat on the Kent County Board of Commissioners. Monica is running in the 12th District and Jessica is running in the 13th -- but with a twist. Jessica is a Republican, while Monica is a Democrat. The campaign has been difficult at times for the close pair. As African-Americans, NBC News reported that the campaign has been racially charged at times, but ultimately, they have remained united and supportive of each other and a number of voters have been moved by the way they've stood by each other despite their politics. It takes courage to stand for your convictions. Other family members opposed each other during this election cycle David Quiroa was raised in Guatemala before eventually settling in Rhode Island, according to The Newport Daily News. There, he works for the City of Cranston but resides in Newport. A Republican, Quiroa previously ran for the state house in 2004. During that campaign, his son was with him through much of it. Discuss this news on Eunomia That son, David Quiroa Jr., works at a local restaurant in Newport. He is also running for the same seat as an Independent. The main difference between the two is Donald Trump. The elder Quiroa supports him, while the younger does not. But both are aiming to unseat the Democratic incumbent, Representative Marvin Abney, who was first elected in 2012. At least, for the most part, the Quiroa family seems to have taken the campaign in stride. David Sr. and David Jr. went to Newport City Hall together to file the paperwork to oppose each other. They then posed for pictures together with their forms. In Wisconsin, a more heated family rivalry made headlines. The parents of U.S. Senate candidate, Kevin Nicholson, donated money to an opposing candidate. Nicholson later labeled the act as a 'sign of intolerance.' Donald Trump came to power with a surprise win over Hillary Clinton. Many were stunned with the victory by Trump, but soon many opined that perhaps it had something to do with a Russian intervention in favor of Trump. Matters have not been helped by a statement from Putin that though they had not interfered in the presidential election, yet, they favored Trump over Hillary. Much water has flown down the river and now a congressional investigation is on to investigate culpability in this Russian connection. Robert Mueller is heading this investigation and now he has requested a face to face questioning of the president. Fox News has reported that Donald Trumps team of lawyers, led by Rudy Giuliani, has officially rejected an offer of an interview between Robert Mueller and the president. Interviewing Trump There is very little chance of the president appearing for an interview in the near future. It's almost like a coup against Mueller. Giuliani later called on Mueller to end the entire investigation. Trump, for a long time, has been railing against the investigation as a "witch hunt." Now, midterm polls are approaching, and Trump just cannot allow Mueller to have an upper hand. There is no way the president can be compelled to attend the interview in case he refuses. This is despite frequently stating to the media that he welcomes the opportunity to meet with Mueller. Subpoena CNN has reported that the only way out, if Trump, who will likely invite Putin to Washington, continues to dodge the interview, is to subpoena him. This is easier said than done, as against a determined president, the matter could go to the Supreme Court. There are many who feel that a president, while in office. should not be questioned. Discuss this news on Eunomia This could overshadow the coming confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, who is Trump's latest nominee for a spot on the Supreme Court. He has already argued that the president should not be questioned while he is in office. Mueller is not likely to get a cake walk. Future Donald Trump has, for a long time, railed against Mueller. The two are heading for a showdown and there is every chance that supporters of Trump, who read the riot act to NATO allies at Brussels, will rally to him in case anything happens that will affect his presidency. There are many opponents of Trump within the GOP. These are people who feel upstaged by his surprise victory and they will be hoping that a rabbit comes out of the hat and Trump can be shown the door. But it's not likely. "Sister Wives" patriarch, Kody Brown, may be called to testify as an expert witness in a polygamy case involving alleged physical violence by Mitchell Kyle Henderson. It is alleged that he beat his first wife after entering into a "spiritual" relationship with another woman, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Kody Brown has long been an activist for polygamy and is probably the most well-known polygamist in the USA. Kody Brown of Sister Wives as an expert witness Kody Brown heads a polygamous family that is screened on one of TLC's reality TV series. The show that's been running for eight years follows Kody Brown, his four wives, and their 18 children. In fact, because of his polygamy, he was investigated in Utah. But a ruling overturned the prosecution as he was only married to one wife and the others were "spiritual" unions. The Utah laws against polygamy were ruled by a federal judge to be unconstitutional. In fact, a man may not marry more than one wife but he can cohabit with more than one. This experience probably does put Kody Brown into the bracket of being an "expert witness." However, The Salt Lake Tribune did point out that the defense team of Mitchell Kyle Henderson, don't really want him to testify unless necessary. His lawyer, an ex Utah attorney general, Mark Shurtless, would rather try and file a motion asking the judge to ban any references to polygamy during the trial. Polygamy and domestic violence relationship In the opinion of the lawyer, there should be no need to mention polygamy in an assault charge. He need not have been polygamous to beat his wife. The Salt Lake Tribunal quoted him as saying, Its just meant to inflame the jury." The prosecution intends to introduce their own expert witness testimony through someone who will claim the church both Henderson and Brown attend, is patriarchal. Discuss this news on Eunomia The church is the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB). Shurtless feels that he will only need to produce Brown as an expert witness if the prosecution does use their own expert. Henderson's first wife believes polygamy should be mentioned in the trial. This whole thing is about polygamy and control and abuse, Nicole Van Tassell Henderson stated. The charges faced by Henderson Henderson will appear in a state court in Provo to face six charges. The felony charges include violating a protective order, domestic violence and assault, and tampering with witnesses. He could face five years imprisonment on each count if he is found guilty. The trial is still some time away and the selection of the jury will begin on September 11. Henderson and Kody Brown of "Sister Wives" are friends, attend the same church together, and live a polygamy lifestyle through cohabiting with multiple women. As the trial is still pending, Kody Brown was not able to provide a statement to the press. The French political scene was hit by a new controversy surrounding President Emmanuel Macron, who did not attend a ceremony on August 8 in memory of those who fought in the Amiens battle of 1918. The French president is on vacation with his wife, Brigitte Macron. Macron's absence, along with that of French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, has created a wave of dissatisfaction in France, given that Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and Prince William were presented at the ceremony. Macron, who spent some of his life at Amiens, was at the presidential resort in Fort de Bregancon. However, the French government had two representatives, the Secretary of State, Genevieve Darrieussecq, and Florence Parly, Ministry of Armed Forces. Macron criticized for his absence Macron has been harshly criticized for his attitude both in the French media, as well as by the political opponents. According to Express.co.uk, Alain Houpert, senator and member of the Republican Party, considered that Macron "has no respect for those who gave their lives to France." According to the French publication historian and coordinator of First World War Centenary Mission, Joseph Zimet, there is nothing wrong with the absence of Emmanual Macron. Also, he said that Macron "will dedicate 10 days to a great commemorative ceremony in honor of several battles." In addition, Zimet stressed that this event will take place over two days in Paris and 110 heads of state and Prime Ministers from all over the world are expected to attend. Macron - serious problems in recent months The political trust in Macron's actions is quite low, reaching only 27 percent approval, five percent lower than in June, according to a YouGov poll for Huffington Post and French news television CNews. He was under fire for wanting a private swimming pool built to avoid paparazzi. Express UK also reported that Mr Macrons office "came under fire last month after Alexandre Benalla, the former head of the presidents security detail, was caught on camera assaulting two May Day protesters while off duty and wearing a riot helmet and police tags." The Battle of Amiens is one of the most important events of the First World War, which took place exactly a century ago when the allied forces succeeded in defeating Germany. Discuss this news on Eunomia The battle was extremely important, marking the beginning of the end for the German imperial forces. Germany would surrender in the front of Entente forces three months later in November 1918. British Prime Minister Theresa May and Prince William, German president Joachim Gauck, as well as American, Canadian, Irish, Northern-Irish and Australian representatives, attended the ceremony at the Amiens cathedral. Employer expectations of work email monitoring during nonwork hours are detrimental to the health and well-being of not only employees but their family members as well. William Becker, a Virginia Tech associate professor of management in the Pamplin College of Business, co-authored a new study, Killing me softly: electronic communications monitoring and employee and significant-other well-being, showing that such expectations result in anxiety, which adversely affects the health of employees and their families. The competing demands of work and nonwork lives present a dilemma for employees, Becker said, which triggers feelings of anxiety and endangers work and personal lives. Other studies have shown that the stress of increased job demands leads to strain and conflict in family relationships when the employee is unable to fulfill nonwork roles at home such as when someone brings work home to finish up. Their new study, he said, demonstrates that employees do not need to spend actual time on work in their off-hours to experience the harmful effects. The mere expectations of availability increase strain for employees and their significant others even when employees do not engage in actual work during nonwork time. Unlike work-related demands that deplete employee resources, physical and psychological, by requiring time away from home, the insidious impact of always on organizational culture is often unaccounted for or disguised as a benefit increased convenience, for example, or higher autonomy and control over work-life boundaries, Becker said. Our research exposes the reality: flexible work boundaries often turn into work without boundaries, compromising an employees and their familys health and well-being. As negative health outcomes are costly to them, what can employers do to mitigate the adverse effects identified by the study? Becker said policies that reduce expectations to monitor electronic communication outside of work would be ideal. When that is not an option, the solution may be to establish boundaries on when electronic communication is acceptable during off-hours by setting up off-hour email windows or schedules when employees are available to respond. Additionally, he said, organizational expectations should be communicated clearly. If the nature of a job requires email availability, such expectations should be stated formally as a part of job responsibilities. Knowing these expectations upfront may reduce anxiety in employees and increase understanding from their family members, he said. As for employees, they could consider practicing mindfulness, which has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety, Becker said. Mindfulness may help employees be present in family interactions, which could help reduce conflict and improve relationship satisfaction. And, he added, mindfulness is within the employees control when email expectations are not. Pagan Perspectives A few days ago, on his Patheos Pagan blog Raise the Horns, Jason Mankey published a list of the 25 people he considers as the most influential living Pagans, inspired by a 2004 post from The Wild Hunt. Mankey has said these lists do not serve any real purpose and are just for fun, but while these lists could never be final or one hundred percent objective, as they depend on the curators bias and experiences, they help readers gain an idea of whos who in contemporary Paganism and the work they do. Mankey mentioned the criteria he used and acknowledged his limitations as an author when putting up the list together, including that the list is mainly made of Pagans from the United States and the United Kingdom. He suggested his readers contribute to the list, whether by directly commenting on his post, or indirectly anywhere on the internet. This could be a great start to a global conversation Pagans could have as an international community, sharing our thoughts about who we think has influenced Pagan society. Maybe we could one day generate a list of influential Pagans from all around the world, including figures like Claudiney Prieto from Brazil, Ipsita Roy Chakraverti from India, or Sandra Roman from Argentina. It could be a great opportunity to learn more about what is happening or has happened in other regions. Consider this list of influential Pagans in Mexico a response to Mankeys open invitation. Although we in Mexico have been deeply influenced by international figures, there are plenty of Pagans who have made great local contributions and have helped to shape the present state of Paganism in Mexico. It is important to mention that the criteria for this list differ from Mankeys. First, the list includes a few people who may not be very active nowadays in the Pagan community, but they have been included because their work has somehow influenced what Paganism is today in Mexico. Second, the list is focused on the Witchcraft and Wiccan spheres of Paganism; otherwise, the basis of the list would be very different. Some people included are well-known in the Mexican Pagan community, their names commonly mentioned in conversation: these are people who have created channels, spaces, or events for the Pagan community, and their contribution helps the Pagan community to gather and integrate, as well as people who frequently talk publicly about Paganism and Witchcraft, sharing their opinions and knowledge online, on radio, on TV, or in books. (Readers may notice that a few of these people have already been covered in The Wild Hunt, and more is intended to be written about them.) The 15 Most Influential Pagans in Mexico (in alphabetical order) Luis G. Abaddie Luis G. Abaddie is a writer specialized in horror, fantasy, and Paganism, and has collaborated in writing projects from all around the globe. His spiritual path has been focused on Stregoneria and hedgewitchcraft. In 2004, he wrote the book El Sendero de Los Brujos (The Witches Path), addressing young Pagans and trying to explain common confusions. Samak Artemisa Samak Artemisa is the founder of the Centro de Estudios Alquimist and the Hekate Sisterhood. She has an extensive academic background and has written three books. The first one, Morgana, was inspired by her pregnancy and talks about the gestation and birth process as an initiatory journey. She is currently presenting her new book, El Diario de una Bruja (The Diary of a Witch), where she shares her experiences as a witch, her knowledge, and her point of view. Alejandro Estanislao Alejandro Estanislao is the founder of Cofradia Wicca Luna Azul, an eclectic Wiccan school and group. He has given many courses about feminine spirituality, natural magic, European witchcraft, and Mexican sorcery. As President of the Consejo Wicca Mexico, he coordinates the annual Pagan Pride March and curates the Pagan Art Exhibition in Mexico City. Veronica Hernandez Veronica Hernandez, also known as Tessa, is the director and founder of the Circulo Wicca de Mexico. She has written a few books about Wicca, faeries, Celtic magic, and runes. She created the healing system Vitkar and the Wiccan Celta Faery tradition. She is well known as one of the longest-practicing Wiccan teachers in Mexico. Tarwe Hrossdottir Tarwe Hrossdottir is the founder of the Hermandad de la Diosa Blanca, and she is the national coordinator for the Pagan Federation International Mexico. She has given many courses on spirituality and Paganism since 2001. Every year around the autumn equinox, she organizes the Dia del Orgullo Pagano Mexico (Mexican Pagan Pride Day). Kenston Luna Kenston Luna is a writer and therapist. He wrote 13 Lunas: el Regreso al Camino de la Diosa (13 Moons: the Return to the Path of the Goddess), which is divided into three parts and could be considered a classic for Spanish-speaking Pagans. He has given a workshop around this work for more than ten years and published for seven years a calendar with the same name. He has also written the novel trilogy Cronicas de Ildur under the pen-name of Kenston S. Fuentes. Elsa Marya Elsa Marya is the founder of Casa Salem Witch Store & Coffee, and is director of the magical center Ynys Avallach Mon, both significant locations where the Pagan and Witchcraft community gathers in Mexico City. Driel Molmont Driel Molmont is an adherent and the guardian of a family Mexican Witchcraft tradition fused with a Shamanic tradition from the Basque Country. He is an active member and elder of Societas Draconistratum and teaches Traditional Witchcraft. Although his tradition is Hermetic and most of his teachings are not open to the general public, he constantly gets involved in the Pagan community, sharing his respectful ways of interaction between Pagans and always inspiring them to work together for a greater good. Isaac Mora Isaac Mora is a video blogger, better known as Witchizac because of the name of his Youtube Channel. The channel has more than 62 thousand subscribers, more than 8 million views, and has published more than 125 videos about magic, Wicca, and the occult since 2009. Martha Moran Witchmart is Martha Morans brand through which she sells magical products and teaches classes. Witchmart images can be seen constantly on Facebook, where the page has more than 31 thousand followers unsurprising, thanks to its great magical memes. Christian Ortiz Christian Ortiz is the coordinator of the Fraternidad de la Diosa (Fellowship of the Goddess). He was ordained as second kourete in the Dianic tradition. He is also a member of the Fellowship of Isis. He founded the Spanish-speaking Pagan magazine El Caldero and has participated in many international events and projects, such as the Conference of Wicca and Goddess Spirituality in Brazil. He is also a writer and collaborated on the book Call of the God: An Exploration of the Divine Masculine within Modern Paganism. Cesar Ramsay Cesar Ramsay has taught about topics related to Paganism and Wicca for 14 years. He has participated in many Pagan events and has had a few radio shows. He founded Sociedad Wicca Mexico A.C. (the Mexican Wiccan Society) in 2003, and has been greatly involved in the integration of the Mexican Pagan community. He also has promoted and worked for a constant joint collaboration between different schools and groups. Mauricio Sanchez The Mexican Pagan community would not be the same without Mauricio Sanchezs online radio show Wicca Radio, where he interviews different Pagan figures. Alejandro Reyes Alejandro Reyes is a priest trained with the Glastonbury Goddess Temple. He is also a disciple of Kathy Jones. He founded in 2016 the Templo de la Diosa en Mexico (Goddess Temple in Mexico), a sacred space in the center of Mexico City dedicated to the exploration and celebration of the Divine Feminine. Adonis Warlock Finally, Adonis Warlock is a psychotherapist, a teacher, and the founder of the magical school Decretum Magus Wicca. He is the face behind the website Hysteria Pagana, an online radio station and store, which is one of the main Spanish-speaking channels attracting new generations of Pagans. He is also the creator and organizer of the Encuentro con la Diosa en Mexico (Congress with the Goddess in Mexico), an annual spiritual retreat dedicated to the Pagan community. Final Thoughts This could never be a final list and some names must be missing. For the purposes of length, it has been limited to 15 names. The list is created with all respect and admiration for everyones work and legacy. If there is a name someone thinks should have been mentioned, that would be a perfect excuse to join the conversation. * * * The views and opinions expressed by our diverse panel of columnists and guest writers represent the many diverging perspectives held within the global Pagan, Heathen and polytheist communities, but do not necessarily reflect the views of The Wild Hunt Inc. or its management. WASHINGTON, August 8. /TASS/. The US authorities are imposing new sanctions on Russia because of the Skripal case, the US Department of State said in a statement on Wednesday. Following the use of a Novichok nerve agent in an attempt to assassinate UK citizen Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal, the United States, on August 6, 2018, determined under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (CBW Act) that the Government of the Russian Federation has used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law or has used lethal chemical or biological weapons against its own nationals, the statement runs. The sanctions will take effect on August 22, the State Department noted. On March 4, Sergei Skripal, 66, who had been convicted in Russia for spying for the UK but later swapped for Russian intelligence officers, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious on a bench near the Maltings shopping center in Salisbury. Police said they suffered the effects of an alleged nerve agent. Later on, London claimed that the Novichok-class toxin had been developed in Russia. The UK rushed to accuse Russia of being involved failing to furnish any evidence. Moscow refuted the accusations stating that neither the Soviet Union nor Russia had ever done research on that toxic agent. More: http://tass.com/world/1016528 I am still waiting for proof! WtR Austrian architect Johann Obermoser has completed the James Bond Museum in the summit of the Gaislachkogl Mountain in Solden, which is situated at 3,000 metres above the sea level. The museum, blended into its natural surrounding in two levels, is the highest museum of its kind. The 1300-square-metre building features a cantilevered part from the highest point of the mountain. All-white concrete volumes are becoming a natural part of the wild nature and a perfect action setting to reflect the deep atmosphere of Bond movies. The building is located next to the ice Q restaurant, the location for the Hoffler Klinik in Spectre. Where James Bond meets Dr. Madeleine Swann and the snow chase sequence begins in the film. Neal Callow, the London-based art director who worked on all of the Bond films starring Daniel Craig, explains that they are inspired by the works of Sir Ken Adam, who was the production designer for the early Bond films. The whole combination of circular and rectilinear forms on the building reflect the his working style with geometric forms and different angles. Currently, the museum houses an exhibition titled "007 Elements" is the world's first cinematic installation dedicated to the world of James Bond. The installation focuses on the most recent film, Spectre, which was shot in Solden, but also showcases the other titles in the 24-film series. Valley Passage This spectacular glass viewing space looks north over the Gletscherstrae, a filming location that was used in Spectre. Barrel of the Gun Visitors enter 007 Elements via the Barrel of the Gun, an atmospheric anteroom. This space focuses on two fundamentals that are synonymous with the James Bond films, innovative title sequences and dramatic, spine-tingling music. "We paid particular attention to textures and contrasting light and dark," said Callow. "Using a reduced palette of concrete, steel, and glass, we marked out the various spaces using oversize stainless steel doors and suspended ceilings of perforated black steel that enhance the soundproofing. Inspired by Ken Adam, we set out to elevate the visitor-going experience to the artistic level." Briefing Room Actress Naomie Harris, who plays Moneypenny, narrates an exclusive film that explains how the series scriptwriting has led to location choices, and how these locations have, in turn, inspired some of the series most iconic studio sets. Special attention is given to the locations that form the story-scape for Spectres Austrian action sequence. Tech Lab The Tech Lab explores some of the cutting-edge technology that features in the Bond films. This state-of-the-art space allows visitors to interact with the technology and to explore some of the legacy props and digital creativity used in a James Bond production. Lair This room features an innovative piece of immersive digital theatre designed to showcase the characters and dialogue from the Bond films in a fresh and exciting way. The exhibition guides visitors on a journey through a series of high-tech, interactive galleries, each distilling the craft of the signature elements that define a James Bond film the beautiful title sequences and dramatic scores; the jaw-dropping action sequences; the cars, gadgets and technology; the breath-taking locations and iconic studio sets and lastly, a host of compelling characters. Screening Room In the Screening Room guests can watch the Austrian action sequence from Spectre with a fresh understanding of how it was created. The collaboration between the projects creative director, Neal Callow and the creative team at Optimist Inc. led by Tino Schaedler has produced an immersive, interactive, and informative experience that reveals how the world of 007 is made. The aim of 007 Elements is designed to tell the story of the making of 007 films through an ultra-modern, emotive and engaging experience while using the incredible location to place guests in Bonds environment and bring the stories to life in a unique and unforgettable way. Lobby The Lobby echoes the type of antechamber that Bond often enters upon his arrival at a villains lair. It features an exclusive film that is narrated by Skyfalland Spectre Director Sam Mendes, which takes the visitor through the history of the James Bond films, from Dr. No to Spectre. Mendes also describes his own personal connection to the series. All images Christoph Noesig > via Johann Obermoser Simon G. Talbot and Wendy Dean at The Boston Globe: Physicians on the front lines of health care today are sometimes described as going to battle. Its an apt metaphor. Physicians, like combat soldiers, often face a profound and unrecognized threat to their well-being: moral injury. Moral injury is frequently mischaracterized. In combat veterans it is diagnosed as post-traumatic stress; among physicians its portrayed as burnout. But without understanding the critical difference between burnout and moral injury, the wounds will never heal and physicians and patients alike will continue to suffer the consequences. Burnout is a constellation of symptoms that include exhaustion, cynicism, and decreased productivity. More than half of physicians report at least one of these. But the concept of burnout resonates poorly with physicians: it suggests a failure of resourcefulness and resilience, traits that most physicians have finely honed during decades of intense training and demanding work. more here. The Vietnams representative triumphed over 50 other contestants from around the world to claim victory in the contest. Phan Thi Mo was born in 1990 in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang. She is 1.72 meters tall, weighs 48 kg, and measures 90-57-100. She is among top 18 contestants who have Best Body in the pageant and top 10 beauties competing in sub-competitions, including Miss Bikini, Miss Talent, Best Resort Wears and activities promoting the environmental protection. Mo represented the nation to compete at Miss Earth 2011 in the Philippines and finished in the top 5 at Miss Vietnam World 2012. The organization board also awarded minor-titles of World Miss Tourism Ambassador 2018 to representatives of Malaysia (Best Nation Costume), Kiev Ukraine (Miss Talent and Miss Perfect Skin), Thailand (Miss Bikini), the Philippines (Miss Ao Dai), Malaysia (Miss Social Media), South Korea (Miss Charity Ambassador), Mongolia (Best Tourism Video), Vietnam (Best Tourism Dress), Bulacan-Philippines (Best in Catwalk), and Armenia (Best Resort Wears). World Miss Tourism Ambassador beauty pageant was held for the first time in 2017. This years contest is organized in HoiAn ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam, Vietnam from July 27-30, and in Thailand from August 1-8. By DIEP TRUC KHUE - Translated by Kim Khanh Halloween events include trick-or-treating, music, haunted warehouse A list of entertainment options in the Aberdeen area for the week starting Oct. 28, 2021 Try some of the best vodka, gin, whiskeys and rums New Mexico has to offer at the second annual New Mexico Distillers Guild Spirits Festival. Several New Mexico distilleries will participate in the event Saturday, Aug. 11, including Albuquerques Broken Trail Spirits + Brew, Hollow Spirits, Left Turn Distilling, Still Spirits and Tractor Brewing Co.; Santa Fes Santa Fe Spirits; and Silver Citys Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery. Tractor Brewing Co. recently acquired a distilling license. It plans to begin with vodka and later venture into gin and whiskey, which take longer to age. The distillery operation is at its Wells Park location, on Fourth NW, which will soon serve spirits in addition to its craft beer and cider. Were going to do our best to have something available in a bottle (at the New Mexico Distillers Guild Spirits Festival), said David Hargis, Tractors head brewer. If not, we will be there promoting what were going to be doing and possibly bring some drinks or some signature cocktails (in which) we actually use spirits from other distilleries here in New Mexico. Also new on the scene is Hollow Spirits, which is nearing opening. It will be on First NW between Marble Brewery and Dialogue Brewery. Hollow Spirits will have its vodka and gin available for tasting. For us, its kind of like the majority of distilleries, what you really do is start with the clear alcohols like vodka, rum, gin, something like that, because that is pretty fast, to go from grain to glass, it only takes 7 to 10 days for those things, but you have to pay the bills in order to do the aged stuff, said Frank Holloway, Hollow Spirits owner and festival event coordinator. So we want to do aged rum, aged agave spirits and, of course, the whiskeys, but those take time. The New Mexico Distillers Guild created the festival to encourage people to drink local. Were trying to find our footing and basically want to start doing things like the festival, Holloway said. Hopefully, we can get our name out there to show people they need to drink local alcohol. And thats mainly one of the big reasons to do this distillery guild advantage, to get our name out there. Theres power in numbers, so were definitely trying to get everybody together. Santa Fe is not lacking in cultural celebrations. Resident Madeleine Wright calls the city a global hub for festivals like Spanish and Indian Markets. Now, Wright wants to add an event to represent and celebrate African-American culture. Shes organized Santa Fes inaugural Soul Festival this weekend at First Presbyterian Church. Were really optimistic about making this another major event in Santa Fe, said Wright, a retired psychology professor who started the African Dance Society while teaching at Houston Community College. She acknowledged the African-American population in Santa Fe is small, but said that people come here from all over the world who could enjoy the performances and educational experiences that the Soul Festival will offer. Wright and her new board of directors have laid out a three-year plan to build the festival. They hope that next years event will have art exhibitions, African-American dance classes and performances, and vendors on the Plaza. In year three, the plan calls for expanding to include outdoor films, art markets and more guest speakers. For its inaugural year, the festival will feature a gospel concert preceded by a free lecture about African influences in the black church. Since the black church is such a cornerstone of African-American culture, we thought starting our inaugural year in the church would be a great way to perpetuate the cultural legacy, said Wright. She tapped Shani Sterling, a dance professor at Houston Community College, and percussionist Ikechi Ojore, a Houston native, to speak to guests about dance and music in the black church and its roots. Wright said she wants the lecture to be a felt experience for those who come there will be room for people to get up and move as they learn about praise dancing. Another difference between American culture and African-American culture, and certainly African culture is everybody dances, she said. Its not a performance, the way you do the dance is just fine because the dance, the music, the song all goes together to create the catharsis we need to reduce stress. The main event for the first Soul Festival is a gospel concert by Albuquerques Gods House Church Choir. Santa Fe Opera tenor Elliott Paige will also take the stage and sing. Demetris Terrell Cleveland, Gods House Church choir director, described the 30-person groups repertoire as gospel with a twist, incorporating both contemporary and classic songs. Older songs like My Hope is Built and Jesus is His Name are on the list alongside others like Kirk Franklins Always. We try and keep up with the times, and make sure were ministering to anyone, young and old, he said. The choir performs around New Mexico and occasionally elsewhere. This isnt just for us, Cleveland later said about the choirs performances. We have the truth; we need to give it to someone. Going forward, Wright hopes future festivals will be able to attract national acts and guests. The board is being mentored by organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and leaders of the International Folk Art Market to ensure future success, she said. We hope to raise enough money, have enough interest to expand, and we want everybody that we bring to be excellent, said Wright. Correction: An earlier version of this story referred to Kirk Franklin as Kurt Franklin If you go WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 12.. Free lecture at 2 p.m.; ticketed concert at 4 p.m. WHERE: First Presbyterian Church, 208 Grant Ave. COST: $25 general admission/ $20 students with ID/$10 children under 12. Patron tickets, which include priority seating and listing in the program, are either $50 or $100. Proceeds from these tickets will help people who cannot pay admission. An Albuquerque man was sentenced Tuesday to 13 years in prison for his role in a 2015 robbery-turned-shootout involving two former CNN journalists. Skyy Barrs, 33, who served as a driver and lookout during the ordeal, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit armed robbery and trafficking heroin, according to the District Attorneys Office and court documents. Police and prosecutors say he and Tomorio Walton were at a West Side Albuquerque Motel 6 that June 2015 night with a plan to rob someone. Also at the motel were Lynne Russell, a former CNN anchorwoman, and her husband, Chuck de Caro, who had stopped over during a cross-country road trip. Police say Russell stepped out of the room to retrieve something from the car and when she returned, Walton forced her into her room at gunpoint. He demanded goods from Russell and de Caro, who both have concealed carry permits. Russell put the couples two guns into her purse and handed it off to de Caro moments before Walton opened fire, hitting de Caro three times. De Caro shot back, killing Walton. Michael Patrick, a spokesman for the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office, said Barrs drove Walton to the motel that night and then acted as a lookout. Early on, Barrs was charged with murder, but in July 2015 he was indicted instead on kidnapping and lesser charges. That case was dismissed over court rule violations. A second indictment was filed in August 2017, this time charging Barrs with attempted armed robbery, conspiracy and other crimes. Patrick said prosecutors at that point had a second opportunity to comb through the case and determine what charges were most appropriate. Under the plea agreement, Barrs faced between four and 13 years, and state District Judge Benjamin Chavez imposed the maximum sentence Tuesday. Fabian Gonzales attorney is asking for a more specific explanation as to why his client is facing child abuse and conspiracy charges in the death of 10-year-old Victoria Martens. Prosecutors recently announced that much of the initial understanding of the case was based on the false statements of the childs mother, Michelle Martens. Contrary to early reports, neither Michelle Martens nor her boyfriend, Gonzales, was at the apartment at the time of the childs death, but, prosecutors say, Gonzales cousin, Jessica Kelley, was. In light of the discovery, the state dismissed the most egregious charges Gonzales faced. The remaining counts against him consist of one count of child abuse resulting in death with multiple alternatives, eight counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of conspiracy. Gonzales attorney, Tom Clark, filed a series of motions Wednesday and Thursday. In one, he asks the court to order the state to produce a statement of facts which specify the actions giving rise to the criminal charges Gonzales is facing. Without that, he says the allegations are too vague to formulate a defense. Underlying the request is a question that Clark says will be key at trial: did Gonzales, a short-term boyfriend, have any legal obligation to protect the child? This would be a way different situation if Fabian had been entrusted with the care of the child, or if he had been alone with the child when this decision to leave her with Jessica was made, Clark said Thursday. He wasnt. He was always in the mothers company. The mother is the decision-maker. She has the legal obligation to protect the child. Michelle Martens pleaded guilty in June to child abuse resulting in death. Prosecutors said that although she wasnt home when her daughter was killed, she had ample warning that the girl was in danger. Kelley, prosecutors have said, was high on meth and had recently been released from prison. Police say the child was raped and killed before being mutilated and set on fire in her familys Northwest Albuquerque apartment in August 2016. In a separate request, Clark asked state District Judge Charles Brown to keep out a series of statements made by Kelley since she has been in custody. In one of those statements, an inmate asks Kelley whether Gonzales helped clean up after the homicide. And she replies, of course he did. Clark is also asking to suppress the lapel camera footage recorded by the officers who discovered Martens burning, dismembered body because the recordings are both extremely graphic and of a highly disturbing nature. He also argues that the videos are not relevant to Gonzales case. Gonzales is scheduled for trial in October. Germanys development minister made a startling proposal to the EU this week. There is a simple way to help Africa flourish and reduce the number of migrants seeking greener pastures in Europe: Open the market for all African goods. The proposal not only stymies EU officials, who preside over arch-protectionist agricultural regulations, but may solve the continents most vexing problem: illegal migration. German Development Minister Gerd Muller proposed a free trade policy especially for agriculture in an interview with Die Welt this week. The EU seems to go out of its way to prohibit developing nations from exporting food or moving up the industrial ladder. Its Common Agricultural Policy imposes tariffs of up to 18 percent on African agricultural goods. Brussels heavily subsidizes farmers in its 28 member states. Additional policies and strict regulations disincentivize nations from producing value-added, finished goods. That leaves Africa an exporter of raw materials facing tough competition from first-world farmers. Subsidized agricultural products from Europe are flooding African markets and destroying local smallholder structures, an anti-trade told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). African leaders hope that forming a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) will give the continent more bargaining power. A more generous trade policy could benefit both continents allowing Europe to import less expensive food and Africa to grow its agricultural sector. However, the policy would not be entirely free. As a condition, Muller is asking African nations to take back any illegal migrants who have entered Europe coincidentally, ameliorating his countrys most incendiary political issue and his partys greatest political liability. Muller is a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian affiliate of Angela Merkels ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Merkels invitation for migrants to enter Europe made the continent in general, and Germany in particular, a destination for refugees as well as economic migrants (whom Merkel did not specifically invite). Backlash powered the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) into a third-place finish in last falls elections. With additional jobs fueled by trade, Muller argues, fewer economic migrants would seek to cross dangerous oceans to make a life thousands of miles away from their family members. The free-trade proposal faces some domestic opposition and EU hurdles but also bipartisan support from the rival Social Democratic Party. SPD agriculture spokesman Bernd Westphal agreed the policy would aid African development. Christians should applaud this innovative, mutually beneficial policy that would lower EU food costs, allow Africa to develop its abundant natural resources, uphold the rule of law, and remove all obstacles keeping the worlds most poverty-stricken nations from prospering to the full extent of their own hard work and ability. (Photo credit: CIAT. This photo has been cropped. CC BY-SA 2.0.) Regarding the shortages of migrant workers in fishing industry as complained by the Thai Fisheries Association, he said that the Ministry of Labour has discussed with the related agencies ways and means to fill in a total of 42,649 workers requested by the fishing industry. He said business owners in fishing sector who wish to hire more migrant workers have until August 15, 2018 to file a request at any employment office in 22 coastal provinces, while the Ministry of Labour will liaise with the authorities from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam to import migrant workers to work legally through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Ministry of Labour has invited those in fishing sector and the authorities to a meeting on August 7 to be briefed on the process of importing migrant workers and other unsolved issues for mutual understanding. Meanwhile, some 11,000 migrant workers in fishing industry whose work permit will expire on September 30, 2018 will have it extended for two more years by reporting to an employment office during August 20- September 30. In the meantime, employers have to file requests for the migrant workers employment at employment offices in due time.-NNT/VNA SANTA FE A Santa Fe Allsups convenience store employee was captured on cellphone video calling police on a customer because she said he was acting arrogantly and for being black. Jordan McDowell, a student at Xavier University in New Orleans who says he was visiting Santa Fe to study Native American culture, shared the cellphone video he made with KRQE-TV in Albuquerque. It shows the female employee presumably on the phone with the regional dispatch center. And I want him out of the store right now, she said. Because hes being arrogant, because hes black. The incident took place about 8 p.m. Friday at the Allsups at the intersection of Cerrillos Road and South Guadalupe Street. The dispatch log provided by police says the caller said there was a kid at the store who is black and she wanted him removed. It also says that he was being a jerk. She later told a police officer whom McDowell flagged down, Hes not the only one that I do that (expletive) to, because you see all the natives that walk in here, the drunks or whoever. Santa Fe police say they did not dispatch an officer to the store because no crime had been committed and there was no threat to the caller or other concerning circumstances. But soon after the incident McDowell got the attention of a police officer who was passing by. That encounter was recorded by the police officer. McDowell told the officer that he was in the store and bought some candy. But before he did, She said, Hey, youre looking sketchy, youre looking sketchy. Youre picking stuff up, youre putting stuff down; youre looking sketchy,' he told the officer. At that point the store manager came out and told McDowell to leave the store, McDowell said. McDowell left the store after purchasing a pack of Sour Patch Kids candy but then went back into the store again. Thats when the employee called police and McDowell started recording what was happening on his cellphone. The woman told the police officer that McDowell had been wandering around the store for about 15 minutes before he was asked to leave. She said she was keeping an eye on him because thats her job. The officer recorded her comment about natives and drunks. The Journal contacted Allsups corporate offices in Clovis by phone and email seeking comment. Those messages were not returned Thursday. After KRQE aired its story Wednesday, McDowells video drew widespread attention. Media outlets such as the Huffington Post, The Hill, and Newsweek posted stories online that included links or embedded video of the TV stations report. The following is a response to the (opinion column) of Aug. 4 by Frank Foy entitled Time to clean the house at ERB, SIC. I spent 32 years in the investment world and was formerly the chief investment officer for the N.M. Educational Retirement Board, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and deputy state investment officer for the N.M. State Investment Council (SIC). In addition, Gov. Susana Martinez appointed me to the SIC in 2012, where I served until 2015. The (column) has no merit. One can start by reviewing the court records that will show that so far the courts have denied every attempt, and there have been several, by Frank Foy and legal counsel to pursue the whistleblower act. The SIC legal counsel along with outside counsel has recovered over $40 million from firms involved in the Bill Richardson pay-to-play era and has an ongoing effort to recover more. They are pursuing the play-to-play firms as they should. As to the structure and performance of the SIC, it is being managed professionally with very qualified personnel. An argument was made that the state investment officer is not an investment professional. There is no way for the ranking person to manage the assets and be the chief administrative officer while dealing with the legislative process. The top person should be titled executive director. That is the structure of most public funds. Steve Moise, while being titled state investment officer, is a lawyer, experienced administrator, and has in-depth experience dealing with the legislative process. The (column) falsely states that Steve is a Richardson appointee. He was selected by 11 council members in April 2010 to restore the professional and ethical standards of the SIC. When he was placed in his position, he conducted a nationwide search and hired Vince Smith as chief investment officer. In my 32 years of investment experience, I have not been exposed to anyone more capable. In 2014 Vince was awarded the Top Innovator award among CIOs for all global sovereign wealth funds by Ai/CIO magazine. Since, and because of, the days of Bill Richardson, the SIC has adopted detailed policies, tightened up ethics policies, created a more transparent environment, involved the council members more in the investment process, and created a more detailed investment policy. I saw this up close as a member of the SIC from 2012-2015. The fact that the SIC is getting frequent requests by state schools and agencies to manage their assets is proof that they are doing an excellent job. SIC currently manages over $1 billion among 21 governmental clients. Importantly, SIC will provide $968 million this fiscal year to fund public schools, state universities, specialty schools like New Mexico Military Institute and the School for the Blind, and other governmental services. As to the compensation levels, New Mexico has always ranked behind other public funds in compensation. The investment professionals at the SIC manage billions of dollars, a huge responsibility. In order to compete for the type of personnel needed, the compensation has to keep pace. The compensation levels should be much higher. The SIC is also competing with the private sector for talent. Pay no attention to the (column) of Aug. 4. Frank Foy has never worked at the SIC or been a member of the council so has no knowledge of the inner workings of the SIC. If he had been successful in court, a portion of the money recovered would have paid him and his legal counsel handsomely at the expense of the permanent funds and New Mexico school kids. New Mexicans permanent funds are in proper and good hands. Be proud of the asset management at the SIC. SAN DIEGO Im all about regional pride. As a native of the farmland of Central California, it warms my heart to see one of my peeps break a barrier, achieve a victory or receive an honor. Thus, I should probably be rooting for House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to accomplish his goal of becoming House Speaker in the next session, which could happen if the GOP keeps control of the lower chamber despite being hijacked by President Trump. Yet, as it stands, Im ambivalent. Thats because McCarthy recently pulled a fast one and betrayed his roots in the process. Despite taking bundles of cash from farmers since entering politics in 2002, the Republican from Bakersfield stiffed his benefactors by breaking a promise he made to colleagues in June to hold a vote on a new guest worker program for farmers. Congress adjourned for the summer without that happening. And its not likely to happen after Labor Day either, given that most of the members will be home campaigning for re-election. This is what McCarthy figured out: Americans are in no mood to import foreigners from Latin America. We dont want more of these people. These days, Uncle Sam is a cold-hearted old man who screams at people to stay off his lawn or, in this case, away from his border. Grumpy Sam is so adamant about punishing the desperate souls who come to his front door without permission, as all refugees do, that he will snatch their kids and not give them back until the parent signs paperwork clearing the way for their own deportation. And in some cases, as we have learned in recent weeks, he may never give them back. Which means this is the wrong time for Republicans in Congress to even toy with the idea of guest workers which has long been fancied by their benefactors in the business community, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Were talking about a few hundred thousand people who would be brought into the U.S. including farmhands to help with the harvest and then leave after the work is done. The concept is simple, but the politics are complicated. Guest workers were a major sticking point in the negotiations over immigration reform that occurred in Congress a decade ago. Everyone gets hung up on amnesty for illegal immigrants, but guest workers are the real key to unlocking the stalemate. Thats because the concept delivers the votes of a couple dozen business-friendly Republicans, which could offset the couple dozen votes the immigration reformers can expect to lose from pro-labor Democrats. You see, organized labor hates the whole idea of guest workers. That hatred is about competition, but it is also about pride. Unions like to argue that foreign labor displaces American workers even if it pushes them out of jobs Americans dont want in the first place. They live in an alternate universe where comfy union members are dying to pick peaches in Georgia or cut grapes in Napa Valley or milk cows in Wisconsin. And since the Democratic Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the unions that bankroll it, we can always count on some number of Democrats voting against any immigration compromise that includes guest workers. Thats why you need the votes of some Republicans, and the way you get them is with guest workers. So, McCarthy had a choice to make: Keep his pledge to farmers including those back home in California facing a severe labor shortage by holding a vote on a guest worker bill that could splinter the party and cost him support within the Republican caucus; or break the promise, drop the issue and keep the GOP intact. McCarthy chose the latter. He tried to sell his colleagues a lame excuse about how the votes werent there to pass a guest worker bill, but they arent buying it. We all know what happened here. McCarthy got sidetracked by his ambition, betrayed his rural roots and proved himself unworthy to lead. And, whatever region someone hails from, that is nothing to be proud of. I met Charlie Crowder when I was fresh out of college working as a public radio reporter in El Paso on a story about a man just across the state line in Santa Teresa who had visions of a new border crossing for New Mexico. Back then, in the early 1990s, it seemed like a mirage in the desert. I was the laughingstock of El Paso, Crowder recalled during an interview over breakfast last October. And they told me some of the leaders said, We knew that you were crazy, and we knew you would never get that border crossing because nobody could do that.' Nobody but Charlie Crowder. The Santa Teresa resident passed away in a hospital in El Paso on Tuesday at age 86 after a fall last weekend. He was a super-visionary, said Jerry Pacheco, president and CEO of the Santa Teresa-based Border Industrial Association. He was such an intelligent man that he had the wherewithal to put all the pieces together at the local, state and federal levels on both sides of the border, Pacheco said. Without Crowder, there would be no Santa Teresa border crossing or the $22 billion in goods that move through the port of entry or the booming industrial parks. The region now accounts for more than half of all of New Mexicos global exports, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Land trades Crowder honed his negotiating skills as a young man doing land trades in the Southwest. He was born in Nebraska and raised on a farm in the Missouri Ozarks. He set off on his own at age 13, and after a series of jobs landed him in the Southwest in the 1940s, he helped facilitate land deals between ranchers and the federal government. He did huge land trades throughout the West before Santa Teresa came along, said Chris Lyons, a close friend and business associate. Santa Teresa was the ultimate trade for Crowder, who got federal land along the border after negotiating a deal for land in Arizona for a Native American tribe. He was a formidable figure in the border region, for sure, Lyons said. He met Crowder in 1988 when he came to the border for a Harvard graduate school design project for a binational community. He was the smartest man I ever knew. Hes brilliant. He understood the human element that few people do, Lyons said. Despite his negotiating skills, Crowder had his share of financial problems. Debt forced him to file for bankruptcy and give up his border land. Chris Lyons family owns thousands of acres that once belonged to Crowder. The men remained close friends. We believed in his vision no question and supported it, Lyons said. Binational dream When I returned to this stretch of the border to work for the Journal, I wanted to talk to Crowder again about that vision. I planned on a profile story about the man who, against all odds, opened the border crossing in New Mexico. Just as he was years ago when I interviewed him as a cub reporter, Crowder was witty and full of good humor recounting those early days and weighing in on current U.S.-Mexican relations, including efforts to build a wall and threats to do away with NAFTA. I think good business is good manners, Crowder said disapprovingly. He still believed in the binational dream, a thriving community straddling the border in Santa Teresa. Lyons is at the helm of the project on the New Mexico side known as Los Santos. He said some of Crowders last words to him at the hospital were, Just get back to work. Crowder is survived by his son, Phillip, and his former wife, Phyllis. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Angela Kocherga at akocherga@abqjournal.com. Go to abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. TAOS A severely disabled Georgia boy who authorities say was kidnapped by his father and marked for an exorcism was found buried at the ramshackle compound in the New Mexico desert that has been the focus of investigators for the past week, the toddlers grandfather said Thursday. New Mexico authorities, however, said they had not identified the remains, discovered Monday. And prosecutors said they were awaiting word on the cause of death before deciding on any charges. The boy, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, would have turned 4 on Monday. Prosecutors said he was snatched from his mother, Hakima Ramzi, in December in Jonesboro, Ga., near Atlanta. The search for him led authorities to New Mexico, where 11 hungry children and a youngsters remains were found in recent days at a filthy compound shielded by old tires, wooden pallets and an earthen wall studded with broken glass. The missing boys grandfather, Siraj Wahhaj, a Muslim cleric who leads a well-known New York City mosque, told reporters he had learned from other family members that the remains were his grandsons. The imam said he did not know the cause of death. Whoever is responsible, then that person should be held accountable, Wahhaj said. In an interview with WSB-TV in Atlanta, Ramzi also called for justice as she described how her life had been taken from her after her son was abducted by his father, which she said was out of character for him. She and Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, the imams son, had been married almost 14 years. I wasnt able to save my son, she told the television station. In Facebook messages, Naeemah Rashid, Ramzis sister-in-law, told The Associated Press that she, too, was surprised by Wahhajs actions, saying he had always valued the closeness of their family. Rashid also recalled from Atlanta the deep bond between the boy and his mother, saying the boy cried whenever his mother left the room. Although the boy could not walk, Rashid remembers that he smiled and laughed as he watched his cousins play. Of course, this is a hard time for her, Rashid said of the mother. Ramzi, who is from Morocco, filed for divorce in December the same month neighbors say Siraj Ibn Wahhaj and others arrived in Amalia. A Georgia arrest warrant accused him of kidnapping his child. Authorities said the father at some point told his wife he wanted to perform an exorcism on the boy, who suffered seizures and required constant attention because of a lack of oxygen and blood flow at birth. The childs father was among five adults arrested on suspicion of child abuse in the raid at the compound. In court papers, prosecutors also said Wahhaj had been training children there to carry out school shootings. Speaking at his Masjid At-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, the elder Wahhaj said he had no knowledge of any such training. It sounds to me, it sounds crazy. But I dont know, he said. I make no judgments yet, because we dont know. The mosque has attracted a number of radicals over the years, including a man who later helped bomb the World Trade Center in 1993. At the time, Siraj Wahhaj was listed by a federal prosecutor as among 170 unindicted persons who may be alleged as co-conspirators in the bombing. But he is also known for community service work. A representative from the mosque, Ali Abdul-Karim Judan, said in a video on the mosques Facebook page that the government doesnt have any proof that the children were being trained to commit mass shootings. Thats hearsay, and it cannot be substantiated, Judan said in the roughly 24-minute video. Even if it came from a child like that, it would be disregarded. You have to have concrete evidence. You have to have some proof. Judan said the media are creating a false narrative because Muslims are involved and are trying to tie the imam to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. They want to change the narrative, Judan said. They want to change the direction of this case. This case is, on the face of it, a domestic case. This is a domestic case of people squatting and trying to survive. Judan added that hes not making light of the alleged abduction and the discovery of a childs body. The elder Wahhaj said all 11 of the children, ages 1 to 15, were either his biological grandchildren or members of his family through marriage. Im very concerned with the condition of my grandchildren, he said. He said he didnt understand why his son had taken the family and disappeared into the desert, but suggested a psychiatric disorder was to blame. My son can be maybe be a little bit extreme, he said, adding that he never thought he was extreme enough to kill anyone. High-strung, he said. The elder Wahhaj said he did not know anything about his son wanting to perform an exorcism on the boy. But he said his son and one of his daughters had become overly concerned with the idea of people becoming possessed. New Mexicos Office of the Medical Investigator said it was still working to identify the remains. Dr. Kurt Nolte, New Mexicos chief medical investigator, said the remains are in a state of decomposition that has made identification challenging. The agency said the process could take weeks. Taos-area District Attorney Donald Gallegos said he will await the findings on how the boy died. Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said the FBI in recent months put the place under surveillance that included photographs of the compound and interviews. He said the images were shared with the mother of Abdul-Ghani, but she did not see her son, and the photographs never indicated the father was at the compound, leaving the sheriff without the information he needed to obtain a search warrant. That changed when Georgia authorities received word that children inside the compound were starving, Hogrefe said. The elder Wahhaj said the tip came to law enforcement through him. He said he was able to learn their whereabouts from a note that his daughter, one of the five adults at the site, sent to a man in Atlanta saying they were starving and asking for food. That man then notified Wahhaj, who said he decided to send food and contact police. Journal North staff writer Edmundo Carrillo contributed to this report. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A special prosecutor has dismissed the criminal case against Tai Chan, the former Santa Fe County deputy accused of the shooting death of a fellow deputy at a Las Cruces hotel in 2014. But the action doesnt necessarily mean Chan is totally in the clear. Chan, 31, has been tried twice for murder in the death of 29-year-old deputy Jeremy Martin on Oct. 24, 2014. The two deputies were staying in Las Cruces on their way back from delivering a prisoner to Arizona. Both prosecutions ended in mistrials after juries couldnt reach unanimous verdicts. Chan maintains he shot Martin in self-defense after a night of drinking and arguing with Martin. In his Wednesday filing dropping the case, special prosecutor Troy J. Davis said Chan possibly needs to be re-indicted for Voluntary Manslaughter with a firearm enhancement. Re-indictment of charges will cure any issues raised by the defense, the filing said. Davis also said the dismissal ends his appointment to the case. Davis, an attorney in the fraud division of the state Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, was appointed to take over the case by Las Cruces District Attorney Mark DAntonio after the two mistrials. DAntonio said fresh eyes on the case would help. With Davis out of the picture, any new indictment of Chan apparently would have to be pursued by DAntonio. The district attorney and another top prosecutor in his office couldnt be reached for comment Thursday. The drawn-out case became more problematic in May, when District Court Judge Conrad Perea ruled against further prosecution of Chan for murder on double jeopardy grounds. Perea found that another judge who presided over Chans second trial last year had failed to poll the jurors to clear up questions about their impasse on a range of charges from first-degree murder to manslaughter. On July 31, John Day, Chans attorney, filed a motion calling for dismissal of the case, saying the only existing indictment of Chan was for first-degree murder. Because the judge ruled against trying Chan again for murder, and there is no existing document that charges Chan with any other crime, the case against Chan should be definitively dismissed, particularly given the two mistrials, the motion said. In a brief interview Thursday, Davis said his decision to drop the prosecution was a response to the legal defects in the case raised by the defense dismissal motion. My sympathies go out to Mrs. (Sarah) Martin, Davis said, referring to the slain deputys wife. Before Martins death, the two deputies argued and drank heavily at a bar, then returned to their room at the Hotel Encanto. Martin died after being shot five times in the back and arm. Ten shots were fired from Chans duty weapon. But who shot the gun first and who was the aggressor in the struggle were disputed at trial. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Saying they were tired of having to cater to homeless people and the problems that they bring, a large crowd overwhelmingly told county officials that they are not interested in having a tiny homes village for people dealing with homelessness in their neighborhoods. Nearly 300 people packed a meeting room at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center on Thursday evening for the first in a series of meetings to familiarize people with the tiny homes concept and explain the six sites that are on the table for development. Five of those sites are south of Interstate 40 and east of Louisiana. The crowd, mostly from neighborhoods in the Southeast Heights, erupted into booing when County Commissioner Debbie OMalley was introduced as a driving force behind the tiny homes village. Exasperated, she said she was leaving but was persuaded to stay. It didnt get much better after that as individuals from the contentious crowd, one after another, stood at a podium to denounce the project. I think its a horrible idea. I really do, said Carol Schuster. Theyve been trying to fix up Route 66 so that it will be aesthetically pleasing. This will not add to it by any means. These tiny homes look like a bunch of portable outhouses. I think it will lower property values and possibly increase crime in the area. Karen Little questioned why nearly all the sites were clustered in that portion of the Southeast Heights. For once, let them pick someplace else, she said to applause. The 116-square-foot homes are estimated to cost $17,000 to $20,000 per unit. Between 25 and 35 will be built on a chassis. They will be insulated, have heating and cooling and contain a bed, desk, chair and storage space. The units will be wired for electricity but not plumbing. Restrooms, showers, laundry and a kitchen will be in communal buildings. The money to build them, along with the infrastructure, will come from a $2 million general bond county voters approved in November 2016. A number of people commented that they thought the cost of the homes was too high. We can buy a house trailer with 462 square feet for the same amount of money and it comes with a kitchen and a bath, said Walter Punke. He also questioned the lack of a budget itemizing how the $2 million set aside for the project would be spent. To me, thats just ramming it down our throats. We do have empathy for the homeless but this is not the right project, said Pauline Bruskas. Some of the numbers just dont add up. According to her math, if the homes cost $20,000 each, the 35 units would total $700,000. Based on that, the square footage cost for each of the 116 square foot units comes out to $172. Im blessed to live in Four Hills, but I do not have $172 a square foot, she said. Norma Johnson told the crowd that for the 25 years shes lived in the Southeast Heights, she has put up with increased crime, and the only investment in her neighborhood has been dollar stores, liquor stores and $5 pizzas. And now you want to bring a homeless village. You want to bring something into my neighborhood? Bring a police substation, she said. Kristi Adams lives in the Four Hills area and her mother lives at Las Colinas retirement village, adjacent to one proposed site. Adams said she regularly donates money to local homeless shelters and is aware of the issues surrounding this population. I dont think this is the right location because its far from the resources where they can get food and shelter and training. Most of those providers are located north of Downtown between First and Third streets. When you look at the list of proposed locations that were not selected, one of them is at 1916 Fourth Street. The reason stated on the list to explain why it was not suitable was because it was located near another day shelter for the homeless and there was concern about safety and migration from that shelter to a homeless village. So if a homeless shelter is concerned about safety and migration, why would we not be concerned about safety? One of the lonely voices in the wilderness came from Matt Thomson, who lives northwest of the State Fairgrounds. This is the kind of thing that needs to go forward and people need to step up, he said. Its the right size and I like that its a locked community, so people cant just wander in and harass the residents. The crowd groaned when Thomson suggested that everyone should treat it as an educational opportunity and be a little more open and a little more welcoming. County Commissioner OMalley said after the meeting, I guess I shouldnt have been surprised. There is a rise in crime and people are very fearful. They made it very clear that they blame the homeless. Im disappointed that people talk about the homeless in such derogatory terms. OMalley also expressed concern that many in the crowd may not have understood the project fully and how it could have a stabilizing effect on the neighborhood. The bottom line, she said, is that the problem is not going to go away, and if we dont do anything it will just get worse. PHOENIX A judge dismissed a malicious-prosecution lawsuit by the adult son of outgoing U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake over the now-dismissed animal cruelty charges filed against him in the 2014 heat-exhaustion deaths of 21 dogs at an Arizona kennel operated by his then-in-laws. Austin Flake and his ex-wife Logan Brown lost their lawsuit against former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County at a trial late last year. Since then, their lawyers have sought another civil trial, this time against the cases investigator, arguing authorities failed to turn over key evidence that would have swayed jurors in their clients favor. But the effort to revive the lawsuit failed Monday when U.S. District Judge Neil Wake ruled that attorneys for Flake and Brown hadnt offered any evidence that showed Detective Maria Trombi intended to deprive their clients of any constitutional rights. The Flakes have failed and continue to fail to present any evidence that Trombi intended to infringe on any such right, Wake wrote. The young couple was caring for the dogs while Browns parents, who operated the kennel out of a room at their home in Gilbert, were out of town. An electrical engineer told Arpaios office that the kennels air conditioner was inadequate for the 9-by-12-foot room, but also said the AC unit operated all night. Trombi told the grand jury that charged Flake and Brown that, according to electrical records, the air conditioner was on all night. But the criminal case against Flake and Brown was dismissed at the request of prosecutors after an expert later determined the air conditioner failed because the operators didnt properly maintain it. Lawyers for Flake and Brown maintained their clients had no idea at the time that the air conditioner was failing. Before the civil trial, Wake ruled authorities didnt have probable cause to charge the Flakes with a crime. County Attorney Bill Montgomery had said the theory of the case presented to grand jurors didnt take into account the potential for problems with the air conditioner. The kennel operators eventually pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges. New evidence surfaced during the civil trial that led Wake to bring Trombi, who had already been dismissed as a defendant, back into the case. Graphs prepared by Arpaios office and Montgomerys office had suggested the air conditioner had failed during the night, Wake wrote. The judge said Trombi had seen the graphs before her grand jury testimony. Wake had said a reasonable person could conclude that what Trombi said to grand jurors was false or misleading. In seeking a new trial, attorneys for Flake and Brown had argued the Fourteen Amendment guarantees due process rights to be free from malicious prosecution. But Wake wrote the Constitution doesnt contain a due process right against malicious prosecution. Arpaio, now a candidate for the elder Flakes Senate seat, was the sheriff of metro Phoenix at the time charges were filed. The Flakes alleged Arpaio brought the case against them to garner publicity for himself and to do political damage to Flakes father, who disagreed with Arpaio over immigration and was critical of the movement questioning the authenticity of then-President Barack Obamas birth certificate. ___ Follow Jacques Billeaud at twitter.com/jacquesbilleaud. His work can be found at https://bit.ly/2GGWEPO. Farmers and ranchers in three southeast New Mexico counties may be eligible for emergency loans following a natural disaster area declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Producers in Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties can apply for emergency loans to help recover from losses in the areas areas affected by drought. The loans may be used to restore or replace essential property, pay for production costs associated with the disaster year, pay living expenses or refinance certain types of debt. There are eligibility requirements for anyone considering applying for an emergency loan. Those include a 30 percent loss of crop or livestock, real estate or chattel property, an acceptable credit history and an inability to receive credit from commercial sources. Collateral is required to qualify for the loan, and applications must be submitted within eight months of the declaration. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability, a news release from the USDA reads. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster. Producers in Culberson, Loving and Reeves counties, just over the Texas/New Mexico border, are also eligible for emergency loans under the declaration. For more information about emergency loans or additional programs visit www.farmers.gov/recover. Jessica Onsurez can be reached at 575-628-5531, jonsurez@currentargus.com or @JussGREAT on Twitter. 2018 the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.) Visit the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.) at www.currentargus.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. LOUISVILLE, Ky. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continued to caution against trade wars Friday but praised President Donald Trump for his tough stance against China, saying he hopes it produces a better deal after years of the Chinese eating our lunch on trade. Speaking to workers at a water tank manufacturing plant in his Kentucky hometown, the Senate leader said he hopes U.S. disputes with trading partners are short-lived but took a tougher stand toward China while praising the presidents actions. I hope theres a better deal to be made out of this particularly with regard to the Chinese, who have been eating our lunch for years, said McConnell, R-Ky. Im not as hopeful we can get a better deal with the North American Free Trade Agreement than we currently have. But theres no question that the Chinese situation is unsustainable. And I commend the president for taking them on. Responding to a reporters questions about tariffs, McConnell also downplayed prospects for any congressional action by critics of Trumps tariffs, saying such legislation probably would not be achievable, even if it were desirable given that it would need the presidents signature. Even if Congress were to decide to legislate in this area, I think the president believes deeply that this is going to work out in the end, he said. McConnell, a free-trade advocate, said in June that he had counseled the Trump administration to try to avoid trade disputes. Chinas bulging trade surplus with the United States has been a frequent source of anger and threats from Trump. The Trump administration this week announced it would proceed with previously announced 25 percent tariffs on an additional $16 billion of Chinese imports starting Aug. 23. China hit back by saying it would impose identical punitive duties on $16 billion of U.S. goods, including cars, crude oil and scrap metal, also to take effect Aug. 23. The tit-for-tat dispute has escalated since the U.S. imposed 25 percent duties on $34 billion of Chinese goods in early July in response to complaints that China steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology. Tariffs are taxes on imports. They are meant to protect homegrown businesses and put foreign competitors at a disadvantage. But the taxes also exact a price on domestic businesses and consumers who pay more for imports. The Trump administration has warned of a possible further escalation, threatening to impose penalties on an additional $200 billion in Chinese exports to the United States, provoking threats of further retaliation from China. Trumps use of tariffs as a tool aimed at leveraging more favorable agreements with major U.S. trading partners has unsettled some prominent business sectors in McConnells home state, including agriculture and its famed bourbon industry. McConnell acknowledged Friday that the impact of tariffs is a mixed picture in Kentucky. He said he hopes any trade war is short because if its taken to its ultimate conclusion, it will not work out well for either side both us or our trading partner. The senator touted Republican tax cuts during his visit to the Louisville manufacturing plant, saying lower taxes and regulatory rollbacks have contributed to an upswing in the U.S. economy that he predicted will be sustained. I dont think anybody can predict the future of the economy with total precision, but I dont think theres any question this is going to last for a while, said McConnell, who is already looking ahead to his next re-election campaign in 2020. The National Center for Hydro Meteorological Forecasting said a low-pressure system continue to gain strength in the northeast part of Hoang Sa Archipelago and is forecast to heading to China. This afternoon August 10, the system will be able to develop into a tropical low-pressure, 110 km from Hainan Island of China in the east east north. Although tropical low-pressure will not affect to Vietnam but the weather in the northern region is more complicated with prolonged rains and the flooding water in the many parts of the Hong River is rising quickly. Of these, The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control required Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant to open one more flood gate at 17pm on August 9 and Son La Hydropower Plant to open flood gate at 14pm on the same day. Earlier, on August 8 Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant was required to open one floodgate. As of, three hydropower plants in the northern region have opened floodgates in the hope of ensuring the safety of local dyke system. On August 9, the water level in Son La Lake was measured at 205.29m while it was 106.89m in Hoa Binh Lake. The flood water in Mekong delta region is rising quickly Photo: SGGP In other development, the Mekong Delta and Southern region experience the highest temperature at 28-29 degrees Celsius and unseasonal rains due to the impact of the southwest monsoon. The flooding level in the Mekong Delta is still rising therefore the Central Committee sent its dispatch to the provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Can Tho, Long An and Ministries of Agriculture & Rural Development; Defense; Information & Communications asked above-mentioned provinces to eye on flooding situation; keeping a close watch on weather forecast to take measures to cope with the flooding. Local authorities should plan to move local people who are living in dangerous zones to safer places; to re-check the dyke systems in the upstream areas to prevent landslides. VAN PHUC Translated by Van Ha SANTA FE The Las Cruces district attorney says he is shocked and dismayed that a special prosecutor dismissed the criminal case against Tai Chan, the former Santa Fe County deputy accused of the shooting death of a fellow deputy at a Las Cruces hotel in 2014. This was never even brought to me as an option by the prosecutor in the case, whom I trusted, said District Attorney Mark DAntonio. So I was surprised when I got the information. DAntonio said he will have an answer on resolving the situation within the next five days. Chan, 31, has been tried twice for murder in the death of 29-year-old deputy Jeremy Martin in 2014. The two Santa Fe County deputies were staying in Las Cruces on their way back from delivering a prisoner to Arizona. Both trials ended in mistrials after juries couldnt reach unanimous verdicts. Late last year, DAntonio appointed two lawyers from the fraud division of the state Office of the Superintendent of Insurance as special prosecutors to take over the case. After the two mistrials, he said, fresh eyes would help. On Wednesday, Troy J. Davis, one of the special prosecutors, dismissed the case. In his court filing, Davis said Chan possibly needs to be re-indicted for Voluntary Manslaughter with a firearm enhancement. Re-indictment of charges will cure any issues raised by the defense, the filing said. The dismissal ended Davis role in the case, and it would be up to DAntonios office to seek a new indictment against Chan. We are reviewing the law, reviewing the action, or should I say inaction, of the prosecutor in the case, DAntonio said Friday. This situation is very serious, he add. This case has been important to me and my office since the inception, and were doing our best to do whats right and just. Davis said Friday that, as special prosecutor, it was clear from the beginning that it was my decision on how to handle the case. And I made that decision, he said. Davis said that DAntonios office in fact was consulted about the possibility of dismissing the case and that Chan could be re-indicted. Before Martins death, the two deputies argued and drank heavily at a bar the night of Oct. 24, 2014, then returned to their room at the Hotel Encanto. Martin died after being shot five times in the back and arm. Ten shots were fired from Chans duty weapon. But who shot the gun first and who was the aggressor in the struggle were disputed at trial. Chan maintains shooting Martin was in self-defense. Sarah Martin, deputy Martins widow, told the Journal Friday, We teach our children that there are consequences for your actions, though through a fractured system Chan may have no consequences for his heinous and malicious crime. The case against Chan took a blow in May, when District Court Judge Conrad Perea ruled against further prosecution of Chan for murder on double jeopardy grounds. Perea found that another judge who presided over Chans second trial had failed to poll jurors to clear up questions about their impasse on a range of charges from first-degree murder to manslaughter. Chans attorney recently filed a motion calling for dismissal, saying the only existing indictment of Chan was for first-degree murder. Because the judge ruled against trying Chan again for murder, and there is no existing document that charges Chan with any other crime, the case against Chan should be dismissed definitively, particularly given the two mistrials, the motion said. Davis says dismissal and then re-indictment of Chan for manslaughter cures legal defects brought up in the defense motion. National experts are suggesting New Mexico think small to help fight crime. Daniel Gerard, a retired police commander who now works for the Institute of Crime Science at the University of Cincinnati, briefed state legislators and others Friday about how to harness data to help improve public safety. Targeting a specific address or specific person is much more effective, Gerard said, than broad sweeps or zero tolerance efforts that disrupt a whole neighborhood and breed community distrust. He showed off a series of analytical tools developed at the University of Cincinnati that can help police and prosecutors spot trends, share data and identify people or places to target in a very surgical and precise way, he said. Gerard and others from the university have been meeting with Albuquerque police, Bernalillo County sheriffs deputies and similar organizations this week. They briefed a bipartisan panel of lawmakers, the Criminal Justice Reform Subcommittee, on Friday. Gerards team works throughout the country to use academic research to shape crime-fighting strategies. Some communities hire the institute to help analyze their crime data and build systems that make it easier for agencies to share information with each other. Decisions we make every day in the criminal justice system are based on incomplete information, Gerard said, because people or agencies dont talk to each other. His presentation came as New Mexico lawmakers wrestle with how to address the states rising crime rates. Gerard said a relatively small number of people and places tend to drive crime rates. Analytical tools can help identify networks of people suspects whove been arrested together in the past, for example and show connections that can help get to the shot caller behind, say, a recent spate of gang violence. The data can also help pinpoint where social services are needed, he said. And its important, Gerard said, to focus attention in a granular way, not on an entire section of a city. Even in the worst neighborhood, he said, the people causing trouble are just a fraction of a percentage point of the residents living there. Paul Haidle, senior policy strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, urged lawmakers to be cautious about analytical tools because they can be biased by race and poverty. If an internal computer system identifies someone as a gang member because of their friends on social media, for example the person has no way of contesting the designation, Haidle said, even though it may influence how police treat them in a traffic stop. There needs to be transparency, Haidle said. There has to be accountability to the public. Deepak Rajadhyaksha, Deputy Business Head, Zee TV has left ZEEL. Sources close to development confirmed this news that today is his last day in the network. Aparna Bhosle, Business Cluster Head - Premium & FTA GEC channels at ZEEL is speculated to be his successor. He will join Viacom18 Media to head its regional channels Colors Marathi and Colors Gujarati shortly which were earlier led by Nikhil Sane who also heads Viacom18 Motion Pictures Marathi. In 2016, Rajadhyaksha was elevated to Deputy Business Head, Zee TV. Before that, he was successfully leading the role of Business Head of Zee Marathi. He has also worked in Marathi and Hindi theatre where he was associated with the famous Awishkar group. He was a freelance writer and has also directed plays. We reached out to Viacom18 for they comments but they did not comment. Friend, best buddies, interdependence, liberation, freedom - from friendship rises freedom. For a child, a friend is someone who gives them complete freedom to be themselves, someone they can count on. In a way, Friendship enables Freedom, just as Freedom enables people to become true friends. Tying friendship with the values that independence stands for and emphasizing the importance of finding freedom in friendship, this August, Sony YAY! introduces Project Dosti'. The Ultimate Destination of Happiness launched a larger than life initiative that encouraged and empowered children from various divides to come to one platform with an aim of cultivating the true meaning of friendship while inspiring them to look beyond Children are the happiest around friends, and bringing in the idea of finding a friend in anyone, free of differences, Project Dosti integrated Friendships and Independence Day, uniting their young audience by friendship and celebrating a day free of inequality/disparity. Hosted in Delhi on August 7, the channel gathered children from Hope Foundation and BCC Model School for a fun-filled session of games and gupshup. Encouraging unity, and with an aim of bringing out a special camaraderie amongst the children that encourages them to work towards the same objective, together, the channel naturally picked an all-time favourite Tug of War. Unity and team spirit were seen all the way making for a fun day out in Delhi. In Kolkata, children supported by the Leo Club of Calcutta Park Avenue and students of Birla High School got together to participate in the same game, living out the highs of team sport on August 9. Adding another layer of fun, Sony YAY!s signature toons Honey and Bunny added oodles of dhamaal to the day. Bunny, with his naughtiness and shenanigans, played fun pranks with the children while Honey awed them with his silly innocence both making the kids love them like never before. Each encouraged different sides of the team, pushing the kids to do their best! Showcasing the friendship that Honey and Bunny share, and getting kids to experience a bond like theirs is what Project Dosti stands for. Project Dosti combines the universal pull of friends and freedom to drive home unity amongst all. Celebrating childrens refreshing innocence, Sony YAY! hopes to set new reasons for friendship and happiness with this activity. COMMENTS Leena Lele Dutta, Business Head, SPN Kids Genre Friendship and Independence are two emotions that children connect deeply with. Whether it is their relationship with their best friends or getting freedom from their daily routine, these two sentiments are portrayed in everything they do. Thats where our thought for this initiative stemmed from. Our aim was to encourage our young viewers to embrace friendship in its truest form. Our choice of activity rooted from promoting team spirit and unity as well, and what better game than Tug of War to promote that! We are thankful to all the schools and NGOs that came on board to support our thought and helped create a benchmark and a sense of unity for the future of our nation our kids. Happiness is an experience and we want to convey this through everything we take up. The International News Media Association (INMA) hosted a four-day South Asia Media Festival August 7-10 in New Delhi to celebrate best practices in the print and digital ecosystems of the region. Building on INMAs world-class study tour initiatives worldwide, the association launched its first-ever study tour for South Asian members. The festival featured a strategy and best practices conference for management teams, a study tour of Delhi media leaders and digital start-ups and topical seminars. The two-day study tour from Aug 7-8 included exploration of New Delhi media market with an eye for disruption, innovation and growth opportunities. It highlighted a visit to the new media offices of Bhaskar, Times Internet, Jagran, and the newsrooms of Inshorts, Quint, and India Today. Speaking about the study tour Deepit Purkayastha, Co-founder and CSO of Inshorts said, Using innovative forms of technology to deliver world class content to our readers has constantly been our focus at Inshorts. As leaders in the category of short form content, we feel extremely honoured to have been a part of INMAs media study tour. Looking forward to establish a long term association with them and together work towards delivering the best practices in the media industry. Earl J. Wilkinson, executive director and CEO of INMA also added, We studied one core competency in each media company and shortlisted six of those who have adopted different strategies and practices in the news media ecosystem. The rise in the number of smartphones with easy access to internet is transforming the Indian consumer and Inshorts has played an important role in changing the mindsets. We are extremely happy to have included them in our tour, and look forward to creating some milestones together. The study tour was attended by CXOs, brand leaders and intellectuals from the media industry, organized by INMA. The Co-founder and CSO of Inshorts, Deepit Purkayastha shared his valuable thoughts with the eminent executives on the topic Technology and Media: How to strike a balance between old and new? The media festival also witnessed 12th Annual INMA South Asia News Media Conference was held from August 9-10 under the theme of Print Is The New Medium, which celebrates the strength of the print media. The festival brought together South Asias top publishers and specifically executives charged with growing advertising, circulation, brand and revenue from news media companies in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. It has excellent opportunities to network and share the INMA conversation among this exclusive fraternity of the worlds most innovative newspaper executives. Sony Music has launched its global artist royalty portal Artist Portal in India. A first in the music industry, the platform will provide artists easy and timely access to sales and royalty statements online. Along with detailed insights on worldwide music streams, downloads, video views, charts position and more, Sony Music artist and partners are presented with earnings from across all leading audio and video platforms. In addition, Artist Portal also gives social media analytics to understand consumer interaction and feedback on the song. Shridhar Subramaniam, President India & Middle East, commented, Artist 360 is a unique platform that gives artists access to revenue and consumer insights information on their songs. Sony Music is committed to transparency and giving our artists all the necessary tools to help further their careers. Mukesh Bhatt added here, This is a fantastic way of giving producers and artists an immediate access to what they are earning. I didnt think this would ever happen in India, and I am happy that Sony Music is setting new benchmarks with this portal. This is phenomenal and the transparency is much needed. The tool is simple yet intuitive and is very effective. Kudos to Sony Music for starting this trend, said Apoorva Mehta, CEO, Dharma Productions. Artist Portal is currently live in 27 countries with over 250 artists and managers. The platform also gives a break-up of digital, physical, synch licensing and other revenues. One can further procure sales and revenues by geography and a further drill down to analyse each sale with streaming activity and royalties. By giving artists access to a platform like Artist Portal, Sony Music India seeks to redefine artist management by creating a music universe that is transparent and healthy. Gorgeous white sandy beaches, clear blue water and sunny skies can be found at several places around the world. However, rarely is it combined with the warmth of a culture that exudes a distinct aura of impeccable hospitality. With over 300 islands, the resplendent Fiji transports you to a land of pure bliss from the very first Bula. Bringing a little bit of heaven to India, Tourism Fiji unveiled its new brand campaign, #BulaHappiness with their Brand Ambassador, Bollywood starlet, Ileana Dcruz. The campaign video launched in Mumbai amidst the presence of Ileana Dcruz, High Commissioner of the Republic of Fiji, His Excellency, Mr. Yogesh Punja, Regional Manager Asia, Ms. Kathy Koyamaibole and Country Manager India, Ms. Seema Kadam and other Fiji Partners. The perfect blend of sandy shores, green interiors and warm, friendly people is what Fiji is all about and Tourism Fijis new campaign video exemplifies this beautifully. The video encapsulates Ileanas experience during her visit, highlighting some of the best places and unparalleled experiences in Fiji. Commenting on the new campaign, Ms. Seema Kadam, Country Manager India, Tourism Fiji said, "India holds a lot of potential for us as far as tourism is concerned and a lot of focus is driven towards the growth of the market. From 2016-2017, there has been a 30% increase in Indian nationals visiting Fiji. During the first quarter of this year, we recorded a rapid growth of 27.8% as compared to 2017, making India one of the fastest growing tourism source markets, for Fiji. With Ileana as our Brand Ambassador, we aim to showcase through this campaign video, a first-hand experience of what Fiji has to offer and hope that more and more Indians experience what this beautiful country has to offer. Bollywood Star and Tourism Fijis Brand Ambassador, Ileana DCruz said, I love travelling and Fiji has always been on my travel bucket list. Associating with Tourism Fiji is not only a great opportunity, but also a novel and unparalleled experience. Fiji is not only about the beautiful beaches. The food, culture, people, adventure, all together makes this gorgeous place, one big playground for the entire family. Shooting for this campaign in Fiji was one of the most memorable and unforgettable experiences I have ever had. Tourism Fijis campaign was launched at the Fiji Roadshow, which is being held from 7 to 10 August, across all the metropolitan cities in India Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, respectively. Tourism Fiji Partners Fiji Airways, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, Matamanoa Island Resort, Namale Resort & Spa Fiji, Sofitel Resort & Spa Fiji and The Pearl Resort were also a part of this roadshow. The partners highlighted what makes Fiji the next big destination for Indians, the visitor attractions and some of the unparalleled experiences that one can get only in Fiji. Click here for more marketing news. Wavemaker India has announced the appointment of Karthik Nagarajan as Chief Content Officer. Nagarajan will lead product development and growth expansions for the content vertical at Wavemaker India. In his new role, Nagarajan will be working closely with Kartik Sharma to build and integrate content, creative and technology services. Prior to joining Wavemaker, Nagarajan led the content practice for GroupM, where he helped agencies evolve the content product into one that is digital by design and data-driven. He was pivotal in building a strong case for content for GroupM, within the industry. In the new alignment, Quasar - the creative & technology agency will also report into him. Commenting on the appointment, Kartik Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Wavemaker South Asia said, Content is at the heart of our value proposition along with media and technology. These three pillars drive our Rapid Growth Planning agenda. With Karthik coming on board, I am confident we will be able to elevate our content narrative through his vision and drive growth and innovation. Speaking on his move, Karthik Nagarajan said, Content has given brands an opportunity to create occasions of conversation, that are relevant to the purchase journey. We are at an inflection point in the business of content in India, where brands have a unique opportunity to not just ride this wave but also shape this industry. And I firmly believe that Wavemaker is uniquely positioned to drive this change for our clients. Nagarajan started his career in cryptography in India and later took on consulting roles in technology markets across the United States. He has been with GroupM for the last 7 years and prior to this, he led NM Incite - the JV between Nielsen & McKinsey in India. When he is not on his day job, he is a screenwriter and an independent filmmaker. Windsor headquartered manufacturing firm, Morgan Advanced Materials, has developed a proprietary leachable material which significantly cuts investment casting times in turbine engine blades by up to 20%. The development comes as the commercial aerospace industry is facing a significant overhaul. According to Market Research Future, the Commercial Aircraft Turbine Blades and Vanes Market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 6% by 2023. High fuel prices, stricter regulations on noise and carbon dioxide emissions, and an increase in competition from low cost carriers are factors which are forcing manufacturers to develop modern aero-engines that are lightweight and fuel efficient. To help aerospace investment casting businesses meet this surge in demand, the Technical Ceramics business of Morgan Advanced Materials has developed the LEMA range of proprietary alumina-based materials. The new material shortens leaching cycles for alumina core support rods used in the production of turbine engine blades, while still providing the significant mechanical strength needed for robust production. Typical alumina rods are renowned for their strength and load bearing capabilities. However, it can take several days to fully leach the materials, resulting in delays within the production process. In comparison, like-for-like LEMA 250 parts will experience approximately a 20% mass reduction after 20 hours (at 300F (149C) and 185 psi). A comparable alumina part to LEMA 250 does not show any mass loss under the same conditions. Jennifer Kachala, Product Engineer at Morgans Technical Ceramics business said At a time when demand for turbine engine blades is expected to grow substantially over the next few years, the enhanced leachability of LEMA rods have been developed at exactly the right moment to help shorten processing times for casting manufacturers. Investment casting businesses will need to prove they can meet demand for the ramping build schedules of new engine programs. LEMA can help them achieve this while saving on costs. The enhanced leachability of LEMA drives more cost and time savings. While quartz support rods can offer a cost-effective solution to alumina in terms of leachability, they do not have the mechanical strength of LEMA. This makes them less suitable for applications where part geometries and alloys require higher strength support rods. LEMA components are approximately 1.5 times stronger than quartz equivalents. The global investment casting industry has experienced the pain point of long production times for years due to legacy materials and leaching processes. Morgan has overcome this challenge with LEMA, said Kachala. Our new material for support rods has been extensively tested, optimised to deliver strength and shorten production times, reducing cycle times and costs in casting turbine blades. As a result, our customers can now meet growing demand, with improved quality for the aerospace and industrial gas turbine industries. Morgan Advanced Materials plc is a global engineering company headquartered in Windsor, UK and listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company is involved in development of advanced materials science and engineering of ceramics, carbon and composites, engineering high-specification materials, components and sub-assembly parts to solve challenging technical problems. [August 09, 2018] GlobalSCAPE Reports Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results GlobalSCAPE, Inc. (NYSE American: GSB), a worldwide leader in the secure movement and integration of data, has reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018. Second Quarter 2018 Operational Highlights Concluded its previously announced Audit Committee investigation and completion of financial statement review Regained compliance with the NYSE American Continued Listing Standards Appointed Robert Alpert, co-Founder and Principal of 210 Capital LLC, and Clark Webb, co-Founder and Principal of 210 Capital, LLC to the Board of Directors, building on the collective guidance and insights of the Board Maintained quarterly cash dividend of $0.015 per share of common stock Second Quarter 2018 Financial Overview Total revenue for the second quarter of 2018 was $8.5 million, which was consistent with the amount reported for the second quarter of 2017. Revenue from the Company's core EFT platform increased 1% to $8.1 million. License revenue from the platform increased 3% to $2.6 million, primarily due to an increase in the number of large transactions, including transactions that were originally expected to close in the previous quarter, and a change in the Company's lead generation strategy toward the end of 2017 which led to an increase in sales opportunities. Maintenance and support (M&S) revenue from the platform increased 2% to $5.1 million, primarily due to ongoing license sales and sustained high M&S renewal rates. Gross profit for the second quarter of 2018 was $6.9 million (81.5% of total revenue), which was consistent with the $6.9 million (81.9% of total revenue) reported for the second quarter of 2017. Net income totaled $593,000 or $0.03 per diluted share, an increase of 30% from $457,000 or $0.02 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2017. Adjusted EBITDA (1) increased 5% to $1.1 million from the amount reported for the second quarter of 2017. increased 5% to $1.1 million from the amount reported for the second quarter of 2017. As of June 30, 2018, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short and long-term investments of approximately $27.8 million. 1) Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. It should not be considered as a substitute for net income presented on our consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and when assessing our operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or without a simultaneous reading and consideration of our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. See note regarding "Use of Non-GAAP Measures," below for further discussion of this non-GAAP measure and the reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure below. Management Commentary from Matt Goulet, President and CEO of GlobalSCAPE "Our results for the second quarter of 2018 came in largely as we expected. Our total revenue of $8.5 million remained consistent with the amount reported last year, as we worked through the final stages of the internal investigation and the sales distractions that came with it. Nevertheless, we were still able to grow license and M&S revenue by 3% and 2% year-over-year, respectively, giving us a platform for more robust growth as we complete the realignment of our sales force to better address the increasing needs and requirements of our customers. Perhaps most importantly, we continued to drive improvements to our bottom line with net income for the quarter up 30% year-over-year. We also maintained our strong cash position, which ended the quarter at $27.8 million, enabling us to continue investing in our business to drive growth and market share expansion while also returning capital to our shareholders. "Over the past few weeks, we have made significant enhancements to our business, which we believe will allow us to build on our operational momentum and better execute on our strategy of becoming a cloud-based software and services provider of MFT technology. As part of our continued efforts to realign and reduce costs, we recently reduced our staff by approximately 40 employees. We believe that, as a result, our operating expenses will decrease going forward without significantly impacting our revenue or growth opportunities, as we enhance our focus on our flagship EFT offering. "Additionally, we also strengthened our leadership team with the promotion of our interim CFO, Karen Young, to CFO, as well as expanded our Board of Directors with the appointment of Robert Alpert and Clark Webb. We believe these additions enhance our bench strength and give us the right guidance and tools to reaccelerate the business. Overall, it's been a productive and meaningful last couple of months for GlobalSCAPE. We honed in on our core EFT offering, right-sized the business, and added significant experience and insights to the Board. Collectively, these actions have set the stage for what we expect to be a stronger second half of 2018 and beyond." About GlobalSCAPE GlobalSCAPE, Inc. (NYSE American: GSB) is a pioneer in securing and automating the movement and integration of data seamlessly in, around and outside your business, between people and places, in and out of the cloud. GlobalSCAPE provides technology that automates your work and secures your data, while giving visibility to those who need it. GlobalSCAPE makes business flow brilliantly. For more information, visit http://www.globalscape.com or follow the blog and Twitter updates. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words "would," "exceed," "should," "anticipates," "believe," "expect," and variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC (News - Alert) on June 14, 2018; the discovery of additional information relevant to the internal investigation; the conclusions of the Company's Audit Committee (and the timing of the conclusions) concerning matters relating to the internal investigation; the possibility that additional errors relevant to the recently completed restatement may be identified; pending litigation and other proceedings and the possibility of further legal proceedings adverse to GlobalSCAPE resulting from the restatement or related matters; and the costs associated with the restatement and the investigation. Use of Non-GAAP Measures The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Total Other Income/Expense, Depreciation, Amortization, other than amortization of capitalized software development costs, and Share-Based Compensation Expense) to provide a view of income and expenses that is supplemental and secondary to the primary assessment of net income as presented in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. It should not be considered as a substitute for net income presented on our condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and when assessing our operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or without a simultaneous reading and consideration of our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA is provided at the end of this release. GlobalSCAPE, Inc. Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net Income (loss) $ 593 $ 457 $ (342 ) $ 1,288 Add (subtract) items to determine Adjusted EBITDA: Income tax expense 336 265 105 676 Interest (income) expense, net (80 ) (77 ) (156 ) (146 ) Depreciation and amortization: Total depreciation and amortization 525 516 1,120 1,056 Amortization of capitalized software development costs (464 ) (446 ) (999 ) (920 ) Share-based compensation expense 191 335 862 671 Adjusted EBITDA $ 1,101 $ 1,050 $ 590 $ 2,625 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180809005655/en/ [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] 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. One of the many things for which the year 2018 will be remembered is the number of (mostly) good documentaries playing in theaters. Wont You Be My Neighbor and RBG are sure to be remembered as best of lists are compiled at years end. Both films are also shoo-ins for Oscar nominations. Unfortunately, the same cant be said for the flawed Whitney. Closer in quality to Neighbor and RBG than to Whitney, the Alexander McQueen doc McQueen (Bleecker Street), co-directed Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui, tells the rags to riches story of the fashion designer born Lee Alexander McQueen. Separated into five sections, McQueen portrays the brilliant man who went to the far reaches of his dark side to pull the horror from his soul, and then put them on the catwalk. McQueen, who admitted he wasnt very good in school, except for art, and was always drawing clothes in every lesson, was encouraged by his mother Joyce to apply for (and got) a Saville Row apprenticeship. He learned Bespoke tailoring from master tailor Cornelius OCallaghan and then went work for avant-garde designer Koji Tatsuno. The sweet boy from the East End who listened continually to Sinead OConnor learned about visual research and historical and sexual references in fashion from Red or Dead designer John McKitterick. Before you know it, McQueen lands a job in Italy with designer Romeo Gigli. Back in London, McQueen earned his MA at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design under the guidance of Bobby Hillson, thanks to his generous Aunt Renee who paid is tuition. From there, McQueen made his name by combining the modern and the classical and sabotage and tradition, creating beautiful things out of his dark side. A fashion disrupter, McQueen incorporated fetish fascination into his work, which he boldly displayed in his designs as well as his legendary runway shows. Along the way, the romantic craftsman with a self-destructive streak, won British Designer of the Year two years in a row. But there were casualties and his intertwined personal and work lives suffered. Fame didnt provide McQueen with happiness. He indulged in drug use. He changed his physical appearance. He felt pressured which led to paranoia. McQueen did, however, find pleasure with his dog at the seaside. Still, the deaths of influential magazine editor Isabella Blow (with whom he had a falling out) and his mother proved to be too much. McQueen committed suicide in 2010. Interviews with sister Janet McQueen, nephew Gary James McQueen and boyfriends Andrew Groves (who was also an assistant designer) and Murray Arthur, provide intimate details. Most of the other insider interview subjects, including Detmar Blow (Isabella Blows husband), hairstylist Mira Chai Hyde, agent Alice Smith, writer Plum Sykes, assistants Sebastien Pons and Ruti Danan, and models Jodie Kidd, Debra Shaw and Magdalena Frackowiak, may only be recognizable to those with some familiarity of the high fashion world of the nineties and early aughts. While they may not be familiar names, their connections to the McQueen and the industry definitely give their insights considerable weight. Rating: B+ BEIRUT On July 25, Lebanese Forces parliamentarian Antoine Habchi handed the parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, a bill to amend Lebanon's drug laws to legalize industrial hemp as an alternative crop for Lebanese farmers. According to lawmakers present, Berri said during the weekly parliament session July 25 that he had reviewed several studies about the topic and that he would continue looking into them and seek to create a special unit to supervise cannabis farming. On July 18, Berri told US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard that Lebanon is also examining legislation to legalize the production of cannabis for medicinal purposes, as some European countries and US states have done. Habchi told Al-Monitor that the bill requires discussion in parliament, and perhaps we can then improve peoples lives. The bill has yet to be put on the parliaments agenda, Habchi added. Head of the Lebanese Farmers Association Antoine el-Howayek told Al-Monitor, There is a huge difference" between cannabis sativa and industrial hemp, which the state seeks to legalize. Habchi said during a parliament session July 23 that under the bill, the Cabinet will be empowered to grant qualified pharmaceutical companies production permits. The companies then grant growers permission to plant the cannabis under the supervision of an oversight unit. He added that the bill will solve the problem of illegal cannabis trade. Economy Minister Raed Khoury said at the Arab Economic Forum July 13 that McKinsey, the international consultancy company Lebanon tasked with studying how to boost the deteriorating Lebanese economy, proposed establishing areas for growing cannabis for medicinal purposes as part of a comprehensive organizational and legal framework. In a statement to Bloomberg July 6, Khoury said, Its production is expected to give Lebanon returns worth $1 billion per year. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Lebanon is already the world's third largest exporter of cannabis resin. Thousands of families in Lebanon live from growing cannabis as their only source of income, although security forces destroy many of the crops in yearly sweeps. A grower told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, When I planted potatoes, I suffered financial losses because sometimes, traders would buy them for low prices or not at all. Imported potatoes are all over the market, and the state does not support us by promoting our crops. For that reason, I turned to growing cannabis. Bassam Hamdar, the director of the Economics Department at the American University of Science and Technology, told Al-Monitor, Cannabis growing flourished in the 1960s, before the mandate of President Fouad Chehab and during the civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1990. The state then banned this crop and promised to provide farmers with alternatives like aloe vera and other crops used in cosmetics. The project failed because its returns were much less than those of growing cannabis. Cannabis growing bounced back after the Syrian crisis broke out in 2011. He went on, Before legalizing growing cannabis, a strict committee granting oversight and control powers should be established. Otherwise, I object to the bill. Hamdar pointed out, In 2016, growers planted 200,000 dunams of cannabis in the Bekaa. Will the government be able to plant this whole area? Head of the National Social Health Association and former parliament member Ismail Sukariya told Al-Monitor, Cannabis is medically used to produce analgesics and narcotics. All the talk about its effect in fighting cancer is not scientifically proven. The plant has not taken up sufficient and serious space in manufacturing medication worldwide. Mohammad Chamseddine, a researcher with the Beirut-based research and statistics company Information International, told Al-Monitor, Around 20,000 hectares of land are planted with cannabis yearly. This area might expand or shrink depending on security activities. If crops are not destroyed, there will be 8,000 tons per year on average, and the revenue of the grower per dunam (a quarter acre) would range from $1,600 to $2,000, or $600 million roughly. Traders in Lebanon might make up to $2 billion per year. CAIRO Saudi Minister of Energy Khalid Falih said Aug. 4 that his country had resumed oil exports via Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Oil exports were temporarily halted on July 26 after an attack on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea by Yemens Houthi militias. The decision to resume oil shipments through the busy trade route came hours after the end of the joint maritime exercises, dubbed Eagle Salute 18, in the Red Sea between the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which took place July 26 through Aug. 4. A well-informed source in the Suez Canal Authority told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that on the sidelines of the naval military exercises, the Egyptian military authorities discussed with their Saudi counterparts the need to resume oil shipments through the strait. The source added that the halt of Saudi oil exports through the lane would have caused a major crisis of navigation in the Suez Canal, particularly since Egypt hopes trade through the canal will set the wheel of the Egyptian economy in motion in the coming years. Egypts economic plan is focused on turning the Suez Canal region into an economic hub and an attraction for investments, including industrial and logistical zones. Commenting on the Saudi decision, the chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Mohab Mamish, said in a press statement July 27 that the Egyptian leadership recommended the authority to study the dimensions of the Houthi attack on Saudi tankers in Bab el-Mandeb at the political, financial and military levels. He noted that the authority is currently looking into the implications of the attack. Mamish further stressed that the countries concerned with security in the Red Sea will take the necessary security measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Houthis are improving their [military] performance, and we will do the same to defend our vital goals, Mamish said. Mukhtar al-Sharif, a professor of international economics at Al-Azhar University, told Al-Monitor, Egypt did well in persuading Saudi Arabia to resume oil shipments through Bab el-Mandeb. He explained that the oil tankers' route from the eastern Saudi ports to the Strait of Hormuz, then the Arabian Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, all the way to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal is of paramount importance for the Egyptian economy. Any halt in the trade of any state through the lane would undoubtedly cause a great loss to the Suez Canal, according to Sharif. Sharif also warned of repeated Houthi strikes against Saudi oil tankers, noting that the Suez Canal contributes to about 2.2% of Egypts gross domestic product, according to 2017 official statistics. The canal is also seen as one of the main five sources of hard currency. Egypt suffered a decline in foreign currency reserves in 2015 and 2016. Ali al-Bassiouni, a professor of maritime transport and the former president of Suez Canal University, told Al-Monitor, The repercussions and damage of the attack and the resulting Saudi decision regarding Bab el-Mandeb were minor and did not greatly affect the Egyptian economy. He explained that the majority of the Saudi oil exports move from the Saudi western coasts along the Red Sea and straight to the Suez Canal. Bassiouni, however, noted that the unrest in Bab el-Mandeb will affect the oil exports from the ports on the eastern Saudi coast, which go through Hormuz to the Arabian Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Bassiouni added that it is possible to export Saudi oil by land from the east to the west of Saudi Arabia. Exports would then be shipped along the Red Sea route all the way to the Suez Canal, without going through Bab el-Mandeb at all. This is why the [attack] had a minor impact, Bassiouni said. Ahmad Shami, logistics expert and consultant to several shipping companies, concurred with Bassiouni. He told Al-Monitor that Saudi Arabia had proactively anticipated any risks to its oil trade in Bab el-Mandeb. The kingdom has a huge pipeline to transport oil, stretching from the countrys eastern to the western parts and vice versa. Shami noted that in the event of repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers, which would prompt Saudi Arabia to halt its exports through Bab el-Mandeb, the Suez Canal revenues would not be greatly affected. Khaled al-Shafei, a financial and economic adviser to several investment institutions, told Al-Monitor, The halt of Saudi oil exports via Bab el-Mandeb led to a noticeable rise in oil prices. The average price of the oil barrel may rise from $67 to $75, i.e., a 12% increase, if Saudi re-decides to suspend its shipments. This would deepen the budget deficit because, according to the state budget for 2018, the average price of a barrel of oil stands at $67. Shafei expected the resumption of Saudi oil exports through Bab el-Mandeb to contribute to the reduction of the price of a barrel of oil, noting that any possible suspension of Saudi oil exports in this lane might cause higher oil prices. This is why Egypt has to take decisive measures to secure traffic and navigation in the maritime lane, he said. International lawyer Saad Hussein told Al-Monitor, The Houthi attack on Saudi or any other oil tankers in Bab el-Mandeb is a dangerous message to all stakeholders and states wishing to take the same route to the Suez Canal. This would impact the canals revenues directly, as many countries might have concerns to navigate through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It appears that Saudi Arabia resumed its oil exports via Bab el-Mandeb at the prodding of Egypt, which feared that any halt in Saudi oil shipments would cause a rise in world oil prices. This would, in turn, deepen Egypts budget deficit. The Egyptian authorities are likely to take major security steps especially after the joint maritime exercises in the coming days to secure the strait, which is seen as the lifeblood of the Suez Canal. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Palestinian Labor Minister Mamoun Abu Shahla told Al-Monitor that Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah informed donor countries that aid shall only be delivered to the Gaza Strip via the legitimate government. Hamdallah made this demand during his encounter with all of the donor countries ambassadors to the Palestinian territories whom he summoned to his Ramallah office a few days ago. He assured them that his government is the only government for Palestinians and that it is its task to make optimal investment and distribution of assistance to social segments, he added. Abu Shahla went on to say that the government is keen not to turn the Palestinian political cause into a humanitarian one. Abu Shahla indicated that the Ramallah government meets 90% of the Gaza Strip's needs, thus spending a monthly amount of $95 million to provide Gaza with education, health services and power plant fuel, and pay the Palestinian Authoritys (PA) employees their salaries. This is not to mention other services. Nevertheless, it only obtains from the Gaza government a monthly sum of $7 million in taxes, Abu Shahla said. Foreign aid, be it financial aid, food assistance or medical aid, fulfills the remaining 10% of Gaza's needs, he stated. Some financial and in-kind aid which countries close to the Hamas movement such as Qatar and Turkey provide to some of Hamas civil society organizations or charities to help the poor and orphans in the Gaza Strip do not pass through the Ramallah-based government. This is because the movement has not relinquished control of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian government as per the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo in October 2017. The reason behind it is that the Ramallah government refuses to pay employees which Hamas appointed following the Palestinian division in 2007 their salaries, as per the same agreement. Although there are no Palestinian statistics on how much the Gaza Strip has obtained in direct foreign aid that did not pass through the Ramallah government, Qatar's Gaza Reconstruction Committee reported June 17 that Qatar provided the Gaza Strip with $15 million worth of financial, food and medical assistance between February and June. Turkey's consul to Jerusalem, Mustafa Sarnic, told the press in May 2015 while at his residence in Jerusalem that Turkey provided the Gaza Strip with $369 million worth of aid in the past 10 years. Hamdallahs demand coincides with UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Nickolay Mladenov's efforts deployed to bring about a truce between Hamas and Israel in exchange for an economic recovery in the Gaza Strip. Miladinov had visited the Gaza Strip and Israel July 26 back and forth and met with Israeli officials and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh to calm down the situation. The London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper wrote July 29 that the visits are designed to establish "a cease-fire that would last for years, not for just a limited time [between Israel and Hamas]. This is by offering different solutions, such as executing development projects, and other ways to enhance the worsening economic situation in the Gaza Strip. In an August 3 tweet, Simon Arann, a political correspondent for Makan, quoted Israeli Channel 2 as saying that Israeli figures arrived in Qatar lately to raise funds for a truce agreement between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Fatah spokesman Osama al-Qawasmi warned against Hamas concluding a truce agreement with Israel in exchange for humanitarian assistance. He considered the deal to be another coup against the people and homeland, the media reported Aug. 4. Atef Adwan, head of the Palestinian Legislative Council Economy Committee and a Hamas leader, perceived Hamdallah's demand to be treason. Adwan told Al-Monitor, The sole objective behind Hamdallah's demand is to further tighten the blockade on Gaza and prevent development projects from being implemented there. Most of the assistance that gets into Gaza consists of either medical aid or food assistance to the poor. This being said, it is clear that what this government desires is to suffocate Gaza and starve its people. He further said, President [Mahmoud] Abbas is the one who turned the Palestinian cause into a humanitarian cause with the sanctions he has imposed on the Gaza Strip, leading to a major humanitarian disaster among its residents. Abbas imposed sanctions on the Gaza Strip in April 2017 in response to Hamas establishing an administrative committee to manage the Gaza Strip affairs. Most importantly among these is deducting 30-50% from the payrolls of the PA employees in Gaza, and ordering early and forced retirement for more than 6,000 of the Gaza Strip civil servants and about 26,000 military staff. Mohsen Abu Ramadan, a member of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network and economic analyst, told Al-Monitor that the consensus government and PA dread that international economic interference in the form of development projects, financial aid or food assistance to achieve economic recovery in Gaza serves as a price for a political deal between Hamas and Israel away from the PA. He went on to say that any Israeli-Hamas political or economic agreement away from the PA would escalate the Palestinian divide into a separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Adwan indicated that Hamas underlined its opposition to [Washington's awaited] 'deal of the century,' and it is impossible for the movement to consent to any political concessions in exchange for economic projects or food aid to Gaza. He continued, Yet, in case the government fears such a thing, it should then go to Gaza and take charge of the situation there. Abu Ramadan does not believe the Hamdallah demand will have an important effect on any Israeli-Hamas truce. This is because in case Israel is OK with setting up international development projects and pumping a great deal of aid in the Gaza Strip in an attempt to redress the economic situation, then these things will happen regardless of the governments stance. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis comments that his country would abide by US sanctions has taken Iranian media by surprise. "As a matter of principle we are against sanctions in the region," Abadi said at a press conference Aug. 8. "Blockade and sanctions destroy societies and weaken regimes." He added that they are a "strategic mistake" but that Iraq "will abide by them." Given Iran's immediate and unconditional support for Iraq after the rise of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in northern Iraq in 2014, compared with that of the delayed and conditional support of the United States, Iranian media and social media users were very critical of Abadi's support of US sanctions. One official even mentioned memories of the Iran-Iraq War. Iranian parliamentarian Mahmoud Sadeghi, who is an outspoken official, particularly on Twitter, tweeted, "The Iraqi government, according to Article 6 of Resolution 598 [which ended the Iran-Iraq War], owes the Iranian government 1.1 trillion dollars in reparations for the imposed war [Iran-Iraq War]. The Iranian government, given the restrictions on the people of Iraq, has postponed its demands on these reparations. Now, the prime minister of Iraq, instead of paying up, will cooperate with oppressive sanctions against the people of Iran." In an article in Russian-funded Sputnik, Emad Abshenas wrote that Abadi, who is still trying to form a government after the Iraqi elections in May, made double-sided comments both criticizing the sanctions and abiding by them in order to attract maximum approval from Iraq's parliament. Abshenas wrote that during Iraqi elections officials attempt to portray themselves as being bipartisan and independent and there is no country better suited than Iran for officials to use in order to achieve this end, either through indirect criticism or with friendly gestures toward Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional foe. Abshenas noted that Abadi visited Saudi Arabia before visiting Iran, despite the closer relations between Tehran and Baghdad. Abshenas said that Iranians, unlike the Americans, do not incessantly remind the Iraqis of Iranian contributions in the fight against IS, nor of Iran's support for Abadi's rise to the position of prime minister. The article suggested that Abadi may not only turn his back on Iran but could also one day turn against Iran. A number of domestic Iranian media outlets also covered Iraqi criticism of Abadi's decision to cooperate with US sanctions, particularly comments by Iraqi groups who are politically aligned with Iran. In an article for IR Diplomacy, analyst Mohammad Sadeghi al-Hashemi wrote that Iran "has always been honorable with respect to Iraq." He asked how Abadi could make such a decision knowing that sanctions will lead to "hunger, poverty, sickness and deprivation." He continued that Abadi's support of US sanctions has "no benefit for the people of Iraq." Hashemi concluded that Abadi's statement that Iraq will abide by US sanctions indicates that he is seeking Washington's approval for the formation of his government after the elections. He questioned why Iraq should stand alone to support these sanctions when Russia, Europe, China, Pakistan and India have all expressed opposition to them. Seyyed Hashem al-Mousavi, a spokesman for Kataib Hezbollah, a Shiite paramilitary group that receives Iranian support, asked, "Since when has the Iraqi nation become part of the project to sanction other nations?" Referring to the group's fight against the Islamic State, he said, "We have given blood for the consolidation of the country and we will not allow anyone to encroach upon our independence." Echoing similar comments made by Hashemi, Mousavi said, "This is not a [United Nations] Security Council decision that we must submit to." He added, "Two-thirds of the world is standing with Iran." Referring to Iran's support in the fight against IS and Iranian advisers killed in Iraq by the terrorist group, Mousavi said, "It is not clear who is advising you? Is the reward for goodness not goodness that you cooperate with Iran's enemies? How will you answer the people of Iran after they supported us with all of their being? How will you answer the families of their martyrs?" RAMALLAH, West Bank Palestinians in the old town of Hebron were recently surprised to see armed and uniformed officers of the Palestinian security forces patrolling the town for the first time since 1997. The city in the southern West Bank is divided into two parts under the Hebron Protocol signed in 1997 between Israel and the PLO. Area H1 covers 80% of the city and is under Palestinian control. Area H2 includes the old town, the Ibrahimi Mosque and some neighborhoods and is under both Israeli security control and Palestinian civilian control. The pact followed bilateral agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) for the redeployment of Israeli military forces in Hebron based on the Oslo Accord. Col. Ahmed Abu al-Rab, the director general of the Palestinian police in Hebron, told Al-Monitor the security delegation entered the old town on July 31 in coordination with the Israeli authorities to reach out to the residents and show them that Palestinian security, although not [permanently] deployed in the area, is there to protect and assist them. This also conveys a message to lawbreakers that security forces can get to them no matter where they try to hide. Abu Rab added, The old town of Hebron and the areas under Israeli security control have turned into a hideout for lawbreakers, drug traffickers and fugitives, as they believe Palestinian security won't be able to reach them there. Although the Palestinian security services won't be able to stay in the area permanently or carry out security operations without coordinating with the Israeli side, they have devised a plan to help residents. We formed a security committee with locals and we have officers already residing in these areas. We keep in touch with residents to solve outstanding problems such as arresting outlaws and drug traffickers, Abu Rab said. "This committee and these officers will coordinate with the Hebron governorate, which has 150 inspectors working around the clock in the area. Abu Rab explained that the Palestinian security services has a list of wanted individuals accused of intimidating residents and promoting drugs who will be pursued in cooperation with locals. Israel agreed to this patrol following a request submitted by the Palestinian Liaison Office in Hebron and not in response to a specific security incident, according to Abu Rab. He added that Palestinians have been submitting such requests for years, and now the patrol can respond to residents' complaints. Hebron Gov. Kamel Hamid told Al-Monitor, The Palestinian side has never stopped demanding that Israel allow the Palestinian security services to deploy officers in these areas to impose security through liaison offices and direct Palestinian-Israeli coordination or through international parties such as European ambassadors and consuls, and even through the Red Cross and the Temporary International Presence in Hebron. Yet Israel refused. Hamid explained, The Palestinian side insisted that security officers patrol the old town wearing their uniforms and carrying their weapons to show lawbreakers that we are able to get to them and that we are ready to deploy our officers in the area whenever we get the chance and Israel allows it. We will be present, be it permanently or temporarily, in official military uniforms or civilian wear. Today, thanks to the efforts of the Palestinian Liaison Office, the Israeli authorities have finally agreed, he said. The day after the patrol, when Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah inaugurated the new ophthalmology and pediatrics departments at Mohammed Ali al-Muhtasib Hospital in the old town, he allowed his bodyguards and armed Palestinian security forces to spread out and secure the area. More than 40,000 Palestinians live in Area H2 alongside about 800 Jewish settlers. The Hebron municipality provides services to the Palestinians. The PA and its institutions are responsible for providing services to locals. Israel does not offer a single thing. Instead, it imposes strict measures on a daily basis, such as erecting military checkpoints, raiding homes and arresting locals, in an attempt to force them out of the area, Hamid added. The absence of Palestinian security in the old town has contributed to its economic deterioration, he said, explaining, Commerce is completely halted. Back in the day, the old town was an economic hub for the entire West Bank, with hundreds of shops to serve pilgrims visiting the Ibrahimi Mosque. Tariq al-Tamimi, the president of the Hebron Chamber of Commerce, said citizens and shop owners were pleased to see the Palestinian security forces came through. He told Al-Monitor he hopes it will reassure shop owners to reopen their businesses. He explained that the Israeli army had ordered 512 shops to close in the name of protecting settlers, particularly since the second intifada, which broke out in 2000. More than 1,300 shops followed suit due to the lack of business and security, as thieves and drug traffickers increasingly threatened shops. Tamimi said the Palestinian security services promised shop owners that this visit was just the first of many, and that they should expect a larger presence in the future through continuous coordination with Israel. But these promises need the approval of Israeli authorities, who have yet to comment on the possibility of allowing more patrols, even for a few hours. As the PA attempts to address the security issue in the old town, businesses are trying to revive commerce and tourism. Tamimi said that within a couple of months, the Chamber of Commerce will open a large consumer institution in the old town to sell goods to shops at wholesale prices. We want to strengthen the resilience of shop owners and encourage those who closed their businesses to reopen them, as well as urge residents to hit the shops again, he added. Abu Rab noted that the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, whose mission is to preserve Hebron's cultural heritage while reviving the area, is collaborating with the Ministry of Tourism and the Palestinian police to reopen the old town tourist route that passes through lanes and alleys to reach the Ibrahimi Mosque. He added that police patrols and private security already mind the entrances of Hebron to guide tourist buses coming from inside the Green Line to visit the old town. Still, the PAs efforts to strengthen security and provide services will depend on Israel as long as it controls the area. ALEPPO, Syria In cooperation with the local councils of the Euphrates Shield area in Aleppo, the Turkish government is seeking to establish a road network to connect the main cities of the area and link them with the southern Turkish provinces of Gaziantep and Kilis, which are home to hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. While the cost is yet to be revealed, the project will be carried out in cooperation between the local councils of the Euphrates Shield area and the Turkish government. Syrian engineers and technicians will be employed by the Turkish government to work with Turkish engineers. Alaa Hamad, the director of the information office at al-Rai border crossing, told Al-Monitor, The construction of the freeway to the east of al-Rai city was completed July 27. The freeway, whose construction required around three months, extends from al-Rai crossing on the border with Turkey to al-Bab road and stretches over 6 kilometers [3.7 miles]. It is a two-lane freeway established with the support of the Turkish government. The local council in the city of al-Rai had previously received support from the Turkish government to pave and repair the roads linking the city with the surrounding villages and towns. According to officials from the local councils of the Euphrates Shield area, Turkish companies are to build new freeways to link al-Rai and its border crossing with other cities in the Euphrates Shield area such as al-Bab, Azaz and Jarablus. In mid-June, the local council of the city of Azaz established a road linking the eastern side of the city to the Bab al-Salameh border crossing with the support of the Turkish government. The two-lane freeway extends about 5 kilometers (3 miles) and has freed drivers from needing to travel through the center of Azaz, where traffic congestion is most intense. Mohamed Omar, the director of the services office at the local council of Azaz, told Al-Monitor, There is a plan to pave and repair a set of roads linking the town of Azaz to the nearby villages and towns while repairing and renovating the roads inside the city of Azaz in cooperation between the local council of Azaz and the Turkish government. Omar said that Turkish construction companies have the equipment needed for highway building that is not available to the local councils. The local councils will handle repair of the roads within the cities, mostly with equipment provided by the Turkish government and asphalt and other supplies brought from Turkey. The modern and fast road network will provide easy access to raw materials and attract Turkish investments to the Euphrates Shield area, linking the economy of the area with that of the southern provinces of Turkey. There is also a plan to build a 20-kilometer [12.4-mile] freeway between the city of Azaz and the city of Mareh in the northern countryside of Aleppo. I believe that such methods will grease the economic wheels of Azaz in particular and facilitate the movement of passengers, Omar added. He explained that the main cities in the Euphrates Shield area Azaz, al-Bab, Mareh, Jarablus, al-Rai and Akhtarin are poorly connected by badly pitted roads. They have not been repaired or paved since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011. With the support of the Turkish government, the local council in the city of Jarablus in the northeastern Aleppo countryside repaired and paved the roads in the city and its outskirts in June. The maintenance works included roads to the west of the city, between al-Hajaliah and Jarablus, and several others linking the city to nearby towns and villages. Ali Rajab, the director of the services office at the local council of the city of al-Bab, told Al-Monitor, Improving the roads of the Euphrates Shield area and establishing a new road network interconnecting major cities would play a great economic, social and urban role in the area. Also, such plans can achieve growth and prosperity and leave an impact on all other sectors. Rajab explained, The road network in the Euphrates Shield area will feature two-lane freeways interconnecting the cities of al-Bab, Jarablus, Azaz, al-Rai, Mareh and Akhtarin. This network will also connect these cities with al-Rai crossing, the Bab al-Salameh crossing and the Jarablus crossing on the border with Turkey." He added, "While the Turkish government will undertake the construction of this network of roads in the coming period, it has yet to schedule the works. As tensions simmered between Ankara and Washington over detained American pastor Andrew Brunson, the leaders of Turkeys non-Muslim minorities issued a joint statement July 31 to deny that they faced any oppression in the country. The timing of the move was rather remarkable, and for Garo Paylan, an ethnic Armenian lawmaker for the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), the issuance of such a declaration was in itself a proof that we are not free. The 18 Christian and Jewish community leaders who signed the declaration asserted that they practiced their faiths freely, that statements alleging and/or alluding to oppression are completely untrue and that many grievances experienced in the past have been resolved. Leading the signatory list was Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, whose community has been waiting for 47 years now to have its theological school reopened, followed by Archbishop Aram Atesyan, the acting spiritual head of the Armenian community, which is unable to elect its own patriarch because of government interference. Fourth on the list was Yusuf Cetin, the acting patriarch of the Syriac community, which has seen many of its church properties seized by the state, while most other signatories represented foundations crippled by red tape. What led minority leaders to issue such a statement at a time when their misgivings are known to be on the rise? Tuma Celik, a Syriac community leader who became an HDP deputy in the June elections, told Al-Monitor that church and foundation leaders were asked to make the statement to counter the negative reverberations of Brunsons detention. The request came from the Turkish state via a channel within the non-Muslim minorities. As community representatives discussed the request a day after it was communicated, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin invited them to a meeting scheduled for two days later. The leaders could not bring themselves to go to the meeting without fulfilling the request and issued the statement. The meeting with Kalin took place in Istanbul the following day. Celik, who is privy to the discussions among community leaders, said the declaration was issued out of apprehension that failing to do so would cause them trouble with the government. He noted that there was no direct order from Ankara and that one of our own voiced the request. The state has always had arms within [the minorities], he said. Some people are more statist than the state itself. According to Celik, Kalins invitation cornered the leaders. They feared they would be held to account if they went to the meeting without having issued the statement, he said. And releasing it after the meeting, they thought, would create the impression they were acting under pressure. Celik grumbled that the minorities are being used against the West, while at home they are seen as an outpost of the West rather than citizens. According to the lawmaker, the declaration was aimed at the international public amid the escalating row over the pastors detention. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly took advantage of the declaration even before the ink on it was dry, he said. Celik was referring to Erdogans remarks on Aug. 1, in which he slammed Washingtons hardening stance against Ankara, which culminated in sanctions later in the day. The statement issued by Turkeys religious minorities yesterday is very meaningful. Turkey has no problem with religious minorities, Erdogan said. The threatening tone of the evangelist and Zionist mindsets in the United States is unacceptable. The Armenian communitys Agos newspaper opined that the declaration was meant as a response to US Vice President Mike Pences description of Brunson as a victim of religious persecution during an international gathering on religious freedoms. Yet [the message of] such declarations is understood not as We are under no pressure but rather as Well be in trouble if we dont sign, Agos reported. For Rober Koptas, an Armenian writer and publisher, the declaration was a public relations attempt by Ankara over the Brunson affair. At a time when religious minorities have a long list of grievances and all sorts of discrimination persists, such declarations illustrate only the mangle in which those people are squeezed, Koptas told Al-Monitor. The Justice and Development Party has chosen the very path that befits oppressive regimes, using its power to further crush the minorities, which are already just a handful of people, he added. Though their leaders claim to be fine, Turkeys non-Muslim minorities are going through bad times again. Out of safety fears, individuals are increasingly seeking refuge in the West, while institutions face interference in their internal affairs and dispossession attempts. Property usurpation is the most poignant problem. Under a 2012 legal amendment, many villages in Turkey were incorporated into cities as neighborhoods, which opened the door to new property seizures, a problem that has long haunted non-Muslim communities. In 2016, Syriac properties such as churches, monasteries, cemeteries and land registered to village legal entities in regions such as Mardin, Midyat and Nusaybin were transferred to the Treasury. A liquidation commission was supposed to sort out church properties and return them to the Syriacs, but the authorities did not keep their promise. Moreover, the churches, monasteries and cemeteries were handed over to the Religious Affairs Directorate (RAD), a government body dealing with Muslim affairs. Due to the outcry that followed, the decision was retracted, but the properties went back to the Treasury. The ensuing legal and political efforts secured the return of 56 properties. Despite Erdogans pledges, the Mor Gabriel Monastery, a 1,600-year-old Syriac icon near Midyat, failed to retrieve 18 out of 30 properties. According to Celik, the returned properties include churches, monasteries and cemeteries, while agricultural lands remain with the Treasury. Another problem stems from legal machinations that are paralyzing minority foundations. In 2013, Ankara scrapped a bylaw regulating the election of administrative organs at such foundations, but a new one has yet to be issued. As a result, the foundations are unable to hold elections to fill positions vacated by deceased, sick or resigned members, which is effectively disabling them. A fresh controversy coincided with the declaration. The authorities allocated a first-degree protected area and a historical building on Istanbuls Heybeliada Island to the RAD. While the Orthodox theological school on the island remains closed, the RAD is planning to build an Islamic education complex nearby. The theological school, founded in 1844 to train clergy for Orthodox churches across the world, closed its doors in 1971 due to legal restrictions on private higher education institutions. Efforts to reopen the seminary have turned into a political saga, with the European Union and the United States also stepping in at times. In this context, the RADs project not only flouts Christian sensitivities but also rings like a religious score-settling. Some see a wider effort to undo the fabric of Heybeliada and several nearby islets, where many of Istanbuls remaining Christians live. A prominent member of the Christian community, who asked for anonymity, said, The latest development on Heybeliada is an extension of efforts to change the sociological and natural fabric of the islands. Due to irregular tourism, a serious security gap has emerged there in the past seven or eight years. The municipality budgets have been axed. The disruption in services is at an extent that hampers the islanders rights to benefit from the island and even their own homes. Changes in [construction restrictions] are threatening the natural fabric of the island. Drug abuse is not being prevented, laying the ground for a cultural degeneration. As a result of all those problems, islanders are leaving. As a result, minority members, especially the young, are increasingly looking for new lives abroad. The number of those leaving has notably increased in the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt. In the case of the Syriacs, Celik said some 5,000 people are currently living in their ancestral lands in southeastern Turkey and that 10% of them had returned from Europe in the 2000s. They had rebuilt their homes and started new lives, but some of them approximately 80-100 people have gone back to Europe already. The state of affairs is scaring them, Celik said. In sum, the government is making life tougher in many aspects for non-Muslim minorities, while generously smoothing the way for Islamic entities. To stay clear of trouble, minority members a handful of remnants feel compelled to assert they are fine, but they are not. This article discusses the July 13 meeting of the South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN). SFAN is the advisory body for the Ryan White Care (RWC) program of the Florida Department of Health in Broward. Reflecting current efforts to integrate HIV prevention with HIV treatment, this SFAN meeting primarily discussed Floridas program to make PrEP available in all 67 of its counties. The Statewide PrEP Program Mara Michniewicz, Fl-DOH Bureau of HIV/AIDS, phoned into SFAN from Tallahassee. She discussed progress in Florida's efforts to make PrEP available in all of its 67 counties. Florida is using its Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) clinics to identify people at high risk and to offer them PrEP. As of July 2, 2018, 57 percent of Florida's counties are providing PrEP. About 1,200 clients have received PrEP through County Health Clinics. In addition, 28 percent of Floridas counties are providing Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in Emergency Rooms. PEP works as a kind of "morning after pill" to prevent HIV acquisition. About 60 people in Florida have received PEP. In 2017, more newly diagnosed HIV cases occurred among Blacks in Florida than in any other racial group. This indicates that PrEP could help Floridas Black population. County health data, however, shows that fewer Blacks are taking PrEP compared with other racial groups. The Broward PrEP Program In Broward, the County Health Department does not operate an STI clinic. Instead, it has a contract with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to run an STI clinic, The Wellness Center. Robert Parisi of AHF reported on Browards PrEP program at The Wellness Center. Patients in an STI clinic, like The Wellness Center, may be at high risk for acquiring HIV. If a patient has an interest in PrEP, the staff at The Wellness Center will discuss PrEP with them. If the staff determines a patient has high risk for HIV, they will discuss PrEP with them. If a patient decides to start PrEP, they can leave the Center with a 10-day supply for PrEP. Patients with labs indicating good liver and kidney function will get a three-month prescription for PrEP. The Patient Assistance Program will cover costs for patients without insurance. Patients with private insurance will receive a copay assist card to help with their copays. From June 1, 2018 to July 18, 2018, the Wellness Center has given 309 people access to PrEP. Gay and bi men make up about 88 percent of these 309 PrEP users. Parisi reported that three groups at risk for HIV have less interest in PrEP than others have. Straight people, transgender people, and sex workers have lower rates of PrEP uptake. He suggested that sex workers may be concerned about running into their clients at an STI clinics. FCPN Representation SFAN elects its representatives to the Florida Comprehensive Planning Network (FCPN) every two years. The FCPN represents the entire state. It advises the Florida Department of Health about the RWC program. Kim Saiswick of Holy Cross Hospital has represented SFAN on this body. Joey Wynn, Chair of SFAN has served as the alternate. SFAN re-elected them as its representatives. Announcements Lynn Albertelli of ViiV Heatthcare announced that ViiV will host an event at ArtServe about HIV treatment on August 2, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Food will be provided. To reserve a spot, RSVP at HIVevent.com or call 1-844-573-7024. ArtServe is located at 1350 East Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale. The Wellness Center is located at 750 SE 3rd Ave., Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale. Next SFAN Meeting: Friday, August 3, 2018 at 10 a.m., at the Holy Cross Healthplex, 1000 NE 56th Street, Ft. Lauderdale. SFAN welcomes newcomers. Follow Sean McShee on Twitter @SeanMcShee Birmingham-based babysitter app Wyndy has raised $1 million in seed funding, the company announced on Thursday. Wyndy's investors are all Birmingham-based and include Chad Trull, president and chief executive officer of Hospicelink Inc. The app, which launched in March 2017, connects parents to college-enrolled babysitters. Wyndy streamlines the process of finding, booking and paying a babysitter. All babysitters undergo a thorough application process and background check. Since its launch, Wyndy has expanded to Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Charlottesville, Va. The company now has plans to launch in three major markets this fall: Dallas-Fort Worth; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; and Atlanta. Tommy Mayfield, CEO and founder of Wyndy, said the support of local investors is key to the advancement of Wyndy's brand and geographical footprint. "The money has allowed us to build out our team, accelerate our product development timeline, and focus on expanding to new cities while continuing to drive growth in our existing markets" he said in a statement. In addition to the recent fundraising, Wyndy was also awarded $100,000 from the Velocity Fund after completing Innovation Depot's Velocity Accelerator Program in May. The company won $80,550 from Alabama Launchpad last May. "Innovation Depot is very proud of the continued success of Wyndy," said Devon Laney, president and CEO of Innovation Depot. "As a graduate of our Velocity Accelerator Program and now a resident of Innovation Depot, Tommy is leading Wyndy on an incredible growth trajectory that is validated by this round of funding. We could not be more excited about Wyndy's potential." For more information on the app, click here or search for the app if your smart phone's app store. St. Paul's Cathedral held its annual memorial Mass on Friday to remember its former pastor, a priest who was killed 97 years ago at the front of the cathedral. The Rev. James E. Coyle, who had been pastor of St. Paul's Cathedral since 1904, was shot to death on the porch of the wood-frame rectory, the priest's house next to the cathedral, on Aug. 11, 1921. The murder trial was historic, partly because of the role played by future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. Black defended the accused killer, the Rev. Edwin R. Stephenson, who was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan paid the legal expenses of Stephenson, who was acquitted by a jury that included several Klan members, including the jury foreman, according to Ohio State University law professor Sharon Davies, author of "Rising Road: A True Tale of Love, Race and Religion in America," about the Coyle case. "The Klan held enormously successful fundraising drives across Alabama to raise money for the defense," Davies said. "They portrayed it as a Methodist minister father who shot a Catholic priest trying to steal his daughter away from her religion, to seduce his daughter into the Catholic Church." Stephenson, who conducted weddings at the Jefferson County Courthouse, was accused of gunning down Coyle after becoming irate over Coyle's officiating at the marriage of Stephenson's daughter, Ruth, to a Puerto Rican, Pedro Gussman. As defense attorney, Hugo Black had Gussman summoned into the courtroom and questioned him about his curly hair and skin color. Lights were dimmed in the courtroom so the darkness of Gussman's complexion would be accentuated, said an Oct. 20, 1921, newspaper account of the final day of the trial. Black gained an acquittal. "That really does illustrate, beautifully and awfully, the lengths that this future Supreme Court justice was willing to go to in defense of a killer," Davies said. "It only worked because it exploited the bigotries of the day, anti-Catholicism and racism." Black joined the Klan 18 months after the trial, Davies said. Years later Black renounced his Klan ties and became one of the most liberal members of the U.S. Supreme Court. After the acquittal, Stephenson once again was a regular at the courthouse, conducting marriages. Jim Pinto, author of "Killed in the Line of Duty," has compiled contemporaneous accounts of the killing of Coyle. Coyle knew there was a chance he would be killed, but sat on the porch the evening after the wedding, just as he did every night. "He knew he could be killed, but he still sat on the porch and said his prayers," Pinto said. "He didn't cower back." Some believe that Coyle should be declared an official martyr of the church. "I think that's going to happen," Pinto said. Coyle was an outspoken opponent of the prevalent anti-Catholic bigotry in the South in the 1920s. "He was forthright in speaking out on religious freedom and paid a price for it," said Bishop Robert J. Baker, head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham. "We support the memory of Father Coyle and are grateful for the ecumenical spirit that has prevailed," Baker said. While the diocese has stressed an annual remembrance of the killing of Coyle, it's not holding grudges, Baker said. "The relations between us and the Methodist church have changed so drastically," Baker said. "Remembering this event in no way reflects negatively on the other churches. The remembrance casts no aspersions on any other church. It was the times we lived in. We know we've come a long way from there." After his acquittal, Stephenson never reconciled with his daughter Ruth, his only child. Gussman, the Puerto Rican man who married Ruth, was killed on Valentine's Day 1934 in a hit-and-run accident steps away from where Coyle was killed, in front of St. Paul's Cathedral. "They never found the person who hit him," Davies said. People don't grasp today the level of anti-Catholic bigotry that was rampant in America at the time of Coyle's slaying, Davies said. The state Legislature enacted the Alabama Convent Inspection law in 1919 to authorize officials without a warrant to search convents to see whether any person found inside the convent was being "involuntarily confined" or "unlawfully held," Davies said. "My students laugh," Davies said. "They can't believe these laws existed. State legislatures were convinced they needed these laws to protect against the Catholic threat." There was a fear Protestant girls would be kidnapped, forced to become Catholic nuns and held against their will, Davies said. The Coyle case played into those fears because Ruth, as an independent-minded 18-year-old, had converted to Catholicism against the will of her father. Coyle debated those who spread the Ku Klux Klan attacks against Catholics, and federal officials at one point warned Coyle's bishop that Coyle had been the target of death threats, Davies said. "There were threats to burn the church to the ground," she said. "This was a time when lectures and sermons were routinely given from pulpits across Birmingham that spewed anti-Catholicism." Anti-Catholicism became a key plank of the Ku Klux Klan. "The Klan had expanded to attacking Catholics, Jews and foreigners, along with blacks," Davies said. "It rebranded as a patriotic organization that existed to defend the flag, the Constitution and the American way of life that the Klan said was under attack by Catholics who owed their allegiance to a foreign leader, the pope." Davies, a former prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, said she was encouraged that the prosecutor in the murder trial, Joe Tate, pushed forward even though the odds were stacked against the prosecution. "They had a judge that was making all kinds of rulings that were indefensible, such as excluding an eyewitness that refuted everything Stephenson said happened on the porch between him and the priest. It was an uphill battle." The racist impulses exploited by the young defense attorney in 1921 were later curbed with the help of Supreme Court decisions in which Hugo Black played a key role, such as the 1954 Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka decision overturning school segregation and the 1967 Loving vs. Virginia case overturning Virginia's ban on interracial marriage. Black served as a U.S. senator from Alabama from 1927-37, and associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1937-71. "It's a good thing to remember where he began," Davies said. "It gives us a greater appreciation for where he ended up. It reflected the movement of the nation." The leader of a northeast Alabama methamphetamine conspiracy was sentenced to life in federal prison. Seven other defendants involved in the conspiracy received sentences ranging from two to 14 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday afternoon. The leader of the Etowah County-based conspiracy, 37-year-old Jeff Morris Beam Jr., of Gadsden, was sentenced to life in prison by U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala. "The ringleader of this drug-trafficking operation will spend the remainder of his youth, middle age and the rest of his life in federal prison," U.S. Attorney Jay Town said. "All eight of his co-defendants, to include his sister, have been reserved bed space in a federal prison, half of whom will be there for at least half a decade. Federal, state and local law enforcement have a shared commitment to take drug traffickers off the streets and direct them to federal custody where there is no sanctuary of parole." The operation trafficked meth in Etowah, Marshall and Calhoun counties in Alabama and in area of northwest Georgia, officials said. In April, a federal jury convicted Beam of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of meth between December 2014 and April 29, 2016. He was also convicted for distributing 50 grams or more of meth on Aug. 18, 2015 and for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more on Aug. 25, 2015. The total amount of meth trafficked through the conspiracy was 33 kilograms, or nearly 73 pounds, officials said. Beam's sister, 41-year-old Jamie Leann Beam, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. She pleaded guilty in March to the conspiracy and to possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth on July 1, 2015, and possessing with intent to distribute five grams or more on Oct. 14, 2015, both in Etowah County. Henry Curtis Gilley, 34, pleaded guilty in January to the conspiracy and to one count of possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth. The judge sentenced Gilley to 12 years in prison. Harold Dewayne Deal, 39, pleaded guilty in January to possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth, possessing a firearm in the furtherance of drug trafficking and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The judge sentenced Deal to 10 years and 10 months in prison. Richard Lee Kirby, 35, pleaded guilty in January to possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth. Kirby was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison. Richard Wendell Edmondson, 36, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and to two counts of possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth, once in Calhoun County on Jan. 3, 2016, and in Etowah County, along with co-defendant Roy Claude Farlow Jr., 58, on March 8, 2016. Edmondson was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The previous defendants all resided in Gadsden. Hannah Blair Crowder, 25, of Atalla, pleaded guilty in January to the conspiracy, possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams and possessing with intent to distribute more than five grams of meth. She was sentenced to seven years and seven months in prison. Farlow, also of Atalla, pleaded guilty in January to the conspiracy and to one county of possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth. Farlow was sentenced to two years and four months in prison. "The word done by the North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force dismantled this criminal enterprise, which was bringing large quantities of meth to the streets of Etowah County," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. "I want to thank the Etowah County Drug Task Force, the Etowah County District Attorney's Office, the Anniston Police Department, and the Calhoun County District Attorney's Office for their work to help bring Beam and his criminal organization to the justice they deserve." The FBI investigated the case in conjunction with the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant Attorneys Laura D. Hodge and Erica Williamson Barnes prosecuted the case. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has granted Brookwood Baptist Medical Center an extension for funding on services for Medicare and Medicaid patients, federal officials confirm. The results of the federal survey completed Thursday night determined the hospital could continue participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs, but will face another survey in the future. Hospital officials said they do not know when the hospital will be surveyed again. "We are pleased to report that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) survey has concluded, and Brookwood Baptist Medical Center's action plan has been accepted. We will continue to fully participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs without interruption. There is more work ahead, and we will be resurveyed in the future, but we are no longer in immediate jeopardy status," hospital CEO Keith Parrott said in a statement Thursday night. "I am proud that our team was able to successfully make the organizational and procedural changes required. Going forward, we will continue to work with our governing agencies, including CMS and the Alabama Department of Public Health, to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to patient safety and implementation of our corrective actions. Brookwood Baptist Medical Center takes patient safety very seriously and remains fully committed to providing the quality of care our community expects." A CMS spokeswoman said Friday morning that terms had been reached with Brookwood that allows the hospital to work to come into compliance within the next 60 days. "The immediate jeopardies have been abated at this time, but the hospital remains in noncompliance status and must work to correct the deficiencies cited to protect the health and safety of the facility's patients," said CMS spokeswoman April Washington. "We continue to work with the state survey agency to monitor the facility. Our first priority is to project the health and safety of the facility's patients." The hospital, facing a string of patient deaths, was told last month by federal officials that payments from Medicare and Medicaid could end Aug. 9. It was the second time the hospital had received that warning in a little more than two months. Brookwood is a 645-bed, full-service hospital located just to the east of Highway 31 and south of Lakeshore Drive. It's owned by Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, a for-profit hospital chain. Its first warning came after a patient died in the psychiatric department in April. The patient suffered a heart attack after being restrained. CMS officials said hospital staff didn't follow proper procedures for physically restraining a patient. Hospital officials submitted a plan of correction and were approved to continue providing services to Medicare and Medicaid patients in May. However, a survey completed in mid-July discovered more problems, bringing another warning from CMS. Inspectors said two patient deaths, one severe injury and trauma from falls could have been prevented by following hospital procedures. Inspectors also found hospital staff failed to properly track patients' vital signs, putting them in danger of death or injury. One investigator discovered no staff members, including nurses, entered a patient's room for 10 hours in May. In January, a bipolar patient in a psychiatric program escaped the facility and jumped from a parking garage. The patient disappeared after she checked in for treatment, but before the first group therapy session. Records show her husband called several times to check on her and warn staff she might try to leave, according to an inspection report. According to the report, staff failed to notice the patient had escaped and never tried to track her down. In May, a 35-year-old patient nearly died after an extreme drop in blood pressure went untreated by hospital staff. Reports show the nurse did not notify the doctor of the patient's decreasing pressure until the patient was unresponsive. The patient was placed on a ventilator and treated in intensive care for more than a week. On June 10, a patient died after receiving a dose of pain medication for possible indigestion. The monitor indicated the patient's pulse had stopped 15 minutes before a family member notified staff. The monitor technician failed to notice a decline in the patient's heart rate before the heart stopped. At least one other patient with diagnoses of psychosis and depression left the hospital in July and was found in nearby woods. Hazmat crews responded to the helipad at UAB Hospital Thursday night after crews transporting a patient injured in a explosion had a reaction to a substance on the patient, officials said. The patient was "decontaminated" upon arrival at the hospital, UAB spokesperson Tyler Greer told AL.com in an email. Hospital officials said they did not know where the explosion happened. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Capt. Harold Watson said the crew on the medical helicopter transporting the patient "experienced a reaction" to a substance on the patient. Hazmat crews did an open air monitoring, where they use devices capable of detecting chemicals and gases in the air, and did not identify anything out of the ordinatry, Watson said. "A patient flown to UAB earlier this evening from an explosion was decontaminated upon arrival to the hospital. This occurred after the crew complained of minor irritations upon arrival. Out of an abundance of caution, UAB asked the Birmingham fire department to inspect the aircraft and decontaminate it if necessary. No medical personnel were treated," Greer said in a statement. An earlier statement from the hospital said a meth lab was involved in the explosion, but hospital officials now say they are unsure if a meth lab was involved. Officials did say a propane tank was involved. Hazmat units have now cleared the area, Watson said. Updated at 10:50 p.m. to add information from hospital officials about the nature of the explosion. A former Madison County sheriff's investigator has pleaded guilty in a child molestation case and was sentenced to one year of probation. Roland Campos, a longtime investigator, resigned after being charged with sexual abuse last year. Campos, 64, pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor sex abuse charge, and prosecutors agreed to dismiss the second charge, which is a felony. Because Madison County's judges recused from the case, Campos was sentenced by Jackson County Circuit Judge John Graham. Graham sentenced Campos to one year in jail but suspended that sentence for one year of supervised probation, court records show. Campos also is required to register as a sex offender. One year in the county jail is the maximum sentence for a misdemeanor. The felony, which was dismissed, carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The case began Aug. 18, 2017 when the 12-year-old victim reported sexual abuse to the guidance counselor at her middle school, police have said. The victim was taken to the National Child Advocacy Center for a forensic interview, in which she said Campos had touched her genitals and breasts, a Huntsville police investigator testified at a hearing last year. The abuse allegedly happened in February. As the investigation continued, authorities learned the child also had disclosed the sexual abuse allegations to her mother and a local pastor, according to police. The pastor, Michael Walker, of Southside Baptist Church, has been arrested and accused of failing to report to the abuse. Campos attended Walker's church. Walker's case is set for trial later this year. The mother told police Campos admitted to molesting the victim, according to the investigator's testimony. Further details about the circumstances of the alleged confession weren't revealed in court. AL.com isn't publishing further details about the abuse to protect the identity of the victim. The local judges recused because of concerns about the optics of the case. The sheriff's office handed over the investigation to Huntsville police detectives. The Attorney General's office prosecuted the case after the local district attorney's office recused. Campos was a 10-year employee of the sheriff's office, where he investigated white-collar crimes, like fraud and identity theft. He resigned his position just a few hours after the abuse was reported to police. Other members of Campos' family have been accused or convicted of sex crimes. His son, also named Roland, was sentenced to two terms of life in prison without parole in 2014 for sodomizing a 5-year-old girl while he was allegedly dating the victim's mother. Campos' brother, Russell Leland Campos, was charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 in 2011. Those charges were dropped in 2014 when the alleged victim in the case was unable to testify due to the "ongoing effects of psychological trauma." Updated Aug. 21, 2018 to show Michael Walker's charge has been dropped. At the urging of Mayor Tommy Battle, the city council agreed Thursday to pay legal expenses for the Huntsville police officer indicted for murder. The council voted 4-0 to cover the cost of the criminal defense for William Darby, a second-year officer who shot and killed an armed mentally ill man on April 3. Councilman Will Culver, a former Huntsville police officer, abstained from voting. Huntsville police determined in its internal review of the shooting of Jeffrey Parker that Darby acted within department policy. Following that ruling, the Madison County district attorney's office presented the case to a grand jury. The indictment was returned Aug. 3. Video of the shooting was captured by the body cameras of multiple HPD officers. The city of Huntsville has refused a public records request by AL.com to provide a copy of the video. Battle told AL.com following the council meeting that he has seen the video of the incident. "As an administration, we wanted to bring that (resolution)," Battle said. "It has been shown through our administration and through our internal affairs, through our shooting review board that what was done was done within policy. It's part of the FBI policy. And being done within policy, if an officer or any employee of the city of Huntsville works within the rules and regulations that we have and they find themselves in a libelous situation - and this is a libelous position - it would cost him thousands and thousands of dollars, which a two-year veteran probably does not have. "When they set themselves at risk because of what we asked them to do, then we felt like we needed to support him." District Attorney Robert Broussard, in announcing the indictment last week, said he was "gravely concerned" when he reviewed the investigative file. "We had concerns that this was not a justified shooting," Broussard told reporters. Police chief Mark McMurray said Darby is "by no means a murderer." Culver, who has worked for the city of Huntsville as a police officer as well as chief magistrate for municipal court before being elected to council in 2008, described paying for a police officer's criminal defense as "unprecedented." He cautioned against "opening the can of worms" of funding the defense of a police officer and said he had concerns about the precedent it would set. Councilwoman Jennie Robinson said she was concerned about the precedent it would set if the city did not stand behind Darby. Councilman Devyn Keith amended the resolution, putting a $75,000 cap on the city's expense. Expenditures beyond $75,000 would require approval by the council. The council passed the amendment 4-0 with Culver again abstaining. Speaking during discussion of the amendment, Battle said, "We need to back (Darby) and we don't need to put a dollar sign on it." All costs covered by the city must be approved by the city attorney's office, the resolution said. On the day of the shooting, Parker called police and said he suicidal and had a gun. Officers responded and told Parker to drop the gun, which police said he refused to do. After he refused to drop the gun, Darby shot him, police said. Darby and two other officers were placed on restricted duty following the shooting but were returned to work following the internal review board's exoneration. Darby is currently on paid administrative leave. The resolution approved by the council said that Darby acted "within the line and scope of his duty." The resolution also said that "funds are needed to employ legal counsel for Officer Darby, a city employee who is believed to have acted honestly and in good faith in his official capacity for the city." Updated today, Aug. 9, 2018, at 9:11 p.m. with new information throughout. Darby resolution by pgattis7719 on Scribd An 18-year-old and a 16-year-old face first-degree robbery charges after police say intended to rob a Domino's pizza delivery driver, Selma police said. The suspects, 18-year-old Tyre Webster and 16-year-old Jared Jamar Edwards were both charged with first-degree robbery and were being held in Dallas County Jail with bail set at $60,000 each. Edwards is charged as an adult, per Alabama law. Police had been monitoring the area of the 2300 block of Old Orrville Road after a serious of robberies and burglaries in the area, said Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier. A Domino's pizza delivery driver was most recently robbed in the area earlier this month, he said. Detectives were watching a delivery driver as he went to make a delivery in the 2300 block of Old Orrville Road, Collier said. The pizza had been ordered through a call from a number associated with Edwards. At some point while the Domino's driver was traveling to the delivery location, the person who ordered the pizza called to request a change in delivery location. The Domino's driver lost connection with the caller and continued driving on Old Orrville road while trying to reach the caller again. Jared Edwards Officers then noticed a suspicious red Mustang back into the driveway of an abandoned residence and turn the lights off The delivery driver drove passed the suspicious vehicle, which flashed the lights at the delivery driver in attempt to stop them, Collier said. The driver then returned to the Domino's store after speaking with a manager. Police then took Webster and Edwards into custody after conducting a traffic stop on the red Mustang, police said. Collier said both subjects were wearing hoodies pulled tight over their heads when they were taken into custody. Officers found a black rusted .38 Special revolver loaded with four live rounds inside the Mustang. "With the change of address, the flashing lights, the district attorney felt there was sufficient intent to make this a robbery charge," Collier said. There is no attempted robbery charge in Alabama law. Collier said investigators believe Webster and Edwards are the same suspects who robbed a Domino's delivery driver earlier this month. "Same motive, same description," he said. However, the two suspects have not been charged with that robbery. This case and the past robbery of a Domino's driver remain under investigation, Collier said. Until 22 years ago, Alabama's constitution declared that "[a]ll idiots and insane persons" in the state "shall be disqualified both from registering, and from voting." In 1996, the state legislature approved an amendment to the Constitution that repealed the section containing that dated language. The amendment replaced the section with one that states that "mentally incompetent" people should not be allowed to vote until "removal of disability" takes place. The idea that some people may not be sufficiently mentally competent to handle the responsibility of voting is a straightforward one, but in practice its application is more complicated. It is vital that voting rights only be taken away from people deemed "mentally incompetent" under the most extreme circumstances, according to advocates including Jenny Ryan, staff attorney at the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program. "We would fall on the side that a person should have their rights unless there is something egregious to take them away," Ryan said. As of April, in Alabama there were "755 people who are listed as not eligible [to vote] because of mental incompetence," John Bennett, Secretary of State John Merrill's deputy chief of staff, told AL.com. "In 2017, there were 33 instances of individuals being declared incompetent to the point of having their voting rights taken away," Bennett said, noting that Merrill's office compiles such data but plays no role in making decisions about individuals' mental competency. Between January 1 and April 12 of this year, six more people were added to that list. People who have been declared "mentally incompetent" did not earn that designation by failing a standardized test or committing a specific infraction. They were instead each given the designation by a county probate judge. Probate judges have sole discretion over who is deemed "mentally incompetent," and they are also the only officials who have the ability to lift such a designation. And while probate judges have revoked the voting rights of 755 Alabamians they designated as "mentally incompetent," many other people who have been designated as such have retained their voting rights. Even in extreme cases of "mental incompetence," judges have to specifically rescind voting rights when making such a determination, according to Bennett. "Involuntary commitments don't involve losing the right to vote," he said. "So you can be involuntarily committed for life and still have the right to vote. A judge would have to stipulate in their ruling that someone is not able to vote." Some Alabamians have regained the franchise by petitioning the probate judge who revoked their voting rights to reinstate them. Of the 755 people who lost the right to vote due to "mental incompetency," 140 applied to have their rights reinstated and were denied; the other 615 presumably never applied for reinstatement, according to Bennett. Merrill's office does not have a tally of how many people had their rights reinstated, though Bennett and others said that it does sometimes happen. Interestingly, the numbers vary greatly by county and do not track with population. Of the 615 people in Alabama as of April who lost their voting rights after they were declared "mentally incompetent" and have never applied for reinstatement, 182 are from Etowah County, which has a population of only about 103,000 people. That means Etowah - which is not one of the most populous counties in Alabama - accounts for nearly 30 percent of the statewide total. It is unclear why Etowah County is such an outlier. Another 126 are from the much larger Mobile County (2017 population estimate: 414,000) and 91 are from Morgan County (2017 population estimate: 119,000.) Meanwhile, only 28 people from the state's most populous county, Jefferson County, (2017 population estimate: 659,000) and just 19 people from Madison County (2017 population estimate: 361,000) had lost the franchise due to "mental incompetency." Sixteen counties had zero such cases, according to the data provided by Merrill's office. Policies concerning whether people with mental disabilities and people who have been placed under conservatorship can vote vary greatly from state to state. Some state's constitutions and laws presume that anyone can vote despite such statuses, while others bar every individual who has been placed under conservatorship from voting. Several states including California, Maryland and Nevada have taken steps in recent years to make it easier for people with such statuses to vote. But in Alabama, probate judges' wide discretion and the lack of meaningful outside oversight over the process of taking the franchise away from people declared "mentally incompetent" have contributed to the wide disparities between Alabama counties, according to Bennett. Kate Terry, chief clerk of the Morgan County Probate Court in Decatur, said the court has clear and defined protocols for determining when to declare people "mentally incompetent" and when to revoke their right to vote. "Whenever someone comes before the court for a hearing on guardianship over a person, based on the mental evaluation that is done by a professional evaluator they recommend whether their rights for voting should be revoked," she said. She added that if such a recommendation is made, the chief clerk of court turns the person's name over to the Morgan County Board of Registrars, which then removes the name from the voting rolls. Terry said that the process is effective and fair, and that the "there are not really that many folks" in the county who have lost their voting rights. "If you look at the percentages, we have 77,000 registered voters and only about 100 people have been removed from voting because of mental incompetence," she said. "That's not a high percentage. We haven't had a lot of people removed for that reason." Brock Boone, an attorney with the ACLU of Alabama, said in a statement that "[t]he ACLU of Alabama believes that voting rights may only be removed based on incapacity if it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the individual is unable to express (with reasonable accommodations as needed) an interest in participating in voting." Bennett emphasized the impact that decisions about "mental incompetence" and revoking voting rights have on individuals. "Essentially, to take it to that step you have to have a lot more evidence, and you're making a much more significant decision than just making an involuntary commitment," he said. "By taking voting rights and civic responsibilities away, you are basically saying that you're a danger to society and you should not be able to be out in society. It takes your humanness out to a degree; you can't interact in the way of the rest of the world." A man has been indicted on 15 felony charges for a "con game" at a now bankrupt crooked car lot where the Morgan County Sheriff invested jail food money, authorities said. Greg Steenson, already a federal felon, has been indicted on multiple charges of theft, forgery, fraud and financial exploitation of an elderly person, court records show. He's also accused of selling unregistered securities and selling securities as an unregistered agent. In 2015, Steenson was co-owner of Priceville Partners, LLC., which operated a used car lot in Morgan County. Steenson sold or traded to eight people vehicles for which he didn't hold legal titles, according to the indictments. "The victims either paid cash to Steenson or traded their vehicle, or a combination of the two, for vehicles for which the victims were unable to obtain titles," said Dan Lord, a spokesman for the Alabama Securities Commission, in a news release "Additionally, Steenson allegedly forged the signature of two victims on title applications." Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson called Steenson's activity a "con game." The car lot has repeatedly made news during the past three years, including when it was revealed Sheriff Ana Franklin had used the local jail inmate feeding account to invest $150,000 in Priceville Partners. The sheriff was held in contempt of court because she violated a federal court order by using the inmate food money. The sheriff and other investors have not been charged with any crimes associated with the car lot fraud allegations. The sheriff's ties to the car lot first surfaced when Priceville Partners filed bankruptcy. The sheriff's ex-boyfriend Steven Ziaja also was listed as a creditor in the bankruptcy filing. Ziaja, a now-former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency employee, has been indicted on more than a dozen charges, including using his position for personal gain. Authorities haven't said publicly whether his charges are connected to the car lot. Steenson initially was arrested for theft and forgery in August 2016. A grand jury this past week issued indictments on those charges as well as charges brought by Joseph Borg, director of the Alabama Securities Commission. Steenson was released on bail after his initial arrest, but Morgan County Circuit Judge Glenn Thompson today ordered he be held without bond. Anderson's office asked for a bond revocation because prosecutors say he violated the terms of his release. "Part of his bond conditions was he couldn't buy, sell or trade vehicles," Anderson said. "But he went to Birmingham and engaged in the same con game with two car dealers, promising he would deliver if they would invest." Because of Steenson's ties to the Morgan County sheriff, he is being held in the Limestone County jail. Steenson went to federal prison for a check-kiting scheme in the 90s. Kanazawa University-led researchers take measurements of the invisible electric and magnetic fields closely related to charged particles whirling through Earth's inner magnetosphere to help protect satellites from those particles Earth is constantly being hammered by charged particles emitted by the Sun that have enough power to make life on Earth almost impossible. We survive because Earth's magnetic field traps and deflects these particles, preventing the vast majority of them from ever reaching the planet's surface. The trapped particles bounce back and forth between the North and South poles in complex, ever-changing patterns that are also influenced by equally intricate and shifting electric fields. We get to enjoy the sight of those particles when the bands they move in (the Van Allen radiation belts) dip into our atmosphere near the poles creating the Northern (and Southern) lights. However, bursts of these particles can damage satellites and sensitive equipment on the ground. It is therefore vital to understand the intricacies of the radiation belts. So far, NASA have launched twin satellites to study the Van Allen belts--however, their orbits only allow them to explore the equatorial regions. This limits our ability to understand flow of particles and prevents us from predicting their effects on all satellites. To also explore regions further from the equator, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, a division of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, launched the Arase satellite in 2016. A Japan-based research team centered at Kanazawa University equipped the Arase satellite with multiple different sensors (termed the Plasma Wave Experiment) to probe the electric field and plasma waves in the Earth's inner magnetosphere. Now, they have collected their first set of data from their sensors, which they recently published in the Springer journal Earth, Planets and Space. The Arase consists primarily of electric and magnetic field detectors covering a wide frequency range; it can also measure plasma/particles in a wide energy range. To improve efficiency, an on-board computer studies the correlations between the fields and the particles before sending only the most important information back to Earth. "The Plasma Wave Experiment equipment has passed initial checks and has successfully acquired high quality data. Huge amount of burst waveform data has been taken, and we should soon know a lot more about mechanisms of wave-particle interaction occurring in the inner magnetosphere than before. Another strength of our project is that we can also compare the satellite data with data collected simultaneously on the ground. We expect those comparisons will greatly broaden our understanding of this area of science," first author Yoshiya Kasahara says. Understanding how electrons and other particles are hurled out of the magnetosphere onto our planet could be key to predicting such bursts and protecting against them. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. I can't say whether a green Huntsville cop screwed up when he answered a call to help a mentally ill and suicidal man and wound up shooting him dead. Neither can you. All we can count on are competing conclusions by public employees. Like Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard, a professional prosecutor who looked at the case and was "gravely concerned" that it "was not a justified shooting." A grand jury looked at the evidence and agreed. It saw enough to charge officer William Darby with murder. Murder. A fatal, violent act. As an individual. Not the city. Not the mayor or council. But Darby, the man who pulled the trigger. Then there's the Huntsville police chief, who assured his city that Darby is no murderer. And there's Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, who urged his city council to defend Darby, because he was totally sure the officer followed protocol and is doubly sure the officer is "innocent of the charges filed against him." And there's the council, which on a 4-0 vote decided this week to pay tens of thousands of dollars to defend their man. I can't say whether the shooting was right. Or wrong. Neither can you. But I also can't say whether the city of Huntsville is more committed to protecting itself, or its public. What's clear is that Huntsville's mayor and its city council and police department have simply decided the answer to those questions is none of your business. Even though it's the public's money. Even though it's the public's safety. Even though the public's innate right to know what happens its community is being left in tatters. Four members of the city council voted to spend up to $75,000 - 18 times what a public defender would get -- to defend their officer. Even as council member Will Culver, a former cop and chief court magistrate, abstained after pointing out that the city's decision to spend money to defend a cop indicted for individual crimes would be "unprecedented." Right? Wrong? Who knows? It's your money and your police force and your public safety but you are not given enough information to know if it's the right way to spend tax money, or if it is, at a more basic level, the right thing to do. Because you're not allowed to see the body cam video footage. Because, as the Huntsville legal department put it in denying AL.com requests for the footage, it is under investigation, the video considered evidence, and blah blah blah. You are not even allowed to know what's in Darby's personnel file, even though Alabama precedent has long held that most parts of public employee's files are open. In God we trust, people. In government we damn well better remain skeptical. This guy - rightly or wrongly - killed a man. This city devoted public money to him. Up to $75,000, the equivalent of a Huntsville police officer's salary for a year and a half. And that's just the start. The mayor has seen the footage, even though he and the city are not a party to the criminal case. The city council has taken his word that nothing went wrong. It either saw the video, which is just more reason to make it public, or it voted - without precedent or real knowledge of the case -- to support a man charged with murder. And you'll pay for it. The people - and the family of Jeffrey Parker, the man who Darby killed in April - are not allowed to see for themselves. Or to judge for themselves. We can't say with any surety whether Darby screwed up. The city of Huntsville, though, surely did. John Archibald is a columnist for Reckon by AL.com. His column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Write him at jarchibald@al.com. Update: According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, has been reported in: Pinellas County- background to low concentrations Manatee County - very low to high concentrations Sarasota County - very low to high concentrations Charlotte County - very low to high concentrations Lee County- background to high concentrations offshore in Lee County Collier County- background to high concentrations Respiratory illnesses in humans has been reported in each of those counties. Earlier story: Red tide is moving southward along Florida's southwest Gulf Coast and is now suspected in the death of nine dolphins. A toxic algae bloom of the Karenia brevis organism was observed in ranges of low to high in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. Cases of respiratory irritation in humans - a common illness associated with red tide - were reported in numerous counties, including at Manasota Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Venice Beach and Barefoot Beach. The result is near-deserted southwest beaches along areas dealing with red tide amid the usually busy tourist season. Experts are advising people to change their travel plans. "If people want to go to the breaches, they should go the east coast," Larry Brand, professor of marine biology and fisheries at the University of Miami, told USA Today. Fish kills were reported in several places in southwest Florida, including multiple locations in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. The red tide outbreak is also blamed for the death of thousands of manatees and sea turtles. Nine dead dolphins were found in waters off Sarasota County over the course of three days, though the exact cause of death has not been determined. A naturally-occurring microscopic alga, red tide has been documented along Florida's Gulf Coast since the 1840s. This outbreak is particularly stubborn, however, starting in October 2017, making it the longest since 2006. The algae blooms have been linked to coughing, sneezing, nausea, vomiting and eye irritation in humans. It can be especially dangerous for people with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and emphysema, who are more sensitive to air conditions. They are advised to avoid the areas. Going to the beach? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Research Institute provides updated reports on red tide conditions here. Burris Farm Market in Loxley, Ala., will close on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. But the market's original owner, Greg Burris, plans to reopen it this fall. The market is a popular destination for beach bound travelers who take Alabama State Route 59 to Baldwin County's beaches. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Survivors and advocates warn decision to stop granting asylum to domestic violence survivors will lead to more deaths. Yasmin Montes knew what the loud pounding on the door of her home in Potrerillos, Honduras meant. Caught up in a relationship with a gang member, the young mother of one, suffered regular beatings by her boyfriend for more than three years. During one of his most violent visits in 2014, he threatened to take their child away. That is when Montes, who was 21 years old at the time, became fed up. She packed her bags and headed for the US-Mexico border with her one-year-old daughter in hand. The two spent days in a cold detention centre, before being released, and eventually obtaining asylum on domestic violence grounds. That was in 2017. Had her paperwork taken a year longer, Montes fears she may have been denied asylum and forced back to the violence she had escaped years earlier. Its the best thing that could have happened to me because I feel safe in this country, she told Al Jazeera by phone. Now, though, after a decision by US Attorney General Jeff Session in June that makes it harder for domestic abuse survivors to apply for asylum, Montes worries about other women in Central America that come to the US to seek reprieve from violence. I know the decision is going to cost them, Montes said. I pray that other women win their cases, too, because if they return to their countries, something bad will happen. They will be beaten or killed. Domestic violence claims generally wont qualify Sessions decision effectively reversed precedent put in place during the administration of former US President Barack Obama that allowed more women to cite domestic violence and fears of gang violence as part of their asylum application. {articleGUID} Generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang violence perpetrated by non-governmental actors will not qualify for asylum, Sessions wrote in his ruling. The mere fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimes such as domestic violence or gang violence or that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim, he said. The ruling has been slammed by human rights advocates and attorneys, who call it an assault on womens rights. It essentially says that if you are abused at home or by non-government actors, and Sessions calls this private crime, you do not deserve protection under the nations asylum laws, said Dorchen Leidholdt, director of the Center for Battered Womens Legal Services at the Sanctuary for Families. When women are abused, and suffer gender-based violence, it typically happens in private, she told Al Jazeera, adding the decision will harm thousands and thousands of women. Every 18 hours a woman is killed in El Salvador Added to this, many advocates and survivors have a particular concern for women fleeing Central America, which has the highest violent death rates for women in the world, according to the Small Arms Survey. {articleGUID} Ashley Huebner, a lawyer with the National Immigrant Justice Centers Asylum Project, says the administrations decision to undermine protected asylum grounds for survivors of domestic violence is a purposeful misunderstanding of the dire situation of gender violence in Central America. On average, every 18 hours a woman was killed in El Salvador in 2017, according to data from the Institute of Legal Medicine. The National Womens Development Institute (Isdemu) recorded 152 femicides between January and May 1 of this year in the country. In 2017, at least 389 women were killed in Honduras alone, according to the Observatory of Violence of the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Women in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras reported being raped, assaulted, extorted and threatened by gangs and drug cartels to the UN Refugee Agency in 2015. More than half said they reported the violence to authorities only to receive no adequate protection as a result. UN Women has said that these gender-related killings are the last act a culmination in a series of violent acts that includes domestic violence, which happens in the region with domestic violence rates as high as 50 percent. {articleGUID} For Leidholdt, its not only that domestic violence is pervasive in these countries but the government response also falls short. Governments are not putting in the measures to protect victims and that means that the violence reaches life-threatening proportions and victims are denied protection, she said. One is always afraid The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, including Sessions, over the new policies. On Thursday, a federal judge blocked the government from deporting the ACLUs clients in the case, including a female asylum seeker who had earlier that day been put on a plane back to her home country of El Salvador. {articleGUID} According to the ACLU, US District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the government to turn the plane around. The woman fled El Salvador with her daughter to escape two decades of horrific sexual abuse by her husband and death threats from a violent gang, the lawsuit said. The womans husband routinely raped, stalked and threatened her with death, treating her as his property, even after they were living apart, it added. Immigration lawyers are also worried about what the decision will mean for women with pending asylum cases. Those survivors have now lived in the US for a couple of years, preparing for their cases with the hope that theyll be able to successfully fight their case. I worry whether judges will be willing to look at their claims as valid in light of this decision, said Karla Altmayer, a lawyer working with immigrant survivors of domestic violence. I've already gone through all of that but I know how afraid they must be. Afraid they will deny you asylum, afraid that they'll send you back. One is always afraid. Yasmin Montes, domestic violence survivor Other lawyers like Leidholdt have also already begun to see the effect of Junes decision. I had the unenviable task of telling three women who were terribly persecuted in their home country on the basis of gender, suffered life-threatening abuse for decades. I had the unenviable task of telling them that it was much more difficult for them now, Leidholdt said. According to Leidholdt, the women responded, saying, Its good you let us know, so we can know how to pray, so we can ask God to help us. Montes, the domestic violence survivor, said she knows the fear these women feel. Ive already gone through all of that but I know how afraid they must be, she said. Afraid they will deny you asylum, afraid that theyll send you back. One is always afraid. As US, EU policy shifts in region, a renewed push for Kosovos partition and secession of Bosnias Serb entity follows. Talk of partitioning Kosovo has heightened tensions in the region and provoked public alarm, with Serbian bishops calling on believers to pray for the salvation of Kosovo. The reaction follows statements by Serbian and Kosovar leaders that splitting Kosovo, or a swapping of territories, may be on the cards. Kosovo, with a 90 percent Albanian population, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The US has since advocated its independence, but Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo as well as its ally Russia. Since then, the relationship between the countries has remained tense and they have struggled to reach an agreement in EU-brokered normalisation negotiations, which began seven years ago. Many warn that partitioning Kosovo could provoke more ethnic conflict in the surrounding region, and could cause a ripple effect in nearby Bosnia and Herzegovina paving the way for Bosnias Serb entity Republika Srpska (RS), comprising 49 percent of Bosnian territory, to secede. While talk of partition and secession are not necessarily new, recent meetings between Serb officials from both Serbia and Republika Srpska and members of US President Donald Trumps administration as well as his former campaign aides have raised eyebrows. While on a visit to Washington, DC, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told Reuters on July 31 that he had discussed partitioning Kosovo with Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser. The model of partition or delimitation is a proposal that I have pointed at as a solution now all cards are on the table, Dacic said following the meeting. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has also proposed a territorial swap along ethnic lines, while Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has said he is against partition but open to discussing a correction of borders. Under the US and European-mediated Dayton peace agreement signed in December 1995, Bosnia was split into two entities the Federation for Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats, and Republika Srpska (RS) for Bosnian Serbs, ending the nearly four-year war. Milorad Dodik, president of RS and leader of the separatist Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) party, once described as the darling of the international community, has been under US sanctions since January 2017, partly for his calls for secession and defiance of the constitutional court. In January Bosnian online magazine Zurnal broke the news that a Russian-backed militia was organising a paramilitary unit to back Dodiks separatist aspirations. Dodik, who claims that Bosnia is not a real state, has for more than a decade been openly calling for RS to break away, saying that the final frame would ideally include RS uniting with Serbia. Immediately following talk of Kosovos partition, Dodik announced that if Kosovo becomes a member of the UN, RS would follow suit. In this aspect, resolving relations between Belgrade and Pristina on a permanent basis should also mean solving the question of Republika Srpskas status, Dodik said. After all permanent borders havent even been set here. Members of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) stand guard next to a statue of former US President Bill Clinton during a ceremony marking the 4th of July in Pristina [Armend Nimani/AFP/Getty Images] Jasmin Mujanovic, a political scientist who focuses on southeastern Europe, told Al Jazeera that a move towards secession by the RS authorities will immediately trigger conflict, a conflict that by its very nature will draw in each of Bosnias neighbours. Thats precisely why the US has historically backed Bosnias statehood, because a sovereign, democratic, and territorially integrated Bosnia and Herzegovina is the foundation for stability throughout the entire Western Balkans. Serb politicians such as Dacic and Dodik have talked of partition and secession for years, but analysts say this time around the advocates of these political projects have finally found a right-wing audience and may now take advantage of the opportunity to revive the Greater Serbia project. Someone in Washington needs to wake up There is public concern over a lack of reaction by US and EU officials concerning Kosovo. On Tuesday, 37 NGOs from Kosovo and Serbia including some from Serb-majority northern Kosovo sent a letter to Federica Mogherini, the EUs foreign policy chief, calling her to condemn the proposed ethnic division of Kosovo. Such developments would inevitably produce a chain reaction in other Balkan states and lead to numerous requests for changes in borders in the Balkans, which opens the door to new conflicts, the letter read. Former Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic (R) and former Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic (2nd R) met president of RS Milorad Dodik (2nd L) and prime minister of RS Zeljka Cvijanovic (L) to discuss a referendum in 2016 in Belgrade [Kristina Maslarevic/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images] Daniel Serwer, who served as the US special envoy for the Federation entity and helped to negotiate the Dayton peace accords, explained to Al Jazeera that the US has changed its policy towards the region and no longer objects to such proposals as it normally would. This is a change from previous policy, which unequivocally supported Kosovos sovereignty and territorial integrity, as defined in its constitution and (not incidentally) drawn in its flag, Serwer wrote on his website. The US and EU working together have a superb track record in the Balkans. Local ownership has a truly terrible track record there, especially when it comes to issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity Someone in Washington needs to wake up. Havoc impends. Disconcerting meetings Dacic isnt the only politician who has met with important figures in the US. Also in late July, Zeljka Cvijanovic, prime minister of RS of Dodiks SNSD party, met members of Trumps administration, former Trump campaign officials such as Jason Osborne, Mike Rubino, Corey Lewandowski and Steve Bannon, who recently announced plans to set up a foundation in Europe called The Movement aimed to boost right-wing populists. Osborne and Rubino have recently registered with the US Justice Department to lobby for Dodiks and Cvijanovics SNSD party in elections in October. Osborne told online magazine Mother Jones that his work for the Bosnian Serbs so far includes setting up meetings for Cvijanovic with officials such as Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, who chairs a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats and has stoked ethnic tension in Iran to push for an independent state for the ethnic Azeris. Serwer, the former US special envoy, agrees that advocates of new ethnic boundaries may have been emboldened since finding an audience with the Trumps administration and affiliates along with growing right-wing populism. [US officials] used to say, theres no way were going to allow this', Serwer told Al Jazeera. The ethnic nationalists getting a hearing at the Trump administration would never have gotten it in the previous administrations Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush none of them would have given these ideas the time of day, Serwer said. Milorad Dodik (R) and Zeljka Cvijanovic (L) of Bosnias SNSD party [Kristina Maslarevic/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images] Eric Gordy, a professor at UCLs School of Slavonic and East European studies, told Al Jazeera that politicians in the region have found a channel that circumvents what had been a consensus shared by the US and EU for years. It seems that [they] have taken the lesson that has already been used by many other countries to make use of the fact that the experienced professionals have been sidelined and major moves can be forced by ignorant and unqualified people like Kushner, Bannon, and Trump himself, Gordy said. Former political adviser Lewandowski also visited Serbia last April. He spoke at a gathering called America Today related to Trumps campaign, saying that US policy was now more open to building new relations and that Serbia should grab at that chance. Political scientist Mujanovic said recent meetings are incredibly disconcerting, and suggested the US is turning its back on its landmark support for Bosnias sovereignty. Even the mere hint of a change in US policy towards Bosnia and the region could embolden extremist nationalist elites, eager to revisit certain political projects from the 1990s, Mujanovic said. Chief among these are Dodik, but also large segments of the Vucic administration in Belgrade. So even if outright secession remains unlikely, the conditions for as much are becoming more favorable due to the more broadly chaotic international climate. Reuf Bajrovic, Bosnias former minister of energy and founder of Bosnias Civic Alliance party, says the proposals over Kosovo are designed to generate support among the international community in recognising Kosovo, with the end goal of retrieving a part of Bosnia in return thus achieving Dodiks final frame. The goal is still a Greater Serbia. Its been that way since 1999 [end of the Kosovo war] and thats perhaps been the only constant political stance [of Serbia] towards Bosnia and towards Kosovo, Bajrovic said. Partitioning Kosovo is an idea which also has consequences on Bosnia. Creating Greater Serbia is a century-old dream of these kind of politics. In the minds of those who advocate this idea who still dominate political-social relations in Serbia, crossing the Drina river [which marks Serbias western border] is the equivalent of retrieving Constantinople. Local Bangladeshis in host communities near Rohingya camps complain of rise in cost of living but others see benefits. Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh A wide variety of conspicuous acronyms greets the eye, stamped anywhere from road signs and large tent warehouses to weathered buildings and newer structures with corrugated tin roofs. These block letters belong to the 144 local and international NGOs that have sprung up in Ukhiya sub-district some 40km from Coxs Bazar since last August, when hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh to escape an army crackdown in neighbouring Myanmars Rakhine state. According to the Inter Sector Coordination Group, 918,936 refugees have arrived here as of June 2018, outnumbering the locals in the surrounding host communities by more than two to one. In the densely populated settlements of Ukhiya, which hosts 20 camps accounting for 75 percent of the Rohingya population, the NGOs work in providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to the refugees is evident. {articleGUID} In close coordination with Bangladeshi authorities, they have set up health and learning centres, mobile clinics and friendly spaces for children, women and the elderly, as well as food distribution points, sanitation facilities and other infrastructure. But the NGOs role has also had a significant impact on Bangladeshis living in Ukhiya. Before the INGOS arrived, the locals source of income came mainly from the forest, such as woodcutting and land cultivation, said Md Nikaruzzaman Chowdhury, the executive officer of Ukhiya. But the forests up to 4,000 acres (1,619 hectares) were cut down in order to settle the refugees, so the locals were deprived of their original jobs. Now many of them have been employed by the NGOs to work in the camps, mainly labour jobs and infrastructure camp development. As a result, added Chowdhury, the quality of the shelters structures in the camps is getting better by the day. Employment with NGOs is replacing traditional modes of work in Ukhiya [Sorin Furcoi/ Al Jazeera] Leaving jobs in favour of NGO work In March, United Nations agencies and NGOs launched a $950.8m appeal to provide further essential humanitarian assistance for the rest of the year to the 1.3 million people in the Ukhiya and Teknaf sub-districts, including nearly 400,000 Bangladeshis in the surrounding host communities. As part of the drive, Chowdhury said that Bangladeshs government requested the NGOs and INGOs to provide at least 25 percent to 30 percent services to the host community, in the forms of infrastructure work, increasing the capacity of our educational system and providing livelihoods to the locals. As a result, the growing activity of NGOs in the area has boosted some local businesses, including the owners of engine-powered rickshaws or tom-toms whose customer figures have risen. Yet, others complained that the local economy was suffering due to the presence of the humanitarian organisations. Aid distribution in Kutupalong refugee camp [Sorin Furcoi/ Al Jazeera] Entrepreneurs and traders [are] abandoning their businesses in favour for working with NGOs, said Saiful Islam, a 29-year-old computer shop owner in Ukhiya. Many shops are now closed because there is no one to run them any more, he added. Labourers have also suffered because a Rohingya is more willing to be hired at a cheaper rate. Still, Islams friend Salim, a marketing officer, said the greater demand for blue-collar jobs is beneficial for some locals, too even though wages have fallen or stagnated. There are some benefits of NGO presence, mainly in that it offers unemployed people [the chance] to get jobs like drivers, translators and labourers, he said. But for people like me, salaries remained the same while the cost of living has gone up. Over the past year, locals say, the cost of tricycle journeys has risen from 20 Bangladeshi taka ($0.24) a person to 50 taka ($0.59). House rents have also gone up, with a two-bedroom residence now costing 15,000-20,000 taka ($176-235) a month compared with 3,000-5,000 taka ($35-59) before. Commodities double the price Outside the camps, registered Rohingya refugees those who had arrived in Coxs Bazar during previous waves of displacement have set up bustling marketplaces which attract locals because of the cheaper products on offer. As part of their work, aid agencies deliver food essentials, such as rice, lentils and vegetable oil, to the camps residents, some of whom, in turn, hawk the surplus items at black markets for a fraction of the price found in local markets, affecting market stability. For example, soya bean oil is sold for 40 taka ($0.47) a litre at the Rohingya markets, while local markets sell it for 100 taka ($1.18). Locals say the price of household staples has also increased, with the price of vegetables, potatoes and hilsa fish Bangladeshs national dish doubling compared with the pre-August 2017 levels. Traffic jams bad for business On the narrow and twisting main road to Ukhiya, where dozens of 4X4 vehicles and pick-up trucks belonging to international organisations barrel down on a daily basis, Dishan sits behind the till at his roadside shop which sells snacks, juice, rice and flour. Dishan said business has suffered due to the traffic jams caused by large vehicles [Sorin Furcoi/ Al Jazeera] The 17-year-old says that his business has gone down as the congestion and dangerous driving is keeping his customers, who usually hail from his Court Bazar Pashchim Para village and other locales, away. People dont stop by here like they used to before, he said. Students from school and other kids used to gather in front of the store for tea and hanging out but due to the jam-packed roads, they dont any more. Still, Dishans mother, Rahema Khatun, said she considered the presence of the NGOs as having a positive social impact. There are equal job opportunities for men and women, she said, standing inside the family-owned store. Women especially are venturing out of the social boundaries imposed on them, added Khatun, noting that local women had found jobs in the education, medical and aid sectors. She said she had heard rumours of young women offering sex to foreign NGO workers, but remained doubtful. I cant confirm what I havent seen with my own eyes, she said. Dishans roadside shop on the main road to Ukhiya [Sorin Furcoi/ Al Jazeera] Positive impact Abul Kashem Shikdar, the general secretary of Coxs Bazar Hotel-Motel Owners Association, said that prostitution and drug smuggling have increased in the tourist town, pointing the finger at the Rohingya refugees who are not accustomed to our culture. But he said the business of tourism outlets has increased due to the influx of NGO workers staying there, adding that he regarded the influence of these groups in Coxs Bazar as generally beneficial. Infrastructure in hotels and restaurants has developed due to the presence of foreign staff members of these organisations, he said. Despite the price hikes in transport and daily commodities, the NGOs give locals a chance to find jobs easily, he said. Md Kamal Hossein, the deputy commissioner of Coxs Bazar, agreed. The NGOs are doing something good for the host community, he said. For Chowdhury, Ukhiyas executive officer, more infrastructure work must be carried out in the host community in order for the locals living standards to get better. Both the local NGOs and INGOs have had a positive impact in Ukhiya, but it is very important to engage more local people to improve the quality of their lives, he said. Follow Linah Alsaafin on Twitter: @LinahAlsaafin With the stated aim of bringing it back to the table of negotiation in order to clinch a better deal than the one signed by its predecessor, the Trump administration reimposed the first round of economic sanctions on Iran. The second and more painful one, which targets Irans vital oil sector, will come into effect in early November. Irans economy is already feeling the heat. The currency is falling, European companies are leaving, and oil customers are looking for supplies elsewhere. But this is not the whole story. President Trump knows that economic sanctions alone, especially in the absence of international consensus, would not produce the intended effects to force Iran to negotiate and accept US terms. Sanctions, according to several studies, have only a 35 percent success rate when they are unaccompanied by other means of coercion. Hence, the idea of establishing a so-called Arab NATO. The proposed security and political alliance tentatively known as the Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA) would bring together the six GCC countries, Egypt and Jordan to confront Iran. It might well be announced at a summit provisionally scheduled for Washington on October 12. Indeed, one is tempted to think that the main driver of the idea is President Donald Trumps blatant desire to see friends and allies shoulder more of the financial burden in confronting regional security threats. Notwithstanding the importance of money for the calculus of the US president, there are much deeper implications of the proposed plan that will also affect the chances of its success. In fact, what President Trump is primarily suggesting is a collective security formula composed of countries from the region to deal with threats emanating from within the region, be that by states like Iran, or by non-state actors, like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other radical groups. This is something unseen since the early years of the Cold War, when foreign powers had often tried to erect regional security alliances to confront threats, protect their interests and those of their regional allies. But these security systems have rarely worked. Past experiences Right after the end of World War II, both Britain and the US tried to establish regional security alliances with the aim of confronting the Soviet Union and containing communist penetration into the strategically important region of the Gulf and the Middle East. The Arab-Israeli conflict and Arab struggle against European colonialism, made it difficult, however, to include Israel in any collective security arrangement for the Middle East. The US opted, as a result, towards establishing a Northern Tier, referring to the line of countries that formed a border between the Soviet Union and the Middle East. According to the Archive of the US Department of State, The idea was to conclude an alliance that would link the southernmost member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkey, with the westernmost member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), Pakistan. Other attempts were made to establish a Middle East Command, a British idea, to encircle the Soviet Union. The plan was abandoned in favour of another scheme: Middle East Defense Organization. Later efforts resulted in the establishment of the Baghdad Pact, which included Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and the UK. The US did not join the Pact, preferring instead to sign individual agreements with the member states. All of these collective security alliances have failed, however, in achieving their primary objective: containing the Soviet Union and confronting communism. Despite all the efforts, Moscow succeeded in penetrating the region and establishing close ties with Syria and Egypt. To add insult to injury, a key member in the Baghdad Pact (Iraq) became Moscows closest regional ally after the 1958 revolution, which overthrew the monarchy. The key reason for the failure of all these security arrangements was an intrinsic lack of understanding by the architect, the US in this case, and its inability to appreciate the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the collective awareness of the Arab people. For most Arabs, at that time, Israel was far more imminent threat than the Soviet Union. Today, there are more reasons to expect the failure of the US-sponsored Arab NATO. Obstacles Needless to say that the founding pillar of any collective security organisation is that all of its members must share the same threat perception. Otherwise, it cannot be called collective security. This is lacking in the case of the Arab NATO on two levels: on the inter-state level and on the state-society level. For some member states, the threat comes from within the proposed security alliance as much as it comes from without. In the light of the news that former US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, had intervened to stop Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from invading Qatar last year, one would wonder what type of security alliance Mr Trump is promoting here. The underlying principle of collective security is One for all and all for one. Aggression or war against a member of a collective security system is a war against all members. But here war and the threat of war is originating from the very organisation that is supposed to provide protection and enhance ones security! On the state-society level, there is even a larger gap between the threat perceptions of the rulers and those of the ruled. Indeed, many Arabs see Iran as a grave threat, given its destabilising activities in the region and its interference in the internal affairs of the Arab world. Yet, a greater number of Arabs believe that Israel and the US present a far greater threat to Arab security than Iran. According to the Arab index, Iran ranks first among the most threating countries to Arab security only in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. For the rest of the Arab world, it lags far behind Israel and the US. In addition, a great number of Arabs believe that the most pressing problem for them is the lack of good governance and the absence of sound public policies to tackle poverty, unemployment, and social inequality. Indeed, Irans meddling in Arab affairs must stop and its behaviour must change, but President Trumps Arab NATO venture will not help achieve that. It will just be another failed attempt in a series of failures to bring security to a region that is still very much preoccupied with the balance of power concept and realpolitik approach. President Trump will do us more favour if he helps both Arabs and Iranians rebuild their failed state institutions. A Marshall Plan for the Middle East is what we need to provide stability and security to all countries in the region. Inclusive security arrangements will lead to prosperity and prosperity will help establish true democracy in Iran and the Arab world. A democratic peace could then prevail as it did in post-WWII Europe. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The widespread normalisation of the far-right is far more worrying than one mans efforts to keep himself relevant. When Donald Trump visited the UK, Steve Bannon wasnt far behind. The presidents former chief strategist breezed effortlessly into TV and radio studios, trying to sanitise his old boss politics and keep himself relevant. On his foray across the Atlantic, he unveiled his new plans: a foundation called The Movement. Just how worried should we be about it? Based in Brussels, the heart of the EU, and planning to hire 10 full-time staff, according to Bannon, The Movement will aim to influence the 2019 European elections by organising and giving advice to far-right parties. Bannon founded far-right website Breitbart, known for spreading anti-migrant stories, and if you name a far-right group, hes probably campaigned for it lending his support to Germanys AfD, Frances Front National and Spains Vox. As Trump retweeting a fascistic group didnt stop UK Prime Minister Theresa May holding his hand, Bannons far-right credentials did not deter wannabe PM, Boris Johnson notorious for making racist statements from meeting up with him. {articleGUID} But Bannon is just one man and within days of him making this announcement far-right figures from across Europe signalled they werent all that interested in his plans. Whats far more dangerous is the type of ideas he and others want to foster: the far-right politics that diverge on a number of different issues but can manifest in all kinds of nationalist cloaks across the world. And in some ways, thats already happening, without any help from The Movement. From Brexit to EU elections, what people like Bannon thrive off is the culture war narrative. Despite often hailing from a countrys most elite institutions (see Nigel Farage), they rail against the establishment and all the economic problems the moribund status quo has created. But theyre less interested in financial solutions and more focussed on stoking divides. They want to reshape politics by positioning it as fundamentally a clash between traditional and progressive values. Values matter: social attitudes were far more important than social class in the UKs vote to leave the EU, for instance. Racism, misogyny, Islamophobia these are all issues about attitudes, history and power. Using the culture war narrative, Bannon and his ilk lump together liberals and the left, as if they want the same thing, and make them seem like the enemy of the ordinary person (of course, migrants and people of colour are rarely classed as ordinary). Take Bannons endorsement of far-right, anti-Muslim figure Tommy Robinson when he was in the UK. In an off-air conversation, he described Robinson, who was in prison for contempt of court, the f**king backbone of this country. This is the language of Robinsons acolytes, feverishly determined they are being silenced as the country is being taken over by Muslims and freedom of speech is being shut down. This couldnt be more false; theyre playing a role in shaping and setting political agendas. The far-right are in ascendance across significant parts of the world, and in places where they arent in power, theyre influencing the people that are in a frightening way. Because when the so-called centre adopts the politics of the far-right, it only strengthens its message. The warning signs are there. In Lower Austria, one of the nine states that make up the country, a cabinet minister defended plans to limit access to kosher meat to people who had permits, which would be issued to Jews. In Assam, the northeastern state of India, the countrys ruling party, the BJP, have just released a list that effectively strips millions of people of their citizenship unless they can show they came into the state before Bangladesh became independent in 1971. In Denmark, the government just passed a law called the ghetto deal, which will apply to 25 neighbourhoods classified as ghettos on the basis of peoples income, education levels and non-Western background. The deal will include a whole range of policies, including harsher punishments for crimes committed in these areas. If youre born to parents who live in one of these areas, youll be classed as a ghetto child and from the age of one, youll be forced to spend a minimum of 25 hours a week apart from your family, excluding naps, to learn about Danish values. Otherwise, your family could lose their benefits. In different parts of the world and implemented by parties of different political persuasions, these cases arent all the same. The different contexts geographical, socioeconomic, politics and historical all matter to make sense of them individually. But theyre a sign of what the far-right, who use this culture wars narrative, want to help pave the way for: aggressive state control, marginalising minorities and going after migrants. The far-right doesnt just announce itself as extreme, it creeps in under xenophobic language thats not totally alien to the mainstream declaring the importance of controlling borders and clamping down on immigration. And like Bannon, far-right politicians walk right onto our television screens raving about how theyre being sidelined as they slowly try to normalise themselves and their messages. The Movement could prove a dangerous vehicle for these very ideas, but without it or not, the far-right is already helping set the political agenda in a significant way. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The death toll from a magnitude-6.9 earthquake in Indonesias Lombok island rises to at least 321. The death toll from a devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Indonesias Lombok island has risen to at least 321, according to officials. In a statement issued on Friday, the countrys disaster mitigation agency said that more than 270,000 people had been displaced and 1,033 were hospitalised with injuries due to a series of tremors that struck the island of 3.3 million people in the past two weeks. Nearly three-quarters of residential structures in North Lombok had been destroyed, Sutopo Nugroho, the agencys spokesperson, said. On Thursday, a third strong earthquake in two weeks time hit Lombok, a popular tourist destination. The magnitude-6.2 earthquake followed Sundays magnitude-6.9 tremor, which came a week after a magnitude-6.4 quake killed at least 17. In the statement, Nugroho said that after several days of delays, mobile kitchens have started distributing food and water to thousands of evacuees in the worst-hit areas. Aid is being distributed as quickly as possible upon arrival, he said, adding that hundreds of volunteers were helping. On Thursday, he posted a video on Twitter which showed the collapse of a supermarket. Dampak gempa 6 SR yang mengguncang Lombok 9/8/2018 pukul 12.25 WIB : 2 orang tewas (Zulhadi, Sarafudin), 24 orang luka, dan banyak bangunan rusak. Toko Alfamart di Karang Bedil Mataram roboh diguncang gempa. Bangunan ini sebelumnya sudah rusak saat gempa 7 SR (5/8/2018). pic.twitter.com/3U8l0DIkhu Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) August 9, 2018 Fears over continuing aftershocks persist in Lombok, with 450 having been registered since Sunday. Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday said he was delaying a visit to Lombok. After the emergency period is over the government will undertake rehabilitation, reconstruction, repairs to residential areas and public facilities, the cabinet secretariat website quoted Widodo as saying. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because of its location on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. In December 2004, a magnitude-9.1 earthquake off Sumatra Island triggered a massive tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. The former UK foreign secretary compared Muslims who wear veils with bank robbers in article published in major outlet. Former British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, will face an investigation following Islamophobic comments about Muslim women who wear the face veil, according to a report by the Evening Standard newspaper. Johnson compared women wearing the veil with bank robbers or letter boxes in an article for the right-leaning Daily Telegraph. The Conservative MP will face an investigatory panel for a possible breach of his partys code of conduct, the first step in disciplinary action that has been called for by a number of Conservative MPs and independent organisations. The comments prompted severe criticism from within his own party, including Prime Minister Theresa May, and led to questions about whether he was pandering to the far right by stoking Islamophobia. Johnson left Mays cabinet in July in a dispute over her plan for leaving the European Union, which he says he finds too soft. He is considered a frontrunner to replace May should she resign, and has support among Conservative supporters to the right of the prime minister. Johnson is reported to have recently secretly met US far-right ideologue Steve Bannon, a former adviser to US President Donald Trump. Bannon has come out in support of the MP, saying in July that now is the moment for Johnson to challenge May. If found to have broken the Conservatives code of conduct, he could face expulsion from the party. A hundred Muslim women who wear the niqab had written to Brandon Lewis, the chairman of the Conservative Party, demanding that Johnson be kicked out of the party. Our decision to wear the niqab or burka is not an easy one, especially given the hate that many of us experience on a regular basis. Nevertheless we do so because we believe it is a means to get closer to God, the women said in a letter. Lewis and Theresa May have both criticised Johnson for his remarks and have urged him to apologise but he has so far refused to do so. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has welcomed the partys decision to launch an inquiry into the former foreign secretarys comments, a statement published on Thursday said. While the choice of panelists are for the Party to decide, to avoid accusations of a whitewash, the group should include people who are aware of the seriousness of the issue and its effect on society, Harun Khan, secretary general of the MCB said. When Ron Cushing took Kehmmywood gate to wire to win the eighth race at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon he celebrated the 2,500th win of his career. Born in Farmington, Maine, the 54-year-old Cushing started his driving career in 1981 at age 17. He has competed and just about every north-east track from Maine to New Jersey and has won numerous driving titles over the years. In his 16,718 starts he has won 2,500, has been second 2,332 times and third another 2,214 to earn $10,458,183 in purses. The 2016 and 2017 seasons for Cushing were his best years percentage-wise, finishing with a .315 and .327 Universal Trainer Rating (UTR) respectively. He had a career year for wins in 2006 when he scored 218 and his best season for earnings came a year later in 2007 when he made $1.225 million. Both of those years he was competing regularly at Yonkers and Saratoga. Currently at Plainridge, Cushing has 17 wins in 127 starts with $154,516 in earnings. In the feature trot at the Ridge on Thursday, One Swan For All (Wally Watson) got away sixth behind an up-front speed battle between French Moni (Greg Merton) and Pirate (Ivan Davies) then came third-over and three-wide around the fading Pirate at the three-quarters and around the entire last turn before turning on the speed down the lane to pass French Moni and win by three-lengths in 1:56.1. Overlooked at 10-1, One Swan For All ($23.60) scored his second straight win for owner Joel Wheeler. Lisa Watson trains the winner. Ron Cushing, Greg Merton and Joe Di Stefano all had driving doubles on Thursday. Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday with post time set for 4 p.m. (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts) Data by Brazilian think-tank shows that many of the murders were concentrated in the poorer northeastern states. The number of people murdered in a single year in Brazil has hit a new high, with the South American country registering a record homicide rate of cases in 2017, according to a new report. The Brazilian Forum of Public Security on Thursday estimated that the murder rate in Brazil witnessed a 2.9 percent rise last year compared with 2016, with the murder rate now standing at 30.8 percent per 100,000 people. The yearbook data showed that many of the murders were concentrated in Brazils poorer northeastern states. The figures included police officers killed in the line of duty. According to the think-tanks Annual Public Security Report, the State of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil recorded the highest murder rate in the country, with some 68 murders occurred for every 100,000 inhabitants. Acne state in the north came in second with 63 deaths for every 100,000 people, followed by the state of Ceara in the northeast with 59.1 murders for every 100,000 inhabitants. The wealthier state of Sao Paulo had the lowest murder rate of any state 10.7 homicides per 100,000 people. Growing violence is a key voter concern in advance of the countrys election in October, which takes place against the backdrop of massive high-level corruption scandals and a rise in crime amid tighter law enforcement budgets. Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who leads polling in the presidential race excluding jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, wants to loosen gun laws and toughen up policing to tackle the rise in violence. His popularity has forced opponents, including centrist former governor Geraldo Alckmin, to join forces with law-and-order conservatives to bolster their crime-fighting credentials. Earlier in February, Brazils President Michel Temer signed an emergency decree authorising the countrys armed forces to take over policing duties in Rio de Janeiro. The emergency measure, the first of its kind since Brazil returned to democracy after the end of a military dictatorship in the mid-1980s, came in response to a rise in violence and organised crime. Thursdays report noted that crime against women was also on the rise with cases of rape going up by 8.4 percent to reach 60,018, Cases of domestic abuses totalled 221,238 or approximately an average of 606 every day. Violence against children meanwhile stood at 4,539. Thousands of Muslims gathered at a mosque in northwestern China to protest its planned demolition in a rare, public pushback to the governments efforts to rewrite how religions are practised in the country. A large crowd of Hui people, a Muslim ethnic minority, began congregating at the towering Grand Mosque in the town of Weizhou on Thursday, local Hui residents told the Associated Press news agency. People are in a lot of pain, said Ma Sengming, a 72-year-old man who was at the protest from Thursday morning until Friday afternoon. Many people were crying. We cant understand why this is happening. Ma said the group shouted Protect faith in China! and Love the country, love the faith! {articleGUID} The protest comes as faith groups that were largely tolerated in the past have seen their freedoms shrink as the government seeks to Sinicize religions by making the faithful prioritise allegiance to the officially atheist ruling Communist Party. Islamic crescents and domes have been stripped from mosques, Christian churches have been shut down and Bibles seized, and Tibetan children have been moved from Buddhist temples to schools. The residents of Weizhou were alarmed by news that the government was planning to demolish the mosque despite initially appearing to approve its construction, which was completed just last year. The towns Communist Party secretary had even made a congratulatory speech at the site when the mosques construction began, said Ma Zhiguo, a resident in his late 70s. The authorities planned to take down eight out of the nine domes topping the mosque on the grounds that the structure was built larger than permitted, Ma said. But community members were standing their ground, he added. How could we allow them to tear down a mosque that is still in good condition? he said, adding that the mosque conducts prayers attended by about 30,000 Muslims and was built using believers personal funds. {articleGUID} Photos online show the mosque to be a palatial white structure, with towering columns, vertical windows and a Chinese national flag erected out front. Officials in the county and city propaganda offices said they were not aware of the situation. Other local authorities could not immediately be reached for comment. Ma Sengming said protesters remained at the mosque through the night from Thursday to Friday and were twice visited by a local official who encouraged them to go home. Ma said the official did not make any specific promises, but tried to assure the protesters that the government would work with them on the matter. More than a hundred police officers surrounded the mosque, but did not attempt to stop the protest, according to Ma. State-sanctioned repression Public demonstrations are rare in China, where the government is often quick to quash any hint of dissent. Under President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party is cracking down on religious expression and attacking what it calls radical ideas among the countrys more than 20 million Muslims. {articleGUID} In the far west region of Xinjiang, hundreds of thousands of members of the Uighur and Kazakh Muslim minorities have been arbitrarily detained in indoctrination camps where they are forced to denounce Islam and profess loyalty to the party. Compared with those ethnic groups, the Hui are culturally much closer to Chinas Han majority, similar in appearance and speaking a variation of the mainstream Mandarin language. But recently, reports said authorities have shut down Hui religious schools and Arabic classes and barred children from participating in Muslim activities. Suspect in custody after shooting in eastern Canada leaves two civilians and two police officers dead. One person is in custody following a shooting in eastern Canada that left at least four people dead. Two police officers were among those killed early on Friday in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick. Residents said they heard as many as 20 gunshots following a confrontation that prompted police to initially cordon off a large section of the city with emergency vehicles and order residents to remain inside their homes and businesses. The suspect, who is in custody, is being treated for serious injuries, police said on Twitter. Several victims were being treated at a regional hospital, but there were no immediate details on the nature of their injuries or their conditions. Police said there is no further threat to the public and an investigation is under way. A press conference with police is scheduled for 3:30pm local time (18:30 GMT). To see fatalities is extraordinary in this city Fredericton Mayor Mike OBrien tweeted his condolences, saying our city sends its love and support to all. https://twitter.com/mikeobrien_fton/status/1027926212771864577?ref_src=twsrc^tfw https://twitter.com/mikeobrien_fton/status/1027942540220096513?ref_src=twsrc^tfw In Fredericton, a city of about 60,000 residents, people said they were stunned by the scene, which occurred as people were heading to work or dropping children at a daycare centre not far from the apartment complex where the attack took place. This is the first time Ive even heard of any serious crime or violent crime in this city, said Travis Hrubeniuk, whose fiancee had just left their home when the sirens began. The entire province of New Brunswick had 11 homicides in 2016 [Dan Culberson/Reuters] Bill Henwood, a funeral director at York Funeral Home, whose business is located inside the cordoned off area on Brookside Drive, said people sat in their cars or were just standing near the blockade of police and fire vehicles hanging tight and waiting for word. Its not something that we expect in Fredericton to wake up and hear about, Henwood told The Associated Press. To see that theres actually fatalities is pretty extraordinary for this area. Violence in Canada The attack comes as other parts of Canada wrestle with a string of violence, including an instance in Toronto last month where a man with a handgun opened fire in a crowded part of the city, killing two people and wounding 13 before he either shot himself or was killed by police. {articleGUID} In April, a man who linked himself to a misogynistic online community used a van to run down pedestrians in a busy part of Toronto, killing 10 people and injuring 14. Authorities are still pursuing leads in an ongoing investigation of a serial killer who has been charged with killing eight men in the city in recent years. An Israeli attack on Wednesday killed at least three people, including a pregnant woman and her 18-month-old daughter. Palestinians in Gaza are expected to protest in large numbers on Friday following deadly Israeli air attacks and artillery shelling on the besieged strip. On Wednesday, Israel killed three people in Gaza, including a 23-year-old woman who was almost nine months pregnant and her 18-month-old daughter. Israel launched more than 140 attacks after about 150 rockets were fired from the coastal enclave. A statement by Hamas military force said it was responsible for the rockets. It said the Palestinian resistance had fired a large number of projectiles at enemy positions in the Gaza envelope. Fridays protests, which are expected to begin at around 14:00 GMT, come a day after Hamas and Israel reached an Egypt-brokered deal to end the flare-up in violence. Gaza stands ready to take part in Great Return March protests after two deadly, sleepless nights that left three dead and several buildings and infrastructure destroyed. #GreatReturnMarch pic.twitter.com/TeHYvO5Akt AbdelKarim (@KarimNK96) August 10, 2018 Nickolay Mladenov, the UNs special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said on Wednesday he was deeply alarmed by the recent escalation of violence between Gaza and Israel, and particularly by mutiple rockets fired towards communities in southern Israel. Wednesdays exchange came just a day after two Hamas members were killed by Israeli fire. The attacks come as the UN and Egypt try to secure a deal between Israel and Hamas for a lasting truce. #Israel's Channel 2 Chief Political Commentator @amitsegal22 blasted @IsraeliPM's office reluctance to confirm #Gaza ceasefire w #Hamas, wrote: "we live in a time where AlJazeera @AJArabic is more reliable than the Israeli gov". https://t.co/Pj9Ht138tK Saad Abedine (@SaadAbedine) August 10, 2018 Israeli forces have launched three military assaults on the Gaza Strip since 2008. Protests take place every Friday on the border with Israel, with Palestinians calling for their right to return to the homes and land their families were expelled from 70 years ago. Since March 30, hundreds and sometimes thousands of Palestinians have gathered. More than 150 people have been killed by Israeli gunfire since then, and at least 16,000 have been wounded according to Palestinian health officials. One Israeli soldier has been shot dead, by a Palestinian sniper. For many in Gaza, the situation has become so dire that they protest despite the risk of facing live fire by Israeli soldiers. Originally, the protests were to take place until May 15, known as Nakba Day, marking the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the creation of Israel. However, with no alternatives, many Palestinians have continued to protest on a weekly basis after Nakba Day. Russia accused of arbitrary expulsion of embassy employees as row which began over Macedonia name dispute deepens. Athens, Greece Greece has condemned Russias expulsion of its embassy workers in Moscow, the latest development in a diplomatic spat that has seen tit-for-tat measures from both countries. Russias move earlier this week was arbitrary, retaliatory and not based on evidence, the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. Moscows decision, in response to Greeces expulsion of two Russian diplomats in July, was announced on Monday. At the time, Greece also banned two other Russian diplomats from entering the country. The fallout began after Greece accused the Russian diplomats of attempting to bribe officials and bankroll protests in Macedonia, which is currently engaged in efforts to resolve a decades-long name dispute with Athens. Russia has denied the allegations and the countrys ambassador to Greece, Andrey Maslov, dismissed the original claims as nonsense. The Greek foreign ministrys statement said that Greece took measures only after documenting tangible incriminating evidence. {articleGUID} Moreover, Greece never interfered or attempted to interfere in Russias internal affairs, the statement added. It is obvious that there are some Russians fortunately few who think they can operate in Greece without respecting laws and regulations, and even make threats. Distance not closing anytime soon In recent months, Athens and Skopje spearheaded an effort to resolve the name crisis, which stems from Greece having a northern region also called Macedonia. Since the former Yugoslav country gained its independence in 1991, it has been unable to join the European Union or NATO owing to the dispute. Although Skopje was admitted to the United Nations as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in 1993, some 140 countries currently refer to it as the Republic of Macedonia. Negotiations over the name deal, which resulted in the two countries signing an agreement that would see the Balkan country renamed to the Republic of Northern Macedonia, prompted protests in Greece and Macedonia. Analysts say Russias alleged attempts to derail the negotiations stem from Moscows opposition to the expansion of NATO in the region. Russia has been trying to create problems with the use of propaganda, fake news [and] support for far-right political parties in various European countries in an effort to weaken the unity of NATO and the EU, Thanos Dokos, the director of the Athens-based Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy think-tank, told Al Jazeera. {articleGUID} In combination with Greeces strong geopolitical shift towards the US the distance between Athens and Moscow will not close anytime soon. For its part, Russia maintains that the allegations are false, and the Russian foreign ministry said Greece was engaging in dirty provocations orchestrated by third-party countries. In Skopje, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has charged Russia with funding far-right nationalist protesters who oppose the name agreement. A manual recount of Iraqs May parliamentary vote has yielded similar results, with Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadrs joint list retaining its lead with 54 seats. Iraqs Independent High Elections Commission (IHEC) released the manual recounts results on Friday, which it said corresponded to the initial results in 13 of Iraqs 18 provinces. Parliament ordered a recount of the results on June 6 amid allegations of fraud and after a storage site containing about half of the ballots in the capital, Baghdad, caught fire. Fridays announcement confirmed Sadrs bloc, Sairoon, keeping its initial tally of 54 seats out of 329. The Iran-affiliated al-Fatih alliance, which is led by Hadi al-Amiri, won an additional seat, taking their presence in Iraqs future parliament from 47 to 48. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis al-Nasr bloc for its part remained in third place with 42 seats. Other changes were confined to a handful of alterations to the standings of candidates within party lists. Forming the next government The winning parties are still embroiled in negotiations over forming the next governing coalition three months after the vote, with no sign of an imminent conclusion. The political uncertainty over the makeup of the new government has raised tensions at a time when public impatience is growing over poor basic services, unemployment and the slow pace of rebuilding after a three-year war with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) armed group. {articleGUID} Al-Abadi, who is seeking a second term in office, is heading a fragile caretaker government until a new one is formed. Meanwhile, al-Sadr has already signed a coalition agreement with al-Hikma, another Shia bloc led by Ammar al-Hakim which will stay on 19 seats after the recount, and the secular outgoing vice president, Iyad Allawi, whose list comprised largely Sunnis and secured 21 seats. Al-Sadr threatened on Friday, however, to place his bloc in opposition, rather than form a government, if other parties refuse to back 40 demands that he has made for the political process to move in the right direction. These include rejecting sectarian quotas, refusing to hand government portfolios to previous office holders, denying posts to MPs with dual nationality and expelling corrupt officials. Anger is mounting in the country where frequent protests have been taking place in recent weeks, particularly in the predominantly Shia southern provinces where Iraqs top Shia leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has expressed sympathy for the demonstrators. Deterioration in electricity sector Regular power cuts in the oil-rich nation mean there has been little respite from sweltering summer temperatures and with the national grid providing just a few hours of electricity each day, many Iraqis are forced to pay to use generators through the private sector. Corruption is also seen as a big problem in a country where citizens say they fail to benefit from the countrys enormous hydrocarbon riches. Officially $40bn has been allocated to the power sector over the past 15 years, but a substantial slice has been siphoned off by corrupt politicians and businessmen who have fronted fake contracts. {articleGUID} In an attempt to quell public anger after more than a month of demonstrations and with protests still springing up in the south al-Abadi sacked four directors in the electricity ministry on Tuesday and moved a number of others. The decision followed the dismissal last month of electricity minister Qassem al-Fahdawi because of the deterioration in the electricity sector, the prime ministers office said at the time. The results announced on Friday can be contested by parties and still have to be ratified by Iraqs Supreme Federal Court in order to become final. When the court ratifies the result, a 90-day timeline for the formation of government spelled out in the constitution kicks in. Legislators will gather to elect a speaker, then president, and finally a prime minister and their cabinet. Negotiations are still expected to drag on, however, as the winning parties who have competing interests and varying views on issues ranging from US and Iranian influence on government to the integration of militias into the formal security apparatus try and edge forward in Iraqs complex system of government formation based on coalition building. Local fishers in France struggle along with Mediterranean ecology Climate change and pollution have taken their toll on the fish population in the Mediterranean and the effect of tourist fishing is not even being calculated. As defence chief Mattis offers support, critics such as Bernie Sanders say US should instead focus on social welfare. The US is planning to create The Space Force, a new branch of the US military, by 2020, Vice President Mike Pence announced on Thursday. It would become the US militarys sixth branch, following the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps. America will always seek peace in space, as on the Earth. But history proves that peace only comes through strength, and in the realm of outer space, the United States Space Force will be that strength in the years ahead, Pence said in an address to the Pentagon. As we continue to carry American leadership in space, so also will we carry Americas commitment to freedom into this new frontier. pic.twitter.com/gCGYRFofz8 Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) August 9, 2018 The new military branch will be responsible for a range of capabilities, including the US-made Global Position System (GPS) and technologies that guide and track missile launches. US President Donald Trump announced the creation of the Space Force in March, when he called space a warfighting domain, just like the land, air, and sea. In the months following that announcement, the Pentagon worked on interim steps towards the creation of the new military branch. Space Force all the way! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2018 Although Pentagon leaders, including US Defense Secretary James Mattis, once opposed the idea of a Space Force, they lined up on Thursday to offer their support. It is becoming a contested warfighting domain and we have to adapt to that reality, Mattis said. {articleGUID} Proponents of the plan claim a US Space Force is necessary because China and Russia, the US biggest military rivals, both have a dedicated military branch focused on space. Chinas space programme is run by the military. Russias space forces control important radar and missile sites and have partial responsibility for locations from which rockets are launched into space. I am thrilled about the news today. We in the House have been warning for years about the threats to our space assets and the unacceptably slow pace to develop more capable space systems. The report is a step in a multi-year process that will help ensure a safer, stronger America https://t.co/12SwRkaz1c Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) August 9, 2018 However, critics say the new military branch will compete with the current objectives of the Air Force and increase bureaucracy. Senator Brian Schatz, member of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, called the creation of the Space Force a dumb idea on Twitter. The VP just announced a new military branch a Space Force, because no R is willing to tell POTUS its a dumb idea. Although Space Force wont happen, its dangerous to have a leader who cannot be talked out of crazy ideas. Elect Ds to check POTUS power. Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) August 9, 2018 Senator Bernie Sanders said the US should focus on investing in healthcare, education and the environment instead of spending billions and billions of dollars on weapons. We need to invest in our children, in our elderly, and in healthcare and education and environmental protection. People are sick and tired of spending billions and billions of dollars on nuclear weapons, war planes, missiles, bombs, and tanks. Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 10, 2018 The Space Force will be part of President Trumps 2020 reelection campaign. His team sent an email following the announcement on Thursday asking supporters to vote for their favourite Space Force logo. Trump campaign asks supporters to vote for the new Space Force logo pic.twitter.com/rIvd8AcHEh Kasie Hunt (@kasie) August 9, 2018 Following the announcement, several Twitter users made their own logos to make fun of the creation of the new military branch. Sky Marshal Trump sent his supporters an email letting them vote for the #SpaceForces new insignia. But six doesnt seem like enough options, so the Late Show made a few of our own. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/HRdGEY5qeW A Late Show (@colbertlateshow) August 10, 2018 For my Space Force logo I really wanted to capture the imagination, bravado and intellect it's going to take to make this endeavour succeed. #PutTrumpinOrbit #spaceforcelogo #SpaceForce pic.twitter.com/d3FwoRcbVh Ken Henderson (@krusty027) August 10, 2018 We have a winner! #SpaceForce is #SpaceFarce. pic.twitter.com/X9g5eu0fyl Time to remove Trump to save Democracy (@scottwalkerwtch) August 9, 2018 In July, Bloomberg Businessweek asked eight leading designers to create a logo and received some ironic responses. Milton Glasers design was a silhouette of Trumps profile with the word space, in capital letters, between the ears. The image represents the relentless intrusion of our president in every aspect of our lives and future. The image can be read as his next conquest or simply that there is very little inside that skull, he told the magazine. The United States is a member of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bars the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in space and only allows for the use of the moon and other celestial bodies for peaceful purposes. Vice chairperson of anti-discrimination committee says members of ethnic community treated as enemies of the state. More than one million Uighur Muslims are estimated to be in detention in counter-extremism centres in Chinas far west, the vice chairperson of a United Nations anti-discrimination committee has said, citing credible reports. Gay McDougall made the comments on Friday as the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination started reviewing Chinas record over recent years in the Swiss city of Geneva. Members were deeply concerned about reported detentions of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslim minorities, which have turned the [Xinjiang] Uighur Autonomous Region into something that resembles a massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy a sort of no rights zone, McDougall said at the start of the two-day hearing. Another two million have been forced into so-called re-education camps for political and cultural indoctrination, she added. A Chinese delegation of some 50 officials made no comment. China says Xinjiang faces a serious threat from rebels and separatists who plot attacks and stir up tensions between the mostly Muslim Uighur minority who call the region home and the ethnic Han Chinese majority. Earlier on Friday, Yu Jianhua, Chinas ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said it was working towards equality and solidarity among all ethnic groups. The Chinese delegation leader also highlighted economic progress and rising living standards among other things. The session continues on Monday, with conclusions expected later. Different figures In her remarks, McDougall said that most of these people have never been properly charged with a crime or tried in court. While McDougall did not cite her sources, the numbers of people forced into detention and into re-education matched a report that the Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders submitted to the committee. Other groups have given far lower figures, however. A submission by the Human Rights Watch advocacy group said there were at least tens of thousands in political education centres. Amnesty International wrote that at a minimum, tens of thousands, with some sources estimating hundreds of thousands of Uighurs have been detained. But UNs McDougall said that members of the Uighur community and others Muslims were being treated as enemies of the state solely on the basis of their ethno-religious identity. More than 100 Uighur students who returned to China from countries including Egypt and Turkey had been detained, with some dying in custody, she said. McDougall also cited reports suggesting that Chinese authorities are persecuting people for using Muslim greetings, possessing halal food, or for having long beards or headscarves. In addition, she pointed to reports of mass surveillance and the broad collection of DNA samples and iris scans in the Xinjiang. Fatima-Binta Dah, a panel member, referred to arbitrary and mass detention of almost one million Uighurs and asked the Chinese delegation: What is the level of religious freedom available now to Uighurs in China; what legal protection exists for them to practice their religion? Nigeria farm violence: Military operation to combat gunmen begins Its estimated that more than 2,000 people in the area have been killed by gunmen since 2011. The final leg of the North American Amateur Drivers Association's Summer Trotting Series was contested at Monticello Raceway on Thursday and when the judges declared the event official, Jennifer Lappe walked away with all the marbles when she guided Multitaskr Hanover home first over Crystal Sphere and driver Alan Schwartz in a 2:00 clocking. For the talented lady tail-setter who has had 170 previous starts this year against her counterparts as well as against professional drivers, it marked her 16th seasonal driving victory to go along with her 26 seconds and 33 third place finishes. However, Lappe won another race later on the Monticello Raceway card, also. When the wings of the mobile gate sprung Lappe grabbed the racetrack from the three-hole and then allowed Keenan and driver John Calabrese to take command. Once Keenan settled on the lead Lappe then moved Multitaskr Hanover back to the front as the quarter mile timer flashed up in :28.1. Comfortable on the front-end Lappe got her charge by the halfway point in :58.2 but when they straightened up the backside Crystal Sphere and Alan Schwartz rallied alongside the leader and even gained command for a short way but Ms Lappe urged her trotter and they rebuffed the challenge and went on to a 2-1/4 length triumph. Woody finished third for Tony Ciuffetelli. It was an aggressive race and I gave my horse an aggressive drive, Lappe said with a smile . I had instructions before the race but I nixed them at the gate and decided to go for the lead ...and it all worked out well. The winner, a five-year-old Explosive Matter gelding, owned and trained by Ms Lappe, notched his seventh seasonal victory. He returned a $5.40 win payoff. For Lappe, it was her 40th driving victory and her 58th training win thus far this year. The NAADA Series $6000 consolation-- if it fills-- will be contested on Wed, August 15. The $15,000 Finalexpected to fill-- will be raced at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, August 16. (NAADA) At least 70 people required medical attention after police fired tear gas at protesters rallying in Bucharest. Romanian police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters in the capital, Bucharest, as tens of thousands took to the streets to call on the countrys government to resign. Fridays rally was attended by many expatriates who returned to Romania to express their anger over what they say is entrenched high-level corruption, low wages, and attempts by the ruling Social Democrat (PSD) party to weaken the judiciary. Thousands of people also joined demonstrations in other main Romanian cities, including Cluj in the northwest, central Sibiu and Timisoara in the west. In Bucharest, the crowd chanted resign and thieves as they assembled in a central square outside the main government building. Messages projected on buildings around the square said, We are the people and No violence. #Romania | Massive protest in Bucharest against the Government. Some of the demonstrators are Romanian expatriates which came back to protest. pic.twitter.com/TjZmsCMnNL Dragos Ionita (@DragosIonita) August 10, 2018 Hundreds of protesters tried to break through the police cordon and officers in riot gear responded with tear gas and pepper spray, forcing the demonstrators back. Corruption has been a big problem in Romania for a long time, Kit Gillet, a journalist who attended the protest in Bucharest, told Al Jazeera. People are angry about that and feel that the system needs to change. Romania ranks as one of the European Unions most corrupt states and Brussels keeps its justice system under special monitoring. Romanian police on Saturday defended their use of force. Marius Militaru, spokesman for Romanias riot police, said 70 people, including 11 riot police, were taken to hospitals the previous night, and police are pursuing charges against eight people. There were no immediate reports of life-threatening injuries, but Militaru said a female colleague had been brutally beaten and has a suspected fractured spine. He said officers were ordered by the Bucharest prefecture government authorities in charge of the capital to evacuate Victory Square late Friday after an hours-long protest in front of the government offices that drew tens of thousands of expatriate Romanians and local residents demanding the governments resignation. Another police spokesman, Georgian Enache, said the legitimate state violence, was justified because protesters had been warned several times to leave the square. Nothing has changed Stefan and Ileana Anghel, Romanian nationals living in Spain, waved a Spanish flag after travelling across Europe to take part in the demonstration. Unfortunately nothing has changed in Romania, Ileana told AFP news agency. We want to see modern roads and schools and above all to not have to pay bribes to the left and right, added Ileana. Last month Romanian President Klaus Iohannis sacked top anti-graft prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi, who was considered a symbol of the fight against corruption. With Kovesi at the helm, the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) prosecutors office had led a crackdown on corruption among local and national elected officials in recent years, earning accusations of abuse of power and the enmity of many in Romanias political class. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters [Octav Ganea/Reuters] Better life Among the protesters in Bucharest on Friday was 60-year-old Vlad and his wife who flew in from New York where they have lived for 30 years. Corruption and embezzlement, which profit the ruling class, are what bothers me, said Vlad, an estate agent in the US. A force is being born here [at the protest] and I hope that the message is heard, he added. About four million Romanians work abroad from an overall population of 20 million. Half of the expatriates are living in Italy and Spain, according to official figures. Last year those working abroad sent 4.3bn euro ($4.9bn) back to their families at home, nearly 2.5 percent of the national GDP in one of Europes poorest countries. I left to give my children a better life, which was not possible here then, said truck driver Daniel Ostafi, 42, who moved to Italy 15 years ago in search of a future he says Romania could not offer his family. Unfortunately, it is still not possible, the people who govern us are not qualified and they are corrupt, he told Reuters news agency. Some politicians from the ruling coalition derided the rally in the run-up, saying they did not understand why the diaspora would protest. Omar al-Bashir had previously said he would step down when his second and final term ends in 2020. Sudans ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has backed President Omar al-Bashir as its candidate for the 2020 election, state media reports. The partys advisory council announced Bashir as NCPs candidate after an overnight meeting held in Khartoum, the official SUNA news agency reported on Friday. The council said it has endorsed Bashir for a third term after long consultations among the partys leadership, even though the countrys constitution allows for only two five-year terms. The veteran leader has been in power since a 1989 military coup but has only faced contested elections since the new constitution went into effect in 2010. The 74-year-old was first elected to office in 2010 and his second term ends in 2020. Bashir had previously said he would step down in 2020. The Sudanese president in 2017 appointed a top aide, Bakri Hassan Saleh, as prime minister, reinstating a post he abolished after coming to power in 1989. Saleh was among the officers who launched the bloodless coup almost 30 years ago, and the last member of the group to remain at Bashirs side. Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face charges of war crimes in Darfur. At least 39 fighters and 14 soldiers killed in clashes after armed group entered strategic city near Kabul overnight. Taliban fighters have attacked Ghazni, Afghanistans eastern provincial capital, leaving dead and wounded before Afghan forces pushed them out of the city, officials said. The attack on Ghazni city began overnight on Friday. Within hours, the Taliban claimed to have much of the capital under their control. US attack helicopters and drone aircraft provided government forces with air support. Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish later said the army supported police and the city was now under control of government forces. Al Jazeeras Charlotte Bellis, reporting from Kabul, said it was unclear how much of Ghazni was under government control as residents said they could still hear heavy gunfire and rockets. There are conflicting reports as residents say the Taliban has taken control of checkpoints across the city from the police. [But] the police, the government and the US are denying that claim, saying they have pushed back the fighters. At least 14 security forces were killed and 20 wounded in the battle, said Baz Mohammad Hemat, administrator of the Ghazni city hospital. Dead bodies of Taliban fighters remained on the street after the exchange, provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal told the Associated Press news agency. He said the bodies of 39 Taliban soldiers were recovered beneath a bridge in the southern edge of the city. Air strikes called in to quash the offensive also killed dozens of Taliban, he said. All shops in the city were closed due to the fighting. The road from Kabul to Afghanistans southern provinces was also closed because it runs through Ghazni. The attack on the strategic city, which straddles the main route between the capital Kabul and southern Afghanistan, demonstrated the Talibans strength amid speculation of a possible ceasefire during the Eid holiday this month. In June, a three-day truce over the Eid al-Fitr holiday brought unprecedented scenes of unarmed Taliban fighters mingling with security forces in Kabul and other cities, offering a glimpse of peace and fuelling hopes of negotiations to end the war. The Taliban have so far failed to take and hold any provincial centre since they overran the northern city of Kunduz in 2015 before being driven off, with the support of US air strikes and Special Forces units. Caracas requests arrest of politician accused of involvement in apparent attack against President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela has requested Interpol to arrest an opposition politician who is currently in neighbouring Colombia and accused of involvement in an apparent attack against President Nicolas Maduro. We are seeking code red for Mr Julio Borges, Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Friday, referring to the former speaker of the National Assembly. The request for an Interpol red notice calling for police in another country to locate and provisionally arrest a suspect wanted in another follows what Venezuelan officials said was a drone assassination attempt on Maduro. A drone loaded with explosives on Saturday detonated near a military event where Maduro was giving a speech. The president escaped unharmed but seven people were wounded. Authorities say they have detained 10 suspects whom they accuse of involvement with support from Colombia and from unidentified figures in the United States. One of those detained is opposition lawmaker Juan Requesens, who was seized by intelligence officers at his home this week. The ex-deputy Requesens and Borges were directly involved in the planning and execution as accomplices and as the masterminds, Rodriguez charged. He called both men cowards. On Thursday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said his country had officially requested Colombia to extradite five people suspected for the involvement in the attack. However, Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said Bogota has not received yet Venezuelas request to extradite the suspected people. As of this morning, there was no formal request. I do not know whether it will be received today. But if we receive the request, we will analyse it, Holmes Trujillo said at a press conference on Friday. Stripped of immunity Meanwhile, Venezuelas pro-Maduro Constituent Assembly revoked Borges and Requesens of their parliamentary immunity so they can be put on trial. Borges and other government critics accuse Maduro of using the drone incident to step up repression and persecution of the opposition. The European Union has called for a comprehensive and transparent investigation of the incident while rejecting violence in Venezuela. It also demanded the National Assemblys powers be restored, including its right to decide the parliamentary immunity of its members. The inauguration of Mnangagwa is delayed after the opposition coalition files a legal challenge to election results. Zimbabwes opposition coalition has filed a legal challenge to results of the countrys recent election, in a move that delays the inauguration of Emmerson Mnangagwa as president of Zimbabwe. The MDC alliance filed their paperwork with Zimbabwes Constitutional Court on Friday, alleging the result of the July 30 vote had been rigged in favour of incumbent Mnangagwa, the leader of the ruling ZANU-PF party. Our legal team successfully filed our court papers. We have a good case and cause!! MDC leader Nelson Chamisa said on Twitter. Party lawyers arrived at the court in the capital, Harare, with plastic boxes full of paperwork. We will rest when this country is liberated, Jameson Timba, the MDCs chief election agent, told journalists standing outside. Zimbabwes electoral commission has said Mnangagwa won the election, the first without longtime President Robert Mugabe on the ballot form, garnering 50.8 percent of the vote against 44.3 percent for Chamisa. Chamisa has claimed he won 56 percent of votes and called the election fraudulent, illegal and illegitimate. The MDC alliance say some of the evidence they have shows forms that have been tampered with, figures changed here and there and theyre going to present that in court, said Al Jazeeras Haru Mutasa, reporting from Harare. Judges have 14 days to rule on the case, delaying the inauguration of Mnangagwa which was scheduled for Sunday. If [the judges] think the evidence is weak they could throw the case out fairly fast. They could also just say that they need time to go through the evidence, which could take a couple of days, Mutasa said. Un-level playing field Mnangagwa, who took over after a military intervention in November 2017, had vowed the first elections after the conclusion of Mugabes 37-year rule would be free and fair. EU observers said that the ZANU-PF candidate had benefitted from an un-level playing field and some voter intimidation, though international monitors largely praised the conduct of the election. On August 1, clashes broke out between security forces and opposition supporters. Six died after soldiers opened fire on the protesters in a response the opposition alliance called disproportionate and unjustified. On Thursday, opposition figure Tendai Biti was detained by Zimbabwean police after Zambian authorities rejected his bid for asylum. Police were looking for Biti and eight other opposition leaders for allegedly fomenting violence following the disputed national election. Three American cities did catch up and were at one time shining beacons of American success: San Francisco, Chicago, and Detroit. Charles Dickens wrote the classic A Tale of Two Cities a century and a half ago. It's a story about two famous cities of the times, Paris and London, around the time of the French Revolution. These cities were the height of sophistication and enlightenment in the world, long before American cities caught up. San Francisco was the gateway to the Pacific and lands beyond a beautiful city on hills with the Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County, one of the wonders of the modern world. Chicago was the hub of transportation and commerce, connecting the eastern and western halves of the United States. Detroit was an industrial behemoth, home of the auto industry and the assembly line, bringing prosperity and convenience to millions. Songs were written to celebrate these great cities. Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco. Chicago was Frank Sinatra's kind of town. And the Motown music genre began in the Motor City. As Dickens wrote, "[i]t was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness." Perhaps the best of times for these American cities was 50 years ago, when they and their leaders basked in the age of wisdom. Today, these cities are facing the worst of times, due to their own foolishness. What happened? San Francisco is being overrun with the homeless and illegal aliens due to its sanctuary city status and virtue-signaling leadership. The streets are littered with human feces, hypodermic needles, and syringes, turning the once beautiful "City by the Bay" into a cesspool. What's the response of San Francisco leaders? Banning plastic straws. Chicago has become more dangerous than many cities in the war-torn Middle East. This past weekend was another example of the killing fields of Chicago: "[a]t least 72 shot, 13 killed in Chicago over violent summer weekend, police department says." What's the mayor of Chicago doing in response? Maintaining and bolstering Chicago's status as a "sanctuary city" and virtue-signaling to fellow progressives, prioritizing illegal aliens over Chicago residents. Detroit, in 1960, was the richest per capita city in America. Fifty-some years later, in 2013, Detroit filed for bankruptcy. Now it's a squatter's paradise. Homes once owned by residents, then lost to foreclosure, are now owned by the Detroit Land Bank Authority. Today, it's first come, first served as to who lives in these abandoned homes. The Detroit Free Press notes "[d]ead bodies, wild dogs, squatters in government-owned Detroit houses." Via Wikimedia Commons. How did these three beautiful and prosperous American cities morph from the best of cities to the worst of cities in only a couple of generations? Let's look at who is in charge. San Francisco has not had a Republican mayor since 1964, the height of Motown music in one of the other cities we are discussing. For the past fifty-plus years, San Francisco has been led by a procession of Democrats. Then there are the state and national leaders, from Governor Jerry Brown to Senators Kamala Harris, Barbara Boxer, and Dianne Feinstein, the last employing a Chinese spy in her office for twenty years while accusing President Trump of colluding with the Russians. She was doing more for China than for her own city. As a quick aside, Senator Feinstein responded to this news with the following: "The FBI told me 5 years ago it had concerns that China was seeking to recruit an administrative member of my Calif staff (despite no access to sensitive information)." Note how the FBI told the senator of its concerns. The agents did not insert a spy in her office, then obtaining a Title 1 FISA warrant to spy on the senator and her entire staff. This is how the FBI handled concerns over Russians involved in the Donald Trump campaign. Agents did not warn Trump over their concerns, as they did for the senator. Anyone surprised? Chicago's last Republican mayor finished his term in 1931, almost a century ago, followed by a string of Democrat mayors up to the present time. At a national level, Chicago is currently represented by Democrat senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. Detroit's last Republican mayor finished his term in 1962, around the time the Supremes were singing "Where Did Our Love Go?" Now they would be singing, "Where did our city go?" Since the early 1960s, Detroit has had a succession of Democrat mayors, including Coleman Young and their famous hip-hop mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, now serving a long prison term. Michigan, similar to Illinois and California, has two Democrat U.S. senators. Anyone see a common thread here? Cities run by liberal Democrats, implementing liberal policies, with predictable results. These are certainly not the only American cities ruined by Democrat governance there are also Newark; New Orleans; and Washington, D.C. to name a few others. Then there are entire countries following this pattern. Venezuela went from the richest economy in South America to financial and social ruin, with starvation and civil unrest thanks not to the U.S. Democratic Party, but to its international brethren, the socialists. This is the same political and economic philosophy shared by many American Democrats, including the cheated almost nominee Bernie Sanders and his mini-me, self-proclaimed Democrat socialist and rising star on the left Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She, as another interesting aside, had a bad night in this week's primary elections, with all of her endorsed candidates losing. As goes Detroit, Chicago, and San Francisco, so goes the nation under similar leadership and guidance. You won't hear this on CNN or MSNBC, as they are busy running interference for leftist politicians and policies. Yet their organizations would be the first to be nationalized under a socialistic government. Not that it would make any practical difference, as the media are already a mouthpiece of the Democratic Party. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. The tale of these three cities is an important part of this history. To ignore it means that many other cities, and the entire nation, could rapidly go from the best of times to the worst of times. Brian C Joondeph, M.D., MPS is a Denver-based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. For some, outside the Chicago cultural bubble, questions are asked. How could this happen? What can be done about it? Why doesn't the mayor care? Last weekend, Chicago saw 74 people shot and thirteen killed, some of them children. At the same time, a music festival attracted thousands to a lakefront Grant Park, where they danced with little regard for the deaths and chaos happening just a few miles west. Perhaps there are answers to these questions, but so what? The truth is, given the social, political, and cultural history of Chicago, no one who could do anything about the murders and chaos in Chicago really cares. Nothing will be done, because death and chaos in Chicago are just part of the cost of keeping the power structure in place. Perhaps a biological analogy is in order. Consider an anthill run by a Democratic queen ant. There will always be a certain amount of death and waste among the worker ants. That's just the way the biological order is. Chicago, like an urban organism, is not at all different. If a few are shot every day, that's the price the Democrats pay for political party survival. Look at the history of the power structure that runs Chicago to see why no one cares and no one wants to change the social order there. Chicago is an urban culture unto itself. For an outsider, that urban culture is hidden behind the facade of an "American city," yet little things like not putting catsup on a hot dog show us that Chicago is a unique place with its own traditions and political history. Add to that that about 20 percent of Chicago's population, today, is foreign-born. These foreign-born individuals often come from cultures different from the ethnic Democrats who populated the city after WWII. The structure of evil that is the Democratic Party in Chicago has ruled the city longer than the life of the old Soviet Union. The point of the party is political power, not charity or social justice. Most people who live in Chicago are progressive and do not see the structure of evil that daily closes in on them. Consider, for example, how the Catholic Church in Chicago has surrendered to the party platform to hold and keep political power. The transformation of the Catholic Church in Chicago from a church of conservative Eastern Europeans to the religious arm of the progressive Democrats is one of the most important ironies of our age. Most of this transformation can be placed at the feet of Irish Catholics, who are involved in both the hierarchy of the Church and city politics. It is a great irony that Chicago Catholics voted in large numbers for Obama, who supported both abortion and the redefinition of marriage. This vote shows how many Catholics in Chicago put party over religion. They do so because the party delivers the goods. The price for those goods is segregation, murders, the destruction of old neighborhoods like Englewood, and a failed system of public education. But no one cares. No one really wants to do anything about the reality that the fog of Democratic ideology masks, because that's the way all the pieces fit together, and you get your piece of the pie. The day-to-day reality of life in Chicago is that most people who live there really don't want change. For change to happen in Chicago, it must be brought into the city from the outside. The established political order has to be overturned by an outside force, the same way the Soviet Army brought change to Nazi Berlin. How likely is that to happen? For change to come to Chicago, at the very least, illegal aliens have to be deported along with the influx of illegal drugs and the gang activity drugs support. Really, who will do this? These are future Democratic voters we're deporting. Chicago has some of the most rigid gun laws in the nation, yet year after year, hundreds are shot. How can that be? It can be because no one wants to enforce the law. In Chicago, you get along by going along. Chicago is the most segregated city in the nation, yet it is run by Democrats who proclaim civil rights and affirmative action. What a living contradiction that is. If change comes to Chicago, then it may have to be brought about by the federal government, but that government is slowly being reshaped into the Chicago political model for the nation a permanent ruling class of Democrats. Besides that, who has a plan for undoing a hundred years of segregated neighborhoods in Chicago? What can be done to help an entire generation of minorities whose family structure has been destroyed by Democratic welfare policies, or whose young men have been irreversibly damaged by a failed system of public education? No. Chicago is what it is, and it ain't gonna change. Take your moral outrage elsewhere. In the words of one Chicago alderman, who turned away a young man who was from outside the ward and wanted to help, "We don't want nobody who nobody sent." Nothing will be done to change the death and chaos in Chicago that is troublesome to those who read about it in their east-coast newspapers. The rock concerts will continue in the parks. Sailboats will tack up and down Lake Michigan. More towers will rise in the loop as the neighborhoods decay. The talking heads on the news will shake their finger into television cameras, but Chicago will keep being what it is. Even if a new political party of Latinos or blacks takes over the city, do you really think they want to stop the flow of drugs or illegal aliens, or move away from the ethnic politics that has characterized the Democratic Party for more than a hundred years? From the Fort Dearborn Massacre to the Obama Presidential Library, Chicago Democrats rewrite history to favor their political objectives. Just be careful when you visit Chicago. At first you may not notice the compromise with evil most Chicagoans have made to live and work in the Windy City. When you visit, know where to go safely, and don't be caught putting catsup on your hot dog. Adam Smith, the great philosopher of capitalism, understood that businessmen want to maximize profits, and how it is done is of secondary interest. Indeed, he once said that when two businessmen get together, the subject of discussion is how to keep the third out of the market. Adam Smith and more recent philosophers of the free market such as Friedrich Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, and Milton Friedman believed deeply in capitalism. Many businessmen, sadly, do not. Crony capitalism the close alliance of big business with government leads not to free enterprise, but to its opposite, in which government, not the market, chooses winners and losers, through subsidies and other forms of largesse. Consider the example of Elon Musk, the billionaire Silicon Valley entrepreneur, who may be a modern poster-boy for this phenomenon. His ambition is unbounded. As Norm Singleton of Dr. Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty wrote in The American Conservative, Musk has an agenda to do everything from "sending Men to the moon and Mars, to creating a 700-miles-per-hour tunnel transportation system, to turbo-charging human brains by implanting computers." The problem is that he relies on the levers of government to fund his ideas. In the view of Veronique de Rugy, senior research fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center, Musk is "perhaps the most prominent case of cronyism in modern times," especially due to his use of "friendships in government, as well as some high-priced lobbyists, to keep the spigot of government money going his way." As is often the case with "private-public" partnerships, his ideas often do not come to fruition despite his receipt of all this government money. Take Tesla Inc., for example. With the help of over $1 million in lobbying expenditures annually, Musk's "go green" vision has been funded by billions in government support, including a $7,500-per-electric vehicle tax break, a $465-million discounted Department of Energy loan, and billions of state-level subsidies. As recent news has shown, Tesla's results have been anything but good. The company burns an average of $1 billion per quarter and fails to meet production targets, which in part caused Moody's to downgrade its credit rating and has made Tesla the most shorted stock on the entire U.S. stock market. Despite this, Musk's government money shows no sign of ceasing. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that in a seeming effort to reverse this gloomy financial situation, Musk recently sent out a memo to Tesla's suppliers requesting partial refunds on purchases his company has made since 2016 a de facto subsidy that could seemingly fool investors and government officials by artificially inflating its financial outlook. Costing taxpayers and investors billions of needless dollars is bad enough, but these subsidies may be a threat to national security as well. SpaceX, for example, has received plenty in federal funds to launch rockets and satellites for NASA and the U.S. military. Its record thus far has been questionable. In June 2015, a Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launchpad. The loss included 4,000 pounds of food and supplies bound for the international space station. A government report released this year blamed poor quality control at SpaceX, and the company followed suit with another rocket explosion just a year later. Recent reports from the Defense Department's inspector general and NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel show, among other concerns, that SpaceX has more significant security nonconformities than its leading competitors. Worry was expressed about SpaceX's ability to carry astronauts into space without causing harm. Meanwhile, after receiving assurances of government money, SpaceX raised its commercial resupply contract prices by 50 percent. These cost increases, coming despite SpaceX already costing more than aerospace contractors Orbital ATK and Sierra Nevada, will ultimately weaken America's security by forcing the government to do less for more. Most recently, Musk also exhibited his emotional instability by launching what the Washington Post called "one of the nastiest attacks yet," in connection with the rescue of 12 Thai schoolboys from a flooded cave. He attacked Vernon Unsworth, a British diver who played a key role in the rescue, who said Musk's idea of dispatching a miniature submarine for the rescue "had absolutely no chance of working." Professor Zeynep Tufekci of the University of North Carolina provides this cautionary note: "Mr. Musk, indeed Silicon Valley as a whole, can perhaps see the Thai operation as a lesson[.] ... The Silicon Valley model for doing things is a mix of can-do optimism, a faith that expertise in one domain can be transferred seamlessly to another and a preference for rapid, flashy high-profile action[.] ... But what saved the kids out of the cave was a different model: a slower, more methodical, more narrowly specialized approach." Sometimes it takes a crisis to recognize a problem. In due time, perhaps the government will take Professor Tufekci's words to heart and demand more certainty and reliability before doling out anything on the taxpayers' dime. The practice of picking winners and losers in the marketplace has gone on for long enough. Allan C. Brownfeld is editor of Issues, contributing editor of The St. Croix Review, and a freelance author. He served as associate editor of The Lincoln Review and contributing editor of Human Events. The author of five books, he has served on the staff of the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and the Office of the Vice President. Folks, as a black Tea Party activist since 2008, I can tell you this is the evil slander of salt-of-the-earth patriotic white voters I have been fighting. Black conservative John James won Michigan's U.S. Senate Republican primary because he shares the values of most Americans. James boldly expresses his desire to help Trump Make America Great Again. Voters chose James because of the content of his character rather than the color of his skin, fulfilling the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. White Republican voters chose a black conservative over a white billionaire in Michigan. How can that be? Democrat Andre Carson of the Congressional Black Caucus said the Tea Party (conservatives and Republicans) is racist and wants to see blacks " hanging on a tree ." John James is a combat veteran endorsed by President Trump. But wait a minute. According to fake news media and Democrats, Trump hates blacks. That's another hate-generating evil lie promoted by the American left. It is extremely exciting and refreshing to see a fellow black American in the political arena evoking traditional principles, which lead to real empowerment and success not just for blacks, but for all Americans. America is the greatest land of opportunity on the planet for all who choose to go for it. And yet, evil leftists relentlessly seek to hide this truth from the masses, particularly minorities. Leftists want blacks believing that white America schemes 24-7 to keep blacks down and that blacks' only hope is to keep voting for Democrats. Disgusting. Ponder this, folks: most mega-rich black celebs worked their butts off, took risks, made responsible choices, and exploited the opportunities and blessing of living in America. These blacks would not be enjoying the wealth, power, and influence they have earned had they followed the Democrats' philosophy of relying on government to take care of them allowing government to control every aspect of their lives. So rather than wealthy blacks telling fellow blacks to follow their traditional path to success, they tell blacks to stick with the Democrats. Rich blacks tell blacks to keep voting for Democrats to get more welfare. Generational welfare leads to wasted lives, anger, poverty, out-of-wedlock births, and jail. Wealthy blacks ignore this glaring truth and choose to join the American left in hating America, whites, conservatives, and Republicans. This is extremely unfortunate and counterproductive. If a white person suggests that urban blacks follow the same road to success as black millionaires, that white person is called a racist who obviously does not know what it is like to be black in this awful racist country. If a black person suggests that blacks leave the Democrats' government dependency plantation, stop having babies out of wedlock, stay in school, stop murdering each other, and assume responsibility for their lives, that black is called a sellout Uncle Tom who has abandoned his blackness. Chicago just suffered another bloody weekend, one of the bloodiest in the city's history: 74 people shot, 12 of them dead. These egregious black deaths are the result of blacks murdering each other, not racist white cops. Blacks have been murdering each other in record numbers in Democrat-controlled cities like Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; and Chicago for a long time. But rather than addressing the problem of black-on-black crime, leftists beat up anyone who dares to mention it. The American left insidiously creates a media firestorm over rare incidents in which a white person or cop shoots a black. Chicago Democratic mayoral candidate Garry McCarthy said Mayor Emanuel does not support the police. Well, duh the mayor's Democratic Party is part of the American left's coalition spreading the lie that cops murder blacks on sight. In typical leftist fashion, Emanuel accused McCarthy of pandering to Fox News and Trump-supporters. Notice the misdirection in Emanuel's response. This is what leftists always do. Rather than truthfully addressing the issue at hand, they change the subject by resorting to name-calling racist, sexist, homophobic, and so on. Kanye West, Candace Owens, and 37-year-old John James are part of a growing movement of younger blacks for whom the scales have fallen from their eyes. They see the fraud of the Democratic Party and how it has been playin' blacks for decades. These young blacks pose a huge threat to the Democrat stranglehold on the minds of up-and-coming black youths. For this reason, expect the Democrats, fake news, and Hollywood to do everything in their power to destroy John James in his quest to win the Senate race in November. This patriotic brother will need your support and encouragement. When the entire wrath of the American left descends about you, it can be extremely challenging. Ask Sarah Palin. John James, thanks for your outstanding military service to our country. Congrats on your win in Michigan. America truly appreciates you, and we who desire to see our country made great again have your back. The Prince Edward Island Standardbred Horse Owners Association along with the PEI Harness Racing Industry Association are pleased to announce a special initiative for Old Home Week this year. "We recognize the great importance of all the horses and their connections that compete here this week and are essential to making this great week of racing happen," said the associations in a joint press release. "To thank you for supporting our Industry here on Prince Edward Island and all of Old Home Week, we are offering a $25 'hook up fee' to all overnight horses racing this week in non paid in events who do not finish in the top five." Hook up fees will be available at the PEISHOA building located next to the grandstand by the next race card. "We are pleased to support initiatives like this and are only able to do so because of the success of our 50/50 sales," the release continued. "We ask you in turn to support our 50/50 so we can continue to give back to the horse racing community." "...isnt going to fizzle. It's going to blow up on them. ... there's a lot more to what they [the Mueller team] did that nobody knows about yet. A lot more to the obstruction of justice, to the collusion, to the fake dossier." And Giuliani added: "... when this plays out over the next year or two, it's not going to be about President Trump. ... Its going to be about all the things they [the Mueller team] did." ... Its a different kind of Watergate. Its on the side of the investigator." [Bolding indicates emphasis added here and in subsequent quotations] President Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, has fired a clear warning shot across the bow of Special Prosecutor (SC) Robert Mueller in an appearance on the Sean Hannity Show . Giuliani warned that Mueller's case against the President: On Monday, 8/5/17, during an appearance on the Sean Hannity Show, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes put the world on notice to pay close attention to disgraced Department of Justice attorney Bruce Ohr, formerly the #4 in the DoJ chain of command, reporting to Sally Yates: Bruce Ohr is going to become more and more important in this investigation ..." Since then, thanks to the reporting of John Solomon, Byron York, and Sara Carter, we've had a glimpse of a few emails in an extensive e-correspondence between Ohr and the British ex-spook and "dossier" author, Christopher Steele. Included in those emails are tantalizing references to telephone calls and face to face meetings, the contents of which we can only guess at. With Paul Sperry stating that President Trump is about to begin declassifying some key documents, we may soon have a better picture of what's been going on in the Mueller "probe." But we may already be getting a preview, based on the handful of Steele/Ohr emails that we've already seen. Let's focus on some of those emails beginning immediately before the appointment of Mueller as Special Counsel, on 5/17/17. (In what follows, I've preserved the original spelling and punctuation as they appear in the emails.) The relevant emails begin in early May of 2017 and initially concern arrangements for telephone communications (Steele is emailing from London to Ohr in Washington, DC). With the firing of James Comey on 5/9/17, however, the emails take on a clear sense of urgency. In what follows, it's important to bear in mind a key fact regarding Ohr's position that has just recently come to light: in a private letter to Congress Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein -- confronted with these Steele/Ohr emails -- declared he was unaware of Ohrs activities with Steele. Ohr was not assigned to the Russia investigation and he was not in the chain of command, Rosenstein wrote. Any involvement Mr. Ohr had in this matter was without my knowledge. In other words: Ohr's activities could only have been part of an unauthorized campaign by government officials against the President of the United States. With that in mind, we find Steele reaching out to Ohr, and Ohr responding promptly: 5/9/17 Steele: "B. obviously it's chaotic over there with you right now but we should probably talk again over the next couple of days ..." The proposed conversation took place the very next day: 5/10/17. We can surmise that the discussion wasn't mere gossip about the Comey firing. Rather, it had to do with Steele once more getting involved in anti-Trump "research" and "operations", because in a follow up email we read: 5/15/17 Steele: "Having now consulted with my wife and business partner about the question we discussed on Saturday, I'm pleased to say yes, we should go ahead with it." As will become clear, Steele is not talking about engaging in some course of action involving his wife and business partner. Rather, he has cleared the course of action that he discussed with Ohr and is letting Ohr know that his wife and business partner are OK with his involvement. So, "we [Steele and Ohr] should go ahead with it." As it turns out, Ohr has also been discussing the planned course of action with people in Washington, and he quickly lets Steele know that he will let "them" know that Steele is on board. It also seems likely that Ohr, #4 at DoJ, may have a heads up about the forthcoming appointment of a Special Counsel. 5/15/17 1:31pm Ohr: "Thanks. I will let them know and we will follow up." 5/15/17 2:42pm Ohr: "I chatted with my colleagues and can give you an update ..." Who are Ohr's "colleagues?" We can only speculate, but common sense dictates that they would almost certainly be officials within the DoJ and FBI. What is the course of action that they're embarking on? Here we can be a bit more certain, because after a month or more of waiting, Steele reaches out to Ohr for a status report on "reengagement." As becomes clear, "reengagement" refers to two things: getting Steele back in contact with the FBI (Steele had been terminated as a source for blabbing to reporters about his connection to the FBI) but also offering his services to the Mueller team! 6/22/17: Steele: "is there any news on reengagement yet? Anything we could do to help from this end?" Ohr: "I will inquire and let you know." 6/24/17: Ohr: "Still in process. My colleagues have made the request, but they will inquire again." Clearly Steele is offering his services, through Ohr, to Mueller and Ohr and his "colleagues" have forwarded that offer. That's pretty mind blowing, on the face of it -- not just Steele's offer but Ohr's willingness to become involved with the discredited dossier game. Note, too, that Ohr is involving himself in Mueller's Russia probe, through "colleagues." I believe from the context of later emails that the "colleagues" in question were members of the Mueller team -- and according to Ohr they've "made the request" and appear to favor it: "they will inquire again." Again, bear in mind that Rosenstein has flatly declared that Ohr was outside that chain of command and that he (Rosenstein) had no knowledge of Ohr's involvement. A further gap is followed by a follow up email from Steele, to which Ohr immediately replies: 7/16/17 5:47 pm Steele: I spoke to my old colleagues last week and they assured me they would not stand in the way of our reengagement with the Bureau." 7/16/17 5:49 pm Ohr: "I will pass this along to my colleagues. Thanks!" This is in some ways the most Intriguing exchange of all. Steele's "old colleagues" can only be those in British intelligence, presumably MI-6, where Steele was formerly employed. Did the US side have reservations about using Steele, as a former employee of MI-6 and as a British subject on British soil? Did they, through Ohr, ask Steele to clear "reengagement" with Steele's "old colleagues?" I.e., with MI-6? Admittedly we're speculating to some extent, but it's hard to avoid the conclusion that the Steele and Ohr requests were in fact submitted to the Mueller team. Did the Mueller team advise Rosenstein -- who oversees the Special Counsel -- of this fact? Rosenstein's letter to Congress appears to be an unequivocal "No." If all this is the case, then Mueller has some explaining to do. And this may be at the nub of Giuliani's shot across Mueller's bow. So, as of 8/6/17, about a month and a half after Mueller was appointed, it's clear Steele still sees the Mueller probe as the opening for him to resume working with the Deep State, and Ohr is just as clearly on board with the idea. Steele complains that "we are frustrated with how long this reengagement with the Bureau and Mueller is taking. Anything you could do to accelerate the process would be much appreciated. There are some new, perishable, operational opportunities which we do not want to miss out on." Operational opportunities! That seems to suggest more than "dossier" type info; possibly entrapment schemes. And Ohr's response is to arrange direct voice communication to talk it over the very next day. But even as Steele and Ohr were emailing and talking, the wheels were about to come off their schemes. IG Horowitz had become aware of the incriminating texts between Strzok and Page, and Strzok was about to be sent packing back from the Mueller team to FBIHQ, in disgrace. If Mueller had ever had any doubts about the wisdom of "reengagement," the realization that Horowitz was looking over his shoulder certainly confirmed them. Moreover, the thin ice on which Ohr had been skating appears to have given way at about the same time. In light of the new lay of the land, Steele writes: 9/7/17 Steele: "Hi Bruce. I appreciate that this might be tricky but I would appreciate a brief chat about latest developments. Over to you and Best." By late October Steele is getting very worried about those developments. Interestingly, he indicates that he has contacts of his own within the Mueller team -- even after the departure of Stzok and Page: 10/26/17 Steele: "Just seen a story in the media about the Bureau handing over docs to Congress about my work and relationship with them [i.e., the Bureau]. ... I shall also reach out to my other (SC) contacts on this issue." And on 11/18/17 Steele strikes a despairing note: "I am presuming you've heard nothing back from your SC colleagues on the issues you kindly put to them from me. We have heard nothing from them either. To say this is a disappointment would be an understatement! ... Also, we remain in the dark as to what has been briefed to congress about us, our assets and previous work." Sundance at Conservative Treehouse summarizes what we've reviewed: "The key takeaway within the 2017 communication between Bruce Ohr and Chris Steele, seemingly glossed over amid the granular presentation, is that Christopher Steele viewed Special Counsel Robert Mueller as part of the small group team. The fact that Steele viewed Mueller as an extension of the Strzok, Comey, Page and McCabe objective is a rather big deal, yet generally not given much attention." And very much to the point, Rudy Giuliani also views this as a rather big deal. Mark Wauck blogs on religion, philosophy, and FISA at meaning in history. If the U.S. is about to engage in a trade war with China, the Middle Kingdom has just signaled that it wants a limited war by exempting a major (and growing) U.S. export to China: crude oil. As China made good on its threat to impose 25% tariffs on $16 billion worth of U.S. imports, one big-ticket item originally on its hit list was conspicuously missing: crude oil. Oil had been one of a slate of targets China listed in June for tariffs to counter those the Trump administration threatened on Chinese imports. The gambit jeopardized a budding relationship: Over the past two years China has become the biggest buyer of U.S. crude-oil exports, last year taking a fifth of the total. But oil was off Wednesday's final list. The reason is quite simple: China desperately needs to import oil, and the U.S. is the fastest growing source of crude oil exports on world markets, including China. Source: Wall Street Journal. That means that China can't shun U.S. oil, even if it wants to strike back at the U.S. in order to maintain the structure of trade regulation and tariffs that enables it to run gigantic trade surpluses with the U.S. Moreover, the new sanctions on Iran mean that China won't be able to replace U.S. crude with Iranian-sourced oil. President Trump, in other words, has accurately read the underlying power dynamics of the U.S.-China trade relationship and understands China's vulnerabilities. Analysts and industry insiders said the change could signal that China is reassessing its bluster, given its slowing economy, the ease with which crude sellers can find new buyers and, most of all, its climbing reliance on foreign oil. China depends on imports for 70% of its energy needs, and the International Energy Agency forecasts that will climb to 80% by 2040. "China would be shooting itself in the foot if they [sic] tax [crude oil] imports," Shane Oliver, an analyst at AMP Capital Markets, said. "China's economy is heavily dependent on oil." [Emphasis added.] Oil (and soybeans and other big U.S. commodity exports) is traded on global markets, which means that a Chinese tariff on U.S. commodities doesn't destroy the market; it merely shifts supply or demand to other countries: "The U.S.'s light crudes aren't going to go away," said Erik Norland, senior economist at CME Group. "If it's not exported to China, it will be exported someplace else, and those could be other countries in this region or other parts of the world." The same is true for soybeans. If China buys Brazilian soybeans instead of U.S. exports, the markets that Brazil formerly exported to will have to switch to U.S. suppliers. Instead of the predictions of disaster for U.S. farmers, the market price for soybeans in China is now rising, as Reuters notes: China's soybean and soymeal prices jumped on Wednesday, with beans posting their biggest daily gain in a decade, as data showing a drop in soybean imports stirred supply concerns as a bitter trade dispute between Washington and Beijing plays out. Gee, do you think it's possible that President Trump knows more about negotiating than the nervous Nellies who scream about trade wars damaging America? Looking back fourteen years later, it's still easy to understand why, even if it's hard, after witnessing his presidency, to imagine that he ever spoke the words within. In 2004, I watched my first full speech by Barack Obama at the DNC, then an Illinois state senator. I, like many people, was amazed at how powerful this speech was. He celebrated America as a "magical place" that "shone as a beacon of opportunity to so many who had come before" his father's coming here. His father, a goat-herder who "went to school in a tin-roof shack," was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to study in this magical place only due to, specifically referenced, his "hard work and perseverance." He invoked his religious fervor and God repeatedly throughout the speech. He even invoked the Declaration, saying it embodies "the genius of America, a faith. A faith in simple dreams, an insistence upon small miracles." Then, of course, you remember his most famous words in the speech: There is not a liberal America and a conservative America there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and a Latino America and Asian America there's the United States of America. You may not, however, remember the powerful words that followed that resonated strongly with me: We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and don't like our federal agents poking around in the libraries in the red states. It was incredibly unifying speech that considered positions of both the political right and left in terms of content and delivery at the time. And yet, by 2008, he was promising to "transform" everything about the country he described in 2004. By 2009, he was trekking around the world apologizing for how terrible a place America has been throughout its entire history. At the DNC in 2012, the political congregants in attendance emphatically booed the inclusion of God in the party's political platform. Perhaps most telling, Obama offered his now infamous quip of "you didn't build that" in order to suggest that "hard work and perseverance" of the individual are not the defining factors determining success, but that only by government intervention do Americans achieve success. One could convincingly argue that the Democratic Party Barack Obama left in the wake of his presidency is nothing like the party that embraced him in 2004. It hasn't served Democrats well. By 2008, they had won the presidency and both chambers of Congress. By 2016, they had lost all of that power. So why do they continue rushing along the path toward radical socialism, with ever more open and reckless abandon, that Obama began in 2009? It is because they, much like the Democrats of the 1960s, have become convinced that the emotional redistributionist fervor seemingly sweeping the country signifies some Hegelian wheel of destiny toward the future they imagine. But can everything that has defined America be erased and reshaped in fourteen years? In 2004, Obama offered to Americans the idea that America is a place where "small miracles" have, under the guiding hand of Providence, led to our collective success. Millions of Democrats, and even conservatives like me, found common ground in Obama's message in 2004 suggesting that America is indeed a "beacon of opportunity" worthy of reverence in the scope of human history, that Providence has much to do with its success, and that individual accomplishment is central to the cultivation of collective success. Today, just fourteen short years later, Democrats openly argue that a government with the power to direct large collective miracles at the expense of certain individuals who've become too successful, and even at the expense of God, is our only path to salvation. Whether this rapid ideological reversal will yield future electoral success for Democrats is yet to be seen, I'll admit, but it certainly seems that their message is drawing fewer radical congregants to a smaller tent. To cite what is perhaps the most prominent example, Democrat support among Millennials in the past two years has dropped by nine percentage points, from 55% to 46%. According to Investor's Business Daily, increasing opportunity in an economic environment of decreased regulation is wooing Millennials away from the Democrat platform, and this problem is exacerbated by Democrats' "increasingly radical positions on health care (single payer), immigration (amnesty), gun control (more of it), welfare (vastly expanded benefits), and taxes (repeal Trump tax cuts)[, which] are likely to drive even more of the massive, rapidly maturing millennial generation out of their camp." You see, as Millennials (a voting demographic larger than the Baby-Boomers) age, they begin careers, they buy homes, they have families, they strive toward individual success and achievement, and they realize they prefer that to pursue happiness unfettered by an oppressive government looking to sluice and arbitrarily divide their wealth as they do so. In short, Millennials seem to be doing everything the aging hippies did after the young hippies' heyday of the 1960s, only to later grow up and have the masses among them usher in the Reagan era, which fostered the quarter-century of politics leading to Obama (reluctantly, I'd now argue) offering his optimistic vision of an America guided by God and determined by individual accomplishment in 2004. To put it bluntly, Democrats may think they're playing a long game in courting America's socialistic impulses today, but they may find that doing so is shortsighted. Support among blacks for Donald Trump has nearly doubled in the last year, which has to be troubling for Democrats, given the near unanimous support they've enjoyed for decades among that demographic. Trump's approval ratings, in spite of a media onslaught against his administration, continues trudging upward , now surpassing 50%. But rather than expecting Democrats to pivot back toward the center, as might be prudent for a political party that wishes to represent larger swathes of Americans, watch for them to more aggressively push for amnesty as the only way to shore up the numbers among their prospective voting blocs, as if they never noticed that Donald Trump won the presidency railing against illegal immigration and amnesty as a central issue. In that sense, their continued shortsightedness (blindness?) will be most welcome. Earlier this year, Donald Trump announced that he wanted to create a new branch of the armed forces dedicated to defending the U.S. in space. This space force would be charged with countering efforts by Russia and China to build a war-fighting capability in Earth orbit. Fox News: Pence said on Thursday that it was an idea "whose time had come" and made clear that the White House wants to get on with the project as soon as possible. He hailed a new report by the Pentagon on the force as a starting point. "President Trump and I are grateful to Secretary Mattis for this department's diligence in preparing this report, and our administration will soon take action to implement these recommendations, with the objective of establishing the United States Department of the Space Force by 2020," he said. He said that a new position would be created for an assistant secretary of defense for space. "Creating a new branch of the military is not a simple process. It will require collaboration, diligence, and above all leadership. As challenges arise and deadlines approach, there must be someone in charge who can execute, hold others accountable, and be responsible for the results," he said. The Pentagon has resisted the idea of a separate branch of the military for the space command. But the move has faced some signs of skepticism from the Defense Department. In a letter to Congress last year, Secretary James Mattis said he opposed the idea of a separate force, arguing that it would "likely present a narrower and even parochial approach to space operations" and said that a "properly integrated approach is better for carrying out this mission." "We have not done cost estimation yet," Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan told reporters. Asked to give a rough estimate, Shanahan said, "I would assume it's billions," but would not be more specific. He said the Pentagon likely would have a firmer estimate by November. Earlier this week, Mattis signaled his support for a new Space Command to take place alongside existing commands, but demurred when asked about the creation of a separate service entirely, saying it was a matter for Congress to decide. He did, however, say the Pentagon was in "complete agreement" with the White House. "We are working our way through all this. We are in compete agreement, the vice president is the point man for the president on this, we are working closely, daily with his office and with supporters on Capitol Hill and the relevant committees," he said. "So we're working it up what that actual organization will look like." The new command will not involve James Bond-like soldiers armed with lasers in outer space who will fight Russians or Chinese soldiers. Most of the command already exists within the U.S. Air Force and consists mostly of ground-based infrastructure. Weapons are banned by treaty from space, so most defensive measures will be keeping track of ground-based threats to our military and communications satellites and perhaps placing unmanned defensive platforms in space designed to intercept these threats. The idea of a space command is sound. Currently, all four branches of the armed forces are involved in space operations of some kind. Most of those operations are currently the responsibility of the Air Force, but pulling everything together under one roof, as well as dedicating more money to the military space program, is necessary to meet the growing threats from Russia, China, and others. The consent of Congress is necessary to create this new command, and while there has been some skepticism expressed about the cost, it is likely that, in the end, Congress will approve it. Here are some examples, and I will give my say about it at the end. Statistics are very interesting. They're actually important when they aren't manipulated, as from computer models, but firmly rooted in facts. Inaccurate computer models are out there, and they're as worthless as Democrat talking points. It is a shame that what most of the media report every day is based on just such manipulated statistics instead of just facts. A recent Johns Hopkins study claims that more than 250,000 people in the U.S. die every year from medical errors. Other reports claim the numbers to be as high as 440,000. Medical errors are the third-leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. And this: In 2013, there were over one million doctors of medicine all over the United States. And this: In 2016, there were more than 38,000 gun-related deaths in the U.S. 4,000 more than 2015, the new CDC report on preliminary mortality data shows. Most gun-related deaths about two-thirds in America are suicides, but an Associated Press analysis of FBI data shows there were about 11,000 gun-related homicides in 2016, up from 9,600 in 2015. The increase in gun-related deaths follows a nearly 15-year period of relative stasis. Plus this: In 2015, The Washington Post estimated the number of firearms in the U.S nationwide at 357 million. That's already a staggering figure, but it becomes even more so when compared with the country's population, which at that time was 317 million. And this: The life expectancy in 1850 was under fifty. Today it is around 80. And this: The overall U.S. death rate has increased for the first time in a decade, according to an analysis of the latest data. And that led to a drop in overall life expectancy for the first time since 1993, particularly among people younger than 65. And this: When Colonel Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859, few had any idea of how petroleum would change the world. And this: People might be surprised to see how today's frigid Greenland looked during the last two interglacial periods. Today, northwest Greenland hovers in the 30s and low 40s Fahrenheit and weathers snowstorms in summer. But average summer temperatures in the early Holocene (8,000 to 11,000 years ago) and Last Interglacial (116,000 to 130,000 years ago) climbed well into the 50s. There is also this: California's 100-year drought Most of the USA's droughts of the past century, even the infamous 1930s Dust Bowl that forced migrations of Oklahomans and others from the Plains, "were exceeded in severity and duration multiple times by droughts during the preceding 2,000 years," the National Climate Assessment reported this year. "Prolonged droughts some of which lasted more than a century brought thriving civilizations, such as the ancestral Pueblo (Native Americans) of the Four Corners region, to starvation, migration and finally collapse," Lynn Ingram, a geologist at the University of California-Berkeley, wrote in her recent book The West Without Water. Ault says decade-long droughts happen once or twice a century in the Western USA, but much worse droughts, ones that last for multiple decades, occur once or twice per millennium. Here's how I see it. Medical errors cause seven to twelve times the number of deaths as guns, even though there are around 357 million guns in the U.S. and only around one million doctors. I have to wonder why Democrats are advocating banning guns instead of doctors. Life expectancy has shot up rapidly from under 50 in 1850 to around 80 today, coinciding with the use of petroleum that started in 1859. The life expectancy did unexpectedly fall in 2015, five years after Obamacare was passed. So why are the Democrats advocating getting rid of fossil fuels instead of getting rid of Obamacare? Don't they like the great improvement in the quality and length of life? Greenland was much warmer thousands of years ago than it is today, and droughts were much longer in California centuries ago than they are today. So why do Democrats, in conjunction with the complicit media, say humans, CO2, and fossil fuels cause warming and droughts when the actual facts show otherwise? Is it because they want control of our lives and more money to increase their power? When Jerry Brown, governor of California, says the drought conditions and climate are worse than ever and caused by humans, shouldn't journalists point out the actual facts instead of just repeating the talking points? Jerry Brown and all the others who say humans, CO2 and fossil fuels cause droughts, floods, hurricanes, and heat should be asked the following simple question: how would droughts ever end if humans, CO2, and fossil fuels cause them? I heard today that the "experts" ratcheted down their guesses on hurricanes this year to below normal. (As a non-expert I lowered my predictions weeks ago because there is little activity this year.) I have also seen that tornado activity is low this year. I don't understand! We have been told that humans, global warming, fossil fuels, and CO2 are causing storms to be worse, so how can they not only not be worse, but be milder than normal? I've got a theory: I believe that God has an exceptional sense of humor, and since we finally have a president who has the guts to back out of the worthless Paris climate accord, he is showing who is boss. God can't believe that Democratic luminaries such as Al Gore, President Obama, John Kerry, and the media are such charlatans and so arrogant to tell the public they can control the temperatures, sea levels, and storm activity if individuals and businesses are so gullible as to hand over trillions of dollars. God is thinking: Why would anyone trust politicians who are so willing to lie to get Obamacare, so willing to lie to get the Iran deal, can't even tell the truth about wait lists, and can't even balance a budget to control something as uncontrollable as the climate? God is laughing as he screws with experts' predictions. How can people pretend that they can predict the climate hundreds of years out when they are so inaccurate for the present year? God is just showing everyone that the climate is and has always been cyclical and always will be no matter what garbage politicians and the media spew forth. The execution of Oliver Cromwell, Henry Ireton and John Bradshaw in 1661, from a contemporary engraving. Oliver Cromwell, the 1st ruler of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, was born in Huntington, Cambridge on April 25, 1599. He died on September 3, 1658, from sepsis following a urinary infection. And he was executed on January 30, 1661more than two years after his natural death. This makes Oliver Cromwell one of very few people who has been executed posthumously. Throughout history there are several cases from different parts of the world, where the dead has been ritually killed a second time. Discounting mob justice, like what happened to Rasputin and the Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher, which were outright vandalism and disrespect for the dead, there are also examples where bodies have been exhumed, trails held and the dead executed whenever the authorities have felt that the guilty had escaped justice in their lifetime. Lets look at some of the most dramatic examples of posthumous executions. Oliver Cromwell Portrait of Oliver Cromwell, and his head on a spike following his posthumous execution. When Oliver Cromwell was born at the turn of the 17th century, England was a Protestant country ruled by a King who believed in his divine rights bestowed upon by God. Cromwell, who converted to Puritan in his late twenties, found the views of King Charles I too Catholic. Many of Charles Is policies, such as the levying of taxes without parliamentary consent, generated antipathy and mistrust among his subjects who found their Kings actions akin to those of a tyrannical absolute monarch. The stage was set for a Civil War. A series of armed conflicts followed, and King Charles I was overthrown and executed. Oliver Cromwell, who had led the Parliamentarians as a military commander, was one of the 59 who signed the death warrant for Charles. Following the Kings execution in 1649, the Commonwealth of England was introduced to replace the monarchy, and Cromwell became Lord Protector, a role in which he remained until his death five years later. Cromwell was succeeded by his son as Lord Protector, but he did not last long, and was overthrown by the army a year later. The monarchy was restored and Charles II became the new king. Immediately after gaining power, King Charles II ordered the arrest and trial of all who played part in the overthrowing of the monarchy. Of the 59 who signed the death warrant, several were hanged while others were imprisoned for life. Even those who had died were not sparred. Several had their body exhumed and reburied in communal burial pits, but Oliver Cromwell and three othersJohn Bradshaw, the judge who was president of the court, Henry Ireton, a general in the Parliamentary army and Cromwell's son-in-law, and Robert Blake, a military commanderwere awarded death sentences. The death warrant of King Charles I of England containing seals and signatures. Oliver Cromwells signature is the third down on the left. On the 12th death anniversary of King Charles Is death, Cromwell's body was exhumed from Westminster Abbey, and his disinterred body was hanged in chains at Tyburn. In the afternoon, the body was taken down and beheaded. Cromwells head was then placed on a 20-foot-tall wooden spike and raised above Westminster Hall where it remained for nearly twenty five years. For the next two centuries, the dismembered head rolled through the possession of many until it was given a dignified burial in a secret place at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1960. Pope Formosus The posthumous trial of Pope Formosus Pope Formosus was the Bishop of Rome from 891 until his death in 896. Immediately after ascending the papal throne, Formosus immersed himself in dispute with the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Emperors. Deeply distrustful of the growing power of the Roman Emperor Guy III, Formosus persuaded Arnulf of Carinthia to invade the Italian peninsula, and liberate Italy from the control of the Holy Roman Emperor. Arnulfs campaign was a success and by a stroke of good luck, Guy suddenly died leaving Arnulf a clear route to the highest seat of the Roman Empire. Formosus was more than happy to crown Arnulf the new Emperor, while Guys son Lambert went into exile. Arnulf continued his campaign southward but a sudden stroke forced him to call off the campaign and he return to Bavaria. That same year, Formosus died, leaving Lambert once again in power. Emperor Lambert decided that Formosus needed to be punished for acting against the Holy Roman Empire, ignoring the fact that he was already dead for nine months. A mock trial, which came to be known as Cadaver Synod, was organized. The new Pope Stephen VI, following instructions from Lambert, had the partially decomposed body of his predecessor dug up, clothed in papal attire and propped upon a throne. Unsurprisingly, Formosus was found guilty and had his papal vestments stripped of. Pope Stephen then ordered three fingers of his right hand to be cut off, and the body was thrown into the Tiber River. Gilles van Ledenberg Posthumous hanging of Gillis van Leedenberg Gilles van Ledenberg was the secretary of the States of Utrecht. While still in office, Ledenberg was arrested in 1618 for causing social unrest during the Twelve Years' Trucea period of ceasefire during the Dutch struggle for independence from Spain. Fearful of the conviction and the torture that he would be subjected to, Ledenberg committed suicide. Ledenberg hoped that with his death, the trial would end and the court would not be able to seize his property. But he was wrong. Ledenberg was still convicted and along with another conspirator, was sentenced to death. Ledenbergs embalmed body, still in its coffin, was hanged from a gibbet. John Wycliffe John Wycliffe's bones being burnt in 1428. John Wycliffe, often called The Morning Star of the Reformation, was one of the most influential priest of the Roman Catholic Church. John Wycliffe was a staunch disbeliever of the papacy, maintaining that all Christians should rely on the Bible rather than on the teachings of popes and clerics. He spoke out boldly against the privileged status of the clergy, the luxury and pomp of local parishes and their ceremonies. He disapproved of clerical celibacy, pilgrimages, the concept of purgatory and praying to saints. He thought the monasteries were corrupt and the immorality with which many clerics often behaved invalidated the sacraments they conducted. His unorthodox views gained him as many followers as enemies. In 1415, Council of Constance declared Wycliffe a heretic and banned his writings. The Council also decreed that Wycliffe's body remains should be removed from consecrated ground. This act was performed in 1428, forty four years after his death. Wycliffe's corpse was exhumed and burned and the ashes cast into the river. Samsungs newly announced Galaxy Note 9 and a number of other Android devices received Netflix HDR certificates earlier this week, with one of the worlds most popular on-demand streaming services expanding its mobile HDR portfolio by five new names in total. Besides Samsungs latest Android flagship, the companys list of HDR-certified devices now also includes the Galaxy Tab S4 tablet, Honor 10, and this years high-end smartphones from LG the G7 ThinQ and V35 ThinQ. As was the case before, only a portion of the Netflix library actually supports HDR playback, with shows and movies that do being designated with a prominent HDR badge attached to their thumbnails. Likewise, youll still need a Netflix Ultra HD subscription in order to actually stream HDR video on your mobile device of choice. Netflix has been gradually adding HDR support to its original content in recent times, with its high-dynamic-range ecosystem now including the likes of Stranger Things, The Do Over, Marvels Daredevil, MindHunter, War Machine, Samurai Gourmet, Death Note, and The OA. The on-demand video platform also expanded its list of HD-certified devices, having awarded approvals to Huaweis MediaPad M5 10 Lite and T5 10 lineups, and Nova 3, in addition to the five aforementioned Android devices. While the majority of Samsungs recent flagships are fully compatible with HDR content on Netflix, the Galaxy S8 lineup isnt among them and the reasons for that remain unclear to this date. The upcoming Galaxy S10 series is widely expected to be the first Samsung-made smartphone family to offer HDR recording capabilities in addition to playback. While most 2018 flagships equipped with Qualcomms Snapdragon 845 can already do HDR capture, Samsungs Exynos 9810 used in the international variants of the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9 Plus, and the Galaxy Note 9 cant, which presumably prompted the company to disable the functionality on the U.S. models as well for the sake of feature parity. Huawei-owned electronics manufacturer Honor is planning to double down on Android gaming smartphones following the launch of the Honor Play, according to Zheng Shubao, chief of the firms Southern-Pacific operations. In a statement provided to ZDNet, the industry veteran said the move toward embracing mobile gaming is a natural one for the company to take due to its established focus on youth, the demographic that traditionally encompasses some of the most avid mobile gamers on the planet. Creating more handsets primarily designed to deliver high-quality gaming experiences is hence one of Honors top priorities for the time being, Mr. Zheng said. The Razer Phone released late last year revived the trend of gaming-oriented handsets, having now been followed by similar offerings from Xiaomi-backed Black Shark, Nubia, and a number of other manufacturers. Even Samsung is now said to be considering making a gaming smartphone meant to appeal to a more mainstream audience and has even opted to partially promote the newly announced Galaxy Note 9 as a device meant to deliver the best-in-class gaming performance. Those efforts went as far as Samsung striking a partnership with Epic Games that saw the Android port of Fornite launch as a Galaxy exclusive, with its beta only being expected to expand to non-Samsung devices in the final quarter of the year. Honor itself is presently aiming to become a top-five manufacturer within the next half a decade, with its parent company already being the second-largest handset maker on the planet in certain quarters, though Apple and Samsung are still expected to outsell it on an annual basis. Honor is positioning its devices as more affordable alternatives to mainstream smartphones and hence isnt expected to be among the first adopters of 5G and other emerging technologies. The recently launched Honor Play is already available for purchase in the companys home country of China and a number of other Far Eastern markets, starting at approximately $315. OtterBox makes some of the most durable protective cases around and the company has now added a new range of series catering directly to Samsungs new Galaxy Note 9. Those range in ruggedization and style from milder everyday drop defense with aesthetic appeal to designs that can survive nearly anything a smartphone might get put through. Whats more, OtterBox has introduced more color schemes and graphic designs for the latest Samsung phablet than for any prior device from the company. That means that at prices ranging from $50 to approximately $60, those who decide to pick up Samsungs Galaxy Note 9 can match their personality while still keeping the more than $1,000 investment safe. The company also offers its own Alpha Glass screen protectors, priced at $44.95, which are optimally designed for use with each of its cases. Each of the new cases also provides easy access to Samsungs newly designed S Pen. While the color options for OtterBoxs latest releases may be a bit wider than normal for a Samsung handset, the company opted to stick with its tried and true overall designs. That all starts with its slim-fitting Symmetry Series, sold at $49.95 aside from one or two exceptions. The most affordable of OtterBoxs offerings is a single piece of synthetic rubber and polycarbonate that slips easily onto and back off of Samsungs Galaxy Note 9. Symmetry features a front bumper for screen protection and extra buffering for corner drops. Color choices include clear and a glittery clear design called Stardust as well as Black, Dark Lake Blue, Ivy Meadow Green, and Tonic Violet Purple. New Love Triangle and Gradient Energy options are also available at a slightly higher $54.95 but are currently on pre-order. The OtterBox Commuter Series is similarly priced and only slightly more bulky. However, it also offers protective covers for each of the Galaxy Note 9s ports to keep dirt and other particulates from becoming embedded inside. The Commuter Series can be purchased in either Black or Bespoke Way Blue. Finally, the accessory manufacturers iconic and heavy-duty Defender Series has been reimagined with the Galaxy Note 9 in mind. First, OtterBox has left the clear plastic screen flap off for the new Samsung flagship phablet in order to accentuate the smartphones curved glass display panel. However, it does feature a front lip to prevent screen damage and the above-mentioned screen protectors are compatible with its design. Setting that aside, the Defender Series features a solid hard-shell polycarbonate casing wrapped in a softer TPU slipcover for maximum protection. The included belt clip holster provides yet another layer on top of that, while the belt clip itself easily detaches from the holster for ease-of-use. The design also includes port covers to protect the already IP68-rated phablet from any accidental water or particulate damage. Thats not a bad deal for just $59.95 and buyers can choose from Black, Purple Nebula, or Dark Lake Blue color configurations. The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club offered an online handicapping contest for Hanover Raceways Dream of Glory night as well as an on-track Pick the Winner contest. Joey Bats and driver Bruce Richardson winning the 2018 Dream Of Glory Trot Joey Bats and driver Bruce Richardson winning the 2018 Dream Of Glory Trot Congratulations to Doug Fitchett of Ariss, Ont., for winning the Dream of Glory Online Handicapping Contest! Doug was successful in securing 17 out of a possible 20 points in the contest, along with one other entrant, and was declared the winner from a blind draw. Doug is a huge fan of the sport and a previous owner of Standardbreds. His handicapping skills have won him a Fan Club prize package and dinner for two at Grand River Raceway in the Captains Quarters Dining Room. Below are the contest answers and Dougs selections: Select the horse that you think will win Race 4. (3 points) Dougs Selection: Senior Market Answer: Senior Market, driven by Mike Whelan, sprinted home to a 1:55 victory in the preferred pace. Select the race that you think will have the greatest margin of victory. (3 points) Dougs Selection: Race 6 Answer: Race 11 had the greatest margin of victory, with Joey Bats winning by eight-and-a-half lengths. Select the post position that will have the greatest number of wins on the nights card. (3 points) Dougs Selection: Post 5 Answer: Four of 11 races were won from post five: 1, 2, 8 and 10. Select the horse that will reach the quarter pole first in the Dream of Glory Trot. (3 points) Dougs Selection: Joey Bats Answer: Joey Bats reached the quarter pole first, clocking the quarter in 28.3. Will the final time of the 2018 Dream of Glory Trot be over, under, or on the time of 2017 winner Mister Muscle (1:58.3) (3 points)? Dougs Selection: Under Answer: This years Dream of Glory was under (faster), with Joey Bats winning in 1:57.2. Select the horse that you think will in the 2018 Dream of Glory Trot. (5 points) Dougs Selection: Joey Bats Answer: The 6-5 favourite Joey Bats was victorious in the $58,700 Dream of Glory Final for trainer Keith Jones and owner Doug McCarthy of Holland Landing, Ont. Bruce Richardson picked up the drive. The Fan Club also hosted a trackside contest where fans had to select the winning horse in the Dream of Glory. Congratulations to Deacon Heard of Barrie, Ont., whose entry was drawn from Joey Bats ballot box, and wins a $50 Fan Club prize package. ABC/Image Group LA Rascal Flatts was forced to end the Indianapolis-area stop on their Back to Us Tour before the encore on Thursday night, due to a safety issue. Last night a safety concern presented itself during the Rascal Flatts concert in Indianapolis, the Hamilton Country Sheriffs Office tells ABC Radio in a statement. Venue staff and local officials followed standard protocols to ensure the safety of guests, the artist and staff. Law enforcement agencies are investigating the matter. Since the investigation remains ongoing, the Sheriff is not releasing any more specific info at this time. Rascal Flatts tweeted about what happened at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana as well. Due to a security concern at the show last night, standard procedures were quickly executed and everyone was able to safely leave the building, the band said in their message. The safety of our fans, band and crew is always the top priority for us, so we are so thankful for everyone who jumped into action and for your understanding. We will be back soon! The Back to Us trek is set to continue this weekend as usual, with Dan + Shay and Carly Pearce opening. Rascal Flatts plays Chicago, Illinois on Friday, before heading for Arcadia, Wisconsin on Saturday. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The Alabama Breastfeeding Committee is launching a new hospital recognition program that encourages delivering hospitals in Alabama to develop and follow policies that improve maternity care practices, which will increase breastfeeding rates in Alabama. The Better Bama Babies Hospital Recognition Program has been developed using evidenced-based recommendations from the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, which is endorsed by the World Health Organization. This new recognition program is receiving funding and endorsement through The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. The program has also been endorsed by the Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Medicaid, and the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The recognition program is supported by the Alabama Chapter of the March of Dimes. While breastfeeding is a natural act, it is also a learned behavior. An extensive body of research has demonstrated that mothers and other caregivers require active support for establishing and sustaining appropriate breastfeeding practices. WHO and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund launched the BFHI in 1992, to strengthen maternity practices that support breastfeeding. The BFHI contributes to improving the establishment of exclusive breastfeeding worldwide and, coupled with support throughout the healthcare system, can help mothers sustain exclusive breastfeeding. It is a difficult and costly effort for hospitals to achieve recognition as a BFHI facility. The goal of ABC is to ensure these steps are attainable and to assist with providing positive feedback for these facilities. For some facilities, efforts have halted due to the expense of applying for BFHI recognition. ABC feels strongly that these facilities should receive some recognition for the difficult steps that have been achieved. "It is the hope of our committee that each facility participating in the ABC recognition program will use this process as a stepping stone to ultimately achieve Baby-Friendly status," said Glenda Dickerson, who serves as the chair of the Hospital Recognition Program. Forty-two other states have adopted similar programs to improve health care for mothers and infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other leading physician groups recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months. According to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, only 67.6 percent of babies in Alabama are ever breastfed compared with 81.1 percent nationally. Just 10.9 percent of infants in Alabama are exclusively breastfed for the recommended period of at least 6 months. Exclusive breastfeeding should be maintained for at least 6 months and is recommended for up to a year or more to improve the health of the baby. Volumes of research reveal close associations between breastfeeding and maternal and pediatric health outcomes. As stated in the U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding (2011), Dr. Regina Benjamin stated, "Given the importance of breastfeeding on the health of mothers and children, it is critical that we act to support breastfeeding. Women who choose to breastfeed face numerous barriers--only through the support of family, communities, clinicians, healthcare systems, and employers will we be able to make breastfeeding the easy choice." A calculator developed by the Cambridge Health Alliance and funded by the. Kellogg Foundation estimates the impact of breastfeeding success on our healthcare system. If Alabama families were able to achieve medically recommended breastfeeding rates the calculator predicts major health improvements and significant cost savings for Alabama. * For infants, breastfeeding is shown to significantly reduce acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute otitis media, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, gastrointestinal infection, hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infections, obesity in non-Hispanic whites to age four, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). * For moms, breastfeeding reduces rates of costly maternal conditions including breast cancer, premenopausal ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and myocardial infarction. * Presumably, if 90% of Alabama infants meet recommended breastfeeding durations, the state health system would save approximately $41,450,000 a year in direct maternal healthcare costs and 45 maternal deaths would be prevented per year. In addition, approximately $12 million would be saved in direct child healthcare costs. Breastfeeding is also a great benefit to the environment and society. Breastfeeding families are sick less often, and the parents miss less work. There is no use of energy for manufacturing or creation of waste or air pollution. Unlike prepared baby formula, there is no risk of contamination, and it is always at the right temperature and ready to feed. Components of the hospital recognition program include: * Educate on the importance of exclusive breastmilk feeding and the rooming in process * Meet first hour practices of early skin-to-skin care and first feeding * Teach basic infant feeding management * Avoid nonmedically indicated supplemental feeding and the use of bottle nipples or pacifiers with the breastfeeding baby * Practice rooming in to allow mothers to spend 23 out of 24 hours a day with their infant and to encourage breastfeeding on cue. * Provide mom post-discharge education and resources for breastfeeding * Educate all health care staff on their role in basic breastfeeding management within six months of employment The ABC is hopeful that the Better Bama Babies program will also help to decrease Alabama's high infant mortality rate. The BBB planning committee chose to include a recognition step to ensure new mothers, and their family, receive education regarding protection from SIDS and sleep-related deaths. Alabama has approximately 120 infants who die each year from being placed for nap or sleep in unsafe sleep conditions. Because of conflicting ideas regarding breastfeeding and bed sharing, the ABC feels that this is a crucial part of the education that should be received by families, before discharge. The Better Bama Babies Hospital Recognition Program is scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2019. A series of meetings will be scheduled throughout the state to provide education on the program itself and to provide free breastfeeding education to all hospitals interested in applying for this recognition. More information regarding this program, including the application for recognition, will soon be located on the ABC website at http://alabamabreastfeeding.org. For more information, press only: Glenda Dickerson (Committee Chair)- glenda.dickerson@tenethealth.com Gayle Whatley (Program Manager) - gwhatley@att.net - 256-624-6518 Regarding Safe Sleep Issues: Amy Stratton (State Perinatal Program)- amy.stratton@adph.state.al.us Although Delightful Memphis arrived in the United States less than two months ago, the Australian mare has already posted a pair of impressive miles for trainer Richard Nifty Norman. On Friday (August 10), shell take her first shot in the Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway. Norman discovered Delightful Memphis while on a trip to Australia earlier this year. In the care of Mark Jones, the Bettors Delight mare had shown talent, winning two Group 3 stakes to begin her career and placing in another seven Group 1 or 2 stakes, including four runner-up finishes to the Purdon and Rasmussen star Spanish Armada. However, bleeding issues prevented Delightful Memphis from achieving her full potential in the Lasix-free jurisdiction. I knew a lot about her. A friend of mine down there trained her and he told me about her, Norman said. I was down there on vacation over the New Year and he said shed been bleeding a little bit and I thought shed probably be better off up here. It was just a matter of getting it organized. Shes a good mare at home and she looks like shes going to fit in pretty good around here too. Delightful Memphis raced just a week before flying to the United States, finishing second in an overnight at Menangle. Despite the drastic change in seasons, she arrived in Normans stable fit and ready. I think (the weather) is more drastic this time of year because theyre coming out of the winter into the summer and theyve got their winter coat. Its much more drastic this time of year, Norman said. This time of the year, with the weather, its probably best just to keep them racing well than try and lay them up. She had a pretty good winter coat, but we just clipped her up and shes filled out real good and shes a pretty nice mare. They often get sick just because of the heat, he continued. So far so good, but youll see a lot of New Zealand and Australian horses getting stressed this time of year for that reason. So far so good, but I wont be surprised if she does get a little sick at some stage. Norman qualified Delightful Memphis July 14 at the Meadowlands. The five-year-old September 28 foal got away in fifth and closed with a :27.1 final quarter to finish third in a 1:52 clocking. It was her first pari-mutuel start the following week however, that surprised Norman. Delightful Memphis made her debut July 20 in a $17,500 overnight at the Swamp. She raced last of seven past the half 8-1/4 lengths behind leader Call Me Queen Bee. While the outer flow developed around the final turn, driver Brett Miller stayed inside, but laid flat in the sulky as his mare raged with pace. Delightful Memphis tossed her head in behind horses, but as Miller found a seam along the pylons, he kicked out the plugs and let Delightful Memphis advance. Taking a few peeks at his left wheel in deep stretch, Miller ensured he didnt go inside the pylons in the tight space and Delightful Memphis streaked past rival Monica Gallagher to finish third. She came home with a :25.1 final quarter and paced her mile in 1:51.2. She was in good shape and she was good and fit and everything. She was nice and strong finishing, that was all I was looking for. I didnt really want to go that quick. She was nice and handy doing it, Norman said of the qualifier. The bigger shock was when I raced her at the Meadowlands and she paced home in :25.1. Thats just ridiculous and Brett Miller said to me after, I dont think Ive ever come home in :25.1 with a horse before and be that strong. She was dynamite. Delightful Memphis won her last start at Harrahs Philadelphia on July 27, coming from off the pace to score by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.2. She raced really good at Chester and had lots of pace finishing there too, her trainer said. Thats all Im really looking for is just to get some good solid starts into her, get some foundation, and have her finishing up strong at the wire. Delightful Memphis will make her first local start in Fridays distaff feature. Dan Dube will drive in the $44,000 pace and the pair are a 6-1 morning line chance after being assigned post three. Caviart Cherie is a lukewarm 7-2 favourite off consecutive second place finishes in this class, but drew post seven. The field also features Made Of Jewels As, who won this feature on July 27 and drew post six, and Rockstar Angel, who will make her third start on American soil for Chris Oakes. Vorst, Keystone Wanda, Change The Rulz, and Magic Forces complete the lineup. She fit non-winners of $30,000; thats where I entered her and it obviously didnt fill, so they put her in there. Its an open purse, I like that part, Norman said. I think shell be competitive. I think theres another foreign mare in there thats pretty good. Although Norman knows Delightful Memphis can show speed -- she has done so many times in Australia and New Zealand -- he is content to continue racing her from behind at this stage of her stateside career as a protective measure. While this will be her first start on a half-mile track, he is confident Delightful Memphis will handle the turns. Ive seen her leave the gate good down home, Ive seen her race on the front quite a bit, he said. She was bleeding a little bit down there, so I just didnt want to put her in that situation where shes on the front and getting run over or getting run down. Well try her like that for a little while and see how she handles it. I think shes really going to fit in good here in America, he continued. I think she could be a legitimate open mare. This will be her first time half-mile track. That will be a bit of a challenge maybe, but she seems to steer really good, so I dont think it will be too bad. We train on a five-eighths, but she gets around it good. First post time Friday is 6:50 p.m. (with files from SOA of NY) Lexington, Kentucky, Delaware, Ohio, and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island -- if you were to ask someone that wasnt involved in harness racing what the three aforementioned cities have in common, what would they say? They probably wouldnt know that three of the most significant racetracks in our sport are located in those places. Teesha Symes knows differently, and shes raced at all three. But on Saturday, August 11 at Red Shores Charlottetown, things will be a little different for her than in the past, when the Nova Scotia native will be the trainer of record of a horse in the Gold Cup & Saucer for the first time in her life. Many successful years as a groom for the Dr. Ian Moore stable, rubbing on champions like State Treasurer (p,1:47; $2,072,450) and Rockin In Heaven (p,1:49.2s; $715,201), helped Symes secure the title of Canadas Outstanding Groom, presented at the 2016 OBrien Awards. In an interview following her triumph, she suggested that one day she would like to go back out on her own, and train her own stable. Symes found herself at that very crossroads this past fall: continue working for Dr. Moore and enjoy another winter in the hot south Florida sun, or jump into the unknown of training her own stable to see if she had what it takes. Teesha Symes receives the Outstanding Groom Award at the 2016 O'Brien Awards from Rob Cook, Executive Director of Ontario Racing. Teesha Symes receives the Outstanding Groom Award at the 2016 O'Brien Awards from Rob Cook, Executive Director of Ontario Racing. Ian was going back to Florida and I made the choice to not go last winter I stayed just to see if I could do it, to see if I could do it on my own. I got a truck and trailer and thought I could do some shipping and some freelance, and if this stable thing doesn't work out then I have that to go back on. Most options have flourished, Im having a good run. Things have taken off for Symes which she credits to, Great owners, and a great team... it always takes a village... things have happened to fall into place at the right time. Things definitely fell into place at the right time early on, because right when Symes went out on her own a familiar horse entered her barn: now she would be the trainer of Rockin In Heaven. The other partners bought Ian out because they wanted to keep racing him over the winter instead of going to Florida. The remaining owners (Douglas Polley and Gordon McComb) thought that, due to the horses attitude, taking him away from me wouldn't be for the best. We've spent five years together. They decided to give me a chance to train him instead of just rubbing on him. It was huge for me. The six-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven would capture his first start for his new trainer, at Woodbine, on November 4, in 1:51.4, but his performances in the following weeks and months proved to be just average. He wasnt as good as we knew he could be over the winter so we gave him some time [he shows no charted lines from March 10 to May 17]. I got thinking that he had never raced in the winter before -- hes used to a long break... he came back fresh as ever, Symes said. With just two horses in her barn at the moment, Rockin In Heaven wasnt necessarily going to be racing in this years Gold Cup & Saucer, but a dazzling performance in last Saturday's Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park made the connections wonder. Coming from the Petro Canada station down the street, well back of leader Dr J Hanover at the three-quarter pole, Rockin In Heaven paced home in :25.1 and grabbed the victory, shocking Symes, who has been with the horse every step of the way since he stepped off the trailer in Florida following his $40,000 purchase at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale in 2013. I was flabbergasted. I knew he had a really fast quarter brush in him.... we decided that wed take him to the back and hopefully close hard instead [of leaving]...I didn't think he would come like that, I thought it was a misprint, I said this can't be right, related an overly excited Symes discussing last Saturdays milestone victory for her stable. The final decision on whether to take the horse out east was made after Saturday's race - they packed up Sunday and left the next day (Monday). Returning home with a horse of her own, coming off two sub-1:50 wins in his last five starts, in the race she always dreamed of winning, is a moment shell cherish for a lifetime -- after it sinks in. Having a horse going into the Gold Cup & Saucer is exciting, but with him in the shape he's in is so exciting. He's already given me so many memories to last a lifetime and taken me so many places. I literally had to pinch myself at the farm this morning. Is this real life? Is this happening? This IS happening, Symes said laughing. It may sound corny but this is a dream come true...this is my home, it's always been my dream of being in it, and with him racing like he is, Im speechless...just get in the final, a fourth, a third, a second, Id be ecstatic...Just get in the final. The horse has drawn post-position number four in Trial #1 on Saturday night, with regular driver J Harris making the trip east to sit behind him. J Harris qualified him for me at Flamboro after his time off and they just clicked. Hes had a lot of drivers in the past, and lots have gotten along with him, but no one has been able to get the bit in his mouth like J does. They just click, says the proud trainer. As for heading home for Old Home Week: Just being able to race around my friends and family, they don't get to see me in action, so that will be quite nice. To have my dad here, who I worked with growing up, he taught me everything I know, Im a third generation, it would be just extra special to win. I don't even know how Id would react if I won, Id probably be crying. Nothing compares to the Gold Cup & Saucer, its at the top of the list, its on a whole other level. One of the many other things that Symes is looking forward to experiencing while she is back home is the food, of which she says, there's nothing like it. Teesha related that just before the phone interview she had dined at the Blue Mussel Cafe in North Rustico. When asked what she ate? Mussels, obviously...come on!, she yelled, sarcastically laughing through the phone. Theres no place like home. (A Trot Insider exclusive by Justin Fisher) On August 6, India and Thailand kicked off this years edition of their joint army exercise in the latest defense interaction between the two Asian states, Prashanth Parameswaran reports in The Diplomat. The exercises once again shed light on the ongoing security collaboration that is underway between the two countries as part of their wider bilateral relationship despite lingering challenges. The Maitree-18 exercise is focusing on the honing of tactical and technical skills in joint counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations in rural and urban scenarios. (Picture source: Twitter) In January 2012, India and Thailand established a base for defense collaboration, with the inking of a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation. It foresaw a range of exercises, joint patrols, exchanges, and dialogues in place. But both sides have also been looking to step up security ties in recent years as well amid wider trends within their respective foreign policies as well as within the region more generally, despite the structural constraints that remain in doing so. On the army side, one of the key interactions within this broader relationship is Exercise Maitree. Recent iterations of the exercise have tended to last about two weeks and involve around 100 troops from the Indian Army and the Royal Thailand Army. Last years iteration, Exercise Maitree-17, occurred at Bakloh in Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh in July, with approximately 50 troops from the Indian and Thai sides. This month, the defense side of the India-Thailand relationship was in the headlines again with the holding of the latest iteration of Exercise Maitree. The exercise involving both armies in Thailand is expected to last until August 19. According to the Indian Defense ministry, the exercise is focusing on the honing of tactical and technical skills in joint counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations in rural and urban scenarios. Following Exercise Maitree, both sides will continue their defense interactions through the year as part of the bilateral relationship and also wider regional initiatives as well. A notable example in this respect will be a first-of-its-kind military exercise in September held under the banner of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The exercise, to be held in Pune, is scheduled to feature the armies of all seven BIMSTEC countries India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand, and Myanmar in a further testament to New Delhis growing emphasis on the security aspect of ties with regional states under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government of Sweden signed an agreement to purchase Raytheon's Patriot air and missile defense system from the U.S. Army. The agreement, formally referred to as a Letter of Offer and Acceptance, paves the way for Sweden's Patriot force to rapidly reach Initial Operational Capability. So, Sweden becomes the 16th nation to entrust lower tier air and missile defense to Raytheon's Patriot system. Patriot is the backbone of Europe's defense against ballistic and cruise missiles, advanced aircraft and drones. (Picture source: Youtube) "Sweden and 15 other countries trust our Patriot system to defend its citizens, military and sovereignty because Patriot has a proven track record of defeating ballistic missiles and a host of other aerial threats," said Wes Kremer, President of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "Patriot in Sweden will enhance Northern European security and further strengthen the Trans-Atlantic partnership by providing a common approach to Integrated Air and Missile Defense." Patriot is the backbone of Europe's defense against ballistic and cruise missiles, advanced aircraft and drones. European Nations with Patriot: Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain currently have Patriot. Within the past 12 months Romania and Poland signed Letters of Acceptance for Patriot, becoming the 5th and 6th European nations to procure Raytheon's Patriot system. Racing Under Saddle returns to Georgian Downs on Saturday Night, and the program will feature a new face after she recently completed her qualifying engagements. Sarah Cuthbertson was raised in Georgetown and now makes her home in Schomberg, Ontario. She was originally interested in RUS in 2015 after completing the RUS riding seminar. She had trouble negotiating stairs for a week after the seminar, but got hooked on Racing Under Saddle. Sarah spent the winter training in the gym, in the barn, in the books and on the track preparing for her debut. While Sarah may be new to RUS, she is by no means an inexperienced rider, having contested some of the most extreme endurance races in the world: Mongol Derby in 2014 and Race the Wild Coast (South Africa) in 2016. She trains, conditions, manages and competes Endurance horses with great success and has received several top awards in Endurance Riding (50 miles or more) and Ultra-Distance/multi-day riding. To learn more about Sarah, she shares her love of horse sport and training tips through her blog, www.EatSleepRideRepeat.com. The Racing Under Saddle event is carded as race one and Cuthbertson has drawn the three-hole with Gifted Glider (8-1). The remainder of the field has Sarah Town making her season's debut with rookie Extrapolate (5-2) for trainer Bernie Bahr on the rail, Next Kash (10-1) draws the two-hole for Amber Lawson-Brand and Les Posan. All Out Henry (9-5) has drawn the four-hole for local rider Maggie Jones and Pam Forgie, Burlington (5-1) makes his RUS debut for rider/trainer Britt Kennedy and Jangone (3-1) being ridden by Karoline Nielson for Julie Walker. For more information on Racing Under Saddle visit www.rusontario.com or contact [email protected]. (RUS) Oakes also launched a lawyer mentoring consultancy with Ron Nathans, a fellow seasoned top-tier firm partner, earlier this year. He was formerly a partner at DibbsBarker and Clayton Utz. He was also head of workplace and employment and international managing partner at Minter Ellison. He is a strategic commercial advisor to national and international companies in a wide range of industries, SPB said. He also has a broad perspective and extensive strategic and operational expertise coming from his experience as senior HR and industrial relations executive in the media and construction industries. Johns expertise is in developing tailored employment and industrial relations strategies to meet the needs of a client, project or issue. His track record in the early identification and resolution of conflicts is highly regarded by his clients, as is his practical and commercial approach, SPB said. The new partner will be working closely with Perth-based partner Bruno Di Girolami, as well as other professionals across the international network of the firm. To advise on employment issues across the region, he will also work with Tony Chong, head of the firms Australian Asia desk. My move to Squire Patton Boggs was prompted by the increasing globalisation of workforces and the expansion of many Asia-Pacific headquartered organisations across the region, Oakes said. This is only a small part of vice presidents Mike Pence Thursday statement at the Pentagon, a statement that has, for lack of a better word, forcefully detailed the need for the creation of a sixth branch of the U.S. Military: the Space Force Pences statement, centered on the whys of the idea, was followed by an official press release from the White House, detailing the hows of the Forces creation.First, the vice president says the creation of this branch is required because Russia and China have been investing heavily in the creation of space-based or space-bound weapons, including anti-satellite missiles (China), anti-satellite lasers (Russia) and hypersonic missiles (both).First, says the administration, the new Force has to be free of the bureaucracy that has plagued space exploration in past decades. For this to happen, only one entity will be in charge with the development and fielding of the Forces capabilities, the soon-to-be created Space Development Agency.The U.S. will also create only one civilian position, reporting to the Secretary of Defense, to oversee the growth and expansion of this new branch of service.The men and women who will be included in the new Force will be taken from our nations space programs and included in a Space Operations Force and a United States Space Command.The next step for the creation of the Force is to ask Congress for money. Pence says the administration will do so next February when the President will submit the budget.The addition of a new branch to the U.S. military marks the first time in over 70 years when such an event takes place. The most recent part of to the armed forces roster was the Air Force. Despite being founded in 1907, it became a self-sustaining branch only in 1947.This is the moment. Now is the time to act quickly, using all the tools at your disposal to lead our nation forward with President Trumps vision to meet the challenges that lie ahead," the vice president said."There is much work to do. Success will demand the very best of each of you. So be bold, be creative, unencumbered by the past or the status quo.Below you can find both the White House statement and a transcript of Mike Pences remarks. SUV The Territory is wearing the same name badge as anbeing sold at one point in Australia. Despite all this, says the carmaker, the new car is not derived from a Ford product elsewhere.The SUV gets its power from a choice of powertrains that includes a gasoline engine, a 48V mild hybrid with Miller-Cycle technology, and a plug-in hybrid. The carmaker did not say whether it had anything to do with the development of the powertrains.What it did say is that the American touch on the car, which resembles Yusheng S330, an SUV built in China by Ford s local partner, Jiangling, can be seen when it comes to the suspension, grille and LED lamps.The SUV will come equipped with Fords Co-Pilot360 driver assistance technologies, Infotainment system with Mandarin voice-command function and FordPass Connect embedded modem.The Territory is a breakthrough for Ford in China in terms of our ability to successfully compete with Chinese automakers for millions of customers that we do not currently serve, said in a statement Peter Fleet, Ford China CEO.We brought Territory to market with speed, high quality, and cost efficiency. It will be affordable for young families and new buyers across China, not just the coastal mega-cities.Traditionally, Ford has not been on top of the shopping list for Chinese people in the market for a new car. For years the carmaker has seen declining numbers in the country, the most recent being the over 30 percent drop reported for the second quarter of the year.This is a situation Ford can no longer tolerate. As per a report by McKinseys China, the local midsize SUV segment grew annually by an average of 38 percent, hence the need to tap into this growing segment.The Territory comes in 2019 as a first step towards redressing the situation for Ford. Despite its launch, however, the carmaker still doesnt seem to have a strategy as clear for China as the ones of the German manufacturers, for instance. Unlike their American counterparts, European gamers do not have a taste of the automotive industry blending in at such events, but that is about to change this year. Ford plans to make history at the event two weeks from now by presenting the first ever vehicle to attend the local gamer gathering. This will happen at the carmakers booth on the premises of the event, with the car expected to be there for more than just show and tell.The carmaker did not say what vehicle it will be bringing to Cologne, saying only it will be a new performance car that promises to "bring the fun back to on- and off-road driving." As a clue, Ford says the car is the same one that will be added to a forthcoming racing video game.As said, the car will not be on site only for show and tell. Ford will be placing some of those attending the show behind the wheel of the vehicle in a virtual environment, on eight racing pods and a special 4D racing simulator, built specifically for the event.The carmaker will be keeping track of each of the players' laps and choose each days lap record holder as the winner of a trip to the UK, where they will spend a day with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team.The task at hand will not be easy. The German event draws each year 355,000 visitors to the stands of the over 900 exhibitors.Since the city where the event is being held, Cologne, is home of Ford Europe, and at the same time the place where the Fiesta model is manufactured, the carmaker has been on site for previous Gamescom in previous years as well. It was only last May when Rolls-Royce officially pulled the covers off their first-ever SUV, the Cullinan. Now, just a mere three months later, the brand's luxury off-roader has already made its way to the region. Rolls-Royce recently held the South East Asia regional debut in Singapore last August 7. Cullinan is highly-anticipated in Singapore, an all-new model that also completes a prolific range of offerings from the marque. Singapores importance as a luxury hub in South East Asia is once again confirmed with this premiere, and we are very happy to bring new customers to the brand with Cullinans broader appeal, said Renee Chua, Managing Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore. The high-riding Rolls-Royce gets its name from the largest diamond ever found Cullinan which now sits atop the British Crown Jewels. It also marks the first time the luxury brand has ventured into the SUV market. Despite that, Rolls-Royce was able to style it similar to their flagship model, the Phantom. Up front, there's the signature 'pantheon' grill finished in stainless steel. There's also the new headlights with slim LED daytime-running lights, giving it a more distinct face. Moving to the side, it gets the Rolls-Royce's signature suicide doors as well and is fitted with 22-inch wheels which help lift it off the ground. At the rear, there's more similar features with the Phantom albeit now having a hatch and flowing tailgate. The interior is as luxurious as ever. The cabin is finished with handcrafted wood, metal work and leather upholstery which can be customized fit the customer's desire. A host of high-tech features also come standard on the Cullinan such as Night Vision with Vision Assist, Wildlife and Pedestrian warning, driver alertness assistant, active cruise control and collision warning to name a few. Under the hood, there sits a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 which produces 563 PS and 850 Nm of torque. Top speed is electronically limited at 250 km/h with all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering as standard. It rides on the same Architecture of Luxury platform which underpins all other RR models. The all-new Rolls-Royce Cullinan is slated to arrive in the Philippines in 2019. Christians: Take God to Work Taking God to Work -- Pastor and Christian Businessman Encourage Christians to Let Their Faith Hang Out at Work WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Despite mounting pressures for Christians to keep quiet about their faith, a new book by Pastor Steve Reynolds and David L. Winters recommend just the opposite. "At this point in our nation's history, every institution needs strong leadership to survive and thrive," Winters said. "There are many forces seeking to tear down authority and keep faith out of the marketplace. Christianity and the Bible are all about showing leadership under fire." In their new book Taking God to Work: The Keys to Ultimate Success , Reynolds and Winters share biblical principles about lasting success: Link faith to caring for others through work Learn how to resist temptations that sink careers Find the job that maximizes your potential What to do when your job is driving you crazy How to recover from a big mistake Ways to deal with incompetent leaders and co-worker bad behavior How Christians should prepare for retirement In his role as Pastor of Capital Baptist Church for over 30 years, Reynolds hears every kind of story about Christians in the workplace. "We spend close to one-third of our waking lives at work," he said. "If we draw a self-imposed line stopping short of taking God to work, we give up a huge opportunity to help our customers, our co-workers and employees." Taking God to Work includes 13 Spotlight Features about real Christians in the workplace. With work as varied as private airline pilot, stay-at-home mom, information technology manager and school teacher, each explains how they exercise their faith at their job. These people encounter problems very typical of those Reynolds hears about regularly, he said. If Reynolds and Winters have their way, more Christians will step out in faith and use their vocation to care for God's world. Steve Reynolds has served as the senior pastor of Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, Virginia, since 1982. He is the author of the best-selling books, Bod4God: Twelve Weeks To Lasting Weight Loss and Get Off The Couch. He is the co-author of The Healthy Renegade Pastor and Wise Up! His books have been featured in local, national and international media, including FOX News, CNN, Nightline, Saturday Night Live, the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune. Steve is a graduate of Liberty University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. David L. Winters is an author and speaker from Kensington, Maryland. He worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Navy for over thirty years, acting in management functions for the last 20 years. His first book, Sabbatical of the Mind: The Journey from Anxiety to Peace won several awards. Hardcover: 278 pages Publisher: DAVIWIN Publishing; (August 15) ISBN-978-0-9977-747-7-1 Dozens of children were killed today when an airstrike from the Saudi-led coalition struck a bus in Yemen. The bigger picture: The war in Yemen is exacerbating what has been called the "world's worst humanitarian disaster." The coalition has bombed weddings, hospitals, and schools, been accused of torturing detainees and, according to a recent AP report, paid off and even recruited al-Qaeda members. The U.S. has continued to support it. Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich told Axios that the U.S. was not involved in Thursday's strike. Former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Stephen Seche tells Axios the U.S. has two primary goals in Yemen countering Iran and fighting terrorist groups and the coalition is "addressing these issues on our behalf." "Why are we going to get in their hair about how they're conducting this war, because basically they're doing our work for us over there." Seche, describing the thinking of some in the administration While the war started under President Obama, the Trump administration has taken a different approach to working with the coalition, Seche said: The Obama administration : "We will give you a green light on certain things in Yemen, and if we don't then you stand down." : "We will give you a green light on certain things in Yemen, and if we don't then you stand down." The Trump administration: "Explain to us what you need to do we'll offer some words of caution, some words of advice but at the end of the day it's your call to make. That is your backyard, it's not ours." The Pentagon's view, via Rebarich: "The U.S. military support to our partners mitigates noncombatant casualties, by improving coalition processes and procedures, especially regarding compliance with the law of armed conflict and best practices for reducing the risk of civilian casualties. The final decisions on the conduct of operations in the campaign are made by the members of the Saudi-led coalition, not the United States." Nearly three months since Iraqis went to the polls to cast their ballots in a parliamentary election, a new government is yet to be announced and the wait might be long. Where things stand: With no party or bloc able to secure an outright majority in the May 12 vote, political leaders in the country began negotiations over the formation of a governing coalition.The process, however, has been put on hold due to a manual recount of votes that was called on in June following allegations of rigging. As soon as the final results are announced, the blocs will begin scrambling to announce their coalition partners. Uncertainty persists, however, as the two Shia blocs that won the most parliamentary seats in the initial count the Sairoon Alliance led by Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr and the Fateh bloc led by Hadi al-Amiri remain at loggerheads. On June 13, Sadr, who opposes Iranian involvement in Iraq, and al-Amiri announced a surprise alliance. But speaking to Al Jazeera, Fateh's spokesperson Ahmed al-Assadi denied that an official partnership with Sairoon had been forged. Analysts say this lack of unity now places the ball in the court of Sunni and Kurdish parties. The decision by these parties over which of the two opposing Shia fronts to join will be crucial in the formation of the majority bloc and the eventual naming of the country's next prime minister. Go deeper: Read the full Al Jazeera report. The financial fraud trial of President Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort entered its eighth day on Thursday with the special counsel's team presenting witnesses and evidence to illustrate how Manafort orchestrated a scheme to obtain millions of dollars and avoid paying taxes. The big picture: This trial marks the first case that Special Counsel Robert Mueller has brought to court as a result of his probe into the 2016 Russian election meddling. However, the federal tax and financial fraud charges in dispute are separate from Manafort's time as President Trumps campaign chairman. The proceeding is being closely watched by the president and his legal team as they negotiate a possible interview between Trump and Mueller. Key moments On Day 1, prosecutors painted Manafort as a "shrewd" liar, while Manafort's lawyers sought to lay the blame on Rick Gates his longtime business partner and star witness against him. Day 2 prompted a contentious debate about Manafort's expenditures. An executive and a manager of luxury menswear stores told jurors that Manafort spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on clothing and regularly paid with wire transfers from foreign bank accounts. Manafort's bookkeeper testified the next day that she did not know of any offshore accounts. Cindy Laporta, Manafort's accountant who has immunity to testify in the trial, said on the fourth day of the trial she may have committed a crime by filing tax returns for him that she thought contained false information. In one case, she raised doubts about $2.4 million worth of funds Manafort had said was a loan from his international businesses. She said she was suspicious about whether they were actually a loan. The fifth day of the trial brought a significant admission from Rick Gates, Manafort's former right-hand man: he said on Monday that he committed crimes with his boss. And on Tuesday, Gates testified that both of them orchestrated an elaborate offshore tax-evasion and bank fraud scheme in Cyprus. According to the AP, Gates described the schemes as "documented as loans. In reality, it was basically money moving between accounts." He also admitted to committing wrongdoing on his own including embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars without Manaforts knowledge. Gates wrapped up his testimony on day 7 of the trial. Lawyers pointed to possible adulterous affairs with four women, according to the Washington Post. A former FBI accountant later testified that over four years, $60 million had crossed Manafort's bank accounts. Judge T.S. Ellis, presiding over the case, began the eighth day of the trial with an apology for an outburst from the day prior. "I was critical of counsel for allowing an expert to remain in the courtroom... You may put that aside I may well have been wrong." Ellis was referring to the scolding of prosecutors for calling on an IRS expert who had sat in on the trial the day prior something Ellis allowed them to do. Jurors heard from a Citizens Bank mortgage loan assistant later Thursday, who said Manafort had misrepresented a New York property to get a loan, per the AP. While considering a $3.4 million loan, it was found that the property was simultaneously available for rent on Airbnb for over a year. A matter the assistant said was questioned. What's next: Prosecutors said they will rest their case on Friday. The remaining witnesses who may testify are bankers and people familiar with Manafort's debts and real estate portfolio, CNN reports. So far, 18 witnesses have testified. Manafort's defense team will then have a chance to present evidence and offer witnesses following the government's argument. The Saudi-led coalition will be investigating the strike in Yemen on Thursday that killed and injured dozens of civilians, including children, according to the Saudi-funded news outlet Al Arabiya. Be smart: Saudi Arabian King Salman pardoned "all military men" involved in Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen last month, clearing them of "military and disciplinary penalties," so it's unlikely this will result in any repercussions. Last year, the coalition said it would investigate strikes that led to civilian casualties and ultimately cleared itself of wrongdoing. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an independent investigation of Thursday's strike. Moscow is fuming over the latest sanctions triggered yesterday by President Trump, which could carry significant diplomatic and economic consequences. Between the lines: This is another punch landed by a man who seemed reluctant to throw it. Trump took this step after missing a deadline and absorbing pressure from Congress, particularly in the wake of his jarring performance alongside Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. He has tweeted about Russia today, but it was to condemn witch hunts rather than the use of chemical weapons. How it happened... In March, the Trump administration accused Russia of culpability in the nerve agent attack on Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England. That put the wheels in motion... The House Foreign Affairs committee requested a formal determination within 60 days as to whether Russia had illegally used chemical weapons, under the terms of a 1991 law which lays out sanctions for countries that do so. That deadline came and went, but Rep. Ed Royce, the committees Republican chairman, prodded Trump on the matter in a July 26 letter, requesting a determination by August 9. Yesterday, August 8, Secretary of State Pompeo issued that determination. but Rep. Ed Royce, the committees Republican chairman, prodded Trump on the matter in a July 26 letter, requesting a determination by August 9. Yesterday, August 8, Secretary of State Pompeo issued that determination. That triggered an initial batch of sanctions, which will be of little practical effect. A second round of harder-hitting sanctions looms if Russia fails to make certain assurances on chemical weapons that, let's face it, it's not going to make. What to watch: In phase two, Trump could cut off nearly all trade with Russia and block its state airline, Aeroflot, from landing in the U.S., per NBCs Josh Lederman. The administration will likely decide not to escalate matters that far. Mark Simakovsky of the Atlantic Council says Russia remains confident "Trump will ultimately be a brake on the fundamental breakdown of relations," no matter how far members of Congress and some in his administration want to push things. Between the lines: Trump's reluctance to confront the Kremlin threatens to defang his own administration's policies, while those same policies are undercutting his attempts to improve relations with Russia. Trump has already expelled 60 diplomats and closed a Russian consulate in Seattle over the Skripal attack, but reportedly protested to aides when that response turned out to far exceed steps allies took. In December, Trump agreed to provide lethal weaponry to Ukraine in Kievs fight against Russian-backed separatists. Since then, Trump has blamed Barack Obama rather than Putin for Russias incursions into Ukraine, and reportedly told fellow world leaders in June that Crimea is Russian because everyone there speaks Russian. Last August, Trump signed into law sanctions designed to punish Russia for meddling in the 2016 election. But he privately fumed about Congress forcing his hand, and slow-walked the implementation process. The bottom line: Trump came into office considering rolling back Obama's sanctions, rather than imposing new ones. Yet the punishments keep piling up on his watch. "How is this administration taking tough actions on Russia while the president actively avoids them? Thats the question everyone is trying to answer." Mark Simakovsky President Trump doubled the tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum on Friday, causing the Turkish lira to plunge by 16%. The higher tariffs come amid tensions over American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is detained in Turkey, and Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the U.S. has refused to extradite from Pennsylvania despite Turkey's allegations of his ties to the failed July 2016 coup. The big picture: While President Trump himself benefits politically from a trade war with allies, it is actually Russia that stands most to gain from a weakened Turkey. Despite the amicable diplomatic and military coordination between President Erdogan and President Putin in Syria, Russia views Turkey as a geopolitical threat in Eurasia. Russia has attempted to use the Astana peace process to keep its Turkish adversary close, and a widening rift between Washington and Ankara will ultimately redound to Putin's benefit. Turkey is attempting to reduce economic dependence on Russia by diversifying its sources of natural gas, most notably with the construction of the TurkStream and Trans Anatolian Natural Gas (TANAP) pipelines. These projects would transform Turkey into a hub for the transit of natural gas from Central Asia through Europe, providing Europe an alternative to Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline project and allowing Turkey to flex political muscle across Eurasia. But the tariffs may hinder these plans. Against this backdrop, Assad has been consolidating control over Syria, with Turkey defending its stake in Idlib, the last armed opposition stronghold in Syria. Turkey's opposition runs counter to Russia's aim to help Syrian President Assad retake all of Syria, and Russia will now look to squeeze Turkey even further, this time by its proxy in Damascus. Already hosting 3.5 million Syrian refugees, Turkey could soon face another humanitarian crisis if Idlib, with a population of around 1 million people, suffers the same fate of other Syrian cities that refused to surrender to Assad. What's next: It is unlikely that Turkey will capitulate to Russia in Syria. Should the country find itself strained to handle a currency collapse and a crisis on its southern border as a result of these latest tariffs, relations between Turkey and the West could be bruised for a long time. Putin will continue to use his proxies in Washington and Damascus to defang geopolitical competition. Adham Sahloul is a masters candidate in international political economy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a former researcher at the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center. By Rashid Shirinov The Armenian government has found itself in a difficult situation because of the huge state debt that the former authorities gifted to them. In 2008, that is, before Serzh Sargsyan came to power in Armenia, the state debt of the country was $1.5 billion. However, it amounted to $6.7 billion at the end of June 2018. Over the past 10 years, the former authorities have squandered loans. I say squandered because we did not see the effectiveness of their use. In 2008, Armenias GDP was $11.66 billion, and now it is $11,35 that is, we have not even reached the then figure, Armenian economist Vahagn Khachatryan has recently told Armenian media. He noted that the quality of life and the level of well-being remained the same. The high level of poverty (30 percent) and unemployment (20 percent) also remained. For 10 years, about 450,000 people emigrated from Armenia. Corruption revelations have shown that the loans were used to enrich a group of people. Now the current government is in a very difficult situation. It is necessary to stop some programs, as taking new loans to service the old ones is problematic, the economist said. He added that in 2020, it is necessary to pay off more than $800 million, and therefore the new authorities will have to suspend a number of ongoing loan projects. Presently, it is hard to believe that Armenia will be able to attract new loans, since international rating agencies see a big problem in the amount of Armenias state debt. This factor also scares off investors who would like to invest in the countrys economy. Khachatryan noted that the only solution that may allow Armenia to find means to service its debt is a sharp economic growth. However, no one knows how Armenia will be affected by anti-Russian sanctions and the trade war between the U.S. and China, he added. We are not insured in any way, we are just sailing in a boat with no control and no oars. The former authorities are to blame for this, the economist said. Estimates indicate that the new authorities should provide a growth of 10-15 percent in the economy in the next few years, so that Armenia is able to get out of its debt burden within the next five years. However, it is almost impossible to do this under the current state of the Armenian economy. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 94 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said August 10. Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Likinskiy Bus Plant (LiAZ) intends to arrange the supply of buses to Azerbaijan, Corporate Sales Development Director of GAZ Group Nikolay Odintsov said in an interview with the official website of the government of the Moscow Region. "A transport exhibition was held in Baku on June 11-13, according to the results of which we expect the signing of several contracts for the supply of buses to Azerbaijan," said Odintsov. He noted that in general about 10 percent of LiAZ products are exported to the CIS countries, primarily to Kazakhstan. "This year we will continue cooperation with the CIS countries. In addition, there are certain plans for deliveries to Eastern Europe; we have certified the Euro 6 bus." Odintsov said LiAZ manufactures about 2,500 buses per year. Some 70 percent of the company's supplies fall to the share of the Moscow Region and the Moscow city. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan transferred 1.94 billion manats to the state budget in January-July 2018, which is 32.2 percent higher than in the same period in 2017, the SCC said in a statement Aug. 9. At the same time, contributions for July amounted to 322.16 million manats. Last month, revenues from customs duties amounted to 85.95 million manats, from VAT to 214.51 million manats, from excise duties to 18.25 million manats, from road tax to 3.45 million manats. Compared to July 2017, revenues from customs duties increased by 40.3 percent, from VAT - by 16.3 percent, from excise duties by 2.3 times, from road tax by 23.3 percent. (1.7 AZN = 1 USD on August 9) --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov SOCAR Turkey Enerji (the Turkish subsidiary of the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR) studies and evaluates new opportunities for investment within its activity, head of the companys external relations department Murat LeCompte told Trend on August 9. He was commenting on the information about SOCARs interest in the assets of the Turkish division of the German giant EWE AG EWE Turkey Holding. Turkish media have earlier reported that EWE AG is preparing to withdraw from the energy market of Turkey and to sell its stake in gas distribution networks Bursagaz AS and Kayserigaz AS. It was reported that the management of EWE Turkey Holding has already held a number of meetings with potential buyers. The price of the German companys share in the gas distribution enterprises in Bursa and Kayseri offered for sale is $200-250 million. EWE AG owns 80 percent of the shares of Bursagaz AS and Kayserigaz AS, and the remaining 10 percent is owned by Calik Enerji energy and the relevant municipalities. There were no specific meetings in this regard. In general, we are constantly studying and evaluating various investment opportunities within our activity. They must be in line with our activity and strategy, LeCompte said. He added that following the principle of one nation two states, SOCAR Turkey Enerji will continue its activity and will invest in Azerbaijan and Turkey with the aim to improve the welfare of the two countries. It is expected that SOCAR Turkey Enerjis consolidated turnover will reach $15 billion in 2018, and the company will become the second largest industrial company in Turkey with 5,000 employees and $3 billion of export potential. SOCAR Turkey Enerji aims to become the largest Turkish industrial company by 2023. The company also owns a controlling stake (51 percent) in the Petkim petrochemical complex on the Aliaga Peninsula. Founded in 2008, SOCAR Turkey Enerji is one of the most well-established oil and natural gas companies of the world. With its total investment volume of $19.5 billion to be realized by 2020, SOCAR is the biggest foreign investor of Turkey. Similarly, SOCARs group companies in Turkey, namely Petkim, STAR Refinery, Petlim Container Terminal and Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), represent the largest-scale investment Azerbaijan has made to a single country to date. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Following the one-on-one meeting, Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev and Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon held an expanded meeting with participation of delegations on August 10. The presidents addressed the meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on Aug. 9 to establish the Organizing Committee in connection with holding the 43rd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Baku in 2019. The Organizing Committee consists of its Chairman - Minister of Culture; members of the Committee - First Deputy Minister of Finance, First Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, Deputy Foreign Minister, Deputy Interior Minister, Deputy Minister of Education, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Deputy Minister of Health, Deputy Minister of Culture, Deputy Chairman of State Customs Committee, Deputy Head of State Security Service, Deputy Head of State Migration Service, Deputy Head of State Border Service, Chairman of State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations. Among the members of the Committee are also Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the State Advertising Agency, Chairman of the Board of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to UNESCO, Ambassador at Large of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, Secretary General of the National Commission for UNESCO, Deputy Head of the Executive Power of Baku, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan State News Agency AZERTAC, Chairman of Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting CJSC, Vice-President of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, and First Deputy Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on additional measures in the field of social protection of the population on August 9. According to the order, two million manats will be allocated to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population from the Azerbaijani presidents reserve fund, envisaged in the 2018 state budget, to implement measures to organize the activity of the Agency for Sustainable and Operational Social Security (DOST) under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, establish DOST centers, and improve services rendered to citizens in the field of employment, labor and social protection. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova Baku awaits changeable cloudy weather on August 11. Short-term rain is predicted in some places at night. Strong north-west wind will blow. The temperature on the peninsula will be +20-22C at night, +23-26C in afternoon in Absheron peninsula, +20-22C at night, + 23-25C in the afternoon in Baku, the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry reported. Atmospheric pressure will be 765mm; relative humidity will be 70-80% at night, 55-60% in the afternoon. Sea water temperature will be 23-24 degrees on Absheron beaches (Sumgayit, Novkhani, Pirshaghi, Nardaran, Bilgah, Zagulba), the sea water temperature will be 24-25 degrees in southern beaches (Turkan, Hovsan, Sahil, Shikh). Strong north-west wind will blow, as a result of which going to beaches is not advisable. Rainy weather is expected in country's regions. West wind will blow. The temperature will be +19-24C at night, +25-30C in daytime, +10-15C in mountains at night, +17-22C. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has visited the Alley of Martyrs to pay respect to Azerbaijani heroes who gave their lives for the country`s independence and territorial integrity. A guard of honor was lined up for the President of Tajikistan at the Alley of Martyrs. He laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument. The state anthems of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan were played. Emomali Rahmon enjoyed a panoramic view of Baku as he was informed on the history of the Alley of Martyrs and redevelopment works in the capital of Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva The trade turnover between the Caspian littoral states increased by 33 percent, Kazakh media outlets report on August 10. For five months of this year, the trade turnover between the Mangistau region (Kazakhstan) and the neighboring regions of the Russian Federation amounted to more than $ 52 million. Compared with the same period last year, this indicator grew by 9.4 percent. Today, 300 enterprises with the participation of Russian capital are registered in different sectors of the region's economy. Napkins, carbonated drinks, milk, flour - all this is in the warehouses of the Production and Logistics Center. The storage complex is the largest in the region. The total area of the covered premises is almost 9,000 square meters. Azerbaijani investors have invested more than 4.5 billion tenge in the project. At the moment there are 27 enterprises operating on the territory of FEZ Morport Aktau. Two of them are of the Caspian countries. They are exempt from taxes - corporate income and land. And this attracts our participants from Azerbaijan. We hope that the Aktau summit will help our region attract even more investments, said Zharaskan Kabiev, the main manager on work with investors of FEZ Morport Aktau. Another Azerbaijani project in FEZ Morport Aktau attracted more than 9 billion tenge of investments. The plant for the production of transformers and cables is planned to be put into operation by the end of this year. More than 150 people will get jobs at the enterprise. The enterprise will cover the needs of the local market. Today, 186 enterprises with Azerbaijani capital are registered in different sectors of the region's economy. Over the past three years, we have seen an increase in trade between the Caspian countries - by 33 percent. If in 2015 the total turnover was $ 165.8 million, then in 2017 this figure increased to $ 220.5 million. The largest share in this turnover falls for Russia. With Iran, too, we have a very fruitful interaction. We export the products of machine-building industry, metallurgical. We import agricultural products from Iran, said Nuradil Imangaliyev, representative of the department of industrial and innovative development of Mangistau region. In the spring of this year, the Mangistau delegation visited neighboring Turkmenistan. It made proposals on cooperation in the export of goods of the enterprises of machine-building and light industry, building materials, as well as the establishment of cultural and humanitarian ties. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva Tajikistan is analyzing the issue of joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan Negmatullo Hikmatullozoda said, RIA Novosti reported. The republic continues to study the pros and cons of joining the union, according to the Tajik minister. The issue of joining the EAEU is comprehensively analyzed, all the pros and cons are studied, first of all, this concerns the entry into the common market of the organizations member countries, to which extent domestic products are competitive and meet the requirements set by the standards of the EAEU, he said. According to the minister, joining the EAEU requires bringing legislation, regulations, technical regulations, tariffs and customs regulations in accordance with the requirements of the union. After Kyrgyzstan and Armenia joined the EAEU, Tajikistan expanded the range of studying issues. We are interested in the experience of these countries from the point of view of the interaction of small economies with the larger ones, such as Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, he explained. In April 2018, Russia invited Tajikistan to become an observer country with the EAEU. The Eurasian Economic Union is an economic union of states located primarily in northern Eurasia. Functioning since 2015, the EAEU is a Russia-initiated regional political and economic bloc that aims to streamline the flow of goods and services between its member states: Russia, Armenia, Belarus Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz An agreement announced Wednesday is expected to phase out use of the potent but highly toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos in California by the end o From its beginnings in the years after the Civil War, Beaumont's oldest black church has witnessed the establishment of the area's first black public school, weathered desegregation and this year will celebrate 150 years as a "beacon of light in the community." "Born and raised" in St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Walter McCloney said he strives to keep his "commitment (to the church) palatable." The 79-year-old church trustee said St. Paul A.M.E Church is a part of the legacy and vision of the "spiritual builders" who founded the church in 1868. "We're the beneficiaries of what they did," said McCloney, pointing to the vaulted ceiling and colorful glass windows that adorn the Waverly Street sanctuary. McCloney, the third generation in his family to attend the church, said St. Paul was "very special" to him as one of the oldest black churches in Beaumont. St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church grew out of a Methodist church organized for blacks three years after the end of the Civil War, according to historical church documents. Members of the young church met on alternative Sundays in the basement of the Jefferson County Courthouse. A Beaumonter since "the close of the War between the States," church founder and former slave Woodson Pipkin was known for his "quaint old timey ways and self-respecting habits," according to church documents. Pipkin formally became the group's first pastor in 1872 and moved the church to the second story of his residence once located in the 900 block of Market Street. The church soon outgrew the upper story of Pipkin's home and moved to a larger location on Beaumont's north side at the site of what is now Alice Keith Park. On Sundays, the church doubled as a school where many church members learned to read and write, according to an account by local historian Judith Linsley. Pipkin later donated a lot on Wall Street that was the "center of activities for blacks," witnessing countless births, deaths, weddings and civic ceremonies. St. Paul remained at the downtown location until the early 1960s, when the old building began to give way to "age and decay," according to church records. When the upper story of the church's structure caved in, church members made do and held services in the basement. But when a fire destroyed the two-story building, the congregation raised funds to purchase the Waverly Street property. St. Paul "stands on their shoulders" of longtime church members who have "kept the faith," McCloney said. In the 1940s and 1950s, St. Paul's was one of the largest black churches in Beaumont, McCloney said, recalling the days at the downtown location when he and his friends would run to Fowler's Drug Store after Sunday school to get ice cream before the sermon. While McCloney said he believed all churches that preached a "positive message" during the civil rights era were a part of the movement, St. Paul's played an active role in the community in the 1960s as a meeting spot for activists and NAACP members. Alice Jefferson Tiller, whose family were longtime members of St. Paul, was one of the first African-Americans to enroll at Lamar University in 1956, according to McCloney. While its membership has slowly dwindled, McCloney said he looks forward to reaching out to families and communities to become a part of the church's legacy. "This is our family," said Bobbie Williams, who joined the church in the 1980s after moving here from Louisiana. Williams said she joined St. Paul after feeling "so at ease" in the church. Years ago, women weren't seen in church without hats or gloves, Williams recalled, adding that St. Paul's "down-to-earth" and no-frills atmosphere made her feel welcome. Williams used to sit in the same pew as the late Fayetta Donovan, one of Pipkin's descendants, who Williams said was "a lot of fun." Whenever the preacher would "preach too long," Donovan would begin to shake her keys to signal the end of the hour. "Ms. Donovan always said, if they preach too long, the people will lose their spirit," Williams said. Church founders and organizers "kept the faith for so long," McCloney said. He is proud to be a part of the tight-knit congregation and "a lifelong member of that legacy." Phoebe.Suy@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/PhoebeSuy It took 37 years for the parents of Randell Lee Harvey to find out what happened to their son. For decades, they didn't know that a 15-year-old Harvey became one of at least 29 young boys tortured and killed by Dean Corll and his two young accomplices. Between 1972 and 1973, teenagers David Brooks, a former Beaumont resident, and Elmer Wayne Henley lured young men to the apartment of Corll, a 33-year-old former Vidor resident who was living in Houston. The murders eventually earned Corll the nickname "Candy Man" after his family's candy store, which began in their the garage of their family home in Vidor before their relocation. Corll was shot by Henley on August 8, 1973, around the time Harvey's body was discovered. Harvey had been one of the last few unidentified "Candy Man" victims until his name was confirmed in 2008. Now, 45 years after Corll's death, only one unidentified victim remains. And victim advocates are still working to close the book on the horrific string of murders for good. "I can tell you, from dealing with homicide victims for over 25 years, the grief is intensified when justice is lacking," said Andy Kahan, the director of victim services and advocacy at Crime Stoppers of Houston. "Right now, justice and bringing him back to his family is sorely lacking, and that needs to change." Kahan said this final case is personal because he's been speaking with the other victims' surviving family members for about 26 years. He said he's still confident that the final victim can be identified after all these years, and he's still encouraged by Harvey's case. "We were able to locate (Harvey's) sisters by getting the word out," he said. "I'm hoping the proverbial lightening strikes twice." The boy may have been dead for more than a year when his skeletal remains were recovered in Houston on August 9, 1973, according to the center for missing and exploited children. He has been described as a 15 to 18 year old boy with brown hair approximately 7 inches long. He may have been afflicted with a minor form of Spina Bifida. Authorities said he was found wearing a knotted leather ankle bracelet, brown leather cowboy boots with "NEOLITE" on the heel. He was also found wearing multi-colored striped Catalina swim trunks with a belt and a khaki long-sleeved shirt that had a large peace symbol and a flag. On the back of his shirt were the printed letters and numbers, "L84MF." New technology and forensic research has allowed for a facial reconstruction of the boy. Anyone with information on a possible identity can call The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences at 713-796-6858 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. "We've done it before, and I'm confident were gonna be able to do it again," Kahan said. "Somebody out there knows who this young boy is." CMS issued a proposed rule Aug. 9 that would make sweeping changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program, including overhauling the way ACOs share in risks and rewards. Here are seven things to know about the proposed rule: 1. The redesigned program which CMS has dubbed "Pathways to Success" would expand ACO participation agreements from three years to five years and offer eligible ACOs two participation options: "basic" and "enhanced." 2. The basic track would allow ACOs to participate under an upside-only agreement for one to two years before gradually phasing in higher levels of risk. MSSP ACOs are currently permitted to participate in the upside-only track for up to six years. 3. At the highest level of risk, the basic track would qualify as an advanced alternative payment model under the Quality Payment Program. 4. Under the enhanced track, ACOs would take on risk and qualify as an advanced APM immediately. 5. The proposal would hold ACOs in two-sided models accountable for losses even if they exit midway through a performance year. It would also authorize termination of ACOs with multiple years of poor financial performance. 6. The American Hospital Association expressed concern about the proposal. "The proposed rule fails to account for the fact that building a successful ACO, let alone one that is able to take on financial risk, is no small task; it requires significant investments of time, effort and finances," said AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels in a statement. "A more gradual pathway is critical for hospitals and health systems that are interested in participating in risk-bearing models particularly those that are exploring such models for the first time." 7. Comments on the proposed rule are due Oct. 16. More articles on ACOs: UnitedHealth's ACO plans to double enrollment: 3 things to know San Francisco data company rolls out tool to help ACOs identify cost savings A Florida ACO's lessons on how to succeed in risk contracts Following an unsolicited takeover bid by activist investor Elliott Management in May, UnitedHealth Group is reportedly one of the second-round bidders to express interest in acquiring athenahealth, according to Dealreporter. Bain Capital and TPG are also reportedly in the running to purchase the health IT vendor. Numerous athenahealth shareholders have encouraged the company to consider a sale, according to the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter. Athenahealth Executive Chairman Jeff Immelt said during the company's second quarter earnings call that the board is still considering a sale, merger or keeping the company an independent entity. Citi analyst Stephanie Demko told Politico a sale to UnitedHealth is "unlikely." Instead, Ms. Demko said the company may turn to a financial sponsor, rather than strategic acquirer. However, UnitedHealth Group's health services platform Optum could serve as a potential home for athenahealth's products, Politico notes. In early August, David Einhorn, hedge fund manager at investment firm Greenlight Capital, blamed his fund's poor performance on athenahealth. Specifically, he suggested an unnamed activist investor presumably Elliott Management had "little interest in actually buying the company, but hopes someone else does." Below are seven hospitals or health systems that recently announced or completed construction projects worth more than $300 million in the last two months, reported by Becker's Hospital Review. 1. Houston Methodist unveils $700M patient tower this month Houston Methodist will open its 22-story, $700 million patient tower Aug. 27. 2. Pittsburgh council greenlights UPMC's $400M expansion plan Although area residents, union members and community activists spoke out against the project, the Pittsburgh City Council approved Pittsburgh-based UPMC's proposal for a $400 million expansion. 3. $538M San Francisco hospital opening in August: 5 things to know San Francisco-based California Pacific Medical Center will shake up service offerings when its $538 million hospital opens in August. 4. Medical University of South Carolina gets OK to build 128-bed Nexton hospital Charleston-based Medical University of South Carolina received approval from the state health department to build a $325 million hospital in Berkeley County. 5. Colorado VA hospital to open $1B over budget after 5-year delay Although it's five-years behind schedule and $1 billion over budget, the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center opened to outpatients July 27 and inpatients Aug. 4. The cost of the project was $1.7 billion. 6. Bayhealth to open $314M replacement hospital in February Dover, Del.-based Bayhealth will open its $314 million, six-story replacement hospital in Milford, Del., to patients in February 2019. 7. Cottage Health nears end of $750M project to build earthquake-resistant hospital Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Cottage Health soon will complete its decadelong, $750 million project to rebuild its Santa Barbara hospital to make it earthquake-resistant. The following hospital and health system credit rating and outlook changes and affirmations occurred in the last week, beginning with the most recent. 1. Moody's affirms 'Baa1' rating on Silver Cross Hospital Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Baa1" rating on New Lenox, Ill.-based Silver Cross Hospital's outstanding bonds, affecting $280 million of debt. 2. Moody's affirms Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's 'Aa2' rating Moody's Investors Service affirmed its long-term "Aa2" rating on Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, affecting $418 million of debt. 3. Fitch downgrades Holy Redeemer Health System to 'BBB-' Fitch Ratings downgraded Huntingdon Valley, Pa.-based Holy Redeemer Health System's revenue and refunding bonds to "BBB-" from "BBB." 4. Fitch upgrades NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital's rating to 'A' Fitch Ratings upgraded the rating on New York City-based NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital's series 2014 to "A" from "A-," affecting $25.95 million of debt. 5. Fitch affirms Texas Children's Hospital's 'AA' rating Fitch Ratings affirmed its "AA" long-term rating on the outstanding bonds of Houston-based Texas Children's Hospital, affecting about $666 million of debt. 6. SCL Health gets Fitch issuer default rating of 'AA-' Fitch Ratings assigned Broomfield, Colo.-based Sisters of Charity Leavenworth Health Services Corporation an issuer default rating of "AA." The system does business as SCL Health. 7. Moody's revises Doctors Community Hospital's outlook to negative Moody's Investors Service revised Goddard, Md.-based Doctors Community Hospital's outlook to negative and affirmed its "Baa3" rating on the hospital's outstanding bonds. The action affects $64.2 million of debt. 8. Fitch downgrades Premier Health's rating to 'A' Fitch Ratings downgraded Dayton, Ohio-based Premier Health's rating to "A" from "A+." At the same time, Fitch assigned the health system an issuer default rating of "A." 9. Moody's affirms 'Baa2' rating on King's Daughters' Health Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Baa2" rating on the $95 million series 2010 bonds of Madison, Ind.-based King's Daughters' Health. 10. Moody's downgrades San Gorgonio Memorial Healthcare District to 'Baa3', maintains negative outlook Moody's Investors Service downgraded Banning, Calif.-based San Gorgonio Memorial Healthcare District's general obligation bond rating to "Baa3" from "A3," affecting $115.7 million of outstanding debt. Sonoma (Calif.) Valley Hospital is examining whether to close its 27-bed skilled nursing facility, according to a Sonoma Index-Tribune report. The hospital's board has launched an eight-member task force to study the issue. The task force chaired by board member Jane Hirsch will find financial improvement methods or recommend closure, according to the report. The task force is slated to give an interim update Oct. 4. "As a board we understand how serious this decision is, and we look forward to hearing from the community and the task force," board Chairman Joshua Rymer told the Index-Tribune. The 75-bed hospital, part of the Sonoma Valley Hospital District, has been seeking ways to reduce costs. In July, the hospital announced it will close its obstetrics department. More articles on healthcare finance: Tenet's hospital performance a drag on Q2 revenue Moody's revises Doctors Community Hospital's outlook to negative Texas health system taps Streamline Health for bill coding analysis Immigrants spend less on healthcare and require less spending from private and public insurance sources than those born in the U.S., according to a study published in the International Journal of Health Services. The study, conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Tufts University School of Medicine, examined post-2000, peer-reviewed studies related to immigrants' healthcare spending. It found that immigrants spend half to two-thirds less on healthcare than people born in the U.S. The finding was true across all ages and despite immigration status. Researchers said they found immigrants constitute 12 percent of the nation's residents but only make up 8.6 percent of total U.S. healthcare spending. By contrast, people born in the U.S. make up 90 percent of the nation's residents but 93 percent of total U.S. healthcare spending. Per capita spending from private insurers for immigrants was also lower than spending for people born in the U.S., according to researchers, who reported that some studies they examined found no signicant differences in spending or failed to comment on the signicance. Researchers found per capita spending from public insurance sources, too, was lower for immigrants, particularly spending for undocumented immigrants. They said this may at least partially be due to increased difficulty immigrants face to get coverage through public health programs such as Medicare compared to U.S. citizens. The study also found immigrants made larger out-of-pocket healthcare payments compared to those born in the U.S. "Overall, immigrants almost certainly paid more toward medical expenses than they withdrew, providing a low-risk pool that subsidized the public and private health insurance markets," the study's authors wrote. "We conclude that insurance and medical care should be made more available to immigrants rather than less so." More articles on healthcare finance: Tenet's hospital performance a drag on Q2 revenue Moody's revises Doctors Community Hospital's outlook to negative Texas health system taps Streamline Health for bill coding analysis WakeMed Raleigh (N.C.) Campus failed to comply with Medicare billing requirements for 76 of 263 inpatient claims reviewed by HHS' Office of Inspector General, according to an OIG report. The 76 claims that did not comply with Medicare billing requirements resulted in the hospital receiving $249,954 in combined overpayments during the audit period of Sept. 1, 2014, through Aug. 31, 2016, according to the OIG. Extrapolating from the sample results, the OIG estimated WakeMed Raleigh Campus received at least $697,608 in overpayments from Medicare during the audit period. Based on its findings, the OIG recommended the hospital refund Medicare $697,608, exercise reasonable diligence to identify and return any additional overpayments received outside of the audit period and strengthen controls to ensure full compliance with Medicare requirements. In written comments on the draft report, WakeMed Raleigh Campus disagreed with the OIG's findings on certain claims and contended that the extrapolation of the OIG's sample results was not appropriate or justifiable. The hospital said the audit results do not demonstrate deficiencies in its key controls for coding, billing and documenting within medical records. After reviewing the hospital's written comments, the OIG maintained its findings and recommendations. The OIG said independent medical reviewers determined whether certain sampled claims were appropriately billed, and that it used statistically valid methodology in its sample selection and in determining the estimated Medicare overpayment. WakeMed Raleigh Campus said it intends to appeal the results of the audit. More articles on healthcare finance: CMS' final inpatient payment rule for 2019: 9 things to know 7 health systems with strong finances Temple University Health System considers shedding hospitals to strengthen finances Brookwood Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., part of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, is no longer at risk of losing its Medicare billing privileges after a CMS survey found the hospital had made changes to comply with Medicare requirements. CMS notified Brookwood Baptist in July that its Medicare contract would be terminated Aug. 9 for failing to comply with some program requirements. However, Brookwood Baptist CEO Keith Parrott announced this week that CMS found the hospital had taken the necessary steps to correct deficiencies, and accepted the hospital's plan of action. "We will continue to fully participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs without interruption. There is more work ahead, and we will be resurveyed in the future, but we are no longer in immediate jeopardy status," Mr. Parrott told Becker's Hospital Review. Brookwood Baptist's Medicare billing privileges have been at risk various times in recent months. In May, CMS notified the hospital its Medicare contract was at risk after a site survey revealed inappropriate restraint methods were used in the hospital's psychiatric unit. The agency rescinded the notice of termination after a follow-up survey showed the hospital was in compliance with Medicare requirements, according to the Birmingham Business Journal. But Brookwood Baptist's Medicare contract was at risk again after a CMS survey in July found patient safety issues. The hospital submitted a correction plan to CMS after the July survey and "was able to successfully make the organizational and procedural changes required," Mr. Parrott said. "Going forward, we will continue to work with our governing agencies, including CMS and the Alabama Department of Public Health, to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to patient safety and implementation of our corrective actions," he said. "Brookwood Baptist Medical Center takes patient safety very seriously and remains fully committed to providing the quality of care our community expects." Ayla Ellison contributed to this report. More articles on healthcare finance: Tenet's hospital performance a drag on Q2 revenue Moody's revises Doctors Community Hospital's outlook to negative Texas health system taps Streamline Health for bill coding analysis The CEO of Valdosta-based South Georgia Medical Center sent a letter to the hospital's governing body asking them to end his contract after just 15 months, according to the Valdosta Daily Times. SGMC CEO C. Ross Berry sent a letter to the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County, which governs the hospital. The letter, written by Mr. Berry's attorney and obtained by the Valdosta Daily Times from two different sources, states Mr. Berry's relationship with the hospital authority has become untenable and that he is no longer able to do his job effectively. The letter asks the hospital authority to pay him three years' worth of his base salary and a lump sum bonus payout of $325,000 to end his contract. It also asks the authority to pay for Mr. Berry's attorney fees and include a nondisparagement agreement. Mr. Berry's attorney states in the letter the hospital authority has until Aug. 17 to make a final decision on Mr. Berry's separation agreement. Mr. Berry and the hospital faced backlash and protests after firing two of the hospital's leading cardiothoracic surgeons Joe Johnson, MD, and Randall Brown, MD, in July. The surgeons worked at the SGMC CardioVascular Institute. While no reason behind the decision was issued at the time, Mr. Berry's letter to the hospital authority states, "After almost a year of attempting to enforce the contractual obligation of the CVI surgeons to abide by the physician by-laws and report to STS for quality monitoring as well as discovering non-FDA and IFU approved equipment and medical supplies in the operating room, the physicians were terminated without cause," the report states. However, Mr. Berry and the hospital later rescinded the decision, allowing the surgeons to work out new contracts during a 90-day period a move Mr. Berry was allegedly "coerced" into making, the letter states. The hospital authority met Aug. 10 and appointed Bill Forbes, assistant administrator at SGMC, interim CEO of the hospital, according to a second report by the Valdosta Daily Times. To access the full report, click here. Editor's note: This article was updated at 10:15 a.m. Aug. 10 to include additional information. In this special Speaker Series, Becker's Healthcare caught up with Andrew Rosenberg, MD, CIO at Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine and associate professor of anesthesiology and internal medicine. Dr. Rosenberg will present a keynote address during the Becker's Hospital Review 4th Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference titled "Targeted Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Lessons Learned from Where Medical 'Rounds' Began," at 10:45 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21. Learn more about the event and register to attend in Chicago. Question: How does your organization gain physician buy-in when it is implementing a new technology or solution? Dr. Andrew Rosenberg: I contribute to our ability to gain physician buy-in through the informaticians who act as physician champions. By partnering with our office of clinical informatics 14 chief medical informatics officers spread across medical specialties and the nursing informatics group, we are able to procure, customize, develop, implement, evaluate and improve our clinical technologies to meet the needs of our providers and clinicians. Our CMIOs are well-respected among their peers and represent various parts of the health delivery organization inpatient, ambulatory, adults, pediatrics, medicine, surgery, specialty care. We also rely on a large network of provider champions that was developed as part of our EHR implementation to also disseminate to act as change leaders. Q: What is the most exciting thing happening in health IT right now? What is the most overrated health IT trend? AR: It may sound obvious, but I am most excited about prominence of IT in healthcare. Today, IT is a factor in every healthcare discussion, decision and investment. Trending topics like patient engagement, population health and new revenue models are reliant on advanced analytics, health information exchange and virtual care. So much of healthcare has become digitized thanks to EHRs we're moving way beyond that due to advancements in cloud, Internet of Things, cybersecurity and information assurance. I think blockchain is an overrated health IT trend. While I appreciate the underlying technologies and believe it has the potential to change how we manage information and deliver services to patients, it still feels too early to make the investment. As a doctor, I also think there are some fundamental philosophies and ethical expectations that will need to be addressed before blockchain is widely embraced. An example is to what extent do the majority of people want or expect to manage their own data versus a trusted doctor or health center. Q: What's the biggest misconception about health IT? AR: The biggest misconception is that healthcare and IT are two separate things. In many ways, health IT is becoming healthcare. Tools like the EHR or a tablet at the bedside are as essential to care delivery as a stethoscope, ventilator or IV pump. We're seeing many more clinicians enter the IT profession, further blending classic healthcare and IT. The people doing "IT" has also shifted. IT staff used to be the ones building mainframes in the hospital basement. These days, IT staff might care for a patient today and build a medical algorithm tomorrow. From a Michigan health system agreeing to pay $84.5 million to settle false claims allegations to a physician sentenced to prison for his role in a $30 million billing fraud scheme, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines. 1. Cigna prevails in Texas hospital's suit over $50M in unpaid claims Cigna defeated a lawsuit filed by North Cypress (Texas) Medical Center accusing the insurer of underpaying medical benefit claims. 2. Physician sentenced to prison for role in $30M billing fraud scheme A physician was sentenced to 18 months in prison Aug. 1 for his role in a $30 million scheme to defraud Medicare and New York's Medicaid program. 3. Prime Healthcare, CEO to pay $65M Medicare fraud settlement Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services, as well as its nonprofit arm, consulting subsidiary and CEO, agreed to pay $65 million to the federal government to resolve allegations hospitals submitted false Medicare claims and admitted patients who only needed cheaper, outpatient care. 4. Beaumont Health to pay $84.5M to resolve claims of improper physician relationships Southfield, Mich.-based Beaumont Health agreed to pay the federal government and state of Michigan $84.5 million to resolve allegations that three of its hospitals submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. 5. Cardiologist gets prison time for submitting 350 fraudulent claims A New Jersey physician specializing in cardiology and electrophysiology was sentenced to 20 months in prison July 31 for billing the Veterans Affairs program for services he didn't perform. 6. Humana sues drug manufacturers, alleges price-fixing Humana filed a lawsuit Aug. 3 against nearly 30 pharmaceutical companies, alleging they united to fix the prices of widely used generic drugs, forcing the health insurer to pay inflated prices. 7. Owner of Florida medical biller gets 8 years in prison for fraud scheme The owner of Billing USA, a medical billing office in Miami, Fla., was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty for his role in a fraud scheme. 8. Steward Health Care, BCBS settle 5-year antitrust lawsuit: 3 things to know Boston-based Steward Health Care and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island reached a settlement over a lawsuit claiming the health insurer obstructed Steward's attempted $40 million takeover of a Rhode Island hospital. 9. ER physician blames patient he restrained, tested without consent, claims immunity in lawsuit An emergency room physician with Charlottesville-based University of Virginia Medical Center is claiming immunity in a lawsuit, alleging he acted in good faith in sedating and restraining a woman to conduct medical tests against her will. 10. Third assisted living worker arrested in case of dementia patient duct-taped to chair A third employee was arrested on a charge of elderly neglect Aug. 3 in relation to the case of an elderly dementia patient who was allegedly duct-taped to a chair at an assisted living facility in Florida. 11. HCA hospital sued by surgeon claiming age led to firing A 68-year-old surgeon filed a lawsuit against Portsmouth (N.H.) Regional Hospital, its parent company, Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, and an affiliated medical group, claiming he was forced out of his job because of his age and subsequently defamed by a letter sent without his knowledge to colleagues claiming he retired. 12. Mississippi hospital fined $1.1M for fake group therapy sessions Grenada (Miss.) Lakes Medical Center, which has been operated by the University of Mississippi Medical Center at various times, will pay over $1.1 million for fraudulently billing Medicare for intensive outpatient psychotherapy sessions. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: CHS faces investigation related to EHR incentive program Medicare hospice flaws, recommendations highlighted in inspector general report New York hospital orders employees to undergo drug testing after vials of narcotics go missing Ohio is fighting to release a state-sponsored report on what it paid two pharmacy benefit managers, Optum and CVS Health, to manage its Medicaid beneficiaries' prescription drug plans, according to NPR. Here are four things to know from the report: 1. The PBMs are contracted with the health insurers running Ohio's managed Medicaid program to negotiate prices with drugmakers. The Ohio Department of Medicaid commissioned an analysis of the PBMs' prescription drug program after the Columbus Dispatch published a report outlining how the state was potentially overspending on prescription drugs. 2. In July, Ohio released a report showing Optum and CVS charged 8.8 percent more than they paid pharmacies to fill prescriptions, pocketing the more than $224 million difference between what the state paid for the drugs and what the PBMs charged, according to NPR. 3. CVS and Optum have since sued to stop the report from being published. During a hearing Aug. 7, a judge told the PBMs they could redact any trade secrets from the state's report by September. CVS argues releasing the report will inhibit its ability to negotiate discounts with drugmakers. Optum declined NPR's request for comment. 4. In a statement about the agency's report, an Ohio Medicaid spokesperson told the publication: "Transparency is not only the duty of government to its owners the people of Ohio but it's also essential for the market to function properly. We believe this deeply and will continue to pursue it." Birmingham, Ala.-based UAB Hospital called in a hazmat team Aug. 9 after helicopter crew members reacted to an unknown substance on a patient they were transporting to the hospital, according to AL.com. The crew "experienced a reaction" to an unknown substance on the patient, who had been in an explosion, Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Capt. Harold Watson told the publication. The hospital did not describe the reactions other than to say the crew complained of "minor irritations," according to AL.com. Hospital officials confirmed a propane tank was involved in the blast but did not know where it occurred. A hazmat team performed an open-air monitoring of chemicals and gases in the air, but did not identify any abnormal substances, according to Mr. Watson. UAB spokesperson Tyler Greer said the patient was decontaminated at the hospital. "This occurred after the crew complained of minor irritations upon arrival," he said in a statement cited by AL.com. "Out of an abundance of caution, UAB asked the Birmingham fire department to inspect the aircraft and decontaminate it if necessary. No medical personnel were treated." More articles on clinical leadership and infection control: How Chicago hospitals handled most violent weekend since 2016 Appearance-altering apps are driving more young patients to seek plastic surgery, researchers say Patient's family outraged after Atlanta hospital waited hours to tell them he was missing A workplace violence prevention toolkit designed to improve employee safety will be implemented in Oregon hospitals. Six things to know about the toolkit: 1. The toolkit will allow healthcare leadership, violence prevention committees and other stakeholders to examine facilities' and organizations' workplace violence prevention practices and compare them with current violence prevention best practices, according to the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems website. The toolkit also aims to help develop or strengthen workplace violence programs and policies in hospitals by identifying ways to manage or control workplace violence, the website states. 2. Groundwork for the toolkit was laid in 2014. The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems began a work group including Service Employees International Union Local 49, the Oregon Nurses Association and hospitals in the state. The work group, which aimed to address causes of healthcare worker injuries, created a pilot workplace violence project with five Oregon hospitals that informed the toolkit materials. 3. The toolkit has been endorsed by healthcare organizations in Oregon, including the Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, Oregon Medical Association and the state chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. The Joint Commission has linked to the toolkit on its website. 4. In a prepared statement, Andy Davidson, Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems president and CEO, said of the toolkit: "We are proud to have worked in close partnership with the diverse group involved in this effort, and we believe that the resulting toolkit will build on hospitals existing safety programs to ensure we protect hospital staff from violence. At the end of the day, we all care deeply about keeping people safe while they care for the sick and believe that we should take all steps possible to reduce violence in our hospitals and health care settings to zero. We're doubly proud that the Joint Commission has linked to this as a nationally available tool." 5. Hospitals are now able to access the toolkit at their own discretion. Jamie Opra, communications specialist with the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, told Becker's Hospital Review many hospitals have already committed to using the toolkit, and others are looking at how and when they might implement it. 6. More information about the toolkit is available here. More articles on workforce: 5 findings on hospitals' employee health benefits Healthcare adds nearly 17,000 jobs in July, but growth slower than in June, May Florida health career fair set for Aug. 22 Paul Leake is the co-founder and managing director of VerteCore Technologies, a medical device company that develops mobile decompression devices for the orthopedic market. Question: Why did you start VerteCore Technologies? Paul Leake: About 15 years ago, I was a specialist in the U.S. Army when I suffered a training accident at Fort Rucker in Dale County, Ala. The physicians there gave me two choices: undergo spine surgery or live in pain. I lived with the pain for about 10 years. 'Necessity is the mother of invention,' as the saying goes, and I was looking for alternatives to opioids for pain management. Back pain is also a leading cause of lost worker productivity in all industrialized nations. So, we formed VerteCore Technologies and invented the VerteCore Lift, a mobile spine decompression device for back pain relief. It's a Class 1, FDA-cleared medical device that has already helped hundreds of people regain their lives Q: How can surgeons incorporate the VerteCore Lift into their practice? PL: Surgeons can use the VerteCore Lift to treat compression issues conservatively before opting for the surgical route. The device facilitates decompression from L5 up to T5. The VerteCore Lift doesn't take up much space it can be worn over or under normal clothing and patients can go about their day while receiving spinal decompression therapy. While it's not a replacement for surgery, it can mitigate pain without opioids and possibly prevent the need for surgical intervention. Within the medical technology space over the last decade particularly in spine tech most advances have occurred within the surgical theater. But patients are becoming aware that surgery should be the last option in many cases, in part due to the rise of the opioid epidemic and a growing awareness of opioid dependence. We believe everyone in healthcare should take a patient-centered approach, and we have a value proposition. Since we're moving to performance-based healthcare initiatives, we want to help surgeons ensure treatment is as effective as possible. Q: What are VerteCore's next steps? PL: We plan to meet with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs because we see tremendous value in getting it into the military healthcare system. VerteCore Technologies was also selected to participate in the TMCx 2018 Medical Device Accelerator Program at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, which allows us to network and build relationships across 61 institutions. The Congress of Neurological Surgeons will host its annual meeting in Houston, Oct. 6 to 10. Here are five details about the event: 1. This year's theme is "Mission: Neurosurgery," as a nod to NASA's headquarters in Houston. 2. Speakers will touch on aerospace medicine, bionic technology and space travel. 3. The Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery will serve as the Congress of Neurological Surgeons' international partner. 4. Some of the speakers include: Laird Hamilton Graham Allison Hugh Herr, PhD Smith Johnston, MD Al Unser Jr. David Eagleman 5. Updates on guidelines along with the paper of the year from Neurosurgery will be presented at the annual meeting. Construction giant Farrans looks set to build the huge 15m 17-storey City Quays 3 building at Belfast Harbour. Last month the Harbour unveiled record results, reporting a 5.6% surge in operating profits to 34m. Now Belfast-based Farrans will build the latest and largest of the City Quays office schemes in the docks area, which could create 600 construction jobs. The firm's Darrell McGuckian said: "Farrans are delighted to be working with the Belfast Harbour Commissioners team to deliver the City Quays 3 project as part of their ongoing developments. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Belfast Harbour Commissioners once again and to bringing this wealth of experience and expertise to the fore on City Quays 3." The scheme is still awaiting the final green light, as it's deemed a "regionally significant" project that needs the nod from Stormont. Meanwhile, Belfast Harbour saw turnover rising by 6.5% to 61.9m during 2017. The growth in turnover and profits was supported by a 3% increase in port cargo handled to a record 23.7 million tonnes. During the year it invested 42m in new port facilities and regeneration developments, while it says future "capital expenditure plans include an upgrade of the port's ferry and container handling facilities at a cost of 60m, and further investments in new logistics warehousing units". Work is under way on a 900-space car park, while next year's results are likely to see a further uplift in revenue, due to the new AC Hotel and films studios on the North Foreshore. Overall, port operations make up around 80% of overall turnover at Belfast Harbour. "A key factor in the success of Belfast Harbour is the ongoing growth in port throughput in sectors such as aggregates, steel, animal feeds and grains, roll-on/roll-off freight, ferry passengers and cruise ship visits," said Joe O'Neill, Belfast Harbour's chief executive. "The harbour's real estate activities also are delivering ongoing growth." File photo dated 01/02/12 of the Belfast branch of the department store chain House of Fraser, which has said that it is set to fall into administration later today. Paul Faith/PA Wire The House of Fraser store in Belfast is to open on Friday despite the chain falling into administration, endangering the future of its 17,000 staff. House of Fraser has a store in the Victoria Square shopping centre in Belfast city centre. A scene on the store said it would open later than usual at 11am. The chain said discussions between interested investors and its main creditors did not conclude in a "solvent solution" and it has no choice but to appoint administrators. But House of Fraser said parts of the department store could still be rescued, most likely through a pre-pack administration process, where a new buyer cherry picks the best assets. The company said "significant progress has been made" in reaching a sale of the group's business and assets. EY, which is expected to be appointed administrator on Friday, will continue discussions with interested parties in the hope of reaching a deal "shortly after their appointment". Would-be suitors include tracksuit tycoon Mike Ashley and Philip Day, the billionaire owner of Edinburgh Woollen Mill. House of Fraser assured that its offices and stores will continue trading as normal while they look to reach a deal. "All stores will be open for business as usual today," it said in an announcement to the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Chief executive Alex Williamson said: "We are hopeful that the current negotiations will shortly be concluded. "An acquisition of the 169-year-old retail business will see House of Fraser regain stability, certainty and financial strength. "In the two weeks since the Cenbest and C.Banner transaction ceased, the directors have brought forward a number of potential buyers and the group's financial advisers have run a comprehensive M&A process to identify and then develop other third party interest that has culminated in the senior secured creditors leading negotiations with parties at a critical pace." House of Fraser has been plunged into fresh crisis after C.banner, the Chinese owner of Hamleys, pulled its investment into the troubled retail chain. C.banner was planning to buy a 51% stake in House of Fraser and plough 70 million into the ailing retailer, but scrapped the move last week. Frank Slevin, chairman of House of Fraser, said: "This has been an extraordinarily challenging six months in which the business has delivered so many critical elements of the turnaround plan. "Despite the very recent termination of the transaction between Cenbest and C.Banner, I am confident House of Fraser is close to securing its future." A Belfast-based beauty firm has recorded an eight-fold increase in revenue. BPerfect Cosmetics reported a turnover of almost 2m in 2017. It represents a 740% increase on the 2016 turnover of 244,000. Founded by Co Down man Brendan McDowell in 2014 with an investment of around 600, the company has been boosted by a contract with Beauty Bay, Europe's largest independent online beauty retailer. Mr McDowell famously turned down an offer of 80,000 during an appearance on RTE's Dragons' Den. The company creates products and sells directly online. BPerfect is also stocked in 1,200 salons and pharmacies throughout Ireland and the UK. Mr McDowell said he was currently in talks with a TV shopping network and a series of European shopping channels, as well as a major British retailer. He said that the company's research and development of unique products for everyday use had paid off, attracting the attention of global retailers, including Beauty Bay. "We intend to make sure our products are relevant, high quality and value for money," he explained. "We plan to launch into other countries next year including Australia, as sun beds are illegal there and fake tan is set to explode Down Under." Madeline Wahdan, head of new business at Beauty Bay, said: "BPerfect represents the ideal type of cosmetic brand for us as we engage it with a global market. "Our customer base will love the wide array of its products and we're excited to see what is to come from the brand." The development is part of a 90m project approved in 2016 for 550 new homes in the area An impression of the Helens Wood site will look in Bangor, where houses will be surrounded by woodland and will overlook a 3.5 acre lake Work has started on a multimillion-pound development that will provide 350 new homes for Bangor. Lagan Homes said the Helens Wood project would create around 100 jobs on Rathgael Road. The developer is believed to have invested over 1.2m on road infrastructure in the north Down town. Set on a 17-acre site surrounded by woodland and overlooking a 3.5 acre lake, the houses are expected to come with asking prices between 147,500 and 200,000. The development is a part of a 90m project approved in 2016 for 550 new homes in the area. Lagan Homes has completed 100 of 180 homes due to be built at Lynn Hall Park, also on the Rathgael Road. The first batch of houses on the Helens Wood site is expected to be released for sale online on August 20, and estimated to be completed by the end of October this year. Conor Mulligan, managing director of Lagan Homes, said: "The commencement of the Helens Wood development begins a new chapter for Lagan Homes in Northern Ireland. "Not only will this site bring much-needed quality new homes and employment to the Bangor area, but also the delivery of the much-needed and long-awaited upgrade to the Rathgael Road itself. "The investment in the off-site infrastructure is in excess of 1.2m, which is a considerable developer contribution to the wider Bangor area." The Lagan family business was formed in the 1960s, but it was broken up several years ago, with brothers Michael and Kevin going their separate ways. Four businesses in the Lagan Construction Group went into administration earlier this year, but Kevin Lagan's company, the Lagan Group, was acquired by the Breedon Group for 455m, with the exception of Lagan Homes. David Menary, of Colliers New Homes, said: "The pre-construction roads and infrastructure investment from Lagan Homes proves there is a rejuvenation within the construction sector. "The Helens Wood development offers over 350 quality houses situated in a way overlooking the lake that makes it hard to believe it is in the heart of Bangor and so close to local shops and within commuting distance to Belfast City." He added demand for new homes in the north Down area was extremely high. 'The distillery, which has had a presence in the village since the 1600s, wants to build 29 new maturation warehouses on Haw Road, around 600 metres east of Bushmills' A bid by whiskey company Bushmills to significantly expand its operation on the north coast looks set to get the green light despite dozens of objections. Planning officials at the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have recommended that two applications relating to the Old Bushmills Distillery be approved in separate reports set to go before the planning committee on August 22. The distillery, which has had a presence in the village since the 1600s, wants to build 29 new maturation warehouses on Haw Road, around 600 metres east of Bushmills. Now part of Mexican drinks giant Jose Cuervo, the Old Bushmills Distillery Ltd has 106 staff and reported pre-tax profits of 7.1m in its latest results. However, concerns over the potential environmental impact of the plan sparked opposition, with more than 100 objections lodged in respect of the two linked applications. Community group Save Our Causeway Coast expressed concern over the use of "hazardous substances" on the site. Among those to write to planners to express the "serious issues" raised was TUV leader Jim Allister. Planning officials have recommended granting both consent for the use of hazardous substances and full planning permission for the maturation facility, which, alongside the warehouses, will also see the construction of a fire water retention lagoon, a sprinkler pump house, tanks, landscaping and a new access road. But the approval comes with a list of 29 conditions, including a requirement for the development to be phased to allow it to integrate into the countryside. The Old Bushmills Distillery typically requires its whiskey to mature from between three and 50 years. It currently requires storage for just over 81,000 barrels per year, around 16.3 million litres. It already has 20 warehouses on site, but the new development is being pursued not only to store its existing produce, but also barrels from a new distillery, which has already been granted outline planning permission. An application for full planning permission was filed last month. Planners found that the additional 29 warehouses were reasonable, considering the business plan submitted. "When considered in the context of the rate of expansion that Bushmills have undertaken from 2006, the proposed development and the phased manner of construction would appear to be consistent with their current rate of growth and future projections." Ultimately approving the application, planners concluded that need had been demonstrated, adding that the project will make "a significant contribution" to the regional economy. "Specifically, it has long-term sustainable economic benefits, has entailed an assessment of alternative sites and has considered environmental and transport impacts. "The proposal will not result in unacceptable effects on visual amenity or residential amenity. "An assessment has been made of environmental effects arising from the proposal, and these have been found acceptable." The 67-page report will now go before the council's planning committee in two weeks, when councillors will decide whether or not to rubber-stamp that conclusion. Jeremy Clarkson has compared a seaside shot of himself to David Hasselhoff (PA) The Grand Tour host Jeremy Clarkson has jokingly compared himself to David Hasslehoffs Baywatch character in a social media post. Clarkson, 58, posted a photo on his Instagram profile of himself in swimming trunks bounding into the sea with a blue bodyboard tucked under his right arm. To his right was a woman in a bikini holding a red bodyboard also wading into the waves. In a caption next to the snap the former Top Gear presenter drew a comparison between himself and fictional lifeguard Mitch Buchannon, writing: David f*****g Hasslehoff. Expand Close Jeremy Clarkson has compared his seaside shot to a scene from 1990s show Baywatch. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jeremy Clarkson has compared his seaside shot to a scene from 1990s show Baywatch. Jeremy Clarkson has compared his seaside shot to a scene from 1990s show Baywatch. Hasselhoff, 66, with co-stars including Pamela Anderson and Alexandra Paul, famously ran down a Los Angeles beach and into the sea in slow motion as part of the dramas opening titles sequence. Some of his followers seemed unable to see the likeness between the Knight Rider star and motoring broadcaster, with one suggesting Disney Free Willy was a more apt lookalike. Other saw the humour in Clarksons post with one follower replying: This is the best caption I have ever seen. Earlier this year Clarkson presented special revival episodes of ITV game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Viewers were shocked after he wrongly told a contestant he had correctly answered a question. Hasselhoff married his long-term partner, former sales assistant Hayley Roberts, 38, in a ceremony in Italy in July. Political parties have been accused of using Belfast City Council resources for campaigning. DUP councillor Lee Reynolds made the claim at the first meeting of the council's Brexit committee yesterday. The committee has been set up to look at what implications the UK leaving the European Union on March 29, 2019 will have for Belfast. Committee chair Seanna Walsh of Sinn Fein opened the inaugural meeting by telling members that its terms of reference include reflecting on areas of impact Brexit may have on Belfast, including economic and funding. The first order of business was a motion of support for the so-called backstop option. The EU has proposed a backstop which would mean Northern Ireland remaining with the EU customs union, large parts of the single market and the EU VAT system. However, the UK suggests a backstop would see the UK as a whole remaining aligned with the EU customs union for a limited time after 2020. The motion at the council committee was proposed by Sinn Fein's Arder Carson, who described the backstop as an "insurance policy". He emphasised it should not be diluted, but rather extended. The SDLP and Alliance Party backed the motion with minor amendments. SDLP councillor Donal Lyons told the committee the backstop was the "bare minimum", describing it as a "safety net that we shouldn't fall beneath". But unionist parties opposed the motion. The DUP's Brian Kingston directed his comments to the Sinn Fein members, accusing them of "using the council" because they are "boycotting" Westminster and the Assembly. "EU negotiators and the UK Government are not waiting for the verdict of Belfast City Council before making their next move," he said. "Sinn Fein could have influence at Westminster, which they boycott, or in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive ... but there is a triple boycott going on." Mr Reynolds described the discussion as "just ridiculous", arguing that the committee had been given a remit and claimed the proposed motion and discussion went beyond it. "What we have is political parties using council resources for their political campaigning," he told the committee. Sinn Fein's Ciaran Beattie hit back, saying his party runs for Westminster on an absentionist ticket, and claiming that the Assembly remains collapsed due to "DUP scandals" and the party "refusing rights", including for Irish language speakers and equal marriage. The motion was passed by 10 votes to seven, with Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party voting for, while the DUP, UUP and PUP voted against. Belfast is the first council in Northern Ireland to have a dedicated committee to look at the potential impact of Brexit. Council officers have been tasked with assessing the impact that Brexit may have on its services, and are undertaking an audit of services to identify the nature and extent of potential impact on funding, personnel, procurement/contracts and legislation. The committee is next due to meet on September 20. A man and a woman have been arrested after a 1million cannabis haul was seized by police in Belfast. A 37-year-old woman in Stranmillis and a 48-year-old man in the Lisburn Road area were both arrested as part of an investigation into the supply of drugs in Northern Ireland on Thursday. The arrests were carried out after searches by the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch discovered cannabis with a street value of 1million. The man and woman remain in policy custody. Detective Inspector Pete Mullan said: These arrests and seizures are evidence of our ongoing commitment to removing and disrupting the illegal supply of drugs into Northern Ireland. "The seizure of these drugs has removed a substantial amount of cannabis and prevented 1million from falling into the hands of organised criminals who profit from others misery. We are committed to tackling the issue of drugs and would appeal to the public to speak to us if they have any concerns or information regarding drugs in their area. The number to call is 101. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime. Flags flying in Limavady and kerbs painted red, white and blue or green, white and orange Flags flying in Limavady and kerbs painted red, white and blue or green, white and orange Flags flying in Limavady and kerbs painted red, white and blue or green, white and orange Flags flying in Limavady and kerbs painted red, white and blue or green, white and orange Flags flying in Limavady and kerbs painted red, white and blue or green, white and orange Sinn Fein have called for political and civic leaders to intervene in Limavady in an attempt to ease tensions in the area. There have been a number of sectarian incidents in the area in recent days. Read More Kerbstones were painted red, white and blue in the Benevenagh Drive area of Limavady and sectarian graffiti was daubed on St Mary's Catholic church. Tricolours have since been erected in the nationalist Glens estate in Limavady and kerbstones painted green, white and orange in response. Ill feelings have escalated since Wednesday night when it is understood police prevented a group of loyalists from removing Irish tricolours from lamp-posts. Earlier the same day, Department for Infrastructure contractors stopped removing red, white and blue paint from a roundabout at the gateway to Limavady after a number of people arrived and began to film the workers. East Londonderry MLA Caoimhe Archibald met with the PSNI on Friday to discuss the issue. She said that residents were becoming "very concerned" by the activity. It was extremely disappointing that, far from seeking to defuse tensions, a large group of loyalists sought to exacerbate them by erecting Union flags outside the chapel and parochial house on Thursday night. It is also disappointing that the PSNI, who were on the scene, took no measures to stop them and that is something I raised with the police in todays meeting," Ms Archibald said. As we face into the weekend, particularly with the Apprentice Boys parade taking place, there is a responsibility on all political, civic and community leaders to do all they can to help reduce the tensions that exist. The community in Limavady are growing increasingly concerned at the damage that is being done to community relations so I would again appeal to all those in positions of influence to stand together in combating this negative agenda. Former Finance Minister Simon Hamilton has warned that those making an economic case for a united Ireland are gambling on "wishful thinking". The DUP Strangford MLA's comments follow discussions this week based on a report entitled 'The Economic Effect of an All-Ireland Economy'. Read More The report from financial journalist Paul Gosling says that Brexit could damage the Northern Ireland economy in many ways, including reducing wages and jobs. It found that "north-south economic integration would generate substantial benefits for all of the island" and that "there is a significant positive potential economic benefit from Irish reunification, particularly for the citizens of Northern Ireland." The report called for preparations to begin towards achieving an all-Ireland economy and produced a ten point plan for how Irish reunification might be achieved. However, Mr Hamilton said that the report was fraught with difficulties. This report was published earlier in 2018 but this week at the West Belfast Festival, it received renewed focus. Previously, Gerry Adams has called the report 'common sense'," the Strangford MLA said. "Behind some of the claims that 'everyones a winner' in this united-Ireland however there lies a reliance on supposition and wishful thinking to build a case. "Looking at just some of the issues included in the reports Ten Point Plan sheds some light on the strength of the case put forward. "The report assumes: Expand Close A report has claimed Northern Ireland could be financially better off in a united Ireland. Alex Dodd / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A report has claimed Northern Ireland could be financially better off in a united Ireland. Continued UK government subvention to Northern Ireland for approximately thirty years. An immediate 10billion contribution to infrastructure by the UK government. The UK government will continue to fund pension costs." Mr Hamilton said that reunification would cost thousands of jobs in Northern Ireland. "Interestingly, the report does not dwell too long on its view that 50,000 public sector workers in Northern Ireland would have to be made redundant. However even in this area it expects the United Kingdom Exchequer to bear all the costs," he said. "All these highlight the lack of substance behind many of those who claim a united-Ireland is some kind of inevitability. We cannot be complacent however and must continue putting forward a positive case for the Union." A report has claimed British officials ask the Dublin administration to play down its emphasis on peace during the Brexit process. The Irish Times, however, reported the request was refused as the peace process is viewed as central to the talks by the Irish government. The paper claimed Prime Minister Theresa May was concerned her credentials as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement were being undermined throughout the process. There have been numerous claims Brexit will undermine peace in Northern Ireland. In recent months dissident republicans have declared a ceasefire and the UK government downgraded the threat level from Northern Ireland-related terrorism. Northern Ireland has become one of the major sticking points in the Brexit talks. A backstop - that is the default position should no deal be reach - has been proposed by the EU which would see Northern Ireland remain within a customs union with the EU in order to maintain a frictionless border. It has been rejected by the Prime Minister. Theresa May had proposed a solution which would see the EU and the UK in a common customs area and aligned to the European single market for goods - which has been met with opposition both within Europe and the Conservative party. Before the summer break the Commons approved legislation which would make it illegal for a customs border to be placed down the Irish Sea. And Theresa May has made a commitment there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland. A source told the Irish Times: Successive Irish and British governments have protected a hard-won peace in Northern Ireland and we need to make sure that continues, regardless of Brexit. "This includes a need for no hard Border." Another said the peace process was a concern for both nationalists and unionists including those within the Conservative party. In response a spokesman for the Prime Minister referred to her speech in Belfast last month. In that she spoke of the principles laid out in the Good Friday Agreement and how it was the bedrock for peace and stability in Northern Ireland. "The protection of the peace process and upholding our binding commitments in the Belfast Agreement are grave responsibilities," she said. "Not to seek a solution would be to resume our career as an independent sovereign trading nation by betraying commitments to part of our nation and to our nearest neighbour." A house in Manor Street in north Belfast where paint was thrown over a window Residents of an interface area in north Belfast are living in fear of more sectarian hate attacks after youths bombarded their homes with paint bombs. Three Protestant families on Manor Street were targeted by youths in the early hours of yesterday morning. Glass bottles, paint and rocks were hurled at their properties between 12.05 and 12.35am. A living room window was smashed in one of the houses and a window was shattered in another. Young children were present in one of the homes which came under attack by two males wearing grey hooded tops. The culprits were seen running off towards the Oldpark Road. One of the badly shaken victims described the attack as "terrifying" but insisted she will not be forced from her home. "It was awful," said the married mother-of-two. "I have lived in this area for 30 years and never experienced anything like this before. "I've lived in this house for 18 years and I have no intention of moving, absolutely not." The home owner, who has cleaned up most of the damage at her own expense, now hopes to put the incident behind her. "It's happened, now I just need to get past it," she said. But all three families fear a repeat of what police are treating as sectarian hate crimes. PUP councillor Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston condemned the attacks which she said are becoming too common throughout the province and threaten to undermine decades of hard work to foster good community relations. Speaking at the scene of the attack yesterday afternoon, she called for a "multifaceted review" of how sectarianism is tackled in Northern Ireland. "There is something fundamentally wrong when, 20 years post-Agreement, we have peace babies attacking people and in their homes because of their nationality, religion or creed," she said. "Honey-coated words of condemnation simply won't cut it any longer, it is time for action not reaction". North Belfast DUP MLA William Humphrey also condemned the "utterly appalling and depraved" attack which he blamed on republicans seeking to undo years of peace. "I would appeal for calm and for condemnation of this attack from across the political spectrum," he said. Police attend the scene of a assault in the New Lodge Road area of north Belfast on Friday morning. Pic Pacemaker Police attend the scene of a assault in the New Lodge Road area of north Belfast on Friday morning. Pic Pacemaker A man has been taken to hospital with head injuries following an assault in the New Lodge Road area of Belfast. The incident was reported to police at around 7.30am on Friday 10 August. Police and forensic officer spent most of the morning at the scene conducting their investigations. The police did not disclose any further details. In a statement, the PSNI said: "Police enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing." A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: "The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 7:28am on Friday 10 August 2018 following reports of an assault in the New Lodge area of Belfast. "NIAS despatched one Emergency Ambulance crew to the incident. "Following assessment and treatment at the scene, one male was transported to the Royal Victoria Hospital." The Emergency Department at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital dealt with 170 drug overdoses in June and July of this year, it has been revealed. UTV have reported that the figures showed a 300% increase on last year and that two people have lost their lives in heroin related incidents in the last few days. Read More It was also revealed that fourteen people have died in Northern Ireland over the past two months due to addiction. The latest revelations come after an addict warned that buying heroin in Belfast is as easy as getting cigarettes. SDLP councillor Paul McCusker said that the heroin problem in Belfast has gone "beyond an epidemic", that he believe addicts were being "forgotten about" and warned that many addicts will die if waiting lists are not shortened. The waiting list for heroin users in Belfast to be put on a substitute drug to wean them off the drug stands at a minimum of 29 to a maximum of 38 weeks. The programme moves addicts from heroin to methadone in the hope they will eventually stop using heroin. Consultant Brendan Sinnott told UTV that in 30 years in emergency medicine the problem is the worst he has ever seen. Last week, we had eight in one day - eight overdoses, he said. Libraries in Northern Ireland have fined the public nearly 400,000 in the past three years. The figures, published by the BBC, also reveal 40,000 of that amount has yet to be paid. Total overdue fines amounted to 396,050 since 2015. Libraries NI runs 96 libraries and said it has introduced measures to encourage books to be returned instead of imposing fines on customers. A spokesperson for Libraries NI said: "There are a number of issues which impact on the level of fines incurred both overall and in a specific library. "Libraries NI has taken a number of steps in recent years to encourage customers to return items rather than incur a fine. This includes an alerting service by email shortly before a book is due to be returned. "The number of customers availing of this service has increased." 1. Belfast Central Library: 19,416 2. Omagh Library: 15,244 3. Derry Central Library: 14,279 4. Lisburn City Library: 12,833 5. Newry Library: 11,536 Snow and ice could cause problems The road has been closed. Follow the latest updates from our travel feed below The Dobbin Road in Armagh has been reopend folowing an earlier crash. Diversions are in place and traffic is being diverted onto the Vicarage Road, delays are expected. Our live updates from across Northern Ireland are compiled by @TrafficwatchNI, @BBCNITravel and @PSNITraffic. Stone (second left) at the opening of his exhibition while on overnight release from Maghaberry Prison A senior Orangeman who ruled out any meeting between the Order and Sinn Fein for at least a generation has defended his presence at an art exhibition by loyalist serial killer Michael Stone. Orange grand secretary Rev Mervyn Gibson was speaking as a storm broke out after it emerged Stone convicted of murdering six people displayed his artwork at an exhibition in east Belfast while on overnight release from Maghaberry Prison last month. The launch of the Milestones exhibition was held in a community centre run by the Reach project on the Newtownards Road in the run-up to the Twelfth. Read More The one-week exhibition was produced by Stone and his wife Karen. Rev Gibson told the Belfast Telegraph he was aware that Stone would be present at the event. He stressed that he was there in a personal capacity, as a local minister and a community activist in east Belfast. Read More I was invited as the event took place in my parish and I am also a director of Reach, he said. The organisation is involved in community development and committed to moving former paramilitaries down the road of peace, so it was an obvious thing to go to. The event had nothing to do with the Orange Order. In July, Rev Gibson said there was not a remote possibility that the Orange Order will meet with Sinn Fein. Maybe in a generations time or two generations time, but certainly not this generation, he had said. Read More When pressed on how his meeting with Stone could appear at odds with that position, Rev Gibson said: The Grand Lodge of Ireland has unanimously decided not to meet Sinn Fein because we have 355 members who were murdered, many of them by the IRA and republicans. Those families would be further hurt if the institution met those who were responsible for the murders. People might not like that line but we are a democratic organisation and we stand by that decision. I served in the police for many years protecting all sides of the community. I have repeatedly condemned the violence and terrorism of the past from all sides. I have sat in the same room as Sinn Feins Martin McGuinness and Gerry Kelly, along with many other senior IRA figures. The exhibition launch was also attended by former DUP MLA Sammy Douglas and DUP councillor George Dorrian. Mr Dorrian was unavailable for comment yesterday, but in a statement the DUP said: Councillor Dorrian, like all DUP representatives, condemns all acts of terrorism, including the evil deeds committed by Michael Stone. The brother of Dermot Hackett, who was murdered by Stone in 1987, told the BBC his family should have been informed the killer was eligible for day release. I think its right that we should be told, because he did affect our lives and our families, he said. I would hate to think that some of my immediate family or near relatives would happen to walk up the street in Belfast and see him walking up the street towards them. I think its only right, they should have at least let us know. The Department of Justice said the Victim Information Scheme, which is in place to provide victims with information about releases and community sentences, is operated by the Probation Board and Prison Service. If a victim is registered with the scheme they will be provided with information including information in relation to prisoner release. There is legislation in place which explains what information can be shared with victims, it said. A third of the proceeds raised from the event were due to be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy UK charity, with the rest going to Stone and his family. However, since learning how the money was raised, the charity has decided to decline the funds. The charity said: We were not aware that Mr Stone had work on show at the Milestones exhibition. After careful consideration, we will be declining the money raised at the event. A 14-year-old boy from Newtownabbey was abducted and physically abused in a car on Saturday night in an attack that has shocked the local community. The boy, believed to be from the Whitewell area of north Belfast, was left badly bruised and shaken after the incident which police say occurred at around 9pm last weekend. Police are continuing to investigate a motive for the attack but have appealed to witnesses who may have seen anything suspicious at the time. It is not yet known whether the boy was on his own when he was taken from ONeill Road to Rathcoole estate. Former Antrim and Newtownabbey mayor Paul Hamill said the incident was concerning as a group of children had recently been gathering in the area where the boy was taken. This is a very worrying development, he said. There is absolutely no justification for this kind of behaviour and if anyone has any concerns about illegal activity, it needs to be reported to the police. They cannot take matters into their own hands. Police described the incident as very disturbing, with a PSNI detective explaining: Police received a report that a 14-year-old boy was approached by three men and bundled into the back of a black car as he walked on the ONeill Road in Newtownabbey, shortly after 9pm on Saturday night. The boy was then assaulted whilst inside the car, which was driven a short distance to Camross Park in Rathcoole Estate, where he was let out of the car and further assaulted by the men. One of the men was described as being around 6ft 1in tall, of medium build with a deep, broad Belfast accent, who was wearing a light blue short sleeved top and dark jeans. The boy, who was left badly shaken after the incident, suffered extensive bruising to his face, head and body. Police added: This was a very disturbing incident for the child, his family and his friends, and our enquiries into the matter are ongoing. The spokesman asked anyone who witnessed the incidents at ONeill Road or Camross Park, or anyone who has any information about those responsible, to contact detectives in Antrim on 101 quoting reference number 1415 04/08/18. Billy Caldwell and his mother Charlotte secured support from politicians at Stormont for the proposed Billys Law to allow access to medicinal cannabis. (PA) Political parties have united around a campaign to see a proposed new law allowing the prescription of medicinal cannabis extended to Northern Ireland. Billy Caldwell, 13, from Castlederg, Co Tyrone, who has severe epilepsy, has been battling with the authorities to be prescribed the medication. His mother Charlotte says medicinal cannabis helps to control his seizures. Specialist doctors in the UK will be able to legally prescribe cannabis-derived medicinal products by autumn, Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced earlier this year. But as it is a devolved matter, it will require legislative change before it is enforced in Northern Ireland. Devolved government has been in suspension since January 2017. Mrs Caldwell and Billy are lobbying to ensure the law is extended to Northern Ireland. This support shows that the will is here for this to move forward and Billy's Law to be implemented in Northern Ireland.Charlotte Caldwell They met representatives from the DUP, Sinn Fein, UUP, SDLP, Alliance, Green Party and People Before Profit at Stormont on Friday to request their support. The delegation included West Tyrone MP Orfhlaith Begley (Sinn Fein), who has been a long-term supporter of Mrs Caldwell and her son. Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Caldwell detailed their next steps. A fantastic meeting, we were fully supported by all the parties, she said. I feel very proud and blessed today, this support shows that the will is here for this to move forward and Billys Law to be implemented in Northern Ireland. The cross party delegation will write to the Home Secretary that when the law changes, it should be changed here in Northern Ireland as well. Mrs Caldwell and the group are also set to meet health chiefs to attempt to change the way of thinking in the NHS in Northern Ireland with regard to medicinal cannabis. They are set to request meetings with Richard Pengelly, the permanent secretary at the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride and Martin Dillon, chief executive of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. A great day, victory for all. The medicinal cannabis legislation will be implemented in Northern Ireland for all the people of our country who desperately need it, Mrs Caldwell said. Our political parties are all mummies, daddies, aunties, uncles, grannies, granddads, ordinary people who also have people within their families that are sick and maybe might benefit from medicinal cannabis. Expand Close Billy Caldwell and his mother Charlotte secured support from politicians across the political divide at Stormont for the proposed Billys Law to enable access for medicinal cannabis / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Billy Caldwell and his mother Charlotte secured support from politicians across the political divide at Stormont for the proposed Billys Law to enable access for medicinal cannabis Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann was among the politicians backing the pair. He said it is unfortunate that the Northern Ireland Assembly remains in suspension and cannot act on the matter. But this is something we are all united on so I dont want to bring division into it by having a political point scoring exercise, he said. I think it is important we concentrate on taking the steps that all the parties have agreed on today. Earlier this year Mrs Caldwell and Billy travelled to Canada so he could receive treatment with medicinal cannabis. But Billys medicines were confiscated when they landed at Heathrow Airport on June 11. They then spent three weeks in London where Billy was treated at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. In July, Billy became one of a small number of people in the UK who have been granted a special licence to be treated with medicinal cannabis. A Department of Health spokesman said: In the absence of an Executive, the Department, in consultation with legal advisers, continues to try and find a way forward on this very complex issue. A former Royal Marine from Northern Ireland has spoken of how his life was shattered after returning from Afghanistan (Peter Byrne/PA) A former Royal Marine Commando from Northern Ireland who served in Afghanistan has told of how he ended up addicted to drugs and in prison after returning from the horrors of war. James, now 27, completed a tour of Afghanistan in 2011 when he was 19. Speaking on the BBCs Nolan Show on Radio Ulster he said what he witnessed in Afghanistan haunted him, including an incident where a close friend died. An IED [Improvised Explosive Device] went off, one of my mates stood on it, he said. He lost a leg and he was badly damaged and I was one of the guys who had to run over and put a tourniquet on his leg. Then he ended up dying. It was a mess, an absolute mess, that is all I can describe it, it was hell on earth. "He was able to talk to me, I was trying to reassure him and then I put the morphine in his other leg. We were waiting on the helicopter to get him, unfortunately he passed away before doctors could get to him. Sometimes I think did I put that tourniquet on tight enough, did I do it wrong or could I have done anything different? It haunts me to this day. Maybe I could have got to him a bit quicker. It haunts me to this day. James said he killed people when fighting in Afghanistan and that their faces haunted him at night when he tries to sleep. He said: At the time it feels like you have done your job and you dont really feel any consequence but after, in the months leading after it, you actually think that that person had a family, that could have been a father, a son, a dad, that could have been anybody and you have taken their life off them. James said that he felt let down by the NHS and mental health services when he returned to Northern Ireland. He became addicted to Tramadol and Diazepam prescribed to him by doctors to treat mental health and pain problems. He became addicted to the prescription medications before moving on to other painkillers and Fentanyl- an opioid. It ruined me, he said. I became a completely different person. I became violent, I ended up in jail. I headbutted a police officer, I dont know why. I am really sorry for what I have done, it was not me acting out, it was me in a psychosis attack and I didnt understand. James served a three year jail term but upon release he was hospitalised around 15 times after overdosing. Expand Close Andy Allen MLA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Andy Allen MLA He is now receiving addiction treatment in England and has been 21 days sober. He lamented the lack of addiction and mental health services in Northern Ireland but said he received help from UUP MLA Andy Allen, who himself lost both legs after an IED blast in Afghanistan. James said he hoped to become a recovery worker to help other people who have gone through similar problems as him. Its not to late to rebuild my life, and that is what I am doing," he said. Former UUP leader Mike Nesbitt has said 50% plus one in a border poll would be enough to secure Irish unity. Speaking at the first all-unionist panel debate at the West Belfast Festival last night, Mr Nesbitt said he didn't know if a united Ireland could ever be "a warm house" for unionists. He challenged nationalists to tell unionists they were wanted in any new state. He took part in the debate with obstetrician and gynaecologist Professor Jim Dornan, the father of actor Jamie Dornan; former Progressive Unionist Party Press officer Sophie Long, who is now a member of the Green Party, and former NI21 member David Honeyford, who is now an Alliance Party member. Asked if a simple majority was enough in a border poll or if the threshold should be raised, Mr Nesbitt said: "It can't be anything other than 50% plus one - that's democracy." Unionists who said a 52% vote for Brexit was enough "didn't have much wriggle room", he added. Mr Nesbitt said that, in terms of Dail arithmetic, unionists could find themselves "perpetual king-makers" in a united Ireland and joked to the audience: "So be careful what you wish for." He said nationalists must be more proactive in embracing unionists if they wanted to strengthen the argument for unity. "I have heard you legitimately for many years express your desire for a new unitary state on this island. Recently, I have also heard people talk about protecting the rights of the unionist, British community, but what I haven't heard is: 'We want you'," he told the audience. He was deeply critical of unionists for never saying the same to nationalists after partition. He also spoke about his relationship with Martin McGuinness. He revealed that he had once told the Sinn Fein politician something that could have ended his own career. Mr McGuinness had kept his confidence, and he described him as a "man of political integrity". Mr Dornan said nationalists had to make a detailed case for Irish unity and he'd like to see any proposed deal in "a 200-page dossier". He accepted 50% plus one was enough in a border poll, but said he'd prefer if there was a "resounding" yes of over 70% as with the Good Friday Agreement. A Sinn Fein-only led campaign would either fail or scrape home, he warned. Unlike Arlene Foster, he said he wouldn't leave in the event of Irish unity, and it was "a mistake" for the DUP leader to have made such a "reactionary comment". He expressed hope for a second referendum on leaving the EU and said Brexit's main proponents weren't "people I'd like to have dinner with". He was optimistic Brexit could be reversed by another poll, and said one-and-a-half million people who voted to Leave would likely be dead when the next election took place. Nine former staff at the Ilex Urban Regeneration Company (Ilex) in Londonderry are to share a six figure payout after trade union Nipsa reached a settlement in a dispute about the early closure of the body in 2016. It's believed the settlement runs into many hundreds of thousands of pounds and is one of the largest employment law settlements of its kind here. Four of the staff are members of Nipsa, the public sector union, which fought a legal battle over what it said was the unfair dismissal of its members. Ilex Urban Regeneration Company was set up in 2003 by the Department for Social Development (now part of the Department for Communities) and the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers (now The Executive Office) to promote the physical, economic and social regeneration of Derry-Londonderry. It had specific responsibility for the development of Ebrington site, a former military barracks, on the east bank of the Foyle. It was also involved in developing the NI Science Park, and involved in the City of Culture bid. The development body went through five chief executives in 13 years. One chief executive - former top civil servant Aideen McGinley - had to apologise before the Public Accounts Committee at Stormont after auditors confirmed Ilex had overspent 400,000 without approval from the government departments which set it up. Ilex finally closed its doors in early 2016. Last night, Nipsa general secretary Alison Millar said: "When the staff of Ilex were advised in October 2015 that the organisation was to close by the end of the financial year, and they would lose their jobs, it was a huge shock to them. "This came following a review of Ilex, during which its board had been assured that there would be no surprises when the review report was published. "At the time, Nipsa argued vehemently that, as some of the work of Ilex was being transferred to The Executive Office and the Strategic Investment Board, its staff should also transfer under the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employees Regulations (TUPE). This was rejected out of hand, the staff lost their jobs and Nipsa was forced into lodging Industrial Tribunal proceedings for our members. "Without membership of the union, these individuals would not have been in a position to take a legal challenge themselves, so on their behalf, we are very pleased that Nipsa and our brave members have been totally vindicated." Ms Millar said the settlement showed the union's case was right. "While no financial compensation can replace someone's job and the trauma these unfair dismissals caused, the substantial six figure settlement reached in these cases shows that The Executive Office and the Strategic Investment Board were wrong in dismissing these individuals. "As a result, this is money which will now come out of the public purse to compensate the individuals concerned." John McShane of McCartan Turkington Breen, who represented the trade union, said it sent a clear message to employers. "This is a stark warning to employers of any size or sector that they should obtain legal advice in relation to their responsibilities to employees, as this case clearly shows that the financial implications of not following the legal protections of TUPE can be very serious indeed." American Martyrs Catholic Church officials arrived at the place of worship for Sunday morning Mass earlier this month and discovered an exterior wall and a sidewalk on the building's north side had been defaced with the hateful messages written in spray paint, police say. Victims' campaigner William Frazer has thanked everyone who reached out to him after a sign was placed on a republican bonfire mocking the murder of his father by the IRA. Mr Frazer's father Bertie was part-time UDR man and council worker who was murdered by the IRA on August 30 1975. Read More The sign was placed on an anti-interment bonfire in Parkhead, Newry. The Frazer family lost a number of members to IRA violence during the Troubles. Expand Close Bertie Frazer / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bertie Frazer Mr Frazer has spent much of his career campaigning for the rights of the victims of Troubles violence. There was an outpouring of support for Mr Frazer following the incident, which was condemned by politicians and public figures from across the political spectrum. Mr Frazer offered his thanks to everyone who offered their support. Response to the dirt in Newry but also thanks to a number off RC who rang to say sorry. And the great turn out for the meeting about legacy last night at the office. Posted by William Frazer on Friday, August 10, 2018 "I'd like to thank everyone who's been in touch with me in relation to what happened in Newry," he said. I"t may have been my name on that placard, but it's the victims that they are attacking. That's the message we are sending out, "I had Arlene Foster on the phone asking if there was anything she could do for me. I do appreciate that, and I see the Irish Government even commented so that is appreciated not only by me and the family, but the wider circle of victims." Former law lecturer Julian Myerscough has been arrested in Romania (Suffolk Police/PA) A former law lecturer who went on the run from a court in England before a jury found him guilty of downloading indecent images of children has been arrested in Romania. Julian Myerscough, 56, a former criminal law lecturer at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, absconded from his trial at Ipswich Crown Court in September 2015 while jurors were deliberating their verdicts. He was convicted, shortly after he went missing, of 13 counts of possession of indecent images of a child and three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was sentenced in his absence at Chelmsford Crown Court last year to three years and six months imprisonment and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. 56-year-old former #Lowestoft man who fled a crown court trial almost three years ago, ahead of being found guilty of possessing indecent images of children, has been arrested in Romania. Read more - https://t.co/OSjsIJSM3F Suffolk Police (@SuffolkPolice) August 10, 2018 Myerscough was detained by law enforcement officers in Romania on July 26, Suffolk Police said. His extradition was approved at a Romanian court on August 7 and arrangements are being made for Suffolk Police officers to travel to Bucharest and return him to the UK, the force said. Myerscough, originally from Bolton but who was living in Lowestoft, Suffolk, initially fled to Ireland after he absconded. He was spotted on a ferry from Holyhead and was detained at a Dublin city centre hotel by Garda officers under a European Arrest Warrant in October 2015. However, he thwarted extradition efforts with a series of appeals over two years, and was released from prison in Ireland as the High Court in Dublin deemed in August 2017 that too much time had passed. A decision was taken to sentence him in his absence in September 2017. Ellie Holman was detained with her daughter Bibi, it is claimed (Detained in Dubai/PA) A mother was detained in Dubai for three days with her four-year-old daughter after a drinking a complimentary glass of wine on a flight from London, it is claimed. Swedish dentist Ellie Holman, who lives in Sevenoaks in Kent with her English partner Gary and their three children, was initially denied water and made to clean toilets while in custody, according to human rights group Detained in Dubai. The non-governmental organisation (NGO) formed to help people held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it is representing the woman and her daughter Bibi, who was terrified by the experience. The 44-year-old was arrested on July 13 after having one glass of wine on her eight-hour Emirates Airline flight to Dubai from London, a statement from the group said. She was taken into custody after an immigration official questioned her about her visa and asked if she had consumed alcohol. Expand Close Bibi Holman had to go to the toilet on the cell floor, her mother said (Detained in Dubai/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bibi Holman had to go to the toilet on the cell floor, her mother said (Detained in Dubai/PA) Ms Holman and her daughter were initially denied food, water and access to a toilet when they were held in a cell together for three days, the group claims. She now faces being detained in Dubai for up to a year while awaiting a court hearing. The group said she and Bibi were travelling to Dubai for a five-day break to visit friends, having visited a number of times before. After landing she was questioned by an immigration official, who said her visa was invalid and she must return to London immediately, the group said. Ms Holman claims he was dismissive and rude when she asked if she could buy another visa, and was then questioned about her alcohol consumption which she admitted. She filmed him on her phone as evidence of his behaviour before learning this was an offence, and that it was illegal to drink alcohol, according to the group. The pair were taken into custody with phones and passports confiscated before Ms Holman was asked to give a blood sample to test for alcohol consumption. She is said to have been refused the chance to phone her partner and was then held in a cell. Ellie takes her partner Garys surname but they are not legally married, Detained by Dubai said. The UAE maintains a deliberately misleading facade that alcohol consumption is perfectly legal for visitors The UAE maintains a deliberately misleading facade that alcohol consumption is perfectly legal for visitorsRadha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai It a statement from the group, Ms Holman claims the guards tried to rip out her hair extensions and described the prison as hot and foul smelling. She said the pair were made to sleep on a filthy mattress and she was told to clean toilets and floors. She said: My little girl had to go to the toilet on the cell floor. I have never heard her cry in the same way as she did in that cell. The food (we were given) smelled like rotting garbage and neither Bibi or I could face trying it. I stayed awake for the whole three days. By now, Gary knew something was wrong and had flown to Dubai to look for me. Friends had found out I was in jail and tried to visit. Nobody was allowed to see us. We were not even told. She was released on bail and told her passport has been confiscated until the case is concluded. She said she has lost more than 30,000 in legal fees and missed work. Ms Holman is now spending time with her other children Suri, nine, and Noah, eight, who have flown out to Dubai to see her while Gary returns home with Bibi. Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, said: The UAE maintains a deliberately misleading facade that alcohol consumption is perfectly legal for visitors. Tourists cannot be blamed for believing that the Emirates are tolerant of Western drinking habits, but this is far from reality. It is wholly illegal for any tourist to have any level of alcohol in their blood, even if consumed in flight and provided by Dubais own airline. It is illegal to consume alcohol at a bar, a hotel and a restaurant and if breathalysed, that person will be jailed. Ms Stirling called on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the UK Government generally to do more to protect British nationals, and claimed airlines were complicit and needed to be held accountable. Consular staff spoke to Mr Holman about the incident, advised him on procedures in Dubai and also spoke to UAE authorities to confirm Ms Holman and her daughter were being released, a UK Foreign Office spokesman said. A Swedish foreign ministry spokeswoman said the case had not been registered with them because they had not been contacted by Ms Holman. Emirates airline has been contacted for comment. Lewis Ludlow identified Oxford Street, usually busy with shoppers, as an ideal target (John Stillwell/PA) A Muslim convert has admitted plotting to kill around 100 people in a terror attack outside the Disney Store on Oxford Street. Lewis Ludlow, 26, swore allegiance to Islamic State as he prepared to drive a van through Londons shopping district or Madame Tussauds. Between March 15 and April 19, he bought a phone under a false name and wrote down his attack plans which were later found ripped up in a bin. He also researched potential targets around the capital, van rental and hotel accommodation. Expand Close Madame Tussauds waxwork museum in London was a potential target (Tim Ireland/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Madame Tussauds waxwork museum in London was a potential target (Tim Ireland/PA) He identified Oxford Street as an ideal target, writing: It is expected nearly 100 could be killed in the attack. Ludlow, from Rochester, in Kent, formulated his plan after being stopped by police at Heathrow airport in February as he attempted to board a flight to the Philippines. It was alleged he also set up a Facebook account called Antique Collections as a front to send money to south east Asia for terrorism. The defendant was due to face trial in the autumn on two charges of preparing acts of terrorism and one of terror funding. But at a hearing before Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC at the Old Bailey, he pleaded guilty to plotting an attack in the UK and funding IS abroad. Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said it would not be in the public interest to pursue a trial on a charge of attempting to join IS in the Philippines which the defendant denied. That charge will lie on the court file. According to a prosecution summary, Ludlow first came to the attention of police in 2010 when he attended a demonstration led by radical preach Anjem Choudary and his banned Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) group. When he was arrested in 2015, IS material was recovered from his electronic devices but no further action was taken. In January this year, he bought a ticket to fly to the Philippines on February 3 when he was stopped at the airport and had his passport seized. When spoken to by police, he claimed he was going to the country as a sex tourist. But in a search of his home, officers found he was in communication with a man named Abu Yaqeen in an area with a significant IS presence. In March, Ludlow sent him money via PayPal and created the Facebook account Antique Collections. It purported to be an antiques business in Maidstone but, the prosecution alleged, was really a front to raise money for IS in the Philippines. Expand Close British preacher Anjem Choudary who is in jail for drumming up support for the Islamic State terror group (Nick Ansell/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp British preacher Anjem Choudary who is in jail for drumming up support for the Islamic State terror group (Nick Ansell/PA) On March 21, police recovered torn up scraps of papers from Ludlows bin detailing his plans. They were pieced together to reveal potential attack sites including Madame tussauds, Oxford Street busiest time, St Pauls cathedral and a Shia temple in Romford. It added: Further locations scouted for the kil. (sic) He also detailed a potential attack on Oxford Street using a van mounting the pavement, noting the lack of safety barriers. It said: Wolf should either use a ram attack or useon the truck to maximise deathit is a busy street it is ideal for an attack. It is expected nearly 100 could be killed in the attack. On April 13, Ludows mobile phone was retrieved from a storm drain. It contained videos of the defendant swearing allegiance to IS and pictures of crowded areas, said to be evidence of hostile reconnaissance. Meanwhile, undercover officers engaged Yaqeen in online chat, in which the IS fanatic called for lone wolf attacks and funds to be sent to the Philippines. Yaqeen put the undercover officer in touch with Ludlow, implying they could work together on an attack in Britain. Ludlow was arrested by South East Counter Terrorism police on April 18 but refused to explain himself when he was interviewed. The defendant appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh prison wearing a green prayer cap and black T-shirt. Following his guilty pleas, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC adjourned his sentencing until November 2. Deb Walsh, from the CPS, said: Lewis Ludlow considers himself a soldier fighting for Daesh in the UK. To that end he planned to drive a van into shoppers at Oxford Street hoping to kill over a hundred people. He also set up a fake online antiques business as a front to send money to terrorists overseas. He is a serious danger to the public and accepted his guilt when faced with the prosecutions case against him. HMS Sutherland returned to her home port of Devonport (Barry Wheeler/Royal Navy/PA) Sailors have been reunited with their families following a seven-month deployment on board HMS Sutherland. There were emotional scenes in Devonport, Plymouth, on Friday after the Type 23 frigate returned to her home port. Commander Andrew Canale was pictured clutching a single red rose as he embraced his daughter after disembarking his ship. Expand Close Commander Andrew Canale greets his daughter (Barry Wheeler/Royal Navy/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Commander Andrew Canale greets his daughter (Barry Wheeler/Royal Navy/PA) Able Seaman Ben Northcott picked up son Harris, three, greeting him with a kiss on the lips after the long absence from his loved ones. Expand Close Able Seaman Ben Northcott kisses his son Harris (Barry Wheeler/Royal Navy/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Able Seaman Ben Northcott kisses his son Harris (Barry Wheeler/Royal Navy/PA) The crew set sail from Plymouth in January for a seven-month deployment on the other side of the world. HMS Sutherland carried out exercises with the Royal Australian and Royal New Zealand navies, the US Navys Seventh Fleet and the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force. She then operated as part of a multinational coalition in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Aden region, conducting counter-piracy and anti-trafficking activity. The ship also provided escort duties to HMS Bangor and HMS Middleton. A Wildcat helicopter, using its sensors, acted as her eyes and ears along the way. The Mets latest new recruits are ready to tackle crime on Londons streets at a challenging time for the force, the head of Scotland Yard said. A significant terrorist threat and gang crime are among some of the issues facing the new officers as they take up their new roles in Britains largest police service, said Cressida Dick. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ms Dick inspected more than 70 new police constables at their passing out parade at the Mets training academy in Hendon, in the north of the capital on Friday. Expand Close Ms Dick acknowledged the challenges Met officers would face (John Stilwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ms Dick acknowledged the challenges Met officers would face (John Stilwell/PA) London has been badly hit this year with a number of fatal stabbings and shootings. Ms Dick told the Press Association: This is a challenging time but weve faced lots of other challenging times over the years. Its a challenging time, but Ive just been speaking to these officers and theyre loving what theyre doing. Its interesting, its fulfilling, its varied. Asked if she was confident this latest batch are ready for those challenges ahead, she said: I am. Theyre great recruits. The standard of them is very good. Violent crime has risen nationally in the past few years, and in London this year Met figures, as of the end of July, showed there had been 87 homicides, with the rise partly fuelled by street violence. Expand Close New Met Police officers brave pouring rain at their passing out parade (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp New Met Police officers brave pouring rain at their passing out parade (John Stillwell/PA) Ms Dick described as tragic the young age of some of those often involved in gang-related incidents, either as suspects or victims. She said: We have had a number of homicides over the last 12 or 18 months which have been very clearly gang-related, very clearly related to drug dealing, and indeed some of the most difficult to investigate are some of the ones that involve our young people, our 14-, 15-, 16 year-olds as suspects and indeed as victims, have involved exactly that. And its tragic. Sources have said one line of inquiry into the death of seven-year-old Joel Urhie on Tuesday in a suspected arson attack is that it was gang-related amid reports the victims brother Sam, 21, may have been the target. The commissioner said Joels death in Deptford was a heinous crime, but would not comment on a possible gang link. She said: Joels death is absolutely tragic. Hes a little seven-year-old innocent boy. It appears that the fire at his home was started deliberately so we must investigate that thoroughly. Its a heinous crime. We will do that (investigate) and we will continue to keep an open mind. Palestinian protesters escape from teargas fired by Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strips border with Israel (Khalil Hamra/AP) Violence erupted at the Gaza border on Friday after the territorys militant Islamic Hamas rulers and Israel appeared to be honouring a ceasefire that ended two days of intense violence. Israels military said no rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel overnight and it conducted no airstrikes in Gaza against Hamas targets. Israels government has not confirmed the truce. Expand Close Protesters escape from teargas fired by Israeli troops (Khalil Hamra/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Protesters escape from teargas fired by Israeli troops (Khalil Hamra/AP) But on Friday evening two Palestinians, including a paramedic, were shot and killed by Israeli fire at a Hamas-led protest along the border, Gazas Health Ministry said. They said Abdullah al-Qutati, 26, was shot and killed and 70 others were wounded by live fire. A 55-year-old Palestinian was also killed, they said. Another paramedic, Mohammed Suhwail, told The Associated Press he witnessed the shooting. He said after treating wounded al-Qutati began walking toward the (field hospital) but was shot in the back and the bullet exited from his chest. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the deaths. Expand Close A Palestinian protester wears a plastic bag on his head as a protection from teargas (Khalil Hamra/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A Palestinian protester wears a plastic bag on his head as a protection from teargas (Khalil Hamra/AP) The military said a tank fired shells at a Hamas position after Palestinians threw explosive devices and a grenade at forces stationed near the border. It was not immediately clear whether the Hamas protests at the border were included in ceasefire negotiations. Hamass Al Aqsa TV channel reported late Thursday that the Egyptian-brokered deal took hold on the basis of mutual calm. It was at least the third such truce in recent weeks. But the deal did not seem to address the deeper issues that have prevented the bitter enemies from reaching a longer ceasefire arrangement. Gaza militants fired some 200 rockets at Israel and the Israeli military carried out a similar number of airstrikes in Gaza in the latest round of violence this week. Also on Friday, the Israeli military lifted restrictive recommendations for residents of some areas in southern Israel that it had set amid the Palestinian bombing, including suggestions to avoid open areas and beaches. Following a security assessment, residents can resume their daily routine, the military said. Mervyn Gibson has questions to answer and he isn't making a good job of it. If he can go to an exhibition of paintings by Michael Stone, a serial killer, then can he reasonably argue that the Orange Order should not meet with Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald? McDonald has not killed anyone, though she does celebrate the IRA, which did. Mr Gibson is grand secretary of the Orange Order and he offers us a distinction. He has defended the Orange Order decision not to meet with Sinn Fein but sees "no inconsistency in me, as an individual, going to such an exhibition". Read More That's okay, so he wears different hats, sometimes speaks for the Order and sometimes is out in public, at events, trusting people to recognise that he is not there as an Orangeman and is not implicating the Order in what he does or says or who he meets. And he adds, speaking on Radio Ulster's Talkback show yesterday: "Over the years I have met many senior Sinn Fein officials who were terrorists, and I do so in the interests of progress and building peace." Well, good for him. If he has met former IRA terrorists in the interests of peace making, it seems difficult to understand precisely why he couldn't recommend the same magnanimity to his Orange brethren. What, after all, is the more meritorious gesture: meeting a party leader in the interests of advancing reconciliation or just going to an exhibition to admire a few paintings by a former killer? Yet, this question is coming up more often now, of how we, or whether we, separate an artist's paramilitary past from his or her current work. And now the council in Armagh is criticised for hosting a sporting event in honour of Mairead Farrell, one of the Gibraltar bomb team killed by the SAS in 1988. Read More Stone will remember that case with particular clarity because he ambushed the funeral in Milltown Cemetery, killing three more people. And, about to hit the book market next month, is a novel written by a former IRA Press officer based on the 2004 Northern Bank robbery. Some of us in the media have had an advance reading of Richard O'Rawe's Northern Heist, and it is unquestionably a serious and superior work of fiction. But it arguably draws on insights that O'Rawe gained as an IRA bank robber himself. Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Storm: Mervyn Gibson Artwork at the event Artwork at the event / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Storm: Mervyn Gibson He has written in another book, Blanketmen, about how he found himself in the Maze Prison after a botched job. I have to say, I think O'Rawe's book is a stunner. I also have to conclude that his genius as a storyteller is inseparable from his life experience. Had he not been in the IRA he could not have written this book. And Lawrence McKeown, a former IRA hunger striker, is also making a name for himself as a writer, as is Danny Morrison , whose novel The Wrong Man has just been republished. Gerry Adams is branching out into cookery. So is there a moral dilemma here? A republican who respects the right of IRA bombers to kill people will have no difficulty with a Mairead Farrell tribute game, but most of us don't think the IRA ever had a right to kill people or that there are any grounds for honouring someone who did. The passage of time may have softened concern, though. But artists must be judged on their work. Some of Adams' short stories are good; some are transparent propaganda. And readers must be allowed to judge for themselves. But that doesn't fully answer the question of how to respond to Stone. He claimed that his attempt to enter Stormont and kill Adams and McGuinness was a piece of performance art, a recognised genre. This is, actually, a more plausible account of his antic than the charge that he was engaged in a genuine murder attempt, given that he had already advertised his presence with graffiti on the outside wall. Expand Close Michael Stone / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Stone There was no realistic prospect of any other outcome than that he would be intercepted and arrested. And that's what is worrying about Stone. He has himself confused his artwork with his violence. Still, the Reach project which exhibited paintings by Stone and his wife Karen, says it is committed to helping people find a place in a better society and Michael Stone has as much right to rehabilitate as any other criminal. But I would want to know that if his paintings are exhibited it is because of their quality, the artistic merit in the work. Confident of that, I would wish him every success. My fear is that their only selling point is that they were made with a killer's hand. As for the merit in the distinction Mervyn Gibson makes, that he is content to meet former terrorists personally to advance peace making, but also to endorse the Orange Order's decision to do no such thing. That's a trickier distinction to defend. Stone (second left) at the opening of his exhibition while on overnight release from Maghaberry Prison It is understandable that the exhibition by loyalist ex-prisoner Michael Stone should provoke critical comment - especially so in the light of his own attendance at the event and the presence of local community leaders. It is certainly the case that deep hurt is still felt by relatives and friends of those who suffered at his hands. However, in a society such as ours, where the release and rehabilitation of ex-prisoners was part of the agreement that brought an end to daily violence, the moral issues are not clear cut. Ours is a society in which political ex-prisoners, some with a 'casualty list' from their own pre-gaol days, have occupied key roles in local government. Read More They have done more than make art. They have made decisions about our economy, our education and our health. There is certainly a wide-ranging debate to be had about the manner in which an exhibition such as this should be undertaken - the venue, the publicity (or lack thereof), those invited along and the artistic themes and tone of the artefacts that go on display. There is also a debate to be undertaken about whether Stone's violation of the terms of his original release debars him from further generosity. It is a debate that must take into account how, during the Troubles, republican and loyalist combatants sometimes reoffended upon release. This did not prevent the eventual terms of prisoner release, subsequent to the Good Friday Agreement, from applying to them. Read More I have not seen the exhibition, nor do I know Michael Stone, though I am acquainted with those who do. However, I am aware that there is a deficit of art, whether visual, literary, musical or dramatic, to offer a view from within the loyalist ex-combatant community of who they were as individuals, what they were collectively, what they did, why they did it and what it means to them now. At this stage, one thing needs said, however. I am not promulgating the old myth about 'Protestants not being interested in the arts'. East Belfast, to name just one relevant district, was and is the birthplace of an array of literary talent coming from 'a Protestant background', including dramatists such as Stacey Gregg and Rosemary Jenkinson and novelists like David Park, Lucy Caldwell and Glen Patterson. Expand Close Stone painting / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stone painting And Conall Parr's recent book on Ulster Protestant culture, Shaping the Myth, has cast new light on an array of Protestant working-class talent from the past, such as Sam Thompson and Thomas Carnduff. Read More However, the current loyalist community has offered relatively few recent voices that speak out of - and critique - their own experiences. And there are few visual artists to embody the diverse forms which the loyalist imagination might take. That is why all opportunities to nurture artistic expression coming from within a loyalist context are to be welcomed. The art of another loyalist ex-prisoner, Geordie Morrow, is a case in point, as is the drama and prose of Robert Niblock. Among Niblock's plays there is a dynamic play called Tartan, which deals with the gang culture of the early 1970s, which overlapped with the rise of paramilitarism. Read More His poetry explores the Protestant working-class boyhoods of east Belfast just as the Troubles were beginning to brew. Then there is the powerful theatre work of Gary Mitchell, with his Rathcoole background and more recently David Ireland, with his origins in working class Ballybeen. I am not denying that some individual may buy one of Michael Stone's works merely as a collector of loyalist memorabilia, or indeed out of misplaced relish for the violence of the past. The true value of this exhibition is not to be found in those responses but in the licence it might just give some young loyalists to ponder the meaning of the word 'artist' and the insight Stone's art should give all of us others into one particular loyalist's imagination. Art has done that kind of thing in challenging circumstances down through the ages and will continue to do so all across the world. Philip Orr is a writer and involved in community education Officers escort Hasnat Karim to a courtroom in Dhaka after a judge ordered his release from police custody and said he had no role in the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery cafe attack, Aug. 8, 2018. Having spent more than two years behind bars for a crime he did not commit, Hasnat Karim walked out of prison Thursday after a court cleared him of involvement in the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery cafe attack that killed 29 people. Karims wife, Sharmina Parveen, told BenarNews he was released at 4 p.m. from the Kashimpur prison in Gazipur, about 19 kilometers (12 miles) from Dhaka, and left around 4:30 p.m. My father has received him at the jail gate. We are happy, what I can say? He is back to us, Parveen said. "Thank you all who wrote for us." Karim was celebrating his daughters birthday with family members when the militants burst in and took hostages, most of them foreigners, who were killed within 12 hours. Karim arrived at the cafe less than an hour before the attackers came, but police considered him a suspect after witnesses said at the time that he agreed to act as a human shield. On Wednesday, the Anti-Terrorism Tribunal in Dhaka accepted the police charge sheet exonerating Karim as investigators found that he had no link to the five militants, who were killed by military commandos. The court accepted a charge sheet against eight other militants who allegedly were involved in planning and carrying out the worst terror attack in the nations history. Defense attorney Sanowar Hossain told BenarNews the court sent a discharge order to the jail authorities to release Karim, a former teacher at North South University. There are lots of formalities to get him free. So, the whole day passed for his discharge, he said. Mizanur Rahman, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, slammed the government for keeping Karim locked up. The state is bound to protect the human rights of all of its citizens. Instead, we see many people like Hasnat Karim have been languishing in jails without trial, he told BenarNews.This is totally unacceptable. This is an utter violation of human rights. He said the judiciary could have released Karim as soon as the police charge sheet revealed he was not involved. Amnesty International (AI) also took the Bangladesh government to task for Karims incarceration. Hasnat Karim and his family were victims of a terror attack. They should have never have been forced through two years of further trauma with Karim suffering unfairly behind bars detained without charge and denied specialized medical treatment that saw his health deteriorate, said Kate Allen, AI director in Britain. Karims detention was inhumane and illegal," she said. "The end of his suffering is a cause for celebration, but we must not forget that, sadly, he is not alone in being a target of the Bangladeshi authorities arbitrary force of law. Attack details The five members of Neo-Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) stormed the cafe in Dhakas upscale diplomatic quarter on July 1, 2016, killing 20 people including nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian and three Bangladeshis. Two police and two cafe workers died in the attack along with the militants whose group, Neo-JMB, is aligned with the Islamic State (IS). Police focused on Karims possible links with the militants after the attackers allowed him and his family to leave less than an hour before the commandos stormed the cafe on July 2. Allegations also surfaced that Karims mobile phone was used to send photos of victims during the attack. As militants remained in the cafe, IS media uploaded the photos of the victims and released the photos and identity of the attackers, claiming responsibility. The government denied IS presence in Bangladesh, saying the attackers belonged to the homegrown militant group Neo-JMB. Police arrested Karim, a dual citizen of Bangladesh and Britain, on Aug. 2, 2016. Investigators later concluded the attackers snatched Karims mobile phone and sent the photos to another militant who forwarded them to Neo-JMB leaders. He was a victim of circumstance, Monirul Islam, chief of counterterrorism unit of the police, told BenarNews on July 23. Police submitted the charge sheet that day, bringing terrorism charges against 21 militants 13 of whom were killed by law enforcers. Along with Karim, the charge sheet cleared the two cafe employees, who were killed in the attack. Of the remaining eight, six are in custody and two are on the lam. The court on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for the two fugitives. A protester in Manila wears a mask showing the face of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during a rally to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the New Peoples Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, March 21, 2018. About 100 communist New Peoples Army (NPA) guerrillas launched a pre-dawn raid Friday, wounding two police officers in the central Philippine island of Samar, authorities said. The insurgents managed to overrun the municipal police station of Lapining, a tiny coastal community in the central island of Samar, according to a police report. The attack occurred after the government and the NPAs mother organization, the Communist Party of the Philippines, quit peace talks last month. Two police officers, identified as Gerry Quilecal and Edison Aguirre, were wounded when they fought back. Five other officers began shooting at the insurgents, forcing them to leave. The NPA rebels were armed with submachine guns, grenade launchers and assault rifles, but it was not clear why they gave up the fight. A police source said the raid could be a test mission for new recruits ahead of a larger attack. Provincial information officer Rei Josiah Echano said the attack occurred as the local government was preparing to celebrate a nationally mandated peace month in September. It has been forewarned that this will happen, Echano said. We cant deny the fact of the armed presence by the New Peoples Army here and that's the reason why we have been reaching out for dialogue with them. He called on the local rebel leaders to engage in peaceful talks with the community leaders. Absence of this effort will mean more attacks from our brothers and sisters from the rebel side, he said. Last month, the government said it would stop all negotiations with the CPP-NPA leaders at a national level, although localized talks could take place with rebel units. The government had accused the rebels of plotting to overthrow the government of President Rodrigo Duterte, a self-described leftist, later this year despite negotiating peace. Communist leader Jose Maria Sison, who lives in self-exile the Netherlands, has denied the allegation and blasted his former student of propagating what he called fantastic lies aimed at stopping the talks. The communist front has been waging a rebellion since 1969, making the insurgency the longest running in Asia that has left tens of thousands dead. Karl Romano in Dagupan City contributed to this report. Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters conduct a drill at the groups Camp Darapanan in Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines in 2014. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has begun decommissioning firearms following the historic passage of a law giving the former separatist group autonomy in the south, its chief peace negotiator told BenarNews on Friday. But the 12,000-member MILF is prepared to help the government against a breakaway unit that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), said Mohagher Iqbal, the groups chief peace negotiator. Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, four million Muslim Filipinos will be allowed to form an elected parliament and administration in Islamic-majority areas of southern Mindanao and nearby islands, where five decades of insurgency have left more than 100,000 people dead. The law will give them control over many local government functions, including taxation and education, and it will allow Muslim Filipinos to incorporate Islamic law into their justice system. The MILF will retain control of the autonomous region until elections are held later this year. The first pace of the decommissioning, about 30 percent, started after the law was ratified, Iqbal said, but declined to give a specific figure. The second phase will start after the plebiscite and the last batch will happen after the plebiscite and appointment of the leaders that will form the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, Iqbal said referring to the upcoming elections. The Bangsamoro Transition Authority will take over from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which was a product of a peace agreement between government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The MILF split from the MNLF in 1978, after the latter dropped the fight for independence. The MILF pressed on with the guerrilla warfare that had left many areas in the mineral-rich south underdeveloped, where large clans controlled local economy and politics. But past governments have said that despite the millions in dollars poured into the ARMM, the area remains impoverished. In Manila, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said officials are working with the MILF leadership to disarm their forces and the possible integration of qualified fighters into the military and police force. Together with our brothers and sisters in the Bangsamoro, we will show the world that violence and terror do not have a place in our communities, and as Filipinos, we can work together to achieve just and lasting peace, Lorenzana told reporters. Other forces in Mindanao Wahid Tundok, an MILF field commander based in Maguindanao, told BenarNews he could not say when he would surrender his weapons, noting other groups still pose threats. We are waiting for orders from our leaders. But I am happy the law was already signed by the president, said Tundok. Tundoks forces was implicated in the deaths of 44 police commandos in a 2015 operation against a Malaysian terrorist. Iqbal appeared before a Senate hearing whose members later established that the police chief at that time failed to notify the MILF of the raid, leading to confusion and the gun battle. Mansoor Limba of the Al Qalam Institute at the Ateneo de Davao University warned that smaller and more vicious armed groups such as Abu Sayyaf and the MILFs breakaway unit, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters could launch attacks as the MILF forces were surrendering their weapons. Limba said if the government failed to address the roots of discontent, peace in the south would remain elusive. Failure to give due attention and to give due solution to these concerns would only give reason for them to fan out more violence in Mindanao, he said. On July 31, 10 people and a militant died when a bomb detonated inside a van in Lamitan, a mixed Muslim-Christian city in Basilan island, also in the south. The Islamic State claimed that one of its fighters, a Moroccan, staged the attack. The claim has been discounted by the government, even as Interior Undersecretary Eduardo Ano, told the Associated Press on Thursday that a foreign militant was behind the attack. Felipe Villamor in Manila contributed to this report. Primary students wait for their parents after school on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, July 2, 2018. An 11-year-old Thai girl married in June to a Malaysian man 30 years her senior was brought back to Thailand with her parents this week, where they will receive government support services until the girl reaches age 16, a Thai official said Friday. The governor of Narathiwat province in Thailands mostly Muslim Deep South appeared to be trying to calm international outrage that ensued after the mans second wife shared information about the marriage on Facebook in June. But he stopped short of declaring the marriage void, saying its status would be assessed five years from now. The girl and her parents crossed back to the province and officials under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security are taking care of their mental and emotional needs, Narathiwat Gov. Suraporn Prommul told BenarNews Friday. He said the family was now staying at a ministry facility where doctors, psychologists, social workers and others were treating them and helping them find education and work opportunities. Into the future, we look to improve their livelihood, education and mental wellbeing, Suraporn said. Because the girl did not have compulsory basic education like others, the government sector must find a solution for her and enable her to live a normal life. The groom, identified as an imam or Muslim teacher, defended the marriage in a video in July, claiming it was a nikah gantung, a Malay term meaning a marriage that takes place with the understanding it will be consummated at a later date, in this case after the girl turns 16. A relative who asked not to be named told BenarNews the family had lived in Kelantan, in northern Malaysia, where the parents worked on a rubber plantation and did small jobs for the grooms family to survive. The wedding took place across the border in Narathiwat. Islamic law allows a man to have four wives as long as he can provide for and maintain each of his families equally. Under Thai civil law, a woman can marry at 20 without parental consent but can marry at 17 with her parents approval or at 15 through a court order, according to legal experts. But the four provinces in the Muslim-dominant south are exempt. In 1946, Thailand enacted Sharia law in Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala and Satun, on Muslim family issues such as engagement, marriage, divorce, spouse relationship, family relationship and wills, while other matters follow Thai laws, Pattani Iman Sakariya Galeng told BenarNews. In July, Safiri Jeha, president of the Islamic Committee of Narathiwat province, told BenarNews: Islamic law allows youths age 15 and up to marry but they can be younger with parents consent. They can have a ceremony anywhere with an imam. In the case of the 11-year-old girl who had wedding at Sungai Golok, they followed the Islamic teaching and Islamic law enacted in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Satun, he said. Focus on child brides Suraporn, however, suggested that the status of the marriage had not been determined. When she turns 16, we will assess this issue. The Malaysian groom is also an imam. He knows Islamic law, he would not break the rules, Suraporn said. Suraporn said he met with provincial clerics Wednesday and notified all mosques that in the future weddings of young brides to foreign grooms must be solemnized at the provincial Islamic office. A national human rights commissioner questioned whether that notification would solve the issue of underage brides. What about the marriage status? The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and the Islamic Committee must make it clear, Angkhana Neelapaijit told BenarNews Friday. What if the groom comes to claim his wife? The president of Duay Jai (With Heart) Group, a human rights advocacy organization in the Deep South, demanded that Islamic law be amended. In the future, we should prevent recurrence of this issue. We should amend doubtful Islamic law, create the right values among Muslim men and reconcile the laws across the border to have the same standard, said Anchana Heemmina. Malaysia has a civil legal system and a separate Islamic legal system. Sharia law, specifically, the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territory) Act of 1984, sets the legal age for marriage at 16 for girls and 18 for men, allowing for exceptions with court permission. The civil law sets 18 as the minimum marriage age for both men and women. Islamic family law requires a Malaysian who marries someone in another country to register with the Registrar of Muslim Marriages within six months. Malaysian government leaders said they would weigh religious and cultural considerations as they work on establishing an age limit for marriages. In July, Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said news of the child bride added urgency to calls to increase the legal marriage age to 18 a plank in the Pakatan Harapan coalitions campaign promise. The coalition took power in May after defeating the Barisan Nasional bloc in the countrys 14th general election. Children and families enjoyed an evening of fun and education during the National Night Out event Aug. 7 in Jamestown. There is an incident in the biblical record that causes abiding consternation for many of Gods people. It is the story of how two of the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, were slain suddenly by God. Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord has said: Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. (Lev. 10:13) Aaron, of course, was the older brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. God had consecrated Aaron and his sons to the holy vocation of the priesthood. It was in the context of their priestly service that two of Aarons four sons, Nadab and Abihu, each got a censera kind of vessel that was used in antiquity to contain the incense that was burned as an offering before Godput fire in them, put incense on them, and offered what the book of Leviticus calls unauthorized fire. What is unauthorized fire, or, as it is rendered in other translations, profane fire or strange fire? We use the word profane to refer to that which is less than holy, but the word profane comes from the Latin profanus, which literally means outside the temple. So, in a literal sense, Moses, as the author of Leviticus, is saying that the fire that Nadab and Abihu introduced to the altar had not been purified or consecrated. For that, God took their lives. On the surface, it seems that this was cruel and unusual punishment. These young priests clearly violated some prescription that God had set forth for the offering of incense in the holy place, but it may have been no more than a prank or a mischievous innovation. Was it really necessary for God to rebuke their action so decisively? To understand this incident more fully, we have to go back to the book of Exodus. Just before God gave His Ten Commandments, He told Moses that He soon would come to him in a thick cloud so that the people might hear Him speaking and believe (19:9). To prepare for that stupendous vision, God commanded the people to consecrate themselves (v. 10). He also set strict borders around Mount Sinai, saying that whoever touched the mountain would die (v. 12). When God came, there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled (v. 16). God called Moses to ascend the mountain, but before revealing His law, God sent Moses back down the mountain to repeat and expand the warning. He said: Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them. (vv. 2122) So, at the very formation of the nation of Israel, God laid down the fundamental laws of consecration for the priests. He warned them that if they were not consecrated or if they violated their consecration, He would break out against them. Nadab and Abihu violated the holy law of the priesthood. When they did so, God killed them, reminding Israel of the sanctity of His presence. That is why Moses reminded Aaron, This is what the Lord has said: Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified. When he heard this, Aaron held his peace. Even amid his grief, he knew his sons had committed a grave offense against Israels holy God. One aspect of the modern church that most saddens and concerns me is that believers are no longer encouraged to have a healthy fear of God. We seem to assume that the fear of the Lord is something that belonged to the Old Testament period and is not to be a part of the life of the Christian. But fear of God involves not simply a trembling before His wrath, but a sense of reverence and awe because of His glorious holiness. Even though we are living on the finished side of the cross, the fear of the Lord is still the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10a). God is still a consuming fire, a jealous God (Deut. 4:24). When we come into His presence, we are to come as children, as those who have been reconciled, but there is to be a godly fear inspired by respect for the One with whom we are dealing. Content provided by OnePlace.com, the premier internet provider of online streaming Christian radio broadcasts and programs. Trump Targets California, Arctic for More Drilling, Fracking The Trump administration this week pushed ahead plans to open more than a million acres of public lands in central California to oil drilling and fracking. The move would end a five-year moratorium on leasing federal public land in the state to oil companies won largely by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies. Meanwhile Trump also took a major step toward opening Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve the largest roadless area in the United States to new, industrial-scale oil development. The project threatens polar bears, caribou and migratory birds in the ecologically rich reserve. "We desperately need to keep these dirty fossil fuels in the ground," said the Center's Clare Lakewood. "But Trump is hell-bent on sacrificing our health, wildlife and climate to profit big polluters." Read more about what's happening in California and the Arctic. PR Newswire ATLANTA, Aug. 10, 2018 ATLANTA, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With Aug. 11 almost here, Georgia Natural Gas hopes this date on the calendar, 8/11, will serve as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 before any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. Every hour, more than six damages to buried utilities occur because someone decided to dig without first calling 811. When calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to Georgia 811, the local one call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint or both. Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that need a call to 811 before starting. "On Aug. 11 and throughout the year, we remind homeowners and professional contractors alike to call 811 before digging to eliminate the risk of striking an underground utility line," said Mike Braswell, president of Georgia Natural Gas, "It really is the only way to know which utilities are buried in your area." The depth of utility lines can vary for various reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists. Visit www.call811.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices. About Georgia Natural GasGeorgia Natural Gas is part of SouthStar Energy Services. SouthStar is owned by Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). SouthStar also operates in Ohio as Ohio Natural Gas, in Florida as Florida Natural Gas, in Maryland as Maryland Energy, in Michigan as Grand Rapids Energy, in New York as New York Natural GasSM, in New Jersey as New Jersey Energy, and in other parts of the Southeast as SouthStar Energy Services. SouthStar's subsidiaries in Illinois operate under the brands Illinois Energy and Illinois Energy Solutions. For more information, visit: www.gng.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aug-11-811-serves-as-convenient-reminder-for-georgia-residents-to-always-call-811-before-digging-300695592.html SOURCE Georgia Natural Gas 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. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Awake Well, I had a pretty amazing day yesterday. I'm in a 12-step fellowship, and yesterday I finished one step and took three more. Progress! (If anyone wants to know more you're welcome to contact me privately.) There are many 12-step programs. Wikipedia says, "twelve-step methods have been adapted to address a wide range of alcoholism, substance-abuse and dependency problems. Over 200 self-help organizationsoften known as fellowshipswith a worldwide membership of millionsnow employ twelve-step principles for recovery." In many of these, one of the steps is: "Made a fearless and searching moral inventory of ourselves." I was determined to be as thorough as possible, so the inventory step was hard on me. I have a lot of unresolved anger and also a lot of defensesgrandiosity and rationalization and the likemental bad habits that were blocking me from a realistic self-appraisal. As I worked on the step, as the anger came out and as the defense mechanisms, one by one, became exposed and had to be stripped away...well, it's been a tortured, turbulent stretch. The last step I took yesterday is the relief step. And I'm feelin' it. Feeling happy today. So glad to be looking at the inventory step in the rearview mirror. Asleep The other thing I did yesterday, as if that weren't enough, was to get fitted for a modern CPAP machine. I met in a conference room in Geneva with a well-spoken and agile-minded nurse named Lori. I have sleep apnea, a malady that causes you to stop breathing intermittently during the night. Which doesn't sound serious, but (as with the use of addictive substances, come to think), it's a curious affliction in that it runs the range from trivial to lethal. It contributed to the death at age 43 of the great Eagles and Packers defensive end Reggie White, for one. I tried a CPAP machine once before, in 2013, but wasn't able to adjust to it. But, as with many things, technology has marched on, and the new machines are much better than those of only a few years ago. The one I'm "renting" is a ResMed AirSense 10 (pretty sure it's available only with a doctor's prescription). It has a humidifier and a heated air tube, and it's very quiet. I haven't adjusted to it yet, but after waking up for a while in the middle of the night, I slept till 10:30 this morning, which is amazing. I'm never able to sleep that late any more. I'm not very close to getting used to this machinegotta be patientbut let's just say I have high hopes. Before you know it, I'm going to be ready for the onset of old age! Yeah, yeah, I know, it'll probably kill me eventually. I've heard that about it. But bring it on, baby. Mike "Open Mike" is the anything goes, often off-topic Editorial page of TOP, wherein Yr. Hmbl. Ed. is let out of the cage for a spell and allowed to wander around unsupervised. *That's not quite as bad as it sounds, because my sponsor spends the winters in Florida, a very handy excuse for procrastination that lasted many months. Original contents copyright 2018 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. B&H Photo Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon Germany Amazon Canada Adorama (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.) Featured Comments from: fred: "How did the sleep apnea diagnosis come about for you? I'm curious about the signs of this malady and what to watch for. Stay well Mike!" Mike replies: My primary care doctor ordered a home sleep study because I complained of chronic early morning awakenings. The study diagnosed mile OSA, severe when I'm sleeping on my back (which I do sometimes because my shoulders hurt! Ah, youth, where didst thou go...). Do read Michael's comment below, Fred. Michael Sebastian: "Mike, glad you got your CPAP fitted. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is probably the most common cause of cardiac failure in people without blocked coronary arteries, and is a significant contributor to high blood pressure (hypertension) and atrial fibrillation. Its truly a silent killer, and under-appreciated for its carnage until recently. I know this because Im both an OSA patient and an anesthesiologist; this stuff is right in my wheelhouse. OSA poses quite a few challenges, also, when someone comes to my OR for an anesthetic. "When you airway obstructs during sleep, your sleep patterns (REM et al) are disrupted, so you are never truly rested. During obstructions, your blood oxygen levels drop precipitously, and your carbon-dioxide levels rise. These changes cause blood vessels in the lungs to constrict, which means your heart has to pump blood through your lungs against a much higher than normal resistance. After a time, the lung blood-vessel changes become irreversible, and spill over onto the heart itself. "Ive been using CPAP for nearly a dozen years. I always snored like a sawmill, even at a fit 175 pounds as a high school athlete. But as the years and pounds accumulated, it got much worse, until my wife issued an ultimatum: sleep testing, or sleep on the couch. My OSA was so bad they stopped the test after only four hours, and put the CPAP on me. I would likely be dead by now if I hadnt gotten treated. "Ive always used the 'nasal pillows' rather than the full face mask, and never had much problem adjusting. I recall waking up the morning after my first night of CPAP; no headache, felt rested for the first time in years. No more nodding off at the wheel with the afternoon sun in my face. "So guys, if you snore heavily; if you have a thick neck and/or too many pounds; if you stop breathing at night; if you wake up frequently with a headache; if you are often tired and sleepy during the day; if you have hypertension or atrial fibrillation or other heart diseasebe sure your doctor tests you for OSA. "And Mike is correct: CPAP requires a prescription." Tim Smith: "I'm still adjusting to the idea that one can become acquainted with a complete stranger via a computer. Over the years I've witnessed your breakthroughs, challenges, parenting experiences, vacuum purchases, and medical issues, and many more tales of a very personal nature. While it's true that I have made other 'friends' via social media (people I've never met in person but consider a friend), you are the one that is closest to 'celebrity.' Now I want to say something like 'In real life...' but it has become increasingly difficult to separate what happens while walking and talking from what happens when typing and scrolling. Whatever facet of reality this is, I wish you nothing but success and easy, good fortune." Mike replies: Thank you Tim, and back at you. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. With a high of 37 C in the forecast, Brandon has the potential to experience record-breaking temperatures this weekend. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/8/2018 (1176 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us With a high of 37 C in the forecast, Brandon has the potential to experience record-breaking temperatures this weekend. The record for Aug. 11 is 35 C, which was set back in 1958, according to John Paul Cragg, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada. "The hottest its ever been in August in Brandon, according to our records, is 38.5 (C), that was back on Aug. 6, 1988," he said. "It probably wont be the hottest August ever in Brandon, but it could be the hottest Aug. 11 on record." One factor that may hold back the temperature is the smoke, which has been flowing into Manitoba from the forest fires in Alberta and B.C. "It acts kind of like a cloud," Cragg said. "It stops some of the strength of the sun from penetrating down to the ground and really warming things up." By Saturday, the forecast shows a decreasing amount of smoke through southern Manitoba, he added. Environment Canada issued a heat warning Thursday afternoon for Brandon and the surrounding region. "Daytime high temperatures of 32 degrees or hotter are expected for Friday, Saturday, and likely Sunday," states the warning. "As well, overnight temperatures will remain elevated during this period giving little respite from the heat. The humidity will be moderate throughout and the winds light, but the UV index will be high." Cragg said an area of high pressure is sitting over the Prairies, which is reducing precipitation, creating hot, sunny conditions. "Its pumping up air from the south down in the States and bringing that air into the Prairie provinces," he said. During periods of extreme heat, there is the risk of dehydration, exhaustion and heat stroke, according to Dr. Mahmoud Khodaveisi, medical officer of health with Prairie Mountain Health. "Heat stroke is the most serious type of heat illness and requires urgent medical attention," he said. A person with heat stroke will have a temperature above 40 C, and symptoms may include headache, dizziness and confusion. To help prevent heat-related illnesses, Khodaveisi said people should stay up-to-date on weather alerts, drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic beverages, as they can increase the amount of water loss. "If they have an air conditioner, make sure it is working properly," he said. "If there is no air conditioner at home, they can go to a cool place such as a library or mall or community centre." If outside during the heat of the day, be sure to find shade use an umbrella or wide-brimmed hat. Also, it is recommended to wear loose-fitting, breathable, light-coloured clothing. "Remember to wear sunscreen limit physical activity during the hotter parts of the day," he said. "Also check on family members, neighbours and friends, especially older adults and those with chronic conditions." From roofers to pavers and construction workers, there are many crews that work outside in the elements. Greg Brown, occupational safety and health co-ordinator with the City of Brandon, said many precautions are taken to ensure workers stay safe during a heat wave. "For the crews that are more exposed to the hot weather, well have them actually start earlier in the day, so theyre getting off work before the extreme heat," he said. The city follows Safe Work Manitoba guidelines and encourages breaks in the shade or an air-conditioned vehicle, drinking lots of water and covering up. "Luckily, Brandon is a very green city with lots of trees, so we can usually find shady places to get out of the sun for a few minutes," he said. Todays high is 32 C, with Saturday expected to reach 37 C. Cragg said there may be a potential cool-down Sunday into next week. "Generally after this bout of warm air, were looking at near-normal temperatures for the next week, week and a half in August." jaustin@brandonsun.com Twitter: @jillianaustin The Facebook Papers project represents a unique collaboration among 17 American news organizations, including The Associated Press. The papers themselves are redacted versions of disclosures that Frances Haugen, the former Facebook product manager-turned-whistleblower, has made over several months to the Securities and Exchange Commission, alleging Facebook was prioritizing profits over safety and hiding its own research from investors and the public. Has the information release affected your view of Facebook? You voted: The communion wafer business is going from strength to strength ahead of the Popes visit later this month. These nuns in an enclosed religious order in Waterford have played their part and made 150,000 communion wafers for the Papal visit. Gordon Deegan It is costing the tax-payer almost 2,000 a week to incarcerate the murderous gang boss, John Dundon (36) along with the dwindling numbers of subversive prisoners at the maximum security Portlaoise prison. That is according to new detailed figures released by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request which show that the cost of incarcerating prisoners at the countrys only high-security jail last year increased from 97,124 to 97,492 - a weekly average of 1,874. The 97,492 cost per prison space at Portlaoise in 2017 is 42% higher than the average annual 68,635 cost of prison spaces across the Irish prison system in 2017. The figures show that it is also costing the tax-payer over 1,000 per week to incarcerate killer, Graham Dwyer as the average cost per prison space at the Midlands Prison increased to 54,466 last year. Prisoner 88335, Dwyer received a life sentence for the murder of Elaine OHara (36) in April 2015 after a trial at the Central Criminal Court. Graham Dwyer. Almost three-quarters of the currently jailed 400 or so sex offenders in Irish jails are jailed at the Midlands prison. A spokesman for the IPS said that the cost of Portlaoise is always higher as it is the only maximum security prison in the State. He said: "There are many variables which lead to the fluctuation in the cost of keeping an offender...The IPS is continually seeking to improve the accommodation and services it provides to prisoners." He said that the number of subversive prisoners at Portlaoise is now 39 - this represents a drop of 34% on the 59 subversive prisoners locked up at Portlaoise six years ago. Portlaoise prison has an operational capacity of 291 and the latest figures show that there were 229 prisoners incarcerated there in June. The other high-cost prisons last year were Limerick prison at a cost per prison space of 88,840 and Dochas womens prison totalled 85,545 per prison space. Portlaoise Prison. The IPS spokesman said: When refurbishment works are ongoing such as those in Limerick and Dochas, the number of cells available spaces is reduced on a temporary basis and this affects the cost calculation. He said: "There are also other factors, like prisoner numbers, staff numbers, cost of food, electricity, oil, gas which also have to be taken into consideration." The lowest cost per prison space last year was at Loughnan House Open centre at 43,384 and Shelton Abbey Open Centre at 48,808. The high cost per prison arises from Portlaoise being the States only maximum security jail where the Army is on site 365 days a year to deter any prison escapes. The high costs also arise from prison officers receiving danger money or an environmental allowance because of the specific risks posed to prison officer personnel by the prison population at Portlaoise. The prison service paying for the cost of transporting specially ordered in foods for the Republicans at the prison also contributes to the high costs. This includes Republicans being able to order in smoked salmon, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Glenisk organic yogurt, Camembert cheese, Magnum ice-cream and Green & Black's chocolate from local shops - the prisoners pay for the food themselves. The Republican prisoners enjoy a relaxed regime compared to other prisoners across the Irish prison system. Fixed costs account for approximately 75% of the costs for housing an inmate in Portlaoise and the less prisoners that are in custody the higher the prisoner per space cost it. John Dundon, 36, is serving life for the murder of Shane Geoghegan, shot dead in a case of mistaken identity in November 2008. 10.25pm: The union representing Irish based Ryanair pilots says further strike action cannot be ruled out. Around 100 of them walked off the job for a 5th day today while 24-hour pickets are also being held in Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands. Ryanair has cancelled one in six flights as a result calling the action unjustified and regrettable. Angela Kirk from the trade union Forsa says they will put their best foot forward at crunch talks next Monday. At this stage, the likelihood of further action cannot be written off. However, we have not served any further days notice of strike. We want to go into the talks in a positive vein. Obviously, the outcome of those talks will determine future action, she said. Update 3.30pm: Ryanair's Irish pilots 'more determined than ever' as 5th strike underway Ryanairs Irish based pilots say they are more determined than ever, as they strike for the 5th day. The airline has been forced to cancel 400 flights across Europe with pickets also underway in Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands. Crucial talks with industrial relations expert Kieran Mulvey will take place in Dublin on Monday aimed at resolving the dispute. Bernard Harbour from the trade union FORSA is hoping a deal can be reached. He said: "Despite the fact we've been at this a month now, the resolve of the pilots is strengthened and the key thing there was the week before last when the company threatened to make pilots redundant or transfer them to Poland. "That really changed the mood among the pilots, we are not going to have a situation where they try to frighten us into stepping down." Earlier: Pilot strikes see hundreds of Ryanair flights cancelled Hundreds of Ryanair flights will not take off as planned on Friday due to pilot strikes in five countries. Staff in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands are staging a 24-hour walkout over pay and conditions. Around 250 flights have been cancelled as a result, forcing passengers who planned to travel on Friday to rebook or take different routes. Update for Friday August 10th: pic.twitter.com/g9qWugyRr0 Ryanair (@Ryanair) August 9, 2018 The Irish budget airline said the strikes were regrettable and unjustified and called for unions to come back to the negotiating table. Despite the walkouts, 85% of its scheduled flights, more than 2,000, will operate as normal, Ryanair said. Ryanair took every step to minimise the disruption and we notified our customers as early as possible advising them of their free move, refund or reroute options, the carrier said. The majority of customers have already been accommodated on another Ryanair flight. We want to again apologise to customers affected by this unnecessary disruption and we ask the striking unions to continue negotiations instead of calling anymore unjustified strikes. One customer described the airline as a headache, complaining they had had difficulty getting a quick response after contacting the firm on their live chat. A sign outside the company headquarters at Swords in Dublin (Aoife Moore/PA) Another customer said she would miss work meetings and a doctors appointment due to a cancelled flight. She wrote: Many thanks to @Ryanair for cancelling my flight home + ensuring all of the de-stressing I have done on this trip is cancelled out in an instant. In June Ryanair signed an agreement with the Unite union, giving hundreds of cabin crew employees full consultation rights and collective bargaining. The airline said at the time that it was a further sign of the progress Ryanair is making with trade unions since our December 2017 decision to recognise them. The Unite agreement came six months after the airline signed what was described as an historic recognition deal with the trade union representing pilots. Under the agreement, the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) was recognised as the sole trade union representing all of Ryanairs 600 employed pilots based in the UK. Bernard Harbor from the FORSA trade union says both sides are still some way off reaching a deal. "We believe that this is a problem that can be resolved through negotiations," said Mt Harbor. "I have to say that the experience of pilots so far is that the company is not being prepared to grapple with the issues and that's why they feel that they've been forced into yet another day of strike action today." - PA & Digital Desk More than a quarter of a million euro, believed to be linked to crime, has been seized in Drogheda, Co Louth. Officers investigating organised gangs found the cash at a halting site in the Mell area yesterday afternoon. The Tanaiste has welcomed news tonight of a new planning application for an enlarged Cork events centre. Simon Coveney said he is confident the plans, which should emerge over the next 24-hours, will show the scale and ambition of a project which has been dogged by controversy for almost three years. He said confirmation from developers BAM this evening that they intend lodging a new planning application also proves the amount of work which has been underway for several months to get the project to this point. "This is something that has been worked on for some time. I know people have been frustrated by the slow progress on this project but this is a very welcome development," he said this evening. "There are a lot of moving parts in this project and they are all moving forward positively. When people see the scale and ambition of this enlarged project, it will show just how transformational it will be for the city and the region. BAM, it is understood, has spent in the region of 500,000 preparing the new planning application which will seek permission for a slight change of design from the previously permitted events centre and arena on the former Beamish and Crawford site on South Main St. It's a major step towards delivering the proposed 6,000-capacity venue which has been mired in controversy for almost three years. The new application is designed to facilitate the construction of an enlarged and more flexible events and conference centre and arena, as well as associated logistical support offices on the site. It is understood that architects have managed to design an enlarged venue without making significant changes to what was previously permitted on the site. Lord Mayor, Cllr Mick Finn, declined to pre-empt the actual lodging of a planning application but said the project is showing great signs of life again after renewed efforts from all parties. He said he had spoken with those involved in recent days, and added: Progress on such a piviotal project for Cork and the region is welcome and I remain confident - as stated in my speech upon election as Lord Mayor - that this will happen." Cork Chamber chief executive, Conor Healy, welcomed news of the new planning application. "Significant work has been undertaken by all involved over recent months to develop a sustainable project culminating in a new application for a redesigned facility which will transform the Cork city centre economy," he said. We look forward to the project being widely supported to ensure it can get into construction phase without any undue delay. It will be four years this December since some 20m in state-aid - 12m from government and 8m from the Cork city council - was sanctioned after BAM won a competitive tender bid. Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny turned the sod on the project on the site in February 2016. But when venue operator, Live Nation, came on board, a complete redesign was ordered to make the venue financially viable, and costs soared. It led to a request for an additional 10m of state funding, which is still being considered by government. That request led to protracted and complex technical and legal assessments and analysis of the entire project. Amid fears the scheme had hit the rocks, BAM moved last February to allay fears, insisting that a funding deal had been agreed in principle. But with no public signs of progress, fears continued to mount that the project might never happen. The Tanaiste, who has repeatedly insisted that the project will be delivered, said confirmation that a planning application is now being lodged should give people reassurance. It is understood that a decision on the additional state aid is expected in mid-September. BAM and Live Nation have committed at least another 10m to the project. BAM is currently building student apartments on the Beamish and Crawford site and on Cork's Western Rd. It is also building a huge control tower at Dublin Airport, and is poised to start work on the massive HQ mixed development on Cork's Horgan's Quay, and a hotel and office development on the city's Sullivan's Quay. Update 2.05pm: A woman in her 40s is fighting for her life after a fatal crash on the northside of Dublin. A man, also in his 40s, died when their pick-up truck hit a tree at Fairview Park last night, while a 13-year-old boy is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. It is understood the 4x4 failed to stop for Gardai and sped up just before the crash at 1am. The garda watchdog GSOC is investigating. Local Councillor Deirdre Heney says officers are appealing to speak with witnesses. "If anybody at all saw anything around the Fairview Park area last night, or leading up to it, please please get in touch with An Garda Siochana with any piece of information no matter how small." Update 10.06am: The garda watchdog has been asked to investigate a fatal collision in Dublin overnight. The case has been referred to GSOC because the vehicle had come to the attention of gardai prior to the crash. The collision occurred when a van crashed into fencing at Fairview Park at the junction of the Malahide Road shortly after 1am. Scene of last nights fatal accident at Fairview park @rtenews pic.twitter.com/TlsjAFIkcB Colm Mc Caughey (@colmwhatyalike) August 10, 2018 A man in his 40s was killed, a woman was critically injured and a 13-year-old boy is also in hospital. Local councillor Deirdre Heney says it is a busy junction and hopes any witnesses will come forward. "It was Thursday night/Friday morning so there would be a lot of people frequenting some of the fast food restaurants down there. And there are a couple of pubs in that area as well. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins "People might have witnessed something or anything. Please, if you have, contact An Garda Siochana." Earlier: Man (40s) dies; woman and child injured in Dublin crash A man has died and woman and child have been injured in a crash in Dublin overnight. The single vehicle collision happened in Fairview at the junction with the Malahide Road at around 1.10am. A man in his late 40s was driving a van when it collided with fencing where he was killed. His body has been removed to Dublin City Morgue. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins The female passenger (late 40s) was seriously injured and was taken to the Mater Hospital where her condition is described as critical. A boy (13) was also in the van and he was taken to Temple Street Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Garda forensic collision investigators officers are at scene and the road is currently closed to traffic. Local traffic diversions are in place and have been tweeted. Garda Siochana Ombudsman Officers have been notified of the incident. Anyone with information in relation to the collision are asked to contact Clontarf Garda Station on 01 - 6664800, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station. - Digital Desk Standard & Poor's has settled a lawsuit in Australia over claims by pension funds and local governments that the credit rating firm had overlooked risks when awarding high ratings to opaque investments that imploded in the global financial crisis. Australia's Federal Court approved the settlement on Thursday, S&P said in an emailed statement on Friday, without disclosing the settlement sum or terms. "S&P Global is pleased to reach a settlement on the class action lawsuit, the last of the significant litigation pertaining to our previous ratings actions on collateralised debt obligations," it said. Trading in opaque debt products, which didn't get the junk rating they deserved, triggered the global financial crisis in 2007. Credit:Richard Drew The US-based ratings agency was sued for at least $190 million by two local governments and two pension funds in Australia, which lost money on synthetic collateralised debt obligations (SCDOs) rated by S&P when the US subprime mortgage crisis hit a decade ago. Industry patience is wearing thin as businesses urge states to stop holding the National Energy Guarantee hostage after the latest failure of consensus on the reform policy. Labor and Green-led states refused to back the federal governments energy reform on Friday, although they agreed to keep working on the scheme, saying the policy needed more work if it was to provide real change. Large manufacturers like Orora are bearing the brunt of higher energy costs. Credit:Wayne Taylor Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox welcomed the states decision not to scupper the NEG but called on them to stop holding the policy hostage. "Continuing development of the NEG was a positive step towards cementing a durable framework for energy and climate but the Coalition of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council will soon have to make a real decision or risk condemning Australian industry to years more of damaging uncertainty," Mr Willox said. Toronto Public Library Resources for Youth Whether its your first year of high school in Canada or your last year of high school, the Toronto Public Library has lots of resources to help! Borrowing materials From English ISU books to math guides to the latest popular fiction, youll find plenty of books (and DVDs!) in your local library. We have 100 library branches across Toronto! All you need to borrow books, movies, and access all of our online resources, is a library card. Attend a program! We have amazing youth programs all across the city! These are great opportunities to meet new friends and have new experiences. Click here to see all of the youth programs available and to find one that sparks your interest! There are also many youth hubs that offer drop-in space, programs, and activities for youth aged 13-19. Youth hubs provide youth with a safe space, technology loans, homework help, and healthy snacks! Click here to find out where the nearest youth hub to you is. Homework help The Toronto Public Library offers many different online resources for homework help! Click here for a full list. One of these great resources is Brainfuse, which is an online service that offers online homework help for students in grades K-12 daily from 2:00pm to 11:00pm. All you need is your library card! Volunteer hours Every high school student in Ontario must complete 40 volunteer hours as a graduation requirement. Volunteering is also a wonderful way to meet new people and build a network of connections.There are a number of different opportunities for you to volunteer for the Toronto Public Library. One of these opportunities is Youth Advisory Groups (YAG) at your local library! When you become a YAG member, you attend regular meetings to discuss the creation, development and promotion of library programs, collections, publications, and spaces for you and your fellow teens. There are also many volunteer opportunities beyond Toronto Public Library that you can explore! Library Settlement Partnerships (LSP) As part of our Library Settlement Partnerships, many libraries have a Library Settlement Worker that can help you and your family get started in Toronto and Canada! Whether youre hoping to look for a job, get help preparing for the citizenship test, or to find English classes, our Settlement Workers are happy to help! Our recent blog post highlights all of the other settlement services that are available for you! The Turnbull government will press on with its National Energy Guarantee by taking it to the Coalition party room after the states and territories expressed "broad support" for the flagship energy plan but were unwilling to sign off on it. At Friday's gathering of COAG energy ministers in Sydney, Josh Frydenberg, the federal Environment and Energy Minister, told the meeting that he would take the Commonwealth legislation supporting the scheme to his Coalition party room on Tuesday as planned. National Energy Minister - Josh Frydenberg arrives at the Shangri La Hotel in Sydney to meet with State energy ministers. Friday 10th August 2018. Credit:James Brickwood Queensland is understood to have spoken out in strong support for the position put forward by Victoria, including its objection to the weak emissions target and the need to have protection for the states' separate renewable energy plans. The communique noted the detailed work undertaken by the Energy Security Board to date, and reiterated the importance of "effectively integrating energy and climate policy". The family of environmental scientist Mary Elizabeth White allegedly discussed the need for euthanasia before her alleged murder. Former Canberra scientist Barbara Eckersley, 66, has been granted bail after being charged with her mother Mary Whites murder on Wednesday. Barbara Eckersley's son, husband and solicitor leave Goulburn Local Court. Credit:Daniella White Police allege Mrs Eckersley murdered 92-year-old Dr White at a Bundanoon nursing home on August 5 some time between 5pm and 9.35pm. The bail hearing at Goulburn Local Court on Friday heard there were ongoing tensions between Dr White's family and her nursing home regarding her care in the lead up to her death. Police want to identify this boy found in Kogarah overnight. Credit:NSW Police A young boy discovered wandering alone in a south Sydney laneway overnight has been reunited with his family. The boy, who police believe to be aged between 9 and 11, was found at 12.40am in Wicks Lane, Kogarah, wearing long, grey pyjamas with Marvel characters printed on them. He had no shoes on. The laneway is located near St George Hospital and St George Police Station, as well as the Kogarah train station and nearby shopping strip. A tow truck driver who allegedly raped and assaulted girls and women in Sydney's northwest over almost 25 years will remain behind bars after he was formally refused bail. Gregory John Richardson was arrested on Thursday morning at his home in Epping and bundled into a waiting police wagon still dressed in his pyjamas. Gregory Richardson was arrested by police on Thursday. Credit:NSW Police Police allege the 51-year-old committed sexual-based offences on 14 occasions between 1989 and 2013 involving victims aged between 14 and 40. Richardson is facing 20 charges including multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm, stalking and intimidation, and acts of indecency with a person under 16 around Ryde and Hornsby. Police are continuing their hunt for a man and woman allegedly seen in an altercation with a man found dead with a head wound in Forest Lodge on Friday, after a neighbourhood-wide search failed to find the pair. Just after midday, emergency services were called to the quiet Hereford Street where they found a man lying in the middle of the road with what a source called a "massive" head wound. A man was found dead on the street in Forest Lodge, in Sydney's inner west on Friday. Credit:Wolter Peeters Speaking to the media just after 3pm, Acting Superintendent Sam Crisafulli said police were called to the scene but by the time they arrived, the man had died. "Police were called regarding a man who had suffered some head injuries. Unfortunately, he was found deceased," he said. Anthony Dante Castagna, the professor, venture capitalist and ex-Macquarie Bank director, regarded himself as a member of a financial elite who felt free to steal tax revenue from other Australians, said the judge who jailed him for a minimum of four years for tax evasion on Friday. In jailing Castagna, Justice Christine Adamson said it was necessary to deter those who might regard the ATO as fair game and those who used obfuscation and deceit to avoid their tax obligations. Anthony Castagna leaves court after being found guilty of money laundering and tax evasion. Credit:Janie Barrett Castagna, the driving force behind the $500 million cyber security company Nuix, used his undoubted talents and considerable energy to increase his own wealth and the wealth of those with whom he was associated, the NSW Supreme Court judge said. One of the ways he increased his wealth was by using sophisticated tax avoidance schemes run by his accountant cousin Robert Agius, 68. The family of a Brisbane bus driver killed in 2016 say the man who set him on fire should never be allowed to walk free after a court declared he was of unsound mind. Anthony O'Donohue lit a backpack containing a bottle of fuel and threw it at Manmeet Alisher while he was collecting passengers in Moorooka, in Brisbane's south, in October 2016. Brisbane bus driver Manmeet Sharma was killed while on duty in October 2016. Queensland's Mental Health Court on Friday declared O'Donohue was of unsound mind at the time, and therefore not criminally responsible for his actions. He will be held in a mental health facility for at least a decade. An elderly woman was taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation after her Redcliffe home caught fire overnight. The woman, aged in her 80s, was woken by her fire alarm just after 3am and was forced to retreat to the bathroom, where firefighters found and rescued her. A neighbour raised the alarm, calling triple zero, and firefighters were able to respond quickly to the rapidly burning house. "The lady was lucky, she had a working smoke alarm which enabled her to take shelter in the bathroom," QFES area commander Simon Evans said. Commander Evans said the incident was another reminder that smoke alarms were critical for saving lives. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The ODonovan collection in the upper library of Parliament House has been a place of quiet contemplation for many of Queenslands powerbrokers over the past 150 years. Named after the fourth Parliamentary librarian, Irishman Denis ODonovan, it is home to 32,000 precious first editions, signed letters from Queen Victoria and even early copies of the Moreton Bay Courier newspaper. While the collection is virtually unknown outside the inner confines of the Parliament building, on Saturday - just for one day - the historic library and the corridors of power will open to the public as part of the Parliaments 150th birthday celebrations. Speaker Curtis Pitt took Brisbane Times on a personal tour of the library, describing it as the most remarkable room in Parliament". Its a special place, he says as we climb the creaky stairs. When those doors open, its sensory overload. Its a rich smell that greets you. With apologies to Ron Burgundy, the TV anchorman character made famous by actor Will Ferrell, he quips that the odour engulfing us is the smell of leather-bound books and rich mahogany". But his favourite place for working out how to keep the other 92 other members in line is the sumptuous but surprisingly cosy Members Reading Room; dotted with polished mahogany tables and black leather chairs and located downstairs on the lower level. Advertisement Mr Pitt describes it as his fortress of solitude". Like the upper library, this room also smells of old books but its not musty, its something else, he says wrinkling his nose. You can smell the history. I would come here and do some work on my laptop or read because, for whatever reason, this room wasnt very well-utilised. The only reason most people went in there was to print their speech off. So, I was able to sit in there and feel what it was like to have that great privilege of being in Parliament. The smell of history in Queensland's Parliament House. Credit:Staff reporter As an MP this room is my favourite place to be, but as a child, I would have said upstairs [in the upper library]. The reference to his childhood relates to his first taste of Parliament, which was in 1989 as a 12-year-old boy from Gordonvale. in Queenslands far north. Advertisement It was not long after his school teacher father, Warren Pitt, was elected as the Member for Mulgrave - an electoral victory that the now-Speaker would go on to repeat in the 2009 state election. Now as 39th Speaker of the House, he understands the privileges that go with it. Fewer than 1000 people have been elected to Parliament. When you start thinking about how exclusive that group is, it really is a privilege to hold this position, he says. As we stroll through labyrinthine corridors towards the main chamber, where the Speaker presides over the cut and thrust of political debate, he laments the lack of accessibility of the Peoples House for regional Queenslanders. The ornateness and curves inside Queensland Parliament. Credit:Staff reporter Im from regional Queensland, and I know theres going to be lots of people who cant come, Mr Pitt says. One of my great regrets is Parliaments accessibility to the people of Queensland - it is really largely restricted to people in south-east Queensland. Advertisement I have school groups that come through all the time and very rarely will I be able to say, and heres a school from far north Queensland'. As we walk around the front of the Speakers chair, he points out the four seats he has sat in since his election. His first seat was in the back row next to fellow Labor MP and father of the House, Dean Wells. I remember the first Question Time, I was absolutely terrified, he confesses. I was holding onto [this balustrade] for dear life. And everyone thought, Thats a good pose. Speaker Curtis Pitt can sometimes hear MPs' whispers in the chamber. The first time I sat in the Speakers chair was when I was temporary Speaker, and that was a great thing in itself, to preside over the Parliament in a temporary capacity. Advertisement As Speaker, you have absolute authority in the Parliament. But its all about making sure theres a free-flowing debate and doesnt become too disorderly. Its a fine line. As the son of two school teachers, he confesses to deploying a secret classroom weapon. In Parliament, the most effective tool I have is just to be silent and wait for everyone to come to order. Its an old school teachers trick. Its a lot better than trying to go over the top of everybody. I can sit there and say, Ill wait for silence. "And Ill just wait, and then everyone just calms down. There is a standing order that if I rise to my feet, everyone must stop. And the place will come to complete silence and everyone will resume their seat. That is a useful tool as well, but thats only when you cant get everyones attention. You dont want to do that too often, otherwise you look like a Jack-in-the-box and it becomes less effective. Advertisement The stepfather of a man charged in Bali for possessing 11.6 grams of cocaine said their family was really struggling as the news broke overnight. Brendon Luke Johnsson, 45, and his partner Remi, an Indonesian national, were arrested last Saturday night in a raid by Balinese police which uncovered cocaine worth about 40 million rupiah (about $3600). Police officers escort Brendon Luke Johnsson through police headquarters at Denpasar, Bali. Credit:Nyoman Hendra - AP Under article 114 of Indonesia's strict narcotic laws, possession of less than five grams of a category one narcotic like cocaine carries a minimum jail term of five years and a maximum of 20 years. For more than five grams, the minimum jail time is five years and the maximum is the death penalty. Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashghal) said construction was progressing as per schedule on its ambitious Khalifa Avenue Project with nearly 70 per cent of the work already completed. Khalifa Avenue project runs from the Al Wajbah Palace Interchange (west) to the Tilted Interchange (east) and along Al Gharrafa Road from Al Rayyan Street (south) to Thani bin Jassim Street (north). The scope of work includes the construction of 11.6 km of dual carriageway with four lanes in each direction replacing a three-lane way besides seven major free-flowing interchanges, service roads, and auxiliary lanes along sections of the road. The entire project is due for completion by the first quarter of 2020, said a statement from Ashghal. A new flyover was opened recently on Bani Hajer Interchange as part of the Khalifa Avenue project to ensure free flow of incoming traffic from capital Doha towards Al Rayyan Road. The 1.15-km-long overpass comprises two lanes that can accommodate 1,500 vehicles per hour, said the statement. The flyover will largely ensure less transit time and create better traffic flow since road users on Khalifa Avenue can have a direct access to Al Rayyan Road, avoiding the diversions that existed in the area, it added. Speaking at the opening, Abdullah Qassim, the project engineer at Ashghal's Highway Department, said the new flyover comes after consecutive openings of Bani Hajer Interchange and is part of several openings that happened on Khalifa Avenue project. Khalifa Avenue is a key connection, and the new bridge will enhance traffic mobility in the congested and populous area there as well as serve various vital businesses and facilities like Qatar Foundations Education City where thousands of students head for diverse colleges, he added.-TradeArabia News Service For five years Melbourne man Damen Stephens stalked and harassed his female victim, at one time telling her to call me Odin ... as I slice and pull your face off". He burned his mothers house to the ground after a violent attack, collected child pornography and later stabbed two men outside a St Kilda bottle shop all while documenting his depraved crimes in an 825-page journal of horror. Damen Stephens. On Friday in the Melbourne County Court, he was jailed for 11 years for what Judge Lisa Hannan described as a disgraceful series of crimes. In my view you are a danger to the community she said. Victoria Police said its investigators recovered two stolen vehicles: a black Holden Captiva and a Landrover Discovery. Among the other items seized were imitation firearms and a military assault rifle. Detective Inspector Pannell said all the weapons were found in one person's bedroom and that it appeared the imitation firearms were used to strike fear into the hearts of victims. "Just by the nature of the offending and going into peoples homes when they're there is causing fear, unnecessary fear," he said. "The weapons are being used at this stage to enhance that fear." The warrants were executed in relation to a series of alleged incidents in Melbournes south-eastern suburbs between July 26 and August 7. Three teens have been charged while a fourth was released pending further inquiries. Credit:Victoria Police Among them: an aggravated carjacking in Narre Warren South, an armed robbery at a milk bar in Hallam, an attempted aggravated burglary at a milk bar in Hampton Park, an alleged armed robbery at a service station in Lynbrook and an alleged armed robbery and carjacking in Moorabbin. Some of the victims of those attacks have spoken publicly of their trauma. Kay (who did not use her surname) said she thought she was "going to die" when she had her car violently taken from her in Narre Warren South last month. The 57-year old mother and disability worker had a gun pressed to her head and was pistol-whipped in the face after getting out of her vehicle at night to exchange details with three men who rear-ended her Volkswagen Golf MK7R in an SUV. In another of the aggravated robberies a man was beaten, robbed and had his car stolen at an ATM in Moorabbin on Tuesday. Detective Inspector Pannell said the offences appeared to be "ad hoc". But while the officer described "a level of organisation" among the groups arrested, he said they were not gangs. "I wouldn't call them a gang, no, they're a collective group of individuals who know each other," he said in response to a question from a reporter. Detective Inspector Pannell said police would now forensically test the seized weapons, examine CCTV footage and continue interrogations as they compiled evidence against the suspects arrested and those still at large. A group of teenagers were arrested. Credit:Police Media And while he said investigators had already pieced together many parts of the puzzle, one fundamental question loomed unanswered: why? Loading "That's the million dollar question at the moment, right across Melbourne," Detective Inspector Pannell said. "What's driving this type of crime? Certainly I've been a police officer for quite some years and there has been a change in the type of offending." Four of the arrests came on Thursday morning. Three of the youths have been charged with offences including armed robbery, aggravated carjacking, intentionally cause injury, theft of motor vehicle, possess prohibited weapon, handle stolen goods and unlicensed driving. They include a 17-year-old boy from Cranbourne and a 14-year-old boy from Pakenham, both of whom have been remanded to appear at a childrens court at a later date. Also, a 19-year-old man from Officer who has been bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates Court at a later date. A fourth boy, 17 of Dandenong North, has been released pending further enquiries. Many of the other 10 arrested on Friday morning were living at home with parents. They are being interviewed by police. Detective Inspector Shayne Pannell. Credit: Chris Hopkins Detective Inspector Pannell said the arrests were the result of ongoing work into a number of serious incidents in the south eastern suburbs over the past two weeks. Two days after announcing she would not re-contest her key seat of Lindsay, the Labor MP Emma Husar has been cleared of the most serious and salacious allegations made against her, that she had exposed herself to a fellow MP and sexually harassed members of her staff. Barrister John Whelan, an independent assessor appointed by NSW Labor, found those allegations were not supported, and concluded that "there is no basis for Ms Husar to resign from the Australian Parliament". Emma Husar on Thursday. Credit:Louie Douvis However he has said there was "merit" to staff complaints about her behaviour towards them, saying he favoured the staffers' account of "offensive and unreasonable" conduct. Asked if she regretted her decision not to give up her seat, Ms Husar told Fairfax Media, "I'll always regret not being able to recontest Lindsay. With the smears and speculation I had no other choice". Helsinki: Estonia's defence minister has ordered a halt to NATO air exercises in Estonia pending an investigation after a missile was accidentally fired over the Baltic country's airspace by a Spanish fighter jet on a military exercise this week. The air-to-air missile that was erroneously launched on Tuesday over southern Estonia has not been found, but no people were reported injured or killed by the misfiring, Defence Minister Juri Luik said Thursday. F-16 fighter. Credit:Bloomberg "The Spanish defence minister has apologised and expressed deep regret," Luik said at a news conference in the Estonian capital of Tallinn, adding that the commander of the Spanish Armed Forces apologised as well. Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas spoke with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday, expressing Estonia's concern over the "serious incident." Washington: A Brooklyn imam whose relatives were arrested in a raid of a New Mexico compound has spoken out to combat rumours that have transformed what he described as a months-long family drama into allegations of terrorism. Law enforcement officials raided the barren compound in northern New Mexico last week and found the dead body of a young boy and 11 hungry children, who officials said were clothed in filthy rags without running water or electricity. Imam Siraj Wahhaj speaks to reporters. Credit:AP They arrested the imam's son, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, who was wanted since last year on suspicion of abducting his critically ill 3-year-old son, as well as four other adults who were with him. The imam confirmed on Thursday those adults were also family members. The child's body has not been identified, the Taos County Sheriff's Office said on Thursday. "The application, the process, the interview was no different than anybody else's, other than the security arrangements to facility today," he said. "This is an example of it going right. They're very excited." Viktor and Amalija Knavs became American citizens on Thursday. Credit:AP US President Donald Trump, from left, First Lady Melania Trump, their son Barron and Amalija Knavs cross the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in June. Credit:AP Questions about the couple's immigration status intensified last year as Trump mounted a push to slash legal immigration, including provisions to constrict the ability of US citizens from sponsoring their parents, adult children and siblings for green cards. In November he tweeted: "Chain migration must end now. Some people come in and they bring their whole family, who can be truly evil with them. Not acceptable." In fiscal 2016, the United States granted nearly 1.2 million green cards, of which 174,000 went to parents of US citizens, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Trump has railed against what he calls "chain migration", which he contends has resulted in fiercer competition for blue-collar jobs for native-born Americans and introduces increased national security concerns. Studies have shown, however, that immigrants have boosted the economy and commit crimes at lower rates than the native born. Trump falsely asserted in November that Uzbekistan-born Sayfullo Saipov - who had gained legal permanent residency in an annual visa lottery before allegedly killing eight people on a bike path in New York - had brought nearly two dozen relatives into the country on family visas. Saipov has pleaded not guilty and his trial is set for next year. "We want to get rid of chain migration," Trump said at the time. The Senate has defeated several immigration bills, including one that included the proposals backed by Trump. A spokesperson for Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, who sponsored that bill, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did spokespeople for Republican Senators Tom Cotton, and David Perdue, who have authored similar legislative proposals. French artist JR, aiming to prompt discussions about immigration, erected a giant cut-out photo of a Mexican boy peering over a wall into the US from Tecate, California. Credit:AP Critics said the Knavs' ability to secure green cards and citizenship smacks of hypocrisy given the President's hard-line immigration stance. "This is the most anti-immigration administration probably in history of the country except when it comes to this family, and the hypocrisy is just stunning," said David Leopold, an immigration lawyer in Cleveland. "He and his administration are on a crusade to rid the country of immigrants, particularly immigrants of colour. What can you say when the First Lady and her family have such an easy time?" A White House spokesman declined to comment when asked about the criticism. The President is on a working holiday this week at his private resort in Bedminster, New Jersey. Supporters of Trump's efforts to slash family-based migration said his wife and her parents should not be criticised for taking advantage of current laws. "Until the rules change, the rules are there to be used," said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for lower immigration levels. "If they didn't break the rules, there's really no issue here," Krikorian said. "I want the rules to be changed for the future. But that doesn't delegitimise anyone in categories I want to get rid of who are already here fair and square." Melania Trump's own immigration path also has been scrutinised. A former model known as Melania Knauss, she arrived in New York in 1996 and began dating Trump in 2000. In 2001, Knauss was granted a green card in the elite EB-1 program, which was designed for renowned academic researchers, multinational business executives or those in other fields, such as Olympic athletes and Oscar-winning actors, who demonstrated "sustained national and international acclaim". The year that Knauss got her legal residency, only five people from Slovenia received green cards under the EB-1 program, according to the State Department. Sevnica, Slovenia, where Melania Trump grew up. Credit:Sl-Ziga/CC The Knavs raised Melania Trump in the rural town of Sevnica when Slovenia was a part of communist Yugoslavia. Viktor Knavs, now 74, was a car dealer while Amalija Knavs, now 73, worked in a textile factory. In an interview on CNN in June, amid a public outcry over the Trump administration's policy of separating immigrant families at the border, Wildes said that his immigration firm was in "overdrive because of the challenges that are going on here." Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC More than 1,000 preservationists joined a grass-roots effort to name a new historic district in Prospect Heights by endorsing a petition local civic gurus created to muster support for their proposed enclave, according to a man behind the landmarking initiative. Exceeding 1,000 supporters after just a few months demonstrates the breadth and depth of support for this idea, said Robert Witherwax, chairman of the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council. The successful campaign for signatures is an important milestone in the push to create the so-called Prospect Heights Apartment House Historic District because it will show massive public approval for the effort when it comes time to convince local community board members, pols, and city preservationists on the Landmarks Preservation Commission to sign off on the plan, another development council member said. Before we go to LPC, we basically want to come in with overwhelming public and political support, said Gib Veconi. If established, the historic district would grant landmark status to 82 apartment buildings erected between 1909 and 1929 in an area roughly bounded by Eastern Parkway to the south, Sterling and St. Johns places to the north, Washington Avenue to the east, and Plaza Street East to the west. The locals argue the structures represent an important phase in the development of Kings County, when residential living shifted from single-family row houses to multi-family complexes such as those within the proposed district, which rise between four and 15 stories per the areas current zoning. But many of the 82 buildings fall far below the 15-story height cap, making them ripe for redevelopment, according to the development council members, who hope their push will spare the structures from the wrecking ball for good. The petition drive comes months after private preservationists with the Historic Districts Council named the initiative to create the Prospect Heights Apartment House Historic District as one of its Six to Celebrate this year, an honor that comes with the influential groups assistance in navigating the citys landmarking process. And this isnt the development councils first rodeo. In 2009, its members successfully persuaded the landmarks commission to designate the Prospect Heights Historic District, fearing a wave of new construction spurred by the controversial Atlantic Yards project would spell the end for many of the neighborhoods stately row houses. Back then, a similar petition in support of that proposed enclave netted only about 500 signatures, Veconi said, less than half the amount already collected for the newly suggested historic district nearby. Volunteers will keep canvassing the area for John Hancocks in the weeks ahead as they continue to build their case, which they expect to present to the landmarks commission before the end of the year, according to Veconi. Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixs on@cn gloca l.com or by calling (718) 260-4505. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Its good lick! An ice-cream shop whose fish-shaped cones are a social-media sensation recently opened in Williamsburg, making it even easier for locals to pick up the mouth-watering and eye-catching dessert inspired by a symbol of good luck in Japan. A founder of creamery Taiyaki NYC whose name is a combination of the Japanese words tai, which translates to sea bream, a species considered the king of fish in the Asian country, and yaki, which translates to fried said he fell in love with the symbolic sea creature on frequent trips to Japan, and decided to transform it into an edible waffle cone stuffed high with swirls of soft ice cream. I travel back to Asia quite often, and fell in love with the concept in Japanese culture, said Jimmy Chen, who was born in New York City after his parents immigrated from Hong Kong. We strive to create a great experience thats aesthetically interesting. Chen and his five co-founders who are all first- and second-generation Asian-Americans, whose families immigrated from countries including Japan, China, and Taiwan opened their stores first outpost in Manhattan in 2016, before expanding to a second location in faraway Florida the next year. And last month, they opened their third location on Bedford Avenue between Grand and S. First streets, in what Chen described as a unique storefront in a trendy neighborhood that compliments his creamerys trending creations, which have drawn more than 85,000 people to follow Taiyaki on Instagram a formidable audience that keeps business booming, he said. I think were truly in the golden age of social media. Everyone is on their phones, everyone has to take a picture, Chen said. Williamsburg is bustling. I personally come here frequently for the hipster community, for Supreme, and Smorgasburg. Theres a tremendous amount of activity. Customers can order one of the fish cones filled with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, matcha, or black-sesame ice cream, or some combinations of those flavors, for $8 a pop, which includes a drizzle of syrups including caramel or chocolate and up to three free toppings such as crushed cookies, mochi balls, and sprinkles, with additional toppings costing 50 cents each. For the same price, patrons can also choose from a number of signature cones that include a black sesamematcha swirl option called Straight Outta Japan and the mythical Unicorn variety, which features a rainbow-sprinkles covered vanilla-strawberry swirl topped with gummy ears and a horn. Horned-horse fans can also splurge on a Unicorn Float, a $10 milk-shake topped with whipped cream and sprinkles that comes with a small inner tube shaped like the magical beast, and looks just as good in photos as its cone counterpart, according to Chen. Last year, it was our most-popular ice cream were really staying on top of trends, he said. And the six owners have yet to dream up their next internet-breaking confection, but are hard at work experimenting on new frozen sensations, Chen assured. Were definitely in the lab, he said. Try a fish cone yourself at Taiyaki NYC [294 Bedford Ave. between Grand and S. First streets in Williamsburg, (917) 9091856, www.taiyakinyc.com]. MonThurs 1 to 10 pm, Fri 1 to 11 pm, Sat noon to 11 pm, Sun noon to 10 pm. Reach reporter Julianne Cuba at (718) 2604577 or by e-mail at jcuba @cngl ocal.com . Follow her on Twitter @julcuba. Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, the largest university for women in the world, has joined forces with Dell EMC to train and certify top talented females on open technologies such as Data Science & Big Data Analytics, Cloud computing and virtualization. The University move comes in line with Saudi Vision 2030 to promote a knowledge-based economy by striking partnerships with both national and international organisations to provide distinguished degrees and certificates for Saudi female students and graduates. It had earlier partnered with Dublin City University to launch the first Masters in Computing degree with specialisation in Data Analytics in the kingdom. As a result, the College of Computer and Information Sciences is embedding a variety of certifications and technical trainings into its curriculum for three bachelor degrees Computer Science, Information Systems and Information Technology. As a member of Dell EMC's External Research and Academic Alliance Program, the college has successfully trained and certified 57 female Data science and big data analytics students this semester with an additional 103 students certified in Cloud Infrastructure. The leading university also successfully introduced VMware Install, Configure and Manage course as an elective training course for senior students. Advancements in education of the future workforce are at the core of the Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program in addition to the focus of the national curriculum and training on innovation in advanced technologies and entrepreneurship. A recent study by Dell Technologies titled Realizing 2030: A Divided Vision of the Future highlighted the lack of workforce readiness as the leading barrier in the Middle East to becoming a successful digital business in 2030, further emphasizing the need for skill development among existing employees and future generations. The explosion of data further fuels the requirement for individuals to build expertise in niche and specialized fields as digital environments continue to evolve. Catering to the vision of driving workforce readiness through academic solutions, Dell EMC actively engages with academic thought leaders and business partners to foster research partnerships and unique programs including foundational IT courses. These courses cover information storage and management, cloud infrastructure and services, data science and big data analytics, and data protection and management. The program also provides free e-learning technology courses to institutions. Auhood Alfaries, the Dean College of Computer and Information Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, said: "Building a comprehensive curriculum to cover the essential knowledge area for the computing disciplines and to equip our students with the skills required for the future workplace is a priority for Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University." "We are proud to be a leading university to actively promote the data skilled taskforce in the Kingdom through the introduction of industrial relevant certifications and trainings," Alfaries stated. "We strive to continually evolve to contribute towards building a knowledge-based economy, in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030, through strategic academic partnerships such as the Dell EMC External Research and Academic Alliance program which plays a crucial role in effectively developing our students into tomorrows workforce," he added. Mohammed Amin, the senior VP and regional manager, Middle East, Turkey & Africa at Dell EMC said: "The unrelenting pace of digital transformation in the marketplace is creating new challenges for all of us where organizations as well as individuals are increasingly realizing that investing in workforce readiness and the development of new skills is key to future success and competitive differentiation." "Dell EMC recognises that successful digital transformation requires more than technology and therefore we are helping leading universities develop the critical talent required for the future and ultimately fuel digital progress. We congratulate Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University on this wonderful achievement and look forward to continuing to work with them to advance the technical education of women in the region," noted Amin. Marwa Zaghow, the senior manager, External Research & Academic Alliances, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Dell EMC, said Saudi Arabia continued to make significant progress in enhancing the educational systems capability to address national development requirements and meet the demand of digitally transforming businesses. "The Dell EMC External Research and Academic Alliance program collaborates with innovative colleges and universities like Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University to effectively contribute to the regional priority of developing IT skillsets among the youth and specifically women," noted Zaghow. "Through courses focused on technology concepts and principles applicable to any vendor environment, the program enables students to develop highly marketable knowledge and skills required in todays dynamic IT industry," she added.-TradeArabia News Service Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. 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Digital Editor The Delhi High Court on Friday asked brothers Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, erstwhile promoters of Fortis Healthcare Ltd (FHL), not to sell any assets without the court's approval. The Court also froze the brothers' bank accounts and asked them to disclose all transactions (including gifts) in the past since 2016. This was the first time the brothers appeared before the court in the Daiichi case for cross-examination. The court asked them to file for insolvency if they did not have money. "You cannot keep away information on money from the court," the judge ... Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Auction (EA) has signed a co-operation agreement with Ajman Free Zone to sell the seized cargo at the free zone through online auctions. As per the deal, EA will organise online auctions to sell cargo that has been seized based on orders from the Judicial Committee that falls under the Dispute Settlement Committee in the Ajman Free Zone, and in accordance to the best global practices. Through this agreement, the Ajman Free Zone looks to implement the best global practices for selling seized cargo based on judicial orders, remarked Mohammed Al Midhani, the director of the Department of Inspection and Labor Affairs, after signing the pact with Omar Matar Al Mannai, the executive director of Emirates Auction, in the presence of Fatima Salem, the acting director-general of Ajman Free Zone. The deal will benefit the community and generate revenues for investment in the free zone, in addition to providing potential bidders with the opportunity to purchase the cargo at the best prices, he stated. Commenting on the agreement, Salem said the agreement was another step forward towards smart transformation for Ajman Free Zone, especially since the online auctions saves both time and effort, which contributes to enhancing efficiency and facilitating transactions. Al Mannai said that the EA was keen to sell the seized cargo of Ajman Free Zone in accordance to the best standards, which will ensure that the free zone will witness attractive returns, as well as provide bidders the opportunity to purchase the cargo at competitive prices. The co-operation with Ajman Free Zone, he stated, represents a great addition to the list of partners for Emirates Auction, and it reflects the prominent reputation of the companys services in the country and the region. "EA is keen to continue the positive growth of the company by working to achieve the goals of its partners and clients, as well as attract bidders to participate in the online and public auctions organised by the company," added Al Mannai.-TradeArabia News Service Co-founder and former CEO of IT major on Friday announced that some of his family members have sold 1.6 million equity shares (representing 0.074 per cent of the paid-up equity share capital) of Ltd on the stock exchanges. The shares were sold during the period August 8, 2018 to August 10, 2018, a release from Shibulal's office said. The sale was executed by Citigroup Global MarketsIndia Private Limited as the Sole Broker for the sale of shares. The release said the partial monetization was done to raise proceeds for personal reasons, including for the betterment of the society through various philanthropic activities. Even after this sale, the founder group would continueto have a substantial shareholding in the company, it added. Shibulal was the last of seven co-founders to hold the CEO position at Infosys, from which he stepped down in July 2014. Aluminium producer Hindalco Industries Ltd posted a 43 per cent jump in first-quarter profit on Friday, but missed analysts' estimates. Profit was Rs 4.14 billion ($60.07 million) in the three months through June 30, compared with Rs 2.90 billion a year earlier, the company said in a statement https://www.nseindia.com/corporate/NSERESULTS_10082018140537.zip. Analysts on average had expected a profit of Rs 4.21 billion, Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S data showed. Revenue from operations of the company, which also manufactures copper products and fertilisers, inched up 1.7 per ... State-run is looking to achieve a turnover of Rs 100 billion by financial year 2023-24 through capacity expansion, a top company official said. The company earlier this month had also announced its plans to spend Rs 55 billion to expand its production capacity by six times from 3.6 million tonne per annum (mtpa) at present to 20 mtpa by FY24. "We aim to achieve a turnover of Rs 100 billion by FY24 through capacity expansion," chairman and managing director Santosh Sharma told reporters here. The company had clocked a turnover of Rs 17 billion in FY18, which will be increased to Rs 3,000 by FY20 and to Rs 100 billion by FY24 following completion of the expansion plans, he said. Of the Rs 55 billion planned capex, around 50 per cent will be funded through internal accruals, Rs 12 billion through equity and the remaining through debt over a period of six years, according to Sharma. at present meets 4 per cent of the country's copper requirement, and Sharma said the Rs 3 billion Gujarat copper project will soon become operational and add 50,000 tpa capacity by March next year. Earlier this month, the government approved a fresh equity issue of 15 per cent by HCL to fund capex plan. Consequently, government's shareholding in HCL will come down from 76.05 per cent to 66.13 per cent. Commenting on mines expansion plan, Sharma said, the company has reopened two mines in Jharkhand and Rajasthan and is looking to open more mines in near future, which will provide direct employment to 9,300 people. "The company's mine expansion will further gain momentum as major tenders for mine construction and production is expected to be floated soon," he added. ALSO READ: Hindustan Copper seeks gold in copper ore leftovers from Madhya Pradesh Meanwhile, Hindustan Copper posted around three-fold rise in profit at Rs 35.21 crore for June quarter. Its net sales stood at Rs 3.97 billion, while the EBDITA margin was at 29 per cent. The company's shares ended 1.25 per cent up at Rs 64.65 apiece on the BSE today, against 0.41 per cent decline in the benchmark. Debt-ridden Air India, which has has not paid salaries to its employees for the month of July, on Friday said it is making "all efforts" to disburse them by the next week. The salaries have been delayed due to the reasons beyond the airline's control, it said in a communication to its staff. This is the fifth consecutive month that the national carrier has failed to pay salaries to its employees on time. Generally, the airline disburses salaries by the 30th or the 31st of every month. There were delay in payments in March, April, May and June as well. "We regret to inform the delay in payment of salaries for the month of July due to circumstances beyond the control of the management," general manager for human resources said in the notice to staff, adding, "However, all efforts are being made to make the payments by next week." has more than 11,000 permanent staff. The national carrier, which is facing acute financial crunch, is set to get an additional funding of Rs 9.8 billion from the government. On July 26, minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha told the Lok Sabha that there was a short delay in the payment of salaries for May and that the same was paid subsequently. "Salaries have been paid to all employees, including the salary for the month of June, which was paid on July 2," the minister had said. At the end of March 2017, the national carrier had a debt burden of more than Rs 480 billion. Under its turnaround plan and financial restructuring plan approved by the government in April 2012, is to receive a budgetary support of Rs 302.31 billion over a 10-year period ending March 2021. "Air India has received an equity infusion of Rs 271.95 billion till date," Sinha told the Lok Sabha last month. In the current fiscal year, the state-owned airline has received an equity infusion of Rs 6.5 billion till June. Meanwhile, two of its unions - Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and Indian Aircraft Technicians Association (IATA) - today wrote to the airline chairman and managing director, Pradeep Singh Kharola, raising the issue of salary delay, saying that it does not augurs well for the organisation. "It is disheartening to note that the salary has yet again been delayed for the fifth consecutive month. Financial uncertainty is a source of frustration, anxiety and stress which results in undue fatigue, adversely impacting flight safety and the overall performance levels of employees," the ICPA said in its letter. It alleged that the crisis which the airline is facing has been attributed to employees, market conditions and government policies, among others, while, "The genesis of these problems are poor management and poor functioning of the airline." It further said that "until salaries and all emoluments are paid on time, the ICPA has decided to operate flights under protest due to harassment on account of unpaid dues and serious concerns of flight safety". In its letter, the IATA said that the delay in wages for the past few months has been creating "unrest" among the employees, adding, "We request you (Kharola) to take immediate steps to address employees concerns. Debt-ridden telecom firm Tata Teleservices Maharashtra on Friday received its board's approval to raise additional fund of Rs 200 billion through debt instruments. "...the board of directors of the company at its meeting held on August 10, 2018 has approved raising of additional funds up to an aggregate amount of Rs 200 billion," Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) said in a regulatory note. The fund raising will be done either by issue of securities, instruments etc including redeemable preference shares to promoters on preferential basis, non-convertible debentures or inter corporate deposit or loans from the promoters or other entities. The parent firm of the company Tata Teleservices (TTSL) has dues of around Rs 100 billion pending to be paid to the telecom department. TTSL is in process of merging its mobile service business with Bharti Airtel and will need to clear dues before the DoT takes merger on record. TTML posted narrowing of total comprehensive loss to Rs 4.54 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2018, from Rs 6.81 billion in the March quarter and Rs 5.06 billion during the April-June previous fiscal. The company, whose accumulated losses have exceeded its paid up capital and reserves, had said in a regulatory filing that it has secured a support letter from the promoters, indicating their willingness to organise for any liquidity shortfall in meeting financial obligations and repayment of debt. TTML has obtained a support letter dated May 28, 2018 from its promoter indicating that the promoter will take necessary actions to organise for any shortfall in liquidity of the company that may arise to meet its financial obligations and timely repayment of debt. Tata Teleservices is in discussions to monetise "certain assets", proceeds of which will be used to meet its financial obligations when they fall due. As many as 718 people have lost their lives in incidents related to and rains in seven states during the monsoon season so far, the Home Ministry said on Friday. According to the ministry's Emergency Response Centre (NERC), 171 people lost their lives in Uttar Pradesh, 170 people died in West Bengal, 178 perished in Kerala and 139 died in Maharashtra. Gujarat saw 52 deaths, while 44 died in Assam and eight perished in Nagaland. A total of 26 people were also missing in Kerala (21) and West Bengal (5) while 244 others received injuries in rain-related incidents in the states. The deluge and rains have hit 26 districts in Maharashtra, 22 in West Bengal, 23 in Assam, 14 in Kerala, 12 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 Nagaland and 10 in Gujarat. In Assam, 11.45 lakh people have borne the brunt of rains and floods, which also hit crops in 27,552 hectres of land. Altogether 15 teams of the Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in rescue and relief operations in Assam, the NERC said. A team of the NDRF comprises 45 personnel. Eight NDRF teams were deployed in Uttar Pradesh, eight in West Bengal, seven in Gujarat, four each in Kerala and Maharashtra and one in Nagaland. It can take just an instant to change a life. Ask Shubham Sankhyan. He was studying aeronautical engineering in Delhi when his father, Jugal Kishore, had a massive heart attack in Himachal Pradeshs Kangra valley at the age of 46. The eldest of three siblings, Sankhyan returned to his village, Andretta. His father did not survive. As the senior manager and mainstay of the Andretta Pottery Studio, Kishore had given almost as much to the enterprise as its founders, Mansimran Mini and Mary Singh. With the couple soon to turn 80 and Kishore no longer there to steer ... The Election Commission (EC), through its portal ero.net, has begun the process of weeding out voters whose names appear more than once even as it awaits the Supreme Court verdict to allow it to link the Aadhaar card with the election card. De-duplication, which will be a technology-driven exercise, will gather pace after the Supreme Court verdict on whether Aadhaar should be linked to the electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC), said a senior person in the know. The de-duplication system, launched in phases across states, has been designed to identify similar names on the ... Hilton has launched an innovative web platform that offers a range of new and exclusive experiences across its luxury brands, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts. The website, where experiences are filtered by the senses, will give guests unprecedented access to local tastes, sights and sounds, including a chance to live the high life with the Waldorf Astorias personal concierge team, cruise the streets of Rome in an Italian classic car with their own paparazzi to capture the moment, and marvel at the breath-taking beauty of The Red Pyramid of Dahshur with a dedicated personal guide. According to a recent survey of luxury travellers by Hilton, 41 per cent of holidaymakers in Europe and the Middle East have planned most of their itinerary before travelling, and about one in four travellers (24 per cent) use a loyalty app or digital concierge to do this. This closely mirrors trends globally, where nearly half (47 per cent) of travellers plan most of their trips in advance and one in five (20 per cent) do this using a digital platform. With the launch of Hiltons new Luxury Experiences platform, guests will be able to book exclusive, authentic, and local experiences in destinations all over Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Dominique Piquemal, vice president Luxury Operations EMEA at Hilton, said: Now more than ever, luxury consumers are looking for unique experiences and unparalleled access, no more so than here in the Middle East. Our newly launched Luxury Experiences platform enables guests to browse the breadth of diverse experiences and undiscovered gems, available exclusively through our Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties, offering exceptional experiences at every hotel to every guest, every time. Highlights of the experiences include: Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus invites guests to a private trip on the water, sailing the famous straight that divides the continents of Asia and Europe. Your guide will be your modern day Scheherazade, conjuring the magic of Istanbul with history, sights, and fables. Beverages and light snacks will be served on board your private luxury yacht At Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, the regions most exciting mountain adventures await. Ras Al Khaimahs Jebel Jais is home to the worlds longest zipline and via ferrata. Professional instructors will guide guests along a spectacular route traversing through the UAEs highest mountains. The worlds longest zipline experience will see participants fitted with a special harness for their unforgettable flight before continuing their journey back to the ground Indulge in exploring Jeddah and uncover the hidden secrets of the Red Sea with Waldorf Astoria Jeddah - Qasr Al Sharq. Explore the underwater wonders of the deepest lake in the world, witness the famous Red Sea coral and 5,000-year-old reef. After a unique scuba diving experience, enjoy evening tea at the Amwaj Lounge, located at the adjacent Jeddah Hilton, with a spectacular view over the Red Sea Take a spiritual journey with Conrad Makkah and enjoy a hassle-free visit to the Holy City. One of the hotel's luxurious cars will drive guests directly to the hotel where everything will be ready, and a dedicated butler will take care of their every need. An expert driver will provide an overview about Makkah before guests arrive at the hotel and relax in the Executive Lounge At Conrad Cairo, guests can experience the ultimate camel ride. Take a limousine to the camel stables at the pyramids, and then ride out to experience the desert landscape from a calmer and more authentic perspective. At the end of the day, guests will return to the hotel for a relaxing massage treatment at the Health Club centre At Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, guests will be met at the steps of the hotel and driven in a horse-drawn carriage to Chandlers Warehouse, a private warehouse home to the worlds largest private collection of Louis Vuitton suitcases. Here they will have a chance to explore the warehouses hidden treasures and listen to stories from the 17th-century shop before being served a fine-dining five-course dinner At Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace Versailles, guests can book to sit at the Chefs Table in Gordon Ramsay au Trianon restaurant. Here a bespoke, Michelin starred menu will be created exclusively for them, right before their eyes Those looking for something truly memorable to celebrate their love will find the perfect opportunity at Conrad St James, where one can propose to a special someone in genuine fairy-tale style. Stay in the hotels Conrad Suite and arrive to a bottle of champagne and a rose petal decorated room. Enjoy a romantic horse and carriage ride through London, accompanied by a private photographer who will capture the moment. The day ends with a delicious afternoon tea for two in the elegant Emmelines Lounge. With over 20 experiences across Europe, Middle East and Africa, the Luxury Experiences platform will ensure it is easy for guests to browse authentic experiences and have a seamless, unforgettable holiday. - TradeArabia News Service On Sunday, the Rajasthan government suspended internet services on account of exams, claiming organised cheating that happens over the internet. This was the third shutdown ordered by the state in the last three weeks. Even as the central government recently sought responses from the industry on banning specific sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp to limit the flow of misinformation and maintain order, data shows that states have been trigger happy when it comes to ordering shutdowns. This year alone, India has seen 95 internet shutdowns as against 79 such cases in the ... The Maharashtra government on Friday approved allotment of 20 acres of land at MIHAN SEZ in for setting up a defence equipment manufacturing cluster. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave the land allotment approval at the 64th Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd (MADC) here, a statement from his office said. This initiative will result in creation of 50,000 jobs, it said. Fadnavis is also chairman of MADC. The defence equipment manufacturing cluster will offer various benefits like development of defence ecosystem and facility for high-end training, said the statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The 20-acre land in Sector 10 of MIHAN SEZ will be handed over to the Vidarbha Defence Industrial Hub for setting up the cluster, it said. The Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at (MIHAN) seeks to harness the potential of and convert the present airport into a major cargo hub. A special economic zone (SEZ) is also part of the project. Looking at a large amount of work for various airports in Maharashtra, Fadnavis also accorded sanction for strengthening the Urban Planning Department of the MADC. Twenty-one vacancies will to filled for this purpose, it said. Progress on airport projects at Shirdi (Ahmednagar district), Purandar (Pune), Belora (Amravati), Chandrapur, Solapur, Shivni (Akola) was reviewed at the meet along with the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, the statement said. Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon and Kolhapur airports are getting good response from passengers, the Chief Minister was informed at the meeting, as per the statement. Fadnavis issued directives for starting night landing facility at the airport in Shirdi, a temple town located 240km from Mumbai that houses the famous Saibaba temple. Since its launch in October last year, the Shirdi greenfield airport has seen operations of 2,000 flights carrying 50,000 passengers, the statement said. Permission has also been given to appoint a consultant to prepare layout of the terminal building of the Shirdi airport. "In view of a large number of devotees thronging the temple town and the good response to the air service, the runway (at the Shirdi airport) will be expanded from 2,500 metre to 3,200 metre (to accommodate bigger aircraft)," the meeting was told. The Saibaba Sansthan Trust has organised a year-long festival to mark the centenary year of 'mahasamadhi' of the revered saint of Shirdi. A large number of Saibaba devotees are visiting the temple town during the centenary year. The has decided to launch "digital museums" at 22 stations on to showcase its history after the Prime Minister's Office objected to the public transporter investing money in developing separate railway museums. In a communication issued by Railway Board Director (Heritage) Subrata Nath on August 8 to Divisional Railway Managers, the ministry cited the minutes of the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 26. "There is no need to invest in and develop more railway museums. Digital museums can be created on the walls of the station depicting the history and current developments by use of appropriate technology," the railway communication said, quoting the minutes of the March 26 meeting. The communication said that, against the backdrop of this meeting, the ministry has "decided to launch a pilot scheme at 22 railway stations where true colour digital multi-media screens are already available". These digital screens will be 5.1 metres long and have a width ranging from 2.1 metres to 3.2 metres, the communication said, adding that a dry run of the scheme would be undertaken on August 11-12. The stations that have been chosen for the pilot project comprise Howrah, Sealdah, Lucknow, Varanasi, Raebareli, Sultanpur, Prayag, Ambala, New Delhi, Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Agra Cantonment, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Katihar, New Jalpaiguri, Jaipur, Erode, Coimbatore, Secunderabad, Vijayawada and Bengaluru. The communication, however, has not stated anything on the decision to convert Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus building in Mumbai into a museum. A senior Central Railway official said CSMT already housed a museum which, as and when permission is received, would be converted into a bigger museum "without investing much". As is appropriate for our time, this piece developed from a conversation on the repeal of Section 377 on Twitter. In the fiercely contested world of Indian Twitter, my interlocutor is on my side of the debateshe supports a secular, liberal world view and argues against majoritarian excesses. Further, from what I have seen, she seems animated only by the warmest of human instincts. But lacking such character and burdened with a life-long distrust of moral fervour, I found myself in deep disagreement with her arguments. At issue was not whether Section 377 ought to be ... India and on Friday discussed the activation of automatic exchange of information relating to stashed by Indians in secret accounts in Swiss banks. The issue figured prominently during talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis in New Delhi, officials said. has been a major issue in India and banks in have long been perceived as one of the safest havens to park such funds due to their famed secrecy walls for years. "Following on Indian government's drive to curb black money, the ministers discussed the activation of automatic exchange of information," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. A key parliamentary panel in last year had approved an automatic information exchange pact between the two countries. The information that could be exchanged under this framework would include account number, name, address, date of birth, tax identification number, interest, dividend, receipts from insurance policies, credit balance in accounts and proceeds from the sale of financial assets. The MEA said both sides also reviewed the progress on trade and economic partnership agreement which India and the European free trade area countries are currently negotiating. "The two ministers reiterated their strong commitment to early finalization of the agreement while showing flexibility on each other's concerns," it said. The MEA said Swaraj and Cassis held "cordial discussions" on various aspects of bilateral ties as well as important regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. They also took stock of the cooperation in key areas of interest such as trade and investment, education, information technology and tourism. The annual bilateral trade has reached around $20 billion in the last financial year. "Closer cooperation in the areas of skill development, renewable energy, traditional Indian medicine and climate change has the potential of mutual benefit and positive contribution at the global level," the MEA said. It said Switzerland recognizes Ayurveda as a system of medicine and the two ministers discussed ways to make it more popular in the European country. The Swiss Foreign Minister is scheduled to visit Varanasi tomorrow. India has launched an investigation into subsidised production and export of welded stainless steel pipes and tubes from China and Vietnam, an official notification said. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies, which falls under the trade ministry, said there was "prima facie" evidence of subsidies that were hurting the domestic industry. "The authority finds that there is prima facie evidence of existence of countervailable subsidies on production and export of the subject goods in People's Republic of China and Vietnam, and such subsidized imports are ... A bill to extend the facility of 'proxy voting' to overseas Indians, on the lines of service voters, was passed by the on Thursday. Moving the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2017 for consideration and passage, Law Minister said the provision would help non-resident Indians (NRIs) to participate in the electoral process. The Bill, which was passed by a voice vote in the Lower House, proposes that overseas Indians, who are entitled to vote in India, could now appoint a proxy voter to cast their votes. As of now, were free to cast their votes in the constituencies where they were registered. The Bill seeks to give them the option of proxy voting, which till now was only available to service personnel. Responding to various objections expressed by members regarding proxy voting, the Minister said: "let us trust the NRIs about proxies." According to estimates of the Ministry of External Affairs, there are about 31 million NRIs living in different countries across the world. Prasad said that the country needed to respect and recognise the achievements of NRIs who have done well in different spheres of life across the globe. While framing the rules, the government will ensure that the system of proxy voting is not misused by anyone, he said, adding "proxy is not a dirty word. It is a legal word...a defined word." On the issue of allowing to vote without having to travel to their place of residence, Prasad said it was "work in progress...our sympathies are with them...they should be given the right to vote."Some members demanded that the facility of postal ballots to be extended to them. Regarding the demand for e-voting, Prasad said there were several difficulties in implementing such a scheme in a large country like India. There are several security concerns, he said, adding that e-voting has not been adopted by even developed countries with a large population. An expert committee of the Election Commission, working on the issue, had in 2015 forwarded the legal framework to the Law Ministry to amend the electoral laws to allow the to use proxy voting. Unofficial data with EC shows that only 10,000 to 12,000 overseas voters have exercised their franchise because they do not want to spend foreign currency to come to India and vote. The bill said the necessary provision of coming to India to cast ballot caused hardship for overseas electors. Another provision in the amendment bill relates to the spouses of service voters. As of now, an armyman's wife is entitled to be enrolled as a service voter, but a woman army officer's husband is not, according to the provisions in the electoral law. The bill proposes to replace the term 'wife' with 'spouse', thus making the provision gender neutral. Members of the armed forces, central armed police forces, personnel of state police forces posted outside their state and employees of the centre posted outside India are eligible to be enrolled as service voters. Partipating in the debate, Mohammad Salim (CPI-M) said that it was an important bill and should be forwarded to the Standing Committee for further scrutiny. He also accused the foreign missions of distributing literature to influence the voting pattern in favour of the ruling party. Dharam Vira Gandhi (AAP) said he was not in favour of proxy voting as it could lead to misuse. The government, he said, should introduce e-voting for NRIs. Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) the proposal would allow the NRIs to remain connected with the country. As regards migrant workers, he said, provisions should be made to allow them vote at their place of residence. Dushyant Chautala (INLD) wanted to know how the government would facilitate voting of lakhs of NRIs living in countries like the US, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Raising concerns, R Gopalakrishnan (AIADMK) said this facility could be misused by political parties by persuading the proxies appointed by the NRIs. It could lead to vote trading, he said, adding electronic voting should be allowed so that the voters should cast their vote directly without any role of a proxy. Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena) said when the Constitution talks of 'one Indian one vote', how can a proxy cast multiple votes. Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo (BJD) said the Bill violated many provisions of Constitution including Article 19. It is against level-playing field as regional parties will not have the wherewithal to campaign in foreign countries. It only suits the ruling party as they "have the entire government machinery including embassies to garner support for them." He also said that voters could be coerced to vote for the ruling party. There has been a seven-fold increase in the number of which touched an all-time high mark of 1.6 million per year, the government said on Friday. Addressing an event in New Delhi, Minister of State for Personnel, and Pensions said the increase in the grievances is due to prompt and responsive redressal system of the central government. The number of grievances lodged has reached about 1.6 million per year as compared to about 200,000 per year in 2014, he is quoted as having said in a statement issued by his ministry. Singh was speaking after presenting certificate of excellence in resolving to various ministries/departments. Singh said he and senior officers from his ministry personally call up the complainants chosen on random basis, who had registered their grievances on the online portal of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). The telephone feedback mechanism for grievance redressal helps in getting feedback and suggestions from the complainants, he said. Emphasising that grievance disposal is an essential part of citizen participation, the minister said awareness needs to be generated among the citizens about grievance redressal mechanism. Singh said that almost all central ministries have adopted the grievance redressal mechanism, but some states are lagging behind in this regard. He appealed to the state governments to have an active and updated grievance redressal mechanism and coordinate with the central government in this regard. The minister suggested that states should adopt methodologies adopted by the central government and also appealed to them to make their grievance redressal mechanisms function in a more effective manner for the benefit of citizens. He awarded Niti Aayog, Textiles Ministry, Ministry of Labour and Employment, DARPG, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Defence Finance for their meritorious performance in handling public grievances. The DARPG has instituted the award scheme for recognising meritorious performance by the ministries/departments for effective redress of public grievances received on the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry may reconsider its decision to conduct medical entrance exam NEET twice a year, following recommendations from the Health Ministry. According to sources, the Health Ministry has written to the HRD Ministry, raising concerns on conducting the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) twice a year as the examination calendar may put additional pressure on the students. It has also voiced concern about the students living in the rural areas, who may suffer if the exam is conducted only in the online mode. "However, no final decision has been taken in this regard," a source said. Last month, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had announced the ambitious plan of conducting the medical and dental entrance exam, along with the Joint Entrance Examination - Main for admission to engineering colleges, twice a year by the newly-formed (NTA). It was also announced that all the exams to be conducted by the NTA would be computer-based. The ministry has also announced the tentative dates for the exams, according to which, the NEETUG is scheduled for February, 2019 with a repeat in May, 2019. Besides the three crucial states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan that go to the polls in next couple of months, general election will be held within 10 months. And the opposition Congress plans to use the Rafale fighter jet deal to bombard the Narendra Modi government. The Rafale aircraft deal by the NDA government is the biggest scam in the history, Rahul Gandhi said after inaugurating the new state party ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. 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Digital Editor Russia warned the United States on Friday it would regard any US move to curb the activities of its banks as a declaration of economic war and would retaliate, as new sanctions took their toll on the rouble and US lawmakers threatened more. The warning, from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, reflects Russian fears over the impact of new restrictions on its economy and assets, including the rouble which has lost nearly 6 per cent of its value this week on sanctions jitters. Economists expect the Russian economy to grow by 1.8 per cent this year. But if new sanctions proposed by ... The Supreme Court on Friday admitted an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the acquittal of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in connection with the murder of their daughter Aarushi and doemstic help Hemraj. The Allahabad High Court had acquitted Aarushi's parents, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, in the case last year. Challenging the acquittal, the CBI moved the apex court on March 8 and appealed that the Allahabad High Court "in its judgment had erred on many fronts in the case." Suspecting the Talwars' involvement in the murder, the police had named Rajesh for murdering Arushi and Hemraj alleging that he did so after finding them in an "objectionable" position. Following the trial, Special CBI Judge, S. Lal, pronounced Rajesh and Nupur Talwar guilty of conspiracy and murder. Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, both doctors by profession, were released from jail in October 2017, after the High Court's acquittal on grounds of lack of evidence. On May 16, 2008, Aarushi was found murdered at her residence in Noida with her throat slit. It was initially suspected that the house help Hemraj had killed Aarushi. However, the case took a turn when Hemraj's body too was recovered two days later from the terrace of the same flat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Taliban launched a major attack on Afghanistan's Ghazni city on Friday. In a statement, the terrorist group said that it entered the city from "different sides". There were heavy clashes between the terrorists and government forces during the assault, TOLOnews reported. Ghazni Police Chief Farid Ahmad Mashal said that the skirmishes were reported in Khogyani, Khwaja Omari, and Zanakhan areas-- all of them situated on Ghazni's outskirts. In response, the US forces launched a drone strike, and later said that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces had controlled all government centers in the city. Lt. Col. Martin L. O'Donnell, the spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan was quoted by TOLOnews as saying, "US forces responded (to the attack) with close-air support (US attack helicopters) and conducted one strike (drone). In addition, US aircraft conducted a show of presence." The Kabul-Ghazni highway was out of bounds for traffic and civilians during the clashes between the Taliban and government forces, the police said. According to several media reports, casualties were inflicted during the clashes. Owing to the increasing instability in Ghazni province, Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission recently deferred the upcoming parliamentary polls in the area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 26 people have lost their lives so far across rain-battered Kerala due to flooding and landslides caused by the torrential downpour in the state. Owing to incessant rains and a subsequent rise in the water level in various dams, shutters of few reservoirs are being opened to accommodate the additional flow of water. On Thursday, the Karnataka government agreed to release 75000 cusecs water from Kabini reservoir in Mysuru district as the backwaters were adding to the woes of the flood-hit state. In a bid to assist the Kerala government in rehabilitation and rescue operations, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had announced a relief fund worth Rs. 10 crores to all flood-affected areas. He also directed his Chief Secretary T.M. Vijayabhaskar to send relief materials and a team of doctors to the state. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, via a telephonic conversation with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, took stock of the situation and offered all required assistance. In a pre-empt action to tackle the situation, the Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed six flood rescue teams at Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Palakkad to carry out Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) work. To augment the deployment, four additional teams were airlifted from Rajali Airbase, Arakkonam, to Kozhikode, fully equipped with lifesaving equipment and armed with modern communication gadgets, including satellite phones. The NDRF also said that additional teams were kept on standby at Arakkonam and would be mobilised as per demand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The largest film festival in the Southern Hemisphere, Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, has officially begun and will present prominent line-ups from the Industry. This year the event will feature a number of celebrities from B-Town like Rani Mukerji, Rajkumar Hirani, Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal, Malaika Arora, Mrunal Thakur, and Vicky Kaushal among others, who also attended the opening press conference this morning. Rani Mukerji's 'Hichki' will be premiered at the festival. The star spoke about being the guest of honour and what coming to the festival means to her, "I'm really happy to be here representing my country, my film, and my fraternity. A big Thank you to the Victorian government for supporting the Indian film fraternity. It is so great to see films from various cultures under one roof," she said. The 40-year-old actress also thanked the director of the festival, Mitu Bhowmick Lange for the special trip. "This trip is special because I have come here with my daughter, Adira. It's the first time she will be seeing Melbourne," she added. Actor Freida Pinto was also in attendance, talking about the premiere of her next film 'Love Sonia' she said, "Love Sonia gives you a glimpse into the world of oval sex trafficking. But it still doesn't show the entire world of it. Also, we didn't want to make a gratuitous film. At the end of the day, we want people to understand the sense of what really happens in this part of the world and how much of it is kept away from us." The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will be held from August 10 to August 22 in Melbourne, Australia. It will screen over 60 films from all across India and the subcontinent in over 22 languages. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google quietly introduced a new social media app that will make your search about celebrities a little more interesting. Called Cameos, the app allows celebrities or public figures of authority record video answers to the most asked questions on Google by people. One can simply record their answer and post it right on Google. As per the app's description on App Store, one gets to choose which question they want to answer and when to answer. The celebrity gets to choose from most asked questions, fan questions, and trending topics related to them. The concept is similar to Reddit's AMA (Ask Me Anything) session which is very popular among celebrities. Cameos on Google app is currently available only by application. Celebrities will have to install the app to request access. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the occasion of 'World Tribal Day', Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Thursday praised the tribal community and acknowledged their contribution in the development of the state. While addressing a gathering, Singh said, "The World Tribal Day is such an event where we feel proud of our ancestors and culture. If today our nature and forest is preserved then it is only because of the tribal people's contribution. We also remember those leaders who fought with British and Mughals to save nature." Highlighting development in the state, the Chief Minister said that many children belonging to the tribal community have started going to school. "Since the past few years, the tribals have moved towards growth and development. Even children are now going to school. Sanitation has also become one of their priorities to look into. We have many schools and job opportunities in areas like Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker and few others," Singh noted. The Chief Minister further said that after road connectivity the state government is looking forward to improve the telecom connectivity. "Half of Bastar division was in darkness for last 60 years and the challenge was to provide power in forest areas. Now, most villages enjoy solar power. After road connectivity in Bastar region, now the government is moving towards telecom connectivity. Under SKY scheme, smartphones will be distributed to 40 lakh women," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Friday demanded resignation of Union Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain in a case of alleged rape. The party also urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to ensure strictest action against him. An FIR was filed against Gohain on August 2 on charges of alleged rape and sexual assault under Sections 417, 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code in Assam's Nagaon, according to the Nagaon police. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, while addressing the media, came down heavily on the BJP for "failing the women of the country." He said, "These are the same people who used provocative and emotionally charged slogans to woo the people of the country before 2014 (elections). And now, their cabinet ministers are being charged with sexual assault and rapes, yet the party maintains silence and action is hardly taken against those involved in such cases." Enlisting cases in which BJP leaders were allegedly involved, Khera mentioned alleged rape cases in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district and Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua city. In Unno, BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger is the key accused in the alleged rape of a minor girl. In Kathua, BJP Ministers were found participating in a rally in support of those involved in an eight-year-old girl's alleged rape. Accusing the BJP of silence in the Muzaffarpur shelter home alleged rapes, Khera said that none of the BJP top ministers found time to even tweet on the issue. The BJP could have come down heavily on their alliance partner Nitish Kumar in Bihar, he added. Khera said, "You stood with the rapists, and now you are silent on the matter of the Muzaffarpur shelter home case, and on similar cases emerging from Pratapgarh and Deoria." Even the resignation of Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma happened under media pressure, Khera added. Khera's comments came following Congress President Rahul Gandhi questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over incidents of alleged rapes in the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Rahul Gandhi said, "The prime minister does not utter a word when girls are raped in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Now, even women across the country have begun to wonder why the Prime Minister is not speaking on the issue". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scores of people gathered outside the British High Commission in the capital to protest against the 'Referendum 2020' campaign organised by a US-based separatist Sikh organisation that is slated to be held in London on August 12. Demonstrators from the Sikh community and civil society under the banner of All India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) chanted anti-UK and anti-Pakistan slogans and were seen holding banners that read - "UK supporting ISI project code name 'Express'" and "Don't shelter ISI and Pakistan sponsored elements." Amid slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', AlATF chairman MS Bitta termed the Referendum 2020 campaign "a mere drama", and claimed that Pakistan's ISI was fueling anti-India and pro-Khalistan activities. "The UK government should hand over terrorists and extradite separatist leaders of such organisations to India. This fight will go on until the UK government take such actions. We have submitted a memorandum to the governments. India is one country," he added. A five-member delegation of the AIATF also submitted a memorandum to the British High Commissioner. A day ahead of the protest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the Referendum 2020 rally would promote communal disharmony and propagate secessionism, adding that India has already issued a couple of demarches to the UK over the upcoming pro-Khalistan meet in London. It added that most of the Sikh communities abroad had "good relations" with India. The separatist Sikh organisation, Sikhs for Justice (SJF) is organising a campaign on 'London Declaration on Referendum 2020', seeking a separate Khalistan state. Many Sikh politicians and organisations have condemned the pro-Khalistan meet that is to take place this Sunday. Dal Khalsa, a Punjab-based radical political group, which has for years been advocating, supporting and campaigning for a separate homeland for the people of Punjab termed 'Referendum 2020' as an opinion poll being conducted amongst the Sikhs living abroad. Kanwarpal Singh, the spokesperson of Dal Khalsa told ANI that the event had not garnered any support from the people and groups of Punjab as they were not taken into the loop before such a decision was taken. Meanwhile, the British High Commission in a statement made it clear that while there is freedom of protest and expression in the UK, the government would not allow any groups spreading hatred or violence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four days after the demise of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, an emergency executive meeting of the party has been called on August 14. The meeting will be held at the AIADMK party headquarters Anna Arivalyam in Chennai. The announcement for the meeting was made by General Secretary K Anbalagan. All the executive members of the party have been directed to be present at the meeting. This is going to be the first executive meeting of after the demise of party chief Karunanidhi on August 7. Resolutions on the death of Karunanidhi and important decisions are expected to be passed in the upcoming executive meeting. There is also a wide speculation and expectations that Karunanidhi's younger son MK will be elevated to the post of the party President. Presently, is holding the post of working president in the party. The call to hold the meeting was taken after met senior party leaders. Kamal Hassan's brainchild, 'Vishwaroop 2' has released today and the actor's excited fans are celebrating. Movie theatres in parts of Tamil Nadu witnessed fans celebrating by bursting firecrackers, dancing and playing drums. Some were also seen worshipping the cutouts of the 63-year-old and offering milk to it as a way of showing respect. Featuring Hassan as a special agent, the film is packed with a lot of nail-biting action sequences. The flick's trailer garnered immense appreciation after its release in June. The drama-thriller also stars Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Rahul Bose and Shekhar Kapur. Written, directed, and produced by Hassan himself, the film has been shot in two languages, Hindi and Tamil and is also being dubbed in Telugu. The film was marred with controversy after makers had to face a legal battle over a financial dispute, however, yesterday Madras High Court ruled in favour of the film and paved way for its release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) GoWork, the world's largest collaborative co-working ecosystem, has announced its plans to raise USD 200 million from PE investors during its next funding round. An ecosystem for entrepreneurship, GoWork aims to utilize the funds acquired to realize its massive expansion plans, which includes launching at least 50 campuses across the country in the next 5 years. "With increasing competition, we foresee a massive upsurge in the market combined with a culture of consolidations, buyouts and mergers. We want to move in this direction following our policy of ownership of spaces that offers greater flexibility to our clients," said co-founder and chief evangelist, GoWork, Sudeep Singh. Through world-class amenities, GoWork aims to increase the profitability of businesses by providing them state-of-the-art facilities at only a fraction of the cost that it would take them to otherwise own or hire a dedicated office space. GoWork also offers a high-speed 2 Mbps internet access to individuals. GoWork has already developed a strong clientele with brands such as Zomato, Paytm, Lifelong, etc., on its list. With an equally well equipped second campus and a focused approach towards completing a successful funding round, GoWork is all set to emerge as the leading symbol of India's transforming work culture. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lawyer of Vaibhav Raut, who was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) earlier today for allegedly storing suspicious material at his residence, claimed that his client was not informed about the arrest. Speaking to ANI, Raut's lawyer, Sanjiv Punalekar, claimed that the former was being targeted for actively opposing issues like cow slaughter and Love Jihad. "Anti-Terrorism Squad has not intimated us about the arrest of Vaibhav Raut. Wonder what kind of law is being followed in this country and in Maharashtra. We will take all legal steps necessary," he noted. Punalekar further claimed that the explosives may have been planted in Raut's house by the ATS itself. "Yes, he (Raut) was a Hindutva activist and had joined us in Hindu Adhiveshan at Goa. He was quite active against cow slaughter, Love Jihad and illegal loudspeakers at Mosques; that is why he was asked to leave Palghar. We suspect Malegaon kind of foul play where explosives were planted by ATS," he added. Meanwhile, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti issued a press note and termed the arrest of Raut as "Malegaon Part 2". "He was active in several Hindutva Outfits programmes in the past but since few months he was not active in any programme of Hindutva outfits. It seems that ATS has worked on the same pattern like it had worked in Malegaon case where it had arrested several Sanatan Sanstha Sadhak illegally," state coordinator of Hindu Adhiveshan Sunil Ghanwat said in the release. Raut, who was a member of the Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, was detained earlier in the day after his residence in Mumbai's Nala Sopara area was raided by a team of ATS officials. During the raid, officials recovered some suspicious material from his residence and a nearby shop. The ATS will present Raut before the Bhoiwada Court in Mumbai later in the day after adhering to adequate legal formalities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Many are concerned at China's more assertive military posture - whether it be outrageous territorial claims in the South China Sea, or incessant "salami slicing" of Indian territory along the Himalayan border - but there is one country above all others most at risk of Chinese military adventurism. That country is Taiwan, even though Beijing would furiously reject the appellation of "country" being given to what it terms a"renegade province" of the People's Republic of China. China has two options - either to give up on reunifying Taiwan, or to make even more concrete plans to invade and conquer it. The brand of nationalism espoused by Xi makes the former virtually impossible. In 1995-96, China launched missiles into waters off Taiwanese harbors in a mark of its displeasure, but there is a growing chance things will go much further next time. China officially spends twelve times more on its military than does Taiwan. Thisbalance of military power, which continues to tilt more heavily in Beijing's favor, is enough to make military action even more viable in Beijing's eyes. Rapprochement with Taiwan under Ma Ying-jeou'sadministration (2008-16) went as far as it could. At that point the 23 million populace voted for the opposition party of Tsai Ing-wen, and that led to an immediate reversal of cordial relations. Nevertheless, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has declared, "We will not succumb to pressure from China...Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country." Ian Easton, a research fellow at the Project 2049 Institute, a Virginia-based think tank, told ANI that Taiwan has always been central in People's Liberation Army (PLA) doctrine. "Xi Jinping has been much more focused on preparing to one day occupy the island. It's always been the party's and the PLA's main strategic direction ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union.It is the main war plan scenario. This is the main justification for the military build-up. This is the thing they train for, that they teach officers about in military academies and command schools." ANI was very interested in Easton's thoughts on the most likely method China could use to attack Taiwan. He respondedhonestly, "I don't know that I have an answer to it, but it's something we have to ask ourselves. What's the most likely course of action and what are some of the black swans [the term "black swan" refers to an unpredictable event that deviates beyond what is normally expected] - the sort of things they could do but we would not anticipate for the element of surprise?" Last year Easton published a thoroughly researched book called The Chinese Invasion Threat: Taiwan's Defense and American Strategy in Asia. In it he highlighted five possible scenarios that could lead to an invasion, although he warned the number of scenarios depended only on one's imagination. He expressed, "My personal view, at least right now, is that the most likely course of action.is to seize Taiwanese-controlled islands. Taiwan controls over 100 islands - tiny islands in most cases. China could attempt to seize Itu Aba [Taiping Island] in the South China Sea. It's already surrounded on three sides by massive military or civil-military facilities constructed on the many islands." Taiping is the largest natural island in the South China Sea, yet Taipei guards it with only coastguardsmen in an effort to avoid escalating militarism in the maritime region. Easton continued, "Slightly more difficult but strategically tempting from China's side, I'd think, are the Pratas Islands [just 310km southeast of Hong Kong]." Another inviting target would be Taiwanese-controlled islands just off the coast of the mainland, such as Kinmen, which is just 2km from the Chinese coast, or Matsu. "There are a lot out there that China could look to pick off. In terms of an actual kinetic low-scale conflict scenario, I could certainly imagine them doing so." Easton said he could imagine China deliberately creating a crisis in the next few years in order to give an excuse to capture such islands. Easton described yet another possible method of military coercion, that of a blockade. "China could do many things short of a massive international incident. They could start gradually and ramp it up, or they could go back and forth with different periods of intensity that are generally not lethal. They could use everything from naval capabilities to threats of naval capabilities.to cyberattacks and psychological warfare attacks. They can run the gamut and, then, if they want to, they can escalate. I think it should be an appealing option for the Chinese because they could have massive political effects on Taiwan,and they could potentially undermine the US position in the region without really doing anything that starts a conflict." Indeed, this is precisely the methodology China has used in the South China Sea. It reclaimed reefs and built military bases togive de facto control over vast swathes of maritime region. The PLA Navy follows foreign warships traversing these waters and it interdicts fishermen from other countries. It has acted in small ways that have gradually built up into a major military presence, even though each individual step was rather innocuous at the time. Therefore, the greatest danger is such "gray zone" operations,where China can use some ambiguous degree of force and hope to get away with it. Easton suggested that in some respects an international "blockade" of Taiwan has already begun. Examples include ostracizing Taiwan within international organizations or pressuring foreign firms to list Taiwan as part of China on their websites. "It's really, really intensified in the past six months,"Easton observed. Is it conceivable that China and the PLA would contemplate a full-blown invasion of Taiwan? It would be a formidable military task and the operation would be fraught with risk. For example, Easton lists only 14 possible landing beaches on the Taiwan coast and perhaps four weeks of permissive weather conditions in the notoriously rough Taiwan Strait. And these are just the geographic and climatic challenges, let alone a fairly well-equipped military who would be expected to put up stiff resistance. The fact remains that, if China wants to control Taiwan, it mustput boots ashore in a huge amphibious operation. And yet to achieve a successful landing, the attack would have to be all-encompassing and massive. Such an invasion would thus represent the most serious scenario Taiwan could face against the PLA. Ironically, however, this would require morepreparations by the PLA, thus giving more warning to Taiwan's defenders. Roger Cliff, a senior researcher at the Center for Naval Analyses, a US non-profit research organization, spoke recently at a meeting organized by the Global Taiwan Institute think tank, Cliff listed four scenarios in which Beijing could ostensibly use force against Taiwan. One is if Beijing thinks the USA will not intervene or it can be kept at arm's length until Taiwan collapses. Second is apathy or a lack of resolve on Taipei's part to resist China. Another is if China's leaders reach the conclusion that the USA will not intervene. A fourth scenario is if domestic pressure or internal crisis pushes Beijing into action, even at the cost of failure. This all means that Taiwan must have the wherewithal and the determination to defend itself and hold out until the US war machine spools up and gets into action. It also requires the USA to make clear its intentions and obligations to military assist Taiwan, rather than hiding behind ambiguous or vague promises. Yet, are some hyping up the possibility of a full Chinese invasion? Easton's considered opinion is, "No, it's not scaremongering - it's definitely possible. The question is, is it probable? And I think the answer is, no, it's not probable. Look at it and it would be so incredibly dangerous to everyone concerned, so that any logical or rational leader in China is going to say, 'We could do that, we could attempt it, but I'm not sure that we're going to succeed and it would be so dangerous that it isn't worth the risk.' That's how a rational leader or politburo could view it." However, Easton pointed out problems relying on this line of thinking. The American warned, "There are two things that make a full-scale war much more likely over the coming ten years or so." "One is that China's leadership may not be rational. "We don't know. If there was a crisis in China that we may or may not know about, like a coup attempt or some kind of disaster.Most authoritarian governments, especially communist-Leninist political organizations like theirs, sooner or later do things that we'd consider irrational." The other problem is that Xi Jinping may not receive sageadvice from his inner circle. "The reason that he might not get good information is that he's become a dictator. He's purged so many of his top political rivals and so many of his top military generals, and in that kind of environment when there's purging going on, it's very, very brutal. There's an incredible amount of fear." Regarding the Taiwan situation, for example, "If Xi asks the right questions about Taiwan, people could tell him what they think he wants to hear. He could then come to what he thinks are rational conclusions, and then make terrifying decisions based on that information." Easton is of the opinion that war becomes more likely the longer that Xi remains in power too. Easton gave the example of the restructuring into theater commands as evidence that Taiwan is the number one priority. "The whole military reform program that we've seen since 2016, the public rhetoric, is that it's to build up a joint-capable PLA who wants to be able to conduct joint operations. But if you look at China's war plans, there's only one that requires joint operations - the invasion of Taiwan." Operations along the mountainous Indian border, for example, would be firmly army-centric. "The point is, if you look at China's doctrinal writings, their military textbooks and theoretical writings, there's only one scenario where they envision they need a truly joint-capable military. So that suggests, at least to me, that now they're doing the military reform program to get ready for an invasion of Taiwan." Significantly, the PLA's Eastern Theater Command, which faces Taiwan, was the only one not to have group armies cut during the reorganization. That particular command is also listed first in protocol order. In a rigid communist system where everything is linear and ordered, this is hugely symbolic. Previously, under the old Military Region structure, units in the north protectingagainst a potential Soviet land invasion were the most important. Now, units in the Eastern Theater Command get all the best equipment first since they have priority. New weapons for the PLA are also determined by the Taiwan situation, and the need to fend off its US ally. It is precisely why such weapons as the DF-21D ballistic anti-ship missile were developed. To date, China has failed to convince the Taiwanese people as a whole that joining the ranks of communist-led China will be good for them. Additionally, Taiwan has been able to witness Beijing's heavy-handed tactics in Hong Kong, where freedom of expression and political liberties are now being smothered. Unable to make progress ideologically, China has resorted to heavy-handed measures in a wide-ranging campaign of coercion. However, its absurd bullying, which is ramping up to unprecedented levels, is backfiring even further. People in Taiwan and all around the have had ample opportunity to see just how an authoritarian state truly behaves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unionville Vineyards is launching a special edition series of farm-to-table style dinners hosted on the winery property beginning later this month and throughout September to mark 25 year of making wine. The Hunterdon County producer, a short drive over the bridge from Pa.'s Bucks County, is considered one of the country's top wineries, per Food & wine magazine in 2017. One of four members of the successful Winemakers Co-op, it's largely a producer of dry wines that among other things has been moving toward expanding the use of Rhone grapes. Its Mistral Rouge ($27.95) is an example of that direction: The dry red is a 100% estate grown blend of Syrah (55%), Counoise (42%), & Viognier (3%). READ MORE: Unionville (N.J.) Vineyards earns spot on list of nation's top wineries The first dinner will take place Aug. 31 and continue through Sept. 21, combining a hand-picked group of culinary partners, restaurants and celebrated local chefs who will create unique, multi-course family style dinners using locally grown ingredients paired with Unionville's wines. You can see the schedule below. Those will lead up to an anniversary party on Sept. 23, with the details remaining to be announced. John Cifelli returned to Unionville Vineyard as general manager a couple years ago, and with the approaching series of dinner and anniversary party I asked him to use email to riff a bit about the winery's present and anticipated place in winemaking, both in New Jersey and along the East Coast. "New Jersey is still young as a wine region, but it is developing rapidly. I want Unionville to be a model citizen in the industry - a winery that peers are proud to share space with, aspire to, and/or look to as a model for a business that is healthy and sustainable," he wrote. "That means growing good fruit, making great wine, offering world-class experiences, and being proud and transparent in our practices. READ MORE: Wine tour 2017: Four wineries in one central N.J. day trip "In two and a half years since I returned here, we've doubled our sales and are expanding our land under vine to keep up with continued projected growth. That's happened while reducing the number of farmers markets, and almost completely abandoning festivals. We've had our wines poured at some of the best restaurants in New Jersey- The Ryland Inn, Agricola, Rat's, Brick Farm Tavern, Jockey Hollow, The Peacock Inn - and that's what counts most, to me. "We've earned our place in the favor of discerning palates. We could make more money by buying fruit or juice and churning out volume, but I wouldn't be proud of that. So we make less money but have built sustainable demand. If the farmers market closes, the festival isn't repeated, or the liquor store wants to carry something else, it doesn't affect us anymore. We've achieved sustainable demand from the right clientele. That's what lasts." As for what's ahead, Cifelli said the plan is to grow slowly while continuing to invest in its production methods. READ MORE: Can you find quality wine in New Jersey? Partnership is helping make that happen "We will make better wine," he said. "Our wines dance around the 90 point threshold when reviewed by critics and writers - we want to consistently be 90 points-plus. There's a guy looking to make the first 100 point wine on the East Coast down in Maryland. We want to beat him to that finish line. "Otherwise, the next few years will involve helping some new wineries in the area do their best, being good neighbors, and recognizing that no one in the state operates in a bubble, and the impressions of patrons at one winery affect their attitude and opinion of all of us. We've got to keep working together to elevate the state at large, and I'm always looking for ways to do that." Unionville Vineyards' 25th anniversary festivities by PennLive on Scribd Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next. Amid speculations about Pakistan's Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan's swearing-in dates, the Pakistani media ran a report quoting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed saying that the former would take oath on August 18. It was being speculated that Khan would take the oath prior to Pakistan's Independence Day celebrations on August 14. However, Pakistani media on Friday quoted Javed saying that the swearing-in will take place on August 18. Geo TV in its report mentioned that Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain has postponed his foreign tours for the time being to remain present in the country to administer the oath of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Pakistani media has been mentioning various dates for Khan's swearing-in. Several media reports claimed that Khan's PTI party had announced that he would take the oath before August 14. Pakistan went to polls on July 25 and the PTI had emerged as the single largest party with 116 seats after the Election Commission of Pakistan released the complete results for 270 of 272 National Assembly (NA) constituencies. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which won 64 seats came second, while the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) bagged 43 seats and finished third. The election was marred by tedious counting, violence and allegations of rigging by major political parties, including the PML-N and PPP. The opposition parties had rejected the results and demanded a transparent re-election. The PTI has claimed that it had enough numbers to form the government at the centre in coalition with other smaller parties. The party on Monday formally announced Khan as the new Pakistan Prime Ministerial candidate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh will hold a courtesy meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan on Friday at 4 On July 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Khan as his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party emerged as the largest political party in the recently concluded general elections and expressed hope that democracy would take deeper roots in Pakistan. According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Prime Minister Modi called for peace and development in the entire neighbourhood. Pakistan went to polls on July 25 and the PTI had emerged as the single largest party with 116 seats after the Election Commission of Pakistan released the complete results for 270 of 272 National Assembly (NA) constituencies. On July 28, the MEA in a statement said that "India desired to have a prosperous and progressive Pakistan at peace with its neighbours." In response to questions from the media regarding the general elections in Pakistan, MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We welcome that the people of Pakistan have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections. India desires to have a prosperous and progressive Pakistan at peace with its neighbours." India expressed hope that the newly elected government would work constructively to build a safe, stable, secure and developed South Asia which will be free of terrorism and violence. In his first speech after the general elections, Khan said he wanted to have good relations with India and work to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue. Mentioning Kashmir as the core issue of dispute between the two nations, he said that it was time the two countries sat across the table and discussed the issues of concern. "We should sit across and resolve the issues instead of we blaming India for problems in Balochistan and they blame us for problems in Kashmir. I can say that if you (India) will take one step forward, we will take two steps forward. The relationship between the two countries has been one-sided so far and Pakistan has been blamed for all sorts of terrorism in the We want friendship with India and want to resolve all issues through dialogue," Khan elucidated. Amid speculations about Khan's swearing-in dates, the Pakistani media ran a report quoting PTI Senator Faisal Javed saying that the former would take oath on August 18. The PTI has claimed that it had enough numbers to form the government at the centre in coalition with other smaller parties. The party on Monday formally announced Khan as the new Pakistan Prime Ministerial candidate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After videos showcasing vehicles being vandalised by Kanwariyas across Northern states went viral on social media, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the police to take strict action against those responsible for erupting violence and breaching laws. A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, and comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, reiterated an earlier verdict, which stated that videography of every procession should have to be made. The top court, while citing the 2009 judgement, also said that the organisers were responsible for any violence reported during the procession. On Wednesday, a group of Kanwariyas, armed with iron rods and sticks, smashed a car in Delhi's South Moti Nagar area after the driver allegedly tried to brush past one of them while moving on a busy road. A similar incident also took place in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district on August 7, wherein Kanwariyas were filmed attacking a police SUV on a busy road, and also indulged in an altercation with the locals. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma assured that authorities will take necessary action against those found guilty. "Those on spiritual pilgrimage are lost in the devotion of God, and can never be violent. But if some anti-social elements get involved then we will take strict action, no one will be spared irrespective of who he is," he told ANI. Kanwar pilgrims are the devotees of Hindu God, Shiva, who embark on a pilgrimage every year during the Hindu month of Saavan. Pilgrims can be seen carrying heavy pots filled with Ganga water on their shoulders, which they empty at the temples of Lord Shiva. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five students of Manipal Institute of Technology, MAHE -- Shibashis Guru, Abhilash AL, Gokul Valsan, Yugandhar Nighojkar and Sahil Gholap -- participated in the Geoscientific Studies of Exclusive Economic Zone in Bay of Bengal onboard National flagship ORV Sagar Kanya recently. These five are students of MSc Geology, final year. The students contributed in the mapping of the Bay bed off Puri using Multi Beam Echo Sounder along with scientists led by Dr Twinkle Damodharan from the National Centre for Antarctica and Ocean Research (NCAOR) and others. These students received onboard training on various oceanographic, geophysical and geological instruments, their operations and the data acquisition and processing software. The students spent 31 days on-board the scientific vessel travelling from Chennai to the survey area and then across Sri Lanka, returning to Kochi. It was an adventurous voyage for the budding scientists, where they got to experience the real life encounters of an oceanographic research cruise. The entire on-board expenses of the students were borne by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. They are the first batch of MSc students from MAHE going on-board a government-owned scientific research vessel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea on Thursday accused select senior United States officials of attempting to further strengthen international sanctions imposed on the reclusive nation. Pyongyang asserted that it had stopped its nuclear missile programme and dismantled its nuclear testing site, as part of the global commitment for ensuring denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap News Agency reported. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea's foreign spokesperson said, "As long as the US denies even the basic decorum for its dialogue partner and clings to the outdated acting script which the previous administrations have all tried and failed, one cannot expect any progress in the implementation." The unnamed spokesperson cautioned that there was no guarantee as to when the current atmosphere of peace and stability would continue in the peninsula. The spokesperson maintained that North Korea remained committed to building trust and confidence and implementing the US-North Korea joint statement in good faith. "The U.S. should, even at this belated time, respond to our sincere efforts in a corresponding manner," the spokesperson added. At the Singapore summit in June, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump had signed a joint agreement, wherein the latter agreed to work for a 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula' in exchange for security guarantees by the US. On Monday, Seoul asked Pyongyang to accelerate their denuclearisation process, while asking the US to faithfully carry out its promises on the same. Asked about a possible breakthrough in the denuclearisation talks between North Korea and the US, Yonhap News Agency quoted Cheong Wa Dae (South Korean presidential office) spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom saying, "We are asking North Korea to speed up its denuclearisation process. And to the US, we are asking that it to show sincere efforts about corresponding measures that North Korea is demanding." Last week, a US official said that North Korea was reportedly constructing new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and its missile programme was doing "business as usual. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A special court of the Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday extended the judicial custody of Kashmiri separatist Asiya Andrabi and two others till September 7. Asia Andrabi, the chief of banned outfit Dukhtaran-e- Milat, was arrested by the NIA along with two of her associates, Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen, for allegedly waging war against the country with support from Pakistan. The NIA had stated in the court that the investigation conducted against them found links with a conspiracy to severely destabilise the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Several mobile numbers used by the Dukhtaran-e-Millat members were also collected and analysed as part of the investigation. The investigation revealed that they were in regular contact with associates in Pakistan and were embroiled in anti-India activities. The NIA also told the court that they were allegedly running a social media campaign to gain support from Pakistani establishments, including terrorist entities. The Dukhtaran-e-Millat was banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in April this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday dismissed the writ petition of an Indian prisoner who was seeking remissions in his prison term, reported The News International. The court gave the verdict after the Ministry of Interior apprised it that the Indian prisoner, Hamid Nihal Ansari, will be repatriated after completion of his prison term on December 15. A two-member bench comprising Justice Roohul Amin Khan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim passed the ruling. According to the news portal, Nihal Ansari, is languishing in the Central Prison Mardan, where he has been serving the sentence of three-year imprisonment which was awarded to him by a military court in December 2015 after slapping charges of espionage and involvement in anti-state activities on him. The Pakistan attorney general, representing the government told the court that according to the exchange of prisoners' agreement between Pakistan and India Ansari will be handed over to Indian authorities through the Wagah border within 24 hours after completion of his prison term. However, defending Nihal Ansari his counsel asserted before the court that his client was not convicted for any terrorist activity he was entitled to remissions. Ansari's counsel also emphasised that if he was granted remissions, he can be deported to India now. Ansari was a teacher at the Mumbai Management College, who in 2012 went to Pakistan to meet a woman whom he had befriended through social media. Ansari went missing after he was apprehended by the Pakistan intelligence agencies and local police from Kohat district in November 2012. The Pakistani security agencies claimed Ansari had used fake identity card in the name of "Hamza" and he had entered Pakistan through Afghanistan without travel documents. They charged him for "anti-state activities." Ansari later filed a petition challenging the allegations of being a spy and sought better treatment in prison. The Mardan Central Prison superintendent in a written reply told the court that Ansari has been kept in a solitary confinement cell owing to the nature of his crime which amounts to anti-state activities, reported the The News International. "For this reason, he is exempted from the ambit of special remissions granted by the federal and provincial governments and the inspector general of prisons," the portal quoted Mardan Central Prison superintendent's reply. "Under Section 21 (F) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, no remission in the sentence is allowed to any person who is convicted and sentenced for any anti-state offence. The crimes of the petitioner are severe in nature, due to which he has not been granted any remission on the same analogy," the reply from Mardan Central Prison said. However, Ansari's counsel criticised the Mardan Central Prison superintendent's argument while saying that it is not for the superintendent of a jail to decide whether a prisoner is entitled to ordinary remission or not. As per The News International, the Pakistan Defence Ministry, echoed similar sentiments as Mardan Central Prison superintendent and said that Ansari, who was convicted by the Field General Court Martial, was not entitled to any remission, owing to the serious nature of charges pressed against him. The news of the Ansari's arrest came to fore after his mother Fauzia Ansari filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court, here. On January 13 the Court informed that Ansari was in the custody of Pakistani Army and was being tried by a military court. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had in August 2016 asked Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad to seek Consular Access to Ansari. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain will call a session of the National Assembly (NA) on August 13. Hussain signed a summary sent by Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk, which directed the former to convene the first NA session on the stipulated date, The Express Tribune reported. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq would administer the oath to the newly elected candidates. After this, Sadiq would himself take oath as the member of the NA. Sadiq would then oversee the election of the new Speaker in the house. Finally, under the new Speaker, the Deputy Speaker of the NA would be elected. The name of the new Pakistan Prime Minister would be announced by the newly sworn-in Speaker of the house, as per The Express Tribune report. Pakistan went to polls on July 25 and Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had emerged as the single largest party with 116 seats after the ECP released the complete results for 270 of 272 NA constituencies. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) which won 64 seats came second, while the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) bagged 43 seats and finished third. The PTI has claimed that it had enough numbers to form the government at the centre in coalition with other smaller parties. The party on Monday formally announced Khan as the new Pakistan Prime Ministerial candidate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and television host Aamir Liaquat Hussain was on Friday issued a show cause notice by the Supreme Court of Pakistan for alleged contempt of court. A Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar-led three-member bench issued the notice while hearing a petition filed by a TV channel-- the Jang group-- against Hussain, with Justice Nisar questioning his credibility for being in the Parliament, the Dawn reported. Faisal Iqbal, the TV channel's legal counsel, argued in the court that Hussain had "accused Geo TV anchor Shahzeb Khanzada of supporting blasphemy convicts". "He also levelled grave allegations against Najam Sethi. No one has the right to call anyone infidel or traitor," Iqbal added. Following a clip of the TV programmes, where Hussain was seen to have made the remarks, was played, Justice Nisar said, "Do (you) teach the general public this through TV? A person who does not know what to say at a public forum, should he be in the parliament?" Justice Nisar also contemplated annulling Hussain's recent victory from the constituency NA-249 in the recently-held Pakistan General Elections. This comes after the Supreme Court had instructed Hussain's current employers-- Bol news-- to not air any "hateful content", or being charged with contempt of court. On being asked for an explanation for his comments, Hussain said that he used the remarks for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajeet Duval, with the court accusing him of lying and saying, "This drama won't fly here." This was followed by Justice Nisar serving a contempt of court show cause notice to Hussain for falsifying in court and using offensive language, giving him two-week time to file a written reply to his charges. Justice Nisar then adjourned the case without specifying a date for further hearing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to create awareness about the ill effects of crop residue burning and management, Parijat Urja Chakra in collaboration with (KVKs) organized a special campaign at Fatehgarh village of Ambala in The special focus of the campaign was to create awareness among farmers about proper management of crops residue and the ill effects of stubble burning after harvesting. The meeting was attended by dozens of farmers. The burning of agricultural Crop Residue (CRB) has been identified as a major health hazard, in addition to causing exposure to extremely high levels of Particulate Matter concentration to people in the immediate vicinity. Senior scientist from Dr. Guruprem sensitized the participants about the importance of straw management and the need of creating awareness among the rural masses. He also explained about the recommended machinery and techniques of straw management. Such type of campaign is necessary to sensitize the farmers about management for residue. Several efforts are being made to provide the various residue management implements on subsidy to the farmers. I appealed to the farmers to follow and spread the message given by the team of KVK for the welfare of the society and to save environment, said Dr. Guruprem Underscoring the impact of crop residue burning, he said crop burning leads to air, land and water pollution. It also leads to reduction of nutrients in the soil. Keeping in mind the commitment towards farmers, safety handbooks were also distributed amongst the farmers on safe use of crop protection products. On the other hand, the government is also set to launch a massive campaign in the state to create awareness among farmers about proper management of crops residue and the ill effects of stubble burning in view of the ensuing paddy harvesting season. Parijat industries ( Pvt Ltd is one of the leading agro- manufacturing company with its manufacturing base at Ambala, and with a presence in 16 Indian states, and exports spanning over 70 countries. Parijat and its international subsidiaries sell branded formulations in countries of Asia, Africa, CIS, Europe, North and South America. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday took into the record the affidavit filed by the Centre which stated that the President had rejected the proposal to release seven convicts jailed in Tamil Nadu in connection with the assassination case of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The apex court later adjourned the matter after hearing. The affidavit from the Central Government came after the apex court asked the Centre to explain its take on Tamil Nadu's 2016 decision to acquit all seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. In May 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber, during an election rally in Sriperumpudur. Besides Nalini, Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran were convicted in the case. All seven convicts are serving life terms and had been in jail for last 27 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indrani Mukerjea, the former head of INX Media and the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, filed a fresh bail plea in a special CBI Court in Mumbai on Friday. This came two months after Sheena's brother, Mikhail Bora testified in a special CBI Court against Indrani. Earlier, the former CEO of INX Media had told the CBI court that she feared for her life, and confirmed that she had not spoken to anyone. This statement from Indrani came just a two weeks after she was admitted to JJ Hospital for an alleged drug overdose. Mukerjea has been lodged in Mumbai's Byculla jail for killing her daughter, Sheena Bora, in April 2012, allegedly over a financial dispute. Indrani and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna were arrested in August 2015 along with her former driver Shyamvar Rai, while Indrani's present husband Peter Mukerjea was nabbed in November the same year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Friday asserted that Tibetans are ready to be part of China, if they would be allowed to preserve their culture and language. The spiritual leader while addressing 'Thank You Karnataka' event, said, "Tibetan issue will never die, it will remain. We are not seeking independence. We are very much committed to remain with the People's Republic of China, provided we have full rights to preserve our culture and language." The Dalai Lama also thanked former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and India, for helping the Tibetan refugees in exile. He also thanked Karnataka for its extraordinary support for the Tibetans. The event was organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Thousands of Tibetans were forced to flee from their country when China annexed Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama also fled to India during that time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Venture Catalysts has announced a pre-series A round of funding worth USD 1 million in the world's first real-life virtual trial room, Try & Buy Fashions. Backed by prominent influencers from the industry including Muralikrishnan B. (COO, Xiaomi/Ex-COO, Jabong & Senior VP Myntra), Vinod Sood (MD Hughes), Bhaskar Raju, Co-Founder Redbus, Try & Buy Fashions aims to bring online shopping as close to the offline experience as possible by allowing trying and buying of apparel through virtual stylists and virtual trial rooms. An IP protected virtual trial room with an AI-based personalized stylist, Try & Buy creates lifelike animated 3D models of users, customized through their body type, body parts, height, weight, skin tone, hairs etc. "Virtual Trial Room is a concept whose time has come and Try & Buy with their capabilities in 3D Virtualization, Image recognition, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence is well poised to play a path-breaking role in this space. The opportunity is global in scale and Try & Buy's innovative approach places them in the driver's seat to play a crucial role in redefining Fashion shopping globally," said initial investor Muralikrishnan B. (COO, Xiaomi/ Ex-COO, Jabong & Senior VP Myntra). "We were highly impressed by Try & Buy's level of innovation, the enthusiasm of its founding team as well as its sound model. We are absolutely convinced of their vision and their ability to emerge as a leader in the category that will create next-generation fashion e-commerce portals," said Dr. Apoorv Ranjan Sharma, co-founder & president - Venture Catalysts. "VCats is a great platform that endeavours to back early- stage companies such as ours with the right mentorship and financial support. While we have already made our game strong in the industry through our tech, products and patent ring fencing along with 5 years of deep research in solving the problem of understanding the body shape of men and women, this Pre-Series A funding will further propel our growth," said Nikki, Innovation Head, Try & Buy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister's estranged son Tyrone Keith McAllister has been arrested for physically assaulting a 71-year-old Sikh man in Manteca here. Union Minister for Food Processing, Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Wednesday shared a CCTV footage on her Twitter handle, in which Tyrone and his accomplice confronted the elderly Sikh man, at what looked like a deserted road near a park. In a statement, the Union City Police Department said that one of the two perpetrators involved in the assault of an elderly Manteca man on August 6 was the son of Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister, Tyrone Keith McAllister. Tyrone, who was believed to be wearing a dark coloured hoodie and jeans kicked the elderly man to the ground in a fit of rage. He then continued kicking the man, yelling something and spit on him, before fleeing the scene. "Chief McAllister's status as a law enforcement leader has no bearing or relation to the case whatsoever, but he is devastated by how much the nature of his son's actions are such a departure from everything he has stood for in his personal life and 37 year career of compassionate, engaging police work," the statement added. It continued that Chief McAllister and his wife worked with the Manteca Police Department to help track down and arrest Tyrone. The statement further said, "Chief McAllister expresses deep concern for the victim and the victim's family and he remains steadfast that his son, an adult, must be accountable for his actions." Harsimrat, who is the Member of Parliament from Punjab, had raised concern over the rising incidents of alleged racism against Sikhs in the United States and sought External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's help. Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President, Gobind Singh Longewal requested the central government to take up the incident with US authorities. He said, "This is a sad incident, an elderly innocent man was a target of racial abuse. I appeal to our government to take up this matter with US authorities and ensure punishment for the culprits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To support its ambitious digital transformation strategy Tata Consultancy Services announced that Bahrain-based SNIC Insurance (formerly known as Saudi National Insurance Company) has selected TCS BaNCS for Insurance to support its ambitious digital transformation strategy in order to establish a unique leadership position in the market. TCS BaNCS will power SNIC's strategy and enable competitive advantage by supporting General and Medical Insurance, Financials and Business Intelligence. By leveraging this core platform, the company will be able to harmonize several existing product lines as well as roll out new products faster. As part of this mission-critical transformation, SNIC Insurance plans to replac e the existing core Policy Administration System {PAS) with a new comprehensive solution that can not only support existing operations but also power future growth aspirations. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could rise 4 points at the opening bell. On the macro front, the government will declare industrial production (IIP) data for June at 17:30 IST today, 10 August 2018. Overseas, most Asian stocks slipped with investors assessing the impact of the latest tit-for-tat in the trade war as well as sanctions on Russia. US stocks faded into the close to cap a second day of losses yesterday, 9 August 2018 amid selling in industrial and financial shares. Back home,the key equity indices rose to fresh highs on Thursday, with the benchmark BSE Sensex crossing the 38,000 level for the first time, driven by select banks stocks. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 136.81 points or 0.36% to settle at 38,024.37. The Nifty 50 index rose 20.70 points or 0.18% to settle at 11,470.70. The Sensex and the Nifty, both, hit fresh record high levels in intraday as well as on closing basis. The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 370.68 crore yesterday, 9 August 2018, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 85.39 crore yesterday, 9 August 2018, as per provisional data. Among corporate news,GAIL (India), Hindalco Industries and State Bank of India will announce April-June 2018 result today, 10 August 2018. State Bank of India (SBI) said that executive committee of central board (ECCB) accorded approval to explore and initiate the process of divestment upto 4% of stake of SBI in SBI General lnsurance Company to a non-promoter entity through small parcel share sale (SPSS). The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 9 August 2018. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stocks edged lower in early trade, with the Sensex falling below the psychological 38,000 level. At 9:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 83.57 points or 0.22% at 37,940.80. The Nifty 50 index was down 20.70 points or 0.18% at 11,450. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.1%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.12%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On the BSE, 848 shares rose and 757 shares fell. A total of 81 shares were unchanged. Overseas, most Asian stocks slipped with investors assessing the impact of the latest tit-for-tat in the trade war as well as sanctions on Russia. US stocks faded into the close to cap a second day of losses yesterday, 9 August 2018 amid selling in industrial and financial shares. Back home, GAIL (India) shed 0.45% ahead of its April-June 2018 result today, 10 August 2018. Hindalco Industries fell 0.51% ahead of its April-June 2018 result today, 10 August 2018. State Bank of India lost 1.37% ahead of its April-June 2018 result today, 10 August 2018. Meanwhile, SBI said that executive committee of central board (ECCB) accorded approval to explore and initiate the process of divestment upto 4% of stake of SBI in SBI General Insurance Company to a non-promoter entity through small parcel share sale (SPSS). The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 9 August 2018. Eicher Motors rose 2.62%. On a consolidated basis, net profit of Eicher Motors rose 25.36% to Rs 576.18 crore on 27.24% rise in net sales to Rs 2534.29 crore in Q1 June 2018 over Q1 June 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 9 August 2018. In the quarter ended June 2018, Royal Enfield posted its best ever performance. Royal Enfield sold 225,286 motorcycles in Q1 June 2018, registering a growth of 23% over 183,731 motorcycles sold in the same period last year. On the macro front, the government will declare industrial production (IIP) data for June at 17:30 IST today, 10 August 2018. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 16 people were killed as the Taliban launched a brazen attack on the strategic Afghan city of Ghazni in the early hours of Friday, seizing a number of key buildings and trading fire with security forces. Afghan soldiers fought back as the heavily-armed militants converged from four sides of the city. Ghazni public health director Zahir Shah Nikmall confirmed the toll and said at least 40 people were injured, the majority of them Afghan security forces, CNN reported. The clashes, according to provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal, erupted after hundreds of Taliban insurgents stormed important government entities including National Directorate for Security (Afghanistan's Inteligence Agency) and provincial governor's office. The militants later retreated from their positions and operations were underway to wipe out militants from in and around the city, said Mashal. Ghazni, the capital of the province of the same name, is less than 100 miles to the south of Kabul. It lies on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, an important artery connecting the capital to the country's southern provinces and some of its western ones. American forces responded with attack helicopters and a drone strike, according to US Forces Afghanistan spokesman Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that hundreds of fighters armed with heavy and light weapons entered Ghazni city around 1 a.m., capturing a number of strategic sites within the city and killing more than 140 Afghan soldiers. However, the US disputed that figure, saying initial reports indicated there were "minimal Afghan security force casualties". Afghanistan called the attack a "failed attempt" to seize territory "while creating strategically inconsequential headlines". The Ghazni attack was the second assault on an Afghan city this year. In May, insurgents overran the western city of Farah, but they left a day later amid counterattacks from the Afghan government and American airstrikes. Friday's assault could imperil any chances of a potential ceasefire between the government and Taliban for the Eid ul-Adha festival in less than two weeks time. Earlier, seven people were killed in Kabul in a suicide attack on a ministry in June, and a further 14 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport in July. The ongoing violence came amid the release of a UN report stating the number of Afghan civilians killed in the first six months of this year has reached a record high. --IANS soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A gas explosion on Friday at a Usiminas steel plant in Brazil's Ipatinga left around 20 people injured, officials said. Firefighters remain on the scene to investigate the cause of the incident and to determine the exact number of people who were injured, many of whom were taken to a nearby hospital by Usiminas' in-house emergency team, Efe reported. According to several residents, the explosion, which was heard and felt at several locations throughout the city, took place at around 1 p.m. The Minas Gerais state police evacuated the steel plant as well as nearby schools, although there was no need to evacuate residential buildings neighboring the plant, a fire department official said. "The incident is now under control. There was an explosion of the gasometer (a storage vessel), and that explosion burnt or dispersed all of the gas it contained. There was no fire, no fatal victims, and the people who were injured were taken to the hospital," he said. Usiminas confirmed that the gasometer of the Ipatinga plant had exploded, adding in a statement that it was investigating the cause of the blast. As a precautionary measure, the company, one of the most important steel firms in Brazil, has temporarily halted operations in the Ipatinga plant. --IANS qd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A small batch of 269 Amarnath pilgrims on Friday left Jammu for the cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley, police said. "The Yatris left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here for the Valley today morning in an escorted convoy of 15 vehicles," police sources said. This batch include pilgrims going both to the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps. The number of pilgrims has been steadily decreasing as the 60-day long Yatra has been going on for the last 44 days since it started on June 28. Over 2.77 lakh pilgrims have performed the Yatra so far. This year more pilgrims have performed the Yatra than during the last three years. The pilgrimage will end on August 26 coinciding with Shravan Purnima festival. --IANS sq/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Friday said that nearly 60 tourists, including foreigners, stranded at a resort near here are safe. In his Facebook post, Surendran said that 24 foreigners and 33 domestic tourists were holed up at the resort after the area was cut off from the outside world following landslides in the wake of heavy rains in the past two days. "We have sought the help of the Army and other agencies (for evacuation). Of these tourists, four Russians and an American couple expressed the desire to move out and were evacuated from a different route. It was a bit of an exercise. "Others present there said that they are prepared to wait as rescue agencies have undertaken construction of a motorable road for vehicles to ferry them out," the Minister said. The state government has advised tourists not to proceed to Idukki due to heavy rains. --IANS sg/tsb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police on Friday inducted an all-woman Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, consisting of 36 commandos -- the first-ever by any police force in India -- for anti-terrorist operations. Presiding over the induction ceremony, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed happiness that the Delhi Police has raised an all-woman SWAT team and mentioned that "they will be deployed during the upcoming Independence Day celebrations". The elite women commandos, hailing from the north-eastern states, will be deployed at strategic locations for securing the Independence Day celebrations. "The 36 women SWAT commandos have undergone rigorous 15-month training which includes basic, commando and advanced honing of skills under the tutelage of NSG (National Security Guard) trainers. The Delhi Police has raised the commandos for anti-terrorism duty under the Special Cell unit of the force," Rajnath Singh said. On the occasion, the Minister asked the Delhi Police to play a lead role as being the police of the national capital and advised the force to become a role model for other states and union territories' police. "The practices adopted by Delhi Police should be among the best practices of police," he said. Rajnath Singh also stressed upon the perceptional change of the Delhi Police, directing senior officers to go on patrolling with juniors on some occasions and motivate them to adopt a public-friendly approach while taking part in their policing activities. On Friday, he also inaugurated the building of the offices of Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West district), Delhi Cantt Police Station and Delhi Police residential complex and said that "construction of new complexes strengthen the basic infrastructure of the department which will lead to new energy in the personnel towards their duty, finally benefiting the citizens". He said that the society has a lot of expectations from the Delhi Police and to meet these expectations, it needs modern working place and good working environment. For the purpose, the Minister said the government has increased the fund allocation to Delhi Police from Rs 6,378.18 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 7,426.98 crore in 2018-19, an increase of 15 per cent. He said the government has also sanctioned procurement of Facial Recognition System for the Crime Unit and 2,700 hand-held devices with SIM card for equipping constables with e-beatbook. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said that a proposal to recruit 12,000 additional personnel in the Delhi Police is under consideration, but added that the approval has been given to recruit 3,139 police personnel. Besides, the government created 4,227 posts in the year 2016 and another 3,139 posts this year while separating the crime investigation from the law and order functions with an aim to improve the conviction rate, he said. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other senior officers were present on the occasion. --IANS rak/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army has launched a major rescue and relief operation in flood-ravaged Kerala where torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 27 people and left thousands homeless due to flooding and landslides. The Army pushed its men and machinery into disaster relief and rescue operations at Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Idukki after incessant rain and landslides hit various northern districts of the state. An army spokesperson said Karnataka and Kerala Sub area Headquartered at Bangalore was controlling the "Operation Sahyog" in Kerala. A total of eight columns of army personnel were deployed in various parts of Kerala in which two columns were exclusively kept for the worst-hit Idukki district. One column of Army from Pangode Military Station under the leadership of a Captain carried out the relief operations in Adimali area in Idukki district. One column of army was deployed at Idukki from Defence Security Crops in Kannur. In addition, 80 Army personnel from Madras Regiment were deployed for ongoing rescue and relief operation for tourists at Pallivasal in Idukki. Further, two columns of Army personnel from Pangode Military Station were expected to reach at Aluva by Saturday morning. An army spokesperson said the timely intervention saved many lives and properties in the flood-hit districts. The army constructed temporary bridges for the evacuations of the stranded people from the isolated villages. Under the leadership of a Lt. Col., one column of Army also operated from Wayanad. In Mananthawady, the team split into two groups and rescue operation were coordinated from both Vaithiri and Panamaram area of Wayanad. "The water current in rivers are very high, which is the most significant impediment for the Army rescue team to reach the cut off villages of Wayanad"," the spokesperson said. --IANS sar/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik said on Friday that Article 35A is directly related to the right to self-determination of the people in Kashmir. Addressing a protest march taken out in favour of Article 35A, Malik said in the city centre Lal Chowk: "We want the rulers of India to know that every Kashmiri would protect the state subject law with his/her blood and life. "They know their right to self-determination will be automatically snatched from them if state subject law is scrapped". The JKLF chief said the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), conglomerate of senior separatist leaders, would soon announce a protest programme after consultation with various stakeholders. --IANS sq/ahm/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court here on Friday sentenced IPS officer Deshraj Singh to three years in jail in a 2012 bribery case. Deshraj was convicted by the court on Wednesday. The 2008-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was posted as Superintendent of Police in Chandigarh Police in 2012 when he demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a Chandigarh police inspector in connection with an inquiry against the latter. The inspector informed the CBI, which laid a trap and caught Deshraj while accepting the bribe from Inspector Anokh Singh, who was Station House Officer (SHO) of the Sector 26 police station. Deshraj had demanded the money to give a favourable report on the inspector, who was facing inquiry for dereliction of duty and insubordination. Deshraj was arrested and booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The IPS officer had denied the allegations of bribery against him. --IANS js/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China could overtake Australia as the biggest donor to Pacific nations, but only if Beijing follows through on its promises of aid and support that are currently billions of dollars short of being realised, a new report said here on Friday. According to the report from Australia's Lowy Institute, a foreign policy think tank, China has pledged around $5.88 billion worth of aid to the Pacific since 2011, less than Australia's $6.72 billion, reports CNN. During the same period, the US committed $1.36 billion in aid to the Pacific. While Australia is still the biggest player in the region, ongoing major spending under Belt and Road could see Beijing leapfrog it. In Papua New Guinea alone, China has pledged billions of dollars to build roads and other projects, some of which is not reflected in the Lowy data because the deals are in their early stages. However during the 2011-2018 period, only around 21 per cent of the money China pledged was actually spent, compared to 97 per cent for Australia, according to the report. While China's aid commitments would see it overtake Australia in the near future, Jonathan Pryke, director of Lowy's Pacific Islands Programme, was sceptical if actual spending would ever match Beijing's promises. "China is talking a big game in terms of its commitments to the region and that's concentrated on one country, Papua New Guinea," he said. "I'm not convinced China will (overtake) Australia. We have a much broader, much deeper degree of engagement than China has." Earlier this year, Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific Concetta Fierravanti-Wells accused Beijing of constructing "useless buildings" and roads that "(don't) go anywhere" while loading unsustainable debt onto poorer countries, reports CNN. Australia has become increasingly gripped by concerns over Chinese influence in the country, and relations between Beijing and Canberra have deteriorated around the passage of an anti-foreign influence laws seen as targeting China. A series of angry editorials and opinion pieces in Chinese state media when the laws were first introduced labelled them "disgraceful" and "absurd". --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Wang Donghua and San Francisco Mayor London Breed have agreed to enhance cooperation between China and San Francisco. Wang met the mayor on Thursday in the US west coastal city as the new Consul General, and they discussed deepening cooperation in various sectors, Xinhua news agency reported. He spoke highly of San Francisco's efficient cooperation with the Chinese side in economy, trade, tourism, science, technology, and cultural fields. In his capacity as the new Chinese Consul General, Wang said he will work hard with the San Francisco government led by Breed to bring the pragmatic cooperation to a new level. Breed said China is a major trade partner of San Francisco and the city attaches great importance to developing its friendship and cooperation with China. The San Francisco mayor said she is always ready to keep close communication with the Chinese side, work jointly to deepen their cooperation and achieve win-win results. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As India approaches Independence Day on August 15, it is an appropriate time to celebrate the past and Indian democracy. It is also a time to contemplate the future and the democracy that India should become. India has the opportunity, the responsibility, and the capacity to be a global beacon of hope for democracy. There is a critical need for India to become that beacon. Freedom House, the organisation that looks at the quality of freedom in countries around the world, titled its 2018 Annual Report, Democracy in Crisis. The opening sentence of that report reads: "Political rights and civil liberties around the world deteriorated to their lowest point in more than a decade in 2017, extending a period characterised by emboldened autocrats, beleaguered democracies, and the United States withdrawal from its leadership role in the global struggle for human freedom." There is a vacuum. And, India -- which is by-far the world's largest democracy with a democratic system that is still young and maturing -- is positioned to fill that vacuum. India's democracy is far from perfect, however, The Economist acknowledged many of India's deficiencies in an article in its June 2 issue, pointing out numerous attempts recently to "game the system" through "horse trading and bald-faced influence peddling". Combine this with undemocratic actions such as the recent spate of mob lynchings across the country and it becomes obvious that India has much work to do. There are three key areas in which action must be taken for India to be able to shine its light of and for democracy world-wide: * Ensure effective civic for younger students. * Pursue an intensified agenda of inclusiveness and economic equality and opportunity for all. * Free the free press. Of all the the most critical, in my opinion, for enhancing Indian democracy is universal and effective civic for youth. I put this at the top of the list because a 2017 Pew Research Center survey of citizens in 38 nations revealed that only eight percent of the Indian respondents were fully committed to a representative democracy. This response ranked at the very bottom for the nations studied. A strong democracy demands a full-throated commitment to democracy and a complete understanding of one's obligations as a citizen. That commitment and those obligations are learned through effective civic in the younger years. The youth of today are the citizens of tomorrow. There is something that can be learned from the US about the impact of the presence or absence of that education for youth. Historically, for much of the 20th century, the US placed emphasis on civic education for school students in the earlier school years. This emphasis has declined substantially in the 21st century and the focus has been placed on science-technology-engineering-math (STEM) education and teaching to the test on those subjects. This shift and its negative impact on support for American democracy -- especially among youth -- has troubled both citizens and academics alike. That is why nearly 90 percent of poll respondents to a national survey conducted recently by The Democracy Project reacted favorably to a proposal to "ensure that schools make civic education a bigger part of the curriculum". In the US, in March of this year, the National Council of Social Studies issued a positioning statement recommending that effective civic education "should target the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to ensure that young people are truly capable of becoming active and engaged participants in civic life". An educational initiative in India that has this targeted focus is the Children's Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA). Its programmes are designed to "empower children and youth with knowledge, skills and competencies for active citizenship". India's political, business, civic and educational leaders should collaborate in looking at CMCA and similar programmes in India to develop an effective civic education approach to be implemented in classrooms across the country to prepare all its youth to discharge their civic responsibilities. A comprehensive programme of this type could be transformative. The Sage Handbook of Education for Citizenship and Democracy, published in 2008, titled its chapter on India, "Citizenship Education in India: From Colonial Subjugation to Radical Possibilities". If India is to become a global beacon of hope for democracy, imagining will not make it so. But failing to imagine it will make it impossible. (Frank F. Islam is an entrepreneur, civic and thought Leader based in Washington, DC. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at ffislam@verizon.net) --IANS frank/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Class 2 student was raped in an NDMC school here and the accused, an electrician working there, has been arrested, police said on Friday. The minor girl was raped on Wednesday in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school in the Gole Market area but the incident came to light on Thursday after the victim's parents reported the matter to the police. "The attacker was identified as 37-year-old Ram Asre. He was arrested from the school on Thursday after the victim identified him," Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma said. Asre has been working in the school for around a month. He is a permanent electrician employed with the NDMC, the police said. "During investigation, it was found that Asre after school hours took the victim to a pump house where he sexually assaulted her. He also threatened her not to report the crime to anyone," the officer said. On Wednesday night, the parents found the girl bleeding from her private parts and rushed her to a hospital after her condition deteriorated," the DCP said. "The doctors confirmed sexual assault. Following which her parents informed the police. The victim later told the police that 'an uncle in red shirt' (later identified as Asre) did something wrong with her'," the officer added. A case under the relevant section of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against Asre, he added. --IANS sp/in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Friday demanded dismissal of Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain as a case of rape was registered against him in Guwahati. "(Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji, you have failed the test not once, not twice, not thrice, but almost a dozen times. Again there is a rape FIR against one of your Cabinet colleagues, Gohain," Congress leader Pawan Khera said addressing a press conference here. He said that if PM Modi does not act now, then he would lose the moral authority to stay in the office even for a day. "Remove him from his office. You can't allow him to be in a position of power and influence during the investigation. Please remove him if you meant anything that you promised before 2014," he said. "We demand from this government, from Modi, from (BJP President) Amit Shah to take immediate and strict action against rape accused Minister Gohain," he said. The Congress leader's remarks came after a woman in Assam filed a case of rape with the Assam Police against Gohain. Referring to the cases of rape in which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were allegedly involved, Khera mentioned the case of Unnao district in Uttar Pradesh and said: "We saw you were standing with the rapists of Unnao." Khera was referring to BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger, who has been charged for rape by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Congress leader also questioned Modi's silence on the Muzaffarpur shelter home rapes. "Your own government is there in alliance with (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumarji." Khera also questioned Modi's silence over his party's state ministers coming out in support of the rape accused in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua. Slamming Modi, he said: "Last week, we saw reports from Deoria, from Pratapgarh, and again you remained quiet." "These are the same people who used provocative and emotionally charged slogans to woo the people of the country before 2014. And now, their Cabinet ministers are being charged with sexual assault and rapes, yet they maintain silence and action is hardly taken against those involved in such cases," Khera added. --IANS aks/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress member of Parliament Hussain Dalwai on Friday sparked a controversy by defending triple talaq, saying that even Lord Ram doubted Sita and abandoned her, but he later apologised for his remark. The Congress party has, however, distanced itself from his remark, saying once he has clarified on his statement, there is no point in making a comment on it. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said: "Such statements have been made by many people earlier. Very serious remarks were made. Few days ago, Uttar Pardesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma had said that Mata Sita was a 'test-tube baby'. "Even Union Minister Mahesh Sharma had said in Parliament that Mata Sita was a fictional character. Such statements should not be made by anyone." Apologising for his remark, Dalwai said: "Whatever remark I made was wrong and I have apologise. I didn't want to hurt anybody's sentiment. It was being intentionally politicised." --IANS sid/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Friday regretted blaming former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 and thanked him for sheltering thousands of exiled Tibetans after they fled from their motherland. "My statements (on Nehru) have created a controversy. I apologise if I said something wrong," the 83-year-old Nobel laureate told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. Speaking to the students at the Goa Institute of Management at Sanquelim in north Goa on August 8, the Dalai Lama had said: "Mahatma Gandhi wanted to give the prime ministership to (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah. But Nehru refused. He was self-centred. He said, 'I wanted to be Prime Minister'. India and Pakistan would have been united (had Jinnah been made Prime Minister at the time)". The Dalai Lama, however, apologised for the remarks on Friday and thanked Nehru for supporting the Tibetans' cause when thousands of them, including monks, fled their motherland after China annexed the mountain country in 1950. "I had a close relationship with Nehru, who suggested to have separate schools to preserve the Tibetan thought. He (Nehru) supported the Tibetans' cause," the 14th Dalai Lama said. He was addressing "Thank You Karnataka" event here, a part of "Thank You India - 2018", organised by the Central Tibetan Administration to mark its community's 60 years of exile in the country. The Dalai Lama, who was recognised at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso, fled to India from Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959. Since then, India has been home to over 100,000 Tibetans majorly settled in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh among other states. The Tibetans, who were demoralised after turning into refugees in India, grew confident over the years with the help they got from the country to make their living, the Dalai Lama said. Eventually, Tibetans found support from other countries like the US, Canada and others, he added. --IANS bha/soni/ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 14th Dalai Lama on Friday thanked Karnataka for giving home to thousands of exiled Tibetans since 1959. "We Tibetans never forget others' kindness and it is our duty to thank Karnataka and India for being kind to us (Tibetans) and helping Tibetan refugees thrive," the 83-year-old Nobel laureate said addressing the "Thank You Karnataka" event here. Organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the event was to mark 60 years of Tibetan community's exile in the country. After China annexed Tibet in 1950, thousands of Tibetans, including monks, were forced to flee the mountain country and settle in India as refugees. The Dalai Lama also fled to India from Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959. Since then, India has been home to over 100,000 Tibetans majorly settled in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh among other states. Apart from former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who supported the Tibetan refugees' resettlement in India, former Karnataka (then Mysore state) Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa, who was in office from 1962-68, had helped the community by providing them with land for living, the spiritual leader recalled. "When the request for allocation of land for Tibetan resettlement was sent to all the state leaders, the best response came from Karnataka. He extended an extraordinary support for the Tibetans," he added. The southern state currently is home to the largest population of Tibetan refugees in the country, with five settlements across Karnataka -- two in Bylakuppe near Mysuru, and one each in Hunsur in Mysuru district, Kollegal in Chamarajanagar district and Mundgod in Uttara Kannada district. Committing to revive ancient Indian tradition, the Dalai Lama said the knowledge from olden times is relevant for modern India. "The knowledge from thousands of years ago is useful to humanity, and India, in particular. Therefore, my latest commitment is to revive the ancient Indian knowledge, which the modern India is neglecting," he said. India should draw knowledge from the ancient Sanskrit and Buddhist texts and include study on mental and physical health in its education system, the Dalai Lama stressed. "The ancient Indian texts should be considered as academic subjects, not as religious ones. Buddhist literature should also be read as it is known for its logic and scientific reasoning," the spiritual leader added. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who was also present on the occasion, said Tibetans living in the state have made several contributions to Karnataka. "Those living in Karnataka's five Tibetan settlements have made their own contributions to the state. Karnataka assures its support and coordination for the community," he said. Owing to India, and Karnataka in particular, welcoming the Tibetan refugees, the community has not only been able to live but also thrive over time, said CTA president Lobsang Sangay. "As per Buddhist notions of compassion and humility, the CTA is observing 2018 as the "Thank You" year to show Tibetans' gratitude to India, especially Karnataka, for their generosity in enabling Tibetans stand on their own feet," Sangay said. --IANS bha/anp/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CPI on Friday urged the union government to declare Kerala floods as a "national calamity" and enlist the services of the armed forces for rescue and relief operations. "This is a national tragedy. I request the government to proclaim it as a national tragedy and rush assistance to the people of Kerala immediately," Binoy Viswam, a Communist Party of India leader from Kerala said while raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha. In Kerala, floodwaters have inundated large areas, claiming 27 lives in the last 48 hours, due to heavy rains and landslides. Several Kerala districts have been receiving heavy rains since Wednesday. Till Thursday, 24 people had died, while three more deaths were reported on Friday. He said that life has come to a standstill in six Kerala districts. "The people of Kerala are suffering a lot. This is the third time the small state is facing a serious situation because of floods. My request is that the central government should ask the Indian Air Force, the Navy and the Army to undertake relief and rescue work," he said. Viswam said that though the state government was trying to face the situation by all means, it alone cannot face the situation. "So, I request the the central government to come and support Kerala and its people. In times of national tragedy, we, the people of Kerala, stretch our hands (for help) to the whole nation. Please come and support the people of Kerala," the CPI leader said. --IANS bns/tsb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan has said that its defence relations with Russia have made progress. The remarks by Pakistani Foreign Ministry's spokesman Mohammad Faisal came on Thursday, two days after Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander V. Fomin visited Pakistan and held talks with Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and other military officials, Xinhua reported. "Our defence relations have grown steadily over the years and both countries have established regular military-to-military contacts," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said at his weekly press briefing. The two countries have held two editions of the joint military exercise named "DRUZBA" (Friendship) in Pakistan in 2016 and in Russia in 2017. Both countries also held counter-narcotics naval exercise called "Arabian Monsoon" in the Arabian Sea in 2014 and 2015. Faisal said the two countries have been able to construct a positive trajectory in sustaining high-level interactions and exploring new avenues to cement bilateral relations in all spheres including the defence sector. "Pakistan and Russia have been successful in developing a strong partnership, which is based on mutual trust, commonality of interests and convergence of views on important global and regional issues," he said. On Tuesday, Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement that allows for training of Pakistani troops at Russian military training institutes. "Both countries signed the Contract on Admission of Service Members of Pakistan in RF's (Russian Federation) Training Institutes," the defence ministry said in a statement. The military said on Tuesday that the Russian Deputy Minister had expressed his appreciation for Pakistan Army's achievements against terrorism and expressed requirement of greater cooperative and collaborative approach among global community to defeat extremism. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution against Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash demanding his removal from the post. The resolution was moved by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Alka Lamba in the House. "This House demands that Anshu Prakash should immediately be removed from the post of Chief Secretary, Delhi," reads the resolution. It also demands detailed examination of the reasons for delay in the implementation of CCTV project. "This House also resolves that the delay that occurred in implementing this decision depsite the fact that the CCTV decision by the government was taken in October 2015 needs detailed examination and therefore the reasons for delay should be examined by the appropriate House committee," it stated. The Delhi Cabinet on Friday approved the CCTV camera installation across the city. During the announcement of the approval, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had mentioned that Prakash had issued a note on the CCTV decision calling it "hasty". "The Cabinet received a note from Prakash in which he has called the project approval a hasty decision," Sisodia said. Reacting to the note, Lamba demanded removal of Prakash and moved the resolution. "This House also condemns the Chief Secretary, who appears to be acting on behalf of the BJP government in Centre, for blocking the CCTV project and his act appears to be part of the conspiracy by opposition to further delay the CCTV Project," the resolution said. --IANS nks/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The DMK party on Friday announced that an urgent meeting of its Executive Committee will be held on August 14, chaired by Working President M.K. Stalin. In a statement issued here, the party said the meeting was called to pass a resolution condoling the death of party President and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The five-time Chief Minister, who was 94, died at a private hospital here on Tuesday due to age-related ailments. The party has directed all the Committee members to attend the meeting without fail. The meeting may also discuss the date to convene the party's General Council meeting to choose the DMK President. DMK party officials said Stalin will be elevated at the General Council meeting as the party President. --IANS vj/ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The DMK on Friday demanded the nation's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, for party patriarch M. Karunanidhi who passed away in Chennai on August 7. The party said the award will be a real tribute to the late Tamil Nadu leader's outstanding and exemplary work which had left an indelible mark in history. Karunanidhi, who led the DMK for five decades, was the Chief Minister for 19 years spread over five terms. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, DMK's Tiruchi Shiva dubbed Karunanidhi the "tallest leader of the country and a Dravidian stalwart". "He lived five years short of a century, out of which he contributed 80 years to the public life, fighting for the cause of the downtrodden, backward and the suppressed people. "He was an outstanding orator, a prolific writer, a novelist, a short-story writer, a philosopher, a philanthropist and also a dramatist. He was an actor and also wrote scripts for 80 movies," Shiva said enumerating the achievements of Karunanidhi. He said that Karunanidhi was "unparalleled" and made a mark in all walks of life. "His life cannot be described in words. He was a staunch and untiring soldier. He was fighting till his last breath, for social justice, secularism, state autonomy and self respect. "I would urge the government to confer upon him posthumously the Bharat Ratna, which will be a real tribute to his outstanding and exemplary work which had left an indelible mark in the annals of history," the DMK lawmaker said. --IANS bns/tsb/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly a dozen patients have died during a strike by Bihar's doctors, which was called-off on Friday after an assurance by the state government to fulfil their demands, officials said. Junior doctors from the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) and Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) ended their strike after Bihar's Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar assured them late Thursday that their demands would be met. "All the striking doctors have returned to work after the government's assurance," Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar said. Junior doctors from NMCH went on a strike on Tuesday after they were assaulted by a patient's attendants. Doctors from PMCH and DMCH joined the strike on Thursday morning to show their support. They are demanding a security cover to junior doctors during duty hours and protection and action against misbehaving attendants of patients. The strike has left hundreds of patients, many of them in a serious condition, in the lurch. --IANS ik/mag/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Taliban launched a massive offensive in Afghanistan's Ghazni city on Friday amid reports of multiple casualties even as heavy fighting continued between the government forces and militants. Afghan soldiers fought back as militants converged from four sides of the city, resulting in several deaths on all sides, Ghazni provincial government spokesman Mohammad Arif Noori said. Sporadic gunfire could still be heard in the provincial city as Afghan forces exchanged fire with militants. The spokesperson said that a group of Taliban fighters who had made their way into the city were holed up near the provincial police headquarters and were firing on the building, CNN reported. Noori claimed that Ghazni security forces managed to drive out most of the Taliban forces from the city centre but as per reports, residents in several neighbourhoods said that heavy fighting was ongoing around them. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement to the media that the Taliban entered Ghazni city around 1 a.m. and captured a number of strategic sites within the city. "Hundreds of Mujahedeen entered the city, captured the police headquarters and all six police districts and an important military base, Bala Hesar," he said. "Attacks were underway on the governor's office, the National Directorate for Security (Afghan intelligence agency) headquarters and other government offices," he said, adding that more than 140 Afghan soldiers were killed. One resident Nasir Ahmad Faqiri told the New York Times that the militants were fighting with "their whole power". "There are Taliban militants in all roads and streets of the city, but they are facing strong resistance from government forces," he said. The Ghazni attack was the second assault on an Afghan city this year. In May, insurgents overran the western city of Farah, but they left a day later amid counterattacks from the Afghan government and American airstrikes. The Afghan government had unilaterally called off a ceasefire with the militant group that it had in place for Eid ul-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In a tweet, US Forces Afghanistan called the attack a "failed attempt to seize terrain", saying that Afghan forces were able to maintain control of government buildings. "US Forces responded with close-air support this morning in #Ghazni. Afghan forces held their ground and maintain control of all (government) centres. Another failed attempt by Taliban to seize terrain, while creating strategically inconsequential headlines," it read. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a unanimous vote full of symbolism, the UN General Assembly on Friday approved the appointment of a victim of human rights abuses, Michelle Bachelet, as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The former President of Chile will succeed Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, whose stormy four-year term ends this month. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who had nominated her, told reporters after Assembly's approval by acclamation: "At home she has known the heights and depths as the first woman to serve as the President and also as a survivor of brutality by authorities targeting her and her family." She enters the office in the 70th year of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights having lived under the "darkness of dictatorship" and now facing several challenges, he said. Bachelet, who finished a second term as president on Chile in March, had been detained by the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in 1973 and tortured while her father died in custody after torture by the military junta. A medical doctor, she also has done advanced studies in defence in the United States and served as health and defence minister -- unique qualifications for a human rights chief who must confront military organisations involved in human rights violations that inflict physical and mental harm. Guterres said that as a physician she has seen first hand the "thirsting for health and yearning to enjoy vital economic and social rights." Guterres and delegates who spoke at the Assembly session noted that between her two presidential terms, Bachelet served as the founding executive director of UN Women, the office for promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. The delegate of the Solomon Islands, who spoke on behalf of the Asian and Pacific nations, said that she has a record of championing the rights of women and added that she would be a strong leader for promoting world peace and human rights world-wide. While Guterres and other speakers talked of the challenges before the human rights agenda because of conflicts, threats to press freedom, erosion of the role of civil society organisations, and rise in hatred and animosity between various groups, Bachelet faces the more immediate task of reestablishing the credibility of her office and of the UN Human Rights Council, which has come under attack during Zeid's stormy tenure. India had accused Zeid of being biased after he had issued a report on human rights violations in Kashmir and called for a Council investigation. India slammed the report with Deputy Permanent Representative Tanmaya Lal asserting it reflected "the clear bias of an official who was acting without any mandate whatsoever and relied on unverified sources of information." The US pulled out of the Human Rights Council in June, while Permanent Representative Nikki Haley called it a "hypocritical and self-serving organisation that makes a mockery of human rights." The challenges were on display at the Assembly session soon after she won its approval. The US delegate said the credibility of the human rights office and the council were at stake asserting that it had failed to act on abuses in Cuba and Venezuela. The delegates of those countries flung counter charges at the US, with Iran joining the fray. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) --IANS al/ahm/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Narendra Modi government faced embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha on Friday as the opposition insisted on voting on a private member's Resolution that had sought to amend articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution to ensure that SC/ST people are not denied reservation in any state. The resolution said that when people of these castes migrate from one state to another in search of employment and settle there permanently, they are rendered ineligible for availing reservation benefits. The Resolution was moved by Samajwadi Party MP Vishambhar Prasad Nishad. The government was embarrassed as it had to vote against the Resolution to defeat it in the House amid opposition charges that it was anti-Dalit and "Manuwadi". The resolution got 32 votes in favour and 66 against. Had the Resolution been passed, the government would have been bound to bring a Bill in the very next session to make it a law. As the opposition in an unusual move insisted for voting, and Deputy Chairman Harivansh who was presiding over the House ordered the lobbies to be cleared for voting even as senior ministers loudly objected to the move. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that a new precedent is being set in the House. Usually, the private members' resolutions are withdrawn by the MPs moving them after a discussion and the government's assurance on the matter. However, on Friday, after Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot while replying to the discussion said that the Modi government was committed to the welfare of the Dalits and STs but it could not immediately bring such changes as desired by the Resolution, Nishad said he would like a vote in the House on the matter. Amid the treasury benches protest, the Chair said that once the voting had been ordered, it could not be deferred. The opposition MPs welcomed the ruling with thumping of desks. The Resolution said that people belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Denotified Castes were being deprived of facilities and concessions because of the lack of a uniform reservation system in the whole country."Provide uniform facilities by amending the articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution to include the homonymous and synonymous subcastes of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes according to the castes registered State-wise in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 in all the States," the Resolution said. "Amend the Constitution so that the persons belonging to SC/ST category in one state may be treated as the person of that SC/ST category all over the country to get the benefit of the reservation," it said. --IANS mak/anp/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man running a training centre and a hostel for hearing and speech impaired girls and women has been arrested on charges of rape and inappropriate behaviour, police said on Friday. Accused Ashwani Sharma runs the training centre in Awadhpuri here, for which he gets government grants. He also runs a hostel 'Kritarth', where young women undergoing training are offered board and lodging facility. The crime came to light when a speech and hearing impaired victim narrated her ordeal to her family, which lodged a complaint with Dhar and Indore police. A zero FIR was registered and sent to Awadhpuri police staion in Bhopal. "One girl of Dhar and two of Indore too have lodged complaints against Ashwani, who has been arested. A probe is on," Bhopal Inspector General of Police, Jaideep Prasad told IANS. The victim from Dhar alleged that the accused raped her many times while she was staying at the hostel for nearly a year to train in stitching and embroidery. --IANS hindi/tsb/hs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Afghanistan reviewed the development projects in the war-torn country being implemented with Indian aid, including security of Indian personnel, during a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Development Cooperation (JWG-DC) in Kabul, the External Affairs Ministry said on Friday. According to a ministry statement, during the meeting on Thursday, both sides had an exhaustive review of the large number of ongoing development projects spread over varied areas of cooperation such as capacity building, infrastructure, education, healthcare, good-governance and human resource development. India is a leading development aid partner of Afghanistan having successfully implemented a large number of infrastructure projects, including the Afghan Parliament building, Afghan-India Friendship Dam, the first phase of the Chabahar port in Iran among others. The Chabahar port on the southeastern coast of Iran is being jointly developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan and is aimed at giving access to Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. According to the statement, the Afghan side appreciated India's timely assistance of 170,000 tonne of wheat and 2,000 tonne of pulses during this year when large parts of the country were suffering from drought. "Both sides also expressed satisfaction that these largescale deliveries were made from India to Afghanistan via Chabahar, highlighting the viability of Chabahar as a route for trade and commerce," it stated. "Both sides underscored the importance of access through Chabahar port for strengthening trade and economic relations." The two sides also decided to take up several small, medium and largescale projects for implementation in the near future. including the Shahtoot dam, low cost housing for the returning refugees in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, a polyclinic in Mazar-e-Sharif, and construction of a road connecting Band-e-Amir in Bamyan province with the Bamyan-Yakawlang Highway. The Shahtoot dam is a proposed dam in the Kabul river basin that is expected to supply irrigation water for about 10,000 hectares of agricultural land and drinking water to around two million people in Kabul city. "Both sides underscored the importance of safety and security of Indian personnel involved in development projects in Afghanistan," the External Affairs Ministry statement said. "The Afghan side assured their cooperation in ensuring the security of the Indian personnel." India also accepted the request for consideration of new projects, shared by the Afghan side, which will be examined and considered for implementation, "based on the priorities of the people and the government of Afghanistan" At the JWG-DC meeting, the Indian side was headed by T.S. Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the External Affairs Ministry, while the Afghan side was led by Ismail Rahimi, Deputy Minister of Policy and Technical Affairs, Ministry of Economy. --IANS ab/ahm/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Switzerland discussed on Friday various aspects of bilateral ties, including the issue of curbing black money, as well as regional and multilateral issues during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry, the two ministers took stock of the progress made in key areas of interest such as trade and investment, education, information technology and tourism. Bilateral trade between India and Switzerland stood at $20 billion in the last financial year. "Closer cooperation in the areas of skill development, renewable energy, traditional Indian medicine and climate change has the potential of mutual benefit and positive contribution at the global level," the statement said. Following on the Indian government's drive to curb black money, the ministers discussed the activation of automatic exchange of information. India's negotiations with the EU for a free trade agreement also came up in the discussion. "A review was undertaken on the progress of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which India and the European Free Trade Area countries are currently negotiating," according to the statement. "The two ministers reiterated their strong commitment to early finalization of the agreement while showing flexibility on each other's concerns." Both sides also had detailed talks on Ayurveda, which Switzerland recognizes as a system of medicine. "The aspect of enhanced people to people interactions through facilitation of tourist and business visas was also discussed at length," the statement said. --IANS ab/anp/soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India expects to save up to Rs 12,000 crore in foreign exchange over the next four years through blending ethanol in petrol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday. Addressing an event here to mark World Biofuel Day, Modi said the country saved Rs 4,000 crore worth of foreign exchange last year by ethanol blending which touched a record 141 crore litres in the last fiscal. "India has saved forex worth Rs 4,000 crore in the last financial year due to savings from ethanol blending programme. The government aims to increase these savings to Rs 12,000 crore per annum over the next four years," he sai". "Biofuel" can help reduce import dependency on crude oil. It can contribute to a cleaner environment, generate additional income for farmers and create rural employment. Biofuels have synergies with various initiatives, including raising farmers incomes and the Swachh Bharat programme. Noting that India aims to produce around 450 crore litres of ethanol in the coming four years, the Prime Minister pointed to the other benefits of biofuel production. "We also aim for an earning of Rs 20,000 crore solely through conversion of sugarcane to ethanol. This amount will aid the income of farmers. The government is also working to raise our capacity to convert agrarian produce such as potato and agrarian waste to ethanol," he said. The government has targeted to increase ethanol blending in petrol to 10 per cent by 2022 and to 20 per cent by 2030. It is in this direction that the government had approved the National Policy on Biofuels in June plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore to build 12 biofuel refineries, Modi said. "These refineries would provide around 1,500 jobs each and 1.5 lakhs jobs in all," he said. Addressing the gathering earlier, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said ethanol blending in petrol increased from 38 crore litres in the ethanol supply year 2013-14 to an estimated 141 crore litres in 2017-18. --IANS bc/ vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin lawyer was on Friday fined 1,600 Singapore dollars and banned from driving for a year after he pleaded guilty to a drunk driving charge. Jeyendran Jeyapal, 39, a deputy senior state counsel, was found with 1.37 times the prescribed limit of alcohol while driving. He admitted having an alcoholic cocktail at a pub before heading home on February 11. In submitting his own mitigation plea, Jeyendran said it was his first offence and asked for the minimum punishment. He added that he was cooperative with police officers. Jeyapal was stopped by a traffic police officer at a road block along Second Hospital Avenue at around 5 a.m. The officer noticed that he had "alcoholic breath". He later failed a breathalyser test and was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. The man said he was celebrating a friend's birthday and took the alcohol offered by the latter as he did not want to disappoint him. District Judge Victor Yeo said that he acknowledged that Jeyendran had no other aggravating factors, such as speeding or reckless driving, nor did he cause any damage to property or injure anyone. So he was only fined along with driving ban for a year. For his first drink driving offence, Jeyendran could have been jailed for up to six months or fined between 1,000 and $5,000 Singapore dollars. --IANS soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the first India Indonesia Interfaith Dialogue (IIID) to be held in the Southeast Asian nation in October, Indonesian Ambassador to India Sidharto R. Suryodipuro said that both countries can learn about inter-religious harmony from each other. "Both of us have something to share in terms of how we manage pluralism while we strengthen tolerance, inter-religious harmony," Suryodipuro said in response to a question by IANS during an interaction with a group of journalists here organised by the Indian Association of Foreign Affairs Correspondents. "Both India and Indonesia are countries that are quite successful in managing pluralism in a democratic setting," he said. Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim population. The first IIID will be held from October 3 to 5 in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta. Observing that both Indonesia and India have a complex ethnic make-up, Suryodipuro said: "We also can learn from each other on what we are doing to strengthen this." He was also of view that both countries can also have a message that can be sent to the international community on how to manage pluralism and tolerance. "Out of this dialogue, we can also have something concrete come out in terms of what we should be doing internally, what we should be doing with our youth and others," he said. The Ambassador said that in Indonesia itself, there are over a dozen or more such kind of dialogues. "And we have been undertaking it since the early 2000s," he said. Suryodipuro also said that Indonesia and India are enjoying one of the best periods of bilateral ties in 70 years of their diplomatic relationship. Bilateral trade stood at $20 billion last year, the highest ever. The Ambassador said that while half a million Indians visited Indonesia last year, 40,000 Indonesians visited India. He also said that both India and Indonesia share the same view on the Indo-Pacific regional architecture and recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Track I annual inter-governmental security forum organised by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), think tank in Singapore in June. In his speech, Modi highlighted the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region in the Indo-Pacific region. Indonesia is the largest country in the 10-nation regional bloc. In terms of defence cooperation, Suryodipuro said that both Indonesia and India are in the process of laying down the groundwork. "For example, we have been holding the coordinated patrol between Andamans and North Sumatra for over a decade," he said. "But that had not expanded. Now, it is starting to expand into naval exercises as well as the other services of the armed forces." The Ambassador said that both sides are looking at other than exercises, how they can exchange information better, how the members of the respective services can be sent for training in each other's countries. Also underlining the importance of the soft side in the bilateral relationship, he identified things like "connectivity, infrastructure, trade, people-to-people connectivity and more student exchanges." --IANS ab/ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Rani Mukerji, whose "Hichki" will play at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), says she is always happy about essaying roles of specially-abled characters. Whether it was Rani's portrayal as a deaf and blind girl in "Black" or her role as a woman with Tourette's Syndrome -- the actress has proved her mettle as a performer with sensitive and impactful performances. Rani told the media here on Friday that she was very proud of how the film did, especially as it came to her after motherhood as it proved a long-standing cliche wrong. "With 'Hichki', that slightly changed... I am happy people accepted the content... I am the daughter of a writer and producer, I am the wife of a writer, director and producer, and I understand that script is the king, it's the backbone. "When your content is good, no matter you are married, unmarried, beautiful or not beautiful, a film works." Rani said she was especially happy that awareness about Tourette's Syndrome -- a neurological disorder -- got a boost with the Siddharth Malhotra directorial. "I feel happy doing such films, about playing specially abled characters and I feel happy that directors think of me when they have such roles." Rani is here as guest of honour at IFFM. She is travelling with daughter Adira. "For the first time, she (daughter) is seeing Melbourne, and I will be seeing Melbourne as a mother... I am actually trying to see all the places that I can take her to. There's a zoo, aquarium... It's a great city for kids with some really amazing places," she added. On Saturday, Rani will hoist the Indian flag at the Federation Square here. She is looking forward to the experience. "I think it's a matter of pride for any citizen from any country to be hoisting the national flag. And obviously doing it in Australia far away from home gives me even more reason (to feel special). "I will feel most patriotic doing what I will be doing. It's a matter of great honour that the Victorian government has considered me to do it." Rani credited the love of her fans for making her "worthy" of such honours. "I am here for the last 22 years, making movies because of the love of the audience, and they continue to shower me with love." --IANS rb/nn/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Friday called for heightened security on both the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in the state. The decision came after Vohra chaired a high-level security meeting at the Raj Bhawan here. A spokesman for the Governor said that Vohra called for real time coordination and synergy between the various security force agencies and the civil administration. "The Governor reiterated the importance of maintaining sustained and close watch on the situation on ground and laid stress on uncompromising adherence to procedures which guard against collateral damage while delivering effective counter militancy responses," the spokesman said. "Considering the pattern of attempts at infiltration in the past four weeks, he laid stress on the need for heightened vigil along the IB and LoC and ensuring the safety of protected persons and the security of all important establishments and installations." The meeting also discussed security of the Amarnath Yatra and the need to provide a safe environment for the upcoming elections to urban local bodies and panchayats in the state. --IANS sq/ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jharkhand High Court on Friday extended the provisional bail of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Yadav till August 20. According to a lawyer, the provisional bail period was ending on August 17 but Lalu Yadav's lawyers moved the High Court seeking a further three-month extension. The next hearing will take place on August 17. Lalu Yadav was granted six weeks provisional bail for treatment in May, which was later extended by the High Court. He was in Ranchi's Birsa Munda Central Jail after being convicted in December 2017 in a fodder scam case. He was also convicted in two other cases in January and March 2018 and was awarded 14 years imprisonment. In 2013, he was convicted in the first fodder scam case and sentenced to jail for five years. The multi-million fodder scam had surfaced in the 1990s when Lalu Yadav was Bihar's Chief Minister. At the directive of Patna High Court, the probe was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. --IANS ns/mag/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Karnataka government would waive additional crop loans to the tune of Rs 9,448 crore borrowed from the state cooperative banks by farmers till July 10, said an official on Friday. "The state cabinet has cleared the finance department's proposal to waive crop loans worth Rs 9,448 crore raised by about 20 lakh farmers from cooperatives across the state," an official in the Chief Minister's Office told IANS here. The latest waiver is in addition to the Rs 34,000-crore farm loans Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had waived on July 5 as part of the state budget he presented in the state Legislative Assembly for this fiscal (FY 2019). The loans, being waived along with interest pertain to the amounts raised by about 50 lakh farmers from the state cooperative and rural banks since 2015-16 till December 31, 2017. Kumaraswamy, who also holds the finance portfolio, decided that loans up to Rs 1 lakh raised by an individual farmer from district and state cooperative banks would be waived in the new scheme. "In the earlier (Rs 34,000-crore) scheme, each farmer family which borrowed up to Rs 2 lakh from cooperative or rural banks and defaulted were eligible for waiver," the official clarified. The state government is waiting for the clearance of the Central government to waive crop loans farmers raised from the nationalised banks. "The state cabinet will decide on the repayment of loans raised by farmers from the nationalised banks in two instalments after the approval of the Union Finance Ministry to the state's proposal," added the official. --IANS fb/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Centre will provide all possible assistance to Kerala for controlling the flood situation in the state. Singh told the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour that he tried speaking to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan "but it could not happen". Earlier after July floods, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had toured various flood-hit districts of Kerala. The Centre had then approved Rs 80 crore for flood relief in the state. "We have already deployed Army, Navy and other central armed forces in Kerala and the state government and the ministries are jointly working in this regard," Rijiju earlier said. Till now, 27 people have been reported to have lost their lives due to the Kerala floods over the last 48 hours. According to state Power Minister M.M. Mani who hails from Idukki, so far three shutters of the Idukki dam has been opened till Friday. The Army is taking part in rescue-relief and damage control exercises in Idukki, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. --IANS sid-som/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has suggested that people holding bank lockers should mandatorily declare their valuable assets. Drawing the attention of the union government to the issue of liability for the loss of valuable items deposited in bank lockers, Khattar on Friday said that if the valuables are disclosed, the banks can easily buy a group insurance policy for the hirers of lockers. In a letter written to the Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, the Chief Minister said that if, for some reasons, this is considered impractical, customers can at least be given a choice to disclose. "Even if the banks do not get the lockers of the subset of willing customers insured, this would help the bank and the government in quickly dealing with the claims, should any eventuality arise. "This would be a big step forward since the Reserve Bank of India has not yet framed any parameters for assessing such losses. Moreover, this would be in consistent with Government of India's laudable drive to curb black money and promoting transparency in financial transaction," Khattar said in his letter. Highlighting the need for putting in place a policy in this regard, the Chief Minister said people have immense faith in the public sector banks. "They (people) keep their valuables in the lockers as they deem it a safe and secure place. Yet, the harsh fact is that the banks are not liable for the loss of valuables even when caused by a natural disaster or a criminal act. The legal reason behind this is said to be the non-disclosure clause in the locker agreement which provides that the hirer need not disclose the contents of the valuable items put in the locker," he added. The robbery in the Punjab National Bank at Gohana town near Panipat in October 2014 had highlighted the need for putting in place a policy framework in this regard, he said. --IANS js/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For a section of the audience whose perception of "Bollywood" is not devoid of song and dance sequences, Tabrez Noorani's carefully cast "Love Sonia" turned out to be as hard-hitting as its subject -- sex trafficking -- at the movie's Australian premiere here on Friday night. "Love Sonia" was the opening film of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). Moving, disturbing, haunting and heart-wrenching are the words audience used to describe the movie, which is about exploitation of young women in global sex trafficking. IFFM Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said it was a conscious decision to have this as the opener as "cinema should also make people uncomfortable". Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who was present among the audience, said that perhaps it was the "most disturbing" film he had ever seen in his life -- "in a good way". "It requires tremendous courage and empathy to do this. So, a big salute to the entire team. I think the job of a filmmaker is to communicate, to reach out, and the way the entire team has done this job... I think it's now our job, or whoever is watching this film, to do something about it and to make it into a movement and make a little bit of a difference." A film which Noorani had been planning for at least a decade, "Love Sonia" enters the dark alleys where sex trafficking is a business and sexual exploitation and oppression a way of life. The reality, as the team put it, is "darker". Mrunal Thakur, known to Indian television audiences as Bulbul of "Kumkum Bhagya", delivers a performance that elicited a comparison with the late Smita Patil. "This girl... She's the next one," pointed out actress Freida Pinto, who has a key role in the film and hopes it raises global conversation about the issue. In her pursuit to play Sonia, who gets out to rescue her sister from the menace and gets caught into it herself, Mrunal visited Sonagachi -- India's largest red-light district, located in West Bengal -- and was upset to know how there were women with 30 to 40 clients a day. Actress Richa Chadha, in the role of a brothel owner and a trafficked rape victim, leaves a mark and makes a point. "This is a modern-day form of slavery. We need to understand why this sickness and perversity exists," said Richa, stressing the dire need to empower men who are the clients. Noorani said: "You can fight sex trafficking in various different ways -- education, lowering the poverty level, NGOs... But the biggest problem is there are never any prosecutions for the end-user and for the ones who are paying for it. "It needs to be attacked at the grassroot level." Apart from actors like Adil Hussain, Manoj Bajpayee, Anupam Kher and Rajkummar Rao as part of the cast, the film also features Hollywood star Demi Moore in a short role. She has patronised the movie due to her NGO Thorn that works to abolish sexual slavery and trafficking. The larger aim, hence, is to galvanise support for organisations that work towards rescuing trafficked women and giving them a new lease of life. Mrunal recounted how upon watching "Love Sonia" at the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival moved one man in the audience to declare that the third child he would adopt will be a victim. "Isn't that amazing?" Well, that can sometimes be the magic of cinema. (Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in) --IANS rb/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has nabbed a right-wing activist of the Hindu Janjagran Samiti (HJS) and recovered some explosive materials from his home in Palghar early on Friday, an official said. The activist has been identified as Vaibhav Raut. Earlier it was suspected that he was a Sanatan Sanstha activist, also a right-wing group. The arrest followed an early morning raid in the Nala Sopara town. The ATS used a dog squad to swoop down on the Hindu group member. The ATS has recovered some bomb-making material, including detonators, explosive powder and incriminating material during the raid at his home and shop in Bhandarali area of Nala Sopara. The motives behind the explosives found with him are not clear and Raut has been taken from Palghar to Mumbai where he will be produced before a court later in the day. Decrying the arrest of "a devout Hindu" as "Malegaon 2" the HJS has said Raut is an active Gau-Rakshak (Cow protector) of the Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti. "He used to participate in agitations and programmes for uniting Hindu organisations under the aegis of the HJS," said Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh HJS Organiser Sunil Ghanvat. However, he had not taken part in any programmes since the past few months, the HJS chief added. "The incidents of needless harassment of Hindu orgnisations' activists and implicating them in false cases are not new. It was amply proved through the Malegaon (2008 blasts) case and arrests of many innocent Sanatan Sanstha activists," Ghanvat said. He was referring to the arrests of several leading Hindu functioneries, including Sadhvi Pragnya Singh Thakur and others, during the investigations into the Malegaon blasts in a Muslim locality killing seven and injuring over 80. Earlier on Friday, Raut's lawyer Sanjeev Punhalekar had also informed the media that Raut was not a Sanatan Sanstha activist and his name was being deliberately linked to defame the organisation. --IANS qn/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday claimed to have foiled a terrorist attempt to strike in different parts of the state following the arrest of three persons and seizure of at least 20 crude bombs and expolsives and material used in bomb-making. The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mumbai on Saturday, Independence Day celebrations on August 15 and Bakri Eid next week. "We have arrested three persons and are investigating," Additional Director General of Police (ATS) Atulchandra Kulkarni informed the media here. Official sources said the first to be arrested early Friday was Hindu Janjagran Samiti (HJS) activist Vaibhav Raut from his home in Nala Sopara, Palghar district. Later, his accomplice Sharad Kalaskar was arrested from there by the ATS teams, which were accompanied by a dog squad and forensics experts. A third right-wing activist Sudhnava Gondhalekar -- allegedly linked to Shri Shiv Pratisthan -- was arrested from Pune. The sources said that the accused planned to carry out terror hits in Mumbai, Pune, Solapur and Satara districts in the coming few days. Mumbai Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Adkar remanded the three accused in police custody till August 18. During the raids in Palghar, the ATS seized bombs and material that could be used to make at least two dozen more bombs like detonators, explosive powder, wire bundles, resistors, transistors, batteries, multimeters, switches and circuits, connectors, gelatin sticks, diagrams and literature, which have been sent for forensic analysis. Terming the whole plot as a "conspiracy to spark communal disturbances ahead of Bakri Eid," Maharashtra's opposition leaders attacked the state government and demanded an immediate ban on organisations like HJS, Sanatan Sanstha and related outfits. "The seizure of huge cache of explosives is a clear indicator that they were preparing for a major (terror) strike. Under the Bharatiya Janata Party rule at the Centre and in the state, such communal and extremist organisations are having a free run," Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan alleged. Leader of Oppostion in the Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, said that the seizure of explosives made it evident that the accused were planning to create communal disturbance on a large scale. "Will the state government now demand from the Centre to outlaw these organisations?" Vikhe-Patil asked. Nationalist Congress Party state Spokesperson Nawab Malik said it is high time to "declare these organisations as terror groups and ban them" immediately. "We have been repeatedly raising with the Centre and the state the issue of activities of Sanatan Sanstha and HJS, which are active in Maharashtra and Goa, but nothing has been done so far," Malik claimed. However, Sanatan Sanstha lawyer Sanjeev Punhalekar said that contrary to speculations, Raut was not its member and that his name was being deliberately linked to defame the organisation. Decrying the arrest of a "devout Hindu" as "Malegaon 2", the HJS described Raut as an active 'gau rakshak' (cow protector) of the Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti. "He used to participate in agitations and programmes for uniting Hindu organisations under the aegis of the HJS," said Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh HJS Organiser Sunil Ghanvat, adding that he was not active in the organisation for a few months. "The incidents of needless harassment of Hindu organisations' activists and to implicate them in false cases are not new. It was amply proved through the Malegaon (2008 blasts) case and arrests of many innocent Sanatan Sanstha activists," Ghanvat said. He was referring to the arrest of several leading Hindu functionaries, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and others, in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blasts in a Muslim locality that killed seven and injured over 80 others. --IANS qn/tsb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 46-year old man was stabbed to death by his nephew in a dispute over the supply of illegal liquor in south Delhi, police said on Friday. Police said accused Rakesh, 30, of south Delhi's Tigri Camp is on the run. Rakesh stabbed his uncle Sikander during a heated argument early on Thursday and fled the spot as the victim collapsed, a senior police officer said. Sikander was rushed to a private hospital where he was declared brought dead. Both supplied illegal liquor in the area and were involved in a territorial tussle in the past as well. Both were booked in various criminal cases, the officer said. --IANS sp/tsb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh has been arrested on the charge of stealing around 500 high-tech luxury cars in Delhi in five years, police said on Friday. Safruddin, 29, of north Delhi's Nand Nagri area and his gang members used to arrive by air in the national capital from Hyderabad and return after committing the crime to avoid arrest. "A team led by Inspector Neeraj Chaudhary and Sub-Inspector Kuldeep had hailed a car to stop near Gagan Cinema on August 3. The driver, later identified as Safruddin, however sped away but was intercepted after a chase of 50 km at Pragati Maidan and arrested," Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Deo said. "Safruddin told police that he had fixed a target of stealing 100 luxury cars in a year in Delhi. Along with accomplice Mohammad Sharik and other gang members, he arrived in Delhi from Hyderabad by air along with a laptop and hi-tech gadgetry to break into the targetted cars' software, GPS and centralised locking systems," the officer added. They later took a flight for getting back to Hyderabad. Safruddin and his four accomplices had opened fire on police at Vivek Vihar on June 5. In the shootout, his accomplices Noor Mohammad was killed and one Ravi Kuldeep arrested. The gang sold the stolen vehicles to their contacts in Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other states. --IANS sp/tsb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US First Lady Melania Trumps parents became American citizens in a naturalisation ceremony here, completing a year-long immigration process even as President Donald Trump called for new laws to bar Americans from sponsoring parents and other relatives. Michael Wildes, an attorney for Viktor and Amalija Knavs, who had been living in the country as legal permanent residents after leaving their native Slovenia, confirmed that his clients took the oath of citizenship at the ceremony on Thursday, reports The Washington Post. "Citizenship was just awarded," Wildes said. "They have prevailed in a wonderful journey, as millions have." Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for the First Lady, declined to comment on the couple, saying that "they are not part of the administration". Wildes said the Knavses satisfied the requirement that permanent residents hold their green cards for five years before they can apply for US citizenship. However, it remains unclear when the Knavses first moved to the US, but by late 2007, Viktor Knavs was listed in public records as residing at Mar-a-Lago, the President's private club in Palm Beach, Fla. The Knavses received no special treatment because of their relationship with the first family, Wildes told reporters in New York. "The application, the process, the interview was no different than anybody else's, other than the security arrangements to (the) facility today," he said. "This is an example of it going right. They're very excited." Questions about the couple's immigration status intensified last year as the President mounted a push to reduce legal immigration, including provisions to constrict the ability of US citizens to sponsor their parents, adult children and siblings for green cards, The Washington Post reported. In fiscal 2016, the US granted nearly 1.2 million green cards, of which 174,000 went to parents of American citizens, according to the Department of Homeland Security. President Trump has railed against what he calls "chain migration", which he says has resulted in fiercer competition for blue-collar jobs for native-born Americans and greater national security concerns. Melania Trump, formerly a model known as Melania Knauss, arrived in New York in 1996 and began dating Donald Trump in 2000. In 2001, she was granted a green card in the elite EB-1 programme, which was designed for renowned academic researchers, multinational business executives or those in other fields, such as Olympic athletes and Oscar-winning actors, who demonstrated "sustained national and international acclaim". The year she got her legal residency, only five people from Slovenia received green cards under the EB-1 programme, according to the State Department. The Knavses raised Melania in the rural town of Sevnica when Slovenia was a part of communist Yugoslavia. Viktor Knavs, now 74, was a car dealer, while Amalija Knavs, now 73, worked in a textile factory. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 37-year-old electrician, accused of raping a 6-year-old girl studying in Class 2 of a New Delhi Municipal Corporation school, was suspended along with the headmistress here on Friday. The electrician had committed the crime after talomg the child inside a pump room on the school premises. The accused was arrested on Thursday evening after the girl identified him and a case was registered against him under the relevant section of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The NDMC also suspended its electric department's Assistant Engineer, Junior Engineer, and the Lineman. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who holds the portfolio ordered a probe into the incident. "I spoke to the NDMC chairman and had demanded a report." "Our government was demanding CCTVs across all the schools to protect our daughters and avoid incidents like this," he said. Earlier in the day, about 50 parents, who have their kids admitted in the school, staged a protest against the school authorities. --IANS sp-nks-mg/anp/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The monsoon session of Parliament was productive for the government with 20 bills passed by Lok Sabha and 14 by the Rajya Sabha even as it witnessed clashes between the Opposition and the treasury benches on a range of issues including NRC and Rafale fighter jet deal. The government could not get the triple talaq Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha even though the cabinet on Thursday approved some amendments to the Bill passed by the Lok Sabha. But it gave a significant push to its legislative agenda by getting several pending bills passed and introducing a few others. The monsoon session began on July 18 and had 17 sittings. The ruling National Democratic Alliance scored an emphatic victory over a combined opposition in the election to the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman even though it is short of a majority in the Upper House. The victory is expected to provide a psychological boost to the BJP-led alliance in an election year as opposition parties try to come together to oust it in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The session, which was a stark contrast with the nearly washed-out second part of Budget session, saw the first no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government. The no-confidence motion was not taken up during the Budget session amid protests by members from Andhra Pradesh for a special package for the state. The Lok Sabha worked 110 per cent of its scheduled time and passed 20 bills. According to PRS Legislative, which tracks work of Parliament, it was the most productive monsoon session for Lok Sabha since 2000. The PRS Legislative said that 20 bills were introduced during the session and 11 were passed. Congress President Rahul Gandhi led the party's attack on the government on the Rafale deal as he sought answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The party repeatedly raised the issue in both Houses seeking a joint parliamentary committee inquiry. The issue of National Register of Citizens in Assam, which has left out over 40 lakh people, figured in both Houses with Opposition accusing the government of its tardy implementation. Trinamool Congress was at the forefront of the NRC protest and virtually prevented BJP president Amit Shah from speaking in the Upper House on issues concerning farmers. Several significant legislations were passed during the session including that on granting constitutional status to National Commission of Backward Classes and on restoring the immediate arrest provision in the SC/ST Act. Yet another Bill paved the way to enable the overseas electors to appoint proxies to cast their votes in the elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies. PRS Legislative said that Rajya Sabha worked for 66 per cent of it scheduled time, but data provided by the Upper House said its productivity was 74 per cent. While Lok Sabha spent 50 per cent of its time on legislative business, the Rajya Sabha spent 48 per cent. "It is the highest amount of time spent on legislative business by both Houses in the 16th Lok Sabha, second highest since 2004," said PRS Legislative. The Rajya Sabha discussed issues related to the misuse of social media to spread violence, and the "non-implementat"on" of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organization Act, 2014. According to data provided by Lok Sabha, 21 bills were introduced and 20 were passed in the session that commenced on July 18 and had 17 sittings. The Lok Sabha lost 8 hours and 26 minutes due to disruptions, but the members sat for 20 hours and 43 minutes beyond the scheduled time. The Rajya Sabha lost 27 hours and 42 minutes and sat beyond scheduled time on four days gaining about three hours. Members of both houses keenly raised issues concerning their constituencies in the election year. Presiding officers of both Houses expressed their satisfaction at the significant improvement in the productivity compared to the previous session. "I have several times laid stress on smooth conduct of the House which is essential to maintain the credibility of Parliament," Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said in her valedictory remarks at the conclusion of session. Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said the sessi"n "brought new tidings marking a break from the last two sessions." Parliament is expected to now meet for the winter session, which may be the last full session of Parliament before general election due next year. --IANS ps/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A teenage girl student of a BMC-run Urdu medium school died of suspected poisoning from a medicine dose while at least 30 others were taken ill, officials said here on Friday. The deceased has been identified as 12-year-old Chandni Sahil Shaikh. The exact cause of death is yet to determined. The students of Sanjay Nagar Urdu School in Govandi, who were taken ill, were admitted to the Rajawadi Hospital, an official of BMC Disaster Control said. A majority of those admitted complained of severe stomach pain and vomiting, but were now 'stable', a doctor treating them said. More than 100 other students were taken to hospital by anxious parents for precautionary check-up even as the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Health Department teams rushed to the spot. Assistant Commissioner of Police Dinesh Desai of Deonar Division said that a police team visited the school and the hospital to investigate suspected poisoning. An area social activist Sayed Ahmed told mediapersons that the children were administered doses of some medicine on Thursday by school authorities though it was not clear whether it had any connection to symptoms they developed. BMC officials said the Health Department probe report on the incident is expected later on Friday. --IANS qn/tsb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With a good number of languages dying across the world, many ways to preserve them can be explored; for French composer Thierry Pecou, being a musician, music exchanges are certainly the best way to go about it. "Some traditions have been lost, and above all, languages are being lost...we live in a period, when the industrial and the post-industrial world is destroying many aspects of life, to start with, the natural environment, biological species, etc. "I believe that preserving traditions should be a way to educate people to take care of what life has given to them," Pecou told IANS in an e-mail interview. "Traditions are culture, not a way of closing oneself, and the best way to keep tradition alive is to give it a chance to exchange and meet foreign traditions," he added. This year, Pecou performed at Bonjour India, a four-month-long event celebrating Indo-French partnership, where he presented an ensemble in collaboration with Indian artistes, special crafted for Indian audiences. The composer had to make an effort to know about the country's music from books and recordings to prepare for this performance. "I was conscious about how different Indian and Western music styles were. But what I found very interesting is that, (the way) Hindustani musicians fix most of the material they play. "It takes a lot of rehearsal time to write what they play, while the writing process in Western music is the domain of the composer and is made in a solitary way by the composer," Pecou said. In the piece he wrote, he left spaces for the Indian musicians to fit in and "to create a dialogue of ensemble variances". "I thought the Indian musicians would improvise but they actually fixed almost everything." In his attempt to present a soothing melange and to help the two kinds of musicians perform with the same amount of strength, Pecou had to use some raga scales for his music to minimise the difference. "The way I compose is totally different but the way it sounds together is very fluid and natural." He said that it was "wonderful" to perform for Indian audiences. "People concentrated on music, and were probably very interested in hearing such an unusual blend of genres," he said. The music of France reflects a diverse array of styles. Pecou is associated with the Western written music tradition -- classical music. "My style is a heritage of the French tradition that goes from (Claude) Debussy to Henri Dutilleux (French composers), which gives importance to colour, and lets me import and transform traditions from across the world," he explained. It might sound unusual for musicians in India, where the guru plays such an important role, that Pecou started his music education on his own. "Regarding composition, I started studying on my own by reading score of the great masters of the beginning of the 20th century such as (Maurice) Ravel, (Igor) Stravinsky, Debussy, (Gustav) Mahler (music composers). In a way, they were my first teachers." "After having written quite an a lot of short pieces, I started studying harmony and counterpoint with Jean Entremont, the father of great pianist Philippe Entremont," he said. "Later on, at the Paris Conservatoire (a college of music in Paris), I learned a lot in Serge Nigg's orchestration class," he added. India, for the composer -- who has visited the country twice -- is unique, special and feels like a different planet altogether. "I have traveled a lot in my life, but India is a very special and a unique place. It is still hard for me to understand why it has such a strong impact. It is like going to another planet," the musician said. "You experience such extreme contrasts -- beauty, colours, flavours, perfumes -- everywhere and at the same time (there is) dust, ugliness, poverty, pollution -- but all being part of the same humanity in front of your eyes." "Being in India takes you back to the essence of the diversity of life. I never had this feeling in such a strong way elsewhere in the world," he stressed. (Mudita Girotra can be reached at mudita.g@ians.in) --IANS mg/ss/vm/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA is all set to launch its historic small car-size probe to "touch the Sun" from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 3.33 am EDT (1 pm India time) on Saturday. The probe is named after Eugene Parker, a solar physicist who in 1958 first predicted the existence of the solar wind, the stream of charged particles and magnetic fields that flow continuously from the Sun. The launch of the Parker Solar Probe will set it on a journey all the way to the Sun's atmosphere, or corona -- closer to the Sun than any spacecraft in history, NASA said in a statement. "Launch teams are working on technical issues and weather is predicted to be 70 per cent chance of favourable conditions," NASA said in a tweet late on Thursday. "Eight long years of hard work by countless engineers and scientists is finally paying off," Adam Szabo, the mission scientist for Parker Solar Probe at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in a statement. Nestled atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy -- one of the world's most powerful rockets -- with a third stage added, Parker Solar Probe will blast off toward the Sun with a whopping 55 times more energy than is required to reach Mars. Weighing just 635 kgs, it is a relatively light spacecraft, said Andy Driesman, project manager for the mission at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in the US. "And it needs to be, because it takes an immense amount of energy to get to our final orbit around the Sun," Driesman added. Zooming through space in a highly elliptical orbit, Parker Solar Probe will reach speeds up to 692,018 km per hour, setting the record for the fastest spacecraft in history. During its nominal mission lifetime of just under seven years, Parker Solar Probe will complete 24 orbits of the Sun -- reaching within 3.8 million miles of the Sun's surface at closest approach. "We'll be going where no spacecraft has dared go before -- within the corona of a star," said project scientist Nicky Fox from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. "With each orbit, we'll be seeing new regions of the Sun's atmosphere and learning things about stellar mechanics that we've wanted to explore for decades," Fox added. But getting so close to the Sun requires slowing down -- for which Parker will use the gravity of our neighbor planet, Venus. "Parker Solar Probe uses Venus to adjust its course and slow down in order to put the spacecraft on the best trajectory," said Driesman. "We will fly by Venus seven times throughout the mission. Each time we fly by we get closer and closer to the Sun," Driesman added. In an orbit this close to the Sun, the real challenge is to keep the spacecraft from burning up. "Recent advances in materials science gave us the material to fashion a heat shield in front of the spacecraft not only to withstand the extreme heat of the Sun, but to remain cool on the backside," said Szabo. The heat shield is made of a 4.5-inch thick carbon composite foam material between two carbon fibre face sheets. At Parker Solar Probe's closest approach to the Sun, temperatures on the heat shield will reach nearly 1,371 degrees Celsius, but the spacecraft and its instruments will be kept at a relatively comfortable temperature of about 29.4 degrees Celsius. --IANS gb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal and Bangladesh on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding to work together in the development of the energy sector for the first time. Nepali Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun and Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh, Nasrul Hamid, signed the agreement. Bangladesh had been showing interest in joint investment in the energy sector in Nepal since long. As per the MoU, a joint executive committee at the Energy Secretary level and the joint technical group at the Joint Secretary level would be formed for bilateral collaboration. The two bodies would convene their meetings within the coming two months to determine the future course of action. According to statement issued by Nepal's Ministry of Energy, Bangladesh will purchase 500 megawatts power from the Himalayan country. Bangladeshi Minister of State for Electricity, Energy and Mines Hamid said that his country had come up with the move to cherish the dream of his people and address growing energy needs in his country. The government and private sector of both the countries will work together to tap Nepal's umpteen potential in hydropower, he said, terming the agreement signing a matter of "historic importance". Informing that his country has set a target to graduate to the league of developed countries by 2041, he said that they would need around 60,000 MW power. Nepal is an appropriate alternative source for this, he added. "We require 24,000MW electricity by 2021. Now, Bangladesh has the economic growth rate of 7.2 per cent and has set the target to increase this to 10 per cent by next year," Hamid said. In a press meet after signing the MoU, Pun and Hamid said that they will hold talks with India on the issues of a transmission line. It is expected that Oli and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina will hold talks regarding the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in BIMSTEC meeting in Kathmandu on August 30. Pun further expected that the electricity generated in Nepal could be exported to Bangladesh by developing a SAARC level grid. --IANS soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Zealand announced on Friday that it will phase out plastic shopping bags over the next year to protect the and its reputation as a clean, green country. "Every year in New Zealand we use hundreds of millions of single-use plastic bags - a mountain of bags, many of which end up polluting our precious coastal and marine environments and cause serious harm to all kinds of marine life," Efe news quoted a government statement as saying. It said the measure announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Minister Eugenie Sage responded to the petition raised by 65,000 New Zealanders to ban plastic bags and it is the "biggest subject school children write to (the Prime Minister) about". Ardern said that the policy will be implemented gradually so that New Zealanders can get used to the changes. Sage said many countries around the world have successfully taken action on plastic pollution, and she proposed a six-month phase-out period. In neighbouring Australia, a similar policy has been put in place in several states and territories except the most populated state, New South Wales, while Victoria plans to do so in the coming months. The prohibition or restriction of plastic bags has been adopted in some European and Latin American countries. Each year 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the sea and, given the current consumption patterns, by 2030 the annual production of plastic will be 619 million tons globally, according to the UN Programme. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and the US have not done much nuclear business even a decade after the 2008 civil atomic deal was signed. Yet, the real foreign policy goals, including India getting a global nuclear waiver and leveraging a great power to get ahead, have been achieved, say former foreign secretaries Shyam Saran and S. Jaishankar who played pivotal roles in negotiating the historic agreement. The two ex-diplomats were speaking at an IIC-SPS seminar "India and the World: Ten years after Lifting of Nuclear Strictures" as they walked down memory lane to look back 10 years after the Indo-US nuclear deal and India getting an exceptional waiver for nuclear trade by the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) that had a significant impact on New Delhi's international relations and global status as well. Saran, who later became Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy and Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board, while recognising the advantages of the the watershed moment in the diplomatic history of the two democracies, also admitted that no new nuclear power plants could be established in India post the signing of the agreement. He attributed it mostly to the problems of the liability insurance and the change in public perception after Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. "There are many reasons for that. One was the nuclear liability entanglement which we should not have got into and then Fukushima which changed from states wanting nuclear plants to saying they didn't want them. "But we were able to bring in fuel and our existing power plants moved from a plat load factor of around 30 per cent to over 90 per cent. Today, we have long-term agreements for fuel with at least a dozen countries," Saran said. "From being a target of technology denial regimes, and also testing, we are now not a target. No one now objects when India conducts a missile test," he said, dismissing scepticism that the benefits of the nuclear deal have been oversold. He said a partnership with the US was "very important" for India's economic and security policies. And the nuclear deal accelerated the transformation of the relationship between the two countries. Nuclear power plants, which were earlier running at one-third capacity, were now operating at twice that operating capacity. He said India was no more a "target" of the non-proliferation lobby and "there is a stake in India's strength and success which was previously too ambiguous." Jaishankar, who is now on the board of Tata Sons, said there cannot be a sharper example of radical initiative in foreign policy than India's nuclear deal with the US that involved overcoming several layers and hurdles in the US bureaucracy and legislative circles. He said that the signing of the nuclear deal, a process and not an event, was to reverse the effects of "three strategic errors" of the past - the 1947 partition, delay in liberalization of economy and the nuclear diffidence. "There was the error of partition, where we lost our territory and reach; the error of economics where many of the reforms that came in the 1990s should have come earlier, and on the nuclear side, had we pushed our nuclear programme as consistently as China did in the 1950s, we could have made the Non Proliferation Treaty deadline." Dwelling on the implications of the atomic agreement, Jaishankar said the deal had opened up opportunities of defence cooperation with the US like never before. "It changed the character of India-US relationship. Importantly, it differentiated India from Pakistan in the eyes of the world and it has helped change India's image in the world and added to its credibility as a responsible power. It branded the two countries very differently, and helped to change our relationships in the world." And it also, he said, opened up doors in dogmatic countries who were almost theologically opposed previously to dealing with India on this issue unless it signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) which India had consistently refused to sign because it was seen by New Delhi as an unequal treaty that perpetuated "nuclear apartheid". He said nuclear power was a way out for the future and hoped that US companies like Westinghouse would soon be able to "put their house in order" and be able to fulfilt their commercial commitments to India. C. Uday Bhaskar, Director, Society for Policy Studies (SPS), who chaired the session, pointed out that there is a consensus that the world does not want another Hiroshima-Nagasaki or another Fukushima. "India was the outsider, even outlier, till the 1998 nuclear tests were carried out," he said, reminding a packed hall at India International Centre that India and the US were long seen as "estranged democracies" and the situation changed only after the 2008 nuclear deal. --IANS sar/tb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Kerala Police team arrived in Punjab's Jalandhar city on Friday, but failed to meet the controversial bishop, who is accused of sexually abusing a nun, fearing law and order trouble. Police sources said the Punjab Police had to station its personnel in and around the campus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar after several followers of the diocese gathered there after hearing about the arrival of the Kerala police team. The six-member team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A.T. Subhash, arrived here on Friday to question the accused, Franco Mulakkal, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, and others. However, the Kerala police team did not enter the diocese campus and could not question the accused bishop as local authorities feared that this could lead to law and order problem. The Kerala police team is likely to question the bishop in the next two days. A nun had alleged in June that Mulakkal sexually abused her several times at a convent in Kuruvalangadu near Kottayam between 2014 to 2016. An FIR was registered against the bishop and a 114-page detailed statement was taken from the nun and other inmates of the convent. Mulakkal however, denies any wrongdoing. A spokesman for the diocese told media that no wrong had been done by the bishop and that the allegations were being made by the nun at the instigation of vested interests. Statements were taken from the head of the Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and also a few other former nuns who were residents at the convent. --IANS js/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Odisha government on Friday signed a subsidiary agreement for the implementation of a project on climate change for massive groundwater recharge. The Department of Water Resources signed the agreement with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. The $166.30 million (approximately Rs 1,115 crore)-project will be implemented in 15 districts across the state in five years. The South Korea-based Green Climate Fund will provide $34.36 million (approximately Rs 232 crore) to the state government as financial assistance through NABARD. The Chief Minister said that the state government will arrange for the remaining amount through convergence funding. He said that this will be the country's first project from the Green Climate Fund. To address the adverse impact of climate change on the water sector, the state government had submitted a proposal to Green Climate Fund. Under the project, 10,000 ponds will be renovated and the recharge structure will be constructed to conserve surplus rainwater. "Apart from renovation and improvement of 10,000 ponds, the project envisages shafts to recharge water to the aquifers, development of 1,000 deep bore wells with solar pumping based micro irrigation and capacity building of farmers," said the Chief Minister. --IANS cd/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Preparation of Assam's National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a long-drawn-out process and that the government has completed only less than one-third work on it, senior Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here on Friday. "By the time it is completed, the people's perception on it may change," said Sarma, the state's Health and Finance Minister. "Only 30 per cent work of NRC in Assam is completed. On the basis of that, people should not come to any final conclusion," said Sarma. "There is no need to be panicky or create unrest. Those whose names have not been included in the NRC, they can apply with valid documents. Moreover, there is High Court and Supreme Court to file any objections," he added. Sarma, who also holds the PWD department, said there was no caste or community issue (in finalising the NRC). "The entire process is transparent and available in public domain," he said. The NRC is part of the Assam accord which has to be completed in due time. "We are following the guidelines of the accord. The NRC work is being monitored by the Supreme Court," said Sarma, who is in-charge of Bharatiya Janata Party's Tripura affairs. Various tribal-based political parties in Tripura, including the ruling BJP's junior partner Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the opposition Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and National Conference of Tripura (NCT), are demanding an NRC for the state. Sarma, who is the convener of the BJP-led anti-Congress alliance, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said: "First let us do it successfully in Assam. Let Supreme Court find out the credibility. We have spent Rs 100 crore for the task, now let us wait for the result before jumping to any conclusion." He said Assam's demography has changed. There is an accord and a cut-off date. "These elements are not there in Tripura. So, in the absence of an accord, a cut-off date and a statutory body, the outcome could just be a replication of the voters' list," said Sarma, who was also a minister in Assam's Congress-led government headed by then Chief Minister Tarun Gagoi. Sarma, who arrived in Tripura capital on Thursday on a two-day visit, held a series of meetings with party leaders for the Lok Sabha polls. Out of the total 25 Lok Sabha seats in northeast India, comprising eight states, there are two seats in Tripura and BJP despite objection from its alliance party IPFT has already declared to field candidates in both the seats, Tripura East (reserved for the tribals) and Tripura West. --IANS sc/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Southern Naval Command at Kochi has rescued scores of people stranded in the flood-hit areas of Kerala as part of the Indian Navy's "Operation Madad" for the rain and landslide-ravaged state. The operation was launched on Thursday for assisting the state administration and undertaking disaster relief operations due to unprecedented flooding in many parts of Kerala following incessant rainfall and release of excess water from Idukki and other dams. Based on a request received from Deputy Collector, Wayanad, one diving team with Gemini inflatable boat was airlifted and sent to Kalpetta on Thursday to undertake rescue operations, an Indian Navy spokesperson said. Naval helicopters are also deployed for ferrying divers, power tools, axes and relief material to the flooded areas to augment ongoing relief operations. The operation continued on Friday with all resources available with the southern naval command. Two teams with Gemini boats commenced rescue operations at Kalpetta, Wayanad and at Panmarum, 13 km south of Mananthavady, where they evacuated 55 stranded people on Friday. Another team was air lifted by Seaking helicopter to Kalpetta with all gears and two electric Generators requested by the district administration. Three additional diving teams have also been dispatched to Aluva for augmenting the rescue. The spokesperson sad a 50-men contingent was positioned at Naval Armament Depot (NAD) Aluva fully equipped for assistance in any kind of eventuality. "In addition, the Naval Hospital, INHS Sanjivani is ready for rendering medical assistance as required and all preparations towards setting up community kitchen by naval personnel from INS Venduruthy have been made in case the need arises." --IANS sar/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani Maritime Security Ship (PMSS) "Kashmir" is scheduled to reach Sri Lanka's Colombo Port on a four-day goodwill visit from August 13-16, officials said on Friday. During their stay at Colombo, the personnel of the PMSS "Kashmir" will take part in various activities with Sri Lankan Navy, Xinhua news agency reported. "Pakistan Naval ships frequently pay port calls to Sri Lanka, as both countries enjoy warm diplomatic and strong military ties. Such interactions also demonstrate both navies' resolve to contribute towards achieving a more secure and conducive maritime environment which is essential for the regional peace, prosperity and harmony," said a message received in Islamabad from the Pakistani High Commission in Colombo. The PMSS "Kashmir" is capable of undertaking multifarious missions such as surveillance, policing, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations, security and law-enforcement patrolling in maritime zones, pollution monitoring, while operating independently or as part of a task force in a multi-threat environment for extended duration at sea. --IANS soni/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the first year of operations, Peru has exported avocados worth over $70,000 to India, which is about 11 per cent of the fruit's total export, as per a statement from Peruvian Embassy. According to the embassy, the total exports of avocados to India touched $650,000 in 2017-18 -- a year-on-year jump of 70.33 per cent while the Peruvian fruit's share was 10.8 per cent. Peruvian avocados began entering the Indian market from September 2017 by air and the first maritime container arrived at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva port in July this year. It said the country's avocados export to India in 2018-19 would cross $200,000. The Embassy cited data available with India's Commerce Ministry to show that total avocados import by India was worth USD 140,000 in 2015-16 and worth $380,000 in 2016-17. In 2017-18, it increased by 70.33 per cent to $650,000. Luis Cabello, Commercial and Economic Counsellor of Peru in India, said selling Peruvian avocados in Indian supermarkets was difficult but the promotion of the fruit had borne fruit. "Indian market is quickly turning into a conscious healthy consumer and we will ensure that more of our superfoods continue to enter the market," said a statement quoting Cabello. Avocados production in Peru in 2017 grew 27 per cent with respect to 2016, making the country the world's second largest producer. --IANS spk/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of a pro-Khakistan rally scheduled to be held in London on August 12, the British High Commission here said on Friday that people in Britain have the right to protest provided they stay within the limits of the law. "People in the UK have a right to protest and to demonstrate their views, provided they act within the law," the High Commission stated on its Twitter handle. "Should a protest contravene the law, the police have powers to deal with activities that spread hate or deliberately raise tensions through violence or public disorder," it said. Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a human rights advocacy group with radical leaning, has announced that it will hold what it calls a "London Declaration" on an independence referendum for the Indian state of Punjab at Trafalgar Square in London on August 12. India on Thursday said it is for Britain to decide whether to allow an event that seeks to promote violence and secessionism. "We have drawn their (Britain's) attention to the fact that the event in London is a separatist activity, which impinges on India's territorial integrity," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a media briefing here. "We have said that it seeks to propagate violence, secessionism and hatred. "And of course, we expect them (Britain) to take into account the larger perspective of the relationship when they take a decision in such matters." Last month, India issued a demarche to Britain in this connection. --IANS ab/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rajasthan High Court on Friday issued notice to the BJP state unit chief on a PIL regarding the expenses incurred on the party's ongoing 'Gaurav Yatra' led by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in the state, a lawyer said. The court directed Bharatiya Janata Party state unit President Madanlal Saini to submit his party's stand on the expenses by August 16, said petitioner-advocate Vibhuti Bhushan Sharma. Sharma's PIL was taken up in the court of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog. On August 4, BJP President Amit Shah flagged off the 'Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra' from Charbhuja temple in Rajsamund, which is being seen as the official start of the party's campaigning ahead of the Assembly polls this year. The PIL mentioned that the 'Gaurav Yatra' was a ruling party initiative and questioned the state government orders to the Public Works Department on August 1 to make arrangements for setting up the stage, sound system, decoration etc for the yatra by inviting tenders for the same. The PIL listed as respondents the state Chief Secretary, PWD Principal Secretary and Chief Engineer and BJP state unit President Madanlal Saini. He also questioned the delegation of tasks to officials of Information and Public Relations Department for publicity work. Sharma told IANS that advocates for the Chief Secretary and PWD told the court on Friday that orders pertaining to expenses for the yatra have since been withdrawn. However, Sharma said, the Chief Justice maintained that hearing in the matter is mandatory and thus issued a show-cause notice to Saini who was directed to present his party's stand by August 16. State Congress chief Sachin Pilot has claimed that government funds are being misused for the yatra and showed to the media state government orders to PWD officials on the issue. --IANS arc/tsb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rajasthan government will change the names of four more villages after three Hindu-dominated villages were earlier renamed, officials said on Friday. Informed sources said the state government has proposed to change the names of 27 villages in the state, however the Centre has permitted the change of only seven names as of now. The three villages whose names have been changed are: Miyon Ka Bada in Barmer has become Mahesh Nagar, Islampur in Jhunjhunu will now be called Pichanva Khurd and Salemabad in Ajmer has been renamed as Shri Nimbark Teerth. There were complaints from these villages that people hesitate to marry their children due to the Muslim names, informed sources said. The other four villages whose names will be changed are Mohammadpur in Chittaurgarh as Medikh Kheda, Navabpura in Chittaurgarh as Nai Sarthal, Rampura-Ajampur in Chittaurgarh as Sitaramji Kheda and Mandfiya in Chhitaurgarh as Sanwaliyaji. The former sarpanch of Miyon Ka Bada, Hanwant Singh, said the villagers had demanded the renaming since the last 50 years. The proposal to change the name was taken in 2010. The decision to rename the villages comes a few months ahead of the Assembly elections in Rajasthan. According to information, the panchayat, with the consent of villagers, sends the renaming proposal to the revenue department. The state government the reviews the proposal and sends it to the Centre. Once the Central government permits, the name change proposal is passed. --IANS arc/ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court was on Friday informed by the Centre that the convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case cannot be released, holding that setting them free will set a "dangerous precedent". The Tamil Nadu government's proposal to release the convicts is not acceptable to the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre, told a bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi. "Releasing the killers of a former Prime Minister will set a very dangerous precedent. "The case has been decided by various forum of judiciary and executive and the prisoners do not deserve to be set free," said the Centre in its report. Placing before the bench the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, taken on April 18, Anand said the Centre has taken a decision not to release the seven convicts on the state government's proposal. It said that the Central Bureau of Investigation has opposed the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to release the convicts in the "interest of justice". "The case has been reviewed, scrutinised by various forums of judiciary and executive and both the highest judicial and executive forum have evaluated the case and decided the matter. "Releasing the four foreign nationals who had committed the gruesome murder of the former Prime Minister of this country along with 15 others, most of who were police officers, in connivance with three Indian nationals will set a dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future," the Centre's document stated. "The Centre, in pursuance of Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) does not concur to the proposal of Tamil Nadu government for grant of further remission of sentence to the seven convicts," said the union government. The Centre filed the report in compliance of the top court order directing it to take a call on the Tamil Nadu government's proposal within three months. --IANS gt/pk/mag/in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on phone and took stock of the flood situation in the state, besides assuring him of all central help. "Spoke to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the prevailing flood situation in the state. I have assured of all possible assistance from the Centre to the state government," Rajnath Singh tweeted. The Minister said that "relief and rescue operations are going on and the Ministry of Home Affairs is closely monitoring the situation". In Kerala, large areas have been inundated by floodwaters, claiming 27 lives in the last 48 hours, due to heavy rain and landslides. Several Kerala districts have been receiving heavy rains since Wednesday. Till Thursday, 24 people had died, while three more deaths were reported on Friday. Earlier, the Union Minister told the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour that the Central government was aware of the crisis in Kerala and it was ready to provide any assistance needed by the state. The Minister also said that he had sent Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju to Kerala a few days ago to take stock. After the July floods, Rijiju toured the flood-hit districts. The Centre had then approved Rs 80 crore for the state. According to Kerala Power Minister M.M. Mani, who hails from Idukki, so far three sluices of the Idukki dam had been opened till Friday. The Army is involved in rescue and relief as well as damage-repair exercises in Idukki, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. In a statement, the Home Ministry on Thursday said it was sending four National Disaster Response Force teams to Kerala and that an inter-ministerial Central team was also visiting the flood-affected areas. --IANS rak/tsb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajkumar Hirani, Tabrez Noorani, Rani Mukerji, Freida Pinto, Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal on Friday gathered to spread the magic of cinema in Australia as part of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) -- the biggest celebration of Indian movies in Down Under. On a windy and sunny Friday, the celebrities addressed the opening press conference of the movie jamboree, to be held here till August 22. Rani, looking simple and elegant in a floral suit, said it was an honour for her to be a guest of honour at the event, where 60 films across 20 languages will be screened. "On behalf of the Indian film fraternity, I would like to thank the Victorian government for supporting the Indian industry as it is so diverse with so many languages and styles, and it is all put under one roof. "It's a matter of great pride for our country to showcase our films here and reach out to people," Rani, whose film "Hichki" will be screened at the gala, said here. Australia's Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley lauded the IFFM and its Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange for organising the country's biggest Indian film festival in its creative capital Victoria. In its ninth edition currently, the gala has been strongly supported by Film Victoria, the government body which offers film commission services to productions interested in filming here. "We are looking at increasing the opportunities and strengthening the connections that we (Australia and India) have with each other. And that's what IFFM does," Foley said. The opening night film is Tabrez Noorani's "Love Sonia" on sex trafficking. Freida and Richa, along with the film's lead actress Mrunal Thakur, said they were looking forward to showcase a film about the lesser known side of the harsh reality. Hirani, who is here with writer Abhijat Joshi and actor Vicky Kaushal to show his latest movie "Sanju" to the Australian audience, said the "lovely people" of Melbourne add to its vibe as a city. "We come here and start feeling like kids," quipped Hirani, and added: "I think it's a fantastic place. We have considered shooting here as a lot of Indian films have been shot here. I actually do very few films but I would want to come and shoot in Australia." Apart from film screenings, the inclusion-themed IFFM will host a flag hoisting ceremony on Saturday ahead of Independence Day. Rani will hoist the flag at the Federation Square. There will also be a dance competition, as well as panel discussions ranging on different subjects concerning the film industry, leading up to the awards night on Sunday. (Radhika Bhirani is in Melbourne on the invitation of IFFM organisers. She can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in) --IANS rb/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor has called British Airways "racist" after an Indian passenger and his family were allegedly asked to de-board a flight in the UK. He said his own experience with the airline once was not pleasant. "Racist. Don't fly British Airways. We cannot be kicked around. Sad to hear about the Berlin child incident. I stopped flying British Airways after the cabin crew were rude and had attitude not once but twice even after being a first class passenger. Fly Jet Airways or Emirates. There is dignity," Rishi tweeted on Thursday. The incident took place on July 23, when the family was travelling from London to Berlin on a British Airways flight. Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has directed the aviation regulator to obtain a detailed report from British Airways over the incident. The development comes after the passenger, identified as A.P. Pathak a Joint Secretary level officer in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, complained that he and his family were discriminated against on racial lines. --IANS dc/rb/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a significant move, the Defence Ministry and the Indian Army have standardised rules for the closure of roads in cantonment areas across the country without compromising on the security needs of the Army. An army spokesperson said the standardised protocol was in conformity with the provisions of the Cantonments Act, 2006. "Emergent security needs of the Army have been duly taken cognisance of while devising the standard protocol to enable closure of roads in such circumstances," the spokesperson said. The move comes against the backdrop of residents in military cantonment areas challenging the military authority and the powers of Cantonment Boards on their decisions to close roads running through Army areas whenever the military needed to do so. The issue was raised in a meeting by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with MPs and elected Vice Presidents of the 62 Cantonment Boards on May 4 this year. It began with Secunderabad Cantonment Board, where the Local Military Authority (LMA) shut multiple roads used by civilians residing in colonies around the cantonment, causing an outrage. Civilians in other Cantt areas also complained about the closure of roads and additional checks being imposed on entry into cantonments. The Defence Ministry in May sought details from each Cantonment Board -- a civic administration body that comes under the control of the Defence Ministry. It comprises elected members besides ex-officio and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006. This led to a review by the Defence Minister who ordered opening of 85 roads closed by the army in various cantt areas. Based on the feedback received through the meeting, Sitharaman held several rounds of discussions on the issue of closure of roads in cantonments. Detailed reviews were taken by the minister with officers of the ministry, Army Headquarters including Chief of the Army Staff and the Defence Estates Organisation. As such, the spokesperson, said, it was decided that "in case of roads, which the Local Military Authorities consider necessary for reasons to be provided, the process of closure of roads may be initiated. "Due process as laid down under Cantonment Act, 2006 and the orders issued by the Ministry dated May 28, 2018 will be followed." --IANS sar/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ryanair pilots went on a 24-hour strike on Friday in several European countries in protest against the stagnation of negotiations on wages and working condition, forcing the Irish low-cost airline to cancel 400 flights on Friday affecting thousands of people. The walk-out involved staff in Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands. The action was the largest in a series of strikes held earlier, the BBC reported. The cancelled flights were from the 2,400 scheduled flights. Around 55,000 passengers across Europe were expected to be affected by the strike, almost 42,000 of them in Germany, where 250 flights were reported to be hit. "Despite the regrettable and unjustified strike action taking place in 5 of our 37 markets on Friday, over 2,000 flights (85 per cent) of the schedule will operate as normal", a Ryanair statement said. Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost carrier, averted widespread strikes before Christmas by agreeing to recognize unions for the first time in its 30-year history. But there have been protests ever since over the negotiation of collective labour agreements. About 300 Ryanair flights were cancelled in July when cabin crews in Belgium, Portugal and Spain went on strike for 48 hours. Kenny Jacobs, the chief marketing officer at Ryanair, said earlier that the airline was "not prepared to concede to unreasonable demands that will compromise either our low fares or our highly efficient model". Shares in Ryanair dipped 1 per cent on Friday. The stock was down roughly 30 per cent from a record high set in 2017. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samsung India on Friday opened pre-booking for its pen-focused flagship Galaxy Note 9, which will be available in 128GB and 512GB variants for Rs 67,900 and Rs 84,900, respectively. India launch of the smartphone is likely to be before August 24. Prospective buyers who pre-book the device will get a chance to own a Samsung Gear Sport smartwatch for Rs 4,999, which originally costs Rs 22,990, the company said in a statement. All variants of the device will be available across retail and online stores, the company added. The smartphone will also be available on Flipkart in India, for which the pre-orders will begin during its Freedom Day sale, a latest teaser on the e-commerce site suggested on Friday. The South Korean giant announced that the smartphone will be available globally from August 24 and for the India market it will be manufactured at the company's largest mobile manufacturing plant in Noida. The 6.4-inch Note 9 comes in four colours and two variants -- 6GB RAM and 128GB in-built internal memory (expandable up to 512GB) and 8GB RAM with 512GB ROM expandable up to 1TB with an additional 512GB microSD card -- a delight for gamers and heavy-duty users. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo OS, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset for the US customers and the models powered by Samsung's very own "Exynos 9 Series 9810" chips will head to the rest of the world, including India. The device has 12MP + 12MP dual camera system with dual optical image stabilization (OIS) at the rear -- with two-times more powerful optical zoom and up to 10-times powerful digital zoom -- and an 8MP front shooter. Note 9 with Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display houses 4000mAh battery -- 21 per cent bigger than Note 8 -- that is paired with fast-charging technology compatible with both wired and wireless charging. --IANS ksc/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With growing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and India in the fields of and health, Saudi Arabia has donated $5 million to the Jamia Hamdard University in New Delhi as a contribution towards the cost of building the medical college and expanding the existing Majeedia Hospital. The new building of the hospital will be named after the late custodian of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Medina, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, an announcement by the Saudi Embassy here said. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Al-Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University and the Jamia Hamdard University in March 2014 envisaging implementation of an exchange programme that will include exchange of staff, students, curricula and research collaborations as well as joint organization of seminars and conferences. Saudi Ambassador Saud bin Mohammed Al-Sati hailed the agreement between the two universities, terming it as "an excellent initiative that comes in the context of promoting cultural and scientific cooperation between the two friendly countries". --IANS sar/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday admitted a CBI plea against the acquittal of doctor-couple Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, and issued a notice to them. A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi, while agreeing to hear the central probe agency's plea against the dentist couple's acquittal, sought a response from them. It tagged the Central Bureau of Investigation plea with the petititon of Hemraj's wife who also challenged the acquittal. The CBI had approached the Supreme Court on October 12, 2017, against the Allahabad High Court order of acquittal. The high court had acquitted the couple by giving them the benefit of doubt. Aarushi, 14, and Hemraj, were found murdered at their Jal Vayu Vihar home in Noida on May 16, 2008. The high court's order came on an appeal by the Talwars against a Ghaziabad CBI court judgement that handed them life imprisonment on November 26, 2013. After Aarushi was found murdered in her bedroom, Hemraj was initially considered a suspect. However, his body too, was discovered a day later in a pool of blood on the terrace of the house. The high court, while acquitting the Talwar couple, had made comments on the CBI trial court presiding officer, saying he had adopted a "partial and parochial approach" in his 2013 judgment to convict the parents for the double murder. The court had said that the trial court's judgment was based on the "creation of fanciful reasoning" and "presuming facts with indomitable obstinacy and taking things for granted, and thus basing the conclusion on unfounded evidence". The Uttar Pradesh Police had accused Rajesh Talwar of killing his daughter in a fit of rage. Rajesh Talwar was arrested on May 23, 2008. On May 31, 2008, the CBI tookover the case and initially absolved the parents but later held them responsible for the two murders. On June 13, 2008, Rajesh Talwar's compounder Krishna was arrested by the CBI. Ten days later, Raj Kumar, a servant of a doctor friend of the Talwars, and Vijay Mandal, the domestic help of the Talwars' neighbour, were also arrested. The three were later freed after no evidence was found against them. --IANS gt/in/hs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The general anguish over vandalism by Kanwarias reached the Supreme Court on Friday as it expressed serious concern over the increasing incidents of lawlessness and vandalism by sectional and religious groups. As a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud expressed concern over the issue, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal referred to the violent acts by the Kanwarias over the last two days, including the incidents of attacking and over-turning of vehicles. Venugopal said every now and then something was happening and suggested that rampant vandalism cannot be curbed unless the District Superintendent of Police (SP) was made personally responsible and accountable to deal with such instances of deliberate destruction and damage to public or private property. As Venugopal mentioned the Kanwaria incidents, Justice Chandrachud pointed that the national highway connecting Allahabad with Varanasi is blocked due to these Shiva devotees. Kanwarias are Hindu devotees who embark on an annual pilgrimage to collect water from the river Ganga and transport it to various temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, for his bath, during the Shravan month of the Hindu calendar. Sharing the concern, Chief Justice said that all those who vandalise others properties why don't they burn their own houses. "You burn your own house," CJI Misra said. Referring to the top court's 2009 directions to make the leaders of agitation accountable for any damage inflicted to public property in the course of agitation, Chief Justice Misra said that they have issued direction to curb and deal with the incidents of lynching by the vigilante groups and will do so in dealing with acts of vandalism by anyone. The court said that it would put out similar guidelines to curb and control the vandalism by mobs or by whatever label they are known. Reserving the verdict, the court asked the petitioner Kodungallour Film Society and the Attorney General to give suggestion for guidelines. Among the incidents mentioned in the court were -- the Maratha agitation for quota in Mumbai; the violence in protest by SC/ST groups following top court judgment diluting the provision of mandatory arrest under the The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act; and the agitation by the Karni Sena at the time of the release of the film "Padmavaat". "In India every week there is a major happening," the Attorney General regretted that nothing was happening and no action was being taken against the perpetrators of such incidents. On the "Padmavaat" row, the Attorney General without naming the Karni Sena that had led the agitation, said: "They openly threatened to cut the nose of lead actress." He asked if any civilised society would tolerate such a thing. No action has been taken against the person who handed down such a threat, he added. Buttressing his suggestion that SPs be made responsible and accountable to act in all such cases, Venugopal also pointed out that in Delhi ever since the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was given the responsibility to check the Kanwarias, the incidents of vandalism have come down considerably. Appearing for the petitioner, advocate P.V. Dinesh said that "as nothing was happening it gives the impression as if there is a complete anarchy. Common man says there is no law and order within the country". He also said that what was happening projected India poorly overseas and urged the court to take some action, enforce some accountability on such religious groups or whosoever they may be. --IANS pk/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order permitting moviegoers to carry their own eatables and beverages inside theatres. A bench of Justice Rohinton F. Nariman and Justice Indu Malhotra wanted to know whether there are any statutory provisions to put restrictions on carrying of outside food inside cinemas. The court asked Sidharth Anand, who filed the PIL before the High Court, to file a response to the appeal against the impugned order and posted the matter for hearing after six weeks. Last month, the High Court had said that moviegoers cannot be forced by multiplexes and cinema hall owners to purchase food, water and beverages from the theatre premises nor can they be prohibited from carrying food items into malls and multiplexes. The High Court said that such acts on the part of multiplex/cinema hall owners are against the right to choice of food, including the right not to eat junk food and right to good health, which comes under the purview of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. In the top court, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Multiplex Association of India, told the bench that the High Court order was wrong and if the order was replicated across the country, there will be a complete breakdown of these private entities. Seeking a stay on the High Court orders, Rohatgi asked if he could be allowed to carry his won whiskey into the Taj hotel and order soda there. The Bombay High Court has in the past said that moviegoers cannot be prohibited from carrying eatables inside cinemas when food and drinks inside theatres are sold at exorbitant rates. On July 8, the Delhi High Court had also sought a response from the city government to a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking framing of guidelines to allow moviegoers to carry their own eatables and beverages inside theatres. --IANS gt/tsb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP has not yet received permission from the city police to install a drone to monitor security arrangements at Amit Shah's rally in the city on Saturday. "The police have not yet given us the permission to install drone at the rally venue," BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu said. "They are looking into the aspect of preparing the stage and venue," Basu said. Kolkata Police did not comment on the matter. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent rally in West Bengal's Midnapore town, a part of the canopy collapsed injuring around 100 people. The BJP has also asked the police to allow walkie-talkies for party workers during Saturday's rally at Mayo Road in the central part of the city. --IANS dm/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the last day of Parliament's monsoon session, UPA Chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday led her party MPs in their protest against the Narendra Modi government on the controversial Rafale deal, and demanded a JPC probe into it. Holding placards, the Congress leaders assembled near the Gandhi statue in Parliament lawns where they shouted slogans denouncing the government and demanded a JPC probe into the fighter jets' deal. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Ambika Soni and senior party lawmakers participated in the protest. Among the other parties which also joined the protest included Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Earlier, the Congress members in the Lok Sabha raised slogans during the Zero Hour demanding a JPC probe into the Rafale deal and entered the well of the House. Later, they staged a walkout. The Congress MPs also protested in the Rajya Sabha, disrupting the House proceedings briefly. "This is the biggest scam of the world. We demand formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate the Rafale deal," Azad said in the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel, however, dimissed the allegations, saying the opposition MPs need to have substantial proof if they accuse the Prime Minister of graft. The Congress members had earlier boycotted a breakfast meeting by Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu in protest against the government's move to pass three bills in the House without any discussion. --IANS sid/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the last day of Parliament's monsoon session, UPA Chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday led her party MPs in protest against the Modi government over the controversial Rafale deal India has signed with France to buy fighter jets. Congress leaders, flashing placards and demanding a Joint Parliamentary Party Committee (JPC) probe into the alleged scam, assembled near the Gandhi statue in Parliament lawns where they indulged in slogan shouting, denouncing the government. The placards read "Modi corruption exposed", "Rafale cover-up out in the open", "Rafale scam: we demand JPC probe", Modi's Rafale gate" and "No farm loan waiver -- Rs 130,000 crore to Rafale scam". Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Ambika Soni and senior party lawmakers participated in the protest. Congress members later protested in the Rajya Sabha as well disrupting the House briefly. "This is the biggest scam of the world. We demabd the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate the Rafale deal," Azad said in the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel dimissed the allegations, saying the Opposition MPs needed to have substantial proof if they accuse the Prime Minister of graft. Congress MPs had earlier boycotted a breakfast meeting by Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu in protest against the government's move to pass three bills in the House without any discussion. --IANS sid-sar/vsc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump's goal of creating a new military branch has yet to take off, but his campaign is hoping it will fill their coffers to infinity and beyond. Trump 2020 re-election campaign manager Brad Parscale emailed supporters on Tuesday asking them to vote on a Space Force logo which will be sold later on, BBC reported. The email came as Vice President Mike Pence appeared at the Pentagon to hail the proposed Space Force. Social media users have been quick to mock the idea of a new military branch. "President Trump wants a SPACE FORCE -- a groundbreaking endeavour for the future of America and the final frontier," read the email from the Trump campaign. "As a way to celebrate President Trump's huge announcement, our campaign will be selling a new line of gear." Parscale then asked supporters to choose from six logos, one of which includes the phrase: "Mars awaits." Trump's Space Force as an actual sixth branch of the US military faces numerous bureaucratic and political obstacles. Space Force as a presidential marketing campaign, however, is already blasting off. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tibetans are ready to be a part of China if guaranteed full rights to preserve their culture, the Dalai Lama said on Friday. "Tibetans are not asking for independence. We are okay with remaining with the People's Republic of China, provided we have full rights to preserve our culture," the 83-year-old spiritual leader said at "Thank You Karnataka" event here in the city. Organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the event was a part of "Thank You India - 2018" held by the Tibetan community across India to mark 60 years of its exile in the country. "Several of Chinese citizens practicing Buddhism are keen on Tibetan Buddhism as it is considered scientific," the Nobel laureate said. Born in Taktser hamlet in northeastern Tibet, the Dalai Lama was recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. He fled to India from Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959. China annexed Tibet in 1950, forcing thousands of Tibetans, including monks, to flee the mountain country and settle in India as refugees. Since then, India has been home to over 100,000 Tibetans majorly settled in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh among other states. --IANS bha/soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group exhibition showcasing Bengali Patachitra -- a narrative style of art known for the stories it weaves through painted scrolls -- opened here on Friday, displaying more than 60 artworks. The fourth edition of "Satrangi", an annual show of the Ojas Art Awardees' works, focuses on the Bengali Patachitra or Patua art. Ojas Art Gallery Curatorial Director Anubhav Nath told IANS that the previous years focused on Gond, Madhubani-Mithila and Bhil art, with the rich Bengali Patachitra art in focus this year. The traditional artform of Warli will be picked up next year. He cited the reason for picking the Bengali Patachitra as the continual influence of Bengali culture and art on the Indian cultural landscape. Storytelling, documentation and narration has long been done through painted scrolls, the organising Ojas Art Gallery said in a statement, adding that the artworks have strong satirical and social angles to them. The exhibition will feature paintings from awardees Anwar Chitrakar, Uttam Chitrakar, Swarna Chitrakar, Moyna and Joydeb Chitrakar. The participating artists have exhibited their artworks at Zee Jaipur Literature Festival in 2017. Anwar is trained in the Kalighat style of art, with traditional myths and stories forming the basis of his work, while Uttam depicts the "Babu Culture", a prime theme of the Kalighat style. The work of Swarna is more ritualistic in theme, and the couple Moyna and Joydeb paint about social issues, deities, and rituals. "Satrangi", an annual exhibition exploring a traditional or tribal art theme annually, is on public view till September 2 at the Ojas Art Gallery. --IANS sj/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the most unusual objects held in the British Librarys Visual Arts collection is an oversized silver candelabra that was presented to Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence (1806-57) as a Testimonial from the Friends of the Panjab in 1856. Lawrence was appointed as the British Resident in Lahore in 1846 and was the President of the Board of Administration for the Affairs of the Panjab. The Testimonial is currently on loan and featured at the exhibition Empire of the Sikhs at the Brunei Gallery, London which runs from 12 July 23 September 2018. The Lawrence Testimonial, by Hunt and Roskell after the design and model of Alfred Brown, 1853-56. British Library, Foster 1075 Henry Lawrence started his career as an army officer of the East India Company. He was trained at the Companys Addiscombe College in south London and travelled to India when he was 16 to join the Bengal Artillery. Lawrence was in fact born in Ceylon and would spend the majority of his life in the subcontinent. From the onset of his career, he was keen to develop his linguistic skills and would become fluent in Persian, Hindi and Urdu. His language skills would prove to become useful and he was appointed as an assistant revenue surveyor for the revenue survey of India in the north-western provinces based in Moradabad from 1833. From the 1840s, Lawrences career shifted to a more political nature. In 1840, Lawrence was formally appointed as Assistant to the Governor-General's Agent for the Affairs of the Panjab and the North-West Frontier. In 1843, Lawrence became the Resident at the court of Nepal. Following the First Anglo-Sikh War of 1845-46, Lord Hardinge appointed Lawrence as Agent at Lahore and subsequently the British Resident. Following the annexation of the Panjab in 1849, he served as President of the Board of Administration for the Affairs of the Panjab. Portrait of Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence painted by Delhi artist Ghulam Husain Khan, c. 1847. British Library, Add Or 2409 According to the Illustrated London News (Feb 16, 1856), this magnificent testimonial was projected in the year 1853 for presentation to Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence K.C.B. upon the occasion of his voluntary relinquishing of the above appointment [President of the Board of Administration for the Affairs of the Panjab] for the no less honourable and important post of Governor-Generals Agent in Rajpootana. The Testimonial was in the Lawrence familys collection until 1949, when it was deposited as part of the wider Lawrence archive to the India Office Records and Private Papers collection by Sir John Lawrence; shortly after the acquisition, the Testimonial was sent on long term loan to the National Army Museum and only returned to the Library in 2015. Tarnjeet Singh Padam, Leading Library Assistant at the British Library, volunteer for the UK Panjab Heritage Association, and a contributing curator for Empire of the Sikhs, located the Illustrated London News article which now provides the documentation regarding the circumstances of production and the symbolic significance of the multiple vignettes presented in this elaborate testimonial. According to the Illustrated London News: The figure on the summit represents India; beneath, in bassi rellievi, are five reclining Deities, representing the rivers of India. The branches, ornamented in the Indian style, carry twelve lights. The palm, plaintain, and the fig-tree encircle the shaft. On the base is a grand composition of figures, divided into three groups. The first is typical of the state of anarchy which existed in the Punjab previously to the introduction of British rule. One of Runjeet Singhs body guard is attacked by a hill man-a dismounted irregular horseman lies dead on the ground, and above him is a wounded Akalie. The second group represents the conflict between the British and the Sikh forces which resulted in the conquest of the country by the former. The figures introduced are a Sikh irregular horseman mounted, opposed to by a British foot solider, and a Sikh artilleryman contending with a dismounted trooper. The third group represents the pacification of the Punjaub. Sir Henry Lawrence is represented in the act of receiving from an Afghan villager and a Sikh Chief their arms; in exchange for which he is about to present them with different implements of husbandry, held by Industry and Peace, which are represented by two female figures. Detail showing Henry Lawrence receiving an Afghan villager The entablatures on the three sides of the Testimonial contain respective representations; - firstly, of the sacred Tank at Amritsar (the Pool of Immortality), with the Sikh temple in the centre; secondly, of Sir Henry Lawrence, with the Maharajah of the Punjaub and Chieftains seated in Durbar at Lahore, arranging for the payment of the troops, who were in a state of mutiny; and, thirdly, the establishment of the Lawrence Asylum in the Himalaya, for the children of European soldiers allegorically represented by Benevolence under the guidance of Wisdom-removing the children from the plains to the salubrious regions of the Himalaya. At the angles are the Brahmin Bull, the Cashmere Goat and the Camel. In 2000, the descendants of Henry Lawrence donated to the British Library the Lawrence Album, which contained 66 drawings, prints and cut-outs, along with 35 photographs connected with the life of Henry Montgomery Lawrence (1806-1857) and Honoria Lawrence, nee Marshall (1810-54), presented to their daughter Honoria Letitia (1850-1923) in 1859 by her aunt and godmother Charlotte Frances Lawrence (1814-1885). The album includes further information regarding the design of the testimonial, including a set of illustrations showing the original design by Alfred Brown which was manufactured by the silversmith Hunt and Roskell. Illustration from the Lawrence Album, c. 1853-56. British Library WD 4464 Illustration from the Lawrence Album with the vignette of the Golden Temple at Amritsar on the base, c. 1853-56. British Library WD 4464 Further reading: Susan Stronge (ed.), The Arts of the Sikh Kingdom, London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1999. Davindar Toor, In Pursuit of Empire: Treasures from the Toor Collection of Sikh Art, London: Kashi House, 2018. Malini Roy, Head of Visual Arts Debutant director Amar Kaushik of Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor starrer "Stree" says receiving appreciation from the international film festival for his short film helped him in gaining confidence to work on a feature film with stars. Working as an assistant director with many filmmakers like Majid Majidi, Onir, Rajkumar Gupta for films like "Beyond the Clouds", Shab, Aamir , No One Killed Jessica, Go Goa Gone among others Amar gained enough confidence to make his first short film "Aaba" that travelled to Toronto International Film Festival in 2017. "Aaba was set in Arunachal Pradesh and I made the film just to discover if I can actually make a film, after assisting so many. I took money from Raj Kumar Gupta, another friend, and it was really an experiment to discover the filmmaker in me," Amar told IANS. As the short film went on to win a National Film Award, he said, "Apart from me, it has given the people around me a certain level of confidence to invest money for making a film. Hailing from Kanpur, the director has grown up watching masala Bollywood film, till the age of 12 when he started watching international films with "Children's of Heaven". "After watching my short film, Mr Majidi asked me if I am interested in assisting him for 'Beyond The Clouds". He in a way introduced me to the world of international cinema!" said Amar. Though he did not write the story of "Stree", Amar said, "Transforming one's idea into a film through my vision is something very interesting." "Stree" is releasing on Aug 31. --IANS aru/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The proposed law to criminalise the practice of instant divorce by Muslim husbands will not see the light of the day for at least four more months as the Rajya Sabha on Friday decided to defer the consideration of the bill till the next session due to lack of consensus. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, has been deferred till the next session even as Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded that the bill be taken up. The Chairman said he would not proceed without a consensus. The minister blamed the Congress for the delay. "Sir, whatever is happening is unfair. Should the Muslim women not get justice? The Congress is delaying it in the name of select committee," Prasad said as Opposition MPs protested loudly and Naidu asked the Minister to stop. The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared amendments to the bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha, with the fresh version allowing a magistrate to give bail to the men found instantly divorcing their wives. According to the new provisions of the bill, instant divorce will continue to be illegal and void, attracting a jail term of three years for the guilty. But if the wife and the husband desire to settle their differences, then a magistrate can compound the offence on appropriate terms and conditions and grant bail after hearing the wife. The amended bill was listed for consideration and passing in the day's list of business of the Upper House. However, the Opposition members objected to its listing on a Friday, which is reserved for the private members' bills. In the afternoon, as the House reconvened at 2.30 p.m., Chairman Naidu said: "We are taking up private members' bills now and after that we will take up two government bills. And the bills are on which there is consensus. We are not taking up the other bill (triple talaq bill)." A few minutes later he reiterated: "I would like to say clearly again that we are not taking up triple talaq Bill for the reason that consensus has not been reached on that." --IANS mak-bns/prs/sar/sed (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 he has authorized to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Turkey to 50 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. Tensions ramped up between the two countries over the detention of an American pastor by Turkey. Trump tweeted on Friday that the US-Turkey ties "are not good at this time!" Trump added that the Turkish currency Lira "slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" The Turkish lira has fallen more than 10 per cent since last week when the US slapped sanctions on two Turkish ministers. Early on Friday, the currency hit an all-time low of 6.30 against the US dollar, Xinhua reported. Turkey and the US are currently experiencing rocky relations after the US imposed sanctions last Wednesday on two Turkish ministers over the continued detention of US pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges and up to 35 years in prison if found guilty. Brunson was indicted for allegedly having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party and Fethullah Gulen, an exiled Turkish preacher who has allegedly masterminded the failed coup attempt in 2016 to topple Erdogan. A Turkish court has agreed to move Brunson from prison to house arrest over health concerns, but it still does not allow him to return to the US. As a result of the US sanctions, any property or interest in property of both Turkish ministers within US jurisdiction is blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry vowed to "retaliate" against US "aggression" over the case of Brunson "without any delay," and called on Washington to reverse its decision. Last Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his US counterpart Mike Pompeo met in Singapore on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers' meeting. Ankara and Washington agreed to work together to resolve problems between them, Cavusoglu said after the meeting. The two sides seemed to have failed to resolve the deadlock though bilateral talks in Washington earlier this week during the visit of a Turkish delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal and made up of officials from Turkey's justice, finance and foreign ministries. US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Thursday that although the two sides "had wide-ranging meetings at the State Department and with other departments here in Washington," the US side "would define progress as Pastor Brunson being brought home". "The progress that we want to be made is to have Pastor Brunson return home," she added. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday also dismissed concerns over the tumbling lira and called on his nation to "have no worries". Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry announced a "new economic model", aiming to stabilize their economic growth. In March, the US had imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum for imports from a variety of countries. Turkey was reportedly the sixth largest steel importer to the US. --IANS qd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police team investigating the idol theft cases in Tamil Nadu on Friday told the Madras High Court that it will not arrest TVS Motor Company Ltd Chairman Venu Srinivasan for six weeks, informed sources said. Srinivasan had earlier applied for anticipatory bail apprehending arrest in an idol theft case. On Friday, Senior Advocate, B.Kumar, appeared for Srinivasan in the court. According to the informed sources, Srinivasan has not seen the FIR copy as it can be kept under the wraps under certain circumstances. The source added that Srinivasan will make an application to get a copy of the FIR. In his bail application, Srinivasan referred to a writ petition filed by one Elephant G Rajendran. Srinivasan said that in paragraph 12 of an affidavit submitted in support of his petition, Rajendran had mentioned that an FIR has been filed against him. Srinivasan said he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Srirangam Temple and that he had spent Rs 25 crore from his own pocket for the renovation of the entire holy complex. He said that Rs 70 lakh was spent by him on painting works at Sri Kabaleeswarar Temple here. The industrialist also claimed that a private trust funded by him and his company has undertaken renovation of over 100 temples in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. --IANS vj/anp/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The chief of the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) has strongly condemned the airstrike against a school bus in Yemen in which killed more than two dozen children. "Attacks on children are absolutely unacceptable," said Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore on Twitter on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. "I'm horrified by the reported airstrike on innocent children, some with Unicef backpacks. Enough is enough." At least 43 people, mostly children believed to be under the age of 10, were killed and several injured when Saudi-led coalition airstrikes hit buses in northern Yemen on Thursday, officials said. The buses were targeted as they were passing through Dahyan market in the rebel-held province of Saada, according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV. Some reports said that the number of casualties could be well above 60, with dozens severely injured. Many of the children were reported to be under the age of 10, according to UN News. According to the UNICEF, since conflict between pro-government forces and Houthi rebels escalated in 2015, about 2,500 children have been killed and 3,600 maimed in Yemen. Yemen's conflict has its roots in uprisings that date back to 2011, but fighting escalated in March 2015, when an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened militarily at the request of its government. Attacks against civilians have been the scourge of this conflict. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "tens of civilians were killed in violence in several governorates" in the past 10 days alone. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apple's new iPhone launch next month could be delayed by the virus outbreak at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) -- the world's biggest contract chip maker, the media reported on Friday. TSMC, which makes chips for iPhones, suffered a computer virus outbreak and warned it could cause shipment delays as well as hit revenue. "This incident has come at a sensitive period for Apple, which is preparing for its much-anticipated annual launch of new iPhone models next month after recording a market value of US $1 trillion last week," the South China Morning Post reported on Friday. A variant of "WannaCry" ransomware hobbled computer systems at TSMC after a supplier installed software without a virus scan to the company's computer network. The virus caused machines to crash and continually reboot. TSMC makes plenty of chips designed for iPhones, so Apple would be the most likely client to suffer shipment delays. "New York-listed TSMC has said the virus outbreak will delay its chip shipments through the end of September, but expected to make a recovery by year's end. It had to shut down virus-infected fabrication tools and automated handling systems during the outbreak at its manufacturing facilities, but restored 80 per cent of those by Sunday," the report added. The Taiwan semiconductor firm produces Apple's A11 chip that is in the iPhone X. The firm is currently making the next-generation A12 chip that is expected to be in its upcoming smartphones. The Cupertino-headquartered company is expected to launch three new iPhone models this year. --IANS ksc/anp/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Film: "Vishwaroop II"; Director: Kamal Haasan; Cast:Kamal Haasan, Shekhar Kapur, Anant Mahadevan, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Rahul Bose; Rating: **1/2 This action spy drama, "Vishwaroop II", serves as a prequel cum sequel to the 2013 released film "Vishwaroop". It encapsulates events before and after its predecessor. So in that sense the film is not dependent on its predecessor for narrative links, as it delivers a holistic tale, but the baggage of the earlier edition along with the poor handling of the script, definitely bogs it down. A revenge drama, the narrative follows the bruised and PTSD (Post-Trauma-Stress-Disorder) affected RAW Agent Major Wisam Ahmad Kashmiri (Kamal Haasan). How his nemesis; members of the IS team, Omar Qureshi a leading member of the terrorist group Al Qaeda and an Indian politician try to eliminate him, forms the crux of the tale. Narrated in a non-linear manner and packed with ace stunts that include; fisticuffs, gun fights, parachute jumping, bomb blasts, cars turning turtle and an under-water fight, the film shows us how Wisam is invincible. He describes himself as: "A dirty soldier turn bloodiest." The film is virtually Kamal Haasan's show and he with his natural charm and charisma, subtly portrays himself as an efficient and mentally agile Raw agent, a loving husband and a dutiful son. He manages to do this with oodles of cinematic liberty which includes excellent edit cuts and computer generated images. He is aptly supported by; Pooja Kumar as a "nuclear oncologist" and his wife- Nirupama, Andrea Jeremiah as his protege and efficient assistant Asmita, Waheeda Rehman as his amnesia-affected mother. These three women are only there to create an emotional conflict and show the softer side of this tough, former military man. Shekhar Kapur in a poorly written role is wasted as Wisam's boss Colonel Jagannath. Anant Mahadevan walks through his part as the slimy politician Rajesh Mehta. But the one who leaves a mark on screen is Rahul Bose as Omar Qureshi. With his radiation affected, scarred face and wheezing speech he does portray the face of terror. But unfortunately, though he makes an impact with limited screen time, he is lost in the narrative. Mounted with ace production values, some scenes are magnificent and awe-inspiring especially the sets depicting Afghanistan. Also to elevate the drama in the moment, the director has used freeze frames. Though effectively used, this gives the narrative an amateurish feel. With a run time of two hours and twenty minutes the film keeps you glued to the screen, but there are instances that are predictable and at times the conveniently crafted scenes make the narrative seem ridiculous. At one stage the film seems to be a drama of geriatric actors that fail to thrill. (Troy Ribeiro can be reached at troyribeiro@yahoo.com) --IANS troy/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gurugram crime branch has arrested one of the most wanted dreaded criminals of the city along with his accomplice, police said on Friday. Amit Dagar, a sharp shooter of the Kaushal gang, was arrested by crime branch unit ten chief Sajjan Singh and his team on Dwarka expressway here along with his accomplice Anil alias Lath after a brief exchange of bullets early hours on Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Sumit Kuhar said. Dagar, nearly 30-years-old, who was one of the 10 most wanted gangsters on the Haryana's Special Task Force's (STF) radar, received a gun shot in one of his legs. Police had announced a reward of Rs one lakh for any clue that led to his arrest. Kuhar said that Dagar was involved in half dozen murders and over one dozen cases of attempt to murder, extortion and other heinous crimes. "Dagar gunned down his rival gangster Mahesh alias Attak, shot dead liquor trader Satbir Singh in Gurugram, killed Tatarpur's sarpanch (village head) Sanjay, murdered gangster Jony's mother here in a colony located on the Delhi-Gurugram expressway," Kuhar said. Dagar, a contract killer, was also involved in the killing of revenue official in Haryana's Rewari district. Two pistols, cartridges and an i20 car was recovered from the possession of arrested duo, DCP Kuhar added. "We are grilling them on police remand," the officer further added. --IANS pradeep/ahm/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Washington D.C. is bracing for a far-right rally and counter-protests, marking the first anniversary of a white nationalist rally that erupted in deadly violence a year ago. Jason Kessler, who organised last year's deadly "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, received approval for the event in June. On Sunday, hundreds of far-right supporters will gather at Lafayette Park here to press their demand for "white civil rights". Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday said the city was activating its emergency operations centre and would be on high alert for violence during the rally, reports USA Today. "We have people coming to our city for the sole purpose of spewing hate. We denounce hate, we denounce anti-Semitism and we denounce the rhetoric we expect to hear this Sunday," Bowser said. The city's police chief Peter Newsham said guns will be banned from the rallies, even for gun owners with legal permits. "The rules are pretty simple," Newsham said. "Don't hurt anyone and don't break anything. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said it was preparing security options that place the "highest priority" on protecting passengers and Metro workers. In last year's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old legal assistant, was struck and killed when James Alex Fields Jr., a white supremacist, slammed his car into a counter-protest, USA Today reported. Two Virginia state troopers also died when their surveillance helicopter crashed near the protests. Meanwhile, hundreds of counter-protesters, banding together as "Shut it Down D.C.", are planning a "Still Here, Still Strong" rally on Sunday at Freedom Plaza, a few blocks from Lafayette Park. Organisers are calling on all "anti-fascists and people of good conscience" to take the streets in solidarity. The group plans to march to Lexington Park shortly before the far-right rally. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Russia categorically rejects new US sanctions over alleged Russian involvement in the Skripal case. Lavrov reiterated Russia's position that Moscow played no role in the alleged nerve agent attack on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the British city of Salisbury, Xinhua quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying. Lavrov stressed that neither the US, nor Britain, nor any other country have provided a single fact to support their accusations, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement. The US State Department said on Wednesday that Washington will impose new sanctions on Russia over the alleged poison attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March. Western countries claim the pair was exposed to a nerve agent and hold Russia responsible, while the Russian government has repeatedly denied any involvement in the case and demanded direct participation in the investigation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has criticized the US decision on new sanctions and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow will consider retaliation. Lavrov and Pompeo also discussed issues on the international agenda, including the situation in Syria, and other topics considered during the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump in Helsinki on July 16. The two top diplomats agreed to maintain contacts on all issues of mutual interest, the statement said, adding that the phone conversation was initiated by the US side. --IANS qd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Raising the pitch for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Rafale fighter jets deal, on Friday gave an adjournment notice in the Rajya Sabha for a discussion on the issue and for fixing responsibility for the alleged scam. Party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma gave the notice, alleging irregularities and corruption in the multi-million fighter jets deal. In his notice under rule 267, Sharma demanded the suspension of business/rules for Friday. The notice, was however, not accepted by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. The notice alleged that they expressed various concerns over the "irregularities" and alleged corruption in the acquisition of Rafale jets. It said the "arbitrary" decision of buying the jets, resulted in a loss of technology transfer in the manufacture of 108 fighter jets by public-sector Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and entailed a "massive loss" to the exchequer. The notice demanded that the alleged scam be investigated by a JPC to fix accountability. The had been raising the demand for a JPC probe into the deal and party members raised the demand both inside and outside the House on Friday. While UPA chairperson and former party chief Sonia Gandhi led the protest by party MPs outside Mahatma Gandhi's statue in complex and raised the demand for a JPC probe, members raised their demand by protesting inside the House. Friday was the last day of the Monsoon Session of The was likely to raise the pitch on the issue of alleged corruption in the in the coming times and make it a major poll issue. One more person has been arrested in connection with a low-intensity blast inside a park in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir that left 13 people injured, a police official said today. On June 17, the next day of Eid-ul-Fitr, a huge crowd was celebrating in Manasbal Park in the central Kashmir district when their was an explosion in a dustbin there. Three persons were arrested in the case on June 21. They were identified as Younis Khan, Irfan Khan and Bilal Mir, all residents of Kondbal Safapora area, he said. Police today arrested another accused, Mohammad Imran Sofi, a resident of Kondabal, who was absconding since then, he said. Further investigation suggests the accused was the masterminded behind the blast, he said, adding Sofi is also "a chronic stone pelter". "He is involved in instigating youths to resort to stone-pelting," the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Armed robbers killed at least 10 people, including a policeman, when they raided a police station and two banks in southern Nigeria, police said today. The incident, which took place on Thursday in Igarra in Edo state, was the latest in a string of such robberies in which the assailants have first attacked a police station to seize weapons before going on to raid a bank. "Ten people were killed in total. The gunmen first attacked a police station where they killed three people, including two detainees and a policeman," a senior police officer told AFP. Three people near the police station also died after being hit by stray bullets, he said, adding that a police vehicle at the scene had been torched. "The robbers attacked two banks but could not break into the vaults," he said. He said four people, including customers, were shot dead at the two banks. Edo state police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident but declined to give details. Community leader Folorunsho Dania also said 10 people had been killed. "This is a serious case," he told local media. "Ten bodies have been counted. The police station was set ablaze; the area commander's car was torched," he said. "It is a calamity." In April, 33 people, including a number of policemen, were killed during a brutal bank robbery in central Nigeria. The gang struck in broad daylight in a busy commercial district in Offa, Kwara state, firing indiscriminately as they made off with the loot. Police have arrested 22 suspects over the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 12 people including four women were injured when a monkey attacked them in Odisha's Ganjam district in last three days, officials said today. A 60-year old man, identified as Tanka Sahu was seriously injured when the animal attacked him at Kenteikoli village yesterday. Sahu was shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital here for treatment. The residents, particularly the children are scared to venture out of their house because of the monkey menace, said sarpanch of Kanchuru panchayat, P Mohan Rao. The sarpanch said he has already informed the Forest department about the monkey menace. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Berhampur, Ashish Kumar Behera said at least six staffs of Berhampur forest range were camping in the village with nets and other equipments to catch the particular monkey. But they faced difficulty to identify the particular monkey, as a number of simians in the village live in groups. "We are trying to net the monkey," the DFO said. He advised the people not to tease the animal or go with foods in open. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thirteen people burnt to death when a bus burst into flames after a head-on collision with a digger near Nigeria's oil hub of Port Harcourt, police said today. "A pail loader (digger) skidded off the road and had a head-on collision with an oncoming bus," Rives state police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni told AFP. He said the bus had left Port Harcourt for Lagos yesterday morning with the driver and 13 passengers on board. "The bus went up in flames and all except one person were burnt beyond recognition," he said. The survivor, who sustained severe burns, was taken to the hospital for treatment. Accidents are common on Nigeria's poorly maintained inter-city roads due to speeding, disregard for traffic regulations and the fact that many vehicles are not road-worthy. In June, 12 people died when a petrol tanker caught fire and exploded on one of the busiest roads in Nigeria's commercial hub, Lagos. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 185 people, including five women, were arrested in connection with incidents of vandalism and violence in Pune city during the bandh called by Maratha groups over their demand for reservation for the community in government jobs and education, police said today. They added that some of the protesters hurled stones at the police personnel in the Chandani Chowk area of the city during the stir yesterday. In another incident, some miscreants went on a rampage after the conveners of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) submitted a memorandum of demands to District Collector Naval Kishor Ram. They damaged the main gate of the administrative building at the collector's office, broke the security cabin's glass and some bulbs. According to the police, the miscreants did not leave the building premises till late evening and were detained after a mild lathicharge. "While 83 people were arrested in connection with the Chandani Chowk stone-pelting incident, 81 others, including five women, were arrested for the vandalism at the collector's office. Besides, 21 others were arrested for sporadic incidents," Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shivaji Bodkhe said. He added that those arrested were "outside elements", who had sneaked into the agitation and resorted to violence. All the arrested accused have been booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two teachers have been arrested for allegedly teasing and abusing girl students at a private pre-nursery school in Trikuta Nagar area of the city, police said today. Based on complaints filed by the victims' family, the police registered cases under section 354 of Ranbir Penal Code (assault or criminal force to women with intent to outrage her modesty) against three teachers of the primary school on Tuesday. Two of the accused were arrested on Wednesday, however the third accused was at large, officials. Meanwhile, protests demanding action against the accused rocked parts of Trikuta Nagar and Chatha area in the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Authorities in Jalisco say that 20 bodies have been found in two clandestine graves in separate locations in the cartel-plagued state in western Mexico. Jalisco state attorney general Raul Sanchez Jimenez says 10 bodies were found in Tlajomulco and 10 were found in the Santa Elena de la Cruz neighborhood of Guadalajara. He says they are two separate cases. Sanchez said in a conference yesterday that on the night of August 5 local authorities reported a man had been shot near the Tlajomulco property and later died after seeking medical attention. Authorities identified him as the leader of the local cell of the Jalisco New Generation cartel. Authorities began investigating the Guadalajara bodies last week and discovered the Tlajomulco ones on Tuesday and Wednesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as 20 kanwariyas were injured today when their speeding tempo fell in a ditch after hitting a truck in Binawar area here, officials said. The mishap took place at around 4 am, the police said, adding that 20 persons were hurt. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where their condition is said to be stable. Tension prevailed after the mishap as other kanwariyas moving on Budaun-Bareilly highway went on the rampage and set afire to the truck involved in the accident, locals said. Further, they went ahead and damaged a number of other vehicles plying on the stretch. However, the police reached the spot within minutes and controlled the situation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as 237 tigers died in the country in last two years, the government said today. Also 23 per cent of total deaths from 2012 to 2017 were due to poaching. However, the government asserted that unnatural deaths "have not had an impact on tiger numbers which are growing at the rate of 5.8 per cent per annum". "In 2016, 122 tigers died across the country while 115 died in 2017," Minister of State for Mahesh Sharma told Lok Sabha in a written reply. He said during 2012-17, 55 per cent of the tiger deaths were due to natural causes while seven per cent were due to unnatural causes not attributable to poaching. He said 23 per cent (of tigers) died due to poaching while 15 per cent have been tiger body part or derivative seizures. He said the government through Project Tiger and National Tiger Conservation Authority, has taken a number of initiatives towards anti-poaching operations. These include creation of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), formulation of Security Plan guidelines which form part of the overarching Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP), development of a security audit framework and creation of an online wildlife crime database. Asked whether the government has assessed the impact of such unnatural deaths on the growth of the number of tigers, he said, "Unnatural deaths have not had an impact on tiger numbers which are growing at the rate of 5.8 per cent per annum." He said the National Tiger Conservation Authority has a collaborative project with the Wildlife Institute of India to customize drones for various tasks including surveillance in 13 tiger landscapes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of 269 pilgrims left for the holy Amarnath cave shrine from the base camps here, today, officials said. The yatra, which commenced from the twin routes of Baltal in Ganderbal and Pahalgam in Anantnag district on June 28 has so far seen 2.76 lakh pilgrims pay their obeisance at the 3,880-metre high cave temple in south Kashmir, Himalayas. However, the number of pilgrims undertaking the yatra has marked a sharp dip over the past week. The trend has been attributed to the early melting of the naturally formed ice-shivlingam at the sanctum sanatorium. A police official said a fresh batch of 269 pilgrims left for Kashmir today, in the wee hours, from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in a fleet of 15 vehicles under tight security. On the 43th day of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, yesterday, 1,134 yatris paid obeisance at the holy cave, he said, adding that till date 2,76,259 Yatris had a darshan of the shivlingam at the holy cave. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 26 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A total of 27 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested today by the Sri Lankan Navy on the charge of fishing in the island nation waters, according to a fisheries department official. The Lankan Navy also impounded the four country boats of the fishermen from nearby Nagapattinam, Thondi and Pudukottai, Pudukottai Assistant Director of Fisheries Kumaresen said. The fishermen reportedly strayed into the Lankan waters by mistake, he said quoting information received by the department. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 11th World Hindi Conference in Mauritius will see representation from 28 states and three Union Territories with a large government delegation of 377 people set to take part in the event, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today. She said that the inaugural address at the World Hindi Conference, that will be held from August 18-20, will be delivered by Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth. Goa Governor Mridula Sinha and West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi will take part in the inaugural session. The World Hindi Conference is organised every three years and in the past it has been organised thrice in India, twice in Mauritius, and one time each in Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, the UK, the US and South Africa, Swaraj told reporters here. An official delegation of 377 people will take part in the event, she said. A special plane will carry the members of the Indian delegation, Swaraj said. She said that 28 states and three Union Territories -- Chandigarh, Delhi and Puducherry -- will be represented at the event. All chief ministers were asked to send two names for participation at the event. A total of 1,422 people have registered for the event. Swaraj said that the last time the event was about language, but this time, language and culture both will be the focus. At the last conference in Bhopal there were 12 sessions and a committee was also formed to see that action is taken on the recommendations made during the sessions. Swaraj said this year a separate session on 'Bhopal to Mauritius' which will be held to see what action has been taken on the recommendations. In the closing session, Mauritian President Anirudh Jugnauth will address the gathering. The mascot for this conference is a peacock and dodo. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three boys were beaten up by a mob for allegedly stealing a goat in West Bengal's Malda district today, police said. The three, aged around 17, were trying to flee Raipur village near here after stealing a goat but local people caught hold of them, they said. The mob thrashed them. Police rushed to the spot and admitted the trio to a hospital. Their condition is stated to be "serious", police said. The villagers alleged a number of goats were stolen from the village in the last few days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons have been arrested on the charge of beating up a 35-year-old woman at Hazrapara in Khowai district last month, police said today. Two of the accused were arrested today while the third one was picked up on Wednesday. The tribal woman, a mid-day meal worker, was beaten up on her way back from a fair price shop on July 17, the police said but refused to divulge the reason behind the assault. She was in hospital for several days following the assault and she lodged an FIR only on August 8, shortly after being released from hospital, police said. Meanwhile, a video has gone viral on social media where the woman is seen beaten up by the accused. Police said investigation is going on and any video-graphic evidence would be considered. Reacting to the incident, Pradesh Congress vice president Tapas Dey alleged that women are not safe in Tripura and the quality of governance has not changed though ruling parties have changed. Ruling BJP spokesperson Mrinal Kanti Deb denied the charge and claimed law and order situation has developed in Tripura in the past five months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police has arrested three more Romanians for their alleged involvement in the ATM fraud in the city, a senior officer said today. One person was nabbed from Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh, while the other two were caught from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, he said. With these arrests, altogether eight persons, including five Romanians, have been arrested in the ATM fraud cases. Nearly 80 customers of nationalised banks in the city have been duped by ATM fraudulent transactions made using cloned debit or credit cards. The customs department officials arrested Voico Aurel alias Nana when he was trying to flee to Nepal, the officer said. He said Kolkata Police sleuths got the tip off about Nana after interrogating the two other Romanians arrested in the case and informed the UP officials. The other two Andreane Livin and Colonel Constantin were arrested from Indore. Brought on transit remand to the city today, the three were produced before a city court and were remanded to 14 days' police custody. Two Romanians have earlier been arrested from New Delhi, while three persons including an engineering college dropout, have been arrested from the city in connection with the case. The Kolkata Police has formed a SIT to probe the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland are yet to frame rules for carrying out the provisions of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the Lok Sabha was informed today. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006 authorises state governments to frame rules as envisaged under the Act. In a written reply to a query, Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland have not framed rules for carrying out the provisions of the Act. Meghalaya and Nagaland have not framed the rules as child marriage is not in prevalence, but they have adopted the Act, she said. A total of 619 cases of child marriage were registered under the PCMA in 2015 and 2016. The highest number of such cases during the period was reported from Tamil Nadu (132) followed by Karnataka (86), the minister said. Child marriages are valid in the country, but can be annulled if a case is filed in a district court by either of the two contracting parties within two years of becoming an adult, or through a guardian in case of minors. The Women and Child Development Ministry seeks to amend Section 3 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 under which a child marriage is only voidable at the option of the contracting parties. The legal age for marriage in the country is 18 for a woman and 21 for a man. According to UNICEF, India saw a sharp decline in child marriages over the last 10 years with 27 per cent of girls getting married before their 18th birthday as against 47 per cent a decade ago. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 50 tourists, including 24 from abroad, have been stranded in Idukki district of Kerala for the past two days as the road leading to their resort in Munnar was damaged in a landslide triggered by heavy rains. The foreign tourists are from countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia and Oman, officials said. Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said all the tourists of Plum Judy resort at Pallivasal in Munnar were safe. He said the state government has asked the Army to help clear the road. Authorities have been directed to shift the tourists to a safer place, officials said. The resort management has been asked to provide food and all necessary amenities to the tourists free of cost, they said. "The tourists will be shifted to Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) hotels once the road is cleared," P Bala Kiran, Director, Kerala Tourism said. The minister also spoke to the foreign tourists at the resort and assured them all help. The matter came to light after a tourist put out a video of their plight which was telecast by a television channel. Heavy rains, which had pounded Kerala in the last two days, had triggered landslides and floods in various places, leaving a trail of destruction. Twenty-six people have lost their lives in the state, 11 of them in Idukki district. Roads have either caved in or suffered damage at many places in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 55 people have so far been evacuated from flood hit areas in Kerala by the Navy in its 'Operation Madad' to assist the state government, following heavy rains and release of excess water from many dams. The operation, launched by Southern Naval Command (SNC) since yesterday, continued today also. Two teams with Gemini boats commenced rescue operations at Kalpetta, Wayanad and at Panmarum (13 km south of Mananthavady), where they evacuated 55 stranded people till 12 noon today, a defence press release said. Another team was airlifted by a Seaking Helicopter to Kalpetta with all gear and two electric generators, which was requested by Wayanad District Collector. Three additional diving teams have also been dispatched to Aluva in coordination with the Deputy Collector for utilization by the District Collector in affected areas to augment the rescue, the release said. One of the teams is likely to be deployed at Idukki. This is in addition to the two diving teams on standby at Aluva for relief operations since yesterday in anticipation of flooding expected in Ernakulam and Aluva, it said. In all four diving teams have been deployed in Wayanad and five at Aluva. One contingent of 50 men, fully equipped for any kind of assistance, has been positioned at Naval Armament Depot,Aluva. In addition, the Naval Hospital, INHS Sanjivani is ready to render medical aid as required and all preparations towards setting up community kitchen by naval personnel from INS Venduruthy have been made in case the need arises Naval helicopters are also being deployed to ferry divers, power tools, axes and relief material to flooded areas to augment ongoing relief operations, it said. Earlier, a defence spokesperson said the Navy had put SNC on alert in view of the rising water level in Periyar river in Kerala and possible inundation of parts of Wellingdon Island, surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi. He said the Navy has made preparations to meet any situation arising out of possible inundation of the island, said to be the largest artificial island in India,following opening of shutters of three dams of Cheruthoni, Idamalayar and Kakki. The Wellingdon Island, part of Kochi city, houses strategic facilities, including SNC and Cochin Port Trust. The water level will rise in downstream districts with the released excess water from the dams reaching there. The spokesperson said three contingents (50 men each) from INS Dronacharya, Venduruthy and Naval Air station INS Garuda were ready to be deployed as and when required, besides a medical team from INHS Sanjivani. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AAP's National Media Coordinator Vikas Yogi had to take to Twitter to get an FIR registered after one of his friends fell prey to an alleged voice phishing attack. A complaint in the case was filed on Wednesday, but police registered an FIR only on Thursday after Yogi accused the men in uniform of inaction and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal posted a tweet, tagging Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. According to the complaint, the accused duped the woman of about Rs 12,000. He also called her up and sent her "vulgar" messages on WhatsApp. Deputy Commissioner, East, Pankaj Singh said an FIR had been registered and police would would ascertain the reasons behind the delay. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advocate K C Mittal has been elected chairperson of the Bar Council of Delhi, an autonomous lawyers' body set up under the Advocates Act. While Mittal bagged the post of chairperson, advocate D K Singh was elected vice-chairperson on July 29 and the results were notified by the Delhi government on August 3. Advocate Ved Prakash Sharma was elected as the new representative to the Bar Council of India. The poll to elect the lawyers body's office bearers was held on July 28. Mittal had held the position of chairperson between 2001 and 2003 as well. He was also the president of the Delhi High Court Bar Association between 2007 and 2009. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghan forces launched a clearing operation today, searching for Taliban fighters following a major assault on the southeastern city of Ghazni, after US air strikes targeted insurgents trying to overrun the city. Afghan special forces were deployed to Ghazni after the latest attempt by the Taliban to capture an urban centre, with the assault coming as pressure builds on the insurgents to enter peace talks. Ghazni -- less than two hours by road from Kabul -- has been under threat from massing Taliban fighters for months, with residents saying the complex nature of the attacks was unprecedented in its scale. A spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan said the fighting had "ceased" as of today morning, hours after the insurgents began the assault late yesterday from several positions around the city. However, sporadic gunfire continued to echo into the afternoon amid intermittent clashes, with officials telling residents to stay in their homes as scattered Taliban fighters roamed the streets. "Our commandos and Afghan army forces... are conducting a clearance operation as the Taliban have taken up positions in civilian houses," said Mohammad Radmanesh, a defence ministry spokesman, adding that security forces were in control of the city. Power has been cut to Ghazni since the fighting erupted, with communications in the area appearing to be down. "We are scared for our lives. The Taliban are roaming everywhere in and around the city," shopkeeper Mohammad Haleem said hours after the assault began. Another resident, Yasan, said the Taliban had used loudspeakers at the mosque after entering the city to warn residents to stay in their homes. Civilian houses and army checkpoints came under mortar attack and the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters were in the streets, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori said. The US said that the city remained under government control. "U.S. Forces responded with close-air support this morning in #Ghazni," the official account for US Forces in Afghanistan tweeted today. "Afghan forces held their ground and maintain control of all govt. centers. Another failed attempt by Taliban to seize terrain, while creating strategically inconsequential headlines," it said. "Initial reports indicate minimal Afghan security force casualties," the US spokesman later told AFP, adding that American forces deployed attack helicopters and conducted a drone strike in response. Baz Mohammad Himmat, head of the civilian hospital in Ghazni, said at least 16 people had been killed in the fighting, including 14 soldiers and two residents. A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban had suffered heavy casualties in the onslaught and confirmed the airstrikes. Police special forces have also been deployed to help block the Taliban advance, an Afghan security official said. The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured "most of the government buildings inside the city", and that they killed and wounded 140 security forces. The insurgents frequently exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay losses incurred during fighting. Afghan forces have been struggling to hold back the resurgent militant group since the withdrawal of NATO combat troops at the end of 2014. In May, the Taliban attacked the western city of Farah. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and US air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. The insurgents have also so far ignored an offer by Ghani in February of unconditional peace negotiations. However, there are tentative signs that diplomatic efforts to bring the insurgents to the table for peace talks may be starting to bear fruit. The Taliban have long insisted on direct talks with the United States. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. But the US indicated a change in its longstanding policy in June when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks. Pompeo also said the role of foreign forces in Afghanistan would be on the table. Last month, Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar. Kabul-based analyst Haroun Mir said today's attack may have been aimed at securing maximum leverage before engaging in formal peace talks. "They want to enter the talks from the position of strength, and they want to capture big cities before potential peace negotiations,"said Mir. Anticipation has also been mounting about the possibility of a government ceasefire announcement for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha later this month. An unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary halt, giving war-weary Afghans some welcome relief from violence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today hit out at Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for her remarks on party president Rahul Gandhi's temple visits, saying her own government had been demolishing Hindu shrines. Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot's accusation comes ahead of Gandhi's Jaipur visit tomorrow to launch his party's campaign for the assembly polls later this year. He may also visit a temple during the visit, party sources said, but there has been no official announcement yet. During her ongoing Rajashan Gaurav Yatra across the state, Raje had said that Gandhi remembers temple only during election-time. She had herself begun the yatra from a temple in Rajsamand. In turn, Pilot has reminded the BJP leader of the row in 2015 when temples were dismantled and relocated in the walled city in Jaipur for the construction of a metro rail line. Pilot alleged that over 300 temples have been demolished in the state capital during the BJP rule. He asked why Gandhi's temple visits are a problem with the BJP. This has been the part of his upbringing and he was taught about going to the temple by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, Pilot told PTI. But who has taught Raje to demolish historic and centuries-old temples when she is in power? he said. People of the state know this fact well that she goes to temples when she faces a political challenge. Otherwise she has no hesitation in ordering their demolition, Pilot said. Gandhi's temple visits came into focus during assembly election campaigns in Gujarat and Karnataka. The Congress president will address party workers tomorrow at Ramlila ground, where he will reach in a specially designed bus from Jaipur airport with supporters following in other vehicles. Pilot said Gandhi is coming to Jaipur to rid the state of the BJP government. He said Raje was making statements on non-issues to divert the people's attention and to evade the real questions they want to ask her. The BJP is nervous and has not yet overcome the shock of the defeat the party tasted in the bypolls, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) E-commerce major Amazon India today signed an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government to support MSME entrepreneurs across nine districts as a part of the state's One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. Amazon India through its Kala Haat programme will help traditional industries, synonymous with respective districts of the state, leverage e-commerce to scale and access the Indian market, the company said in a press release here. Under the programme, a wide range of benefits will be offered to 300 MSME sellers registered under UP government's ODOP scheme. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the ODOP Summit here in the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind. Amazon will provide these entrepreneurs training, account management guidance, marketing tools and world-class infrastructure of storage and delivery network to aid their progress through online selling. From Banarasi silk saris to carpets from Bhadohi and Lucknawi Chikankari to leather goods from Kanpur, and leather footwear from Agra and locks from Aligarh and brassware from Moradabad, all these items will get access to a much broader customer base through the Amazon.in marketplace. Sports goods from Meerut and wooden products from Saharanpur will also be available for online buyers, the release said. Through its Kala Haat Programme Amazon.in has been introducing lakhs of weavers, artisans and crafts people across various clusters in India to digital commerce, Director & GM, Seller Services, Amazon India Gopal Pillai said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parents today staged a protest outside a NDMC-run school, where a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped, and demanded security in its premises and a ban on entry of outsiders. Even if outsiders are allowed, their identity documents must be checked, the parents said. The victim, a class two student of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)-run school, was allegedly raped by an electrician inside the institute's premises, police said, adding that the man has been arrested. The incident came to light after the girl narrated her ordeal to her parents after returning from school yesterday, they said. The protestors also said school authorities should have informed them about the incident. The parents of a girl, who studies in the school, said they got to know about the incident today and approached the teachers, who could not give satisfactory answers. "Even parents of students are not allowed inside the school without proper IDs. If the accused was an outsider, as the school authorities are claiming, how did he enter the school without permission or without furnishing an ID," one of the protestors said. They expressed apprehensions about the safety of their children inside the school and sought to know whether CCTV cameras were working. "We have seen CCTV cameras at various points inside the school but are they functional? We have seen many cases earlier where CCTV cameras were installed but were either of low resolution or were not functional," said another parent. Some parents said they will not send their daughters by school bus and will pick and drop them. "I will not be sending my daughter by school bus. Who will ensure her safety inside the bus? We want a woman conductor to be inside the bus for our daughters' safety," said another parent. They also questioned the school's attitude in dealing with such a serious incident. "The principal has been on leave for a week. The head-mistress and the teachers of the school should show more responsibility during this time," a protester said. A woman, who had passed out from the school said, "This is the first time that such an incident has happened in my school. It is shocking and now I am concerned about the safety of my daughter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man, who joined the excise department as a constable and rose to become a sub-inspector, was today arrested in Kurnool district after huge assets disproportionate to known sources of income were unearthed. Though the value of the confiscated property has not been revealed, Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau sources estimated that its market value could be several crore rupees. ACB Director General R P Thakur said in a release that raids were conducted simultaneously in Chittoor and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh and Katpadi in neighbouring Tamil Nadu on the properties owned by the accused prohibition and excise department officer Erragoppula Vijay Kumar and his wife Meena. Kumar joined the excise department as a constable in 1992 and rose in ranks to become a sub-inspector. He is currently posted at Naguladinne in Kurnool district. The raids revealed that Kumar owned only a shed in Chittoor town while all other assets were registered in his kin's names. Assets registered in Meena's name include two houses, ten house sites, three parcels of agricultural land and a shed, the release said. One parcel of agricultural land was registered in his son's name. A car, tractor-trailer and jeep were confiscated. About 700 grams of gold, valued at Rs 10 lakh, and another Rs 10 lakh in cash were also seized. Two bank lockers of the accused were yet to be opened, the ACB said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apollo Hospitals today posted a 71.02 increase in its standalone profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 60.2 crore for the first quarter ended June 30. The company had reported a PAT of Rs 35.2 crore in the April-June quarter of 2017-18. Revenues grew by 16 per cent to Rs 1,910.4 crore for the first quarter as compared with Rs 1,650.4 crore in the same period of previous fiscal, Apollo Hospitals said in a statement. Shares of Apollo Hospitals today ended 1.81 per cent down at Rs 946.55 on the BSE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The opposition Congress and NCP today claimed that Vaibhav Raut, who was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from neighbouring Palghar district, was a member of right-wing group Sanatan Sanstha and demanded that the government ban the organisation. Raut, a member of a "cow protection" outfit called the "Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti", was apprehended by the ATS from Bhandar Aali in Nallasopara West late last night and large quantities of explosives were seized from his house and shop. Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan today alleged that the recovery of explosives from Raut's house and shop showed that the Sanatan Sanstha was planning to create a major disturbance in the society. He claimed that Raut was a member of the Sanatan Sanstha through his outfit and that he was seen at various meetings and press conferences of the right-wing group. Demanding that the Sanatan Sanstha be declared a "terrorist outfit", Chavan claimed that the alleged killers of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh had links to the right-wing group. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, claimed that the explosives were meant to be set off at religious places with a design to trigger communal riots. Pointing out that August 20 would mark the fifth anniversary of Dabholkar's killing, he said banning outfits like the Sanatan Sanstha and the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti would be a "fitting tribute" to the slain rationalist. Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil said the need of the hour was to have a detailed probe into what the Sanatan Sanstha was planning (with the explosives). Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik told reporters that the seizure of explosives from Raut's residence was "proof" that the Sanatan Sanstha was involved in "terror activities". "The previous Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra had repeatedly demanded that the Sanatan Sanstha be banned but our demand was ignored (by the Centre)," he said. Malik alleged that the current governments in the state and Goa, where the Sanatan Sanstha had its headquarters, were sheltering the outfit. He urged the Maharashtra government to take the matter seriously and find out who the outfit "intended to kill". "The state government should recommend to the Centre to ban the Sanatan Sanstha," Malik said. Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant claimed that outfits like the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and the Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti were affiliated to the Sanatan Sanstha. Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Chetan Rajhans, however, refuted the claims that Raut was a "seeker" (member) of his outfit but added that "any Hindu working for the cause of Hindutva and dharma is Sanatan's own". He said attempts were made to drag the name of the outfit in Dabholkar's killing as well but nothing had come out of it. "Raut is not a seeker of Sanatan. However, he has been actively involved in numerous rallies and processions organised by devout Hindu organisations," Rajhans said. "Although Raut is not a seeker of Sanatan, we believe that any Hindu working for the cause of Hindutva and dharma is Sanatan's own," he added. Issuing a statement earlier today, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) dubbed Raut as a "daring cow protector". "Vaibhav Raut is a daring cow protector. He was active through an organisation, the Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti, dedicated to the protection of cows," HJS state organiser Sunil Ghanvat said. He claimed that Raut used to participate in the programmes and agitations organised under the aegis of the HJS, but had not done so for the "last few months". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has urged government officials to fast track execution of all highway projects in the state by speeding up land execution and forest clearance processes. The chief minister, who reviewed the status of the projects in the state at a meeting here yesterday, also expressed concern over delay in the execution of road projects, particularly the Potin-Pangin stretch of the Trans-Arunachal Highway project, an official statement said. "The state government is drawing flak from the people for the Potin-Pangin stretch of the TAH and the four-lane road in the state capital. We should take these criticisms in the right sense and tighten our belts. "Citizens cannot be allowed to suffer for no fault of theirs," the chief minister was quoted as saying in the statement. Khandu also requested the representatives of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to convey the urgency of the highway projects to their higher authorities so that approvals and sanctions are granted as early as possible. While discussing on the four-lane Hollongi to Banderdewa road, Khandu asked the highway departmental officials to continuously follow up with the higher authorities so that Phase A of the sanctioned project is completed on time. He also requested the MoRTH to complete the sanctioning process for the Phase B and C as soon as possible, the statement said. To the delay caused in some portions of the highway projects due to land acquisition problem, Khandu said that work must begin on the stretches, where 80 per cent acquisition has already been done. He said the entire project should not get stuck due to problems in few stretches. The chief minister directed the deputy commissioners to resolve all issues faced by them in executing the projects. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who was also present at the review meeting, expressed concern over the delay on the Potin-Pangin stretch, particularly in Lower Subansiri district and asked the deputy commissioner to submit his assessment report at the earliest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced that accredited social health activists (Asha) workers will get Rs 10,000 to buy umbrella, shoe, cycle, almirah and torch light. This will benefit about 47,000 Asha workers in both rural and urban areas of the state. Patnaik also announced an increase in the one-time honorarium for Asha workers to Rs 20,000 from Rs 10,000 under ASHA Abyahati Yojana. The Asha workers get a monthly remuneration of Rs 2000 per month. The Asha workers will receive the honorarium amount under Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) after completing at least 10 years of service or on retirement at the age of 62. The announcement was made as Odisha has registered a sharp decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the past decade. The chief minister lauded the contribution of the Asha workers and said ""I am delighted that Odisha registered sharp decline in IMR and MMR and improvement in other health related issues." The chief minister said the state government had addressed some of the grievances of the Asha workers and hoped that they will work with more dedication. The Asha workers are demanding a monthly remuneration of Rs 18,000, regularisation of their service, pension, provident fund and gratuity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Austrian teenager arrested in Florida for having had sex with a 15-year-old girl he met on the internet has been released on USD 200,000 bail, Austria's foreign ministry said today. The arrest of the man, who turned 18 in June and who has been named as Leo, has attracted much attention in Austria, with a campaign being launched to raise funds for his bail and legal expenses. "We're very happy that this Austrian has been released and that he is under the care of his parents," foreign ministry spokesman Thomas Schnoell said. His arrest has caused particular concern as in Austria sexual relations with an adult are legal from the age of 14 as long as they are not in the context of an unequal relationship and there is no coercion. However, in Florida, sexual relations with anyone under 16 can be punishable by heavy prison sentences. The man's release was on the condition that he not leave the Orange Country area and that he refrain from contacting the girl. He must also remain under the care of his parents, who have travelled to Florida to be with him before he appears in court on September 14. Leo had built up a romantic relationship over several months with the girl online before flying to Florida to meet her. He was arrested on July 30 after the girl's mother reported her missing. According to Austrian media, he was questioned without a lawyer or interpreter present and was beaten by a fellow detainee while in custody. His father told the OOeNachrichten daily that the relationship was "a totally normal love story" and claimed the girl had told Leo that she was 16. The money for his bail was raised by a fundraising effort launched from Leo's hometown of Mitterkirchen in the northern region of Upper Austria. Much of it was donated by an anonymous businessman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Paris Appeal Court will re-examine the case against Real Madrid star Karim Benzema for his alleged role in the blackmail of fellow international Mathieu Valbuena on October 4, sources told AFP today. The hearing has been awaited since July 2017 when France's highest court, the Court of Cassation, annulled a Versailles Court of Appeal decision to send Benzema to trial for allegedly attempting to blackmail Valbuena over a sex tape and ordered the Paris court to review the original ruling. The affair began in June 2015 when Valbuena received a call from a blackmailer who threatened to release an intimate video. Valbuena contacted the police who assigned an undercover officer to the case. Investigators accused Benzema of acting as an intermediary between the presumed blackmailers and Lyon midfielder Valbuena. Benzema was dropped from the French side before Euro 2016 and has not been recalled. Benzema and three of the other suspects had asked for the case against them to be dropped. They say police used "dishonest" methods by posing as a friend of Valbuena's in a telephone conversation with one of the accused and urging the payment of a ransom. An appeal to the Court of Appeal in Versailles in December 2016 failed, but the Court of Cassation then annulled that decision and instructed the Paris Court of Appeal to hear the case again. The Court of Cassation questioned the legal validity of the recordings of phone conversations which were central to the case against Benzema and the other suspects. The case would be "greatly weakened" but not necessarily completely annulled, said one source close to the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two more deaf and mute tribal girls have filed a complaint against a city hostel director, who is currently under arrest in a rape case, for molesting them last year, police said today. Ashwini Sharma, director of a hostel for deaf and mute persons in Awadhpuri area here, was arrested on Wednesday based on the complaint by an inmate who alleged that the accused had raped her repeatedly during her stay at the hostel over the past three years. She had filed a complaint on Wednesday after which Sharma was arrested under sections 376 (rape), 354 (outraging modesty), 344 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Sharma was produced in court today and was remanded in police custody for two days. Two more girls filed a fresh case against the accused at the Hira Nagar police station in Ujjain district yesterday, police said. Hira Nagar Police Inspector Mahendra Singh Bhadoria today said two Dhar-based sisters lodged a complaint that Sharma had molested them. The case was then transferred to the Awadhpuri police station, he added. Bhadoria said the incident happened when the sisters stayed at Sharma's house-cum-hostel last year while they were pursuing a course at Bhopal's Industrial Training Institute. He added that since one of the complainants was a minor, when Sharma allegedly molested her in Bhopal in 2017, provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act were also invoked against the accused. The Bhopal Police today formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case while the state government announced that a monthly inspection would be carried out at women's hostels in the state. Inspector General of Police (Bhopal) Jaydeep Prasad told PTI that the SIT would comprise Rahul Lodha, Superintendent of Police, Bhopal City South, along with Additional SPs Rashmi Mishra and Dinesh Kaushal, City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Virendra Mishra and Awadhpuri Inspector ML Bhati. Prasad said preliminary investigations had revealed that Sharma was a "lone wolf" in the case, adding that he had "personally inspected the hostel". Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan issued directions to his officials to take steps to ensure that such incidents did not occur again. "I have held a meeting with officials and directed them to conduct monthly inspections of such (state) aided and unaided facilities where girls are residing," he told reporters at his residence in this morning. "The inspection will be carried out by the collector and the superintendent of police in each district on a monthly basis," he said. Calling such incidents painful, Chouhan said similar rules would also be framed for private hostels. Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath today shot off a letter to Chouhan seeking a probe into the incident by the Central Bureau of Investigation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two days after he was shown black flags and stopped from joining a rally at Dhalali district, around 90km from here, Tripura Congress chief Birajit Sinha today alleged that the ruling BJP had "sponsored goons" to attack him near the venue of the public meeting. The saffron party, however, dismissed the allegations and said Sinha was attacked by members of his own party. Talking to the press, the Congress president also claimed that the BJP-IPFT coalition withdrew his security cover after assuming office to "restrict his movements" for organizational works. The state government, after coming to power on March 9, had removed the security guards of Sinha and Gopal Roy, an ex-MLA of the Congress. "A group of goons sponsored by the BJP had attempted an attack on me in a bid to prevent me from joining a rally at Halahali in Dhalai district. It is now difficult for us to move in different parts of the state for political and organizational works," Sinha told reporters. The state Congress chief threatened to launch a protest outside the office of the director general of police, demanding restitution of his security cover. "At least 5000 activists of the Congress will gherao the DGP's office to seek the restoration of security for the party leaders," he said. Sinha also said that the former Congress MLAs, who joined the BJP, still enjoys security cover. It is a "political discrimination", Tapas Dey, the party's vice president, said. "The state unit president of the ruling BJP, Pratima Bhowmick, still enjoys a security cover, but the Congress president had to let go of his guards," Dey said. If any Congress leader is "attacked or murdered", the onus would lie on the BJP government, he added. Reacting to the allegations of the Congress, BJP spokesperson Mrinal Kanti Deb said Sinha was a "victim of infighting" within his party. "The Congress chief was attacked at Dhalali by members of his own party. The Congress has no political significance and the BJP won't do any such thing," he added. (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 accused the BJP of trying to disrupt peace in the erstwhile Maoist-affected areas of Jhargram district. She also alleged that the saffron party was creating a divide among people on the basis of religion, caste and creed. Banerjee asked people to repose faith in her, saying she would never allow anybody to act against their interests. During a visit to Jhargram district, her first after the panchayat polls in May this year, the Trinamool Congress chief urged the people to stay united against communal forces and stop them from entering the district. The BJP had fared well at the rural polls in the tribal-dominated district. The BJP, on the other hand, accused Banerjee of "throttling democracy" in the state and supporting infiltrators from Bangladesh after the complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was updated in Assam last month. BJP national general secretary P Murlidhar Rao said Banerjee was "supporting infiltrators" to secure her vote bank. The BJP, he said, will never "tolerate" infiltrators. "Mamataji is supporting infiltrators from Bangladesh ... She is touring the entire country to garner support for infiltrators just to secure her vote bank. She is trying to communalise the issue," Rao told reporters here. Meanwhile in Jhargram, Banerjee directed the MLAs, TMC leaders as well as the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police to help solve people's problems. She also inaugurated a number of health care projects for the district. Accusing the BJP of trying to disrupt peace in this erstwhile Maoist-affected area, she said, "In the last seven years, we have not let anybody disrupt peace in this region. We have not allowed the Maoists to enter this place. A few people are bringing in Maoists from neighbouring Jharkhand to create bloodbath in Jhargram." "If you (people) have faith in me, I will ask you not to trust anybody else other than us (TMC). Till I am alive, I will never let anybody to act against the interests of the people. You are my family. I love the Adivasis (tribals)," she said at a public meeting here. Banerjee claimed that during the Left Front government, around 300 people were killed in Jhargram in a year, while it was almost nil now. Hitting out at the BJP, she said, "I do not create any division among people. I do not create division among the Hindus and Muslims, nor among the other communities. It's the ruling BJP at the Centre which does that. We are not with them (the BJP)." "They (BJP) want the poor to face problem. They do not want them to get rice at Rs 2 a kg, free education, job and health care," the TMC chief alleged. Calling upon people to stay united in the fight against communal forces, Banerjee said, "Let us strengthen the unity. Let us take oath today that there would not be no place for communalism in our state. We will stay together and create a new Bengal," Banerjee said. Against the backdrop of the BJP making inroads in Jhargram district, the TMC had made some organisational changes last month at block level in the district. Earlier in the day, Banerjee tweeted that her government has ensured all-round development for the tribal people in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the TMC announcing protest rallies in West Bengal tomorrow against the Assam NRC, the BJP leadership wrote to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the state chief secretary today, requesting them to ensure the safety and security of its members who will arrive in the city for party president Amit Shah's rally. West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Ghosh wrote to Singh, requesting him to urge the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal to ensure the safety and security of the saffron party's workers, who will come to attend Shah's rally and on their way back. State BJP vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar wrote to West Bengal Chief Secretary Malay De, requesting him to ensure the safety of the BJP workers. The TMC leadership has announced protest rallies across the state, except in Kolkata, tomorrow against the complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam that was published on July 30, party sources said. "In the letter, I have apprised Rajnath Singh of the situation -- how our workers, who are coming to attend our rally, are being attacked. The TMC and the police administration have joined hands. I have requested him to tell the state government to ensure the safety and security of the BJP workers," Ghosh said. The BJP rally will start at 11 am tomorrow, he said, adding, "The TMC has called its rallies to attack our cadre and stop them from reaching the venue. We have asked the chief secretary to ensure proper security arrangements." Majumdar said, "The TMC wants to instigate violence and ensure that untoward incidents take place. We have told the chief secretary that if any untoward incident takes place, the TMC and the government will be held responsible for it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP is yet to receive permission from Kolkata Police to deploy a drone to monitor the security arrangements at Amit Shah's rally in the city tomorrow, the party's leadership said today. The saffron party, wary after a tent collapsed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Midnapore rally in July, have also urged to the police to allow the use of walkie-talkies by party workers during Saturday's rally at Mayo Road in the heart of the heart, they said. As a safety measure the state BJP leadership has appointed a decorator from Jharkhand to prepare the venue for Amit Shah's Saturday rally. According to state BJP sources unlike the Midnapore rally, the party this time is not building any make shift tent for its supporters who will participate in the rally. "We are yet to receive any communication or permission from the police allowing the deployment of drone at the rally venue," BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu said. Three decorators have been appointed to prepare the stage and the venue for the programme, he said adding two of the three are from Kolkata and one from Jharkhand. "They are looking into the aspect of preparing the stage and venue," Basu said. No comment has been made by Kolkata Police on deployment of drone so far. A senior state BJP leader said the Jharkhand-based decorator has a long experience in organising structures for mega rallies and functions including government programmes. Well trained party volunteers will also be deployed at the venue to control the crowd, he said. "A team of leaders and office bearers from Delhi are in the city to look after the arrangements so that everything is in order," he said. The state unit of the BJP had on Wednesday asked the city police to grant permission to fly a drone for mass surveillance during Shah's Saturday rally. The drone is essential as lakhs of people are expected to gather at the rally site. So from the security point of view a drone is a necessity, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said yesterday. A BJP delegation led by Vijayvargiya and P Murlidhar Rao and other state-level leaders visited the rally venue yesterday and took stock of the preparations. Over 90 people were injured on July 16 after a section of a tent caved in during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at a public rally in West Bengal's Midnapore district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Before the Italian election in March of this year, the focus for Italian politicians was firmly on immigration. And since the new government formed, new Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, a populist and nativist who leads the party formerly known as the Northern League and now called the League, is still milking the issue to gain support outside his party. As Al-Monitor writes in the article Mideast migrants face increased discrimination in Italy, the highest profile incident happened in early June, when Salvini refused to allow a boat of migrants to land in southern Italy. The boat would later dock in Spain. While Salvinis policies may have had little impact on migration overall migration was down under the last government, too theres no doubt that his extremist anti-immigrant rhetoric is having an impact on Italian society and many of the migrants coming from the Middle East. Some migrants and refugees are now setting sail from Morocco with the intent of landing in Spain, a slight shift from the Libya-to-Italy path that became popular after the European Union cut a deal with Turkey to stop predominately Syrian refugees from entering Europe. Only around 23,000 migrants have traveled that route, according to the International Organization for Migration, and Libya is still the primary set-off point. But Middle Eastern migrants have been forced to adjust their paths to Europe before and may have to do so again. From North Africa's perspective, the ball is now in Morocco's court. The question is whether Morocco can contain the growing migration flow to Europe, Riccardo Fabiani, a geopolitical analyst at the research consultancy Energy Aspects, told Al-Monitor. Its relationship with Spain could be tested over the next months, although I don't expect a crisis comparable to the Italian-Libyan issue. But even if Middle Easterners make it across the sea, evade the Libyan coast guard and find their way to Italian shores, there are a host of other problems to face. Many there are still stuck waiting in asylum centers. Exact figures are hard to come by, but the EU just rejected a deal to relocate 160,000 migrants and refugees from overcrowded camps in Greece and Italy. Others are evading such centers for fear of deportation. On July 30, 350 people were sent from Italy to Libya. The deportations are leading to rifts between Salvini and his coalition partners in the Five Star Movement party. Last week, Roberto Fico, the speaker of the lower house of the Italian parliament and a parliamentarian for the Five Star Movement, denounced Salvinis pact with Libya that forcibly removes migrants and sends them back to Libya, a country that has repeatedly been deemed unsafe for migrants. Libya is not a safe landing point. Human rights are not guaranteed, so migrants cannot be left there, Fico said, according to The Guardian. I dont want to close the ports. We need to talk about immigration with intelligence and heart. And then theres the issue of rising racism in Italy. Earlier this year, a man who once ran in a local election with Salvinis League drove around the central Italian town of Macerata shooting at black people. He injured six people before draping an Italian flag over his shoulders and being apprehended by police. Many analysts credit the rise in racism in the country to one man: Salvini. At the moment, to be honest, I'm afraid that people who are trying to cross the sea illegally never heard anything about Salvini or his policies, said Laura Silvia Battaglia, an Italian journalist and professor who splits her time between Milan and Sanaa. I barely think that Salvini's policies are changing the behavior of people who are in the migration centers, still waiting for asylum, and of the regular migrants in Italy that, for the first time, have fear of being targeted by neofascists, especially migrants with black or brown skin. Immigrants, particularly those from the Arab world or Africa, are often blamed for bringing crime and violence to Italy. While statistics dont back up these perceptions, the large increase in immigration in the last couple decades paired with selective reporting on crimes committed by immigrants has led public perception to support the sort of actions figures like Salvini are attempting. And while the success of Salvinis immigration strategy is debatable, his political success is not. Fabiani said, Politically, this strategy has been so far successful, but the price to pay is still unclear. If anything, there are growing signs of racism coming into the open in Italy, for example, as people feel emboldened by Salvini's rhetoric and take it out on migrants. Overall, Salvini's strategy is working, from his point of view, although one could argue the downward trend was already in place before he took over the Interior Ministry. He went on, Salvini has just reinforced Italy's commitment to boosting Libya's migration-containment capacity and has used a few high-profile episodes to signal his new policy. The truth is that so far the only new policy in place is a much more aggressive rhetoric toward immigrants and the decision to close Italy's ports. Salvini has so far turned away two boats carrying a total of 854 people. But these figures are minimal, considering that more than 472,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Italy since Jan. 1, 2015. Numbers are down this year to 18,392 by sea and none by land, though experts say that this trend started under the prior government after it bolstered the strength of the Libyan coast guard. But that hasnt stopped Salvini from taking credit for the drop in migration. To his growing support base, his tactics are working. In the meantime, it seems Salvini will continue sending migrants back to Libya. Relations between Libya and Italy are strengthening as they work to curb migration, and the results seem to be beneficial for Salvini, but just the opposite for Middle Easterners fleeing hardship. Auto components major Ltd on Friday reported 42.42 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 4.3 billion in the first quarter ended June 30, 2018. The company had posted net profit of Rs 3.02 billion in the same quarter last fiscal, Ltd said in a BSE filing. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 32.12 billion. It was Rs 28.3 billion in the first quarter last fiscal. The two figures are not comparable as revenue from operations after GST implementation in July 2017 is taken as net of GST. In the first quarter this fiscal, the company said its mobility solutions business sector grew by 20.5 per cent, with domestic sales growing by 21.7 per cent, while export sales posted 7.4 per cent increase. Other business verticals, including energy business and power tools, registered 48.9 per cent growth, it added. Ltd said its total expenses for the period under review stood at Rs 26.77 billion as against Rs 24.98 billion. Bosch Ltd Managing Director Soumitra Bhattacharya said the company has made progressive contribution globally and locally in the automotive industry this year. ALSO READ: Bosch and Siemens to repeat its success in Indian consumer durable market "We will continue to make considerable upfront investments in the form of capital expenditure, high spending on R&D, and opening new markets. The remaining financial year will see Bosch making significant innovative additions to the Indian automotive industry," he added. Stating that the company is transforming into an end-to-end technology and IoT services provider, Bhattacharya said, "With so much potential in our country, we are confident that Bosch Ltd will make positive progress with its connected solutions and integrated mobility offerings". Shares of Bosch Ltd were trading at Rs 19,492.60 apiece in the mid-day trade, up 1.95 per cent from the previous close on BSE. Senior CPI-M leader Brinda has courted arrest after leading a protest march by farmers and tribals here in support of their land rights and demands for proper health care and education facilities in the tribal region. She courted arrests after the march held yesterday. Terming the Union and the state governments as "anti-tribal, anti-Dalit and anti-farmer," Karat said, They are usurping the land and other resources of the tribals and poor farmers. In Udapur itself, she said, adivasi's huts were demolished and the people were arrested despite an assurance by the divisional commissioner to the contrary. The march was taken out on a joint call by Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha, Adivasi Adhikar Manch,Adivasi-Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Adivasi Jan Adhikar Ekta Manch, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and other organisations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain today justified its decision to allow holding of a pro-Khalistan rally in London on August 12 despite India describing it as a "separatists' activity" aimed at impinging on India's territorial integrity. A British High Commission spokesperson said here that people in the UK have a right to protest and to demonstrate their views, provided they act within the law. "Should a protest contravene the law, the police have comprehensive powers to deal with activities that spread hate or deliberately raise tensions through violence or public disorder," it said. "This does not negate the right to peaceful protest. The use of these powers and the management of demonstrations are an operational matter for the police," the spokesperson said The statement came a day after Ministry of External Affairs said it has conveyed to the UK that the rally will be "separatists' activity" aimed at impinging on India's territorial integrity. The UK has already turned down India's request to not allow the rally to take place. "We have said that it seeks to propagate violence, secessionism and hatred and we expect them to take into account the larger perspective of the relationship when they take a decision on such matters," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said yesterday. Britain's left-wing Green Party has already thrown its support behind the pro-Khalistan rally planned at Trafalgar Square in London on Sunday. India registered its formal opposition to the event through a demarche when of the rally emerged in July. Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which calls itself an advocacy group, says the rally is intended to raise awareness on the demand for a non-binding referendum in 2020 calling for the Sikh-majority state of Punjab to be granted independence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A British parliamentary delegation will visit Maharashtra in the second or third week of September to exchange information on proceedings of the legislatures of both countries. Deputy High Commissioner of United Kingdom Paul Carter today met Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar at the state secretariat where information regarding parliamentary proceedings of Maharashtra and United Kingdom was exchanged, a release issued by the state government said. Among those who were present were Principal Secretary to the Legislative Assembly Anant Kumar Kalse, Secretary to the chairman M M Kaaj, Additional Secretary of the Legislature Sunil Zore and former MLC Sanjay Dutt. The meeting today discussed details of the British parliamentary visit later this month. Nimbalkar said that the UK delegation should visit tourist places and rural areas along with Mumbai so that the delegation can study rural issues. A proposal by Maharashtra to hold the Commonwealth Parliamentary Council was also discussed in the meeting, the release said. Earlier, a delegation of Commonwealth Parliamentary Board headed by Nimbalkar and Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde had visited the United Kingdom. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today launched the "Mukhyamantri MNREGA Mazdoor Tiffin Vitaran Yojana" in the state under which tiffin boxes will be distributed free to over 10 lakh labourers. Singh said that around 10.83 lakh labourers would be given three-box tiffin sets in the next 45 days and called it an effort to bring prosperity into the lives of the poor. He said that carrying food in tiffin boxes will keep it fresh and help workers avoid diseases. The initiative was launched today at a function held at the Balbir Singh Juneja indoor stadium in Budha Talab area here. Speaking on the occasion, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar claimed that Chhattisgarh was the only state in the country which provided wages to women workers enrolled under MNREGA even during maternity leave. He said that 70 per cent of the labourers were paid wages within 15 days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Calcutta High Court upholding a State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) order today directed the West Bengal government to release 10 per cent in-service MBBS doctors for post graduate courses. Dismissing an appeal by the state government challenging the SAT order, a division bench of justices Debasish Kargupta and Sampa Sarkar directed it to comply with the order within two weeks. The SAT had on June 11 directed that the state government release 10 per cent of in-service MBBS doctors in state-run hospitals, which would roughly translate to a total of over 300 MBBS degree holders getting a chance to pursue MD/MS courses, as against 196 candidates allowed by the state, counsel for the petitioner doctors said. During the hearing, state counsel Amitesh Banerjee had told the court that rural healthcare services in the state would be in jeopardy if 10 per cent of the available MBBS doctors were allowed to go for higher studies as 37 rural health centres had only one doctor each, while 23 others had two each. He had also said that 180 seats were available for post-graduate courses in the medical colleges of the state for 2018 and the names of 196 candidates were released as per the merit list, with a waiting list of 16 candidates. Challenging the list, 105 in-service doctors whose names appeared in the merit list after the said 196 names had moved the SAT. Opposing the state's plea, the doctors' counsel submitted that there was a huge dearth of specialist doctors at the state-run facilities in West Bengal and that it was for the benefit of the patients that more doctors were allowed to study MD/MS courses. The doctors' counsel, Pratik Dhar claimed before the bench that the state-run hospitals in West Bengal had only 117 MD/MS doctors against a requirement of 1,700 post-graduate doctors. He submitted that there were 349 community health centres in the state and as per stipulation each should have at least five specialist doctors. With the SAT ordering that 10 per cent of the available MBBS doctors working at the state-run healthcare facilities be allowed to pursue higher studies, the government had moved the appeal before the high court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Casey Affleck has been mostly absent from the public eye for the past year, but in the wake of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements and with a new film coming out this fall, he is for the first time addressing lingering questions about earlier harassment allegations. The 42-year-old actor, producer and director is taking responsibility for the "unprofessional" atmosphere on the set of 2010's "I'm Still Here" that led to civil lawsuits from two women who worked on the film. He also spoke to The Associated Press about what he's learned from the #MeToo conversation and what he's doing at his production company to bring new voices into Hollywood. During Affleck's best actor campaign for "Manchester By the Sea" in 2016, the spotlight was turned back on the civil lawsuits filed by a cinematographer and a producer who worked on "I'm Still Here" for breach of contract. One of the women also sued for sexual harassment, and both described an uncomfortable atmosphere on the set of the unconventional mockumentary. "It was an unprofessional environment ... the buck had to stop with me being one of the producers and I have to accept responsibility for that," Affleck told the AP of the making of "I'm Still Here," which he produced and directed. "I contributed to that unprofessional environment and I tolerated that kind of behavior from other people and I wish that I hadn't." He added: "I behaved in a way and allowed others to behave in a way that was really unprofessional. And I'm sorry." Although the lawsuits were settled out of court, Affleck's name in 2016 and 2017 became associated with a long list of men who have abused power in Hollywood. While Affleck has addressed the lawsuits, including in an AP interview from July 2017 , he also has not spoken publicly since #MeToo and Time's Up overtook the culture ten months ago. In that time, Affleck also opted out of presenting the best actress award at the Oscars traditionally the responsibility of the previous year's best actor winner. Instead, Jodie Foster and Jennifer Lawrence handed the trophy to Frances McDormand. "I think it was the right thing to do just given everything that was going on in our culture at the moment," Affleck said. "And having two incredible women go present the best actress award felt like the right thing" Affleck said he's been learning a lot in the past few years listening to the conversation and has moved away from a place of defensiveness to one of finding his own culpability. "I think bigger picture, in this business women have been underrepresented and underpaid and objectified and diminished and humiliated and belittled in a bazillion ways and just generally had a mountain of grief thrown at them forever. And no one was really making too much of a fuss about it, myself included, until a few women with the kind of courage and wisdom to stand up and say, 'You know what? Enough is enough,'" Affleck said. "Those are the people who are kind of leading this conversation and should be leading the conversation. And I know just enough to know that in general I need to keep my mouth shut and listen and try to figure out what's going on and be a supporter and a follower in the little, teeny tiny ways that I can." Of his decision to do an interview now, Affleck said, "If I'm not promoting a movie, I'm not going to do any press, so that's why you haven't heard from me."He's also taking these lessons both to work and home to his two sons, who are ages 14 and 10. "I want to be in a world where grown men model compassion and decency and also contrition when it's called for, and I certainly tell (my sons) to own their mistakes when they make them," he said. Over the past year, Affleck has been spending time with his kids and girlfriend, and hard at work on various projects, including "The Old Man & The Gun," a kind-hearted film where he plays a cop trying to track down an older bank robber, played by Robert Redford. He also has directed a film, "Light of My Life," a father-daughter story co-starring Elisabeth Moss which he said some people will see soon. "The Old Man & the Gun," his third collaboration with director David Lowery, will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before opening in theaters on Sept. 28. "(Lowery) always assembles a really nice group of people around him," Affleck said. "It sort of makes its way into the movie. It's such a nice experience to watch one of his movies." At his production company, Sea Change Media, he said he and his development partner Whitaker Lader are looking to shepherd filmmakers with stories that aren't well-represented in Hollywood. "It's nice to be able to take the teeny tiny bit of experience that she and I have and use it to help other people get started," Affleck said. "There's really no better feeling than that. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre today told the Supreme Court it does not concur with the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to release seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, saying remission of their sentence will set a "dangerous precedent" and have "international ramifications". A bench of justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph took the document, filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, on record and adjourned the matter. On January 23, the apex court had asked the Centre to take a decision within three months on a 2016 letter by the Tamil Nadu government seeking its concurrence on releasing the seven convicts. The letter, written on March 2, 2016, had said the state government has already decided to release the seven convicts, but it is necessary to seek the Centre's concurrence as per an apex court order of 2015. "The central government, in pursuance of section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, does not concur to the proposal of the government of Tamil Nadu contained in its communication letter dated March 2, 2016 for grant of further remission of sentence to these seven convicts," said the reply filed by MHA Joint Secretary V B Dubey. The ministry said the trial court had given "cogent reasons" for imposing death penalty upon the accused and pointed out that even the Supreme Court had termed the assassination an "unparallel act" in the annals of crimes committed in this country. "... Releasing the four foreign nationals who had committed the gruesome murder of former prime minister of this country, along with 15 others most of whom were police officers, in connivance with three Indian nationals will set a very dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future," the Centre said. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, at an election rally. Fourteen others, including Dhanu herself, were also killed. This was perhaps the first case of suicide bombing which had claimed the life of a high-profile global leader. The MHA in its reply said that the case involves the assassination of a former prime minister in a brutal manner in pursuance of a "diabolical" plot carefully conceived and executed by a foreign terrorist organisation. It said the assassination brought the democratic process in the country to a "grinding halt" as elections to the Lok Sabha and some state assemblies had to be postponed. Convicts V Sriharan alias Murugan, T Suthendraraja alias Santham, A G Perarivalan alias Arivu, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, P Ravichandaran and Nalini have been in jail for 25 years. The Supreme Court had on February 18, 2014, commuted the death sentence of three convicts - Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan - citing inordinate delay by the executive in deciding their mercy plea. A day after on February 19, 2014, the then J Jayalalitha government in Tamil Nadu wrote a letter to the then UPA government at the Centre seeking its opinion on the remission of the sentences awarded to all the seven convicts. Instead of giving its opinion, the Centre had rushed to the Supreme Court claiming itself as the competent authority to decide on remission and not the state government, under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The apex court on February 21, 2014, passed an interim order and stayed the release of all seven convicts in the case and referred the matter to a five-judge constitution bench. The Centre had asserted that the killers of the former prime minister did not deserve any mercy as the assassination was the result of a conspiracy involving foreign nationals. The Tamil Nadu government, on the other hand, had said that the states have power to grant remission under the law and trashed the accusations that its decision to release the seven convicts was "political and arbitrary". On December 2, 2015, the constitution bench held that the Centre has "primacy" over state's right to grant remission and its "concurrence" is necessary before freeing the convicts in certain cases. On February 8, 2017, the top court dismissed the pleas of the Tamil Nadu government and convict A G Perarivalan alias Arivu seeking review of its judgement. After Gandhi's assassination on May 21, 1991, the probe was transferred to a Special Investigation Team of the CBI on the request of the Tamil Nadu government. The SIT had named 41 accused in its charge sheet - including 12, who died in the blast and three who were absconding - before a TADA court in Chennai. The prolonged trial culminated in 1998, when the TADA court sentenced 26 of the accused to death. In May 1999, the apex court upheld the death sentence of four, including Murugan, Santham, Perarivalan and Nalini, commuted the death sentence of three to life, and freed the remaining 19. In April 2000, the Tamil Nadu governor commuted the death sentence of Nalini on the basis of state government's recommendation and an appeal by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The death sentence of remaining three convicts were commuted in February 2014, by the apex court on the ground of inordinate delay of 11 years in deciding the mercy petitions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the recent faulty rabies vaccine scandal creating panic, China has launched a nationwide campaign to provide medical consultation and free inoculation of rabies vaccines. Rabies vaccines made by the Changchun Changsheng Life Sciences Company, the second largest in China, were found to have violated national standards including usage of expired fluids and falsified production dates. The vaccines were also widely exported, including to India. The Drug Controller General of India early this month ordered an immediate withdrawal of rabies vaccines from the market and also banned their imports from a Chinese manufacturer that allegedly fabricated records. Health institutions and disease control centres across China are providing consultation services for people who received rabies vaccines made by the company, state-run Global Times reported today. China has designated 36,482 hospitals and health institutions for consultation, the report said. No deaths from rabies have been reported among the patients who received the faulty vaccines, it said. Investigators found Changchun Changsheng had violated rules on production management and national drug standards for the vaccines since April 2014, including the use of expired fluids and false production dates, the report said. China's National Health Commission and the State Drug Administration issued an inoculation plan for people who have received rabies vaccines from the company. Those who are currently being treated and have not completed the required dosage can switch to vaccines from other companies at no charge. Those who have completed the vaccination regime can also be re-inoculated without charge if they wish. For those who received the faulty vaccines less than a year ago, vaccination institutions will provide tracking, observation and advisory services, it said. The daily quoted a resident surnamed Zhang from Qingdao in East China's Shandong province as saying that she panicked as she received the company's rabies vaccine last autumn and her mother was injected this June at Qingdao's Shibeiqu People's Hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CID of the Jharkhand Police today launched simultaneous inquires at 38 NGOs in and around Ranchi in connection with their receiving funds through the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), a senior official said. Separate inquiries are also on for Non-government Organisations (NGOs) outside the state capital, Additional Director General of Police (CID) Ajay Kumar Singh said. "Inquiries are going on relating to FCRA on NGOs," Additional Director General of Police (CID) Ajay Kumar Singh told PTI. CID sources said the probe teams would check various documents of the NGOs such as bank account details of past five years, email communications regarding funds from foreign countries, donors list and cash book. Reports of purchase committees, various travel and field reports would also be examined, the sources said. The central government informed the Lok Sabha on March 20 that it has barred nearly 5,000 NGOs across the country from receiving foreign funding after cancellation of their FCRA licences for violating rules since April 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government in Uzbekistan has published draft rules online that will lead to the abolition of a Soviet-style system of exit visas that rights activists say violate the basic right to freedom of movement. As Eurasianet writes, the new rules, which were posted online on August 7 for public discussion, envision Uzbek citizens being issued foreign travel passports from January 1, 2019. Possessing that document will obviate the need for people to get exit authorization stickers pasted into their passports. Newborns will be eligible for passports valid for two years. Children aged from one to 15 years old can get five-year passports, while anybody older can get documents valid for 10 years. As of now, anybody wishing to leave the country must have a departure authorization sticker the infamous exit visa in their travel document. Applications have to be submitted to the Interior Ministrys visa and registration department, also known as OVIR. The exit visa is not required for traveling to parts of the former Soviet Union, such as to Russia and Kazakhstan. Rights activists have long complained about the practice of requiring citizens to obtain permission to leave the country, pointing out that it violates international conventions on freedom of movement. But from the governments perspective, the Soviet-vintage system has long eased maintaining close tabs on the population. For politically suspect individuals, applications for exit visas were frequently rejected, in effect trapping the person inside the country. Activists say this practice was regularly used against dissidents and independent journalists. The scrapping of this requirement signals that Uzbekistan is committing to further political liberalization. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been on the receiving end of pleas to scrap the exit visa ever since he took over the reins of power, following the death of Islam Karimov. The change of policy appears like a recognition of the drumbeat of public pressure. A class two student of a New Delhi Municipal Council school was allegedly raped by an electrician in the institute's premises, police said today. Following the incident, the Delhi Commission For Women and the National Human Rights Commission issued notices to Delhi Police demanding details of the case. The NDMC too has initiated disciplinary action against the school authorities. The girl was leaving school on Wednesday when the accused, Ram Ashray (37), allegedly took her to a pump room in the school premises and forced himself on her, police said. He threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about it, they. On reaching home, the girl's mother found her bleeding from private parts and took her to a hospital where doctors informed them that she had been sexually assaulted. Her parents approached police yesterday, following which a case was registered and the accused arrested. Police said the accused was a permanent electrician employed with the NDMC. A case under relevant sections of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against him, they said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), Madhur Verma, said the accused had been working with the school for around two months and was arrested after the victim identified him. Police said the accused was being interrogated. They said the spot where the incident happened did not have CCTV cameras. The NDMC suspended four officials. They are accused Ram Ashray, headmistress Santosh Rawat, assistant engineer (electric department) Tulsi Ram and assistant teacher Shikha. While the civic body has initiated disciplinary proceedings against them, it has also terminated the contract of junior engineer Saurabh Bisht, who was Ashray's supervisor. DCW sent notices to the police and the school's authority, asking them to inform it about the safety measures at the institute. The NHRC issued notices to the Delhi government and the police seeking a detailed report about the incident. A representative from the school said the victim's parents came to them at 10 am yesterday to inform them about the incident, and claimed that the accused was not employed with their school. "From what we know, the incident occurred after 1:30 pm, when the school gets over. Our school employee not involved in it. Investigation is underway and the child is doing fine. We have been in regular contact with the parents of the victim," she said. The parents of the victim have been called for a counselling session on Monday to assure them of their child's safety. Another employee of the school said CCTV cameras were installed on the school premises and four security guards are always posted at the school gate since it is a girls' school. A number of parents staged a protest outside the school and raised questions about the safety of their children inside the institute. "What is the surety of our child's safety in the school premises? The principal has been on leave for a week. Shouldn't teachers and the vice-principal show more accountability?" a parent said. Another parent said strict security measures were in place for parents to enter the school premises, and asked whether the same measures were in place for others. According to Delhi Police data, more than two children were raped in the national capital every day in the first four months of this year. Till April 30, 282 cases of child rape were reported as opposed to 278 last year during the same period. Last year, 894 such cases were reported, the data stated. In September last year, a five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 40-year-old peon inside the premises of a private school in Shahdara, following which he was arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saudi Arabia has sought to tame critics with an aggressive foreign policy, but a deadly air raid in Yemen following an acrimonious spat with Canada will only amplify international pressure on the kingdom, analysts say. An air strike by the Saudi-led coalition hit a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen yesterday, killing dozens of what aid groups said were school children, with the United States and United Nations both calling for an investigation. The coalition insisted Huthi rebel combatants were aboard the bus, but international media have photographed dazed and bloodied children flooding into hospitals struggling to cope with a three-year conflict that the UN has dubbed the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "The war is becoming increasingly unpopular with the international community, including in the US Congress," Sigurd Neubauer, a Middle East analyst in Washington, told AFP. "(This) attack has unfortunately become the norm and not the exception." The coalition has repeatedly been accused of striking civilians in Yemen since it launched an intervention in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. The coalition called yesterday's strike a "legitimate military action" in response to a rebel missile attack on Saudi Arabia's southern Jizan city a day earlier that resulted in the death of a Yemeni national. But that did not quell the outpouring of global condemnation. "NO EXCUSES ANYMORE!!" tweeted Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF's regional director in the Middle East and North Africa. "Does the world really need more innocent children's lives to stop the cruel war on children in Yemen?" Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, tweeted: "Grotesque, shameful, indignant. Blatant disregard for rules of war when bus carrying innocent school children is fair game for attack." - 'Shutting the door to criticism' - The bombing raid, part of an intervention that reflects Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's increasingly assertive foreign policy, follows the kingdom's diplomatic rupture with Canada earlier this week. Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador, recalled its own envoy and froze all new trade and investments after Ottawa publicly demanded the "immediate release" of rights campaigners jailed in the kingdom. A furious Riyadh also moved to pull out thousands of Saudi students from Canadian universities, state airline Saudia suspended flights to Toronto, and the kingdom pledged to stop all medical treatment programmes in Canada. The Saudi reaction could impinge on the kingdom's efforts to attract badly needed foreign investment to fund its ambitious reform plan to pivot the economy away from oil, experts say. The move illustrates how the oil-rich kingdom is unwilling to brook any criticism -- foreign or domestic -- under its young crown prince. "The top leadership is not particularly concerned with Canada's global influence," said analysis firm Eurasia Group. "Instead, it is interested in shutting the door to broader criticism, also from European countries, and on other issues in the future." But Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has refused to back down and asserted that his country will continue to speak out on human rights. Saudi officials privately insist that respect for cultural sensitivities and closed-door diplomatic engagement is a more effective approach than public denunciations of the kingdom. Canada is quietly consulting Germany and Sweden -- targets of previous Saudi backlashes for calling out the kingdom over human rights abuses -- to help resolve the row, according to a government source. Canada also plans to reach out to regional heavyweight the United Arab Emirates and to Britain, which has strong historical ties to Saudi Arabia. Canada has expressed disappointment that Western powers including the US -- which has provided arms worth billions of dollars to the Saudi-led coalition -- did not publicly support Ottawa. "Absent a strong US voice (under President Donald Trump) on human rights and democratic values, Arab leaders have become less willing to tolerate Western advice on either political reform of governance," said the Eurasia Group. But the developments this week could complicate Riyadh's relationship with Washington. "President Trump has made relations with Saudi Arabia a central aspect of his approach to the Middle East. But discontent against Saudi Arabia in the US Congress is growing," Perry Cammack, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told AFP. "There is a real possibility that (the) Congress could move to constrain in a meaningful way the US military's involvement in the Yemen war." The row with Canada has also shone an uncomfortable spotlight on its European allies. "The failure of Western allies to rally around Canada in its dispute with Saudi Arabia risks luring the kingdom into a false belief that economic sanctions will shield it from, if not reverse mounting criticism of its human rights record and conduct of the war in Yemen," said James Dorsey, a fellow at Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra government is "committed and taking every effort" to provide reservations to Dhangars in the state, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today told a delegation from the community. A statement from the government said that the delegation, led by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vikas Mahatme, also discussed issues like scholarships and hostels for students from the community. "The government is committed and taking every effort to complete all procedures (for reservations for the community) at the earliest. We are completing constitutional formalities with a detailed report by the TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) which is expected to get done by the end of this month," Fadnavis said. The Chief Minister, last Sunday, had said, during a televised address, that the TISS was preparing a survey report in connection with reservations for the Dhangar community in the state. He had informed, at the time, that the TISS report would be submitted to the government by the end of this month. The Dhangar community wants the government to include it in the list of Scheduled Tribes so that its members can avail reservations earmarked for STs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A UK-based confederation of 20 independent charitable organisations has called on Indian authorities to set up of a comprehensive grievance redressal system in each state to respond to women and child protection issues. The call by Oxfam, which focusses on alleviation of global poverty, came after cases of sexual abuse of minor girls at shelter homes were uncovered in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Oxfam said it was evident that there was absence of a coordination and accountability mechanism between different departments in the two states. It said survivors should receive psychological counseling and medical support. The government must ensure safety and provide protection to minor survivors and witnesses. "Regular social audits of the shelter homes and the schemes under which it functions must be conducted by an independent body," it said in a statement. The issue of sexual abuse of minor girls first made headlines in April after the Tata Institute of Social Sciences submitted its audit report of shelter homes in Bihar to the state social welfare department. It raised the possibility of sexual abuse of girls at a shelter home in Muzaffarpur in Bihar, which was later confirmed by their medical examination. The second case came to light this week, when 24 girls were rescued from one of these homes in Deoria in Uttar Pradesh amid allegations of their sexual exploitation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DMK member Tiruchi Siva today asked the Centre to posthumously confer Bharat Ratna to M Karunanidhi as a tribute to his outstanding and exemplary work for the people. DMK chief M Karunanidhi died on August 7 after a brief illness. The 94-year-old DMK patriarch had served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five times but was never a member of Parliament. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Siva said Karunanidhi was a Dravidian stalwart and the tallest leader of the country. Karunanidhi contributed 80 years to public life, fighting for the cause of the downtrodden, backward and the suppressed people, he said, while elaborating on the achievements of late Karunanidhi. "I would urge the Government to confer upon him posthumous Bharat Ratna Award which will be a real tribute for his outstanding and exemplary work which had left an indelible mark in the annals of history," Siva said. In a break from tradition, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on August 8 as a mark of respect to M Karunanidhi. Siva said Karunanidhi had "a long list of achievements which will bring feathers in his crown." "He was an outstanding orator, a prolific writer, a novelist, a short-story writer, a philosopher, a philanthropist and also a dramatist. He was an actor and he also wrote scripts for eighty movies. Sir, he is unparalleled and he made a mark in all walks of life," Siva said. The late DMK leader was fighting till his last breath for social justice, secularism, state autonomy and self-respect, he added. Many members, including Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, associated themselves with Siva's demand. Ram Gopal Yadav of SP raised the issue of a dalit being beaten to death in Meerut. He demanded that the Centre should probe this matter. Yadav expressed concern over rising incidents of atrocities against dalits. Sukhendu Shekhar Ray of TMC demanded that a museum on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj should be inaugurated on October 21 at the Red Fort premises to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Azad Hind Fauj. "On the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of Azad Hind Fauj Government, a befitting tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the soldiers and martyrs of Azad Hind Fauj would be to inaugurate the Netaji and Azad Hind Fauj Museum at Red Fort on October 21 this year as a mark of 75th Anniversary of the occasion," the senior Trinamool Congress lawmaker said. He urged the government that the Museum should be inaugurated only on October 21, 2018 and not on any other day "otherwise, it will be irrelevant". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP today held Congress president Rahul Gandhi responsible for the triple talaq bill not getting the parliamentary nod in the Monsoon Session, saying his party supported it in the Lok Sabha but not in the Rajya Sabha due to its double standards. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters that Gandhi and his party are directly responsible for the stalling of the bill, which entails prison term for Muslim men charged with instant divorce. The Lok Sabha, which passed the bill, was adjourned sine die today. Kumar termed the Monsoon Session a landmark session, saying 21 bills were passed in the House which sat for 20 hours more than the allocated time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today claimed that its resurgence in Odisha has forced the BJD to strengthen ties with old ally BJP by backing the NDA candidate in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman election. Nine MPs of the Biju Janata Dal voted in favour of NDA nominee Harivansh Narayan Singh in the election to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman held yesterday. Singh defeated the opposition's candidate B K Hariprasad. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Niranjan Patnaik claimed the ruling BJD is now considering the Congress, and not the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a threat and its main opponent in Odisha. "Because of this, the BJD voted in favour of the NDA. The Congress party's resurgence in Odisha has compelled the BJD to have stronger ties with its old ally BJP," he said. "By supporting the NDA candidate in yesterday's election, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has clearly shown the close relationship he has with the NDA and the BJP," he added. Niranjan Patnaik questioned the BJD over the party saying that it had lent support to the JD(U)'s candidate and not the BJP's. He sought to know why Naveen Patnaik or any of his cabinet colleagues did not attend JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar's swearing-in ceremony as chief minister of Bihar. "Through its action, the BJD has exposed itself as a party having no ideology (and) which excels in opportunistic politics," the PCC chief said. Questioning the BJD's claim about keeping an equal distance from the Congress and the BJP, he pointed out that the BJD MP's walked out, without taking part in discussion and voting, during the recent no-confidence motion against the BJP-led NDA in Parliament. The BJD also supported the BJP on the National Register for Citizenship (NRC) in Assam, he added. Naveen Patnaik also supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of holding the Lok Sabha and the state assembly elections simultaneously, he said, adding that all this clearly showed the bonhomie between the two leaders and their parties. To garner votes in the 2019 elections, the BJD and the BJP are staging a drama by attacking each other, the Congress leader alleged. Speaking about the BJP's goal of winning 120 of the 147 seats in the Odisha Assembly polls, he said, "Both the parties have launched 'Mission 120', but they are actually in a 'Mission 420', which means it is a mission to cheat Odia people for another five years." The two parties, who shared power from 2000 to 2009, have not forgotten each other, the Congress leader said. Though the BJP's state unit is criticising Naveen Patnaik, neither Prime Minister Modi nor party president Amit Shah have uttered a word against the chief minister and vice-versa, he said, adding that the Centre has praised Odisha for rural housing. Farmers are committing suicides in Odisha, but the state is being honoured with 'Krishi Karman' award, he said. Now the people know the truth, he said. Talking about the Mahanadi water dispute, the PCC chief alleged that while the Centre silently allowed the construction of dams and barrages on the river in the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, Naveen Patnaik kept people in dark for a long time and only raised his voice after the work was over. He said BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram should join the Congress if they really want development of the state as it is the only opposition party working for Odisha's people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior IAS officer Vinod Kumar was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment today for committing financial irregularities in the Odisha Rural Housing Development Corporation (ORHDC) 18 years ago. Special vigilance court judge Shyam Sunder Das also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Kumar and his associate P C Das for the offence. The judge rejected the bail plea of the IAS officer as an non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued against his name. Kumar and P C Das surrendered before the court today as per the direction of the Orissa High Court. "Though punishment of three years imprisonment is bailable, the court rejected Kumar's bail plea because a NBW was issued against his name," said government pleader Hemant Kumar Swain. Kumar and five others were convicted by the special vigilance court on July 3 for committing financial irregularities of Rs 55 lakh in the ORHDC. Sanjay Mohanty ex-assistant manager of ORHDC was only present in the court on July 3 while the five other accused including Kumar were absent on that day. The judge had issued non-bailable warrants against the five. The court had sentenced Mohanty to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay a fine of Rs 25,000. The high court in its order on August 7 had ordered Kumar and the five others to surrender before the trial court for hearing of sentences. On August 8, the special vigilance court had sentenced Asish Kumar Nayak, secretary of Gramya Bikash Manch, Pradeep Kumar Rout, ex-accounts officer, ORHDC and Chittaranjan Mallick, ex-accountant (contractual) ORHDC to three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 each. The Vigilance Directorate had registered a case against Kumar and the five others, accusing them of committing financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 55 lakh in the year 2000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court today restrained former Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh from operating their bank accounts in India or abroad and selling any property. The brothers had appeared in the court in pursuance to its earlier direction to know how they were going to repay the money to Japanese pharma major Daiichi Sankyo, which had come to the high court seeking execution of the Rs 3,500 crore arbitral award won by it. Justice Rajiv Shakdher, who recorded the depositions of the Singh brothers on oath, also directed them to submit the gift deed of a painting worth Rs 7.59 crore, title document of their Singapore apartment and details of any other bank account, if any. As the counsel for the two brothers maintained that they do not have any money, the court said why don't they declare themselves insolvent. "If they don't have money, why don't they declare themselves insolvent. It's simple. The best way to protect themselves is that they go for insolvency," the judge said, during an over two-hour-long hearing. Besides the Singh brothers, the court also directed their firms RHC Holding Pvt Ltd and Oscar Investments Ltd to disclose the bank account details. While recording their depositions, the court asked them various questions ranging from number of bank accounts in India and abroad, their balances, properties, sculptures and assets. On being told by Malvinder that his Singapore property, which was mortgaged to a bank, was in a process to be sold, the court said, "you will not finalise the sale transaction without court's permission." He also said he had one sculpture, worth Rs 7.59 crore, which he has gifted to his daughter. The court turned down the prayer of Singhs' counsel that they be allowed to file the details in a sealed cover. "What was so special and different about them? When I don't do it in case of any other individual litigant, how can I pass such a direction for them," the judge said. The court listed the matter for September 5 for further proceedings. It had earlier directed the two brothers to disclose their bank accounts and assets overseas and had ordered them not to transfer or create any third party in their shareholdings in RHC Holding Pvt Ltd or trademarks. The court had directed a local commissioner, a chartered accountant, to sell the entire lot of unencumbered shares of the respondents, other than Malvinder in listed companies. It had earlier also ordered the attachment of all unencumbered assets of RHC Holdings Pvt Ltd and Oscar Investments Pvt Ltd. A Singapore tribunal had in April 2016 passed the award in Daiichi's favour holding that the brothers had concealed information that their company was facing probe by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice while selling its shares. The high court on January 31 had upheld the international arbitral award passed in the favour of Daiichi and paved the way for enforcement of the 2016 tribunal award against the brothers who had sold their shares in Ranbaxy to Daiichi in 2008 for Rs 9,576.1 crore. Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd had later acquired the company from Daiichi. It had, however, said that the award was not enforceable against five minors, who were also shareholders in Ranbaxy, saying they cannot be held guilty of having perpetuated a fraud either themselves or through any agent. Daiichi had moved the high court here seeking direction to the brothers to take steps towards paying its Rs 3,500 crore arbitration award, including depositing the amount. It had also urged the court to attach their assets, which may be used to recover the award. On February 16, the Supreme Court had dismissed Singh brothers' appeal against the high court verdict upholding the international arbitral award. Singh brothers' counsel had argued that the award granted consequential damages which were beyond the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal and the award cannot be enforced under the provision of the Arbitration Act. They had claimed that Daiichi was fully aware of all facts and still chose to retain the Ranbaxy shares, instead of terminating the agreement and returning them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ruing that India has lost the 'Nalanda tradition', Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today expressed his commitment to revive the ancient Indian knowledge. The Tibetan spiritual leader emphasised that modern India needed this ancient knowledge and hence, it should be revived. The Dalai Lama said in the 7th century a Tibetan emperor introduced the Nalanda tradition of Buddhism based on reason and logical conclusion and got theSanskrit texts translated into Tibetan language in 300 volumes. He rued that India lost the Nalanda tradition. "My latest commitment is to revive the ancient Indian knowledge in modern India. We have already started some steps, some progress." The Dalai Lama was speaking at a programme 'Thank You Karnataka', which is part of the Tibetan government in Exile celebrating 'Thank You India for giving shelter to Tibetans.' Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy was also present. Nalanda was the biggest monastery and Buddhist learning centre which was destroyed by medieval-era invaders. India, he said, was the only nation in this planet which can combine ancient Indian knowledge about mind, psychology and the way to tackle destructive emotions. Explaining to the audience what Nalanda tradition means, the Monk said it never agrees but questions every doctrine with a logical approach and investigates. He, however, clarified that he respected India's seculartradition but what he was speaking of was Nalanda tradition,which is "an academic subject." The spiritual leader reiterated that he was committed to remaining with China provided it gave them full right to preserveTibetan culture and language. He pointed out that the deal would benefit both Chinese and Tibetans mutually. "So far as money is concerned, remain within the limit of China. Mutually we can do immensely. Then, preservationthoroughly about our culture, knowledge," Dalai Lama said. He hailed India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for his assistance to build Tibetan monasteries and learning centres in India by allocating land in different parts of India. The Dalai Lama expressed his gratitude towards the then Karnataka chief minister S Nijalingappa who gave a large chunk of land at four different places having five settlements. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US under the leadership of President Donald Trump took an extremely tough stance against Iran. The Republican administration, literally following George Bushs motto "whoever is not with us is against us", actually has thrown the rest of the world into a dilemma: either to stop any trade and economic ties with Iran or forget about the US market and suffer from the US sanctions along with Iranians. Washington's return to the policy of total economic sanctions against Iran, the first package of which came into force a few days ago, has become a painful blow to the European Union and, in particular, Germany. Germany had great hopes and tangible prospects to gain a foothold as a leading player in the Iranian market and became one of the first countries after the concluding a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic, which sent a large economic delegation headed by the Minister of Economy. Today, official Berlin supports the continuation of every possible business with Iran, though in name only. Chairman of Iran-Germany Chamber of Commerce, Michael Tockuss spoke with Dlf about the problems that German business entrepreneurs are currently facing in Iran. According to Tockuss, German business does not feel the real support of its state, which behaves helplessly. All measures voiced by Germany and the EU are not enough, and the prospects for the economic relations between Europe and Iran look woefully in the current conditions. Vestnik Kavkaza offers our readers the translation of the interview with Michael Tockuss. -Can we blame German companies that they prefer to trade with the US rather than with Iran? - I think this alternative is wrong. We observe that large enterprises, for example, Mercedes, freeze business activity in Iran. These enterprises that have branches in the United States, there are even the public joint-stock companies. These are the enterprises that we will lose. On the other hand, there is a large number of medium-sized businesses that we have been advising for months and we know that they will continue to export to Iran. -But they will also face possible threats from the US? - In theory, yes. The question is how large this effect will be. In Germany, there are between 5,000 and 7,000 companies that have regular trade relations with Iran. And we have the similar work experience during 2012-2015. Then there were the UN, US and EU sanctions in effect. At that time, the middle-size enterprises preserved the German-Iranian trade relations. Then we exported goods and services worth 2 billion euros. About a third of Germany's exports to Iran comprises of machines and equipment. And this part of exports is often provided by the middle-level enterprises. - So, you do not expect a serious reduction in the trade turnover due to the US sanctions against Iran, do you? - We do not expect a serious decrease. Trade itself is not something that worries us. We are disappointed that all projects and further development of the economic ties, cooperation with Iranian enterprises - all this will definitely not be continued and developed. - What is necessary to continue the cooperation? - The cooperation could be continued if the government of Germany does not behave as helplessly as it does now. For many days, the Iranian issue has been discussed in the media. But I do not hear statements on this subject from our Minister of Economy or the Minister of Foreign Affairs. A clear, concrete statement by the government on this topic would be a big support. Enterprises are waiting for the solution of structural problems that would allow companies to maintain their business ties with Iran. First of all, it concerns the issue of financing the deals. At the moment, there is no problem with receiving money from Iranian companies in Europe. They are transferred with the help of Iranian banks operating in Europe. The problem is that many German banks are going backward and are not ready to accept this money. At the moment, this is the main problem faced by the entrepreneurs who want to keep business with Iran. - But these are the private banks. What can politicians do in this situation? - We are talking about private banks, but there are also partially public legal institutions, and some solutions have been proposed here. For example, there was an idea to attract the European Investment Bank to finance the deals. Another way would be to pay through the German Federal Bank. This was discussed in detail in the past but has not been implemented. The political statements that we want to support Iran and maintain the economic ties with the country are, of course, wonderful. But in fact, at the moment, these statements have no practical results for the companies. - Is Iran a trading partner that you can rely on? -Iran has been an extremely reliable trading partner for centuries. - Even under the current regime? -Even under the current regime. We do not face delays or non-payments, and we can count on our agreements with Iranians. The economy plays a stabilizing role, the function of the unifying bridge - especially when the political situation is complicated. - You mentioned the difficulties with banks. But if you were the director of an international bank, would you finance such deals, realizing that you will face problems with the US because of this? - I understand the global institutions that before the speech of President Trump on May 8 this year had not supported business with Iran. But we have 1100 independent people's banks and 480 more savings banks. And it would be strange if we could not attract at least some of them for financing deals with Iran. Though exactly this happens. The negotiations are held between banks on this issue, and politicians do not support these negotiations. - You criticize this development. But the Ministry of Economics of Germany said that it will continue to give guarantees for export and investment transactions. Do you consider this an important signal? - These guarantees have been in force since 2016. But according to the documents at my disposal, so far this mechanism has been used only 20 times. These guarantees only help when you have a bank ready to finance a transaction. And this is the main issue. The problem is not to ensure the risks, but to find a bank that is ready to finance a project in the amount of 20, 30, 40 million euros, for example, in the field of alternative energy in Iran. If I have such a bank, then I can ensure this deal. - That means the export guarantees without bank support are meaningless? - It's neither harm nor good. Just like the blocking statute of the EU. This is a good political signal, wonderful. But if you look at its details, you will understand that in order to use this mechanism, German companies must prove in court that the deal concluded with the Iranian side was not carried out precisely because of the US sanctions. It is completely unclear how the government is going to pay compensation to the affected enterprises. I can not imagine that the government of Germany will seize the US property in Germany. That is, as you can see, more political statement than practical. - With the help of this blocking statute that you have mentioned, the EU wants to ban its state-members from adhering to the American sanctions. You put this mechanism in doubt. What can you recommend German enterprises in this case? - A lot of German companies are working on this topic since May 8, when Mr. Trump delivered a famous speech. The companies were divided into two large groups. On the one hand, there are large enterprises that have branches in the US and even have the right to sell shares on the US stock exchange. These enterprises must be extremely cautious since the US has a direct influence on them. The second group of enterprises, much more numerous, at best supports only the trade relations with the American market. These enterprises formed the backbone of the German-Iranian economic relations in the past, continuing to support them in similar situations in the past - even during the period of sanctions. Decks have been cleared for a ropeway project connecting the birthplace of the Khalsa, Sri Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, and Mata Naina Devi in Himachal Pradesh, state Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said here today. Once it gets started, the ropeway would prove to be a milestone in not only boosting tourism sector in both Punjab and Himachal Pradesh but would also be an epitome of strengthening the Hindu-Sikh bond, he said. Sidhu said an MoU between both the states over the matter was signed earlier, but was shelved in 2014, which is now set to be revived. A new memorandum of understanding would be inked this month, which would accelerate the pace of the project, he said, adding the project is estimated to cost Rs 200 crore and would cover a distance of 3.5 km. The minister emphasised that the safety of pilgrims would be given top priority and keeping in view this aspect, services of a top notch company would be hired. Sidhu made it clear that all the necessary clearances regarding the project would be obtained as no hindrances would be allowed to come in the way of this flagship project. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After weeks of deliberations with the Army, the defence ministry has devised a standardised protocol for closure of any road in cantonments across the country, asserting that emergent security needs of the force have been taken into consideration. In May, the Defence Ministry decided to allow civilian access to the roads in 62 cantonments but security concerns were raised on the move. A country-wide signature campaign against the government decision was launched by wives of Army officers. Subsequently, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held several rounds of discussions on the issue Chief of the Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, officials of the Defence Estates Organisation and officials of her ministry. "The ministry in coordination with the Army headquarters has devised a standardised protocol for closure of roads in Cantonments, in conformity with the provisions of the Cantonments Act, 2006," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry had decided to give civilian access to the Cantonment roads after Sitharaman held a meeting with a group of parliamentarians and elected vice presidents of the 62 Cantonment Boards. The ministry said the process of closure of roads may be initiated in case of roads which the local military authorities consider necessary but they will have to cite the reasons. "Due process as laid down under Cantonment Act, 2006 and the orders issued by the Ministry dated May 28, 2018 will be followed," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today met her South Korean counterpart Young-Moo Song and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties in security and strategic spheres, an official said. The two ministers discussed "issues of mutual interest" and ways to strengthen cooperation in defence and security, the defence ministry official said. The meeting comes ahead of a planned high-level meeting between the rival Koreas on Monday. The two Koreas would meet as the US and the North struggle to reach a common ground following the summit between American President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June. Young's visit to India comes a month after South Korean President Moon Jae-in's visited New Delhi on July 8-11. During President Moon's visit, India and South Korea agreed to explore possibilities to coordinate efforts in defence and strategic spheres to benefit from each other's unique capabilities and experience. They resolved to enhance military exchanges, training and experience-sharing, and research and development, including innovative technologies for mutual benefit. The two sides also agreed to encourage their defence industries to intensify cooperation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Assembly today passed a resolution demanding immediate removal of Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash for allegedly blocking the CCTV camera project at the behest of the BJP, in a move likely to escalate the tension between the bureaucrats and the ruling AAP. The AAP-dominated House resolved that installing CCTV cameras in Delhi was an urgent need for protection of women and children. "This House condemns Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, who appears to be acting on behalf of the BJP government at the Centre, for blocking the CCTV project and his act appears to be a part of the conspiracy by the Opposition to further delay the CCTV project. This House demands that Anshu Prakash should immediately be removed from the post of chief secretary, Delhi," said the resolution passed by the assembly. The resolution was moved by AAP legislator Alka Lamba. It also sought a detailed examination of the reasons for delay in implementing the CCTV camera project that was given in-principle approval by Delhi government in October 2015, by a House committee. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that the chief secretary was working as a "BJP agent" to block the project, passed by Delhi Cabinet today. Sisodia's attack on Prakash came after the chief secretary in a note viewed "there should be no undue haste" in considering the CCTV project. "The note of chief secretary is devoid of any merit. The Council considers CS note, rejects it and warns him to desist from such conduct in future," the Cabinet responded. The move by Delhi Assembly comes close on the heels of a confrontation involving Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and secretary-cum-commissioner Varsha Joshi, over procurement of buses. The tussle between the bureaucrats and the AAP dispensation had flared up with an alleged assault on Prakash during a late-night meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in February this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A proposal for installing CCTV cameras across the national capital, which became a bone of contention between the Lt Governor and the ruling AAP, was passed by the Delhi cabinet today. Taking a dig at the opposition, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the BJP and Congress would now find it tough to dole out money and liquor during elections. The Delhi Assembly also passed a resolution demanding "immediate removal" of Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, accusing him of acting on behalf of the BJP government at the Centre and trying to block the CCTV project. Kejriwal also hit out at the Centre, which controls the Delhi Police, over rising crime against women across the national capital. "The Home Ministry, PM office, LG and police have failed in providing security to people of Delhi," he said, adding that CCTV cameras would deter crime in the city. The project was embroiled in a controversy with Lt Governor Anil Baijal forming a committee to frame rules for installation, operation and monitoring of CCTV cameras. The AAP had slammed the move as "delaying tactics". Picking holes in the committee formed by the L-G, the chief minister said it had recommended license for installing CCTV cameras. It means money will have to be paid for getting the licenses, he said. "Have you spent the money from Rafale deal that you now need money from CCTV cameras to run your party?" he said addressing the BJP legislators in the House. The AAP supremo said in principle approval was given to the CCTV camera project by the Delhi government in October, 2015. "With the help of officers, they moved files in a way that the installation of CCTV cameras was delayed by three years," Kejriwal said in the Assembly. He asked the BJP legislators to ensure that the Lt Governor creates no further "hurdles" in the implementation of the project. The estimated cost of the project by the Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi government is Rs 571.40 crore. It includes a capital cost of Rs 320.96 crore and maintenance cost of Rs 250.44 crore for a period of five years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Assembly Secretariat has paid over Rs 39 lakh as fee to lawyers to fight court cases filed by government officers against House committees in the past one year, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said today. On the last day of the Monsoon session, Goel said it was a very "serious" issue that officers were going against the committees of Delhi Assembly, which makes laws, and the Lieutenant General was granting permission to bureaucrats to do that. The House adopted a private-member resolution, moved by AAP legislator Shri Dutt Sharma, with a voice vote condemning officers to challenge the powers, privileges and procedure of Delhi Assembly. "I want to bring this on the record of the House that Assembly has paid Rs 39.68 lakh as fee of lawyers while Rs 20-lakh fee is still pending with Assembly Secretariat. "There are currently eight court cases which are pending against assembly committees," Goel told the House. The resolution adopted by the House states that there was a "surprising trend" among a few IAS officers in Delhi to challenge the powers, privileges and procedure of Delhi Assembly and its committees. "This House condemns such actions of misinformation and misrepresentation of facts before the courts & media and resolves that strict action should be taken against such officers of belittling the stature of legislature, its committees and members," the resolution read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the era of aggressive fandom, actor-writer Simon Pegg believes it is important for a director to stick to his vision without being cynical about fans expectations. As recent history has shown, even a minor digression in the storyline of a beloved franchise like "Star Wars" or "Star Trek" can irk fans, who, in the digital era have become a major voice that Hollywood studios are finding hard to ignore. When asked about excessive fandom in Hollywood, Pegg, who has been a part of major franchise films, said social media has changed the way fans react to a film. "That's just fandom, people love their thing and they want it to be a certain way and if it's not their way, then they get a little bit upset. That's not their fault, that's just a consequence of social media. "The trick is to be true to your own vision of something and not be cynical about it, then hopefully you will create something that will be in line with the fans' own ideas. What you get with things like 'Star Wars' and 'Star Trek' is that you have people who are utterly in love with and possessive of it. (They) would be annoyed if it is not what they wanted. That's just the way it is," Pegg told PTI in an interview. The British actor, who plays the role of Benji Dunn in "Mission: Impossible" franchise, said being a fan, he considers himself to be lucky to earn a living out of what he loves. "I am a film fan and I am very happy to be participating in a thing that I would do as a hobby, if I didn't do it for a living. But at the same time, it's a job and it requires a degree of professionalism and concentration... Someday it's hard and sometimes it's fun. I feel lucky to be in this position. "I want to be able to keep working at this level, tell stories that I want to tell and stories that I want to be a part of and I hope to carry on doing that as long as people don't mind watching it," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Intensifying their fight against the central leadership, dissident legislators of the AAP's Punjab unit today decided to hold volunteers' conventions across the state to "strengthen" the party. A decision to this effect was taken at the first meeting of the ad hoc political affairs committee (PAC) here under the chairmanship of the sacked leader of opposition (LoP) Sukhpal Singh Khaira. The committee was constituted by the dissidents on Tuesday. "We do not want to carry on with the of confrontation...we want to save Punjab and strengthen the party," Khaira said after the meeting. A volunteers' convention will be held in Faridkot on August 22, followed by similar events in Gurdaspur and Moga on August 25 and and September 2 respectively, he added. Days after being sacked as the LoP last month, Khaira convened the first volunteers' convention in Bathinda on August 2. Resolutions passed at the convention declared the AAP's Punjab unit "autonomous" and dissolved the party's organisational structure in the state even as the high command disapproved of the event. He said a volunteers' convention will also be held in the Garhshankar constituency. Khaira also constituted a three-member review committee under the chairmanship of MLA Kanwar Sandhu to look into the party's performance in the 2017 Assembly polls. The review committee will submit it's report in the next 45 days, he said. Khaira said if the party high command decides to take any action against them, then it will be against the wishes of the AAP volunteers. Besides Khaira, other AAP MLAs who took part in the meeting included Sandhu, Nazar Singh Mansahia, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, Master Baldev Singh, Jagdev Singh Hissowal, Pirmal Singh and Jai Krishan Singh Rori. Yesterday, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal played down the infighting in the party's Punjab unit, calling it a family matter. "Fights do take place among members of a family. It will be resolved," he had said. The crisis began after Khaira was sacked as from the post of LoP in Punjab Assembly. The decision was opposed by his supporters and dubbed "undemocratic". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will assist the Noida Rail Metro Corporation (NMRC) over the next one year in operating the Noida Greater Noida Metro rail service, which is expected to begin later this year, according to an agreement signed today. The NMRC entered into the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the DMRC for taking up the operation of the 30 km long Aqua Line on "full-fledged" basis. "Now the DMRC operations and maintenance staff comprising around 100 officers and supervisors would provide hand-holding support to the NMRC," an official statement said. The DMRC's support would include training to the freshly recruited NMRC workforce over the next one year with a provision for future extension, it said. The MoU was signed by DMRC Executive Director (Operations) Vikas Kumar and his NMRC counterpart P D Upadhyay here in the presence of NMRC Managing Director Alok Tandon and DMRC Director (Operations) A K Garg, the release said. NMRC officials said extensive trials were undergoing between the Depot station and the Sector 81 station (23 km) and are likely to be extended over the entire corridor (30 km) by next week. "This would mark a significant mileage in the time-bound completion of Metro works since the signalling trials over such a long corridor has not been done earlier in such a short span of time," the NMRC said. The Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the nodal agency nominated by the Ministry of Railways, has already conducted oscillation trials on a stretch of 10 km (from Depot station to Sector 147) and the report is expected shortly. Both the receiving substation (RSS) have now been commissioned and power can be made available from both the sources to the train operations and station requirements. Auxiliary Substation (ASS) at all 21 stations have also been commissioned, the statement said. In the meantime, non-executive staff for operation and maintenance has been recruited by the NMRC through the DMRC and their training is under progress. "A total of 11 trains are required to start the commercial operations immediately. As on date, five trains are already undergoing extensive testing, while the next six are expected to be delivered in September," according to the NMRC. The Aqua line will have 19 rakes with 4 cars each. These are all lightweight cars made of stainless steel. Each train is equipped with a passenger information system, a public address system and an emergency announcement system. "Besides, all the stations will be equipped with platform screen doors," the NMRC said. The signalling trials are to be completed by September, after which the section can be offered to the Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) for inspection based on the success of these trials and timely availability of report from the Independent Safety Assessor. Meanwhile, the NMRC said it has also gone ahead with tenders for semi-naming rights for all stations as well as other related activities for operations of the Aqua Line. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested three smugglers in Srinagar with 627 grams of high quality heroin which was being smuggled from Pakistan, officials said today. The drug was to be transported to Punjab from Kashmir, they said. Acting on intelligence inputs, the DRI officials intercepted a vehicle at Batwara area in Srinagar on Wednesday and arrested three Punjab-based smugglers, a statement issued by the agency said. "Rummaging of the intercepted car resulted in recovery of 627 grams of high quality heroin. The contraband was concealed in a specially designed cavity. "The narcotic material and the car have been seized by the DRI and three Punjab-based smugglers have been arrested," the statement issued by the agency said. Preliminary investigations suggest that the seized heroin was sourced from across the border, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Armenia's Criminal Court of Appeal will continue examining the appeal of the attorneys of the former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan against the decision of the Court of First Instance by which Kocharyan was remanded into custody for 2 months on August 10 at 14:00 local time, Kocharyan's attorney Hayk Alumyan said. Kocharyans attorney Aram Orbelyan said that Kocharyan insists that the charges pressed against him are ungrounded. As reported earlier, a charge has been brought against Kocharyan, former Defense Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General and Armenias former Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Khachaturov within the framework of the criminal case into the tragic events in Yerevan on March 1, 2008. On July 27, Khachaturov was released on bail, whereas Kocharyan was remanded in custody for two months by a court decision, News.am recalls. On March 1, 2008, the authorities used force against the opposition members who were rallying in downtown Yerevan against the results of the recent presidential election. The Enforcement Directorate today seized assets worth Rs 30 lakh belonging to Maoist leader Sandeep Yadav alias Vijay Yadav alias Rupesh here in connection with a money laundering case, an ED official said. Sandeep Yadav is a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist) and a resident of Lutua village under the jurisdiction of Lutua police station of Gaya district. The Maoist leader is an absconder in more than 100 cases lodged in different police stations of various states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh for his involvement in naxal related incidents. "We have seized two properties - a plot and a single storeyed house - belonging to Sandeep Yadav in Aurangabad district. The house has been sealed. The properties are in the name of Yadav's wife Rajanti Devi," Enforcement Directorate, Patna Assistant Director Adarsh Kumar told reporters here. The ED team seized seven decimal land located in ward 10 of Aurangabad town while another property - a single storeyed house - located near JK Motel on GT road in the district, he said. The properties have been seized under money laundering Act, Kumar said adding that a case of money laundering was lodged and the properties were attached earlier. The accused person was issued summons in the case but did not appear as he has absconding in more than 100 cases lodged against him in various states. The seized properties will now be that of the Central government and the said properties can neither be sold nor can be bought, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Producer Ekta Kapoor is the latest celebrity to join the nepotism debate, saying not only star kids but outsiders should also be a given a chance in the industry. Ekta, who is launching two new actors --Avinash Tiwary and Tripti Dimri-- in her upcoming production "Laila Majnu", in the promotional events of the film has spoken about how she faced challenges to market her film with new faces. In an Instagram post, Ekta once again talked about hiring "unknown talents who have no film legacy or star fathers or godfathers." Ayesha, whose son Tiger made his Bollywood with "Heropanti" in 2014, shot back at Ekta, commenting, "It's not a sin to have a star father my dear! Hard work and talent is the same no matter what caste, creed or lineage!" Ekta, who is the daughter of veteran actor Jeetendra, argued that as a producer it is harder to make a film featuring outsiders. "Not at all, ma'am! I have one, but you have to admit for a producer to sell market and turn around a film with newcomers is far tougher with no lineage attached ! This is no slight to any star kid least of all Tiger who is FANTASTIC! But a request to give other kids a chance too." At the trailer launch of "Laila Majnu" Ekta was asked about her take on nepotism, which started with Kangana Ranaut calling out Karan Johar for promoting star kids. "I don't do it. I don't agree that it is only film industry's problem because there is a whole world around it," Ekta had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An elderly American was found dead in his hotel room at Bhimtal in the district, police said today. Stephen Daniel (66) was found dead in his room at Greenwood Hotel yesterday, Nainital SP Harish Chandra Sati said. The hotel staff learned about his death when a foul smell began to emanate from his room, the official said, adding that it suggested he died a couple of days earlier. They broke open the door as it was bolted from inside and they found Daniel lying dead on his bed, he said. The US embassy was informed about the incident, Sati said. Daniel, who hailed from Pennsylvania and was a divorcee, came to India via Nepal on May 30 on a valid visa and passport, the official said. He was last seen by the hotel staff on Sunday when they delivered soup to his room, the SP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today asked officials to evolve an effective mechanism to implement the government's 'Rythu Bima' insurance scheme. The scheme would be launched from August 15. Rao said the family of a deceased farmer should be paid the insurance amount Rs five lakh within 10 days after his death, a release from the Chief Minister's office said. "The Chief Minister made it clear that an effective mechanism should be developed so as to reach the insurance amount cheque to the farmer as per the schedule within 10 days after the death occurs," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich was arrested early today for allegedly assaulting a prostitute in Frankfurt, police said, just a week after the German national was briefly detained in Spain. "He is in police custody," a German police spokesman told AFP, adding that the 44-year-old "was under the influence of alcohol and drugs". Ullrich had allegedly called on the services of a prostitute at the five-star Villa Kennedy Hotel in Frankfurt, Bild daily reported. But he then got into a quarrel with the "escort lady" and "physically attacked and injured her," police said. Ullrich's latest woes came a week after he was detained for 24 hours in Spain for allegedly forcing his way into the home of his neighbour, German actor Til Schweiger, and threatening him. Following the scandal in Spain, Ullrich said early this week he would go into rehab and seek help for his drink and drug addiction. He had only arrived back in Germany on Thursday evening to start his therapy before he got caught up in the latest drama, Bild daily said. The former cyclist's dramatic fall from grace came two decades after he became the only German to have won the Tour de France, in 1997. He also won Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000. But he was then embroiled in doping allegations and excluded from the 2006 Tour de France over his links to the Operation Puerto scandal that centred on disgraced doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who gave performance-enhancing blood transfusions to top cyclists. Ullrich finally came clean in 2013 about his doping past. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a member of a right-wing Hindu outfit and seized huge quantity of explosives from his residence at Nallasopara in Palghar district of the state, police said today. Vaibhav Raut, a member of 'Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti', was apprehended from Bhandar Aali in Nallasopara West late last night, an official said. "ATS sleuths raided his residence and shop where they found huge quantity of explosives, including crude bombs. Some literature was also seized," he said. After taking Raut into custody, the ATS team returned to Mumbai, where he would be interrogated. He is likely to be produced before a court this afternoon, the official added. In a statement, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) termed Raut's arrest "Malegaon part II". The Malegaon case centres around the September 29, 2008 bomb explosion near Bhiku Chowk in the Muslim-dominated Malegaon town of Nashik district, which killed six people and injured 101 others. "Vaibhav Raut is a daring cow protector. He was active through an organisation- Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti - dedicated to the protection of cows," HJS state organiser Sunil Ghanvat said, adding, "He used to participate in the programmes and agitations organised through uniting Hindu organisations under the aegis of HJS." He, however, claimed that Raut had not participated in any of the programmes for the last few months. "The incidents of needless harassment of activists of Hindu organisations to implicate them in false cases, etc are not new any more. This has been amply proved through Malegaon case and the arrest of many innocent seekers of Sanatan Sanstha," Ghanvat said. "Considering the being disseminated today, it has created doubt whether the arrest of Vaibhav Raut is an instance of Malegaon part II," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The maiden session of Pakistan's newly-elected National Assembly, Parliament's lower house, will be held on Monday, 19 days after the general elections won by Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. On the first day, the newly-elected members will take oath of their office. This will be followed by the elections of the speaker, the deputy speaker. The NA will proceed to elect the leader of the house (Prime Minister) within the next couple of days, depending on the schedule for nominations issued by the speaker. Imran is poised to become the prime minister as the PTI has claimed the support of at least 180 lawmakers in the house of 342. President Mamnoon Hussain summoned the session of 15th NA following a recommendation sent by caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk. The summary approved by the president would now be sent to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The ministry would determine the time for the session. Under the Constitution, the first session of the National Assembly (NA) should be convened within 21 days of elections. As the general elections were held on July 25, it is mandatory to call the session by August 15. PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said that Khan was eager to take oath on August 14, the country's Independence Day. But he may not be take oath before August 15 due to formalities involving his election by the NA. There is another glitch which may delay his oath taking for a few more days as President Hussain is proceeding on a three-day visit to Ireland on August 16. The PTI has urged him to drop or delay the visit. However, Chaudhry said that the oath taking will not be delayed as Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani could administer the oath as acting president in the absence of president. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described attempts to exert economic pressure on his country, including by means of destabilizing its financial system, as futile. "Various campaigns are underway against Turkey, pay no attention to them. While they have dollars, we have our people, law and Allah," Erdogan said, addressing citizens in the Black Sea city of Rize. The Turkish leader added that "attempts to exert economic pressure on Turkey were futile." The Turkish lira fell against the US dollar due to mounting tensions between Turkey and the US in the wake of Ankaras refusal to release American pastor Andrew Brunson who is suspected of being involved with a terrorist group, Anadolu news agency reported. Meanwhile, Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak is expected to present a new economic development doctrine for the country on Friday. leader Dhananjay Munde demanded that the Maharashtra government withdraw an affidavit before Bombay where it said there was no need to interfere with ban on outside at multiplexes. In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Munde said the government's position in the court was contrary to its stand in the state legislature during monsoon session. Munde, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, said the government's stand in the would not stand legal scrutiny. The government, on August 7, told the that it did not deem it necessary to interfere with the ban on outside in multiplexes, as allowing outside or beverages inside may create "chaos" or "security issues". The court was hearing a PIL opposing ban on outside food at multiplexes. However, earlier, during the monsoon session, the government had said multiplexes and malls have been directed to allow carrying of eatables and beverages inside, after some legislators raised the issue of exorbitant prices of food at such places. "Cinema halls are given license under the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1966. Nowhere the rules state that outside food cannot be taken inside," Munde said. "So the pretext of security is not going to stand a scrutiny of law. Hence, the government should request the court to allow it to withdraw the affidavit and file a fresh one before any law and order issue crops up," he added, in apparent reference to agitations against multiplexes over this issue. Foreign currencies totally worth Rs 40 lakh have been seized from a Dubai-bound passenger at the airport here, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said today. The officials found assorted foreign currencies -- Kuwait Dinar, Oman Rial, Bahrain Dinar and Saudi Riyal -- of various denominations from the passegner, a DRI release said. On interrogation, the passenger said the currencies were obtained from unauthorised dealers. The passenger had been detained and further investigation was on, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A good number of tourists from Europe and parts of Far East are taking keen interest in travelling to West Bengal during the Durga Pujas, which is being promoted by the state as the "largest festival in the world". Karan Anand, head-relationships of a top of the line tour operator, today said that the festival has been raising interest among travellers from these countries in visiting Kolkata during the five-day Durga Pujas. "People showing interest are largely from Europe and some parts of Far East," Anand told newspersons here. He said travellers from Europe come in small groups or are backpackers who try to coincide their visit to the eastern India during the Pujas. Among those visiting from the Far East come on medical trips and try to come during pujas. West Bengal Tourism department is also promoting the Durga Pujas in a big way. "Durga Puja is the largest festival in the world and we are promoting the mega event in a large way in different foreign countries," West Bengal Tourism minister Gautam Deb told PTI. Deb said that the government is expecting thousands of in-bound tourists from various countries. "People get information from the net as also from friends and develop interest in travelling to exotic destinations and participate in big community festivals," Anand, head-relationship of Cox and Kings, said. He said that young people and couples exhibit more interest in visiting Kolkata during the pujas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An IPS officer was sentenced today to a three- year jail term by a CBI court here for taking a bribe of Rs one lakh from an SHO six years ago. Additional District and Dessions judge Gagangeet Kaur had held Deshraj Singh, former Chandigarh Superintendent of Police (SP), guilty under Sections 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and 13 read with 13(1)(d) (criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act on August 8. Pronouncing the quantum of sentence today, the court sent Deshraj, a 2008-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, to three years imprisonment and also slapped a fine of Rs one lakh on him. Posted as SP (City) in Chandigarh with the additional charge of SP (headquarters), Deshraj was detained by the CBI from his Sector-23 residence on October 18, 2012 while allegedly accepting Rs one lakh as bribe from a junior officer for getting him a clean chit in two departmental inquiries. Later, Deshraj was suspended. The CBI had laid the trap to nab SP Deshraj following a complaint by Chandigarh Police inspector Anokh Singh, the then SHO of Sector 26. The SHO had said in his complaint to the CBI that SP Deshraj was a crucial witness in one of the departmental inquiries initiated against him. The inquiries against Anokh Singh were initiated for alleged disobedience and insubordination as he had failed to inform Deshraj about a theft at an MLA's residence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet was appointed today by the UN General Assembly as the world body's next top human rights official to replace Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had this week nominated Bachelet to be the next UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her name was forwarded for consideration by the 193-member UN General Assembly, which today approved her appointment. Al Hussein warmly welcomed the UN General Assembly's appointment of Bachelet to succeed him when his mandate comes to an end on 31 August 2018. "I am truly delighted by the appointment of Michelle Bachelet as the next UN High Commissioner for Human Rights," Zeid said. "She has all the attributes courage, perseverance, passion, and a deep commitment to human rights to make her a successful High Commissioner. The UN Human Rights Office looks forward to welcoming her and working under her leadership for the promotion and protection of all human rights, for everyone, everywhere." Bachelet most recently served as President of Chile (from 2014 to 2018, and 2006 to 2010). She was the first Executive Director of UN-Women between 2010 and 2013. She has also served as Minister of Defence and Minister of Health in Chile. The UN General Assembly today approved the UN Secretary-General's appointment of Bachelet for a four-year term as High Commissioner. Bachelet will be the seventh High Commissioner since the Office was created in 1993. Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein has been in office since 1 September 2014. His predecessors are: Jos Ayala-Lasso (1994-97); Mary Robinson (1997-2002); Sergio Vieira de Mello (2002-03); Louise Arbour (2004-08); and Navi Pillay (2008-14). Following consultations with the Chairs of the regional groups of Member States, Guterres had informed the General Assembly of his intention to appoint Bachelet as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Bachelet, 66 will succeed al-Hussein, who had been one of the most outspoken critics of abuses by governments in many countries. Her name now goes forward for consideration and approval by the 193-member UN General Assembly. The UN Human Rights High Commissioner is the principal official who speaks out for human rights across the whole UN system, strengthening human rights mechanisms; enhancing equality; fighting discrimination in all its forms; strengthening accountability and the rule of law; widening the democratic space and protecting the most vulnerable from all forms of human rights abuse. Al-Hussein will step down from his role at the end of this month. He served a single term, beginning in 2014. During his tenure, Al-hussein had been outspoken in his criticism of abuses in dozens of countries from Myanmar and Hungary to the United States. At a farewell conference at UN headquarters this month, he had said he does not regret speaking out against human rights abuses, saying "silence does not earn you any respect none." In June this year, he had released a first ever report on Kashmir in which he had called for a commission of inquiry by the Human Rights Council to conduct an independent, international investigation into the human rights situation in Kashmir and PoK. India had rejected that report, terming it as "fallacious, tendentious and motivated and a selective compilation of largely unverified information. Headquartered in Geneva, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is mandated to promote and protect the universal exercise and full realization of human rights, across the world, as established in the UN Charter. Bachelet's nomination has received cautious reactions from diplomats and human rights organizations. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said the United States had withdrawn from the UN Human Rights Council in part because of the Council's consistent failure to address extreme human rights abuses in the Western Hemisphere, in Venezuela and Cuba in particular. Haley added that the Human Rights Commissioner can have a strong voice on these critical issues, even when the Human Rights Council fails to live up to its name. It is incumbent on the Secretary-General's choice, Bachelet, to avoid the failures of the past. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two police officers were among four people killed today in a shooting in eastern Canada and a suspect has been arrested, authorities said. Residents of the Brookside neighborhood of Fredericton, New Brunswick reported waking to the sounds of multiple gunshots. Witnesses described to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) seeing the barrel of a rifle or shotgun poking out from the window of a low-rise apartment building and firing into a courtyard, while the bodies of two officers lay on the ground nearby. Heavily armed police, paramedics and firefighters quickly descended on the scene and a lockdown of the neighbourhood was ordered, trapping some early risers in daycare facilities, coffee shops and other businesses. were seen being escorted by police from their homes -- some still in pyjamas -- to safety beyond a police cordon. Authorities in the provincial capital initially urged people in the Brookside neighbourhood to stay indoors, describing an "active incident" on Twitter. Around an hour after giving first word of the killings, a second and then a third message from police said: "At this time, we can confirm that we have one suspect in custody" and "of the four people killed in this morning's shootings on Brookside Drive, two were Fredericton police officers." Then came word that the threat had been neutralized, the lockdown was lifted and the police cordon was shrunk to a few blocks: "We can confirm that there is no further threat to the public, and lockdowns are not required at this time." Also, police added: "We can confirm that the suspect in custody is currently being treated for serious injuries related to this morning's shooting incident." The circumstances of the shooting in Fredericton, about 75 kilometers from the border between Canada and the US state of Maine, were not immediately clear. The shooting happened in a sleepy residential area of the city north of downtown. Public broadcaster CBC quoted Robert DiDiodato, who lives in the area, as saying he heard a series of "firecracker" sounds around 7 am. "With the tempo, it might've been a gunshot," he said. "It was sort of like a pop, pop, pop, pop." He said that about five minutes later he could hear similar sounds near his home. "Doors are locked and everybody's inside," he said, according to CBC. Another resident, who gave his name only as Justin, told the broadcaster: "I woke up and I heard gunshots and I looked outside my window. "The cops were trying to put one of the officers in their vehicle to take them out to safety," he said, adding that he tried to help but was told by the officers to take cover. Another resident, Pierre Huard, told Radio-Canada he initially thought the sounds were "children playing with firecrackers." The mass shooting is the second in the province in recent years, and comes only weeks after a man opened fire on July 22 in a bustling nightlife district of Toronto, killing an 18 year old woman and a 10 year old girl and wounding 13 other people. The latter triggered a public debate on rising gun violence and gangs in Canadian cities, and calls for a handgun ban. "Awful news coming out of Fredericton," Prime Minister said in a Twitter message. "My heart goes out to everyone affected by this morning's shooting. We're following the situation closely," he said. In 2014, three federal police officers were killed and two more were injured after responding to an emergency call about an armed man roaming a residential neighborhood of nearby Moncton, New Brunswick. A 28-hour manhunt ensued before police caught up to the suspect and arrested him, in what was described as the second-deadliest attack on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) since four officers were ambushed on a Mayerthorpe, Alberta farm in 2005. Four policemen were suspended and six home guards discharged from service in connection with the death of an undertrial who had allegedly escaped from police custody and was found hanging from a tree near Panikhaiti outpost, the police said today. The action against the policemen and home guards of Panikhaiti outpost in Kamrup metropolitan district in Assam was taken yesterday with immediate effect, they said. Guwahati City Commissioner of Police Hiren Nath suspended the four policemen of Panikhaiti outpost where the incident had occurred in the night of August seven, a police spokesman said. Kamrup metropolitan district magistrate has already ordered an enquiry on August eight and directed the Circle Officer, Chandrapur Revenue Circle, Pallab Jyoti Nath to find out the circumstances leading to the death of the 23-year old prisoner. Nath has been directed to submit his report within 15 days for submission to the National Human Rights Commission and Assam Human Rights Commission, mandatory for the death of any undertrial prisoner. Chandan Bharali was arrested on August seven for allegedly harassing a girl on social media and was taken to Panikhaiti outpost after being remanded to police custody for three days by the chief judicial magistrate. The accused was found missing the same night and the police claimed that he had escaped with his handcuffs on. A search was launched and he was found hanging from a tree in a jungle, about 150 metres away from the Panikhaiti outpost, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot today announced that she will voice the character of Shank in Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Ralph Breaks the Internet", which releases in India on November 23. "I'm so excited to finally announce that I'm playing a character named Shank in Disney's #RalphBreaksTheInternet hitting theatres this November! Such an amazing experience to be a part of this project with such great creators and the cast," Gadot tweeted. Shank is a tough and talented driver in an intense and gritty online racing game called Slaughter Race in the film. Ralph and Vanellope encounter Shank and her unusual cohorts when they venture to the internet in search of a replacement part for Vanellope's game, Sugar Rush. "She is the coolest character in this world of Slaughter Race," director Rich Moore said in a statement. "Shank's lived a lot, she's seen a lot, yet she's got nothing but kindness in her heartthat's the duality of that character," he added. Elaborating her character, Gadot said: Shank is amazing at driving cars and has this bad-girl vibe to her. But as the movie goes on you realize how fun, wise and warm she really is on the inside, which is what I like most about her. According to director/writer Phil Johnston, Gadot adds extraordinary dimension to the character. "There's so much texture to her voice and so much living in her voice, he said. "If Ralph is Vanellope's big-brother figure, we wanted a big-sister figure. We wanted someone that Vanellope would look up to, and Gal is definitely someone kidsand a lot of adults I knowaspire to emulate. I can't imagine anyone else embodying that part." The film also features the voices of John C. Reilly as Ralph, and Sarah Silverman as Vanellope. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gaza and Israel are "dangerously close" to a new conflict after a flare-up of violence in recent days, the European Union warned today, adding that an urgent "de-escalation" was needed to keep civilians from further risk. "The rocket fire from Gaza towards communities in Southern Israel as well as other violent actions and provocations against Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian militants are totally unacceptable," an EU foreign affairs spokesperson added in a statement. The EU warning comes amid heightened tensions, a day after a deadly flare-up between the Israeli army and the territory's Islamist rulers Hamas. Yesterday Israel launched extensive air strikes on Gaza in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies on Wednesday night. An unofficial ceasefire agreement between the two foes came into effect around midnight on Friday, (2100 GMT) yesterday. The EU statement added: "While having the right to defend itself, Israel is expected to continue to exercise restraint and do everything to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza. The death of a pregnant Palestinian mother and her child in this latest escalation is a tragic loss. "The European Union reiterates its full support to the efforts by Egypt and the UN to reduce tensions and to alleviate the situation in Gaza, including by enhancing the international response to the current crisis and easing movement and access. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) General Purna Chandra Thapa, a decorated officer of the Nepal Army, has taken charge as the new acting Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of the Himalayan nation. Thapa took over yesterday after the incumbent chief General Rajendra Chhetri went on a formal leave before his retirement next month. Thapa will be sworn in as the CoAS of Nepal Army next month after Chhetri formally retires from the top post. A special ceremony was held yesterday at the Nepal Army headquarters here where the incumbent CoAS Chhetri handed over the responsibility to Thapa. Born to a military family in Nepal's Lamjung district, Thapa has served across the globe as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Besides military courses at home, Thapa has also completed training in the United States and India, the Kathmandu Post reported. Thapa's most important responsibility came as the head of mission and force commander -- a rare opportunity for a Nepal Army officer in UN Peacekeeping missions -- of the UN Disengagement Observer Force in Golan Heights from February 2015 to February 2016. The decision regarding Thapa's appointment was taken during a Cabinet meeting last month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Mike Allen, Channel Manager Eastern and Midwestern Regions at Advantech The FAO states that one-third of all food produced each year is wasted. Lost or spoiled in subsequent stages throughout the supply chainfrom storage to packing to transport and beyondroughly 1.3 billion tons of food never reaches consumers. Precise and constant refrigeration temperatures are critical when ensuring the safe delivery of perishable products such as produce, dairy and meat, as well as medicines. And while spoilage alone is an urgent problem in the global supply chain,insufficient temperature control can lead to more than waste; it can also create the perfect environment for the kinds of pathogens and micro-organisms that threaten public health, particularly when tainted products go undetected and are consumed by the general population. The CDC reports that foodborne illnesses affect 48 million people and result in some 120,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths, with a total cost to the U.S. estimated at $77.7 billion annually,according to a new study calculated by Ohio State University consumer science professor Robert Scharff and published in the Journal of Food Protection. With a sharp focus on sustainability, governments, researchers, retailers and enterprises are committed to improving processes by setting higher standards, increasing regulations and developing new technologies to reduce wasteand help the UN achieve a goal of Zero Hunger by 2030. In addition to new innovations being tested, such as the use of compressed natural gas in cold chain system tractors and the swapping of Freon for ammonia as a storage refrigerant, the implementation of advanced sensor technology is surging ahead in the cold chain system. Particularly with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which regulates the sanitary transport of food, shippers and carriers, smart sensors hold great promise to reduce food spoilage and mitigate losses while increasing profitability for all stakeholders. Pharmaceutical and consumer goods companies, which face the significant challenge ofdifferent temperature requirements and disparate optimal ranges for multiple products, are increasingly utilizing sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) technology not only to monitor temperatures in cold chain in real time, but also to assist in tracking shipments and detecting equipment and vehicle malfunctions, among other things. In fact, in a 2017 survey from Deloitte and MHI, supply chain industry leaders identified sensors as one technology enabling an always-on supply chain. Of the 900 respondents, 43 percent indicated their companies relied on sensor technologies embedded in devices to track in-transit cargo location, monitor carrier performance, identify vulnerabilities for theft or tampering and monitor shipment temperature, shock and vibration. The research firm Gartner predicts 20 billion IoT devices will be in use by 2020, with mass adoption of sensors encouraged not only by the proliferation of these devices, but also several other significant factors including a sharp drop in price, low barrier to entry, ease of implementation and capabilities expanding to enable longer battery life, greater durability and more data storage. All of which reduce the financial risk for implementation while providing greater supply chain visibility. In addition, enterprises are developing more feature-rich sensors. Recognizing that stability is key to food security, cost-effective, end-to-end solutions in each sector of the supply chainfrom port to warehouse to trucking to retail deliveryhave been designed to support the entire cold chain ecosystem. From in-vehicle computing boxes for logistics and fleet management to hand-held temperature readers and hand-held computers with long-range scanners that can be used with powered vehicle mount cradles, IoT devices and smart sensors are enabling a new era of cold chain intelligence. With a complete spectrum of embedded computing platforms and abundant domain know-how available, enterprises can do more than just ensure proper temperatures are maintained for the duration of food and perishables transport. They have the capacity to optimize and modernize warehouse design and retail monitoringfrom remote locations as well as on premiseswhile ensuring that every product moves from the point of production to the point of purchase efficiently and with its integrity intact. Better visibility across every inch and mile of the supply chain has the potential to drive growth for businesses while contributing to a healthier planet. Whether a company takes incremental steps toward digitization or moves full steam ahead to achieve a competitive advantage, the ultimate goal is to ensure a seamless supply chain process, with reliable insight into personnel, fleet, product and storage, as well as access to impeccable and accurate environmental control to ensure the highest quality. As the supply chain, cold storage and distribution industry moves into the future, and the market segments that rely on cold chain services become increasingly diverse and geographically spread, new technologies that strengthen every link will continue to emerge. With an economic potential of the global cold chain market alone predicted to reach $234.49 billion in 2020, stability is a necessity to achieving successand ensuring the wellbeing of nine billion human beings. Mike Allen brings over 25 years of direct sales, sales management and channel management experience in the automated identification and data collection industry. He understands the technology and hardware capabilities and more importantly, how to address the pain points of various industries and vertical applications. He has experience in various industry sectors including transportation/logistics, automotive, oil and gas, utilities, manufacturing, warehousing/distribution, consumer goods and retail. Mike began his career in the Automated Information and Data Capture (AIDC) space managing key accounts and growing specific geographic territories for various manufacturers and providers of automated data capture equipment and solutions. Before joining Advantech, Mike worked with a provider of mobile device analytics to OEMs and to managed services providers. Prior to that he worked with a global consulting and systems integration company where he was the lead for mobile data collection and strategy for major engagements globally. Former hard-line president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has asked current President Hassan Rouhani to resign. In a video published on his Telegram account yesterday, Ahmadinejad said that Iranians do not trust Rouhani. "Your continued presence is at the expense of the country," the New York Times cited him as saying. Uncertainty resulting from the U.S. pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers has led Iran's already anemic economy to worsen. On Wednesday, Iranian lawmakers voted to sack Rouhani's labor minister, a victory for hard-liners opposed to the relative moderate amid the worsening economic crisis. Ahmadinejad has brought attention to himself since being blocked from running in last year's presidential election. A girl died and a boy sustained critical injuries after their vehicle fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district today, police said. The incident happened on the Mehli-Shoghi road near Beolia area, the police said. The deceased has been identified as Kajal who died on spot. The injured, Sumit Rana, was rushed to a nearby hospital, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa police today launched a crackdown against drunken driving to curb road accidents in the state. Around 200 teams of policemen will be on the streets across Goa as part of the drive that begins today, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Dharmesh Angle told reporters. "If a motorist is caught driving under the influence of liquor beyond permissible limit, his vehicle would be confiscated by the police and a charge-sheet would be filed against him in the court," he said. He said checks would be conducted on all the highways as well as internal roads across the state. The police will carry alcometres to measure the liquor content in the breath samples of drivers, the officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government looks to open up to 100 islands in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep for the development of eco-tourism on public private partnership (PPP) basis, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said today. Under the Holistic Development of Islands programme, 10 islands in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep have been taken up for development in the first phase. "Now we are opening up 10 islands, in the next 12 months we should be opening close to 100 islands," Kant said. "We welcome all dynamic entrepreneurs to create projects that India can be proud of. The success of the Incredible Islands Of India initiative will beget further success," he added. Kant was addressing investors' conference organised by Niti Aayog to attract investments for the development of eco-tourism on PPP basis in Andaman & Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands. "A detailed study has been done on the carrying capacity of these Incredible Islands Of India. We are not looking at mass tourism that will burden the environment, sustainable development is the goal," Kant added. The Niti Aayog CEO said key approvals will be provided upfront to reduce risk for investors involved. "Foreign tourists coming to India will not need separate permission to visit these Incredible Islands Of India," he said. Kant also said that the government's objective is to ensure sustainable and eco-friendly development of Island projects. "We will keep in mind the carrying capacity of these pristine islands to ensure they are never under burden," he noted. Island Development Agency (IDA) an apex body, under the chairmanship of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, was constituted in June 2017, while NITI Aayog has been mandated to steer the Holistic Development of Islands program, along with the respective UT administration/ State Governments. According to an official statement issued yesterday 11 anchor tourism projects Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep are proposed to be implemented with private sector participation under suitable risk-sharing model and through open-competitive bidding. "The said anchor tourism projects have been identified on government-owned land in Smith, Aves, Long, Neil & Little Andaman Islands of Andaman & Nicobar, and in Kadmat, Suheli and Minicoy islands of Lakshadweep," it had said. The statement had also said detailed land survey and demarcation of project sites, carrying capacity assessment of the project islands, coastal regulation zone (CRZ) application and pre-feasibility study have been undertaken. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Corporate Affairs Ministry has received 537 complaints till date against Sahara Q Shop for not returning the matured amount to investors, Union Minister P P Chaudhary said today. Following the complaints, the ministry has ordered inquiry, he added. "The ministry has received 537 complaints till date against Sahara Q Shop Unique Products Range Ltd of Sahara Group for not returning the matured amount to investors," Chaudhary, who is the Minister of State for Corporate Affairs said. Separately, he said that 77 "vanishing" companies remained untraced after having raised funds through initial public offers (IPOs). Vanishing companies are those firms which cease to file their statements of return after raising capital, and whereabouts of their registered office or directors are not known. From the initial public offerings (IPOs), which were issued during 1992-2005 period, a total of 238 firms were identified as vanishing companies. "Due to the continuous efforts of the ministry, 129 companies have been traced and are now regular in filing statutory returns. Further, 32 vanishing companies were under liquidation proceedings," the minister said. Now, the total number of vanishing companies stand at 177. The Registrars of Companies have initiated legal action against their promoters and directors in respect of the vanishing companies, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today said state government would take the decision about banning use of polythene bags below 50 microns of thickness after getting feedback from people. The state government would seek people's feedback on the draft proposal to ban production, distribution and sale of plastic bags, he said while addressing "Bihar Prithvi Diwas" function here. Sushil Modi, who also holds charge of the and Forest department said the draft proposal to ban plastic would be issued soon. After the draft proposal is issued people can give then feedbacks, he said. "The government would also incorporate the provision of penalising those who will violate the proposed ban," he said while exhorting students and common man to follow 11 point resolution for protection and pollution control. The 11 point resolution talks about planting saplings, protecting environment, saving energy, maintaining cleanliness and sanitation in and around their vicinity, save water, etc. Stating that climate change had its most adverse impact on agriculture and poor people, the minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today termed "grave" the incidents of vandalism of private and public properties by various groups during protests across the country and said it will not wait for the government to amend the law. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said it will issue directions in the matter. Attorney General K K Venugopal told the bench that responsibility should be fixed on authorities like the superintendent of the police of the area in cases of vandalism and rioting. Such incidents of violent protests and rioting happen almost every week in one or another part of the country, he said, and referred to protests on the Maratha reservation in Maharashtra, nation-wide violence following the apex court verdict in the SC/ST matter and the recent incidents of violence involving 'Kanwarias'. When the film "Padmavat" was to be released, one group openly threatened to cut the nose of the lead actress, he said, and added, "Nothing has happened. No FIR." "Then what is your suggestion," the bench asked the top law officer. "Fix the responsibility on the officers concerned," Venugopal said, pointing out that unauthorised constructions in Delhi had stopped after it was decided that the DDA officer concerned would be held accountable for such construction in his/her area. Venugopal said the government has been contemplating an amendment in the existing law to deal with such kind of protests and the courts should allow it to change the law suitably. "We will not wait for the amendment. This is a grave situation and this must stop," the bench said. The bench then reserved the order on a plea filed by the Kodungallur Film Society filed through lawyer P V Dinesh seeking enforcement of the apex court's directions passed in 2009 in one of the verdicts. Issuing a slew of directions, the apex court had said in 2009 that organisers of any protests shall be personally held accountable for the loss of private and public property in the stir. The bench had also ordered police authorities to videograph such protests so accountability could be fixed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Gujarat fisherman released from a Pakistan jail on June 29 this year on account of his poor health has died in the state's Gir Somnath district, a senior fisheries official said today. Dana Arjan Chauhan, who was suffering from cancer, died in his native Paldi village in Una tehsil yesterday, said Veljibhai Masani, chairman of the state-run Gujarat Fisheries Central Cooperatives Association. Chauhan, along with another fisherman Ramabhai Gohil, was released by Pakistan authorities on June 29 after India's Ministry of External Affairs had intervened. Chauhan, after his release from Pakistan, had told PTI that jail authorities in the neighbouring country did not provide him medical help and also made him do laborious tasks. Chauhan was apprehended by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency for allegedly entering the neighbouring country's waters on May 3, 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A foreign national was arrested today by the Narcotics Control Bureau and cocaine worth Rs 1.5 crore was seized from him, a senior official said. Victor Nanso, a Nigerian national, was nabbed early today morning after he alighted from a bus in Ahmedabad's CTM area and a search of his luggage revealed 273 grams of cocaine worth Rs 1.5 crore in the international market, said NCB zonal director Hari Om Gandhi. "He brought that contraband from Mumbai and it was meant to be delivered to his connection in Ahmedabad. We have arrested him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Act and further probe is on," said Gandhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dam reservoirs and rivers overflowed, sections of highways collapsed and homes were swept away in severe flooding in more than half of Kerala, after days of incessant rains left nearly 54,000 people homeless and killed at least 29, officials said on Friday. Five columns of Army were deployed in the state's seven severely-hit northern districts, out of Kerala's 14, to help evacuate people and to build makeshift bridges even as the Indian Navy's southern command was put on alert after water level in Periyar river rose amid concern that parts of Wellingdon Island in Kochi could be inundated. Almost all 40-odd rivers in the state are in spate, officials said. Northern and central Kerala have been battered by heavy rains of the Southwest monsoon since August 8, which has left 29 people dead, including three today. Of them, 25 died in landslides and four in drowning. State officials said a total of 53,501 people are now housed in 439 relief camps across the state. Tourists were barred from entering the hilly Idukki district after roads caved in at many places. Army soldiers were building small bridges to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad. A red alert was issued for Idukki and its adjoining districts in view of the possibility of release of more water from the Idukki reservoir. At least 50 tourists, including 24 foreigners, stranded at the Plum Judy resort at Munnar since Wednesday were rescued and taken to safer places, state Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said. People living downstream of Periyar river in Kochi, and Cheruthoni river in Idukki have been warned of a possibility of inundation of banks. Water level had crossed the maximum storage capacity of reservoirs of 24 out of the state's 58 dams, forcing officials to release the water by opening the sluice gates, including three of the Idukki reservoir. Two more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, the biggest arch dam in Asia, were lifted around 7 am today. One shutter was opened yesterday after a gap of 26 years. This morning, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation and relief works being undertaken by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF. Due to the increase in the water level at Idukki dam, "it is essential to release water three times (more) than what was being released now", Vijayan said, adding that this will lead to rise in the water levels of Periyar river and its tributaries. He appealed to people to be vigilant. Vijayan has cancelled all his public functions till August 12, and will monitor the situation from the state capital. Union minister Alphons Kannamthanam said he discussed the flood situation in Kerala with Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning. Singh also spoke with Vijayan, and will make an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Sunday. "The Government of India is providing all the required assistance including services of armed forces, disaster management team and other required assistance. Any other immediate assistance requested by the Government of Kerala will be provided," Alphons said in a Facebook post. Col. Ajai Sharma, the commandant of DSC Centre, who is overseeing relief and rescue operations, said five columns of Army have been deployed in the northern districts since last night. "The haphazard development along the streams has affected the natural flow of rivers, which is a challenge right now," he said. Small bridges have been constructed to evacuate stranded people in various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad areas, and rescue operations are currently underway. "The situation is under control," he said. Meanwhile, state Revenue minister E Chandrasekharan reviewed the flood situation and the precautionary measures to be taken in Aluva near Kochi airport and nearby areas in view of the possibility of increase in the water level following release of more water from Idukki reservoir. Periyar river in Aluva is already in spate following release of water from Idamalayar dam, and people living in low-lying areas have been asked to be vigilant. Cochin International Airport Limited sources said operations at the airport had not been affected. "The operational area is intact. No cancellation of services so far," an airport spokesperson said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Vijayan on Thursday, and offered all possible assistance to those affected. In Palakkad district, the flood waters started receding today as the quantity of water being released from Malampuzha dam was reduced. However, many areas are still inundated and people were seen trying to save their belongings. To check pollution owing to burning of crop residues, the Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) has come up with a action plan to deal with the issue that has been a cause of worry for the government. In this regard, the HAU has committed itself for managing crop residues, which will pave the way for making the state pollution free. University Vice Chancellor K P Singh said here today an action plan has been prepared for the management of crop residues across the state. A sum of Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned to the university by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for this work, he added. The burning of crop residues, on one hand contaminate the while on the other hand the number of beneficial micro-organisms and organic carbon in the soil are decreasing, thus resulting in depletion of productivity of the fields, Singh said. Besides, the toxic gases generated by burning the crop residues cause adverse impact on human health and also pollute the environment, he said. The level of pollution caused by burning paddy straw has reached to the extent where the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had to intervene, he added. Farmers should be given technology for paddy straw management so that they can have another alternative other than burning it, he said. There are 20 districts in Haryana which cultivate sugarcane and paddy and the straw burning problem is the most serious in these districts. About 28 lakh metric tonnes of crop residues are burnt every year in these districts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The U.S. administration will comply with the law, according to which, the sanctions should be imposed on Russia for alleged complicity in the poisoning of former GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britains Salisbury on March 4, the State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. At the same time, she did not specify whether they should be prepared for the next round of sanctions. "As you well know, we dont forecast sanctions. We have complied with the law in announcing those sanctions just yesterday, and we will comply with the law going forward, of course, as we always would," she said, answering the question of whether the U.S. currently preparing for this next round of anti-Russian sanctions. Haryana Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu Singh Sindhu today called Prime Minister Narendra Modi an egalitarian and said constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) is a major step towards the uplift of the downtrodden. In a statement here, Abhimanyu said if the Congress Party had not halted the passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha, the commission could have come into existence months earlier. This (constitutional status) will pave the way for ensuring socio-economic justice to the people belonging to backward and deprived sections of society, he explained. The finance minister said with the passage of Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill in the Parliament, the NCBC has got legal status and about 54 per cent of the population will benefited from it. Since decades, the poor and backward strata, which are also part of the general category in the country, have been kept deprived of their rights, he said. The Congress party has always played and their only consideration has been political gains, he said. Now, after the constitutional status to the commission, the deprived and backward people of general category can get reservation through constitutional process, he added. He said the state government has given the benefit of reservation to the Jat Sikh, Ror, Bishnoi and Tyagi communities by passing an act in the Vidhan Sabha. He said the commission for backward classes had been waiting to get constitutional status for the last 27 years. However, Congress and other political parties, which were earlier in power and now in opposition never made any effort for constitutional status of NCBC, he said. He lamented that Congress had deceived the OBC community for 70 years. While being in power, the Congress party had never taken any administrative or constitutional decisions for the welfare of OBC, he added. The Congress party not only stripped the backward community of their rights but also vitiated the peaceful atmosphere of the state by creating friction in society, he said. He said communities which were deprived of their rights so far would now be able to get the same legally through this commission. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Industrial units of Haryana will exhibit their products in two international trade fairs to be organised in Greece and Italy in September and December 2018, respectively. This decision was taken in the 29th Governing Body meeting of Haryana Trade Fair Authority that held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary D S Dhesi today. The industrial units of Haryana will be able to display their products in trade fairs organised in other countries, to boost exports in the state, he said. The Thessaloniki International Fair in Thessaloniki, Greece will be held from September 8 to 16, 2018 and AF-LArtigiano in Fiera International Fair will be held in December 2018 in Milan, Italy, he said. He said that Haryana Trade Fair Authority besides participating in Indian International Trade Fair to be held on November 14, 2018 at New Delhi,will also participate in Pravasi Bhartiya Divas to be held in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in January 2019. Haryana Trade Fair Authority will also participate in Aajeevika Mela and Aahar Mela to be held in February or March 2019 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. He also issued directions to the officers of the Authority to increase their activities and also to organize fairs related to real estate, education and agriculture and prepare a calendar. During the meeting, approval was granted to the budget of Rs 2.85 crore for Financial Year 2018-19 and the proposal of creating a website of Haryana Trade Fair Authority. 'Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Rural India' will be the theme of Indian International Trade Fair-2018 to be held on November 14, 2018, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court today left it to the Centre and the Delhi government to demolish and re-construct a government school's 99-year-old building which is "dilapidated and unsafe" for children. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice C Hari Shankar expressed satisfaction over a report filed by the Delhi government's Directorate of (DoE) in which it proposed that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) should construct a new building on the land to run an aided school or it may hand over the complete possession of the land to the department for construction of a new school building. The court directed the MoD and DoE to workout the issue between themselves and submit a status report, and listed the matter for October 26. The affidavit was filed through the Delhi government's additional standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose in a pending petition by NGO Social Jurist in which it was alleged that Rajputana Rifles Heroes Memorial Senior Secondary School in Delhi Cantonment, taken over by the Delhi government since 1975 and getting 100 per cent aid from the state government, was in a horrible condition. "Since the building is dilapidated and unsafe for the children, as a measure of abundant caution, the students of the school may be shifted or adjusted to nearby schools with the consent of the parents," it said. The DoE said that in pursuance to the court's July 13 direction, joint inspections were carried out by the senior officials of Ministry of Defence, DoE and others on July 23 and 25. It said that after the inspections, garrison engineer of MoD highlighted that the school building was constructed in 1919 and it has outlived its useful life and is unsuitable for habitation. Due to the condition of the building, no major repair or alteration is recommended to the building owing to safety issue. Even the building is not compliant with latest codal provisions laid down for school, architecturally and structurally, by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Hence, functioning of the school from the current building is not recommended, it said. The DoE said the military engineer services takes the rent for the school building including the water and electricity charges from it for running the school. Advocate Ashok Agarwal, appearing for the NGO, had earlier said around 450 students are studying in the school and they have been unjustly deprived of adequate physical infrastructure and academic faculty to educate them. The plea has said though the school is open for all, it mainly caters to the children of servants of military officials who are not in a position to educate their kids in private school. It has alleged that the school lacks basic amenities, including potable drinking water, functional toilets, science and computer labs, clean classrooms and proper boundary wall and several posts of teaching staff are lying vacant. The petition has sought direction that the existing building of the school be demolished and rebuilt as a state of art school. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jharkhand High Court today extended the provisional bail period of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, convicted in four fodder scam cases, till August 20 on medical grounds. The period was extended by Justice Apresh Kumar Singh. "We have prayed for the extension of the bail period for three more months on medical grounds," Prasad's counsel Prabhat Kumar told PTI. The high court had on May 11 granted six weeks provisional bail to Prasad and again extended it till August 14, Chitaranjan Sinha, another counsel for the RJD chief, said. Prasad is currently being treated at the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai, Sinha said. He has been convicted in four cases of the multi-crore fodder scam. The cases relate to illegal withdrawal of money from government treasuries in different districts for the the animal husbandry department in undivided Bihar in the 1990s when the RJD was in power in the state. On September 30, 2013, he was convicted in the first fodder scam case related to the Chaibasa Treasury. The former Bihar chief minister was again convicted in another case related to the Chaibasa Treasury on January 24, 2018. On February 23 and March 19, he was convicted in cases related to the Deoghar Treasury and the Dumka Treasury respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court today pulled up the CBSE for not issuing a circular to all affiliated schools to implement the court's recent order banning homework for students of classes I and II. "The Central Board of Secondary has not understood the seriousness of this case and the directions issued by the court. CBSE authorities think they are like CBI but that's not so," Justice N Kirubakaran said. He said the CBSE secretary should appear in the court if the circular was not issued by August 17. The court also directed the appearance of secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry if they failed to respond to a circular issued by the central government in connection with the no homework rule by that date. Justice Kirubakaran passed the direction on a petition by advocate M Purushothaman, seeking a direction to the CBSE to follow only NCERT-prescribed syllabus and books. In an interim order issued on May 29, the judge had directed the Centre to instruct state governments to reduce weight of satchels of school children and do away with homework for classes I and II. He had also said the use of National Council for Educational Research and Training books be made mandatory. However, in a subsequent hearing, the CBSE had informed the court that it would implement the no homework order. But the board had also said it had filed an appeal against all other orders, including the direction on use of NCERT books. When the matter came up for hearing today, the CBSE submitted that the circular on homework was yet to be issued, following which the judge expressed his displeasure. Petitioner Purushothaman alleged that there was a nexus between the private book publishers, CBSE authorities and private CBSE schools. "That is reason why they did not move appeal against the Delhi High Court order which said schools can prescribe to books of private publishers. But the authorities have moved an appeal against the order of this court which prohibited books of private publishers," he charged. Seeking to expose the quality of books published by private firms, he produced a copy of the general knowledge book prescribed by a private CBSE school in the city for Class II, saying that in an exercise children had to identify picture of famous film personalities including Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. "What general knowledge they try to inculcate by giving such exercises?" the petitioner asked. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court today pulled up the AAP government for not admitting in schools the students who have not scored a minimum of 55 per cent in their class 10 exams conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Justice Siddharth Mridul was of the view that the Delhi government ought not to adopt a policy of exclusion in the matter of admissions in Delhi government schools. The court sought response of the Delhi government as to why such students were not being granted admission in schools run by it and listed the matter for further hearing on August 13. It asked where such students would go to pursue their if the government denies them admission. It also questioned the upper age limit of 17 years prescribed by the Delhi government for admission in class 11. The court was hearing a plea moved by NGO Social Jurist against a May 15 circular of the Directorate of (DoE) laying down a minimum of 55 per cent marks in NIOS class 10 exams to be admitted in class 11 of Delhi government schools. The plea, moved through advocate Ashok Agarwal on behalf of two students, contended that the DoE decision was "arbitrary, irrational, illogical, unconstitutional, violates the petitioners right to and was against public interest". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nagaland Governor P B Acharya today sought apology from Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for his "outlandish" Naga headgear remark, saying it is "unacceptable". The governor also called for having inner line permit system to check illegal migrants in the state. Interacting with senior journalists based in the state, Acharya said Tharoor's comment has hurt the sentiments of not only the people of Nagaland but the entire north eastern region. "The entire region is, as the rest of the country, proud of its rich culture and traditions. Diversity should be respected," he said. Such a statement is "extremely regrettable and unacceptable," Acharya said adding that Tharoor must apologise to the people of Nagaland in particular and the nation in general. Tharoor, the Thiruvananthapuram MP, had courted controversy by claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could wear all kinds of headgear, but not Muslim skull cap. "I ask you why does our prime minister wear all sorts of outlandish headgear wherever he goes around the country or around the world? Why does he always refuse to wear a Muslim skull cap?" Tharoor had said while speaking at a seminar in the capital of Kerala on August 5. On the publication of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Acharya said Nagaland should have a strong system set up to check possible influx of illegal migrants in the interest of the people of the State. "We should also have a strong Inner Line Permit system," he said. Nagaland should be vigilant to check the influx of "illegal migrants" from Assam in the wake of the publication of complete draft of the NRC, the governor said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Hindi weekly bulletin from the platform of the UN has started broadcast as part of a pilot project, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced today, emphasising that the government was also making efforts to make Hindi one of the official languages of the world body. She also said that a United Nations Twitter account in Hindi has also been opened to give Hindi speaking public access to the programmes and related to the UN. "As a pilot project, a weekly bulletin (in Hindi) has started in the UN from July 22," Swaraj told reporters here. All Hindi-speaking people from across the world can listen to the news broadcast from the UN, she said. The news bulletin on UN radio is weekly and is 10 minutes long, Swaraj said. The bulletin is being facilitated by the Indian government that is bearing its expenses as well, officials said. Swaraj said that the government was continuing to make efforts to make Hindi one of the official languages of the UN. She said that getting support of 129 countries out of the 193 countries for making Hindi one of the official languages of the UN was not difficult for India, but the problem arises as the rules state that those countries supporting such a resolution will have to contribute financially for it as well. This she said gets in the way of small and developing countries in supporting the proposal. She said India has made it clear that it is ready to bear all expenses to make Hindi one of the official languages of the UN, but its rules for acquiring such a status prevents the country from doing so. She said Germany and Japan have also said that they are willing to bear all expenses to make their respective languages -- German and Japanese-- official languages of the UN. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) has reported 9.1 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 40.3 crore for the June 2018 quarter, impacted by costs related to its AxisPoint Health acquisition. The company's net profit stood at Rs 44.3 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Its revenue from operations stood at Rs 1,100.8 crore during the reported quarter, growing 18.7 per cent over the year-ago period. "We had acquired AxisPoint Health, which was a loss making company in the US. While we try and fix this, it's going to take a little bit more time to fix the losses. It's on expected lines...I think one more quarter there will be impact...After that we will be back to normal profitability," HGS CEO Partha DeSarkar told PTI. The other impact has been the increase in minimum wages in Karnataka, he added. On sequential basis, the company's net profit declined 21.6 per cent (from Rs 51.3 crore in March 2018 quarter), while revenue increased 9.7 per cent (from Rs 1,003.9 crore). "From a revenue point of view, HGS continued its business momentum, overall revenues crossed the Rs 1,000-crore mark," DeSarkar said. During the June quarter, the company signed nine new logos and expanded relationships with eight existing clients. "Looking at the sales pipeline, we see big opportunities for our technology-led services, including DigiCX, analytics, cloud services, RPA and machine learning, and continue to invest in strengthening our capabilities," DeSarkar said. The CEO, however, flagged concern around its India CRM (customer relationship management) business that continues to see "twin pressures of drop in volumes from telecom clients and increase in minimum wages". The company's board has declared an interim dividend of Rs 2.50 per equity share (25 per cent on the face value of Rs 10 a share) for 2018-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to develop the idea of taking out bumper profits from mining and chemical companies, but no decision has been taken yet, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, when commenting on a respective proposal submitted by Presidential Aide Andrei Belousov to President. "Indeed, there has been such a letter, it was classified and indeed contained an expert viewpoint," Peskov said. "Indeed, it was signed as Agreed by President. President agreed that the issue would be worked out by the government of the Russian Federation, with respective proposals to be set forth," he explained, noting that the table published by media outlets was also among the documents for reference purposes. According to Peskov, the proposals that the cabinet of ministers will present to Putin, will take into account "the necessity to maintain investment opportunities of those (mining and chemical) companies." "The cabinet is already working at the issue, he added. So far Putin has no plans to meet representatives of mining and chemical companies, "since President has not given his consent to any decisions," Peskov emphasized. Putin can hold such meetings on the sidelines of various events, including the upcoming the Eastern Economic Forum, he added. Sources in the industry said that the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade would hold a meeting later in the day to discuss the initiative of taking additional revenues in the sectors not related to oil production - the metals, chemical, petrochemical and mining sectors. Two other sources confirmed that the initiative of taking out around 0.5 trillion rubles ($7.6 bln) worth of extra revenues from companies in those sectors each year for budget is indeed under discussion, TASS reported. West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi today said he was hopeful of an "early solution" to the Presidency University impasse over hostel allotment as the state department and Vice-Chancellor Anuradha Lohia are "looking into the matter". Over 50 students of the university launched an indefinite-sit last Friday to protest against the delay in completion of renovation work at Eden Hindu hostel, adjacent to the institute campus. The agitators have demanded that they be allotted rooms in two blocks of the heritage hostel, where the repair work was nearing completion. The authorities, however, said it will take another four to five months to make the hostel "habitable and safe for the students". "The issue is being looked into by the Higher department and the VC. I hope they will be able to solve the matter soon," Tripathi told reporters on the sidelines of a programme in the city. VC Lohia had met the protesting students on two occasions in the past one week, requesting them to withdraw the sit-in. She also said that the agitation was affecting the normal functioning of the university. A spokesperson of the agitators, when informed about the governor's comments, asserted that the protest would continue till their demands were met. "The VC had promised to complete the renovation work and throw open the hostel for the outstation students by August, but that did not happen. The students can't be wasting more money and time to commute to the university in the central part of the city from a rented accommodation at New Town(around 16km away)," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Haryana government has decided to create awareness about cyber security among students from Class 5 to Class 12 in the state's government and private schools, a minister said today. Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said the electronics and information technology department has prepared some tips for students on how to safely use the internet. Internet has become an important part of a student's life. They use it for their studies and to get other information, he said, adding that the programme will make them aware about cyber threats. The minister said contents have been designed considering various age groups of students. He said district offices and district elementary officers have been directed to put up the contents on notice boards or inform students about this during school hours. The students would be advised not to share details of their parents bank accounts and password with unknown persons while using internet, phone or computer, he said. For this, all schools have been directed to organise special camps, Sharma added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today apologised for his statement that India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was "self-centred." On Wednesday, he had said Nehru had a "self-centred attitude" to become India's first prime minister even though Mahatma Gandhi was in favour of Muhammad Ali Jinnah taking the top post at that time. He had also claimed India's partition would not have happened if Mahatma Gandhi's wish of Jinnah becoming the prime minister had materialised. "My statement has created a controversy. I apologise if I have said something wrong," said the Dalai Lama, when he was asked by reporters to comment on what he meant by calling Nehru self-centred. "I felt pity when I heard that Mahatma Gandhi was opposed to partition... There are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan, but past is past," the Dalai Lama said. Addressing an event at the Goa Institute of Management in Sankhalim town on Wednesday, he said, "I think it was a little bit self-centred attitude of Pandit Nehru that he should be the prime minister... Mahatma Gandhiji's thinking, if it had materialised, then India, Pakistan would have been united," he said. "So Pandit Nehru, I know very well, (was a) very experienced person, very wise but sometimes mistake also happens," he said. Addressing a gathering at an event called 'Thank You Karnataka' to commemorate 60 years of Tibetan government in exile here today, the 83-year-old monk said Nehru fully supported creation of a Tibetan settlement. Nehru insisted that they should have separate Tibetan school for preserving the Tibetan issue, he said. "Immediately he set up a committee headed by the union education minister...at that time, we wrote to different states for the allocation of some land. The best sort of response came from the Mysore state. One major factor was late Nijalingappa, who extraordinarily showed concern for the Tibetan cause. He promised me he will support the Tibetan cause," the Dalai Lama said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "I can make a better Rafale (fighter aircraft), please give me the contract." This caustic remark attacking the BJP-led government was made in the Lok Sabha by Congress MP Rajesh Jakhar today, before his party members staged a walkout after a noisy protest demanding the setting up of a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe an alleged scam in the Rafale fighter jet deal. Jakhar also waived a paper replica of the fighter aircraft during the Zero Hour as Congress members were in the Well raising slogans on the issue. Leader of the Congress in the House Mallikarjun Kharge also alleged that the deal was a scam "worth thousands of crore." "Madam, I want permission to present the replica of the Rafale on the table of the House. Please permit that. I can make a better Rafale than (an industrialist) who has no experience in manufacturing one," Jakhar said. "I have been practising it since last night," the Congress MP added, flaunting the paper replica of aircraft. Congress members had earlier trooped into the Well raising slogans alleging corruption in the Rafale jet deal. They were holding placards which read 'Modi's Rafale Gate' and set up 'JPC set up karo'. Kharge also said that there was no quorum which was against the values of the House. "We are walking out," he said. He then led the Congress members to stage a walkout. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Police's Idol Wing today gave an undertaking to the Madras High Court that it would not arrest TVS Motor Company's Chairman Venu Srinivasan, for a period of six weeks in connection with an idol theft case. The matter came up for hearing before a Division Bench, comprising Justices R Mahadevan and P D Audikesavulu, constituted to hear cases regarding idol theft. Before senior counsel B Kumar could to start his arguments on behalf of Srinivasan, personnel of the Idol Wing's Special Investigation Team, who were in the court, gave the undertaking. After recording the undertaking, the bench posted the matter for hearing after six weeks. Srinivasan had moved the court yesterday seeking anticipatory bail in connection with an idol theft case. In his bail application, Srinivasan cited a writ plea filed by advocate 'Elephant' G Rajendran which refers to the FIR against him. The TVS Motor chairman said he understood that an FIR was registered by the Mylapore police and it was later transferred to the CB-CID Idol Wing. The FIR against the industrialist relates to alleged replacement of an antique peacock idol with a new one at the Sri Kapaleeswarar temple here and it was registered following a complaint from a devotee, Rangarajan Narasimhan. Asserting that he was innocent, Srinivasan submitted before the court that he had spent around Rs 70 lakh in 2004 from his personal fund for painting and flooring work at Sri Kapaleeswarar temple. Though he was appointed a member of the government-constituted Temple Renovation Committee that year, officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department oversaw the renovation work, he said. Srinivasan claimed that beyond this, he has no other connection with the temple except that he is also a devotee of Lord Kapaleeswarar (Shiva). He claimed that as the chairman of the board of trustees of Ranganathaswamy Temple at Tiruchirappalli, he spent nearly Rs 25 crore for its renovation in 2015. A trust funded by him and his company had undertaken renovation work of over 100 temples in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, Srinivasan submitted. In view of the serious allegations and the FIR against him, Srinivasan said he sought anticipatory bail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fertiliser major IFFCO today announced joint venture with Spain's Congelados De Navarra to set up a food processing plant at Ludhiana in Punjab with an investment of Rs 325 crore. With this joint venture, co-operative IFFCO will foray into food processing sector. Congelados De Navarra is a USD 220 million company that has pioneered the individually quick frozen (IQF) technology. It is into processing of vegetables, fruits, herbs and ready-made pre-cooked dishes. "We have formed a JV with Congelados De Navarra to set up a plant in Ludhiana. We have already identified 40-acre land for this purpose," IFFCO's MD US Awasthi told PTI. In the JV, IFFCO will have 30 per cent stake while Congelados De Navarra will have the remaining 70 per cent stake, he added. "The joint venture company will invest 40 million Euros (about Rs 325 crore) to set up a greenfield food processing unit. The foundation stone of this plant would be laid in December and work would be completed in 18 months," Awasthi said. The proposed plant will source produce like potatoes, peas and cauliflower from farmers and then process them for sale in domestic and exports market. The IFFCO's MD said it was a logical step for the co-operative to get into the food processing business for the benefit of farmers. This would contribute in the government's goal to double farmers income by 2022, he added. "At ?IFFCO, we? have always taken steps to enhance the life and income of farmers. Fertilisers, insurance, agri-chemicals, farm forestry, agri-retail, rural telecom, farmers training to now food processing," Awasthi said. IFFCO said this new facility would generate 400 direct and 5,000 indirect local jobs in Punjab. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Rajat Agarwal, CEO, Punjab Bureau of Industrial Promotion, Rakesh Kapur, Joint MD, IFFCO and Berito Jimmez, Director General, Congelados De Navarra of Spain for this project. The pre-feasibility study for the project by Congelados De Navarra has already been completed. Recently, IFFCO partnered with Singapore-based technology firm iMandi to start an e-commerce platform for farmers with an investment of about Rs 80 crore. Delhi-based Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has 35,000 member societies in its fold. The cooperative posted a turnover of Rs 20,787 crore during last fiscal. It produced nearly 8 million tonnes and sold 10.3 million tonnes of fertilisers during 2017-18. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), the largest hospitality chain in South Asia that runs the Taj and Vivanta brands of hotels, today reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 9.1 crore for June quarter, against a net loss of Rs 28.44 crore a year ago, boosted by a rise in margins and revenue. However, on a standalone basis, the company reported a net loss of Rs 16.75 crore, compared with a net profit of Rs 7.66 crore a year ago, despite a marginal rise in revenue and a massive improvement in margin which rose 183 bps. For the reporting quarter, the Tata group company reported a rise in consolidated income at Rs 979.7 crore, against Rs 911.16 crore in the year-ago quarter. On a standalone basis, the same rose 8.23 per cent to Rs 579.67 as per IndAS accounting norms, according to an exchange filing. IHCL managing director and chief executive officer Puneet Chhatwal blamed the poor set of standalone numbers to a Rs 50.17-crore forex loss in the quarter, against a gain of Rs 15.76 crore in the year-ago period, coupled with provisions for impairment of investment in a subsidiary that incurred loss of Rs 1 crore, against Rs 5.44 crore profit a year ago. Chhatwal further said demand continues to outpace supply and IHCL saw an increase in revenue per average room by about 6 per cent even in a lean season. "I am delighted with the over 8 per cent growth in revenue and improvement in operational margin of 183 bps. During the quarter, we signed six new hotels with an inventory of around 800 rooms across all our brands in key locations in the country and overseas," he said. Giridhar Sanjeevi, chief financial officer, IHCL, said, "We are progressively executing the strategic plan in driving profitable growth. We delivered a net income of Rs 9.1 crore, marking the third consecutive quarter of achieving positive results on a consolidated basis." In a separate statement, the company said it has signed a new Vivanta hotel at the London Heathrow airport and has won the bid for The Connaught hotel in the heart of the national capital. It also informed the exchanges that the board appointed Venu Srinivasan, chairman of Sundaram-Ciayton and TVS Motor, and Mehernosh Kapadia as non-executive directors of the company with immediate effect. While Srinivasan is already a director on the board of Tata Sons, Kapadia joined IHCL in 1977 and has served the Taj group in a variety of managerial positions since then. He is also the chairman of Taj Air and a director on Taj SATS Air Catering, Tata Realty & Infrastructure and Ewart Investments. Sanjeevi said the Heathrow property will be a 108-key hotel, located across from the terminals 1, 2 & 3, while The Connaught is an 85-room hotel in the heart of New Delhi. That apart, it has also signed the first hotel in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which will be a Taj branded hotel and is scheduled to open in January 2023, with around 340 rooms. The other signings include a Taj hotel in Lonavala, a Vivanta hotel in Katra in J&K and two Ginger hotels in Jhansi and Visakhapatnam respectively. The company also announced a major expansion of Taj Bangalore located across the international airport with an addition of 220 rooms, taking the total to 374 rooms. Its London property, St. James' Court, which is a Taj hotel, has been re-launched after a renovation of its Almoners Townhouse. The IHCL counter plunged 3 per cent to Rs 123.90 on the BSE today, against a 0.41 per cent correction in the benchmark Sensex. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the first time, divorced or widowed Hindu women in Pakistan's Sindh provincce have been allowed to remarry under a landmark amendment made by the provincial assembly, a media report said. Earlier, divorced or widowed Hindu women were not permitted a second marriage. The Sindh Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2018 not only accords the right of separation to both the spouses, but also ensures the financial security of the wife and children, The Express Tribune reported. It was moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional leader Nand Kumar and passed by the assembly in March. "Either party to Hindu marriage, whether solemnised before or after the commencement of this Act, may present a petition to the court praying for decree of judicial separation," according to the law. The law also places a general ban of underage marriages among members of the Hindu community. "The Hindu community had been protesting forced conversions and marriages of underage girls. This law has banned the marriage of minors from the Hindu community," said Nand Kumar. Kumar has also moved a bill against the forced conversions of members of religious minorities, but the bill was gathering dust in the Sindh Assembly secretariat. He said that before the enactment of this law, Hindu women were considered lesser mortals and not even accorded the right to divorce. "The amendment to this law is aimed at getting rid of old and outdated customs," Kumar said. Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto and other party leaders also felicitated the last provincial assembly's lawmakers on the passage of the act, which was ratified by the Governor last week. Before the passage of this law, there was no legal cover for Hindu marriages for the past seven decades. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has directed the security apparatus along the Line of Control to heighten vigilance in view of the recent reports of infiltration in the valley. At a security arrangements review meeting here, Vohra reiterated the need to constantly maintain a close watch on the ground situation, an official spokesperson said. The governor said real-time coordination between the security forces and the civil administration was paramount. The meeting was attended by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Advisor Vijay Kumar, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, DGP S P Vaid and other officials from police, CRPF, Army, BSF and intelligence agencies. Taking into account the infiltration bids made in the last four weeks, the governor stressed on the need for heightened vigilance along the International Border and Line of Control, adding that safety of protected persons, important establishments and installations was to be not to be overlooked. The governor was given a sector-wise assessment of the prevailing security situation, the spokesman added. Vohra called for uncompromising adherence to procedures, which ensures zero collateral damage while delivering effective counter-terrorism responses. At the meeting, security arrangements of Shri Amarnathji Yatra and the forthcoming elections to urban local bodies and panchayats were also discussed, the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Kazakhstans city of Aktau on August 12 in order to participate in the Fifth Caspian Summit, the Kremlin press service said. "The presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan are expected to consider the key aspects of cooperation in the Caspian region and discuss the implementation of the decisions made at their previous meetings," TASS cited the statement as saying. "The signing of the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, the work on which was underway since 1996, will be the focus of the summit," the statement reads. In addition, a number of intergovernmental agreements between the five countries will also be signed at the summit. India and Afghanistan have discussed several ongoing development projects spread over varied areas of cooperation such as capacity building, infrastructure, education, healthcare, good-governance and human resource development. Officials from both the countries discussed the projects during the second meeting of India-Afghanistan Joint Working Group on Development Cooperation (JWG-DC) in Kabul yesterday. The JWG-DC is one of the four Joint Working Groups formed under the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council, which is headed by the External Affairs Minister of India and the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan. The Strategic Partnership Council is mandated for the overall management of the strategic relationship between India and Afghanistan. During the meeting of the JWG-DC, both sides had an exhaustive review of the large number of ongoing development projects spread over varied areas of cooperation such as capacity building, infrastructure, education, healthcare, good-governance and human resource development, a statement said. The two sides also expressed satisfaction over the successful completion of several development projects such as the Afghan Parliament building, Afghan-India Friendship Dam, the first phase of Chabahar port and others. The Afghan side highly appreciated India's timely assistance of 170,000 tonnes of wheat and 2,000 tonnes of pulses during this year when large parts of the country are suffering from drought. Both sides also expressed satisfaction that these largescale deliveries were made from India to Afghanistan via Chabahar, highlighting the viability of Chabahar as a route for trade and commerce. Both sides underscored the importance of access through Chabahar port for strengthening trade and economic relations. Encouraged by high level of cooperation in the field of development assistance and deep mutual trust between the two sides, it was decided to take up several small, medium and largescale projects for implementation in the near future. These projects most prominently include the Shahtoot dam, low cost housing for the returning refugees in Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan, polyclinic in Mazar e Sharif, construction of road connecting Band-e-Amir in Bamyan Province to the Bamyan-Yakawlang Highway and many others. Both sides underscored the importance of safety and security of Indian personnel involved in development projects in Afghanistan. The Afghan side assured their cooperation in ensuring the security of the Indian personnel. The Indian side also accepted the request for consideration of new projects, shared by the Afghan side. It was agreed that these projects will be examined and considered for implementation, based on the priorities of the people and the Government of Afghanistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The viability of the strategic Chabahar Port in Iran as a route for trade and commerce was highlighted by India and Afghanistan, citing the role it played in the timely delivery of goods from India in the drought-hit areas of Afghanistan this year. The Chabahar Port, inaugurated in December last year, has opened a new strategic transit route between India, Iran and Afghanistan that bypassed Pakistan. During the second meeting of India-Afghanistan Joint Working Group on Development Cooperation (JWG-DC) in Kabul yesterday, officials from the two countries underscored the importance of access through Chabahar Port for strengthening trade and economic relations. The Afghan side highly appreciated India's timely assistance of 170,000 tonnes of wheat and 2,000 tonnes of pulses this year when large parts of the country are suffering from drought, a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs said. Both sides expressed satisfaction that these largescale deliveries were made from India to Afghanistan via Chabahar, highlighting the viability of the Port as a route for trade and commerce. While India and Iran are signatories to the Chabahar Port development project, a second agreement on connectivity was also signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan. This pact allows Afghanistan to use thr Port to ship its goods to markets like India, thereby reducing its dependence on Pakistan and its Karachi port. During the JWG-DC meeting, India and Afghanistan discussed several ongoing development projects spread over varied areas of cooperation such as capacity building, infrastructure, education, healthcare, good-governance and human resource development. The JWG-DC is one of the four Joint Working Groups formed under the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council, which is headed by the External Affairs Minister of India and the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan. The Strategic Partnership Council is mandated for the overall management of the strategic relationship between India and Afghanistan. The two sides also expressed satisfaction over the successful completion of several development projects such as the Afghan Parliament building, Afghan-India Friendship Dam, the first phase of Chabahar Port and others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The border guarding forces of India and Nepal today resolved to enhance mutual cooperation and "timely" sharing of intelligence to check trans-border crimes along the 1,751-km porous frontier the two countries share. A visiting delegation of the Nepalese frontier guarding force - the Armed Police Force - concluded its four-day talks with their Indian counterparts Sashastra Seema Bal in Delhi. The Nepalese side was led by APF Inspector General Shailendra Khanal, and the SSB delegation was headed by Director General Rajni Kant Sharma. "The main aim of the meeting was to enhance mutual cooperation and coordination between the two forces. Both sides discussed various issues that covered prevailing border situation, trans-border crimes, forward and backward linkages, and human trafficking to maintain sanctity and security of the international border. "It was mutually agreed to continue holding regular co-ordination meetings at all levels. It was also concurred to continue and extend cooperation to handle the border issues with mutual understanding," an SSB spokesperson said. He said the two forces discussed the security scenario at the border and "emphasised on timely sharing of information between them on trans-border crime and criminal activities." The next round of this annual meeting will be held in Nepal next year. The SSB is also tasked with guarding the 699-km India-Bhutan border and it functions under the Union Home Ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government is taking steps to ensure proper care of India's whose population will cross 340 million by 2050, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel on Friday said. Patel said the Programme for Healthcare of Elderly was launched by the government with an aim of providing dedicated care services to an ageing population. The programme aims to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality long-term, comprehensive and dedicated care services to an ageing population. Community-based primary approach including domiciliary visits by trained workers are also part of this programme. The minister also said the government has initiated Longitudinal Ageing Studies across all states to collect the data on disease burden. She also informed the House that two dedicated Centres for ageing will come up, each in AIIMS in Delhi and Madras Medical College, Chennai. The Centres of Ageing are expected to be Centres of Excellence in the field of geriatric care in the country, she added. A three-day exhibition by India travel mart (ITM) commenced here today, with tourism departments of states and private tour operators showcasing their products. Bihar Tourism Minister Pramod Kumar inaugurated the ITM. Exhibitors, travel agents, tour organisers, hoteliers are participating in this exhibition. West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat are among the exhibitors. "With the kind of stressful lives that we lead, a person tends to looks for refreshing holidays and unique travel destination to unwind. To simplify this need, we organise ITM-Ludhiana annually wherein the customers get specially designed packages and great deals with innumerable choices," ITM managing director Ajay Gupta said. "We understand the need to promote the tier II and tier III cities in tourism. A unique blend of hassle free travel packages," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tabrez Noorani's film on sex trafficking "Love Sonia" today officially started the 12-day-long Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). Bollywood actor Rani Mukerji, film director Rajkumar Hirani, Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadha, Noorani, Freida Pinto and Ali Fazal are here to attend the festival. The festival will screen over 60 films in 22 languages over the next two weeks. Speaking on the occasion, Australian Minister of Creative Industry, Martin Foley said, "This year's festival is expected to attract more than 35,000 people to events across Melbourne, bringing together diverse communities through a shared love of film." "Alongside the film program, there are plenty of ways to get involved from masterclasses to the perennially popular Bollywood Dance Competition," he added. Foley said festivals like IFFM were making several contributions to the state of Victoria -socially, culturally and economically. Rani, who is the chief guest of the festival, thanked the Government of Victoria for supporting the Indian film industry. "On behalf of the Indian film fraternity, I would like to thank the Victorian government for supporting the Indian industry as it is so diverse with so many languages and styles, she said. The actor will also be hoisting the Indian flag at the iconic federation square building tomorrow to mark Indian Independence Day celebrations here. "It's a matter of great pride for our country to showcase our films here and reach out to people." Hirani, who is here with writer Abhijat Joshi to showcase his latest movie "Sanju" to the Australian audience, said he would love to shoot in Australia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian origin senior government lawyer in Singapore was today banned from driving for one year and fined SGD 1,600 (Rs 80,396) for drunk driving. Admitting that he had an alcoholic cocktail at a pub before heading home, 39-year-old Jeyendran Jeyapal said it was his first offence and pleaded for minimum punishment in the court. Jeyapal, a deputy senior state counsel in Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers, also said he had been cooperative with police officers when stopped, the Channel Asia reported. The lawyer was stopped by a traffic police officer at a road block along Second Hospital Avenue at around 4:50 am on February 11 this year. The officer noticed that Jeyapal had "alcoholic breath" following which a breathalyser test was done in which he failed. Jeyapal was then taken to the Traffic Police Division where it was revealed that he had 48 mg of alcohol in every 100 ml of breath, which exceeded the limit of 35mg, deputy public prosecutor Bhajanvir Singh told the court and said he leave the sentencing up to the judge. In his defence, Jeyendran said he was celebrating a friend's birthday and took the alcohol offered by him so as not to disappoint him. The District Judge, Victor Yeo, said he "was not entirely persuaded" by the argument. "In my view, he could have declined the drink," the judge said. However, noting that Jeyapal was not doing any other traffic offence like speeding or driving dangerously, the judge imposed a fine of SGD 1,600 on him and put a ban on his driving for one year. Under Singaporean law, drink driving for the first time could attract a jail term for up to six months or a fine between SGD 1,000 and SGD 5,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian peacekeepers in the South Sudanese city of Malakal are helping over 100 people learn a range of vocational skills that is promoting entrepreneurship in the community, the UN mission in the country has said. The training programme is funded by UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and implemented by the National Relief and Development Corps (NRDC), with help from subject matter specialists belonging to the UNMISS Indian battalion. "The UNMISS Indian Battalion in Malakal and the National Relief and Development Corps educated youth with a number of vocational skills, promoting entrepreneurship and peaceful coexistence," UNMISS tweeted. An article on the UNMISS website said youth from Malakal town and their peers staying at the protection site for displaced persons are in the process of acquiring a range of vocational skills with help from the peacekeeping mission's Relief, Reintegration and Protection section. More than a 100 young people have been learning the necessary know-how in vocational fields such as hairdressing, tailoring, brick laying, carpentry and solar and electrical connections, it said. The article quoted 22-year-old Flora Akol who has been learning about solar and electrical connections for the last three months. "I hope to be able to become an electrician either in the protection site or in town wherever the business is good for me," she said. Akol's classmates are also learning how to make solar connections, guided by peacekeepers from the Indian battalion based there. NRDC Programme Coordinator Edith Atieno Obongo said initially it was difficult to get the youth interested in the programme as many of those in the protection site were reluctant to sign up for a training in town. "It took a lot of convincing, but in the end, it paid off. This has been a very successful project and we are glad to have run this training on behalf of UNMISS," she said. At the completion of their respective programmes, trainees will be given starter kits to set up activities geared towards promoting entrepreneurship in their communities. "Besides the obvious benefits, there are other intangible things they are learning here, such as social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. This is important for their return and reintegration into community," says Cosmas Ba-Ana Itenebe, an UNMISS Relief, Reintegration and Protection Officer involved in the project. The UN peacekeeping mission is now hoping to replicate the promising Malakal experience in other parts of the Upper Nile region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The battle lines for Indonesia's 2019 presidential election were drawn today as President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo formally registered as a candidate after choosing a conservative Islamic cleric as his running mate. Jokowi, the first Indonesian president from outside the military and political elite, announced his vice-presidential candidate, Ma'ruf Amin, yesterday after weeks of fevered speculation in local media. Jokowi's pick has become bigger in Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, than an earthquake on the island of Lombok that killed more than 300 people. Amin heads the influential Indonesian Ulema Council and the advisory council of Nahdlatul Ulama, the world's largest Muslim organization. Jokowi's pick disappointed liberals but analysts say it shores up his position among conservative Muslims who demonstrated their political power last year with the ouster of Jakarta's minority Christian governor who was later imprisoned for blasphemy. Jokowi's opponent for a second time, nationalist politician and former general Prabowo Subianto, is running with businessman and deputy Jakarta governor Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. They're expected to officially register as candidates after today's prayers. A longtime commander in Indonesia's "Kopassus" special forces, Subianto was discharged from the military in 1998 after Kopassus soldiers tortured activists who opposed dictator Suharto. Human rights groups allege he led a 1983 massacre in East Timor in which more than 300 people were killed. There was a celebratory atmosphere and snarled traffic outside the election commission in central Jakarta as Jokowi and Amin arrived. After registering, Jokowi praised his opponents. "Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno are the best sons of the nation like me and Mr. Ma'ruf Amin. They want to struggle for our beloved nation," he said. The 2014 presidential election was marred by dirty campaigning and wild internet rumors that Jokowi was a secret communist and of Chinese background, accusations often used in Indonesia to discredit or intimidate political opponents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Royal Air Maroc B787 Dreamliner, taxiing to runway 35L for its flight to Casablanca, hit a Turkish Airlines B777-300ER, which had just arrived from New York JFK, in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Aeronautics Online reported. After the collision, TK B777 had severe damage to its APU, while the RAM B787 has damage in its right wing tip. According to an ground employe, RAM B787 was being escorted by a follow me car during its taxi. Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, has moved a special CBI court here for bail, citing ill-health and alleged threat to her life as the reasons. The bail application was filed last week, and the CBI is likely to file its reply, opposing the plea, by Monday. Indrani, lodged in Byculla prison here, in her application mentioned two occasions when she was hospitalised -- once for suspected drug overdose and again, in April, when she complained of difficulty in breathing. She claimed that someone inside the jail might have tried to poison her. Indrani, arrested in August 2015, has not got regular bail in the case so far. In December 2016, the court had allowed her to attend the last rites of her father in police escort. She is facing trial for allegedly killing her daughter Sheena on April 24, 2012. Her husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea and former husband Sanjeev Khanna are co-accused in the case. The trial in the case began last year and over 10 witnesses have deposed so far. Today, Indrani's lawyer Sudeep Pasbola cross-examined her son Mekhail. Mekhil told the court that he had last met Sheena sometime in December 2011, after which they had only remained in touch through Facebook chats and phone. His cross-examination is likely to continue on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Inmates of an old age shelter home run by 'Ma Vindhyavasini Mahila Prasikshan Evam Samaj Seva Sansthan' were taken to the BRD Medical college here for a health check-up as they seemed to be in a feeble state of mind. The organisation has come under scanner after girls were rescued from a shelter home run by it in Deoria following allegations of sexual exploitation of inmates. After the old age home at Rajla in Deoria district was sealed by the administration, the inmates were sent to a shelter home at (Samaj Kalyan Vriddha Ashram) in Kushinagar. Since 22 inmates of the old age home seemed to be in a feeble state of mind, Dinesh Mishra, the manager of the old age home in Kushinagar, took them to the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur yesterday afternoon. "The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Kushinagar district said that 21 female inmates and one male inmate of the old age home was unfit. The medical college did not admit the inmates and at around 7.30 pm, they told us to take back the inmates after giving medicines to them," Mishra told reporters here. When contacted, principal of the medical college Ganesh Kumar said, "Old age is not a disease and the doctors may have found them fit during tests, so they have not admitted them." Twenty-four girls were rescued from a shelter home in Deoria on August 6 after allegation of sexual exploitation of the inmates came to light. On On August 7 the Uttar Pradesh government recommended a CBI inquiry into the case hours after a girl missing from there was found at an old age home run by the same NGO in Gorakhpur. When the police raided the Deoria shelter on Sunday night, a rescued inmate had told them that some girls from there used to be taken to Gorakhpur, and then brought back the next day. All the three shelter homes run by the NGO have been sealed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Markets regulator Sebi today said its new guidelines do not bar investors from holding shares in the physical form even after December 5. The clarification comes after the Sebi received several calls concerning the applicability of its directive. The regulator, in July, had said that transfer of shares of listed companies has to essentially be in dematerialised mode from December 5. "The new amendment does not prohibit the investor from holding the shares in physical form, investor has the option of holding shares in physical form even after December 5, 2018," the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a statement. The new rule is not applicable for transfer of title of shares by way of inheritance or succession and interchanging of the order of name of shareholders. Besides, the regulator said that any investor who is desirous of transferring shares, which are held in physical form, after December 5 can do so only after the shares are dematerialised. Shares in the demat form will help in having a transparent record of shareholding at companies amid rising concerns over beneficial ownership of entities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nationalist Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr's alliance won Iraq's legislative election in May according to a manual recount, the electoral commission said today, paving the way for a government to be formed nearly three months after the polls. Allegations of fraud prompted the supreme court to order a partial manual recount, but Sadr's joint list with communists will retain all 54 seats it won to become the biggest bloc in Iraq's 329-seat parliament. The only change from the recount will be an extra seat for the Conquest Alliance of pro-Iranian former paramilitary fighters at the expense of a local Baghdad list. Conquest Alliance remains in second place but will have 48 seats instead of 47, Iraq's nine-member electoral commission said. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's bloc remains in third with just 42 seats. After the supreme court officially announces the final results, the outgoing president has 15 days to convene the parliament, which must then elect a new head of state and begin the process for forming a coalition government. Sadr has already signed a coalition agreement with Shiite Ammar al-Hakim's Al-Hikma list, which will stay on 19 seats after the recount, and the secular outgoing vice-president Iyad Allawi, whose list was comprised largely of Sunnis and secured 21 seats. The May 12 election saw a record low turnout of 44.5 percent, with long-time political figures pushed out by voters seeking change in a country mired in conflict and corruption. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police today slapped the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) against a "hardcore criminal" after he was arrested in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. Shivraj Singh alias Raju, 26, had formed a gang to create terror among the people in Samba, police said. A dossier was prepared against Raju for his alleged involvement in a number of criminal activities causing threat to the life and liberty of the people in the district, especially the Vijaypur town, they said. Deputy Commissioner Sushma Chauhan issued orders of arrest under the PSA and police implemented it and sent him to sub-jail Hiranagar, police said. The PSA is an administrative detention law that allows detention without charge or trial for up to two years in some cases. Raju was encouraging and recruiting criminal-minded people to join his gang in a bid to disturb law and order, police said. He was also involved in drug smuggling, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij today said 100 Jan Aushadhi Kendras would be opened through the Red Cross Society in the state to provide medicines at reasonable rates. He also said for the expansion of health facilities, approval has been granted for building 36 health centres. Two universities and four medical colleges will also be established in the state, Vij said. Replying to a question concerning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said, "The state government needs no advice from Kejriwal who has failed in Delhi. Kejriwal himself needs to obtain knowledge." Kejriwal had yesterday said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar should learn how to function from the Delhi government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba today announced a long-shot bid to unseat Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as leader of the country's ruling party in elections next month. Abe is widely expected to win another term as head of the Liberal Democratic Party with Ishiba likely to be his only challenger. Polls suggest the premier is supported by around 70 percent of LDP members and winning the vote would put him on the path to becoming Japan's longest-serving prime minister ever. Despite the odds, 61-year-old Ishiba said he had decided to challenge Abe to "restore confidence in the government, which should be at the service of citizens". Earlier this year, Abe's popularity ratings slumped with his administration mired in two cronyism scandals. But he has recovered from the rows, and is viewed as a shoo-in to win the internal election next month, which is held every three years. In 2015 he ran unopposed, and in 2012 he beat four other contenders, including Ishiba, who was then seen as the front-runner. Ishiba has expressed surprise at the dearth of challengers to Abe. "It's a chorus of 'I won't run. I support Abe'," he told a local television station this week. A defence hawk, Ishiba favours a revision of Japan's pacifist constitution along more radical lines than Abe, and has even controversially suggested Japan should consider having nuclear weapons. He may well end up being Abe's sole rival, with another potential challenger, former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, already ruling out a bid. Internal Affairs Minister Seiko Noda has reportedly considered running, but lacks support from enough party members. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ajay Jayaram and Mithun Manjunath put in the hard yards to progress to the men's singles semifinals with contrasting wins at the USD 75,000 Vietnam Open Super Tour 100 tournament here today. Former world no 13 Jayaram, who is on a comeback trail after recovering from a hamstring injury, dished out a spirited performance to outwit Canada's Sheng Xiaodong 26-24 21-17 in a thrilling contest. The 30-year-old Indian, who had reached the finals of 2015 Korea Super Series, will next face seventh seeded Japanese Yu Igarashi tomorrow. In another match, young shuttler Mithun saw off China's Zhou Zeqi 17-21 21-19 21-11 after a hard-fought battle that lasted 56 minutes. The 20-year-old, a semifinalist at the Russian Open, will square off against Indonesia's Shesar Hiren Rhustavito. However, it was curtains for former national champion Rituparna Das as she lost 19-21 14-21 to Thailand's Phittayaporn Chaiwan in the quarterfinals. Jayaram surged to a 5-0 lead early on but he blew the lead as Xiaodong reeled off seven straight points to grab the advantage. He held a 17-14 lead at one stage before grabbing two game points. However, Jayaram kept fighting and eventually nosed ahead even as the Canada shuttler squandered game point opportunities twice. In the second game, Xiaodong led 7-3 at one stage but Jayaram turned the tables, leading 11-8 at the break. He continued to move ahead and managed to stave off a spirited challenge from his rival. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party today organised a protest here, demanding the Union government to immediately deport Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants from the state. The protest, held at the Exhibition Ground in Jammu, was led by JKNPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh, who claimed the immigrants were involved in illegal activities. The protesters raised slogans calling for deportation of the immigrants and burnt an effigy of the central government. Singh rued that the central government and Jammu and Kashmir Governor were not serious about resolving the issue which, he said, could lead to tension in Jammu province. He said the demography of Jammu city and surrounding areas was "under threat" because of the immigrants, adding that their settlements have become a centre of serious crimes, including drug and human trafficking. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover today reported 21.6 per cent decline in global retail sales at 36,144 units in July. Sales of Jaguar brand were down 15.2 per cent at 10,992 units last month, while those of Land Rover stood at 25,152 units, a decline of 24 per cent, the company said in a statement. "We have had challenges to navigate in key markets this month," Jaguar Land Rover Chief Commercial Officer Felix Brautigam said. Retail sales for July were down in China by 46.9 per cent, reflecting continued market volatility in the first month of the duty change as well as trade tensions, JLR said. In Europe sales were also down by 26.5 per cent and the UK were down by 18.3 per cent, impacted by the industry-wide issue of delays in WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) certification of 2019 model year vehicles, it added. Sales were also down by 9.5 per cent in North America, the company said. "We are also adapting to the impact of tariff changes in the Chinese market. While this could strengthen demand, the trade conflict with the USA has a negative effect on automotive buyers' confidence and transaction prices in China," Brautigam said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan, General Zubair Hayat, met on August 9 in Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. During the meeting. the two top military exchanged opinions on issues of regional security, the current state and prospects for bilateral cooperation on the military and military-technical trajectories. Valery Gerasimov thanked Zubair Hayat for the participation of Pakistani teams in the 2018 International Army Games, stressing that they had demonstrated high skills and the will to win. In addition. the sides confirmed a bid to deepen the dialogue and develop contacts in the defense sector. The Kannada Development Authority today said it will host a conference of Dravidian languages in November this year, aimed at fosteringcultural unity. The agenda is also expected to include alleged attempts to "impose" Hindi language, organisers said. "We are holding meetings about hosting the conference of Dravidian languages. We have had meetings with Malayalamand Tamil organisations. We will be talking to Teluguorganisations shortly. After that, we will all sit together and discuss..," KDA Chairman S G Siddaramaiah told PTI. He said the conference would be held in the the third or fourth week of November under the banner "Dravida Vichara Kala Mela" for which literary personalities and cultural icons from Dravidian languages would be invited. The KDA chief said all Dravidian languages, mainly Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, are from the same Dravidasource, "but, we are cultivating unnecessary estrangement or dissatisfaction among ourselves." The aim of the conference was to foster cultural unity, he said. "If we are all united like afamily, we can become a force," the KDA chief said. He said protesting against imposition of Hindi language is also part of the agenda. In responseto a question, Siddaramaiah said India is a federal system in which each one had their own rights. "While safeguarding our rights, strengthening the federal system is our intention," he said. The issue would be discussed and it would be part of the agenda. The Authority had earlier intervened in the row over Hindi signages at Bengaluru Metro stations last year by issuing notices to the metroauthorities. Earlier at a press conference, Siddaramaiah said the Bengaluru Book Festival- 2018 will be organised in the city from October 15 to 21. It will have more than 350 stalls containing Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Sanskrit, English and Hindi language books. The festival is being jointly organised by Bengaluru Book Sellers' and Publishers' Association along with "India Comics." The festival, considered as one of the signature annual events in the city's calendar since itsinception in 2003, did not take place after the 2015 fest, due to venue related issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kapas prices were trading higher by 0.50 per cent to Rs 1,201.50 per 20 kilos in futures trade today as speculators elaborated holdings in tandem with higher physical markets sentiments. Marketmen said, traders widened their bets in tune with positive clues from the spot markets, which strengthened Kapas futures price. At the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, kapas delivery for April rose by Rs 6, or 0.50 per cent, to Rs 1,201.50 per 20 kg, with a business turnover of 2,717 open lots. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In rain battered-Kerala, a red alert has been issued for Idukki and its adjoining districts in view of the possibility of release of more water from the Idukki reservoir, while entry of tourists to the high-range district was stopped after roads caved in at many places. Five columns of Army has been deployed in the state's northern districts since Thursday night, and small bridges have been constructed to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad. The Indian Navy has put on alert its Southern Naval Command in view of the rising water level in the Periyar river and a possible inundation of parts of Wellingdon Island surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi. Twenty-six people have lost their lives since August 8 in landslides and floods caused due to the heavy rains as the South-west monsoon remains vigorous over Kerala. The Idukki district administration has restricted tourists from visiting hilly areas and movement of heavy goods carriers also has been restricted. At least 30 tourists, including foreigners stranded at the Plum Judy resort at Munnar since Wednesday as roads are blocked due to landslips, are safe and the Army's help has been sought, state Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said, adding they will be shifted to the KTDC. People living downstream of Periyar and Cheruthoni rivers have been warned that there is a possibility of inundation of banks as torrential rain pounded the state for the second day in a row. Gates of 24 dams in the state have been opened so far due to rising water level. Three shutters of the Idukki reservoir have already been opened. Two more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, the biggest arch dam in Asia, were lifted around 7 am today as the water level continued to rise following continuing rains. One shutter was opened yesterday after a gap of 26 years. The water level in Idukki at 10 am stood at 2,401.34 feet against the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 2,403 feet. This morning, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation and relief works being undertaken by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF. Informing reporters that there is a need to release more water from the Idukki dam in the wake of increase in the water level, he said, "It is essential to release water three times than what was being released now." In view of this, water level in the Periyar river and its tributaries will rise. People have to be vigilant, Vijayan said. The Chief Minister, who has cancelled all his public functions till August 12, will monitor the situation from the state capital. Union minister Alphons Kannamthanam said he discussed the flood situation in Kerala with Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning. "The Government of India is providing all the required assistance including services of armed forces, disaster management team and other required assistance. Any other immediate assistance requested by the Government of Kerala will be provided," he said in a Facebook post. Col Ajai Sharma, the Commandant of DSC Centre, who is overseeing relief and rescue operations, said five columns of Army has been deployed in the northern districts since last night. "The haphazard development along the streams has affected the natural flow of rivers, which is a challenge right now," he said. Small bridges have been constructed to evacuate stranded people in various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad areas, and rescue operations are currently underway. "The situation is under control," he said. Meanwhile, state Revenue minister E Chandrasekharan reviewed the flood situation and the precautionary measures to be taken in Aluva and nearby areas in view of the possibility of increase in the water level following release of more water from Idukki reservoir. Periyar river in Aluva is already in spate following release of water from Idamalayar dam and people living in low-lying areas have been asked to be vigilant. Cochin International Airport Limited sources said operations at the airport had not been affected. There was no need to suspend flights and there has been no cancellations. "The operational area is intact. No cancellation of services so far," an airport spokesperson said. According to state disaster control room sources, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas. Over 5,500 people from Wayanad district, where a red alert had been sounded yesterday, have been shifted to relief camps, the sources said this morning. In Ernakulam, 3,456 people have been shifted to camps following floods after four shutters of the Idamalayar dam were opened yesterday. The government has asked tourists not to go to high-range areas and dam sites. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Kerala Chief Minister yesterday in the wake of heavy rains and floods in the state, and offered all possible assistance to those affected. In Palakkad district, the flood waters have started receding today as the quantity of water being released from Malampuzha dam has been reduced and Palakkad town is limping back to normal. However, many areas are still inundated and people were seen trying to save their belongings. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today sought the intervention of his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal into the death of an Arunachalee after allegedly being pushed from a train in UP recently. Khandu wrote to Adityanath and Goyal seeking their personal intervention in delivering justice to the victim by arresting and giving exemplary punishment to the culprits. Tage Dule, an youth from Ziro in Lower Subansiri district, was allegedly thrown out of the Arunachal Express by some people in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh in the intervening night of August 2 and 3. He succumbed to his injuries at the Shyama Prasad Civil Hospital in Lucknow on August 6. "I am given to understand that in his dying statement given to the UP Police from the hospital bed, he disclosed the atrocities inflicted upon him by unknown miscreants in the train and was finally pushed out of the train. "I am also given to understand that there were burn injuries on his body, which indicates foul play by the miscreants before pushing him out of the train," Khandu wrote in the letters. On behalf of the people of the north eastern state, Khandu sought immediate probe into the "horrific incident" and stringent action as per law. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has also asked the Uttar Pradesh government and the Ministry of Railways to conduct a proper investigation into the death of Dule. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today rejected a plea by the loyalists of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to recognise their group as the main Opposition, replacing the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by R Sampanthan. In a written request to the Speaker, eight members of parliament of the Rajapaksha-backed "Joint Opposition" sought recognition of their group as the largest single opposition in parliament and appoint MP Dinesh Gunawardena as the Leader of the Opposition. The Rajapaksa loyalists argued that they have the support of 70 MPs as opposed to TNA, which has only 16 legislators. However, the Speaker countered the argument saying that Rajapaksa and his group had been elected to parliament as members of the (UPFA). The UPFA, whose leader is President Maithripala Sirisena, also acts as part of the unity government in the island nation. I have to inform the House that in terms of the constitution and standing orders I have no power to change the leader of the opposition, Jayasuriya said. He further said there was no ground for the Joint Opposition to claim the leader of the opposition position while remaining in a party that was a constituent on the government. The Rajapaksa group charged that Jayasuriya was denying their group the due democratic recognition. The 2015 parliamentary elections saw UPFA undergo a split with loyalists of the Sirisena faction, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), forming a coalition government with the United National Party (UNP). The coalition led to a great degree of discontent amongst many SLFP members who went on to form the Joint Opposition alongside other parties from the UPFA. The Rajapaksa group has now formed their own party, Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP), which won the February's local election. Since the election victory, more members of the UPFA have joined them bolstering their number. Sirisena's faction is now left with just 26 members. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stepping up their attack on the government over the Rafale issue, opposition MPs led by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today held a protest in Parliament premises, demanding answers from the Centre over the alleged scam in the fighter jet deal with France. Gandhi along with opposition MPs, including Raj Babbar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, CPI's D Raja, AAP MP Sushil Gupta, among others, protested in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Parliament complex, holding placards and raising slogans. They demanded that a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the issue. Congress members yesterday had created uproarious scenes in the Lok Sabha demanding a probe into the Rafale deal by a JPC, forcing an adjournment of the proceedings. They were heard demanding a JPC probe into the deal and a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress' stepping of pressure on the government over the issue comes days after former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie alleged that the Rafale deal was a case of "monumental criminal misconduct" by the NDA government and the scam involving it was much bigger than the Bofors scandal. Shourie, Sinha and lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan have demanded a time-bound probe into the contract by national auditor Comptroller and Auditor General. The Congress has been accusing massive irregularities in the Rafale deal, alleging that the government was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government for the procurement of 126 Rafale jets. The deal negotiated by the UPA could not be inked. The Congress has also been pressing for price details of the deal, but the NDA government has refused to divulge them citing confidentiality provisions of a 2008 Indo-France pact. The government has asserted that there were no irregularities in the deal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the last day of the Monsoon Session, opposition MPs launched a protest against the BJP-led NDA government today demanding answers from it over the alleged scam in Rafale fighter jet deal with France. UPA chairperson and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi led a protest over the issue in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statute in Parliament complex. Opposition MPs, including Raj Babbar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, CPI's D Raja, AAP MP Sushil Gupta among others held protest outside Parliament, holding placards and raising slogans demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the issue. Congress members yesterday had created uproarious scenes in the Lok Sabha demanding a probe into the Rafale deal by a JPC, forcing an adjournment of the proceedings. They were heard demanding a JPC probe into the deal and a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As the government prepares to table the much-debated Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha today, Gandhi, when asked about the issue, told reporters, "Our party's position is absolutely clear on this, I will not say anything further on this. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Light to moderate rainfall occurred at a few places in Himachal Pradesh, with Dharamshala in Kangra district being the wettest recording 61.6 mm of rains, the meteorological department said. Since yesterday, Rampur in Una district received 48 mm of rains, followed by Una 40.4 mm, Mehre in Hamirpur district 39.2 mm, Kufri in Shimla district 31 mm, Shimla 11 mm, Manali in Kullu district 7.8 mm and Mandi 4.3 mm, the MeT department said. There was no appreciable change in maximum and minimum temperatures since yesterday. Both the maximum and minimum temperatures were normal. Kufri in Shimla district was the coldest place recording a low of 13.3 degrees Celsius, while Bhuntar in Kullu district was the hottest with a maximum temperature of 33 degree Celsius, an MeT official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a "lonely" club for a decade now, India's only individual Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra's pragmatism mingled with optimism as he hoped that not one but a few more will crowd the place come Tokyo 2020. He has been hoping and will continue to remain hopeful, Bindra, who has grown 10 years older since scripting history on a balmy August evening at Beijing in 2008, told PTI in an interaction. "I am hoping for young Indian athletes to join me. I am quite positive and, as an athlete, I am conditioned to remain hopeful. Hopefully, we will have some Olympic champions in a couple of years," Bindra said. The 35-year-old, who has been appointed to the International Olympic Committee's prestigious Athletes' Commission, was referring to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Bindra, who is now a businessman and runs the Abhinav Bindra High Performance Centre, looks back to his biggest moment with nostalgia. "Well obviously that was a wonderful moment of my life, dreamt about it for 15 years. I look back with a great sense of satisfaction and a sense nostalgia. "Hopefully, it inspires Indian athletes to win. My time is over and I hope the present generation of Indian athletes remain inspired and it propels them to glory," Bindra said. Since retiring from shooting, Bindra has set up a never-seen-before High Performance Training centre in India for elite athletes that boasts of cutting edge equipments. It has immensely benefitted India's athletes. "We have had a lot of young athletes coming over, it's not just about training with young athletes. The idea is to build a knowledge-driven professional services environment that provides solutions, tight protocols and procedures facilitating peak performance. It is also about creating awareness and training in a more holistic manner. Asked about his appointed to the IOC's elite commission, he said, "Well I have just been appointed a couple of days ago, and this something which I am looking forward to." This is "more than a personal recognition" for Bindra, who was elected chairman of the International Shooting Sport Federation's (ISSF) Athletes Committee in 2014, becoming the first Indian to receive the honour. "I have been chair of the ISSF's Athletes Commission so it's more than personal recognition." Speaking about the Indian sporting scene, he said, "Well I do see a lot happening in Indian sports, a lot of young athletes are coming through with systemic changes, we have a (sports) minister who is an athlete himself. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The was adjourned sine die on Friday as the ended after 17 sittings for 112 hours, during which 21 laws, including one to amend the SC/ST Act, were passed. While 8 hours 26 minutes of the session were marred by disruptions, the House sat almost 21 hours extra to discuss major issues during the session that began on July 18. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the session has been "more productive and safisfactory" than the previous Budget Session and last year's The session witnessed a discussion on no-confidence motion against the government brought by TDP and other Opposition parties. The motion was defeated later. As many as 51 members discussed and debated the motion for 11 hours 46 minutes, she said. The 21 laws passed by the House in the 17-day session, include the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, The Criminal Law Amendment Bill, The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill and the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill. Mahajan said during the session, the House passed major laws, including SC/ST (prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill and one on giving constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. These measures, she said, will positively impact the society as a whole and the downtrodden sections. A total of 4,140 questions were also replied to by the government. These included 75 starred questions answered orally by Ministers in the House. The also had a short duration discussion on the flood and drought situation in the country. As many as 62 reports of Parliamentary Standing Committees were also tabled, while 128 private members bills were introduced during the session. The House greeted the people in advance on the occasion of the Independence Day. Russia has blocked Washingtons bid to expand sanctions against North Korea at a UN Security Council committee, because the US stance is entirely unconvincing, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Washingtons plans to broaden sanctions against Pyongyang cause utter rejection and run counter to the logic of detente, the ministry said. It is obvious that Washington is seeking to "keep maximum pressure" on Pyongyang as long as possible actually until the "completion of the denuclearization process," the statement says. "Such a destructive course for settling the problems of the Korean peninsula causes utter rejection," TASS cited the statement as saying. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, "the body of evidence presented by the Americans to substantiate their proposal is entirely unconvincing." "Rejection is also caused by the pushing methods of work that have already become a norm in the UN Security Council and its auxiliary bodies for the US delegation, which is trying to push through its suitable decisions in the regime of the artificial time crunch without due regard to the opinion of other members," the comment says. The on Thursday passed a bill which will help India become a hub for domestic and global arbitration for settling commercial disputes. Replying to the debate on the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2018, Law Minister said the legislation provides for time-bound settlement of disputes as well as accountability of the arbitrator. "It is a momentous and important legislation. We want India to become a hub of domestic and international arbitration. So there is a need for robust mechanism to deal with institutional disputes," Prasad said. The amendments will facilitate achieving the goal of improving institutional arbitration by establishing an independent body to lay down standards, make arbitration process more friendly, cost-effective and ensure timely disposal of arbitration cases. It provides for setting up of an independent body -- Arbitration Council of India (ACI) which will frade arbitral institution and accredit arbitrators by laying down norms. ALSO READ: Lok Sabha okays bill allowing overseas electors to cast votes through proxy "The ACI shall frame proper rules as to how instutitions would be graded, norms to be followed, monitoring of quality and performance, and encourage training of arbitrators," Prasad said. He said the norms and accountability for the arbitrators framed by ACI would have to be "strictly followed". "Unless we have a strong regulatory mechanism, judges, lawyers, arbitrators... then the process will not gain speed," Prasad added. The bill, which amends the 1996 Act, is part of the government's efforts to encourage institutional arbitration for settlement of disputes and make India a centre of robust Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism. Earlier, while moving the bill, Minister of State for Law P P Chaudhary said a large number of arbitration cases are conducted outside India in countries like Singapore, London and Paris and around 30 million cases are pending before the courts here. ALSO READ: Modi govt introduces four Bills in the Lok Sabha to simplify GST returns "Due to globalisation, industralisation and liberalisation, the disputes have increased manifold...We want to create India as a hub of arbritation," Chaudhary said, adding that even bilateral investment trade related issues are also referred to the Hague, London and Paris. "India should also have a seat of arbritation," he said. Participating in the debate, Anwar Raja (AIADMK) said the state governments should be consulted before appointing members of the ACI. Saugata Roy (TMC) said arbitration has becoming biggest scams in India and many arbitatration lawyers are corrupt. Actor Macaulay Culkin has revealed that he was offered popular sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" but he turned it down. In an interview with The Joe Rogan Experience, the 37-year-old actor, who once ruled the late '80s and early '90's thanks to his classic "Home Alone" films, said the producers chased him with the project but he was not interested in it. "They pursued me for 'The Big Bang Theory'. And I said no. It was kind of like, the way the pitch was, 'Alright, these two astrophysicist nerds and a pretty girl lives with them. Yoinks!' That was the pitch. They were like, 'We'll get some real physicists to do the math,' but I was like, 'Yeah, I'm cool, thanks," Culkin said. "And then they came back at me again, and I said, 'No, no, no. Again, flattered, but no.' Then they came back at me again, and even my manager was like twisting my arm," he added. Kulkin said though he would have been richer, he has no regrets about not doing the project, currently in season 11. "I'd have hundreds of millions of dollars now if I did that gig. At the same time, I'd be bashing my head against the wall," Culkin said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A sessions court here today remanded three persons, arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for allegedly possessing crude bombs and weapons, in the agency's custody till August 18. Additional sessions Judge Sameer Adkar remanded the three accused -- Vaibhav Raut, Sharad Kalaskar and Sudhanwa Gondhalekar -- in ATS custody till August 18. The accused were reportedly arrested late yesterday night in an ATS operation conducted in Bhandar Aali area of Nallasopara West in neighbouring Palghar district. The accused were booked under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The ATS had sought their custody for 15 days on the ground that it needed to ascertain why the bombs were made, where the accused persons got training to assemble the bombs, if they were associated with any terrorist group and from where they procured the material to assemble the bombs. The ATS in its remand application said it had received secret information on August 7 that some persons planning to carry out terrorist activities in Pune and Mumbai. "Based on this information, searches were carried out at the shops and residences of the accused persons. From the searches, 22 crude bombs were seized along with a chit on how to assemble the bombs," ATS lawyer Sunil Gonsalves told the court. In court, the three accused told the judge that they had been assaulted by ATS officers. The court said their medical reports have not revealed any external injuries. "The accused persons shall be taken for medical examination once again and a report shall be submitted on August 13," the court directed. Sanjeev Punalekar, the lawyer of the accused persons, told the court that the case was "bogus" and claimed that the three had been framed. "They should be remanded to judicial custody," Punalekar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra police today said it had arrested three members of a suspected right-wing Hindutva outfit and seized a huge quantity of explosives, including crude bombs. Vaibhav Raut (40) and Sharad Kalaskar (25) were arrested last night from Nallasopara in Palghar district and their interrogation led to the arrest of Sudhanva Gondhalekar (39) in Pune. A court here today remanded all three to ATS custody till August 18. Giving details of the arrest, ATS chief Atulchandra Kulkarni said the accused had stored a huge cache of explosive materials, adding that they would be questioned about all the cases in which the involvement of right-wing extremists was suspected. "We will question them regarding all the detected and undetected cases, including the (rationalists) Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and (journalist) Gauri Lankesh (murder) cases," he said. The ATS zeroed in on the accused on the basis of information that some persons were planning to carry out acts of sabotage at many places in the state, Kulkarni said. Raut allegedly ran the "Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti", a little-known pro-cow protection outfit, in Nallasopara, a police officer had said earlier. While Raut's purported account on a social media platform mentioned that he was associated with right-wing group Sanatan Sanstha, the outfit today denied that he was its member. The raid at Raut's house at Bhandar Aali in Nallasopara West and at a nearby shop owned by him led to the seizure of 20 crude bombs, two gelatin sticks, four electronic and 22 non-electronic detonators, 150 gm of explosive powder, two bottles labelled as "poison", batteries, soldering equipment and a bomb circuit drawing, according to the ATS. The seized materials were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory. According to the police, Raut is an estate agent, Kalaskar works in a private firm, while Gondhalekar runs his own business. They were under police surveillance for the last two weeks, another ATS official said, adding that all three seemed to be "trained for sabotage activities". The ATS sleuths were probing if they had a plan to carry out any terrorist act ahead of Bakri Eid this month, he said. As they were in possession of explosive materials, it seemed that they were not mere "foot soldiers" of the "extremist gang" they were members of, the official added. The ATS has arrested the three under IPC section 120B (criminal conspiracy), provisions of the Explosives Act as well as Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) sections 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy for terrorist act) and 20 (being a member of terrorist gang). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Malta, a small island country in the Mediterranean Sea, is eyeing a 20 per cent growth in Indian tourist arrivals this year. Around 4,000 Indian tourists visited Malta in 2017. "With India being one of the biggest emerging markets for tourism in Malta, we want to tap its potential. We expect the number of tourists will continue to increase in the coming years," Malta tourism minister Konrad Mizzi told PTI. The minister further said he expects the footfalls from India to grow over 20 per cent in 2018. "Our vision is to register sustained increases of tourism from the Indian market," he added. Mizzi said the film industry will boost the tourism, with initiatives like the Malta-India Film Festival, a three-day event starting December 14 in Malta, along with incentives for filmmakers, which is being reviewed to address the industry needs further. He said there has already been a number of tie-ups established with major production companies in Bollywood. Malta, he said, is connected with India with direct flights to and from all major European cities and airport hubs, as well as north Africa, with daily connections to most of the major cities in India. "Talks have focused on enhanced airline connectivity between Malta and India, in order to provide travellers with a much shorter connection to Europe, as well as a hub for connectivity to both Europe and north Africa," he added. The country is looking to promote itself as an all-year-round destination, with heritage all around and diving and adventure opportunities, he said. It is in talks with Maharashtra government and Bollywood on promoting and marketing both the countries for tourism, according to Mizzi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on August 13 will lay the foundation stone for an IT park in Rajarhat which the West Bengal government plans to build in the lines of Silicon Valley in the US. The project, called Silicon Valley Asia, will be set up on 100 acres and aim at creating infrastructure for the technology companies. "The foundation stone will be laid by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on August 13," state IT secretary Debashish Sen said today. He declined to spell out the finer details of the project which will be announced on August 13. Sen, however, said that the state government has been encouraging the emerging rechnology companies to work from Bengal in the areas like blockchain, artificial intelligence and robotics. Sen, who was speaking at the 'Digital Sucess Summit' organised by Indus Net Technolgies, said the state government has been advocating for technologies that will remove language barrier. "Langauge barrier is one of the key reason for a section for not adopting technology. Government is keen for a ecosystem that enables overcoming the language barrier between users and potential users," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 55-year-old man, accused of killing two women and an infant by setting them ablaze in Nashik city of Maharashtra, escaped from train when he was being brought back by police from Uttar Pradesh, an official said. Jalaluddin Khan, the accused, escaped from the Zelam Express between Ganj Basoda and Vidisha railway stations in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday night, police said. Khan had been arrested on Tuesday by a Nashik police team from his village Kanhothia in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh and was being brought back by train. Sometime after Ganj Basoda, Khan told Assistant police inspector Deepak Girme and a police constable who were with him that he wanted to go to toilet. Taking advantage of darkness, he jumped out when the train slowed down, said Madhukar Kad, in-charge of Panchavati police station here. The two policemen also jumped out from the moving train but Khan gave them the slip. The policemen suffered minor injuries, Kad said. City police have now sent another team to Uttar Pradesh to track down the accused, he added. On August 5, Khan, who had an affair with Sangita Devre (40), resident of Kalika Nagar area, had an altercation with her at her house. In a fit of rage, he allegedly poured kerosene on Devre, her daughter Priti Shendge (19), and Priti's nine-month-old daughter Sidhhi, and set them on fire. While the child died on the spot, Devre and Shendge died during treatment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A year after a case was registered against the director of a management college in Bengaluru for allegedly posting a fake letter from the President of India on his Facebook account, the man was arrested, police said today. The accused, Hari Krishna Maram, aged between 45-50, was in the US for more than a year but returned to Bengaluru this month and was arrested by Cyber Crime Cell of Delhi Police on Wednesday, they added. The case was being investigated by sub-inspector Bhanu Pratap of the cyber cell after a complaint was filed by the president's press secretary last year. Maram had allegedly posted the photo of an "appreciation letter" received from the president for a book he had authored on digital marketing, said an officer privy to the probe. The letter was fake and Maram had posted the letter to gain publicity and more eyeballs for the book he had supposedly written, the officer said. At the time of the registration of the case, Maram was in the US and was contacted but he did not join investigation. A city court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him and police had even initiated proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender, he added. The accused was running a management school in Bengaluru and has an MBA degree and a B.Pharma. He was produced in a city court yesterday that sent him to judicial custody. Police have seized the laptop computer used to prepare the forged letter and have sent it for forensic examination. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man has been arrested in connection with a firing incident that took place after a petty argument outside a shop in the Dwarka area here, police said today. Qasim was arrested and a juvenile apprehended in connection with the case, they added. Qasim got into an argument with Pawan outside the shop yesterday, following which a shot was fired in the air, officials said. CCTV footage showed another person, identified as Aamir, firing a gun and the bullet hitting the shutter of the shop, they added. The owner of the shop, Leela Ram, registered a complaint with police today and subsequently, Qasim was arrested, the official said. The accused was being interrogated and police is on the lookout for Aamir, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man was beaten to death allegedly by a group villagers who suspected him of being a thief in Bijapur village here, the police said today. A farmer spotted three men allegedly attempting to steal the electric motor of a tube well in his filed. He called other villagers who caught hold one of them and beat him to death, said SHO Subhash Rathore. The other two managed to escape, he added. Body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem, Rathore said, adding that the victim is yet to be identified. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The possible tightening up of U.S. economic sanctions against Russia may be treated as a declaration of economic war, which must be responded by all economic, political and other means possible, Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said during his visit to the Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula. During his visit to the Kronotsky State Nature Reserve, Medvedev was asked what sanctions could be imposed on Russia in the future and how they can affect the countrys economy. "I would like not to comment on the talks about future sanctions, but there is one thing I can say: if measures like a ban on banking activities or the use of this or that currency follows, this can be clearly be described as a declaration of an economic war. And this war will have to be responded - by economic, political and, if necessary, other means. And our American partners should realize this," TASS cited the PM as saying. Speaking about sanctions currently in place and those recently announced, he stressed that despite the declared political reasons behind them, those measures are intended mostly "to limit our economic power." "In the past hundred of years, our country existed in the conditions of the constant pressure of sanctions. Why is this being done? In order to eliminate Russia from the list of powerful rivals on the international arena," Medvedev said, adding that nothing has changed. He said that by targeting Russias gas exports to Europe, Washington wants to push its own LNG shipments to the continent. "Its an absolutely nonmarket anti-competition measure aimed at strangling our capabilities," the PM lamented. Medvedev added that the US is simultaneously imposing tariffs on China, which obviously, dont like it, and the main goal is to resist all these measures. A 32-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol in south west Delhi's Najafgarh, the police said today. The deceased, Dinesh, shot himself on August 7 at his residence and was rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital by his wife. He was declared brought dead, a senior police officer said. The hospital informed the police. During inquiry, it was learnt that Dinesh used an illegal firearm to commit suicide, the officer said. A country-made pistol, used for the suicide, with two live cartridges and an empty cartridge, was recovered, he said, adding that the body was sent for post-mortem. It has been learnt that Dinesh's brother, Joginder, is a criminal and his role is also being verified, he added. A probe is underway to ascertain the reason behind the extreme step, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A POCSO court in Mizoram's Champai district has sentenced a man to rigorous imprisonment of 20 years for raping a mentally challenged woman. POCSO court special judge R Vanlalvena also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on Hrangthanthuama, 30, yesterday. He had committed the crime against the woman, 25, in September last year. A criminal case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) was registered against Hrangthanthuama after relatives of the victim had filed a complaint with the police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 23-year-old man was killed after a clash broke out between two groups at a village in Greater Noida here, police said today. According to the police, the matter was reported from Bodaki village under Dadri police station limits late last night. The two groups, from the same community, had a dispute around two months ago. The deceased, Sumit, had then thrashed a person from the other side, the police said. Yesterday, a clash broke out between the groups again. Heated arguments ensued and the two sides came to blows and attacked each other using sticks, they said. "Sumit got hurt in the fight and was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to the injuries this morning," a police official said. An FIR was registered at the Dadri police station and Indian Penal Code sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with armed weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) were invoked, among others, the official said. After Sumit's demise this morning, the police added the murder charge in the case which has seven accused persons, he said. Dadri Circle Officer Nishank Sharma said the police were conducting raids to arrest the accused persons. "We are questioning others from the village to trace the accused and will arrest them soon," Sharma said. Sumit was married and had a child, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man who shot dead eight of his relatives, including two children, remains on the run and is armed and "dangerous", Albanian police said yesterday. Ridvan Zykaj, 24, shot dead "eight persons from two Zykaj families in Resulaj village," 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of the capital Tirana, the police said in a statement. "After the murder the armed person has left the area," police said, adding that the motive was "still unclear". Police published a photo of the man and asked the public to come forward with any information, warning however that the fugitive "is dangerous" and "should be avoided if seen". The victims include Zykaj's great-uncle, as well as the great uncle's sons and extended family, police said, adding that the suspect's parents were being questioned. Local media reported that large police forces have been searching the area. According to the News24 private television channel, among those killed were a nine-year-old child, a teenage girl and three women. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Traders observed a bandh in the city today to protest against installation of smart metres by Kota Electricity Distribution Limited (KEDL) and high power bills. Kota Vyapar Mahasang and around 150 trade organisation associated with it had given a call for band against alleged exploitative commercial strategies and installation of smart electricity metres in the city by the discom, a franchise of Jaipur Vidutt Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL). Kota Bar council also suspended judicial work in the local court, Mahendra Kumar Gupta, the treasurer of the bar council said. Youth Congress workers along with the volunteers of other trade and public organizations took round in the city markets and demonstrated against KEDL. Youth Congress workers burnt tiers and smart metres in front of KEDL office in Gumanpura area. The situation of face off between protesters and the police arose when protestors attempted to enter into KEDL office but it was handled in time. Himmat Singh, a social activist in Kota who had been on hunger strike for ten days outside KEDL office, today withdrew his hunger strike after a delegation from district administration met him. JVVNL last year franchised Kolkata based KEDL for electricity distribution in Kota city since then the company had been facing public wrath for its commercial tactics including installation of smart electricity meters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maximum temperature in Punjab and Haryana stay close to normal levels today with Bhiwani recording the highest temperature at 37.2 degrees Celsius. Ambala recorded a high of 35.6 degrees Celsius, followed by 35.5 degrees Celsius in Narnaul, 35 degrees Celsius in Chandigarh, the Met Department said here. While Patiala recorded the maximum temperature at 36.1 degrees Celsius, the maximum at Hisar was 36 degrees Celsius. Maximum temperature in Karnal settled at 34.4 degrees Celsius, followed by 34.3 degrees Celsius in Amritsar and 34 degrees Celsius in Ludhiana. The Met has warned of heavy rainfall at isolated places in both the states on August 12. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rajya Sabha was today adjourned sine die, with Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu saying the media speculation that the Monsoon Session would be a washout has proven wrong as it has been "three times more productive". Before adjourning the House, Naidu said the productivity during the session stood at 74 per cent, which was much more than the Budget Session when it stood at just 25 per cent. He pointed out that while 14 bills were passed in this session alone, only 10 bills could be adopted during the last two sessions together. "Going by the trend of the previous two sessions, the media had forecast that this would also be a washout. I am glad that for once, media has been proved wrong. I compliment all of you for the same, though it is not to my full satisfaction still," Naidu said in his closing address. He said the working of the session has brought delight to all the stakeholders who believe in parliamentary democracy. "With the productivity of more than 74 per cent measured in the way of functional time available, this session proved to be three times more productive than the last Budget seesion whose productivity was just 25 per cent," Naidu said. "This is a remarkable improvement and the credit goes to all of you," he said, while referring to the "unanimous passage" of the bill to amend the SC/ST law, besides other legislations. Observing that there was wide-ranging discussions on a variety of critical issues, he said the bills to act against economic offenders and to strengthen the law against corruption, which were passed during the session, were very crucial. The Monsoon Session has proved that "a performing Parliament can deliver its mandate." He, however, added that he was deeeply pained by the disruptions in the last two sessions. He also congratulated Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for the heightened productivity and smooth functioning of the House. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) today directed Chief Secretary Y Tsering to institute a high-level inquiry into the electrocution of five men at North Garo Hills district, an official statement said. Five labourers were killed last month when a cememnt-mixing machine at a road construction site came in touch with a low-lying high-tension wire at Miapara village of the district. Taking a suo moto cognisance of the case, the commission asked the chief secretary to carry out an investigation into the July 25 incident, the statement said. "A high-level inquiry needs to be conducted to unearth the actual truth about the incident. The investigation should be conducted by an officer not lower than the rank of secretary," commission secretary Aldous Mawlong said in its order, adding that the probe report should be submitted to MHRC in 45 days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM), one of the organisations spearheading the agitation for reservation for the Marathas, today said its members were not responsible for the violence in Aurangabad and Pune yesterday. While protesters ransacked offices of several companies at Waluj industrial area near Aurangabad, Pune district collector's office was also vandalised. MKM convener Shantaram Kunjil today said in Pune that the organisation will pay the cost of shattered glass panes and light bulbs at the Pune collector's office. The Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) today raised the issue of violence and losses suffered by factory owners at Waluj. MKM convener from Aurangabad, Vinod Patil, said local people who depend on the industry for livelihood could not indulge in such acts. "Outside anti-social elements" who sneaked into the agitation were responsible for the vandalism, he claimed. The rioters were not even from the Maratha community, he said. Kunjil, on the other hand, blamed the rioting on factory owners not paying workers their wages on time. However, another MKM leader told reporters in Pune that henceforth the agitation will be "by peaceful means", through relay sit-in hunger strikes at government offices. Kunjil announced that on August 15, all Maratha families in the state will not "light kitchen fire" (will not cook food) by way of penance. Both Patil and Kunjil demanded that the government withdraw the cases lodged against protesters who had not indulged in violence. Violence was provoked by some outside elements to defame the MKM which had taken out peaceful protest marches at 58 places across the state to press the quota demand in the past, Kunjil alleged. He also claimed so far 31 people from the community had committed suicide to press the quota demand. Earlier, CMIA office bearer Prasad Kokil alleged that protesters beat up security guards at Waluj MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) area, and vandalised offices and industrial units of 60 big and 20 small companies. He said he could not understand why the units were targeted, and asked how would investment come to the area if such incidents happen, and should the industry shift to some other place. Some delegates of foreign companies were present at MIDC when the violence broke out, which could send out bad message, he said. At a meeting today, CMIA also resolved not to give jobs to those people who had indulged in rioting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A speeding truck crushed a man to death in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district today following which a mob set fire to three buses, police said. The incident occurred on Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi road near Jhapahan chowk under the jurisdiction of Ahiyapur police station of the district, Ahiyapur police station Inspector Manoj Kumar told reporters. The deceased has been identified as Anil Singh (35), a resident of Rampurhari village of the district, Kumar said. Protesting against the death of Singh in the mishap angry local people set three buses on fire which were passing through the area besides damaging the windscreens and window panes of around a dozen other vehicles, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russias Central Bank can adjust its daily purchases of foreign currency to curb the rubles volatility as part of the implementation of the budget rule mechanism, the regulator said in a press release. Meanwhile, transactions as part of the budget rule will be fully carried out within a longer period of time. The surge in the rubles volatility over the past several days naturally stems from the financial markets reaction to reports about new potential sanctions, according to the statement. "Such volatility episodes emerged earlier amid discussions over sanctions-related restrictions and were temporary. Substantial sales of export currency earnings still back the ruble," the Central Bank pointed out. The regulator added that there are enough instruments in place to prevent financial instability threats, TASS reported. The Bank of Russia purchased $8.4 billion rubles ($125 million) worth of foreign currency on the domestic market for the Finance Ministry for August 9 settlement (virtually on August 8). Meanwhile, the Central Banks foreign currency purchases for the Finance Ministry amounted to 16.7 billion rubles ($249 million) on the previous day. On August 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, the regulator purchased currency worth around 16 billion rubles each day. The Madhya Pradesh Madarsa Board (MPMB) has asked 2,700 madarsas affiliated to it to organise "Paigam-e-Mohabbat" (message of love) processions on Independence Day. "Madarsas have been asked to take out these processions in 50 out of 51 districts on Independence Day," board chairman Syed Imad Uddin said. The initiative is aimed at encouraging interfaith mingling, he said. He has issued a directive that madarsas should hoist the national flag and merge the Paigam-e-Mohabbat event with Tiranga (the tri-colour) rallies taken out by various organisations on August 15, he said. If no such rallies are planned, then madarsas in respective places should take out their own Paigam-e-Mohabbat procession, he said. In Bhopal, the processions would be called "Paigam-e-Aman" (message of peace) as another organisation has named its rally 'Paigam-e-Mohabbhat', he said. Madarsas have also been asked to hold cultural programmes that day and send videos of the events which MPMB will upload on its website, he said. Such functions are being organised by madarsas affiliated to the board for the past three years, he pointed out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana ChiefMinister K Chandrasekhar Rao today said a multi-pronged strategy needs to be followed for the comprehensive development of Padmashali community, who are dependent on the weaving profession. The Chief Minister said a multi-pronged strategy was essential for overall development of the Padmashali community, who are dependent on the weaving profession,towards which both the government and Padmashali's welfare association should work together hand in hand,a release from his office said. Rao, who held a meeting with representatives of the community, said the government has already been providing incentives to those who continue to work in the weaving profession, it said. The government was prepared to spend any amount for their welfare they, in turn, should make optimum use of the funds to find lasting solutions to their issues, Rao said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA counted down today to the launch of a USD 1.5 billion spacecraft that aims to plunge into the Sun's sizzling atmosphere and become humanity's first mission to explore a star. The car-sized Parker Solar Probe is scheduled to blast off on a Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida early tomorrow. The 65-minute launch window opens at 3:33 am (local time), and the weather forecast is 70 percent favorable for takeoff, NASA said. The probe's main goal is to unveil the secrets of the corona, the unusual atmosphere around Sun. Not only is the corona about 300 times hotter than the Sun's surface, it also hurls powerful plasma and energetic particles that can unleash geomagnetic space storms and disrupt Earth's power grid. "The Parker Solar Probe will help us do a much better job of predicting when a disturbance in the solar wind could hit Earth," said Justin Kasper, one of the project scientists and a professor at the University of Michigan. The probe is protected by an ultra-powerful heat shield that is just 4.5 inches thick (11.43 centimeters). The shield should enable the spacecraft to survive its close shave with the center of our solar system, coming within 3.83 million miles (6.16 million kilometers) of the Sun's surface. The heat shield is built to withstand radiation equivalent up to about 500 times the Sun's radiation here on Earth. Even in a region where temperatures can reach more than a million degrees Fahrenheit, the sunlight is expected to heat the shield to just around 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,371 degrees Celsius). Scorching, yes? But if all works as planned, the inside of the spacecraft should stay a cooler 85 F (29 C). The goal for the Parker Solar Probe is to make 24 passes through the corona during its seven-year mission. "The sun is full of mysteries," said Nicky Fox, project scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. "We are ready. We have the perfect payload. We know the questions we want to answer." The tools on board will measure the expanding corona and continually flowing atmosphere known as the solar wind, which solar physicist Eugene Parker first described back in 1958. Parker, now 91, recalled that at first, some people did not believe in his theory. But then, the launch of NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft in 1962 - becoming the first robotic spacecraft to make a successful planetary encounter - proved them wrong. "It was just a matter of sitting out the deniers for four years until the Venus Mariner 2 spacecraft showed that, by golly, there was a solar wind," Parker said earlier this week. He added that he is "impressed" by the Parker Solar Probe, calling it "a very complex machine." Scientists have wanted to build a spacecraft like this for more than 60 years, but only in recent years did the heat shield technology advance enough to be capable of protecting sensitive instruments, according to Fox. Tools on board will measure high energy particles associated with flares and coronal mass ejections, as well as the changing magnetic field around the Sun. "We will also be listening for plasma waves that we know flow around when particles move," Fox added. "And last but not least, we have a white light imager that is taking images of the atmosphere right in front of the Sun." When it nears the Sun, the probe will travel rapidly enough to go from New York to Tokyo in one minute - some 430,000 miles (700,000 kilometers) per hour, making it the fastest human-made object. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of Naxals allegedly set ablaze five empty trucks in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh early today, police said. With this, Maoists have so far torched at least nine vehicles, including two passenger buses, in the last three days in separate incidents in Dantewada, police said. The arson is being viewed as a reaction to the death 15 Naxals in an encounter with security forces in neighbouring Sukma district on August 6. "As per the information, a group of armed Naxals reached near the office of Truck Owners' Association in Bacheli town, where several trucks were parked, in the wee hours," Dantewada Additional Superintendent of Police Gorakhnath Baghel told PTI. "They threatened the truck drivers to leave the place and before fleeing from the spot, they torched five empty trucks," he added. Soon after being alerted about the incident, a police team was rushed to the spot. Security arrangements have been stepped up in the area and combing operation has been intensified to trace the ultras, he said. These trucks were engaged in transportation of iron ore in Bailadila iron ore mines area that consists of two towns- Kirandul and Bacheli- located around 450 kms away from the capital Raipur. "Maoists are frustrated over the death of its cadres in recent encounters in Sukma and Bijapur and therefore they are committing such acts," Baghel said. As many as 15 ultras were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Konta area in Sukma on August 6. Two days after the incident, naxals torched two buses and a truck in Bhansi area of Dantewada after asking occupants of the vehicles to alight. In another incident on the same day, the engine of an empty rake of the Visakhapatnam-Kirandul passenger train derailed after Naxals uprooted railway tracks near Kamaloor railway station in Dantewada. Yesterday, Maoists had torched a JCB machine, engaged in pipeline laying works, in Kuakonda police station area of the district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Friday upheld the sale of Bhushan Steel to Tata Steel, rejecting allegations of its ineligibility by the promoters of the debt-ridden firm. The appellate tribunal also rejected the claims of engineering and construction major L&T, an operational creditor of Bhushan Steel Ltd, opposing Tata Steel's resolution plan seeking a higher priority in debt resettlement. An NCLAT bench headed by Chairman Justice S J Mukhopadhaya rejected the claims of its promoters Neeraj Singal that Tata Steel was ineligible to bid for Bhushan Steel under section 29 A of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The appellate tribunal said that Tata Steel UK, a foreign subsidiary of Tata Steel, which was fined by an English Court in February 2018 under UK Act, had a provision of imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or a fine, or both'. While, the provision in section 29A (d) of IBC, which deals with eligibility, stipulates has been convicted for any offence punishable with imprisonment for two years or more, cannot be equated with Section 33(1)(a) of the UK Act, said NCLAT. We hold that Tata Steel UK', which is the connected person' of Tata Steel Ltd', does not attract the disability. under Section 29A of the I&B Code' and for the said reason, we also hold that Tata Steel Limited' is eligible to file the Resolution Plan'', said NCLAT. Section 29 A of the IBC mandates that a person convicted for any offence punishable with imprisonment for two years or more is ineligible for submitting a resolution plan. Over the claims of L&T, which had supplied goods and machineries goods over Rs 9 billion, NCLAT said that Tata Steel's resolution plan was fair towards operational creditors of Bhushan Steel which has a total demand of Rs 14.22 billion. The appellate tribunal observed that the company has allotted Rs 12 billion for them and L&T plea for a higher priority could not be accepted. We hold that the Resolution Plan' submitted by Tata Steel is fair and equitable to all the Creditors including the Operational Creditors therefore, no interference is called for, the appellate tribunal said. Moreover, it also declined the plea of Brij Bhushan Singal of the promoters family, contending Tata Steel's Resolution Plan' was illegal as it purports to transfer shares' of the preference shareholders' of Bhushan Steel without their consent for a fixed consideration of Rs 100 as against Rs 22.69 billion. ALSO READ: Former Bhushan Steel promoter Neeraj Singal held for siphoning off Rs 20 bn Over the claims of Department of Forest and Environment, Government of Jharkhand that part of the land shown in the resolution plan does not belong to Bhushan Steel and is in illegal possession of the company, NCLAT said that Tata Steel is aware of the proceedings. If the title of land is defective, it cannot be cured upon taking over the assets of the Corporate Debtor' (Bhushan Steel) by the Resolution Applicants', said NCLAT. It further said: "The Adjudicating Authority (NCLT) for the said reason held that remedy available to the Applicant/State of Jharkhand and its Officers, having already initiated and pending against the Corporate Debtor', allowing or rejecting the Resolution Plan' will not affect the legal remedy. Bhushan Steel owed its lenders about Rs 560 billion and was among the 12 big loan defaulters identified by the Reserve Bank of India last year to undergo insolvency under the new bankruptcy law. On May 15 the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had approved Tata Steel's bid for Bhushan Steel and this was challenged by Neeraj Singal and L&T before NCLAT. Tata Steel has offered Rs 352 billion in cash to acquire Bhushan Steel. It would pay another Rs 12 billion over next 12 months to creditors and convert the remaining debt owed to banks to equity. We are not inclined to interfere with the order dated 15th May, 2018, passed by the Adjudicating Authority (NCLT) in the case of Bhushan Steel Limited' under challenge in Company Appeals... They are accordingly dismissed,' the appellate tribunal said. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal today upheld the sale of Electrosteel Steel Ltd to Vedanta Ltd, saying the mining baron Anil Agarwal-led firm was eligible to bid for the debt-laden firm. It rejected the contention of Renaissance Steel, a rival bidder for Electrosteel, that Vedanta was ineligible to bid under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code as one of connected group firm - KCM in Zambia, had been found guilty of violating certain environmental laws, punishable with two or more years of imprisonment. In its order, the appellate tribunal said that although Vedanta Resources PLC was convicted for the offence punishable under Section 91(1) of Zambia Act, which has provision for a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both, no directors was convicted for it. "We hold that Vedanta Resources PLC, who is a connected person of Vedanta Limited is not covered by clause (d) of Section 29A of the I&B Code," said a NCLAT bench headed by Chairman Justice S J Mukhopadhaya. It further said, "In view of the aforesaid findings, we hold that Vedanta Limited' is eligible and clause (d) of Section 29A of the I&B Code' is not attracted in its case. Section 29 A of the IBC mandates that a person convicted for any offence punishable with imprisonment for two years or more is ineligible for submitting a resolution plan. According to NCLAT, it is to be seen whether connected person', if an individual (natural person) has been punished or not. "But no such allegation has been made that any of the Director of Vedanta Resources PLC' was convicted for the offence punishable with imprisonment of two years or more, the appellate tribunal observed. Vedanta Ltd is a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources PLC' which holds 50.13 per cent equity in the company. Vedanta Resource PLC' has another subsidiary, KCM', which has mining operations in Zambia's Copper belt and Central Provinces. Vedanta Resource PLC' holds equity of 79.4 per cent in KCM. KCM' has been held guilty with regard to four offences relating to pollution on November, 2010 by the Subordinate Court of First Class for the Chingola District Holden at. Chingola, Zambia for which three counts fine has been imposed. On May 30 this year NCLAT had allowed Vedanta Ltd to make an upfront payment of Rs 5,320 crore to lenders for acquisition of Electrosteel Steels. However, it had said that this payment would be subject to the outcome of the petition filed by Renaissance Steel challenging Vedanta's bid. The bench had said that if Renaissance Steel wins the case, then the Committee of Creditors (CoC) will have to return the money to Vedanta. Electrosteel Steels owes lenders more than Rs 13,000 crore, of which about Rs 5,000 crore is to State Bank of India alone. On May 17, NCLAT had admitted the petition of Renaissance Steel challenging Vedanta's bid for debt-ridden Electrosteel. Renaissance Steel's resolution application was rejected by the CoC of Electrosteel Steels. In April, the Kolkata bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had cleared Vedanta's Rs 5,320-crore resolution plan for Electrosteel, rejecting objections by Renaissance Steel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following the alleged rape of a six-year-old girl at a civic body-run school here, the DCW today sent notices to the police and the school's authority, asking them to inform it about the safety measures at the institute. The girl, a class two student of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)-run school in the Gol Market area, was allegedly raped by an electrician inside the institute's premises, police said. Calling for strong action against the accused, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal asked if a background check of the electrician had been done and whether there were safety measures such as CCTV cameras in the school. "The DCW issued notices to the Delhi Police and the school's authority to ascertain safety measures implemented in the school," she said. The victim's mother has alleged that the school was trying to cover up the matter, Maliwal claimed, asking how male staff had access to toilets for girl students. The incident came to light when the girl narrated her ordeal to her parents after returning from school yesterday, a police official said. The accused, identified as Ram Asre (37), has been working in the school for around a month and is a permanent electrician employed with the NDMC, police said. He has been arrested and a case registered against him under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, they said. Maliwal said Asre should be given capital punishment under the ammended Criminal Law. She also asked whether the school has plans to conduct counselling sessions for students and teachers. Over two children were raped in the national capital every day in the first four months of this year, according to Delhi Police data. Till April 30, 282 cases of child rape were reported as opposed to 278 last year during the same period. Last year, 894 such cases were reported, as per the data. In September last year, a five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 40-year-old peon inside the premises of a private school in Shahdara, following which he was arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Representatives of an NDMC-run school in Delhi, where a Class 2 student was allegedly raped, have claimed that they had put enough security measures on the campus to discourage unwanted visitors, but several people were seen entering the premises unchecked today. The representatives also claimed that the accused, an electrician by profession, was not an employee of the school. However, Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), said the accused had been working with the school in Gole Market area for the past one-and-a-half months. The Class 2 girl was allegedly raped by the man inside the institute's premises on Wednesday, police said. The school principal had been on leave for more than a week. As parents of other students staged a protest outside the campus today, the school authorities tried to assuage their concerns about the safety of their children inside the school premises. A number of people were seen entering the campus without verification by guards at the gate, despite one of the school employees claiming that they have deployed four women security personnel at the main gate of the school. The employee said CCTV cameras were installed on the school premises and they were in the process of installing more cameras, adding they will have a meeting with the New Delhi Municipal Council chairman on the matter. But police said the crime scene did not have CCTV cameras. "We briefed students about the incident and asked them to be cautious. Four women security personnel are permanently deployed at the school gate since ours is a girls' school," the employee said. A school representative, on the condition of anonymity, said they were informed about the incident yesterday at 10 am by the girl's parents and claimed that the accused was not employed with their school. "From what we know, the incident occurred after 1:30 pm, when the school gets over. Our school employee was not involved in it. Investigation is underway and the child is doing fine. We have been in regular contact with the parents of the victim. Parents of other students need not panic about the safety of their wards," she said. The victim's parents have been called for a counselling session on Monday to assuage their concern. "We had counselled them after they informed us about the incident. It is a very unfortunate incident and we are lending them our support," the representative said. He said rumours are being spread about the school and how unsafe it is; parents are being misguided but they should not panic. Calls and messages to NDMC chairman Naresh Kumar went unanswered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) today suspended four officials, including the headmistress of the school where a class 2 student was allegedly raped by an electrician. The officials suspended are Ram Ashray, the accused electrician who was arrested yesterday, headmistress Santosh Rawat, assistant engineer (Electric Department) Tulsi Ram and assistant teacher Shikha. While the civic body has initiated disciplinary proceedings against them, it has also terminated the contract of junior engineer Saurabh Bisht, who was the accused's supervisor. The six-year-old girl, a class 2 student of the NDMC-run school, was allegedly raped by the electrician in the school premises on Wednesday. A case under relevant sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against the accused electrician. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Heavy bombardment killed nearly 30 civilians across northern Syria today, a monitor said, in some of the fiercest shelling of rebel-held areas there in months. The air strikes and barrel bombs targeted the key opposition-held province of Idlib in Syria's northwest and a rebel town in the adjacent province of Aleppo. Idlib is the largest chunk of territory still in rebel hands, and President Bashar al-Assad has warned it would be his next target. The province's southwest was shelled heavily on Thursday and the bombing the next day "moved further east," leaving 11 civilians dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "Air strikes by Russian warplanes and barrel bombs from Syrian helicopters hit southern parts of Idlib province today in very heavy shelling," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said today. "It's the most intense bombing since Idlib was declared a de-escalation zone last year," he told AFP. The shelling left eight civilians dead in the main town of Khan Sheikhun, and another three including a child died in nearby Al-Tah. The White Helmets, a rescue force operating in opposition-held areas of Syria, said its volunteers were responding to a bombing blitz on both Khan Sheikhun and Al-Tah. A White Helmets rescuer in Khan Sheikhun told AFP that residential districts had been hit. Hours later, air strikes pummelled the main rebel town of Orum al-Kubra in the neighbouring province of Aleppo, the Observatory said, without being able to immediately identify if they were Syrian or Russian. "The death toll is now at 18 civilians including three children, and dozens of people injured," said Abdel Rahman. Rebels have lost swathes of the territory they once controlled in Syria to regime forces over the last few months, including three areas that had been designated as "de-escalation zones" last year. Assad's troops now appear to have set their sights on the last such area, Idlib. The Britain-based Observatory said regime reinforcements, including troops and equipment, had been amassing around the southwestern part of Idlib for several days. But a full-fledged assault would be devastating for the estimated 2.5 million people living in Idlib, many of them rebels and civilians bussed out of other areas that came back under regime control. The United Nations appealed Thursday for talks to avert "a civilian bloodbath" in the province, which borders Turkey. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Thursday, Russian servicemen in Syria downed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was approaching Russias Hmeymim air base from the militant-controlled territory, a senior Russian military official said, TASS reported. "On August 9, airspace control equipment of Russias Hmeymim air base detected an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), launched from a territory, controlled by illegal armed groups, in the north of the Latakia governorate. The aerial target was shot down by air defense systems at a distance from the air base," the head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria, Maj. Gen. Alexei Tsygankov, said. "There was no injuries or damage. Russias Hmeymim air base operates as normal," he added. Nepal and Bangladesh today inked an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on power exchange cooperation to allow export of hydro power from the Himalayan nation to Bangladesh in the near future. The signing of the MoU took place in a ceremony here attended by Nepal's Energy Minister Barsha Man Pun and Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh, Nasrul Hamid. During the occasion, Hamid announced that Bangladesh is interested to invest around USD1 billion for power sector cooperation with Nepal. Bangladesh has set the target of graduating to the league of developed nations by 2041 and it would need around 60,000 MW power to meet the target, Hamid was quoted as saying by the Himalayan Times. Nepal is an appropriate alternative source for this (hydro power), said the report. Hamid said that Bangladesh has projected that by 2040 the demand for power in the nation will reach around 40,000 MW, of which around 11 per cent would be fulfilled through clean energy sources, including hydropower. Nepalese Energy Minister Pun said that the government of Bangladesh is willing to immediately purchase 500 MWs of power from Nepal as part of the MoU. The energy ministers of the two nations said that they will also hold talks with India on the issues of transmission lines. As part of the Nepal-Bangladesh MoU, a power secretary level joint executive committee and a joint secretary level joint technical group will be constituted. The groups will meet every year to have deliberations and take forward the issue related to the bilateral cooperation in the power sector. The two bodies will also convene their meetings within the coming two months to determine the future course of action. In the recent times, Nepal has signed bilateral agreements with India and China on energy cooperation. The Bangladesh minister informed that the issue of a regional grid connectivity will also feature during the 4th summit of BIMSTEC that is scheduled to be held later this month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NHRC today issued notices to Delhi government and the police seeking a detailed report in the alleged rape of a class two student in a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school premises in upscale Gole Market area here. Taking a serious note of media reports of the incident, which took place on August 8, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) observed that it amounts to violation of the victim's human rights. According to a statement by the human rights panel, it has issued notices to the Delhi Chief Secretary and the Commissioner of Police seeking for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. The chief secretary has been asked to also inform the commission whether all the guidelines and directions issued by authorities for the safety of students are being followed by the schools in Delhi, it stated. The girl was leaving school on Wednesday when the accused, Ram Asre (37) allegedly took her to a pump room in the school premises and forced himself on her, police said, adding he also threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about it. The accused, who has been working in the school for over a month and is a permanent electrician employee with the NDMC, has been arrested and a case under relevant sections of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act registered against him, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Nigerian was apprehended by the CISF at a Delhi Metro station for allegedly carrying cocaine, a senior official said today. N C Remigius (25) was intercepted at the Rajiv Chowk station yesterday after a security personnel found some "unusual padding" in his socks during frisking. A total of 12 small sachets, containing about 11 grams of drugs suspected to be cocaine, was recovered from the Nigerian man along with Rs 78,680 in cash and three mobile phones. The man, who came to India on a business visa in May this year, has been handed over by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to the police. He was booked under anti-narcotics charges and arrested, the official said. The man was living in Uttam Nagar area here, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today flagged off power projects worth over Rs 7,500 crore and expressed confidence that each household in the state would be electrified by the end of this year. At a function here where Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Power minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav were also present, Kumar inaugurated, laid foundation stones for or dedicated to the public power projects worth Rs 7522.28 crore. Speaking on the occasion, Kumar expressed confidence that his government would meet its target of electrifying each household in the state by the end of this year. "Total power generation in the state was a mere 700 MW in 2005 when we assumed power. This has risen to 5008 MW, as per figures of July, 2018. We have indeed come a long way", the chief minister remarked. He also said that three power units in the state - Kanti, Navinagar and Barauni - have been handed over to the NTPC which was likely to "ensure better power generation and availability of electricity to consumers in Bihar at cheaper rates". He said his government was providing subsidy to domestic consumers besides developing special "agriculture feeders" to cater to the electricity requirements of those involved in farming. "Replacement of worn out cables and curbing of power theft is also going on war footing", he added. Speaking at the same function, Sushil Kumar Modi said "from September 15 this year, the work of installing pre-paid meters will begin. We hope to cover 18 lakh households in the next year and a half. A mobile app will also be launched to help consumers recharge their pre-paid meters". The DyCM, who also holds the Finance portfolio, claimed "power sector in the state has this year helped us realise Rs 8000 crore in revenue. This is an increase of 38 per cent compared with the previous year". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government today said it has no authentic report suggesting that data breach is higher than the global average in India. "No such authentic report is available with the government indicating that data breach in the country is higher than the global average," Minister of State for Electronics and IT S S Ahluwalia told the Rajya Sabha. The minister's response came to a query on whether incidents of data breach in the country are higher than the global average. Last month, Thales, a Rafale aircraft vendor, issued a report which stated data breach incidents in India have been higher compared to the global average. The report said around 52 per cent of Indian respondents surveyed by the firm reported a data breach last year which was way above the global average of around 36 per cent. Around 75 per cent of respondents in India reported data breach at some time in the past, compared with just 67 per cent globally, the Thales report said. It claimed to be based on global survey of over 1,200 senior IT security managers, including 100 in India between October-November 2017. Thales official claimed that Indian companies with revenue in the range of USD 100 million to 1 billion were covered in the study. In a separate reply on cyber crimes including fraud of money, using banks cards and e-wallets, Ahluwalia said a total of 10, 18 and 26 cases were registered under credit and debit Card fraud during 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively, according to information received from National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). He said the government has taken a number of steps to strengthen cyber security in the country which include botnet cleaning and malware analysis centre to detect and clean infected systems in coordination with the internet service providers and industry. The minister mentioned steps taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as well for strengthening digital payments security. The RBI has issued cyber security framework in banks on June 2, 2016, which includes section on arrangement for continuous surveillance in banks and also covers best practices pertaining to various aspects of cyber security. "An inter-disciplinary standing committee on cyber security at RBI reviews the threats inherent in the existing and emerging technology and suggests appropriate policy interventions to strengthen cyber security and resilience," Ahluwalia said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today asserted that no court had the jurisdiction to change the residency law of Jammu and Kashmir due to the UN Security Council resolutions. "No court has the jurisdiction to tamper with the 1927 hereditary state subject laws of J&K because UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir clearly state that the citizens of J&K are to decide their final dispensation as a people, by exercising the right to self-determination, a right which is yet to be exercised by us," said Mirwaiz, addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid here. Mirwaiz said the commitment to the Right of Self Determination was made to the people of the state by the first Prime Minister of India, both before the people of J&K and the world. "So how can any court challenge the UN resolutions and the commitments made by the Government of India that took the shape of Constitutional safeguards till the government honours its commitments?" Mirwaiz asked. He said J&K was a "world-acknowledged dispute" and the people of the state would at no cost allow dilution of the dispute till it was resolved. "The move of tinkering with the state subject law is aimed at undermining the dispute, by changing the demography of the state, settling outsiders here and making the locals a minority in their own land along the Israeli pattern in Palestine," he alleged. He said such a move will not be tolerated as was shown by the exceptional protest strike observed by the people of the state on August 5 and 6. "The leadership is urgently deliberating upon the issue and taking all segments of the society on board to launch a massive protest agitation to counter this onslaught against us," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minister on Friday said there was no retrenchment of employees after the merger of five associate and the Bhartiya Mahila Bank with the State Bank of India. had a total of 1,56,964 employees as on March 31 this year. Goyal told the that there was no retrenchment after the merger of the associate and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank with the During the Question Hour, he said that 6,950 branches have merged with post amalgamation of State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Travancore and State Bank of Hyderabad along with Bharatiya Mahila Bank have been merged with SBI. ALSO READ: State Bank of India hopes to turn the tables in Q1 results on Friday The total number of branches, employees and officers of SBI as on March 31, 2017 were 17,170, 1,28,526 and 81,041, respectively. As on March 31, 2018, the count of branches rose to 22,414. The number of employees and officers increased to 1,56,964 and 1,07,077, respectively, the minister said. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said there are no takers in Punjab for 'Referendum 2020', a campaign by a UK-based organisation for a separate Sikh state. He dubbed the proposed rally in London on Sunday by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) an attempt by a handful of frustrated ISI-backed Sikhs abroad to foment trouble in Punjab and India by raising divisive voices. The chief minister said he was not at all worried about the fringe elements and their rally. "They have been at it for long and have been playing into the hands of the ISI, which has an open agenda to foment trouble in Punjab and India," he told reporters. He added he would not allow anyone to create trouble in Punjab. If these elements think they can come and disturb the peace in my country and my state, they are mistaken, he said. Singh said he has asked the state police to deal strictly with any attempt to revive terrorism. He said in the past 15 months of his government, the police have cracked down on several terror modules, seizing arms and narcotics. Questioned on the British government's refusal to stop the rally, the chief minister said, "It does not bother me. This entire referendum business is just a money-making racket of 'Sikhs for Justice' and its promoters, he added. He said there are no takers for this campaign in the state as people want peace and development. Singh called the SFJ a "sham organisation". He said only a handful of frustrated Sikhs, based in countries like the UK, Canada, the USA and Germany, were backing the campaign, which he said will not last long. "We are prepared to deal with these Khalistani elements, he said. The London rally is part of the SFJ campaign to hold a referendum in Punjab to see if the people of the state want independence from India. India has expressed its concern to the UK over the separatist activity. A British High Commission spokesperson said in New Delhi today that people in the UK have a right to protest and to demonstrate their views, provided they act within the law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea will preserve its nuclear know-how despite its promise of denuclearisation to the United States, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said during a visit to Tehran, Iranian media reported today. Despite the agreement to denuclearise the Korean peninsula struck during a landmark summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump, "We preserve our nuclear science as we know that the Americans will not abandon their hostility toward us," Ri said, according to the conservative Mehr agency. "Dealing with Americans is difficult, and as our main goal is total disarmament of the whole Korean Peninsula, it is necessary that the Americans also abide by their commitments but they refuse to do so." At the June summit with Trump, Kim made a vague commitment to denuclearisation -- far from the longstanding US demand for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang's atomic arsenal. Ri was meeting with Iran's influential parliament speaker Ali Larijani on the third day of an official visit. "The Americans utter beautiful words when negotiating and promise a very bright future but they deliver on none of their commitments when it comes to action," Larijani said. Ri arrived in Tehran on the same day as the United States reimposed sanctions after abandoning a 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and Iran. The other five parties to the deal agree with UN inspectors that Iran has been abiding by its commitments, but Trump has said repeatedly it is "a horrible deal" and announced he was abrogating it in May. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Concluding his two-day Kashmir visit, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army's Northern Command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh today visited forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) to review the prevailing security situation. Lt Gen Singh was accompanied by Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen A K Bhat as he visited the frontier districts of Uri and Baramulla, wherein he was briefed on the counter infiltration grid and operational preparedness of the formations, Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said in a statement here. "On the second day of his visit, the Northern Army Commander visited the forward areas of Kashmir region to review the prevailing security situation along the LoC," he said. The spokesperson said the Army Commander was appreciative of the measures and standard operating procedures instituted by the units and formations to meet the challenges posed by the inimical elements. During his interaction with soldiers, Lt Gen Singh lauded them for their morale and the round-the-clock vigil they maintain to thwart infiltration bids by terrorists, he added. The Army Commander exhorted them to continue to work with the same zeal and dedication to defeat the enemy's hostile designs so as to maintain a safe, secure and peaceful environment in Kashmir, the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For ongoing Education Week coverage of Puerto Ricos schools after Hurricane Maria, click here . Puerto Ricos Supreme Court has dismissed a legal challenge to the U.S. territorys plans to allow charter schools and vouchers , spelling a potential end to one of the biggest controversies about the islands education system since two major hurricanes hit the island last year. Earlier this year, the islands government approved a plan to create alianza schools, which are intended to be like charter schools, as well as a free school selection program similar to vouchers. The legislation creating both, signed by Puerto Ricos governor and backed by Secretary of Education Julia Keleher, would create restraints on both programs: In the first year of the voucher-like program, for example, the number of students would be capped at 3 percent of total student enrollment, and then at 5 percent in the second year. Keleher said the programs would help the islands educational system better meet students needs and help transform a long-struggling system. However, the Asociacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico, the islands teachers union that represents nearly 30,000 active teachers, sued to stop the vouchers and charters in April . The union, which is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, argued among other things that charter schools would run afoul of Puerto Ricos Constitution because ultimately they would be controlled by private interests. In a statement quoted by Primera Hora newspaper in Puerto Rico, Keleher said she was pleased with the ruling and said that there are dozens of entities highly interested in helping vouchers and charters get off the ground. The union has fought Keleher over several other issues, including the closure of more than 260 schools over the summer. That move to close schools . The start of the school year in Puerto Rico is Aug. 13. Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . U.S. President Donald Trump said he had authorized higher tariffs on imports from Turkey, imposing a 20% duty on aluminum and 50% one on steel. "I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" Trump wrote on his Twitter page. "Aluminum will now be 20 percent and Steel 50 percent. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!" Earlier, the U.S. Treasury Department acted against Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, blocking their access to U.S. assets and banning form entering the U.S. The United States has blamed both ministers for being involved in the imprisonment and arrest of Andrew Brunson. Women workers of northern railway have written to the Railway Board saying that given the lack of changing room for them at most stations, their uniform should be restricted to an apron which can be worn over their regular clothes. Sunita Dhiman, General Secretary of the women's wing of Uttariya Railway Mazdoor Union (URMU) wrote to Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani, requesting him to change their uniform, which is either a salwar kameez or shirt and pant depending on the category of work. "There are no changing rooms for women staff at stations. We are just requesting railways to provide aprons to us which we can wear over our regular clothes. It will save us time as well. Also, the quality of cloth supplied to us for our uniforms are transparent and of very poor quality. We can't even wear them for long," Dhiman told PTI. In her letter, Dhiman has said 93 women work at Delhi Railway Station, New Delhi Railway station and Anand Vihar Terminal, and they have all written letters in support of the apron. In fact, she said, women staffers from across northern railways have the same problem with uniform. "We have attached a sample photo of the white apron with name and batch along with the letter so that they can get an idea about what kind of uniform we are comfortable in," Dhiman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the number of people excluded from the draft Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state will "drastically" change at the end of the process of claims and objections. The final draft of the NRC in the state is not a major issue as it is not the final one, he told reporters here on Thursday. "It is not proper to come to a conclusion regarding the NRC in Assam. It is just a draft. In our NRC, names of many people are not there. This number will drastically change after claims and objections are taken into consideration," said Sarma, who is also the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance, formed by the along with regional political parties. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who was present during the interaction with reporters, said he was unaware of any demand for updating NRC in the state. The NRC revision has rocked Assam since the publication of its final draft on July 30. Names of over 400,000 people have been excluded from the draft of the NRC. ALSO READ: The other citizens: Searching for root of Assam's NRC problem as row erupts Sarma suggested that other states could replicate the Assam model of NRC after the process was complete. "Let Assam produce a correct and perfect NRC. Then people should try to replicate it," he said. ALSO READ: Assam NRC issue: Opposition leaders meet President Ram Nath Kovind On NDA ally Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura's demand of NRC revision in Tripura, Sarma said there was no "huge requirement" for such a decision. "Going by the demography of Tripura, I don't think there is a huge requirement. Assam's demography has changed. NRC revision is being done in Assam as per the Assam Accord. But in Tripura, there is no accord, no cut-off date, neither in any way to generate any legacy document," he said. Another regional party, the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura, too had demanded an NRC revision and deportation of foreigners who had illegally migrated to Tripura from neighbouring Bangladesh. Mumbai-based Omkar Realtors today said it will invest about Rs 700 crore to develop the second phase of its new mixed-use housing project at Andheri in Mumbai. The company will develop 600 flats in the second phase in a price range of Rs 93 lakh to Rs 2.65 crore. This project is a part of 65 acre slum redevelopment project 'Omkar International District' where the company would be developing around 14,000 units for slum dwellers and another 9,000 units for sale. It will also have 4 million sq ft of commercial development. "We are launching the second phase of our 65-acre redevelopment project," Omkar Realtors Senior Vice President Rahul Maroo told reporters here. The company has started seeking expression of interest (EoI) from prospective buyers. Asked about the investment, he said the project cost for second phase is about Rs 700 crore. In December last year, Omkar Realtors announced the first phase wherein it is investing about Rs 1,700 crore to build 1,200 flats. Maroo said the company has sold almost all units launched in the first phase. "We are expecting a sales realisation of about Rs 2,700 crore from both the phases," he added. He highlighted that 5 per cent of total units launched in the first phase were bought by buyers from the Delhi-NCR region and therefore the company has launched various marketing activities here to tap more buyers. "The project with a fair share of inventory under sub-Rs 1 crore bracket holds strong attraction for pan-India customers and investors looking at buying in country's primary realty market," Maroo said. "Not only does this ticket sizing compare well with Delhi and Gurugram markets, it holds attractive ROI (return on investment) proposition at current pricing level," he added. Omkar Realtors has so far delivered 15 projects in Mumbai and is currently developing another six. It is targeting to complete 20 million sq ft area by 2018 in Mumbai and has additional 40 million sq area in pipeline. The company has rehabilitated more than 60,000 slum dwellers in Mumbai under the Maharashtra government's Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) housing scheme. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One man was arrested for alleged negligence after two people died while cleaning a tank at a petrol pump in northwest Delhi's Model Town, police said today. Rajeev (37) and Bittu (27) died after entering the 20 feet deep tank of 2,00,000 litre capacity to clean it yesterday. The labourers were brought out with the help of fire brigade personnel and taken to a hospital where they were declared brought dead. Accused Pawan was arrested for alleged negligence. He is a co-worker of the contractor Naresh, who is yet to be arrested, officials said. The accused did not provide safety gear to the two victims, they added. It is suspected that the tank had water and was closed for a long time, leading to the formation of toxic gases which led to suffocation of the victims, police said. The relatives of the deceased today took to the streets demanding justice, leading to a traffic jam in Azadpur area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as 31,500 real estate projects across the country have been registered under Rera so far, with Maharashtra alone accounting for almost 54 per cent of the same, a report said. Around 17,125 projects in Maharashtra have been registered under Rera so far, according to a joint report by industry body Ficci and Grant Thornton. The Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016 came into full force from May 1, 2017, and all the states and Union territories (UTs) were supposed to notify their respective Rera rules, create online portals and appoint permanent regulators by now. All the under-construction projects, along with real builders and agents, were supposed to be registered under their respective state's Reras. However, as per the survey, out of a total of 35 states and UTs in the country, excluding Jammu & Kashmir, just 24 states and UTs have notified Rera rules so far, with around 25,000 real estate developers and 23,000 real estate agents having registered themselves under Rera. It further revealed that only six permanent and 17 interim Rera regulators have been appointed so far, with only 18 states having managed to have a dedicated portal. Nearly 9,700 complaints have been filed with Rera authorities so far. "Rera authorities in various states are already gearing up to take charge of real estate in their respective states with over 31,500 projects already registered," said Neeraj Sharma, director, Grant Thornton Advisory. However, he added that this may not be the complete picture and the regulators need to be more stringent to ensure complete compliance by developers. According to the study, despite the enforcement of various regulations to protect the interest of all parties and stimulate the confidence of investors with timely delivery of projects, the results have not been prodigious. "Therefore, the Centre has set up a 30-member Central Advisory Council (CAC) to advise on matters regarding Rera implementation across the nation," the report added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Markets regulator Sebi today said investors in illegal schemes of PACL group having claims of not more than Rs 2,500 have been informed through SMS to produce original documents for receiving refunds. Sebi had set up a committee headed by former Chief Justice of India R M Lodha following a Supreme Court order to refund money to investors in the matter of PACL group. The panel has asked only such investors who have received SMS to send their original PACL certificates to the committee, said Sebi in a statement. "It is further informed that refunds upon verification of genuineness of the original PACL certificates/receipts submitted would be credited directly to your (investors) bank account provided in the application," said Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India). PACL also known as Pearl Group, which had raised Rs 60,000 crore from the public in the name of agriculture and real estate businesses, was found by Sebi to have collected these funds through illegal collective investment schemes over 18 years. The Lodha panel is overseeing the process of disposing of properties to refund investors after verifying their genuineness. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Navy's sophisticated maritime security ship 'Kashmir' will arrive at Sri Lanka's Colombo Port on a four-day goodwill visit from Monday, it was announced here today. During their stay at Colombo, the officers and men of the ship will take part in various professional activities with Sri Lankan Navy. Pakistan Navy ships frequently pay port calls to Sri Lanka, as both countries enjoy warm diplomatic and strong military ties, the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement. "Such interactions also demonstrate both navies' resolve to contribute towards achieving a more secure and conducive maritime environment which is essential for the regional peace, prosperity and harmony," it said. The 1,500-tonne PMSS Kashmir, a 94-metre multipurpose patrol vessel is capable of undertaking multifarious missions such as surveillance, policing, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations, security and law-enforcement patrolling in maritime zones. It is the fourth in a series of six multipurpose patrol vessels (MPVs) and was commissioned in the Chinese city of Guangzhou in July. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A presiding officer of a polling station in Pakistan's province has claimed he was abducted by security forces and forced to submit fabricated votes in favour of a candidate of religious coalition Mutthaida Majlis Amal (MMA). The Election Commission of (ECP) has uploaded a letter on its website in which the presiding officer of polling station number 45 in Washuk district has made the claim. In his letter, verified and stamped by the returning officer of the constituency PB-41 in Assembly, the poll official has claimed that he was "abducted by security forces which later forced him to submit the form 45 with the fabricated number of votes written on it" to favour an MMA candidate. The matter had come up for hearing on Thursday by the ECP in Quetta where a returning officer (RO) from the province told the ECP that two presiding officers were allegedly abducted by masked men on the election day, which led to their polling stations' results not being included in the final count of the constituency PB-41. The ECP took up the issue after losing candidate, Baluchistan Awami Party's Mir Mujeebur Rehman Mohammad Hasani, drew its attention to the fact that the results of polling stations number 44 and 45 were missing from the final result of Baluchistan Assembly constituency PB-41. The RO quoted the two presiding officers as claiming that they did not compile the results of their constituencies themselves and that "they were forced to submit the results compiled by their abductors." When the ECP asked as to who had abducted them, Kamran Murtaza, the counsel of PB-41 seat winner belonging to MMA, quoted the presiding officers as saying that they were "abducted by security forces". A Palestinian medic was killed by Israeli fire during clashes and protests along the Gaza border today, the health ministry in the enclave said. The death of Abdullah al-Qatati along the border in southern Gaza came amid heightened tensions, a day after a deadly flare-up between the Israeli army the territory's Islamist rulers Hamas. Thursday had seen extensive Israeli air strikes on Gaza in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies on Wednesday night. But an unofficial ceasefire agreement between the two foes went into effect around midnight (2100 GMT) yesterday. This evening a few thousand Palestinians gathered along the border for weekly protests. Qatati, who was in his 20s and a volunteer with the government medical services, was shot in the chest east of Rafah in southern Gaza, a health ministry spokesman told AFP. He said another 25 Palestinians were hit by Israeli fire, with one in critical condition after being shot in the head. Qatati is at least the second medic to have been killed by Israeli fire during months of border protests. The protesters, who gathered in different locations along the Israel border, set tyres ablaze and threw stones but there were fewer people demonstrating that in previous weeks, AFP correspondents said. The Israeli army said a few thousand "rioters" gathered in a number of sites along the border, with soldiers using riot dispersal means, including live fire. Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, while seven Israelis were wounded by Palestinian rocket fire. It was one of the most serious flareups since the 2014 Gaza war and followed months of escalating tensions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bill to amend the law for speedy disposal of commercial disputes and seeking to reduce the pecuniary jurisdiction of commercial courts from Rs 10 million to Rs 300,000 was passed by Parliament on Friday. The bill, passed in the Lok Sabha in July 31, was adopted in the Raya Sabha by voice vote amid opposition demand for strengthening the necessary infrastructure for speedy disposal of cases. Replying to the debate on the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) bill 2018, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said small businesses should get their disputes redressed like the big ones. Maintaining that efforts were being made to improve the court infrastructure, he said under a central scheme, 42 per cent of the Rs 63.02 billion was given to the states for infrastructure development in the last four years alone. Even measures to fill up vacant posts of judges in the higher judiciary were being undertaken, he said. However, the government has no powers to address the vacancies in subordinate courts where the 5,000 posts are lying vacant at present, he said. Prasad suggested that an All India Judiciary Exam will help address the current problem but "big courts are opposing to this idea." Earlier while introducing the bill for consideration, Prasad said that commercial disputes need to be redressed faster at a time when the country's economy is growing at a faster rate. Participating in the debate, Bhubaneswar Kalita (Cong) expressed concern over the government taking the ordinance route frequently to bring amendments to various laws. He, however, supported the bill saying it was necessary considering the increase in financial disputes. He pointed out that reducing the pecuniary jurisdiction of commercial courts to 300,000 will overburden the courts. Harshavardhan Singh Dungarpur (BJP), A Vijay Kumar (AIADMK), Ramnath Takur (JD-U), Manjoj Kumar Jha (RJD) and D Raja (CPI) also participated in the debate. First Vice Premier of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan has asked the World Bank to assist the Armenian authorities in their efforts to bring the financial resources illegally taken from the country back. "It is not secret that in corrupted societies the financial means accumulated through corruption, embezzlement and other illegal ways are very often taken from the country and moved to other countries for relatively safe harbor," he posts on his Facebook page. "To put an end to this vicious practice and return the stolen public assets, the World Bank and UNODC have created the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative instrument," ARKA cited Mirzoyan as saying. The first vice PM said that he has launched the stolen property return process by filing a written request to the World Bank to receive Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative consulting and technical support. A bill to amend the (IBC) 2016, allowing home buyers to be treated as financial creditors and seeking to set up a special dispensation for small sector enterprises, was passed by on Friday. The bill, which was passed in Lok Sabha on July 31, was approved in the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote. The legislation seeks to replace the June 6 ordinance that sought to put these amendments into force to aid quick resolution of several bankrupt firms. Replying to the debate on the (Second amendment) 2018 in the Upper House, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said its objective was to provide resolution to small bankrupt firms and, at the same time, take stringent action against big bankrupt businesses. He said the bill aims to ensure that all cases are led to resolution instead of liquidation. "We want faster resolution of cases. ....We don't want liquidation. Insolvency will not help the country. Assets worth crores should put to use," he said. The Minister said the Insolvency Law Committee, which was set up in November 2017, had submitted the report on May 26 this year and every recommendations of the panel has been accepted and incorporated in the amendments. On the approval of a resolution plan, the Minister said the report said it should be approved by a panel of creditors by a vote of not less than 66 per cent of the voting share of financial creditors. For routine decisions, it should be 51 per cent vote requirement. Goyal said the government is trying to increase the strength of NCLAT to address the pendency of cases. "The number of courts, judicial members and technical members are being increased," he said. Besides, a group has been set up to see speedy resolution of about 40,000 cases in NCLAT that are simple in nature and can be resolved by imposing non-discretionary penalty, he added. On a member's query regarding less recovery of assets through the resolution process, Goyal said "there is a good recovery. ...If you look at the cases so far, 32 cases are resolved through resolution and up to 55 per cent have been recovered." Earlier, it used to take an average of three years to resolve a matter, it has now come down to one year. Earlier the cost of resolution used be higher at 9 per cent, now it has come down to one per cent, he said. He also stated that the NCLAT was an independent body and the government does not interfere in its functioning. The minister said it is not that in all cases, the promoters are wiful defaulters. Wherever promoters are wilful defaulters, the action should be taken strictly. "Now there is fear among big borrowers that they have to repay their loans. Earlier, there was a responsibility to repay loans was on small borrowers. Big players used think it is not our problem, banks have to recover the loan. This equation has changed today," he noted. Opposing the bill, D Raja (CPI) said that frequent changes to the law is being done to help defaulters and the government wants to bail out the defaulters. In the Bhushan Steel case, he alleged that the banks lost Rs 210 billion but a corporate house gained this amount. He sought to know why the government has a "soft corner towards the corporates." "The government should bail out the poor and not the corporates. The voting requirement is reduced to 66 per cent from 75 per cent to help one corporate," he alleged. Neeraj Shekhar (SP), S R Balasubramaniyan (AIADMK), Kahkashan Perween (JD-U), P Battacharya (Cong) were among others who supported the bill, but expressed concern over the government taking the ordinance route to amend various laws. Dalit leaders of the NDA led by LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan today congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the passage of a bill in Parliament to amend the atrocities act. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment bill which overturns Supreme Court order concerning certain safeguards against arrest under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe law, was passed by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote, yesterday. Paswan, accompanied by other Union ministers Thawarchand Gehlot, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Vijay Sampla and others, met Modi and congratulated and felicitated him for the passage of this bill, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) said in a statement. The bill, which had got the nod of the Lok Sabha on August 6, rules out any provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of atrocities against SC/STs, notwithstanding any court order. It provides that no preliminary inquiry will be required for registering a criminal case and an arrest under this law would not be subject to any approval. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pi Industries has been given the clearance for its Rs 393 crore greenbelt pesticides project in Bharuch district, Gujarat, a senior government official said today. The proposal is to set up a manufacturing unit to produce pesticide, pesticide intermediates and fine chemicals with a total capacity of 43,240 tonnes per annum in an area of 87,300 square metre in Bharuch. "Based on the recommendations of the Appraisal Committee (EAC), the ministry has accorded green clearance to the project," the official said. The green nod has been given to the project with some conditions. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 393 crore, he added. Among conditions specified, the company has been informed that out of proposed total production of pesticides, at least 25 per cent should be bio-pesticides. The company has been asked to obtain consent to establish/operate the project from the state pollution control board, he added. The company has decided to expand its production capacity by addition of a new manufacturing plant to meet the rising the demand. Pi Industries has reported a fall in its standalone net profit to Rs 81.7 crore during first quarter of the 2018-19 fiscal from RS 100.1 crore in the year-ago period. The company's scrip closed flat at Rs 780 apiece on the BSE today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rajasthan High Court has asked the BJP's state unit to respond to a petition alleging that the state government machinery was being misused for Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's gaurav yatra. Raje began last week a 58-day outreach programme across the state, where assembly polls will be held this year-end. A division bench headed by the Rajasthan Chief Justice today sent a notice to Rajasthan BJP chief Madanlal Saini to respond by August 16, when the next hearing will take place. Advocate Vibhuti Bhushan Sharma has alleged in the PIL that the BJP government in the state has issued orders to the public works department to make necessary arrangements during the yatra. The petition has argued that the BJP cannot run its political campaign on funds from the state exchequer. It has asked the court to quash the orders allegedly given by the Raje government to the PWD, and recover the money already spent from the government funds for the yatra. The state unit of the Congress had earlier made the same charge about Raje's yatra. The Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra, is set to cover 165 assembly constituencies, with Raje addressing several rallies along the 6,000-km route. It was flagged off by BJP president Amit Shah from Rajsamand and end in Pushkar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A French-origin restaurateur, who came to India eight years ago, got married to a woman here and is now facing marital problems, today challenged in the Delhi High Court a provision in the citizenship law under which he could lose his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status if his wife divorces him. A bench of Chief Justice Ravindra Menon and Justice C Hari Shankar issued a notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and sought its response to the plea moved by the man who has alleged his wife is demanding a huge sum of money or a share in his business by threatening to divorce him. The petitioner, Jerome Nicholas Georges Cousin, has alleged in his plea, filed through advocates Raghav Awasthi and Mukesh Sharma, that his wife was also threatening to lodge a complaint implicating him in a false rape case or any other offence if her demands were not met. The petitioner got married at Manipur in 2012. He was granted OCI status in 2013, the plea said, adding that except for the last few months, the two were living happily with each other. However, there have been many arguments between them in the past few months, and his wife started demanding a share in the restaurant business he runs here. She also started demanding a huge sum of money and when he refused to meet either of her demands, she threatened to divorce him, the petition claimed. It further said that he later came to know that under Section 7D(f) of the Citizenship Act of 1955, "any Overseas Citizen of India who divorces his/her spouse will lose their OCI status and will have to return to the country of origin". In the present case, the petitioner will have to return to France if his wife divorces him and he cannot continue his business here. In the circumstance, he decided to challenge section 7D(f) of the Act, the plea, which is listed for hearing on November 14, said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pilgrims visiting the Bankey Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, can now pay their obeisance even in the morning during the Phool Bungla season, officials said. So far, the Phool Bungla Seva was only allowed in the evening. But, following a Allahabad High Court order, pilgrims can now offer it to the temple's principal deity during the morning hours, Rajat Goswami, a sevakar (priest) of the temple, said. During the Phool Bungla season people pay obeisance with the purpose of providing relief to the deity from the heat, he said. "The seva was limited to the evening hours, roughly for 105 days, from ekadasi of the Chaitra month (first month of the Hindu calendar) to amavasya of Savan (fifth month of the Hindu calendar)," Goswami said. The practice was allowed in the morning hours after the high court disposed of a 15-year-old case. The case was heard by the high court after a person challenged a order of a Mathura court that had allowed devotees to offer the sewa in the morning, the priest said. Paying obeisance in the morning had started after the Mathura court's order, but was stayed after it was challenged, Goswami said. On August 2, a double bench of the high court dismissed a petition, which claimed that allowing the practice in the morning would be against the tradition of the temple and affect priests. Reacting to the order, the petitioner Gaurav Goswami said, he would challenge the order in the apex court, as the point raised by him wasnot properly taken into account. Deputy Manager of Bankey Bihari temple Umesh Saraswat, "We have received the order and submitted it in the court of Civil Judge (Junior Division). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) associate professor today contended in the Delhi High Court that the plea making allegations of plagiarism against him was not maintainable as it was filed with a private interest in mind. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice C Hari Shankar was informed by the professor's counsel that his book was an edited version of his thesis and almost the same piece of research work, and sought dismissal of the plea saying it was "only a personal dispute" with the petitioner. The court was hearing a plea seeking removal of JNU associate professor SK Ishtiaque Ahmed from his post in the Centre for Persian and Central Asian Studies alleging that he has plagiarised works of several authors in his Ph.D thesis as well as in a book on Iranian politics. "This showed that the petitioner has a malafide intention to malign and confuse the university authorities that had already acted upon the previous complaint of April 25, 2017 made by the petitioner," the professor said in an affidavit filed before the court. The petition by Nadeem Akhtar, a Ph.D research scholar in the same department of the varsity, has alleged that despite the instances of plagiarism being brought to the attention of the JNU, no action was taken and the person concerned was promoted from assistant professor to his current position of associate professor. The professor sought dismissal of the petition saying there was no bonafide interest of the petitioner in this litigation and it was only a personal dispute with him. The court listed the matter for further hearing on August 13 after JNU's counsel Kushal Kumar said the university filed its response yesterday and it was yet to come on record. The court had earlier asked the JNU to file a status report in the matter after conducting an inquiry and also initiate criminal action, if the professor was found in the wrong. The plea has alleged that "a huge chunk of his (professor's) thesis is lifted verbatim from 15 different sources. The respondent 3 (professor) has not only plagiarised texts and footnotes from various books of writers in his Ph.D thesis, but has also plagiarised the conclusion of his thesis using the conclusion of an eminent writer, as his own". Apart from that, the petition has also sought quashing of the Ph.D degree awarded in Persian language in 2000 to the professor. As an interim relief, the plea has sought directions to the university to cease his duties as research supervisor at any level and not to assign any classes till the outcome of this petition. It has sought that the professor be prohibited from supervising and guiding any M.Phil or Ph.D student in the university during the pendency of the plea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha today hit out at the Narendra Modi government over issues ranging from the Rafale fighter jet deal to "concentration of power in the Prime Minister's Office". During a discussion on 'Save Democracy- Save Constitution' here, Yashwant Sinha claimed that ministerial decisions were being taken "single-handedly" in the NDA government. Without naming Rajnath Singh, he claimed the home minister was not even aware of the BJP's decision to pull out of the alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, the finance minister was not aware that demonetisation was going to be announced, he said. He dubbed the Rafale fighter jet deal as "scam of Rs 35,000 crore, much bigger than the Rs 64-crore Bofors scam". The Prime Minister's Office is controlling all ministerial decisions while ministers are sitting "idle", he alleged. Shourie alleged, "Undoubtedly, the Constitution and democracy are in danger. 72 lynchings have happened so far, 54 witnesses have turned hostile in Soharabuddin (fake encounter) case... CBI is being misused...(these) are live examples of the new normal and there seems no hope that the things will change." The veteran journalist said that the media is fearful because their advertisements could get blocked. MP and actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha said he won't quit the BJP on his own. "However, if they want to throw me out, then I will not challenge their wisdom," Sinha said. "People ask me why do you criticise the BJP so much despite being its member. I tell them I belong to the people of India first. I try to give honest feedback to my party and its leadership," he said. Criticising the prime minister for demonetisation, Sinha added that when the country was yet to recover from its shock, Modi "suddenly brought GST which was a double whammy for the countrymen". "These were not party or cabinet decisions, but Modi's decisions alone," he alleged. NCP leader Majid Memon, TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi, AAP MP Sanjay Singh and others also spoke on the occasion. Trivedi said, "Spirit of India has vanished today and even Supreme Court judges are seeking justice... Parliament is not working in a rightful manner... I would say all the four pillars have been compromised." Former high court judge Abhay Thipse, who joined the Congress after retirement, said that previous government never transferred judges unnecessarily. "Today, judges fear to take a strong decision and stand. People and press are also fearful nowadays. There were caste biases earlier also but now fringe elements have got confidence to rule the roost," he said. AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh alleged that the Modi-led government was the biggest "threat" to our democracy. "It is the height of foolishness that the UP government is showering rose petals on kanwariyas from helicopters," Singh said. Kanwariyas who were indulging in vandalism were not real pilgrims, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Police have registered a case against Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain for allegedly raping and threatening a 24-year old woman in Nagaon district, a senior officer said today. Nagaon Deputy Superintendent of Police (headquarter) Sabita Das said the case was registered against Gohain on August 2 after receiving a complaint at Nagaon police station. "We have registered the case. The investigation has already begun and we will proceed as per law," she told PTI. Das, however, refused to share any detail about the case. A senior official of Nagaon Police Station said that the case was registered last week bearing the number 2592/18. "The FIR was registered under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation). We are investigating and have already noted the lady's statement," he said adding the woman has refused medical examination. "The complaint says that the alleged incident took place seven to eight months ago. Both Gohain and the woman knew each other for a long time and the Union minister used to visit her home," the official said. Gohain had committed the crime at the woman's home when her husband and other family members were not present, he said. Asked if Gohain's arrest is imminent, the police official said, "We are probing now. If required, arrest will happen only after the probe is complete. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today spoke over phone to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and assured him of all help to tackle the situation there in the wake of torrential rains. An official release said Narayanasamy enquired about the situation in the Kerala which has been experiencing heavy rains for the past few days. "The situation in Kerala causes concern and Puducherry government is concerned about the development and all help and assistance would be extended by the territorial government," Narayanasamy told Vijayan. Narayanasamy also contacted officials in Mahe, an enclave of Puducherry in Kerala, and enquired about the situation there, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day ahead of BJP president Amit Shah's visit to Kolkata, posters asking the "BJP to leave Bengal" were seen put up in and around his rally venue at Mayo Road, in the central part of the city. The state BJP unit alleged that the placards with messages - "BJP, leave Bengal" and "anti-Bengal BJP go back" - were put up by Trinamool Congress (TMC) cadres, a charge denied by the ruling party. "This shows that the TMC is afraid of our rally tomorrow. The days of TMC are numbered in Bengal. The people of the state are waiting for good governance of the BJP," West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said. Bengal is not TMC's "personal property", the party has no right to make such demands, said another senior BJP leader. "The people of the state will decide in the coming days who will stay and who will leave," he added. However, TMC secretary-general and Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee said his party had nothing to do with the "anti-BJP posters". The route that Shah would take to reach the venue tomorrow, however, was seen dotted with cutouts of party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said the TMC had put up similar posters during Shah's visit to Purulia in June and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in West Midnapore last month. The prime minister had even mocked by the TMC by saying that the ruling party in the state had put up the posters to welcome him, he said. "They have done this (display of TMC hoardings) in the past too. May be it is their way of welcoming people to the state," Vijayvargiya said. Chatterjee, on his part, said there was nothing wrong in putting up posters and placards of their party supremo. "The TMC is the ruling party in the state and we have every right to put up posters and placards. We don't need to take permission for that," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind today inaugurated 'One District One Product' Summit organised by the Uttar Pradesh government to promote traditional industries in every district of the state. The President reached the state capital this morning at Chowdhury Charan Singh airport, where he was received by Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. During the summit, with a tagline of 'Nayi Udaan, Nayi Pehchan', the President distributed loan sanction papers to some artisans. Loan papers amounting to Rs 1,006.94 crore are to be distributed to 4,085 artisans from 75 districts in the summit. The summit, which aims to give boost to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), will be a corollary of the UP Investors Summit held in the state capital in February this year, followed by the groundbreaking ceremony for the launch of 81 projects in July. The ODOP scheme seeks to promote traditional industries synonymous with their respective districts to spur local economy and create jobs, said MSME and Khadi and Village Industries Minister Satyadeo Pachauri. About the objective of the ODOP, he said its aim was to optimise production, productivity and income, preservation and development of local crafts, promotion of art, improvement in product quality and skill development. During the event, the state government will sign memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with e-retailor giant Amazon for marketing of products of artisans, and Quality Control of India (QCI) that will ensure quality of products. Besides, MoUs were exchanged with Wipro GE Health care, National Stock Exchange and BSE. Amazon will train the artisans and small entrepreneurs of several districts, including Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Ferozabad, Moradabad, Agra, Kanpur, Meerut, Bhadohi and Varanasi, in getting their products listed on its marketing platform. During the summit technical sessions on handloom, textiles craft, tourism, agro and food processing, credit and finance will be held. The ODOP Summit is stated to be the first of its kind in the country and is expected to give a big boost to the MSME and handicraft in the state, Pachauri said. UP is uniquely famous for product-specific traditional industrial hubs across 75 districts, including Varanasi (Banarasi silk sari), Bhadohi (carpet), Lucknow (chikan), Kanpur (leather goods), Agra (leather footwear), Aligarh (locks), Moradabad (brassware), Meerut (sports goods) and Saharanpur (wooden products). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Describing the micro, small and medium enterprises as the backbone of the country's economy, President Ram Nath Kovind today said these enterprises are "engines of inclusive development". The President was speaking after inaugurating 'One District One Product' Summit organised by the Uttar Pradesh government to promote traditional industries in every district of the state. "Micro, small and medium enterprises are called the backbone of our economy. These enterprises are engines of inclusive development. After the agricultural sector, most people find employment in this sector. "This sector generates more employment opportunities at a lower cost of capital. And the most important thing about this sector is that it creates jobs in rural and backward areas," he said. The President noted that Uttar Pradesh accounted for 44 per cent of the total handicraft exports of the country. Industries such as handicrafts, food processing, engineering goods, carpets, readymade clothes and leather goods earn foreign exchange as well as provide employment, he said. "Therefore, this sector will play an important role in the development of Uttar Pradesh," Kovind said. He expressed confidence that the One District One Product scheme will enhance skills of local people as well as increase the reach of products. Besides, it will result in economic progress of artisans of Uttar Pradesh. The President also noted that under the One District One Product scheme, the state government has set a goal of providing employment to 25 lakh people in five years through the financial assistance of Rs 25,000 crores. He hoped that this scheme will create large number of employment opportunities for the youth and strengthen the inclusive and sustainable development of Uttar Pradesh. During the summit, with a tagline of 'Nayi Udaan, Nayi Pehchan', the President distributed loan sanction papers to some artisans. Loan papers amounting to Rs 1,006.94 crore are to be distributed to 4,085 artisans from 75 districts in the summit. The summit, which aims to give boost to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) is a corollary of the UP Investors Summit held in the state capital in February this year, followed by the groundbreaking ceremony for the launch of 81 projects in July. UP is uniquely famous for product-specific traditional industrial hubs across 75 districts, including Varanasi (Banarasi silk sari), Bhadohi (carpet), Lucknow (chikan), Kanpur (leather goods), Agra (leather footwear), Aligarh (locks), Moradabad (brassware), Meerut (sports goods) and Saharanpur (wooden products). The ODOP scheme seeks to promote traditional industries synonymous with their respective districts to spur local economy and create jobs, said UP MSME and Khadi and Village Industries Minister Satyadeo Pachauri. The ODOP Summit is stated to be the first of its kind in the country and is expected to give a big boost to the MSME and handicraft in the state, Pachauri said. About the objective of the ODOP, he said its aim was to optimise production, productivity and income, preservation and development of local crafts, promotion of art, improvement in product quality and skill development. The state government will sign memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with e-retailor giant Amazon for marketing of products of artisans, and Quality Control of India (QCI) that will ensure quality of products. Amazon will train the artisans and small entrepreneurs of several districts, including Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Ferozabad, Moradabad, Agra, Kanpur, Meerut, Bhadohi and Varanasi, in getting their products listed on its marketing platform. Besides, MoUs will be exchanged with Wipro GE Health Care, National Stock Exchange and BSE at the event. Technical sessions on handloom, textiles craft, tourism, agro and food processing, credit and finance will be held during the summit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab's dissident AAP legislators today sought a special Assembly session to discuss Justice Ranjit Singh Commission of Inquiry report on sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in different parts of the state in the past. A 16-member AAP delegation comprising eight sitting MLAs met Punjab governor V P Singh Badnore here urging him to direct the state government to make public the findings of the report and convene a special session. The delegation also demanded sharing details of the SIT findings on sacrilege incidents with the public and immediate arrest of the police officers named by the Commission of Inquiry. The delegation also sought appointment of a special and fast track court to deal with the specific sacrilege cases and also the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing case, the AAP rebel Sukhpal Singh Khaira said. The delegation also urged the Governor to fix a time-frame for the SIT to file chargesheet in the sacrilege cases, he said. In June, 2015, a series of sacrilege incidents took place in the state, with the first such case in village Burj Jawahar Singh Wala. The conspiracy culminated in the sacred parts of the holy Granth being found scattered in Bargari village on October 12, 2015, the memorandum submitted by the dissidents MLAs to the Governor said. Since no headway was made in investigations, protest demonstrations began in the state. On one such peaceful demonstration, police opened fire on the unsuspecting protesters at Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015, leading to the killing of two innocent youth of the area, the memorandum said. The then SAD-BJP government handed over two cases of religious sacrilege to the CBI and appointed Justice Zora Singh Commission of Inquiry, which submitted its report in the run-up to Punjab Vidhan Sabha polls. Neither was the report made public nor any worthwhile action taken against the guilty, the memorandum said. The then deputy chief minister and home minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, had announced that the CBI would submit its report within four months. The CBI report is still awaited, with two years having lapsed, the memorandum said. The Congress government led by Amarinder Singh had made an election promise to fast-track cases of religious sacrilege and police firing, the memorandum said. On assuming office in March, 2017, the CM, who incidentally is also holding the Home portfolio, appointed Justice Ranjit Singh Commission of Inquiry to probe incidents of police firing at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan. It also set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DIG, Ranbir Singh Khatra to probe the conspiracy involving incidents of sacrilege. Justice Ranjit Singh Commission submitted its report to the government on June 30, 2018. It pinpointed the role of various police officers present on the spot, besides naming the other senior police officers, who were suspected to have played a key role in the police firing and also thwarting fair police investigations, the memorandum said. Instead of acting swiftly on the reports of the commission and the SIT, Amarinder Singh government has referred the whole matter to the CBI, which is already sitting over two cases of religious sacrilege for more than two years, the memorandum said. This is nothing but a delaying tactic, the memorandum alleged. Besides, Khaira other AAP MLAs among the delegation included Kanwar Sandhu, Nazar Singh Mansahia, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, Master Baldev Singh, Jagdev Singh Hissowal, Pirmal Singh and Jai Krishan Singh Rori. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said a UK-based group advocating an independent Sikh homeland has been offering free tickets to Punjabi youths to take part in a rally in London. The minister said the group was linked to Pakistan's Inter Service's Intelligence, and urged Punjabi youngsters not to fall prey to its designs. India has already conveyed to the UK its unhappiness over that country's decision to allow Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) to hold the August 12 rally in support of a "referendum". "SFJ is wooing youths with free visits to London to participate in the so-called London Declaration function which is aimed at splitting Punjab from India," the minister said in a statement here. She said it seems unsuspecting youths are being brainwashed by the SFJ campaign and are unaware about the organisation's close links with the ISI. The Food Processing Industries Minister, who is an MP from Punjab, said the Pakistani agency is funding the organisation under a secret mission codenamed 'Operation Express'. She said the SFJ is wooing youths on the internet with free tickets and accommodation in London. She claimed there is credible proof that allurements are being offered to them through websites managed from Karachi by the ISI. The minister urged central agencies to keep a close watch on the SFJ's internet activity, saying recent disclosures had linked its website as well as the Referendum 2020 website created by it with a Pakistan-based site. She said even websites of SFJ leaders like Gurpatwant Pannu were linked to the Pakistani website. "While Pannu and others have always denied their links with Pakistan, they have apparently exposed themselves by failing to cover up their links online," she said. She urged parents to keep a watch on their children and ensure they do not fall prey to Pakistan's efforts to take Punjab back to the dark days of terrorism. "Punjabis should reject the tickets being offered by SFJ as they are clearly Pak-sponsored," she added. It has also been revealed, the minister alleged, that the people funding Referendum 2020 were also funding the jathedars' supported by the Congress government in Punjab. She demanded an immediate inquiry into the "foreign funding" being received by the sarkari jathedars', and action against the SFJ's fronts in Punjab. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi today termed the Rafale fighter jet deal as the country's "biggest ever" defence scam and blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for it. Addressing an event here, he claimed that the price of the Rafale jets "magically" rose from Rs 540 to Rs 1600 crore per piece. India had signed an agreement in 2015 for procurement of 36 Rafale figher planes from France. "The UPA government had readied the Rafale contract, according to which the price for each jet was approximately Rs 540 crore. The contract was ready and Modi ji only had to take a decision. "But, Modi ji goes to France and scraps the previous contract and the Defence minister and other cabinet ministers do not know about it," Gandhi said. The Congress leader alleged that a contract related to the fighter deal was snatched from the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and given to a private company which has never made an aeroplane nor taken any defence contract. "The company, which was given the contract, was in a debt of Rs 45,000 crore," he claimed. Gandhi, while speaking after inaugrating the newly- constructed office of the party's state unit, also said that Modi has not yet spoken a word on the rape incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. The situation has not been as bad in the "last 3000 years", he said while referring to the rape incidents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rafale fighter jet deal will end up in arbitration, which will be the biggest arbitration case after the one on the Bhopal gas tragedy, Congress MP Sunil Jakhar claimed today. Participating on debate in the Lok Sabha on the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, Jakhar also alleged that businessmen close to the government had got their companies registered in the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) just days before the deal was clinched. "The Minister should inform the House why this (Rafale fighter jet) deal will not end up in arbitration seat? Whether the Rafale deal will end up in arbitration seat in India or the Hague? "... This will be the biggest arbitration after the Bhopal gas tragedy," he claimed. Earlier in the day, the Congress member had created a flutter in the Lok Sabha, saying "I can make a better Rafale (fighter aircraft), please give me the contract." He had made this caustic remark attacking the BJP-led government while waiving a paper replica of the fighter aircraft during the Zero Hour, when Congress members were in the Well raising slogans on the issue. In his speech later, Jakhar also wondered how India's Foreign Secretary did not know about the Rafale deal but the companies knew about it. "This is a breach of the Official Secrets Act," he charged. The Congress members, who were earlier in the Well raising slogans alleging corruption in the Rafale jet deal, had later walked out of the House. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi would address women Self-Help Groups, students and youth, entrepreneurs and others in separate events during his visit to the city on August 13 and 14,a senior Congress leader said. He would arrive here on August 13 and interact with women SHGs at nearby convention centre, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy told reporters here today. The SHGs, numbering about 70 lakh, received encouragement during the previous Congress regime, which was absent under the present TRS government, he alleged. The TRS government owes Rs 2,000 crore to the women SHGs as on today, he claimed. The state Congress has promised various sops to women SHGs, including grant of Rs one lakh to each of the six lakh groups towards seed capital. The alleged rise in atrocities against women in the country, the pending women's reservation bill and absence of women in the state council of ministers in Telangana are also expected to figure at the meeting. TPCC is wooing the substantial number of voters from Andhra Pradesh, who reside in Hyderabad and its neighbourhood. After the interaction, Gandhi would attend a meeting at Serilingampalli area here, where he and state Congress leaders would speak on issues of Andhra Pradesh natives, Reddy said. These people, living in Telangana for decades, did not vote for Congress in 2014 due to several reasons, he said. On August 14 Gandhi would take part in a tele-conference with 31,600 booth committee presidents, mandal and district Congress presidents and also state unit office bearers ("the whole Congress family in Telangana"), Reddy said. He would then interact with media editors and bureau chiefs for an hour at the hotel where he would be staying. The event would be conducted by the Press Club of Hyderabad. Later Gandhi would address about 150 young industrialists and CEOs from Telangana and Andhra, he said. The Congress President would pay homage at "Telangana martyrs memorial" (in memory those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of separate Telangana) and meet party workers and small businessmen from Goshamahal assembly constituency. Gandhi would then proceed to a public meeting for students and unemployed youth at Saroornagar stadium,where the 'unkept promises' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to provide massive number of jobs and other related issues would figure, Reddy said. He will leave for Delhi by 8.30 that night. Asked about the proposed meeting of minorities here, Reddy claimed that those managing the ground where it was to have taken place initially agreed to give permission, but expressed inability "under pressure from some quarters." Gandhi's visit to Telangana has been planned once a month in the run-up to simultaneous Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemby elections in 2019,Reddy said, adding that the proposed programmes would be organised in those visits. AICC in charge of Congress affairs in Telangana R C Khuntia alleged that the ruling TRS and MIM fear Gandhi's visit. "Why are KCR and MIM afraid of Rahulji?... KCR does not want the meeting (in area of Muslim minorities) to take place," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kochi is experiencing a shortage of drinking water as gushing flood waters due to rains have affected pumping operations from the Periyar river, officials said. State Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan, who reviewed the situation in Aluva this morning, said officials have been directed to distribute foodgrains and drinking water to people in the affected areas. "We have made alternative arrangements to ensure drinking water supply in the affected areas," he said. Ernakulam district administration said there was 20 per cent deduction in supply of drinking water. District Collector Muhammed Y Safirulla urged people use water wisely in view of the emerging crisis. Kerala Water Authority officials yesterday said high turbidity in the Periyar river had hit pumping and distribution of drinking water supply at Aluva, Eloor, Kalamassery, Thrikkakara, Cheranellur, Elankunnapuzha, Njarackal, Mulavukad and part of Kochi corporation. Deputy Mayor of Kochi T J Vinod alleged that no steps were taken to ensure drinking water to Kochi and nearby municipalities in view of the "crisis" arising out of rising water level in Periyar affecting pumping from Aluva. Heavy rains pounding Kerala since August 8 triggered a series of landslides in the hilly Idukki district and northern parts, killing 26 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh today ordered an inquiry by the Lokayukta into alleged irregularities in the appointment of a professor at Udaipur's ML Sukhadia University. This is the first case of inquiry by the Lokayukta into a matter related to a university in the state, a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said. The decision was taken following complaints of irregularities in the appointment of Rajesh Kumar Dubey as a professor in the biotechnology department of the university. The department of Personnel issued a notification of the Lokayukta inquiry following the directions of the governor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of sexual exploitation cases in shelter homes in Muzaffarpur and Deoria, the Rajasthan government today set up a special team to monitor all child care centres in the state. The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi today. The state-level task force will monitor all such centres by August 30 and submit a report to the state government, Chaturvedi said. Nearly 4,000 children are living in 100 children homes in the state, Additional Chief Secretary J C Mohanty said. A Child Welfare Committee and officials of other department will conduct the inspection in the supervision of collectors in districts. The team members will talk to children and if any irregularity is found, necessary action will be taken, he said. Chaturvedi said a detailed guideline will be prepared for day care centres, ashrams, hostels etc. Director of the department Samit Sharma, additional director Shruti Bharadwaj and officials from the police, law, labour and the Health Department were also present at the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre today assured the Kerala government of all possible help in rescue and relief operations in the wake of rains and floods, which so far have claimed 26 lives in the state. The assurance was given by Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a telephonic conversation. "Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the prevailing flood situation in the state. I have assured all possible assistance from the Centre to the state government. The relief and rescue ops are going on. MHA is closely monitoring the flood situation," Singh tweeted. The South-West monsoon has been vigorous over Kerala, resulting in heavy rains in various parts of the state for the last two days. So far, 26 people have been killed, including 11 due to landslides in high-range Idukki yesterday, as rain continued to pound the southern state. As heavy rains continued to lash various parts of Kerala, two more shutters of the Cheruthoni Dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, were opened today as the water level touched 2,401 feet. For the first time in the last 26 years, a shutter of the Cheruthoni dam was opened yesterday and two more were opened at 7 am. The full reservoir level is 2,403 feet and storage capacity is 69,268 Mcft and storage percentage is 97.61 per cent. With water levels rising in various dams and reaching almost maximum capacity, shutters of at least 22 reservoirs in the state have been opened to drain out excess water. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice within minutes during the pre-lunch session today amid protest by Congress members over their demand for a JPC probe into the alleged scam in the Rafale jet deal. Congress members were up on their feet since the start of the day in the Rajya Sabha creating uproar over the Rafale issue. Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who chaired his first session today, kept appealing to agitating members to allow the Zero Hour to function where other members were seeking to raise matters of public importance. Though the Zero Hour continued amid the din, Congress members raised their pitch and some other opposition members entered the well to raise their issues. The Deputy Chairman then adjourned the House a few minutes before the Zero hour was to end. When the House met for the Question Hour at noon, Congress members again raised their demand with several of them raising slogans standing in the aisles. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu then adjourned the House till noon. Earlier, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that the Rafale deal was a "big scam" and there should be a JPC probe into it. Congress Deputy leader Anand Sharma said whenever such issues have been released earlier during previous Congress rules, a JPC probe was ordered and reiterated his party's demand. Meanwhile, Derek O'Brien (TMC) raised a point of order saying legislative business should not be taken on a day when private members' bill are listed. To this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said it was agreed in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) that legislative business would be taken up as the House was adjourned as mark of respect to DMK leader late Karunanidhi for a day. However, Derek and Sharma said there was no such agreement in the BAC meeting. Goel alleged that the opposition was creating din in the House as they did not want the Triple Talaq Bill to be taken up for passage. Later, the Chairman said it was suggested during the BAC meeting that bills would be taken up on Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A protest march organised by members of the Maldhari community turned violent in Gujarat's Mehsana district today, prompting the police to lob teargas shells to control the situation, an official said. At least 73 people were detained, he said. The march was organised by Maldhari community leaders seeking 'justice' for Raju Rabari, a community member who was killed at Rajpur in the district on July 25. The traditional occupation of the Maldhari community is cattle rearing. Demanding arrest of the main culprits in the case, a large number of community members marched towards Nandasan, a communally sensitive village off the Mehsana-Ahmedabad Highway from Rajpur, this morning. On the way, some people started pelting stones at the police and blocked the busy highway, forcing the men in uniform to act, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Manjita Vanzara. "We lobbed some 15 teargas shells (to disperse the mob) and have detained 73 people for the violence," the officer said. Rajpur and its surrounding areas are on edge since the killing of Rabari with some Maldhari leaders claiming he was a 'gau rakshak' (cow protector) who was killed by people "involved in cow slaughtering". While the police have arrested seven people, most of them from a minority community, for the killing, Maldhari leaders alleged the main culprits were still at large. However, Vanzara maintained Rabari's death had nothing to do with cow protection. "He and the accused (those allegedly involved in the killing) were running criminal gangs and facing many cases of loot and extortion. The murder was a result of a dispute over distribution of money," the police officer said. "The agitators wanted the police to arrest the sarpanch of Rajpur (who belongs to a minority community) and some others who were not even present on the (crime) spot. "We can not arrest someone without concrete evidence," Vanzara added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today demanded the immediate sacking of Union Minister Rajen Gohain after a rape case was registered against him in Assam. The Assam Police have registered a case against Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain for allegedly raping and threatening a 24-year old married woman in Nagaon district, a senior police officer said. Gohain has also filed complaints of blackmailing against the woman and her family, his officer on special duty Sanjiv Goswami said when contacted. He claimed that the case against the minister has been withdrawn. Congress leader Pawan Khera asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately sack Gohain from the union council of ministers. "We demand from this government, from Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to take immediate and strict action against rape accused Minister Rajen Gohain, the Minister of State for Railways," the Congress spokesperson said. Khera also reminded the prime minister of the promise he had made before 2014 parliamentary elections about his commitment towards ensuring women safety in the country. "Remove him from office. You cannot allow him to be in a position of power and influence the investigation. Please remove him if you meant anything that you promised before 2014," he told reporters. He also questioned the prime minister's "silence" on Unnao and Kathua rapes and in the alleged rapes in shelter homes in Bihar's Muzaffarpur and UP's Deoria. "In the recent past, we saw you were standing with rapists of Kathua, with rapists of Unnao, and very recently, we saw you (Modi) absolutely quiet on Muzaffarpur rapes. Your own government is there in alliance with Nitish Kumar Ji. "Last week, we saw horrifying reports from Deoria, from Pratapgarh, but again you (Modi) remained quiet. Now, the people have lost faith in all those promises, in all those slogans that you used to promise before coming to power in 2014," he said. Khera accused the prime minister of "failing" the women of the country and questioned his silence on the rape charge against the union minister. "Again there is a rape FIR against the Cabinet colleague of yours - MoS for Railways Rajen Gohain. If you do not act now, you will loose the moral authority to stay in office even for a day. Please take action," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Police requires more personnel and a proposal for recruitment on more than 4,000 posts is under serious consideration, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today. Saying that Delhi Police has registered significant improvement in the past four years, Singh lauded it for bringing down heinous crimes in the city. "Delhi Police requires more force. A proposal for recruitment of over 4,000 personnel is under serious consideration of the ministry," Singh said at an event to inaugurate a new office of DCP (southwest) and residential complex at Cantt police station. The ministry has already sanctioned recruitment of 3,149 personnel for Delhi Police. Singh also launched an all-women SWAT unit of Delhi Police. The team will be deployed on the ground for Independence Day security. A demonstration to tackle terrorists by the women members of SWAT was displayed during the event. The all-women unit will be sixth SWAT team of Delhi Police. The home minister pointed that traffic management is a big challenge before the Delhi Police, saying the Home Ministry has given in-principle approval to artificial intelligence based Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS). He asked officers of the force to regularly review systems to ensure prompt women security arrangements in the city. The home minister also warned Delhi Police personnel against meddling in land-related disputes. "Police does not need to play the role of judge in land matters. It is work of the courts." Delhi's Lt Governor Anil Baijal said representation of women in Delhi Police should be scaled up to at least 30 per cent. Presently, the force has about 10 per cent women personnel. In his address, Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik said new recruitment will help increasing ground presence of the force. He said the student cadet scheme, which has been started in southwest district, will be implemented across the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bihar government has cancelled the registration of Brajesh Thakur's NGO, which ran the infamous shelter home in Muzaffarpur where 34 girls were allegedly raped over a period of time. Besides, the sale of the NGO's assets was banned and the bank accounts were frozen, an official said here today. According to Muzaffarpur District Registration Officer Sanjay Kumar, the orders to freeze the bank accounts and ban the sale or purchase of any movable or immovable assets of the Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti were passed by District Magistrate (DM) Mohammad Sohail on August 7 and 8. The DM's orders had followed an August 6 missive from the state Registration department, wherein it was stated that the NGO's registration was being cancelled as it was blacklisted by the Social Welfare department for the alleged sexual abuse of inmates at the shelter home. Henceforth, there should be no transaction through the bank accounts of the Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti nor should there be any sale or purchase of movable or immovable assets in its name, Kumar said, adding that the office-bearers and members of the NGO were also restrained from carrying out any activity in its name. Interestingly, Thakur's name does not figure among the list of office-bearers and members of the NGO. The non-governmental organisation had, in its registration document, stated that it aimed to promote education and development of women and children as well as the protection of their lives. Earlier, CBI and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) teams separately met the DM in connection with the shelter home scandal. The CBI team is also understood to have taken into its possession the medical test report of Thakur, the key accused in the sex-scandal case, whose remand it may seek from the court if he is declared fit enough. The three-member NCPCR team is said to have inquired with the DM about the well-being of the former inmates of the shelter home who have been shifted to Madhubani, Patna and Mokama. Thakur has been lodged in a Muzaffarpur jail for over two months now. Currently, he is in the jail hospital. Meanwhile, political parties continued to use the horrific Muzaffarpur episode to attack their rivals. While women supporters of the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) took out a procession in Patna today demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, another procession was taken out by the workers of the ruling Janata Dal (United), demanding the resignation of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the leader of opposition in the state Assembly. Former Union minister Kanti Singh, who took part in the RJD procession, alleged that Kumar had all along tried to shield those involved in the scandal, while claiming that a CBI inquiry in the matter was ordered under opposition pressure. She also said Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma resigned only after Thakur's phone call details showed his links with her husband. Asked who should become the chief minister if Kumar resigned, she said there should be fresh elections. The JD(U) supporters said Yadav had no moral right to hold the position of leader of opposition because of his association with certain people accused of sexual crimes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reporters Without Borders said it had restored its website in Egypt today, exactly one year after it was blocked by the authorities. "Access to hundreds of websites are blocked in Egypt, placing journalists in a virtual jail," the press freedom body said on its site. "To draw attention to this censorship, and to circumvent it, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is making its own website accessible again in Egypt today." More than 500 and NGO sites are blocked in Egypt, according to the Cairo-based Association for the Freedom of Thought and Expression. Around 100 sites -- including Al Jazeera, Huffington Post Arabic and BuzzFeed -- were blocked last year, RSF said. The sites of independent local organisations have also been blocked. Human rights groups regularly criticise moves by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government to curtail free speech. "Online censorship is one side of the oppressive system that the regime wants to extend in Egypt," said Elodie Vialle, the head of Reporters Without Borders' journalism and technology desk. "It entails putting journalists 'on mute' in order to make it easier to spread pro-government content. "The other side is that the technology is used to spy on them, which in some cases is sold by European companies," added Vialle. RSF called on "democracies to condemn the Egyptian regime's closed, censored and monitored internet model". Reporters Without Borders said it was unblocking its site through a website "mirroring" technique, which involves copying content and switching servers. Egyptian authorities have not acknowledged or denied blocking certain sites. In July, parliament passed a law reinforcing the state's control over the internet, including social media accounts of organisations and individuals with more than 5,000 followers. Egypt is placed 161 out of 180 countries in RSF's press freedom rankings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded over Rs 1.22 crore to the kin of a businessman who was killed in a road accident in Haryana in 2014. MACT presiding officer Amit Bansal asked Iffco Tokio General Insurance Co Ltd, insurer of the offending vehicle, to pay Rs 89,05,000 as compensation and Rs 33,39,374 as interest, totalling an amount of Rs 1,22,44,374 to the family of the deceased. The tribunal awarded the compensation to the family of north Delhi resident Rajesh Jain, who was killed on January 5, 2014 while he was returning home from one of his factories. According to a complaint filed by Jain's wife, his car was hit from behind by a truck driven in a rash and negligent manner at Samalkha in Haryana. "In view of the discussion and the material and evidence which has come on record, it is held that the petitioners (family of Jain) have been able to prove on the basis of preponderance of probabilities that the deceased (Jain) expired on above mentioned date, time and place in a road accident caused due to rash and negligent driving of the offending vehicle's driver," the tribunal said. While awarding the compensation, the tribunal noted that Jain, 46, is survived by his wife, two sons and his parents. The tribunal asked the insurance company to pay the amount after considering the fact that the driver of the offending truck had a valid driving licence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chairman M on Friday expunged certain remarks made by Prime Minister in the House that were found to be "objectionable". The remarks made by the prime minister while referring to the opposition's candidate B K Hariprasad for the post of deputy chairman were expunged after some members made a demand in this regard, according to the Secretariat. Chairman Naidu had on Thursday said in the House that he will look into the remarks and see if there was something objectionable. The remarks were made by the prime minister while felicitating newly-elected Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh in the House on Thursday. Remarks made by the prime minister are rarely expunged. Hariprasad said it was unfortunate that the prime minister had lowered the dignity of the House. The chairman also expunged a word uttered by Union Minister during the felicitations. Russia and China have blocked a US request to add a Russian bank to a UN sanctions blacklist along with a North Korean official and two entities, diplomats said. The United States last week asked a UN sanctions committee to slap an assets freeze on Agrosoyuz Commercial Bank for allegedly helping North Korea evade UN-imposed restrictions on financial transactions. The request also targeted Ri Jong Won, the deputy representative of North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank and two North Korean front companies. In a response to the council, Russia yesterday raised doubts about the allegations, while China told the council that it objected to the proposed sanctions designations put forward by the United States. "We would like to underline that designation requests submitted to the committee should be adequately substantiated by sufficient information," said the Russian mission to the United Nations in a message to the council seen by AFP. The request followed a US Treasury Department decision to impose unilateral sanctions on the Russian bank, the North Korean official and the two entities. The two companies were named as the Dandong Zhongsheng Industry and Trade Company and the Korea Ungum Corporation. Russia and China have called on the Security Council to consider easing sanctions to reward North Korea for opening up dialogue with the US and halting missile tests. But the US has called for maintaining "maximum pressure" from sanctions until North Korea has fully dismantled its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Earlier yesterday, the North Korean foreign ministry issued an angry statement, denouncing the United States for responding to its overtures by "inciting international sanctions and pressure." The council last year adopted three rafts of sanctions targeting North Korea's economy through export and import bans, as well as restrictions on banking. It was the second time in three weeks that Russia and China have objected to a US request to tighten sanctions on North Korea. On July 19, the two countries put a six-month hold on a US request to halt all deliveries of refined oil products to North Korea. The US had made the request to the sanctions committee after finding that North Korea had exceeded the cap on fuel imports though illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea. UN sanctions resolutions place a ceiling for North Korea of 500,000 barrels of refined oil products per year and four million barrels of crude. A cut-off of oil and fuel would have to be enforced primarily by China, which supplies most of North Korea's energy needs, but also by Russia, which delivers some oil to Pyongyang. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia's prime minister today sternly warned the United States against ramping up sanctions, saying that Moscow will retaliate with economic, political and unspecified "other" means. The tough message from Dmitry Medvedev marked what the Kremlin sees as a red line, reflecting a growing dismay with the new US sanctions that already has sent the Russian ruble plummeting to its lowest level in two years. The US State Department yesterday said that Washington made the determination this week that Moscow had used the Novichok nerve agent to poison ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury and that sanctions would follow later this month. Russia has strongly denied involvement in the poisoning. According to the State Department, those sanctions will include the presumed denial of export licenses for Russia to purchase many items with national security implications. Some reports indicated that a possible next wave of sanctions in the fall could target Russia's state-controlled banks and freeze their operations in dollars a move that would deal a heavy blow to the Russian economy. Medvedev warned the US that such a move would cross a red line. "If something like a ban on bank operations or currency use follows, it will amount to a declaration of economic war," he said. "And it will warrant a response with economic means, political means and, if necessary, other means. Our American friends should understand that." Medvedev's tough tone was in stark contrast with past statements by President Vladimir Putin and his lieutenants, who have taken a nonchalant posture while talking about US and other Western sanctions, seeking to downplay their impact on the Russian economy. The announcement of new US sanctions has rattled the Russian currency and stock markets. The ruble plummeted to its lowest level since August 2016 in early trading today. Russia-US ties have sunk to their lowest level since the Cold War times amid tensions over Ukraine, the war in Syria and the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. Medvedev said while the US says that the sanctions are intended to punish Russia's "bad" behavior, their real goal is to sideline a rival. "It's intended to remove Russia as a strong competitor on the international arena," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ryanair pilots in several European countries staged a strike over work conditions today that prompted the budget carrier to cancel 400 flights. Walkouts called by German and Belgian unions accounted for many of the cancellations, with strikes also called in Sweden and Ireland. The airline said that over 2,000 flights, or 85 per cent of its schedule, would operate as normal and that the majority of passengers affected have been re-booked on other Ryanair services. German pilot representatives had said this week they were joining the strike action with a 24-hour walkout, ending at 2:59 am Saturday, because they want pay and work conditions comparable to those at Ryanair's competitors. The company has pointed to recent pay increases and invitations to meet for negotiations. Ryanair urged the unions "to continue negotiations instead of calling any more unjustified strikes". Ryanair built its low-cost business model without unions, but said last year it would recognize them. Labour representatives are seeking collective-bargaining agreements in the different countries. The airline has already been hit with strikes by flight attendants in Spain, Portugal and Belgium. Irish pilots have held four strike days. In the Netherlands, the carrier was using non-striking pilots to keep its service running for passengers. In a tweet yesterday night, the company said that "there will be no cancellations" as a result of the Dutch union's strike. Ryanair launched unsuccessful legal action in a Dutch court to prevent the strike in the Netherlands. In Sweden, some 40 Ryanair pilots walked out to demand a collective labour agreement. Martin Lindgren, head of the Swedish Air Line Pilots Association, said that "a strike is necessary to show the airline that it no longer can avoid treating its employees in a dignified manner". At Ryanair's main Belgian hub, the Charleroi airport south of Brussels, a few dozen striking pilots gathered in the main terminal behind a banner marked "Ryanair on strike, Ryanair must change". The Belgian Cockpit Association's Alain Vanalderweireldt said the strike in Belgium "is the conclusion of six months of discussions between Ryanair and the union representatives that has led to nowhere concretely". While the union wants to apply Belgian labour laws to employees, Ryanair is still applying Irish laws, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three South Korean firms were caught importing coal and iron from the North last year, Seoul said today, in an apparent violation of UN sanctions imposed in August 2017 on the nuclear-armed state. More than 35,000 tonnes of North Korean coal and iron worth 6.6 billion won (USD 5.8 million) were imported into the South between April and October last year, the Korea Customs Service said. In addition to breaking South Korean law, some of the shipments were likely to be in breach of UN resolutions as well, with the customs service warning that "any ships that are believed to have violated UN sanctions will be impounded or banned from entering South Korean ports". In a complex process spanning three countries, coal shipments were first sent to Russia, where their details were disguised using forged "country of origin" documents, and then reloaded on ships bound for the South, the customs office said in a statement that followed a 10-month investigation by the authorities. In another case, black coal imported from North Korea was transferred to the Russian port of Kholmsk, where it was "disguised as semi-coking coal that does not need country of origin documents", before being reloaded on ships heading to the South, the customs office said. "Korea Customs Service has confirmed seven criminal offences and it will report three persons and three companies to prosecution authorities with a request to indict them", it said. "It is necessary to consider the timing of UN resolutions... to determine whether the activities were in breach" of sanctions as well, it added. of the apparent breach comes after a UN report last week accused the North of evading sanctions by continuing to export coal, iron and other commodities as well as carrying out illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil products at sea. Deliveries of iron and steel to China, India and other countries generated nearly USD 14 million from October to March, the UN report said. The South Korean investigation also uncovered a trade in pig iron, with the customs office saying that the suspects sold the crude metal to a South Korean buyer via a Hong Kong-based shell company. It said the suspects appeared to have been paid in coal, rather than cash, for their role in helping the nuclear-armed regime export its products. Last year the UN Security Council adopted a series of resolutions targeting North Korean exports of commodities and the isolated regime's financial network in a bid to cut off revenue to its weapons programmes. A recent diplomatic thaw culminated in a historic meeting between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June. But there has been little evidence of concrete post-summit progress on the key issue of denuclearisation, with the North attacking the US for "gangster-like" demands of complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament. Russia and China have called on the Security Council to consider easing sanctions to reward North Korea for opening up dialogue with the United States and halting missile tests. But Washington has urged the international community to maintain maximum sanctions pressure, even suggesting tougher economic measures, in a bid to compel Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of the State Bank of India carrying Rs 39,000 was stolen by unidentified persons from Navoday chowk in Bhojpur district in the early hours today, police said. Sub divisional police officer, Jagdishpur, Manjit said the theft occurred at around 3 am when a police team was patrolling the area. The police personnel noticed the machine being lifted into a car and despite a hot chase, the miscreants managed to escape, he said. "We are proceeding on the basis of CCTV footage but the picture is not clear bacause of darkness," the SDPO said. Quoting SBI officials, who have lodged a case with the Bihiya police, Superintendent of Police Avkash Kumar said, the ATM was out of order for the last two months. Raids were being conducted to nab the culprits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea filed by jailed Dalit leader and Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad challenging his detention under stringent provisions of the National Security Act (NSA). Azad alias Ravan is in jail after his arrest in June 2017 for his alleged role in the Saharanpur riots. The NSA provisions were invoked against the 'Dalit' leader almost six months after his arrest. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submissions of senior advocate Colin Gonsalves that the Bhim Army chief has been in jail without any relief and issued the notice to the state government. The petition claimed that the fundamental rights of Azad have been violated. Azad, accused of rioting, was arrested from Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh on June 8, 2017 by a Special Task Force (STF) team of the Uttar Pradesh police. Dalits had clashed with Rajputs in Shabbeerpur (Saharanpur) on May 2 last year, after a dispute arose over loud music being played during a Maharana Pratap Jayanti procession. One man was killed and around 25 houses were burnt in the subsequent inter-caste clashes. Chandrashekhar was later arrested and booked under the NSA. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Saturday stayed a High Court direction to the cinema hall and multiplex owners of the state not to prohibit moviegoers from carrying own food and water inside the theatres. Besides the relaxation on carrying food items inside the theatres, the High Court had on July 18 passed a number of directions related to cinema halls. A bench of justices R F Nariman and Indu Malhotra, as an interim relief, stayed only one direction of the high court and sought the reply of the state government and the lawyers who had filed a PIL before the high court within four weeks. Appearing for the petitioner -- the Multiplex Association of India that has challenged the high court order -- senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said if the order was implemented across the country, these business entities would face a breakdown. "Can I be allowed to carry my whisky and chips into Willingdon Club and ask for soda there," Rohatgi said as he sought an immediate stay of the high court order. The bench asked the senior lawyer whether there were any rules that imposed restrictions on carrying food and water inside the theatres. Rohatgi said statutory rules existed only for films and not for food articles as these business entities were cinema halls. "The absence of any rules does not mean that people can carry their own food inside the cinema halls," he said. Senior advocates Abhishek M Singhvi, Vivek Tankha and advocate Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for petitioner Waves Cinema, Jammu, also opposed the high court order, saying the entry tickets of the theatres had conditions mentioned, restricting people from carrying food inside the halls. "Due to the absence of any substantive law on the issue, we will have to rely upon old English judgments, which held that the terms and conditions mentioned on the entry tickets must be complied with," Singhvi said. The bench posted the matter for further hearing after six weeks. ALSO READ: Carrying outside food at Maharashtra movie halls may increase ticket prices On July 18, the high court had issued a slew of directions on a PIL filed by two lawyers, seeking a direction for the implementation of the Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1975 in their letter and spirit. The PIL before the high court had further sought a direction prohibiting the cinema hall owners from restraining the moviegoers from taking outside eatables with them inside the cinema halls. The high court had directed the owners of the multiplexes and cinema halls in the state not to prohibit the moviegoers henceforth from carrying own food and water inside the theatres. It had also directed the state government and the licensing authority and district magistrates to ensure that a ban on polythene bags at multiplexes and cinema halls was strictly enforced. The high court had asked the multiplex and cinema hall owners to put up signboards at conspicuous places, requesting the moviegoers not to litter the multiplexes and cinema halls with waste food items and empty bottles. ALSO READ: The food issue in multiplexes "The government of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the licensing authority and every district magistrate in the state, are directed to ensure that a proper uniformity is maintained with respect to the sale price of tickets in all the cinemas of the state," the order had said. It had directed a strict compliance of the rules, which provided that no person in the age group of 5 to 18 years should be admitted to any show commencing before 3 pm, except on a Sunday or any holiday notified by the state. "The government as well as every district magistrate in the state is directed to see and ensure that these directions are complied with forthwith in their true letter and spirit and in case of any breach of these directions on the part of any multiplex or cinema hall owners, take stern action against them and even revoke the license of such multiplex or cinema hall owners," the high court order had said. The Supreme Court today said it would examine the provisions of law which provide curbs and balances for media in reporting incidents of sexual assault, including that of minors, after it was complained that there have been "regular violation" of such provisions. The apex court was told that in today's world, parallel media trials were going on even when proceedings of cases were pending before the court of law, like in the recent Kathua gangrape-murder case. A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur was informed by senior advocate Indira Jaising, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, that disclosing the identity of a victim of sexual assault infringes the privacy of that person and it should not be allowed. She referred to the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which deals with disclosure of identity of victims of such offences and procedure to be followed by the media in reporting these cases, and said they needed to be interpreted by the apex court. Jaising said a balance of rights of such victims and that of the media to report such incidents was required, and the apex court should interpret Section 228-A of IPC (dealing with disclosure of identity of victims of sexual offences) and provision 23 of the POCSO Act which deals with the procedure to be followed by media. "A balance will have to be struck. We do not want a complete ban on the media, but victim's identity should be protected. Also, there should not be any media trials," she told the bench, also comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta. "We will hear you on that," the bench told Jaising. "Is there a requirement to hear somebody from bodies like the Press Council of India (PCI) because then the media will say they were not heard," it said. Jaising, also referring to the Contempt of Courts Act, told the bench that media has now "gone beyond reporting" and deciding even before a court's judgement as to who should be an accused. The bench, which said during the hearing that it would issue notice to the PCI on the matter, later said that it would hear submissions on September 5. During the hearing, Jaising said a scheme prepared by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for compensating victims of sexual assault and acid attacks should be notified by all states since the apex court has also accepted it. She said the Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/ Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes-2018 would be effective from the date the states notified it and there should be a time frame for it. "Have it (notified) on October 2," the bench said. The amicus curiae said October 2, being Gandhi Jayanti, was an auspicious day and states should notify the scheme on that date. She said the issue related to making the scheme "gender neutral" and extending it to child victims of such assaults would be looked into. Jaising said even the POCSO Act prescribed compensation to minor victims and NALSA's scheme has an upper limit as far as paying compensation to the victims was concerned. "We will pass direction that in POCSO Act cases, the upper limit will not apply," the bench said. The bench also referred to an application filed by a body suggesting some changes in the NALSA's scheme and asked the amicus curiae to look into it. The court said that the body could make a representation before a committee of NALSA, which has representatives from various ministries, and the panel would look into it and suggest changes, if necessary. The amicus also raised the issue of black tinted glasses in vehicles and offences reported in app-based taxi services. She said the black tinted glasses in vehicles was one of the reasons of the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case in Delhi in 2012. As per NALSA's scheme, a victim of gang rape in any part of the country would now get a minimum compensation of Rs 5 lakh and up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh. Similarly, in case of rape and unnatural sexual assault, the victim would get a minimum compensation of Rs 4 lakh and maximum of Rs 7 lakh. The scheme also says that victims of acid attacks, in case of disfigurement of face, would get a minimum compensation of Rs 7 lakh, while the upper limit is Rs 8 lakh. Earlier, the Centre had told the apex court that it was finding it difficult to get cooperation of states on the issue relating to disbursal of compensation to victims of sexual assault under the Nirbhaya Fund. The Nirbhaya Fund was announced by the Centre in 2013 after the December 16, 2012 gang rape and murder incident in Delhi to support the initiatives on women's safety across the country. Several petitions were filed in the Supreme Court after the Nirbhaya incident, raising concerns over safety and security of women. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today agreed to hear next week a plea of senior Congress leader Kamal Nath seeking random verification of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submission of lawyer Varun Chopra that the plea be listed for urgent hearing and said that it would come up next week. The leader, in his plea, has sought a direction to the Election Commission to randomly verify VVPAT slips with EVM votes at 10 per cent of polling stations in every constituency. Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha said that the plea has also sought a direction to the poll panel to publish the voter list in "text format as per rules" and to expeditiously decide all complaints before final publication of the voter list. "Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction to the Respondents (Election Commission) to issue directions for conducting VVPAT verification at least 10 per cent randomly selected polling stations in each assembly constituency/ assembly segment to ensure free and fair elections," the plea said. It also said the display time for the VVPAT slip for the voters should be 15 seconds instead of the current seven seconds "Because paper trail coming out of VVPAT is only visible for seven seconds. Therefore, majority of voters, who are not well versed with technology will not be able to look to the paper trail and confirm if the VVPAT is showing the correct slip. "In the absence of any empirical study on each state with regard to the capability of voter to identify the votes cast, the time fixed by the ECI for display as seven seconds (7 sec) is arbitrary and must be increased to a reasonable time ie. fifteen seconds (15 sec)," the plea said. It has asked the court to issue a direction to the poll panel to prohibit deletion of voters from the voter list without intimation to all political parties. The Congress leader, in his plea, pointed out that recently the EC has dropped more than 24 lakhs voters from the voter list published in January 2018 for Madhya Pradesh and "it would not be out of place to mention that the Respondents (ECI) have admitted 2,37,234 photo entries found to be suspicious/ unclear/blank photos". The Madhya Pradesh Congress chief said that the poll panel has not explained as to whether unique identification serial number will be given to the collection box and the EVM. He said unless such unique identification serial number was given to identify the ballot box and the voting machine, chances of manipulation were very high, adding that, in order to prevent any kind of manipulation Unique Identification Serial Number has to be made mandatory for all EVMs with VVPATs. He also alleged various lapses in transferring of machines before and after the polls and pointed out an incident on May 29 this year after bye-polls at Palghar Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra when two election officers were caught transporting EVMs in a private car. "No clear instructions regarding and secured transportation of EVMs before and after polling has been prescribed till date. Without a protocol and standard procedure for the same, such incidents can vitiate the entire process of elections," the Congress leader said. Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the BJP since 2003 and Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the current chief minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today termed as "grave" the rising incidents of rioting and vandalism of properties during protests across the country and said that it will not wait for the government to amend the law. The observation came when Attorney General K K Venugopal told the bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that riots and protests are happening almost every week in one or other part of the country and referred to recent violent incidents involving kanwariyas. "Kanwariyas are overturning vehicles in Delhi... When the film 'Padmavat' was to be released, one group gave open threat that it will cut the nose of the lead actress. Nothing has happened. No FIR," the law officer told the bench which also comprised justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud. Venugopal referred to protests on the Maratha reservation in Maharashtra, nationwide violence following the apex court verdict in the SC/ST matter. "Then what is your suggestion," the bench asked the top law officer. "Fix the responsibility on the officers concerned like Superintendent of Police," Venugopal said and referred to an illustration and said that unauthorised constructions in Delhi have stopped after it was decided that the DDA officer concerned would be held accountable for such construction in his or her area. He then said that the government has been contemplating an amendment in the existing law to deal with such kind of protests and asked the courts to allow the legislature to change the law suitably. "We will not wait for the amendment. This is a grave situation and this must stop," the bench said. The bench then reserved the order on a plea filed by the Kodungallur Film Society filed through lawyer P V Dinesh seeking enforcement of the apex court's directions passed in 2009 in one of the verdicts to ensure peaceful protests in the country. It asked Dinesh to also give suggestions besides the guidelines issued by the court in 2009. The apex court, in 2007, had taken a serious note of various incidents of large scale destruction of public and private properties in the name of "agitations, bandhs and hartals" and had initiated suo motu (on its own) proceedings and had come out with guidelines on the issue in 2009. It had considered the reports of two committees headed by former apex court judge K T Thomas and senior lawyer F S Nariman respectively. It had said that organisers of any protest would be personally held accountable for the loss of private and public properties. The organisers shall meet the police to review and revise the route to be taken and to lay down conditions for a peaceful march or protest, it had said. All weapons, including knives, batons and the like shall be prohibited, it had said, adding "An undertaking is to be provided by the organisers to ensure a peaceful march with marshals at each relevant junction". "The police and state government shall ensure videograph of such protests to the maximum extent possible," it said, adding, "the person in charge to supervise the demonstration shall be the SP (if the situation is confined to the district) and the highest police officer in the state, where the situation stretches beyond one district". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia today questioned the pro-farmer claims of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and called him a "kalyugi putra" who was "firing at the chest of peasants". Scindia was speaking at the party's "parivartan rally" at Manasa in the state's Neemuch district. "On the one hand Chouhan claims that he is a farmer's son, but what kind of a kalyugi putra is he who is firing at the chest of peasants," Scindia said, raking up the June 6 incident last year in Mandsaur where six farmers died in police firing during a protest. He praised the wife of one of the deceased in the Mandsaur firing for refusing to accept the Rs one crore compensation announced by the state government. Scindia asked Chouhan if the money could bring back the woman's dead husband and added that, if it was the case, then the woman would give the MP CM the same amount in order to get her husband back. Speaking about the Mandsaur incident, Scindia accused the state government of firing on farmers, foisting fake cases on them, and then forming an inquiry commission which went on to acquit the policemen accused of opening fire. "People are watching all these things and time is ripe for them to ask questions to the BJP government," Scindia said. The Guna Lok Sabha MP claimed that Chouhan's Jan Ashirwad Yatra was not garnering any public response and schoolchildren were being "forced" to attend them. He dubbed the yatra as Chouhan's "vidai yatra" (farewell parade). He also hit out at Chouhan for often comparing the roads of the state to that of the United States of America and said that the CM had no time to see the condition of MP roads as he was "helicopter borne" most of the time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) regulator will auction as many as 19 properties owned by five companies including Maitreya Services and Suman Motels next month for a reserve price totalling over Rs 400 million. Besides, properties of Arise Bhoomi Developers, Parasrampuria Plantations and Four Seasons Farms would go under the hammer too. The move is part of an effort by to recover money that the companies had illegally mobilised from people. The auction of these properties, spread across Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and include land parcels, flats and shops will be conducted on September 12, said in a notice today. Out of the 19 properties being put on the block, seven belong to Arise Bhoomi Developers followed by Four Seasons Farms (5), Maitreya Services (4) Parasrampuria Plantations (2) and Suman Motels (1). The reserve price of the properties is fixed at over Rs 400 million, it added.\ The regulator has engaged SBI Capital Ltd to assist it for sale of these properties through e-auction platform. The interested candidates can inspect the properties on August 28, Sebi said adding that bidders should make their own independent enquiries regarding the encumbrances, title of properties put on auction and claims, among others, prior to submitting their bids. Central Railway commuters were severely inconvenienced today after suburban drivers, called motormen in railway lingo, followed a mechanism known as "work to rule" which led to the cancellation of scores of trains, said railway officials. The CR motormen have been demanding that the railways fill up 229 vacant posts in their cadre and also stop "harsh punishments" like dismissal from service for an offence called "Signal Passing at Danger" (SPAD). SPAD, or overshooting a red signal, is taken as a serious offence, almost at par with an accident, and motormen are liable to be dismissed from service if charges against them are proved. Agitating CR motormen, under the aegis of the Joint Action Forum, today said that vacancies in their cadre was forcing them to work overtime which in turn was causing stress-induced mistakes like SPAD. Under the "work to rule", he said that motormen today refused to work overtime which was the usual practice to tide over the vacancies. CR officials said that between 100-200 local trains were cancelled through the day due to the motormen's stir. A meeting was held between motormen and CR divisional railway manager SK Jain in the afternoon after which the latter told reporters that the matter was an "internal one" and had been sorted out "amicably". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah today brushed off allegations of corruption levelled by former union ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha in the Rafale deal, saying credence should be given to the defence minister's statement and not what those "who did not get jobs" say. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the base price of Rafale fighter aircraft negotiated by the Modi government is less than what was finalised by the UPA, he said, adding that the government has already clarified on the matter following the opposition's charges. He was speaking in an interview after releasing a book "Blue print for an economic miracle" authored by Pradeep Gupta, CMD of Axis My India. He was responding to a question about allegations of scam levelled by Shourie and Sinha, both ministers in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan in the aircraft deal. "Will you give credence to the defence minister's statement or those who did not get jobs," he asked. BJP leaders have often hinted that Shourie's and Sinha's relentless attack on the Modi government over various issues is because they were sidelined by it after it came to power in 2014. They had claimed on Wednesday that the alleged scam involving the Rafale deal is much bigger than the Bofors scandal. Shah also asserted that the BJP will return to power in 2019 with a bigger mandate than 2014 . "People have already made up their mind. We have no doubt about it," he said. He also claimed that his party will return to power in three poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as there is an overall "pro-incumbency" sentiment there due to the works of governments there. A day ahead of his rally in West Bengal, Shah said his party will win more than 22 of 42 Lok Sabha seats. To a question about escape of businessmen Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi, he said the Modi government's relentless action against them would ensure that there will be "fewer thieves" now. He said the government cannot give a deadline about when these fugitives will be brought back to India to face trial as it is a judicial process. There will not be any laxity in our government's efforts, he asserted. He also rejected suggestions that some of the BJP's allies are not happy with the party and said all NDA constituents are together. He referred to the NDA's decision to field JD(U) leader Harivansh in the election to the post of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman to make his point. For the first time in over four decades years, the post has gone outside the main party in the government, he said, underlining the BJP's accommodative stand to its allies. The BJP is not like the Congress which dumped its allies when they were not needed, he said, referring to its treatment of the Samajwadi Party when the UPA was in power. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The theme of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2019 will be 'Shaping of a New India', it was decided at the first meeting of the Advisory Committee of the event today. The summit is proposed to be held between January 18 and 20 next year. The Gujarat government started holding this biennial investor gathering when Narendra Modi was chief minister. In the meeting of the advisory committee today, chief minister Vijay Rupani said the state was ready to contribute to prime minister Narendra Modi's vision of India with an holistic development approach. 'Youth Connect Forums at the summit will facilitate interactions between young achievers, successful businessmen and traders and the youth, Rupani said. There would be discussions on success of sectors like pharma, diamond, manufacturing and SEZ in the state, he said. The meeting was attended by Pankaj Patel of Zydus Cadila, Rajendra Shah of SAL Hospital and Girish Patel of Sterling, among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Union minister and opposition leader Sharad Yadav today said he will hold the next meeting of the "Sanjhi Virasat Bachao" (save common heritage), a campaign he has launched against the ruling BJP, on August 16 in the national capital. "The leaders of almost all the political parties will be attending the meeting. I have already spoken to a few of them," he said in a statement. The leaders of all major opposition parties have attended four such meetings organised by Yadav in different parts of the country so far. Accusing the BJP-led NDA government of endangering the country's heritage of social harmony with its alleged divisive policies, Yadav has used the platform to bring together the opposition parties to take on the saffron alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. It is a platform where the opposition parties come together to discuss issues that are important for the protection of the Constitution and safety of citizens, Yadav said in the statement. The BJP and its affiliated organisations had been violating the principles of the Constitution, he alleged. "The people of this country are not feeling safe and living in an atmosphere of fear. We find that there is violence happening every day, based on caste and creed, in the country, especially in the NDA-ruled states. Mob lynching in the name of protection of cow has become the order of the day," Yadav said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two brothers from Maharashtra's Thane district, who were allegedly kidnapped while on a business tour to Malaysia, arrived here today after being released in the south east Asian country, police said. Rohan Prakash Vaidya (36) and Kaustubh Prakash Vaidya (31), from the district's Dombivali area, had gone to Malaysia on August 1 after their fish export firm called Rock Frozen Food landed an order from Malaysia-based Mis Lee Frozen Foods. Their uncle, Rajiv Vaidya, had filed a complaint of kidnapping with Thane police on August 4. According to the complaint, one of the brothers called up home on August 2 at around 10.30 pm to inform the family that they had been kidnapped by unknown persons who were demanding a ransom of Rs 1 crore. Thane police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar today said that the brothers were kidnapped after a meeting with representatives of the Malaysian company in Kuala Lumpur and kept captive till August 6. Police refused to divulge details of the events leading to the release of the two men in Malaysia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) president P S Golay was today released from a Sikkim jail, after serving a year's term following his conviction in a corruption case. The chief of the opposition SKM party was greeted by supporters as he came out of Rongyek jail, near here, after which his entourage left for Singtam in East Sikkim, where he will address party workers later in the day, senior party member Jacob Khaling said. The five-time MLA was in high spirits after his release from the jail, Khaling said. Goley was sentenced to one year imprisonment by a lower court in December 2016 after he was convicted of misappropriating Rs 9.5 lakh meant for distributing cows to beneficiaries under a state government scheme, when he was the animal husbandry minister in the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government in 1994-1999. The sentence of the lower court was upheld by Sikkim High Court in June last year following which he had surrendered before the district and sessions court at Sichey here on this date last year. A founder member of the SDF, Golay was named in a chargesheet filed by the vigilance department in 2010. Golay had resigned from the SDF in September 2013 alleging nepotism and lack of proper leadership and floated the SKM. After addressing party supporters at Singtam, Goley will travel to his home at Singling in West Sikkim. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Periyar river in spate, authorities in Ernakulam district are making arrangements in unaffected areas for the annual 'Karkkidaka Vavu Bali' that will take place at the Lord Shiva shrine, near here, tomorrow. Thousands throng the ancient temple to perform the 'Vavu Bali', a ritual, performed for the departed souls of their ancestors. Karikkidaka is the last month of the Malayalam calendar which falls in July-August. The month has religious significance for Hindus as they visit the Shiva temple on Amavasi or no moon day. The temple was submerged since gushing water from the Idukki and Idamalayar dams reached Aluva, near here, following the opening of shutters of dams, authorities said. Officials said the Travancore Devaswom Board, which managed the shrine, was making arrangements in unaffected areas of the Periyar river banks. State Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan, who held a meeting of legislators and officials, reviewed the situation in the affected areas along the river. Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to ensure safety and security of the pilgrims. Police and fire service personnel have also been roped in to provide security, they said. Three boats, 20 lifeboats, 40 life-jackets, special ropes and diving teams have been were kept ready to meet any eventuality, authorities said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Preservation of cattle is a matter on which state legislatures have exclusive powers, the government said today, asserting that it was up to them to enact laws on cow slaughter. In a written reply, Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma told the Lok Sabha that all states and union territories, except Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Lakshadweep, have legislations on banning or restricting slaughter of cow and its progeny. The reply comes in the backdrop of rising incidents of lynchings in the country over transportation of cattle. "Under the distribution of legislatives powers between the Union of India and states under Article 246(3) of the Constitution, the preservation of cattle is a matter on which the legislature of the states have exclusive powers to legislate. "Therefore, it is up to the states to enact laws on slaughter of cows," he said. The minister said, "All states/UTs have legislations on banning or restricting slaughter of cow and its progeny except five states viz Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and one Union Territory that is Lakshadweep," he said. He was also asked about the number of cases which came to the notice of the government regarding selling of beef by illegally slaughtering cows in abattoirs and the action taken in such cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A class two student of a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school in the upscale Gole Market area here was allegedly raped by an electrician in the institute's premises, police said today. The girl was leaving school on Wednesday when the accused, Ram Asre (37) allegedly took her to a pump room in the school premises and forced himself on her, they said. He also threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about it, the police said. Upon reaching home, the girl's mother found her bleeding from private parts and took her to a hospital where the doctors informed them that she had been sexually assaulted. Her parents approached the police yesterday, following which a case was registered and the accused arrested, the police said, adding Asre has been working in the school for over a month and is a permanent electrician employed with the NDMC. A case under the relevant sections of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against him, they said. A representative from the school said the victim's parents came to them at 10 am yesterday to inform them about the incident, and claimed that the accused was not employed with their school. "From what we know, the incident occurred after 1:30 pm, when the school gets over. Our school employee not involved in it. Investigation is underway and the child is doing fine. We have been in regular contact with the parents of the victim," she said. The parents of other students have been called for a counselling session on Monday to assure them of their child's safety. Another employee of the school said CCTV cameras were installed in the school premises and four security guards are always posted at the school gate since it is a girls' school. A number of parents staged a protest outside the school and raised questions about the safety of their children inside the institute. "What is the surety of our child's safety in the school premises? The principal has been on leave for a week. Shouldn't the teachers and vice-principal show more accountability?" a parent said. Another parent said strict security measures in place for parents to enter the school premises, and asked whether the same measures were in place for others. While NDMC officials said they are looking into the issue, Delhi Commission For Women chief Swati Maliwal tweeted that she was going to issue a notice to the Delhi Police and the school asking whether there were adequate safety measures in place inside the school. She tweeted, "6 year old girl raped in a school in Delhi. Strongest action should be taken against culprit who should be hanged within 6 months under the new law. DCW is issuing notice to Delhi Police and school authority - to ascertain safety measures implemented in the school. (sic)" According to Delhi Police data, more than two children were raped in the national capital every day in the first four months of this year. Till April 30, 282 cases of child rape were reported as opposed to 278 last year during the same period. Last year, 894 such cases were reported, the data stated. In September last year, a five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 40-year-old peon inside the premises of a private school in Shahdara, following which he was arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A class two student of a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school in the upscale Gol Market area was allegedly raped by an electrician inside the institute's premises, police said today. The incident came to light when the girl narrated her ordeal to her parents after returning from school yesterday, a police official said. The accused, identified as Ram Asre (37), has been working in the school for around a month and is a permanent electrician employed with the NDMC, the police said. He has been arrested and a case has been registered against him under the relevant section of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sudan's ruling party has chosen President Omar al-Bashir to stand for re-election in 2020, state media reported today, even though the constitution allows only two five-year terms. The National Congress Party's advisory council announced Bashir as the party's candidate after an overnight meeting held in Khartoum, the official SUNA agency reported. The veteran leader has been in power since a 1989 military coup but has only faced contested elections since the new constitution went into effect in 2010. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A team of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) in Gujarat had to stay put in a vehicle for over an hour when it was allegedly attacked by a mob for impounding a stray cow in the city, police said today. The incident took place in Amroli area of Surat on Monday, but a police complaint in this regard was lodged by an SMC official yesterday. According to the complaint given by SMC sanitary sub inspector Harshad Kerode, after the civic body was informed about a cow running amok, he and his team reached Vatsalaya residency in Amroli area and impounded the animal. But soon, over a 50-member group of Rabari community, led by Uka Rabari, reached the spot and started assaulting the SMC team for impounding their cow, police said quoting the complaint. "SMC officials belonging to the Cattle Nuisance Control Department had to take shelter in their vehicle. However, the mob gheraoed the vehicle and some of them even climbed onto it," it said. They had to spend an hour in confinement inside their vehicle due to the violent mob. The Rabari community members even abused a couple of Dalit employees, who were part of the team which impounded the cow. It was only when police reached the spot that the SMC officials were allowed to go. Market Superintendent of SMC, Dr Prafful Mehta said the incidents of attack on civic employees trying to impound stray cattle have gone up. "We have demanded from the state government that State Reserve Police (SRP) teams should be given to the SMC squad similar to what they have done in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). SRP personnel can accompany our teams on such calls, so that attacks can be avoided in the future," Mehta said. Recently, the state government has stationed two SRP companies with AMC authorities to help them carry out operations like anti-encroachment drive and anti-stray cattle drives. Amroli police inspector G A Patel said that yesterday they have registered a case of assault, attack on government officials while on duty and under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, has been registered in this connection. "No person has been arrested in this connection so far," Patel added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taliban militants have launched an attack on an Afghan provincial capital and heavy fighting is under way as security forces try to beat them back, officials and witnesses said today. At least one Afghan soldier has been killed and seven others wounded in the fighting in the southeastern city of Ghazni, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori told AFP. Civilian houses and army checkpoints have come under mortar attack and the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters are in the streets, he added. The Taliban began the attack late Thursday from several positions around the city, provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal told AFP. Yasan, who lives in Ghazni, said the Taliban were using loudspeakers at the mosque to warn residents to leave their homes. "Heavy explosions and gunfire can be heard. We are terrified," Yasan said in a Facebook post. Police special forces have been deployed to help block the Taliban advance on the city, an Afghan security official said. The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured "most of government buildings inside the city". "So far 140 enemy forces have been killed or wounded," the group said. It was the latest in a series of attempts by the Taliban over the past three years to capture urban centres. Afghan forces have been struggling to hold back the resurgent militant group since the withdrawal of NATO combat forces at the end of 2014. In May the Taliban attacked the western city of Farah. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and US air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. The attack on Ghazni comes as the Taliban faces growing pressure to agree to peace talks with the Afghan government to end the 17-year war. It has so far ignored President Ashraf Ghani's offer of unconditional peace negotiations. The Taliban has long insisted on direct talks with the United States. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. But there are tentative signs that diplomatic efforts to kick-start talks are starting to bear fruit. Washington indicated a change in its longstanding policy in June when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks. Pompeo also said the role of foreign forces in Afghanistan would be on the table. Last month Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Arunachal Pradesh unit of National Peoples Party (NPP) unanimously elected senior MLA Tanga Byaling as the NPP legislature party leader along with Nikh Kamin as the deputy of the state Legislative Assembly. Legislator Mutchu Mithi was also elected as spokesperson of NPP legislature party. The decisions were taken during the NPP legislature party meeting, held here on August 8, a party release said oday. The meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of state unit party president Gicho Kabak was attended by all the seven party legislators along with other senior party leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US state of Tennessee used a controversial lethal injection procedure yesterday to execute a man who was convicted of raping and killing a child, after the nation's top court declined his final bid for a stay. "I just want to say I'm really sorry. And that ... that's it," Billy Ray Irick said in his final words before prison officials in Nashville, Tennessee. He was pronounced dead at 7:48 pm local time, officials said at a press conference. Irick was the first inmate to be executed in Tennessee since 2009. The US Supreme Court had earlier denied a stay of execution for the convict, rejecting concerns about the inmate potentially feeling sensations equivalent to being "burned alive." The high court's decision was countered with a blistering dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who questioned whether Billy Ray Irick's planned execution would be too painful and whether allowing it to proceed required accepting "barbarism." The 59-year-old was convicted in 1986 of raping and killing seven-year-old Paula Dyer. His lawyers have argued Irick has a history of severe mental illness. In an appeal to the Supreme Court, Irick's lawyers challenged Tennessee's lethal injection protocol, which included the use of the sedative midazolam. Other states have also used the drug for executions with mixed results. Sotomayor, citing lower court testimony about the potential risks of midazolam executions, dissented. Medical experts warned the drug may not be strong enough to keep a prisoner unconscious once he starts to feel pain. If Irick were to awaken, a paralytic used as the second drug in Tennessee's lethal injection would prevent him from alerting officials that he can feel pain, Sotomayor noted. "Medical experts explained in painstaking detail how the three-drug cocktail Tennessee plans to inject into Irick's veins will cause him to experience sensations of drowning, suffocating, and being burned alive from the inside out," Sotomayor wrote. "If the law permits this execution to go forward in spite of the horrific final minutes that Irick may well experience, then we have stopped being a civilized nation and accepted barbarism." Three out of 14 executions in the US this year have employed midazolam, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. But the drug has been the subject of multiple legal challenges. Ohio halted executions in 2014 after the botched execution of Dennis McGuire using midazolam. The prisoner appeared to suffer for several minutes before dying. A federal appeals court in 2017 granted Ohio permission to resume executions, after officials increased the dose of the drug by a factor of 50. Meanwhile, the state of Nevada last month postponed an execution after midazolam-manufacturer Alvogen successfully sued to stop its product from being used in executions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An 11-year-old Thai girl who married a 41-year-old Malaysian man has been sent back to Thailand from Malaysia, a senior Thai welfare official said today. The official at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry said the girl, whose situation was made public in June, has been put under the care of the ministry. Witat Techaboon, director-general of the ministry's Department of Children and Youth, said he could not provide any other details because the topic is sensitive. The Malaysian newspaper The Star, citing a Thai social activist that it did not name, said officials of Malaysia's Kelantan state sent the girl to Thailand yesterday. The case produced calls in both Malaysia and Thailand for strengthening laws against child marriage. Rubber scrap dealer Che Abdul Karim Che Abdul Hamid is believed to have secretly married the girl a Thai citizen who lives with her parents in Malaysia as his third wife in Thailand. Holding a Muslim wedding ceremony in Thailand skirted Thai and Malaysian marriage laws. Muslim girls under the minimum legal marriage age of 16 can wed with the consent of the Islamic Shariah court and their parents in Malaysia. Muslim men in Malaysia can marry four wives. Thai law sets the minimum legal age for marriage at 17, though courts may allow marriage of younger individuals if there is an appropriate reason. The reasons, however, are not defined in the law. Che Abdul Karim in July was fined RM1,800 (USD 440) by a Malaysian Shariah court for marrying a minor without its prior consent and taking an additional wife without permission from his other spouses. He earlier told Malaysia's Bernama agency that his marriage was lawful and had been approved by the girl's parents, who are Thai citizens who live and work in Kelantan as rubber tappers. He said he would only formalize the marriage in Malaysia when the girl turned 16 and that she would stay with her parents until then. The girl was quoted by local media as saying she loves Che Abdul Karim because he is a kind man. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur thanked the central government for approving a dedicated National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) battalion for Himachal Pradesh. Thakur said, Himachal Pradesh is prone to various types of disasters which cause destruction of life and property. I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh for taking cognizance of this and approving the NDRF battalion. As per National Disaster Management Policy 2009, the primary responsibility in case of a disaster lies with the states. During BJP rule with Prem Kumar Dhumal at the helm in 2010, the battalion was stationed in Nurpur, Kangra district. However, when the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress Government came to power, they chose politics over safety of people and did not pursue the safety cause. The Union Cabinet has approved four new battalions of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). They will be based in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the national capital region at an estimated cost of Rs 637 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons, including one affiliated to a right-wing outfit, were arrested today, with the Maharashtra police saying that it had recovered a large quantity of explosives that were to be used for carrying out blasts at various places in the state. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra, which carried out the arrests on the basis of a specific information, said it was investigating whether those arrested had any connections with the killings of journalist Gauri Lankesh and rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare. Vaibhav Raut (40), Sharad Kalaskar (25) and Sudhanwa Gondhalekar (39) were arrested following raids that began last night in the Palghar district and spanned to Pune, the police said. A court in Mumbai remanded all three in ATS' custody till August 18 this evening. ATS chief Atulchandra Kulkarni said the accused had stored a huge cache of explosive materials, and they would be questioned about all cases where involvement of right-wing extremists is suspected. "We will question them regarding all detected and undetected cases, including Dabholkar, Pansare and Gauri Lankesh (murder) cases," he said. The ATS said it zeroed in on the accused after it received a tip off that some persons were planning to carry out "acts of conspiracy" at many places across the state. "We also received information that these persons had stored vast quantities of arms and ammunition in places such as Satara, Nallasopara and Pune. We were able to get their phone numbers and thus, ascertained their identities," the Additional Public Prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves told the sessions court here while seeking the accused's custody. Earlier in the day, a police officer also said that Raut allegedly ran 'Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti', a little-known pro-cow protection outfit, in Nallasopara. While his purported social media account mentioned that he was associated with the right-wing Sanatan Sanstha, the outfit today denied that Raut was its member. According to the ATS, the raids were conducted at Raut's house in Bhandar Aali in Nallasopara West and at a nearby shop which he owned, and the same led to the seizure of 20 crude bombs, two gelatin sticks, 4 electronic and 22 non-electronic detonators, 150 gm explosive powder, two bottles labelled 'poison', batteries, soldering equipment, and a bomb circuit drawing. According to the police, Raut is an estate agent, Kalaskar works in a private firm, while Gondhalekar runs his own business. The three had been under police surveillance for more than two weeks, said another ATS official, adding that all three seemed to be "trained for sabotage activities". Sleuths are probing if they were going to carry out any terrorist act ahead of Bakri Eid festival this month, and Independence Day, he said. As they were in possession of explosive materials, it seemed that they were not mere "footsoliders" of the extremist "gang" they were members of, the officer said. The ATS also said that while going through their mobile phone records, and SIM card activities, it realised that some SIM cards were being used by multiple people. "It hinted that all these persons were in some conspiracy," the probe agency said. The ATS has booked the three under IPC section 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), provisions of the Explosives Act as well as under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) sections 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy for terrorist act) and 20 (being a member of terrorist gang.) While remanding them in ATS custody today, the court observed that prima facie it appeared that the three accused were part of a conspiracy. "The allegations made against the accused are of very serious nature. Several incriminating articles have been recovered from their possession and prima facie, the accused appear to be part of a conspiracy," the court said. It also took into account that the ATS needed the custody to ascertain where the arrested accused had received training, where had the bombs come from, and if they were part of any terrorist organisation. Defence lawyers urged the court to remand the accused in judicial custody, saying that it was likely that they would be tortured by ATS officers. In court, Kalaskar and Gondhalekar alleged that they were assaulted by ATS officers. The court, however, noted that the medical examination of all accused did not show any external injuries. Judge Adkar then directed the ATS to take the accused persons for another medical examination and submit its report on August 13. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An arms racket was busted near here today with the seizure of a huge cache of weapons and ammunitions and the arrest of three men, police said. The gang members were crossing the Matla Bridge in South 24 Parganas district with the arms hoard when their car was intercepted by police, a senior officer said. Twelve one-shotter pipe guns, nine live ammunitions and four mobile phones were seized from their possession, he told reporters here. "Acting on a tip-off, officers from Canning police station and a special protection force from Baruipur in the district intercepted the gang and seized the arms from their custody. The gang was headed to Basanti area of the district from Jalangi in Murshidabad, around 300km away," he stated. During questioning, the three arrested men - Anwar Mehebub Mondal, Rubel Mondal and driver Jhantu Paul - confessed that they had supplied arms to dealers in South 24 Parganas on previous occasions, the officer said. All three of them were produced before the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate at Alipore, which remanded them in police custody for seven days. "We are trying to find out more about the gang, their modus operandi, links and associations in the district," the officer added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three people, including a child, have died of a mysterious viral fever in a village here, officials said today. Chief medical officer Dr RP Rawat said, "Some people in Bhatpura village have been affected by a viral fever. In the last 24 hours, three people have lost their lives." The deceased have been identified as Priyanka (15), Anikesh (3) and Sumanlata (65), he said. Rawat added that a team of Health department officials was sent to the village to identify more patients suffering from the same type of fever. "So far blood samples of 18 people have been collected, and the administration is keeping a close watch on the situation," the CMO said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three minors and a woman were seriously injured after a part of a house collapsed on them at Jalalabad in Shamli district, the police said today. According to circle officer Arvind Rathore, the incident took place when they were passing through a street last night. The injured -- Aman (14), Shadan (12), Insha (13) and Ruksana (45) -- were rushed to a hospital in serious condition, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trinamool Congress (TMC) will take out rallies across West Bengal tomorrow in protest against the publication of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, a senior leader of the party said. The state capital, however, has been exempted from tomorrow's plan, TMC secretary-general and West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said here today. BJP national president Amit Shah is set to address a public meeting in the central part of Kolkata tomorrow. "Barring Kolkata, we will organise rallies across the state in protest against the NRC. A separate rally will be taken out in the capital city on Sunday," Chatterjee told reporters. The minister also accused the BJP-led Assam government of "deliberately omitting" Bengalis from the NRC draft. The complete draft of NRC was published on July 30 in Assam with 2.89 lakh names out of 3.29 applicants. Over 40 lakh people did not make it to the list. "Lakhs of Bengalis have been omitted from the NRC draft. It has been done deliberately. We demand that these names be included in the list as they are also Indians. You cannot make a person refugee in his own country," Chatterjee added. Last week, the party had observed 'black day' across the state in protest against detention of its MPs at Silchar airport in Assam. An eight-member TMC delegation that reached Silchar on August 2 to assess the situation in Assam in the wake of the NRC publication was not allowed to leave the airport. TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had claimed that the delegation members were manhandled at the airport and accused the BJP of imposing "super emergency" in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 5 crore to support budding entrepreneurs, Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture K Pandiarajan said here today. Speaking at the inaugural of a conference on "Digital Quality for Disruptive Future" organised by the National Institution for Quality and Reliability, the Minister said industries need to increase focus on quality. Managing director of Titan Industries Bhaskar Bhat said, "The world is fast embracing the digital age and organisations should develop a vision in line with the opportunities available". The organisations should promote quality in every model of business to catch up with the changing world, he said. Chairman of the conference K Manikandan said the National Institution for Quality an Reliability was keen on preparing the industry and institutions for the future so that they would be ready to meet the customer requirements. Tamil Nadu is a culturally and industrially well-developed State contributing substantially to the growth of the nation, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today demanded that the Bru families, who had returned to Mizoram from relief camps in Tripura on their own will, should be given equal treatment by the Centre. Though some Bru families have already returned to Mizoram during a number of repatriation processes and on their own will, many of them refused to leave Tripura till date. Addressing the ruling Congress party workers at the Congress Bhavan in Aizawl, Lal Thanhawla said that he had raised the issue with the Centre. "I have expressed my opinion to the Centre that obedient Brus who returned to Mizoram during the government sponsored repatriation process should be given an equal deal and those who chose to remain in the relief camps despite repeated pleas should not be given undue favour," he said. The chief minister said that discrimination of Brus who stubbornly stayed back in Tripura relief camps with those who have returned, in the form of rehabilitation package, could trigger serious confrontation between the members of the Bru community. He said that he had warned of divide within the Bru community leading to possible law and order problem. In accordance with the agreement inked during the first week of July in Delhi between the Centre, state governments of Mizoram and Tripura, and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), all the Bru refugees were to be repatriated before September 30. On Wednesday, the Mizoram government said that it would go ahead with the plan for final repatriation of the Bru families from relief camps in Tripura from August 14. According to the agreement, Rs 4 lakh would be deposited in the account of the head of each repatriated Bru family, which would mature after three years, and a payment of Rs 1.5 lakh as housing assistance. Each repatriated Bru family would also be given Rs 5,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer every month and free ration for two years. Altogether, 32,876 Brus belonging to 5,407 families are lodged in six relief camps in Tripura. The Brus have taken shelter in Tripura since late 1997 in the wake of a communal tension triggered by the murder of a forest guard inside the Dampa Tiger Reserve on October 21, 1997 by Bru National Liberation Front militants. The first attempt to repatriate them in 2009 failed and triggered another wave of exodus after the killing of a youth three days before the commencement of the repatriation process. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The contentious Triple Talaq Bill, which criminalises the practice of instant "talaq", could not be taken up for discussion and passage on the last day of the Monsoon session on Friday, owing to a lack of consensus among political parties on the issue. The Congress-led Opposition has been demanding that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 be sent to a Select Committee for further scrutiny. The BJP-led government, which does not have a majority in the Upper House, had also made efforts to get the Bill cleared in the Budget Session. On Friday, when the Rajya Sabha reconvened at 2:30 pm after two adjournments in the pre-lunch session, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has decided that the Bills "on which there is some sort of broad consensus" will be taken up for discussion and passage later in the day. Naidu also clarified that the will not be taken up on Friday as a consensus has not yet been evolved on the issue. The Union Cabinet had on Thursday cleared some amendments to the draft Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, including adding a bail provision to it. The amendments came after the Supreme Court on August 22 last year had struck down 'triple talaq', calling it unconstitutional. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill in December. However, amendments to the draft legislation, once cleared by the Rajya Sabha, will again be sent to the Lower House for passage. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice within minutes during the pre-lunch session amid protest by Congress members over their demand for a JPC probe into the alleged scam in the Rafale jet deal. Two civilians were injured in a clash with security forces during a cordon and search operation against militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district today, police said. Security forces launched a operation at Tangwari Tukra village early this morning after receiving information about the presence of militants there, a police official said. As they started the search operation, a large number of people assembled and started hurling stones at them, he said. He said they used force to disperse the protestors during which two people - Fayaz Ahmad Padder and Jehangir Ahmad Bhat - were injured. Padder was shifted to SKIMS hospital after he received injury in his chest, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Romanian nationals were arrested here in Madhya Pradesh in connection with an alleged ATM fraud in various cities of the country, police said today. The duo, Adrian Liviu (30) and Cornel Constantine (27), was arrested yesterday, said Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Amrendra Singh. "They were arrested on the basis of inputs provided by the Kolkata Police," he said. The two were handed over to a Kolkata Police team which has taken them to West Bengal, Singh said. Cases related to the fraud were reported from various cities, including Kolkata, where an FIR has been lodged. Another senior officer said the Romanians were allegedly members of a gang involved in stealing data from ATM cards of customers by using secret cameras and skimmers (a device used by fraudsters to steal credit/debit card information) at cash dispensing machines. Using the stolen data, the gang members would prepare clones of ATM cards and used them to fraudulently withdraw money from bank accounts of customers, he said. The gang members used to visit India on tourist visas and stay in costly hotels, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two smugglers were arrested and 34 head of cattle rescued in four separate incidents in the Jammu and the Rajouri districts of the state, police said today. A police team intercepted a truck in Moralian area in the Jammu district and rescued 20 animals from being carried to Kashmir Valley today, they said. Two men - Jagmohan and Mohammad Aslam - were arrested and a case registered against them, they said. In a similar incident, a police team rescued 14 animals in the Rajouri district last night, they said, adding the smugglers managed to escape. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons have been arrested here for suspected drug trafficking after two-and-a-half kg of cannabis was seized from them, police said today. The two, identified as Pramod Yadav (25) and Raju Mani (28) were arrested yesterday from a CNG pump in Parthala area, under Phase 3 police station limits, they said. While Yadav is a local, Mani hails from Odisha, but was settled in Ghaziabad for the last few years. "A total of 2.5 kg of ganja was recovered from the two accused,"Phase 3 Station House Office Amit Kumar Singh said. The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said, adding they were presented in a local court which remanded them in judicial custody. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will build a pipeline connecting Ethiopia to the Eritrean port of Assab, state media reported today. The agreement was reportedly made during discussions in Addis Ababa between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and UAE Minister of International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy. The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate did not provide details on the agreement. Landlocked Ethiopia used an oil refinery located in Assab port for its domestic oil needs before a two-year war over the demarcation of the border broke out between the two countries in 1998, leaving some 80,000 dead before settling into a bitter cold war. In a surprise move in June, Ethiopia's new reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced he would finally accept a 2002 United Nations-backed border demarcation, paving the way for peace between the two nations. Reciprocal visits by the two nations' leaders led to the resumption of flights between their capitals as well as the opening of embassies and phone lines. The UAE, which is reportedly using the Assab port to conduct military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen, has been seen as a key mediator in the diplomatic thaw between Ethiopia and Eritrea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UN has called for ensuring peaceful, fair and transparent presidential elections in the Maldives next month, saying a genuine and inclusive dialogue among political parties is the only conducive way to build a stable democracy in the country. The Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago known for its tropical paradise, has witnessed political turmoil since its first democratically-elected president Mohamed Nasheed was forced to quit in 2012. He was convicted of terrorism charges and sentenced to 13 years in prison. President Abdulla Yameen, who was sworn in as the sixth president of the Maldives in 2013, is at loggerheads with the Opposition, including Nasheed who is living in self-exile. Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca is in Male to discuss the preparations for the presidential elections on September 23, UN Secretary General's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said. Jenca underlined the utmost priority of ensuring peaceful, fair and transparent elections, stressing that genuine and inclusive political parties' dialogue was the only conducive way to build a peaceful, prosperous and stable democracy, Haq said. Jenca met President Yameen and discussed additional efforts to build a level-playing field for fair electoral competition. He also exchanged views with the joint opposition presidential candidate Ibrahim Solih and his running mate Faisal Naseem, emphasising the critical role of the Opposition in the democratic political process. In June, a court jailed former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed for obstruction of justice. They were arrested in February for allegedly clearing the way for an impeachment motion against Yameen. India had called for the immediate release of Gayoom and other political prisoners, saying India believes that a democratic, stable and prosperous Maldives is in the interests of all its neighbours and friends in the Indian Ocean. Since the beginning of the political crisis in the Maldives, India has repeatedly urged the Maldivian government to allow all institutions, including the Supreme Court and Parliament, to function in a free and independent manner, and to permit genuine political dialogue between all political parties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors at the request of five countries today to discuss the Saudi coalition attack on a bus carrying children in Yemen, diplomats said. The meeting was requested by Bolivia, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, and Sweden, which are all non-permanent council members. The Saudi-led coalition earlier announced that it had ordered an investigation into the air strike on Thursday that killed at least 29 children traveling on the bus in Yemen. "We have seen the images of children who died," Dutch Deputy Ambassador Lise Gregoire-van Haaren told reporters. "What is essential at this moment in time is to have a credible and independent investigation." It remained unclear whether the council would unite and call for action. The US, France and Britain -- three of the five permanent council members -- have supported the Saudi coalition in its military campaign against Huthi rebels in Yemen, but have expressed concern over the heavy toll on civilians. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for an independent investigation of the attack that left at least 48 others wounded in the raid on the Huthi rebel stronghold of Saada. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a military campaign to restore the internationally recognized government to power and push back the Huthis, who still hold the capital Sanaa. The war has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Police have registered a case against Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain for allegedly raping and threatening a 24-year old married woman in Nagaon district, a senior police officer said today. Gohain has also filed complaints of blackmailing against the woman and her family, his officer on special duty Sanjiv Goswami said when contacted. He claimed that the case against the minister has been withdrawn. Asked about it, Nagaon police station officer-in-charge Ananta Das said the woman had pleaded to withdraw the case in the court but the "case still stands.. we will do our own investigation". Nagaon Deputy Superintendent of Police (headquarter) Sabita Das said the case was registered against Gohain on August 2 after receiving a complaint at Nagaon police station. "We have registered the case. The investigation has already begun and we will proceed as per law," she told PTI. Das, however, refused to share any detail about the case. A senior official of Nagaon Police Station said that the case was registered last week bearing the number 2592/18. "The FIR was registered under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation). We are investigating and have already noted the lady's statement," he said adding the woman has refused medical examination. "The complaint says that the alleged incident took place seven to eight months ago. Both Gohain and the woman knew each other for a long time and the Union minister used to visit her home," the official said. Gohain had allegedly committed the crime at the woman's home when her husband and other family members were not present, he said. Asked if Gohain's arrest is imminent, the police official said, "We are probing now. If required, arrest will happen only after the probe is complete." The Union minister did not answer the phone himself when called on his mobile phone. Goswami said the the minister "will not speak to the media". When asked about the alleged rape case, Goswami said that it has been withdrawn. "There is no case as of today and as of now." When Nagaon police station was contacted, its officer-in-charge Ananta Das said the woman had pleaded to withdraw the case in the court two days of filing it. "The case still stands and it cannot be withdrawn. We will do our own investigation," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Washington federal judge halted the deportation of a mother and daughter yesterday -- but threatened to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt of court after removal proceedings began amid their appeal, the American Civil Liberties Union said. The woman and her daughter were part of a group of immigrants who had fled "extreme sexual and gang violence" in Central America, according to the ACLU. The rights group and the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies filed a lawsuit on their behalf Tuesday to challenge the deportation, which prompted a hearing held yesterday. The ACLU said the judge blocked the deportation while the case was pending. But, "while in court, we found out that the government had deported a client and her young child just hours before, putting their lives at risk," the group said in a series of tweets. "This directly contradicts the government's commitment to the court that NO ONE would be removed until tomorrow at the earliest." The organization added that the judge ordered the government to "turn the plane around" or face potential contempt proceedings, "starting with the attorney general." Judge Emmet G. Sullivan, quoted by the Washington Post, branded the situation "outrageous." "That someone seeking justice in U.S. court is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing for justice for her?" he said. "I'm not happy about this at all. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 6 3 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray discussed addressing irregular migration through Mexico and the region, a State Department spokesperson said. The talks came amid strained relations between the two neighbouring countries over illegal migration, border security and trade negotiations. The two leaders also discussed the importance of concluding a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The NAFTA is a deal signed by the US, Canada and Mexico, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. Pompeo spoke with Videgaray on August 8 and the two leaders talked about the importance of reducing irregular migration through Mexico and the region and discussed the need for greater investment in Central America to address security, governance, and economic prosperity challenges, spokesperson Heather Nauert said. From his campaign days, US President Trump has taken a stern view on illegal immigration from across America's southern borders, promising to deport undocumented immigrants and build a new border wall with Mexico to stop the arrivals of undocumented migrants, whom he has described as criminals. Trump has asserted that Mexico will pay for the wall. Mexico's President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has vowed that his country would not be threatened by a wall. Mexico is going to become a power -- and will change the balance of power. Nobody will threaten us that our borders will be closed or militarised," Lopez Obrador, who takes office December 1, had said. Meanwhile, the US-Mexico NAFTA talks resumed last month but without Canada after negotiations involving all three members of one of the world's largest trading blocs stalled in June. Both Mexico and Canada want to maintain a trilateral pact, while Trump has threatened to pull out and negotiate separate bilateral agreements. The negotiations stalled due to Trump's favour for a sunset clause in US trade agreements, requiring parties to renew them every five years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US Supreme Court declined Thursday to stop the execution of a convicted child rapist and killer, rejecting concerns about the inmate potentially feeling sensations equivalent to being "burned alive". But the high court's decision was countered with a blistering dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who questioned whether Billy Ray Irick's planned execution would be too painful and whether allowing it to proceed required accepting "barbarism". The high court's rejection of Irick's appeal likely means his execution will move forward Thursday evening in the state of Tennessee. The 59-year-old was convicted in 1986 of raping and killing seven-year-old Paula Dyer. His lawyers have argued Irick has a history of severe mental illness. In an appeal to the Supreme Court, Irick's lawyers challenged Tennessee's lethal injection protocol, which included the use of the sedative midazolam. Other states have also used the drug for executions with mixed results. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan denied the appeal without comment. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, citing lower court testimony about the potential risks of midazolam executions, dissented. Medical experts warned the drug may not be strong enough to keep a prisoner unconscious once he starts to feel pain. If Irick were to awaken, a paralytic used as the second drug in Tennessee's lethal injection would prevent him from alerting officials that he can feel pain, Sotomayor noted. "Medical experts explained in painstaking detail how the three-drug cocktail Tennessee plans to inject into Irick's veins will cause him to experience sensations of drowning, suffocating, and being burned alive from the inside out," Sotomayor wrote. "If the law permits this execution to go forward in spite of the horrific final minutes that Irick may well experience, then we have stopped being a civilized nation and accepted barbarism." Three out of 14 executions in the US this year have employed midazolam, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. But the drug has been the subject of multiple legal challenges. Ohio halted executions in 2014 after the botched execution of Dennis McGuire using midazolam. The prisoner appeared to suffer for several minutes before dying. A federal appeals court in 2017 granted Ohio permission to resume executions, after officials increased the dose of the drug by a factor of 50. Meanwhile, the state of Nevada last month postponed an execution after midazolam-manufacturer Alvogen successfully sued to stop its product from being used in executions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Citing security concerns, Osmania University today declined permission for Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's proposed meeting with students on its campus during his visit to the state on August 13 and 14. University Registrar Ch Gopal Reddy said they declined permission as they had no mechanism to provide security to the congress leader. However, they might review the decision if local police or any other government agency such as the special protection group (SPG) assures the university of Gandhi's security, he said. "We declined the permission on security grounds. Since he (Rahul Gandhi) is a person under 'Z' plus category security cover, we will not be able to provide security for him. Some students are opposing his visit while some welcome him. It may also lead to tension during his visit. So we told them (group of students) about our inability to provide enough security for his visit," Reddy told PTI. Telangana Congress leaders had earlier said Gandhi would address students at the campus during his visit. Asked about the proposed meeting at the University, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said university students had invited Gandhi. They applied to the university vice-chancellor and police for permission and the matter was under consideration, he had earlier said. He alleged that some senior leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) did not want Gandhi to visit the university. The University is said to be the hotbed of the separate Telangana agitation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man who allegedly impregnated a minor girl, a farm worker, after a false promise of marrying her was let off with a Rs 2.5 lakh 'compensation' and externed by a group of elders in a village in Telangana, police said today. After the shocking incident that took place on August 1 came to light, the man and four of the six 'elders' who held the 'mediation meet' at Narayanpet in Mahbubnagar district were arrested yesterday, police said. All the five were produced before a local court which remanded them to judicial custody, local Sub-Inspector of Police M Krishnaiah said. Cases under various sections of the IPC, including 376 (rape) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, had been registered, he said. According to police, the 17-year-old girl was working in the cotton fields to assist her parents. Accused Venkataiah, owner of the fields, had physical relationship with the girl after making false promise that he would marry her. She later became pregnant. The girl's family came to know about it when her mother observed changes in her daughter's body and took her for a medical examination recently. Some of the villagers offered to mediate between the victim and the accused. They offered Rs 2.50 lakh as compensation to the parents to remain silent. However, police came to know about the incident and registered a case and arrested five people, the SI told PTI. Another police official said a written consent was also obtained from the girls family on the 'settlement'. After this, Venkataiah was externed from Narayanpet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A notorious criminal wanted in over 10 cases was arrested after an exchange of fire with police in Aska area of Odisha's Ganjam district, police said today. A 9mm pistol, ammunition and a motorcycle were seized from the accused, identified as Kalu Biswal (30) of Baliapalli village, who was arrested yesterday, said Inspector In-Charge of Aska police station, Santosh Kumar Jena. Biswal, who sustained bullet injuries in his right leg, was admitted at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A wanted gangster and his accomplice were arrested after a brief encounter on the Dwarka Expressway here, police said today. Amit Dagar (31), a sharp-shooter of the notorious Kaushal gang, and his accomplice Anil were arrested last night, Gurgaon Police PRO Subhash Bokan said. Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted the accused on the Dwarka Expressway and a brief encounter ensued in which Dagar sustained a bullet injury to his leg, the official said. Dagar had a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head and was involved in multiple cases of heinous crimes, including murder, extortion, kidnapping, contract killing, gangster acts and others, he said. He was earlier involved in the killing of dreaded criminal, Mahesh, of his rival gang, here and had also killed a revenue officer of Haryana, Bokan said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Women and Child Development Ministry has decided to move a fresh bill to broaden the scope of the Indecent Representation of the Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 to cover audio-visual media and content in electronic form, the Lok Sabha was told today. The draft bill envisages constituting a centralised body headed by member secretary, the National Commission for Women, having representatives from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), the Press Council of India (PCI) and one member with experience of working on women issues, Union minister Maneka Gandhi told Lok Sabha. In a written response, Gandhi said the ministry has taken the decision after taking into account the recent technological advancement in the field of communications such as social media platforms. "The Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided to move a fresh bill to broaden the scope of the Indecent Representation of the Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 to cover audio-visual media and content in electronic form," she said. The act prohibits indecent representation of women through advertisements, publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner. The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2012 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in December, 2012 which referred it to the department-related Parliament Standing Committee for consideration. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists have engineered yeast "microbreweries" that can help hospital lab workers better track their daily radiation exposure, enabling a faster assessment of tissue damage that could lead to cancer. The researchers at Purdue University in the US used disposable badges made of freezer paper, aluminum and tape to grow yeast, rather than building portable cellars or ovens. Simply adding a drop of water activates the yeast to show radiation exposure as read by an electronic device, according to the research published in the journal Advanced Biosystems. On a commercial level, the readout device could one day be a tablet or phone, researchers said. The badge could also be adapted in the future for nuclear power plant workers and victims of nuclear disasters, they said. "You would use the badge when you are in the lab and recycle it after you have checked your exposure by plugging it into a device," said Manuel Ochoa, a postdoctoral researcher at Purdue. Radiology workers are regularly exposed to low doses of radiation when they obtain patient imagery, such as X-rays. While protective gear largely keeps workers within a safe range of radiation exposure, absorbing a little bit is still inevitable. Radiation doses creeping above regulated guidelines pose risk for developing conditions such as cancer, cataracts, skin irritation or thyroid disease. "Currently, radiology workers are required to wear badges, called dosimeters, on various parts of their bodies for monitoring their radiation exposure," said Babak Ziaie, a professor at Purdue. "They wear the badges for a month or two, and then they send them to the company that made them. "But it takes weeks for the company to read the data and send a report back to the hospital. Ours give an instant reading at much lower cost," said Ziaie. The success of the badge lies in the quick and measurable response of yeast to radiation: The higher the radiation dose, the higher the percentage of yeast cells that die. Wetting the badge activates the cells that are still alive to eat glucose and release carbon dioxide - the same fermentation process responsible for brewing beer and making bread rise. When carbon dioxide bubbles at the surface, ions also form. The concentration of these ions increases the electrical conductivity of yeast, which can be measured by hooking up the badge to a readout system. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today expressed serious concern over recent cases of rape and sexual abuse of women at shelter homes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and asked when these horrific incidents would stop. The apex court's observation came while hearing a matter relating to sexual abuse of children at orphanages. "Tell us what is this happening?," a bench of justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta said while referring to the recent incident at Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh where 26 women have been reported to be missing from shelter homes. "Yesterday, I read so many women have been raped in Pratapgarh. How will these things stop," Justice Lokur asked, adding "When it is going to stop?" Besides Pratapgarh, incidents of rape and sexual abuse of women and girls at shelter homes run by NGOs have also surfaced recently in Muzaffarpur in Bihar and Deoria in Uttar Pradesh. Advocate Aparna Bhat, assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the matter, said that the Centre was supposed to come out with a report on list of child care institutions (CCIs) in the country as well as status of their social audit. "We cannot do everything unless the government of India appears," the bench observed while questioning as to why the counsel for the Centre has not appeared in the matter. Later, advocates on behalf of the Centre, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Women and Child Development appeared before the court. The bench took exception as to why lawyers were appearing for different ministries and observed that there were so many ministries but that does not mean that separate lawyers would appear for them. "Only the Ministry of Women and Child Development is required in this case," the bench said. The amicus told the bench that the apex court in its last year verdict had asked the Centre to get social audit of all such CCIs conducted through the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). "It appears that the NCPCR has started the exercise but some states are refusing to cooperate with the NCPCR," the amicus told the bench, adding, that Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were among the states which have not cooperated in the exercise. "Did they (NCPCR) conducted any social audit in Pratapgarh and Deoria," the bench asked. The counsel representing the NCPCR said that the commission was not allowed to conduct social audits in six states -- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Mizoram. "The fact that they are not allowing NCPCR to do social audit shows that there is something to hide," the amicus said, adding that the institution in Uttar Pradesh, where incident of sexual abuse and rapes has surfaced recently, was de-registered way back in November last year but it was still operational. The amicus said that a management information software (MIS) was supposed to be developed where complete database of children along with the facilities provided to them at CCIs was required to be updated but the Centre has not filed the details of what was going on. The NCPCR's counsel said that a "rapid" social audit of CCIs and shelter homes was going on and it has already been done in around 3,000 such homes. "What rapid? You (NCPCR) do not know what is going on? If something, like rape, happens in these 3,000 institutions, will you be responsible for it," the bench asked. "We would like to make it very clear that number of social audits is not important. What is more important is the quality of these social audits," the bench said. The counsel representing the Centre said they would furnish all the information as directed by the court within a week. He said that regarding CCIs data, some states, including Bihar and Telangana, and union territory of Puducherry are yet to provide the details to the Centre. However, the lawyers appearing for some of these states said that they have given the details to the Centre. The bench directed the MWCD to place before it the data they have received from the states including as to how the funds were being utilised, how performance audit was done and on MIS also. It asked the ministry to give data of CCIs including the facilities provided to children, like health, education, nutrition, living there. The court has posted the matter for hearing on August 21. On May 5 last year, the apex court had passed a slew of directions including setting up of a data base of children living in orphanages and child care institutions to ensure their safety and welfare. It had directed the Centre, state governments and union territories to complete the registration of all child care institutions by the year-end. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa Congress women's wing chief Pratima Coutinho today demanded an apology from party leader Pratapsinh Rane over his statement that Goans who go abroad for work do lowly jobs such as toilet cleaning there. "Mahila Congress (Congress women wing) is hurt by the statement and with all humility, he should apologize to the people working abroad and their dependents," Coutinho said here. "We humbly request our senior leader Rane to admit the mistake and apologize to the people of Goa for hurting their sentiments," she added. Rane, a former chief minister, had said during a discussion on mining industry in the Goa Assembly that Goans who work abroad "do toilet cleaning jobs". While it drew a sharp reaction from the Goan diaspora, state Congress had distanced itself from the controversial statement. Coutinho also said that the Congress ruled the state for many years but failed to create enough jobs, which forced people to migrate. Rane was not available for comments on Countinho's demand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If you want low-income people with childen to work, you have to help them find child care. Thats one of the key points stressed in an Urban Institute study released this week. It examines the relationship between local workforce development boards and child care. These boards provide services to the unemployed and administer job-training programs under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The study profiles five local workforce development boards, which were selected following a survey of several such boards because their administrators were heavily involved in helping their clients secure child care. Gina Adams , a senior fellow at the Urban Institute and the lead author of this study, says the administrators of the boards interviewed for the study understood the multifaceted nature of child care. They talked about the importance of child care in supporting an overall well-functioning economy, said Adams. They really saw child care as core to the fabric of a workforce development strategy for their community. The following groups were included in the study: Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development in Colorado; CareerSource of Broward County in Florida; the Northern Indiana Workforce Board; Workforce Solutions of Central Texas; and North Central SkillSource in Washington. The five selected boards represent both urban and rural areas. They also have different administrative structures and take a variety of approaches to helping clients obtain child care. The researchers stress that they did not evaluate the effectiveness of these groups and caution that the boards were not chosen because they utilized best practices. But Adams notes that these boards did use a lot of common sense when doing things such as the initial assessments of clients. If you assess a family when they come in, and assess their needs well and figure out that they are going to need, for example, transportation or child care, and try to meet those needs, I think its common sense that thats more likely to have that parent be able to succeed in education and training than if you dont do that, said Adams. Workforce Board Challenges The researchers found that all of the groups faced the same two problems in helping clients with child care: a lack of funds to pay for it and a lack of available high-quality care. Many of the people receiving job training need child care at night or on weekends when its rarely available. The report also notes that families served by local workforce development boards tend not to be the first in line when it comes to federal programs to help with child care. Adams says those programs usually prioritize parents who are already working rather than those who are furthering their education or in job training. For example, legislators in Florida passed a law that half of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds must be spent on job training. Since job training tends to cost much less than child care, there is no money available to cover care. The researchers found that the five local workforce development boards profiled depended on partnerships with nonprofits to help fill gaps in assistance. Adams says those who make the rules for how these boards function have to look at the population these groups serve as more than just people in need of job training. Generally, integrating the concepts of what the person needs and in this case what the family needs, if youre trying to help them succeed in the workplace, is really important, said Adams. This study is the latest in a larger group of studies by the Urban Institute called Bridging the Gap , which examines how child care intersects with postsecondary education and workforce development for low-income parents. The work is funded through the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Image by Getty Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that parents who dont receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families are ineligible for federal child-care assistance funds. By The Associated Press Aug. 08, 2018 | 09:26 PM | LOUISVILLE Statues honoring a Confederate soldier and a 19th-century editor known for anti-immigrant writings will be moved from their prominent spots in Kentucky's largest city, Louisville's mayor said Wednesday. Acknowledging he was confronting an "emotionally charged" subject, Mayor Greg Fischer said his decision to move the John B. Castleman and George D. Prentice statues was based on findings of a local Public Art and Monuments Advisory Committee that he appointed late last year. In a tweet , the Democratic mayor noted the panel concluded Louisville must not maintain statues that serve as "validating symbols for racist or bigoted ideology." "Moving the Castleman and Prentice statues does not erase history," Fischer tweeted. "It allows us to examine our history in a new context that more accurately reflects the reality of the day, a time when the moral deprivation of slavery is clear." In announcing his decision, Fischer added that he's mindful of the "horrible display of hatred and bigotry" at a violent white nationalist rally last year in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens of others injured. Confederate monuments have come under increased scrutiny ever since that rally, as well as the 2015 massacre of nine black worshippers inside a South Carolina church. The Castleman statue, depicting him atop a horse, is in the Cherokee Triangle neighborhood east of downtown. Castleman was a Confederate soldier and later a U.S. general. He also helped found Louisville's park system. The Prentice statue is located at the downtown public library. Both statues have been targets of vandalism. "We cannot ignore that Castleman fought to continue the horrific and brutal slavery of men, women and children" and later "heralded that part of his life in his autobiography," Fischer wrote in one of his tweets announcing the removal of the statues. Prentice was a Louisville newspaper editor associated with the pro-slavery, anti-immigration movement during the 1850s and 1860s. "He used that platform to advocate an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant message" that led to a deadly riot, Fischer said. Fischer said in a release that the city has had preliminary discussions about moving the statues to Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville. If the statues cannot be relocated to an "appropriate" site, they will be put in storage, he said. The goal is to have the statues moved by year's end, he said. The relocations will cost several thousand dollars, and the money would come from the city's General Fund, private donations or both, the mayor said. Fischer is seeking a new term in the November election. Kentucky's second-largest city also has confronted the issue of Confederate memorials. Statues honoring Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge, a Confederate secretary of war, were moved recently to the Lexington Cemetery, where both men are buried. The action came months after the statues were removed from downtown Lexington and placed in storage. The remains of victims and children's clothing were strewn across a market in northern Yemen today, as the US and UN called for an investigation into an air strike the previous day by a Saudi-led coalition that killed 29 children on a bus. Yesterday's strike on a bus filled with children at the Dahyan market in the Huthi rebel stronghold of Saada injured at least 48 others, including 30 children, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. An AFP photographer at the scene said the bus carrying the children had been turned into a mass of twisted metal, and that the remains of victims and their personal items were scattered across the ground. "There are remains everywhere, we are still trying to confirm identies," Yahya Shayem, a health official in Saada, told AFP. He could not confirm when funerals for the victims would take place. The coalition that has been fighting Yemen's rebels since 2015 acknowledged responsibility for the strike, but claimed the bus was carrying "Huthi combatants". It said the coalition had carried out a "legitimate military action", targeting a bus in response to a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday by Huthi rebels. Yesterday's heavy toll sparked calls from both United Nations chief and the US State Department for the strike to be investigated. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an "independent and prompt" probe, while State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington was "calling the Saudi led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident". "We call on the parties to take appropriate measures to protect civilians," Nauert said. A spokesman for the Red Cross in Sanaa told AFP the toll was not final as casualties from the attack were taken to several hospitals. "We need blood," said Jameel al-Fareh, an emergency room doctor at Saada's Al-Jumhuri hospital, calling on local people to donate blood to treat the wounded. Ahmed al-Mansouri, the hospital's director, condemned what he called the "massacre of children". The coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government after the rebels drove it out of the capital Sanaa. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told AFP that claims by aid organisations that children were inside the bus were "misleading", and that "the elements inside the bus were Huthi combatants". He said the rebels have "ballistic missiles threatening our national security, Saudi cities and villages on the border. The attack today was a follow-up process to neutralise that threat." Earlier, Maliki accused the Huthis of "recruiting child soldiers, throwing them in battlefields and using them as tools". Saudi Arabia shot down a missile fired by the Huthis on Wednesday, with debris killing a Yemeni man and wounding 11 others, the coalition said. The missile was fired from the rebel-held Yemeni province of Amran towards the Saudi city of Jizan, the coalition said. The Huthis have in recent months ramped up missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh usually says it intercepts. Wednesday's attack brings the tally to 167 rebel missiles launched since 2015, according to the coalition. On August 2, attacks on a hospital and a fish market in the strategic rebel-held port city of Hodeida killed at least 55 civilians and wounded 170, according to the ICRC. The coalition denied responsibility for those attacks. Aid agency CARE International noted that yesterday's strike came a week after the Hodeida bombardment. "This latest air strike, only a week after the attacks on Hodeida city, demonstrates a continued disregard for human life and suffering," said Johan Mooij, the agency's country director in Yemen. "It is beyond cruel; innocent children's lives have been lost." The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, last week told the Security Council "a political solution" to Yemen's war was "available" and that the warring sides would be invited to talks on September 6 in Geneva. UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian economy unexpectedly added 54,100 jobs in July on strength in part-time hiring and the unemployment rate dipped to equal a record low 5.8 percent, Statistics Canada data reported on Friday.The increase was far greater than the 17,000-job gain predicted by economists in a Reuters poll. The jobless rate had been 5.8 percent from February through May, the lowest since the current method of calculating unemployment was introduced in 1976, before edging up to 6.0 percent in June.The report looked set to boost market speculation that the Bank of Canada, which has ... BEIJING (Reuters) - China's imports of U.S. agricultural products will fall sharply once Beijing implements retaliatory trade measures and the country is able to cover its demand for cooking oil and animal feed, vice agriculture minister Han Jun said on Friday. The trade dispute will have a limited impact on China's agriculture sector, but hit its U.S. counterparts harder, Han Jun was quoted by state radio as saying."Relevant departments are fully prepared after meticulous studies and China is fully capable of ensuring domestic demand for cooking oil and protein-based animal feed be ... BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday it would levy anti-dumping duties ranging from 23.1 percent to 75.5 percent on halogenated butyl rubber from the United States, the European Union and Singapore starting from Aug 20. The ministry, which had imposed temporary anti-dumping duties on the synthetic rubber from those countries in April, said the 75.5 percent tariff would apply to U.S. rubber made by Exxon Mobil and other U.S. companies.Arlanxeo Belgium faces a 27.4 percent tariff, while Exxon Mobil Chemical and other companies in the EU face 71.9 percent. Arlanxeo ... By Ben Blanchard and David StanwayBEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's top newspaper rebutted growing criticism in government circles that Beijing should have taken a lower profile to head off its trade war with the United States, saying on Friday that, like an elephant, China cannot hide its size and strength.The growing trade conflict is causing rifts within China's Communist Party, with some critics saying that an overly nationalistic Chinese stance may have hardened the U.S. position, sources close to the government have said.The ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily took ... HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's central bank said on Friday it would maintain its neutral and prudent monetary policy and enhance flexibility in yuan exchange rate levels, but global trade frictions remained an uncertainty for the global economy.China, the world's second-largest economy, faces increasing economic headwinds due to an intensifying tit-for-tat trade dispute with the United States, rising corporate borrowing costs and sharp falls in Chinese stocks. "Trade frictions, geopolitics and the normalisation of monetary policies in major economies have increased uncertainties in global ... BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Friday it will implement stricter controls on the slaughtering and transportation of pigs following the outbreak last week of African swine fever.Statement comes after China reported its first outbreak of the deadly disease last week in the northeastern province of Liaoning.Among measures announced, it said it will ban pigs in any areas affected by the disease from being transported elsewhere, in line with steps introduced last week near Liaoning's capital, Shenyang. (Reporting by Josephine Mason and Beijing news ... (Reuters) - Dish Network Corp's chief financial officer, Steven Swain, is leaving the U.S. satellite TV provider to become the finance chief at Brookdale Senior Living.Swain, who has been the CFO of Dish since August 2014, will step down effective Aug. 22, the company said https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001082/000155837018006934/f8-k.htm in a filing on Friday. He also resigned as CFO of subsidiary Dish DBS Corp.Prior to joining Dish in 2011, Swain spent more than 15 years in the telecommunications sector, most recently at CenturyLink Inc. Swain is expected to start in his new role ... STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Mobile telecom equipment maker Ericsson said on Friday it would add around 300 jobs in the United States to meet rising demand for next-generation 5G equipment.It said it is aiming to employ engineers and artificial intelligence specialists."This is part of an increase in R&D investment. It doesn't mean we are cutting (staff) somewhere else to do this," Chief Executive Borje Ekholm told Reuters. Many investors expect the Swedish company to benefit from a new cycle of network upgrades as demand for 5G gear kicks in later this year or early in 2019, starting in the United ... By Jennifer HughesHONG KONG (Reuters) - Index provider FTSE Russell could give a greater weighting to mainland Chinese stocks than rival MSCI if it decides to include them in its flagship indices next month, its chief executive told Reuters.MSCI this year became the first index provider to force its passive fund followers into Shanghai and Shenzhen-listed stocks - a milestone in the opening up of Chinese markets to international capital. It was also a highly contentious move due to investor concerns about Chinese corporate governance and market practices.The growing financial might of ... By Carl O'Donnell and Liana B. Baker(Reuters) - Tesla Inc's board has not yet received a detailed financing plan from CEO Elon Musk, and is seeking more information about how he will take the U.S. electric car maker private in a proposed deal worth $72 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.While Tesla's board has held multiple discussions about Musk's proposal, which first became public on Tuesday, it has not yet received specific information on who will provide the funding, one of the sources said.Tesla declined to comment.Musk, a 47-year-old investor and engineer, ... By Rajendra Jadhav and Sudarshan VaradhanMUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - China is exporting textiles to India through Bangladesh to get around a tax increase on imports, undermining New Delhi's efforts to support local manufacturers, industry sources said.Earlier this week, India doubled the import tax on more than 300 textile products to 20 percent, marking the second tax increase on textiles in as many months.This is aimed at providing relief to the country's domestic textile industry, which has been hit by cheaper imports. India's total textile imports jumped by 16 percent to a record $7 ... By Rene WagnerBERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's exports to the United States in the first half of this year were worth 24.4 billion euros ($28.3 billion) more than its imports of U.S. goods, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed on Friday.The trade surplus was 100 million euros less than last year, but still meant Germany has the largest trade surplus with the United States than any other country, something U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to reverse.Germany's trade surplus has also come under attack from the International Monetary Fund, which says it contributes to trade tensions ... FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank will restrict Greek banks' access to its cheapest funding operations from Aug 21, it said on Friday, a move that could increase costs for lenders but may still help shore up confidence in Europe's weakest economy.The ECB will revoke a so-called 'waiver' which allowed Greek banks to post junk-rated government bonds as collateral in regular funding operations, a well anticipated move that comes as Greece exits its third bailout programme within days.Such an exemption could only be granted while a country is in a bailout programme, and the ECB has ... By Dmitry ZhdannikovMOSCOW (Reuters) - Oil markets have entered a brief period of calm but a storm might be looming later this year when new U.S. sanctions are poised to slash supplies of Iranian oil, the International Energy Agency said on Friday."The recent cooling down of the market, with short-term supply tensions easing, currently lower prices, and lower demand growth might not last," the IEA, which oversees the energy policies of industrialised nations, said in a monthly report.Oil prices have rallied close to $80 per barrel, their highest since 2014, on concerns about supply shortages ... India aims to cut down its oil import bill by Rs 120 billion ($1.74 billion) through increased use of biofuels, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday. ALSO READ: Iran oil imports: Slippery road ahead for India as US sanctions kick in The South Asian nation, which imports up to 80 per cent of its oil needs, plans to invest Rs 100 billion and would build 12 biofuel refineries, Modi said. Modi blamed previous governments for not taking the ethanol blending programme seriously and said now its production will triple to 4.5 billion litres in the next four years, leading ... NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian authorities arrested a former managing director of Bhushan Steel Ltd on Thursday over an alleged fraud, after a probe found billions of rupees had been siphoned off by the firm's founders from funds borrowed from state-run banks.Neeraj Singhal, a member of the founding family, was presented before a court and will be held in judicial custody until Aug. 14, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs said in a statement.It is fairly rare for influential industrialists or corporate leaders to be arrested over fraud allegations in India, but efforts to clean up state banks' ... LONDON (Reuters) - Investors stuck a modest $5 billion into equities over the past week, with U.S. funds leading inflows, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) said on Friday, adding that world stock markets had gone from being a "raging bull to a sitting bull".Rising trade protectionism, fiscal stimulus and policies that redistribute wealth are now being enacted in the United States, European Union and across Asia as governments try to boost their economies, the bank noted, dubbing the moves as "populist easing" or PE.But that will prove far less bullish for asset prices than the decade of ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japan's Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said he had a frank exchange about trade on Thursday with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, while appearing to stick with Tokyo's position of avoiding a bilateral free-trade agreement."We had a frank exchange of views and deepened mutual understanding," Motegi told reporters after several hours of meetings, which he said will continue on Friday.But he reiterated Japan's view that multilateral talks, which Washington has abandoned, are the best way to address trade issues. Tokyo wants to avoid a bilateral free-trade ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japan's Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said he had productive trade talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and they planned to hold another meeting in September.He said both acknowledged the importance of expanding trade between the two nations."We will continue talks and proceed further at next meeting we plan to hold in September," Motegi told reporters on Friday after two-day talks in Washington.Motegi said he and Lighthizer exchanged views on individual trade areas but nothing had been decided. (Reporting by David Lawder in Washington; writing by ... NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Shares of India's leading full-service carrier Jet Airways Ltd fell as much as 14.5 percent in early trade on Friday after the company deferred its first-quarter results.Jet Airways, late on Thursday, said the audit committee did not recommend the results to the company's board for approval "pending closure of certain matters".The airline, which is partly owned by Etihad Airways, has been facing financial troubles, although it said earlier this month it remains confident of being able to cut costs and keep flying despite reports it had warned staff it was running out of ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mexico's Economy Minister said on Friday that bilateral talks with the United States over the future of the NAFTA trade deal will drag into next week, and the timing of Canada's return to the negotiations will depend on how fast they resolve issues.Speaking as he left a meeting with the U.S. trade team in Washington, Ildefonso Guajardo said the return of Canada, the third country in the trillion dollar trade zone, would depend on solving bilateral elements in "the next few days or weeks."The issues the two countries are hammering out include what percentage of auto ... By Henning GloysteinSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices dipped on Friday on worries that an escalating trade dispute between Washington and Beijing will stall economic growth and demand for fuel, even as renewed U.S. sanctions against Iran are expected to tighten supplies.Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $71.88 per barrel at 0646 GMT, down 19 cents, or 0.3 percent from their last close.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down by 22 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $66.59 a barrel.Prices eased on a possible slowdown in economic growth due to escalating trade tensions.For the ... By Henning GloysteinSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices on Friday edged up on worries that reimposed U.S. sanctions against Iran would tighten supplies, although the escalating trade dispute between Washington and Beijing held markets back from further gains. Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $72.20 per barrel at 0406 GMT, up 13 cents from their last close.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up by 5 cents at $66.86 a barrel.Despite the possibility of a slowdown in economic growth due to escalating trade tensions, oil markets are for now relatively tight, analysts ... By Henning GloysteinSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil markets on Friday were torn between concerns that the U.S.-China trade dispute would stall economic growth, while Washington's sanctions against Iran were expected to tighten supplies.Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $72.12 per barrel at 0246 GMT, up 5 cents from their last close.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were flat at $66.81 a barrel.Despite the possibility of a slowdown in economic growth due to escalating trade tensions, oil markets are for now relatively tight, analysts said, mostly because of sanctions on ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed recent U.S. sanctions against Moscow and challenges in Syria's war in a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Friday, a State Department spokeswoman said."Secretary Pompeo reiterated that the United States seeks an improved relationship with Russia and agreed to future dialogue," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.It was their first phone call since Washington said on Wednesday it would impose fresh sanctions on Moscow for the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain in ... Mobile chipmaker Qualcomm Inc is settling an antitrust case brought against it by Taiwan regulators by paying T$2.73 billion ($89 million), the island's Fair Trade Commission said on Friday. The commission said Qualcomm also agreed to bargain in good faith with other chip and phone makers in patent-licensing deals. In 2017, the commission fined Qualcomm $778 million for refusing to sell chips to mobile handset makers that wouldn't agree to its patent-licensing terms and for cutting iPhone maker Apple Inc a royalty discount in exchange for the exclusive use of Qualcomm's ... UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia and China on Thursday objected to a U.S. proposal to add a Russian bank, Moscow-based North Korean banker and two other entities to a U.N. Security Council blacklist, diplomats said.The list of proposed designations mirrors new sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury last week.The United States made the proposal to the 15-member U.N. Security Council North Korea sanctions committee, which operates by consensus.Russia objected to the designations because it said the U.S. proposal was not "adequately substantiated by sufficient information," diplomats said. ... COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Russia-led Nord Stream 2 consortium said on Friday it has applied to Denmark for an alternative gas pipeline route through the Baltic Sea that would avoid the Nordic state's territorial waters.Denmark is facing a dilemma on whether the project can be built near its Baltic coast and its parliament may pass legislation allowing it to veto the Nord Stream 2 pipeline going through Danish territorial waters on security grounds.Russia is keen to press ahead with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline since it has the potential to double its gas exports under the Baltic Sea to ... By Heekyong Yang and Ju-min ParkSEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled the Galaxy Note 9 "phablet" in New York on Thursday in a key product launch that it hopes will attract younger customers with stepped-up features and services for gamers and music-lovers.Launching the Note 9 at 11 a.m. in New York, or Friday midnight in Seoul, Samsung also announced partnerships with global hit game Fortnite and music-streaming service Spotify Technology SA in a stepped-up challenge to Apple Inc in the premium-phone race.Samsung's new focus marks a shift away from its previous positioning of ... SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore-based venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures said on Friday it will launch a $10 million fund to invest in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology startups.The fund, called LuneX Ventures, will invest in early-stage companies globally such as cryptocurrency exchanges and security providers.Investors in the fund will include high-net worth individuals and family offices.The fund is among a cluster of similar ventures that invest in the cryptocurrency space, backed by wealthy individuals and financial firms, that have emerged over the past year. Such firms ... State Bank of India is confident of returning to profitability from the December quarter onwards as the impact of bad loans eases, its chairman said after the nation's top lender by assets plunged to its third straight quarter of losses. India's banks have been plagued by a surge in non-performing loans which hit a record $150 billion at the end of March. Twenty-one lenders led by SBI, in which the Indian government owns a majority stake, accounted for 86 per cent of the pile. SBI's gross non-performing loans eased quarter on quarter to Rs 2.13 trillion ($30.8 ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he had authorized higher tariffs on imports from Turkey, imposing a 20 percent duty on aluminum and 50 percent one on steel, as tensions mount between the two NATO allies over Ankara's detention of an evangelical pastor and other diplomatic issues."I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" Trump said in an early morning post on Twitter."Aluminum will now be 20 percent and Steel 50 ... The deal is signed, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) gives its the green signal, and now the taxman is waiting in bated anticipation. We are talking about Walmart's acquisition of 77 per cent stake in Flipkart in lieu of $16 billion, which was announced in May. According to The Times of India, the deal is expected to help the government rake in up to Rs 13,700 crore, following the global retailer's discussions with income tax authorities. At least two senior Walmart executives, Executive VP and Treasurer Pedro Farah and Geoff Adams, senior director of M&A tax, met senior income tax officials to assure them that the company will ensure that tax dues accrue to the government. Sources told the daily that Walmart, the world's largest retail firm, will deduct $1.5-2 billion as taxes before issuing cheques to stakeholders who have made an exit. US-based investors Tiger Global Management, Accel Partners and eBay, South Africa's Naspers Ltd, China's Tencent Holdings and Japan's SoftBank have all made huge profits from this deal, and so has co-founder Sachin Bansal. Bengaluru-based Flipkart had shared its share purchase agreement with the tax authorities in May, and they are currently going through them with a fine-toothed comb. An income tax official told PTI that the department is calculating the tax rate that would be applicable for investors selling their shares to Walmart. "For that they have to ascertain which investor has routed money from which jurisdiction and when and whether any treaty benefit would apply to them," the official added. Consider SoftBank, Flipkart's largest shareholder and the last one to agree to sell its 20 per cent stake to Walmart. Its CEO Masayoshi Son had disclosed at a press conference in May that SoftBank's $2.5-billion stake in Flipkart was worth $4 billion - a whopping 60 per cent return on investment in nine months. But on the flip side, the Japanese conglomerate's tax liability is estimated to be around $600 million. Meanwhile, the Indian tax authorities are keeping an eagle eye on the proceedings. The mega deal is getting heightened scrutiny because it triggers off different tax treaties, leading to plenty of confusion. After all, Flipkart's parent is registered in Singapore and many of the investors who sold their stake in the company to Walmart are non-residents. Above all else, the government wants to avoid a repeat of the protracted battle over the Hutchison-Vodafone deal. To remind you, in February 2007, Britain's Vodafone had acquired a 67 per cent stake in Hutchison Essar from Hong Kong-based Hutchison Group for $11.2 billion through a maze of subsidiaries based in the Netherlands and Cayman Islands. No tax was paid on this deal to Indian authorities since the transaction involved companies located overseas. However, seven months after starting its India operations, Vodafone was held liable for capital gains tax on the deal and the taxman demanded Rs 11,000 crore. The matter went to court and the Supreme Court ruled in Vodafone's favour, saying it was not liable to pay any tax over the acquisition of assets in India from the Hong Kong-based Hutchison. Not to be outdone, the government then amended the Income Tax Act in 2012 to be able to retrospectively tax any transfer of shares between two non-resident entities that results in indirect transfer of assets in India. The case is still under arbitration but under the amended rules it is mandatory for all entities - resident and non-resident - having a business connection in India to withhold tax. "We were told that the deal would be closed within a week of the CCI approval. So we expect them to file with the IT authorities seeking withholding tax certificate under Section 197 within a fortnight," an income tax official told PTI. Under Section 197, any NRI selling shares can give reasons to Indian authorities as to why they should be taxed at a lower or nil rate in India. The department has also been reviewing Section 9 (1) of the Income Tax Act to see if the benefits under the bilateral tax treaties with countries like Singapore and Mauritius could be available for foreign investors selling stakes to Walmart. With PTI inputs Edited By Sushmita Choudhury Agarwal Internet going 'Bharat' way is the talk of the town these days. While Internet companies, whether they are operating in content or e-commerce segment, are mulling more ways to tap in the regional audience, investors are pouring in money into the start-ups which cater to this segment. However, there are several challenges in front of the companies before they can cash in the users coming from tier-3, 4, 5 and beyond in India. Especially, since they have not been able to monetise the overall current user base. A recent report by Google, Omidyar Network and Bain and Company, titled 'Unlocking Digital for Bharat', highlights some of the challenges in front of businesses who want to address this segment. According to the report, India has about 390 million Internet users in India and 80 per cent of this audience is from the affluent NCCS (New Consumer Classification System) -- A, B and C segments. New Consumer Classification System is used to classify households in India on the basis of two variables -- education of chief wage earner and number of consumer durables in the family. It reveals that even in the current user base, transacting audience is quite small. As per the report, of the 390 million users in India only 40 per cent (160 million) transact online and out of this 160 million, 90 per cent transactors are again from affluent from NCCS A, B and C segments. It says that the balance 230 million users while go online for product research and content, they prefer offline channels for transactions. Another interesting finding of the survey says that India's digital journey has large number of dropouts as about 54 million users stopped transacting online after their first purchase. So what's stopping these users from transacting online in India? Lack of trust, inability to find products, cheaper offline, no grievance redressal, offline more reliable, convenience of offline, no touch-and-feel, lack of trust -- are the top reasons listed by these users for not transacting online. The study also reveals the reasons why users who have transacted online once, have stopped doing it now. The top reasons being -- product arrived too late, area unserviceable, unable to return, less discounts, poor data connection, better offline options, product/service not good. As India gets on to the journey of making Bharat digital, the Internet businesses need to address these issues, before they can further foothold in the economy. The second-largest domestic carrier Jet Airways has spooked the investors and the aviation sector in general. The airline has delayed its first quarter results announcement, which was slated for release on August 9, after its audit committee didn't recommend it to the board due to "closure of certain matters". Hours before the deferment, the chairman of the audit committee - Srinivasan Vishvanathan - had reportedly resigned from his job raising doubts that everything is hunky-dory at the airline. On August 9, Jet board had convened for 26th annual general meeting (AGM). It started off on a sombre note with Jet Airways' chairman Naresh Goyal feeling "guilty and embarrassed" due to shareholders losing money as the airline's stock price tanks on financial concerns. Goyal assured the shareholders of taking corrective steps to ameliorate perception of the airline through formation of a new executive committee comprising directors Nasim Zaidi and Ashok Chawla - both of whom were civil aviation secretaries. By the time meeting was concluded, things took a dramatic turn as the airline announced, in a late night note to stock exchanges, postponing the release of its first quarter results. On August 10, Jet's stock price closed the day 8.39 per cent lower than the previous day. In an official statement, Jet has denied the reports of Vishvanathan's resignation saying that "he did not quit the audit committee... his term of office came to an end at the AGM... which he attended in person. He retired as a director and as chairman of the audit committee after serving his full term of office." The statement further adds that "since the management and the auditors informed the audit committee that they needed more time to finalise the accounts, the audit committee... agreed to accord them further time to finalise the accounts and directed that the finalized accounts be placed before the audit committee...This is not the first instance in corporate India of deferment of quarterly financial results by a company." While Jet management has been trying hard to allay fears, it is unlikely to help much given that the airline sector has entered the rough weather conditions. According to some reports, the airlines don't have enough resources to operate for more than 60 days. It was reported that the airline has asked employees to take a pay cut of 5 to 25 per cent. Later, Jet said that it has been implementing several measures to reduce costs as well realize higher revenues... some of these areas include sales and distribution, payroll, maintenance, and fleet simplification. Jet Airways is currently caught in the situation where its revenues are falling and costs are rising up leading to huge losses. In the last declared quarterly results (for January-to-March 2018), Jet had posted losses of Rs 1,036 crore. Input costs across the board - jet fuel, aircraft maintenance, forex, employees remunerations, and selling and distribution expenses - witnessed substantial jump in the quarter ending March 2018. The higher competition, particularly from the low-cost carriers, has resulted in downward pressure on the passenger fares. In a May research report, brokerage firm ICICI Securities dropped its coverage of Jet Airways citing high uncertainty in the crude oil price movement. "Given Jet's operating cost is one of the highest, sustenance of margins would remain challenging... amid rising competition and costs. For Jet Airways, the cost of operating an airline remains one of the highest in the industry versus peers. Given the continuous rise in crude oil prices along with a weakening rupee, the operating environment would continue to remain challenging for the company," the report had said. Not just rising costs, Jet is also competing in a market where LCCs are increasingly becoming favourites. To top it up, Jet's higher focus on business destinations (and lower focus on leisure markets) is hurting the growth due to higher demand from leisure destinations. Besides, the airline has been steadily losing market share in both domestic and international markets on the back of aggressive competition from LCCs and weak growth in the international markets. For instance, its domestic market share has slipped to 17 per cent from 26-27 per cent while international share has dipped from 40 per cent to 36 per cent. Jet's woes are not expected to go away until the market fundamental turns favourable. 10 Aug 2018, 6:53 PM Govt working on turnaround plan for Air India, may allow airlines to raise external commercial borrowing As the Civil Aviation Ministry plans Rs 11,000-crore bailout package for ailing Air India, Aviation Secretary RN Choubey on Thursday confirmed that the centre is working on a turnaround plan to make the debt-ridden airline competitive. Also, the centre is working on ways to let all airlines raise external commercial borrowing to meet the rising operational costs. The decision seems to have been taken in wake of private airlines facing loss due to high fuel cost and falling rupee value. Audit panel rejects Jet accounts; board defers Q1 results Jet Airways deferred announcing their June quarter numbers to an unspecified date. The development came after the company's AGM on Thursday. In a BSE filing late in the evening, the airline, which had its AGM earlier in the day, said the board of directors decided not to review the unaudited financial performance for the June quarter. Amid rising concerns over the airline's financial health and proposed salary cuts, a new committee will be set up to improve public perception and negative publicity about it. GoAir to start international operations in October; to connect Kerala's Kannur to Saudi Arabia's Dammam Travelling abroad is going to become a little easier as the fifth Indian carrier is set to take Indian passengers abroad. Starting from October, GoAir is commencing its international operations. The airline has been given permission to start international operations from the new Kannur international airport to Dammam in Saudi Arabia, Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey told reporters. GoAir operates only domestic flights despite meeting the eligibility criteria for flying on international routes as it has a fleet of over 20 aircraft. Samsung Galaxy Note 9 launched at Unpacked event in New York The Samsung Unpacked event in New York saw the launch of several new devices. Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 9, coupled with an improved S Pen, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Samsung Galaxy Home. Out of the amazing line-up Samsung had prepared for the evening, the Galaxy Note 9 remained the showstopper for the event. The new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes with diamond cut finish for cleaner design. It will come with 128GB or 512GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded to 1TB among other features. Supreme Court sends Jaypee Infratech back to NCLT, bars promoters from bidding A year after IDBI Bank dragged Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL) to bankruptcy court for defaulting on Rs 526 crore loan - and after a protracted battle that made the rounds of the NCLAT and the Supreme Court - the ball is back in the National Company Law Tribunal's court. The top court today asked the Allahabad bench of the NCLT to deal with the insolvency proceedings against Jaypee Infratech, allowing a second round of bidding. Significantly, in a major setback to the Jaypee group, the Court barred parent firm Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) as well as the group's promoters from participating in it. The fresh Committee of Creditors (CoC) that will now have to be set up will include homebuyers. Carry driving license, RC on your phone! Govt validates digital copies States have been asked to accept driving licence, registration certificate or other documents in 'electronic form' presented through DigiLocker or mParivahan platforms, the government said today. It also said that impounding of documents will be reflected electronically through 'eChallan' system. This is in response to a number of grievances and RTI applications received in the ministry SFIO arrests Bhushan Steel's former MD Neeraj Singhal for siphoning off Rs 2,000 crore In its first arrest, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) on Thursday took under its custody the former promoter and managing director of Bhushan Steel Limited, Neeraj Singhal, for siphoning off over Rs 2,000 crore through several loans availed by BSL from the public sector banks using its 80 associate companies. Neeraj Singhal was produced before the court, which sent him to judicial custody till August 14. 10 Aug 2018, 7:49 PM Samsung Galaxy Note 9 launched, pre-orders begin Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 9 during its Unpacked event in New York yesterday. The device comes with massisve internal storage options, that are 128GB and 512GB, which can be further expanded to 1TB. It also has a massive 4,000mAh battery which Samsung claims can last a day's usage with ease. Other features to look out for are a better camera capabilities and an improved S Pen. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will come with the Snapdragon 845 in the US market, whereas it will feature Samsung's Exynos chipset in other markets. The 128GB varaint has been priced at $999 and the 512GB variant has been $1,249. Pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 9 have begun and it will be available from August 24 Xiaomi Mi A2 launched in India Xiaomi Mi A2, the Android One-affiliated global variant of Mi 6X, was launched in India this week. Only one variant of the Mi A2 has been launched in India with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage has been launched in India. A higher variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage is in the cards. The variant launched in India has been priced at Rs 16,999. Pre-orders for the device have already begun. The Mi A2 will be sold in India via Xiaomi's online platform and Amazon India. Xiaomi plans to launch India-specific flagship Xiaomi India head Manu Jain divulged plans to release an India-specific smartphone sometime soon. This device will not be a part of the company's portfolio in China and will be designed specifically for Indian consumers. Jain said that this Xiaomi flagship will be at par with Galaxy S-series smartphones from Samsung or OnePlus flagship devices. WhatsApp limits messaging forwarding to five chats WhatsApp officially rolled out the five chat limit on forwarding messages in India. This is one of the initiatives takes by WhatsApp to check the spread of fake news in light of the concerns raised by the Indian government about the platform being misused to instigate violent incidents of lynchings across the country. The feature will be rolled out to all devices using WhatsApp in a phased manner. WhatsApp loophole lets hackers alter sent messages Israeli researchers discovered a loophole in WhatsApp's security which allows hackers to intercept and alter sent text messages. Using a hacked version of the instant messaging application, hackers can change the content of a message in either private or public conversations. Responding to the threat, WhatsApp said that this is similar to altering an e-mail, and does not indicate a security shortcoming in end-to-end encryption of WhatsApp messages. Android 9 Pie released for Pixel devices Google officially named the latest version of Android as Android Pie before launching it for the Google Pixel devices. Essential followed suit with an Android Pie release of its own. Android Pie puts a lot of emphasis on artificial intelligence and digital wellbeing. The update will be released for devices by Sony, Nokia, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, OnePlus and other Android One-affiliated devices by December this year. Travelling abroad is going to become a little easier as the fifth Indian carrier is set to take Indian passengers abroad. Starting from October, GoAir is commencing its international operations. The airline has been given permission to start international operations from the new Kannur international airport to Dammam in Saudi Arabia, Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey told reporters. The secretary also spoke about a host of issues from the government's proposal to bail Air India out to sea plane operations. GoAir operates only domestic flights despite meeting the eligibility criteria for flying on international routes as it has a fleet of over 20 aircraft. In a written reply in parliament today, the government informed that the 'air operators' certificate' has been endorsed for GoAir to start international operations. At present, the Air India group, IndiGo, Jet Airways and SpiceJet fly abroad. The Air India group comprises Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express. Choubey also added that IndiGo will operate a flight from the city to Doha and Jet Airways will start a service from there to Abu Dhabi. The services are expected to start from the winter schedule, beginning October end, he further said. The secretary also talked about the bailout package that the government is considering for Air India. Choubey said they are working on a turnaround plan to make the airline competitive and are holding consultations with the finance ministry before taking a final view on the matter. "We are working out on those details on infusing more funds into Air India. We would like to make sure the airline remains competitive and that its market share does not go down. All that may require capacity induction. We will take all those into consideration to take a final view in consultation with the Finance Ministry," he said. According to sources, the civil aviation ministry is in discussions with the finance ministry for a Rs 11,000-crore bailout package for the ailing airline. Choubey said the appointment of renowned industrialists Kumar Mangalam Birla and YC Deveshwar as non-official independent directors of Air India would help the airline get "high quality" guidance. "We will also ensure sufficient delegation is given to the board to decide on operational matters," he added. Talking about the sea plane operations, the guidelines of which was issued by the DGCA earlier, Choubey said they are proposing to look at such operations under the third phase of the UDAN scheme, the contours of which are being worked out. In a surprise announcement, HDFC Bank Ltd on Friday said its Deputy Managing Director Paresh Sukthankar has resigned from the post. Sukthankar was considered a likely successor to HDFC MD and CEO Aditya Puri, who is set to retire in October 2020. Paresh, who was part of the bank's founding team, was associated with the bank since 1994. HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh said he did an excellent job while working with the bank for 24 years. Paresh has reportedly cited personal reasons for resigning from the post. "Paresh Sukthankar has tendered his resignation as Deputy Managing Director of the bank. The board of the bank places on record its sincere appreciation for the contribution made by Sukthankar in his long association with the bank and wishes him the very best in his future endeavours," said the largest private lender in a regulatory filing. At an analyst meet in May, Aditya Puri had said the bank would start hunting for the next-in-line to fill in CEO's shoes 18-24 months ahead of Puri's retirement. Puri, who has been the HDFC Managing Director since September 1994, had said the talent for CEO's post could be internal or external and that an announcement would be made in the next 18 months. Industry experts were strongly betting on Paresh for the top job. "We will certainly miss Paresh. He is one of our oldest employees and has done an excellent job. He has worked with the bank for 24 years and we are very sorry to see him go," said Deepak Parekh, Chairman of HDFC Ltd, reported BloombergQuint. Parekh also junked any speculation about Paresh joining any other private bank. The HDFC Bank stock closed 0.17 per cent down at Rs 2,115 on Bombay Stock Exchange on Friday. Sukthankar has rich experience in risk management, finance, human resources, investor relations, and corporate communications, etc. He was a member on several board committees of the bank, including CSR panel, stakeholders' relationship committee, risk policy and monitoring committee. Prior to HDFC Bank, Sukthankar worked in Citibank for nine years. Besides, he has been a member of various committees formed by Reserve Bank of India and Indian Banks' Association. Paresh Sukthankar completed his graduation from Sydenham College, Mumbai, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree from University of Mumbai. He completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) from the Harvard Business School. (Edited by Manoj Sharma) After the success of many Chinese companies in India, another smartphone and appliance maker, Gome Telecom Equipment, plans a mega launch of its products in the country. With over 1,700 stores in mainland China, Gome is an emerging force in electronics and smartphone retail business. The company's expansion to India is inspired from the success stories of the Chinese companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Lenovo, all of which jointly hold over 50 per cent of the smartphone market in India. Gome Electronics, a fully-owned subsidiary of Gome Telecom Equipment, is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Apart from smartphones, the $11-billion Chinese company plans to foray into consumer product categories like televisions and home appliances, reported ET. It has partnered with multi-brand stores to sell these products. This puts the company in direct competition with the likes of Samsung, TCL, and Indian brands like Godrej, Bajaj, etc. The company has roped in Piyush Puri as head of Indian operations in March 2018. Puri worked as the country head of US multinational Foxconn's in-house brand InFocus for three years. He launched the inFocus mobile brand in India and partnered with Amazon for the brand's online expansion. As a first, Gome Electronics will come up with three Android powered smartphones in the sub-Rs 10,000 range during the upcoming festival season in India. These products will be sold at multi-brand stores as well as online. The company is also in talks with domestic e-com giant Flipkart for the sale of its consumer durable products like televisions, kitchen appliances, refrigerators, and washing machines. For its smartphone category, the company has roped in actor Ranveer Singh, while it is looking for another brand ambassador for the consumer electronics line. Complex market and high taxation are big disadvantages for overseas companies hoping to capitalise on the Indian boom. The company's long-term plan includes setting up operations in India, which will save it from paying heavy import duty. (Edited by Manoj Sharma) The first six months of 2018 were notably buoyant for Irelands merger and acquisition (M&A) market in a continuation of the active market that was evident in 2017. This is according to the William Fry Mid-year M&A Review 2018, produced in association with Mergermarket, which was published today. The review shows record half-year deal value with 76 deals with a combined value of 70.9bn and 41 outbound transactions with a deal value of 3.5bn, up from 717m in the first half of 2017. Ninety two percent of total deals were in the mid-market (5m-250m) bracket. There were 55 international deals worth 70.7bn, remaining stable with H1 2017 (56) and 17 private equity deals with a value of 1bn. The most actively-targeted sectors in terms of deal volume were Business Services and Technology, Media, and Telecom (25%), Business Services (22%) and Pharma, Medical & Biotech (16%). William Fry said the Trump administrations reduction in corporate tax rates cutting the federal rate from 35% to 21% as well as speaking out against US companies investing capital abroad, has not yet impacted on outbound US deal flow. Commenting on the figures, Corporate Partner at William Fry, Stephen Keogh said, "Ireland remains an active M&A market. Although talk of trade wars and Brexit pose uncertainty, there is much to suggest that both foreign and domestic buyers will still be active in the Irish M&A market in addition to Irish buyers continuing to look further afield for attractive acquisitions." Source: www.businessworld.ie news, latest-news The ACT Minister for Housing and Suburban Development Yvette Berry MLA stated in response to a Question on Notice from Mark Parton MLA that: The government has not considered abolishing land tax; land tax helps homebuyers compete with property investors and is an important source of revenue for the government. The Ministers response contradicts the position previously adopted by the government. TheThe government agreed in principle in 2012, to the abolition of land tax in its formal response toRecommendation 18 of the Taxation Review. In so agreeing, the government noted the Review Panels observation that land tax in its [then] current form was unfair, as it discriminated on the basis of tenure. It further noted that the purported benefits of land tax in helping homebuyers were not certain, and increases in land tax may actually be counterproductive. It is useful to distinguish the land tax imposed in the ACT and other jurisdictions from the broad based land tax promulgated by the Henry Tax Review. The tax, as imposed in states and territories, has a narrow base, being levied on commercial and rental properties. In the ACT, commercial land tax has been phased out, and the tax has an even narrower base, compared to other states. The broad based land tax envisaged by the Henry Review is akin to general rates, which are equally levied on owner-occupied and rental properties. The generally well-accepted principles of taxation, adopted by the ACT Taxation Review, are stability, efficiency, equity, and simplicity. So how does land tax fare against these principles? The ACT Taxation Review found land tax to be the most volatile of all the taxes; even more volatile than tax on conveyances, when measured through its sensitivity to economic growth, and its variance from long-run growth. For every 1 per cent increase in the economy, land tax was estimated to increases by 1.68 per cent, leading to increasing economic burden. The review pointed out that to the extent that land tax affects the cost of consumption of housing, it is inequitable, being discriminatory on the basis of tenure. Compliance and administration costs were assessed to be the highest for land tax for each dollar of revenue raised. In short, the tax is least suitable as a stable revenue-raising instrument, is inequitable, and has relatively higher administration costs. Over the three years between 2013-14 and 2016-17, land tax in the ACT increased at an annual rate of 10.3 per cent from $79 million to $106 million. In April this year, The Canberra Times reported that land tax would increase further by 45 per cent over the next five years. Indeed the 2018-19 budget provides for an increase of $11 million in the current year alone. The obvious question that arises in the context of these massive increases is, who will pay? We note that Minister Berry, in her response mentioned above, is silent on whether the governmenthas undertaken or intends to undertake any analysis of the impact of land tax on housing affordability. Documents recently released by the government under the Freedom of Information Act do not indicate any work has been undertaken in this regard. While the legal incidence of land tax is on landlords, its economic incidence depends on marketconditions. Landlords have an option of absorbing increases in the tax, or passing them to tenantsthrough rent. In general, landlords expect a return on their investment which is commensurate with or higher than alternative investment options. If the supply of rental accommodation is lower thandemand, or if the property prices (in other words, the investment required) are high, the landlords will pass the increase to tenants. Alternatively, if the returns are not enough and tenants unwilling to pay further, they could withdraw from the market and seek other investment options. The Minister has indicated in her comments above, that the latter is the policy objective. Chief Minister Andrew Barr has reiterated that is the case by claiming that the changes would helprebalance the housing market in favour of local buyers. However, as long as house prices continue to grow at the rate at which they have grown over the past five years, a direct result of the governments land supply policies, the Canberra housing market will remain an attractive proposition for investors. In that environment and outlook, landlords will be able to transfer the taxation costs to rents. Numerous reports, notable amongst those from Anglicare and the Womens Centre for Health Matters, paint a bleak picture of the availability of affordable rental properties for households on single incomes or lone parents, particularly women. Allowing homebuyers to compete with investors may sound a worthy objective. In reality, homepurchase is out of reach for the households which Anglicares and the Womens Centre for HealthMatters studies are concerned about, again due to land supply policies, and a mistaken belief that the government has released more land than needed. The reality for those households is financial stress, and in a worst case, homelessness. In summary, the ACT governments taxation and land supply policies have worked together to create and exacerbate a rental affordability problem for the lower income quintiles an inequitable tax is being made to work even harder. The foreshadowed increases in land tax are accompanied by the introduction of a tax on vacant andforeign investment properties, following a motion by Greens MLA Carolyn Le Couteur. It was reported that the government estimates 189 foreign investment properties will be impacted by the tax. The government has also identified 2500 vacant properties, based on measuring those properties with unusually low power and water consumption which are now to be charged land tax. As an aside it is interesting that the governments direct count of vacant homes in Canberra is well short of the 6300 vacant properties which were identified in a recent ANU study. There are likely to be exemptions from the new tax about which little information is available. The Chief Minister has, for example, advised the Assembly that the foreign investor surcharge will not be applied to Canberrans travelling overseas or overseas citizens living permanently in their own home in the ACT. The likely increase in the taxation base is also not known. The process for determining the tax and its collection is likely to be highly intrusive, involving the issuance of a notice and will almost certainly require the development of an exemptions regime. A more fundamental problem with the decision to expand land tax to include vacant dwellings or unutilised assets, is to define its underlying principle. At a practical level, a question which arises is whether the Greens and Labor propose, just as land tax is currently payable if a household rents out a bedroom, that the proposed vacancy tax will be imposed on all vacant bedrooms in Canberra? That is, after all, a logical extension of their apparent thinking on the matter. Ms Le Couteur is also reported to have said a vacancy tax on vacant properties will go some way tofreeing up some properties in what is an increasingly tight housing market. It is reasonable to ask how many of the 2689 properties will ultimately be subject to tax, and more importantly, how many will be added to the rental stock? The bigger question is: does the government know what it is doing? Jon Stanhope is Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA), University of Canberra. As Chief Minister, he had committed the ACT government to the Affordable Housing Action Plan, and review of its taxation system in the lead up to its taxation reform. Khalid Ahmed was Executive Director, Policy Coordination and Development Division, ACT Treasury. He is currently Adjunct Professor at IGPA and works in the private sector. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/e565063c-8445-4654-8a92-fece0543aaf8/r22_0_1978_1105_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, act-politics Canberra's housing boom in the past decade is the biggest on record for the ACT and has created an oversupply of more than 6000 apartments in the city, but if the population continues to grow at current rates, it is likely to soak up the excess supply. The boom had led to an oversupply of about 6700 dwellings, the vast majority of which were apartments or attached dwellings, Associate Professor Ben Phillips, an economist at the Australian National University, said. On top of that, there was still a strong pipeline of new dwellings in the works, according to still-rising building approvals data, expected to be built in the next 18 months, despite a fall in the first three months of this year. While median rents overall were fairly steady over that period, at about $380 a week, unit and house rents have since risen to record highs and the construction boom has not addressed underlying affordability problems facing Canberra's lowest-income earners. Mr Phillips said building completions in the 10 years to June 2018 had been roughly double that of the decade to 2008, with about 5000 completions a year, only 20 per cent which had been free-standing homes. Despite the oversupply, Mr Phillips said if ACT population growth continued at the same rate as the past year, it was likely to soak up some of that surplus, and with building approvals still at about 5000 a year, the imbalance should level out in the coming years. "It's also relatively small compared to the total number of dwellings in Canberra," he said. "It will take a few years to level out, but at the moment, we do have population growth that is more than supporting what is being built at the moment. "My general take is that over the past 10 years, we've built considerably more than was necessary with Canberra's population growth, however, the current level is roughly in line with requirements," Dr Phillips said. Since records began in the mid-1980s, there had not been a 10 year period in Canberra where there had been so much housing built, and as it came during a period of significant federal public service cuts, rising population and economic growth, it was a positive story overall for the ACT, he said. Mr Phillips said given more people were living in units, and fewer people tend to live in a unit than a detached house, there was a need to build more overall dwellings per capita than before. He also said that while the city was affordable for those on an average to higher incomes in Canberra, and there was a smaller proportion of residents in poverty than the major capital cities, the ACT remained one of the toughest places for low-income earners. While house prices are still rising across the city, rents have been relatively stable for more than five years, and for some apartments and units, had fallen a few per cent in recent years, he said. "But while stable, the rents in Canberra are still relatively high comparatively and not really that much different from Sydney and Melbourne," he said. "What's probably a greater concern, which feeds into housing affordability, is the strongly increasing rates and utilities costs, particularly in Canberra, where people are more reliant on heating costs than other capitals and many low income residents are stuck in low quality homes." Dr Phillips said that some families would still prefer to rent, or buy, a freestanding home with a decent backyard, the cheaper option remained an inner suburbs unit, particularly for younger singles or couples without children. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/13821f77-44a8-46cc-8290-b3baf96d3032/r0_17_320_198_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news The former head of the Australian Border Force has blasted the investigation that led to his sacking and called a former Coalition minister a hypocrite for failing to stick up for him. Roman Quaedvlieg lost his job five months ago after a drawn-out investigation into claims he improperly helped his girlfriend get a job and failed to disclose their relationship. Mr Quaedvlieg, who was previously the ACT's police chief, has always denied the allegations and was known to be displeased by how the investigation was managed. On Friday, he attacked former employment minister Eric Abetz's decision to defend former public service commissioner John Lloyd, who was also found to have engaged in misconduct. The Canberra Times reported on Wednesday, Mr Lloyd's last day in his job, that an inquiry had found he breached the public service's code of conduct by sharing information and partisan emails with a right-wing thinktank, the Institute of Public Affairs, of which he was a member. Senator Abetz denounced the investigation of Mr Lloyd as farcical and biased, and said the leaking of its findings exposed "a lack of integrity". He said the leaking was "ironically ... far more serious that any confected findings" and demanded an immediate investigation. The former Border Force commissioner responded strongly on Twitter, saying the senator was silent when similar problems beset his investigation. "Abetz screams for an investigation into how [Merit Protection Commissioner Linda] Waughs report into Lloyd was 'reprehensibly' leaked, excoriates the process as a farce and lacking procedural fairness," he wrote. "But chronic leaking of details of my matter to the media, including my sacking before I was even told, draws no whisper?" Mr Quaedvlieg said confidential details of allegations against him were leaked multiple times while he was under investigation. "Every single one I either had to refer to the AFP privately, or coerce/urge/cajole them to be referred by those that held the information. The inconsistency and hypocrisy is breathtaking," he wrote. "Repeated complaints of a lack of procedural fairness and flaws in the investigative process [were] also completely ignored or arbitrarily rejected. "Sorry, Senator Abetz, but defending Lloyd on process (irrespective of the substance of the issue) is hypocritical when you were silent on mine." However, Senator Abetz pointed out on Friday he had never been Mr Quaedvlieg's minister. "I was the minister responsible for the Public Service Commission when the alleged conduct happened involving Mr Lloyd and therefore made submissions to the Merit Protection Commissioner and public statements relating to my personal and specific knowledge of the matter." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/a2428693-4d6f-41c9-bc92-c4d5cf3ad479/r0_266_5184_3195_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Bali: A Brisbane man has been arrested by Indonesian police for allegedly possessing nearly 12 grams of cocaine and could face the death penalty if he is found guilty. Brendon Luke Johnsson, 43, and his partner Remi, an Indonesian national, were arrested last Saturday night in a raid by Balinese police which uncovered cocaine worth about 40 million rupiah (about $3600). Johnsson was paraded in an orange jumpsuit by Indonesian police on Thursday at a press conference announcing his arrest, which is a common practice. Under article 114 of Indonesia's strict narcotic laws, possession of less than five grams of a category one narcotic like cocaine carries a minimum jail term of five years and a maximum of 20 years. For more than five grams, the minimum jail time is five years and the maximum is the death penalty. Johnsson and Remi were found with a total of 11.6 grams of cocaine between them. However, Indonesian police said on Thursday Johnsson faced up to 20 years in jail. Denpasar police chief Hadi Purnomo said the arrest had been made after a tip-off from the community that a woman name Bena often used cocaine in Kerobokan Badung. Police investigated and during a raid of her premises found packages of cocaine inside her pants pocket, two packages inside a sanitary pad and one package inside a pillow. Bena was found with a total of 2.98 grams of cocaine. After being arrested, Bena told police she had purchased the package from her friend Remi and on Saturday night, based on this information, police raided Remi's house on Mataram Street in Kuta. Remi and her boyfriend Johnsson were home and during the search "police found 13 packages of cocaine inside a purse, placed inside a cardboard box located on the floor," Purnomo said. "Brendon [Johnsson] admits he bought it from a man named Made in Legian Street, on August 3 for 40 million rupiah. "Remi admits she gave Bena the four packages and was promised 12 million rupiah. But she hasn't been paid. "Bena claims it was the first time she bought cocaine from Remi, that it was also the first time she used cocaine, but she has been using ecstasy for the last two years and that she has never been convicted before. "Brendon claim he's been using cocaine for the last five years and never been convicted before. Remi claimed the same," Purnomo said. According to ABC News, Johnsson had previously lived on Queensland's Sunshine Coast before moving to Indonesia. He had been living in Bali for four years and was a designer or architect, Purnomo told reporters. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was "providing consular assistance to an Australian man detained in Bali". with AP and Toby Crockford /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/5e1c022a-0d11-47ea-a4fe-af95ef7d4b78/r0_318_4764_3010_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Abhyudaya Bank has released an employment notification calling out aspirants to apply for the post of Manager. 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 11755. The last date to apply for the government job is Aug 21, 2018. There is no application fee for the online registration. The selection will be done based on the candidate's performance in interview. Save Lives At RBI, Recruitment For Doctors On! Abhyudaya Bank Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Manager and Deputy General Manager Organisation Abhyudaya Bank Co-operative Ltd Educational Qualification Engineering and master's degree in finance from a recognised university for Manager and engineering for Deputy General Manager Experience 3 years for Manager and 15 years for Deputy General Manager Skills Required Engineering and managerial skills Job Location Mumbai and Pune (Maharashtra) Salary Scale INR 2250 to INR 11755 Industry Banking Application Start Date August 10, 2018 Application End Date August 21, 2018 Maximum Age Limit: 35 years for Manager and 50 years for Deputy General Manager Also Read: BOB Recruitment 2018 For Block Chain, Business Analysis And More Jobs! How To Apply For Abhyudaya Bank Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for Abhyudaya Bank Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Log on to the Abhyudaya Bank official website. Step 2: Click on the Career tab on the home page. Step 3: The list of notifications will be displayed on the screen. Step 4: Click on the link for online application form. Step 5: The application form will be displayed on the screen. Enter your details in the fields provided. Step 6: Upload your photo and signature. Step 7: Enter the captcha code. Step 8: Click Submit and complete the application process. Click here to read the detailed official notification. Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC) has released an employment notification calling out aspirants to apply for the post of Assistant Professor in music and architecture. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. The selection process will be through written test and interview. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 76000. The last date to apply for the government job is Aug 24, 2018. UPSC CDS II Application Process 2018 Open: Apply Before Sept 3! GPSC Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Assistant Professor Organisation Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC) Educational Qualification Master's degree in relevant field Experience 5 years Skills Required Communication skills and knowledge of Marathi Job Location Goa Salary Scale INR 15600 to INR 76000 Industry Civil services Application Start Date August 10, 2018 Application End Date August 24, 2018 Teach For Punjab: Apply For Lecturers Post In PPSC How To Apply For GPSC Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for GPSC Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Log on to the GPSC official website. Step 2: Click on the button that reads Apply Online. Step 4: The links for details about the advertisement and a login screen will be displayed. Step 5: Click on the link that reads, New User. Step 6: The registration form will appear. Enter your details in the fields provided. Step 7: Upload your photo and signature. Step 8: Click on the checkbox to agree to submit your details. Step 9: Click Continue and follow the subsequent pages to complete the registration process. Step 10: Use your credentials to login and complete the application process. Click here to read the detailed official notification. National Highways Authority of India, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is looking for experienced engineers to be recruited on a contract basis. Site Engineers are being hired for highways project at Jharkhand. Selection of candidates will be done on the basis of their performance in the interview. Jobs For Engineers Open, Join ECIL NHAI Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Site Engineer Organisation National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Educational Qualification Graduate degree in civil engineering Experience 3 years Skills Required Engineering skills Job Location Jharkhand Salary Scale INR 50000 per month Industry Highways Application Start Date August 10, 2018 Application End Date August 23, 2018 Maximum Age Limit: 30 years Contact: 06546 - 270040 E-mail: piuhazaribagh@nhai.org Also Read: Engineering Jobs At Indian Railways: Vacancies Announced At North Western Railways How To Apply For NHAI Recruitment 2018 In order to apply for NHAI Recruitment 2018, follow these steps: Step 1: Log on to the NHAI official website. Step 2: Click on the Vacancies tab on the home page. Step 3: The list of vacancies will be displayed on the screen. Step 4: Click on the link to download against Engagement of 02 No's Site Engineers on short term contract basis in NHAI, PIU-Hazaribagh. Step 5: The detailed advertisement will be loaded. Read the details carefully. Step 6: Scroll down to the bottom of the file to find the application form. Step 7: Save it to your computer and take a printout of it. Step 8: Enter your details in the fields provided. Step 9: Send the application to NHAI. NHAI Recruitment 2018 Application Format And Mailing Address Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the post of *name of the post* and send it to: National Highways Authority of India Kanhari Hill Road Hazaribagh, Jharkhand - 825301. Click here to read the detailed official notification. Photo: CTV UPDATE: 6:55 a.m. Fredericton police say two officers were among four people who died in a shooting today in a residential area of the city's north side. Police said on Twitter that no names are being released at this time. Earlier, police confirmed the shooting "resulted in at least four people killed." More than an hour later, the force tweeted that one suspect was in custody. UPDATE 6:40 a.m. Fredericton police say two officers were among four people who died in a shooting today. UPDATE 5:52 a.m. Fredericton police say at least four people have died in a shooting. Few details are available, but police were asking residents in the Brookside Drive area to stay in their homes with the doors locked. Police said on its Twitter feed that the "incident is ongoing," and confirmed at least four people have died. The Fredericton Firefighters Association were asking people on Facebook not to use social media to report on police locations. David MacCoubrey said he awoke in his apartment on Brookside Drive around 7:07 a.m. today to the sound of gunshots "10 metres from my bed." MacCoubrey says three gunshots woke him up, and as many as 17 more have been fired between that time and around 8:30 a.m. He says his apartment complex has four buildings in a square, and it sounded like the shots were coming from the middle of the complex. MacCoubrey says police have been searching the complex and he's been sitting on the floor of his home away from windows. ORIGINAL 4:54 a.m. Fredericton police says at least four people have died in a shooting. Few details are available, but police were asking residents in the Brookside Drive area to stay in their homes with the doors locked. The force said on its Twitter feed that the "incident is ongoing," and confirmed at least four people have died. More to come. Photo: The Canadian Press People comfort each other during a vigil at Fisk University to protest the execution of Billy Ray Irick Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee carried out the execution Thursday of a man condemned for the 1985 rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl, marking the first time the state has applied the death penalty in nearly a decade. Inmate Billy Ray Irick, 59, received a three-drug injection at a maximum-security prison in Nashville and was pronounced dead at 7:48 p.m., authorities said. He was convicted in 1986 in the death of Paula Dyer, a Knoxville girl he was babysitting. The blinds between a witness room and the execution chamber were opened at 7:26 p.m. and Irick could be seen through glass windows strapped to a gurney, an IV stuck in his arm and leading back through the wall to a room hidden by a mirror-window, where someone administered the drugs. Asked if he had any words before the chemicals began flowing, Irick at first appeared to sigh and say "no." But then he said, "I just want to say I'm really sorry and that, that's it." Then the execution proceeded. A minute later, his eyes closed. Snoring and heavy breathing were heard. At 7:34 p.m., there was coughing, huffing and deep breaths. An attendant began yelling "Billy" and checked the inmate and grabbed his shoulder, but there didn't seem to be any reaction. Minutes later, Irick let out a cough or choking sound, as his face turned dark purple. Then he appeared to stop making noise and was soon after pronounced dead. Hours earlier Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the execution, denying Irick's request for a stay. But Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a blistering dissent, recounting details from a recent state court trial of a case brought by inmates contesting Tennessee's execution drugs. Irick's attorney, Gene Shiles, said his client was stoic in his last hours and accepted what would happen with "a lot of grace." Irick ordered up a burger, onion rings and a soft drink for his last meal, and spoke with chaplains, Shiles said. It was the first execution in Tennessee since December 2009, when inmate Cecil Johnson received a lethal injection for the 1980 killings of three people during a Nashville convenience store robbery. Since then, the state has endured legal challenges and difficulties finding execution chemicals, including its previous drug, pentobarbital. On another unhappy night, the Sea trip He failed to recover from the defeat to Avai and stumbled again on... Aug 10, 2018 | By Thomas Facebook is banning sites that host digital blueprints to make 3D printed guns from its network and deleting content related to the creation of such weapons, a company spokesperson said on Thursday. The company's decision comes as US District Judge Robert Lasnik issued a temporary restraining order to stop the release of 3D printed gun blueprints last week. Eight states have filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administrations decision to allow Cody Wilson to begin sharing the blueprints on Aug.1. "Sharing instructions on how to print firearms using 3D printers is not allowed under our Community Standards. In line with our policies, we are removing this content from Facebook," the social media giant said. However, sites like CodeIsFreeSpeech.com have kept the digital blueprints needed to 3D print parts for weapons including an AR-15 rifle, a Beretta handgun and Defense Distributeds Liberator online. Facebook quietly began blocking links to codeisfreespeech.com across its platforms. Last week some Facebook users began getting error messages when attempting to share links to CodeIsFreeSpeech.com on a users News Feed, through Facebooks Messenger app, or on Instagram (which Facebook owns). Facebooks community standards ban "the purchase, sale, gifting, exchange, and transfer of firearms, including firearm parts or ammunition, between private individuals." A message posted on the website of codeisfreespeech.com reads, Facebook's complete and total takedown and block on CodeIsFreeSpeech.com is without question a human policy decision by Facebook executives to single us and our speech out for especially disfavorable treatment. Facebook did not provide the details if it would remove only the related posts or the host accounts, but according to a Facebook spokesperson, the company is working on scaling up its anti3D printed gun policy, and it would soon share an updated policy on restricted goods. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: People are evil, not guns wrote at 8/17/2018 2:02:45 PM:Facebook - Pandering to the snowflakes Opposition to Alpha Cement project grows 10 August 2018 Some 200 residents of Aung Tha Pay village in Myanmar plan to march on the capital of Nay Pyi Taw to protect against Alpha Cement's construction of a new coal-fired cement plant. The Myint Investment Company won government approval for the Alpha Cement project in June 2015, but local residents did not know about the plans until the groundbreaking ceremony in July 2017, said U Ye Min Oo, the MP for Patheingyi township. Myint Investment was granted 617 acres of land for the project in Taung Kan village, Madaya township, for a 25-year period, from 2015-40, but the site is close to the Aung Tha Pay village that opposes the development. In April, local residents blocked the road to stop company trucks and heavy equipment reaching the project site. Colonel Kyaw Kyaw Min, Mandalay Security and Border Affairs Minister said: "There are losses due to suspension of the project. We will ensure the project continues." Published under Deshbandhu Group awards contract for 1500tpd plant 10 August 2018 Guangdong Power Engineering Co Ltd, an arm of Energy China, has won a contract to construct a 1500tpd cement plant for the Bangladesh-based Deshbandhu Group. The company is now seeking US$100m of funding for the project, which will likely be supplied by Chinas policy banks and international policy banks, alongside the Bangladesh government and international bank consortiums, according to Inside International Industrials. Published under For Subscribers Puebloans forced into tough choices amid affordable housing shortage Puebloans looking for housing have been largely unsuccessful amid an affordable housing shortage. Families whose loved ones were killed in the Parkland, Fla., school shooting called for changes in the school districts leadership Thursday, urging voters to elect new members to the Broward County school board to help the district heal. Though victims parents have said the district should replace Superintendent Robert Runcie, the families stopped short of collectively calling for him to be replaced. After this tragedy, members of our group and the entire MSD community have attempted to work with the school board and the superintendent in order to make things better. We have focused on issues, but the school board has not provided answers, said Tony Montalto, whose Gina was killed, said at a press conference. So today, we would like to make the citizens of Broward County aware that the current school board has failed to properly prepare the countys 234 schools for the upcoming school year, which begins next week. The constant reversals of policy positions continue to leave our countys students and teachers at risk and clearly show there is no unified plan to keep them safe. Current school board members havent moved swiftly enough to address safety concerns after the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the families said. Among the candidates to replace them are two parents whose children diedRyan Petty and Lori Alhadeff. The board has nine members, and there are five races on the ballot. A chief concern among the families is the districts recent decision to suspend an outside review by a retired Secret Service agent of its security procedures on the day of the shooting . District leaders said when they made that decision they feared the agents work would duplicate that of a state task force that is also investigating the shooting. Some teachers had said participating in two investigations would be emotionally burdensome for those who survived the shooting. The victims families have previously questioned whether the security staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas were adequately trained, why gates were open so the gunman could so easily access the 13-building campus, and why security cameras were running on a delay, complicating law enforcement response. Theyve expressed outrage that a sheriffs deputy assigned to the campus didnt enter the building during the shooting, instead staying outside. Some have also complained that school board members and district officials did not contact them after their children died. The families also questioned Wednesday why the school board has backtracked on several decisions: including plans to pilot metal detectors in Stoneman Douglas and an initial resistance to hiring armed guards. A new school safety law in Florida, passed after the shooting and supported by the families, requires every school to have an armed official on siteeither a school-based law enforcement officer or a trained staff member. The Broward school board, favoring law enforcement, initially voted not to train and arm staff members through the new program. Later, when it determined it couldnt place enough school-based officiers on time, it reversed itself, opting to recruit and train armed guards to station in schools without officers. That shifting position has left the district behind some others that committed to arming school staff right away, the families said. Broward County isnt the only district that has scrambled to comply with the law. An Associated Press survey of the states 67 districts found that many of them are struggling to recruit enough officer s and to find funding for the positions. The victims families have differing opinions about the gun debate, which has dominated national headlines since the tragedy, but they have presented a united front several times to call for increased school safety measures. Photo: A Broward County sheriffs deputy stands watch at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., as students returned to class after a February school shooting. --Terry Renna/AP Related reading about the Parkland school shooting: Follow @evieblad on Twitter or subscribe to Rules for Engagement to get blog posts delivered directly to your inbox. Pastor Andrew Brunson's Former Church Members Testified Against Him in Turkish Court Christian Post Contributor | 10 August, 2018 by Samuel Smith Andrew Brunson's former church members are among witnesses who have testified against the North Carolina pastor, who is facing the possibility of 35 years of imprisonment in Turkey, a U.S. government official said. Kristina Arriaga, vice chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom who attended Brunson's last court hearing, detailed what she saw in the July 18 hearing in Aliaga during a recent interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network. "Pastor Brunson sat there while he heard former church members, people probably that he baptized, people that he had tea with, testify against him," Arriaga, who was seated next to Brunson's wife during the hearing, explained. When asked why former congregants would testify against Brunson, who served the church in Izmir for over two decades, she replied, "I imagine these people were under tremendous pressure to keep their jobs or feed their families. We don't know what kind of threats they were under." As Brunson is falsely accused of involvement with an Islamic group blamed for staging the 2016 coup attempt against the Erdogan government, those who have attended the hearings have spoken out about the fact that prosecution witnesses have not provided any firsthand information to substantiate the government's charges against the pastor. Many feel and Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hinted that Brunson is being held as a political hostage for the extradition of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for the 2016 coup attempt and is now in a self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. One American church leader who has attended Brunson's court hearings told The Christian Post after the July 18 trial that the prosecution brought forward three moore "false" witnesses to testify against Brunson. Arriaga, who has been a vocal in her advocacy for Brunson, explained that she was brought to tears when she heard Brunson offer forgiveness to those who testified against him during the trial. "And the judge at one point, turned to him around noon time and asked Andrew Brunson to speak for himself. He said, 'My faith teaches me to forgive. So I forgive those that just testified against me,'" Arriaga recalled. "There was a chill in the room. I know his wife, who is graceful and extremely strong, probably found it to be a natural answer. But I was stunned and moved to tears when he said that." Arriaga was not the only one moved by Brunson's comment in the courtroom. Brunson's daughter, Jacqueline Furnari, gave an emotional account of her father's offer of forgiveness in the courtroom when she spoke last month at the first-ever State Department Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. "He went on to say, 'It is a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ,'" Furnari said as she choked up with emotion. She then quoted her father: "Blessed am I as I suffer for Him. Blessed am I as I am slandered. Blessed am I as I am lied about. And blessed am I as I am imprisoned. Blessed am I to share His suffering." The day after Furnari spoke at the ministerial, a Turkish court ordered that Brunson be released from prison and moved to house arrest. At that point, Brunson had been in prison for over a year and a half. No charges were presented against Brunson for the first 17 months of his imprisonment. Read more about Andrew Brunson on The Christian Post. The worship team at The Gospel Coalition's recent womens conference selected Great Is Thy Faithfulness to conclude speaker John Pipers remarks. But the prolific preacher and writer was concerned that the lyrics didnt thematically match his sermon. So, he wrote two additional verses: I could not love Thee, so blind and unfeeling; Covenant promises fell not to me. Then without warning, desire, or deserving, I found my Treasure, my pleasure, in Thee. I have no merit to woo or delight Thee, I have no wisdom or powrs to employ; Yet in thy mercy, how pleasing thou findst me, This is Thy pleasure: that Thou art my joy. Piper is well known for his Reformed convictions, including the Christian hedonism reflected in the new lyrics. But the author of this famous hymn, Thomas Chisholm, was a Methodist, which means that he most likely held Wesleyan-Arminian views like his denominational fathers, John and Charles Wesley (though a third co-founder, George Whitefield, led a Calvinist minority within the movement). In 2018, a scholarly vetting team of the United Methodist Church gave Great Is Thy Faithfulness the green light for its theological content, based on the criteria of adherence to Wesleyan theology, appropriate use of language for God and humanity, and singability. (The team is tasked with reviewing the CCLI Top 100 because most of its worship songs come from artists whose theological traditions are not generally Wesleyan-Arminian and instead are charismatic, Pentecostal, Calvinist, or neo-Calvinist.) While the hymn was among the 40 out of 100 top songs deemed to have few if any obstacles for our congregations to sing with confidence, it did only score a 3 out of 5 on the Wesleyan perspective metric. This all raises the question: Should hymns maintain the theology of their author? Or are they theologically neutrala gift to the wider church, eventhat can be modified at will? CT asked experts on hymnody to weigh in. Answers are arranged (top to bottom) from those who favor hymns staying constant to those who favor their malleability. And they begin with John Wesley himself. John Wesley, songwriter and evangelist, from the preface to the 1780 Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists: Many gentlemen have done my brother and me (though without naming us) the honor to reprint many of our hymns. Now they are perfectly welcome so to do, provided they print them just as they are. But I desire they would not attempt to mend them; for they really are not able. None of them is able to mend either the sense or the verse. Therefore, I must beg of them one of these two favors: either to let them stand just as they are, to take them for better for worse; or to add the true reading in the margin, or at the bottom of the page; that we may no longer be accountable either for the nonsense or for the doggerel of other men. Swee Hong Lim, director of master of sacred music program, University of Torontos Emmanuel College: Hymns are theological statements. John and Charles Wesley convey Methodist ethos in and through hymns. Hence, I frequently frame the discussion on how Christian denominational doctrine is conveyed in this manner: Roman Catholicism has Thomas Aquinass Summa Theologiae; the Reformed tradition has John Calvins Institutes of Christian Religion; the Anglican tradition is anchored by The Book of Common Prayer; and Methodism embeds its theology in songlyrical theology. To that end, and particularly for Methodism, hymns are not theologically neutral but carry theological distinctiveness. This is one reason why the denomination has sought to review contemporary worship songs for their theological position. Article continues below A broader issue at hand is the music commercialization aspect. Great Is Thy Faithfulness is scheduled to become public domain at the end of 2018. By adding additional stanzas, there is now an opportunity to copyright the soon-to-be public-domain hymn just like some contemporary songwriters have done when troping public domain hymns. Constance M. Cherry, professor of Christian worship and pastoral ministry, Indiana Wesleyan University: A hymn is a piece of art. It is a poetic text crafted by an author. As such, adding or subtracting from any work of art is questionable, especially if the original artist is not able to agree to the changes. The practice of adding material to a hymn text is not new. However, several questions arise when altering hymn texts: 1. Are the additions consistent with the message of the original hymn? 2. Does the hymn truly need the addition in order to fulfill its mission? (Or are the additions purely functional in order to serve the purposes of the moment?) 3. Are the changes honestly faithful to the theological perspective of the original author or do they depart from it? 4. Is the poetic voicing seamless or does it sound like two different persons compiled it? 5. Is it legal to alter the text? Manuel Luz, musician, creative arts pastor, and author of Honest Worship: One of my earliest experiences of leading worship was as a volunteer pianist playing hymns at a local convalescent home. I still remember the antiseptic smells, the faint echoes from the hall tile floors, the semi-circles of wheelchairs in the community room where we conducted the service. It never ceased to amaze me that, though most of the residents lived in various states of lucidity, they would suddenly burst into songstrong and sure and certainwhen we began to sing hymns. In those moments, I began to understand that these hymns were deeply embedded into their psyches. These expressions of worship form us and live in us in spiritually deep and sometimes profound ways. I dont believe that altering the lyrics to a hymn is controversial per se. People have been revamping lyrics and arrangements for a very long time. But radical changes to hymnssuch as adding new stanzas which alter meaningcan be problematic. Not only are you compromising the intent of the songwriter and the integrity of the song, but youre also meddling with the deep heart connection people have through that hymn. As worship leaders, our aim should be to encourage that heart connection. Greg Scheer, worship leader, congregational songwriter, and co-founder of Hymnary.org: There is a long history of preachers and church musicians writing new hymn texts to fit a sermon theme like a glove. In that, John Piper is following in the footsteps of Watts, Wesley, and other preacher/hymnists. There is also a long history of interchanging hymn texts and tunes at will. In the larger scheme of hymnody, the new Great Is Thy Faithfulness verses that Piper wrote are not unusual. Piper has written serviceable lyrics that wed sermon theme and congregational song. His creativity and attention to sung theology are admirable. But while Pipers verses certainly served his particular sermon and conference context well, they fit the original hymn less well. The theme of Great Is Thy Faithfulness is simple and direct: We see God's faithfulness in creation and redemption. Pipers added verses dilute this focus, which ultimately weakens the hymn. It would be wonderful to see Pipers example of binding sermon and song themes followed more widely. However, lets go to the next level: Lets begin communication between preacher and song planner early enough so that we can engage some of the fine modern songwriters we find in our local congregations or who work at a national level. This would allow our generation to produce fresh new congregational songs that have a strong scriptural backbone and tap into the sounds and words of our time. Article continues below Russell Yee, PhD, affiliate associate professor of Christian worship, Fuller Theological Seminary: To write new lyrics to older, public-domain hymn tunes is something I generally encourage. While properly crediting and honoring original musicians and lyricists, their works are a gift to the church. Like all gifts, they should be used with gratitude, thoughtfulness, and propriety. Given such care, hymns can be fruitfully used as a living inheritance rather than as museum pieces. However, such reuse can be motivated charitably or uncharitably. Someone could consciously rewrite lyrics to have an opposite theological perspective and do so as a kind of snub, or they could do so with humility and care. I can imagine someone introducing revised lyrics with a grateful acknowledgmentfree of any sense of criticism or superioritythat the original writer had a different background and likely would not say these particular things. In the end, if we write the most theologically true and well-crafted lyrics but dont have love. David Taylor, assistant professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary: Taking a hymn in a new theological direction is far from novel in church history. The Calvinist Whitefield altered Charles Wesleys text, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing and made it a smidgen less Wesleyan. The Unitarian J. S. Dwight sent Placide Cappeaus poem, Noel dAdam, aka O Holy Night, in a new doctrinal direction. The Universalist Kenneth Patton turned God the mighty fortress into Man upright and proud. To those who argue that we ought absolutely to maintain the theology of a texts author, I simply point to what Christians have done for centuries with the theology of the Psalms: seek to teach its authors to speak like a Christian, as Isaac Watts famously said. Revising and relocating worship songs is how Christians make hymns meaningful. Was Piper wrong to transpose Chisholms hymn to a Reformed key? No. Is it always permissible? No. Is it always profitable? No. Is it always faithful? One can certainly hope so. Carlos Colon, assistant director of worship and chapel, Baylor University: As a composer and editor, I wrestle with this all the time: Poets and composers want the integrity of their inspiration respected. On the other hand, editors want to make sure that the church at large receives theologically sound and aesthetically constructed hymns and spiritual songs. Now, the fact that we have Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc., hymnals shows that we want our theological and cultural preferences respected in what we sing together. It is more urgent for composers to be less concerned with the particulars of our denominational, cultural, and political preferences and to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures and in our common Christian tradition. We must understand that our job is not so much to be original but to be messengers of the incarnate, crucified, and resurrected Christ. We, North American evangelicals, need to be re-evangelized and re-oriented to Christ and his glory. Good solid hymnology can play a part to move us away from our ideological idolatries. Article continues below Angie Hong, worship leader, speaker, writer: Worship leaders and liturgists have been changing and modifying hymn texts for years. There are many reasons to alter texts. First, there is the relevance of language. Replacing all the Thees and Thous might prove the hymn to be more singable and relatable. Sometimes it is the context of the hymns itself. Times have changed, and there are different views on women, children, and people of color. Finally, changing texts to hymns begs the question, Why not create more songs of faith? Hymns are familiar to many. But there are times that call for innovation and creativity. Time to create new freedom songs, anthems, and calls to faith. There can be different expressions of our faith and culture that are created. There can be an investment in creating new art for a changing world. Kenneth L. Wallace, Jr., doctoral student at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies: As an ethnodoxologist that focuses on contextualization, I feel that Piper justly contextualized the hymn, allowing his text to speak. Jesus was asked a similar question by the Samaritan woman in John 4. She asked if her Samaritan ways of worship were valid even if they did not, necessarily, line up with the theological viewpoints of the Jews. Jesus loosely said, Lady, you have missed the point. If your heart is right, then Ill take it. Hymns can be contextualized if the worshipers heart is in line with Gods. Although Thomas Chisholm may not have held the same theological viewpoint as Piper, his hymn holds truth that transcends denominationalism and has been used in many settings, Arminian and Reformed alike. I do not know of many congregants who refuse to sing a hymn until they know the theological leanings of the author. Instead, a right heart leads into worship. Robin P. Harris, director, Center for Excellence in World Arts and president, International Council of Ethnodoxologists: As an ethnodoxologist (studying the worship of cultures around the world), I believe that heartfelt and theologically rich expressions of poetry, song, and other arts are welcomed by God if they are truly a response of worship. A Kenyan ethnodoxologist, Kiplagat, recently remarked to me that in his context, people often adapt hymns by creating additional refrains and other ways of singing and moving that reflect local aesthetics. He said, Each group needs to make the song their own. Piper has done that with these new verses, and it clearly resonated with people, bringing a whole new appreciation of the hymn to this generation. If Piper had modified the existing lyrics of an Arminian song (which this is not) to make it Reformed, that would be a more difficult discussion. But to create new, additional lyrics is a marvelous model of the white-hot worship of God that Piper promotes. CT previously asked experts if we should update old hymns to address modern themes. You may never know the woman next to you in church had a miscarriage. Pregnancy loss happens to as many as one in five pregnant women before the 12th week. Yet researchers have found the topic remains a social taboo, often considered almost a nonevent because of the lack of status accorded to a developing child in the early stages in the womb. The experience is validated by many Christian women who harbor the pain of a secret miscarriage. Add to that a general ignorance about abnormal cell development and other causes of most miscarriages, and many women would rather not suffer the victim-blaming inquiries of whether they lifted something heavy or smoked during the pregnancy. There is some hopeful news, however, for couples grieving over the loss of an unborn child they already envisioned as part of their family. If social support is generally lacking elsewhere, some new studies are finding there is one area of life that can have a significant positive effect on the mental health of women dealing with miscarriages: faith. In a new study analyzing six waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Youth, sociologist Richard Petts of Ball State University found that religion may increase mental health and be an important coping mechanism for women dealing with pregnancy loss. The social support and framework provided by religion may be especially beneficial to mothers who miscarry but also have a live birth, Petts noted. The results were published in the March 2018 issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Finding meaning Researchers have generally found that religion can be an important resource for those coping with loss, including the death of a child. Yet relatively little research has been done on the role of religion, pregnancy loss, and mental health. What studies that have been done have largely focused on a small group of women in a limited area. Where Pettss study makes a major contribution is in using six waves from 2000 to 2010 of a nationally representative sample of young women. The final sample size was 3,646 females who reported having a miscarriage. His findings include: Levels of mental health were 6 percent higher among frequent religious service attenders than infrequent attenders who had a miscarriage but have never had a live birth. The levels of mental health were more than 8 percent higher for women with high religious participation who have had both a miscarriage and a live birth. There was a 3 percent positive difference in mental health among frequent attenders who had a miscarriage and were currently pregnant. Overall, these results suggest that religious participation may help protect against negative mental health outcomes among women dealing with miscarriage, Petts stated. Though, the paper doesnt distinguish religious affiliation, 86 percent of those surveyed identified as Christians. Akin to experiences CT writer and author Trillia Newbell has described in her writing, other recent research affirms a positive role for religion in helping cope with miscarriage. A study of 97 women in Israel found high rates of probable post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder following pregnancy loss after the first trimester. However, more religious women were less susceptible to PTSD, the researchers found. Religious belief often entails acceptance of adversity as guided by a larger force directing one's life, researchers said. It may also be associated with other factors associated with post-traumatic resilience, such as a larger, more tightly-knit social network. A Taiwanese study following 30 couples up to a year after pregnancy loss found that parents who have no religious beliefs and never attended rituals for the lost baby will predictably feel greater grief. Article continues below Being a member of a religious organization not only affects ones social support, but also ones belief system, and potentially makes grieving less long-lasting and intense by providing bereaved parents with a reason and a meaning for their loss, researchers said. The difference between love and judgment Not all religious influences are positive. Studies also indicate people who have an image of a punishing, judgmental divinity who has forsaken them at times of loss face lower mental health. One older study of 103 women in Pennsylvania who faced pregnancy loss found that beliefs such as that God was punishing them for their sins when they lost the baby were the most powerful predictor of greater maternal grief. But in general, the research suggests that belief in a loving God who understands their pain and is a consoling presence and having a supportive network of religious friends are likely to help them cope with loss. What can church congregations do? Research suggests the first task is education, from the pulpit and in church websites and bulletins. Make people aware of the profound loss parents feel after a miscarriage and dispel myths that it was likely the womans fault. Grieving individuals also can find value in religious rituals, from special prayers to burial ceremonies at cemeteries. For many grieving parents, these rituals not only allow them to address and name their loss parents are often encouraged to use the name they picked out at the servicesbut often provide hope that a merciful God will never forsake them. For example, the Catholic blessing for parents after a miscarriage or stillbirth states, Lord, grant mercy to all the members of this family, and comfort them with the hope that one day we will all live with you. David Briggs, a former national writer for the Associated Press who holds a masters degree from Yale Divinity School, writes the Ahead of the Trend column on new developments in religion research for the Association of Religion Data Archives. 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. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment One headline read, almost immediately after President Trump met with a group of Hispanic and Black pastors in the White House last week: "Trump gives thumbs up to prison sentencing reform bill at pivotal meeting." What that headline didn't reveal is the amazing amount of work it has taken to move this issue to a place where true reform is finally possible. As is the case with any profound change in the top branches of government, it's the story behind the story that has made all of the difference. I've been honored to have been a part of a small group of Christian leaders, including Pastor Paula White, Pastor Jack Graham, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Bishop Harry Jackson and Rev. Johnnie Moore who have been working over the course of the last year in order to help advocate for this long-needed reform, and in fact a few of us met again immediately before the President's much publicized meeting last week with many of the nation's most influential pastors from our minority communities. While I celebrate the thousands upon thousands of lives that will be positively affected by these reforms, I am shocked and saddened to see the attack that some of those pastors received at the hands of thousands of their social media followers, many of which I'm sure they consider friends. And some are just vicious and outright evil. One of those who has received vicious criticism is John Gray, a pastor I have known for over fifteen years. He was a pastor at our church and I had the honor of conducting his wedding ceremony. John went to that White House meeting at my invitation, knowing he could be one of the deciding voices on an issue that affects thousands of African-Americans nationwide and their families as well. I invited John because I knew three things: First, I knew he was passionate about matters related to racial inequality in this country, as was the case for every pastor at that table. Second, I knew that when it came to the topic of prison reform, he was not only passionate, he was informed. And lastly, I invited John knowing he is the last man to run from a fight on this topic, and that includes the highest office in the land. I knew he wouldn't be swayed by the magnitude of the moment or the trappings of the location. On all three points I was correct. While there were powerful words spoken by the pastors in the room, John, while sitting at the President's side, spoke eloquently, competently, and persuasively and made a difference. When we were done with that meeting, the president then called a meeting with the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (IA) and Sens. Mike Lee (UT), Lindsey Graham (SC), Tim Scott (SC) and the White House's most passionate and unrelenting advocate for prison reform, Jared Kushner. Then, immediately after, they emerged with a press conference declaring that the president had decided that he was ready to move toward making these desperately needed changes a reality, and soon. You will notice that two of the senators key to this legislation are senators from the state where John Gray now resides and pastors, South Carolina. This reform is right and smart. The number of inmates in federal prisons has swelled from 25,000 in 1980 to more than 205,000 in 2015, and taxpayer spending on federal inmates has increased from $330 million to $7.5 billion over that span, according to the Congressional Research Service. The core of the proposed prison reform agenda is to dramatically affect the lives of non-violent offenders in both sentencing, rehabilitation services, and reentry into everyday life, ultimately removing "felon" from their records, which has been a major cause of preventing returning citizens from getting the jobs they need to live and support their families. In any other setting, people from both sides of the aisle and certainly Christians would celebrate this legislation as a victory and a major step forward in rehabilitating and restoring lives to millions of forgotten men and women. But because John sat at a table with Donald Trump, he and a few others have been vilified and maligned by the very people who otherwise would agree with everything that just happened. I'm not talking merely about a disagreement; we all have the right to disagree with one another. But when it turns to personal attacks and language that is intentionally hurtful and destructive, it is wrong. It's pure hatred, not for the cause John stood for, but for even attending the meeting. Every single time in the Old or New Testament when God's people were brought before the rulers and judges in the land for counsel or anything else, they stood before the ruler, sometimes even with a pagan ruler. But when that moment arose where they were called upon, they responded and gave the counsel God placed in their hearts to give. Joseph, Esther, Daniel and prophet after prophet stood before kings and rulers and spoke what God told them to say, and many times, it altered the trajectory of a nation. Why would we think it any different today? Every time I have prayed for or given counsel to a government leader, it has always been at their request, and every time I am able, I go where I am invited and speak what the Lord lays on my heart to say. It matters not if that person is a Republican or a Democrat, left or right. They are a human being just like me and they have the same Creator I do. God can move the heart of any leader, so why wouldn't I go and give them the counsel they have asked to receive? Proverbs 14:34 says, "Righteousness exalts a nation." Our spiritual leaders represent the voice of righteousness in our culture. I've faced serious criticism, but never like what Pastor John Gray endured last week. I admire his unwavering commitment to be a voice of righteousness, and to care more about the opinion of Jesus than the opinion of critics. Within a few short months, I am hopeful we will see this legislation pass and the trajectory of thousands of lives and families altered forever. I am also praying for those who would heap this kind of hatred on a man of God like John Gray, for the Bible is very clear about the consequences for leaders who raise their voices in judgment against those anointed by God. John Gray is a leader for our time, and a true man of God. I'm honored to stand with him in advance of prison reform. Pastor Jentezen Franklin is the Senior Pastor of Free Chapel, a multi campus church. Each week his television program Kingdom Connection is broadcast on major networks all over the world. A New York Times best-selling author, Jentezen has written eight books including his latest, Love Like You've Never Been Hurt. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The vast majority of Pentecostals and Charismatics around the world deeply care about social work and poverty alleviation. Research even indicates that Pentecostalism is the largest movement for social justice that has ever existed. Pentecostal studies are booming. While it used to be the case that Spirit-filled Christians stayed out of academia and scholars viewed the movement as a bit too much "out there", this is not the case today. Pentecostal scholars like Amos Yong and Craig Keener are leading experts in their respective fields and there is a massive academic interest in why Pentecostalism has grown so fast and how it impacts society. The social sciences are no longer ignoring how 600 million Spirit-filled believers shape the world. Five years ago, Pentecostalism and Development: Churches, NGOs and Social Change in Africa was released. This anthology, edited by Dena Freeman at London School of Economics, argued that Pentecostalism possibly has done more for development and poverty alleviation than all international aid organizations combined. Yes, you read that correctly. Freeman writes: "Pentecostal churches are often rather more effective change agents than are development NGOs...they are exceptionally effective at bringing about personal transformation and empowerment, they provide the moral legitimacy for a set of behaviour changes that would otherwise clash with local values, and they radically reconstruct families and communities to support these new values and new behaviours. Without these types of social change...it is difficult for economic change and development to take place." This thesis is in line with what sociologists Donald Miller and Tetsunao Yamamori discovered a few years earlier. They launched a research project to investigate churches in developing countries that had active social programs to help vulnerable people. When they had explored the terrain, they discovered that 80% of these churches were Pentecostal-charismatic. They chose to shift their research focus on why this is the case, which led to the book Global Pentecostalism: The New Face of Christian Social Engagement. There, they coined the term "Progressive Pentecostal," meaning a Spirit-filled believer who is engaged socially with their local community to help others (without necessarily being theologically progressive). Last year, I spoke to Donald Miller on how prevalent this phenomenon is. He replied: "Progressive Pentecostalism is more prominent in developing countries than it is in the Western world. The emphasis on the prosperity gospel overshadows the emergent phenomenon of Progressive Pentecostalism, although these two emphases are not mutually exclusive. For example, sometimes prosperity gospel preachers give members the courage to dream beyond their current circumstances, and this vision becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Also, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which Pentecostalism gives dignity to women and people who are poor, telling them that they are made in the image of God and therefore have rights, both personal and political." He also stated that the idea that Pentecostals focus more on salvation than social transformation was a false dichotomy. "We encountered many Pentecostal and charismatic congregations that were engaged with their local community, addressing issues related to poverty, drug addiction, mental illness, corruption, etc." As politicians and activists eagerly debate how to solve the global poverty crisis, it seems like the Holy Spirit is already doing his fair share of the work. Archbishop of Canterbury to address UN Security Council Archbishop Justin Welby will address the UN Security Council later this month in a debate on 'mediation and its role in conflict prevention'. He will be the first Archbishop of Canterbury to address the council, according to the Anglican Communion News Service. Welby has extensive experience of international mediation and is a member of UN secretary seneral Antonio Guterres' High Level Advisory Board on Mediation. The UK's ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, told journalists at a press conference Welby had 'a particular offering to make'. 'We wanted to have a briefer who we hope Council members will enjoy hearing from,' she said. 'I have heard the Archbishop speak; I think he will be a very good contributor. 'I do know that he comes often to the United Nations and takes his contribution to it seriously.' She added: 'He makes frequent visits to New York [and] is very interested in the work of the United Nations. I had a very good chat with him before I took up my job as ambassador.' The event on August 29 is one of two 'discretionary events' organised by the UK during during its presidency of the UN in August. Pierce said: 'Over the years, the UN has been increasing the amount of effort it puts into mediation. I think everybody agrees there is still more that could be done there: there is more that we can do to share best practice; there is more we can do to talk about what works. 'A lot of countries both off and on the [Security] Council have very personal experiences of how mediation has helped resolve conflict or see off the threat of conflict and we want to tap into that knowledge.' The Anglican Communion has official observer status with the United Nations. The Communion's representative to the UN, Jack Palmer-White, said the invitation to address the Security Council was 'a really exciting and significant moment'. Church leaders slam UK's 'hostile environment' for immigrants Church leaders have called for an end to the government's 'hostile environment' for migrants and refugees in an open letter to the home secretary, Sajid Javid. The hostile environment is the web of government policies designed to make life so difficult for people who cannot prove they have the right to live in the UK that they will choose to leave. The leaders, including representatives from the Anglican, Catholic, Church of Scotland and Methodist Churches, argue that the destitution deliberately inflicted by the government is 'inhumane' and that it leads to racial discrimination. They ask Javid 'to seize this opportunity and to adopt an approach to immigration that treats every individual, whatever their status, with humanity, dignity, respect and fairness'. The letter says: 'The injustices of the hostile environment alarm us. It deliberately prevents people who cannot provide the right documentation for whatever reason from getting work, renting a home or accessing the kinds of services we all need to live. As the report shows, this is leading to poverty, homelessness and avoidable suffering. We believe it is inhumane to use destitution, or the threat of destitution, as a policy tool to encourage people to leave the country.' It continues: 'As Christians we assert the importance of offering welcome to the stranger and caring for the vulnerable, whoever they are. Many of our churches support those who have suffered hardship because of the hostile environment. Our churches include some of the very people who are at risk of destitution and discrimination. We hear many stories of how the system has failed people and the harmful human impact of these policies. 'We believe that the hostile environment should be brought to an end, not simply given a new name.' It calls for an independent review of immigration policy and practice. Signatories include representatives of the Church of England, the Baptist Unions of Great Britain, Scotland and Wales, the Methodist Church, the Scottish Episcopal Church, Quakers in Britain and the Churches Refugee Network. St Lawrence: The Christian martyr who died telling a joke Today is the feast day of St Lawrence (225-258), one of the earliest Christian martyrs and one of the few who died telling a joke. Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of Rome who were martyred in the persecution ordered by the Emperor Valerian. At the beginning of August 258, the emperor ordered all the Christians bishops, priests and deacons to be put to death. However, the prefect of Rome demanded that before he was executed he should hand over all the riches of the church. Lawrence asked for three days to collect them all, but spent the time distributing the money to the poor and needy. According to St Ambrose, Lawrence then presented himself to the prefect with a collection of poor, blind and needy people. 'Behold in these poor persons the treasures which I promised to show you; to which I will add pearls and precious stones, those widows and consecrated virgins, which are the Church's crown,' he said. On this day in 258, he was martyred. Legend has it that the prefect had a huge gridiron prepared over hot coals, that Lawrence's arms were dislocated and that he was roasted alive. After being tormented for a while, he said: 'I'm well done on this side. Turn me over!' Scholars question whether this account is correct, pointing out that the emperor actually commanded clerics to be decapitated, and the truth may never be known. But Lawrence's is an inspiring story and, like many Christians in those dangerous days, he kept the faith and died for it. St Lawrence, for obvious reasons, is the patron saint of cooks and comedians. Don Ryan/AP Exxon Mobil Corp. lost its fight with the U.S. government over a request for a $337 million refund for fuel excise taxes. A Dallas federal judge on Wednesday sided with the government in a dispute over how to apply so-called mixture credits against the fuel excise tax. A coalition is seeking to help educate the public about potential flood risks to homes, businesses and residents lives during heavy rainfall in the future. The Cypress Creek Association - Stop the Flooding will host a seminar on Wednesday, August 15 to provide presentations from different agencies about the causes of flooding and how to mitigate damage. Spokesman Paul Eschenfeld said that the event would focus on Cypress Creek, the invited speakers would talk about flood issues that impact all of Harris County. While many residents had never experienced flooding before, high water from Hurricane Harvey caused a lot of destruction along the creek. About $135 million worth of losses and over 10,000 homes and businesses flooded. We had a huge amount of damage. Most people dont know how that came about or why that came about, he said. Originally a rural watershed, Cypress Creek became urbanized over the years and gone over capacity. Without the ability to drain into a field, a lot of the water flows into the creek, which causes faster flooding. Want to learn more? Cypress Creek Association - Stop the Flooding will be hosting an education seminar on flooding along Cypress Creek. When : Wednesday, August 15 Time : noon to 4 p.m. Where : John Wesley United Methodist Church 5830 Bermuda Dunes Dr., Houston, TX 77069 For more information, visit www.cycreekstoptheflooding.com. See More Collapse You have essentially a rural creek trying to do an urban drainage job. Its just impossible, Eschenfeld said. The seminar will feature presentations from experts in meteorology, flood control, geology and a grassroots organization. While the event will also feature Todd Litton and Dan Crenshaw, who are both running to replace U.S. Rep. Ted Poe in Congress, the meeting will not be political, Eschenfeld said. The more people know whats going and why its going on, how its going on, the better off well be because that will hopefully drive our government servants in the right direction, he said. The seminar will be hosted from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15 at the John Wesley United Methodist Church at 5830 Bermuda Dunes Dr., Houston, TX 77069. It will be free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.cycreekstoptheflooding.com. mayra.cruz@chron.com There will be no senior-year coasting for Bethany and Brianna Knowlton. In planning their final year at Deer Park High School, the 17-year-old twins have arranged full schedules that will include preparing for college and spending long hours at the agriculture barn with their animals. FFA will play a large role both have a heifer and steer that they will show at rodeos around the state. Were also going to get chickens, and Bethany will be getting a goat this year, Brianna said. A calf that Bethany caught in the calf scramble last year has been a project two years in the making. I have to do monthly reports on her, and I have to write a business plan this year (related to owning cattle), which is new to the program, she said. Basically they want us to learn to gauge how much money it takes to raise a heifer or a steer. Theyll look over the plan and judge it based on our reports and budgeting; so Im excited to learn those things. Brianna wants to help change attitudes about FFAs importance in industrial towns like Deer Park. The more people see other people in FFA, the more they realize theres more to this city than just the plants, she said. Agriculture and livestock are a big part of our history. People here raise animals; they understand agriculture - theres just more to us as a city than meets the eye. Cried like a baby The twins, who are the children of John and Charlotte Knowlton, know that their FFA commitment will mean many early mornings, late nights and lessons in letting go. After your steer is auctioned off, they get on a trailer, you never see them again and they go to slaughter, Brianna said. It can be hard. Bethany cried like a baby last year. Bethany didnt argue. Oh I absolutely cried like a baby last year! My steer was just like a big puppy dog; so it was sad to see him go, but its something you learn to accept. Brianna said its all part of the learning process. We knew what we were getting into, she said. If anything its taught me to live in the moment and appreciate what you have in that moment. Both girls are also looking forward to getting their floral certificate this year - a designation they can get through FFA that focuses on floral design and horticulture that could potentially allow them to get jobs as floral designers to help pay the bills while theyre in college. The floral (category) isnt new, but it wasnt at our school for a while and our teacher recently brought it back, Brianna said. She loves floral, thats her niche. And theres a few parts to it. One part is identification. Theyll stick plans in a vase and test your knowledge on what those are. Then theres a placement portion where you make a floral arrangement and its judged based on design, symmetry, those type of things. Bethanys goal is to become a teacher. I havent decided completely yet, but I think Ill go to (San Jacinto College) and get my basics before I get a degree to teach at a larger university. Maybe agriculture because I love it so much. Brianna has aspirations to be a nurse. Ill also probably go to San Jac for two years to get my basics done before I transfer to another university, she said. jennifer.bolton@chron.com A Fresno man is accused of killing his girlfriend's pet lizard in her Houston apartment, according to Harris County court documents. Deyonta Dwayne Dennis, 29, allegedly became jealous that his girlfriend was talking to a neighbor at her apartment complex to get advice about lizard care. The apartment is located in the 12700 block of Stafford Road. 100 leaders from MONSPACE Indonesia are carefully selected to be part of this conference. The CEO, Dato Sri Jessy Lai was the host and speaker. She took taking participants through detailed training and case studies to understand how great leaders are made. According to the 2017 World Banks ease of doing business index, Indonesia ranked 91 among 190 countries, rising 15 places compared to 2016. In the World Banks latest report on Indonesias economy, World Bank (Indonesia) chief economist pointed out that the countrys economy is improving. The report shows improvement in spending, investment, and exports. Growth in 2017 and 2018 have reached 5.1% and 5.3% respectively. Before 1 January 2018, International rating bodies adjusted Indonesias sovereign debt rating to BBB, which means stable. The market also predicts that Indonesia will receive as much as 62 billion USD worth of investment, further stimulating the economy. All data and statistics show a great future for Indonesia. With conditions so conducive for foreign investments plus the excellent leadership of Monspace Indonesia, the local office has expanded from a small space in 2016 to its new location now in the premium business district in 2018. It now has its own building, allowing more talents to join the family, and expand in the Indonesian market. The focus of this training rests on: understanding the components of influence, improving leadership capabilities, team-building, increasing efficiency in task delegation, and how to improve communication skills. The company hopes that the 100 heros will put their lessons to good use, and lead MONSPACE into a greater future. Media Contact Company Name: MONSPACE MULTINATIONAL CORP Contact Person: PR DEPARTMENT Email: Send Email Phone: 03-80823416 Country: Malaysia Website: WWW.MONSPACEA.COM Every year, Clear Creek ISD has been turning down more than 200 science-mad students. The science magnet lab at Seabrook Intermediate School, built in the 1990s, only had room for 115 sixth-graders out of all the kids in the district wanting to participate. When voters approved Clear Creek ISD's $487 million bond in 2017, part of that package included $10.3 million to create a second science magnet site at Brookside Intermediate School in Friendswood. Construction on facilities for the program began in May. Classes in the program begin with the districts first day of school on Aug. 20. Out of this last bond came a desire from the community, board of trustees and district administration to really enhance the learning opportunities for more kids, Brookside Principal Lauren Ambeau said. We hated to turn away 200 kids that really had a passion for science. The new space for study of science, technology, engineering and math consists of six classrooms and four labs. The district will phase in the program, planning to enroll approximately 105 incoming sixth-graders this year and grow in several years to serve 300 students in a fullyfunctioning STEM program for grades 6-8. This really enhances the science program with what they needed to create a quality STEM program here, Ambeau said. STEM curriculum centers on serving intermediate-grade level students. Brookside was the only school in the district to sustain damage throughout the campus during Hurricane Harvey last summer. So, construction of the science magnet program coincided with ongoing renovations, including replacing the flooring, doors and cabinets. With the Brookside addition, the district will be able to expand and refine the science curriculum for STEM students, including programs that focus on science literacy, team building, development of business projects and scientific research as well as clubs for rocketry, greenhouse work, robotics and drones. Many of these programs will allow students to explore local industries related to science and technology. When we created the Brookside magnet course, we asked students what their strengths and interests, their passions, and we were able to create options and courses that meet their needs, Ambeau said. The application process and acceptance by committee into the STEM program is based largely on teacher and parent recommendation, student interviews, grades, and to a lesser degree, standardized test scores. We will take students that may struggle in certain subjects, but (we) want to make sure their work ethic is solid, Ambeau said. The district split the district in two geographic areas. Students will be enrolled in the closest STEM program. According to Ambeau, this year, Brookside received 270 applications, Seabrook had 300; so the demand still exceeds available spots at both locations. Im looking forward to enrolling additional students at Brookside. Im very excited that have an obvious and strong passion for science and excited to provide some unique opportunities that that student would not get at other campuses, Ambeau said. We firmly believe to really engage kids you have to start with their strengths and interests. Magnet programs like these allow us to do that and through that, students build confidence and we end up being able to help them grow. Brookside Intermediate is at 3535 E FM 528 Road in Friendswood. For more information on the STEM program, visit https://bit.ly/2M96htt Yorozco@hcnonline.com A Webster man was indicted this week on a murder charge for a killing in Galveston that happened more than two months ago, raising questions as to why local law enforcement made no prior announcement about the incident. A grand jury voted to indict Luis Carbajal, 26, who also goes by the name Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday for allegedly strangling and beating a man named Christian Hernandez Fuenes Escobar to death in Galveston on June 7. Another man, Christian Rene Chavez-Chavez, 23, was also indicted on Tuesday, accused of tampering with a human corpse in the June 7 killing. Investigators say Escobar's body was moved to somewhere in Harris County after he was killed, according to court records. The indictments of both Carbajal and Chavez-Chavez offer no details as to where on Galveston island the killing occurred, nor does it indicate a motive or a relationship between the two men and Escobar. 'PURSUING LEADS': Elderly Galveston woman dies days after stabbing Court records indicate that both Carbajal and Chavez-Chavez are citizens of El Salvador. They were arrested Tuesday and held Wednesday at the Galveston County Jail, according to jail records. Both were detained on immigration holds, indicating they might be undocumented. Carbajal and Chavez-Chavez are being held in Galveston County Jail. Carbajal's bail is set at $250,000, while Chavez-Chavez's bail is $100,000. Carbajal pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge in 2017, according to court records. Chavez-Chavez has no previous criminal charges in Galveston County. It is unusual for local authorities to not release information when they have made arrests in murder investigations. 'LITTLE JACOB' CASE: Mother indicted by Galveston County grand jury in boy's death A Galveston Police Department spokesman Friday referred all questions about the indictment to the Galveston County District Attorney's Office. Kevin Petroff, the first assistant criminal district attorney in Galveston County, said that the case was taken directly to grand jury, limiting the amount of public information about the case that could be released. Both Carbajal and Chavez-Chavez requested court-appointed attorneys Wednesday, according to court records. Both men are scheduled to appear in court Monday. Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.com U.S. Army recruit Jestin Welch is headed to Fort Benning, Ga., while U.S. Marine recruit Mitchell Barrett is going to the opposite end of the country San Diego, Calif. However, both are continuing a military tradition in their families and both were among about 50 military recruits honored Aug. 5 by Texans Embracing Americas Military at the Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182. Welch is the third generation of his family to serve in the military. Both his father and grandfather served in the U.S. Navy. Because of his dads service, Welch said he spent the first 13 years of his life traveling and looks forward to the military to help him obtain an education. Sundays T.E.A.M. program offered a lot of good advice, he said. Awesome and amazing is how Barrett described the Sunday T.E.A.M. program. His great-grandfather served in the Marines during World War II and his grandfather was a U.S. Navy Seal. His goal in the military is to make himself a better person. Sharon Nitsche, a retired U.S. Army veteran and a member of the T.E.A.M event committee, opened the program saying, Im so excited to see all these kids take my place. VFW Post Commander Don Byrd talked about his 20 years in the U.S. Army and how he enlisted during the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the Berlin Wall was being built and at the encouragement of a friend in the military reserves who offered a $50 bet. He talked of being assigned to bases in Hawaii and Virginia and learning computer programming. I learned a lot. The Army was a good choice for me. He asked the recruits what plans they had made after their tour of service has ended and encouraged them to get as much training as possible during the enlistment to help them make that decision. Your parents, family and friends are proud of you. I salute each one of you for what youre doing, said Byrd. J. Gary Jones, a retired U.S. Marine and Ward A Katy City Councilman, talked about his service during the Vietnam War era. He told the recruits, We care about you as a community. Youre not an individual on your own. Youre part of a military family. Youre part of a team. We T.E.A.M. salute you. May God bless you and protect you on your journey. His grandson, Mason Cardona, is among the U.S. Army recruits. While Jones has been a regular attendee at the T.E.A.M. send-offs, retired Katy Mayor Fabol Hughes attended his first on Aug. 5. His grandson, Cooper B. Hughes, has enlisted in the U.S. Army and leaves next Tuesday. Military service is part of the Hughes family tradition. Fabol Hughes said he and his brother both served in the U.S. Navy as did his stepfather, father-in-law and brother-in-law. His dad and his daughter both served in the U.S. Army. Of his grandson, Hughes said, Hes pretty gungho about going and serving his country. Weve had talks about it. Youths his age dont want to go to college but would rather join the service, he continued. Hughes, who served when the country had a military draft, added, I think every able-bodied man should give two to three years of service to their country. Of the send-off, Hughes said, I thought it was great to see that community support. The kids need that. It was a really nice program. Its wonderful to see these kids stepping up like that. The audience of supporters included District 22 U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land; District 132 state Rep. Mike Schofield, R-Katy; Katy Mayor Chuck Brawner; and Katy City Council members Janet Corte, Chris Harris and Durran C. Dowdle. T.E.A.M. founder Ralph Oliver introduced a long list of participants who assembled to support the new recruits including the Highway Disciples, Katy Fire Department, Katy Police Department, Katy VFW, Katy American Legion Post 164, Katy Elks Lodge 2628, Harris County ESD 48 Fire Department, Waller/Harris ESD 200, Harris County Sheriffs Office, Community Volunteer Fire Department, Harris County Precinct 3 and Precinct 5 constable offices, Katy Independent School District Police Department, Department of Public Safety, Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office and Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Constables Office. After the program, the recruits walked through a reception line where people congratulated them, applauded, hugged them and shook their hands. People held signs saying Thank you for your service, Home of the Free because of the Brave, Heroes dont wear capes or tights. They wear dog tags & combat boots, Thank You for being Our Heroes and You Hold Courage in Your Heart. Each recruit also received token gifts from the City of Katy, Elks Club and American Legion. Oliver said the next T.E.A.M. send-off is scheduled for Sept. 30 and hes exploring the possibility of relocating the program to a larger facility to accommodate the increasing number of people who are participating in the event that started earlier this year. The program first was offered at the Katy Elks Lodge and then moved to the Katy VFW Hall. Visit https://texansembracingamericasmilitary.com or www.facebook.com/TEAMKatyTx for information. karen.zurawski@chron.com Every year, Clear Creek ISD has been turning down more than 200 science-mad students. The science magnet lab at Seabrook Intermediate School, built in the 1990s, only had room for 115 sixth-graders out of all the kids in the district wanting to participate. When voters approved Clear Creek ISD's $487 million bond in 2017, part of that package included $10.3 million to create a second science magnet site at Brookside Intermediate School in Friendswood. Construction on facilities for the program began in May. Classes in the program begin with the districts first day of school on Aug. 20. Out of this last bond came a desire from the community, board of trustees and district administration to really enhance the learning opportunities for more kids, Brookside Principal Lauren Ambeau said. We hated to turn away 200 kids that really had a passion for science. The new space for study of science, technology, engineering and math consists of six classrooms and four labs. The district will phase in the program, planning to enroll approximately 105 incoming sixth-graders this year and grow in several years to serve 300 students in a fullyfunctioning STEM program for grades 6-8. This really enhances the science program with what they needed to create a quality STEM program here, Ambeau said. STEM curriculum centers on serving intermediate-grade level students. Brookside was the only school in the district to sustain damage throughout the campus during Hurricane Harvey last summer. So, construction of the science magnet program coincided with ongoing renovations, including replacing the flooring, doors and cabinets. With the Brookside addition, the district will be able to expand and refine the science curriculum for STEM students, including programs that focus on science literacy, team building, development of business projects and scientific research as well as clubs for rocketry, greenhouse work, robotics and drones. Many of these programs will allow students to explore local industries related to science and technology. When we created the Brookside magnet course, we asked students what their strengths and interests, their passions, and we were able to create options and courses that meet their needs, Ambeau said. The application process and acceptance by committee into the STEM program is based largely on teacher and parent recommendation, student interviews, grades, and to a lesser degree, standardized test scores. We will take students that may struggle in certain subjects, but (we) want to make sure their work ethic is solid, Ambeau said. The district split the district in two geographic areas. Students will be enrolled in the closest STEM program. According to Ambeau, this year, Brookside received 270 applications, Seabrook had 300; so the demand still exceeds available spots at both locations. Im looking forward to enrolling additional students at Brookside. Im very excited that have an obvious and strong passion for science and excited to provide some unique opportunities that that student would not get at other campuses, Ambeau said. We firmly believe to really engage kids you have to start with their strengths and interests. Magnet programs like these allow us to do that and through that, students build confidence and we end up being able to help them grow. Applications for district science magnet programs are due at the end of January for the following school year. In mid-December and early January, the district hosts science magnet parent meetings in mid-December and early January. Bus transportation is provided for magnet students outside of the Brookside and Seabrook attendance zones, according to a district spokesperson Sidney Hunt. But families of program students living inside the attendance zones of each campus must provide their own transportation, she said. Brookside Intermediate is at 3535 E FM 528 Road in Friendswood. For more information on the STEM program, visit https://bit.ly/2M96htt Yorozco@hcnonline.com August 2 was a historical day when the homestead of Isaac Conroe was unveiled during the first celebration of Founders Day in Conroe. Carl and Lyn Howard meticulously restored the 1885 house over a period of 10 months. Scores of area residents flocked for a look-see tour of the house and grounds, and nobody was disappointed. Carl and Lyn scrupulously revamped wiring, plumbing and such, redoing everything that can be re-done without additional changes to the original. They then assembled their own impeccable antique decor from a vast assortment of vintage furnishings and accent pieces that Carl had stored over a long interlude of time. A crowd of elected officials that included the mayor, councilmen, as well as some city employees and Chamber of Commerce officials beamed over all, while average citizens applauded, and later eyeballed everything there was to see. Pomp and pageantry ruled, with flags, color guard, and representatives that delivered greetings from state and national officials. Well over a dozen Isaac Conroe descendants were honored guests. Meredith Fisk sang Yellow Rose of Texas; Lana Hazlett of The Woodlands sang Deep in the Heart of Texas while accompanying herself on guitar; and Anita Stevens vocalized Texas, My Texas. There was even a black powder salute by members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Major General Patrick Cleburnes 7th Texas Infantry Division. SCV member Douglas Collings led the crowd in salutes to Old Glory and to the Texas flag. One of the most colorful aspects of the occasion was selection of an Isaac Conroe look-a-like. This acknowledgement, with $500, went to Nate Clark, a recent high school graduate. With dark hair, handle bar moustache, and wearing a period outfit, his resemblance to Conroes photo was absolutely astounding. Turns out, Clark has fulfilled stage roles at local theatres, having portrayed characters in Bye, Bye, Birdie with The Players Theatre Company, and others with Christian Youth Theatre. Hes headed to University of Texas this fall to study theatre arts. Adding yesteryear charm were members of the Rebel Joan of Arc Chapter of United Daughters of the Confederacy, of which Lyn is a member. Wearing period attire they were docents in each of the rooms, as they described the unique features of the furnishings. Participating UDC members included Elaine Collings, Dianne Kebodeaux, Anita Stevens, Sue Mennell, Barbara Jean Hawkins, Shana Arthur, Sandy Martin, Faye Stallings, Joy Montgomery, Roselane Polnick, and Peggie Miller whose assignment was inviting all attendees to sign a permanent wall of honor inside the house. Those present later consumed slices of a customized chocolate and vanilla cake, compliments of H.E.B. At a whopping 6 X 3 feet in size, it provided plenty for all, and enough to spare. Members of The Players Theatre Company elected new board of directors representatives during their annual meeting last month. Rebecca McDowell served as president-elect for the past year, so she took the reins from retiring prez Marieda Kilgore. The new members will serve for three years, while three others completed their commitments and retired. Roger Ormiston, a quiet but faithful actor, play director, light and set designer, and man-of-all-trades, is president elect for 2019-20. Roger has fulfilled that commitment several times before. New members include Cindy Siple, a former board member and longtime Players supporter with experience as an actor and in many offstage endeavors; Amy Barnes, with beaucoup experience in several areas; and Kelly Luke-Trimble a proven asset onstage and off. Those who completed their three-year commitments are Marieda Kilgore, Diana Egley, Philip Harris, and O.A. Melvin. Other current board members are Terry Woods (secretary), Kimberly Lambright (treasurer), Gale Tynefield, and Dr. David Myers. The July 20 murder of noted Houston cardiologist Dr. Mark Hausknecht came very close to the tenth year since another Houston heart doctor, Michael E. DeBakey, passed from this earth. Both events were widely reported in the Houston Chronicle. These occurrences stirred memories from one of Montgomery Countys own celebrated cardiovascular surgeons, Dr. James W. Jones who lives with his wife Joan Jones in Del Lago, on Lake Conroe. The retired Dr. Jones regularly is guest speaker at international conferences related to matters of heart health. He also earned a PhD and an MHA in correlated subjects, has written hundreds of medical papers, done research studies, was interviewed by Peter Jennings on ABC World News and by other prominent media figures, and has published several laymans books on health-related topics. He was the 13th person to receive the Will Rogers Hall of Fame Award from his alma mater, the University of Oklahoma; one of the honors he is proudest of. Doc Jim also makes himself available without charge for talks to local clubs and civic organizations. Dr. DeBakey was the greatest surgeon ever to draw a breath and my boss at the greatest place in the world for cardiac surgery the Baylor College of Medicine, Doc Jim said. As we age friends tend to call us by first names, Doc Jim said. No one I knew of called Dr. DeBakey Michael. He was thought to be almost deified. As a principle in the Baylor vascular department I met with him weekly, and he was all business. Worked almost nonstop, required only four hours of sleep, and kept cases of Wolf Brand Chili in his office for sustenance. Dr. DeBakey could put into a sentence what it would take the rest of us a paragraph to say. Doc Jim, hired by DeBakey in 1983, described his mentor as almost without a sense of humor who frequently gave vocal dissertations to enlighten people with his knowledge of non-medical subjects. And yes, DeBakey was well-known for his robust ego. But Dr. Jim did recall DeBakey once laughing so hard that he nearly fell out of his chair during a dinner honoring a Swedish doctor, member of the Nobel Prize Committee. To perhaps hear that story yourself or to book Dr. Jim as a speaker, contact him on the Web at DrJimsHealthTips.com; also on Twitter, Google, and Facebook. Peggie Miller may be reached at pegmiller01@gmail.com. I am pleased to say that April Sound has a recently published author living among us! Several years ago, through the April Sound Ladies Association, Donna Needels started a Memoir Writing Group. I was among the participants, along with Dora Taylor. In our monthly sessions, Donna gave us guidelines and information on how to start writing the story of our lives. As we introduced ourselves and gave our reasons for attending the class, Dora wanted to write for her nephew Patrick, who was asking for more information about his French grandmother. Not all of us continued with our project, but Dora did and now her memoir entitled Serpents and Ladders has been published by Westbow Press. Those who know Dora through her work at the April Sound Church, through ASLA, and through her French lessons understand what a truly beautiful Christian lady she is. Of French heritage, Dora was born in Egypt where her father worked as a physician for the French community of sugar companies located along the Nile River in Egypt. During WWII her father joined the Royal Army Medical Corps with the allied forces and her family moved to Zeitoun, near Cairo. After WWII, Dora spent her teenage years in Libya and, throughout her life has lived in 12 countries and visited 21 others. In her memoir Dora tells her story in a fluent and interesting way taking you through her experiences in the many different places she has lived, explaining her difficult first marriage, introducing you to her lovely daughter Christine, who now lives in Walden and teaches French and Spanish at Sam Houston University, telling about meeting her wonderful husband Morris, her life in Montpellier, France, and her life of teaching English and French to teens and adults at all levels in Europe, Africa, Asia, South and North America. The WOW (Women of Waterford) Book Club were at in again this month when we met to discuss (a little) our chosen novel, A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton. Although most of us did not get a chance to read this Oprah's Book Choice non-fiction, what we ALL did managed to do (a lot!) was to have a great time, enjoying each other's company. Having fun catching up on each's others summer was CORINNE DUNN, KAREN DWYER, LINDA BLANKE, JOYCE SERNEC, MARIE UNDERDOWN and KATHY F. Next month our book of choice will be Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. All train buffs and railroad enthusiasts are invited all board to experience several regional railroad museums and depots in a whole new way. Six regional railroad museums in Texas have joined together to create a network of attractions aimed at train buffs and those who enjoy spending a little time reliving a simpler time when riding the rails was the preferred way to travel. The Texas Rail Trail is a network of historic depots and museums with a common goal of preserving railroad history. No two railroad museums on the Texas Rail Trail are the same, said Mike Baxter, Director of Marketing & Tourism for the City of Tomball. We may have the same overall theme, but each location is unique in its presentation of exhibits and displays, architectural design, and history. The featured members of the Texas Rail Trail include: The Depot - A Railroad Museum at Tomball - Tomball The Rosenberg Railroad Museum - Rosenberg The Hearne Railroad Museum - Hearne The Magnolia Depot - Magnolia The B-RI Railroad Museum - Teague The Elgin Railroad Museum - Elgin In his role with the city of Tomball, Baxter got involved in The Depot at Tomball and with its volunteers. He began to take pictures of various regional depots and meet the groups that organized the museums and depots that were within an easy drive from Tomball. We all realized that by going together and becoming a network we could play off of each others attendance and co-op the marketing and which would benefit everybody, Baxter said. He modeled the concept after the Bluebonnet Wine Trail where visitors could tour and do tastings at a variety of regional wineries. The idea is to keep the tour within a 100-mile area to keep it a reasonable drive for enthusiasts. The members stand at six for now, but he expects other depots and railroad museums to be added to the list. The trail also highlights the small towns where the museums or railroads are located. This benefits more than people see on the surface, Baxter said. Everybody could benefit from more awareness of the individual towns and theres some tax dollars involved if people stay overnight and theres also sales tax from local shopping. Baxter said he didnt realize just how many railroad buffs and model train buffs there are. The numbers really spoke to him when The Depot - A Railroad Museum at Tomball opened its new exhibit in July. On July 20, Tomball unveiled its new model railroads at the historic downtown depot as a way to honor the citys history. The depot building also contains antique instruction books, menus, photos and date nails that were used in railroads with the stamped year, among other items. Vintage technology, such as a hand cranked phonograph also play oldies on vinyl. Baxter said prior to the exhibit opening, the museum would have approximately 100 people on a weekend. Since the opening, theyve had 3,000 people come through. In Montgomery County, the Magnolia Historic Depot Complex highlights the history of the Magnolia area. Celeste Graves father, William Julius Gayle, was the depot agent in Magnolia for more than 30 years. She said as a little girl, she would sit on the platform and watch the trains come in. At first the trains scared her. It particularly scared me when dad stood near the tracks and handed the brakeman a train order - with the train never slowing down, Graves said in an interview this week. He had a large P-shaped apparatus with a handle about six feet in length that he fastened the train order to and the brakeman would hook his arm in it as the train sped by, keeping the order and throwing the P back to dad. Graves was instrumental in forming the Magnolia Historical Society which had the depot moved and restored in the 1990s. According to Anne Sundquist, new Tourism and Visitors Center Manager for Magnolia, the depot was in use until 1963. Then it was bought by a farmer and used to store hay. It was that hay that helped preserve the building so that it was able to be restored. Today its a centerpiece for the community and contains a variety of historic items about Magnolia, all the way back to when the area was known as Minks Prairie. A Depot Day is celebrated in Magnolia each year on the third Saturday in April. From engines and cabooses, model railways, railroad art, memorabilia and more, the museums along the Texas Rail Trail are filled with memories allowing guests to experience bits of Texas railroading past and the communities that have chosen to keep those memories alive. Some member museums charge a minimal admission fee while others offer free admission, but do take donations. For directions and operating hours for individual attractions, visit: The Depot - A Railroad Museum at Tomball - ci.tomball.tx.us/343/Railroad-Depot The Rosenberg Railroad Museum - rosenbergrrmuseum.org The Hearne Railroad Museum - hearnechamber.org/welcome/visit The Magnolia Depot - magnoliatxhistoricalsociety.com The B-RI Railroad Museum - therailroadmuseum.com/ The Elgin Railroad Museum - elgintx.com/200/Elgin-Depot-Museum Hewing to the Trump administration's key talking points about fortifying the border, dismantling international crime rings and banning sanctuary cities, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions told federal prosecutors and law enforcement officers in Houston Friday he had their backs and urged the public to support what he called "common sense" measures to reduce gang violence. "This should be obvious: if we want to reduce violent crime we should reduce illegal immigrant crime," Sessions said. "If you're not prepared to lock up dangerous criminals to protect the public, you're not fulfilling your responsibility." Sessions said the Justice Department as part of a hiring increase is adding more than a dozen new prosecutors in the Southern District of Texas, which includes a major seaport and a bustling international border. The attorney general declined to take any questions about a federal judge threatening to cite him for contempt for attempting to separate immigrant families seeking asylum, concerns about his "zero tolerance" policy or the chilling effect that anti-sanctuary-city legislation may have on witnesses coming forward to report crime in their neighborhoods. Erica Grieder at HoustonChronicle.com: Children are paying price for Jeff Sessions' crackdown on immigration Also at HoustonChronicle.com: Sessions needs to learn how to count crimes (Editorial) U.S. Rep. John Culberson did not occupy a seat set aside for him, but Sessions lauded the Republican's support in Congress for such measures and celebrated the the work of Rep. Lamar Smith, a fellow GOP congressman. Also absent was U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick, who was on vacation. Local U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur, whose daughter Sarah Isgur Flores runs Sessions' press office, watched from the front row. A couple dozen protesters representing Fiel, Black Lives Matter Houston, Refuse Fascism and other local groups assembled outside the Wells Fargo tower on Louisiana Street chanting "Immigrants are welcome here" and rallying against a proposed detention center in Houston for unaccompanied minors. AT THE BORDER: Sessions orders 'zero tolerance' policy to prosecute migrants In his remarks, the attorney general drew a connection between unlawful entries and rising crime. Sessions said large numbers of MS-13 gang members endanger cities like Houston, Los Angeles and New York, leading to brutal homicides in which undocumented immigrants have been implicated. He cited as examples the 99-year sentence this week for an MS-13 member in the homicide death of 28-year-old Hector Daniel Diaz in southwest Houston in 2015 and the slayings of a teenager in Jersey Village. He also mentioned a suspected gang member facing the death penalty on allegations he ordered from jail the death of another teenwho was a witness in his casein a Fort Bend park. Getting serious about crime, he said, means cutting off sanctuary cities. He cheered an appeals court for upholding SB 4, the Texas law that garnered national interest in local governments and police tackling the work of federal immigration officers. Sessions also denounced protesters and politicians who speak ill of federal agents at Homeland Security and ICE. Among the small crowd outside the event protesting was Cesar Espinosa, executive director of Fiel. Espinosa said Sessions is scapegoating immigrants despite studies that show undocumented immigrants commit crimes at a lesser rate than people born in the U.S. He also said the attorney general is peddling a double narrative about MS-13. "He spoke about how dangerous MS-13 is today, but a couple of weeks ago he talked about how people fleeing from MS-13 could not apply for asylum because it's not a big deal," Espinosa said. "If it's dangerous, he should allow them to seek asylum in the United States." Gabrielle Banks covers federal court and the Justice Department for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com. A gas station store manager was robbed and fatally shot in the Greater Fifth Ward Thursday night while leaving work with a bag of money, police said. The manager, 32, was walking to his car with the days earnings to deposit and was approached in the parking lot, on Liberty and Pannell, said Houston Police Department Officer Ross Watson. Official Groundbreaking Ceremony at Johor HPA Site Perth, Aug 10, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Altech Chemicals Limited (Altech/the Company) ( ASX:ATC ) ( FRA:A3Y ) is pleased to announce the completion of an official ground breaking ceremony marking the commencement of Stage 1 construction of its proposed high purity alumina (HPA) plant in Johor, Malaysia.Highlights- Ground breaking ceremony at Malaysian HPA plant site marks important milestone- Australian High Commissioner and German Ambassador to Malaysia unveil official opening plaque- Ceremony attended by global partners from Malaysia, Germany, Japan and Australia- Initial Stage 1 construction works commencingThe ceremony was held on 8 August 2018 at the Company's Tanjung Langsat HPA plant site and was attended by a range of dignitaries, project stakeholders and Altech's full board of directors and staff. Dignitaries included the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Andrew Goledzinowski; the German Ambassador to Malaysia, H.E. Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff; the Australian Trade Commissioner to Malaysia, Ms Kelly Matthews and the head of the Malaysia/German chamber of commerce Mr Daniel Bernbeck. Stakeholders representatives included executives from KfW IPEX-Bank (senior lender), Euler Hermes (German government export credit agency), SMS group (EPC contractor) and Mitsubishi Corporation (sales off-take partner); representatives from Johor Corporation, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and key local service providers and suppliers.In his opening address, Altech managing director Mr Iggy Tan thanked the Altech board for its unwavering support for the project and its leadership, both of which have been instrumental in enabling the Company's HPA project to advance to the significant ground breaking milestone. Mr Tan also thanked Altech's management and staff, attributing the project's success to date to the team based culture within the Company. "The success of any organisation is largely due to the workplace culture - within Altech we have fostered a team orientated, dynamic and compassionate culture", he said.Mr Tan noted the remarkable achievements of the Company over the last four years, "During a period of slightly less than four years the Company has completed a definitive feasibility study and a final investment decision study for its HPA project; developed and finalised a kaolin to HPA process design; concluded laboratory pilot plant test-work; finalised JORC compliant kaolin resource and reserve estimations; secured and acquired the site for its HPA plant and kaolin mining operation; concluded environmental and development approvals in Australia and Malaysia; executed a 10 year HPA off-take arrangement; negotiated a US$280m fixed-price lump-sum turn-key EPC contract for a 4,500tpa HPA plant; secured senior project finance of US$190m from German Government owned KfW IPEX-Bank and is concluding US$150m of additional project finance initiatives. Many projects struggle to be funded and few projects achieve this kind of developmental success in such a short time fame. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and focus of the team consisting of board members, management, staff, shareholders and all stakeholders," Mr Tan said.Mr Tan thanked Altech's global partners including Mitsubishi Corporation, KfW IPEX-Bank, Euler Hermes, the Malaysian and German Governments and SMS group. He made special mention of the support from major shareholders including the Melewar group headed by Tunku (Prince) Yaacob Khyra and the SMS group.In his address to attendees, the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Andrew Goledzinowski congratulated the Company on its achievements to date and acknowledged the bringing together of Australia, Malaysia, Germany and Japan because of the project. He said that Altech's HPA project is an example of the calibre of high technology investment that Malaysia is encouraging and promoting.Altech non-executive chairman Mr Luke Atkins said "the Company is very proud to have reached this important milestone of commencing the construction of its HPA plant. This is a real testament to the board and management team and staff of the Company, who have been extremely dedicated and focused." Mr Atkins also acknowledged the vision, dedication and drive of managing director, Mr Iggy Tan who has been instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.A video of the ground breaking ceremony is available for viewing via the following link:Stage 1 construction will now begin at the site and will consist of an initial eight (8) week geotechnical drilling and ground survey program. The objective of the program is to confirm ground conditions and optimise proposed foundation piling. The Stage 1 work package of ~A$10m was executed with SMS group in July 2018 and is being funded by Altech from its recently completed share placement and share purchase plan.To view figures, please visit:About Altech Chemicals Ltd Altech Chemicals Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is aiming to become one of the world's leading suppliers of 99.99% (4N) high purity alumina (Al2O3) through the construction and operation of a 4,500tpa high purity alumina (HPA) processing plant at Johor, Malaysia. Feedstock for the plant will be sourced from the Company's 100%-owned kaolin deposit at Meckering, Western Australia and shipped to Malaysia. HPA is a high-value, high margin and highly demanded product as it is the critical ingredient required for the production of synthetic sapphire. Synthetic sapphire is used in the manufacture of substrates for LED lights, semiconductor wafers used in the electronics industry, and scratch-resistant sapphire glass used for wristwatch faces, optical windows and smartphone components. Increasingly HPA is used by lithium-ion battery manufacturers as the coating on the battery's separator, which improves performance, longevity and safety of the battery. With global HPA demand approximately 19,000t (2018), it is estimated that this demand will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% (2018-2028); by 2028 HPA market demand will be approximately 272,000t, driven by the increasing adoption of LEDs worldwide as well as the demand for HPA by lithium-ion battery manufacturers to serve the surging electric vehicle market. A man has been taken into custody after an hours-long standoff outside a house in Bellaire. The incident began around 8:30 a.m. Friday, when a Bellaire police officer pulled over the man for allegedly running a stop sign. The man got out of the car immediately and fired two shots at the patrol car, Chief Byron Holloway said. The shots hit the windshield and didn't injure the officer. The officer returned gunfire, and the man fled, abandoning his car around Fournace and the West Loop 610 service road, Holloway said. During the brief pursuit, he fired at least one more shot at officers, according to the chief. The man saw officers closing in and took up a post on the front porch of a house in the 4800 block of Tamarisk, holding a pistol to his head, Holloway said. EARLIER THIS SUMMER: SWAT standoff at southwest Houston home ends after four hours He wasn't cooperating with police officers' attempts to get him to surrender, and Bellaire Police Department called the Houston Police Department SWAT and Negotiation Team for help responding to the incident. During SWAT negotiations, the man continued to be noncompliant, also continuing to threaten himself with the pistol, said Houston police Assistant Chief L.J. Satterwhite. Police did use "less lethal ammunition" to apprehend the man, the assistant chief said. He declined to explain exactly what ammunition was used, but said it was intended to stop the suspect without causing him any injury. Bellaire police helped get several people who live in the home outside early on during the standoff, Holloway said. The man doesn't appear to have any connection to the house, and it's unclear why he shot at officers in the first place, Satterwhite said. "We dont know his overall condition, in terms of what caused this, what started this, why he elected to shoot at the police," Satterwhite said. Thats something well have to find out down the road." RECENT POLICE ACTIVITY: Bellaire Police Department weekly report After the man was arrested, police lifted a request for nearby residents to stay in their homes. The 4800 block of Tamarisk, as well as Fournace from the service road to South Rice Avenue, are still blocked, according to the city of Bellaire. A Jordanian immigrant convicted in a pair of honor killings told jurors on Friday that he treated his daughters like princesses and constantly gave other people gifts, an attempt to avoid the death penalty for separate 2012 slayings of his son-in-law and his daughters best friend. I would buy a lot of gifts. I love to make people smile, said Ali Mahwood-Awad Irsan, as he testified in his own defense for the second time. Put a smile on peoples faces. He was insistent that witnesses lied about his bad acts, and when prosecutors asked why so many people, almost 100 witnesses, would come to court to lie, he flashed the observers in the gallery a broad smile and said, When the cow trips, everyone sharpens their knives. The 60-year-old father of 12 insisted on testifying, despite his attorneys numerous warnings, and gave jurors a three-pronged defense that included his love for family, how the people who testified against him lied and how hard it was to grow up in a war zone in Jordan with a strict father. I decided I would rather live in hell than live with that man, Irsan said of growing up with an abusive father in Jordan. I took 120 aspirin pills to kill myself. His brother found him and took him to a hospital to get his stomach pumped. Prosecutors later had a field day when they cross-examined Irsan about earlier testimony that he killed a different son-in-law in 1999, scammed money out of government agencies and family members, as well as the days he spent beating his first and second wife and their children. Special prosecutor Marie Primm spent more than an hour asking Irsan about dozens of schemes to get money from FEMA, his family, his mosque and the airlines every time he flew. Did you ever fly without claiming you lost baggage and valuables? she asked. Irsan said it was not his fault that airlines constantly lost his bags. It is the second time that Irsan has taken the stand in his own defense. He is expected to be the last witness in the capital murder trial that has lasted seven weeks in state District Jan Krockers court, and after closing arguments the jury must decide whether to give Irsan the death penalty or life in prions without parole. Two weeks ago, prosecutors convinced the jury that Irsan was a Muslim extremist who spent months stalking one of his adult daughters after she ran away from the familys rural Montgomery County compound and converted to Christianity. Prosecutors told the jury Irsan planned to kill a total of five people including his daughter for converting and marrying a Christian. The case has made international news since Irsan was arrested in 2014 and accused of killing his son-in-law and his daughters close friend because they disgraced his honor by helping his daughter, Nesreen, convert to Christianity. The fatal shootings of Nesreen Irsans husband, Coty Beavers, and her close friend, Gelareh Bagherzadeh happened 11 months apart in 2012. Earlier in the trial, Irsan took the witness stand and tried to counter evidence he stalked his daugher by claiming he missed his daughter and was just following her as he tried to get an explanation for why she left home. Because prosecutors were able to prove that Irsan committed both homicides as part of the same scheme, he was convicted of capital murder in less than an hour. The trial has shocked Houstonians as details emerged about the way Irsan treated his family in his rural Montgomery County property that had a house, several trailers and buildings. Primm reminded jurors that earlier in the trial, Irsans first wife and oldest daughter both testified he raped them and subjected them to years of persistent, brutal abuse. After jurors convicted Irsan, his oldest daughter testified that she married in 1999 out of desperation to get out of Irsans house only to learn after her father drugged her and shipped her off to his homeland in Jordan that her father had shot and killed her new husband. On Friday, Irsan maintained that he killed that son-in-law in self-defense after he came to Irsans home with a pistol and shot at him twice. He also said any of his children who said he beat them were liars. They were princesses, he testified. I treated them like princesses. They had everything they wanted. His attorneys, Allen Tanner and Rudy Duarte, have repeatedly held hearings outside the presence of the jury to say they have advised Irsan not to testify. Judge Krocker said she expected closings arguments Monday. Brian Rogers covers Houston crime and courts. You can email him at brian.rogers@chron.com and follow him on Twitter at @brianjrogers. A man in a wheelchair was struck by an 18-wheeler on Houston's east side Thursday, witnesses told police. The crash happened around 3:20 p.m. along the East Freeway outbound feeder road at Federal Road, according to Houston Police Department spokesperson Kese Smith. The truck, operated by Gulf Winds International, was turning south on Federal Road from the eastbound feeder road when the collision occurred. Investigators on scene said the man in the wheelchair, who suffered from poor eyesight, was struck by the left rear tires of the truck. The truck driver told police he looked both ways before making the turn. Paramedics with the Houston Fire Department rushed the man to Memorial Hermann Hospital in an unknown condition, Smith said. Gulf Winds International is a warehouse and distribution company based out of Fort Worth, with operations in Dallas and Houston, according to the company's website. The company describes itself as a faith-based organization, with the following mission statement: "to glorify God by providing world class logistics services through continual investment in our people, clients, community and the world we live in." A representative with the company was not immediately available. HPD's Vehicular Crimes Division is investigating the crash. Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com Masked robbers fatally shot a man while holding his girlfriend at gunpoint during a home invasion in Mount Houston on Thursday. The robbers forced their way into the home in the 11000 block of United Street around 11:30 p.m. The girlfriend, who was sleeping when the masked men broke in, was held at gunpoint. They fired several rounds, striking and killing the homeowner, said Sgt. Pinkins of the Harris County Sheriff's Office. "I dont think he had an opportunity to defend himself," Pinkins said. "I think that they forced their way in and gunfire began shortly thereafter." The robbers also ransacked the whole house, although it's unclear what was taken, Pinkins said. At this time, it appears the burglary was targeted, he said. The unidentified homeowner, 25, died, and his girlfriend was taken to the hospital to be treated for stress. There were at least three robbers, Pinkins said. They fled in an unknown vehicle. Several family members lived in the other residences on the property, although most of them were out of town at the time of the shooting, Pinkins said. It appears there is some video footage from the incident, the sergeant said. "That is very bold, and the fact that they were masked, they probably felt that their identity, the footage wouldn't be any good," Pinks said. The city of Pearland has reached an agreement for Brazoria County to handle construction of the citys planned improvements to Texas 288 frontage roads, which authorities say will hasten completion of the work by five or six years. The planned work on the frontage roads will complement construction of four toll lanes in the median between the main lanes of Texas 288 from the Brazoria County line south to approximately County Road 58, according to a projection on a county project website. North of the Brazoria County line, Harris County is continuing the Texas 288 toll lanes into Houston. BRAGGING RIGHTS? Houston freeway interchange is world's widest The concept was born to include (the frontage lane work) in our current 288 project because were already working in the corridor and theres some economy of scale and funding opportunities to bump it forward, said Matt Hanks, Brazoria County Engineer. Plus you get it done in 2019 instead of 2025. The Brazoria County portion of the toll lanes are scheduled to open to traffic in July 2019, according to Brazoria County project webpage. The county is spending $97 million on the toll road and is contributing $1.5 million to the cost of the frontage road project in Pearland.The cost for the frontage road project is $9.9 million, of which 80 percent is eligible for federal reimbursement. PAY ATTENTION: Texas cops really want you to learn these bus rules before school starts The city proposed the access road project to provide additional roadway capacity and access to the retail area near the intersection. The work also would eliminate the need to enter the freeway to travel from County Road 59 to FM 518, would provide a southbound to northbound U-turn at County Road 59 and improve safety by reversing the ramps and eliminating traffic stacking into the freeway main lanes during peak traffic, according to a city press release. The city, which approved the deal with the county on July 19, will retain responsibility for design work for the access road, which is in the early stages, city spokesman Joshua Lee said in an email statement. A schematic design has been submitted to TxDOT for review. Comments were received a few weeks ago and are being addressed by the engineer, Lee said. The city awarded the roadway design contract to HDR Engineering, a global infrastructure firm with offices in Houston, in late March for the design, and construction and work on schematic began in early April. The City Council was scheduled to consider awarding a contract on Aug. 13 for a drainage plan regarding the area near the frontage road. Design of both projects is scheduled to be complete in May 2019, and construction is estimated to begin October and be complete January 2020. The drainage work would bid out and go to construction during the same period but separately. The Texas Department of Transportation will oversee permitting, construction costs and associated drainage improvements. Brazoria County, as part of the agreement, will contribute $1.5 million to the project. If the upcoming $2.5 billion flood bond passes, it would mark the start of how Harris County addresses floodplain areas, building and safety, a flood expert says. Jim Blackburn, a lawyer and environmental law professor at Rice University, told the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce on Thursday that the bond would need to pass to help start major flood mitigation. Frankly, water needs more space in our community. Weve tried to restrict it over the years to little bitty channels. It needs more room than were giving it in this community and thats a change in our attitude and our vision, he said. SEE HOW THE BONDS AFFECT YOU: Search your zip code here in our interactive tool The bond would fund projects along all 23 watersheds in the county, which would include home buyouts, channel improvements, additional detention basins and remapping floodplains, among others. If passed, county officials said the bond would also obtain a federal match that could double funds to $4.5 or $5 billion. Its hard to overstate the importance of getting local funding to address this problem, which I think is really about the economic future of our whole region, Blackburn said. The Harris County Flood Control District finished hosting meetings for each watershed to obtain public input on projects. The agency released a list of projects on Monday. The county has small watersheds that rise quickly when heavy rainfall occurs, he said. In northwest Harris County, the most affected watersheds have been Cypress Creek and Little Cypress Creek, which are the most populous with about 35,000 residents. About 9,400 residents along both creeks have been affected by flooding, Blackburn said. While Hurricane Harvey caused a lot of flooding that damaged homes and businesses, future storms could also cause a lot of devastation if no preparation is made to address more intensive rainfall events. Updating the flood maps would be very important, as the current 100-year flood maps are obsolete, he said. Providing disclosures of flood prone areas would also be necessary to keep residents out of danger during intense rainfall events. Home buyouts would be the fastest way to offer relief to affected residents and help the county gain area to create detention ponds. Engineers tasked with constructing buildings and other infrastructure would need to change building designs to address potential high waters in the future. Were building infrastructure thats going to last us 50 years into the future. We need to anticipate what that futures going to look like. Its just not smart to build according to what it used to be and not what it will be, Blackburn said. While a study found widespread support from voters toward the bond, distributing the funds so that all watersheds are equally funds is important. While many of the projects would take time to design and build, Blackburn said that faster projects, such as providing landowners with incentives to create detention ponds would also help hold back water. Were just going to have to learn to live with water. We dont live with water particularly well right now, he said. Early voting for the flood bond began this week and will end on August 25. Edie Connelly became the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace on the frigid first day of 1987. In the more than three decades since, she has seen everything from theft to truancy and death on a regular basis in her de facto role as the townships coroner. As both a law enforcement official and a long-time resident of The Woodlands her family moved here only three years after George Mitchell made the 40-something mile drive up from Houston and established his vision for the future shes seen the growing community from a unique point of view. Earlier this year, Connelly announced her intention to retire from the bench in December. The job is a constant one she said, and she looks forward to spending more time with her family. She sat down with the Villager to recap her time in office and look toward the future. QUESTION: Tell me about your background how did you end up in this role? CONNELLY: When I was in college (at the University of Mississippi), I was majoring in social work and was doing some student jobs and one of them was as a dispatcher for the campus police department. so when I left that area I moved to different places eventually I was in North Carolina for a while, and when I was there, I was with the Jacksonville Police Department for just about a year and a half. I did undercover work, mostly vice and narcotics. It was fun at the time, but I would never do it again. I look back now and I think, That could have been scary, but I wasnt scared at the time. When I moved to Texas, again I was looking for work, The Woodlands Fire Department dispatched for both the police and fire departments here, so I worked as a dispatcher and while I was doing that I went to the basic law enforcement course and became a certified peace officer. I worked for the (Montgomery County) sheriffs office for about nine years. I mostly worked sex crimes, domestic violence and child abuse. QUESTION: How hard were those experiences to deal with? It must have been difficult. CONNELLY: It was very difficult. I was, for a period of time, the only female working there I had a lot of cases. When this position became open, there were nine people in the primary, there was a runoff and I won (it), and the person who had been against me in the runoff filed as a write-in candidate. QUESTION: What does the justice of the peace do? CONNELLY: I hear all kinds of minor criminal cases, where the maximum punishment would be a fine, not jail everything from traffic to a lot of juvenile curfew violations, truancy, minor in possession of alcohol and tobacco. The big one today is theft, I hear a lot of theft cases. We have civil jurisdiction up to $10,000, so if two people are suing each other or suing a business up to $10,000, they can do it here. We have exclusive jurisdiction over eviction cases and we sign arrest warrants and so on. We also dont have a medical examiner, so the justice of the peace acts like a coroner, so I go to the scene of deaths and determine cause and manner. Its a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week job. QUESTION: What challenges did you face as a woman in law enforcement? CONNELLY: It was not easy it was really not easy. I really wanted to do the job and I needed the job and I really thought I could help people. When I first started, there werent any counseling services or helping agencies I was on the founding board of the (Montgomery County) Womens Center, the Rape Crisis Coalition, the Crisis Action Line there just werent any social services. So, you know, you would go to a sexual assault scene and the woman would need counseling to even talk with anyone, so you would do what you could to help. And, on top of that, they were rarely believed; it was really difficult to prosecute those cases. I still have notes from back then I had a case refused once because the woman was dressed in shorts. QUESTION: What was the biggest problem in the department when you came into your job? CONNELLY: Fiscal responsibility. When I walked into the office on Jan. 1, 1987, they had a checking account back then that was set up in a way they shouldnt have had it set up. I asked to see the checkbook and it hadnt been balanced since September 1986, and I found that there was money missing. Eventually, there was a (staffer) that was indicted and tried for theft from the office. The previous Justice of the Peace, Gary Collier, was removed from office, along with the county auditor, for some theft from the county scheme that was going on. Thats what opened up the office. QUESTION: Why did you want to become Justice of the Peace? CONNELLY: Quite frankly, my job at the sheriffs department was extremely difficult, and I looked at this as a way to help people, and at the same time, correct some things that I thought were wrong. QUESTION: Youve been in The Woodlands since almost the beginning, what has it been like seeing the community grow? CONNELLY: There were only 5,000 people when we moved here. (To see it grow) has been kind of bittersweet because when The Woodlands was so small, it really was like a little hometown. There was no Panther Creek and there was no Lake Woodlands we were here when they dug out Lake Woodlands and the (Township) had a bottom of the lake party before they filled it in. It was a cool little town, and a really nice place to have your family grow up. QUESTION: So now youre retiring, whats next? CONNELLY: My husband and I both referee judo matches, so well continue to do that. I have 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and I want to have time to spend with my family. this isnt just a full-time job, Im always on-call, so you can imagine how difficult family gatherings are. mrincon@chron.com SANAA, Yemen - Dozens of civilians, mostly children, were killed or injured in an airstrike on Thursday by U.S. allies on a bus in a crowded market in northern Yemen, according to health officials and international aid agencies. In a tweet, the International Committee for the Red Cross said the attack targeted a bus carrying children in Dahyan market in Saada province, which borders Saudi Arabia. A hospital supported by the aid group has received "dozens of dead and wounded," adding that "under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected during conflict." The group's head of delegation in Yemen, Johannes Bruwer, tweeted "scores killed, even more injured, most under the age of 10." "Body parts were scattered all over the area, and the sounds of moaning and crying were everywhere," said Hassan Muwlef, executive director of the Red Crescent office in Saada, who arrived an hour after the attack on Thursday morning. "The school bus was totally burned and destroyed." Bodies were burned beyond recognition while many of the injured were riddled with shrapnel, he added. The assault was the latest in airstrikes to target civilians by an American-backed regional coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The coalition entered Yemen's civil war more than three years ago to fight northern Houthi rebels who seized power from Yemen's internationally recognized government. The conflict has also turned into a de facto proxy war for regional dominance between the Sunni Muslim coalition and Iran's Shiite theocracy, which is widely believed to be backing the Shiite rebels. Aid agencies on Thursday demanded an independent and thorough investigation into the airstrike and other recent attacks on civilians. "We have seen a worrying rise in these incidents and no action has been taken to hold the perpetrators to account," said the aid group, Save the Children in a statement. The group's Yemen director of advocacy, Sylvia Ghaly, said Thursday's attack was "yet another example of the blatant violations of international humanitarian law that we have seen in Yemen over the past three years. "It's the people of Yemen, not the warring parties, who are paying the ultimate price." According to the U.N. human rights office, more than 16,000 civilians have been killed or injured since the war began, the vast majority by airstrikes. Yusuf Alhadheri, a rebel health ministry spokesman, said the death toll had reached 47 by the afternoon. With more than 63 injured, including some in critical condition, the death toll is expected to rise, he added. The ICRC reported they were scrambling to send more medical supplies and other assistance to the hospital. The bus was carrying around 60 students, between 8 and 14 years of age, as well as teachers, said Alhadheri. The group, all part of a summer camp, were en route to visit a mosque in the center of the province, a three-decade-long tradition to celebrate the end of summer vacation, he added. At around 9 a.m., as the bus neared the market, the airstrike took place, he said. "Some pieces from their bodies were scattered 100 meters away from the bus," said Alhadheri. In a statement Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said the strike was a "legitimate military action to target elements that planned and carried out" an attack that targeted civilians in Jizan, a border city in southwest Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, a Saudi-led coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki said the kingdom's air defense had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Houthi rebels at a densely populated civilian area in Jizan, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The alleged attack left one Yemeni resident dead and 11 civilians wounded, said Maliki. But others disputed that the area of Thursday's attack posed a military threat. "I am really shocked because there is no military base or troops in that area," said Muwlef. "Why would they carry out such an action?" The United States is helping the coalition, the only party in the conflict to use war planes, with refueling, intelligence and billions in weapons sales. The coalition mostly uses American and British-made fighter jets. Both human rights groups and Washington Post journalists have seen remnants of U.S.-made bombs at attack sites where civilians were targeted. The U.S. assistance has come under sharp criticism from Congress and the international community as civilian deaths have continued to multiply, even as the coalition promises not to target civilians. Last week, Yemeni rebel health officials accused the coalition of launching airstrikes in the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, killing at least 28 people and wounding scores. But Maliki denied it had done so, declaring to a Saudi-owned television network that the coalition "follows a strict and transparent approach based on the rules international law." Hodeida has been under siege since June, even as peace efforts are underway by the United Nations. The coalition is seeking to push the Houthis out of the strategic city, whose port is an essential gateway for supplies that fuel the rebels' ability to dominate the capital, Sanaa, and the north. Hodeida is also a key entry point for food, medicines and other aid for more than 22 million Yemenis - three quarters of the population - in need of assistance in what the United Nations describes as the world's most severe humanitarian crisis. - - - Raghavan reported from Cairo. The Washington Post's Kareem Fahim contributed from Riyadh. Signs Second Cannabis Client with the First USA Manufacturer under Namaste Partnership Sydney, Aug 10, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Anti-Counterfeit and Customer Engagement solutions provider YPB Group Ltd ( ASX:YPB ) has signed its first cannabis industry client in the USA and the second client since the launch of the partnership with Namaste Technologies ( CVE:N ). The Namaste partnership is just over a month old and on-boarding two clients in that period demonstrates the momentum and opportunity in partnering with the world's leading medical cannabis portal.- YPB and Namaste ambition for Cannabis Confirmed to become global authentication standard for legal cannabis- 2 manufacturers signed since partnership commencedElev8 Distribution is a Colorado-based producer of cannabis vaporisers under the brand 7th floor vapes. It ships products globally and sells via Namaste, resellers and its own website. It is one of numerous vaporiser producer clients Namaste has in the USA and internationally and reflects the global nature of the opportunity with Namaste. Elev8 alone is likely to be a modest revenue contributor to YPB but the cumulative opportunity with Namaste is expected to become a major revenue contributor to YPB.(see Note below)Namaste is a rapidly growing Canadian company with a global footprint and presence in the medical cannabis industry. Namaste has positioned itself as a central hub linking producers of hardware and cannabis directly to authorised patients and is ideally positioned to participate in the rapid growth of the global legal cannabis industry.Since formally partnering at the end of June 2018, YPB and Namaste Technologies have developed detailed plans for securing all parts of the legal cannabis supply chain globally with the intention of cannabis confirmed becoming the global product authenticity standard in the industry. Consumer confirmation of authenticity can then become the means of close engagement between producers, consumers and Namaste.YPB's Executive Chairman John Houston said: "Winning our first cannabis client in the USA is exciting but just the tip of a large iceberg. Namaste is proving a dynamic and committed partner and we have developed a powerful plan to ensure product and supply chain integrity across the legal cannabis industry where we have a genuine opportunity to become the global authentication standard. We expect to demonstrate further strong momentum with Namaste."Please note:Modest revenue contribution: < AUD100K per annumModerate revenue contribution: > AUD100K < AUD1m per annumMajor revenue contribution: > AUD1m per annumAbout YPB Group Ltd DEACTIVATED A Brooklyn imam whose relatives were arrested in a raid of a New Mexico compound spoke out Thursday to combat rumors that have transformed what he described as a months-long family drama into allegations of terrorism. Law enforcement officials raided the barren compound in northern New Mexico last week and found the dead body of a young boy and 11 hungry children, who officials said were clothed in filthy rags without running water or electricity. They arrested the imam's son, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, who was wanted since last year on suspicion of abducting his critically ill 3-year-old son, as well as four other adults who were with him. The imam confirmed Thursday those adults were also family members. The child's body has not been identified, the Taos County Sheriff's Office said Thursday. All five adults have been charged with 11 counts of felony child abuse. County authorities have alleged, without substantiating evidence, that the adults were training the children to carry out school shootings, and that the group subscribed to "extremist" Muslim beliefs. Siraj Wahhaj, the Brooklyn imam, confirmed during an impromptu news conference on Thursday that he is the father of suspects Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 40; Hujrah Wahhaj, 37; and Subhannah Wahhaj, 35. He said he also is the father-in-law of Lucas Allen Morten, 40, and Jany Leveille, 35, who also were suspects taken from the compound. All 11 children found on the compound are his grandchildren, two of them through his daughter-in-law's previous marriage, Wahhaj said. But he said he had no knowledge of the group's intentions when they disappeared last December, and that they quickly "cut ties, not only with me, with their brothers and their sisters and their mother," and that the family has had "no direct contact with any of them" since then. After Siraj Ibn Wahhaj disappeared with his son, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, earlier this year, the boy's mother filed a missing person's report in the Atlanta suburb where they live. Hakima Ramzi, the mother, said the boy suffers from a severe brain condition that causes seizures and that his father did not have the boy's medication. Ramzi's attorney said Thursday that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj had been acting "differently" and "more argumentative" for a few weeks before his disappearance, but gave no other warning of what was coming. Wahhaj said Thursday that his son was "a little bit high-strung" and sometimes prone to anger, and that he was licensed as a private security guard to carry guns. But he said he was unaware of any political or religious beliefs, or violent intentions, that could have motivated his son and daughters' disappearance. "I don't know what his thinking is, because to do something as extreme as this, it doesn't make sense," he said. The idea that his son was plotting school shootings "sounds crazy," he added. "But I don't know. I'm not making any judgments yet because we don't know." Hints of the circumstances surrounding the disappearances emerge in Facebook posts and message exchanges between relatives over the months, but many details remained unclear. The posts indicate that Ibn Wahhaj and Hakima Ramzi were experiencing some form of marital strife, and that another brother, Mohammed Wahhaj, had been involved in trying to mediate before Ibn Wahhaj's sudden departure. The group disappeared without warning last December, and Wahhaj and other family members have worked closely with local law enforcement and the FBI ever since in an effort to track them down, he said. "We have been meeting with law enforcement since day one," Wahhaj said. "They've been in my house: FBI, law enforcement from Atlanta, Georgia." He has been unable to reach any member of the group since they absconded with the children last year, he said, and he had no knowledge of their motives or intention. The search came to an end last week, after Subhanah Wahhaj contacted another family friend, he said. "She said, 'We need some food, we're starving,' " the imam said. Subhanah provided a location to send food, and the family turned that over to the police. "That's why the police came in," he said. "Because of the information we gave them." In recent days, the U.S. Senate race in Florida has turned decidedly slimy. Incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, D, and his Republican challenger, Gov. Rick Scott, have taken turns blaming each other for the toxic blue-green algae blooms plaguing parts of the state, which have killed marine life, raised public health concerns and threatened the Sunshine State's tourism industry. And even as they accuse each other of inaction, both the two-term governor and the three-term senator have scrambled to prove how dedicated they are to addressing the problem. In a campaign season dominated by talk of immigration, trade tariffs, the Supreme Court and all things President Donald Trump, the clash in Florida over an unfolding environmental disaster could prove a pivotal issue in one of the nation's most closely watched Senate races this fall. The state has wrestled with serious algae blooms before, including in 2016, when the toxic goop invaded waterways along Florida's coast, forcing the governor to declare a state of emergency. Then, as now, the state's largest freshwater body, Lake Okeechobee, was at risk of overflowing because of massive rains. That led the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency charged with monitoring water levels, to open levees surrounding the lake and dump the water that had been polluted by runoff into rivers and estuaries that lead toward the ocean. On Florida's southeast coast, the result has been a gooey, smelly blue-green-brown algae that has closed businesses and sickened dozens of people. Along more than 100 miles of the southwest coast, meanwhile, a bout of red tide has killed thousands of sea animals, including dolphins, manatees and endangered sea turtles. Scientists are continuing to research the underlying causes of that problem. The problem has become a focus in the contentious Senate contest as business owners have raised complaints and some families have been temporarily driven from their homes because of the foul smell. The blame game hit the airwaves last week when Scott put out a television ad - titled "More waiting, more talk, more algae" - that criticized Nelson and the federal government for allowing discharges of tainted water from Lake Okeechobee that have led to ugly, smelly and potentially dangerous algal blooms on the state's St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers, among other spots. "Washington politician Bill Nelson made a pledge 30 years ago to solve this problem," Scott's ad says. "But Nelson's a talker, not a doer." The ad concludes with Scott saying, "I don't wait for Washington." Nelson hasn't taken such criticism quietly. He has visited areas affected by the toxic gunk, which thrives when warm, nutrient-rich water combines with runoff from agricultural operations and other development, and he faults Scott for systematically dismantling the state's capacity to head off environmental calamities during his eight years as governor. Nelson also unveiled his own ad this week: "Florida's algae bloom crisis is a man-made crisis, made by this man," it says, as a picture of Scott flashes across the screen. "The water is murky, but the fact is clear. Rick Scott caused this problem." Frank Jackalone, director of the Sierra Club's Florida chapter, said that although Scott is trying to shift the blame to Nelson, the governor is the one largely responsible for the crisis. "The fact is, Rick Scott has had far more power to deal with these issues than Bill Nelson," Jackalone said. "Bill Nelson has one vote in the U.S. Senate. Rick Scott is the governor of Florida and has had the power to enforce the Clean Water Act in the state. He could have enforced pollution regulations. Instead, he cut back funding, rolled back regulations, and eliminated a large part of his enforcement staff." During Scott's tenure, budgets for environmental agencies have been slashed. The South Florida Water Management District, which oversees water issues from Orlando to Key West, had its budget slashed. Many of the more than 400 workers who lost their jobs in the $700 million cut were scientists and engineers whose jobs were to monitor pollution levels and algae blooms. Scott also abolished the Department of Community Affairs, which oversaw development in the state. Lauren Engel, communications director for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, noted that the blue-green algae is caused by pollution coming from Lake Okeechobee. Like Scott, she pointed to the fact that the Army Corps - a federal agency - is in charge of water released from the lake. "Pollution buildup in Lake Okeechobee has been going on for decades," Engel said Thursday, calling criticism that Scott's environmental policies have allowed more pollution into the lake and made a bad situation worse "an unfair characterization." Blair Wickstrom, publisher of the Florida Sportsman, agreed that the problem stretches back at least a decade. "It's been going on since before Scott, but since he took office, there's been a distinct rise in nutrients from Lake Okeechobee and an increase in algae blooms," Wickstrom said. "This is not an act of God or not because we can't handle the rain. It's the lack of regulation at the state level." Researchers say they are hampered by the lack of information; Scott's budget cuts have reduced water-quality monitoring stations around the state, as well as the frequency of water sampling. Scientists say the lack of data prevents them from figuring out what has caused these latest toxic algae blooms and providing the sort of early warning that could prompt officials to act sooner. "It would be interesting to understand why this is happening, but we can't do that with the data we have," said Karl Havens, a University of Florida professor and director of Florida Sea Grant. Last month, Scott declared a state of emergency for seven Florida counties, as he put it, "to help combat algal blooms caused by Lake Okeechobee water discharges from the Army Corps of Engineers." He ordered the state's Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to ramp up water-quality testing, set up a multimillion-dollar grant program aimed at helping pay for cleanups and directed state agencies to aid local businesses affected by the crisis. For his part, Nelson has implored the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the potential health effects of the algae blooms. He also has proposed legislation seeking tax breaks to small businesses affected by the situation and to make more federal funding available to research the problem. "The state relies heavily on tourism and outdoor recreation, the fishing industry, real estate and the availability of clean water, so toxic blooms will directly affect some of our most important economic and fiscal drivers," said Florida TaxWatch President Dominic M. Calabro. In Stuart, on the state's east coast, Wickstrom closed his publication's offices for two weeks in July because of the algae bloom. Employees complained of headaches, itchy eyes, nausea and other ailments. "I was taking 10 Tums a day," Wickstrom said. "I'm usually a zero-Tums guy." The bloom has somewhat dissipated this week, he said. "It's not so bad when it's just green," he said of the algae lurking outside his office, along the St. Lucie River. "When the green turns to brown, that's when the putrid smell gets to you." --- The Washington Post's Rozsa reported from Florida. She is a former staff writer for the Miami Herald and former bureau chief for People magazine. NEW HAVEN A young man on the autism spectrum who has been painting since junior high school has found a perfect fit: painting on shoes. My art is getting noticed overseas and in other countries, said Chapel Haven graduate John Murphy, 26. Murphy is technically correct, because his artwork walks. Its one way to get your art noticed, Murphy said. His first shoe piece Vincent Van Goghs Starry Night, was painted on a pair of Toms brand canvas shoes for his support service worker, Amanda Altieri, who was going to Amsterdam and wanted a custom pair of shoes when visiting the Vincent Van Gogh Museum. Altieri, who texted Murphy pictures of her Starry Night shoes near the museum sign, said she got all kinds of compliments from the international set. I think I was the only person in the museum with personalized shoes inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, she said. Word got around and before Murphy knew it, he had another order from Stephanie Berberich, UARTS Chapel Haven program manager, who had a portrait of her Australian shepherd, Hank, painted on a pair of shoes. Ive gotten several referrals for orders from people seeing them, Berberich said. Dogs are my passion, so with Johns help I was able to have them merged into a beautiful, wearable piece of art. Murphy, who is high functioning on the autism spectrum, grew up in North Haven, attended Foundation School in Orange, Foundation High School in Milford and later, the award-winning, nationally renowned REACH Program at Chapel Haven, a school that teaches independence to young adults on the autism spectrum and with other disabilities. Altieri said Murphy has been living independently for six years in a condo in New Haven but still receives support services from Chapel Haven. When Murphy isnt working at IKEA, hes usually painting or in the community looking for inspiration for his paintings whether its on a shoe or traditional canvas. Murphy said he always loved to draw growing up, but started painting in middle school after visiting museums, where he fell in love with works by the great artists, including Van Gogh and Claude Monet. I developed a need for painting, Murphy said. For many years, hes been painting on canvas, spray-painting, and creating digital graphics, including one hes proud of with a waterfall that, to him, symbolizes hope and inspiration. Every year, he draws a holiday-themed postcard and sells paintings at Chapel Havens art sale, as well. Hes been studying art for many years at Chapel Haven and Creative Arts Workshop. Hes got a great eye, Altieri said of Murphy. While hes continuing to take orders for shoes, Murphy also hopes to start painting on other items, including canvas bags and lampshades. For shoe painting, he uses acrylic paint, then seals it with a spray. Shoes have some challenges because of the curves and flimsy areas hes learned how to stabilize, Murphy said. He also figures out how to fit an image on a smaller-than-usual space. He currently is working on a pair of Keds for Altieri that feature crabs, shells and a starfish, from a Lilly Pulitzer design called Sailors Valentine. If I have picture, I can do anything, Murphy said. Murphy is always thinking artwork. In my spare time, Im looking for more art ideas, he said. I get my inspiration when Im out and about. Murphy recently added to his idea repertoire during a family trip to Dublin to celebrate his fathers retirement. Hes got the scenery, countryside, old-style Irish houses with the straw roofs in his head and feels he could paint them on shoes, too, Murphy said. Anyone who wants to order a pair of John Murphy originals can contact Altieri at AAltieri@chapelhaven.org. Customers provide the shoes and Murphy will paint them for $50. Murphy said hes hoping the demand for his shoes will grow as theyre seen walking about. The desks went missing in the Mountain State. Not just any desks. These were state heirlooms named for Cass Gilbert, the prominent American architect who designed the state capitol in Charleston, West Virginia, selecting the walnut workstations for the chambers of the state Supreme Court almost a century ago. He would later design the United States Supreme Court. There were supposed to be 10 of them, five for the court's five justices, elected to 12-year terms, and five for their assistants. But local media, poking around last fall, could only account for seven desks, including the one that had recently gone from the home of the then-chief justice, Allen Loughry II, to a nearby court warehouse. But wait, why was the desk, state property valued at $42,000, at the judge's private residence in the first place? And now that you mention it, what about that leather couch that had left his home for the warehouse three days earlier? Federal investigators believe they have answers to these questions - answers that form the basis of a 23-count indictment charging Loughry, a Republican, with fraud, witness tampering, lying to a federal agent and obstruction of justice. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 405 years in prison and a fine of $5.75 million. He pleaded not guilty and was suspended without pay in June. But it's not just Loughry, 48, whose future on the court is in doubt. A West Virginia House panel moved this week to impeach the state's entire Supreme Court. Fourteen articles of impeachment, which will go to the full House of Delegates for a vote, allege corruption, maladministration, incompetence, neglect of duty and potential criminal behavior - impeachable offenses under Article IV, Section 9 of the West Virginia Constitution. Two-thirds of the Senate must vote to convict. Both houses are Republican-controlled. A possible complication, testifying to the sweep of the alleged wrongdoing, is the constitutional provision that the court's chief justice - or another member of the top court - presides over the Senate when the upper chamber tries impeachments. In this circumstance, no judge would be available, as four are implicated. The fifth seat was vacated when Menis Ketchum II, a Democrat, resigned in July, days before he was accused of federal wire fraud. He became embroiled in controversy after an audit found that he may have improperly used state vehicles for personal purposes, according to local news reports. He is pleading guilty. "This is truly a sad day for West Virginia, but it is an important step forward if we are going to restore the public's confidence in the judiciary," the Judiciary Committee's chairman, John Shott, a Republican, said in a news release after the panel's vote. "This committee did not take this effort lightly. After reviewing all the evidence available to us, it became clear that a culture of entitlement and disregard for both the law and taxpayer funds have damaged the reputation of our judicial system - and that all justices had a part in violating the public's trust." The other three justices are Margaret Workman, the current chief, as well as Robin Davis and Beth Walker. Each is accused of "unnecessary and lavish spending" on renovation of their offices, travel budgets and "regular lunches from restaurants," among other expenses, as well as failure to carry out administrative duties and properly develop guidelines for the use of public resources. Davis and Workman are also charged with approving the payment of senior judges in excess of the state's legal limit. Loughry faces a slew of charges, from misuse of state property to deception under oath. None of the four returned requests for comment sent late Thursday by The Washington Post. Loughry has called some of the allegations of excessive spending "outrageous." Workman, reacting in April to the release of the audit calling into question practices by Loughry and Ketchum, said "the policies going forward are going to be much tighter," according to the Associated Press. Elections to the state Supreme Court became formally nonpartisan in 2015. But each justice remains tied to a given party, and the current makeup of the court is 3-2 in the Democrats' favor. Democratic lawmakers said the court's political composition and the timing of the legislative proceedings, which have come just before the August 14 deadline to organize a special election, call into question the intentions of Gov. Jim Justice, who switched parties and became a Republican after taking office last year. Once next week's deadline passes, he would enjoy the power to appoint any new justices, who would serve until the next election in two years. Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, told the Charleston Gazette-Mail that the impeachment vote amounted to a "coup," while Shott, the committee's chairman, defended the effort to remove the judges. "We said this to our committee when we started, this was a no-win situation," Shott told the Gazette-Mail. "Especially in an election year, there's going to be people who will spin it however it creates the most advantage to them. That's just part of the process." Democrats also sought to distinguish the charges of impeachment against Loughry from those against the other three justices. The federal indictment elucidates the severity of the allegations against Loughry, while also pointing to the irony of his situation. In 2006, when he was still a law clerk for the state Supreme Court, he published a stinging account of political corruption in his own beloved state, where he learned values of hard work and honesty from a father who rose from construction work to own a small business and a mother who toiled in a factory. He titled his book, "'Don't Buy Another Vote. I Won't Pay for a Landslide': The Sordid and Continuing History of Political Corruption in West Virginia." When public servants line their pockets, Loughry wrote, resources for everyday citizens dry up. "As I drive the picturesque country roads outlined with redbud and aging hardwoods, my attention is drawn to the potholes and general signs of neglect from town to town," he lamented. In 2012, Loughry was elected to the state Supreme Court. In 2017, he became its chief justice. In the process, investigators suggest, he became one of the "corrupt politicians" that his book condemns for having "abused their positions for personal gain." A further irony lies in the origins of the indictment. It is the product of a federal probe opened after Loughry met last year with a special agent of the FBI and a representative of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to report his colleagues for improper spending. But it was Loughry, investigators said, who had committed fraud, involving his use of two court vehicles and government credit cards for gas and his appropriation of a "valuable and historic desk" for his "home office." He further attempted to "conceal his fraudulent conduct," the indictment claims, "by lying about his actions to government investigators and others, attempting to deflect attention away from himself by accusing others of malfeasance." He also sought protect himself, investigators argue, by influencing testimony from a court employee. According to the indictment, Loughry participated in frequent speaking engagements, often on the topic of ethics reform. On one occasion, it recounts, he drove with his family to a dinner at American University in Washington, D.C., where he had studied for one of his numerous degrees. He took a 2012 Buick LaCrosse owned by the court and used a court credit card to pay for gas. He spoke about honesty and integrity in government and then made the hosting university foot his travel bill, even though he had driven on the court's dime, the indictment alleges. He used a court vehicle and credit card on a weekend that, in his personal calendar, he had marked "anniversary," according to investigators, and traveled in court vehicles to book-signing events and on holiday excursions. When court chambers underwent renovation in 2013, the indictment alleges, Loughry arranged to have the Cass Gilbert desk in his workspace moved to his private residence, enlisting a state-contracted company to transfer the desk on a state holiday. Last fall, local media begin publishing reports about "extraordinary spending by the Supreme Court," the indictment notes, "including hundreds of thousands of dollars spent for renovating and refurbishing" the chambers in the east wing of the state capitol. In November, investigators say, Loughry returned sets of keys for two court vehicles. Then he returned the couch. Then the desk. He told court employees that judges were allowed to have home offices, according to the indictment, though no such policy existed. Investigators interviewed the judge for a second time in March of this year, when he continued to make misleading statements about his spending habits and use of court property, the indictment holds. He was arrested in June and released on bond. He will appear in federal court on Oct. 2. WASHINGTON - A federal judge has found a witness in contempt for refusing to testify before the grand jury hearing evidence in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. U.S. District Chief Judge Beryl Howell made the ruling Friday after a sealed hearing to discuss Andrew Miller's refusal to appear before the grand jury. Miller is a former aide to longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone. Miller's lawyer Paul Kamenar said after the hearing that Miller was "held in contempt, which we asked him to be in order for us to appeal the judge's decision to the court of appeals." Howell stayed her order while Miller's legal team appeals the judge's decision. Miller lost a court battle earlier this month to quash a subpoena, after Howell issued a 93-page opinion saying Miller must testify before the grand jury. Kamenar said he believes Miller's challenge could ultimately rise to the Supreme Court. "None of these questions are easy," the lawyer said, adding that the appeal was designed to challenge the constitutionality of Mueller's appointment, not slow or obstruct the investigation. Separately, another Stone associate, Randy Credico, said Friday that he had received a subpoena to testify before the grand jury Sept. 7 and did not plan to fight it. Stone has claimed that in 2016 Credico was a conduit to Julian Assange, founder of the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. A hearing transcript from June 18 shows Miller was subpoenaed for information about Stone as well as key figures in the 2016 hacking of the Democratic National Committee, and the public release of Democrats' emails during the campaign. According to that transcript, the subpoena seeks information from Miller about WikiLeaks and Assange. WikiLeaks published large volumes of hacked Democrats' emails during the campaign. The subpoena also seeks information about Guccifer 2.0 and DCLeaks. Investigators say both were online fronts invented by Russian intelligence operatives to spread the hacked documents. DCLeaks was a website that posted hacked emails of current and former U.S. officials and political aides, while Guccifer 2.0 claimed to be a Romanian hacker. Miller had asked for "some grant of immunity" regarding financial transactions involving political action committees for which he assisted Stone, according to Alicia Dearn, an attorney for Miller. On that issue, Miller "would be asserting" his Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer questions, Dearn said. As for the hacking and WikiLeaks questions, Dearn said at the hearing, "we don't believe he has any information" about those topics. Court filings unsealed Friday show Miller was first subpoenaed in June to testify at the end of that month, setting off months of legal jousting. At the June 18 hearing, Dearn said that while she believes Miller is "innocent of any wrongdoing, I don't want my client to step into something that might be happening." She said she was concerned he could lose or waive his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination by answering investigators' questions. Prosecutors called it contradictory for Miller's lawyers to claim, on the one hand, that he knew nothing of value and participated in no illegal activity, and simultaneously claim an unspecified Fifth Amendment concern. Aaron Zelinsky, one of Mueller's prosecutors, said at the hearing that Miller sat for a brief FBI interview without raising such concerns, and had planned to meet with prosecutors for an informal interview without any proffer for immunity - as would normally be the process - before Dearn's appearance in the case. At the time, Miller was complying with a subpoena for records, according to the transcript. Dearn said Miller found thousands of documents, many of which were emails received to Stone's website, which Miller had forwarded to him to respond to booking requests. Dearn said Miller worked with Stone very little in 2015 and 2016, but continued to receive forwarded emails now subject to prosecutors subpoena. "There may be responsive documents, but it's not that he is still working for Mr. Stone," Dearn said. Peter Flaherty, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative nonprofit that is funding Miller's legal fight, said Miller is in Missouri. Earlier in the day, Kamenar and Flaherty were seen entering Howell's courtroom before she sealed it, and declined to comment on the proceeding. Kamenar spoke afterward, confirming it was a hearing held after prosecutors filed a motion to find the witness in contempt. When a subpoenaed witness refuses to testify before a grand jury, that person can be held in contempt. In some cases, such a contempt finding can lead to a witness being sent to jail until the person agrees to testify. Mueller is investigating whether any of Trump's associates conspired with Russia's efforts to influence the election. Stone has faced scrutiny in part because of a series of public statements and tweets he made during the 2016 campaign appearing to suggest he had advance knowledge of the hacked emails released by WikiLeaks. The emails' publication embarrassed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and helped disrupt the race. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the Russian government was behind the hacking of the material from the Democratic Party and the personal email account of Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta. A grand jury indicted 12 Russian military officers in July for orchestrating the hacks. Miller worked for Stone during the 2016 presidential campaign, handling duties such as setting up media interviews. He is one of at least a half-dozen of Stone's associates to be called to testify. Others include his driver, John Kakanis, and a social media consultant, Jason Sullivan. Kristin Davis, who gained notoriety in the 2000s as the "Manhattan Madam" when she ran a high-end prostitution ring, is also expected to testify to the grand jury. Stone has accused Mueller's team of harassing his associates. Anchoring in idyllic bays. Slipping into azure waters for a refreshing dip. Warm breeze filling the sails en route to the next enchanted spot. Drinks and dinner on board under the stars. Gentle lapping to loll you to sleep. And repeat. Day after blissful day. Air transportation Beaches Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Caribbean Coastal areas Destinations and attractions Environment and natural resources Europe Greece Islands and reefs Landforms and ecosystems Marine transportation Marine vessels Sailing (sport) Southern Europe Sports and recreation Transportation and warehousing Water sports Yachts Travel and tourism Airlines Airports Antigua and Barbuda Australia Oceania Virgin Islands, British A sailing holiday is a passport to another -- watery -- world where land-based worries are blown away on the breeze. Those with the right qualifications can charter their own boat. Some prefer the help of a skipper and crew, others like to take charge while sailing into a flotilla for shared experiences. However one chooses do it, the life aquatic is not to be missed. First, however, comes the decision on which tip of the planet to drift towards. Here are some of the finest destinations on the planet for sailing holidays: Greece A land lapped by sparkling seas and seemingly more islands than stars in the sky. With sun-baked beaches, turquoise waters, olive groves, deserted bays, rustic harbors with white-washed houses and spilling bougainvillea, Greece provides the perfect canvas for a sailing odyssey. The Ionian, with Captain Corelli's Kefalonia in the south and Gerald Durrell's Corfu in the north, offers gentle breezes and easy line-of-sight sailing on Greece's west coast. Charming villages such as Kioni on Ithaca or Fiskardo on Kefalonia are some of the highlights. The stronger summer meltemi winds of the Cyclades chain to the east of the mainland, with islands such as Mykonos, Ios and the flooded crater of Santorini, offer a challenge to more experienced sailors. Further east, the Dodecanese islands off the Turkish coast offer a compromise -- not quite as windy but still untamed and authentic. From Rhodes north via Kos, Kalimnos, Lipsi and Patmos, the islands provide a snapshot of traditional Greece and as much life or solitude as you can handle. Another popular area is the Sporades north of Athens, with islands such as Skiathos and the picturesque, tumbling town of Skopelos, the film set for "Mamma Mia." Or there is the Saronic Gulf south of Athens, an area of easy sailing and short hops, with highlights such as historic Aegina, romantic Hydra and cosmopolitan Poros. Getting there: Flights to Preveza for the Ionian; Athens for the Saronic Gulf; Volos for the Sporades; Kos and Rhodes for the Dodecanese; Santorini, Mykonos and a host of local airports for the Cyclades. Turkey From isolated, pine-fringed coves to glitzy marinas and jet-set nightlife, the coast of Turkey offers something for every type of sailor. For those who want to truly relax, a traditional wooden gullet crewed by professionals could be the answer. The epicenter of Turkish sailing is Bodrum, an international resort on the north coast of the Gulf of Gokova. From there easy hops take you to quaint harbors such as Gumusluk, small bays with wooden jetties fronting local restaurants such as Cokertme, or remote inlets such as Amazon Creek with an idyllic, away-from-it-all feel. The Hisaronu Gulf has charming waterfront towns such as Datca, Selimiye and Bozburun as well as plentiful quiet anchorages. Sailing east past lively Marmaris takes you to the calm waters and gentle sailing in Fethiye Bay, with its scattering of secluded coves, some with a lone, rustic taverna. At the head of the bay are the bustling towns of Gocek and Fethiye for more restaurants and markets in which to haggle for rugs and local produce. Getting there: International flights to Bodrum or Dalaman. Croatia This Adriatic gem features historic towns, picturesque harbors and smart marinas, isolated anchorages and deserted islands in one neat package in the northern Mediterranean. Stretching from Pula down to medieval Dubrovnik, Croatia's coastline offers a wealth of sailing opportunities with reliable afternoon winds and more than 1,100 islands to explore. The remote Kornati National Park is an unspoiled oasis -- so stunning, in fact, it moved author George Bernard Shaw to write that God created the islands "out of tears, stars and breath." The Dalmatian coast south of Split contains the islands of Brac, Hvar, Vis and Korcula, the birthplace of explorer Marco Polo. There's everything from quiet coves and gentle towns to buzzy cosmopolitan Hvar and Dubrovnik-light Korcula. Beyond the forested island of Mljet lies the jewel in Croatia's crown: Romantic Dubrovnik, a UNESCO heritage site, with its charming Old Town. It's also must visit for sailing fans of "Game of Thrones," much of which was filmed here. Getting there: International flights to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula, Zadar. Sicily, Italy Lying off Sicily's northeast coast like a bejeweled pendant are the awe-inspiring Aeolian IsIands. This rugged volcanic chain, named after Greek wind god Aeolus, features seven spectacular islands. Jutting out of emerald seas, each has its own personality, from the active cone and black sands of Stromboli and the hot springs of Vulcano, to vibrant Lipari and chic Panarea, to verdant Salina and car-free Alicudi and Stromboli. Lastly, Filicudi was nicknamed "Bone Island" because of the pirates who died there after long sieges. From historic Tropea on the Italian mainland, sailors can access the beautiful beaches and swimming spots, quiet anchorages and sleepy waterfront towns in which to savor authentic Sicilian cooking. For those with more time, or flying into the capital Palermo, the enchanting Egadi Islands off Sicily's northwest tip offer an equally isolated escape. Pretty Favignana is known as the tuna capital of the Mediterranean, while remote Marettimo provides solitude in a stunning setting. How to get there: Flights to Lamezia Terme Airport or Palermo. The British Virgin Islands (BVIs), Caribbean A sailor's paradise of warm winds, deep blue seas, blissful beaches and waterside shacks for eating, drinking and soaking up the island vibe. Hurricane Irma caused widespread damage in the region, but yachting and tourism is already bouncing back and the sailing is as good as ever. Tortola is the main island and the starting point for exploring the host of outlying islands and cays, with spectacular scenery, sheltered anchorages and superb snorkeling. There's Virgin Gorda, with its dramatic rock formations at The Baths; Jost van Dyke, the smallest of the four main islands, with famous joints such as Foxy's and the Soggy Dollar Bar; the coral atoll of Anegada with sunken shipwrecks and spectacular sea life; and Norman Island, said to be the inspiration for the novel "Treasure Island." Soggy Dollar Bar, White Bay, Jost van Dyke, British Virgin Islands; +1 284 495 9888 Foxy's, Great Harbour, Jost van Dyke, BVI; +1 284 442 3074 How to get there: Flights to Beef Island Airport, Tortola or to St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and take a ferry to Road Town. Antigua, Caribbean Antigua is reputed to have 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, so what better way to explore them all than by boat? The warm, gentle trade winds, turquoise waters and oh-so picturesque anchorages make it a sailor's idyll at the heart of the Leeward Islands. Ashore, historic Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour is the throbbing heart, but further afield you'll find waterside dining for all budgets and lively rum bars, perfect for a famous "jump up" -- a dance session to the rhythm of steel drums. Sister island Barbuda -- 40 miles to the north -- has more birds than people and offers a gentler pace with pink sands and coral reefs perfect for snorkeling. The famous Antigua Sailing Week regatta is a melting pot for sailors looking for competitive racing and punishing partying. How to get there: Flights to VC Bird International Airport, Antigua. Windward Islands, Caribbean Take a deep breath and inhale the exotic scent of spices drifting on the breeze. With reliable winds and blue-water passages, white-sand beaches and dazzling reefs, colorful towns and verdant hillsides, the Windward Islands will reward sailors looking for a true Caribbean adventure. From pretty St George's on lush Grenada, known as the "Spice Isle," at the southern end of chain, you can easily hop to Carriacou, Petite Martinique and Petit St. Vincent. The prevailing winds during the sailing season blow from the north east so many opt for a one-way passage south from St Lucia, starting at lively Rodney Bay before sampling the beaches and pointy Pitons of the verdant island. Cruising further south, there's Saint Vincent, the popular Admiralty Bay on the S-shaped Bequia (pronounced bekway), upmarket Canouan, tiny Mayreau lapped by aquamarine waters, and the spectacular reefs of the Tobago Cays Marine Park. Tobago Cays Marine Park, Clifton Union Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines; +784 485 8191 How to get there: Flights to St Lucia or Grenada. Bahamas More than 700 coral cays stretch like a necklace into azure seas from the southeast coast of Florida. Gentle trade winds, sheltered waters and myriad marine life make the Bahamas an ideal destination for families and the less experienced. The Abacos are the epicenter of Bahamian sailing with the lively Marsh Harbour as the base from which to explore the 120-mile chain of islands. One day you can anchor off a pristine beach with crystal clear water such as Treasure Cay, the next moor up in one of the small colonial-era towns such Hope Town on Elbow Cay and New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay. Further afield the pink sand beaches on Eleuthera or the 365 cays of the Exuma group offer endless opportunities for exploring and relaxation. The big-game fishing, and diving at sites such as Dean's Blue Hole, the Abacos Train Wreck and the USS Adirondack is also spectacular. How to get there: Flights to Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay or Nassau. Thailand White-sand beaches backed by swaying palms and jungle, sheer limestone towers jutting out of jade-colored seas and exotic flora and fauna are just some of the treats on offer on a sailing trip to Thailand. From thumping Phuket, yachts push east into Phang Nga Bay and the Andaman Sea to explore this mostly undeveloped region dotted by technicolor coral reefs, remote fishing villages and world-famous beaches and honey pots such as Maya Bay, the location for the film "The Beach," James Bond Island and the world-renowned Phi Phi islands. Add in friendly locals -- Thailand is the "Land of Smiles" after all -- and fragrant cuisine and you have the ingredients for zesty Asian adventure. How to get there: International flights to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport or Phuket. Seychelles The ultimate Instagram boast, Seychelles is a sailor's paradise in the Indian Ocean. Lying 1,000 miles off the East African coast, the archipelago offers the full castaway experience among 115 isolated islands dotted across aquamarine seas. The main yacht charter area is focused on the inner islands around the forested Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Decent winds, warm water, snow-white beaches, kaleidoscopic coral and exotic wildlife, such as giant tortoises, coconut crabs and whale sharks, make the Seychelles a Shangri-la for sailors. From the main island of Mahe, yachties can island hop from one idyllic bay to another, mooring off brochure-worthy beaches such as Anse Source d'Argent, Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette before a peaceful night at anchor under the stars. How to get there: Flights to Seychelles International Airport on Mahe. Tahiti, French Polynesia Just the words French Polynesia are enough to conjure images of swaying palms, crystal-clear lagoons, blissful beaches and fringing reefs teeming with marine life. The islands of Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Huahine, Tahaa and swooned-over Bora Bora and are just the highlights of this exotic 118-island chain in the South Pacific. With balmy trade winds, a consistent climate and a combination of sheltered waters behind the reefs and more exciting open-water passages between islands, French Polynesia is a watery world like no other. Everyone from the artist Paul Gauguin to sailors, divers, snorkelers, sun-bathers and canoodlers are enchanted by the contrasts of turquoise seas, emerald mountains and cobalt skies of the Tahiti region. How to get there: International flights to Papeete-Tahiti, hop to Raiatea. Tonga, South Pacific This Polynesian kingdom of more than 170 palm-covered islands is a sailing gem in the South Pacific. Fewer than half of the islands are inhabited, meaning a voyage into the blue offers a true get-away-from-it-all experience. Picturesque Vava'u, with myriad islets, lagoons and coral reefs, is the starting point, either for quick hops or longer open-water passages to deserted tropical beaches and idyllic anchorages. Itineraries might take in beautiful Hunga Lagoon, a sunken volcanic crater, or unspoiled Port Maurelle Bay on Kapa, or friendly Lape where the locals are inclined to lavish you with a traditional Tongan feast. It's the stuff of quintessential South Pacific dreams, with world-class diving and snorkeling, sport fishing and humpback whale watching thrown in as standard. How to get there: International flights to Fua'amotu Airport on Tongatapu followed by domestic shuttle 150 miles north to Lupepau'u Airport on Vava'u. Or via Nadi on Fiji. Whitsundays, Australia: Between the coast of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef snuggles Australia's very own chain of 74 tropical islands. There's the famous Whitehaven Beach, a jaw-dropping curve of powder-white sand, world-class resorts on Hamilton and Hayman Islands and reefs teeming with life. Hamilton lsland, Queensland, Australia; +61 29007 0009 Hayman Island, +61 7 4940 1234 From Shute Harbour near bouncing Airlie Beach, you can disappear into a blissful bubble of exhilarating sailing, remote beaches, sublime snorkeling and snug anchorages in jungle-backed bays perfect for evening sundowners on deck. For those just after a quick taste of paradise, plenty of ex-America's Cup and former racing yachts take tourists and backpackers on short overnight cruises to sample the silica sands of Whitehaven, the sublime views from Hill Inlet and possibly spot some whales migrating along the east coast of Australia. How to get there: International flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, domestic flights to Proserpine or Hamilton Island. CORNING, Calif. The Tehama County Sheriffs Deputies and Corning Police Officers responded to an attempted armed robbery at Rolling Hills Casino around 9:45 a.m. on August 9. The suspect, later identified as Christopher Hernandez, 49, of Anderson, left the Casino prior to the arrival of law enforcement officers in a Tan, 2000 GMC pickup truck. He was later located by Corning Police Officers at a traffic stop on Interstate 5, near Corning Road, where he failed to yield to officers who initiated a pursuit after the vehicle on Interstate 5 toward Red Bluff. My Hernandez drove recklessly, with willful and wanton disregard for public safety, according to the release. During the pursuit he swerved in and out of traffic, while driving at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Tehama County Sheriffs Deputies deployed a tie spike strip on Interstate 5, near the northbound Antelope Blvd exit which effectively disabled Hernandezs truck. He then veered off the East shoulder of the interstate just north of Red Bluff, on the Adobe Road off-ramp. The truck drove through a barbed wire cattle fence and into an open field and ultimately crashed into a dry creek bed. Responding deputies and officers took Hernandez into custody. During the arrest, a fire ignited underneath Hernandezs truck, which deputies were able to extinguish before it grew out of control. An investigation by Tehama County Sheriffs Deputies revealed that prior to the pursuit, Hernandez entered the Rolling Hills Casino and approached the main cash station. He informed the casino staff that he had a gun and demanded entry into the cash cage. As the security personnel responded, Hernandez fled the grounds without gaining access to the cash cage. No firearms were located in Hernandezs possession or within his vehicle. Rolling Hills Casino did not sustain any monetary loss. Hernandez was booked into the Tehama County jail for Attempted Robbery, Felony Reckless Evading and Driving Under the Influence. Bail has been set at $105,000. Immediately before railing against the dangers of unfettered immigration, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions partook in a bit of immigrant culture himself. He started his morning Friday with a helping of huevos rancheros and bacon at La Mexicana, a decades-old Montrose mainstay that touts its Mexican authenticity. Zulema Gonzales, La Mexicana's general manager, said law enforcement first approached the restaurant days ago with questions about security. The restaurant was happy to accommodate officials' security concerns but didn't know until today who would be eating there, she said. "I don't know why they picked this place," she said, adding that other high-profile politicians and luminaries have visited the restaurant previously, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Sessions and his entourage arrived around 8 a.m. in advance of a news conference at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, and had breakfast with Police Chief Art Acevedo and U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston. Related: Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Houston, touts crackdown on immigrants suspected in crimes The irony wasn't lost on local Houstonians, including one who noticed a swarm of law enforcement officers in suits standing vigil in the hot morning sun. "Did Jeff Sessions actually go get breakfast tacos before talking about a nonexistent brown immigrant crime wave," redditor Ubermonkey posted on the page's Houston page, after spotting Sessions' motorcade parked at the restaurant during the morning commute. "I mean, DAMN, bro." Gonzales said Sessions wasn't sure what to eat -- and picked the huevos rancheros at the suggestion of Acevedo, a naturalized citizen born in Cuba who spent his early career in Los Angeles and then served as chief of police in Austin -- two cities known for their array of great Mexican food. Though Sessions' hard-line stance on immigration has sparked controversy of civil rights advocates, Gonzales said the 90-minute-long breakfast was a quiet affair. "We treat everybody the same," she said. Acevedo, who has frequently criticized President Donald Trump's crackdowns on immigration, said he and Sessions had a "great discussion," with "many points of agreement and disagreement." "We will never apologize for working with Homeland Security Investigations going after violent gang members," he said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's investigative arm focused on investigations of dangerous criminals. "But if they're going to ask us to help round up day laborers or kitchen help, we're not interested in that, and he understands that." Staff writer Gabrielle Banks contributed to this report. St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is scheduled to visit Houston Friday to outline his goals for combatting violent crime. On Thursday, he spoke in Georgia about restoring the morale of federal officers, providing support for crime victims and bringing back tougher sentencing laws he said were depleted by a recent Supreme Court decision. He also touched on his concern about public attitudes toward law enforcement officers. Sessions began by denouncing a statement this month by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. that the justice system is racist at every stage of prosecuting crime. Using a word President Donald Trump often chooses in his tweets, Sessions said of her remarks, This slur isnt just wrong. Its sad. This is a slander of every law officer and every prosecutor in America, he said. And, frankly, I think it is an insult to their families and to the crime victims they have helped to face their attacker. Sessions speech touched on rising recidivism rates which he linked to a 2015 Supreme Court ruling striking down part of the Armed Career Criminal Act that held that the legal definition of violent felony had been too vague. Sessions put in an endorsement for a bill by his former Senate colleagues Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, Orrin Hatch, R-Utah and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina that would restore the provision the court struck down, imposing longer sentences on people who re-offend. He announced that the Justice Department had awarded $3.4 billion to states for victims services, funds collected from defendants at the time of sentencing. He is set to speak Friday morning at the U.S. Attorneys Office on Louisiana Street at 9:45 a.m. The media event is not open to the public. gabrielle.banks@chron.com twitter.com/gabmobanks It was just after midnight when 68-year-old Emily Barriere was awakened by pounding on the front door of her northeast Houston apartment. Police! Open up! those outside her door shouted, she recalled Thursday. When she asked through the door what was going on, no one responded. The mother and grandmother said she feared that the people were robbers or intruders posing as police. She said a prayer. After they threatened to bust down her door, she opened it to find five uniformed Houston police officers pointing guns at her. SOUTHEAST HOUSTON: Woman who shot masturbating bicyclist will not be charged At their request, she exited her apartment in the Hometown at Wayside assisted-living community, where she lives alone, wearing only her night clothes. Officers proceeded to search her apartment, but she said they failed to produce paperwork or a search warrant, claiming it was in digital form. It wasnt until days later that she received an apology from police. The incident on July 26 was not an error, said Houston Police Department spokesman Kese Smith, because Barrieres apartment was listed as the last known address of a felon who was wanted at the time. Because police possessed a felony warrant, guns were drawn, the spokesman confirmed. He said he did not know the details of the warrant. Asked the name and age of the felon, Smith said he would need to check and see if he had been apprehended before identifying the individual. The encounter has left Barriere feeling uncomfortable in the apartment where she has lived for seven months. Ive been so traumatized, Barriere said. I will never ever forget this, because it upset my whole life. After the search was complete, Barriere said, officers told her to have a nice night but never offered an apology or access to counseling or medical care. The HPD spokesperson said officers explained what they were going to do before entering the unit, and Barriere complied with their request. He said he hasnt heard information from the officers regarding Barrieres state of mind at the time of the search, although he said officers were under the impression that any issue was resolved by the time they left. But one community activist says the department ought to be doing more after frightening a law-abiding citizen in her home. We believe that the Houston Police Department owes her a public apology, and a process must be set in place so that when this kind of thing happens, theres outreach theres resolve, said community activist Deric Muhammad, a frequent critic of police misconduct who appeared with Barriere at a news conference Thursday at her apartment. And in this way we dont worsen police-community relationships; we strive to make them better. GRAVES: Activists ask for more African-American representation on construction site Muhammad said such incidents dont help foster trust between the black community and law enforcement. Theres too many questions unanswered, but I think because this is a black neighborhoodsomebody somewhere thinks that its supposed to be normal for somebody to run up in your house with guns, he said. That aint normal, not even in this community. Larry Karson, assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of Houston-Downtown, agreed that police could have handled the situation more appropriately. For police officers, dealings like search warrants, arrests and jail are commonplace, but they forget that for some of the people they deal with it is very traumatic, Karson said. It seems that somewhere in their training they never effectively get across that point. He said officers should have anticipated the possibility of medical complications arising from any trauma that the senior endured as they prepared to search a unit at an assisted-living community. He said the department liaison should have contacted her promptly after the encounter, and that police should have provided a contact number and a way to get counseling or medical care before leaving her apartment. Basically the police made her a victim, and you arent supposed to be made a victim by the law enforcement you are protected by, Karson said. Law enforcement officials have previously apologized for seeming to make a victim of persons who werent doing wrong. Last fall, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez paid a visit to a 21-year-old man whod been shot in a public roadway during the chaotic days after Hurricane Harvey but found himself being grilled by responding officers. After Muhammad and another community activist voiced concerns that the man had never been interviewed by investigators, Gonzalez vowed to complete the investigation of the shooting. In the days following Barrieres encounter, she said, she contacted the department to try and lodge a complaint. She said she reached an HPD liaison, who personally apologized for her unease. In addressing the seniors concern that officers might return to the address, the liaison advised Barriere to hang a note on her front door that said the felon whom officers were seeking did not live there anymore, Barriere recalled. Smith said he could not verify that this guidance had been provided. 3,675 UNFILLED POSITIONS: After $9 million in hiring bonuses, Texas prisons still face 14 percent guard vacancy, according to HoustonChronicle.com report Barrieres daughter, Dominique, said she has feared for her mothers safety in the complex, citing broken gates and building doors, and was now even more worried about her well-being. An employee at the assisted-living center said that it had plans to make those repairs. Dominique Barriere said the family is now checking on he mother more frequently. Im worried about her living here even more than I was before, said the daughter, who is 44. Its not okay. Barriere said she has suffered emotional trauma from the incident and had to visit her doctor for high blood pressure. She said she has had a hard time trying to calm down and accept what occurred. She said she would appreciate a public apology from Houston police and believes that a protocol should be put in place for civilians who endure similar encounters. Now I dont have hate for the police, Barriere said. But I feel like you come into a senior citizens home and disrespect that senior citizen that way, how would you feel? victoria.cheyne@chron.com twitter.com/victoria_cheyne If immigrants who are victims of domestic violence are too afraid to contact authorities for fear they will be deported, Harris County prosecutors say theyll come to them. The outreach initiative comes as the rate of domestic violence continues to rise in Texas, where more than 550 women were killed by theirpartners between 2012 and 2016. The current political situation is driving many people back into the shadows; its discouraging that its keeping crime victims from reporting when their fear of deportation is greater than the desire to engage the system, said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. The countys top prosecutor, in a press event Thursday, aligned herself with Houstons police chief in expressing concerns over the effects of ramped up immigration enforcement, as well as Texass anti-sanctuary city laws that allow officers to document the immigration status of those they arrest or detain. Houston was one of several Texas cities that have joined a federal court challenge of the 2017 law. Last April, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said 43 percent fewer Hispanics reported rapes compared to the previous year, along with a 13 percent drop in reports by Hispanics of violent crimes. When you see this type of data, and what looks like the beginnings of people not reporting crime, we should all be concerned, Acevedo said at the time. A person that rapes or violently attacks or robs an undocumented immigrant is somebody that is going to harm a natural born citizen or lawful resident. The DAs program will be directed by the offices Criminal Law Division and is a formal partnership with several nonprofit organizations to provide and enhance culturally specific advocacy services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault. The program will focus on members of the South Asian, Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, Hispanic and African-American communities, targeting barriers faced by those residents when they attempt to use services that could help them deal with domestic violence, officials said Thursday. When I learned that domestic violence accounts for 25 percent of our homicide rate, I talked with our domestic violence division chief and asked to come up with a plan to address the service gaps for victims in our justice system, said Ogg, after signing a memorandum of understanding for the new initiative. Ogg said the primary purpose of the initiative is to bridge an existing gap between the time the victim tells someone about the crime and the time the system responds. By the numbers On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States - more than 12 million women and men over the course of a year. One in 4 women (24.3 percent) and 1 in 7 men (13.8 percent) ages 18 and older in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Females ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 generally experienced the highest rates of intimate partner violence. Between 30 to 60 percent of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the household. Source: The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233). See More Collapse A lot of our clients dont have transportation and other means that allow them to go to downtown to the DAs office, said Susan Hastings, director of the Christian Ministries Crisis Center in Katy. She noted that victims, particularly immigrants and minorities, often face other barriers in attempting to obtain a protective order from a court, including a lack of language skills to unfamiliarity with the legal system. In an effort to overcome those barriers, we are taking our services to the communities where people, and especially minority communities, are hesitant to come to the justice system, said Carvana Cloud, who heads the Family Criminal Law Division. We are really focusing on victims safety and not just locking the offenders up. Ogg said her administration has been rethinking the way it serve communities, in part after the experience of Hurricane Harvey when we found ourselves without even an office due to the effects of flooding that closed the countys criminal court complex. Harris County has the highest number of domestic violence deaths in the state, and about 7,000 charges are filed every year on average by Oggs office. olivia.tallet@chron.com twitter.com/oliviaptallet UPDATE 7:30 a.m. August 15, 2018 - The Hat Fire is now 95% contained at 1,900 acres. --- UPDATE 7:20 a.m. August 15, 2018 - Cal Fire says the Hat Fire is now 1,900 acres and 85% contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation. --- UPDATE August 13, 2018 - The Hat Fire that has burned since Thursday afternoon near the area of Burney on Highway 299 and Fish Hatchery Road is maintaining the acreage as of Monday afternoon at 1,900 acres with 62 percent containment. On Sunday evening, Cal Fire Shasta-Trinity Unit lifted all the evacuations in the area. The blaze on Thursday started less than 100 acres at 50 acres but has since grown to the current size. Cal Fire said firefighters continue to increase and strengthen containment around the fire perimeter while mopping other areas. The Hat Fire has contributed to the massive amount of smoke in the area, officials said. --- SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. - Cal Fire is battling a 50-acre vegetation fire off of Highway 299 and Fish Hatchery Road, northeast of Burney. The Hat Fire is 50 acres and is zero percent contained. Caltrans has released that Highway 299 is closed eastbound at Cassel Road and westbound at Pit 1 Grade. Stay tuned for more updates. This is a developing story. Nine children have been killed by guns in the Houston-area this year, according to an analysis of data published by the non-profit organization Gun Violence Archive. That number is among the highest in the U.S. The Houston area has the third-most gun-related child deaths in the country as of Friday morning. More children have been killed by guns in Orlando than any other U.S. city this year with 11 deaths. Chicago follows closely with 10. The Houston victims ages range from 2 to 17 and include students like 15-year-old Zuleyma Hernandez. THE FUTURE IS NOW: Meet the man who might have brought on the age of 'downloadable guns' Hernandez was standing outside a southwest Houston apartment with her father and her boyfriend April 15 when five men who appeared to be gang members confronted them. After a brief exchange, the men opened fire, killing Hernandez. When it comes to victims under the age of 11, Gun Violence Archive founder Mark Bryant has noticed that their deaths were often a result of them finding a loaded gun, familicide (which is family murder-suicides), or drive-by shootings, he said. Gyl Switzer, the executive director of Texas Gun Sense, a gun control group, called the Houston deaths 100 percent prevenatable. "This is not a Houston problem. It's a Texas problem. It's something that Texas legislature needs to pay attention to and take action," Switzer said. Rick Briscoe is the legislative director for Open Carry Texas, grass roots civil rights organization specializing in First and Second Amendment issues, who believes that one way these types of deaths could be prevented is if children were educated about gun safety. One such program, Briscoe said, is the NRA's Eddie Eagle Gun Safe program for children in fourth grade or younger. In Texas, the Child Access Prevention law is aimed at keeping guns legally owned by adults out of the reach of children. The law empowers prosecutors to hold negligent parents legally responsible when their child gets hold of a firearm. Gun control experts contend that parents violating this law are rarely prosecuted because attorneys are hesitant to compound tragedy by punishing grieving families, the Houston Chronicle reported in February following the shooting death of 6-year-old Justin Gooden. The Gun Violence Archive was formed in 2013 by Bryant, of Kentucky. The organization employs 18 people who help maintain the database, Bryant said. The non-profit was inspired by the Sandy Hook massacre in Connecticut. The shooting claimed the lives of 20 children. Swipe through to learn about the children killed by guns in Houston so far this year. Fernando Alfonso III covers everything from crime to weird internet trends. Read him on the breaking news site chron.com and the subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | fernando.alfonso@chron.com Most Houston ISD teachers will receive modest salary raises in 2018-19 after district trustees rebuffed administrators proposal Thursday to freeze educator pay amid a budget crunch. Trustees voted 5-4 to maintain the districts current teacher salary plan, which will result in most educators receiving raises ranging from about $200 to $2,200 as a reward for completing an extra year in the classroom. A small percentage will not receive raises based on their level of experience. The money was not specifically included in the districts 2018-19 budget approved by trustees in June. As a result, HISD administrators likely will have to cut elsewhere from the districts operating budget, though language included in Thursdays proposal mandates that HISD employees cannot be laid off and salaries cannot be cut to pay for the additional spending. 2018-19 SCHOOL YEAR: All Houston ISD students eligible for 3 free meals Our teachers need their step increase, said HISD Trustee Elizabeth Santos, who proposed an amendment that resulted in the increase. Its the one thing they thought was going to be given to them. HISD administrators said the district could not afford teacher raises after trustees approved a 2018-19 budget in June that included $84 million in cuts, $13.5 million more in special education services spending and $10 million to keep employee health insurance premiums flat. Administrators said awarding step raises would cost about $5 million. Prior to the vote Thursday, district leaders did not commit to how they would trim $5 million. Trustees who voted against the pay increase expressed concern about spending money without specific ideas for cuts. You cannot spend money that you do not have, Trustee Wanda Adams said. When we dont know where were going to cut, I think were setting a wrong standard. District officials were expecting Thursdays vote on teacher salary plan would be pro forma when Junes budget was approved. Throughout the budget creation process, which lasted several months, administrators and trustees never discussed allocating money for teacher raises, district officials said. 1,200 SCHOOLS ELIGIBLE: Most Houston-area school districts eligible for Harvey waiver, TEA says However, the Houston Federation of Teachers, a union representing the largest number of educators in the region, and many teachers believed the 2018-19 budget included step increases. Those pay bumps would reward educators for completing an additional year of experience, with most teachers receiving an additional $200 to $900. The miscommunication was exacerbated by the fact that HISD did not produce a proposed salary schedule until last week. Teachers have already signed their 2018-19 contracts prior to Thursdays vote. It was not easily understood that steps are not going to be honored, Trustee Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca said. We need to honor our word. We need to operate with integrity. HISD teachers are among the lowest-paid in the Houston area compared to educators of the same experience level. The annual salary difference between HISD educators and those at the regions highest-paying district is about $2,000 to $5,000, depending on years of experience. District teachers received raises ranging from 2 percent to 4 percent in 2017-18 under a budget that pulled about $100 million from the districts rainy-day fund. Trustees Santos, Flynn Vilaseca, Diana Davila, Sergio Lira and Anne Sung voted in favor of the pay increases. It took 37 years for the parents of Randall Lee Harvey to find out what happened to their son. For decades, they didn't know that a 15-year-old Harvey became one of at least 29 young boys tortured and killed by Dean Corll and his two teenage accomplices in Houston from 1970 to 1973. The murders eventually earned Corll the nickname "Candy Man" after his family's candy store in the Heights. RELATED: After decades, another serial killer victim identified Corll was shot by one of his accomplices on August 8, 1973, around the time Harvey's body was discovered. Harvey had been one of the last few unidentified "Candy Man" victims until his name was confirmed in 2008. Today, 45 years after Corll's death, only one unidentified victim remains. And victim advocates are still working to close the book on the horrific string of murders for good. "I can tell you, from dealing with homicide victims for over 25 years, the grief is intensified when justice is lacking," said Andy Kahan, the director of victim services and advocacy at Crime Stoppers of Houston. "Right now, justice and bringing him back to his family is sorely lacking, and that needs to change." Kahan said this final case is personal because he's been speaking with the other victims' surviving family members for about 26 years. He said he's still confident that the final victim can be identified after all these years, and he's still encouraged by Harvey's case. "We were able to locate [Harvey's] sisters by getting the word out," he said. "I'm hoping the proverbial lightening strikes twice." Kahan isn't the only one who feels strongly about identifying the last victim. Dr. Sharon Derrick, the forensic anthropologist who helped identify Harvey, is using her own time and resources on the case, even though she stopped working at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences last month. "I can't give this search up yet," Derrick said. The boy may have been dead for more than a year when his skeletal remains were recovered in Houston on August 9, 1973, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He has been described as a 15 to 18 year old boy with brown hair approximately 7 inches long. He may have been afflicted with a minor form of Spina Bifida. RELATED: Heights teen slain by notorious serial killer remembered Authorities said he was found wearing a knotted leather ankle bracelet, brown leather cowboy boots with "NEOLITE" on the heel. He was also found wearing multi-colored striped Catalina swim trunks with a belt and a khaki long-sleeved shirt that had a large peace symbol and a flag. On the back of his shirt were the printed letters and numbers, "L84MF." New technology and forensic research has allowed for a facial reconstruction of the boy, which is featured above. Anyone with information on a possible identity can call The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences at 713-796-6858 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. "We've done it before, and I'm confident were gonna be able to do it again," Kahan said. "Somebody out there knows who this young boy is." Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com For 15-year-old Kingwood teenager Brayden Moseley, there was no time to think only do. The night before the worst of Hurricane Harvey hit, Moseley received a late-night call from one of the mentors from his church asking if he could use the teenagers fishing boat to help rescue families whose homes were flooding. Well, said Moseley, am I gonna be invited? After getting the thumbs up from his parents, Moseley picked up his mentor and went out toward Beltway 8 to see who needed help. After six hours, they managed to help rescue 15 families. The experience took an emotional toll on Moseley. It was very heartbreaking and tough to watch all those people come out, Moseley said of the expedition. But that wasnt the end of Moseleys boat trips. The next night he got a call at 4 a.m. from a friend in the Fosters Mills Village saying that his family was stuck inside their house. By the time Moseley arrived, they had already been rescued, but seeing there were other families in that area in need of help, he decided he would lend a hand. The flooding was more severe this time, with Coast Guard helicopters flying overhead and airboats coming through. Overall, it was a much more chaotic scene. There were a lot of people that were looking at me like Im crazy because Im a 15-year-old boy and Im out there saving people, Moseley said. After saving about 20 families and spending close to eight hours out on his boat, Moseley headed back home with a heavy heart. Those two nights I went home and cried myself to sleep thinking about the saved people, but theres still thousands of people out there and I cant do anything about it, he said. The experience has given him a new, grateful view of life. He knows that hes lucky enough to have more than most and has continued to dedicate himself to helping someone every day, whether it be tutoring kids after school or doing service projects with his church. When asked why he chose to set out into the storm those two nights, Moseley puts it simply. You wake up, you know that your entire town is flooded, you have a boat, you use it, Moseley said. You dont think, you just do. This article was produced in collaboration with ProPublica. When Houston surgeon O.H. "Bud" Frazier co-authored a research paper about mechanical heart pumps in the New England Journal of Medicine last year, he reported that his only potential conflict of interest was a fellowship in his name established by the maker of one of the devices tested in the study. "Dr. Frazier does not receive any financial gain from this," his disclosure said of the fellowship. In June, Frazier submitted an updated disclosure listing more potential conflicts, including lecture fees and travel reimbursements he received from three medical device makers; one of those was from HeartWare, the company that established the fellowship in his name. The updated disclosure also included travel expenses from a fourth company and a patent granted in 2012 for a pulseless artificial heart system. The updated disclosures followed an investigation in May by the Houston Chronicle and ProPublica that found, among other things, that Frazier had often failed to fully report potential conflicts of interest related to his research in the field of mechanical heart pumps. Most medical journals require such disclosure so that other scientists and the public can judge whether personal interests may have influenced research findings. Over the years, the Chronicle and ProPublica investigation found, companies have reimbursed Frazier for travel and paid him consulting and lecture fees; others supported his research with grants. One device maker rewarded him with stock options, corporate filings show, which he later gave to his son. The Chronicle and ProPublica reviewed the past 100 papers on which Frazier was listed as an author, dating to 2010, and found that he disclosed industry relationships in less than 10 percent. Those disclosures often were inconsistent and incomplete. READ MORE: Check out our investigation with ProPublica in St. Luke's here Before the story was published, reporters asked the New England Journal about Frazier's omissions in two specific studies one from 2009 and one from 2017 as well as a 2014 letter about a mechanical heart pump. In response to reporters' questions, editors at the Journal contacted Frazier, and Journal spokeswoman Jennifer Zeis said that Frazier agreed to submit revised disclosure forms. After the Chronicle and ProPublica story ran, Frazier formally submitted the updated conflict disclosures for both studies and for the 2014 letter. Two of the amended disclosures were posted online last week; the other was posted this week. For the 2009 article, a clinical trial of the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device, Frazier initially only disclosed reimbursements for travel expenses from Thoratec, the maker of the device. His updated disclosure now also lists consulting and lecture fees from device companies Terumo Heart and Jarvik Heart, as well as serving on an advisory board for HeartWare and receiving stock options from HeartWare that he subsequently gave to his son. Frazier also disclosed the patent for a pulseless artificial heart system, which he initially filed in 2008 with another surgeon, Dr. Billy Cohn. In the case of the 2017 study, Frazier initially reported the fellowship in his name established by HeartWare, the maker of one of the pumps being studied. His updated disclosure form said he had also received lecture fees and travel expenses from HeartWare. In addition, he reported receiving lecture fees and travel expenses from Thoratec and St. Jude, makers of other cardiac devices, and travel expenses from Syncardia, maker of an artificial heart. He also disclosed the patent. In the letter published in 2014 about his experience with the HeartMate II device, Frazier originally noted that he had no potential conflict of interest relevant to the letter. In the new disclosure, he reported that he had received "consulting fees, lecture fees, and travel support from Thoratec, lecture fees and travel support from HeartWare, and grant support from Thoratec and HeartWare." He also reported his patent and being a member of the medical advisory board for HeartWare. Frazier, 78, has received international acclaim for his work developing mechanical heart pumps during the past four decades. Devices he tested over the years at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and its research partner, the Texas Heart Institute, are credited with extending the lives of thousands of people worldwide each year. In response to questions from reporters in May, prior to publication of the Chronicle/ProPublica investigation, Frazier said he never made money from his work on behalf of device makers. "My efforts have never been for personal financial gain," Frazier wrote in response to written questions, adding that he "freely shared the mechanics of my heart flow pump with all comers, including two companies that later sold for billions of dollars." Frazier also said he didn't know which companies paid him consulting fees or reimbursed him for his travel. "I have personally never sent a bill," he wrote, "and don't know what is charged for anything I do." A representative for Frazier did not answer questions about Frazier's decision to update his disclosure forms, but rather referred reporters to a deputy editor of the New England Journal of Medicine. In an email to reporters, the Journal said the updated disclosures were prompted by the ProPublica reporting. Asked why Frazier had not disclosed the relationships when he initially submitted the papers for publication, the journal wrote, "We do not know; this answer must come from Dr. Frazier." Frazier is suing the Chronicle and ProPublica, as well as the authors of this article, in Harris County District Court for libel. Among other things, the lawsuit accuses the publications of misleading readers regarding the nature of Frazier's relationships with device makers. The lawsuit alleges that reporters tried to create the impression that "Dr. Frazier could be bought off" by device makers. The suit says that "industry standards for reporting conflicts of interest in medical journals vary; some journals do not even publish conflict of interest statements." The lawsuit also notes that Frazier was only listed as the first author of five of the 100 papers reviewed by ProPublica and the Chronicle. "The rest were drafted by other authors who were responsible for obtaining conflicts of interest from the coauthors." The suit also said that many of the 100 articles were about general heart surgery, transplants and devices other than HeartWare, "none of which would even require a statement of conflict of interest." According to guidelines set by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, all study authors, not just the first author, should broadly report all industry relationships, financial or otherwise, that might be perceived as a conflict of interest. *** Mike Hixenbaugh is an investigative reporter at the Houston Chronicle. Email him at mike.hixenbaugh@chron.com and follow him on Twitter at @Mike_Hixenbaugh. Tell us your story: Are you an employee, patient or a family member of a patient at the Texas Medical Center? We'd like to hear from you about your experience. Please fill out this confidential questionnaire. Responding to a request to debate him, Sen. Ted Cruz said "stop catcalling me" on Friday. Cruz appeared to be mimicking a similar conversation that played out between New York Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ben Shapiro, a right-wing pundit with a controversial record of comments on Islam. GRIDLEY, Calif. - Anne Montez, 44, of Gridley, plead no contest today to a deadly hit and run which caused the death of Maria Gomez, 48, last Easter in Gridley. District Attorney Mike Ramsey said that on April 1, 2018 at approximately 9:08 p.m., Montez was headed westbound on Magnolia Street when she struck Gomez in the intersection of Magnolia and Haskell Street. Montez did not stop. No witnesses observed the collision, but a nearby resident was in her home when she heard screeching and then a loud thud. When she came out of her house, she saw the taillights of a vehicle driving to the west away from the location. Gomez had major injuries to her right side and multiple abrasions. She later died due to those injuries at Enloe Medical Center. Police were able to locate nearby video surveillance cameras that captured a light-colored SUV driving on Magnolia moments before and after the collision. However, there were no views of the exact location where the accident happened. Through an anonymous tip, detectives learned that Montez owned a white Mitsubishi Montero SUV and she may have been involved in the fatal collision. On April 10, a search warrant was executed at Montezs residence to seize her SUV. Upon searching the residence, detectives did not find the vehicle. They later learned that the SUV had been driven and left in Sacramento. Gridley Police Department officers were able to seize the SUV in Sacramento. Upon examining the vehicle, California Department of Justice criminalists matched parts of Montezs SUV headlamp with broken vehicle parts left at the incident scene. Montez turned herself in to Gridley Police twelve days after the incident. She admitted that she was involved in a collision on Easter in Gridley but claimed she could not recall what she hit. She fled the scene because she was scared. Montez was charged with a felony count of hit and run causing death. She is facing four years in State Prison for her plea. Shes scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2018. A St. Paul, Minn., high school teacher who claimed he was beaten up by a black student for being white has lost his appeal of a federal court ruling that dismissed his lawsuit seeking punitive damages against the district. Amid community-wide racial tension over the mainstreaming of students with special needs and the role of the police in schools, John Ekblad, a teacher at Central High School, sued St. Paul Schools in 2015 for negligence after he suffered several injuries when a black student slammed him to the floor and knocked him unconcscious as he tried to break up a cafeteria fight. Ekblad claimed the student used racially tinged comments after the attack and said the districts workers compensation benefits were inadequate. The district also paid his medical bills. U.S. District Judge David Doty said Ekblad failed to prove his case merited consideration beyond the remedies provided by the states workers compensation, according to the Star Tribune . Doty also said the students comments after the attack referenced not just Ekblads race but also his status as a teacher. A federal appeals court on Aug. 8 rejected Ekblads challenge of that decision due to a lack of evidence. Ekblad was one of a string of teachers in St. Paul who successfully urged the board to fire Superintendent Valeria Silva, in 2015 after dramatic demographic changes and changes to the way the district assigned students with emotional and behavior disorders. Her separation agreement cost the district, already in severe financial distress, $787,500. Although the teachers said violent incidents were increasing in the school since the changes, an Education Week analysis of the districts discipline data over five years showed that violent incidents were actually dramatically decreasing, though disparities between how black and white students were punished still existed. Ekbalt then took his case to Washington where he, along with a handful of other teachers and advocates urged U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to rescind guidance issued under President Barack Obama that urged districts to scrutinize disparities between students of color and white students. Ekbalt argued the guidance left teachers vulnerable to unsafe conditions. According to a recent Education Week report , in the 2015-16 school year, 5.8 percent of the nations 3.8 million teachers were physically attacked by a student. Almost 10 percent were threatened with injury, according to federal education data. Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics. The number of Americans with mental illnesses continues to grow. Many are turning to alternative forms of treatment for help. Action News Now visited an Oroville equine-assisted therapy center called, California Therapy Horses. The organization offers a unique form of treatment that involves activities with horses to promote mental and physical health. New approach applies to some Canadian permanent residence applications received on or after July 31, 2018 Canada adopts new processing times system for some PR applications New approach applies to some Canadian permanent residence applications received on or after July 31, 2018 Canada adopts new processing times system for some PR applications New approach applies to some Canadian permanent residence applications received on or after July 31, 2018 Canada adopts new processing times system for some PR applications New approach applies to some Canadian permanent residence applications received on or after July 31, 2018 Eman Katem Michael Schwartz Noah Turner Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will now provide some Canadian permanent residence applicants with processing times that are forward-looking, rather than estimations based on historical data. The introduction of projected times will replace historical processing times for some applications received on or after July 31, 2018. In a press release published on August 9, 2018, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the new projected processing times system will apply to the following types of permanent residence applications: Projected processing time will show prospective applicants to these programs how long their applications are expected to take (under normal conditions), specific to the day they apply. IRCC has committed to update processing times on a monthly basis. Commenting about the new projected processing time method, Canadas Immigration Minister, Ahmed Hussen, said, this update is an important one to ensure our immigration processing times are as accurate as possible and to help clients better prepare to move to Canada if their application is approved. Find out the processing time for your application The table below reflects processing times for future applicants who have not yet applied: Application type Processing time* Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents 20 to 24 months Provincial Nominee (Non-Express Entry) 15 to 19 months Quebec Skilled Workers 15 to 17 months Start-Up Visa 12 to 16 months Humanitarian and compassionate cases 22 to 36 months *The processing times above were checked on August 10, 2018. Projected vs. Historical processing time Prior to this change, IRCC forecasted all Canadian permanent residence application processing times based on historical data. This practice meant that processing times were determined by how long it took IRCC to process 80 per cent of applications in the past year. The new projected processing time measurement will depend on the current number of applications waiting to be processed and how quickly IRCC expects to process 80 per cent of pending applications. An applicants processing time generally starts the day IRCC receives a complete application and ends when a decision is made. If an application is submitted by mail, the processing time starts when the application arrives in the IRCC mailroom. If an application is made online or in-person at an approved service point, it starts when the application is submitted to the Immigration Officer. Reducing processing times and eliminating backlogs With the new processing time method, IRCC aims to better serve permanent residence clients, as well as attending to temporary resident applicants looking to visit, work, or study in Canada. IRCC plans to continue finding new innovative ways to process applications, maintain good customer service and meet allocated admission targets based on the multi-year immigration levels plan. In most cases, processing times depend on: the type of application submitted; if the application is complete; how quickly IRCC expects to process applications already in the system; how easily applicants information can be verified; how long applicants take to respond to any requests or concerns; and other factors. This move by the Government of Canada reflects the commitment to transparency and faster processing of immigration applications, said David Cohen, senior partner with the Campbell Cohen Canadian immigration law firm in Montreal. With a clearer picture on processing times, future applicants who have families here and are ready to start their life in Canada can enjoy a promising beginning. Discover your options for Canadian immigration by completing a free online assessment now. 2018 CICNews All rights Reserved 26960 Jimmy Frangis, CEO, PDI Alpharetta, GA - The leading global provider of enterprise solutions to the convenience retail, logistics industries, and wholesale petroleum PDI has announced the opening of its global headquarters in Georgia. The company hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony at their new 7,500-square-foot office. The representatives from the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, city officials, local business leaders and PDI's leadership team and employees were the guests for the event. PDI enlisted Atlanta-based real estate firm SK Commercial Realty to secure the new location and Alpharetta-based interior design firm WB Interiors to assist with the design. The contemporary office design features an open floor concept and multiple collaborative spaces where employees can work together. It also creatively incorporates elements of PDIs new brand identity, which the software company unveiled last year, and images of recognizable city landmarks from PDIs office locations around the world. We are so excited to be opening our world headquarters here in Alpharetta, and the community has already been very supportive, said Jimmy Frangis, CEO, PDI. We had several things we wanted to accomplish with this new office. First, we wanted to create a modern work environment that would communicate the openness of our culture, facilitate collaboration, and inspire our team members to do their best every day. Second, we wanted a space that was reflective of the top-notch talent we currently employ and seek to attract. Finally, we wanted our office to represent who we are as an industry leader and who we aspire to be. I think we accomplished that. PDIs new headquarters isnt the only place the company has been investing. In less than two years, the ERP software provider has completed nine acquisitions to expand its solution portfolio and global footprint. In 2018 alone, PDI has acquired two companies: TouchStar, a global logistics software provider, and Excentus, a leading provider of loyalty and coalition marketing solutions. The company is also expanding organically. It has already hired more than 30 employees in its Alpharetta office and plans to continue borrowing through 2018. Today, PDI has 15 offices worldwide and serves customers in more than 50 countries. 26946 Richard T. Schumacher, CEO,Pressure BioSciences Pressure BioSciences is working jointly with the researchers at Ohio State University to develop a manufacturing technology which will also be available commercially and will a significant role in the preservation of ''clean label'' foods and beverages. The South Easton, Massachusetts company, holds several patents for Ultra Shear Technology, which applies high-pressure levels greater than 20,000 pounds per square inch. The technology would allow companies to offer milk, and healthier drinks and juices by reducing heat exposure in the preservation process through a combined application of elevated pressure, intense shear forces and controlled times and temperatures. The collaborative project is funded by a US$891,000 grant from the US Department of Agriculture. Ohio State has granted Pressure BioSciences a US$318,000 sub-contract to build a working benchtop instrument and a pilot plant floor model Ultra Shear Technology machine. Edmund Ting, senior vice president at Pressure BioSciences, will lead the development of the pilot-plant equipment that the researchers at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at Ohio State require. "High-Pressure Processing (HPP) has proven to be very effective in reducing food-borne pathogens and extending shelf-life in pre-packaged foods (e.g., juices and ready-to-eat meats), thus eliminating the need for chemical additives. However, HPP remains a batch process not capable of continuous flow, and because it is only a pasteurization process, and does not render food 'commercially sterile,' HPP-processed food must be shipped, stored, and maintained under refrigeration throughout the entire chain of distribution and retail sale, said Ting, who is a co-inventor of Ultra Shear Technology. We believe that Ultra Shear Technology will provide economical solutions to these problems, and will offer an additional, clean label processing choice to both consumers and the food industry," he added. According to GoCleanLabel.com, "clean label" foods contain "natural, familiar, simple ingredients that are easy to recognize, understand, and pronounce" with no artificial ingredients or synthetic chemicals. The "clean label" food market has been estimated at approximately US$62bn in the US and US$165bn worldwide. "The ultimate goal of this collaborative project is for consumers to benefit from the increased availability of wholesome, healthy, better-tasting, shelf-stable, clean label liquid food and beverage options, said Pressure BioSciences CEO Richard T. Schumacher. Imagine liquid foods like milk shipped and stored at room temperature for extended periods of time post-processing while retaining superior nutritional and taste qualities. The advantages and cost-savings to the consumer and dairy industry could be game-changing. The advantages and cost savings to schools, the military, disaster relief agencies, and other such groups could be equally significant, added the Harvard Medical School-trained serial entrepreneur. Laying a strong financial foundation Separately, the CEO said Pressure BioSciences had achieved nine consecutive quarters of increased product and services revenue on a year-over-year basis, and 2018 was shaping up as a banner year. The companys total revenue for the opening three months of 2018 rose 11% to US$610,774, up from US$551,357 in the year-ago quarter, thanks to booming sales of the companys lab instruments which utilize pressure to control bio-molecular interactions. We recently initiated the first project utilizing our recently acquired IP from the BaroFold acquisition, and that we believe this new CRO service could generate significant revenue in the near future," said Schumacher. Pressure BioSciences Pre-EMT platform which uses high pressure to help drug companies develop protein-based therapeutics is being contracted out to an international biopharma company that intends to use it to improve the quality of a critical protein drug. The platform is one is the assets Pressure Biosciences acquired as part of its acquisition of all the assets of BaroFold Inc. last December. "With our core business showing consistent revenue growth, our BaroFold acquisition generating revenue much sooner than planned, and our Ultra Shear Technology platform getting off to an impressive start, we believe Pressure BioSciences has now positioned itself well for rapid, explosive growth in the months and years ahead." Commencing commercial operations in 2007, Pressure BioSciences is a leader in high-pressure-based technologies, platforms, and services to the life sciences market worldwide. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen will tour areas of Shasta County damaged by the Carr Fire Friday afternoon. Nielsen met with California Governor Jerry Brown on Thursday to discuss how DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency can help disaster survivors. She tweeted out that the departments are building a culture of preparedness and partnership with Cal Fire and the CA Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Neilsen tweeted out that she plans to meet with first responders and tour damaged communties Friday afternoon. FEMA confirms that Neilsen will be in Anderson for a press conference at 12 p.m. at Shasta Hall. Action News Now will have reporters at the meeting to bring you the latest. Stay with us on air and online for updates. Monks at two independent Roman Catholic schools have been described as inflicting appalling sexual abuse on children for decades. Ampleforth and Downside Abbeys both of which are charities with schools attached were highlighted as examples of wider mismanagement among Roman Catholic abbeys. A report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, published yesterday, said that it had heard evidence of of appalling sexual abuse inflicted over decades on children as young as seven at Ampleforth and 11 at Downside as part of a wider inquiry into Roman Catholic institutions. The report also concludes that there was a culture of acceptance of abusive behaviour and that both institutions prioritised the reputation of monks over the protection of children. Professor Alexis Jay, chair of the inquiry, said: For decades Ampleforth and Downside tried to avoid giving any information about child sexual abuse to police and social services. Instead, monks in both institutions were very often secretive, evasive and suspicious of anyone outside the English Benedictine Congregation. Safeguarding children was less important than the reputation of the Church and the wellbeing of the abusive monks. Even after new procedures were introduced in 2001, when monks gave the appearance of cooperation and trust, their approach could be summarised as a tell them nothing attitude. Ampleforth is currently subject to a Charity Commission statutory inquiry over its failings to safeguard children. An interim manager was appointed to take charge of safeguarding earlier this year. For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here. In June, Jay Root, a reporter for the Texas Tribune, went to meet a man he called Carlos at a detention center in Livingston, Texas. Carlos, a 24-year-old from Honduras, had been there for several weeks. Now he faced Root from across a plexiglass screen. Over a scratchy phone connection, Root asked, Can you memorize my phone number? It was their best hope of maintaining contact. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a reputation for secrecy, and immigration reporters have confronted its byzantine rulesand sometimes outright obstructionfor years. But the Trump administrations zero tolerance policy has put the agency, and its lack of transparency, on display. Reporters say that ICEs tendency to conceal has intensified since April, when the zero tolerance policy went into effect, and children were forced to separate from their parents. Thats what happened with Carlos, who crossed the Mexican border near McAllen, Texas, with Heily, his six-year-old daughter. Upon arriving, they were held at a processing centerhe called it la hielera, or, the iceboxand several days later, Carlos was taken to immigration court. He plead guilty to illegal entry; when he was returned, briefly, to the icebox, and looked for Heily, she was gone. Later, at the detention center in Livingston, he and other migrants were promised that they would be reunited with their children if they signed a voluntary deportation form. Carlos compliedand then waited for the promised reunion. Roots story, reported with Shannon Najmabadi, was published at a turning point for immigrant detention centers. Around the same time, with attention to ICE rising, Jeff Merkley, a senator from Oregon, attempted to visit Casa Padrea shelter for children in Brownsville, Texas, run by a nonprofit called Southwest Keyand livestreamed his experience. The video shows Merkley standing outside, trying to reach someone who would let him in. These doors are closed right now, he says. What the administration is doing is keeping the door closed to the press and to the public of the impact of their policy. Merkleys account went viral. Since that happened, everybody ramped up their security, Mike Seifert, a member of the Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and a longtime resident of Brownsville, tells CJR. At Southwest Key, theres barriers way way out in the parking lot. Root kept up with Carloss casehe was moved twice, first to a facility outside Houston, and then to Port Isabel, a facility in South Texas designated as the site for family reunificationsbut couldnt get in to see him, as ICE grew increasingly restrictive. (ICE declined to comment on its press policies.) In late July, however, Root came into some good news: for reasons that are still unclear, Carlos was unexpectedly released. His legal status remains uncertainHeilys, toobut the Tribune is working on a story. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project THE ICE WEBSITE lists 105 detention sites, but there are many more. After the zero tolerance policy went into effect, efforts were made to locate the other facilitiesin part using documents obtained over a three-year Freedom of Information Act battle waged by the National Immigrant Justice Center. The documents, current as of November 2017, list 1,478 sites, including jails and private facilities with which ICE has contracts. Navigating this vast network, run by federal agencies, municipal governments, and private contractors, means that reporters often have to coordinate among various authoritiesand contend with changing rules. Each facility contracts a different phone company, for example, so when detainees are moved, they have to set up new accounts just to make a call. Port Isabel, where Carlos landed, sits in a remote stretch of coast near the Gulf of Mexico. It can house up to 1,175 adults, and has a troubled record of abuse and mistreatment of detainees. Six months ago, if you had a name, you could walk in and visit, Root says. Now guardsstaffed by Ahtna Inc., a private contractorask anyone who enters if theyre with the media, and its a gamble whether visitors will make it inside. Even if reporters are allowed to come in, they cantwithout coordinating ahead of time with a media representativebring pens, paper, or any recording devices. Molly Crabapple, an illustrator and writer, who was in South Texas on assignment for Rolling Stone in July, documented in a Twitter thread her experience attempting to enter Port Isabel. She had gone there to sketch inside a courtroom, about a ten-minute drive past the main gate. Crabapple had asked a friend to give her a ride; when they arrived, an Ahtna employee said the friend couldnt drop her off and she couldnt walkshed have to either drive herself inside (and ditch her friend at the side of the road) or take a cab to the door. The guard refused to explain the logic behind this ruling, Crabapple wrote, or direct her to a supervisor. The next day, at another facility nearby, the Harlingen Immigration Court, Crabapple was greeted by personnel who told her she couldnt draw. Handing her a printout of a security directive from 2015, which the Department of Justice had sent around to the areas immigration courts, officials informed Crabapple that she needed advance permission in order to sketch the proceedings. She went in and took notes instead. Several days later, back at Port Isabel and armed with all the right paperwork, she was told she couldnt bring in the four markers she had with her, or her sketchbook. When she insisted, the guards relented, and let her bring in one marker and the pad. They try to set up barriers with you, Crabapple says. And if youre not aware of your rights, they expect it to intimidate you. Of the reporters CJR spoke to, all of them said that they had been obstructed in some way from entering immigration courts, some of which are housed inside detention centers. Jacqueline Stevens, a professor of political science at Northwestern University and the director of the Deportation Research Clinic, has been fighting her way into Executive Office of Immigration Review courts, which oversee the hearings, for years. EOIR courts are supposed to be open to the public unless a detainee requests otherwise. Stevens has found, however, that ICE and DOJ employees will often claim, at their own discretion, that they are protecting the privacy of detainees by blocking access. Policies that are invoked in the name of privacy are actually there to avoid government embarrassment, she says. A DOJ spokesperson tells CJR in an email, Immigration court hearings are generally open to the public unless the case involves information subject to a protective order. The spokesperson also says that when EOIR courts are inside detention centers, reporters should coordinate with ICE before their arrival. Some journalists do cross paths with a judge who knows better than to violate the law. On a Thursday morning in June, Amber Jamieson, a reporter for BuzzFeed, arrived at a courtroom in El Paso, Texas, for a hearing on cases of separated children. In an article, she describes a three-year-old boy sitting on a leather chair, squeezed together with another child: Whats your name? the judge asked. Es un avion! he said, pointing to a picture book on his lap. Its a plane! Soon, Jamieson was thrown into the proceedings: an argument ensued between the lawyers for the government and those for the child over whether she should be there. After some debate, the judge permitted her to stay. ICES MILITARIZED PRESENCE is most effective at deterring people, including reporters, who arent familiar with their rights and the rules of the court. They scare you and intimidate you, Debbie Nathan, a reporter for The Intercept who lives in Brownsville, says. It helps to be prepared, and to speak up. Once, during a hearing, Nathan moved from one side of a courtroom to another in order to get a better look at an exhibit. When the court took a break, a bailiff approached her and said that the judge wanted to know what she was up to. Thats none of your business, she recalls saying. This is an open court proceeding. She tells CJR that he replied, We dont like your attitude, and several armed officers began to surround her. It scared the shit out of me, she says. Other reporters get worn down. On Twitter, Crabapple recalled that, after jumping through all the necessary hoops to speak with a detainee, ICE informed her that she needed a particular form to be filled out more than 48 hours in advance of the meeting. But there werent 48 hours left in that weeks visiting hours. They do this incredible elaborate stalling through bureaucracy, Crabapple says. (A spokesperson for ICE tells CJR that the information about the 48-hour window is available on their website, though the relevant guidelines say preferably 48 hours and no less than 24 hours.) Responding to Crabapple on Twitter, Kenny Wassus, a senior producer at New York magazine, described the 15-step process it took him to get permission to interview a detainee at the Hudson County Correctional Facility, in New Jersey. Speaking to CJR, Wassus explains that he spent weeks trying to coordinate between ICE and Hudson County officials as he prepared the necessary paperwork. No one seemed to be acting in bad faith, Wassus observed, but the people who ran things on-site had no protocol for communicating with agents at ICE. Its a broken system for access, he says. Nathan, who has managed to speak with 42 detainees at Port Isabel, has found ways to work around the bureaucracy. I wouldnt waste my time with ICE, she says. By attending court hearings, finding information about detainees in the court dockets, and sending letters to the Brownsville detention center with her phone number, she has been able to make contact and sustain relationships with people inside. She has an advantage: living locally. Because of the obstacles to reporting on the detention network, she explains, parachute journalism is not a viable approach. In South Texas, she says, This place should be blanketed with bureaus and journalists who live here. After following Carlos, Root decided to take the same tack: in August, he moved from his home, in Austin, to McAllen, where he is heading up a new bureau for the Tribune focused on the border and immigration. The Tribune has partnered with Time magazine and crowdfunded $75,000 to keep the office open for several months. Root hopes to meet more immigrants, and tell their stories, as much as he can. ICYMI: Unlike everyone else, Twitter still sees itself as a champion of free speech Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Chava Gourarie is a freelance writer based in New York and a former CJR Delacorte Fellow. Follow her on Twitter at @ChavaRisa In anticipation of the first recreational marijuana stores opening within Massachusetts in the coming weeks, state officials Wednesday stepped up warnings to motorists about the risks of driving while stoned. A new public education and enforcement campaign announced by Republican Gov. Charlie Bakers administration which also renews warnings against alcohol-impaired driving implores marijuana users to consider alternatives to getting behind the wheel, such as public transit, designated drivers or ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. Its not uncommon to hear people say, I drive better when Im high, said Jennifer Queally, the states undersecretary for public safety. It wasnt true about alcohol and it is absolutely false for marijuana and other drugs. People do not drive better when they are high. Massachusetts officials said they were not prepared to recommend a legal threshold for pot in the blood system, as some legal marijuana states have done. Colorado and Washington, for example, established limits of 5 nanograms per millimeter of THC the psychotropic chemical in cannabis above which a driver could be consider impaired. Such limits have been criticized as arbitrary because unlike alcohol there is as yet no universally accepted scientific measurement for marijuana impairment. Traces of THC can also remain in a persons blood system for days or even weeks, making it more difficult to accurately assess whether a motorist is high. A special commission created to examine issues around drugged driving was scheduled to hold its next meeting Friday and make recommendations to the Legislature by Jan. 1. Police often rely on their own observations during traffic stops to determine if a drivers ability to operate a motor vehicle is compromised by marijuana, said State Police Maj. Richard Ball. Your muscle control, your physical motor skills, your perception, your anxiety levels, your heart rate, your pulse under narcotics all these change, he said. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marijuana can distort perception and slow a drivers reaction time and decision-making ability. Data showed marijuana to be the drug most frequently found in drivers involved in fatal crashes in Massachusetts between 2012 and 2016, officials said, also citing studies that pointed to increased marijuana-related traffic fatalities in states that previously legalized recreational cannabis. Massachusetts cannot follow this trend, said Queally. The first pot shops in the eastern United States had originally been expected to open around July 1 in Massachusetts. The states Cannabis Control Commission has granted provisional licenses to medical marijuana dispensaries in Leicester, Northampton and Brookline to begin selling recreational pot, and regulators planned to vote Thursday on three additional retail licenses for stores in Plymouth, Wareham and Easthampton. None of those stores can open, however, until the agency licenses a facility to test cannabis products for THC concentration and possible contaminants. Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan said Wednesday she could offer no timetable for when an application for a testing lab might come before the panel for approval. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Sicilian gangsters dropped 25-kilo (55-pound) cast-iron weights on the limbs of drug addicts, alcoholics and other vulnerable people to obtain insurance payments for fake car accidents worth hundreds of thousands of euros, police said Wednesday after making 11 arrests in the case. Among those arrested was a nurse at a Palermo hospital who Italian police allege procured mild anesthetics from her workplace to tamp down the pain. The weights, like those used in gyms, were violently dropped onto an arm or leg, which had been immobilized by being held between blocks of cement, prosecutors alleged, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. Sometime ice was the only thing used to try to deaden the pain before the limbs were crushed. Police said electronic surveillance of some of the suspects locations picked up the screams of those being mutilated, in private homes or warehouses. They released a video of some of the intercepted conversations indicating the ring had accomplices in several of Palermos clinics and hospitals. In one call, one suspect told another that both an ambulance and a wheelchair would be needed the next day. After the limbs were smashed, the injured were taken to hospitals where accomplices in the scheme would handle their cases, authorities said. Rodolfo Ruperti, who heads the Palermo police operations squad, said the suspects would go to the Sicilian capitals train station to recruit drug addicts, alcoholics, the mentally disabled and poor people desperate for money. They were attracted by the mirage of a lot of money, Ruperti told RAI state TV. But in reality those who agreed to participate in the scheme by having a leg or arm or both smashed, generally received only a few hundred euros (dollars), while the gangsters kept hundreds of thousands of euros in insurance payments, the authorities said. They were both accomplices in the scheme and victims, Ruperti said of those who agreed to have their limbs broken. A smashed arm and a leg could bring as much as a 150,000 euro in claim payments, Ruperti told The Associated Press in a phone interview. Investigators are trying to determine if the Sicilian Mafia had a hand in the fraud racket, Ruperti said. Cosa Nostra often has accomplices or associates in local institutions including clinics. Ruperti said just how much money had been defrauded in total isnt yet known because investigators are still trying to determine how many years the racket has been going on. SkyTG24 TV said some 70 people are known to have had limbs smashed in the racket. The investigation was triggered by the discovery, in January 2017, of the mutilated body of a Tunisian man on a Palermo street. Initially presumed to be victim of a road accident, he was later determined to have died of a heart attack suffered after having his limbs deliberately smashed. Ruperti said the racket employed a network of accomplices, including those who agreed to falsely say they had witnessed a car hitting someone. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. As wildfires ravage the U.S. West, Republican Senate candidate Mitt Romney has called for more logging and a high-tech early detection system in a plan that was met with some skepticism. Romney, a candidate in Utah, said in an essay that more logging would thin out forests and clear dead timber so fires have less fuel. If the devastation of wildfires were being caused by a foreign enemy rather than by natural causes, we would do and spend whatever it took to stop it, he wrote. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke also advocated for thinning out forests in a USA Today op-ed published Wednesday, as California fights its largest wildfire in state history. Zinke took aim at radical environmentalists, who oppose logging, but Romney said there could be common ground if stopping fires meant saving animals and habitat. Romneys Democratic Senate opponent Jenny Wilson lauded protective measures but said Romneys plan misses the mark by not specifically addressing climate change-linked factors such as warmer weather and drought. We must address climate change as a national crisis in order to protect the American West, she said in a statement. Romney said he also wants to beef up regional firefighter resources and create an early detection system of drones, satellites and sensors. Romneys campaign didnt provide additional detail on his ideas. Fire experts said an early detection system isnt at the top of their wish list. The Utah governors office agreed with most of Romneys plan but said most wildfires are spotted and suppressed quickly. We believe that prevention, preparedness and suppression response capacity should be the top priorities for investment, said Paul Edwards, deputy chief of staff for communications and policy. Such a system would likely be expensive and would only help with a small portion of wildfires ones that start at night when people are asleep and are fast-moving near urban areas, said Tom Cova, director of the University of Utahs Center for Natural and Technological Hazards Detection of wildfires is not really a problem, Cova said. More logging would help but wouldnt solve the problem, he said. Firefighters use human spotters in lookout towers. There are also cameras placed on existing cell towers on mountaintops in many Western states, including Nevada and California, said Jessica Gardetto, spokeswoman for the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. Money spent thinning forests of weeds and other vegetation, especially near buildings, is well spent, she said. Wildfires are a confluence of many factors, including longer, hotter summers, she said. Were seeing more of a fire year whereas we were seeing fire seasons in the past, she said. Nearly 1,000 fires large and small have been sparked in Utah alone this year, costing some $60 million to fight, the state said. (Associated Press reported Brady McCombs contributed to this report.) Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. MACEDONIA, Ohio -- "Just Southern country people" is what you encounter when you walk through the door of Sides To Go! BBQ in Macedonia. The food made by chef Claude Booker -- also the inspiration behind the business -- reflects his Southern and Cajun heritages. His oversized smile and boisterous "Hey!" greets everyone who walks through the door. His smile grows even wider when he sees you enjoying the food, mostly family recipes he learned in the Louisiana kitchen of his grandmother. "My greatest pleasure is to see anyone belly up to the table and enjoy a good meal made with love," Booker said. Sides To Go! BBQ is one of 20 finalists in Cleveland's Best Barbecue contest. Each establishment was nominated, and then voted into the finals, by our readers. You may vote for your favorite BBQ joint once daily here. The poll resets each morning at 9 a.m. Booker's cuisine was enjoyed by the 1,000-plus delegates and staff of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in 2016. Since then, Booker and business partner Johnny Hutton have opened their brick and mortar stores in Macedonia, Maple Heights and at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Cleveland's Best team visited Sides To Go! BBQ on Aug. 1. Scroll down to see our taste test review of its foods. Sides to Go! BBQ Address: 9828 Valley View Road, Macedonia Phone: 330-908-0322 Website: www.sidestogobbq.com Social media Facebook: facebook.com/sidestogobbq/ Twitter: @SidestoGoCLE Instagram: @sidestogobbq How many different kinds of BBQ are on the menu? Eight: Carolina Pulled Pork and Chicken, Bayou Rib Tips, Smoked Turkey Ribs, Bourbon Glazed Wings, St. Louis Ribs, Beef Brsiket and Vegan Pulled "Pork." How many sauce options? Three: Sweet Carolina Gold, Honey and Bourbon Sriracha. Best Sellers: Brisket and pulled pork. Most unique item on the menu: Crawfish Etouffee and Vegan Pulled "Pork." Cleveland's Best reporters Yadi Rodriguez, Brenda Cain and Kristen Davis, along with celebrity host/comedian Mike Polk, visited Sides To Go! BBQ on Aug. 1. Sampling Best BBQ contest finalist Sides-to-Go BBQ in Macedonia. Yum! Who is hungry for dinner? Posted by cleveland.com on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 At each of the finalist restaurants, we're sampling all kinds of barbecue, including ribs, pulled pork, brisket and chicken -- as well as many sides and a dish the restaurant felt was its best or most unique offering. Taste Test Review Pork Ribs: "Charred nicely so it gives a good crunch. The meat just pulls away from the bone," said Cain. "Nicely seasoned with a good, unpretentious flavor," said Polk. Pulled Pork: "Tender, a good mix of tender meat and charred ends," Davis said. "Moist and smoky. Delicious with the Carolina Mustard sauce," said Cain. Brisket: "This is a really solid, traditional brisket. I liked the texture and the au jus," said Polk. "Nice thick cuts of meat with a mild flavor," said Davis. Chicken: "The wings had a great ratio of sauce, which was deliciously sweet, yet didn't overpower the meat," said Rodriguez. "Cooked well. Loved the sauce," Davis said. Turkey wing: "Really unique and quite good. I don't know why more people don't serve them," said Polk. "Good wing, a good option for poultry fans," said Rodriguez. Rib Tips: "This rib had a great rub on it and had a great crunch," Rodriguez said. "Tender and tasty, with a great meat-to-sauce ratio," Cain said. Vegan Pulled "Pork," which is made with jackfruit: "Cool concept. It was sweet, but still had a smoky taste," said Davis. "If I have learned anything, it is that I am a carnivore. This wasn't bad, but had a weird consistency for my taste," Cain said. Sides: Red Beans and Rice: "A truly hearty side. The beans are firm, not soggy," said Davis. "Delicious, with nicely-seasoned beans that had a good smoke flavor, but I would have liked a little more rice," Cain said. Mac & Cheese: "Tastes very homemade, creamy and gooey," said Polk "Lots of melty cheese throughout, which made it heavy, but so worth it," said Davis. Sweet Potatoes: "Great consistency. Lots of delicious pecan and marshmallow toppings," said Cain. "Not a fan of sweet potatoes, but these were sweet and buttery and nicely spiced," Davis said. Collard Greens: "These were really solid. Crisp, not soggy. Comforting," said Polk. "Flavorful and not overcooked," Davis said. Fried Green Tomatoes: "These were a true taste of my childhood -- made just the way my mom made them back on our farm. Crispy and perfectly seasoned," said Cain. "These were nothing sort of fantastic. Crisp on the outside, not greasy, with fleshy and tender tomatoes inside. Perfect," Polk said. Cornbread: "Moist and fluffy," said Rodriguez. "Very traditional. Light, not heavy," Cain said. Peach Cobbler: "This was amazing. Lots of layers, textures and flavors," said Davis. "I liked that the crust was still crunchy with plenty of sweet peaches and spice. Warm and comforting," Cain said. Sauces: Carolina Gold: "One of my favorite sauces we have tried so far. It was as cool as a breeze on a hot summer's day," Polk said. "True to its Carolina roots, mustardy but with a gentle kick," said Cain. Bourbon Demi-Glaze: "Sweet and sticky and delicious," said Cain. "Had a bit of a kick to it, but not too much" said Rodriguez. Honey Sriracha: "This was just outstanding. Sweetness with a nice slow burn," Cain said. "Unique and well balanced," said Polk. Why not join us in our quest to find the Best Barbecue in Greater Cleveland. The schedule for our visits is posted here. The report reveals that many countries saw a worsening in drought-related and wildfire conditions during the month, leading to hundreds of deaths and a significant financial impact globally particularly on the agriculture, forestry, water management, and fisheries industries. Preliminary aggregated estimates of economic losses entirely due to harvest reduction and impacted forestry exceeded multiple billions of dollars (USD). Northern Europe was impacted by a long-term rainfall deficit that caused one of the deepest droughts on record, contributing to combined European drought losses in excess of USD4.0 billion. According to various industry estimates, German farmers alone could face economic losses of EUR2.5 billion (USD2.9 billion). Other severe drought events affected agriculture in Australia and Central America, and an extensive heatwave killed more than 150 people in Japan and South Korea. In California, the Carr Fire became one of top 10 most destructive wildfires on record after being ignited near Redding, killing six people, destroying roughly 1,600 structures and damaging hundreds more. The total economic cost from the Carr Fire was anticipated to exceed USD1 billion, with insurance losses also expected to approach or top that total. Another Northern California wildfire, the Mendocino Complex Fire, destroyed 143 structures and became the largest fire in the modern record (since 1932) in California. The deadliest wildfire event on record in Europe since 1900 had a devastating impact in the Mati, Eastern Attica region of Greece, killing at least 92 people. The fire, and others in Attica, destroyed at least 905 structures and damaged a further 740. Elsewhere in Europe, Sweden battled the most significant wildfire outbreak in its modern history, with damage exceeding USD100 million. Michal Lorinc, an analyst within Impact Forecastings Catastrophe Insight team, said: The month of July was marked by record-breaking heat, deepening droughts, and destructive wildfires in areas all around the globe. Nearly every major continent recorded some type of peril impact that will lead to a major cost to agricultural interests. In Northern Europe alone, the cost to local farming interests is expected to result in a multi-billion dollar loss in harvest output. All eyes are on the looming possibility of an El Nino return by the end of the year, which could exacerbate these types of impacts. Further natural disaster events to have occurred elsewhere during July include: Historic rainfall in Japan caused significant flash flooding and mudslides, leaving at least 230 people dead or missing. Nearly 50,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, with the General Insurance Association of Japan reporting 48,000 insurance claims being paid, at a preliminary cost of USD711 million. Notable flooding occurred in Arizona and U.S. Northeast, Nigeria, Russias Far East, India and multiple countries in Southeastern Asia, including Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Philippines. Seasonal flooding in China prompted aggregated economic losses nearing USD1 billion. Multiple typhoons in the Western Pacific Ocean Basin left notable damage in parts of China, Vietnam, and Japan. The costliest was Typhoon Maria, which caused nearly USD500 million in economic damage in China. Other storms that tracked across Southeast Asia were Sonh-Tinh, Ampil, and Jongdari. Several outbreaks of severe weather led to widespread damage across parts of the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and China during July. Major earthquakes caused severe damage and injuries in Iran (July 22) and Indonesia (July 28). View the full Impact Forecasting July 2018 Global Catastrophe Recap report LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- An aide to Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is charged with assaulting Lakewood Municipal Court Judge Patrick Carroll after she threw a cup at his leg during a January parking lot dispute. Nancy Kelsey, 35, of Lakewood pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Friday to misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges. She was released on a $5,000 personal bond. Her case is being handled in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, which handles felonies except in rare cases, to avoid a conflict of interest in Lakewood's city court. James McDonnell, a defense lawyer and North Royalton's city prosecutor, is serving as a special prosecutor on the case. Police reports obtained by cleveland.com show that Carroll and Kelsey's fiance gave different accounts of what happened in the parking lot of a shopping plaza at Warren and Detroit avenues in January. Kelsey is Jackson's social media and digital communications manager. She and her fiance, former Sun Newspaper reporter Ed Carroll, were helping her elderly mother walk through the parking lot when they crossed in front of the judge, who was in his Ford Escape looking for a parking space, according to statements to police from both Patrick Carroll and Ed Carroll, who are not related. Lakewood police took no written statement from Kelsey, her lawyer, James Sammon, said. Ed Carroll put his hand up to Patrick Carroll's car as they crossed the drive, and Patrick Carroll gestured from inside the SUV, the statements said. From there, the men's accounts of the encounter differ. Patrick Carroll wrote that the trio cleared the road in front of him and he started to "slowly" drive forward to pull into a spot when Ed Carroll threw himself into the passenger side of the car. Kelsey opened the passenger door and yelled at him, and both raised their arms at him "in a threatening manner," the judge said. The judge said he got out of the car and Kelsey approached him, yelled profanities at him and threw her drink cup, which hit him in the leg and spilled the drink onto his pants. He said he got back into his car and, after Kelsey and her fiance briefly blocked him from pulling into a spot, parked his SUV, locked the doors and called police. Ed Carroll wrote that after he put his hand up to tell the driver of the Escape to wait, the driver revved the engine and sped forward. The passenger side of the SUV clipped his elbow and knocked him to the ground, he wrote. He wrote that the SUV didn't stop and Kelsey grabbed the passenger door handle to keep the driver from leaving the scene. The judge then got out of the car and threatened to call the police, and that's when Ed Carroll called police, he wrote Ed Carroll wrote that the judge was verbally abusive and took photographs of the couple and their car with his cellphone. The couple pulled out their cellphones and took pictures of the judge and his car in response. The judge hid his face in his jacket and took a swing at him, Ed Carroll wrote. Lakewood police showed up and interviewed both Carrolls and Kelsey, then turned the case over to the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department. To comment on this story, please visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In a tweet posted August 5, President Trump admitted his son Don Jr., son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort, had indeed met with Russian operatives at Trump Tower in 2016 to get information on Hillary Clinton. "Fake News reporting, a complete fabrication, that I am concerned about the meeting my wonderful son, Donald, had in Trump Tower. This was a meeting to get information on an opponent, totally legal and done all the time in politics - and it went nowhere. I did not know about it!" The tweet confirms what had been reported about the meeting. It also confirmed that the president, his son Don Jr., press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Trump attorney, Jay Sekulow had previously made false and misleading statements about the purpose of the meeting when they claimed it was to discuss Russian adoptions. President Trump posted the tweet following reports that his attorney/fixer Michael Cohen was prepared to tell Special Counsel Robert Mueller that the president had prior knowledge of the Trump Tower meeting and was told of its outcome. Mueller is not only looking into the 2016 meeting, but also reports that president Trump dictated Don Jr's statement about the meeting. A statement that Trump's new tweet exposes as being false and misleading. Former Communications Director Hope Hicks was aboard Air Force One when Donald Trump Jr.'s statement was produced. Hicks was seen boarding Air Force One again this weekend. Was she meeting with the president to get their stories straight, or to discuss Russian adoptions? I'm sure Mueller would like to know, and may interview Hicks again to find out. Smoking Gun Tweet? Will the president's tweet turn out to be the smoking gun in the Russian investigation, or one of several smoking guns? While the intent of the president's tweet may have been to defend his son, the tweet actually throws Don Jr. under the legal bus, while the president,once again, attempts not to implicate himself. Trump describes the meeting as "Totally Legal" but in reality, the meeting and the response from Don Jr, the president and other White House staffers to the meeting, may have violated multiple laws. It's illegal for a campaign to accept anything of value from a foreign entity. It's illegal to conspire with a foreign entity to get help on a campaign. The president's tweet makes Don Jr further susceptible to conspiracy and perjury charges. Mueller interviewed multiple people about the Trump Tower meeting and the composition of Don Jr's statement on Air Force One. If their statements are not consistent with each other and the facts, they are all in serious legal jeopardy. While Trump insists the meeting was "totally legal" he also makes sure to write, "I did not know about it". Just in case the court decides it is not "totally legal." Russian meeting and Steele dossier use not the same. The president and others have suggested meeting with the Russians was opposition research no different than the use of the Steel Dossier. There are some significant differences. The Steele Dossier was commissioned by a U.S. research company founded and run by two former Wall Street Journal investigative reporters. The company was originally hired by U.S. Republican "Stop Trump" groups. Steele, a former British Intel agent, began compiling his dossier under the employ of the U.S. group, Fusion GPS, who had been hired by the Republican Stop Trump group. When the Stop Group realized they wouldn't stop Trump, they stopped paying for the Fusion GPS research, and the Clinton campaign filled the void. If only twitter existed during the Nixon presidency. Looking back, Nixon once expressed regrets on how he handled his communications and the press. Can you imagine Nixon with Trump's social media and marketing-branding skills, especially during Watergate? Would Nixon have survived longer if he spun scandals on twitter, like Trump does, and made red "I'm not a Crook" ball caps trendy and fashionable? . BEACHWOOD, Ohio --The Beachwood doctor found dead in his home died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. The Beachwood Police Department released a 911 call made by Richard Warn's wife moments before he was found dead inside their two-story home Thursday evening. The woman can be heard saying she thinks her husband was inside the home because the couple's three cars were parked in the driveway. "I just got back home from vacation with my family and I didn't have a key to come in the house," she tells the dispatcher. "I was knocking on the door trying to get in." Warn, 59, was found dead in his home in the 2400 block of Brentwood Road just after 6 p.m. Thursday, Beachwood police said. No arrest have been made. Beachwood police said foul play is suspected, and that it there were not outward signs that someone broke into the home. During the short 911 call the dispatcher can be heard asking the woman if she thinks Warn is inside. "I'm assuming that," the woman says before police officers and an ambulance are called. Neighbors and coworkers described Warn as a nice man and a devoted father who had recently returned from vacation. Warn, who worked as a podiatrist, visited nearby nursing homes to see patients. A recording that played on a listed telephone number at his Cleveland office said he would be out of town until Thursday and messages would be checked by Friday. Coworkers at Laurel Lake Retirement Community said they hadn't heard of Warn's death, but said he was jovial and had an upbeat personality. He would see patients a few times a month and a retirement facility and was scheduled to see patients there until September. To comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. BEACHWOOD, Ohio --Beachwood police are investigating the death of a doctor as a suspected homicide. Richard H. Warn, 59 of Beachwood, was found dead in the 2400 block of Brentwood Road, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. Authorities have not said how Warn may have died. Warn's death was reported by Beachwood police, the medical examiner's office said. A message left for a Beachwood police spokeswoman was not immediately returned. Public records show that Warn was licensed as a podiatrist in the state of Ohio. This is a developing story. To comment on this case, please visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio - A 50-year-old man was shot in the face early Friday in Cleveland's Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood, police said. Police did not provide an update on the man's condition, but he was conscious and responsive while Cleveland EMS was taking him to MetroHealth for treatment, a Cleveland police spokesman said. The shooting happened just after 1 a.m. on Guardian Avenue near West 125th Street, across the street from Brookfield Park, police said. Police have not released any additional information about the shooting. To comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. EUCLID, Ohio -- A Mentor man was killed early Thursday morning in a crash on Interstate 90, Euclid Police Department police said. The crash happened about 1:20 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-90 near the 260th Street exit during a heavy downpour of rain, police said. Keith Hamilton, 46, of Mentor, red minivan veered off the eastbound lane, skipped a hill and barreled through grass and weeds before he hit a steel guardrail, Euclid police said. Hamilton died at the scene, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. A passenger in Hamilton's van was taken to a local hospital for treatment. That person's condition was not known as of Thursday afternoon. Police have not said whether the rain was a factor in the crash, and investigators will determine whether drugs, alcohol or street racing played a role. To comment on this case, please visit Thursday's crime and courts comments page. BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- The killing of a Beachwood doctor left his neighbors with questions Friday afternoon as they worked to wrap their heads around a vicious act on what is, on most days, a quiet and peaceful suburban street. Richard Warn, 59, was found dead in his home in the 2400 block of Brentwood Road just after 6 p.m. Thursday, Beachwood police said. Officers discovered Warn during a welfare check. There were no signs for forced entry into the home, but police stressed that foul play is suspected. Beachwood police have not revealed publicly how they believe Warn was killed. Police have also not said whether they have a suspect in the killing. Several neighbors said they noticed patrol cars and flashing lights Thursday night as police gathered evidence. Police left Friday morning, neighbors said. Many of them were not aware of what happened and walked by Warn's two-story home Friday afternoon wondering what happened the night before. Shelly Zemelman, who lived next door to Warn for 20 years, said she's known him and his family since childhood. They grew up in University Heights together and he was her brother's close friend. "I was in utter shock," Zemelman, 59, said. "I ran home. Just utter shock. We were the same age. I just don't know what else to say." Warn sent Zemelman a text message a few weeks ago and asked if she knew of a car service to take him to the airport for an upcoming trip. Zemelman didn't know where he was going or if he ever went on his trip. Warn's death stunned Zemelman, who moved from Brentwood Avenue last year. Warn was a devoted father to his three children, she said. He remarried over a decade ago and shared the home with his wife and three Golden Retrievers. Zemelman said Warn has podiatrist and would make calls to local nursing homes. Warn's black and blue Chevrolet Malibus remained parked in the driveway parked in the driveway. "He was very nice," Zemelman said. "He was friendly. It's a real tragedy." Some neighbors said they didn't hear any commotion or loud noises from the home Thursday evening. One neighbor said she heard about four gunshots coming from the house. The woman refused to give her name to reporters. Rose Klahr lives across the street from Warn's home. She did not know him well, but said he was always friendly. Klahr, who was told of Warn's death by a reporter, gasped about his death. "I would always see him mowing the lawn," she said. "He was always smiling." To comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. LANCASTER, Ohio -- A teacher at Lancaster High School has been charged with sexual battery because of a reportedly sexual relationship she had with a 16-year-old student about 15 years ago. Eddie Black, 47, eventually married the student but they divorced in 2013, Lancaster City Schools Superintendent Steve Wigton tells WCMH Channel 4. The former student didn't report the relationship to police until April of this year, according to the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. Now Black has been placed on administrative leave by the school district, which is taking action to have the teacher fired. Wigton tells the Eagle Gazette that Black will not return to the high school. Black was arraigned Monday on the third-degree felony and released on a $30,000 bond. The crime reportedly occurred from 2003 to 2005. Fairfield County Prosecutor Kyle Witt says in a statement there was no option but to charge Black. "The law in Ohio with respect to teacher-student relationships is very clear," Witt says in the statement, according to ABC 6. "Teachers may not engage in sexual conduct with students regardless of age, gender, or circumstance. We will prosecute this and any other case where the evidence suggests such conduct took place." To comment on this case, please visit Thursday's crime and courts comments page. CINCINNATI, Ohio -- A 13-year-old boy is facing multiple charges after he was accused of the shooting death of 14-year-old. Surrell Gaines was killed in Cincinnati's Mount Auburn neighborhood on July 30, according to Fox 19. Reports say the 13-year-old suspect might have been playing with a shotgun when it went off. "We are still trying to put the pieces together," police spokesman Lt. Steve Saunders tells Fox 19. The boy has been charged with reckless homicide, having weapons under disability and tampering with evidence, WLWT Channel 5 reports. WLWT reports the suspect might be connected with a deadly shooting during a burglary committed when he was 12. The father of the victim tells WCPO Channel 9 he had hoped Gaines would go to college, but his mother said the boy had begun spending time with a "dangerous" crowd. "I told him what I saw coming and he didn't listen, so this is the result of not listening," the mother, Tammy Smith, tells WCPO. To comment on this case, please visit Thursday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced the creation of a system to track rape evidence that gives sexual assault survivors the option to access information about testing in their case and would help ensure that an "accumulation of untested rape kits will never again happen" in Ohio. DeWine said the free, online system will allow victims to anonymously check the status of their rape kits from the time they are collected at a medical facility and then sent to police, a lab for forensic testing or later stored or destroyed. In recent years, the number of rape kits submitted to the state's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) forensic labs has skyrocketed by nearly 170 percent. However, there is no way to determine if law enforcement agencies comply with the "test all kits" law since evidence can be submitted to state, local or private labs. The tracking system will enhance public trust in the entire rape kit submission and testing process, DeWine said. DeWine's office will, with the help of an advisory group, develop the system he announced at a Columbus press conference Thursday. But state lawmakers will have to pass legislation to make it mandatory for medical providers, law enforcement, labs and prosecutor's offices to track the evidence collection kits, and to give victims the right to access information on their kits. DeWine, who is running as the Republican candidate for governor, told The Plain Dealer in a phone interview he's confident that will happen. Two lawmakers -- State Senator Stephanie Kunze, a Republican from Hilliard, and State Rep. Dorthy Pelanda, a Republican from Marysville - will sponsor the needed legislation. At the press conference Thursday, Kunze said the tracking system would spare victims from having to "relive" part of their ordeal each time they make a phone call to check on the testing. The confidential process will hopefully lessen trauma and will put "power into the hands of the victim" to know where their case stands, DeWine said. Read previous Plain Dealer and cleveland.com rape kit coverage "I'm excited about this," he said. "We know it can be done and we know it can be done without a great deal of burden on the [law enforcement] agencies... We are going to go do this," he said. Working out details Details on how the system might work and a timeline for implementation will be hashed out by an advisory committee that will include health care, crime lab and law enforcement officials that DeWine said he'll appoint soon and implore to work quickly. DeWine envisions a process where barcodes will be attached to collected kits at medical facilities and provided to victims at that time. The barcodes would then will be scanned at each stop in the criminal justice process. Hospitals get sexual assault collection kits through a state-approved vendor and the evidence is supposed to be collected at no cost to victims. Victims would be able to at any time anonymously check the kit's status and whether DNA analysis is complete. Wayne County (Detroit) Prosecutor Kym Worthy is credited with popularizing the barcode tracking idea after asking if online packages could be tracked, why not rape kits? Federal money to pay for program DeWine's office said the system will be paid for using federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) money, which comes from fines, fees and court settlements and is administered by the Attorney General's office to support victim services. The office estimated developing and implementing the system could cost about $1 million. The annual cost will depend on how the system is designed but DeWine said he wants to make sure using it isn't burdensome for local law enforcement. Creating the system will strengthen accessibility, accountability and transparency for survivors, Rosa Beltre, executive director of the Ohio Alliance To End Sexual Violence told The Plain Dealer Thursday. "This is another step toward empowering and respecting the rights of survivors to follow their cases and follow the process," she said. Such a system, though, needs to be designed so that survivors in all 88 counties can use it, regardless of where they reported their assault. "It needs to be equitable for every survivor to access," she said. Also key will be making sure survivors' information is protected and that and that they are not re-traumatized if they chose to use the system or ask questions about progress in their case investigations, Beltre said. At least a dozen other states have or are working to implement sexual assault evidence tracking systems, and Beltre said states such as Idaho and Michigan have already worked through many of the details should allow Ohio get up to speed quickly. The non-profit Joyful Heart Foundation has pushed for sexual assault kit tracking and victim access to the information as part of its six "pillars" of reform. (Read some of the foundation's legislative recommendations here.) Cleveland Rape Crisis Center President and CEO Sondra Miller said in that Cuyahoga County and nationally, many survivors were let down when evidence collected as part of a sexual assault exam wasn't tested. That evidence, she said, belongs to the survivor of the crime, who entrusts the evidence- and the information gleaned from it - to law enforcement. That's done with the hope of holding the offender accountable, she said. "A tracking system is not about the boxes of evidence, but about the women, men and children who were harmed and rely on a justice system to help them recover and move forward with their lives," she said. In 2011, when DeWine first issued an "open call" for police agencies to submit previously untested kits that in many cases dated back decades, there was no way of determining how many kits had gone untested because there was no system to track the collections and submissions. Initially, the state thought a few thousand might be sent but the number eventually ballooned to nearly 14,000, all of which have now been tested. The testing lead to DNA matches or hits in 36 percent of the cases and in other cases DNA profiles were identified in an additional 26 percent of cases that could yield future leads to investigators. It's still unknown how many were never submitted for testing or were destroyed. Over the past few years, DeWine said he listened to the stories of many sexual assault survivors and was struck by how many did not know whether the evidence in their case had been tested or not. Some only learned the evidence was shelved after cases were reopened after testing because of the initiative or state law. Were trying to make sure that never happens again for a victim, he said. Jim Islam is currently Head of Group Finance at Lloyds of London where hes been since November 2016. Prior to that, Jim worked at Legal & General for several years in senior roles, including CEO of L&G Unit Trusts, and MD of Corporate Business Division which covered L&Gs workplace pensions and group protection business lines in the UK and France. In these roles, he developed and transformed market leading and digitally enabled businesses, including their pensions auto-enrolment proposition. Jim is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (USA) and a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Speaking of his appointment he said: B&CE has played a key role in the success of auto-enrolment pensions in the UK. With over 4 million members in The Peoples Pension, the organisation will continue to influence and drive the provision of workplace solutions which are simple to understand and deliver better outcomes. Im really looking forward to playing my part in that. Jim McKinnon brings a wealth of information technology & business experience to the board having spent more than 40 years at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, most recently in the role of Chief Information Officer, based in Ohio, USA. Since returning to the UK, Jim undertakes a number of roles including Trustee & Director at Compton Care Group Ltd as well as a voluntary business mentor with The Princes Trust. Commenting on his appointment he said: Im really excited to be joining the board to help B&CE continue meeting people's financial needs in a simple way, putting their members at the heart of what they do. B&CE has an exciting vision for the future, which Im looking forward to being involved in. Both will take up their roles over the summer. Babloo Ramamurthy, Chairman of B&CE, said: Were delighted to announce these appointments. Theyll both bring a wealth of experience between them that will enable us to continue strengthening the business and achieve our long-term strategic aims. Catherine Calabrese, a member of the Shaker Heights High School Class of 2002, organized a luncheon Thursday for Fernway School staff and others associated with the school at Horseshoe Lake Park. More than 40 people attended. Shown with Calabrese are Fernway School Principal Chris Hayward, whose schedule permitted only a brief appearance at the event, and Calabrese's mother, Andree Hassell, a Fernway School second-grade teacher for 24 years. SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Ever since July 10, when their beloved Fernway Elementary School caught fire, teachers, administrators and staff have been scrambling to make plans and gather supplies in advance of the school district's opening day, Aug. 22. On Thursday afternoon, however, those associated with Fernway set aside a few hours to eat, talk and share some laughs. It happened under the pavilion at Horseshoe Lake Park, where Catherine Calabrese, whose mother has taught second-graders at Fernway for 24 years, planned the relaxing day as a tribute to the school's employees. "My mother has taught there for so long, and so many people are doing things, that I felt helpless. I wanted to do something," said Calabrese, a mother of two. "Other people are doing fundraisers, so I just wanted to do something fun. I wanted to do something where teachers and staff could come and just have fun." Calabrese didn't merely send out invitations to her luncheon; she made cold calls to those she didn't know and to friends who are in business and in a position to donate. In all, she received donations of all kinds from 69 area businesses in 14 cities. "We couldn't have done this without (the donors)," she said. "I want to thank them so much." Donors included Legacy Village, whose general manager, Susan Windle, is a Fernway graduate; Bar Louie; children's author Sandra Philipson, who donated 160 copies of her book, "Wings"; Dewey's Pizza and Pizzazz; florists Plantscaping and Blooms; Tommy's Restaurant and Ben & Jerry's of Fairmount, both of whom delivered food; Richards Frankel Dentistry; and PawsCLE. "Everyone has been so generous and supportive," said Calabrese, who now lives in Cleveland Heights, but grew up on Lansmere Road, a short distance from Fernway School. On July 10, news spread quickly about the fire shortly after it started on the 90-year-old building's roof. "We were in my mother's driveway," Calabrese recalled of that morning, "when my mother said she smelled something burning. I thought it smelled like incense." Then, Calabrese's mother, Andree Hassell, received a text message from a fellow Fernway employee telling her about the fire. Hassell and Calabrese immediately went to the school, as did others associated with the building, to watch fire crews at work. "I got a text from one of our teachers (Jean Reinhold), that said: 'Fernway's on fire. Please pray for our little school,'" remembered third-grade teacher Megan Konopinski, who lives in Highland Heights. "I got there in about 30 minutes. It felt like my own house was on fire." Konopinski, who taught three years at Fernway, said the 315 students who attended the school and staff are like family, so it was natural that so many flocked to the building when they learned of the fire. Administrative assistant Lorene Rider, a 47-year Shaker resident and mother of two who was schooled within the district, also received a text from Reinhold with the bad news. "I got in my car and immediately went there and it was already heavily involved in fire," Rider said. "I couldn't get too close. Everyone was crying and thought (the building) was going to come down. "The Shaker Fire Department did a wonderful job. They got help from 19 departments. They poured 300,000 gallons of water on the building. We stood there for hours and hours," she said. The story was similar for just about everyone. Fourth-grade teacher Amy Hannah said she had just arrived at the Cleveland Museum of Art when she received a text about the fire. "I didn't know what I should do," she recalled. "I just got there (at the museum)." Soon after, Hannah felt the need to leave and went to be with her colleagues. "I feel optimistic that the building can still be used," said Hannah, who taught at Fernway for eight years. Fire investigators and insurers are still examining the building to see if it can again, one day, be used as a school. Hannah called Thursday's luncheon "amazing" and is thankful for Calabrese's efforts. "Some of the teachers and staff met shortly after the fire at (a restaurant), but this is more positive," Hannah said. "We're talking about planning, and bouncing ideas off each other." "It feels good to be together and have some fun conversation," Konopinski said of the luncheon. "Everybody's here because of their feelings for Fernway." Andree Hassell was pleased her daughter put together the event, and walked about helping to disseminate to guests the large amount of donated food. While saddened to see her neighborhood school burn, Hassell had some good news to share: There were four pets inside the building when the fire started, and firefighters rescued all four. "We were so happy they were saved," Hassell said of her large turtle, Big Mama; a small turtle; a snake; and a tarantula. The school pets were on the first floor of the two-story building, which may have helped them survive. "The small turtle was fine. It was still in its water (tank), but the water on top was black," Hassell said. A week ago, Shaker Schools announced that Fernway kindergartners will be attending Onaway Elementary School this year, first-graders will be going to Boulevard Elementary School, and second- through fourth-graders will be taught at Woodbury Elementary School. Rider said she plans to visit "my kindergartners" at least once a week, and stop in and see Fernway's first-graders regularly, as well. Other teachers and staff plan to hold regular get-togethers with the dispersed Fernway students to keep the family feel that the school has always had. "It stings not being able to stay together," Konopinski said. "But we're going to have assemblies throughout the year and we'll keep seeing each other. We'll remain a family." Fernway students and teachers are in need of supplies as they move into their new spaces. Those who would like to donate can learn about the Shaker Schools Foundation's Fernway Fund by visiting here. Long Island, New York, produce dealer Mike Longo knew there was a problem the moment his phone rang in the wee hours of a Sunday morning in July 2010. "Nothing good happens at 3 in the morning," he told CNBC's "American Greed." "When you get a phone call, it's never good news." He said his worst fears were realized when he arrived at his business, Arrow Produce, to find an estimated $150,000 in cash and property missing. "Everything was taken from me," he said. "Everything you work for your entire life." Longo said he initially suspected an inside job because the burglary was so precise. The burglars had managed to enter the warehouse during a rare stretch of down time, disabling an alarm system hidden deep inside the old building. But investigators eventually traced the break-in to a prolific, high-tech burglary crew that hit more than 50 Long Island businesses over five years, stealing an estimated $10 million. Nine people pleaded guilty to state and federal charges including burglary and interstate transportation of stolen property. They included ringleader Nikitas Margiellos, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence, and New York City Police Detective Rafael Astacio, who admitted supplying inside information to crew members and helping them evade police. Astacio is serving a six-year prison sentence. "This was far from a smash-and-grab operation," said Rick Whelan, chief of the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau in the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, in an interview with "American Greed." "This is, in my experience, likely the most sophisticated burglary crew that I've encountered." Chris Caffarone, an assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said the crew was so advanced, it was like something out of the movies. "It was like 'Ocean's Eleven,' just without Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Matt Damon," he said. George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon star in Ocean's Eleven Source: Warner Bros. It is also the wave of the future, according to security expert Don Aviv, president of Interfor International, a New York-based consulting firm. He said modern burglars are combining old techniques like physical surveillance with 21st-century tools, including the vast amount of information now available online through social media as well as subscription databases. "It's a game-changer for criminals," Aviv told "American Greed." "They can determine a tremendous amount of information about you the value of your home, whether you're in arrears, your mortgage situation, how many cars you have, how much work you've done on your home. All this can help paint the picture of whether you make a great target for them." Modern-day security To thwart this new breed of burglar, Aviv said home and business owners need to take a similar approach combining low-tech and high-tech protection. On the low-tech end, Aviv said the first step is to think like a burglar. "If you harden your facility, that will make a burglar want to go elsewhere and that's the key to everything. You want your burglar to look at your home, test your home and say, 'You know what? Let me move on to an easier home.'" He said that includes installing proper lighting he recommends the motion-sensing variety as well as trimming bushes and trees, and investing in strong doors, windows and locks. "If you improve the locks, the windows, the doors, lighting anything to harden your house you'll do a tremendous amount to protect your home," he said. And do away with the spare key under the mat or in the flower pot. It is one of the first things crooks will look for. On the higher-tech side, always be careful of what you post on social media. It is not just your Facebook friends who are reading your posts. Burglars are watching, too, including some that may live right in your neighborhood. "They will monitor social media to determine whether, 'Hey, I'm going away on vacation,' or 'I'm taking the kids to Florida.' They'll look for times of opportunity and that's when you're away," Aviv said. If you have a smart home, make sure crooks can't outsmart it. "Use the same security techniques and protocols that you would to protect your banking, your businesses and everything that you do when it comes to social media and your computing," he said. "Smart homes are basically big computers these days so protect your passwords, make sure your Wi-Fi is secure, the neighbors can't use it, it's not open to the public." Sounding the alarm Newer alarm systems can be great deterrents, Aviv said, but only if you use them properly. "The majority of Americans do not activate their home alarm systems," he said. "They buy the alarm system, they sign up for it, or it comes with their home, and then they'll use it for a couple of months. And then after that they'll say, 'You know what? Nothing is happening in this time period, so I'll just let it go.'" And don't think that a yard sign or a window sticker signifying an alarm system is enough to deter today's burglar. "Burglars spend time watching your property, determining your patterns, understanding when it is that you leave for work, when your kids go to school, when you come home, and they understand your patterns," he said. "Couple of days of watching your patterns and they'll understand when's the best time to attack your home and that's what they'll do." Then, he said, it is easy enough for a would-be burglar to check a door or window to determine if you turned on the alarm before you left. Aviv recommended coupling an alarm system with security cameras whenever possible. "One does not work without the other," he said. "An alarm system's great, but if it's a false alarm, you'll never know whether someone's testing your door if you don't have a camera, and vice versa. If you have a camera, but no one's alerted of the fact that someone's breaking into your home until after the fact, the only thing that the camera will be good for is the footage for the police." Inside job The possibility of a record soybean harvest will only add to the woes of an industry already "devastated" by escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, Ohio soybean farmer Chris Gibbs told CNBC on Friday. Earlier in the day, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted U.S. soybean production for the 2018-19 crop year would hit 4.586 billion bushels, topping market forecasts. The news sent soybean futures plunging on Friday, falling more than 4.5 percent. It was their worst day since the July low. "The effect of the trade war has been very devastating on soybean farmers here. We've taken a 20 percent drop in price," Gibbs said on "Power Lunch." "What we're seeing with market action today only exacerbates the fact that we have lost our No. 1 customer because of the trade wars." Shares of global biotechnology company Novozymes slumped Friday morning after reporting second-quarter earnings that missed analysts' expectations. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for the quarter came in at 957 million Danish krone ($147 million) with its household care sector showing particular weakness. The company still beat estimates with its second-quarter net profit and revenue, but that wasn't enough to stop shares falling in early deals. "We've had a satisfactory first half of the year both on revenues wise and earnings wise. The factors that are pulling in our business are slightly different from what we expected," Peder Holk Nielsen, the CEO of Novozymes told "Squawk Box Europe" on Friday. California's $2.7 trillion economy may face pain from the U.S.-China trade spat and show signs of slowing job growth but economists don't see a recession in the cards. The Golden State added a mere 800 new nonfarm jobs in June after picking up 7,200 jobs in May and more than 39,000 in April. In the past year, the data show Texas is now beating California in job growth. California's Employment Development Department is set to release July figures next week. At the same time, there's been a recent decline in homebuying in California where prices are already sky high in many markets. One example is the Southern California market, which experienced double-digit percentage declines in new and existing home sales in June, according to CoreLogic. Economists, though, caution not to read too much into the data. They suggest the slower pace of job growth and the real estate hiccup in the world's fifth-largest economy doesn't warrant alarm. "We just don't think there's a real reason to have alarm about a recession anytime soon," said Edward Leamer, an economist and director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast. Californians can expect that there will be "forces that are going to weaken home prices over the next couple of years," Leamer added. "People have had a great run with their home values rising and that kind of appreciation can't continue indefinitely." However, the U.S.-China trade war is raising concerns given California's exports to the world's second-largest economy are significant. Last year, China was California's third-largest export market after Mexico and Canada and ranked first as an import partner. The twin Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex in Southern California handles about 40 percent of the nation's containerized import trade with China. "Our industry doesn't handle uncertainty very well," said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in North America. "We estimate at least 20 percent of the goods that move through the ports of LA and Long Beach could be affected by tariffs." Gov. Jerry Brown believes the state could be in a recession within two years' time and he cited trade impacts as one of the possible reasons. "At some point, the tariffs and natural [business] cycle will kick in," Brown told reporters last week. "I know people always think, 'would we have a recession.' It's going to happen, and I would say no more than two years, if we're lucky." In April, U.S. nuts, fruit and wine major exports from California were hit with a 15 percent tariff by Beijing. The Chinese government followed it up in early July with additional duties imposed on nuts and fruit. Dairy and alfalfa hay also have been penalized with new tariffs. "You saw a trade slowdown there's no doubt about it," said Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics, a Los Angeles-based economic consulting firm. "The California economy is linked in many ways to China's economy." According to Beacon Economics, June shipments of California almonds to China and Hong Kong were down 47.5 percent from a year ago. California's exports of agricultural commodities fell 7 percent in the second quarter to $2.95 billion from $3.17 billion, reflecting the impact of China's new duties. The trade skirmish with China could get uglier in the months to come as President Donald Trump has threatened to ratchet up the pressure on Beijing with a new round of tariffs on more than $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. "If you have just a full-out meltdown with China, it would have an influence on the economy," said Thornberg. Such a scenario could "ricochet through the system" and trim economic growth although it "wouldn't rise to the level of recession causing." A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop as the Holy Fire burns near homes on August 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, California. The fire continues to grow amidst a heat wave and has now burned 10,236 acres while remaining just five percent contained. Mario Tama | Getty Images At least 13 large fires raged across California on Friday, threatening over 16,000 homes and leading to evacuation orders for nearly 25,000 residents in what is shaping up to be one of the worst fire seasons on record in the state. The surge in fire activity has led California to call for help to at least 17 other states and two countries. The state also has received assistance from the military, including active-duty troops and aircraft to assist in dropping water and retardant. California already has spent $230 million on emergency firefighting since the start of the July 1 fiscal year, according to Cal Fire. That is more than half the state's $442.8 million annual so-called e-fund budget. "In terms of acres burned so far this year, we're well over last year's numbers," Heather Williams, a spokeswoman for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, told CNBC. "We're definitely seeing the same continued trend that we saw in 2017, which is larger fires burning very quickly, causing evacuations quite early and burning in very populated areas as well as impacting multiple counties." Williams said extreme heat and dry conditions coupled with no shortage of vegetation fuels on the ground is exacerbating the risks of wildfires. There's also an estimated 129 million dead trees in California, most of it in the central and southern Sierras. Nearly 14,000 firefighters are on the lines of fires statewide as well as several hundred active-duty military troops. There also have been dozens of military aircraft used in the recent California fires as well as a large 747 passenger plane converted to carry more than 19,000 gallons of fire retardant. The Boeing 747 plane dubbed the SuperTanker was put into service for retardant drops this week on fires burning in both the southern and northern portions of the state. It is contracted on a "call when needed" basis by Cal Fire and can cost more than $16,500 per flight hour. If the state exhausts its e-fund firefighting budget in fiscal 2018-19, it could tap other sources such as traditional budget reserves. Those reserves now total about $2 billion. Mendocino Complex fire The biggest of the blazes is the Mendocino Complex fire in Northern California, which continues to threaten an estimated 9,200 structures, according to Cal Fire. It now ranks as the largest wildfire in the state's history. The monster fire has burned 119 homes and blackened more than 305,000 acres, or some 476 square miles or about double the size of the city of Chicago. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Cal Fire. Nearly 4,000 crews are assisting with the Mendocino Complex blaze, which is burning in Colusa, Lake and Mendocino counties. The fire, which is 53 percent contained, is burning mostly in wilderness areas about 120 miles north of San Francisco. Prior to the Mendocino Complex fire, the largest blaze in the state's history was December's Thomas fire in the Southern California counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara where more than 1,000 homes were lost and nearly 282,000 acres scorched. Another catastrophic fire last year was October's wine country fires, which destroyed or damaged about 10,000 homes and resulted in 44 fatalities. "The conditions that were prime last year for these types of catastrophes are continuing," said Thomas Jeffery, senior hazard scientist for CoreLogic Spatial Solutions. "There's no reason to think that we're not going to see more losses and more property damage and more of these large fires occurring." The Mendocino Complex fire is burning in an area known for wine production, timberland and rangeland. There have been reports of damage to some of the area's agriculture, including at least one vineyard and a pear orchard in Lake County. In Mendocino County, cattle operations and timberland suffered some losses. Carr fire About 160 miles away the so-called Carr fire is burning near Redding, a Northern California city of about 92,000 residents. During the height of the fire, more than 30,000 residents were forced to flee the community in Shasta County. After 18 days, the Carr fire has charred more than 181,400 acres and is now listed as 51 percent contained. Authorities say the fire was caused by mechanical failure of a vehicle. Nearly 1,600 structures have been destroyed and 8 lives lost in the blaze. Moody's Investors Service last week estimated losses from the Carr fire could approach up to $1.5 billion. "The Carr fire portends high California wildfire losses for the remainder of 2018, following almost $12 billion of insured losses for the October and December 2017 wildfires," Moody's senior analyst Jasper Cooper said in a report last week. Jake Mangas, president and CEO of the Redding Chamber of Commerce, said the fire didn't discriminate and burned both luxury homes in the $1.5 million to $2 million range as well as mobile homes. He said it could take many years to rebuild destroyed homes in the community due to a deficit of labor in the construction industry. At the same time, Mangas said there's an urgent need to help local businesses since many are hurting in the aftermath of the fire. He said the chamber is raising money for a business recovery fund to assist local merchants. More than 4,700 fire personnel are assigned to the Carr blaze. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke are scheduled to visit the Redding area on Monday and expected to meet with local authorities and fire officials. The federal government is the largest owner of forest lands in California, holding about 57 percent of the roughly 33 million acres. Holy fire At a quick glance, Donald Trump and Elon Musk couldn't be more different. Elon Musk is a Silicon Valley messiah who made his billions building companies focused on renewable energy, private space travel, and disrupting the payments world. Donald Trump is a reality TV star, world-class marketer, and real estate developer turned president. But if you dig beneath the surface the similarities between the two charismatic leaders on social media are hard to miss. Attacking critics head-on Trump is now famous for name-calling, insults and trash talk on Twitter. From political opponents to companies to everyday citizens who criticize him Trump rode his streetfighter persona on social media all the way to the White House. trump attack tweet Recently, it seems like Tesla CEO Musk has taken a similar approach. A British diver who helped rescue 12 Thai boys from a cave in July was critical of Musk's mini-submarine technology and Musk responded by calling him a "pedo guy." The diver threatened to sue Musk, prompting him to apologize: "The fault is mine and mine alone." Musk deleted the tweet. (Trump rarely apologizes.) It wasn't the first time Musk attacked individuals. He's picked on short sellers people betting against Tesla stock, including billionaire hedge fund manager David Einhorn saying he'll send him "short shorts to comfort him through this difficult time." Einhorn responded to the lighthearted jab. Musk also called one transportation critic "an idiot" last year. musk attack tweet Directly criticizing the media Trump calls stories he doesn't like "Fake News" and has called the press the "enemy of the people. trump media The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has gone after the media, too. After some negative press, Musk decided the business model of the "holier-than-thou" media was to blame. musk media In a tweet storm he said: "gas/diesel care companies are among the world's biggest advertisers," implying bias in media coverage, and that "nobody believes you anymore. You lost your credibility a long time ago." He also suggested creating a site where the public could rate the "core truth of any article" and track the credibility score over time. Of course, websites with this general purpose already exist. And let's not forget that Musk gets plenty of good press too, literally being compared to a superhero on magazine covers. Breaking disclosure norms with potential legal consequences While both seem to tweet from the hip let's remember they are talking about serious issues. There are concerns that Trump's tweets could have disastrous repercussions, from economic battles to potential nuclear war. trump norms Are his tweets official government policy? Should @realdonaldtrump be in the national archives? A judge recently ruled that Trump can't block individuals from his account as retaliation for the political views of that person. Musk ran into similar grey areas this week when he tweeted about taking Tesla private. musk norms It's being called the most valuable tweet of all time because Tesla's market cap jumped by billions of dollars after the tweet. But there could be some legal backlash. He said "funding secured," which could be viewed as fraud by regulators if it's not true. The whole tweet could also be seen as market manipulation if its purpose was to move the stock and squeeze short sellers. Regardless, such an announcement from a major company in this fashion is unprecedented. These off-the-cuff tweets from both Trump and Musk often result in damage control leading to headaches for PR reps from the White House to the Gigafactory. Musk's fellow PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel told the New York Times's Maureen Dowd in January 2017 that "They're both grandmaster-level salespeople and these very much larger-than-life figures." Of course, a social media platform like Twitter allows anyone to engage with these two powerful men. But before you tweet snark at them, make sure you're ready for the backlash from their rabid fan bases. WATCH: Pitt says Musk should shut up and stop tweeting Facebook has confirmed its commitment to Uganda as a row rumbles on over a recently imposed tax on social media use in the East African country. "Facebook is committed to Africa and our current connectivity work in Uganda," a spokesperson for the social media giant told CNBC via email Wednesday. "We continue to maintain open and active lines of communication with the Ugandan government, the private sector and members of civil society." It was reported this week that Facebook was withholding intended investment in Uganda after a user levy on social media was introduced in the country earlier this year. The state-run Ugandan Communications Commission later tweeted that the news was fake. But, the body did acknowledge that it had met with Facebook and that "issues of taxation were discussed at some point." Facebook told CNBC that the comment from one of its officials that led to the original story was taken out of context. Musician turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi (C) is joined by other activists in the Ugandan capital of Kampala on July 11, 2018, during a demonstration to protest against a tax on social media use. Sumy Sadurni | AFP | Getty Images The Ugandan government imposed a user tax on social media access on July 1. Citizens pay 200 Ugandan shillings per day (5 cents) to access Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, WhatsApp and YouTube among others that are classified as over the top (OTT) services. Payment is made via telecommunications firms' mobile payment services. Some Ugandan users have been using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to get around the tax. Uganda's government has said that it has implemented the tax to fund public services, although critics consider the move oppressive and aims to stifle political dissent. Violent protests ensued following the tax's introduction, and the government has said that the tax is being reviewed. Social media for the 'malicious' Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly employed biting rhetoric against social media use. He is reported to have initially described the tax as one aimed at curbing "olugambo," a local word for "gossip." "Social media chatting is a luxury by those who are enjoying themselves or those who are malicious," he wrote in a statement dated July 4. Social media use is depriving Uganda of U.S. dollars, he added. Users are "endlessly donating money to foreign telephone companies through chatting or even lying" and are "allergic to even a modest contribution to their country whose collective wealth they are misusing," he said. Uganda's two biggest telecom firms are owned by South Africa's MTN Group and India's Bharti Airtel, Reuters reported. Ugandan police officers are seen lifting their AK-47 rifles opposite protesters during a demonstration on July 11, 2018, in the capital Kampala. The protest is against a controverial tax on social media. Isaac Kasamani | AFP | Getty Images The country "struggles with domestic revenue collection as a result of a combination of generous tax incentives for foreign companies, high levels of tax evasion, and a large informal and untaxed sector," Patricia Rodrigues, East Africa analyst at consultancy Control Risks, told CNBC via email. According to the World Bank in May, the shortcomings of Uganda's tax system result in up to 40 percent of revenue being lost. Facebook in Africa Facebook, working with local partners, has recently completed a 770 kilometer fiber build in northwest Uganda to provide more than 3 million Ugandans with connectivity infrastructure. The social network says that this could also lead to cross-border connectivity to neighboring countries. The social network operates its Free Basics program in 26 African countries including the continent's two major economies, Nigeria and South Africa. Free Basics offers a skeleton of popular internet services to users in less economically developed countries. Facebook owns social media platforms Instagram and WhatsApp, among others. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni delivers his state of the nation address in Kampala, Uganda, on June 6, 2018. Nicholas Bamulanzeki | AFP | Getty Images Several global powers have decried President Donald Trump's administration for reinstating tough economic sanctions against Iran, while actively calling on businesses to ignore the White House over the coming months. Despite pleas from key members of the international community, the U.S. re-imposed sanctions targeting the Iranian government's purchase of U.S. dollars on Tuesday. The measures also impact Tehran's trade in gold and other precious metals, as well as its automotive industry. In a tweet posted earlier this week, Trump said: "These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level. Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!" Tweet 1 Trump warned that unless Iran which is the world's fifth-largest oil producer complies with U.S. demands, Washington will look to impose far tougher measures in early November. The second batch of potentially more damaging sanctions will target Iran's port operators, as well as its energy, shipping and shipbuilding industries. Petroleum-related transactions and dealings between foreign financial organizations and the Central Bank of Iran will also be impacted. U.S. officials have urged allies around the world to cut all oil purchases from the OPEC member to zero by November. The State Department also warned firms that continue to do business with Tehran could risk punishment. The Trade Desk rings The Nasdaq Stock Market closing bell in celebration of its September 2016 IPO. Source: Nasdaq In April, pressured by new privacy rules in Europe, Google told advertisers they would no longer have access to some critical measurement data when building online campaigns. Digital ad company Trade Desk is reaping the rewards. Trade Desk shares soared 32 percent on Friday, a day after the company reported earnings that blew by analysts' estimates and raised its forecast. On the conference call with analysts, CEO Jeff Green said one of the primary drivers in the quarter was Google's move on privacy, which pushed advertisers to Trade Desk. Here's what happened. In conjunction with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that the European Union implemented in May, Google told clients that they could no longer have access to the DoubleClick ID to analyze ad measurement data across the web. The data is highly valuable because it allows marketers to see how ads are performing on Google sites, including YouTube, compared with the rest of the web. For example, an advertiser could see that, based on a user ID, a particular person was on YouTube and a number of different sites, and could tell where promotions were working and where they were falling flat. In addition to taking precautions related to GDPR, Google is facing greater scrutiny in the U.S. because of the ways large platforms like Facebook and YouTube have been manipulated by foreign actors to influence consumers, particularly when it comes to political elections. Green cited the Cambridge Analytica scandal twice during Thursday's conference call, which made clear how a third party was improperly using Facebook user data for ad targeting. "In my view, Google's decision to remove this ID offering is driven by their increasing need to reduce risk against malicious data enablement, like what we saw Cambridge Analytica do with social data," Green said. "The risk is similar for both Google and Facebook. The risk exists because Google, at the fundamental level of their business, transacts in directly identifiable consumer data. Google knows so much about billions of consumers because of their core product, their search engine." Green said that marketers are shifting to Trade Desk, because it gives them a neutral tool to see how campaigns are performing. Advertisers can "compare every destination on their media plan to every other destination objectively," he said. Revenue at Trade Desk jumped 54 percent in the second quarter to $112.3 million, topping the $104 million estimate of analysts, according to Thomson Reuters. Earnings per share of 60 cents beat the 44-cent average analyst estimate. Trade Desk boosted its sales forecast for the year to $456 million from $433 million. It's the second straight time that the company's stock price has surged after earnings. The shares jumped 43 percent on May 11, following better-than-expected results. The stock has almost tripled in the past six months to $125.66, giving Trade Desk a market value of $5.4 billion. President Donald Trump Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images Twelve years ago, during George W. Bush's presidency, Republican scandals turned a bad mid-term election into a terrible one. Unexpectedly, Democrats recaptured House and Senate majorities. This year, under President Trump, Republicans suffer from more and deeper scandals. Could Democrats exploit them for the same November effect? Maybe. This week's arrest of GOP Rep. Chris Collins, charged with conducting insider trading while attending a White House picnic, amplified a question looming over election season. But scandal represents an uncertain tool for political campaigns - which sometimes can even backfire. In 2006, allegations of financial misbehavior rocked a series of GOP members. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay quit under a cloud; two colleagues, Duke Cunningham and Bob Ney, eventually went to jail. More salacious: reports surfaced that Rep. Mark Foley had sent sexually-suggestive messages to male teenaged pages in the Capitol. The Foley news hit in September at an especially vulnerable moment for Republicans. But their greatest vulnerabilities then stemmed from the foundering Iraq War and the Bush administration's botched response to Hurricane Katrina. GOP scandals gave Democrats a boost that was "meaningful," pollster Mark Mellman says, "but not decisive." Today, the scandal trail begins at the White House. Trump faces a lawsuit accusing him of profiting illegally from his office, allegations of sexual misconduct and hush money, and the Russia investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Trump's campaign chair is standing trial on bank and tax fraud charges. His former National Security Adviser and deputy campaign chief have plead guilty to felonies. Ethical clouds Three Trump Cabinet members Tom Price, Scott Pruitt and David Shulkin quit under ethical clouds. At least four others - Steven Mnuchin, Ryan Zinke, Ben Carson and Wilbur Ross - have faced scrutiny from internal watchdogs over use of taxpayer resources, involvement of family members in government business, and failure to comply with a divestment directive. Two White House aides resigned over allegations of domestic violence. A ProPublica investigation recently found that three members of Trump's Mar-A-Lago club have exerted substantial influence over the Veterans Administration from outside of government. On Capitol Hill, Rep. Collins has company in trouble. Freedom Caucus firebrand Jim Jordan faces allegations that he ignored sexual abuse of wrestlers he coached at Ohio State University. Two other members, Trent Franks and Tim Murphy, quit in personal disgrace. As long as that list is, something larger dominates this election season, too: Trump's uniquely polarizing governing style. Allegations of ethical misconduct may contribute to his historic unpopularity, but didn't cause it. In the campaign's home stretch, Democratic candidates must decide how much to emphasize what House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi calls the "culture of corruption." Many prefer to talk about issues closer to voters' lives, like the GOP tax-cut benefiting the wealthy more than the middle-class, and attacks on Obamacare that are fueling health insurance premium increases. Challenges for both parties Cynicism about the ethics of both parties should inform that choice. In a May Pew Research survey, Americans' assessments of Republican and Democratic ethical standards were essentially identical. Yet Democratic pollster Anna Greenberg insists that scandals bolster her party's ongoing argument that Republicans do the bidding of moneyed interests. When Democracy Corps recently asked Americans to name each party's top priority, the most common response about Democrats was "health care"; about Republicans, was "themselves." Nor do Republicans dismiss the issue. Pollster Neil Newhouse said concerns over ethical misconduct may prevent some voters, who are otherwise happy with the state of the economy, from returning home to the GOP. Neither party has forgotten what happened in 1998, when Republicans made a late attempt to capitalize on President Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky and ended up losing House seats. No one outside of Mueller's investigation can say if or when he may publicly offer new allegations even closer and more damaging to the president. "The thing we don't know yet is what the other shoe is, or even if there is one," concluded Republican strategist Chris Wilson. "That's probably the difference between a regular bad year potentially losing the House and a real wipe-out." WATCH: Trump wants Mueller's Russia probe to end immediately A U.S. plan to impose targeted crude sanctions against Iran could significantly impact global supply and exhaust the world's spare oil capacity cushion, according to the latest monthly report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA's closely watched report comes shortly after the re-introduction of U.S. sanctions against Iran, which from November will also include oil exports. "As oil sanctions against Iran take effect, perhaps in combination with production problems elsewhere, maintaining global supply might be very challenging and would come at the expense of maintaining an adequate spare capacity cushion," the Paris-based organization said Friday. "Thus, the market outlook could be far less calm at that point than it is today," the IEA added. International benchmark Brent crude traded at around $71.43 on Friday morning, down around 0.9 percent, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $66.40, off more than 0.6 percent. Crude sanctions On Tuesday, President Donald Trump's administration reinstated sanctions targeting the Iranian government's purchase of U.S. dollars, Tehran's trade in gold and other precious metals, and it's automotive industry. The U.S. president also warned that unless Iran which is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) complies with U.S. demands, Washington will look to impose far tougher measures in early November. The second batch of potentially more damaging sanctions will target Iran's port operators, as well as it's energy, shipping and shipbuilding industries. Petroleum-related transactions and dealings between foreign financial organizations and the Central Bank of Iran will also be impacted. "Certainly in the short term, there are no serious issues about supply because we have seen oil production in Saudi Arabia increase, in Russia increase and in one or two other Gulf countries," Neil Atkinson, head of the oil industry and markets division at the IEA, told CNBC's "Street Signs" on Friday. "But as we say in the report, although things may be cooling down a little bit right now, we cannot get away from the fact that later in the year We could be in a different situation where supply may be more constrained and there would then perhaps be a risk of the oil price increasing," he added. Then-candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination Donald Trump speaks during a rally held by the Tea Party at the United States Capitol to speak out against President Obama's nuclear agreement with Iran in Washington, on September 9, 2015. Samuel Corum | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images While several global powers including the European Union, China and India have spoken out against the scheduled sanctions, many are expected to bow to American pressure. The last time Iran was sanctioned, about half its current oil exports of some 2.4 million barrels were removed from the market. However, this time around, many energy analysts believe sanctions will remove far less, maybe around half the prior amount, but some onlookers have recently raised their expectations amid signs some companies are complying with tough talk from the White House. Any reduction in Iranian crude exports will depend on whether major buyers of its oil in Asia receive sanctions waivers. Meanwhile, it is also not clear whether China the world's biggest buyer of Iranian crude will resist Trump's calls on November 4. Trade tensions With financial turmoil in Turkey roiling the country's assets, analysts are busy contemplating which other countries could be exposed and what this could mean for international investors. Turkey has been in economic difficulties since the start of the year. Its currency has lost about 33 percent of its value on the back of large fiscal stimulus, growing inflation and a hefty current account deficit. There's also been intervention from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the central bank's policy decisions which continues to surprise investors and accentuate the fall in the currency. European banks Media reports suggested Friday that officials at the European Central Bank (ECB) are concerned over southern European banks, which have lent significant amounts of money in Turkey. This suggests that investors holding stock in European banks could be at risk. The ECB declined to comment on the reports. Data from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) often called the central bank of central banks shows that Spanish banks are owed $83.3 billion by Turkish borrowers; French lenders $38.4 billion; and banks in Italy are owed $17 billion. Regulators in Europe are reportedly worried that the weaker currency will lead to defaults in foreign loans. Shares of , BNP Paribas and BBVA fell around 3 percent Friday morning, after being cited as the European banks with the highest exposure to Turkey. This dragged the wider market down with the pan-European Euro Stoxx 600 down 0.7 percent by 9:00 a.m. London time and the banking index dropping 1.3 percent. Carsten Hesse, a European economist at Berenberg, said in a research note that some euro zone banks are under pressure "due to their direct equity exposure to Turkish banks or participation in syndicated loans a loan offered by a group of lenders." Japan, US When asked about the impact of the ongoing troubles in Turkey, Timothy Ash, a senior emerging markets strategist at Bluebay Asset Management, told CNBC via email that "it's likely mostly banking exposure at this stage." However, he added that exposure is "pretty international." "European, U.S., Japan, China, Middle East everyone," he added. The BIS cross-border figures also show that Japanese banks are owed $14 billion, U.K. lenders $19.2 billion and the United States about $18 billion. Lira continues to plunge On Friday morning, the lira hit another record low, plunging to 5.9976 against the U.S. dollar. Erdogan himself spoke out to try to calm the economic storm, saying Friday morning that Turkish citizens should not be worried about the weaker currency. "There are various campaigns being carried out. Don't heed them," the president said. "Don't forget, if they have their dollars, we have our people, our God. We are working hard. Look at what we were 16 years ago and look at us now," Erdogan told supporters. 'Modest' impact Despite Turkish fears spreading to the rest of Europe there were analysts still fairly sanguine on the risks for the global economy and foreign investors. Roger Jones, head of equities at investment fund London and Capital, noted there could be repercussions for European insurers, although "modest." "Several European banks plus insurers have exposure (to Turkey) but it is modest in the context of the overall group. Overall, Turkey will be a small component of European company profits with no specific name stating out as overly exposed," Jones told CNBC via email. "As far as the U.K., HSBC has exposure to Turkey but it is modest in the context of the group, as does Aviva," he noted regarding U.K. stocks in particular. Bond markets Meanwhile, the economic woes in Turkey could also bring problems for European sovereign debt, potentially affecting bond investors and governments who rely on the debt markets to fuel their spending plans. "I don't expect any euro zone country bond yields to really suffer due to Turkey, but on the margin the countries in the euro zone with the highest bond yields would probably be the ones who could feel some minor impact," Hesse from Berenberg bank told CNBC via email. He mentioned that in this case Greece and Italy could be hit as well as Spain, "due to its higher-than-average bank exposure to Turkey." However, Ash played down risks that Turkey could become a sovereign debt problem. "I don't see huge global contagion. Turkey is still a relatively small economy (worth) $850 billion, and unlikely this will be sovereign debt event," Ash said in an email. Wait-and-see mode The Italian government has an important task ahead that could ultimately bring about further market turmoil. Lawmakers have to approve a budget for the coming year and send it to the European Commission before mid-October. The financial plan will be closely scrutinized by European authorities, but, more importantly, by market players. "This budget is a critical test of the credibility of the government in the eyes of market participants," Erik Jones, professor of international political economy at Johns Hopkins University, told CNBC via email. "Here you have to pay close attention to longer-term debt sustainability. Even if the (European) Commission gives maximum flexibility and the coalition partners find some way to work together harmoniously, this could all go pear-shaped if market participants believe that the resulting increase in deficits puts Italian public debt on an unsustainable growth trajectory," he said. Italy has the second-largest public government debt pile in the euro zone, at about 130 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP). As a result, many traders question if the third-largest euro economy will be able to keep repaying its debt. The debt problem became particularly acute over the last year or so, particularly in the aftermath of March's general election. Two populist parties, the far-right Lega (League) and the leftist Five-Star (M5S), reached a coalition agreement after months of political impasse, but their promises to increase public spending caused jitters among market players. "More than ever, this budget plan is a key event for the market. First, the budget will spell out the new government's economic policies and clarify the implementation timeline of the announced reforms," Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a note Thursday. "Second, it will define the new administration's stance on the fiscal discipline requirement. This is especially important in light of the busy calendar with the rating agencies' review of Italy's outlook." It's been just over thirty years since Nicaragua dominated U.S. headlines during the famous Iran-Contra Affair. The scandal revealed that senior members of the Reagan administration had been secretly funding Nicaraguan rebel groups fighting the leftist Sandinista government by conducting clandestine arms sales to Iran. Since Iran-Contra and the end of armed conflict in 1990, the poor Central American nation has largely managed to stay off the front page of American newspapers. But that could all change this fall. Nicaragua, once again, is on the verge of complete collapse, as protests that began this spring over government cuts to social security have steadily escalated and are now turning deadly. Over 400 people have been killed as a result of the on-going conflicts between demonstrators and pro-government security forces since the crisis began. Opposition forces are focused on forcing the early removal of husband and wife duo President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, from office. Yes you did read that correctly. The vice president is married to the president. Leaders of the opposition charge that Ortega, now poised to enter his twelfth consecutive year in power, is running the country like a dictatorship. They charge that Ortega and his wife have been cracking down on peaceful protests, cutting off all non-state media propaganda as well as banning opposition parties. Demonstrators are hoping to force early elections; yet, with Ortega and his loyalists are standing firm, the risk of the country spiraling into civil war is looking increasingly likely. Among the numerous hurdles immigrant families face after being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border is the cost of travel, reports the New York Times. Some relatives are being asked to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars in order to reunite. To help alleviate that burden, several organizations are accepting donations of frequent-flyer miles to book travel for the families, an idea that gained traction after a tweet from Beth Wilensky, a law professor at the University of Michigan, went viral on Monday. "My husband travels a lot," she wrote. "Downside: he's gone a lot. Upside: frequent flyer miles. We just used some to fly a 3-year-old and his dad, who had been separated at the border, from Michigan (where the son had been taken) to their extended family." TWEET The tweet has been liked by nearly 140,000 people and retweeted more than 30,000 times. Wilensky disabled her direct messages after they began piling up in her inbox, she tells CNBC Make It, and she pinned a new tweet to her profile referring people to two organizations: Miles4Migrants and Michigan Support Circle. As of Friday, Miles4Migrants has received 5.8 million donated miles, according to Buzzfeed News. That's roughly $58,000 in value. "Flights can be incredibly expensive, especially last minute," Seth Stanton, a director of Miles4Migrants, told Business Insider. "Using miles helps us book these tickets to make reunifications possible." Michigan Support Circle, meanwhile, went from having eight pledged donors on standby, ready to purchase a ticket with their miles upon request, to 260, founder Rosalie Lochner tells CNBC Make It. The local, grassroots organization set out to help immigrant children brought to foster homes in Michigan by sending out requests on Facebook for donations seeking items like diapers and spare car seats as well as volunteers. There was one request, Wilensky says, to see if anyone was able to meet a mother traveling to an unfamiliar city on a bus that was getting in at midnight. "They're really relying on this network of volunteers, wherever they are, to help support them," Wilensky says. Don't miss: Elon Musk: If I can help kids at the border, I will Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube! Late on Sunday, after returning to his hotel room on a trip away from home, Mark Zuckerberg made a decision he had hoped to avoid. For weeks, the Facebook chief executive and his colleagues had debated what to do about Infowars, the notorious far-right news site, and Alex Jones, Infowars' choleric founder, who became famous for his spittle-flecked rants and far-fetched conspiracies, including the idea that the Sandy Hook massacre was an elaborate hoax promoted by gun-control supporters. Mr. Jones is just one Facebook user out of 2.2 billion, but he had become symbolic of tech platforms' inconsistency and reluctance to engage in a misinformation war. The pressure on Facebook to do something about him had intensified after executives gave a series of vague and confusing answers to lawmakers and reporters about the company's policies. Misinformation was allowed to stay on the platform, they said, but hate speech wasn't. So users dug up and reported old Infowars posts, asking for their removal on the grounds that they glorified violence and contained dehumanizing language against Muslims, immigrants, and transgender people. These posts clearly violated Facebook's hate speech rules. And in a normal situation, a low-level content moderator might have reviewed them, found that they qualified, and taken them down. But Mr. Jones was no typical internet crank. He has millions of followers, a popular video show, and the ear of President Trump who once told the provocateur that his reputation was "amazing." Banning such a prominent activist would lead to political blowback, no matter how justified the action was. The situation was volatile enough that Mr. Zuckerberg got personally engaged, according to two people involved in Facebook's handling of the accounts. He discussed Infowars at length with other executives, and mused privately about whether Mr. Jones who once called Mr. Zuckerberg a "genetic-engineered psychopath" in a video was purposefully trying to get kicked off the platform to gain attention, they said. Mr. Zuckerberg, an engineer by training and temperament, has always preferred narrow process decisions to broad, subjective judgments. His evaluation of Infowars took the form of a series of technical policy questions. They included whether the mass-reporting of Infowars posts constituted coordinated "brigading," a tactic common in online harassment campaigns. Executives also debated whether Mr. Jones should receive a "strike" for each post containing hate speech (which would lead to removing his pages as well as the individual posts) or a single, collective strike (which would remove the posts, but leave his pages up). Late Sunday, Apple which has often tried to stake out moral high ground on contentious debates removed Infowars podcasts from iTunes. After seeing the news, Mr. Zuckerberg sent a note to his team confirming his own decision: the strikes against Infowars and Mr. Jones would count individually, and the pages would come down. The announcement arrived at 3 a.m. Pacific time. More from The New York Times: What's the Right Number of Taxis (or Uber or Lyft Cars) in a City? Wanted: 'Lost Einsteins.' Please Apply. Tech Companies Banned Infowars. Now, Its App Is Trending. In the days that followed, other platforms YouTube, Pinterest, MailChimp, and more said they, too, were banning Infowars. The notable exception was Twitter, which decided not to ban the site or Mr. Jones. The company's chief executive, Jack Dorsey, tweeted a veiled shot at the way his rivals handled the situation. "We're going to hold Jones to the same standard we hold to every account, not taking one-off actions to make us feel good in the short term, and adding fuel to new conspiracy theories," he said. Now, cut off from most of his audience, Mr. Jones will have to chart a new course. He has already stepped enthusiastically into a role as a free-speech martyr. (After the ban took effect, Infowars slapped a "censored" label on its videos and launched a "forbidden information" marketing campaign.) And conservatives and even some free-speech advocates on the left worried that social media companies may be entering a new, censorious era. Senator Ted Cruz, the Republican from Texas, paraphrased the famous Martin Niemoller poem about German accommodation of Nazism: "First, they came for Alex Jones." Social media executives have a history of going to great lengths to assuage fears of anti-conservative bias, and this week was no exception. On Thursday, Richard Allan, a Facebook vice president of policy, published a blog post about the company's commitment to free speech. With the exception of violent threats and hate speech, he wrote, "we lean toward free expression. It's core to both who we are and why we exist." Mr. Dorsey also appeared on Sean Hannity's radio show, where he gave reassurances that Twitter does not discriminate against conservatives. Slippery-slope fears about mass censorship by social media platforms are probably overblown. For starters, Infowars presented an unusual case because of its size, the extreme nature of its content and the ferocity of Mr. Jones's critics. Mr. Zuckerberg does not have time to adjudicate every dispute over hate speech on Facebook, nor does he want to. In fact, taking action against Infowars could allow social media giants to avoid future conflicts over extreme content by setting a new, hard-to-beat standard for unacceptable toxicity. ("Yes, Jewhater McRacist is bad," they may say, "but he's no Alex Jones.") Many other internet conspiracists have learned how to tiptoe to the edge of platforms' rules without breaking them speaking in code about Pizzagate, for example, or saying things like "I'm not saying he's a crisis actor, but if he were " One lesson Mr. Zuckerberg has taken from the Infowars saga, said the people involved in the handling of Mr. Jones's Facebook accounts, is that the social network's policies are overly complex and need to be simplified. Privately, company officials have also downplayed the Infowars bans, saying they don't represent a watershed moment in the online free speech debate, but are rather a matter of how to enforce Facebook's existing policies. This is a convenient narrative, of course, from a company that would rather haggle over terms of service than discuss the power and governance of its platform. There are legitimate questions, still unanswered, about what to do about the huge, unaccountable corporations that control large pieces of our modern communications infrastructure. Both fans and critics of Infowars can probably agree that a system in which one executive can decide to shut off a news organization's access to a large portion of its audience is hardly ideal. There are also valid questions about why Infowars got so popular in the first place, and whether attention-maximizing platforms like Facebook and YouTube are designed in way so that people like Mr. Jones are incentivized to push the boundaries of acceptable speech. After all, these platforms didn't just host Infowars content for those who were seeking it they actively promoted it to millions of people for years, through algorithmic feeds and recommendation engines that decide which videos to show you next. Could these platforms be redesigned so that the next Alex Jones never gets that kind of boost, and remains on the ideological fringes? These questions will have to wait. For now, tech leaders seem satisfied to have dealt with their Infowars problems, at least temporarily. They will return to their defensive crouch, hiding their power behind policies, making small changes under pressure, and hoping that nobody notices the size of their footprints. Rick Gates, former campaign aide to U.S. President Donald Trump, departs after a bond hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., November 6, 2017. The judge at former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort's trial has sealed a discussion with lawyers that ensued after Manafort's deputy Rick Gates was asked by a defense attorney whether special counsel Robert Mueller's team had questioned him about his campaign work. Judge T.S. Ellis, in his sealing order signed Thursday, wrote that allowing the discussion to become public "would reveal substantive evidence pertaining to an ongoing government investigation." While Manafort is on trial in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, for alleged crimes that are unrelated to the 2016 presidential election, Mueller is continuing to investigate Trump campaign officials for possible collusion with Russians who were attacking the election. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called that probe a "witch hunt." In a new court filing on Friday in federal court in Washington, Mueller and Gates jointly informed another judge that Gates continues to meet with Mueller's team as required by his plea agreement, and "the investigation, which includes the possible continued need for assistance from [Gates] ... is ongoing." The sealed discussion occurred Tuesday in Ellis' courtroom in Alexandria as Gates was testifying against Manafort, a longtime Republican lobbyist and consultant. Gates earlier this year pleaded guilty in the same case to conspiracy and to making false statements, and agreed to cooperate with Mueller in the prosecution of his former boss Manafort. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meet on the sidelines of a presidential summit between Russia and the United States held at the Presidential Palace. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed recent U.S. sanctions against Moscow and challenges in Syria's war in a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Friday, a State Department spokeswoman said. "Secretary Pompeo reiterated that the United States seeks an improved relationship with Russia and agreed to future dialogue," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. It was their first phone call since Washington said on Wednesday it would impose fresh sanctions on Moscow for the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain in March. The former "Manhattan Madam" and political protege of President Donald Trump's informal advisor Roger Stone is set to testify Friday before a grand jury in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, NBC News reported. "I still don't know the scope of what they're going to ask me," the former madam, Kristin Davis, told an NBC News reporter before meeting with the grand jury, adding that she is "not worried at all." Davis also told NBC that she took over as Stone's scheduler in August 2017, after noting that she did not work for him during the 2016 presidential election. Stone told NBC that Davis is appearing before the grand jury "voluntarily" and that he has "not discussed her testimony with her." Stone said he is "certain she will testify truthfully." Davis, 41, who has said she supplied prostitutes to then-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, was subpoenaed by Mueller last month as part of his probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Davis had said through her lawyer that she was cooperating with the special counsel, while noting that "I don't have anything" to offer regarding "information on Russian collusion." She also met last week with members of Mueller's team. Stone told CNBC last Friday that "She knows nothing about alleged Russian Collusion, WikiLeaks collaboration or any other impropriety related to the 2016 election which I thought was the subject of this probe." Stone has become a major focus of Mueller's investigation, CNBC has reported. Beyond his connections to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, whose website published emails allegedly stolen from Democrats by Russian sources, Mueller is looking at Stone's interactions with ex-Trump campaign official Rick Gates, sources told CNBC. An attorney for Stone, Robert Buschel, did not deny discussions took place between his client and Gates, but sought to downplay their importance. "Roger Stone did not have any substantive or meaningful interaction with Rick Gates during or leading up to the 2016 campaign," Buschel told CNBC in a statement in May. Gates pleaded guilty to lying to investigators and conspiracy against the U.S. in a deal he struck with Mueller's prosecutors. As part of that deal, Gates testified this week in the federal bank fraud and conspiracy trial of his former business partner Paul Manafort. Davis is just one of a handful of Stone-connected figures who have been contacted by the special counsel in the course of the investigation. The New York Times reported in June that Andrew Miller, a former aide who worked for Stone in the run-up to the 2016 Republican National Convention, had been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury. Miller was reportedly Davis' campaign manager during her failed 2010 bid in New York's gubernatorial race. Davis told NBC that she began working with Stone, who reportedly helped her campaign pro bono, during that race. Other onetime associates of Stone, including Michael Caputo and Sam Nunberg, have discussed their interactions with the special counsel. It remains unclear what information Mueller seeks from Davis. The special counsel's office did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev reportedly warned the U.S. on Friday that sanctions it plans to impose against Moscow over the nerve-agent attack of a former spy living in Britain could be treated as a declaration of an economic war. Speaking during a trip to the Kamchatka region of Russia, Reuters reported Medvedev as saying: "I would not like to comment on talks about future sanctions, but I can say one thing: If some ban on banks' operations or on their use of one or another currency follows, it would be possible to clearly call it a declaration of economic war." "And it would be necessary, it would be needed to react to this war economically, politically, or, if needed, by other means. And our American friends need to understand this," he added. President Donald Trump's administration said Wednesday it plans to punish Russia with sanctions for poisoning Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal with a chemical weapon earlier this year. In a statement, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the sanctions will go into effect around August 22. Skripal, a former Russian spy who became a double agent for the U.K., fell into critical condition after being poisoned in Britain on March 4. His daughter Yulia, who was visiting him from Moscow, was also poisoned. Ryanair faced its worst one-day strike on Friday after a walk-out by pilots in five European countries disrupted the plans of an estimated 55,000 travelers with the budget airline at the height of the summer holiday season. Ryanair, which averted widespread strikes before last Christmas by agreeing to recognise unions for the first time in its 30-year history, has been unable to quell rising protests over slow progress in negotiating collective labour agreements. In response to unions serving strike notices, Ryanair had announced the cancellations in recent days of 250 flights in and out of Germany, 104 to and from Belgium and another 42 in Sweden and its home market of Ireland, where around a quarter of its pilots were staging their fifth 24-hour walkout. The airline expected the travel plans of 42,000 travelers to be hit by the action in Germany alone, with the majority of passengers switched to another Ryanair flight and the remainder either refunded or rerouted. "What I find unjustified is that the pilots draw the short straw, because people want to fly cheaply," said Daniel Flamman, one of several passengers Reuters spoke to at Frankfurt airport who said they sympathized with the pilots. "It's annoying that it's happening in the summer holidays, but it's the only means they have." Ingolf Schumacher, pay negotiator at Germany's Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, said pilots had to be prepared for "a very long battle" and that it could take months to push through change at Europe's largest low-cost carrier. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. The Pentagon's top engineer criticized Russia and China this week for militarizing space, a move the Trump administration wants to address with the formation of a sixth service branch dubbed Space Force. His remarks came a day before Vice President Mike Pence laid out President Donald Trump's vision for creating the Space Force by 2020. "We are not the people who choose to weaponize space, but if we are challenged we will respond," Michael Griffin said Wednesday at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama. "The Defense Department is today working on a means to defend our existing capabilities and we will be working on methods to project our national power onto our adversaries." Griffin, a former NASA administrator, explained that Russia and China's pursuit of hypersonics, a kind of weapon the U.S. currently cannot defend against, has prompted the Pentagon to accelerate its development of space-based systems. "It is our adversaries, not us, who have chosen to weaponize this type of capability," Griffin said, adding that the U.S. would not be eclipsed by Russia and China. Griffin's comments came on the heels of Chinese reports announcing the first successful testing of a hypersonic aircraft, a feat the U.S. has yet to accomplish. When asked about China's sprint to deploy this new breed of weapon, Griffin described Beijing's efforts as "much more thoughtful" compared with Moscow's developments. "The Chinese have been much more thoughtful in their systems development because they are developing long-range tactical precision-guided systems that will be really influential in a conventional fight," Griffin said. "The Chinese ability to hold our forward deployed assets at risk with very high speed and very hard to intercept precision-guided systems is something to which we have to respond," he added. Read more: Pence unveils plan to create Space Force by 2020 Turning to Russia, Griffin noted that Moscow's intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, pose a greater threat to the U.S. than the hypersonic weapons Russian President Vladimir Putin purports to have. In March, Putin debuted new nuclear and hypersonic weapons, which he described as "invincible" during a state of the nation address. The weapons included a nuclear-powered cruise missile, a nuclear-powered underwater drone and a new hypersonic missile. "We are hostage to Russian ICBMs and they are hostage to ours and maybe I'm missing something, but I do not see what a hypersonic nuclear missile brings to the strategic missile posture that earlier systems don't," he added, referring to Russia's nuclear deterrence. Griffin's comments followed the top U.S. nuclear commander's warning Tuesday that Russia and China are not "friends" of the United States amid the budding arms race. "You can't call them [Russia and China] our friends if they're building weapons that can destroy the United States of America and, therefore, we have to develop the capability to respond," Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, said Tuesday at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium. Hyten added that the Pentagon has nearly a dozen programs tasked with developing and defending against the new breed of weapons. "I always wish we started [working on hypersonics] five years ago or 10 years ago because then we wouldn't be worried ... but we didn't so we have to step up now, and we are," he added. Japan has two difficult options as it continues trade discussions with the United States: Get slapped with auto tariffs or make concessions that could hurt Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's support at home. Bilateral talks between the U.S. and Japan are currently underway in Washington. The administration of President Donald Trump has the upper hand as it's "wielding the threat of automobile tariffs pretty effectively," said Tobias Harris, vice president at Teneo Intelligence. Car exports to the U.S. are a key source of growth for Japan, accounting for around 1 percent of the country's gross domestic product, according to trade statistics from both countries. The U.S. has said it's considering imposing tariffs of up to 25 percent on auto imports, which would hurt demand for Japanese cars. "I think Japan now finds itself in a position where it has to choose between accepting those tariffs which I think are unacceptable and possibly making concessions in the areas that could be politically difficult for Abe. So they're going to a find a way to thread the needle between those two unpleasant options," Harris told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Friday. Abe is heading into a leadership contest within his own party next month. Winning the race in the Liberal Democratic Party would place him on track for a third three-year term in power. Japan's upper house of parliament is also due for elections next year and making too many concessions with the U.S. may hurt his political support base, analysts said. Abe could offer the U.S. greater access to its agricultural sector to avoid tariffs on its automakers, some observers say. Tokyo had previously done so when it entered a multilateral trade pact the Trans-Pacific Partnership with the U.S. which eventually pulled out of it. But making the same offer in a bilateral setting may be tough for Abe as Japan could be seen as giving in to the U.S., analysts said. "Let's remember where Prime Minister Abe comes from: He's a conservative, he's a hawk, he comes from the right of the LDP and that traditional power base has been the farmers," Andrew Staples, global editorial director and Southeast Asia director at The Economist Corporate Network, told CNBC's "Street Signs" on Friday. A rendering of Hypersonic missile from RAND Corp. Source: Rand Corp. As the Pentagon looks to implement a new service branch devoted to space, Air Force Gen. Paul Selva explained Friday how emerging Russian and Chinese hypersonic threats could significantly challenge U.S. forces in that domain. Selva, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, noted that an endgame defense for defeating a hypersonic weapon would be difficult without space-based assets. His remarks came a day after Vice President Mike Pence laid out President Donald Trump's vision for creating the Space Force by 2020. "What was once peaceful and uncontested is now crowded and adversarial. Today, other nations are seeking to disrupt our space-based systems and challenge American supremacy in space as never before," Pence said Thursday at the Pentagon. Selva echoed Pence's speech at the Capitol Hill Club on Friday and described the nature of these new breed of weapons the U.S. could face off with in space. "If you think missile defense is easy, think again, you're shooting a bullet with a bullet, and that's as good as it gets. It gets worse when the bullet is going 13 times the speed of sound and can maneuver and that is what hypersonics is," Selva explained. What's more, he added that when an object flies faster than Mach 7, or hypersonic speeds, it becomes nearly impossible to track with the current technology the U.S. has deployed. Read more: Russia and China are 'aggressively developing' hypersonic weapons here's what they are and why the US can't defend against them In short, a hypersonic weapon can travel further, faster, for longer and can maneuver itself which makes it all the more difficult to track and target. Additionally, some hypersonic weapons can be outfitted with nuclear weapons. Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin's boasted about new nuclear and hypersonic weapons, which he described as "invincible" during a state of the nation address. The Kremlin's hypersonic glide vehicle, dubbed Avangard, is designed to sit atop of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Once launched, it uses aerodynamic forces to sail on top of the atmosphere. According to sources with direct knowledge of American intelligence reports, Russia successfully tested the weapon, which could carry a nuclear warhead, twice in 2016. In this video grab provided by RU-RTR Russian television via AP television on Thursday, March 1, 2018, a computer simulation shows the Avangard hypersonic vehicle en route to target. RU-RTR Russian Television via AP "We ought to say to all of our potential adversaries if that object is a nuclear weapon we will respond in kind and inflict harm on you commensurate with the harm you inflicted on us and that is not negotiable," Selva said. "So don't do it." Of the six weapons Putin debuted in March, CNBC has learned that two of them will be ready for war by 2020, according to sources with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence reports. Currently, the Pentagon has nearly a dozen programs tasked with developing and defending against the new breed of weapons. The Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $928 million contract in April for an undefined number of hypersonic strike weapons. WATCH: Pentagon's hypersonic weapons program shrouded in secrecy President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he authorized a doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey amid a growing diplomatic dispute between the two countries that is causing a currency crisis for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar! Aluminum will now be 20% and Steel 50%. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!" Trump wrote. Tweet Link Losses in the Turkish lira deepened on Trump's tweet, falling as much as 20 percent versus the U.S. dollar in Friday trading. The White House later issued the following statement regarding President Trump's tweet: "As he stated, the President has authorized the preparation of documents to raise tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from Turkey. Section 232 tariffs are imposed on imports from particular countries whose exports threaten to impair national security as defined in Section 232, independent of negotiations on trade or any other matter." The currency was already reeling Friday after comments from Erdogan, who called for citizens to convert their foreign currency holdings into lira. So far there has been no confirmation to CNBC of the new tariff policy from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Late Thursday, and before Trump's tweet, Erdogan said he would stand up to pressure from the United States. "There are various campaigns being carried out. Don't heed them," Erdogan said Thursday. "Don't forget, if they have their dollars, we have our people, our God. We are working hard. Look at what we were 16 years ago and look at us now," Erdogan told supporters. The brewing dispute comes after a Turkish delegation returned from Washington with little to no progress on the detention of U.S. evangelist pastor Andrew Brunson, who is charged with supporting a group blamed for an attempted coup in 2016. Last month, Trump threatened to slap "large sanctions" on the longtime NATO ally if it refuses to free Brunson. The U.S. then announced on Aug. 1 sanctions on Turkey's Justice and Interior ministers, prohibiting U.S. citizens from doing business with them. "It's really mind-boggling, especially with Turkey going through a crisis right now," said Win Thin, global head of emerging markets strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman. "I won't say it's unprecedented, but it's certainly unusual. ... You've got two very strong-willed, stubborn leaders and neither seems like they're going to back down." The increase in the metal levies also follows Trump's decision earlier this year to impose tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent for imported aluminum in an effort to protect American business. "People have no idea how badly our country has been treated by other countries. By people representing us who didn't have a clue," Trump said in March, arguing that trade trends "destroyed" American steel and aluminum industries. CNBC's David Reid, Gina Francolla and Reuters contributed to this report. Turkish markets were burned on Friday. The TUR Turkey ETF, which tracks $283 million in Turkish stocks, tanked 14 percent in its second-worst daily performance in its history. The Turkish lira plunged in its largest drop since Turkey's economic crisis 17 years ago. "The situation has gotten pretty dire, to say the least," said Mark Newton, technical analyst at Newton Advisors, to CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Friday. "The TUR has been in literal freefall over the last few months." The TUR ETF has been cut in half since its year-to-date highs in January. It has fallen 51 percent so far in 2018, its worst annual performance ever. August is on track to be its seventh straight month in the red. Its steep drop may have set up a near-term bottom that leads to a bounce, says Newton. "It has limited downside. It's nearing the lows that were seen back in 2008, 2009," he said. "From a very short-term trading perspective you could say a capitulation-type low is potentially at hand, but really I wouldn't touch this with a 10-foot pole for anything more than three to five days." Newton says an aggressive investor could ride a bounce back up to around $25 to $27 before selling out their position. The low end of that range represents a 17 percent rally from current levels. "But, for intermediate-term investors the downtrend is very well established and, if anything, you want to see much more signs of stabilization before you get involved," he added. Gina Sanchez, CEO of Chantico Global, agrees that the set-up on Turkish markets looks ugly. "It's hard to find things to like. The fact is that this situation has been breaking down for years," said Sanchez. "Clearly a lot of folks have been shorting this for the last couple of months. You can see that investor sentiment is negative." The TUR ETF has short interest at 38 percent of its float. Short interest measures the size and number of open shorted positions, investors expecting a decline. Turkey's markets and the Turkish lira collapsed earlier Friday after President Donald Trump authorized tariffs double the current levies on aluminum and steel from the country. Tensions between the U.S. and Turkey have escalated over a number of disagreements, most notably in failed negotiations over the release of an American pastor who had been detained since 2016. The U.S. had already sanctioned two ministers of the Turkish government earlier in August. U.S. government debt prices jumped on Friday as global credit contagion fears surrounding Turkey pushed traders into relatively safer assets. The Turkish lira collapsed to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar Friday even as Turkey's leader, President Recep Erdogan downplayed the concerns, telling Turks "we have our God." The lira fell more than 18 percent after President Donald Trump authorized the doubling of metals tariffs on Turkey. Trump's comment came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked citizens to "change the euros, the dollars and the gold that you are keeping beneath your pillows into lira," noting this is "a domestic and national struggle." The drop came after a Turkish delegation returned from Washington with no apparent progress being made on the detention of Andrew Brunson, an American pastor detained in Turkey in 2016. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 6 basis points to 2.873 percent at 3:58 p.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond dropped 5 basis points to 3.03 percent. The Turkish 10-year yield hit a high of 22.82 percent, its highest level back through 2010. Bond yields move inversely to prices. Riyadh is looking to take a part of the company public, which is set to be the largest IPO in history. Saudi Aramco is 85 years old this year. The state-owned oil company of Saudi Arabia is the biggest in the world, helping the kingdom become the biggest exporter of crude oil. 1933: Saudi Aramco is born out of an agreement between Saudi Arabia and California-based oil company Socal. This agreement, like many granted to big U.S. and British oil companies at the time, gave it the exclusive right to explore and extract oil on Saudi territory. 1944: The California Arabian Standard Oil Company was renamed the Arabian American Oil Company, or as we now know it, by its acronym Aramco. It was run by a consortium of U.S. oil companies including the predecessors of Chevron, Texaco and Exxon Mobil. 1960: Following the creation of OPEC, Saudi Arabia and several other oil-producing countries began nationalizing their natural resources 1980: The Saudi government completes its buyout of Aramco's assets, eventually creating the Saudi Arabian Oil Company in 1988. 2012: Aramco launches a new trading arm, which it says buys and sells about 1.5 million barrels of chemicals and polymer products every day. This helps keep more of that revenue in-house by reducing its reliance on outside traders. 2016: The Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces he's considering listing shares of the state-owned company, and selling around 5 percent of those in order to build a large sovereign fund. The White House later tried to clarify Trump's tweet, saying in a statement that he "authorized the preparation of documents to raise tariffs" on metals imports from Turkey. In a tweet Friday, the president said he would levy tariffs as "their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" The already-reeling currency plunged even more Friday, dropping 20 percent after Trump's tweet. Trump came into office seeking better relations with Turkey. But as Trump announced his plans to hike tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum to 50 percent and 20 percent, respectively, he acknowledged that "our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!" President Donald Trump 's move Friday to double metals tariffs on Turkey is only his latest jab against the NATO ally that stems from disagreements over defense policy and the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson. Late Thursday, and before Trump's tweet, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would stand up to pressure from the United States. "There are various campaigns being carried out. Don't heed them," Erdogan said Thursday. "Don't forget, if they have their dollars, we have our people, our God. We are working hard. Look at what we were 16 years ago and look at us now," Erdogan told supporters. The feud between the two countries surfaced several times this year. Bipartisan members of Congress and the Trump administration have objected to Turkey's plan to acquire a Russian missile defense system. A deal for Turkey to receive Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets went through in June, despite congressional opposition to the transaction related to the Russian-made missile system. Lawmakers are worried that the missile defense system could expose weaknesses in the U.S.-made aircraft. They fear that Turkey could share those vulnerabilities with Russia, among other concerns. When the Senate voted overwhelmingly this year to block the jet sales to Turkey, members also raised concerns about Brunson's detention. Turkey has held the evangelical pastor since 2016 and alleged that he was involved in a failed coup attempt that year. He has denied the charges. At the beginning of the month, the Treasury Department sanctioned Turkey's ministers of Justice and Interior because of Brunson's detainment. A few days earlier, Trump tweeted that "this innocent man of faith should be released immediately!" Trump tweet The tensions between the countries extend into trade, as well. The Trump administration in March imposed tariffs of 25 percent and 10 percent on steel and aluminum imports, respectively, from most trading partners, including Turkey. In June, Turkey responded by imposing duties on $1.8 billion in U.S. goods including coal and paper. Total trade of goods and services between the U.S. and Turkey amounted to $22.4 billion in 2016, the most recent data available. VF Corp is considering a sale or spinoff of its denim business, sources told The Wall Street Journal on Friday. The apparel and footwear company owns popular denim brands Wrangler and Lee, along with smaller brands Rustlers and Rock & Republic. Based on the denim business' sales, it could be valued at several billion dollars. The division posted $2.66 billion in sales and $422 million in profit last year. Since 2015, sales have fallen 5 percent and profit has fallen 2 percent. The decline in VF's denim business has paralleled overall industry trends. Jeans sales in the U.S. were $16.2 billion last year, a decrease from 2013, when the industry had $18.8 billion in total sales. VF Corp shares rose following news of a potential sale or spinoff, reaching a 52-week high of $97. Last month, the company reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street analysts' expectations. VF's other top brands include sneaker brand Vans, outerwear retailer The North Face and boots maker Timberland. Read more about the potential changes at VF Corp's denim business in The Wall Street Journal. 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 Hints appeared last week that Microsoft may be close to offering multi-session remote desktop access to Windows 10 Enterprise as an alternative to, and complement of, Windows Server. The appearance of "Windows 10 Enterprise for Remote Sessions" as an installation option was noticed by Tero Alhonen, of Svenska Handelsbanken AB, who tweeted screenshots Aug. 1. The find was first reported by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley two days later. [ Further reading: Windows 10 cheat sheet ] The new SKU (stock-selling unit) installation option was found in a recent Insider preview for the next Windows 10 feature upgrade, dubbed 1809 in Microsoft's usual yymm nomenclature. Alhonen discovered the option on the disk image (.iso file format) of build 17713. Currently, Windows 10 Enterprise (as well as Windows 10 Pro) allow only one remote session connection. The new SKU will handle as many as 10 simultaneous connections. At this point, multi-session Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a Windows Server-only feature, one that lets users run applications hosted on servers, whether the servers are on-premises or cloud-based. But the evidence uncovered by Alhonen hints that Microsoft will expand a form of RDS to Windows 10. "There's a ton of unanswered questions," said Wes Miller, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft, noting Microsoft silence on such a move. He expected that some answers will be revealed at Microsoft Ignite, the company's massive conference for IT professionals that's set for Sept. 24-28, or with the release of Windows 10 1809 this fall. One thing he's sure of, however. "You won't see this running on hardware at a user's desktop," Miller said of Windows 10 Enterprise for Remote Sessions. Instead, he believes the SKU should be viewed as back-end infrastructure that will be installed at server farms in the virtual machines that populate those systems. If Windows Server serves - no pun intended - as the destination for remote sessions accessing applications or even desktops, why would Microsoft dilute the market with the presumably-less-expensive Windows 10 Enterprise SKU? Miller theorized that it was because of the two Windows lines' different release cadences. "Since Windows 10 arrived, Microsoft has had a challenge, which is that Windows 10 is on semi-annual cadence," he said. "The problem is that Windows Server [with a desktop graphical user interface] is only coming out as a long-term servicing channel." The disparity in the release rhythms poses a dilemma, Miller explained. New features, notably security advances, are delivered in Windows 10 Enterprise twice annually. Meanwhile, Windows Server also has a Semi-Annual Channel, or SAC, that issues feature upgrades two times a year. The problem is that the Windows Server SACs are designed as container hosts and lack a desktop-style graphical user interface (GUI). The only Windows Server instance that does offer a desktop GUI is the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), which is feature-stable, feature-static during its 10 years of support. The current LTSC is Windows Server 2016, which will be shoved aside by Windows Server 2019. Microsoft has said that it will issue an LTSC of Windows Server every two to three years. Windows 10 Enterprise Remote Sessions, said Miller, looked to be a hybrid between Terminal Services and VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure). He also thought it had a shot at replacing Windows Server as the go-to remote desktop services-related SKU. His reasoning? Again, the disparity between the two products' release tempo. "[Windows 10 Enterprise Remote Sessions] would include the innovation [in Windows 10] so users are kept up to speed, but on a server-based desktop," Miller said. Indian-origin people honoured at Singapore National Day Awards ceremony Several Indian-origin people, including daughter of former President of Singapore SR Nathan and chief executive in the office of Supreme Court Juthika Ramanathan, were honoured for their contributions to the development of the nation during the National Day Awards of Singapore. During the programme, former President of Singapore Tony Tan Keng Yam was given the top honour, receiving the Order of Temasek (First Class). Altogether, 4,624 people were recognised for their significant contributions to the nation. Recipients came from varied backgrounds, including the civil service, educational institutions and grassroots organisations. Juthika Ramachandran received the Public Administration Medal (Gold) award during the Singapore National Day Awards ceremony. Photo courtesy: Singapore International Foundation Juthika Ramachandran received the Public Administration Medal (Gold) award during the programme. She is the chief executive in the office of Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Singapore since February 1, 2013 overseeing the administration and operations of the Supreme Court. She is a former solicitor i commercial practice. Rajan Krishnan, Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board, was honoured with Public Service Star Award. Photo courtesy: gcglobal Rajan Krishnan, Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board, was honoured with Public Service Star Award. He has been associated with the Board as well as the Hindu Endowment Board for several years and has undertaken several steps for the benefit of Indian diaspora in Singapore. He is currently the CEO of the KTC Group, which is a Singapore-based construction company with diverse interests in major earthmoving works, deep basement construction, MRT station construction, tunneling, airport development and transport infrastructure. Other Indian-origin awardees in the Public Service Star category included Rangareddy Jayachandran, High Commissioner (Non-Resident) to Republic of Mauritius, Prof. Veerasingham Prem Kumar, Chairman, Work Injury Compensation Medical Board and Karamjit Singh, Council Member of Public Transport Council. For promoting Tamil language in Singapore, Indian-origin Rajaram Ramasubban was given the Public Service Medal. He is the chairman of the Tamil Language Council. Rajaram Ramasubban, Chairman of Tamil Language Council was given the Public Service Medal for promoting Tamil language in Singapore. Photo courtesy: Linkedin profile of Rajaram Ramasubban He, along with volunteers and a team, organises the Tamil Language Festival every year. The month-long festival has been running for 12 years with Rajaram helming six editions. Speaking about the importance of language, Rajaram said, Knowing your language is important because the language is a window to the way of life that you belong to, the culture that you belong to. The challenge of preserving the language lies in reaching out to youths and making it attractive for them. Volunteer work is meaningful and that the award serves as an encouragement, he added. The top honour of Singapore-Order of Temasek (First Class) was given to former President of Singapore Tony Tan Keng Yam. In a statement, Tan said he is deeply humbled and greatly honoured to receive the award. Together with many of my generation, I was privileged to serve my country, to see it grow and thrive. Our nation remains a work in progress, and Singapore needs the service of men and women from all walks of life to build on our strong foundations to ensure an even brighter future for our nation, said Dr Tan in the statement For organising the historic summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12, seven teams were awarded the Presidents Certificate of Commendation for their contributions including teams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Communications and Information, Prime Ministers Office, broadcaster Mediacorp, Singapore Police Force, Singapore Armed Forces as well as a group from 11 other government agencies that supported security operations. List of Indian-origin persons honoured at Singapore's National Day Award cermony Public Administration Medal (Gold) 1) Juthika Ramachandran, Chief Executive, Office of Chief Justice, Supreme Court Public Service Star 2) Rajan Krishnan, Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board, 3) Rangareddy Jayachandran, High Commissioner (Non-Resident) to Republic of Mauritius 4) Prof. Veerasingham Prem Kumar, Chairman, Work Injury Compensation Medical Board 5) Karamjit Singh, Council Member of Public Transport Council Public Service Medal 6) Rajaram Ramasubban, Chairman, Tamil Language Council 7) Nagaraj Sivaram, former Deputy Chairman, Accounting Standards Council 8) Perumal Arumai Chandran, Chairman, Keat Hong CC, IAEC 9) Edwin Joseph Jesunesan, Chairman, Keat Hong Zone, 6 RC 10) Veerammal, Chairperson, Nanyang CC, IAEC 11) Balasubramaniam Krishna, Chairman, Bukit Timah C2E, 12) Varatharaja Nadarajan, Chairman, Braddell Heights Zone 13) Chhabra Jaspreet Singh, Member , Neo Soon South CC 14) Santadevi, Chairperson, Pasir Ris East 15) Vinod A Devathas, Vice-Chairman, Canberra C2E 16) Sreelatha, Chairperson, Tanjong Pagar Spottiswood Park RC 17) Krishnaswamy Rajaram, Chairman, Telok Blangah CC 18) Suresh Kumar, Chairman, Fengshan CC 19) Asha, Chairperson, Mountbatten CC, IAEC 20) Rakesh Kumar Ashwani, Chairman, Sang Kang West Zone, BRC 21) Vellasamy Balachandran, Chairman, Yuhera CC, IAEC Public Administration Medal (Silver) 22) Ranjit Kaur, Cluster Superintendent, School Division, Ministry of Education 23) Rita Rajlal, Principal, Zhenghua School, MOE 24) Naresh Kumar Rajamanickam, Director, office of Chief Science and technology, 25) Kumara Pathy Director, Corporate services, National Security Co-ordination Secretariat, PMO 26) Jasbendar Kaur, District Judge, Corporate Services Division, State Courts Public Administration Medal (Bronze) 27) Balakrishna Vyjanthimala, Principal Fernvale Private School, MOE 28) Naderajah Viyaya Rani, Master Teacher, Academy of Singapore Teachers, MOE 29) Thavamalan Kanagaratnam, Lead specialist (Character and Citizenship Education), Student Development Curriculum Division 30) Dr Girija Veerappan, Deputy Director, School of Applied Sciences, Republic Polytechnic 31) Ponraj Sithuraj, Director, International Co-operation and Partnership Office, Cyber Security agency of Singapore 32) Ratna Kumari, Vice-Principal, Chongzheng Private school, MOE 33) Katehrina Rajah, Deputy Director, Communication and Engagement, School of Engineering, Temasek Polytechnic, 34) Roy Alpana, Director, ASEAN, Ministry of Trade and Industry Munira Mirza is a former Deputy Mayor of London, and co-author of the Policy Exchange report Living apart together: British Muslims and the paradox of multiculturalism. It is hard to know whether Boris Johnsons comments about the burka would have provoked the same hysteria had they been made outside the August silly season, but one suspects they would not have received much notice if said by almost any other senior politician. Ken Clarke has argued for a ban on wearing the burka in law courts, describing the garment as a kind of bag. None of the people now lining up to attack Johnson were vocal about Clarkes comments. Emily Thornberry said she wouldnt want a woman in a burka looking after her child. The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police didnt seek guidance as to whether her remarks constituted a criminal offence. If Jeremy Wright and Ruth Davidson truly believe that anyone who describes the burka in derogatory terms is crossing a line, then we must ask why they have never criticised the many other senior politicians who have done so, such as Anna Soubry and Sadiq Khan. In fact, Johnsons article was reasonable, balanced and a thoughtful defence of Muslim womens right to choose how they live. Unlike supposedly liberal leaders in the EU, like Emmanuel Macron, who ban the burka in their countries, Johnson argued that Muslim women should be free to make their own minds up. However, what he refused to do was pretend to be neutral about the burka itself. He didnt use clever words to avoid expressing his views, as politicians often do. He said what he believed, and in doing so, expressed what many people including crucially, many Muslim women believe. A cursory look at the internet will reveal numerous Muslims Gina Khan, Qanta Ahmed, Sabria Jawhar, Taj Hargey, Suad Farah who share his opinion about the burka and agree that ridiculing it is a legitimate way of discouraging people from wearing it. They are not indifferent to its effects, but actively want to reduce its use. You have a right to wear what you like and we have a right to express disapproval. If this is bullying, then what is the complete prohibition that operates in many places in Europe? It is ironic that many of Johnsons fiercest critics are the same people urging us into an ever closer union with burka-banning EU countries. There are some people now trying to argue that you should be critical of the burka but without using critical language. And that mocking peoples religious choices no matter how extreme is tantamount to racism. Did gay rights campaigners tread on eggshells about Christian beliefs when they argued for legalising gay marriage? Were feminist politicians in the UK supersensitive about Catholic beliefs during the abortion debate in Ireland? No, they disagreed powerfully, sometimes offensively, in a bid to persuade the public of their views. Mockery of religious practices is not everyones choice of tactic, but to act like it is beyond the pale is disingenuous and hypocritical. Johnson genuinely dislikes the burka, and has felt this way for as long as Ive known him. Not because he is ignorant about Islam. Quite the opposite. He knows far more about Islam and Islamic cultures than most of the politicians who are now lining up to attack him. He sees that the burka is a recent cultural accretion, which has been championed by extremists in many countries around the world and is actively opposed by moderate Muslims. That some women in the West freely choose to wear it doesnt make it any more palatable. It remains a symbol of gender inequality (if it wasnt, why dont men wear it too?) and it is intended quite literally to limit the interaction between Muslim women and other people. Johnson is the one treating Muslims as equals, expecting them to be part of the debate rather than left in a ghetto. He has bothered to learn about their customs, read their literature and understand the internal debates within their religion. He knows how badly many Muslim women are treated around the world and made girls education a priority whilst he was at the FCO. He made the issue of FGM in the UK a priority whilst he was Mayor of London. He met Muslim community leaders yet also questioned them if he suspected they did not represent the full diversity of opinion amongst Muslims. Recent polls show that a majority of British people want to follow the example of France and Denmark and ban the burka outright. Johnson disagrees and seeks to hold the line for liberal values. Those who have piled on him with wild accusations of Islamophobia and pandering to the hard right are either confused or disingenuous. By spinning his critique of Islamist fundamentalist practice as an attack on Muslim women they throw moderate Muslims under the bus and empower the unrepresentative grievance mongers and extremists who masquerade as Muslim community spokesmen. Worst of all, by enforcing a rigid code of political correctness utterly at odds with public sentiment they destroy the middle ground of politics and open the door to the real extremists. Whats included in the fares consumers pay for airline tickets has become a can of worms over the last few years. What presents itself to the consumer as a $100 fare can easily wind up as $140 by the time "additional fees and taxes" are tagged on. Then, if you want a certain seat, to carry on a bag, or board the plane in the first group, you could easily run that $140 charge up to $200 or more. Theres no doubt that the ecosystem of running an airline is complex. Theres fuel, regulations, maintenance, ticketing, and layers upon layers of people trying to make customers happy and the planes get from point A to point B. Theres also picking out the routes that will create the most return on investment (ROI) and making sure the airline has the deal everyone wants. What airline has the most add-on fees? In its annual ancillary revenue rankings, the IdeaWorksCompany found the top 10 most expensive carriers based on average fees charged per passenger were as follows: Spirit: $51 per passenger WOW Air: $49 per passenger Allegiant: $49 per passenger Frontier: $48 per passenger Jet2.com: $43 per passenger Qantas Airways: $43 per passenger United: $39 per passenger AirAsia X: $33 per passenger HK Express: $33 per passenger Wizz Air: $31 per passenger Scanning that list, you probably noticed that most of those airlines are small, regional, no-frills types. "Consumers in the US enjoy far lower fares courtesy of the presence of Spirit, Frontier, and Sun Country, Jay Sorensen, President of Product, Partnership and Marketing Practice for IdeaWorksCompany told ConsumerAffairs. "These low fare airlines rely upon two revenue streams - fares and ancillary revenue. Now to be certain, the latter must be provided using transparent and fair methods. There have certainly been abuses in terms of transparency and fairness by LCCs. But I confess, if you complete the booking process at the Spirit Airlines website and are surprised by bag fees being charged at the airport for large carry-ons well, you are intellectually challenged." So, ancillary revenue is a good thing? IdeaWorksCompany further defines ancillary revenue using these categories: 1) a la carte features, 2) commission-based products, 3) frequent flyer activities, 4) miscellaneous sources such as advertising, and 5) the a la carte components associated with a fare or product bundle. If you take a close look at IdeaWorks report, your eyes might widen when you see that United, Delta, and American all took in more than $5 billion in ancillary revenue last year in the way of a la carte features, commission-based products, and frequent flyer activities. But, in the long run, that extra revenue stream can be a good thing for the customer. If an airline can keep its fares competitive and pick up enough money from its side hustles -- baggage fees, seat assignments, and the like -- then its on the consumer to decide how much the perks are worth and if they really need that extra four inches of legroom. Do the homework When looking for a fare, think about what you want versus what you need. Is it a free checked bag? If so, then Southwest may be your answer. Need a seat toward the front of the plane? United has a new plan you may want to try out. "If you can survive with a smaller bag as a carry-on -- you can save that expense," said Sorensen. "Ditto for seat assignments. Consumers are usually best served by applying for the carrier's co-branded credit card and relying on the customary offer of a free checked bag." Is the government on the consumers side? Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called on Congress in 2017 to pass legislation to ground exorbitant airline fees in light of a newly-released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report confirming that many airlines do not consider the costs of the services provided when pricing their airline fees. "This report confirms what countless passengers across the country already know to be true that airlines are nickel and diming captive passengers to line their pockets, not to cover the costs of the services provided," said Senator Markey. "GAOs findings show that many airlines are actually emboldened to increase their fees to match their competitors and actively seek to deceive passengers by offering artificially low fares and then charging exorbitant fees on the back end. Its time to put a stop to this fee gouging and restore sanity to the skies. Its time to pass the FAIR Fees Act." Unless Markey and Blumenthal can get their bill all the way through and signed, theres not much hope. While the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration take their jobs seriously in protecting the safety of fliers, those agencies have decided to stay out of the ring when it comes to things like ticket prices and baggage fees. Before the Obama administration left office, it proposed a requirement that airlines list their baggage fees at the start of the booking process, a measure intended to make shopping for tickets easier and more transparent for consumers. However, when Donald Trump moved into the Oval Office, he scrapped that proposal. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. ONTARIO Environment Canada issued a weather alert at 11:42 a.m. for the following areas: Cornwall Lancaster Maxville Alexandria Environment Canada meteorologists are tacking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing strong wind gusts, heavy rain and dime size hail. An area of thunderstorms has developed and is slowly moving eastwards. Some localities could receive up to 75 mm in rain before the thunderstorms move eastward into Quebec. Communities in the path include: Alexandria, Laggan, Fassifern, Lochinvar, Lorne, Glen Roberston, Ste-Anne-de-Prescott and St. Davids. State of Nevada Department of Corrections(CARSON CITY, Nev.) -- Authorities have used DNA to link four cold case murders from 1984 in Colorado to a man already serving time for attempted murder and deadly assault charges in Nevada. Prosecutors from Arphahoe and Jefferson Counties as well as the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Director John Camper announced Friday that investigators used DNA matching to connect four brutal murders in the state -- including a home invasion that left three family members dead -- to 57-year-old Alexander Christoper Ewing, who is currently in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections. Authorities were able to obtain DNA from Ewing after a change to a Nevada state law that previously prohibited it, Camper said in a news conference. On Jan. 10, 1984, a man entered the home of 50-year-old Patricia Louise Smith in Lakewood, Colorado, and sexually assaulted and bludgeoned her to death, The Denver Post reported. Six days later, a man armed with a hammer and a knife entered the Aurora home of Bruce and Debra Bennett and bludgeoned the entire family, killing three members, according to The Post. The killer also sliced Bruce Bennett's neck, raped Debra Bennett and the couple's 7-year-old daughter, Melissa Bennett, The Post reported. The couple's youngest daughter, 3-year-old Vanessa, was beaten in the head and face but survived. Bruce Bennett's mother, Connie Bennett, stumbled upon the gruesome scene the next day and found her granddaughter alive, according to The Post. The family had just celebrated Melissa Bennett's birthday, The Post reported. DNA evidence from the scene of the Bennett case was first uploaded into a database in 2001, Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler said. Almost a decade later, in 2010, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was able to develop a DNA profile from Smith's murder and found that it matched the DNA in the Bennett case, Brauchler said. A few weeks ago, the state of Nevada uploaded Ewing's DNA to the FBI's national database, and a match with the Smith and Bennett cases came the next day, Camper said. Smith faces three counts of felony murder and two counts of violent crime in Jefferson County in connection with Smith's death, Jefferson County District Attorney Pete Weir said Friday. Formal charges are expected to be filed next week. "Justice has been delayed, but justice is not going to be denied," Weir said, adding that it's possible that Ewing could face the death penalty in Smith's murder. Former Arapahoe County District Attorney Jim Peters had obtained an arrest warrant for a John Doe in the Bennetts' murder cases based on the DNA, charging the unknown killer with 18 counts related to the massacre, including six counts of first-degree murder, Brauchler said. It is unclear when authorities will reach a resolution in the Bennett case, Brauchler said. The prosecutors will file paperwork asking Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper to extradite Ewing from Nevada. The state of Colorado is urging all states to pass laws to obtain DNA from incarcerated inmates to help solve cold cases, authorities said. "Every state has unsolved cases," Brauchler said. "... Do this for the victims that have gaping holes of crimes that have not been solved." Ewing is already serving a 40-year prison term in Nevada for two counts of attempted murder and two counts of assault with a daily weapon, according to The Post. Several months after the Colorado murders, Ewing entered a home in Kingman, Arizona, through an open door and attacked a man nearly to death with a 20-pound boulder, The Post reported. Ewing was later arrested by Kingman police on charges of attempted murder, and on Aug. 9, 1984, while being transferred for a trial hearing, he escaped the jail van when it stopped at a gas station for a restroom break, according to The Post. Ewing then ran into a K-Mart and changed clothes and later that night entered a home in Henderson, Nevada, armed with an ax handle and attacked the couple living there, The Post reported. Ewing was eventually captured two days later after a massive helicopter and foot search, according to The Post. He was convicted by the 8th District Court in Las Vegas in 1985 and is being housed at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City, prison records show. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. This spring, more than 150 current classroom teachers across the country have filed to run for their state legislatures , according to an Education Week analysis. Many of the candidates say that its important for educators to be represented in the legislature, which is often tasked with voting on teacher pay raises and other education measures. But in a handful of states, current public school teachers cannot serve in these roles. Thats according to an Education Week analysis of information collected by the National Conference of State Legislatures, which looked at state laws surrounding dual employment, the practice of holding a paid position with the state in addition to an elected office. Out of the 15 states that forbid dual employment, the nonpartisan group found that several statesincluding Arizona, Arkansas, and Ohiomake specific exceptions for teachers and allow them to serve as legislators. Nicholas Birdsong, a policy associate for the NCSLs Center for Ethics in Government, said teachers are the most common exception to the rule, which is meant to avoid conflicts of interest. But at least four statesAlabama, Alaska, Missouri, and Michigandont make exceptions for teachers. If a teacher in one of those states runs for state legislature and is elected, she would have to quit her classroom job. See also: With Successful Strikes Behind Them, Teachers Are Now Running for Office While Alabamas ban on public school teachers serving in the state legislature is specified in the 2017 state code , Alaskas ban stems from a 1968 state Supreme Court ruling that sought to guard against conflicts of interest, self-aggrandizement, concentration of power, and dilution of separation of powers, and to preserve independence and integrity of action and decision on the part of lawmakers by ruling against teachers serving in the state legislature. And Michigans ban on teachers comes from a 1983 opinion by the then-Attorney General that said state legislators must resign from any public school employment. In 2013, Missouris law on legislators being unable to hold government jobs, including teaching, made headlines, after a special education teacher was elected to the state legislature. Rep. Bryan Spencer, a Republican, wanted to take an unpaid leave of absence from his teaching job, which he had had for 22 years. His school board refused to grant him one, and he was fired. Spencer challenged his dismissal in court, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch , arguing that he was denied leave due to his conservative views on educational issues. However, a jury ruled in favor of the school board. Spencer is now seeking re-election for the fourth time. Conflicting Schedules Even in states without these types of laws on the books, some teachers will need to take a leave of absence to serve in the state legislature. Depending on the legislatures calendar, it can be hard for state legislators to remain in the classroom full-timeespecially if they dont live or work near the state capitol. For example, Kentucky Rep. Derrick Graham was a high school teacher when he won office in 2002. He told the WDRB news site that he initially tried to teach in the mornings and be in the state House in the afternoons. But it was too challenging of a schedule, and eventually he started taking leaves of absences or had a long-term substitute in place during legislative sessions. Most teachers [running for office] are going to have to take a leave of absence, he said. These might be some of the reasons why K-12 teachers make up such a small portion of state legislators. According to NCSL data , 6 percent of state legislators are also educators, as of 2015. That number includes both K-12 teachers and college educators. Teachers are often underrepresented on state boards of education, too . Just eight states specifically set aside a seat for teachers, and of those, only four states give teachers voting rights. Another eight states expressly prohibit teachers from serving on state boards of education, which craft policies on curriculum and assessment, among other issues affecting classroom life. (The rest of the states either allow teachers to serve as board members or have no mention of policies prohibiting teachers from serving.) Librarian Maya Riser-Kositsky contributed to this post. Image: Jennifer Esau, an Oklahoma teacher who is running for a state Senate seat, in Claremore, Okla., leaves a house with her daughter Isabelle as they canvass her district for votes. Brandi Simons/Education Week-File A deployment shuffle for 2019 for Norwegian Cruise Line will help drive earnings performance, according to NCLH President and CEO Frank del Rio. The news start in China, where the Norwegian Joy will exit the market in favor of Alaska. The ship will transit to the West Coast and also drydock ahead of the Alaska season in 2019. On the company's Thursday second quarter earnings call, del Rio dismissed any concern about putting more capacity into Alaska. "The company has time and time again proven that we are able to profitably add new capacity in mature regions," said del Rio. "And you don't have to look very far back for the latest example of our ability to create quality demand that outstrips supply growth. Capacity in Alaska for the Norwegian brand grew 15 percent in 2018 as a result of the addition of Norwegian Bliss while ticket pricing improved a whopping 25 percent in the same period," he added. When not in Alaska, the Joy will sail a series of Mexican Riviera and Panama Canal voyages, a market del Rio said was underserved. "We are very excited to bring the new and premier cruise ship to this historically underserved West Coast market by providing winter sailings in the second largest metropolitan area in the country, which is a market riped with opportunity," he said. The Joy's deployment then frees up even more capacity. It will allow the Jewel to move back to Australia for a third season, adding new sailings to New Zealand, the company's sixth largest source market. The Norwegian Pearl will then move to Amsterdam, giving Norwegian six ships in Europe during the peak summer season. Malware definition Malware, short for malicious software, is a blanket term for viruses, worms, trojans and other harmful computer programs hackers use to wreak destruction and gain access to sensitive information. As Microsoft puts it, "[malware] is a catch-all term to refer to any software designed to cause damage to a single computer, server, or computer network." In other words, software is identified as malware based on its intended use, rather than a particular technique or technology used to build it. This means that the question of, say, what the difference is between malware and a virus misses the point a bit: a virus is a type of malware, so all viruses are malware (but not every piece of malware is a virus). Types of malware There are a number of different ways of categorizing malware; the first is by how the malicious software spreads. You've probably heard the words virus, trojan, and worm used interchangeably, but as Symantec explains, they describe three subtly different ways malware can infect target computers: A worm is a standalone piece of malicious software that reproduces itself and spreads from computer to computer. is a standalone piece of malicious software that reproduces itself and spreads from computer to computer. A virus is a piece of computer code that inserts itself within the code of another standalone program, then forces that program to take malicious action and spread itself. is a piece of computer code that inserts itself within the code of another standalone program, then forces that program to take malicious action and spread itself. A trojan is a program that cannot reproduce itself but masquerades as something the user wants and tricks them into activating it so it can do its damage and spread. Malware can also be installed on a computer "manually" by the attackers themselves, either by gaining physical access to the computer or using privilege escalation to gain remote administrator access. Another way to categorize malware is by what it does once it has successfully infected its victim's computers. There are a wide range of potential attack techniques used by malware: Spyware is defined by Webroot Cybersecurity as "malware used for the purpose of secretly gathering data on an unsuspecting user." In essence, it spies on your behavior as you use your computer, and on the data you send and receive, usually with the purpose of sending that information to a third party. A keylogger is a specific kind of spyware that records all the keystrokes a user makesgreat for stealing passwords. is defined by Webroot Cybersecurity as "malware used for the purpose of secretly gathering data on an unsuspecting user." In essence, it spies on your behavior as you use your computer, and on the data you send and receive, usually with the purpose of sending that information to a third party. A is a specific kind of spyware that records all the keystrokes a user makesgreat for stealing passwords. A rootkit is, as described by TechTarget, "a program or, more often, a collection of software tools that gives a threat actor remote access to and control over a computer or other system." It gets its name because it's a kit of tools that (generally illicitly) gain root access (administrator-level control, in Unix terms) over the target system, and use that power to hide their presence. is, as described by TechTarget, "a program or, more often, a collection of software tools that gives a threat actor remote access to and control over a computer or other system." It gets its name because it's a kit of tools that (generally illicitly) gain root access (administrator-level control, in Unix terms) over the target system, and use that power to hide their presence. Adware is malware that forces your browser to redirect to web advertisements, which often themselves seek to download further, even more malicious software. As The New York Times notes, adware often piggybacks onto tempting "free" programs like games or browser extensions. is malware that forces your browser to redirect to web advertisements, which often themselves seek to download further, even more malicious software. As The New York Times notes, adware often piggybacks onto tempting "free" programs like games or browser extensions. Ransomware is a flavor of malware that encrypts your hard drive's files and demands a payment, usually in Bitcoin, in exchange for the decryption key. Several high-profile malware outbreaks of the last few years, such as Petya, are ransomware. Without the decryption key, it's mathematically impossible for victims to regain access to their files. So-called scareware is a sort of shadow version of ransomware; it claims to have taken control of your computer and demands a ransom, but actually is just using tricks like browser redirect loops to make it seem as if it's done more damage than it really has, and unlike ransomware can be relatively easily disabled. is a flavor of malware that encrypts your hard drive's files and demands a payment, usually in Bitcoin, in exchange for the decryption key. Several high-profile malware outbreaks of the last few years, such as Petya, are ransomware. Without the decryption key, it's mathematically impossible for victims to regain access to their files. So-called is a sort of shadow version of ransomware; it claims to have taken control of your computer and demands a ransom, but actually is just using tricks like browser redirect loops to make it seem as if it's done more damage than it really has, and unlike ransomware can be relatively easily disabled. Cryptojacking is another way attackers can force you to supply them with Bitcoinonly it works without you necessarily knowing. The crypto mining malware infects your computer and uses your CPU cycles to mine Bitcoin for your attacker's profit. The mining software may run in the background on your operating system or even as JavaScript in a browser window. is another way attackers can force you to supply them with Bitcoinonly it works without you necessarily knowing. The crypto mining malware infects your computer and uses your CPU cycles to mine Bitcoin for your attacker's profit. The mining software may run in the background on your operating system or even as JavaScript in a browser window. Malvertising is the use of legitimate ads or ad networks to covertly deliver malware to unsuspecting users computers. For example, a cybercriminal might pay to place an ad on a legitimate website. When a user clicks on the ad, code in the ad either redirects them to a malicious website or installs malware on their computer. In some cases, the malware embedded in an ad might execute automatically without any action from the user, a technique referred to as a drive-by download. Any specific piece of malware has both a means of infection and a behavioral category. So, for instance, WannaCry is a ransomware worm. And a particular piece of malware might have different forms with different attack vectors: for instance, the Emotet banking malware has been spotted in the wild as both a trojan and a worm. A look at the Center for Internet Security's top 10 malware offenders for June of 2018 gives you a good sense of the types of malware out there. By far the most common infection vector is via spam email, which tricks users into activating the malware, Trojan-style. WannaCry and Emotet are the most prevalent malware on the list, but many others, including NanoCore and Gh0st, are what's called Remote Access Trojans or RATsessentially, rootkits that propagate like Trojans. Cryptocurrency malware like CoinMiner rounds out the list. How to prevent malware With spam and phishing email being the primary vector by which malware infects computers, the best way to prevent malware is make sure your email systems are locked down tightand your users know how to spot danger. We recommend a combination of carefully checking attached documents and restricting potentially dangerous user behavioras well as just familiarizing your users with common phishing scams so that their common sense can kick in. When it comes to more technical preventative measures, there are a number of steps you can take, including keeping all your systems patched and updated, keeping an inventory of hardware so you know what you need to protect, and performing continuous vulnerability assessments on your infrastructure. When it comes to ransomware attacks in particular, one way to be prepared is to always make backups of your files, ensuring that you'll never need to pay a ransom to get them back if your hard drive is encrypted. Malware protection Antivirus software is the most widely known product in the category of malware protection products; despite "virus" being in the name, most offerings take on all forms of malware. While high-end security pros dismiss it as obsolete, it's still the backbone of basic anti-malware defense. Today's best antivirus software is from vendors Kaspersky Lab, Symantec and Trend Micro, according to recent tests by AV-TEST. When it comes to more advanced corporate networks, endpoint security offerings provide defense in depth against malware. They provide not only the signature-based malware detection that you expect from antivirus, but anti-spyware, personal firewall, application control and other styles of host intrusion prevention. Gartner offers a list of its top picks in this space, which include products from Cylance, CrowdStrike, and Carbon Black. How to detect malware It's fully possibleand perhaps even likelythat your system will be infected by malware at some point despite your best efforts. How can you tell for sure? CSO columnist Roger Grimes has written a deep dive into how to diagnose your PC for potential malware that you might find helpful. When you get to the level of corporate IT, there are also more advanced visibility tools you can use to see what's going on in your networks and detect malware infections. Most forms of malware use the network to either spread or send information back to their controllers, so network traffic contains signals of malware infection that you might otherwise miss; there are a wide range of network monitoring tools out there, with prices ranging from a few dollars to a few thousand. There are also SIEM tools, which evolved from log management programs; these tools analyze logs from various computers and appliances across your infrastructure looking for signs of problems, including malware infection. SIEM vendors range from industry stalwarts like IBM and HP Enterprise to smaller specialists like Splunk and Alien Vault. Malware removal How to remove malware once you're infected is in fact the million dollar question. Malware removal is a tricky business, and the method can vary depending on the type you're dealing with. CSO has information on how to remove or otherwise recover from rootkits, ransomware, and cryptojacking. We also have a guide to auditing your Windows registry to figure out how to move forward. If you're looking for tools for cleansing your system, Tech Radar has a good roundup of free offerings, which contains some familiar names from the antivirus world along with newcomers like Malwarebytes. Malware examples We've already discussed some of the current malware threats looming large today. But there is a long, storied history of malware, dating back to infected floppy disks swapped by Apple II hobbyists in the 1980s and the Morris Worm spreading across Unix machines in 1988. Some of the other high-profile malware attacks have included: ILOVEYOU , a worm that spread like wildfire in 2000 and did more than $15 billion in damage , a worm that spread like wildfire in 2000 and did more than $15 billion in damage SQL Slammer , which ground internet traffic to a halt within minutes of its first rapid spread in 2003 , which ground internet traffic to a halt within minutes of its first rapid spread in 2003 Conficker , a worm that exploited unpatched flaws in Windows and leveraged a variety of attack vectors from injecting malicious code to phishing emails to ultimately crack passwords and hijack Windows devices into a botnet. , a worm that exploited unpatched flaws in Windows and leveraged a variety of attack vectors from injecting malicious code to phishing emails to ultimately crack passwords and hijack Windows devices into a botnet. Zeus , a late '00s keylogger Trojan that targeted banking information , a late '00s keylogger Trojan that targeted banking information CryptoLocker , the first widespread ransomware attack, whose code keeps getting repurposed in similar malware projects , the first widespread ransomware attack, whose code keeps getting repurposed in similar malware projects Stuxnet, an extremely sophisticated worm that infected computers worldwide but only did real damage in one place: the Iranian nuclear facility at Natanz, where it destroyed uranium-enriching centrifuges, the mission it was built for by U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies Malware trends You can count on cyber criminals to follow the money. They will target victims depending on likelihood of delivering their malware successfully and size of potential payout. If you look at malware trends over the past few years, you will see some fluctuation in terms of the popularity of certain types of malware and who the most common victims areall driven by what the criminals believe will have the biggest ROI. Recent research reports indicate some interesting shifts in malware tactics and targets. Cryptominers, which had surpassed ransomware as the most common type of malware, are falling out of favor due to the decline in cryptocurrency values. Ransomware is becoming more targeted, moving away from a shotgun approach. Malware attacks on businesses spike Businesses saw a 79 percent increase in the amount of malware they dealt with in 2018 over 2017, according to the Malwarebytes Labs State of Malware Report 2019. What we usually see year-end or quarterly end is that there has been some sort of increase or large amounts of detections on the consumer side, says Adam Kujawa, director of Malwarebytes Labs. On the business side it might slowly grow, but certainly nothing like weve seen this last six months. By comparison, consumer detections decreased by 3 percent over the same period. Weve observed that there is a significant push by cyber criminals to move away from consumers and put their really heavy stuff against businesses instead, Kujawa adds. That really heavy stuff comes largely in the form of older consumer-focused malware thats been weaponized to become a bigger, more versatile threat for business. Kujawa cites Emotet as one of the most significant. Its a nasty little information stealing Trojan that also installs additional malware, spreads laterally, and acts as its own spam sender. Once it infects a system, it starts sending email and tries to infect other people. Emotet has been around since 2014 and targeted mainly consumers. Originally, it infected a computer looking for an individuals financial or credit card information to steal. Since then, its picked up new capabilities inspired by or borrowed from other successful malware like Wannacry or EternalBlue. Now its become much more modular and we see it able to use these exploits to traverse through a corporate network whereas before they were limited to a single endpoint, says Kujawa. Even if its a small network in a small business, its more juicy than infecting Grandma. Lateral movement of malware is increasing, according to the Global Threat Report: The Year of the Next-Gen Cyberattack from Carbon Black. Nearly 60 percent of malware attacks on business are now designed to move laterally across a network. One reason for the spike in malware attacks on business might be the EUs General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR). Kujawa believes its possible that attackers stepped up business attacks thinking that it would be harder to steal personal and other data after the regulation went into effect. That combined with the decline of cryptocurrency values and stepped up defenses against ransomware turned attackers to what worked in the past. They always [go back to what works], he says. Cyber crime is cyclical. It always comes back around. Cryptomining attacks decline The Malwarebyte Labs report has seen a shift away from cryptomining starting in the second quarter of 2018, due largely to the decline in cryptocurrency values. Still, the number of cryptomining detections increased for the year by 7 percent. Instead, cyber criminals are turning to information stealing malware like Emotet to turn a profit. Overall, it seems as though criminals have reached the consensus that sometimes stealing is better than mining, the report stated. Ransomware becoming more targeted Kujawa notes that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are becoming more popular targets. He attributes this to the likelihood of being paid for ransomware attacksSMBs often cant afford the downtime and see paying ransom as the fastest way to recover. They also often softer targets than larger businesses. Ransomware detections actually declined by 26 percent worldwide in 2018, according to the Malwarebytes report. However, ransomware detections at businesses rose by 28 percent. Industries most often targeted were consulting, education, manufacturing and retail. Kujawa believes criminals focus on these industries because of opportunity and likelihood of ransoms being paid. More on malware This week on Salted Hash were joined by Lookouts Jeremy Richards, who manages the @PhishingAI account on Twitter, as well as a good friend and fellow reporter from Ars Technica. All this week, while were on location in Las Vegas, Salted Hash has been discussing phishing and the impact it has had on the public. Today, were getting an insider view on how @PhishingAI operates, and learning about a recent phishing campaign targeting Apple users. [ Check out these 11 phishing prevention tips for best technology practices, employee education and social media smarts. | Get the latest from CSO by signing up for our newsletters. ] The man behind PhishingAI: Jeremy Richards is clever, and when it comes to hunting and exposing phishing campaigns on behalf of Lookout, a mobile security company based in San Francisco, hes relentless. Currently, Lookout and Richards are processing about 4,000 phishing kits each month. But in order to do so, there is a lot of things happening on the backend. Weve written a bunch of code that looks at infrastructure and the way phishers set up their phishing sites, and so weve written code to analyze those, classify them, categorize them, and block them. What you see on PhishingAI is the stuff that bubbles up to the top the interesting things, Richards said during our chat. When the kits are discovered, Richards will alert the brands, who are really receptive to his efforts and work quickly to get them taken down. Often it is a matter of minutes from the time the PhishingAI account posts an alert, to the point when Googles anti-Phishing measures start issuing warnings to users. Oddly, it is the carelessness of the criminals behind the campaigns that helps researchers like Richards discover new kits and expose their methods. Many of the basic phishing campaigns targeting brands like Apple, Microsoft, Google, Pay Pal, or even governments, exist on servers with little to no effort made to obfuscate their intent or their methodologies. Its common to see a landing page in a given phishing attack expose the exact kit used to create it. Logs detailing the criminals actions, and identifying victims are also exposed. This helps researchers like Richards better inform brands and ISPs to problems, but no two criminals are alike, and the process isnt always that simple. This is why administrators have to work to secure their hosting environments and detect phishing kits as soon as possible, which is why Salted Hash released Kit Hunter this week. Moreover, registrars can do more to monitor domains when they are purchased in bulk and registered using terms that are clear examples of fraud. The jokes on you Dr. JOker: Sean Gallagher, the IT and national security editor at Ars Technica, published a report this week examining the birth of a phishing campaign targeting Apple users. Using a tool called Streaming Phish, which identifies phishing domains using certificate logs, Gallagher spotted a new domain being prepared for an Apple campaign. The kit discovered by Gallagher is similar to one we discussed earlier this year on Salted Hash. You might recall, we recorded the phishing kits look and actions form both the administrators and victims perspective, demonstrating that aside from a few cosmetic variations it was a near perfect clone of Apples website. Salted Hash is at DEF CON this weekend, so feel free to say hello when you see me out walking around. Keep an eye on this space too for any updates as the show progresses. Related Video: BRIDGEPORT - A Korean citizen who police said tracked his ex-girlfriend to Hawaii, Alaska and finally this city as she desperately tried to elude him, was ordered held in lieu of $125,000 bond on Friday. Kwak Kyu Dong, 61, who is charged with stalking, was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton. Through an interpreter, Dong told the judge he was simply on vacation here and wasnt stalking anyone. But Senior Assistant States Attorney Stephanie Damiani told the judge that Dong admitted to police he was lying in wait for the victim. Police said on Wednesday officers were dispatched to the parking lot behind the Bank of America on Main Street for a woman screaming. When officers arrived, police said they found Dong standing in front of a car staring at the female driver. Police said the woman was hysterically crying and only calmed down after they had Dong handcuffed and in the back of a police car. Police said the woman told them she had been in an abusive relationship with Dong but had managed to escape. He had tracked her to Hawaii, so she fled to Alaska and then finally to a friends home here, police said. But Dong had managed to get the womans bank account information and police said he was waiting for her when she came out of the bank after making a withdrawal BRIDGEPORT The state was ordered Friday to pay $3.3 million to the family of a 23-year-old woman who died shortly after being treated at the University of Connecticut Health Center in 2012. Following trial, Superior Court Judge Cesar Noble found doctors at the medical center committed medical malpractice in the death of Marguerite Miceli and awarded her family $1.3 million in economic damages, and $2 million in noneconomic damages. The tragedy is that UConn was the only hospital Marguerite trusted, and they not only turned their back on her in her hour of need, they abused her trust even after her death in an effort to avoid accountability, said her familys lawyer, Joshua Koskoff. State officials did not immediately comment on the verdict. In September 2012, Miceli, a pharmacy student at St. Josephs College, was driven to the UConn Health Center emergency room by her mother, according to the lawsuit against the state hospital. Miceli suffered from lupus an autoimmune disease that required monitoring and symptom management and which sometimes caused her to be short of breath. On that night, however, Miceli arrived at the emergency department with severe shortness of breath that had been worsening, coupled with an alarming episode of neurologic symptoms one side of her face went numb and her speech became slurred the suit states. According to the lawsuit, the symptoms required the emergency room doctor to order a routine blood test, which would have revealed that Miceli was suffering from a blood disorder that is fatal if not treated promptly. But the suit states that the test was not ordered and Miceli was discharged. She returned to the hospital 32 hours later, but it was too late to save her life, the suit states. Unfortunately, UConn did everything in its power to avoid owning up to the poor care they gave Marguerite, said Koskoff, who tried the case with Katie Mesner-Hage. They defended their decision to withhold the most routine test in medicine; they claimed Marguerite was going to die even with treatment, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary; and they even tried to convince Marguerites treating doctors to testify against her without authorization from her family. MILFORD For 14 years, the 14th District state Senate seat has been a Democratic stronghold with Gayle Slossberg holding it tight. But this year Slossberg chose not to run for an eighth term. And J.R. Romano, the state Republican chairman, would like nothing more than to paint that blue seat red. This is one of two open seats, said Romano, referring to the one vacated by Ted Kennedy Jr. in the 12th which includes Branford, North Branford and Madison. Weve had the 14th before. Theres no reason why we cant retake it. But first, the 9,60 Republican households have to decide on their candidate. Will it be Anthony Giannattasio, a seven-term Milford alderman and owner of the Milford Barrel Co. in New Haven, who is the party-endorsed candidate? Or will it be Pam Staneski, a former Milford alderwoman and Board of Education member who has spent the past four years in Hartford as the state representative from the 119th. The winner will take on James Maroney, a former Democratic state representative in the 119th. He has won and lost in battles with Staneski.. Its a very important race for us, Romano said. Going into 2018, if the Democrats had the majority in the state Senate we would have tolls and tax increases. But because there was an 18-18 deadlock, we were able to stop that. Now, we have the ability to be in the majority in the Senate, win the governors race and take this state in a more fiscally sound direction. The 14th Senate district covers all of Milford and Orange and parts of Woodbridge and West Haven. Staneski said there are roughly 9,600 households in those municipalities that have a Republican registered voter. On Thursday night, two-dozen people were making calls on Staneskis behalf at her Boston Post Road headquarters just across the street from Shop Rite. She said the district is very diverse, noting that Milford, Orange and Woodbridge are fairly well-run while West Haven faces possible state takeover. West Haven needs somebody who will be their voice in Hartford as they move forward to solvency making sure theyre putting in the right policies at the local level ... advocating for the city on their needs ... and if they need legislation, someone who can write the legislation and make sure there are no loopholes the state can come back on, she said. West Haven also was the deciding factor in giving Giannattasio the party endorsement when their delegates voted in block giving him a 13-12 win.. I have a lot of support in West Haven, said Giannattasio, as he was working in his Bridgeport Avenue headquarters in Devon. West Haven has been ignored by this district for too long. It has a beautiful shoreline and a great business district on Campbell Avenue. Why shouldnt it prosper the way Milford has? Both candidates tout the party line lower taxes, no tolls, less regulations claiming this adds up to new businesses and more jobs. Were facing a $4-6 billion deficit, pension liabilities that have to be addressed and people with needs that have to be met without having communities get whacked, Staneski said. I believe that my experience as a two-term state representative for the 119th has provided me the insight to what it takes from Day one to represent the 14th Senate district. Giannattasio claims his life growing up in the family business Milford Barrel and watching his mother succeed with her Visions Hair Salon in Milford make him the better candidate for helping the business community. I know the challenges of having to make a payroll each week as well as having to deal with burdensome regulations that are hurting our businesses and holding our economy hostage, he said. He chided Staneski for voting in favor of allowing undocumented noncitizen students to apply for financial aid from state colleges. The measure passed by a 91-59 vote. But Staneski said the vote on that measure was delayed for two years so certain requirements could be put in place. This is money the (state) universities and colleges set aside from tuition payments, she said. We put restrictions on that pool. She said the applicant has to be a Connecticut high school graduate, cant have a felony conviction, has to qualify under DACA and must have applied for citizenship. Giannattasio countered that state Rep. Themis Klarides, R-Derby, and Charles Ferraro, R-West Haven, voted against the bill. He said that shows Staneskis lack of understanding and total disregard for the current district she was elected to represent. Despite his claim, Klarides endorsed Staneski in this state Senate race. I look at this as my full-time job, said Staneski, a former substitute teacher. I tell people if you like what Im doing thank (former Milford Mayor) Jim Richetelli (who convinced her to run for the Board of Education seat). If you dont like what Im doing, blame Jim Richetelli. Hes my second-favorite bald-headed man in Milford. There have been many tech companies to emerge in the past several decades; perhaps none of which has been more influential than Apple. As the news broke that Apple had become the worlds first trillion-dollar company, all arguments against this were essentially put to rest. So, looking back at Apples illustrious 40+ years history, there are certainly a number of critical components that attributed to their superior positioning and success. Its quite fascinating to think that a tiny company that started in a garage is now the highest valued company in human history. These three factors led to this colossal milestone. 1. Breaking down the barriers of customer segments. An interesting observation of the United States and similar countries is that people on both extremes of the social class spectrum carry the same cell phone. That phone is, of course, the iPhone. Looking past some of the common pressures of consumerism, much of Apple becoming a worldwide phenomenon has to do with the way they market their products; both in the past and today. Most prominently, Apples view of their target customers was never restricted by demographic, certain characteristics or anything else that divides the market. Simply put, their target customer is everyone. This is why the term user-friendliness is one of the defining traits of each of Apples products. Going further, their mainstream ads and marketing content seldom uses fancy tech jargon about the product specs. Their messaging is meant to be understood by people of all ages and backgrounds. They focus on features that immediately affect the average user, such as the camera resolution, screen display, storage space, fingerprint identification, etc. By not breaking their customers up into strictly defined segments, Apples marketing has been appealing to generations of users, which has led to companys stock rising 15,000 percent since the turn of the millennium. Related: Apple's Board Says Tim Cook Has to Fly Private From Now on 'in the Interests of Security and Efficiency' 2. Creating a brand culture. Apple has a devoted following unlike any other brand in the world. Apple has become much more than just a brand. A long history of producing high quality products that everyone can use has spawned a brand culture that has become so ingrained in everyday life that many faithful Apple consumers wouldnt deviate from the products in a million years. This all started back in the early 1980s, right when the concept of having a home computer was just beginning to gain traction. Steve Jobs donated 9,000 Apple computers to California schools -- which many people thought was crazy. In addition to the tax benefits, the marketing strategy behind this was pure genius. Jobs goal was to leverage his Kids Cant Wait program to familiarize school children with Apple products usability before they got their own computer. This, in many ways, was the origin of Apple's brand culture. Fast forward to now. There are countless consumers out there who were raised using these computers in school. They wont use anything else, no matter what the technical aspects are. Related: How Steve Jobs Blew Up the Rules of Branding 3. Never fighting price wars. Many brands assume that price wars are just a part of industry competition. This was never the case with Apple. Throughout the years, they stuck to their pricing models despite being significantly higher than competitors. For example, lets take Apples MacBook Pro 13 and compare it to the HPs Spectre 13 (which are some of the latest models of each brand, respectively). While the specs are similar and each model has their own unique set of pros and cons, the MacBook Pro costs about $800 more. Why is this? Apple simply does not see other brands in their market as competition. Instead of trying to entice customers with low prices and win a race to the bottom, Apple blocked out the noise of what their competitors were doing and focused on promoting their unique value proposition -- beautiful design and a seamless customer experience right out of the box. The last thing in the world Steve Jobs wanted to do was undervalue the product. So, the purpose of this approach was to prove why their products are superior to other products on the market and worth the higher price. This practice has not only led to a strong brand following, it has worked to shape the way new tech products are created. Perhaps the clearest proof of this market superiority deals with cell phones. Prior to the original launch of the iPhone in 2007, cell phones came in all shapes and sizes. The diversity in design between brands was amazing. However, in the years since the iPhone came on the market most cell phones, regardless of brand, have a similar look. In turn, the iPhone has become the gold standard for new products on the market. The key takeaway from this practice? Dont always try to outdo your competitors with lower price points and bargains. Instead, put your efforts into showing the masses why your products and customer experience are superior. More importantly, have the goods to back it up. In the long run, it will pay off. Related: 3 Lessons About Setting Your Price Learned From a Vegas Prostitute Apple has changed much about how we live our day-to-day lives. Most importantly, it virtually changed the stigma surrounding technology as a whole. For years, the general perception of new technology was that its very complicated and tough to grasp. Apple showed the world that technology doesnt have to be this intimidating entity that only the savviest individuals can master. They proved that even the most cutting-edge products can be used by everyone, regardless of social class, level of expertise or age. In many ways, Apple sold people on more than just awesome products. Apple they sold people on a can-do mindset that resulted in mass adoption. Related: The Steve Jobs Equation for Tough Leadership 3 Key Factors That Led to Apple Becoming the World's First Trillion-Dollar Company iPhone no te espia, dice Apple Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Newly discovered vote-tallying discrepancies have whittled down the lead Kris Kobach held over incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Republican primary for Kansas governor. Kobach, a hard-line opponent of illegal immigration who campaigned as a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, originally had a 191-vote advantage over Colyer as of Wednesday. On Thursday, the state elections office said there had been an error in transmitting votes from Thomas County in northwestern Kansas, according to Colyer campaign spokesman Kendall Marr. "It looks like someone may have flipped a key or something," Marr told The Washington Post. "That error shortchanged Governor Colyer by 100 votes." State elections director Bryan Caskey confirmed the discrepancy. "I would say it's not uncommon for there to be mistakes discovered the next morning, keeping in mind [Election Night numbers] are unofficial and we are working as fast as possible to get information to the public," Caskey said. "Election results are a process, not a night." Thomas County elections clerk Shelly Harms said they had submitted 522 votes for Colyer on Tuesday night and a clerical error at the secretary of state's office caused it to be entered as 422 votes. To complicate matters, the Haskell County Clerk's Office said late Thursday afternoon that the secretary of state's website did not accurately reflect their county's numbers either. The Haskell County results should show 257 votes for Kobach and 220 votes for Colyer, instead of 110 for Kobach and 103 for Colyer. The latest adjustments mean Kobach's lead over Colyer has been reduced to 121 votes. Colyer refused to concede the race Wednesday, saying there were still thousands of provisional and mail-in ballots left to count. This newly discovered error only reinforced his resolve, Marr said. "This is exactly why we have canvass. It's exactly why we should be checking our math," Marr said. "This is exactly why Governor Colyer will make sure every legitimate vote is counted in this election." Preliminary results Wednesday showed Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state who previously served as vice chairman of Trump's now-disbanded voting integrity commission, had 126,257 votes to Colyer's 126,066, with 100 percent of precincts reporting. Kobach on Wednesday acknowledged that the results of the race could change as provisional ballots were counted but said he would begin campaigning immediately as if he were the winner. "We have only three months [until the general election], and if we spend a week of that three months doing absolutely nothing, then we will have given our opponents a sizable lead in the footrace that we have," Kobach said at a news conference Wednesday. "So it is imperative that we begin running . . . with the full knowledge that I may hand the baton off to Jeff." On Thursday, Colyer's campaign said the governor, like Kobach, would also continue campaigning as if he would be representing the Republican Party in November. "Well, we are going to continue running as if we are the nominee at this point," Marr said. "There's no reason not to continue to operate [so] until we find out otherwise." They have reason to want to get a jump on campaigning for the general election: The winner of the Republican primary will face the projected Democratic nominee, state Sen. Laura Kelly, and independent candidate Greg Orman in November. Kelly earned more than 50 percent of the vote Tuesday, in the state's first contested Democratic primary since 1998. Both parties are also aware that, since the 1960s, Kansas voters have not elected consecutive Democrats or Republicans to the governor's office. This year, the GOP in Kansas also must overcome the additional obstacle of convincing voters that conservative policies can still succeed in Kansas after then-Gov. Sam Brownback (R) enacted steep tax cuts that left the state's economy, infrastructure funding and education systems reeling. That may be more of a challenge for Kobach, who has vowed to cut taxes further and reduce the size of state government agencies. Democrats, however, see a Kobach candidacy giving them a better chance of taking back the office in November because he swings so far to the right, according to University of Kansas political scientist Burdett Loomis. "Their working assumption is Kobach is, for Democrats, the better choice to run against," Loomis said. "Even with an independent in the race, if you're [a Democrat] running against a Republican with a ceiling that might be in the mid- to low-40s, you can find a path to win." Kansas law does not call for an automatic recount in close races. Candidates may request a recount, and the cost is borne by the candidate or the counties, depending on the result. At Wednesday's news conference, Kobach acknowledged his dual role as partisan gubernatorial candidate and nonpartisan state elections official. He said if a recount were requested in the race, the votes would be tallied at the county level but that his office would act simply as a coordinating entity. Kobach is not required by law to recuse himself from the recount process. Even so, some independent experts and Kobach critics have called on the secretary of state to recuse himself from the process entirely, arguing that his role as a candidate presents a conflict of interest. Kobach said Thursday night that he will remove himself from the further counting of votes, the Associated Press reported, but he said that the move will be "symbolic," because counties do the work of counting votes. Colyer demanded Thursday that Kobach stop advising county election officials. Colyer's campaign said it had not focused on whether it would ask Kobach to recuse himself from the process in the event of a recount. "We're certainly not at a recount right now," Marr said. "We need to finish the original count." WASHINGTON - District leaders are preparing for what could be a contentious and trying day Sunday when the organizer of last year's deadly white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, holds an anniversary gathering with up to 400 supporters in Lafayette Square across from the White House. As many as 1,500 counterprotesters are expected at Lafayette Square and more at two nearby parks, setting up a possible volatile showdown that District and federal law enforcement officials say they are prepared to confront. Unlike in Charlottesville, where police allowed the opposing factions to clash in what turned into a bloody melee, Washington, D.C., Police Chief Peter Newsham said Thursday that the goal "will be to keep the two groups separate. . . . When they are in the same area at the same time, it leads to violent confrontations. Our goal is to prevent that from happening." The police chief said he wants a day in which "Nobody gets injured and nothing gets broke." Newsham joined other city officials and religious leaders to both denounce the white supremacists' message and to assure nervous residents and visitors that a plan to keep everyone safe is in place. They spoke at the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, where leaders urged a message of peace and inclusiveness, and noted that houses of worship and community centers would be open across the city for people wishing to contemplate a more uplifting message. "Very, very few of our visitors share the views that will be expressed in Lafayette Park on Sunday," Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, said. "We have people coming to our city for the sole purpose of spewing hate. It didn't make sense last year, and it doesn't make sense now. . . . While we are opposed adamantly to what we are going to hear, we know what our responsibility is - to protect First Amendment events, to protect Washingtonians and to protect our city." Though speeches at the rally aren't scheduled to begin until 5:30 p.m., some counterprotesters plan to start hours earlier, and police will start closing downtown streets at 8 a.m., mainly around the White House and into Foggy Bottom. Parking will be prohibited along the routes. Police warn that carrying firearms - even if licensed in the District - is prohibited within 1,000 feet of a First Amendment activity. The law allows officials to make that restriction to protect large gatherings. Authorities want to avoid a repeat of Aug. 12, 2017, when violent clashes broke out in Charlottesville, Virginia, on a day that ended with three people dead. Counterdemonstrator Heather Heyer was killed when a man who police say identified himself as a Nazi drove a car into a crowd, and two Virginia State Police troopers in a helicopter that had been monitoring the civil unrest died in a crash nearby. On Wednesday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, D, declared a state of emergency, allowing officials to marshal resources to prepare for the potential impact of events in and around Charlottesville and northern Virginia. Police at last year's event were criticized for being caught off guard by the violence, failing to keep feuding groups apart and not reacting quickly enough as fights broke out. Charlottesville this year denied organizer Jason Kessler a permit for a rally there, but he received final approval Thursday from the National Park Service for up to 400 participants at Lafayette Square for an event dubbed "Unite the Right 2." The Park Service also has approved a permit for the ANSWER Coalition and Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, which is combining forces with DC Unite Against Hate. Those groups also have permits for McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza. The protest rally at Freedom Plaza is scheduled to begin at noon and will include speakers and music. Organizers said that at approximately 3:30 p.m., participants will begin marching to Lafayette Square to voice their opposition to the white nationalists and white supremacists who are meeting there. Michael Shallal, a member of the D.C. chapter of the International Socialists Organization, one of the organizing groups of the Freedom Plaza rally, said that participants from the Washington region and up and down the East Coast will take part in Sunday's event. "Our main message is that we want people to see Kessler and his allies for what they really are," Shallal said. "They are not free-speech advocates for white rights but racist Nazis who want to have a nation for white people only." It is crucial, Shallal said, that counterprotesters far outnumber Kessler "to show that these ideas are not acceptable." Aside from controlling the location of the Unite the Right event itself - scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - authorities are particularly concerned with getting Kessler's group to and from Lafayette Square. Police are worried about clashes along the way into and through the city, and emails between Kessler, police and the National Park Service show that Kessler fears an ambush from counterprotesters. Initial plans were for Kessler's group to assemble at the Vienna Metro station in northern Virginia and take Metro to Foggy Bottom, then march to McPherson Square. But police and others decided McPherson Square was not good from a security perspective, and the group decided to go to Foggy Bottom. In early discussions, Kessler emailed the Park Service and said the location "will definitely get out to hostile counterdemonstrators." Officials quickly scuttled early talk of separate Metro cars to keep the groups separate after the union representing Metro's workforce, which is predominately people of color, balked at providing special service for racists. But Newsham, the District's police chief, remained elusive when discussing ingress and egress plans Thursday, insinuating that the means and route Kessler's group ultimately takes could and probably would change at the last minute. Police said they would have a heavy presence in and around Metro stations at Foggy Bottom and Vienna but would not say if they would give Kessler's group special protections on public transit. In addition to Kessler, also planning to attend the white-supremacist rally, according to documents obtained by Washington City Paper from the National Park Service, are David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, and several neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers. Their permit says they are "protesting civil rights abuse in Charlottesville." Richard Spencer, a leading white-nationalist leader who helped Kessler organize last year's event, has said he will not participate in Sunday's rally. Counterprotesters are expected to include members of antifa, an anti-fascist group, some of whose members rampaged through parts of the District on Inauguration Day employing "black bloc" tactics of breaking windows and setting fires. Also expected are members of Black Lives Matter, Shut It Down D.C. and other groups protesting a variety of topics, including immigration policies. Newsham said authorities are "intimately aware that the views being expressed on Sunday can strike to the core of a person's values. We are aware these views can awaken a passion within. We ask that those who attend not let their personal passion overtake their personal civility." Aaron Alexander, the senior rabbi at Adas Israel Congregation, said he wanted to "acknowledge and lift up the traumatized residents of Charlottesville for the pain they continue to experience. We see you, we are with you, and we hope our demonstrations of love across this city over the weekend gives you just a sliver of the comfort your deserve for standing on the front lines in a battle against hatred, bigotry, anti-Semitism and anti-supremacy." Bowser said she recently spoke with an elderly Washington, D.C., resident who told her she was afraid. "They've never come to Washington," the woman told the mayor. Bowser retold that story for reporters Thursday, calling it representative of anxiety felt throughout the city from people "who see Washington as a refuge from that type of hate, anti-Semitism, tiki-torch-burning and the like, and they don't want to see it here." But the mayor said residents also recognize that people with all sorts of views flock to the nation's capital. Residents, Bowser said, "want to make sure that kind of speech and hate rhetoric doesn't change us." --- The Washington Post's Marissa J. Lang contributed to this report. The seven years of Syria's crisis has cost half a million lives, displaced more than 5 million refugees and reordered the geopolitics of the Middle East. But the worst may be yet to come. Western policymakers cannot be allowed to turn the other way and need to show their mettle when the U.N. Security Council meets on Syria this month. In June, President Bashar Assad's forces stormed the southwestern region of Syria, where the uprising began. Within weeks, they took control of the border crossings with Jordan that had been used by aid agencies to supply cross-border aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrians in desperate need. My organization, the International Rescue Committee, with its network of Syrian partner organizations, was the largest health-care provider in southern Syria, supporting more than a quarter of a million Syrians. Now we are shut out, with no access to those people in need. And we don't know the fate of those we were serving. The assurances from the Syrian government inspire little confidence in light of the conditions in other areas previously retaken by the regime (like Ghouta, east of Damascus). Even humanitarian partners authorized to work inside Syria have yet to receive permission from the Assad government to deliver much-needed aid into many areas newly under government control. Humanitarian aid has been blocked, but the needs are likely growing, given the brutality of the offensive to retake Daraa, which drove hundreds of thousands of Syrians from their homes in just a matter of days. These populations are highly vulnerable to retaliation attacks as Assad's government reasserts its control, which could include forced military conscription, denial of humanitarian aid, and sexual abuses against women and young girls. With aid agencies banished and cross-border humanitarian access now lost, the U.N. Security Council should demand unfettered humanitarian access to the south, to monitor the protection of Syrian civilians and the fair distribution of aid. Any crimes committed must be recorded, with full accountability for perpetrators under international law. And both humanitarian workers and recipients of humanitarian aid, who lived for years under opposition control, must not face any consequences now that they live under government control. Equal attention must also now turn to the northwest of Syria around Idlib. This is where there is the greatest risk of a new humanitarian disaster. Armed opposition groups from elsewhere in the country have been deported there under so-called reconciliation agreements and are preparing for a last stand against the Assad regime. Standing between rebels and the regime are 2.6 million civilians, half of whom have already been displaced at least once by fighting. One million seven hundred thousand people already need humanitarian aid to survive. Almost 70,000 have fled from the horrors of Eastern Ghouta, where they had been living under siege for up to five years. Russia has made itself a central player in the Syrian war. At the end of July, it met with Turkey and Iran in Sochi, Russia, to discuss the prospects in Idlib. But one-off deals to plan military offensives, not protect civilians, are dangerous. They have excluded the United Nations and sidelined its peace-making process. The Security Council needs to reassert itself. It is vital that the Western countries that are permanent members of the council - the United States, France and Britain (P3) - use their voice and influence to protect civilians in northwest Syria. The P3 must demand, first, that the parties involved should suspend any planned attacks and revitalize U.N.-led peace talks. De-escalation areas and reconciliation agreements have not protected Syrians or humanitarian law - the two biggest victims of this long and lawless war. Second, the Turkish military's 12 observation posts in Idlib should be opened to U.N. officials to deter any abuses of international humanitarian law. Turkey should allow full humanitarian access to northwest Syria across its border. Third, there must also be a backstop guarantee that, in the case of any conflict, there must be safe routes and an open border into Turkey for civilians running for their lives. Assad and the Russian government want to play by their own rules to win the war and then get the West to pay for rebuilding Syria. They need to be disabused of this illusion. Critically, it must be made clear that without a comprehensive, genuine and inclusive political transition as a product of negotiations in Geneva, and guarantees for Syrians' safety now, Western funding for reconstruction aid for a post-conflict Syria remains off the table. There is leverage in Western money but also in Western presence. The northeast of the country is currently under Kurdish control, with 2,000 U.S. troops providing an insurance policy against attacks against civilians by the Assad regime. President Trump should understand this leverage, too - and not speculate, as he did recently, about a withdrawal. Syrians have paid the price for their president's impunity. Assad is in a stronger position now than he has been in years. Someone needs to stand up for the lesson that winning the war is not the same as winning the peace. - - - Miliband is president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee. Joe Ganim accused his rival Ned Lamont Friday of illegally coordinating with the campaigns of Democrats running for the state House of Representatives. Ned Lamonts campaign is secretly and possibly illegally been receiving the equivalent of thousands of dollar of benefits from other campaign committees widespread across the state, said Ganim, who is running against Lamont in Tuesdays Democratic primary for governor. This is the type of thing that erodes our confidence in primary system as it did in the (Hillary) Clinton Bernie Sanders primary where things came out later about these types of activities. High taxes and the high cost of living in Connecticut will be foremost in voters minds when they head to the primary polls Tuesday, a new Sacred Heart University poll found. The top issues driving voters behavior heading into the race for governor was the high overall tax burden (32.1 percent) or high cost of living (21.9 percent) in Connecticut, said Professor Lesley DeNardis, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy at Sacred Heart, of the poll results released Friday. The statewide public policy poll was conducted from mid-July to early August and asked 53 questions of 1,003 state residents. The poll contains a margin for error of plus or minus 3 percent. Results showed more than 90 percent of voters will keep a candidates leadership qualities, accomplishments, priorities and goals for the state in mind when casting this vote. Comparatively, the candidates prior government experience was important to just 67.3 percent of residents, said DeNardis. The primaries have drawn many business leaders who lack government experience. (The poll) kind of contradicts the idea that voters now are universally in favor of having outsiders come in, said Ronald Schurin, associate professor of political science at the University of Connecticut. I would like to know how the Republicans and Democrats come down on that one. But Gayle Alberda, assistant professor of politics at Fairfield University, thought outsiders, like gubernatorial candidates Ned Lamont, a Democrat, and Republicans Steve Obsitnik, Bob Stefanowski and David Stemerman could see an edge based on these poll results. That would put the three town officials running for governor Democrat Joe Ganim mayor of Bridgeport, and Republicans Mark Boughton mayor of Danbury and Tim Herbst, first selectman of Trumbull behind. The poll does not suggest any one candidate is more likely to win Tuesday than another, Alberda and Schurin said. The Connecticut-specific poll, conducted by GreatBlue Research Inc., conducted on behalf of the SHU Institute for Public Policy, found more than 60 percent of respondents said it was difficult to maintain a standard of living on their household income in Connecticut. 94 percent of respondents ranked Connecticuts high cost of living among their greatest concerns, followed closely by the states high tax burden at 91 percent. On other topics, 73.4 percent of residents were worried about education inequality and 67 percent fretted over migration out of Connecticut. A large majority of respondents agreed that Connecticut is not a draw for tourists or businesses now. What should Connecticut do about it? 92 percent of respondents want to see Connecticut improve its highways and three-quarters supported expanding public transportation. About half supported creating policies that make it easier to start a new business. A strong focus on the cost of living, as shown in the poll, could lead voters to negatively perceive candidates who are wealthy, said Alberda. Right now is prime time for voters to make up their minds, said Alberda. If I was a campaign manager and I saw these results, I would say we are talking about these issues and these issues only. Real estate industry disruptor Zillow made big news last week when it announced it had acquired Mortgage Lenders of America. The digital firms step or rather, leap into the lending space has quite a few traditional lenders wondering, what does this mean for us? Getting a mortgage can be the toughest, most painstaking and time-consuming part of the home-buying process, Greg Schwartz, president of media and marketplaces at Zillow Group, said in a press release. We believe that having our own mortgage origination service as an option for consumers will allow us to streamline the process for people who buy a Zillow-owned home. Wait, did he say a Zillow-owned home? He did. Earlier this year, Zillow expanded its digital home-selling marketplace by adding a home-buying program that offered sellers fast cash for their properties. With the further addition of mortgage lending, its easy to see the future Zillow has in mind. By connecting buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, Zillow becomes a powerful real estate ecosystem, solving every problem confronted during a real estate transaction. In what appears to be Zillows attempts to calm the nerves of other lenders, the firm says its advertising products for lenders remains an important and growing part of the business. In 2017, consumers submitted 23 million loan requests through Zillow. Mortgage Lenders of America, on the other hand, originated just 4,400 mortgage loans leaving plenty of opportunity for independent lenders to continue to advertise and build their businesses on the Zillow Group platform. Thats all fine for now. But, at the end of the day, Zillows move points to a much shakier future. Young digital companies like Zillow are gaining marketshare and trust, creeping in on members from all directions. Thats not to make them sound nefarious; what they are doing is smart, and actually, pretty consumer-centric. When digital companies see an opportunity to make life easier for users, they chase it whole hog. A fail-forward mentality drives them to pursue ideas, solve problems and buy up any expertise they dont have bringing new solutions to the market with incredible speed. How can credit unions respond? While Zillows move may be a bit nerve-wracking from a competitive lens, it does not signal the end of mortgage lending for credit unions. It may, however, require a shift in thinking to compete. Here are a few places to start. Focus on trust. If theres an area credit unions have a significant leg up on the new digital competition, its trust. Digital marketplaces connect unknown third parties, which is still uncomfortable for some. Its one thing to deal with a stranger on the sale of an old couch, quite another to sell your home for cash. That said, Zillows user base of 175 million (the sites average monthly unique users) is pretty strong evidence that societys discomfort with stranger-to-stranger digital transactions is waning. Keep in mind, trust grows with scale. As more people have great experiences with Zillow and similar marketplaces, theyll tell their neighbors, and brand trust will grow exponentially. Thats a pretty big threat to community financial institutions. As you consider how you will continue to market and grow your credit unions lending program, think about all the people youve guided through the purchase of their first, second or third homes. Tell those stories and show how the experience is easy, personal and enjoyable. Better yet, empower your members tell those stories for you. Take a page from their book. Startups and digital-first companies are in a constant state of evolution. How they begin is hardly how they will finish. Who could have predicted Amazon, an online marketplace for book sellers and buyers, would one day own Whole Foods? Many legacy companies are following suit. Look at how Walmart has so deftly worked its way into financial services. How can your lending team take a similar iterative approach? What tangential needs of your borrowers you can help meet? Storage? Moving? How can that become a part of your services in a digitally forward way? Get onboard the digital train. Being digital means so much more than having an online application. Its about evolving to become that ecosystem of problem solving for your members. Evaluate your current lending program to determine the biggest gaps in the borrower experience. Are you falling short on speed? On ease of use? On channel delivery? The next step is determining if its easier to build your own solutions or to partner with a collaborator, preferably one that understands the credit union difference, to get to those solutions at the speed of your digital competitors. The web-based LenderClose platform, for example, uses API integrations to bring everything lenders require to originate a mortgage or HELOC under a single access point. This allows lending staff to run a streamlined and vastly accelerated underwriting process borrowers feel right away the kind of experience they tell neighbors about. The rush of digital and legacy firms going after your members business isnt about to slow down. But with a willingness to shift your strategy along with a little creative thinking and some proactive steps your credit union will continue to thrive, perhaps even grow, in the digital era. Billie Zahurak plans annual event to continue husband's pledge of support to the United Way news On the recent demise of Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the poet, politician and the patriarch of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of Tamil Nadu, Magsaysay award winner Carnatic vocalist TM Krishna tweeted, M Karunanidhi was probably the only politician in the world who was referred to as an artist (kalaignar), a novelist, playwright and screenplay writer. When one journalist corrected him to say that there had been other artist-poet-politicians in the world, like Vaclav Havel from the Czech Republic, Krishna stressed that it was only Karunanidhi whose identity as Kalaignar among the people preceded his life as a politician. While the claim can be doubted or challenged, one thing is certain both the Tamil and Czech leaders have many things in common and this deserves a comparative study to understand their lasting impact in their respective countries. Both are in a way contemporaries and became famous through their plays and films in the 50s and 60s. Reading and knowing about their lives make us rethink how art and literature are inherently political in nature and an artiste can actually don the robe of politician with great confidence and charisma. Vaclav Havel, the leader of the bloodless Velvet Revolution in 1989 that led to the fall of the erstwhile communist regime in Czechoslovakia and also of the USSR, became its President till its peaceful dissolution on January 1, 1993 into two sovereign countries the Czech Republic and Slovakia. But not only just as a statesman who was sought after by every leader in the West as a guiding light on the east side of the Iron Curtain, he was also famous and respected as an absurdist playwright who received the nomination for the Noble Prize in Literature. His art was essentially rooted in the politics of his time. At the height of the Cold War, he wrote an essay titled The Power of the Powerlessness and declared A specter is haunting Eastern Europe: the specter of what in the West is called dissent. Muthuvel Karunanidhi. (Photo: PTI) This essay, which essentially argued that even the most oppressive regimes depend on a certain amount of compliance by the people it governs, became the manifesto of every dissident to fight communism in Eastern Europe. According to Professor Timothy Gordon Ash at Oxford University, Havel was not just the dissent; he was the epitome of the dissent, as we come to understand that novel term. He further says it was Havel who with the eloquence of a professional playwright and the authority of a former political prisoner, reminded us of the historical and moral dimensions of the European project. Karunanidhi, on the other hand, had become the unquestionable leader of the non-Hindi citizens in India and, had he been successful in his dream of a truly federal Indian Union, we would be mourning a global leader today instead of bracketing him as a regional stalwart. Karunanidhi is the name of another dissent to the Indian project which wanted to impose Hindi nation-wide and usurp all regional identities. In 1965, it was his leadership that stopped the-then Congress government in Delhi to make Hindi the sole official language of the country. When the chants of Hindi Ozhiga, Tamil Vaazhga (Down with Hindi and long live Tamil) filled the air everywhere, he was at the forefront with Tamil people. Even two years ago, when the Modi government planned to introduce Sanskrit in schools, he expressed his dissent again and warned, We will not allow domination of Sanskrit not only in Tamil Nadu, but in any state. We will chase it away. He spoke for all non-Hindi-speaking citizens of the country when he demanded official status at par with Hindi for all languages placed in the Eighth Schedule. Their love for their mother tongue was unparalleled, and it reflected in their politics and art as well. Both Havel and Karunanidhi always made it a point to give media interviews in their first language. Their plays and cinemas spoke truth to power. If Karunanidhi scripted the most famous film Parashakti (1952) to encourage a new form of political imagination and the growth of the Dravidian movement in India by speaking against caste hegemonies, Havel wrote a play called Memorandum (1965), in which he invented "Ptidepe", a new government language whose least used words are the longest. It was the most successful demonstration of his talent for the absurd and offered a strong critique against the totalitarian bureaucracy in power at that time. Vaclav Havel. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Jiri Jiroutek) But Karunanidhi is also different from Havel in many ways their views on religion are exactly the opposite of each other. In a country like India where religion runs deep, he never lost an election in the last 60 years and led a region bigger than the Czech Republic, despite openly declaring himself as an atheist and rational person. On the other hand, Havel condemned the present as the first atheist civilisation which lost its connection with the infinite and with eternity. He famously invited the Pope to the Czech Republic after becoming President, much to the criticism of many. So, who is greater amongst the both? Can we call Havel the Kalaignar of the Czech Republic or name Karunanidhi as Havel of India? There is no satisfactory answer to these questions. These nomenclatures exist because of the ways through which power, wealth and information are used to create imbalances among various regions and establish hegemonies. Karunanidhis lifelong politics on Tamil self-assertion was to fight against these regional imbalances and hegemonic processes. This ran through his politics and his art, till the very last. Also read: Why Tamil cinema will never forget 'Kalaignar' Karunanidhi Posted on: August 10, 2018 1:31 PM The Bishop of Daejeon, Moses Nak Jun Yoo, has been elected as Primate of the Anglican Church of Korea. Bishop Moses was elected at the Provinces General Assembly to succeed Bishop Onesimus Park, the Bishop of Busan, whose term of office had come to an end. Bishop Moses will serve as Primate for the next two years. The General Assembly also appointed a new General Secretary, Peter Jun Gi Choi. In a message to the Anglican Communion Office, the proivince asked for your continuing prayer for the new leadership and churches of the Anglican Church of Korea. In his inaugural address, Bishop Moses spoke about Jesus calming a storm, and described the Anglican Church as being a ship heading towards God. We must fill the ship of the Anglican Church with the oil of the Gospel, and sail through loving collaboration, he said. Through us, we must become tools of evangelisation that enable us to live in God in us. Evangelisation is possible only in the Spirit of God. When we preach the gospel in the Spirit of God, live in righteousness in the Spirit of God, live in the Spirit of God in the Spirit of God, and resist the in-humanisation in the Spirit of God, a smooth sailing will unfold. This communion in the Spirit of God is a communion, and this is the premise that other things become possible, he said. If we try to reflect on it, we will be the first priority. If the premise is weak, or if it falls out, we will be shaken by the ship, and the anxiety has made our identity blurred. The first thing we should do in the Korean Anglican ship is to live a spiritual fellowship in God. In order to become a Christian church that lives a communal life that communicates in the spirit of God, we must first engrave Gods Word in our hearts. The power to keep the Word comes from prayer. We must internalise the Word and pray daily for others on this basis. SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank that provides various financial services for consumers, businesses, corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit entities in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer and Wholesale. The Consumer segment provides deposits and payments; home equity and personal credit lines; auto, student, and other lending products; credit cards; discount/online and full-service brokerage products; professional investment advisory products and services; and trust services, as well as family office solutions. This segment also offers residential mortgage products in the secondary market. The Wholesale segment provides capital markets solutions, including advisory, capital raising, and financial risk management; asset-based financing solutions, such as securitizations, asset-based lending, equipment financing, and structured real estate arrangements; cash management services and auto dealer financing solutions; investment banking solutions; and credit and deposit, fee-based product offering, multi-family agency lending, advisory, commercial mortgage brokerage, and tailored financing and equity investment solutions. This segment also offers treasury and payment solutions, such as operating various electronic and paper payment types, which comprise card, wire transfer, automated clearing house, check, and cash; and provides services clients to manage their accounts online. The company offers its products and services through a network of traditional and in-store branches, automated teller machines, Internet, mobile, and telephone banking channels. As of December 31, 2018, it operated 1,218 full-service banking offices located in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. SunTrust Banks, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Read More Posted on: August 10, 2018 2:16 PM Church volunteers are stepping in to provide food and support for struggling families as cuts to public spending impact on child poverty, the Church in Wales said this week during an event at The Eisteddfod, the annual cultural festival. The audience at the event heard stories of children struggling to keep up with school homework because their families couldnt afford a computer or internet access, going hungry in holidays and parents not being able to afford school uniforms. The also heard that funding cuts were threatening Church-run family centres in some of the most deprived areas of the country. Estimates suggest that some 200,000 children in Wales are living in poverty, with cutbacks in benefits and public funding for family services significantly adding to the problem. The Welsh Government recently said it would not be able to reach its target of ending child poverty by 2020. At this weeks Church in Wales event, A Poor Upbringing?, Archbishop John Davies introduced a panel discussion to highlight the issue and provide an opportunity for people to explore what could be done to help those in need; and the Bishop of Bangor, Andy John interviewed the Childrens Commissioner for Wales, Dr Sally Holland, about her research work this year on childhood poverty. Poverty in childhood is an issue the Church is acutely aware of due to the work of our family centres, community projects, foodbanks, holiday hunger schemes and our collaboration with the Childrens Society, Archbishop John said. We see at first-hand how poverty is affecting children across Wales and how the demand for these services continues to increase. We fear many children in Wales are having their childhood blighted by poverty a poor upbringing. We welcome this opportunity to highlight our concerns and help inform the Childrens Commissioners work focused this year on child poverty. The Bishop of Bangor, Andy John, interviews the Childrens Commissioner for Wales, Dr Sally Holland. Photo: Church in Wales Dr Holland said: Without a doubt, child poverty is the biggest challenge facing Welsh Government today. We know the scale of the problem, and we know that those families in the most vulnerable positions need more help. Churches do some important work to support families who are living in poverty, including food banks, and organising free packed lunches for children at holiday clubs over the summer to replace their free school meals and ensure they dont go hungry. These are some examples of the initiatives that can really make a difference to the most vulnerable families. This year, my office will be meeting with children, parents and professionals from across Wales to hear what they think needs to change, and what extra support they need. Well then be recommending concrete steps that Welsh Government and local authorities can take to reduce the impact of poverty on the most vulnerable children and their families. The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Advisors S.r.l., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd., AIG Asset Management (Europe) Limited, AIG Asset Management (U.S.) LLC, AIG Assurance Company, AIG Australia Limited, AIG Brazil Holding I LLC, AIG CIS Investments LLC, AIG Canada Holdings Inc., AIG Capital Corporation, AIG Capital Services Inc., AIG Claims Inc., AIG Egypt Insurance Company S.A.E., AIG Employee Services Inc., AIG Europe (Services) Limited, AIG Europe Holdings S.a.rl., AIG Europe S.A., AIG Federal Savings Bank, AIG Financial Products Corp., AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp., AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., AIG Global Reinsurance Operations, AIG Holdings Europe Limited, AIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, AIG Insurance Company China Limited, AIG Insurance Company JSC, AIG Insurance Company of Canada, AIG Insurance Company-Puerto Rico, AIG Insurance Hong Kong Limited, AIG Insurance Limited, AIG Insurance Management Services Inc., AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, AIG International Holdings GmbH, AIG Investments UK Limited, AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd, AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha, AIG Kenya Insurance Company Limited, AIG Korea Inc., AIG Latin America I.I., AIG Latin America Investments S.L., AIG Lebanon SAL, AIG Life Holdings Inc., AIG Life Insurance Company (Switzerland) Ltd, AIG Life Limited, AIG Life South Africa Limited, AIG Life of Bermuda Ltd., AIG MEA Holdings Limited, AIG MEA Limited, AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AIG Markets Inc., AIG Matched Funding Corp., AIG PC Global Services Inc., AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., AIG Property Casualty Company, AIG Property Casualty Inc., AIG Property Casualty International LLC, AIG Property Casualty U.S. Inc., AIG Re-Takaful (L) Berhad, AIG Resseguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., AIG Shared Services Corporation, AIG South Africa Limited, AIG Specialty Insurance Company, AIG Technologies Inc., AIG Travel Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., AIG Travel Assist Inc., AIG Travel Assist Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., AIG Travel EMEA Limited, AIG Travel Inc., AIG Uganda Limited, AIG Vietnam Insurance Company Limited, AIG WarrantyGuard Inc., AIG-FP Pinestead Holdings Corp., AIG-Metropolitana Cia. de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A., AIGGRE EOLA LLC, AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund I GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I LP, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund II GP LLC, AIU Insurance Company, AM Holdings LLC, Ageas Protect, AlphaCat Managers Ltd., American General Corporation, American General Life Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Co. Ltd., American Home Assurance Company, American Home Assurance Company Escritorio de Representacao no Brasil Ltda., American International Group Inc., American International Group UK Limited, American International Overseas Association, American International Overseas Limited, American International Realty Corp., American International Reinsurance Company Ltd., American International Underwriters del Ecuador-Holding S.A., American Security Life Insurance Company Limited, Arthur J. Glatfelter Agency Inc., Avondhu Limited, Blackboard Customer Care Insurance Services LLC, Blackboard Insurance Company, Blackboard Services LLC, Blackboard Specialty Insurance Company, Blackboard U.S. Holdings Inc., Chartis Takaful Enaya B.S.C. (c), Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Crop Risk Services Inc., Eaglestone Reinsurance Company, Ellipse, Fortitude Group Holdings LLC, Fortitude Life & Annuity Solutions Inc., Fortitude Reinsurance Company Ltd., Franklin Life Insurance Company, Fuji Fire and Marine, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Globe and Rutgers Insurance Group, Grand Isle SAC Limited, Granite State Insurance Company, Group Risk Services Limited, Group Risk Technologies Limited, Illinois National Insurance Co., Jefferson Eola Venture LLC, Johannesburg Insurance Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Laya Healthcare Limited, Lexington Insurance Company, MG Reinsurance Limited, Mt. Mansfield Company Inc., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh Pa., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Vermont, New Hampshire Insurance Company, PT AIG Insurance Indonesia, Pine Street Real Estate Holdings Corp., Private Joint-Stock Company AIG Ukraine Insurance Company, Risk Specialists Companies Insurance Agency Inc., SA Affordable Housing LLC, SAFG Retirement Services Inc., Service Net Warranty LLC, Stratford Insurance Company, SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management LLC, Talbot Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Ltd., Thai CIT Holding Company Limited, The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, Travel Guard, Travel Guard Group Canada Inc./Groupe Garde Voyage du Canada Inc., Travel Guard Group Inc., Tudor Insurance Company, VALIC Financial Advisors Inc., Valic Retirement Services Company, Validus Holdings, Validus Holdings (UK) Ltd., Validus Holdings Ltd., Validus Reinsurance (Switzerland) Ltd, Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Validus Ventures Ltd., Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services Inc., Western World Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Group Inc.. Power Financial Corporation provides financial services in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia. It offers life, disability, critical illness, and health insurance products, as well as wealth savings and income products, and specialty products. The company also provides financial products, including employer-sponsored defined contribution plans, individual retirement accounts, enrollment services, communication materials, investment options and education services, fund management services, and investment and advisory services. In addition, it offers protection and wealth management products, such as payout annuity products; reinsurance products; and sub-advisory services. Further, the company provides mutual funds, pooled funds, segregated funds, separate accounts, and other investment vehicles; securities, mortgages, and other financial services; and investment management services. It offers its products primarily through distribution network of third-party financial advisors, consultants, and independent financial advisors. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Montreal, Canada. Power Financial Corporation is a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada. Read More Grupo Supervielle SA operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of banking services. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Treasury, Consumer, Insurance and Asset Management and Other Services. The Retail Banking segment involves in granting of loans and other credit products such as deposits of physical persons. The Corporate Banking segment focuses in advisory services at a corporate and financial level, as well as the administration of assets and loans targeted to big clients. The Treasury segment operates with Government Securities of the Group, syndicated loans, and financial lease. The Consumer segment consists of loans and other credit products targeted to middle and lower-middle income sectors and non-financial products and services. The Insurance segment comprises insurance products, with a focus on life insurance. The Asset Management and Other Services segment offers mutual funds and other products and services. The company was founded on October 8, 1979 and is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Read More Rolls-Royce Holdings plc operates as an industrial technology company in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Civil Aerospace, Power Systems, Defence, and ITP Aero. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services. The Power Systems segment provides high-speed and medium-speed reciprocating engines, and propulsion and power generation systems for the marine, defense, power generation, and industrial markets. The Defence segment offers aero engines for military transport and patrol aircraft applications; and naval engines and submarine nuclear power plants, as well as aftermarket services. The ITP Aero segment engages in the design, research and development, manufacture and casting, assembly, and testing of aeronautical engines and gas turbines. It also provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for regional airlines, as well as business aviation, industrial, and defense applications. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Posted on: August 10, 2018 11:15 AM The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne and the independent body it established to investigate complaints against clergy have hit back at media reports concerning their handling of complaints against a former Archbishop of Brisbane. Dr Peter Hollingworth served as Archbishop of Brisbane from 1989 until 2001, before becoming Governor-General of Australia. He was forced to step down in 2003 after criticisms emerged of his handling, as archbishop, of allegations of abuse committed by clergy and teachers. Last year, the Royal Commission of Inquiry said that Hollingworth had made a serious error of judgement in allowing a priest to continue to serve until retirement despite having admitted to sexually abusing two boys. He had failed to take into account a psychiatrists advice that the priest was an untreatable paedophile who posed a risk of re-offending. The 83-year-old retired bishop has Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Melbourne described as being limited to ceremonies for old friends, and occasional sermons in the cathedral. But a victim of abuse by teachers at an Anglican school, known as Lyndal, who won a judgment against the diocese of Brisbane, told ABC News that the decision to give Dr Hollingworth Permission to Officiate was a slap in the face to all the victims. The Anglican Church should be taking a stance to say, No, we need to make an example, to show across the world that we are serious about this, she said. Clearly, theyre not. Lyndal is one of a number of victims and others quoted by ABC News in a series of reports this week critical of Dr Hollingworth and his continued ministry. They question why the States Commission for Children and Young People granted a Working With Children Card, described as a prerequisite for all Anglican clergy; why he continues to have Permission to Officiate; accuse the diocese of not dealing with complaints; and said he should no longer be entitled to payments and privileges as a former Governor-General. In a follow-up article to the ABC News reports, The Guardian newspaper has questioned the independence of Kooyoora, the independent body established to handle conduct complaints about clergy in the Dioceses of Melbourne and Bendigo, saying it is funded by the Diocese. But now the Diocese of Melbourne, Archbishop Philip Freier, and Kooyoora have all hit back. Archbishop Philip Freier rejected accusations that the diocese had ignored the complaints and said that all complaints against clergy were taken very seriously. In a statement earlier this week, the diocese said that all complaints were notified to the States Commission for Children and Young People where required and handled by the independent complaints body, Kooyoora Ltd. The process held people accountable for their conduct and made determinations as to their fitness for office, the diocese said. Under the process, Archbishop Freier is bound to follow any substantive recommendation of Kooyooras independent Professional Standards Board or Review Board, and must make public the action he takes. The diocese said that its processes were enacted in October 2016 and put before the Royal Commission at hearings in March 2017. The Royal Commission in its final report spoke favourably of these initiatives, and said that the independent corporate entity could in fact operate nationally and have within its remit the implementation of consistent child safe standards across all Anglican Church dioceses. The diocese said. Archbishop Philip said: A significant learning from the Royal Commission is that robust and independent processes provide the best protection. . . My role is to respect that independent process and allow it to do its work, free of interference or public commentary from the Church. Today, Kooyoora also responded, saying that the news articles have contained major inaccuracies and have drawn false conclusions. It said that it wanted to set the record straight while respecting the proper limits of confidentiality imposed on Kooyoora to ensure that the scheme operates fairly for all concerned. Kooyoora operates under an independent board, and is required to follow the procedure set out in the Professional Standards Act, diocesan legislation subscribed to by the dioceses of Melbourne and Bendigo. In accordance with this procedure, complaints are investigated by Kooyoora, allowing all those who have chosen to be part of the process, to provide information and responses. A process of natural justice is adhered to. The Professional Standards Committee assesses this material and in appropriate cases will present this information to the independent Professional Standards Board, which then makes its own determination. Pre-judgment of a matter by Kooyoora or its staff is not part of the process and would be unfair to participants and contrary to principles of natural justice. Kooyoora said that it was properly constrained from commenting publicly on complaints received, whether an investigation is in process or what stage any investigation might have reached, saying that the constrains were necessary to ensure a fair process occurs, and to protect both survivor / complainants and respondents.. It said that its determinations are required to be made public at the end of the process. Wall Street analysts have given iShares National Muni Bond ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares National Muni Bond ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. 1 hour ago Sofi Technologies Stock Can Rise Against the Grain Digital financial services company Sofi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) stock is gaining a new resurgence as it attempts to climb towards all-time highs. The fintech has expanded its financial services to become a one-stop shop for banking, investing, lending, budgeting, wealth planning, and credit cards suited for Millennials and Gen-Z customers. Read Article Parkland Corporation operates as a marketer, distributor, and refiner of fuel and petroleum products in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canada, International, USA, Supply, and Corporate segments. The Canada segment supplies and supports a coast-to-coast network of 1,860 retail gas stations under the Ultramar, Esso, Fas Gas Plus, Chevron, Pioneer, and Race Trac as well as operates convenience stores under the On the Run/MarchA Express brand. Additionally it offers bulk fuel, bulk and cylinder exchange propane, heating oil, lubricants, and other related products and services to commercial, industrial, and residential customers in various industries, such as oil and gas, construction, mining, forestry, fishing, and transportation under the Ultramar, Bluewave Energy, Pipeline Commercial, Chevron, Columbia Fuels, and Sparlings Propane brands. The International segment operates retail service stations under the Esso, Shell, and Sol brands; and delivers and supplies gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, propane, and lubricants to customers in various sectors, including power, oil and gas, and mining. The USA segment operates a network of gas stations; and delivers bulk fuel, lubricants, and other related products and services under the Farstad Oil, Rhinehart Oil, Tropic Oil, Superpumper, Harts, and On the Run brands. The Supply segment manufactures transportation fuels; transports, stores, and markets fuels, crude oil, and liquid petroleum gases; and manufactures and sells aviation fuel to airlines. This segment also engages in the wholesale, supply, and distribution business. The company was formerly known as Parkland Fuel Corporation and changed its name to Parkland Corporation in May 2020. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Prudential Financial: 210-220 E. 22nd Street SSGA Owner LLC, AIG Edison, AIG Star, AREF Cayman Co Ltd., AREF GP II Pte. Ltd., AREF GP Ltd., ASPF II - Feeder Fund GmbH, ASPF II - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, ASPF II Management GmbH, ASPF III (Scots) L.P., ASSURANCE, AST Investment Services Inc., Adlerwerke CB Investment LLC, Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Habitat S.A., Administradora de Inversiones Previsionales SpA, Aoba Life Insurance Company, Asia Property Fund III GP S.a.r.l., Assurance IQ LLC, Assurance Intelligence LLC, BSC CP LP, Braeloch Holdings Inc., Braeloch Successor Corporation, Brazilian Capital Fund GP Limited, Broad Street Global Advisors LLC, Broome Street Holdings LLC, CB German Retail LLC, CLIS Co. Ltd., COLICO INC., Campus Drive LLC, Capital Agricultural Property Services Inc., Chadwick Boulevard Investment Holdings Co. LLC, Cibecue LLC, Coconino LLC, Colico II Inc., Columbus Drive Partners L.P., Commerce Street Holdings LLC, Commerce Street Investments LLC, Coolidge LLC, Coral Reef GP, Coral Reef L.P., Coral Reef Unit Trust, Cottage Street Investments LLC, Cottage Street Orbit Acquisition LLC, DHFL PRAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, DICKENS AVENUE HOLDINGS VI LLC, DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (Ireland) L.P., DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (US) L.P., Don Cesar Investor LLC, Dryden Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Dryden Finance II LLC, EVP II GP S.a r.l., EVP II Sweden Resi I GP S.a r.l., Edison Place Senior Note LLC, Essex LLC, EuroCore GP S.a r.l., European Value Partners GP S.a.r.l., Everbright PGIM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Flagstaff LLC, GA 1600 Commons LLC, GA 333 Hennepin Investor LLC, GA BV LLC, GA Bay Area GP LLC, GA Bay Area Investor LLC, GA Belden LLC, GA CLARENDON LLC, GA Cal Crossings LLC, GA Collins LLC, GA E. 22nd Street Apartments Holdings LLC, GA East 86 Street LLC, GA JHCII LLC, GA MENLO PARK INVESTOR LLC, GA Manor at Harbour Island LLC, GA Metro LLC, GA Mission LLC, GA TRITON INVESTOR LLC, GA W Paces LLC, GA/MDI 333 Hennepin Associates LLC, GIBRALTAR BSN HOLDINGS SDN BHD, GIBRALTAR INDIA SOLUTIONS LLP, Gateway Holdings II LLC, Gateway Holdings LLC, German Retail Income CP LP, Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad, Gibraltar International Insurance Services Company Inc., Gibraltar International Service LLC, Gibraltar Reinsurance Company Ltd., Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company, Glenealy International Limited, Global Portfolio Strategies Inc., Gold GP Limited, Gold II L.P., Gold L.P., Graham Resources Inc., Graham Royalty Ltd., Green Tree GP, Green Tree L.P., Greenlee LLC, Halsey Street Investments LLC, Hirakata LLC, IVP Fund GP LLC, Impact Investments Bridges UK S.a.r.l, Inter-Atlantic G Fund L.P., Inversiones Previsionales Chile SpA, Inversiones Previsionales Dos SpA, Ironbound Fund LLC, Jennison Associates LLC, Kyarra S.a r.l., Kyoei Annuity Home Co. Ltd., LINEUP LLC, Lake Street Partners IV L.P., MC GA COLLINS HOLDINGS LLC, MC GA COLLINS REALTY LLC, MC Insurance Agency Services LLC, Manor at Harbour Island LLC, Marble Canyon LLC, Maricopa LLC, Market Street Holdings IV LLC, Morenci LLC, Mulberry Street Holdings LLC, Mulberry Street Investment L.P., Mulberry Street Partners LLC, Mullin TBG Insurance Agency Services LLC, MullinTBG Insurance Agency Services, National Family Assurance Group LLC, New Savanna, Orchard Street Acres Inc., PAI Bay Farm LLC, PAI Bayrock Groves LLC, PAI Belvidere Farms LLC, PAI Big Cypress Farm LLC, PAI Corcoran 640 Ranch LLC, PAI DeKalb Farm LLC, PAI Delano 1500 Ranches LLC, PAI Flicker Orchard LLC, PAI Good Hope Farm LLC, PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC, PAI Hills Valley Ranches LLC, PAI Holly Hill Groves LLC, PAI Hunt Farm LLC, PAI Jackson Bayou Farm LLC, PAI Lake Placid Groves LLC, PAI Wallula Gap Vineyard LLC, PCP V Cayman AIV GP L.P., PEREF II Co-Invest 1 GP S.a r.l., PEREF II GP S.a r.l., PEREF II PV S.r.l, PFI EM-Tech Fund I LLC, PG Business Service Co. Ltd, PG Collection Service Co. Ltd., PGA Asian Retail Limited, PGA European Limited, PGI Co. Ltd, PGIM (Australia) Pty Ltd, PGIM (Hong Kong) Ltd., PGIM (Scots) Limited, PGIM (Shanghai) Company Ltd., PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PGIM AVP IV GP S.a r.l., PGIM Advisory (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PGIM Agricultural Investments GP LLC, PGIM Agricultural Investors LP, PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Fund L.P., PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Partners LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management (Feeder) VI LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Fund VI L.P., PGIM European Financing Limited, PGIM European Services Limited, PGIM Financial Limited, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund II L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives GP LLC, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives II GP LLC, PGIM Foreign Investments Inc., PGIM Holding Company LLC, PGIM INDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM INDIA TRUSTEES PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM Inc., PGIM International Financing Inc., PGIM Investments LLC, PGIM Japan Co. Ltd., PGIM Korea Inc., PGIM LTIF Berlin GP S.a r.l., PGIM LTIF Berlin MLP S.ar.l., PGIM LTIF GP S.a.r.l., PGIM Limited, PGIM Loan Originator Manager Limited, PGIM M Campus GP S.a r.l., PGIM Management Partner Limited, PGIM MetaProp Investor LP LLC, PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Company Ltd, PGIM Private Capital (Ireland) Limited, PGIM Private Capital Limited, PGIM Private Placement Investors Inc., PGIM Private Placement Investors L.P., PGIM REF EUROPE SCSp, PGIM REF Europe GP S.a r.l., PGIM REF Europe Member LLC, PGIM REF Intermediary Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate (Japan) Ltd., PGIM Real Estate (UK) Limited, PGIM Real Estate CD S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Capital VII GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest L.P., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest SCSp, PGIM Real Estate Co-Invest Holdings LLC, PGIM Real Estate Debt GmbH, PGIM Real Estate Finance Holding Company, PGIM Real Estate Finance LLC, PGIM Real Estate France SAS, PGIM Real Estate Germany AG, PGIM Real Estate Global Debt GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles S. de R.L. de C.V, PGIM Real Estate Italy S.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Loan Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate Luxembourg S.A., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Management Luxembourg S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Mexico S.C., PGIM Real Estate S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate U.S. Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management (Feeder) I LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management Fund I L.P., PGIM Strategic Financing LLC, PGIM Strategic Investments Inc., PGIM USPF VI Manager LLC, PGIM Warehouse Inc., PGLH of Delaware Inc., PIFM Holdco LLC, PIIC Limited, PIISC Holdings (UK) Limited, PIM KF Blocker Holdings LLC, PIM KF Blocker V Holdings LLC, PIM USPF V Manager LLC, PLA Administradora Industrial SRL, PLA Administradora LLC, PLA Administradora S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional II S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional S.de R.L. de C.V., PLA Co-Investor LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager I LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager II LLC, PLA Mexico Residential Manager I LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Limited Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Blue LP, PLA Retail Fund I LP, PLA Retail Fund I Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Red LP, PLA Retail Fund II Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LP, PLA Retail Fund II Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II U.S. Carry/Co-Invest LP, PLA Services Manager Mexico LLC, PLAI Limited, PMCF Holdings LLC, PMCF Properties LLC, PPPF General Partner LLP, PR GA SCP Apartments LLC, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP (SCOTS FEEDER) LLP, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP LLP, PRECO ACCOUNT III LLC, PRECO ACCOUNT PARTNERSHIP III LP, PRECO Account IV LLC, PRECO Account Partnership IV LP, PRECO III GP LLP, PREFG Hanwha Manager LLC, PREI Acquisition I Inc., PREI Acquisition II Inc., PREI Acquisition LLC, PREI HYDG LLC, PREI International Inc., PRIAC Property Acquisitions LLC, PRICOA Management Partner Limited, PRISA Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Pooled Manager LLC, PRISA III Fund GP LLC, PRISA III Fund PIM LLC, PRREF II Fund Manager LLC, PRU 3XSquare LLC, PRUCO LLC, PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL ENERGY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT (FEEDER) LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP MEMBER LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP REIT LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE 2 LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE LLC, PT PFI Mega Life Insurance, Passaic Fund LLC, Pine Tree GP, Pine Tree L.P., Platinum GP Limited, Platinum II L.P., Platinum L.P., Pramerica (Hong Kong) Holdings Limited, Pramerica (Luxembourg) CP GP S.a.r.l., Pramerica (Scots) CP GP LLP, Pramerica Business Consulting (Shanghai) Company Limited, Pramerica EVP CP LP, Pramerica Financial Asia Headquarters Pte. Ltd., Pramerica Financial Asia Limited, Pramerica Fixed Income Funds Management Limited, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Pramerica General Partner LLP, Pramerica Holdings Ltd, Pramerica Insurance Agency (China) Company Ltd., Pramerica PRECAP I GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP II GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP III GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP IV GP LLP, Pramerica Pan European Real Estate (Scots) LP, Pramerica Property Partners Fund (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital II (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital III (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Limited, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Netherlands) GP LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital VI (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica SGR S.p.A, Pramerica Systems Ireland Limited, Preco III (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pru 101 Wood LLC, Pru Alpha Partners I LLC, Pru Fixed Income Emerging Markets Partners I LLC, PruVen Capital Partners Fund I L.P., Pruco Assignment Corporation, Pruco Life Insurance Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Pruco Securities LLC, Prudential 900 Aviation Boulevard LLC, Prudential Affordable Mortgage Company LLC, Prudential Agricultural Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors Inc., Prudential Annuities Holding Company Inc., Prudential Annuities Inc., Prudential Annuities Information Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, Prudential Bank & Trust FSB, Prudential Capital Energy Opportunity Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners Management Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV L.P., Prudential Capital and Investment Services LLC, Prudential Chile II SpA, Prudential Chile SpA, Prudential Commercial Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Customer Solutions LLC, Prudential Equity Group LLC, Prudential Financial Securities Investment Trust Enterprise, Prudential Fixed Income Global Liquidity Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Fixed Income U.S. Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Funding LLC, Prudential General Services of Japan Y.K., Prudential Gibraltar Agency Co. Ltd., Prudential Global Funding LLC, Prudential Holdings of Japan Inc., Prudential Huntoon Paige Associates LLC, Prudential IBH Holdco Inc., Prudential Impact Investments Mortgage Loans LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Debt LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Equity LLC, Prudential Industrial Properties LLC, Prudential Insurance Agency LLC, Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd., Prudential International Insurance Service Company L.L.C., Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC, Prudential International Investments Company LLC, Prudential International Investments LLC, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, Prudential Japan Holdings LLC, Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Life Insurance Company of Taiwan Inc., Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 1 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 2 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Capital Asset Holding Company LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Funding LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC, Prudential Multifamily Mortgage LLC, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Prudential Newark Realty LLC, Prudential QOZ Investment Fund 1 LLC, Prudential Realty Securities Inc., Prudential Retirement Financial Services Holding LLC, Prudential Retirement Holdings LLC, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, Prudential Securities Structured Assets Inc., Prudential Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., Prudential Seguros S.A., Prudential Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Prudential Structured Settlement Company, Prudential Systems Japan Limited, Prudential Term Reinsurance Company, Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., Prudential Trust Company, Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company, Prudential Workplace Solutions Group Services LLC, Prudential do Brasil Seguros de Vida S.A., Prudential do Brasil Vida em Grupo S.A., Prudential/TMW Real Estate Group LLC, Pruservicos Participacoes Ltda., QMA JP EM All Cap Equity Partners LLC, QMA LLC, QMA Wadhwani LLP, Quartzsite LLC, Residential Services Corporation of America LLC, Rio CP LP, Rock European Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock Global Real Estate LLC, Rock Kensington Limited, Rock Marty GP S.a r.l., Rock Oxford S.a r.l., Rock UK Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock UK Real Estate II S.a.r.l., Rockstone Co. Ltd., Rosado Grande LLC, Ross Avenue Energy Fund Holdings LLC, Ross Avenue Minerals 2012 LLC, SCP Apartments LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERS VI GP LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUND VI GP LLC, SHP IV Carried Interest LP, SHP V Carried Interest L.P., SMP Holdings Inc., SVIIT Holdings Inc., Sanei Collection Service Co. Ltd. (Kabushiki Kaisha Sanei Shuuno Service), Senior Housing Partners IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partners V LLC, Senior Housing Partnership Fund IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partnership Fund V LLC, Sterling Private Placement Management LLP, Stetson Street Partners L.P., Strand Investments Limited, TBG Insurance Services Corporation, TENSATOR HOLDINGS LTD, TF Proveedora S.C., TMW ASPF I Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, TMW ASPF Management GmbH, TMW Management LLC, TMW Real Estate Group LLC, TMW Realty Advisors LLC, TMW USPF Verwaltungs GmbH, TRGOAG Company Inc., The Gibraltar Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Keynes Dynamic Beta Strategy (US) Fund GP LLC, The Prudential Assigned Settlement Services Corp., The Prudential Brazilian Capital Fund LP, The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Prudential Home Mortgage Company Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, The Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., The Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America Inc., The WMF Group, Thurloe Commercial Guernsey Limited, Times Square Center Associates, USPF V - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, USPF V Carry LLC, USPF V Co-Invest LLC, USPF V Investment LP, United States Property Fund VI GP S.a r.l., Vailsburg Fund LLC, Vantage Casualty Insurance Company, Wabash Avenue Holdings V LLC, Wabash Avenue Partners V L.P., Wadhwani Capital Limited, Waveland Avenue Holdings I LLC, Waveland Avenue Partners I (Ireland) L.P., Waveland Avenue Partners I (US) L.P., Wellness Services Ecossistema De Bem Estar Ltda., Wellness Services SRL, Yamato Life, and Yavapai LLC. This blog is looking for wisdom, to have and to share. It is also looking for other rare character traits like good humor, courage, and honor. It is not an easy road, because all of us fall short. But God is love, forgiveness and grace. Those who believe in Him and repent of their sins have the promise of His Holy Spirit to guide us and show us the Way. The following companies are subsidiares of The Travelers Companies: 10762962 Canada Inc., 350 Market Street LLC, 8527512 Canada Inc., Aetna Life and Casualty Co, American Equity Insurance Company, American Equity Specialty Insurance Company, Aprilgrange Limited, Arch Street North LLC, Auto Hartford Investments LLC, Bayhill Restaurant II Associates, Camperdown Corporation, Constitution State Services LLC, Discover Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Discover Specialty Insurance Company, F&G UK Underwriters Limited, Farmington Casualty Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters Inc., First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company, Gulf Underwriters Insurance Company, IHP Capital Partners Fund VIII L.P., Northbrook Holdings Inc., Northfield Insurance Company, Northland Casualty Company, Northland Insurance Company, Phoenix UK Investments LLC, SPC Insurance Agency Inc., Select Insurance Company, Simply Business Holdings Inc., Simply Business Inc., St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, St. Paul Guardian Insurance Company, St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, St. Paul Protective Insurance Company, St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company, Standard Fire Properties LLC, Standard Fire UK Investments LLC, TCI Global Services Inc., TPC Investments Inc., TPC U.K. Investments LLC, The Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford Connecticut, The Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, The Family Business Institute LLC, The Phoenix Insurance Company, The St. Paul Companies Inc., The Standard Fire Insurance Company, The Travelers Casualty Company, The Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company of America, The Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut, The Travelers Lloyds Insurance Company, TravCo Insurance Company, Travelers (Bermuda) Limited, Travelers Brazil Acquisition LLC, Travelers Brazil Holding LLC, Travelers Casualty Company of Connecticut, Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, Travelers Casualty UK Investments LLC, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of Europe Limited, Travelers Commercial Casualty Company, Travelers Commercial Insurance Company, Travelers Constitution State Insurance Company, Travelers Distribution Alliance Inc., Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company, Travelers Global Inc., Travelers Indemnity U.K. Investments LLC, Travelers Insurance Company Limited, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada, Travelers Insurance Designated Activity Company, Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc., Travelers Lloyds of Texas Insurance Company, Travelers London Limited, Travelers MGA Inc., Travelers Management Limited, Travelers Marine LLC, Travelers Participacoes em Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Personal Insurance Company, Travelers Personal Security Insurance Company, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, Travelers Property Casualty Corp., Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company, Travelers Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Syndicate Management Limited, Travelers Texas MGA Inc., Travelers Underwriting Agency Limited, Ultramar Travel Management, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Xbridge Limited, Zensurance Brokers Inc., and Zensurance Inc.. Wall Street analysts have given Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum 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 Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance. It firm operates through the following segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Wealth & Investment Management, and Other. The Community Banking segment offers complete line of diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses including checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, and automobile, student, and small business lending. The Wholesale Banking segment provides financial solutions to businesses across the United States and globally. The Wealth and Investment Management segment includes personalized wealth management, investment and retirement products and services to clients across U.S. based businesses. The Other segment refers to the products of WIM customers served through community banking distribution channels. The company was founded by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo on March 18, 1852 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Moody's: Administracion de Calificadoras S.A. de C.V., BlackBox Logic, Bureau van Dijk EP DMCC, Bureau van Dijk Editions Electroniques S.A.S., Bureau van Dijk Editions Electroniques SRL, Bureau van Dijk Editions Electroniques Sarl, Bureau van Dijk Edizioni Elettroniche S.p.a, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing AB, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing ApS, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing B.V., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Beijing Co. Ltd., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing GmbH, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Hong Kong Limited, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Inc., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing K.K., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing LLC, Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Ltd., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Pte. Ltd., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Pty. Ltd., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing S.A. de C.V., Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing Unipessoal Lda., Bureau van Dijk Electroniq Publishing S.A. (Pty) Ltd, Bureau van Dijk Publicaciones Electronicas S.A., Bureau van Dijk Publicacao Eletronica Ltda., DVBS Inc., Equilibrium (Chile) Holding SpA, Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRIS) Limited, Fermat International SA, Four Twenty Seven, Four Twenty Seven France SAS, Four Twenty Seven Inc., GGYAXIS Inc., Gilliland Gold Young Consulting Inc., ICRA Lanka Limited, ICRA Limited, ICRA Nepal Limited, ICRA Online Limited, KIS Pricing Inc., Korea Investors Service, Korea Investors Service Inc., Lewtan Technologies Inc., MIS Asset Holdings Inc., MIS Quality Management Corp., MIS Support Center Private Limited, MIS Support Services CR Sociedad de Responsabilidad Ltda., Midroog Ltd., Moody's (China) Limited, Moody's (Japan) K.K., Moody's (UK) Limited, Moody's America Latina Ltda., Moody's Analytics (DIFC) Limited, Moody's Analytics (India) Private Limited, Moody's Analytics (Malaysia) Sdn.Bhd., Moody's Analytics (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Moody's Analytics Australia Pty. Ltd., Moody's Analytics Canada Inc., Moody's Analytics Czech Republic s.r.o., Moody's Analytics Deutschland GmbH, Moody's Analytics Global Education (Canada) Inc., Moody's Analytics Holdings (UK) Limited, Moody's Analytics Hong Kong Ltd., Moody's Analytics International Licensing Gmbh, Moody's Analytics Ireland Limited, Moody's Analytics Japan K.K., Moody's Analytics Knowledge Services (Jersey) Limited, Moody's Analytics Knowledge Services (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Moody's Analytics Knowledge Services Holdings (Mauritius) Limited, Moody's Analytics Knowledge Services Research (Mauritius) Limited, Moody's Analytics Korea Co. Ltd, Moody's Analytics SAS, Moody's Analytics Singapore Pte Ltd., Moody's Analytics Technical Services (Hong Kong) Ltd., Moody's Analytics Technical Services (UK) Limited, Moody's Analytics UK Limited, Moody's Analytics do Brazil Solucoes para Gerenciamento de Risco de Credito Ltda, Moody's Asia Pacific Limited, Moody's Asia-Pacific Group (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Moody's Canada Inc., Moody's Canada LP, Moody's China (B.V.I.) Limited, Moody's Company Holdings (BVI) I Limited, Moody's Company Hong Kong Limited, Moody's Credit Ratings (China) Limited, Moody's Deutschland GmbH, Moody's EMEA Financing (Cyprus) Limited, Moody's EMEA Holdings Limited, Moody's Eastern Europe LLC, Moody's Equilibrium I (BVI) Holding Corporation, Moody's Equilibrium II (BVI) Holding Corporation, Moody's Finance (BVI) Limited, Moody's Financing (BVI) Limited, Moody's Financing (Cyprus) Limited, Moody's France SAS, Moody's Group (BVI) Limited, Moody's Group (Holdings) Unlimited, Moody's Group Australia Pty Ltd, Moody's Group Cyprus Limited, Moody's Group Deutschland GmbH, Moody's Group Finance Limited, Moody's Group France SAS, Moody's Group Holdings (BVI) Limited, Moody's Group Japan G.K., Moody's Group NL B.V., Moody's Group UK Limited, Moody's Holdings (B.V.I.) Limited, Moody's Holdings Limited, Moody's Holdings NL B.V., Moody's Indonesia (B.V.I) Limited, Moody's Information Consulting (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Moody's International (UK) Limited, Moody's International Holdings (Cyprus) Limited, Moody's Investment Company India Private Limited, Moody's Investors Service (BVI) Limited, Moody's Investors Service (Beijing) Ltd., Moody's Investors Service (Korea) Inc., Moody's Investors Service (Nordics) AB, Moody's Investors Service Cyprus Limited, Moody's Investors Service EMEA Limited, Moody's Investors Service Espana S.A., Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Limited, Moody's Investors Service India Private Limited, Moody's Investors Service Limited, Moody's Investors Service Middle East Limited, Moody's Investors Service Pty Limited, Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd., Moody's Investors Service South Africa (Pty) Limited, Moody's Israel Holdings Inc., Moody's Italia S.r.l., Moody's Latin America Agente de Calificacion de Riesgo S.A., Moody's Latin America Holding Corp., Moody's Lithuania UAB, Moody's Local PA Calificadora de Riesgo S.A., Moody's Local PE Clasificadora de Riesgo S.A, Moody's Mauritius Holdings Limited, Moody's Risk Assessments Limited, Moody's SF Japan K.K., Moody's Shared Services India Private Limited, Moody's Shared Services UK Limited, Moody's Singapore Pte Ltd, Moody's South Africa (B.V.I.) Ltd., Moody's de Mexico S.A. de C.V. I.C.V, Moodys Advisors Inc., Moodys Analytics Inc., Moodys Analytics Knowledge Services Solutions (US) Inc., Moodys Analytics Solutions LLC, Moodys Assurance Company Inc., Moodys Assureco Inc., Moodys Capital Markets Research Inc., Moodys Group Holdings Inc., Moodys Holdings LLC, Moodys International LLC, Moodys Investors Service Inc., Moodys Overseas Holdings Inc., Moodys Risk Assessments Holdings LLC, Moodys Risk Assessments Inc., Moodys Shared Services Inc., Nile 1 Limited, Nile 2 Limited, Nile 3 Limited, Nile 4 Limited, Nile 5 Limited, Omega Performance, Omega Performance Corp./S.C.C. A Rendement Omega, Omega Performance Corporation, Omega Performance Corporation Pty. Limited, Omega Performance NZ Limited, Omega Performance Pte. Ltd., PT ICRA Indonesia, Pragati Development Consulting Services Limited, RBA International, Reis, Reis Inc., Reis Services LLC, Risk First (Holdings) Limited, Risk First (IP) Limited, Risk First Enterprise Limited, Risk First Group Limited, Risk First Inc., Risk First Limited, Risk First Management Services Limited, Skyval Holdings LLP, Skyval Limited, The Moodys Foundation, Vigeo, Vigeo Belgium NV, Vigeo Eiris, Vigeo Eiris Canada Inc., Vigeo Eiris Chile SpA, Vigeo Eiris Hong Kong Limited, Vigeo Eiris USA LLC, Vigeo Group, Vigeo Italia S.r.l, Yellow Maple Holding B.V., Yellow Maple I B.V., Yellow Maple II B.V., and Zephus Ltd.. The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 211 E. Russell Road LLC, Air-Relief, Belliss & Morcom Brasil, Belliss and Morcom, Boardwalk Enterprises, Charm Merger Sub Inc., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Canada, CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir Holman Ltd, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., CompAir UK Ltd, CompAir USA, Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Emco Wheaton, Emco Wheaton GmbH Branch, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton UK, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Propriety Limited (South Africa), GD Aria Holdings #2 Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First UK Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings, GD Global Holdings II, GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SA, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Services Ltd, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Hoffman, Gardner Denver Holdings, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica, Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd. Branch, Gardner Denver International, Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Intl Ltd Middle East Regional Rep Office, Gardner Denver Investments, Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan, Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd South Africa, Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd. Branch (Ireland), Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co, Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oberdorfer Pumps, Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Petroleum Pumps, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia, Gardner Denver SudAmerica S.r.l., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas, Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH, Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver UK, Gardner Denver Water Jetting Systems, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, Indonesia Foreign Trade Representative Office, LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MP Pumps Inc., Mako Compressors, Nash, Nash Elmo, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Robuschi, Rotary Compression Technologies, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Syltone, TCM Investments, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, TODO AB, Tamrotor Marine Compressors AS, Thomas Industries, Thomas Industries Inc., Tri-Continent Scientific, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, and Zinsser NA. 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 The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. is an insurance and financial services company. The company provides life insurance, group and employee benefits, automobile and homeowners insurance and business insurance, as well as investment products, annuities, mutual funds, and college savings plans. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Property & Casualty Other Operations, Group Benefits and Hartford Funds. The Commercial Lines segment provides workers compensation, property, automobile, liability and umbrella coverage under several different products, primarily throughout the U.S., within its standard commercial lines, which consists of The Hartford's small commercial and middle market lines of business. The Personal Lines segment includes automobile, homeowners and home-based business coverage to individuals across the U.S. The Property & Casualty Other Operations segment includes certain property and casualty operations, currently managed by the company, that have discontinued writing new business and substantially all of the company's asbestos and environmental exposures. The Group Benefits segment offers group life, accident and disabi Read More Inphi Corporation provides high-speed analog and mixed signal semiconductor solutions for the communications and computing markets in China, the United States, Thailand, and internationally. Its analog and mixed signal semiconductor solutions offer high signal integrity at various data speeds and reduce system power consumption. The company's semiconductor solutions address bandwidth bottlenecks in networks, maximize throughput and minimize latency in computing environments, and enable the rollout of communications and datacenter infrastructures. Its solutions provide a high-speed interface between analog and mixed signals, and digital information in high-performance systems, such as telecommunications transport systems, enterprise networking equipment, and data centers. The company also provides 25G to 600G high-speed analog and mixed semiconductor solutions for the communications market. Its products perform a range of functions, such as amplifying, encoding, multiplexing, demultiplexing, and retiming signals at speeds up to 400 Gbps. Inphi Corporation sells its products directly through its sales force, as well as through a network of sales representatives and distributors to original equipment manufacturers. The company was formerly known as TCom Communications, Inc. and changed its name to Inphi Corporation in February 2001. Inphi Corporation was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. Read More Antofagasta plc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the exploration, evaluation, development, and mining of copper properties in Chile and internationally. It operates through Los Pelambres, Centinela, Antucoya, ZaldAvar, Exploration and Evaluation, and Transport segments. The company explores for copper concentrates containing by-products, such as molybdenum, gold, and silver; and copper cathodes. It holds a 60% interest in the Los Pelambres mine; a 70% interest in the Centinela mine; a 50% interest in the ZaldAvar mine; and a 70% interest in the Antucoya mine located in Chile. The company also provides rail and road cargo, and other ancillary services. In addition, it offers rail and truck services to the mining industry in the Antofagasta Region. The company was incorporated in 1888 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Antofagasta plc is a subsidiary of Metalinvest Establishment. Read More Deutsche Beteiligungs AG is a private equity firm specializing in direct and fund of fund investments. Within direct investments the firm specializes in expansion capital, management buyout, middle market, growth capital, add-on acquisitions, bridge financing, management buy-ins for experienced executives, corporate spin-offs, succession arrangements and generational transition in a family-owned business, small and medium-sized companies and pre-IPO stage investments. Within fund of fund investments the firm invests in private equity funds. It does not invest in start-up and early stage companies. The firm prefers to invest in automotive suppliers, industrial, mechanical and plant engineering, businesses develop, building supplier, measurement and automation technology, specialty chemical, support service providers, printing, media, broadband/telecommunication, IT services/software, healthcare and packaging sectors. It also prefer to invest in manufacture industrial components for very different customer sectors, produced machines and plants for various customer sectors, industrial support services, and logistics. It have accessed business models and invested very successfully in other sectors as well. The firm primarily seeks to invest in companies headquartered or having significant business relationships in Germany Mittelstand, DACH (Austria, Switzerland and Germany) France, Netherlands, United States of America, European neighboring countries, and in German speaking European countries. Within European Emerging Markets, it prefers to invest in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. The firm typically invests between A10 million ($11.07 million) and A75 million ($105.61 million) in companies with revenues between A30 million ($55.33 million) and A500 million ($704.12 million) and enterprise value between A35 million ($35.26 million) and A300 million ($422.47 million), but may also consider investments in smaller companies or participating in larger transactions. In individual instances, it also prefers structure transactions, in which the enterprise value exceeds this range and which require equity capital investments of up to A200 million ($235.19 million). It can also co-invest with other firms. The firm seeks to take majority or minority stakes in its portfolio companies. It prefers to invest in split-offs of peripheral activities from large corporations, a sale from the portfolio of another financial investor, and a capital requirement to fund a company's growth. The firm seeks to take seats on the portfolio companies' advisory councils or supervisory boards. It typically holds its investment for a period of eight years. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG was founded in 1965 and is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: Accelerated Production Systems, Acme Elevator, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o, Advansor Germany GmbH, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International, 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, Auto Glanz Solutions LLC, Automatik Grundstucksverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Automatik Plastics Machinery (Taiwan) Ltd., BSC Filters Limited, Background2 Limited, Belanger, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., Blackmer, BlitzRotary GmbH, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CDS Visual, CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products 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., DESTACO UK Limited, DFH Corporation, DFS Netherlands B.V., DSR BZ Holdings LLC, Datamax International Corp, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., 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 Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Products Segment Inc., Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings, Dover France Participations, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover Imaging & Identification Segment Inc., 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 Pumps & Process Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Segment 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, Dresser Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dresser 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, Espy, Ettlinger, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries, 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 Company, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Hydronova Australia-NZ Pty Ltd, Industrial Motion Control LLC, Innovative Control Systems, Innovative Control Systems Inc., Inpro/Seal LLC, JK Group, JK Group S.P.A., JK Group USA Inc., K S Boca Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., 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, Knowles Electronics, LIQAL, Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MAAG, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM-IMAJE Corporation, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions, MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag Automatik GmbH, Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Gala Inc., Maag Italy S.R.L., Maag Pump Systems, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Reduction Inc., Maag Service (Malaysia) Sdn. Bdn., Maag Systems (Thailand) Limited, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje - Unipessoal Lda, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, 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 Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Philippines Corporation, Markem-Imaje Pty Ltd, Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l., Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn Bhd, Markem-Imaje Singapore Pte. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A.U, Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Mouvex, Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International, OK International (UK) Ltd., OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OPW Engineered Systems Inc., OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluid Transfer Solutions (Jiang Su) Co. Ltd., 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, PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSD Codax Holdings Limited, PSD Codax Limited, PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG California LLC, PSG Germany GmbH, Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products 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., Production Control Services, Pump Management Services Co. LLC, RAV Equipos Espana S.L., RAV France, Ravaglioli Deutschland GmbH, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod SAS, Revod Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd, Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario, Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd, SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Solaris Laser, Solaris Laser S.A., Somero Enterprises, Sound Solutions, Space S.R.L., Spirit, 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, Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., Systech GB Limited, Systech Shanghai Consulting Company Limited, TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Heil Co., Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Trans - Logistic Group S.R.L., Triton Systems, Tulsa Winch Inc., UPCO Inc., US Synthetic, Unattended Payment Solutions LLC, Unified Brands, Unified Brands Inc., Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vehicle Service Group UK Limited, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., WSCR Corp., Warn Automotive LLC, Warn Industries, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Corporation, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fuel Management UK Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems, 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 Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., WellMark, XanTec Steuerungs- und EDV-Technik GmbH, and em-tec GmbH. Wall Street analysts have given iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Bechtle AG provides information technology services primarily in Europe. The company operates in two segments, IT System House & Managed Services, and IT E-Commerce. The IT System House & Managed Services segment offers IT strategy consulting, hardware and software selling, project planning and implementation, system integration, IT services, and training for IT operation. It provides applications for business intelligence, customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, product life-cycle management, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing, product data management, enterprise content management, document management systems, artificial intelligence, and collaboration; and modern workplace solutions. This segment also offers data center, networking, security, consulting, managed, professional, financial, and remarketing services. The IT E-Commerce segment provides hardware and software products, and peripherals with a multi-brand portfolio that comprises approximately 40,000 products through an online shop and telesales. This segment also offers e-procurement services. The company also provides design, development, and implementation of software services. It serves customers in the fields of industry, trade, finance, and the public sector. Bechtle AG was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany. Read More Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Mohawk Industries: A&S Energie NV, A&U Energie NV, Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Aladdin Manufacturing Of New York LLC, Aladdin Manufacturing of Alabama LLC, Alsace Logistique S.A., Avelgem Green Power CVBA, Avon Pacific Holdings Ltd, B&M NV, BGE Mexico S. de R. L. de C.V., Berghoef GmbH, Berghoef-Hout B.V., Bienes Raices y Materiales del Centro S. de R.L. de C.V., C.F. Marazzi S.A., Canterbury Spinners Ltd, Carpet Foundation Ltd, Cevotrans BV, Ceramus Bahia S/A Produtos Ceramicos, DT Mex Holdings LLC, DTM/CM Holdings LLC, Dal Italia LLC, Dal-Elit LLC, Dal-Tile Chile Comercial Limitada, Dal-Tile Colombia S.A.S., Dal-Tile Distribution Inc., Dal-Tile Group Inc., Dal-Tile I LLC, Dal-Tile Industrias S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile International Inc., Dal-Tile Mexico Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Operaciones Mexico S. De R.L. De C.V., Dal-Tile Peru SRL, Dal-Tile Puerto Rico Inc., Dal-Tile Services Inc., Dal-Tile Shared Services Inc., Dal-Tile Tennessee LLC, Dal-Tile of Canada ULC, Daltile, Daltile, Dekaply NV, Durkan, Dynea NV, Eliane Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Eliane S/A - Revestimentos Ceramicos, Emilceramica India Pvt Ltd., Emilceramica S.r.l, Emilgermany GmbH, Emilgroup Asia Ltd, Explorer S.r.l., F.I.L.S. Investments Unlimited Company, Feltex Carpets Ltd, Feltex Carpets Pty Ltd, Feltex New Zealand Ltd, Fibremakers Australia Pty Ltd, Flooring Foundation Ltd, Flooring Industries Limited S.a r.l., Flooring XL B.V., Floorscape Limited, Godfrey Hirst & Co Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Group, Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd, Hytherm (Ireland) Limited, IVC BVBA, IVC Far-East Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., IVC France S.a r.l., IVC GROUP LIMITED, IVC Green Power NV, IVC Group, IVC Group GmbH, IVC Luxembourg S.a r.l., IVC Rus OOO, IVC US Inc., International Flooring Systems S.a r.l., International Vinyl Company - Vostok OOO, KAI Group, KAI Keramica Ltd, KAI Mining EOOD, KERAMA CENTER OOO, Kerama Baltics OOO, Kerama Export OOO, Kerama Marazzi OOO, Kerampromservis (LLC), Khan Asparuh - Transport EOOD, Khan Asparuh AD, Khan Omurtag AD, Koninklijke Peitsman B.V., Kraj Kerama OOO, MG China Trading Ltd., MI Finance SRL, MUD (Holding) Brazil Ltda., Management Co EAD, Marazzi Acquisition S.r.l., Marazzi Deutschland G.m.b.H., Marazzi France Trading S.A.S., Marazzi Group, Marazzi Group F.Z.E., Marazzi Group S.r.l., Marazzi Group Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marazzi Iberia S.L.U., Marazzi Japan Co. Ltd., Marazzi Middle East FZ LLC, Marazzi Schweiz S.A.G.L., Marazzi UK Ltd., Mohawk Assurance Services Inc., Mohawk Australia Pty Ltd, Mohawk Canada Corporation, Mohawk Capital Finance S.A., Mohawk Capital Luxembourg SA, Mohawk Carpet Distribution Inc., Mohawk Carpet Foundation Inc., Mohawk Carpet LLC, Mohawk Carpet Transportation Of Georgia LLC, Mohawk Commercial Inc., Mohawk ESV Inc., Mohawk Europe BVBA, Mohawk Factoring II Inc., Mohawk Factoring LLC, Mohawk Finance S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Acquisitions S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Funding S.a.r.l, Mohawk Foreign Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Investments Inc., Mohawk Global Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Holdings International B.V., Mohawk Industries Inc., Mohawk International (Europe) S.a r.l., Mohawk International (Hong Kong) Limited, Mohawk International Capital N.V., Mohawk International Financing S.a.r.l, Mohawk International Holdings (DE) LLC, Mohawk International Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk International Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk International Netherlands B.V., Mohawk International Services BVBA, Mohawk KAI Luxembourg Holding S.a r.l., Mohawk KAI Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Capital S.A., Mohawk Luxembourg Financing S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Pacific S.a r.l., Mohawk Marazzi International BV, Mohawk Marazzi Russia BV, Mohawk New Zealand Limited, Mohawk Operaciones Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Mohawk Operations Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Pacific Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Resources LLC, Mohawk Servicing LLC, Mohawk Singapore Private Limited, Mohawk Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mohawk Unilin Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk United Finance B.V., Mohawk United International B.V., Mohawk Vinyl Financing S.a r.l., Molber Beheer B.V., Monarch Ceramic Tile Inc., P.F. Onroerend Goed B.V., PF Beheer B.V., Pergo, Pergo (Europe) AB, Pergo Holding BV, Pergo India Pvt Ltd, Polcolorit S.A., Premium Floors Australia Pty Limited, RR Apex LLC, Rata International Pty Ltd, Recubrimientos Interceramica S. de R.L. de C.V., Riverside Textiles Pty Ltd, S.C. KAI Ceramics SRL, Sibir Kerama OOO, SimpleSolutions USA LLC, Soft Step (Australia) Pty Ltd, Spano Group, Spano Invest BVBA, Spano NV, Stroyagromekhzapchast ChaO, Stroytrans OAO Orelstroy, Summit Wool Spinners Ltd, The Flooring Federation Ltd, Tiles Co OOD, Unilin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Unilin ApS, Unilin Arauco Pisos Ltda., Unilin BVBA, Unilin Beheer BV, Unilin Distribution Ltd., Unilin Distribution Ukraine LLC, Unilin Finland OY, Unilin Flooring India Private Limited, Unilin Flooring SAS, Unilin GmbH, Unilin Holding BVBA, Unilin Insulation BV, Unilin Insulation SAS, Unilin Insulation Sury SAS, Unilin Italia S.R.L., Unilin North America LLC, Unilin Norway AS, Unilin OOO, Unilin Panels SAS, Unilin Poland Sp.Z.o.o., Unilin SAS, Unilin Spain SL, Unilin Swiss GmbH, Unilin s.r.o., World International Inc., Xtratherm, Xtratherm Limited, Xtratherm S.A., and Xtratherm UK Limited. The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: 87 Leonard Development LLC, ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Acacia (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Accounting Solutions Holding Company Inc, Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Amber Investments S.a r.l., Ambidexter GmbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BHW Kreditservice GmbH, BNA Nominees Pty Limited, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, BTAS Cayman GP, BTD Nominees Pty Limited, Baincor Nominees Pty Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Barkly Investments Ltd., Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Biomass Holdings S.a r.l., Birch (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Blue Cork Inc, Blue Cork Inc., Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cape Acquisition Corp., CapeSuccess Inc., CapeSuccess LLC, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Career Blazers LLC, Career Blazers Management Company Inc, Career Blazers Management Company Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc, Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services of Washington D.C. Inc. Washington D.C., Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc, Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc., Carpathian Investments Designated Activity Company, Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Centennial River 2 Inc., Centennial River Corporation, Chapel Funding, Charlton (Delaware) Inc, China Recovery Fund LLC, China Recovery Fund LLC, Cinda - DB NPL Securitization Trust 2003-1, City Leasing (Thameside) Limited, City Leasing Limited, Consumo S.p.A., Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, D.B. International Delaware Inc., D.B. International Delaware Inc., DAHOC (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DAHOC Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB (Pacific) Limited, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB Abalone LLC, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Alps Corporation, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Asia Pacific Holdings Limited (in voluntary liquidation), DB Asset Finance I S.a r.l., DB Asset Finance II S.a r.l., DB Aster II LLC, DB Aster III LLC, DB Aster Inc., DB Aster LLC, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Investments Sarl, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Commodity Services LLC, DB Consorzio S. Cons. a r. l., DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Covered Bond S.r.l., DB Credit Investments S.a r.l., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Commodities Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Enfield Infrastructure Holdings Limited, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance International GmbH, DB Ganymede 2006 L.P., DB Global Markets Multi-Strategy Fund I Ltd., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holding Fundo de Investimento Multimercado Investimento no Exterior Credito Privado, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (South America) Limited, DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Immobilienfonds 1 Wieland KG, DB Immobilienfonds 2 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 4 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG, DB Impact Investment (GP) Limited, DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB Io LP, DB Litigation Fee LLC, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Managers LLC, DB Municipal Holdings LLC, DB Nexus American Investments (UK) Limited (in members'voluntary liquidation), DB Nexus Investments (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios Interactivos Agrupacion de Interes Economico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB PWM, DB Portfolio Southwest Inc., DB Print GmbH, DB Privat- und Firmenkundenbank AG, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB RC Holdings LLC, DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Finance 1 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Finance 2 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Holdings Luxembourg S.a r.l., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a r.l., DB Value S.a r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita S.A., DBAB Wall Street LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBCIBZ2, DBFIC Inc., DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBOI Global Services Private Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management IA Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management US IB L.L.C., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUKH No. 2 Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBX Advisors LLC, DBX ETF Trust, DBX Strategic Advisors LLC, DBO Vermogensverwertung GmbH, DEBEKO Immobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUFRAN Beteiligungs GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK A.S., DG China Clean Tech Partners, DI Deutsche Immobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DIB-Consult Deutsche Immobilien- und BeteiligungsBeratungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DNU Nominees Pty Limited, DSL Portfolio GmbH & Co. KG, DSL Portfolio Verwaltungs GmbH, DTS Nominees Pty Limited, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, De Heng Asset Management Company Limited, De Meng Innovative (Beijing) Consulting Company Limited, DeAM Infrastructure Limited, Deloraine Spain S.L., Delowrezham de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (Mauritius) Limited Port, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (France) SAS, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, Deutsche Asset Management S.A., Deutsche Asset Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (Chile), Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anonima Institucion Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Bauspar-Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance LLC I, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I, Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency of Delaware, Deutsche Bank International Limited, Deutsche Bank Investments (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Deposits, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Note Programme, Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company Los, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Polska Spolka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao Sao, Deutsche Bank SPEARs/LIFERs Series DBE-8011 Trust, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Services (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Societa per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Management Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Colombia S.A.S., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 1 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 2 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 3 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 4 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankterHaftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Deutsche Holdings (Malta) Ltd., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche Immobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Inversiones Dos S.A., Deutsche Inversiones Limitada, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mandatos S.A., Deutsche Master Funding Corporation, Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a r.l., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Public Limited Company, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC I, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC II, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC III, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Deutsche Securities S.A., Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Securities SpA, Deutsche Securities Venezuela S.A., Deutsche Securitisation Australia Pty Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trust Company Limited Japan, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsches Institut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.I., Elba Finance GmbH, Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, Emerald Asset Repackaging Designated Activity Company, Erste Frankfurter Hoist GmbH, European Value Added I (Alternate G.P.) LLP, Exinor SA, FARAMIR Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs GmbH, FRANKFURT CONSULT GmbH, Fiduciaria Sant' Andrea S.r.L., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Franz Urbig- und Oscar Schlitter-Stiftung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-037, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-039, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-040, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-041, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-043, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-044, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-047, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., G.O. IB-US Management L.L.C., G918 Corp., GAC-HEL Inc., GWC-GAC Corp., Galene S.a r.l., Gemini Technology Services Inc., German American Capital, German American Capital Corporation, Gladyr Spain S.L., Global Markets Fundo de Investimento Multimercado, Global Markets III Fundo de Investimento Multimercado - Credito, Greenwood Properties Corp., Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer Landstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Kerpen-Sindorf Vogelrutherfeld GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Leipzig Petersstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Wiesbaden Luisenstrae/Kirchgasse GbR, HTB Spezial GmbH & Co. KG, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, IOS Finance EFC S.A., ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, Immobilienfonds Mietwohnhauser Quadrath-Ichendorf GbR, Immobilienfonds Wohn- und Geschaftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul Inkasso GmbH, Kradavimd UK Lease Holdings Limited, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Latitude Australia Secured Personal Loans Trust, Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo III Initial GP Limited, Lindsell Finance Limited, London Industrial Leasing Limited, MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MHL Reinsurance Ltd., MIT Holdings Inc., MIT Holdings Inc., MPP Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Securities Corp., Motion Picture Productions One GmbH & Co. KG, NCW Holding Inc., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., New 87 Leonard LLC, Nordwestdeutscher Wohnungsbautrager Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentre", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungs-GmbH, OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Holding GmbH, OPB-Nona GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPB-Quinta GmbH, OPB-Septima GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM Flottenfonds V GmbH & Co. KG, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, OPS Nominees Pty Limited, OVT Trust 1 GmbH, OVV Beteiligungs GmbH, Opal Funds (Ireland) Public Limited Company, PADUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, PARTS Funding LLC., PB Factoring GmbH, PB Firmenkunden AG, PB International S.A., PB Spezial-Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PBC Banking Services GmbH, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, PT. Deutsche Verdhana Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Peruda Leasing Limited, Plantation Bay Inc., Plantation Bay Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Immobilien GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH & Co. Objekt Leipzig KG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank Service GmbH, Postbank Systems AG, QR Tower 2 LLC, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, REO Properties Corporation, RREEF, RREEF America L.L.C., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisors Private Limited, RREEF Management L.L.C., RTS Nominees Pty Limited, Reference Capital Investments Limited, RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables LLC, Route 28 Receivables LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SCUDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SEDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SENA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Kamenz KG, SIFA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SOLIDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SP Mortgage Trust, SPINO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SPV I Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, SPV II Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, STATOR Heizkraftwerk Frankfurt (Oder) Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim Alternative Investments GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. AG & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Komplementar AG, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Service Company Four Limited, Sharps SP I LLC, Singer Island Tower Suite LLC, Somkid Immobiliare S.r.l., Stelvio Immobiliare S.r.l., Structured Finance Americas LLC, Structured Finance Americas LLC, Swabia 1. Vermogensbesitz-GmbH, Suddeutsche Vermogensverwaltung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, TAKIR Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TELO Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, TEMATIS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TERRUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Halle I KG i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Nordhausen I KG i.L., TOSSA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRIPLA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRS Aria LLC, TRS Leda LLC, TRS Maple II LTD, TRS Oak II LTD, TRS SVCO LLC, TRS Scorpio LLC, TRS Tupelo II LTD, TRS Venor LLC, TRS Walnut II LTD, Tagus - Sociedade de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Tasfiye Halinde Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Tianjin Deutsche AM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Limited, UKE Beteiligungs-GmbH, UKE Grundstucksgesellschaft mbH, UKE s.r.o., Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksgesellschaft Kirchnerstrae GbR, Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Disternich GbR, Ullmann Ullmann Krockow Krockow Esch GbR, VCJ Lease S.a r.l., Vesta Real Estate S.r.l., VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, WEPLABeteiligungsgesellschaftmbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., Whale Holdings S.a r.l., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., World Trading(Delaware)Inc., Zumirez Drive LLC, db PBC, and norisbank GmbH. Deutsche Telekom AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated telecommunication services. The company operates through five segments: Germany, United States, Europe, Systems Solutions, and Group Development. It offers fixed-network services, including voice and data communication services based on fixed-network and broadband technology; and sells terminal equipment and other hardware products, as well as services to resellers. The company also provides mobile voice and data services to consumers and business customers; sells mobile devices and other hardware products; and sells mobile services to resellers and to companies that purchases and markets network services to third parties, such as mobile virtual network operators. In addition, it offers internet services; internet-based TV products and services; and information and communication technology systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions with an infrastructure of data centers and networks under the T-Systems brand, as well as call center services. The company has 242 million mobile customers and 22 million broadband customers, as well as 27 million fixed-network lines. Deutsche Telekom AG has a collaboration with VMware, Inc. on cloud-based open and intelligent virtual RAN platform to bring agility to radio access networks for existing LTE and future 5G networks; and partnership with Microsoft to deliver high-performance cloud computing experiences. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Bonn, Germany. Read More First American Financial Corp. operates as an insurance company. It provides title insurance and settlement services to the real estate and mortgage industries. The company operates its business through the following segments: Title Insurance & Services and Specialty Insurance. The Title Insurance & Services segment provides title insurance, escrow, closing services and similar or related financial services domestically and internationally in connection with residential and commercial real estate transactions. It also maintains, manages and provides access to title plant records and images and provides banking, trust and investment advisory services. The Specialty Insurance segment issues property & casualty insurance policies and sells home warranty products. It also provides title plant management services, which include title and other real property records and images, valuation products and services, home warranty products, property and casualty insurance and banking, trust and investment advisory services. First American Financial was founded in January, 2008 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, CA. Read More Experian plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a technology company. The company operates through two segments, Business-to-Business and Consumer Services. It provides data services to identify and understand their customers, as well as to manage the risks related with lending. The company also offers analytical and decision tools that enhance businesses to manage their customers, minimize the risk of fraud, comply with legal requirements, and automate decisions and processes. In addition, it provides financial education, free access to Experian credit reports and scores, online educational tools, and applications to manage their financial position, access credit offers, and protect themselves from identity fraud. The company serves customers in financial service, direct-to-consumer, health, retail, automotive, software and professional services, telecommunications and utility, insurance, media and technology, government and public, and other sectors. It operates in North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Experian plc was formerly known as Experian Group Limited and changed its name to Experian plc in July 2008. Experian plc was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Fidelity National Information Services: 11601 Roosevelt Boulevard Realty LLC, AFSF II AIV Investors D-LP, AGES Participacoes Ltda., AKC Insurance Company LLC, Advanced Portfolio Technologies Ltd., Alphakinetic Ltd., Armed Forces Financial Network LLC, AssetExchange, Automated Securities Clearance LLC, Best Payment Solutions Inc., Bibit Spain S.L., Bitpay Payments KK, C&E Holdings Luxembourg S.a.r.l., CPRS Holdings Inc., Canadian Envoy Technology Services Ltd., Capco, Central Credit Services Limited, Certegy Canada Company, Certegy Card Services B.V., Certegy Dutch Holdings B.V., Certegy France Limited, Certegy SAS, Certegy UK Holdings B.V., Chex Systems Inc., Clear2Pay, Clear2Pay (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Clear2Pay APAC Pte. Ltd., Clear2Pay APAC Pty Ltd., Clear2Pay BV, Clear2Pay Belgium BV, Clear2Pay China Limited, Clear2Pay France SAS, Clear2Pay Germany GmbH, Clear2Pay Limited, Clear2Pay Nanjing Co. Limited, Clear2Pay Nederland BV, Clear2Pay Poland Sp. z o.o., Clear2Pay Scotland Holdings Limited, Clear2Pay Scotland Limited, Clear2Pay Spain S.l., ClearTwoPay Chile SpA, Complete Payment Recovery Services Inc., Compliance Coach, Credit Management Solutions, Decalog (UK) Limited, Decalog N.V., Envoy Services Bulgaria Limited, Envoy Services Ltd. (Asia) SDn BHD, Envoy Services Pty Ltd., Envoy Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, F.I.S. Systems (Middle East) Limited, FIS (Switzerland) SA, FIS (Tunisia) I SARL, FIS (Tunisia) II SARL, FIS Ambit Holdings Pty Ltd, FIS Apex (International) Limited, FIS Apex (UK) Limited, FIS Asia Pacific Inc., FIS AsiaPacRim Holdings Ltd., FIS Australasia Pty Ltd., FIS AvantGard LLC, FIS Banking Solutions UK Limited, FIS Bilgisayar Hizmetleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, FIS Brokerage & Securities Services LLC, FIS Business Integration (UK) Limited, FIS Capital Markets UK Limited, FIS Capital Markets US LLC, FIS Card Services (Caribbean) Ltd., FIS Card Services (Thailand) Co. Ltd., FIS Consulting Services (Ireland) Limited, FIS Consulting Services (UK) Limited, FIS Denmark ApS, FIS Derivatives Utility Services (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., FIS Derivatives Utility Services (UK) Limited, FIS Derivatives Utility Services LLC, FIS Energy Solutions Limited, FIS Financial Solutions Canada Inc., FIS Financial Systems (France) SAS, FIS Foundation Inc., FIS GCS LLC, FIS Global Business Solutions India Private Ltd., FIS Global Execution Services (Ireland) Limited, FIS Global Execution Services Limited, FIS Global Holdings S.a.r.l, FIS Global Recovery Services India Private Limited, FIS Global Solutions Philippines Inc., FIS Global Trading (Deutschland) GmbH, FIS Global Trading (Hong Kong) Limited, FIS Global Trading (Iberica) S.L. Unipersonal, FIS Global Trading (Nederland) B.V., FIS Global Trading (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, FIS Global Trading (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., FIS Global Trading (Suisse) SA, FIS Global Trading (UK) Limited, FIS Healthcare Trustee Limited, FIS Holdings (Germany) GmbH i.L., FIS Holdings Limited, FIS Holdings Mauritius, FIS Insurance Services Limited, FIS International Subsidiaries Holdings Inc., FIS Investment Systems (UK) Limited, FIS Investment Ventures LLC, FIS Investor Services LLC, FIS Japan KK, FIS Kingstar Cayman Islands Limited, FIS Korea Ltd., FIS Management Services LLC, FIS Management Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., FIS Pakistan (Private) Limited, FIS Payment Solutions & Services India Private Limited, FIS Payments (Ireland) Limited, FIS Payments (UK) Limited, FIS Pensions Limited, FIS Romania SRL, FIS SG (Italia) S.r.l., FIS SG International Holdings LLC, FIS SG Systems Philippines Inc., FIS Sherwood Systems Limited, FIS Solutions (India) Private Limited, FIS Solutions LLC, FIS Solutions Software (India) Private Limited, FIS Systeme GmbH, FIS Systems (Hong Kong) Limited, FIS Systems (Luxembourg) S.A., FIS Systems (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., FIS Systems (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., FIS Systems Canada Inc., FIS Systems International LLC, FIS Systems Kenya Limited, FIS Systems Limited, FIS Systems NZ Limited, FIS Systems Pty Ltd, FIS Systems South Africa (Pty) Limited, FIS Systems de Colombia S.A.S., FIS Technology (Beijing) Co. Limited, FIS Technology Services (Poland) Sp. z o.o., FIS Technology Services (Tunisia) SARL, FIS Technology Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., FIS Treasury Systems (Europe) Limited, FIS Treasury Systems (UK) Limited, FIS UK Holdings Limited, FIS Vietnam LLC, FIS Worldpay (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, FIS Worldpay Jersey Limited, FIS-SG Holding Corp., FNIS Istanbul Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, FV General Partner LLC, Fidelity Holding Ltda., Fidelity Information Services (Hong Kong) Limited, Fidelity Information Services (Iberia) S.L.U., Fidelity Information Services (Israel) Ltd., Fidelity Information Services (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Fidelity Information Services (Thailand) Limited, Fidelity Information Services Front Arena AB, Fidelity Information Services GmbH, Fidelity Information Services Holdings B.V., Fidelity Information Services India Private Limited, Fidelity Information Services International Holdings Inc., Fidelity Information Services LLC, Fidelity Information Services Limited, Fidelity Information Services Operations GmbH, Fidelity Information Services SARL, Fidelity Information Services Slovakia s.r.o., Fidelity Information Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fidelity International Resource Management Inc., Fidelity National Card Services Inc., Fidelity National Global Card Services Inc., Fidelity National Information Services (Netherlands) B.V., Fidelity National Information Services C.V., Fidelity National Information Services Inc., Fidelity National Participacoes e Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Fidelity National Servicos de Tratamento de Documentos e Informatica Ltda., Fidelity National Servicos e Contact Center Ltda., Fidelity Participacoes e Servicos Ltda., Financial Insurance Marketing Group Inc., GL Settle Limited, GL Trade (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, GL Trade CMS (Thailand) Limited, GL Trade Software DOO, GL Trade Solutions CMS (Thailand) Limited, Glesia S.r.l., GoCart LLC, Information Services Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Integrity Treasury Solutions Europe Limited, Integrity Treasury Solutions Inc., Integrity Treasury Solutions Limited, Integrity Treasury Solutions Pty Limited, Link2Gov Corp., Memento, Metavante Corporation, Metavante Payment Services LLC, Metavante Technologies Inc, Metavante Technologies Limited, Minorca Corporation NV, Monis Management Limited, Monis Software Limited, NYCE Payments Network LLC, Oshap Software Industries Ltd., Oshap Technologies Ltd., PT FIS Systems Indonesia, PT Fidelity Information Services Indonesia, Panther Holdco 2 Inc., Panther Holdco Inc., Payment Brasil Holdings Ltda., Payment Chile S.A., Payment Trust Limited, Paymetric Inc., Pazien Inc., People's United Merchant Services LLC, Platform Securities Holdings Limited, Platform Securities International Limited, Platform Securities International Nominees Limited, Platform Securities LLP, Platform Securities Nominees Limited, Platform Securities Services Limited, Reech Capital Limited, Reliance Financial Corporation, Reliance Integrated Solutions LLC, Reliance Trust Company, Rocket Partners Holdings LLC, Sanchez Computer Associates Pty Limited, Secondco Limited, Ship Holdco Limited, Ship Luxco 2 S.a.r.l., Ship Luxco 3 S.a.r.l., Ship Midco Limited, Solutions Plus Consulting Services Limited, SunGard, SunGard Data Systems Beijing Co. Ltd., SunGard Global Services (Tunisia) III, SunGard Global Trading (Australia) Pty. Ltd., SunGard India Sales Private Limited, TP Technologies N.V., Tayvin 346 Limited, Transax Limited, Trax BV, Valuelink Information Services Limited, Valutec Card Solutions LLC, Virtus Fund Services, Virtus Group LP, Virtus LP Holdings LLC, Virtus Partners Fund Services Cayman Ltd., Virtus Partners Fund Services Holdings Company, Virtus Partners Fund Services Ireland Limited, Virtus Partners Fund Services Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Virtus Partners Ireland Ltd., Virtus Partners Ltd., Virtus Trade Settlement LLC, WebTone Technologies, Worldpay, Worldpay (HK) Limited, Worldpay (NZ) Limited, Worldpay (UK) Limited, Worldpay AP Ltd., Worldpay Argentina SRL, Worldpay B.V., Worldpay Canada Corporation, Worldpay Cayman Holdings Limited, Worldpay Company LLC, Worldpay Do Brasil Processamento De Pagamentos Ltda., Worldpay Finance Limited, Worldpay Gaming Solutions LLC, Worldpay Governance Limited, Worldpay Group Limited, Worldpay Holdings (Barbados) SRL, Worldpay Holdings Brasil Participacoes Ltda., Worldpay ISO Inc., Worldpay India Private Limited, Worldpay Integrated Payments Canada LLC, Worldpay Integrated Payments LLC., Worldpay Integrated Payments Solutions Inc., Worldpay International Group Limited, Worldpay International Holdings Limited, Worldpay International Limited, Worldpay International Payments Limited, Worldpay International Solutions Limited, Worldpay K.K., Worldpay LLC, Worldpay Latin America Limited, Worldpay Limited, Worldpay Marketing Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Worldpay Payments (Barbados) SRL, Worldpay Processing Services SRL, Worldpay Pte Ltd., Worldpay Pty Ltd., Worldpay S.a.r.l., Worldpay Services Company, Worldpay Services SRL, Worldpay Solutions SRL, Worldpay Technology Bucharest S.R.L., Worldpay Treasury Solutions SRL, Worldpay US Inc., Worldpay eCommerce LLC, Worldpay eCommerce Limited, Xpede, YES-Secure.com Limited, YESpay International Limited, Zenmonics Inc., Zenmonics Software Private Limited, eFunds Corporation, eFunds Holdings Limited, eFunds International Limited, i DLX International B.V., and mFoundry Inc.. (GGP) (NYSE:GGP) announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July, 31st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.10 by $0.01. The real estate investment trust earned $583.14 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $593.94 million. The business's quarterly revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.35 EPS. View (GGP)'s earnings history. Andeavor Logistics LP operates as a diversified midstream company in the United States. The company's Terminalling and Transportation segment comprises the Northwest pipeline system, including a regulated common carrier products pipeline running from Salt Lake City, Utah to Spokane, Washington and a jet fuel pipeline to the Salt Lake City International Airport; a regulated common carrier refined products pipeline system connecting its refinery to its terminals in Anchorage, Alaska; tankage and related equipment at the refinery; and crude oil and refined products terminals and storage facilities in the western, and southwest and midwestern U.S. This segment also consists of marine terminals in California and Washington; a rail-car unloading and petroleum coke handling facilities; marine terminals; a manifest rail facility; an asphalt trucking operation; a petroleum coke handling and storage facility; asphalt terminalling and processing services; and other pipelines, which transport products and crude oil from its refineries to nearby facilities in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Its Gathering and Processing segment includes crude oil and natural gas, NGLs, and produced water gathering systems in the Bakken Shale/Williston Basin area of the Bakken Region, the Green River Basin, the Rockies Region, the Permian Basin System, and the Four Corners System, as well as crude trucking operations, and gas processing and fractionation complexes. The company's Wholesale segment consists of bulk petroleum distribution facilities and a fleet of refined product delivery trucks. Tesoro Logistics GP, LLC operates as the general partner of the company. The company was formerly known as Tesoro Logistics LP and changed its name to Andeavor Logistics LP in August 2017. Andeavor Logistics LP was founded in 2010 and is based in Findlay, Ohio. Read More Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., together with its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, manufactures, distributes, and sells vehicles, components, and production systems. The company operates through five segments: North America, LATAM, APAC, EMEA, and Maserati. It provides passenger cars, SUV vehicles, trucks, and light commercial vehicles under the Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Abarth brands; and luxury vehicles under the Maserati brand, as well as related service parts and accessories, and service contracts under the Mopar brand. The company also provides cast iron components for engines, gearboxes, transmissions and suspension systems, aluminum cylinder heads, and engine blocks under the Teksid brand; and designs and produces industrial automation systems and related products for the automotive industry under the Comau brand name. In addition, it provides retail and dealer financings, and leasing and rental services; and factoring services. The company sells its products directly, or through distributors and dealers in approximately 130 countries. The company was formerly known as Fiat S.p.A. and changed its name to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. in October 2014. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. was founded in 1899 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of AMETEK: AMETEK CTS GmbH, AMETEK Germany GmbH, AMETEK Hong Kong Private Limited, AMETEK Instruments Group UK Limited, AMETEK Italia S.r.l., Amekai Singapore Private Ltd., Amekai Taiwan Co. Ltd., Haydon Linear Motors (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., SPECTRO Analytical Instruments Inc., Tubes Holdco Limited, AEM Limited, AIP/MPM Funding Inc., AIP/MPM Holdings Inc., AMESP USVI LLC, AMETEK (Barbados) SRL, AMETEK (Bermuda) Ltd., AMETEK (GB) Limited, AMETEK (Thailand) Co. Ltd., AMETEK Aegis Inc., AMETEK Aerospace & Defense Group UK Ltd, AMETEK Aerospace & Power Holdings Inc., AMETEK Aerospace LLC, AMETEK Aircraft Parts & Accessories Inc., AMETEK Airtechnology Group Limited., AMETEK Ameron LLC, AMETEK Arizona Instrument LLC, AMETEK B.V., AMETEK CTS Europe GmbH, AMETEK CTS US Inc., AMETEK Canada 2 ULC, AMETEK Canada 3 ULC., AMETEK Canada Limited Partnership, AMETEK Co. Ltd., AMETEK Commercial Enterprise Shanghai, AMETEK Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, AMETEK Customer Service S. de R. L. de C.v., AMETEK DE LLC, AMETEK DELCO Inc., AMETEK Denmark A/S, AMETEK Do Brasil Ltda., AMETEK EMG Holdings Inc., AMETEK Elektromotory s.r.o, AMETEK Engineered Materials Sdn. Bhd., AMETEK Europe L.L.C., AMETEK European Holdings GmbH, AMETEK European Holdings Limited, AMETEK Finland Oy, AMETEK Global Tubes LLC, AMETEK Grundbesitz GmbH, AMETEK HSA Inc., AMETEK Haydon Kerk Inc., AMETEK Holdings B.V. also registered as AMETEK Holdings B.V. Delaware Inc.1, AMETEK Holdings SARL, AMETEK Holdings de Mexico S. de R.L., AMETEK Hughes-Treitler, AMETEK Industrial Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., AMETEK Instrumentos S.L., AMETEK Instruments India Private Limited, AMETEK Korea Co. Ltd., AMETEK Lamb Motores de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., AMETEK Land Inc., AMETEK Latin America Holding Company S.a r.l., AMETEK MRO Florida Inc., AMETEK Material Analysis Holdings GmbH, AMETEK Mexico Holding Company LLC, AMETEK Motors Asia Pte. Ltd., AMETEK Nordic AB, AMETEK PIP Holdings Inc., AMETEK Precitech Inc., AMETEK Programmable Power Inc., AMETEK S.A.S., AMETEK S.r.l., AMETEK SCP (Barrow) Limited, AMETEK SCP Inc., AMETEK Singapore Private Ltd., AMETEK Taiwan Co. Ltd., AMETEK Technical & Industrial Products Inc., AMETEK Thermal Systems Inc., AMETEK d.o.o. Subotica., Abaco Systems, Advanced Industries, Advanced Measurement Technology Inc., Aero Components International Corp., Airtechnology Pension Trustees Limited, Akron Standard Bestry (Guangzhou) Measurement Equipment Co. Ltd., Amekai (BVI) Ltd., Amekai Meter (Xiamen) Co. Ltd., Ameron Global Inc, Ametek Advanced Industries Inc., Ametek-Reading Alloys Inc., Amptek Inc., Antavia SAS, Atlas Material Holdings Corporation, Atlas Material Testing Technology (India) Private Limited, Atlas Material Testing Technology BV, Atlas Material Testing Technology GmbH, Atlas Material Testing Technology L.L.C., Atlas Material Testing Technology LLC, Atlas Netherlands AcquisitionCo Cooperatief U.A., Avicenna Technology Inc., Avtech Avionics & Instruments LLC, B&S Aircraft, Brookfield Engineering, CAMECA Instruments Inc., CAMECA SAS, Cameca, Chandler Instruments Company L.L.C., Chandler Instruments Company LLC, Cognex - Surface Inspection Systems Division, Coining Holding Company, Coining Inc., Controls Southeast Inc., Crank, Creaform, Creaform Inc., Creaform Shanghai Ltd., Creaform Software Inc., Creaform U.S.A. Inc., Crystal Engineering Corp, Crystal Engineering Corporation, Direl GmbH, Direl Holding GmbH, Drake Air, Drake Air Inc., Drexelbrook Engineering Company, Dunkermotoren GmbH, Dunkermotoren Taicang Co. Ltd., Dunkermotoren USA Inc., EDAX Inc., EDAX LLC, EGS Automation, EMA Corp., EMA Finance 1 LLC, EMA Finance 2 LLC, EMA Holdings LLC, EMA Holdings UK Limited, EMA MX LLC, EMtest, ESP Holdco Inc., ESP/SurgeX, Electronic Systems Protection Inc., FMH Aerospace Corp., FMH Holdings Corp., FMH Intermediate LLC, Fine Tubes Limited, Forza Silicon Corporation, Frameflair Limited, GS Electric, Gatan, Gatan Inc., Gatan Service Corporation, Gatan U.K. Limited, Glasseal Products Inc., Global Tubes, Grabner Instruments Messtechnik Gesellschaft m.b.H., HCC Industries Inc., HDR Power Systems LLC, HS Foils Oy, Hamilton Precision Metals Inc., Hamilton Precision Metals of Delaware Inc., Haydon Kerk Motion, Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions Inc., Hermetic Seal Corporation, High Standard Aviation, Imago Scientific Instruments, IntelliPower Inc., Land Instruments International Ltd., Laserage Technology Corp, Luphos GmbH, MCG Acquisition Corporation, MOCON Europe A/S, MOCON Inc., Magnetrol International, Micro-Poise Industrial Equipment (Beijing) Ltd., Micro-Poise Measurement Systems LLC, Micro-Poise Measurement Systems LLC, Milmega Limited, Mocon, Motec GmbH, Motec GmbH, Motion Control Group, Muirhead Aerospace Limited, NSI-MI Technologies, Newage Testing Instruments Inc., Nu Instruments Asia Ltd., Nu Instruments Limited, Nu Instruments Ltd, O'Brien Corp, OBCORP LLC., OOO AMETEK, Pacific Design Technologies Inc., Patriot Sensors & Controls Corporation, PennEngineering Motion Technologies, Petrolab L.L.C., Powervar, Powervar Deutschland GmbH, Powervar Inc., Powervar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Precitech, Quizix Inc., RETE Holding GmbH, Rauland-Borg, Rauland-Borg Corporation, Rauland-Borg Corporation of Florida, Reichert Inc., Reichert Technologies, Responder Systems Corporation, Rotron Inc., Rotron Incorporated, SPECTRO Analytical Instruments (Pty) Ltd, SPECTRO Analytical Instruments GmbH, SSH Non-Destructive Testing Inc., Sealtron Inc., Six Brookside Drive Corporation., SkyBitz Inc., SkyBitz Petroleum Logistics LLC, SkyBitz Tank Monitoring Corporation, Solartron Group Ltd., Solartron Metrology Limited, Solidstate Controls Inc. de Argentina S.R.L., Solidstate Controls LLC, Solidstate Controls LLC, Solidstate Controls Mexico S.A. de C.V., Sound Com Corporation, Southern Aero Partners Inc., Southern Aeroparts Inc, Spectro Analytical Instruments Inc., Spectro Holdings Inc., Spectro Inc., Spectro International Holdings Inc., Spectro Scientific, Spectro Scientific (Beijing) Inc., Spectro Scientific Inc., Sterling Ultra Precision Inc., Sunpower, Sunpower Inc., Superior Tube Company Inc., TPM Russia Inc., Taylor Hobson Holdings Limited, Taylor Hobson Inc., Taylor Hobson Limited, Taylor Hobson Trustees Limited, Technical Manufacturing Corp, Technical Manufacturing Corporation, Technical Services for Electronics Inc., Telular Corporation, Telular Corporation, Teseq AG, Thelsha Technical Services, Tritex Corporation, Unispec Marketing Pvt. Ltd., Universal Analyzers Inc., VTI Instruments Corporation, VTI Instruments Private Limited, VTI Integrated Systems Private Limited, Vision Research Europe B.V., Vision Research Inc., Vision Research srl, Zemetrics Inc., Zygo Corporation, Zygo Pte Ltd., Zygo Richmond Corporation, and ZygoLamda Metrology Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.. The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan. Wall Street analysts have given Invesco CurrencyShares Swiss Franc Trust a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Invesco CurrencyShares Swiss Franc Trust wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Iron Mountain: AB Archyvu Centras, AB Archyvu Sistemos, AB Archyvu Sistemos Estonia Branch, AKTATRADE Iratendezo Selejtezo es Megsemmisito Bt., AS Archivu Serviss, Accutrac Software Inc, Administradora de Informacion Ltda, ArchivesOne, Archyvu sistemos, Ausdoc Group Pty Limited, Ausdoc Holdings Pty Limited, Bonded Services Group, Box Butler, Britannia Data Management Limited, Connected Corporation, Cornerstone Records Management, Crozier Fine Arts, Crozier Philadelphia LLC, Custodia S.O.S. SA, Custodia de Documentos Limitada, Data Outsourcing Centre doo, Data Security Services Pty Limited, DigiGuard, Docu-File Cape Town Proprietary Limited, Docu-File Durban Proprietary Limited, Docu-File JHB Proprietary Limited, DocuTar Iratrendezo es Tarolo Szolgaltato Kft., DocuVault, Docufile (Pty) Ltd, Docufile Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Docufile Lesotho Proprietary Limited, Docufile Services Proprietary Limited, Docugroup Papir Szolgatato Kft., Document Holdings Sweden AB, Docuscan Cape Town Proprietary Limited, Docuscan Proprietary Limited, Endless Document Storage Services LLC, EvoSwitch, File Express Limited, Fine Paper Recyclers Sydney Pty Ltd, Fontis International GmbH, Fontis International Inc., Fortrust, G4S Secure Data Solutions Colombia, Hays IMS, Horanross Limited, IBEX IM Limited, IBEX Information Management Limited, IG2 Data Security, IMSA Peru SRL, IO.com, Information Storage Consolidation Co, Interfile Participacoes S.A., Intradis SA, Iron Mountain (Deutschland) Service GmbH, Iron Mountain (Espana) Services S.L, Iron Mountain (Gibraltar) Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain (Ireland) Services Limited, Iron Mountain (Nederland) Services BV, Iron Mountain (UK) EES Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain (UK) Limited, Iron Mountain (UK) Services Limited, Iron Mountain A/S, Iron Mountain Acquisition Holdings Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Argentina S.A., Iron Mountain Arsivleme Hizmetleri A.S., Iron Mountain Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd, Iron Mountain Australia Group Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Australia Group Services Pty. Ltd., Iron Mountain Australia Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd, Iron Mountain Austria Archivierung Gmbh, Iron Mountain BPM International S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain BPM SPRL, Iron Mountain Belgium NV, Iron Mountain CIS LLC, Iron Mountain Canada Operations ULC, Iron Mountain Ceska Republika S.R.O., Iron Mountain Chile S.A., Iron Mountain Chile Servicios S.A., Iron Mountain Colombia S.A.S., Iron Mountain DIMS Limited, Iron Mountain Deutschland GmbH, Iron Mountain Do Brasil Ltda, Iron Mountain EES Holdings Ltd., Iron Mountain EES Sp. z.o.o., Iron Mountain Espana SA, Iron Mountain Europe (Group) Limited, Iron Mountain Europe PLC (fka Iron Mountain Europe Limited), Iron Mountain Finland OY, Iron Mountain France S.A.S., Iron Mountain Fulfillment Services Inc., Iron Mountain Global Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Global LLC, Iron Mountain Global Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Group (Europe) Limited, Iron Mountain Hellas SA, Iron Mountain Holdings (Europe) Limited, Iron Mountain Holdings (France) SNC, Iron Mountain Incorporated, Iron Mountain India Private Ltd, Iron Mountain Information Management LLC, Iron Mountain Information Management Services Canada Inc., Iron Mountain Information Management Services Inc., Iron Mountain Intellectual Property Management Inc., Iron Mountain International (Holdings) Limited, Iron Mountain International Holdings BV, Iron Mountain International Information Management Co. Ltd., Iron Mountain Ireland Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain Ireland Limited, Iron Mountain Latin America Holdings Sociedad Limitada, Iron Mountain Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Luxembourg Services S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Luxembourg Services S.a.r.l. Schaffhausen Branch, Iron Mountain MDM Limited, Iron Mountain Magyarorszag Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Kft., Iron Mountain Management Services GmbH, Iron Mountain Mayflower Limited, Iron Mountain Mexico Holding S. de RL de CV, Iron Mountain Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Iron Mountain Mexico Servicios S. de RL de CV, Iron Mountain Mortgage Finance Holdings LLC, Iron Mountain Mortgage Finance I LLC, Iron Mountain Nederland B.V., Iron Mountain Nederland Holdings B.V., Iron Mountain New Zealand Limited (fka Recall New Zealand Ltd), Iron Mountain Norge AS, Iron Mountain Participations SA, Iron Mountain Peru S.A., Iron Mountain Poland Holdings Ltd, Iron Mountain Polska Services Sp z.o.o., Iron Mountain Polska Sp. z.o.o., Iron Mountain Receivables QRS LLC, Iron Mountain Receivables TRS LLC, Iron Mountain Records Management (Puerto Rico) Inc., Iron Mountain Records Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Iron Mountain SRL, Iron Mountain Secure Shredding Canada, Iron Mountain Secure Shredding Inc., Iron Mountain Services Private Ltd, Iron Mountain Services S.A.S., Iron Mountain Shanghai Co Ltd, Iron Mountain Slovakia s.r.o., Iron Mountain South America S.a.r.l., Iron Mountain Southeast Asia Holdings Limited, Iron Mountain Switzerland GmbH, Iron Mountain UK Services (Holdings) Limited, Iron Mountain US Holdings Inc., Iron Mountain Ukraine LLC, Iron Mountain Vietnam Company Limited, Iron Mountain d.o.o. Beograd, Jin Shan Limited, KDM Spectrumdata Pty Ltd, KH Data Capital Development Land LLC, Kestrel Data (Canada) Ltd, Kestrel Data Services Limited, Kestrel Information Management Pty. Ltd., Livevault, Marshgate Morangis S.a.r.l., Mimosa Systems, Mobilshred Inc., Navbharat Archive Xpress Private Limited, Nettlebed Acquisition Corp., Pipax Security S.A., Preferred Media Limited, Prism Integrated Sdn Bhd, Recall, Recall (London) Limited, Recall (Schweiz) AG, Recall (Shanghai) Ltd., Recall A/S, Recall AS, Recall Asia Pte Limited, Recall Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Recall Enterprises (Thailand) Limited, Recall Enterprises Sdn. Bhd., Recall Europe Finance Ltd. (fka Recall Europe Finance Plc), Recall Europe Limited, Recall Finance Limited, Recall Finland OY, Recall France SA, Recall France SA Belgium Branch, Recall France SAS, Recall GQ Limited, Recall Holdings, Recall Holdings Limited, Recall Holdings Sweden AB, Recall Hong Kong Ltd., Recall India Information Management Pvt. Ltd., Recall Information Services SRL, Recall International Pty Limited, Recall Italia SRL, Recall Limited, Recall Overseas Holdings Pty Limited, Recall Shredding Limited, Recall Sweden AB, Recall Taiwan Ltd., Recall Technology Pty. Ltd., Recall Total Information Management India Pvt. Ltd., Recall Total Information Mgt Pte Ltd, Recall do Brasil Ltda, Record Data Limited, Royal Seal S.R.O., Safehouse Information Management Solutions Private Limited, Santa Fe Group, Secur Archiv SA, Secure Paper Services Pty Ltd, Shuttle SRL, Silver Sky Limited, Sispace AG, Startify, Storbox SA, The Coding Company Pty. Ltd., The Imaging Centre Pty Ltd, UAB Confidento, Upper Providence Venture I L.P., Venues Australia Pty Ltd, and Xepa Digital. Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Wall Street analysts have given iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Lennar: 360 Developers LLC, Alliance Financial Services Inc., Ann Arundel Farms Ltd., Aquaterra Utilities Inc., Arbor Mill Veteran Project 2018 LLC, Asbury Woods L.L.C., Astoria Options LLC, Autumn Creek Development Ltd., Aylon LLC, Azusa Associates LLC, B2 Milpitas LLC, BB Investment Holdings LLC, BCI Properties LLC, BMR Communities LLC, BMR Construction Inc., BMTD LLC, BPH I LLC, Bainebridge 249 LLC, Bay Colony Expansion 369 Ltd., Bellagio Lennar LLC, Belle Meade LEN Holdings LLC, Belle Meade Partners LLC, Black Mountain Ranch LLC, Blue Horizons Estates LLC, Bonterra Lennar LLC, Bramalea California Inc., Bressi Gardenlane LLC, Breton Park Lennar LLC, CAP IL 1 LLC, CL Ventures LLC, CML INACTIVE LLC, CML-MO HAF LLC, CML-MO HAF PARKING LLC, CP Block 6aS LLC, CP Block 8aS LLC, CP Block 9aS LLC, CP Center Apartments LLC, CP Center Garage LLC, CP Red Oak Partners Ltd., CP Vertical Development Co. 1 LLC, CP/HPS Development Co. GP LLC, CP/HPS Development Co.-C LLC, CPFE LLC, CPHP Development LLC, CalAtlantic Financial Services Inc., CalAtlantic Group, CalAtlantic Group Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Arizona Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Georgia Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Texas Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Washington Inc., CalAtlantic Mortgage Inc., CalAtlantic National Title Solutions LLC, CalAtlantic Title Agency LLC, CalAtlantic Title Group LLC, CalAtlantic Title Inc., CalAtlantic Title LLC, CalAtlantic Title of Maryland Inc., Camarillo Village Park LLC, Cambria L.L.C., Candlestick Retail Member LLC, Cardiovascular Medical Specialists LLC, Carolina Blue LLC, Carson 175 LLC, Cary Woods LLC, Casa Marina Development LLC, Central Park West Holdings LLC, Cherrytree II LLC, Club Bonterra Lennar LLC, Coco Palm 82 LLC, Colonial Heritage LLC, Columbia National Risk Retention Group Inc., Commonwealth Incentive Fee LLC, Concord Station LLP, Coventry L.L.C., Creekside Crossing L.L.C., Crest at Fondren Investor LLC, DBJ Holdings LLC, DCA Financial LLC, DTC Holdings of Florida LLC, Darcy-Joliet L.L.C., Durrell 33 LLC, EL Ventures LLC, EV LLC, Eagle Bend Commercial LLC, Eagle Home Mortgage LLC, Estates Seven LLC, Evergreen Village LLC, F&R QVI Home Investments USA LLC, FLORDADE LLC, Faria Preserve LLC, Fidelity Guaranty and Acceptance Corp., Fidelity Land LLC, Fox-Maple Associates LLC, Friendswood Development Company LLC, GDI MANAGER LLC, Garco Investments LLC, Greystone Construction Inc., Greystone Homes of Nevada Inc., Greystone Nevada Holdings LLC, Greystone Nevada LLC, Greywall Club L.L.C., HCC Investors LLC, HPS Development Co. LP, HPS Vertical Development Co. LLC, HPS Vertical Development Co.-B LP, HPS Vertical Development Co.-D/E LLC, HPS1 Block 1 LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3B LLC, HPS1 Block 50 LLC, HPS1 Block 51 LLC, HPS1 Block 52 LLC, HPS1 Block 53 LLC, HPS1 Block 54 LLC, HPS1 Block 55 LLC, HPS1 Block 56/57 LLC, HSP Arizona Inc., HTC Golf Club LLC, Hammocks Lennar LLC, Harbor Highlands Group LLC, Harveston LLC, Haverton L.L.C., Heathcote Commons LLC, Heritage Pkwy East Holdings LLC, Heritage of Auburn Hills L.L.C., Hewitts Landing Trustee LLC, Hingham Properties LLC, Huntley Venture L.L.C., Inactive Companies LLC, Independence L.L.C., Independence Orlando LLC, Isles at Bayshore Club LLC, KMC Real Estate Investors LLC, Kendall Hammocks Commercial LLC, Kentuckiana Medical Center LLC, Kingman Lennar LLC, LB/L Duc III Antioch 330 LLC, LCD Asante LLC, LCI Downtown Doral Investor LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor GP LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor LP LLC, LEN - Belle Meade LLC, LEN - OBS Windemere LLC, LEN - Palm Vista LLC, LEN BPT Investor LLC, LEN Mirada Investor LLC, LEN Notarize Investor LLC, LEN OT Holdings LLC, LEN Paradise Cable LLC, LEN Paradise Operating LLC, LEN-CG South LLC, LEN-Cypress Mill LLC, LEN-Ryan 1 LLC, LEN-Touchstone LLC, LENH I LLC, LENNAR HOMES OF TENNESSEE LLC, LFS Holding Company LLC, LH Eastwind LLC, LHI Renaissance LLC, LMC 10th & Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 144th and Grant Investor LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Holdings LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Investor LLC, LMC 360 Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 410 S Wabash Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Investor LLC, LMC 8th Avenue Apartment Investor LLC, LMC 990 Bannock Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Investor LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Holdings LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Investor LLC, LMC Block 42 Holdings LLC, LMC Build to Core III Investor LLC, LMC Build to Core III LLC, LMC Burnside Holdings LLC, LMC Burnside Investor LLC, LMC Chandler and McClintock Holdings LLC, LMC Charlestowne Holdings LLC, LMC Charlotte Ballpark Developer LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Holdings LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Investor LLC, LMC Cobalt Holdings LLC, LMC Costa Mesa Holdings LP, LMC Crest at Park West Holdings LP, LMC Denver Gateway I Investor LLC, LMC Denver Gateway II Holdings LLC, LMC Development LLC, LMC Downtown Doral South Holdings LLC, LMC Durham Gateway Holdings LP, LMC Evans School Holdings LLC, LMC Gateway Investor LLC, LMC Gateway Venture LLC, LMC Gilman Square Investor LLC, LMC Horton Street Holdings LLC, LMC Huntington Crossing Holdings LLC, LMC Inactive Companies LLC, LMC Lakeside Holdings LP, LMC Leya Holdings LLC, LMC Living Illinois LLC, LMC Living Inc., LMC Living LLC, LMC Living TRS LP, LMC Millenia Investor II LLC, LMC NE Minneapolis Lot 2 Holdings LLC, LMC New Bern Investor LLC, LMC North Park Holdings LP, LMC Parkfield Holdings LLC, LMC Parkfield Investor LLC, LMC Righters Ferry Holdings LLC, LMC River North Holdings LLC, LMC Spring Street Investor LLC, LMC Stonewall Station Investor LLC, LMC Triangle Square Investor LLC, LMC Venture Developer LLC, LMC Verbena Holdings LLC, LMC West Loop Investor LLC, LMCFX Investor LLC, LMCPNW Marymoor Holdings LLC, LMI - Jacksonville Investor LLC, LMI - South Kings Development Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle Holdings LLC, LMI - West Seattle Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle LLC, LMI Cell Tower Investors LLC, LMI City Walk Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale LLC, LMI Contractors LLC, LMI Glencoe Dallas Investor LLC, LMI Lakes West Covina Investor LLC, LMI Largo Park Investor LLC, LMI Las Colinas Station LLC, LMI Naperville Investor LLC, LMI Pacific Tower LLC, LMI Park Central Two LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners Investor LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners LLC, LMI-JC Developer LLC, LMI-JC LLC, LMV 1640 Broadway REIT-DC LP, LMV 1701 Ballard REIT-DC LP, LMV 19H REIT-DC LP, LMV 2026 Madison REIT-DC LP, LMV 85 South Union REIT-DC LP, LMV ATown REIT-DC LP, LMV Annapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Apache Terrace REIT-DC LP, LMV Block 42 REIT-DC LP, LMV Bloomington REIT-DC LP, LMV Bolingbrook REIT-DC LP (DE), LMV Central at McDowell REIT-DC LP, LMV East Village I REIT-DC LP, LMV Edina REIT-DC LP, LMV Fremont WS I REIT-DC LP, LMV Glisan REIT-DC LP, LMV Grand Bay REIT-DC LP, LMV II Grand Bay Pod V Holdings LP, LMV II Kierland Holdings LP, LMV II NoMo Holdings LP, LMV II Venture Developer LLC, LMV II Wynwood Holdings LP, LMV Kirkland REIT-DC LP, LMV Little Italy REIT-DC LP, LMV M Tower REIT-DC LP, LMV Millenia II REIT-DC LP, LMV Milpitas REIT-DC LP, LMV NE Minneapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Oak Park REIT-DC LP, LMV One20Fourth REIT-DC LP, LMV QR Build to Core Manager LLC, LMV Rio Bravo REIT-DC LP, LMV Scottsdale Quarter REIT-DC LP, LMV Tysons REIT-DC LP, LMV Vallagio III REIT-DC LP, LMV Victory Block G REIT-DC LP, LMV Warren Street REIT-DC LP, LNC Communities II LLC, LNC Communities IV LLC, LNC Communities V LLC, LNC Communities VI LLC, LNC Communities VII LLC, LNC Communities VIII LLC, LNC Pennsylvania Realty Inc., LNC at Meadowbrook LLC, LNC at Ravenna LLC, LS College Park LLC, LS Terracina LLC, LV Opendoor Investor LLC, LV Opendoor JV LLC, LW D'Andrea LLC, Lagoon Valley Residential LLC, Lakelands at Easton L.L.C., Legends Club LLC, Legends Golf Club LLC, Len - Little Harbor LLC, Len FW Investor LLC, Len Paradise LLC, Len-Angeline LLC, Len-Hawks Point LLC, Len-Land LLC, Len-Land West LLC, Len-MN LLC, Len-Verandahs LLP, LenCom LLC, LenFive LLC, LenFive Opco GP LLC, LenFive Sub III LLC, LenFive Sub LLC, LenFive Sub Opco GP LLC, Lenalto CMBS LLC, Lencraft LLC, Lennar Aircraft I LLC, Lennar Arizona Construction Inc., Lennar Arizona Inc., Lennar Associates Management Holding Company, Lennar Associates Management LLC, Lennar Avenue One LLC, Lennar Berkeley LLC, Lennar Bevard LLC, Lennar Bridges LLC, Lennar Buffington Colorado Crossing L.P., Lennar Buffington Zachary Scott L.P., Lennar Carolinas LLC, Lennar Central Park LLC, Lennar Central Region Sweep Inc., Lennar Chicago Inc., Lennar Cobra LLC, Lennar Colgate Urban Renewal Development LLC, Lennar Colorado LLC, Lennar Colorado Minerals LLC, Lennar Commercial LLC, Lennar Communities Development Inc., Lennar Communities Inc., Lennar Communities Nevada LLC, Lennar Communities of Chicago L.L.C., Lennar Concord LLC, Lennar Construction Inc., Lennar Cory Road LLC, Lennar Courts LLC, Lennar Developers Inc., Lennar Ewing LLC, Lennar Financial Services LLC, Lennar Flamingo LLC, Lennar Fresno Inc., Lennar Gardens LLC, Lennar Georgia Inc., Lennar Greer Ranch Venture LLC, Lennar Heritage Fields LLC, Lennar Hingham Holdings LLC, Lennar Hingham JV LLC, Lennar Homes Holding LLC, Lennar Homes LLC, Lennar Homes NJ LLC, Lennar Homes of Arizona Inc., Lennar Homes of California Inc., Lennar Homes of Indiana Inc., Lennar Homes of Texas Land and Construction Ltd., Lennar Homes of Texas Sales and Marketing Ltd., Lennar Homes of Utah Inc., Lennar International Holding LLC, Lennar International LLC, Lennar Lakeside Investor LLC, Lennar Layton LLC, Lennar Living LLC, Lennar Lytle LLC, Lennar MF Holdings LLC, Lennar MPA LLC, Lennar MPA WIP LLC, Lennar Mare Island LLC, Lennar Marina A Funding LLC, Lennar Massachusetts Properties Inc., Lennar Middletown LLC, Lennar Monmouth Redevelopers LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Victory Block G Mezz LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily Builders LLC, Lennar Multifamily Communities LLC, Lennar Multifamily Venture DC LP, Lennar New Jersey Holdings LLC, Lennar New Jersey Properties Inc., Lennar New York LLC, Lennar Northeast Properties LLC, Lennar Northwest Inc., Lennar OHB LLC, Lennar PI Acquisition LLC, Lennar PI Property Acquisition LLC, Lennar PIS Management Company LLC, Lennar Pacific Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Management Inc., Lennar Plumsted Urban Renewal LLC, Lennar Point LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core GP LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core LP LLC, Lennar Realty Inc., Lennar Reno LLC, Lennar Riverwalk LLC, Lennar Sacramento Inc., Lennar Sales Corp., Lennar Sierra Sunrise LLC, Lennar Spencer's Crossing LLC, Lennar Sun Ridge LLC, Lennar Texas Holding LLC, Lennar Ventures LLC, Lennar West Valley LLC, Lennar Winncrest LLC, Lennar at Franklin LLC, Lennar at Jackson LLC, Lennar at Marlboro 79 LLC, Lennar at Monroe LLC, Lennar.com Inc., Longleaf Acquisition LLC, Lori Gardens Associates II LLC, Lori Gardens Associates III LLC, Lori Gardens Associates L.L.C., Lorton Station LLC, Lyons Lennar Farms LLC, Madrona Ridge L.L.C., Madrona Village L.L.C., Madrona Village Mews L.L.C., Majestic Woods LLC, Maple and Broadway Holdings LLC, Menifee Development LLC, Mid-County Utilities Inc., Miralago West Lennar LLC, Mission Viejo 12S Venture LP, Mission Viejo Holdings Inc., Motomic Diagnostics LLC, Multibank 2009-1 CML-ADC Venture LLC, Multibank 2009-1 RES-ADC Venture LLC, NC Properties I LLC, NC Properties II LLC, North American Asset Development LLC, Northbridge L.L.C., OHC/Ascot Belle Meade LLC, One SR L.P., PD-Len Boca Raton LLC, PG Properties Holding LLC, POMAC LLC, PT Metro LLC, Pace Drive Holdings LLC, Palm Gardens At Doral Clubhouse LLC, Palm Gardens at Doral LLC, Palm Springs Classic LLC, Palm Vista Preserve LLC, Patuxent Infrastructure Inc., Pioneer Meadows Development LLC, Pioneer Meadows Investments LLC, Plaza Condominium Ventures LLC, Portside Marina Developers L.L.C., Portside SM Associates L.L.C., Portside SM Holdings L.L.C., Portside Shipyard Developers L.L.C., Prestonfield L.L.C., Quail Roost Lennar LLC, RCCF GP II LLC, RCCF GP III LLC, RCCF GP IV LLC, RCCF GP LLC, RES-FL EIGHT LLC, RES-FL SEVEN LLC, RES-FL VISION ONE LLC, RES-FL VISION TWO LLC, RES-GA CASCADE LLC, RES-GA DIAMOND MEADOWS LLC, RES-GA KAP LLC, RES-GA SOUTHERN PLANTATION LLC, RES-GA THIRTEEN LLC, RES-GA TWELVE LLC, RES-GA WEST LLC, RES-IL ONE LLC, RES-NC ONE LLC, RES-PA LSJ LLC, RES-PA POM LLC, RES-TX BOULEVARD LLC, RH Insurance Company Inc., RH MOA BBCMS 2017-C1 LLC, RH MOA CF 2017-C8 LLC, RH MOA LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C4 LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C6 LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 CLASS B LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 LLC, RL BB FINANCIAL LLC, RL BB INACTIVE LLC, RL BB-AL LLC, RL BB-FL ALHI LLC, RL BB-GA LLC, RL BB-GA RMH LLC, RL BB-IL LLC, RL BB-IN AA LLC, RL BB-IN KRE LLC, RL BB-IN KRE OP LLC, RL BB-IN KRE RE LLC, RL BB-MS LLC, RL BB-NC LLC, RL BB-OH LLC, RL BB-SC BROOKSA LLC, RL BB-SC CLR II LLC, RL BB-SC CLR III LLC, RL BB-SC CLR IV LLC, RL BB-SC CLR LLC, RL BB-SC CRRC LLC, RL BB-SC RACEDAY LLC, RL BB-TN BRISTOL LLC, RL BB-TN LLC, RL BB-TN RACEDAY TOWER LLC, RL BB-TX LLC, RL BB-WV LLC, RL CMBS Holdings LLC, RL CML 2009-1 Investments LLC, RL REGI ARKANSAS LLC, RL REGI Alabama LLC, RL REGI FINANCIAL LLC, RL REGI Florida LLC, RL REGI GEORGIA LLC, RL REGI INACTIVE LLC, RL REGI KANSAS LLC, RL REGI MISSISSIPPI LLC, RL REGI MISSOURI LLC, RL REGI NORTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI SOUTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI TENNESSEE LLC, RL REGI VIRGINIA LLC, RL REGI-AL HP LLC, RL REGI-AL VRC LLC, RL REGI-FL CRC LLC, RL REGI-FL ESH LLC, RL REGI-FL FT. PIERCE LLC, RL REGI-FL GDL LLC, RL REGI-FL ITALIA LLC, RL REGI-FL MRED LLC, RL REGI-FL RDI LLC, RL REGI-FL SARASOTA LLC, RL REGI-FL TPL LLC, RL REGI-FL VARC LLC, RL REGI-GA DRAD LLC, RL REGI-GA HAY DB LLC, RL REGI-GA MHU LLC, RL REGI-GA MPD LLC, RL REGI-GA RLR LLC, RL REGI-MO GMB LLC, RL REGI-MO MOSCOW MILLS LLC, RL REGI-MS Double H LLC, RL REGI-MS OCEAN SPRINGS LLC, RL REGI-NC CIL LLC, RL REGI-NC LITTLE WING LLC, RL REGI-NC MLD LLC, RL REGI-NC Mland LLC, RL REGI-NC RALEIGH LLC, RL REGI-NC SUGARM LLC, RL REGI-NM LLC, RL REGI-SC CTL LLC, RL REGI-SC LAKE E LLC, RL REGI-SC TDG LLC, RL REGI-SC TIG LLC, RL REGI-TN OAK LLC, RL REGI-TN SEVIERVILLE LLC, RL RES 2009-1 Investments LLC, RMF Alliance LLC, RMF Commercial LLC, RMF PR New York LLC, RMF Partner LLC, RMF SUB 1 LLC, RMF SUB 2 LLC, RMF SUB 3 LLC, RMF SUB 4 LLC, RMF SUB 5 LLC, RMV LLC, Raintree Village II L.L.C., Raintree Village L.L.C., Ral-Len BM LLC, Ral-Len LLC, Rannel Capital WeWork Series D LLC, Rannel Holdings LLC, Rannel Interests LLC, Rannel Investments LLC, Rannel Mortgage Investments LLC, Rannel Proprietary Investments LLC, Renaissance Joint Venture, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove II LLC, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove LLC, Reserve at River Park LLC, Reserve at South Harrison LLC, Rialto Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Rialto Credit Partnership GP LLC, Rialto Mezz Partners GP LLC, Rialto Mortgage Finance LLC, Rialto Partners GP II LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Debt LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Property LLC, Rialto Partners GP LLC, Rialto RSSF GP LLC, Riverwalk at Lago Mar LLC, Rocking Horse Minerals LLC, Rutenberg Homes Inc. (Florida), Rutenberg Homes of Texas Inc., Rye Hill Company LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada Holdings LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada LLC, Ryland Homes of California Inc., S. Florida Construction II LLC, S. Florida Construction III LLC, S. Florida Construction LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve South LLC, SPIC CPCO Inc., SPIC CPDB Inc., SPIC CPRB Inc., SPIC Del Sur LLC, SPIC Dublin LLC, SPIC Mesa LLC, SPIC NC Fremont LLC, SPIC Otay LLC, SPIC Springs LLC, San Felipe Indemnity Co. Ltd., San Lucia LLC, San Simeon Lennar LLC, Schulz Ranch Developers LLC, Seminole/70th LLC, Siena at Old Orchard L.L.C., Sierra Vista Communities LLC, Silver Springs Lennar LLC, South Development LLC, Southbank Holding LLC, Spanish Springs Development LLC, St. Charles Active Adult Community LLC, St. Charles Community LLC, Standard Pacific 1 Inc., Standard Pacific Investment Corp., Standard Pacific of Colorado Inc., Standard Pacific of Florida, Standard Pacific of Florida GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Las Vegas Inc., Standard Pacific of Orange County Inc., Standard Pacific of Tampa GP, Standard Pacific of Tampa GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Tonner Hills LLC, Standard Pacific of Walnut Hills Inc., Standard Pacific of the Carolinas LLC, Stoney Holdings LLC, Storey Lake Club LLC, Storey Park Club LLC, Strategic Holdings Inc., Strategic Technologies LLC, Summerfield Venture L.L.C., SunStreet Energy Group LLC, SunStreet Manager LLC, TCO QVI LLC, TICD Hold Co. LLC, TIH Hold Co. LLC, Talega Associates LLC, Temecula Valley LLC, Terra Division LLC, Terra/Winding Creek LLC, The Baywinds Land Trust, The Bridges Club at Rancho Santa Fe Inc., The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe Sales Company Inc., The LNC Northeast Group Inc., The Oasis Club at LEN-CG South LLC, The Preserve at Coconut Creek LLC, The Vistas Club at LEN-CG South LLC, Titlezoom Company, Treasure Island Holdings LLC, Treasure Island Member LLC, Treviso Holding LLC, Two Lakes Lennar LLC, U.S. Home Corporation, U.S. Home Realty Inc., U.S. Home of Arizona Construction Co., U.S. Insurors Inc., U.S.H. Realty Inc., UAMC Holding Company LLC, UB 2018C14 MOA LLC, USH - Flag LLC, USH Equity Corporation, USH LEE LLC, USH Leasing II LLC, USH Leasing LLC, UST Lennar HW Scala SF Joint Venture, VII Crown Farm Investor LLC, Venetian Lennar LLC, Vineyard Land LLC, Vineyard Point 2009 LLC, Vista Palms Clubhouse LLC, WCI Communities, WCI Communities Inc., WCI Communities LLC, WCI Towers Northeast USA Inc., WCI Westshore LLC, WCP LLC, WIP Lennar OHB LLC, Waterview at Hanover LLC, West Lake Village LLC, West Seattle Project X LLC, West Van Buren L.L.C., Westchase Inc., Westchase Ltd., Westfield Homes USA Inc., White Course Lennar LLC, Wild Plum JV LLC, Willowbrook Investors LLC, Winncrest Natomas LLC, Woodbridge Multifamily Developer I LLC, Wright Farm L.L.C., and YLRichards4Acres 2015 LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Arrow Electronics: A.E. Petsche Belgium BVBA, A.E. Petsche Canada Inc., A.E. Petsche Company, A.E. Petsche Company Inc., A.E. Petsche Company S De RL, A.E. Petsche SAS, A.E. Petsche UK Limited, ACI Technology, AKS Group Nordic AB, ARROWECS Portugal Sociedade Unipessoal, ARROWECS Sociedade Unipessoal LDA, ARW Electronics Ltd., ARW Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., ARW Portugal Unipessoal LDA, ASI Dedicated Services LLC, ASI Electrical Services LLC, ASI Managed Services LLC, ATM Electronic, ATM Electronic Corp., ATM Electronic Corporation (HK) Limited, ATM Electronics Hong Kong Limited, ATM Electronics Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Addex Distribution AS, Adilam Pty. Ltd, Aiqi Xinxing (Beijing) Information Technology Co. Ltd., Altimate Belgium BVBA, Altimate Group, Altimate ND Belgium BVBA, Altimate Netherlands B.V., Annuity Systems Pty Ltd, Arrow (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Altech Distribution (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Altech Holdings (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Argentina S.A., Arrow Asia Distribution Limited, Arrow Asia Pac Ltd., Arrow Brasil S.A., Arrow Capital Solution BVBA, Arrow Capital Solutions Inc., Arrow Capital Solutions Nederlands BV, Arrow Capital Solutions SAS, Arrow Capital Solutions UK Ltd, Arrow Central Europe GmbH, Arrow Central Europe Holding Munich GmbH, Arrow Chip One Stop Holdings GK, Arrow Componentes ACCR S.R.L., Arrow Components (M) Sdn Bhd, Arrow Components (NZ), Arrow Components Mexico S.A. de C.V., Arrow Components Sweden AB, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow ECS (Ireland) Limited, Arrow ECS (NI) Limited, Arrow ECS AG, Arrow ECS ANZ Limited, Arrow ECS ANZ Pty Ltd, Arrow ECS Asia PTE. Ltd, Arrow ECS Australia, Arrow ECS B.V., Arrow ECS Baltic OU, Arrow ECS Brasil Distribuidora Ltda., Arrow ECS Canada Ltd., Arrow ECS Central GmbH, Arrow ECS Denmark A/S, Arrow ECS FZCO, Arrow ECS Finland OY, Arrow ECS GmbH, Arrow ECS Internet Security AG, Arrow ECS Internet Security S.L., Arrow ECS Kft., Arrow ECS Ltd., Arrow ECS New Zealand Limited, Arrow ECS Nordic A/S, Arrow ECS Norway AS, Arrow ECS Pty Ltd., Arrow ECS SA/NV, Arrow ECS SAS, Arrow ECS SPA, Arrow ECS Sarl, Arrow ECS Services Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Singapore Pte. Limited, Arrow ECS Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Support Center Ltd., Arrow ECS Support Center Morocco S.A.R.L.A.U, Arrow ECS Sweden AB, Arrow ECS a.s., Arrow ECS d.o.o., Arrow Eastern Europe GmbH, Arrow Electronice S.R.L., Arrow Electronics (CI) Ltd., Arrow Electronics (China) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Jersey) Limited, Arrow Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Sweden) KB, Arrow Electronics (Thailand) Limited, Arrow Electronics (U.K.) Inc., Arrow Electronics (UK) Ltd., Arrow Electronics ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia (S) Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia Limited, Arrow Electronics Australia Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics B.V., Arrow Electronics Canada Ltd., Arrow Electronics China Ltd., Arrow Electronics Components (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics Czech Republic s.r.o., Arrow Electronics D.O.O., Arrow Electronics Danish Holdings ApS, Arrow Electronics EMEA Group GmbH, Arrow Electronics EMEASA S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Estonia OU, Arrow Electronics FC B.V., Arrow Electronics Funding Corporation, Arrow Electronics GmbH & Co. KG, Arrow Electronics Hellas S.A., Arrow Electronics Holdings Vagyonkezelo Kft, Arrow Electronics Hungary Kereskedelmi Bt, Arrow Electronics India Ltd., Arrow Electronics India Private Limited, Arrow Electronics International Holdings LLC, Arrow Electronics International Inc., Arrow Electronics Italia S.r.l, Arrow Electronics Japan GK, Arrow Electronics Korea Limited, Arrow Electronics Labuan Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ltd., Arrow Electronics Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Arrow Electronics Norwegian Holdings AS, Arrow Electronics Poland Sp.z.o.o., Arrow Electronics Russ OOO, Arrow Electronics Services S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Slovakia s.r.o., Arrow Electronics South Africa LLP, Arrow Electronics Taiwan Ltd., Arrow Electronics UK Holding Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ukraine LLC, Arrow Elektronik Ticaret A.S., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Inc., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions India Private Limited, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Ltd., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., Arrow Finland OY, Arrow France S.A., Arrow Global Asset Disposition Inc., Arrow Global Supply Chain Services Inc., Arrow Holdings (Delaware) LLC, Arrow Iberia Electronica Lda., Arrow Iberia Electronica S.L.U., Arrow International Holdings L.P., Arrow International Holdings Limited, Arrow Nordic Components AB, Arrow Norway A/S, Arrow S-Tech Norway AS, Arrow SEED (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow Systems Integration Inc., Arrow UEC Japan KK, Arrow United Holdings LLC, Arrow United International Holdings LP, Arrow Value Recovery ApS (fka Greentech Denmark ApS), Arrow Value Recovery Belgium BVBA, Arrow Value Recovery Czech Republic sro, Arrow Value Recovery Denmark ApS, Arrow Value Recovery EMEA BV, Arrow Value Recovery Finland Oy (fka Greentech Finland OY), Arrow Value Recovery France SAS, Arrow Value Recovery Germany GmbH, Arrow Value Recovery Netherlands BV, Arrow Value Recovery Norway AS (fka Greentech AS), Arrow Value Recovery Sweden AB (fka Greentech Sweden AB), Arrow Value Recovery UK LTD, Arrow eCommerce B.V., Arrow/Artlink Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow/Components (Agent) Ltd., Arrow/Rapac Ltd., Artlink Technology Co. Ltd., Aspen Labs LLC, Aspencore China Investment LLC, Aspencore LLC, Aspencore Media GmbH, Aspencore/IDG China Investment LLC, Asplenium SA, Asset Recovery Corporation, B.V. Arrow Electronics DLC, Beijing AIQI Technology, Beijing Arrow SEED Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing Canon Advertising Co. Ltd., Broomco (4184) Limited, COMPUTERLINKS, COMPUTERLINKS (UK) Ltd., COMPUTERLINKS Belgium BVBA, COMPUTERLINKS Denmark A/S, COMPUTERLINKS Nederland B.V., COMPUTERLINKS S.A., CSS Computer Security Solutions Erwerbs GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Holding GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Ltd., CT3 Europe Limited, Centia Group Ltd, Centia Ltd., Channel Support Pty Ltd, ChiWan Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Chip One Stop, Chip One Stop (Hong Kong) Ltd., Chip One Stop (Shenzhen) Ltd., Chip One Stop Inc., Commtech Solutions (UK) Limited, Components Agent (Cayman) Limited, Components Agent Asia Holdings Ltd., Components Distribution Business - Achieva, Conrac Asia Display Products Pte. Ltd., Conrac MENA FZE, Converge, Converge (Shanghai) International Trading Co. Ltd., Converge Asia Pte Ltd., Converge Electronics Trading (India) Private Ltd., Converge France SAS, Converge Netherlands BV, Converge Scandinavia AB, Cross Telecom, Data Modul, Data Modul AG, Data Modul Electronics Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Data Modul FZE, Data Modul France S.a r.l, Data Modul Hong Kong Ltd., Data Modul Iberia S.L., Data Modul Inc., Data Modul Italia S.r.l., Data Modul Ltd., Data Modul Shanghai Ltd., Data Modul Suisse GmbH, Data Modul Weikersheim GmbH, Diasa Informatica, Dicopel Inc., Distribution Business - Seed International, Distribution Central (MY) Sdn. Bhd., Distribution Central HK Pty Limited, Distribution Central Limited (NZ), Distribution Central Pte Limited (SG), Distribution Central Pty Limited, E-InfoChips KK, EC America, EDN Asia Advertising Pte Ltd., ETEQ Components Pte Ltd., Electronics Products Technology Co. Ltd., Embedded Developer LLC, Erf 211 Hughes (Pty) Limited, Eshel Technology Group Inc., Eurocomponentes S.A., Excel Tech, Excel Tech Inc., Firewall Systems Pty Limited, Fusion Distribution FZCO, Gates - Arrow Distributing, Gates - FA Distributing, Global Link Technology, Greentech Holding AS, Gross Telecom, ICC Global Media GmbH, IP Vista A/S, IPVista A/S, ITM USA Enterprises Inc., Intechra Holdings, Intex-semi Ltd., KeyLink Systems Group, LED Franchise LLC, LED Source Holdco LLC, LED Source LLC, LOGIX S.A., License Central Pty Ltd, Lite-On Korea Ltd., Marubun Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun Arrow (Thailand) Co Limited, Marubun Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun Arrow Europe Kft., Marubun Corporation, Marubun USA Corporation, Marubun-Arrow Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Marubun/Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun/Arrow (M) Sdn. Bhd (Malaysia), Marubun/Arrow (Philippines) Inc., Marubun/Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shenzhen) Electronic Product Consulting Company Limited, Marubun/Arrow (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun/Arrow USA II LLC, Marubun/Arrow USA LLC, NIC Components Asia PTE Ltd., NIC Components Corp., NIC Components Europe Limited, NIC Eurotech Limited, NUH Electronics India Private Limted, Networld Systems Pty Ltd, Nextworth Solutions Inc., Nu Horizons Electronics, Nu Horizons Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Asia PTE Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Hong Kong Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Malaysia SDN BHD, NuHo Singapore Holdings LLC, Observatory Crest, Openway Group SA, Openway SAS, PCG Parent Corp., PCG Trading LLC, PT Marubun Arrow Indonesia, Pansystem S.r.l., Pax8 Inc., Power and Signal Group GmbH, R.D. Trading Limited, RDC, RF Wireless & Power - Richardson Electronics, Rack Systems Pty Ltd, Red Education Pty Ltd, Redemtech, Renewal Systems Pty Ltd, Richardson RFPD (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Richardson RFPD (Thailand) Limited, Richardson RFPD Australia Pty. Ltd., Richardson RFPD Canada Inc., Richardson RFPD Electronics Trading (China) Co. Ltd., Richardson RFPD France SAS, Richardson RFPD Germany GmbH, Richardson RFPD Hong Kong, Richardson RFPD Inc., Richardson RFPD Israel Ltd., Richardson RFPD Italy Srl, Richardson RFPD Japan KK, Richardson RFPD Korea Ltd., Richardson RFPD Netherlands BV, Richardson RFPD Singapore, Richardson RFPD Spain SL, Richardson RFPD Sweden AB, Richardson RFPD Taiwan, Richardson RFPD UK Ltd., Richey Electronics, San Systems Pty Ltd, Schuylkill Metals of Plant City Inc., Seneca Data, Seneca Data Distributors Inc., Shared Technologies, Silicon Frameworks LLC, SiliconEgypt Technologies LLC, SiliconExpert Holdings LLC, SiliconExpert Technologies, SiliconExpert Technologies Inc., Sphinx CST Limited, Sphinx CST Networks Limited, Sphinx Group, Sphinx Group Limited, Sphinx Professional Services Limited, Spoerle Hungary Kereskedelmi Kft, Sun Chain Technology Corp., TLW Electronics Ltd., TechTurn, Titan Supply Chain Services Limited, Titan Supply Chain Services Pte Ltd., Trafomo AB, Trafomo ApS, Transim Technology, Transim Technology Corporation, U.S. Micro Operating Company LLC, UBM Tech Electronics Network, Ultra Source Electronics (SZ) Co LTD, Ultra Source Technology Corp., Ultra Source Trading Hong Kong Limited, United Technical Publishing Division - Hearst Business Media, Universe Electron Corporation, Verical, Verwaltungsgesellschaft Arrow Electronics GmbH, Wireless and Infrastructure Business Unit - Waching Company, Yongming Xincheng (Beijing) Technology Co., e-InfoChips, e-Infochips Private Limited, eInfochips, eMedia Asia Limited, immixGovernment Inc., immixGroup, immixGroup Inc., immixSolutions Inc., and immixTechnology. CES Energy Solutions Corp., together with its subsidiaries, provides consumable chemical solutions throughout the life-cycle of the oilfield. It provides solutions at the drill-bit, at the point of completion and stimulation, at the wellhead and pump-jack, and through to the pipeline and midstream market. The company's solutions include corrosion inhibitors, demulsifiers, H2S scavengers, paraffin control products, surfactants, scale inhibitors, biocides, and other specialty products. It also designs and implements drilling fluid systems and completion solutions for oil and gas producers; and designs and manufactures production and specialty chemicals for use in the oil and natural gas production markets, the stimulation and fracturing markets, and the pipeline and midstream markets. In addition, the company provides environmental consulting, water management services, and drilling fluids waste disposal services primarily to oil and gas producers; and operates trucks and trailers to transport products in the oil and gas industry. It serves oil and natural gas industry, including multinational producers, intermediate oil and natural gas operators, independent juniors, and joint ventures, as well as pipeline and mid-stream markets in western Canada and the United States. The company was formerly known as Canadian Energy Services & Technology Corp. and changed its name to CES Energy Solutions Corp. in June 2017. CES Energy Solutions Corp. was incorporated in 1986 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, 2nd Road Pty Ltd., ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Ltd, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Innovation Singapore Holdings Pte, ?What If! Limited, ?What If! Shanghai Co. Ltd, ?What If! USA LLC, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD Dialeto Agencia de Publicidade SA, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Beijing) Mobile Technology Co Ltd, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co Ltd, Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (South Africa) Pty Limited, Accenture (UK) Ltd, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Azerbaijan Ltd, Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BV, Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A, Accenture CAS GmbH, Accenture Canada Holdings Inc., Accenture Capital DAC, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd., Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SAS, Accenture Customer Services Limited, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Delivery Poland sp. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital France Holdings SA, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance (Gibraltar) III Ltd, Accenture Finance GmbH, Accenture Finance GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II GmbH, Accenture Finance II GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II Ltd, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services Srl, Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Ghana Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Ltd., Accenture Global Services Ltd, Accenture Global Solutions Ltd, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services Ltd, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc., Accenture Holding GmbH, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holding GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SAS, Accenture Holdings plc, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazylym Cozumleri Limited irketi), Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazlm Cozumleri Limited Sirketi), Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture Insurance Services SAS, Accenture Insurance Services SpA, Accenture International BV, Accenture International Capital SCA, Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture International Sarl, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea BV, Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Managed Services SpA, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Middle East B.V, Accenture Middle East BV, Accenture Minority I BV, Accenture Minority III Ltd, Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi (Pty) Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Newco LLC, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations Sp. z o.o., Accenture Outsourcing SRL, Accenture Outsourcing Services, Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations BV, Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru S.R.L, Accenture Peru S.R.L., Accenture Post Trade Processing SAS, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process Ltd, Accenture Product Lifecycle Services, Accenture Properties, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture S.A., Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture SAS, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sendirian Berhad, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Ltd, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.r.l., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services Sp. z o.o., Accenture Services Sp. z.o.o., Accenture Services and Technology Srl, Accenture Services fur Kreditinstitute GmbH, Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Servicos Administrativos Ltda, Accenture Servicos de Suporte de Negocios Ltda, Accenture Solutions Co Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Sp. z o.o., Accenture Sp. z.o.o., Accenture SpA, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc., Accenture Sub Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag KFT, Accenture Technologia, Accenture Technologia Consultoria e Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Technology Infrastructure Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions SAS, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd., Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures BV, Accenture Technology Ventures S.P.R.L., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co., Accenture Vietnam Co. LTD, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Limitada, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Customer Insight Limited, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Agave Consultants Limited, Agilex Technologies Inc., Allen International, Allen International Consulting Group Ltd, Alnova Technologies Corporation S.L., AlphaBeta Advisors, Altima, Altima Asia Ltd., Altima SAS, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Appaloosa Technology SAS, Arca, Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Avanade, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade (Thailand) Co Ltd, Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Denmark ApS, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Ltd, Avanade Europe Services Ltd, Avanade Federal Services LLC, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SAS, Avanade GZ Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd. (SH), Avanade Guangzhou, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy SRL, Avanade KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Netherlands BV, Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland Sp. z o.o., Avanade Poland Sp. z.o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain SL, Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Ltd, Avanade do Brasil Limitada, Avanade Osterreich GmbH, AvantBiz Consulting Limited, Avenai, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Benext, Bionic, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Boomerang Pharmaceuticals Communications Ireland Limited, Bow & Arrow, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brand Learning LLC, Brand Learning Ltd, Brand Learning Partners Limited, Brand Learning Pte Limited, Bridge Energy Group LLC, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CadenceQuest Inc., Capable Marketer Limited, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc., Certus Solutions Consulting Services Ltd, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cimation UK Limited, Cirruseo, Cirruseo SAS, Clarity Insights, Clearhead, Clearhead Group, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas (SN) (PTE.) Limited, Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Ltd., Cloud Talent Limited, Cloudsherpas, Cloudsherpas Inc., Cloudworks, Codagenic Pty. Ltd., Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda., Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda., Context Information Security, Coritel S.A., Corliant Inc., CreativeDrive, CustomerWorks Europe SL, Cutting Edge Solutions Ltd, D5 Global Holdings LLC, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., DMA Solutions Limited, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (Australia) PTY LTD, DayNine Consulting (Deutschland) GmbH, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting France SAS, DayNine Consulting Japan K.K., DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings, Declarative Holdings LLC, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digiplug SAS, Digital Consulting & Software Services LLC, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Ltd., Duck Creek Technologies, Duck Creek Technologies LLC, Deja Vu Security LLC, ESR Labs, Elcurator SAS, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting L.P., End-to-End Analytics, Energuia Web, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Ltd., Energy Quote Private Ltd., EnergyQuote JHA, EnergyQuote JHA Ltd., EnergyQuote Trading Ltd., Enimbos, Enkitec, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V. , Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enterprise System Partners PR LLC, Enterprise System Partners S.A.S., Entropia, Epylon, Ethica Consulting Group, Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Exton Consulting, Fairway Technologies Inc, Fairway Technologies LLC, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, First Annapolis International, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Focus Group Europe Limited, Formicary, Formicary Holdings Limited, Formicary Limited, FusionX, FutureMove Automotive, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, Genfour Limited, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gestion Altima Canada Inc., Gevity, Global Public Firm S.L., GlobalView SAS, GoodFilm GmbH Filmproduktion Stuttgart, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Hytracc Consulting UK Limited, Hytracc Holding AS, I-Faber S.p.A., IBB Consulting, IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INCAD, INSITUM, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Imagine Broadband (USA) Ltd, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Industrie&Co, Infoman AG, Infoman Schweiz AG, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Infusion Development Inc., Infusion Development UK Limited, InfusionDev LLC, Innoveer Solutions India Pvt Ltd, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria Brasil LTDA, Insitum Consultoria Colombia SAS, Insitum Consultoria Europa SL, Insitum Consultoria Peru SAC, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., Intrepid, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Advertisement (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inventor Technology Limited, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, Javelin Group (Bulgaria) EOOD, Javelin Group Limited (UK), Javelin Group SASU, K Comms Group Limited, KCS.net AG, KCS.net AG West, KCS.net Deutschland GmbH, KCS.net Holding AG, KCS.net Osterreich GmbH, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Ltd, Kogentix Singapore Pte. Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kunstmaan NV, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon UKI, Kurt Salmon UKI Ltd., Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LabAnswer, LabAnswer Government, LemonXL Limited, Logistics Market Place Limited (UK), Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Corporation, Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte. Ltd., Mackevision UK Ltd, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd., Maihiro, Matter, Matter Llc, Maud Corp Pty Limited, Maxamine International, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Corporation, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mindtribe Product Engineering LLC, MobGen, MobGen Technology S.L, Moonrise NV, Mortgage Cadence, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, N3 LLC, NBS Marketing Inc., NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile, Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Chile SpA, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda., New Energy Aborda, New Energy Associates Ltd, New Energy Group, New Energy S.r.l., NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage China Ltd., NewsPage Pte Ltd, Nice Agency Limited, Northstream, Northstream AB, Northstream Holding AB, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology LTDA, Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Octo Technology SPRL, Octoman SAS, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Openmind, Openminded, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium Consulting Ltd, Orbium GmbH, Orbium Holding AG, Orbium Inc., Orbium International AG, Orbium International sp. z o.o., Orbium Licences AG, Orbium Limited, Orbium Pte. Ltd., Orbium Pty Ltd, Orbium Services sp. z o.o., Orbium Sarl, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PCO Innovation Canada Inc., PCO Innovation EURL, PIXO PUNCH Limited, PLM Systems S.r.l, POC Holdings, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, Pach Invest SARL, Pach Invest SAS, PacificLink Group, PacificLink iMedia Ltd., Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald Inc., Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Partners Technology Mexico Holdings BV, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production K/S, Perseroan Terbatas. Accenture, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Ltd, Pragsis Technologies S.L, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Ltd, Procurian Germany GmbH, Procurian Inc., Procurian International I LLC, Procurian International II LLC, Procurian LLC, Procurian Singapore Pte. Ltd., Procurian Switzerland GmbH, Procurian USA LLC, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co Ltd, Radiant Services, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Limited, Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (Asia) Pte Ltd, Redcore (India) Private Limited (India), Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Renacentis IT Services, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Rothco, Rothco Holdings Designated Activity Company, Rothco Unlimited Company, S.C. EnergyQuote S.r.l., S3 TV Technology Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SEC Servizi, SEC Servizi S.p.A., SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Sagacious Consultants LLC, Salt Solutions, Sanchez Capital Services Pvt Ltd, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Airline Planning Group, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace Asia (Hong Kong) Limited, Seabury Aviation Consulting LLC, Seabury Cargo Advisory B.V., Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Human Capital LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Seabury Structured Finance LLC, Search Technologies BPO, Search Technologies BPO Inc., Search Technologies GmbH, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LATAM, Search Technologies LATAM S.A., Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Sente Partners LLC, Sentelis, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Shackleton, Shackleton Barcelona S.L., Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton Madrid S.L., Shackleton S.A., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., Silveo, Simian Pty Limited, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Commerce GmbH, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., SinnerSchrader Swipe GmbH, Sinnerschrader, Sistemes Consulting S.L., Solutions IQ, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Storm Digital, Storm Digital B.V., Structure Consulting Group, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Systor AG, TQuila Limited (UK), Tadata Creative Unlimited Company, Tara Insurance DAC, Tara Risk DAC, TargetST8, TargetST8 Consulting LLC, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica Ltd., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Limited, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Total Logistics Supply Chain Consultants Limited, Tquila, Trivadis AG, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Verax Solutions, Verax Solutions Corporation, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong, Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd., Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, Weblinc Pty Ltd, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wire Stone Sarl, Wolox, Workforce Insight Inc, Yesler, Zag, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines, Zenta Global Philippines Inc., Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc., Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, and solid-serVision.com GmbH. TCF Financial Corporation operates as the financial holding company for TCF National Bank that provides various financial products and services in the United States and Canada. It operates through Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Enterprise Services segments. The company offers checking, savings, and money market accounts; certificates of deposit; individual retirement accounts; debit and credit cards; and check cashing and remittance services. It also provides investment management and custodial services, trust services, financial and estate planning, and retirement planning and employee benefit programs; residential, consumer, and small business lending products; and consumer real estate secured lending, consumer loans, loans secured by personal property, and unsecured personal loans. In addition, the company offers loans and lines of credit, deposits, cash management, capital market products, international trade finance, letters of credit, foreign exchange management services, and loan syndication services. Further, it provides commercial and industrial, commercial real estate banking, and lease financing; and treasury services comprising investment and borrowing portfolios, as well as manages capital, debt, and market risks. As of December 31, 2020, the company operated 478 branches, including 373 traditional branches, 102 supermarket branches, and three campus branches located in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio, Wisconsin, Arizona, and South Dakota; and 1,062 ATMs. TCF Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Read More Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to businesses, professionals, and consumers in Virginia. The company accepts checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, cash management accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan products include commercial and industrial loans, such as small business loans, asset based loans, and other secured and unsecured loans and lines of credit; purchased loans; residential and commercial mortgages; home equity loans; consumer installment loans; and consumer loans comprising automobile and boat financing, home improvement loans, and unsecured personal loans. The company also provides credit cards; and insurance, online banking, telephone banking, mobile banking, analysis checking, cash management deposit, wire, direct deposit payroll, lockbox, positive pay, and remote deposit services, as well as a line of commercial lending options. In addition, it offers management services, including estate planning and settlement, as well as trust administration, investment, and wealth management services; and revocable and irrevocable living trusts, testamentary trusts, custodial accounts, investment planning, brokerage services, investment managed accounts, and managed and self-directed rollover individual retirement accounts for personal and corporate trusts. As of March 9, 2020, the company operated 17 banking offices located throughout greater Richmond region, the Northern Neck region, Middlesex County, and the Hampton Roads region. Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc. was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Read More Street Capital Group Inc., through its subsidiary, Street Capital Bank of Canada, provides a range of deposit and residential mortgage solutions in Canada. The company originates and sells high ratio and conventional prime insurable single-family residential mortgages; and accepts cashable guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) or term deposits and non-redeemable GICs. It offers residential mortgage loans primarily through its network of independent mortgage brokers. The company was formerly known as Counsel Corporation and changed its name to Street Capital Group Inc. in June 2015. Street Capital Group Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More 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. Wall Street analysts have given BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. The following companies are subsidiares of Tyson Foods: APF Legacy Subs LLC, Advance Food Company LLC, AdvancePierre Foods, AdvancePierre Foods Holdings Inc., AdvancePierre Foods Inc., Aidells Sausage Company Inc., Allied Specialty Foods Inc., American Proteins Inc, Artisan Bread Co. LLC, Australian Food Corporation Pty Limited, Australian Food Corporation Trust, BRF, Barber Foods LLC, Bosco's Pizza Co., Bryan Foods Inc., C.S. Grain LLC, C.V. Holdings Inc., CBFA Management Corp., Central Industries Inc., Chefs Pantry LLC, Clovervale Farms LLC, Cobb (Hubei) Breeding Co. Ltd., Cobb (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Cobb Ana Damizlik Tavukculuk Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Cobb Columbia S.A.S., Cobb Europe B.V., Cobb Europe Limited, Cobb Peru (Andina) S.A.C., Cobb-Heritage LLC, Cobb-Vantress Brasil Ltda, Cobb-Vantress Inc., Cobb-Vantress New Zealand Limited, Cobb-Vantress Philippines Inc., Coominya AFC Pty Limited, Coominya AFC Trust, DFG Foods Inc., DFG Foods L.L.C., Don Julio, Egbert LLC, Equity Group - Georgia Division LLC, Equity Group - Kentucky Division LLC, Equity Group Eufaula Division LLC, Equity Meat Corp., Flavor Corp., Flavor Holdings Inc., Foodbrands America Inc., Foodbrands Supply Chain Services Inc., Gallo Salame Inc., Global Employment Services Inc., Grow-Out Credit LLC, Grow-Out Holdings LLC, Haimen Tyson Poultry Development Co. Ltd, Hudson Foods Company, Hudson Midwest Foods Inc., Hybro Genetics Brasil Ltda, IBP Caribbean Inc., IBP Foodservice L.L.C., IBP Inc., International Affiliates & Investment LLC, Jiangsu Tyson Foods Co. Ltd, Keydutch Finance B.V., Keydutch Holdings I LLC, Keydutch Holdings II LLC, Keydutch Investments B.V., Keystone CLJV Holdings Limited, Keystone County House Road LLC, Keystone Foods, Keystone Foods (AP) Limited, Keystone Foods Holdco LLC, Keystone Foods Intermediate LLC, Keystone Foods LLC, Keystone Foods Pty Limited, Keystone Management Inc., Keystone Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, LD Foods LLC, M & M Express LLC, M&M Restaurant Supply (MI/OH) LLC, MFG (USA) Holdings Inc., Mac Food Services (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., Madison Foods Inc., McKey Food Services (Hong Kong) Limited, McKey Food Services (Shandong) Limited, McKey Food Services (Thailand) Limited, McKey Food Services Limited, McKey Luxembourg Holdings APMEA S.a.r.l., McKey Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., McKey Luxembourg S.a.r.l., McKey VI Holdings Limited, Myung Seung Food Company Ltd., National Comp Care Inc., New Canada Holdings Inc., Oaklawn Capital Corporation, Oaklawn IT Solution Private Limited, Original Philly Holdings Inc., PBX inc., Pierre Holdco Inc., River Valley Ingredients LLC, Rizhao Tyson Foods Co. Ltd, Rizhao Tyson Poultry Co. Ltd, Rural Energy Systems Inc., Sara Lee - Kiwi Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Diversified LLC, Sara Lee Foods LLC, Sara Lee Household & Body Care Malawi Ltd., Sara Lee International LLC, Sara Lee International TM Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Mexicana Holdings Investment L.L.C., Sara Lee TM Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Trademark Holdings Australasia LLC, Saramar L.L.C., Shandong Tyson-Da Long Food Company Limited, Smart Chicken, Southern Family Foods L.L.C., Southwest Products LLC, TF 20 B.V., TF 5201 B.V., TFA Leasing LLC, TFA Opportunity Zone Fund LLC, TFI of California Inc., Tecumseh Poultry LLC, Texas Transfer Inc., The Bruss Company, The Hillshire Brands Company, The IBP Foods Co., The Pork Group Inc., TyNet Corporation, Tyson (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Tyson Americas Holding Sarl, Tyson Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Tyson Breeders Inc., Tyson Chicken Inc., Tyson China Holding 2 Limited, Tyson China Holding 3 Limited, Tyson China Holding Limited, Tyson Deli Inc., Tyson Europe Holding Company, Tyson Farms Inc., Tyson Farms QOZB LLC, Tyson Foods Brasil Investimentos Ltda., Tyson Foods Canada Inc., Tyson Foods Europe (Netherlands) B.V., Tyson Foods Europe GmbH, Tyson Foods France S.A.R.L., Tyson Foods Germany GmbH, Tyson Foods Group Limited, Tyson Foods Holland B.V., Tyson Foods Huadong Development Co. Ltd, Tyson Foods Iberia Alimentos S.L.U., Tyson Foods Italia S.p.A., Tyson Foods Korea, Tyson Foods Netherlands B.V., Tyson Foods Products Limited, Tyson Foods Scotland Europe Limited, Tyson Foods Scotland Sales (Europe) Limited, Tyson Foods UK Limited, Tyson Foods Wrexham Limited, Tyson Foods oosterwolde B.V., Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., Tyson Fresh Meats Sales and Distribution LLC, Tyson Global Holding Sarl, Tyson Hog Markets Inc., Tyson India Holdings Ltd., Tyson International APAC Ltd., Tyson International Company Ltd., Tyson International Holding Company, Tyson International Holding Sarl, Tyson International Service Center Inc., Tyson International Service Center Inc. Asia, Tyson International Service Center Inc. Europe, Tyson Mexican Original Inc., Tyson Mexico Trading Company S. de R.L. de CV., Tyson New Ventures LLC, Tyson Opportunity Zone Fund LLC, Tyson Pet Products Inc., Tyson Poultry Inc., Tyson Prepared Foods Inc., Tyson Processing Services Inc., Tyson Refrigerated Processed Meats Inc., Tyson Sales and Distribution Inc., Tyson Service Center Corp., Tyson Shared Services Inc., Tyson Storm Lake Holdings LLC, Tyson Warehousing Services LLC, Tyson of Wisconsin LLC, Uninex SA, Universal Meats (UK) Limited, WBA Analytical Laboratories Inc., Wilton Foods Inc., Xamol Consultores e Servicos, and Zemco Industries Inc.. United Technologies Corporation provides technology products and services to building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. Its Otis segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and moving walkways; and offers modernization products to upgrade elevators and escalators, as well as maintenance and repair services. The company's Carrier segment provides heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation products, solutions, and services for commercial, government, infrastructure, residential, and refrigeration and transportation applications. This segment also offers building services, including audit, design, installation, system integration, repair, maintenance, and monitoring. Its Pratt & Whitney segment supplies aircraft engines for commercial, military, business jet, and general aviation markets; and provides aftermarket maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as fleet management services. The company's Collins Aerospace Systems segment provides electric power generation, power management, and distribution systems; air data and aircraft sensing systems; engine control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; engine components; environmental control systems; fire and ice detection, and protection systems; propeller systems; engine nacelle systems; aircraft lighting, seating, and cargo systems; actuation and landing systems; space products and subsystems; avionics systems; flight controls, communications, navigation, oxygen, and training systems; food and beverage preparation, and storage and galley systems; and lavatory and wastewater management systems. The company offers its services through manufacturers' representatives, distributors, wholesalers, dealers, retail outlets, and sales representatives, as well as directly to customers. United Technologies Corporation was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. Read More Wall Street analysts have given El Paso Electric a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but El Paso Electric wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. 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.. ROME - The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has announced it will open an investigation into the airstrike on Thursday that killed at least 29 children aboard a school bus, along with causing dozens of wounded. The coalition will "investigate collateral damage of the bombing and determine those responsible", a coalition source said. Meanwhile, the number of civilians killed in the Yemen conflict has risen to more than 6,500, according to UN figures released Friday. Liz Throssel, a spokeswoman for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, said her office has documented a total of 17,062 civilian victims - 6,592 killed and 10,470 wounded - in the conflict since the armed intervention by the Saudi-led coalition on March 26, 2015. Gaza: calm situation since last night, no raids or rockets Egypt-mediated truce in place, says Hamas (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, AUGUST 10 - The situation between Gaza and Israel has been calm since last night, after 24 hours of conflict. As of early this morning, no rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip nor raids in response by the Israeli army. According to Hamas, an Egypt-mediated truce starting at 20:45 (GMT) was reached on a basis of "mutual calm". Israel has denied its existence but a high official has told a local radio that "calm calls calm". (ANSAmed). Over 6,500 civilians killed in Yemen since March 2015 - UN Saudi coalition opens probe on airstrike that hit school bus (ANSAmed) - ROME, AUGUST 10 - The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has announced it will open an investigation into the airstrike on Thursday that killed at least 29 children aboard a school bus, along with causing dozens of wounded. The coalition will "investigate collateral damage of the bombing and determine those responsible", a coalition source said. Meanwhile, the number of civilians killed in the Yemen conflict has risen to more than 6,500, according to UN figures released Friday. Liz Throssel, a spokeswoman for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, said her office has documented a total of 17,062 civilian victims - 6,592 killed and 10,470 wounded - in the conflict since the armed intervention by the Saudi-led coalition on March 26, 2015. (ANSAmed). NEW YORK - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is calling for "an independent and prompt investigation" into an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen that caused the deaths of scores of children aboard a bus travelling in the northern district of Majz on Thursday. In a statement through his spokesman, the UN chief "condemned" the airstrike and called on "all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular the fundamental rules of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack". The statement said Guterres "urgently renews his call for a negotiated political settlement through inclusive intra-Yemeni dialogue as the only way to end the conflict". Turkey: Erdogan dismisses concerns over tumbling lira 'Campaigns against us, dont heed them', says president (ANSAmed) - MILAN, AUG 10 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed concerns over the country's tumbling currency, urging citizens to have "no worries" and denouncing "campaigns" against the country. "There are various campaigns being carried out. Don't heed them", Erdogan was quoted as saying by state-run news agency Anadolu, cited by Bloomberg. "Don't forget, if they have their dollars, we have our people, our God. We are working hard. Look at what we were 16 years ago and look at us now", he was quoted as saying. The Turkish lira hit a new record low early on Friday after a Turkish delegation returned from talks in Washington the previous day without reported progress in an ongoing crisis. Tension between Turkey and the US, NATO allies, has been high over the detention in Turkey of US evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson on terrorism charges. The situation has led to US sanctions against two Turkish ministers and threats of trade restrictions. (ANSAmed). Are you a John person or a Paul person? Thats the thing about the Beatles: despite being perhaps the most beloved rock band of all time, theyre as well known for their individual personalities as their collective work. People have favourites: John or Paul, or perhaps George or Ringo, says Beatles fanatic and Dalhousie Math professor Jason Brown. And they cling strongly to what that persons contribution was to the Beatles. Which can get tricky at times, given that the vast majority of the bands songs are credited to Lennon-McCartney regardless of which of the two may have written it. As well, especially on earlier Beatles material, there was often a great deal of collaboration and editing done between the two songwriters and many cases where the recollections of exactly who wrote what differ. The question of authorship is one of the many Beatles-related ponderings that have tickled Dr. Browns mathematical mind over the years. Now, together with Harvard statistician Mark Glickman, hes put together a study aiming to settle some long-standing Beatles debates with math. The math behind the music The study, the results of which were first shared late last month at the annual JSM (Joint Statistical Meetings) conference, is an exercise in stylometry: using statistical techniques to determine authorship. With the help of Harvard student Ryan Song, Drs. Brown and Glickman analyzed the entire Beatles catalogue up through 1966s Revolver, going through the scores and recordings for every song. (There seems to be a change in styles after Revolver, says Dr. Brown, noting as well that Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership became a bit more disparate. So it seemed like a good breaking point.) What the researchers were looking for were songwriting patterns that disguised McCartney or Lennons work: things that each of them did, consciously or unconsciously, that left fingerprints on the songs. The fact that there are about 70 or so Beatles songs (or portions of songs) from that era on which the authorship isnt disputed, based on interviews over the years, gave the researchers a starting point to identify those patterns and, from there, analyze songs where theres some debate. Take, for example, In My Life, a Beatles classic from Rubber Soul which ranks 23rd on Rolling Stones list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Sung by Lennon, In My Life is a song where the recollections of the two songwriters differ as to how it was written. Lennon (who was killed in 1980) credited McCartney with the songs harmony part and the middle-eight, but McCartney has claimed in the past that he wrote the majority of the music himself. The math sides with Lennon on this one: the analysis found just a 0.018 per cent probability that McCartney wrote the music for In My Life. That particular song generates a bit of emotion on both sides because its considered such a great song, says Dr. Brown. But there are other songs like The Word, where many believe its a Lennon song, but our study shows it to be almost certainly written by McCartney. Finding the pattern So what sort of patterns distinguish the two songwriters? Paul, perhaps because of his larger vocal range, often has big skips in terms of melody notes, Dr. Brown says, offering one particular example. For instance, in Love Me Do the end of the chorus Paul sings the top line and then jumps down an octave. In Eleanor Rigby he does the opposite thing. John doesnt do that to the same degree. On the other hand, John liked, chord-wise, to go between whats called the tonic the base chord of the key to the relative minor. He does it in Run for Your Life, Its Only Love its a typical move for him. I think its a sense of ambiguity in the key: is it the major or the relative minor? He liked that sort of ambiguity in his songwriting. This isnt the first time Dr. Brown has applied his mathematical expertise to unlock long-argued Beatles lore. Ten years ago, he earned international attention for his work using a mathematical calculation called Fourier transform to try and identify how the oft-imitated, never-quite-duplicated opening chord of A Hard Days Night was played. (The answer, he found, was a piano note buried in the mix.) He also took to the pages of Guitar Player magazine to write about George Harrisons solo on that same song, and how the math shows it was initially performed at half-speed and sped up to match the rest of the recording. His newest project has been generating headlines around the world over the past week in Canada, the U.S., Britain, Australia and beyond. (The day he spoke with Dal News he had three other interviews lined up.) And if you think that all of this effort to unlock Beatles secrets takes some of the fun out of rock n roll, Dr. Brown couldnt disagree more: he finds, in the math, even more evidence of the bands greatness. For a lot of people, the music is so eternal and so fresh that its like its just yesterday to pardon the pun, he says with a laugh, when asked why his research on the Beatles seems to generate such attention. The Beatles hold a special place in peoples hearts and minds. Im still captivated by the brilliance of their songwriting, like no other band. Even after all this analysis, it still excites me. TUNIS - Tunisian Tourism Minister Selma Elloumi Rekik told a press conference in Tunis that 4.4 million foreign tourists visited Tunisia from January 1 through July 31 this year, up 23% on the same period in 2017. The minister added that revenues from the tourism sector reached 1,750 Tunisian dinars (about 550 million euros), up 42% on the same period last year. According to the minister's estimate, at the end of the year a total of over 8 million tourists will visit Tunisia. A reported 7 million visited in 2017 and 6 million in 2016. Every year in October, we always scream Save the boobs! You see pink everywhere and those funny little buttons about boobs. It is truly a month for women to come together and support each other, and that is incredible. But, I have to ask you... This page may be updated if the event is repeated Past Event - Saturday, September 07, 2019 This page may be updated if the event is repeated Free Event Join WYSO staff, volunteers and listeners, for our WYSO Listener Appreciation Concert at Levitt Pavilion Dayton. **Free and open to the public** We know youre out there listening to WYSObut weve never met face-to-face! Lets remedy that. Join us for the first ever WYSO Listener Appreciation Concert at Levitt Pavilion Dayton. WYSO is sponsoring Reverend Paytons Big Damn Band on Saturday, September 7th at 7pm. Local favorites The Pullouts will open. This is a free, family-friendly, wear-your-dancing-shoes kind of concert. WYSO staff will be there. Yellow Springs Brewery will be there, with a fresh batch of Vox Populi, the Voice of the People its a WYSO-inspired Pilsner for community-minded beer drinkers. Well be passing out WYSO swag, including a koozie for your beer. All thats missingis you! Bring a chair to the inaugural WYSO Listener Appreciation Concert. Well see you there! Corporate Affairs Ministry has received 537 complaints till date against Sahara Q Shop for not returning the matured amount to investors, Union Minister P P Chaudhary said on Friday. New Delhi: Corporate Affairs Ministry has received 537 complaints till date against Sahara Q Shop for not returning the matured amount to investors, Union Minister P P Chaudhary said on Friday. Following the complaints, the ministry has ordered inquiry, he added. "The ministry has received 537 complaints till date against Sahara Q Shop Unique Products Range Ltd of Sahara Group for not returning the matured amount to investors," Chaudhary, who is the Minister of State for Corporate Affairs said. Separately, he said that 77 "vanishing" companies remained untraced after having raised funds through initial public offers (IPOs). Vanishing companies are those firms which cease to file their statements of return after raising capital, and whereabouts of their registered office or directors are not known. From the initial public offerings (IPOs), which were issued during 1992-2005 period, a total of 238 firms were identified as vanishing companies. "Due to the continuous efforts of the ministry, 129 companies have been traced and are now regular in filing statutory returns. Further, 32 vanishing companies were under liquidation proceedings," the minister said. Now, the total number of vanishing companies stand at 177. The Registrars of Companies have initiated legal action against their promoters and directors in respect of the vanishing companies, he added. India has launched an investigation into subsidised production and export of welded stainless steel pipes and tubes from Chinstainless steela and Vietnam, an official notification said. New Delhi: India has launched an investigation into subsidised production and export of welded stainless steel pipes and tubes from China and Vietnam, an official notification said. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies, which falls under the trade ministry, said there was prima facie evidence of subsidies that were hurting the domestic industry. The authority finds that there is prima facie evidence of existence of countervailable subsidies on production and export of the subject goods in Peoples Republic of China and Vietnam, and such subsidized imports are causing material injury to the domestic industry through their volume and price effects, the notification said. Shahid Kapoor is at a high in his personal and professional life. The actor maintains a perfect balance between experimenting in new films and doing what he does best. Last time he came in a movie, that was promoted on a grand scale without many efforts that too. Were talking about Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmaavat which was constantly in news for its controversy with the Karni Sena. A source told Pinkvilla, Shahid has been personally sitting with the marketing team of the film and giving his several inputs and ideas so as to plan out the perfect promotional strategy of the film. Directed by Shree Narayan Singh, Batti Gul Meter Chalu is being produced and marketed by Bhushan Kumars T-Series. A lot of excitement was brewing for Sidharth Malhotras Shotgun Shaadi, since he was pairing up with Parineeti Chopra again for his second film under Ekta Kapoors banner. The movie is set to go on floors in Lucknow and with that, Ekta Kapoor seems to have found her 'Jabariya Jodi'. That, according to a report on DNA is the name of the film. As its based on pakadwa vivaah, the makers felt that this was an apt name. In Bhojpuri, jabariya means zabardasti, so the title refers to a couple who is forced to get married. The two actors have also shot for the posters before leaving for Lucknow, so they should be out soon, a source told the daily. Sidharth suggested the word during one of his readings. The informer added, He came across this word during the readings and told the team about it. They liked it instantly. Speaking about pairing up with Parineeti again, Sidharth said, Its an exciting film for both of us to come back together as a couple on screen. This movie has a mix of humour and good content. Justin Bieber revealed he has turned to an incredibly conservative Christian self-help book for relationship guidance in the wake of his tearful public exchange with fiancee Hailey Baldwin recently. The 24-year-old Canadian pop star, who was pictured crying while comforting an equally-emotional Hailey, 21, was seen carrying the religious book about marriage while out and about in New York on Wednesday. He seemed to credit the book with helping him to overcome bad days as he spoke to photographers outside Haileys Brooklyn apartment. Justin did seem to suggest that he is leaning on the book heavily for guidance as he and Hailey navigate their relationship ahead of marriage, holding it up and showing it to photographers and fans on Tuesday. You got good days and you got bad days, the pop icon told TMZ as he left her apartment. The Sorry hitmaker then waved the book in front of a photographer, saying, This, after being questioned about why he and Hailey had been so upset. Its not real if it doesnt have any bad days, he added. The duo sparked feverish speculation online after the model was seen comforting her fiance as he openly wept while they were out on a bike ride, before both Hailey and Justin broke down during an emotional exchange in a cafe. The book is by Presbyterian pastor Timothy Keller, with inputs by his wife Kathy The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God. The book follows 5 individuals who are compelled to face the ghosts of their past, present and future over a dinner party. Mumbai: it is difficult to discuss and fictionalise the different aspects of adolescence and growing up- and to point the reality with an unbiased perspective. Eminent author Manoj Jain has launched his new book Dystopia which effectively captures the struggles that the young generation faces on many fronts. Five people with five different journeys arrive at their own stories where happiness and hope are constantly desired concepts. Yet, they all reach a reality where an unresolved mystery raises questions which each person will have to look deep within their own lives to answer. The event was different from the usual book launches as here the characters came to life by the skit which was performed by a group of actors. It involved all the main characters which resulted a better understanding of the storyline and the most important thing is, the enactment gave a face and image to every character which is very creative. Upon being asked what made him write this book Dystopia, The author, Manoj Jain said that there are different stages a person faces in ones life and one is affected by Childhood episodes and their choices in adolescence. Manoj shared that he himself has been through this stage and this is what made him write this book. Among other needs, lies the desire to be loved, accepted and to be content with who you are and what you have. The transition from childhood into adulthood is filled with trials and tribulations. There are days of sheer joy and those of seemingly unending despair, all in the name of this quest we call life. And what is life? What is identity? Most importantly - what is my identity? Who am I? It is these thought provoking questions that plague one during adolescence that eminent author Manoj Jain attempts to answer through his latest book Dystopia. The book follows 5 individuals who are compelled to face the ghosts of their past, present and future over a dinner party. Unspoken desires and yearnings are finally voiced as each of these 5 characters turn to introspection and finally identify who they are, and where in this rat race called life do they stand. Though each persons journey has been uniquely narrated, Manoj Jain has hit the nail right on the head by bringing forward an issues that rarely do people speak of, Most of the emotional and psychological problems faced by adults are the result of unresolved issues of childhood. The way a person will turn out in adulthood is heavily influenced by their experiences in their childhood. Parenting styles are important as it determines a lot of the emotional well being of the child during his mature years. The book takes the reader through the difficult days of adolescence, stages of development, choices, commitments and sexuality." He further added, Dystopia reflects the ugly truths of life which are hidden by deeply enforced silences. At its heart, this book is about the quest to uncover these truths for a self-reflection that is not unlike enlightenment. And it all circles around the mysterious death of a teenage girl who decided to face death than to face life. The arrested persons were identified as D. Padithurai (37) of Uttamapalayam in Theni and M. Sillo Sahadev (21) of Visakhapatnam. Chennai: The anti-drug trafficking wing of Tamil Nadu police on Friday seized 44 kg of ganja smuggled from Andhra Pradesh to the city. Two persons were arrested. The arrested persons were identified as D. Padithurai (37) of Uttamapalayam in Theni and M. Sillo Sahadev (21) of Visakhapatnam. According to the police sources, the anti-drug trafficking wing had received a tip-off about the smuggling of cannabis into Chennai from Andhra Pradesh. Based on the information, DSP Purusothaman and his team conducted a vehicle check near Padi flyover. The police team stopped a bus belongs to Andhra Pradesh government that originated from Visakhapatnam. During a search in the bus, the police found 44kg ganja worth Rs 8 lakh in the bus and arrested Padithurai and Sahadev. During the investigation, it was revealed that the duo had allegedly procured the contraband in Visakhapatnam for Rs 4 lakh. They were intended to sell the cannabis for Rs 8 lakh in Theni and surroundings, the police said. The police registered a case and further investigation is on. The man, Sai Krishna, hails from Palvancha of Kothagudem district, police said, adding that he posted obscene pictures of the girl in a fake account he created and also on one of her friends account.(Representational Image) Hyderabad: A 23 year old man was arrested by Cyber Crime Police of Rachakonda for uploading morphed obscene pictures of a girl on a fake profile on social media on Friday. The man, Sai Krishna, hails from Palvancha of Kothagudem district, police said, adding that he posted obscene pictures of the girl in a fake account he created and also on one of her friends account. Mukeshs plan was to make Rajesh write the exam for him, but it was foiled by the officials.(Representational Image) Hyderabad: Two youths from Bihar were arrested by the Saroornagar police on Friday after one of them tried to impersonate the other in the Railway Recruitment Board examination at a centre in Vijayapuri Colony. According to Saroornagar inspector N. Ch Ranga-swamy, Mukesh Kumar (27), a native Shankarpuri Jahama village in Nalanda district of Bihar came to the city to appear for the examination. On Friday, Rajesh was carrying a copy of the hall ticket with his photograph pasted on it and a copy of Mukesh's Aadhar card with a morphed photo. Mukeshs plan was to make Rajesh write the exam for him, but it was foiled by the officials, said the inspector. The bill criminalises the Islamic practice of divorcing by uttering the word 'talaq' thrice in any form spoken, in writing, or over electronic communication. (Photo: File) New Delhi: A day after Union cabinet signed off on the changes in the triple talaq bill adding a bail provision, the draft bill will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Friday making instant triple talaq, or instant divorce a criminal offence. The Lok Sabha cleared the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, in December but it has been stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the BJP-led NDA is in minority. The Centre is expected to bring an ordinance, or emergency executive order to enact the law if the Opposition does not play along, NDTV reported quoting government sources. The government is looking to introduce the contentious bill after making three amendments to it. If the bill is cleared by the upper house, it will be sent back to Lok Sabha for approval of the amendments. The bill criminalises the Islamic practice of divorcing by uttering the word talaq thrice in any form spoken, in writing, or over electronic communication. The first amendment cleared by the Centre, allows only a woman, or a close relative, to file a police case against her husband for instant triple talaq by uttering the word "talaq" (divorce) thrice. The second amendment allows her to drop the case if the husband comes around later and they arrive at a compromise. The government, however, has not toned down the three-year jail penalty for the husband or the provision that only empowers a magistrate, and not a local police officer, to release the accused on bail. The third amendment mandates that the magistrate can decide on releasing the husband on bail only after hearing the wife. This was one of the demands made by the Opposition. With the amendments made by the cabinet the government now hopes support from some non-NDA parties, which raised concerns over the misuse of the law. The ruling BJP has already ordered all its lawmakers to be present in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, which is also the last day of the Monsoon Session. All eyes will be on the two big non-NDA parties, Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the AIADMK, who have 22 lawmakers in the House. When Lok Sabha debated the bill last year, both BJD and AIADMK opposed the legislation. The BJD's Bhartruhari Mahtab had called the framing of the bill "faulty" and "flawed" and insisted that it would be doing disservice to Muslim women. The AIADMK also wanted the Centre to remove the provision of three-year jail for husbands. Both the parties abstained from voting. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad at a cabinet briefing on Thursday turned his attention to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and said, "I want to ask Sonia Gandhi, will you stand up for women's honour and pride? Congress should make their stand clear." On August 22, 2017, the Supreme Court struck down triple talaq, calling the Islamic practice unconstitutional. It ruled that the law violates Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which provides for equality before the law. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board opposed the verdict, saying it was "contrary to the protection guaranteed by the Constitution of India." (With inputs from agencies) ATS sleuths raided the residence and shop of the accused at Bhandar Aali in Nallasopara late on Thursday night. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a member of a right-wing Hindu outfit and seized huge quantity of explosives from his residence at Nallasopara in Palghar district of the state, police said on Friday. Vaibhav Raut, a member of 'Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti', was apprehended from Bhandar Aali in Nallasopara West late on Thursday night, an official said. "ATS sleuths raided his residence and shop where they found a huge quantity of explosives, including crude bombs. Some literature was also seized," he said. After taking Raut into custody, the ATS team returned to Mumbai, where he would be interrogated. He is likely to be produced before a court this afternoon, the official added. In a statement, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) termed Raut's arrest "Malegaon part II". The Malegaon case centres around the September 29, 2008 bomb explosion near Bhiku Chowk in the Muslim-dominated Malegaon town of Nashik district, which killed six people and injured 101 others. "Vaibhav Raut is a daring cow protector. He was active through an organisation- Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti - dedicated to the protection of cows," HJS state organiser Sunil Ghanvat said, adding, "He used to participate in the programmes and agitations organised through uniting Hindu organisations under the aegis of HJS." He, however, claimed that Raut had not participated in any of the programmes for the last few months. "The incidents of needless harassment of activists of Hindu organisations to implicate them in false cases, etc are not new any more. This has been amply proved through Malegaon case and the arrest of many innocent seekers of Sanatan Sanstha," Ghanvat said. "Considering the news being disseminated today, it has created doubt whether the arrest of Vaibhav Raut is an instance of Malegaon part II," he said. Dalai Lama said, 'My statement has created controversy. If I said something wrong I apologise.' (Photo: File) Mumbai: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Friday apologised for the statement he made about former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Dalai Lama said, My statement has created controversy. If I said something wrong I apologise. Earlier, Dalai Lama had said it was Nehrus selfishness that led to the partition of India. The 83-year-old monk while addressing an event at the Goa Institute of Management, had said, "Mahatma Gandhi ji was very much willing to give Prime Ministership to Jinnah but Pandit Nehru refused." Also Read: Partition wouldnt have happened if Jinnah had become PM: Dalai Lama I think it was a little bit self-centred attitude of Pandit Nehru that he should be the prime minister... Mahatma Gandhijis thinking, if it had materialised, then India, Pakistan would have been united, the monk had said. An aerial view of the flooded locality of Aluva after heavy rains, in Kerala on Friday. (Photo: PTI) Kochi: Dam reservoirs and rivers overflowed, sections of highways collapsed and homes were swept away in severe flooding in more than half of Kerala, after days of incessant rains left nearly 54,000 people homeless and killed at least 29, officials said on Friday. Northern and central Kerala have been battered by heavy rains of the Southwest monsoon since August 8, which has left 29 people dead, including three today. According to reports, all five gates of the Idukki Reservoir were opened on Friday as the heavy downpour continued unabated. Two columns of Army have been requistioned for Aluva as the water from Idukki dam is expected to reach the region by 10-11 pm on Friday night. Of the 29 dead people, 25 died in landslides and four in drowning. State officials said a total of 53,501 people are now housed in 439 relief camps across the state. At least 60 tourists, including 20 foreigners, stranded at the Plum Judy resort at Munnar since Wednesday were rescued and taken to safer places, state Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a survey of the flood affected areas in Kerala on Sunday, a Home Ministry spokesperson said. "Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the prevailing flood situation in the state. I have assured all possible assistance from the Centre to the state government. The relief and rescue ops are going on. MHA is closely monitoring the flood situation," Singh tweeted. All five gates of Idukki dam were opened on Friday, increasing the water flow into Periyar river. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) People living downstream of Periyar river in Kochi, and Cheruthoni river in Idukki have been warned of a possibility of inundation of banks. The Army, Navy, Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are conducting evacuation and relief operations. The Navy has put on alert its Southern Naval Command in view of the rising water level in Periyar river and a possible inundation of parts of Wellingdon Island, surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi. Fire Services personnel rescue a child following a landslide, triggered by heavy rains, in Idukki, Kerala. (Photo: PTI) Schools and colleges are closed in Idukki, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta districts. Dramatic visuals of people being washed away in Kaniyambatta in #Wayanad #Kerala. People formed a human chain and tried to rescue them. The hilly districts of #Wayanad and #Idukky are been completely inundated with red alerts issued in both districts. #KeralaFloods #KeralaRains pic.twitter.com/VEfqy32Aum PAUL OOMMEN (@Paul_Oommen) August 9, 2018 The South-west monsoon has been vigorous over Kerala resulting in heavy rains in various parts of the state since the past two days. Malappuram: A section of Nilambur- Karad road is seen washed away following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, at Malappuram in Kerala. (Photo: PTI) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had described the flood situation in the state as "very grim" and it was for the first time in the history of the state that 24 dams had been opened at a time following the water level reaching maximum capacity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday and offered all possible assistance to those affected. "Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the state. Offered all possible assistance to those affected. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Kerala in the wake of this calamity," the PM said in a tweet. Union Minister KJ Alphons, who is from Kerala, said this is the biggest spell of rain the state has witnessed in five decades. "It is the biggest rain we had in 50 years," news agency ANI quoted KJ Alphons saying. Roof of a house collapses following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, at Kodencheri in Kozhikode district of Kerala. (Photo: PTI) The United States consulate in Chennai issued a travel alert and advised the US citizens to avoid visiting areas affected by landslides and flash flood. Tourists have been asked to stay away from high range areas and dam sites by the government. According to state disaster control room sources, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas. Over 5,500 people from Wayanad district, where a red alert had been sounded on Thursday, have been shifted to relief camps, the sources to news agency PTI said. In Ernakulam, 3,456 people have been shifted to camps following floods after 4 shutters of the Idamalayar dam were opened on Thursday. On request of Kerala government, Karnataka also agreed to release 75000 cusecs water from Kabini reservoir in Mysuru districts as the backwaters are adding to the woes of the rain-battered southern state. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday announced a relief fund worth Rs 10 crore to the flood-hit Kerala. The chief minister has also directed his Chief Secretary T M Vijayabhaskar to send relief materials and a team of doctors to the state. Kerala has been witnessing incessant rain since the past two days, causing flooding and landslide. Till now, at least 26 people have lost their lives in the state in rain-related incidents. "Expressing shock over the death of 22 persons due to flood in Kerala, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that Government of Karnataka would extend every possible support for flood relief in Kerala," read an official statement. Also Read: 26 dead, red alert issued as rain lashes Kerala: CM says situation 'very grim' On request of Kerala government, Karnataka agreed to release 75000 cusecs water from Kabini reservoir in Mysuru districts as the backwaters are adding to the woes of the rain-battered southern state. Kumaraswamy also called Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the flood situation in the state. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took stock of the situation and offered all required assistance to the Kerala government. Kanwariyas were filmed attacking a police van on a busy road, and also indulged in an altercation with the locals in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) New Delhi: After videos showcasing vehicles being vandalised by Kanwariyas across Northern states went viral on social media, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the police to take strict action against those responsible for erupting violence and breaching laws. A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, and comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, reiterated an earlier verdict, which stated that videography of every procession should have to be made. The top court, while citing the 2009 judgement, also said that the organisers were responsible for any violence reported during the procession. On Wednesday, a group of Kanwariyas, armed with iron rods and sticks, smashed a car in Delhi's South Moti Nagar area after the driver allegedly tried to brush past one of them while moving on a busy road. Also Read: Watch: Kanwarias create ruckus, damage car that brushed past them in Delhi A similar incident also took place in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district on August 7, wherein Kanwariyas were filmed attacking a police van on a busy road, and also indulged in an altercation with the locals. Also Read: In video, another group of Kanwariyas run riot in UP, vandalise police van Six Kanwariyas, including main accused Pappu, were arrested in connection with the attack on Friday. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma assured that authorities will take necessary action against those found guilty. "Those on spiritual pilgrimage are lost in the devotion of God, and can never be violent. But if some anti-social elements get involved then we will take strict action, no one will be spared irrespective of who he is," he told news agency ANI. Kanwar pilgrims are the devotees of Hindu God, Shiva, who embark on a pilgrimage every year during the Hindu month of Saavan. Pilgrims can be seen carrying heavy pots filled with Ganga water on their shoulders, which they empty at the temples of Lord Shiva. On October 12 last year, the Allahabad High Court had acquitted Rajesh and Nupur Talwar couple in Aarushi murder case saying they could not be held guilty on the basis of evidence on record. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging acquittal of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in murder of their daughter Aarushi and help Hemraj. The top court also issued a notice to the couple, who were released in October 2017. A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the CBI's appeal would be heard along with Hemraj's wife's pending petition, which has also challenged the acquittal of the Talwars. "Leave granted," the bench, also comprising Justices Navin Sinha and K M Joseph, said. Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, representing the CBI, referred to the plea filed by Hemraj's wife. The bench said CBI's appeal would be tagged with it. The CBI had in March filed an appeal in the apex court challenging the acquittal of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar. On October 12 last year, the Allahabad High Court had acquitted Talwar couple, whom the CBI had implicated in the murder case, and said they could not be held guilty on the basis of evidence on record. Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead inside her room in Talwars' Noida residence with her throat slit in May 2008. The needle of suspicion had initially moved towards 45-year-old Hemraj, who had gone missing, but his body was recovered from the terrace of the house two days later. A CBI court at Ghaziabad sentenced the Talwars to life imprisonment on November 26, 2013, in connection with the case. (With PTI inputs) Thiruvanthapuram: Two Keralites who were detained in Kuwait have been released following the intervention by Mr Shashi Tharoor MP. They are Tampi Mabels, who was held in a Kuwaiti jail for over a year, and Leema Raju, a domestic help, who was put under house arrest by her Kuwaiti sponsor. Both hail from Thiruvananthapuram. Tampi Mabels, who is in his sixties, was arrested in 2016 while he was working as sales executive at Kuwait and Saudi Development Company after his sponsor, a Kuwaiti citizen, filed a breach of trust case against him. Though the court gave him a clean chit, the sponsor had been filing appeals so that Mabels would neither be released nor allowed to leave Kuwait at any point. Mr Tharoor coordinated his release and repatriation with the help of Indian ambassador in Kuwait and Mables returned home here on Wednesday. Leema Raju, a native of Vallakadavu, was kept under house arrest by her sponsor from April. Leema was offered Kuwaiti visa to work as domestic help by an Indian recruiting agency. On reaching Kuwait, the agent handed her over to a Kuwaiti sponsor who subjected her to physical and mental torture, and she was denied food and medicine. New Delhi: On the last day of the Monsoon Session, opposition parties held protests against the Rafale deal near Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises. UPA chairperson and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi led the protests and was joined by the top leadership of the party, including Raj Babbar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, along with several other opposition leaders. Holding placards, parliamentarians from parties like Congress, Communist Party of India, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), raised slogans demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be formed to probe the purchase of Rafale fighter planes from France. During Rajya Sabha proceedings, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that the Rafale deal was a "big scam" and there should be a JPC probe into it. Congress Deputy leader Anand Sharma said whenever such issues have been released earlier during previous Congress rules, a JPC probe was ordered and reiterated his party's demand. The row over Rafale jet deal has remained dominant over the last several months, including the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government signed the deal with France-based Dassault Aviation to purchase 36 Rafale jets in 2016. The Congress has time and again cornered the government over the defence pact, alleging irregularities in it and demanding the government to disclose the price of the jets. Officials said they might review the decision if local police or the special protection group assures the university of Gandhi's security. (Photo: File) Hyderabad: Citing security concerns, Osmania University on Friday declined permission for Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's proposed meeting with students on its campus during his visit to the state on August 13 and 14. University Registrar Ch Gopal Reddy said they declined permission as they had no mechanism to provide security to the Congress leader. However, they might review the decision if local police or any other government agency such as the special protection group (SPG) assures the university of Gandhi's security, he said. "We declined the permission on security grounds. Since he (Rahul Gandhi) is a person under 'Z' plus category security cover, we will not be able to provide security for him. Some students are opposing his visit while some welcome him. It may also lead to tension during his visit. So we told them (group of students) about our inability to provide enough security for his visit," Reddy told PTI. Telangana Congress leaders had earlier said Gandhi would address students at the campus during his visit. Asked about the proposed meeting at the University, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said university students had invited Gandhi. They applied to the university vice-chancellor and police for permission and the matter was under consideration, he had earlier said. He alleged that some senior leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) did not want Gandhi to visit the university. The University is said to be the hotbed of the separate Telangana agitation. A car is seen submerged in flood water after heavy rainfall, at Vythiri in Wayanad district of Kerala. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The United States on Friday issued an advisory, asking its citizens not to visit Kerala because of the flash floods in the state. In the advisory, the US said the heavy south-west monsoon rains triggered landslides and floods in the state, and American citizens should avoid visiting all affected areas in the state. "Avoid all areas throughout Kerala affected by landslides and flash floods," it read. At least 26 people have died in Kerala due to incessant rainfall and flooding in the past two days. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the situation as "very grim". Also Read: 26 dead, red alert issued as rain lashes Kerala: CM says situation 'very grim' With water levels rising in various dams and reaching almost their maximum capacity, shutters of at least 22 reservoirs in Kerala have been opened to drain out excess water. Heavy rains for the past two days and release of water from the Idamalayar dam on Thursday, resulted into flooding in low-lying areas in the northern districts of Kerala. The flood water also triggered landslides at some places. Four gold biscuits, weighing about 400 grams in total, were recovered from the man. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: A US national has been apprehended by the CISF at the airport in Hyderabad for allegedly trying to smuggle out gold biscuits worth over Rs 12 lakh, a senior official said on Thursday. He said MSK Reddy was intercepted at the airport on Wednesday based on suspicion, he said. Four gold biscuits, weighing about 400 grams in total, were recovered from the man who is a United States of America (USA) national. He could not produce valid reasons for carrying the gold and the cache is estimated to be worth Rs 12.40 lakh, he said. Reddy, who was supposed to take a flight for Dallas via Dubai, has been handed over to Customs authorities for further probe, he said. Arvind Kejriwal said AAP will contest the Haryana Legislative Assembly polls and the general elections from all seats. (Photo: File | PTI) Jind: Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said his party will not join the proposed opposition alliance against the BJP for the 2019 general elections. He said the parties who are joining the proposed alliance have had no role in the country's development. "The AAP will not be a part of any alliance in 2019," Kejriwal told reporters in Rohtak. He said his party will contest the Haryana Legislative Assembly polls and the general elections from all seats. Blaming the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government for the pending development works in Delhi, he alleged that hurdles were created for every step taken by his government for people's welfare. "We have done revolutionary work in the education and health sectors in Delhi," he asserted. Kejriwal said compared to Delhi, Haryana lagged behind in development. He said his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar should learn from the Delhi government how development is done. The Delhi chief minister asked when the AAP government can bring a revolution in the power, water, health and education sectors without full statehood, then why can the Khattar government not do it. He also demanded a compensation of rupees one crore for the family of a soldier from Haryana's Ambala district who lost his life while foiling an infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir's Gurez sector on Tuesday. Also supporting the blanked ban on cigarettes instead of taking ENDS and related products off the market is Samrat Chowdhery spokesperson of Association of Vapers, India, who said, scientific research substantiates that vaping can prove to be an important tool in smoking cessation. COIMBATORE: Having already imposed a ban in eight states in the country, the Union Health ministry is considering a pan-India ban on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and related products. In the backdrop of this, reactions to the move pour in from various quarters. Medical experts, primarily oncologists echo the opinion that the government must necessarily impose a blanket ban on cigarettes instead of banning ENDS, e-cigarettes and related products. Of the various ENDS products, e-cigarettes are most popular as they are widely used by a cross-section of the population including minors. An oncologist from a city-based multi-specialty hospital said, as the name suggests, they are battery-operated devices that user can hold in the hand and are regarded as alternatives to smoking traditional cigarettes. While some state that vaping can prove to be an important alternative to traditional cigarette smoking, there is enough study to prove otherwise. This brings us to one conclusion; why cannot the government impose a ban on smoking cigarettes in total? Several lives will be saved and incidence of cancer will automatically come down in the country. he said. Also supporting the blanked ban on cigarettes instead of taking ENDS and related products off the market is Samrat Chowdhery spokesperson of Association of Vapers, India, who said, scientific research substantiates that vaping can prove to be an important tool in smoking cessation. Furthermore, there are enough studies, research and analysis to suggest that vaping, in comparison to tobacco cigarettes and other tobacco products are less harmful and contain far lesser toxins and thereby cause a reduced level of harm. he said, On behalf of a vaping body that represents more than 4,000 vapers, the question that AVI is raising is why aren't cigarettes banned instead? he mused. According to business intelligence company Euromonitor, the global market for vaping products has grown exponentially at 818 per cent between 2011 and 2016. Though the regulations are slowing its growth, and yet, it is projected to grow at 176 per cent between 2016 and 2021. Speaking to DC a city-based NRI Amit (name changed) said, vaping is considered as a healthier alternative and people are using it to wean off their addiction. From the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to the American Cancer Society (ACS) to the British Medical Association (BMA), all have held the use of e-cigarette as an alternative to the hazardous tobacco cigarettes. The FDA continues to regulate e-cigarettes rather ban it. The US health regulator has found e-cigarette comparatively less harmful because unlike traditional cigarettes, as they dont release tar and other toxic chemicals, which are the real cause of tobacco-related deaths. A chain smoker, since his teens, Amit switched to e- cigarettes and is comfortable. According to him, the real killer is not nicotine but tobacco. I was gifted an imported e- cigarette for my birthday when I turned major. News that the government is all set to ban ENDS and related products on directions of the High Court comes as a rude shock. If the ban comes into being, people who are already dependent on the products will somehow find their way to access and use them. If the aim is to bring down tobacco consumption, the government must seriously consider imposing a ban on smoking on the whole. Rakesh Sharma a resident of the textile city said. Hyderabad: Powerloom Industry has been thriving well in Telangana state while the handloom industry has taken a backseat, thanks to TRS governments Bathukamma Free Sari Distribution Scheme. Under the scheme, the state government has been placing an order worth Rs 250 crore to produce 90 lakh saris. These are being distributed to women, during Bathukamma Festival, since 2017. This order is placed with powerloom weavers as they can produce more saris, at a lower cost, quickly. With this, weavers are shifting from handloom to powerloom and vying with each other to set up looms. In 2017, with no required number of powerlooms in state, the government could place order for only 60 lakh saris with the local weavers and the rest 30 lakh were procured from textile firms in Surat, Gujarat. However, poor quality of saris procured from Surat turned controversial and led to protests with some women burning the saris, soon after distribution, causing embarrassment to the government. This year, the government placed a total order with local weavers. This resulted in sharp increase in setting up power looms in the state with weavers trying to secure more orders from the government. Weavers, who migrated to Bhiwandi in Maharashtra state, have also returned to their native place following abundant work availability and good wages. As per the latest survey conducted by the government, there are 17,573 handlooms in state while the number of powerlooms have shot up to 35,588. This indicates that powerlooms are double the number of handlooms. It was also found that powerlooms were confined to four districts earlier but now have spread to 17 districts. Sircilla constituency, represented by handlooms minister K.T. Rama Rao, has the highest number of powerlooms 25,494. Handloom weavers can produce only one sari a day and the cost is also higher. While a sari produced on a power loom costs around Rs 222, it costs about Rs 450 if it is a handloom. Besides, powerlooms can produce hundreds of saris every day. Earlier, weavers were in distress and committed suicides due to lack of work and indebtedness, Mr Rao said. But after TRS Government took over and launched Bathukamma Sari Scheme, linking other Central schemes, the income of weavers has more than doubled. They are now working round the year and on an average, each weaver is earning Rs 20,000 per month unlike earlier when it was just Rs 8,000, Rama Rao said. He said that this year, the government has placed an order for the production of Bathukamma saris, worth Rs 250 crores, to Sircilla weavers. Nearly 15,000 weavers would get employment directly and another 5,000 would get indirect employment for six months from April to September. With the State Government providing them regular bulk orders such as school uniforms, KCR kits and Bathukamma sarees, powerloom weavers are tuning in themselves to work for the government and to get good income and meet the requirements of the government accordingly. New Delhi: The Centre on Friday informed the Supreme Court that the seven killers of Rajiv Gandhi cannot be released as the case involved the assassination of the former Prime Minister in pursuance of a diabolical plot executed by a highly organised foreign terrorist organisation. The Centre told a three-judge bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi that the Union home ministry had passed an order on April 18 and conveyed its decision to the Tamil Nadu government rejecting its proposal to grant remission and release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, who are in jail for the last nearly 27 years. By a letter dated March 2, 2016 the Tamil Nadu government reiterated the earlier proposal of February 19, 2014 to grant remission to seven convicts, viz Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan (whose death sentence was commuted to life sentence) and that of Nalini, Robert Pius, Jayakumar and Ravichandran, serving life term and sought Centres approval. In January this year the court had granted three months time to the Centre to take a decision on the States proposal. Accordingly the decision has been taken the ASG told the Bench. It said the crime was perpetrated as a result of a pre-planned and pre-meditated conspiracy, the brutal act brought the Indian democratic process to a grinding halt in as much as the general election to the Lok Sabha and assemblies on some States had to be postponed. The Home Ministry has evaluated the case and decided that releasing the four foreign and three Indian nationals who had committed the gruesome crime will set a very dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future. The apex court had already commuted the death sentence of three convicts into life imprisonment. Hyderabad: Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) sleuths carried out raids against TD MP Rayapati Sambasiva Raos corporate offices in Hyderabad, suspecting large-scale tax evasion. It may be noted that the raids have been carried out at a time when the TD is at loggerheads with its old political ally. The TD leader owns Transstroy (India) Limited, an engineering and construction company that bagged the multi crore Polavaram Project in Andhra Pradesh in 2012 and has its corporate offices located in Begumpet and Kamalapuri colony of Hyderabad. It is to be noted that the raids have been carried out at a time when the TD is at loggerheads with its old political ally. Also it comes after the TD Rajya members voted for the Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman elections which was held on Thursday. The MP confirmed the raids to Deccan Chronicle and said there was no direction to pay GST and his employees were caught unawares when the searches took place. When DC contacted the head of the Transstroy company, the officer refused to give out details. The Transstroy Company bagged the tender in 2012 by quoting 14 percent of the total project cost of Rs 4,717 crore. A former member of the Rajya Sabha, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao was elected from the Narasaraopet assembly constituency, AP on TD ticket. He was formally with the Congress party. Bengaluru: Within 48 hours of branding India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as "self-centred," Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama apologized, saying that "my statement has created a controversy, I apologise if I have said something wrong." Speaking at a function in the IT capital to commemorate 60 years of the Tibetan government in exile, the Dalai Lama who said he had known Mr. Nehru personally, attempted to walk back from the outcry in the Congress against his criticism of India's first prime minister by lavishing praise on Mr. Nehru's move to help find a home for the thousands of Tibetan refugees who flooded into India. The 83-year-old monk said Pandit Nehru fully backed the creation of Tibetan settlements across the country. He told the audience at a function organised by Central Tibetan Administration Bengaluru here on Friday that it was Nehru's idea to set up a separate Tibetan school as part of the settlement to help preserve Tibetan arts and culture. "Immediately, he set up a committee headed by the union education minister...at that time, we wrote to different states for the allocation of some land," the Dalai said at an event called 'Thank You Karnataka.' "The best response came from the Mysore state, he said. One major factor was late Nijalingappa, who extraordinarily showed concern for the Tibetan cause. He promised me he will support the Tibetan cause," the Dalai Lama added. Then Karnataka chief minister S Nijalingappa allocated land at four different locations which resulted in five Tibetan settlements being set up in the southern state. On Wednesday, responding to a question posed by a student at an interaction held at the Goa Institute of Management in North Goa's Sanquelim village, the Dalai Lama had said Nehru had a "self-centred attitude" to become India's first prime minister even though Mahatma Gandhi was in favour of Muhammad Ali Jinnah taking the top post at that time. I felt pity when I heard that Mahatma Gandhi was opposed to Partition... There are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan, but past is past, the Dalai Lama said. He then claimed India's partition would not have happened if Mahatma Gandhi's wish of Jinnah becoming the prime minister had materialised. "Mahatma Gandhi wanted to give the prime ministership to (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah. But Nehru refused. He was self-centred. He said, I wanted to be Prime Minister'. India and Pakistan would have been united (had Jinnah been made Prime Minister at the time). Pandit Nehru is very experienced. But mistakes do happen, the Dalai Lama said. The Tibetan spiritual leader had spelt out the Nehru analogy in response to a question from a student who sought to know from the Tibetan leader, about how one could be sure-footed about one's decisions and how to avoid committing mistakes in life. The Congress took umbrage at his statement with Congress leader Manish Tewari rebutting the Dalai Lama's claims to say, With great respect, his Holiness Dalai Lama is wrong that Nehru was self-centred and therefore, opposed Gandhi's suggestion of making Jinnah, Prime Minister of India. The historical record suggests otherwise. May be it would be worth his while to peruse this link." Ruing that India has lost the 'Nalanda tradition', Tibetan spiritual leader expressed his commitment to revive ancient knowledge of Indian. The Tibetan spiritual leader emphasised that modern India needed this ancient knowledge and hence, it should be revived. The Dalai Lama said in the 7th century a Tibetan emperor introduced the Nalanda tradition of Buddhism based on reason and logical conclusion and had the Sanskrit texts translated into Tibetan language in 300 volumes. He rued that India has lost the Nalanda tradition. "My commitment is to revive the ancient Indian knowledge in modern India. We have already started some steps, some progress." Nalanda was the biggest monastery and Buddhist learning centre which was destroyed by medieval-era invaders. According to sources, the SIT had reportedly alerted the Maharashtra ATS about Raut, whose name allegedly figured in the diary of Amol Kale, a former Hindu Janajagruti Samithi (HJS) convener and one of the key accused in the Gauri murder case. Bengaluru: The Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad (ATS) early on Friday morning seized some explosives and eight crude country made bombs from the house of Sanatan Sanstha worker Vaibhav Raut from Nalasopara near Mumbai on an alleged input from the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Karnataka, which is investigating the murder of editor-activist Gauri Lankesh. According to sources, the SIT had reportedly alerted the Maharashtra ATS about Raut, whose name allegedly figured in the diary of Amol Kale, a former Hindu Janajagruti Samithi (HJS) convener and one of the key accused in the Gauri murder case. The details of the diary, which is said to contain a lot of information linked to the murder, have reportedly been shared with the Maharashtra ATS. The Squad has reportedly recovered at least eight country-made bombs and raw material like gunpowder and detonators from Rauts house and his shop, which is close to his house. The Sanstha, meanwhile, denied that Raut is a member. Reports of the arrested devout Hindu, Vaibhav Raut being a member of Sanatan are being falsely propagated by the media. Mr Vaibhav Raut is not a member of Sanatan; however he had been actively involved in numerous rallies and processions organised by devout Hindu organisations. Although Raut is not a seeker of Sanatan, we believe that any Hindu working for the cause of Hindutva and for Dharma, belongs to us, Chetan Rajhans, spokesperson of the Sanstha has stated on the organisations website. Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Friday quashed the state government order, dated August 12, 2008, denotifying Gokarna Mahabaleshwara temple from the control of Department of Muzrai and attaching or handing it over its administration to Ramachandrapura Math. The court quashed the order stating that the state has no power to do so and that order passes is illegal and arbitrary. The court also ordered constituting an overseeing committee in this regard which will come into effect from Sept 10. Further, the committee headed by the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner has been directed to collect inventory details of movable assets and bank records of the temple and submit it before the court in two weeks time. New Delhi: The position of the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha going to JD(U)s Harivansh Narain Singh has firmly entrenched Nitish Kumar in the NDA camp. But apparently the JD(U) chiefs decision to adhere to the NDA plans and even field his own candidate comes after his bargaining with the Opposition camp, particularly with the RJD, for his return to the Mahagathbandhan fold failed. The main point of contention according to sources was Mr Kumars refusal to vacate the Chief Ministers chair for Mr Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD in exchange for being named as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the larger Opposition Grand Alliance in 2019 or be accommodated in any other important position at the Centre. Sources told this newspaper that as early as last month, there were a series of meetings between JD(U), the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress over his possible return to the Mahagathbandhan fold. During these negotiations, the Grand Alliance parties, which includes Congress and the RJD, agreed to the demand made by Mr Kumar that he be projected as the Prime Ministerial face of the larger Opposition alliance ahead of 2019. However, the key point on which the talks failed was the RJDs demand that Mr Kumar step down as the Bihar Chief Minister and hand over the reins to RJD supremos son Tejashwi Yadav. The Bihar Chief Minister on his part wanted to continue in office till the general elections. Elections to the Bihar Assembly are due in 2020 and the Lok Sabha polls in 2019. Analysts, however, say that these can be clubbed. Subsequent to the breakdown of the talks, Mr Kumar warmed up to the BJP afresh for a seat-sharing pact and decided to go the full hog by accepting the offer of contesting the Deputy Chairpersons post for which the JD(U) chief is said to have canvassed with other parties using his personal goodwill. A BJP candidate would have found it difficult to garner votes from an array of parties like the BJD and the AIADMK which helped them pull off a victory in a house in which they lack majority. Mr Kumar, who had been elected as the chief minister in Bihar as part of the JD(U)-RJD-Congress Grand Alliance had exited the same and joined NDA last year citing corruption cases against alliance partner Lalu Prasad. The Opposition alliance had called his exit a mockery of the mandate given by the people. Since the breakdown in talks, RJD leader Mr Tejashwi Yadav has been particularly sharp in his attack on Mr Kumar even going to the extent of calling him a turncoat. Trouble had been brewing between the BJP and the JD(U) over seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections. The JD(U) had indicated that it expected the BJP to give it a respectable number of seats to contest in 2019. It was also expecting some seats in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to push Mr Kumars Bihar Plus plan. In 2014, the JD(U) had won only 2 seats compared to the BJPs 16, LJPs 5 and RJDs 3. Koppal: Former CM Siddaramaiah on Friday denied that he was considering contesting the Lok Sabha election either from Koppal or any other constituency in the state. Speaking to reporters at the Koppal airstrip on Friday, he was categorical in his statement although there has been much speculation that the Congress high command is keen on him contesting the poll, which is crucial for it to come to power at the Centre. Mr Siddaramaiah had contested the 1991 Lok Sabha elections from Koppal on a Janata Dal ticket, but lost to Mr Basavaraj Patil Anwari of the Congress by a narrow margin. The fact that his Kuruba community has a large presence in the constituency has also added to rumours that he may be fielded from it. But denying all such talk, Mr Siddaramaiah merely said that the coalition partners in the state government, the JD(S) and Congress, would face the election together and share the Lok Sabha constituencies. Party insiders, however, continue to insist that the Kuruba strongman may consider contesting the poll from a constituency in north Karnataka where his community has a large presence. Should he not choose to contest from Koppal, Congress leaders from the community have made it clear they want the party ticket to go to a Kuruba candidate. While Mr Siddaramaiah seems in no mood to contest from Koppal, former minister and Kushtagi Congress MLA, Amaregouda Bayyapura , a Raddi Lingayat, has no such misgivings and has thrown his hat into the ring for a ticket from the constituency. I have been trying to go to New Delhi for the last 15 years, but have not succeeded. This time I am serious, he said recently. Hyderabad: The Telangana state government on Friday appointed Mr Banda Sivananda Prasad as the Advocate-General of the state. The post of the A-G was lying vacant since March 26, 2018 with the resignation of Mr D. Prakash Reddy, senior advocate and the state government on Friday after accepting the resignation with effect from March 26, issued orders appointing Mr Prasad as the new A-G to the state. It may be recalled that the Mr Prakash Reddy quit the office in the backdrop of developments in the petition filed by the Congress MLAs Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and S.A. Sampath Kumar challenging their expulsion from the Assembly before the High Court. Mr Prasad who is belonging to the Backward Classes community is the third Advocate-General for the state and also the first A-G from the Backward Classes after formation of the Telangana state . He was also said to be the first AG from the BC Communities since from the establishment of the erstwhile AP High Court which was become common High Court for both states after the bifurcation of the AP on June 2, 2014. Mr Prasad who is currently the government pleader from medical, health and family welfare department of TS was born on July 31, 1963, in Jangaon of the erstwhile Warangal district and after completing his postgraduation in law he enrolled as advocate in 1987. Interestingly, the wife and two daughter of Mr Prasad, are also law graduates and his third daughter stays at home. The father of Mr Prasad is a retired judge. Mr Prasad also served as a legal adviser for the various nationalised banks. Chennai: To pay tribute to the former chief minister and late DMK president M.Karunanidhi, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Associations general secretary Mannargudi S. Ranganathan urged the state government to erect the statue of the departed leader at Tiruvarur Collectors office. All political parties and several organisations in Tiruvarur district took out a rally on Friday to condole the death of Mr.Karunanidhi. While speaking at the rally, Mr.Ranganathan said, Karunanidhi was instrumental in building the model collector office at Tiruvarur. The government should name the campus as Kalaignar Valaagam and erect a statue of the leader. New Delhi/Chennai: The DMK on Friday asked the Centre to posthumously confer Bharat Ratna, the nation's highest civilian award, upon the party patriarch M. Karunanidhi in recognition of his outstanding work and several achievements. The 94-year-old Dravidian stalwart and five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, died on August 7 and was laid to rest on Thursday. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, DMK member Tiruchi Siva said Kalaignar was the tallest leader of the country and had contributed 80 years of his life to public service, fighting for the cause of the downtrodden, backward and the suppressed people. I would urge the Government to confer upon him posthumous Bharat Ratna Award which will be a real tribute for his outstanding and exemplary work which had left an indelible mark in the annals of history, said the MP. Elaborating on his demand for Bharat Ratna for Karunanidhi, the DMK MP told the Chair: He was an outstanding orator, a prolific writer, a novelist, a short-story writer, a philosopher, a philanthropist and also a dramatist. He was an actor and he also wrote scripts for 80 movies. Sir, he is unparalleled and he made a mark in all walks of life. He added that the late leader was fighting till his last breath for social justice, secularism, state autonomy and self-respect. Many members, including Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, associated themselves with Siva's demand. Congress members supported his demand by thumping their desks. Samsungs Galaxy S7 smartphones contain a microchip security flaw, uncovered earlier this year, that put tens of millions of devices at risk to hackers looking to spy on their users, researchers told Reuters. The Galaxy 7 and other smartphones made by Samsung Electronics were previously thought to be immune to a security vulnerability known as Meltdown, which researchers said affected most of the worlds PCs, smartphones and other computing devices. Researchers from Austrias Graz Technical University told Reuters they have figured out a way to exploit the Meltdown vulnerability to attack Galaxy S7 handsets. The team plans to release their findings on Wednesday at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. They are looking into Meltdowns impact on other makes and models of smartphones and expect to uncover more vulnerable devices in the near future, researcher Michael Schwarz told Reuters. There are potentially even more phones affected that we dont know about yet, he said. There are potentially hundreds of millions of phones out there that are affected by Meltdown and may not be patched because the vendors themselves do not know. Samsung said it rolled out patches in January and July to protect Galaxy S7 handsets against Meltdown. Samsung takes security very seriously and our products and services are designed with security as a priority, the company said in a statement. A Samsung spokeswoman did not comment on how many Galaxy S7 smartphones had been sold. She said there were no reported cases where Meltdown had been exploited to attack an S7 handset and that no other Samsung phones were known to be vulnerable. Meltdown, and a second vulnerability known as Spectre can be exploited to reveal the contents of a computer devices central processing unit - designed to be a secure inner sanctum. Hackers can exploit those vulnerabilities by either bypassing hardware barriers or tricking applications into giving up secret information such as passwords or banking details. There are no known cases of hackers exploiting either vulnerability in a real-world attack, but disclosure of the widespread hardware flaws has rocked the computer industry, forcing chipmakers and device manufacturers to scramble to contain the fallout. The Galaxy S7 is currently used by some 30 million people, according to research firm Strategy Analytics. Samsung has released two new versions of its flagship Galaxy line of smartphones since the S7 debuted in 2016. 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. The announcement of the sanctions prompted Russian stocks and the ruble to tumble on Thursday. (Photo: AP) Moscow: Russia warned on Friday that if the US followed through with threats to impose further harsh economic sanctions it would be seen as a "declaration of economic war". The warning by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev came after Washington unveiled a raft of new sanctions against Russia over its alleged use of the Novichok nerve agent against a former double agent which Britain has blamed on Moscow. The incident, which took place in a city in southern England in March, triggered a major diplomatic crisis despite Russia's denial of any role. The announcement of the sanctions prompted Russian stocks and the ruble to tumble on Thursday. "While I don't want to comment on the talk about future sanctions, I can say that if we end up with something like a ban on banking activities or the use of certain currencies, we can clearly call this a declaration of economic war," Medvedev was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. "And we must absolutely respond to this war. By economic means, by political means and if necessary by other means," he added. "Our American friends must understand this." Announced late on Wednesday, the first set of sanctions, which will take effect in just under two weeks, impose a ban on the export to Russia of "national security sensitive" US technologies. Until now such exports had been previously allowed on a case-by-case basis, with a senior State Department official saying the move could cut off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of exports to Russia. Further sanctions loom? A second round of sanctions that could go into effect 90 days later would cut far deeper, including blocking all American bank loans to Russian entities, an outright ban on US exports to Russia, and suspension of diplomatic relations. The State Department said the sanctions were aimed at punishing Moscow for having "used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law", mandated under the Chemical and Biological Weapons and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991. However the sanctions announcement could bolster US President Donald Trump's claim that his administration is taking a tough stance on Moscow, even as he continues to denounce as a "witch hunt" an independent probe whether his election campaign colluded with Russia. According to the 1991 Act, the president shall tighten the penalties within 90 days, unless the party in question provides "reliable assurances" that it no longer engages in such activities, and allows on-site inspections by United Nations observers. Russia had on Thursday responded furiously to the sanctions, denouncing them as "categorically unacceptable" as the markets tumbled and the ruble fell to its lowest level in almost two years. On Wednesday, Russia's Kommersant daily published excerpts from another piece of draft US legislation which proposes a ban on US citizens purchasing Russian sovereign debt as well as steps against the country's biggest banks as well as its oil and gas sector, a key driver of the economy. The sanctions follow the US Treasury's imposition of sanctions in March against 19 Russian citizens and five entities for interfering in the 2016 US election, the toughest steps against Moscow since Trump took office. Also in March, Washington ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats, and the closure of Russia's consulate general in Seattle over the Novichok incident. The Russian economy has only recently started to recover from international sanctions imposed on Moscow in 2014 over its actions in Ukraine and a crash in oil prices the same year. The Supreme Court on Monday admitted for consideration an appeal filed by the CBI, against the acquittal of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the 2008 twin murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj in Noida, bordering Delhi. A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph granted leave in the case, which had triggered sensation across the country for its twists and turns. The matter was first probed by the Uttar Pradesh Police, which accused the Talwars of the murder, but the CBI that subsequently investigated the case, filed a closure report citing lack of sufficient evidence. A CBI court at Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh had sentenced the Talwars to life imprisonment on November 26, 2013, in connection with the case. The Allahabad High Court had on October 12, 2017, acquitted the couple. The high court had exonerated them saying they could not be held guilty on the basis of the evidence on record. Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead inside her room in the Talwars' Noida residence with her throat slit in May 2008. The needle of suspicion had initially moved towards 45- year-old Hemraj, who had gone missing but his body was recovered from the terrace of the house two days later. The court had earlier in March this year admitted a similar plea filed by Khumkala Banjade, wife of Hemraj for consideration. The court had then called for the original records of the case. In a shocking incident, a 12-year-old girl from Govandi in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai died and several others taken ill after showing signs of poisoning following a medical dose given at a civic-run Urdu medium school. The victims are from the Sanjay Nagar BMC Urdu School No. 2 at Govandi suburbs of Mumbai. The deceased girl was identified as Chandni Mohammed Shaikh, who died on Thursday night. The school is run by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and iron and folic acid tablets were administered to the students of the school on Monday. Around 35 to 40 students are currently admitted to the Rajawadi Hospital at Ghatkopar and Shatabdi Hospital at Govandi. All of them are out of danger. Because of signs of poisoning, 160 plus other students were treated at various hospitals including Rajawadi and Shatabdi hospitals. Chandnis father Shahid Ali Shaikh held the BMC responsible for his daughters death. The tablets were not good. Every year, the school asks consent of parents before they give any drugs or administer injection. But it was not the case this time, he said. According to him, after she was given medicine, she complained of pain in stomach and chest. Doctors initially said, it was cough and asked for X-ray. Later she started vomiting and died before anything could not done. Now my son too has shown similar symptoms and he too hospitalized, said Shaikh, a resident of Bainganwadi. The BMC, however, has clarified that the girl was administered medicine on Monday. On Tuesday, she was absent. However, she was present in school on Wednesday and Thursday. She died at her Baiganwadi residence on Thursday night. The post-mortem was conducted on Friday and the report is awaited. We would be able to tell about the cause only after the post-mortem report, said Padmaja Keskar, Executive Health Officer of BMC. Kids from our locality were vomiting and feeling uneasy, restless and having headache so we rushed them to hospitals, said Rehana, a lady from the Govandi locality, who had accompanied parents to the Rajawadi Hospital. As Moscow opened the doors of its military training facilities for officers of the armed forces of Pakistan, New Delhi stressed that India's time-tested relations with Russia were based on respect for each other's sensitivities. Our (India-Russia) relations are based on equal trust and respect for each other's core interests and sensitivities, Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said. He was responding to a query from a journalist on New Delhi's view on the pact, which Moscow and Islamabad inked on Tuesday paving the way for military officials of Pakistan to train in Russia. Russia also inked a naval cooperation agreement with Pakistan recently. The pacts signalled the growing defence cooperation between Russia and Pakistan. They were inked just three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had held an informal summit at Sochi on the coast of Black Sea and agreed to deepen the Special and Strategic Partnership between the two nations. Modi and Putin will again meet in New Delhi later this year for the annual India-Russia summit. New Delhi refrained from airing its reservation over the latest move by Russia to step up its military cooperation with Pakistan. It, however, subtly indicated that Russia should respect the "sensitivities" of India even as it stepped up its military cooperation with Pakistan. The MEA spokesperson underlined that India and Russia shared a time-tested relation. They are our privileged strategic partners, he said, adding that the two nations had a special relationship. He also said that the relationship between India and Russia had acquired a new dimension after the informal summit between Prime Minister and Russian President in Sochi in May. Let me add that our relation with Russia remains excellent and it is independent of the relation with any other country, said Kumar. Russia has since long been the largest supplier of military hardware to India and has been maintaining its defence cooperation with Pakistan at a very low level. Indias growing ties with the United States over the past few years, however, prompted Russia to respond to Pakistans overtures. Moscow and Islamabad started discussing the sale of Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan in 2014 and the delivery of the choppers purportedly begun early this year. Russia in November 2015 also inked a defence cooperation agreement with Pakistan and the two nations had their first military drill in September-October, 2016 just weeks after India signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement with the United States. New Delhi had earlier conveyed to Moscow its unease over growing Russia-Pakistan ties. During a bilateral meeting on the sideline of the BRICS (a bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in Goa in October 2016, Modi had subtly cautioned Putin against scaling up Russia's defence ties with Pakistan. After he and Putin had witnessed the signing of three major defence deals and 13 other pacts for cooperation in other sectors, Modi had referred to an old adage in Russia, which meant: An old friend is better than two new friends. India has conveyed its concern to Beijing over Chinese construction activities in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and has asked them to stop it, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, V K Singh, Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry, said India's consistent and principled position has been that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. He asserted that Pakistan was in illegal and forcible occupation of a part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. "Government is aware of Chinese construction activities in PoK. The government has conveyed to the Chinese side, including at the highest level, its concern over these activities, which we see as violating our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have asked the Chinese side to cease these activities," Singh said. In response to another question on 'Pakistan-promoted propaganda' on social media to mislead the people of Kashmir, the MoS said the government consistently monitors the situation and takes all possible measures to maintain law and order and safeguard national interest and security. He said during an informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan on April 27-28 this year, the two leaders discussed the possibility of cooperation between India, China and Afghanistan. "Both sides agreed to undertake capacity building programme for Afghan diplomats in India and China later this year," Singh added. India and Switzerland on Friday discussed the activation of automatic exchange of information relating to black money stashed by Indians in secret accounts in Swiss banks. The issue figured prominently during talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis here, officials said. Black money has been a major issue in India and banks in Switzerland have long been perceived as one of the safest havens to park such funds due to their famed secrecy walls for years. "Following on Indian government's drive to curb black money, the ministers discussed the activation of automatic exchange of information," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. A key parliamentary panel in Switzerland last year had approved an automatic information exchange pact between the two countries. The information that could be exchanged under this framework would include account number, name, address, date of birth, tax identification number, interest, dividend, receipts from insurance policies, the credit balance in accounts and proceeds from the sale of financial assets. The MEA said both sides also reviewed the progress on trade and economic partnership agreement which India and the European free trade area countries are currently negotiating. "The two ministers reiterated their strong commitment to early finalization of the agreement while showing flexibility on each other's concerns," it said. The MEA said Swaraj and Cassis held "cordial discussions" on various aspects of bilateral ties as well as important regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. They also took stock of the cooperation in key areas of interest such as trade and investment, education, information technology and tourism. The annual bilateral trade has reached around USD 20 billion in the last financial year. "Closer cooperation in the areas of skill development, renewable energy, traditional Indian medicine and climate change has the potential of mutual benefit and positive contribution at the global level," the MEA said. It said Switzerland recognizes Ayurveda as a system of medicine and the two ministers discussed ways to make it more popular in the European country. The Swiss Foreign Minister is scheduled to visit Varanasi on Saturday. Nehal Ahmed Ansari and Fauzia have left no stone unturned in their pursuit to bring their son back home to Mumbai from a jail in Pakistan. And now, there seems to be some hope of joy returning to their life. Their son Hamid, a software engineer, went missing in November 2012 days after he flew to Kabul on the pretext of attending a job interview. Hamid crossed over to Pakistan and reached Kohat on November 12, 2012. He obtained a fake identity card from someone in Karak in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and used it to enter Pakistan. From the Facebook posts and Gmail records, the parents suspect that Hamid may have been in love with a Pakistani girl and had perhaps entered the country through the Afghanistan border to meet her. Hamid had befriended a few people through the internet and was constantly in touch with them. Three online Pakistani friends suggested him to come to Kohat from Kabul by illegally crossing the porous Afghanistan-Pakistan border. They encouraged him and also gave instructions about how to cross the border. The three persons are Atta-ur-Rehman, a graphic designer with 'Dastak', an Urdu magazine published from Kohat, Shazia Khan, who claims to be a medical doctor and Saba Khan, whose identity is yet to be confirmed. But on December 15, 2015, Hamid was convicted by a military court and sentenced to three years imprisonment for espionage and is currently at Mardan Central Prison in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Now, the Pakistan Interior Ministry has told the court that once his sentence is completed on December 15, 2018, Hamid would be handed over to Indian authorities at the Attari-Wagah border. The Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) has been pursuing the matter for long. We have been working on it, we know what the parents have gone through in the last six years.once his sentence is complete, technically the Pakistan government would deport him. The Indian government also needs to act and ensure that he is secured safely and is back home, PIPFPD general secretary Jatin Desai told DH. The parents are happythey have waited for long.some more months and hopefully if all goes well, he would be back, said Desai, who personally knows the Ansari family. The election of Harivansh, a first-term Janata Dal (United) MP, as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, could be an icebreaker in the frozen ties between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ever since Nitish dumped the Grand Alliance and rejoined the NDA in July 2017, he was unhappy. And there were reasons. After all, the JD(U) was the only NDA constituent that could not find a place in the Modi Cabinet. Nitish was also publicly snubbed by the Prime Minister, which made the JD(U) strongman send messages that he was feeling stifled in the company of a towering ally like Modi. But now, all of that could be passe. Modi, like a shrewd politician, has not only assuaged Nitish's ruffled feathers, but he has also ensured that the JD(U) chief remains with the NDA in his fight against a united opposition in 2019. The elevation of Harivansh as Deputy Chairman of the Upper House will put an end to speculation that Nitish may eventually desert the NDA on the eve of the parliamentary polls and cross over to the Mahagatbandhan. Its true that Nitish could not accommodate any of his men in Modis Cabinet, but bagging the number two post in the Rajya Sabha is no less an achievement, particularly at a time when each and every BJP ally wants to extract its pound of flesh. Secondly, by accommodating the newest ally, the BJP has sent a message to its other partners that it should not be seen as a party with a big brother attitude. And now, when the seat-sharing talks begin between the BJP and other NDA allies in Bihar, Nitish, under obligation, may have little elbow room to negotiate. He will have to be content with the fact that Harivansh will get to preside over the House till 2020, when his term in the Rajya Sabha will end. Incidentally, Assembly Elections are also due in Bihar in 2020. Nitish has been trapped. By elevating his confidant to a constitutional post in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP has woven such a web, that in case he feels uncomfortable during seat-sharing negotiations (where his demand for more seats could not be met), he will have no option other than to sign on the dotted lines, explained a senior BJP leader who has worked closely with Nitish. Apparently, Nitish, now a key member of the NDA, had rung up Biju Janata Dal President Naveen Patnaik, Telangana Rashtra Samithi Chief KC Rao and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, to solicit support for Harivansh, so that he could bag the consolation prize at least. SALT LAKE CITY Wildfire smoke is getting so bad around the valleys that the Utah Division of Air Quality is strongly cautioning people with existing heart or respiratory problems to avoid outdoor activity and physical exertion. On top of the usual summertime problem with ozone, the area is experiencing a spike in PM2.5 levels, for fine particulate matter. "Trust your body. If you are feeling the effects of the smoke, if you are feeling the irritation, you should really avoid heavy exertion outside and move your activities indoors, at least while the smoke is here the next few days," said Bryce Bird, director of the Utah Division of Air Quality." More than 130 wildfires are burning in 11 Western states, with the raging blazes in California and Nevada sending massive plumes of smoke into the atmosphere where it gets carried on the prevailing winds from the west into Utah. Local fires are also having an impact. The 15,000-acre Goring Fire broke out Friday in Box Elder County, closing I-84 for a time and contributing to northern Utah haze. The Goose Creek Fire in northwestern Utah has burned 132,220 and is 85 percent contained as of Monday. The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City released a map of the country showing where surface smoke is causing an issue. Utah is one of seven states in the West seeing impacts. An update on the smoke in Utah today- both local fires and fires across California and Nevada are still contributing to the poor air quality across the area. Here's a model (HRRR) representation of the smoke across the country this morning. #utwx pic.twitter.com/CuK6G5HY80 NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 6, 2018 The agency said the smoke will build into Wednesday before potentially improving a bit Thursday and Friday as a high pressure system arrives. But "smoke will be slow to clear out," the weather service warned on its website. The smoke is obscuring mountain views and is unhealthy to breathe. Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, Tooele, Cache, Duchesne, Uintah and Iron counties all were reporting high levels of PM 2.5 on Monday afternoon. Air quality regulators say residents can do their part to reduce pollution levels by driving less by carpooling, trip chaining or taking public transit. According to the U.S. Forest Service, there are 134 wildfires burning on 1.5 million acres of land. An estimated 28,000 firefighters are deployed to fight the fires, made up of 558 crews, 1,907 engines and 186 helicopters. Is it illegal to shout Fire! in a crowded theater? I havent done a scientific analysis, but Id be willing to wager most people think it is. A week or so ago, Democrats and anti-gun activists were outraged when Utah Sen. Mike Lee opposed a bill that would have prohibited the publishing of blueprints for plastic guns. A common complaint was that allowing the publication would be like yelling Fire! in a theater. And yet, yelling Fire! in a theater is perfectly legal, although perhaps not advisable. But then, a lot of speech is legal but not advisable. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes set the pithy fire standard in a 1919 ruling that had nothing to do with theaters or fires. A 1969 decision involving a Ku Klux Klan leader who used ugly, racist language at a rally and urged, as he called it, revengeance, overturned that earlier ruling and set a new standard. The court said you must clearly urge people to commit specific crimes in order to be in trouble. In the United States, free speech always has been complicated. The whole concept of the First Amendment requires us to tolerate expressions we find personally abhorrent. Which leads me to Russia, social media and the elections. U.S intelligence agencies are adamant that Russian operatives are planting false stories on social media in hopes of influencing elections. Facebook reportedly is hard at work trying to identify and remove these accounts, which is its right as a private company. The problem, of course, is that American politics so recently democratized by the internet, where everyone can publish just as easily as The New York Times or the Wall Street Journal is such fertile ground for lies. Earlier this year, three MIT scholars published a study that put this in a new perspective. They developed an objective model for identifying whether news stories on Twitter were true or false, then studied how quickly they spread. As one of the co-authors described it on an MIT news website, they were somewhere between surprised and stunned to find out that false news spread much faster than true news. It wasnt even close. And the reason had everything to do with humans, not with bots. People are 70 percent more likely to spread false news than the truth. The researchers also found it takes six times longer for a true story to reach 1,500 people than a false one. It shouldnt be too hard to understand why. Truth can be boring. As the researchers put it, people want attention, or to give the impression they are in the know by spreading interesting things others havent heard. So, what to do about this? In a recent Washington Post op-ed, Alina Polyakova of the Brookings Institution and Geysha Gonzalez of the Atlantic Council argued for treating false news the way the government and the culture treat cigarette smoking. This would involve warnings from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, support from private-sector agencies and nationwide public education campaigns. But it also would involve government control. With smoking, Washington bent the First Amendment a bit by banning all broadcast commercials for cigarettes. In this case, the authors advocate for Washington to treat major social media companies as broadcast media, subjecting them to a slew of regulations concerning content and advertising. That wont fly, nor should it. In the first place, much of the internet thrives on an attitude of suspicion toward government control. Tight regulations would merely add to that, lending fuel to conspiracy theories. John Milton, the 17th century author and a major influence for freedom of speech, advocated letting truth and error grapple in the daylight. Who ever knew truth put to the worst, in a free and open encounter?" he asked. The answer to that question may seem more in doubt now than at any time before, and yet the heavy hand of Washington doesnt seem to be the right remedy. A recent Cato Institute survey on the First Amendment found Americans have some seemingly contradictory opinions on free speech. For instance, 79 percent said hate speech is unacceptable, but 59 percent opposed laws banning such speech. Crazy? No, it sounds like most Americans really get it, after all. Americans cant afford to banish error to the shadows where it can grow and fester without opposition. By all means, warn us, point out errors, delete foreign accounts, impose sanctions and go after the bad guys. Yell Fire! in the crowded theater of social media, but then let people decide what to do about it. SARATOGA SPRINGS Residents are invited to compete in a photo contest celebrating the citys recreational and cultural opportunities. The contest is divided into three age categories: 12 and under, 13 to 17, and 18 and older. All photos need to be taken of or in Saratoga Springs. Each photographer will be allowed three entries. Photos will be judged on content, creativity, original coverage of characteristic or unique features of the city, and professionalism. Applications will be available online at saratogaspringscity.com Saturday, Sept. 1. A digital copy of the photo and application submissions must be submitted to the city no later than Monday, Oct. 1. All submissions will need to be scalable to at least an 8 by 10 photo. Prizes of $100, $50 and $25 will be awarded in each age category. LOGAN City officials in northern Utah say they'll meet with residents concerned about animal welfare after a split with the local Humane Society left the city of Logan without an animal shelter. The Herald Journal reports a crowd of about 30 people came to a Tuesday City Council meeting to voice frustration and concern. Resident David James says he's worried about the possibility that a loose dog could be killed if there's no place to house it. Police Chief Gary Jensen says the city has contracted with neighboring Brigham City to house animals for five days if they can't be reunited with their owners quickly. After that, they would return to Logan. Jensen says he and the mayor plan to meet with people worried about the new arrangement, though no date has been set. OREM Police have identified a man who was killed while allegedly speeding on a motorcycle Saturday night. Yazeed Alotaibi, 23, of Saudi Arabia, was traveling near 300 S. State when he crashed into the back of an SUV that pulled out in front of him at about 9 p.m., according to Orem Police Lt. Craig Martinez. The other vehicle, he said, was turning left across the southbound lanes in which Alotaibi and another man were riding motorcycles. Alotaibi was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision but did not try to stop, according to police. It was estimated that Alotaibi was going about 70 mph before he hit the back end of the Ford Expedition, Martinez said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the other driver stopped before hitting the SUV. Occupants of the Expedition were not seriously injured, though one was taken to the hospital as a precaution. SALT LAKE CITY New state incentives could bring hundreds of jobs to Utah over the next several years. The Governors Office of Economic Development Thursday announced Sarcos Robotics, a company that develops robotic systems that augment humans working in the industrial, public safety and military sectors, was awarded tax-increment financing. The company will use the resource to expand in Utah, adding up to 292 jobs along with $6.1 million in new state revenue and $2.4 million in capital investment. Sacros was founded in the early 1980s as a spinout of the University of Utah. The firm innovations are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from advanced humanoid robots and theme park animatronics to the robotic fountain at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Currently, the company is focused on the commercialization of three energetically autonomous, highly mobile and dexterous robot products. Sarcos is growing rapidly weve doubled our workforce in the last year as we realize our vision of delivering robotic systems that simultaneously reduce the risk of workplace injuries while also increasing productivity and efficiency, CEO Ben Wolff said in a news release. The GOED award will support our continued growth of our team in Utah and address the unmet global demand for robotic systems that create the safest, most productive workforce possible. The company is expected to create up to 292 high-paying jobs over the next eight years with total wages in aggregate required to exceed 110 percent of the Salt Lake County average wage. The projected new wages over the life of the agreement are expected to be approximately $58.6 million, with new state tax revenues resulting from corporate, payroll and sales taxes estimated to be $6.2 million over five years. Sacros may earn up to 20 percent of the new state taxes in the form of a post-performance Economic Development Tax Increment Finance tax credit rebate. As part of the contract, the GOED board of directors approved a post-performance tax credit rebate not to exceed $1.2 million. GOED also announced that Moog Inc. will expand its Utah operations, adding up to 120 jobs, $4.9 million in new state revenue and $2.23 million in capital investment. Founded in 1951, Moog is a designer, manufacturer and integrator of high-performance precision motion and fluid controls, along with systems for a range of applications in the aerospace, defense, industrial and medical markets. Moog plans to add the jobs within its existing facility in Salt Lake County and bring to Utah the assembly and testing of a new turreted weapon system called the Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform. We are excited about this new product and to be hiring additional talented personnel in Utah, Jon Liddle, director of Moog Defense Sector Operations and Supply Chain, said in a news release. The company will create up to 120 jobs over the next 10 years with total wages required to exceed 110 percent of the county average wage. The projected new state wages over the life of the agreement are expected to be approximately $73.8 million, with projected new state tax revenue estimated to be $4.9million over the 10-year period. Moog may earn up to 20 percent of the new state taxes it will pay during the agreement in the form of a post-performance Economic Development Tax Increment Finance tax credit rebate. As part of the contract, the GOED board approved a post-performance tax credit rebate not to exceed $980,754. SALT LAKE CITY The University of Iowa set out to end discrimination in student clubs. Then it got sued. Twice. Both lawsuits were filed by faith-based student groups who say the university's efforts to address anti-LGBT bias are harming people of faith. The groups were asked to loosen restrictions governing who can be a club leader, a request that some see as unlawful interference. "When you take control of leadership, you're co-opting the group itself," said Daniel Blomberg, senior counsel for Becket, the law firm representing both religious clubs. University officials say they're focused on upholding human rights laws, not targeting religious students. They've deregistered nearly 40 student organizations this summer for failing to comply with campus policy, and around a quarter of them were faith-based. "The University of Iowa respects the rights of students, faculty and staff to practice the religion of their choice," said Anne Bassett, the University of Iowa's media relations director, in a statement released earlier this year. The ongoing conflict, as well as related legislative debates, has religious freedom advocates and university officials scrambling to find a solution that works for all students. College should be about learning and making new connections, not appearing in court, Blomberg said. "These students are students. They have better things to do with their time than fight their own administration," he said. Legal battles University of Iowa student organizations have always been required to honor the school's nondiscrimination policy, which prohibits treating people differently because of their race, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation or other protected trait. But until this spring, school officials did not preemptively check to see if clubs were in compliance. They waited until they received a complaint. In February 2017, a gay student filed one against Business Leaders in Christ, explaining that he'd been barred from a leadership position since he wouldn't affirm the Christian group's statement of faith, which included the claim that only married, heterosexual couples should have sex. After some back and forth with members, school officials deregistered Business Leaders in Christ. "When a voluntary student organization chooses to become a registered student organization, it must adhere to the mission of the university, the UI's policies and procedures, and all local, state and federal laws," Bassett said. Deregistered groups cannot access school funds, reserve on-campus facilities or participate in student organization fairs. In December, Business Leaders in Christ sued the university, calling the schools' actions discriminatory, as the Deseret News reported earlier this year. "The core arguments are under the free speech clause and religion clauses" of the First Amendment, Blomberg said. Iowa "can't discriminate against religious expression." LGBT rights groups applauded the school's actions, arguing it wouldn't be right for administrators to allow the exclusion of gay or lesbian students from leadership roles to continue. "We applaud the university for not tolerating discrimination," said Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel, executive director of One Iowa, to the Deseret News in January. In late January, a federal court judge ruled that Business Leaders in Christ should be re-registered temporarily. The opinion noted inconsistencies in how the University of Iowa applied its human rights rules. Over the past several months, school officials responded by conducting a review of student clubs. Groups that didn't cite the school's human rights policy in their guiding documents were asked to make edits, The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported. As a result of the review, around 40 clubs were deregistered, including faith groups like the Latter-day Saints Student Association, Imam Mahdi Organization and Sikh Awareness Club. "It was really unprecedented," said Katie Glenn, policy counsel for 1st Amendment Partnership, which advocates on behalf of faith-based clubs across the country. On August 6, one of the deregistered groups, InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship, filed a new lawsuit, asserting that making the requested changes to its club constitution would undermine its religious identity. "Because we love our school, we hope it reconsiders and lets religious groups continue to authentically reflect their religious groups," said InterVarsity's student president, Katrina Schrock, in a statement. InterVarsity has asked for the same temporary reinstatement that Business Leaders in Christ received, Blomberg said. Seeking solutions As the start of the fall semester draws closer and with it, the fall student organization fair many University of Iowa student groups are in limbo. Some clubs will make bylaw edits once members are back on campus, while others will await further developments in the two cases. Schools can avoid confusion and court appearances by creating policies that respect the unique status of faith-based and other ideological clubs, Glenn said. The 1st Amendment Partnership advocates for school policies that target unjust discrimination and avoid penalizing an organization for its sincerely held beliefs. It becomes a problem if (a club) wants to have specific criteria for members or leaders based on their faith tradition Katie Glenn, policy counsel for 1st Amendment Partnership "South Dakota has a really good policy that says if applying the human rights policy would negate your purpose for having your club at all, then you don't have to apply it that way," Glenn said. Regulations that are too broad or poorly crafted can end up hurting the students they're trying to protect, she added. For example, an effort to end religious discrimination may make it impossible for Catholic students to form an all-Catholic club. "It becomes a problem if (a club) wants to have specific criteria for members or leaders based on their faith tradition," Glenn said. The Iowa legislature considered a bill involving protections for faith-based student groups during its 2018 session. It passed the Senate before the session ended, and Glenn hopes it will be reconsidered next year. "We are continuing to educate lawmakers on how important this issue is," she said. As Glenn and others pursue legislative solutions, Becket will continue to defend faith-based clubs in court, Blomberg said. "A long-term solution is probably going to require some very clear court precedents that makes it clear that religious groups can't be discriminated against and have the right to select their leaders," he said. In the meantime, Marcus Miller, the student who filed the original complaint against Business Leaders in Christ, has formed a new student group, which has been registered by the University of Iowa, NBC News reported. "Love Works (is) a Jesus-centered student group that advocates for LGBTQ justice," the article noted. SALT LAKE CITY Rep. Rob Bishop says Utah and especially Hill Air Force Base could play a key role in President Donald Trump's newly announced plans for a Space Force. "The fact that Utah has been a prime player in space and the aerospace industry and space exploration for so long simply means we have a lot of expertise here in the state that I'm pretty sure will probably be exploited and used," the Utah Republican said Thursday. Bishop, whose district includes Hill, said he has yet to be sold on the need to create a new branch of the military by 2020 to defend the United States in space, currently the responsibility of the Air Force. "Personally, I still believe the Air Force would be well-qualified to be the lead agency," Bishop said, but added he is willing to consider the administration's proposal, noting space defense is not a new topic. "I've seen a lot of comments about people wanting to join the Space Force as if this was some sort of quixotic, strange new idea, like somebody had just seen an episode of 'Star Trek,'" Bishop said. "It's not." Utah "leads the nation in aerospace technology development," according to the Governor's Office of Economic Development, with programs at Hill Air Force Base and military testing at Dugway Proving Ground and other facilities. I've seen a lot of comments about people wanting to join the Space Force as if this was some sort of quixotic, strange new idea, like somebody had just seen an episode of 'Star Trek.' It's not. Rep. Rob Bishop The office also cites major defense contractors including Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin that are operating in the state, creating an aerospace industry that employs more than 31,000 people. Bishop said the intercontinental ballistic missile assembly and maintenance work done at Hill Air Force Base could end up being part of what would be the sixth branch of the military under the proposal detailed Thursday by Vice President Mike Pence. "That is one of those things that is Hill's ace-in-the-hole," Bishop said, because trying to replicate the base's ICBM facilities somewhere else would be cost prohibitive. "You could take it from Hill, but not cheaply or logically." A House Arms Services Committee report on military spending warns of "the inability of the organizations responsible for the nations national security-related space activities to prepare for space to become a warfighting domain." The report also states that "Russia and China are developing capabilities to deny the United States the advantages we derive from operating in space." Both countries are said to be pursuing "nondestructive and destructive" anti-satellite weapons. That caught the attention of Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, her spokesman, Richard Piatt, said Thursday. "Rep. Love is concerned about credible reports that China and Russia are researching ways to undermine U.S. satellite communications and national security, and is eager to find ways to protect national interests," Piatt said. He said the congresswoman "will review any proposals in detail and discuss with national security experts and military leaders whether the proposed Space Force is the best way to meet our security needs. Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, is waiting to see details of the administration's proposal, his spokeswoman, Katie Thompson, said. Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, was out of the country Thursday and not available for comment. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said America needs "to be in space because there's an awful lot going on in space." Hatch said the Space Force would also be a tribute to former Utah Sen. Jake Garn, who became the first sitting member of Congress to fly in space when he joined the crew of the Discovery space shuttle as a payload specialist in 1985. SALT LAKE CITY Asked in a friendly forum what he thought it would take to make the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation process more rational and constructive, Sen. Orrin Hatch had a quick answer: "Elect more Republicans." Utah' senior GOP senator has hammered Democrats for the "unfortunate politicization" of the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to fill a vacancy on the high court. Do I know how hes going to vote and how hes going to write opinions in the future? No, I dont. But I have a pretty good idea of who the man is and what hes likely to do. Sen. Orrin Hatch "I wish they would treat people fairly," Hatch said during a speech Thursday at the Sutherland Institute, a conservative public policy think tank. "Weve treated their nominees fairly." Democrats would beg to differ when it comes to Merrick Garland, former President Barack Obama's choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016. Hatch said the Democrats don't have the same argument because this is not a presidential election year, though he conceded politics was at play then, too. "But it was all politicized. Theres no question about that, and not necessarily by me," he said. "I was willing to support Merrick Garland under the circumstances and would have supported him had they been able to get him up" for a vote. In 2016, though, Hatch stood with his Republican colleagues in putting off the confirmation process until after the presidential election. "Doing so will keep what should be a serious confirmation discussion from becoming denigrated by the toxic politics of this election season, and it will give the American people a voice in the direction of our nations highest court," he said at the time. President Donald Trump ultimately chose Neil Gorsuch, whom the Senate confirmed to the Supreme Court last year. The Garland nomination was the "high point" of politicization that goes back to the acrimonious Robert Bork confirmation hearings 30 years ago, said Chris Karpowitz, co-director of the BYU Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, noting Garland didn't even get a Senate hearing. "Many Democrats will feel for the rest of their lives that that seat was stolen from Merrick Garland and the Obama administration," Karpowitz said. Hatch said in a "rational" world, Kavanaugh would be confirmed quickly and overwhelmingly. "Unfortunately, we don't live in a rational world, at least not when it comes to the Supreme Court." A member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hatch has voted on the confirmation of 13 Supreme Court justices, including every current sitting member of the court. He said Trump could have really caused a furor with a more controversial pick than Kavanaugh. Democrats, the senator said, can't make a good case against the Washington, D.C., federal appellate judge, but that won't stop them from twisting his record and trying to embarrass him. "They hate the fact that Hillary (Clinton) was beaten and especially by Donald Trump," Hatch said. "I love the fact that she was beaten and especially by Donald Trump." Democrats contend Kavanaugh would repeal Roe v. Wade and threaten women's health care; eliminate the Affordable Care Act and protections for pre-existing conditions and favor big business over consumers. Karpowitz said the stakes are especially high because Kavanaugh's confirmation could make the court more conservative for decades to come. And Hatch, he said, is at the head of those efforts. Hatch said he doesn't know how Kavanaugh would decide cases but said he wouldn't legislate from the bench, "which is what too many of the more liberal judges do." "Do I know how hes going to vote and how hes going to write opinions in the future? No, I dont," Hatch said. "But I have a pretty good idea of who the man is and what hes likely to do." SALT LAKE CITY Salt Lake County recently assessed the Road Home's downtown homeless shelter property at nearly $7.7 million but state officials, who hope to buy the property for just over half of that, doubt it's worth that much. "Whoever buys that property is going to tear that building down anyway," Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said. Calling Salt Lake County's 2018 assessed value a "misnomer" and perhaps a "miscalculation" on KSL Newsradio's "Dave and Dujanovic" show on Thursday morning, Cox said he expects an appraisal currently underway of the downtown shelter will result in a market value much lower than the county's assessed value. "We're not here to dispute the county assessor," Cox added, noting that the assessor's work is done for "tax purposes, not for sale purposes." This week, the State Homeless Coordinating Committee voted to set aside $4 million to put an offer on the property, looking to help with the "transition," as Cox put it, of when the downtown shelter closes and three new homeless resource centers open in June 2019. We're much less interested in the prime piece of real estate and much more interested in how we can help these individuals transition. Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox After the move, Cox said, the state could use the property for a new facility to store and display historic artifacts currently housed in a "dungeon-like basement." Cox, who is chairman of the state committee and also a member of the board for Shelter the Homeless, the nonprofit that owns the Road Home's downtown shelter, said the group would use the profits from the sale of the building to finance the construction of the three homeless resource centers. Last year, the land and building at 210 S. Rio Grande St. was valued at about $3.2 million, according to the Salt Lake County Assessor's Office. But this year, after assessors re-evaluated the property's value (as they do every five years), the assessed value jumped to nearly $7.7 million more than double. The bulk of that increase came from a new value for the shelter building, which assessors hiked from nearly $2.1 million in 2017 to about $6.5 million this year. The land value also went up, but only from $1.1 million to $1.2 million. Cox said the 2017 value is "much closer" to what state officials think the property should be worth, so "we're anxious to see" what Shelter the Homeless' appraisal determines as fair-market value. Salt Lake County Assessor Kevin Jacobs said Thursday his office is "standing by our assessed value," explaining that assessors determined during their five-year review of the property that compared to other buildings nearby, the price-per-square-foot for the shelter was low. Assessors used the nearby St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall and the Weigand Homeless Resource Center, both owned by Catholic Community Services, as comparables, Jacobs said. Both facilities are classified as "group care homes" according to the assessor's office. Jacobs acknowledged the Road Home's shelter is a "unique property, so it's hard to come up with comparables that work." "We felt the best comparables were group homes and not necessarily a warehouse," Jacobs said. Additionally, Jacobs said the downtown area's market has become increasingly hot, which contributed to the land's slight increase. Cox emphasized state official are more interested in obtaining the building to assist with the transition of homeless clients out of the building, rather than for the downtown market. "We're much less interested in the prime piece of real estate and much more interested in how we can help these individuals transition," Cox said. The Road Home moved into the downtown building in 1988, after it was retrofitted as a homeless shelter. Today, any buyer would likely demolish the aging building, Cox said. Preston Cochrane, executive director of Shelter the Homeless, said the appraisal is expected to be completed in six to eight weeks. Whatever price the downtown shelter property is sold for depends on Shelter the Homeless' board, Cochrane said. "This is a topic of discussion for our next board meeting, so I don't have an answer on that," he said. However, Cochrane noted that selling price may not be the only factor that determines who to sell the property to. "We want to make sure it's in the long-term interest for the neighboring landowners, too, so whatever the property is going to be used for, I know our board would be more concerned about that then the actual sale price," Cochrane said. Cox also hinted Shelter the Homeless board members may not be opposed to selling the land for less than assessed value. "Shelter the Homeless is not in this to make money, and the state's not in this to make money," Cox said. "We're in this to provide what is best for the taxpayer." SALT LAKE CITY An 82-year-old man whose bunker full of explosives caused problems for crews fighting the massive Brian Head Fire last year will face a felony charge in court. Richard O. Batt, of Parowan, was charged Wednesday in Iron County's 5th District Court with having incendiary device parts, a third-degree felony. In June 2017, firefighters battling the Brian Head Fire near Parowan came across a burned down cabin. Then they heard "popping" sounds, according to the Iron County Sheriff's Office. "The firefighters first thought the 'popping' sounds were rocks exploding due to heat, but as the sound continued for approximately five minutes, firefighters realized the 'popping' sound was actually ammunition exploding in the fire," according to a 2017 press release from the Iron County Sheriff's Office. The source of the popping was determined to be a nearby underground bunker. Inside the bunker investigators found a box of novelty grenades, explosive powder, fuses and ammunition. Deputies determined Batt, who claimed he was preparing for the end of days, owned the cabin and seven or eight others hidden throughout the area. The survivalist said most were "supplied with food storage, firearms and ammunition, and he had built the shelters and storage caches over the course of several years," the press release stated. An initial court appearance for Batt is scheduled for Sept. 11. The Brian Head Fire burned 71,000 acres and cost $34 million to fight. A Taylorsville man allegedly started the fire when trying to clear weeds around his cabin. He faces a charge of reckless burning. PARK CITY A Park City teen accused of continuing to have packages of synthetic drugs delivered to her home years after one shipment led to the overdose deaths of her two friends has denied allegations of drug distribution. The 17-year-old girl sat quietly before a juvenile court judge in Park City on Friday, her eyes wide during the brief hearing. Her attorney, Mary Corporon, indicated she believes that not all of the facts in the case have been made public. I believe there is some substantial discovery weve not received, Corporon said, without elaborating. The girl is charged with four counts of drug distribution, a second-degree felony. She effectively pleaded not guilty Friday to three of the counts related to the 2018 allegations, as well as the fourth charge stemming from 2016. In June and July, U.S. Customs officers and the Postal Service intercepted three shipments of ecstasy and another synthetic drug that were on their way to her, investigators wrote in search warrant affidavits. Given that the juvenile is continuing to order controlled substances to be delivered into the community, she presents an unreasonable risk to public safety," prosecutors wrote in charging documents. Two years ago, they allege, a pair of Summit County boys asked the girl if they could have synthetic drugs shipped to her house so their parents wouldn't find them, charges state. The boys, Grant Seaver and Ryan Ainsworth, both 13, later died from the white-powder synthetic opioid, "pink," or U-44770. The girl had received that shipment of the drug, prosecutors argue in the court documents. On Friday, 3rd District Juvenile Judge Elizabeth Knight thanked her for complying with her in-home detention in recent weeks and approved the teens transfer to a residential supervision program on Saturday. The judge barred the girl from going online or using social media, allowing her to access the internet only for coursework while in the program. Wearing a blouse and blue toenail polish, the teen spoke only once, replying yes, when the judge asked if she was planning to start the residential program. The Deseret News has chosen not to name the teen at this time. In their investigation this summer, police went to the house where the package was addressed and talked to a man who lived there, who said he agreed to allow the girl to have e-cigarette refills sent to his address, charges state. She was arrested at the time the two arranged to meet to deliver the packages, telling investigators that friends asked to order the items on the darknet, and that she used Bitcoin to buy them, charges say. She said she learned how to buy the drugs from friends who had bought U-44770 and had it delivered to her house in 2016, charging documents state. The hearing Friday comes after the girl earlier this year delivered a TEDx speech in Park City, recounting her own struggles with addiction and saying, most days I do want to quit, I do want to stop. But then there are other days Ill end up finding myself in a binge again, she said. She may not be alone in facing criminal charges. In July, a community alert to Park City parents told them charges were being recommended against several teens in connection with receiving drug shipments and arranging them through the darknet, a largely hidden computer network. The new court case follows a separate, wrongful death lawsuit filed in March by the parents of Grant Seaver against the parents of four of their son's friends allegedly involved in his death, including the 17-year-old girl and Ryan Ainsworths parents. The Seavers allege their son's death was caused by negligent supervision and "abnormally dangerous activity" on the part of the other parents. The suit contends that in the weeks before Grant's death, the teen girl's parents found a box of Chinese drugs purchased by the three other teens that were shipped to the girl. The teen is due back in court Oct 12. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. SALT LAKE CITY Police believe the former secretary for the Utah Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials embezzled tens of thousands of dollars from the group. But on the day Unified police officers went to Daniel Brooks' home to arrest him, they found him deceased in a car in his garage from an apparent suicide, a police report states. Although he was not charged, investigators say Brooks made between $55,000 and $62,000 in unauthorized purchases using the association's credit cards since 2007. "From 2012 to 2018, $55,505.80 in unauthorized purchases and withdrawals were made using APCO credit cards issued to Daniel Brooks," according to the report. The board, however, claims the unauthorized purchases dated back to 2007 and included an additional $7,041.17 of fraud, the report states. But due to a lack of existing records, police were unable to verify purchases made prior to 2012. Brooks became treasurer of the organization in 2007. He was also the dispatch supervisor for the Granite Police Department at the time of the investigation. Detectives believe Brooks made illegal cash withdrawals and numerous purchases from Apple and Amazon. "The purchases included clothing, jewelery and items of a personal and sexual nature that would not likely be made for any legitimate purpose for APCO," the report states. From November of 2013 through February of 2017, 57 purchases totaling $2,708.01 were made on a credit card issued to Brooks by the association, according to the report. Other items the group suspects were fraudulently purchased was gas and car washes, the report states. The suspected fraud was discovered while the association president and a board member were conducting an audit in preparation for trying to get the national chapter to host its annual national conference in Ogden, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in June. At that point, no one was overseeing Brooks' purchases or his account, the affidavit states. After the audit was announced, "Daniel started no-showing to the monthly meetings, which was unlike him. (The association president) started looking into the APCO finances in May 2018 and discovered that the money market account did not contain $30,000, as Daniel had told the board, but closer to $3,000," the warrant states. Unified police first interviewed Brooks in May. "During my interaction with Daniel, he was extremely nervous and sweating profusely. Daniel asked me if I believed he would be fired over this, which was odd considering I had not disclosed that his employer had been notified or the extent and large value sum of the missing money," police wrote in a report. On Aug. 1, Brooks was scheduled to meet for another police interview. When he didn't show up, investigators went to Brooks' house. When no one answered the door, even though his car was in the garage, police obtained a "warrant to enter the home and arrest Daniel," the report states. That's when they discovered Brooks was deceased. Ben Horsley, spokesman for the Granite Police Department, said Brooks was placed on administrative leave from his job as dispatch supervisor as soon as the allegations came to light, and the department conducted its own internal investigation. "Mr. Brooks was under investigation and the Granite District Police Department was privy to, and assisting with that investigation. In addition to the external investigation for embezzlement of a private organization, we conducted an internal investigation, and it was clear he did not embezzle any public funds" from Granite police. Horsley added that the department is offering its condolences to Brooks' family. "Loss of a life is a tragedy and our hearts are with his family. It's just a very sad situation," he said. SALT LAKE CITY Evacuation orders expanded to more than 20,000 residents across Southern California Thursday as an intentionally set wildfire continues to spread, according to The Associated Press. Firefighters worked tirelessly to put the Holy Fire to bed as its reached homes. Fires also continue to rage in Northern California. California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for the Golden State as the fire threatens thousands of homes. The emergency declaration allows agencies to do all they can to help local governments. Multiple news sources shared various numbers and data about the fires to help put the size into perspective. We collected four major points and share them below. 75 percent Fox News reported this week that smoke covers 75 percent of California because of the wildfires. Smoke from CA fires now covering 75% of state. pic.twitter.com/7UKzMZdxjF Fox News (@FoxNews) August 10, 2018 3,000 miles Utah isnt the only state to see hazy skies from the fires. According to CNN, the wind-blown smoke from the California has traveled some 3,000 miles all the way to New York City. The smoke in the East is more than a mile above the surface. When it's that high and stays there, the health risks are minimal, according to the weather service. But if it's pulled down by the jet stream, it can cause unhealthy air quality, CNN reported. 14,000 firefighters battling 16 fires As The Sacramento Bee reported, more than 14,000 firefighters are currently battling 16 different wildfires across the state. This includes the Mendocino Complex Fire, which is the largest fire in California history. 749,700 acres The fires in California have burned close to 749,770 acres, which is more than double the size of Los Angeles, CNN reported. More than 550,000 acres have burned in the last three weeks. SALT LAKE CITY Under a mandate of the new law passed in last month's special legislative session that she protested, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski's administration is gearing up to update zoning regulations for an inland port in the city's northwest quadrant. Though not ruling out possible litigation to continue fighting the controversial Utah Inland Port Authority the entity created by the Utah Legislature to guide the creation of a global trade hub Biskupski is calling on the public to attend a series of meetings to give input on the zoning changes. The new law, HB2001, which was supported by the Salt Lake City Council after it negotiated with state leaders, requires the city to update its zoning ordinance to support inland port uses by Dec. 31. If the city doesn't by that deadline, the city will lose its opportunity to regulate inland port uses, Biskupski said. However, the mayor pointed out the Inland Port Authority board still has the power to have final land use authority within the port jurisdiction about 16,000 acres of undeveloped land west of the Salt Lake City International Airport. My administration will explore every possible opportunity to protect the citys interests and our constitutional authority over how land is developed in our jurisdiction, Biskupski said in a statement issued Friday, again hinting at the possibility of a lawsuit to undo the port authority on constitutional grounds. While we are being forced to expend tremendous effort and time to meet this arbitrary deadline, the troubling fact remains even our updated regulations can be overturned by the inland port authority board at any time," Biskupski said. The city is planning at least seven events over the next six weeks to take public input on issues including air quality, minimizing resource use within the port's jurisdiction, respecting environmental sensitivity, and identifying neighborhood impacts or other community concerns, according to city officials. While we continue to explore our legal options, it is important that we update our zoning in the impacted areas to ensure our values are clearly defined prior to any significant action taken by the unelected inland port authority board, Biskupski said. This effort will also provide a meaningful way for the public to finally have their voices heard. The meetings include: Glendale Community Council meeting: Aug. 15, 7 p.m., Glendale Library, 1375 Concord Street Community open house: Aug. 20, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Day-Riverside Library, 1575 W. 1000 North Planning Commission briefing: Aug. 22, 5:30 p.m., Salt Lake City-County Building, 451 S. State Community open house: Aug. 23, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S. 900 West Community open house: Sept. 5, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S. 900 West Planning Commission public hearing: Sept. 12, 5:30 p.m., Salt Lake City-County Building, 451 S. State Planning Commission public hearing and potential recommendation: Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m., Salt Lake City-County Building, 451 S. State Biskupski fought HB2001 on the basis that City Council leaders negotiated with Gov. Gary Herbert and other state leaders behind closed doors, amid mounting public frustration over the transparency of the port authority's creation. Before opposing the City Council's negotiations, Biskupski also negotiated with Herbert behind closed doors, but broke off talks when she said it became clear to her that state officials had no intention of returning the city's final land use and taxing authority. In the upcoming meetings, city officials want to hear from the public, property owners, developers and other groups about how the city can address the standards that the port authority appeal panel is required to use, under HB2001, related to impacts from an inland port, including possible environmental impacts on air quality, surface water and groundwater. Other standards include the extent to which an inland port use will use technology to mitigate environmental impacts, as well as the potential impact the inland port may have on nearby property owners. Salt Lake City Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall said she's "grateful" the mayor's administration is making sure to provide opportunities for public input. "We feel positive about the results of HB2001 that has allowed the city to re-enter the planning and discussion process of the inland port development," Mendenhall said. "These opportunities and all others that have been created to give (the public) a voice in the inland port process are good for the city and good for our constituents." Mendenhall also noted the council is planning on including public comment opportunities in various council meetings in the coming weeks. More information about the city's upcoming planning process can be found at www.slc.gov. SALT LAKE CITY A Salt Lake man is facing child abuse charges after prosecutors say he abused a young boy using something he called "Operation Afghanistan." Jason Potapenko, 36, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with two counts of child abuse, one a second-degree felony and the other a class A misdemeanor. In December, a 7-year-old boy was taking a shower when Potapenko came in and "struck (the boy's) buttock so hard that it caused him to fall in the bathtub," the charges state. Potapenko was the live-in boyfriend of the boy's mother. She came running into the bathroom to find her son "curled up in the tub crying with Potapenko standing over him," according to the charges. He claimed he "tapped" the boy for "mistrust of trying to sneak a book to school," the charges state. The mother said she had warned Potapenko about spanking the boy in the past. The mother also told police that a year ago she walked into the garage "in the middle of the night," and found her son's hands "tied to two poles with lights on them and that the lights were pointed at (the boy). (She) also stated that there was loud music playing and that Potapenko was striking (the boy) with a paddle," the charges state. When asked what was going on, "Potapenko said that he called this 'Operation Afghanistan,'" according to court documents. SPRINGVILLE Officials have identified a woman who died Thursday after losing control of her vehicle and crashing in Hobble Creek Canyon. Kiana Elizabeth Campbell, 18, from Mapleton, was traveling in a full-size SUV on Left Fork Hobble Creek Canyon Road when she crashed near the intersection of Bartholomew Canyon Road, according to a press release from the Utah County Sheriff's Office. Witnesses reported that the vehicle rolled and ejected Campbell, the office said. She was the only occupant of the SUV. Officials said the 18-year-old suffered serious head injuries. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. Emergency responders got to the area about 2 p.m. She died later Thursday afternoon at the hospital. 'The Spy Who Dumped Me' Is All About Women Power Hollywood action comedy spy thriller 'The Spy Who Dumped Me' will see women in action. The movie starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon will have two spirited young women breaking bones, firing weapons and escaping death. As per the director, it looks like the Bridesmaids has met Bond. Susanna Fogel, writer-turned-director, says, This is Bridesmaids meet Bond. Talking about her character in the film, Mila says, Audrey is very gun-shy, doesnt lie well, is nervous and self-conscious, and plays life very safe. Morgan (Kate McKinnon), her counterpart, is exactly the opposite. A struggling actress, she views life as one giant audition. She constantly imitates voices and characters, takes risks and chances, and goes all out. The two of them kind of collide and go on this adventure together. The actress added that The actress adds, she is a fan of Kate McKinnon and she has always found her brilliant, funny and smart, and she really wanted to work with her. The movie will give you action, humour, gorgeous visuals and power-house performances. 'The Spy Who Dumped Me' is a Lionsgate film that will be distributed in India by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and releases today. The spy thriller was shot across Europe and the US, in cities like Budapest, Los Angeles, Prague, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin. For latest movie reviews, ratings and trailers, download the Desimartini App. Source: i0.wp.com Vishwaroopam Was One Of Countrys Most Controversial Films Ever. Find Out How! Vishwaroopam 2 directed by Kamal Hassan is all set to hit the theatres this Friday. Made simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi, the film is a sequel to 2011s Vishwaroopam Most people would perhaps remember this Kamal Hassan directorial and starrer as being one of the most controversial films of the year. From the Tamil Nadu theatre owners organization to right-wing Hindus to Muslim organization everybody seemed to have some problem with the film. Even though CBFC cleared the film it still had to go through a lot of struggle to see the light of the day. Even two of the biggest political bigwigs in the state battled it out over the film. Check out all the controversies that surrounded Vishwaroopam. The Title Controversy One of the first controversies of the film was Hindu Makkal Katchi, a right-wing Hindu nationalist party was upset with Kamal Hassan for choosing to name the film Vishwaroopam which is a Sanskrit word and wanted him to have Tamil name for the movie. The DTH Controversy Initially, Kamal Hassan wanted to release the film directly on DTH and even got a few DTH service providers on board for the same. However, the theatre owner association of Tamil Nadu went up in arms against this decision as it would have directly interfered with the theatrical collection of the film and affected their business. Finally, Hassan had to give up the idea and the film was released in theatre first and then on DTH after a gap of one week. However, he filed a complaint against the Tamil Nadu theatre owners association for their anti-competitive practices. The Anti-Islamic Controversy The films received a major setback from the Muslim community not just in Tamil Nadu but even other parts of the country. The Muslim authorities asked Kamal Hassan to arrange a special screening for them before the release of the film which he complied with. However, even then the film had to face a lot of controversies and was banned in Tamil Nadu and other states even a clearance from CBFC. Court cases were filed and protests were held and it became a hot topic of discussion about freedom of speech and expression. Finally, Hassan had to chop off a few minutes of the scene to pacify the Muslim community. The Anti-Christian Controversy Not just Muslims, but even Christians had problems with certain parts of the film and filed a petition to call for a nationwide ban on the film. However, the Madras High Court dismissed their petition for a nationwide ban on the film. The Political Controversy In 2011, the film found itself in the middle of a political tussle between DMK and AIDMK. DMK President Karunanidhi alleged that the Jayalalitha government was not helping the ban of the film because of personal reasons, while Jayalalitha AIDMK maintained that they are not in a position to provide adequate security measure to ensure the security of all screens and their decision was simply in order to maintain law and order and had no political motive. She even said that she would sue Karunanidhi and media for maligning her image over the issue. Check out the trailer of Vishwaroopam 2: Kriti Sanon Hanging Out With A Giraffe On The Cover Of Cosmopolitan Make Netizens Furious From being called stupid to hypocritic, Kriti Sanon can hardly be called the favorite celebrity on the internet right now. Recently Kriti graced the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine where she looked smoking hot became the target of internet trolls and people were quite furious with the Bareily Ki Barfi star. The controversy broke out due to a giraffe that was seen awkwardly hanging in the frame with Kriti looked disturbing too many. People called her out for promoting animal cruelty, especially where it served no purpose in making the frame look more fashionable. If that was not enough, the photo was captioned " Im not someone who gets angry easily, but when I read about atrocities against women, it really upsets me. and thus netizens called her out for her double standards, where she talked about woman empowerment and expressed her anger towards subjugation of women but seemed to be fine with oppression of animals and cruelty towards them. Here are some of the angry comments on the photo: Well, in Kriti's defense, the photo was shot in Aynhoe Park in England which is a museum of taxidermy. Taxidermy refers to the use of animals dying of natural causes for academic purpose and this is not exactly cruel in it approach. However one has to agree that the frame does look a little disturbing to the eye and looks like a giraffe has been tied up and suspended from the ceiling. Surprisingly Aynhoe Park in England is quite a famous place and there has been photo shoots and photos on the internet that was taken near this installation, but Kriti's picture, perhaps because of popularity, spread like wildfire and ended up in a lot of people being upset with Kriti. All we can say to Kriti is next time be careful about what the frame of a picture conveys because as they say, pictures can be more powerful than 1000 words. Except for making the Galaxy Note 9 official, Samsung's 'Unpacked' event had little to offer in terms of new information because almost everything about the specifications and features of the Galaxy Note 9 was already available on the internet thanks to multiple leaks. Hunting for some new information, some folks in Russia have already performed a teardown of the smartphone. They claim that the Galaxy Note 9 may be similar to its predecessor from the outside but from the inside, it looks like a well-thought device. The two major upgrades Samsung announced for the Note 9 during its two-hour launch event were bigger battery and cooling tech to control the excessive heating of the processor. Although, the Galaxy Note 9 has an overall size similar to its predecessor, it still packs a larger battery (3,600 mAh in Galaxy Note 8 and 4,000mAh in Galaxy Note 9). This means that the new model's battery takes up more space inside than its predecessors and for that Samsung has shrunk other circuitry in the latest phablet to accommodate the larger battery. The other main problem that users face is the excessive overheating. For this, the South Korean giant has introduced the Water Carbon Cooling technology to keep the phone cool during intense usage sessions. The Galaxy Note 8 had a copper tube to dispense the heat generated from the processor. The Galaxy Note 9 has a copper plate to dispense the heat. Since the surface area is more, it will dispense more heat out keeping the phablet relatively cool. Apart from that, the S Pen housing inside the phone is more sturdy and is less likely to break. The motherboard is slightly smaller than its predecessor but the AKG-tuned speaker, which comes with Dolby Atmos tech, is larger in size. The company has reportedly brought down the repairability as well as replaceability cost of the components. The increase in the base price of the phablet is due to the innovation and engineering introduced in it. The weakest part is the curved display. It demands extreme caution as it is one of the most expensive part to replace. The Galaxy Note 9 is launched with a 6.4-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 10nm 64-bit Octa-core processor and runs on Android Oreo 8.1. There is an on-device AI-based tech that adjusts the performance algorithm so that the phablet delivers powerful and stable performance. The phone is available in two variants, 6GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 512GB storage. Both the phablet variants support a 512GB MicroSD card support. The S Pen stylus now comes with bluetooth capabilities. With Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) support, users can click the button on the stylus and take selfies, group pictures, present slides, pause and play music, and more. In the camera department, the Galaxy Note 9 comes with a dual-camera system with Dual OIS on the rear. The 12MP wide-angle sensor has F1.5/F2.4 variable aperture and the 12MP telephoto lens has a F2.4 F-spot. The front camera has an 8MP sensor with F1.7 aperture. The Galaxy Note 9 supports fast wireless charging and is IP68 rated. Cover and intext images courtesy: Hi-Tech@mail.ru The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is fresh off the block and we already know that it is headed to India. Samsung has announced the Indian pricing for the Note 9 - Rs 67,900 for the 128GB storage variant and the Rs 84,900 for the 512GB storage option. The company has also started accepting pre-bookings for the Galaxy Note 9 and you can read more about the pre-booking offers here. Meanwhile, interesting news comes from Airtel, which will be selling the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 through the Airtel Online Store at a downpayment of just Rs 7,900. This will be bundled with instant financing and affordable EMIs. The rest of the cost of the phone will be recovered through a built-in postpaid plan for Rs 2,999 per month for 24 months. Whats interesting is that Airtel says it will start delivering the Note 9 to customers in India starting August 22, which tells us that the phone will definitely be made official in the country before Aug 22 and that it will be in the hands of Indian customers before the global sale date of August 24. Those who would like to avail Airtels Galaxy Note 9 offer will have to pre-book the smartphone on the Airtel Online Store starting August 11. Customers who pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 on Airtel Online Store can also avail a special offer price of Rs 4,999 on the GearSport smartwatch through Samsung's website. Only the 128GB storage variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be available on Airtels store, in Midnight Black, Ocean Blue and Metallic Copper colour options. Samsung Galaxy Note 9 built-in Airtel postpaid plan The built-in Airtel postpaid plan for the Galaxy Note 9 will also serve as EMIs for the handset. With the built-in postpaid plan EMIs and the down-payment of Rs 7,900 the 128GB Galaxy Note 9, which is otherwise priced at Rs 67,900 will cost a total of Rs 79,876 for consumers who purchase it through Airtel. The built-in postpaid plan will includes 100GB of high speed data per month, unlimited calling, bundled content like 1 year Amazon Prime membership, and free subscription to Airtel TV and Wynk Music. It will also offer Unlimited Calls Local + STD, free national roaming, and free Airtel Secure device protection package. You can read all about the Galaxy Note 9 here. Follow the below mentioned steps to purchase the Galaxy Note 9 through Airtel: Ikea opens first Indian store in Hyderabad Swedish retail major Ikea opened its first store in India on Thursday, drawing tens of thousands of curious visitors, resulting in massive traffic snarls in Hyderabad. According to Ikea sources, more than 40,000 visitors were present at the time of the inauguration. The Ikea store is located in Hitec City, the hub of information technology companies. The Swedish major invested Rs1,000 crore for setting up the 400,000 sq ft store, one of its largest. The new outlet will sell more than 7,500 products, including a thousand priced below Rs200. Ikea had got the governments approval about five years ago to invest more than Rs10,000 crore in opening 25 stores by 2025. However, the plan has been revised now and it aims to set up 40 stores. New stores are to be opened in Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Chennai and Kolkata. The company operates more than 300 stores in over three-dozen countries around the globe. With slackening growth in established markets including Europe and North America, it is now aiming to expand its network in Asia and South Amreica. Jesper Brodin, group chief executive, Ikea, told the media that India would emerge as one of its biggest sourcing markets. The Swedish firm sources most of its products from China, Poland and. It is committed to procure 30 per cent of products sold in India domestically. RIL partners with Arvind to manufacture high performance fabrics Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has entered into a partnership with Ahmedabad-based Arvind Ltd to manufacture co-branded high performance fabrics, R|Elan. The partnership is part of RILs Hub Excellence Partners (HEP) programme. RIL launched the R|Elan, fabrics made from specialty engineered fibres for denim and other woven fabrics in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The partnership will open up opportunities for Arvind to create quality products in line with the latest trends. This co-branding effort re-affirms our vision to offer products that are aesthetically pleasing, technologically advanced and, most importantly, sustainable, said Aamir Akhtar, CEO, Denims, Arvind. As an industry leader and a pioneer, RIL is always looking at ways to help create value-added, easy-care and more comfortable fabrics for the benefit of common man, Akhtar added. Using its ongoing research and development and extensive expertise in fibre re-engineering, RIL has created a portfolio of speciality fabrics branded R|Elan that enhance the performance attributes in all apparel segments such as active wear, denim, formal wear, casual and ethnic wear. These fabrics are created with active participation of Hub Excellence Program (HEP) partners spread across the various textile centres of India. Gujarat is a key state for RIL as it has initiated HEP programme in Ahmedabad and Surat. The textile and apparel manufactures will be key beneficiaries as RIL will share its experience, knowledge and technology to manufacture high performance R|Elan fabrics in these cities. The R|Elan co-branding exercise will bolster RILs foothold in Rs 2,25,000-2,50,000 crore Indian apparel industry having almost equal share of menswear and womenswear. R|Elan is an umbrella brand from RIL, which encompasses range of new age fabrics. Arvind is a $1.7 billion conglomerate with interests in textiles, branded apparel and accessories, engineering and real estate and is one of the leading textile to retail and brands conglomerate in India. Japan's economy bounces back with 1.9% growth in April-June quarter Japan's economy expanded 1.9 per cent in the April-June quarter, bouncing back from a contraction in the previous quarter, helped by improved household spending despite global trade tensions and risks to the export and investment outlook. Private consumption, which accounts for about 60 per cent of Japans GDP, was the biggest contributor to growth in April-June, rising 0.7 per cent. Japan's economy rebounded in the second quarter, returning to growth despite growing global trade tensions. Japan's economy, the worlds third-largest, contracted 0.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2018, for the first time in two years. While consumer spending increased between April and June, external demand - exports minus imports - weighed on growth, data showed. "While real GDP growth in Q2 was both strong and higher than the consensus forecast, we believe it is reasonable to conclude that growth momentum for the Japanese economy as a whole is gradually starting to slow," Nomura said in a research note. The figures came as Japan's minister for economic revitalisation Toshimitsu Motegi met US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington, amid rising global trade tensions with the US. The economy is expected to continue growing due to consumer spending and business investment, but there is growing unease about the pace of future growth, economists say, with the rift between Japan and the United States presenting potential headwinds for growth. Following a meeting with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Thursday, Japanese economy minister Toshimitsu Motegi appeared to maintain Tokyo's position that it preferred multilateral free-trade agreements over bilateral ones, which has been a point of contention with Washington. Compared with the previous quarter, gross domestic product rose 0.5 percent, more than the median estimate for a 0.3 percent increase and after a 0.2 percent contraction in January-March. Private consumption, which accounts for about 60 per cent of GDP, was the biggest contributor to growth in April-June, rising 0.7 per cent. That was more that the median estimate for a 0.2 per cent increase and marked a rebound from a revised 0.2 per cent fall in the first quarter. Capital spending, the second-biggest contributor to growth, rose 1.3 per cent, the biggest increase since October-December 2016. That was above the median estimate for a 0.6 per cent increase. However, external demand or exports minus imports subtracted 0.1 percentage point from growth, missing expectations for a 0.1 percentage point contribution. The United States has pressured Japan for a bi-lateral free-trade agreement as a way to lower the US trade deficit. US President Donald Trump is trying to re-negotiate the US trade relationship with other countries to curb practices which he says are unfair to US companies and workers. Centre has 200-man cell monitoring TV news channels 24/7: report The Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre has a 200-member team monitoring TV news channels across the country 24x7. And this team is headed not by a party functionary but by an official of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, according to a report in The Wire, made famous by a Rs100-crore defamation brought by BJP president's son Jay Shah (See: Amit Shah's son Jay threatens Rs100 cr suit over article alleging undue profits). Located right next to the Central Bureau of Investigations headquarters in Delhi is Soochna Bhawan and on its tenth floor is the war room from where the government carries out this operation. And in recent days theres been a new development the cellphones of the monitoring team are being collected at the entrance, the report said. And in a first, their supervisor, an additional director general from the information and broadcasting ministry, has warned them that there should not be a repeat of the explosive information breach that occurred recently when details pertaining to the monitoring of the primetime programme Masterstroke were leaked to the programmes editor. Members of this monitoring team are subjected to six-monthly contracts despite having worked there for years, and now there is a move to eject the 10-15 individuals who have been demanding permanent employment and a salary hike, the report further says. There may be dissension over working conditions but there is no confusion about the brief the team members have to follow. The instructions are clear to prepare daily reports tracking which of the channels show Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, in what manner and for how long. Rajyavardhan Rathore, the I&B Minister, too has a separate report prepared along those lines which channel shows him, in what manner and for how long. The yardstick of appraisal is simple TV channels and journalists - are graded as per their tilt towards or against the establishment. Channels that regularly praise the government are put in the reliable category. Channels that are a bit stingy about showing the face of the prime minister are placed in the middle category. These channels receive a call from someone in the monitoring team. In a jolly tone he says they should show the prime minister on screen more often. The Wire gives details of a purported phone call received by the editor of a Noida-based, Uttar Pradesh-centric channel last week. The caller, introducing himself through some old connection, carried on a conversation about the media with the editor. And then, in the same jolly tone, came the message: Your channel doesnt show him much on screen. The editor asked: Who is shown less? The monitor replied: Hullo! Who else but our prime minister. The editor responded: What are you saying? We show him on screen a great deal. The monitor shot back: It must be a great deal for you. Ask us, we are the ones monitoring the channels. We watch your reports. Your channel comes somewhere in the middle. The editor said: Now that you are saying it, we will show him more. The monitor responded, Whatever you see fit. The editor asked: Is this a suggestion or a warning? Beyond that, there is nothing remotely friendly about the monitoring moves, the report continues. The next phone call that is made from the premises of Soochna Bhawan is placed to the I&B ministry at Shastri Bhawan or the BJP office. From a special nugget of information to cutting short a live programme or even suggesting a specific topic for debate, everything is discussed. If a channel does not oblige, once again a warning masquerading as a friendly suggestion is issued, I say, you dont seem to understand the significance of the issue. You are the editor, it is up to you to decide, but at least try to comprehend what is important for the nation. You are not sensitive to the interests of the nation. You must realise that the times are changing, and the old ways of thinking are passe. And then the clincher: You are intelligent Youre capable of understanding. Be sensitive towards us or we shall not be able to participate in any of your programmes. This kind of approach is both flattering and threatening, the report notes flattering because the proprietor and editors feel important, and threatening because owners in particular are made to fear the consequences if they dont kowtow. And while such monitoring is not new the system was put in place by the Manmohan Singh government in 2008 to monitor the coverage of government schemes by a 10 - 15 member staff the present government has taken it to a whole new level of media monitoring, the report concludes. Housed in its own newly built room, the audience witnesses the relicts of the bloody scene from a balcony overlooking the space. When Im looking into the Goat Cheese Baiser (2001) is a mobile set that Bock used in one of his live events, an assemblage of kaleidoscopic props waiting to be animated by the artist, encompassing a video documenting the lecture held by Bock in New York in 2001. Around the small plaza, other constructions find place, all accessible through stairs, tiny doors, curtains, tunnels. A tent room made out of a grid of stuffed socks houses an assemblage of dead equipment. Another room hosts an installation consisting of two vitrines, both displaying and hiding their heterogeneous and surreal content at the same time. Inside a cylindrical tent, a chair is hanging from a chain, bearing physical attributes. Infiniti has teased a sketch of its upcoming electric speedster concept. A follow up to Infinitis grand prix inspired Prototype 9 retro-roadster unveiled at Pebble Beach in 2018, the new single-seater concept will use the same venue on August 23 for its unveil during the Monterey Car Week festival. Other bespoke brands are also using the event as a launching platform for their ultra-luxury concepts including the Pininfarina PF0 and Bugatti Divo. Design for the Infiniti concept was headed by ex-BMW designer Karim Habib - now Infiniti executive design director - who oversaw a collaboration between the Nissan offshoot brands Japan, UK and US design teams. Infiniti says the concept car harnesses an electrified drivetrain whether that be a fully-electric powertrain or hybrid setup is yet to be seen and suggests there will be electrified performance cars coming into production later, all part of its 2021 plan. Our new concept provides clues to where the Infiniti brand is heading, said Habib. For us, electrification means performance our electrified cars will be powerful, efficient, and a joy to drive, and the new concept is a physical representation of our electrified performance future. All will be unveiled on August 23 during Monterey Car Week. Well-being leave days, virtual reality recruitment, and career breaks are just some of the attractive workplace perks offered by some of Australias most innovative Companies. Indeed, being a highly innovative company tends to go hand in hand with providing a great workplace for staff. Deloitte, who ranked number six in the 2017 Australian Financial Reviews Most Innovative Companies list, have introduced a number of innovative workplace benefits over the last few years. Acknowledging that there might be times in a persons career at Deloitte when they might want to take a sabbatical to explore something completely different or just take a break employees are able to take Career Breaks where leave can be taken for up to 12 months. Tina McCreery, Deloitte People & Performance partner, explains that there are a number of different activities employees have undertaken. Career Breaks have given staff the opportunity to travel, volunteer, engage in professional development, study and pursue other personal interests. Wellbeing is also a big focus at the firm. The Wellbeing at Deloitte program is built on the fundamental premise that wellbeing drives engagement and high performance, which improves retention and productivity, driving better outcomes for individuals and the firm, describes McCreery. Our ultimate goal is to help our people become happier and healthier, thereby improving our firm performance and productivity. The program includes nutrition workshops to educate staff on healthy eating habits despite busy schedules and the Step Up Challenge, which involved walking a minimum of 10,000 steps a day over two months. The challenge saw over 600 teams take part, with vouchers awarded to winners to purchase wellbeing related products. At carsales.com.au, the company has recently created its own school holiday program to help working parents balance work and home commitments. In an interview with Human Capital Magazine, Chief People Officer Jo Allan describes, Our school holiday program builds on the flexibility that we already provide our people, to help them be their best selves and achieve work-life balance. In addition to its five-day school holiday program, carsales launched its first Kids Coding Camp in January, whereby kids are introduced to programming and robotics. The goal was to help encourage the childrens curiosity in tech, which was well received, said Allan. Commonwealth Bank of Australia, who has consistently ranked in the Australian Financial Reviews Most Innovative Companies list every year for the last six years, focuses on not only the employee experience, but also those applying for jobs with the bank. Two years ago, the bank launched its Virtual Reality Careers Experience, which used Oculus Rift to give graduates a virtual experience of what it was like to work at the bank. Innovating the recruitment process has proved to be an effective way for CommBank to attract top digital talent. Lendlease, who debuted at number 14 in the 2017 Australian Financial Reviews Most Innovative Companies list, place a great emphasis on mental and physical health of staff. Employees are given one well-being leave day per quarter, in addition to the standard annual leave provided. Staff can decide to any number of activities, which range from martial arts through to cookery classes. These organisations demonstrate that as well as being an innovative company to customers, providing innovative benefits to staff is also key in being a great employer. Dr Amantha Imber is the Founder of Inventium, Australias leading innovation consultancy. Want to become a better innovator? Read Inventiums report that explains the six innovation mistakes almost every organisation makes. Instantly delete email threats with 365 Threat Monitor With 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts, real-time security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click - for free! Learn More. Michelle Cirocco is head of global marketing for Televerde, a company focusing on business-to-business demand generation and inside sales solutions. Televerde staffs a portion of its contact centers with incarcerated women, providing them with training and helping them find career opportunities after their release. In this exclusive interview, Cirocco explains how everyone wins when a company provides employees with the opportunity to turn their lives around. Televerde Head of Global Marketing Michelle Cirocco Michelle Cirocco: Televerde is the global leader in market insight. Our mission is to provide opportunities for our clients to grow their businesses and achieve their personal best. We're a B2B sales and marketing agency, and we generate demand and accelerate sales for our clients. Our clients are the largest technology companies in the world, as well as startup, high-tech, high-growth companies. Ninety-eight percent of our customers are in the high-tech space. We're a true extension of our clients' sales and marketing organizations, and we're consistently delivering measurable value for our customers. Our company was founded with the idea of providing job opportunities for women in corrections. Our CEO came with a technical background, and when he came to Televerde, he found the answer to what sales, marketing and technology companies needed. Sales reps needed good-quality leads, and he believed he could teach women in corrections all the skills they needed to enter the technical sales field. He built the business on this idea of providing job opportunities. We've had over 1,700 women work for us inside correctional facilities in Arizona and Indiana, and we've expanded the business outside of corrections to provide jobs when they're released and want to build real careers. TNW: Could you describe the trajectory of your career. How did you get where you are today? Cirocco: My real business career started with Televerde, and I've been with the company for almost 20 years. When you have the opportunity to work with a company with such an amazing social purpose, it makes it easy to fall in love and be committed to the mission of the company. That's also part of what the company is about -- investing in individuals and helping to achieve their personal best. I started in an entry-level position in project management and account management, and my career has been a procession of increasing responsibility within the company, from sales to sales operations to marketing. As my responsibilities increased, so did my education. When I started, I had an associate's degree, and then I got my bachelor's in marketing and finally an MBA. It's been a commitment to lifelong learning. TNW: Why do you have a passion for what you do? Cirocco: I have a passion for what Televerde does. When you have the opportunity to work with people to recreate themselves and build a meaningful career for themselves and their families, and you get to watch and help that happen, it's very rewarding. It enables me to have my arms around the brand and, promoting Televerde so that it becomes a bigger organization that can provide more jobs and more opportunities for women. The bigger this company gets, the more women and families we can help. TNW: What does it mean to use technology to accentuate the human connection? And why is it important? Cirocco: The thing about technology is that we're a human-touch organization. We're people people. Everybody's using technologies like artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, marketing automation tools, search engine marketing and lead analytics tools. We're using all these tools and technologies to identify who we should communicate with, and we use them to set the stage for our marketing and demand-generation efforts, and to get our names or clients' names in front of their prospects. Ultimately, though, our real goal is to build relationships. At the end of the day, people buy from people. Technology is a tool for us to enable trust and build relationships. TNW: What kind of work do the women do? Cirocco: A large portion of the work involves contact centers, lead development and inside sales. But we have people in a wide variety of roles outside of those, including project management, technical reporting, IT work and QA testing. We have women certified in marketing automation tools who are designing and setting up our marketing automation campaigns. We have folks in our finance department doing financial reporting and analysis. I have my marketing and communications team that's responsible for writing content and graphic design. Our own inside sales and sales development is also a job opportunity for women. They all have career paths at our corporate office when they get out, and many have career paths to go work for our clients. TNW: Why do you think it's a good idea to work with people in correctional facilities? Cirocco: They're a highly motivated, committed workforce. They're women who went left when they should have gone right, and they're at the lowest point in their lives. Every single one wants to have a better life. They're all willing to work hard at whatever will enable them to have a better life, to get their children and families back. It's a workforce of people who are in love with their jobs. These are people who truly love what they're doing, because they have the time and focus and ability to commit to it. They're in an environment that encourages them to be naturally supportive of each other to be more successful. Because of this environment, we have the highest-quality call centers in the world. Our clients buy from us because we're the best at what we do, and that's because we have a phenomenal workforce. TNW: Is Televerde's mission being adopted by other companies? Cirocco: Most states have correctional industries responsible for jobs within the community or within the government, providing work opportunities for inmates. While people are incarcerated, they're required to have a job, unless they're medically exempted. Many companies are using this kind of workforce, but we're one of the biggest employers. We're also one of the few employers developing knowledge workers. Most correction industry job opportunities tend to be vocational and blue collar, but our employees are truly knowledge workers, in fields like sales and technology. We offer more than just job opportunities. These are career opportunities. Vivian Wagner has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. Her main areas of focus are technology, business, CRM, e-commerce, privacy, security, arts, culture and diversity. She has extensive experience reporting on business and technology for a variety of outlets, including The Atlantic, The Establishment and O, The Oprah Magazine. She holds a PhD in English with a specialty in modern American literature and culture. She received a first-place feature reporting award from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. Email Vivian. Instantly delete email threats for Office 365 With the free app, 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts + security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click. Download now! Facebook earlier this week pulled the plug on the official page for Alex Jones, host of Infowars and noted conspiracy theorist. YouTube quickly followed, removing Infowars and Jones' videos. Facebook's move followed Apple's decision to pull five of Infowars' six podcasts -- including the "Alex Jones Show" and "War Room" -- from the iTunes and Podcasts apps. Spotify previously had removed several episodes of Jones' show from its service. Facebook removed four pages related to Jones and Infowars for "repeated violations" and for "glorifying violence," as well as for using "dehumanizing language" to describe certain groups of people -- including immigrants, transgender individuals and Muslims -- in violation of its hate speech policies. As a result, the Alex Jones Page, the Alex Jones Channel Page, the Infowars Page and the Infowars Nightly News Page were unpublished, while Alex Jones' personal account was suspended as well. YouTube said that Jones' violations of its Terms of Service and Community Guidelines were grounds for termination of his accounts. About Face(book) Facebook previously had faced scrutiny over why it allowed Jones to maintain a presence on the social network. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company's tolerance of Jones was based on "free speech" considerations, in an interview with Recode last month. However, in the wake of the bans enacted by Spotify and Apple, Facebook did an about-face and pulled the plug. This isn't the first time that a controversial figure has been silenced in the media. ABC canceled comedian Roseanne Barr's eponymous sitcom earlier this year in response to comments she made on Twitter, which were widely viewed as racist. Nearly 50 years ago, CBS canceled The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, largely for the duo's satirical criticism of the Vietnam War. However, in the case of Barr and the Smothers Brothers, it was network executives who took issue with the entertainers, whereas in the case of Jones it was third-party services that banned his content. "The platforms are not engaging in censorship or curtailing free speech," maintained Chris Olson, CEO of The Media Trust, a digital risk management firm. "In fact, the platforms have helped Alex Jones' audience grow," he told the E-Commerce Times. "Having said that, regardless of the medium -- online or print -- when rhetoric leads to substantiated real-life harm or harassment, platforms need to enforce rules they've set and their users have agreed to," Olson added. Pulling the Plug Jones' situation differs for other reasons. "When TV producers decided to cancel the shows of the Smothers Brothers and Roseanne Barr, they were making business decisions involving employees and their impact on the network's audiences," said Olson. At the time CBS -- rightly or wrongly -- apparently felt the Smothers Brothers' political leanings, at least as reflected in their increasingly edgy skits, were diverging from those of their traditional audiences. Barr's tweets this summer created a PR crisis for ABC. "By contrast, Facebook, YouTube, Apple and Spotify aren't only making a business decision to please their users -- they are in some ways also influencing standards," suggested Olson. "The platforms have standards and policies to ensure they are not infringing any laws," he added. "Users enter an agreement with the platforms with expectations that they will be both protected and limited by those standards and policies," Olson pointed out. "These standards are important, because -- unlike network audiences -- platform users actively engage with other users through the platform. They aren't passive viewers. Rules of engagement are therefore necessary, and they should be enforced." Is It Censorship? Unlike broadcast TV, which utilizes the public airwaves, the Internet largely remains unregulated, at least in terms of what can be said or posted. Instead of government oversight -- such as the FCC monitoring broadcasters for adhering to community standards -- it is up to the companies that host content to determine where lines should be drawn. "With traditional media -- newspaper, magazine, television, radio -- the advertisers' also police their own content," said social media consultant and author Lon Safko. In the case of Jones, it hasn't been his political leanings on controversial issues that have cast him in the proverbial crosshairs so much as his rhetoric -- and the fact that much of his content, particularly the advancement of conspiracy theories, arguably belongs in the realm of "fake news." One notable example led to a lawsuit against Jones, brought by the parents of Noah Pozner, a victim of the Sandy Hook massacre that took place in 2012. Jones has infamously maintained that the shooting was a hoax devised by the government to promote stronger gun controls. For some, however, the Internet companies' decisions to ban Jones have raised alarms. "This is a different symptom of the same disease that we have been discussing: censorship," Safko told the E-Commerce Times. "We should be extremely careful before rushing to embrace an Internet that is moderated by private companies by default," said the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Civil Liberties Director David Greene. "While high-profile cases of highly offensive content being taken down garner much attention, content moderation continues to silence voices in marginalized communities around the world that struggle to be heard in the first place," he told the E-Commerce Times. There is a great deal of other content online that many might find far more offensive than Jones' diatribes -- notably pornography. Facebook, Apple and other mainstream sites don't host that type of content either. Still, it hasn't been driven onto the Dark Web. "Google nearly made the decision about six months ago to remove all porn sites from their indexing. That would have been a bad decision," suggested Safko. "If someone wants to see it, they have a right to, and, if they don't want to see it, they don't have to." Slippery Slope There is no shortage of people ranting on their digital soapboxes across social media and other sites, so it isn't clear whether Jones is just the first to face such a widespread ban or if the tech giants will be the ones that determine who should be silenced and whose voices should be heard. "The ban on Alex Jones shows the slippery slope between managing widespread hoaxes online and censoring popular content," said Marcus Messner, professor of journalism at the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University. "These companies react to the public's demand to manage the flow of hoaxes and misinformation online, especially on social media," he told the E-Commerce Times. "Those in power will inevitably exploit established systems," warned EFF's Greene, "and those who actually make the moderation decisions will inevitably make awful mistakes." Of course, Alex Jones is not the only person who has been affected by content management efforts. Many other sources of misinformation have been pulled from various sites as well. However, the Jones ban "raises the issue of what is protected under free speech in the social media space, which we currently allow to be defined by these companies," said VCU's Messner. "Platforms that choose to moderate must be transparent and accountable about their moderation decisions, their decision-making standards must be clear and applied consistently, and they must provide some avenue for meaningful appeal," said EFF's Greene. Not a Free Speech Issue Jones and others have suggested that the bans against him raise a First Amendment issue, but that is not technically correct. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects against abridgment of free speech by the government. Companies post their own terms of use and guidelines, and they are justified in banning those who violate the rules. How Facebook and the other tech companies respond to violent or abhorrent rhetoric that might come from entities with a different political leaning no doubt will be scrutinized. "This situation calls for better guidelines for the fight against so called 'fake news' that Internet companies then can apply in a consistent manner," said Messner. Otherwise, the divisions in the country could be reflected online as well. "It's gotten to the point where the owners of the media turn their outlet into a personal opinion platform," suggested Safko. Really a Fake News Issue What this issue could boil down to is one not of free speech but truthful speech as Internet companies work to combat the spread of fake news or other disinformation. Neither fake news nor purposeful disinformation would be protected by the First Amendment, in any case. "It's interesting that the tech giants have been blamed for the spread of fake news and are now being accused of censorship," observed The Media Trust's Olson. If Jones merely had offered his opinions, rather than presenting his content as facts, he might not be treated any differently than the plethora of talking heads who appear on various cable news channels each evening. Jones utilized Internet services to cultivate a mass following online. Those same services are the ones that have muted him. The question is not so much whether they had the right do so, but whether they were making good business decisions. "Much of the world is on these platforms, so if people somehow felt alienated, the user numbers would not have exploded over the years," remarked Olson. "In fact, virtually anyone of any political stripe will find a community in these platforms." Peter Suciu has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2012. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile phones, displays, streaming media, pay TV and autonomous vehicles. He has written and edited for numerous publications and websites, including Newsweek, Wired and FoxNews.com. Email Peter. (Photo: REUTERS / Soe Zeya Tun)Rohingya Muslims attend a wrestling festival at Kyaukpannu village in Maungdaw, northern Rakhine state, June 6, 2014. Since international aid groups were forced out of the Rakhine area in February and March, members of the minority Muslim Rohingya community who relied on them say basic health care services have all but disappeared. Worst affected are those in Northern Rakhine State (NRS), home to most of Myanmar's 1.3 million Rohingya who are stalked by sickness and malnourishment and as yet untouched by reforms under a semi-civilian government which took power in 2011. Pope Francis has told Myanmar's leaders in the capital Naypyidaw to leave conflict behind and work for peace by promoting justice and respect for the rights of all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity. "The arduous process of peace-building and national reconciliation can only advance through a commitment to justice and respect for human rights," the Pope told Myanmar civil authorities Nov. 28, Catholic News Agency reports. Francis called for respect for rights and justice, but refrained from any mention of the Rohingya, or allegations of ethnic cleansing that has driven huge numbers of the Muslim minority from the country, AFP reported. Pope Francis did not openly challenge the Myanmar authorities on the atrocities that have taken place in their predominantly Buddhist country against the Muslim minority Rohingyas from the Northern Rakhine state. The pontiff is visiting Myanmar and Bangladesh and in choosing his words he would have been considering the implications they might have for the future of the tiny Catholic minority in the country. He will be in Myanmar Nov. 27-30, and will visit two cities before moving on to Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he will stay Nov. 30-Dec. 2. There are 400,000 Catholics in Bangladesh out of a population of 163 million, while in Myanmar there are 700,000 Catholics in a population of 53 million. In Bangladesh the Pope is expected to meet some Rohingya refugees. Pope Francis began his first full day in Myanmar an unscheduled encounter at the Archbishop's House, meeting with a group of 17 leaders from the different religious traditions present in the country. When he shared the stage with Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw, he did not address the Rohingya crisis head-on, instead tip-toeing around the unfolding humanitarian emergency. SUU KYI Suu Kyi also did not refer to the Rohingya's in her speech, but said the Pope's blessing will be shared by everyone in Burma as they seek to spread "goodwill and joy" throughout the nation, CAN reported. Myanmar's leaders "will strive to discharge our duties with probity and humility," she said. She noted, "We wish to leave to the future a people united and at peace, secure in their capacity to grow and prosper in a changing world; a compassionate and generous people, always ready to hold out a helping hand to those in need; a people strong in skills and whole in spirit." "The road ahead is long," she said, "but we will walk it with confidence, trusting in the power of peace, love and joy." Vatican Radio reported that in her words to the Pope, Suu Kyi talked directly of the challenges in Rakhine state, which has been the focus of such intense criticism from the international community and from which 624,000 Rohingyas have fled since Aug. 25. She said the government is seeking to address the many social, economic and political problems there, highlighting the need to rebuilt trust and cooperation. Among the Muslim leaders, whom the Pope met at the earlier interreligious encounter in Yangon, was a member of the advisory commission for the Rakhine, chaired by former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan. But it's not just the Muslins fleeing across the northern border into Bangladesh, who have suffered from violent repression, reported Vatican Radio. During a visit to the predominantly Christian Kachin state, ahead of the pope's arrival, the Vatican Radio reporter met Catholic families in one of the many camps for internally displaced people, whose villages were destroyed and who survive on aid from international organizations. The church runs education and health programs, trying to improve the desperate living conditions, but all agree there can be no real development without peace between the warring parties. (Photo: Peter Kenny)World Council of Churches 2018 Interreligious Summer School faculty and students at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland on Aug. 9, 2018. Christian, Jewish and Muslim students who attended the World Council of Churches 2018 Interreligious Summer School at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, said that learning to break down prejudices about the other was a lasting impression from the six-week course. The planting of three trees formed part of the graduation ceremony on 9 August to "care for creation" and reflected the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 to which the course was related this year. Bossey Ecumenical Institute director Fr. Ioan Sauca presented the 12 students with letters to say they completed the course for the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Interreligious Studies, which is accredited by the University of Geneva. He said the course was the 13th carried out by the institute and it started in 2006 when Islamic, Jewish, and Christian foundations came together. "People are afraid that will dilute identity and there is a hidden agenda to change people's minds," said Sauca, but he added: "The course makes people better - Muslims, Jews, and Christians." He noted that the room where the ceremony took place is now an historical one where Pope Francis had lunch when he visited the WCC one month ago as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations. BRINGING DIVERSE PEOPLE TOGETHER The director explained how the course brings diverse people together and there have even been marriages resulting from it. "Keep in touch and when you see one group is in trouble, speak up," said Sauca. Pyry Paulasaari, a Christian student from Finland, read a peace statement on behalf of the 12 students representing the three Abrahamic faiths and 11 nations. "The opportunity to live in such close proximity enabled a deepening of relationships that surpassed differing cultural and religious contexts. "Whether in the classroom or outside of it, the course cultivated among participants a fundamentally deeper understanding of one another as well as a respect for the various contexts within which they strive to improve through faith driven change," the declaration said. Dr. Benjamin Simon, professor of Ecumenical Missiology said, "Every morning you started the day with 'spiritual sharing'a moment when we learned a lot about each other spiritually." He said that each day students read texts from the scriptures of three faiths relating to a topic and discussed them. INDEPENDENT THEOLOGIAN Orthodox Jew Shimon Weinbach, age 25, who was brought up in the United States, but lives in Jerusalem said he calls himself an independent theologian. "These were some of the best three weeks of my life," he said. Weinbach spoke about the religion studies and how they relate to the SDGs, the visiting of a mosque, a synagogue and a Lutheran church in Geneva as well as the UN and Red Cross and seeing how they intersect with faith-based and other communities. "The ability to come into contact with people who know about Christian theology, not only in the classroom was fascinating. It was my first time to meet an Iranian and my impression was overwhelmingly positive and I was surprised to see how much we have in common," he said. As the son of a rabbi, Weinbach said it was special to have a "closer scope on global issues and see how dialogue is necessary". "I experienced that the other does not encroach on my own faith, but the meeting can make it stronger." IRANIAN SOCIOLOGY RESEARCHER Zahraalsadat Rooholamin, aged 27, a Shia Muslim, is a sociology researcher and postgraduate student from Teheran in Iran. She heard about the course from a friend who came to Geneva and recommended it to her. Rooholamin offered special thanks to her professors, Simon and Dr. Simonne Sinn for their dedication and consideration. "It was a perfect experience. I was able to give other people a good introduction to Islam and formed many friendships. It was fantastic for conversation and dialogue." Zimbabwean Esther Macheka, the wife of a pastor outside Harare said that in her country people of other faiths are tiny minorities and the overwhelming majority are Christians, but there is also a strong following of traditional beliefs. "By learning to counter prejudices to other faiths I was able to relate it to preconceptions I might have held for Pentecostals who follow a different path to us traditional Protestants," said Macheka who thanked the United Methodists in the United States for enabling her to attend. Teachers, your well-earned summer is winding down and school is starting up again. Right now, you might be focused on turning your empty classroom into a supportive learning environment. But before you know it, youll have fallen into a teaching routine: lesson planning, classroom management, grading, and everything in between. This year, are you returning to some old habits? Have you asked yourself if your standard practices are essential or superfluous? Have you thought about shaking up your pedagogy or mindset by casting off some of your classroom traditions? Here are seven things teachers have let go of in the spirit of being a better educator: 1. Grades Author and Education Week blogger Starr Sackstein has been a longtime advocate for ditching grades. Ungrading isnt a new concept, but its catching on and even has a robust online community . In this short video, Sackstein offers some quick tips for teachers who want to stop marking student progress with letters and numbers: 2. Talking so much Have you reflected on how much time you spend lecturing? Simple changes to how long teachers talk can have a profound influence on the effectiveness of their instruction, writes Wendy James, coordinator of collegiate renewal and curriculum for Saskatoon Public Schools in Canada. James offers teachers three strategies for cutting down on oral instruction. Check them out. 3. Seeing students struggles as problems Students are mysterious, developing individuals, writes teacher Kyle Redford. Approaching their struggles like puzzles to solve, rather than problems to react to, makes our instruction more effective. One way to do that, she argues, is by adopting compassionate curiositya concept she borrowed from a mindfulness expert and spiritual leader. Learn more about it. 4. The fear of getting in trouble Justin Minkel, a teacher and regular contributor to Education Week, says most teachers he knows share a phobia of being reprimanded. Seventeen years since I started teaching, I still get nervous when my principal walks into my room, writes Minkel. He offers this challenge to educators: Throw the rules out the window for a week and see what happens. Wondering where to start? Minkel has you covered. 5. Being a martyr Its time for the unhealthy narrative of the martyr teacher to die. This expectation does a disservice to the entire profession. That bold statement comes from teacher Natashia Hill, who is fed up with the idea that great teachers must live a life of imbalance, poverty, and continual self-sacrifice. Check out her five tips for shaking off the expectation of martyrdom. And on that note 6. Running yourself ragged Self-care is not selfish, says Danna Thomas, a kindergarten teacher in Baltimore who founded a teacher-support group called Happy Teacher Revolution . Shes not wrong. Recent studies have a drawn a link between teacher burnout and student stress . So get a good nights sleep. Eat lunch. And focus on your social and emotional needs. Heres what educators and researchers are saying about the positives effects that could have. 7. The teachers lounge (well, metaphorically) The teachers lounge is not a place at all, writes teacher Lauren Powell. It is an attitude or atmosphere fostered by disenchanted teachers intent on bringing everyone down a level. Gossip breeds negativity, Powell argues, and creates a toxic environment that spreads to the students. Hear her out. Hopefully this list has left you inspired (or at least intrigued). We want to encourage you to share the teacher habits youve kicked or the traditions youve thrown out the window. Drop them in the comments below. Colleges of education are in a Catch-22: Theyre needed more than ever to produce well-trained teachers as school districts struggle to fill certain positions. But fewer and fewer people are enrolling in their programs. Thats one of the findings in a comprehensive report of the state of teacher preparation by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, released today for the organizations 70th anniversary. The report examines the steps colleges of education have taken to revamp themselves in light of increasing challenges for the teaching profession. Between the 2007-08 and 2015-16 academic years, there was a 23 percent decline in the number of people completing teacher-preparation programs. The largest decline32 percenthas been at alternative programs (for people who already have a bachelors degree) that are housed in colleges or universities. But all types of programs have seen drops. The number of bachelors degrees conferred in education declined by 15 percent between 2005-06 and 2014-15. Across all other major fields, the number of bachelors degrees conferred increased over that period. There are a number of possible explanations for the decline of interest in teaching programs. According to a survey by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, as noted in the report, deans of colleges of education said the No. 1 reason for the enrollment drop was the perception of teaching as an undesirable career. That perception is likely based on complaints about a lack of professional autonomy and low wages, the deans said. In a remarkable sign of discontent, teachers walked out of their classrooms in a half-dozen states this spring, frustrated with low pay, crumbling classrooms, and years of cuts to school funding. Almost half of college graduates who become teachers leave the profession within a few years, the report notes. To address these challenges, colleges of education are repositioning themselves, the report says. First, theyre changing their curricula to better prepare candidates, most of whom are white, to teach a diverse student population. There is more of a focus on multicultural education, the report says, and more colleges are developing partnerships with school districts that serve low-income and minority students, so that teacher candidates can gain experience in those settings. Renee Middleton, the dean of Ohio Universitys college of education, said the school has developed a community focus when preparing its teachers. For example, the region is facing an opioid crisis, so the college is making sure teacher candidates are prepared to deal with the effects in the classroom. Candidates are also trained in trauma-informed instruction, she said. Teacher education is not an island unto itself, Middleton said. It takes all of us to deal with challenges. Teacher-prep programs are also beginning to shift away from standardized exams for candidates, and toward performance-based assessmentswhich evaluate multiple measures of teaching, including student teaching, the report says. Critics of standardized exams have said they fail to measure effective teaching skills, and that nonwhite candidates tend to pass them at lower rates. The report notes that by 2019, at least 21 states will use performance assessments as an option or requirement for initial licensure. Also, colleges are placing a stronger emphasis on student teaching and developing closer partnerships with school districts, the report says. Too Many Elementary Teachers? The report notes that there is a mismatch between the majors that students choose and the personnel needs of school districts. While there isnt a national teacher shortage, there are some perennial shortage areas, including special education, high school math and science, foreign language, and bilingual education. However, the most popular major for aspiring teachers is elementary education. That field accounts for 21 percent of undergraduate education majors among all teacher-prep-program completerswhereas special education majors make up 9 percent. Just 4 percent of completers majored in English as a second language, and 2 percent majored in bilingual, multilingual, and multicultural education. Better aligning districts needs and colleges outputs could solve teacher shortages, said Kate Walsh, the president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, a Washington-based research group that has at times clashed with colleges of education. As much as it makes sense for us to look to higher ed to respond, ... its not in their self-interest to tell students who want to be a teacher, No, we have enough candidates, she said. Instead, she said, one solution could be for accreditation groups to tell teacher-prep programs that they must produce enough candidates in certain fields to meet the needs of the profession. And school districts have more authority than they might realize, she said. If youre not willing to place 100 elementary student-teachers because you dont need to hire them, the university will have no choice but to become more strategic and more selective about how to fill those spots, Walsh said. Its so straightforward ... and it would solve supply and demand in a couple years if districts stood up and asserted [their needs]. For their part, higher education officials say they try to inform candidates about the realities of the profession before they choose a major. When students declare their area of interest, their adviser talks to them about anticipated openings, shortages, hireability, and helps students make informed decisionsbut we dont push them away from their area of passion, said Nicole Thompson, the co-director of the division of teacher preparation at Arizona State Universitys teacher college. Still, she added, the shortage [in Arizona] is fairly significant, so whoever we produce pretty much gets hired. And Ohio Universitys Middleton said advisers do warn aspiring elementary teachers that they might have to move to another city or even another state to get a job. But theres only so much colleges of education can do, she said. Were giving [students] the data, Middleton said. Its still their decision to major in it. Colleges Must Be More Creative In states with persistent teacher shortages, like Oklahoma, Arizona, and Utah, policymakers have eased some of the requirements for becoming a teacherat times bypassing colleges of education. For example, the Oklahoma state board of education approved a record-setting 1,975 emergency certifications last school year. These certifications allow people without a teaching certificate to teach for one year, or allow a certified teacher to teach a new subject before getting recertified. And the board is on track to approve even more emergency certifications this year. It puts some pressure on this college to be more creative, said Gregg Garn, the dean of the University of Oklahomas college of education. How do we articulate the importance of really good preparation ... to be an extraordinary teacher? In addition to doubling down on teaching pedagogy and making sure student teachers are supported in the field, Garn said the college is trying to take an innovative look at how to retain teachers. Part of that, he said, is setting them up for financial success. Oklahoma teachers, who walked out of their classrooms this spring in protest of low wages, are among the lowest paid in the nation. Teacher preparation cant change that, Garn said, but the college has unveiled debt-forgiveness and financial-literacy initiatives to help teachers manage their money. I want great professionals to come out of this [college], but I also want people to have a really good life, Garn said. The 31-year-old actor said one should give up one's family, home and children to best serve the country. Mumbai: Kangana Ranaut may have an opinion about the country's politics but the actor says she does not see it as a career option. During her interaction with yogi Sadhguru last evening, Kangana addressed a range of topics, including lynching. When a reporter asked if she sees herself joining politics in the future, the actor told reporters, "Politics shouldn't be a career. I feel if someone like me wants to join politics, then first of all they have to achieve detachment." The 31-year-old actor said one should give up one's family, home and children to best serve the country. "Right now, I am so successful (in films) that I don't want to make career anywhere else. But if I want to serve my land then I can't do it if I have some vested interest in some other department. That becomes conflicting then. So, if people want to pursue politics they should, but they need to achieve some kind of renunciation," she said. Last week, she attended a screening of a film, based on the childhood of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where she spoke highly of him, calling him the rightful leader of the country. The actor also spoke about how it's unfair that her contemporaries in Bollywood shy away from speaking about politics. "Artistes always say that we should not talk about it (politics), we get into trouble but if (someone), who is so successful and has 25 cameras and mediapersons covering him or her, doesn't talk then who else will? Then why are you successful? "What does success mean to you? Just earning money, eating and having fun? You haven't been kept at a pedestal so that you can live your small life easily, the people have kept you there so that you also think about them," she added. Retiring lifeboat to visit all Island stations Douglas RNLI's Sir William Hillary lifeboat will visit each of the Island's lifeboat stations before it leaves the Island for the final time. The Tyne-class all-weather lifeboat is being replaced after almost 30 years in service. The lifeboat will leave Douglas at 8am on Sunday, visiting Ramsey, Peel, Port Erin and Port St Mary, before returning to Douglas in time for the Tower of Refuge walk in the evening. Sir William Hillary will leave the Island next Friday, travelling to the RNLI Deport in Conwy in North Wales. Police issue scam warning Manx police are warning of a scam which targets local businesses by offering advertising space in a magazine. A company recently contacted the Isle of Man Constabulary after receiving a suspicious call offering advertising in a glossy magazine. Officers says the sole aim of this scam is to take the firm's money without providing any advertising. The police are urging all businesses to be wary of cold callers trying to sell advertising space. Clearly we are in Kalyug because in a film starring Kamal Haasan I am writing about another, much lesser actor. Rating: Cast: Kamal Haasan, Rahul Bose, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Shekhar Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat, Waheeda Rehman, Anant Mahadevan Director: Kamal Haasan Vishwaroopam may well be titled Vishwa-bhookamp (a world-wide earthquake) because it, literally, turned my world upside down, inside out. Kamal Haasan is the only Indian actor who, necknneck with Mohanlal, has received three national awards. He is also an actor I can watch on a loop and never, ever get bored. Sadma, Nayakan, Pushpak, Appu Raja, Mahanadi, Thevar Magan, my all-time favourite Chachi 420... and many, many more. But now I have lived to see the day when, while watching Kamal Haasan share the screen with Rahul Bose, my mind actually began to curdle and seep out of my ears. I kept wondering if I was in an alternate universe because Bose the bore was infinitely better than Haasan. Kamal Haasan, whose brilliance is forever etched in my heart and mind, is so, so bad here just a figment of the talented actor, director he once was that all his national awards should be taken back and returned only when he promises, Gita aur Gautami pe haath rakh kar, that he will never again direct a film in which he is the star. Vishwaroopam II (which has been unleashed simultaneously in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam) blares to announce the arrival of the star in inarticulate screaming and drumming where nothing makes sense and neither is it meant to. Its just supposed to be a rousing instruction to us to brace ourselves for the return of the great superstar. Unlike its predecessor, Vishwaroopam II doesnt even pretend to have a story. It has some contrived situations that exist only to pander to the superstars super ego. These situations stem from some August 2011 terror plot involving the evil Omar Qureshi (Rahul Bose), an Al Qaeda operative, and the attempts of RAW agent Major Wisam Ahmad Kashmiri (Kamal Hassan) to thwart them. Much like he did in the 2013 Vishwaroopam. We get a back story about a young major training one Lieutenant Asmita Subramaniam (Andrea Jeremiah) and together they are disgraced, court-martialled and sent to jail. However, since the film pivots on the premise that a useful desh bhakt is never, ever jailed, and he is never, ever off dooty (duty), we get another back story where Wisam penetrated Omars inner circle. Omar began to trust him, but Wisam worked for as the films best dialogue puts it Uncle Sam ki behen Mother India. While the film gives Omar a grouse against Wisam and the West, both of whom he wants to blow up, it gives our undercover RAW agent desh ki bhakti and a litter of idiotic, geriatric bosses and double-spies who do not operate in slo-mo, but look as if they are. Their meaningless dawdle and lumbering movements are sleep-inducing. Wisam arrives in some part of the world from another, with that annoying Lieutenant Asmita in tow. They are on a covert operation to do satyanash of bad-bad terrorists. But Wisam also has wife Nirupama (Pooja Kumar), a nuclear oncologist, tagging along. She mostly seems confused when listening to desh ki secret missions and would rather just make out. At least on their suhaag raat, yaar. But dooty is always beckoning. And theres mummyji in a wheel chair (Waheeda Rehman) he has to introduce to her. So noble and good is Wisam that I was worried the sun may refuse to rise from anywhere except his now ample backside. While the two women have a lame fight over Wisam, the plot turns into a morons playfield where people who try to cross or kill our spy get killed themselves. Either their guns jam at the right time, or some eyeballs simply, literally, roll out of their socket as if sulking at having to watch a desh bhakt get hurt. Given that Vishwaroopam is an action film, its stunts are hysterically horrible. Kicks are awkward, and the punches of the oldies are delivered delicately, lest they hurt their own ageing bones. There is, however, lots of chopping and slashing and oozing blood. In one scene, as blood oozes out of a big gash on a good RAW mans throat, as if someone has put the bloody shower inside him on full stream, Wisam drags a dead deshdrohi for him to see. The big red bindi decorating bad guys forehead i.e. entry wound of our desk bhakts goli brings the dying agent back to life smiling, but only for a bit. Then theres Jag, short for Jagmohan (Shekhar Kapoor) who takes the longest pee break in the history of cinema. And when he steps out with his gun, looking for the spy who has turned, by the time he gets to him in the next room, that man (Anant Mahadevan) has shot himself, probably out of boredom. Lagta hai that we have fallen upon days when, if you lehrao the national flag, anything goes. Yet, its an education to come across a film so badly written, acted and directed. For example, when pieces of Wisams colleague arrive on an ice cube in the dicky of a car, or when his mother does not recognise him, Kamal Haasan starts to pant with his mouth open, exhaling rather heavily as if an asthma attack were tickling his toes. If this is being doled out in the name of acting, I thought, its good that the two ageing superstars in south are variously announcing their retirement from films and trying their luck at politics. Nothing is scarier than oblivion, perhaps, after you are used to being mobbed and hailed as God. Used to so much love and adulation, superstars cant simply retire and spend their time reading newspapers with the morning cuppa and watch the world pass by. Used to living in a cosmos where they were the shining stars, they want to extend their stay, fight irrelevance. I support their political ventures, if only to avoid being subjected to such atrocities ever again. Superstars directing themselves has got to be the worst idea, ever. It must be stopped. I have always found Kamal Haasans macho, jingoistic politics problematic. So even when he tries to make vague secular noises here Indian Muslims good, other Muslims bad it made me balk. That is when I wasnt dozing off. The only thing that forced me to open my eyes fully was Rahul Bose. He had great make up, and his burnt skin, wonky eye and the weird wheezing voice created a rather stunning, creepy package that he delivered nicely. Clearly we are in Kalyug because in a film starring Kamal Haasan I am writing about another, much lesser actor. Ecological surveys of biodiversity provide fundamental baseline information on species occurrence and the health of an ecosystem, but can require significant labor and taxonomic expertise to conduct. However, as the cost of high-throughput DNA sequencing has plummeted in recent years, DNA from environmental samples (eDNA) has emerged as a cost-effective source of biodiversity data. In research reported in a recent issue of Applications in Plant Sciences, Dr. Maria Kuzmina and colleagues at the University of Guelph show the feasibility of eDNA sequencing for identifying aquatic plant diversity. Traditionally, ecological surveys of biodiversity would require many hours of painstaking work by taxonomic experts and trained non-experts, identifying large numbers of specimens to the species level based on morphology. Once an eDNA sequencing study is designed, adding more eDNA samples is relatively trivial and inexpensive, so this method offers the ability to identify species at a scale that would be prohibitively expensive by traditional means. This makes it possible to produce much more data about which species live where for a much lower cost. Human taxonomic expertise is still a critical part of the equation though. According to Dr. Kuzmina, while "eDNA definitely becomes more and more cost-effective for ecological monitoring, it will never replace an expert for accurate identification of an individual specimen. These two approaches exist in two different dimensions, ideally complementing each other." Sequencing eDNA presents its own challenges. As Dr. Kuzmina explains, "The experiment needs to be planned with all precautions to prevent contamination from outside, with negative controls, and thoughtful interpretation of the results." Judicious selection of DNA markers to test is also necessary to produce meaningful results. Most eDNA sequencing studies have focused on animal or microbial diversity, as plants can be a trickier target. That's because there are no universal plant DNA markers that can be applied across a wide number of plant species and still effectively identify samples down to the species level. However, Dr. Kuzmina and colleagues designed their study to survey a narrower taxonomic scope, focusing only on the pondweed family (Potamogetonaceae). This design effectively rendered lack of universal plant DNA markers a moot point while at the same time delivering ecologically relevant information about pondweed diversity. "The goal was to design a method that can be used to detect rare or endangered species of pondweeds," says Dr. Kuzmina. "Narrowing the search allowed the method to be more sensitive and interpretation of the results more reliable." Pondweeds are an excellent candidate for eDNA sequencing beyond their tractable DNA markers. They are quite difficult to identify to species level based on morphology, relying on microscopic traits and requiring substantial expertise, and often live in aquatic habitats that are difficult to access. Pondweeds are also useful in habitat classification and are important bioindicators of aquatic ecosystem health, as different species are adapted to different water temperatures and chemical compositions. Additionally, seven species of North American pondweeds are endangered species, including two in Ontario, where this study was conducted. "In broader application, the combination of pondweed species may be used as a 'fingerprint' of freshwater ecosystems, indicating quality of water and showing how this system is suitable for other freshwater organisms such as fishes and invertebrates," explains Dr. Kuzmina. This study found that pondweed diversity had been underestimated at the rare Charitable Research Reserve in Ontario, and detected the presence of three species of pondweed previously unknown in the reserve. Sequencing of eDNA is a promising avenue for delivering large volumes of high-quality data on where species occur. These methods are currently being refined to answer specific questions such as detection of endangered or invasive species, or as bioindicators of water or soil quality. In this study, Dr. Kuzmina and colleagues showed that targeted eDNA sequencing of specific plant groups like pondweeds can yield important ecological information. ### Maria L. Kuzmina, Thomas W. A. Braukmann, and Evgeny V. Zakharov. 2018. Finding the pond through the weeds: eDNA reveals underestimated diversity of pondweeds. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(5): e1155. Applications in Plant Sciences (APPS) is a monthly, peer-reviewed, open access journal focusing on new tools, technologies, and protocols in all areas of the plant sciences. It is published by the Botanical Society of America, a nonprofit membership society with a mission to promote botany, the field of basic science dealing with the study and inquiry into the form, function, development, diversity, reproduction, evolution, and uses of plants and their interactions within the biosphere. APPS is available as part of the Wiley Online Library. For further information, please contact the APPS staff at apps@botany.org. A study led by researchers at Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the Department of Medicine at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center reports on the use of a genetic sequencing method to identify viral pathogens behind unexplained respiratory illnesses in Uganda over a five-year period. The method, called VirCapSeq-VERT and developed at CII, identified nine clusters of infections, including one potentially related to tourism from the U.K. The study is published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, a journal of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and is accompanied by an editorial by Hans H. Hirsch, MD, an expert in infectious diseases and viral diagnostics at the University of Basel, Switzerland. Columbia researchers joined with colleagues at the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, Uganda, to identify 2,901 patients with unexplained, influenza-negative severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) through a network of eight hospitals in Uganda between 2010 and 2015. The researchers' analysis of genetic material from nasal and throat swabs yielded information on viral pathogens in 82 percent of the samples, the most common of which was human rhinovirus. They uncovered nine infectious clusters, as well as information about where the clusters were more likely to occur: in urban areas and during rainy seasons. Within these clusters, they found a previously unrecognized outbreak of measles-associated SARI potentially linked to tourism from the U.K., as well a cluster associated with a novel picobirnavirus related to swine and dromedary viruses. "The discovery potential of deep sequencing of this U.S.-Ugandan study," Hirsch writes in his editorial, "is... highlighted impressively by the identification of picobirnavirus in two cases as well as measles as the cause of SARI clusters in 18 cases... Remarkably, five cases... could be traced back to an unvaccinated tourist from England and an outbreak in Manchester, U.K., in 2011." Hirsch goes on to assert that the "state of the art" test "not only sets standards for resource-rich industrial settings, but provides... another proof-of-concept of feasibility and impact of innovative joint projects and partnerships between advanced research groups and dedicated institutions in the resource-limited countries." Co-first author Rafal Tokarz, PhD, a research scientist at CII, says traditional public health surveillance systems of the kind used by low- and middle-income countries often fail to detect or control outbreaks of infectious disease. "Precision sequencing can improve on these systems by capturing detailed information on at-risk populations while rapidly identifying any new pathogens," he says. "However, continued testing is necessary to assess feasibility of using these methods to conduct real-time public health surveillance." "What we are talking about is precision public health--integrating genomics, big data, and spatial analyses to identify vulnerable populations and areas where high-impact infections emerge and using these insights to deploy resources precisely and efficiently," says co-first author Matthew J. Cummings, MD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. "One-size-fits-all public health solutions are just as obsolete as one-size-fits-all approaches to cancer therapy." "Every year, acute lower respiratory infections are responsible for nearly 3 million annual deaths worldwide, predominantly in children and the elderly," says W. Ian Lipkin, MD, co-author, director of CII, and the John Snow Professor of Epidemiology at the Columbia Mailman School. "In addition, outbreaks of associated with novel viruses like avian flu, MERS, and SARS, along with periodic outbreaks caused by vaccine-preventable viruses such as measles, threaten global health security. VirCapSeq-VERT will be an important tool in the identification and containment of outbreaks." ### Additional study co-authors include Barnabas Bakamutumaho, John Kayiwa, Timothy Byaruhanga, Nicholas Owor, Barbara Namagambo, Allison Wolf, Barun Mathema, Julius J Lutwama, Neil W. Schluger, and Max R. O'Donnell. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000040, K23AI098479, U19 AI109761); the David R. Nalin, MD '65 Fund for International Research at Albany Medical College, the Stony Wold-Herbert Fund, and the DELTAS Africa Initiative--an independent funding scheme of the African Academy of Sciences, Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa, and supported by the New Partnership for Africa's Development Planning and Coordinating Agency with funding from the Wellcome Trust and the U.K. Government. Columbia University has a pending patent application for virome-capture-sequencing (VirCapSeq-VERT). All other authors declare no interests. When designers select a method for simulating water and waves, they have to choose either fast computation or realistic effects; state-of-the-art methods are only able to optimize one or the other. Now, a method developed by researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) and NVIDIA bridges this gap. Their simulation method can reproduce complex interactions with the environment and tiny details over huge areas--all in real time. Moreover, the basic construction of the method allows graphics designers to easily create artistic effects. The authors will present their work at the annual top conference for computer graphics: SIGGRAPH 2018, where IST Austria researchers are presenting a total of five different projects. Current water wave simulations are based on one of two available methods. "Fourier-based" methods are efficient but cannot model complicated interactions, such as water hitting shore of an island. "Numerical" methods, on the other hand, can simulate a wide range of such effects, but are much more expensive computationally. As a result, "scenes with details at the level of tiny waves and with environmental interactions at the level of kilometer-long islands were either impossible or completely impractical," says Chris Wojtan, professor at IST Austria. "Our method makes that breadth of scale and range possible, in real time." The team behind the new method comprises Tomas Sk?ivan of IST Austria, as well as Stefan Jeschke, Matthias Muller-Fischer, Nuttapong Chentanez, and Miles Macklin of NVIDIA, in addition to Wojtan. Achieving all of this required ingenuity, as well as a deep understanding of the basic physics involved. "We encoded the waves with different physical parameters than people previously used," explains Wojtan. "Essentially, this gave us values that changed much more slowly, which is what allowed us to simulate small details at very large resolution." These details make possible a variety of effects that were previously unattainable or extremely expensive computationally, such as objects landing realistically in water (or even thousands of objects landing simultaneously!), or water reflecting off the sides of a moving boat. Jeschke, first author and former IST Austria postdoc, emphasizes the possible applications in creating detailed and artistic simulations, for instance for games, films, or virtual reality programs. "The combination of range, detail, and computational speed represents a big step forward for the industry," he says. "Plus, because of how we encode our simulation, it is easy to manipulate it and model water flow in varying environments like rivers or oceans. Our method allows artists to easily 'overwrite' nature, and create scenes faster than ever before." The team has already designed one such tool: the "wave-painter" works like the paintbrush in a drawing program, increasing the height of the waves as the artist "draws" on a particular area. The wave-painter can also be adapted to create waves flowing in a particular direction as seen in rivers, for example. ### Watch the simulation in action here: http://pub.ist.ac.at/group_wojtan/projects/2018_Jeschke_WaterSurfaceWavelets/WaterSurfaceWavelets_main.mp4 and here: http://pub.ist.ac.at/group_wojtan/projects/2018_Jeschke_WaterSurfaceWavelets/WaterSurfaceWavelets_additional.mp4 Project page (including paper): http://visualcomputing.ist.ac.at/publications/2018/WSW/ Original publication: Stefan Jeschke, Tomas Sk?ivan, Matthias Muller-Fischer, Nuttapong Chentanez, Miles Macklin, and Chris Wojtan. 2018. Water Surface Wavelets. ACM Trans. Graph. 37, 4, Article 1 (August 2018), 13 pages. DOI: 10.1145/3197517.3201336 About IST Austria The Institute of Science and Technology (IST Austria) is a PhD-granting research institution located in Klosterneuburg, 18 km from the center of Vienna, Austria. Inaugurated in 2009, the Institute is dedicated to basic research in the natural and mathematical sciences. IST Austria employs professors on a tenure-track system, postdoctoral fellows, and doctoral students. While dedicated to the principle of curiosity-driven research, the Institute owns the rights to all scientific discoveries and is committed to promote their use. The first president of IST Austria is Thomas A. Henzinger, a leading computer scientist and former professor at the University of California in Berkeley, USA, and the EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. The graduate school of IST Austria offers fully-funded PhD positions to highly qualified candidates with a bachelor's or master's degree in biology, neuroscience, mathematics, computer science, physics, and related areas. http://www.ist.ac.at Personal relationships and home life suffer for those tied to their work emails round-the-clock, according to a new study. The study is the first to test the relationship between organizational expectations to monitor work-related electronic communication during non-work hours and the health and relationship satisfaction of employees and their significant others. In "Killing Me Softly: Electronic Communications Monitoring and Employee and Spouse Well-Being," researchers report that such expectations are "an insidious stressor that not only increases employee anxiety, decreases their relationship satisfaction and has detrimental effects on employee health, but also that it negatively affects partner (significant other) health and marital satisfaction perceptions," said Liuba Belkin, associate professor of management at Lehigh University. Belkin co-authored the article with William Becker of Virginia Tech, Samantha A. Conroy of Colorado State University, and Sarah Tuskey, a Virginia Tech doctoral student. The research will be presented at the Academy of Management annual meeting, held Aug. 10-14, 2018, in Chicago, Ill. and is published in the Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. Regardless of how much time individuals actually spent monitoring and answering work emails outside of work hours, the mere presence of organizational expectations to monitor email outside of work led to employee anxiety and negative effects on well-being, which also affected their partners (spouses/significant others), Belkin said. "Thus, we demonstrated that these normative expectations for work email monitoring during non-work hours is a significant stressor above and beyond actual workload and time spent on handling it during non-work hours," she said. In addition, the strong negative impact of such organizational expectations was found to not only affect employees, but also their significant others' well-being, demonstrating a "spillover effect," Belkin said. The research builds upon earlier work by the researchers that examined organizational expectations to monitor email and its effects on employees' ability to detach from work, emotional exhaustion and work-family balance perceptions. That study, "Exhausted, But Unable to Disconnect: The Impact of Email-Related Organizational Expectations on Work-Family Balance," was the first to identify email-related expectations as a job stressor along with already established factors such as high workload, interpersonal conflicts, physical environment or time pressure. What Can Employers and Individuals Do? For individuals, mindfulness training has been shown to be an effective approach to reducing anxiety and work-related negative affect and could possibly help with the long-term health and relationship satisfaction effects of electronic communication demands on employees and their partners, the study reports. "Mindfulness is a practice within the control of the employee even if email expectations are not (i.e., those are enforced by their organization or their manager)," Belkin said. For organizations, policies that reduce expectations to monitor electronic communication outside of work would be ideal. "This may not always be an option due to various industry/job demands," Belkin said. "Nevertheless, organizations could set off-hour email windows and limit use of electronic communications outside of those windows or set up email schedules when various employees are available to respond." The idea would be to create clear boundaries for employees that indicate the times when work role identity enactment is likely to be needed and the times when employees can focus solely on their family role identities. For example, research indicates that when employees are allowed to engage in part-time telecommuting practices, they experience less emotional exhaustion and decreased work-family conflict, Belkin said. Additionally, organizational expectations should be communicated clearly. If the nature of a job requires email availability, such expectations should be stated formally as a part of job responsibilities. Putting these expectations upfront may not only reduce anxiety and negative emotions, but also increase understanding from significant others by "reframing" work and family boundaries and surrounding expectations around employee work-family time, the study reports. For the study, researchers recruited 142 sets of full-time employees and their significant others. "Our findings extend literature on work-related electronic communication at the interface of work and non-work and deepen our understanding of the impact of organizational expectations on employees and their families," the study concluded. ### The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have awarded $6.5 million to a consortium that includes the Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the University of Washington, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Auckland, New Zealand, to establish the Center for Reproducible Biomedical Modeling. The multi-institution biomedical technology resource center will accelerate the development of predictive models of biological systems to guide precision medicine and bioengineering and provide much-needed model building resources to the research community. Icahn Institute Assistant Professor Jonathan Karr, PhD, will direct the consortium's effort to develop computational tools for building reproducible models. Making significant advances in precision medicine and bioengineering requires detailed knowledge of biological entities, such as cells. Computer models of biological systems that can predict phenotype from genotype can help scientists understand the molecular basis of behavior, help clinicians personalize therapy, and help bioengineers design microorganisms for a wide range of applications. However, there remain limitations to building such predictive models, including the lack of data and tools needed to carry out modeling systematically and scalably and the lack of comprehensible, reusable, and reproducible models. In an effort to address these limitations and enable more comprehensive and accurate models, the Center for Reproducible Biomedical Modeling will develop technologies for systematically, scalably, and collaboratively aggregating the data needed for designing, simulating, analyzing, and publishing models, as well as develop technologies for analyzing simulation results. Dr. Karr and his team, including Associate Professor Arthur Goldberg, PhD, bioinformatician Saahith Pochiraju, and graduate student Yosef Roth, will develop an integrated database of molecular data for cell modeling, tools for discovering relevant data to create models of specific cell types, and tools for systematically designing models for large datasets. These tools will make biomodeling more reusable and reproducible. Dr. Karr and his team will utilize input from collaborators building whole-cell models to ensure the technologies developed by the center will advance modeling capabilities. The center will also help researchers and journals produce and publish reusable, reproducible models by organizing workshops for researchers, providing researchers assistance annotating models, and verifying models submitted to partner journals. The center has already recruited nine partner journals. "This NIH support significantly impacts our team's capabilities and will enable us to develop the technologies researchers need to build comprehensive whole-cell models," said Dr. Karr, one of the project directors of the center. "Ultimately, we believe these models will help physicians precisely treat individual patients and help bioengineers design powerful microorganisms that can sense and disrupt disease." "Specialized expertise at the Icahn Institute and the model building resources of the center as a whole will fill a critical gap in the biomedical research enterprise, providing open access tools to create reproducible models and ultimately more rigorous scientific outcomes," said Grace Peng, Ph.D., director of the program in Computational Modeling at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). Support for the new center is from NIBIB and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, both parts of NIH, through grant EB023912. ### See http://reproduciblebiomodels.org for more information. About the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest integrated delivery system encompassing seven hospital campuses, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai's vision is to produce the safest care, the highest quality, the highest satisfaction, the best access and the best value of any health system in the nation. The System includes approximately 6,600 primary and specialty care physicians; 10 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. The Icahn School of Medicine is one of three medical schools that have earned distinction by multiple indicators: ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Medical Schools", aligned with a U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" Hospital, No. 13 in the nation for National Institutes of Health funding, and among the top 10 most innovative research institutions as ranked by the journal Nature in its Nature Innovation Index. This reflects a special level of excellence in education, clinical practice, and research. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 18 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of top U.S. hospitals; it is one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Nephrology, and Neurology/Neurosurgery, and in the top 50 in four other specialties in the 2017-2018 "Best Hospitals" issue. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital also is ranked nationally in five out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 12th nationally for Ophthalmology and 50th for Ear, Nose, and Throat, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. What makes it rain? Many people joke it only takes washing the car or forgetting an umbrella to make rain fall, though in reality, those things are two of many rain-making myths that have been perpetuated throughout the years. In the 19th century, the "rain follows the plow" myth was used to justify settlement of the Great Plains. The cultivation of semi-arid to arid land was said to increase rainfall by moistening the soil and humidifying the atmosphere. Subsequent research debunked the myth, though large discrepancies still existed between model representations and actual observations. Enter Josh Welty, a University of Arizona doctoral student in the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, and his thesis advisor Xubin Zeng, Agnese N. Haury Endowed Chair in Environment and director of the UA Climate Dynamics and Hydrometeorology Center and Land-Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction Group. "In addition to, and partly motivated by, the "rain follows the plow" myth, many scientific papers have been published with conflicting results: wet soil would increase, decrease or not change precipitation in different papers. Our goal was to resolve this controversy," Zeng said. Welty and Zeng based their research on open-source data gathered at the U.S. Department of Energy's Southern Great Plains (SGP) atmospheric observatory in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. Using data collected during the warm season - June to September - from 2002 to 2011, they examined the relationship between morning soil moisture and afternoon rainfall accumulations over the Southern Great Plains. There are three ingredients necessary to create rain, Zeng said, and moisture - from atmospheric humidity, plants, bodies of water or soil - is one of them. Also needed are an upward motion of air from the earth's surface into cooler parts of the upper atmosphere, which drier soils are good at facilitating, and a source of water vapor. Welty and Zeng found that morning soil moisture can affect afternoon rain accumulations over the Southern Great Plains during the warm season and the impact differs based on atmospheric conditions. On days when the wind brings limited moisture to the region, drier soils enhance afternoon rain. But when the wind brings greater moisture to the region, wetter soils increase afternoon rain. "The dry soils that enhance afternoon rain are acting like conveyor belts for warm air that's being sent into the upper atmosphere," Zeng said. "Combine that upward motion with moisture and a water vapor source, and the result is afternoon rain." Conversely, when atmospheric conditions are bringing moisture to the region, it acts as a source of water vapor, which, when added to the upward motion of air, produces rain. Their findings suggest that land surface changes in response to both climate and human activity could be significant. Zeng, whose research specialties include climate modeling, land-atmosphere-ocean interface processes and hydrometeorology, noted the ideas developed during the study could be further used for "global analysis based on NASA satellite measurements and climate models." "While the current focus is soil moisture impacts on rain over the Southern Great Plains, there is exciting potential for global analysis," Welty added. "Soil moisture effects on afternoon rain over other regions may be more thoroughly understood by accounting for how much water vapor the wind brings on a daily basis." The results of the study also carry implications for water resource management at a time when water availability is a growing concern in many parts of the central and western United States. While washing the car probably won't help make it rain, cultivating the soil and changing soil moisture under the right conditions could. ### The paper "Does soil moisture affect warm season precipitation over the Southern Great Plains?" was recently published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters Sources hinted that India was not exclusively looking at Trump's presence at Republic Day and that other options are also being explored. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited US President Donald Trump for a bilateral visit to India during their talks in Washington in June 2017. (Photo: File) New Delhi: India and the US are in touch over New Delhi's invite to President Donald Trump to visit the country, and the date, time and occasion of the possible trip are under consideration, official sources said on Thursday. The sources indicated that India was not exclusively looking at his presence at the Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest and that various other options are also being explored. "The date, time and occasion of the visit is still being under consideration," said an official source. India extended an invitation to the US President to visit the country and the option of his gracing the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest was explored during meetings between the two sides on the invite, the source added. Last week, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that Trump has received an invitation to visit India, but no decision has been taken yet. "I know that the invitation has been extended, but I do not believe that a final decision has been made," Sanders told reporters when asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited President Trump to be the chief guest at the next year's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. PM Modi had invited President Trump for a bilateral visit to India during their talks in Washington in June 2017. If President Trump accepts the invitation, it is expected to give a major boost to ties between the two strategic partners in key areas of defence, security and trade. The Trump administration has been pushing for deeper strategic cooperation with India, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region where China was expanding its influence. Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations. In 2015, the then US President Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest which was his second visit to India as American President. This year, leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations. In 2016, the then French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest of the parade while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations in 2014. The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations include Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac. Today's news media landscape consists of more choices than ever before. How young people go about selecting the news they consume in this environment of "information overload" may make a difference in the way they participate in politics, according to new research by a sociology doctoral student at the University of Arizona. Sam Scovill, who will present the research on Saturday at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, was interested in three primary ways young people, ages 15-25, select what news they consume: They rely on conventional news sources, such as newspapers and broadcast news in either their traditional or online formats. Scovill refers to this as "elite-selected" media, in which a publisher or producer is choosing which news is presented in mainstream media. They get their news primarily through social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter. Scovill refers to this as socially selected news. They select their news content themselves by actively and critically seeking information on topics that interest them from online-only sources, like YouTube or blogs. They might also subscribe to news updates from those sources. Scovill looked at how the three different news selection methods impacted young people's engagement in political activities in the following categories: voting, political activism and political campaigning. Scovill found that study participants age 18 or older who consumed elite-selected media were the most likely to say they voted in the last election, while study participants who intentionally sought out, or self-selected, their media were the most likely to participate in political activism or campaigning. Getting news from social media did not have a significant impact on political participation in any of the categories examined, although consumers of news on social media were, unsurprisingly, likely to have "liked" a political candidate on Facebook. Scovill's findings are based on an analysis of the first wave of data from the Youth Participatory Politics dataset, which includes survey responses from a nationally representative sample of 2,920 respondents. The surveying was conducted in 2011 by Knowledge Networks on behalf of Mills College. While news consumption among young people in the dataset was generally low overall, how they selected their news still proved to make a difference in their political engagement, especially for those who self-selected their news media - which influenced political participation in every category but voting. Those who self-selected their news were also the most likely to participate in "high-cost" activism and campaigning activities - or those that involve more time, resources or risk of things like judgment by their peers, Scovill said. For example, they were more likely to attend a meeting or a rally for a candidate or issue, or to donate money to a campaign. They also were more likely to sign an online petition or attend a youth political event or protest. "The overarching pattern was that people who are self-selecting and being intentional about their news consumption are also engaging in these more high-cost forms of activity," Scovill said. "That intentional process matters, whereas news on social media or elite-selected news media are coming through the choices of others who decide what is important to post on Facebook or what is important to go on the front page of the New York Times." Scovill chose to focus on young people's political engagement not only because teens and young adults are just beginning, or are on the precipice of beginning political participation as adults, but also because young people, as digital natives, have grown up with so many more choices of how to consume news than previous generations. "Young people have grown up around this, so they have unique news consumption habits and unique skills in navigating the internet and social media and news media online, but they also are inundated with information," Scovill said. "How we choose news is a lot more complicated than it ever has been, and it might actually impact how people are engaging, so we need to be thinking critically about how those news media have implications for the actions that people decide on." Scovill plans to continue researching young people's political engagement and how it differs from that of generations past, as well how young people's personal identity formation contributes to their political engagement. "I'm particularly interested in Millennials and Generation Z because they get such a bad rap," Scovill said. "People do a lot of negative talk about them being disengaged and not caring, and while it's true that voting numbers are down, people are engaging differently. Young people are using new forms of activism, like signing petitions online or doing their own crowdsourcing online and raising funds for things that matter to them, in ways that older generations might not be." ### Melbourne's Murdoch Children's Research Institute, in partnership with Harvard Medical School, has discovered that adolescent health programs across the developing world receive only a tiny share of international aid, even though young people make up 30 per cent of the population of low-income countries. Published in JAMA Network Open, researchers from the US and Australia examined how much international donors spent on youth health projects in 132 low-income countries over the 14 years from 2003 to 2015. (89 per cent of the world's adolescents live in low and middle income countries.) Co-author University of Melbourne Prof George Patton, from MCRI's Centre for Adolescent Health, said the research found that only 1.6 per cent of global investments in health over those 13 years were spent on projects for adolescents even though adolescents account for 12 to 13 per cent of disease burden in the developing world. "Of the little invested, most funds go to adolescents indirectly through programs for HIV particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. However a large number of young people in low-income countries are being disabled as a result of depressive disorders, self-harm and car accidents," he said. Prof Patton said these youth challenges received almost no investment, yet expenditure in neglected areas such as mental health and car accidents would bring huge benefits for adolescents - for their future health, their productivity and the healthy growth of their children. "The international donor community has been 'asleep at the wheel' in failing to keep pace with changing demography and health needs," Prof Patton said. "Despite supporting the UN's 'Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents Health', international investment from agencies have so far failed to make serious investments in the world's young people. "Adolescence lays a foundation for future health, quality-of-life and economic productivity. And it is therefore remarkable that this group has been so undervalued in international development." Study senior author Chunling Lu*, assistant professor in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, said the world now has the largest group of adolescents in human history. "Considering how important young people are for the future wellbeing and economic development of low- and middle-income countries, international donors need to reconsider both the levels and the patterns of investments that they are making," Dr Lu said. * Dr Lu is also affiliated with the Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham; the Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; the National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Human Development; and the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Additional findings of the 'Development Assistance for Adolescent Health from 2003 to 2015' study: As a global community over the 14 years, we spent $0.15 per adolescent each year on developmental assistance for health ranging from $0.46 in low income countries to $0.11 in low and middle income countries and $0.05 in upper middle income countries Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa have received the most development assistance for health, but the annual investment remained only $0.40 spent for each adolescent each year. The Western Pacific, including Fiji and Papua New Guinea, received the least donor health development assistance with only $0.02 per annum per adolescent spent since 2003. 50 per cent of projects funded in low and middle income countries were in sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Almost 57 per cent of all adolescent-targeted development assistance have come from these top five donors: Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria $806.8m UN Population Fund $401.3m United States of America $389.9m United Kingdom $251.8m International Development Association $218.6m 19,921 youth-targeted health projects were funded from 2003 to 2015 with total funds of US$3,634 million. Overall HIV/AIDS was the health problem that received the largest amount of international adolescent-targeted health assistance followed by interpersonal violence and tuberculosis. Other lead causes of disability for youth were road injuries, depression and other mental disorders, self-harm, skin disease, iron-deficient anemia, and low back and neck pain received little or no health investment. Data from the Creditor Reporting System was used to assess aid spent per adolescent. (Maybe include a hyperlink if it is publicly accessible). This publicly accessible system receives reports from four categories of international donors: The 30 members of the UN Development Assistance Committee 32 multi-lateral organisations (including the United Nations and World Bank). 20 non- Development Assistance Committee countries (including the United Arab Emirates) The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ### * Limits to the study include the unavailability of aid data from new donors, including China. Available for interview: * Study co-author Professor George Patton, from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne. Prof Patton is also Professor/Director of Adolescent Health Research at the University of Melbourne and a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. The University of Strathclyde is set to benefit from a UK-wide 1 billion funding boost to help create the technologies of tomorrow. The UK Government funding will expand successful 'Catapult Centres' which act as drivers for innovation across the country, including three in which Strathclyde is a partner: the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and the Satellite Applications Catapult. The funding includes 96 million for Scotland, which will go to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) - Strathclyde's lead in the High Value Manufacturing Innovation Centre. The announcement comes the same day the AFRC secured a further 16.5 million to establish FutureForge, a major new advanced engineering facility that will revolutionise the global hot forging sector. The Catapult funding round was announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond. He said: "Today's investment will support innovators across the country to create the technologies of the future, and the better, highly-paid jobs we urgently need." Strathclyde Principal Professor Jim McDonald said: "We are proud of our work with business and industry; work which accelerates the development of new technologies, creates jobs, and provides education and training for future leaders. The strategic collaborations we have established with industry and our public sector partners are helping to establish Scotland as an international leader in key manufacturing technologies. "The Catapult Centres offer world-class facilities and expertise to help businesses become more innovative and grow. I'm delighted that today's funding will enable us to further this work, supporting more businesses to compete on the world stage." AFRC Executive Chair Professor Keith Ridgway CBE added: "We warmly welcome this morning's news. For a number of years the Advanced Forming Research Centre has been at the heart of manufacturing research and development in Scotland, turning innovative technologies into commercial reality and making manufacturing businesses, of all sizes from across the sector, more competitive in a global market. The funding announcement by the UK Government means we can continue to build on our capabilities." Innovation at Strathclyde As a leading international technological university, Strathclyde is renowned for working with business and industry to find solutions to global challenges, help companies to innovate and compete, and to support the growth of our economy. The University is a partner in three of the UK's seven Catapult Centres, which are funded by the UK government to transform the UK's capability for innovation and drive future economic growth. In a first for Scotland, Strathclyde is leading work to develop the Glasgow City Innovation District - a beacon for innovative organisations both in the UK and for inwardly investing global companies. The University's Technology and Innovation Centre is the cornerstone of the District, with growing clusters of collaborative research in areas including space, 5G, quantum technology, Fintech, health technology and industrial informatics. Opened by the Queen in 2015, the Technology and Innovation Centre has already attracted leading businesses to collaborate on research and innovation, as well as being the UK headquarters of Europe's largest contract research organisation, Fraunhofer. At the same time, the University's Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) near Glasgow Airport has more than doubled in size to meet demand from industry partners looking to develop innovative manufacturing techniques. The University is the anchor partner of the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland, announced by the First Minister in December 2017. A second innovation district is developing around the national institute, including a Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, which will see Strathclyde expertise helping to revolutionise the way medicines are manufactured. ### A s we explained in detail last year in our special Far East issue, Grand Seiko, previously Seikos upscale collection, has broken away from the parent company to become a fully-fledged brand in its own right. This is part of an ambition to conquer a bigger share of the global Haute Horlogerie market. In Japan itself, Grand Seiko was already renowned for the finesse of its design and the precision of its calibres. But elsewhere in the world, and especially in the United States, the name Seiko was mostly associated with entry-level watches, since the quartz revolution that saw the Japanese brand conquer the planet. It was to correct this narrow vision of the breadth of the companys offering that Grand Seiko freed itself. And it is naturally in the United States that the first effects have been felt the quickest. No coincidence, then, if the worlds first Grand Seiko Boutique was inaugurated in Los Angeles, on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Europa Star had the opportunity to speak with two key figures on the development of the new entity in the United States: Akio Naito, Chairman of Seiko Corporation of America, and Brice Le Troadec, Brand President of Grand Seiko America. The first brand store has opened in Beverly Hills, your presence at the CoutureTime watch fair in Las Vegas was noted, there are limited editions for the US market... and youve enjoyed a very favourable reception by retailers and collectors. The new global ambition of Grand Seiko seems to have found fertile ground in the United States! Akio Naito: Indeed, the new strategy makes sense here. We have to catch up with all the potential that has not yet been deployed by Grand Seiko in the luxury market in the past, especially in the United States. Grand Seiko, born in 1960, had until now been almost exclusively promoted in the Japanese domestic market. When the company decided to expand internationally, it first made it through its production of affordable watches and not its more luxurious ranges. Thats why, even today and excluding Japan, a majority of people associate the name Seiko with an affordable brand. In the United States, the average price of a Seiko remains less than half of that in Japan! Brice Le Troadec: We are very pleased with the first results of this strategic decision to make Grand Seiko a brand apart. Collectors who already know the brand are our first customers, but we intend to gradually expand this base to a wider audience. US retailers are very excited! We are delighted to see so many new customers interested in Grand Seiko. The United States is already the biggest market for Grand Seiko outside of Japan. The United States is already the biggest market for Grand Seiko outside of Japan. You have opened a Grand Seiko store in Los Angeles and have Seiko stores in New York and Miami. What is your strategy for the distribution of Grand Seiko in the United States, especially in terms of the difference between retail and wholesale networks? Akio Naito: The flagship store inaugurated in Beverly Hills is part of our new strategy, because it allows us to control our image in order to deepen this market. However, the idea is not to multiply brand stores. The wholesale network is our priority. Our goal this year would be to have approximately sixty Grand Seiko partners of high quality in the United States. Akio Naito, Chairman of Seiko Corporation of America What about online distribution? Brice Le Troadec: We currently do not have a Grand Seiko e-commerce platform; however, it is possible to find Grand Seiko models online through our authorised retail partners, but not the extended collection. We are also proud of our partnership with Hodinkee, who recently successfully launched their e-shop. We know that the United States remains for the moment a stronghold of brands like Rolex and Breitling... How do you intend to seduce American buyers? Akio Naito: We offer very high quality watches, with a focus on precision and finishing. The most sought-after Grand Seiko models are powered by our innovative Spring Drive in-house movement. Watches equipped with high-frequency Hi-Beat calibres are also particularly popular. As for our prices, they start at $2,200 for quartz watches. In general, I was surprised by the young age of Grand Seiko collectors in America... Our models are particularly appreciated by the new entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley, and have a very strong appreciation from watch connoisseurs who understand the intense craftsmanship with which the brand has become synonymous. Brice Le Troadec: We are now launching three new Grand Seiko Spring Drive models reserved for the American market, with very original finishes and motifs on the dial, introduced as Kabuki Kimono dials. The dial texture is inspired by the Karazuri empty painting technique used in the texture of the kimonos worn by actors in Kabuki theatre. We are counting on these limited series of the 44G line, which have been very well received, to increase our brand recognition in the United States. I was surprised by the young age of Grand Seiko collectors in America. One of the limited edition Grand Seiko Spring Drive 44G for the US market, featuring the Kabuki Kimono texture on the dial Indeed, are you planning to play the Japanese card a little bit more, in order to attract Western collectors? Swiss brands, for instance, have not hesitated to use (and sometimes overuse) oriental crafts on one-of-a-kind pieces and limited series... Its a bit ironic! Akio Naito: We intend to develop traditional Japanese crafts and motifs, which are very popular in the United States, such as lacquer or enamel. But do not forget that the roots of Grand Seiko reside first in the search for the most accomplished functionality. Credor [another Seiko brand, Ed.] is more oriented to the world of jewellery, decoration and the arts. Grand Seiko is primarily recognised for its innovation: for example, we have a research department in Japan that has developed the new Spron alloy, and is also working on its application for the medical industry. Brice Le Troadec: Grand Seiko is a true Japanese brand with strong traditional and cultural assets. Our inspiration comes directly from the natural elements surrounding our studios. But we trust that these values are universal and can be interpreted globally. The roots of Grand Seiko reside first in the search for the most accomplished functionality. Brice Le Troadec, Brand President of Grand Seiko America In the United States, as elsewhere in the world, watch auctions are becoming more important, as is online trading of vintage or pre-owned models. With your long history, are you counting on this booming market to increase your popularity? Brice Le Troadec: The US is very active in the trade-in watch business. Although we are not directly involved, we truly believe that pre-owned sales and auctions are very important for the establishment of the brand. As Grand Seikos production is limited, we have observed organic growth and interest in the brand, and we recognise that we are highly rated in the collectors market. 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. According to IMD, thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely to affect Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad districts. The United States consulate in Chennai issued a travel alert and advised the US citizens to avoid visiting areas affected by landslides and flash flood. (Photo: Coast Guard | Aluva Ernakulam stretch) Kochi: The flood situation is turning grim in Kerala which has been witnessing incessant rain for the last few days. With downpour continuing unabated, two more shutters of the Cheruthoni Dam, part of the Idukki Reservoir, were opened on Friday as the water level touched 2,401 feet. A third red alert was issued after a shutter of the Cheruthoni Dam was opened for the first time in the last 26 years on Thursday. Two more were opened at 7 am on Friday. The full reservoir level is 2,403 feet and storage capacity is 69,268 Mcft and storage percentage is 97.61 per cent. The Army, Navy, Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are conducting evacuation and relief operations. Fire Services personnel rescue a child following a landslide, triggered by heavy rains, in Idukki, Kerala. (Photo: PTI) According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin at 8 am, thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely to affect Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad districts. Schools and colleges are closed in Idukki, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta districts. Dramatic visuals of people being washed away in Kaniyambatta in #Wayanad #Kerala. People formed a human chain and tried to rescue them. The hilly districts of #Wayanad and #Idukky are been completely inundated with red alerts issued in both districts. #KeralaFloods #KeralaRains pic.twitter.com/VEfqy32Aum Paul Oommen (@Paul_Oommen) August 9, 2018 The South-west monsoon has been vigorous over Kerala resulting in heavy rains in various parts of the state since the past two days. So far, 26 people have been killed, including 11 in high range Idukki in landslips on Thursday as rain continued to pound the southern state. Malappuram: A section of Nilambur- Karad road is seen washed away following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, at Malappuram in Kerala. (Photo: PTI) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had described the flood situation in the state as "very grim" and it was for the first time in the history of the state that 24 dams had been opened at a time following the water level reaching maximum capacity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday and offered all possible assistance to those affected. "Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the state. Offered all possible assistance to those affected. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Kerala in the wake of this calamity," the PM said in a tweet. The services of the Army, the Navy and Coast Guard, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been sought in the flood-hit areas. Union Minister K J Alphons, who is from Kerala, said this is the biggest spell of rain the state has witnessed in five decades. "It is the biggest rain we had in 50 years," news agency ANI quoted K J Alphons saying. Roof of a house collapses following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, at Kodencheri in Kozhikode district of Kerala. (Photo: PTI) The United States consulate in Chennai issued a travel alert and advised US citizens to avoid visiting areas affected by landslides and flash flood. Tourists have been asked to stay away from high range areas and dam sites by the government. According to state disaster control room sources, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas. Over 5,500 people from Wayanad district, where a red alert had been sounded on Thursday, have been shifted to relief camps, the sources to news agency PTI said. In Ernakulam, 3,456 people have been shifted to camps following floods after 4 shutters of the Idamalayar dam were opened on Thursday. Thursday, August 9, 2018 OK, so recently, I asked what your favorite summer memory was. Id love if youd tell me here. But before you do that let me share with you one of my favorite vacations of all time. It was the summer of 2015. So it wasnt that long ago. What made this trip different though, was that I travelled with my mom and my younger sister. I dont think Ive been on vacation with my mom since, gee when I was 17. I mean, its one of those things right? You grow up, you get married, you start your own family And you go on tons of trips with them. But when was the last time you went on a vacation with a parent as an adult? We went to Spain. Madrid and Barcelona specifically. It was a vacation my mom had dreamed of going on forever, but she never did it.. 2015 was going to be her year though. My father was going to take her for her birthday and cross Spain off the bucket list. But fate intervened. My dad got sick. Not sick sick more like some physical ailments that just made it tough for long air travel and lots of city walking. So my parents asked if I could take my Mom. Then they asked my sisters if they wanted to go too. And all of a sudden, we had an all-girls trip to Spain me, my Mom and my younger sister. Now a little about what was going on in my life at the time. In the summer of 2015, I was wrapping up my final year of Transformational Author Experience. I was done with it. Exhausted after doing it for 5 years straight. Just burnt out. So I told everyone I was retiring TAE. This was it. Last year. It was an extremely good year. We had guests likes Lisa Nichols, Mary Morrissey and Marcia Wieder. But after doing it for almost half a decade I was just done. So when my mom asked me to travel to Europe after TAE 2015 was over I was all in. No questions asked. I can tell you right now Spain with my mom was one of the most easy, relaxed, fulfilling trips Id ever been on. We managed to do and see everything (all the sights) and also not feel rushed. Have you ever had a perfect vacation like that? This was one of those. Everything just came together so well. But the real lesson here isnt that. You see, I loved travelling with my mom as an adult. And while we enjoyed all the sights, landmarks and museums my favorite, favorite, favorite day on that trip was this one day where my mom and I, out of the blue, no planning, all spontaneity decided to sit on a bench at Parque del Buen Retiro. Theres this manmade lake there and around it, you can watch street performers, live statues and puppet shows. On the lake are people in rented row boats. And for hours, my mom and I sat there on the bench, just people gazing. Talking about life. Enjoying each others presence. In other words, we did NOTHING that day but at the same time, we did everything that mattered. I look back on that perfect day fondly. But I also have a few regrets. One, I wish our trip had been longer. It was only ten days. But more importantly, I wish I had done this earlier and more often. Who knew that travelling with your mother as an adult could be so amazing. And it took flying to Europe to figure that out. But Im glad I did. Love and Blessings, Christine P.S. Just a quick reminder Ive decided to give a $700-off summer break discount for my 3-day live Breakthrough event coming up in October. Put VACA-700 into the promo field when you register. To learn more about Breakthrough, go here. San Antonio could receive more than a third of the states $209 million share of the Volkswagen emissions settlement handed down two years ago. Under a draft plan released this week by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, two-thirds of the settlement money would be split by the San Antonio, Beaumont and El Paso metropolitan areas. San Antonio would get the largest amount, more than $73.6 million, or about 35 percent of the total. Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, despite having some of the worst air quality, would have to share the remaining funds, with Houstons share just 13 percent of the total and Dallas about 14 percent. Officials pointed out in the draft report pointed out that heavy investment in San Antonio, Beaumont and El Paso could improve the air to the point they fall back in line with federal standards. San Antonio officials agree with that assessment. TCEQs proposed allocation suggests that San Antonio has a great opportunity to move the needle on air quality, Metro Health Director Colleen Bridger said. We plan to use the funding to get San Antonio and Bexar County back in attainment within three years. But the lopsided funding is one of many reasons environmentalists are worried about the proposed disbursement of the funds, which Volkswagen paid for lying about how much some of the companys diesel-engine vehicles pollute. The plan today is concerning, at best, said Bay Scoggin, state director of the Texas Public Interest Research Group. In June 2016, Volkswagen entered into a $15 billion settlement over claims it violated the Clean Air Act by fabricating emissions results on its vehicles. Most of that money was funneled to individuals who purchased the cars, but some was turned over to states to lessen any environmental damage that may have occurred. The amount given to each state is based on how many vehicles in the affected group were registered there. Adrian Shelley, director of the Texas office of Public Citizen, a national public policy advocacy group, took issue with the way TCEQ is proposing to slice the pie within Texas. Houston and Dallas areas have some of the worst emissions-related problems in the state, he noted, and Austin residents purchase more Volkswagens per capita than in any other Texas city. Yet Austin didnt get any funding, and Houston and Dallas got disproportionately little. Also concerning is that the plan appears to lack key details, like how money will be awarded to eligible projects, Scoggin said. The state plan would hand out money on a first come, first serve basis, a research group statement said, and that cost-effectiveness will be a key determinate in the competition for project funding. By the numbers Where the state is proposing to divvy up funds from the Volkswagen emissions settlement: San Antonio area: $73.6 million Dallas-Fort Worth area: $29.1 million Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area: $27.4 million El Paso County: $26.8 million Beaumont-Port Arthur area: $12.7 million Public comment: tceq.texas.gov/agency/trust Source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality See More Collapse The lack of clear guidelines for the competitive process leads to problematic uncertainty on whether communities or gas corporations will benefit, Scoggin said. Under Texas plan, nearly $170 million of the $209 million settlement would be stretched across the five metro areas Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Beaumont and El Paso where air quality isnt within national standards. This comes at a time that we are developing our strategy for achieving attainment, pointed out San Antonio Councilwoman Ana Sandoval. This proposed allocation would give us a powerful tool in our efforts. Ultimately, the whole community benefits, both in terms of public health and economic health. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the funding should be used as an incentives package to encourage people to use electric cars or other modes of transportation. Any incentives to get people out of their car I really think were never going to overcome congestion, as well as (meet) EPA standards, unless we incentivize that, Wolff said. Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff, a member of the Alamo Area Council of Governments executive committee, said AACOG should manage the funds and put them toward initiatives to improve local areas that do not comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. In addition to the funds going to the five metro areas, the plan also would make about $31 million available for installing electric charging stations and other options to replace gasoline vehicles. Grants also would be made available through TCEQ to fund up to 60 percent of the cost cities face when replacing fleet vehicles with electric cars and trucks. The plan is open for public comment until Oct. 8. Staff Writers Jasper Scherer and Josh Baugh contributed to this report. The federal government has sued United Airlines in San Antonio alleging the company failed to protect a female flight attendant from a pilot who had posted nude photos and videos of her on the internet. Chicago-based United Airlines Inc. discriminated against the flight attendant, identified as Jane Doe, by subjecting her to a sexually hostile work environment, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges in its lawsuit filed Thursday in San Antonio federal court. We have reviewed the allegations in the complaint and disagree with (the) Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions description of the situation, United spokesman Charles Hobart said in an email. United does not tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace and will vigorously defend against this case. The pilot, Mark Joseph Uhlenbrock, pleaded guilty in June 2016 in San Antonio federal court to a stalking charge and was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison. The flight attendant dated Uhlenbrock for about five years beginning in 2002 and allowed him to take nude photos and videos of her, according to court documents in his criminal case. He also took a video of her sunbathing nude without her permission, documents said. He later posted them to the internet, the EEOC says. The flight attendant diligently and aggressively pursued efforts to stop the sexually offensive conduct, the EEOC says in its lawsuit. She filed three civil lawsuits against Uhlenbrock in Bexar County. She was able to obtain restraining orders against him in 2009 and 2011 in Bexar County. He also agreed to pay her more than $110,000 to settle the cases, records show. The woman also complained to United officials and the companys human resources department in 2011, the EEOC adds. United, according to the EEOCs suit, advised the flight attendant that Uhlenbrocks conduct purportedly did not constitute sex harassment in the workplace and concluded that it did not warrant intervention or action by the company. In 2013, the flight attendant lodged another complaint with Uniteds HR department. Uhlenbrock was continuing with internet postings including when he was on layovers while working for the airline, the suit says. United interviewed Uhlenbrock in November 2013, but the EEOC says the company failed or refused to meet its responsibilities to conduct sufficient investigation that could be reasonably calculated to be effective. The apparent acts of revenge porn continued even after she got the court orders, prompting her to turn to the FBI. Uhlenbrock was arrested by the FBI in May 2015. It seized his computers a few months later, the EEOC says. Throughout the criminal proceedings, the EEOC says, Uhlenbrock remained employed with United. It granted him long-term disability in January 2016. He remained on the payroll until July 2016 the month after he pleaded guilty to stalking and was allowed to retire with full benefits. Uniteds failure to to address Uhlenbrocks actions interfered with the flight attendants ability to perform her job, the EEOC says. Uhlenbrock told FBI agents that he had an addiction to posting the photos. Uhlenbrock, of suburban St. Louis, is currently incarcerated in a residential re-entry management facility there. He is scheduled to be released in October. The EEOC seeks a permanent injunction preventing United from allowing a hostile work environment for women. The agency also seeks unspecified financial damages for the flight attendant. Patrick Danner is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD Note: This is a Just a Taste review, which the Express-News does soon after a restaurant or bar opens to give our first impressions. The flavors of East Africa have clearly taken firm root in San Antonio. Since 2015, an Ethiopian grocery store, an Ethiopian food trailer and two restaurants specializing in the cuisine of Ethiopia and its neighbor Eritrea have opened. African Village Ethiopian & Eritrean Restaurant is the latest of those, serving customers for about a month at the intersection of Vance Jackson and Wurzbach roads. Walking through African Villages door is an immediate assault on the senses a smoky haze of frankincense nuggets smoldering on incense burners and the intoxicating aroma of coffee beans roasting in the kitchen are inescapable. Fortunately, the newcomers deeply spiced food is more than capable of holding up to the heady aromatic onslaught. On the menu: Before all else, there will be injera, a flatbread made of teff flour, a grain native to Ethiopia and Eritrea. African Villages is bouncy, light and tangy. Its also designed to serve as the fork, spoon and plate for your meal, other menu items served in scoops atop the pizza-sized round. Related: Review: The Jerk Shack's on fire with Jamaican heat The bulk of African Villages menu is composed of wats, a broadly inclusive category of braises, stews and other long-simmered dishes. The restaurants doro wat ($11.99), probably the most familiar Ethiopian dish in the U.S., is deep crimson with chile, but a potent nose of cardamom and other spices steer it away from tastes familiar to the States. In that thick broth, tender chicken legs and hard boiled eggs swim, making for a rich and pungent bite that still feels like comfort food. Misir wat ($6.99) found red lentils in a similarly spiced heavy red stew, while atar kik wat ($6.99) was brighter in flavor and color, with chickpeas simmered with golden turmeric and ginger. My favorite bite of the day was probably the gomen besiga ($7.99). Typically, the word gomen refers to collard greens. In this case, African Village serves kale braised until tender but still a vibrant green, and laced with ginger, cardamom and onion. The kitfo ($12.99) was more challenging. Not because its a mixture of raw and lightly browned ground beef, but more for its unappetizing looks. But taken with a pinch of injera, its a flavorful introduction to the Ethiopian spice blend mitmita and niter kibbeh, a type of clarified and spiced butter. If you do go, know the meal isnt complete without an order of the Ethiopian coffee ($1.99 per person). Related: New bar coming to former Swig River Walk space Each order begins with raw and green coffee beans, which are roasted until crackling and a deep caramelized brown. Theyre then ground and mixed with hot water in an earthenware pot called a jebena. The brew comes to the table on a platter with a petite demitasse cup and an incense burner. Not only is it a terrific way to slow down and appreciate coffee through a different cultures perspective, its a sure way to make your meal a memorable one. Location: 10918 Wurzbach Road, Suite 131, ethiopianrstsa.com, Facebook: @EthiopianEritreanRestaurant Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday Paul Stephen is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen 'The releasing of killers of former PM Rajiv Gandhi will set a very dangerous precedent,' Centre told SC. The Centre rejected the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to release seven killers of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and informed about its decision to the Supreme Court. (Photo: File | AP) New Delhi: The Centre on Friday rejected the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to release seven killers of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and informed about its decision to the Supreme Court. "The releasing of killers of former PM Rajiv Gandhi will set a very dangerous precedent. The case has been decided by various forum of judiciary and executive and the prisoners do not deserve to be set free... The Centre, in pursuance of section 435 of the Criminal Procedure Code does not concur with the proposal of Tamil Nadu government for grant of further remissions of sentence to seven convicts," said the Centre to the Supreme Court. The government called the former prime minister's killing "gruesome" and added that killers don't deserve leniency. "Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was the most heinous and gruesome crime, the brutal Act brought the Indian democratic process to a grinding halt in as much as the general election to the Lok Sabha and the convicts do not deserve any leniency," said the Centre. The apex court was told that the CBI, which investigated the case, has opposed the release of the convicts. Tamil Nadu had been informed of the decision on April 18, the Centre told the court. A constitution bench of the Supreme Court judges had said in 2015 that the convicts cannot be released without the consent of the Central government. Families throughout the North East Independent School District have begun the annual task of back-to-school shopping, but with a new policy requiring all students backpacks to be transparent, some of them have found complying difficult. We went to H-E-B, we went to Target, we went to Walmart, and could not find (them), said Lisa Owens, the mother of two MacArthur High School students. There were lots of backpacks, but (we) could not find any clear backpacks. She eventually gave up and bought them online on Amazon. NEISD reported having over 67,000 students in 2017. The new policy only applies to middle and high school students, but that still leaves upward of 36,000 students in need of a clear backpack if they dont have one already. A representative from a Northeast-area Staples said the store does not carry them, while an assistant manager at a Northeast-area Walmart said their store just got clear backpacks in and is fully stocked. Related: New security rules, curriculums await students in new school year Tax-free weekend Texas' annual sales tax holiday begins Friday and runs through Sunday. The Texas law exempts most clothing, footwear and school supplies priced less than $100 from sales and use taxes for the weekend. The items must be purchased applies from a Texas store or from an online or catalog seller doing business in the state. Layaways also are eligible. Buyers could save about $8 on every $100 spent, according to officials. Some items not eligible for the tax break are: jewelry, handbags, briefcases, luggage, wallets, watches and other items. For a complete list online, go to texastaxholiday.org See More Collapse Meghan Roman, a Target spokeswoman, said the stores carry a variety of clear backpacks, purses and bags for kids and adults. Targets website shows several locations within NEISD boundaries do not stock policy-compliant clear backpacks but can have them shipped. The OfficeMax website shows the chain does carry clear backpacks but does not provide store-specific availability. Shera Bishop, a spokeswomen for Office Depot, which owns OfficeMax, said at least one store within NEISD had received a shipment of clear backpacks this week. Aubrey Chancellor, NEISDs public information officer, said she hasnt heard about any difficulty finding backpacks. They are readily available online and at local retailers, Chancellor said. We even worked with Jon Hart, who specially designed a clear backpack after our announcement. The Jon Hart website lists a clear backpack for $125. Chancellor said backpacks will be available for families in need at each NEISD campus, but no grace period will be extended. Violations will be treated like a dress code violation, Chancellor said, and punishment can range from a verbal warning to suspension, depending on the number of repeated offenses. Related: Kidcation a last hurrah for San Antonio children before school begins Owens said the clear backpacks she eventually got online were cheaper than the opaque ones she has bought her children in the past, but added that they came with their own issues namely, size. Sophomores take world history, and the book is probably 4 inches thick, she said. Its a beast. The clear backpacks policy was implemented in the wake of mass school shootings, but some people are skeptical it will make a difference. I applaud the district for trying to do something to make our kids feel safer, Owens said. My kids dont feel safer, necessarily, because of clear backpacks. Theyve rolled their eyes at the idea. Other options are available. OfficeMax, for instance, carries bullet-proof backpacks. Its too early to say how (those) are performing, Bishop said. Brian Contreras is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. | brian.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @_B_Contreras_ Even with extra chairs lining the aisles inside Perry Chapel, there were still people standing to celebrate a San Antonio couple who dedicated their lives to sharing their faith and passion for knowledge. More than 160 people filled the Chinese United Methodist Church of San Antonio on Thursday to remember the churchs pastor, Chengju Huo, 52, and his wife, Huixiang Zhang, who were killed last week in a head-on collision on a remote road in West Texas. The couple and their 17-year-old son, David Newman Huo, were in a 2015 Ford Escape on Texas 158 when a southbound 2018 Chevy Cruze swerved into their lane. Their son, a senior at Alamo Heights High School, was injured in the crash but is expected to make a full recovery. Taron Gipson, 22, of Calvert, the driver of the other car, died in the accident. The family was on vacation, heading to Yellowstone National Park. In the pulpit, a photo of the couple, arm in arm, glowed from a screen. Bouquets lined the front of the chapel, where Camsy Huang played softly on a piano as people filed into the memorial service conducted in English and Mandarin. Classmates and friends comforted David as the congregation sang hymns and read Bible passages in honor of his parents. The Rev. John Lee said his friend Huos passion was to spread the Gospel and his wife shared the same enthusiasm for her mission. She just expressed it differently as a middle school teacher, he said. She was a sweet lady. She cared for people. Huixiang Zhang lived and taught in Southern China and traveled to the United States each year for vacations with her husband and their only child. Lee, pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Aransas Pass, recalled Huos sense of humor. I dont speak Chinese well, but sometimes Id run something by him and he would tease me about my Texas twang, Lee said. He was quiet, but I remember him laughing on many occasions. In July 2016, Huo became pastor of the Methodist church that belongs to Las Misiones District of the Rio Texas Annual Conference. Lee helped Huo get his license to pastor at the church, which he said has a small congregation of 25 to 30 people during Sunday services. Huo grew up in Hubei, a province of the Peoples Republic of China. Friends said Huo was a reporter before he received his calling to the ministry, but sharing the Holy Word with others meant much more to him. He practiced his faith by meeting clandestinely at peoples houses and found a way to get a visa to study at a seminary in the United States. Lee said his friend was meticulous and insisted on doing things the right way. He said hell always have fond memories of talking for hours on the phone, sharing victories and defeats, and their red snapper fishing tale at Port Aransas. He went fishing for the first time and he caught the legal limit, Lee said, and they were big ones. Glenn Smith, a friend of the Huo family since 1998, spoke about how they forged a friendship when they first met in Ohio. He thanked those who responded during the churchs time of tragedy. offered condolences to family who traveled from China, and pledged he and his family would always be by Davids side. Whenever you need to talk, or hear our voices, Smith said to the teen, well be there. After a year of testing equity budgeting, the city of San Antonio is now poised to carry out the philosophy across municipal government as it implements its new spending plan for the coming fiscal year. City Manager Sheryl Sculley on Thursday presented the City Council with her recommended $2.8 billion budget. It includes new funds for street maintenance and sidewalk construction, along with bolstered public safety, among other things, while keeping the property tax rate flat. Amid her presentation, Sculley noted that all departments are ready to implement policies driven by the equity philosophy, which seeks to right the neglect of some areas in the city. Last year the council used an equity lens to increase spending on road maintenance in five of the 10 council districts because their streets, on average, were in far worse shape than their counterparts. The equity budgeting also played out in other areas, such as Animal Care Services and Code Enforcement. Equity is defined as promoting fairness with policies, procedures, programs and the distribution of resources by accounting for different histories, challenges and needs of our population, Sculley told the 11-member council. Equity differs from equality, which treats everyone the same, despite disparate outcomes. Sculley and others have noted that a status-quo budget, equally distributing limited resources across the nations seventh-largest city, would continue to hamstring areas that have long been underserved. Those areas would never be able to catch up because their wealthier and better-served counterparts would continue to get a roughly equal portion of available resources. Related: San Antonio fire union to sue city over alleged First Amendment violation Mayor Ron Nirenberg and many of his colleagues applauded the plan, which takes effect Oct. 1, pointing to its push to bolster communities in need. Im reflecting back on something Councilman (John) Courage said to us last year, a reminder to us all that a budget, in fact, is a moral document. And I couldnt agree more, Nirenberg said. Over the last year and a half, it may seem like weve been stuck in the mud a little bit, and then all we can accomplish is incremental change. But Im looking at the priorities of this City Council that are reflected in the budget, and thinking about the change that has occurred, and thinking about the fact that we have been slowly turning the ship in some very meaningful ways. The mayor recalled one of the first actions he and his colleagues took when the council term was at its midway point was to resolve to signing onto the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities. And I think thats something thats also importantly noted in this years budget the focus on equity, ensuring we live up to the promise that it shouldnt matter what side of town you live on or what your circumstances are, you should be treated fairly by your city and achieve high-quality services and infrastructure so we can truly become a city for all, he said. Nirenberg also highlighted other areas of spending, including street maintenance, supplemental aid to bolster VIA Metropolitan Transit and the massive uptick in spending slated for affordable housing, largely to fund sweeping recommendations put forth by the Mayors Housing Policy Task Force. The proposed budget includes $17.1 million in new funding (a draft version had called for $17.5 million), bringing total spending on affordable housing to $25.1 million in the coming fiscal year. For the first time in our citys history, housing is a priority. And for the first time in this citys history, were into the nine-digit on transportation funding, which is just scratching the surface, he said. And weve increased funding for things like domestic-violence services. So Im incredibly proud that while its not exciting, and while theres perhaps some criticism about only incremental differences being made that we are making some extraordinary leaps in the right direction for the citizens of San Antonio. Related: City unveils legislative plan for property tax relief Not everyone was so supportive of the budget blueprint. Councilman Clayton Perry lamented that the city wouldnt slash taxes, or institute a homestead exemption to bring some relief to property owners as they see their values skyrocket leading to higher tax bills, despite a flat property tax rate. Councilman Greg Brockhouse hinted that he may ultimately vote against the budget because of his disdain for equity budgeting. Much of this talk about a budget being a moral document you can be as much morally wrong as you are morally right, Brockhouse said. And your values are different from district to district, and the needs are different street to street, neighborhood to neighborhood. Those differences, though, are exactly what equity budgeting aims to address. Brockhouse lambasted the new spending on affordable housing a major element of equitable budgeting and complained that he and Perry are told that theres no money for a tax break for property owners, but miraculously, theres funding for affordable housing. The general fund, which houses revenue from property taxes, provides $7.5 million of the $17.1 million in new spending for affordable housing. Nearly $9 million is slated to come from the U.S. Housing Department in the form of grants. Still, that spending may be enough to turn Brockhouse into a no vote on the budget. I see things in this that deserve really solid debate, things like, for instance, the Mayors Housing Policy Task Force, which is probably the single greatest overreach of government spending in the history of the city, he said. Brockhouse once again pushed for a basics budget that focuses on core services streets and sidewalks, drainage and public safety, for example. Related: Mayor reiterates no public money for Missions stadium Councilwoman Ana Sandoval pushed back, saying San Antonio needs to do more. I think we do a little more than that, and we should, as the city that we want to be requires that we go beyond the basics, she said. But when we see challenges out there, we must also rise to them and face them because whether or not something is exactly proscribed to us, in the end, these are our residents and we want to see them succeed so that our city succeeds. Sandoval applauded funding in the budget for things like tech innovation and domestic-violence programs and for all the work from the housing task force. Ultimately, if people cant live in their homes, she asked rhetorically, what good is it to have all of these other programs? Josh Baugh is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbaugh@express-news.net | Twitter: @jbaugh The Texas Republican Party on Friday sued Democrat Pete Gallego, claiming that he lives outside Senate District 19, where hes seeking the seat in a special election runoff. Gallego, a former U.S. and state representative, finished second in a July 31 special election, behind Republican Pete Flores, a retired state game warden. The race headed to a runoff because neither candidate received enough votes to win outright. State law requires that candidates live continuously in the district theyre running in for at least six months before the filing deadline. Its common knowledge Gallego does not live in Senate District 19, state GOP Chairman James Dickey said in a news release. His wifes name is on a home outside of Senate District 19. He has for years lived with his family in Austin, where his wife has a homestead exemption; this is well-known and well-documented. Gallegos campaign rejected the allegations. This is a frivolous lawsuit, and the Texas Republican Party should be fined for even filing it, Gallego campaign manager Christian Archer said in a written statement. Pete Gallego has lived in Alpine since 1989, when he returned home to become a local felony prosecutor. Pete is registered to vote in Alpine, where he has always voted and where he pays his utilities. This lawsuit is a desperate move on behalf of a failing campaign. The Flores campaign agrees with the Republican Party. No one seriously believes Pete Gallego lives eight hours west of where his wife and son sleep every night, Flores consultant Matt Mackowiak said in a prepared statement. Only a career politician would have the shamelessness to make such an absurd claim. The lawsuit cites a San Antonio Express-News column that found that Gallegos wife, Maria Elena Ramon, claims a homestead exemption in Austin, which is not in the Senate district. Photos show Gallego leaving the home and his pickup parked in its driveway. He is registered to vote in Brewster County and has said he lives in Alpine, the county seat. In a statement, Chad Dunn, the Texas Democratic Partys general counsel, called Gallego a cornerstone of the Alpine community and pointed to his voting status there. We are all ready for football season, but this hail mary shows how desperate Republicans are, Dunn said. The Republican Party said it also filed a complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission, alleging that Gallego failed to report real estate interests in Travis County. Former state Sen. Carlos Uresti, a convicted felon, vacated the District 19 seat in June around the time he was sentenced to 12 years in prison on 11 felony charges, including fraud and money laundering. Jasper Scherer is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jscherer@express-news.net | Twitter: @jaspscherer After Michael Kaiser wrapped up his Wednesday presentation on the state of the San Antonio Symphony, Ron Nirenberg paid him a major compliment. The mayor dubbed Kaiser, the symphonys interim executive director, the Ed Whitacre of the arts community. Whitacre, the San Antonian who served as CEO for both AT&T and General Motors, built a reputation for himself as the master of the corporate turnaround; someone who could walk into the building and quickly suss out what worked and what didnt. Its too early to know if Kaisers efforts with the symphony will produce a Whitacre-esque kind of resurgence, but he struck all the right notes at this weeks Council B-session. Kaiser, a veteran arts administrator, recently guided a nine-member city-county task force in its attempt to figure out why the symphony seems to lurch from one fiscal crisis to another. Related: After a bumpy season, the San Antonio Symphony in a stronger, sunnier place In his presentation to the City Council, Kaiser didnt sugarcoat the challenges. He talked about widespread cuts in arts education in this country. He pointed out that the recording industry is basically dead, adding that symphonies can no longer count on the record business to make stars of conductors and soloists. He acknowledged that the symphonys base of wealthy donors is aging and that many heirs of those donors dont share their parents devotion to orchestral music. He said the symphonys staff has seen too much turnover and that its board needs to be bigger and more diverse. Above all, he said the symphony needs to create more dynamic programming and do a better job of marketing itself. Many in the community have lost trust in this orchestra, Kaiser said. And we have to rebuild that, its on us. We have a reputation as a failing institution. Its a reputation that goes all the way back to 1986, when symphony management informed musicians that theyd have to accept 30-percent pay cuts or the following concert season would be canceled. That led to a yearlong dispute, with a group of disgruntled musicians splintering off to form their own ensemble. Related: San Antonio Symphony contract ratified When then-Mayor Henry Cisneros brokered a deal between the feuding factions with $415,000 in city funding support, he emphasized, Its not just a temporary fix. There have been structural changes made in the organization that will set it on the course ... of building a great symphony. Nirenberg nearly echoed Cisneros on Wednesday. We dont want a one-year fix, he said. We want a sustainable path, we want an equitable path. Only seven months ago, a financial crisis prompted the symphony board to announce the cancellation of the remainder of the 2017-18 concert season. So its easy to be skeptical about hopeful expressions of sustainability. But things do feel different this time. For one thing, theres the leadership of Kathleen Weir Vale, who took over as symphony board chair in January. She instantly rescued the concert season and reached a contract agreement with symphony musicians. She also understood the musicians long-held desire to use social media to promote their work, allowing them to live stream concert performances and post archival recordings. Kaiser and his task force wisely rejected the notion that the path to solvency involved scaling back, either by reducing the size of the 72-member orchestra or by cutting its 30-week concert season. In fact, Kaiser is pushing the symphony to go bigger, not smaller, with its agenda. Over the coming season, it will play free concerts at every branch library in the city, collaborate with the Guadalupe Dance Company, attempt to stage a performance with a Mexican orchestra, deliver a series of free concerts for children and play Veterans and Memorial Day shows. Related: San Antonio Symphony names new interim executive director The strengths of the San Antonio Symphony are obvious and undeniable: the brilliance of its musicians, the state-of-the-art grandeur of its built-to-order concert venue, the $203-million Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, and the loyalty of its long-term patrons. Like most contemporary orchestras, the San Antonio Symphony depends more on fundraising than box-office receipts to cover its budget. (It is also set to receive $460,500 in the citys 2019 budget.) That fundraising base wont expand, however, if the symphony doesnt do a better job of connecting with audiences. Kaiser said the symphony needs to grow its pool of donors, so were less reliant on city and county funding and less reliant on those few major donations and corporations who are so generous to the arts. Spoken like the Ed Whitacre of the arts community. @gilgamesh470 Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Says Parliament has an obligation to amend Article 102. New Delhi: Expressing serious concern over the criminalisation of politics, the Supreme Court on Thursday observed that it has to remind Parliament about the serious situation and it has a constitutional obligation to amend the Constitution to prevent persons facing criminal charges from contesting elections. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by the Chief Justice Dipak Misra made this initial observation during the course of hearing of a batch of petitions filed by Public Interest Foundation and others raising an important question of law, whether a person facing a criminal case in a heinous crime can be disqualified from contesting Assembly or Parlimentary elections at the stage of filing chargesheet or framing of charges or only after conviction. The bench which includes Justices Rohinton Nariman, A.M. Khanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra is examining the question Whether disqualification for membership can be laid down by the Court beyond Article 102 (a) to (d) in the Constitution and the law made by Parliament under Article 102(e). The CJI told the Attorney General, We have to remind Parliament about the serious situation. The Parliament has a constitutional obligation to amend Article 102 of the Constitution. We say this as conscious keepers of the Constitution. It (criminalisation of politics) is a national thinking today and this cant be ignored by the legislature. It is a collective need and cry of the society to inject purity in elections. The AG conceded that a stage has come for Parliament to review the situation. He said the judiciary by way of disqualification could add nothing as it is the domain of the Parliament, and Parliament can amend the law. Pointing out the separation of powers between the judiciary and the legislature, he said judiciary should not resort to judicial legislation. Your lordships leave it to Parliament and we will do it. The CJI, quoting from his own earlier judgment, said, Corruption is a noun, but when it enters the political arena, it becomes a verb which needs antibiotics of a higher level to be cured. Justice Chandrachud wondered as to how a politician charged with murder could uphold the Constitution as per his oath of affirmation. Office buildings and shopping centers have proliferated along Loop 1604 to keep up with San Antonios sprawling growth, but the highway takes on a more rural look beyond the bustling Forum in Northeast Bexar County. County Commissioner Tommy Calvert wants to change that. Hes proposing an unusual public-private partnership between the county and developers thats designed to bring more public services and retail options to the area around Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, one of the fastest-growing parts of Bexar County. His plan is for the county to sell parts of a 51-acre plot of land it owns just south of the base, at the crossing of Rocket Lane and Loop 1604 in Converse, to developers who would build a mixed-use construction project known as Sante 51. Commissioners Court is set to discuss the proposal Tuesday, and Calvert hopes to put it up for a vote within six months. Preliminary plans show the project could include a six-story hotel, an amphitheater, more than 100,000 square feet of restaurants and other retail, and up to 128,000 square feet of office space. The buildings would be constructed in a whitewashed, Southwestern architectural style similar to that seen at Randolph. The county would build a boulevard through the land, as well as other infrastructure, including two ponds, a park and walking trails, drawings show. Related: Senior housing complex planned near Mission San Juan County offices would occupy some of the office space, including a justice of the peace court and a wing of the tax assessor-collector, and a clinic from the University Health System might be built on the land. A substation for the Bexar County Sheriffs Office is already under construction. Its going to be a destination place, and its going to change the image that people have of the area, Calvert said. This is not a strip mall. This is a beautiful master plan. The area is long overdue for more retail and offices, Calvert said. He pointed out that its income level is high relative to the county as a whole. The median household income in Converse was $63,240 in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, well above Bexar Countys of $52,353. Converse is growing fast its population rose from 18,207 in 2010 to 23,375 last year, census data show. As San Antonios far North and far West sides fill up, the area still offers a lot of land that can be developed. Calverts goal is to demonstrate that Northeast Bexar County can support more retail and offices. He said he got the idea for the project after residents from the area told him they felt isolated from the rest of the county. He said he met with some of San Antonios largest commercial developers and asked why they hadnt built any shopping centers there. They said, because no one else has built one, Calvert said. And so I said, Well thats fine, the county will be the first. Related: NRP planning apartment complex on San Pedro Creek Hotel and office developers have already expressed interest in building in Sante 51, Calvert said. Yet Mark Granados, a developer who has built shopping centers all over the county, said it would be difficult to build so much new retail when the Forum is nearby. Officials in Converse have been trying without success to get a developer to build a retail town center, he said. I keep explaining to them, whos going to go there? Everybody is going to the Forum already, Granados said. I dont have an argument to persuade someone to leave the Forum Its not far enough to do another location. Nevertheless, the project has the support of County Judge Nelson Wolff, who said the areas highways, and the large population nearby, would make it a good site for businesses to locate. You might get restaurants, you might get smaller offices there, he said. Well just have to see retail is hard anywhere. Local governments have been making greater use of public-private partnerships in recent years. The city of San Antonio is in the midst of a decadelong effort to rehabilitate Hemisfair by working with developers such as Zachry Corp., NRP Group and David Adelman. Since 2016, the city and county have been trying to find investors to redevelop 8 acres of land they own in western downtown. With the Sante 51 development, the county could save money by consolidating its offices scattered across the area into one building, Calvert said. It would also make millions from selling the land to developers, he said. The county purchased the 51 acres in May 2015 with three goals: to consolidate county offices, to encourage private development there and to protect the Air Force base by restricting building height on the property, Wolff said. The development will honor height, noise and lighting restrictions around Randolph, according to preliminary plans he provided. A representative of the base didnt respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon. We think its a good location, he said. You might get restaurants; you might get smaller offices there. Richard Webner is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rwebner@express-news.net | Twitter: @RWebner The county court in Zagreb has banned a planned strike by Croatia Airlines pilots, mechanics and cabin crew, branding the industrial action as illegal. In its verdict, the court said, The strike is illegal, hence, it is banned. The unions have not, in good faith, engaged in talks with the management to negotiate the terms of their new collective agreement. Had they done so, negotiations would have continued as requested by the management". Unions are unhappy with the proposed terms of the new contract, as well as the carrier's management. They previously cancelled two strikes in hope of reaching a deal. Unions described the courts ruling as scandalous. The Croatian Minister for Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butkovic, who previously said the strike would lead to a complete collapse of Croatia's air transportation network, rebuffed claims he influenced the courts decision. I have no influence over the court and I cant engage in that sort of behaviour. As the relevant minister in this case, it is my right to voice my opinions. I didn't write to the court nor communicate with them in any way. I wrote a letter to Croatia Airlines' employees warning them of the grave consequences of their actions. On Monday, two days ahead of the planned strike which was blocked as a result of a temporary injunction imposed by the court , Mr Butkovic accused the unions of being unreasonable in their demands, as well as acting carelessly and recklessly. The ORCA union has said it will appeal to Croatia's High Court. "We hope its verdict will be different. We are disappointed with the way in which this decision was made. They said we didn't negotiate in good faith. I don't know how that is possible. It is only because of our good faith that the strike was deferred so many times", the union's President, Antonio Corak, said. ORCA has eight days to appeal, while the High Court will have a further five days to rule on the case. He added, "The court's scandalous decision has prevented us from going on strike. It is for a fact that the court made its decision based on the minister's letter to employees. We want to correct all of the shortcomings inside the company, which is the reason so many people have left the airline". If the High Court overturns the verdict, unions must give three days notice prior to any work stoppage. Latest blog posts The Neon Tube Experiment On the blog Lenox Posted Tuesday, October 26, 2021On the blog Spanish Shilling by Spain's Transporter Bridge On the blog EOS MAIL BOX Posted Thursday, October 21, 2021On the blog EOS MAIL BOX by Not Long, Now On the blog Lenox Posted Monday, October 18, 2021On the blog Spanish Shilling by The top court, while citing 2009 judgement, also said organisers were responsible for any violence reported during procession. On Wednesday, a group of Kanwariyas, armed with iron rods and sticks, smashed a car in Delhi's South Moti Nagar area. (Photo: File) New Delhi: After videos showcasing vehicles being vandalised by Kanwariyas across Northern states went viral on social media, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the police to take strict action against those responsible for erupting violence and breaching laws. A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, and comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, reiterated an earlier verdict, which stated that videography of every procession should have to be made. The top court, while citing the 2009 judgement, also said that the organisers were responsible for any violence reported during the procession. On Wednesday, a group of Kanwariyas, armed with iron rods and sticks, smashed a car in Delhi's South Moti Nagar area after the driver allegedly tried to brush past one of them while moving on a busy road. Read: Watch: Kanwarias create ruckus, damage car that brushed past them in Delhi A similar incident also took place in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district on August 7, wherein Kanwariyas were filmed attacking a police SUV on a busy road, and also indulged in an altercation with the locals. Also Read: In video, group of Kanwariyas run riot in UP, vandalise police van Six Kanwariyas, including main accused Pappu, were arrested in connection with the attack on Friday. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma assured that authorities will take necessary action against those found guilty. "Those on spiritual pilgrimage are lost in the devotion of God, and can never be violent. But if some anti-social elements get involved then we will take strict action, no one will be spared irrespective of who he is," he told news agency ANI. Kanwar pilgrims are the devotees of Hindu God, Shiva, who embark on a pilgrimage every year during the Hindu month of Saavan. Pilgrims can be seen carrying heavy pots filled with Ganga water on their shoulders, which they empty at the temples of Lord Shiva. GREENWICH Neighbors are repeating their pleas for a northwest fire station after a home in the Greenwich neighborhood was destroyed early Friday in a fast-moving blaze. The Greenwich Fire Department said the residence at 15 Locust Road was already engulfed in flames when the first firetruck arrived around midnight. It was a total loss, said Deputy Fire Chief Keith Millette. The first truck on the scene, from the Glenville Fire Station, arrived in nine minutes, said Millette. Response time would have been quicker if there was a northwest station, but it cannot be said with any certainty that it wouldve changed the outcome, said First Selectman Peter Tesei, a supporter of building a new fire station in that corner of the community. Millette said of the response time, We try to keep it under five minutes. This was above average. The neighborhood near the New York state line is geographically the most distant from a fire station its the farthest point in Greenwich, he said. There was little that firefighters could do, Millette said. The house was literally, fully engulfed in flames on arrival, he said. A neighbor called in the fire at 11:52 a.m. The fire crew from Glenville began hosing the structure with water as soon as it arrived, while additional apparatuses were brought in. With no hydrants nearby, firefighters called in two water tank trucks to fight the fire. Firefighters also drafted water from a pond at the Tamarack Country Club about 2,500 feet away. There were some logistics involved, he said. But they had enough water, they were good to go. No residents were home at the time of the fire, according to fire officials. Two owners inspecting the damage Friday declined to comment. Neighbors said the owners were living on a larger house on the property, separate from the one that was destroyed. A relative had moved out of the house hit by fire earlier in the year, they said. The department is still investigating the cause of the fire, and there was no initial explanation for the cause. Some 50 to 60 firefighters, including a large contingent of volunteers, responded to the blaze. No injuries were reported. The Armonk Fire Department, across the border in Westchester County, N.Y., also assisted. The issue of response time for firefighters in northwestern Greenwich has been contentious. Allen Williams, head of the Northwestern Greenwich Association, said he was hoping that town leaders and the Representative Town Meeting would give the issue another look. An earlier measure to build a northwest fire station did not advance. Unofficially, were hoping the RTM will hopefully reconsider their decision in next years budget. The response time situation is dire in my area, Williams said, I don't believe the voting majority of members of the RTM who had voted to remove the funding fully understand the priority of essential municipal services fire protection must always be funded before all other services. Some action on the issue may take place this year. A petition is being circulated to support a fire station in northwest Greenwich. Gerald Anderson, chair of the RTMs District 10, which covers that part of town, said there would be a sense of the meeting resolution introduced to the RTM for its September meeting, to push for reconsideration of the station. Williams added that the associations members and board were weary of continually lobbying the town to make fire safety in northwest Greenwich the same as everywhere else in town. Nothing ever seems to convince them we need to get this done, Williams said. It's always about saving and shaving a few more million off the budget, instead of investing in enhanced fire service that would go a long way towards saving lives and property. Staff Reporter Pat Tomlinson contributed to this story. 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. Says credence should be given to defence minister, not those who did not get jobs. New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Friday brushed off allegations of corruption levelled by former Union ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha in the Rafale deal, saying credence should be given to the defence ministers statement and not what those who did not get jobs say. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the base price of Rafale fighter aircraft negotiated by the Modi government is lower than what was finalised by the UPA, he said, adding that the government has already clarified on the matter following the Oppositions charges. He was speaking in an interview after releasing a book. He was responding to a question about allegations of scam levelled by Mr Shourie and Mr Sinha, both ministers in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan in the aircraft deal. Will you give credence to the defence ministers statement or those who did not get jobs, he asked. BJP leaders have often hinted that Mr Shouries and Mr Sinhas relentless attack on the Modi government over various issues is because they were sidelined by it after it came to power in 2014. They had claimed on Wednesday that the alleged scam involving the Rafale deal is much bigger than the Bofors scandal. Shah also asserted that the BJP would return to power in 2019 with a bigger mandate than 2014. People have already made up their mind. We have no doubt about it, he said. He also claimed that his party will return to power in three poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as there is an overall pro-incumbency sentiment there due to the works of governments there. A day ahead of his rally in West Bengal, Mr Shah said his party would win more than 22 of 42 Lok Sabha seats. To a question about the escape of businessmen Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi, he said the Modi governments relentless action against them would ensure that there would be fewer thieves now. 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 Need capital? Marketing assistance? Affordable crop insurance? Theres a farm bill for that. Farm bill programs help farmers grow safe and healthy food for America and the world. Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the first farm bill into law in 1933. The farm bill, formal title Agricultural Adjustment Act, was part of FDRs New Deal. It aimed to restore the U.S. agricultural economy after the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. The 1933 bill authorized the first price supports and production adjustments for farmers. Todays farm bill is much more comprehensive. It covers commodities, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, rural development, research and extension, forestry, energy, horticulture, crop insurance, and miscellaneous programs. The current farm bill was signed into law by President Obama in 2014; it expires September 30, 2018. Why it matters Washington D.C. is a long way from the heartland of America. Even knowledgeable representatives from states with robust agriculture may not fully understand the challenges and issues our farms face. The farm bill may be controversial, but I have yet to meet a farmer who hasnt benefitted from at least one farm bill program. Farmers must tell lawmakers how our operations have benefitted from farm bill programs so that the 2018 bill reflects the needs of American farmers. My farm bill story Credit. As a beginning farmer, purchasing farmland was a major hurdle to starting a farm. The farm bill helps farmers access credit through guaranteed and direct loan programs. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) works with lenders to make low-interest agricultural loans to farmers whom cannot access capital otherwise. FSA and Farm Credit Mid-America put together a guaranteed loan package that made it possible to purchase my first farm. Conservation. The farm bill authorizes Conservation Reserve Programs (CRP) to help farmers make environmental improvements to our farms. I utilize CRP to grow healthy grasslands, maintain filter strips, and create pollinator and wildlife habitat on my farm. Risk Management. Risk management programs protect crops and livestock from disease and natural disasters. The farm bill subsidizes the cost of crop insurance to make it more affordable for farmers. Last year, rain flooded my friends produce fields. Fortunately, she had a whole farm policy in place that recouped 80% of lost revenue. Whole farm policies are perfect for diversified farms because they can cover specialty crops, organics and livestock. Education and Development. The farm bill supports education and development of new and beginning farmers. Although I started my career in agriculture with a business degree under my belt, I had never written a business plan before I started farming. Beginning farmer education programs helped me write my first business plan, create a budget, and forecast financials. I attended a grazing workshop to learn how to improve forage quality and optimize my herds health. My farm benefitted from small business start-up counseling and received technical assistance during the growth stage. Farm bill funded beginning farmer education and development programs help make my farm a success. A farmer's wife has completed her mammoth 2,129 mile tractor journey from John OGroats to Lands End. Pauline Bennett, from Welshpool, Powys completed the impressive feat in just 15 days in a New Holland T6 Dynamic Command tractor. She set off from Welshpool Market in the tractor, donated by Hallmark Tractors, and drove up western England and Scotland to reach John OGroats. (Photo: RABI) Pauline then turned back, and proceeded to drive down to Lands End before returning home to Welshpool. Along the way, she stopped by to visit her supporters, including a young boy whod never been in a tractor before. Pauline said: He was thrilled when I said he could get in the cab with his dad for a closer look. (Photo: RABI) A number of supporters also offered up their homes for Pauline to stay on her journey. I stayed one night on a big farm in Summercourt, near Newquay, curtesy of Steve and Nic Carlyon. Nics father had done the John OGroats to Lands End run on a 135 in 2004 in only 9 days, which prompted Nic to contact R.A.B.I and kindly offer me free bed and breakfast. She added: I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and kindness along the way. I have met some amazing people and seen some fantastic scenery. I have really enjoyed this trip of a lifetime. The money raised from Paulines charity challenge will be donated to R.A.B.I, the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, and the Wales Air Ambulance. Farmers and fishermen are joining forces in a bid to drive positive change in maintaining and enhancing water quality in Wales. Both groups met at the at a special Rugby & Rivers-themed farm walk and social evening held on-farm in Cwmifor, Llandeilo. Among those in attendance at the event was Carmarthenshire Fishermens Federation President and legend of the British and Irish Lions and Welsh rugby, Sir Gareth Edwards. Sir Edwards stated the River Tywi was his favourite place in the world to fish and spoke passionately about his fond memories of fishing on the river over the years. More than 200 people attended the meeting, which gave NFU Cymru the opportunity to champion environmental excellence in the farming sector. Host farmer Robert Davies highlighted the importance of nutrient management planning and proactive management of the soil structure to their business. An insight into the wider range of environmental work carried out as part of agri-environment schemes was also shared with visitors to the farm. The farm walk then proceeded to the fields adjacent to the River Tywi where Carmarthenshire Fishermens Federation Chairman Tony Loizou, showed visitors a water tray containing a variety of invertebrates and a shoal of minnows taken from the river just before the meeting. Mr Loizou explained their importance to the food chain upon which fish, such as trout, and birds, such as wagtails, dippers and kingfishers relied. 'Pollution free' Creighton Harvey of Carmarthenshire Fishermen's Federation distributed fact sheets prepared by the Wild Trout Trust which showed the life cycle of sewin and their needs to survive in a river. The need for clean water was highlighted. Mr Harvey pointed out that whilst farmers were experts on what happened on their land they sometimes had limited knowledge of what happened in the streams which passed through their land. He urged farmers to consider the needs of the river when making decisions on the management of their farms. In closing, Mr Harvey highlighted the need for all farmers on a catchment to manage their businesses in a way that kept the rivers and streams pollution free. This was a 365 day a year commitment. If pollution came from one farm on one afternoon and fish were killed, it would take years for the fish population to recover. 'Productive farming and nature' NFU Cymru President, John Davies said the event has provided a platform for farmers and local fishermen to come together and discuss something that is important to everyone. It has been excellent to visit Glanrwyth to see the synergy and the partnership between productive farming and nature," Mr Davies said. "To be able to walk down to the river and see that clean water sample, and the fish thriving in those conditions, was inspiring and a reminder of why this is so important. As farmers we take our environmental responsibilities seriously and recognise the role we have to play to enhance water quality in Wales. I think this event has been a fantastic occasion that has provided a learning opportunity for us all. Mr Davies added: Everyone in attendance has shown a real willingness to work together on this important issue. NFU Cymru is fully engaged in the challenge that we face and this is just the start of what I am sure will be a long and fruitful partnership. NFU Cymru and the Carmarthenshire Fishermens Federation will meet next month to discuss how they can further develop the partnership to provide lasting benefits to water quality in the county. Meadow Foods has increased its milk price by 1ppl from September, taking their standard A litre milk price to 29.50ppl. The decision to raise the milk price, for the fifth time this year, reflects the fact that dairy markets remain relatively strong, according to the dairy processor. Meadow Foods said it is also "acutely aware" of the pressures that the recent hot weather and lack of rain is causing on forage stocks on farm. Although this hasnt yet significantly impacted milk volumes, they may well be affected going forward, it stated. Mark Chantler, Chief Executive at Meadow Foods said: Were pleased to be able to pass on to our farmers the continued improvements in the dairy market. We do however remain focused on the overall dairy market which are currently giving some mixed messages on prices - with protein prices showing some signs of improvement but cream prices remaining unsettled. Mr Chantler: We will continue to carefully monitor how both supply and demand develop over the next couple of months and react accordingly. Meadow Foods is the UKs largest independently owned dairy group and a supplier of dairy ingredients to the food industry. A new 200,000 fund to promote Scotch lamb has been welcomed as a "great boost" for farmers. The campaign was announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to support Quality Meat Scotlands 2018 promotional campaign. The sheep sector plays a significant part in Scotlands red meat industry, which is worth 892 million to Scotland. The First Minister confirmed the funding as she barbecued Scotch lamb at the Turriff Show with farmers and butchers. She said the food and drink sector plays an "important part" in Scotlands economy. "It's important we promote our premium produce. The strength of our farming industry would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of the farmers who work tirelessly to produce high quality meat," she said. That hard work and premium product is recognised by the protection given by the EU to the Scotch Lamb brand and we will be working hard to continue that protection in the future." Jim McLaren, Quality Meat Scotland's Chairman said the announcement is "fantastic news" for the Scottish sheep industry. "It's a great boost for our producers. This additional funding will enhance our comprehensive marketing and public relations Scotch Lamb PGI campaign, which is due to launch at the end of August," Mr McLaren said. The eight-week campaign will spread the word to Scottish consumers about the quality of Scotch Lamb. The announcement follows news of the Scottish government calling for urgent action from Number 10 in Brexit talks to protect Scotlands food and drink produce. The Scottish government is pressing the UK government to agree a need for a UK Geographical Indications (GI) system post-Brexit. Thirty-four organisations have asked the government to take urgent action to save the UK's network of small abattoirs, which they say are closing at an "alarming rate". The organisations, reflecting a wide range of food and farming interests, have written to Defra Secretary Michael Gove for help in protecting this "huge national asset". The group ranges from the National Trust and RSPCA to the Scottish Crofting Federation, the Womens Institute and the National Sheep Association. In the letter they point out that the existence of a network of smaller abattoirs enables thousands of family farmers to supply meat and other livestock products to a growing number of customers. The government has indicated that it prefers farm animals to be slaughtered close to the place of production, yet the statistics show that the opposite is happening. A third of small abattoirs have closed in the past ten years and closures are continuing. A further 6 (10%) of small abattoirs have closed in the last twelve months, with the latest, Bakers of Nailsea, which has been serving farmers and butchers in Somerset for 120 years, closing its door for the final time during the last month. And in January this year, it was confirmed that Orkney Island's only abattoir is to shut down leaving a farming union to seek a resolution for the island's farmers. 'Perfect storm of problems' Patrick Holden, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Food Trust said the sale of locally-produced meat helps to keep family farmers in business and has "huge benefits" for consumers and the environment. "For the first time in my farming lifetime, Defra is genuinely striving to develop a more sustainable food system with additional focus on animal welfare," Mr Holden said. "But that could come unstuck if we lose more local abattoirs. Without local slaughtering there will be no traceable local meat, its as simple as that. John Mettrick, Chairman of National Craft Butchers and owner of a small abattoir in Derbyshire said the industry has hit a "perfect storm of problems". "Increased costs, rock bottom prices for hides and skins, some gold-plated regulations, and excessive paperwork, much of it involving unnecessary duplication, he explained. Sara Jane Staines of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, said the the UK needs to be able to fly the flag for less but better-quality meat with a known provenance. "We cant do that without accessible abattoirs across the country," she said. Continued survival Michael Gove has previously acknowledged the problem facing producer-retailers who lose their local abattoir. The signatories of the joint letter now want him to take urgent action to help the smaller abattoir sector, which is in danger of further contraction. This would include setting up a group to advise on how best to resolve the regulatory and other problems besetting smaller abattoirs in order to ensure their continued survival. The Campaign for Local Abattoirs, which coordinated the joint letter, was established by the Sustainable Food Trust and National Craft Butchers to highlight the current crisis in the supply of local meat. In January this year, the apex court had granted three months to the Centre to take a decision on the states proposal. New Delhi: Disagreeing with a proposal moved by the Tamil Nadu government, the Centre on Friday informed the Supreme Court that the seven assassins of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi cannot be released from jail as doing so will set a dangerous precedent and have international ramifications. The Centre told a three-judge, bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi, that the Union home ministry had passed an order on April 18 and conveyed its decision to the Tamil Nadu government rejecting its proposal to grant remission to the convicts who are in jail for the last nearly 27 years. The bench, including Justices Navin Sinha and K.M. Joseph, took the document filed by the home ministry on record and adjourned the matter. The ministry, in its reply to the state government, had said that the trial court had given cogent reasons for imposing death penalty upon the accused and pointed out that even the Supreme Court had termed the assassination an unparallel act in the annals of crimes committed in this country. Releasing the four foreign nationals who had committed the gruesome murder of former Prime Minister of this country, along with 15 others most of whom were police officers, in connivance with three Indian nationals will set a very dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future, the Centre said. In a letter dated March 2, 2016 the Tamil Nadu government had reiterated its earlier proposal of February 19, 2014, to grant remission to seven convicts Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan, whose death sentence was commuted to life term, and Nalini, Robert Pius, Jayakumar and Ravichandran, serving life term, and sought the Centres approval. In January this year, the apex court had granted three months to the Centre to take a decision on the states proposal. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, at an election rally. Fourteen others, including Dhanu herself, were also killed. Additional solicitor general Pinky Anand told the bench that 16 innocent lives were lost and many sustained grievous injuries in the gruesome, inhuman, uncivilized and merciless bomb blast. She cited the ministrys order that said the plot was successfully executed with the active help and participation of these seven convicts and others who were LTTE militants or its staunch supporters. The Central government in pursuance of its powers under Section 435 Cr.PC did not concur with the Tamil Nadus proposal to grant further remission of sentence to the seven convicts, she said. In December 2015, a five-judge bench had held that the state government had no power to order suo motu release of seven convicts. The court had held that in cases investigated by the CBI, the Tamil Nadu state can grant remission only with the consent of the Union government. The Ulster Farmers' Union is encouraging livestock farmers and the feed industry to buy locally grown grain. The plea follows a tough year weather-wise for the industry, which has faced a wet winter and a summer drought. According to Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) seeds and cereals chairman, David Matthews, every farm business is facing financial pressure. He said trading grain between farmers and buying local straw makes "economic sense" in the current climate. "This cuts haulage costs and can deliver higher quality rations. It also helps to boost local sourcing credentials as part of quality assurance with the major retailers," said Mr Matthews. Harvest has started early in many areas as a result of the dry weather, with it inevitably bringing mixed fortunes for farmers. The conditions seems to have given winter crops a boost and while yields may be down, quality is good," he continued. "However, the jury is still out on spring crops. The wet weather meant most went in late, therefore did not have much time to get established before the dry weather arrived. Supermarkets commit to backing British pork amid crisis Open letter was sent out calling for more support 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. Rani Mukerji Says A Big Thank You Rani Mukerji spoke about being the guest of honour and what coming to the festival means to her. The actress said, "I'm really happy to be here representing my country, my film and my fraternity. A big Thank you to the Victorian government for supporting the Indian film fraternity The Indian film fraternity is so diverse, So many languages and cultures so it's great to see films from various cultures under one roof. I thank Mitu inviting me. And this trip is special because I'm coming here with my daughter. It's the first time she's seeing Melbourne." Freida Pinto Talks About Love Sonia Freida Pinto who has done magnificent work internationally not just in Film and music but also with her humanitarian efforts added on about the premiere of her next Love Sonia and said, "Love Sonia gives you a glimpse into the world of oval sex trafficking But it still doesn't show the entire world of it. Also we didn't want to make a gratuitous film. At the end of the day we want people to to understand the sense of what really happens in this part of the world and how much of it is kept away from us. So as an artist when you get an Opportunity to be part of such a film That can raise a global conversation, it's fun to adapt to the character but it's also but More than that you're raising a very important topic which will leave the audiences with something to ponder on". Rajkumar Hirani On Sanju Being A Part Of The Festival Speaking about his attendance and his film Sanju being a part of the festival, director Rajkumar Hirani said, "Mitu is an inspiration for many. She's always been kind to have me here and I'm looking to IFFM. Australia is a great country and with Melbourne being such an amazing city, I'm looking forward to meeting people here". Mark The Date In Your Calendar The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will go on from the 10th of August to the 22nd August in Melbourne, Australia. The festival will screen over 60 films from all across India and the subcontinent in over 22 languages. Film lovers will get to interact with their favourite actors, directors and writers at the festival in event like Panel Discussions and Q & As post the screening. Abrahaminte Santhathikal, starring Mammootty in the lead role, has had a fabulous run in the theatres; and the movie has emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of Malayalam cinema. Directed by debut film-maker Shaji Padoor, the movie has already completed 50 days of its run in the theatres. Meanwhile, a big surprise is on the way, as yet another fans show of the movie is in the pipeline and that too in an overseas centre! The film is all set to complete 65 days of its run and the fans are busy with the works of organizing a special show in Australia for the big day. Reportedly, the program is being organized by the Australian Chapter of Mammootty Fans And Welfare Association and all the income incurred from the fans show will be contributed to Mammootty's Care & Share International Foundation, for a programme that works for the welfare of the Adivasis in Kerala. Fr. Jason Joseph Kuzhiyil, from New Norfolk St. Mary's Church handed over the first ticket to Fr. Mark Hance and thus inaugurating the the sale of the fans show tickets. The event was attended by Robert Kuriakose (Mammootty Fans And Welfare Association International President), Jino Jacob (Australian Chapter President), and Josmon Joy (Tasmanian distributor of the movie). Rating: 3.0 /5 Star Cast: Kamal Haasan, Rahul Bose, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Shekhar Kapur Director: Kamal Haasan The much-awaited Vishwaroopam 2 has hit the theatres and nothing much has to be said about the huge hype that the film has had. Its prequel Vishwaroppam is widely regarded as one of the best spy thrillers of Indian cinema; however, has all the wait for Vishwaroopam 2 turned to be a fruitful one? Read Vishwaroopam 2 review to get the answer. Vishwaroopam 2 begins at where the first part had ended. Wizam and his team, after successfully blocking the masterplan of Omar and Salim, have something more to do with their foes planning other attacks in multiple places. As it was mentioned, Vishwaroopam 2 is both a prequel as well as a sequel to Vishwaroopam, the film which had set the standards of Tamil cinema pretty high. The making style of Vishwaroopam was at par with Hollywood standards and the case is the same with Vishwaroopam 2, but not without the bumps in the name of commercialisation that has spoilt the show in between. The first half of Vishwaroopam 2 sets the tone high with the story moving back and forth, much like in the prequel. As the story unveils on the screen, we get the answers to some of the hooking questions that popped up in the mind of the audiences while watching the first part. Kamal Haasan, the film-maker, who rightly knows about the delay that the film has had, has rightly mixed some of the scenes from the first part as a prelude to avoid some confusions. It somewhat follows the pattern of the first part and here too, dialogues hold due importance, which are simply brilliant! The first half of the film was indeed a lengthy one, but still it does keep the interest of the viewers invested throughout and due credits to Kamal Haasan for his fine narrative. However, things do go haywire in the second half, where it has to be said that the expectations on the film don't survive. Some of the action sequences do go over the top and the unwanted masala fare, which was absent in Vishwaroopam, take front seat here. Moreover, the delay that the film has had is quite evident with the change in the actors' makeover becoming quite evident. The film-maker in Kamal Haasan never spoon-feeds the audiences and one has to pay due attention to savour the ides to the fullest. He once again proves that he is the film-maker who could do complete justice to his script and here, we could see the maker in him doing a better job than the writer, with some of the unwanted sequences and additional stuffs in the script pulling the film down than its prequel. Kamal Haasan the actor carries the role with ease and he starts off from where he had stopped in the prequel. It's always a pleasure to see him say those catchy dialogues in the way only which he could do. Pooja Kumar has done her part well and so was the case of Andrea Jeremiah's, who gets more screen space in Vishwaroopam 2. At the same time, more clarity in their characterizations were required. However, it has to be said that Rahul Bose and Jaideep Ahlawat couldn't make the same impact that they created in the first part. Waheeda Rahman who is a new entrant in the sequel does complete justice to the sequel; and the scene featuring herself and Kamal Haasan is undoubtedly one of the best in the films. Cinematography by SAnu Varghese and Shamdatt is splendid. Editing could have been better, especially in the second half of the movie. Ghibran's music was OK. Coming to the technical aspects, VFX played a good role in Vishwaroopam, but the same can't be said for Vishwaroopam 2, with some of the sequences even lacking the conviction. Like every other sequels or prequels, Vishwaroopam 2 will also be subjected to comparisons. Vishwaroopam 2 has its own share of good moments, but it couldn't carry forward that momentum till the end. Kamya Punjabi gets EMOTIONAL on Pratyusha Banerjee's Birthday FilmiBeat It's been more than two years since the television industry lost one of its most talented and hard-working actresses Pratyusha Banerjee. On the day of her birth anniversary, dear friend and actress Kamya Punjabi took to her Instagram handle to post a video dedicated to late Pratyusha, which will leave you in tears! The video consisting of pictures of them together from when they had good times was captioned as, " ...... #HappyBirthdayPratyusha." - (sic) The caption loosely translates to, "You're here still, and will continue to remain". Fans responded to Kamya's post saying, "True friendship.. Dosti bhulaye nhi bhulti. I miss u too pratusha. Kash vo aaj hoti to dekh pati ki sirf aap unki real bst frnd h.. Jane ke baad b always fikar rhti h apko" - (sic) Another comment read, "very heart touching..yr so proud of u ..Kamya dat u r still fighting for d right..bohat kam log aise dekhne ko milte h..jo Dost k liye itna kuch kare..or khaas taur par jab woh insaan nhi h..i hope ki woh ye sab aap ko dekh kar..bohat khush hogi" - (sic) The Balika Vadhu actress committed suicide in her Mumbai apartment two years back by hanging herself. Post her death, her parents lodged a complaint against her former boyfriend Rahul Raj Singh. He was speculated to be the reason behind her death, as reports were making rounds that Pratyusha was subjected to domestic violence. Though no conclusion has been made with regard to her case, friends and family continue to fight for the justice. Vikas Gupta and Kamya Punjabi even took to their social media handles two years later on the day of Pratyusha's death and demanded justice. Vikas Gupta's caption read, "Today I lost a person I really liked . It's been 2 years . People will forget cause life moves on , we all move on . Your death taught a lot value of life . May you rest in Peace." Also Read - Nausheen Ali Sardar Looks Shockingly Different In The Latest Pics! Notice of Annual General Meeting Netalogue Technologies plc Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Netalogue Technologies plc ("the Company") will be held at 10:00am on Friday 7thSeptember 2018 at Baglan Bay Innovation Centre, Central Avenue, Baglan Bay, West Glamorgan, SA12 7AX for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolutions which will be proposed, in the case of resolutions 1 to 4 (inclusive), as ordinary resolutions and, in the case of resolution 5, as a special resolution. Ordinary Resolutions 1. THAT the Directors' Report and audited accounts of the Company for the year ended 31stMarch 2018 be received and adopted. 2. THAT Nick Barley be re-appointed as a Director of the Company by rotation in accordance with the Articles of Association. 3. THAT PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP be re-appointed as Auditors of the Company and the Directors be authorised to fix their remuneration. 4. THAT, in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "2006 Act"), the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised to allot shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company ("Rights") up to an aggregate nominal amount of 400,000.00 provided that this authority shall, unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company, expire on the earlier of the date falling 15 months after the date of the passing of this resolution and the conclusion of the subsequent annual general meeting of the Company, save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares to be allotted or Rights to be granted and the Directors may allot shares or grant Rights in pursuance of such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the authority conferred by this resolution has expired. This authority is in substitution for all previous authorities conferred on the Directors in accordance with section 551 of the 2006 Act. Special Resolution 5. THAT, the Directors be and are hereby empowered, pursuant to Section 570 of the 2006 Act, to allot equity securities (within the meaning of Section 560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 5 as if Section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be limited to: (a) the allotment of equity securities in connection with a rights issue or other issue in favour of the holders of ordinary shares where the equity securities respectively attributable to the interests of the ordinary shareholders are proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the respective numbers of ordinary shares held or deemed to be held by them, subject only to such exclusions or other arrangements as the directors may deem necessary or expedient to deal with fractional entitlements, legal or practical problems arising in any overseas territory or by virtue of shares being represented by depository receipts, the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange or any other matter whatsoever; the allotment of equity securities for the purpose of any option, incentive or profit sharing scheme (whether or not an employees' share scheme as defined in the 2006 Act) being a scheme approved by shareholders in general meeting, and; the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) above) of securities for cash up to an aggregate nominal value of 400,000.00 And this power shall expire on the date which is 15 months after the date on which the resolution is passed or, if earlier, at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company. By Order of the Board Secretary Cargil Management Services Limited Dated: 10th August 2018 Registered Office : Netalogue Technologies plc, Eastcastle House, 27-28 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DH. Notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting Entitlement to attend and vote 1. Pursuant to Regulation 41 of The Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, the Company specifies that only those members registered on the Company's register of members 48 hours before the time of the Meeting shall be entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting. Appointment of proxies 2. If you are a member of the Company at the time set out in note 1 above, you are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, speak and vote at the Meeting and you should have received a proxy form with this notice of meeting. You can only appoint a proxy using the procedures set out in these notes and the notes to the proxy form. 3. A proxy does not need to be a member of the Company but must attend the Meeting to represent you. Details of how to appoint the Chairman of the Meeting or another person as your proxy using the proxy form are set out in the notes to the proxy form. If you wish your proxy to speak on your behalf at the Meeting you will need to appoint your own choice of proxy (not the Chairman) and give your instructions directly to them. 4. You may appoint more than one proxy provided each proxy is appointed to exercise rights attached to different shares. You may not appoint more than one proxy to exercise rights attached to any one share. To appoint more than one proxy, please contact the Company's Registrar, Share Registrars' helpline on 01252 821390. 5. A vote withheld is not a vote in law, which means that the vote will not be counted in the calculation of votes for or against the resolution. If no voting indication is given, your proxy will vote or abstain from voting at his or her discretion. Your proxy will vote (or abstain from voting) as he or she thinks fit in relation to any other matter which is put before the Meeting. 6. The notes to the proxy form explain how to direct your proxy how to vote on each resolution or withhold their vote. To appoint a proxy using the proxy form, the form must be: completed and signed; sent or delivered, to the Company's Registrar, Share Registrars Ltd, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DR and received by Company's Registrar, Share Registrars Ltd no later than 48 hours prior to the Meeting. In the case of a member which is a company, the proxy form must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the Company or an attorney for the Company. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the proxy form is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the proxy form. Appointment of proxy by joint members 7. In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint holders appear in the Company's register of members in respect of the joint holding (the first-named being the most senior). Changing proxy instructions 8. To change your proxy instructions simply submit a new proxy appointment using the methods set out above. Note that the cut-off time for receipt of proxy appointments (see above) also apply in relation to amended instructions; any amended proxy appointment received after the relevant cut-off time will be disregarded. Where you have appointed a proxy using the hard-copy proxy form and would like to change the instructions using another hard-copy proxy form, please contact the Company's Registrar, Share Registrars' helpline on 01252-821390. If you submit more than one valid proxy appointment, the appointment received last before the latest time for the receipt of proxies will take precedence. Termination of proxy appointments 9. In order to revoke a proxy instruction you will need to inform the Company using one of the following methods: By sending a signed hard copy notice clearly stating your intention to revoke your proxy appointment to Share Registrars Ltd, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DR . In the case of a member which is a company, the revocation notice must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the Company or an attorney for the Company. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the revocation notice is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the revocation notice. In either case, the revocation notice must be received by the Company's Registrar: Share Registrars Ltd, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DR. no later than 48 hours prior to the Meeting. If you attempt to revoke your proxy appointment but the revocation is received after the time specified then, subject to the paragraph directly below, your proxy appointment will remain valid. Appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending the Meeting and voting in person. If you have appointed a proxy and attend the Meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated. Issued shares and total voting rights 10. As at [9th August] 2018 the Company's issued share capital comprised [48,746,333] ordinary shares of 1p each. Each ordinary share carries the right to one vote at an Annual General Meeting of the Company and, therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company as at [9th August] 2018 is [48,746,333]. Communications with the Company 11. Except as provided above, members who have general queries about the Meeting should the Company's Registrar, Share Registrars' helpline on 01252-821390 (no other methods of communication will be accepted). You may not use any electronic address provided either in this notice of general meeting; or any related documents (including the chairman's letter and proxy form), to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated. Netalogue Technologies plc For use at the Annual General Meeting to be held at Netalogue Technologies plc ("the Company"), Baglan Bay Innovation Centre, Central Avenue, Baglan Bay, West Glamorgan, SA12 7AX on Friday 7thSeptember 2018 at 10:00 am I/We, (names in full) BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE Of ... being (a) holder(s) of Ordinary Shares of 1p each of the Company, hereby appoint the Chairman of the Meeting or ....................... to act as my/our proxy at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held on Friday 7th September 2018 at 10:00am and at any adjournment thereof. Please indicate with a tick in the relevant box below how you wish your vote to be the case on each of the resolutions to be proposed at the meeting. If no specific direction has been given the proxy will vote or abstain at his/her discretion. Full details of the resolutions are set out in the Notice of Meeting. RESOLUTIONS For Against Withheld 1. To receive the Directors' report and audited accounts of the company for the period ended 31st March 2018 2. To re-appoint Nick Barley as a director of the Company 3. To re-appoint Price Waterhouse Coopers as auditors and authorise the Directors to fix their remuneration 4. To authorise the directors to allot shares in the capital of the Company 5. To authorise the directors to disapply statutory pre-emption rights to allot shares in the capital of the Company. Dated .2018 Signature To facilitate arrangements for the Meeting, please tick here.. (without commitment on your part) if you propose to attend in person, directions will be sent to you. Notes on completion: 1. As a member of the Company you are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, speak and vote at a general meeting of the Company. You can only appoint a proxy using the procedures set out in these notes. 2. Appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending the meeting and voting in person. If you have appointed a proxy and attend the meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated. 3. A proxy does not need to be a member of the Company but must attend the meeting to represent you. To appoint as your proxy a person other than the Chairman of the meeting, insert their full name in the space provided. If you sign and return this proxy form with no name inserted in the space, the Chairman of the meeting will be deemed to be your proxy. Where you appoint as your proxy someone other than the Chairman, you are responsible for ensuring that they attend the meeting and are aware of your voting intentions. If you wish your proxy to make any comments on your behalf, you will need to appoint someone other than the Chairman and give them the relevant instructions directly. 4. You may appoint more than one proxy provided each proxy is appointed to exercise rights attached to different shares. You may not appoint more than one proxy to exercise rights attached to any one share. 5. To direct your proxy how to vote on the resolutions mark the appropriate box with an 'X'. If no voting indication is given, your proxy will vote or abstain from voting at his or her discretion. Your proxy will vote (or abstain from voting) as he or she thinks fit in relation to any other matter which is put before the meeting. To appoint a proxy using the proxy form, the form must be: completed and signed; sent or delivered to the Company's Registrar, Share Registrars Ltd, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DR GU9 7DR and received by Share Registrars Ltd no later than 48 hours prior to the Meeting. In the case of a member which is a company, the proxy form must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the Company or an attorney for the Company. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the proxy form is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the proxy form. 7. In the case of a member which is a company, this proxy form must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the company or an attorney for the company. 8. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which this proxy form is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the proxy form and received by the Company no later than 5thSeptember 2018. 9. In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint holders appear in the Company's register of members in respect of the joint holding (the first-named being the most senior). 11. If you submit more than one valid proxy appointment, the appointment received last before the latest time for the receipt of proxies will take precedence. The Opposition alliance had called his exit a mockery of the mandate given by the people. New Delhi: The position of the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha going to JD(U)s Harivansh has firmly entrenched Nitish Kumar in the NDA camp. But apparently the JD(U) chiefs decision to adhere to the NDA plan and even field his own candidate came after his bargaining with the Opposition camp, particularly with the RJD, for his return to the Mahagathbandhan fold failed. The main point of contention according to sources was Mr Kumars refusal to vacate the chief ministers chair for Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD in exchange for being named as the prime ministerial candidate for the larger Opposition Grand Alliance in 2019 or be accommodated in any other important position at the Centre. Sources told this newspaper that as early as last month, there were a series of meetings between the JD(U), the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress over his possible return to the Mahagathbandhan. During these negotiations, the Grand Alliance parties which includes Congress and the RJD, agreed to the demand made by Mr Kumar that he be projected as the prime ministerial face of the larger Opposition alliance ahead of 2019. However, the key point on which the talks failed was the RJDs demand that Mr Kumar step down as the Bihar chief minister and hand over the reins to RJD supremos son Tejashwi Yadav. The Bihar chief minister wanted to continue in office till the general elections. Elections to the Bihar Assembly are due in 2020 and Lok Sabha polls are in 2019. Analysts, however, say that these can be clubbed. Subsequent to the breakdown of the talks, Mr Kumar warmed up to the BJP afresh for a seat-sharing pact and decided to go the full hog by accepting the offer of contesting the deputy chairpersons post in Rajya Sabha for which the JD(U) chief is said to have canvassed with other parties using his personal goodwill. A BJP candidate would have found it difficult to garner votes from parties like the BJD and the AIADMK which helped them pull off a victory in a House in which they lack majority. Mr Kumar, who had been elected as the chief minister in Bihar as part of the JD(U)-RJD-Congress Grand Alliance, had exited the same and joined NDA last year citing corruption cases against alliance partner Lalu Prasad. The Opposition alliance had called his exit a mockery of the mandate given by the people. Since the breakdown in talks, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has been particularly sharp in his attack on Mr Kumar, even going to the extent of terming him a turncoat. Trouble had been brewing between the BJP and the JD(U) over seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections. The JD(U) had indicated that it expected the BJP to give it a respectable number of seats to contest in 2019. It was also expecting some seats in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to push Mr Kumars Bihar Plus plan. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the JD(U) had won only two seats compared to the BJPs 16, LJPs 5 and RJDs 3. However, the JD(U) expects seats in accordance with its performance in the 2015 Assembly polls where it bagged 70 seats in an Assembly of 243 seats. Third Point Offshore Investors Limited (the "Company") (a closed-ended investment company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 47161) LEI: 549300WXTCG65AQ7V644 10 August 2018 Transfer to a Premium Listing (Closed-Ended Investment Fund) Introduction Third Point Offshore Investors Limited (the "Company") announces that it is proposing to transfer the listing category of its Ordinary Shares from a standard listing to a premium listing (closed-ended investment fund) under Chapter 15 of the Listing Rules ("Premium Listing"). It is anticipated that this transfer will take effect at 8.00 a.m. on 10 September 2018 ("Admission"), conditional on the passing of the resolutions (the "Resolutions") at the extraordinary general meeting of the Company, to be held on 31 August 2018. A notice of extraordinary general meeting and shareholder circular (the "Circular") will be sent separately today to shareholders. The Company is a closed-ended investment fund incorporated in Guernsey. The Company is a feeder fund that invests all of its capital (net of short-term working capital requirements) in Class E Shares of Third Point Offshore Fund, Ltd. (the "Master Fund"), which is a limited partner of Third Point Offshore Master Fund L.P. (the "Master Partnership"), of which Third Point Advisors II L.L.C., an affiliate of the Investment Manager, is the general partner. Third Point LLC is the investment manager to the Company, the Master Fund and the Master Partnership (the "Investment Manager"). The Company is a member of the Association of Investment Companies ("AIC"). The Company's performance is driven by the Investment Manager's implementation of the Master Fund's investment policy. The Master Fund's investment objective is to seek to generate consistent long-term capital appreciation, by using an event driven, bottom-up, fundamental approach to evaluate various types of securities throughout companies' capital structures. The Master Fund invests all of its investable assets in the Master Partnership, a corresponding open-ended investment partnership having the same investment objective as the Master Fund. The investments of the Master Fund and Master Partnership are managed in line with the Company's investment policy. If the Master Fund fails to comply with the Company's investment policy, the Company is entitled to terminate the agreement with the Investment Manager and redeem its investment in the Master Fund. Shares in the Master Fund may be presented to the Master Fund for redemption, in whole or in part, on 60 days' prior written notice (subject to the discretion of the Master Fund's board of directors (the "Master Fund Board") to waive such notice), as of the last day of any calendar quarter or such other date otherwise permitted or required by the Master Fund (the "Redemption Date"). If redemption requests with respect to any Redemption Date exceed 20% of the Master Fund's net asset value, the Master Fund Board may choose to invoke a gate, which would permit shareholders (including the Company) to redeem shares during any calendar quarter only up to 20% of the Master Fund's Net Asset Value as of the first day of the calendar quarter, on a pro rata basis based on the size of redemption requests received (the "Gate"). If any shareholder (including the Company) is prohibited from redeeming some or all of the shares in respect of which it has submitted a redemption request as of a Redemption Date as a result of the operation of the Gate, then (i) with respect to the class of shares held by the Company, the shareholder will be deemed to have made a redemption request with respect to the excess shares for the immediately following Redemption Date (and any subsequent Redemption Date, as applicable) and will be subject to the imposition of the Gate, if applicable, for the following Redemption Date and any subsequent Redemption Date, as applicable. There are no lock-up periods applicable to the Shares held by the Company in the Master Fund. The Company was established as a newly-formed closed-end investment company on 19 July 2007. On 23 July 2007, the Ordinary Shares were admitted to a secondary listing on the Official List pursuant to a prospectus approved by the Financial Services Authority (the predecessor to the Financial Conduct Authority), the Company's Home State Regulator, and published by the Company on 2 July 2007, in accordance with the Prospectus Rules and the Listing Rules (the "Prospectus"). The Company's initial public offering raised $523 million from diverse, high-quality investors globally. The Company's issued share capital consists of listed ordinary shares of no par value denominated in U.S. dollar ("Ordinary Shares"), in addition to unlisted B shares of no par value denominated in U.S. dollar ("B Shares"). Further to the conversion of the ordinary shares denominated in sterling into ordinary shares denominated in U.S. dollar, since 27 July 2018 a dual quote structure has been in place allowing the Ordinary Shares to be quoted in both U.S. dollar (LSE: TPOU) and sterling (LSE: TPOS). Further details in relation to the rights attaching to the Company's share classes and the new share capital structure that the Company proposes to adopt ahead of Admission are set out in more detail below and in the Circular. Background and reasons for the proposed transfer At the time of its launch, the Company was unable to fully comply with certain rules set out in Chapter 15 of the Listing Rules (prevailing at that time). The Company obtained a secondary listing (Chapter 14) on the Official List at launch in July 2007, which became a standard listing in April 2010 following changes to the Listing Rules. As at 31 July 2018, the Company's Ordinary Shares had net assets of c.$974 million and a market capitalisation of c.$796 million. The Company is now able to meet the relevant requirements of Chapter 15. The board of directors of the Company (the "Board") believes that a Premium Listing will assist in increasing the ratings profile of the Company, providing it with exposure to a wider potential investor base and enhancing the liquidity of its Ordinary Shares. In addition, a Premium Listing will, subject to the Company satisfying certain other requirements, mean that the Ordinary Shares will be eligible for inclusion in certain financial market indices. It is anticipated that any such inclusion is likely to result in secondary market demand for the Ordinary Shares from investment vehicles which track such indices. Accordingly, the Board has concluded that it would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole to transfer the Company's listing to a Premium Listing under Chapter 15 of the Listing Rules. The Company has today published the Circular which contains notice convening an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders to be held on 31 August 2018. In order to satisfy the requirements for a Premium Listing, the Company proposes to revise its existing voting structure and make certain other amendments to its articles of incorporation in order to satisfy the specific requirements of the Listing Rules. As detailed in the Circular, any failure by the Company to maintain its status as a "foreign private issuer" would result in the Company being treated as a US domestic issuer for US federal securities law purposes, which would have a range of serious consequences for the Company. The Company is principally managed in the United States by the Investment Manager and, historically, a significant majority of the Company's underlying assets have been based in the United States. As such, the Company can only preserve its status as a "foreign private issuer" by ensuring that US residents do not own in excess of 50 per cent. of its "voting securities" which, for this purpose, means securities that carry the right to vote in relation to the appointment or removal of directors. Historically, the Company has mitigated the risk of US residents owning in excess of 50 per cent. of its "voting securities" by issuing B Shares to VoteCo, a Guernsey company, carrying 40 per cent. of the aggregate voting rights in the Company. In determining how to exercise the voting rights carried by the B Shares, the directors of VoteCo are required to take into consideration the best interests of the Company's shareholders taken as a whole. Following Admission, where the provisions of the Listing Rules require a shareholder vote to be taken, the Company will need to ensure that such vote is decided by a resolution of the holders of securities which have been admitted to a Premium Listing, that is, by a resolution of the holders of the Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, the Company now proposes to amend its articles of incorporation ("Articles") such that, from Admission, the B Shares will, as currently, carry 40 per cent. of the aggregate voting rights in the Company on all matters, except matters on which the Listing Rules require a shareholder vote (the "Specified Matters"). The Specified Matters will be listed in the Articles to be adopted by the Company, further details of which are set out in the Circular. Further, in order to comply with the UKLA's eligibility requirements for a Guernsey-domiciled investment company seeking admission to the Premium Segment, the proposed new Articles introduce pre-emption rights for all holders of Ordinary Shares. The proposed pre-emption rights provide that, subject to any modifications approved by special resolution, the Company may not allot and issue "equity securities" for cash unless it has made an offer to each person who holds Ordinary Shares to allot and issue to him on the same or more favourable terms a proportion of those securities that is as nearly as practicable equal to the proportion of the Ordinary Share capital of the Company held by such person. The transfer of the Company's listing remains conditional on the Resolutions being passed. However the transfer of the Company's listing does not itself require shareholder approval. The Company has therefore requested and, subject to the Resolutions being passed, it is anticipated that the UKLA will approve the transfer of the listing category of the Ordinary Shares to a Premium Listing with effect from 8.00 a.m. on 10 September 2018. The B Shares will continue to be unlisted. Effect of the transfer to Premium Listing The effect of the transfer to a Premium Listing is that the provisions of Chapters 7 to 13 (inclusive) and the Chapter 15 of the Listing Rules will apply to the Company. In summary, these requirements relate to the following matters: the application of certain generic 'Premium Listing Principles' (Chapter 7); the requirement to appoint a sponsor in certain circumstances (Chapter 8); the requirement to comply with various continuing obligations, including the adoption of pre-emption rights (which may be disapplied by shareholders) and compliance with all relevant provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code (or provide an explanation for any non-compliance, if applicable, in its annual financial report) (Chapter 9); various specific contents requirements will apply to circulars issued by the Company to shareholders (Chapter 13); the requirement to announce, or obtain shareholder approval for, certain transactions outside the scope of its published investment policy (depending on their size and nature) and for certain transactions with 'related parties' of the Company (Chapters 10 and 11); certain restrictions in relation to the Company dealing in its own securities and treasury shares (Chapter 12); and certain requirements, as set out in more detail below, which are specific to investment entities, including in relation to corporate governance, investment policy and investment diversification (Chapter 15). From the date of transfer, the Company will also comply with the requirements imposed by Chapter 15, the more significant of which include: Listing Rule 15.2.2. the Company must invest and manage its assets in a way which is consistent with its object of spreading investment risk. Listing Rule 15.2.3A. the Company must not conduct any trading activity which is significant in the context of its group as a whole. Listing Rule 15.2.4A. the Company must avoid cross-financing between the businesses forming part of its portfolio and the operation of treasury functions as between the Company and its investee companies. Listing Rule 15.4.2. the Company must, at all times, invest and manage its assets in accordance with its published investment policy. The revised investment policy which the Company will adopt upon the transfer to a Premium Listing becoming effective is set out in full below. The rules relating to the independence of the Board and the Board's ability to act independently of the Investment Manager being set out in Listing Rules 15.2.11 to 15.2.13A. The rules relating to obtaining shareholder approval for material changes to the published investment policy of the Company set out in Listing Rules 15.4.8 and 15.4.9. The rules relating to further issues of shares set out in Listing Rule 15.4.11 such that the Company must not issue any further shares of a class for cash at a price below the Net Asset Value per share of that class unless first offered pro rata to existing holders of shares of that class (unless authorised by its shareholders). Investment policy The Company's investment objective is to provide its shareholders with consistent long term capital appreciation, utilising the investment skills of the Investment Manager, through investment of all of its capital (net of short-term working capital requirements) in Class E shares of Third Point Offshore Fund, Ltd. (the "Master Fund"), an exempted company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands in October 1996. The Master Fund's investment objective is to seek to generate consistent long-term capital appreciation, by using an event driven, bottom-up, fundamental approach to evaluate various types of securities throughout companies' capital structures. The Master Fund is managed by the Investment Manager and the Investment Manager's implementation of the Master Fund's investment policy is the main driver of the Company's performance. The Master Fund is a limited partner of Third Point Offshore Master Fund L.P. (the "Master Partnership"), an exempted limited partnership organised under the laws of the Cayman Islands, of which Third Point Advisors II L.L.C., an affiliate of the Investment Manager, is the general partner. Third Point LLC is the Investment Manager to the Company, the Master Fund and the Master Partnership. The Master Fund invests all of its investable assets in the Master Partnership, a corresponding open-ended investment partnership having the same investment objective as the Master Fund. The investments of the Master Fund and Master Partnership are managed in line with the Company's investment policy. The Master Partnership invests in securities and other instruments in select asset classes, sectors, and geographies, by taking long and short positions. The Master Partnership's investment portfolio is composed of selected investments from certain strategies, including long or short special situation and value equities, long or short performing corporate credit (high-yield or investment grade), long or short distressed corporate credit or other distressed instruments, including preferred stock, liquidating trusts certificates, trade claims and the like, long or short asset-backed securities, risk arbitrage, long or short physical and exchange-traded commodities, long or short currencies or government debt, and other strategies. The Company, through its investment in the Master Fund, will maintain a diversified portfolio of investments. In particular, the maximum exposure to a single issuer of securities will not exceed 25% of the Master Partnership's gross assets attributable to the Company, calculated at the time of investment. The Company will not invest more than 10 per cent., in aggregate, of its total assets in other UK-listed closed-ended investment funds. The Company may borrow up to 15 per cent. of the NAV of the Company in order to fund ongoing working capital requirements and share buy-backs. Working capital In the opinion of the Company, the working capital available to the Company is sufficient for its present requirements, that is for at least the next 12 months from the date of this announcement. Appointment of sponsor Jefferies International Limited is acting as sponsor and corporate broker to the Company. Jefferies International Limited has given and have not withdrawn their written consent to the inclusion in this announcement of the reference to its name in the form and context in which it is included. Enquiries: Third Point Offshore Investor Relations +1 212 715 6707 Jefferies International Limited (Sole Sponsor) Gary Gould +44 (0)20 7029 8000 IMPORTANT NOTICES This announcement appears as a matter of record only and does not constitute an offer to issue or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, any securities in any jurisdiction. The information contained in this announcement is given at the date of its publication and is subject to updating, revision and amendment. The contents of this announcement have not been approved by any competent regulatory or supervisory authority. All investments are subject to risk. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. The value of investments may fluctuate. Results achieved in the past are no guarantee of future results. This document is not intended to constitute legal, tax or accounting advice or investment recommendations. Prospective investors are advised to seek expert legal, financial, tax and other professional advice before making any investment decision. Statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" which are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of the Company's investment manager. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Forward-looking statements can be identified in some cases by the use of forward-looking terminology, including terms such as "intends", "intention", "will", "continue", "believe", "view" or, in each case, variations or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and may be beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Examples of such circumstances include required regulatory or stock exchange approvals. Actual events or results or the actual performance of the Company may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements. The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. The Company has not been and will not be registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Ordinary Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, into or within the United States, or to or for the benefit of "U.S. persons" as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and in a manner which would not require the Company to register under the Investment Company Act. Jefferies is authorised and regulated by the FCA and is acting as the Company's sponsor (the "Sponsor") in connection with the Admission and will not be acting for any other person, will not regard any other person as a client in relation to the Admission, and will not be responsible to any person other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Jefferies or for advising any other person in respect of the proposed Admission. Jefferies does not seek to limit or exclude its responsibilities and liabilities which may arise under FSMA or the regulatory regime established there under. This announcement has been prepared by the Company and its investment manager, Third Point LLC (the "Investment Manager"). No liability whatsoever (whether in negligence or otherwise) arising directly or indirectly from the use of this announcement is accepted and no representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is or will be made by the Company, the Investment Manager, the Sponsor or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, representatives or other agents ("Agents") for any information or any of the opinions contained herein or for any errors, omissions or misstatements. None of the Investment Manager, the Sponsor nor any of their respective Agents makes or has been authorised to make any representation or warranties (express or implied) in relation to the Company or as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of this announcement, or any other written or oral statement provided. In particular, no representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on any projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this announcement and nothing in this announcement is or should be relied on as a promise or representation as to the future. HONG KONG, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The JNA Jewellery Design Competition 2018/19 is honoured to announce its prestigious panel of judges comprising distinguished luminaries in the fields of jewellery and the arts. Organised by JNA of UBM Asia and sponsored by Crossfor Co Ltd, Platinum Guild International (PGI) and the Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong (TPAHK), the competition aims to foster creativity and innovation in jewellery design. Judges of the competition's inaugural edition have been chosen for their extensive knowledge and design expertise. They will evaluate entries on their adherence to the theme, originality, creativity, aesthetics and market potential. The independent judging panel is chaired by renowned jewellery designer Fei Liu who earned the coveted UKJA Designer of the Year award in 2016 and was named Designer of the Year by China's Harper Bazaar in 2012. Liu founded his eponymous brand in 2006, creating pieces with East-meets-West influences. His jewellery is sold in over 155 boutiques around the world, including the UK, Germany and China. Liu is joined on the panel of judges by Bradley Theodore, the famous New York-based visual artist; Robert Tateossian, the founder of the Tateossian London brand; Christie Dang, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the JNA group of publications; and an illustrious market insider from each category. Born in Turks & Caicos, New York City-based Bradley Theodore is a multi-disciplinary artist known for his murals depicting contemporary pop culture and fashion "royalty" in his signature skeletal style. His works include distinctive, colourful portraits of Queen Elizabeth, George Washington and fashion giants Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld. Widely recognised as the 'King of Cufflinks,' Robert Tateossian founded his eponymous brand in 1990. The Tateossian brand has won the UK British Export Award for Accessories three times. Many of its signature elements reflect Robert's own appreciation of mechanism, aesthetics and the unconventional, delivering distinctive yet wearable pieces. Christie Dang has travelled the world to report on the latest and most pressing developments in the gemstone and jewellery trade. For more than 20 years, she has lead CJNA, one of the most influential jewellery publications in the Greater China region. In August 2017, she became Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the JNA group of publications. Tahitian Pearl Category Judge Ida Wong is the General Manager of the Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong (TPAHK). She has been actively promoting Tahitian pearls by initiating sponsorships and other marketing campaigns, thereby contributing to greater awareness of the gem among designers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. Dancing Stone Category Judge Hidetaka Dobashi established Crossfor Co Ltd in 1999. Two years later, he obtained the patent for the Crossfor Cut technique. In 2011, Crossfor launched the patented "Dancing Stone" mechanism that sets a centre stone in constant motion. The company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (JASDAQ) in 2017. Platinum Category Judge Suzanne Wong, Senior Product Manager of Platinum Guild International, is committed to developing innovative jewellery designs in platinum. With over 25 years of experience in the jewellery industry, working with renowned jewellery brands and leading retailers in China, she is an expert on design, R&D and market strategy. The judges will first select 15 finalists, who will be announced in the middle of January 2019. For more details, see http://www.jnadesigncompetition.com/ Media Contact Althea Long UBM Asia Limited Email: althea.long@ubm.com Tel: +852 2516 1653 Social Media Platform WeChat ID: JNAdesigncomp Weibo ID: JNAdesigncomp Facebook: JNAdesigncomp Instagram: jnadesigncompetition Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/728172/Chairman_Fei_Liu.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/728173/Theodore_Tateossian_Dang.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/728174/Ida_Wong_Hidetaka_Dobashi_Suzanne_Wong.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/728175/JNA_Jewellery_Design_Competition_2018_19.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/630919/UBM.jpg OBERUESEL, Germany, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- - Acquisition will assert HORIBA's position as a leading solutions provider in the development of battery and fuel cell systems for electrified vehicle - Allows FuelCon to access HORIBA's global network and provide validation solutions for increasingly complex vehicle test requirements HORIBA Europe GmbH has today announced that it has agreed terms for the acquisition of FuelCon AG ("FuelCon"). FuelCon will become part of HORIBA Automotive Test Systems - a leading supplier in the fields of engine, driveline, brake and emissions test systems. The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory clearance. Founded in 2001 and based in Magdeburg-Barleben, Germany, FuelCon is a leading manufacturer and supplier of R&D and EOL (end of line) test beds and turnkey solutions for the E-Mobility sector, with expertise in battery and fuel cell applications. FuelCon has an enviable reputation for design and manufacture of precision high performance solutions and is trusted for its deep technical know-how by global OEMs and Tier 1s as well as international research laboratories. Through joining the HORIBA group of companies, FuelCon will be able to respond to the growing need for increasingly complex development and validation solutions and harness HORIBA's extensive international network. This acquisition represents a strategic move from the HORIBA group to increase its presence in the vehicle electrification market. The purchase will enable HORIBA to provide a comprehensive suite of test and development solutions across battery and fuel cell lifecycles. This will enable HORIBA to increase its access to the growing global market requirement for E-Mobility solutions and capitalise on the growing demand for validation technologies. Dr George Gillespie, Executive Vice President, HORIBA Automotive Test Systems said: "In line with global megatrends, we are witnessing the continued electrification of transport with a mix of pure EV and complex hybrid solutions. With this in mind, HORIBA needed to find a suitable industry leader who offered a range of technical solutions that complement our existing automotive test systems business and our position of global leadership in emissions measurement. In FuelCon we have found the perfect partner." Mathias Bode, Managing Director, FuelCon commented: "Over the past 18 years, FuelCon has become a leader in battery and fuel cell validation solutions. With increasing number of challenging requests, we need to provide solutions that meet complex validation needs across the globe. With HORIBA we have found a partner who will give us that international reach and with their track record in the manufacture of complex test and measurement solutions, they understand our need to continue to be able to respond promptly to complex customer demands." Dr Robert Plank, COO, HORIBA Europe GmbH said: "We regard FuelCon as the perfect fit for our strategic ambitions. With their range of products and their applications expertise, we see a great future ahead of us. We will now be able to offer an increasingly comprehensive suite of test and validation solutions for a full range of automotive propulsion technologies moving from combustion engines to electrified powertrains. By bringing FuelCon into the HORIBA group of companies and developing their Magdeburg facility as our global centre of competence for fuel cell and battery test systems, we take another step in future-proofing our automotive business and achieving our aim of becoming the number one partner for validating vehicle efficiency and performance." Notes to Editors About HORIBA Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, the HORIBA Group is a global leading supplier of measurement technology and systems for various fields from automotive testing, process and environmental monitoring, in-vitro medical diagnostics, semiconductor manufacturing and metrology to scientific R&D and QC measurements. Company Name: HORIBA, Ltd. Address: 2, Miyanohigashi-cho, Kisshoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto, Japan Web Address: http://www.horiba.com Founded: October 17, 1945 Incorporated: January 26, 1953 Net Sales: 195,399 million Japanese yen (Consolidated, Fiscal 2017) Paid in Capital: 12,011 million Japanese yen (As of December 31, 2017) Business Domain: Manufacture and sale of analytical measurement equipment Fiscal Closing Date: December 31, annually Annual Meeting of Shareholders: Held in March Number of Employees: 7,399 (Consolidated, as of December 31, 2017) Representative: Atsushi Horiba - Chairman and Group CEO Stock Listings: Tokyo Stock Exchange, First Section Securities Code: 6856 About HORIBA Automotive Test Systems A business segment of the HORIBA Group, Automotive Test Systems (ATS) which has developed global leadership in the fields of engine test systems, driveline test systems, brake test systems, wind tunnel balances and emissions test systems. HORIBA ATS is able to offer its customers complete solutions with full turnkey capability for all industries using electric motors, internal combustion engines and turbines. These include the automotive, heavy-duty, off-road, consumer goods, marine, aerospace and locomotive sectors. About FuelCon FuelCon is a global leading supplier of test systems for fuel cells and batteries. For years, the name has been recognized for innovative engineering, high quality, the highest safety standards and close consultation with its customers. With testing systems for fuel cells FuelCon offers optimal solutions for all typical technologies such as PEM or SOFC with a power range up to 250+ kW. In addition, innovative test systems for evaluating electrolysers are also available. With the "Evaluator-B" series FuelCon has developed a concept that fulfils the challenging testing requirements of modern batteries in R&D as well as in production, with high accuracy and flexibility. Company Name FuelCon AG Establishment 2001 Address Magdeburg-Barleben, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany Business Fuelcell testing instruments and Battery testing instruments For further information about HORIBA Automotive Test Systems, please contact Grayling on +44-121-265-2760 or email bethany.haller@grayling.com HARVIA PLC PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 10, 2018 AT 12:00 P.M. EET Harvia will publish its half-year financial report for the period of January-June 2018, on Thursday, 16 August 2018 at around 9:00 a.m. Finnish time. The stock exchange release and the presentation material in Finnish and English will be available at https://www.harvia.fi/en/investors/ (https://www.harvia.fi/en/investors/). A press conference for analysts, investors and media Harvia will hold a press conference for analysts, investors and media on the same day at 11:00 a.m. Finnish time, at the company's headquarters in Muurame (address Teollisuustie 1-7, Muurame). The conference will be held in Finnish. The conference will be hosted by Harvia's CEO Tapio Pajuharju and CFO Ari Vesterinen. Participants are kindly requested to register in advance via email at harvia@harvia.fi (mailto:harvia@harvia.fi) . Live audiocast A live audiocast will be held in English on the same day at 1:00 p.m. Finnish time. Harvia's CEO Tapio Pajuharju and CFO Ari Vesterinen will host the audiocast. Link to the audiocast and presentation can be found at https://harvia.videosync.fi/2018-q2-results (https://harvia.videosync.fi/2018-q2-results). You can also participate by calling: FI: +358 9 817 104 95 UK: +44 203 194 0552 SE: +46 856 642 702 US: +1 855 716 1597 After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. A recording of the audiocast will be available later at the company's website. HARVIA PLC For further information, please contact: CFO Ari Vesterinen, ari.vesterinen@harvia.fi , tel. +358 40 505 0440 Harvia is one of the leading companies operating in the sauna and spa market globally, as measured by revenue. Harvia's brands and product offering are well-known in the market and the company's comprehensive product offering strives to meet the needs of the international sauna and spa market, of both private and professional customers. Harvia's revenue amounted to EUR 60.1 million in 2017, its operating profit was EUR 9.3 million and adjusted operating profit EUR 10.7 million during the same period. The company employs some 365 professionals in Finland, China and Hong Kong, Romania, Austria, Germany and Estonia. The company is headquartered in Muurame, Finland, adjacent to its largest sauna and sauna component manufacturing facility. Read more www.harvia.fi (http://www.harvia.fi/) This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Harvia Oyj via Globenewswire London, United Kingdom, August 10, 2018 - Seadrill Partners LLC is scheduled to release its second quarter 2018 results on Tuesday August 21st, 2018. In connection with the earnings release, a conference call/webcast will be held as described below. A conference call will be held at 10:30 a.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. BST on Tuesday August 21st, 2018. To listen to the management presentation of the results, the following options are available: A. Webcast In order to register to listen to the conference call, please click this link. (https://services.choruscall.com/links/sdlp180821HSoegJ3g.html)Participants can register for the conference call and receive their dial-in details by clicking this link. (http://dpregister.com/10123007) Those without internet access or unable to pre-register may join the call on August 21st by dialling: US dial in: +1-877-317-6714 This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Seadrill Partners LLC via Globenewswire International dial in: +1-412-317-5476The participants will be required to request the Seadrill Partners Conference call.There will be a Q&A session subsequent to the presentation. Information on how to ask management questions will be given at the beginning of the Q&A session.In order to view the presentation while listening to the conference, please download the presentation material from http://www.seadrillpartners.com/ (http://www.seadrillpartners.com/)If you are unable to participate in the conference call, there is an opportunity to listen to a replay on http://www.seadrillpartners.com/ (http://www.seadrillpartners.com/) (Investor Relations)Participant list information required: Full name & company SHANGHAI, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- From August 10-11, 2018, the 4th China Events (MICE) Industry Fair (CEIF) is being held at Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC). Major cities, associations and enterprises in the events industry from Hainan Province, guided by the Provincial Convention & Exhibition Bureau, participated in the fair to demonstrate their major events. Hainan highlights the (3rd) Hainan World Leisure Tourism Expo 2018 (Hainan Leisure Expo) and the (4th) Hainan International RV (AUTO) Camping Leisure Tourism Expo 2018 (Hainan Camping Expo) at the fair. Hainan Leisure Expo, hosted by the Provincial Tourism Development Committee, introduces Hainan's tourism resources to the world and provides a platform for industrial players to exchange their ideas on the new trend of leisure tourism. Hainan Camping Expo, hosted by Hainan Commercial Department and Haikou Municipal Government, promotes the province's resources for camping and drive tours by recreational vehicles and other vehicles. Industrial players can demonstrate their new technologies, products and experiences at the expo. After nearly three years' efforts, these two events have become influential brand in the events industry. The 2018 (3rd) Hainan Leisure Expo will be held at Hainan International Convention & Exhibition Center from November 23 to 25 as the opening event of the 2018 (19th) Hainan International Tourism Island Carnival. The 2018 (4th) Hainan Camping Expo will be held in Haikou from December 21 to 23. Both will be undertaken by Redsail MICE. At the CEIF, Redsail MICE, as the brand exhibition company of Hainan, released new strategic positioning to the world in the theme of "new opportunities, new positioning and new journey". Redsail MICE tailors launch events for well-known enterprises worldwide investing and operating in Hainan. Founded in 2008, Redsail MICE has grown into a one-stop service platform for the operation and management of Hainan's MICE services and brands in the past decade. Hainan is one of the global attractions of recreational tourism and an ideal place for large international events. MICE was included in 12 key industries of Hainan in 2015, and developed rapid in 2017. Over the year, there were 17,500 meetings with more than 100 participants, increased by 16.8%, including 107 meetings with more than 1,000 participants, increased by 30.5%. The exhibition area was increased by 17% to 1.45 million m2. With added value totaling 8 billion yuan, increased by 15.4%, the MICE industry ranked fourth among 12 key industries in Hainan. Hainan is making steady progress in promoting the construction of the Free Trade Pilot Zone and Port. Faced with a significant historical opportunity, Hainan's MICE industry is ushering in a new stage of leapfrog development and prosperity. The Hainan Provincial Convention & Exhibition Bureau invites all first-class MICE enterprises to set up offices, hold and participate in conventions and exhibitions in Hainan, benefit from its reform and opening-up and share opportunities from construction of Hainan Free Trade Zone and Port. ALBANY, New York, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The global TNF inhibitors market was valued around US$ 40,369.8 Mn in 2017. It is anticipated to expand at a stable CAGR of 2.54% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2026, according to a new report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled "TNF Inhibitors Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2018-2026". Expansion of the global TNF inhibitors market is driven by strong research & development and increasing awareness regarding usage of TNF inhibitors for the treatment of various rheumatic conditions during the forecast period. The TNF inhibitors market in Asia Pacific is expanding at a high CAGR of more than 4.5% due to the high prevalence of diseases, development in the health care sector, and increased adoption of TNF inhibitors due to entry of biosimilars. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=36113 Rise in geriatric population with increasing incidence of inflammatory conditions create lucrative opportunity of TNF inhibitors which drives the growth of the market The global population is aging rapidly, especially in some developed economies such as the U.S., most of Western Europe, and Japan. Developed economies witness high rates of aging as compared to developing countries. This is attributed to improved health care infrastructure, reimbursement policies, and advancement in health care facilities in these countries. Moreover, access to various TNF inhibitors has improved in the recent past, especially in developed economies. This, in turn, has increased the life expectancy of the population. The geriatric population is a major end-user of TNF inhibitors for the improvement in the quality of their lives. Increase in number of elderly people leads to high rate of disease ailments, which in turn is likely to propel the demand and consumption of TNF inhibitors. Request a Custom Report athttps://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=36113 Entry of biosimilar at lower price, as compared to biologic, into the market is likely to increase the consumption as well as patient base of TNF inhibitors Most leading TNF inhibitors such as humira, Enbrel, and remicade have lost their patents in the last few years and some TNF inhibitors are likely to lose their patents in the near future. Therefore, TNF inhibitors biosimilars are likely to gain market share during the forecast period due to patient affordability in low income countries and increase in patient awareness. For instance, the world bestselling drug, humira (adalimumab), lost its patent in 2016. Johnson & Johnson's remicade lost its patent in 2014. Entry of TNF inhibitors biosimilars is expected to create lucrative opportunities in low income countries, making them more accessible and affordable, which in turn is likely to fuel the consumption of TNF inhibitors. This, in turn, is anticipated to further drive the TNF inhibitors market. Moreover, strong clinical pipeline of TNF inhibitors biosimilars further propels the global TNF inhibitors market. Request a Sample of TNF Inhibitors Market:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=36113 Rising patient preference for treatment at hospitals drives the hospital pharmacy segment Based on distribution channel, the market can be segmented into hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy & online pharmacy. The hospital pharmacy segment is estimated to hold a prominent share of the market during the forecast period, owing to the increase in number of hospital visits and stays. However, the online pharmacy segment is expected to expand at a high CAGR during the forecast period due to the increase in number of internet users and ease of usage. Increasing prevalence of rheumatic diseases and entry of Biosimilars in Asia Pacific likely to create more opportunities for TNF inhibitors market In terms of geography, the global TNF inhibitors market can be divided into major five geographical regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is estimated to hold a leading share of the global market during the forecast period, owing to the high rate of adoption of TNF inhibitors and high health care expenditure in the region. Europe is anticipated to account for a significant share of the global market between 2018 and 2026. Increase in the incidence of rheumatic diseases in Europe is projected to fuel the market in the region during the forecast period. The market in Asia Pacific is projected to expand at a high growth rate during the forecast period, due to significant patient base, increasing health care expenditure, and availability of TNF inhibitors at a comparatively lower price, making them more accessible and affordable for patients. Request For Discount On This Report:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=36113 Increasing focus of key players on expansion in Asia Pacific's large untapped population, and rising awareness about health care fuels the TNF inhibitors market in Asia Pacific. AbbVie, Inc., Janssen Biotech, Inc., UCB, Amgen, Inc., were leaders of the TNF inhibitors Market in 2017 Key players covered in this report include AbbVie, Inc., Janssen Biotech, Inc., UCB, Amgen, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Samsung Bioepis, Biogen, Merck & Co., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. Browse Research Release athttps://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/tnf-inhibitors-market.htm Companies operating in the global TNF inhibitors market are focusing on strategic deals to maintain their market position and share by delaying the entry of biosimilars in major regions such as North America. Popular Research Reports by TMR: Psoriasis Treatment Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/psoriasis-treatment-market.html Plasma Protease C1-inhibitor Treatment Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/plasma-protease-c1inhibitor-treatment-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr. Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research 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://theglobalhealthnews.com/ LONDON, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Law firm M1 Legal has set up an action group to support consumers following a decision in the Royal Courts of Justice which brings fresh hope to thousands of timeshare holders in the UK. It follows a ruling by Judge Timothy Herrington sitting in the Upper Tribunal of the RCJ that states weight must be given to consumer detriment when making a decision against Clydesdale Financial Services affecting 1,444 regulated credit agreements worth 47million. Spokesperson for M1 Legal, who specialise in timeshare contract law, Suzanne Stojanovic, said: "This is a landmark ruling that could open up the floodgates for European consumer claims." CFS trades as Barclays Partner Finance whose parent company is Barclays Bank Ltd. An appeal was referred to the Upper Tribunal after a decision for a Validation Order for BPF by the Financial Conduct Authority was referenced (appealed) by 45 timeshare holders. Judge Herrington was asked to remit the Validation Order granted in favour of BPF back to the FCA - after it was opposed by the 45 borrowers. The tribunal was told the credit agreements financed the acquisition of timeshare accommodation from a group of companies called Azure totalling 47million. They were brokered by an unauthorised broker in breach of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. In February the FCA issued the Order, allowing BPF to retain any money paid to them under the agreements, arguing they did not intentionally contravene the requirements. They said the effect on borrowers would have been no different, even if the broker had been authorised. The 45 borrowers submitted allegations including that they were pressurised into signing, false representations were made, they had been misled, as well as concerns about the agreements and credit assessments. At the time of the FCA issuing the Order, BPF had not submitted evidence regarding consumer detriment. It was only after appeals were received opposing the Order that the FCA became aware of the issue of consumer detriment. The FCA and the borrowers asked the Tribunal to remit the matter back to the FCA to reconsider with a direction to take consumer detriment into consideration. BPF contested the Order should not be unwound. In his ruling Judge Herrington said: "I have found that there is evidence of potential consumer detriment, albeit unsubstantiated at this stage, most of which was not taken into account by the Authority in making its decision to issue the Validation Order." He added that consumer detriment was a relevant factor and directed the FCA to take it into account when reconsidering its decision. M1 Legal is an expert team of international lawyers and legal assistants at the forefront of timeshare legislation knowledge to help consumers who have bought timeshare properties abroad and feel they have been misrepresented. Following the tribunal ruling Suzanne Stojanovic said M1 Legal had formed an action group to support Azure timeshare consumers who feel they have been misrepresented. To find out more, contact Suzy Stojanovic atazuregroupaction@m1legal.com or call M1 Legal on +44(0)203-519- 2142. 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. Quantzig, a global analytics solutions provider, has announced the completion of their latest article on the major benefits of web analytics tools for business growth. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005198/en/ Top 5 Benefits of Using Web Analytics Tools (Graphic: Business Wire) At present, for any business to evaluate its digital presence, web analytics tools have become very significant. 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Referral traffic comes from a different website, which is either connected to your content or you have written a guest post on their website. Social traffic comes from many social media platforms through your posts that have been shared. This helps in understanding how appealing your posts on social networks are. Last but not the least, is direct traffic, which helps you classify how many people are directly typing the name of your website in their browser and landing on the page of your website. This is a sign of the loyal following of your website. Get in touch to know more about the major benefits of web analytics tools for business growth. To know the source of your website traffic is one of the very significant factors to progress your website's performance. Web analytics tools help in dividing traffic into groups like referral, organic, social, and direct. Organic is determined through a search engine and this helps you to understand the ranking of your website in the search engine. Referral traffic comes from a different website, which is either connected to your content or you have written a guest post on their website. Social traffic comes from many social media platforms through your posts that have been shared. This helps in understanding how appealing your posts on social networks are. Last but not the least, is direct traffic, which helps you classify how many people are directly typing the name of your website in their browser and landing on the page of your website. This is a sign of the loyal following of your website. Bounce rate tracking: Web analytics tools help you understand how many visitors are exiting your website instantly after arriving. Lower bounce rate specifies that your website is able to engage and occupy the visitors for a longer time. Bounce rate is different for different pages like blogs and landing pages. There are many reasons for high bounce rate like inappropriate keywords, slow loading of your website pages, broken links, inappropriate content, and many more. Web analytics tools help you understand how many visitors are exiting your website instantly after arriving. Lower bounce rate specifies that your website is able to engage and occupy the visitors for a longer time. Bounce rate is different for different pages like blogs and landing pages. There are many reasons for high bounce rate like inappropriate keywords, slow loading of your website pages, broken links, inappropriate content, and many more. Visit our page, to view a comprehensive list of the major benefits of web analytics tools for business growth. Quantzig is a pure-play analytics advisory firm concentrated on leveraging analytics for prudent decision making and offering solutions to clients across several industrial sectors. Request a proposal to see how Quantzig's solutions can help you. View the complete list of the major benefits of web analytics tools for business growth: https://www.quantzig.com/blog/benefits-web-analytics-tools About Quantzig Quantzig is a global analytics and advisory firm with offices in the US, UK, Canada, China, and India. For more than 15 years, we have assisted our clients across the globe with end-to-end data modeling capabilities to leverage analytics for prudent decision making. Today, our firm consists of 120+ clients, including 45 Fortune 500 companies. For more information on all of Quantzig's services and the solutions they have provided to Fortune 500 clients across all industries, please contact us. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005198/en/ Contacts: Quantzig Anirban Choudhury Marketing Consultant US: +1 630 538 7144 UK: +44 208 629 1455 hello@quantzig.com https://www.quantzig.com/contact-us The JD(U) had won only two parliamentary berths in 2014 after quitting the NDA a year before. New Delhi: The BJP, which named JD(U)s candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh as the NDAs nominee for the coveted post of Rajya Sabhas Deputy Chairman, has reportedly bargained for a lions share of Lok Sabha berths in Bihar for the forthcoming elections. The BJP, it was learnt, has indicated to the JD(U) that it will get 4-5 more parliamentary seats than the last time in the seat-sharing formula. Mr Singhs victory not only gave a boost to the ruling NDA, with non-NDA outfits BJD and TRS backing the NDA nominee but also indicated reciprocity as the JD(U), which rejoined the NDA fold last year, has no representative in the Modi government. Unlike in 2009 when the allies fought the Lok Sabha polls when JD(U) contested on 26 and BJP on 14, this time the seat-sharing formula will also include LJP and RLSP. Both the JD(U) and the BJP will also have to accommodate their junior partners in the state, LJP and RLSP, while finalising the seat-sharing formula. Both the LJP and RLSPs supremos Ram Vilas Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha are ministers in the Modi government. The JD(U) had won only two parliamentary berths in 2014 after quitting the NDA a year before. Speculation is rife in the BJPs Bihar unit that the party top brass has indicated to the JD(U) chief and state chief minister Nitish Kumar that the saffron party will have an upper hand when it comes to the seat-sharing formula for 40 Lok Sabha berths in the state. The issue had become a bone of contention between the two allies recently but was sorted out after BJP chief Amit Shah held a meeting with Mr Kumar. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MYM Nutraceuticals Inc., (CSE: MYM) (CSE: MYM.CN) (MYM.CN) (the "Company" or "MYM") is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth S. Liu, QC to the Board of Directors effective August 1, 2018. Ms. Liu founded and is Managing Director of LINK Business Law Group, a law firm that provides a broad range of legal, strategic and risk management advice, as well as general counsel services. Her clients include both early-stage and established companies in a variety of industries. Prior to establishing LINK Business Law Group, Ms. Liu was Managing Partner at Basham Thompson & Liu LLP, a boutique litigation firm. She then served as Vice President and General Counsel to the Flora Group of Companies where she was involved in all aspects of the group's operations and provided guidance on contracts and other legal and risk planning issues. Flora manufactures and sells premium natural health products and has numerous distributorships in international markets. Ms. Liu was appointed Queen's Counsel by Order-in-Council in December 2016. "We are happy to welcome Elizabeth to the MYM family," said Rob Gietl, CEO of MYM. "Elizabeth brings with her over 25 years of legal and management experience. Her time spent working with the Flora Group of Companies will prove instrumental in creating and distributing new lines of premium cannabis natural health products." Ms. Liu was granted options to purchase 100,000 common shares of the Company in accordance with the Company's stock option plan. The options are exercisable at a price of $1.32 per share. 25,000 options will vest every six months from August 1, 2018. The expiry date of this option is August 1, 2021. About MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. is an innovative company focused on acquiring Health Canada licenses to produce and sell high-end medicinal cannabis supplements and topical products. MYM is a shareholder in two production projects in Quebec that are anticipated to have over 1.5 million square feet of production space. MYM is also a shareholder in two additional cannabis production projects in Australia and Colombia. The "Northern Rivers Project" in New South Wales, Australia is expected to have 1.2 million square feet of cannabis production space. In Colombia, MYM partner, Colombia Organica, currently hold a seed to sale license for low THC cannabis and are in the licensing process for the cultivation and production of high THC cannabis extracts. Plans are underway for MYM and Colombia Organica to build a cannabis production facility in the region. To ensure a strong presence and growth potential within the industry, MYM is actively looking to acquire complementary businesses and assets in the technology, nutraceuticals and CBD sectors. MYM shares trade in Canada, Germany and the USA under the following symbols: (CSE:MYM) (OTC:MYMMF) (FRA:0MY) (DEU:0MY) (MUN:0MY) (STU:0MY). ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Rob Gietl, CEO MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. http://www.mym.ca Keep up to date with MYM on our social media channels: Twitter: @mymnutra Facebook: @mymnutra Instagram: @mymnutra This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on http://www.sedar.com. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE or CNSX Markets), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE), accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Investor Relations Terry Brown +1-855-696-2261 terry.brown@mym.ca VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2018 / MGX Minerals Inc. ("MGX" or the "Company") (CSE: XMG / FKT: 1MG / OTCQB: MGXMF) is pleased to report results of diamond drilling from its Koot silicon project ("Koot") north of Cranbrook, British Columbia. Nine drill holes were completed across 50 meter spacings to further expand known mineralization within the North and South zones. Five drill holes were located in the North Zone and were collared in quartzite and ended in quartzite. Four holes collared in the South Zone started in quartzite and two out of four holes ended in quartzite. The Company began evaluation of commercial applications for silica with silicon processing experts DORFNER ANZAPLAN this Spring; including testing of material for upgrading of metallurgical grade and solar-grade silicon with results expected shortly. The relatively high percentage of total SiO2 content compares favorably with other silica deposits in nearby Golden, British Columbia. Impurity compounds of interest such as Al2O3 & Fe2O3, approach specifications required for silicon metal. Lower loss on ignition (LOI) values correlate directly with higher SiO2 values. Highlighted drill results are presented below: DDH From (m) To (m) Interval (m) % SiO2 % Al2O3 % Fe2O3 % K2O % TiO2 % LOI % Total % SiO2/ % Total 18K-1 0.9 56.39 55.49 98.5 0.54 0.39 0.17 0.13 0.49 100.25 98.15 18K-2 0.9 76.20 75.3 97.9 0.51 0.24 0.10 0.14 0.30 99.30 98.64 18K-3 1.5 106.68 105.18 98.7 0.33 0.24 0.10 0.10 0.26 99.84 98.88 18K-4 0.0 86.0 86.0 98.3 0.37 0.38 0.14 0.12 0.36 99.81 98.5 18K-5 2.0 99.0 97.0 98.1 0.70 0.33 0.19 0.14 0.41 99.90 98.16 18K-6 2.2 36.0 33.8 99.0 0.97 0.09 0.29 0.06 0.33 100.89 98.28 18K-7 6.0 54.0 48.0 99.0 0.44 0.25 0.12 0.12 0.40 100.41 98.61 18K-9 2.3 77.72 75.42 98.4 0.43 0.37 0.11 0.11 0.42 99.95 98.43 18K-10 2.25 54.0 51.75 98.9 0.39 0.23 0.08 0.11 0.32 100.16 98.78 Geochemical sampling was carried out on split drill core from nine holes. A total of 212 split core samples (at 3 meter sample intervals) were analyzed by ALS Minerals, North Vancouver, British Columbia, using Li Borate fusion, whole rock analysis ME-XRF-06. MGX operates three silicon projects in SE British Columbia, Koot, Wonah, and Gibraltar. Qualified Person Andris Kikauka (P. Geo.), Vice President of Exploration for MGX Minerals, has prepared, reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. Mr. Kikauka is a non-independent Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards. About MGX Minerals MGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian resource company with interests in advanced material and energy assets throughout North America. Learn more at www.mgxminerals.com . Contact Information Jared Lazerson President and CEO Telephone: 1.604.681.7735 Web: www.mgxminerals.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potentially" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: MGX Minerals SPOKANE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2018 / Goldrich Mining Company (OTC PINK: GRMC) ('Goldrich') sadly reports the passing away of Charles G. Bigelow. Mr. Bigelow ('Riz') has been a valued board member of the Company since 2003. All of us at Goldrich share this loss with heartfelt condolences to his family. In addition to being a director of Goldrich, Riz was formerly the President of WGM Inc., an Alaska minerals consulting and contracting firm from 1972 to 2005. During his tenure he conceived, placed, and directed turnkey exploration programs for resource companies and syndicates. From 1962 to 1972, he managed Kennecott Corporation's Alaska mineral programs. His projects culminated in the making of five of the six most notable metal mines to enter production in Alaska over the last 100 years (Greens Creek, Red Dog, Fort Knox, Pogo and Valdez Creek). Mr. Bigelow discovered the Ambler District and Chandalar Copper Belt, which share the southern Brooks Range mineral belt with the Company's Chandalar Gold property. Riz's witty demeanor and remarkable geologic insights contributed greatly to the development of Goldrich. Riz will be sorely missed as an exceptional professional and as a dear friend. About Goldrich Mining Goldrich Mining (OTC PINK: GRMC) is a U.S. based resource company focused on developing the Chandalar gold district in Alaska, USA. The Company controls a land package spanning 23,000 acres of highly prospective gold targets and historic mines. Goldrich is focused on building shareholder value by monetizing placer assets, generating non-dilutive funds, and working towards building a lode gold mine at Chandalar in addition to the existing joint-venture placer gold mine already producing on site. For additional information regarding Goldrich Mining Company or this news release, contact Mr. William Schara via telephone at (509) 768-4468 or info@goldrichmining.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements concern use of proceeds and potential exercise of the warrants. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, budgets, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as 'expects' or 'does not expect,' 'is expected,' 'anticipates' or 'does not anticipate,' 'plans,' 'estimates' or 'intends,' or stating that certain actions, events or results 'may,' 'could,' 'would,' 'might,' 'should' or 'will' be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to our ability to continue as a going concern being in doubt; risks related to our history of losses; risks related to our outstanding gold forward sales contracts and notes; risks related to need to raise additional capital to fund our exploration and, if warranted, development and production programs; risks related to our property not having any proven or probable reserves; risk related to our limited history of commercial production; risk related to operating a mine; risk related to accurately forecasting production; risk related to accurately forecasting production; risks related to our dependence on a single property - the Chandalar property; risks related to climate and location restricting our exploration and, if warranted, development and production activities; risks related to our mineralization estimates being based on limited drilling data; risks related to our exploration activities not being commercially successful; risks related to actual capital costs, production or economic return being different than projected; risk related to our joint venture arrangements; risks related to mineral exploration; risks related to increased costs; risks related to a shortage of equipment and supplies; risk related to fluctuations in gold prices; risks related to title to our properties being defective; risks related to title to our properties being subject to claims; risks related to estimates of mineralized material; risks related to government regulation; risks related to environmental laws and regulation; risks related to land reclamation requirements; risks related to future legislation regarding mining laws; risks related to future legislation regarding climate change; risks related to our lack of insurance coverage for all risks; risks related to competition in the mining industry; risks related to our dependence on key personnel; risks related to our executive offices not dedicating 100% of their time to our company; risks related to potential conflicts of interest with our directors and executive officers; risks related to market conditions; and risks related to our shares of common stock. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking statements. Some of the important risks and uncertainties that could affect forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We disclaim any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, except as required by law. SOURCE: Goldrich Mining Company Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2018) - Nicola Mining Inc. (TSXV: NIM) (the "Company") is pleased to announce results on its 20-hole Phase 1 Reverse Circulation drill program ("Phase 1 RC Program") completed between May 23 to June 8, 2018, at its wholly-owned New Craigmont Project, located near Merritt, British Columbia. The Phase 1 RC Program provides a simple overview of copper grade and sectional volume of the approximate 80-90 million-tonne historical wastepile surrounding the Craigmont Mine pit, as well as insight if any sections merited further exploration. The Phase 1 RC Program also added to positive 3060-Portal RC drill results, as announced in the September 26, 2017, news release. Given that the wastepile material was placed in benches, there would be no direct mining costs associated with production. Assay results from the drill program are summarized in Diagram 1. Highlights of the results include: An average grade of 2 463 ppm Cu (0.2 5 % Cu) over 40 metres for the deepest RC hole in the program (CC-RC-18-12) Indication of potential high-grade Cu mineralization in the southern side of the waste piles that is believed to also contain the greatest volume On October 3, 2016, the Company announced that it had entered into an Exploration and Material Purchase Agreement with Teck Highland Valley Copper Partnership ("HVCP"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Teck Resources Limited, involving mine strip material (refer to Oct. 3, 2016, news release) surrounding the historic Craigmont open pit. A clear zone of interest has been found in the largest volume section of the wastepiles, which is located on the southern side of the pit. The Phase 1 RC program found the south-central quadrant contains the thickest and most potentially economic grade for the waste piles. Results have warranted a follow up program ("Phase 2 Program") to delineate copper mineralization and trace the extent of the higher grading material within the waste piles. The Company recognizes that an approximate 100-hole Phase 2 Program will provide only conceptual quantity and grades and will be insufficient data to complete a NI 43-101 resource. Phase 2 will, however, be able to provide insight into approximate in-situ calculations based on volume and grade. The Phase 2 Program will include additional holes at Portal 3060 which were not completed during the 2017 exploration program. The Company has the funds to complete the entire Phase 2 DrillingProgram. Figure 1: Map of 20-Hole Phase 1 RC Program Hole Locations To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4873/38012_a1533854944141_12.jpg Figure 2: Map of 20-Hole Phase 1 RC Program Results and Zone and Phase 2 Target To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4873/38012_a1533854945469_6.jpg Peter Espig, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "The Phase 1 RC Program proved extremely valuable, as it provides us with insight into the significant potential of the mine strip material surrounding the historic pit. We are encouraged that grading of the wastepiles are associated with location and not depth, which limits waste rock and allows the Company to focus on the eastern side of the historic pit. In addition, because the largest cost of mining, which includes engineering, infrastructure, surveying and blasting have all been incurred, the value of the wastepile is significant and warrants a follow up Phase 2 Program. Quality Control The Company implemented a quality control program for this program to ensure best practices are utilized for sample collection and analysis of RC cuttings. Samples were collected at 2.0 m intervals down hole with lithology, alteration and mineralization documented for each interval. Quality control measures include insertion of standards and duplicates into the sample stream at a frequency of 1 blank and 1 standard for every group of 20 samples, and field duplicates at a rate of 3 per 100 samples. Activation Laboratory (ISO 17025 Certified) in Kamloops, British Columbia, conducted sample analysis using ICP Aqua Regia 38-element (IE3) and fire assay gold (IA2) packages. Certified reference standards and rock blanks were placed in the sample stream with a ratio of approximately one sample out of 10. Qualified Person Kevin Wells, P.Geo, a consulting geologist to the Company, is the independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for the technical disclosure contained in this news release. About Nicola Mining Nicola Mining Inc. is a junior mining company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and is in the process of recommencing mill feed processing operations at its 100% owned state-of-the-art mill and tailings facility, located near Merritt, British Columbia. It has already signed four mill profit share agreements with high grade gold producers. The fully-permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes. The Company also owns 100% of Treasure Mountain, a high-grade silver property, and an active gravel pit that is located adjacent to its milling operations. About New Craigmont The New Craigmont Project (the "Property") is a wholly-owned copper property with an active mine permit (M-68), located within the world-class Highland Valley porphyry district. It benefits from excellent infrastructure. The Property is at the corner intersection of the Nicola and Guichon batholiths, of which the latter is the precursor to mineralization at Highland Valley. In November of 2015, Nicola became the first group in decades to consolidate ownership of the Property, and has been actively conducting mineral exploration since. There are currently no mineral resource estimates on the Property. Historical "non-NI 43-101" resource calculations are recorded in internal memos and geological reports for Placer Development. An internal memo written by J.F. Bristow on October 30, 1985, to Craigmont Mines Ltd. reported a zone known as Body No. 3 containing a historic estimate of 1,290,000 tons (1,170,268 metric tonnes) of copper grading 1.53% copper. * This estimate assumes a 0.7% copper cut-off and a 20-foot mining width between drill sections 6565E and 8015E. The material in Body No. 3 contains mineralization primarily in silicate-rich rocks. Additionally, J.F. Bristow reported in an internal memo on July 22, 1985, to Craigmont Mines Ltd. a rough calculation of +60,000,000 pounds (1.6 million short tons or 1.45 metric tonnes) of +1.5% copper from an original ore estimate of 27,754,000 short tons (25,178,005 metric tonnes) of copper grading 1.79% copper left behind in the sub-level cave. The material is from the previously mined out No.1 Body and No.2 Body. It should be noted that these historical estimates do not meet the requirements needed to conform to National Instrument 43-101 standards. The Company notes that an independent Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to verify and classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and is therefore not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. For further details on the Property, see the technical report entitled "TECHNICAL REPORT on the THULE COPPER - IRON PROPERTY, Southern British Columbia, Canada," filed on May 8, 2013, on Sedar at www.sedar.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Peter Espig" Peter Espig CEO & Director For additional information contact: Peter Espig Telephone: (778) 385-1213 Email: peter@nicolamining.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. PUNE, India, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ReportsnReports delivers key insights on the Global Hexanoic Acid market in a new report titled "2018 Global Hexanoic Acid Industry Research Report." The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key trends and business opportunities for the industry. Global Hexanoic Acid Market Report 2018 statistical surveying furnishes industry outline and examination with 2025 Hexanoic Acid market gauges and additionally organization profile, item picture and determination with limit creation, value, cost, generation esteem and more for real makers. Finish give an account of Hexanoic Acid market spread crosswise over 107 pages, giving examination of 08 noteworthy organizations upheld with 191 tables and figures. Ask discount on this latest research report @ https://www.reportsnreports.com/contacts/discount.aspx?name=1542633 Hexanoic acid (caproic acid) is a short chain fatty acid, which is found in various plant oils including palm oil and coconut oil, and animal fats such as cow and goat milk. The primary use of hexanoic acid is in the manufacture of its esters for artificial flavors, and in the manufacture of hexyl derivatives, such as hexylphenols. During all applications, flavoring and perfuming agent is the largest consumption field which consumed 4319 MT in 2017. Major raw material of hexanoic acid is palm oil. So, major production bases are in Malaysia and Indonesia. Global major suppliers include KLK OLEO, Pacific Oleochemicals, Oleon, Ecogreen Oleochemicals, Musim Mas Holdings, Hebei Kezheng, Zhengzhou YiBang and IOI Oleochemical. KLK OLEO is market leader in this industry with sales of 1672 MT in 2017. Major consumption regions of hexanoic acid are China, North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. Europe is the largest consumption region which consumed 3229 MT in 2017. Southeast Asia and China separately is the second and third largest consumption region. During past five years, global consumption increased from 8633 MT in 2013 to 10036 MT in 2017, with CAGR of 3.84%. Due to raw material price increase, global average Hexanoic Acid price also increase from 2017. In the future, driven by increasing downstream demand, global consumption will continue to increase at a CAGR of 3.23% during 2019-2024. By 2024, global sales will be 12456 MT. The global Hexanoic Acid market is valued at 38 million US$ in 2017 and will reach 47 million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 2.7% during 2018-2025. Request a copy of Global Hexanoic Acid Market Report 2018 statistical surveying at https://www.reportsnreports.com/purchase.aspx?name=1542633 . Organizations profiled in this Hexanoic Acid statistical surveying incorporate are KLK OLEO, Pacific Oleochemicals, Oleon, Ecogreen Oleochemicals, Musim Mas Holdings, IOI Oleochemical, Hebei Kezheng and Zhengzhou YiBang. Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering - North America - Europe - China - Japan - Other Regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa). This 2018 Hexanoic Acid market report centers around worldwide significant driving industry players giving data, for example, organization profiles, item picture and determination, limit creation, value, cost, generation esteem and contact data. Upstream crude materials and gear and downstream request investigation is additionally completed. The Hexanoic Acid market improvement patterns and advertising channels are dissected. At last the achievability of new venture ventures are surveyed and general research conclusions advertised. With 191 tables and figures the report gives key measurements on the condition of the business and is an important wellspring of direction and bearing for organizations and people intrigued by the Hexanoic Acid market. On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into - 0.98 - 0.99 By Application, the market can be split into - Flavoring and Perfuming Agent - Metal Working Fluid - Daily Chemicals - Others Some of the tables and figures provided in Global Hexanoic Acid Market Report 2018 research report include: Table Major Consumers in Others Figure Market Share of Hexanoic Acid by Regions Figure North America Hexanoic Acid Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025) Figure Europe Hexanoic Acid Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025) Figure China Hexanoic Acid Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025) Figure Japan Hexanoic Acid Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025) Figure Southeast Asia Hexanoic Acid Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025) Figure India Hexanoic Acid Market Size (Million USD) (2013-2025) Table Hexanoic Acid Raw Material and Suppliers Table Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Hexanoic Acid in 2017 Figure Manufacturing Process Analysis of Hexanoic Acid Figure Industry Chain Structure of Hexanoic Acid Table Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Hexanoic Acid Major Manufacturers in 2017 Table Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Hexanoic Acid Major Manufacturers in 2017 Table R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Hexanoic Acid Major Manufacturers in 2017 Table Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Hexanoic Acid Major Manufacturers in 2017 Table Global Capacity, Sales , Price, Cost, Sales Revenue (M USD) and Gross Margin of Hexanoic Acid 2013-2018E Read for more info @ https://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/1542633-global-hexanoic-acid-market-professional-survey-report-2018.html . About Us: ReportsnReports.com is your single source for all market research needs. Our database includes 100,000+ market research reports from over 95 leading global publishers & in-depth market research studies of over 5000 micro markets. With comprehensive information about the publishers and the industries for which they publish market research reports, we help you in your purchase decision by mapping your information needs with our huge collection of reports. We provide 24/7 online and offline support to our customers. Contact: Tower B5, office 101, Magarpatta SEZ, Hadapsar, Pune-411013, India + 1-888-391-5441 sales@reportsandreports.com Connect With Us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReportsnReports/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reportsnreports Twitter: https://twitter.com/marketsreports G+ / Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/111656568937629536321/posts RSS/Feeds:http://www.reportsnreports.com/feed/l-latestreports.xml CHISWICK, LONDON, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd. (HGS) (listed on BSE & NSE in India), has announced that its subsidiary Hinduja Global Solutions UK Ltd has been awarded a new 2-year contract from the Crown Commercial Government Contact Centre Framework for the Money Advice Service. The Money Advice Service is a UK-wide, independent service set up to improve people's ability to manage their financial affairs. HGS will be providing the public with free and impartial money guidance by phone, email and webchat through a new Customer Advisor team in Selkirk, which went live on Wednesday 1st August. "We are delighted to enter into this new partnership with Money Advice Service, which provides support to so many people who need it," said Adam Foster, CEO HGS Europe. "We have created a service which will continue to evolve, improving the quality of and people's access to impartial money advice. We are committed to working with the Money Advice Service to deliver intelligent new ways to innovate and make the service accessible to everyone who needs it, when and where they need support." John-Penberthy Smith, Customer Director at the Money Advice Service said: "We're pleased to be working with our partner HGS to provide free and impartial money guidance through our new Contact Centre in Selkirk. We have a great Customer Advisor Team ready to support the thousands of people who come to us each week seeking help on how to manage their money. Last year, our call centre delivered money guidance to over two hundred thousand people and we're delighted to be taking this work forward with our new partners." HGS is hiring 33 advisors in its location in Selkirk. Interested individuals, with a strong desire to engage with people and help make a difference, should apply to selkirk.recruitment@teamhgs.com. About Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS): A global leader in business process management (BPM) and optimising the customer experience lifecycle, HGS is helping make its clients more competitive every day. HGS combines technology-powered services in automation, analytics and digital with domain expertise focusing on back office processing, contact centres and HRO solutions to deliver transformational impact to clients. Part of the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Hinduja Group, HGS takes a true "globally local" approach, with over 44,265 employees across 70 delivery centers in seven countries making a difference to some of the world's leading brands across nine key verticals. For the year ended 31st March 2018, HGS had revenues of US$ 597 million. Visit www.teamhgs.com to learn how HGS can help make your business more competitive. For further information, please contact: HGS Media Contacts: Andrew Kokes +1 888 747 7911 media@teamhgs.com Diana Dixon + 1 312 758 1380 diana.dixon@mslgroup.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458168/HGS__Logo.jpg James Silver is Another Key Acquisition for the Firm's Bankruptcy and Complex Commercial Litigation Practice FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2018 / Kelley Kronenberg, a diverse business law firm, announced that James D. Silver has joined the firm's Fort Lauderdale office as a Partner. He brings more than three decades of experience in business bankruptcy matters and complex commercial litigation. Prior to joining Kelley Kronenberg, Silver led the bankruptcy and creditors' rights practice group at Conrad & Scherer where he handled business bankruptcy and creditors rights matters, complex business disputes, receivership and commercial fraud cases. Most notably, he was an integral part of a legal team that assisted more than 80 investors defrauded in the Rothstein Ponzi Scheme in recovering nearly a quarter-billion dollars. Silver took a lead role in the firm's bankruptcy representation in the bankruptcy of Rothstein's defunct law firm and other Rothstein Ponzi scheme related bankruptcies. Silver actively participated on the creditors committee and defended a number of clawback claims asserted against various client investors. 'We are indeed lucky to have someone of Jim's caliber join our firm and help us expand our business litigation and bankruptcy capabilities,' said Michael J. Fichtel, Kelley Kronenberg CEO and Principal Partner. 'With his 30 years of experience on the business bankruptcy, creditors rights, and business litigation side of the practice, he brings a great deal of value to the team.' 'With a significant geographical footprint in Florida, Kelley Kronenberg provides a great platform to deliver excellent service and results to my clients,' said Silver. 'I am looking forward to working with a talented group of attorneys and staff, and helping grow the firm's commercial litigation, creditors rights, and commercial bankruptcy business.' His high-profile cases have included the bankruptcy representation of the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Palm Beach Capital and the City of Port St. Lucie in connection with the settlement of their fraud and other claims against former officers and directors of a digital effects company which filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. In the same case, Silver successfully represented the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity in having its state court litigation remanded to the Florida state court after one of the primary defendants removed the case to bankruptcy court. In an SEC enforcement action, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida appointed Silver receiver over various entities engaged in a multi-state Ponzi-scheme involving wireless credit card terminals. Silver has received a number of honors and acknowledgments for his accomplishments. The Daily Business Review named him a Most Effective Lawyer, along with his co-counsel and the Creditors Committee counsel, for work on Scott Rothstein's defunct law firm's bankruptcy case in connection with the Ponzi scheme. This year, he was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America. Silver earned his Bachelors of Science from Arizona State University. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. While in law school, he also served as Associate Research Editor of the Law Review. Silver is a certified Circuit Court mediator in Florida, and is admitted to practice law in Florida, as well as the United States District Court Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida. About Kelley Kronenberg Kelley Kronenberg is a diverse business law firm that provides litigation and other legal services to established corporations, insurance companies, entrepreneurs and individuals in Florida and other regions of the U.S. More than 120 attorneys strong, the firm offers 25 distinct practice areas throughout its network of nine offices in Florida and Illinois. Founded in 1980, Kelley Kronenberg was built on relationships and continues to grow and excel because of its strength, offering sound legal counsel and exceptional client service. Kelley Kronenberg is ranked in the top 20 largest law firms in Florida by Florida Trend and the Daily Business Review, and has been recognized as a Top Law Firm in Florida by the South Florida Legal Guide and LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. More information on practice areas and office locations is available at www.kelleykronenberg.com. SOURCE: Kelley Kronenberg Bhushan Steel is one of the 12 big cases that had been referred for insolvency resolution by banks. New Delhi: The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) Thursday arrested Neeraj Singhal, the erstwhile Promoter and Vice-Chairman of Bhushan Steel. Singhal has been accused of siphoning off funds of over Rs 2,000 crore from the loans availed by Bhushan Steel using more than 80 companies for rotation of funds through bogus loans and advances, investments, etc. In a tweet, the Ministry of Finance said fraudulent activities contributed to the company becoming insolvent. Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) arrests Mr. Neeraj Singhal in connection with investigation into the affairs of Bhushan Group of Companies; For full details, please log on: https://t.co/bojyVSSPLa Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) August 9, 2018 He was produced before Court of competent jurisdiction on Thursday and sent to judicial custody till 14 August. Bhushan Steel is one of the 12 big cases that had been referred for insolvency resolution by banks. The company was referred to the NCLT last year after accumulating over Rs 50,000 crore debt. In May, Tata Steel completed the acquisition of Bhushan Steel after emerging the highest bidder. JSW Steel was the other interested company. Tata Steel had complained about interference from Bhushan Steel promoters as it began the process of taking over the distressed assets. This is the first arrest by the SFIO since it was given the power last year in fraud investigations. The SFIO was in August 2017, granted the powers to arrest people for violations of companies law, with the government notifying relevant provisions amid the crackdown on illicit fund flows. In another tweet, the Ministry of Finance mentioned SFIO's 'first' arrest : Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) makes its First arrest. Mr. Neeraj Singal, erstwhile Promoter & Managing Director of Bhushan Steel Ltd. has been arrested by SFIO. He was produced before Court of competent jurisdiction today & sent to judicial custody till 14th Aug. 2018 Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) August 9, 2018 A release from the said the arrest has been made based on the material in its possession which has revealed that Singal is guilty of indulging in serious corporate fraud punishable under Section 447 of the Companies Act, 2013. "During the course of the investigation, the team has found that the erstwhile promoters of BSL have used a multitude of complex, fraudulent maneuvers to divert/siphon-off funds amounting to thousands of crores raised by the then management of BSL from Public Sector Banks using its several Associate Companies. This has led to wrongful losses to the banks and other investors in these companies," the release said. The erstwhile promoters/ directors have reportedly not been cooperating during the investigation so far. Apart from failing to appear before the investigation team, the material facts were also concealed, according to the release. Singhal was earlier arrested by the CBI in 2014 in the Syndicate Bank bribery case. Black money has been a major issue in India and banks in Switzerland have long been perceived as one of the safest havens to park such funds due to their famed secrecy walls for years. New Delhi: India and Switzerland on Friday discussed the activation of automatic exchange of information relating to black money stashed by Indians in secret accounts in Swiss banks. The issue figured prominently during talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis here, officials said. Black money has been a major issue in India and banks in Switzerland have long been perceived as one of the safest havens to park such funds due to their famed secrecy walls for years. "Following on Indian government's drive to curb black money, the ministers discussed the activation of automatic exchange of information," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. A key parliamentary panel in Switzerland last year had approved an automatic information exchange pact between the two countries. The information that could be exchanged under this framework would include account number, name, address, date of birth, tax identification number, interest, dividend, receipts from insurance policies, the credit balance in accounts and proceeds from the sale of financial assets. The MEA said both sides also reviewed the progress on trade and economic partnership agreement which India and the European free trade area countries are currently negotiating. "The two ministers reiterated their strong commitment to early finalization of the agreement while showing flexibility on each other's concerns," it said. The MEA said Swaraj and Cassis held "cordial discussions" on various aspects of bilateral ties as well as important regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. They also took stock of the cooperation in key areas of interest such as trade and investment, education, information technology and tourism. The annual bilateral trade has reached around $20 billion in the last financial year. "Closer cooperation in the areas of skill development, renewable energy, traditional Indian medicine and climate change has the potential of mutual benefit and positive contribution at the global level," the MEA said. It said Switzerland recognizes Ayurveda as a system of medicine and the two ministers discussed ways to make it more popular in the European country. The Swiss Foreign Minister is scheduled to visit Varanasi tomorrow. Roadworks between temples of Karnak and Luxor have been halted after large statue was discovered featuring lions body and human head. According to Director General of Antiquities Mohamed Abel Aziz, the statue was still in the ground and was embedded in the soil. (Representational Image/ AFP) An approximately 4,000-year-old Sphinx has been discovered by workmen and is thought to be the fist of its kind found in the Valley of the Kings. The roadworks between the ancient temples of Karnak and Luxor have been halted after a large statue was discovered featuring a lions body and a human head. The newly discovered relic could date as far back as 2500BC, during the reign of Pharoah Kafre. According to Director General of Antiquities Mohamed Abel Aziz, the statue was still in the ground and was embedded in the soil but there are plans to excavate it but this could take some time. However the excavation could take some time due to the age of the statue and the chances of damaging it after thousands of years. Khaled al Anani, the national heritage chief, encouraged people to go and visit the site to see the new discovery. Aziz confirmed the new find had similarities to the classical Great Sphinx of Giza which stands 66ft tall in front of the Great Pyramids. During 2017-18, coal imports increased to 208.27 MT due to increase in demand by consuming sectors. New Delhi: The import of coal by the country's power sector in the April-June quarter was 14 percent less than the amount imported in the same period last fiscal, Parliament was informed on Friday. "In 2018-19 (up to 30 June, 2018), coal import by the power sector is 14 percent less than the import in the corresponding period of last year," Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said in a reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. The country's coal import has fallen from 217.7 million tonnes (MT) in 2014-15 to 190.9 MT in 2016-17. During 2017-18, coal imports increased to 208.27 MT due to increase in demand by consuming sectors. "While there is a slight increase in import due to the enhanced domestic coal supply to power plants, coal import by power plants has reduced from 80.58 MT in 2015-16 to 56.41 MT in 2017-18," the minister said. The country's raw coal output increased from 565.77 MT in 2013-14 to 676.48 MT in 2017-18. "Absolute increase in all-India coal production from 2013-14 to 2017-18 (four years) is 110.71 MT as compared to increase of coal production of 33.73 MT from 2009-10 to 2013-14 (four years)," the minister said. Coal India Limited (CIL) also increased its production from 462.41 MT in 2013-14 to 567.36 MT in 2017-18. In the first four months of the ongoing fiscal, coal production of CIL was 177.43 MT with a growth rate of 14.1 percent over the corresponding period of previous year. The price of imported coal depends upon various factors such as country of origin, gross calorific value of coal, moisture content, ash content, ocean freight and distance of plant from port. Amazon will provide these entrepreneurs training, account management guidance, marketing tools and world-class infrastructure of storage and delivery network to aid their progress through online selling Lucknow: E-commerce major Amazon India on Friday signed a MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government to support MSME entrepreneurs across nine districts as a part of the state's One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. Amazon India through its Kala Haat programme will help traditional industries, synonymous with respective districts of the state, leverage e-commerce to scale and access the Indian market, the company said in a press release here. Under the programme, a wide range of benefits will be offered to 300 MSME sellers registered under UP government's ODOP scheme. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the ODOP Summit here in the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind. Amazon will provide these entrepreneurs training, account management guidance, marketing tools and world-class infrastructure of storage and delivery network to aid their progress through online selling. From Banarasi silk saris to carpets from Bhadohi and Lucknawi Chikankari to leather goods from Kanpur, and leather footwear from Agra and locks from Aligarh and brassware from Moradabad, all these items will get access to a much broader customer base through the Amazon.in marketplace. Sports goods from Meerut and wooden products from Saharanpur will also be available for online buyers, the release said. Through its Kala Haat Programme Amazon.in has been introducing lakhs of weavers, artisans and craftspeople across various clusters in India to digital commerce, Director & GM, Seller Services, Amazon India Gopal Pillai said. Paresh Sukhtankar was seen as a successor to Managing Director Aditya Puri, who will be stepping down in October 2020 HDFC Bank's Deputy Managing Director Paresh Sukthankar has tendered his resignation, the lender informed the markets on Friday. "Pursuant to Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations & Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we hereby inform you that Mr. Paresh Sukthankar has tendered his resignation as Deputy Managing Director of the Bank, to be effective 90 days from the close of business hours of today," the bank said in a regulatory filing. According to The Economic Times, Sukhtankar was seen as a successor to Managing Director Aditya Puri, who will be stepping down in October 2020. Sukthankar, who previously served as the bank's executive director, was appointed as deputy managing director in March 2017. Sukthankar has been with HDFC Bank since its inception in 1994. Prior to joining HDFC Bank, Sukthankar worked in Citibank for around nine years, in various departments including corporate banking, risk management, financial control and credit administration, the lender said on its website. Sukthankar has been a member of various committees formed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks' Association. Sukthankar has completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) from the Harvard Business School. Earlier, he earned a Masters in Management Studies (MMS) from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute (Mumbai). The FIR against the TVS Motor Company's Chairman Venu Srinivasan alleges that he replaced an antique peacock idol with a new one at the Sri Kapaleeswarar temple Chennai: Tamil Nadu Police's Idol Wing today gave an undertaking to the Madras High Court that it would not arrest TVS Motor Company's Chairman Venu Srinivasan, for a period of six weeks in connection with an idol theft case. The matter came up for hearing before a Division Bench, comprising Justices R Mahadevan and P D Audikesavulu, constituted to hear cases regarding idol theft. Before senior counsel B Kumar was about to start his arguments on behalf of Srinivasan, personnel of the Idol wing's Special Investigation Team, who were in the court, gave the undertaking. After recording the undertaking, the bench posted the matter for hearing after six weeks. Srinivasan had moved the court on Thursday seeking anticipatory bail in connection with an idol theft case. In his bail application, Srinivasan cited a writ plea filed by advocate 'Elephant' G Rajendran which refers to the FIR against him. The TVS Motor chairman said he, too, understood that an FIR was registered by the Mylapore police and it was later transferred to the CB-CID Idol Wing. The FIR against the industrialist alleges that he replaced an antique peacock idol with a new one at the Sri Kapaleeswarar temple here and it was registered following a complaint from a devotee, Rangarajan Narasimhan, Rajendran told PTI. Asserting that he was innocent, Srinivasan submitted before the court that he had spent around Rs 70 lakh in 2004 from his personal funds for painting and flooring work at Sri Kapaleeswarar temple. Though he was appointed a member of the government-constituted Temple Renovation Committee that year, officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department oversaw the renovation work, he said. Srinivasan claimed that beyond this, he has no other connection with the temple except that he is also a devotee of Lord Kapaleeswarar (Shiva). He claimed that as the chairman of the board of trustees of Ranganathaswamy Temple at Tiruchirappalli, he spent nearly Rs 25 crore for its renovation in 2015. A trust funded by him and his company had undertaken renovation work of over 100 temples in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, Srinivasan submitted. In view of the serious allegations and the FIR against him, Srinivasan said he sought anticipatory bail. The stock market regulator, SEBI, in July, had said that transfer of shares of listed companies has to essentially be in dematerialised mode from 5 December. New Delhi: Markets regulator Sebi on Friday said its new guidelines do not bar investors from holding shares in the physical form even after 5 December. The clarification comes after the Sebi received several calls concerning the applicability of its directive. The regulator, in July, had said that transfer of shares of listed companies has to essentially be in dematerialised mode from 5 December. "The new amendment does not prohibit the investor from holding the shares in physical form, the investor has the option of holding shares in physical form even after 5 December, 2018," the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a statement. The new rule is not applicable for transfer of title of shares by way of inheritance or succession and interchanging of the order of name of shareholders. Besides, the regulator said that any investor who is desirous of transferring shares, which are held in physical form, after 5 December, can do so only after the shares are dematerialised. Shares in the demat form will help in having a transparent record of shareholding at companies amid rising concerns over beneficial ownership of entities. By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japan's Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Friday he had had productive trade talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and that they planned to meet again in September. He said both acknowledged the importance of expanding trade between the two nations. By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japan's Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Friday he had had productive trade talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and that they planned to meet again in September. He said both acknowledged the importance of expanding trade between the two nations. "We agreed to seek ways to promote Japan-U.S. trade by working out gaps between the two nations and expand areas to cooperate based on shared understanding," Motegi told reporters after two days of talks in Washington. "We will continue talks and proceed further at next meeting we plan to hold in September," he said. He said the atmosphere of the meeting with Lighthizer was "very good" and "energetic". Motegi also said he and Lighthizer exchanged views on individual trade areas but nothing had been decided. The U.S. Trade Representative's office said in a statement that the two sides had "frank discussions" on their respective views about trade and investment, and achieved a better understanding of each other's positions. "Based on these discussions, both sides agreed to explore ways to fill the gap between their positions and to promote trade between the United States and Japan, and expand areas of cooperation based on common understanding," USTR said, adding that the next round of "consultations" would be held sometime in September. The talks launched a round of what the two sides call "free, fair and reciprocal" negotiations. They fall within broader bilateral economic discussions led by Vice President Mike Pence and Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso. U.S. President Donald Trump wants a bilateral free trade agreement but Tokyo is wary because such an agreement would boost pressure to open sensitive markets such as agriculture. Japan went into the talks aiming to avert steep tariffs on its car exports threatened by Trump while fending off U.S. demands to engage in bilateral talks towards a bilateral free trade agreement. Trump has complained about Japan's $69 billion trade surplus with the United States, and the inability of American car makers to sell significant volumes in Japan. But Trump's "Section 232" national security investigation into automotive imports could lead to tariffs of 25 percent on imported cars, including those from Japan, and has raised concerns that such a move would harm the Japanese, European and U.S. economies. Japan also has urged Washington to return to the multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership deal after Trump withdrew the United States from the trade pact last year. (Reporting by David Lawder in Washington; writing by Kaori Kaneko in Tokyo; editing by Andrew Roche and James Dalgleish) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Around 4,000 Indian tourists visited Malta in 2017. Mumbai: Malta, a small island country in the Mediterranean Sea, is eyeing a 20 percent growth in Indian tourist arrivals this year. Around 4,000 Indian tourists visited Malta in 2017. "With India being one of the biggest emerging markets for tourism in Malta, we want to tap its potential. We expect the number of tourists will continue to increase in the coming years," Malta tourism minister Konrad Mizzi told PTI. The minister further said he expects the footfalls from India to grow over 20 percent in 2018. "Our vision is to register sustained increases of tourism from the Indian market," he added. Mizzi said the film industry will boost the tourism, with initiatives like the Malta-India Film Festival, a three-day event starting 14 December in Malta, along with incentives for filmmakers, which is being reviewed to address the industry needs further. He said there has already been a number of tie-ups established with major production companies in Bollywood. Malta, he said, is connected with India with direct flights to and from all major European cities and airport hubs, as well as North Africa, with daily connections to most of the major cities in India. "Talks have focused on enhanced airline connectivity between Malta and India, in order to provide travellers with a much shorter connection to Europe, as well as a hub for connectivity to both Europe and North Africa," he added. The country is looking to promote itself as an all-year-round destination, with heritage all around and diving and adventure opportunities, he said. It is in talks with Maharashtra government and Bollywood on promoting and marketing both the countries for tourism, according to Mizzi. RBI introduced Rs 2,000 notes following demonetisation of high-value Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November 2016 New Delhi: The government on Friday said that there is no proposal to withdraw Rs 2,000 denomination note. RBI introduced Rs 2,000 notes following demonetisation of high-value Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November 2016. Replying to question whether the government is considering withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes shortly, Minister of State for Finance Pon Radhakrishnan in the Lok Sabha said, "there is no such proposal." Specified Bank Notes (SBNs) were received by the RBI either directly or from bank branches or post offices through the currency chest mechanism and were subjected to verification for authentication and numeral accuracy, he said. "The process has since been completed. The notes processed online in Currency Verification and Processing System (CVPS) have been destroyed," he said. In another reply, Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said Public Sector Banks (PSBs) witnessed a period of aggressive lending from 2008 to 2014 where the gross advances increased from 18.2 lakh crore to 52.16 lakh crore as per RBI data. "Reasons for the spurt in stressed assets have been observed to be, inter-alia, due to aggressive lending practices, wilful default/loan frauds/corruption in some cases, and economic slowdown. Asset Quality Review (AQR) initiated in 2015 for clean and fully provisioned bank balance-sheets revealed high incidence of NPAs," he said. Stressed loans, not provided for earlier under flexibility given to restructured loans, were reclassified as NPAs and provided for, he said. PSBs initiated cleaning up by recognising NPAs and provided for expected losses, he said. "As a result, while PSBs have reported aggregate operating profit of Rs 36,725 crore in the third quarter of FY 2017-18, due to provisioning of Rs 54,822 crore substantially on account of transparent recognition of NPAs by PSBs and consequent requirement of ageing provision, they have reported a net loss of Rs 18,098 crore in the said quarter," he said. The panel said it has been submitted to the committee that there should be provision for insurance coverage for the subscribers/ members, the cost of which will be borne by the chit fund company. New Delhi: A parliamentary panel on Thursday suggested the government to bring in a provision in the Chit Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2018, "incorporating element" of insurance coverage for subscribers. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in March and was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance for scrutiny. In its report tabled in Parliament on Thursday, the panel said it has been submitted to the committee that there should be provision for insurance coverage for the subscribers/ members, the cost of which will be borne by the chit fund company. "The committee, therefore, recommends that a provision may be brought in the bill incorporating the element of insurance coverage for the chit subscribers," said the report of the panel headed by senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily. The report noted that mobilising short-term funds to meet various personal needs has been a chronic problem faced by the general public in developing countries like India. "They have to often resort to high-interest loans from money lenders and the informal sector for this purpose, which creates a huge burden for them. "The banking sector has not yet been able to fill these gaps and meet the financial needs of the people to the desired extent," the report said. While welcoming the Bill aimed at regulating the registered chit funds industry, the committee believes that the sector has the potential to bridge the gap in the financial sector with proper regulation and safeguards, and made several recommendations to the government in this regard. The All India Association of Chit Funds in their memorandum submitted to the Committee requested for allowing a chit fund company to mention under their name as 'A ROSCA Institution' (Rotating Savings and Credit Association). The Association feels that it will help in distinguishing their business from other unconnected business. The Bill proposes to incorporate the name 'fraternity fund' instead of the commonly known 'chit fund'. In this connection, the panel recommended that the "government may bring in the further amendment" to incorporate the words 'A ROSCA Institution' to the proposed nomenclature of 'fraternity fund'. "These changes may help them in their image make-over and brand building," the report said. The Association had also contended that "it is not viable" for individuals and partnership firms to run the business with a prescribed ceiling of aggregate chit fund amount -- Rs 1 lakh for individuals and Rs 6 lakh for firms. The finance ministry has accepted the suggestion to revise the limits upwards. The pain of bad loans has hit the earnings of most PSBs in recent quarters, while private banks have largely reported better numbers State Bank of India (SBI), countrys largest lender by assets, has announced a steep loss in the first quarter, at Rs 4,876 crore, which clearly disappointed the investors. SBIs stock finished 3.79% lower at Rs 304.45 apiece while the benchmark index on the BSE, the Sensex, ended 0.41% lower at 37,869.23 points. The reason for the big loss figure is higher provisions, a total of about Rs 19,228 crore in the first quarter. Out of this, provisions on NPAs were about Rs 13,000 crore, while the rest is to cover treasury losses owing to hardening of bond yields and higher provision on account of wage revisions and enhancement in gratuity ceiling. But while the pain of bad loans continues, hitting the banks bottom line, the asset quality has remained largely stable. Gross NPAs declined from Rs 2,23,427 crore as on March 18 to Rs2,12,840 crore as on June 18, whereas net NPAs declined from Rs 1,10,855 crore to Rs 99,236 crore during the same period. Compared with the March quarter, the bank has seen minor improvement in the NPA ratio. On the loan recovery too, the bank has seen some relief. According to SBIs press release, the bank registered a robust growth of 240.74 percent from Rs 712 crore in Q1FY18 to Rs 2,426 crore in Q1 of FY19 with major contribution coming from one large resolution. Even after excluding the impact of such resolution, the YoY growth in Recovery in Written Off accounts is 49.72 percent, it said. The pain of bad loans has hit the earnings of most state-run banks in the recent quarters, while private banks have reported largely better numbers. For instance, the fraud-hit Punjab National Bank (PNB), another major state-run lender too had reported losses in the June quarter with higher NPAs being one of the key factors, but here too the recovery figures were good. In the first quarter alone, PNB recovered Rs8,445 crore against Rs5,617 crore in all of 2017-18. The bank has targeted to recover Rs20,000 crore in the first half of 2018-19. With the insolvency and bankruptcy code picking up pace, banks expect more recovery from corporate resolution in the coming months. Going ahead, a lot will depend upon how soon the economic growth recovery takes firm hold and cash flows of companies improve enabling them repay loans on time. The pain of bad loans will continue for a few quarters but the recovery figures indicate that most banks might have seen the worst phase already. (Data support from Kishor Kadam) The study also said that many schools were not aware that canteens were serving high-calorie drinks and deep fried snacks. Most of these children were asymptomatic. They were picked up after a screening for obesity or strong family history. (Photo: AFP/Representational Image) New Delhi: According to a study conducted by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH), close to 30 per cent urban children in eight private schools of Central and West Delhi were found to be obese. The study was conducted in 2016 on around 1,000 children in private schools around the hospital. Most of these children were found to be pre-diabetic, hypertensive, and undergoing sleep and behavioural disorders. Most of these children were asymptomatic. They were picked up after a screening for obesity or strong family history. The study also said that many schools were not aware of the unhealthy habits of the children. Neither did they know that school canteens were serving high-calorie drinks and deep fried snacks cooked in unhealthy oils rich in trans fat and which are reheated multiple times. Moreover, a retrospective analysis of 1,078 patients, who underwent weight loss surgery at the hospital between 2010 and 2018, found that 23 per cent were obese in their childhood or adolescence. They went on to become morbidly obese and required surgery for their medical conditions. We found that 23 per cent of the patients were obese in their childhood or adolescence and went on to become morbidly obese. They needed surgery for medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, infertility, etc., said Dr Sudhir Kalhan, the chairman of the Institute of Minimal Access, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at SGRH. Dr Vivek Bindal, the vice-chairman of IMAS, said: We operated on 123 patients, who were between 15 and 21 years of age, over the past eight years. They lost 81 per cent of their excess body weight at one-year-follow-up. In this analysis, we found that most of these patients were obese due to a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food habits. Many of them were siblings and obesity was related to genes. Almost 73 per cent of the obese patients had their diabetic condition reversed after undergoing bariatric surgery, he added. D13 On a sequential basis, the losses, however, narrowed for Tata Communications as compared to Rs 120.47 crore in the quarter ended March 2018. New Delhi: Tata Communications reported on Thursday a loss of Rs 57.95 crore for the quarter ended June 2018, against a net profit of Rs 32.94 crore in the year-ago period. On a sequential basis, the losses, however, narrowed as compared to Rs 120.47 crore in the quarter ended March 2018. The income from operations came in 9.2 percent lower year-on-year to Rs 3,912.28 crore for June quarter, from Rs 4,310.02 crore in the same period of previous year, according to a regulatory filing by the company. In a statement, the company said that the consolidated revenues had declined primarily on account of lower volume and price compression in voice business. "Despite a decline in revenue, EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) margins expanded...the margins expanded by 30 BPS (basis points) sequentially and 120 BPS on YoY (year on year) basis due to cost optimisation and control," the statement added. A change in the treatment of one-time service revenue in accordance with accounting standards impacted the data services portfolio including growth services, the statement noted. "...we have kept at the front face of the changing technology landscape, and are transforming ourselves from a pure connectivity provider to a next-generation digital infrastructure provider...Going forward, our focus will be on bundling our services, further increasing product penetration, reskilling our employees and continuing to build operational efficiencies, Vinod Kumar, MD and CEO, Tata Communications, said in a statement. Commenting on the company's results, Pratibha K Advani, CFO of Tata Communications, said that the margin had expanded on the back of sustained productivity initiatives despite battling industry headwinds. "The change in portfolio mix in favour of data services and the continued focus on productivity and digital transformation initiatives will continue to drive an improvement in our margin profile," she added. Police said that protesters hurled stones at the police personnel in the Chandani Chowk area of Pune city during the Maratha quota stir on Thursday. Pune: At least 185 people, including five women, were arrested in connection with incidents of vandalism and violence in Pune city during the bandh called by Maratha groups over their demand for reservation for the community in government jobs and education, police said on Friday. They added that some of the protesters hurled stones at the police personnel in the Chandani Chowk area of the city during the stir on Thursday. In another incident, some miscreants went on a rampage after the conveners of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) submitted a memorandum of demands to District Collector Naval Kishor Ram. They damaged the main gate of the administrative building at the collector's office, broke the security cabin's glass and some bulbs. According to the police, the miscreants did not leave the building premises till late evening and were detained after a mild lathi-charge. "While 83 people were arrested in connection with the Chandani Chowk stone-pelting incident, 81 others, including five women, were arrested for the vandalism at the collector's office. Besides, 21 others were arrested for sporadic incidents," Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shivaji Bodkhe said. He added that those arrested were "outside elements", who had sneaked into the agitation and resorted to violence. All the arrested accused have been booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. A 28-year-old woman was raped by four men in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur. She claimed that she was drugged by the accused men before the incident Hyderabad: A 28-year-old woman was allegedly raped by four men in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, the police said on Friday. The woman, who lives in the SR Nagar area in Guntur, told the police that the incident took place in March, but she did not approach the police then, they said. As her pictures appeared online recently she lodged a formal complaint with the police, DCP (West Zone) AR Srinivas said. In her complaint she said one of the accused, Raj Kiran, known to the her, took her to a room in Guntur on the pretext of a job and offered her drinks laced with sedatives following which she fell unconscious and when she gained consciousness she found that she had been raped by the four men, the DCP said. A case of gang rape has been registered and as the alleged offence took place in Guntur, the case will be transferred to the Guntur police, Srinivas said, adding that as per preliminary investigation there are also allegations of a financial dispute between the woman and Kiran and that angle is also being probed. The Supreme Court on Friday has admitted the appeals by CBI against the acquittal of Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj in 2008. The Supreme Court on Friday has admitted the appeals by CBI against the acquittal of Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj in 2008. #BREAKING -- #AarushiTalwarMurder: Supreme Court admits appeals by CBI against Talwars' acquittal. SC issues notice to Rajesh and Nupur Talwar. Court tags up CBI's petition with Hemrak's wife's plea | @utkarsh_aanand with more details pic.twitter.com/Pl5TnqDo4u News18 (@CNNnews18) August 10, 2018 The CBI in March had filed an appeal stating that the Allahabad High Court's decision in October last year was "wrong" on several counts. Banjade, Hemraj's wife, had approached the apex court in December last year and had then said, "We've come to the Supreme Court for justice... the high court freed them (Talwars), they are killers... they should be punished." Hemraj was the domestic help who was killed in the Aarushi Talwar murder in 2008 on the latter's 14th birthday. Speaking to Firstpost earlier, Banjade had said no one paid attention to the death of her husband, except for a couple of journalists who reached out every now and then after the May 2008 incident that tore her life apart. "The focus has always been the death of Aarushi." On 12 October last year, a bench of Justices BK Narayana and AK Mishra overruled the trial court judgment in the twin murder case of Aarushi and Hemraj and acquitted the Talwar couple, saying no conviction can stand on the basis of mere suspicion. The judges said that the CBI failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the Talwars are guilty. "The chain of evidence they have showcased is inconclusive," the court had said. Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead at the Talwars' Noida residence in May 2008. The needle of suspicion had initially pointed at 45-year-old Hemraj, who had gone missing, but his body was recovered from the terrace of the house two days later. With inputs from agencies Many activists gathered in Delhi's Jantar Mantar to protest against the rising hate crimes in the country and called for directives to curb vigilantism New Delhi: A group of activists held a meet at the Jantar Mantar on Friday, demanding justice for the victims of hate crimes. They demanded immediate implementation of the 17 July Supreme Court directives to prevent vigilantism and compensation for victims of hate crime. The activists also sought prosecution of political and public figures who through action or speech support vigilantism. Criticising the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government over the rising violence in the country, filmmaker Saba Dewan alleged minorities including Muslims and Dalits are being targeted. "Union Minister Jayant Sinha was seen openly garlanding those convicted of lynching. It is shameful that we have a lynch map of India now," she said. Rahul Roy, the organiser of the gathering, urged the people to come out on the streets and raise their voice against such acts of violence. Representatives of the Socialist Party of India, National Alliance of People's Movements and Khudai Khidmatgar began their three-day hunger strike against hate crimes. Advocate Vrinda Grover lashed out at the government over the Hapur lynching case. "Fake FIRs were registered and the accused were let out on bail. Police and adminstration were trying to cover up the matter," she alleged. A day before BJP President Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata, ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s workers put up posters saying 'BJP leave Bengal' on Friday. A day before BJP president Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata, ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s workers put up posters saying 'BJP leave Bengal' on Friday. Times Now reported that posters against Shah's rally were put up in Kolkata, with the slogan 'Leave Bengal'. TMC puts out posters saying 'BJP leave Bengal, a day before BJP President Amit Shah's Mega rally in Kolkata #BJPVsTMC pic.twitter.com/Ke5KATHomo TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 10, 2018 Shah had announced his decision to visit West Bengal on 11 August in the midst of TMC leader Mamata Banerjee's scathing criticism of the Centre's National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. DNA reported that hundreds of hoardings of party supremo Mamata Banerjee and party flags were put up at and around Mayo Road, the venue for Shah's rally on 11 August. On Thursday, as preparation of putting up the stage and the barricades began, TMC cadres brought in flex on motor vans and put those up at light posts, trees and also atop bamboo barricade put up for the event. The rally has been organised by BJP Yuva Morcha, according to a report by The Indian Express. TMC leaders remained tight-lipped on the issue. Their national leaders, even the prime minister may visit Bengal thousands of time, but the people of Bengal are with Mamata Banerjee. Our flags and the hoardings of our party chief Mamata Banerjee will remind them that Bengal belongs to Trinamool Congress, not to any communal force, said a senior Trinamool Congress leader on the condition of anonymity, The Indian Express reported. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Friday that there are no takers in Punjab for `Referendum 2020', a campaign by a UK-based organisation for a separate Sikh state. Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Friday that there are no takers in Punjab for `Referendum 2020', a campaign by a UK-based organisation for a separate Sikh state. He dubbed the proposed rally in London on Sunday by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) an attempt by a handful of frustrated ISI-backed Sikhs abroad to foment trouble in Punjab and India by raising divisive voices. The chief minister said he was not at all worried about the "fringe elements" and their rally. "They have been at it for long and have been playing into the hands of the ISI, which has an open agenda to foment trouble in Punjab and India," he told reporters. He added he would not allow anyone to create trouble in Punjab. "If these elements think they can come and disturb the peace in my country and my state, they are mistaken, he said. Singh said he has asked the state police to deal strictly with any attempt to revive terrorism. He said in the past 15 months of his government, the police have cracked down on several terror modules, seizing arms and narcotics. Questioned on the British government's refusal to stop the rally, the chief minister said, "It does not bother me." "This entire referendum business is just a money-making racket of `Sikhs for Justice' and its promoters," he added. He said there are no takers for this campaign in the state as people want peace and development. Singh called the SFJ a "sham organisation". He said only a handful of frustrated Sikhs, based in countries like the UK, Canada, the USA and Germany, were backing the campaign, which he said will not last long. "We are prepared to deal with these Khalistani elements, he said. The London rally is part of the SFJ campaign to hold a referendum in Punjab to see if the people of the state want independence from India. India has expressed its concern to the UK over the "separatist activity". A British High Commission spokesperson said in New Delhi today that people in the UK have a right to protest and to demonstrate their views, provided they act within the law. Health Minister JP Nadda and Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram presided over the MoU signing ceremony to improve the health and well-being of students in tribal schools. New Delhi: The Ministry of Health on Thursday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to improve the health and well-being of students in tribal schools. Health Minister JP Nadda and Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram presided over the MoU signing ceremony. An expert committee on tribal health also submitted a detailed report with findings and recommendations to the ministers. In line with our government's commitment to universal health coverage with priority accorded to the health needs of those who require it the most, our endeavour is to ensure that health concerns of the tribal population are holistically addressed, Nadda said. He said the agreement is aimed at improving the health indicators of the needy and the poor. Simultaneously, measures would have to be taken to ensure tribal population are co-opted and not left out, the health minister said. Oram assured that the government will implement the recommendations of the report. The main objectives of the memorandum are to provide age-appropriate information about health and nutrition to children in schools, to promote healthy behaviours among them, to detect and treat diseases early in children and adolescents. It will also include promoting the use of safe drinking water in schools, safe menstrual hygiene practices by girls and promoting yoga and meditation through Health and Wellness Ambassadors and encourage research on health, wellness and nutrition for children. The Expert Committee on Tribal Health was constituted jointly by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 2013. The committee comprises 12 senior experts who have worked for health in tribal areas, research institutions and secretaries of states with tribal population. Addressing a joint press conference, Congress leaders Rajeev Satav and Paresh Dhanani alleged that the multi-crore scam had links to the chief minister's office and other higher-ups in the BJP, who were trying to bury it. New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday alleged a Rs 4,000 crore scam in the procurement of groundnuts in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat, and demanded a judicial probe into it by a sitting Supreme Court judge. Addressing a joint press conference, Congress leaders Rajeev Satav and Paresh Dhanani alleged that the multi-crore scam had links to the chief minister's office and other higher-ups in the BJP, who were trying to bury it. Satav said while the Congress had given representations to the state government to initiate a probe monitored by a Supreme Court judge, it was open to taking legal recourse through a PIL or other measures in case the government did not order a judicial probe. Dhanani, who is the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in the Gujarat Assembly, said the party gave several representations to the state government, which had started investigating the matter and 27 people, including officials, were arrested. He, however, said the bigwigs and the "real accused" in the scam were getting away. Dhanani said the scam involved the procurement of groundnuts from farmers. He said the procured groundnuts were sold to millers and the stocks were then adulterated with sand and pebbles to show zero loss. He added that before the Assembly elections, the government had announced on 24 October 2017, that it would procure groundnuts from farmers at a higher rate of Rs 900 per 20 kilograms against an earlier rate of Rs 550 after the polls. "We demand that the state government order a judicial probe into the groundnuts scam by a sitting Supreme Court judge," they told reporters, alleging that the scam involved Rs 4,000 crores. "If the government continues to suppress the truth in this case, the path to file a PIL or other legal recourse is open before us," he added. He alleged that the state government was seeking to bury the groundnut scam, the threads of which were linked to the chief minister's office. Dhanani said the Congress was protesting in every district and outside the godowns where the groundnuts were stored. The Congress alleged that several BJP leaders were involved in the scam, along with officials of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), the Gujarat State Co-Operative Cotton Federation Limited (GUJCOT), as well as local politicians, who allegedly stole and sold off procured groundnut to oil millers. The stocks of groundnut were then adulterated with sand and pebbles to show that there was no loss in weight of the stocks, the party alleged. The leaders also alleged that there were four incidents of fire at the warehouses where such stocks were kept over the last six months. Gohain has also filed complaints of blackmailing against the woman and her family, his officer on special duty Sanjiv Goswami said when contacted. New Delhi: The Congress on Friday demanded the immediate sacking of Union Minister Rajen Gohain after a rape case was registered against him in Assam. The Assam Police have registered a case against Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain for allegedly raping and threatening a 24-year old married woman in Nagaon district, a senior police officer said. Gohain has also filed complaints of blackmailing against the woman and her family, his officer on special duty Sanjiv Goswami said when contacted. He claimed that the case against the minister has been withdrawn. Congress leader Pawan Khera asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately sack Gohain from the union council of ministers. "We demand from this government, from Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to take immediate and strict action against rape accused Minister Rajen Gohain, the Minister of State for Railways," the Congress spokesperson said. Khera also reminded the prime minister of the promise he had made before 2014 parliamentary elections about his commitment towards ensuring women safety in the country. "Remove him from office. You cannot allow him to be in a position of power and influence the investigation. Please remove him if you meant anything that you promised before 2014," he told reporters. He also questioned the prime minister's "silence" on Unnao and Kathua rapes and in the alleged rapes in shelter homes in Bihar's Muzaffarpur and UP's Deoria. "In the recent past, we saw you were standing with rapists of Kathua, with rapists of Unnao, and very recently, we saw you (Modi) absolutely quiet on Muzaffarpur rapes. Your own government is there in alliance with Nitish Kumar Ji. "Last week, we saw horrifying reports from Deoria, from Pratapgarh, but again you (Modi) remained quiet. Now, the people have lost faith in all those promises, in all those slogans that you used to promise before coming to power in 2014," he said. Khera accused the prime minister of "failing" the women of the country and questioned his silence on the rape charge against the union minister. "Again there is a rape FIR against the Cabinet colleague of yours - MoS for Railways Rajen Gohain. If you do not act now, you will lose the moral authority to stay in office even for a day. Please take action," he said. Activists demanded immediate implementation of July 17 SC directives to prevent vigilantism and compensation for victims of hate crime. Representatives of the Socialist Party of India, National Alliance of People's Movements and Khudai Khidmatgar began their three-day hunger strike against hate crimes. (Representational Image | Asian Age) New Delhi: A group of activists held a meet at the Jantar Mantar on Thursday, demanding justice for the victims of hate crimes. They demanded immediate implementation of the July 17 Supreme Court directives to prevent vigilantism and compensation for victims of hate crime. The activists also sought prosecution of political and public figures who through action or speech support vigilantism. Criticising the NDA government over the rising violence in the country, filmmaker Saba Dewan alleged minorities, including Muslims and Dalits, are being targeted. "Union Minister Jayant Sinha was seen openly garlanding those convicted of lynching. It is shameful that we have a lynch map of India now," she said. Rahul Roy, the organiser of the gathering, urged the people to come out on the streets and raise their voice against such acts of violence. Representatives of the Socialist Party of India, National Alliance of People's Movements and Khudai Khidmatgar began their three-day hunger strike against hate crimes. Advocate Vrinda Grover lashed out at the government over the Hapur lynching case. "Fake FIRs were registered and the accused were let out on bail. Police and administration were trying to cover up the matter," she alleged. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday decriminalised begging after activists argued that neither the act nor poverty was a crime. In 1908, Mahatma Gandhi translated John Ruskin's Unto this Last into Gujarati into a book titled Sarvodaya, which by definition means the development of all. Gandhi's Sarvodaya expounded on the home-grown concept of Antyodaya, which speaks of uplifting the weakest, as envisioned by Bharatiya Jana Sangh co-founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay. The Indian Constitution's treatment of begging as a crime has failed both Gandhi's vision and Upadhyay's dream, not in one but in as many as 20 states and two Union Territories. On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court decriminalised begging. A bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar observed that with this decision, prosecutions under the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, would be liable to be struck down. The verdict defines begging as the last resort to subsistence. In no way does it set a precedent, and neither does it empathise with the weaker sections of society. In all its earnestness, it acknowledges that the practice of begging is an end, not a means, for those the state failed to support with basic economic aid and social security. "The government has the mandate to provide social security for everyone, to ensure that all citizens have basic facilities, and the presence of beggars is evidence that the state has not managed to provide these to all its citizens," read the court order. The verdict is a result of public interest litigations by social activists Harsh Mander and Karnika Sawhney, who had sought to have begging decriminalised in the capital, arguing that poverty can never be a crime. The Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, which extended to Delhi, was a colonial act and hence, suppressive in nature. It defined a beggar as someone "with no visible means of subsistence" and a person who wanders about or remains in a public place in a condition they likely live in because they indulge in soliciting or receiving alms. The vulnerability before the law stretches over even to the elderly and differently-abled. For the over 17 lakh senior citizens in Delhi, there are only two state-funded old age homes, that too in the remote fringes of the national capital in Bindapur and Lampur. This goes against the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which does not describe mental illness as a crime and assures free, quality treatment for the homeless. Activist Harsh Mander, one of the petitioners in the case, spoke to Firstpost about the long struggle of going from bench to bench and being fed the same elaborate reasons India uses to justify its indifference towards begging, such as the one that beggars are lazy and undeserving of the State's limited financial resources. "Begging laws are among the most unjust laws. Begging is also defined widely in the Acts it includes street performing and hawking, which brings a lot of people under the gamut of a punitive law," said Mander, suggesting the introduction of a pan-India anti-destitution law. "In 2015, the Government of India was putting in place a social protection framework, but the draft bill was randomly dropped, which the government directly conveyed to the court," he said. This draft defined homeless persons, beggars, people with physical and mental disabilities, the old and infirm and other such persons who live in a state of poverty and abandonment. About three years ago, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had constituted a committee to draft an alternative law. One of the recommendations in its draft bill was to set up an outreach and mobilisation unit for the State to identify the destitute. It defined a rehabilitation centre as "any institution or non-custodial home established and maintained by the state government, voluntary organisations, or any other implementing agencies, which shall be certified/registered in such a manner as prescribed by the state government to provide protection, care, vocational training/skill development and other necessary rehabilitative services to the destitutes". Among the implementing agencies mentioned were referral units to assess the needs and requirements of the poor and link them to appropriate services and counselling units. The draft acknowledged destitutes as people incapable of living with dignity without the support of the State. "A few beggar homes in India are worse than jails. I visited beggar homes in Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad," Mander said in opposition to any involuntary detention of people for being destitute or begging. Professor Mohammed Tarique the director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' Field Action Project Koshish and member of the committee that prepared the bill told Firstpost that the 14 beggar homes in Maharashtra in Nagpur, Pune and Mumbai offer a stipend of Rs 5 a month. He questioned asked how these establishments thought people could be rehabilitated with an amount this pitiable. Koshish works as a knowledge partner with the Bihar government's Mukhyamantri Bhikshavriti Nivaran Yojana, which promises not just care and protection but also "development and socio-economic and cultural empowerment". "The Bihar government has done commendable work. It has shunned its anti-begging law and set up rehab centres in 14 districts (including Gaya, Nalanda, Darbhanga and Bhagalpur), where they provide vocational training in industrial tailoring, housekeeping and gate-keeping," the professor said, adding that Rajasthan had also repealed its anti-begging law and was going to pilot a scheme for a community-based, non-punitive system to be launched in Jaipur and Udaipur. Heenu Singh is the Delhi head of the Childline India Foundation. In 1996, Childline had started the country's first toll-free helpline for street children in distress. Singh stressed on the need for new operating practices because there are entire families involved. "It's about the reformation of an entire family. The Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Begging Act, 1972, talks of family rehabilitation and other states need to attune their imaginations to this need too," she said. In his 2017 budget speech, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar had announced that his government will set up "a full-fledged rehabilitation centre for beggars and destitutes". He had said that despite the Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Begging Act, 1972, the number of beggars was, in fact, rising by the day in the state. Parrikar had said that the government aimed to make Goa the country's first beggar-free state by establishing rehabilitation centres for the poor. Rehabilitating entire families is a problem because even in shelter homes for the homeless, drug addiction and theft run rampant, Sheleen Mitra, the officer on special duty to Delhi minister for health Satyendar Jain, had earlier told Firstpost. Given the plethora of aspects of the problem, a special action force could help to identify specific problems and suggest immediate reform measures. Another problem that must be factored in is of vocational training, which can improve people's employability. This runs the risk of attracting even those who are not homeless to beggar homes and further deepen the ambiguity. Earlier this year, Firstpost had reported on the need to repeal punitive begging laws, and sources in the Delhi government had said that the National Skill Development Commission has sanctioned 1,100 slots to train beggars in baking and cookery, mobile repairing and retail sales. The training was going to start at Sewa Kutir housing centre. "But if the building is no longer exclusive to the homeless, then the point of our efforts for a particular section of society will be lost," the source had said. It has been seventy years since independence, and the Bengal Vagrancy Act still provides for detention of persons with leprosy. In states like Karnataka and Assam, begging acts exempt mendicants who seek alms to fulfil religious obligations. Repealing draconian laws is a welcome first step, but a nationwide law that acknowledges homelessness as a complicated social and economic reality is a simultaneous need. Electrician Ram Asre allegedly gagged the Class 2 student, dragged her to a water pump in the Delhi school and raped her there. New Delhi: The Delhi police have arrested an electrician of a school run by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) for allegedly raping a Class 2 student. A case has been registered against the accused him under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused, identified as 37-year-old Ram Asre, had been working in the school for around a month and is a permanent electrician employed with the NDMC, the police told PTI. Asre allegedly gagged the child, dragged her to a water pump in the school premises and raped her there, NDTV reported. The incident came to light after the minor's mother found her bleeding after she returned from school on Thursday, according to Zee News. The girl then narrated her ordeal to her parents, who filed a complaint with the police. The six-year-old identified Asre from a line-up, said the NDTV report. "He was arrested from the school on Thursday after the victim identified him," Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma was quoted as saying. Parents of the school's students staged protests outside the school in Gol Market on Friday. "Even women have to register their entry before going inside the school, how did a man enter just like that?" ANI quoted a parent as saying. A man has been arrested for allegedly raping a class two girl from NDMC school by the Delhi Police New Delhi: A class two student of a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school in the upscale Gol Market area was allegedly raped by an electrician inside the institute's premises, police said on Friday. The incident came to light when the girl narrated her ordeal to her parents after returning from school on Thursday, a police official said. The accused, identified as Ram Asre, 37, has been working in the school for around a month and is a permanent electrician employed with the NDMC, the police said. He has been arrested and a case has been registered against him under the relevant section of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, they said. It could harm the Opposition's public image to oppose the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha, and the government appears to be banking on this fear. It was a smart move by the Narendra Modi government both in terms of strategy and politics to include the Triple Talaq Bill in the revised list of business in the Rajya Sabha for Friday, the last day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. It puts the Congress and its allies in the Opposition, which had been opposing a few proposed provisions of the bill officially called the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 in a challenging situation. Amendments yielding to Opposition demands First, before adding the bill to the day's agenda for "consideration and passage", Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a Cabinet meeting and cleared three amendments to the proposed legislation. By doing so, the government sent a message to all concerned that it had been open to constructive suggestions and had yielded to the Opposition's demand for three changes to improve the bill. The Lok Sabha passed the amendments in the last Winter Session. It now stipulates that only the wife or a blood relative can file an FIR against the husband who pronounces triple talaq. This addresses the concern that a neighbor, activist, or anyone with an ulterior motive can file a criminal complaint against the man. Although triple talaq continues to be a non-bailable offence in the bill and the police cannot grant the husband relief, a magistrate can grant bail after hearing the wife and listing conditions such as compensation for the woman. The magistrate alone can decide on the quantum of compensation. The woman can seek custody of the children and also seek subsistence allowance for herself and the children. Protests could harm Opposition's public image Second, under the circumstances, if the Congress, Left Front, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal and others continue to oppose the bill and attempt to stall its passage, it would not bode well for them in terms of public perception. This is a progressive legislation on the plight of Muslim women in India, and enacting a law to make triple talaq illegal the Supreme Court has already declared the practice unconstitutional with a supportive legal framework would be a step forward to empower Muslim women. Since the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict, these parties in the Opposition have not been against the bill entirely, but have been using a number of pretexts to stall its passage, like claiming that some of its provisions are draconian. By yielding some ground to the Opposition, the Modi government is forcing the Congress and its allies to review their position. Third, the Opposition's standard clamour to stall the passage of the bill has been to have the Standing Committee or Select Committee scrutinise and review the bill. This is no longer valid in the public eye. Sections of Muslim women have already been quite vocal about it and mobilising public opinion against those opposing the legislation. The bill has been pending in the Rajya Sabha since December 2017. Fourth, the government strategically chose to table the contentious bill on the last day of the Monsoon Session. It passed the no-confidence motion with flying colors in the Lok Sabha on 20 July, and the prime minister's concluding address set the tone for the 2019 parliamentary elections. During this session of parliament, the Centre also got all six ordinances in the list of business passed as legislative bills as well as a few other important bills. The Rajya Sabha passed the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, overturning the Supreme Court verdict on SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act; the Lok Sabha granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. The Parliament also held useful debates on the National Register of Citizens in Assam, during which the government set the public discourse largely in its favor. Before listing the Triple Talaq Bill for debate on the last day of the Parliament session, the National Democratic Alliance also got the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman of its choice, with former journalist Harivansh Narayan Singh winning the election by wide 125-105 margin. The government kept the proposed legislation as a surprise element for the last day as it had anticipated that the Opposition would create disruptions in the House over it. Fifth and most important is the political message of listing the bill for passage in the Rajya Sabha. This is an election year with four key state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Mizoram lined up for the next three months, followed by the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. Modi has already taken the public discourse on triple talaq beyond the domain of parliamentary debates. On 14 July, at a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh, he had mentioned reading reports on Rahul Gandhi apparently saying "Congress is a Muslim party" and that it had not surprised him, as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said Muslims had the first right to natural resources. He had also asked why the Congress was a party for Muslim men alone and ignored the women of the community. The onus is now on the Congress to counter that narrative set by the prime minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Nonetheless, the 910-metre bridge has proved to be a boon for around 30,000 tribal villagers residing in a zone cut-off from mainland Odisha for more than five decades in the absence of any concrete road or proper river link. Editor's note: Probably one of the most delayed infrastructure projects in the country, Gurupriya bridge in the Naxal-hit Malkangiri district of Odisha, was finally inaugurated last month by Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The chief minister also announced a special package of Rs 100 crore for people living in the cut-off areas. The bridge links the states mainland to 151 villages and nine gram panchayats that were severed when the Machkund reservoir was constructed in 1960 and the Balimela Hydro Power Project later in 1972. In this three-part series, we look at the change in lives of people inhabiting over 900 sq km of cut off area, the Maoist threat and the politics that delayed the project for over 35 years since inception. Malkangiri: For valid reasons, Odishas newly-opened Gurupriya bridge has been termed one of the most delayed infrastructure projects in the country. Situated in the Malkangiri district, the bridge had its foundation stone laid way back in 1982 by then chief minister JB Patnaik of the Congress. Probably no one thought then that the unfortunate project would be inaugurated 36 years later, by a chief minister belonging to a different political party. Nonetheless, the 910-metre bridge has proved to be a boon for around 30,000 tribal villagers residing in a zone cut-off from mainland Odisha for more than five decades in the absence of any concrete road or proper river link. The inauguration of the bridge has also led to a different kind of tussle a political one where the states leading parties vying for the Assembly as well as Lok Sabha polls next year are leaving no stone unturned to discredit the project. The latest salvo has come in the form of allegations of a Rs 74 crore scam in the construction of the bridge. Charges before inauguration According to the locals, tribals in the Chitrakonda block, that includes the 151 cut-off villages, suffered because of lack of land titles and caste certificates -- an issue that was taken up by the rival parties to corner the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government. The Malkangiri Congress unit even claimed that around 2,000 school children had to drop out in the absence of relevant certificates. Around 99 percent of the people here are either Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST). Due to the apathy of the BJD government, a number of families in the Chitrakonda block could not get land pattas, without which the children could not get caste certificates. As a result, around 2,000 children were not allowed to avail the facility of hostels, Govind Patro, Congress district president, Malkangiri told Firstpost. BJD MP from Nabarangpur, Balabhadra Majhi, rubbished the Congress claim and insisted that the BJD had developed Malkangiri far better than its former MP. The Congress, while supporting the construction of the bridge, used the local issues to protest against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurating the link. It also asked why the state waited for around two months to open the bridge when work had been finished much earlier. When Patnaik visited Chitrakonda, the local Congress leader accompanied by the partys youth wing leaders called a strike. The party also alleged that around 35 of its members were taken into preventive custody on inauguration day. The BJP was not far behind in creating a ruckus over the bridge. Unlike the Congress cornering the BJD over the delay and the land patta row, the saffron party chose to allot credit for the bridge to itself and the security forces which had been stationed near the construction zone for four years to ward off the Naxalite threat. The BSF set up camp and kept a tight vigil to ensure hassle-free construction. The Centre prepared the policy for areas hit by left-wing extremism while the home ministry sanctioned money for the bridge. It is strange how the state government is bent upon snatching away credit, Samir Mohanty, BJP state vice-president said in an interview to local Odia channel OTV. Scam post-inauguration It wasnt long after Chief Minister Patnaik inaugurated the Gurupriya bridge on 26 July that a draft report from the Office of Principal Accountant General (PAG), Puri, came to the fore, accusing the state government of giving undue favour of Rs 74 crore to the contractor who handled the project. The bridge had earlier already been beset with charges of shoddy workmanship, cave-ins and pillar collapse. A copy of the PAGs draft, which was proposed to be put into the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, is with Firstpost. In deviation of Analysis of Rates, estimates prepared for EPC contract with undue lump sum provision of Rs 24 crore for hiring barges and Rs 4 crore for launching girders besides excessive provision of overhead charges and contractor's profit led to undue benefit of Rs 73.91 crore to contractor, the draft report said. Soon after the report made news, the Congress and BJP pounced on the BJD government again. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik stated to the media that before the general election, the state government has misused public money for the benefit of the contractor company. Rs 74 crore has been unnecessarily paid to the contractor. Why the state government was in a hurry to inaugurate Gurupriya Bridge - that has now been known after PAGs report. The party also demanded a CBI probe into the matter. The BJP too fired salvos against the Odisha government. This is a scam of Rs 74 crore. First Gammon India was given a tender of Rs 47 crore in 2006 but things could not (be) figured out, and later they claimed an estimate of Rs 90 crore. In February 2010, a CM-headed committee rejected the proposal and the agency was rejected and works stopped, so why was Gammon India given Rs 9 lakh? Only to test the soil? But the government did not give a reasonable reply, Golak Mohapatra, BJP spokesperson in Odisha, alleged in a statement. The local units of the two opposition parties are now busy holding a series of press conferences over the issue in capital Bhubaneswar, and also planning to escalate the attack on other fronts. BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra has, however, dismissed the charges, saying the rival parties are unnecessarily politicising the issue and that administrative systems should be given a chance to work. Also Read Gurupriya bridge: Proposed in 1982, opened in 2018, this Odisha bridge bears testimony to decades of frustration Gurupriya bridge: New communication link kindles hope for development in Maoist-infested hinterland of Odisha The author is a Bhubaneswar-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com. On Kerala's request, the state government has also agreed to release 75,000 cusecs of water from Kabini reservoir in Mysuru districts to tackle the flood. Bengaluru: Karnataka is rushing Rs 10 crore worth relief materials to the neighbouring flood-hit Kerala following heavy monsoon rains, said an official statement on Thursday. "Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy directed state Chief Secretary TM Vijaya Bhaskar to rush relief materials and a team of doctors to Kerala, reeling under heavy rains and flash floods," said the statement. On Kerala's request, the state government has also agreed to release 75,000 cusecs of water from Kabini reservoir in Mysuru districts to tackle the flash floods caused by excessive backwaters across the border in Kerala. As one of the tributaries, Kabini originates in the Wayanad district and flows eastward to join the Cauvery river at T Narasipura in Karnataka. "Kumaraswamy also called on his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the flood situation in that state. He also offered more relief material and aid to the affected people across the state," added the statement. The toll in the rain-related incidents rose to 26, with large-scale damage reported from various parts of the southern state. Idukki, Malappuram, Palghat, Kozhikode, Wayanad and parts of Kannur are the worst-affected districts in coastal and north-eastern areas of Kerala. Follow LIVE updates on the Kerala rains. DMK member Kanimozhi took to Twitter on Friday to criticise the ruling Palaniswami government over the National Green Tribunal hearing on the Thoothukudi Sterlite plant row. Kanimozhi, secretary of the women's wing of the DMK took to Twitter on Friday to criticise the ruling E Palaniswami government over the National Green Tribunal (NGT) hearing on the Sterlite plant row. The DMK member tweeted a series of tweet alleging that the Tamil Nadu government and the senior counsel representing the state should have been adequately prepared to defend the closure order of the Sterlite plant which was given by the state on 28 May. The National Green Tribunal, Delhi has granted conditional access to Vedanta to open & operate its Sterlite Copper plant at Thoothukudi. On 22nd May, after 13 people were killed in protest against Sterlite plant, TN government ordered its permanent closure. 1/4 Kanimozhi () (@KanimozhiDMK) August 10, 2018 Vedanta approached the NGT against this order & Senior Counsel CS.Vaidhyanathan represented TN govt. Counsel for TN govt should have prepared adequately to defend the TN govt order of closure. But, the briefing & discussion on yesterday's hearing was done only at 10am yesterday. Kanimozhi () (@KanimozhiDMK) August 10, 2018 The briefing and discussion on the hearing should have been done by Counsel CS.Vaidhyanathan at least a day before. But, CS.Vaidhyanathan was busy justifying the denial of space to our leader Kalaignar at Marina in Madras HC yesterday. 3/4 Kanimozhi () (@KanimozhiDMK) August 10, 2018 Or was this done deliberately by the government for Edappadi Palaniswami is taking TN to its lowest point in governance. 4/4 Kanimozhi () (@KanimozhiDMK) August 10, 2018 The NGT on Thursday allowed mining major Vedanta to access the administrative unit inside its Sterlite copper plant at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. A bench headed by chairperson AK Goel, however, said the company would not have access to its production unit and directed the district magistrate to ensure this. At the outset, the bench, also comprising Justices Jawad Rahim and SP Wangdi, made it clear that it would hear Vedanta's plea on merits and rejected the state government's submission that the tribunal did not have the jurisdiction to hear the case. Kanimozhi in her tweets, alleged that senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan should have better prepared for Vedanta approaching the NGT against the government's closure order but the briefing and discussion was done on Thursday morning itself and instead should have been done a whole day earlier. The DMK member proceeded to allege that the senior counsel was 'busy justifying the denial of space to our leader Kalaignar at Marina in Madras HC' and lastly tweeted that the delay was deliberate done by the ruling EPS government which is 'taking TN to its lowest point in governance.' With inputs from PTI. Love seems to be the 'common' ingredient in royal marriages involving non-royals While the world celebrates Princess Mako giving up her royal status to be with the one she loves, here are some more examples where love triumphed over social status, titles and 'the ways of the world' Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the Centre would provide all possible help to the flood-hit state of Kerala. He called for a survey on the affected areas New Delhi: The Centre will provide all possible help to flood-hit Kerala, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday assured the MPs from the state in the Lok Sabha. Singh said he had also sent Kiren Rijiju, his deputy in the ministry, to the state for a survey of the affected areas. "We will provide all necessary assistance to the state," Singh told the MPs from Kerala during the Zero Hour. Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) leader P Karunakaran said six districts in the state have been badly affected. At least 20 people have died in the Idukki district due to heavy rains and floods, while five people lost their lives in Wayanad, he said demanding military assistance. KC Venugopal (Congress) said Wayanad district in the state has been cut off from the rest of Kerala due to landslides. "For the first time, shutters of 22 dams were opened to release excess water while water from the Idukki reservoir was also released after 26 years, flooding the Periyar River," Venugopal said and demanded a special financial package for the state. Kerala has been pounded due to heavy downpour, resulting in the swelling of rivers and flooding in several parts. Click here for live updates on Kerala rains- https://www.firstpost.com/india/kerala-rains-live-updates-opening-fifth-shutter-of-idukki-dam-may-submerge-parts-of-aluva-kalamaserry-in-ernakulam-district-4934901.html The heavy South West Monsoon has wreaked havoc in Kerala as water levels continue to rise in rivers and reservoirs. A third red alert was issued for the Idukki Dam reservoir on Thursday night. The heavy southwest monsoon has wreaked havoc in Kerala as water levels continue to rise in rivers and reservoirs. A third red alert was issued for the Idukki Dam reservoir on Thursday night. As more dam gates are going to opened, four naval teams and a Sea King helicopter have been sent to Wayanad to evacuate stranded people. Army has deployed over 200 personnel at Ayannkulu, Idukki, Wayanad, Kozikode and Mallapuram. Landslides in some regions have killed 26 people and search and rescue operations are underway in low-lying areas of Ernakulum and Idukki districts. And as heavy rainfall is expected to continue in the next 24 hours, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sought help from the army, navy, coast guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and said that "the situation is very serious". 06 teams of #NDRF deployed in Kerala, engaged in rescue and relief work, in connection with flood and landslide response. pic.twitter.com/Woxp08fuUT NDRF (@NDRFHQ) August 9, 2018 "Things are pretty bad," Kerala power minister MM Mani said. "The shutters of the Idamalyar dam were opened. We will open more shutters of the Idukki dam also," he said. Relief camps have been opened in two villages in Ernakulam to help the affected people. Meanwhile, the inundation has prompted authorities to open the shutters of the Cheruthoni Dam on Idukki reservoir for the first time in 26 years. In an unprecedented manner, 22 dams have been opened over the last few weeks due to the rising water levels. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) on Thursday opened all four shutters of the Idamalayar Dam. With the inflow to the reservoir on the rise, the first three shutters were opened early on Thursday morning, while the fourth one was opened later. All shutters were opened by 80 centimetres in the beginning, but three shutters had to be raised by one or two metres. Around 700 cubic metres per second (cusecs) of water is being released from the shutters as of now, The Hindu reported. The Kochi airport also suspended all arrivals at the international and domestic terminals for two hours on Thursday fearing flooding of the runway after the gates of the Idukki dam were opened, NDTV reported. The airport is located close to Aluva near the Periyar river into which the water released from the Idukki reservoir will flow. A emergency control room has been opened at the International terminal while a team of the NDRF has moved to Kozhikode for rescue operations. SNC launches #OpMadad at Wayanad for c/o Search & Rescue operations in flooded low lying areas of Ernakulam & Idukki Districts due to opening of Cheruthoni/Idukki Dam shutters following heavy rains in the catchment areas on trial basis for 4h from 12.30 pm onwards @nsitharaman pic.twitter.com/6Cwqfsh6MT SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 9, 2018 Schools and colleges will remain shut in many districts and the annual Nehru boat race in Alappuzha has also been postponed. The United States Consulate General Chennai has issued a travel alert and advised its citizens to avoid visiting areas affected by landslides and flashfloods. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that a total of 10 relief camps have been set up in Palakkad taluk which are currently housing over 190 families. He informed the media that teams of the National Disaster Response Force, comprising 45 personnel each, have left Chennai for Kerala to assist the rescue and relief operations. An Inter-Ministerial Central Team of the Central government is also visiting flood-affected areas in Kerala, while Army troops are being mobilised from Bengaluru for deployment in the state. Vijayan said that he has received support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the state. Offered all possible assistance to those affected. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Kerala in the wake of this calamity. @CMOKerala Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2018 Kerala's power minister urged people not to panic, insisting that situation is under control. Meanwhile, Kerala district collectors have been given permission to hire bulldozers, generators and lights for relief operations as flood-like situation is building in Palakkad district. Also, with the opening of all four shutters of the Idamalayar Dam and rising water levels in the Periyar River, revenue authorities at Aluva Taluk have also been alerted. Around 13 villages and about 4000 people are expected to be affected by the inundation, according to The Hindu report. President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted to offer condolences to those killed in the tragedy. "Sad to hear of loss of lives due to floods in Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families. Thoughts with fellow citizens, especially children who have been affected. Urge govt authorities, relief agencies, civil society and citizens to band together and pool efforts," he said. Union Minister of State for Tourism KJ Alphons said Kerala has been witnessing an "unprecedented flood" situation since Wednesday and incessant rains for the last two weeks. "It is the biggest rain we had in 50 years," Alphons was quoted as saying by ANI. @IndiaCoastGuard Aircraft monitors #flood situations in #Ernakulam #Kerala & dispatches Coast Guard Rescue & Relief Teams to #Aluva #Ernakulam & #Beypore for assisting District Disaster Management Teams in Rescue effort to save people from flooded homes& streets @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/ni66pDWHWW Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 9, 2018 Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami has announced a contribution of Rs five crore to Kerala as a mark of support. Referring to the situation, Palaniswami conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. The chief minister said he has ordered "immediate contribution" from the chief minister's public relief fund. A three-judge bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Naveen Sinha, and K.M. Joseph admitted the appeal and sought a reply from the Talwars. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday admitted an appeal filed by the CBI against the Allahabad high court verdict acquitting Aarushis parents Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the murder of their daughter. A three-judge bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Naveen Sinha, and K.M. Joseph admitted the appeal and sought a reply from the Talwars. Normally, it takes at least a decade for the apex court to dispose of a criminal appeal. Taking note of this, the bench expedited the hearing. Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead inside her room in Talwars Noida residence with her throat slit in May 2008. The needle of suspicion had initially moved towards 45-year-old Hemraj, who had gone missing, but his body was recovered from the terrace of the house two days later. As the Uttar Pradesh police drew flak over a shoddy probe into the case which was making national headlines, the then chief minister Mayawati had recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The case was subsequently handed over to the agency. A CBI court at Ghaziabad sentenced the Talwars to life imprisonment on November 26, 2013, in connection with the case. The high court, however, later freed them of the charges on the ground that they could not be held guilty on the basis of the evidence on record. In November 2017, Hemrajs wife, Banjade, had filed an appeal against the acquittal. The CBI filed the appeal in March this year. The CBI said that the high court order was wrong on several counts. The Talwars are killers, but the high court had set them free, the CBI said. It prayed for the quashing of the impugned judgment. On February 9, retired special CBI judge Shyam Lal, who convicted the Talwar couple in 2013, also moved the apex court against the high court judgement seeking expunction of certain observations. He had said that the criticism against him in the Allahabad high court verdict was disparaging and unwarranted. The high court verdict had said the trial judge took evidence and circumstances of the case for granted and tried to solve it like a mathematical puzzle when one solves a given question and then takes something for granted in order to solve that puzzle and question. It had also said the trial judge cannot act like a maths teacher who is solving a mathematical question by analogy after taking certain figure for granted. Dam reservoirs and rivers overflowed, sections of highways collapsed and homes were swept away in severe flooding in more than half of Kerala, after days of incessant rains left nearly 54,000 people homeless and killed at least 29 Auto refresh feeds Revenue minister E Chandasekharan has said that all families in the relief camp will be given free ration. Village officers to monitor water overflowing over the Cheruthony check dam. The private bus station and check dam are in the immediate flow area of the water. All three shutters of Idukki Dam opened 40 cm each. Situation will be reviewed at 11 am today. 2 more shutters likely to be opened after review. "A ban has been imposed on the movement of heavy goods vehicles and tourist vehicles in the high ranges of Idukki. The decision was taken on account of unabated rains in the area," Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted. The Indian Express reports: With water level in Idukki reservoir rising, three shutters of the Cheruthoni dam opened releasing 125 cumex of water; Periyar flowing in spate, people living near river banks asked to exercise caution. All educational institutions including professional colleges in Kothamangalam, Kunnathunad, Aluva and Paravur taluks of Ernakulam district have been given a holiday today considering the rain situation. Similarly, schools in Kalamassery municipality, Cheranallur, Kadamakudy panchayats have also been given holiday. Following the opening of two more shutters of Idduki dam, district authorities have started evacuating 140 families in the Cheruthoni town. An Asianet TV channel report said that 40 families will be first shifted to relief camps. Though five relief camps have been readied, most people preferred to go to their relatives houses. The Kerala State Electricity Board is planning to release another 1,75,000 litres of water by either raising the shutters already opened or by opening the other two shutters. A final decision in this regard will be taken after taking stock of the situation. A high-level meeting led by Idukki district collector is in progress now. The Ernakulam district administration has asked people living on the banks of Periyar river to move to relief camps or other safe places as the water discharged from the Idukki reservoir have started flooding several areas. With three shutters of the dam lifted up to 40 cm, 1,25,000 litres of water are flowing to the river per second. Ernakulam: With 3 shutters of the dam lifted up to 40 cm, 1,25,000 litres of water is flowing into the river per second District authorities enable mic announcements through affected districts to advise people to move to safe places. Many such efforts have been launched in view of the possibility of opening the other shutters. Several vehicles with mikes mounted on them have been pressed into service on both sides of the river. Water levels on the rise downstream of Periyar river after shutters went up in Cheruthoni dam. Idukki Dam as such don't have shutters and the water is drained through Cheruthoni Dam. The shutters of Cheruthoni dam will once again be lifted at around 11.30 am to release 300 cumecs of water i.e 3 lakh litres per second. This is expected to further deteriorate the situation. It is too early to say which are the areas which will be flooded. But Alwaye, Kothamangalam, Angamally, Perumbavoor are areas which could be affected. Though the Kochi airport was closed for some time yesterday, the situation is not as bad as it was in 2013 when the airport was shut, says Saju Paul, former MLA. Kerala. The sluice gates of three shutters of Idukki dam have been further raised to release more water from the reservoir. This has been done to avoid opening of more shutters. Currently three of the five shutters are open. JUST IN: Three shutters of Idukki Dam have been raised further to release more water Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has cancelled all his official programmes outside state capital. He will continue in Thiruvananthapuram to take stock of the deteriorating situation in Kerala. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has cancelled all his official engagements for the next three days to focus on the flood rescue and relief operations. He has appealed to the district authorities in affected areas to inform people about the risks and precautionary measures to be taken to face the situation. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala appeals to the government to suspend the upcoming Onam festivities and use the same money for rehabilitation of people affected by the floods Revenue Minister E Chandrashekharan said that the government had sought hi-tech equipment required for rescue and relief operations from the Military Engineering department, Bangalore. The equipment will be brought to Nedumbaserry at Kochi and Karippur airport in Kozhikode and deployed in the affected areas. The water levels have decreased in Idukki. Water from Idukki will take 8 hours to reach densely populated Aluva. Water levels have gone up in and around Periyar river. According to local sources, 62 relief camps have been opened in affected areas. Around 3,000 to 3,500 members from 182 families have been shifted to these camps. Thirty tourists, including several foreign who were trapped in a resort at Pallivasal in Idukki district following a landslide have been rescued. The tourists who were holed up the Plum Judy resort since Wednesday were rescued by the Army. The report said that the neighbouring government had opened the shutters of the dams on the Kabani River to clear way for water from Banasagara Sagar dam in Wayanad district to flow to Karnataka. The Karnataka government has extended a helping hand to the Kerala government in relief operations by sanctioning Rs 10 crore and sending a team of doctors to the state. Reports from Bangalore said that Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has directed state chief secretary T M Vijayabhaskar to send all possible assistance to the government. Cochin International Airport released a statement and said that they have reviewed the situation and operational area of the airport has not been affected. "There is no need to suspend flights. NO CANCELLATIONS," a press release said. The shutters of Moozhiyar and Kakki dams in the district were opened earlier. The opening of these dams will inundate the Kuttanad region, most parts of which are already under water. Most of the water bodies, including Pampa river, are on spate. The district collector has asked people living on the banks of the Pampa river to remain cautious. The shutters of Kochu Pampa dam, part of Sabarigiri hydro-electric project in Pathanamthitta district, have been opened after the water level in the reservoir reached the maximum capacity as heavy rains continued to lash the district. The situation has worsened after three days of unabated rains. A bridge on the Periyar river in the town was completely destroyed by the gushing waters from the reservoirs. The bus stand in the town is under water. The government has declared holiday for workers in the estates in the plantation sector in Idukki. The Cheruthoni town has been submerged in water after two more shutters of the Idukki dam were opened in the morning leading to a discharge of 300,000 litres of water per second. According to state disaster control room sources, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas. Over 5,500 people from Wayanad district, where a red alert had been sounded yesterday, have been shifted to relief camps, the sources said this morning. In Ernakulam, 3,456 people have been shifted to camps following floods after 4 shutters of the Idamalayar dam were opened on Thursday. He said that the tourists trapped in Plumjudy and Pulimoottil resort in Lakshmi estate following landslides were safe. The Kerala government has banned tourism in Idukki district in view of the continous rains in the district. State Tourism Minister Kadkampally Surendran said that the tourists holed up in the district will be shifted to safe places in the neighbouring districts. P Karunakaran of the CPM and KC Venugopal of Congress have both brought up the issue of floods and rivers running in spate in Kerala in the Lok Sabha on Friday, and requested the Centre to direct military assistance in rescue work, and also sought a special financial package for the state of Kerala. The Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd has approached the district collector and sought permission to lift the shutters of Cheruthoni dam. The KSEBL proposes to increase the release from the Cheruthoni dam upward of 600 cumecs. The board's move came with the water level about to touch the maximum level of 2403 ft. "The safety of dam needs to be taken care of. The shutter will be lifted further with the board getting permission from the revenue Department," a official with the KSEBL. Considering the situation, Pinarayi has instructed to alert the people living in downstream areas with the help of announcements. He has also instructed to relocate people living in vulnerable areas. "As the water-level in Idukki dam continues to rise, more water will have to be released. It has been estimated that at least 3 times the volume that is being released now will have to be spilled. This will raise the water-level in Periyar river and its subsidiaries." 3 times the volume of water that is being released now will have to be spilled, will raise water level in Periyar: CMO The fifth shutter of the Idukki dam has been opened with water level continuing to rise in the reservoir in Kerala. The fourth shutter of the dam listed an hour ago. Earlier in the day, three shutters of the dam were raised by 100 cm with 425 cumecs water gushing out every second. An alert has been issued to people living in the downstream areas and on the banks of Cheruthoni and Periyar rivers. The Indian Air Force has pressed into action with two helicopters for the search and rescue operation. One Mi-17IV and an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) have been deployed from Sulur Air Force base. One AN-32 aircraft was flown to Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu to airlift the NDRF personnel for enhanced rescue operations and were brought to Kozhikode. Army and Air Force swing into action for the disaster relief and rescue operation which is taking place in the disaster hit districts of Kerala.Total eight columns of Army personnel have been deployed in different parts of Kerala. The outflow of water from Idukki dam is 4.25 lakh litres per second which is first time in history. Currently 400 cumecs water per second is being released. This will be increased phase by phase to 700 cumecs. The release of water following the opening of the fifth shutter may submerge low-lying areas of Aluva and Kalamaserry areas in Ernakulam district. The water from Idukki reservoir will take at least six hours to reach Aluva. The current water level in the reservoir is 2,401.6 feet. The maximum capacity of the dam is 2,403 feet. The evacuation of people living on the banks of Periyar river has begun following the opening of all the shutters of the Cheruthoni dam. While people in the down stream areas in Idukki have already been evacuated, those in Ernakulam district are being shifted to safer places. All shutters of Cheruthoni Dam opened. Water level has been on the rise and the levels are hitting dangerous numbers. A 50-member NDRF team has arrived at Cheruthoni to lead the rescue operations. The Army station located at Pangode in Trivandrum had already deployed one column of Army personnel under the supervision of a Captain rank officer in Idukki district. They are stationed at Adimali in Idukki and rescue operation is progressing. In a press statement, the defence ministry said that the Army and Air Force swung into action for the disaster relief and rescue operation which is going on in the disaster hit districts In Kerala. Total eight columns of Army have been deployed in different parts of kerala. One column of Army has been stationed in Aluva district to deal with any eventualities arising from a huge influx of water from Idukki dam following the opening of all the five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam. Currently 400,000 litres of water per second is being released into the Periyar river, on the banks of which the highly dense Aluva town sits. After the fifth shutter was opened, it took only 35 minutes for the water from the reservoir to cross Cheruthoni town. The Cheruthoni bridge has been fully submerged. From Cheruthoni, water will reach Aluva through Kothamangalam and Kalady within six hours. Around 13 villages in Aluva taluk are expected to be affected by the release of the water from Idukki Dam. The initial calculation puts the number of families likely to be affected at 4,000. But with more water being released through all five shutters, that number may also rise. Reports from Delhi said that the minister had offered all assistance to the state. A delegation of MPs from Kerala had earlier met Rajnath Singh and appraised with the situation in the state. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be arriving in Kerala on Sunday to review the rescue and relief operations underway in Kerala following the heavy rain and opening of the shutters of 25 dams across the state. The Indian Navy has put on alert its Southern Naval Command in view of the rising water level in the Periyar river and a possible inundation of parts of Wellingdon Island surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi. Col Ajai Sharma, the Commandant of DSC Centre, who is overseeing relief and rescue operations, said five columns of Army has been deployed in the northern districts since last night. "The haphazard development along the streams has affected the natural flow of rivers, which is a challenge right now," he said. Small bridges have been constructed to evacuate stranded people in various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad areas, and rescue operations are currently underway. "The situation is under control," he said. Five columns of Army has been deployed in the state's northern districts since last night, and small bridges have been constructed to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad. In Palakkad district, the flood waters have started receding today as the quantity of water being released from Malampuzha dam has been reduced and Palakkad town is limping back to normal. However, many areas are still inundated and people were seen trying to save their belongings, PTI reported. All the five shutters of the dam, one of the most picturesque dams in Kerala, have already been opened. People living on the banks of the river have also been evacuated. Additional forces of police have been deployed at Bhoothankettu to control people swarming the area to see the water flow through the dam. A 32-member Indian Army engineering team has arrived at Bhoothankettu, the entry point of Periyar river in Ernakulam district, to help the local authorities in tackling floods to be triggered by the influx of water from Idukki district. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will take an aerial survey of the rescue and relief operations being carried out following the torrential rains and landslides in the central and northern districts of the state. Vijayan will be accompanied by state revenue minister E Chandrashakharan and chief secretary Tom Jose. Sources in the CMO said that Vijayan will review the operations in Idukki, Wayanad and Errnakulam districts. The water level in the Idukki reservoir has not come down even after opening all the five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam. In fact the water level in the reservoir has gone up from 2401.6 feet in the morning to 2401.72 feet in the afternoon. This is due to the continuous rainfall in the catchment areas of the dam. If the rain continues at this rate, the sluice gates of the dam may have to be lifted further to release more water. Currently, 600 cumecs of water is being discharged through the five shutters. An immediate succour from the grim situation in Idukki is not likely with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the district for the next three days. The department prediction showed that the present situation will continue at a few places in the district until Monday. The other central districts of Kottayam and Ernakulam will receive heavy rainfall till Saturday. Heavy rain will also lash the northern districts of Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Wayand till Saturday. A control room has started functioning at Aluva to co-ordinate the activities of KWA to combat the rising levels and turbidity in the River Periyar. The control room will be functional 24x7 from 5 pm onwards today. Narayanasamy also contacted officials in Mahe, an enclave of Puducherry in Kerala, and enquired about the situation there, the release said. PTI "The situation in Kerala causes concern and Puducherry government is concerned about the development and all help and assistance would be extended by the territorial government," Narayanasamy told Vijayan. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today spoke over the phone to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and assured him of all help to tackle the situation there in the wake of torrential rains. With Aluva Mannapuram submerged under water, the district administration has brought strict restriction for performing Vavubali, an offering made to the deceased people, on Saturday. The rituals performed along the banks of Aluva river will be shifted to a higher platform. Over 30,000 people are expected to visit on Saturday morning to perform the rituals. Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan said that the state government is equipped to deal with the crisis. " The district administration is delivering a tremendous job by coordinating with all the departments. The government will provide all the assistance to the affected people. Free ration will be also provided to the families," Chandrasekharan said while conducting a review meeting in Aluva. According to News18 Kerala , Cherthoni dam is expected to release more water. The news website reported that 800 lakh liters of water may be released between 5 am to 2 pm tomorrow. Fifty four tourists, including 20 foreigners, who were stranded at a resort in Munnar have been safely rescued, according to NDTV. Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said all the tourists of Plum Judy resort at Pallivasal in Munnar were safe. The army was deployed to help clear the road leading to the Plum Judy resort in Pallivasal in Munnar. The tourists will now be shifted to Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) hotels. Indian Navy's "Operation Madad" continued today with all resources available with Southern Naval Command. Two teams with Gemini boats commenced rescue operations at Kalpetta, Wayanad and at Panmarum where they evacuated 55 stranded people till 12:00 pm. Another team has been air-lifted by Seaking Helicopter to Kalpetta with all gears and 2 Electric Generators which was requested by Wayanad District Collector. Three additional diving teams have also been dispatched to Aluva. The Idukki district collector said that on Thursday, at 12:30 pm one shutter was opened after 26 years. So 50,000 litres/sec water was sent out. "Last night even though we planned not to continue the process, we had to do that because the level of water was going up. Today morning by 7 am we increased shutter strength and the water was discharged to 120 cumecs by 12;30 we had to increase to 300 cumecs. Now we have ordered to increase it to 600 cumecs. Things are under control," he said. With the water level in the Alappuzha district rising due to heavy rain, Alappuzha district Collector S Suhas has directed the revenue staff and other government officers to turn up at the office on Saturday. The district Collector issued the order to coordinate the rescue activity. However, a section of revenue staff expressed their discomfort to turn up at the office on the Second Saturday which is a holiday for the government offices. According to India Today, the water level being released from Idukki dam has been increased to 7.25 lakh litres per second as the dam reservoir water level continues to rise due to torrential rainfall in catchment areas. The released water will flood the Periyar river and districts on its banks even further. Two columns of Army have been requistioned for Aluva as the water from Idukki dam is expected to reach the region by 10-11 pm tonight, ANI reported. Aluva is flooded as water level of Periyar river has risen after five shutters of Idukki dam were opened today. Here's where you can make your contribution. The proceeds will be used to fund the relief and rescue operations in the face of unprecedented natural calamity, and the contribution is 100% tax-free. "Kerala is in the midst of an unprecedented rain havoc. Path to recovery can be long & arduous, but you can make a difference by joining the rebuilding efforts. CM Pinarayi Vijayan has urged all to contribute generously to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund," the chief ministers's office tweeted. Two Mi-17 V5 helicopter and one Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) has been pressed into service for distribution of relief material and winching operations, in addition to five An-32 aircrafts which were used on Thursday to air-lift NDRF teams. "The IAF responded immediately for assistance to the people affected by landslides and floods in Kerala and is extending all possible help through Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) missions," a tweet by the Indian Air Force said. Five columns of Army were deployed in the state's seven severely-hit northern districts, out of Kerala's 14, to help evacuate people and to build makeshift bridges even as the Indian Navy's southern command was put on alert after water level in Periyar river rose amid concern that parts of Wellingdon Island in Kochi could be inundated. Almost all 40-odd rivers in the state are in spate, officials said. Northern and central Kerala have been battered by heavy rains of the Southwest monsoon since August 8, which has left 29 people dead, including three today. Of them, 25 died in landslides and four in drowning. State officials said a total of 53,501 people are now housed in 439 relief camps across the state. Indian Navy's "Operation Madad" continued today with all resources available with Southern Naval Command. Two teams with Gemini boats commenced rescue operations at Kalpetta, Wayanad and at Panmarum where they evacuated 55 stranded people till 12:00 pm. Another team has been air-lifted by Seaking Helicopter to Kalpetta with all gears and 2 Electric Generators which was requested by Wayanad District Collector. Three additional diving teams have also been dispatched to Aluva. The Idukki district collector said that on Thursday, at 12:30 pm one shutter was opened after 26 years. So 50,000 litres/sec water was sent out. "Last night even though we planned not to continue the process, we had to do that because the level of water was going up. Today morning by 7 am we increased shutter strength and the water was discharged to 120 cumecs by 12;30 we had to increase to 300 cumecs. Now we have ordered to increase it to 600 cumecs. Things are under control," he said. With the water level in the Alappuzha district rising due to heavy rain, Alappuzha district Collector S Suhas has directed the revenue staff and other government officers to turn up at the office on Saturday. The district Collector issued the order to coordinate the rescue activity. However, a section of revenue staff expressed their discomfort to turn up at the office on the Second Saturday which is a holiday for the government offices. According to India Today, the water level being released from Idukki dam has been increased to 7.25 lakh litres per second as the dam reservoir water level continues to rise due to torrential rainfall in catchment areas. The released water will flood the Periyar river and districts on its banks even further. Two columns of Army have been requistioned for Aluva as the water from Idukki dam is expected to reach the region by 10-11 pm tonight, ANI reported. Aluva is flooded as water level of Periyar river has risen after five shutters of Idukki dam were opened today. Here's where you can make your contribution. The proceeds will be used to fund the relief and rescue operations in the face of unprecedented natural calamity, and the contribution is 100% tax-free. "Kerala is in the midst of an unprecedented rain havoc. Path to recovery can be long & arduous, but you can make a difference by joining the rebuilding efforts. CM Pinarayi Vijayan has urged all to contribute generously to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund," the chief ministers's office tweeted. Two Mi-17 V5 helicopter and one Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) has been pressed into service for distribution of relief material and winching operations, in addition to five An-32 aircrafts which were used on Thursday to air-lift NDRF teams. "The IAF responded immediately for assistance to the people affected by landslides and floods in Kerala and is extending all possible help through Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) missions," a tweet by the Indian Air Force said. Five columns of Army were deployed in the state's seven severely-hit northern districts, out of Kerala's 14, to help evacuate people and to build makeshift bridges even as the Indian Navy's southern command was put on alert after water level in Periyar river rose amid concern that parts of Wellingdon Island in Kochi could be inundated. Almost all 40-odd rivers in the state are in spate, officials said. Northern and central Kerala have been battered by heavy rains of the Southwest monsoon since August 8, which has left 29 people dead, including three today. Of them, 25 died in landslides and four in drowning. State officials said a total of 53,501 people are now housed in 439 relief camps across the state. Kerala Rains LIVE updates: Dam reservoirs and rivers overflowed, sections of highways collapsed and homes were swept away in severe flooding in more than half of Kerala, after days of incessant rains left nearly 54,000 people homeless and killed at least 29, officials said today. According to India Today, the water level being released from Idukki dam has been increased to 7.25 lakh litres per second as the dam reservoir water level continues to rise due to torrential rainfall in catchment areas. The released water will flood the Periyar river and districts on its banks even further. With water now making its way downstream, life for residents in low-lying districts may get more difficult. According to India Today, people in Ernakulam are facing a severe shortage of basic amenities, and especially drinking water. The report said that the state government authorities are distributing free ration to the people but people are forced to stock up on drinking water. Indian Navy's "Operation Madad" continued today with all resources available with Southern Naval Command. Two teams with Gemini boats commenced rescue operations at Kalpetta, Wayanad and at Panmarum where they evacuated 55 stranded people till 12:00 pm. Another team has been air-lifted by Seaking Helicopter to Kalpetta with all gears and 2 Electric Generators which was requested by Wayanad District Collector. Three additional diving teams have also been dispatched to Aluva. Sixty nine tourists, including 20 foreigners, who were stranded at a resort in Munnar have been safely rescued, according to NDTV. Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said all the tourists of Plum Judy resort at Pallivasal in Munnar were safe. IMD predicted that central districts of Kottayam and Ernakulam will receive heavy rainfall till Saturday. Heavy rain will also lash the northern districts of Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Wayand till Saturday. An immediate succour from the grim situation in Idukki is not likely with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the district for the next three days. The department prediction showed that the present situation will continue at a few places in the district until Monday. The water level in the Idukki reservoir has not come down even after opening all the five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam. In fact the water level in the reservoir has gone up from 2401.6 feet in the morning to 2401.72 feet in the afternoon. This is due to the continuous rainfall in the catchment areas of the dam. If the rain continues at this rate, the sluice gates of the dam may have to be lifted further to release more water. Currently, 600 cumecs of water is being discharged through the five shutters. A 32-member Indian Army engineering team has arrived at Bhoothankettu, the entry point of Periyar river in Ernakulam district, to help the local authorities in tackling floods to be triggered by the influx of water from Idukki district. Meanwhile, reports said that the death toll has risen to 28 in the past 48 hours in the state. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be arriving in Kerala on Sunday to review the rescue and relief operations underway in Kerala following the heavy rain and opening of the shutters of 25 dams across the state. Around 13 villages in Aluva taluk are expected to be affected by the release of the water from Idukki Dam. The initial calculation puts the number of families likely to be affected at 4,000. But with more water being released through all five shutters, that number may also rise. While people in the down stream areas in Idukki have already been evacuated, those in Ernakulam district are being shifted to safer places. Currently 400 cumecs water per second is being released. This will be increased phase by phase to 700 cumecs. The release of water following the opening of the fifth shutter may submerge low-lying areas of Aluva and Kalamaserry areas in Ernakulam district. The water from Idukki reservoir will take at least six hours to reach Aluva. The current water level in the reservoir is 2401.6 feet. The maximum capacity of the dam is 2403 feet. The Kerala government has declared a half day holiday for government employees in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts on Friday afternoon in view of the torrential rain and floods. The factories and commercial establishments in Ernakulam have also been alerted. All shops around the Aluva Manappuram have been shut down. The evacuation of people living on the banks of Periyar river has begun following the opening of all the shutters of the Cheruthoni dam. The fifth shutter of the Idukki dam has been opened with water level continuing to rise in the reservoir in Kerala. The outflow of water from Idukki dam is 4.25 lakh litres per second which is first time in history. The fourth shutter of the dam listed an hour ago. Earlier in the day, three shutters of the dam were raised by 100 cm with 425 cumecs water gushing out every second. An alert has been issued to people living in the downstream areas and on the banks of Cheruthoni and Periyar rivers. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has reviewed the efforts taken to tackle the rain havoc, the chief minister's office tweeted on Friday. "The meeting expressed satisfaction at the flood relief efforts being carried out by Army, Navy, Air Force, NDRF & Coast Guard." "As the water-level in Idukki dam continues to rise, more water will have to be released. It has been estimated that at least 3 times the volume that is being released now will have to be spilled. This will raise the water-level in Periyar river and its subsidiaries." Indian Navy's Seaking 42C chopper conduct relief operation in flooded areas of Kerala. Actor Mohanlal tweeted a video of the territorial Army conducting rescue operations and said, "A quick reaction rescue team of 122 TA Battalion of Kannur has been carrying massive rescue operations. The undaunted selfless service of these soldiers of Kerala is really commendable and we are highly proud of our brave hearts - "The Kannur Terriers." One more shutter of the Idukki dam has been opened. The authorities decided to open the fourth shutter as there was no reduction in the water in the reservoir even after raising the height of the three sluice gates in the morning. The current water level in the dam is 2401.5 feet. The total capacity of the reservoir is 2403 feet. Reports said that the water flow to the reservoir was continuing following the continuing heavy rains in the catchment areas of the dam. The Cheruthoni town has been submerged in water after two more shutters of the Idukki dam were opened in the morning leading to a discharge of 300,000 litres of water per second. A bridge on the Periyar river in the town was completely destroyed by the gushing waters from the reservoirs. The bus stand in the town is under water. The government has declared holiday for workers in the estates in the plantation sector in Idukki. Rajnath Singh tried to reach chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan but failed. After several attempts, Union home minister told reporters that the Centre will extend all kinds of assistance that Kerala might need. Cochin International Airport released a statement and said that they have reviewed the situation and operational area of the airport has not been affected. "There is no need to suspend flights. NO CANCELLATIONS," a press release said. The water levels have decreased in Idukki. Water from Idukki will take 8 hours to reach densely populated Aluva. Water levels have gone up in and around Periyar river. According to local sources, 62 relief camps have been opened in affected areas. Around 3,000 to 3,500 members from 182 families have been shifted to these camps. The sluice gates of three shutters of Idukki dam have been further raised to release more water from the reservoir. This has been done to avoid opening of more shutters. Currently three of the five shutters are open. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has cancelled all his official programmes for the next three days to focus on the flood rescue and relief operations. He has appealed to the district authorities in affected areas to inform people about the risks and precautionary measures to be taken to face the situation. The shutters of Cheruthoni dam will once again be lifted at around 11.30 am to release 300 cumecs of water i.e 3 lakh litres per second. "This is expected to further deteriorate the situation. It is too early to say which are the areas which will be flooded. But Aluva, Kothamangalam, Angamally, Perumbavoor are areas which could be affected. Though the Kochi airport was closed for some time yesterday, the situation is not as bad as it was in 2013 when the airport was shut, says Saju Paul, former MLA. Kerala. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is addressing an emergency review meeting with various government officials. District authorities enable mic announcements through affected districts to advise people to move to safe places. Many such efforts have been launched in view of the possibility of opening the other shutters. Very high alert has been issued in Kerala even as officials started evacuation in the town of Cheruthoni. Following the opening of two more shutters of Idduki dam, district authorities have started evacuating 140 families in the Cheruthoni town. An Asianet TV channel report said that 40 families will be first shifted to relief camps. Though five relief camps have been readied, most people preferred to go to their relatives houses. All schools and colleges, including professional colleges in Kothamangalam, Kunnathunad, Aluva and Paravur taluks of Ernakulam district in Kerala have been given a holiday considering the rain situation. Schools in Kalamassery municipality, Cheranallur, Kadamakudy panchayats have also been given holiday, reports have said. As heavy rains continued to lash various parts of Kerala, two more shutters of the Cheruthoni Dam, part of the Idukki Reservoir, were opened today as the water level touched 2,401 feet. For the first time in the last 26 years, a shutter of the Cheruthoni Dam was opened yesterday and two more were opened at 7 am. The full reservoir level is 2,403 feet and storage capacity is 69,268 Mcft and storage percentage is 97.61 percent. The South-west monsoon has been vigorous over Kerala resulting in heavy rains in various parts of the state since the past two days. So far 26 people have been killed, including 11 in high range Idukki in landslips yesterday as rain continued to pound the southern state. Idukki has received 129.80 mm rainfall. With water levels rising in various dams and reaching almost maximum capacity, shutters of at least 22 reservoirs in the state have been opened to drain out excess water. According to state disaster control room sources, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas. Over 5,500 people from Wayanad district, where a red alert had been sounded yesterday, have been shifted to relief camps, the sources said this morning. In Ernakulam, 3,456 people have been shifted to camps following floods after 4 shutters of the Idamalayar dam were opened yesterday. According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin at 8 am, thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely to affect Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad districts. The government has asked tourists not to go to high range areas and dam sites. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had described the flood situation in the state as "very grim" and it was for the first time in the history of the state that 24 dams had been opened at a time following the water level reaching maximum capacity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Kerala Chief Minister yesterday in the wake of heavy rains and floods in the state, and offered all possible assistance to those affected. "Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the state. Offered all possible assistance to those affected. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Kerala in the wake of this calamity," the PM said in a tweet. The services of Army, Navy and Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been sought in the flood-hit areas. The Cheruthoni River in Kerala has been overflowing since all five shutters of Idukki Dam were opened to release the water building up because of the rain. Torrential rainfall for three straight days has left Kerala struggling to prevent a flood-like situation. To avert a disaster, all shutters of the Idukki Dam in Cheruthoni were opened on Friday afternoon, and for the first time in its history, the outflow from the reservoir is 4.25 lakh litres (4.25 cumecs) per second. The fifth shutter of the dam on the Cheruthoni River a major tributary of the Periyar River was opened after the water in the reservoir continued to rise and hit dangerous levels even after four shutters were opened. Authorities had earlier raised the shutters of three sluice gates, hoping that this would do away with the need to open more shutters, but to no avail. They have now decided to increase the water being released from the dam in phases to 700 cumecs. The Cheruthoni River has been overflowing since all the five shutters of the Idukki Dam one of the largest arch dams in Asia were opened to release the excess water building up in the reservoir. A very high alert was issued along the banks of the Periyar as evacuation operations began in Cheruthoni. District authorities began to evacuate 140 families from the town to relief camps on Friday morning. With all shutters of the dam now open, a 50-member team of the National Disaster Response Force is leading the rescue operations. Cheruthoni has been inundated since four shutters of the Idukki Dam were opened on Friday morning, discharging 3 cumecs of water per second at the time. A bridge on the Periyar River in the town was completely destroyed by the force of the gushing waters. The Kerala government has banned tourism in Idukki district because of the unabated rainfall. State Tourism Minister Kadkampally Surendran said that the tourists holed up in the district will be evacuated to safe places in neighbouring districts. In Ernakulam district, too, the administration has asked people living on the banks of the Periyar to move to relief camps or other safe places as the areas are likely to get flooded with water released from the dam, especially in Aluva and Kalamaserry. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is overseeing the rescue efforts and has cancelled all commitments outside Thiruvananthapuram till 12 August. He chaired a review meeting to assess the situation. "The meeting expressed satisfaction at the flood relief efforts being carried out by the army, navy, air force, NDRF and Coast Guard," the Kerala Chief Minister's Office said. Click here for LIVE updates on the Kerala rains. The ATS raided the residence and shop of the accused, whose name was not revealed, in Sopara village of Nallasopata in Palghar and seized the explosives. Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has nabbed a suspected right-wing Sanatan Sanstha activist and recovered some explosive materials from his home in Palghar early on Friday, an official said. The activist has been identified as Vaibhav Raut. The arrest followed an early morning raid in the Nallasopara town. The ATS used a dog squad to swoop down on the Hindu group member. Raut was taken from Palghar to Mumbai and will be produced before a court later in the day. The ATS has recovered some bomb-making material, including detonators, explosive powder and incriminating material during the raid at his home and shop in Bhandarali area of Nala Sopara. However, his lawyer Sanjeev Punhalekar told the media that Raut was not a Sanatan Sanstha activist and his name was being linked to defame the organisation. Raut is also said to be linked to the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti. The pro-quota Maharashtra bandh called by some Maratha groups on Thursday was marked by sporadic violence and arson, disruption of road traffic and rallies in various parts of the state. Mumbai: The pro-quota bandh called by some Maratha groups on Thursday was marked by sporadic violence and arson, disruption of road traffic and rallies in various parts of Maharashtra. The day-long agitation began on a relatively peaceful note in the morning but turned violent in the afternoon. Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30 percent of the state's population, have been demanding 16 percent reservation in government jobs and education. Violence and arson was witnessed on Thursday despite the appeal by the Maratha community leaders for carrying out the protests in a peaceful manner. The Maratha groups organised the bandh despite the assurance by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that his government was working on providing reservation in a legally sustainable manner. Pune was one of the worst hit by Thursday's agitation, with a mob vandalising property at the district collectorate and violence being witnessed at some other places. Authorities had ordered closure of schools and colleges and suspended internet services in Pune to prevent rumour-mongering. Plants of many companies also remained shut. "According to my information, the main gate of the administrative building and the security cabin's glass were damaged," Collector Naval Kishor Ram said. According to sources, the protesters also damaged some light bulbs in the premises. Authorities had taken precautions to prevent any untoward incident and suspended internet services in seven tehsils of the district to check rumour-mongering. In the evening, some miscreants resorted to stone pelting at the police in Chandni Chowk area of Pune. "After the agitation, some anti-social elements started pelting stones at the police and even tried to block the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway," Shivaji Bodkhe, joint commissioner of police (law and order) of Pune police said. "When the policemen tried to stop them from blocking the highway, they started pelting stones, prompting the police to chase them and resort to mild lathi charge in order to disperse them," he said. He said the police was in the process of detaining all such people who are "not agitators but miscreants". "The vehicular traffic on the highway has been resumed now and the situation is under control," he said. Chakan, an industrial hub about 40 kilometres from Pune which saw violence on 30 July during a similar agitation, remained peaceful, the police said. In Aurangabad city, a mob pelted stones on the police and set ablaze four vehicles, including a police vehicle, the police said. Some industrial units in the area were also targeted by the mob, he said. The police lobbed tear gas shells on the protesters and tried to disperse the mob, he said. Two groups of protesters clashed when someone allegedly shouted slogans against Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at Kranti Chowk in Aurangabad district, a police official said. "One person was injured in the incident but we brought the situation under control. We separated the two groups and dispersed their members," a police official said. The internet service in some parts of the city was temporarily suspended for some time, the official said. In Hingoli district of Marathwada, the protesters torched a godown of the Panchayat Samitee in Sengaon area, an official said. The protesters also created road blockades and staged sit-in protests in Hingoli city and rural area, he said. The violent protesters vandalised a toll plaza at Manvat in Parbhani district, he said. A railway gateman was thrashed by the protesters at Purna railway station, he said. In Latur, Congress MLA Trimbakrao Bhise faced the ire of Maratha protesters, who surrounded him pushed him away, police said. Protesters targeted the former chief minister Ashok Chavan-controlled Satyaprabha newspaper in Nanded. They broke window panes of the office, police said. A mob approached the newspaper office and pelted stones at it, they said. Stones were also allegedly pelted at the office of another Marathi daily Pudhari, located in the same area, police said. Protesters held a sit-in outside the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Baramati tehsil of Pune, and were joined by his nephew Ajit Pawar in support of the Maratha community's demand for reservation in government jobs and education. Protesters halted buses and other vehicles on roads in Latur, Jalna, Solapur and Buldhana districts. They blocked the Madha-Shetfal road, which connects to National Highway number 9 (Pune-Hyderabad) in Solapur district, officials said. Some agitators burnt tyres on roads in Jalna and Ahmednagar districts, a police official said. The call for bandh was given by Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella body of Maratha groups, but excluded Navi Mumbai, which had witnessed large-scale violence last month during protests by the community. Though Navi Mumbai has been excluded from the bandh, the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) at Turbhe in the densely populated township decided to remain shut on Thursday. Security was stepped up in Navi Mumbai, with deployment of city police personnel along with a company of the Rapid Action Force and the Reserve Police Force. The public transport buses and local trains were running normal in the town. Heavy security was deployed on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Mumbai-Goa Highway near Kalamboli, a police official said. Even though Maratha groups excluded essential services from the purview of the bandh, supply of vegetables was affected in some parts of the state, including Mumbai, APMC officials said. A traffic department official said the number of vehicles on National Highway number 4 (Mumbai-Pune) and on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was significantly less compared to other days. The ATS is trying to find out who trained them and at which location. Mumbai: Barely five days ahead of the countrys Independence Day, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) busted an alleged terror ring located in Palghar district and arrested three persons, with affiliations to fringe right-wing Hindu organisations, who plotted attacks across multiple locations in the state including Nallasopara, Mumbai, Pune, Satara and Solapur. The ATS raided two places from the house and shop of Sanatan Sanstha worker Vaibhav Raut from Nallasopara and seized 20 crude bombs and materials including circuits, detonators and two gelatine sticks used to assemble explosives. We are in the process of unravelling the details of the plot and the targets they had chosen. However, we will verify if they have links with the past incidents of terror in Maharashtra including the Narendra Dabholkar-Govind Pansare murders and Gauri Lankesh killing. The 2008 low-intensity blasts that pointed to Hindu outfits will also be looked into for their involvement, said an ATS officer. Dabholkar was killed in 2013 in Pune, Pansare at Kolhapur in 2015 and Lankesh in 2017 at Bangalore, Karnataka. The investigators stated that the arrested accused was not mere foot soldiers but they are investigating as to who were their handlers and from where were the instructions and seized materials flowing to them. The arrested accused, apart from Raut, were Sharad Kalaskar (25) and Sudhanva Gondhalekar (39) who have allegedly undergone terror training, ATS officials stated. Those arrested are members of right-wing Hindu outfit. The ATS is trying to find out who trained them and at which location. Based on the leads, a team of ATSs Nagpada unit raided Rauts residence at Bhandar Aali in Sopara village at Nallasopara late on Thursday. Raut, a member of the Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti, was apprehended after the officials found eight crude bombs at his residence. Search of a shop establishment nearby led to the recovery of 12 more bombs, officials said. While Rauts social media profile states his association with the Sanatan Sanstha, the outfit that has been in the eye of the storm over its alleged associations with acts of terror in the past, they have refuted any kind of association with Raut. Denying that Raut was its member, Sanatan Sansthas spokesperson, Abhay Vartak said, Raut, first of all, is not a sadhak of Sanstha. It is an attempt to malign the Sanstha. The allegations against him are false. He is an activist working for the cause of cow protection. He added, This seems to be a Malegaon 2 being played out. They say explosive substances were recovered from Raut but the ATS was found to have planted such materials at the house of an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case and could be doing the same here. The explosives have been sent for analysis at the state forensic laboratory by the ATS. The officials have booked all the three accused under relevant sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Explosives Act, and for criminal conspiracy as per the Indian Penal Code The Chief Minister had said during a televised address that TISS was preparing a survey report about reservations for the Dhangar community in the state. Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is "committed and taking every effort" to provide reservations to Dhangars in the state, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told a delegation from the community on Friday. A statement from the government said that the delegation, led by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vikas Mahatme, also discussed issues like scholarships and hostels for students from the community. "The government is committed and taking every effort to complete all procedures (for reservations for the community) at the earliest. We are completing constitutional formalities with a detailed report by the TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) which is expected to get done by the end of this month," Fadnavis said. The Chief Minister, last Sunday, had said during a televised address that the TISS was preparing a survey report in connection with reservations for the Dhangar community in the state. He had informed, at the time, that the TISS report would be submitted to the government by the end of this month. The Dhangar community wants the government to include it in the list of Scheduled Tribes so that its members can avail reservations earmarked for Scheduled Tribes. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP of trying to disrupt peace in the erstwhile Maoist-affected areas of Jhargram district. Jhargram (West Bengal): West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP of trying to disrupt peace in the erstwhile Maoist-affected areas of Jhargram district. She also alleged that the saffron party was creating a divide among people on the basis of religion, caste and creed. Banerjee asked people to repose faith in her, saying she would never allow anybody to act against their interests. During a visit to Jhargram district, her first after the panchayat polls in May this year, the Trinamool Congress chief urged the people to stay united against communal forces and stop them from entering the district. The BJP had fared well at the rural polls in the tribal-dominated district. The BJP, on the other hand, accused Banerjee of "throttling democracy" in the state and supporting infiltrators from Bangladesh after the complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was updated in Assam last month. BJP national general secretary P Murlidhar Rao said Banerjee was "supporting infiltrators" to secure her vote bank. The BJP, he said, will never "tolerate" infiltrators. "Mamataji is supporting infiltrators from Bangladesh ... She is touring the entire country to garner support for infiltrators just to secure her vote bank. She is trying to communalise the issue," Rao told reporters in Jhargram. Meanwhile in Jhargram, Banerjee directed the MLAs, TMC leaders as well as the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police to help solve people's problems. She also inaugurated a number of health care projects for the district. Accusing the BJP of trying to disrupt peace in this erstwhile Maoist-affected area, she said, "In the last seven years, we have not let anybody disrupt peace in this region. We have not allowed the Maoists to enter this place. A few people are bringing in Maoists from neighbouring Jharkhand to create bloodbath in Jhargram." "If you (people) have faith in me, I will ask you not to trust anybody else other than us (TMC). Till I am alive, I will never let anybody to act against the interests of the people. You are my family. I love the Adivasis (tribals)," she said at a public meeting in Jhargram. Banerjee claimed that during the Left Front government, around 300 people were killed in Jhargram in a year, while it was almost nil now. Hitting out at the BJP, she said, "I do not create any division among people. I do not create division among the Hindus and Muslims, nor among the other communities. It's the ruling BJP at the Centre which does that. We are not with them (the BJP)." "They (BJP) want the poor to face problem. They do not want them to get rice at Rs 2 a kg, free education, job and health care," the TMC chief alleged. Calling upon people to stay united in the fight against communal forces, Banerjee said, "Let us strengthen the unity. Let us take oath today that there would not be no place for communalism in our state. We will stay together and create a new Bengal," Banerjee said. Against the backdrop of the BJP making inroads in Jhargram district, the TMC had made some organisational changes last month at block level in the district. Earlier in the day, Banerjee tweeted that her government has ensured all-round development for the tribal people in the state. Naxals on late Thursday night set on fire several vehicles engaged in road construction work in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. Raipur: A group of Naxals allegedly set ablaze five empty trucks in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh early on Friday, police said. With this, Maoists have so far torched at least nine vehicles, including two passenger buses, in the last three days in separate incidents in Dantewada. Meanwhile, the police have recovered a human skeleton from one of the buses torched by the ultras two days back on Kirandul-Dantewada road, although they had earlier maintained that there were no causalities in the incident. The incidents of arson are being viewed as a reaction to the death 15 Naxals in an encounter with security forces in neighbouring Sukma district on August 6. "As per the information, a group of armed Naxals reached near the office of Truck Owners' Association in Bacheli town, where several trucks were parked, in the wee hours," Dantewada Additional Superintendent of Police Gorakhnath Baghel told PTI. "They threatened the truck drivers to leave the place and before fleeing from the spot, torched five empty trucks," he added. Soon after being alerted about the incident, a police team was rushed to the spot. Security arrangements have been stepped up in the area and combing operation has been intensified to trace the naxals, he said. These trucks were engaged in transportation of iron ore in Bailadila iron ore mines area that consists of two towns Kirandul and Bacheli located around 450 kms away from the capital Raipur. "Maoists are frustrated over the death of its cadres in recent encounters in Sukma and Bijapur and therefore they are committing such acts," Baghel said. As many as 15 naxals were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Konta area in Sukma on 6 August. Two days after the incident, naxals torched two buses and a truck in Bhansi area of Dantewada after asking occupants of the vehicles to alight. During the investigation, a human skeleton was found inside a charred bus yesterday, Baghel said. "The passenger might have been asleep and remained inside the bus and charred to death. A probe is on to ascertain the identity of the dead passenger," he said. In another incident on the same day, the engine of an empty rake of the Visakhapatnam-Kirandul passenger train derailed after Naxals uprooted railway tracks near Kamaloor railway station in Dantewada. On Thursday, Maoists had also torched a JCB machine, engaged in pipeline laying works, in Kuakonda police station area of the district. Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that the Parliament recorded 74 percent productivity. 'The media forecast for this session was that this session too would be a washout. I am glad that media has been proved wrong. I compliment all for the same; though it is not to my full satisfaction,' he said. Auto refresh feeds The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has demanded a Bharat Ratna for its patriarch M Karunanidhi, who died on Tuesday, calling him an "epoch". Read all the highlights of the 18-day Monsoon Session of Parliament here As the Monsoon Session of Parliament comes to an end on Friday, the no-confidence debate and Harivansh Narayan Singh's election as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman count as the session's key highlights. Repeated disruptions by Rajya Sabha MPs who sought to attack the government over the Rafale deal has forced Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House till 2.30 pm. P Karunakaran of the CPM and KC Venugopal of Congress have both brought up the issue of floods and rivers running in spate in Kerala in the Lok Sabha on Friday, and requested the Centre to direct military assistance in rescue work, and also sought a special financial package for the state of Kerala. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju has already visited the rain-hit state of Kerala, and has promised all assurance on behalf of the central government. He added that in the days to follow, he will speak with Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Both Houses of Parliament have been adjourned; the Lok Sabha till 2 pm, and Rajya Sabha till 2.30 pm. With there being no consensus among the different parties regarding the triple talaq bill, the legislation will not be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. With the Monsoon Session of Parliament unlikely to be extended further, the bill will now be taken up for debate in the Winter Session. Calling it a "momentous legislation", Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, asked the House to pass the The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 unanimously. "We want India to become an important hub for domestic and international arbitration. We are taking a giant leap in favour of institutional arbitration. Unless we have a strong element of institution, of judges, regulatory mechanism, arbitration will not take place at its peak," he said. Responding to the resolution, Minister for Social Justice Taawar Chaand Gehlot said, "There is a procedure laid to add, delete or modify the Scheduled Caste lists." He agreed that there is discrepancies over the spellings of castes and assured that the ministry will look into it. In Rajya Sabha, CPI leader D Raja targetted Rakesh Sinha and asserted that the communists strive for a casteless and classless society. "But reservations are affirmative actions needed to uplift the downtrodden," he said. The House also greeted the people in advance on the occasion of the Independence Day. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the session has been the "more productive and safisfactory" compared to the previous Budget Session and 2017's monsoon The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, as the Monsoon Session ended after passing 21 laws, including one to amend the SC/ST Act and another relating to the Fugitive Economic Offenders. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad made statements against the Opposition for not supporting the resolution. RJD MP Manoj Jha raised objection and asked, "How come it happens that incriminatory statements are made. But how come suddenly some microphones are on. I demand that his (Prasad) words be expunged," he said. After a voice vote on the resolution for need for uniform reservation system in country was held and the deputy chairman found the "Noes" in majority, some BJP MPs demanded for a division of vote. After holding the electronic voting, the deputy chairman announced that the resolution stood negated in the House. Ruckus erupted over this in the Rajya Sabha. Welcoming the resolution, Congress MP Amee Yagnik said, "India has 40 million widows. It shows a frightful picture of the society. How many women in the country can access the legal systems to get any help? There should be a legal aid component very specifically mentioned. This is the right time that the government brings out a special legislation for them. We have to see that they get their due in the society. This needs immediate action on the part of government." The Bill amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 to clarify that allottees under a real estate project should be treated as financial creditors. Jairam Ramesh questions high proportion of active cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "I rise to support bill which is converting the ordinance into a Bill. This is new territory for us. The code has been a major shift from past experience. I have five very specific questions. Some of these questions the officiating finance minister might have to answer. In the last 2 years, there are 700 cases under this IBC. Out of 700 cases, over 500 cases are active. The court says within 270 the process must be completed. My first question is: isn't this a high proportion of case?" Interrupting his speech, Congress MP Anand Sharma asked if officiating finance minister was an actual designation. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu responded by saying that the term was being used by Ramesh and Piyush Goyal is in fact a Cabinet minister. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh questioned Centre's move against RBI's circular on stressed assets. "The circular said that even if you default by one day, the asset becomes a stressed asset. I welcome this, but I am amazed that the Government of India has challenged the RBI in the Allahabad High Court. The finance minister has given a statement in court which actually dilutes the circular. I would like the officiating finance minister to clarify on this," he said. Opposing the amendment bill, CPI leader D Raja said, "I am of the view that this bill is to help the corporate houses. So many changes are being made to help the defaulters. What should be the priority of the government? The government wants to bail out defaulters. Why this soft corner for defaulters? The government should bail out poor people from poverty. This is not fair." The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018, passed by the Lok Sabha on 1 August, seeks to lower the pecuniary jurisdiction of Commercial Courts from Rs 1 Crore to Rs 3 lakhs. Towards the end of the session in Rajya Sabha, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad lashed out at the Opposition for not supporting the triple talaq Bill. Earlier in the day, when the Rajya Sabha reconvened at 2:30 pm after two adjournments in the pre-lunch session, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has decided that the bills "on which there is some sort of broad consensus" will be taken up for discussion and passage later in the day. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that the House managed to have 17 sittings, despite the prediction of a washout by the media. "The media forecast for this session was that this session too would be a washout. I am glad that media has been proved wrong. I compliment all for the same; though it is not to my full satisfaction," he said. The Bill amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 to clarify that allottees under a real estate project should be treated as financial creditors. Jairam Ramesh questions high proportion of active cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "I rise to support bill which is converting the ordinance into a Bill. This is new territory for us. The code has been a major shift from past experience. I have five very specific questions. Some of these questions the officiating finance minister might have to answer. In the last 2 years, there are 700 cases under this IBC. Out of 700 cases, over 500 cases are active. The court says within 270 the process must be completed. My first question is: isn't this a high proportion of case?" Interrupting his speech, Congress MP Anand Sharma asked if officiating finance minister was an actual designation. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu responded by saying that the term was being used by Ramesh and Piyush Goyal is in fact a Cabinet minister. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh questioned Centre's move against RBI's circular on stressed assets. "The circular said that even if you default by one day, the asset becomes a stressed asset. I welcome this, but I am amazed that the Government of India has challenged the RBI in the Allahabad High Court. The finance minister has given a statement in court which actually dilutes the circular. I would like the officiating finance minister to clarify on this," he said. Opposing the amendment bill, CPI leader D Raja said, "I am of the view that this bill is to help the corporate houses. So many changes are being made to help the defaulters. What should be the priority of the government? The government wants to bail out defaulters. Why this soft corner for defaulters? The government should bail out poor people from poverty. This is not fair." The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018, passed by the Lok Sabha on 1 August, seeks to lower the pecuniary jurisdiction of Commercial Courts from Rs 1 Crore to Rs 3 lakhs. Towards the end of the session in Rajya Sabha, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad lashed out at the Opposition for not supporting the triple talaq Bill. Earlier in the day, when the Rajya Sabha reconvened at 2:30 pm after two adjournments in the pre-lunch session, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has decided that the bills "on which there is some sort of broad consensus" will be taken up for discussion and passage later in the day. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that the House managed to have 17 sittings, despite the prediction of a washout by the media. "The media forecast for this session was that this session too would be a washout. I am glad that media has been proved wrong. I compliment all for the same; though it is not to my full satisfaction," he said. Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE updates: Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that the Parliament recorded 74 percent productivity. "The media forecast for this session was that this session, too, would be a washout. I am glad that media has been proved wrong. I compliment all for the same; though it is not to my full satisfaction," he said. Towards the end of the session in Rajya Sabha, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad lashed out at the Opposition for not supporting the triple talaq Bill. Earlier in the day, when the Rajya Sabha reconvened at 2:30 pm after two adjournments in the pre-lunch session, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has decided that the bills "on which there is some sort of broad consensus" will be taken up for discussion and passage later in the day. As Rajya Sabha took up The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018, CPI leader D Raja said, "I am of the view that this bill is to help the corporate houses. So many changes are being made to help the defaulters... The government wants to bail out defaulters." After a voice vote on the resolution for need for uniform reservation system in country was held and the deputy chairman found the "Noes" in majority, some Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded for a division of vote. After holding the electronic voting, the deputy chairman announced that the resolution stood negated in the House. Ruckus erupted over this in the Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha has been adjourned sine die. As the government gets ready to table the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has asked for the bill to be sent to a select panel. On Friday, the Union government will renew its attempts to pass the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha on the last day of the Parliament Monsoon Session, a day after Centre approved the amendments made to the bill. However, if the Upper House of the Parliament fails to pass the bill, the Centre might bring in an ordinance or an emergency executive order to enact the law, as per a report. The Cabinet on Thursday passed changes to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017, to dilute two contentious provisions as the original bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha in 2017 but was stuck in the Rajya Sabha where NDA is in minority. The government hopes that the changes cleared by the cabinet would address the Opposition's concerns and aid in their to support the bill in its new form. The BJP has already ordered all its MPs to be present in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Harivansh Narayan Singh elected as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman The ruling NDA on Thursday comfortably bagged the post of deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha with journalist-turned politician Harivansh of the JD(U) beating Congress' BK Hariprasad in an election that was seen as a test for the Opposition unity ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In a boost to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), its candidate Harivansh, the 62-year-old first-time MP from the Nitish Kumar-led party, got 125 votes as against 101 polled by Hariprasad, who was the Opposition nominee. Hariprasad's vote count was revised downwards to 101 from the earlier 105 by the Rajya Sabha secretariat after tallying the final figures. A total of 228 members out of an effective House strength of 244 voted thereby reducing the majority mark to 115, according to the final official figures. Though the BJP-led NDA was present in the House in full strength with 97 MPs it needed the backing of other parties to clinch the deputy chairmanship. The alliance got the support of fence sitters BJD (9) and TRS (6). The AIADMK with 13 members also voted for the NDA. The NDA also benefitted from the absence of some Opposition members. As many as 16 members were not present during voting, according to official figures. Three members each of the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the AAP besides two each from the TMC, DMK and PDP and one from the Naga People's Front (NPF) were the absentee members. Two members of the YSRCP abstained from the voting. The post of the deputy chairman is lying vacant since the retirement of PJ Kurien of the Congress on 1 July. The entire House congratulated Harivansh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a lighter vein, saying "ab sub kuch 'Hari Bharose'". "Aur mujhe vishwas hai ke sabhi, idhar ho ya udhar, sabhi sansadon per Hari Kripa bani rahegi (everything is now in the hands of Hari or God. And I am confident that every member, whether on this side or that side, will have his mercy)." Leader of the House Arun Jaitley and Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad also led the felicitations. Jaitley, who is recuperating after a renal transplant, attended the house after a long gap. Harivansh said it would be his endeavour to uphold the dignity of the Upper House and expressed the hope that differences would be ironed out through constructive debates, consensus and guidance. He exuded confidence that all members will work together and imbibe the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Jai Prakash Narayan to ensure a smooth run of the House. He hails from the same village in Ballia-Saran region in Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border where Jai Prakash Narayan, a socialist leader and anti-Emergency crusader, was born. "Treading on rules and procedures framed by our Constitution makers, we can lead the country to greatness...There would be differences in debates, there would be different opinions... We can find out a way. "I got this opportunity to be here...I am frightened, surrounded by so many experienced people but this is my strength too as you all will guide me and I assure you I will run the House in a fair and decent manner," said Harivansh, who is known to keep a low profile and is considered close to Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar. Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu initiated the process of the election by calling for division of votes in the House. The nomination of Harivansh was proposed by Ram Prasad Singh (JD-U) and seconded by union minister and RPI member Ramdas Athawale. BJP president Amit Shah, Shiv Sena's Ranjay Raut and Akali Dal's Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa were also among the proposers. The voting had to be carried out for the second time as some members pointed out mistakes in the first polling. Result displayed for the first voting was "122 ayes, 98 noes, 2 abstain. Total: 222". "We may have lost the battle but we will win the war," Hariprasad told reporters, exuding confidence that the UPA will win the next Lok Sabha polls. Soon after the election result was announced by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, Jaitley, Azad and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar accompanied Harivansh to the seat designated for the Deputy Chairman in the House, which is next to that of the Leader of Opposition. In his speech, Modi also spoke of the achievements of Harivansh, a journalist for about four decades. Hoping that Harivansh would do justice to all members of the House, Modi in a lighter vein said the situation in the House is such that the umpire faces more problems than the players. Azad hoped the new Deputy Chairman would give enough opportunity to the Opposition members to raise their issues. With inputs from PTI The contentious Triple Talaq Bill which criminalises the practice of instant 'talaq' could not be taken up for discussion and passage on the last day of Monsoon session on Friday, owing to lack of consensus among political parties on the issue. New Delhi: The contentious Triple Talaq Bill which criminalises the practice of instant "talaq" could not be taken up for discussion and passage on the last day of Monsoon session on Friday, owing to lack of consensus among political parties on the issue. The Congress-led Opposition has been demanding that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 be sent to a Select Committee for further scrutiny. The BJP-led government, which does not have a majority in the Upper House, had also made efforts to get the bill cleared in the Budget Session also. On Friday, when the Rajya Sabha reconvened at 2.30 pm after two adjournments in the pre-lunch session, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has decided that the bills "on which there is some sort of broad consensus" will be taken up for discussion and passage later in the day. Naidu also clarified that the Triple Talaq Bill will not be taken up on Friday as a consensus has not yet been evolved on the issue. The Union Cabinet had on Thursday cleared some amendments to the draft Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 bill, including adding a bail provision to it. The amendments came after the Supreme Court on 22 August last year had struck down 'triple talaq', calling unconstitutional. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill in December. However, amendments to the draft legislation, once cleared by the Rajya Sabha, will again be sent to the Lower House for passage. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice within minutes during the pre-lunch session on Friday amid protest by Congress members over their demand for a JPC probe into the alleged scam in the Rafale jet deal. Click to follow the Rajya Sabha LIVE blog Several post-graduate students have decided to boycott the convocation ceremony. MUMBAI: The students fraternity of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, is in a fix over the convocation ceremony being held on Saturday at the institute campus that will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chief guest. Through a letter on social media, students have expressed their dismay over the governments efforts towards increasing job opportunities for youngsters and its silence on the decreased budgetary expenditure on higher education. The letter asks the PM, We would like to question the contribution of the ruling government in higher education. The expenditure of the government on education is abysmally low, and it is almost negligible on higher education, compared to many other countries. Budgetary expenditure on higher education is in steep decline for the last few years as more and more private universities are coming up and public universities are compelled to hike their fees, leading to difficulties for a large number of students and forcing many out of higher education. Pinpointing the falling employment rate, the letter said, Despite our privileged status as students of IIT-B, we are concerned about the falling rate of employment across the country. The government has managed to create very less number of jobs over the last few years. While several post-graduate students have decided to boycott the convocation ceremony due to the allegedly tedious formalities the institute has enforced in order to get a special entry pass for the same, there wont be any protest or chaos when the PM visits the institute. Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Modi government on many issues, including the Rafale deal, calling it the county's biggest defence scam. He addressed party leaders and workers in Chhattisgarh after inaugurating the new party office, Rajiv Bhawan Just a few months before the state votes for a new Assembly, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government in Chattisgarh accusing them of ruining the country's progress and cheating farmers. "The progress that India made was ruined by Modi ji in the last four and a half years. BJP, (Chhattisgarh chief minister) Raman Singh ji cheated the farmers. Now farmers are looking towards Congress," Rahul said at a party meeting in Raipur after inaugurating a new party office. "Congress party will send those people to the Assembly who have fought for the people, whose heart have a place for Adivasis, farmers, youth and women. If a chief minister does not work for the youth, women, Adivasis of Chhattisgarh, then that CM does not deserve to survive a single day. Congress party, unlike BJP, does not belong to capitalists, it belongs to everyone," the Congress president said. Like in many other meetings, Rahul also invoked the RSS angle while taking on the BJP government in the state. "BJP's remote control is in the hands of the RSS. In fact, Chhattisgarh is being run from Nagpur," the Congress president said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is headquartered in Nagpur and is believed to be the parent organisation of the BJP. "Congress party's duty is to bring out the truth of Modi government. Chhattisgarh has already made up its mind to remove Modi government," he said. The Congress president claimed that there was rampant corruption in the BJP ruled states. "When the name of former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif appeared in Panama papers, he was convicted in it. In Chhattisgarh when the name of your chief minister's son comes in Panama papers, the investigation doesn't even begin. This is BJP-NDA's 'chowkidar." Referring to recently discovered shelter home rapes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the Congress president also questioned the prime minister's silence on the matter. "When women are raped in Uttar Pradesh, why does Narendra Modi not get a single word out from his mouth? When minors are getting raped in Bihar there is not a single word coming out from the prime minister," Rahul said. "In BJP-ruled states, women are not safe. Atrocities against women have risen alarmingly." The Congress president also took on the Modi government on the Rafale deal calling it the country's biggest defence scam. Rahul claimed that the price of the Rafale jets "magically" rose from Rs 540 to Rs 1,600 crore per piece. "The UPA government had readied the Rafale contract, according to which the price for each jet was approximately Rs 540 crore. The contract was ready and Modi only had to take a decision," he said. "But, Modi goes to France and scraps the previous contract and the defence minister and other cabinet ministers do not know about it," said Rahul. With inputs from PTI The resolution sought amending the Constitution to ensure that persons belonging to SCs and STs in one state should be regarded the same across the country to avail the benefits of reservation. New Delhi: A private resolution seeking an amendment to the Constitution for equal treatment of SCs and STs across the country was negated in Rajya Sabha today. The resolution sought to amend the Constitution to ensure that persons belonging to SCs and STs in one state should be regarded the same across the country to avail the benefits of reservation. It also highlighted that the people belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Denotified Castes were being deprived of facilities and concessions and neglected because of the lack of a uniform reservation system in the entire country. The resolution, moved by Vishambhar Prasad Nishad (SP), was put to vote, as many as 66 members voted against it as against 32 in favour. Intervening in the debate Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot urged the member to withdraw the resolution saying "there is a process laid out by Parliament for inclusion and exclusion of caste in the list of SCs, STs and OBCs." As per the procedure, the proposal for inclusion or exclusion of a caste in the list of SC and ST is to be sent by the states. After approval by the Registrar General of India and the SC or ST Commission, a bill is prepared which is put up before the Cabinet and subsequently before Parliament for approval, the Minister said. Dissatisfied with minister's response on the resolution, Nishad pressed for voting and later a division on the bill. When Deputy Chairman Harivansh ordered the procedure for voting on the resolution to begin, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad intervened and said the rules do not permit voting on a resolution and it was "unprecedented". The Deputy Chairman said, "Once the process (of voting) is started, it cannot be stopped." Soon after the voting on the resolution which was negated, the opposition members shouted slogans like 'Dalit virodhi log hai, hai (down with those opposing the downtrodden sections). On this, an agitated Prasad said: "You people are Dalit Virodhi." The opposition members then demanded that the remarks of the Minister be expunged. Rakesh Sinha (nominated) and D Raja (CPI) among others participated in the debate on the resolution. While moving the resolution, Nishad urged the government to bring in a legislation to amend the Constitution so that the persons belonging to SC/ST category in one state may be treated as the person of that SC/ST category all over the country to get the benefit of the reservation. Veer Singh (BSP) said people from the SC/ST categories were unable to avail benefits of reservation after migrating to another state, and therefore, a caste certificate must be issued to them. He said this was a "very serious problem" which should be addressed urgently. Singh said the reservation quota should be increased in line with the addition of new categories in the list of those entitled to avail the benefits of reservation. He said since the government was privatising some PSUs, the benefits of reservation must be extended to SC/ST/OBC categories in the private sector as well. Pradeep Tamta (Congress) said when a person applies to the state services for a job after migrating to a state other than his home state, he is unable to avail the benefit of reservation. However, the same person can avail this benefit while applying to central services. This dichotomy must end, he said. Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) supported the resolution and batted for caste-based data collected for the census 2011 to be made public. "We are not begging the private sector to introduce caste-based reservation," Jha said, adding that private sector too avails benefits like tax holidays. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh also supported the resolution. Rakesh Sinha (Nominated) said the government must set up a permanent commission to address the issues related to nomadic tribes. He observed that the dream of a caste-free India has not yet been fulfilled. The Supreme Court order comes after videos showcasing vehicles being vandalised by Kanwariyas across Northern states went viral on social media. New Delhi: After videos showcasing vehicles being vandalised by Kanwariyas across Northern states went viral on social media, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the police to take strict action against those responsible for erupting violence and breaching laws. A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, and comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, reiterated an earlier verdict, which stated that videography of every procession should have to be made. The top court, while citing the 2009 judgement, also said that the organisers were responsible for any violence reported during the procession. In view of these incidents, the attorney general also lamented police failure to control such breakdown of law and order. There was the Maratha agitation in Maharashtra, the massive unrest across the country over the SC/ST judgment, the controversy over Padmaavat where the nose of the actress was threatened to be cut offwhat happened to the protesters? Nothing! Such episodes of such rioting transpire every other day. Are we going to allow this to happen?" the AG was quoted as saying by LiveLaw. The attorney general sought intervention from the apex court and urged it "to fix direct responsibility on the superintendent of police for such instances of violence and vandalism". On Wednesday, a group of Kanwariyas, armed with iron rods and sticks, smashed a car in Delhi's South Moti Nagar area after the driver allegedly tried to brush past one of them while moving on a busy road. A similar incident also took place in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district on August, wherein Kanwariyas were filmed attacking a police SUV on a busy road, and also indulged in an altercation with the locals. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma assured that authorities will take necessary action against those found guilty. "Those on spiritual pilgrimage are lost in the devotion of God, and can never be violent. But if some anti-social elements get involved then we will take strict action, no one will be spared irrespective of who he is," he told ANI. The police on Friday have arrested six Kanwariyas, including the main accused, Pappu, in connection with the Bulandshahr incident. Kanwar pilgrims are the devotees of Hindu God, Shiva, who embark on a pilgrimage every year during the Hindu month of Saavan. Pilgrims can be seen carrying heavy pots filled with Ganga water on their shoulders, which they empty at the temples of Lord Shiva. The Supreme Court on Friday reprimanded the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh governments over the cases of rape in shelter homes in the states. The Supreme Court on Friday reprimanded the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh governments over the cases of rape in shelter homes in the states. "What's happening everywhere in the country?" the apex court reportedly asked. The Supreme Court also pulled up both the state governments for not providing data on shelter homes. "With all these incidents happening daily, we can see why they are not giving data," News18 quoted the apex court as saying. The apex court has also asked the Central government to collect statistics on shelter homes. News18 also reported that the Supreme Court expressed worry over the fact that despite incidents of sexual assault and people going missing from shelter homes and orphanages were on the rise in the country and that the state governments were ignoring such crimes. The court's observations come a day after at least 26 women were found missing from two shelter homes in Pratapgarh during surprise checks conducted by the district administration. During the inspection of Jagrati Shelter Home in Ashtbhuja Nagar, which is run by former district BJP Mahila Morcha chief Rama Mishra, district magistrate Shambhu Kumar found that 15 women were registered but only one woman was present there, officials had said. The shelter home manager had said that the other registered women had gone out for work. During a check at another shelter home in Achalpur, sub-divisional magistrate Satya Prakash Singh found 12 women missing out of the total 15 who were registered. With inputs from PTI The government is mulling an idea to bring seaside revenue villages under coastal police stations and extending their jurisdiction up to 200 nautical miles in order to strengthen the country's maritime borders New Delhi: The government is mulling an idea to bring seaside revenue villages under coastal police stations and extending their jurisdiction up to 200 nautical miles in order to strengthen the country's maritime borders. The move comes close on the heels of a chargesheet in the MV Henry drug haul case against an Indian crew and Iranian shipowner and handlers. During a discussion with stakeholders including coastal states on potential threats, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) revealed that anti-national elements are adopting alternate sea routes to beat the layered security system and states are required to enhance capabilities to reduce the threat of smuggling and terrorism. At present, the Indian Navy is the lead agency for securing country's maritime interests while the Indian Coast Guard carries out overall responsibility for coastal security in territorial waters. The state's jurisdiction extends up to 12 nautical miles in shallow territorial waters except in Port Blair where jurisdiction of 10 designated coastal police stations has been extended up to India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or 200 nautical miles. In the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the coastal police is primarily responsible for prevention of smuggling, collection of intelligence, handling law and order situations, disaster management as well as providing additional line of defence along the coastline. Several intelligence warnings have been issued since 2008 relating to the country's porous coastline that provides an opportunity to anti-national elements, infiltrators, drug peddlers and terrorists to sneak onto land. Details accessed by the Firstpost suggest that the Ministry of Home Affairs is consulting the concerned state governments to strengthen the coastal police and it may also give the go-ahead for the allocation of separate budgets by states to ensure that money is properly utilised. Tamil Nadu has informed the ministry that effective action was being taken in three vulnerable districts Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam. Last year, three consignments bound for Sri Lanka were seized by the coast guard and the investigation had revealed Tuticorin was frequently used to smuggle narcotics to the Maldives and Sri Lanka. India's 7,516-kilometre-long coastline includes 5,422 kilometres of coastline on the mainland and 2,094 kilometres on the islands belonging to nine states and four Union Territories. While the coastline accounts for 90 percent of the country's trade, it spans 3,331 coastal villages and 1,382 islands. One hundred and twenty lakh people are involved in fishing activities using at least four to five lakh boats, of which only two lakh boats are registered. The Indian coastline that houses 12 major and 200 minor ports, along with 95 landing centres, is increasingly facing security challenges from adversarial neighbors and non-state actors. This has necessitated the adoption of a more structured and holistic approach with a long-term strategy not only to modernise, update and strengthen naval sinews, but also to plug loopholes in coastal security architecture. It has also been suggested by the government that each of nine coastal states must set up regional training institutes to train constabulary. Since coastal security threats involve local connections, the coastal police will be trained to effectively deter security threats. Coastal security infrastructure woes Few years before the Mumbai attacks, a Coastal Security Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs (in 2005) that was being handled by its border management division in two phases: Phase I from 2005 to 2011 involving an expenditure of Rs 646 crore and Phase II from 2011 to 2020, for which expenditure worth Rs 1,580 crore has already been incurred. Despite the fact that 194 coastal police stations have been set up under the scheme and 204 vessels have been made available for patrols, operations are regularly hit by inadequacy of funds for repair and maintenance of boats at the disposal of state police forces. The states are also facing operational difficulties in jetties and there has been a considerable delay in the creation of additional infrastructure. According to a senior official the problems have been compounded due to a lack of manpower and inadequate facilities to train policemen in coastal security tasks. "The maintenance of boats was earlier being handled by the Centre but it has been recently handed over to coastal states, which is causing huge problems. Gujarat, which has the country's longest coastline (1,600 kilometres) with 30 marine police stations, is facing the uphill task of repairing coastal patrolling boats," the official said. Gujarat recently informed the Central government that of 31 patrolling boats available to the marine police, seven or eight remain non-functional at any given time for several months. Since navigating the sea requires special skills, Tamil Nadu has started recruiting fishermen as Home Guards. However, the state police has recently informed the Centre that 6 and 12 tonnes boats were frequently breaking down and that is hampering the operations. Moreover, availability of just 60 jetties across the vast coastline was leading to further problems. While the construction of sanctioned infrastructure is a time-consuming process, the tremendous shortage of trained manpower is affecting coastal security adversely. Kerala, which has around 72 police stations along the coastline, lacks the capabilities for marine policing. The state has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking cost effective boats for venturing into shallow waters up to one or two kilometres into the sea for patrols. Critical issues in coordination After the Mumbai attacks, concerns were raised over a plethora of agencies operating in the coastal security sphere. Almost a decade later, the glitches in coordination remain a major problem that is hurting operations since as many as 15 agencies are operating on the coastline including the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, state police, Central Industrial Security Force, Customs, Immigration, state maritime boards, Border Security Force, Intelligence Bureau, Ports Authority of India, NCB, R&AW Sagar Prahari Bal, NTRO and the Lighthouse Authority of India. The supervisory structure is also multi-layered. At the top is the National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security headed by the cabinet secretary that coordinates all matters related to maritime and coastal security followed by a steering committee in Ministry of Home Affairs for a review of coastal security. Then there are state-level coordination committees under the chief secretary and district-level coordination committees under the district magistrate responsible for reviewing coastal security implementation. After the attacks of 26 November, 2008, the Ministry of Defence (in May 2009) had designated the Indian Navy as the authority responsible for overall maritime security including coastal and offshore security while the Indian Coast Guard was handed responsibility for overall coordination between Central and state agencies as well as being the lead intelligence agency for coordination and sharing of intelligence among various agencies operating on the coast. The Centre was recently informed that multiplicity of agencies with overlapping jurisdictions was leading to coordination problems and delayed response times. Firstpost has learned that a proposal was recently floated to raise a dedicated intelligence set up specifically tasked for coastal security related issues, which has been turned down. It was argued that there was disconnect between Central agencies like the navy and coast guard and the local population due to the limited interface and there was a lack of coordination and liaison between these agencies and state police during crisis situations. Although, no single force has the capability to simultaneously patrol both land and sea adequately, a senior security official had argued that adding a 16th agency to the existing plethora of agencies would complicate the issues of coordination. "There is a need to standardise the coastal police architecture across all concerned states, provide additional training, manpower, equipment and infrastructure to coastal police and make available the data of all fishermen (that is presently available with fisheries department) with the coast guard and coastal police online through CCTNS to effectively prevent intrusion via sea routes," the official said. Supreme Court has asked why Maharashtra has not granted licenses for dance bars to operate in the state and calls it 'moral policing' New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Maharashtra government why it has not allowed a single dance bar to operate and wondered if there was total moral policing in the state. The top court questioned the state for denial of licences to dance bars and observed that with the changing times, the definition of obscenity has also changed. A bench of justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said now even the law and society have recognised live-in relationships, which earlier were not acceptable. Questioning the state government, the bench said why it has not given a single licence for operation of dance bars even after court's repetitive orders and rejected applications. "It seems like total moral policing is going on in the state," the bench said. Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade and advocate Nishant R Katneshwarkar, appearing for Maharashtra, said that all the 81 applicants who sought licences for dance bars did not have clearances from fire department, among other things. On the fateful night of 28-29 December 2017, a massive fire had swept through two resto-pubs at the Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai, resulting in the death of 14 people. Naphade further said that in 30 years of his association with Mumbai, he hardly saw a single restaurant which was fire compliant. He contended that even today society at large has not changed as far as perception is concerned as no traditional families would allow their children to visit places like dance bars. The lawyer said whenever a young boy and girl are seen together, adverse inferences are drawn. The bench observed that with the change of time, the definition of obscenity has also changed and now a days even live-in relationships are accepted by the society and the law (the court referred to the domestic violence act), which earlier was not acceptable. "Earlier, filmmakers used to show two flowers or two birds chirping instead of showing kiss or love making scenes in movies but now the time has changed", the bench said. Hotel and restaurant owners, bar girls and others have challenged the new law, the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working therein) Act, 2016 by separate petitions. At the outset, senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, appearing for hotel and restaurants owners who have challenged the new law regulating dance bars, said, under the new law, the state has imposed conditions of installation of CCTV cameras in dance bars, which was in violation with the Right to Privacy. "People visiting the dance bar may not want to be seen on CCTV cameras or even the bar girls may not want them to be seen on the cameras. This was violation of fundamental rights," he said. The bench, said the CCTV installation may not be disputed as it could help in collecting evidence after an incident at the bar. "The question is whether the dance bars can be considered as public place as in public place CCTV can be installed," the court said. Naphade intervened and said "dance bar is a public place". Bhushan further argued that there is no empirical data to show that bar girls are trafficked or coerced to take up the job in entirety. He said that there cannot be a blanket allegation or the data suggests that bar girls indulge in obscene dance or in the flesh trade. "Moreover, indulging in sex trade in India is not illegal per se but what is illegal under the Immoral traffic Act is running a brothel or trafficking," he said. He said that people in well-off places say that the dance bars are immoral but at the ground level it is not such situation. "It is wrong to take a moralistic view of the dance bars," he said. The hearing remained inconclusive and would continue on 23 August. On Wednesday, the top court had commenced final hearing on pleas of hotel and restaurant owners challenging a Maharashtra law imposing new restrictions on licensing and functioning of dance bars in the state. The Maharashtra government, in an affidavit filed before the court, had earlier defended the operation of a new law meant to regulate licensing and functioning of dance bars in the state. "It was observed that such dances were derogatory to the dignity of women and were likely to deprave, corrupt or injure public morality," the state government had said in its reply. "It was also brought to the notice of the state government that the places where such dances were staged were used as places for immoral activities and also as a place for solicitation for the purpose of prostitution," it had said. Far from being a language that is on the verge of extinction, Urdu is gaining more attention now because of the Internet. But experts say that its scope should not remain confined to literature and poetry, that it should become a language of utility When one thinks of Urdu and the culture surrounding the language, the images that come to one's mind are literature fests, libraries and cities like Delhi and Lucknow. Urdu's image is, for many, moulded by the works of Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Manto. If you'd ask the average Indian where the largest number of Urdu learners are, they would probably point to a state in northern India. This assumption couldn't be further from the truth. Reports show that it is in Maharashtra that the largest number of students (about 13 lakh) and teachers (about 37,000) engage with Urdu. Maharashtra is also the state that boasts of the largest network of Urdu medium schools (4,900 ) in the country, from primary school to the higher secondary level. Another common misconception is that the language is 'dying' or that its use today is confined to certain communities, or the most unfounded of these theories that it is the 'language of Pakistan'. Ironically, India has 51 million (native) speakers of the language, a figure that is 3.5 times higher than the number of speakers across the border (estimated at 13,120,540 people). These concerns, as well as the fate of Urdu in the internet age, were the focal point of a discussion at the India Culture Lab. "The idea that Urdu is in 'danger' is not true. It is alive; what it needs right now is development," said Mahtab Alam, executive editor of The Wire Urdu and one of the panelists at this discussion. He said that the crisis the language faces right now is not of survival, but rather of development and adaptation. He also warned of the danger of limiting the understanding of Urdu to literature. "Literature can be an entry point, or in other words, a means to the end. It can't be an end in itself. Urdu is not just about nazakat, nafasat and latafat as is widely perceived; it is also about the everyday lives of ordinary people. This is as important as saying that Urdu is not just a language of Muslims." He went on to say that it needs to become the 'language of the bazaar'. "I am not asking for it to become a 'bazaari zuban', but rather the language of the market (bazaar ki zuban). Faiz, Manto, Ismat Chugtai were all great writers and they should be read widely. But they also wrote about the contemporary socio-political situation. Urdu will not develop as long as it is just about novelty. We have to make it a language of utility, and I think the internet and multimedia can play a pivotal role in this," he said. Annie Zaidi, writer, playwright and filmmaker, raised a point about the ubiquitous nature of the language that many of us speak it every day without even realising it. "Urdu in its spoken format is actually all around us. We refuse to acknowledge it. Hindi and Urdu are, more or less, the same. The problem is in the setting up of these languages as opposites, which they are not," she said. Hindi is, in fact, an Urdu word. She explained that this dichotomy was created in the run-up to Partition, and the result was that more Farsi words were introduced into Urdu's vocabulary, and more Sanskrit words into Hindi. "In a sense, we are in the process of creating two new languages... The problem is the invisibilisation of Urdu and the otherisation of it. The idea that 'Urdu unki zabaan hai. Javed Akhtar explained it so: 'As long as you understand it, you call it Hindi. The moment you don't, you begin to call it Urdu.'" Just two years ago, artists in Delhi spoke about how they were forced to deface their own painting of an Urdu couplet. Annie highlighted that this otherisation is a consequence of the decision to stop teaching it in many schools, and because of the reactions to its script. "People don't understand something that is written in Urdu. It's a lack of acknowledgement and some of it is deliberate," she said. She says that many are being exposed to it even if they don't necessarily go looking for it. "That interaction can either be a pleasant one, or a surprising one, or a negative one, depending on what your political assumptions are about the language," she added. Up until Independence, authors would choose whichever language better suited their writing, she said, but years later, one's choice of language became a political one. Annie says that with the increasing presence of Urdu on the internet, there is a higher likelihood of new readers engaging with the language. This is because previously, reading the language was possible only if one went looking for a book or a newspaper. She stressed that there is a need for Urdu to evolve with regards to certain aspects, particularly its script. "One of my pet peeves is that it is very difficult to learn to read and write in it. The more difficult and inaccessible the language is, the more it hurts it. Evolving may make it easier for people. Dr Rahi Masoom Reza had said many years ago that Urdu should shift to Devanagari, that it is the only way to preserve it. The script of Urdu should evolve too, the rigidness that is currently prevalent should change," she said. Mahtab presented a different a view. "Let's not forget that the script plays a very important role in the life and death of a language. Urdu's script is important because a considerable number of people are still using it," he said. Drawing from his own experience, he said that the form of the language used in print and digital texts is different; notably, the language online can be made more accessible. Poet-writer Hussain Haidry says that the internet has played a large role in making sure that his Urdu writing reaches a wider audience. Though he now performs at mushaairas and other events, he attributes his initial success to social media. "Had I kept performing at open mics, even across cities, itd have taken me years to reach an audience of a hundred thousand people." He adds that organisations such as Rekhta have, through transliteration and script-learning modules, enabled more people to have access to the language, which is gaining more attention through multimedia, such as poetry videos. "When the video of my poem 'Lat' was released, it startled me as to how people were watching a random man reciting a poem in Urdu that wasnt even very simple in its vocabulary. I realised much later that perhaps pop culture has been disconnected from Urdu/Hindi poetry for so long that it has now been accepted as a breath of fresh air." Hussain adds that the 'perception problem' that seems to plague Urdu stems from a political problem. People in India have been made to believe that it is an alien language, he says. "We use words like aansoo, hawa, paani, deewaar, saans, dimaagh, and khayaal all the time, without realising they all have Urdu/Persian/Arabic origins in most cases (purer Hindi alternatives would be ashru, vaayu, jal, bheet, shvaas, mastishk and vichaar). We have surprisingly managed to separate two languages which are almost sister-like in their overall construct and vocabulary. As long as words will float around in peoples conversations, they will reach far and wide. If one chooses to keep Hindi alive, theyd automatically save Urdu as well." The only perils of Urdu's engagement with the internet, in his opinion, is the wrongful attribution of lines or quotes to well-known authors and poets, and the usage of Urdu words without paying heed to the rules of grammar and syntax. Mahtab stressed that the picture before us is optimistic, because the language has become 'cool'. "Many people who once thought lowly of Urdu or wondered what the use of knowing it would be are now reconsidering their decisions... The language is under-utilised, it needs to adapt and innovate in order to be accessible." A personality-centric election always hurts the Congress. This is because BJP has towering leaders with proven credentials, while Congress either has no face to project or still relies on leaders who were discredited years ago Who gets a cakewalk in Madhya Pradesh and who is left with egg on the face depends on who learns the moral of a 2003 story about Lord Hanuman, Uma Bharti, cakes and eggs, and who learns it in time for Assembly elections scheduled in December. So, what is the ande ka funda? As the story goes, in 2003, the then Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh was trying to be holier than cow. To counter the Hindutva appeal of his saffron-clad rival, saadhvi Bharti, he was propagating the salubrious effects of gau mutra and demanding a ban on killing of cows for beef. To neutralise his Hindutva spin, Bharti decided to publicly celebrate the birthday of Lord Hanuman with a cake and candles. With Arun Jaitley by her side, Bharti went to a temple in Chhindwara on Hanuman Jayanti. There she cut a cake, lit a few candles and sang 'Happy Birthday' for Lord Hanuman. Her rival Digvijaya immediately dumped cow urine, which he claimed to have quaffed once in life, and turned the cake into an election issue. "How could she offer a cake made with eggs in a temple to Lord Hanuman?" Digvijaya asked, calling her act a sacrilege egg on the face of Hindus, literally. Bharti immediately went on the defensive, proffering explanations. The most ingenious of them: It was a milk cake, and thus a perfect offering to the Lord. But it did not stop here. Digvijaya kept cooking the BJP's omelette and Bharti kept responding, turning the election debate into a comic farce. While this went on for a while, a wise head in the BJP asked Bharti to stop responding. "Let him eat cake and egg, you grill him on development," somebody advised Bharti. And the rest, as they say, is history, just like Digvijaya himself. In the run up to the 2018 polls, somebody in the Congress needs to remind its MPs of the ande ka funda talk development, talk performance. Do not turn the campaign into a comic farce. Because it suits the incumbent to always deflect attention from real issues and concentrate on emotive ones. Madhya Pradesh is a ripe case of anti-incumbency. After 15 years of BJP rule, people especially farmers and unemployed youth are willing to question Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's performance and think about an alternative. They are ready to evaluate other options. Many factors point to the voters' Chouhan fatigue. One, the BJP lost four consecutive by-elections in the state in the last two years. Two, the Congress made major gains in recent bypolls for elections to local bodies. These setbacks seem to be consistent with the findings of a CSDS survey that predicted a 15 percent lead for the Congress in May 2018. But despite this, the Congress has refused to learn the funda of anda. Its leaders are busy serving Chouhan emotive issues on a platter, allowing him to discuss everything except his own performance. A classic example of the Congress egg-on-the-face syndrome was a party MLA's vicious attack on the chief minister, comparing him with a sex worker. Prior to this, he was also called a madari (juggler) and nalayak (incompetent), allegedly by state Congress chief Kamal Nath. Calling a politician names works in politics only if voters hate the recipient of colorful epithets. If the target is somebody like Chouhan not despised, even if not universally revered he turns the name-calling into a ruse to hardsell himself as a victim, to generate sympathy and tug at heartstrings. But the Congress, it seems, has not learnt from its disastrous attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its after-effects during the Gujarat campaign. So, like Modi, Chouhan too has used Congress' attacks to turn the election into a referendum on his own asmita. He is counter-attacking the Congress by borrowing from Modi's playbook of turning the pejorative monikers hurled at him into badges of honour. Around the time Modi proudly called himself a bhaagidar, claimed to be a friend of corporates to counter the Congress, Chouhan too wore the names given to him with pride. "Yes. I am a madari. I turned the state around," he argued. A personality-centric election always hurts the Congress. This is because the BJP has towering leaders with proven credentials. The Congress, on the other hand, either has no face to project or still relies on leaders who were discredited and discarded years ago. The BJP is thus playing the personality card smartly. While it is using Congress' attacks on the chief minister to elicit sympathy and support, it is also attacking Congress leaders like Digvijaya Singh to neutralise their campaigns on the ground. A good example of this strategy is Chouhan's alleged "traitor" jibe at Digvijaya, that BJP insiders say was part of a strategy to discredit the Congress leader, paint him as anti-Hindu and anti-India to negate the impact of his ongoing 'Ekta Yatra' that aims to mobilise the Congress cadre. The consensus within the state is that the Congress needs to shine the spotlight on issues that could hurt the BJP. It needs to talk about the plight of farmers that has led to a spate of protests. It needs to highlight unemployment joblessness has gone up by 50 percent in the last two years. It needs to seriously question Chouhan's 15 years in power. It needs to stoke anti-incumbency, not sympathy for Chouhan. Otherwise, Chouhan looks set to inaugurate his fourth tenure with candles and a cake, with or without eggs. The debate during the no-confidence motion itself hosted many iconic moments from this Monsoon Session. Ofcourse, the Rahul-hugging-Modi is at the top of the list, but there were several other scenes that were too good to be missed out. The Monsoon Session 2018 was filled with interesting discussions and iconic moments. Despite the anticipation of a stormy session because of Opposition's pitch for no-confidence motion, both Houses of Parliament managed to have 17 sittings spread across 24 days. As the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die on Friday, here's a look at all the noteworthy moments from inside the two Houses. 1. Debate on no-confidence motion The debate during the no-confidence motion itself hosted many iconic moments from this Monsoon Session. Ofcourse, the Rahul-hugging-Modi scene, and the Congress president's wink that followed, are at the top of the list, but there were other moments, too, that deserve a mention. During his speech, Rahul accused the prime minister of ignoring the farmers and alleged that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had lied about the Rafale deal under pressure from Modi. While making these allegations, Rahul looked at Modi and said that, "Pradhan mantri meri aankhon se aankhen milaakar nahi dekh paa rahe hain (The prime minister cannot look me in the eye as I speak). He is smiling but he is nervous," Rahul said. Reacting to this, Modi widened his eyes in a bid to dismiss Rahul's claim. PM Narendra Modi laughs after Rahul Gandhi says 'Pradhanmantri apni aankh meri aankh mein nahi daal sakte' #NoConfidenceMotion pic.twitter.com/qwXNt6PphM ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2018 Rahul had also claimed that SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal was smiling as he made allegations against Modi. When Kaur took offense to him hugging Modi, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan questioned her objection, and said, "What are you talking about? You were smiling (during Rahul's speech)." Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan says, 'aap to muskura rahi theen' when Harsimrat Kaur Badal stands up to speak saying allegations were made against her during Rahul Gandhi's speech'. Badal says, "Ye sansad hai, ye Munna bhai ka pappi jhappi area nahin hai". pic.twitter.com/d1RJBVnOq4 ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2018 Badal also asked Rahul what he had before coming to the House. 2. Piyush Goyal: The burdened minister? While participating in a debate on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill on 31 July, TMC leader Saugata Roy sought to know in the Lok Sabha whether Piyush Goyal is the caretaker finance minister or the full-time finance minister. Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai said that Goyal had already asserted in the House that Arun Jaitley is the finance minister. Roy, however, pointed out that the amendment bill mentioned Goyal's name as the finance minister. "At the back of the bill it is written, 'Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways, Finance, Corporate, Coal.' Why are you (Thambidurai) speaking on his behalf? I want to hear it from him." On 7 August, when the Lower House was discussing The Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2018-19 and demands for excess grants for 2015-16, Roy again took a dig Goyal, saying he is the most burdened minister in the history of independent India. Goyal was given the additional charge of the finance ministry on 14 May when Arun Jaitley underwent a kidney transplant operation. Jaitley is expected to return to office by the end of August. 3. Manmohan Singh speaks for SCS for Andhra Pradesh On 24 July, the Centre ruled out giving special category status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh and said the bifurcated state had got a better deal. Home Minister Rajnath Singh was replying to a nearly four-hour debate in the Rajya Sabha on special category status to the residual state of Andhra Pradesh during which former prime minister Manmohan Singh took a veiled dig at his successor Narendra Modi. Manmohan Singh said the assurance to Andhra Pradesh was made by him on behalf of parliament and he expected it to be fulfilled by the government. Manmohan Singh said he had made a "solemn commitment" on the floor of the Rajya Sabha as prime minister for special category status to Andhra Pradesh. He said the commitment to Andhra Pradesh had been discussed with then leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley and other senior BJP leaders. "(The) government is a continuing entity. Commitments made on the floor of the House have to be honoured and fulfilled. They are in nature of assurance on behalf of Parliament. I had expected my distinguished successor to fulfil the commitments I had made after consultations with his own colleagues." Intervening in the debate, Goyal said the Andhra Re-organisation Act was being respected. "The government remains committed to ensure the welfare of state of Andhra Pradesh and people of Andhra Pradesh." Rajnath Singh said the BJP-led central government had fulfilled "around 90 percent" of the commitments made under the Andhra Act and was "committed" to fulfil the rest "at any cost". "Our government will fulfil all the commitments made not only by our prime minister but also those made by former prime minister Manmohan Singh." 4. Amit Shah's accuses Opposition of trying to protect Bangladeshi immigrants BJP president Amit Shah's remarks accusing the Opposition of allegedly trying to protect the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants caused disruption in the Rajya Sabha and subsequent adjournment of the House for the day on 31 July, as the Opposition expressed concern over the Assam NRC draft that leaves out over 40 lakh people. "The Assam Accord was signed by your (Congress) prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on 14 August, 1985. And he announced it from the Red Fort in his speech the next day. The spirit of the Accord was the NRC that would help identify the Bangladeshi infiltrators," Shah said. "You did not have the courage to implement it. We had the courage and we are doing it. Everybody here (in the Opposition) is concerned with the 40 lakh people. How many Bangladeshi infiltrators are there among these 40 lakh? Who do you want to protect? You want to protect the Bangladeshi infiltrators?" Shah said. Pandemonium followed Shah's statement with Chairman Venkaiah Naidu having to shout to make himself heard. 5. First-term woman Rajya Sabha member presides over Question Hour A record of sorts was created in the Rajya Sabha when first-term woman member Kahkashan Perween presided over the Question Hour on 2 August. This was for the first time that a first-term woman member had presided over the House proceedings during the Question Hour, at least in a decade. Naidu, after the Zero Hour, announced that Perween would preside over the proceedings of the House during the Question Hour. Soon after she assumed the chair at the beginning of the Question Hour, members greeted her with the thumping of desks. Parween is the only woman member currently on the panel of vice-chairpersons of the Rajya Sabha. Naidu later complimented her for doing the job with confidence. 6. Spying in Lok Sabha? On the fourth day of Monsoon Session, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused an officer of spying in Lok Sabha. Addressing the Speaker, Kharge said, "It is surveillance. Who is he? Why is he taking notes? He is counting the number of MPs," Kharge said amidst vociferous protests by his party MPs.Kharge also claimed that as they were raising the issue, the officer concerned is seen leaving the House. The Speaker assured the agitated members and said she could not see the Officers' Gallery from her seat but she will look into the matter. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said the concerned officer belonged to his ministry and was doing his duty. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Lok Sabha proceedings were telecast live and everyone can see what is happening in the House. "People even now can see who is winking in the House," he said in an apparent dig at Rahul. 7. NDA nominee Harivansh becomes Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Ruling NDA candidate and JD(U) member Harivansh was elected as the deputy chairman on Thursday, securing 125 votes as against 105 polled by Opposition candidate BK Hariprasad. Only 230 out of the total 244 members were present during the voting. Following his election, Harivansh was conducted to his seat, which is beside the Leader of Opposition, by Leader of the House Arun Jaitley, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar and Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. Modi congratulated Harivansh on his victory and called him as a "well read" person who "has written a lot". On his part, Harivansh assured the members that he will conduct the proceedings of the House in a non-partisan manner. "Now I do not belong to any party," he said, seeking cooperation of the members in the smooth conduct of the House. He said that it was a matter of pride for him to reach the corridors of power and pledged to work for the country's development. After Harivansh's speech, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu invited him to conduct the House proceedings. 8. Piyush Goyal throws poll challenge to Mallikarjun Kharge On 9 August, the Lok Sabha witnessed a heated exchange between Goyal and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, with the minister challenging Kharge to fight an election against him from Mumbai. Goyal, who was speaking on the four GST bills taken up by the House for passage, targeted Congress and said it will be reduced to a single digit in the next Lok Sabha elections. Kharge hit back saying the minister had not even won an election. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar sought an aplogy from Kharge over his remarks. Congress members were near the Speaker's podium and raising slogans in favour of their demand for a joint parliamentary committee to probe the Rafale fighter jet deal during Goyal's speech. As members of treasury benches protested, Kumar said the Kharge was a senior member but was ignorant of rules of procedure. "Piyush Goyal ji is elected to the other House. He has been elected by the States. He knows that, in the constitutional scheme made by Babasaheb Ambedkar, anybody can be elected to either of the two Houses of Parliament. Therefore, if this basic knowledge is not with Kharge ji, then, he should apologize to the entire House. He should apologize to Piyush Goyal ji," Kumar said. The minister said senior former prime minister Manmohan Singh was also a Rajya Sabha member. "They should remember Manmohan Singh, who is six-time MP from Assam, is still in the other House. We respect him for he became the prime minister of this country twice. The same question which Mallikarjun Kharge ji is asking our friend Piyush Goyal should be posed to Manmohan Singh also," he said. 9. Parliamentarians favour adjournment for Karunanidhi Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on 8 August after paying obituary to DMK chief M Karunanidhi who passed away the day before. As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, the Speaker informed members of the demise of Karunanidhi. After observing a moment of silence in his memory, Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day. In Rajya Sabha, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, reading out an obituary reference, described Karunanidhi as a multifaceted personality and a gritty figure who overcame difficulties. Members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul. Naidu then adjourned the proceedings for the day. Prior to the commencement of proceedings of the day, Naidu consulted senior leaders of various political parties for their views on adjournment of proceedings of the House for the day. He sought to know views of leaders as there was no precedent of adjourning the House in case the departed leader was not a sitting or former member of the House, sources told PTI. Referring to Karunanidhi as one of the tallest leaders of the country, all members spoke in favour of adjournment of proceedings of the House as a mark of respect to the departed leader, they said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anant Kumar said the government was also in favour of adjournment and the same was conveyed to the Lok Sabha Speaker as well. With inputs from agencies The actor, whose film tackles the issue of corruption, said communalisation creates more problems. Mumbai: John Abraham says at a time when the world is getting polarised, it is important that one community is not blamed for everything that goes wrong in the society. The 45-year-old actor, who has made a number of films dealing with patriotism, including his next release "Satyamev Jayate", was asked about the lynching incidents in the country and how religion has become a controversial topic today. "The whole world is getting polarised and by polarised I mean that it is going against a particular community right now. It has become our mind-set that if there is something wrong, then that particular community is causing all the harm. I think we should first get that out of our heads because only then you can judge people rightly," Abraham said in a group interview here. The actor, whose film tackles the issue of corruption, said communalisation creates more problems. "If you are communalising them, then they become fringe elements and after that they become extremists. You are creating the terror. So I think the world is kind of a dangerous place to live in right now," he added. Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who stars with Abraham in the Milan Zaveri-directed film, said he had also undertaken a 'Kanwar Yatra' at the age of 17 and has wonderful memories of that journey. He, however, said he did not identify with what he was reading about 'Kawariyas' in the news, hinting at the widely circulated video in which a group of Kanwar pilgrims were seen wrecking a car in the middle of the traffic in Delhi. "When we are not sure about who we are, we try to rely on something to establish our identity. Religion is the easiest way to do that. I also took 'Kanwar Yatra' from Sultangunj to Baidyanath temple at the age of 17... I have wonderful memories of that time. I would like to keep those memories with me and not the ones that I am reading about in the newspapers. "People like us, who are aware, we have to decide what we identify with and what we don't. We are not protecting the religion, we are making it a thing of ridicule. We should not let that happen. Religion means trust. How can I let my trust be a thing of ridicule? It is our duty to stop that." 'Satyamev Jayate' is releasing on Independence Day. The Monsoon Session of Parliament was remarkable for the fact that it was a significantly productive one, especially compared to the recent past. The defining image of the Monsoon Session of Parliament was Congress president Rahul Gandhi's act of hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and saying he has no 'hatred' against him. However, the session was also remarkable for the fact that it was a significantly productive one, especially compared to the recent past. According to data from PRS Legislative Research, the productivity of the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session, 2018 was 106 percent, while that of the Rajya Sabha was 67 percent. The last time productivity of either of the Houses of Parliament breached the 100 percent mark was during the Monsoon Session of 2016. (Productivity goes beyond 100 percent when either House of Parliament meets for more than six hours in a day, by working late.) Key legislations passed/introduced A number of important legislations were discussed during the Monsoon Session, such as the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-third Amendment) Bill. The former seeks to introduce the possibility of the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below 12 years of age. It also stipulates a minimum punishment of 20 years, which may go up to life imprisonment for the crime. People convicted for the gang-rape of a girl below 12 years of age will get life imprisonment or death. The latter Bill seeks to grant National Commission for Backward Classes the constitutional status on a par with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. Following the passage of the Bill, Narendra Modi tweeted A historic moment for our country! I am glad that the Parliament has passed the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, which grants Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. This will contribute to the empowerment of the OBC communities across India Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2018 Also, earlier this week, the government introduced four Bills to amend the GST laws in the Lok Sabha which, among other things, seek to simplify the return forms and raise the turnover threshold for availing composition scheme to Rs 1.5 crore. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) amendment Bills are primarily aimed at helping the MSME sector and small traders, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said while introducing the bills in the Lok Sabha. Another significant legislation introduced in the Lok Sabha was the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018. The Bill seeks to overturn a Supreme Court order that struck down the provision for immediate arrest. The apex court's order had met with vociferous opposition, with Dalit groups having organised a massive Bharat Bandh over the issue in April. The Centre also reacted to public outrage over PNB scam accused Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi fleeing the country, in the form of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, which got the assent of the president on 5 August. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 25 July and by the Lok Sabha on 19 July. Questions on mob violence, terrorism During the Monsoon Session, Union home minister Rajnath Singh responded to criticism of the government over mob lynchings which have taken place in the recent past. In a statement in the Lok Sabha, Singh said that the government will enact a law, if necessary, to curb incidents of lynching. The home ministry announced setting up of two high-level committees to suggest ways and legal framework to effectively deal with incidents of mob violence and lynching. While one committee is headed by Singh, the other panel is headed by Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba. On a related note, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology also made a statement on action taken by the government to curb fake news. "The government has asked WhatsApp to convey various steps taken by them to deal with fake news and also to share learning material to educate the same," minister of state SS Ahluwalia said. "The government does not regulate content appearing on the internet. Law enforcement agencies take appropriate action on posting of malicious content on the internet on a specific case-to-case basis," he said in response to a separate query. The Union home ministry also issued a statement on instances of infiltration of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. There were 133 attempts of infiltration by terrorists from across the border and there were 69 net infiltrations, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in written reply to a question. Ahir said till June this year, 14 terrorists were killed while 50 others were returned from the border. Bills discussed more extensively in Monsoon Session While the number of hours for which Parliament functioned on an average was a positive indicator, another heartening aspect was the amount of time spent on discussing legislations. According to data from PRS Legislative Research, 20 legislations were discussed in both the Houses during this session. Out of these, four legislations were discussed for five hours or more each, indicating that many proposed laws were discussed in detail, rather than being passed in a hurry. This is in stark contrast to the Budget Session this year when Parliament spent 17 minutes in all to deliberate on just two legislations The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The former was passed by the Rajya Sabha after just three minutes of discussion. The Budget Session of Parliament had been almost washed out due to protests over a number of issues, including the demand for special status for Andhra Pradesh, the Cauvery dispute and the government's stance on the SC/ST Atrocities Act. With inputs from agencies Nagaland Governor PB Acharya, on Friday, sought an apology from Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for his 'outlandish' Naga headgear remark, saying it is 'unacceptable'. Kohima: Nagaland Governor PB Acharya, on Friday, sought an apology from Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for his "outlandish" Naga headgear remark, saying it is "unacceptable". The governor also called for having inner line permit system to check illegal migrants in the state. Interacting with senior journalists based in the state, Acharya said Tharoor's comment has hurt the sentiments of not only the people of Nagaland but the entire northeastern region. "The entire region is, as the rest of the country, proud of its rich culture and traditions. Diversity should be respected," he said. Such a statement is "extremely regrettable and unacceptable," Acharya said adding that Tharoor must apologise to the people of Nagaland in particular and the nation in general. Tharoor, the Thiruvananthapuram MP, had courted controversy by claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could wear all kinds of headgear, but not Muslim skull cap. "I ask you why does our prime minister wear all sorts of outlandish headgear wherever he goes around the country or around the world? Why does he always refuse to wear a Muslim skull cap?" Tharoor had said while speaking at a seminar in the capital of Kerala on 5 August. On the publication of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Acharya said Nagaland should have a strong system set up to check possible influx of illegal migrants in the interest of the people of the State. "We should also have a strong Inner Line Permit system," he said. Nagaland should be vigilant to check the influx of "illegal migrants" from Assam in the wake of the publication of a complete draft of the NRC, the governor said. If the idea is to take the issue to the public domain and spread awareness about the alleged wrongdoings in the deal, slighting the countrys vice president doesnt seem to be ethical. In its overwhelming zeal to corner the Narendra Modi government at the Centre on the Rafale deal and force it to order a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe for the same, the Congress party on Friday chose to dump propriety for politics by skipping a breakfast hosted by Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. The Congress move may be seen as a breach of protocol which is tantamount to showing disrespect to one of the most exalted constitutional positions in the country. Yet, the Congress believes that this show of protest would help in clearing the cobwebs around the controversial Rafael deal. The Congress MPs have perhaps failed to understand that there is a well-established platform in the form of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to address these issues. A call for a JPC probe is a constitutional matter and would need constitutional means to be redressed, a refusal to attend breakfast is hardly likely to lead to a solution. If the idea is to take the issue to the public domain and spread awareness about the alleged wrongdoings in the deal, slighting the countrys vice president doesnt seem to be ethical. Moreover, Friday is the last day of the Monsoon session and Naidu invited the members over breakfast to felicitate newly elected deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh. "The breakfast invitation was part of a protocol and nothing to do with any party. It was the vice president of India and chairman of Rajya Sabha who invited all the members over breakfast on this last day of the Session. By boycotting it, the Congress party has tried to dishonour the chair and not any party or individual. These constitutional posts like the president, vice president, Rajya Sabha chairman, Lok Sabha speaker, etc. dont represent any political party, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey told Firstpost. Whether a proceeding in the Parliament will take place smoothly or not is secondary. The primary objective is to honour the Parliament and its protocol. By boycotting the breakfast, the Congress has tried to set a wrong precedent, Dubey said. A political analyst, who opted to remain anonymous, is of the view that this move by the Congress might give a wrong message to the public "as if Congress doesnt have any respect for the Parliament. It may go against them, as MPs from other opposition parties with whom Congress would like to ally, attended the breakfast. It reflects an immature act". Moreover, the Congress party also has to keep its own house in order first before taking on the government. It is noteworthy that three of its members had remained absent from the voting in Rajya Sabha on Thursday for the election of the deputy chairman of the Upper House. While the government has come up with its reply on the Rafael deal, the Congress which apparently is not satisfied intends to project Rafael deal as a counter to NDAs pursuance of the Bofors scam, by pressing for a JPC and attacking the government. Instead of attending the breakfast, the party chose to stage a dharna ahead of the session, near the Mahatma Gandhi statue outside the Parliament House on Friday. Even if we consider only the floor of the Parliament as the battleground, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won two litmus tests -- one in the Lok Sabha and the other at the Rajya Sabha. The NDA government had comfortably won the No-confidence Motion moved against it by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Congress on 20 July. It was for the first time in 15 years that the Lower House of the Parliament had held a debate on a No-confidence Motion. The numbers were on the Modi governments side that helped them to win the no-trust motion with confidence. The floor of the Upper House witnessed another victory of the NDA on Thursday when the ruling NDA nominee and Janata Dal (United) leader Harivansh Narayan Singh got elected as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman by defeating Congress candidate BK Hariprasad. Congress had recently said that it would gherao the Modi-led NDA government inside the Parliament along with opposition parties on issues like Rafael deal, banking scams, corruption, agrarian distress, unemployment, etc. Breaching protocol doesnt seem like a step in the right direction if Congress hopes to corner the government. As many as 16 members, including 15 MPs from Opposition parties, were not present in the Rajya Sabha during the voting to elect its deputy chairman on Thursday. New Delhi: As many as 16 members, including 15 MPs from Opposition parties, were not present in the Rajya Sabha during the voting to elect its deputy chairman on Thursday. The NDA's Harivansh Narayan Singh won the election, bagging 125 votes as against 101 polled by the Opposition nominee, BK Hariprasad. The figures were corrected after it was found that the votes of four Opposition members were counted twice. The Congress and the TMC led the campaign to get the Opposition's candidate elected to the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's post but failed to ensure that all their members were present when votes were cast in the House. According to Rajya Sabha Secretariat, three members each of Congress, Samajwadi Party and AAP; two each of TMC, DMK and PDP and one member of the Naga People's Front were absent. Two members of the YSRCP abstained from the voting. While the BJP-led NDA was present in full strength in the House, three members of the Congress and two members of the TMC were not present, as per the official figures of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. The post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman had been lying vacant since the retirement of PJ Kurien on 1 July. Congress-led UPA candidate Haripasad was able to garner support of other Opposition parties like Samajwadi Party, BSP, CPI and CPM. The result of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's election was no surprise. Coming close on the heels of the No Confidence Motion defeat in the Lok Sabha, it looked like yet another self-goal by Rahul Gandh The result of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's election was no surprise. Coming close on the heels of the No Confidence Motion defeat in the Lok Sabha, it looked like yet another self-goal by Rahul Gandhi. In both the floor tests, the NDA managed to garner more votes than its official strength, indicating that an Opposition alliance is still far from a done deal. Two parallel processes seem to be playing out in the political scene at this juncture. On one axis, Rahul Gandhi is trying to establish his primacy in the Opposition lineup, while signalling that he may not be averse to yielding space to another worthy claimant in the larger interest of keeping BJP out, as he did in Karnataka. Simultaneously, regional stalwarts like Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati, Sharad Pawar, HD Deve Gowda and Chandrababu Naidu are making their own numbers irrespective of the Congress. For most of them, being close to their 'sell by date', this is a 'now or never' election. On more than one occasion, they have made it clear that Rahul cannot take the numero uno position for granted. Both the Congress and rest of the Opposition are banking on anti-incumbency against Narendra Modi and the BJP. Rahul never tires of repeating that he sees nothing but anger against Modi everywhere. His attacks against Modi have, therefore, become sharper and shriller. He is clearly positioning himself as Modi's main challenger in 2019. The regional parties have a more straightforward equation based on arithmetic of caste, community and sub-nationalism. The last is particularly relevant in the southern states, where there is a Coromandel Convergence of resurgent Dravidian pride as it were. Since the past four decades, the Emergency of 1975 has become a pet analogy for all out of power politicians. Ironically, even Indira Gandhi had accused the Janata Party of putting the country under an 'undeclared emergency' soon after it assumed office. A few days ago, Sharad Pawar, one of the main movers of Opposition unity, claimed a similar mahaul of fear was prevalent in the country predicting a deja vu of 1977 in the next election. Eminent historian Ramachandra Guha tweeted: "If Sanjay Gandhi was the nemesis of Indira Gandhi then, Amit Shah will be the cause of Narendra Modis undoing now". The views of a senior leader like Pawar, a veteran of many battles, cannot be dismissed as bogey. Yet, there is a catch. In 1977, from reports in the media, which was under total censorship, no one would have guessed there was so much pent-up emotion waiting to explode inside the ballot boxes. In contrast, going by a sizable chunk of the media narrative today, it would appear the prospects Modi's return are indeed bleak (so much for the freedom of the press). But, unlike in 1977 when anger was palpable to anyone travelling through the country, especially the "Hindi heartland", there is no substantive evidence to suggest such a strong anti-Modi sentiment at the grassroots. If the BJP is rattled, it is certainly not showing. It is unlikely that Modi and Shah will not remember Indira Gandhis grand fall or the lessons of 2004 when BJPs "India Shining" campaign flopped. So, they too must have a strategy and road map prepared for 2019, which they are yet to reveal. Although some would like to believe Modi and Shah had begun to take their allies for granted inadvertently pushing them towards the Opposition, those who know them well will not buy such a theory. They would have not only factored the reactions of the TDP and Shiv Sena, for instance, but perhaps, also egged them in that direction with a certain endgame in mind. It is this complex and multilayered landscape that makes the battle for 2019 fascinating unlike the binary choices of 1977 or 2014. The dilemma of the Opposition would be whether to turn it into an election of Modi versus the Rest or fight their individual wars hoping that the sum will be greater than the parts. Rahul and the Congress are clearly trying to push towards the former. Donning the avatar of an overage JNU hosteler rent-a-cause protester, he is targeting Modi with direct and personal salvos on a broad spectrum of issues ranging from crony capitalism, defence scams, mismanagement of the economy, lack of jobs and, finally, security of minorities and women. This strategy assumes general disenchantment with Modi among the middle and higher income groups. There is the rub. Over the years, the definition of middle class has changed significantly in the country. The group Rahul is trying to address through his spunky quips on social media and strident rhetoric in Parliament have actually moved up on the socioeconomic ladder. The real middle class today lives in the suburbs, small towns and urban areas, who may not be too impressed by his adolescent rants. The rich are by definition politically agnostic. They are guided purely by self-interest. Much as corporate India may be cut-up with Modi, it also has greater faith in his ability to steer the country towards growth and stability. This is reflected by statistics of corporate donations that the BJP has received in the past few months which is more than nine times over what the Congress is reported to have collected. The allies understand this. Therefore, they are focused more on their local agenda while working on a loose coalition that leaves enough room for adjustments later as the situation evolves. Unlike an adolescent Rahul who is prone to peaking early and prematurely spilling his beans. It is in the BJPs interest to keep this dynamic tension alive, while Shah and the RSS quietly go about their job of moving the chess pieces. No one knows better than them that in a "wave" all calculations become irrelevant. So, they will do their best to ensure that a mahaul against Modi does not acquire momentum till the prime pinister is ready to roll out his blitzkrieg in a fight to finish at the grand sweepstakes of 2019. Reuters United States President Donald Trumps administration on Thursday, 9 August, 2018 announced an ambitious plan to usher in a new Space Force as the sixth branch of the military by 2020, but the proposal was scorned by opponents and may struggle to get liftoff in a divided Congress. Trump has strongly championed the idea of creating a space-focused military service with the same stature as the Air Force and the Army, turning his dreams of a Space Force into a rallying cry for supporters at political events. His 2020 reelection campaign sent a fundraising email on Thursday asking supporters to vote on their favorite Space Force logo for future Trump campaign merchandise, offering a choice of six. US Vice President Mike Pence, in an address at the Pentagon, described the Space Force as an idea whose time has come. America will always seek peace in space, as on the Earth. But history proves that peace only comes through strength, and in the realm of outer space, the United States Space Force will be that strength in the years ahead, Pence said. He added that Congress must now act to establish and fund the department. Trump tweeted: Space Force all the way! The Space Force will supposedly be responsible for a range of crucial space-based US military capabilities, which include everything from satellites enabling the Global Positioning System (GPS) to sensors that help track missile launches. But critics view its creation as an unnecessary and expensive bureaucratic endeavor, a vanity project that simply strips away work already being done effectively by services like the Air Force. Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, who is on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said the Space Force was a dumb idea.Although Space Force wont happen, its dangerous to have a leader who cannot be talked out of crazy ideas, Schatz said on Twitter. Democratic Senator Bill Nelson has said such a move would rip the Air Force apart. Senator Bernie Sanders said via Twitter maybe, just maybe the government should guarantee healthcare before we start spending billions to militarize outer space. However, although Pentagon leaders, including US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, once opposed the idea of a Space Force, they lined up on Thursday to offer their support. A Pentagon report released on Thursday included interim steps toward the creation of such an organization. A unified combatant command known as the US Space Command would be formed by the end of 2018, according to a copy reviewed by Reuters. In a nod to the Air Forces current role, the Pentagon report recommended that the Space Command be led initially by the commander of Air Force Space Command, who would be dual-hatted. One of the arguments in favor of devoting more resources to a Space Force or Space Command is that American rivals like Russia and China appear increasingly ready to strike US space-based capabilities in the event of a conflict. It is becoming a contested war fighting domain and we have to adapt to that reality, Mattis said. The United States is a member of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bars the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in space and only allows for the use of the moon and other celestial bodies for peaceful purposes. Former astronaut and retired US Navy Captain Mark Kelly on Thursday said that while Pence was right about the threats in outer space, the military was already handling them. There is a threat out there but its being handled by the US Air Force today. (It) doesnt make sense to build a whole other level of bureaucracy in an incredibly bureaucratic Department of Defense, Kelly told MSNBC. Reuters Intel on 8 August said it sold $1 billion of artificial intelligence processor chips in 2017, the first time the worlds second-largest chipmaker disclosed revenue from the fast-growing computing segment that has fueled sales expansions at rivals such as Nvidia Corp. As PC sales have stagnated, Intel has increasingly been depending on its sales to data centers, which provide behind-the-scenes computing power for mobile and web-based apps. Those apps, in turn, rely on artificial intelligence for features like photo and speech recognition. But researchers widely believe that so-called graphical processors like Nvidias are better suited to training artificial intelligence computer models than the central processor units, or CPUs, that have been Intels mainstay for decades. At an event for Wall Street analysts at Intels Santa Clara, California headquarters to explain its strategy, Navin Shenoy, its data center chief, said the company has been able to modify its CPUs to become more than 200 times better at artificial intelligence training over the past several years. This resulted in $1 billion in sales of its Xeon processors for such work in 2017, when the companys overall revenue was $62.8 billion. The step-function increase in performance led to a meaningful business impact for us, Shenoy told the audience. Naveen Rao, head of Intels artificial intelligence products group, said the $1 billion estimate was derived from customers that told Intel they were buying chips for artificial intelligence and from calculations of how much of a customers data center is dedicated to such work. Honestly, its probably a lot higher. We left a lot on the table because we wanted to be conservative, Rao told Reuters in an interview. The new number is important because Intels stock dropped last month after it delivered earnings that fell short of Wall Streets expectations for its data center business. Intel also said then its newest generation chips would be delayed until 2020, leading analysts to worry it will lose data center share to Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Intel must be very confident in its (artificial intelligence) roadmap and future performance given it committed to a revenue number, as analysts will ask them every quarter about it, said analyst and former chip executive Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy. He said the $1 billion figure was conservative because it only included CPUs and not its other product lines, he said. Intel stock was up 22 cents at $49.92. tech2 News Staff South Korean giant Samsung announced a long-term partnership with popular music streaming service Spotify at Samsungs Galaxy Unpacked event 2018, on 9 August. According to Samsung, Spotify's services will span across all devices from Samsung such as smartphones, speakers, televisions, and the yet to be launched Galaxy Home, among others. The partnership with Samsung can help Spotify fight competition with Apple MusicApple's own music service. Speaking of services, this partnership allows users to play their favourite tracks on their Samsung devices with the help of its native voice assistant Bixby via the SmartThings app an app which allows users to manage all devices which are compatible with its IoT devices or SmartThings. Spotify will be integrated with the Samsung Music app and therefore will be a part of the setup experience in Samsungs devices especially the Galaxy Note 9. The music streaming service currently streams in at least 65 regions around the globe excluding India. In earlier reports Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify had confirmed that Spotify intends to expand the music streaming service to India as well. One can hope that Samsung, which is quite popular in India, and Spotifys partnership speeds up the music streaming services entry in the subcontinent. In April, Spotify directly listed itself at the New York Stock Exchange. It's shares opened at $165.90 which was higher than its reference price. Alongside the announcement, Samsung had launched its flagship phone Galaxy Note 9, a Galaxy Watch and unveiled its smart speaker, the Galaxy Home. Vivian Fernandes The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is passing off its detection of material from genetically-engineered (GE) plants in 21 of 65 food samples obtained from Punjab, Gujarat and the Delhi region as a surprising discovery. Sixteen of the 21 samples, it says, were imported. The Delhi-based NGO has raised a health alarm. It also says the manufacture, import and sale of such food is illegal. Both its assertions are wrong. In 2002, India approved the cultivation of GE cotton made toxic to bollworms with the insertion of a gene from a soil bacterium, whose name is abridged as Bt. Indian regulations for the approval of GE crops are stringent. They are based on international protocols. The process is long and enervating. The crops have to undergo two levels of bio-safety research trials to ensure they are not toxic or allergy-causing and are safe to humans, animals and the environment. Only then does the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) recommend approval for their cultivation. Currently, 96 percent of Indias cotton area is under Bt cotton. The cottonseed oil we consume is almost entirely from GE cotton plants. We have been doing this for about 15 years. So the presence of GM material in Indian food is not novel. There are also no reported cases of Bt cottonseed oil harming human health. Last year, six institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) told a parliamentary committee on GE crops that they had fed Bt cottonseed and oil meal to fish, chicken, lamb, cows and goats and none of them fell sick or died as a result. Pawan Agarwal, the CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSA) told me there is a regulatory vacuum on food containing material from GE plants. But based on available scientific evidence, the view of the authority is that there is no verifiable health impact of GM (genetically modified) food vis-a-vis conventional food on humans. FSSAI, which was formed by a law enacted in 2006 is supposed to regulate food derived from bioengineered plants. The act became operational in 2011. But till 2016 the environment ministry kept FSSAIs powers in abeyance, Agarwal says. GEAC regulated the use, manufacture, sale, import and export of GE material. It derived authority from a provision under Rules 1989 framed under the Environment Protection Act (EPA). But in 2007, after FSSAI was formed, GM processed food, ingredients, additives and processing aids, were exempted from that provision, so long as the end product was not a living modified organism (LMO). An official in the environment ministry said it has been urging FSSAI to regulate GM food but the latter, lacking capability, was reluctant to do so. Only after the Supreme Courts direction did FSSAI, in 2016, set up a committee to prepare draft regulations, the official said. These, Agarwal says, will be sent shortly to the government for approval, after which they will be placed on its website for public comments. The draft also has proposals for labelling. Food containing GE plant material above 5 per cent by weight will have to be labelled as such. The environment ministry official said there was no regulatory vacuum. GEAC was doing the regulation till FSSAI took over. B. V. Mehta, Executive Director of the Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) of India said it had obtained one-time permission in 2007 from GEAC to import oil derived from GE soybean, in place of six-monthly approvals till them. Health Minister J P Nadda confirmed this in the Lok Sabha last December in reply to a question from Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge. Apart from SEA, he said GEAC had permitted Monsanto Holdings, Bayer Bioscience and BASF to import oil from GE soybean and GE Canola (rapeseed) till 2015. CSE says it found GM material in samples of imported infant food and packaged corn snacks. From the health minsters reply it can be inferred that these did not have the approval of FSSAI. If FSSAI had regulations in place and enforced them, anti-GM activists could not have accused it of laxity. But it is hard to filter out GE material from imported food. Indian cannot be GM-free because the world isnt. The US Department of Agriculture says 90 percent and 82 per cent respectively of the countrys corn planted in 2018 is genetically-engineered for herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. Ninety-four per cent of its soybean this year is herbicide-tolerant. Such high shares of GE crops will be found in Canada, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Australia, as well. The European Union (EU) does not allow the cultivation of GM crops. Anti-GM activists hold it as an example for India. But earlier this year, the EU authorized the import of GM soybean, maize and rapeseed for food and feed, according to ISAAA, an advocacy for GM technology, whose founding patron was Norman Borlaug, the catalyst of the Green Revolution happen. But the EU has strict labelling and traceability laws. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not make labelling mandatory. Its website says: Credible evidence has demonstrated that foods from the GE plant varieties marketed to date are as safe as comparable non-GE foods. That being the case, labelling would prejudice consumers against such foods. The phrase "GM food" is a misnomer. The USFDA prefers food derived from genetically-engineered plants as the food itself is not genetically-engineered except, say, Golden Rice which has been fortified with genes obtained from a flower plant and a soil bacterium to enhance its Vitamin A content. But the rice is not available for consumption though Canada has approved it, and Bangladesh has successfully concluded the trials. This correspondent asked Pradeep Burma, Professor and Head of the Department of Genetics to review CSEs methodology and data. He said it lacks rigour in experimental design, and analysis. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method used is extremely sensitive, he said, so it can throw up false positives, if contaminants are not checked. The manual for the test kit used in the CSE investigation recommends three control reactions: negative control, positive control and extraction control. While negative control has been used there is no extraction control, he said. Burma said most samples in the study have thrown up similar values. This is not possible because different material Bt cotton leaf, food containing material obtained from GE plants like corn, and oil derived from transgenic crops will carry different amounts of transgenic DNA. The study, according to him, found more of a promoter (used extensively in GE crops) in oil than in Bt cotton leaf. Oil should have had less of it because DNA will get degraded and fragmented in the course of processing. Burmas comments were given to CSE for comment on 8 August. Its reply will be added when received. tech2 News Staff It was a summer night in 1862 when Louis Swift and Horace Tuttle saw the comet streaking across the sky for the first time in their lives, independent of each other and three days apart. The comet would later be called the Swift-Tuttle comet, after the two astronomers that identified and put a name to this peculiar marvel of a celestial body. It was only 130 years after that first sighting, in 1992, that the comet reappeared, passing by us a 180 million kilometres away. Thats been the Swift-Tuttle comets closest pass with Earth yet, as it moves along an orbit that wedges into our region of the Solar system. Every hundred and thirty-odd years, it zips past us at 150 the speed of sound, leaving a massive trail of ice, space dust and meteors on its tail. The debris field of the comet is wide enough for us to spend weeks inside it, Space says. While the ice and dust are out of sight and mind to most of us Earthlings, the meteors make for a stargazer's fantasy. It draws millions of eager eyes in an annual meteor shower called the Perseids. These meteors share a common origin, the Swift-Tuttle comet, and look as if they all originate from the patch of sky. In the case of the Perseids meteors, that patch of sky is occupied by the constellation Perseus, lending the phenomenon its name. When in space, these debris are called meteoroids. If any of them make it to the surface of the Earth after passing through the atmosphere without burning up, they are titled meteorites. On reaching the Earths atmosphere, if the debris starts to burn, appearing bright and visible, we have ourselves a meteor. The Perseid meteors strike the upper atmosphere at speeds nearing 60 kilometres per second, according to NASA, heating up by friction, and disintegrating in flashes of light that we see as shooting stars. When to see the Perseid meteor shower? Astronomers predict the highest sightings on the midnights of 11 to 12 August, and 12 to 13 August, as the Earth pushes through the densest of Swift-Tuttles debris clouds, NASA reports. The best time to view them in India is midnight of Sunday, 12 August. This happens to be one of the best years to view the Perseids, courtesy of an early-setting New Moon, its only bright competitor in the otherwise dark sky. Where to see them The best views of the meteor shower are likely far away from city lights, with a clear sky above you. If priorities, sleep or the weather dont favour a viewing, here are three live broadcast of the Perseids to keep FOMO at bay: 1- NASAs Meteor Shower Facebook page, going live from its camera at Huntsville, Alabama at 7.30am on Monday, 13 August. 2- It is also available on NASAs Ustream. 3- Slooh is an astronomical robot telescope service that will also be streaming the peak hours of the Perseids shower, starting at 2:30 am on Monday, 13 August running for eight hours. How to see them Unlike the partial solar eclipse this week, no safety equipment or telescopes are needed to view the Perseids. Stargazers will be treated to at least 60 meteors an hour at its peak this year, astronomers predict. Your eyes can take up to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark, NASA says. Do make room to accommodate that in the viewing party you know you ought to be having. Amid the pessimism and hopelessness that has shrouded West Asia over the past few years, Mr Zayanis voice is an important beacon of hope. On July 31, as a few hundred scholars of Gulf affairs from across the world gathered at Cambridge University for their ninth Gulf Research Meeting organised by the Jeddah-based Gulf Research Centre, they could not but be aware of how turbulent and conflictual the region had become. The two major regional powers Saudi Arabia and Iran have lost all mutual trust, and now indulge in acrimony and sabre-rattling, while being involved in disastrous proxy conflicts in Syria and Yemen that have taken several thousand lives and destroyed all civic amenities and national institutions. Again, the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are experiencing serious internecine differences, particularly the relentless year-long siege of Qatar that is threatening the very existence of the institution. Taking advantage of this mayhem, extremist elements are continuing their murderous spree across the region and far beyond. The scenario has been further complicated by the disruptive policies and pronouncements of US President Donald Trump. Impelled by visceral animosity for Iran and full support for the agenda of Israels right-wing zealots, Mr Trump has withdrawn from the nuclear agreement with Iran. He has then gone ahead to shape battlelines that have ranged the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia on one side against Iran, Syria and Iraq on the other, in a region-wide conflagration. He has also publicly affirmed his commitment to sponsoring regime change in Tehran, while pursuing a settlement in Palestine that would permanently extinguish all Palestinian aspirations. As year by year the region has steadily descended into the abyss of recrimination and chaos, no power has stepped forward to promote confidence, engagement and dialogue among the nations in confrontation. This situation has dramatically changed in his inaugural address at the Gulf Research Meeting at Cambridge, the GCC secretary-general, Abdullatif bin Rashid al Zayani, set out his path to regional peace and development with what he called a vision of interdependence. This is the first presentation by a senior regional leader that firmly rejects regional divisions based on faith or ideology and encouraged by uncompromising local vested interests, and instead projects an alternative dream of peace and mutual accommodation. As his panacea for regional ills, Mr Zayani has insisted on the need for a far-sighted vision and political will that would make all regional nations interdependent based on their shared interests in stability, security and prosperity. Interdependence would be achieved within the framework of a West Asian Marshall Plan, structured on the lines of the Marshall Plan that brought reconstruction and development to war-devastated Europe after the Second World War, and encouraged economic interdependence among European nations that had warred with each other for several centuries, and over a few decades promoted political cohesiveness and peace across the continent. The West Asian Marshall Plan will bind the nations of West Asia in a resolute partnership for reconstruction, development, human resource upliftment and technological achievement. The initiative would yield such extraordinary benefits to participants that it would be near-impossible for nations to reject participation. The advantages of constructive partnership will be set against the billions of dollars being expended on ongoing conflicts that have wrought death and destruction, with no benefit to any party. Mr Zayani realistically recognised that that moving adversaries and doubters to join the core group of willing participants would be a mammoth challenge. He proposed the shaping of the initiative on using TRUST as an acronym to mean: Truth, Respect, Uniformity of approach, Security, and Transparency on all sides. Amid the pessimism and hopelessness that has shrouded West Asia over the past few years, Mr Zayanis voice is an important beacon of hope. While being idealistic, even utopian, it is certainly not unrealistic the European precedent ended visceral and destructive millennia-old conflicts across the continent. What then are the next steps to realise this vision? Just as the European Marshall Plan was American-led, West Asia needs to give concrete shape to the vision by commencing the arduous diplomatic process of promoting engagement and dialogue, so that the contending nations can bilaterally address the issues that promote mistrust. India is well-placed to shape and lead this initiative. It has relations with the region that go back several millennia, so that there is a high level of mutual comfort in its ties with the regional nations. These ties have remained uninterrupted over the centuries and have gone beyond commercial exchanges to embrace intellectual, philosophical, religious exchanges that have shaped shared civilisational values and ethos. In contemporary times, Indias relations with the region include energy, trade and investment, logistical connectivity projects of great strategic value, and the presence in the region of its eight million-strong community, whose contributions to regional development are cherished and applauded in every country in the region. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all the principal nations of the region have enthusiastically responded to Indias overtures for political and economic cooperation, putting in place strategic partnerships that embrace regional peace and security. Thus, India can confidently step into the regional diplomatic vacuum and promote engagement between the estranged neighbours. The challenges before India are serious since regional divides are deeply entrenched. Again, given the American hegemony over the region for several decades, no other role players have been able to enter the West Asian political theatre, even as the US itself has subjected the region to wanton violence and destruction. Above all, for much of its life as a free nation, India has largely confined its diplomatic priorities to its immediate neighbourhood and has not undertaken a major diplomatic peace initiative outside South Asia. But, as West Asia faces breakdown, Indias crucial national interests are in jeopardy it just doesnt now have the luxury of sitting on the fence and watching the region go up in flames. Mr Zayanis remarks have heralded the possibility of peace in West Asia, proffering trust in place of suspicion, cooperation in place of hostility, and hope in place of despair. This is a clarion call to Indias academics, diplomats and policymakers to join this vision and turn it into reality. Taliban fighters tried to overrun a provincial capital in Afghanistan early on Friday, hiding inside homes before slipping into city streets in the night to attack security forces and killing at least 14 policemen before being pushed back, officials said. Kabul: Taliban fighters tried to overrun a provincial capital in Afghanistan early on Friday, hiding inside homes before slipping into city streets in the night to attack security forces and killing at least 14 policemen before being pushed back, officials said. The overnight attack in the southeastern city of Ghazni, the capital of a province with the same name, also wounded at least 20 members of the security forces, said Baz Mohammad Hemat, the administrator of the Ghazni city hospital. Another Taliban attack, on Thursday night in western Herat province, left six policemen dead in the district of Obe, according to the governor's spokesman, Gelani Farhad. The brazen assaults by the Taliban, who have been gaining more ground in their annual spring offensive and who have shrugged off the government's latest offers of a cease-fire and negotiations, underscore the difficulties Afghan forces face in battling the relentless insurgency on their own in efforts to end the nearly 17-year war. In Ghazni, the attack began around 2 am (local time) with intense gunbattles raging and fires burning in several shops in the city's residential areas, provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal told The Associated Press. After repulsing the daring assault, police conducted house-to-house searches for any remaining Taliban fighters. An investigation is also underway on how the insurgents had managed to infiltrate so deep into the city, barely 120 kilometres south of the Afghan capital of Kabul. Hemat, the hospital administrator, said two wounded civilians were also brought to the hospital but that the city was shut down and that ambulances were not being sent out. Mashal said there were more than 100 other casualties but he could not give a breakdown of the dead and wounded. Most of the casualties were Taliban, he said. Several bodies of dead Taliban fighters remained on the street after government forces pushed the insurgents from Ghazni, the police chief said. Bodies of 39 Taliban fighters were recovered from beneath a bridge in the southern edge of the city. Airstrikes called in to quash the offensive also killed dozens of Taliban, Mashal said. Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said the army had helped the police and that the city was brought under control of government forces. Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, said American forces and US attack helicopters assisted Afghan troops in pushing back the Taliban during the night's multiple attacks in Ghazni. "US forces responded with close-air support and conducted one drone strike," O'Donnell said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed parts of Ghazni had been seized and scores of people killed. After dawn Friday, Ghazni's residents were staying indoors and all shops in the city remained closed. The road from Kabul to Afghanistan's southern provinces was also closed because it runs through Ghazni. By mid-morning, sporadic gunfire could still be heard in the city, some residents said. There were still Taliban fighters who had hunkered down in elevated positions from which they were still shooting, the residents said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear for their safety. The Taliban have so far not confirmed being behind the earlier attack in Herat in which at least six policemen were killed at a district checkpoint. The Taliban have stepped up attacks across the country since NATO and the United States formally ended their combat mission in 2014, and have seized control of several districts. The US and NATO forces remain in Afghanistan mainly in a supporting and training role. An Islamic State affiliate has carried out dozens of deadly attacks in recent years, mainly targeting security forces and minority Shiites. On Wednesday evening, heavily armed Boko Haram jihadists in trucks stormed and looted weapons and vehicles from a military base in Garunda village in Borno State, the epicentre of the Islamist insurgency that has been raging for nine years. Kano: At least 17 Nigerian soldiers were killed in a fresh Boko Haram attack on a military base in the country's northeast, military sources said on Thursday, the third assault on three different bases in less than a month. On Wednesday evening, heavily armed jihadists riding in trucks stormed and looted weapons and vehicles from a military base in Garunda village in Borno State, the epicentre of the Islamist insurgency that has been raging for nine years. The attack is the latest of a series of bloody Boko Haram assaults on military bases in Nigeria, underscoring the continued threat the Islamists pose to the region and putting the spotlight on the Nigerian government's claim that Boko Haram is "decimated". "Our troops came under attack from Boko Haram terrorists in Garunda last night," a military officer told AFP. "Unfortunately we lost 17 troops, 14 others were injured while an unspecified number is still unaccounted for," said the military source, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak on the incident. The source added that the militants looted weapons and vehicles before fleeing. In the past month, Boko Haram jihadists have launched two other major assaults on military bases in the remote northeast region. On 14 July, jihadists suspected to be loyal to Abu Mus'ab Al-Barnawi, who is affiliated with the Islamic State group, attacked a base in Jilli village, in neighbouring Yobe state. Dozens of troops were killed, wounded or missing, according to several security sources. The army conceded the base was attacked but did not give a death toll, saying that the "troops reorganised and successfully repelled the attack and normalcy has since returned to the area". On 26 July, the Islamists stormed a base on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the state capital of Borno state. The base attacked on Wednesday in Garunda village of Borno state had just been set up for troops from the 81 brigade who had been stationed in Jilli village and forced to move after the 14 July assault. "The truth of the matter is that the troops in Jilli were relocated to Garunda where a new base was established," said the second military source, who gave a similar death toll. "Troops were just setting up and the excavator operator was working to fortify the base with trenches against attack from the terrorists when the attack happened," said the officer. The Nigerian army did not respond to requests for comment. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday confirmed in a statement that a staff member, an excavator operator attached to the military, "was killed by Boko Haram on Wednesday in Damasak, Borno state". Boko Haram no longer controls swathes of territory in northeast Nigeria as it did at the height of its insurgency in 2014, yet the Islamist militants still pose a threat to the impoverished region. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that the Islamists are a spent force as he gears up for elections next year. In an interview with Nigerian press published on Thursday, Buhari's information minister Lai Mohammed said "we promised to fight insecurity, despite what anybody says, we have decimated Boko Haram". Six months away from presidential polls, Buhari is under pressure to defend his track record as he battles insecurity across Nigeria, Africa's most populous country. BOGOTA (Reuters) - The Marxist ELN rebel group must free nine hostages and stop all criminal activity if it truly wants a peace deal, new Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Friday. The National Liberation Army (ELN), which has been in peace talks with the government for 17 months, is holding captive four soldiers, three policemen and two civilians who are contractors for the armed forces BOGOTA (Reuters) - The Marxist ELN rebel group must free nine hostages and stop all criminal activity if it truly wants a peace deal, new Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Friday. The National Liberation Army (ELN), which has been in peace talks with the government for 17 months, is holding captive four soldiers, three policemen and two civilians who are contractors for the armed forces. "As Colombia's president I will not accept that they intimidate us with kidnapping or that kidnapping becomes a mechanism to blackmail the Colombian state," Duque, who took office on Tuesday, said during a visit to the port city of Tumaco. "If the ELN has a true desire for demobilization, disarmament and reinsertion, they should free those kidnapped quickly, without conditions," Duque added. In a statement posted to its website on Friday, the guerrilla group said it was working to liberate those it kidnapped and that both Duque's government and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which usually acts as a neutral party to facilitate hostage releases, were receptive. To complete the releases it would be necessary to agree to a set of protocols, the ELN statement added. "We hope that the operations of the state army that are taking place in the area of the detentions do not put the lives of those detained at risk or are meant to carry out a rescue by force," the rebels said. Three policemen, a soldier and the two civilians were kidnapped eight days ago in western Choco province, while three soldiers were captured this week in eastern Arauca province. The government and the ELN failed to reach a ceasefire agreement at the end of their sixth round of talks at peace negotiations in Havana last week. Colombia has been at war with the 1,500-member ELN, which was founded by radical Catholic priests, since 1964. Duque has said he will not continue negotiations if the group does not halt criminal activity like drug trafficking and move its forces to a defined area of territory. Colombia's conflict between the government, rebel groups, paramilitaries and crime gangs has lasted more than 50 years, killing at least 260,000 people and displacing millions. (Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by Helen Murphy and Richard Chang) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The tough message from Dmitry Medvedev marked what the Kremlin sees as a red line, reflecting a growing dismay with the new US sanctions that already has sent the Russian ruble plummeting to its lowest level in two years. Moscow: Russia's prime minister on Friday sternly warned the United States against ramping up sanctions, saying that Moscow will retaliate with economic, political and unspecified "other" means. The tough message from Dmitry Medvedev marked what the Kremlin sees as a red line, reflecting a growing dismay with the new US sanctions that already has sent the Russian ruble plummeting to its lowest level in two years. The US State Department on Thursday said that Washington made the determination this week that Moscow had used the Novichok nerve agent to poison ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury and that sanctions would follow later this month. Russia has strongly denied involvement in the poisoning. According to the State Department, those sanctions will include the presumed denial of export licenses for Russia to purchase many items with national security implications. Some reports indicated that a possible next wave of sanctions in the fall could target Russia's state-controlled banks and freeze their operations in dollars a move that would deal a heavy blow to the Russian economy. Medvedev warned the US that such a move would cross a red line. "If something like a ban on bank operations or currency use follows, it will amount to a declaration of economic war," he said. "And it will warrant a response with economic means, political means and, if necessary, other means. Our American friends should understand that." Medvedev's tough tone was in stark contrast with past statements by President Vladimir Putin and his lieutenants, who have taken a nonchalant posture while talking about US and other Western sanctions, seeking to downplay their impact on the Russian economy. The announcement of new US sanctions has rattled the Russian currency and stock markets. The ruble plummeted to its lowest level since August 2016 in early trading on Friday. Russia-US ties have sunk to their lowest level since the Cold War times amid tensions over Ukraine, the war in Syria and the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. Medvedev said while the US says that the sanctions are intended to punish Russia's "bad" behavior, their real goal is to sideline a rival. "It's intended to remove Russia as a strong competitor on the international arena," he said. European Union called for a probe into the drone 'assassination' attempt on Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro Brussels: The European Union (EU) has called for a "comprehensive and transparent investigation" into a drone "assassination" bid on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. A spokesperson for the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement yesterday the bloc rejected "any form of violence and expects that a comprehensive and transparent investigation of Saturday's drone attack is conducted to establish the facts, in full respect for the rule of law and for human rights. "In this regard, the EU expects the recognition of the National Assembly's constitutional powers, including the full respect of its prerogatives concerning the parliamentary immunity of its members, in line with established constitutional rights, legislation and procedures," she added. Maduro, who has systematically sidelined the opposition as he tightens his grip over his troubled nation, accuses the opposition and Colombia of being behind Saturday's "attack". The embattled president says he was targeted by two drones carrying C4 explosives. Live images on Saturday showed Maduro halting his speech at a Caracas military parade following a detonation that prompted dozens of soldiers in front of him to run away in panic. A super-legislative body loyal to President Nicolas Maduro revoked the immunity of two Venezuelan opposition lawmakers Wednesday, in order to put them on trial for allegedly masterminding the drone "attack" bid. Maduro has singled out two lawmakers: Julio Borges, former speaker of the opposition-dominated legislature who now lives in exile; and Juan Requesens. Requesens has been seized by intelligence officers, while Venezuela's Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered Borges' arrest. The Constituent Assembly a body set up i 2017 by Maduro to arrogate powers from the elected legislature followed up by stripping Borges and Requesens of their immunity. "The EU reiterates its support for a negotiated, democratic and peaceful solution for the multiple crises affecting the country as the only way forward," the EU statement added. "This needs to encompass a return to constitutional normality restoring democratic process and the rule of law, respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, release of all political prisoners, and addressing the pressing humanitarian needs of the population." After a hot spell, flash flooding hit the northern part of the Gard region, turning the Ceze and L'Ardeche rivers into churning waterways that quickly spilled out of their banks. Nearby regions - all part of the verdant and mountainous Cevennes - also were hit with flooding. Paris: French rescuers backed by helicopters evacuated about 750 people, including many children and tourists, from campsites in southern France after torrential rain swelled rivers in the Gard region on Thursday. One person was reported missing. After a hot spell, flash flooding hit the northern part of the Gard region, turning the Ceze and L'Ardeche rivers into churning waterways that quickly spilled out of their banks. Nearby regions - all part of the verdant and mountainous Cevennes - also were hit with flooding. A top regional official, Thierry Dousset, told French news channel BFM TV that some 750 people evacuated came from five campsites. The missing man, a 70-year-old German citizen, was a monitor at one of the campsites who was feared to have been swept away by flood waters along with his van, BFM-TV reported. A search was underway for him. However, Dousset, the top aide of the Gard administration, said no one knew for certain yet that the man was in his van at the time. The Gard administration also said four German children were hospitalized on Thursday for hypothermia in Bagnols-sur-Ceze, a town on the Ceze River. They were among 10 people hospitalized with minor injuries, the Gard Gendarmerie said on its Facebook page. The mayor of Bagnols, Jean-Yves Chapelet, told BFM TV many Dutch tourists were among the 350 campers evacuated in the town. Authorities also said 119 children in nearby Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas were sent to an emergency shelter. Hundreds of firefighters, many sent in from other regions, helped in the evacuations, using helicopters to spot camp sites and occasionally to perform rescues. Numerous roads in the area remained cut off as night fell. China officially guarantees freedom of religion, but in recent years officials nervous about the possibility of radicalisation and violence have tightened controls in heavily Muslim areas. Beijing: Hundreds of ethnic Hui Muslims are staging a sit-in protest in Chinas western region of Ningxia against government plans to demolish a huge new mosque, amid tightening curbs on Islam to pull its practice in line with the Chinese mainstream. China officially guarantees freedom of religion, but in recent years officials nervous about the possibility of radicalisation and violence have tightened controls in heavily Muslim areas.The Weizhou grand mosque, with numerous domes and minarets in a Middle Eastern style, had not received proper permits before construction, officials in the town of Weizhou said in a notice on 3 August. The mosque would be forcibly demolished on Friday, they added in the notice, widely circulated among Chinese Muslims on social media. The order provoked anger among villagers, but talks between mosque representatives and officials have failed to reach an agreement, as worshippers rejected a government plan to spare the mosque if its domes were replaced with pagodas more in keeping with Chinese style, one source in the area told Reuters. Hundreds of villagers were gathering at the mosque on Friday morning, and the towns mayor was expected to hold discussions in the afternoon, added the source, who requested anonymity. If we sign, we are selling out our religious faith, a Weizhou mosque supporter said in a note on messaging app WeChat that was seen by Reuters, urging villagers not to sign on to the mosque rebuilding plan. I cant talk about this issue, said Ding Xuexiao, the mosques director, when reached by telephone. Mosque imam Ma Liguo said the situation was currently being coordinated. Neither of the men would elaborate. There was a protest at the mosque on Friday, a man at a government religious office in the county, the Islamic Association, confirmed, adding that the government only wanted the structure renovated to reduce its scale. The work with the public is ongoing. There has not been a specific consensus reached on the rectification plan, said the man, who declined to be identified. Reuters could not immediately reach the Weizhou government to seek comment and officials in the surrounding county of Tongxin declined to comment. Videos on social media on Thursday, which Reuters could not independently verify, showed large crowds gathered outside the mosque and police vans parked nearby. The protest appeared to be peaceful. Senior Chinese officials have urged Muslims to guard against creeping Islamisation, such as foreign styles copied on mosques, and strive to practice their faith in a more Chinese way. Well-integrated in society with decades of smooth ties with the government, many Hui have watched with detachment as authorities have subjected the far western region of Xinjiang and its Uighur Muslims to near-martial law, with armed police checkpoints, re-education centres, and mass DNA collection. The treatment of Uighurs has spurred an international outcry, with US officials saying tens of thousands of people have been detained in Xinjiangs detention centres. But Beijings policy of Sinification of religion has increasingly alarmed many Hui, who fear it is widening its strict measures in Xinjiang to additional Muslim areas, such as Ningxia and neighbouring Gansu province. In the crackdown, the government has banned religious education for young people in mosques, ordered that the call to prayer over loudspeakers be silenced, and sought to stamp out what it sees as Arab elements in mosques. Hamid Nihal Ansari, an Indian software engineer from Mumbai who has been lodged in a Pakistani jail since 2015, is set to be deported after his prison sentence ends in December. Hamid Nihal Ansari, an Indian software engineer from Mumbai who was lodged in a Pakistani jail since 2015, is set to be deported after his prison sentence ends in December this year. He had been arrested in 2015 for allegedly entering Pakistan without valid documents six years ago; he had been missing for three years before his arrest. However, on Thursday, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) dismissed Ansari's writ petition seeking remission in his three-year prison term. The court gave the verdict after the Pakistani Ministry of Interior informed it that Ansari will be repatriated after completion of his prison term in December. A two-member bench comprising Justice Roohul Amin Khan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim passed the ruling. Ansari, a teacher by profession, entered Pakistan via Afghanistan on 12 November 2012 according to a report by The Times of India, and went to Pakistan to meet a woman whom he had befriended through social media. Ansari went missing after he was apprehended by the Pakistan intelligence agencies and local police from Kohat district in November 2012. The Pakistani security agencies claimed Ansari had used a fake identity card in the name of "Hamza" and he had entered Pakistan through Afghanistan without travel documents. They charged him for 'espionage' and 'anti-state activities'. Ansari denied the charges in his petition in the PHC. On 1 November 2017, Ansari filed a petition with the high court, requesting not to be treated as a spy as he was not involved in 'anti-state activities', The Express Tribune reported. In the petition, filed with the PHC on his behalf by senior lawyer Qazi Muhammad Anwar, Ansari sought remission in his sentence. Ansari pleaded for the court to change the words 'anti-state activities' with 'illegal activities' on his warrants, asking it to direct the jail authorities to allow him due remission with effect from 15 December, 2015, and decide his release date accordingly. Ansari had also filed a petition in 2016 in PHC for fair treatment in jail following which the court had directed the authorities to treat him fairly by providing visitation rights and health facilities. The superintendent of the Mardan Central Prison, where Ansari is lodged, in a written reply, told the court that Ansari was kept in a solitary confinement cell owing to the nature of his crime which amounted to anti-state activities. During the hearing in the case, Anwar had submitted that the Indian prisoner was not convicted for any terrorist activity and thus was entitled to remission. The Times of India quoted Anwar as saying, "My client had committed a mistake by crossing the border into Pakistan without valid documents and that he had a fake identity card," the lawyer said, adding that at the most, the petitioner could be convicted under the Passport Act or for preparing forged documents. Ansari's mother Fauzia, a resident of Mumbai, wrote to prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan asking for an early remission. In August 2016, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj directed the Indian high commissioner in Pakistan to seek consular access to Ansari, who was attacked at least thrice by fellow prison inmates, Hindustan Times reported. Swaraj had said that she was 'very disturbed' about the 'repeated attacks' on Ansari. "It is inhuman," she said. Ansari's lawyer Qazi Muhammad Anwar told the Peshawar High Court bench that his client had been kept in a death cell with a hardened criminal awaiting execution for a murder. With inputs from ANI Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Captain (retired) Muhammad Safdar was on Friday admitted to the country's top hospital after his health deteriorated in the high security Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. Islamabad: Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Captain (retired) Muhammad Safdar was on Friday admitted to the country's top hospital after his health deteriorated in the high security Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. Captain (retired) Safdar has a stomach condition and his sugar level is high, the Geo TV reported, quoting prison sources. The 55-year-old husband of Sharif's daughter Maryam was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) from Adiala prison after his condition deteriorated, the channel reported. His hospital room is likely to be declared sub-jail. Safdar is serving a jail term of one year in Adiala jail after his conviction and sentencing by an accountability court over the Sharif family's ownership of four luxury flats in London. He was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau on 8 July, following the court's verdict in the Avenfield properties corruption case in which Sharif and his daughter Maryam have also been sentenced. Sharif was also previously shifted to PIMS after ill-health. The Kremlin on Thursday vowed to retaliate against 'unacceptable' new US sanctions against Russia over its alleged role in a nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain, which prompted the ruble and Russian stocks to tumble. Moscow: The Kremlin on Thursday vowed to retaliate against "unacceptable" new US sanctions against Russia over its alleged role in a nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain, which prompted the ruble and Russian stocks to tumble. The action by the US State Department is the latest salvo in a series of disputes between the rival powers and comes less than a month after US president Donald Trump met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. The State Department said on Wednesday the new sanctions were in response to "the use of a 'Novichok' nerve agent in an attempt to assassinate UK citizen Sergei Skripal" who was a Russian double agent and his daughter Yulia on English soil in March. They were aimed at punishing Putin's government for having "used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. But the punitive measures triggered a furious reaction from Moscow. Russia will "work on developing retaliatory measures," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told journalists. "Whatever the sanctions against Russia are, the retaliatory measures will be the same," she said. "If they dream up some (measures), we will answer - it's not our choice." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was equally emphatic. "We consider categorically unacceptable the linking of new restrictions, which we as before consider illegal, to the case in Salisbury," he told journalists. He said Moscow felt it could now "expect anything at all from Washington" but nevertheless retained "hopes of building constructive relations." The announcement of sanctions caused Russian stock markets to drop dramatically on opening and the ruble reached its lowest point since November 2016. The markets and the currency rebounded slightly over the day while remaining sharply down. Finance minister Anton Siluanov assured Russians that the government and the central bank have "all the necessary tools to ensure financial stability," saying the economy has become more resistant to external shocks in recent years. Vladimir Vasilyev, a senior researcher at the Institute of the US and Canada in Moscow, said the Americans were strengthening sanctions "from an element of pressure into an ultimatum." He said the countries were now in a state "balancing on the verge of war." Threat of wider sanctions The move could cut off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of exports to Russia, said a senior State Department official on condition of anonymity. The official told reporters the administration decided to impose a "presumption of denial" for the sale to Russia of "national security sensitive" US technologies that require federal government approval. Such technologies have often been used in items including electronic devices as well as calibration equipment. The exports were previously allowed on a case-by-case basis. In the event of non-compliance, the official added, a second round of "draconian" sanctions would be given a green light. These could go as far as a ban on Russian airlines using US airports. The latest US action follows the treasury's imposition of sanctions in March against 19 Russian citizens and five entities for interfering in the 2016 US election - the toughest steps against Moscow since Trump took office. Also in March, Washington ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats, and the closure of Russia's consulate general in Seattle. Moscow ordered 60 American diplomats expelled in a tit-for-tat response. 'Provocative, reckless behaviour' Britain said it welcomed the US response to the chemical attack in Salisbury, the English town where the Skripals were poisoned. A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said the sanctions would send "an unequivocal message to Russia that its provocative, reckless behaviour will not go unchallenged." This week, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that London was preparing to ask Moscow to extradite two Russian citizens suspected of carrying out the Salisbury attack. The Skripals survived but one of two people poisoned by the same Novichok agent in a nearby town, 44-year-old Dawn Sturgess, subsequently died. Moscow has angrily rejected any involvement in the poisoning, plunging diplomatic relations with London into crisis. The Russian economy is still reeling from international sanctions imposed on Moscow in 2014 over its actions in Ukraine and a crash in oil prices the same year. While Russia returned to growth in 2017 after two years of recession, it pales in comparison with growth figures seen during Putin's first two terms in office from 2000 to 2008 thanks to soaring oil prices. Nepal celebrates victory of good over evil through Ghantakarna festival By Jon Herskovitz (Reuters) - An Oklahoma judge sentenced a 19-year-old on Thursday to five consecutive life terms after he was convicted of joining his older brother in bludgeoning and stabbing their parents and three siblings to death in 2015, court documents showed. Michael Bever who was 16 at the time of the killings, was found guilty in May by a jury in a Tulsa County District Court of five counts of first-degree murder along with assault and battery with intent to kill in connection with his attack on a sibling who survived. By Jon Herskovitz (Reuters) - An Oklahoma judge sentenced a 19-year-old on Thursday to five consecutive life terms after he was convicted of joining his older brother in bludgeoning and stabbing their parents and three siblings to death in 2015, court documents showed. Michael Bever who was 16 at the time of the killings, was found guilty in May by a jury in a Tulsa County District Court of five counts of first-degree murder along with assault and battery with intent to kill in connection with his attack on a sibling who survived. "This is the most brutal homicide case I have ever prosecuted," Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said in an interview. An attorney for Bever was not immediately for comment. The sentences from Judge Sharon Holmes effectively mean Bever will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. If the sentences ran concurrently, Bever could have been released on parole from as early as the time he was 54 years old, Kunzweiler said. The brothers used knives, a hatchet and other weapons to kill their parents, David and April Bever, two brothers and a sister in July 2015 in their home in Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa. Bever's older brother, Robert, who was 18 at the time, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in September 2016 after pleading guilty to five counts of murder. After a 911 call led officers to the home where they discovered the blood-splattered crime scene, Robert and Michael Bever were tracked down by dogs in woods near the house. Robert outlined in a journal their intention to murder their relatives and then seek notoriety as serial killers roaming the United States, Kunzweiler said. "Their plan was to go to restaurants and road-side stops and randomly shoot people," he said. The pair had bought 2,500 rounds of ammunition, a shotgun and two handguns at the time of the killing, he added. Michael Bever, who was charged as an adult along with his brother but was ineligible for the death penalty because of his age, opted to go to trial. A sister who was 13 at the time survived the attack and a two-year-old child was found unharmed. The two were later adopted by a family and are in "a very stable and loving home," Kunzweiler said. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin Texas; Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Susan Thomas and Alistair Bell) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Sindh Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2018 not only accords the right of separation to both spouses but also ensures the wife's financial security. Karachi: For the first time, divorced or widowed Hindu women in Pakistan's Sindh province have been allowed to remarry under a landmark amendment made by the provincial assembly, a media report said. Earlier, divorced or widowed Hindu women were not permitted a second marriage. The Sindh Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2018 not only accords the right of separation to both the spouses but also ensures the financial security of the wife and children, The Express Tribune reported. It was moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional leader Nand Kumar and passed by the assembly in March. "Either party to Hindu marriage, whether solemnised before or after the commencement of this Act, may present a petition to the court praying for a decree of judicial separation," according to the law. The law also places a general ban on underage marriages among members of the Hindu community. "The Hindu community had been protesting forced conversions and marriages of underage girls. This law has banned the marriage of minors from the Hindu community," said Nand Kumar. Kumar has also moved a bill against the forced conversions of members of religious minorities, but the bill was gathering dust in the Sindh Assembly secretariat. He said that before the enactment of this law, Hindu women were considered lesser mortals and not even accorded the right to divorce. "The amendment to this law is aimed at getting rid of old and outdated customs," Kumar said. Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto and other party leaders also felicitated the last provincial assembly's lawmakers on the passage of the act, which was ratified by the Governor last week. Before the passage of this law, there was no legal cover for Hindu marriages for the past seven decades. Boris Johnson said that schools and universities should expect students to remove face coverings if they turn up 'looking like a bank robber'. Rowan Atkinson has defended the controversial comments made by Boris Johnson, British politician and current Member of Parliament (MP) for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. Boris Johnson came under fire for his remarks regarding burka wearing Muslim women. Johnson said that schools and universities should expect students to remove face coverings if they turn up 'looking like a bank robber'. He wrote: 'If you tell me that the burka is oppressive, then I am with you. If you say that it is weird and bullying to expect women to cover their faces, then I totally agree and I would add that I can find no scriptural authority for the practice in the Koran. I would go further and say that it is absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes.' Also read: Theresa May says Boris Johnson should apologise over burkha comments; former foreign minister brands critics 'ridiculous' Johnson also said that a total burka ban would boost radicals claiming there is a 'clash of civilisations' between Islam and the West. Johnson concluded his commentary by saying: "In Britain today there is only a tiny, tiny minority of women who wear these odd bits of headgear. One day, I am sure, they will go." Also read: Boris Johnson to be investigated by Conservative Party for comparing Muslim women in burkhas to 'letter boxes' The MP has gathered support from an unlikely celebrity: Mr. Bean and Blackadder star Rowan Atkinson. The actor wrote in The Times, "As a lifelong beneficiary of the freedom to make jokes about religion, I do think that Boris Johnson's joke about wearers of the burka resembling letterboxes is a pretty good one. All jokes about religion cause offence, so it's pointless apologising for them. You should really only apologise for a bad joke. On that basis, no apology is required." Russia on Thursday raised doubts about the allegations, while China told the council that it objected to the proposed sanctions put forward by the US. United States: Russia and China have blocked a US request to add a Russian bank to a UN sanctions blacklist along with a North Korean official and two entities, diplomats said. The United States last week asked a UN sanctions committee to slap an assets freeze on Agro-Soyuz Commercial Bank for allegedly helping North Korea evade UN-imposed restrictions on financial transactions. The request also targeted Ri Jong Won, the deputy representative of North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank and two North Korean front companies. In a response to the council, Russia on Thursday raised doubts about the allegations, while China told the council that it objected to the proposed sanctions designations put forward by the United States. "We would like to underline that designation requests submitted to the committee should be adequately substantiated by sufficient information," said the Russian mission to the United Nations in a message to the council seen by AFP. The request followed a US Treasury Department decision to impose unilateral sanctions on the Russian bank, the North Korean official and the two entities. The two companies were named as the Dandong Zhongsheng Industry and Trade Company and the Korea Ungum Corporation. Russia and China have called on the Security Council to consider easing sanctions to reward North Korea for opening up a dialogue with the US and halting missile tests. But the US has called for maintaining "maximum pressure" from sanctions until North Korea has fully dismantled its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Earlier on Thursday, the North Korean foreign ministry issued an angry statement, denouncing the United States for responding to its overtures by "inciting international sanctions and pressure." The council last year adopted three rafts of sanctions targeting North Korea's economy through export and import bans, as well as restrictions on banking. It was the second time in three weeks that Russia and China have objected to a US request to tighten sanctions on North Korea. On 19 July, the two countries put a six-month hold on a US request to halt all deliveries of refined oil products to North Korea. The US had made the request to the sanctions committee after finding that North Korea had exceeded the cap on fuel imports though illegal ship-to-ship transfers at sea. UN sanctions resolutions place a ceiling for North Korea of 500,000 barrels of refined oil products per year and four million barrels of crude. A cut-off of oil and fuel would have to be enforced primarily by China, which supplies most of North Korea's energy needs, but also by Russia, which delivers some oil to Pyongyang. Lupin warns of more pricing pressure as fourth-quarter profit halves | Reuters By Zeba Siddiqui | MUMBAI MUMBAI Indian drugmaker Lupin Ltd expects to launch over 30 products in the United States this year, but warned revenue growth would remain muted due to growing pricing pressure and competition in the world's largest healthcare market."We've talked about medium single digits of price erosion in the past and I think we are now (seeing) high single digits," Managing Director Nilesh Gupta told Reuters after Lupin reported a quarterly profit that halved from a year earlier.The country's third-largest drugmaker has been working on building a pipeline of high-value complex generic drugs in the United States to offset growing competition in plain generics. But a consolidation among drug distributors has hit generic companies' ability to negotiate on prices, and price hikes have also become harder to justify amid regulatory scrutiny."Competition is increasing and (distributors) are getting more powerful than ever before," Gupta said. The company expects to launch more than 30 drugs this year, most of which would be small to medium-sized opportunities, with bigger, more lucrative launches planned for 2019, he added Syria's civil registries recorded 68,000 deaths in the war-torn country in 2017, pro-regime daily Al-Watan reported its head as saying on Thursday. Beirut: Syria's civil registries recorded 68,000 deaths in the war-torn country in 2017, pro-regime daily Al-Watan reported its head as saying on Thursday. "Last year, we confirmed 68,000 without specifying the nature of their death and 32,000 this year," civil registries chief Ahmad Rahal said. He did not provide any additional details about those who had died, including in what part of Syria they had lost their lives or whether they had been victims of the ongoing conflict. The news come after activists accused authorities of quietly updating civil records to mark detainees in regime jails as "deceased" - some backdated by several years. Human rights defenders say tens of thousands of Syrians are held in government jails across the country. Relatives and advocates say they are often tortured, denied a fair trial, and deprived of contact with their families. But Rahal said employees at the civil record did not have a "missing" box to tick. "If a document comes through from any government body whether a hospital or another to confirm a death, it is confirmed without specifying if they were missing or not." The Syrian Network for Human Rights has documented around 400 cases in recent months, including those of nine children, where civil registry employees have told family members that their detained relative has died. There could be further such instances which are yet to be documented. Around 80,000 remain forcibly disappeared by the government, the rights group says. More than 3,50,000 people have been killed since Syria's civil war started in 2011, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor says. More than 33,000 were killed last year alone, including more than 10,000 civilians and 7,000 pro-regime fighters, it says. During the first seven months of this year, at least 14,000 people lost their lives among them more than 5,000 civilians and 7,000 soldiers and loyalists. US' Tennessee executed a man for raping and murdering a sever-year-old girl. The state gave its first death sentence in nearly a decade Chicago: The US state of Tennessee used a controversial lethal injection procedure on Thursday to execute a man who was convicted of raping and killing a child, after the nation's top court declined his final bid for a stay. "I just want to say I'm really sorry. And that ... that's it," Billy Ray Irick said in his final words before prison officials in Nashville, Tennessee. He was pronounced dead at 7.48 pm local time, officials said at a press conference. Irick was the first inmate to be executed in Tennessee since 2009. The US Supreme Court had earlier denied a stay of execution for the convict, rejecting concerns about the inmate potentially feeling sensations equivalent to being "burned alive." The high court's decision was countered with a blistering dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who questioned whether Billy Ray Irick's planned execution would be too painful and whether allowing it to proceed required accepting "barbarism." The 59-year-old was convicted in 1986 of raping and killing seven-year-old Paula Dyer. His lawyers have argued Irick has a history of severe mental illness. In an appeal to the Supreme Court, Irick's lawyers challenged Tennessee's lethal injection protocol, which included the use of the sedative midazolam. Other states have also used the drug for executions with mixed results. Sotomayor, citing lower court testimony about the potential risks of midazolam executions, dissented. Medical experts warned the drug may not be strong enough to keep a prisoner unconscious once he starts to feel pain. If Irick were to awaken, a paralytic used as the second drug in Tennessee's lethal injection would prevent him from alerting officials that he can feel pain, Sotomayor noted. "Medical experts explained in painstaking detail how the three-drug cocktail Tennessee plans to inject into Irick's veins will cause him to experience sensations of drowning, suffocating, and being burned alive from the inside out," Sotomayor wrote. "If the law permits this execution to go forward in spite of the horrific final minutes that Irick may well experience, then we have stopped being a civilized nation and accepted barbarism." Three out of 14 executions in the US this year have employed midazolam, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. But the drug has been the subject of multiple legal challenges. Ohio halted executions in 2014 after the botched execution of Dennis McGuire using midazolam. The prisoner appeared to suffer for several minutes before dying. A federal appeals court in 2017 granted Ohio permission to resume executions, after officials increased the dose of the drug by a factor of 50. Meanwhile, the state of Nevada last month postponed an execution after midazolam-manufacturer Alvogen successfully sued to stop its product from being used in executions. By Karen Freifeld, Sarah N. Lynch and Nathan Layne ALEXANDRIA, Va. By Karen Freifeld, Sarah N. Lynch and Nathan Layne ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Reuters) - The federal judge in the trial of U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort expressed contrition on Thursday to jurors after berating prosecutors for allowing a witness to watch the proceedings, despite having given his earlier approval. The rare apology by U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis surprised observers in his Alexandria, Virginia courtroom, who have watched the judge repeatedly criticise the government's handling of the case while giving leeway to Manafort's lawyers. "It appears I may well have been wrong," Ellis said as the trial went into its eighth day. "But like any human, and this robe doesn't make me anything other than human, I sometimes make mistakes." Ellis had chastised prosecutors for allowing IRS agent Michael Welch to be in court before he testified on Wednesday, saying he did not like witnesses present before taking the stand. When prosecutor Uzo Asonye challenged Ellis, the judge barked: "Don't do that again. When I exclude witnesses, I mean everybody." Prosecutors had told Ellis he had approved having Welch and other expert witnesses attend the proceedings, a point they repeated in a court filing on Thursday asking for a "curative instruction" to the jury to set the record straight. Some lawyers watching the case also noted Ellis did not rebuke defence attorney Kevin Downing on Wednesday after he asked the governments star witness Rick Gates whether he had told prosecutors about four extramarital affairs. Downing had agreed in a bench conference on Tuesday not to raise the subject with Gates, a court transcript showed. Downing later argued it was fair game because Gates had volunteered that he had one affair after being asked about his "secret life." Ellis sustained an objection from the prosecution and Gates never answered the question about four affairs, but some observers said the damage had already been done. "It was highly inappropriate to raise the other affairs, and the judge's response was very generous," said Gene Rossi, a former prosecutor who has been watching the trial. "In my experience, another judge would have cut his head off." Gates, who was indicted along with Manafort, pleaded guilty and is cooperating with an investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. BANK FRAUD Manafort has pleaded not guilty to 18 felony charges of bank fraud, tax fraud and failing to disclose some 30 foreign bank accounts. He is the first person to be tried on charges brought by Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Prosecutors said they plan to conclude their case on Friday. It is not clear whether Manafort will call any witnesses in his defence. After wrapping up the tax portion of their case, prosecutors have moved on to bankers who were involved in extending Manafort loans during his scramble to generate cash in 2015 and 2016 after work dried up following a loss of business in Ukraine. Melinda James, a mortgage assistant at Citizens Bank, testified Thursday that Manafort provided incorrect information in applying for a $3.4 million loan on a Manhattan condominium that was granted on March 4, 2016. She said Manafort did not disclose that a brownstone he owned in Brooklyn had a mortgage against it and indicated the Manhattan condominium was a second residence, when it was listed for rent. Both moves improved the loan terms, James said. Earlier this week Gates testified Manafort directed him to present banks with false documents, including an inflated profit report for Manafort's consulting company, DMP International, LLC, to get the loans. Defence lawyers have made blaming Gates, Manafort's right-hand man for a decade, a key plank of their defence. Manafort lawyer Jay Nanavati appeared to make some progress toward that goal on Thursday. Under his cross-examination, James acknowledged it was Gates, using an old insurance document, who ultimately misled her about whether there was a mortgage on the brownstone days before the loan on the condominium closed. Taryn Rodriguez, a loan officer assistant at Citizens Bank, testified about an application for a $5.5 million construction loan on the brownstone that was ultimately denied. She said Manafort failed to disclose a multi-million dollar mortgage already taken out on the property and a $1 million business loan from the Banc of California, both of which would have affected any new loan. Rodriguez said she discovered the mortgage by researching a New York City database of property records. Gary Seferian, a senior vice president at the Banc of California, said his bank gave Manafort the $1 million loan to rehabilitate and flip properties in the Los Angeles area, in part based on a financial statement for DMP International showing a profit of more than $4 million for 2015. Prosecutor Uzo Asonye asked if Manafort would have qualified for the loan if he had known DMP's profit for that year was in fact $400,000. "I dont think so," Seferian said. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, Warren Strobel, Karen Freifeld, and Nathan Layne; Editing by Anthony Lin, Grant McCool and Chris Reese) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Qualcomm today announced that it has reached a mutually agreed settlement with the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (TFTC) in resolving the TFTCs investigation and its litigation challenging the TFTCs decision alleging violations of Taiwans Fair Trade Act. Thanks to this mutually agreed settlement, the complete TFTC decision is replaced by the settlement terms and the decision shall be deemed revoked and Qualcomm litigation filed in the Taiwan Intellectual Property Court is closed. As a part of this resolution, Qualcomm has agreed to certain process-related commitments with handset licensees to Qualcomms cellular standard-essential patents (SEPs). As part of the settlement, the parties agreed that the NTD 2.73 billion (approximately $93 million USD) Qualcomm paid towards the monetary fine will be retained by the TFTC and no other amounts will be due. Additionally, Qualcomm will drive certain commercial initiatives in Taiwan over the next five years for the benefit of the mobile and semiconductor ecosystem, SMEs and consumers, including 5G collaborations, new market expansion, start-up and university collaborations and the development of a Taiwanese center for operations and manufacturing engineering. The company will work with the TFTC and sister agencies within the Taiwanese government to implement these initiatives and investments. Alex Rogers, executive vice president and president, Qualcomm Technology Licensing said: We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial resolution with the TFTC that puts the litigation behind us. This settlement directly addresses concerns raised by the TFTC, regardless of disputed positions, and builds on our foundation of collaborative, long-term business relationships in Taiwan. We are happy to reaffirm our commitment to licensing our valuable intellectual property under principles of fairness and good faith. With the uncertainty removed, we can now focus on expanding our relationships that support the Taiwanese wireless industry and rapid adoption of 5G technology. Source To say that the presidency of Donald Trump has been a bit unorthodox is probably an understatement. Then again, Trump is a businessman by nature and has no prior military or political background -- which is a first for an elected president. But while "The Donald" hasn't exactly approached issues in a similar fashion to his predecessors, he's been very clear about one thing: Social Security is off-limits. Social Security's judgment day is rapidly approaching As you may be aware, America's most important social program is nearing trouble. The 2018 report from the Social Security Board of Trustees has forecast that the program will begin paying out more in benefits this year than it'll collect in revenue. Even though we're only talking about a net cash outflow of $1.7 billion, which is nominal next to the $2.9 trillion in asset reserves, this outflow is expected to increase with each passing year after 2019. By 2034, Social Security's excess cash is projected to be completely depleted, leading to what could be a 21% across-the-board reduction in benefits for existing and future beneficiaries. This cut in benefits should preserve payouts through the year 2092 without the need for any further cuts, but would nonetheless be a major blow to the 62% of aged workers currently relying on the program for at least half of their monthly income. Whereas the American public and most members of Congress would prefer solutions that directly address Social Security's issues, President Trump has touted a more indirect approach. Rather than proposing amendments to the existing program, Trump has long believed that growing the U.S. economy is the best way to address Social Security's funding shortfall. How would this work, you ask? Well, first it helps to understand how Social Security generates money. Currently, there are three funding mechanisms: A 12.4% payroll tax on earned income (up to $128,400, as of 2018) Interest income earned on its asset reserves The taxation of Social Security benefits By 2034, when the program's asset reserves are exhausted, interest income will presumably disappear, leaving only the payroll tax and the taxation of benefits as its ongoing sources of income. Of these, the payroll tax is the giant. Last year, it was responsible for $873.6 billion of the $996.6 billion collected. Could Donald Trump prove Social Security's Trustees wrong? Where Trump's thesis comes into play would be primarily on the payroll tax side of the equation. If he could introduce policies that would stimulate the U.S. economy, thereby improving aggregate wages and income, as well as lifting productivity, then we'd likely see a corresponding increase in the amount of payroll taxes that are collected. Although the Trustees have included Trump's spearheaded tax reform law, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, into its 2018 projections, it may be possible for this law to prove the Trustees' projections wrong in the near term. You see, recently released data showed that U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.1% during the second quarter, representing the fastest pace of growth since 2014. Further, even though wage growth has been modest when looked at over the intermediate term, it grew to its fastest pace in nine years during the first quarter. This was primarily a result of businesses basking in substantially lower corporate income tax rates, with some of this retained extra capital being passed along to employees in the form of bonuses and higher wages. Getting to the point, better-than-expected GDP growth coupled with modest improvements in wages could lead to an upside surprise in terms of payroll tax collection in 2018. After all, the Trustees only forecast a $4.5 billion increase in aggregate income relative to last year ($1,001.1 billion in 2018 vs. $996.6 billion in 2017), based on the intermediate-cost model. Yes, the newly adjusted federal tax brackets could adversely impact income from the taxation of benefits, but it's not out of the question that the projected $1.7 billion net cash outflow in 2018, or $0.2 billion estimated outflow in 2019, could actually turn into an inflow as a result of higher-than-expected payroll tax collection, pushing Social Security's inflection point out further. Keep the bigger picture in mind The important thing to remember here is that even if Donald Trump's indirect approach of tackling Social Security's problems works initially, it's incredibly unlikely that it'll work for any extended period of time. According to the Trustees, the program is facing a $13.2 trillion cash shortfall between 2034 and 2092. The only ways to erase this deficit would be by raising additional revenue, cutting long-term expenditures, or doing some combination of the two. Creating $13.2 trillion in added revenue just from economic growth and wage increases probably isn't possible, given that the U.S. economy has natural peaks and troughs. Even though we're in the midst of one of our longest expansionary cycles in some time, a recession will eventually hit the U.S. economy, and any chance of growing payroll tax revenue at an above-average rate will falter. It's not a matter of "if," but "when." In all likelihood, direct solutions that make amendments to the Social Security program will be needed to address its issues. This might mean lifting or eliminating the maximum earnings cap associated with the payroll tax and requiring the wealthy to pay more, as Democrats have pushed for, or it could take the shape of an increased full retirement age, which would reduce long-term program expenditures. This latter idea is a cornerstone of the Republicans' plan. No matter what the solution is, indirectly trying to fix Social Security looks to be nothing more than a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. The handset is the first to feature a Bluetooth-enabled S Pen and to keep the handset powered on; Samsung has thrown in a 4000mAh battery. From quite a while now, leaks and rumours have shown off what all would feature in Samsungs latest flagship device, the Galaxy Note 9. But nothing is quite as sweet as an official announcement and thats exactly what happened. Samsung took to the stage and finally unveiled the Galaxy Note 9 and on the first view, you may feel that it is a minor update over the Galaxy Note 8, but there are some improvements that make this device stand out from the crowd. To start off, the Note 9 comes with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen that features an 83.4 per cent screen-to-body ratio. It has a resolution of 1440 x 2960p along with an 18:5:9 aspect ratio. The display used here is HDR10 compliant and it features an Always On Display. For protection, Samsung has used a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 that should protect the handset from multiple accidental drops. For the US, Latin America and Chinese market, Samsung has used a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, while the rest of the world gets Exynos 9810 Octa chipset. The GPU found on the handset is a Mali-G72 MP18 for global markets, while the US, Latin America and China get an Adreno 630 GPU. The Note 9 will go on sale in two configurations, 6GB RAM with 128GB of storage and an 8GB RAM with 512GB of onboard storage. Additionally, it can support a microSD card up to 512GB, so pairing it with the 512GB variant, you can get a total of 1TB of storage. There had been a ton of rumours that suggested that Samsung would be using an in-display fingerprint scanner but they held no truth. Samsung has added a fingerprint scanner on the rear of the device and placed it under the dual-camera system. Samsung has used a 12MP dual-aperture f/1.5-2.4 wide and 12MP f/2.4 telephoto cameras on the Note 9, both of which are optically stabilised and the brand has focused its camera improvements on software along with Artificial intelligence. The front-facing camera is 8MP with an aperture of f/1.7. The Galaxy Note 9 comes with an IP68 certification making it water resistant. The S Pen that comes along with the device features this water-resistant certification as well. One of the most interesting features of this device is the new S Pen. It is Bluetooth-enabled and the first of its kind from Samsung to come with this feature. It can also act as a remote shutter for the camera and it has a range of 10 metres. It also features a battery power of 30 minutes or 200 clicks and can recharge in just 40 seconds in its slot inside the phone. The S Pen comes with three new inputs, short press, long press and double press. The handset comes with an impressive 4000mAh battery, this is larger than most of the batteries available on Android smartphones and the largest to be fitted inside a Note. The handset supports fast charging and besides keeping the handset powered on, Samsung has validated and certified it by companies such as UL and Exponent. The handset comes with a brand new water cooling system that Samsung has branded Water Carbon Cooling and it is designed to ensure smooth consistent performance during long gaming sessions. Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 features the DeX software which can now be accessed by attaching an external display into the handset by using an HDMI adapter. The handset behaves as normal when DeX is running and it can be used to act as a trackpad or use the virtual keyboard for typing. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes in Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Lavender Purple and the new Metallic Copper.The 6GB variant costs USD 999 (about Rs 68,776) and the 8GB version costs USD 1,250 (approximately Rs 86,056). (Source) There's a reason workers of all ages are worried about Social Security. The program is facing some serious financial challenges that, if left unaddressed, could result in major benefit cuts in the future. And while the Social Security Trustees Report released earlier this year painted a less-than-favorable picture, new research from the University of Pennsylvania indicates that the situation may be even worse than the trustees think it is. The main issue boils down to Social Security's trust funds running out of money. Once that happens, recipients can expect a reduction in benefits unless Congress intervenes with a fix. According to the trustees' report, those funds will be depleted come 2034, but Penn's researchers think it will happen two years earlier -- in 2032. The reason? Social Security gets the bulk of its funding from payroll taxes. That's why the program will still manage to cover the bulk of its scheduled benefits even after its trust funds run dry. But due to expected economic conditions over the next decade and beyond, we may see a reduction in the size of the wage base used to finance the program. That means Social Security will have to draw more heavily from its trust funds, thereby depleting them sooner. Of course, there's a difference between Social Security reducing its benefits versus not paying them at all. And to be clear, we're talking about the former scenario here, not the latter. Still, for the millions of seniors who depend on Social Security for the bulk of their retirement income, losing any percentage of those benefits could be financially catastrophic. All of this underscores one key thing: the importance of saving for retirement independently. Relying too heavily on Social Security is basically a recipe for disaster, and the sooner more workers realize that, the more empowered they'll be to salvage their future. Take matters into your own hands Contrary to popular belief, Social Security was never designed to sustain retirees by itself. In a best-case scenario -- meaning no future cuts in benefits -- it will replace about 40% of the average worker's pre-retirement income. Most seniors, however, need about double that amount to cover their expenses, especially when we consider that common living costs like housing, transportation, food, utilities, and healthcare don't necessarily drop when workers retire. And that's precisely why you need your own savings to pick up where Social Security leaves off. If you still have a number of working years ahead of you, you have a great opportunity to build your own nest egg. Currently, workers under 50 can contribute up to $18,500 a year to a 401(k) and $5,500 a year to an IRA. Those 50 and over, meanwhile, can contribute up to $24,500 annually to a 401(k), and $6,500 to an IRA. So let's imagine you don't have access to a 401(k) through work, but rather, you manage to max out an IRA between the ages of 30 and 65 at today's limits. Assuming your investments grow 7% a year on average during that period, you'll be sitting on $785,000 to use in retirement. And that will buy you some breathing room in the face of Social Security cuts. Another option? Extend your career. These days, Americans are living longer, which means that if you're hoping for a 20-year retirement, you might easily get one even if you end up putting in another few years in the workforce. In the above scenario, if you were to retire at 70 rather than 65, all the while continuing to max out your IRA, you'd wind up with $1.14 million. Additionally, you'd get the option to hold off on filing for Social Security past your full retirement age, thereby growing your benefits. Regardless of what the future holds for Social Security, if you don't want to worry about how the program is faring financially, take charge of your retirement income rather than sitting back and relying on those benefits. At this point, it's too soon to know whether benefits will be reduced and just how much of a hit retirees will take. What we do know, however, is that there's ample opportunity to save independently, and the sooner you start, the more money of your own you stand to accumulate. Valmet has received an order from Estonian Cell which will be delivered in two stages, reports the company in its press-release. In the first stage, Valmet will supply a conversion of the existing bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp plant, which will increase production and reduce steam, fresh water and chemical consumption. In the second stage, Valmet will deliver a slab press and conveyor systems with connecting control system. The new machinery will boost production capacity and make the line more cost-efficient. The second stage will increase the annual production volume. Valmet's delivery is part of Estonian Cell's EUR 20 million growth investment program that will enable the company to achieve an annual production capacity of 185,000 tons and improve the plant's efficiency. In 2017, the production capacity of Estonian Cell was 171,708 tons of aspen pulp and all production was exported. The order was included in Valmet's second quarter of 2018 orders received. A project of this size and scope is typically valued at EUR 5-10 million. The start-up is planned for the second quarter of 2019. The BCTMP plant conversion includes a mechanical steam separator, a new washing stage by a screw press with medium consistency pump and a new final washing stage before the flash dryer with heavy duty TwinRoll presses. Reconfiguration and reprogramming of the existing bleaching system with detailed automation engineering is also included. The new slab press is replacing the original slab press, which was a prototype that did not meet stability expectations. Mechanical installation of the slab press is included. Commissioning and start-up supervision are included for both stages. Estonian Cell's Kunda aspen pulp mill launched production in 2006. The company produces a high quality chemi-thermomechanical aspen pulp that is fully exported to different countries in Europe and Asia. Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. The Lost Cajun Bringing Authentic Cajun Flavor to Keller, Texas August 10, 2018 // Franchising.com // COVINGTON, La. - Merely five months after opening its first Dallas - area location in Mansfield, The Lost Cajun - a family-friendly restaurant focused on authentic Cajun food and hospitality - is expanding its local footprint even further. The Louisiana-based franchise is set to open its second Dallas-Metroplex location in Keller this Fall. The new restaurant - located at 721 Keller Parkway - will be owned and operated by Jason Jay and Janice Smith, who discovered the brand while visiting family in Midland, Texas. After experiencing the amazing Cajun cuisine and learning about the franchise opportunity, the couple knew they had to introduce The Lost Cajuns one-of-a-kind hospitality to the Keller community. The Lost Cajun expects to develop 5-6 restaurants throughout the Northern Fort Worth suburbs over the next few years. We are thrilled to bring The Lost Cajuns culture to Keller, said Jay. We will offer an exceptional dining experience that is not just another sandwich shop, pizza parlor or burger joint. The brands authentic Cajun food, southern hospitality and remarkable atmosphere has already resulted in so much recognition throughout Texas. Were confident that the local community will welcome our concept with open arms. Originally from South Louisiana, The Smiths moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area shortly after Hurricane Katrina. Jay has spent over 15 years as a safety engineer while Janice currently works in the engraving and promotional products industry. Jay and Janice have four children, Jason, Jenny, Julie, and Jonathan. The Smiths prioritize four things above all else: faith, family, friends, and, of course, food. They believe food makes everything better. We believe that The Lost Cajuns culture and atmosphere, friendly staff, and of course great consistent food will make us a popular destination in Keller, said Janice. Its exactly the kind of hospitality we wanted to bring to our community. The Lost Cajuns menu offers diners a sampling of traditional Cajun fare, including a variety of gumbos - seafood, chicken and sausage, and vegetarian. Red beans and rice, fried seafood, crawfish etouffee and lobster bisque also top the menu, as does another Cajun staple, jambalaya. And what Cajun restaurant would be complete without beignets for dessert? The Lost Cajun further distinguishes itself with a fantastic down-home atmosphere - a true hole-in-the-wall with wooden tables, unique decorations and an expertly crafted playlist of Zydeco music. The open kitchen concept harks back to the wooden counters in Louisianas gumbo houses; patrons can watch their food being cooked and hear the courtesy and respect commonly associated with Cajun culture. As we continue to expand our presence throughout Texas, its critical to find the right franchise partners who are ready to promote our Cajun culture, said Raymond Griffin, Founder and CEO of The Lost Cajun. This is why we couldnt be more excited about welcoming Jay and Janice to The Lost Cajun team. We are incredibly pleased with the following and recognition weve garnered so far from our loyal customers and cant wait to continue that growth in the greater Dallas-area. About The Lost Cajun Founded in 2010 and franchising since 2013, The Lost Cajun is a family-friendly restaurant concept with a focus on authentic Cajun food and hospitality. Today, there are 18 restaurants open and operating in four states, with several others in various stages of development. For more information, visit www.thelostcajun.com. Contact: Leah Cotton Franchise Elevator PR (847) 239-8171 lcotton@franchiseelevator.com SOURCE The Lost Cajun ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus The Lost Cajun Headed to Huntersville, North Carolina August 10, 2018 // Franchising.com // COVINGTON, La. - The Lost Cajun, a family-friendly restaurant with a focus on authentic Cajun food served with Southern hospitality, is set to expand its North Carolina footprint even further. The Louisiana-based franchisor that focuses on providing a down-home atmosphere and southern hospitality you can feel is coming to Huntersville later this year. The new restaurant - located by the fountain in the NorthCross Shopping Center at 9709-A Sam Furr Road - will be owned and operated by Steve Galloway, who less than two months ago signed a development agreement for a total of six restaurants throughout the Western North Carolina area. Galloway worked with Steven Turner of Turner Commercial Properties in Charlotte to secure the site. Tom Walter of the Parker Walter Group in Sarasota, Florida is providing architectural and project management services to build out the restaurant. Galloway will also be operating a food truck from his location. The food truck will begin introducing The Lost Cajun menu to customers this Fall as it caters at various events throughout the area. I am excited about bringing The Lost Cajuns culture to the greater Charlotte area, Steve said. After dining at The Lost Cajuns Greenville location with my family, I couldnt stop thinking about the delicious Cajun cooking and southern hospitality I experienced. The authentic taste and smell of the food is what stood out to me, but the outstanding customer service interactions amongst guests and employees was the kicker. Its exactly the kind of Southern hospitality I was raised around and I knew I had to bring this amazing concept to my community. Somewhat of a lost Cajun himself, Galloway grew up in New Orleans, worked in local restaurants and began his professional restaurant career in Lafayette, Louisiana while in college. He knows authentic Cajun and New Orleans foods and appreciates Southern hospitality. With more than 25 years experience developing and operating restaurants, Galloway has lead multi-unit businesses from start-ups and turn-arounds to large, multi-concept enterprises generating more than $100 million of revenue in the United States and abroad. These franchises included international brands such as Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway and Dunkin Donuts, as well as a wide range of notable casual dining concepts. Currently, Galloway owns and operates five Dunkin Donuts in North Carolina. The Lost Cajuns menu offers diners a sampling of traditional Cajun fare, including a variety of gumbos - seafood, chicken and sausage, and vegetarian. Red beans and rice, fried seafood, crawfish etouffee and lobster bisque also top the menu, as does another Cajun staple, jambalaya. And what Cajun restaurant would be complete without beignets for dessert? The Lost Cajun further distinguishes itself with a fantastic down-home atmosphere - a true hole-in-the-wall with wooden tables, unique decorations and an expertly crafted playlist of Zydeco music. The open kitchen concept harks back to the wooden counters in Louisianas gumbo houses; patrons can watch their food being cooked and hear the courtesy and respect commonly associated with Cajun culture. As we continue to expand in the Carolinas, its critical to find the right franchise partners who are deeply passionate about the brand and are excited to promote our Cajun culture, Raymond Griffin, Founder and CEO of The Lost Cajun. This is why we couldnt be more pleased to welcome Steve into The Lost Cajun family. Weve known each other for several years now and Steve is a hardworking individual who shares our culture and values. Our proven business model paired with a successful restaurant pro like Steve is a winning combination, and we're confident his first location in Huntersville will thrive. About The Lost Cajun Founded in 2010 and franchising since 2013, The Lost Cajun is a family-friendly restaurant concept with a focus on authentic Cajun food served with traditional Southern hospitality. Today, there are 18 restaurants open and operating in four states, with several others in various stages of development. For more information, visit www.thelostcajun.com. Contact: Leah Cotton Franchise Elevator PR (847) 239-8171 lcotton@franchiseelevator.com SOURCE The Lost Cajun ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus The official results announced at the end of the manual counting of votes. A decision that puts an end to months of uncertainty and political deadlock. The blockade of the "anti-system" forces confirms the 54 votes and is preparing to form the new government. Corruption, unemployment and lack of services among the priorities to be addressed. Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - After months of doubts and uncertainties linked to allegations of fraud the official announcement has been made that the coalition led by radical Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr won the parliamentary elections last May in Iraq. Al-Sadr can now begin negotiations with the allies, aimed at the formation of the new government. The confirmation comes in a note released this morning by the Iraqi Electoral Commission, at the conclusion of the manual recount of votes. The announcement ends a long period of political uncertainty in the Arab country, still marked by the war against the jihadists of the Islamic State (IS, ex Isis). The allegations of fraud and rigging that emerged in the aftermath of the elections had prompted the Supreme Court to order a partial verification - this time manual - of electronic votes. At the end of the operations, the Commission confirmed the 54 seats to the al-Sadr group, allied with the Communists; the coalition of "anti-system" forces thus appears to be the largest block on the total of 329 parliamentary seats. The only change related to the vote count is the extra seat assigned to the Fatah Alliance pro-Shiite list, at the expense of a local party in the capital. The Fatah Alliance comes second with 48 seats, while third place goes to the block led by outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi with 42 seats. From today the Iraqi interim president has 15 days to convene the new Parliament, which will be called to first elect the new head of state and begin the process for the formation of the new executive. Sadr has already signed an agreement on the Al-Hikma Shiite list of Ammar al-Hakim, which has 19 seats, and with the secular party - majority Sunni - of the current vice-president Iyad Allawi (21 seats). The elections last May registered the lowest turnout ever (only 44.5% of those eligible) and the defeat of long-term politicians, which determined the fate of the country since the fall of the former Rais Saddam Hussein in 2003. In addition, in recent weeks in Iraq there have been strikes and protests - with victims - for chronic water shortages, unemployment and the poor conditions of basic public services. Among the endemic problems there is also corruption, in a nation where the majority of citizens do not benefit from oil revenues. The number of suicides among people aged 60 and over is up. As the population ages, more and more people live alone. Fear of becoming a burden to family, social disconnection, solitude, physical impairment and deteriorating mental health are the most common factors. Singapore (AsiaNews/Agencies) The number of elderly people committing suicide in Singapore reached a record high last year, a non-government group said. Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), which focuses on suicide prevention, said the number of people aged 60 and above who took their own lives in 2017 rose to 129, the highest on record, accounting for nearly 36 per cent of the city-states total number of suicides for that year. There is imminent need for stronger support networks as the number of elderly Singapore residents living alone continues to increase, said SOS executive director Christine Wong. According to the association, fear of becoming a burden to family, social disconnection, solitude, physical impairment and deteriorating mental health were the most common challenges faced by the elderly. Bombers attacked last night, after hiding in homes. According to the Afghan sources, the Taliban repelled. The clashes still ongoing. The militants claim to have conquered most of the government buildings. Kabul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Violent armed clashes and explosions are rocking Afghanistan again as the Taliban attempt to conquer the provincial capital of Ghazni, 120 km south of Kabul. The militants have hidden inside homes in various parts of the city. At 2 am they invaded the streets, assaulting security forces and setting fire to numerous shops. At least 14 policemen were killed in the clashes. Sources of the Afghan state government say that the attack jas been repelled but the clashes are still going on in the areas of Khogyani, Khwaja Omari and Zanakhan. The terrorized population has barricaded itself in their homes and the shops will remain closed. At least two injured civilians were taken to the hospital. There are numerous deaths among the Taliban, still on the streets of the city. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamist group, declares that different parts of Ghazni have been conquered. The Taliban also claim to have killed and wounded at least 14 "enemy forces" and "conquered most of the government buildings". The attack is not the only episode of violence in the last hours. The night before last, militants hit the district of Obe, in the province of Herat, killing six policemen at a roadblock. The Taliban have not confirmed their responsibility behind this attack. These episodes are the latest in a series of attempts by the Taliban to conquer urban centers. In May, militants attacked the western city of Farah. The clashes continue to be a daily reality in the country already devastated by war and by ISIS terrorist attacks. In June, the Afghan and Taliban forces respected an unprecedented truce for the Eid. The government had proposed an extension of the same, rejected by the rebel Islamist group, which immediately resumed its offensive. The Initiatives studio head Darrell Gallagher has shared, and then removed, a welcome post for several new staff members on his LinkedIn personal page. Luckily enough, ResetEra users were quick enough to save all the information and share them on the forums. Interestingly, this rush of hires has brought to the newly born software house, among the others, God of Wars senior managing producer Brian Westergaard, Red Dead Redemptions lead writer Christian Cantamessa and Tomb Raiders co-director Daniel Neuburger. This is the full list of the top talent that have just become part of the studio, as reported on ResetEra: Brian Westergaard Lead Producer/Senior Producer on ROTR and Senior Managing Producer on God of War Christian Cantamessa Leader Writer and Designer on Red Dead Redemption Annie Lohr is a Senior Industry Recruiter and Daniel Neuburger worked as a co-director on the Tomb Raider Reboot and Rise of the Tomb Raider alongside Brian Horton. Reboot and Rise of the Tomb Raider alongside Brian Horton. Blake Fischer Senior Director of Portfolio Planning for MS, He has been very helpful in getting a number of games to Xbox and has been credited for his assistance in games such as The Witcher 3, Lost Planet, Dead Rising, Ninja Gaiden , Rise of the Tomb Raider, Blinx, Tao Feng, Fall Out 3, Killer Instinct, Cuphead, Elder Scrolls IVetc We dont know what The Initiative is working on yet, but it looks like the studio is indeed going to be busy on an action adventure title and all these new entries are apparently going to be great help from that perspective. What do you do of this news? Let us know in the comments below. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. The story of the Georgian Byron - Nikoloz Baratashvili - GeorgianJournal A bribery case brings to light systematic discrimination that was already well known. Repeat applicants also had their scores lowered. Women were kept out of the medical profession because of child-bearing. In Japan, only 21 per cent of doctors are women, the lowest and half of the OECD average. The government starts a probe in 81 universities. Tokyo (AsiaNews) Japan is in the grips of a scandal. The Tokyo Medical University has been hit by a storm following allegations that the scores of womens entrance exams were lowered to maintain a male majority. The rigging came to light in connection with a bribery case involving two officials trying to secure personal advantages. The investigations found that the university unfairly inflated the scores of certain students whilst deducting points from women applicants and candidates who had failed the school's exam more than three times since at least 2006. The case also does not seem to be isolated. For years, applicants were aware that the bar is set higher for women at some universities. The medical profession in Japan indeed remains male-dominated. Women accounted for 21 per cent of all doctors at the end of 2016, half the OECD average. Sources told Kyodo that medical schools have a ceiling for women's admission of about 30 per cent. Women are considered inappropriate for the profession because they are bound to leave in case of pregnancy. Speaking to AsiaNews, Sister Nabuko Immaculata Taniguchi of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus, expresses sadness for the "young women who have studied with determination and strong will to become doctors". "This problem for women is not limited to medicine, but applies to all sectors, she added. In Japanese society, it is still difficult for women to obtain and maintain a stable job when they have children." "It is regrettable that these young women were denied the opportunity to study before they started in favour of rich boys. How will they learn to be mature enough for the medical profession from these professors?" Antonio Camacho, a Guadalupe missionary in charge of five parishes in Kyoto, is not surprised by the scandal. "It is well known that discrimination occurs, he said, but nobody said anything before. Now we dont know what will happen, but I think lawyers and the young women will file an appeal to the university authorities." Meanwhile, the Japanese government is running for cover, ordering an investigation to see if other medical schools engaged in similar practices. The rigging of scores was "extremely inappropriate and a serious matter that eroded trust in universities," said Education Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi at a press conference. To find out what happened, the Education Ministry sent questionnaires to 81 universities, asking them to report the pass rates for entrance exams over the last six years. Responses to the survey must be submitted by 24 August. If case of significant disparities in pass rates between men and women or different age groups, the schools must provide explanations. If unsatisfied with the answers, the Education Ministry might ask additional questions or conduct on-site inspections. by Sumon Corraya The attackers had forced her to undress and videoed her with a mobile phone. Shipra had filed a case with the police and asked help from the authorities to no avail. The family and the parish priest want justice for her. Natore (AsiaNews) Shipra Costa was 30 when she committed suicide at her home last Tuesday night. The Catholic woman from Borni, Natore (Diocese of Rajshahi) had been attacked and blackmailed with a video that showed her naked. She leaves a husband and two daughters aged nine and six. On the evening of 17 July, Saha Alam, a Muslim food store owner, went to see Shipra at her home. When she opened the door, three young Muslim men arrived identified as Alam Fakir, Sabuj Sarker and Abu Hana who forced their way in. The three accused Shipra and Saha of having an illicit affair and started beating them. They tried to rape Shipra, verbally attacked her and threatened to kill both if she did not take off her clothes. The attackers filmed her, undressed, and stole 10,000 takas (about US$ 120), a mobile phone and a gold chain. The attackers threaten Shipra with blackmail, telling her that "If you tell anyone of what happened today, we will post the video of you naked on Facebook." The next day, the young woman and her family went to the local police to file a complaint (picture 3), but the police refused to register it. The family then sought justice from a local official, Tujamal Haq. Again, they did not get a positive answer. The police decided to follow up the case only after Shipras death. "We listened to the complaint, but it had some shortcomings, said Dilif Kumar Das, head of the Barigram police station, speaking to AsiaNews. The attackers fled but we are looking for them. No one involved with Shipra's death will be allowed to get away." "The culprits are powerful and influential," said Kuti Costa, the victims father. "We were afraid that they might do worse with us and our daughter, had they uploaded the video on social media. We were under pressure. If our daughter had been treated with justice, maybe she would not have killed herself. She could not bear the pressure. I want exemplary punishment." Shipra's husband, Dominic Rozario, works in Dhaka. He himself want those involved in his beloved wifes death punished. On 7 August, he was with his daughters at the doctor's office. That evening, Shipra was home, alone, and hanged herself. Yesterday, the young woman was laid to rest. In his address during the funeral, the local parish priest echoed the family's call for justice. The Catholic Church in Borni has 4,861 members. by Mathias Hariyadi The candidate vice president will be Kiwi Hajj Ma'ruf Amin, head of the Council of the Indonesian ulema. The choice of the head of moderate Muslim religious to stem Islamic extremists. Commentators say that "Jokowi" fears especially the social campaigns of Islamic radicals. Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Changing the political leadership structure ahead of the 2019 presidential elections. Last night, Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced that his vice-president for the April elections will be Kiwi Hajj Ma'ruf Amin, 75, current president of the Council of Indonesian ulema. The choice took the political elites and Indonesian society by surprise. Also because, up to an hour before the announcement, the candidate in pectore in place of vice-president was Mahfud Md, former minister of justice. According to some rumors, Widodo's political advisers have advised him to discard Mahfud since he is not well seen by Nahdlatul Ulama and his political party, the National Awakening Party. Other commentators say that the real opponent for Widodo in the upcoming elections will not be General Prabowo Subianto but the Islamists. Amin is the authoritative head of the Indonesian Ulema Council. In the past he had issued a statement condemning Widodo's political ally, the former governor of Jakarta of Chinese ethnicity Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, for insulting the Koran in the middle of an election campaign in Jakarta. On that occasion even the Muslim radicals had conducted several social campaigns against the governor of Jakarta, who lost his second term. "Jokowi" fears that the same campaign on social media can damage it from a political point of view. For many years religious and political figures belonging to the Islamic world accused him of being anti-Islam; of coming from a Communist family and from the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI); of favoring favor the Chinese minorities, very powerful in the country, who come to Indonesia to work in multinationals and in various commercial companies. "Some in Indonesia may have wondered why Professor Dr. Ma'ruf Amin was chosen. Because he is a wise religious figure, "Widodo said last night. "I think we complement each other, nationalists and religious". The choice to elect Amin is seen as a sort of "armistice" by Jokowi to undermine the religious and political power of radical Muslims. The opposition party Gerindrra asked General Prabowo Subianto, who was defeated in 2014 in the "Jokowi" elections, to seek a Muslim religious leader as a deputy. However, he said that he would run for the elections with the deputy governor of Jakarta, the billionaire Sandiaga S. Uno, who made a donation of 500 trillion Indonesian rupees (about 300 million euros). The surprise choice of Amin by "Jokowi" surprised the opposition and could push the general, who has friendships among the Muslim elites, to change the name for the vice-presidency. Sony to release Android Pie updates for six Xperia models News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The Xperia devices including the Xperia XZ2, the Xperia XZ2 Compact, the Xperia XZ2 Premium, the Xperia XZ1, the Xperia XZ1 Compact, and the Xperia XZ1 Premium will receive the update. Google has recently introduced the Android 9 Pie and has started rolling out the new version of the update to its Pixel devices. Following this, a number of other smartphone manufacturers including Xiaomi and others have also started rolling out the latest version of the Android update for their devices. Moreover, the other smartphone brands like Huawei and OnePlus have also promised that they will be soon releasing the Android 9 Pie for their devices, the former has already begun testing the update on four of its devices. Now, the latest brand to join the bandwagon is Sony. The company has recently started testing the Android 9 Pie Beta build for some of its devices. As per some reports from GizChina, the Japanese tech giant has made an announcement that it will soon be rolling out the latest Android 9 update for six of its Xperia smartphones. The company has mentioned that it will release an Android 9 Pie update for the Xperia devices including the Xperia XZ2, Xperia XZ2 Compact, Xperia XZ2 Premium, Xperia XZ1, the Xperia XZ1 Compact, and the Xperia XZ1 Premium. Sony further claims that all of the six Xperia devices will start receiving the Android 9 Pie update between September and November. However, the company has not mentioned any specific timeline for the release date. The Android 9 Pie introduces a whole new set of features for the Android devices among which the major highlight is the Digital Wellbeing and optimized system efficiency. The latest Android Pie update also brings wide notch support, new navigation gestures adaptive battery among other features. To recall, the Sony Xperia XZ2 was recently launched in India and is priced at Rs 72,990. The Xperia XZ2 features a 5.7-inch FHD+ Triluminous HDR display that has a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The display comes with X-Reality display engine and a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top for screen protection. Under the hood, the smartphone is packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC which is coupled with 6GB of RAM and 64GB UFS onboard storage which is further expandable up to 400GB using a microSD card. 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 U.S. To Impose New Sanctions On Russia Over Skripal Attack Mike Eckel August 09, 2018 The United States has said it will hit Russia with new sanctions aimed at punishing Moscow for the March nerve-agent poisoning in Britain of a former Russian spy and his daughter. The August 8 announcement by the State Department followed earlier moves by Washington to expel dozens of Russian diplomats, in coordination with Britain and other European allies, in response to the poisoning, which authorities said used a highly toxic agent known as Novichok. A senior State Department official said the first tranche of sanctions would take effect on August 22, and were being imposed under a 1991 U.S. law concerning chemical and biological weapons. The measure targets export licenses of sensitive U.S. technologies and industrial equipment, such as electronics, calibration equipment, and gas turbine engines. The official said requests for licenses to export such goods to Russia would now be "presumptively denied." The officials said that could cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in future exports to Russia. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said Russia would then be given 90 days to comply with other specific demands, including allowing United Nations or international inspectors into the country to ensure that no chemical or biological weapons exist there. 'Reckless Behavior' If Moscow does not comply, the second tranche could include things like further downgrading diplomatic relations with Russia, or even restricting flights by the state-owned flagship air carrier, Aeroflot. The British Foreign Office said it welcomed the U.S. move to impose sanctions over the poisoning. A spokesman said a strong international response sends an "unequivocal message" to Russia that its "provocative, reckless behavior" will not go unchallenged. The Russian Embassy in Washington denounced the new sanctions, which it called "draconian," and called allegations that Moscow poisoned Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia "far-fetched." In a statement issued late on August 8, the embassy said neither Washington nor London has produced evidence supporting their allegations, but the U.S. State Department has told the embassy that it has enough "classified" evidence to conclude "Russia is to blame." On March 4, the Skripals were found unconscious on a park bench in the town of Salisbury, England. They were seriously ill but subsequently made a full recovery after spending several weeks in hospital. British authorities later determined that the Skripals had been poisoned with Novichok, a military-grade chemical weapon that was developed in the Soviet Union. The response and clean-up involved British military personnel. Sergei Skripal, a former colonel in Russia's military intelligence agency, was convicted of treason in 2006 by a Russian court. Moscow released him from prison in 2010, sending him to the West in a Cold War-style spy swap. London later blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin's government for the poisoning, and expelled dozens of Russian diplomats. In all, 150 Russian diplomats were kicked out of more than two dozen Western countries, including 60 from the United States. The U.S. move is the latest in a growing number of punitive actions against Russia. Many of the moves have originated in Congress, with strong support from both Republicans and Democrats. The effort to punish Russia has contrasted with President Donald Trump's repeated calls for a more conciliatory approach to Moscow. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-to- impose-new-sanctions-on-russia- over-skripal-attack/29420798.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense Audit Provides Improved Accounting for Spending, Inventories Aug. 9, 2018 By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON -- The Defense Department audit that is underway will allow leaders in the White House, the Pentagon and Congress to find better ways to account for taxpayers' dollars, DoD's chief financial officer said yesterday. In an interview with WGAN radio in Portland, Maine, Pentagon Comptroller David L. Norquist said the audit's results should be available in the fall. "We normally have audits of individual programs, but this one is the entire department, so it verifies account, location, condition of our inventory, all the equipment, test for security vulnerabilities and validating personnel records and payments," he said. Next year's fiscal year defense budget, for example, is set at $717 billion. The audit looks at all property, all equipment and all personnel, and it ensures accountability and provides transparency for the American taxpayer, the chief financial officer said. Annual Audit Thousands of DoD auditors worldwide are involved in the process, Norquist said, and the department will do this every year. He said the audit invariably will find faults that will need to be corrected. Having an audit allows leaders to make changes and then ensure those changes are doing what is intended, Norquist said. "One of the things that often happens with audits is the public goes, 'Well, what became of it?'" he said. "'What did people do?'" Each year, he said, the public will see what the findings were, what was fixed and what remains to be done. "So it'll be an annual process, and as I like to say to the workforce, it will go on as long as we both shall live," Norquist said. Audits are valuable in that they find challenges, he said. "Often, those are areas where people are doing things manually or the data is not compatible," he added, "and when you streamline them, you get more efficiencies [and] you get more savings." Navy Savings Already, he said, the Navy saved $65 million by transmitting things in a more automated and complete format. "We expect to see more of that across the organization," Norquist said. Another result, he said, is the organization gets better data quality for decision making. "When getting ready for the audit, the Army identified 39 Black Hawk helicopters that were not properly in its property system," Norquist said. "Now, the person who had them knew they were there, but if the department was looking across its inventory, it would not have seen [them]." The audit also is part of implementing the new National Defense Strategy, Norquist said, noting that the strategy shifts DoD's focus to developing the capabilities needed to prevail in high-end conflicts against China and Russia. "And so, you'll see a series of investments that followed in that," Norquist said, "and this received a great deal of bipartisan support." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army of the Republic of Macedonia Hosts U.S. Aerial and Mounted Gunnery By Sgt. Casey Hustin August 9, 2018 KRIVOLAK TRAINING AREA, Republic of Macedonia -- The Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM) began August with assistance and observation of aerial and ground gunnery training by two units under the command of U.S. Army Europe at the Krivolak Training Area (KTA) in the Republic of Macedonia. On Aug. 1, more than 100 Soldiers with the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, (3-61 CAV) from Fort Carson, Colorado, and more than 20 Soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, (3-126 AVN) of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, based in Boston, Massachusetts, kicked off gunnery training at Krivolak. The training is scheduled to conclude in late August. The 3-126 AVN conducted aerial gunnery certification tables at Krivolak. This is the first time any U.S. aviation unit has fired at a range in the Republic of Macedonia. Maj. Isaac Howard, operations officer with the 3-61 CAV, explained how using Krivolak makes gunnery training more effective. "Krivolak Training Area absolutely contributes to the training's effectiveness because of the breadth of activities that units may conduct," said Howard. "Many ranges are restrictive in the types of exercises in which units participate. Krivolak's possibilities encompass a very wide pallet. We have the ability to integrate multiple vehicles, indirect fire, and joint air and ground coordination. The sheer size of KTA and its separation from major population centers provides opportunities for very effective training." Since the Republic of Macedonia was recently certified by the 7th Army Training Command, this important milestone showcases the ARM's capabilities to officially host U.S. sponsored military training at the site and to demonstrate to U.S. and NATO leadership the Republic of Macedonia's ability to host future training at Krivolak. According to Capt. Patrick E. Enriquez, Bilateral Affairs Officer with the Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Embassy, Skopje, Macedonia, the 3-61 CAV and 3-126 AVN are the first American units to conduct gunnery on this scale at Krivolak. "U.S. forces training at the Krivolak Training Area was a concept approved at the highest levels of the Macedonian government," said Enriquez. "This the latest and one of Macedonia's most important reciprocal contributions to the U.S. and NATO. It demonstrates their willingness and preparedness to join the greater alliance." The purpose of gunnery training is varied for each unit. The 3-61 CAV's intent is to qualify six platoons, rotating, through Table VI qualification for crew, section and mortar gunnery. The 3-61 also began to qualify Cavalry Scouts on the M2 and M240 machine guns, the MK-19 grenade launcher and hand grenades. "While U.S. troops arrived to Kosovo fully trained, skills and proficiencies atrophy over time," said Howard. "Live-fire gunneries ensure that requisite combat skills remain sharp. Gunnery exercises, like the one we are conducting at Krivolak Training Area, keep forces in the highest state of readiness because they test Soldiers' and crews' ability to put rounds on target, prioritize threats, shift between multiple targets, and coordinate within their sections to ensure proper fire distribution." Enriquez and Howard attributed the successful planning of the training event to several entities, the U.S. Embassy - Macedonia, U.S. Army Europe. United States European Command, the Ministry of Defense and Army of the Republic of Macedonia have all been critical in the planning and execution of this training. "The Army of the Republic of Macedonia staff at KTA are a very professional and thorough organization," said Howard. "Their coordination has been critical to this event's execution. We have all been very impressed with the ARM's conduct, punctuality, and hospitality in facilitating this gunnery." This training highlights the current capabilities and future possibilities for the Republic of Macedonia among NATO allies and partners. "The Republic of Macedonia has been a recipient of U.S. military assistance since at least 1993. This assistance includes training, equipping and education," said Enriquez. "Soldiers from the Army of the Republic of Macedonia have deployed on several occasions in support of U.S. contingency operations worldwide, most significantly in 2010 with the Vermont National Guard to Afghanistan with 79 Soldiers (two platoons and one Special Forces team). Interoperability training is critical at the tactical level to ensure the ARM can continue to deploy alongside U.S. and other allied forces." The goal is to continue using the KTA on a larger scale for future training. "We hope for the same support for the next rotation of U.S. forces stationed near Macedonia, and for summer of 2019, during exercise Decisive Strike 19, when two battalions of Strykers from the Pennsylvania National Guard will train in Macedonia," said Enriquez. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-231-18 August 09, 2018 Secretary Mattis travels to South America Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis embarks Sunday, Aug. 12 on his first trip to South America while leading the Department of Defense. The White House declared 2018 the "Year of the Americas," and the Secretary's trip underscores the Department's strong defense ties with Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia. These relationships are critical to a collaborative, prosperous and secure Western hemisphere. Secretary Mattis will begin his trip in Brazil, where he will meet with senior officials and defense leaders. He will also speak at the Escola Superior de Guerra, the country's war college, and visit the national monument to Brazilian service members killed in World War II. Secretary Mattis will then visit Argentina, where he will meet with senior defense officials to discuss defense issues of mutual interest. His third stop is Chile to exchange strategic perspectives with senior officials. Secretary Mattis concludes his trip in Colombia, where he will meet members of the newly elected administration. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1598303/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mexico - Evolved Seasparrow Missiles Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No: 18-29 WASHINGTON, August 9, 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Mexico of six (6) Evolved Seasparrow tactical missiles (ESSM) and two (2) Evolved Seasparrow telemetry missiles for an estimated cost of $41 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 8, 2018. The Government of Mexico has requested to buy six (6) Evolved Seasparrow tactical missiles (ESSM) and two (2) Evolved Seasparrow telemetry missiles. Also included are one (1) MK56 VLS launcher (8-cell), eight (8) MK30 canisters, eight (8) MK783 shipping containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, training, USG/Contractor technical and engineering support services, and technical assistance. The total estimated value is $41 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner. The sale of these shipboard systems to Mexico will significantly increase and strengthen Mexico's maritime capabilities. Mexico intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its existing naval and maritime support of national security requirements. Mexico intends to use the weapons systems on its Sigma 10514 Class ship. The systems will provide enhanced capabilities in effective defense of critical sea lanes. The proposed sale of these systems and support services will increase the Mexican Navy's maritime partnership potential and align its capabilities with existing regional navies. Mexico has not purchased these systems previously. Mexico will have no difficulty integrating this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government and/or contractor representatives to Mexico. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. -30- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death toll from airstrikes on Yemen rises to 52 IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 9, IRNA -- Yemeni Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that death toll from Saudi-led coalition's airstrikes on Saada province has risen to 52. Saudi Arabian fighters targeted a bus carrying children in the city of Zahyan, Saada province, leaving 77 wounded, the ministry quoted Ansarullah website as saying. Spokesman for Ansarullah Movement Mohammad Abdulsalam condemned the attacks, saying that aggressors demonstrated their humiliation and contempt by justifying their crimes. Meanwhile, British envoy to the UN has also called for probe into the crime. The coalition said it targeted the rebels, known as Houthis, because they had fired a missile at the kingdom's south the previous day, killing one person. Turki al-Malki , coalition spokesman, said Thursday's attack in Saada is a 'legitimate military action' and was carried out 'in accordance with international humanitarian law and customs.' He accused the Houthis of using children as shields in the battlefields. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iwo Jima Completes Six Month Deployment Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180809-03 Release Date: 8/9/2018 9:39:00 AM From USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Public Affairs MAYPORT, Florida (NNS) -- Nearly 1,200 Sailors aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned to their homeport of Mayport, Fla., Aug. 9, following a six-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of operations. Deployed since Feb. 7 as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), the ship provided a ready, versatile amphibious assault capability and vigilant maritime presence to U.S. 5th and U.S. 6th Fleet, participating in exercises Juniper Cobra and Eager Lion. It also hosted a 10-day embarkation of 10 Egyptian naval officers to discuss concepts of amphibious naval operations and strengthen partner nation capabilities. "This deployment was the most high-tempo one I've experienced in my 25-year naval career," said Capt. Joseph O'Brien, Iwo Jima's commanding officer. "The entire Navy and Marine Corps team performed extraordinarily well in an incredibly dynamic environment throughout deployment. The Sailors and Marines working on equipment, launching aircraft on the flight deck, conducting amphibious operations, navigating the ship and standing watch down in the plant were all at the absolute top of their game. This is an amazing group of Sailors and Marines, and I am honored to serve with them." Iwo Jima transited more than 31,400 nautical miles, used more than one million gallons of JP-5 fuel, received more than 3,100 pallets of cargo and logged 1,119 flight hours, flying approximately 10,100 sorties. Amphibious craft completed 2,256 passenger transfers and moved more than 7,000 tons of equipment to and from the shore. For more than half of the Sailors aboard Iwo Jima, the six-month journey served as their first deployment. "This was a difficult but awesome first deployment," said Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kenneth Ivory. "Working with everyone and doing what we are supposed to do is something I won't forget. Also, each port visit we went to was a chance to see something new, take in the sights and try food that I couldn't pronounce or had no idea what it was. Traveling is definitely one of the perks we have of being in the Navy." Iwo Jima made port calls in Haifa, Israel; Limassol, Cyprus; Aqaba, Jordan, and Malaga, Spain. The visits helped grow the strong alliance between the U.S. and its partner nations as well as providing an opportunity for the crew to experience cultures from around the world. The Iwo Jima ARG embarks the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and includes Iwo Jima, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), the Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), Fleet Surgical Teams 4 and 8, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22, components of Naval Beach Group 2 and the embarked staff of Commander, Amphibious Squadron 4. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Navy Dive and Medical Teams Begin Subject Matter Exchanges in Trinidad and Tobago Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180809-02 Release Date: 8/9/2018 9:06:00 AM From Southern Partnership Station 2018 Public Affairs PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (NNS) -- A team of U.S. Navy divers and medical professionals arrived in Port of Spain, Aug. 8 to begin subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) and partner capacity building engagements with the Trinidad and Tobago military and security forces as part of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2018. Held on an annual basis by U.S. Southern Command and executed by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, Southern Partnership Station is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on SMEEs with partner nation militaries and security forces in the Caribbean, Central and South America. This year's deployment will visit Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Honduras, Panama and El Salvador to work alongside those nations' military forces, security forces, civilian health professionals, and other governmental agencies. The SPS mission is normally supported by the expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1), but this engagement will see teams arriving in Trinidad and Tobago aboard the Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44). At a press conference on arrival of Gunston Hall in Port of Spain, John McIntyre, U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires said the U.S. Navy's partnership with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, through exercises like Southern Partnership Station, continues to strengthen the safety and security of the citizens of both the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago. The exchange was also applauded by Commander Don Polo, Acting Commanding Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Gunston Hall's visit to Trinidad and Tobago is part of the Southern Seas mission that is operating simultaneously with Southern Partnership Station. Southern Seas is an annual collaborative deployment in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility where a task group deploys to conduct various exercises and multinational exchanges to enhance interoperability, increase regional stability, and build and maintain regional relationships. Both Southern Partnership Station and Southern Seas operate under the leadership of Capt. Brian J. Diebold, commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40. Southern Partnership Station focuses on enhancing cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services and improving operational readiness for all participants. Additionally, the mission will provide an opportunity for U.S. and partner nations to operate in a multinational environment, refine coordination, improve interoperability, and demonstrate flexibility. "We are here to execute diving subject matter expert exchanges with Trinidad and Tobago's diving and salvage forces," said Lt. Larry Salazar, company commander of Company 21, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, the unit participating in Southern Partnership Station. "Our exchange topics include scuba and surface supplied diving operations, dive casualty diagnosis and treatment, underwater search procedures, and area search procedures with towed sonar," said Salazar. "My dive and salvage company is part of MDSU-2, and our command is a key participant in Southern Partnership Station's mission," said Salazar. "We exchange new diving techniques and procedures, and these engagements help strengthen U.S. and partner nation diving and salvage capabilities and interoperability." While the U.S. diving and salvage team engages with coast guard divers, an 11-person Fleet Health Engagement Team (FHET) will conduct SMEEs with the Trinidad and Tobago army and coast guard including exchanges with medical and non-medical personnel. "The FHET will conduct subject matter expert exchanges with military and civilian organizations to effectively share U.S. Navy medicine's best practices and lessons learned," said Lt. David Cruz, FHET officer in charge. "The team will engage in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, tactical combat casualty care, and public health exchanges to effectively develop strong partnerships across the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility." SPS is a demonstration of the strong U.S. commitment to partners in the Caribbean, Central and South America, fostering goodwill and enhancing our collective ability to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. SPS 18 will conclude in October 2018. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli jets bomb Gaza again amid threat of new war Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 05:31PM Israeli aircraft have bombed a multi-story building in Gaza City amid threats of another full-scale military offensive against the besieged coastal enclave. Local residents and witnesses said the explosion shook buildings in Gaza City on Thursday as dust and grey smoke filled the air. Palestinian health officials said at least four people were hurt in the airstrike. The Israeli military has carried out over 140 strikes against the Gaza Strip in less than 24 hours. The attacks began on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday morning. The latest aerial raid came after a long-range rocket allegedly fired from Gaza struck an uninhabited area outside the largest city in southern Israel on Thursday. Israeli police said they found the remnants in an open area on the outskirts of Beersheba and that no one was hurt. Israeli Army Radio said the rocket was a long-range Grad capable of reaching Israel's heartland. The Israeli military has claimed that the missile system Iron Dome intercepted 25 rockets out of the 150 rockets, which activated sirens in the occupied territories over 125 times. Palestinian resistance movement Hamas claimed responsibility for the fresh rocket attacks, saying it was avenging the deaths of two fighters in an Israeli tank fire in Gaza on Tuesday. People in the Gaza Strip earlier held a funeral for the pregnant Palestinian woman and her child killed by Israeli airstrikes. Mourners carried the bodies of Enas Khammash and her 18-month-old daughter Bayan in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called on the United Nations to stop Israel's latest aggression against Gaza. Hamas says all resistance factions have halted firing at Israel following a flare-up. Meanwhile, the UN said it is concerned over the exchange of fire between Palestinians and Israel and called on both sides to step back from the brink. Tel Aviv has threatened a full-scale military offensive against Gaza. The region has been under Israel's all-out siege since 2007 and witnessed three wars since 2008. Tensions have been running high near the Gaza fence since March 30, which marked the start of a series of protests demanding the right of return for Palestinians driven out of their homeland. The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14, marking the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (the Day of Catastrophe), which this year coincided with the US embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem al-Quds. Nearly 160 Palestinians have been killed and some 17,500 others wounded in the fresh bout of violence, according to the latest figures released by the Palestinian Health Ministry. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DR Congo's Kabila 'not to stand for re-election' Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 10:08AM President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Joseph Kabila has reportedly announced that he will not be seeking a third term in long-delayed elections in December. The announcement was made through Lambert Mende, a government spokesman, on Wednesday, who also said that Kabila's ruling coalition had nominated former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary as its presidential candidate for the December 23 vote. Flanked by supporters, Ramazani filed his candidacy at the headquarters of the national electoral commission in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa later in the day. "[Kabila] said there would be no problem. He said there would be no third term. Today, he has kept his promise," Ramazani said in a brief address to reporters. "It is a great honor for me and, with time, we are going to offer a social program." Wednesday afternoon was the electoral commission's deadline for candidates to register, with reports saying that eight other candidates had also registered to run, including some opposition candidates. "What matters for the moment is that the constitution, whether willingly or not, has been respected," said Senator Jacques Ndjoli, a member of an opposition party, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo. "Despite the multiple attempts to circumvent the constitution, President Kabila finally understood that the supreme law applies to everyone." Shadary has been a key supporter of Kabila and his tenure as interior minister was marked by a violent crackdown on opposition politicians and their supporters as well as the arrest of activists. Kabila is said to remain at the head of his People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) and will be eligible to run again in 2023. Kabila took power after the assassination of his father, Laurent, and won subsequent presidential elections in 2006 and 2011. The 47-year-old leader's most recent term was officially due to end in late 2016, but the election was postponed as rival factions tried to negotiate a way to avoid a recurrence of deadly violence during the vote. An anti-Kabila protest in September 2016 was violently repressed and left dozens of people dead. The Congolese government then banned public demonstrations. The DR Congo, rich with mineral wealth but plagued by violence, has not had a peaceful transition of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jordan warns of catastrophic consequences of UNRWA budget crisis Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 06:21AM Jordan has warned that a severe cash crisis facing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees could have a "catastrophic" impact on the lives of millions of Palestinian refugees in the region. Following talks with the visiting UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl on Wednesday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the financial shortfall facing the UN agency could deprive refugees of core education, healthcare and food security service. Such a situation would only "deepen their humanitarian plight," he said. "UNRWA faces a dangerous financial deficit that threatens catastrophic consequences on refugees if it is not covered before its financial allocations run out," Safadi was quoted as saying in a Foreign Ministry statement. UNRWA has faced a financial shortfall since the United States, traditionally the largest donor to UNRWA, cut its annual grant from $360 million to just $60 million. The funding crisis came in January after US President Donald Trump claimed that the Palestinian Authority was no longer willing to engage in the so-called peace talks with Israel. The US-Palestine ties deteriorated last December, when Washington recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as the "capital" of Israel and announced plans to transfer the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds. The contentious move led President Mahmoud Abbas to formally declare that Palestinians would no longer accept the US as a mediator to resolve the conflict because Washington was "completely biased" towards Tel Aviv. The US embassy relocation took place on May 14, the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (the Day of Catastrophe), sparking deadly clashes in Gaza. According to UNRWA, over 1.5 million Palestinians - almost a third of the registered Palestinian refugees - live in 58 recognized refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the besieged Gaza Strip and West Bank. UNRWA is tasked with providing assistance and protection to a population of some five million registered Palestine refugees. According to UN officials, the reduction in UNRWA's funding could even affect the opening of schools at the start of the next academic year. The Jordanian foreign minister further said that his country, which hosts the largest number of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East outside Palestinian territories, was engaged in intensive lobbying with donors. "Jordan warns of the danger of touching the role of the UNRWA that should continue to provide its services under its international mandate," the foreign ministry statement said. Safadi called on the international community to shoulder its political and moral responsibilities towards Palestinian refugees under UN Security Council resolutions that maintain their right of return and compensation. 'Munity' at UNRWA Meanwhile, workers at UNRWA in Gaza on Wednesday expressed outrage over a decision by the agency to lay off hundreds of its employees, seizing partial control of the headquarters of the agency. Matthias Schmale, the head of UNRWA Operations in Gaza said the workers, who accused their union of "mutiny" over job cuts, "have taken over the compound where my office and other offices are." Schmale said the UNRWA does not have full control over the site in Gaza City, and that he has not been able to reach his own office for more than two weeks. "I am the captain of the ship which has 13,000 sailors on it and they have basically thrown me off the bridge and consigned me to my captain's quarters," he told AFP, referring to the number of staff in Gaza. UNRWA announced last month it had been forced to lay off more than 250 staff in the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank after the US slashed funding to the agency. The redundancies have sparked daily protests by the agency's labor union in the coastal enclave. UNRWA's labor union is expected to hold a general strike in the coming days unless a deal is reached. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Shabab militants 'kill 5 soldiers' in Kenya's north Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 05:45AM Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants in Kenya have killed at least five soldiers in a roadside bomb attack in the country's north, a senior government official says. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the soldiers from the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) were killed on Wednesday when their truck ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) in the coastal Lamu County. KDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Paul Njuguna, however, told Reuters that six soldiers were injured, three critically, in the explosion but that no one was killed. "There was an IED, which injured six of our soldiers. Three of them are in critical condition but they have been airlifted for specialized treatment. The injured are stabilizing," he said. It was not immediately clear why the accounts of the KDF and the government official differed. A spokesman for al-Shabab militants said the group was behind the attack on the KDF convoy and claimed nine soldiers had been killed. The Somalia-based al-Shabab has vowed retribution against Kenya for sending troops across the border to Somalia in 2011 to fight the group. Al-Shabab has seen its power diminished since the beginning of the Kenyan army operations; however, the militant group continues to carry out terrorist attacks. Kenyan security officials say the militants have used the Boni forest, straddling the Kenya-Somalia border, as a hideout and launching pad for attacks. The terror group has escalated its attacks in the past months, using homemade explosive devices. In neighboring Somalia, al-Shabab has been pushed out of all major urban strongholds and ports but continues to stage attacks on targets in smaller, more remote areas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli Jets Attack Over 140 Targets in Gaza, Israel Defense Forces Report Sputnik News 05:42 09.08.2018(updated 07:01 09.08.2018) TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Israeli jets attacked over 140 of strategic targets overnight belonging to Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza under their control, the Israel Defense Forces said Thursday. The airstrikes allegedly came in retaliation for a barrage of 150 rockets fired into Israel on Wednesday evening, of which 25 were shot down by the Iron Dome defense system. "We responded by targeting a cement factory used by Hamas to build terror tunnels, a maritime terror tunnel shaft, & several terror sites in military compounds," the IDF tweeted. IDF also reported that an Israeli fighter jet had fired towards what it called a "rocket launching squad" in Gaza. A spokesman for the Gaza health authority said earlier that a Palestinian died in Gaza on Wednesday after Israel shelled the exclave allegedly in retaliation to rockets fired into its territory. "A 30-year-old Palestinian man died in a shelling near the city of Beit Lakhia. Six people have been injured so far as a result of Israeli aggression," Ashraf Qidra told Sputnik. Previously, Israel accused militants in the Hamas-administered exclave of launching around 70 rockets into its territory. Most of them hit open areas. The military said it had responded by launching an airstrike at a vehicle allegedly used by another "rocket launching squad" in Gaza to fire a rocket at Israel. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Navy's Attack Subs Have Welding Issues in Their Missile Tubes Sputnik News 02:42 09.08.2018(updated 02:46 09.08.2018) The US Navy's newest submarines under construction have a problem with the welds on their missile tubes, a potentially costly issue to repair that could delay their completion. Problems were found in a dozen vertical missile launch tubes to be used in the next version of the US Navy's Virginia-class attack submarines, the Block V, as well as the USN's upcoming Columbia-class and the British Royal Navy's Dreadnought-class, both ballistic missile submarines. A dozen such tubes, manufactured by BWXT Inc, were found to have substandard welds, Defense News reported Tuesday. None had been installed on submarines yet, but the problem could delay construction timelines for the three boat classes. Earlier versions of the Virginia-class subs lacking vertical launch tubes are already on patrol, but the Columbias and Dreadnoughts haven't begun construction yet. Construction on the Columbia is slated to begin in 2021 so that the boat will be ready to begin replacing the aging Ohio-class subs by 2031, a schedule US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) insists it can still meet. "All BWXT welding requiring volumetric inspection has been halted until the investigation is complete," according to a statement from NAVSEA spokesperson Bill Couch, and he indicated that the Navy and its prime contractor, General Dynamics Electric Boat, have begun an investigation. "Welding is existential in submarines. You can't have bad welds," US Rep. Joe Courtney, in whose Connecticut district Electric Boat is headquartered, told Military.com. "They operate in an environment that doesn't sustain human life." Courtney noted that the US Navy, and the industry in general, need tighter control over production quality in their supply chains. That comment comes in the wake of a boast last November by US Navy Rear Admiral Michael Jabaley, the Program Executive Officer for Submarines at NAVSEA, that "We've already reduced cost [of Columbia-class submarines] by $80 million per hull, to bring [average procurement unit down to $7.21 [billion]," The Drive reported at the time. "So that was a combination of missile tube continuous production and advance construction, which is pulling key construction activities to the left. Really the focus of that was to reduce the risk of not delivering on time, but it had an added benefit of savings as well." The 12 boats of the Columbia-class are already projected to cost $122.3 billion including up-front fixed costs such as the design blueprints and relevant research and development, according to a July Congressional Research Service report. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Recent Events in Zimbabwe Press Statement Heather Nauert Department Spokesperson Washington, DC August 9, 2018 The United States government is gravely concerned by credible reports of numerous detentions, beatings, and other abuses of Zimbabweans over the past week, particularly targeting opposition activists. There should be no role for violence, intimidation, or harassment in the new Zimbabwe. We are also deeply concerned that Zambia chose to hand over former Minister of Finance Tendai Biti to the Zimbabwean authorities, and in the face of a reported Zambian court order blocking his expulsion from Zambia. This decision is particularly disheartening given the courage that Zambia showed in sheltering thousands of Zimbabwean freedom fighters from Rhodesian aggression in the days of Zimbabwe's independence struggle. We will be discussing this matter with Zambia's leaders and reviewing certain aspects of our cooperation with the Zambian government. The Government of Zimbabwe is now responsible for Tendai Biti's safety and welfare. We call on Zimbabwe's leaders to guarantee Mr. Biti's physical safety and ensure his constitutional and human rights are respected, consistent with the rule of law and Zimbabwe's international obligations and commitments. In Washington, the United States has convoked the ambassadors of both Zimbabwe and Zambia to register our gravest concerns. While Zimbabwe had a historic opportunity to move the country toward a brighter future for all its citizens, an electoral process marred by violence that does not respect constitutional rights and procedures is not a step toward that future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNICEF chief 'horrified' at air strike that hit school bus in northern Yemen 9 August 2018 - The Head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has strongly condemned the airstrike against a school bus in northern Yemen on Thursday, which according to news reports has killed more than two dozen children. "Attacks on children are absolutely unacceptable," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on Twitter on Thursday. "I'm horrified by the reported airstrike on innocent children, some with UNICEF backpacks. Enough is enough." The attack hit the schoolbus in a market in Dahyan, in the northern province of Saada. While the exact death toll remains to be confirmed, initial news reports indicate that the number of casualties could be well above 60, with dozens severely injured. Many of the children were reported to be under the age of 10. "Attacking children is the lowest any party of this conflict can go," UNICEF Yemen Resident Representative Meritxell Relano told UN News. "There is no justification whatsoever to attacking children." According to the UN Children's Fund, since conflict between pro-Government forces and Houthi rebels escalated in 2015, about 2,500 children have been killed and 3,600 maimed in Yemen. The head of the UN agency there called all warring parties to "respect international humanitarian law," and spare children, civilians and civilian infrastructure to prevent Yemen from falling "further into the abyss and the humanitarian catastrophe" it has been facing for over three years. Yemen's conflict has its roots in uprisings that date back to 2011, but fighting escalated in March 2015, when an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened militarily at the request of Yemen's President. Attacks against civilians have been the scourge of this conflict. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "tens of civilians were killed in violence in several governorates" in the past 10 days alone. On 3 August, during a particularly deadly attack, one of the last functioning hospitals, Al Thawra in Al Hudaydah, was struck, reportedly causing the death of dozens of vulnerable, sick and injured civilians. "We've said this before and we are saying it again - parties to the conflict are obliged to do everything possible to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. This is not a voluntary commitment - it is mandatory on all belligerents," said Lise Grande, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, in the latest OCHA report on the situation there. "So many people have died in Yemen - this conflict has to stop." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Envoy urges Burundi leaders to 'seize opportunities for national unity and peace' 9 August 2018 - The Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Burundi, Michel Kafando, has called on the country's leaders to "seize the opportunity" offered by the recent adoption of a new constitution, to create a new political environment that is "conducive to the consolidation of national unity and peace". Addressing the UN Security Council on Thursday, he commended in particular the adoption on 3 August of a roadmap for the 2020 elections that brought the various political leaders to a consensus. The Special Envoy commended President Pierre Nkurunziza for his recent commitment to leave office in 2020 and for pledging his "full support" for whoever emerges from the voting process, as the new president. The current crisis in Burundi began in April 2015, when President Nkurunziza began his campaign for a disputed third-term in office, triggering protests and a failed coup attempt. In his briefing, Mr. Kafando noted the improvement of the security situation since the 17 May national referendum on the new constitution which saw nearly three-quarters of voters registering their approval, or 73 per cent. "Since the constitutional referendum, apart from some objections by the opposition, the situation has remained calm," he said, all the while encouraging the government to "remain vigilant". Regarding the humanitarian situation caused by the onset of the crisis three years ago, the Special Envoy commended the efforts made by Burundi, Tanzania and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), to enable the voluntary return of some 35,000 Burundian refugees since September last year. "These efforts must be sustained, respecting the principles of voluntary returns and guaranteeing the dignified reintegration of the returning refugees in their host communities," he stated. He concluded his briefing calling on the authorities to finalise their agreement with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) so that that his own office in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, could "operate in the best conditions". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi-led Airstrikes Hit Bus in Yemen, Killing 43, Many Children By Ken Bredemeier August 09, 2018 International relief agencies expressed outrage and disgust at a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on Houthi rebels that killed at least 43 people Thursday in Yemen, many of them children. More than 60 people were wounded. One missile struck a bus taking children back from a summer school picnic. Television pictures from a hospital showed blood-covered youngsters who seemed too stunned to even cry. Others writhed on the floor, waiting for help. "Grotesque, shameful, indignant," Norwegian Refugee Council head Jan Egeland tweeted. "Blatant disregard for rules of war when a bus carrying innocent schoolchildren is fair game for attack." Save the Children said it "condemns this horrific attack and is calling for a full, immediate, and independent investigation into this and other recent attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure." Doctors Without Borders decried that "civilians continue to pay the highest price" in Yemen, while the regional director of the U.N. Children's Fund asked, "Does the world really need more innocent children's lives to stop the cruel war on children in Yemen?" The United States backs the Saudi-led coalition targeting Iranian-supported Houthi rebels in Yemen. "We trust when they say that they will investigate. We closely coordinate with them," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. Response to Houthi strike Thursday's airstrike was carried out against a rebel-held area in Saada province, near the Saudi border. Missiles struck a market. It came in response to a Houthi missile strike on Saudi territory Wednesday. Saudi defenses intercepted the missile, but fragments fell to the ground, killing one and wounding 11. The coalition called Thursday's airstrike against the Houthis "a legitimate military operation ... carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law." The Saudis have accused the Houthis of using children as human shields, a charge the rebels deny. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in 2014, sending the Western-supported government into exile in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition began its air and ground campaign to drive out the Houthis more than three years ago. Its airstikes have obliterated civilian neighborhoods, including schools and hospitals, and compounded the misery of what is one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. Many Yemenis are near starvation. There are also severe shortages of fresh water and medicine. A cholera epidemic has killed thousands over the last two years. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan's Kiir Grants Pardon to Bitter Rival, All Rebels By VOA News August 09, 2018 South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has granted a blanket amnesty to rival Riek Machar and other rebels. The decree, announced Thursday on South Sudan's state-run radio and television, took effect Wednesday, just three days after Kiir and Machar signed a power-sharing deal in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum aimed at ending a five-year civil war. South Sudan gained independence from neighboring Sudan in 2011, but in late 2013 erupted into violence over a power struggle between Kiir and Machar, the vice president. The fighting has left tens of thousands of South Sudanese dead and forced millions of the country's citizens to flee their homes. The new pact will see Machar return from exile in South Africa as the first of five vice presidents under a transitional government of national unity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban retreats from Afghan city of Ghazni: Sources IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Kabul, Aug 10, IRNA -- Members of terrorist group of Taliban have retreated from the city of Ghazni, central-east of Afghanistan, after hours long clash with government forces, a local police officer said on Friday. At least 150 Taliban fighters have been killed in the clash that began at 1 am on Friday, Police Commander in Ghazni Province Farid Mashal said. Some 40 bodies of the invaders have been left behind, and sporadic clashes are going on in the suburb, he said. Without giving any figure on government forces' death toll, the commander said 10 military forces have been injured in the fighting. Some sources have confirmed the death of one of the Afghan security forces. Mohammad yousef Amiri, a member of provincial council, told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that special forces of Afghan Army have entered to prop up the military forces in Ghazni. Taliban has admitted its defeat and thus withdrew from the city, he said. An eye witness told IRNA that five members of a family in the city have been killed in a mortar attack of Taliban. Residents of Ghazni earlier on Friday said the city was on the verge of fall as the Taliban forces had entered the city. Ghazni, 145 kilometers from the capital city Kabul, is a province that has been under control of Taliban in the past. 9156**1420 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNICEF condemns Saudi killing Yemeni children IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 10, IRNA -- Head of the UN children entity condemned the Saudi-led air strike on Yemeni children that left at least 100 casualties. 'Attacks on children are absolutely unacceptable,' Henrietta Fore, the UN Children Fund (UNICEF) wrote on her official twitter page referring to Thursday air strike on a school bus with Yemeni children on board. The Yemeni news agency, SABA, reported that the death toll rose to 43, most of whom are children under 13. The number of injured civilians also stood at 61. 'I'm horrified by the reported airstrike on innocent children, some with UNICEF backpacks, on a school bus in #Yemen. Enough is enough,' She said. According to UNICEF, since the beginning of the intervention led by Saudi Arabia and its allies in Yemen in 2015, about 2,400 children have been killed and 3,600 maimed in Yemen. 9156**1420 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces fire missiles at Saudi military bases, key positions in Jizan Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 05:07PM Yemeni army forces, supported by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have launched a barrage of domestically-designed and manufactured ballistic missiles at military bases and key facilities in Saudi Arabia's southwestern border region of Jizan in relation to the Riyadh regime's devastating military aggression against their homeland. A Yemeni military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language al-Masirah television network that the projectiles hit the designated targets with great precision. There were no immediate reports about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused. Earlier in the day, Yemeni troopers and their allies had fired a short-range Badr-1 ballistic missile at al-Jarbah base in Dhahran district of Asir region, though no reports of casualties were quickly available. The developments came only two days after Yemeni soldiers and Popular Committees fighters launched a Badr-1 missile at Jizan Economic City, located 967 kilometers southwest of the Saudi capital Riyadh. Also on Friday, scores of Saudi-backed Yemeni militiamen loyal to resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi were killed and injured when Yemeni army soldiers launched a salvo of Katyusha rockets and artillery rounds at the Alab border crossing in Saudi Arabia's border region of Asir. Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression on Yemen in March 2015. The United Nations says a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in need of food aid, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. A high-ranking UN aid official has warned against the "catastrophic" living conditions in Yemen, stating that there is a growing risk of famine and cholera there. "The conflict has escalated since November, driving an estimated 100,000 people from their homes," John Ging, UN director of aid operations, told the UN Security Council on February 27. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Estonia stops aerial drill with NATO after missile misfired Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 11:08AM Estonia has halted a NATO an aerial military drill in the Baltic country bordering Russia after a missile was accidentally shot by a Spanish fighter jet this week. Estonia's Defense Minister Juri Luik said that the air-to-air missile was erroneously launched Tuesday in its southern region near the border with Russia. Estonia, a tiny member of the West's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with 1.3 million population, says it yet unclear why the missile was misfired. Luik added that the missile had not been found anywhere, but there were no reports of casualties. The AMRAAM-type missile has a range of up to 100 kilometers and may have crashed into a remote nature reserve in the eastern Jogeva region not far from Estonia's border with Russia or triggered its built-in self-destruct mode and exploded in midair, Luik said. "The Spanish defense minister has apologized and expressed deep regret," Luik said on Thursday at a news conference in Tallinn, adding that the commander of the Spanish Armed Forces had apologized as well. Luik said he urged Spain to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, adding he also launched a separate internal probe to review the safety regulations of arranging military air exercises. Until the completion of that review Luik said "I have suspended all NATO exercises in the Estonian airspace." The Eurofighter Typhoon of the Spanish Air Force was part of NATO's Baltic air-policing mission based in Lithuania and was carrying air-to-air missiles containing up to 10 kilograms of explosives. According the Spanish Defense Ministry, two Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon 2000 jets and two French Mirage 2000 jets were taking part in a training exercise over southwestern Estonia on Tuesday, when one of the Spanish planes accidentally launched the air-to-air missile. All the jets then safely returned to their Siauliai air base in Lithuania, the ministry said, adding that it had opened its own an investigation into the incident. In the meantime, the Estonian government said in a statement on Wednesday the Prime Minister Juri Ratas had spoken about the incident to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Ratas described the incident "horrible" and "regrettable." "I told the secretary general of NATO that it is a serious incident and we are understandably concerned about this in Estonia. Thank God that, as far as we know, no one was hurt as a result of the incident," Ratas said in the statement. "I asked Jens Stoltenberg to take yesterday's incident very seriously and promptly identify the circumstances," Ratas said. However, he nevertheless praised the NATO mission as a "very important and necessary part of ensuring Estonia's security." Russia has been critical of NATO members for posing a security threat to the country. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized NATO, and the United States, for the alliance's expansion towards Russia. Lavrov said any military activity near Russian borders posed a security threat to Russia by NATO states comprising of Western European countries. Moscow urged the alliance to respect bilateral security agreements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Caspian states to sign 'legal status' deal Sunday: Russia Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 10:59AM Russia says the five countries, which border the Caspian Sea, are to adopt a convention on its "legal status" at a summit of their presidents in Kazakhstan Sunday. The event is to be held in the southwestern Kazakh city of Aktau, the Kremlin said in a statement on Friday. It said the convention would be signed during the Fifth Caspian Summit, which is to be attended by representatives of Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Russia. President Hassan Rouhani will represent Iran at the two-day event. The convention, which has been under discussion for more than two decades, would grant special status to the Caspian Sea, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said in an interview with Russia's Kommersant daily. The status, he said, will be assigned based on the body of water's "geographic, hydrological, and other features." Concerning the marine resources, Karasin said, "The littoral states will have the full jurisdiction over resources in their sectors of the seabed." Head of the Center for Central Asia and Caucasus Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Stanislav Pritchin, said the Aktau summit will be the beginning of a new era for the Caspian region. The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water by area and is variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The issue of the Caspian Sea's legal regime gained importance following the breakup of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the emergence of new independent states. Iran says the Caspian Sea's legal regime should be drawn up based on mutual trust, consensus, and understanding and must take into account the common interests of all involved countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban raid Ghazni, seize parts of central Afghan city Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 05:59AM Heavy fighting is underway in the Afghan provincial capital of Ghazni following an attack by Taliban militants, with gunfire and blasts ringing out across the city and residents told to stay indoors. Officials and witnesses said Friday the heavily-armed militants had gained control of parts of the city center, from where they were shelling houses and business areas. Ghazni in central Afghanistan is a strategic city straddling the main route between the capital Kabul and southern Afghanistan. Clashes started overnight, forcing authorities to close the highway linking it to Kabul, 150 km to the northeast. The Taliban issued a statement claiming to have captured most of government buildings and that "so far 140 enemy forces have been killed or wounded." Provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori said the bodies of dozens of Taliban fighters were in the streets. Residents said power has been cut to the area since fighting erupted, with the Taliban using loudspeakers at the mosque to warn residents to stay in their homes. The attack on Ghazni comes in the face of growing pressure on the Taliban to agree to peace talks with the Afghan government to end the 17-year war. The group has so far ignored President Ashraf Ghani's offer of unconditional peace negotiations even though its representatives met US officials in Qatar last month. The US had dismissed direct negotiations with the Taliban before but in a change of policy, its Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in June that Washington was prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in talks. The New York Times reported last month that the Trump administration had ordered diplomats to seek direct talks with the Taliban which were ousted from power in 2011 following a US invasion which has led to the occupation of the country to this day. Since late last year, Daesh has also taken advantage of the chaos in Afghanistan, and established a foothold in the country's eastern and northern regions from where it has launched brutal attacks against civilians and security forces. The attack on Ghazni is the Taliban's latest bid in a series of attempts over the past three years to capture urban centers. In May, the group launched a similar assault on Farah and came close to overrunning the city in western Afghanistan. On Thursday, officials said they had found 40 bodies of Afghan soldiers in a military base that Taliban militants stormed last week in the embattled southern province of Uruzgan. A district governor said a number of members of the security forces were still missing, as news of the attack only began filtering out. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said 46 members of the Afghan security forces were killed in the Uruzgan clashes. Security forces have been suffering heavy casualties as they fight the Taliban. A US Congressional watchdog, SIGAR, said in a report last year the losses were "shockingly high" but authorities no longer release overall casualty data. At least 12 people, including children, were killed in a bomb blast in the western Afghanistan city of Herat on Thursday. Local officials said the attack took place in the city's Qol-e-Urdu area. Eyewitnesses said the bomber was riding a motorcycle but no group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Convention On Caspian Sea's Legal Status To Be Signed On August 12, Kremlin Says RFE/RL August 10, 2018 The Kremlin says that, after more than two decades of negotiations, leaders of the five Caspian Sea countries will sign a convention on the resource-rich sea's legal status at a summit in the Kazakh port city of Aqtau on August 12. The signing will will be the "central event" of the summit attended by the presidents of littoral nations Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan, a statement on the Kremlin website on August 10 said. Debates on whether the Caspian is a sea or a lake have been ongoing since the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, leaving five nations with shorelines on the inland sea instead of two -- the Soviet Union and Iran. The countries have been working on an agreement to resolve the issue since 1996, the Kremlin statement said. At stake are resources including trillions of dollars' worth of hydrocarbons in the seabed, which holds about 50 billion barrels of oil and nearly 9 trillion cubic meters of natural gas in proven or probable reserves. A draft of the agreement, posted briefly on Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's website in June and obtained by RFE/RL, suggested that the countries would agree in Aqtau that the Caspian is a sea. If so, the five countries would draw lines extending from their shores to the midway point with littoral neighbors, while classifying it as a lake would mean the resources would be divided equally among those five countries. The draft agreement also forbids the presence on the Caspian of any military forces except those of the five littoral states. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/convention--caspian- sea-signed-on-august-12-russia-azerbaijan -kazakhstan-turkmenistan-iran/29425991.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Navy Doesn't Comment on Reports of Russia Detecting US Sub - Spokesman Sputnik News 19:18 10.08.2018 WASHINGTON(Sputnik) - The United States Navy regularly interacts with Russian warships, but it does not have any comment on the latest reports that a Russian frigate detected a US submarine in the Mediterranean Sea, spokesman for US Sixth Fleet US Navy Cmdr. Kyle Raines told Sputnik on Friday. "I have nothing to provide on the report you've indicated," Raines said. "Our submarine force remains the most lethal and feared on the planet. Additionally, US Navy aircraft and ships routinely interact with Russian units in international airspace and seas and most interactions are safe and professional." Earlier on Friday, the Russian Izvestia newspaper reported that in April, the commander of the Russian Black Sea frigate Admiral Essen discovered a US Ohio-type submarine in the Mediterranean Sea and undertook a two-hour pursuit of it. The former commander of the Baltic Fleet Adm. Vladimir Valuev told Sputnik on Friday that the frigate's commander might be recommended for receiving a state decoration for having detected a US submarine. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia Intercepts Two Ballistic Rockets Fired by Houthis - Reports Sputnik News 17:58 10.08.2018(updated 18:26 10.08.2018) Saudi Arabia's air defense system intercepted two missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi group on Friday. The attack targeted its southern Jizan province, Al Arabiya TV reported. Earlier, the Houthis' Masirah TV broadcaster reported that the militants had fired a number of ballistic missiles at the Saudi city of Jizan, as well as one rocket toward a Saudi military base in Aseer province. Both Jizan and Aseer are located on the Saudi-Yemeni border. The attack took place just two days after a similar shelling of Jizan province. The Saudi city of Jizan and surrounding territories have been the target of numerous missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement. However, Saudi defense systems have managed to intercept a large number of them. The Houthi movement continues to oppose the Saudi-led coalition's involvement in the Yemeni war, aimed at restoring power of Yemen's President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. The latter was forced to flee the country. Currently, Yemeni pro-government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition of Gulf States, have suspended their advance into the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. Their military operation, aimed at gaining control of the city, began on June 13 after the Houthis ignored the government's offer for a peaceful settlement, which expired on June 12. The government stated that it had exhausted all available political and diplomatic means to make the rebels withdraw from the port. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen bus attack just the latest outrage against civilians: UN agencies 10 August 2018 - An air strike on a busy market area in Yemen that reportedly killed scores of people including more than 20 children on a bus, is likely the worst attack on youngsters in the conflict so far, and the latest in a recent spate of violence targeting civilians, UN agencies said on Friday. According to the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR, and UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, at least 21 boys most of them under the age of 15 died when their bus was hit on Thursday in Dahyan market in Saada, in the north of the country. More than 30 boys were also injured in the aerial bombardment, which was carried out by a Saudi-led international coalition that has backed Yemen President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Houthi opposition forces for more than three years. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack on Thursday, urging an "independent and prompt investigation", adding that warring parties must take "constant care to spare civilians". The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, said that he was "deeply shocked by the appalling tragedy that claimed so many innocent lives". The UN official has invited the warring parties to Geneva on 6 September in a bid to reach a political solution to the conflict the first such discussions since 2016. "This should urge us all to exert more efforts to end the conflict through an inclusive intra-Yemeni dialogue," he added, stressing that he hoped all of those involved in the fighting across the country will "engage constructively in the political process, including consultations scheduled in Geneva in September." Briefing journalists in Geneva on Friday, UNICEF spokesperson Christophe Boulierac said that the agency believed the air strike on the school bus constituted "the single worst attack" on children since 2015. "No such number of children have been involved in one incident before," he added. Mr. Boulierac explained that following the attack, UNICEF staff on the ground reported chaotic scenes at the hospital where victims were being treated, adding that the number of fatalities could rise. Reiterating the UN chief's call for Yemen's belligerents to spare civilians, OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell noted that the bus attack followed a series of more minor but deadly - incidents involving youngsters last month. "A large number of children were killed yesterday appallingly, but in July, there are all manner of smaller incidents," she said. "On 19 July, there were four children killed when a coalition air strike struck a farm. On 30 July, two children were killed when an air strike hit a motorbike. On 31 July, two children were killed; they were out with their sheep, grazing, and they took a direct hit from an aerial strike." Turning to the recent targeting of a hospital and other targets in the key Houthi-controlled port city of Hudaydah, the OHCHR spokesperson said that staff there had documented "at least" 41 civilian deaths. Among the dead were six children and four women, Ms. Throssell said, noting that mortars had struck different built-up locations in Al Hawak district. These included the fishing port, a dock and hangar "at the time full of fishermen and street vendors", the OHCHR spokesperson explained, adding that Al-Thawra hospital was hit shortly afterwards. In that attack, three mortars were fired, including one that landed in a busy street "full of traffic, street vendors and pedestrians", Ms. Throssell said. Between 26 March and 9 August 2018, OHCHR has documented 17,062 civilian casualties in Yemen; this includes 6,592 dead and 10,470 injured. The majority of these casualties 10,471 were as a result of air strikes carried out by the Saudi-led Coalition, it said in a statement. Amid ongoing conflict in one of the world's poorest countries, UNICEF warned that the consequences for children have been particularly striking. "Every day in Yemen, children are starving, children are dying because of the level of violence and its consequences," spokesperson Christophe Boulierac said. "1.8 million children are at risk of diarrhoeal diseases, 1.3 million children are at risk of pneumonia, more than 4 million children are in acute need of educational assistance. So, any violence in Yemen, any facility that provides water indirectly threatens the lives of children." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan Taliban Storm City Southwest of Kabul By Ayesha Tanzeem August 10, 2018 Afghan Taliban stormed Ghazni city, almost 150 kilometers southwest of Kabul Thursday night. Heavy clashes continued until late Friday morning between the insurgent group and government security forces. At one point, the two sides were fighting in the center of the city near important government installations, including the offices of the governor and the National Directorate for Security, Afghanistan's intelligence agency, according to residents and a member of provincial council, Amanullah Kamrani. The government sent in Afghan special forces, which helped push the Taliban back to the outskirts of the city according to General Farid Mashal, the provincial police chief. However, he said that the Taliban were taking shelter in civilian areas, making the job of the security forces difficult. Residents said fighting continued in parts of the city, particularly in the second district. The U.S. military has tweeted this about Ghazni: And the Afghan military tweeted that they have inflicted heavy casualties on the Taliban in Ghazni and the district center is in their control. The Kabul-Kandahar highway that passes through Ghazni city was closed. The Taliban claimed they had closed the highway near Maidan Wardak and Ghazni, and set up checkpoints in several other places. Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish told the Associated Press that the army was helping the local police and that the security forces were in control of the city. AP also reported that nine security forces personnel wounded in the attacks were being treated at a local hospital. In a statement sent to media, the Taliban said they launched about a dozen broad-ranged operations in the center of Ghazni province Thursday night and claimed to have captured a large amount of weapons and ammunition. They also claimed to have killed a high number of security forces personnel but there is no independent confirmation of those claims yet. Ghazni city is part of the larger Ghazni province, which has faced increased insecurity in recent months. Last Friday, the Taliban stormed a military base in Southern Uruzgan province and left dozens of bodies of soldiers behind. Fierce fighting continues in several parts of Afghanistan, despite talks of a possible cease-fire for the Muslim holy festival of Eid this month. A similar cease-fire two months ago, the first in 17 years of hostilities, saw Taliban fighters heading to the city and taking selfies with their battleground enemies in the Afghan security forces. Afghan authorities have stopped releasing data on the number of casualties they suffer in battles with the Taliban. Last year, a United States corruption watchdog body SIGAR called the casualties "shockingly high." Recently, reports have emerged of U.S. officials making direct contacts with the Taliban in an effort to start a peace and reconciliation process. The Taliban have long demanded to negotiate directly with the U.S. and not with what they call the "puppet regime" in Kabul. Earlier this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the Taliban were under pressure to enter peace talks. However, he reiterated that the process would be "Afghan-owned and Afghan-led." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Analysts Warn of Overly Bloated South Sudan Government By Mohammed Yusuf August 10, 2018 South Sudan's government and opposition groups have begun the process of implementing the peace agreement signed last week. But some analysts warn it will be difficult to maintain the bloated government for three years. South Sudanese leaders will have a three-year transitional period to put the country on a path toward peace and resettle its people, both those who fled the country and those internally displaced. During the transition period, the country will be run by a government that includes five vice presidents, 35 cabinet ministers, and 550 legislators. Deo Gumba, a researcher with the Institute for Security Studies, said countries and international organizations will find it difficult to fund and maintain such a bloated government. "It will require a lot of support from donors and from international partners to ensure that this bloated government works," he explained. "The transition period of three years is quite a long time.They usually say one day is a long time in politics and therefore three years for a transition will be a very long time indeed to be able to do things that would change the situation quickly because the longer it stays, the more things are likely to remain the same." James Okuk, a political science lecturer at the University of Juba, sees the transition going longer than three years. "If a lot of things are not put in place," he said, "it could be extended for few months, especially if election preparation need some more time.They could extend it to even four years. So it's not a big deal because a lot has been destroyed in South Sudan, you need a real transitional period where you can put things to order." As part of implementing the peace agreement, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Thursday granted amnesty to rebel leader Riek Machar and other opposition leaders. Some regional observers have welcomed the renewed effort to end South Sudan's civil war, but Okuk said a lot needs to be done to change people's behavior in solving their differences. "The mentality that has developed during this time of conflict that mentality has created a culture of war, culture of violence," he said. "So there is a lot of work to be done to reset that mentality of the people so that they can adopt the culture of peace and the can resort to the rule of law in case of any differences or any difficulties." South Sudan has been mired in civil war since December 2013. The United Nations says the war has driven more than four million people from their homes, with more than two million living as refugees in nearby countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MAFFS: Colorado reservists activated to support fire suppression efforts in Western U.S. 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published August 09, 2018 PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- Air Force reservists and one Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 302nd Airlift Wing deployed to California August 8. The reservists join the Department of Defense MAFFS Air Expeditionary Group replacing one of the four currently activated DoD MAFFS-equipped C-130s and aircrews conducting fire suppression missions on record-setting fires in California. According Col. James DeVere, MAFFS Air Expeditionary Group and 302nd AW commander, the MAFFS-equipped C-130s have flown more than 150 fire suppression sorties including support to California's Carr and Mendocino fires since beginning MAFFS operations at McClellan Airtanker base in northern California, July 26. This is the second time the 302nd AW C-130s and Reserve aircrews have been activated to support aerial fire suppression missions using the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service MAFFS this year. The first activation took place early in July supporting fire suppression efforts in Colorado. On July 27, the National Multi-Agency Coordination Group raised the National Preparedness Level to the highest level on its 1 to 5 scale due to growth of existing and new fires in California, the Great Basin and Northwest geographic areas. The DoD MAFFS-equipped C-130s are operated by four military airlift wings: The California Air National Guard's 146th AW; the Nevada ANG's 152nd AW; the Wyoming ANG's 153rd AW; and the Air Force Reserve's 302nd AW. The MAFFS units are owned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and, when installed in a C-130, can discharge up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes. The DoD, through U.S. Northern Command at Peterson AFB, Colorado, provides unique military support to firefighting efforts when requested by the National Interagency Fire Center and approved by the Secretary of Defense. These diverse mission assets are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to protect lives, property, critical infrastructure and natural resources, and can include, but are not limited to, MAFFS, military helicopters and ground forces capable of supporting firefighting efforts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Operatives Have Penetrated Florida's Election System, U.S. Senator Says RFE/RL August 09, 2018 Russian operatives have penetrated the election system of one of the largest U.S. states, and could delete voters' registration documents ahead of the November elections if the systems are not adequately protected, the state's U.S. senators are warning. "They have already penetrated certain counties in the state and they now have free rein to move about," Florida Senator Bill Nelson told the Tampa Bay Times on August 8. "We were requested by the chairman and vice chairman of the [Senate] Intelligence Committee to let supervisors of [the] election in Florida know that the Russians are in their records," Nelson said. The southern state of Florida is not only one of the most populous states, but it has also played a critical role as a swing state, helping determine the outcome of recent nationwide elections. Nelson, a Democrat, and Florida's other senator, Republican Marco Rubio, wrote a letter last month telling the state's 67 county election supervisors about the Russian threat, the newspaper said. But the state department that oversees elections on August 8 said that it has received "zero information" from Nelson, federal, or state agencies to support the Russian infiltration claim. "If Senator Nelson has specific information about threats to our elections, he should share it with election officials in Florida," said Sarah Revell, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of State, adding that state and local officials have already received federal funding to strengthen the security of the state's election systems. Nelson told the Times that "the threat is real and elections officials -- at all levels -- need to address the vulnerabilities." "This is no fooling time. That's why two senators, bipartisan, reached out to the election apparatus of Florida to let them know the Russians are in your records and all they have to do, if those election records are not protected, is to go in and start eliminating registered voters," Nelson said. "You can imagine the chaos that would occur on election day when the voters get to the polls" and discover they are no longer registered to vote, he said. Creating such confusion is "exactly what the Russians want to do," he said. Sara Sendek, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, issued a statement late on August 8 saying: "While we are aware of Senator Nelson's recent statements, we have not seen any new compromises by Russian actors of election infrastructure." The Senate Intelligence Committee's ranking Democrat, Senator Mark Warner, said Florida and all other U.S. states need to take the Russian interference threat "seriously." "Russian activities continue to pose a threat to the security of our elections, as Senators Nelson and Rubio rightly pointed out." Warner said. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian operatives targeted the 2016 presidential race with a hacking and social media disinformation campaign to try to tilt the election in President Donald Trump's favor. They said they found no evidence that vote tallies were changed in the 2016 election, but they have since warned that Russian agents have continued their efforts to interfere and are now targeting the November 6 congressional elections. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and Tampa Times Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian- operatives-penetrated-florida-election-system-us- senator-nelson-rubio-says/29421475.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dissent in IS Ranks; Al-Baghdadi Still in Charge? By Jamie Dettmer August 09, 2018 In an extraordinary breach of the Islamic State's culture of unquestioning obedience, an IS writer calling himself Ibn Jubayr has penned a series of five scathing articles leveling direct and unprecedented criticism at the militant group's leadership, according to a respected monitoring group. The articles come amid a growing number of dissident social media posts by apparent IS members, a stark change in a group where any suggestion of disobedience or criticism normally has been met with harsh punishment, including whippings, torture and often, execution. The latest articles, monitored last month by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), were published on the Al-Nasihah channel on Telegram, the heavily encrypted phone messaging and social networking application used by IS supporters to communicate with each other. Ibn Jubayr is believed to be a member of a dissenting circle of IS scholars and clerics, who have been sidelined by power struggles and are dissatisfied with the leadership. They are especially angry at the domination of the upper ranks of the terror group by Iraqis. In his attack, Ibn Jubayr decried the "Iraqization" of the leadership and questioned whether the militants' caliph, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, is powerless and effectively excluded from decision-making. MEMRI researchers say over the past year, the group Ibn Jubayr belongs to all members of the organization's so-called Bureau of Studies and Research, which is in charge of issuing religious rulings has become embroiled in a dispute with the organization's leadership and its media department over the esoteric but theologically significant issue about who can declare apostasy in Islam. But that obscure dispute appears to have morphed into a broader range of complaints. "This is a series of articles from inside the Islamic State in which we try to expose the men who hold power in it, who have violated the path of the prophecy in their policies in order to attain benefits for themselves and to remain in their positions," announced Ibn Jubayr. Throughout the series, he suggests Al-Haj Abdallah, head of IS's Delegated Committee, the top executive body, has pushed al-Baghdadi aside, reducing him to being merely a symbolic figurehead. Reports of infighting Complaints have surfaced in recent months from other quarters within IS with accounts of clashes between different factions in Syria's eastern province of Deir el-Zour, where IS supporters have called for al-Baghdadi's ouster and replacement. One of the reasons given was the powerhold Iraqis have on the organization, which is the subject, too, of Ibn Jubayr's first article. He decries Iraqi leaders for ensuring that their countrymen maintain positions of power within IS. According to Ibn Jubayr, the policy of "Iraqization" has ensured that "positions of administration and control throughout the Islamic State are held exclusively by Iraqis, while everybody else simply carries out their directives and is subject to only their orders." The Iraqis claim non-Iraqis are less trustworthy, but Ibn Jubayr maintains their hold on power has caused "large internal splits in the ranks of the soldiers, to the extent that some of the jihad fighters consider the Iraqi governors to be a nationalist gang and an Iraqi mafia." Ibn Jubayr complains that many of the Iraqis appointed as judges or in leadership positions are unqualified, with some not knowing how to read and write, and include criminals who embezzle IS funds to enrich themselves. "As for the caliph [Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi], may Allah protect him, he is one of two things: Either he is kept in the dark, or he knows about this but was convinced of the necessity of this policy," said Ibn Jubayr. The scathing attack is reminiscent of some semi-public criticism by IS supporters in early 2016 when the terror group first started to come under serious military pressure from its foes including U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces that eventually led the self-declared caliphate being rolled up territorially in both Syria and Iraq. IS retains a significant presence in remote and rugged areas along the Syrian-Iraqi border. In February 2016, the widow of an IS fighter voiced rare open criticism of the terror group's leaders, complaining about the treatment of widows and families of dead fighters. Her protest letter, posted online, was circulated widely on pro-IS social media sites, and she clearly had some sympathy within the organization, according to analysts, as her online complaints weren't deleted. The woman calling herself al-Muhajirahm, apparently a Westerner, lamented the meager support given to some widows. "Imagine that you've helped a sister who requested zakat [charity] two days ago, but you have ignored the sister who has been waiting a month before," she writes. "She cries every night, concerned about how to feed her children as her husband is martyred. The tears that roll down her cheeks and the pain she suffers will be something you will be asked about and accountable for," she added. In early 2016 with battlefield setbacks mounting rapidly, there were signs of increasing dissent and defections from IS, especially by North African recruits who complained they were treated unequally, receiving less pay and a poorer share of spoils and enslaved women. The group's leadership responded with brute force, and there were reports of ever more gruesome executions and massacres. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Space Force to Become Sixth Branch of Armed Forces Aug. 9, 2018 By Claudette Roulo DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON -- The Defense Department will establish a sixth branch of the armed forces, the U.S. Department of the Space Force, by 2020, Vice President Mike Pence announced today. In a speech at the Pentagon, the vice president also announced plans to establish a new combatant command -- U.S. Space Command -- as well as a Space Operations Force and a new joint organization called the Space Development Agency. The announcement follows a seven-week review by DoD, directed by President Donald J. Trump, of "the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces." A report outlining the results of the study will be released later today. "In his inaugural address to the nation, President Trump declared that the United States stands 'at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space,'" Pence said. Space Force Just as advances in aviation technology drove the emergence of air as a new battlefield in the 20th century, advances in space technology have made it clear that space is the new battlefield for the 21st century, the vice president said. The U.S. will meet the emerging threats on this new battlefield, he said, and carry on the cause of liberty and peace into the next great frontier. "The time has come to establish the United States Space Force," Pence said. The new branch will be separate from, but equal to, the five other branches, he said. "To be clear: the Space Force will not be built from scratch, because the men and women who run and protect our nation's space programs today are already the best in the world," the vice president said. "Across this department and our intelligence agencies, there are literally tens of thousands of military personnel, civilians and contractors operating and supporting our space systems -- and together, they are the eyes and ears of America's warfighters around the globe," Pence said. Peace Through Strength Actions by U.S. adversaries make it clear that space is already a warfighting domain, the vice president said. "For many years, nations from Russia and China to North Korea and Iran have pursued weapons to jam, blind and disable our navigation and communications satellites via electronic attacks from the ground," Pence said. "But recently, our adversaries have been working to bring new weapons of war into space itself." In 2007, China launched a missile that tracked and destroyed one of its own satellites, the vice president said. And Russia is working on an airborne laser to disrupt space-based systems, he added. "Both nations are also investing heavily in what are known as hypersonic missiles designed to fly up to 5 miles per second at such low altitudes that they could potentially evade detection by our missile defense radars," Pence said. "In fact, China claimed to have made its first successful test of a hypersonic vehicle just last week." In every domain, America will always seek peace, the vice president said. "But history proves that peace only comes through strength," he added. "And in the realm of outer space, the United States Space Force will be that strength." Action Steps The report to be released today represents a critical step toward establishing the Space Force, he said. It identifies several actions that DoD will take as the nation evolves its space capabilities, "and they are built on the lessons of the past," Pence said. First, the report calls for the creation of the U.S. Space Command, a new unified combatant command for space. "This new command will establish unified command and control for our Space Force operations, ensure integration across the military, and develop the space warfighting doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures of the future," he said. Second, the report calls for the establishment of a Space Operations Force -- an elite group of joint warfighters, specializing in the domain of space, who will form the backbone of the nation's newest armed service. This force will draw from across the military to provide space expertise in times of crisis and conflict, Pence said. "Third, the report calls for a new joint organization -- the Space Development Agency -- that will ensure the men and women of the Space Force have the cutting-edge warfighting capabilities that they need and deserve," he said. Finally, the report calls for clear lines of responsibility and accountability to manage the process of establishing and growing the Space Force, including the appointment of an assistant secretary of defense for space, the vice president said. "Creating a new branch of the military is not a simple process," Pence noted. "It will require collaboration, diligence and, above all, leadership. As challenges arise and deadlines approach, there must be someone in charge who can execute, hold others accountable, and be responsible for the results." Ultimately, Congress must establish the new department, the vice president said. "Next February, in the president's budget, we will call on the Congress to marshal the resources we need to stand up the Space Force, and before the end of next year, our administration will work with the congress to enact the statutory authority for the space force in the National Defense Authorization Act," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Unveils Plans For Space Force To Counter Russia, China 'Threat' RFE/RL August 09, 2018 Vice President Mike Pence, citing threats from Russia and China, has presented details of plans to create a U.S. Space Force by 2020 that would become the sixth branch of the military. "Time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces" and to prepare for "the next battlefield," Pence told an audience at the Pentagon on August 9. He said a Space Force was a crucial element to countering Russia and China, which he said were "aggressively" working to develop antisatellite capabilities. "China and Russia have been conducting highly sophisticated on-orbit activities that could enable them to maneuver their satellites into close proximity of ours, posing unprecedented new dangers to our space systems," the vice president said. "We must have American dominance in space, and so we will," Pence added. President Donald Trump tweeted, "Space Force all the way!" The U.S. military currently consists of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. Trump in June ordered the creation of a Space Force as a way for the military to address vulnerabilities in space and press U.S. dominance in space. "My administration is reclaiming America's heritage as the world's greatest space-faring nation," Trump said. "We don't want China and Russia and other countries leading us. We've always led." At the time, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed alarm over the U.S. plan, accusing Washington of "nurturing plans to bring out weapons into space with the aim of possibly staging military action there." The creation of a Space Force would still need to be approved by the U.S. Congress, where some members have expressed concerns about the additional costs. Pence said the initial request to Congress would be for $8 billion for five years and that the administration was working with lawmakers to construct the needed legislation. Most space-based defense activities are currently under the control of the Air Force, and some officers have said that an independent branch would create unnecessary expenses and, ultimately, turf wars. With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-unveils- plans-for-space-force-to-counter- russia-china-threat-/29422750.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Pentagon Report Names Russia, China as Threats to US Space Capabilities Sputnik News 19:27 09.08.2018(updated 21:43 09.08.2018) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - A new space report by the Pentagon has named Russia and China as key threats to US space capabilities, according to a document released on Thursday. "The United States faces rapidly growing threats to our space capabilities. China and Russia, our strategic competitors, are explicitly pursuing space warfighting capabilities to neutralize US space capabilities during a time of conflict," the report said. "Other potential adversaries are also pursuing counter-space capabilities such as jamming, dazzling, and cyber-attacks." The report specified that the US Space Command's capability development efforts would focus on global surveillance for missile targeting and other priorities. "Department capability development efforts will focus on Persistent Global Surveillance for advanced missile targeting," the report said. The paper stated that the command will also focus on developing its deterrent capability and nuclear command, control and communications. In addition to this, artificial intelligence-enabled global surveillance and near-real-time space situational awareness will be priorities, it added. At the same time, the Pentagon outlined in the report the US Space Command's major priorities. "US Space Command priorities will include: designing and executing a full range of joint space training and exercises, with focused support to the Asia Pacific Security Initiative and the European Deterrence Initiative," the report said. The document revealed that the US Space Operations Force will prioritize development of the world's best space operations. "The Space Operations Force will: Develop the world's best space operations, intelligence, engineering, science, acquisition, cyber personnel and present them to COCOMs [combatant commands]," the document noted. "Be prepared to deploy teams of space experts to US European Command and US Indo-Pacific Command no later than summer of 2019." Why China, Russia Allegedly Threatening the US? US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) commander Gen. John Hyten said at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium on Tuesday that Russia and China are developing capabilities and testing new technologies to challenge the United States in space. The two countries, Hyten explained, have both been increasing investments and have conducted testing of new technologies in the space domain. Russia and China also conduct tests for new technologies in space, Hyten added. Moscow and Beijing have both declared their commitment to the use of space for peaceful purposes and are members of the United Nation's Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. As part of the September Xiamen declaration, the leaders of the BRICS countries, including China and Russia, have called on states to carry out peaceful exploration in outer space and in accordance with international law, stressing that outer space should remain free from any kind of weapons and use of force. Pence Reminds US Congress About Trump's Call for $8Bln on Space Security System "Today we renew the president's call on the Congress of the United States to invest an additional $8 billion in our space security system over the next five years," Pence said. The US vice president went on to say in a speech at the Pentagon that the president's administration has begun working with the Congress to create such a force by 2020. "Our administration will soon take action to implement these recommendations with the objective of establishing the United States Department of the Space Force by the year 2020," Pence said. "Our administration is already working with leaders in the Congress to do just that." The statement by Pence echoes a mid-June order by US President Donald Trump to the country's Department of Defense to create a Space Force as the sixth branch of the US Armed Forces. As the US president specified, the goal of this force is to outpace such nations as China and Russia. Following this order, at the end of June, the US House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the 2019 fiscal year that stipulates "the development and deployment of persistent space-based sensor architecture" by the end of 2022 to ensure the effectiveness of the country's missile defenses. Reacting to this move, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that "a military confrontation in space may be as dangerous as the nuclear arms race set off by Washington in the middle of the last century", slamming the US military space program as "adventurism" that may have "the most negative impact on the state of international security." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Administration Wants Space Force by 2020 By VOA News August 09, 2018 U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that the Pentagon was taking steps to create a space force by 2020 in order to "meet the emerging threats on this new battlefield." "Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield. ... The time has come to establish the United States Space Force," Pence said in a speech at the Pentagon. President Donald Trump repeatedly has called for the creation of a space force as a new military branch that he says is needed to ensure U.S. dominance in space. The Pentagon submitted a report to Congress on Thursday detailing its space management changes. The report details the creation of Space Operations Command, which will oversee space operations forces from different military branches until a space force is established. Congress is the only branch of government that has the authority to approve the creation of a new military division. Trump shared his excitement after the announcement on Twitter: In a letter to Congress last year, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis opposed the creation of a new military branch and cautioned against creating "organizational layers at a time when we are focused on reducing overhead and integrating joint warfighting functions." On Thursday, though, Mattis endorsed the space management changes that would utilize members of existing military branches. "We've got to be able to compete, deter and win," Mattis said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by Vice President Pence on the Future of the U.S. Military in Space August 9, 2018 The Pentagon Arlington, Virginia 11:17 A.M. EDT THE VICE PRESIDENT: Secretary Mattis, Deputy Secretary Shanahan, General Selva, General Goldfein, members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, and all the men and women of the United States Department of Defense who each and every day oversee the greatest military in the history of the world: Thank you for all you do every day for the American people. (Applause.) It is my great honor, Mr. Secretary, to join you here today at the Pentagon. And let me begin by bringing greetings from your Commander-in-Chief, who has from the very earliest days of this administration proved himself to be a great champion of the Armed Forces of the United States, committed to strengthening American security here on Earth and in space. I bring greetings from the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. (Applause.) In his Inaugural Address to the nation, President Trump proclaimed that the United States stands, in his words, "at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space." And since day one of our administration, this President has kept his promise to restore America's proud legacy of leadership in space, believing that space is essential to our nation's security, prosperity, and our very way of life. Last year, after it had lain dormant for nearly a quarter-century, President Trump revived the National Space Council to reinvigorate and coordinate space activities across our government. It is my great honor, as Vice President, to serve as the Chairman of the National Space Council. And I'm pleased to report that President Trump has already signed three new space policy directives to reorient our space program toward human exploration, unleash America's burgeoning commercial space companies, and safeguard our vital space assets with new space traffic management policy. But as Commander-in-Chief, President Trump's highest priority is the safety and security of the American people. And while, too often, previous administrations all but neglected the growing security threats emerging in space, President Trump stated clearly and forcefully that space is, in his words, "a warfighting domain, just likeland, [and] air, and sea." And just as we've done in ages past, the United States of America, under his leadership, will meet the emerging threats on this new battlefield with American ingenuity and strength to defend our nation, protect our people, and carry the cause of liberty and peace into the next great American frontier. In 1939, at the start of the Second World War, the U.S. Army Air Corps was still a fledgling organization. But as Nazi air forces bombed their way from Warsaw to London, our military commanders took decisive action then to meet that new threat head on. By 1945, the American military had nearly 30 times the number of planes, and 85 times the number of pilots and support crews compared to just six years earlier. America and our allies emerged victorious from World War II because of the strength of our armed forces, and because our armed forces adapted to meet the emerging threats of the day. We knew that airpower had forever changed the nature of war, so we marshaled the resources and the will to build the most powerful air force the world had ever seen. And just two years after that terrible conflict, our nation created a new branch of service to secure American dominance in the skies for generations to come with the creation of the United States Air Force. Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America's best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people and to our nation. The time has come to establish the United States Space Force. And that's what brings us here today. Seven weeks ago, President Trump directed the Department of Defense "to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces." The President made it clear that our ultimate objective is to create a new branch of our military that is separate from, and equal to, five other branches. Today, the Department of Defense will release a report outlining the first stages of our administration's plan to implement the President's guidance and turn his vision into a reality. This report reviews the national security space activities within the Department of Defense, and it identifies concrete steps that our administration will take to lay the foundation for a new Department of the Space Force. Now, to be clear, the Space Force will not be built from scratch because the men and the women who run and protect our nation's space programs today are already the best in the world. And since the dawn of the Space Age, America has remained the best in space. (Applause.) Over the past 60 years, the United States has assembled the largest and most sophisticated constellation of military and intelligence satellites in the world. We've pioneered the technology to leverage American power in space here on Earth, and give our warfighters the intelligence that they need, and give our intelligence community the information they need to maintain a strategic advantage wherever our warfighters are operating. Across this Department and our intelligence agency, there are literally tens of thousands of military personnel, civilians, and contractors operating and supporting our space systems, and together they're the eyes and the ears of America's warfighters around the globe. And they do a remarkable job. I've seen their work firsthand. I've traveled across the country to meet with the men and women who are fighting for America's future in space in my first year and a half on this job, from the airmen of the 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base, whose fleet of surveillance, navigation, and communication satellites increase the agility, precision, and effectiveness of our armed forces; to the engineers of the Missile Defense Agency at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama who are forging the next generation of rockets to strengthen our missile defense; to the many other bases and facilities across the country where our men and women in uniform work together with our intelligence community and our allies to protect our people, our nation, and our interests around the world. And over the past 18 months, President Trump and our entire administration have taken decisive action to strengthen American power in space as well. President Trump recently signed the largest investment in our national defense since the days of Ronald Reagan. (Applause.) And that new Defense budget included new resources for two cutting-edge military communications satellites and nearly $1 billion for our space defense programs. And today, we renew the President's call on the Congress of the United States to invest an additional $8 billion in our space security systems over the next five years. The men and women of this Department have also taken historic steps to secure American leadership in space. At the direction of Secretary Mattis, the Department of Defense is fielding a new generation of jam-resistant GPS and communications satellites and new missile-warning satellites that are smaller, tougher, and more maneuverable than ever before. And while these steps have been vital to our national defense, they're really only a beginning. They're only a beginning of meeting the rising security threats our nation faces in space today and in the future. As President Trump has said, in his words, "It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space; we must have American dominance in space." And so we will. (Applause.) And that's precisely why we're beginning the process of establishing a Space Force as the sixth branch of our armed forces. Just as in the past, when we created the Air Force, establishing the Space Force is an idea whose time has come. The space environment has fundamentally changed in the last generation. What was once peaceful and uncontested is now crowded and adversarial. Today, other nations are seeking to disrupt our space-based systems and challenge American supremacy in space as never before. For many years, nations from Russia and China to North Korea and Iran have pursued weapons to jam, blind, and disable our navigation and communications satellites via electronic attacks from the ground. But recently, our adversaries have been working to bring new weapons of war into space itself. In 2007, China launched a missile that tracked and destroyed one of its own satellites a highly provocative demonstration of China's growing capability to militarize space. Russia has been designing an airborne laser to disrupt our space-based system. And it claims to be developing missiles that can be launched from an aircraft mid-flight to destroy American satellites. Both China and Russia have been conducting highly sophisticated on-orbit activities that could enable them to maneuver their satellites into close proximity of ours, posing unprecedented new dangers to our space systems. Both nations are also investing heavily in what are known as hypersonic missiles designed to fly up to five miles per second at such low altitudes that they could potentially evade detection by our missile-defense radars. In fact, China claimed to have made its first successful test of a hypersonic vehicle just last week. China and Russia are also aggressively working to incorporate anti-satellite attacks into their warfighting doctrines. In 2015, China created a separate military enterprise to oversee and prioritize its warfighting capabilities in space. As their actions make clear, our adversaries have transformed space into a warfighting domain already. And the United States will not shrink from this challenge. (Applause.) Under President Trump's leadership, we will meet it head on to defend our nation and build a peaceful future here on Earth and in space. America will always seek peace in space as on the Earth. But history proves that peace only comes through strength. And in the realm of outer space, the United States Space Force will be that strength in the years ahead. (Applause.) Now, the report the Department of Defense will release today, that Secretary Mattis just referenced, represents a critical step toward establishing the Space Force as the sixth branch of our armed forces. It actually identifies four actions that we will take to evolve our space capabilities, and they are built on the lessons of the past. We all remember the hard lesson learned in the early 1980s, as the tragic debacle of Desert One took place. Eight American patriots fell in the line of duty while trying to rescue their fellow Americans who were being held hostage in Iran. In the wake of that failed mission, America resolved to ensure that our joint warfighters would always have the training, coordination, and leadership they needed to accomplish their missions. And the steps that our nation took in the years that followed paved the way for the creation of the United States Special Operations Command. Since that time, this vital combatant command has directed our Special Operations Forces to become the most effective and lethal fighting force in the history of the world. (Applause.) Our Special Operations Forces, through this unified command, have been defending our security and advancing interests, as they do to this very hour, in every corner of the globe. Along those same lines, today's report calls for the creation of a new unified combatant command for space: The United States Space Command. This new command structure for the physical domain of space, led by a four-star flag officer, will establish unified command and control for our Space Force operations, ensure integration across the military, and develop the space warfighting doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures of the future. The second step this report calls for is the creation of an elite group of joint warfighters specializing in the domain of space who will form the backbone of the nation's newest armed service: Space Operations Force. Just like our Special Operations Forces, a Space Operations Force will draw men and women from across the military and will grow into their own unique and cohesive community. They'll support the combatant commands by providing space expertise in times of crisis and conflict. Third, this report calls for the creation of a new joint organization, the Space Development Agency, that will ensure the men and women of the Space Force have the cutting-edge warfighting capabilities that they need and deserve. While our adversaries have been busy weaponizing space, too often we have bureaucratized it. And over time, our ability to adapt to new and emerging threats has been stifled by needless layers of red tape. The Space Development Agency will break free from ineffective and duplicative bureaucratic structures to focus on innovation, experimentation, and forging the technologies of the future. The men and women of the Department of Defense have pioneered some of the most groundbreaking discoveries in our armed forces that literally have revolutionized our national defense in times of need, from General Schriever's creation of the intercontinental ballistic missile to Admiral Rickover's development of the Navy's nuclear enterprise. And now we must do our part to make bold breakthroughs, strengthen America's industrial base, and deliver the cutting-edge warfighting capabilities faster than our adversaries could ever imagine. And that's exactly what Americans will do. (Applause.) Finally, this report calls for clear lines of responsibility and accountability to manage the process of standing up and scaling up the United States Department of the Space Force. Creating a new branch of the military is not a simple process. It will require collaboration, diligence, and above all, leadership. As challenges arise, deadlines approach, there must be someone in charge who can execute, hold others accountable, and be responsible for the results. So we will create a single civilian position, reporting to the Secretary of Defense, to oversee the growth and expansion of this new branch of service. This position will be a new Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space. And this leader will be key to the critical transition to a fully independent Secretary of the Space Force in the years ahead. President Trump and I are grateful truly grateful to Secretary Mattis for this Department's diligence in preparing this report. And our administration will soon take action to implement these recommendations, with the objective of establishing the United States Department of the Space Force by the year 2020. Ultimately, Congress must act to establish this new Department which will organize, train, and equip the United States Space Force. Our administration is already working with leaders in the Congress to do just that. We're building bipartisan support for our plan, working closely with committee counterparts like Congressman Mac Thornberry, and Congressman Adam Smith, and Congressman Mike Rogers, and Congressman Jim Cooper. Next February, in the President's budget, we will call on the Congress to marshal the resources we need to stand up the Space Force. And before the end of next year, our administration will work with the Congress to enact the statutory authority for the Space Force in the National Defense Authorization Act. Our nation's armed forces have always been the vanguard of advancing American leadership here on Earth and beyond. And the Space Force is the next and the natural evolution of American military strength. The first American rockets in space were launched by our military. The first American satellites to orbit the Earth were on reconnaissance missions, peering behind the Iron Curtain. The first Americans to step forward to venture into the unknown were the world's greatest aviators and test pilots from the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps. And the next generation of Americans to confront the emerging threats in the boundless expanse of space will be wearing the uniform of the United States of America as well. (Applause.) And I'll promise you, your Commander-in-Chief is going to continue to work tirelessly toward this goal, and we expect you all to do the same. And to all the men and women of this Department: This is the moment. Now is the time to act quickly, using all the tools at your disposal to lead our nation forward with President Trump's vision to meet the challenges that lie ahead. There is much work to do. Success will demand the very best of each of you. So be bold, be creative, unencumbered by the past or the status quo. And remember, when it comes to defending our nation and protecting our way of life, the only thing we can't afford is inaction. The American people deserve our very best, and they will have it. As the President will discuss in further detail in the days ahead, the United States Space Force will strengthen our security, it will ensure our prosperity, and it will also carry American ideals into the boundless expanse of space. While other nations increasingly possess the capability to operate in space, not all of them share our commitment to freedom, to private property, and the rule of law. So as we continue to carry American leadership in space, so also will we carry America's commitment to freedom into this new frontier. (Applause.) So this is the moment. Now is the time to do as Americans have always done in ages past, to lead with strength and a pioneering spirit into the future. And under the leadership of President Trump, our Commander-in-Chief, we will take the first bold steps to ensure our security on Earth and in outer space with renewed American strength. And as we embark, we do so with faith. Faith in all of you who have answered the call to serve in the uniform of the United States of America at such a time as this in the life of our nation. Faith to all the incredible civilian personnel who serve here in the Department of Defense with equal devotion to our nation. And we do so with that other kind of faith as well. And just as generations of Americans have carried those who have taken to the skies in the defense of freedom borne upon their prayers, I want to assure all of you, who will be called to this enterprise, that you can be confident. You can be confident that you will go with the prayers of millions of Americans who will claim on your behalf, as generations have claimed before, those ancient words, that if you "rise on the wings of the dawn, if [you] settle on the far side of the sea," even if you go up to the heavens, "even there His hand will guide [you], His right hand will hold [you] fast." And He will hold fast this great nation in the great beyond. So thank you for your service to the country for all of you who have been called to serve in our armed forces. With your unwavering commitment, with the courage of our men and women in uniform, with the continued support of the American people, with the vision and leadership of our Commander-in Chief, and with God's help, I know we will give America the defense she needs here on Earth and in the outer reaches of space. Thank you. And God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) END 11:41 A.M. EDT NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Donald J. Trump is Building the United States Space Force for a 21st Century Military August 9, 2018 I'm hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. President Donald J. Trump BUILDING SPACE FORCE: President Donald J. Trump and his Administration are laying the groundwork to build Space Force as the sixth branch of the United States military. On June 18, 2018, President Trump directed the Department of Defense to immediately begin the important process of establishing Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. The Department of Defense issued a report, pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, describing the following five actions that can be taken immediately to begin building the Space Force: Accelerate space technology and development initiatives, which were modernization priorities laid out in President Trump's National Defense Strategy; Establish a Space Development Agency charged with developing and fielding new next-generation capabilities for national security space development; Establish a Space Operations Force of professionals who will form a new community of experts working to lead America's national security space efforts into the future; Establish an operating structure and accountable civilian oversight for Space Force; and Create a United States Space Command, a unified combatant command, to improve, evolve, and plan space warfighting. DEFENDING AMERICA'S INTERESTS: President Trump knows that space is integral to our American way of life and economic prosperity, and is a vital domain for national defense. With Space Force as a sixth branch of the United States military, America's interests in space will receive the focus and investment that the domain deserves. As the world's space development leader, the United States relies on space for everything from popular commercial systems to critical military and intelligence systems. Space is also invaluable to American private industry, which is developing revolutionary technologies that will utilize space for exploration, resource extraction, and tourism. Unfortunately, potential adversaries recognize the importance of space to our country and are actively developing ways to deny our use of it in a crisis. The Director of National Intelligence has warned that multiple countries, including Russia and China, are developing both destructive and nondestructive antisatellite weapons that could come online within a few years. The United States national security community recognizes the necessity of developing new technologies for space to defend against an increasing array of threats. LEADING INTO THE FUTURE: Under President Trump, America is reclaiming its heritage as the world's greatest space-faring Nation and is leading space development into the 21st century. President Trump has signed three Space Policy Directives in the last year, each of which strengthens our economic prosperity and national security. In 2017, President Trump established his National Space Council, a body of senior officials charged with developing modern policies for commercial and international space utilization. On March 23, 2018, President Trump announced his National Space Strategy, which recognizes that America's competitors have turned space into a warfighting domain, and charts a whole-of-government approach to maintaining America's leadership in space. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Vice President Mike Pence announces plan for new Space Force by 2020 Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 07:55AM US Vice President Mike Pence has called for the establishment of a Space Force by 2020, a plan that would add a sixth branch to America's massive military and fulfill President Donald Trump's wish to seek US dominance in space. Pence told an audience at the US Defense Department on Thursday that the American military must prepare for "the next battlefield" to deter growing competition and threats from Russia and China in space. "The time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America's best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation," Pence said. "The time has come to establish the United States Space Force," he said. The US military presently consists of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Currently, the Air Force oversees most space capabilities. Pence also repeated a call by Trump for Congress to invest an additional $8 billion in US space systems over the next five years. Trump ordered the creation of Space Force in June, arguing the Pentagon needs it to tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert US dominance in orbit. The Pentagon sent a report to Congress on Tuesday detailing steps towards meeting Trump's order. Space plays a vital role in just about every aspect of modern warfare, with many military technologies reliant on a network of orbiting sensors and satellites. Pence said a powerful and advanced Space Force was essential to counter Russia and China, which are "aggressively" working toward anti-satellite capabilities. "China and Russia have been conducting highly sophisticated on-orbit activities that could enable them to maneuver their satellites into close proximity of ours, posing unprecedented new dangers to our space systems," he said. Its creation however needs the approval of Congress, and the concept has met with some skepticism from lawmakers and Pentagon officials who are concerned about extra bureaucracy and cost. "Maybe, just maybe, we should make sure our people are not dying because they lack health insurance before we start spending billions to militarise outer space," Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted. Democratic Senator Brian Schatz said on Twitter that Space Force "won't happen." No Republican is willing to tell Trump it's a "dumb idea," the lawmaker from Hawaii added. "It's dangerous to have a leader who cannot be talked out of crazy ideas." On Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he fully supported the idea of creating a new US Space Command. "We need to address space as a developing, war-fighting domain and a combatant command is certainly one thing that we can establish," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address S.Korea, DPRK to hold high-level talks on Aug. 13 People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 16:02, August 09, 2018 SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed Thursday to hold high-level talks on Aug. 13 at the border village of Panmunjom, according to Seoul's unification ministry. The DPRK offered to South Korea earlier in the day holding a senior-level dialogue on Aug. 13 at Tongilgak, a DPRK building in Panmunjom, to implement the Panmunjom Declaration. The South Korean side accepted the dialogue overtures to discuss the implementation of the declaration, which was signed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un at their first summit on April 27 in Panmunjom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, North Korea seek closer ties amid US bans Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 10:17AM On an official visit to Tehran, North Korea's foreign minister highlights his country's cordial and old-age relations with Iran, expressing satisfaction with growing bilateral relations amid US economic pressure on both states. In a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in Tehran on Thursday, Ri Yong-ho said that Iran and North Korea have long enjoyed friendly ties. He also praised growing Tehran-Pyongyang relations while both countries are facing similar problems caused by US sanctions. The top North Korean diplomat further thanked the Islamic Republic for standing by his country in difficult times. Ri also referred to North Korea's latest negotiations with the US, saying Pyongyang supports the denuclearization of Korean Peninsula, but will not surrender its nuclear technology as Washington may not set aside its enmity towards the country. During Thursday's meeting, Larijani, for his part, underlined the need for boosting bilateral cooperation with North Korea. He also warned against Washington's lack of commitment to its international agreements. "The Americans speak very well during negotiations and promise a bright future, but in practice, they do not meet any of their obligations," Larijani said. North Korea has been the target of American and international sanctions over its military program. Back in May, US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal despite objections from the other parties to the accord. Under the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran's nuclear-related sanctions were lifted in exchange for Tehran limiting certain aspects of its nuclear program. However, Washington's withdrawal from the JCPOA entails the re-imposition of anti-Iran sanctions on Iran, the first round of which returned on Monday. Ri arrived in Tehran Tuesday for an official visit at his own request and has already sat down with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and President Hassan Rouhani. This is the first time a senior North Korean official visits Iran since June 12, when US President Donald Trump held a historic summit with the Asian country's leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea Praises Trump, Slams Other US Officials for Sabotaging Peace Sputnik News 22:42 09.08.2018(updated 22:43 09.08.2018) The North Korean Foreign Ministry accused "high-level officials within the US administration" of "going against the intention of President Trump to advance the DPRK-US relations" in a statement Thursday. Meanwhile, the socialist state renewed calls for a permanent peace treaty so that "a mood will be created for creating trust." The press statement, carried by Korea Central News Agency, laid out the position of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the official name of North Korea, on the burning question of peace on the Korean Peninsula: US President Donald Trump wants peace, but the agreement reached in Singapore in June is being sabotaged by other US state officials. "We hoped that these goodwill measures would contribute to breaking down the high barrier of mistrust existing between the DPRK and the US and to establishing mutual trust," the statement said. "However, the US responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure against the DPRK." "The US is attempting to invent a pretext for increased sanctions against the DPRK by mobilizing all their servile mouthpieces and intelligence institutions to fabricate all kinds of falsehoods on our nuclear issue. They made public the 'North Korea Sanctions and Enforcement Actions Advisory' and additional sanctions, and called for collaboration in forcing sanctions and pressure upon us even at the international meetings," the statement continues. "Now the issue in question is that, going against the intention of President Trump to advance the DPRK-US relations, who is expressing gratitude to our goodwill measures for implementing the DPRK-US joint statement, some high-level officials within the US administration are making baseless allegations against us and making desperate attempts at intensifying the international sanctions and pressure. Expecting any result, while insulting the dialogue partner and throwing cold water over our sincere efforts for building confidence which can be seen as a precondition for implementing the DPRK-US joint statement, is indeed a foolish act that amounts to waiting to see a boiled egg hatch out." The North Korean Foreign Ministry statement further accused the US of clinging "to the outdated acting script which the previous administrations have all tried and failed," meanwhile noting that the country remains "unchanged in our will to uphold the intentions of the top leaders of the DPRK and the US and to build trust and implement in good faith the DPRK-US joint statement step by step." "The US should, even at this belated time, respond to our sincere efforts in a corresponding manner." On August 3, the US Mission to the UN submitted proposals to the UN Security Council for the imposition of new sanctions against North Korea, Sputnik reported. That same day, a six-month report by independent experts monitoring the implementation of UN sanctions was submitted, which accused North Korea of violating economic sanctions placed against it by exporting textiles goods to a number of countries, among other infractions. "[North Korea] has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs and continued to defy Security Council resolutions through a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products, as well as through transfers of coal at sea during 2018," the 149-page report, which was viewed by Reuters, said. The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control has also placed new sanctions against a North Korean firm, Korea Ungum Corporation, along with a Chinese and a Russian corporation accused of doing business with them in violation of sanctions, on August 3, Sputnik reported. The June 12 meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un secured a number of agreements, including a promise to work toward a permanent peace treaty, dependent upon the fulfillment of other parts of the agreement most importantly, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Both sides have taken some steps in that direction, with the DPRK returning remains of US soldiers who perished in their country during the 1950 to 53 Korean War and destroying a number of nuclear weapons and long-range missile test sites; and the US and South Korea placing a moratorium on provocative military drills that rehearse bombing and invading North Korea. Nonetheless, the US has maintained the position that economic sanctions will not be lifted until "concrete steps" have been taken by the North Korean government toward denuclearization, such as providing a complete list of its nuclear facilities. "This is all in North Korea's court," US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said August 8 during a press conference in Colombia. The United States has not recorded "a complete shutdown" of nuclear materials' production in North Korea, US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Vincent Brooks said July 22 at an Aspen Security Forum panel, Sputnik reported. "Their production capability is still intact. Their testing capability we just saw affected a few months ago in the destruction of the Punggye-ri testing site, but production is a different question, so we haven't seen a complete shutdown of production yet." US Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats also voiced the opinion that it is unlikely that Pyongyang will dismantle its nuclear program within a year. However, the DPRK's ruling Korean Workers Party (KWP) shot back on Monday, writing in a Rodong Sinmun editorial, "There have been outrageous arguments coming out of the US State Department that it won't ease sanctions until a denuclearization is completed, and reinforcing sanctions is a way to raise its negotiating power How could the sanctions, which were a stick the US administration had brandished as part of its hostile policy against us, promote the two countries' amity?" The North Korean government has also stepped up requests for a permanent peace treaty to the Korean War in recent weeks, with KWP newspaper Rodong Sinmun writing Thursday, "If the state of military confrontation between North Korea and the US is ended through a declaration ending the war, a mood will be created for creating trust." "When the US enables us to trust the country and get close up, we will be able to open up to the US and show that through our actions," North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said at at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore last week, The Korea Times reported. While a ceasefire agreement ended active hostilities in July 1953 and established the Demilitarized Zone dividing North and South Korea, no permanent peace treaty was ever signed between the DPRK, South Korea and the US officially ending the war. Thus, in a technical sense, a state of war continues 70 years later, which severely limits the possibility of bilateral trade, movement between the countries and other normalized international discourse. Meanwhile, Ri traveled earlier this week to Iran, Reuters noted, where Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned him not to trust the US following Trump's unilateral withdrawal in May from the 2015 international agreement to lift sanctions in return for curbs on Iran's own nuclear program. New sanctions were placed against Iran's economy by the US on August 6. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea may go through 'full-blown food security crisis,' Red Cross warns Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 05:13PM North Korea is likely to go through a "full-blown food security crisis" amid a heat wave that has destroyed fields of rice, maize and other crops, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has warned. The world's largest disaster relief network said in a statement issued in Geneva on Friday that the international sanctions imposed on North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs had exacerbated the worrying situation. The UN imposed its toughest-ever sanctions on North Korea after Pyongyang test-fired new ballistic missiles in July last year and then conducted its most powerful nuclear test in September 2017. The United States and the European Union (EU) have also imposed wide-ranging, unilateral bans against Pyongyang. According to the IFRC, North Korea has not seen a drop of rain since early July as temperatures soared to an average 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) across the country. The next rainfall was expected in mid-August. The statement further said that the population of 25 million is already stressed and vulnerable with malnutrition among children that could worsen, stunting their growth. "This is not yet classified as a drought, but rice, maize and other crops are already withering in the fields, with potentially catastrophic effects for the people of DPRK," said Joseph Muyamboit, the IFRC's program manager in Pyongyang, using the abbreviation for the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "We cannot and must not let this situation become a full-blown food security crisis. We know that previous serious dry spells have disrupted the food supply to a point where it has caused serious health problems and malnutrition across the country," he added. Last week, Pyongyang urged an "all-out battle" against the record temperatures threatening crops, referred to an "unprecedented natural disaster." A famine hit North Korea in the mid-1990s and killed up to three million people. The IFRC had deployed emergency response teams and 20 water pumps to irrigate fields in the hardest-hit areas in the country, which lacks irrigation systems and other infrastructure to ward off natural disasters. It was also helping the national Red Cross to support 13,700 of the most vulnerable people at risk, in South Hamgyong and South Pyongan provinces. Back in May, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said around 70 percent of North Koreans are "food insecure," meaning constantly struggling against hunger, adding that one out of every four kids under five is stunted from chronic malnutrition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korean Heat Wave 'Potentially Catastrophic,' Warn International Charities Sputnik News 16:34 10.08.2018(updated 17:52 10.08.2018) Experts warn that if the status-quo continues, the North Korean people may face a pandemic in the form of major food scarcity. A heat wave currently bearing down on North Korea could have "catastrophic effects" on the isolated country, a number of charities have warned today. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies the largest disaster relief network in the world has said that scorching heats are causing rice and other vitally needed crops to wither and die in farmer's fields. The group added that Pyongyang balances on the precipice of a "full-blown food security crisis," a situation that they say is only worsened by the ongoing sanctions imposed by the United Nations in response to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's allegedly ongoing missile programmes. Reports say that rainfall has been non-existent since early July, while simultaneously, temperatures have hit a roasting average of 39 degrees. The next bout of rainfall is not expected until the middle of August. Joseph Muyambo, the programme manager for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is widely quoted as saying that, "this is not yet classified as a drought, but rice, maize, and other crops are already withering in the fields, with potentially catastrophic effects for the people of the DPRK." In a country where approximately 70 percent of North Koreans have insecure access to food, "we cannot and must not let this situation become a full-blown food security crisis," he said. Currently, the international federation has dispatched response teams and 20 water pumps to water the fields of the most dried out areas, while also providing support to 13,700 to those in most desperate need of assistance. While the situation is dire, it is not entirely unprecedented. In 2017, North Korea was struck by another drought, which caused a 7.2 percent decrease in the amount of food being produced during the harvesting season. It has long been argued that the international sanctions imposed upon North Korea have only but hindered the country's already restricted access to critically needed food stuffs. During their much-touted summit back in June, US President Donald Trump promised Chairman Kim Jong-un major sanctions relief in exchange for Pyongyang dismantling its alleged nuclear weapons program. Despite what appeared to be an atmosphere of goodwill between both sides, North Korea has since issued a series of condemnatory statements, with the latest saying that while it has begun the process of destroying nuclear test sites, Washington has only "responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three S Korean Firms Buying N Korean Coal May Have Violated Sanctions Reports Sputnik News 12:08 10.08.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) Three South Korean companies may have violated the UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea by importing the latter's coal and pig iron, Yonhap news agency reported Friday, citing the Korea Customs Office (KCS). The companies brought coal and pig iron worth $5.9 million to South Korea through a Russian port, faking the country of its origin, from April through October 2017, according to the Yonhap news agency. Earlier this week, reports emerged that cargo ship Jin Long was also illegally transporting coal from North Korea through Russia, but the South Korean authorities refuted those allegations after an inspection. North Korea has faced several rounds of sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests, conducted in violation of the UNSC resolutions. In response to these activities, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Pyongyang targeting exports of coal, iron ore, lead and seafood from the Asian nation to UN member states. In December, new sanctions against North Korea were imposed over the country's continuing missile tests. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian Auditor Reveals Naval Spy Jets Procured From US Can be Tracked Online Sputnik News 15:08 09.08.2018(updated 15:09 09.08.2018) India's apex auditor has pointed out a suspected irregularity in the 2009 purchase of the "easily detectable" P-8I Poseidon. It suggested that the then government tweaked the procurement rules to award the contract to Boeing while enhancing a financial bid by EADS CASA of Spain to include a 20-year support package. New Delhi (Sputnik): India's apex auditing body has pointed out that the eight spy jets purchased from the US firm Boeing can be easily tracked by anyone on the internet. The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) made the revelations in its report table in the Parliament on Thursday. The P-8I Poseidon Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR-ASW) aircraft was procured from Boeing in 2009 and a follow-on order of four more such planes was placed by the Narendra Modi government in 2016. "Even though the requirement of the Indian Navy of being secretive in their missions is mandatory, it was observed by the A squadron (December 2016) that the tracks were being generated on a particular website As of February 2018, the aircraft continued to be tracked on the website, which compromises the secrecy of mission flights of the Indian Navy," the CAG report reads. The Indian Navy has been using the spy jet to track Chinese and Pakistani submarines in the Indian Ocean Region. One of them has been deployed at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to track the movement of Chinese submarines crossing the Strait of Malacca to enter the Indian Ocean. With the revelations made by the CAG, it is now feared that the pattern or the deployment of the aircraft can easily be traced. The CAG has also raised serious questions about the capability of the radar that came with the aircraft to track enemy vessels. "Owing to capacity limitations of radars installed onboard, the aircraft is not able to achieve the envisaged coverage area requirements," the report further reads. The report also points out that the government is to date yet to purchase critical ammunition for anti-submarine warfare. "In the absence of 'X' Bombs, the ASW capability of the aircraft could only be partially fulfilled," it says. The CAG report further indicates that the Indian government had tweaked the procurement rules to award the contract in favor of Boeing. "The contract was concluded with M/s Boeing, USA in January 2009 at USD 2137.54 million. At a later date, M/s Boeing, USA offered the product support under a separate negotiable contract and consequently the deduced ranking of M/s Boeing, USA as L-1 turned out to be incorrect," the report says. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military official: Iran's powerful PG presence is source of hope for region IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Qum, Aug 9, IRNA -- Senior spokesman of the armed forces General Abolfazl Shekarchi says powerful presence of Iran in the Persian Gulf is source of hope for regional countries. Shekarchi made the remarks in ceremony here on Thursday to commemorate the Reporter Day. He said, 'Iran is the main power in the region and the Persian Gulf but has always used its domination in favor of security of the countries present in the sensitive part of the world.' Iran does not serve as a threat to the regional countries, rather it guarantees their security and it has always protected the world oppressed against the arrogant powers, he added. He then noted that enemies use their media to tarnish realities, thus charging Iran of interfering in internal affairs of other countries, whereas all the world freedom lovers are under pressure of their interferences. 1420 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Restoring Iran bans entails 'destructive' repercussions, Russia warns US Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 05:23PM Russia has once again hit out at the US for re-imposing its unilateral sanctions against Iran after scrapping the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal, describing it as a "destructive step" that could destabilize the already-volatile Middle East region. Addressing a news briefing on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakhariva, said "Washington's course at bringing down the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program and restoring full-scale pressure through sanctions is absolutely destructive," referring to the Iran deal by its official name. After abandoning the JCPOA in May, the administration of US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reinstated a series of unilateral sanctions targeting Iran's purchase of US dollars, trade in gold and other precious metals as well as its automotive sector. A second batch of US sanctions will be re-imposed on Iran in November with the aim of undermining its oil exports and shipping sectors. The US president has also threatened punitive measures against the firms that refuse to stop their business links with Iran when the American sanctions return. Washington's move drew criticisms from Russia, China and the European parties to the Iran deal -- France, Britain and Germany. The EU was quick to issue a statement in defense of the landmark accord, vowing to fight the American sanctions and protect the firms working with Iran. The 28-nation bloc has activated a "blocking statute" aimed to mitigate the impact of American restrictive measures on European firms legally active in the Iranian market. It has also warned that the firms that choose to abide by Washington's bans may be slapped with European sanctions. Zakharova further said the Trump administration's measures would entail "long-term deplorable consequences for global nonproliferation [of the weapons of mass destruction] and will impart a destabilizing impulse to the situation in the Middle East." On Tuesday -- when the US reintroduced its bans on Iran -- the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement and criticized the US for violating UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the Iran deal. "We denounce any unilateral sanctions in circumvention of the UN Security Council decisions, all the more so if they have exterritorial applications and affect the interests of third countries, as is the case with the current US restrictions against Iran," the statement said. Russia has vowed to reinforce its relations with Iran in all sectors now that the US has left the accord and chosen to build up economic pressure on the Islamic Republic. Vladimir Yermakov, Director General of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control at Russia's Foreign Ministry, had said in early May that with the US exit "it might even be easier for us on the economic front, because we won't have any limits on economic cooperation with Iran." Switzerland criticizes US bans on Iran Meanwhile, Switzerland on Thursday expressed regret over the "deteriorating situation" in the aftermath of Washington's renewal of economic pressure against Tehran. It also recommended Swiss firms to continue their business ties with the Islamic Republic despite the return of US bans. "US decisions on sanctions do not affect the legal situation in Switzerland with regard to Iran," said Fabian Maienfisch of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). He added that the federal government would defend Swiss economic interests and recommends "that companies pursue their commercial relations with Iran and inform themselves about the situation." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Commander Says Iranian Naval Drills Sent 'Message' About Sanctions RFE/RL August 09, 2018 An Iranian naval exercise involving dozens of small boats around the Strait of Hormuz last week was intended as a message to the United States for reimposing economic sanctions on Tehran, a top U.S. commander has said. General Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, told Pentagon reporters on August 8 that Iran was showcasing its military capabilities, amid recent threats by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to close off the strait. "It's pretty clear to us that they were trying to use that exercise to send a message to us that, as we approach the period for the sanctions here, they had some capabilities," said Votel. He said the message back to Iran from U.S. Central Command is: "We are aware of what's going on and we remain ready to protect ourselves." Votel condemned Iran for what he said were efforts to destabilize other countries in the region, including Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Iran routinely operates small boats in the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding area, and has often threatened to shut down the strategically important waterway, where about a third of the world's oil exports pass through. In recent weeks, Iran's military renewed the threat, saying that, if sanctions threatened Iran's crude oil exports, the rest of the Middle East's exports would be threatened as well. Votel said Iran has the ability to plant mines and explosive boats in the waterway, as well as use missiles and radar along the coast. But he said the United States and its allies routinely train for that possibility and are prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation and commerce continues in those waters. Votel said much of Iran's "destabilizing" activity in the strait and in the region is being directed by General Qassem Soleimani, who heads the elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard. "Wherever you see Iranian activity, you see Qassem Soleimani," said Votel, calling the Quds Force the principle threat in the region. U.S. sanctions that had been eased by the Obama administration under the landmark 2015 nuclear deal took effect again on August 7, following President Donald Trump's decision in May to withdraw from the accord. Renewed sanctions targeting Iran's oil industry and banking sector are due to take effect on November 4. With reporting by AP and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-commander-votel- -says-iranian-naval-drills-sent-message-about- us-sanctions-reimposed/29421366.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey not to implement anti-Iran sanctions: Turkish FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Ankara, Aug 10, IRNA -- Turkish foreign minister said that his country will not execute the US' anti-Iranian sanctions. Turkey has explicitly declared that it will not implement the US' anti-Iran sanctions, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a meeting with Head of Iran Presidential Office Mahmoud Vaezi on Thursday. The Turkish official praised Iran's stance on various issues, including the US' pull out from the nuclear deal, known also as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). During the meeting, head of Iran Presidential Office welcomed development of ties with Turkey and noted that the two countries' heads of state have drawn a good roadmap for reaching the 30 billion dollar trade target. The European countries and the European Union (EU) are committed to save the JCPOA and have offered a package of proposals to Iran in oil and banking fields, Vaezi noted. The two sides discussed bilateral issues and expansion of the two-way ties. Vaezi went to Ankara to convey message of President Hassan Rouhani to Turkish counterpart Recep Teyyip Erdogan. 9191**1420 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy to ensure marine imports, exports security: Cmdr IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Noshahr, Aug 10, IRNA -- Navy Commander Rear Admiral Amir Hossein Khanzadi recalled significance of sea economy, saying that the force will ensure security of all Iranian exports and imports via sea. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Navy's representative office in Hassan Kif, Kelardasht, he added that the Navy will safeguard security of all Iranian exports and imports in northern and southern waters whereby 90 percent of the exports and imports are conducted. "We are equipped with most complicated infrastructure and manpower to ensure sea, air and coastlines security," he said. Noting that 90 percent of trade is conducted via sea, Khanzadi said that West Asian countries can be a major global power due to the four main sea passages in the area. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Al-Maliki: Iraq opposes economic pressure on Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Baghdad, Aug 10, IRNA -- Iraqi Vice President Nouri Al-Maliki said on Thursday that his country is opposed to any pressure and economic sanctions imposed by the US against the Islamic Republic of Iran. In a meeting with Iran's Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi, he who doubles as the secretary-general of the Islamic Dawa Party added that the policy of exerting economic pressure on Iran and sanctions is rejected and the international community should block the policy of pushing peoples towards famine. Masjedi, for his part, hailed Al-Maliki's supportive stance regarding Iran in the region and world. The two officials also explored avenues for boosting bilateral relations and discussed regional and international political and security situation. In a statement on Wednesday, Al-Maliki rejected US President Donald Trump's anti-Iran measures, describing it as flagrant violation of international regulations. He stressed that Iraq should not accompany the US in its anti-Iran policies. "We condemn US anti-Iran measures and all unilateral sanctions against the nations and urge the regional and global states to do so," he said. He also described economic pressure as a wrong, illegal, oppressive, illegitimate and unjustifiable move, arguing that they do not correspond with international regulations. He also called on the Iraqi government no to side with perpetrators of anti-Iran moves, urging all the governments across the world to counter the hostile act against the neighboring friendly country and attempt to neutralize it. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army forces launch operation to capture Daesh militants in eastern Iraq IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Baghdad, Aug 9, IRNA -- Iraqi government forces have mounted an offensive in eastern part of the war-ravaged Arab country to hunt down the remnants of the Daesh terrorist group on Thursday. Commander of Diyala Operation Headquarter Mazhar Al-Zavavi said the operation will be continued in Hamrin and Al-Neda regions in this eastern province which is close to the Iranian border lines. According to Iraq's Alghadpress, several numbers of the country's Air Force, army, members of federal police as well as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Sha'abi, have launched a vast operation to clear out the eastern region of Diyalah. He said the Iraqi forces have managed to annihilate a hideout of Daesh terrorist forces in early hours of the operation. 9060**1420 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi troops kill 14 Daesh terrorists, destroy 4 armored vehicles in Anbar Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 02:08PM More than a dozen members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group have been killed after Iraqi security forces launched a counter-terrorism operation in the country's troubled western province of Anbar as government troops are trying to flush the last remnants of the extremist outfit out of the crisis-hit Arab country. Colonel Shaker Obeid al-Rishawy told Arabic-language Basnews news agency that the Federal Police Force received a tip-off about the presence of a group of Daesh militants in a desert area south of al-Rutbah town. "Security forces immediately launched an offensive, killing 14 Daesh terrorists and destroying four of their armored vehicles in the process," Rishawy noted. He added that three underground tunnels, which the Takfiris were using to stockpile various kinds of munitions and move freely between areas under their control, were also uncovered and destroyed. Separately, Iraqi security forces arrested four Daesh militants during an operation in the oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk. Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasool said that the quartet was captured in the Kurdish-populated Panja Ali district of the province. Rasool added that the detained Daesh militants were wanted on terror charges under the Iraqi Anti-Terrorism Law. Elsewhere in the central province of Salahuddin, four army soldiers lost their lives and five others sustained injuries in an overnight attack by Daesh militants. Major Alaa al-Saadi from Diyala Operations Command said fierce clashes erupted late Wednesday when Daesh terrorists attacked an army outpost in the rugged Mutibjah area. Saadi added that reinforcement troops arrived on Thursday morning, and began an operation to hunt down the assailants. On June 30, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who is also the commander-in-chief of Iraqi forces, pledged to hunt down the remnants of Daesh militants across Iraq after a series of attacks and abductions by the terrorist group. "We will chase the remaining cells of terrorism in their hideouts and we will kill them, we will chase them everywhere, in the mountains and the desert," Abadi said. Abadi declared the end of military operations against Daesh in the Arab country on December 9, 2017. On July 10 that year, the Iraqi prime minister had formally declared victory over Daesh extremists in Mosul, which served as the terrorists' main urban stronghold in the conflict-ridden Arab country. In the run-up to Mosul's liberation, Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters had made sweeping gains against Daesh. The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January 2017 after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19 last year. Daesh began a terror campaign in Iraq in 2014, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finland to Participate in NATO Training Mission in Iraq Sputnik News 19:24 10.08.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Finland, which is not a NATO member state, will participate in the alliance's training mission in Iraq, the Finnish government said Friday, adding that it would send a small number of staff officers and trainers. The decision was made earlier in the day by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and the Finnish Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy. "The President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy decided on Friday 10 August that Finland will provide a small number of staff officers and trainers to the NATO training mission in Iraq," the government said in a press release. The NATO non-combat training mission in Iraq was established during the alliance's summit held in the middle of July. The mission's objectives are to train the Iraqi security forces, as well as to provide additional support in stabilizing the country. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As Myanmar Launches New Rakhine Commission, Criticism Continues By Oliver Slow August 09, 2018 The most recent commission formed by the Myanmar government to try and bring a solution to the issues in Rakhine State has come under criticism from international and domestic actors, highlighting the complexity of dealing with challenges in the beleaguered state. Last month, the President's Office announced the formation of a new "independent commission of inquiry" which is tasked with investigating allegations of human rights violations "and related" issues in Rakhine. The four-member commission is comprised of two international members, Rosario Manalo, former deputy foreign minister of the Philippines, and Kenzo Oshima, Japan's former ambassador to the United Nations. The two Myanmar members of the commission are lawyer Mya Thein and economist Aung Tun Htet. Aung Tun Htet has already been involved in previous commissions on Rakhine which have largely denied any wrongdoing on behalf of Myanmar authorities and he has previously dismissed accusations that ethnic cleansing has taken place in the state, home to the country's Rohingya Muslim minority. Myanmar has come under considerable criticism for its handling of the crisis, which was triggered by attacks from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, leading to a brutal army crackdown that saw 700,000 mainly Rohingya flee over the border into Bangladesh. Myanmar has already formed numerous commissions regarding the crisis, but these have been criticized for lacking independence from the military, which is accused of some of the gravest abuses, a charge it denies. A government spokesperson couldn't be reached for comment about the new commission. In December 2017, then-president Htin Kyaw established a ten-member Advisory Commission Board on Rakhine State to advise the government on implementing the recommendations of another commission, the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, which was headed by former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan and submitted its findings to the government last August. Two international members of the December-formed commission have already resigned, saying it lacks independence. Credibility questions Laetitia van den Assum, who was a member of the Annan-led commission, said that questions remain regarding the independence and mandate of the new body. She said it appeared to have been established as an alternative to earlier investigations by Myanmar to investigate alleged crimes in Rakhine State. "Those earlier investigations lacked credibility," she told VOA. Van den Assum said that for a commission to be credible it must have a clearly defined legal mandate to investigate allegations of crimes, demonstrable independence from all authorities, and sufficient resources and adequate support capacity. She acknowledged that some members of the international community, including the U.N. Security Council, had pushed for an international committee to be established. "But if minimum standards for a credible inquiry are not met, the situation and thus the impunity are at risk of deepening further," she said. Myanmar analyst Yan Myo Thein said some people in Myanmar, in particular the military, were critical of the commission because of what they regard as foreign intervention in Myanmar's internal affairs. However, he acknowledged that some people in Myanmar would view the commission positively, because they recognized the need for help from members of the international community to deal with the crisis. Key to whether or not the commission would be a success was whether or not the military would cooperate, he said. "They may cooperate, but their primary concern will be for there to be no foreign participation in resolving the domestic and internal affairs of Myanmar," he told VOA. Slow implementation Earlier this week, a statement from the United Nations urged Myanmar to step up implementation of an agreement it signed in June regarding the repatriation of refugees from Bangladesh. The statement from the U.N.'s Refugee Agency and the U.N. Development Program said they were still waiting for the government to approve travel authorization requests for international staff members in northern Rakhine. "The Myanmar government's willingness to take the lead in the implementation of this agreement is critical to creating conditions conducive for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees," the statement said. The statement said some encouraging steps had been made since the agreement was signed in June, including the formation of a tripartite Technical Working Group, but said "substantial progress" is urgently needed in three areas: granting effective access in Rakhine, ensuring freedom of movement for all communities, and addressing the root causes of the crisis. It also urged the government to implement the recommendations of the Annan commission, including "a clear, voluntary and equal pathway to citizenship for all eligible individuals". Myanmar insists it is ready to begin the repatriation process, but Rohingya living in Bangladesh have said they will not return without guarantees. "If we come back, we must be guaranteed our citizenship and our safety," said Nay Lin Aung, a Rohingya man who fled Myanmar last year and is now living in an area known as "No Man's Land" between the two countries. "Our houses were burned, and we lost everything. That's why we haven't come back." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan: 'Sensitive Areas' Along Afghan Border to Be Fenced by December By Ayaz Gul August 10, 2018 Pakistan will have unilaterally fenced "sensitive areas" along the country's largely porous border with Afghanistan by the end of the year, discouraging terrorist infiltration in either direction, officials told VOA on Friday. The massive army-led construction effort to fence the entire 2,611-kilometer western frontier and build new outposts, as well as forts, went into action more than a year ago. Initially, the comprehensive border security plan focused on areas that Pakistani officials identified as highly vulnerable to terrorist infiltration and illegal crossings, and where they said Afghan forces on the other side have little or no presence due to capacity issues. "Sensitive areas will be fenced by December 2018," chief military spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor told VOA. The remaining, he vowed, will be completed "by December 2019." A pair of three-meter chain link fences, with a two-meter gap topped with barbed wire, has been installed along 310 kilometers, he said. The general explained the military also has raised or is in the process of raising new units of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) force for deployment along the Afghan border once the construction of new installations is over. Ghafoor would not say, however, how many personnel ultimately will be sent to the border, and he denied media reports about as many as 60,000 additional troops. "Yes, new FC wings will impact such increase but correspondingly [the] army might get thin along the border," the general noted. Afghanistan historically disputes the 1893 British colonial era boundary with Pakistan and publicly opposes the fencing project. Islamabad rejects Kabul's objections and says it inherited the international border after gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Pakistani leaders said sustained counterterrorism operations have uprooted all terrorists from their soil and enhancing the border security will help reduce militant violence in both countries. U.S. and Afghan officials, however, continue to blame sanctuaries in Pakistan for enabling the Taliban insurgency to sustain and expand attacks inside Afghanistan. The allegations remain at the center of Islamabad's diplomatic tensions with both Kabul and Washington. President Donald Trump suspended all military assistance to Pakistan in January until it takes decisive action against terrorists on its soil, charges Islamabad says stem from U.S. military failures in Afghanistan. Ghafoor told a recent news conference that security operations have forced Afghan insurgents to move back to Afghanistan where the Taliban controls vast territory. He insisted repatriation of Afghan refugees would enable Pakistani forces to go after remnants of Taliban insurgents on their side of the border. "I can assure you the day these 2.7 million Afghan refugees are repatriated our liberty of action will expand to trace the leftover facilitators and abettors," said General Ghafoor. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New US sanctions not based on evidence Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 09:58AM Russia says a round of new sanctions imposed on Moscow by the United States over the alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK are not based on evidence and are "draconian." "We grew accustomed to not hearing any facts or evidence," said a statement by the Russian Embassy in the US on Thursday, a day after the US imposed a raft of sanctions on Moscow. Back on March 4, British authorities said that former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, had been hospitalized after they were found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping center in the city of Salisbury. Days later, they announced that both victims had been exposed to Novichok, a highly lethal chemical weapon purportedly developed under a secret Soviet program, accusing Moscow of carrying out the attack yet declining the Kremlin's request for a sample of the chemical agent. The Kremlin has vehemently and repeatedly rejected any involvement, saying the substance could have originated from the countries studying Novichok, including the UK itself, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Sweden. On Wednesday, however, the US Department of State in a press release announced new sanctions on Russia in response to "the use of a Novichok nerve agent in an attempt to assassinate UK citizen Sergei Skripal" and his daughter by "Russia" back in March. Moscow has previously described the claims as a "circus show" staged by the British authorities to demonize Russia. In its statement, the Russian Embassy described Washington as an "assembly line" of sanctions, a reference to the US practice of imposing round after round of bans on various countries. "Collective West in the so-called Novichok drama acts as a prosecutor, judge, and hangman at the same time. Why should Russia prove its innocence and not the other way round? Five months later the question remains: has any evidence been presented? The answer is obvious: no," the statement read. According to a senior State Department official, the sanctions would cover sensitive national-security controlled goods. The official also said that a second batch of "more draconian" sanctions would be imposed after three months unless Moscow gave "reliable assurances" it would no longer "use chemical weapons" and allow on-site inspections by the United Nations (UN) or other international observer groups. Elsewhere in the statement, the Russian Embassy in the US said that Moscow had affirmed to the US State Department that it continued to "strongly stand for an open and transparent investigation" into the Salisbury case. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Markets Plummet On U.S. Moves To Impose More Sanctions RFE/RL August 09, 2018 The U.S. announcement of new sanctions against Moscow over its alleged use of a chemical weapon against a Russian ex-spy has roiled global markets and helped send the Russian ruble, bonds, and stocks plummeting. The Russian currency dropped 3.1 percent to 65.55 per dollar, the lowest level since November 2016, after the announcement late on August 8, and the currency's downward spiral continued in Asian trading early on August 9. Russia's RTS stock index lost nearly 3 percent of its value, while at a bond auction on August 8 the Russian government was only able to sell half the amount it had planned as borrowing costs jumped to the highest level in more than a year. The ruble and Russian stocks and bonds had already been hit by a Russian media report providing details of "crushing sanctions" that some legislators in Washington have proposed over Moscow's alleged meddling in U.S. elections. The legislation includes a provision to sanction Russia's sovereign debt -- a move that could pack a major blow to Russia's economy but which financial analysts said is unlikely to pass the U.S. Congress or be signed into law by President Donald Trump. "Sanctioning sovereign debt will be a last resort. Corporate debt and individuals are a more likely target" in any new round of sanctions against Russia considered by Congress, Shamaila Khan, a director of emerging-market debt at AllianceBernstein, told Bloomberg. Investors Worried Markets were so unsettled by the details in the U.S. legislative proposal that the Russian Finance Ministry on August 8 sought to allay market fears with a statement saying the measure might not be enacted into law, Russian news agency Ria-Novosti reported. U.S. officials said the sanctions over Russia's alleged chemical weapons use will take effect on August 22, barring sales of sensitive technologies to Russia. A second round of broader sanctions could be imposed later if Russia fails to allow international inspectors into the country to determine whether it has chemical or biological weapons. Analysts said global investors are worried not only about a possible U.S. ban on Russia's sovereign debt, but a provision of the congressional bill that would clamp down on Russian banks, which they said could also seriously stifle Russia's economy. "If you start crushing Russia by causing the banking system to collapse as a result of sanctions, it could actually lead to worse political outcomes than what you have right now," Khan told Bloomberg. He said investors learned not to take the threat of U.S. sanctions lightly after penalties introduced in April against Russian billionaires with connections to the Kremlin sent global markets into a nosedive. With reporting by Bloomberg, Reuters, AFP, and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-ruble-bonds -stocks-plummet-us-moves-impose-more-sanctions- chemical-weapons-skripal/29421425.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Rejects US Claims of Skripal Case Links, Calls Sanctions 'Unacceptable' Sputnik News 12:48 09.08.2018(updated 17:26 09.08.2018) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has addressed the most recent round of sanctions introduced by the US against Moscow. "We consider the link between the sanctions introduced by the US and the Skripal case to be unacceptable," Peskov told journalists, adding that Moscow one more time denied "any accusations of Russia's engagement in the Salisbury incident." According to the official, the possibility of Russia having used chemical weapons was "out of the question." Peskov harshly criticized London's approach, repeating that the UK refuses to present any evidence or at least share any information on the matter. "Russia did not and does not have anything to do with the use of chemical weapons, it is out of the question. Moreover, we cannot even say what was used in the United Kingdom and how, because we do not have any information, we do not have a reply from the UK to our proposal of a joint investigation into this incident, which causes serious concern," the spokesman stressed. Earlier, the US Department of State announced new sanctions on Russia over the accusations of chemical weapons having been used by Moscow against former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the United Kingdom in March, urging Moscow to allow international on-site inspections. However, no evidence to substantiate the case has been presented by the US or the UK. Financial Issues Peskov slammed the US lawmakers who proposed recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, explaining that it was "beyond common sense." "Many hotheads work in the legislative bodies of different countries. And certainly these heads sometimes allow very emotional statements beyond common sense. We each time closely monitor them and try to understand how much this has to do with a country's official position," Peskov told reporters when asked about the Kremlin's attitude toward such a proposal. He also noted that it was too early to talk about a possible response by Moscow until more detailed statements on the restrictions, when Moscow would understand what they involve "specifically and officially." Peskov, when asked about the resilience of the country's financial system, told journalists it was well-prepared for the imposition of Washington's sanctions against Russia. "Eventual suggestions are absolutely irrelevant. The financial system is fairly stable. This is well-known. Secondly, it has proved its stability in quite difficult times. Thirdly, we must and we do keep our financial system in good condition given the continuing unpredictability of our overseas partners." Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it would lay out counter-measures in order to address the new sanctions. According to the ministry, Washington's actions put pressure on the investigators of the Skripal poisoning case. "Yesterday the US Department of State announced a new portion of restrictions, this time it chose the story of Skripals' poisoning as a far-fetched pretext," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added. According to media reports, the first package of these sanctions implies a complete ban on the export of electronic devices and dual-use components to Russia, while the second package may include a decrease in the level of diplomatic relations, a ban on flights by Russia's Aeroflot carrier to the US and almost complete suspension of US exports. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Denounces US 'Novichok' Sanctions By Charles Maynes August 09, 2018 Faced with a new round of U.S.-sanctions over alleged chemical weapons use, Russia denounced the move as an "illegal" gesture that defied attempts by President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin aimed at improving relations during a recent summit. "Of course, such decisions taken by the American side, are absolutely unfriendly," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in discussing the new sanctions with reporters in Moscow on Thursday. "And it's unlikely they're in any way associated with the complicated but constructive atmosphere of the last meeting between the two presidents." The State Department announced the penalties on Wednesday a response to the poisoning last March of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, in the British town of Salisbury. While both Skripals survived the attack, the U.S. sided with Britain in determining Russia was responsible after investigators concluded the would-be assassins used a Soviet-era nerve toxin known as "Novichok." The attack prompted an initial wave of diplomatic expulsions between U.S.-Britain allies and Russia including the tit-for-tat exit of 60 Russian and U.S. diplomats in March. The poisoning case gained further traction in June when a British couple with no apparent ties to Russia died from an accidental encounter with a similar nerve agent in the nearby British town of Amesbury. Dawn Sturgess, 44, later died in hospital. Kremlin outcry The Kremlin has vehemently denied any involvement in the Salisbury and Amesbury incidents, and it did so again in lieu of new sanctions. In a statement issued by its embassy in Washington, Russia called charges that Moscow employed chemical weapons "far fetched" arguing the U.S. lacked evidence, and repeating demands for a new investigation into the poisoning. While Kremlin spokesman Peskov suggested the Kremlin was still weighing how to respond to the sanctions, other Russian officials were less circumspect. "The theatre of the absurd continues," wrote Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the U.N., in a post to Twitter. "No proofs, no clues, no logic, no presumption of innocence, just highly-likelies. Only one rule: blame everything on Russia, no matter how absurd and fake it is. Let us welcome the United Sanctions of America! In turn, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakahrova promised Moscow already was preparing retaliatory measures. Shaky ruble Above all, Kremlin officials have sought to assure the public that the Russian economy is well primed to absorb additional penalties. It's a benefit, they argue, of policies put in place amid a raft of Western sanctions imposed over Russian actions in Ukraine and alleged interference in the U.S. 2016 presidential elections. "The financial system is rather robust.That's obvious to everyone," said Kremlin spokesman Peskov. Despite assurances, the ruble fell to a two-year low, and shares of Russian companies likely affected by the sanctions including several banks and Russia's national air carrier Aeroflot dipped in value. Looming behind the skid, the prospect of what U.S. officials warn could be "more draconian measures" should Russia fail to assuage U.S. government concerns over chemical agents that Moscow insists it never used. Two Russia policies? The latest U.S. sanctions against Moscow are all but certain to raise questions about the continuing gap between President Donald Trump's open pursuit of detente with Russia and the often tougher stance taken by his own administration. President Trump repeatedly has insisted "nobody is tougher on Russia than I am." Yet the American leader was roundly criticized by members of both parties in Congress for what many perceived as an overly conciliatory performance at a summit meeting with Vladimir Putin leader in Helsinki last month. This included siding with the Russian leader over U.S. intelligence regarding alleged Kremlin interference in the 2016 elections that brought Trump to the White House. Even as rumors of impending new sanctions swirled in the media, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul a supporter of Trump's efforts to engage Russia announced he had delivered a letter from President Trump to Putin during meetings with Russian officials in Moscow earlier this week. According to a statement issued by Paul, Trump's letter focused on increased cooperation between the former Cold War rivals, calling on the U.S. and Russia to work together on "countering terrorism, enhancing legislative dialogue and resuming cultural exchanges." In turn, U.S. State Department officials insisted the new sanctions were triggered automatically by longstanding U.S. policy regarding the use of chemical weapons by state actors. Few in Moscow seemed to believe it, though, asserting that U.S.-Russian relations were now fully captive to internal political fighting over the 2016 election and multiple investigations into possible wrongdoing by the Trump campaign and Kremlin-linked officials. "In the American internal political conflict, Russia is not so much a reason, as an instrument," insisted Fyodor Lukyanov, a foreign policy analyst, discussing Washington's continued use of sanctions, during an interview on Echo of Moscow radio. "In this situation, building relations is impossible to even speak about." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia downs militant drone near Syria's Hmeimim airbase Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 08:21PM The Russian military has announced that its forces in Syria downed a drone flying near the airbase in the Syrian city of Hmeimim. The RIA news agency reported Thursday that the drone, launched from territory controlled by Syrian militants, had been shut down after it targeted the airbase. The airbase in the western Syrian province of Latakia has been hosting Russia's military forces and equipment since the country launched an operation in late 2015 to help Syria's fight against terror. The Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation said in a statement that operations at Hmeimim were not interrupted and there were no casualties or material damage due to the incident. It added that the unmanned aerial vehicle had been intercepted at a safe distance from the base. "On August 9, the air defense systems of the Hmeimim airbase detected an aerial drone launched from the territory controlled by illegal armed groups in the north of Latakia province," read the statement. There have been similar incidents in the past involving Russia's attack on drones from militant-controlled areas in northern Syria. The Russian Air Force destroyed one such drone last month and said it was flying in skies to the north of Latakia. Russian airspace control units also detected and downed drones of unknown origin in June, May and in April in the northeast of Hmeimim. Russia is in Syria at the official request of the government in Damascus. Despite criticism from Western countries, the military presence has proven successful as it has helped the Syrian government retake many areas across the country from the grip of militants. Russian authorities have announced that they will continue to be present in Syria until the Arab country is fully purged of terrorists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Russia and Turkey keen to avoid battle in Syria's Idlib: UN Iran Press TV Thu Aug 9, 2018 03:44PM A UN official says Iran, Russia and Turkey have assured that they would do their utmost to avoid a battle for the recapture of Idlib in northwestern Syria, which is being held by foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists. UN humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland hoped during a meeting of the Syria humanitarian task force on Thursday that diplomats and military envoys could reach a deal to avoid what he called a "bloodbath." "I was heartened to hear that both the Russian Federation, Turkey, Iran - the 'Astana Three' - say that they will do their utmost to avoid war in and for the civilians of Idlib," he said. "And we urged those Westerners and [Persian] Gulf countries who have influence on the armed oppositions groups to do more to avoid these armed groups to continue reckless behavior; violent behavior; behavior that is totally contrary to humanitarian work and principles in many of the areas." Iran, Turkey and Russia are the guarantors of a countrywide ceasefire in Syria. The three have been mediating a peace process since January 2016 among Syria's warring sides in Astana, Kazakhstan. Idlib, on the Turkish border, is one of the last major militant strongholds in Syria. Turkey has set up a series of observation posts in Idlib as part of the deal to reduce fighting between militants and the Syrian government in de-escalation zones. Egeland, however, said that the world body was making preparations for a battle and would ask Turkey to keep its borders open to allow civilians to flee if the need arose. "There is of course only one way to escape this if you are not going to cross frontline than into government-controlled area, and that would be to Turkey," he said. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last month said that government forces had turned their focus to Idlib, noting that liberation of the northwestern province was one of the military's priorities. The province holds the largest concentration of Takfiri terrorists, who have fled there from ongoing liberation operations by the country and its allies. In recent weeks, Syria's government forces have recaptured militant strongholds in the southwest. They have retaken most of the southern province of Dara'a in an offensive that began in June. In a bid to minimize civilian casualties, both Damascus and Moscow have been initiating talks with militants to make them hand back the areas they control to the government without fighting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Air Defenses Destroy UAV Launched by Syrian Militants at Hmeymim Base Sputnik News 22:13 09.08.2018(updated 22:28 09.08.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defenses at the Hmeymim airbase shot down on Thursday an aerial drone launched by militants operating in Syria's province of Latakia, the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation said. "On August 9, the air defense systems of the Hmeymim airbase detected an aerial drone launched from the territory controlled by illegal armed groups in the north of Latakia province," the center said in a statement, adding that the drone was intercepted at a safe distance from the base. According to the center, the incident incurred no casualties or material damage, and the operations at the base were not interrupted. This is not the first time Russian military downs drones launched at the Hmeymim airbase. Previous month, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian Air Force destroyed a UAV, launched from the territory under the control of illegal armed formations in the north of the province of Latakia. Such incidents occurred also in June, as well as in May and April, when drones of unknown origin were detected and destroyed by Russian airspace control units northeast of the air base. Russian military had been deployed in Syria in the fall of 2015, after Syrian government asked for Moscow's assistance in the fight against terrorism. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: Full-Scale War in Syria's Idlib Province Would Be Bloodbath By Lisa Schlein August 09, 2018 Amid reports of shelling and bombing by Syrian government forces of rebel positions in Idlib, a senior U.N. official warns of a bloodbath if a full-scale war breaks out in this northwestern province. Idlib is the last remaining rebel stronghold in Syria. President Bashar-al-Assad has announced his interest in retaking the area. The United Nations is deeply worried about the prospect of war breaking out in Idlib, which shares a border with Turkey. The province is packed with 2.5 million residents, and hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people who have fled there as a place of refuge of last resort. Jan Egeland, senior adviser to the special envoy for Syria, warned that in case of war, everyone will be trapped in Idlib because there is nowhere else to go. "This area is screaming for diplomatic solutions," he said. "It is yearning for the best diplomats, the best military negotiators to sit down between each other and come to agreements knowing that there would not be another Idlib to be evacuated to." Egeland conceded that among the many armed groups in Idlib, there are a number of people designated as terrorists by many countries and the United Nations. But he said they constitute a small minority and it would be indefensible to threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of women, children and other civilians in the name of fighting terrorism. "We cannot allow war to go to Idlib," he said. "We must learn from eastern Ghouta, from Aleppo, from Homs, from Raqqa and elsewhere. It is no way to liberate an area by leveling everything to the ground." Egeland is urging Russia, Turkey, Iran, western powers, and Gulf countries with influence to put pressure on the armed opposition groups to stop their reckless, violent behavior. He said this war must not end in a bloodbath, but with an agreement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Army intensifies raids on terrorists IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Damascus, Aug 10, IRNA -- Syrian Army have targeted strongholds of terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra in Hama countryside, killing scores of them. 'Army units carried out intensive operations against sites of "Turkistan Party" affiliated to Jabhat al-Nusra on the eastern side of al-Ghab plain in the villages of Waset, al-Mansoura and al-Ziara,' the Syrian news agency SANA reported on Friday. Dozens of terrorists were killed in the operation, the report said. The Army also continued their progress in cleansing Sweida Badia (Desert) from Daesh (ISIS) terrorists, according to SANA. 'The reporter added that army units eliminated a terrorist group in Arad al-Keraa and chased their remnants as heavy clashes erupted in the direction of Toluol al-Safa which is one of Daesh main sites in the area,' according to the report. The engineering units of Syrian Army have also combed areas retaken from the terrorists, defusing booby traps and land mines. 9156**1420 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria urges militants in Idlib to surrender as war 'nears end' Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 08:07AM The Syrian government is calling on what is left of Daesh and other terrorist groups in the country to surrender as the war against foreign-backed militancy in the country is "nearing an end." Syrian armed forces carried out shelling attacks against terrorist positions in the Idlib Province on Thursday before dropping leaflets that warned them to lay down arms and accept the government's rule. "The war is nearing an end... We are calling on you to join the local reconciliations, as many of our people in Syria did," read the leaflets, which were stamped with the military's seal. "Your cooperation with the Syrian Arab Army will release you from the rule of militants and terrorists, and will preserve you and your families' lives," declared the leaflets. After purging terrorists from most parts of the country and achieving several game-changing victories, the government of President Bashar al-Assad has been trying to negotiate evacuation deals with terrorists to save civilian lives. The agreements grant amnesty to anti-Assad militants who are willing to live under state rule again, provided private lawsuits are not filed against them. Damascus has been keen on scoring a similar deal with Idlib, which sits on the border with Turkey and is one of the last major militant strongholds in Syria. Assad announced last month that government forces had turned their focus to Idlib, noting that the liberation of the northwestern province was one of the military's priorities. Iran, Russia and Turkey, the guarantors of a countrywide ceasefire in Syria, have ensured the United Nations that they will try their utmost to prevent a battle for recapturing the city, which is home to over 2.5 million people. UN humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland, however, said that the world body was making preparations for a battle and would ask Turkey to keep its borders open to allow civilians to flee if the need arose. UN also sees war ending soon Speaking to International Syria Support Group's Humanitarian Access Task Force in Geneva on Thursday, Egeland echoed the Syrian government's view that the anti-terror battle in Syria was in its final stage. "We are seeing the beginning of the end to the Syrian war," Egeland told the activist group, calling on Western governments and Arab regimes in the Persian Gulf region to use their influence on militant groups and urge them to stop violence against civilians. The Syrian conflict, which started in March 2011, has so far killed over 350,000 people, according to the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UN reported on Sunday that the war had cost the country more than a whopping $388 billion. Released after a two-day meeting of Syrian and international experts in neighboring Lebanon, the figure did not include "human losses resulting from deaths or the loss of human competences and skilled labor due to displacement, which were considered the most important enablers of the Syrian economy." Czech FM meets Syrian counterpart in Damascus Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek, who was in Damascus to secure the release of two men working for a German humanitarian group, met with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem on Thursday. The Czech Republic is the only European country that maintains diplomatic relations in Syria in the face of the conflict. The country also handles consular services for European Union citizens and acts as intermediaries for other countries. Hamacek's office announced Thursday that Syrian security officials had agreed to release the two German aid workers. The Czech FM and the aid workers returned to Prague later in the day. "This is the exact reason why the Czech Republic keeps its embassy in Damascus. This is not the first case when our diplomacy helped citizens from other countries in need. The Syrian side demonstrated that this is a good will gesture from their side," Hamacek said in a joint press conference with German Ambassador Christoph Israng. Syrian Army keeps pushing ahead against terrorists Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Army announced Thursday that it had advanced more than 50 kilometers into Daesh-held areas in the southern governorate of Sweida over the past three days. Continuing with their successful campaign in the region, the SAA is now working to liberate the last remaining hilltops under the Daesh control near the strategic Kara' area. The SAA will concentrate on the liberating the al-Safa Canyon region and Kara' area in the second phase of its ongoing offensive. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Patrols Buffer Zone in Syrian Side of Golan Heights for First Time Since 2011 Sputnik News 07:35 10.08.2018 QUNEITRA PROVINCE (Sputnik) - UN troops on Friday patrolled the Syrian side of the demilitarized Golan Heights buffer zone with Israel for the first time since the war broke out in 2011, the deputy commander of Russian forces in Syria said. UN peacekeepers entered the area from Syria on August 3 after government troops drove militants away. The UN had previously to rely on Lebanon for access to this stretch of the border. "Today's mission to the Golan Heights was prepared by Russian and UN forces. An earlier mission was carried out with Russian military police, while today's patrol was conducted by the UN alone," Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko said. Russia plans to set up eight posts near the buffer zone between Syria and Israel, deputy chief of Russian military police Viktor Zaitsev said. None of them will be in the demilitarized zone, he added. Syria came to control the Golan Heights in 1944 but lost the area to Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The UN did not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the region and brokered an armistice between the two in 1974, forcing Israel out of parts of Golan and the destroyed capital of the Quneitra province. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's military drills closely monitored: MND ROC Central News Agency 2018/08/10 18:08:16 Taipei, Aug. 10 (CNA) With China set to stage military drills in the Yellow Sea, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Friday that all military movements in that area have been and will continue to be closely monitored to safeguard Taiwan's safety. "Taiwan's military has been and will continue to monitor all deployments of China's People's Liberation Army in that area and in the waters and skies near Taiwan," the MND said in a statement, adding that "the military is in full control of the situation in the areas around Taiwan and is ready to respond to any contingencies to ensure the safety of Taiwan and the region." The MND urged the public to stay calm and not to panic over what it described as China's intended intimidation. Earlier in the day, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang () assured the public that the military has made due deployments and full preparations of its own and urged the public not to be misled by unverified information. China announced earlier in the day that it will stage military drills in waters off Qingdao, Shandong Province in the Yellow Sea from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Monday and that all vessels are banned from sailing through the area. The announcement came just two days before President Tsai Ing-wen () is set to embark on a nine-day visit to Paraguay and Belize starting Sunday. In April, China also conducted live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait when Tsai was on a visit to eSwatini -- the only diplomatic ally of Taiwan in Africa. China has stepped up its saber rattling on Taiwan since last year amid deteriorating cross-Taiwan Strait relations, after Tsai of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party came to power in May 2016. (By Liu Lee-jung, Lu Hsin-hui and Flor Wang) Enditem/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As China Bears Down, Taiwan's President Turns to the Americas By Ralph Jennings August 10, 2018 Taiwan's president will travel to North, Central and South America this month to renew support from two of her government's few remaining foreign allies and tighten informal ties with the United States, both steps crucial to resisting increased pressure from China. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will leave Sunday for Paraguay, the only Taiwanese ally in South America, and the tiny Central American state of Belize. She is scheduled to stop in the western U.S. cities of Los Angeles and Houston for events that some expect to showcase the strength of Taiwan-U.S. ties. China has condemned the stopovers as it considers Taiwan part of its territory rather than a country entitled to diplomacy with Washington, which has formal ties with Beijing. Communist officials in Beijing have chipped away at Taiwan's foreign relations since Tsai took office in 2016. They resent Tsai for declining to see her government and China's as part of one country. Tsai needs to stay on the good sides of Belize and Paraguay, two of 18 remaining formal allies, and sustain recent momentum in Taiwan-U.S. relations, experts say. "Simply making the trip is already a success because it means Washington is willing to take a small hit in its relations with China out of respect for Taiwan," said Denny Roy, senior fellow at the East-West Center, a research organization in Honolulu. Stopovers in the United States The United States is Taiwan's strongest informal ally and chief arms supplier. Over the past half-year, relations have surged with a first step toward selling American submarine technology to Taiwan and the U.S. Congress's Taiwan Travel Act that encourages more high-level visits. At the same time, trade disputes are straining Washington's relations with Beijing. Those disputes make the U.S. government more likely to ignore Chinese opposition to stopovers by Taiwanese leaders, experts say. "Beijing's problems with U.S. support for Taiwan are always amplified at moments when U.S.-China relations are unusually poor, such as now," Roy said. Tsai will probably seek "a little bit more exposure" on this trip compared to in 2017, said Huang Kwei-bo, vice dean of the international affairs college at National Chengchi University in Taipei. It's not clear whom she will meet in the United States, but any contacts with the government of President Donald Trump would raise Beijing's anger. "You can't rule out that D.C. would send some officials to meet her, but we wouldn't necessarily be able to see," Huang said. She met Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Greg Abbott on a 2017 stopover. Taiwanese generally want their presidents to improve relations with major world powers, particularly Japan and the United States. Tsai's party is now campaigning for votes in city and county elections set for November. "Whether Tsai Ing-wen is going to deliberately keep this a low-profile issue, I doubt it, because honestly Beijing has been bullying Taiwan since her inauguration," said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington. Trade issues have raised discontent in China about whether the Beijing government prematurely challenged "U.S. supremacy" before it was ready, Sun said. "On the issue of Taiwan, Beijing does not have as much leverage to fight back," she said. Latin American allies In Paraguay from August 14-16, Tsai will attend the inauguration of President-elect Mario Abdo Benitez, the foreign ministry in Taiwan says. Tsai also visited Paraguay in 2016 and hosted the country's head of state in 2017. "Taiwan now has a lot of actual friends in the world society but not many diplomatic allies," ruling party lawmaker Lee Chun-yi said. "Paraguay is the only ally in South America, so for us to spend some more time, for the president to go to the inauguration, I think has definite significance." Taiwan looks to its formal foreign allies as a way of standing up to China, particularly in the United Nations where Beijing blocks Taiwanese participation. Four allies have left Taiwan since Tsai took office. The foreign ministry in Taipei says China enticed them to switch allegiance. China and Taiwan have been separately ruled since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory today, not as a nation. Tsai may take lucrative aid money so the new Paraguayan leader does not switch allegiance, Huang said. "Tsai Ing-wen will actually take quote unquote gifts over there," Huang said. "These gifts are usually wrapped up as foreign aid. Because China-Taiwan relations are poor now and then Beijing is undermining of Taiwan's diplomacy is ever stronger, Tsai Ing-wen needs to give out even bigger gifts." Tsai will stop too in Belize, an ally in Central America where Panama cut ties in 2017, angering much of Taiwan's public. In that country from August 16-18, she is set to address the National Assembly and preside over an award ceremony for Taiwan Scholarship Program recipients. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senior PKK terrorist killed in anti-terror operation in Turkey's Diyarbakir Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 03:57PM Turkish security forces have killed a high-ranking member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group during a counter-terrorism operation in the country's Kurdish-populated southeastern province of Diyarbakir. The Turkish General Staff, in a post published on its official Twitter page, announced that Ahmet Dorak, better known by the nom de guerre Sahin, was "neutralized" during an offensive in the Kocakoy region of the province on August 2. The Turkish military generally uses the term "neutralize" to signify that the militants were killed, captured or surrendered. Separately, the Turkish military stated that at least five PKK terrorists were "neutralized" during anti-terror operations in Iraq's northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. The military said Turkish military aircraft targeted the quintet in the Hakurk region. On August 4, a Turkish police officer lost his life and eight others sustained injuries when PKK militants detonated a bomb as a military vehicle was travelling along a road in the country's southeastern province of Hakkari. PKK militants regularly clash with Turkish forces in the Kurdish-dominated southeast of Turkey attached to northern Iraq. Turkey, along with the European Union and the United States, has declared the PKK a terrorist group and banned it. The militant group has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region since 1984. A shaky ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015. Attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since. Over the past few months, Turkish ground and air forces have been carrying out operations against PKK positions in the country as well as in northern Iraq and neighboring Syria. More than 40,000 people have been killed during the three-decade conflict between Turkey and the autonomy-seeking militant group. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump doubles tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum, says relations 'not good' Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 02:53PM US President Donald Trump has announced to double steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey, saying relations between Washington and Ankara "not good" as tensions mount between the two countries. "I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" Trump said on Twitter. "Aluminum will now be 20 percent and Steel 50 percent. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!" he added. The United States is the world's biggest steel importer. Washington slapped tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum in March for imports from several countries, including Turkey. Trump's announcement came shortly after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on Turks to help defend the country against the US-launched economic war against his nation. Erdogan appealed to Turks to exchange dollars and gold for Turkish lira to support the plunging currency. The lira plunged to as low as 6 against the US dollar on Friday, a day after a Turkish delegation returned from talks in Washington with no apparent solutions to their simmering crisis. Erdogan said that there were "various campaigns being carried out" against the country. Relations between the two NATO allies have taken a turn for the worse amid dispute over the detention in Turkey of US evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson on terrorism charges. Trump wrote on Twitter late last month that his country "will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson." Erdogan responded by announcing to freeze the assets in Turkey of US ministers of "justice and interior," in tit-for-tat response to US sanctions. Ankara and Washington also disagree over their military interventions in the Syria war, Turkey's plan to buy missile defense systems from Russia and the US conviction of a Turkish state bank executive on sanctions-busting charges in January. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Erdogan: US has dollars, 'we have our God' Iran Press TV Fri Aug 10, 2018 09:29AM President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Turks to "have no worries" after the national currency lira hit a new record low amid political tensions with the US. The lira plunged to as low as 6 against the US dollar on Friday, a day after a Turkish delegation returned from talks in Washington with no apparent solutions to their simmering crisis. Erdogan, who has already said his country is facing an "economic war", told supporters in the Black Sea province of Rize late on Thursday that there were "various campaigns being carried out" against the country. "Don't heed them. Don't forget, if they have their dollars, we have our people, our God. We are working hard. Look at what we were 16 years ago and look at us now," he said. Relations between the two NATO allies have taken a turn for the worse amid dispute over the detention in Turkey of US evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson on terrorism charges. US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter late last month that his country "will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson." Erdogan responded by announcing to freeze the assets in Turkey of US ministers of "justice and interior," in tit-for-tat response to US sanctions. Ankara and Washington also disagree over their military interventions in the Syria war, Turkey's plan to buy missile defense systems from Russia and the US conviction of a Turkish state bank executive on sanctions-busting charges in January. The standoff has triggered a selloff in the lira amid investor concerns about the direction of the country. Erdogan called on citizens last week to convert their hard currency and gold into lira in order to prop up the plunging currency with a "domestic and national stance." Erdogan wants banks to lend cheap credit to fuel growth. He has presented an economic action plan for the next 100 days. Ankara is turning towards China to overcome what Erdogan said were "subjective evaluations" from ratings agencies. Erdogan said China, Mexico, Russia and India will be new markets for his country's exports. The new economic action plan calls for Turkey to issue a renminbi bond and borrow from China to proceed with 400 new infrastructure and other showpiece projects whose value is estimated at $9 billion. Turkey's ties with the US have soured over Washington's refusal to extradite Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of masterminding a 2016 coup against President Erdogan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan Vows Turkey 'Won't Lose Economic War' After Lira Crash - Reports Sputnik News 14:08 10.08.2018(updated 15:08 10.08.2018) Turkey's national currency, the lira, hit new record lows against the US dollar and euro with a 6 percent fall amid strains with the United States showing no sign of de-escalation. The lira was trading at 5.9 to the US dollar, a loss on the day of more than 6 percent. The lira has weakened nearly 37 percent since the beginning of the year, though it had recovered some losses. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Turks to exchange foreign currency to support lira. Earlier, the US imposed sanctions against Turkey's Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu for participating in the detention of US pastor Andrew Brunson who is suspected of being connected to the Gulen movement. Washington believes that he was jailed unlawfully. Ankara has scolded the US sanctions and promised to freeze US Justice and Interior Secretaries' assets in Turkey. Brunson was detained in 2016 on suspicion of links to the movement founded by Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara holds responsible for the failed coup attempt that same year. The pastor was recently released from a Turkish prison last week and placed under house arrest. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VANCOUVER, August 10, 2018 - Nevada Clean Magnesium, Inc. (TSX-V:NVM; Frankfurt-M1V; OTCQB:MLYFF) (the "Company") today announced that all resolutions were passed by the requisite majority at its annual general meeting held in Vancouver, British Columbia, on August 8 2018. Shareholders voted in favour of all matters brought before them at the meeting, including the re-election of Edward Lee, James Sever, Steve Thorlakson, Robert Brown, Jeff Wilson, Dennis Mee, Aaron Palumbo and Boris Chubukov to the Board of Directors. In addition to the Board members being re-elected, Dale Matheson Carr-Hill Labonte LLP was re-appointed as auditors of the Company, and the Company's stock option plan was approved by the shareholders. The Board of Directors have confirmed Edward Lee as the Company's President & Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Palumbo as Executive Vice-President, James Sever as Chief Operating Officer, Dennis Mee as Chief Financial Officer, and Lisa Maxwell as Corporate Secretary. The Board also confirmed director appointments to the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees. About Nevada Clean Magnesium, Inc. Nevada Clean Magnesium is focused on becoming a major U.S. producer and distributor of primary, high grade, low cost magnesium metal extracted from its 100% owned Tami-Mosi property located in North Central Nevada. Based on the Company's NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment Report published in September 2011 and amended in July 2014, the Tami-Mosi Project has an inferred resource of 412 million tonnes with an average grade of 12.3% Mg for a contained metal content of 111 billion pounds of magnesium using a 12% cut-off grade contained within a high purity dolomite block. For more information, please visit www.nevadacmi.com. The technical portion of this press release was prepared under the supervision and review of James Sever, P. Eng., and COO for Nevada Clean Magnesium. Mr. Sever is a non-independent qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 standards. Forward-Looking Statement Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include that we can become a major U.S. producer and distributor of primary, high grade, low cost magnesium metal; that we will be able to close on our agreements with BBT; and that we can develop a clean, commercially viable, cost-effective process for the production of magnesium from dolomite, and the opportunity to commercialize and start sales. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including that the TSXV may not approve the agreement, the Company's dolomite resource may not be mined because of technical, regulatory, financing or other obstacles, the market price for magnesium may make our resources uneconomic, the Process may not be able to be commercially developed, none of our processes may result in cost-effective magnesium production, we may not be able to protect our intellectual property and keep out competition, we may not be able hire and retain skilled employees, no market for our process may develop from other resource owners, and other general risks associated with being a mineral exploration and development company. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To Reach Nevada Clean Magnesium Please Contact: Edward Lee, CEO at (604) 210-9862 For additional information please visit our website at http://www.nevadacmi.com or view our profile at http://www.sedar.com. You may also follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Copyright (c) 2018 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. When it comes to rumors, Samsung might have Apple beat. There have been so many leaks about the Galaxy Note 9 over the past few monthssome directly from Samsung itselfthat when the phone finally landed yesterday, no more surprises remained. Except the price, that is. Just like the iPhone X, Samsungs newest phone starts at $1,000 (technically a penny below, but whos counting), and suddenly we have a race to the top. And its one that Samsung is winning hands-down: The top-of-the-line Note 9 costs $1,250, $100 more than the most expensive iPhone X you can buy. The Note phones have been inching closer to the $1,000 mark for years, so its not terribly shocking that this years model has finally broken the barrier once and for all, especially since Apple already proved that people are willing to spend four figures on a phone. But while Apple actually gave users a reason to spend a little extra on their phone, Samsung is making Note 9 buyers an offer than they really should refuse. And it might help Apple sell more phones in the process. More Note for more money During its Unpacked event yesterday, Samsung didnt actually reveal the price of its new phone, but it was clear that it wouldnt come cheap. Over the course of the demo, the executive on stage gave the crowd plenty of excuses to justify a $50 price bump over last years model. Michael Simon/IDG The camera on the Note 9 is the same as the one on the Galaxy S9+, which costs $100 less. No one can argue that the Note 9 has the best possible specs you can get in an Android smartphone, with a Snapdragon 845 processor, up to 512GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, and a 4,000mAh battery. But the S9+ isnt far behind. In fact, the $1,000 Note 9 has the same processor, RAM, storage, and camera as the 128GB S9+, which costs $890. The only difference is the battery, which might last a little longer but will still need to be plugged in at night. So, comparing Note 9 to S9+, youre basically paying for two extra things: a screen thats two-tenths of an inch bigger and a Bluetooth-powered stylus. Opt for the $1,250 model and you get an additional 384GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. Thats it. Theres no gotta-have-it body color or extra camera or higher refresh rate. The Note 9 even runs the same outdated version of Android Oreo as the six-month old S9+, rather than the newly released Pie. Compare that to the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 Plus, and well, Samsung is going to have a hard time convincing people to pony up the extra cash. Wheres the added value? With the iPhone X, youre not just getting better specs than the iPhone 8. Youre getting a completely different phone. Apple didnt merely cram high-end specs and slap a $1,000 price tag on it. Customers are actually getting a substantially better phone for their extra $200: Theres the display, which isnt just bigger than the iPhone 8, its also OLED instead of LCD. Theres the all-new design that dumps the home button in favor of gesture-based navigation. And, of course, the TrueDepth camera, which enables FaceID and Animoji. IDG The iPhone X offers clear advantages over the iPhone 8 Plus. Samsung doesnt really offer any cutting-edge features in the Note 9 that you cant get elsewhere. The camera has AI inside it, but LG and Huawei are already doing that. Fans will bray about the new S Pens Bluetooth capabilities, but Samsung basically took the path of least resistance there too, giving it remote control capabilities rather than adding a microphone for voice control or professional drawing features like the Apple Pencil. And while Samsung is touting the S Pens fast charging40 seconds will give you 30 minutes of usewhat it isnt telling you is that it it has to be charged again after 30 minutes, because thats the extent of its longevity. So if youre using your Notes stylus to advance slides in a presentation thats longer than a half-hour, your S Pen will probably die before its over. Forced upgrade vs. added value Basically, Samsung is raising the price of the Note 9 because it can. It knows that loyal Note fans who are either still clinging to their Note 7 or struggling to band out an email with the Note 5 will upgrade at any cost.To these customers, the difference between $950 and $1,000 is likely small enough to overlook. But no one is going to upgrade from the Note 8 or a Galaxy S8 to this phone. And people on older phones might opt to buy the cheaper Galaxy S8+ insteador maybe the iPhone X. Michael Simon/IDG The Galaxy Note 9s screen is slightly larger than the S9+, but you probably wont even notice. Because when they consider that the $1,250 Note 9 costs about twice as much as the OnePlus 6 with the same 8GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 845 processor, they should start asking why. Why does Samsungs new phone cost $1,000? Why am I forced to pay for 128GB of internal storage? Why is it still running Oreo? Why is AR emoji still so inferior to Apples Animoji and Memoji? With the Note 9, Samsung is doing a friendly form of price-gouging. Yes, its offering more storage, but its also forcing its customers to pay for it. And this could back-fire. When carriers inevitably put the iPhone X and Galaxy Note 9 next to each other in stores, Android users who never considered spending that kind of money on a phone might look differently at the iPhone X, especially if design and security matter. Apple offers value for your thousand dollars, while Samsung offers excess. A losing game The Note has always cost more than the Galaxy S phones, but users were also getting more: a bigger screen, split-screen multitasking, a dual camera. With the Note 9, the only thing youre really getting is the chance to buy Samsungs first $1,000 phone. Michael Simon/IDG Is the Note 9s Bluetooth stylus reason to pay $1,000 for it? Apple may have defied critics and logic by selling a boatload of iPhone Xs at an eye-watering price point, but Samsung likely wont have the same luck. Compared to the Note 9, Apples nearly-year-old iPhone X is still a downright bargain, with a faster chip, better screen, cleaner OS, and more intuitive navigation. Sure, the Note 9 has twice as much storage, but such with a concentration on cloud and streaming, 64GB should be plenty for most people. So is the Note 9 launch going to be hobbled by collective sticker shock? Not necessarily. Some oblivious shoppers will buy the Note for the full MSRP, but for the most part, Note 9 customers will end up paying less than the sticker price. (In fact, Verizon is already offering a BOGO deal on Note 9 preorders.) Just know that if you pay the full price for the Note 9, especially the $1,250 model, youre getting very little value for your money, even if you can boast that you have better specs than your friends phone. But, hey, at least it still has a headphone jack. This story, "Samsung's $1,000 Galaxy Note 9 makes Apple's $1,000 iPhone X seem like a bargain" was originally published by Macworld . The town of Greenwich and its school system are not immune from a wrongful death lawsuit involving a 15-year-old boy who killed himself after what his parents say were years of being bullied, according to a ruling Friday from the second-highest court in Connecticut. Three judges on the state Appellate Court said the trial court judge was correct in rejecting the towns request to dismiss the lawsuit based on claims of immunity. Bartlomiej Bart Palosz shot himself in the head after the first day of his sophomore year at Greenwich High School in August 2013. His parents say officials did not investigate or discipline students who had bullied their son. The town has not yet decided whether to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. David Golub, who has represented the Palosz family in the case, said Friday, Connecticuts Appellate Court today conclusively rejected the towns attempt to avoid liability for Barts death. The town has now delayed dealing responsibly with this matter for nearly five years. Its time for the Greenwich community to acknowledge its failure to protect Bart and to meet its obligations to the Palosz family, Golub said. On Friday, Town Attorney Wayne Fox said the town has not yet determined its next steps in the case, but said a decision is likely to come within the next couple of days. In the issue of sovereign immunity as it applies to the Board of Education, a fact pattern such as this is very significant and consequently we will have to review the case very carefully and make a decision, which we have not, about whether to file (an appeal) to the Connecticut Supreme Court, Fox said. A lot of work still has to be done, including depositions, before the case would be ready for trial, Fox said. He said the town would be working on that. At issue in the case is the legal doctrine known as sovereign immunity, which asserts that government employees or bodies cannot be sued for their official acts. The lawsuit, first filed in August 2015, contends that extensive bullying contributed to Bart Paloszs decision to commit suicide. It claims school staff did not follow mandatory anti-bullying policies to protect him. GREENWICH Greenwichs Board of Selectman has cleared the first step for state money to again come to the town to pay for bridge replacements and intersection improvements. The money has been held up in recent months because Greenwich has not yet officially signed on to a new policy instituted by the state Department of Transportation. The selectmen approved the change Thursday, and now it will be up to the Representative Town Meeting. Under the new CDOT policy, designed to streamline its agreement policy with municipalities for funding of projects, towns and the state have to enter into an agreement to indemnify all projects for the next 10 years. The policy covers all projects that get CDOT funding and requires the municipalities that agree to get their own indemnification in case something goes wrong. Previously, individual agreements were made on how much money the town got and what the risk, liabilities and responsibilities were for both the town and state, according to Deputy Commissioner of Public Works James Michel. But the towns charter says the town cannot indemnify anyone and the town, therefore, was not able to sign the agreement, Michel said. That meant it would receive no money from the state for public works projects. To work around the charter language, the town will obtain an insurance policy to cover the indemnification and, in addition, any contractor working on the projects would have to enter their own agreement to indemnify the town and the state during construction. For the bulk of this, the contractor will be on the hook during construction, Michel said. The final bid for the insurance policy was not in yet, but Michel said Thursday it would be about $25,000 annually. Michel said both the towns legal department and its risk management department were on board with the solution. The town had been working on reaching a compromise with the state since 2012, he said. The solution was finally settled upon in May, when the state told the town that 165 of the 169 municipalities in Connecticut had signed on to the agreement. They told us if the town of Greenwich does not enter into the agreement, the ability to obtain grant funding would be eliminated, Michel said. That is a fairly significant amount of money. It includes all our bridges. It includes some of our traffic signal projects, transportation projects and roadway projects. By agreeing to the new policy, state funding can now move forward again for projects such as the Arch Street traffic signal improvements at Interstate 95s Exit 3, the train bridge over Sound Beach Avenue and several bridge replacements in town. First Selectmen Peter Tesei said the insurance agreement was a constructive way to address the issue in the short term and said the town could look at a longer-term fix within its own charter language. I know how important the monies are to these projects, Tesei said. Sitting on the Council of Governments for Greenwich, believe me, the other towns are salivating about having our money if we were to forfeit it. I dont want to see us forfeit it. The selectmen approved the language of the agreement. If the RTM approves it, the matter would then go back to the selectmen for them to finalize with their signatures. The RTM is expected to consider the matter at its September meeting. Town Attorney Wayne Fox told the selectmen, In this case the state of Connecticut has made it clear to us that its their way or the highway. Selectman Sandy Litvack asked Fox if he meant that as a bad pun, and Fox laughed but noted it was an accurate one. Litvack joined with Tesei and Selectman John Toner in supporting sending the agreement to the RTM. But first he expressed reservations about it potentially being in violation of the towns charters mandate for the town to never over indemnification. Fox said it was similar to ones that had been done in the past and had been agreed to by the RTM. We do not feel, having done this in the past, that it is a violation of the charter, Fox said. The board should not to interpret the towns charter too literally or you will never accomplish anything, Fox said. Litvack agreed, but said he wanted to be cautious. Fox said that changing the language would likely require a public referendum, which Litvack said the board was eager to avoid. But both the selectmen and Fox agreed to explore ways to possibly narrowly amend the charter language. Theres no reason not to, Litvack said, and Fox agreed. BRIDGEPORT FBI agent puts bad guy behind bars, bad guy does his time, gets released and puts the G-Man on his payroll. Even in Hollywood, that story line might be rejected as too unbelievable. But this is Bridgeport, where a mayor convicted of corruption got re-elected and is now running for governor. And so, for two-and-a-half years, retired FBI Agent Edward Adams has been working for returned Mayor Joe Ganim, the man Adams helped convict in 2003 of running a pay-to-play operation out of City Hall. Adams earns $91,800 a year handling a variety of duties as a mayoral aide, including letting the ex-felon mayor and staff know if they ever cross an ethical line something Adams claimed he has not had to do with Ganim. Hes not cutting corners or doing favors or anything like that, Adams said. Adams municipal employment has become a gubernatorial campaign talking point for Ganim. Granted a second chance in 2015 by Bridgeport voters, the mayor is trying to convince fellow Democrats statewide he can be entrusted with running Connecticut. (I) have even garnered support from those that were on the opposite side of that corruption investigation, Ganim recently said on radio station WNPRs Where We Live program, noting the head investigator works in Bridgeport City Hall. I didnt personally put him away, Adams told Hearst Connecticut Media this week. It was a joint investigation ... of corruption in Bridgeport. And then, of course, it went through the federal court system and a jury found him guilty. Joining the team Adams has been publicly allied with his former perp since the retired federal agent supported the fallen mayors successful 2015 comeback campaign. Back then Ganim similarly used Adams endorsement to try to blunt attacks on his criminal past. There was a bit of disbelief around a lot of it, followed by us overall just asking, Why? recalled someone who was affiliated three years ago with then-Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, whom Ganim defeated in the 2015 Democratic primary. If normally a story line like that is too good to be true, it is. Adams dismisses his support of Ganim as no big deal, saying, I firmly believe hes learned his lesson. But what motivated Adams? Did he feel sympathy for his one-time criminal target? The mayors father, George Ganim, for example, has condemned his sons 2003 conviction and subsequent, nine-year prison sentence he was released after seven as a terrible miscarriage of justice. The evidence that was presented warranted the outcome, Adams said. I dont think he got too harsh a sentence. Did Adams come to admire Ganim, then a rising political star, during the investigation? No, I did not admire him. No, Adams said. Adams said he had no subsequent contact with Ganim until early 2015, when the mayor reached out and the two men met on several occasions to discuss Ganims possible comeback campaign. Adams, of Fairfield, retired from the FBI after 26 years on Dec. 31, 2003. He later opened and still runs a Fairfield-based investigative and security consulting company. In fact, Adams online company biography highlights how he successfully managed the FBIs Bridgeport public corruption investigation which resulted in a dozen convictions, including that of the mayor. Ganims name is not mentioned. 2003 Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim convicted on corruption charges after an investigation in which FBI agent Adams participates. Adams retires from the federal agency at the end of that year. 2015 Ganim and Adams have a series of meetings to discuss a possible mayoral comeback. Ganim goes on to beat incumbent Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch in a primary and wins the election in November. Ganim hires Adams for a multifaceted City Hall job. 2018 Ganim , now running for governor, uses his professional relationship with Adams as a campaign talking point in support of the mayor's changed ways. See More Collapse Varied duties Even before he went to work for Ganim, Adams post-G-Man consulting career proved he was not averse to working for people from the other side of the criminal justice system. Adams was part of Danbury-based trash hauler James Galantes legal team. Galante pleaded guilty in 2008 to racketeering and fraud charges and was sentenced to federal prison. Federal prosecutors, FBI agents, they retire, they go and work for the defense, Adams said. Still, after Adams backed Ganim in 2015, Michael Wolf, the FBI Special Agent in charge of Connecticut during the Bridgeport investigation, was compelled to write a letter to Hearst stating: Many investigators and attorneys who worked tirelessly on the Ganim case and prosecution are appalled and dismayed that he may again have the opportunity to victimize the city and its people. Wolfe wrote that Adams was not the lead investigator and did not bear responsibility for making strategic case decisions. The returned mayor rewarded Adams and other key supporters with politically appointed city jobs. Ganim and Adams pitched creating a new government accountability office, but the failed proposal had big flaws: The director presumably Adams lacked independence and could be fired by the mayor. According to Ganims office, Adams responsibilities have since included: Reviewing documents before the mayor signs them; reviewing purchasing procedures; ensuring departments follow policies; handling Freedom of Information Act requests of the mayors office; acting as a liaison with the Housing Authority; assessing security within municipal buildings; and special projects, like trying to salvage a widely panned system of new downtown parking meters installed last year. Many people probably know Adams mainly from his work on the meters. He took over as the citys representative on the project from another mayoral aide, and began meeting with angry downtown businesses, looking into ways to better publicize the new parking technology and to change enforcement policies. But ultimately Adams efforts did not satisfy critics, and the Ganim administration has since decided to replace the meters. Joe wanted me to be part of his administration to make sure ... that hes doing things right, were doing things right, Adams said. But there have been recent examples of the mayor seemingly abusing his authority or at the least acting with a sense of entitlement while running for governor: Campaigning in a city vehicle driven by a police detective; campaigning on city time; getting the superintendent of schools to help criticize his opponent; and promoting two staffers who are also key campaign aides. One of those raises was rescinded after it was reported by Hearst. I know hes got a lot of individuals who think hes doing a lousy job, whether it be the tax rate or campaigning while working, things like that, Adams said. But when you realize how many hours a week he works for the city as mayor, its incredible. And like many other city staffers hired by Ganim, Adams supports the boss desire to move on to higher office, having contributed $2,375 to the mayors gubernatorial campaign. Motorola is hosting an event on August 15 in China and everyone is expecting the Moto Z3 and the Motorola One Power to land in the country but going by the company's official Chinese website, three other phones might be the stars of the show. Screenshots from the official website We are looking at the Moto P30, P30 Play and P30 Note - phones, which we haven't heard of before and don't know anything about. The pages reveal only the memory configurations and the color options - the standard P30 comes with 6GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB in Ice Jade White, Bright Black and Aurora. The P30 Play - assuming that's the budget variant - offers only 4GB/64GB memory and comes in Ice Jade White and Bright Black. Judging by the name, the P30 Note should be the largest of the trio and its listing reveals that it's coming in 4GB/64GB and 6GB/64GB configurations with the only color available being Bright Black. That's pretty much all we could gather from the listings and we are curious to see where the P30-series will be positioned with the E lineup intended for the low-end segment, the Z-series for the premium market and the G-series sitting in between. Via These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Qualcomm's legal department is working overtime lately. It's got Apple's lawsuits, Korea Fair Trade Commission's $927 million fine and the European Commission $1.2 billion fine to contest. Now at least the American firm reached a deal with the Taiwanese Fair Trade Commission. The dispute started back in 2017 and the original fine was $778 million because Qualcomm is refusing to sell chips to OEMs that wouldn't agree to specific patent-licensing terms. In addition, Qualcomm was making a royalty discount in exchange for exclusivity for the modem chips in iPhones. At the end, instead of paying off $778 million, Qualcomm was fined just $93 million and has pledged to invest $700 million in Taiwan over the course of five years. Moreover, Taiwanese authorities will allow Qualcomm to do business as usual by charging a royalty based on the price of each smartphone. Still, the American-based firm will have to do two annual reports for the Taiwanese commission to ensure the fairness of the patent-licensing deals and will also be required to offer patent licenses to its rivals before going against them in court. As expected, Qualcomm's rivals, including MediaTek, have objected against the Taiwanese commission ruling since "it will have a negative impact on Taiwans 5G industry and therefore hurt Taiwans global competitiveness." Back to the pledged amount of $700 million investments in Taiwan. Qualcomm will build new manufacturing facilities and will work closely with Taiwanese universities and start-ups in bringing 5G technologies to the country. Source By Vasia Orion | Published on 2018/08/09 This project didn't properly register on my radar for quite a while, and news on it has been sketchy, at best. While the thought of Lee Young-ae and Yoo Ji-tae in a spy-themed sageuk does sound rather exciting, I do have major reservations about the creators. Personal worries aside, the latest news on "Different Dreams" provides more information of the premise and the main characters. Advertisement The series is a special project created to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the forming of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. The historical spy melodrama takes place in Gyeongseong (former name for Seoul), Manchuria and Shanghai during the period of the Japanese colonial rule. The main characters are leader Kim Won-bong of the secret independence movement 'The Heroic Corps', and a Japanese-raised Korean surgeon named Lee Young-jin, who become spies for the Provisional Government then based in Shanghai, and play an active role in the Pacific War. News on the casting has been confusing. Lee Young-ae has been courted for Lee Young-jin, and reports have been ranging from her declining to her having confirmed, with a number of them saying that she is still considering the offer. Actor Yoo Ji-tae is courted to play Kim Won-bong, and is also reviewing the pitch. It all looks great up to this point, but writer Jo Gyoo-won ("IRIS", "IRIS 2") is pretty much a stop sign for my interest. I don't think I can handle a third work by him. "Different Dreams" has been reported as a pre-produced series currently discussing a broadcast on MBC, but the production has reportedly stated that nothing is confirmed yet. According to some news pieces, the drama will start location shooting in Shanghai, Mongolia and other places, while aiming for a worldwide release in the first half of 2019. I hope that we get more consistent news on it soon. Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings' Sources (1) (2) (3) Published on 2018/08/09 | Source On the latest episode of the tvN drama "Familiar Wife", Cha Joo-hyeok (Ji Sung) quarreled with his wife Lee Hye-won (Kang Han-na) after he brought his parents home. Advertisement His parents were in Seoul for some business and Joo-hyeok brought them to his house to stay over for a night. However, Lee Hye-won was surprised to see them when she came home. She said, "Let me get changed and order you some food. There is a famous Chinese restaurant nearby, I'm sure they'll deliver. Then I'll get you a room in a nice hotel". Cha Joo-hyeok followed her into the room and yelled at her for what she did. At the sound of their quarrelling, his parents left the house. When they left, Lee Hye-won said, "Why are you making me the bad one when they suddenly came up? I'll call and give them some allowance tomorrow". Cha Joo-hyeok argued that his parents had just been refused to and Lee Hye-won said, "All of this was agreed upon when we got married. If you don't like it, then return the house and the car and then say what you want". Published on 2018/08/09 | Source "Man of Will", a fim created by Lee Won-tae, is drawing attention. It boasts of a stellar cast, Cho Jin-woong, Song Seung-heon, Park So-dam, Jung Man-sik, Jung Jin-young, Yoo Seung-mok, Shin Jung-keun, Jung Kyu-soo, Jeon Bae-soo, and more. Advertisement In 1896 Chihapo, Hwanghae, young Kim Chang-soo kills a Japanese man and is arrested. He yells in court that he was only avenging the mother of the state, but he is sentenced to death. Kang Hyung-sik who is with the Japanese, tortures Kim Chang-soo for not obeying and the other prisoners turn their backs on him. However, he watches fellow Joseon people who aren't given the chance to stand trial because they lack education and Kim Chang-soo opens his eyes to reality and dreams of change. "Man of Will" is about an ordinary young man who becomes a great man called Kim Chang-soo and the 625 days that changed everything. Comics from around the state are recognizing Havre as a good place for comedy after years of Havre comedians building a network. Last month, local and visiting stand-up comedians did back-to-back comedy shows at the Great Northern Fair and at the Boxcars Restaurant and Bar. These shows were just two of the events that the local comedians in Havre have organized in recent years. The local comics have built a network with comedians from Bozeman, Helena, Billings and Missoula, putting Havre in the comedy circuit. The local comedians have also built up an audience of patrons to their own sh... The Montana Department of Commerce is inviting people to a regional resilience summit in Havre Monday. The department said it encourages representatives from local businesses, non-profits, and government agencies, along with public citizens, to participate in this meeting to discuss vulnerabilities and strengths of the Havre-area community as they relate to resilience issues. Discussion at these meetings will be used to inform the creation of a statewide resiliency framework.on The meeting will be held at the Havre Hill Library "Meeting Room" from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ... Spurred by Havre's affordable housing needs, a local economic development organization is hosting a community outreach meeting about a proposal to invest $3.5 million in a local housing complex. Residents of Oakwood Village, as well as the public, are invited to speak Wednesday with a company interested in buying and renovating the complex of three apartment buildings on the east edge of Havre, Samantha Chagnon of Bear Paw Development Corp. said. The meeting with Affiliated Developers Inc. will be held at Bear Paw's conference room Wednesday at 6 p.m, a press release says. The office is o... The injured worker alleged the employer had neglected to take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe workplace and prevent the encounter and was, in effect, liable for the injuries he sustained. The assailant reportedly punched the injured worker in the back of the head and the face after a verbal altercation in January 2014. He was earlier imprisoned in the UK for 4.5 years on charges of physical violence and had a history of heated exchanges with co-workers in past employment. In the instance at the food processing plant, the court ruled the separation of the two was a relatively simple and inexpensive step to avoid it. Failure to relocate either the assailant or injured worker was a breach of the duty of care. This being a case of alleged negligence by omission, it is necessary to embark on the hypothetical inquiry as to whether the incident would likely have been avoided had the duty been discharged, the judge said. The conflict could have been reined in. Such a breach gave rise to the incident since it materially increased the risk of injury and the risk materialised, the court assessed. Speakers will cover topics including collecting and analysing HR data, overcoming the challenges of deployment, implementation and integration, change leadership in HR technology projects and emerging technology. Whats more, there will be a Tech Den competition where five short-listed start-ups will pitch their solutions to a panel of judges for the chance to win a $20k marketing package. View the full conference schedule HRD readers interested in attending the conference are encouraged to reserve their seats online today to save with the Early Bird offer. There are two different ticket types to match your budget: Second, and related to the observation above, if an employee makes no reference to their employer (either in their bio or the content of their account) and their employer can only be ascertained (or perhaps only guessed at) by some detective work (usually Google searches) then that weakens the argument that the conduct is connected to employment. The complainant has had to take extra steps to seek to make the connection themselves. In that regard, employers should be wary of answering a question from a complainant as to whether a particular non-work account belongs to one of their employees. Third, even if an employee uses a non-work account that makes no reference to their employer it might contain content that is so offensive or objectionable that, if a connection was to be made, could justify disciplinary action, particularly if the content is antithetical to the proper discharge of the positon held by the employee or the values of the employer. To take an obvious example, if it was established that an employee responsible for diversity and anti-discrimination within an organisation had made a series of racist or misogynistic tweets or posts, then the fact the non-work account made no reference to their employer will likely not offer much by way of a defence. Fourth, there is often nothing special about a dispute or argument on social media. If the neighbour of an employee rang an employer to complain the employee plays music loudly at night the employer would, with a high degree of justification, characterise the dispute as a private matter which has nothing to do with the employer and dismiss it accordingly. A similar approach can sometimes be applied in relation to social media complaints. Finally, employers should take care not to apportion too much weight to the fact that a tweet or post has gone "viral". It's a trite but nevertheless accurate observation that the number of people outraged by a statement on social media is not necessarily an objective reflection of how inappropriate or offensive it actually is. TIPS FOR EMPLOYERS Throughout my more than 25 years working in the healthcare industry and within HR, this continues to be a driving force for me. Being able to do this work at a company like Johnson & Johnson, which is so deeply rooted in its purpose and mission, makes it that much more impactful. As a function, our work is not only geared toward creating maximum impact for the organization, but also to fostering a culture where our employees feel inspired to change the world for the better, and that is something I hold deeply. Tell me more about the progress of your People Analytics team When I became CHRO in 2010, I made it a priority to invest in people and data analytics because I knew it would be a key differentiator to put the organization on a path to making evidence-based workforce decisions. Our People Analytics team, which was established a few years ago, first focused on using operational and descriptive analytics to understand the impact of changes on our organization. Since then, weve challenged ourselves to continue to look for new and innovative ways to deepen and broaden the insights were able to draw. For example, were now leveraging predictive analytics to optimize the workplace and drive decisions. The outputs from this work span a range of areas, from measuring worker productivity to understanding how we can better retain university hires. Its also been key to developing differentiated talent strategies for emerging markets. There is no one type of person who is attracted to working on cattle stations, said Sticklen, who has worked at Stanbroke since 2005. Those drawn to agriculture can come from diverse backgrounds. We attract Ag. College graduates, tradesmen and those off family properties wanting to develop a career in agriculture, to name a few. Its more than horse work these days; a wide range of skills are required to work on a cattle station. Sticklen said Stanbroke rely a lot on two wheel bikes and side-by-sides which they found much safer for their staff to operate. Everyone has some skill base and we like to develop and enhance their existing skills to a level that makes them feel confident to deal with or undertake any job assigned to them on one of our stations, he said. Biological markers responsible for extreme exhaustion in patients with cancer have now been linked to fatigue in those with Parkinsons disease, according to new research from Rice University. Inflammation and fatigue in early, untreated Parkinsons disease will appear in an upcoming edition of Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. It is one of the first studies to link the biomarkers responsible for fatigue in patients with cancer and patients with Parkinsons. The researchers examined blood samples from 47 patients with Parkinsons disease, half of whom experienced high levels of fatigue, which is characterized by feeling severely tired and unable to engage in usual activities and is disruptive to ones work and social life and daily routines. Chris Fagundes, an assistant professor of psychology at Rice and one of the studys lead authors, said that although Parkinsons disease is not fatal, patients often complain that fatigue is one of the most common and disabling side effects and a contributor to reduced quality of life. The No. 1 complaint among Parkinsons disease sufferers is chronic fatigue, Fagundes said. The researchers found that individuals with Parkinsons disease who suffered from fatigue had elevated levels of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) inflammatory biomarkers. Interestingly, elevated levels of inflammatory markers such as these are also linked to fatigue in patients with cancer. This is the one of the first times these biomarkers has been linked to fatigue in patients with Parkinsons, Fagundes said. His previous research has focused on the link between specific biomarkers and cancer-related fatigue, and he said this study was a great opportunity to take work from one area and help a separate population. This opportunity came about in an unexpected way, Fagundes said. I was invited to a symposium with a panel of world-renowned experts on Parkinsons disease in Chicago. Although I had no expert knowledge related to this disease, I was invited because I have published on the biobehavioral mechanisms that underlie cancer-related fatigue. The panel was interested in my perspective. After presenting data related to what we know about cancer-related fatigue, we surmised it was possible that the mechanisms were similar. In collaboration with Karen Herlofson, a physician who treats patients with Parkinsons in Western Europe, we carried out a study examining fatigue and inflammation in patients with Parkinsons thanks to a grant from the Parkinsons Foundation. The researchers hope the discovery will allow health care providers to target specific treatments that can lower the levels of the inflammatory biomarkers and in turn improve the quality of life for the patients impacted. This discovery may help health professionals to develop treatments that target the biological mechanisms underlying fatigue, Fagundes said. By targeting the biological mechanism rather than simply teaching patients how to cope with the symptoms, we could potentially alleviate fatigue in these patients. Herlofson of the department of neurology at Sorlandet Hospital in Norway, Cobi Heijnen of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Johannes Lange and Guido Alves of the Norwegian Centre for Movement Disorders and Stavanger University Hospital in Norway, Ole-Bjorn Tysnes of the departments of neurology and clinical medicine at Haukeland University Hospital in Norway, and Joseph Friedman of Brown University Medical School and Butler Hospital in Providence, R.I., were co-authors of the paper. The research was funded by the Parkinsons Foundation and is available online at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ane.12977. Rice University Apple Festival names parade grand marshal A longtime Apple Festival worker has been named grand marshal of the King Apple Parade, which takes place at 2:30 p.m. on Labor Day. The Board of Directors announced that it had selected Connie Babcock as the 2018 Grand Marshal. Babcock is being recognized for her many years of service to the Festival including being responsible for the Window Display Contest; serving on the Sponsorship Committee and now as Chair of our Hospitality Committee. Connie is also coordinating the collection of Apple Festival T-shirts over the years. They'll be displayed in the lobby of the Historic Courthouse during the Festival. The board also invites organizations and businesses to participate in this years King Apple Parade. Professional floats are available for lease again this year. For information contact the North Carolina Apple Festival at 828-697-4557. Applications to participate in the parade are available at www.ncapplefestival.org under the Parade tab. The deadline for entries is Aug. 24. No criminal charges will be brought over the deaths of 10 people in a fire at a Carrickmines halting site. Five adults and five children died of carbon monoxide poisoning during the blaze in the early hours of October 10, 2015. The Director of Public Prosecutions made her decision after An Garda Siochana submitted a case file on the fire. No relatives of the victims were present at Dublin Coroner's Court as Detective Inspector Martin Creighton informed the coroner of the DPP's decision. Smoke The full inquest into the deaths will be heard before a jury over a two-week period early next year. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane issued provisional dates for the inquest hearing to take place in January. The coroner's office will now work with Dun Laoghaire County Council, gardai and Dublin Fire Brigade to draw up a list of witnesses to give evidence. The victims were Thomas Connors (27), his wife Sylvia (30) and their children Jim (5), Christy (3) and Mary (6 months); Willie Lynch (25) and his partner Tara Gilbert (27), who was pregnant, and their daughters Jodie (9) and Kelsey (4), and Jimmy Lynch (39), a brother of Willie. All those killed were residents of Glenamuck halting site in Carrickmines, Dublin 24. The five adults and four of the children were identified using DNA evidence with the assistance of Dr Alan Magee. Baby Mary Connors was formally identified by a relative, Dan Connors, at the children's accident and emergency department of Tallaght Hospital in Dublin 24. The 10 post-mortem examinations were carried out by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy and Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. The cause of death returned for all 10 victims was acute carbon monoxide poisoning owing to smoke inhalation. A legal representative for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council was represented at the short inquest hearing. Queries The DPP's office had issued a number of queries to gardai based on the file submitted and consideration of the issue continued for a number of months. Det-Insp Creighton told the court that the DPP's decision had been received and circulated to all parties. "I am now in a position to hear the inquest which will take place over a number of days before a jury," Dr Cullinane said. The coroner adjourned proceedings and issued a provisional start date for the full inquest to commence on January 14, 2019. A Dublin man who had to be arrested by "specialist trained armed gardai" when executing warrants has been remanded in custody after being charged with a litany of alleged crimes. Thomas Doyle (24), of Cashel Avenue in Crumlin, appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday charged with 15 offences, including resisting arrest and criminal damage. Evidence was given that Mr Doyle attempted to evade gardai who were trying to detain him on Wednesday evening, and that a "violent incident" occurred as officers arrested him. Gardai had attempted to arrest him on Tuesday but he successfully evaded them, the court heard. Damage Gda Micheal Muldoon, of Sundrive Road Garda Station, gave evidence that he arrested Doyle on foot of a bench warrant at 9.40pm on Wednesday in Cashel Avenue. A total of four warrants were executed. Gda Muldoon said Doyle made no reply to each of the 15 charges put to him. He is charged with criminal damage, resisting or obstructing a peace officer, threatening and abusive behaviour, entering a building with intent to commit an offence and failing to appear in court. He is also facing a number of road traffic charges including dangerous driving, having no insurance, driving without a licence, failure to produce a licence and failure to produce an insurance cert. Objecting to the accused receiving bail, Gda Muldoon said that Mr Doyle attempted to evade arrest on a number of occasions. "On August 8, 2018 he actively attempted to evade arrest. He fled to the rear of (his) premises and gardai pursued him. He was apprehended following a foot chase," he told the court. "When apprehended, the accused actively resisted arrests and attempted to physically resist all attempts at arrest. "It should be noted that on Tuesday morning, gardai at Sundrive Road were aware that the accused was driving a vehicle while serving a driving ban, and he again actively took steps to evade gardai. Following a short pursuit, he again tried to flee into his home." Gda Muldoon told the court that Mr Doyle had 12 warrants over the last number of years - including four this year alone and another four in 2017. The garda added that there are fears Thomas Doyle will continue to evade arrest if granted bail by the court. "Judge, if given bail my own belief is that the accused will actively attempt to evade arrest and will not appear before the court," he said. Armed "Any attempt to execute these warrants need assistance from specially trained armed members of An Garda Siochana due to previous incidents." Defence counsel for Mr Doyle argued that his client had no previous convictions for violent crimes and that his mother was present in court with 500 lodgement bail. Judge Bernadette Owens refused bail, citing Doyle's warrant history and evidence of attempting to escape arrest. He was remanded in custody to appear before the district court on Thursday next week. Fianna Fail has said a tweet on its social media page criticising the HSE's latest drug addiction strategy was posted by a junior member of staff and does not represent party policy. The now-deleted post shared an image of Drugs Minister Catherine Byrne at the launch of the strategy, which is aimed at people who use cocaine. The post read: "Let me get this straight. There are 1,000,000 (that's one million folks) on the waiting lists and the HSE are running campaigns like this? Perhaps HSE Ireland #YouAreOnCrack." The jibe came under fire from politicians and people working in the addiction sector. A spokeswoman for Fianna Fail said the post was shared by a junior member of staff and was not reflective of the party's stance on drugs policy. She said the mistake was quickly recognised and the posts on Twitter and Facebook were deleted. "Fianna Fail supports any campaign that will help those suffering in addiction not to overdose and that will encourage them to access detox programmes or services. "Drug addiction is a severe illness and all those in addiction or problem drug use should be given as much support as possible." The strategy was launched in partnership with the Ana Liffey Drug Project. Its chief executive, Tony Duffin, highlighted the importance of harm-reduction strategies in the wake of the controversial tweet. "Ireland has a comprehensive national drug strategy, of which harm reduction is one element. "Harm reduction is also internationally recognised as a legitimate and effective element of any national drug strategy. "As such, it has been disappointing to see some of the recent negative online commentary about harm reduction which saves lives and taxpayers money," Mr Duffin said. Burden "By minimising the risks associated with drug use, we reduce the incidents of health-related issues such as blood-borne viruses, vein damage, abscesses and overdose, thus reducing the burden on other health services, like ambulances, A&E and hospital beds. "Harm reduction also enables engagement with people who can often be hard to reach. "Meaningful and credible engagement with people who use drugs is the cornerstone to encouraging people to make healthier choices," he added. "It is, of course, always safer not to use illicit or unknown drugs, but people still choose to use. We need to reduce drug-related deaths in Ireland." Dozens of homeless families are being referred to garda stations late at night as they seek emergency accommodation. Families were advised to attend garda stations by Focus Ireland on at least 112 occasions in recent months. The situation was highlighted by the case of Margaret Cash who spent Wednesday night in Tallaght Garda Station with six of her children. As Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy came under fire from the opposition for the incident, his department sought to shift the blame to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE). The DRHE, meanwhile, claimed it was not its policy to refer families to garda stations. However, it outlined an arrangement with Focus Ireland in which, in exceptional circumstances, families are advised to go to gardai. The charity's advocacy manager Roughan MacNamara said: "This isn't a Focus Ireland policy: the State is directing people towards garda stations as they are a place of safety. "It is not acceptable and we are not happy to do that but it is the only thing available in certain situations." State agencies including gardai, the DRHE and the Department of Housing as well as Focus Ireland were last night unable to say how many times homeless families had been referred to garda stations in recent years. Requests Numbers released by the charity earlier this year show that families were advised to go to garda stations 46 times in April and 47 times in May. The DRHE said that the 46 instances in April related to 30 individual families. It could not confirm if they all attended a garda station. It said that nine requests for accommodation were received from gardai that month with eight families receiving a placement on the night and one refusing an offer. It couldn't provide additional detail on the May figures. The DRHE did confirm that families were referred to garda stations by Focus Ireland on 19 occasions last month. Fifteen of the cases in July involved families who refused accommodation that they had been offered, and four of them didn't have entitlement to social housing in the Dublin region. Fianna Fail housing spokesman Darragh O'Brien last night said that families being referred to garda stations is "an all too regular occurrence" and he claimed Fine Gael's housing policies are "denying these children's basic human rights". Sinn Fein's Eoin O'Broin called on Mr Murphy to make an immediate statement on what additional actions he's going to take to address the "ever worsening crisis". He also raised concern that the peak holiday season and upcoming visit by Pope Francis will lead to fewer hotel rooms being available to homeless families. A spokesperson for the minister said Mr Murphy had spoken to the DRHE and they confirmed they are "reviewing" the process for those seeking emergency accommodation late at night. He defended the Government's record on tackling homelessness, insisting that it was a priority. The photo of the children sleeping at Tallaght Garda Station that shocked the nation A Tallaght mother has told how she "cried all night" as she watched six of her young children sleeping in a garda station. The plight of Margaret Cash (28) and six of her children - Johnny (11), Tommy (10), Miley (7), Jim (4), Rocky (2) and Andy (1) - touched the hearts of the nation when photographs emerged of the children sleeping on chairs in a waiting area with no bedding or blankets. Yesterday, the mother-of- seven went to the homeless section of South Dublin County Council (SDCC) to try again to secure accommodation - but to no avail. At lunchtime, the family then made their way to the offices of the Inner City Helping The Homeless offices on Amiens Street, which secured accommodation for Ms Cash and her children until Monday. Tears Ms Cash told the Herald how she spent all of Wednesday night in tears at Tallaght Garda Station. "I've no words to even describe it. I didn't even sleep, I just stayed awake and watched the kids," she said. "It was the last straw for me. I just sat there crying all night. "They were sleeping on hard chairs before blankets were brought for them. "Until you're in a situation like that you'd never know what it's like. "It was so horrible seeing your children having to go through that - it's overwhelming." Ms Cash said she was advised to go to her local garda station after Focus Ireland could not secure suitable accommodation for her family. "You ring the council every morning and they give you a list of hotels to ring, but you can't get anywhere with them," she added. "They all tell you they're full or don't have anywhere big enough for your family. "I've been homeless for a year now," said the mum-of-seven. She also has a daughter Rebecca (9) who stayed with a family friend on the night in question . "Most nights [Focus Ireland] get you into a hostel, but you'd be back out the door at 9am the next morning, walking the streets with seven kids until 8.30 or 9pm. "On Wednesday night they couldn't find anywhere and told us go to the local police station." Ms Cash said the charity offered her family accommodation in Co Meath, but it would have been impossible to get to it so late at night. Focus Ireland advocacy manager Roughan Mac Namara said the fact that some families had nowhere to sleep at night except a garda station was "totally unacceptable". "Focus Ireland is working hard every day with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive to support families and help them when they become homeless," he said. "While [Wednesday] night was exceptional, it was part of an escalating crisis for families that Focus Ireland has been warning the Government about for over two years." Ms Cash and her family are on SDCC's housing waiting list. An SDCC spokes- person said families were assessed on a case-by-case basis at its homeless clinic. If homeless priority is granted families would either be accommodated in a homeless hub or granted self-accommodation. The spokesperson added: "All efforts are made to ensure families have accommodation on a temporary basis until more permanent arrangements can be put in place." The Herald first highlighted the issue in May when a 10-year-old girl had to sleep in Ballyfermot Garda Station. Sarah Behan was attacked by Fitzpatrick in front of her son A mother who feared for her life during a vicious assault by Patrick Fitzpatrick has spoken of her shock at his early release. Sarah Behan told the Herald that she was living in fear after learning that her former partner had been released from prison pending an appeal. The former Fair City actor had been jailed for a month after pleading guilty to the attack at her home. "I just can't grasp why he was let of prison so early. It's bizarre and I'm so upset," Ms Behan said yesterday. "For the pain and suffering he put my son and I through I think his early release just goes to show how bad our justice system is. "I'm now back to being scared of opening my front door. "My logical side believes I'll be OK, but my anxiety often takes over, making me fear that I'm in danger." Ms Behan described how nearly two years on from the assault, the beating she endured still haunts her seven-year-old son, who witnessed Fitzpatrick repeatedly "punch, choke and drag" his mother through her home. It is now the Blanchardstown mother's goal to persuade other domestic abuse victims to speak out. Evil Speaking to the Herald last month, Ms Behan said: "He started out as the model boyfriend, making me feel so lucky to have him in my life. But I soon came to learn that he had a very evil streak to him. "He was getting treatment for alcohol problems at the time, but nevertheless it didn't stop him from exploding into fits of rage on a regular basis." It wasn't until two years later that Ms Behan saw her former partner brought to justice. "One month in prison is far too lenient and sets a terrible example for those thinking about reporting their abusive partners," she said at the time. "Patrick put my son and I through absolute hell. "I suffered two busted lips and a badly bruised eye. "My head was also completely covered in bald spots due to the huge lumps. Scars "But the psychological scars are far worse. Sometimes I wake up at night screaming thinking someone is in my room. "My son sleeps with me nearly every night because he's terrified about being left alone. "He suffers with very bad anxiety and goes into hysterics if he's ever cornered or locked in a room. "With counselling sessions it's a little better but the scars of that night still haunt us." The 32-year-old said she understood why so many people don't report domestic abuse. "Unfortunately, it comes with a huge amount of stigma and shame," she added. "My advice to anyone going through what I endured is to watch out for the early warning signs. If you have any doubt, just get out before it goes too far." For Subscribers New restaurant to open in downtown Hagerstown "It's just time that folks just relax and get back to having a good time and loving on one another," owner says of her planned restaurant. Spencer Tunick Finds Artistic Inspiration in Sargassum Quintana Roo, Mexico - The New York artist Spencer Tunick, who is known for his large-scale nude portraits taken in public spaces, recently returned to Mexico. This time, his inspiration was the sargassum that has been invading the beaches of Quintana Roo over the past few months. It was a much smaller and more impromptu gathering than 2007's photoshoot with 18,000 people in Mexico City's Zocalo. But when Tunick invited a group of activists and people concerned about sargassum invasion, the idea was the same. Sargassum seaweed had been a chronic problem for several years now, clogging beaches from North Carolina to the Caribbean. Tunick, who for seven years took his family on vacation in San Miguel de Allende, now opts for Tulum. "My daughters grew up and wanted to know something new. Also, my wife and I had our honeymoon in Tulum 16 years ago," Tunick said. The backstory of the Tulum installation goes like this: "I was in a restaurant for an early dinner before sunset with some friends I had just made in Tulum through Javier Gonzalez, host and patron," he told"At our table there were about 12 people. That was when Jose Antonio Silva, representative of the Makers movement, sat next to me, who began to tell me about the sargasso problem. He even wanted me to do a piece that night. It surprised me a lot, then I looked around and thought it was possible, as there were other diners who could be asked to participate to form a larger group." Tunick, however, was not completely convinced. Then, Silva invited him to take a walk on the beach. It was then that he realized the damage being caused by the massive amounts of seaweed washing ashore. "It was incredible, Jose said that the moment to act was now and that I could help by doing a spontaneous work. I had a camera with me, good enough to create a good piece, which is expected to make people aware of the problem so they can suggest possible solutions in an immediate term." The wheels began to turn. "I saw the sargassum that resembles a massive invasive organism that seizes the coasts and beaches of Quintana Roo and the Caribbean. What was once a pristine beach now looks like the Upside Down world from the Stranger Things series." For the shots, Tunick asked the participants sprawl out naked, as usual, partly covered with the fresher sargassum closest to the sea. The older seaweed was smelly and infested with mosquitos. Spencer Tunick vows that his photos raise awareness about "the imminent situation disastrous for the environment and the tourist economy of the coasts of Quintana Roo" and invites the public to participate in solving the problem. The 51-year-old artist has shot over 75 human installations in public spaces around the world since 1994. To see more photos taken by photographer Spencer Tunick click HERE. We live in an age of paradoxes. Goddesses are worshipped, but women assaulted. Mothers are exalted as life-givers, but female foetuses aborted. The NDA government evokes mythological and historical figures, but fails to recognise the agony of women who suffer the consequences of their empty promises. They sloganeer in the name of the beti, yet, today, we have been driven to shame by the injustice inflicted upon women. According to NCRB data, the number of rape cases increased from 34,651 in 2015 to 38,947 in 2016 a startling 12.4% increase in one year. This amounts to almost 106 cases of rape every day. This is shameful. It is heart-wrenching to see the gross 82% increase of rape crimes against children, rising from 10,854 cases in 2015 to 19,765 cases in 2016. The BJP-ruled states are in a pitiful position: between 2013 and 2016, rapes increased by 13% in Madhya Pradesh (MP), 17% in Chhattisgarh, and 37% in Maharashtra. With 5,310 cases of rape registered across my home state of MP in 2017, it has acquired the dubious distinction of Indias rape capital. In the last few weeks, a 15-year-old was raped over three days by four men in Dewas, a 14-year-old was raped by three minor boys in Khajuraho, a four-year-old was raped by a 23-year-old man in Satna, and an eight-year-old was raped by two men in Mandsaur. Offences like these plague the nation. The horrors emerging from the shelter homes at Muzaffarpur, Bihar, reveal the extent of depravity unleashed on large sections of children and women. The Rs 3,100-crore Nirbhaya Fund, established by the UPA in 2013, was meant to be utilised for strengthening our security apparatus to ensure the safety of women. But not even a third of these resources (Rs 825 crore) has been used over the last five years. The railway ministry has used only Rs 50 crore of the Rs 500 crore (10%) for the Integrated Emergency Response Management System, and only Rs 21 crore of Rs 156 crore (13%) set aside to install womens helplines has been utilised. Even the ministry of women and child development is dawdling, having used a mere 13% of the budget to build One Stop Centres, meant to provide access to services like medical aid, police assistance, legal aid and psycho-social counselling to victims of sexual assaults. While the government spends a great deal of time and money on publicising Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Ladli Lakshmi schemes, their lack of actions betrays their lack of conviction. Beyond the Nirbhaya fund projects, there is a lot more the government can do to ensure a safer environment: ensuring 24-hour patrolling and CCTVs in public spaces, affording counselling and medical assistance to survivors, increasing the number of women in police, and ensuring that facilities such as womens helplines and emergency buttons on public transportation are functional. We also need to tackle deeper mindset issues to instil a sense of gender equality. But, BJP leaders foster a misogynistic environment through their sexist remarks. On one occasion, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said: If men acquire women-like qualities, they become gods but when women acquire men like qualities, they become (rakshasa) demon like. On another, Haryana CM ML Khattar remarked: If a girl is dressed decently, a boy will not look at her in the wrong way If girls want freedom, why dont they just roam around naked? If those in power harbour such regressive views towards women, how then can we expect a change in mindset of the public? The effect of this mindset also manifests in various other forms of discrimination: The Womens Reservation Bill, introduced by the UPA in 2008, has been languishing since the BJP came to power, despite it being one of their electoral promises. The problem extends to women in the workforce, who are still faced with the challenge of a 20% gender wage gap in India, as per the Monster Salary Index (MSI). While men in India earn a median gross hourly salary of Rs 231, women are at Rs 184.8. They represent only 24% of the paid labour force, as against the global average of 40%, as per the McKinsey Global Institute Report 2015. Instead of making efforts to remedy this, the NDA, along with its volunteers, spends its time trolling women. Be it the vile remarks and threats aimed at Sushma Swaraj or the suppression of the Oppositions voice by threatening the minor daughter of Congress spokesperson, Priyanka Chaturvedi, women today are faced with a hostile and an inimical environment in which their liberty and equality are being undercut. Women comprise half our population and no policy, scheme, slogan, or event can achieve inclusive growth, as long as regressive statements plague this sphere. We can start by having school curricula with mandatory components of gender sensitisation for instructors, material developers and students, so that gender stereotyping and prejudices are not internalised by impressionable minds. Sensitisation of persons in public offices is also important. The governments role here cannot be to brush off crucial womens issues to be mere law and order problems as a State subject. India ought to acknowledge the problem, and the government must bear both the responsibility to mend the situation and the accountability for the outcome. Jyotiraditya Scindia is the chief whip of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha and former Union minister The views expressed are personal Alia Bhatt was spotted at the Mumbai airport, heading off to Bulgaria, where she will reunite with the cast and crew of her upcoming film, Brahmastra, which also stars her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role. Several pictures and videos of the actor were shared online on Bollywood fan accounts. In the pictures, Alia can be seen wearing a black denim tracksuit, with her hair left open. She is carrying a bright red tote bag. She even stopped for a moment or two and waved at the present paparazzi. Alia had returned to India for a short break, while Ranbir and Amitabh Bachchan stayed back. Amitabh recently rushed back to India after his daughter Shwetas father-in-law Rajan Nanda, passed away. While details about Brahmastra have been few and far between, Ranbir recently spoke to Mid-Day about the movie and denied that it was a superhero film. It is actually a supernatural romantic fairy tale at heart. Ayan will never make a character that doesnt have truth to it, or which is unbelievable. Its too early to talk about the film, but it is something I am terribly excited about, he said. Apart from being my best friend and my favourite director, Ayan has worked on this film for six years. He is going to spend the next 10 years of his life on this trilogy. So when the first part is complete, the audience will know its not the end. That is something really exciting for me as an actor, he said. Ranbir and Alia have been photographed quite often on the films sets in Bulgaria. Heres the most recent picture of Alia, clicked by RK himself. The first schedule of Brahmastra was completed a while back in Israel. Its really new right now, and I dont want to over speak. It needs time to breathe and it needs space. As an actor, as a person, Alia is whats the right word? flowing right now. When I see her work, when I see her act, even in life, what she gives is something that Im aspiring to for myself. Its new for us, so let it cook a bit, Ranbir had said in an interview to GQ about his relationship with her. However, Alia has still not spoken publically about their relationship but has accepted in an interview that she had a crush on him. Follow @htshowbiz for more The recent onslaught of trolling directed at actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, after her latest release, Fanney Khan failed to impress the critics, is amusing at some level and disturbing at another. The fact that actors get credit when films do well, and therefore should be prepared for facing criticism when they dont, isnt debatable. What doesnt fit-in here is the extent and kind of flak that comes Aishwaryas way when that happens. Feedback from so-called well-wishers turns into sermons on how she should reinvent her career, now that shes in her 40s and times running out for her. Anonymous opinion pieces start floating about, questioning all her career choices till date. The latter is particularly ironical, given the fact that Aishwarya Rai has been one actor who has taken risks with her choice of films from the moment go. Honoured , Privileged and Humbled A post shared by AishwaryaRaiBachchan (@aishwaryaraibachchan_arb) on Jul 18, 2018 at 2:50pm PDT After winning the Miss World title in 1994 and getting the kind of attention she got in the process, the actor was spoilt for choice when it came to her debut vehicle. That she chose Mani Ratnams Iruvar over all mainstream Bollywood flicks on the table should have shown - fans and detractors alike that she prefers the unconventional over the obvious. Why, she refused the historical role of Briseis opposite Brad Pitt in Troy, something that most actors would give an arm and a leg for. This, at a time when blink-and-you-miss-it roles in Hollywood were also being lapped up by Asian actors as gifts from God. Aishwarya in a still from Raincoat. Whether it was the multi-layered character of Nandini in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) or the subtle Neeru in Rituparno Ghoshs Raincoat five years later, it was clear that the woman chose roles for the depth in them!! If more proof is needed of her tendency to listen to her gut over the roles that experts would typically like a beautiful Indian actress who can also dance to take up, one could simply look at her decision to play sister to Shah Rukh Khan (Josh; 2000) at a time when such a choice would have been considered suicidal for a heroine at her peak. For a woman with no filmi Godfather, one who chose to marry into the first family of Bollywood and still never looked around to lean on their connections for a career boost, simply having a mind of her own became a bane, when that is one thing most inspirational about her lifes journey. In a profession where facing flak for an outfit choice, a parenting choice, a choice to lose weight at their own pace, a choice to take time-out, a choice when to comeback are anyway considered a par for the course for women actors, at least a choice in the role they wish to take up or not, better be left to them. In peace. Aishwarya in stills from Sarbjit and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. And therefore, a Taal and a Chokher Bali, and an Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and a Sarbjit later, its ludicrous to ask Aishwarya Rai why she signed Fanney Khan. She clearly did because in her good judgment, she may have been convinced about the significance of the role, despite the script making it clear that the character came with only 20 minutes of screen time. If the film had worked, a collective applause would have gone the way of a veteran such as Anil Kapoor, a National Award winner such as Rajkummar Rao, and, of course, Aishwaryas impressive cameo. If it hasnt, well, lets troll Aishwarya and tell her that she needs to make better choices in life. After all, if you look so beautiful despite the age, shouldnt you grab the opportunity to merely romancing the hero, with both hands! Well, thankfully no. The times have changed and so has the thinking of actors and audiences. Its time for the trolls to come to the party. The views expressed are personal Interact with the author on Twitter/ @sonalkalra Jet Airways India Ltd. was once at the forefront of Indias rapidly growing market for air travel, but a challenge from budget carriers and surging fuel prices are backing the airline into a corner. Shares of the carrier, part-owned by Etihad Airways PJSC, plunged as much as 15% Friday in Mumbai after the company postponed announcing its first-quarter earnings, less than a week after denying a report that it needs drastic measures to cut costs and bolster its finances. The stock is headed for its worst year since 2011 as Jet Airwayss finances deteriorated and the default risk on its debt obligations increased. Budget airlines such as IndiGo, GoAir and SpiceJet expanded exponentially in the past decade, giving first-time flyers a new opportunity and middle-class families an alternative to full-service carriers that offered lounges and free meals on board. India, the worlds fastest-growing major aviation market, is also one of the toughest in which to survive, with premium carrier Kingfisher Airlines collapsing and legacy Air India needing repeated state bailouts as ultra-low fares fail to cover their costs. Jet Airways is facing challenges on all fronts, Bloomberg Intelligences Singapore-based analyst Rahul Kapoor said. The rise in oil prices is having a double whammy on their earnings. They already have a sparse balance sheet compared with other Indian carriers. India is one of the toughest markets, where airlines are forced to sell tickets at base prices of as low as 1 rupee (2 cents) to attract the fastest growing middle class in the world. Kingfisher Airlines, started by Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya in 2005, was one of the nations leading carriers until it was grounded in 2012 amid mounting debt. Indian airlines are among the biggest customers for the single-aisle planes made by Airbus SE and Boeing Co. Mumbai-based Jet Airways had total debt of Rs 94.3 billion ($1.4 billion), and cash and equivalents of Rs 3.2 billion for the year ended March 31, 2018, according to Bloomberg-compiled data. The firms total debt ballooned to 55.4 times earnings before interest and tax as of March 31, compared to 4.9 times the previous year, the data showed. In a brief statement late Thursday night, the company -- with a market value of $464 million -- said the audit committee didnt recommend the results for the boards approval, pending closure of certain matters. The company slipped into a loss in the year ended March following two years of profit. The probability of the airline failing to repay its obligations in the next 12 months is near the highest since October 2015, according to a Bloomberg Default Risk model, which tracks metrics including share price, debt and cash flow. SpiceJets risk is the most elevated since last February, and the gauge is little changed for IndiGo, the nations biggest airline. Deputy Chief Executive Officer Amit Agarwal said Jet Airways has regularly met its commitments on loans and is constantly evaluating opportunities to refinance or increase the tenure. The carrier needs as much as $500 million in cash immediately and must refinance $400 million of debt, backed by a guarantor, said Kapil Kaul, South Asia CEO for CAPA Centre for Aviation, adding no one should expect instant results. They can do that by possibly doing sale and lease-back of their widebodies and getting costs down, especially in the domestic market, he said. If they can recapitalize and restructure, then may be in a couple of years, they can be sustainable. In June, the airline agreed to buy 75 of Boeings 737 Max aircraft for about $8.8 billion, taking its backlog for the narrowbody jet to 225. It has also placed an order for 10 Dreamliner 787, but it may not take them as it reviews its network. It has 121 planes in its fleet, according to its website. Worst performer Jet Airways stock has tumbled 66 percent this year, making it the worst performing airline stock in Asia Pacific amid investor concerns over its outlook. Indias benchmark Sensex index has gained 11 percent. We need to recover the money and value we have lost, Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal said at the airlines annual general meeting Thursday. I feel guilty, I feel embarrassed that we have not been able to perform, especially with shareholders who stood with us. Jet Airwayss rivals are faring no better either. The entire sector has been hit by rising fuel prices, depreciation of the rupee and debt to fund aircraft purchases and rapid growth. IndiGo, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., posted a 97 percent drop in net profit, its worst-ever quarterly performance. SpiceJet will be reporting earnings next week. Jet Airways said last week that its implementing several measures to reduce costs and increase revenue, in areas including sales and distribution, payroll and maintenance. The company at the time denied an Economic Times report it had already started firing people and had told some workers to take as much as a 25 percent cut in pay. The stock will remain under severe pressure till theres some concrete plan on the table to revive the loss-making airline, said Devansh Lakhani, a director at Mumbai-based Lakhani Financial Services Ltd. These days there is an inexplicable smugness in the opposition camp. Their squiggles on the back of an envelope tell them that 2019 will bring achche din for them. They genuinely believe that the arithmetic is stacked against the Narendra Modi government ever since Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav sealed their deal for Uttar Pradesh. Their conspiratorial conversations are not about how to beat the BJP; but, who among them, can be prime minister. Will it be Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati, Rahul Gandhi, or a surprise contender like Pranab Mukherjee? The opposition is living in a bubble one that just burst when it badly botched the election to the post of deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Yes, in itself, the election has no bearing on 2019, except as a blueprint for political alignments and to discover who is malleable, moveable and unshakeable. The defeat of the Congress candidate tells us two things. First, a grand alliance of all non-BJP parties is still a myth. Many regional parties can be flipped and turned, even when the BJP is the main challenger on their home turf, such as in Odisha. A national Mahagathbandhan is still a nebulous idea, which, even if formed, is clearly fragile and easily breakable. And second, there is a curious complacency in the opposition parties, the Congress in particular. This gives the BJP, with its competitive spirit and win-at-all-costs hunger, a clear edge. The first giveaway of both sloppy floor management and an absence of a killer instinct is the number of absentees. The division of votes shows that apart from Mehbooba Muftis PDP and Arvind Kejriwals AAP, whose parliamentarians chose a tactical absence from the vote, there were still ten MPs from the Congress, the Samajawadi Party, the Trinamool Congress and the DMK who were not present to vote. By contrast, the BJP managed to rally all its troops, save one missing MP from NPF, an alliance partner. Even Arun Jaitley, who has been ill, turned up to vote in the election. The BJP showed that it still plays every election to win. The choice of candidate in Harivansh Narayan Singh was also a strategically smart move. The relationship between Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi has always been somewhat open to courtship from other suitors. In fact, Nitish Kumar is said to have been more than willing to review his partnership with the BJP less than a year after he flipped and joined the other side. Insiders say direct contact had been established between him and Rahul Gandhi over the past couple of months to discuss the contours of a new arrangement, but the Congress simply did not move fast enough. Whether this was from mistrust, wariness or simply a laggard pace of decision-making is not known. Instead, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah swiftly used the chance to mend the relationship, and with this election they have at least made it tougher for Nitish to make any dramatic new moves. If the Prime Minister was working the phone lines himself to Naveen Patnaik and K Chandrashekar Rao (TRS), Rahul Gandhi missed that chance with the Delhi Chief Minister. The two parties may be on the opposite sides of the trenches in the capital, but so are Patnaik and the BJP in Odisha. If the BJP could temporarily put regional battles aside, why couldnt the Congress? To not be able to garner the support of Arvind Kejriwal (whose fractious relationship with Modi is no secret) and Mehbooba Mufti (who has been unceremoniously dumped by the BJP) speaks of extremely poor people-management skills. Stung by defeat, some opposition MPs are privately wondering why the election was fought at all. Might not a consensus candidate been better than exposing faultlines in the opposition at a time when crafting a larger alliance is still a work in progress? Others believe that, just like the BJP stepped back and chose a regional player as its nominee, so, too, should have the Congress. For instance, the TDP was keen to contest, say sources. Or a candidate may have been chosen from the DMK at a time when the party is on a clear upswing in Tamil Nadu and is being wooed assiduously by every major formation. Even the original idea of a Sharad Pawar-backed NCP nominee may have put some pressure on the Shiv Sena by making regional pride a factor. Lastly, the opposition failed to make the Muzaffarpur rapes a national issue, as had happened with the December 16, 2012, Delhi gang rape. Otherwise, Nitish Kumars party would have been much more politically tarnished, and choosing a candidate from it nay have posed a risk. The Congress and several other opposition parties are playing for basic survival in 2019. Their lack of urgency and anxiety is befuddling. Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author The views expressed are personal The Delhi government on Friday cleared a Rs 571-crore flagship project to install 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras across the city. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal made the announcement in the Delhi assembly on the concluding day of the monsoon session. The project was one of the key promises made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the run-up to the 2015 assembly elections. Kejriwal also took the opportunity to hit out at the Centre as well as lieutenant governor Anil Baijal over the alleged rise in crimes against women in the national capital. The home ministry, the Prime Ministers Office, the lieutenant governor and the police all have failed to provide security to the people of Delhi. Criminals and anti-social elements will have some fear in them once the cameras are installed. This project will ensure a safer city for Delhiites, especially women and children, he said. The Centre controls the Delhi Police through the lieutenant governor. This is the second time the Delhi cabinet has cleared the CCTV camera project. While an in-principle approval was first granted in October 2015, this happens to be an administrative nod that would allow the public works department the nodal agency for the project to sanction the expenditure for supplying, installing, testing and commissioning the cameras. In his speech, Kejriwal blamed the lieutenant governor and bureaucrats for the three-year delay in executing the project. He said that although the Delhi government wanted to install the cameras at residential and commercial areas in coordination with residents, Baijal raised privacy issues to stall the project. With the help of certain officials, they moved the files in such a way that the installation of CCTV cameras was delayed by three years, he alleged, asking BJP legislators to ensure that Baijal does not pose any further hurdles in implementing the project. The lieutenant governor had formed a committee on May 8 to frame common guidelines for installation, operation and monitoring of all CCTV cameras in the city, including those put up by the police. The AAP government dubbed the panel as illegal, and accused Baijal of obstructing its flagship project. According to Kejriwal, the panel recommended that the CCTV cameras be installed only after acquiring licences from the police. The police are not able to give licences for guns properly and they are supposed to be entrusted with a task as menial as giving certificates for CCTV cameras? This meant money would have to be paid to get the licences, leading to more corruption, Kejriwal told BJP legislators in the house. Delay likely However, confusion among the bureaucracy with regard to the Baijal-appointed committee is likely to delay the CCTV project despite its passage in the state assembly. Officials said the process of awarding work may take six months as various formalities, including obtaining the work advisory boards approval for the Rs 571-crore project, have to be completed. Fridays approval was for launching the process of procuring 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras. But officials are still not clear whether the recommendations of the lieutenant governors panel need to be included. The lieutenant governor may or may not notify the rules suggested by the panel, an official said. Another official said public works department (PWD) secretary Manoj Parida, who heads the committee, has demanded that the project be kept in abeyance until the panel comes out with its report. But PWD minister Satyendar Jain, on the other hand, dubbed the committee as illegal in a letter addressed to the lieutenant governor. He overruled the PWD secretarys comment in the proposal, he added. Delhi Police on Friday inducted an all-woman Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team comprising 36 commandos, the first-ever by any police force in India, for anti-terrorist operations. The elite women commandos, hailing from north-eastern states, will be deployed at strategic locations for securing the upcoming Independence Day celebrations. Presiding over the induction ceremony, Union home minister Rajnath Singh expressed happiness that the Delhi Police launched raised an all-woman SWAT team. They will be deployed during the upcoming Independence Day celebrations, he said. The 36 women SWAT commandos have undergone a rigorous 15-month training programme that includes basic, commando and advanced honing of skills under the tutelage of National Security Guard trainers. Delhi Police have raised the commandos for anti-terrorism duty under the special cell unit of the force, said Singh. The minister asked Delhi Police to play a lead role in combating terror, and exhorted them to become a role model for police forces from other states and union territories. The practices adopted by Delhi Police should be among the best practices of police, he said. Rajnath Singh also stressed on the need for a perception change of the Delhi Police, directing senior officers to go patrolling with juniors and motivating them to adopt a public-friendly approach while taking part in policing activities. He inaugurated the office of the deputy commissioner of police (Southwest district), Delhi Cantt police station and the Delhi Police residential complex on Friday, stating that the construction of new complexes strengthen the basic infrastructure of the department and provide personnel with new energy to fulfill their duties. Singh said that society has a lot of expectations from the Delhi Police, and it needs a modern workplace and a good working environment to meet them. The government has increased fund allocation for the Delhi Police from Rs 6,378.18 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 7,426.98 crore in 2018-19 an increase of 15 per cent to ensure this, he added. He said the government has also sanctioned procurement of the Facial Recognition System for the Crime Unit and 2,700 hand-held devices with SIM card for equipping constables with e-beatbooks. The Union home minister said that a proposal for the recruitment of 12,000 additional personnel in the Delhi Police is under consideration, and approval has already been granted for 3,139. The government also created 4,227 posts in 2016, and crime investigation has been separated from law-and-order functions with an aim to improve the conviction rate, he said. Lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other senior officers were present on the occasion. (With IANS inputs) Acting swiftly, police arrested eight members of a gang of 12 robbers who barged into a house in Vijay Enclave in Dabri, held a family of five hostage at gunpoint and robbed them of Rs 70-80 lakh cash and jewellery early on Wednesday. Within 24 hours of the robbery, the police arrested eight robbers in multiple raids and recovered Rs 52 lakh cash and jewellery worth Rs 5 lakh from them. Efforts were on to nab others, senior officers said. The arrested men are Ola drivers Ashish Chaudhary (29) and Rahul Chauhan (28), Dipanshu Singh (28), Karan (26), a lab technician in Gurugram, Abhishek Sharma (23), a bartender, Manoj Gupta (32), Radhey Shyam (39) and Ajay (37) who works at a cargo clearing company at IGI Airport. According to the police, they got a call about a robbery at house number A13 in Vijay Enclave. The caller said the owner of the house, Pradeep Kumar Gupta, had been stabbed. By the time police reached the spot, the family had shifted the injured man to a hospital. The house was ransacked. The victims wife said that at 4.30 am, she heard someone knocking at the door of her bedroom. When she opened the door, 3-4 persons barged in and overpowered her. One of them, who had a pistol, overpowered her husband while the other caught her both children. When her husband tried to resist, one of them stabbed him, she said, Anto Alphonse, deputy commissioner of police (Dwarka), said. The woman said the robbers snatched the jewellery she was wearing, those in the cupboard and cash approximately Rs 84 lakh. Alphonse said the men tried to take away the CCTV recorder installed in the house. CCTV footage from the vicinity was analysed and in one of them, a person was seen roaming near the house around 3 am. From the footage, police identified the suspect as Ashish, an Ola driver from Dabri. Acting swiftly, the police team raided his house and arrested him, the DCP said. Ashish told police he was under a debt of Rs 3 lakh. Gupta is known to him and he had visited his house many times. Ashish thought Gupta being a property dealer would have lot of money and jewellery in his house, Alphonse said. To execute the robbery, Ashish contacted Narender, who is involved in 43 cases of crimes, including snatching, robbery and theft. He shared details of Gupta with him and Narender roped in 12 others. Coming down heavily on the Opposition and lieutenant-governor (L-G) Anil Baijal in the Delhi Assembly, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators were masters of misinterpreting laws. Speaking on the fourth day of the Delhi Assemblys Monsoon Session, Sisodia thanked the Supreme Court for its historic July 4 verdict and said the apex court kept in mind the tactics of the L-G and the BJP MLAs while delivering its judgment on the power tussle in Delhi. Sisodia said, The SC has gone into such detail by giving examples of different phrases used in official communications such as send a copy be to the L-G or forward it to the L-G, so that the rules under the transaction of business rules are not misused. It has stated that these phrases do not mean L-Gs concurrence is needed in all subjects. He just needs to be informed. Misinterpretation ke ustaad ho... iss liye SC ne yahan tak detail mein bol diya (You are masters of misinterpretation, which is why SC has clarified in detail.) The deputy CM said several months were wasted as important proposals of the government, including education loans, mohalla clinics, patient welfare committees and health insurance, were delayed due to the L-Gs obstructionist role. The SCs order has ended the obstructionist role of the L-G and the manipulations of the Opposition by empowering the elected representatives of people. The SC was aware of the repeated foul play by the L-G office and the Opposition (and) that is why it elaborated the provisions, technical words and their meanings in the judgment to avoid any misreading of the Constitution, he said. Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, however, said from 1993 to 2004, Delhi functioned smoothly despite having two different governments at the Centre and the state. The L-Gs office did not comment on the issue. The SC, in its order on July 4, defined the role of the elected government and the L-G in the citys administration. It had ruled that the L-G was bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers and also stated that the L-G did not have independent decision-making powers. The apex court, however, had put the matter related to services before the regular bench. The services department, which deals with transfers and postings of officers, is currently with the L-G as a reserved subject. The SC specifically clarified that the word any matter does not mean every matter so that the L-G doesnt ask for every file. The order further specifies that the L-G shall be informed about the decisions made by the council of ministers but his concurrence is not required, Sisodia said. Drawing a parallel with the British rule in India, Sisodia alleged the L-G was behaving like a viceroy and was delaying the government projects before the SC order. The L-G had unnecessarily delayed governments student loan scheme by 402 days, and mohalla clinic project by 101 days. All this was done to take revenge from Delhi people as they voted for the AAP. Such a conduct was akin to British rule in the country, Sisodia said. The minister also said that the constitution bench of the apex court clearly mentioned that the Legislative Assembly of Delhi has power to make laws on all matters in the state list of the constitution barring three subjects public order, police and land. He added that the L-G office and the opposition were interpreting the SC order in a strange manner as they had been citing a MHA notification of 2015 and maintained that service department, which is responsible for transfer and posting of officers, rested with them. BJPs Vjiender Gupta, on the other hand, said the AAP government should not jump the gun on the matter of services as the case is still pending before the regular bench in the SC. Till the decision is given by the bench, the present position with regard to services and anti-corruption branch will hold. The AAP government is not understanding the SC order which clearly has described the special status enjoyed by Delhi under which some subject are bound to be out of the purview of the elected government, Gupta said. A 22-year-old struggling model, who posed as the casting director of a fake modelling agency, has been arrested for allegedly cheating other aspiring models by promising them roles in short films and fashion events and photoshoots organised by international firms, police said on Thursday. Police said the man, Shubham alias Viraj Roy, cheated 15 aspiring models a dozen of them women from Delhi to the tune of around Rs 25 lakh since June this year. Roy allegedly used to trick the victims into sharing details of their bank accounts, secret codes of their plastic cards and mobile banking and used them to transfer money in his accounts for shopping and his other expenses. He said he was inspired by a Bollywood movie, police said. Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Devender Arya said Roys wife, who herself is a struggling model, joined her husband in the crime. But she had not been arrested till Thursday evening. Her wife joined the probe. Her role will be examined and further action will be taken as per law, Arya said. Four mobile phones, five SIM cards and several plastic cards belonging to the victims were seized from Roy. Three separate cases were registered at the Vasant Kunj North police station on complaints from the 15 victims. The DCP said the complainants told police that Roy used to introduce himself as the casting director of Dream for Success, a fictitious company he ran. Police said Roy posted his contact numbers and his agency details on various social media platforms, guaranteeing the aspiring models photoshoots or short films. He sent multimedia messages to models who posted their profiles on social media. Roy used to call them to different hotels in Delhis Mahipalpur and book rooms for them. Roy would trick them into sharing their bank details by saying they were part of photoshoot demanded by an international firm and their earnings will be received in their account in foreign currency, an investigator said. The investigator said Roy convinced the models into leaving their mobile phones and other belongings with him. Whenever an opportunity comes, Roy would flee with their belongings and transfer money into his accounts though various mobile money transfer applications, the investigator said. DCP Arya said Roy, a resident of Delhis Ranhola, aspired to become a model. He initially worked in low budget photo shoots and fashion events. Later he became financially unstable and decided to con people by starting a fake modelling agency, he said. A woman cannot have the right to stay at the property of her in-laws if she mistreats them, the Delhi high court said while dismissing the plea of a woman who allegedly subjected her in-laws to cruelty and torture. The Delhi Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Rules, 2016, entitled a senior citizen to seek eviction of his son, daughter or his legal heirs on account of ill-treatment but excluded the daughter-in-law. Justice Vibhu Bhakru said that excluding the daughter-in-law from the said rules would debilitate provisions of the rules and render it incapable to serve the object of safeguarding the rights of senior citizens. It is difficult to accept that although a senior citizen is entitled to evict his/her son who is maltreating him, he/she has no option but to suffer the ill-treatment at the hands of his/her daughter-in-law, the court said in its 11-page judgment. The court dismissed the plea of a woman, Darshna, who had challenged the order of a district magistrate who had directed her to vacate the first-floor of the house of her in-laws she had occupied. It is relevant to note that Darshna has no right, title and interest in the premises and, therefore, cannot insist on residing with Dhani Ram and his wife, especially when the relationship between the said parties had deteriorated to the extent as indicated above, the court said. According to the case, disputes arose between Darshna and her husband. She also had uncordial relations with her 75-year-old father-in-law Dhani Ram and his wife. While she had instituted domestic violence proceedings against the in-laws, her husband had filed a divorce case against her. Darshnas husband was not staying at his parents place for the past several months. Meanwhile, Dhani Ram filed a plea before the district magistrate, seeking eviction of his son and daughter-in-law from the premises. Appearing for Darshna, her counsel contended that the Delhi Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Rules, 2016, only enabled a senior citizen to evict his son and daughter or legal heirs from his self-acquired property on account of non-maintenance and ill-treatment. He said the property in question was not Dhani Rams self-acquired property and his application for eviction was not maintainable. However, the court said that such a contention is unmerited. The contention that the property in question is ancestral or Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) property prima facie does not appear to be sustainable, the court said. The in-laws had contended that Darshna misbehaved with them and had subjected them to physical violence. They claimed they were compelled to lock themselves in a room. They furnished medical records of him and his wife to substantiate his claim that they had been physically assaulted. Dhani Ram had produced CCTV recordings, which showed Darshna assaulting him and his wife. The district magistrate had referred the matter to the sub-divisional magistrate of Karol Bagh for verification. The report indicated Darshna used to fight with her in-laws. The court dismissed the daughter-in-laws plea while stating she would be entitled to the reasonable maintenance. Advocate Geeta Luthra said this would not clash with the Domestic Violence Act because the son is a licensee of the property and his wife is staying as the extension of his family. Hence, if the parents terminate the licence with the son, then the daughter-in-law automatically loses the right to their property. Senior advocate Vikash Pahwa said there would be no clash with the DV Act because the spirits of both the acts are different. There will no clash. But there should be clarity. Both the rules and Act in question are different and will be tried by different courts and by different judges, Pahwa said. Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University (BNMU) in northeast Bihars Madhepura district has armed its employees with sticks to deal with trouble mongers on the campus. The university on Thursday purchased about 60 sticks and distributed them among its staff on the verbal directive of registrar Col Neeraj Kumar. Col Kumar, who is among retired army officers appointed registrars in 10 of the 12 Bihar universities, issued the directive following attack on the BNMU pro-vice chancellor, allegedly by some students, on Tuesday. Justifying the directive, Col Kumar said it was aimed to protect university staff as their life is precious. He also expressed deep concern over serious security lapses on the campus. The registrar, however, assured the students of solving all their problems if they met him in a disciplined way. BNMU vice chancellor (VC) Avadh Kishore Roy said the directive was a result of the registrars anger at the attack of the pro VC and nothing else. We are committed to overhauling the functioning of the university in the interest of students and the registrar has issued the order in the same spirit, Roy said. Meanwhile, we have stopped the interviews to constitute a panel of contractual staff. It will start after the Independence Day, he added. Sonu Yadav, a student leader, however, warned the BNMU authorities with serious repercussions. We are living in democratic nation and not in a country ruled by military. We will not tolerate such orders. Another student leader Rahul Yadav said: We know how to give a befitting reply to lathis (sticks) and abuses. The trouble started on Tuesday when some students were involved in altercation with pro-VC Farooque Ali when the interview was in progress to prepare a panel of drivers and computer operators to be hired by the university on contract. The students levelled serious allegations over the recruitment process and demanded absolute transparency in it. Taking strong note of the incident, the university lodged an FIR against 25 students (six named and 19 unknown) at the town police station in Madhepura town, 283 km northeast of state capital Patna. Later, the students raised their voice against the highhandedness of the university and demanded immediate withdrawal of the FIR. Dams and rivers overflowed, parts of highways collapsed, and homes were swept away in severe flooding in more than half of Kerala on Friday in the third day of heavy downpour that has claimed the lives of 30 people and left nearly 54,000 homeless. The flooding became more intense after all five gates of the Idukki dam were opened and shutters of more than two dozen dams were lifted, making the Periyar river swell further. The rains had already increased its flow. Almost all 40-odd rivers in the state are in spate, officials said. According to officials from the state disaster management unit, six more people died since Thursday, taking the flood toll to 30. The majority of the deaths happened in the first 36 hours when the downpour caused flash floods and landslides. Officials from the state meteorological office said that heavy rain was expected for two more days. The Indian Navy on Friday launched Operation Madad to help people stranded in remote locations. Besides small search vessels, helicopters were also pressed into service. The navy hospital is also ready to meet any eventuality, the southern naval command said in a statement. Soldiers from the army and air force and personnel from the National Disaster Relief Force have also been pressed into service, said state revenue minister E Chandrasekharan News agency PTI quoted unnamed state officials as saying that a total of 53,501 people were housed in 439 relief camps across the state. A government official said if rain in the catchment areas does not let up, it could be a matter of concern as more water will need to be released. An aerial view of a flooded locality in Keralas Aluva after heavy rain on Friday. (PTI Photo) Union home minister Rajnath Singh will make an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Sunday. Minister of state for tourism KJ Alphons said the state was undergoing the worst flood in its history and Centre will provide all help. Tourists were barred from entering the hilly Idukki district after roads caved in at many places. Army soldiers were building small bridges to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad. People living downstream of Periyar river in Kochi, and Cheruthoni river in Idukki have been warned of a possibility of inundation of banks. The Supreme Court admitted on Friday an appeal against the acquittal of Rajesh Talwar and his wife Nupur over the murders of their daughter Aarushi and their domestic help Hemraj, reopening one of the countrys most infamous criminal cases that dragged on for years without a conclusive indication of who was behind it. Combining appeals filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the wife of Hemraj, the top court issued a notice to the Talwars, who were in prison for four years until the Allahabad high court overturned their conviction in October last year noting the evidence to be largely circumstantial. CBI will now present its case before the top court to get the acquittal overturned, said a CBI spokesperson. In its appeal, the agency called the high courts ruling wrong on many counts. In its written appeal, the agency said circumstantial evidence plays an important role in cases with no direct witness, and that the top court and high courts have previously upheld convictions on such bases. Hemrajs wife Khumkala Bandaje filed an appeal earlier, contending that the high court order meant no one killed her husband and the teenager. Retired IPS officer, Vikram Singh, who was the director general of the UP police when was case was reported, said that he believed the Talwars were behind the deaths. The Supreme Court will appreciate the evidence collected by the UP police in the first three weeks of the case, he said, adding that he believes the crime scene had been dressed up. On May 16, 2008, Aarushi was found murdered inside her bedroom in Noidas Jal Vayu Vihar her throat slit with surgical precision. The police initially suspected Hemraj, but his decomposed body was found a day later , behind a locked door on the terrace of the building. Rajesh and Nupur Talwar leave Dasna jail after four years, in Ghaziabad, on October 16, 2017. (Sakib Ali/HT File Photo) The police then began to suspect the parents and said Rajesh murdered the two after finding them in an objectionable position. The probe into the case hogged headlines for months, and sparked numerous conspiracy theories, a widely read book and a Bollywood film. Many accused the police of tampering with key pieces of evidence and bungling the probe. The Talwars and friends accused the police of framing the couple in order to cover up a botched investigation. Immediately after the murder, the Uttar Pradesh police drew flak for doing a shoddy job. The then chief minister Mayawati handed over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) where the case took several sensational turns. Two CBI investigators reached opposite conclusions on the basis of more or less the same evidence. The first team led by Arun Kumar claimed a breakthrough on the basis of scientific evidence, primarily narco-analysis test reports, and arrested three men Talwars compounder Krishna and two domestic help working in the neighbourhood, Rajkumar and Vijay Mandal. But the agency eventually failed to build a case against them. Another team probed the parents but it too failed to build a case, filing a closure report. When the couple objected to the CBI closing the case, the special court rejected the closure report and ordered prosecution of the parents on the basis of existing evidence, leading to their eventual conviction. The couple was awarded life sentence by a special CBI court in Ghaziabad on November 26, 2013, a day after the conviction. On October 16, 2017, the couple walked out of the prison in Uttar Pradeshs Dasna, three days after the conviction was overturned. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra police arrested a suspected member of a right-wing Hindu organisation at Nallasopara in Palghar district near Mumbai and seized eight crude bombs and explosives from his house late Thursday, a police official said on Friday. Vaibhav Raut (40) allegedly belongs to Sanatan Sanstha and has been a member of the group since 2012. He will be produced before the Bhoiwada court on Friday afternoon. An ATS team with a dog squad searched Rauts ground floor house at Bandarali village in Sopara, Nalasopara (west). The search operations continued till early Friday, said ATS sources. Raut used his estate agency office to store and make the bombs and we have seized materials like gun powder, detonators and other articles which could make a dozen more crude bombs. We believe Raut used his office as a front to make the bombs, an ATS officer said. Suvez Haque, deputy inspector general of the ATS refused to comment on the incident and said all queries will be answered from HQ ATS as per protocol. In April 2017, the Maharashtra government sent a proposal to the Centre seeking a ban on Sanatan Sanstha. The Goa-headquartered outfit was linked to two high profile murder cases, including that of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, and also terror activities in Goa and Maharashtra. The central government has finally opposed the 2014 decision of the Tamil Nadu government on the release of seven convicts guilty of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, saying the release of the convicts, four of whom are foreigners, would set a very dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications. It informed the Supreme Court of its decision on Friday and added that it had examined the matter and also taken the view of the investigative agency that looked into the assassination, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which also opposed the release. The central governments decision brings an end to a four-year drama involving it, the TN government, CBI, and members of the Gandhi family. It is likely to be met with dismay in Tamil Nadu, where the release of the seven has become a political issue one supported by the two poles of state politics, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The seven, V Sriharan alias Murugan, T Suthenthirarajan alias Santhan, A G Perarivalan, S Jayakumar, B Robert Payas, P Ravichandran and S Nalini, have been in jail since 1991. It was an AIADMK government, headed by the late J Jayalalithaa that sent the 2014 letter to the central government, echoing sentiments of some people in the state that the seven were minor accessories to the crime and had done their time. In 2000, the death sentence of one of the accused S Nalini, was reduced to a life sentence at the instance of Rajiv Gandhis widow and then Congress president Sonia Gandhi. In 2008, Rajiv Gandhis daughter Priyanka Vadra met Nalini at the Vellore jail and said it was her way to come to peace with the violence she had experienced. In 2014, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of Murugan, Santhan, and AG Perivalan to life. In July, Tamil film director Pa Ranjith claimed after a meeting with Rahul Gandhi that the latter had told him that he had no objection to the release of Perivalan. On Friday, the President of Indias letter dated April 18, 2018 to the Tamil Nadu government was placed before a three-judge SC bench of justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and KM Joseph, which took it on record. In 2014, the TN government took the decision to free the convicts, and requested the central government to convey its views within three days as the investigation in the case was done by CBI. The central government approached the Supreme Court and got a stay on the release proposal of the Tamil Nadu government. The court ruled that the convicts could only be released with the concurrence of the centre. With no response from the Centre, in 2016, the TN government again wrote a letter seeking its views. It eventually approached the Supreme Court which issued an order in January 2018 asking the central government for its position -- resulting in the April letter. Opposing the release of the convicts, the letter says: The case involves assassination of the former PM of India who was brutally assassinated in pursuance of a diabolical plot executed by a highly organised foreign terrorist group. The plot was executed with the active help and participation of these convicts and others who were LTTE militants. The letter added that the killing had brought the Indian democratic process to a grinding halt in as much as the general elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies in some States had to be postponed. When contacted state law minister C Ve Shanmugam, said the TN Government is firm on its stand, seeking the release of convicts. As per the decision taken by our demised leader J Jayalalithaa, we are leading a legal struggle for the release of convicts associated with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. As the final direction has not been awarded, we will continue our legal struggle, Shanmugam told the HT. The Union government is mounting pressure on the Haryana government to pay minimum support price (MSP) directly to the farmers and break the nexus of commission agents, a powerful lobby called arhtiyas in local parlance and known for having iron like grip over the farmers. Top government sources say during the August 1 meeting convened to discuss arrangements for the procurement of kharif crops, the Union food secretary and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) authorities again, and forcefully, raised the contentious issue of direct payment of MSP to farmers with the Haryana government. The officers of the government, however, told the Centre that even farmers were against this decision and that implementing it would lead to unrest in view of farmers heavy dependence for finances on the arhtiyas. There are about 40 lakh farmers in Haryana and over 10,000 arhtiyas. The state agencies procure wheat, paddy, mustard, maize etc and pay about Rs 10,000 crore MSP annually to the farmers in lieu of the procured food grains. Though the government agencies procure grains directly from the farmers, payment to them is done through the arhtiyas. It is this system of the government releasing MSP via arhtiyas to the farmers that the Centre wants to stop. We are under pressure from the Centre also to start this system of direct payment (of MSP) to the farmers, Karan Dev Kamboj, minister of state for food, said. Not a single farmer, Kamboj said, has come forward and opted for direct payment facility. The farmers registered with the market committees can avail this facility. According to the minister, one of the key hurdles in implementing this directive of the Centre was that farmers take money in advance from the arhtiyas. The arhtiyas are like ATM cards for the farmers. Just walk in anytime and get money. Thats the relationship of the farmers with arhtiyas, Kamboj said. Sources say the Centre began pushing for direct payment to the farmers after Rs 31,000 crore food procurement scam of Punjab had started unfolding in 2016. Raising the issue of direct payment of MSP to farmers for procurement of agricultural produce in Haryana, the Union government, in a June 2016 letter to Haryana, had said: As per (consumer affairs and food) departments basic principle, payment should be made directly to farmers through state agencies. This department does not favour payment to farmers through arthiyas and it would introduce non-governmental intermediation in payment of MSP to farmers which may lead to distortion. The Centre had further directed Haryana through this letter to take appropriate steps to make necessary amendment in all relevant Acts/Rules so that farmer gets payment of MSP for his agricultural produce without intermediation. Sources say that after this June 2016 letter, the Centre has been pushing hard and seeking status of this issue in every meeting. Last year, the arhtiyas went on a week-long strike when the state government floated proposal of direct payment to farmers. The Union government has been asking to break this nexus of the arhtiyas. They specifically use the term break this nexus while seeking details of the steps we have taken to implement direct payment system. In every meeting this issue is hotly debated. So far, our stand has been that it is not possible to implement it. But the bottom line is that both Haryana as well as Punjab will have to implement it sooner rather than later, a senior government officer refusing to be identified said. The Centre is planning to provide an insurance cover to encourage greater participation in the local bodies polls amid growing militant threats in Jammu and Kashmir, officials aware of the development said. Officials fear the growing militant presence, including those of locals, in Kashmir and the killing of 16 sarpanches (Panchayat heads) and panchs (members) over the last four years could deter people from contesting the polls. Fewer contestants are being expected even for the panchayat elections unlike in the past. The elections were due in January. But they were deferred after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government told the Centre the situation was not conducive for them. Then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had called an all-party meet before warning the Centre that there could be serious law and order problems especially in south Kashmir, if the elections were held. The electoral process has been accelerated since the imposition of governors rule in June after Muftis government fell following the BJPs withdrawal of support from the coalition government. The elections are now likely to be held in the next two to three months. Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), the states biggest indigenous militant group, had in January warned former panchayat members against contesting the elections. The groups operational commander, Riyaz Naikoo, had threatened to pour acid into the eyes of anyone who dares to contest the polls. The contestants will become a burden for their families, he had warned. Around 4,500 sarpanches and 29,000 panchs were elected in the last panchayat polls in 2011 when 75% voters had turned out to vote. The government had expressed its inability to provide security to most panchayat members citing their large numbers. Security was provided been provided to many sarpanches affiliated with political parties. Officials said leaders of some political parties had suggested the insurance cover as they are worried about the militant threats and prospects of low participation. They said the government was in touch with some insurance companies for providing group insurance cover to potential panchayat members. Many options are on the table. Discussions are going on and the final decision has not been taken yet whether all those contesting local polls will be insured in a group or only elected members will get this cover, said a government official privy to these details. He spoke on condition of anonymity. All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference chairman Shafiq Mir said the government should instead empower the local bodies by giving them the rights they have been demanding. He said they have been demanding direct transfer of funds and a say in developmental projects. After panchs and sarpanches were elected previously, we had heard that they were given the insurance cover. However, not a single penny was given to our members who were killed. Governor N N Vohra chaired a security meeting in Srinagar to discuss security related to urban local bodies and panchayat elections. He has been holding meetings with the leaders of various political parties and former panchayat members to ensure successful elections. The Congress on Friday claimed credit for the smooth functioning of Parliament in the Monsoon session, which turned out to be one of the most productive of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments regime. Among key bills passed in Parliament in the session, the main Opposition party supported the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill and the one on giving constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. Over the last four years, the Congress, as a constructive Opposition, has regularly extended support to legislative business in the interest of the nation, including constitutional amendments including the recent one that gave constitutional status to the backward classes commission. Our mission is to improve legislation and without our cooperation we would be back in the sad days when the BJP was indulging in destructive disruption, Congress spokesperson Rajeev Gowda said. During the session, Congress president Rahul Gandhi participated in the debate on the no-confidence motion brought by the Telugu Desam Party over the governments failure to accord special status to Andhra Pradesh. It was Gandhis sharpest attack yet on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a bhagidaar (partner) and not chowkidar (watchman) for favouring his 10-20 businessmen friends and reiterated his allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal. At the end of his speech, Gandhi, in an unprecedented gesture, went up to the treasury benches to give a hug to the PM. Initially Modi looked surprised but later shook hands with Gandhi and patted him on the back. But one big setback for the Congress was the defeat of its candidate BK Hariprasad in the election to the Rajya Sabha deputy chairpersons post by NDA nominee Harivansh of the Janata Dal (United). The Congress failed to rope in the Biju Janata Dal and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, as both the parties extended their support to the NDA. In the Rajya Sabha, chairman M Venkaiah Naidu congratulated the leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for the heightened productivity of the House. Earlier in the day, the Congress boycotted the breakfast hosted by Naidu in honour of new deputy chairperson Harivansh, in protest against the passage of bills amid din in the Upper House on Thursday. The defence ministry on Friday said it had come up with a standard protocol for closing down roads in cantonments under the provisions of the Cantonment Act, 2006, factoring in the emergent security needs of the army. The protocol was devised in consultation with the army headquarters. The local military authorities can initiate the process of closing roads by providing reasons and following the method laid down under the Act and the ministrys orders dated May 28, said a ministry release, reiterating the governments position on the matter. The protocol has been issued after several rounds of discussions and detailed review of the closure of roads by defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. The minister met several MPs and elected vice-presidents of 62 cantonment boards before the decision to open these roads to civilians was announced on May 20. This led to concerns being flagged by soldiers, their families and veterans that opening these roads to civilians would compromise security. The May 28 order suggests the defence ministry will have the final word on the closure of roads in cantonments. The instructions lay down that proposed orders for road closure will have to be forwarded to the ministry for legal vetting. The vetting will be done after draft orders have been published in at least three local newspapers and the cantonment boards website, and the objections and suggestions from the local public have been considered. After legal vetting in ministry, a final order for the closure of road will be issued by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the command... and published again in at least three local newspapers and on the website of the ministry and concerned cantonment board, said the two-page May letter. The letter said it was absolutely essential to follow the procedure in the Act. Kochi in Keralas Ernakulam district braced for floods on Friday as the water level in the Periyar River went up after the fourth sluice gate of the Idukki dam was opened in the morning, prompting authorities to close schools and offices. The gushing waters of the reservoir, which is 130km away, has already inundated the low lying areas of the port city and posed a big threat to the Cochin international airport. We are on a high alert. At least 4,000 people living in low-lying areas have been evacuated to relief camps. We have closed all educational institutions in affected areas, said Ernakulam district collector Mohamed Safirulla. Periyar, the states second largest river after Bharatapuzha, originates from the Western Ghats and flows through the thickly-populated areas of Kochi before merging with the Arabian Sea. Authorities are worried Kochi, which is surrounded by many backwaters and water bodies, will have a face the brunt of the heavy inflow from the dams upstream. Authorities have decided to close all school, colleges and offices in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts after the water level in the river increased menacingly. Besides dotting hydel projects, the river is also the major source of drinking water to many areas including Kochi. Kochi may go thirsty as sledge from the Idukki and Idamalayar dams crept into the water-pumping station in Aluva. Work is on a war-footing to de-silt the area leading to the pumping station. Siltation in the river increased manifold after the dam water carried enough slush. Our teams are on the job and if needed, we will seek the armys help, said state revenue minister E Chandrasekharan who is camping in Aluva. Several rivers are in spate following the incessant rains and all the 24 dams in different parts of the state have been opened to release excess waters. At least 26 people have been killed and many are missing as heavy rains continued to lash the state triggering flash floods and landslides. I never witnessed such a water level in my life. Thanks to preparedness human casualty was restricted to an extent. But at the same time, we have to take a lesson from such disasters. We have to check river and forest encroachment in a big way, said Kannan Nair, a retired headmaster from Aluva who was shifted to a relief camp in the morning. In a departure from the British-era practice, Himachal governor Acharya Devvrat has directed the state government to discontinue prefixing the phrase His Excellency or Mahamhim as a greeting while addressing him. Devvrat said honourable should be prefixed to his name instead of His Excellency and The Governor should be used on ceremonial occasions. In official documents and other communications, he should be addressed as Governor ji, according to a release issued by the Raj Bhawan. In 2012, then President Pranab Mukherjee had introduced a new protocol for greeting the constitutional head. He had directed that the salutation of His Excellency should be replaced with Honourable President and Honourable Governor. Devvrat took charge as the Himachal governor on August 12, 2015. After assuming office, he made many changes in the Raj Bhawan. In his initial decision, he ordered closure of the British-time bar that was housed in the Raj Bhawan. Devvrat, who is considered close to yoga guru Ramdev, also got a yagyashala (an enclosure within which a ritual sacrifice with a specific objective is performed) constructed at the Raj Bhawan. The governor, who is also the chancellor of government-run universities, had discontinued the use of colonial black gowns in convocations two years ago. Instead, he accentuated the use of traditional Himachali dress. Yoga guru Ramdev on Friday termed the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam an important step in controlling the number of illegal immigrants in India, warning that if they are allowed to stay on, they would make 10 more Kashmir-like problems for the country. Talking to the media during sidelines of a programme in Rohtak, Ramdev claimed there were four crore illegal immigrants presently in India and demanded they all must be deported. Whether theyre Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Rohingyas or even Americans, illegal immigrants pose a high threat to Indias security and thus they all must be deported. We are not able to handle one Kashmir and if Rohingyas are allowed to stay, they will make 10 more Kashmir-like problems for us, he said. The yoga guru also said that the country needed laws that would specifically define creamy layers in backward classes who should not be included in reservation. Even today there are sections of society that require reservation. But financially secure people, whether they belong to any caste or religion, should not be given reservation, he said. Ramdev, the promoter of multi-crore Patanjali business, said his brand will become the biggest in the world in terms of production by 2025. Over 50 tourists, including 24 foreigners from Russia, Saudi Arabia and other countries, were stranded in their resort in Munnar in Keralas Idukki district since Wednesday as a landslide, caused by the heavy rains lashing the state, damaged the approach road. State tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran told news agency PTI that all the tourists at Plum Judy resort at Pallivasal in Munnar were safe and the armys help has been sought to clear the road. He also spoke to some of the trapped people and assured them of all help. Officials said that the tourists will be shifted to a safer place, while the resort management has been asked to provide food and other necessary amenities to the tourists free of cost. The tourists will be shifted to Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) hotels once the road is cleared, said Kerala tourism director P Bala Kiran. The matter came to light after a video posted by one of the affected tourists was telecast by a local television channel . At least 26 people, including 11 in Idukki, died in the heavy rains which have caused floods and landslides in various places across the state. (With agency inputs) Torrential rains triggered by the south-west monsoon left a trail of destruction across Kerala on Friday, forcing authorities to open all five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam in Idukki for the first time in 40 years, posing a flood threat to many areas downstream, including port city Kochi. The toll has risen to 29, while at least four people were missing. Idukki and Wayanad districts, where heavy rains continued for the second day and showed no signs of stopping, were put on high alert. So was Ernakulam district as the released dam water is expected to reach Aluva on Kochis outskirts by Friday night. The state disaster management authority has announced a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Wayanad district till August 14, in Idukki till August 13 and in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode till August 11. According to a revenue department official, it was for the first time that gates in 24 dams were opened to release excess water and casualties restricted to some extent due to better planning. State revenue minister E Chandrasekharan said that the army, navy, air force and National Disaster Relief Force personnel were pressed into service in affected areas and their timely deployment has helped save many lives. Operation Madad has been launched by Navy to assist the state which is witnessing an unprecedented flood. Besides small search vessels, helicopters were also pressed into service. Navy hospital is also ready to meet any eventuality, the Kochi-based southern naval command said in a statement. Over 10,000 people living along the along the banks of Periyar river, which is spate, have been shifted to safer places while schools and offices have been closed in Kochi city and Ernakulam district. I never witnessed such water levels in my life. Thanks to preparedness, human casualties was restricted to an extent. But at the same time, we have to take a lesson from such disasters. We have to check river and forest encroachment in a big way, said Kannan Nair, a retired headmaster from Aluva, who was shifted to a relief camp in the morning. The states second largest river after Bharatapuzha, Periyar originates from the Western Ghats and flows through the thickly-populated areas of Kochi before merging with the Arabian Sea. It is also the major source of drinking water to many areas including Kochi, which may go thirsty as sludge from the Idukki and Idamalayar dams crept into the water-pumping station in Aluva. Meanwhile, the famed Nehru Trophy Boat Race, due to be held on August 11 in Alappuzha, has also been postponed. However, in a spell of relief, rains in the rest of the flood-ravaged state abated on Friday, according to the Met department. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was closely monitoring the situation from his office in Thiruvananthapuram and coordinating with the various district authorities, described the situation as very grim. Holding an emergency meeting with senior officials of the police and revenue departments on Friday morning the second in as many days to take stock of the devastation, he will undertake an aerial survey of the affected areas on Saturday, his office said. He also talked to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who assured him of all possible assistance. The Union Minister is also slated to visit the state on Sunday and make an aerial survey of the situation. Vijayan has also appealed to the people to contribute to the chief ministers relief fund. In Idukki, 57 tourists, including 24 foreigners from Russia, Saudi Arabia and other countries, who were stranded in their resort in Munnar since Wednesday as a landslide damaged the approach road, have been rescued. With all the five floodgates of the Idukki dam - Asias biggest arch dam - opened, the gushing water rushing downhill has inundated standing crops and property, especially in Cheruthoni town, whose residents have been evacuated to safer places. According to officials, the water level in Idukki dam, whose level is 2,403 feet, crossed 2,399 feet on Thursday, leading to one of the gates being opened after a gap of 26 years. As the level reached 2,401 feet on Friday morning, authorities were forced to open two more gates and with heavy rains continuing unabated in and around the catchment area, the remaining two gates were also opened. Kerala Power Minister M.M. Mani, who hails from Idukki, told the media there that the decision to open more gates was taken to prevent the water level from reaching its full strength of 2,403 feet, according to an IANS report. This is not going to create any issue as we are soon planning to close down the shutters. We are confident that things can be controlled, he added. IAF deploys helicopters, transport planes The Indian Air Force said it had deployed five An-32 transport aircraft, two Mi-17 V5 helicopters and an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) for rescue and relief operations in the rain-devastated parts of Kerala. Five An-32 transport aircraft were deployed to transport National Disaster Response Force teams and their equipment from Arakkonam to Calicut, an IAF spokesperson said. Two columns of army requistioned for Aluva Two columns of army have been requistioned for Aluva as the water from Idukki dam is expected to reach the region by 10-11 pm tonight: ANI. Kerala rains death toll rises to 30 Death toll in Kerala rains has reached 30. Kochis Aluva flooded as water level of Periyar river rises #Kerala: Kochi's Aluva is flooded as water level of Periyar river has risen after 5 shutters of Idukki dam were opened today. Manappuram Sree Mahadeva Temple submerged in the flood. An Indian Coast Guard helicopter&Fire and rescue dept have been deployed for survey of the region. pic.twitter.com/sNcUHy6Zfh ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 10 teams of NDRF deployed Ten teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in flood-affected areas of Palakkad, Ernakulum, Alappuzha, Idukki, Wayanad and Kozhikode for prompt response to any eventualities, says NDRF: ANI. CPI asks Centre to declare Kerala floods national calamity The urged the union government to declare Kerala floods as a national calamity and enlist the services of the armed forces for rescue and relief operations. This is a national tragedy. I request the government to proclaim it as a national tragedy and rush assistance to the people of Kerala immediately, Binoy Viswam, a Communist Party of India leader from Kerala said while raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha. Things under control, says district collector of Idukki Yesterday (Thursday) at 12:30 we had opened one shutter after 26 years. So 50,000 ltres/sec water was sent out. Yesterday night even though we planned not to continue the process, we had to do that because the level of water was going up, says Jeevan Kumar,district collector of Idukki. Today morning by 7 am we increased shutter strength and the water was discharged to 120 cumecs by 12;30 we had to increase to 300 cumecs. Now we have ordered to increase it to 600 cumecs. Things are under control, he adds. Death toll rises to 29, four missing With two more deaths being reported, the state government said the death toll in Kerala rains has reached 29 with four still missing. Army rescues 57 tourists from Munnar resort The army rescued 57 tourists, including 24 foreigners, who were stranded in a resort in Munnar after the roads to the resort got blocked due to a landslide. Puducherry CM assures all help to rain-hit Kerala Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy spoke over phone to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and assured him of all help to tackle the situation there in the wake of torrential rains. CM asks for contribution to relief fund Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan makes an appeal for contribution to his relief fund. 10,000 people shifted along Periyar river bank 10,000 people living along the along the banks of Periyar river have been shifted. Navy on alert as Periyar water levels rise The Indian Navy has put on alert its Southern Naval Command in view of the rising water level in the Periyar river and a possible inundation of parts of Wellingdon Island surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi. The Wellingdon Island, part of Kochi city, houses strategic facilities, including the Southern Naval Command and Cochin Port Trust. The Southern Naval Command is geared up to contribute to community kitchens. Red alert in Idukki till August 13, in Ernakulam till Saturday State disaster management authority announces red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Wayanad till August 14. Red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Idukki till August 13. Red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode August 11. Stay away from banks of Periyar: Disaster management authority People should restrain from entering into the river or going close to Periyar, Kerala state disaster management authority said. The agency has warned people against crossing the river. Ernakulam on high alert, 4000 people evacuated Kochi in Keralas Ernakulam district is bracing for floods as the water level in the Periyar River went up after the all sluice gates of the Idukki reservoir were opened. Authorities have closed schools and offices. We are on a high alert. At least 4,000 people living in low-lying areas have been evacuated to relief camps. We have closed all educational institutions in affected areas, said Ernakulam district collector Mohamed Safirulla. Read more Status of Idukki dam Water released from Idukki dam has risen to 5 lakh litres per second. All five shutters of the dam have been opened for the first time in 40 years. Idukkis Cheruthoni town evacuated People in Cheruthoni town have been evacuated. The bridge in the town, connecting north and south Idukki district, has been flooded due to incessant heavy rainfall in the region. Periyar Tiger Reserve faces flood threat Periyar Tiger Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary in Idukki, faces a flood threat. Idukki is home to two wildlife parks - Periyar and Eravikulam. Rajnath Singh to survey of flood-affected areas Home minister Rajnath Singh will do an aerial survey of the flood affected areas on Sunday. Worst flood in Keralas history: KJ Alphons Worst flood in history of Kerala, says Union tourism minister KJ Alpons. The Centre is closely monitoring developments in the state and will provide all help, he said. 5th shutter of Idukki dam opened The fifth shutter of the Idukki dam has been opened. Now water is being released at 2.5 lakh litres per second. 60 people stranded at Munnar resort Around 60 people are stranded in a resort in Munnar after the roads to the resort got blocked due to a landslide, reports news agency ANI. Offices in Ernakulam, Thrissur to be closed by afternoon Offices in Ernakulam and Thrissur will be closed by afternoon as a precautionary measure. Dam water released from Idamalayar is expected to affect places in Ernakulam and its nearby areas. Kerala CM fully satisfied with Central govts assistance: Rajnath I spoke to Kerala CM, he is fully satisfied with the assistance of the Central government and he has told me that every department is cooperating well. If he needs any other assistance he will inform me: Rajnath Singh Death toll rises to 27 One more death reported from Kozhikode, taking the total death toll to 27. Fourth shutter of Idukki dam opened Fourth shutter of Idukki dam opened. Only one shutter of the dam remains closed now. Nehru Trophy Boat Race postponed Keralas famed Nehru Trophy Boat Race, due to be held on August 11, was postponed due to heavy rains. Centre will provide all help to Kerala: Rajnath Singh Centre will provide all help to Kerala to deal with the unprecedented floods, home minister Rajnath Singh said. Navy carries out relief operations in Wayanad Chennithala asks Kerala govt to cancel Onam celebrations State opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala asks Kerala government to drop Onam celebrations in view of the floods. Pamba dam gates opened in Kerala Kerala opens Pamba dam gates as well. Twenty-four reservoirs have been opened in the state so far to deal with the torrential downpour. Water released from Idukki dam may increase by 3 times: Pinarayi In a Facebook post, CM Pinarayi said relief operations by the Army, Navy, NDRF and Coast Guard were in full swing. As the water levels in Idukki dam rise, we will have to open the shutters of the dam to release water. More than three times of the water being released now may have to be released. In such a circumstance, the water levels of Periyar river will rise. The chief minister said he has instructed to alert the people living in downstream areas with the help of announcements. He has also instructed to relocate people living in vulnerable areas. Thunderstorms likely in Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Wayanad districts IMD bulletin at 8 am said thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely to affect Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad districts. #Kerala: Two more shutters of Idukki dam were opened today morning, increasing the water flow into Periyar river to 125 cuses (1,25,000 ltres/sec); Visuals from Idduki dam and Idukki Dam catchment area pic.twitter.com/r3hGFUOgW4 ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 CM cancels all his programmes till Aug 12 CM Pinarayi Vijayan cancels all his programmes till August 12 and will remain in state capital to lead the coordination of rain relief efforts. 241 relief camps opened, 15,695 people shifted from low-lying areas According to PTIs state disaster control room sources, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas. Over 5,500 people from Wayanad district, where a red alert had been sounded yesterday, have been shifted to relief camps, the sources said this morning. In Ernakulam, 3,456 people have been shifted to camps following floods after 4 shutters of the Idamalayar dam were opened yesterday Idukki water level at 2401.34 feet Idukki water level reached 2401.34 feet at 10am with hourly gross inflow of 823 cusecs, the Kerala disaster management authority said. CM holds meeting to review the situation CM Pinarayi Vijayan is holding a meeting with top revenue and police officials to review the situation. Idukki received 100 mm rain in the last 24 hours Idukki has received 100 mm rain in the last 24 hours.The South-west monsoon has been vigorous over Kerala resulting in heavy rains in various parts of the state since the past two days. Visuals from Idukki as heavy rain continues to lash #Kerala. Two more shutters of Idukki dam were opened today morning, increasing the water flow into Periyar river to 125 cuses (1,25,000 ltres/sec) pic.twitter.com/9B6DB2PzXt ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 Periyar river water flow increases to 125 cusecs With two more shutters of Idukki dam opened on Friday morning, the water flow into Periyar river increased to 125 cusecs (1,25,000 ltres/sec). Water level in Idamalayar dam under control: Minister Water level in Idamalayar dam is under control. So we can open remaining two more shutters of Idukki. But our main concern is it will lead to more water downstream, said state power minister MM Mani. The minister is camping in Idukki. Drinking water distribution affected in Kochi Drinking water distribution affected in Kochi as sludge creeps into water pumping unit in Aluva. Heavy goods vehicles banned in Idukki: CMO The CMO announced that a ban has been imposed on the movement of heavy goods vehicles and tourist vehicles in the high ranges of Idukki. The decision was taken on account of unabated rains in the area. Idamalayar dam water level at 169.18 metres At 8 am, the water level at Idamalayar dam was 169.18 metres. Army rescues 30 stranded tourists in Munnar Army rescues 30 tourists stranded in Munnar. As dam water gushes to downstream, restriction likely in Cochin international airport. Dam water expected to reach Ernakulam district in 2 hours We are keeping utmost vigil in Ernakulam as dam water is expected to reach downstream in two hours, said state revenue minister E chandrasekharan, who is camping in Aluva. 60 relief camps opened in Ernakulam, dam water reaches Aluva 60 relief camps opened in ernakulam district as dam water reach aluva and surrounding areas. Many small villages in cheruthoni submerged. Karnataka rushes relief materials to Kerala, agrees to release 75,000 cusecs of water from Kabini reservoir Karnataka is rushing Rs 10 crore worth relief materials to Kerala. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy directed state Chief Secretary TM Vijaya Bhaskar to rush relief materials and a team of doctors to Kerala, reeling under heavy rains and flash floods, said the statement. On Keralas request, the state government has also agreed to release 75,000 cusecs of water from Kabini reservoir in Mysuru districts to tackle the flash floods caused by excessive backwaters across the border in Kerala. As one of the tributaries, Kabini originates in the Waynad district and flows eastward to join the Cauvery river at T Narasipura in Karnataka. Idukki dam water level crosses 2401 feet The total capacity of Idukki dam, Asias biggest arch dam, is 2403 feet and the water level has now crossed 2401 feet. What is really worrying is there is no let up in rain in catchment areas and water is flowing to the reservoir with more speed than the quantity of water getting released, an official said. We are monitoring the situation closely, said state power minister M M Mani, hailing from Idukki. Army, Navy and NDRF deployed The Army has deployed three columns comprising about 75 personnel each in Ayannkulu, Idukki and Wayanad. Two more columns have been requisitioned and moved to Kozikode and Mallapuram. Three teams of NDRF are in Kozhikode, the chief ministers office said. A 48-member strong team is expected to reach Wayanad today morning. A team of 28 members will go to Malappuram, While another 28 members of NDRF will concentrate their work in Kozhikode. Another 3 teams of NDRF reached Palakkad on Thursday night, of which 28 members will focus on disaster management efforts in Palakkad and a 48-member team will go to Idukki. A 15 member NDRF team has been brought to Wayanad in a helicopter. A 15-member team of Navy is in Malappuram while another 5 members are in Wayanad. A team from Ezhimala Naval academy will be in Wayanad. US issues advisory to its citizens The US issued an advisory, asking its citizens not to visit Kerala because of the flash floods in the state. In the advisory, the US said the heavy southwest monsoon rains triggered landslides and floods in the state, and American citizens should avoid visiting all affected areas in the state. Avoid all areas throughout Kerala affected by landslides and flash floods, it read. CM Pinarayi calls emergency cabinet meeting Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has called an emergency cabinet in the morning. The situation is grave, a senior revenue official told HT. Vehicular movement restricted in Idukki Vehicular movement restricted in Idukki. Authorities have urged people to remain at high locations. Two more shutters of Idukki dam opened Two more shutters of Idukki dam were opened on Friday morning, 18 hours after the first shutter was opened around 12pm on Thursday . A high alert has been issued in Kochi and surrounding areas as water gushes downstream. The army and navy have been deployed to help local administration. The Idukki dam is now releasing 1.50 lakh litres per second. The catchment area received 100 mm rain on Thursday night. Death toll rises to 26, heavy rains forecast Death toll in the rain and floods rise to 26. There is no let up in the rain and flash floods. The Kerala meteorological department has forecast rains to continue on Friday and return on Monday. The Kerala government on Friday sought immediate relief from the Centre as it sounded out trouble for Ernakulam district after two more sluice gates of the Idduki reservoir were opened in the morning to release excess water amid incessant rains. The water level in Edamalayar dam is under control. So, we can open the remaining two shutters of the Idukki dam. But our main concern is it will lead to more water downstream, state power minister MM Mani, who is camping in Idukki, said. The death toll due to heavy rains and landslides has risen to 26 in the state forcing authorities to open more of the five sluice gates of the Idukki reservoir. As many as 22 reservoirs, including the largest one in Idukki, have been opened so far, flooding several parts of the state. (Read live updates here) Kerala chief minister Pinyari Vijayan held an emergency meeting with senior officials of the police and revenue departments on Friday morning the second in as many days to take a stock of the devastation caused by rain and floods. We are keeping utmost vigil in Ernakulam as the dam water is expected to reach downstream in one hour, state revenue minister E Chandrasekharan, who is camping in Aluva, said. Officials said 60 relief camps have been opened in Ernakulam district after the dam water reached Aluva and surrounding areas. Many small villages in Cheruthoni have already submerged under the waters. Drinking water distribution in Kochi, 130km away from Idukki dam, was affected after sludge crept into the water pumping unit in Aluva, officials said. Vehicular traffic in many areas of Idukki has been restricted and operations in the Cochin international airport will also be affected after the dam water gushes to downstream. Rescue operations continued on Friday morning, with the Indian Army helping 30 stranded tourists in Munnar. The India Meteorological Centres regional office in Thiruvananthapuram has predicted heavy downpour for two more days in the area. Idukki received 100mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours adding to the concern. The maximum water level in the Idukki reservoir is 2,403 feet and has crossed 2,401 feet. Rains in the catchment areas have added to the worry as the water is flowing to the reservoir with more speed than the quantity being released, an official said. On Thursday, authorities had opened one sluice gate of the 45-year-old Idukki reservoir for the first time in 26 years and they have now been releasing 1.5 lakh litre per second. The Idukki reservoir has three dams and the main dam on the Periyar that holds maximum water has no shutters as it is situated between two imposing granite hills locally known as Kuravan and Kurathi mala. The army, navy, air force and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are already engaged in rescue and relief operations in the worst affected districts. North Keralas Wayanad district was completely cut off by landslides and the army personnel were pressed into service to restore road network in the hill district. A Muslim husband wants to perform a ritual for his dead Hindu wife and a temple society in a New Delhi Bengali-dominated neighbourhood has not allowed because they believe the woman was no longer a Hindu after her marriage even as she had not given up her faith. Imtiazur Rahman, who is based in Kolkata, lost her wife Nivedita Ghatak in the capital after she suffered from multiple organ failure last week -- 20 years after the couple married in accordance with the Special Marriages Act that allows inter-faith wedding of couples irrespective of their individual faith. Ghatak was cremated as per Hindu rites at Delhis Nigam Bodh Ghat but the family could not perform shradh -- a set of Hindu rituals performed for the deceased. Rahman, who works as assistant commissioner, commercial taxes in the West Bengal government, said he had booked an August 12 slot at Kali Mandir Society in the Bengali-dominated Chittaranjan Park after paying Rs 1,300 for the ceremony on Aug 6. But he was later told by the temple society that his booking has been cancelled for obvious reasons. Ashitava Bhowmik, the president of the temple society, told IANS that Rahmans request could not be taken up for more than one reason. He alleged that Rahman concealed his identity and made the booking in his daughter Ihini Ambreens name which doesnt sound like Arabic or Muslim. Bhowmik said we got to know about his religious identity when a priest got suspicious and asked him about gotra -- the lineage which forms an important factor in determining Hindu ancestry. Obviously, he had no answers. Muslims dont follow gotra system. His wife can no longer be considered a Hindu after marrying the Muslim because a woman adopts the surname and belief system of her in-laws and becomes a part of that society, Bhowmik told IANS. Unapologetically, he said, It was done in keeping with and respecting the Hindu traditions and rites. Asked since it was the last wish of the woman, who followed the Hindu belief system, Bhowmik said who knows the man has some ulterior motive and could bring in 50-100 of his relatives inside the temple and start praying Namaz there. What will we do in that case? Should we allow that? he asked. Being probed further that it was only the temple societys hypothetical fear, Bhowmik said if Rahman was too keen on performing the ritual of his wife he should do that at his home. Why insist on a temple in Delhi? Why doesnt he do it at his home in Kolkata? But Rahman countered the allegations saying faith was a personal matter for him and it had never hurt his relationship with his practising Hindu wife as she would perform any ritual the way she wanted and he would do it his way. This time I wanted to do it her way because she would have wanted to me do it like that. But am not being allowed. He has not been able to hold the shradh ritual till now. Citing security concerns, the Osmania University (OU) on Friday declined permission for Congress president Rahul Gandhis visit to the varsity campus on August 14, during which he was scheduled to interact with students. In a communique to OU Students Joint Action Committee leader Koturi Manavatha Roy, universitys joint director N Venkateshwarlu said they were declining permission for Rahul Gandhis visit due to security issues as he is under special security coverage. The Congress president is slated to be on a two-day visit to Telangana from August 13 to 14. We had invited Rahul as a thanksgiving gesture as he too was responsible for the formation of Telangana state. We told the university authorities that it would purely be an apolitical meeting which had nothing to do with the Congress party. Why should there be any objection to the authorities? Roy asked. He alleged that the university authorities acted under pressure from the states Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government. The OU students had earlier protested against the visit of KCR (CM K Chandrashekar Rao) during the university centenary celebrations and taken out rallies against the governments indifference towards providing jobs. That is precisely why the government has been bringing pressure on the OU to deny permission for Rahuls visit, Roy said. The university vice-chancellor could not immediately be reached for a comment. The Congress hit out at the state government for allegedly putting pressure on the varsity to not give permission for Rahuls visit. It clearly shows KCR is afraid of him, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. TRS spokesman Karne Prabhakar refused to comment on Congress allegations. However, TRS-affiliated Telangana Rashtra Vidyarthi Samithis leader D Balaraj Yadav said neither the party nor its affiliated student unions had anything to do with the denial of permission to Rahuls meeting. Indias most productive monsoon session of the Lok Sabha in 18 years ended on Friday. It was a session that saw a no-trust vote in the Lok Sabha that the government easily defeated; an effective floor test in the Rajya Sabha over the election of the Deputy Chairman, which the ruling alliance won despite being in minority in the Upper House; and the passage of 12 laws, including some landmark ones. All told, the Lok Sabha functioned for 118% of the time it could have between July 18 and August 10, according to the parliamentary affairs ministry, and 84% of the Question Hour. The Question Hour is allotted for lawmakers to seek answers from ministers on various issues. Commenting on the productive nature of this session, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, vice chancellor of Ashoka University and a political commentator, said, This is often cyclical. The last year of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) also had one rather productive session. He also linked it to the no-confidence vote. In this case, it is also an outcome of a change in the strategy of the opposition. Congress and the Telugu Desam Party thought a no-confidence motion would give them more visibility and offer a national stage. Disruption, for instance, would not have given Rahul Gandhi the opportunity the debate did. He added that the BJP also had nothing to lose since it had the numbers and went ahead with it. It was hard to disrupt after the no-confidence motion. The Rajya Sabha functioned for 68% of the time possible, according to the ministry. Recent sessions of Parliament havent been as successful. The second half of the Budget session, between March 5 and April 6, was almost washed out, especially in the Upper House. During the monsoon session the government survived the first no-confidence motion in fifteen years and the Upper House elected a new Deputy Chairman even as the Opposition stepped up its offensive against the National Democratic Alliance on issues such as the Rafale deal, exclusion of 4 million people in National Register of Citizens in Assam and non-implementation of promises to Andhra Pradesh. As many as 17 bills were introduced during the session and the Lok Sabha spent the most time49 out of 102 hoursin legislative business. A PRS Legislative Research analysis said this is the highest amount of time spent on legislative business by both Houses in the 16th Lok Sabha; (and the) second highest since 2004. Congress leaders came out on the street inside the Parliament complex to protest against the government on Friday, but barring some sporadic protests, there was no threat of a washout, like the second half of the last Budget session. Both Houses passed the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill that is expected to prevent a recurrence of a recent rash of incidents where bank loan defaulters such as Vijay Mallya or fraudsters such as Nirav Modi have fled India for foreign shores. Parliament also cleared the bill for granting constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes and amended the SC/ST bill to tighten the law against offenders. The two important bills aim to address concerns of socially vulnerable sections and can also be important political tools for the ruling section in election times. Still, the bill to criminalize Instant Triple Talaq, approved in the Lower House, could not be passed in the Upper House when brought for debate on the last day. When the Upper House reconvened after two adjournments, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu announced that the Triple Talaq Bill cant be taken up as a consensus on the issue is yet to be evolved. With a year left for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Centre withdrew the contentious FRDI bill that faced opposition from various quarters over the controversial bail-in clause. Finance ministry officials maintained that it may be brought back again after revisiting some of the provisions where concerns were raised. In her valedictory speech, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan maintained that the monsoon session has been more productive and satisfactory than the previous Budget Session and last years monsoon session. Both Mahajan and Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu maintained that the session furthered the cause of social justice with legislations such as the NCBC bill and SC/ST bill having a wide impact on the lives of the deprived population. Addressing the House on Friday, Naidu said, South West monsoon is very critical for the economy of our country and it has been by and large normal with only about 5% deficit in rain fall so far. And the Monsoon session of Parliament also brought new tidings marking a break from the last two sessions much to the delight of all those who have a stake in our Parliamentary democracy. Still, while lauding members for this he reminded them that the productivity deficit still remains. The Narendra Modi government also kept alive the chances of pushing the amendments to the land law as the joint panel reviewing the bill has been given time till the end of the 16th Lok Sabha to submit its report. The contentious bill proposes to relax norms for industries and developments for public purposes to acquire land. The discussion on the no confidence motion early on in the session resulted in diffusing the parliament logjam from the previous session. This then enabled the government to get parlimaments approval on key legislation. One hopes that the bipartisanship on legislative extends to the winter session too, said Chaksu Ray of PRS Legislative Research. Interestingly, from the time the 16th Lok Sabha was constituted, till the end of the current monsoon session according to PRS: fewer bills (have been) referred to Parliamentary Committees (26%) as compared to the 15th Lok Sabha (71%) and the 14th Lok Sabha (60%). In the wake of sexual exploitation cases in shelter homes in Muzaffarpur and Deoria, the Rajasthan government on Friday set up a special team to monitor all child care centres in the state. The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi on Friday. The state-level task force will monitor all such centres by August 30 and submit a report to the state government, Chaturvedi said. Nearly 4,000 children are living in 100 children homes in the state, additional chief secretary JC Mohanty said. A Child Welfare Committee and officials of other department will conduct the inspection in the supervision of collectors in districts. The team members will talk to children and if any irregularity is found, necessary action will be taken, he said. Chaturvedi said a detailed guideline will be prepared for day care centres, ashrams, hostels etc. Director of the department Samit Sharma, additional director Shruti Bharadwaj and officials from the police, law, labour and the Health Department were also present at the meeting. Delhi chief minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday advised Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar to learn from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the capital on how to efficiently run a state and improve infrastructure. The AAP convener was in Rohtak to take part in a Kanwar Yatra that was organised by the Haryana wing of his party. Addressing a news conference later, Kejriwal showered praises on his government in Delhi highlighting that his government, formed almost at the same time as Khattars, was doing much better than Haryana despite repeated hurdles put forth by the BJP. Both the AAP government in Delhi and BJP government in Haryana were formed around the same time. But I feel sad for Haryana. While AAP models are being praised and implemented all over the world, Haryana people dont even have basic facilities of electricity and water. When we can improve education in government schools and open low-cost state-of-the-art hospitals without Centres support, why cant the Khattar government do anything good for Haryana despite having all the resources? Kejriwal asked. I think either CM Khattar does not know how to run the government, or he has no intentions of doing good for the people. If it is the former, then Im ready to teach him for free, how to improve education in government schools; how to build Mohalla Clinics; how to reduce rates of electricity I will teach him all of this, and he can still implement our models in the one year that is left, he added. Dont have any powers in Delhi Calling himself Adhe rajya ka ek chauthayi mukhyamantri (one-fourth CM of a half-state), Kejriwal attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for snatching all powers from him. He said even those departments that were under the Delhi government during ex-CM Sheila Dixits time were taken away from him by the PM. One by one, he snatched away all my powers. When we were voted to power for 49 days, we had sent 32 officials in jail for corruption. But when we came back with full majority, PM Modi immediately sent paramilitary forces to our anti-corruption bureau and took it over from us. All other powers of transferring and suspending officials were also snatched, he said. He, though, said that the recent Supreme Court order has been helping their government. Will not be PM face Dodging the question on a united opposition, Kejriwal said he did not believe in the politics of Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) but rather wanted to resolve peoples issues. He, though, maintained that he was not running for Prime Minister. Its for big people. Im too far from even thinking about it, he claimed. Attacking PM Modi, Kejriwal said even his die-hard fans, or Bhakts, cannot recount any of his achievements. Demonetisation, GST have all been failures. People have been harassed by these moves rather than getting any advantage from them, he said. Stand on SYL canal clear Stating that he has been misquoted often on his stand on the SYL, Kejriwal said he only wants the Supreme Court order to be implemented. Both the BJP and Congress have had the chance to amicably resolve the issue. But they did not, because they want this politics to go on. The justice will be served when the SC order is implemented, he said. Recalling the police firing on farmers in Mandsaur district on June 6 last year, Madhya Pradesh Congress election campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans hands were stained with farmers blood and that his government was anti-farmer. He was referring to the death of five farmers in police firing in Mandsaur on June 6, 2017. Addressing parivartan rallies at Javad and Manasa in Neemuch district, Scindia said CM Chouhan called himself a son of a farmer but when farmers were on a peaceful agitation for their genuine needs, they faced bullets. Several farmers were implicated in false criminal cases and lodged in jail, he added. He said the Chouhan government conducted a mere formality by instituting a judicial commission, which absolved all the guilty. He said what happened in Mandsaur was not a golikand (firing incident) but a hatyakand (massacre) akin to the Jallianwala Bagh case. He said he would like to appreciate the stand taken by the widow of one of the deceased farmers who gave a befitting reply to the CM on the latter offering her a compensation of ?1 crore by saying she would give ?1 crore to Chouhan and he should return her husband to her. Scindia said the CM called himself the mukhiya (head) of MP but when he didnt see a crowd of people during his ongoing Jan Ashirvad Yatra despite efforts made by the government and the administration, schools were closed and students forced to attend at the cost of their careers. He tore into the government over the admission-cum-recruitment Vyapam scam and said people had lost confidence in doctors and asked whether they got a degree before or after the scandal. He added that the Congress had promised that all farm loans would be waived within 10 days of coming to power. It was the UPA government that waived ?72,000 crore of farmers loan when it was in power at the Centre, he said. Reacting to Scindias remarks, BJP state spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said, The language being used by Congress leaders for the CM will cost them in the polls as people wont accept it. We have asked our leaders to refrain from using such language. Six people, including four of a family, died of asphyxiation after entering an under-construction septic tank in East Champaran district on Thursday morning. Police said the incident took place at Jeetpur village in Jitna police station area of the district, about 225 km north of the state capital Patna. Jitna police station SHO Diwakar Kumar said Mohan Mahato fell unconscious after entering the septic tank to inspect the construction work. When he did not return after some time, his father, mother, a brother and two villagers jumped into the tank one by one to save Mohan Mahto. All of them fell unconscious in the tank and were rushed to the primary health centre (PHC) at Chauradano block of the district, where they were declared brought dead, the station house officer (SHO) said. Apart from Mohan, the other victims had been identified as his father Dinesh Mahato, mother Bachchi Devi, brother Basant Mahato and two villagers Sachin Mukhiya and Saroj Mahato, the SHO added. The bodies have been sent for the postmortem examination, subdivisional police officer Alok Kumar said and added that the exact cause of death would be known only after getting the report. Meanwhile, angered by the absence of doctors at the PHC, the villages blocked the main road at Chauradano by placing the bodies for hours. Had the doctors been present at the PHC, the life of at least the life of one person could have been saved, said Sanjay Mahato, a villager. There were no arrangement for an ambulence and the victims were left unattended in such an emergency, he said. The blockade was lifted only after the district administration officials assured all possible help to the victims families. After strongly taking up the issue of the Theresa May government permitting a pro-Khalistan event in London on August 12, New Delhi has informed Brexit-bound London that it should take account of the larger bilateral relations while deciding on such sensitive issues. The US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) is behind the event in Trafalgar Square, during which a call is to be issued for a so-called non-binding referendum on the independence of Punjab. The group has claimed growing support, while a UK-based Sikh campaign group has questioned email invites to the event sent to British MPs. Indian diplomats said the UK Foreign Office had been unequivocally informed that the event amounted to a separatist activity which impinges on Indias territorial integrity, and which seeks to propagate violence, secessionism and hatred. We expect them [the UK authorities] to take into account the larger perspective of the relationship when they take a decision in such matters. We have taken up this matter as strongly as we can, both in writing as well as in personal meetings, said an Indian official who did not want to be named. We have repeatedly told them that whatever activity is ongoing is not in our interest, the official added. British authorities have rejected demands that permission be denied for the event citing freedom of expression. Campaign group Sikh Federation UK has alleged that almost all email invitations sent to British MPs were from bogus constituents based in India and Pakistan. Sikh Federation UK said: These individuals appear to have been provided with postcodes linked to MPs to give the impression of being constituents, but when asked via email to provide residential addresses most have come back with addresses from different parts of India and Pakistan. This is nothing less than fraud and an abuse of the MP-constituent relationship by those responsible for this campaign. MPs are furious that staff working for them have wasted time and resources processing these mass emails only to find most of them were fake constituents, it added. Meanwhile, questions continued to be raised about the ability and validity of a referendum being called by a non-government organisation. Sikh Federation UK said: The so-called Referendum 2020 campaign launched more than four years ago in the USA is nothing more than an unofficial opinion poll, and another small step to raise awareness on the treatment of Sikhs by the Indian authorities and the continued demand for a Sikh homeland. According to Jasdev Rai of Sikh Human Rights Forum, The so-called Referendum 2020 seems to be a snake oil political solution to Sikh issues. There is no international mechanism for public-held referendums unless sanctioned by a government and even that can only be for its own citizens. Scotland Yard said a policing plan is in place for the event, while Indian officials said New Delhi will continue to press London to clamp down on anti-India forces operating from the UK. Trinamool Congress will conduct statewide rallies condemning NRC list in Assam on Saturday, but would keep Kolkata out of the agitation map in view of BJPs national president Amit Shahs rally in the city on the same day. Instead, said Trinamool secretary general, Partha Chatterjee, the protest rallies in Kolkata will be conducted on August 12. While Mamata Banerjee has gone to the extent of alleging the citizenship screening exercise can lead to civil war and bloodshed, her party supporters will hold street meetings, protest marches, carry black flags, wear black badges in 22 districts of the state on Saturday. There is no inference to be drawn from the decision to organise the rally in Kolkata on Sunday instead of Saturday. It is a matter of courtesy that we are showing, Chatterjee said. BJP Bengal unit president Dilip Ghosh shot back, We dont want any courtesy. Trinamool has taken up the agitation programme to stop our workers in the districts from attending the rally. Mamata Banerjee is now afraid of our party. The saffron leaders also alleged that ruling party supporters prevented some of their workers from attending Prime Minister Narendra Modis rally in Midnapore on July 16. Though he did not mention it, Chatterjee, who is education minister of Bengal, wanted to scotch frequent tongue wagging by the Left that Trinamool has a secret understanding with the BJP. Two more hearing and speech-impaired tribal girls have filed a complaint against a city hostel director, who is currently under arrest in a rape case, for molesting them last year, police said on . Ashwini Sharma, director of a hostel for hearing and speech-impaired women in Awadhpuri area in Bhopal, was arrested on Wednesday based on the complaint by an inmate who alleged that the accused had raped her repeatedly during her stay at the hostel over the past three years. She had filed a complaint on Wednesday after which Sharma was arrested under sections 376 (rape), 354 (outraging modesty), 344 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Sharma was produced in court on Friday and was remanded in police custody for two days. Two more girls filed a fresh case against the accused at the Hira Nagar police station in Ujjain district on Thursday, police said. Hira Nagar Police Inspector Mahendra Singh Bhadoria said on Friday two Dhar-based sisters lodged a complaint that Sharma had molested them. The case was then transferred to the Awadhpuri police station, he added. Bhadoria said the incident happened when the sisters stayed at Sharmas house-cum-hostel last year while they were pursuing a course at an institute in Bhopal. He added that since one of the complainants was a minor, when Sharma allegedly molested her in Bhopal in 2017, provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act were also invoked against the accused. The Bhopal Police on Friday formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case while the state government announced that a monthly inspection would be carried out at womens hostels in the state. Inspector General of Police (Bhopal) Jaydeep Prasad told PTI that the SIT would comprise Rahul Lodha, Superintendent of Police, Bhopal City South, along with Additional SPs Rashmi Mishra and Dinesh Kaushal, City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Virendra Mishra and Awadhpuri Inspector ML Bhati. Prasad said preliminary investigations had revealed that Sharma was a lone wolf in the case, adding that he had personally inspected the hostel. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan issued directions to his officials to take steps to ensure that such incidents did not occur again. I have held a meeting with officials and directed them to conduct monthly inspections of such (state) aided and unaided facilities where girls are residing, he told reporters at his residence in this morning. The inspection will be carried out by the collector and the superintendent of police in each district on a monthly basis, he said. Calling such incidents painful, Chouhan said similar rules would also be framed for private hostels. Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Friday shot off a letter to Chouhan seeking a probe into the incident by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Sanjays wedding became grander as the day loomed closer, from the number of cars in his baraat (finally fixed at 100) to the number of VIPs in his guest list. Minister, MLA, DM, SP, ADG, DIG..., Jatav, 27, screamed into his phone every few seconds. Circled by a fawning crowd, the law graduate from Basai village in Uttar Pradesh ratcheted up the scale of his marriage a notch every time he spoke. He hadnt always planned on a spectacle. All he wanted, after he was matched with a girl in the adjoining district, was to lead his wedding procession through her village before arriving at her house for the rituals. The Thakurs of Nizampur village wouldnt hear of it, though. No Dalit man had ever crossed a Thakur home on the way to his wedding; no exception would be made to the rule. In a village where the Thakurs outnumber Dalits by 9:1, their word was law. Not this time, though. The Jatavs of Basai do what they say. And Sanjay Jatav is one of them, said Jatav, his T Shirt collar turned up and his eyes spitting fire. Launching with a petition to the local police station in February, Jatavs fight for an equal wedding became as important for Nizampur as for the nation at a time when caste conflicts seem to have turned on their axis. Moving up, beaten down Aided by affirmative action, Indias most marginalised communities, the scheduled castes, are slowly but steadily breaking out of a centuries-old cycle of penury and oppression. The scheduled castes arent only registering one win after the other -- they outpaced the rest of India in growth of literacy rate according to last census -- but also broadcasting them on WhatsApp and Facebook. In Indias rural hinterland, where about two-thirds of the country still lives, this display is inverting power structures and triggering backlash from dominant and upper-caste communities who recoil with disgust at the rise of the men and women they have never considered equals. This year alone, several states have reported incidents of upper-castes attacking people for owning a horse, taking out a wedding procession, giving haircuts, sporting a moustache, adding a suffix to their name, asking for a raise, attending a traditional dance, and for swimming in a well. But unlike earlier, Dalits have struck back, using either collective force or law-and-order mechanism to assert their democratic rights. Reservations have helped Dalits gain a measure of economic stability. When you feel economically uplifted, you feel at par with the rest, your social status is not at the mercy of the dominant communities anymore; you refuse to accept oppression, explains Amit Thorat, an assistant professor at Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University. Moreover, the young, post-liberalisation generation of Dalits feels connected through social and traditional media. They know they are like anyone else, and therefore are angry when discriminated against. In the past few years, Dalit families have increasingly moved away from villages and traditional occupations, thereby loosening the grip of upper-castes on their economic status. A 2016 paper by Amrita Dutta showed that in Bihar, which reported numerous mass killings of Dalits throughout the nineties and early 2000s, remittances had the highest share in incomes of SC/ST communities, which also reported the largest increase in the share of households with at least one migrant. The first signs of the turning tide was shown in a 2006 paper by Debashis Chakraborty, D. Shyam Babu and Manashi Chakravorty that spanned 334 districts and found Dalits got more attacked in areas they were upwardly mobile in. In the following decade, the trend deepened, with caste practices doggedly persistent among upper-castes -- Thorat and Omkar Joshi found in 2015 that 27% of the country practised untouchability, including 30% in rural areas. Increasingly assertive Dalits are no longer willing to bend in front of their erstwhile oppressors. In a 2016 analysis in Mint, Roshan Kishore found that in most cases, states where Dalit asset ownership was closer to the average also reported higher crimes against them -- a trend that held in Rajasthan, which reported the highest crimes against Dalits that year, and Gujarat, where the maximum number of flare-ups have occured this year. So, what does it take for Dalits to assert their right to live, dress and marry the way they like? More importantly, what is the price they pay for such rebellion in a country where caste still has a vice-like grip on law-and-order and political power is still concentrated in the hands of upper castes? The baraat battle Jatavs wedding etched a landmark because he refused to back down in a scenario that has frequently triggered boycotts or bloodshed in the region. On 21 June 1990, a Jatav rode into a Jat-dominated village 100 kilometers away from Nizampur on an elephant, his entry announced by the percussion beats of a provincial armed constabulary band specially hired for protection. By the end of the next day, eleven Dalits had been killed, dozens of Dalit houses burnt, and all but four Dalit families evicted from the village. The Jats were shouting Chamaron, saalo bhaago at the baraat, said Bharat Singh Kardam, the brides brother who was 18 at that time. We appealed to the administration for support. The DM and SP came, they called for a panchayat to negotiate with Jats but they refused to let the baraat pass their houses. Flaring out to surrounding villages, the clashes continued in spite of a curfew and the deployment of local police and subsequently a battalion of the army, ending up as one of the worst cases of anti-Dalit riots that decade. Back in Nizampur now, a village of about a hundred households flanked by fields, the bride Sheetal Kumaris family was on tenterhooks. Since April, when Jatav won the baraat battle, the family had received a bouquet of threats and ominous signals from the Thakurs. The water supply to the field from a common tubewell remains snapped since April. We have been told that the price of this baraat will be heavy. We have to live in the village. We hope nothing bad happens. The Thakurs are not happy, said the brides brother, Beetu Kumar Jatav. The wedding had also to be postponed once because Kumari hadnt yet turned 18. In the centre of the village stands an imposing three-storey yellow mansion belonging to one of the prominent Thakur families, and the remaining cluster around it. The Dalit families are located in a clot of households preceding the fields on the outskirts. We are feeling afraid. Who knows what the price of this assertion will be, said Kalu Jatav, a neighbour of the brides family. But at the same time, the 28-year-old exuded pride. We are feeling happy. We had often wondered how nice it would be to celebrate our wedding with some pomp. After all, they [Thakurs] do it. It is nice to see one of us do it. The road to this day was rocky. First, Jatav appealed to the police station officer in charge of Nizampur village. He told me that Dalits are not allowed to lead their wedding procession across an upper-caste dominated village according to a Supreme Court order, said Jatav. Indeed, the letter the station house officer, Rajkumar Singh, wrote to Kasganjs SP makes a note of this mysterious apex court ruling of which no evidence exists. The letter also reveals the findings from a secret investigation of the matter: It turns out that never before has anyone from the applicants community led a wedding procession across this village. The possibility of disruption of peace cant therefore be denied. Jatav was given the same reason by everyone in the districts administrative hierarchy, from district magistrate to circle officer, as they turned down his appeals. Looking back at his reluctance, Kasganjs disrict magistrate, RP Singh, said Jatavs request had clashed with the tradition and geography of the village. The tradition allows the Thakurs to roam the length and breadth of the village on decorated ghodis and limits the Dalits wedding procession between the entrance of the village and the brides house. The geography enables the tradition by placing Dalit houses on the peripheries of the villages. Then, Jatav made an appeal to Yogi Adityanath, by posting his complaint to the integrated grievance redressal system, aimed to cut out bureaucratic prejudice, on the chief ministers personal website. He never heard back from the CM. He said we are all Hindus. Why am only I facing this situation? Jatav wondered. He appealed to the Allahabad high court to be allowed to wed in full dignity, as other people in the village Nizampur. The court dismissed his petition and suggested to Jatav that he seek the support of the districts authorities. The district magistrate saw Jatavs demand to wed like upper castes as badmashi (attempt to make trouble). The circle officer, Gavendra Pal Gautam, continues to deny that any caste tensions exist in the villages in his jurisdiction. People peacefully live with each other. Jatav was left with few options. He wrote a letter to the prime minister. He also announced his decision to move the Supreme Court. An active member of the Bahujan Samaj Party at the block level, he also mobilised political support for his cause. By this time, a series of Dalit BJP leaders from UP had already complained to the PM about the atrocities against the community in the state, and things began to move. In March, Kasganjs district administration called for a negotiation between the Thakurs and Dalits in April. The Thakurs refused to give in to Jatavs demand to ride a horse around the village. So, the officials drew up an alternate route for the baraat that cut halfway through Nizampur. Everyone agreed to it, at last. Jatavs battle for equality is inextricably tied to his association with the Bahujan Samaj Party, an outfit helmed by four-time Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati. Born out of a churning in Indian politics in the early 1980s and led by Kanshi Ram, the BSP went on to galvanise a generation of Dalit people, ranging from government officers to small-time clerks, teachers, labourers and farmers. To young Dalits, especially Jatavs -- the largest Dalit sub-caste, and one to which Mayawati belongs -- the BSP gives not only a sense of a collective but it also enables them to strike at traditional power structures in villages and ensure that their side is heard in police stations and village panchayats. Every young member of the BSP is taken through an orientation programme at a camp, explained Kasganj district party president Raj Kumar Jatav. They are taught not just about the partys ideology but also the history of the Dalit community, its leaders and the importance of politics. For a community whose history and culture is systematically erased from the mainstream consciousness, the impact is profound. We teach them about BR Ambedkar, and what he said about joining politics. We teach them to feel pride in themselves, Raj Kumar added. A distant cousin of Sanjay Jatav, Prem Kumar has just begun his foray in village-level politics. He said people were already taking him more seriously. We dont get much but we get social recognition, we get the respect that no human being can live without, he said, tidying his white shirt for the baraat. The wedding day Rupendra Chauhan stuck out his arm from the rooftop of his two-storey house and swept it in a wide circle. He was tracing back the route his brother-in-laws baraat took to his house the night of his sisters wedding. All Thakur baraats make the same rounds, said Chauhan, fixing his gaze on the lane leading to Sheetals house, as eager to witness the arrival of the wedding procession as the brides family. Jatav was going to take his sweet time travelling to his destination, though. Dressed in a powder-blue suit tailored in Aligarh, Jatav sat in an pristine white car followed by an armed bodyguard and holding a filigreed dagger in his hands. The bridegroom grew more and more excited as his vehicle approached Nizampur, jostling in the front seat with his personal gunner, even sitting on his lap at one point. One moment he declared that he looked as lavish as a Thakur; the next moment he said he felt like a cabinet minister. Waiting for electricity to come back so she could be dressed and made up, Sheetal switched between reminding herself of the right path (India is a free country and the Constitution gives everyone equal rights) and worrying about her familys future after the wedding. As Jatavs convoy entered the village, greeted by a phalanx of press, senior police and administration officers and political leaders cutting across party lines, the Thakur families left everything they were doing and rushed to their rooftops to witness the breach of the village tradition. Chauhan scowled as Jatavs horse-drawn buggy passed his lane followed by a DJ cart and surrounded by hundreds of baraatis clamouring to click selfies with the bridegroom. Unsatisfied with the income from his familys fields, Chauhan, who has two young children, recently moved to Delhi to work in building construction. His city life isnt always guided by caste rules, but he sticks to tradition in the village. Counting the vehicles in Jatavs baraat, his sister, Rajni, repeated the sentiment: All humans are equal but we have to follow the rules of the caste system. No Thakur in this village will attend their wedding. Out in the fields, a group of Thakur men had got into a huddle by then to discuss their next step. One of them, an old man, looked visibly disgruntled at the effervescence of the Dalit celebration. You should never shake a tree so much that the branch breaks. This is too much, I didnt think such a day would also come. The other men nodded in agreement. The group decided to lie low for a week, until the media and the police left. Then we shall see what is fit to do done; we will show them we are still the thakurs of the village, said their leader before walking off in a huff. Status update On May 9, Maulik Jadhav, a resident of Dholka in Gujarat, received a phone call from a young man informing he had been threatened by local men of the Darbar caste, a Kshatriya sub-caste, for adding Sinh (lion) to his name. Many Dalit men in the villages in Dholka, which has the highest Dalit population in the state, say they have added the suffix to their names for at least three generations, but this was the first time trouble flared up. Jadhav helped the young man to lodge a police complaint and gathered about a hundred people for a protest that played out live on Facebook. The 22-year-olds personal battle, however, had begun years ago. His carefree life was punctured when he passed the Class 10 board exams. A resident of Dholka, Jadhav moved to a bigger school in the hope of better prospects and pursuing his passion for long-distance running. Instead, what he got was a volley of caste slurs the moment his classmates realised he was Dalit. I was young, I didnt know what slur, bias, discrimination meant. I went home and asked why is our surname different, why are they calling us low? That day, I understood they are upper, we are lower, he says. A few months later, he started reading Ambedkar, aided by an uncle who was in the Air Force, but had come back to his home district after retirement to rouse young Dalit men into action. That was also the year Jadhav made an account on Facebook and installed WhatsApp. In 2016, a group of Dalit men in Una were flogged by cow protection vigilantes on the suspicion of smuggling cattle, the violence caught live on phone cameras and beamed across the country. The attackers had intended to brag but the videos galvanised Dalit communities across the state instead, sweeping up hundreds of young men like Jadhav into the movement.Our voices used to be muted. We worked in their fields and feared we would be given no work. But now some of us have moved to cities, and realised what they do is wrong. We wont tolerate,said Maulik. On May 10, after a night of protest, he woke up inundated with messages of support and warning. Reports started pouring in of other Dalit men being intimidated for using the Sinh suffix. Maulik changed his first name to Mauliksinh on Facebook, inspiring hundreds of young men to do the same. His house was attacked soon after, and on May 22, a group of bike-borne men brandishing guns and other weapons cornered him off a highway. Jadhav fled, but returned to the local police station with a group of 5,000 men and a clear message that they wont back off. Clashes broke out throughout the state, but the Dalit men refused to change their Facebook profile names. Many people asked, what is the need to do this? But where is it written that we cannot do this? How long will we live in fear? he said. Jadhav told his comrades not to take on frontal attacks but organise on social media and involve the police. He is a member of 300 WhatsApp groups himself and more than 40 Facebook groups. In addition, he tutors kids in political awareness. In my village, even if you ask a 10-year-old Dalit boy where Dr Ambedkar was born, he will know. I teach them about the world, and how we have to fight and get out of here. Such assertions are novel for Gujarat, where scheduled caste communities make up about 7% of the states population and have had little impact on the states politics. This is a state where BR Ambedkar was shown black flags and greeted with slogans of Go Back when he first visited Ahmedabad in 1931. But resistance come at a price. Last October, groups of Dalit men changed their Facebook profile photos to sport moustaches after a series of attacks on young Dalits but the movement soon unraveled, with one of the young men at the helm claiming that he orchestrated the attack on himself. But Subodh Parmar, a lawyer and activist, said this happened under threats and coercion, and that in many other cases of atrocities, Dalits are forced to back off and withdraw complaints.The pressure of compromise is too much. Many times, once court proceedings start, people start feeling vulnerable. They dont know too much law, and cases drag on for years. They think they have to return to the village, and so they compromise. Leading the fight Often the heaviest price is paid by Dalit women who dont just bear the brunt of caste atrocities, but also find themselves erased from the annals of resistance, which is seen as the prerogative of the men. In Gujarat, for example, despite the increased focus, countless cases of crimes against Dalit women have been brushed under the carpet -- Dalit women in Junagarh whose arms were broken in a land struggle 20 years ago, a 15-year-old girl who burnt herself to death after being raped, a minor girl raped in Bhavnagar by the man in whose fields she worked, and another minor who drank acid because of prolonged sexual abuse at the hands of upper-caste men. Women rape survivors are thrown out of houses, and even her family, or the Dalit community doesnt stand with her, said Manjula Pradeep, a scholar and activist who has worked in Gujarat since 1992. What comes out is the mans assertion against caste, as leadership is seen as masculine. But often, Dalit women lead the fight. They face a double burden of caste and gender, and their stories are never documented, she added. Ranjanben knows this well, having faced a social boycott for almost a year. Last year, the resident of Rantej village in Gujarats Mehsana district gave up manual scavenging and picking up animal carcasses. Breaking out of the exploitative profession her family has been locked in for generations, she persuaded them to do the same. The retribution was swift: the Dalit family was cut out of local employment opportunities, denied services in the village market and forced to travel to nearby villages even for basic amenities. Ranjanben remains undeterred. She said she cannot condemn her children, who study in Classes 4 and 5, to the same fate. Scavenging is a hereditary fate. I wanted to study and go to school but my father said, come pick up carcasses. We didnt have anything to eat, so I couldnt refuse him. It strips your dignity; even if I starve I wont go back. After grabbing power in the 2017 assembly election, the state government had lifted the ban on playing DJs during the Kanwar Yatra in the month of Sawan (August). District administration officers were directed to permit the kanwarias to play bhajans or film songs that were not vulgar or provocative. But, the devotees were not allowed to move with swords, spears, trishul and sticks during the yatra. Earlier, in view of communal clashes in the districts of western UP, the Samajwadi Party government had banned DJs during the Kanwar Yatra. The police officers were directed to nab devotees who violated the order. The movement of traffic on the highways falling on the Kanwar Yatra route was regulated. While the Kanwarias moved on one side of the highway, vehicles moved on the other side. The clashes in Bulandshahr and Meerut districts during the Kanwar Yatra show the failure of the state government. The BJP is trying to draw political mileage from the Kanwar Yatra. Rajendra Chaudhary, spokesperson, SP During the 2017 assembly election campaign, the BJP had made the ban on DJs a poll issue. Terming the SP government as anti-Hindu the BJP leaders said once their party formed a government, the ban on DJ during Kanwar Yatra would be lifted. Its a Kanwar Yatra, not a shamshan (death procession) yatra was the slogan of senior BJP leaders. While reviewing the preparation for the Kanwar Yatra, chief minister Yogi Adityanath directed officers to ensure that while playing DJ kanwariyas do not play high-decibel music. The Supreme Court order on sound pollution control was implemented. Yogi made an aerial survey of the Kanwar Yatra in western UP on July 28. As the number of the devotees swelled, the district administration diverted the traffic on Lucknow-Gorakhpur highway and Meerut-Haridwar highway since Monday. Barricades were set up on the highways to block the movement of traffic. As a result, the people faced a lot of inconvenience as no announcement was made by the district administration nor any insignia was put to guide the commuters. SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said to maintain law and order during the Kanwar Yatra, the SP government had imposed ban on DJs and regulated the movement of traffic on highways. The clashes in Bulandshahr and Meerut districts during the Kanwar Yatra show the failure of the state government. The BJP is trying to draw political mileage from the Kanwar Yatra, he said. DIG (law and order) Praveen Kumar said the police had taken action against the anti-social elements who attacked policemen in Bulandshahr. In Uledpur village in Meerut, Dalits and Thakurs clashed over a local issue. One person died and half a dozen were injured. Extra police force has been deployed and action had been taken against the culprits, he said. The senior police and district administration officers were maintaining regular vigil on the Kanwar Yatra with aerial survey. CCTVs have been installed and ATS commandos deployed to take action against the anti-social elements, he added. The Uttar Pradesh Home department in a government order issued on August 5 sanctioned Rs 14,21,163 for hiring helicopters from Messers Air Charter Private Limited for aerial surveillance of the Basti-Gorakhpur route and Meerut zone during the ongoing kanwar yatra. Incidentally, footage showing top police officials showering rose petals on kanwariyas from the chopper has triggered a major controversy. In a letter to the additional director general, police headquarter, Allahabad, special secretary to the state government Abhisek Prasad said the helicopter has been hired for two days August 8 and 9 for aerial surveillance of the pilgrimage. The governor has given his approval to the proposal on the condition that money will be utilised according to financial rules and orders of the state government. The unutilised fund will be deposited in the state government treasury. If any misuse is detected, the police headquarter will be held responsible, he said. Watch: ADG of UP police throws flowers at Kanwariyas from helicopters On Thursday, however, officials involved in showering rose petals on kanwariyas defended the act, saying it should not be given a religious angle. No religious angle should be given to this; flowers are used to welcome people. The administration respects all religions and actively takes part even in Guru Purab, Eid or Jain festivals, said Prashant Kumar, additional director general (ADGP) of Meerut zone. Kumar, along with commissioner Anita Meshram, Meerut district magistrate Anil Dhengra and SSP Rajesh Kumar Pandey, had showered flowers on kanwariyas on the Meerut route, while Saharanpur commissioner CP Tripathi, DIG Sharad Sachan, DM Alok Kumar Pandey and SSP Upendra Agarwal had also done the same in their respective district and range. Also read: Facing flak, senior UP cop defends showering flowers on Kanwarias In several districts of Maharashtra, the statewide bandh called by Maratha outfits under the Maratha Kranti Morcha turned violent again on Thursday, with agitators damaging vehicles, setting some of them on fire and throwing stones. While Mumbai remained largely unaffected, districts such as Pune, Aurangabad, Latur, Nagpur and Hingoli reported incidents of violence. Several factions called for the bandh, despite CM Devendra Fadnavis announcement on August 6, promising the Marathas a decision on their demand for reservation by November. Fadnavis had also stayed a recruitment drive to fill 72,000 vacant posts in government jobs another one of the communitys demands. The protests were called, after Maratha outfits insisted on the government giving them a written assurance. In Pune, the police used teargas and batons to control a mob that ad turned violent in the Chandni Chowk area. A group of protestors also attacked the Pune collectors office. In Mumbai, the bandh called by one faction had little impact, as buses and local train services ran on time, taxis and autorickshaws plied on roads, and most shops were stayed open. The police, however, deployed its forces across Mumbai and its suburbs. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation did not run its intercity buses fearing vandalism. Further, the police detained Amol Jadhavrao, the coordinator who called the Mumbai bandh, on Thursday morning, and only let him go in the evening. Many of our activists were detained. Despite that, we managed to observe bandh at Kings Circle, Kurla, Chembur, Andheri and Borivli, Jadhavrao said. A sit-in protest organised by another faction, outside the Mumbai suburban collectors office, also ended peacefully. Around 800 protesters from the Maratha community gathered for the sit-in. Protesters from across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane turned up for the protests in Mumbai, sporting black bands on their eyes, mouths and wrists, as part of a Thiyya andolan, or sit-in protest. Sanjay Gharge, a resident of Bhandup,said, This is the peaceful protest organised by Marathas. We are not causing any damage to public property, or causing a law and order issue. Yet the government has refused to heed to our demands. The black band on my eyes symbolises the governments unwillingness to acknowledge and see us. Dilip Patil, the Mumbai president of the Maratha Mahasang, had an upside down photograph of the chief minister tied around his neck. It appears the chief minister is not thinking, despite the multiple protests. In such cases, it is prescribed for more blood to flow to the head, for clarity of thought. Kolhapur, Jalna, Akola, Yavatmal, Beed, Amravati, Osmanabad, Dhule, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Wardha and Sangli also saw protests, with agitators blocking the Latur-Barshi, Mumbai-Pune, Pune- Bangalore, Jalna-Aurangabad, and Latur-Tuljapur highways. Protestors stopped the Coimbatore Express at the Lonavala railway station. Services were disrupted for 10 minutes. At Latur, Congress MLA Trimbak Bhise was manhandled by agitators during a protest. Some of them pelted stones at his car. A fire brigade vehicle was also attacked, injuring seven firemen. At Hingoli, protestors set two vehicles on fire. In Jalgaon, protestor Suresh Marathe tried to immolate himself with kerosene but was stopped by a few others. In Nagpur, protestors lied down on railway tracks in front of a fast moving train, but they were saved by the police force. In Aurangabad, a mob set a private vehicle and a police car on fire. From August 10, Maratha outfits have planned a non-cooperation movement across the state until their demands are met. Sanjiv Bhor Patil, the state coordinator, said this means the community will not pay power bills of agriculture pumps and taxes, among other things. Patil said he believed the cases of violence were being orchestrated by a few people to defame the community. We have requested the community not to indulge in violence. Despite that, the violence we saw... it looks like some miscreants were involved to defame our agitation, he said. At least 456 children were rushed to hospitals in Ghatkopar and Govandi on Friday morning, after the death of a child in the neighbourhood created panic about iron, folic acid and deworming tablets that were distributed at a local municipal school earlier on August 6. Seventeen children are in hospital, said Dr Vidya Thakur, medical superintendent, Rajawadi Hospital. The child, 12-year-old Chandani Mohd Shaikh from Sanjay Nagar in Govandi, died on Friday morning. The BMCs health department said Shaikh had been diagnosed with tuberculosis, but it is not yet clear if she was on medication for it. A post mortem on Friday evening at Sir JJ Hospital did not reveal the cause of death, but viscera samples from her body have been sent to the forensic laboratory at Kalina for further investigations. As Shaikh died within days of the pill distribution programme at the Sanjay Nagar Municipal Urdu School No 2, in Bainganwadi, parents started panicking after a community centre asked parents to check their children for symptoms. A doctor from Rajawadi Hospital, where Shaikh died, said, While Shaikh attended school on August 7, she fell ill and remained absent for two days after that. On Friday morning, she complained of pain in the chest pain and stomach, and vomited blood. Her parents brought her to the hospital, but she was pronounced dead on arrival. Around 975 other children were also given the medication as a part of National Iron Plus, a programme to address iron deficiency in students of government schools. The children were taken to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar and Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi. All the children were examined by the paediatrician and few of them complained of nausea and giddiness, said Dr Padmaja Keskar, BMCs executive health officer. Most of them only panicked after the death of the child, and were anxious about their health, she said. For now, the tablet distribution has been discontinued and the pills have been sent for tests. Dr Avinash Supe, director, medical education, BMC, said the Food and Drugs Administration has collected samples of the iron and folic acid (batch number TAF 8069AL) tablets and will test them. The drugs were made in February 2018, with an expiry date of January 2020. The deworming medicines, Albendazol (batch number FAR6L733) had an October 2019 expiry date. Tablets from both these batches have been discontinued with immediate effect from all the municipal schools. We will continue the medication once FDA submits its report. We gave the tablets on Monday morning, but none of the students complained about stomach ache or any other symptoms, said Sayyed Farhana Bano, the principal of the school which as around 1,200 students on its rolls. Even Chandni did not talk about any pains on that day. Idzes Kundan, additional municipal commissioner, BMC, said Shaikh had been diagnosed with TB, but said they were not aware if she was on medication. A resident of the Bainganwadi area, Haseena Bano, said, We were told a girl has died after consuming a tablet from the school, in an announcement made on a community speaker, and we were told to check if our children faced symptoms such as vomiting, stomach ache and nausea. Some students in the locality said they felt nauseous and an ambulance was arranged to take them to Rajawadi. Iron tablets are administered to all students between Class 1 and Class 10 in municipal schools once a week for 40 weeks a year. Mahesh Palkar, the education officer, BMC said, The tablets are prescribed under the National Iron Plus initiative of the government and there hasnt been any incident of reaction reported in the school after those tablets were administered on Monday. It was only after the local community centre made announcements about the girls condition that parents started taking their children to the hospital to ensure everything was alright. To beat traffic congestion in central Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a flyover to connect the busy BR Ambedkar Road in Dadar West with Senapati Bapat Marg. The BMCs traffic and planning department has proposed a bridge that will run parallel to the Elphinstone Bridge and Tilak Bridge. The first connects Parel Junction with Senapati Bapat Marg and the second links Dadar East to Dadar West. The eastern end of the bridge would be at the Tata Mills compound at Hindamata Junction and the western end would be near the flower market on Senapati Bapat Marg. At present, there are three bridges in central Mumbai that enable east-west connectivity. All three Mahadev Palav Marg (on Currey Road), Elphinstone Bridge and Tilak Bridge are over 100 years old and scheduled for reconstruction over the next two years. A civic official from the traffic and planning department said, Traffic jams will paralyse central Mumbai if there is no alternative to Tilak Bridge or Elphinstone Bridge when they undergo reconstruction. They are already over-burdened. Foreseeing this scenario, the traffic department forwarded the proposal to the bridges department. The proposed bridge will go over the Central and Western Railway tracks. Its length would be approximately 700-800 metres long and 60 feet wide. The bridge is proposed as part of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan, charted out to decongest the city. The consultant proposed the bridge after studying traffic in the area, which has potential for growth, considering all the mill land, said a BMC official. The bridges department will now conduct a feasibility study. When the proposal to construct the bridge is implemented, a separate feasibility study will be conducted, which may suggest changes to the alignment of the bridge. The consultant drew out the bridge for us, but the exact locations where it will land, how much land will be acquired, and if there will be a change in its alignment will be decided by the separate report, the official from the traffic and planning department. A video surfaced on social media on Wednesday showing Anand Manjrekar, BJP corporator from ward 17(A) celebrating his birthday in Jangid Estate municipal ground on Tuesday evening, even as news came about the martyrdom of Major Kaustubh Rane, who sacrificed his life while fighting infiltrators at Gurez sector in Kashmir. The BJP has been left red-faced about the incident, forcing BJP MLA Narendra Mehta who was at the event to apologise. He said the event was pre-planned. Incidentally, the ground where Manjrekars birthday celebration took place is located metres away from the martyrs residence in Sheetal Nagar. Huge banners were put up all over the town and in particular, Manjrekars ward for the birthday, and a stage was erected on which the cake was cut. A stream of BJP workers attended the function to wish Manjrekar, and some danced to the tunes of a DJ hired for the function. When contacted, Manjrekar said he was unaware about the national tragedy and came to know only after the event was over, while Mehta said the function should not have been organised in the first place and tendered an apology. However, the BJP has been left embarrassed as on the banners, the image of Prime Minister Modi was splashed all over the twin cities of Mira and Bhayander. Ahead of a pro-Khakistan rally scheduled to be held in London on August 12, the British High Commission in New Delhi said on Friday that people in Britain have the right to protest provided they stay within the limits of the law. People in the UK have a right to protest and to demonstrate their views, provided they act within the law, the High Commission stated on its Twitter handle. Should a protest contravene the law, the police have powers to deal with activities that spread hate or deliberately raise tensions through violence or public disorder, it said. Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a human rights advocacy group with radical leaning, has announced that it will hold what it calls a London Declaration on an independence referendum for the Indian state of Punjab at Trafalgar Square in London on August 12. Also read: UK rejects Indias request to ban pro-Khalistan event in London India on Thursday said it is for Britain to decide whether to allow an event that seeks to promote violence and secessionism. We have drawn their (Britains) attention to the fact that the event in London is a separatist activity, which impinges on Indias territorial integrity, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a media briefing here. We have said that it seeks to propagate violence, secessionism and hatred. And of course, we expect them (Britain) to take into account the larger perspective of the relationship when they take a decision in such matters. Last month, India issued a demarche to Britain in this connection. Also read: Referendum 2020 main organiser linked to militants: Central and Punjab police The majority of office-bearers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)s Punjab unit on Thursday demanded disciplinary action against dissident MLAs Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu for indulging in anti-party activities. The demand was made in a meeting of office-bearers, including zone presidents, district chiefs, halqa (constituency) in-charges and heads of different wings, convened in Chandigarh to discuss the ongoing crisis in the state unit. AAP state co-president Balbir Singh, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema and Barnala MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer were also present in the meeting. Balbir Singh said that most of them pressed for action against Bholath MLA Khaira and his Kharar counterpart Sandhu for trying to break the party. We will inform the central leaders about the prevailing sentiment among the party office-bearers in Punjab. It is for them to take the final call, he told HT. Khaira and Sandhu are among the eight MLAs who have raised a banner of revolt against the AAP central and state leadership following Khairas removal from the post of leader of opposition in the assembly last month. The dissident group first held a volunteers convention in Bathinda that was declared anti-party by the AAP leadership and then also decided to announce their separate organisational set-up in the state. Mann, who addressed the meeting, said he will try to reach out to the dissident leaders and convince them. Most MLAs are in touch with me. I am sure they will fall in line soon and work to strengthen the party. We will not let the people from other parties break AAP. This is a testing time for party workers and they will not let us down, he said, cautioning the NRI supporters of the party against mischievous plans of some people to break the party. The Sangrur MP said he will meet people across the state in the coming days, holding meetings in Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa, Moga and Muktsar to begin with. On the controversial audio clip released by a Khaira aide, he said his approach was to pacify the agitating people and request them to avoid disrupting (AAP national convener) Arvind Kejriwals rally. Sisodias August 13 meeting postponed Another decision was to postpone the August 13 meeting in which Delhi deputy chief minister and Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia was to address 4000-odd party office-bearers from across the state. The state-level meeting will be held in the last week of this month, but no date has been decided, said Balbir Singh. However, the conference at Issru village in Ludhiana will be organised as per plan on August 15 to pay tribute to Shaheed Karnail Singh Issru. Cheema and Meet Hayer also addressed the meeting. The AAP also removed Boota Singh Bairagi from the official list of media panellists due to his acts of indiscipline. Bairagi was warned about indiscipline in the past as well, but he did not fall in line, said the state unit co-president. Top US generals believe the rivalry and clashes between the Taliban and Islamic State-Khorasan will help counter the growing influence in Afghanistan of the terror group led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, according to media reports. Intensified efforts to root out the Islamic State in Afghanistan are making progress in some areas but have failed to prevent the group from maintaining a foothold in the country, according to the latest US intelligence estimates, VOA reported. Islamic State-Khorasan is believed to have more than 1,000 fighters, including local Afghans, Pakistanis and Uzbeks. Most of them are in southern Nangarhar province and a small number in eastern Kunar province. Over the past few months, the US may have been able to turn the rivalry between the Taliban and Islamic State to its advantage, the report said. The Taliban are fighting ISIS, and we encourage that because ISIS needs to be destroyed, said Gen John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan. In northern Jowzjan province, the combination of what US officials described as a series of intensive operations against Islamic State-Khorasan, along with a Taliban ground campaign, appears to have paid off. The Taliban recently announced that all the northern provinces had been purged of Daesh militias. About 250 Islamic State-Khorasan fighters and their commander, Habib Rahman, who surrendered last week, are currently in Afghan custody. US and Afghan officials have said they will be prosecuted for their crimes to the fullest extent of the law. Gen Joseph Votel, commander of the US Central Command, said on Wednesday that the military campaign against Islamic State has been effective and it was partly responsible for last weeks surrenders. While foreign forces are applying military pressure on the Taliban to convince them to enter talks with the Afghan government, he said the same policy wouldnt apply to the Islamic State. We have no illusions about reconciliation with ISIS-K. Our mission is to destroy this organization, Votel was quoted as saying by Tolo News. Islamic State is not a popular insurgency in Afghanistan and everybody is against them, he added. Taking ISIS-Khorasan fighters off the battlefield through attrition or surrender will make not only Afghanistan a safer place, but also protects the US, its partners and allies, he said. But US defense and intelligence officials are wary of declaring victory over a terror group that has found ways to repeatedly regroup and grow. There is hard fighting ahead, US defence secretary Jim Mattis told reporters this week. I dont declare victory until its in the rearview mirror. An Indian-origin senior government lawyer in Singapore was on Friday banned from driving for one year and fined SGD 1,600 (Rs 80,396) for drink driving. Admitting that he had an alcoholic cocktail at a pub before heading home, 39-year-old Jeyendran Jeyapal said it was his first offence and pleaded for minimum punishment in the court. Jeyapal, a deputy senior state counsel in Singapores Attorney-Generals Chambers, also said he had been cooperative with police officers when stopped, the Channel News Asia reported. The lawyer was stopped by a traffic police officer at a road block along Second Hospital Avenue at around 4:50 am on February 11 this year. The officer noticed that Jeyapal had alcoholic breath following which a breathalyser test was done in which he failed. Jeyapal was then taken to the Traffic Police Division where it was revealed that he had 48 mg of alcohol in every 100 ml of breath, which exceeded the limit of 35mg, deputy public prosecutor Bhajanvir Singh told the court and said he leave the sentencing up to the judge. In his defence, Jeyendran said he was celebrating a friends birthday and took the alcohol offered by him so as not to disappoint him. The District Judge, Victor Yeo, said he was not entirely persuaded by the argument. In my view, he could have declined the drink, the judge said. However, noting that Jeyapal was not doing any other traffic offence like speeding or driving dangerously, the judge imposed a fine of SGD 1,600 on him and put a ban on his driving for one year. Under Singaporean law, drink driving for the first time could attract a jail term for up to six months or a fine between SGD 1,000 and SGD 5,000. More than 10 months since he made history by becoming leader of the federal New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh will finally vie for a seat in the House of Commons, attempting to enter Canadas Parliament for the first time. Singh announced that he will run from the riding (as constituencies are called in Canada) of Burnaby South during an event held at an outdoor studio for one of the regions film production facilities. The town of Burnaby is in the province of British Columbia (BC) and distant from Singhs base in Brampton, a suburb of Toronto in Ontario on the other side of the country. A byelection for the Burnaby South riding has been precipitated by sitting lawmaker, Kennedy Stewart, resigning from the House of Commons to run for mayor of Vancouver. NDP won Burnaby South in the 2015 federal elections by a narrow margin of more than 500 votes, and it will not be a lock for Singh to retain. While Burnaby South has been an NDP stronghold in recent times, political scientist Hamish Telford, of the University of the Fraser Valley in BC, didnt believe it will be an easy contest for Singh. Telford said, Its not really safe, its going to be a challenge for him to hold the seat. Hes not a local candidate. When you parachute a candidate in from another province, its more challenging. Singh has suffered criticism in recent months for not taking the plunge into an election for MP thus far, even as his popularity has diminished in recent national polls. Surrounded by supporters, Singh said we need to have our voices represented in our government as he made the announcement. He attacked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saying: Im running because Trudeau betrayed people on electoral reform. I am running because we cant wait two years to find a solution to affordable housing. We need prescription medication covered now. We dont need a public government to invest billions of dollars in a leaky pipeline. That last issue may be critical in the byelection, since it referred to the Kinder Morgan pipeline, a project that was recently controversially acquired by Ottawa and opposed by Singh and the NDP government in British Columbia. To pre-empt criticism of using Burnaby South as a launchpad for his federal ambitions and then running from Brampton in the federal election next year, Singh indicated he will remain loyal to the city if elected, as he said: I am committed to Burnaby South. I am all in in Burnaby. My wife and I talked about it - and we are going to run here. Singh has never been an MP, thereby missing out on high-visibility opportunities of confronting Trudeau directly in Parliament. He was a member of the Ontario provincial legislature from a seat in Brampton when he was elected NDP leader. While the norm has usually been for other parties to allow a federal leader a free run in a byelection in the past, that may not be the case in this instance. Telford expected the ruling Liberal Party to make a play for the seat. The Liberals will view this as an opportunity to steal a seat in British Columbia and give Jagmeet Singh a run for his money, he said. Burnaby, though, already has a negative connotation as far as Singhs short career as federal leader is concerned. This was where Talwinder Singh Parmar, considered the mastermind of the bombing of Air India flight 182, lived at the time Canadas worst terrorist attack occurred, one that claimed 329 lives. Days after he was elected NDP leader, Singh was castigated for not disavowing the practice of some gurdwaras in Canada, including in British Columbia, featuring images of Parmar and honouring him as a martyr. Singh repeatedly refused to condemn that practice in an interview with national broadcaster CBCs Terry Milewski, despite being pressed several times. This issue, and subsequent revelations of his presence at pro-Khalistan rallies, could cast a shadow over the byelection, dates for which have yet to be announced. The NDP has yet to win a federal byelection since Singh was elected its leader and his political future may depend on breaking that streak. Pipeline 10 August 2018 In the wake of the opening last year of Cuba's first luxury five-star hotel, Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, Kempinski Hotels continues expanding selectively in the Caribbean with luxury developments in Cuba and Dominica, including the upcoming Cabrits Resort and Spa Kempinski Dominica. Set to open in 2019, this luxurious island hideaway is surrounded by Cabrits National Park in Dominica. Known for its natural beauty and eco-tourism, Dominica is located in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean, and is home to 365 rivers, waterfalls and hot springs. Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica has been designed to preserve the natural balance between land and the sea, whilst ensuring a modern contemporary guest experience. Kempinski has appointed Michael J. Schoonewagen as general manager of Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica. Schoonewagen is an experienced and passionate hotelier with some 30 years of experience and deep expertise in luxury resorts, honed in missions across Europe, the South Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Caribbean with renowned luxury brands. He will lead the team to open this first luxury resort for Kempinski in Dominica, working closely with partners, Range Developments, to position the island as the new go-to luxury travel destination in the region. Commenting on this appointment, Xavier Destribats, COO The Americas, said: "We are delighted to welcome Michael to the Kempinski family. With his successful track-record of managing luxury resort properties in pioneering destinations, and his focused expertise in the luxury segment, I am confident that Michael will build on our considerable momentum in the region with the opening of Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica next year." Schoonewagen added: "It is a great privilege to join Kempinski and lead this exciting development in Dominica. I have long admired the pioneering spirit and cultural empathy of Kempinski as a luxury heritage brand, and look forward to building on these roots to create the ultimate luxury destination in the Caribbean." Mohammed Asaria, founder of Range Developments, said: "Hiring a general manager is a key step in completing a successful project it shows the project is 12 months away from opening. Having Michael Schoonewagen on board at this stage is a clear sign of commitment from Range and Kempinski and reflects well both on the development and the future of tourism in Dominica." Range Developments is the award winning and leading developer of resorts in the Caribbean under the citizenship by investment programmes. Range's flagship development, the Park Hyatt St Kitts, opened its doors in November 2017 and has established itself as the finest hotel in the Caribbean. CNN has singled it out as "the Best Hotel in the Caribbean". It has also been included in Conde Nast Traveler's 2018 hot list "Best New Hotels in the World". Range's second development, the Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica, is rapidly advancing and is expected to open in the third quarter of 2019. Six Senses St Kitts is Range's latest project, located on the northwestern side of the island and will further complement the country's CIP and tourism product. The Six Senses St Kitts is scheduled to open in 2020. Renovation 10 August 2018 The Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Alpharetta, owned and managed by WCG Hotels, also known as Windsor Capital Group, Inc., celebrated the official grand re-opening of its newly renovated property by hosting a summer solstice reception for hotel guests and clients. The Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Alpharetta has just finished putting its final touches on their multi-million renovation, which began February of 2017. The guest suites, lobby, atrium, restaurant/bar, indoor pool, fitness center, and meeting spaces were completely transformed. As noted by General Manager, Cheryl Catrair, "It is great to see how excited the community and our guests are about the final results and I could not be prouder of our amazing team members for continuing to provide our excellent service we are known for during the renovation." Paul Francisco, COO of WCG Hotels states, "The modernization of the Alpharetta Embassy Suites turned out better than we could ever have hoped. The fresh, clean and hip aesthetic is the perfect blend of luxury, technology and modern design geared towards our wide array of guests - corporate, leisure and group. The renovation touched all areas of the hotel including exterior, guest suites, lobby, atrium, restaurant/bar, pool, fitness center, and behind-the-scenes. The upgrades have not only made the hotel a better place for our guests to stay but also a more pleasant environment for our associates to work." The 150 room all-suite hotel is conveniently located in Alpharetta's Northpoint District off Georgia State Route 400 at 5955 North Point Parkway and is less than 30 miles from downtown Atlanta. The hotel features 2,400 square feet of flexible meeting space spread amongst four different meeting rooms. Event The Hotel Data Conference is a gathering of industry executives with a specific interest in crunching data to improve the performance of their hotels and/or destination. The conference's content is designed to appeal to brand executives, hotel owners, developers, operators, revenue management specialists, destination marketing organizations and pricing analysts. Hotel Data Conference is organized by Supplier News 10 August 2018 New York and London -- OTA Insight , the cloud-based data intelligence platform for the hospitality industry, continues to expand its presence in the U.S., following the recent signings of key partnerships with Westmont Hospitality Group, Sandman Hotel Group, Dimension Development, Kana Hotel Group and Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. To support the rapid growth of its U.S. customer base, OTA Insight has invested in the expansion of its sales and customer support hub in Dallas with an exciting new office space to operate alongside its New York office. This expansion will help accelerate OTA Insight's growth in the region in order to meet the needs of both new and existing customers. This announcement precedes OTA Insight's invitation to speak at the Hotel Data Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, from August 15-17. OTA Insight provides solutions that empower hoteliers to make smarter pricing and distribution decisions, enabling them to manage and track all the relevant factors that can affect hotel demand and profitability. As the company continues to grow, more hoteliers in the region will have access to OTA Insight's suite of business intelligence solutions to help manage rates, parity and revenue. "We are committed to providing hoteliers with better and more actionable business intelligence solutions through our constant research and analysis of market data. At this time, we are working with more than 30,000 hotel properties worldwide, and the U.S. is now our biggest market globally showing exponential growth in the last year," said Gino Engels, Chief Commercial Officer and co-founder of OTA Insight. "We look forward to key events like the Hotel Data Conference, as it allows us the chance to connect with our US partners and share our insights about the evolving distribution environment." Engels will be participating in a panel titled "Distribution: A Hotelier's Guide to Channel Surfing" at 2pm on Thursday, August 16 in Broadway A, where he will discuss the following: The state of distribution What hoteliers need to know about weighing the costs and opportunities What to consider when making distribution decisions for transient and group guests Building on the momentum the company has achieved in the past few months, which includes reaching the major milestone of serving 30,000 hotels worldwide, the launch of its Parity Insight solution and its first Hotel Parity Report , OTA Insight is in an ideal position to achieve continued growth and expansion throughout the U.S. OTA Insight will be exhibiting at Hotel Data Conference Nashville, Tennessee from August 15-17 For more information, please visit: www.otainsight.com . About OTA Insight Press Release 10 August 2018 Kinseth Hospitality Company (KHC) is pleased to announce the official Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration of the Tru by Hilton hotel in St. Charles, marking this as the first of its brand in Missouri! The grand opening ceremony for the Tru by Hilton, located at 333 Camelback Road, took place on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, with nearly 200 guests in attendance. To kick-off the event Patty Kueneke of Cullinan Properties, Ltd.; Ben Kinseth of Kinseth Hospitality; City of St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith; and Scott Tate, President and CEO of Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce, shared their excitement about the Tru by Hilton hotel in the Streets of St. Charles area. Advertisements "This hotel is the first of it's kind in the state of Missouri, we're happy to bring this vibrant brand to the St. Charles market," said Ben Kinseth. "We picked the Streets of St. Charles because of it's high energy enviornment. It has a vibrancy with all of the nearby restaurants and attractions. Tru by Hilton is a fresh new product grounded in value, with the perfect mix of a high energy development, great value rooms, and a new efficient design. We're excited to be a part of the Streets of St. Charles and the greater St. Louis community." The 87 room, 5 story hotel features a large lobby space with a corner for games and fun which offers a full-size pool table along with various board games. Another corner offers a place to work with sound absorbing work pods and a wireless printer. Throughout the lobby, you'll also find numerous plug-ins and usb ports along with some secured charging stations so you can stay connected throughout your whole visit. About Tru by Hilton Tru by Hilton is a revolutionary midscale hotel brand providing a simplified and spirited approach that is grounded in value for business and leisure travelers. Disrupting the midscale hotel space, Tru by Hilton will offer modern and functional guest rooms and social connectivity with reimagined public spaces, including an open lobby comprised of four zones where guests can work, play, lounge and eat. Designed to appeal cross-generationally, guests will enjoy complimentary amenities including breakfast, coffee and tea; optional mobile check-in and Digital Key; a multifunctional fitness center; and high-speed Wi-Fi. Single-serve wine and beer, fun snacks and light meal options will be available for purchase at a 24/7 retail market. Tru by Hilton is the newest addition to Hilton Worldwide's portfolio of market-leading brands. Learn more at www.trubyhilton.com. About Kinseth Hospitality Kinseth Hospitality is a leading hotel management, development and ownership company. KHC has a proven track record of developing and operating award-winning hotels, restaurant and meeting facilities. Kinseth Hospitality is based in North Liberty, Iowa and currently operates over 65 hotels and 5 branded restaurants in 11 states. For more information regarding KHC please contact our Corporate Sales and Marketing Team at 319-626-5600 or visit www.kinseth.com. Opinion Article 10 August 2018 Over a couple of beautiful winter days Down Under, hotel practitioners gathered at the Sydney Exhibition Centre at the No Vacancy Accommodation Expo 2018 to listen to experts discuss changing trends and challenges faced by the industry. In such company, a discussion about the battlefield with new soldiers will inevitably ensue. This time was no different. The hospitality distribution chain was once again described as a "battleground" - a fight for customers and for ownership of those customers. A panel, entitled "Airbnb vs. hotels vs. OTAs," looking at the upsides and the downsides of the distribution landscape, started off with an astounding prediction - by 2030, Airbnb will be the largest revenue turnover accommodation provider. Not a totally left-field prediction if you take into consideration what Airbnb has already begun to do. With its recent partnership with SiteMinder, it now has access to the latter's listing of 35,000 hotels. In an earlier statement, SiteMinder's managing director and founder Mike Ford said, "In an increasingly-complex and competitive world, SiteMinder's partnership with Airbnb offers a new opportunity for boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts to engage the growing number of travellers who seek exceptional hospitality and an authentic local experience now makes it easy for these small accommodation providers to reach the millions of customers who use Airbnb every day." Hotels like Sydney's Old Clare Hotel has already jumped on the Airbnb bandwagon and is featured in its boutique hotel list. "We wanted to explore an additional market, a new demand channel made up of people who are not looking for a traditional hotel. Airbnb customers are different," explained general manager Timo Bures about its decision to list with Airbnb. VERIU Hotels & Suites is also on there. Marta Laguardia, its revenue manager, said the process of distributing through Airbnb is improving. "We used to have to upload our rates manually; Airbnb didn't provide any tools. But now, there are some, although still limited." So how big a threat is Airbnb to the current distribution chain? "There is no need for fear. If you have a value proposition, then you shouldn't be fearful of the growth of any distribution channel. Have a product that you are proud of and that people desire. Look at your product and focus on improving operations and services, and make your product more desirable than, say, an apartment. It is better to do that than spend money on public relations against guys like Airbnb," advised Bures. Moana Heal, group revenue and distribution manager of Wyndham Hotel Group, put it in perspective. "Airbnb is not as big a threat as people think. At the recent Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, a lot of the Airbnb listing was not sold. But hotels mostly did well, experiencing 15-20% higher occupancy." However, a warning was given to the OTAs that typically charge a commission rate that is higher than Airbnb. If Airbnb starts providing the same tools to hotels that OTAs now provide, OTAs could be under threat, said Laguardia. High commission rates being charged for distribution is another familiar refrain. "What's driving rates up is that a few of them are becoming bigger and bigger. Ctrip, Amazon, Google are some that are starting to throw their weight around in travel," said Dai Williams, senior vice president of global partnerships at SiteMinder. With the complexity of distribution increasing with each new and emerging channel, how much more important does that make revenue management and strategy? It was clear from the panel that sat to discuss revenue management and how it can be harnessed for optimal revenue and profit performance that this is a discipline that hotels can ill afford to forgo. "We are in the cusp of change. We need to have a Revenue Strategy that looks at more data points and consider transforming the e-commerce experience to derive the right price. We should integrate all silos within the hotel to work towards the same goal," suggested The Grace Hotel's revenue manager Sawaid Saeed. "In the past, we were working with a set demand. Now, it is more about generating demand. Revenue leaders should now be assisting in bringing the demand instead," he added. The panelists agreed that hotels need to put in more concerted effort to hold on to the customer and not "give too much away". Sawaid suggested using OTAs as billboards but complete the booking directly. Clare Coyle, director of revenue and distribution at DOMA Hotels agreed. "Participate in sale activities by OTAs. Use them to do marketing, but provide more ancillaries or flexible terms to attract direct bookings," said Coyle. RELATED HOTEL REVENUE STRATEGY ARTICLES A$AP Bari is reportedly clear of rape charges from an incident that occurred last year. According to TMZ, Bari won't be facing any charges from an alleged sexual assault that took place in November 2017. The alleged victim reportedly decided not to move forward with pressing charges against the fashion designer. At this point, the details are scarce. It's unclear which incident this is in reference to. Last November, Bari was sued by a Jane Doe for sexual assault. She said that the incident occurred on July 9th, 2017. She alleged that the fashion designed abruptly came into a hotel room while she was asleep and yelled, "You fucked my assistant, now you are going to fuck me." She said that she continued to scream no but Bari pulled the sheets off of her while she was still in bed. The incident was filmed and circulated on the internet, although it was removed from most publications. She also said that she ran to the bathroom out of fear of being assaulted and Bari yelled, "I'm going to fuck you, you are going to suck my dick." He allegedly threw her into the hallway afterward without clothes. In May, he was arrested at a London airport and charged with sexual assault by authorities for the same incident. It's not unusual for a young adult to follow in the footsteps of an older sibling. Fetty Luciano, the younger brother of Rowdy Rebel has decided to carry the torch for his family crest. After serving a three year bid on conspiracy charges, Fetty is ready to strike anew. While brother Rowdy and mentor Bobby Shmurda await the commutation of jail sentences, Fetty nee Remy Marshall, has effectively become the first of the GS9 affiliates to return home. The hope is that Fetty can help reverse their fortune, and repurpose the GS9 name to that of a legitimate rap crew. "On The Wall" features a pledge of support from Bobby Shmurda, from behind prison walls. With the backing of Def Jam, there is optimism Fetty can generate enough ground level support before 2020, when Shmurda is eligible to return to his civic duties. "On The Wall" is characterized by the same flush sound that made "Shmoney" all the rage in 2014. Quotable Lyrics: Don't come outside unless the thing is out The gang is out Free Rashad let my Haitians out Glock with a 30, bih the laser's out It's amazing now I went the paper route. Planes on the wall Planes on the wall If they outside we gon' hit 'em all. -Fetty Luciano Cuban Doll and YBN Nahmir both know how to do a lot with a little. Both known to drop short, simple tracks based primarily around energy and charisma, their new collaboration "Big Chop" is everything you could ask for from a meeting of the like-minded artists. Cuban handles the hook, using the confrontational style of Chicago drill to make a chorus as catchy as it is hard. When Nahmir shows up, he's a little looser and more carefree, taking the tension down slightly before handing things back to to Cuban's white-knuckled fury. Cuban Doll, who also goes as Cuban D Savage, was recently featured on HNHH's "How To Roll" segment. In it, she talked about her fear of dabbing (not that kind of dabbing). "Dabbing is so scary to me. It's like one time thing, then I be so shook up after that, like naw," she said. "I think that shit make your heart stop for like five seconds." You can watch her interview below. Daddy Yankee known outside the Americas for his seminal hit "Gasolina" and for his feature on "Despacito," has been robbed of $2.3 million worth of jewelry. The Reggaeton left his jewelry box in a hotel room safe, when an impostor successfully persuaded the front desk to give him access to Yankee's belongings. The impersonator is believed to have phoned the reception desk to forewarn staff of his presence, as is the custom of "expedient service" reserved for high profile clients. The Public Relations firm Daddy Yankee is signed to, confirmed the robbery via Twitter. The post essentially says a Spanish law firm has been hired to undertake the case, and that no further statements will be issued in order to facilitate the police investigation. Daddy Yankee was staying in the north end of Valencia while on tour. While the legal team press local police to round up evidence, the Reggaeton star will continue the European leg of his tour, as he did last night in Martigues, France. A second room booked under his name was always hit by the thief, containing an undisclosed amount of cash. The theft was discovered on Tuesday by members of Daddy Yankee's entourage, several hours after the incident took place. A forensic team was quickly marshalled to the scene. Don't get gassed. Things haven't been going too well for Juelz Santana this year. The rapper was allegedly caught with a gun and drugs in his bag by the TSA at Newark Airport. Juelz initially fled the scene before he turned himself in to authorities. Since then, the rapper posted bond and was placed on house arrest at his mother's home. The rapper was supposed to head to court in early September but his scheduled trial has been pushed back. According to Billboard, Juelz Santana's trial for his guns and drugs case has been pushed back by roughly a month. The rapper and his legal team filed an order this month to get the trial pushed back until at least September 30th in order to permit defense counsel the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation in this matter and to allow the parties to enter into plea negotiations. Back in June, the judge on Juelz Santana's case get him modified his bailed conditions and gave him the okay to go on tour with his Dipset brothers this summer at select dates. The rapper was allowed to perform in New Hampshire, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. However, he was only allowed to do this on the condition that his mother accompanies him to these dates. Additionally, the judge also prevented Juelz Santana from travelling with Dipset. The conditions also stated that he was only able to drive to these dates and not fly. Will Smith has certainly flourished as one of hip-hop's quintessential father figures. Whether he's kicking old-school dad bars, delivering smile-and-nod worthy jokes, or merely holding it down with the latest viral dance challenges, Will Smith's presence is enough to comfort even the most tantrum-inclined teenager. Now, with his son Jaden joining J. Cole, Young Thug, and EarthGang for the recently-kicked-off KOD Tour, Will has been more than happier to cheer on his son from the sidelines. Last night, Will hit up Florida's American Airlines arena to catch his son in action, presumably staying for the other talent as well; after all, one does not pass up on the opportunity to catch EarthGang, J. Cole, and Young Thug in quick succession. Smith took a selfie to commemorate the occasion, posting up alongside Jaden and actress Liza Koshy. Peep the Kodak moment below. It appears that Jaden showed some familial love as well, inviting Will on stage for a moment of father&son bonding. Shout out to the Smith boys for this one. The race for dominance in artificial intelligence will be to the 2020s what the space race was to the 1960s, and the competition is gaining on us fast. A dozen nations around the world, ranging from our closest ally, Canada, to our fiercest competitor, China, are pouring billions of dollars into AI research and development. Machines capable of making complex decisions independent from human input will bring economic change on the scale of the industrial revolution. Facebook already uses artificial intelligence to identify your face in newly uploaded photos. Computers can find tumors in medical images with greater accuracy than doctors. Self-driving cars are not far away, and in many ways, only the beginning. Nations that dont lead in AI development will lose geopolitical relevance, economically and militarily. RELATED: Businesses will need tutors to raise artificial intelligence like children The United States is currently the world leader in both AI research and commercialization thanks to the worlds most sophisticated technology sector, which grew out of the Space Race. But we cannot rest on our laurels. Artificial intelligence is a catch-all for a diverse field of information technology. But broadly speaking, AI is the employment of data to teach a computer to identify patterns and make independent and accurate decisions. The current technology puts electronic neural networks through a deep-learning process using large datasets. The resulting AI is not perfect, but it is often more accurate than humans. Theoretically, industry will eventually employ AI to make any routine decision that only humans can make today, such as adjusting an insurance claim. Recognizing the world-changing potential of AI, Chinas Communist government says it wants to lead the world in its development as part of the party's Made in China 2025 plan to dominate the global economy. The nations authoritarian regime is funneling tens of billions of dollars into new universities, corporate research and development and the military. You Zheng, vice president of Beijings prestigious Tsinghua University, gave a speech in June describing what he called the civil-military fusion of AI research. Tsinghua University will closely integrate the national strategy of military-civilian integration and the AI superpower strategy, he said, according to a translation provided by the Center for a New American Security, a non-partisan think tank in Washington. In the process of constructing the High-End Laboratory for Military Intelligence, Tsinghua University adheres to the concept of gripping with both hands basic research and applied research. Google, home to perhaps the worlds most extensive data collection, launched an AI research center with Tsinghua a month later. The company's chief of artificial intelligence, Jeff Dean, joined the universitys computer-science advisory committee. RELATED: Personal memory curator, just one of the jobs of the future The Canadian government recently invited 250 researchers and students from 25 countries for an artificial intelligence boot camp in Toronto. The recruitment effort is part of a five-year, $125 million Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy to make Canada the industrys home base. Quebecs government has promised another $100 million to the AI community in Montreal; Ontario has set aside $50 million for the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Toronto; and the Canada First Research Excellence Fund gave $93.6 million to Universite de Montreal, Polytechnique Montreal and HEC Montreal for research into deep learning. Israel, Russia, Singapore and South Korea are also trying to lead in AI development. Israel and Russia are concentrating on military applications. Almost any country can obtain the hardware to develop AI, and massive datasets are available to the highest bidder. Thats why China has bought so many U.S. companies with extensive data collections. The real limiting resource is human brain power to build silicon brains. Currently, there are far more worthwhile applications of existing AI technology than there are skilled programmers to develop and implement them, the Center for a New American Security reported. Nations that develop education, training, and immigration policies to recruit and train top talent - from their country and others - will have an edge on others. U.S. computer technology research programs are too small and too underfunded to maintain their advantage. Houstons Rice University, the University of Texas at Austin and UT-San Antonio all have outstanding programs, but they are not proportionate to a state of 28 million people. U.S. public schools are also not producing enough high school graduates with math and science background to fill Americas best engineering programs. Only a third of Texas high school graduates who took the ACT college placement test met the college readiness standard in science. If Texans want to compete in the coming technological revolution, we must matriculate students ready to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We need more colleges teaching data and computer science, the building blocks of artificial intelligence. Our rivals are using every moment we delay to their advantage. Chris Tomlinson writes commentary about business and economics. chris.tomlinson@chron.com | twitter.com/cltomlinson The Houston area, with nearly a quarter of Texas population and some of its worst air quality, might receive just 13 percent of the states $209 million share of the Volkswagen emissions settlement handed down two years ago. Under a draft plan released this week by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, two-thirds of the settlement money would go to the San Antonio, Beaumont and El Paso areas. San Antonios share would be 35 percent, and Dallas-Fort Worth would receive about 14 percent. This lopsided funding is one of many reasons environmentalists are worried about the proposed disbursement of the funds, which Volkswagen paid for lying about how much some of the companys diesel-engine vehicles pollute. The plan today is concerning, at best, said Bay Scoggin, state director of the Texas Public Interest Research Group. In June 2016, Volkswagen entered into a $15 billion settlement over claims it violated the Clean Air Act by fabricating emissions results on its vehicles. Most of that money was funneled to individuals who purchased the cars, but some was turned over to states to lessen any environmental damage that may have occurred. The amount given to each state is based on how many vehicles in the affected group were registered there. Adrian Shelley, director of the Texas office of Public Citizen, a national public policy advocacy group, took issue with the way TCEQ is proposing to slice the pie within Texas. The populous Houston and Dallas areas have some of the worst emissions-related problems in the state, he noted, and Austin residents purchase more Volkswagens per capita than in any other Texas city. Yet Austin didnt get any funding, and Houston and Dallas got disproportionately little. Officials in the draft report said heavy investment in San Antonio, Beaumont and El Paso could improve the air to the point they fall back in line with federal standards. Also concerning is that the plan appears to lack key details, like how money will be awarded to eligible projects, Scoggin said. The state plan would hand out money on a first come, first serve basis, a research group statement said, and that cost-effectiveness will be a key determinate in the competition for project funding. The lack of clear guidelines for the competitive process leads to problematic uncertainty on whether communities or gas corporations will benefit, Scoggin said. Under Texas plan, nearly $170 million of the $209 million settlement would be stretched across the five metro areas Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Beaumont and El Paso where air quality isnt within national standards. More Information Emissions funding Where the state is proposing to divvy up funds from the Volkswagen emissions settlement: San Antonio area: $73.6 million Dallas-Fort Worth area: $29.1 million Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area (Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties): $27.4 million El Paso County: $26.8 million Beaumont-Port Arthur area: $12.7 million Public comment: tceq.texas.gov/agency/trust Source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality See More Collapse It also would make about $31 million available for installing electric charging stations and other options to replace gasoline vehicles. Grants also would be made available through TCEQ to fund up to 60 percent of the cost cities face when replacing fleet vehicles with electric cars and trucks. A goal of the plan is to prepare for increased and sustained use of zero emission vehicles, the TCEQ said in the draft. It is appropriate that funds for these projects be made available not only in certain metropolitan areas, but also to provide for electric vehicle charging or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fueling along major transportation routes and in areas around the state. Both Shelley and Scoggin applauded TCEQ for focusing money on electric vehicles. The Volkswagen settlement permits states to use 15 percent of the funds in Texas case, about $31 million for infrastructure to support the charging of electric vehicles. Clearly zero-emissions vehicles are the best way to benefit from this, Scoggin said. The No. 1 goal of this mitigation plan is to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and hazardous air pollutants. The plan is open for public comment until Oct. 8. For more information, visit: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/agency/trust. alex.stuckey@chron.com Travis Scott has announced his inaugural Astroworld Festival, Nov. 17 at NRG Park, in partnership with ScoreMore Shows and LiveNation. It comes on the heels of his "Astroworld" album, which debuts at No. 1 this week on the Billboard 200, limited-edition merch and surprise release shows. Scott will headline the festivities -- just across from the former Astroworld site, of course -- which will boast multiple performers across multiple stages. The lineup is expected soon. HTOWN: Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' is an ode to Houston Now Playing: Houston rapper Travis Scott surprises Houston fans with a release party. Video: Videos by Dadi Hamel, Francelli Monreal, Edwin Hernandez, Edited by Joey Guerra David Stromberg, Scott's manager and GM of Cactus Jack Records, said in a statement that the "ultimate goal in launching this Fest is to bring some well-deserved recognition to Travis' hometown of Houston, the place that has made him both the man and creative artist he is today. "H-Town has an incredible rich cultural history, and we look forward to showcasing to residents from Travis' own backyard and across the globe what makes this city so special." Early-bird general admission ($89) and VIP (starting at $250) passes are on sale now. The passwords SICKOMODE and ASTROWORLD should get you in. Sign up for details at AstroworldFest.com. General public on sale is 10 a.m. Monday at AstroworldFest.com. Prices will increase as the festival approaches. Astroworld Festival will also offer VIP packages that include fast entry, premium viewing areas, a commemorative laminate, exclusive merchandise, VIP bar and restrooms. As long as reporters have covered government officials, theyve sought greater access than the government was willing to allow. The White House excluded a CNN reporter from an international trade announcement with the president of the European Commission on July 25, in apparent retaliation after she shouted unwelcome questions at President Donald Trump during an Oval Office appearance. Many observers viewed this move as an escalation of the Trump administrations hostility toward journalists. The Washington Post called the decision to exclude CNNs Kaitlan Collins highly unusual and possibly unprecedented. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called it an offense against the First Amendment interests of all of us. But did the White House actually violate the Constitution? As a media law professor, I regularly remind students that the First Amendment right of access to government officials, records and events is surprisingly uncertain. The First Amendment guarantees all Americans freedom to speak and publish without government interference. It has been broadly interpreted by the Supreme Court to forbid the government from restraining or punishing a speaker based on the content of the speakers message. While journalists have a clearly established First Amendment right to publish the news theyve gathered even in extreme cases, like the leak of stolen Pentagon documents its much less clear that the First Amendment protects the right to gather the news in the first place. A right to publish, but not a 'right to gather'? CNN has not indicated that it plans to take any legal action over Collins exclusion. In addition to being awkward imagine a journalist taking the witness stand to testify against the White House communications director a court case over a withdrawn invitation would face legal obstacles. The courts have refused to recognize an overarching constitutional right of access to government information. Instead, they have picked off cases with narrow, specific rulings. For instance, the Supreme Court recognized in Richmond Newspapers v. Virginia that there is a constitutional right to cover a criminal trial. Likewise, federal appeals courts agree the First Amendment guarantees the right to videotape police making arrests in a public place. At the same time, judges have found no constitutional right to obtain government documents or to enter crime scenes that are off-limits to the public. Does CNNs White House correspondent, or any journalist, have a First Amendment right to a press pass or a spot at a news conference? Since the Supreme Court said in its 1972 Branzburg ruling that journalists have no right to insist on greater access than the general public, probably not. That being said, journalists do have a right not to be retaliated against, regardless of what form the retaliation takes. Retaliatory exclusions can violate the law Even if attending a White House event is not a constitutionally guaranteed right, that doesnt mean the government is free to take it away as a punishment. The government cannot take away even a purely discretionary privilege if the motive is to penalize speech. Even though there is no entitlement to hold a government job, the Supreme Court decided in 1966 that public employment cannot be denied on the basis of viewpoint. And even though there is no entitlement to receive a discretionary government grant, the justices ruled in 2013 that a grant cannot be denied because the applicant expresses a view different from the governments. In other words, any action by a government agency intended to punish or deter a speaker for unwanted speech can violate the Constitution. That same legal principle would apply today if a federal official denied a government privilege to a journalist on the basis of a disagreeable viewpoint. In the CNN situation, if Collins lost something of value, like the ability to attend a presidential appearance, because of the content of her speech, she has the essential ingredients of a First Amendment case. The White House likely would argue that it was Collins method of delivery raising her voice, after being asked not to and not the content of her message that earned her a disinvitation. That would make a First Amendment claim blurrier. Government agencies can regulate the time, place and manner of speaking, the Supreme Court has ruled, as long as the restrictions are reasonable and enforced evenhandedly. Were a case to go to court, Collins and CNN might have to demonstrate that other journalists have shouted friendlier questions without consequence. Journalists' rights need clarifying In a similar case in Maryland, a news organization lost a lawsuit against Marylands former governor. The Maryland case shows how difficult it can be to prove a retaliation claim. In that 2006 case, a federal appeals court ruled that Gov. Robert Ehrlich did not violate The Baltimore Suns First Amendment rights by directing his administration to stop returning calls or granting interviews to a reporter and columnist whose coverage Ehrlich considered unfair. The appellate judges found the idea of a right to interview the governors aides to be a problem. If The Sun could sue over being denied access to the governors staff, they said, what would stop a reporter from bringing a First Amendment claim whenever his competitor gets an exclusive interview? In essence, the judges ruled, the governor did what politicians routinely do: Talk only to the journalists they trust. The distinction in Collins case is that she wasnt just denied a returned phone call. She was denied admittance to an event that she can prove shed otherwise have been able to attend. Its unlikely news organizations will sue over White House snubs. Still, in my view, the Supreme Court needs to find a vehicle to clarify this murky area of constitutional law. It should be recognized that the First Amendment principle forbidding government officials from punishing people for the content of their speech is broad enough to protect journalists against retaliatory freeze-outs meant to deter aggressive coverage. Frank LoMonte is Director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Get the Gray Matters newsletter. It raises its voice, after being asked not to. The Army is suspending discharges of foreign-born recruits who enlisted as part of a special military program that put them on the path to U.S. citizenship, following lawsuits by soldiers who say they have been expelled unfairly and without explanation. In a July 20 memo, a top Army personnel official ordered the service to "suspend processing of all involuntary separation actions" for individuals in the program and ordered a review of the discharge procedures for affected soldiers by Aug. 15. Marshall Williams, acting assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, also asked the Army deputy chief of staff in charge of personnel to recommend whether additional guidance should be issued regarding the discharge procedures for individuals who enlisted through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program (MAVNI). The existence of the memo, which emerged in a court proceeding, was first reported Thursday by the Associated Press. The Army's decision to halt the discharges temporarily comes amid a raft of legal actions by soldiers who enlisted through the program and have now been discharged, potentially complicating their promised path to citizenship. The service issued the July 20 memo days after reversing its decision to discharge Lucas Calixto, a 28-year-old reservist from Brazil, who entered the military through the program and sued the Pentagon because he faced an uncertain future in the United States owing to his separation. The decision is the latest controversy surrounding a pilot program that the Pentagon established in 2008 offering expedited American citizenship for foreign-born recruits with highly desired language and medical skills. More than 10,000 recruits have enlisted in the U.S. military through the program, in some cases obtaining citizenship by the end of their basic training. It wasn't clear if the Army suspension would lead to fewer MAVNI recruits being discharged in the future. The Pentagon suspended the program in 2016 after judging that its procedures presented an unacceptable risk of insider threats including espionage and terrorism. The department ordered that those service members who enlisted through the program be subjected to enhanced security screening - a procedure that would be impossible for many of them to pass. An increasing number of service members in the program have been receiving discharge orders since then. They have argued in court filings that they haven't received proper explanations about why they are being pushed out or opportunities to appeal the decisions. Cynthia Smith, a spokeswoman for the Army, said in a statement that the service had suspended discharges of individuals recruited through the program "in order to conduct a thorough review of the administrative separation process." Smith added, "We continue to abide by all requirements to include completing a thorough background investigation on all MAVNI applicants." Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokesperson, said the required security screening can be difficult and time-consuming for MAVNI recruits because they are foreign nationals and the military has a limited ability to verify information in the individual's home country. Margaret Stock, a lawyer and retired lieutenant colonel in the military police, who helped create the program, said she believed the Army memo was a reaction to Calixto's lawsuit and "an admission by the Army that they are violating the soldiers' rights." "It violates Army regulations to discharge them without telling them why they are being discharged," Stock said. She said the program had been designed to recruit qualified immigrants and now the Pentagon was expelling them in some cases for having foreign relatives. "It's clear to me that they just want to get rid of people - and it looks like a good clean excuse to get rid of people to make it look like they failed a background check," Stock said. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last year that the Pentagon would like to find a way to save the program. The right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones just saw years of his posts removed from major social media platforms, but his Infowars app is surging on the Google Play and iTunes charts. Infowars Official, an app that lets viewers stream Jones's shows and read news of the day, was ranked third among trending apps in the Google Play store Thursday. In the news category on Apple's App Store, Infowars earned the third slot under the top free apps, behind Twitter and News Break, a local and breaking news service, revealing a sudden boost of user downloads. The rush of interested users comes after influential tech platforms -- including Facebook, Google-owned YouTube and Apple -- took their most assertive actions yet against Jones and his Infowars brand for violating their rules against hateful language. Facebook removed four of Jones's pages; YouTube terminated his channel, with its 2.4 million subscribers; and Apple removed the majority of Jones's podcasts from iTunes and its podcast app. Twitter, however, has refrained from pulling or suspending accounts linked to Jones. Company chief executive Jack Dorsey tweeted an explanation Tuesday, saying that Jones had not violated the platform's policies. "We're going to hold Jones to the same standard we hold to every account, not taking one-off actions to make us feel good in the short term, and adding fuel to new conspiracy theories," Dorsey tweeted, drawing fierce responses to his Twitter feed. But Web users can still access Infowars through its website and through the same tech companies that just banned it. Google offers the Infowars app for Android users, and Apple customers can download it through the App Store. Apple told The Washington Post in a statement Thursday: "We put great effort into curating the App Store to provide the very best experience for everyone. We strongly support all points of view being represented on the App Store, as long as the apps are respectful to users with differing opinions, and follow our clear guidelines, ensuring the App Store is a safe marketplace for all." Unlike Apple's podcast service which linked to a list of Jones's previous episodes, the Infowars app doesn't offer a catalog of old shows. Users can only watch Jones's programs live or via rebroadcasts of shows that recently aired, meaning that people using the app can access specific content only temporarily. But Apple said it continues to "monitor apps for violations of our guidelines, and if we find content that violates our guidelines and is harmful to users we will remove those apps from the store as we have done previously." Google also indicated in a statement that the Infowars app had not violated its policies. "We carefully review content on our platforms and products, for violations of our terms and conditions, or our content policies. If an app or user violates these, we take action." Earlier this week, YouTube said that its decision to delete the Infowars channel was prompted by Jones violating a temporary ban against broadcasting live on YouTube. Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to Infowars. The sudden clampdown by tech platforms followed by the popularity boost for Infowars will likely fuel the roiling debate over the role Silicon Valley plays in spreading and policing objectionable material. ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The judge overseeing Paul Manafort's trial, who has berated prosecutors daily for perceived missteps and slights, told the jury Thursday to ignore one of his outbursts, saying he was "probably wrong." U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III, a 78-year-old jurist with a reputation for being tough on lawyers in his courtroom, showed none of the temper he's flashed throughout the trial, now in its second week in Alexandria, Virginia, and instead instructed the jury to disregard his remarks made the day before excoriating prosecutors for allowing an expert government witness to sit in the courtroom before he testified. Manafort, Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, is accused of bank fraud and tax evasion. It's the first trial to emerge from special counsel Robert Mueller III's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether any of Trump's associates conspired with those efforts, though Manafort's case is not about those issues. During Wednesday's dust-up, Assistant U.S. attorney Uzo Asonye pointed out the judge had previously told prosecutors the witness could sit in the courtroom, and the judge shot back: "I don't care what the transcript said. Maybe I made a mistake. Don't do it again." Overnight, prosecutors filed a motion with the court asking the judge to tell the jury to ignore that criticism. "While mistakes are a natural part of the trial process, the mistake here prejudiced the government by conveying to the jury that the government had acted improperly and had violated court rules or procedures," the prosecutors wrote. On Thursday morning, the judge told the jury, "I may well have been wrong," adding that he had not read the court transcript. "I was probably wrong," Ellis said. "This robe doesn't make me any more than a human," he said, concluding, "Any criticism of counsel should be put aside - it doesn't have anything to do with this case." Ellis' eruptions have been noticed inside and outside the courtroom. Stephen Gillers, a professor of legal ethics and evidence at New York University, said the judge was right to make a corrective statement to the jurors. "The jury is very sensitive to what it perceives, correctly or not, to be the judge's view of the case," Gillers said. "A jury of lay people is going to be encouraged to reach a belief which could well be incorrect - that the judge knows who should win, and through his behavior he's telegraphing that belief. And that's why it's critical that any judicial admonition, even mild ones, occur outside the jury's presence." Ellis had repeatedly chided prosecutors, both in front of the jury and out of their hearing, during the trial. He has had far fewer outbursts directed at defense lawyers, but prosecutors have been doing the bulk of the questioning so far. "Judge Ellis seems to want the lawyers to try the case the way he would try the case," said Gillers. "There are judges like that, but that's not good for trials. What Judge Ellis is doing is impeding the autonomy that the law grants to the advocates." After several days of testimony from the prosecution's star witness, Manafort's former right-hand man Rick Gates, the jury heard Thursday from bank employees and executives who testified about the alleged false claims Manafort made to obtain millions of dollars in loans - the charges that carry the most potential prison time. Prosecutors say that between 2010 and 2014, Manafort hid $15.5 million in overseas accounts, which he did not report to the IRS. He made that money doing political consulting in Ukraine, but when the work dried up in 2015, authorities say, he lied to secure bank loans to maintain his luxurious lifestyle. Melinda James, a mortgage loan assistant at Citizens Bank, told jurors how Manafort obtained a $3.4 million cash-out refinance in 2016 on a property he owned in Lower Manhattan. In applying for the loan, Manafort claimed the property was a second home, but prosecutors introduced as evidence a 2015 tax return indicating the property generated about $100,000 in rental income. One of Manafort's defense lawyers, Jay Nanavati, said Gates was to blame for any errors in the loan application. Nanavati also suggested that, even though the property was listed for rent on Airbnb for more than a year, it could still be used as a primary residence. Another witness, Citizens Bank Vice President Peggy Miceli, said Manafort would not have gotten the $3.4 million loan if the bank had known it was a rental property. "The loan was way over the maximum" for an investment property rather than a home, she said. The terms of Manafort's loan also allowed him to withdraw cash from the bank, and Miceli testified that was not allowed for loans against investment properties. Prosecutors expect to finish questioning their witnesses Friday. It's unclear how many witnesses Manafort's defense team will present to the jury. - - - The Washington Post's Tom Jackman contributed to this report. The tired and poor masses crossing the border illegally do a lot of huddling after coming to America. It's the air conditioning. So notoriously cold are the U.S. Border Patrol's detention cells that those heading north are warned the first stop will be a hielera, or "icebox." The shivering stay is a rite of passage, and at the busiest border stations, the floors and benches are crowded with detainees bundled in silver polyethylene sheets, the only blankets made available. Their shifting bodies produce a constant crinkling, like the sound of Christmas gifts being unwrapped for hours on end. CONTROVERSY: Nonprofit seeks to open migrant children shelter in Houston A fight for control of the temperature inside these facilities is the subject of litigation between the U.S. government and immigration advocacy groups who accuse the Border Patrol of using the thermostat as a tool to deter migration and gain leverage over those in custody. Now Playing: Group of asylum-seeking immigrants holds downtown L.A. news conference alleging civil rights violations against detainees at ICE processing center in Adelanto. Video: FoxLA While these accusations stretch back years, the uproar triggered by the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" family separation policy has brought new claims of hypothermic misery. "They do it as a form of punishment," said Peter Schey, one of the lead attorneys in the ongoing class-action suit known as the Flores settlement, which dates to the late 1990s and sets detention standards for migrant children in federal custody. Last month, Schey and others submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Californiatestimonies and sworn statements from more than 200 detainees about their treatment in U.S. custody. Complaints about the cold come up again and again. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: ICE denies report of child death at Texas immigration facility "It was hard to keep warm," one Honduran mother, identified only as Maria A, said in a sworn statement. "When other people would leave there would be extra blankets so we would try to take them to have more to keep warm but the guards would notice we had more blankets and they would take them from us so we only had one," her statement says. Maria's 4-year-old son had become "very sick" because of the cold, it notes. Customs and Border Protection officials vigorously dispute allegations of mistreatment. Many of the migrants in custody are from rural parts of Central America, they note, and simply not accustomed to air conditioning, or what some Border Patrol officials refer to as "refrigerated air." The agency says temperature settings are never used for punitive purposes and thermostats are checked regularly to ensure they are between 66 and 80 degrees, the range that CBP deemed reasonable under the terms of the Flores settlement. But the stories of trembling detainees and harsh conditions prompted U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee, who oversees compliance with Flores, to order the appointment of a "special master" who will conduct independent oversight of detention facilities. Attorneys for the government request more time to investigate and rebut the claims, but the judge cited a need to get "realistic, unbiased reports of what's happening." "This needs to happen sooner rather than later," said Gee, who rejected the Trump administration's request to allow the government to hold children longer than the 20-day limit established by the court. Driving the air conditioning dispute is the fact that two distinct groups must share the detention facilities - migrants and Border Patrol agents - and they have very different needs. In south Texas, where Border Patrol stations absorb the most illegal traffic, migrants often arrive with damp clothing after crossing the Rio Grande. Their long-sleeved shirts may be taken away because of concerns about suicide. Then they remain sedentary for hours or days on end, sitting and sleeping on heat-sapping concrete benches and floors, with little room to move. Border Patrol agents, meanwhile, have jobs that require them to move in and out of the muggy heat, wearing uniforms and gear that may include body armor. Some are burly, and they are acclimatized to refrigerated air. They want the thermostat kept at a temperature that keeps them comfortable. "Our folks wear long sleeves because they have to go through vegetation, or the desert, where they're out in the sun," said one CBP official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the temperature dispute is a matter of ongoing litigation. "We have to make sure our folks can do their job." "It doesn't mean we don't stop trying to make people as comfortable as possible in our custody," the official said. Attorneys and immigrant advocates say the lower end of the government's temperature range is too extreme even for Americans whose homes and offices are climate-controlled. "I know I would freeze in a room that was 68 degrees, and I would want more than a Mylar blanket on me," said Jennifer Podkul, policy director at KIND, one of the legal-aid organizations that advocates for migrant children. Under the Flores settlement's terms, migrant children should remain in CBP custody for no longer than 72 hours, and the Border Patrol generally seeks to transfer all adults in its custody to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as quickly as possible. Complaints about temperature generally do not extend to ICE facilities, Podkul noted, because its detainees are given sweatshirts, blankets and beds. CBP officials said they use disposable Mylar blankets, at a cost of 68 cents per unit, because the expense and logistical challenge of laundering fabric would be too great. The plastic is more hygienic, officials said, and agents are vigilant against blanket-sharing because of previous outbreaks of lice and scabies. "They're not comfortable and cozy, but they do provide warmth," the CBP official said. Stories of sleepless nights on concrete floors are repeated throughout migrants' testimonies in the Flores suit, and the CBP official acknowledged that mats are not always available for adults. "There are facilities that do have mats. There are others that do not," the official said. "At the larger facilities, there are mats for juveniles." One Honduran mother, identified in court filings as Dilsia R., said she and her 12-year-old daughter were wet and muddy from crossing the Rio Grande when they were taken into custody June 25. Dilsia testified that her daughter was taken to a separate room for juveniles. "I did not sleep at all that night, it was too cold," her statement says. "I sat there on the ground without any type of bed and shivered to the next day." Schey, whose Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law is the chief plaintiff for the Flores litigation, said that in the hundreds of detainee interviews, 9 in 10 complain about the cold. He believes something more sinister is going on than a culture clash over air conditioning. "By keeping the temperatures as low as they do, it really increases the susceptibility of detained children and their parents to go along with whatever the CBP agent who interviews them wants," he said. Schey said migrants seeking asylum due to violence in Central America report being pressured to agree to voluntary deportation, and chilly temperatures leave them desperate to get out of their cells. "It's a way to enforce submissiveness and discourage people from asserting rights they may have to prevent their [deportation]," Schey added. "It also encourages people to want to just leave and agree to be deported, because they have no idea how long they'll be kept in an 'icebox,' where their kid is shivering, sneezing and hasn't slept." CBP officials dispute those claims. Last year, the agency designated a Flores juvenile coordinator to ensure compliance with the court agreement. While conducting unannounced inspections of detention facilities, the coordinator carries a thermometer and records the readings in his reports. The inspector, Henry Moak, wrote in a June report provided to Gee that during his visits to eight detention facilities, he found only one instance of a temperature setting below the established range. In most facilities Moak measured, the temperature ranged between 70 and 75 degrees. But in interviews with 38 detainees, many also told Moak they were cold, including one 4-year-old boy from Guatemala. Moak noted that the temperature in the cell was 76.4 degrees, but the boy's father told him they had not received a blanket or mat after four hours in custody. MOUNT BUNDEY TRAINING AREA, Australia First Lt. Marina A. Hierl watched a dozen Marines charge toward human silhouettes made of paper atop a nearby hill. Despite the early hour, the troops armored vests and camouflage uniforms were soaked with sweat. She stood back as they scrambled up the rocky incline, shouting and firing rifles. Push left, she said after the squad completed its mock attack and assembled around her, gulping from canteens as they awaited feedback. And make sure youre communicating. It was a fairly routine instruction to Marines training for war, coming from a lieutenant in a role familiar to the men: a young, college-educated officer who had little experience but had direct oversight of their lives. But Hierl is the first woman in the Marine Corps to lead an infantry platoon a historic moment for a male-dominated organization that had fiercely opposed integrating female troops into combat, something that still unsettles many within the ranks. That dynamic has been playing for months inside Echo Company, a group of 175 Marines and Navy sailors recently sent to the Northern Territory of Australia for roughly six months of training exercises and to act as a response force for the Pacific region. Hierl is one of four platoon commanders in Echo Company. Her presence, first eyed with skepticism, appears to have been quietly accepted. Thirty-seven women have attended the Marines Corps Infantry Officer Course at Quantico, Virginia, for 13 weeks of combat evaluations and mileslong hikes carrying heavy loads. Only two women have passed. Of those two women, only Hierl has been given a platoon of roughly 35 men to lead. Capt. Joshua J. Pena, a spokesman for the Marines Training and Education Command, said that the men and women attending the Infantry Officer Course are evaluated by the same standards and are provided an equal opportunity to succeed. Last fall, Hierl was among the handful of new lieutenants who reported to duty with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines at Camp Pendleton in California. The battalion is made up of about 1,000 troops divided into five companies, including Echo. When the commanding officer of Echo Company, Capt. Neal T. Jones, learned that Hierl had been assigned to the battalion, he asked that she be sent to his unit. If youre the first to do something, that implies you have so many positive traits, Jones said. And thats not always the case when it comes to every lieutenant including myself. Jones and Echo Companys most senior noncommissioned officer, 1st Sgt. Paul G. Quesada, decided not to tell the unit about Hierl before her arrival. She would be treated like any other new officer. Young enlisted Marines generally view new officers with skepticism and, sometimes, hostility. New lieutenants the most junior rank of officers must prove themselves to earn respect as they navigate the pressures of a close-knit infantry company. Their jobs as platoon leaders are peculiar: They have the most responsibility in the small units but often with less experience than the corporals and sergeants whom they lead. Hierl, 24, grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and worked on a horse farm throughout high school. Before graduating, she said, she knew little about the military, but opted for the Marines because, after meeting with a recruiter for the Corps, she thought that it sounded good. I wanted to do something important with my life, she said. I wanted to be part of a group of people that would be willing to die for each other. But her recruiter advised her to go to college first, steering her toward the Corps officer ranks. In 2013, during Hierls sophomore year at the University of Southern California, Leon E. Panetta, then the defense secretary, announced that women would no longer be excluded from combat roles in the military. The directive would initially have the greatest effect on the ground warfare of the Army and the Marines, especially their infantries, which demand physical strength and endurance. The moment remains a vivid memory because, Hierl said, it had not occurred to her that her gender could have kept her from leading Marines in war. I wanted to lead a platoon, she said. I didnt think there was anything better in the Marine Corps I could do. Overall, women make up about 15 percent of the militarys 1.3 million active-duty troops. Most jobs in the Air Force and in the Navy have long been open to women except in Special Operations units, like the Navy SEALs. A small number of women have tried, but have so far been unsuccessful, in joining those elite forces. Some training courses for those units have a roughly 80 percent failure rate for all applicants. The Marine Corps, which had initially challenged the Pentagons 2013 order and was overruled, allowed women into its infantry ranks in 2015. There are 184,473 active-duty Marines, of whom 15,885 are women. Among them are 80 women serving in previously restricted combat roles. By contrast, 740 female soldiers have been allowed into previously restricted combat jobs out of the roughly 65,000 women in the Army. Fifteen women have graduated from its arduous Ranger school, including Capt. Kristen M. Griest, who became the Armys first female infantry officer in 2016. I do hope that, with our performance in Ranger school, weve been able to inform that decision as to what they can expect from women in the military, Griest said when she graduated in 2015. We can handle things physically and mentally on the same level as men. Hierl has avoided publicity and is reluctant to talk about herself. The training mission in Australia, observed by The New York Times, was the first time that a journalist has embedded with a Marine infantry unit led by a woman. But she repeatedly sidestepped interviews and spoke sparingly for this article, insisting that she instead needed to focus on her job and on the Marines under her command. But she did say that she wants to be seen by the Marines in her platoon as a leader, not as a trailblazer because of her gender. Hierls arrival to 3rd Platoon was, as some put it, strange. The platoon quickly became the punch line of what several Marines in the unit described as sexist, if unspecified, insults by others in Echo Company. But the novelty wore off, training continued and, over time, the jabs subsided. Lance Cpl. Kai Segura, 20, is among the young Marines who make up a majority of 3rd Platoon and is its frequent, if unofficial, spokesman. He was suspicious of Hierl until she led the group back from an exercise in the Mojave Desert soon after she arrived. Her seemingly casual pace turned out to be deceptively fast, forcing the other Marines into a near jog to keep up. That, Segura said, showed that her physical ability was not in question one of the many important, if sometimes peculiar, measuring sticks for a new officer. In the months that followed, Hierl earned 3rd Platoons quiet respect. With help from Staff Sgt. Jesse Rodriguez, the platoons top enlisted Marine who serves as a sounding board and a mentor, they found their footing. Shes one of us, Segura said. In April, the battalion arrived in Darwin, Australia. It was a notable change from earlier deployments over the past decade, during which the unit had fought in some of the bloodiest battles in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two months later, 3rd Platoon and the rest of Echo Company split from the rest of the battalion in the countrys south and headed to the dusty shrub of the Northern Territory for their first large field exercise in Australia. Wearing her hair in either a bun or a low braid, Hierl alternated with Rodriguez in running 3rd Platoon through the training. As Hierl issued orders against the din of rifle fire, she dropped her usually reserved, soft-spoken demeanor for a firm tone that left no doubt about who was in command. Over six days in June, Echo Company focused on a series of attack ranges. Initially broken into squads with low-level oversight, the platoons gradually came together, acting as a coordinated front of advancing troops and weapons fire. Each morning, Hierl woke before the rest of 3rd Platoon and crouched in a nearby tree line, poring over a map and a computer tablet to ensure that machine guns and mortars that were firing from the rear were angled correctly to avoid hitting the advancing Marines. Toward the end of the exercise, the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Warren Cook, and some of his staff drove three hours to the Mount Bundey Training Area from Darwin. Cook said he was there to watch the entire company, but he largely appeared focused on 3rd Platoon even as he took pains to not single out Hierl. The Marines suspected the unusual level of attention on the platoon was because of the woman in charge it was not the first time this had happened since she took command. There are two other female Marines in the battalion, both in enlisted ranks. Cook said their performance has been at least equal to that of the men. Over the next two days, Hierl led 3rd Platoon into its first attack range in Australia. Her plan: advance down a sloping hill where combat engineers would use explosives to blow a hole in a fence. From there, the Marines would move to seize a pair of wooden bunkers. On the platoons second and final run of the simulated attack, Hierl, again under the eye of senior officers, led 3rd Platoon into the draw. Armed with thousands of rounds of ammunition, the Marines pushed toward the bunkers after mortar explosions subsided and machine guns stopped firing from a nearby hill. But as the platoon closed in, the radio operator assigned to Hierl noticed the devices antenna had snapped off. Unable to communicate with her advancing squads, the lieutenant first yelled, then jogged to an approaching corporal to issue orders. Kneeling behind a tree and trying to fix the antenna, the radio operator did not realize he was no longer by Hierls side until she was hundreds of yards away. He ran toward his commander, struggling to keep up. By the end of the nearly hourlong attack, 3rd Platoon had stopped shooting and was spread out atop a hill. One of the officers monitoring the exercise threw a tear gas grenade, forcing the Marines to put on gas masks. The 38 men and one woman of 3rd Platoon were quickly indistinguishable, a kaleidoscope of green camouflage, tan bulletproof vests and black masks. One Marine struggled to put on the mask. It was not Hierl. This article originally appeared in The New York Times San Diego Crime Stoppers (SAN DIEGO) -- A rare cello worth $100,000 that was used in the soundtrack of the "Star Wars" films has been stolen from a hotel room in San Diego. The cello belongs to John Walz, the principal cellist of the LA Opera Orchestra, who returned after a dinner on Thursday night to find everything from his room gone, including his beloved instrument. Walz told ABC News the cello was custom-made for him by famed violin-maker Mario Miralles. He took it around the world for various performances and gigs, including while he was working with composer John Williams on the score of the three most recent "Star Wars" films -- "Solo: A Star Wars Story," "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" and "Rogue One." "Every musician's instrument is special to them," he said of his loss. "You spend a great deal of time finding just the right instrument for you. You spend hours and hours a day with it in your hands and making music with it. In the end, it becomes a part of you," he added. Many custom-made instruments by well-known ateliers are treated like works of art and valued at hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars, Walz said. The sale of a rare, one-of-a-kind item such as a cello would attract attention and make it difficult for burglars to find a buyer, Ken Impellizeri, detective sergeant of the San Diego Police Department, told ABC News. "There's nothing you can really do with it," he noted. Impellizeri said police had contacted the California Pawnbrokers Association and were monitoring websites such as Craigslist. Police have asked the public for assistance on finding those responsible for the burglary. Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for anyone with leads. Walz said he was in San Diego to teach at the Bravo! International Music Academy. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. This summer of fire and swelter looks a lot like the future that scientists have been warning about in the era of climate change, and it is revealing in real time how unprepared much of the world remains for life on a hotter planet. The disruptions to everyday life have been far-reaching and devastating. In California, firefighters are racing to control what has become the largest fire in state history. Harvests of staple grains like wheat and corn are expected to dip this year, in some cases sharply, in countries as different as Sweden and El Salvador. In Europe, nuclear power plants have had to shut down because the river water that cools the reactors was too warm. Heat waves on four continents have brought electricity grids crashing. And dozens of heat-related deaths in Japan this summer offered a foretaste of what researchers warn could be big increases in mortality from extreme heat. A study last month in the journal PLOS Medicine projected a fivefold rise for the United States by 2080. The outlook for less wealthy countries is worse; for the Philippines, researchers forecast 12 times more deaths. Globally, this is shaping up to be the fourth-hottest year on record. The only years hotter were the three previous ones. That string of records is part of an accelerating climb in temperatures since the start of the industrial age that scientists say is clear evidence of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. And even if there are variations in weather patterns in the coming years, with some cooler years mixed in, the trend line is clear: 17 of the 18 warmest years since modern record-keeping began have occurred since 2001. Its not a wake up call anymore, Cynthia Rosenzweig, who runs the climate impacts group at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said of global warming and its human toll. Its now absolutely happening to millions of people around the world. Be careful before you call it the new normal, though. Temperatures are still rising, and, so far, efforts to tame the heat have failed. Heat waves are bound to get more intense and more frequent as emissions rise, scientists have concluded. On the horizon is a future of cascading system failures threatening basic necessities like food supply and electricity. For many scientists, this is the year they started living climate change rather than just studying it. What were seeing today is making me, frankly, calibrate not only what my children will be living but what I will be living, what I am currently living, said Kim Cobb, a professor of earth and atmospheric science at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. We havent caught up to it. I havent caught up to it, personally. This week, she is installing sensors to measure sea level rise on the Georgia coast to help government officials manage disaster response. Katherine Mach, a Stanford University climate scientist, said something had shifted for her, too. Decades ago when the science on the climate issue was first accumulating, the impacts could be seen as an issue for others, future generations or perhaps communities already struggling, she said, adding that science had become increasingly able to link specific weather events to climate change. In our increasingly muggy and smoky discomfort, its now rote science to pinpoint how heat-trapping gases have cranked up the risks, she said. Its a shift we all are living together. Globally, the hottest year on record was 2016. That was not totally unexpected because that year there was an El Nino, the Pacific climate cycle that typically amplifies heat. More surprising, 2017, which was not an El Nino year, was almost as hot. It was the third-warmest year on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the second-warmest, according to NASA. The first half of 2018, also not marked by El Nino, was the fourth-warmest on record, NOAA found. In the lower 48 United States, the period between May and July ranked as the hottest ever, according to NOAA, with an average temperature of 70.9 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21.6 degrees Celsius, which was almost 5 percent above average. Sea levels continued their upward trajectory last year, too, rising about 3 inches, or 7.7 centimeters, higher than levels in 1993. What does all that add up to? For Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Los Angeles, it vindicates the scientific communitys mathematical models. It does not exactly bring comfort, though. We are living in a world that is not just warmer than it used to be. We havent reached a new normal, Swain cautioned. This isnt a plateau. Against that background, industrial emissions of carbon dioxide grew to record levels in 2017, after holding steady the previous three years. Carbon in the atmosphere was found to be at the highest levels in 800,000 years. Despite a global agreement in Paris two years ago to curb greenhouse gas emissions, many of the worlds biggest polluters including the United States, the only country in the world pulling out of the accord are not on track to meet the reductions targets they set for themselves. Nor have the worlds rich countries ponied up money, as promised under the Paris accord, to help the poor countries cope with the calamities of climate change. Still, scientists point out that with significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and changes to the way we live things like reducing food waste, for example warming can be slowed enough to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Some governments, national and local, are taking action. In an effort to avert heat-related deaths, officials are promising to plant more trees in Melbourne, Australia, and covering roofs with reflective white paint in Ahmedabad, India. Agronomists are trying to develop seeds that have a better shot at surviving heat and drought. Switzerland hopes to prevent railway tracks from buckling under extreme heat by painting the rails white. Climate scientists are also trying to respond faster, better. Rosenzweigs team at NASA is trying to predict how long a heat wave might last, not just how likely it is to occur, in order to help city leaders prepare. Similar efforts to forecast the distribution of extreme rainfall are aimed at helping farmers. Researchers with World Weather Attribution are working to refine their models to make them more accurate. In Europe the warming is faster than in the models, said Friederike Otto, an associate professor at Oxford University who is part of the attribution group. Her group recently concluded that a human-altered climate had more than doubled the likelihood of the record-high temperatures in northern Europe this summer. The impact of those records is being felt in multiple ways. The continents power supply is overstretched as air-conditioners are cranked up. Then, there is the impact of heat and drought on farms. In El Salvador, a country reeling from gang violence, farmers in the east of the country stared at a failed corn harvest this summer as temperatures soared to a record 107 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 41 degrees Celsius. The skies were rainless for up to 40 days in some places, according to the government. Wheat production in many countries of the European Union is set to decline this year. In Britain, wheat yields are projected to hit a five-year low. German farmers say their grain harvests are likely to be lower than normal. And in Sweden, record-high temperatures have left fields parched and farmers scrambling to find fodder for their livestock. Palle Borgstrom, president of the Federation of Swedish Farmers, said in an interview that his group estimated at least $1 billion in agricultural sector losses. We get quite a few phone calls from farmers who are lying awake at night and worrying about the situation, he said. This is an extreme situation that we havent seen before. This article originally appeared in The New York Times BUENOS AIRES, Argentina They narrowly lost the vote. But as supporters of a bill to legalize abortion in Argentina began to shake off a stinging defeat in the Senate on Thursday, they took consolation in having galvanized a reproductive-rights movement across Latin America and began to consider how to redirect their activism. A coalition of young female lawmakers who stunned the political establishment by putting abortion rights at the top of the legislative agenda this year seemed to be on the verge of a historic victory with the bill. But intense lobbying by Catholic Church leaders and staunch opposition in conservative northern provinces persuaded enough senators to vote against it. After a 17-hour hearing, the bill was defeated early Thursday by a vote of 38-31, with two abstentions. We will no longer be silent and we wont let them win, said Jimena Del Potro, a 33-year-old designer who fought back tears as she spoke. Abortion will be legal soon. Very soon. Despite the setback, many proponents marveled that Argentine lawmakers had come so close to passing the measure, which would have allowed abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and fractured the near-total prohibition on abortion in Latin America. The measure had already been approved in the lower chamber of Congress. Current law allows abortions only in cases of rape or when a mothers life is in danger. The bill energized hundreds of thousands of demonstrators across Argentina in a womens rights movement known as Ni Una Menos Not One Less and enthused women from Brazil to Mexico. What Argentina did was mobilize young women and create the memory that we almost won, said Debora Diniz, an anthropologist at the University of Brasilia who helped write a petition now before Brazils Supreme Court that challenges the constitutionality of its anti-abortion laws. They changed the way we talk about abortion, Diniz said. Its not just feminists, intellectuals. Its young women, your daughter, your sister. Ninety-seven percent of Latin American women live in countries that ban abortion or allow it only in rare instances. Only Uruguay, Cuba, Guyana and Mexico City allow any woman to have an early-term abortion. Abortion rights was a priority and it will be deeply discouraging to have come this far and fail, said Benjamin Gedan, an Argentina expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. But he said womens rights advocates already had achieved successes, such as the passage of a law that seeks to have an equal number of male and female lawmakers. If we make a list of the things weve gained and the things weve lost, the list of things weve gained is much bigger, said Edurne Cardenas, a lawyer at the Center for Legal and Social Studies, a human rights group in Argentina that favors legal abortion. Sooner or later, this will be law. President Mauricio Macri of Argentina opposed the bill, but said he would have signed it. After the vote, administration officials said they planned to ease abortion penalties in an overhaul of the penal code that will be presented Aug. 21. Women getting abortions can be charged with a crime and imprisoned under the current law, although that happens very rarely. The penal code changes had been in the works for some time, but they appeared to reflect Macris realization that the reproductive-rights movement in Argentina was now an established force. The womens movement mobilized all regions of Argentina; it was intergenerational and exceeded everybodys expectations, said Francoise Girard, the president of the International Womens Health Coalition, which supports legal abortion. The new generation of teenage girls who came out in such numbers will not be stopped. The organized movement that pushed the bill started in 2015 with the brutal murder of a pregnant 14-year-old girl by her teenage boyfriend. Her mother claimed the boyfriends family didnt want her to have the baby. A journalist, Marcela Ojeda, despairing over yet another womans violent death, posted a tweet: Arent we going to raise our voice? Theyre killing us. Her anger struck a chord. Within weeks, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched across Argentina, after organizing on social media around the hashtag #NiUnaMenos. The slogan spread to neighboring countries, including Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia, where it was used to denounce violence against women, demand reproductive rights and draw attention to related causes. Analysts said the movements improbable rise already had begun to change the region in ways that would have been impossible just years ago. The campaign is credited with inspiring debate on a variety of womens issues, including domestic violence, a subject that has long been taboo. Ahead of the vote, supporters rallied in Uruguay, Brazil and neighboring Chile, where they gathered in front of the Argentine Embassy in Santiago, chanting and wearing the green handkerchiefs that symbolized the movement. Many coupled their disappointment at the outcome in Argentina with optimism. When you undergo a process like this, you must keep fighting, said Susana Chavez, an activist in Lima, Peru, who directs the Center for the Promotion and Defense of Sexual and Reproductive Rights, a nongovernmental group. She said activists were already planning a march in Lima on Saturday. The abortion debate in Mexico has been accompanied by a public outcry over violence against women and a renewed push for gender equality, led mostly by womens and human rights groups. Last fall, protests under the Ni Una Menos banner in at least five Mexican cities demanded an end to violence against women. The protests were a response to the rape and murder of Mara Castillo, a college student, after a taxi ride in the city of Puebla. In El Salvador, which bans abortion under all circumstances, two bills were proposed in Congress this spring that were pushed by womens rights groups and their allies, opening debate on the issue for the first time. For Argentina, the debate over abortion tugged at the countrys sense of self. It is the birthplace of Pope Francis, the leader of the worlds Catholics, who recently denounced abortion as the white glove equivalent of the Nazi-era eugenics program. But the country in recent years has inched away from a close church-state relationship. In 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to allow gay couples to wed a move the church fought with a vigor similar to its battle against abortion. Francis, then the archbishop of Buenos Aires, called that bill a destructive attack on Gods plan. The church had many allies in the abortion debate, including women who spent hours outside Congress in the Argentine winter cold as the debate got underway Wednesday night. Many expressed relief at the result. It was a very emotional day, said Maria Curutchet, a 34-year-old lawyer. We were out in huge numbers and showed that we will defend the two lives, no matter the cost. Some prominent female political leaders also came out against the measure, including Vice President Gabriela Michetti. But Macris health minister, Adolfo Rubinstein, testified in Congress in favor of legalization and estimated that some 354,000 clandestine abortions are carried out every year in the country. Complications as a result of those abortions are the single leading cause of maternal deaths in the country, according to Mariana Romero, a researcher at the Center for the Study of State and Society, a nonprofit organization. While the measure failed in the Senate, it made some inroads. Among the senators who voted for it was Cristina Fernandez, who as president had opposed legalizing abortion. The ones who made me change my mind were the thousands and thousands of girls who took to the streets, she said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times WASHINGTON - A federal judge has found a witness in contempt for refusing to testify before the grand jury hearing evidence in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. U.S. District Chief Judge Beryl Howell made the ruling Friday after a sealed hearing to discuss Andrew Miller's refusal to appear before the grand jury. Miller is a former aide to longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone. Miller's lawyer Paul Kamenar said after the hearing that Miller was "held in contempt, which we asked him to be in order for us to appeal the judge's decision to the court of appeals." Howell stayed her order while Miller's legal team appeals the judge's decision. Now Playing: Rudy Giuliani says President Trump's attorneys are reluctant to have him face questions from special counsel Robert Mueller about obstruction of justice! Video: Buzz 60 Miller lost a court battle earlier this month to quash a subpoena, after Howell issued a 93-page opinion saying Miller must testify before the grand jury. Kamenar said he believes Miller's challenge could ultimately rise to the Supreme Court. Now Playing: Roger Stone, political operative with ties to the Trump campaign is the guest at January's Tiger Bay Club event. Video: Orlando Sentinel "None of these questions are easy," the lawyer said, adding that the appeal was designed to challenge the constitutionality of Mueller's appointment, not slow or obstruct the investigation. Separately, another Stone associate, Randy Credico, said Friday that he had received a subpoena to testify before the grand jury Sept. 7 and did not plan to fight it. Stone has claimed that in 2016 Credico was a conduit to Julian Assange, founder of the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. A hearing transcript from June 18 shows Miller was subpoenaed for information about Stone as well as key figures in the 2016 hacking of the Democratic National Committee, and the public release of Democrats' emails during the campaign. According to that transcript, the subpoena seeks information from Miller about WikiLeaks and Assange. WikiLeaks published large volumes of hacked Democrats' emails during the campaign. The subpoena also seeks information about Guccifer 2.0 and DCLeaks. Investigators say both were online fronts invented by Russian intelligence operatives to spread the hacked documents. DCLeaks was a website that posted hacked emails of current and former U.S. officials and political aides, while Guccifer 2.0 claimed to be a Romanian hacker. Miller had asked for "some grant of immunity" regarding financial transactions involving political action committees for which he assisted Stone, according to Alicia Dearn, an attorney for Miller. On that issue, Miller "would be asserting" his Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer questions, Dearn said. As for the hacking and WikiLeaks questions, Dearn said at the hearing, "we don't believe he has any information" about those topics. Court filings unsealed Friday show Miller was first subpoenaed in June to testify at the end of that month, setting off months of legal jousting. At the June 18 hearing, Dearn said that while she believes Miller is "innocent of any wrongdoing, I don't want my client to step into something that might be happening." She said she was concerned he could lose or waive his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination by answering investigators' questions. Prosecutors called it contradictory for Miller's lawyers to claim, on the one hand, that he knew nothing of value and participated in no illegal activity, and simultaneously claim an unspecified Fifth Amendment concern. Aaron Zelinsky, one of Mueller's prosecutors, said at the hearing that Miller sat for a brief FBI interview without raising such concerns, and had planned to meet with prosecutors for an informal interview without any proffer for immunity - as would normally be the process - before Dearn's appearance in the case. At the time, Miller was complying with a subpoena for records, according to the transcript. Dearn said Miller found thousands of documents, many of which were emails received to Stone's website, which Miller had forwarded to him to respond to booking requests. Dearn said Miller worked with Stone very little in 2015 and 2016, but continued to receive forwarded emails now subject to prosecutors subpoena. "There may be responsive documents, but it's not that he is still working for Mr. Stone," Dearn said. Peter Flaherty, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative nonprofit that is funding Miller's legal fight, said Miller is in Missouri. Earlier in the day, Kamenar and Flaherty were seen entering Howell's courtroom before she sealed it, and declined to comment on the proceeding. Kamenar spoke afterward, confirming it was a hearing held after prosecutors filed a motion to find the witness in contempt. When a subpoenaed witness refuses to testify before a grand jury, that person can be held in contempt. In some cases, such a contempt finding can lead to a witness being sent to jail until the person agrees to testify. Mueller is investigating whether any of Trump's associates conspired with Russia's efforts to influence the election. Stone has faced scrutiny in part because of a series of public statements and tweets he made during the 2016 campaign appearing to suggest he had advance knowledge of the hacked emails released by WikiLeaks. The emails' publication embarrassed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and helped disrupt the race. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the Russian government was behind the hacking of the material from the Democratic Party and the personal email account of Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta. A grand jury indicted 12 Russian military officers in July for orchestrating the hacks. Miller worked for Stone during the 2016 presidential campaign, handling duties such as setting up media interviews. He is one of at least a half-dozen of Stone's associates to be called to testify. Others include his driver, John Kakanis, and a social media consultant, Jason Sullivan. Kristin Davis, who gained notoriety in the 2000s as the "Manhattan Madam" when she ran a high-end prostitution ring, is also expected to testify to the grand jury. Stone has accused Mueller's team of harassing his associates. LONDON, ENGLAND In the City of Westminster, a block from St. James Palace, is Berry Bros. & Rudd, the oldest wine and spirit merchant in Great Britain. The multi-story brick building at 3 St. James St., where the business was founded in 1698, has been a brothel and a notorious gambling den, while the courtyard out back was the venue in centuries past for bear-baiting, cock-fighting and Londons last public duel. The exiled Napoleon III lived in the building while plotting a return to Paris. In more recent years, relatively speaking, Berry Bros. & Rudd rented out an upper floor of the old building to another questionable tenant, a gaggle of Texans. From 1842 to 1845, the space above the shop was the Embassy of the Republic of Texas. READ MORE: Junior was one of many roadside attractions on the classic family car trip Visiting daughter Rachel in Ely, the small town near Cambridge where shes lived for several years, I knew I had to make my Lone Star London pilgrimage when the TV mysteriously came to life one afternoon a few days ago during a cooking show. Featured was London chef James Martin, who was preparing fried chicken, Texas-style, at South Fork Ranch, J.R. Ewings fictional spread near Plano. Martins dish, marinated in a concoction of butter milk, mustard and a garlic the size of a peach, looked really good, although its so hot over here this summer that a cold chicken salad would have been more appropriate. I could argue, I suppose, that the Texas-style heat (minus the Texas-style air conditioning) is apt, since our ties to the Brits are long and deep. According to the Handbook of Texas, the first Englishmen arrived on our shores in the 16th century, although not of their own choosing. They were three seamen set adrift by English slave trader and naval commander John Hawkins near Tampico, Mexico, after a battle with the Spanish at Veracruz. In the spirit of peripatetic Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca, the seamen, David Ingram, Richard Twide and Richard Browne, allegedly walked across what would become South Texas as they trudged northward in 1568. Scattered English farmers and businessmen may have settled in Texas by 1800, and at least six Englishmen were awarded empresario contracts in the 1820s. None succeeded in enticing families to their would-be colonies, but in the 1830s, several Englishmen tried again, with limited success. John Charles Bealess ill-fated Rio Grande Colony included a few English families, as did the Peters Colony on the Red River in 1841. An Englishman named William Kennedy failed to fulfill a contract to bring 600 families to Texas, but others arrived after reading his book, Texas: The Rise, Progress, and Prospects of the Republic of Texas (1841). Meanwhile, the progress and prospects of the struggling, young Republic were very much in question. In an effort to build international support for the new nation, President Sam Houston dispatched Dr. Ashbel Smith, a distinguished physician who served as secretary of state, to be ambassador to the Court of St. James. England voiced concerns to Smith about slavery in Texas and the potential threat to British trading partner, Mexico, if the United States annexed the Republic, as was widely expected. England could see the two countries going to war over Texas, the U.S. vanquishing Mexico and likely seizing even more of the nations northern reaches. READ MORE: Former Texas inmates story proves to be a page turner In 1842, a representative of the British government came up with a couple of proposals for the Texans: Abolish slavery and well reimburse you for whatever abolition costs you. Or, if you dont cotton to that idea, how bout this: Divide Texas at the Colorado River into two states. Eastern Texas can be slave-holding, western Texas free-soil. As historian J.L. Worley told the story in a July 1905 edition of the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, an anti-slavery convention met in London in the summer of 1843, with the subject of slavery in Texas on the agenda. Houston attorney J.P. Andrews spoke in favor of abolition, but Ambassador Smith told Prime Minister Aberdeen that the Houstonian in no sense represented the people of Texas. Smith explained to Lord Aberdeen that it would be impossible for Texas to accept any sort of a British subsidy for the abolition of slavery without a greater sacrifice of national dignity than she was willing to make. Texas dignity may have remained intact, but Worley theorized that those tentative probings and discussion about abolition in the fledgling Republic hastened American annexation. READ MORE: A daughter of the King Ranch recalls a Triple Crown British interests did not wane after Texas became the largest state in the union. By the late 1880s, British investors directly controlled more than 20 million acres of Panhandle ranch land, including the famed XIT Ranch. Concerned that foreign interests were monopolizing Texas lands, populist Gov. James Stephen Hogg signed the Alien Land Law, which prohibited non-Americans from owning land unless they became U.S. citizens. Even though the law was later modified and did not prohibit land ownership by foreign corporations, British investments declined as the 19th century became the 20th. You could argue, though, that the British left their mark on the states proud ranching heritage. Barbed wire. Steel windmills. Deep water wells. Improved breeds of cattle. The Brits take credit. Back on St. James Street, a block away from the Tudor palace King Henry VIII built on the site of a leper colony in 1531, Texas diplomats found themselves superfluous after 1845. They shuttered the legation, maybe drank a toast to Texas at Berry Bros. & Rudd and headed home. They also stiffed their wine-merchant landlord for 160 pounds. READ MORE: A daughter of the King Ranch recalls a Triple Crown A bourbon whiskey on the Berry Bros. & Rudd shelves called The Texas Legation commemorates the brief Texan presence on St. James Street, if not the ignominious exit. So does a gold-plated plaque in the alley beside the wine shop. Receptionist Emma Rogers told Rachel and me earlier this week that Texans now and then make the pilgrimage to 3 St. James Street, among them a youngster who made a rubbing of the plaque recently for his Texas history class. During the Texas Sesquicentennial in 1986, 26 buckskin-attired members of the now- defunct Anglo-Texan Society visited Berry Brothers & Rudd with the express purpose of restoring the Lone Star States credit-worthy reputation. Society members whose founding president, by the way, was the esteemed novelist Graham Greene settled with great flourish the long-standing debt. Knowing that our fiscal sin had been absolved, we two Texans stood a little taller this week when we opened the heavy wooden doors at 3 St. James Street and stepped inside history, history as rich and venerable as a bottle of vintage red residing on a cellar shelf below the sloping wooden floor at our feet. A bit later in the day, Rachel and I drank a toast to Texas, of course, and to bills paid, eventually. djholley10@gmail.com Twitter: holleynews Controversy is a part of art, and for Texas art teacher Stacey Bailey, that statement is all too true. In September 2017 Bailey was allegedly barred from her classroom at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School in Arlington, Texas after a parent complained she was pushing her "homosexual agenda" on her students. Bailey claims she had shown her students a photo of her and her wife's fish costumes from the Disney movie "Finding Nemo," which elicited the initial complaint from parents. READ THE STORY: See the photo of a Texas teacher and her wife she showed before being barred from the classroom When she taught her students about gay artist Jasper Johns, she said parents complained again, resulting in Bailey being placed on administrative leave. Nearly a year after dealing with the stress and frustration of being removed from her classroom and hindered from sharing her passion for art with her young students, Bailey is back in the classroom. According to the Star-Telegram, Bailey will be stating the new academic year Mansfield's Lake Ridge High School and will be teaching 9th through 12-grade students instead of elementary age students. Bailey's attorney, Jason Smith told the publication that the new position was meant to frustrate Bailey and encourage her to resign, and will come with a "greater workload" and a "learning curve" since she only has experience with elementary students. Mansfield High School released a statement saying it had "concluded its internal investigation and that she reported for work this week along with all the other teachers in the district." The year begins Aug. 15, and Bailey will continue to teach despite pending federal lawsuit filed by Bailey for loss of earning capacity, mental anguish, emotional pain, and suffering, lost employment benefits, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, damage to professional reputation and other damages. Take a look through the gallery above to see the photo of Bailey and her wife that allegedly caused a complaint. Daniela Sternitzky- Di Napoli is a digital producer covering Texas news and pop culture. | Daniela.DiNapoli@chron.com | @Dani_DiNapoli Hewing to the Trump administration's key talking points about fortifying the border, dismantling international crime rings and banning sanctuary cities, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions told federal prosecutors and law enforcement officers in Houston Friday he had their backs and urged the public to support what he called "common sense" measures to reduce gang violence. "This should be obvious: if we want to reduce violent crime we should reduce illegal immigrant crime," Sessions said. "If you're not prepared to lock up dangerous criminals to protect the public, you're not fulfilling your responsibility." Now Playing: U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited Houston Friday to outline his goals for combating violent crime. Video: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle Sessions said the Justice Department as part of a hiring increase is adding more than a dozen new prosecutors in the Southern District of Texas, which includes a major seaport and a bustling international border. The attorney general declined to take any questions about a federal judge threatening to cite him for contempt for attempting to separate immigrant families seeking asylum, concerns about his "zero tolerance" policy or the chilling effect that anti-sanctuary-city legislation may have on witnesses coming forward to report crime in their neighborhoods. Erica Grieder at HoustonChronicle.com: Children are paying price for Jeff Sessions' crackdown on immigration Also at HoustonChronicle.com: Sessions needs to learn how to count crimes (Editorial) U.S. Rep. John Culberson did not occupy a seat set aside for him, but Sessions lauded the Republican's support in Congress for such measures and celebrated the the work of Rep. Lamar Smith, a fellow GOP congressman. Also absent was U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick, who was on vacation. Local U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur, whose daughter Sarah Isgur Flores runs Sessions' press office, watched from the front row. A couple dozen protesters representing Fiel, Black Lives Matter Houston, Refuse Fascism and other local groups assembled outside the Wells Fargo tower on Louisiana Street chanting "Immigrants are welcome here" and rallying against a proposed detention center in Houston for unaccompanied minors. AT THE BORDER: Sessions orders 'zero tolerance' policy to prosecute migrants In his remarks, the attorney general drew a connection between unlawful entries and rising crime. Sessions said large numbers of MS-13 gang members endanger cities like Houston, Los Angeles and New York, leading to brutal homicides in which undocumented immigrants have been implicated. He cited as examples the 99-year sentence this week for an MS-13 member in the homicide death of 28-year-old Hector Daniel Diaz in southwest Houston in 2015 and the slayings of a teenager in Jersey Village. He also mentioned a suspected gang member facing the death penalty on allegations he ordered from jail the death of another teenwho was a witness in his casein a Fort Bend park. Getting serious about crime, he said, means cutting off sanctuary cities. He cheered an appeals court for upholding SB 4, the Texas law that garnered national interest in local governments and police tackling the work of federal immigration officers. Sessions also denounced protesters and politicians who speak ill of federal agents at Homeland Security and ICE. Among the small crowd outside the event protesting was Cesar Espinosa, executive director of Fiel. Espinosa said Sessions is scapegoating immigrants despite studies that show undocumented immigrants commit crimes at a lesser rate than people born in the U.S. He also said the attorney general is peddling a double narrative about MS-13. "He spoke about how dangerous MS-13 is today, but a couple of weeks ago he talked about how people fleeing from MS-13 could not apply for asylum because it's not a big deal," Espinosa said. "If it's dangerous, he should allow them to seek asylum in the United States." Gabrielle Banks covers federal court and the Justice Department for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com. The board of the county's safety-net hospital district voted Thursday to wind down its existing contract with its two Houston medical school partners, a hugely disruptive action if the three institutions can't agree on a new deal. The trustee vote terminates the contract over a five-year period, during which time the Harris Health System and Baylor College of Medicine and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth will work to negotiate a new one, said Harris Health CEO George Masi. Weve been operating and negotiating based on a contract, developed more than 25 years ago, thats lost its relevance given the changes in health care in recent years, Masi said. Its better to clear the deck no harm comes to anyone in the short run and start anew. Masi said the action was not cataclysmic but acknowledged it puts pressure on the schools to negotiate because its now a time-sensitive issue. He said Harris Health has felt most of the pain under the existing contract. The three institutions had been in talks and negotiations for the past 18 months. Masi said it had it become obvious we werent making the kind of progress we needed to be making. Under the agreement, Baylor doctors staff Ben Taub and McGovern doctors staff Lyndon B. Johnson, Harris Healths two large acute-care hospitals. The hospitals also provide the most important training ground for the schools residents and medical students. Baylor and Ben Taub have been partners since 1966, McGovern and LBJ since 1990. Surprisingly, there was little official reaction at the two schools, just emails to the campus communities announcing Harris Healths action and putting a positive face on it. The Baylor email was signed by Masi and Dr. Paul Klotman, president of Baylor College of Medicine. We intend to begin work on a new agreement as quickly as possible and pledge to continue the delivery of high quality care to all our patients, the letter said. In addition, we will together sustain ongoing support of training of medical and health professions students as well as our residents and fellows. Dr. Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, president of UTHealth, assured employees UTHealth is still operating under the provisions of the current contract and doesnt anticipate any immediate changes for its faculty physicians and trainees. We will continue to work closely with Harris Health and Baylor as we redefine our partnership and seek to create a new affiliation agreement and service contract, wrote Colasurdo. We remain committed to providing exceptional health care to the Houston community, and the very best training opportunities to our students and residents. Neither president responded to Chronicle interview requests. It is unclear whose doctors Harris Health would tap and where Baylors and McGoverns would go if the parties cant agree on a new deal. The schools provide 2,200 credentialed doctors, not including residents, who provide care at Ben Taub, LBJ and Harris Health clinics around the county. The University of Houston wants to open a medical college in fall 2020, but it still must be approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the state Legislature and accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. It would also take years for it to build a large clinical staff. But Masi said Harris Health did not rule out the idea that a third medical school could enter the mix at some point. Going forward, its an open question: Whats in the best interest of the patients we serve and the taxpayers of Harris County if there were other providers who wanted to participate? he said. Wed certainly want to keep an open mind toward that. Masi said the existing contract prohibits the addition of another medical school. That couldnt happen until it expires. Masi added that theres no incentive to let the existing contract run out in five years and said hes hopeful Harris Health, Baylor and UTHealth will come to a new agreement. We greatly value UT and Baylor, whove been great partners, Masi said. There has been no shortcoming on the part of the schools. The shortcoming is an arcane and byzantine contract that serves no ones interest. todd.ackerman@chron.com twitter.com/chronmed Now Playing: Authorities are interviewing witnesses but do not yet have a suspect, police said. Video: METRO Video A man was shot and another was assaulted during an attempted robbery at an apartment complex in southwest Houston on Thursday. Houston police received a call around 9:20 p.m. about a shooting at a residence at 9404 Beechnut near the Bellaire Chinatown. A retired Dallas-area school administrator accused of sexually assaulting several teenage students will not be serving jail time. David Paul Green, 70, pleaded guilty to five counts of injury to a child and received probation in a plea agreement with prosecutors, reported the Dallas Morning News. Green taught at St. Anthony School in Carrollton, a private school for children with learning disabilities. The ex-school administrator helped found the school in 1998 until his retirement in 2010. Green was accused of sexually assaulting several boys between 2000 and 2006. He allegedly supplied his victims with alcohol, showed them pornographic movies and gave out cash which one victim felt was hush money. ICYMI: Texas police accuse woman of falsifying report of sexual assault by cop impersonator The ex-school administrator was arrested in 2014 after three former students complained about the alleged sexual assault when they were between the ages of 14 and 16. In court documents viewed by the Star-Telegram, Green purportedly gave special attention to a 15-year-old boy with a learning disability to gain his trust. Court documents detailed that "Green began to escalate into increasingly aggressive physical sexual overtures," eventually taking the teenager to his home to sexually assault. Green was given deferred adjudication probation for 10 years and could be supervised for the rest of his life. Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93 AUSTIN Texas needs to find up to $3.2 billion in the next three years to provide special education services to students who were previously denied them. A 2016 Houston Chronicle investigation and a subsequent federal audit found that the Texas Education Agency illegally set up an 8.5 percent benchmark, or de-facto cap, on the number of students receiving special education services. The cap was in place for more than a decade, and was well below the national average of 13 percent. In eliminating that cap, state officials estimate that it will cost the state billions of dollars to provide special education services to an additional 189,000 students who need them. DENIED: How Texas keeps tens of thousands of children out of special education The state legislature eliminated caps on special education services last year, and the federal government is requiring school districts to evaluate special needs students and offer compensatory services. As more students are identified, the state will have to pay for those resources. TEA officials told a group of lawmakers Thursday that it estimates the state will need an additional $682 million for special education services in fiscal year 2019, an additional $1 billion in 2020 and $1.55 billion in 2021. That's more than $3.2 billion in the next three years. "The truth is that children with disabilities have borne the brunt of spending cuts in special education, early childhood intervention and Medicaid for many years," said Cheryl Fries, a co-founder of the Texans for Special Education Reform and a parent of a child with disabilities. "Though the price of providing those services sounds high, the cost of not providing them over the long run is much higher to society, both fiscally and morally." It's potentially a staggering new cost for a state that has cut its share of education spending over the past decade, and it will throw a wrench in lawmakers' budget plans for next year. The legislature is already grappling with major obligations such as paying more than $2.2 billion for Hurricane Harvey recovery and a $2.5 billion Medicaid bill. TEA spokeswoman Lauren Callahan said the agency will have a better grasp on projected costs after school districts submit their enrollment numbers to the state in October. In the 2017-2018 school year, the state budgeted $5.1 billion to provide special education services to 477,281 students, or 9.2 percent of all students, state records show. School districts expect more special education costs, too The percentage of students receiving special education is expected to climb to nearly 12.3 percent by 2021. "Until we have real enrollment numbers, they are going to remain estimated costs," Callahan said. Steven Aleman, a policy specialist with Disability Rights Texas, said it's difficult to know for sure how many more students will be eligible to receive special education costs, but he is certain the number will grow. The organization was one of the first to raise concerns about the cap. "We will trust that lawmakers will take seriously their duty to provide adequate resources for each eligible student with a disability a quality education," Aleman said. TEA has already committed more than $200 million over the next five years to increase school monitoring, hire more staff and increase family engagement as part of a federally-mandated action plan. The state is now hiring more staff members to put its plan in place. The newly-released estimates do not include the costs for students who will receive compensatory resources after being wrongly denied special education in the past. Even if the state finds and approves the $3.2 billion in additional special education funding for districts, Guy Sconzo, former Humble ISD superintendent and executive director of the Coalition for Fast-Growth School Districts, said it won't be enough to cover all the expenses school districts will face in expanding their special education programs. Texas does not cover the cost of educating each special education student, Sconzo said, leaving districts to make up the difference. Then there will be additional costs associated with hiring notoriously hard-to-find special education teachers and auxiliary staff members including speech pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists. Schools will also likely need to create more classroom space that can accommodate special education students. "All it does is it places another layer on local school districts, forcing them to either cut budgets to accommodate the changes or turn to local taxpayers and ask for more in local property taxes, which no one wants, including the Legislature," Sconzo said. "But every time the Legislature doesn't fund what they should be funding, there's no other place to get the money." But Daniel McIlduff, assistant superintendent for educational support services at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, said his district has already received some additional federal grant funds from the TEA. The district has not yet hired any additional staff members because he does not know how many eligible students will come forward when school starts on Aug. 27. "At this point, no one has a crystal ball or knows what this will look like year one, year two or year three," McIlduff said. "Are we preparing campuses? Absolutely, we're training people on how to handle parent requests. But we don't know what will happen until we get into this process." The $3.2 billion projections were presented to a group of lawmakers and education officials examining education finance reform. Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston and the Chair of the House Public Education Committee, said he has asked TEA to "give us backup, show how you got this number." Leo Lopez, TEA's chief school finance officer, said the department estimated the increase in special education enrollment based on "conversations with our TEA staff, and what they are seeing in the field." "Then we ran those increase percentages though our state funding model," Lopez said. Among the students denied special education services was Roanin Walker, whose mother, Heidi, pulled him out of Humble ISD schools after officials refused to evaluate him two years ago. Heidi now home-schools the 9-year-old and has noticed vast improvement in her sensory-sensitive son's behavior. Still, he has anxiety from his time in school, when he was suspended multiple times for outbursts and labeled as a trouble-maker by teachers. She has no plans to allow Roanin to return to public schools, especially after speaking with parents who say they are still fighting to get resources for their autistic children. "I don't think they're equipped to deal with him," Walker said. "I'm not going to gamble his emotional health on whether the school will do what's right, especially when you still hear about what's happening." *** Four people who survived a deadly fire at Iconic Village Apartments in San Marcos have joined a lawsuit accusing the owner and managers of allowing unsafe conditions in their building. Benjamin Munoz, Abril Cardenas, Christina Martinez and Pablo Torres, all tenants at Iconic Village, are suing San Marcos Green Investors LLC, the company that owns the apartments; Elevate Multifamily LLC, the property management company; and Deborah Jones, the manager of the complex. They joined a suit filed in Travis County last month by Phillip Miranda, the father of James Miranda, one of five people found dead after the July 20 fire. The suit claims the building lacked adequate safety equipment, including a fire sprinkler system, and failed to warn tenants of hidden dangers. It also claims smoke detectors did not activate when the blaze started about 4:30 a.m., failing to alert residents and guests to evacuate the apartments. James Miranda, 23, of Mount Pleasant and the four other victims who died had been living or staying in second-floor apartments at Building 500, where the fire started. The others were Dru Estes, 20, of San Antonio; Haley Frizzell, 19, of San Angelo; Belinda Moats, 21, of Big Wells; and David Ortiz, 21, of Pasadena. The survivors now suing also lived in Building 500 and were injured while trying to escape the inferno. The fire and smoke damaged two other adjacent structures Building 300 at Iconic Village and an apartment building at Vintage Pads, another complex. More than 200 people were displaced. Iconic Village, located two blocks from Texas State University, was heavily populated by students, and three of the five people killed were students. A massive investigation of the fire continues. Officials say they have determined where the fire started, but havent disclosed it. Munoz and Cardenas, who lived together, woke up around 4:30 a.m. to find Building 500 engulfed in flames. Both had to leap out of their apartments second-story window. Munoz shattered a bone in his foot and suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle. Cardenas was also injured. After surviving the life-threatening ordeal, the couple got engaged while he was hospitalized. A 2014 inspection of Iconic Village by the San Marcos Fire Marshals Office indicated there was an inadequate number of smoke detectors, noting that they are required on every floor, every bedroom and every access way to a bedroom. That problem apparently was corrected four months later, according to city records. That inspection took place before Elevate began managing that property and Vintage Pads in June 2017, a spokesman for Elevate has said. After the fire, a news release from the city of San Marcos said battery-powered smoke alarms had been installed in each apartment as required by law. The property management company provided records to the city indicating the alarms had recently been inspected. Still, a number of survivors said they did not hear smoke detectors go off in their apartments. Elevate did not respond to an email seeking comment about the lawsuit. The company previously noted it doesnt comment on litigation. San Marcos city officials also said the complex wasnt required to have a sprinkler system because it was built in 1970, before the fire code mandated that safety equipment. Buildings only have to be retrofitted with sprinklers if they are substantially remodeled. The surviving plaintiffs are seeking costs related to their injuries and damages, while Mirandas father, who lives in Arkansas, is seeking a wrongful death judgment. The plaintiffs are asking for more than $1 million. The Houston-based law firm Arnold & Itkin is representing the plaintiffs. Staff Writer Peggy OHare contributed to this story. fsabawi@mysa.com ROAD WORK AHEAD Beto O'Rourke is covering 250 miles a day to win over rural Texans. Is he winning or just wasting time? ROAD WORK AHEAD Beto O'Rourke is covering 250 miles a day to win over rural Texans. Is he winning or just wasting time? EL PASO Beto O'Rourke likes to tell the story of a campaign stop in Archer City, a highway junction of about 1,750 souls on the north central plains that was portrayed as a dying Texas town in "The Last Picture Show." On his way to a town hall at Murn's Cafe, O'Rourke says a local approached him with a picture of his dad posing with Lyndon Johnson in 1948. As far as anyone could recall, LBJ's stop he landed in a helicopter in front of the courthouse was the last time a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate had campaigned there. O'Rourke's visit came during a sweep of all 254 counties in Texas over the past year. Many of the miles were clocked in a white Dodge Grand Caravan. It was a trip that would have been easy to dismiss as a one-time campaign stunt. But this month, he was back in rural West Texas as he launched a 34-day road trip across the state. It's a new playbook, born of Democratic futility in Texas. The first three days of O'Rourke's journey took him 765 zig-zagging miles from a friendly, Latin-flavored send-off in downtown El Paso to sparsely-attended stops in gun-friendly Republican strongholds like Muleshoe, in Bailey County, where he would get quizzed by skeptical locals about the Second Amendment. The time and effort the El Paso congressman is investing in small-town Texas has become a hallmark of his small-dollar, no-PAC campaign to unseat incumbent GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, a former presidential candidate and conservative icon who won the state by 16 points in 2012. It also represents a quantum shift in Democratic strategy in the Lone Star State, which has always relied on running up the numbers in the large urban enclaves of Austin, Houston and San Antonio. The desolate cow towns that dot the state's vast expanses make wonderful backdrops for homey political campaigns, but the resources O'Rourke is throwing at his statewide strategy suggest that it's about more than creating a Norman Rockwell tableau. Democrats acknowledge that O'Rourke may not win over conservative rural voters in Archer County, near the Oklahoma state line, but he might be able to wrangle a few more votes here and there, enough to make a difference in a race that some polls say has tightened into single digits. "You can't get beat 80-20 in Brownwood, Texas, and get elected to the United States Senate," said former Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro, the last Democrat to win statewide office in 1994. "You have to show people that you are culturally attuned to them, and for Beto that should be easy. There's nobody more Texan than Beto O'Rourke." CASH FLOW: O'Rourke vs. Cruz draws millions in contributions from outside of Texas Baptized Robert Francis O'Rourke, he acquired the nickname Beto as a child. It's short for Roberto in Spanish, a language he speaks fluently. Beto rolls off the tongue in both languages more easily than O'Rourke, and is easier to spell. In a state where Democrats still struggle to mobilize the 40 percent of the population that's Hispanic, it comes as little surprise that O'Rourke campaigns simply as Beto. But his road trip is aimed at a broader audience than the state's burgeoning Latino population. In scarlet-red Texas, he knows he needs to make inroads among centrists, independents and maybe even a few moderate Republicans in places like King County, population 282. Sitting halfway between Fort Worth and Lubbock, 94 percent of the votes cast there helped make Donald Trump president in 2016. Tomorrow morning, we're kicking off our grassroots drive across Texas! Hope to see you during the first few days in: El Paso Fort Davis Fort Stockton Pecos Odessa Seminole Lubbock Muleshoe Amarillo Full list of dates & locations https://t.co/Rc3oSGCiTa Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) July 29, 2018 Solidifying O'Rourke's grassroots chops are the 215,714 mostly small-dollar contributions in the last quarter that helped him raise $10.4 million, more than double the $4.6 million raised by Cruz during the same period. It was the fourth reporting period in which O'Rourke outraised the heavily favored Cruz, garnering his upstart campaign a lot of national buzz. All the same, O'Rourke's long-shot quest to scavenge votes in the state's most solidly Republican strongholds has its skeptics. "You don't have all the time and money in the world," said Texas GOP strategist Brendan Steinhauser, who has done campaign work for former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. "You're looking at winning a statewide election in Texas, and some 8 million people are going to vote, more or less. How is it an efficient use of your scarce time and money to travel to small towns ... to pick up five votes here or 10 votes there? The voters, especially Democratic voters, are still in the cities." O'Rourke's answer is that the old playbook hasn't been working. "You've got this history where a Democrat hasn't won statewide in more than 20 years," said campaign spokesman Chris Evans. "You kind of got this question: What hasn't been going right?" So on July 29, with 100 days left before the election, O'Rourke embarked on a new journey that is to cover miles and miles of Texas. Day 1: Not a time to fear one another The sun rises at 6:23 a.m. Jesus Valdez is there to greet it with a mournful blow on a ram's horn from a promontory above the city. As Valdez and his family pray, the twinkling expanse of streetlights gives way to a brightening skyscape of yellow, orange and red. O'Rourke often says that Texas is less a conservative state than a non-voting state. Valdez is a case in point, a Mexican-born, Spanish-speaking avatar of the challenge O'Rourke faces over the next 100 days. Valdez doesn't know Beto O'Rourke, and he does not make it a practice to vote or take sides in politics. "The Lord provides," Valdez says. "We have to pray for all our leaders." Down below in the city, workers put up a tent in the parking lot of the three-story stucco building that houses O'Rourke's campaign headquarters. People are starting to gather for a celebratory "Menudo y Mariachi" send-off. O'Rourke's new extended-cab Toyota Tundra pickup is pointed at the highway that will carry him, his wife Amy and their youngest son, 7-year-old Henry, east across the Chihuahuan Desert to a town hall in the mountain village of Fort Davis. Una hermosa manana con este Mariachi en El Paso! pic.twitter.com/gKsreRleCP Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) July 29, 2018 While the Mariachi Estrella band warms up a crowd that's grown to about a thousand, retired teacher Sue Hudson sizes up O'Rourke's odds. "I don't know. It's Texas," she says. "But he's not afraid to talk to people who don't agree with him. There's discourse. They may not vote for him, but they're listening." Between mariachi numbers, O'Rourke takes the stage for a 20-minute pep talk outlining one of the central themes of his campaign: That the immigrants who give El Paso its vibrance and vitality are a net plus for Texas, not a threat. "We're going to be sharing the story of El Paso at every stop along the way," he promises. "This city should be an example for the rest of the country. This is not a time to fear one another, not a time to be motivated by the small stuff, the paranoia, the anxiety, the walls ... " The politics O'Rourke brings to the race generally check all the boxes of the liberal left: gun control, universal health care, public education, abortion rights, legal marijuana. He voted against the Republican tax cuts. He opposes Trump's proposed border wall, and though he hasn't called for Trump's impeachment, he says he'd be open to it if it came up. His central message on immigration: The border with Mexico "has never been safer;" the region does not need to be "militarized"; Dreamers brought into the country illegally as children should be granted citizenship; and many others who were "inspired by the opportunity and ideals that we present to the rest of the world" should be granted legal status and a fair path to citizenship. In a campaign jingle earlier this year, Cruz mocked both O'Rourke's name and ideology, branding him as too liberal for Texas. But on this day, as for many of the rest, O'Rourke is having none of the big ideological divide. "We are going to be not against anyone," he tells his supporters, his arms raised for emphasis, as if he's testifying. "We're not going to be against any party. We're not going to be organized and animated against anything. We are going to be for one another. We're going to be for the United States of America, for the great state of Texas, for the big bold ambitious things that we can only do together." The feel-good optimism is reminiscent of another tall, gangly candidate: Barack Obama in 2008. O'Rourke's earnestness is accentuated by his skinny slacks, Hush Puppies and a sweaty, open-collar shirt. There are no signs of the cowboy boots favored by Cruz. There are no vows to turn Texas blue or vanquish Republicans. Cruz hardly gets a mention, except to point out that even with the help of big "special interest and corporate PACS," he has been badly out-fundraised by O'Rourke. O'Rourke's maiden speech is followed by picture-taking with supporters. It's not just about the one-on-one contact. It's part of a social media strategy for a candidate who is still largely unknown to large swaths of Texas outside El Paso. "It's brilliant," says onlooker Bruce Lesley, an El Paso Democrat who worked for Ann Richards, the state's last Democratic governor. "He's talking to people one-on-one, and they take a picture and share it on social media. He's getting his word and what he's about to the people directly." CASH ADVANTAGE: Beto O'Rourke hauls in $10.4 million, more than double total for incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz The drive to Fort Davis is a reminder of the personal stresses of any campaign. The plan is for the O'Rourkes to drop off little Henry at a summer camp in the Davis Mountains, joining his older 11-year-old brother, Ulysses, and 10-year-old sister, Molly, who have already been there a week. In a hurry to make a scheduled town hall in the courtyard of the historic Hotel Limpia, they write notes for their older children, who are out on a camp excursion when they arrive. Several miles down the road, Amy thinks better of it. Turning the truck around "grudgingly," O'Rourke recalled later he circles back to the camp, where the children have just returned. The U-turn in the mountains easily adds another half-hour to the trip, delaying their much-anticipated entrance at the town hall in Fort Davis, where a classical guitar player keeps the vibe mellow. But it might be weeks before O'Rourke gets back home. The campaign could wait. "Molly gave me the biggest, strongest, most loving, with-tears-in-her-eyes hug that I've ever had," O'Rourke tells the crowd at the Hotel Limpia. Day 2: Stand up and say enough The cool mountain air in Fort Davis has made it an oasis for retirees and transplants from other parts of Texas, some of them making up the more well-heeled, white-haired set that went to hear O'Rourke the night before. Situated in Jeff Davis County, named for the president of the Confederacy, it went by 24 points to Trump in 2016. Readying for a series of town halls back down in the high desert plains, O'Rourke treats himself to a 4-mile morning run. Returning to the hotel in his running shorts, he exudes energy and a certain peace of mind. He may still be in Cruz country, but what has he got to lose? "It gives you a certain freedom to run your own race," he says. First stop is a park building in Fort Stockton, Pecos County, which Trump won by 22 points. About 25 people show up, including Yolanda Chavez, a 59-year-old nurse who remembers segregated schools. Chavez says she's not politically inclined but that an upsurge in "prejudice" in Trump's America has made her tune in enough to hear what O'Rourke has to say. "I've never come out for things like this, but politics has never been as bad as it is now," she says. How so? "I hate to say the name, but Trump," she continues. "We have to stand up and say, 'Enough.'" The tiny audience fills less than half the room, and not everyone is a fan. Dolores Blanco Flores, a state health worker in Fort Stockton, wants to know what O'Rourke has done to reduce the $20 trillion national debt and "drain the swamp" in Washington. He tells her both parties share the blame for the debt problem. But he emphasizes the price of the continuing U.S. wars overseas and the Republican tax cuts, which he says disproportionately favor the wealthy and corporations. WEDGE ISSUE: Ted Cruz attacks Beto O'Rourke over talk of Trump impeachment "I got a raise from the tax cuts," Flores shoots back. "Those tax cuts did help me. They gave me more money to take home." O'Rourke gets some help from others in the audience, sparking a free-flowing debate with Flores a contrast to more controlled settings of most political events with invited guests. Flores, a Catholic who opposes same-sex marriage and abortion, stands her ground. "I don't think he answered my question," she says afterwards. "He bloviated about the military." The ride from Fort Stockton to the town of Pecos is a harrowing one. The truck-clogged Texas 285 is a testament to the area's oil and gas boom. Lining the two-lane road are countless oil derrick pumpjacks and "man camp" trailers, placed at random intervals amid the mesquite and juniper trees that dot the flat landscape. O'Rourke guns his truck past long tractor-trailers while Amy silently motions for him to slow down. A rosary rests on the dashboard, a trace of his Catholic upbringing. There's also a St. Michael medal, a parting gift from a supporter in El Paso. Asked about his religious beliefs, O'Rourke talks about a march he helped lead to the immigrant child detention camp in Tornillo, just east of El Paso. "For me, that was a religious experience," he says. "I happen to have been raised Catholic, and what I take away from my religion is you do your best to love everyone, to be good to everyone." The crowd gathered at the Reeves County Civic Center in Pecos is slightly bigger about 35. Reeves County, close to New Mexico, is one of the few West Texas counties that went to Hillary Clinton, by 8 points. Continued our day with a town hall in Pecos. Important conversation about NAFTA, trade wars, immigration, and making sure everyone is healthy enough to live to their full potential. pic.twitter.com/o1DNAhmP1T Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) July 30, 2018 To replicate that success in the Senate race, Erica Esparza, who is married to an oil field worker, says she's looking for a Democrat who's willing to compromise with Republicans. "The unanswered question," says the 33-year-old mother, "is what are we going to do about the gridlock? To challenge a Republican incumbent, we're going to need to be a little more centrist, a little more moderate." O'Rourke talks about the need for "controlled" immigration, citing legislation he's sponsored with Cornyn to beef up security at border ports of entry. But he also talks about the deportation of a high school salutatorian in the North Texas town of Booker. "Folks there get that what we are doing is not working," he says. That satisfies Esparza, but not Stacey Roberts, a Republican activist who shows up in the back of the hall wearing a cowboy hat and boots. There's a Cruz patch on her sleeve. Roberts, a home-school mom who runs a cleaning company in nearby Balmorhea, believes that the Democratic Party has turned toward "blatant socialism" and that O'Rourke's stump speech offers only a thin veneer of pragmatic centrism. "It's very skim, on top of what his actual beliefs are," Roberts says. "He opposes our Second Amendment rights, he's not pro-life, he wants a one-payer health care system, and he's obviously very 'open borders.'" Odessa, in the heart of the oil-producing Permian Basin, turns out about 300 people for O'Rourke's evening gathering in the Los Arcos Ballroom. One of the first questions is about O'Rourke's budding friendship with Will Hurd, the Republican 23rd District congressman with whom he made a well-publicized "bipartisan" cross-country drive. O'Rourke's refusal to endorse Hurd's opponent, Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, has come up before, and O'Rourke has the same answer: It is time to move past America's tribal politics. To get anything done in Congress, he says, you have to have Republican allies. BIPARTISAN ROAD TRIP: After storm canceled flights, Texas reps make the drive to D.C. "By disavowing Will," he adds, "I would be part of the problem." *** Day 3: Time to stop dreaming Road weariness strikes in Seminole, a melting pot of ethnic Germans, Mennonites, Hispanics and, of course, oil workers. A gathering of about 30 in the local community center will be one of the smallest of the tour's opening days. A television in the hotel lobby where O'Rourke is staying is tuned to Fox, which is recounting the high murder rate in Mexico. The candidate walks in for breakfast. "Trying to scare us some more?" he says offhandedly. But the mood in the community center is lightened by Marcus Hare, a power company linesman who took time off work to hear O'Rourke. "There aren't a lot of Democratic representatives who come through here," says Hare, who considers himself an independent voter, despite his conservative upbringing. "So this gives us hope." To Ray Savage, the Democratic chairman in Gaines County, where Trump got 85 percent of the vote, O'Rourke's mere presence in Seminole is a testament to the politics of optimism. It has become a cliche in the national media to imbue O'Rourke with Kennedyesque qualities toothy smile and all. But Savage sees a more apt comparison in the late Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone, a fervent college professor who took on and beat an entrenched Republican incumbent in 1990 by barnstorming practically every town in the state in a green school bus. For Savage, that's the model the elusive path to victory. "This is Paul Wellstone. Just look at him," Savage says as O'Rourke leaves the Seminole town hall. "Paul Wellstone demonstrated that he cared about Minnesota." It isn't until O'Rourke gets to the historic Cactus Theater in the college town of Lubbock that he receives the kind of rock star treatment that had propelled him from his hometown of El Paso. The 404-seat theater is standing room only, with the crowd spilling out into the lobby. "It's time to stop dreaming," says Lubbock City Councilwoman Shelia Patterson Harris, who introduces O'Rourke to a cheering crowd. In response to a question, O'Rourke promises that, if elected, he will open a district office in Lubbock, something Cruz has so far failed to do. Susan Eppright, a former teacher, leaves the theater on a high. "I'm starting to see Beto signs around town," she says. "Which is something I thought I'd never see." DEBATES: Ted Cruz vs. Beto O'Rourke debates will be risky for both of them Started the day with a town hall in Seminole. Several of the questions focused on how we can be a check on the president's trade wars so these tariffs don't continue to hurt Texas' planters and growers. pic.twitter.com/scaNrVomle Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) July 31, 2018 The road to Muleshoe (population 5,158) is another frantic dash, munching on sandwiches and burritos at the wheel, speeding past cattle ranches and cotton fields, listening to everything from Latin jazz to the Rolling Stones. About 50 people are waiting when he gets to the Bailey County Coliseum, along the railroad tracks. Many of those who show up are friends and family of Erin Gonzales, a nurse practitioner who organized the event largely on Facebook. Though voter registrations are overwhelmingly Republican in Bailey County, Gonzales believes there could be a hidden well of Democratic voters if a Democratic candidate can mobilize them, something that's become easier to do in the era of Trump. "I know a lot of people here believe a lot of the things that Beto stands for," she says. "We just need to get them here and hear him." One who doesn't believe a word O'Rourke says is Donna Ratke, a Cruz supporter from nearby Farwell, where she works as a pharmacist. "I worry that he wants more big government, and I want the government out of my life," she says. Ratke tells O'Rourke she uses her guns to shoot rattlesnakes and challenges him to explain his position on gun rights. He responds that he favors universal background checks for gun purchases, a position that polls show is favored by the vast majority of Americans. "I'm all for shooting rattlesnakes," he quips. "I'm not for taking guns away from people." The town hall ends with more give-and-take between Ratke and some neighbors, with a lot of verbal jousting about whether you really need an assault weapon to hunt deer. "I don't use them to kill deer," Ratke said. "But I use them to keep the coyotes away." More friendly territory is the Six Car Pub & Brewery in downtown Amarillo, where a crowd of several hundred a significant number of them millennials are in a festive mood for a "Beers with Beto" rally. O'Rourke recounts his first date with Amy at the Kentucky Club in Ciudad Juarez, allegedly the birthplace of the margarita. It's another data point in his narrative of international harmony. The story serves as the subtext for O'Rourke's entire tour, which he tells the crowd is meant as an answer to "this smallness, this pettiness, this meanness, this anxiety, this hatred, this bigotry, this racism and this paranoia that seems to dominate our national politics." He closes with a call to get active. "We can be despondent, we can be depressed, we can despair, or we can get after it and start traveling the counties of Texas." Come November, Texas will find out whether much changes after that kind of road trip. About this story Reporter Kevin Diaz and photojournalist Godofredo Vasquez rode in the backseat of Beto O'Rourke's new truck at times as they followed the El Paso Democrat for 750 miles, and more than a dozen campaign stops over three days. Diaz has written extensively on the Senate race between O'Rourke and incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, including a recent report on how the race has drawn financial backers from across the U.S. Kevin Diaz has covered Washington for 15 years and also has reported from Italy, Brazil, Mexico and Cuba. He covered the 9/11 terrorist attacks from Washington and New York, the Iraq War from U.S. Central Command in Qatar and the 2006 presidential election standoff from Mexico City. You can follow him on Twitter, @DiazChron, or email him at kevin.diaz@chron.com. Godofredo A. Vasquez is a staff photographer for the Houston Chronicle, primarily covering breaking news. He was born in El Salvador but grew up in the Bay Area, where he attended San Francisco State University and graduated with a B.A. in photojournalism. Before joining the Chronicle in early 2017, Godofredo spent two years working for the Corvallis Gazette-Times and the Albany Democrat-Herald in Oregon. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @godovasquez, or reach him by email at godofredo.vasquez@chron.com. Interactives, design and audience engagement by Rachael Gleason Subscribe The Houston Chronicle is dedicated to serving the public interest with fact-based journalism. That mission has never been more important. Show your support for our journalism at HoustonChronicle.com/subscribe. *** EL PASO Beto O'Rourke likes to tell the story of a campaign stop in Archer City, a highway junction of about 1,750 souls on the north central plains that was portrayed as a dying Texas town in "The Last Picture Show." On his way to a town hall at Murn's cafe, O'Rourke says a local approached him with a picture of his dad posing with Lyndon Johnson in 1948. As far as anyone could recall, LBJ's stop he landed in a helicopter in front of the courthouse was the last time a Democratic Senate candidate had campaigned there. South African media has joined forces in the 7% Tribe, a new initiative to empower and advance South African women. Take part in our speed dating mentoring events as a mentor. Contribute to our online portal, which will offer advice, referrals and applications. Create content that will provide practical information about skills development, knowledge transfer and mentorship. Attend our workshops, where we will discuss issues such as leadership, decision making and how to create a supportive corporate environment for women. South African women are a force to be reckoned with. Just look at how the 20,000 women who marched against pass laws on 9 August 1956 helped to change the course of history; or how Advocate Thuli Madonsela, as then Public Protector, took a stand against forces far greater than herself in her quest to uphold South Africas democracy.The sad fact, however, is that in spite of their skills, talents, grit and determination women do not receive the support they require in the workplace.Perhaps thats why, when Steyn City first planned a Womens Day Event to salute its female residents many of whom are corporate executives, entrepreneurs and social activists enthusiasm for the project propelled it forward until it became a movement; specifically, the 7% Tribe. Says Tammy Menton, Group Head of Marketing and Events at Steyn City, who co-founded the movement with Janez Vermeiren and Yusuf Stevens of Cheeky Media, The response to the concept was overwhelming. We realised this was becoming something far bigger than we could have imagined. From being a celebratory event, it has become a movement with potential to effect real change.Adds Giuseppe Plumari CEO of Steyn City Properties, We are delighted to co-sponsor this womens event and acknowledge that women have an enormous role to play in our society and workplace.Why the 7% Tribe? Because, according to statistics from the latest Bain & Company Report on Gender Disparity, which cites the Businesswomens Association of South Africas (BWASA) census on women in leadership, 22% of board directors are women, but only 7% are executive directors. This is in spite of the fact that they make up 50% of the working age population. Added to this, the growth in the percentage of female leaders has remained flat for several years. Several reasons are given for this, including a lack of support in organisations. While most corporates indicate that they understand the need for change, they implement few practical interventions to drive this change. Women especially those at middle management level become fatigued by the ongoing battle and all that they are forced to sacrifice in the process. The result? Although women graduates outnumber men at South African universities, you wouldnt know it to look at corporate demographics.The 7% Tribe is kicking off with outstanding support from South Africas media, with the likes of Independent Media, and The Morning Show signing on to amplify its message: the message that its time women were equitably represented, and receive their dues, in the workplace. In short, although government has laid the foundation for equitable workplaces through the stipulations of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, corporate South Africa is lagging behind in their implementation. The tribe plans to change this.Vermeiren agrees. Its time that female empowerment became part of the national imperative. We are proud to be part of an initiative that has such crucial implications for dignity, growth and social regeneration.The 7% Tribe kicks off with a gala dinner (exclusive to women), hosted at Steyn City by the dynamic and inspiring leaders of the movement, on Friday 31 August 2018. Tickets sell for R2,200 each or corporate packages from R25,000 for a table of nine, hosted by one of South Africas leading women. These packages are an ideal vehicle for organisations serious about female empowerment to show their women staffers that they are valued. A portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to charities supporting young women. More than a glamorous event, this is a catalyst for change: it is here that South Africans will start a conversation that will continue long after Womens Month, and which will give women the encouragement and know-how to transform their lives.This is, however, just the beginning: the 7% Tribe is set to go national, with a series of events rolling out throughout South Africa. The tribes work will culminate in the establishment of a foundation, which will function as a vehicle to uplift education for girls and promote females in business.To purchase a ticket to the 7% Tribes gala dinner or find out more about how to join the movement, contact www.7percenttribe.co.za or book online with computicket https://online.computicket.com/web/event/seven_percent_tribe/1239890888/599713066 Becoming a member of the 7% Tribe entails no applications or membership fees; it simply means that you pledge to be accountable to the success of South African women in the world of business.Heres how you can help:Date: Friday, 31 August 2018Time: 6pmVenue: The Shed at Steyn CityDress: ElegantSocial MediaTwitter handle @7percenttribeInstagram @7percenttribeFacebook /7percenttribeHashtag #7percenttribe Wally Schirra was already a celebrity, a national hero, one of Americas original Mercury astronauts when he commanded the first Apollo space flight in 1968. But he liked to say that astronauts were no different than anybody else in that, they also put their pants on one leg at a time. One morning, though, as he floated weightlessly aboard his Apollo spacecraft, Schirra flicked his flight coveralls in front of his feet and pulled them over both legs at once. He started laughing. We are different, gentlemen, Schirra said to his crewmates. Schirra was joking, but he actually had a good point. Space is an environment unlike anything on Earth, and flying in that environment is a specialty best understood by people whove dedicated their life to that unique undertaking. President Trump has directed the Pentagon to create what he describes as a Space Force as a separate and independent branch of the military. This would become the first new military service created since the Air Force became independent of the Army after World War II. Critics may mistakenly dismiss it as a far-out idea the president dreamed up while watching a Star Wars movie, but creating a stand-alone service for space actually makes sense for the defense of the United States. The Pentagon has already heavily invested in space endeavors sprawled around the military bureaucracy. The Navy has a Space and Warfare Naval Systems Command based in San Diego, and the Army runs a Space and Missile Systems Command in Huntsville, Ala., but most of the heavy lifting into the final frontier is currently conducted by the Air Force Space Command based in Colorado. Trump apparently wants to consolidate these commands under a separate military branch, presumably presided over by a secretary on an equal standing with the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force. As they craft what this new branch looks like, our lawmakers have to ensure this change doesnt exacerbate an already-bloated Pentagon budget or undermine a civilian NASA. Nor should anyone mistake this plan as unrealistically futuristic. The presidents proposal is actually a variation of an old idea thats been kicked around in Washington for decades. A military reform commission pitched the concept during the Clinton administration, and it might have become a reality during George W. Bushs presidency if the Sept. 11 terror attacks hadnt intervened. A bipartisan push in the U.S. House of Representatives has called for the Pentagon to build a space corps within the Air Force, but that idea has its own problems. Space has at times been seen as the Air Forces red-headed stepchild, playing second fiddle to go-fast jets, reports Defense One, a respected military news website. The Government Accountability Office concluded last year that the Air Forces bureaucracy, when it comes to space operations, has a history of cost overruns and schedule delays. Theres also a mistaken impression that, for military purposes, space is simply an extension of the air. James Oberg, a retired Mission Control engineer who wrote a book for the Pentagon entitled Space Power Theory, explains that space is a truly three-dimensional environment unlike any theater of war in which the Air Force or any other branch of the military has ever fought. Theyve got to think and dream where theres no up and down, Oberg explains. It has to seep into your subcortex. When the first men walked on the moon in 1969, they left behind a plaque proclaiming, We came in peace for all mankind. Unfortunately but inevitably, space has become militarized. China tested an anti-satellite weapon in 2007, creating a debris field that later endangered the International Space Station. At the same time, our national defense is now completely dependent upon space-based technology. Wally Schirra was an old Navy pilot and a Korean War combat vet, but he quickly learned that space travel was utterly unlike any flying he had ever done on Earth. Space is a unique environment that may someday become a unique theater of war. Congress should support President Trumps proposal to create an independent military branch dedicated to defending the nations interests in space. Amazons Prime Day is often lauded as offering some of the best deals of the year in online shopping, but a closer look at the stream of corporate welfare that has helped fuel the rapid growth of Amazons flagship subscription service reveals that Prime is a raw deal for consumers and taxpayers alike. Lone Star State lawmakers, who have already given up enough taxpayer dollars to the tech giant, must think long and hard before giving another penny to the third-richest company in the world. Analysts say the true value of the Prime package, which includes music and video streaming, books, clothing, food, and, of course, expedited shipping service, is over $780 per year. But members still only pay $119 for their Prime subscription. This seemingly-unbeatable deal for consumers only begins to make sense in light of the fact that Amazon has built its business model with a big assist from government hand-outs. In fact, Amazon has received a staggering $287 million in subsidies from Texas taxpayers since 2000. Texas is far from the only victim of Amazons lobbying scheme. In total, the companys far reaching lobbying efforts have resulted in $1.5 billion in subsidies from taxpayers. From 2000 to 2017, Amazon spent at least $9.8 million on state lobbying - $410,000 in Texas alone - while making over $6 million in campaign contributions. According to Amazons own reports, it spent almost $14 million on state and local government relations efforts between 2013 and 2017. As Amazon grows, it continues to ramp up its influence-peddling: over the last five years, Amazon has lobbied more government entities than any other tech company. Meanwhile, local communities and small businesses have borne the cost of Amazons strong-arm tactics. Taxpayers have lost out on more than $700 million in sales tax revenue, money that could have been used to ease crowding in schools, modernize crumbling infrastructure, or expand access to healthcare services. Amazons refusal to pay its fair share has decimated good-paying jobs and small businesses, who are forced to try and compete with the tech behemoth. Amazon often promises economic development and new jobs at its warehouses and fulfilment centers in return for taxpayer assistance. But the company pays its employees an average salary of less than $29,000 annually, and data clearly shows that private-sector employment fails to increase after Amazon moves in. Making matters worse, when small businesses resort to selling their wares on Amazons e-commerce site, they face exorbitant fees that make it impossible for them to compete with major brands. Third-party merchants have complained for years that Amazon uses consumer and sale trend data to manipulate and drive down prices. While the tech giant vaunts itself as a company that supports small businesses and growth, the economic turmoil each Amazon expansion and acquisition leaves in its wake tells a very different story. Amazon continues to fish for unprecedented amounts of corporate welfare from Texas for its second headquarters, often called HQ2. But as state and city public officials weigh their priorities, Prime Day should serve as a resounding wake-up call. Taxpayers are tired of giving up their hard-earned money to the third-richest company in the world, helping to subsidize Amazon Prime and the record profits the subscription service helps generate. Last year, Amazon reported $177 billion in revenue, more than enough to build a second headquarters on their own dime. The moment has come for principled Texas lawmakers to stand up to Amazon and their army of lobbyists, prioritize our local communities, and finally say enough is enough. Engel is the chief spokesperson of the Free & Fair Markets Initiative, a nonprofit coalition focused on supporting a modern, fair marketplace that serves the best interests of small businesses, local communities and everyday Americans. Whos this strange politician from Texas with a catchy nickname, talking about bipartisanship, talking about uniting all Americans, talking about the American dream belonging to everyone? Sure, some may mock the friendly, youngish white candidate for playing up his connections to Latino culture, even speaking Spanish on the campaign trail. But hey, cut George W. Bush a break. At least his heart was in the right place. Given how many people have moved to our state over the past 18 years, plenty of folks may not remember that W.s 2000 presidential campaign was built on his reputation as a governor who worked with Democrats, represented Hispanic interests and served as a uniter, not a divider. It was an appealing message, and popular vote aside enough to get him sworn in as president. Of course, Bush wasnt the first candidate to frame himself as a bridge-building non-partisan outsider. RELATED: Is Beto ORourke winning or just wasting time? Barack Obamas 2008 campaign mastered the art. Remember hope and change, no red states, no blue states, just Americans! Even Bill Clinton was a man from Hope. It can be a winning strategy for a political underdog. No surprise, then, that Beto ORourke the great blue hope for Texas Democrats is crafting a similar message. His recent online campaign ad in his race to replace Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz makes it clear that hes trying to transcend the partisan divide: Regardless of background or party or geography, we have to be the inspiration for our fellow Texans and our fellow Americans. Everyone is welcome, and we really mean everyone. Weve got to work with others who sometimes dont see things just the way that we do. The whole thing was even recorded on an iPhone clips from his 254-county listening tour for an added down-to-earth touch. ORourke has also distanced himself from the left wing of his party dismissing the abolish ICE movement as little more than a slogan and hewing to a moderate vision of universal health care. Hes running as a Lloyd Bentsen at a time when the left is yearning for the next Ralph Yarborough or Maury Maverick. He even refused to endorse Democratic challenger Gina Ortiz Jones over Republican incumbent Will Hurd ORourkes bipartisan road trip buddy. But whats particularly interesting about ORourkes gambit for the center is that Cruz seems willing to let him have it. Rather than push back, Cruz has spent the past several weeks aiming so far right that he risks falling off the map. Beware, here be dragons and Holocaust deniers. In July, Cruz aligned himself with Jade Helm-style conspiracy theorists and called for Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn to be prosecuted after it was revealed he posted admittedly inappropriate jokes on Twitter. The crass Aristocrats-style jokes were spun into a context-less controversy in the same way that Washington D.C.s Ping Pong Pizza somehow became the supposed center of an international sex trafficking ring until a gunman showed up demanding to see where they were keeping kids in the non-existent basement. Cruz also came to the defense of Infowars grifter Alex Jones after Facebook suspended his personal account as part of the companys attempt to fight misinformation. Jones has built his career propagating bizarre videos about 9/11 being faked, mass shooting victims being little more than actors, and Ted Cruzs dad being involved in the JFK assassination. The senator claims he simply doesnt trust Facebook to serve as arbiter. Anyone who follows Cruz knows this is a particularly laughable excuse. After all, the senator has long opposed net neutrality, which would prohibit internet service providers from picking and choosing their content. Comcast can keep out competitors, according to Cruz. But Facebook cant ban Alex Jones? Now, Cruz understands the Republican base better than almost any other politician or at least he did when running against Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for Senate. Cruzs visceral, personal connection with tea party groups and the Christian right elevated him from polling at 2 percent at the beginning of the campaign to eventual victor. The fact that Cruz sees it necessary to reach out to Alex Jones-types says something about the direction of the Texas Republican Party. It also says something about the path to victory. Cruz knows that polling shows ORourke on his tail, so much so that he recently asked President Trump to come to Texas to campaign for him. But conventional wisdom also says Cruz need only hold together the GOP base to win in November. Some say theres nothing in the middle of the road in Texas except dead armadillos. Thats not entirely true. The response to Cruzs 2015 speech at a Greater Houston Partnership luncheon a few pity laughs and rare applause reserved mostly for his wife, Heidi show that 40 minutes of Obama bashing and fearmongering about terrorism isnt every Republicans cup of ice tea. Only one line, which seemed like a throw-away, earned rousing applause from the business-minded crowd: The money that goes into the Fund from the Port of Houston should be returned to maintaining and dredging the Port of Houston. Cruzs strategy of appealing to the far-right fringe is a winner when turnout is low, voters arent engaged and the opponent is weak. That isnt the case here. Its been a long time since a Democrat in Texas has challenged conventional wisdom of partisan loyalty with a retro sense of the greater good. No political scientists worth his salt will say ORourke has a chance. But theyve been wrong before. Its possible to soar from single digits in the polls to winning in November. Cruz is proof. He did it by connecting with voters. ORourke seems to be doing just that. The question is whether he can connect with more voters than anyone expects whether, in essence, he can draw more than just a few armadillos back to the middle of the road. Mintz is deputy opinion editor. Most recently, Worksafe, New Zealands primary workplace health and safety regulator, has announced it would only investigate bullying in the workplace if the victim has been diagnosed as being seriously mentally harmed. This means that a victim of bullying will have wait until a medical specialist has declared them as unlikely to function normally again before Worksafe will intervene, according to Whitehead Group. Worksafe has found a quick way to reduce its own stress, and that is to refuse to investigate bullying complaints, said Max Whitehead of Whitehead Group. According to Whitehead, over the last four years WorkSafe has been notified of 125 cases of bullying and only investigated 11 of them. WorkSafe is a government department responsible for policing workplace bullying; however, it appears to be prepared to ignore its prime responsibility. Page Content Montreal, 10 August 2018 Speaking to an audience of Directors General of Civil Aviation in the UN Agencys North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACC) Region, ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu emphasized that concrete financial and political commitments are urgently needed to safeguard the important contributions of tourism and aviation growth to their States sustainable development. The meeting, which took place in Ottawa from 31 July to 2 August 2018, was opened by Dr. Liu and Ms. Thao Pham, Canadas Associate Deputy Minister of Transport. Dr. Lius remarks were part of a wider address on the near-term requirements to ensure a healthy future for the regions air transport systems. Additional points she covered stressed the prioritized implementation of ICAOs global safety and security plans, the importance of capacity-building and investment in aviation infrastructure, and investor and donor expectations for stable, dependable regulatory frameworks. It is presently forecast that air transport and tourism will support no less than 9.7 million jobs and $430 billion dollars in Caribbean GDP alone by 2034, the Secretary General declared, noting as well that the achievement of these targets would be economically transformative for local States. ICAOs NACC region comprises 21 ICAO Member States in total, from Canada in the North to Panama in the South, and includes 19 Caribbean territories of France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. Dr. Liu also reiterated ICAOs commitment to provide critical support to the Regions States through its NACC Regional Office, and through its No Country Left Behind (NCLB) capacity-building initiative, calling on the NACC States to continue building on the tremendous achievements they have realized over recent years. Aviation safety was highlighted as an area of exemplary regional achievement, especially in regards to the mitigation of operational risk through Safety Management System and State Safety Programme (SMS/SSP) implementations, the development of a Regional Safety Oversight Organization (RSOO) platform to optimize safety oversight capacities, and efforts toward the development of Regional Accident and Incident Investigation Organizations. As global safety performance continues to improve, aided importantly by our cooperative efforts under the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP), ICAO has begun to focus greater attention on some specific challenges. One of these is to address the operational risk under the SMS/SSP framework described by the newly amended Annex 19, the Secretary General explained, thanking the Corporacion Centroamericana de Servicios de Navegacion Aerea (COCESNA) for the active role it has played in the development of the regions RSOO collaborative platform. The Secretary General further encouraged the regions States to enhance the capacities of their Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA), remarking that It is essential that your authorities have the financial and management autonomy to do their work properly, as well as the ability to attract, recruit and retain qualified technical personnel to regulate our ever-expanding global system. She pledged ICAOs commitment to enhance local personnel skills through its Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) programme, and Global Aviation Training (GAT) office, and highlighted the importance of the upcoming ICAO World Aviation Forum (IWAF) to help foster new strategic partnerships for aviation development. Taken together, these efforts are expected to enhance the stability of the aviation regulatory framework, and open the door to greater private investment which is ultimately key to guaranteeing the sustainability of air transport in the region. Investors will be more comfortable working with States which have a stable regulatory framework, and on projects where the return on investment is very clearly outlined, Dr. Liu declared. During the meeting in Ottawa, Dr. Liu held bilateral discussions with representatives of the Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Cuba, and the United States. These were: Mr. Alvin A. Smith, the High Commissioner of the Bahamas to Canada; Mr. Kerrie Symmonds, the Minister of Tourism of Barbados; Ms. Pham and Canadas Director General of Aviation Safety Oversight and Transformation, Mr. Francois Collins; Mr. Armando Daniel Lopez, President of the Institute of Civil Aeronautics of Cuba (IACC), Mrs. Mirta Crespo Frasquieri, the Representative of Cuba on the Council of ICAO, and Mr. Orlando Nevot Gonzalez, Air Navigation Director of the IACC; and Mr. Carl Burleson, the United States Federal Aviation Administration Acting Deputy Administrator, and Mr. Thomas L. Carter, the Representative of the United States on the Council of ICAO. Additional talks that took place involved Directors General of Civil Aviation and attending ICAO Council Representatives, along with the President of the ICAO Air Navigation Commission, Mr. Claude Hurley, and Dr. Pauline D. Yearwood, who represented the CARICOM Secretariat in her capacity as the Deputy Programme Manager for Transportation. Resources for Editors About ICAO A specialized agency of the United Nations, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, amongst many other priorities. The Organization serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 192 Member States. ICAO North American, Central American and Carribean Regional Office ICAOs CORSIA Offsetting Framework ICAO's No Country Left Behind initiative Aviation and the UN SDGs Contacts Anthony Philbin Chief, Communications aphilbin@icao.int +1 514-954-8220 +1 438-402-8886 (mobile) Twitter: @ICAO William Raillant-Clark Communications Officer wraillantclark@icao.int +1 514-954-6705 +1 514-409-0705 (mobile) Twitter: @wraillantclark LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raillantclark/ US National Fisheries Institute warns of harmful tarifs August 07,2018 | Source: World Fishing The US National Fisheries Institute (NFI) has rebranded its AboutSeafood.com website to support American seafood workers in recognition of the threat posed by new trade tariffs. AboutSeafood.com has become Seafood, See Jobs as part of the NFIs campaign of the same name and now features video testimony from every part of the seafood workforce to explore the reality of tariffs on American jobs. The site will be regularly updated with new videos looking at why both importers and exporters fear the effect of these trade policies, said NFI. To understand the negative impact these tariffs will have on American workers you have to go see them, you have to talk to them, you have to hear their concerns, said NFI president John Connelly. Were bringing those stories to policy makers so they understand; this is not a theoretical, economic chess game. These tariffs have the potential to do a lot of harm to the seafood community and that communitys jobs are right here in the U.S. The NFI explained US waters are fished to their sustainable yield and to feed Americans the seafood community must source seafood from countries around the globe, even as US harvesters use global markets to sell their catch. It added: Whats more, the raw product, that comes from valued global trading partners, is the fuel that drives jobs in the U.S. This is not a situation where the raw imported product is taking jobs away from American workers but just the opposite. It is the material that keeps them viable. Jobs in processing, portioning, value adding, storing, delivering and serving all depend on seafood imports. Vital US seafood exports are caught up in the trade war already and its impacts could be devastating to those working in the US fishing industry, the NFI stressed. Mercator Media Ltd 2018, All Rights Reserved Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade. Blowing up illegal fishing boats helps Indonesian fishers by Michael Tennesen August 06,2018 | Source: Nat Geo Indonesia, one of the worlds leading producers of tuna, decided several years ago it had had enough of illegal foreign fishing boats entering its exclusive economic zone and taking an average of $4 billion a year in fisheries profits. In 2014 the Southeast Asian nationa vast archipelago of more than 13,000 islandsimposed a one-year moratorium on fishing vessels built abroad, in order to evaluate their impact. During the moratorium officials discovered boats disguising foreign ownership under local names, falsifying Indonesian fishing permits or using the same permit for multiple boats. This evidence augmented other reports of foreign vessels underreporting the sizes of their boats, avoiding taxes and intruding in waters reserved for local small-scale fishers. To address the problem, Indonesia created a task force consisting of the countrys navy, marine police, coast guard and attorney generals office. Task force members started out by aggressively capturing illegal foreign boats and deporting their crews. Then, to drive the point home, they cut, torched or dynamited holes in bottoms of the boatssending hundreds of vessels to the seafloor to join the fishes they had sought. According to Mas Achmad Santosa, special advisor to the Indonesia Presidential Task Force to Combatting Illegal Fishing, We sank 363 illegal fishing vessels to send a signal of strong enforcement and to create a deterrent effect. This immediately drew international media attention, and Indonesian minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti traveled the world and appeared in YouTube videos defending her countrys aggressive strategy. Yet has all this drama done any good when it comes to protecting the worlds troubled fish stocks? A group of fisheries experts from Indonesia and the U.S. has now analyzed catch results and fisheries models in Indonesian waters (its exclusive economic zone). The study, published in April in Nature Ecology & Evolution, found total commercial fishing shrunk by 25 percent following Indonesias explosive enforcement efforts against foreign boats. This followed an earlier finding, reported in 2016 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which showed a 15 percent reduction in catch could put fisheries on a trajectory toward sustainability. Instead of putting the pressure on local legal fishers to recover fisheries, the Indonesian government put their attention on foreign illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which is a huge problem in Indonesia," says postdoctoral researcher Reniel Cabral at the University of California, Santa Barbara, lead author of the new study. Applying this strategy in other countries could generate similar long-lasting results in many other regions of the world, the researchers concluded. The earlier PNAS study had postulated an initial short-term reduction in fishing pressure could return fisheries to sustainable yields. But countries have been reluctant to impose such restrictions on normal catches for local fishing communities; the study defined short-term as an average of 10 years of catching far fewer fishesa highly unpopular prospect for local fishermen and their families. Cabral refers to such measures as the valley of death for politicians and community leaders. Determining the length of quarantine necessary to produce sustainability in future fish stocks had been the goal of the PNAS paper, a massive study of 4,713 fisheries representing 78 percent of the global reported fish catch. From the results, scientists projected the percentages by which fishers would have to reduce their catches of targeted species in order for the fishery to become sustainable. The science behind those reductions was also applied in a March 2018 Sciencepaper that examined 20 marine mammal, bird and sea turtle populations. That study found that if fishing was curtailed in close proximity to those animalsagain for an average of 10 yearsnot only would the fisheries recover, but so could these rarer species, which were mostly caught accidentally. To determine if Indonesias enforcement efforts had worked, Cabral's recent study looked at the skipjack tuna fisherythe largest in Indonesia. These fishers work at night using special lights to lure their catch, and researchers analyzed data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite to identify their boats. Team members correlated this information with automatic identification system (AIS) data (processed via an online monitoring project called Global Fishing Watch) from onboard signals that identify and track positions of ships at sea to avoid collisions. The team also examined boat identification data from the country's vessel monitoring system (VMS), which licensed boats are required to use in Indonesian waters. Models were then used to project future growth. The results showed the total of all commercial fishing in Indonesialegal and illegalshrunk by 25 percent after the country started sinking boats. The Indonesian enforcement effort looked not only at the number of illegal fishing boats, but also their sizes. Cabrals team recorded a 40 percent reduction in fishing effort by boat weight. In other words, it was the really big foreign-built fishing boats (greater than 100 metric tons) that did the most damage to fish stocks. The Indonesian government is currently planning to build more than 3,300 new boats for its local fishers. These boats will have a much smaller size distribution than the foreign boats they replace; thus the total fishing effort should decline despite the addition of new boats. But Cabral cautions the domestic fisheries need to be contained as well, lest they dim prospects for sustainability. Theres room for expansion but not uncontrolled growth, he says. Fisheries expansion requires that management be in place before sustainable limits are reached. In the U.S. the MagnusonStevens Act in 1976 virtually wiped out all illegal fishing activity by foreign vessels. Overinvestment in U.S. domestic fishing capacity, however, prevented many stocks from recovering. Subsequent revisions have set most U.S. fisheries on a trajectory toward long-term growth without compromising the needs of future generations. Since Indonesia implemented its boat-sinking policy, its ranking in the list of (legally and illegally) most-fished nations by foreign boats dropped from 13th in 2014 to below 80th in 2015 and 2016. This reduction has persisted despite the increase in distant water fishing (fishing in international waters or other countries' exclusive economic zones) that is currently happening across most of the world. Meanwhile Indonesia's seafood export volume in 2017 increased by 7 percent compared with 2016, and export value increased 17 percent during the same period. The fish are getting closer to the shore and can be harvested by our fishermen to sustain their livelihoods, Santosa says. Some researchers remain skeptical of the attention given to Indonesias rather extreme methods, however. So you go into Indonesia and you sink a bunch of boats, and you send all these people home, says James Estes, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. What are they going to do? Is that really going to solve the problem or are they [illicit fishers] just going to go somewhere else? It is likely they will indeed seek out areas where enforcement is weak. But Cabrals study shows a country does not have to starve the local fishing community to achieve sustainability. 2018 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, A DIVISION OF SPRINGER NATURE AMERICA, INC. Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has already begun to shift the business landscape, but what does it mean for South African businesses? Fatima Hassim, managing executive for Vodacom Business. Investment injections into the sector would benefit the economy Embedding digital literacy in the school curriculum Every business will have a unique digital journey The business landscape is changing, its no secret. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has already begun to shift the business landscape, and the challenges faced by businesses increase at the same pace as their competition. The barriers to entry for many South African businesses lies in the scarcity of digital talent. We desperately need to find a solution to this challenge and establish our role in enabling digital transformation across all sectors.According to Frost & Sullivan, South African telecommunications operators are currently in the early stages of digital transformation, more so when compared to the level of progress being made in more developed markets.It is, therefore, safe to say that investment injections into the sector would ultimately benefit the economy, and shape the digital landscape for businesses. A large part of South African telcos has begun their digital journey by establishing dedicated digital departments. In doing so, they are able to better develop their offerings and more effectively execute their digital strategies.The solution lies in finding the right talent, the type that oozes digital wit, which happens to be just as important as the technology that businesses should be utilising to advance into the digital society of the future. Thankfully, were well on our way to tearing down this unwelcomed barrier.Through an increased focus on skills development, workshops that seek to upskill employees in sought-after digital skills, Vodacoms very own girl coder programme and providing the proper tools and resources to upskill employees we have seen growing access to skills development in the ICT sector, which is complemented by backing from the government.Private and public sector partnerships hold the key to unlocking skills development and youth upliftment and should be at the forefront of the digital transition were currently undergoing. Simply put, we should go above and beyond to provide enough infrastructure support and skills development to propel our progression.For starters, we need to embed digital literacy in the school curriculum, essentially instilling digital skillsets at the very core of our primary education. The unwelcomed reign of digital illiteracy needs to come to an abrupt end. We need to do away with the inability hindering the average Joes ability to use a smart device, an issue that has plagued South Africas rural areas lately. That in itself poses a major barrier to digital progression.By knocking down barriers, such as these, we can begin to open doors to digital skills development. Its the first step in bridging the digital divide gap, and essentially enhancing these much-sought-after skills.Its no secret that the South African telco industry is very competitive, as telcos battle it out to remain at the forefront of innovative solutions all of which is an effort to gain a competitive edge. A strategy that has been widely adopted by some of the big names in the industry is that of acquiring businesses with unique digital offerings and varying areas of expertise. The aim here is to offer their consumers, and business customers, forward-thinking end-end ICT and digital services.Bringing the discussion back to broader business its worth noting that each business will have a unique journey to undergo to achieve digital transformation.By integrating digital technology into all areas of a business, the SAs enterprise landscape can truly benefit from the fundamental changes in operation and the delivery of service to their respective customer bases. This feeds into customer centricity and personalisation, which is important when considering the fact that these days, it pays to be personal.Aside from the profit-making opportunities, the efficiency that will come with it, or even the fact that their competitors are doing it the biggest benefit will come from the appreciation that will be expressed by their customers. The truth of the matter is that external customers, internal employees and people associated with that business have already adopted digital practices in their personal lives.Think of online shopping, online banking and even smart homes which all form part of their day-to-day lives. So all theyre waiting for now is for their beloved businesses of choice to embark on a digital journey of their own.By taking a step back, and observing the current economic standing of our country, we can get a clearer picture of what needs to be achieved to truly become a digital society. Theres no need for us to be burdened by the shortage of digital skills, and the massive unemployment issue were faced with. The answer lies in our hands. One cannot write about Maltese lifestyle without weighing in about the Maltese obsession with cars. So, this column is long overdue. But the ensuing topic of Maltese driving is like the gift wrap on a pass-the-parcel box: once you've unwrapped the top layer, it reveals other wrappings: the environment, architecture, politics, society, roads, etc. before you get to fully understand the Maltese identity. The 10-minute rule An impressive passion Wet paint viewingmalta.com | Jurgen Scicluna | Malta Tourism Authority At this point, its necessary to make an observation about the Maltese national character as it relates to the perception of distance. There are only two settings for the Maltese: Near and 10 minutes. Anything further than that is far, despite living on a small island. The 10-minute rule affects everything from where you choose to live in relation to your workplace (or more accurately where you choose to work in relation to your home) to how far you are prepared to go to the shops. This probably explains why there are so many duplicate retailers in close proximity. In our largish village of Zejtun (population of 12,000), there are four pharmacies as well as innumerable beauticians and multiple pet shops, stationers, butchers, ironmongers (hardware stores), etc. The preponderance of parity trades may be less a case of supply and demand and more an indication that nobody is prepared to travel more than 10 minutes to their local shop.But lets get back to car ownership. I dont need to quote Eurostat statistics to affirm that Malta has one of the highest car ownership ratios in the EU, if not the world. Its a given that if you are a family of four two parents and two adult children with failure-to-launch syndrome you will likely have four cars, one for every family member of driving license age. The number of registered cars in Malta is only slightly less than the overall population, but when you adjust for children under driving age, its clear that some adults have more than one vehicle. So, just like many South Africans have more than one mobile and more than one sim card, cars are to the Maltese what cellular telephony is to South Africans an essential part of the national character.In his monthly column in themotoring supplement PaqPaq ((is one of the many onomatopoeic Maltese verbs, in this instance meaning to honk a car horn), editor Tonio Darmanin has this to say: The passion for cars and bikes in Mata is impressive to say the least. He goes on to note the ever-increasing volume of vehicles on the roads and the unreal number of supercars and classics that are imported and sold locally. We often hear that in Malta, there are per capita more Ferraris than anywhere else in the world. Darmanin professes himself unsurprised and believes it applies to other exotic brands such as Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Porsche as well.Darmanin wouldnt be the first to note the curious illogic of supercars on the Maltese islands: the road infrastructure and fast, beautiful cars are simply not compatible.As an anecdotal aside, when we arrived on the island a year ago, we found a diversity of roads, from gravel tracks in the countryside to lumpy middle-aged suburban streets to glistening new asphalt. The latter, we were informed, were the roads that the Queen of Englands state car would be travelling on during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which Malta hosted in 2017. The flurry of maintenance that precedes her arrival anywhere: pavements swept, cracks plastered, fresh coats applied to buildings, led one observer to note that the Queen must think the whole world smells of wet paint.Maybe as a result of Maltas economic surplus, maybe because of our access to a rich vein of EU development funds or maybe because of a hypothetical supercar lobby, Malta has just embarked on a 700 million roads upgrading/infrastructure programme. There has already been significant construction crew activity of the road-widening and traffic-circle enlarging variety, and any and every tree that is cut down in the name of progress in general and vehicular access in particular brings forth howls of armchair protest and letters to the editor. The Maltese may have conveniently lost count of the number of cars in their basement garages, but they know exactly the number of Aleppo pines threatened on the road to Rabat. The irony is high-octane: everyone wants less cars on the roads, but nobody is prepared to take the bus! Imperial Valley News Center Governor Brown Declares State of Emergency in Orange and Riverside Counties Due to Holy Fire Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued an emergency proclamation for Orange and Riverside counties due to the effects of the Holy Fire, which has threatened critical infrastructure, thousands of homes and other structures and has caused the evacuation of residents. PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY WHEREAS on August 6, 2018, the Holy Fire began burning in Orange County, on August 7, 2018 quickly spread into Riverside County, and continues to burn; and WHEREAS this fire threatens thousands of homes and other structures, necessitating the evacuation of residents; and WHEREAS the fire has forced the closure of roadways and continues to threaten critical infrastructure; and WHEREAS high temperatures, low humidity, and erratic winds have further increased the spread of this fire; and WHEREAS the Federal Emergency Management Agency has granted a Fire Management Assistant Grant to assist with the mitigation, management, and control of the Holy Fire in Riverside County; and WHEREAS the circumstances of this fire, by reason of its magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8558(b), I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exists in Orange and Riverside Counties due to this fire; and WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with the various statutes and regulations specified in this order would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the Holy Fire. NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, Government Code section 8625, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist in Orange and Riverside Counties due to the Holy Fire. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: All agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan. Also, all citizens are to heed the advice of emergency officials with regard to this emergency in order to protect their safety. The Office of Emergency Services shall provide local government assistance to Orange and Riverside Counties, if appropriate, under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act, Government Code section 8680 et seq., and California Code of Regulations, Title 19, section 2900 et seq. As necessary to assist local governments and for the protection of public health and the environment, state agencies shall enter into contracts to arrange for the procurement of materials, goods, and services necessary to quickly assist with the response to and recovery from the impacts of the Holy Fire. Applicable provisions of the Government Code and the Public Contract Code, including but not limited to travel, advertising, and competitive bidding requirements are suspended to the extent necessary to address the effects of the Holy Fire. The provisions of Unemployment Insurance Code section 1253 imposing a one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance applicants are suspended as to all applicants who are unemployed as a direct result of the Holy Fire, who applied for unemployment insurance benefits during the time period beginning August 6, 2018, and ending on the close of business on February 6, 2019, and who are otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. Vehicle Code sections 9265(a), 9867, 14901, 14902, and 15255.2, requiring the imposition of fees, are suspended with regard to any request for replacement of a drivers identification card, vehicle registration certificate, or certificate of title, by any individual who lost such records as a result of the Holy Fire. Such records shall be replaced without charge. The provisions of Vehicle Code sections 4602 and 5902, requiring the timely registration or transfer of title are suspended with regard to any registration or transfer of title by any resident of Orange and Riverside Counties who is unable to comply with those requirements as a result of the Holy Fire. The time covered by this suspension shall not be included in calculating any late penalty pursuant to Vehicle Code section 9554. Health and Safety Code sections 103525.5 and 103625, and Penal Code section 14251, requiring the imposition of fees are hereby suspended with regard to any request for copies of certificates of birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage records, by any individual who lost such records as a result of the Holy Fire. Such copies shall be provided without charge. I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 9th day of August 2018. __________________________ EDMUND G. BROWN JR. Governor of California ATTEST: __________________________ ALEX PADILLA Secretary of State CDFA working with DWR on emerging groundwater recharge strategy Sacramento, California - Later this month the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is hosting a public workshop on Flood-MAR, an emerging water management strategy that could improve water-resources sustainability throughout the state. At CDFA, Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, Science Advisor to the Secretary and a member of the Flood-MAR Research Advisory Committee, and Josh Eddy, Executive Director of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture are working closely with DWR on this. The Board recently held a forum on managed aquifer recharge in California agriculture and put forth several recommendations. Flood-MAR is an integrated and voluntary resource management strategy that uses flood water resulting from rainfall or snow melt for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) on agricultural lands and working landscapes, including but not limited to refuges, floodplains, and flood bypasses. Large-scale implementation of Flood-MAR will require robust public-private partnerships, landowner participation, and the use of agricultural lands and working landscapes as effective and essential pathways for groundwater recharge and aquifer replenishment. Workshop participants will be asked to provide input on current activities related to Flood-MAR. The workshop includes online or in-room participation options. The in-room option will take place in the Hearing Room at the Bonderson Building, 901 P Street, Sacramento. Register for the webinar at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5272623740815701250. Start: Thurs 30 Aug 2018, 1:30 PM End: Thurs 30 Aug 2018, 4:30 PM Hearing Room, Bonderson Building, 901 P Street, Sacramento CA 95814 Increased Reward Offer for Information on al-Qaida Leaders Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah and Sayf al-Adl Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Department of States Rewards for Justice Program is increasing reward offers for information leading to the location, arrest, or conviction of al-Qaida key leaders Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah and Sayf al-Adl to $10 million. This represents a doubling of the previous reward offers of $5 million each announced in December 2000. Both individuals served as members of al-Qaidas leadership council, and al-Adl also served on the groups military committee. Both individuals were charged by a federal grand jury in November 1998 for their role in the August 7, 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. The attacks killed 224 civilians, including 12 Americans, and wounded more than 5,000 others. In 2001, Abdullah and al-Adl were added to the UN Security Councils al-Qaida Sanctions List as well as the U.S. Treasury Departments list of Specially Designated Nationals under Executive Order 13224 for their activities in support of al-Qaida. More information about these reward offers is located on the Rewards for Justice website at www.rewardsforjustice.net. We encourage anyone with information about these individuals to contact the Rewards for Justice office via e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), by phone (1-800-877-3927 in North America), or by mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, D.C., 20520-0303, USA). All information will be kept strictly confidential. The Rewards for Justice Program is administered by the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of $145 million to more than 90 individuals who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide. Secretary of State Pompeo's Call With Mexican Foreign Secretary Videgaray Washington, DC - Wednesday U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray. The two leaders talked about the importance of reducing irregular migration through Mexico and the region and discussed the need for greater investment in Central America to address security, governance, and economic prosperity challenges. They also discussed the importance of concluding a NAFTA agreement. US Navy Dive, Medical Teams Begin Subject Matter Exchanges in Trinidad and Tobago Port of Spain, Trinidad - A team of U.S. Navy divers and medical professionals arrived in Port of Spain, Aug. 8 to begin subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) and partner capacity building engagements with the Trinidad and Tobago military and security forces as part of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2018. Held on an annual basis by U.S. Southern Command and executed by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, Southern Partnership Station is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on SMEEs with partner nation militaries and security forces in the Caribbean, Central and South America. This years deployment will visit Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Honduras, Panama and El Salvador to work alongside those nations military forces, security forces, civilian health professionals, and other governmental agencies. The SPS mission is normally supported by the expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1), but this engagement will see teams arriving in Trinidad and Tobago aboard the Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44). At a press conference on arrival of Gunston Hall in Port of Spain, John McIntyre, U.S. Embassy Charge dAffaires said the U.S. Navys partnership with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, through exercises like Southern Partnership Station, continues to strengthen the safety and security of the citizens of both the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago. The exchange was also applauded by Commander Don Polo, Acting Commanding Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Gunston Halls visit to Trinidad and Tobago is part of the Southern Seas mission that is operating simultaneously with Southern Partnership Station. Southern Seas is an annual collaborative deployment in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility where a task group deploys to conduct various exercises and multinational exchanges to enhance interoperability, increase regional stability, and build and maintain regional relationships. Both Southern Partnership Station and Southern Seas operate under the leadership of Capt. Brian J. Diebold, commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40. Southern Partnership Station focuses on enhancing cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services and improving operational readiness for all participants. Additionally, the mission will provide an opportunity for U.S. and partner nations to operate in a multinational environment, refine coordination, improve interoperability, and demonstrate flexibility. We are here to execute diving subject matter expert exchanges with Trinidad and Tobagos diving and salvage forces, said Lt. Larry Salazar, company commander of Company 21, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, the unit participating in Southern Partnership Station. Our exchange topics include scuba and surface supplied diving operations, dive casualty diagnosis and treatment, underwater search procedures, and area search procedures with towed sonar, said Salazar. My dive and salvage company is part of MDSU-2, and our command is a key participant in Southern Partnership Station's mission, said Salazar. We exchange new diving techniques and procedures, and these engagements help strengthen U.S. and partner nation diving and salvage capabilities and interoperability. While the U.S. diving and salvage team engages with coast guard divers, an 11-person Fleet Health Engagement Team (FHET) will conduct SMEEs with the Trinidad and Tobago army and coast guard including exchanges with medical and non-medical personnel. The FHET will conduct subject matter expert exchanges with military and civilian organizations to effectively share U.S. Navy medicines best practices and lessons learned, said Lt. David Cruz, FHET officer in charge. The team will engage in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, tactical combat casualty care, and public health exchanges to effectively develop strong partnerships across the U.S. Southern Commands area of responsibility. SPS is a demonstration of the strong U.S. commitment to partners in the Caribbean, Central and South America, fostering goodwill and enhancing our collective ability to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. SPS 18 will conclude in October 2018. Secretary of State Pompeo's Meeting With Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry Washington, DC - Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met today in Washington with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. They discussed the strong U.S.-Egypt partnership, U.S. military assistance to Egypt, and close cooperation on bilateral and regional security issues, including Syria, Libya, and efforts to advance peace between Israel and the Palestinians. They also discussed the vital role of civil society in Egypt and the importance of the protection and promotion of human rights. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Shoukry look forward to holding the U.S.-Egypt Strategic Dialogue in Washington later this year. Ecuador National Day Washington, DC - Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo: "On behalf of the Government of the United States, I extend congratulations to the people of Ecuador on the anniversary of the first call to independence on August 10, 1809, which sparked the independence movement in Latin America 209 years ago. "Since we established bilateral relations, our nations have enjoyed deep ties, which are growing stronger every day. Vice President Mike Pences visit to Ecuador underscores the ongoing progress. Our bonds are made especially evident by the reinvigorated friendship and partnership between our two countries. The United States is committed to working with the Ecuadorian people and their government to expand bilateral trade and investment, strengthen security cooperation, and increase cultural and educational exchanges. We welcome the opportunity to work with President Lenin Moreno and his administration to build a stronger bilateral relationship in areas of mutual interest. "I congratulate all Ecuadorians on this day that led to your nations independence." With unemployment rates at a whopping 27.1% in the second quarter of 2018, the current state of the economy and 51.7% of the South African population being female, it is important for women to be granted opportunities in what is traditionally viewed as male-dominated industries, such as trade and manufacturing. High demand for artisans Success stories This is the view of Nelia Burger, training and development manager at Novus Holdings, who says that South Africa still has a long way to go to remove barriers for women to enter these industries.Artisans play a critical role in our business, from printing and electronic technicians to book-binders and mechanics, says Burger. We are working hard to break the perception that women cant enter this space, and we have seen that the young women that have completed their apprenticeships through our training academy, are a force to be reckoned with.The Novus Academy, which has indentured and trained more than 200 apprentices since its inception in 2011 and provided a support service to Novus Holdings, is an FP&M Seta accredited training institution that provides apprentices with specialised industry skills.According to the National Development Plan, the manufacturing sector plays a major role in reducing inequality and ensuring better working and living conditions for all. To achieve this, it has been claimed that the country needs to train over 30,000 artisans per year by 2030.Burger says that with such a high demand for artisans, it is vital to encourage more females to fill these vacancies. The women that are successful in the apprenticeships that we offer have applied for the same reasons that men do to move away from dire circumstances and become value-adding citizens and employees. Their successful qualifications allow them this opportunity and pave the way for other women to follow suit.Four such women include Funeka Mlambisa, Nasreen Latief, Noxy Mdlalose and Nozipho Mkhize. All four of which are setting the benchmark for female artisans by becoming the first females to qualify and work in their respective trades.Nozipho Mkize was the first ever female artisan to enter the programme at the Novus Academy in 2011. She did not let this stand in her way of achieving success and passed top of her class with an aggregate of 92%. She currently works as a printer at Paarl Media Gauteng, a specialised printing plant and sub-division within Novus Holdings.Noxy Mdlalose recently qualified from the Novus Academy as a Mechanised Bookbinding Technician and works as the first female Mechanised Bookbinding Technician at the specialised plant and sub-division of Novus Holdings, Paarl Media KwaZulu-Natal. Mdlalose says that despite the challenges she faces in a male-dominated industry, her passion for her work drives her to succeed. She also believes that learning a trade can provide women with faster access to formal employment and the opportunity to earn a decent salary.In 2014 Nasreen Latief achieved the top student award at the Novus Academy and currently works as a female Cylinder Preparation Artisan at Paarl Media Cape, also a specialised printing plant and sub-division within Novus Holdings. Latief says she was fortunate to have been given the opportunity to prove that women are very much capable of successfully working in the cylinder preparation trade. She believes that her hard work, dedication and a drive to succeed, led to her becoming one of the few female artisans within the printing industry in South Africa.Funeka Mlambisa, is another qualified artisan within Novus Holdings having trained through the Novus Academy and is one of the few female printers. She was led by her passion for trade when she did her apprenticeship in 2014. She felt a great amount of pride when seeing a magazine that she assisted in producing, on shelf. Mlambisa wants to change the stigma that printing is for males only and wants other women to be motivated to consider entering the printing trade.Specialised knowledge, rather than physical strength, is required to be an excellent artisan. We are proud of our young women artisans who have excelled, despite being in a male-dominated trade. We are not softer nor more flexible with them, and they are treated and trained in the same way as our male apprentices, concludes Burger. Recent Events in Zimbabwe Washington, DC - The United States government is gravely concerned by credible reports of numerous detentions, beatings, and other abuses of Zimbabweans over the past week, particularly targeting opposition activists. There should be no role for violence, intimidation, or harassment in the new Zimbabwe. We are also deeply concerned that Zambia chose to hand over former Minister of Finance Tendai Biti to the Zimbabwean authorities, and in the face of a reported Zambian court order blocking his expulsion from Zambia. This decision is particularly disheartening given the courage that Zambia showed in sheltering thousands of Zimbabwean freedom fighters from Rhodesian aggression in the days of Zimbabwes independence struggle. We will be discussing this matter with Zambias leaders and reviewing certain aspects of our cooperation with the Zambian government. The Government of Zimbabwe is now responsible for Tendai Bitis safety and welfare. We call on Zimbabwes leaders to guarantee Mr. Bitis physical safety and ensure his constitutional and human rights are respected, consistent with the rule of law and Zimbabwes international obligations and commitments. In Washington, the United States has convoked the ambassadors of both Zimbabwe and Zambia to register our gravest concerns. While Zimbabwe had a historic opportunity to move the country toward a brighter future for all its citizens, an electoral process marred by violence that does not respect constitutional rights and procedures is not a step toward that future. Do You Know Why Toilet Doors are Cut From Bottom in Malls and Offices? Read On to Find Out This is a story about Steve Jobs, one of his unusual habits, and its ultimate ramifications. It's largely told through the eyes of his daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs. (She has a new memoir.) I've written before about the five words she recalls him saying to her on his deathbed, and why they will be remembered as an important part of his legacy--albeit an unflattering one. But she also describes an earlier ugly exchange, which seems like it might have resulted from a childhood misunderstanding of her father's odd habit of getting a new car every six months--a habit he apparently followed for three decades. Here's the story and our reconstruction of Jobs's car-replacement habit, along with why he did it--and ultimately, why the trick he figured out won't work for anyone else, ever again. "You're not getting anything" Quick background: Steve Jobs had a complicated relationship with a woman named Chrisann Brennan. They first met in high school, and ultimately had a daughter together: Lisa Brennan-Jobs, born in May 1978. Jobs initially denied he was her father until a DNA test proved it. By 1984, he was involved enough in her life that she occasionally spent the night at her father's house. Around that same time, Brennan-Jobs overheard her mother telling a boyfriend how often Steve Jobs replaced the black Porsche convertibles he favored at the time. "I heard when it gets a scratch," her mother said, "he buys a new one." Brennan-Jobs believed the story and internalized it as a 6-year-old might. So one night, when her father picked her up in his Porsche for a sleepover, she asked him if she could have the car when he was done with it. Jobs snapped at her "in a sour, biting way," she recalls in the book. "Absolutely not. You're not getting anything," he said. "You understand? Nothing. You're getting nothing." The truth about the new cars Wow. What kind of father talks like that to his 6-year-old daughter? I guess if we want context, it seems like this happened toward the end of 1984, just months before Jobs would be fired as Apple's CEO. You can imagine he was under intense pressure at that point. But still, what a thing to say--and it's sad that it's apparently one of the lasting memories Brennan-Jobs has of him. However, almost 35 years later, it turns out there was a nice-size grain of truth in the story Brennan-Jobs heard from her mother about Jobs replacing new cars at a breakneck pace. It wasn't about being unable to stand driving a car that had a scratch, however. Instead, it was about Jobs's unusual penchant for driving cars that didn't have license plates. California law said that if you bought a new car, you had roughly six months (depending on a few factors) before you had to put license plates on it. So, Jobs apparently worked out an arrangement to lease a brand new car every six months. In the 1980s he drove Porsches; by the 2000s he was driving Mercedes SL55 AMGs. By replacing each car with a nearly identical one twice a year, it meant he never had to have a license plate. 'Not a lot of money for a billionaire' This explanation has been floating around the internet for years, since David Heath published an interview he'd done with Jon Callas, who's worked twice in security at Apple. I reached out to Callas to confirm the story today, and he did--but with the caveat that it's something he heard from other people at the time, not something he was involved with handling himself. Callas also didn't know exactly when Jobs started this habit, but he agreed it was plausible that Jobs had already started doing it in the early 1980s. Then, the habit sparked the rumor that ?Chrisann Brennan heard and passed along to their daughter. "Not a lot of money for a billionaire to have no plate," Callas wrote. "He's paying less than a thou per month--let's call it ten grand a year, to have no license plate." We don't know why Jobs was so into driving cars without license plates. Maybe it was aesthetics, maybe it was for privacy, maybe he just liked the idea of getting away with something. It's a Friday in August, which means that at enlightened companies across the land employees are taking the day off as part of some sort of "Summer Fridays" program. As the labor market tightens and the message that a little more time off can actually lead to greater overall productivity breaks through, more and more companies are offering reduced or modified hours over the summer. All of which is good news for both employees and their output-obsessed bosses, but according to Quartz's Annaliese Griffin, many organizations could actually be wringing even more benefit from their tweaked summer schedules. Instead of letting people take Friday off, give them Wednesday off instead, she suggests. Mid-week breaks beat long weekends But wait, tons of you are no doubt objecting, isn't the whole point of Summer Fridays to give employees three-day weekends so they can get away and relax? Why yes it is. But according to Griffin, three-day weekends (love them as we do) are not actually the most refreshing way to spend extra time away from the office. She has science to back her up. "Our human experience of time is ordered by 'pacers,' both internal (like being a 'morning person' or a 'night owl') and external, like the work week or a deadline," University of Texas time and communication researcher Dawna Ballard explains to Griffin. One of the reasons Mondays are difficult for so many of us, for instance, is that our internally determined "weekend rhythm" comes crashing into the externally defined rhythm of work. Because of the power of pacers, a Wednesday off will chill you out more than a slightly longer weekend. "A Wednesday holiday interrupts the externally imposed pacer of work, and gives you a chance to rediscover your internal rhythms for a day. While a long weekend gives you a little more time on your own schedule, it doesn't actually disrupt the week's pacing power. A free Wednesday builds space on either side, and shifts the balance between your pace and work's--in your favor," writes Griffin. As a happy bonus, most parks, museums and other recreational activities will also be way less crowded mid-week, she adds. Maybe leave it up to your team? It's an intriguing argument, and most of us can probably imagine how two two-day work stints might feel more psychologically refreshing than a four days on, three day off rhythm. But perhaps the best takeaway of all for bosses is just a heads up that there are differences of opinion on this subject -- not everyone craves Friday off above all else. The most effective policy might simply be to give your employees reduced hours and (within the limits of the particular constraints of your business) allow them to structure their weeks however they like best. You could even share Griffin's article with your team to inspire them to be thoughtful about their new killer summer perk. Running a small business often means more than focusing on the company's core mission. There are bills to pay, printers to "unjam," and personnel issues to manage. "At one of my startups, I was the CEO but also the one who had to run to the hardware store for supplies on my way home from work," says Mary Gale, an entrepreneur and senior lecturer in entrepreneurship at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. How can you free yourself from the daily grind of day-to-day tasks? Check out these eight tools, systems, and strategies to boost efficiency and streamline your workload, and start channeling more time and energy into doing what you do best--building your business. 1. Communicate more efficiently. While email is a necessary part of business, it also can be an enormous time sink. For effective communication with employees or business partners, consider using instant messaging apps such as Slack and video conferencing platforms like Skype or screen-sharing tools such as WebEx or Zoom. Each of these tools allows face-to-face interaction without the time and expense of traveling to meet in person. "As workers, customers, and suppliers are becoming more far-flung, these tools are making it more efficient to meet face-to-face," Gale says. "And fortunately, these technologies continue to get better and handle more functionality." 2. Keep your files accessible. Whether you're working at home, at your office, or remotely at a client's location, you need to be able to access important files on all your devices, all the time. Investing in a cloud storage solution enables you to always have access to those critical files--plus the peace of mind of knowing your documents are backed up. 3. Automate pesky tasks. "The biggest innovation coming down the line for small businesses is artificial intelligence," says Barry Moltz, a small business consultant and author in New Buffalo, Michigan. For instance, several accounting software platforms offer access to artificial intelligence-powered tools that can help with tasks such as organizing receipts, tracking income, and alerting users when bills are due. Email management platforms like Mail Chimp and Constant Contact can help you automate customer communication and marketing. BambooHR and Zenefits are among the tools that can help you automate payroll and other HR functions. 4. Take advantage of online banking. Web-based banking platforms save you the time and hassle of standing in line at the bank. You can deposit checks remotely, check balances, and transfer cash between accounts from your computer, tablet, or mobile device. [i] In addition to the convenience, online banking also can help you track the financial health of your company, says Wendy Banks, co-owner of Carolina Management Team, an industrial coatings and concrete repair company in Asheville, North Carolina. The firm's online banking platform is linked to its financial accounting software, so transactions are automatically downloaded. "Not only does that integration keep us from having to double-enter data, it also helps us make more informed and up-to-date management decisions," she says. 5. Get personal. While technology can be a timesaver, don't forget the human element. Take the time to get to know key business contacts, including your business banker. Your banker can offer a wealth of financial advice, access to capital, and valuable introductions to other professionals. Banks says the close relationship she's developed with her business banker has paid dividends, by streamlining the lending process and providing letters of reference to prospective clients, among other things. "It's important to be proactive to make sure your banker knows who you are and what you're doing," she says. "That way, you know they'll be there for you when you need help." 6. Outsourcing. A lot of small business owners get caught up in doing everything, with the excuse that they can't afford to pay someone else, Moltz says. One solution: outsource that work. "When you can hire fractions of people virtually, you could be using that time to make a real difference in your business," he says. Online firms such as Upwork help you find freelancers who can help take tasks like administrative work, customer service, or content writing off your plate. 7. Streamline hiring. As your business grows, you may need to hire more permanent staff. Recruiting can consume a lot of time and energy--from posting and promoting the job to screening, interviewing, and onboarding your hires. Tools such as ZipRecruiter can simplify and expedite that process by posting your listing to scores of job boards and keeping both you and your candidates informed throughout the process. Moltz also suggests asking your social media network for referrals. "This way you're getting recommendations of people who're already vetted," he says. 8. Find a mentor. Nothing can replace the impact of learning from other business owner's experience. "A good mentor can help a business owner prioritize and gain clarity amidst all their competing priorities," says Sam Orwig, a Portland, Oregon-based mentoring success officer at MicroMentor, a web-based mentoring organization. In addition to a traditional mentor, look for a technical mentor--someone with specific expertise in finance, marketing, or digital presence, for example--to help entrepreneurs address specific challenges. Break free of time-consuming, low-value tasks. Using these tools and strategies can leave you free to focus on the work that has the most value for your business. [1] A supported mobile device is needed to use Mobile Banking. Standard message and data rates may apply This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. PNC urges its customers to do independent research and to consult with financial and legal professionals before making any financial decisions. This site may provide reference to Internet sites as a convenience to our readers. While PNC endeavors to provide resources that are reputable and safe, we cannot be held responsible for the information, products or services obtained on such sites and will not be liable for any damages arising from your access to such sites. The content, accuracy, opinions expressed and links provided by these resources are not investigated, verified, monitored or endorsed by PNC. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kanye West had no answer when the TV host asked why he thinks President Trump cares about black people. The pair touched on the topic of politics when Kimmel asked about Kim Kardashian-Wests role in securing clemency for Alice Marie Johnson, prompting West to discuss his continued support for the president. The rapper said that as a musician, an African American, and Hollywood figure, "everyone around me tried to pick my candidate for me. Despite the perception that blacks can only be Democrats, the 41-year-old rap star told Kimmel that his support isnt about politics, as he is not a politician, it is about overcoming fear. However, when the late-night host pushed West to explain why he supports President Trump, or why he thinks he the president cares about black people, West was at a loss for words. Referring to the rappers 2004 claim that former president George W Bush doesnt care about black people, Kimmel said: What makes you think that Donald Trump does - or any people at all? Wests seconds of silence prompted Kimmel to suggest taking a commercial break. West couldn't answer Kimmel's question about President Trump (Jimmy Kimmel Live) Earlier in the interview, the Ye rapper revealed: I quite enjoy it when people are mad at me about certain things. 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes Show all 10 1 /10 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes "I was the best new artist this year" Kanye asserted this after losing the New Artist of the Year award at the 2004 American Music Awards Getty Images 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes I am the number one human being in music. That means any person that's living or breathing is number two. Kanye made this claim while appearing on the Wendy Williams show in 2007. He had recently released the album 'Graduation' to critical acclaim Getty Images 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes Yo Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I'mma let you finish, but Beyonce has one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time! In arguably the most famous incident of his career, Kanye bravely stole the microphone from then 19 year old Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech for the Female Music Video of the Year at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards REUTERS 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes "I walk through the hotel and I walk down the street and people look at me... like I'm Hitler" Kanye said this during a mid-set rant while on stage at the Big Chill festival in 2011. Despite releasing the acclaimed 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' in 2010, he was still widely disliked following the Taylor Swift incident PA Archive/PA Images 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes "I am Picasso. I am Michelangelo. I am Basquiat. I am Walt Disney. I am Steve Jobs" Kanye compared himself to these visionaries in a mid-set rant on stage in Paris, 2013 AFP/Getty Images 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes My greatest pain in life is that I will never be able to see myself perform live. In 2013, Kanye opened up to reveal more Kanye. His pain is understandable, considering such performances as his at the BRITs in 2015, where he came on stage with an entourage of flamethrower wielding grime artists (pictured) Getty Images 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes I have to dress Kim everyday so she doesnt embarrass me. Kanye tweeted this in 2014, around the time that he was designing the first Yeezy range AFP/Getty Images 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes By 50 percent [I am more influential than] Stanley Kubrick, Apostle Paul, Picasso f***ing Picasso and Escobar. By 50 per cent more influential than any other human being. Kanye made this claim backstage after appearing on Saturday Night Live in 2016, he did not show his working out Getty Images for Yeezy Season 3 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes "My wife just called me and she wanted me to make this clear to everyone. I don't agree with everything Trump does. I don't agree 100% with anyone but myself." This quote followed Kanye's recent expression of love for Donald Trump on Twitter, in which he claimed that he and Trump were "dragon energy" Getty Images 'Imma let you finish' - Kanye West's most controversial quotes "When you hear about slavery for 400 years... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice." Kanye made this comment in a May 2018 interview with TMZ. He later clarified that, in saying slavery was a choice, he meant "we can make our own reality" PA Wire/PA Images In May, West provoked extreme backlash when he suggested on TMZ that slavery of African Americans may have been a choice. Kanye West says he's worried about Kim Kardashian around 'player' Trump The outspoken artist has previously expressed his support for the president by wearing an iconic red Make America Great Again hat and referring to President Trump as my brother. On 6 July 2018, Cape Town celebrated the birth of its four newest residents when Inga Mafenuka delivered four healthy babies at Tygerberg Hospital. Kfm Mornings team with Inga Kfm Mornings team with Inga Luleka Mafenuka (quads granny) and mom Inga Mafenuka Ingas friends and family Tygerberg Hospital medical team who helped deliver the babies Darren Simpson (Kfm Mornings), Steve Werner (Station head: Kfm), Inga Mafenuka, Sherlin Barends (Kfm Mornings), Sibongile Mafu (Kfm Mornings) and Donna Davids (Clicks Helping Hands Trust) The Kfm Mornings team, Inga Mafenuka, Katlego Maboe and Monique Muller Kfm 94.5s breakfast show, Kfm Mornings with Darren, Sherlin and Sibs immediately adopted the roles of honorary aunts and uncles offering long-term support and love to the babies.The care started with calling on station friends, LottoStar, who gifted Inga and the babies with R10,000 per month for the next year to cover their expenses as a new family. The Kfm Mornings team wanted to add to LottoStars generous donation and throw the Capes Biggest Baby Shower. They brought Clicks on board, and through the Clicks Helping Hand Trust, gave listeners across Cape Town the chance to donate baby supplies and goods at four major Clicks stores across the Cape," said Stephen Werner, Kfm Programme Manager.Werner added: When Darren, Sherlin and Sibs heard that Inga did not have the traditional baby shower experience, the team wanted to do something special to celebrate her journey into motherhood. Kfm Mornings hosted a beautiful pink and blue shower experience with Ingas family and those who have supported her in her journey as a new mum. This included close to 800 000 people of the Western Cape who were able to experience the event via the live broadcast and our social channels."Capetonians supported the Mafenuka quadruplets with baby supplies. The Clicks Helping Hands Trust will match these donations and will support the babies with product and baby clothes for the next few years. Clicks, CSI Coordinator, Donna Davids made the announcement during the baby shower held at the Kfm studios this morning.Kfm 94.5 has made the commitment to follow the story of Inga and her four babies and keep close tabs on the Capes Quads and their lives. Further celebrations of their key milestones are expected soon. For more on Kfm 94.5 and the Mafenuka babies click kfm.co.za, or follow the station on social media: @KfmZA In this column, The Independent's wine and spirits expert, Adrian Smith, gives you a glimpse of the most collector-worthy port hes ever seen. We also touch on a sensational rum from the Philippines, delve into the world of white Bordeaux, and recommend a must-have gadget - with a little travel inspiration thrown into the mix. If theres one thing money cant buy its time. Which is why every now and again I am overwhelmed with joy to discover something that has stood the test of time and triumphed to tell the tale. My recent discovery is an incredible bounty, sourced and bottled by The Last Drop Distillers, who are in my opinion the most renowned and highly acclaimed rare wine and spirit curators on the planet. Their latest release showcases "Centenario," an incredibly rare set of two extremely old Colheita Tawny Ports taken from one of the oldest and most inaccessible wine regions in the world; the Douro Valley. Its not every day you can say youve drunk something older than the Titanic and its quite a beautiful thing to indulge on a piece of true history. With each sip you take, your mind transports you to a place of the past as you ponder what was happening around you at the very time this nectar was being created. With two vintages in the set comprised of a 1970 and 1870, you get a real sense of what can happen with time and let me tell you its stunning. Buy Now 4000 Spirit in the Spotlight: Don Papa Rum I always love trying a spirit from a country you wouldnt expect - in this case the Philippines. The more you delve into the story, the more you begin to realise that this completely makes sense I mean, it comes from Sugarlandia thats a bit of a giveaway. Introducing Don Papa Rum, the spirit of conversation; packed full of life, flavour and undeniable culture. It turns out the Philippines is one of the worlds biggest sugar producers, so of course rum is a natural fit. When your lips first touch the glass and the sweet honey nectar hits your taste buds, you get a feel for just how special this is and you can taste the rich, sticky molasses sugar as if it had just been freshly milled right in front of you. Grown at the foothills of Mt Kanlaon, this is where some of the finest sugarcane is farmed and milled to produce a sweet, rich, beautifully fragrant molasses. Its this raw ingredient which is fundamental to the pureness of flavour that can be found in Don Papa. For those who have a thing for rum, you may just fall in love. I would go as far as saying this is one of the best rums Ive tasted and believe me, there have been quite a few. Buy Now 27 The 5 White Bordeaux Wines You Need This Summer Were surprisingly slap bang in the middle of an actual summer. Quick, dont wait, dont hesitate, you never know when its going to end these are five top picks from Helena Nicklin from Winerist and The Three Drinkers to soothe in the summer heat. Sainsburys Taste the Difference Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc: Sainsbury's, 6.95 Believe it or not, Bordeaux is actually home to some stunning white wines, though its the reds that take most of the limelight. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are the key grapes for white and this zippy Sauvignon is leafy, citrusy and refreshing. A perky little starter for 10. Buy now La Perriere Bordeaux Blanc: the Wine Society, 6.95 Made with a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris, this is a vibrant, zesty, white with green nettle notes and a refreshing prickle on the tongue. Buy now Chateau Les Clauzots Graves White: Waitrose Cellar, 9.99 This is the style of Bordeaux white that makes you sit up and notice: Sauvignon Blanc with some Semillon in the blend and a moreish, creamy texture. Buy now Le G de Guiraud: Lea & Sandeman, 16.95 An excellent, well-priced version of a classic white Bordeaux style: Half Sauvignon Blanc, half Semillon and some oak ageing from barrels that have held the Guiraud Sauternes, give this wine a lemon creaminess and a pretty spiciness. Buy now LEsprit de Chevalier Blanc 2014: Berry Bros & Rudd, 27.95 Another classic blend of Sauvignon and Semillon with some barrel age and batonnage, which gives the wine a tropical hint with the citrus and a weighty, creamy texture. A serious wine, great with food. Buy now Take Champagne to the next level with Krug Encounters If you want to take your champagne discovery one step further, allow me to introduce you to Krug Encounters Tracks on Tracks, probably the best locomotive experience youll ever indulge upon. This partnership sees guests departing from London Victoria as they embark on a sensual music discovery. Three private train platforms, three exclusive musical performances. Each act has been put together by Jools Holland, amplified by exquisite gourmet cuisine from the stunning Evelyns table and paired with none other than one of the worlds finest bubbles, Krug. Tickets, starting at 450 including all food, drink and return travel to London, will be available here from Friday June 29. Thirsty Travels: St Hospiz Arlberg Often is the case youll come across hidden wine gems where you least expect to find them; in the middle of the Austrian mountain ranges, for example. St Hospiz Arlbeg is a ski haven in the winter and tranquil paradise in the summer, but its also home to the biggest selection of large format Bordeaux bottles in the world outside of Bordeaux itself. Who would have thought? Gadget in the Spotlight: Coravin Summer is a time for sharing, exploring and cracking open something special, but that doesnt mean you have to drink the whole bottle of said "something special." Introducing, Coravin. Yup, Coravin extends the life of your emblem wines by allowing you to have as much or as little as you like. So you can delve into a variety of beauties, limit yourself to one glass, or pretend that youre only going to have a small amount before cracking open the cork to discover youve already poured five and may as well finish the sixth. Phenomenal gadget which, in my opinion, is a total game-changer for wine lovers. Invest. Buy now for 249 In the September 2018 issue of US Vogue, Beyonce revealed she suffered from toxemia during pregnancy, but what is it? I was 218 pounds the day I gave birth to Rumi and Sir, the global megastar wrote in the magazine. I was swollen from toxemia and had been on bed rest for over a month. My health and my babies health were in danger, so I had an emergency C-section. We spent many weeks in the NICU. What exactly is toxemia? Toxemia is another name for pre-eclampsia, which is a condition some women develop during pregnancy, usually from around 20 weeks or after the baby is delivered. The exact cause of the condition is unknown, however its thought that it occurs when theres a problem with the placenta. Who is affected by pre-eclampsia? Up to six per cent of pregnancies are affected by mild pre-eclampsia and in one to two per cent of cases, it becomes severe. Women are more likely to develop the condition if they have diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease before they become pregnant. Having other conditions such as lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome also increases a womans chances of developing pre-eclampsia, and if you suffered from it in a previous pregnancy youre more likely to develop it again. Other factors that make someone more likely to develop pre-eclampsia include: Being over the age of 40 Having a family history of the condition Expecting multiple babies Having a BMI above 35 Having had a gap of 10 years or more since your last pregnancy. Six healthy breakfast recipes to try Show all 6 1 /6 Six healthy breakfast recipes to try Six healthy breakfast recipes to try You will need: 1 onion, 1 red pepper, 1 stick of celery, 1 cup of mushrooms, 4 to 6 eggs, 1 habanero chilli (optional), 1 tablespoon of oil, 25g of grated low-fat cheese, 150 ml of skimmed milk, 50g of turkey breast. Add some spinach for an extra boost. Method: 1) Cook your turkey breast so that its ready to add to the mix later on. Best to grill it and then chop it up as its healthier than shallow frying. 2) Meanwhile, heat the oil and add your onion, pepper, chilli, mushrooms and celery to your pan. Cook these for around five minutes until your veg is nice and soft. 3) Whisk your eggs and milk together in a separate bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper. 4) Add the egg mixture, veg, cooked turkey and cheese to a high-sided baking pan or tin and cook in your oven for around 15 minutes at 170C. 1) Cook your turkey breast so that its ready to add to the mix later on. Best to grill it and then chop it up as its healthier than shallow frying. 2) Meanwhile, heat the oil and add your onion, pepper, chilli, mushrooms and celery to your pan. Cook these for around five minutes until your veg is nice and soft. 3) Whisk your eggs and milk together in a separate bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper. 4) Add the egg mixture, veg, cooked turkey and cheese to a high-sided baking pan or tin and cook in your oven for around 15 minutes at 170C. DW Fitness Clubs Six healthy breakfast recipes to try Be careful when you buy your porridge, as some brands will cram a lot of sugar in there. Porridge is a good breakfast option as it is renowned for releasing energy slowly, which means you can get to lunch without suffering from a lull. A great source of fibre, potassium and vitamins, bananas are always a good accompaniment to your morning oats. DW Fitness Clubs Six healthy breakfast recipes to try Ingredients: 2 full eggs, 3 egg whites, asparagus, peppers, 50g of smoked salmon Method 1) Boil your asparagus in water for around five minutes. 2) Meanwhile, mix your eggs and egg whites in a jug, and add a splash of skimmed milk. Chop some peppers up and throw them in too. 3) Once your asparagus is cooked, drain it and chop into smaller chunks. Add these to your egg mixture. 4) Whisk your mixture and season with salt and pepper. 5) Pour the mix into a hot pan with a small knob of butter or a teaspoon of quality olive oil. 6) Cook the omelette for around 90 seconds to two minutes. 7) Once the bottom is cooked, take the pan off the hob and place under the grill for another 30 seconds to a minute in order to cook the top. 8) Serve with your smoked salmon. 1) Boil your asparagus in water for around five minutes. 2) Meanwhile, mix your eggs and egg whites in a jug, and add a splash of skimmed milk. Chop some peppers up and throw them in too. 3) Once your asparagus is cooked, drain it and chop into smaller chunks. Add these to your egg mixture. 4) Whisk your mixture and season with salt and pepper. 5) Pour the mix into a hot pan with a small knob of butter or a teaspoon of quality olive oil. 6) Cook the omelette for around 90 seconds to two minutes. 7) Once the bottom is cooked, take the pan off the hob and place under the grill for another 30 seconds to a minute in order to cook the top. 8) Serve with your smoked salmon. DW Fitness Six healthy breakfast recipes to try Greek yoghurt has vast nutritional benefits. Regardless of where you stand on the superfood debate, Greek yoghurts credentials speak for themselves. A good source of potassium, protein, calcium and essential vitamins, this food forms an ideal base for a healthy breakfast, especially if youre trying to lose weight. DW Fitness Six healthy breakfast recipes to try Eggs Florentine is not only a tasty breakfast, it also carries a hefty nutritional punch, particularly when you throw some spinach into the equation. DW Fitness Six healthy breakfast recipes to try So fast and easy to make, yet so effective. Wholemeal toast can be a good breakfast choice, as long as you are sensible with your toppings. Peanut butter is perfect. A good source of healthy fats, as well as protein and Vitamin E among other nutrients, a liberal spreading of peanut butter can set you up for the day. DW Fitness What are the symptoms? According to the NHS, early signs of pre-eclampsia include having high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in your urine (proteinuria). While these arent symptoms youre likely to notice yourself, they should be picked up during your routine antenatal check-ups. However further symptoms sometimes develop, including: Swelling of the feet, ankles, face and hands caused by fluid retention (oedema) Severe headaches Vision problems Damage to other organs such as liver or kidneys Decreased urine output Upper abdominal pain (just below the ribs). If you develop any of these symptoms, youre advised to seek medical advice. However, sometimes pre-eclampsia develops without any symptoms at all. How do you treat it? If your doctor diagnoses you with pre-eclampsia, you will likely be referred to a specialist who will monitor you closely over the remaining course of your pregnancy. The only way to cure pre-eclampsia is to give birth and so when it is considered safe, you may be induced or have a caesarean section. For most women, symptoms disappear soon after the baby is born. What is monkey dust? Monkey dust is also known as MDPV and comes as an off-white powder which can be swallowed, injected or snorted. It is from a family of drugs known as cathinones. While MDPV is man-made, a so-called designer drug, the cathinones include the naturally occurring stimulant khat, popular among some sections of the Somali and other West African communities. Before 2010 cathinones could be bought in 'head shops', but they were reclassified as Class B drugs in legislation rushed through Parliament to tackle the rise of the drug, mephedrone, before a wider crack down on so-called legal highs. They are chemically similar to amphetamines and have similar effects. Synthetic forms like MDPV can be made with various tweaks in their chemical structure and can cause unpredictable effects. MDPV has already gained notoriety in America, where it was known as bath salts. Fears around the drug were sparked by a number of reported "cannibalism incidents". This includes the case of Miami man Rudy Eugene who was shot while naked and chewing another persons face though this was later put down to psychosis not linked to the drug. Another incident with the drug led to an elderly woman being attacked with a shovel by a man claiming to be an alien. Scientists have discovered how blue light from screens on devices such as laptops and smartphones causes blindness, they say. Prolonged exposure to the short-wavelength light triggers toxic molecules to be generated in the eye's light-sensitive cells that causes macular degeneration, a condition which may result in blurred or no vision in the centre of the visual field, according to research by the University of Toledo in the state of Ohio in the US. Dr Ajith Karunarathne, an assistant professor in the university's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said: "We are being exposed to blue light continuously and the eye's cornea and lens cannot block or reflect it. "It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. "Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop." Macular degeneration is an age-related condition that is common among people in their 50s and older. Although it does not cause total blindness, it can make everyday activities such as reading and recognising faces difficult. The condition is caused by the death of light sensitive cells in the retina. These cells need molecules called retinal, a form of vitamin E, to sense light and trigger signalling to the brain, enabling people to see. But exposure blue light causes retinal to set a chain of reactions that leads to poisonous chemical molecules to be created in the light receptive cells, the research published in the journal Scientific Reports found. Kasun Ratnayake, a PhD student at the University of Toledo who was involved in the study, said: "If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signalling molecule on the membrane dissolves. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good." Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary The scientists found that a molecule called alpha tocopherol, a natural antioxidant found in the eye and body, stops the cells from dying but fails to offer any protection to the ageing population or those whose immune systems have been suppressed. Dr Karunarathne said: "That is when the real damage occurs." For those wanting to protect their eyes from blue light, Dr Karunarathne advises wearing sunglasses that can filter both UV and blue light outside and avoiding browsing on mobile phones or tablets in the dark. Additional reporting by Press Association The Perseid meteor shower is coming, and it will be better than ever. So you'll need to be even more careful to make sure you see it. The shower of shooting stars is caused by dust coming off the comet Swift-Tuttle, as it flies past the Earth. As they smash into our atmosphere, they light up and glow, causing the effect of what looks like shooting stars. And it will light up the sky with a stunning display. Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427 more commonly known as WR 124 and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region This year, they'll be better than ever: the new moon is arriving right at the same time as the peak of the Perseids, meaning they won't have to fight for their stage. Since the moon will be darker, the meteor shower wil be brighter. When should I see them? The Perseids have already begun. But the reason everyone is so excited at the moment is because the display will peak this weekend. Recommended Perseids meteor shower approaches and will be better than ever The very peak will be the very early morning of Monday, in the UK, or Sunday evening in the US. But they'll be visible all that night and the days before and after. How do I see them? In short, go outside and look up. In practice, it's a little more complicated than that. There's two main things you're going to want to avoid: clouds and light. And there's only one of those things you can do anything about. You'll have to check the cloud forecast for your local area and pick a time when it's going to be clear. If there are some clouds, you should be safe the stars shoot across the sky, after all but if the cloud cover is complete you might just have to wait it out. But the light is a little more resolvable. Just make sure you head out somewhere as dark as you can: the darker the sky, the more likely you are to see anything. The flipside is that if you're stuck in the city then you're probably not going to see anything at all. How do you pronounce it? Somewhere between percy id and purse id. If you want to hear that pronunciation instead, check out this explanation from Nasa. Nasa explains what Perseids are and when you can see them The same video explains plenty besides, too. Criminals suffering from mental illness, alcoholism and drug addiction will be diverted away from prison and into compulsory treatment under a government pilot. The Ministry of Justice aims to reduce reoffending by replacing ineffective short prison sentences with programmes that will tackle the root causes of criminality. A judge said the scheme could help nip in the bud some of the major causes of crime, as statistics show significant proportions of offenders have mental health problems, or are affected by drug and alcohol addictions. David Gauke, the justice secretary, has been pushing against the use of short prison sentences amid a crisis driving drug abuse and record self-harm and violence in overcrowded jails. We are all clear that we need to do more to support vulnerable offenders in the community, he is to say while announcing the programme in Northampton. I want to improve confidence in community sentences, and early evidence from these sites has shown that treatment requirements can have a significant impact in improving rehabilitation and addressing the underlying causes of offending. We need to do more to raise awareness and increase confidence in treatment requirements and I look forward to exploring how these sites progress. Plans drawn up with the NHS, Public Health England and Department of Health are being tested in five areas before the government hopes to roll them out nationwide. David Gauke describes shocking videos emerging from UK prisons They see psychologists stationed in courts to assess offenders whose crime makes them eligible for a community order, while local panels of judicial and health officials will liaise with magistrates and judges. The Ministry of Justice said that 29 per cent of offenders currently starting community sentences say they have mental health problems, a third misuse drugs and 38 per cent misuse alcohol. In the wake of failings by some private companies charged with enforcing community orders, officials said there will be a new minimum standard of service and additional training has been provided to improve collaboration between the agencies involved. HM Inspectorate of Probation has highlighted cases where offenders were sent back to prison after community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) failed to refer them to substance misuse services. In its annual report, the watchdog raised concern that prisoners serving short sentences do not get meaningful support to turn their lives around, adding: A much greater proportion of those serving short sentences need help with alcohol or drug abuse. Mr Gauke has repeatedly criticised short sentences since he took office in January, calling for them to be a last resort as statistics show the reoffending rate for prisoners held for under a year is 65 per cent. Twenty-five years ago the [prison] population was 44,000 today its 84,000, he said in May. I would like it to fall. The Ministry of Justice said research indicates that judges in areas where the pilot is being carried out hand down more community sentence treatment requirements, rather than jail sentences. The lead judge in Merseysides complex case court, which is part of a pilot in Sefton, said having psychologists in court meant judges can make community orders without having to delay a case by adjourning it. District Judge Richard Clancy added: It is a remarkable and innovative move which I fully support. This is an excellent joint venture, and I have seen firsthand how this allows us to nip in the bud one of the major causes of crime. A 2017 joint report by the Ministry of Justice and Public Health England showed a stark drop in offending by people who underwent treatment, with the number of crimes committed down a third over two years and 59 per cent for alcohol treatment. UK prison conditions: in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 UK prison conditions: in pictures UK prison conditions: in pictures A cell covered in graffiti at HMP Liverpool. PA UK prison conditions: in pictures HMP Liverpool has some of the worst conditions inspectors have seen. HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures A broken window in a cell at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA Wire UK prison conditions: in pictures A shower unit with protruding electric cable at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures Litter at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA Wire UK prison conditions: in pictures A wall damaged by damp at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures A pool table at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures A sign for HMP Liverpool, where drones are seized at a rate of more than one a week. The prisons watchdog flagged up the impact of the remote-controlled flying devices at HMP Liverpool. PA Another government study showed that criminals given mental health treatment as part of their sentence were significantly less likely to reoffend. Jackie Doyle-Price, the minister for mental health, said: All too often offenders are not able to access the support and treatment they need this type of action could prove to be the turning point that helps to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. We need to make sure services work together, not in silos, and this initiative is a vital step towards better information sharing and collaboration between health and justice agencies. Since the five pilots started over the past year in Birmingham, Plymouth, Sefton, Milton Keynes and Northampton, more than 400 community sentence treatment requirements have been given. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: Once the results of the trial sites have been assessed, it is intended that the scheme will be rolled out more widely across England. Latest official figures show the use of community sentences is decreasing across all offence and age groups, falling by 8 per cent last year and by 52 per cent over the past decade. Judges have lost confidence in the measures since the government part-privatised probation in 2014, handing the enforcement of community sentences, offender monitoring and other tasks to newly-formed CRCs. Inspections found that some were managing offenders with only a brief phone call every few weeks, making convicts carry out meaningless unpaid work like moving mud from one pile to another in graveyards, and letting them be released from prison homeless and with just 46 to last for several weeks. Last month, Mr Gauke announced that the government was preparing to scrap the catastrophic contracts two years early and launching a consultation on dramatic reforms. Until the current agreements end in 2020, CRCs will be given another 170m to cover huge losses, following a previous cash injection of 342m amid warnings they could collapse. Armed police descended on a busy east London road after a van was left abandoned near a tube station, sparking terror fears. The Metropolitan Police was called to Aldgate East underground station this morning after the white van was left in the middle of the road. Office workers said they had been shut in their buildings while the threat was assessed. Woah one lonely van outside the office surrounded by loads of police cordons and were not allowed to leave the building, Hannah Stewart tweeted. Olivia Millington added: Been told not to leave the office due to serious incident. Apparently people running out the station with backpacks but unconfirmed. But the scare ended when the van driver reappeared. A witness told The Independent she saw two men approaching a vehicle, with one holding what appeared to be a fuel container. A Met spokeswoman said: Police were called at approximately 10.55am on Friday, 10 August to reports of a man acting suspiciously near Aldgate East station. Officers attended and road closures were put in place. Following enquiries, the incident was deemed non-suspicious and stood down. No one was arrested, she said. A former NHS nurse who is facing deportation has been told to seek charity help in order to feed her child while she waits for the Windrush taskforce to look into her case. Sharon Vitalis, 46, has not been able to work or claim benefits while awaiting the decision, which has overrun the two-week deadline by more than six weeks, and called the department to tell them she was struggling financially. Politicians and lawyers said the advice from the Home Office to effectively beg for food was disgraceful and contradicted laws requiring the state to act in the best interests of children and provide financial support to children facing destitution. Mother of Windrush man Dexter Bristol who died after months of immigration problems seeks justice It will fuel concerns that Windrush victims are still being hit by the Tories hostile environment policy months after the scandal emerged, and raise questions about whether adequate support is being offered to those affected. Ms Vitalis, whose Windrush generation father served in the Royal Air Force, was born in Germany while her father was deployed to the country during his service. Her family moved back to the UK a month after her birth. She was recently threatened with deportation, which would separate her from her two British-born children one of whom is just 12 years old, and whose father lives in the US despite having a British birth certificate and living in the country for most of her life. The 46-year-old is one of scores of people referred to the taskforce who have been forced to wait months for their cases to be resolved despite a government pledge to process them in two weeks, as revealed by The Independent on Thursday. In a recording of her phone call with a Home Office caseworker passed on to The Independent, Ms Vitalis says: Is there any way I can apply to work while theyre waiting for their appeal? I am not allowed to work, I have no benefits. I have a 12-year-old child. The caseworker responds: Well Im afraid these are the immigration rules, so youll have to get some advice from somebody, but obviously the Home Office point of view if you dont have a legal status in the UK youre not entitled to work or study. Sharon Vitalis with her son and daughter, now 12 and 19, who she faces being split from after the Home Office issued her with deportation papers earlier this year (Sharon Vitalis) Ms Vitalis then asks: But what about children? You cannot have children going destitute. Fair enough Im not supposed to work that does not mean my child has to starve, to which she receives the response: Were not saying that. Do you have no one else who can help you? Because thats how we deal unfortunately You cant work thats for sure. And you wont have access to public funds either if thats the case Youll have to look on the internet to seek advice from any charitable institutions who may be able to provide some support. A week after the phone call, Ms Vitalis phoned the Windrush taskforce to inform them that her electricity had cut out, at which point they agreed to refer her to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). She now has a meeting with the DWP scheduled. Satbir Singh, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), told The Independent the advice given to Ms Vitalis by the Home Office wasnt just callous, it was also completely wrong. Recommended Windrush citizens still waiting for cases to be resolved Parents with children facing destitution may well be able to get financial assistance from their local authority under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989. We do not leave children to starve in this country just because their parent does not have status, he added. If one of our solicitors or an independent adviser had given such bad advice theyd be facing questions from their regulator about their competence. Its appalling that the Home Office effectively told Sharon to go and beg for food, when there are laws requiring the state to act in the best interests of children, and provide financial support to children facing destitution. Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told The Independent: This is a disgraceful case, even by this governments standards. The only reason why this poor woman does not have automatic British citizenship, unlike all her siblings, is because she was born in Germany while her father was serving there with the RAF. Sharon has herself worked in the NHS for many years. This is a slap in the face to migrants and public servants, and shows how the scandalous treatment of Windrush generation echoes down the generations. She added: The home secretary needs to right this injustice immediately. Sajid Javid has said he will deal with all these injustices, but in fact new cases are arising all the time. They will continue to do so until the government ends its hostile environment policy. The Home Office said it did not comment on individual cases. The Home Office has been accused of betraying child refugees and leaving vulnerable young people stranded in Europe because of failings in its flagship relocation scheme. Under the Dubs amendment, a limited number of unaccompanied minors across Europe are supposed to be brought to the UK and placed in local authority care. But The Independent has learnt that some youngsters relocated to Britain have been counted towards the capped total despite already having the right to be in the country under family reunification laws. Ministers have admitted that children who arrive under the Dubs scheme but are then reunited with family members still count towards the final target of 480, saying placing them with relatives was a decision for local authorities, not the Home Office. Charities and politicians warn that this means the scheme is leaving children and teenagers stranded on the continent when they should be given refuge in the UK, describing it as a cruel and callous means of circumventing the amendment. Safe Passage, which supports child refugees, knows of two children transferred under Dubs who were reunited with a family member in Britain either immediately or shortly after arriving, and therefore would have been eligible to enter the country anyway. The charity said there were likely to be more similar cases. Meanwhile, thousands of lone minors remain stranded in Europe, scores of who are sleeping rough in northern France. Only around 250 of Dubs places have been filled two years after the amendment was passed. Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told The Independent: This Tory government has betrayed some of the most vulnerable children in the world. If we can reunite some children with their relatives in Britain, then we should absolutely do so. But using this as yet another means of circumventing the Dubs amendment is cruel and callous. It is a disgrace that the UK continuously fails to meet its legal and moral obligations to child refugees. Lord Dubs said the UKs responsibilities to child refugees under the Dubs scheme were distinct and separate from its obligations to reunite families under the Dublin regulation. By classifying a child who joins their family as a Dubs transfer, the government is depriving another incredibly vulnerable unaccompanied child the opportunity to gain protection in the UK, he added. I have written to the home secretary seeking reassurances that the government will meet its legal obligations to all lone child refugees. Charities working with child refugees in France said delays on family reunion cases meant some children with family ties in the UK were being transferred under Dubs because it was quicker, leaving lone children who should be considered under the scheme vulnerable to exploitation. Margot Bernard, field coordinator for Safe Passage in France, said: Getting to Britain via the family reunion route can take a long time, so if a child with family in the UK is also eligible under Dubs they can get across this way and it might be quicker. But we know of other children without relatives who are eligible for Dubs but are not being identified. The process takes so long and this leads them to instead try to cross by themselves, putting themselves in danger and at risk of exploitation by people smugglers. Last week, a court ruled that the process used to assess 2,000 refugee children during the demolition of the Calais Jungle in 2016 was unfair and unlawful, after hundreds of children were not given adequate reasons for the refusal of their applications to join family members in the UK. Two hundred lone child refugees are estimated to be sleeping rough on the streets of Paris, while scores of unaccompanied children are living without adequate emergency shelter or proper access to drinking water in Calais and Dunkirk, in what the UN recently described as an inhumane situation. The Independent reported last year that youngsters in the region were becoming increasingly prone to exploitation at the hands of smuggling gangs who promise them a free crossing, sometimes in return for work upon arrival in the UK. Beth Gardiner-Smith, of child refugee charity Safe Passage, said: The UK government capped the Dubs scheme at just 480 places and now it seems even these small number of places are being used for children who could be transferred under another existing legal route. There are many vulnerable refugee children in Europe for whom a place under the Dubs scheme would be life-changing but only around 250 of these places have been filled two years after the law was passed. Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The Solidarity With Refugees group said Saturdays protest aimed to show our Government and the world that Britain is ready to welcome more refugees. Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis People march through central London as they take part in a protest rally organised by Solidarity with Refugees in a bid to urge the Government to take more action on the migrant crisis Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The protest comes days before world leaders meet to discuss crisis at UN General Assembly Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Demonstrators made their way from Park Lane to Parliament Square in London on Saturday afternoon Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Marchers chanted refugees are welcome here and waved banners reading no-one is illegal and lets help people Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The march was supported by charities and groups including the Red Cross, Asylum Aid, Save the Children, Hope Not Hate, Oxfam and the UN Refugee Agency Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis In the wake of Alans death, David Cameron pledged to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK over the coming five years but there have been additional calls to re-home those who have already reached Europe, as well as asylum seekers coming from other conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan Rex Features If its quicker to reunite a child with family through the Dubs route, that place should then be made available again for another child. And the government should get on with identifying those eligible children as well as speeding up family reunion so that all eligible children have fast, safe and legal routes to protection. A Home Office spokesperson said: It is wrong to suggest that we are misallocating spaces under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016, known as the Dubs Scheme, to children eligible for transfer to the UK under the EU Dublin Regulation. If a child who is transferred to the UK under section 67 has relatives in the UK, the local authority, which is responsible for their care, may subsequently decide that placement with that family is in the childs best interests. However, this is a decision for local authorities, not the Home Office. The campaign to Remain in the European Union is no longer overwhelmingly seen as the establishment movement in the Brexit debate, according to new polling. The survey by YouGov found that after months of the government negotiating to quit the EU, many British people see Leave as the establishment movement in the ongoing debate about the UKs future. The finding is significant because at the 2016 referendum Leave was bolstered by its image as an anti-establishment crusade, while Remain was hindered by the perception that it was the campaign of the government and business elite. Leaders of the Peoples Vote group, who commissioned the poll, told The Independent the shift will mark a change in their campaign strategy to more insurgent-style tactics. A senior source at Peoples Vote said: For too long our side of the argument has been, sometimes unfairly, seen as the establishment telling the people they got it wrong two years ago. We now have the chance to give voice to millions of people who feel the establishment has screwed Brexit up over the past two years and want to take back control of the process through a Peoples Vote. The source added: We will be making the case that the likes of Michael Gove are the establishment now they are in power, they are doing this to you. Jacob Rees-Mogg suggests a second Brexit referendum would be acceptable in clip from 2011 The YouGov poll of more than 10,000 people found that Leave campaigners are now regarded as the establishment by 34 per cent of voters, while those seeking to stay in the EU are regarded as such by 35 per cent. Asked if Leave campaigners understood the concerns of ordinary people, 27 per cent said they did while 54 disagreed. The figures for campaigns seeking to stay in the EU were 26 per cent and 52 per cent. The Independent has launched its own Final Say campaign, to win British people the right to hold a new referendum on Brexit, setting up a petition that has now attracted some 600,000 signatures. On Saturday, the first regional Peoples Vote rally will take place in Bristol at a sell-out event in the citys Colston Hall. The event will feature speakers from the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, as well as local activists. Our Future, Our Choice, the largest youth group campaigning for another referendum, will be spraying clean graffiti on Bristols streets using a power washer and stencil to inscribe their message on grimy paving and walls. Further rallies are planned throughout the summer in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cambridge, Cardiff, Liverpool, Birmingham and London. #Loeries2018: "Don't get stuck in your advertising filter bubble" - Ian Mackenzie I chatted to the international jury presidents ahead of Loeries Creative Week next week. Last in this series is Ian Mackenzie, ECD at FCB Six, Canada and this year's Loeries 'integrated campaign', 'print and out of home (OOH)' and crafts jury president. Ian Mackenzie is ECD at Canada's FCB Six and this year's Loeries integrated campaign, print and out of home (OOH) and print and out of home crafts jury president. Loeries Creative Week is once again taking place in Durban, with the four international jury presidents set to guide over 160 judges in selecting the best of brand communication from across Africa and the Middle East. Jury presidents for Loeries 2018 announced This years international jury presidents for the Loeries will head up key jury panels and are also part of the speaker lineup for this years DStv Seminar of Creativity, an annual highlight of Loeries Creative Week. Mackenzies session is one to watch for as his work has earned more than 100 international awards for creativity and effectiveness, including the One Show, D&AD, Clios, Webby Awards 17 Cannes Lions. Speaking of the Cannes Lions, Mackenzie has been at the helm of such eye-catching creative work as the Destination Pride project for PFLAG Canada, the most awarded Canadian campaign at the 2018 Cannes Lions and second-most awarded campaign in Canadian history. If thats not enough to pique your interest, Mackenzie is also co-creator and writer of the Our Food. Your Questions radical transparency platform for McDonalds it started in Canada, then rolled out globally. Who better as Loeries2018s integrated campaign, print and out of home (OOH) and print and out of home crafts jury president, then? Meet Ian Mackenzie - #Loeries2018 Jury President and DStv Seminar of Creativity speaker Loeries CEO Andrew Human says that the Loeries jury presidents are selected from the worlds top creative, as the Loeries is globally recognised: We have jury presidents who represent the creative diversity of three continents and four countries. Each is a leader in their fields and cover the range of film, radio, digital, out of home, print and design sub-sectors of the advertising and brand communication industry. Here, Mackenzie lets us in on his judging expectations, his unforgettable experiences in this part of Africa before, and what hes expecting from this years integrated, print, OOH and print and OOH craft entries Congratulations on being appointed as jury president for the Loeries! What does this mean to you personally? Congratulations on being appointed as jury president for the Loeries! What does this mean to you personally? Loeries Creative Week is once again taking place in Durban, with the four international jury presidents set to guide over 160 judges in selecting the best of brand communication from across Africa and the Middle East.This years international jury presidents for the Loeries will head up key jury panels and are also part of the speaker lineup for this years DStv Seminar of Creativity, an annual highlight of Loeries Creative Week.Mackenzies session is one to watch for as his work has earned more than 100 international awards for creativity and effectiveness, including the One Show, D&AD, Clios, Webby Awards 17 Cannes Lions.Speaking of the Cannes Lions, Mackenzie has been at the helm of such eye-catching creative work as the Destination Pride project for PFLAG Canada, the most awarded Canadian campaign at the 2018 Cannes Lions and second-most awarded campaign in Canadian history.If thats not enough to pique your interest, Mackenzie is also co-creator and writer of the Our Food. Your Questions radical transparency platform for McDonalds it started in Canada, then rolled out globally.Who better as Loeries2018s integrated campaign, print and out of home (OOH) and print and out of home crafts jury president, then?Loeries CEO Andrew Human says that the Loeries jury presidents are selected from the worlds top creative, as the Loeries is globally recognised:Here, Mackenzie lets us in on his judging expectations, his unforgettable experiences in this part of Africa before, and what hes expecting from this years integrated, print, OOH and print and OOH craft entries Have you been to South Africa before? If not, share what youve heard about our country and continent. Have you been to South Africa before? If not, share what youve heard about our country and continent. So do we! What are you most looking forward to from the 2018 Loeries judging experience and Creative Week? So do we! What are you most looking forward to from the 2018 Loeries judging experience and Creative Week? Youll also speak at the DStv Seminar of Creativity during Creative Week, share the essence of what attendees can expect. Youll also speak at the DStv Seminar of Creativity during Creative Week, share the essence of what attendees can expect. If you want to have good ideas if you want to have them often, and you want them to scale, it probably makes sense to look at the systems that underpin them. This presentation is my attempt to put together a few years of thinking on the topic. Im looking forward to it already. Lastly, whats the biggest trend in advertising that you expect to see from this years entries, across the various genres? Im looking forward to it already. Lastly, whats the biggest trend in advertising that you expect to see from this years entries, across the various genres? Leigh Andrews' articles About Leigh Andrews Leigh Andrews AKA the Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen , is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews Thank you. Its huge. Anyone working in advertising today would be honoured to be a jury president at the Loeries.For me, its a great opportunity to collect my thoughts on creative advertising and put it in service of an international jury. Its a big responsibility.If we get it right, well be part of capturing and signalling industry trends while making career-defining decisions for the winners. Ultimately, its a big chance to learn.This is my first time! I hear good things. I hear Africa is huge and defies generalisation. I hear South Africa is stunning and full of great people. I hear the region is struggling with some ongoing social and environmental issues. I hear South Africa in January makes an uncanny production stand-in for Canada in July.And I hear its far. 13,805 km from Toronto to Durban, as the crow flies. I want to see that crow!The people. One of the unfortunate things that can happen to you in advertising is getting stuck in your filter bubbles. Where you consume the same art and culture and ads as the people at the other shops. But imagine you could fly 13,000 km around the world to talk about ideas and craft with people who do the same job but in an entirely different market.Which parts of the business are universal? Which parts are regional? What does the best of the best look like over here? Im excited to see.My presentation is called, How ideas work. Heres the premise:Including: What is an idea? Whats common to the good ones? Is there a recipe? Is digital fundamentally more tactical than mass? I also want to challenge some conventional thinking about capital C advertising creative, including Big Ideas and trucker hats.OOH is always a purist playground. A few words of copy. The perfect image. We saw beautiful purist OOH win big at Cannes this year.McDonalds Follow the Arches comes to mind. We also saw Budweiser hack all three of OOH, digital and global licensing agreements with its genius Tag Words.Curious to see if the polarisation continues.KFCs FCK is a new high-water mark in client bravery. What other clients have risen to that challenge in print?And of course, theres always tons of great craft in this category. Cant wait to see it., versus just running down a checklist of media placements. Pedigrees Selfie stix comes to mind.Everything they added to the core idea made it better, and more effective. Emmerson Mnangagwas inauguration as Zimbabwes president has been postponed after the main opposition party filed a legal challenge to the results of last months election. Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi announced a ceremony planned for Sunday will no longer happen after the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) alleged irregularities in the countrys first vote since long-serving leader Robert Mugabe was deposed. The opposition party has demanded either fresh elections or the instalment of their candidate, Nelson Chamisa, as president. Recommended Security forces accused of violence after disputed Zimbabwe election The MDCs lawyers arrived at court on Friday to submit papers less than an hour before the seven-day deadline to challenge the result. We have a good case and cause, declared Mr Chamisa on Twitter. Zimbabwes Electoral Commission has said President Mnangagwa and his ruling Zanu-PF party won the 30 July election, with the president receiving 50.8 per cent of the vote and Mr Chamisa polling 44.3 per cent. The vote was Zimbabwes first without Mr Mugabe on the ballot, after a coup in November ended his 30-year rule as president. There had been hopes the end of Mr Mugabes presidency would begin a new era for the country after decades of political and economic paralysis. Mr Mnangagwa, a close ally of Mr Mugabe who later took part in his ousting, has said he wants to make Zimbabwe more open and democratic. But Zimbabwe has been rocked by violence since following the bitterly disputed election, with opposition supporters harassed and beaten in the streets. Two days after the election, soldiers opened fire during opposition protests in the capital, Harare, killing six people. Foreign governments, Western election observers and human rights activists have expressed concern about the excessive force and the reports of opposition supporters being targeted by security forces. The MDC claimed soon after the election that the vote was rigged but withheld evidence for the court challenge. We have managed to place before the courts all the mathematical and statistical irregularities, party lawyer Thabani Mpofu told journalists as after emerging from court. A copy of the filing was not immediately available. A number of grassroots groups and NGOs that fanned out across the country have released reports questioning high turnout in some areas and highlighting striking differences in the number of voters for the presidential and parliamentary elections. On Thursday, senior opposition figure Tendai Biti was charged with inciting public violence and declaring unofficial election results as fears grew over a government crackdown. Mr Biti had alleged before the electoral commissions official announcement that Mr Chamisa was the real winner. Mr Biti first fled to Zambia, where authorities denied asylum and handed him over to Zimbabwean security forces in defiance of a Zambian court order. The United States and several other nations, as well as the UN refugee agency, have expressed concern. In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Show all 55 1 /55 In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election People in Mbare celebrate after officials announced the re-election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters celebrate at the Harare International Convention Centre in the early hours Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election People in Mbare celebrate Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election People in Mbare celebrate Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters sing and dance soon after the announcement EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters sing and dance soon after the results of the Presidential elections were announced at the Harare International Convention Centre EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A vendor sells sponges near newspaper headlines on the streets of Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the newly reelected Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa celebrate in Mbare AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election People in Mbare celebrate Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A man reads a Zimbabwean newspaper the day after the violence on the streets of Harare EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A soldier fires shots towards demonstrators AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A wounded man reacts at the sight of soldiers while taking shelter in a stall at a market in Harare AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party (MDC) light a fire in the streets of Harare. Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Soldiers open fire to disperse crowds of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change supporters outside the party's headquarters in Harare REUTERS In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Opposition MDC party supporters hold a voting placard up high on a street in Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A supporter of Zimbabwean opposition MDC Alliance allegedly beaten up by soldiers sits with blood on his face as other protesters assist him AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A vendor scurries for cover with her wares as soldiers disperse demonstrators AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A wounded man hides under a tarpauling while the Zimbabwean Army patrols the streets of Harare AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Anti-riot police officers close the entrance to the Rainbow Towers, where the election results were announced in Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Soldiers open fire on citizens REUTERS In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Citizens run the Zimbabwean army during protests in Harare Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party (MDC) protest the result of the election, which they allege to be fraudulent Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition protest in the streets of Harare as police fire tear gas AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A soldier assaults a man on the streets of Harare during protests AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Zimbabwean anti riot police officers sit in a truck amidst protesters on the streets of Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Citizens run from riot police amidst protests in Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Soldiers patrol the streets during protests in Harare Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A Zimbabwean soldier beats a man on the streets of Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A man lies dead after the Zimbabwean army shot at protesters in Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A supporter of the opposition party protests in the streets of Harare Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Zimbabwean soldiers beats an opposition supporter on the streets of Harare Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition protest in the streets of Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition protest in the streets of Harare as police fire tear gas Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition burn a campaign banner of the ruling Zanu-PF party Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A man casts his vote in Mbare, a suburb of Zimbabwean capital Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A police officer keeps watch of queuing voters in Mbare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Voters stand in line outside a polling station in Mbare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Election officials remove political posters near a polling station on voting day Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Oppostion leader Nelson Chamisa arrives at a polling station in Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Oppostion leader Nelson Chamisa casts his vote AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa arrives to cast his vote in Kwekwe Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa casts his vote AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Voters stand in line outside a polling station in Kwekwe AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A woman prays outside a polling station in Mbare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Voters arrive at a polling station in Harare EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Former president Robert Mugabe prepares to cast his vote in Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A woman casts her vote in Mbare, a suburb of capital Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A woman casts her vote in the township of Makokoba Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A police officer casts his vote in Mbare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A woman prays near a polling station in Mbare EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A man casts his vote in Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Former president Robert Mugabe speaks at a press conference the day before the vote where he stated that he would not be voting for his former Zanu-PF party Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A supporter of the opposition MDC party attends the final campaign rally in Harare on July 28 Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) party attends the final campaign rally in Harare on July 28 EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) party attends the final campaign rally in Harare on July 28 EPA Zimbabwes Constitutional Court has 14 days to rule on the challenge to the election result. Judges can declare a new winner or order a fresh election. But some opposition leaders have expressed scepticism about whether the courts will fairly assess the election challenge, warning they are biased towards the government. However, Mr Mpofu said the MDC wouldnt have come to court if we thought that the court would not give us a fair hearing. He added: On the basis of the evidence we have placed before the court, we seek in the main relief to the effect that the court should declare the proper winner and the proper winner is my client. In the alternative, we seek that there be another election which complies with the dictates of the law. There is no inauguration that will take place until the matter is determined by the court. Activists have promised to continue the unstoppable momentum towards abortion rights in Argentina, despite the countrys Senate voting down a bill to legalise elective abortions. In June, the lower House had passed a measure to make the procedure legal during the first 14 weeks. Legislators in the Senate debated for more than 15 hours before voting 38-31 against the motion, highlighting the continuing power of Roman Catholic Church in the home country of the current pontiff, Pope Francis. However, Jessie Clyde, director of Grantmaking and International Partnerships at the International Womens Health Coalition, told The Independent the womens movement is unstoppable and there is a plan to push for another vote in 2019. There is no going back. Womens rights activists will continue to mobilise and those who refused to listen to their demands will pay a political price, she said. In Argentina, abortion is only allowed in cases of rape and risks to a womans health. Thousands of women, most of them poor, are hospitalised each year for complications linked due to unsafe abortions. According to experts, the Senate decision could echo across South America, where anti-abortion forces remain strong as they tout ties to Catholic Church despite the religion losing influence amid growing secularisation and a number of sex abuse scandals. Anti-choice protester harasses women outside abortion clinic in Brisbane, Australia Ahead of the vote, President Mauricio Macri said regardless of the result... democracy wins. He had originally been opposed to the bill, but he agreed ahead of the House vote he would not exercise veto power should both houses pass it. After the vote, Mr Macri said that the debate would continue. The government is also expected to include a measure in the penal code that would decriminalise abortion, although it would not legalise the practice. Weve shown that we have matured as a society, and that we can debate with the depth and seriousness that all Argentines expected, Mr Macri added. Even before the debate began and for the duration, thousands of supporters of legalisation donned green handkerchiefs and sat outside Congress in Buenos Aires. Opponents of the measure wore the light blue of the Argentine flag and all braved winters heavy rain and cold to watch the debate on large screens set up outside the building. Its not about religious beliefs but about a humanitarian reason, Cardinal Mario Poli, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, told churchgoers at a Mass for Life at the Metropolitan Cathedral on the eve of the vote. It was the church of Pope Francis during his tenure as the archbishop of Buenos Aires. Caring for life is the first human right and the duty of the state, Cardinal Poli added Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Show all 20 1 /20 Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Women in Dublin celebrate the result of yesterday's referendum on abortion law Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman in Dublin celebrates the result of yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Activists react at the count centre as votes are tallied folowing yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Co-Director of Together For Yes Ailbhe Smyth speaking to the media at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes voters react, as the results of the votes begin to come in PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Long time campaigner Annette Forde, from Drumcondra, at the count centre in Dublin's RDS as votes are counted PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Minister for Health Simon Harris (centre) with Fine Gael's Kate O'Connell and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy (left) speaks to the media on arrival at the count centre PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes voters celebrate at the count centre in Dublin as official results for constituencies are announced PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners celebrate at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman writes a message on a mural to Savita Halappanava, a woman who died of pregnancy complications AFP/Getty Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Activists react at the count centre as votes are tallied folowing yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald reacts with a member of the Yes campaign PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners celebrate at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners react, as the results of the votes begin to come in Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Senator David Norris at the count centre in Dublin as votes are counted PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman sits in front of the Dublin mural of Savita Halappanavar, a woman who died of pregnancy complications PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Repeal supporters at Dublin's RDS await the start of the count last night PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Minister for Health Simon Harris is greeted by retired Supreme Court judge Catherine McGuinness at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners react, as the results of the votes begin to come in AP Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A Yes voter poses with a badge as votes are counted AFP/Getty If women need an abortion in Argentina, there is a legal hurdle: applying for permission from a judge who can either grant or deny it. There is often no guidance for judges or abortion providers, particularly in rural districts, about what they are legally obligated to do. It leaves the approval of abortions up to chance, depending on where the woman lives. Critics have said this adds an unnecessary burden on the women, particularly poor women, and adds to delays in getting the sometimes time-sensitive procedure. In the past 13 years, six separate bills have been brought to Congress on the matter but the June bill had been the first one to successfully pass through the House. For months ahead of the latest vote, hundreds of doctors in Argentina had staged anti-abortion protests while feminists and other groups led even larger demonstrations in support of the measure, often wearing green that symbolises the pro-abortion movement, or red cloaks and white bonnets like the characters from the novel-turned-television series The Handmaids Tale. Activists estimate that 3,030 women in Argentina have died of illegal abortions since 1983. Lets recognise that were facing a public health tragedy, said Magdalena Odarda, a senator for Rio Negro province. Were not deciding abortion yes or no. Were deciding abortion in a hospital, or illegal abortion, with a clothes hanger, or anything else that puts a woman in a humiliating, degrading situation a real torture, she said. A pro-choice activist throws a bottle towards a mobile barrier wall set up outside Congress (AP) The Senate vote has disappointed women in Argentina, Ms Clyde said after hearing from activist groups all over the country, but noted they remain strident. They are confident that change is coming sooner rather than later. The Senate may underestimate the power of the womens movement, but this fight is not over, Ms Clyde said. Part of the reason for her confidence is that the tie between the reproductive rights movement and the women calling for an end to generations of gender-based violence in the country called Ni Una Menos, or not one less. Francoise Girard, president of the International Womens Health Coalition, previously told The Independent after the June House vote what helped the pro-choice movement immensely was that Ni Una Menos framed these debates as a democratic debt... owed to women as part of their rights as citizens in the Argentinian democracy. However, as Ms Clyde noted, women in the movement are cognisant of what a powerful force the Catholic Church has been in the country, even amid sexual abuse scandals and waning support among young people. Anti-abortion rights activists celebrate the lawmakers vote (Reuters) Part of the issue is the growing income inequality in the country and differences between urban and rural populations. While the Catholic Church has an outsized influence, this vote is also about privilege, Ms Clyde explained. She added: This was a vote against poor women, against rural women. Women of means can always pay for an abortion. For wealthy women in Buenos Aires and other cities this changes little, but for poor women, its devastating. Advocates also said the risk of illegal abortions can be dramatically reduced with proper legal guidelines like this bill because abortions are not altogether uncommon in the South American nation. The Ministry of Health reported 500,000 clandestine or illegal abortions are performed there each year in a population of approximately 44 million people, news outlet Vox said. There were nearly 250 maternal deaths in Argentina in 2016 and 43 were caused by abortions. Ms Girard noted that makes it the leading cause of maternal mortality, based on statistics from the health ministry. Activist groups have already planned on bringing political pressure on House and Senate members for the 2019 legislative session. Associated Press contributed to this report Brazil has broken its own record for the number of murders in a single year after the South American country saw 63,880 people slain in 2017, according to new report. The shocking number a rise of 3% on the previous year was revealed by the Brazilian Forum of Public Security (BFPS), an independent organisation that tracks national crime statistics. Rapes were also up 8% to 60,018, while 4,539 women were murdered, a rise of 6.1%. The grim homicide milestone underscores the deteriorating security in Latin Americas largest nation as a presidential election approaches. Brazil has long been the world leader in overall homicides, and its murder rate is also one of the highest. Security groups are raising the alarm about the continued rise in killings there were 61,597 homicides in 2016 after several years below 60,000. Im terrified to leave the house alone, said Maria Jacemar Ugulinho, a 60-year-old administrative manager in Rio. Three of my nephews already moved abroad to flee the violence. CCTV shows Luis Felipe Manvailer assaulting his wife Tatiane Spitzner in Brazil The BFPS said organised crime is one of the reasons the rate keeps growing, but it added increasingly violent police operations also play an important role. Those operations come as authorities seek to confront drug gangs and other criminal organisations that control many of Brazils favelas; slums with limited public services. The report counted an average of 14 deaths a day at the hands of police officers, which it said was a 20 per cent increase over last year. Critics worry cases of police violence will worsen, especially in Rio de Janeiro, where president Michel Temer has handed all control over public security to the military until the end of the year. Addressing violence against women, the report said more than 1,000 women were killed in hate crimes tied to their gender. Even though Brazil has strong domestic abuse laws, violence against women is regularly in the news. Most recently, security footage of a man beating his wife moments before she died shocked the country. Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead Show all 14 1 /14 Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead People hold a sign during a protest for the Rio de Janeiro's city councillor Marielle Franco, who was shot dead, outside the city council chamber in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15 March 2018. The sign reads: "No to the military intervention." Reuters Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead People take part in a rally against the murder of Brazilian councilwoman and activist Marielle Franco, in Sao Paulo Brazil on 15 March 2018. AFP Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead Brazilians in Sao Paulo mourn for the Rio de Janeiro councilwoman and outspoken critic of police brutality who was shot in the city center in an assassination-style killing on the eve. Getty Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead A man writes a sign reading "They will never keep us quiet" during a rally against the murder of Brazilian councilwoman and activist Marielle Franco, in Sao Paulo Brazil on 15 March 2018. AFP Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead People take part in a rally against the murder of Brazilian councilwoman and activist Marielle Franco, in Sao Paulo Brazil on 15 March 2018. Getty Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead A crowd says goodbye to Marielle Franco, the council woman and human rights activist on in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 15 March 2018. Marielle Franco, a well-known human rights activist who had become a harsh critic of the Army's intervention in the security of Rio de Janeiro, was shot and killed while traveling in her vehicle after a political event on 14 March. EPA Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead A woman with text written on her chest in Portuguese that reads "Marielle present," takes part in a protest after the death of councilwoman Marielle Franco, who was gunned down the night before by two unidentified attackers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, 15 March 2018. Police said the 38-year-old councilor, who was known for her social work in slums, was killed by perpetrators who knew exactly where she was sitting in a car that had blackout windows. AP Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead Aerial view from the demonstration against the murder of Brazilian councilwoman and activist Marielle Franco in front of Rio's Municipal Chamber, downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 15 March 2018. AFP Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead Hundreds accompany the arrival of the coffin of the Brazilian councilor Marielle Franco at the gates of the Municipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15 March 2018. Marielle Franco, a well-known human rights activist who had become a harsh critic of the Army's intervention in the security of Rio de Janeiro, was shot and killed while traveling in her vehicle after a political event. EPA Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead A crowd says goodbye to Marielle Franco, the council woman and human rights activist on in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 15 March 2018. Marielle Franco, a well-known human rights activist who had become a harsh critic of the Army's intervention in the security of Rio de Janeiro, was shot and killed while traveling in her vehicle after a political event on 14 March. EPA Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead Relatives grieve during the burial of councilwoman Marielle Franco, who was gunned down the night before by two unidentified attackers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, 15 March 2018. Police said the 38-year-old councilor, who was known for her social work in slums, was killed by perpetrators who knew exactly where she was sitting in a car that had blackout windows. AP Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead People take part in a rally against the murder of Brazilian councilwoman Marielle Franco, in Sao Paulo, Brazil 15 March 2018 Reuters Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead A crowd says goodbye to Marielle Franco, the council woman and human rights activist on in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 15 March 2018. Marielle Franco, a well-known human rights activist who had become a harsh critic of the Army's intervention in the security of Rio de Janeiro, was shot and killed while traveling in her vehicle after a political event on 14 March. EPA Protests held across Brazil after Rio councillor shot dead A woman holds a sign during a protest for the Rio de Janeiro's city councillor Marielle Franco, who was shot dead, outside the city council chamber in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15 March 2018. The sign reads: "Enough of killing our youth." Reuters Violence has been a central issue for candidates in Octobers presidential election. Far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro, who is running second in opinion polls, has promised to crack down on crime, in part by giving police carte blanche to fire on criminals. Samira Bueno, executive director of the Brazilian Forum for Public Security, argues for a different approach. She thinks the focus should be ensuring that different law enforcement branches work together. In Brazil, military police are in charge of patrolling the streets, but work separately from the intelligence operations of municipal police. The government primarily invests in the military police because voters want to see a heavy police presence on the street, Ms Bueno said. This leaves the civil police marginalised. Last month, the government introduced a single system for public security that aims to improve collaboration among different police sectors. Ms Bueno said improved cooperation is crucial because at present most homicide cases in Brazil never get solved. The lack of convictions sends the message, You can kill, and get away with it, she said. Additional reporting by AP Four people including two police officers have been shot dead in the Canadian city of Fredericton. One suspect has been arrested over the gun attack in New Brunswick province following a manhunt during which residents were told to remain in their homes and lock their doors. The countrys prime minister, Justin Trudeau, paid tribute to the victims of Friday mornings shooting. No further details of those killed have been released. Witnesses said they had heard gunshots shortly after 7am (10am GMT). A journalist at the scene reported hearing four gunshots more than an hour later. Fredericton Police tweeted that the shooting incident active at 9am local time (noon GMT.) The force told people to avoid the area of Brookside Drive between Main and Ring Road, a mainly residential area. Local media reported that an armoured police vehicle was on the scene and officers were evacuating people from the area. The public is asked to avoid the area and stay in their homes with doors locked at this time for their safety, police tweeted. At this time, we can confirm multiple fatalities. The incident is ongoing. More information will be available when we can. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work at this active incident. Police urged people not to use social media to report on the location of officers. David MacCoubrey, who lives in Brookside Drive, said he awoke at 7am to the sound of gunshots close to his home. He said heard about 20 shots in total and hid on his kitchen floor. Mr MacCoubrey said it sounded as though the gunfire was coming from within his apartment complex, comprised of four buildings in a square. Police later searched the complex, including his flat. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. 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Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Fredericton Police said at 9.45am local time (12.45pm GMT) that one suspect was in custody. They gave no further details and did not say where the shooting took place. Police continue to have the Brookside area contained for the foreseeable future as the investigation is ongoing. Please continue to avoid the area, the force tweeted. Awful news coming out of Fredericton, Mr Trudeau said on Twitter. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this mornings shooting. Wee following the situation closely. Fredericton, a city with a population of about 58,000, is the capital of New Brunswick in eastern Canada. In 2014, three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were killed another two wounded in a mass shooting in the New Brunswick city of Moncton. At the time, the gun attack was one of the worst of its kind in Canada, where gun laws are stricter than in the United States and deadly attacks on police are rare. But a proliferation of weapons has led to an increase in gun crimes in recent years. On Thursday, Ontario pledged more money for police and vowed to keep suspects behind bars while they await trial on gun crimes charges as the Canadian province grapples with rising shootings. Close Shots fired in Fredericton, Canada At least four people, including two police officers have been killed in a shooting in the eastern Canadian city of Fredericton, with one person having taken into custody. Police in Fredericton, a city of about 56,000 that is the capital of the province of New Brunswick, have a 48-year-old suspect in custody. Fredericton's deputy police chief Martin Gaudet said the two the officers saw two deceased civilians before being shot and killed themselves. Police chief Leanne Fitch identified the two officers as Sara Burns, 43 and Robb Costello, 45. Ms Burns was married and had three children, and Mr Costello had a partner and four children. The two other victims are yet to be identified. "Awful news coming out of Fredericton," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter. "My heart goes out to everyone affected by this morning's shooting. We're following the situation closely." Three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were killed and two more were wounded in 2014 in Moncton, New Brunswick, about 195 km (121 miles) from Fredericton, in one of the worst incidents of its kind in Canada. Follow latest updates below: Please allow a moment for the live blog to load. A federal judge in Washington halted a deportation in progress Thursday and threatened to hold attorney general Jeff Sessions in contempt after learning that the Trump administration started to remove a woman and her daughter while a court hearing appealing their deportations was under way. This is pretty outrageous, US district judge Emmet Sullivan said after being told about the removal. That someone seeking justice in US court is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing for justice for her. Im not happy about this at all, the judge continued. This is not acceptable. The woman, known in court papers as Carmen, is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed this week by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). It challenges a recent policy change by the Justice Department that aims to expedite the removal of asylum seekers who fail to prove their cases and excludes domestic and gang violence as justifications for granting asylum in the United States. Attorneys for the civil rights organisation and the Justice Department had agreed to delay removal proceedings for Carmen and her child until 11:59pm Thursday so they could argue the matter in court. But lead ACLU attorney Jennifer Chang Newell, who was participating in the court hearing via phone from her office in California, received an email during the hearing that said the mother and daughter were being deported. During a brief recess, she told her colleagues the pair had been taken from a family detention centre in Dilley, Texas, to the airport in San Antonio for a morning flight. After being informed of the situation, Mr Sullivan granted the ACLUs request to delay deportations for Carmen and the other plaintiffs until the lawsuit is decided, and ordered the government to turn the plane around. Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Show all 8 1 /8 Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Mishawaka, Indiana AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Washington DC AFP/Getty Images Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy New York Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks in Tornillo, Texas alongside the many other US mayors who have called for detained immigrant children to be reunited with their families AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Albuquerque Mayor Tim Kelle leaves a teddy bear as a gift for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti leave sandals as gifts for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy US embassy, Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni said he had not been told the deportation was happening that morning and could not confirm the whereabouts of Carmen and her daughter. The ACLU said later that government attorneys informed them after the hearing that the pair was on a flight to El Salvador. A spokeswoman for US Customs and Immigration Enforcement, which implements deportations, did not respond to questions about why Carmen and her daughter were removed from the country. In compliance with the courts order, upon arrival in El Salvador, the plaintiffs did not disembark and were promptly returned to the United States, a Homeland Security official said Thursday evening. Eunice Lee, who is co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the case and co-legal director at the University of California Hastings Centre for Gender and Refugee Studies, said: It must have been absolutely terrifying for them to think they would be returning to a country where they raised very credible claims of persecution and death. Its outrageous to me that while we were working around the clock, filing briefings for this cases early morning hearing, that people in the government were actively arranging for Carmens deportation. The Justice Department declined a request for comment. To qualify for asylum, migrants must show that they have a fear of persecution in their native country based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, a category that in the past has included victims of domestic violence and other abuse. Carmen fled El Salvador with her daughter in June, according to court records, fearing they would be killed by gang members who had demanded she pay them each month or suffer consequences. Several coworkers at the factory where Carmen worked had been murdered, and her husband is also abusive, the records state. Under the fast-track removal system, created in 1996, asylum seekers are interviewed to determine whether they have a credible fear of returning home. Those who pass get a full hearing in immigration court. In June, Mr Sessions vacated a 2016 Board of Immigration Appeals court case that granted asylum to an abused woman from El Salvador. As part of that decision, Mr Sessions said gang and domestic violence in most cases would no longer be grounds for receiving asylum. The mere fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimes such as domestic violence or gang violence or that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim, Mr Sessions wrote at the time. The ACLU lawsuit was filed on behalf of 12 migrants from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala three of them children all of whom failed their initial credible fear interviews. Two of the children and their mothers were deported before the suit was filed. None of the adults had been separated from their children as part of President Trumps zero-tolerance policy. The lawsuit says Mr Sessions ruling, and updated guidelines for asylum officers that Homeland Security issued a month later, subject migrants in expedited removal proceedings to an unlawful screening standard that deprives them of their rights under federal law. Asylum seekers previously had to show that the government in their native country was unable or unwilling to protect them. But now they have to show that the government condones the violence or is completely helpless to protect them, the lawsuit says. The Washington Post Police are investigating a shooting in eastern Canada, after four people were killed - two of them police officers - and a suspect was taken into custody. Gunfire broke out at around around 7am in an apartment complex on Brookside Drive in Fredericton, a city of almost 60,000 people which is the capital of New Brunswick province. Details about the suspect and victims have not yet been released, but police confirmed the suspect was being treated for serious injuries. It is unclear if the wounds were self-inflicted or a result of a shoot-out with responding officers. Police Chief Leanne Fitch identified one of the slain officers as Robb Costello, 45. His common-law partner Jackie McLean, said a police inspector informed her Mr Costello was among the victims. The couple had been together for four years and he leaves behind four children. Ms Fitch said Sarah May Burns, 43, was also killed. Ms Burns, a mother of three, had been on the force for two years. For a short time following the incident, police had put the entire area on lockdown, including a nearby daycare centre. The Sunny Days Children's Centre in Fredericton experienced a chilling moment during the shooting. "[It was] like a crack, crack, crack, crack like a handgun," Rachel LeBlanc, director of the facility, told CBC Radio. "We had to lock all the main doors, and we did put them in a room that had no windows and we shut off the lights," she said. More than 20 children had already been dropped off for the day when the shooting began around 7am. Fredericton residents talks about hearing about the shooting at the hospital he works at Keeping children together with older siblings, they all happily sat watching a movie. "They have no idea what's going on," Ms LeBlanc said. "I still dont know what to think. You cant unsee what I saw," Tim Morehouse, who lives in the apartment complex where the shooting took place, told Global News. I looked outside first and there was a cop that was shooting at the shooter and looked at my back window and saw three people that were dead." Describing the bodies he saw, he added: There was one male cop, a female cop and one civilian. Other witnesses in the apartment complex and surrounding area also expressed shock at the event, with several saying this was atypical for the quiet residential area and for the city as a whole. Bill Henwood, a funeral director at York Funeral Home, whose business is located inside the cordoned off area on Brookside Drive in Fredericton, said the lockdown occurred before anybody got to his workplace. Fredericton resident Justin McLean describes hearing shooting, seeing bodies Mr Henwood told the Associated Press people had been sitting in their cars or just standing near police and fire brigade vehicles, "hanging tight and waiting for word" on what comes next. "All the businesses even on the outside of the lockdown area have their lobbies and their business areas closed. They aren't letting customers in at the moment," he said. Mr Henwood said: "It's not something that we expect in Fredericton to wake up and hear about. To see that there's actually fatalities is pretty extraordinary for this area. It doesn't normally happen." For reference, the entire province only had 11 homicides in all of 2016. Police deaths are even more rare. Resident Marlene Weaver was in bed morning when she heard the shots ring out. "It was scary," she told Reuters, adding that it reminded her of the 2014 shooting when three Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables were shot and killed in Moncton, New Brunswick, approximately 121 miles (195 km) from Fredricton, by shooter Justin Bourque. It was the first homicide in Moncton in four years at that point, but not the deadliest incident for the RCMP. In 2005, James Roszko of Mayerthorpe in the Alberta province, shot and killed four RCMP constables as they were carrying out a property seizure on his farm. It stands as the deadliest incident for the RCMP in Canadian history. Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Show all 15 1 /15 Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown A man joins a vigil for the victims of a shooting the evening before, in Toronto The Canadian Press via AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Police investigate a car with a bullet hole AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Friends of 18-year-old shooting victim Reese Fallon leave candles on pictures of Fallon at a makeshift memorial AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown A crime scene clean up crew scrubs the side walks AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Desirae Shapiro, 19, left, and her mother, Gina Shapiro, friends of 18-year-old Danforth shooting victim Reese Fallon, react after visiting a makeshift memorial AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Police officers investigate a mass shooting on Danforth Avenue REUTERS Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Police are seen near the scene the shooting REUTERS Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown A friend of a victim who died in the shooting tries to go to the crime scene AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown A police officer looks for evidence under a car REUTERS Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown People leave an area taped off by the police near the scene REUTERS Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown People leave personal messages on a building under renovation, remembering the victims of Sunday's shooting on and near Danforth Avenue AP Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Toronto Police officers work on Danforth St AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Residents of the Danforth area leave flowers and light candles for the victims at the scene AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Toronto mayor John Tory speaks to police officers at the scene AFP/Getty Images Toronto shooting: gun attack in Greektown Toronto Police investigate the scene of the shooting AFP/Getty Images The suspects motive or relationship to the civilian victims has not been public at this time, but a local hospital indicated it was treating multiple people for injuries related to the incident. Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told journalists on the scene he could not discuss the details of the investigation at the moment. "Well see where this investigation leads in terms of what exactly happened, who did it, what was the motivation for doing it and the instruments of destruction that were used," he said. He added: "But broadly speaking, the government of Canada is obviously taking the issue of gun violence very seriously." By 10am local police had lifted the lockdown on the Brookside Drive area, but indicated the investigation was continuing as the suspect was taken into custody. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the second multiple-fatality shooting in the last three weeks via Twitter. "Awful news coming out of Fredericton. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this morning's shooting. We're following the situation closely, he wrote. On 22 July, two people were killed and 13 injured in the Greektown section of Toronto. The 29-year-old gunman, identified by police as Faisal Hussain, died. It remains unclear if his death was self-inflicted or from a shoot-out with two police officers responding to the violence. Toronto Mayor John Tory also responded to the Fredericton shooting. He said in a statement: Unfortunately, weve had more than our own share of experience with these terrible kinds of tragedies and I understand completely how much they are very wounding to the community itself, leave alone the families of the victims, to whom I also express our condolences on behalf of all Torontonians. I also know that our Canadian communities, including Toronto and Fredericton, are resilient. Though gun-related violence is far more common in their neighbour to the south, Canada has experienced an increase in crimes in recent years. Centrist politicians, Democratic Socialists, Never Trumpers and lava. Hawaii politicians are fighting tooth and nail for last-minute votes in a primary election that reflects the divides seen within the Democratic Party nationwide. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic Socialist who unseated a 10-term incumbent during a primary election in New York, visited the Big Island yesterday to stump for Kaniela Ing, a fellow Democratic Socialist and Hawaii Congressional candidate. The 29-year-old state representative is campaigning throughout the Democratic stronghold on a host of progressive causes, including Medicare-for-all, free college tuition and cancelling student debts. Hes joined in the race by Ed Case, a 65-year-old former representative who is well-known throughout the region for his fiscally conservative policies. Doug Chin, the states former attorney general, is another candidate who gained notoriety in Hawaii after filing a lawsuit against Donald Trumps administration for its travel restrictions against several Muslim-majority nations. The open governor's seat has also spurred a tight race between two Democrats who are career politicians, including one-term incumbent David Ige and Colleen Hanabusa, the state's current Congressional representative. Meanwhile, Hawaii's Republican Party has failed to field candidates in each of its legislative districts. Republican representative Andria Tupola is vying for the partys nomination in Saturdays primary, along with Ray LHeureux, the former CEO of a Pearl Harbour nonprofit. As lava continued to flow from the Kilauea volcano a natural disaster thats destroyed hundreds of homes and public buildings elected officials have grown increasingly concerned about voter turnout. Democratic Ocasio-Cortez won her primary in New York's 14th district "I don't believe the voters had a fair chance to get to know the candidates," Ric Wirick, who is running for city council, told CBS News. Authorities at the state Office of Elections initially decided to mail out 6,000 ballots and conduct the primaries in two precincts exclusively via mail, before a complaint from the American Civil Liberties Union forced it to establish a polling place in Pahoa. "People are still scrambling. They're still in a bit of shock," Eileen OHara, an incumbent city councilwoman running for re-election, also told the news outlet. "Their attention is not focused on the election. Still, candidates like Mr Ing are hoping for strong turnouts among voters who typically dont participate in primaries for midterm elections. Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Show all 30 1 /30 Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Channelized lava emerges on Kilauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on Hawaii. The USGS said on its website that "a fast-moving pahoehoe lava flow that emerged from fissure 20... continues to flow southeast," with the quickest of three "lobes" progressing at 230 yards (210 meters) per hour. AFP/US Geological Survey Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava erupts and flows from a Kilauea volcano fissure in Leilani Estates, on Hawaii's Big Island Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A plume of ash rises from a crater in the Mount Kilauea volcano after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the area, near Pahoa, Hawaii EPA/USGS HANDOUT Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Kilauea has opened 14 lava-and-gas spewing fissures in total Rex Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures United States Geological Survey Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava from a Kilauea volcano fissure advances up a residential street in Leilani Estates, on Hawaii's Big Island, on May 27, 2018 in Pahoa, Hawaii Mario Tama/Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A massive flow of lava consumes houses in Leilani Estates EPA/PARADISE HELICOPTERS Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava flows past trees on the outskirts of Pahoa during ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. REUTERS Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A plume of ash rises from Kilauea Volcano after a series of earthquakes over the last couple of days USGS/Handout via Reuters Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava emerges from the ground after Kilauea Volcano erupted Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Steam rises from a fissure on a road in Leilani Estates subdivision on Hawaii's Big Island AFP/Getty Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures This thermal image (looking south) shows the active overflows from the lava lake (upper left) onto the Halema'uma'u crater floor. View is toward the south. Rex Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures The results of the eruption from Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava is seen coming from a fissure in Leilani Estates subdivision on Hawaii's Big Island FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures An aerial view of a flow of lava moves to the doorsteps of the Puna Geothermal Venture facility after a new fissure eruption within Leilani Estates sending a fast moving flow of lava began to consume homes and property, near Pahoa, Hawaii EPA/BRUCE OMORI/Paradise Helicopters Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Smoke rises from the Pu'u 'O'o crater on the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii EPA Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Up to 10,000 people were ordered to evacuate as flows of red lava entered residential areas Reuters Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A fissure erupts in Leilani Estates, one of the communities most vulnerable to Hawaii's Kilauea volcano AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Smoke billows from Pu'u 'O'o crater on the Hawaii's Big Island EPA Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Remote image released by U.S. Geological Survey, shows a new lava fissure on Kilauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on Makamae and Leilani Streets USGS via AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Kilauea volcano's Pu'u O'o vent on Hawaii's main island AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava flows over a road in the Puna District as a result of the eruption from Kilauea on Hawaii's Big Island Byron Matthews via AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Kilauea volcano erupts AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava flowing over Mohala Street in the Leilani Estates area near Pahoa Hawaii Electric Light via AP Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures An aerial view of a massive surface flow entering the sea at Malama Flats EPA Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Satellite photo provided by DigitalGlobe shows lava coming out of fissures caused by Kilauea AP via DigitalGlobe Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures The fissure complex, pictured in the upper right, continues to feed a meandering lava flow (in the center). into the Pacific Ocean in southeast of Pahoa during ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii REUTERS Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Lava erupts from a Kilauea volcano fissure Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures A U.S. National Guard soldier (R) takes photos as lava erupts and flows from a Kilauea volcano fissure in Leilani Estates, on Hawaii's Big Island Getty Images Hawaii Kilauea volcano eruption: in pictures Getty Images/iStockphoto "Two weeks before my race, I was polling 35 points down," Ms Ocasio-Cortez said Thursday, speaking at a campaign event for Mr Ing the largest political event for a Hawaii candidate in years. "And we changed that in two weeks because we were talking to people who hadnt been excited about the political process before." Polling closes on Saturday at 6.00pm local time. The winners of Saturday's primaries will then face off in the November 2018 midterm elections. Close Ex-Trump Campaign Chair Manafort's Court Arrival The chief executive officer of a small Chicago bank that approved $16 million in loans to former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was seeking a post in the new administration, a witness has testified Dennis Raico, a former Federal Savings Bank executive testifying under immunity, said the bank's chief executive, Stephen Calk, expressed interest in such posts as Treasury secretary or Housing and Urban Development secretary. Mr Manafort later asked the incoming administration to consider tapping Mr Calk for secretary of the Army, according to testimony earlier in the week. Mr Calk, a retired Army officer and helicopter pilot, did not get the job. Mr Raico was one of several witnesses scheduled for Friday as the trial resumed after a recess that lasted into the mid-afternoon. He and James Brennan, a Federal Savings executive, were granted immunity against prosecution by Special Counsel Robert Mueller before testifying. The witnesses were the latest in the government's case against Mr Manafort, who faces 18 felony counts of bank fraud, tax fraud and failing to disclose about 30 foreign bank accounts. Please allow a moment for our live blog to load Four of Mr Manafort's felony counts involve the $16 million of loans prosecutors have said were extended by Federal Savings in late 2016 and early 2017. Mr Manafort denies all the charges against him. The bank and Mr Calk, who was named an economic adviser to the Mr Trump campaign in August 2016, did not respond to requests for comment. Rick Gates, the deputy chairman of Trump's inaugural committee, who also worked on his campaign, testified earlier this week that Mr Manafort had told him to ask about making Mr Calk secretary of the Army. Associated Press North Korea has denounced the US for continuing to call for the enforcement of international sanctions, despite its goodwill measures, in the latest sign of growing frustrations between the two countries. The isolated nations foreign ministry accused Washington of following an outdated acting script and said any moves towards denuclearisation are being jeopardised. It said Pyongyang had stopped nuclear and missile tests, dismantled a nuclear testing site and returned the remains of some US soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War. However, it said Washington was still insisting on denuclearisation first and had responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure. As long as the US denies even the basic decorum for its dialogue partner and clings to the outdated acting script which the previous administrations have all tried and failed, one cannot expect any progress in the implementation of the DPRK-U.S. joint statement including the denuclearisation, the ministry said. The statement accused senior American officials of going against the intention of US president Donald Trump by making baseless allegations against us and making desperate attempts at intensifying the international sanctions and pressure. It said expecting any result, while insulting the dialogue partner was a foolish act that amounts to waiting to see a boiled egg hatch out. Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Show all 20 1 /20 Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump and Mr Kim leave following their historic meeting AFP/Getty Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump and Mr Kim sign a document committing to peace between their nations, amongst other things EPA Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump holds up a document that both he and Mr Kim have signed AFP/Getty Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un The two leaders reach out to shake hands for the first time AP Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump and Mr Kim shake hands as they meet for the first time Reuters Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump and Mr Kim walk off stage, following their historic meeting Reuters Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump and Mr Kim take a stroll after their meeting on June 12 Reuters Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump and Mr Kim interrupt their stroll to talk to the media AP Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Kim and Mr Trump look out over a balcony at the Capella hotel, where they held their meeting on June 12 Reuters Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump takes questions at the press conference following his meeting with with Mr Kim AP Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump appreciates the crowd in the press conference following his meeting with Mr Kim Getty Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump travels to the Istana ahead of the summit with Kim Jong Un on June 12 Reuters Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Kim Jong Un travels to the Istana ahead of the summit with President Trump on June 12 Reuters Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Kim poses for a photo with Singapore's Finance Minister Vivian Balkrishnan and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung ahead of the summit with Mr Trump Twitter/Reuters Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump shakes hands with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, meeting on Monday June 11 in the Istana, Singapore's presidential palace AP Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un At a working lunch on Monday, Singapore's Prime Minister surprised Mr Trump with a birthday cake, in early celebration of his 72nd birthday later in the week EPA Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo answers questions about the summit at a press briefing in Singapore on Monday, June 11 Getty Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un US President Donald Trump arrives at the Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore on June 10, two days prior to his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Reuters Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump and Mr Kim met on Tuesday June 12 in the Capella hotel on the island resort of Sentosa, just off the south coast of Singapore AFP/Getty Singapore Summit: historic first meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un Mr Trump boards Air Force One following the summit AFP/Getty North Koreas comments appeared to be aimed at a US audience, as they were released in English by North Koreas mission to the United Nations in New York. The statement was also issued by the Norths state news agency, KCNA. Washington has said sanctions will not be lifted until Pyongyang fully dismantles its nuclear weapons. Earlier this week Mr Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, said Pyongyang had not taken the necessary steps to denuclearise while the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said Washington was not willing to wait for too long. It comes as the North Korean foreign minister, Ri Yong-ho, travelled to Iran, where the countrys president, Hassan Rouhani, told him the US cannot be trusted after the Trump administration reneged on a deal to lift sanctions in return for curbs on Irans own nuclear programme in 2015. #WomensMonth: Relentlessly chasing dreams Founder of J Communications, a PR and marketing agency based in Soweto, Jabulile Mqoqi, says she chases her dreams relentlessly and has a spirit of getting things done. Most of her time is spent in her mom's kitchen, where she cooks up winning strategies for artists and brands wanting to be recognised. Jabulile Mqoqi says she's the 'head chef' at J Communications. Here, Mqoqi tells us more about the obstacles she has had to face as an entrepreneur and shares powerful advice, encouraging other aspiring women in business... Throughout your career, what were the highlights that stood out for you? Throughout your career, what were the highlights that stood out for you? Here, Mqoqi tells us more about the obstacles she has had to face as an entrepreneur and shares powerful advice, encouraging other aspiring women in business... What were the most challenging obstacles you had to overcome to start your own business? What were the most challenging obstacles you had to overcome to start your own business? List a few of the specific challenges you think women face in the workplace today. List a few of the specific challenges you think women face in the workplace today. What can they do to overcome these? What can they do to overcome these? Whos your female role model/business mentor someone you respect and admire? Whos your female role model/business mentor someone you respect and admire? This Womens Month, what is your word of encouragement to aspiring women in business? This Womens Month, what is your word of encouragement to aspiring women in business? Juanita Pienaar's articles About Juanita Pienaar Juanita is the editor of the marketing & media portal on the Bizcommunity website. She is also a contributing writer. Juanita is the editor of the marketing & media portal on the Bizcommunity website. She is also a contributing writer. Starting! Definitely, thats the highlight, starting J Communications.Fear of the unknown. I had to get my headspace right and leave the fear behind me.We need to be taken seriously for our efforts and work.We need to be fierce, authentic and have tough skin.I recently did an industry guidance session with Sarah Jane Nicholson from SJN Agency, called #SJNWalkandTalk. Its a 30-minute session whilst she walks to or from work in Amsterdam. We talk about the industry and she gives me guidance and a few awesome tips for winning strategies. Shes humble, shes done great work for our South African artists and shes powerful. I love her shes my bucket of knowledge!Believe in your ideas, no matter how small. Put an action plan together, take off your heels, execute and never give up. The body of one of three Italian mountaineers missing on the slopes of Mont Blanc has been recovered by police. Authorities have identified the man as 31-year-old Luca Lombardini, who disappeared on Tuesday along with girlfriend Elisa Berton, 27, and brother Alessandro Lombardini, 28. Mountain rescue officials told Frances AFP news agency they believe they have located the two other climbers nearby, but fear they too have died. The other two mountaineers cannot be alive, a source from the rescue mission said. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty They are probably buried under stones and ice, they are probably in a square of a few dozen meters. Rescuers had been searching for the trio for three days in the Mont Blanc massif, a range inside the larger French Alps home to western Europes largest mountain of the same name. The High Mountain Mounted Police Platoon (PGHM) in Chamonix said the body had been found on the Aiguille Verte peak, around 3,500 metres above sea level. According to Italian news agency ANSA, Mr Lombardinis body was discovered at the bottom of a crevasse, around 300 metres below a ridge the group were thought to have been scaling. Recommended French skier who went missing 64 years ago is finally identified It said rescuers could only recover his remains by helicopter, cutting a rope attached to the climber which is also thought to be wrapped around his missing relatives. The family, from the Piedmont region of northern Italy, are understood to have embarked on the outing to celebrate Luca Lombardinis birthday. French rescuers assisted by Italian officials are expected to resume their search mission on Saturday. Four people had already died on Mont Blanc so far in August before Friday, including a local mountaineer who was thought to have been killed during a rock fall on the peak last Friday. A day earlier, three French climbers lost their lives after falling into a crevasse while trying to make their way down the mountain. After 22 years, an end is in sight for a dispute over a sea that questioned whether it was even a sea. On Friday, the Kremlin announced that an agreement had been reached between Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan the five littoral states bordering the Caspian Sea. Barring last-minute hiccups, the new convention will be signed in the Kazakh port city of Aktau on Sunday. Negotiations up to this point have been tough. The convention comes only at the end of two decades, 51 working groups, more than a dozen meetings between foreign ministers, and four presidential summits. But then again, a lot is at stake namely billions of dollars of oil and gas contracts. The Caspian, the largest enclosed body of water in the world, contains a massive 48 billion barrels of oil and 9 trillion cubic metres of natural gas in proven offshore reserves. Recommended Russia launches missiles against Isis from Caspian Sea And that is what we know about: there may be much more, but territorial disputes have frustrated attempts at proper exploration. The Caspian problem arose after the breakup of the USSR. Before then, the water was split between two nation states: Iran and the Soviet Union. Afterwards, there were four new nations to deal with: Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. One of the major stumbling blocks has been the status of the sea itself. Is it really a sea or a lake? This is no simple debate over words, but of development rights and cash. If it is designated a lake, the rights are divided up equally, with each nation receiving 20 per cent. If, however, it is deemed to be a sea, it is split between the competing nations in proportion to each ones share of its coastline. Iran, the major loser in the sea approach, had been resisting the definition. An early draft of the document published for a short time on the website of Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev suggested that the countries would agree to classify it as a sea. According to that document, the sea bed will be divided into sectors, and the waters between nations, fishing and common spaces. But a surprise may be in store. Speaking with the Kommersant newspaper on Friday, deputy foreign minister Grigory Karasin said there would be new jurisdiction for the Caspian. The Caspian Sea will have its own legal status, he said. The five littoral states will have the full jurisdiction over resources in their sectors of the seabed. In the absence of an agreement, the countries have continued to develop the seabed they believed belonged to them. To some extents, the treaty will formalise what is already happening. But, crucially, it will also reaffirm Russias geopolitical dominance in the region. It is understood the convention will contain clauses asserting that only the Caspian five will have the rights to use the sea region for military purposes. Airspace would be divided between the signatory states, and Russias Caspian Flotilla will be guaranteed access to the entire sea. Moscow was reported to have been concerned about the possibility of Nato building future ties in the region. Quite how Nato might have gained a stronghold in the enclosed pro-Russian region, however, was never entirely clear sea or no sea. A British mother was jailed in Dubai after allegedly being challenged over drinking a glass of complimentary wine en route to the city with her four-year-old daughter. Ellie Holman, 44, from Sevenoaks in Kent says she was informed that her visa had expired upon arrival to the conservative United Arab Emirates, and was told she would need to return to the UK immediately. The dentist, who was travelling with her young daughter Bibi, was reluctant to do so after an eight-hour flight. She became embroiled in a heated exchange with the airport official. Recommended What not to do in Dubai He then asked Dr Holman if she had been drinking, to which she replied: Yes, I had a glass of wine on the flight. Given to me free by Emirates Airline staff, reports the Sun. Dr Holman was informed that possession of alcohol is a crime in the UAE, even if this is inside a persons body. Police and immigration staff moved in and escorted the frightened pair to an airport cell, where their phones and passports were taken from them. Dr Holman also stated that officials tried to forcibly remove her hair extensions. After two hours, the pair were put in a police car and Dr Holman was required to provide a blood sample for an alcohol test. The result showed that she had just 0.04 per cent of alcohol in her blood, which is below the UK drink drive limit. Dr Holman and Bibi were returned to the airport detention centre, where she claimed the pair were refused food, water and told they could not visit the bathroom for two hours, resulting in her daughter being forced to go to the toilet on the cell floor. They spent three days in the detention centre, which she described as baking hot and foul smelling. After eventually being released, her partner Gary flew out to Dubai to accompany Bibi home, but Dr Holman must remain in the country and faces spending up to a year there while her case is processed. According to her lawyers, Detained in Dubai, she has been released on bail, but her experience has cost her 30,000 in legal fees, expenses and missed work. Dr Holman said: My passport remains confiscated until the case is settled, which I have been told will take at least a year. My practice is closed. All our savings have gone. Raging fires in Portugals southern region have finally been extinguished. Temperatures fell overnight in the popular Algarve region where the fires have wreaked havoc, but concern remained that strong winds could reignite the blaze. The fire has been dominated, said Patricia Gaspar, commander of the Portuguese operation. At this moment there is no significant risk that the fire will spread. Over 45 people have been injured, but there have been no fatalities as a result of the fires and tourists have remained unharmed. Portugal wildfires: Scores evacuated as Algarve blazes rage near tourist resorts More than 1,450 firefighters fought the flames that prompted the evacuation of more than 2,000 people in the surrounding areas. A statement released by the Algarve Regional Tourism Authority confirmed that the region is safe to visit. The priority has been the safety of the population and the operatives involved in the combat, with no tourists registered as injured so far. Recommended Why Comporta is the perfect antidote to the Algarve The hotel establishments have been in permanent contact with the civil protection authorities and with Algarve Regional Tourism Authority, and are monitoring the development of the situation, so as to guarantee the peace and safety of their guests. We would also like to remind people that only a small part of the Algarve has been affected by the discomfort caused by the fire in the Monchique area, and we can confidently say that there is no cause for concern for those who choose the Algarve as a holiday destination. The wildfires began a week ago in Monchique in the far south-west of the country and spread to Silves and Portimao on the south coast. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirmed that the fire is now under control, but warned: While the weather remains dry, there is always a risk of forest fires. Emergency officials will remain in the affected area to monitor the situation, reports Reuters. Hundreds of Ryanair flights will not take off as planned today due to pilot strikes in five countries. Staff in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands are staging a 24-hour walkout over pay and conditions. The airline said 396 flights have been cancelled as a result, forcing passengers who planned to travel on Friday to rebook or take different routes. Follow the latest updates below. Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load. The US immigration process is a complete and utter nightmare. A lot of nationalist pigs, neo-aristocrats and conservative talking heads love to prattle on about how easy us foreigners have got it but the truth is, earning the right to live and work in another place can be years upon years of stress-inducing and nonsensical, bureaucratic hell. Then again, sometimes its all about who you know, right? Thats what I think is the only real reason Viktor and Amalija Knavs were granted US citizenship on Thursday. I mean, dont get me wrong: Im sure the Slovenian couple are fantastic individuals wholl use their skills and unique life experiences to add their own special zing to Americas wonderful melting pot of diverse colours and creeds. Thats what our country is all about, and the Knavs' claim to citizenship has got a long and perfectly reasonable legal precedent under Americas policy of chain migration. George W. Bush 'disturbed' by current US immigration debate Whats chain migration, you might be asking? Its essentially just a loaded term boisterous politicians use to describe the provision of legal status to immigrants based on family reunification. So, that means if your dad, sister or Aunt Marge live in America, you can normally claim the right to go and live there, too. Its generally a pretty fair and benevolent way of treating people although you probably do get the odd piss-taker. And thats exactly why Donald Trump has launched an all-out war on chain migration. In his State of the Union address in January, the Teflon Don called chain migration a threat to the American economy, American security and our collective future as a nation. He told us he was going to implement harsh new rules limiting chain migration to stop all the piss-taking nepotism going on in our country, and protect us from those dirty foreigners cheating the system to snag an easy green card and bomb us to bits. By the way: this was a couple months before he started locking cute foreign toddlers in cages, if youre searching for a point of reference here. If Trump gets his way and closes Americas chain migration pathways, elderly couples like Viktor and Amalija Knavs simply would never have gotten the chance to live out their golden years in the United States. Youve got that right: Melania Trumps parents have just gained American citizenship through the process of chain migration. It looks like the first ladys sponsorship is what ultimately landed her parents with a set of green cards, and you know what? There is nothing wrong with that. Those are the rules, a lot of people can do it and Americas got plenty of space for a couple of 70-something Slovenians. Its not a big deal. Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Show all 8 1 /8 Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Mishawaka, Indiana AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Washington DC AFP/Getty Images Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy New York Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks in Tornillo, Texas alongside the many other US mayors who have called for detained immigrant children to be reunited with their families AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Albuquerque Mayor Tim Kelle leaves a teddy bear as a gift for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti leave sandals as gifts for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy US embassy, Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA Then again, if it's not a big deal for Melania Trump and her parents to take advantage of chain migration, why does her ham-fisted husband seem to think it's such a big deal when other people do it? Okay: at this point, nothing about Donald Trump and his incredibly huge set of hypocritical testicles should be able to shock us anymore. The man pledged to drain the swamp and end the unfair nepotism safeguarding Americas elite political class and within a couple of weeks of taking office, his crazy rich son-in-law was running the White House and his inexperienced daughter was given a governmental carte blanche. Donald Trump is totally shameless and self-serving. He doesnt care about whats fair for you or whats fair for America all the guy cares about is how he can make a quick buck and cheat the system for his own personal gain. Time and time again, Republicans have turned a blind eye to the blatant hypocrisy at play here because theyd rather swim laps in a grimy swamp that's laced with discrimination than queue up and pay admission for a relatively clean, council-run lido like the rest of us. America was founded on the idea that were all equal. It's a nation that was built by foreigners, and we dont have room for discretionary immigration policy. So Donald Trump needs to either deport his elderly in-laws or shut his goddamn mouth about everybody elses in-laws because nobody (not even the president of the United States) deserves to have their cake and eat it too. Targets to limit immigration should be scrapped after Brexit, UK business lobby group the CBI has recommended. Businesses need a new immigration policy, avoiding visas for EU citizens and putting migration on the table for trade talks, according to its new report Open And Controlled - A New Approach To Migration. Evidence from 129,000 firms across 18 industry sectors in the report showed the importance of migration at all skill levels, said CBI deputy director-general Josh Hardie. He called for "blunt targets" to be axed to enable companies to hire the staff they need. "This is no longer a theoretical debate," he said. "It's about the future of our nation. Openness and control must not be presented as opposites. "Scrapping blunt targets, ensuring all who come to the UK contribute and using the immigration dividend to support public services will add to public confidence. "Many sectors are already facing shortages, from nurses to software engineers - so fast, sustainable, evidence-based action is needed." The report highlights how businesses do not just need "the brightest and best" immigrants, but different skill levels across many different sectors. Mr Hardie outlined the contribution made by EU immigrants to building Britain's houses - from labourers and electricians to architects - and in food and drink, starting with farm workers, through logistics and into hospitality. "The stakes couldn't be higher," he said. "Get it wrong, and the UK risks having too few people to run the NHS, pick fruit or deliver products to stores around the country. "This would hurt us all - from the money in our pockets to our access to public services. "The needs are more complex than only ensuring that the UK can attract the 'brightest and best'." And he called for greater migration to be part of future trade negotiations to allow the UK economy to grow, as well as reform of the non-EU immigration system of visas. "For Global Britain to succeed, the UK must send the right signals that show it remains open and welcoming to the world," he said. "That means putting migration on the table in trade talks to get us a better deal, first with the EU and then other countries, where it is clear existing visa restrictions inhibit trade and foreign direct investment." Half of UK voters said if talks break down, then the final decision over whether Britain should crash out of the bloc or remain in the EU should be taken by the public. Picture: Reuters British voters would back remaining in the European Union by 53pc to 47pc if a referendum was held now, according to a major poll. Some 45pc want a say on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations with 34pc opposed, the survey for the People's Vote campaign found. If talks break down, half of voters said the final decision over whether the UK should crash out of the bloc or remain in the EU should be taken by the public and a quarter said parliament should decide. Opponents of Brexit said the YouGov study of more than 10,000 adults showed public opinion was shifting. Peter Kellner, a leading pollster and former president of YouGov, said the findings were "politically significant". "Across the spectrum, the message from voters in this survey is clear: if the government and parliament can't sort out Brexit, the people should," he said. Labour voters overwhelmingly said they would back remaining in the EU, some 77pc to 23pc for Leave. Most back a referendum on the exit deal, 63pc compared with 18pc. Some 73pc of those polled believe many of the promises made by the Leave campaign will be broken and 68pc fear a bad deal, with 64pc ready to lay the blame on the government. The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, has today signed off on further changes to Employment Permit Regulations, which will make it easier for the meat processing sector to source workers from outside the EEA. The changes provide for the provision of 500 permits for meat processor operatives in addition to the 250 announced in May 2018. Earlier this year, Minister Humphreys signed off on changes to the employment permit regulations to establish a pilot quota based scheme to address the immediate needs of the horticulture, meat processing and dairy sectors. She applied a quota of 500 permits for horticulture workers, 250 meat processing operatives and 50 for dairy farm assistants. A remuneration threshold of 22,000 was introduced for these occupations, with employers obliged to ensure access to suitable accommodation and training, including language training. There has been a particularly strong demand from the meat processing sector with all of the initial allocation of 250 employment permits for meat processing operatives set to be exhausted in the coming weeks. Minister Humphreys decided to extend the pilot scheme for meat processing operatives, following consideration of an evidenced based submission from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The situation for processors had been described as "urgent and critical", according to Cormac Healy of Meat Industry Ireland (MII). "Companies are facing critical shortages. It's a very labour-intensive industry, and when there's a shortage of labour it could undermine our ability to supply new markets and the growth of the industry," said Mr Healy. In making todays announcement Minister Humphreys said the extension of the pilot scheme for meat processing operatives will ensure that the sectors immediate labour difficulties are addressed and the potential that a lack of available labour could constrict growth is minimised. While agriculture stakeholder groups have largely welcomed the introduction of the scheme, SIPTU claims the scheme is a reflection of poor pay and conditions in the meat processing sector. "There wouldn't be a requirement for additional work permits if the terms and conditions meat industry employers offered were improved," SIPTU's agriculture sector organiser Mick Browne told the Farming Independent. "Our view is that the terms and conditions are so poor that meat processors won't attract new people in to the industry here." Irish fintech Chasing Returns closed a 600,000 funding round last week, attracting investors from Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan as well as a number of Irish tech entrepreneurs. The fintech company, which builds risk management solutions for financial traders, said that the funding round had been over-subscribed. The company now has 20,000 traders in 82 countries on its platform, including a large deployment with Canadian-based FX broker OANDA. The investment will be used to fund the continued expansion of the business and develop new products, and the company will take on eight new staff members at its Dublin office. It will also open a satellite office in London and expand into Asia. Set up in 2014 by Ann Hunt, Chasing Returns claims that its technology "analyses performance history to help traders understand their individual psychological strengths and weaknesses and turn it to their advantage." Before establishing Chasing Returns, Hunt spent 10 years working on Wall Street for JP Morgan building risk management platforms and another five years as an independent trader. Hunt said: "Recent achievements represent a strong endorsement of our business. User numbers have trebled over the past six months as we move into new territories and we look forward to taking this momentum forward." Investors in the company include chairman Ivan Fox, who in 2014 led an MBO of Merrion Capital with Pat O'Neill. Bonang Matheba distances herself from Women In Media Conference Television personality Bonang Matheba has revealed in a statement that she will not take part in the International Women In Media Conference on 5 September 2018 in Johannesburg. This comes after Taraji P Henson criticised the organisers of the conference for falsely advertising that she would be heading to Johannesburg to attend the event. Henson reportedly told people to 'get a refund' after the apparent fake news. AN IRISH cafe has brewed up a successful partnership with German retail giant, Aldi. Velo Cafe in Cork, founded by Rob Horgan, has built its reputation on Leeside thanks to the impressive quality of its coffee. The coffee is carefully hand roasted and packed in Cork - and has earned Velo an enviable reputation amongst coffee lovers. Now, that coffee will be available throughout 130 Aldi Stores in Ireland thanks to a special 'Grow With Aldi' initiative offered by the German supermarket chain. It's a dream come true for Mr Horgan whose George's Quay cafe has thrived thanks to a dramatic revival in Cork's quays as well as the area around Angelsea and the eastern docklands. "We are excited to see our product made available to Aldi shoppers across the country. We believe we offer something truly unique, and are thankful to Aldi for giving us the opportunity to share it, he said. Velo Coffee Roasters visited a number of green bean merchants before selecting their preferred supplier based on the quality, providence and traceability of their bean and their passion for great coffee. The coffee includes some of the finest beans produced in South America. If we dont start with the best raw material we cant provide you with the best coffee and we are delighted that we are going to be able to share our locally hand roasted coffee on Aldi shelves nationwide. Grow with Aldi represents a 500,000 investment by the retailer in a new supplier development programme. It followed from research which showed 78pc of Irish consumers select an Irish-made product over an imported option. CEO of Aldi Ireland and UK, Giles Hurley, said their new product sourcing initiative is commonsense. We have always taken great pride in our Irish sourcing and supporting Irish food and drink companies, having developed long-term partnerships with over 175 Irish suppliers throughout the country, he said. For a lot of small food and drink businesses, trying to secure a listing with a major retailer puts huge pressure on their team." "Weve launched this development programme to make it easier for companies to get their products on our shelves and to give our customers access to the most exciting and best quality new products from Ireland, he said. Velo Coffee Roasters coffee will be available in Aldi from August 23 with two product offerings, ground and whole bean. Investment in brands, and a competitive US environment for Glanbia's performance nutrition division, spurred a 7.3pc decline to 123.7m in earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) at the group's wholly-owned operations during the first half of the year. But chief executive Siobhan Talbot said the performance was in line with expectations and reiterated guidance for the full year. The reported decline in profits, when currency volatility was included, was 16.6pc. Shares in the firm fell as much as 5.4pc in Dublin. "People take a perspective, but we're very confident that we will grow by 5pc to 8pc [in pro-forma adjusted earnings per share] for the full year," she told the Irish Independent. Revenue at wholly-owned businesses was 3.6pc higher on a constant currency basis at 1.1bn, but down 6.2pc on a reported basis. Last year, Glanbia finalised a deal that saw it sell a 60pc stake in a joint venture called Dairy Ireland to Glanbia Co-Op. The co-op is the single largest shareholder in Glanbia plc. Dairy Ireland includes brands such as Avonmore and Kilmeaden. Glanbia also has joint ventures in cheese-making activities in the US and Europe. The group's pro-forma share of joint venture profit after tax from continuing operations fell almost a third to 17.8m in the first half of the year. At its performance nutrition unit, revenue rose 4.9pc to 519.6m on a constant currency basis, while its EBITA was 16.4pc lower at 63.3m. The remnants of troubled UK budget retailer Poundworld look set to be bought by the Henderson family from Dublin. Headed by Ray Henderson, the family were behind a separate Irish version of Poundworld which was established here in 1984. It was later rebranded in line with the conversion to the euro and sold in 2007. Mr Henderson's son David, who led the negotiations, confirmed yesterday that their offer to purchase the best and remaining stores for an undisclosed sum had been accepted by administrators Deloitte. He said the family have formed a new UK entity, RVP Holdings Ltd, to operate the business there. "We are delighted to have agreed the purchase of Poundworld and we now look forward to bringing the company back to profit and provide current and new customers with an unrivalled product offering at low prices," he said. Last week David Henderson told Newstalk that if the bid was successful he would look at selling more expensive products in Poundworld stores. He declined to name who the family's financial backers, saying it was commercially sensitive. Last year Poundworld turned over nearly 500m in the UK, with 6,000 employees across 337 stores. Poundworld UK, which was bought by US TPG Capital in 2015 for 150m, collapsed into administration in June, with more than 250 stores closing, resulting in the loss of 4,000 jobs. A source close to the administrators said that while there had been an agreement in principle, the deal had not yet been confirmed. A formal announcement is expected early next week. A string of British store groups have either gone out of business or announced plans to close shops this year as they struggle with subdued consumer spending, rising labour costs, higher business property taxes and growing online competition. The near-demise of Poundworld, based near Wakefield in northern England, follows the collapse this year of Toys R Us UK, electricals group Maplin and drinks wholesaler Conviviality. (Additional reporting Reuters) KBC Bank Ireland plans to sell a portfolio of non-performing loans - including buy-to-let mortgages. No family home mortgages are included, but CEO Wim Verbraeken said he could not "as a matter of principle" rule out such a sale in future, while adding that nothing was pending. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr Verbraeken said sensitivities around the sale of family home loans had played a role in the decision to exclude them from this sale, which is expected to complete this year and includes loans with a par value of 1.9bn. "We have reduced very substantially the number of cases in arrears and our non-performing exposures in an organic way, and we will continue to do that," Mr Verbraeken said. "Once this transaction closes we will continue to work with the remaining non-performing loan exposure that we have, which will primarily be that PDH (private dwelling home) book that is in distress. We see potential there to further reduce that over time." The Irish arm of the bank posted a net profit of 115.9m in the first half, compared to 173.1m in the same period last year. It said the decrease was mainly due to the fact that last year it released more provisions held against loans going bad. It added more than 40,000 new customer accounts in the first half. The bank said digital products - such as an app letting customers set up a bank account on their phones - had fuelled this. New mortgage lending came in at 422m in the first half, an increase of more than 26.7pc on the first half of last year. Last year, the bank announced it was looking at micro-SMEs as a particular area of interest. Dara Deering, KBC's director of retail banking, said the bank had identified the professional sector, and in particular entities like solicitors' firms and dental practices, as a potentially attractive sector. Mr Verbraeken said the bank is looking at evolving its insurance offering by using expertise from the parent company in Belgium to provide products directly, and with a wider range, though he said this was "down the road". Currently it provides products through third parties. Kerry Group CEO Edmond Scanlon said it is ready to spend as much as 800m on acquisitions Kerry Group CEO Edmond Scanlon is considering a new support payment scheme for the company's milk suppliers, with many farmers suffering the consequences of this year's extreme weather. Mr Scanlon told reporters in Dublin yesterday that such a scheme was "something we're going to have to look at". "There's a package of thing we're looking at in terms of different types of support. We have to see how the next couple of months trade out, how the weather goes... but certainly we won't be found wanting as an organisation to help out our farmers." Around 14pc of the company is owned by the Kerry co-op. He said he was more optimistic about the prospect of a milk price increase than he was in February. "Generally speaking we'd be fairly optimistic that the milk price would hold up. At the end of the day Kerry Group doesn't set the milk price, it's a market-driven event but we are doing everything we possibly can to drive the volatility out of it." He said the company could spend as much as 800m on acquisitions this year, and that its pipeline in this regard was as strong as he has ever seen. "We very much see ourself as the consolidator in our space. We feel very good about where we are," Mr Scanlon said, adding that the acquisition plan would be largely focused on the company's taste and nutrition division. He said, however, that reaching close to 800m of spend would depend on the timing of deal closures. That division - which provides ingredients to other firms - is by now substantially larger than its other division, which makes consumer foods like Denny and Cheestrings. The company posted revenue growth of 1.4pc year-on-year in the first half. Sales volumes were up 3.6pc but reported revenue was held back by currency movements. Volumes grew 4.1pc in the taste and nutrition division and 1.3pc in the consumer foods division. Asked if the company might eventually look to sell the consumer foods business, Mr Scanlon said: "The business is getting smaller in the overall scheme of things [in the proportion of the company's revenues and profits it makes up] but it's still an important leg to the stool. "It offers a lot of insights because of the way it's positioned in the UK market, to the rest of the business. The business is growing, it's outperforming its markets, they're the hallmarks of a good business." Shares in Kerry Group rose 1.9pc in Dublin yesterday to 93.85 each. Fast-food giant McDonald's has hit back at Supermac's in the latest round of the European brand war between the two firms. The US firm has lodged a fresh 40-page submission with the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) as it seeks to prevent Irish food chain Supermac's from expanding its brand across Europe. Advancing its case earlier this year for the registration of the Supermac's brand in Europe, the Galway firm said since 1978 it had operated as Supermac's in Ireland without any complaint. However, in its rebuttal, McDonald's said that facts around Supermac's history and the alleged long-standing co-existence of McDonald's and Supermac's and their trademarks in Ireland "are of no relevance" to the current proceedings. The US giant also claims that Supermac's argument - that McDonald's opposition to the Irish brand is potentially an abuse of McDonald's position as the number one fast food chain in Europe - "cannot prosper". McDonald's says there remains a likelihood of confusion between the two brands and that the Galway firm has not provided any convincing arguments to counter that and has asked the EUIPO to refuse the Supermac's application. Yesterday, Supermac's supremo Pat McDonagh said he remains confident that his firm's application will be successful. "Absolutely, if logic and common sense prevails. We should be successful. We await the decision of the EUIPO." This week, Adrian Weckler sits down with two ambitious, successful young entrepreneurs who have one thing in common: they came to Dublin for the promise of its tech industry. What did they find? Is Dublin the real tech capital they had heard about? Can you make it big here? What about those who say that Dublin is just a glorified big outsourcing centre for multinationals? American Austin Spivey (head of operations for Wia Technologies) and Sergei Lyubka (co-founder and CTO Of Cesanta) give a frank assessment of whats good and bad about Dublin. Unsurprisingly, accommodation comes across as a nightmare. Ive found it harder to get an apartment here than in San Francisco, says Spivey. I would say that its really tough. On the other hand, the quality of the people in Dublin and the number of other companies performing at a high level is a big draw, say Spivey and Lyubka. Dublin is a proper tech capital, says Lyubka. Most of our market is the US so we could locate anywhere but Dublin is where we want to be. A woman holds a new Samsung Note 9 smartphone during a product launch event at at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York, yesterday Photo: Getty It looks like we'd better get used to paying 1,000 for new phones. That's the price (1,029) Samsung has set for its Note 9 flagship model. And that's just the basic version. The premium model costs a whopping 1,279. The premium version has more memory and storage. The Note 9 comes with a new, bigger, 6.4-inch screen and a 4,000mAh battery. But it looks like a tough sell to Irish consumers. Perhaps fearing no-one will pay the big price, mobile operators say they won't sell the premium version in the Irish market. Are they right? After all, they all sell the 1,179 iPhone X. Is Samsung not a premium-enough brand? Maybe not. The move by operators to skip the premium Note 9 model comes after Samsung suffered lower-than-expected sales of its current flagship model, the S9. It shipped nine million models in Samsung's second quarter, a million lower than the previous three months. It is the first time in Samsung's history that it has seen such a decline. The larger battery is the first time Samsung has tried out a bigger power unit after the fires and overheating that almost destroyed the Note series of smartphones. Last year airlines began allowing Samsung Note phones back on board following the debacle two years ago but the company has been battling negative perceptions over the Note lines safety ever since. Samsung's 1,029 price for its lower-tier Note 9 signifies that premium devices look set to cost around 1,000 from now on. Apple's iPhone X currently costs 1,179 and is sold by Irish operators. When Huawei launched the high-end P20 Pro, it cost more than 900. Apple is set to launch its new range of iPhones at the start of September. The manufacturer is tipped to unveil three new iPhone devices, including one with a larger screen. Shares in Card Factory fell by almost 10pc in trading on the London Stock Exchange yesterday after the greeting cards retailer cut its profit forecast. The group expects earnings for the year to be in the range of 89m to 91m (99m-101m). Card Factory had previously expected to report earnings of 93m for the 12 months. The company blamed a "weak consumer environment" and "extreme weather conditions" for the projected fall in earnings. Overall, the group, which has stores in a number locations in Ireland including in Dublin, Naas, and Ashbourne in Meath, reported an increase in total group sales of 3.2pc for the six months to 31 July. However, its like-for-like sales declined 0.2pc due to the bad weather, as well as the "weak" environment. The group said that it was continuing to experience momentum in Ireland, with seven trial stores now open. "We continue to experience a weak consumer environment, made all the more challenging by the impact of this year's extreme weather conditions on high street footfall," said CEO Karen Hubbard. The warning comes on the back of news that Homebase is set to close 60 stores in a further blow to UK retail. Hilco Capital, the new owner of Homebase, will next week detail plans to close around a quarter of its stores, threatening more than 1,000 jobs, according to a Sky News report. Sky News said Hilco, which acquired Homebase from Australian group Wesfarmers for a nominal 1 in May, was expected to outline proposals for a so-called company voluntary arrangement (CVA) restructuring that would close roughly 60 of Homebase's 249 stores. It's unclear whether the company's 11 stores in here will be affected. Homebase also has a number of stores in Northern Ireland. A spokeswoman for Hilco declined to comment on the report. A string of British store groups have either gone out of business or announced plans to close shops this year, as they struggle with subdued consumer spending, rising labour costs, higher business property taxes and growing online competition. CVAs, which allow firms to avoid insolvency or administration, have been adopted by retailers including fashion chain New Look, floor coverings group Carpetright and mother-and-baby goods firm Mothercare UK. Hilco specialises in distressed or under-performing assets. It bought and ultimately closed Xtra-Vision in Ireland, as well as the HMV stores in the Republic of Ireland - leaving a store in Belfast open. Other companies it has invested in include ceramics company Denby, flooring product manufacturer Kraus Group, and travel clothing company Tilley Endurables. (Additional reporting Reuters) Doubts about Elon Musk's ability to take Tesla private mounted across Wall Street yesterday, wiping out the gains reaped from his initial tweet floating the idea. The stock plunged as much as 4.6pc to $353.33, below where it was trading two days ago and well off the $420 at which Mr Musk said shareholders would be bought out. The shares have dropped on back-to-back days after having jumped 11pc on Tuesday, when Mr Musk vowed that he had "funding secured" for a spectacular $82bn deal. Since that initial tweet, though, he has offered no evidence to back up the statement. Nor has anyone stepped forward publicly - or privately - to say they're behind the plan. People with, or close to, 15 financial institutions and technology firms who spoke on the condition of anonymity said they weren't aware of financing having been locked in before Mr Musk's tweet. "I don't really understand the idea of what was suggested in the potential for them to go private," Dick Weil, CEO of Janus Henderson Group, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. "That's obviously an incredibly large valuation to somehow take into the private market." All of which could be problematic as the Securities and Exchange Commission starts investigating the matter. Regulators have asked the company if what Mr Musk tweeted was factual and why such a disclosure was made via social media rather than in a filing, according to 'The Wall Street Journal', citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. Judith Burns, an SEC spokeswoman, declined to comment. Tesla also declined to comment. (Bloomberg) Ms. Maxine Herbert turned 102 this week. Her birthday was on Monday. She celebrated with a birthday party with her family and friends at East Ridge Residence in Chattanooga. She was asked about her advice on life after having lived more than 100 years. Ultimately, she has no regrets of things she has done or hasnt done. And she said to, do what you want to do in moderation. Ms. Herbert was born on Aug. 6, 1916, in Michigan and mainly grew up in Lansing. After her son and daughter retired to Tennessee, she moved as well to be closer to them. She was married to her first husband for 27 years. He was a devout Catholic and since Maxine had no religious affiliation, they eloped. Occasionally, she would go to church with him to listen to the organ music. A year after her first husband passed, she met and married her second husband. When he retired as a schoolteacher, they flew to Europe, bought a car and traveled all over the country for a year. Ms Herbert shared that she was blessed with two wonderful husbands. The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore has issued a statement saying a news report relating to a convicted rapist was "wholly factually correct" - after previously calling for it to be retracted. Bartholomew Prendergast (65) was last week convicted of the sexual assault and rape of Stephanie Hickey (46), her sister Deirdre Fahy (52) and another woman over the course of 12 years. The Sunday World ran an article highlighting how Clonmel priest, Canon Brendan Crowley, had previously sent Prendergast to see a psychiatrist in 1984. The report said that Fr Crowley denied any knowledge of Prendergast's crimes and had referred him to a psychiatrist over a separate matter. Expand Close Bartholomew Prendergast. Photo: Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bartholomew Prendergast. Photo: Collins Courts I knew nothing at all about him abusing children, nothing at all, Fr Crowley said. In a statement on Tuesday, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan slammed the report as "wholly incorrect and seriously impugns Canon Crowley's good name and reputation". However, he has now done a u-turn and described the article as "wholly correct". "The Diocese of Waterford & Lismore was concerned that the report could potentially be interpreted to suggest that Canon Crowley knew of the latters abusive behaviour," the statement said. Expand Close Sisters Deirdre Fahy and Stephanie Hickey leave the Central Criminal Court after Bartholomew Prendergast was sentenced for abusing both women. Photos: Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sisters Deirdre Fahy and Stephanie Hickey leave the Central Criminal Court after Bartholomew Prendergast was sentenced for abusing both women. Photos: Collins Courts "While the news report by Patrick OConnell is wholly factually correct any possible interpretation that Father Crowley had any knowledge of this behaviour is not correct as is clear from his reported statements to that effect. "The diocese wishes to categorically state that Canon Crowley was never informed, nor had any knowledge, of the abuse which the victims endured as children. "The Diocese of Waterford & Lismore wishes to avail of this opportunity to convey sincere sympathy to Stephanie Hickey and Stephanies sister Deirdre, as well as to the other unnamed victim, all of whom suffered horrendous abuse perpetrated by Mr Prendergast." Prendergast will be sentenced in November for the sexual abuse and rape of the sisters and a third woman over the course of 12 years. Ms Hickey, who along with Ms Fahy waived her right to anonymity so that Prendergast could be named, said that she "lost everything" as a result of the abuse. "I lost those beautiful memories young girls have when they hit 12 or 13 becoming a teenager and your first crush which I know all young girls love. "He started being really nice, but I suppose as a child I didn't see the danger because he was my brother-in-law and he was an adult and I felt this was ok, this was normal," Ms Hickey told Eamon Keane on WLRFM. The Government is considering paying hospital doctors more money to work in public hospitals as part of its plan to end the two-tier health system. Removing private patients from public hospitals is a key plank of the Government's long-term strategy for reforming the healthcare system. However, the Slaintecare plan has been met with resistance from health insurance companies and lobby groups representing doctors. A major renegotiation of consultant contracts will be needed to ensure doctors are retained in the public system. It is understood the Government is prepared to enter negotiations with consultants on new hospital contracts which would result in more pay and better conditions for senior medics. Sources also said the Government is open to allowing doctors to work in private hospitals after they have completed their duties in the public system. It is unclear what terms or how much money the Government is willing to offer consultants. "You need to look at the consequences of decoupling public and private beds in terms of consultants' pay and their practices in a private hospital," a senior Government source said. "If doctors want to work in a private hospital after they've done their public work that will probably be all right," the source added. Health Minister Simon Harris has tasked Dr Donal de Buitleir with drafting an impact study on private care in public hospitals and this will form the basis of the Government's final decision. Dr de Buitleir is due to report back to Mr Harris before the end of the year. Mr Harris has said Ireland is one of the few countries in the world where private patients are seen by doctors working in public hospitals. Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein have said they support separating private patients from public hospitals as agreed in the Slaintecare plan. The Government failure to offer mediation or a redress scheme over the swine flu vaccine controversy has been slated as "extraordinary". Augustus Cullen Law, the legal firm representing many of the victims of the Pandemrix vaccine, confirmed the State is continuing to deny all responsibility for people who developed side-effects. That is despite major international studies, including an Irish report, which found likely links between Pandemrix and the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Two opposition TDs, Marc MacSharry and Clare Daly, urged the Government to "do the right thing" for sufferers as they described the State's stance as "absolutely outrageous". A key test case is now before the High Court with potentially up to 100 further cases pending. While the Government fully indemnified the vaccine manufacturers GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), before Pandemrix was introduced as a swine flu vaccine from autumn 2009, the State has fully contested all compensation claims. Sligo TD Mr MacSharry warned that the State's stance to date has been "outrageous". "The State Claims Agency (SCA) has spent over 2m rigorously defending discovery (of documents) in these cases alone," he said. The Fianna Fail TD challenged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris to immediately offer mediation talks to sufferers. And campaign group Sound (Sufferers of Unique Narcolepsy Disorder) said it was vital proper supports were provided for children and young adults battling narcolepsy. "Sound has always stated that it is not anti-vaccine, and that the Pandemrix scandal was a result of the State rushing to get whatever vaccine it could and that it was acting with the best intentions," co-founder Tom Matthews said. "We believe it is way past time for the State to finally step up on this issue and to fulfil the duty of care it is morally bound to provide to these children and young adults." The HSE insisted its vaccine selections in 2009 were on the basis of expert medical advice supported by an external panel of experts. GSK declined to comment. However, Augustus Cullen Law partner Jamie Hart said there was clearly a case for a redress scheme. He described the State as having "engaged in what we view as an empty and futile holding action in the courts". "Augustus Cullen Law has acted for a number of victims of the Pandemrix vaccine since August 2011 and issued the first set of proceedings against the State and producer of the vaccine (who has received an indemnity from the State) in 2012," he said. "In the ensuing six years, the State has denied all responsibility to the victims including a denial in their defences that the Pandemrix vaccine created or enhanced the risk of narcolepsy, and a denial that the State owed any duty of care to the recipients of the vaccine. "This is all the more remarkable given what is known about the link between the vaccine and narcolepsy, as shown in a number of international studies. "There is clearly a case to be made for a redress scheme to be introduced for all victims of this vaccine which would take these cases out of the courts and into a non-adversarial process." Laura Magahy, executive director of the Slaintecare Programme Office, and (left) Health Minister Simon Harris at the publication of the Slaintecare Implementation Strategy at Government Buildings this week. Photo: Steve Humphreys Removing private care from public hospitals will not boost bed capacity and will have a serious impact on maternity services, consultants have warned. An independent review group, led by Dr Donal de Buitleir, is examining the decoupling of private and public health services as part of the planned Slaintecare reform. Health Minister Simon Harris has said he believes that to achieve an equitable health system, where people are not treated on their ability to pay, the two must be untangled. There are concerns about the impact that pulling private practice will have on the public system. Private care is worth around 600m to public acute hospitals and a key question being examined is how this shortfall might be met if the two are separated. In its submission to the expert group, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) warned that it does not believe capacity would be boosted by taking private beds out. Many patients categorised as private may be in public hospitals due to the complexity of their case, and removing them would mean they still needed to remain in a public hospital. "This would lead to a significant loss of income with little matching gain in capacity for the public system," the submission states. The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has also warned the removal of private practice would have a specific impact on maternity services. There are currently no private facilities where women can give birth and maternity hospitals derive substantial funding from private beds. Removing it would also "deprive women of their choice" of care, it warned. The RCPI is also concerned the separation of the two systems may worsen the recruitment and retention crisis in the HSE. Reform It said separation must be done in the overall context of Slaintecare, which proposes wholesale reform. Work is under way to examine the terms and conditions of HSE staff and 2,600 new beds are planned. In their submission the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said it supported the disbanding of the two-tier system, describing it as "deeply flawed". In order to fund the revamped system, the INMO has called for a hike in employer PRSI to generate funding which can be ring-fenced for health. The INMO also called for the phased abolition of all tax relief on private health insurance and for an end to subventions to private nursing homes. It wants health professionals to be directly employed by the State. Private health insurers have also raised concerns about the potential move. Vhi warned it would close the company's cheaper non- advanced plan, which offers access to private treatment in public hospitals. Around 200,000 people would be forced on to a more costly plan. In its submission, Laya Healthcare said it welcomed an opportunity to collaborate on the disentanglement, but warned it would not address the "systematic inefficiencies" that exist in public hospitals. The company also raised concerns about continually rising premiums due to the increased cost and volume of claims, which it said will drive more people into the public health system and may lead to employers dropping health insurance schemes for employees. Irish Life Health called for a change to the insurance levy - from a flat rate to a proportional rate - to make policies more attractive for the young and people on lower incomes. A group of global clergy abuse survivors has called on the removal of three cardinals from speaking at the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) at the end of the month. A vast line up of speakers are scheduled to speak at the event in Knock and Dublin on August 25 and 26. The abuse survivors have delivered a letter to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in the hopes of removing Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga, Cardinal Kevin Farrell and Cardinal Donald Wuerl from the WMOF speaker line up. The Ending Clergy Abuse Global Justice Project (ECA) believe the cardinals should be investigated for "protecting brother bishops who have committed sexual abuse". According to the WMOF website, the event will see speakers from "all five major continents", compiled of 80pc lay people and 20pc clergy. One of the speakers the group want removed is Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga from Honduras. Following allegations of sexual misconduct, auxiliary bishop Juan Jose Pineda resigned this year - who served under Cardinal Maradiaga. The other two cardinals named are Kevin Farrell and Donald Wuerl, based in the US. In July, former Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick resigned following allegations of sexual abuse. Wuerl replaced him, and Farrell was ordained by him- and the ECA say they both "face questions about what they knew" about McCarricks alleged misconduct. The group, whose mission is to compel the Roman Catholic Church to put an end to clergy abuse, are asking Archbishop Martin to "intensify his public efforts" in asking the pope to recognise abuse. Expand Close Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin. Photo: Steve Humphreys "We really appreciate all the efforts Archbishop Martin has made so far, but were concerned about these cardinals and the message theyre sending, especially to Irish survivors," founding member of ECA Peter Isely told Independent.ie. Mr. Isely, from Wisconsin, USA, said the group are amazed that the cardinals are featured in the lineup of speakers. "Were pretty amazed that they already havent voluntarily stepped down," Isely said. "For the pope to come to Ireland, and to embrace these three individuals, its not sending the right message out there. They deserve so much respect. "The thing about this papal visit is that its not respecting them- Irish survivors deserve more respect." The letter sent to Archbishop Martin reads: We urge you, Archbishop, to ask the Pope to: Order that three cardinals facing serious questions and public outcry about protecting brother bishops who have committed sexual abuse be removed from their prominent speaking roles at the WMOF. They should be investigated instead. Acknowledge and meet publicly with survivor leaders of Ireland during his visit. Announce that the next WMOF will be dedicated to the impact and prevention of sexual violence, particularly clergy sexual violence, on families." According to ECA, the group echo the calls from supporters of Irish victims for Pope Francis to address the issue of clerical abuse in public, rather than in a private meeting. "Private meetings with anonymous survivors are always welcome if conducted properly but they are no substitute for a public dialogue with survivor leaders on how to address the crisis both in Ireland and worldwide," they said. "The suffering of Irish survivors has moved the world and will again, when the Pope visits your country. "These three actions by Francis before his arrival, urged on by you, will honor their historic and valiant efforts and grant them a measure of the respect and gratitude they deserve." Last week, abuse survivor and Executive Director of Amnesty Ireland, Colm OGorman, told Independent.ie about plans for an event for other survivors to attend during the papal visit. "I want to create a space where collectively we can say it matters, that we stand in solidarity and that this is a different Ireland. We want to stand and recognise the dignity harmed and lives destroyed, and the people that died, because not everyone survived it," he said. The ECA confirmed that members of their group from all over the world will fly into Dublin to show their support during the week leading up to Pope Francis arrival. "Were going to be joining a number of these events to let Irish survivors know that we stand with them," Mr. Isely said. "Survivors in one country often feel like theyre struggling alone and theyre not. People from all around the world have taken such inspiration from their struggle." Henry was adopted from a Chinese animal sanctuary by big-hearted Sharon Warnock A disabled rescue dog from China has won the hearts of Northern Ireland's biker community. Henry was adopted from a Chinese animal sanctuary by big-hearted Sharon Warnock, from Magheralin in Co Down, after she saw him online. Now this little poodle has been taken on as a mascot by riders and racers. However there was almost a very different ending for the pooch bikers have dubbed 'Henry Wee Wheels'. Sharon said: "Henry was due to go to the slaughterhouse to be butchered for human consumption when he was attacked and bitten by a bigger dog. "He was saved by Chinese animal welfare activists and taken to a government shelter in Shanghai. "His spine was broken, severing his spinal cord and paralysing his back legs. "A volunteer saw him in the shelter and contacted dog rescue organisation Harbin SHS, who took Henry to be treated for his injuries." It was on their website that Sharon saw the little disabled dog - and fell in love. She applied to adopt Henry and the Harbin group put her in touch with Northern Ireland rescue group Doggy 911, who work with Harbin SHS to rescue dogs. After months of bureaucracy and quarantine, the plucky poodle made the intercontinental odyssey from China to his new home in Magheralin. "It took him a little while to settle in," Sharon said. "He was a little unsure but now he's part of the family." Bike-mad Sharon is a scrutineer at the Ulster Grand Prix. "My whole family race motorbikes, so I go to all the races and Henry goes with me in his little wheelchair. "He's become a kind of mascot for the riders - they're forever taking selfies with him. "He loves the motorbikes. "He chases them, jumps up at the riders and the racing community have got to know him and they love him. "He's their wee mascot." Sharon said Henry needs more care than her other dogs, "but he gives so much back". "He is just the joy of my life," she said. "He's very lively. When he's not in his wheelchair, he has drag bags and he goes around the house and he's the happiest wee soul. "Above all else, he's not in pain. "His spine is fused and surgery is not an option for him. "But he has such a happy life. "I'm so proud of him and how he's adapted to his new life. "He's my special wee man - I'm so lucky to be his new mummy." Health Minister Simon Harris was "upset" to see photos of young children sleeping in a garda station as their family was unable to secure emergency accommodation. Photos of Margaret Cash's young sons sleeping on chairs emerged in Tallaght Garda Station on Wednesday night have sparked outrage and Minister Harris has vowed that tackling the social housing shortage is the government's priority. RTE News reports that the Fine Gael representative said this afternoon in Arklow: "I dont think there was anyone in the country who wasnt upset to see those scenes in Tallaght Garda station. Expand Close Minister for Health Simon Harris at the Publication of the Slaintecare Implementation Strategy Photo Gareth Chaney Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Minister for Health Simon Harris at the Publication of the Slaintecare Implementation Strategy Photo Gareth Chaney Collins "For any mother to feel that she needs to go to a Garda station with her own children to seek emergency provision is obviously something that isnt right. "I dont think anyone could suggest that it is in any way right. But the Governments priority is on working to address the social housing shortage in this country." He said that Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy is doing his best to help alleviate the crisis and he said that the Government plans for social housing supply to soar to 50,000 by 2021. Expand Close Homelessness champion: Fr Peter McVerry. Photo: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Homelessness champion: Fr Peter McVerry. Photo: Frank McGrath This comes after campaigner Fr Peter McVerry warned that we could have an "avalanche of homelessness" if we don't act fast. "The fact is, families sleeping in garda stations is a relatively frequent event these days. The situation has been going on for months," Fr McVerry told Miriam O'Callaghan on RTE Radio One. "The majority of people who are presenting as homeless are coming from the private rented sector. They're being evicted from the private rental sector either because the rent has gone to a level which they are no longer able to afford, or the landlord says they're selling the house, or the landlord says they want to do a major renovation. "Until we tackle the flow of families going into homelessness from the private rental sector, were trying to empty the mass water with the tap still turned on." When asked if the papal visit will have an impact on homeless families in the city, Fr McVerry said he believes the arrival of Pope Francis may only be a "test run" for what's to come. "It's not the pope's fault, it's the government- they're responsible for dealing with this crisis. I think we could have an avalanche of homelessness coming down the road and maybe the popes visit is just a test run for whats going to happen in the next year or two," he said. "It's gotten much worse than ever. I remember about 6 years ago, I predicted a tsunami of homelessness. At that stage I was thinking of 5,000 people being homeless, and I was told this is ridiculous, youre fear mongering, youre exaggerating the problem. "Today we have 10,000 people officially homeless. This problem is just getting worse and worse, it is absolutely beyond crisis at this stage and it's out of control, the government don't know what to do." Read More The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has said that garda stations are "wholly unsuitable" sleeping areas for families and children who present themselves as homeless. GRA spokesperson John OKeefe said their members were "horrified" to hear that a mother and her six children slept in Tallaght Garda Station last night amid the homelessness crisis. Expand Close The GRAs spokesman John OKeeffe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The GRAs spokesman John OKeeffe Images of 28-year-old Margaret Cash and her six children sleeping on chairs in the garda station made headlines yesterday after they failed to secure accommodation for the night. Mr OKeefe said that gardai have to "go on instinct" when a homeless person presents themselves to a garda station. "Gardai have no training in how to deal with homeless situations naturally enough, theyre there to police, he said on RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland. "Theres another discussion that they dont have training in what theyre supposed to be doing, let alone looking after the homeless people, so they have to go on instinct. "They have to do exactly what you or I would and do the best they can, to ring the lines, to try get them accommodation, but they cannot throw these people out on the street." Mr OKeefe added that while garda stations are mostly safe places, they can turn "hostile" during the night, making them unsuitable for young families. "While garda stations may appear relatively benign during the day, at night they can turn into places that become populated with rowdy, drunk and sometimes violent detainees and the atmosphere can turn hostile at any moment," he said. "Clearly this is a most unsuitable climate for young children already suffering the horror of homelessness. "You've got prisoners and detainees coming in and out, youve got families there, youve got children there. They do the best they can with limited and sometimes no resources." Read More Mr OKeefe praised gardai at Tallaght Garda Station for the efforts in the circumstances given. The gardai in Tallaght did everything they could. They tried all those emergency lines that you would, including local hotels the other night, but no accommodation could be found, so they had to be accommodated as best they could the other night, OKeefe said. We understand the gardai bought a hot breakfast for the family in the morning, so Id like to commend the garda personnel in Tallaght for their caring actions in such circumstances. The GRAs main concern is the safety of the people in the stations, OKeefe added, but admitted they are unable to get involved with homelessness in the same way charities and organisations can. Our concern is that they may be unsafe in some regards at night because of the issues I've outlined earlier. We cant get involved in the homeless crisis in the way other agencies can. What we can say is, if homeless people come to us we will do our best to find accommodation but of course we are not the agency to do that. Our members and families are not naive to the homeless crisis in this country. An estimated crowd of 15,000 packed Market Square for the rally following the Omagh bombing in 1998 A police officer looking at the damage caused by the explosion in Market Street (PA) Police officers and firefighters inspect the damage caused by a bomb explosion in Market Street, Omagh. Picture: PA Relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing have accused the Taoiseach of a snub after he turned down invitations to services marking the 20th anniversary of the atrocity. Two events will be held in the Co Tyrone town on Sunday and next Wednesday to remember the victims of the 1998 massacre. However, Leo Varadkar and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley have already turned down invitations to join families of the bereaved at a commemoration on Sunday. Mr Varadkar last year attended a memorial to mark 30 years since the Enniskillen bombing. Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) died in the blast along with 28 others, including a woman pregnant with twins, said Omagh families have been "snubbed and disrespected". "There is a sense that Omagh has been bypassed or forgotten about. I'm delighted the Taoiseach went to Enniskillen but there's a huge problem for both the Irish and British governments around Omagh, because they are trying to avoid us. "Mr Varadkar and Ms Bradley have both attended other events in Northern Ireland, which I respect, but it is extremely disrespectful that they cannot find time to attend the 20th anniversary commemoration, given that Omagh was the worst atrocity of the Troubles." Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena also died at Omagh, said it was a "double snub" which shows they "don't care about the Omagh victims". The UK government will be represented by a senior Northern Ireland Office (NIO) official, while Enterprise Minister Heather Humphreys will attend on behalf of the Republic. An NIO spokeswoman said Ms Bradley expressed "her deepest sympathy to all those affected by the Omagh bombing", adding she will be abroad this weekend. A spokesman for Mr Varadkar said: "Unfortunately, the Taoiseach is not in a position to attend." "A senior Government minister will represent the Irish Government at the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing memorial service this Sunday. "The Irish Government's deepest sympathies are with all the families who have been affected by this atrocity." Police officers and firefighters inspect the damage caused by a bomb explosion in Market Street, Omagh. Picture: PA Relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing have accused the Taoiseach of a snub after he turned down invitations to services marking the 20th anniversary of the atrocity. Two events will be held in the Co Tyrone town on Sunday and next Wednesday to remember the victims of the 1998 massacre. However, Leo Varadkar and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley have already turned down invitations to join families of the bereaved at a commemoration on Sunday. Mr Varadkar last year attended a memorial to mark 30 years since the Enniskillen bombing. Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) died in the blast along with 28 others, including a woman pregnant with twins, said Omagh families have been "snubbed and disrespected". "There is a sense that Omagh has been bypassed or forgotten about. I'm delighted the Taoiseach went to Enniskillen but there's a huge problem for both the Irish and British governments around Omagh, because they are trying to avoid us. "Mr Varadkar and Ms Bradley have both attended other events in Northern Ireland, which I respect, but it is extremely disrespectful that they cannot find time to attend the 20th anniversary commemoration, given that Omagh was the worst atrocity of the Troubles." Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena also died at Omagh, said it was a "double snub" which shows they "don't care about the Omagh victims". The UK government will be represented by a senior Northern Ireland Office (NIO) official, while Enterprise Minister Heather Humphreys will attend on behalf of the Republic. An NIO spokeswoman said Ms Bradley expressed "her deepest sympathy to all those affected by the Omagh bombing", adding she will be abroad this weekend. A spokesman for Mr Varadkar said: "Unfortunately, the Taoiseach is not in a position to attend." "A senior Government minister will represent the Irish Government at the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing memorial service this Sunday. "The Irish Government's deepest sympathies are with all the families who have been affected by this atrocity." The Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal's refusal to compensate a woman who suffered "nervous shock" after her father died from an AIDS-related illness has been overturned in a landmark decision. The High Court ruling by Justice Bernard Barton now leaves open the door to a number of similar claims that are before the tribunal. It was set up in 1995 to compensate anyone infected with hepatitis C as a result of the use of infected blood products. Judge Barton said the woman suffered "nervous shock" or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by her late father's death from an HIV-related infection which he contracted through contaminated blood products. The judge said he was satisfied to set aside a 2015 decision of the tribunal that she was not entitled to compensation and has remitted her application to the tribunal for assessment and an award of compensation. Judge Barton heard the woman's father, who was a haemophiliac, was one of the first people in Ireland to die after contracting HIV/AIDS. His daughter's identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons. The tribunal, while making an award to the woman for the loss of society and opportunity, had dismissed her claim for PTSD. The woman, who was represented by Gerry Danaher SC, had appealed the tribunal's decision to the High Court. The State opposed the appeal. Traumatic Judge Barton said the tribunal's rationale for the dismissal was based on grounds that while the experience of her father's illness had been distressing and traumatic, there did not appear to have been one particularly horrifying or traumatic event or series of events which she experienced which had caused her illness. The judge accepted medical evidence that the events leading up to her father's death caused a recognised psychiatric illness which emerged after the woman had been admitted to hospital with depression. As a teenager, she had overheard her mother and a doctor talk about AIDS, which she knew was bad news. Rock star Freddy Mercury had come out to say he was dying of AIDS. "The appellant literally watched her father waste away," Judge Barton said. She was just 16 when her father died. Judge Barton said the circumstances of her father's death were "horrific". He set aside the tribunal's dismissal of her claim, remitting it to the tribunal and adjourned the proceedings to a date in October. A "legal vacuum" caused by the European Commission is partly to blame for the continuing strikes at Ryanair, the European Transport Workers' Federation has claimed. In an open letter to transport commissioner Violeta Bulc, the federation said the EC had a duty to prevent "social dumping" - where companies take advantage of lax employment legislation in different countries - and warned there are risks of new traffic disruptions "in the weeks and months to come". The warning from the federation came as hundreds of flights across Europe are grounded this morning by Ryanair pilot strikes, hitting tens of thousands of passengers. Ryanair staff pilots in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium were set to strike today for 24 hours, resulting in hundreds of the airline's flights being cancelled, including 20 to and from Ireland. As many as 250 flights across Germany have been hit, with the airline having earlier this week announced an additional 146 cancelled across Ireland, Belgium and Sweden. Ryanair has described the German strike as "unjustified". The airline had sought an injunction to prevent its pilots in the Netherlands from striking. But a court said yesterday Ryanair pilots in the Netherlands could not be prevented from doing so. The Dutch pilot union, VNV, had earlier this week described today's strike as a "wake-up call" for Ryanair. Expand Close Ryanair's CEO Michael O Leary Photo: INM / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ryanair's CEO Michael O Leary Photo: INM The European and International Transport Workers' Federations said in their letter to the European Commission, which was also addressed to employment and social affairs commissioner Marianne Thyssen, that the EC had pledged to launch a "social package in aviation" by early this year, but that no such provisions had yet been made. "It is precisely because of this legal vacuum that strikes such as this summer at Ryanair are occurring," it claimed. "These claims of 'social dumping' by the Transport Workers' Federations are nonsense," said a Ryanair spokesperson. "Ryanair complies with all EU and applicable national law in the 37 different markets in which we operate," she added. Last night, Ryanair said "it took every step to minimise disruption" to passengers. It also called on the striking unions to return to negotiations rather than "calling any more unjustified strikes". The MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. With over 5,000 rooms, it is the largest hotel in the US. Photo: Deposit Photos Conor McGregor v Khabib Nurmagomedov is on this October After fighting boxers and buses, Conor McGregor finally returns to the UFC octagon on October 6 in Las Vegas. The MMA fighter takes on undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at the MGM Grand's T-Mobile Arena in a hotly anticipated bout. As McGregor's first UFC fight since November 2016, this one was always going to be big - but bad blood between the fighters has pumped the hype up to ninety. Nurmagomedov took McGregor's 155lb title in April, after it was stripped due to inactivity. Here's the pick of packages from Irish tour operators and travel agents - just bear in mind that flights are not direct (there are no direct routes from Ireland), fight tickets are not included, and lead-in prices are based on shared rooms. 619pp: Four nights in Sin City Cassidy Travel has a weekend package including four nights at the 3-star Stratosphere from 619pps, with flights from Dublin departing October 3. 01 8735000; cassidytravel.ie. 655pp: Students at the Stratosphere Shandon Travel has three-night packages departing October 5th from 715pp, with accommodation at the 3-star Stratosphere Hotel, Casino and Tower. A student rate, however, starts from 655pp. 021 427-7094; itaa.ie/offers; shandontravel.ie. 659pp: Three nights at Circus Circus ITAA member Bowe Travel, based in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, has a three-night flight and hotel package departing October 5th, including accommodation at the 3-star Circus Circus, from 659pp. 0504 22200; bowetravel.ie. Expand Close Conor McGregor v Khabib Nurmagomedov is on this October / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Conor McGregor v Khabib Nurmagomedov is on this October 705pp: Get there with GoHop.ie GoHop.ie has an October 5th departure including flights and three nights at the 3-star Stratosphere from 705pp, based on two people sharing. 01 241-2389; gohop.ie. 743pp: Four nights at Excalibur American Holidays has return flights from Dublin via London departing October 5th, with four nights at the 3-star Excalibur from 743pp. Ref: 1580005. 01 673-3840; americanholidays.com. 760pp: Hit the Hard Rock GoHop.ie has flights from Dublin and three nights at the 4-star Hard Rock Hotel & Casino from 767pp, departing October 6th (arriving at 3.50pm in Sin City). The 4-star Mandalay Bay is priced from 776pp. 02 241-2389; gohop.ie. 769pp: Five nights in Sin City For a five-night stay, Tour America has return flights and accommodation at the 3-star Excalibur from 769pp. The trip departs October 3 (ref: 631301). 01 817-3535; touramerica.ie. 659pp: Sin City with Sunway Sunway's package includes return flights and accommodation at the 3-star Circus Circus based on two people sharing (Ref: IV1024618/2). 01-2311800; sunway.ie. NB: Daily resort fees of US$30 and upwards are payable in Vegas, which can add to costs. All prices subject to availabilty. Read more: Grounded: Strikes by Ryanair pilots have driven prices up and left some passengers stranded due to cancellations. Photo: REUTERS I had to make a last-minute trip abroad last week, just over and back quickly. I knew it would be more expensive than if I had the luxury of booking well in advance, but it was still a shock. In my case, Aer Lingus turned out to be cheaper than Ryanair, but even so, it was more than 470 return for a flight I've made many times, usually costing around 100. What's going on? Well, with the uncertainty surrounding ongoing Ryanair and Irish Ferries cancellations affecting over 140,000 holidaymakers for different reasons this summer, the market has truncated. That leaves travellers scared and prices shoot up. Pat Dawson of the Irish Travel Agents Association says popular destinations like Malaga and Faro are up by over 50 each way, per person. Strikes by Ryanair crews across Europe mean it isn't likely to abate any time soon despite the airline doing its best to restrict cancellations to high-traffic routes like the UK. This week I'm looking at other ways to keep your costs lower while flying (see panel), and if you haven't yet had a holiday and want to book something last minute, how confident can you be for the remainder of August that you'll get a trip for a reasonable price? I've had a look around the airlines to see what's available for the rest of the month and what you can expect to pay. Flight carriers When we book flights, we often only compare Aer Lingus and Ryanair. But there are dozens of carriers flying from Dublin, Cork and Shannon (30 airlines fly from Dublin Airport alone), so it's worth having a look at them and, indeed, Belfast for alternative flights. One option is to use skyscanner.ie or kayak.ie to compare all airlines and check if it's cheaper to use one on the outward leg, but a different one returning. Here are some offers which are correct at time of going to press... Dublin to Munich - Leaving August 17, returning August 24, with Lufthansa (329 return). Cork to Madrid - With Iberia Express, 368.31 return from August 18-25. Belfast to Alicante - Return with Jet 2 (outbound) and EasyJet (inbound) 161 in total (August 17-24). Dublin to Amsterdam - Indirect with SAS, August 17, 4 nights, 295. Dublin to London (Southend) - Flybe 60, tomorrow. Belfast to Malaga - On ASL (Aer Lingus charter), 155 return, or 245 with EasyJet on August 24 for a week. Booking The first thing to do is to ignore headline prices or unsolicited emails from airlines. Don't get carried away by unsolicited "low fares, European destinations from 20!" notifications which are usually rubbish. By the time you get to the online checkout, it'll have racked up considerably, or only apply to a tiny number of flights in a promotion. Only compare prices after adding in all taxes, baggage, similar flight times and transfer costs from the airport to see if you are really getting a bargain. In addition, consider booking from a different airport. If you can fly from Cork, Shannon, Knock or Belfast, you may get a better bargain than from Dublin. If you're prepared for a stop along the way, say in the UK, it will take a lot longer, but may be cheaper. Travel agent It might be considered old fashioned, but a good, bonded travel agent has access to far more information than you have on your laptop. Compared to DIY online bookings, your consumer rights are far stronger too. If a flight is cancelled at the last minute, it becomes their problem to fix, not yours. Other ways to save on travel Baggage: Bring the absolute minimum. Hand luggage only, nothing in the hold, and two pairs of shoes (one to wear). A foreign laundrette is cheaper than extra bags. Many airlines don't allow 'pooling' of baggage, i.e. you can't carry 15kg and your partner 5kg and hope they'll allow 10kg each. Weigh before you go. Travel Tuesday: Flying at weekends is generally more expensive than a midweek flight. Tuesday or Wednesday can be cheaper - if you can, do so. Flying on the first flight (the 'red-eye') in the morning or last at night is also better value. Fly with food: While drinks can't be taken through security, you can bring your own food and (non-alcoholic) drink on board, so pack a lunch/breakfast and avoid over-priced meals on board. Kids prefer eating food they're familiar with. Sit apart: Unless you have small kids or it's a long flight, who cares where you sit? Avoid extra charges by not booking in advance and let the airline seat you at check-in. On Monday night I headed for the Redeemer Family Resource Centre for their big fundraising Bingo night. The prices were up, but the prizes were huge and they had one of the biggest draws set to take place with over 40 different prizes up for grabs on the night. The proceeds of the night are to be used for the Senior Citizens party and to help raise finances for the improvement of the centre. I was only in the door when I caught up with Peter Gray from Ashbrook who told me he is a regular at the bingo and would be more than happy if he had the major win on the night. Making my way over to mother and daughter Fiona and Charlene McAlester from Beechmount Drive who are also regulars at the bingo and said it would be fantastic to take away the top prize, or any of the major other prizes too. A lady I seem to be stalking was whom I met next, Ursula Shevlin from Barrack Street who was having a laugh with Pauline O'Connor and Margaret Roe both from O'Hanlon Park who said they've been coming to the Redemeer bingo for ages and the big win would definitely be nice. Also in their company were Wally and Marie Dunne from Farndreg who said that if they won the top prize, it'd be off to the Galway Races in a helicopter the following morning! I then got a word with Mary Smith from Ardee who said she was with Margaret Henry also from Ardee and they, and a bunch of other ladies come over on a bus every Monday night for the Redeemer game. She went on to say they wouldn't be there this Monday, seeing that it's a bank holiday, there's no bingo on, but not to worry, they'd be heading for Clogherhead instead. Not too far away I met up with Sandra Savage from Castleross and Margaret Lee from Oakland Park who said she's been attending the bingo there for nearly 40 years and was certainly looking forward to the "big one". After this I headed over for a quick word with Michael Gray from Cedarwood Park who said it was his first time there and was with his mum Tina and grandad Jimmy Gray from Muirhevnamor and said it's be nice to take the big prize. I headed up to have a quick chat with Linda Martin and Margaret Farrell both from Cedarwood Park who are regulars and said it'd just great to win the big one, but any of the other prizes wouldn't be bad either. Seated beside them were Colette Molloy from Dromintee and Catherine Molloy from Ravensdale who were in good form and feeling lucky. As were Cecilia Cunningham from Ashbrook who told me the money would make her holiday in Spain even better, while her friend Linda Gonnelly from Ashbrook would be investing it in her home. Next I got talking to Anne McDonald, Mary McMahon and Kathleen Traynor who had been at the bingo in the Resource Centre the previous week, heard the big night was on and were certainly not going to miss it. I then caught up with Darver girls Elizabeth Kieran and Brenda Schuls who are there every week and were due a lucky streak. They told me not to forget to give a shout out to their friend Eileen O'Neill also from Darver who hadn't arrived yet, and no she wasn't up the road in the church praying for the big win! After this I caught up with mother and daughter Una Matthews from Yorke Street and Linda McCartney from Jonesboro who are regulars there, were looking forward to the big game and would be heading for Newry next Monday to play there instead. Heading for another table I met up with Margaret Cumiskey from Nicholas Avenue who was sitting with the Ardee Crew who included Detta McCartney, Rose and Rosie Ward and Susan McKeever who were having a laugh with Michael Reilly from Toberona and Annie Cummins from Fr. Murray Park before the balls were drawn. I then caught up with my old friend Elizabeth Kearney from Cedarwood Park who was with her sister Marie Hughes from Fatima and Caroline Conway from Cedarwood Park who said that even though the bingo was going to be good, they'd rather get their hands on the lotto worth 11,600 instead. After this I got a quick word with James Hoey from Yorke Street who was looking forward to a big night with all his friends there. Making my way through the hall I got a word with some of the hard working staff who were there to make sure the night was a smooth, huge success and they included Patricia Hayes from St. Ronans Terrace, Joe Murtagh from Ashling Park, Patrick Byrne from Beechmount Drive, Ken Coleman from Ashling Park who were joined by General Manager Colin Roche from Avenue Road who told me it was going to be a massive night for the local community and wanted to thank the 40 local businesses who had come on board to support the push on the night On Tuesday evening I headed for St. Louis School for the start of the Debs Ball which this year was taking place in the Westerna Arms Hotel in Monaghan and by the time I got there a good crowd were already gathering for their big night. I wasn't too long out of the car when I caught up with ChiChi Enyoazu from Clancullen Park who had brought Ayo Olabode from Castleross who were looking extremely well and told me they couldn't wait for the night to get going with all their friends. Next I had the pleasure of meeting up with Aoife McShane from Kilkerley and Fiona Cosgrove from Dunleer who didn't need any accompaniment and were on a Girls Night Out. They were being sent off by mum and sister Ann and Sinead Cosgrove and Lesley McShane who agreed that the girls looked really great on the night and to wish them all the best because they deserve it. One man who was on his best behaviour was Conor Byrne from Louth Village who had been asked by Caitlin Conlon from Dublin Road and they said they were definitely up for a mad one with John Keenan from and Shaunna Kavanagh both Oakland Park who were being given the big send off by Caitlin's aunty and taxi Lesley Carolan from Muirhevnamor who wanted to wish them all the best. Not too far away I then got a word with Jessica Duffy from Toberona who was on a G.N.O. with Kate Sharkey from Kilkerley and Jessica Callan from Kilcurry and there to wish them all the best were Jessica's parents Rosemary and Gary Bailey from Toberona who were in great form and feeling very proud when I talking to them. After this I met up with Caroline Ebbs from Louth Village and Emma Moran from Bay Estate who told me that male accompaniment would only slow them down because they were on to party with all the girls. Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to Jessica McGrane from Dunleer who had Andrew Lonergan from Drogheda as her partner and they said it was going to be anything but a quiet night. I then headed over for a word with Precious Ayeye from Farndreg wo was with Eimear Kelly from Clancullen Park and the ladies were looking very well and ready for a major night of fun. Just arrived were Seoda Matthews from Dunleer and Kevin Ledwith from Monasterboice who were looking extremely well together and told me it was going to be anything but a quiet night. One lady who was looking very well on her big night was Bronagh Matthews from Stapleton Place who had brought Daniel Mullen from Glenwood who couldn't wait for the festivities to get under way. I then had the pleasure of meeting up with Chloe Hughes and Jolene Murtagh both from Hackballscross who told me that they didn't need any male accompany because they'd certainly just slow them down. This sentiment was mimicked by Megan Neary from Farndreg ad Saoirse McGee from Bay Estate who were looking extremely well. After this I got talking to Eimear Fealy from Bay Estate who had brought Sean McCleary from Monaghan who arrived armed and ready for an epic night. Not too long later I got a word with Natasha Wisniewska from Kilkerley who was with Shane Callan from Carrick Road and they were joined by Cori Dawe from Ashling Park who was with Sean Murphy from Lower Faughart who said the night couldn't be further from quiet and was going to get rowdier the longer it went on. They were then joined by Jade McGowan from Dromiskin who had brought Adam Stevens from Bay Estate who had done some shopping and were ready for an epic night. Next I headed over for a quick chat with Rebecca Callan from Tallanstown who had brought Jordan McKenny from Saltown and there to see them off were Rebecca's mum Dorothy and Eileen Markey from Bay Estate. Things were really starting to get going when I met up with Habi Ogbara from Muirhevnamor who brought Jamie Conlon from Icehouse Hill who were going with the classic matching dress and tie and were having a good laugh together too. Beside them were Ishraq Bodunrin from Coulter Place and Seth Heslin from Kildare who were only after arriving and were waiting for the bus to whisk them off to Monaghan town. I then headed over for a quick chat with Orla McBride from Carrick Road and Roo English from Cornamucklagh who were going to have a major G.N.O. together with all their friends. After this I met up with Dearbhle Lenehan from Togher who was with Conor Nicholson from Glenwood who were both looking very well and were ready for a major night of fun together. They were joined by Charlotte Bartels from Blackrock who assured me it was going to be an epic night. Finally a major word of thanks goes out to Nicole Agnew from Marian Park who was with Ciara Darcy from Armagh Road, both girls were looking stunning and without Nicole's help I wouldn't have made it to meet all the debutants, thanks again Nicole, you're a star. The Horizon Exhibition, featuring work by the artists who took part in Creative Spark's fourth residency programme as well as members of the print studio, opened to a full house in the Basement Gallery on Wednesday. Sarah Daly, Executive Director, Creative Spark, told the gathering that the title was inspired by a quote from novelist William Faulkner 'You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore'. 'We encourage our Artists-in-Residence to look outside of their normal practice and use the time and facilities at Creative Spark to try new things and to explore new possibilities.' She pointed out that the residency programme, which is supported by Create Louth, has supported 22 artists over the past four years. The artists who had taken part in the 2017/18 programme are Ciaran Dunbar, Dundalk, Petra Berntsson, Riverstown, Co Louth, Mark O'Gorman, Dublin, Crona Gallaghan, Leitrim and Robert John Paterson, Canada. The thirty members of the print studio at Creative Spark also had work on show. The exhibition was officially opened by Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, who spoke of the importance of arts in society and the need to provide supports for artists as the economy improves. He promised to take Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD and Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD to visit Dundalk and see the work being carried out here in the near future. Brian Harten, County Arts Officer, said that though Create Louth, Louth County Council provides support to artists through the provision of purpose built studios and access to the print facilities at Creative Spark. By working with Creative Spark they were able to provide a sense of community for artists, who often struggle with the challenge presented by working in isolation. He also highlighted the important role which artists play in communities. The exhibition continues until September 1st, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm. Blackrock has been shortlisted in the 2018 Bank of Ireland Enterprising Town Awards. This national competition was initiated in 2016 to promote local economies by bringing business and community groups together to showcase the spirit of enterprise at work in the nominated towns and villages. Judges will visit the village on Thursday August 30 when they will view key enterprises, talk to local businesses and community organisations, and evaluate a 30 minute presentation on how the various groups in Blackrock work together for the benefit of the overall economy of the village. Blackrock Tidy Towns are acting as the local liaison group, and a small steering group has been set up to oversee the preparations necessary to ensure the village is portrayed in the best possible light on adjudication day. The fact that Blackrock has been short listed for the Awards is testament to the planning and effort by local business and community organisations working together to raise the village to its current level of vibrancy and economic activity. Residents who sounded the alarm after two unoccupied houses in Blackrock were broken into on Sunday morning have been praised for their civic spirit which led to gardai capturing two men believed to have been involved in the incident. The two houses in the Seafield Road area were broken into between 10.30am and 11am and property stolen. Vigilant neighbours who saw a car leaving the area contacted the gardai who later stopped the vehicle and two men, a 37 year old and a 35 year old from the Dundalk area were arrested, and subsequently appeared before a special sitting of the District Court in Dublin. A garda spokesperson praised the residents for raising the alarm and appealed for anyone with any further information to come forward and contact 9335577. Gardai in Dundalk are also appealing for information regarding a burglary at a house in Carrickedmond on Thursday August 2nd between 6pm and 9pm during which a chain saw was stolen. The intruders rampaged through the house before making off. The death of one of Louth's most successful and highly regarded artists, Patricia Murphy, 'Seaforth', Blackrock, in Beaumont Hospital, last Tuesday, sent ripples of grief throughout the arts community and among all those privileged to have known her. As news of her death after an illness spread, tributes flowed in from artists and friends across Ireland and further afield, who offered their condolences to her husband Michael Quigley, son Michael junior, brothers and sisters. Patricia grew up in Blackrock, one of ten children of the late Dermot and Geri Murphy. She attended Mount Anvil School in Dublin where she made lifelong friends, before graduating from the National College of Art and Design where she studied painting, print and textiles. The vibrant colours of her artwork reflected her personality and love for life. Her zest for life is evident in her work which, while abstract, was firmly rooted in her close observations of nature and the landscape which she loved. 'It is about finding a visual expression for the energy which underpins nature,' she wrote for the North Louth Artists' annual exhibition earlier this summer. 'I am in love with the properties of light as perceived through the colour spectrum and my vibrant work exudes that energy.' Her artistic practice saw her embracing a variety of formats including paintings, textiles, wall hangings, prints, public art installations and rugs, all with her hallmark vibrant colours. She won many public commissions over the years, including large percent for art schemes for government bodies and she also completed commissions for the O'Brien Science Building and the Innovation Academy at UCD, Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital and Dublin City Council. Her work can be seen locally in the offices of Dundalk Credit Union, County Hall and DkIT, and is also held in many public and private collections at home and abroad. Patricia was an extremely popular member of the local visual arts scene and she exhibited annually with the North Louth Painters as well as in other groups shows. Her work has been exhibited internationally including in the UK, France, USA, Germany, Italy and Finland. Some of her work is currently on show in the Blathanna agus Dathannam exhibition in Listoke Gallery, Drogheda. Her vivacious personality won her many friends and she forged strong links with artists around the country and further afield whom she met at various exhibitions and art fairs and also when she represented Ireland in the Sant Antioco Biennale of Painting in Italy in 2013 and 2015. She was awarded a Tyrone Guthrie Bursary by Louth County Council and her contribution to the arts was recognised by President Mary McAleese in 2008. Patricia was also an active member of the local community in her beloved Blackrock, and she was volunteer with the Tidy Towns Committee along with her husband for many years. Patricia is survived by her husband Michael Quigley, son Michael junior, sisters Michele, Madeline, Geraldine, Valerie, Miriam, Pamela and Iseult, brothers Dermot and Simon, mother-in-law Breege, aunts, uncle, cousins, relatives and friends. Tributes were paid to Patricia at the opening of the Horizon exhibition in the Basement Gallery on Wednesday. Sarah Daly, Executive Director, Creative Spark, described her as 'one of our most well-known local artists', 'a vibrant colourful woman' who had brought 'a great mixture of humour and seriousness' when she worked on community arts projects with Creative Spark. She noted that Patricia had recently attended a Creative Spark workshop. 'She showed such a lust for life and learning - it is very hard to believe she is no longer with us. She will be sadly missed.' Brian Harten, County Arts Officer, recalled Patricia's passion for art and her zest for life. Patricia was laid to rest in St Fursey's Cemetery, Haggardstown after the funeral Mass in St Oliver Plunkett Church, Blackrock on Friday morning. Almost a thousand new .ie domains were registered in Wicklow in the first half of 2018, according to the latest Domain Profile Report published last week by the IE Domain Registry, the company that manages and maintains Ireland's official country domain name. The figure, 994, is a 47 per cent year-on-year increase. Overall, new .ie domain registrations in Leinster in the first half (H1) of 2018 numbered 17,544, a 39 per cent year-on-year increase. Nationally, .ie domain registrations grew by 39 per cent year-on-year to 28,126, bringing the total .ie domain database to 252,222 at the end of H1 2018. The majority (62.5%), of new .ie domains were registered by businesses (including corporate bodies and sole traders). In total, 154 .ie domains were registered every day in H1 2018, with increases in 31 of the 32 counties of Ireland. Chief Executive of IE Domain Registry David Curtin said: 'Virtually every county in Ireland recorded an increase in .ie domain registrations in the first half of 2018. 'The increase in registrations in Wicklow and in Leinster during this period is good news, as increased online activity among businesses is a leading indicator of Ireland's broader economic growth. 'In particular, the growth of .ie in regional parts of Ireland is a fantastic example of how the internet can help businesses in less infrastructurally developed counties overcome traditional barriers to growth, such as a smaller customer base or slower road and rail links. 'Part of IE Domain Registry's overarching mission is to ensure that Ireland's small businesses are taking full advantage of the internet economy by getting online, connecting with their customers, and selling to them. We are confident that continued innovation within the .ie namespace, and ongoing digital advocacy for e-commerce, will have positive, long-term results for Ireland's SMEs.' Mr Curtin said that a significant part of .ie's growth in the last six months is a result of IE Domain Registry's new 'liberalisation' policy. The policy, implemented in March after extensive consultation with industry stakeholders and the general public, makes it easier and faster to register a .ie domain. This change is timely as businesses are moving away from generic, anonymous email addresses, like eircom.net or gmail.com. 'Liberalisation has resulted in a streamlined registration process. While applicants are still required to prove their connection to Ireland, they can now register their preferred name on a first-come, first-served basis. For new business start-ups and small-scale enterprises, liberalisation has removed an administrative obstacle to .ie domain registration,' said Mr Curtin. 'Businesses, organisations and community groups across the island of Ireland recognise the unique power and benefit of .ie's "identifiably Irish" brand for their websites and email addresses. For an SME, a .ie online address signals to local customers that they are local and trustworthy. To international customers, .ie is an authentic and protected marker of Irishness,' he said. The uncovering of a huge 'Eire' marking on Bray Head has ignited a passion for local history in the people of Bray according to Brian White, chairman of the Bray Cualann Historical Society. After a massive wildfire scorched Bray Head last month, the garda air support unit released photos revealing the more than 70-year-old relic of World War Two. Members of the local defence forces created the sign between 1942 and 1943 as navigational signs for pilots flying bomber planes over neutral Ireland. This was done at the suggestion of US diplomats in Ireland. Look out post volunteers manned posts on at least 83 sites, of which Bray Head is number eight. The stone sign is in excellent condition, given its age. The letter E is less visible than the others, but can be seen. The number of the nearby look out post, 8, can also be seen, if not quite as well as the other markings. Each letter is about 30 feet long, made from large stones laid in four foot wide lines. The men kept them whitewashed so they would stand out clearly. The site would have been manned at all times. Brian said that gardai had to come to the post twice daily to check for reports, and to ensure the men were at their posts. The coastwatchers were responsible for identifying and reporting on shipping and aircraft movements and also on any communications between ship and shore. The Marine and Coastwatching Service was disbanded in October 1945. Many of the men who manned the Bray post had names still recognisable in the town today, including Naylor and Mulvey. Reports were also delivered back to military intelligence. Many of the signs have disappeared. Historian Ray Cranley, a resident of Windgates, recalls seeing part of the Bray 'Eire' sign back in 1995, after a similar fire. Brian said that the attention the sign has been getting is very welcome. 'People are fascinated with this emerging after 70 years,' he said. Brian said that the look out men would have cooked and eaten at the site. The national archives have records of the plans drawn for the sign, and the log books which the look out men submitted as part of their duties. 'It was known that it was there,' said Brian. 'But it hadn't been uncovered.' The discovery follows a days-long gorse fire on Bray Head last month. Firefighters and the air corps extinguished the blaze which saw smoke billow all over Bray. The postmistress at Donard Post Office, which is to close next year, has said that it is with great sadness that she had made the decision to accept an exit deal offered by An Post. Anne Harney has been running Donard Post Office for 12-and-a-half years and said that, due to the way the deal is organised, there is no chance that the office will remain open. It wont happen due to the way it is organised. It is very sad and disappointing for me and for my customers. It is a no-win situation, Ms Harney said. Following the news that An Post is seeking to downsize its operation with the closure of over 300 post offices in the next year, Donard Post Office was confirmed to be one of the earmarked outlets included on a list leaked last week. It is envisaged that there are likely to be others from County Wicklow included in time. They looked at the last three years and, based on that, they made the offer. To remain on, you would be on a lower salary again and, perhaps in another year, it would be gone anyway and already, there are times when it is very quiet and thats not good, Ms Harney said. She said that she is saddened that the office which she has run for more than a decade will close. I know all my customers, and they know me. There is a lovely community feel to it. She urged the community to continue to support John OKeeffes shop, where the post office is based, as the closure could have an direct impact on his custom. We all need to support our local shop and make sure that it can continue to operate. If we dont we could lose another important local service, she said. 'Centre of west Wicklow has been hollowed-out' - Ruttle News that Donard Post Office looks set to close as part of the An Post local network downsizing has been met with much disappointment and local Councillor Jim Ruttle says that this move continues the 'doughnut-ing' or 'hollowing out' of west Wicklow. 'It really is disappointing to hear this as there was a brilliant service provided there for many years. Not for one minute does anybody hold the operator responsible and everyone is entitled to their retirement, but with a bit of input from Government, the service itself could surely be retained,' Cllr Ruttle outlined. He slammed the decision and expressed deep concern that it is like another nail in the coffin of rural Ireland. 'The whole centre of west Wicklow has been hollowed out. It's like a doughnut and this sends a very definite message to the people living here. Plenty of towns and villages have lost many shops but here is a viable service which could be built on and given some support to continue. The Government goes on about what it is doing for rural Ireland but nothing is happening here to change this situation which is seeing communities stripped of valuable services,' he added. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail's Pat Casey TD has said that if An Post's plan is not blocked, rural Ireland will be left to 'wither and die'. 'Let me be clear. Post masters and mistresses who opt to take the redundancy package are absolutely entitled to do so. They have given years of fantastic service to their local communities. Rural Wicklow is being left to wither and die by Fine Gael and their independent friends,' he said. Deputy Casey described the forced closures as a 'body blow' to small communities. 'Many postmasters and postmistresses have been offered sweetheart delays to retire. These communities in Wicklow are not guaranteed that a replacement contract will be put out to tender. When a rural community sees its post office close, it can be a body blow to its sustainability and viability. I have experienced this first hand when Laragh Post Office closed. Despite credible business plans for an alternative service, An Post still have not even replied to our work on this,' Deputy Casey said. He said that Post Offices are much more than commercial ventures and called for Government intervention on the matter. Rockchapel Post Office will now join seven other post offices in Duhallow that have closed their doors over the last number of years. Nationally, 161 postmasters were granted voluntary redundancy from a network of 1,111. In addition to Rockchapel, Newtwopothouse and Shanballymore are the three post offices listed in Cork from a leaked doucment which outlined all the post offices in the entire country who have opted for the voluntary redundancy package from An Post. Shanballymore PO closed its doors last Wednesday. In Duhallow, Knocknagree, Meelin, Tullylease, Freemount, Kilbrin, Derrinagree and Cullen are no longer open. In Western Duhallow, what is set to remain will be Ballydesmond, Kiskeam, Boherbue, Banteer, Newmarket and Kanturk. Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG) whose wife, Marian, runs the post office in Newmarket, said anything which upsets rural Ireland is "absolutely regrettable". "The postmasters and postmistresses who have applied for voluntary redundancy have served their community at the loss to themselves. They have gone above and beyond providing a service to the people in their region. As I have repeatedly stated on the record in the past, post masters cannot see any future with the new agreement that An Post has put on the table," he said. "Many who run post offices work up to 12 hour days and for those who are staying on there is so much regulation to deal with under the new contracts. An Post has been encouraging co-location and that may not be such a bad idea in a village as it may keep a post office and a shop open in these circumstances." "It would be very fair to say that postmasters lost out under the old contracts but with the new contracts they really are a disaster," he said. He has been very critical of the workings of post offices over the years. Previously, he stated that prior to the centralisation of the sorting office to Boherbue it meant postmasters who oversaw the postmen and post women sorting the mail on their premises would have received approximately 2,000 per postman. With some postmasters having up to five postmen on their premises it meant an automatic drop in their wages of 10,000. The sorting room receives mail from Newmarket, Millstreet, Rathmore, Gneeveguilla, Knocknagree, Kiskeam, Ballydesmond and Rockchapel. Postmen and women from their region travel to Boherbue to sort the post. In Kanturk, their post has been centralised to Mallow. Cllr Murphy previously said: "My viewpoint is that there is no beneficial effect for An Post as far as I can see. What I can see, however, is postmen who are based in their local towns and villages now have to drive their vans in all directions around the place and they are doing at least 25% more mileage than they were doing in the past. I mean, just who does this make any economic sense to?" The centralisation of the sorting office has, he said, also meant post is reaching their customers at a slighter later time than before. "Had An Post evaluated how many rural post offices in small, rural villages this would close in a five year period because in smaller villages there is a reduction of 50% in postmasters salaries. The ultimate result, in my view, of all of this is that where there is a post office and a shop neither will be viable as each is supposed to support the other. I can truly see villages throughout Duhallow without a post office or a shop," he said. He also said that, despite the slashing of postmasters' wages, they still have the same overheads - such as tax, insurance, lighting and heating, and all the other factors which go into running a post office. He repeatedly said that had a cost benefit analysis being undertaken by An Post it would have shown it was not economically viable to go down the centralisation road that An Post opted for. This year, An Post announced plans for 'a modernised post office network', which was supported by an agreement reached in May with the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) executive following three months of intensive negotiations and subsequently endorsed by 80% of IPU members. An Post has also said that there will be a post office in every community of over 500 people within 15km of 95% of the population. The voluntary redundancy agreement between An Post and the IPU included the offer of a voluntary severance packages to postmasters who wished to retire, whether for health reasons, reaching retirement age, reduced transaction levels or 'for other reasons.' An Post stated that 380 postmasters were offered a 'voluntary retirement package' and up to 161 have taken up that offer. In recognition of the momentous occasion of the Fleadh being hosted in Drogheda, St. Peter's Male Voice Choir is releasing a brand new recording of the classic Irish song 'Noreen Bawn' on Friday 10th August. While St. Peter's Male Voice Choir released two CD albums in 2004 and 2009, this is their first ever release of a single and also the choir's first download-only release. This version of 'Noreen Bawn' was arranged by musical director Edward Holly along with Paul O'Brien and Andrew Townend. Recorded in the internationally renowned Windmill Lane Studio, Dublin by acclaimed producer Brian Masterson this is a powerful emotional performance of a wonderful song. Choir chairman Paul Delaney said that choir members are thrilled that they are the first choir to record and release this famous song and are proud of the new single. The song can be purchased on Apple iTunes as a digital download for 0.99. The incredible story of the Taylor Brothers, the Uilleann Pipers of Drogheda and Philadelphia, will be told for the first time in Barlow House on Saturday August 18th (2pm) as part of the Fleadh Cheoil. Brendan Matthews been researching the Taylors for a long time and much painstaking work has gone in to try and find out as much as possible about them. 'I will outline where they were resident in Drogheda, where they played and performed before leaving the town. Also when they left for New York and where they resided in that city before moving to Philadelphia, and their occupation there,' he stated. The Taylors made magnificent and significant changes, adaptions and modifications to the Pipes so that they could blend well with both violin and piano and also they were regulated to a higher pitch so that they were suitable for the larger American Concert Halls. 'I will also reveal exactly when the brothers passed away, which, heretofore, has never been correctly recorded; there are many dates given as to their deaths, but all are incorrect. I will reveal what they died from and, the most important of all, where they were laid to rest. 'I will also speak about the first set of Pipes they made in the States and the last set of Pipes ever owned and played by Willie Taylor and where exactly those Pipes are today, with photo/images shown on a Power-Point Presentation on the day,' he added. Brendan first began to research on the brothers back in 2008 and he will also speak a little on the day about other local Pipers and Fiddle-players in Drogheda and the surrounding area including Nicholas Markey, Pat and Dowser Ward, the `Blind-Piper Gaynor` and his own great Grand-uncle, Tom Matthews of Greenanstown Stamullen who himself was a composer of many reels, jigs & hornpipes and who was a fiddle-maker and player along with playing the Uilleann Pipes and the Irish Harp. She was known far and wide as the "German China Woman" after she came to live in Drogheda from Hamburg and set up a successful China business that spanned more than four decades. But when she passed away last year, Margaret Weber Hoey said she wanted "no fuss" and chose to have a small and private funeral with very few people even realising she had died. Her funeral arrangements, which she organised herself, was her last wish that brought the curtain down on her colourful and eventful life. Mrs Hoey, 76, established herself as a hard-working business woman who pulled no punches during her 40 years in Drogheda. Married to the late Dr. Andrew Hoey from Drogheda, the couple settled in Drybridge in a home they enjoyed together for many years. It's a year since Margaret the "German China Woman" lost her battle with cancer and passed away in the Louth County Hospital. Speaking before her death, Margaret, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in October 2016, said she would have "given anything to live just one more year". She said: "I just want one more year, I have a couple of things I want to do and I would like another year now that I have been given a short term left to live". Margaret did in fact defy all odds and almost lived a full year before eventually succumbing to cancer on 17th July 2017. She fought a tough battle but successfully fulfilled most of her wishes before she passed away. Born in Hamburg in 1940, Margaret's childhood was surrounded by the affects of World War II - her late father was part of the German army. She often spoke about her tough home life in Hamburg and recalled how she was terrified of her father Edmund who was often physically violent towards her. Her memories of her late mother Edith who died from cancer when Margaret was 8, were something she often reflected on. Before she died she gave a recorded interview of her life and said: "I had a horrible childhood. I never felt love and I always felt the world was a horrible place. I really don't know what life is all about. I worked so hard my whole life, I never understood why I never had peace. "I probably did suffer with depression but I never believed in psychiatry and that is why I never did anything about it. I don't believe in god and I don't believe I am going anywhere when I die. But I do wish to see my mother again, who knows. "I remember seeing my mother dying in the living room sofa, there was no medication, no food, we had absolutely nothing, we were starving and we were freezing. My mother had a terrible death you know. The poor woman she was only young too, she didn't deserve that but in those days and with the war there was no pain relief. My god she suffered." Margaret recalled how her father re-married a year after her mother's death and she struggled to have a good relationship with her step mother. "I never liked the woman, she knew it and I knew it. Me and my brothers and sister we just wanted to leave". She recalled how the difficulties in her relationship resulted in regular arguments with her father and he often made her sleep in a car when she was just 14. "I hated my father" she said openly. "If there is a hell I expect he is there, but my mother will be in heaven". Margaret had little or not contact with her family in Germany and according to her great grandniece, Vanessa, this was a common trait in their family. She said: "Many of my family went out in to the world and never came back, I tried to have some sort of relationship with Margaret. I know she had a very hard life and I hope wherever she is she is at peace now. I feel very sad that she's gone". But ever the resilient woman, Margaret pressed on with hopes of leaving her childhood life and Germany for good. During her teenage years, she was trained by a Baroness in Germany in domestic work and after her father refused to let her move to Australia, she decided to go to London instead. While there, she began to work for Dr. Andrew Hoey's mother as a Housekeeper until he decided to move back to his hometown of Drogheda. "He asked me if I wanted to go with me and I said I would" she said. "We were friends for many years. Andrew was a gentleman, a kind man who cared for me so well. In the end we married". Dr. Hoey and Margaret moved to Drybridge on the Slane Road and he helped her set up her China business. She first opened a shop in West End Gate before operating her business from her home. Margaret soon fell in love with her work. "My china was the only thing that made me happy. Everyone knew me as The German China Woman, it just stuck. Everyone knew me" she said at the time of her death. "I loved picking the colours and designing my plates and cups and crockery. It was wonderful. It was such an exciting thing for me to do. I loved every minute of it. I knew everything there was to know about the China business. Putting those designs together made me very happy. "It was very hard work, I had to carry so many heavy boxes, moving crockery and unpacking it. I would go to London and see my plates and cups when they were just white and plain. Then I would see in my head what design I wanted and I would order my colours and paints. "I loved to see the finished design and I loved to see the work being finished. My home was so important because I kept all my things close to my heart". After Dr Hoey's death in the nineties, Margaret carried on with her work and was a regular face at auctions around the area. She became friends with local auctioneers Oliver Usher, Lev Mitchell and Joe Lennon and enjoyed every minute of the auctions. Drogheda became Margaret's home and one of her final wishes included walking across West Street for the last time and to enjoy a cup of coffee in the Esquires - which she did. Speaking in the cafe she said "I just wanted to sit here and look out at West Street and the people passing. This was my life for so long and now I'm dying. The world just carries on and we forget the dying". Not one for ever failing to pay her bills, Margaret wanted to make sure the Irish government knew she was a woman who "always paid her taxes". Comparing Ireland to Germany she said: "The Germans came through a war and the worst kind of poverty only to rise up and make things happen. Things are so much better there, the infrastructure and getting things done. The Irish Government has a lot to learn and I don't believe they look after their people properly". Offering advice to the young people of today Margaret said: "Go out and work, work hard, achieve your goals, no one will ever hand you anything on a plate. Don't be lazy, it doesn't matter where you come from, you can achieve anything if you work hard. Too many people fall into a hole of not wanting to succeed or make something of their life, but you've got to go out and do it yourself. I came from the gutter, I came from nothing I had the worst childhood. I was starving. I succeeded and so can you". Margaret wanted to thank her friends and great grandniece in Germany and former business colleagues for all their support and kindness over the years. Special thanks goes to Paddy Townley Undertakers for their compassion, patience and understanding, and to St. Luke's Hospital in Rathgar, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and to all the staff in Louth County Hospital - who cared for Margaret in her final year. One for the diary - The Taste of Togher is back at The Glyde Inn, Annagassan on Saturday 22nd September from 12pm. No booking required and admission is free. The fishing village hosts its seventh annual Taste of Togher Food Festival (www.tasteoftogher.com) and there is a wide range of local products and produce to try, from cheese and honey to jam, cupcakes and more. Locally produced drinks to sample include cider, beer and gin! Cookery demonstrations will be staged throughout the day to highlight local produce. You can also expect to see Vikings on your visit that will bring you through their living history re- enactment. A really fun day out for all the family. Get along and sample Oyster Festival One of the most popular events in the county each year is the Carlingford Oyster Festival and it runs from Thursday 9th August - Monday 13th August. One of Ireland's oldest festivals, The Festival offers four days packed with fun for all the family. Savour the taste of fresh Carlingford Oysters harvested from the scenic lough. The Festival Street Market is filled with Artisan Craft & Food Stalls; Local Restaurants offering delicious fishy dishes, chowders and local cuisine along the winding streets of medieval Carlingford Village. The weekend is packed with traditional children's activities including Magic Show, Face Painting, the ever popular Teddy Bear's Picnic, Free Kayaking in the Harbour, Children's Funfair & Bouncing Castles and much, much more! The greatest celebration of Irish music, dance and culture on earth descends on Drogheda next Sunday for seven days. With reports of 400,000 to even 600,000 arriving by the Boyneside, organisers are expecting it to be a wonderful advertisement for the entire north east area. The list of events actually kick off on Friday night when the Dominican Church hosts an Irish night. Then on Sunday, President Michael D Higgins will officially launch Fleadh Cheoil 2018 at 2.00pm at the Bolton Square gig rig. The past week has seen giant characters being erected in key locations such as the Old Abbey and at the entrance to the town at Rosehall, amongst others. St Dominick's Park will be home to the Festival Dome and some of the world's best performers will grace the stage there. But the big message for locals is to get out and embrace the event and be part of the magic. After six glorious years and hundreds of thousands of euro raised, the famed D2K cycle event is to end - but is that the end of the story? This year's event saw the Dunleer to Galway road taken, with previous events baring the name, D2K, Dunleer to Kilkenny. The mastermind behind it all is Paul Lannon, his wife Sandra and a team of volunteers who have for the past six years staged the annual charity cycle. Last Friday, they held the final presentation night in the Grove and announced that pver 96,000 was raised for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease cause and 'Paul's Fight for Life.' Paul has spent the last seven and a half years living with MND but his lust for life knows no bounds. As part of a fundraising drive to help him in his battle, the cycle was born six years ago and has united a community. On Friday, Charlie O'Donoghue and Liam McCarthy were presented with awards for being the only two people who completed all six D2k's . But for Paul, he intends sitting back from the event, but acknowledges the impact it has made. 'We will not be running the D2K next year but I hope someone in the area will see the benefit it will have for a charity and take it on,' he told those gathered at the presentation night. He thanked everyone who supported the event over the last six years. 'Because of your hard work and commitment, you have allowed me fulfil my life as best I can,' he stated. He thanked Sandra for 'keeping him going' while others spoke of Paul being a true inspiration. A new housing initiative in the town centre will see the former St John's Home at the top of Peter Street taken over by a housing body to provide much needed accommodation in the area. The whole area had fallen into a state of disrepair, but the buildings are now being brought back to life. "I am so delighted and moved by this initiative which has been made possible by Louth County Council, St Peters Church of Ireland and a Voluntary Housing Agency, all collaborating together to provide housing options in our town centre,' Cllr Paul Bell stated this week. 'This initiative will see the conversion of disused dwellings into four modern apartments suitable for senior citizens or single people,' he added. "It's a super idea and I can hardly wait to see these historic buildings returned to the use which they were constructed for in the early 1800's. The project will also demonstrate what can be done to house citizens in the town centre which if built upon will restore life into the heart of our town. 'Such a housing project will also be of help to citizens needing to live close to services, shops, post office, local church and other amenities. It's hard to believe that it has taken so long to return to the idea which these homes were originally constructed. I wish all concerned the very best in having the works completed in the not too distant future". The homes were initially for war widows but had been vacant in recent years. A stone over the top of the entrance dates them to 1816. Swords is about to get a new hotel as the Old Borough prepares to launch a new 14-bedroom hotel above the pub. August 17 will mark the launch of the new hotel which will create an additional 10 full-time and part-time jobs at the Old Borough. Located on the first floor above the popular pub, in Main Street, it is the first Wetherspoon hotel in the Republic of Ireland. The company has spent 1,160,000 on the new 14-bedroom hotel, which includes an accessible room suitable for disabled guests, with platform lift access at the rear of the premises. Looking forward to the launch of the new hotel, pub manager, Nicolle O'Reilly said: 'Wetherspoon has spent more than 1million on the new hotel, providing further investment into the town and creating more jobs for local people.' The manager of the Old Borough added: 'The new 14-bedroom hotel is a wonderful addition to the pub and we are confident that it will also be a great asset to the town and community of Swords.' The hotel has embarked on an innovative link-up with local students who had a hand in the interior design of the facility. Artwork to decorate the hotel rooms and hallways has been created by students at the nearby St Finian's Community College. Each themed piece has been drawn, by the local students using acrylic or crayon, onto original double-spread pages taken from an English-Irish dictionary, printed in 1817. Originally opened as a Wetherspoon pub in July 2015, the property is one of Sword's best-known buildings, designed by noted Irish architect Francis Johnston. It had been a school for 191 years, until its closure in 2000. The new Wetherspoon hotel accommodation comprises six double rooms, six twins, one family room and one accessible room, complete with full DDA compliant bathroom facilities. Each of the rooms features an en suite bathroom, tea- and coffee-making facilities, hair dryer, flat-screen television with Saorview Freesat TV and unlimited free Wi-Fi, as well as digital air-conditioning and temperature control. According to Wetherspoon, the new hotel interior design scheme is sympathetic to the age and style of the building, using vintage-inspired choices and heritage tones, as well as current trends to complement the traditional design and to suit the historical period of the building. The new hotel is set to provide an important addition to the tourist offering in Swords and will hopefully help the continued reinvigoration of the town's recovering Main Street. The building is very old but the business it is about to host is brand new and brings something of a revolution to the Irish pub trade as UK giant pub chain, JD Wetherspoon get ready to open just their fourth Irish bar, in Swords. The Old Borough was once a school and the building was constructed in 1804 right in the middle of Swords and while it has been a pub before, this is different. On July 21, 2015, UK pub giants, Wetherspoon opened up their fourth pub in Ireland at this prime location in Swords and the business has been thriving there ever since. Back then, the pub had a 2.8 million overhaul with care taken to preserve original features of the building and the history of the building and Swords captured in pictures on the wall of the new establishment. The pub opening created 100 new jobs in Swords and with the addition of the hotel, the Old Borough is set to provide even more employment for the area as well as a further economic boost to the Main Street area with the arrival of its new 14-bedroom hotel offering. A young man who walked into a house uninvited while he was heavily intoxicated in what was described as 'idiotic behaviour' has been sentenced to one month in prison - after he failed to cooperate with the Probation Service. Kevin Joyce (21) refused to leave the house when the occupants discovered him there and claimed he was there with a friend. However, the court heard he was on his own and when gardai arrived to arrest him for trespass he stumbled over and fell. The defendant, of Mourne Court in Skerries, Co Dublin pleaded guilty at Balbriggan District Court to trespass at a house at Hoar Rock in Skerries on February 10. He has no previous convictions. The court heard the incident happened at 10.20pm and the occupants of the house were in their 30s. Defence barrister, Patrick Jackson said gardai spoke to the defendant warning him of the seriousness of what he had done and that there was a potential charge of burglary. 'He has a problem with alcohol and doesn't have a clear memory of what happened nor the seriousness of what he did,' said Mr Jackson. He said the defendant is trying to address his drink issue. 'Alcohol is never an excuse but he did something stupid. It was idiotic behaviour of a young man who had too much drink,' he added. 'He has been offered a job with a reputable company and as he has no previous convictions, a conviction now could hinder things for him,' said Mr Jackson. Judge Dermot Dempsey previously ordered a Probation Report to assess whether the defendant is suitable to take up community service work in lieu of a prison sentence. However, a report handed in stated he did not attend for two appointments. Imposing a month's prison sentence, Judge Dempsey said the defendant 'got an opportunity to comply and didn't'. He fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal. The community of Camolin will suffer a huge loss next year when the Post Office will close its doors due to An Post offering postmasters a voluntary retirement package. Parish priest Fr Joe Kavanagh said the closure of Camolin Post Office will be extremely difficult, especially for the people who collect their pension every week. 'Unfortunately, it is something we can do nothing about,' said Fr Kavanagh. 'We will find it very difficult once it is gone.' So far, a total of 161 rural postmasters in Ireland will close after applying for the retirement package, including Camolin Post Office, which has stood in the village for 51 years. It is believed once postmasters and postmistresses retire, they will not be replaced. Businessman and chairperson of Camolin Development Association Jack Redmond is disappointed at the loss of the post office in Camolin. 'I feel it is going to be huge loss for a village that is about to be bypassed,' said Jack. 'I see the older generation walking to the post office every Friday morning, it will be a big disadvantage for them. 'Eventually, rural areas will just be a school and a church. We need to get more business into the area, rather than close them down.' Councillor Malcolm Byrne hopes to try and come up with some sort of a solution. 'Communities losing a post office is pretty serious and it will mean that those who use it will have to travel to a major town,' said Cllr Byrne. 'Camolin is a reasonably sized village and it is a big concern that the post office is closing.' In an interview on Morning Ireland RTE Radio 1, MD of An Post Retail Debbie Byrne said she expects most of the 161 rural offices listed would close at the end of the current consultation period and that the postmasters/postmistresses were in line to receive between 6,000 to 80,000 each depending on length of service. She also indicated that closures may eventually be on the way in urban areas as well, with two outlets consolidated into one. In a statement, An Post confirmed that as part of its Post Office Transformation Programme and 50 million investment in the post office network, they have offered current postmasters a choice between an exit deal with a two-year salary pay-off or a new seven-year contract which, after three years, has no guarantee that incomes will not drop. The full list of post offices closing will be issued at the end of August once the details have been confirmed with each Postmaster. An Post, the Irish Postmasters Union and postmasters are in agreement that the consolidation of the network and the subsequent transfer of business to neighbouring offices is essential to the sustainability of the overall network and the continued provision of services in local communities. Mail delivery and collection services are not affected. An Post reaffirms its commitment that communities of over 500 people will have a post office and that over 95 per cent of the population will be within 15km of at least one post office. All island post offices are being retained. To meet the above coverage commitments, An Post will also publish at the end of August a target list of new post office locations. In many of the locations where postmasters wish to retire, services such as stamps, bill payment, mobile top-up and TV License renewal will continue to be available through the PostPoint counter facility in local shops. Ms Byrne said the news marks a key point on the journey towards a stronger post office network. 'Some closures were inevitable in a network that has been largely unchanged for many years,' said Ms Byrne. 'The consolidation of post office business will strengthen the remaining post offices, and the development of a wide range of new services over the coming months and years will see a reinvigorated network across 950 post offices.' As Annemarie Ni Churreain's year as Kerry's writer-in-residence comes to an end later this month, she was in a reflective mood when she spoke to The Kerryman last week about her time in the role. Firstly though, for those out there who might not be familiar with what the role of writer-in-residence entails, I'll leave the expert in Annmarie herself explain: "The role of the writer-in-residence is to promote writing, literature book and creativity in the community," she said, speaking to us last week. "I would do creative writing and group workshops, readings from my own book and then I would do one-to-one mentoring as well, this would be with people who are preparing their manuscript for publication or for submission to publishers," she continued. ""Really though, it all boils down to promoting writing and supporting writers at all levels." "So, whether you are an emerging writer or whether you are somebody who has already been published, it's important that you have a writer in the community who can give you advice, tips and who can steer you in the right direction," she said. Originally from the Donegal Gaeltacht area, Annemarie has been a regular fixture down in Kerry for the past 12 months but now, she is preparing to leave her role, but she does so with fond memories and Kerry's writing future safely ensured. Having started her role back in September 2017, it's hard for Annmarie to believe that her year long tenure is almost already finished, but far from feeling nostalgic, she is basking in a job well done after a year of many highs and cherished memories. "It's been a really exciting year and there's been lots of highlights, including curating a salon for Listowel Writers' Week, being part of the Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival up in North Kerry. Finally, a special mention must go to the Dingle Book Shop for all the readings I did there, those readings are particularly fond memories for me." A large part of her role was the cultivation and growth of the writing talent here in Kerry - a role that Annemarie undertook with much gusto. A year of examining some of the best up and coming writers that Kerry has to offer later, the question is - do we have budding John B Keane's amongst us? In short, we're in rude health with our young writers, Annemarie said. "There's a particular love of oral storytelling in Kerry, of humour in writing and of musicality of the words. All of that translates really well to writing on the page as well. I think that there's a strong tradition of sharing stories and having fun through stories," she said. "I think that there is a great confidence in people who are coming newly to writing in Kerry, there is a great willingness by people of all ages and all backgrounds to give it a try." "I've worked with hundreds of people throughout the county from primary school age right up to people in their 80's - Kerry is in a good place when it comes to writing." To prove her point, Annemarie goes on to talk about one of the biggest projects that she has been involved in during her year as writer-in-residence - the annual anthology of Kerry's writers. "This years anthology is called 'Still in the dreaming' and that is due to launch very soon. I think we have a September launch date in mind; the title of the book is inspired by a quote from John Moriarty. The book will bring together work by 15 Kerry writers and there will be live readings from the anthology for Culture Night on September 21 which we're very excited about," she said. Outside of her role, Annemarie is already an established writer and poet; she has been awarded literary fellowships by the Akademie Schloss Solitude (Germany), the Jack Kerouac House (Florida) and Hawthornden Castle (Scotland). In 2016, she was recipient of a Next Generation Artists Award from the Arts Council of Ireland Her debut collection of works is called 'Bloodroot' and is available to buy from the doirepress.com website She is also working on a second, as of now untitled collection of poetry and also the text for an opera. A huge thank you from all of here in Kerry to Annmarie for all her work this past year. Twenty-five French guests will arrive in Listowel this week to be hosted for a week of Twinning events - including a civic reception for them at Aras Phadraig - celebrating the town's shared Lartigue heritage with the French municipality of Panissieres. Mayor of Panissieres Christian Mollard will lead the French guests as Listowel throws open its doors and lays out the red carpet for its esteemed visitors. The civic reception takes place on Thursday at 11am, with Fine Gael County Councillor Aoife Thornton hosting as the Authority honours the guests in the interest of renewing the great link. Following the reception at the Council offices in Aras Phadraig, it is then over, appropriately, to the Lartigue Museum, where the French guests will come as close as it is possible to get to their rail heritage, in the form of the restored monorail, for an event at 2pm. A special montage of the French Lartigue story will be on display to help everyone get an even deeper sense of the history. Meanwhile in St John's Theatre on Tuesday, August 14, Tarbert native Dr Declan Downey of UCD will deliver an illustrated talk, "Historic Connection between The Listowel Region and France", from 11am . One man who was there from the start is former Listowel Town Councillor Michael Guerin, who is looking back at the history he is expert in ahead of a visit marking more than 25 years of the twinning: "Whereas the Listowel to Ballybunion monorail ran for 36 years, the Panissieres to Feur never went into commercial operation and was seen as a big scandal. "We hope, in discussion during the week, to develop our unique worldwide Lartigue Monorail interests. Panissieres were fortunate to preserve their monorailway route, which is now a popular Greenway. The future of twinning will be discussed as funding is very poor, and only for community and family support it cannot continue. This is the same problem with other town-twinning committees in Kerry," Mr Guerin said. Irish Water is asking people throughout Kerry - particularly those supplied by the Leataoibh, Listowel, Aughacasla and Brosna/Knocknagoshel public water schemes - to continue to conserve water as much as possible, as water levels on many schemes remain extremely low. The national water utility said that as a result of the ongoing dry spell, demand is exceeding supply, and the sources for these water supply schemes are coming under increasing pressure. "We are continuing to monitor the situation and putting contingency plans in place should they be needed in the coming weeks," an Irish Water Spokesperson said. "Divers were on site at Lough Guitane this week responding to record low levels in the lake due to the ongoing drought conditions and lack of rainfall in this area in recent months. "Water levels in the lake have dropped 45 inches since June. The divers are investigating options to ensure raw water continues to flow into the Kerry Central Regional Supply Scheme, where it is treated and supplied to over 62,000 people in the Killarney and Tralee areas in Kerry every day," the spokesperson added. "While recent rainfall has led to a slight recovery in water levels in surface water sources, it will take sustained rainfall over many weeks and even months to fully replenish water levels in rivers, lakes and groundwater sources and treated drinking water levels in our storage reservoirs." Families from North Kerry pictured in The Kerryman offices in Tralee where they revealed their concerns over allegations that a male pupil carried out inappropriate acts of a sexual nature against their children Two families have withdrawn their children from a North Kerry school amid allegations that a male pupil carried out inappropriate acts of a sexual nature on their children. One member of the board has also stepped down from the board over the handling of complaints by management. The three complaints all refer to inappropriate touching of female pupils by a male pupil at the school. The first incident occurred in June of 2016 when it is alleged that the male child touched the backside of a girl and referred to the incident as using his finger. The child reported it to the class teacher. The parents were not informed by the school, they say, but having been told by the child of the incident, they trusted it to be dealt with in accordance with procedures. The second incident involved two students and occurred almost a year later during break-time. This was referred to by the school as "inappropriate touching" and in this case the girls, it is alleged, were touched in their private parts by the same pupil. The parents were informed by the principal in this case. One of the parents involved went to the school the following day and raised the previous issue, from June 2016, which also involved her daughter. She claims that procedures were not completed in relation to the 2016 incident and that a procedure should have been put in place to prevent a recurrence. The same parent then wrote to the Board of Management to make a formal complaint. The matter had been not been resolved by September 2017 and the The Department of Education became involved as the parents of one of the girls involved had not returned their children to the school. This family have since removed their children from the school. The Board of Management, union reps and the two families involved met in October 2017. A report was prepared by the parents for the Board. The board subsequently voted that procedure was followed but parents disputed this. One of the parents also contacted the Bishop of Kerry seeking his intervention as the patron of the school as they were unhappy at the handling of their complaint. They met with him in March of this year. The parents are calling on Tusla to intervene and the patron of the school to get involved and dissolve the board. The patron can, in accordance with section 16 of the Eduction Act 1998 and in consent with the minister, remove a member of the board or dissolve the Board of Management for stated reasons. In a letter sent to the parents he said that he can only do so if the parents write a letter of the allegations against the board. They claim that this information has been provided in previous correspondence and at a meeting with him. A third incident arose in the school year - this time involving a separate family who have also now contacted both the principal, the Board of Management and Tusla. This family have also written to the Board seeking clarification on their handling of the situation. They say that they are worried about their child's safety after "she was groped" in class and they allege that the code of behaviour of the school was not followed. They have now removed their children from the school. "We fear that this will happen again going forward. We are trying to protect our children," "We feel that they have failed in the duty of care to our daughters, and that they have not provided a happy safe environment." In response to the queries from The Kerryman the principal issued a statement from the Board of Management stating that they have followed procedures. "The BOM wishes to reassure parents that all procedures are followed in all cases," they said in statement. The Bishop of Kerry is also stating that he too has followed procedure. In a statement from Tusla they said that they all referrals are screened and assessed in line with 'Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children'. The Labour Party needs to reconnect with its core values and voters. That's the message from Tralee Cllr Terry O'Brien who, last week, was one of four Labour councillors, nationally, to question the strategy of party leader Brendan Howlin. Cllr O'Brien insists his views are not a personal attack on Mr Howlin, but rather an appeal to the party hierarchy to do more to reconnect with its values. The breaking point for Cllr O'Brien came when a recent MRBI Poll showed Labour at three per cent and dangerously close to extinction. "When I saw the poll I just said to myself 'we're going to go into non-existence if we keep this up'," he said. "We've seen no impact since the election. Meanwhile, this Dail isn't really doing much and they're not making any real decisions. Fine Gael are shooting themselves in the foot, Fianna Fail are backing them up, while Sinn Fein are talking a great deal but nothing is being done. All the while Labour is suffering. We're just not connecting with the electorate at all," he added. O'Brien's party colleague, Cllr Noel Tuohy from Laois, was the first to call out Brendan Howlin, and was later joined by councillors Mick Duff and Pamela Kerins (both Dublin South West), and Local Area Representative, Paul O'Brien (Wicklow). But 16 Labour councillors and Longford-Westmeath Labour TD Willie Penrose, have since backed Howlin in the heave against him. "Look, I've nothing against Brendan but we just don't see him down here. I want a party leader who is going to visit the constituency and talk to us, and tell Graham [Spring] and I what's going on, and ask us what we need." Mr O'Brien - who was unsuccessful when contesting the 2007 General Election - said the reaction since he questioned Mr Howlin's leadership has been 'mostly positive'. He added that only TD Alan Kelly is creating the kind of opposition that's expected from an opposition party. Cllr O'Brien has a solid record in local elections since first elected in 1999 for Labour. He also topped the poll in town and county elections in 2004, and retained his seat following the party's dismal return in the local elections of 2014. Cllr O'Brien also cited Kerry's strong Labour voice with TDs representing both the north and south of the county in the past. The fact only two Labour councillors now represent Kerry is a major concern to him. "I'm looking at the Labour Party in the polls and looking at it locally. I'm just saying that we need an injection of something. Whether it's a change of leadership, or change in format. We need something. Or are they just going to leave the party die away? If they are they should tell us. It's just not working out what we're doing," he said. Cork County Mayor Patrick Gerard Murphy announced the winners of the 1.6million Social Enterprise Development Fund at Cork County Hall. Pictured at the back are Helena Switzer of KCC with John Evoy of SIFI, with (front) Elaine Kennedy and Courtney Sheehy of Foodshare Kerry Foodshare Kerry is one of 22 national projects to receive a place on Ireland's prestigious Accelerator Programme, and the only one from Kerry to receive funding specifically set aside for social enterprises as part of the award. The innovative gold medal winner at this year's Kerry Community Awards, Foodshare Kerry is based in Tralee and is a project committed to salvaging quality surplus food from supermarkets and food producers to make it available to charities. The announcement of winners for the 1.6 million Social Enterprise Development Fund took place in Vertigo at Cork County Hall on Wednesday last. The fund is aimed at supporting social enterprises and will assist Foodshare Kerry's ambitions to expand its programme by offering support through workshops, advice and marketing ideas. "At the moment we're running a food bank, but we're looking to expand our project into a social store type setting," said Robert Carey, co-founder of Foodshare Kerry. "The concept that we're looking at exploring is one that would bridge the gap between a food bank and a conventional food store. "This funding gives us the space and support to explore the idea. It would function as a normal food store but would also offer advice on other social supports to people, if they wish. The judges liked the connectivity and community aspect of our project. We would also be looking to connect with local producers," Robert added. Foodshare Kerry was set up over two years ago and has already prevented in excess of nine tonnes of food waste from going to the landfill, which in turn addresses issues of food poverty for people in low-income households, as well as food waste. In 2016, Foodshare Kerry was awarded 'European Aid for the Most Deprived' funding.' It distributes food three days per week to 34 charitable groups, while also supporting families and particular target groups of charities. KCC CEO Moira Murrell said social enterprises hold the key to creating sustainable communities across Ireland. "We are delighted to partner with Social Innovation Fund Ireland in creating this invaluable fund," Ms Murrell said. Phase two of the Western Distributor road will get underway in late autumn Work on two major road projects in Sligo are likely to start in late autumn. The contract for phase two of the Western Distributor Road linking Caltragh to the Ballydoogan area has gone to tender and will be closing in the next couple of weeks. Director of Services with Sligo County Council, Tom Kilfeather told The Sligo Champion that he was hopeful a contractor would be on site in late September or early October. Mr Kilfeather said it was also hoped that work would begin on the Collooney to Castlebaldwin stretch of the N4 in November. The 15km road widening project has an overall investment value of 105 million. The proposed Western Distributor road was first included in the Development Plan as far back as 1971 and links the N4 dual carriageway at the Caltragh Interchange to the R292 Strandhill Road at Ballydoogan, west of Sligo City. The WDR comprises 3km of 2-lane urban distributor road, two traffic signal controlled junctions, one roundabout junction, one railway overbridge, sustainable drainage and attenuation works, and accommodation works. The scheme was divided into two phases for construction with phase one from the Ballydoogan Road to the Strandhill Road completed early in 2010. This new road was recently named Roger Eames Road. Phase two from the Caltragh Interchange on the N4 to the Ballydoogan Road is required to access the IDA Business Park. It involves the construction of this road from the Caltragh Interchange west to the proposed IDA Business Park at Oakfield, including the link road into the Business Park, and north to the junction of Phase 1 with the Ballydoogan Road. Phase 2 consists of 1.9km of main roadway, 400m of IDA link road, 1km of minor roads and tie-ins and a railway overbridge at Maugheraboy. It will also take traffic heading for Dublin on the Strandhill side away from Larkhill Road, Oakfield Road and Ballyfree. Sligo Chamber has warmly welcomed the 11 million investment for the Western Distributor Road with an additional 5 million coming from the IDA. Arklow and Wicklow Fire Service crews responded quickly to a vehicle on fire on the M11 on Saturday to prevent the incident from turning into a serious wildfire. Wicklow and Rathdrum units also attended separate blazes in Rathdrum and Ballinastraw Woods on the same day in what has been the busiest summer for local fire services since 1995. A BMW suffered engine failure at the Arklow junction on the M11 just before 12.30 p.m. on Saturday. The vehicle then suddenly burst into flames after the driver and only occupant had exited the car. A section of the road was closed off for over half an hour as the fire services maintained the blaze and stopped the flames from taking hold elsewhere. The charred remains of the vehicle were then removed by tow truck. Rathdrum Fire Services spent over four hours battling a blaze in the heart of Ballinastraw Woods - the second fire to take place in the woodland area in recent weeks. The fire started right in the centre of the woods, making it difficult for the fire services to access. While Rathdrum Fire Services were combating the incident at Ballinastraw, Wicklow Fire Services were deployed to manage a gorse fire in a field across the road from St Colman's Hospital in Rathdum. The flames were threatening to spread to a nearby ditch but the unit from Wicklow managed to contain it after close to an hour and a half. (L-R) Princess Madeleine of Sweden, princess Adrienne of Sweden, princess Leonore of Sweden, Mr Christopher O'Neill and prince Nicolas of Sweden are pictured after Princess Adrienne's christening ceremony in Drottningholm Palace Chapel in Stockholm, Sweden on June 8, 2018 Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Prince Carl Phillip of Sweden attend a formal dinner at Grand Hotel after attending an award ceremony for the Polar Music Prize at Konserthuset on June 15, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Queen Silvia of Sweden and Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of Sweden attend the World Childhood Foundation USA 2017 Thank You Gala at Cipriani 25 Broadway on October 2, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for World Childhood Foundation USA ) Princess Madeleine of Sweden and princess Adrienne (5thL), princess Leonore, Mr Christopher O'Neill and prince Nicolas flanked by the godparents Nader Panahpour, Coralie Charriol Paul, Anouska d'Abo (L) and Charlotte Kreuger Cederlund, Natalie Werner and Gustav Thot (R) after the princess Adrienne's christening ceremony in Drottningholm Palace Chapel in Stockholm, Sweden on June, 8 2018 (L-R) Carolina Pihl, Sara Hellqvist, Thomas de Toledo Sommerlath, Prince Gabriel of Sweden, Duke of Dalarna held by Princess Sofia of Sweden and Prince Carl Philip holding Prince Alexander, Duke of Sodermanland, Princess Madeleine and Oscar Kylberg attends the christening of Prince Gabriel of Sweden at Drottningholm Palace Chapel on December 1, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O'Neill depart from the wedding ceremony of Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O'Neill hosted by King Carl Gustaf XIV and Queen Silvia at The Royal Palace on June 8, 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) Princess Madeleine of Sweden holding Princesse Adrienne of Sweden, leaves the christening of Princess Adrienne of Sweden at Drottningholm Palace Chapel on June 8, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Princess Madeleine of Sweden holding Princesse Adrienne of Sweden, leaves the christening of Princess Adrienne of Sweden at Drottningholm Palace Chapel on June 8, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Princess Madeleine of Sweden holding Princesse Adrienne of Sweden, leaves the christening of Princess Adrienne of Sweden at Drottningholm Palace Chapel on June 8, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images) Christopher O'Neill and Princess Madeleine of Sweden are taken by horse and carriage from the Royal Palace of Stockholm to Riddarholmen after the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O'Neill hosted by King Carl Gustaf XIV and Queen Silvia at The Royal Palace on June 8, 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Torsten Laursen/Getty Images) Princess Madeleine of Sweden has announced she and her family will be moving to Florida for her husband Christopher O'Neill's new job. The 36-year-old has three children with the British-American investment banker - Princess Leonore (four), Prince Nicolas (three) and Princess Adrienne (five months) - and the Swedish Royal Court said in a statement the family will be moving stateside this autumn. They are currently based in London, where Mr O'Neill works, but often return home to Sweden to fulfill royal duties and all of their children were baptised in Drottningholm Palace Chapel in Stockholm, Sweden. "The timing and opportunity for the United States is good while the children are of preschool age," the statement read. Expand Close (L-R) Princess Madeleine of Sweden, princess Adrienne of Sweden, princess Leonore of Sweden, Mr Christopher O'Neill and prince Nicolas of Sweden are pictured after Princess Adrienne's christening ceremony in Drottningholm Palace Chapel in Stockholm, Sweden on June 8, 2018 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (L-R) Princess Madeleine of Sweden, princess Adrienne of Sweden, princess Leonore of Sweden, Mr Christopher O'Neill and prince Nicolas of Sweden are pictured after Princess Adrienne's christening ceremony in Drottningholm Palace Chapel in Stockholm, Sweden on June 8, 2018 "Mr. Christopher O'Neill has previously been working in the United States but will continue his business in Europe. The family thus leaves the accommodation in London." Madeleine is the youngest of King Gustaf and Queen Silivia's three children with Crown Princess Victoria next in line for the throne, followed by her two children, then her brother Prince Carl Philip and his two children. However, according to Swedish rule, you remain in line for the throne if you've attended school in the country from the age of six, which leaves two years for Leonore to potentially move home and retain her royal rights. The couple previously said they are more focused on achieving the best education and providing a happy home. "The answer is that we do not know, and therefore we take all steps to prepare them for what we could call a normal life. A good education, for starters," O'Neill recently told Swedish magazine King. "We are in the queue for schools in London, which we need to do four years in advance, but we take a year at a time." In the same interview, he praised his wife of five years, describing her as the love of his life. "Ive met the woman of my life, the woman I love. But it is clear that it has its challenging sides to be married to a princess. Of course, it has complicated my life, for obvious reasons," he said. "I have no desire to achieve any kind of fame, nor have any benefits of it in my professional life. It happens that Im mad about Madeleine. But in the end, you learn to live with it. Plane passengers flying to Edinburgh had a surprise Antipodean traveller in their cabin a koala heading for the citys zoo. The 19-month-old Queensland koala had his own seat on the flight as the sensitive animals cannot be placed in the hold. Tanami travelled more than 700 miles from Duisburg Zoo in Germany to join Scotlands only koalas in a conservation breeding programme. He is switching places with Toorie, Edinburgh Zoos young male koala, who will be making the return flight to Dusseldorf next week. Darren McGarry, head of living collections at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: Koalas are very sensitive animals, so special care needs to be taken when transporting them. They travel in the planes cabin and not in the hold so keepers can easily make sure everythings okay during the flight. We are very excited to have Tanami join us here at the zoo. Koalas are a real favourite among our visitors and its great to see him settling in well and enjoying his new surroundings.Viewings of the new arrival will be restricted this weekend as he gets used to his new home. Mr McGarry added: Toorie will be missed by everyone here at Edinburgh Zoo but we are proud to see him playing his part in the conservation of the species. Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar hailed the special passenger. He said: We welcome passengers from all over the world to Edinburgh Airport but not all of them are as special or as cute as a koala. It was quite exciting to have Tanami arriving here and he joins a list of famous animals who have touched down here to make Edinburgh Zoo their new home. Koala numbers are falling in the native habitat of eastern Australia as the eucalyptus forest they depend on are being cut down. The proposal, revealed by the 'Vox' website, would require Pyongyang to hand over 60 to 70pc of its nuclear warheads within six to eight months, either to the US or a third country. The concessions the US would offer in exchange - beyond sanctions relief or removing North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism - remain unknown. According to the website, the plan has been rejected by North Korean negotiators multiple times over the past two months. Their refusal to comply could explain the frustration expressed by US officials in recent days. In an interview with Fox News, John Bolton, the US national security adviser, accused Pyongyang of failing to live up to the deal signed between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un at the Singapore summit in June, which agreed to work towards denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Mr Bolton said Mr Pompeo would be prepared to return to North Korea for talks, but not for more rhetoric. "What we need is performance from North Korea on denuclearisation," he said. "North Korea has not taken the steps we feel are necessary to denuclearise." Pyongyang is also growing impatient with the US. When Mr Pompeo went to the country for a third time in July, Kim opted to visit a potato farm rather than meet him. Yesterday, Pyongyang reiterated its own demand for the US to agree to declare a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice and not a peace treaty. Declaring an end to the war is the "demand of our time" and will be the "first process" toward a peace and security guarantee, the state-run 'Rodong Sinmun' newspaper said. South Korea has viewed the diplomatic rapprochement with North Korea this year as a political coup, and is keen to keep progress towards denuclearisation on track. Seoul said yesterday that officials from the North and South would meet on Monday to plan for a third summit between Kim and Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president. South Korea's unification ministry did not elaborate on the location of the summit, although Mr Moon had previously agreed to visit Kim in Pyongyang during the autumn. Some North Korean analysts remain sceptical about recent developments in negotiations, however. Vipin Narang, an associate professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, called Mr Pompeo's plan a "delusional non-starter". Writing on his Twitter account he said: "If this is what Pompeo has asked for, it's no wonder North Korea has called him a 'robber' or 'gangster-like'. And trying to literally take their nukes away distracts from other realistic objectives like caps." One major hurdle to the proposal is that North Korea has not even disclosed how many nuclear bombs it actually has. US intelligence officials estimate around 65. A pro-abortion rights protester outside Congress shouts slogans after the bill was rejected in the Senate Argentina's Senate has rejected a bill to legalise elective abortion, a defeat for a grassroots movement that came closer than ever to achieving decriminalisation in the homeland of Pope Francis. Lawmakers debated for more than 15 hours before voting 38-31 against the measure that would have allowed abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. The decision could echo across Latin America, where anti-abortion forces remain strong even if the Catholic Church has lost influence due to secularisation and an avalanche of sex abuse scandals. For many hours, thousands of supporters of the effort to legalise abortion and opponents braved heavy rain and cold temperatures in Argentina's winter to watch the debate on large screens set up outside Congress. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, but after the vote, small groups of protesters clashed with police, throwing firebombs and setting up flaming barricades. Police officers responded with tear gas. Pushed by a wave of demonstrations by women's groups, the lower house had already passed the measure and conservative President Mauricio Macri had said that he would sign it, even though he is anti-abortion. After the decision, Mr Macri said that the debate would continue. The government is also expected to include a measure in the penal code that would decriminalise abortion, although it would not legalise the practice. "We've shown that we have matured as a society, and that we can debate with the depth and seriousness that all Argentines expected ... and democracy won," Mr Macri said after the vote. In Argentina, abortion is allowed only in cases of rape and risks to a woman's health. Thousands of women, most of them poor, are hospitalised each year for complications linked to unsafe abortions. Backers of the measure said legalising abortion would save the life of many women. The health ministry estimated in 2016 that the country has as many as half-a-million clandestine abortions each year, with dozens of women dying as a result. The Catholic Church and other groups opposed it, saying it violated Argentine law guaranteeing life from conception. In recent years, Argentina has been at the forefront of social movements in the region. In 2010, it became the first country in Latin America to legalise same-sex marriage. More recently, the Ni Una Menos, or Not One Less, movement that was created in Argentina to fight violence against women has grown into a global phenomenon. The issue pitted the Catholic Church against feminist groups, doctors against doctors. While abortion-rights activists waited for the decision under umbrellas, opponents gathered at a 'Mass for Life' at the Metropolitan Cathedral, the church of Pope Francis during his tenure as the archbishop of Buenos Aires. "It's not about religious beliefs but about a humanitarian reason," Cardinal Mario Poli, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, told churchgoers. "Caring for life is the first human right and the duty of the state." Pope Francis this year denounced abortion as the "white glove" equivalent of the Nazi-era eugenics programme and urged families "to accept the children God gives them". Activists estimate that 3,030 women in Argentina have died of illegal abortions since 1983. "Let's recognise that we're facing a public health tragedy," said Magdalena Odarda, a senator for Rio Negro province. "We're not deciding abortion yes or no. We're deciding abortion in a hospital, or illegal abortion, with a clothes hanger, or anything else that puts a woman in a humiliating, degrading situation." The mountain lion roamed the house for more than an hour (Boulder Police Department via AP) A mountain lion that became trapped inside a house killed a cat before police and wildlife officers were able to scare it out. Police in Boulder, Colorado, in the US, said the homeowner came back to the house late and found the mountain lion inside. A mountain lion entered a home in Boulder last night through a screen door. The cat burglar was chased off. No people were injured but a house cat, sadly, was killed. Please keep ground level doors and windows closed and locked at night and when youre not home. pic.twitter.com/7u5nRwZBaw City of Boulder (@bouldercolorado) August 10, 2018 It appeared it had pushed through a screen and could not get back out. The big cat roamed throughout the home for more than an hour before officers used non-lethal rounds to scare it out of the front door. Casey Affleck has addressed questions about harassment allegations in the wake of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements. The 42-year-old actor, producer and director is taking responsibility for the "unprofessional" atmosphere on the set of the 2010 film I'm Still Here that led to civil lawsuits from two women who worked on the movie. The Oscar winner also talked about what he has learned from the #MeToo conversation and what he is doing at his production company to bring new voices into Hollywood. During Affleck's best actor campaign for Manchester By The Sea in 2016, the spotlight was turned back on the civil lawsuits filed by a cinematographer and a producer who worked on I'm Still Here for breach of contract. One of the women also sued for sexual harassment, and both described an uncomfortable atmosphere on the set of the unconventional mockumentary, which he produced and directed. "It was an unprofessional environment ... the buck had to stop with me being one of the producers and I have to accept responsibility for that," Affleck said. "I contributed to that unprofessional environment and I tolerated that kind of behaviour from other people and I wish that I hadn't." He added: "I behaved in a way and allowed others to behave in a way that was really unprofessional. And I'm sorry." Although the lawsuits were settled out of court, Affleck's name in 2016 and 2017 became associated with a long list of men who have abused power in Hollywood. While Affleck has addressed the lawsuits, he also has not spoken publicly since #MeToo and Time's Up overtook the culture 10 months ago. In that time, Affleck also opted out of presenting the best actress award at the Oscars - traditionally the responsibility of the previous year's best actor winner. Instead, Jodie Foster and Jennifer Lawrence handed the trophy to Frances McDormand. "I think it was the right thing to do just given everything that was going on in our culture at the moment," Affleck said. "And having two incredible women go present the best actress award felt like the right thing." Affleck said he has been learning a lot in the past few years listening to the conversation and has moved away from a place of defensiveness to one of finding his own culpability. "I think bigger picture, in this business women have been underrepresented and underpaid and objectified and diminished and humiliated and belittled in a bazillion ways and just generally had a mountain of grief thrown at them forever. "And no one was really making too much of a fuss about it, myself included, until a few women with the kind of courage and wisdom to stand up and say, 'You know what? Enough is enough'. "Those are the people who are kind of leading this conversation and should be leading the conversation. And I know just enough to know that in general I need to keep my mouth shut and listen and try to figure out what's going on and be a supporter and a follower in the little, teeny tiny ways that I can." Of his decision to do an interview now, Affleck said: "If I'm not promoting a movie, I'm not going to do any press, so that's why you haven't heard from me." He is also taking these lessons both to work and home to his two sons, who are aged 14 and 10. "I want to be in a world where grown men model compassion and decency and also contrition when it's called for, and I certainly tell (my sons) to own their mistakes when they make them," he said. At his production company, Sea Change Media, he said he and his development partner Whitaker Lader are looking to shepherd filmmakers with stories that are not well-represented in Hollywood. "It's nice to be able to take the teeny tiny bit of experience that she and I have and use it to help other Thousands of Romanians who live abroad flocked to an anti-government protest in Bucharest on Friday, urging the left-wing government to resign and call an early election. The expatriates, some of whom drove across Europe to attend the demonstration, are angry about how Romania is being governed by the Social Democrats. Since the party won power in 2016, the government has proposed new laws that critics say weaken the nations fight against corruption. An estimated three million Romanians are living abroad, and some say they left because of corruption, low wages and lack of opportunities. We dont want our country to be governed by thieves who line their own pockets, said Georgeta Anghel, 43, who has lived in Valencia, Spain, for 14 years. If nothing changes here, what kind of future will our son have in the future? Liviu Dragnea, the head of the Social Democrats, has received a three and a half year prison sentence for abuse of power in office. He is appealing against that decision. He is unable to be prime minister due to another conviction in 2016 for vote-rigging. Hundreds of thousands have signed a petition demanding a law that would ban people charged with corruption and other offences from office, but it is unlikely to pass Parliament where the Social Democrats and their allies have a majority. The protesters on Friday waved Romanian, EU, Spanish, Italian and other flags, yelled Justice, not corruption and called the ruling party the red plague outside government offices in the capital. Protesters briefly scuffled with riot police when they tried to break through a police line guarding the government offices. At least one man was detained. Romanias President Klaus Iohannis, a critic of the government, said he firmly condemned the brutal intervention of riot police, which he called a disproportionate reaction to a protest where most were peaceful. Cristina Andrei arrived from Stockholm, Sweden, where she lives now with her two sons. Ive come here for my children, who dont know how to read or write Romanian, the 42-year-old cashier said. This country is rich and beautiful but its run by thieves. Kamal Haasan has been religiously promoting the second part of Vishwaroopam which is slated to release on August 10. The south superstar is extremely hopeful that Vishwaroopam II will win audience' hearts just like the first one. Twitter Kamal plays a raw agent in Vishwaroopam II and this film revolves around the political scenario in the country. He has been giving back to back interviews to promote the film. Twitter In one of his media interaction, he explained what makes a film interesting according to him. Interestingly, he happened to claim that it was him who had predicted Osama Bin Ladens death in Vishwaroopam. Twitter He said, See, what makes a film interesting, especially a murder mystery or a horror mystery is the research that goes into it. As an actor, it became very easy when the research was done. I was also the screenwriter so I automatically crafted the film around what I could do, keeping my limitations in mind, meanwhile also ensuring that it remains entertaining. In fact, the research I did was so good that many things that I had foretold in the script actually happened in real life toonot that I am Nostradamus but I had predicted the death of Bin Laden (Osama Bin Laden)." Twitter "I had written the script before his death. Thats how extensive my research had been; it was so close to the truth, it surprised even me. Research can help you predict the future and even prevent it from happening, he said. Twitter Well, it will be interesting to see what he has predicted in the second part of the film. Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, who was acquitted in the murder of their daughter Arushi and domestic help Hemraj may soon find themselves in the court. This after the Supreme Court on Friday accepted the CBI's appeal against their acquittal in the case. In its appeal, the CBI argued that the Allahabad High Court which held the couple not guilty was wrong in reversing the "well-reasoned" order of the trial court. The trial court in Ghaziabad had accepted the circumstantial evidence and "rightly applied" the "last seen with" theory in convicting the Talwar couple. The CBI had argued that since the apartment wasn't broken into, the murder should have been an inside job. However, in October last year, the Allahabad HC had acquitted the couple and said they could not be held guilty on the basis of the evidence on record. The widow of the domestic help Hemraj had also challenged the acquittal in the court. Rajesh and Nupur, both dentists were accused of murder after their only daughter Aarushi was found murdered in her room, with her throat slit in May 2008. Even though the murder was initially thought to be committed by domestic help Hemraj who was reported missing, his body was later found partially decomposed from the terrace. According to police Rajesh killed his daughter in a fit of rage after he found her in a compromising position with Hemraj. The violent clashes of the Kunwariyas have been making headlines across in north India. In another development, as many as 70 Muslim families have reportedly left the village of Khailam in Bareilly in UP. This has happened after the police issued them red cards and warned against creating trouble for Kanwariyas who passed through the Muslim-dominated area, on Thursday. pti Along with the red cards, around 250 families, both Muslim and Hindu, were also asked to sign a symbolic bond of Rs 5 lakh, reported News 18. As recently reported by Indian Express, these red cards have messages that read: We have secret information that during the Kanwar yatra you might create troublewith this red card we are informing you that if you create any trouble during the Kanwar yatra, action will be taken against you. You will be held accountable. The Kanwar Yatra to a local Shiva temple passed off peacefully on Thursday, unlike last year. However, the police warning to locals seems to have stirred a controversy in its wake. According to Senior Superintendent of Police Muniraj G, The red card is not legally valid. Most of the people from both communities who were asked to sign a bond were issued red cards just to let them know that they are under surveillance. pti According to police officials, however, the red cards were a preventive measure made to ensure peace during the Kanwar Yatra. Clashes had erupted during the yatra last year when Kanwarias passed through the village, leaving dozens of locals and 15 security men injured. Locals, however, accuse outsiders of inciting trouble last year. Reportedly, the villagers have been peaceful all this while. Some outsiders last year a fickle situation of law and order, which made the police book around 250 people who were mostly Muslims for the clashes. Most of the people booked were not even present in the village when the clashes occurred. Maybe that's why this time, the people decided to leave the village before they were booked for nothing by the police. Officials were also quoted saying that, they cannot stop someone if they want to leave with their family. "However, we have repeatedly assured all villagers that the administration will takecare of their safety. For now, heavy force at the village for next few days in order to maintain peace. Flash floods and landslides triggered by incessant rains are wreaking havoc across parts of Kerala for a third consecutive day as the downpour shows no signs of slowing down. So far 26 people have been confirmed dead across the state in rain-related mishaps, the most being in Idukki the worst affected district where 11 people lost their lives. Read more Arushi's Parents May Go Back To Jail As SC Accepts CBI's Appeal Against Their Acquittal Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, who was acquitted in the murder of their daughter Arushi and domestic help Hemraj may soon find themselves in the court. This after the Supreme Court on Friday accepted the CBI's appeal against their acquittal in the case. In its appeal, the CBI argued that the Allahabad High Court which held the couple not guilty was wrong in reversing the "well-reasoned" order of the trial court. Read more Class 2 Student Raped Inside Delhi School Building After Classes By Non-Teaching Staff Member Parents send their children to schools on the belief that they will be safe there with teachers and other saff. But an incident which has been reported from the national capital has raised some serious questions on the safety of children in schools. A class two student of a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school in Gole Market area was allegedly raped by an electrician inside the institute's premises. Read more Noida Man Waves A Gun At Restaurant For Free Food, Ends Up Paying With 7 Years Of Jail There is a reason why everyone believes in the phrase "there are no free lunches". One ends up paying either way! In a case in Noida, a man waved a gun in a restaurant for free food. And he ended up paying for that gesture in seven years in jail! He was seen taking out weapons in restaurants to avoid paying for meals. Read more UP Govt Sanctioned Rs 14 Lakhs To Shower Rose Petals On Kanwariyas From Helicopter It was an unusual scene, and probably unprecedented in the history of India when a senior police officer was seen showering rose petal on a group of Kanwariyas from a helicopter. It turns out that Additional Director General (Meerut Zone) Prashant Kumar was not alone in the act. In the past few days other UP police officers have also posted photos of them 'welcoming' kanwariyas by showering petals on them from the chopper. Read more Traffic Cops Can't Insist On Showing Original Vehicle Papers Anymore, Digital Copies Are Valid Citing the provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act, the road transport ministry has asked the traffic police and state transport departments not to insist on original (hard copy) documents like driving licence, registration certificate and insurance papers for verification. It said any of these documents in electronic form authenticated through the DigiLocker or mParivahan apps of the government should be treated as valid. Read more Flash floods and landslides triggered by incessant rains are wreaking havoc across parts of Kerala for a third consecutive day as the downpour shows no signs of slowing down. So far 26 people have been confirmed dead across the state in rain-related mishaps, the most being in Idukki the worst affected district where 11 people lost their lives. Most parts of Idukki district has effectively been cut-off from the rest of the state. According to Indian Meteorological Department thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely to affect Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad districts making the situation even worse. With continuously rising water levels, the shutters of Idukki Dam was opened on Wednesday, the first time in 26 years and the third time since the dam was built. Initially, just one of the shutters was opened by 50 cms, but on Thursday two more floodgates were opened as the water levels remained uncontrollable. As of Friday, up to 3 lakh litre water per second is being discharged from the dam. Not just Idukki, other key dams like Idamalayar, Kakki Pamba and Banasura Sagar has also been opened. A total of 24 dams which have reached its maximum capacity or are close to it maximum have been opened. AFP The water discharge from the dams has caused flooding in many parts, especially in low lying areas of the state. Across the state, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas. Teams of the Indian Army, NDRF and Coast Guard have also been deployed across the worst-hit areas to monitor the relief operations. Some 60 tourists, including foreign nationals have been stranded in a resort in Munnar. HERE ARE SOME OF THE VISULAS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AFP Switch the Market flag Open the menu and switch the Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice. for targeted data from your country of choice. Net income after tax attributable to shareholders, in turn, went up 19% to US$1.8 billion, thanks not only to the growth in business operating profit but also to a lower tax rate following US reforms. Im extremely pleased with our continued progress, commented Zurich group chief executive Mario Greco. Our businesses are showing great resilience and improved profitability despite challenging market conditions. At the midpoint of our three-year plan, we stand well on track to achieve all indicated targets by the end of 2019. Greco described the company as progressing fast in the implementation of its strategy, which was launched in November 2016. Zurich also made great strides in Latin America during the period, announcing the acquisition not only of QBEs Latin American business but also the individual and group life business of EuroAmerica in Chile. Its Cover-More operations, meanwhile, snapped up Travel Ace and Universal Assistance in Latin America. In the first six months of this year, we strengthened market share in Latin America and Australia and established a powerful global platform in the highly dynamic and promising travel assistance business, noted Greco. In addition, we bolstered our innovation capabilities through technology platforms like Zurich Insurance Mobile Solutions and launched a series of new digital solutions for customers. Aviation is a high-stakes industry that requires experience to properly cover its exposures, said Ryan Moss, managing partner of Higginbotham in Friendswood. The experience CRMS brings to Higginbotham opens the door to a new market for us, and CRMSs reputation is notable in the aviation industry. By revenue, Higginbotham is the largest independent insurance broker based in Texas. It operates 29 offices in Texas and Oklahoma City and entered Friendswood in 2010 through a merger. Higginbothams team atmosphere was especially appealing to me. Everyone supports each other to achieve the highest customer satisfaction. Our clients will continue doing business with us, but now we have teams dedicated to risk management and employee benefits that expand what we can do for them, said John Springrose, president of CRMS. The website also needs to paint a clear picture of what an agency does as well as their brand, and ensure that information is organized in a logical way based on what the agency wants a visitor to do when they land on the homepage. If you go to a website and there are too many calls-to-action, it might discourage someone from going to the next step from an agencys perspective, said Phillip Long, who heads up ITCs digital agency marketing team. There are a lot of agencies that have too many buttons on the homepage or there are too many links on the different pages that are not quote forms. At the end of the day, the purpose of an agencys website is to generate traffic and leads, added Long, and some lose sight of that goal with an overly complex design that confuses potential customers. Driving traffic from other channels is also a key goal that agencies should keep in mind. Sometimes, that means implementing a trial-and-error methodology to find out what works and what doesnt. Agencies need to try every type of digital marketing and make sure that they have adequate tracking set up to see how its working, explained Long. They should evaluate it and if it works, they should keep doing it, but then cut out the things that arent working. Search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click are two tools that tend to be successful for most agencies. Social media is surprisingly less important, said Long, but it does help with retention and keeping clients informed. Agencies need to experiment, they need to set small budgets and see what really works for them because a lot of people throw their money away on things that arent working, like advertising on the Yellow Pages it doesnt work anymore, explained Long. Before any content can go up, the ITC experts recommend that agencies take a good, long look at the design of their website before approaching a designer who can make that site a reality. Understanding your target audience is a good place to start, said Baker, who will then brainstorm with an agency and build their site based on those goals. We understand that insurance agents, they sell insurance thats what they do. Design, thats what we do, so its our job to pull their ideas and what they want, and bring that to life in a successful layout and design, she said. Two more buildings damaged when a tornado tore through a Massachusetts town last weekend have been condemned. The Telegram & Gazette reports that two buildings in Webster were demolished Saturday soon after the storm hit. Residents of another condemned apartment building returned to retrieve their belongings on Tuesday. The fourth building, a convenience store, is vacant and on the market. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado hit the town during the storm, leaving one person injured and more than 40 people displaced. The tornado included winds of up to 110 miles per hour. Representatives of a Worcester agency that helps families in emergency situations are meeting with affected residents Thursday. Information from: Telegram & Gazette Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Massachusetts The Indonesian island of Lombok was shaken by a third big earthquake in little more than a week Thursday as the official death toll from the most powerful of the quakes topped 300. The strong aftershock, measured at magnitude 5.9 by the U.S. Geological Survey, caused panic, damage to buildings, landslides and injuries. It was centered in the northwest of the island and didnt have the potential to cause a tsunami, Indonesias geological agency said. Videos showed rubble strewn across streets and clouds of dust enveloping buildings. In northern Lombok, some people leaped from their vehicles on a traffic-jammed road while an elderly woman standing in the back of a pickup truck wailed God is Great. An Associated Press reporter in the provincial capital, Mataram, saw people injured by the quake and a hospital moving patients outside. The aftershock caused more trauma, said national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Wiranto, Indonesias top security minister, told reporters the death toll from Sundays magnitude 7.0 quake had risen to 319. The announcement came after an inter-agency meeting was called to resolve wildly different figures from various government offices. We are taking action as fast as we can to handle this disaster, he said. Nguroho said in statement that the death toll will continue to rise because rescue workers are still finding victims in the ruins of collapsed buildings and some people who are already buried are not yet included in the official toll. Grieving relatives were burying their dead and medics tended to people whose broken limbs hadnt yet been treated in the days since the quake. The Red Cross said it was focusing relief efforts on an estimated 20,000 people yet to get any assistance. In Kopang Daya village in the hard-hit Tanjung district of north Lombok, a distraught family was burying their 13-year-old daughter who was struck by a collapsing wall and then trampled when Sundays quake caused a stampede at her Islamic boarding school. Villagers and relatives prayed outside a tent where the girls body lay covered in a white cloth. She was praying when the earthquake happened, said her uncle Tarna, who gave a single name. She was trying to get out, but she got hit by a wall and fell down. Children were running out from the building in panic and she was stepped on by her friends. Nearly 68,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in Sundays quake and 270,000 people are homeless or otherwise displaced, according to the disaster agencys latest update. People are always saying they need water and tarps, said Indonesian Red Cross spokesman Arifin Hadi. He said the agency has sent 20 water trucks to five remote areas, including one village of about 1,200 households. In Kopang Daya, injured villagers got their first proper treatment Thursday after medics arrived with a portable X-ray machine and other supplies. They tended to an elderly woman with an injured face and hips who had been knocked over by her grandson as they scrambled from their house. Her son managed to get out from the house when the earthquake hit but the grandmother and grandson were left behind, said a relative, Nani Wijayanti. The grandson tried to help the grandmother to get out but he pushed too hard. A July 29 quake on Lombok killed 16 people. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because of its location on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. In December 2004, a massive magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Wiranto, who goes by one name, said the government will develop a plan to rebuild communities on Lombok, which like its more famous neighbor Bali is a popular tourist destination with powder white beaches, mountains and a lush interior. We will make a new roadmap for what we are going to do after this emergency response is finished, he said. For example, how we can deal with the number of damaged houses, mosques, schools, hospitals. Who will rebuild and how much money and how long it takes. Associated Press journalists Ali Kotarumalos in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Firdia Lisnawati in Mataram, Indonesia, contributed to this report. Related: Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Earthquake Many countries across the globe saw worsening in drought-related and wildfire conditions during July, which have led to hundreds of deaths and created a significant financial impact particularly in the agriculture, forestry, water management and fisheries industries. This was the assessment of Impact Forecasting, the catastrophe model development team of Aons Reinsurance Solutions business, which published its monthly Global Catastrophe Recap report. Preliminary aggregated estimates of economic losses due to harvest reduction and affected forestry exceeded multiple billions of dollars, the report said. Northern Europe has experienced one of the deepest droughts on record, contributing to combined losses in excess of US$4.0 billion, the report said, quoting various industry estimates that German farmers alone could face economic losses of 2.5 billion (US$2.9 billion). Other severe drought events affected agriculture in Australia and Central America, and an extensive heatwave killed more than 150 people in Japan and South Korea, Aon said. Julys Wildfires The report discussed the losses brought by wildfires across the globe including: Carr Fire. Californias Carr Fire became one of top 10 most destructive wildfires on record after being ignited near Redding, killing six people, destroying roughly 1,600 structures and damaging many more. The report noted that the total economic cost from the Carr Fire estimated to exceed US$1 billion, with insurance losses also expected to approach or top that total. Californias Carr Fire became one of top 10 most destructive wildfires on record after being ignited near Redding, killing six people, destroying roughly 1,600 structures and damaging many more. The report noted that the total economic cost from the Carr Fire estimated to exceed US$1 billion, with insurance losses also expected to approach or top that total. Mendocino Complex Fire. Another fire in northern California, the Mendocino Complex Fire, destroyed 143 structures and became the largest fire in the modern record (since 1932) in California. Another fire in northern California, the Mendocino Complex Fire, destroyed 143 structures and became the largest fire in the modern record (since 1932) in California. Greek wildfires. The deadliest wildfire event on record in Europe since 1900 had a devastating impact in the Mati, Eastern Attica region of Greece, killing at least 92 people. The fire, and others in Attica, destroyed at least 905 structures and damaged a further 740. The deadliest wildfire event on record in Europe since 1900 had a devastating impact in the Mati, Eastern Attica region of Greece, killing at least 92 people. The fire, and others in Attica, destroyed at least 905 structures and damaged a further 740. Sweden Wildfires. Sweden battled the most significant wildfire outbreak in its modern history, with damage exceeding US$100 million. The month of July was marked by record-breaking heat, deepening droughts, and destructive wildfires in areas all around the globe, said Michal Lorinc, an analyst within Impact Forecastings Catastrophe Insight team. Nearly every major continent recorded some type of peril impact that will lead to a major cost to agricultural interests, he added. In Northern Europe alone, the cost to local farming interests is expected to result in a multi-billion dollar loss in harvest output, Lorinc affirmed. All eyes are on the looming possibility of an El Nino return by the end of the year, which could exacerbate these types of impacts. The report discussed other natural disasters during the month, including: Historic rainfall in Japan caused significant flash flooding and mudslides, leaving at least 230 people dead or missing. Nearly 50,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, with the General Insurance Association of Japan reporting 48,000 insurance claims being paid, at a preliminary cost of US$711 million. Notable flooding occurred in Arizona and U.S. Northeast, Nigeria, Russias Far East, India and multiple countries in Southeastern Asia, including Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Philippines. Seasonal flooding in China prompted aggregated economic losses nearing US$1 billion. Multiple typhoons in the Western Pacific Ocean Basin left notable damage in parts of China, Vietnam, and Japan. The costliest was Typhoon Maria, which caused nearly US$500 million in economic damage in China. Other storms that tracked across Southeast Asia were Sonh-Tinh, Ampil, and Jongdari. Several outbreaks of severe weather led to widespread damage across parts of the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and China during July. Major earthquakes caused severe damage and injuries in Iran (July 22) and Indonesia (July 28). Source: Impact Forecasting/Aons Reinsurance Solutions Related: Topics Catastrophe California Natural Disasters USA Flood Profit Loss Wildfire Europe Agribusiness Aon China Zurich Insurance announced the appointment of Saad Mered to CEO and chief agent of Zurich Canada, effective Oct. 1, 2018. Mered is currently chief claims officer for Zurich Insurance Group. In his new role, Mered will report to Zurich North America CEO Kathleen Savio. Mered joined Zurich in 2008 as CEO for Zurich Middle East where he developed and led an accelerated growth strategy across six countries. In 2010, he was appointed CEO General Insurance for the Middle East and Africa. He became chief claims officer for Zurich Group in 2014 and has been a driving force for modernizing and re-imagining the global claims function, while helping to raise customer service levels. Mered started his professional career in 1994 at AIG, where he held various positions during his tenure with the company. Mered will be assuming the chief agent role from David Levinson, who will work together with Mered during the transition. Levinson will be returning to the United States to explore other opportunities at Zurich. Mered holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. Source: Zurich Insurance Group Related: Zurich North America CEO Foley Leaving; Savio Named Successor Topics Canada The UK should drop its net migration target after Brexit and introduce a system for arrivals from the European Union that better meets employers needs, Britains biggest business lobby group said. The recommendations published Friday by the Confederation of British Industry come as the UK prepares to end freedom of movement from the EU after it leaves the bloc. EU workers account for between 4 and 30 percent of the workforce in every UK sector, according to the CBI. The stakes couldnt be higher. Get it wrong, and the UK risks having too few people to run the NHS, pick fruit or deliver products to stores around the country, said Josh Hardie, deputy director-general at the CBI. The needs are more complex than only ensuring that the UK can attract the brightest and best. Other CBI recommendations include: guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens to remain even in a no deal scenario, making sure businesses have at least two years to adapt to any new immigration rules, and introducing compulsory registration for EU citizens when they arrive in the UK. Target Prime Minister Theresa Mays government has a longstanding target to reduce net migration to below 100,000 a year, and freedom of movement from the EU was also a rallying point for Leave voters in the 2016 Brexit referendum. The number of people moving to the UK from the EU fell to the lowest level in nearly four years in 2017, according to the Office of National Statistics, though overall net migration was well above the governments target at 282,000. The government said earlier this year that EU citizens living in the UK wont see any change to their rights until January 2021. After that, individuals will only be granted settled status if they arrived before the end of 2020 and once theyve been living in the UK for five years. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, a leading euroskeptic, said last month said that EU citizens should have no special access to the UK. In a breakdown of 18 key sectors in the UK the CBI found EU nationals made up 17 percent of banking and finance employees, 10 percent of doctors, and as much as 20 percent of the railway industrys workforce. The CBI is also calling for the government to reform the visa system for foreign workers from outside the EU. Theres currently a cap of 20,700 visas a year for skilled non-EU workers, excluding those moving between countries within the same company and anyone earning 160,000 pounds ($206,000) or more. Employers can also only recruit non-EU workers if the role is degree level, has been advertised locally, and has a salary of at least 30,000 pounds. The governments net migration target is controversial even within Mays ruling Conservative Party, and Home Secretary Sajid Javid refused to commit to it during parliamentary testimony last month. You cant have net migration at 100,000 and continue to have the economy that we enjoy, said Ian Robinson, a London immigration lawyer at Fragomen LLP. If the government makes a call that immigration is more important than the economy, then they at least need to be honest with the public that theres a trade-off there. Bloomberg LP is a client of Fragomen. Starr Companies will underwrite a Super Visa Insurance product sold by Travel Shield, a trade name used by Mars Empire Group Inc. The product is designed to meet the medical insurance requirements of the Canadian super visa program. The super visa is a 10-year multi-entry visa that provides eligible non-Canadian parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents the ability to visit family in Canada for up to two years at a time. According to Joyce Segall, senior vice president and head of Starrs Accident & Health North America, Starrs plan options allow consumers to select coverages and policy limits for their individual needs. Starr Companies (or Starr) is the worldwide marketing name for the operating insurance and travel assistance companies and subsidiaries of Starr International Company, Inc. and for the investment business of C. V. Starr & Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries. Topics Mergers Canada A divided federal appeals court on Thursday ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban a widely-used pesticide that critics say can endanger children and farmers. The 2-1 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle overturned former EPA administrator Scott Pruitts March 2017 denial of a petition by environmental groups to halt the use of chlorpyrifos on food crops such as fruits, vegetables and nuts. This shows that the EPA cant just ignore the science that this pesticide damages childrens brains, Marisa Ordonia, a lawyer for Earthjustice, which represented the petitioners, said in an interview. The Trump administration has to follow the law, as does everyone else. Pruitts ruling, one of many by the administration to reduce federal regulatory oversight, had reversed a 2015 Obama administration recommendation to extend to food a 2000 ban on chlorpyrifos that covered most household settings. Writing for the Seattle-based appeals court, Judge Jed Rakoff directed the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos within 60 days, saying the agency failed to counteract scientific evidence that its residue on food causes neurodevelopmental damage to children. Rakoff also faulted the EPA for going against its own 2016 risk assessment for the pesticide, largely ignoring and then temporizing in its response to the petition, and wrongly declaring that the court had no business deciding the matter. If Congresss statutory mandates are to mean anything, the time has come to put a stop to this patent evasion, wrote Rakoff, who normally sits on the federal district court in Manhattan. Wyn Hornbuckle, a U.S. Department of Justice spokesman, said that office is reviewing the decision. Pruitts order was opposed by groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council and the United Farm Workers, and the attorneys general of New York, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont, Washington state and Washington, D.C. Todays decision is a huge win for our childrens health, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood said in a statement. Circuit Judge Ferdinand Fernandez dissented from Thursdays decision, saying the court lacked jurisdiction, though its discussion of the petitions merits had some persuasive value. In issuing his order, Pruitt had said the EPA needed to provide regulatory certainty to the thousands of American farms that use chlorpyrifos, while protecting peoples health and the environment. By reversing the previous administrations steps to ban one of the most widely used pesticides in the world, we are returning to using sound science in decision making rather than predetermined results, Pruitt had said. EPA spokesman Michael Abboud said on Thursday that data underlying the courts assumptions remains inaccessible and has hindered the agencys ongoing process to fully evaluate the pesticide using the best available transparent science. The case is League of United Latin American Citizens et al v New York et al, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 17-71636. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Bill Berkrot) Topics USA New York Agribusiness Pollution Federal safety officials have cited an El Paso, Texas, construction company for failing to protect its employees from trench collapse hazards. El Paso Underground Construction, a pipe-laying company, faces $190,642 penalties proposed by the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA conducted an inspection after observing employees working in an unprotected trench. OSHA cited the company for failing to provide employees a safe means of entering and exiting a trench, not protecting employees against cave-ins, and for failing to train employees in safe work practices. OSHA cited the company four times in 2017 for failing to protect employees from trench collapse hazards. The agency has placed El Paso Underground in OSHAs Severe Violator Enforcement Program. El Paso Underground Construction has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Source: OSHA Topics Workers' Compensation Construction State and federal officials are asking Exxon Mobil to pay more than $1.8 million in compensation for a 2013 oil spill in Arkansas. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the state Game and Fish Commission proposed the settlement Tuesday. The funds would pay for wildlife restoration and compensate the government for damage caused when the 70-year-old Pegasus pipeline ruptured in Mayflower near Lake Conway. The letter also asks the oil giant to fund the states purchase of land near the lake to facilitate monitoring and management of the property. Exxon Mobil spokesman Jeremy Eikenberry declined comment. The company settled a lawsuit last year with dozens of families whose properties were damaged. The pipeline runs about 850 miles (1,368 kilometers) through Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Texas. It was closed shortly after the spill, but a segment in Texas has since reopened. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Energy Oil Gas After Ezra Claycomb was born with severe brain damage and cerebral palsy, his mother considered filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. But in 2017, Kentuckys Republican-controlled legislature passed a law requiring all such lawsuits first be reviewed by a panel of doctors. The law gave the panel nine months to issue an opinion on whether the lawsuit is frivolous yet section 14 of Kentuckys Constitution says every person has access to the courts without delay. Claycombs parents sued to block the new law, making Kentucky the latest state to have its medical review panels challenged in court. A circuit judge agreed the law was unconstitutional. But Republican Gov. Matt Bevin appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court, which heard arguments Wednesday. This is a modern day version of the poll tax, said attorney J. Guthrie True, who represents Claycomb in a lawsuit he says has class action status to represent all patients. This has one purpose, and that is to obstruct the courthouse door. Matthew Kuhn, an attorney for the governor, said the state Constitutions ban on delaying access to the courts only applies to the court system itself. It does not apply to the legislature, which he says has the power to impose rules on the court system. He noted Kentucky has other laws that limit when people can file lawsuits. For example, heirs wanting to sue the executor of an estate must wait at least six months after the executor has been appointed before they can do so. Kuhn says that law has never been challenged. Kuhn said the medical review process is helpful because it gets the two sides talking before a lawsuit is filed, which could jumpstart settlement discussions. It also makes sure both sides have all the evidence collected before they go to a judge. I think delay is the wrong word here, Kuhn told the court. The medical review panel process, if you are going to use it, is going to speed up. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 17 states and the Virgin Islands require that medical liability or malpractice cases be heard by a screening panel before trial. Kentuckys medical review panels have been in place for a year. Since then, 531 lawsuits have been filed, 11 percent have been assigned to a medical review panel and findings have been issued in 3 percent, according to a review of court records by the Courier Journal. Kuhn did not mention those statistics in court Wednesday, but he said any hiccups with the law should be addressed by the legislature, not the courts. Justice Lisabeth Hughes seemed surprised to hear Kuhn argue that the state Constitutions ban on delaying access to the courts does not apply to the state legislature, asking: Isnt it directed at the people? Justice Michelle Keller was interested in Kuhns argument that without delay should be read as without unreasonable delay. Its interesting to me that you all want us to read language into the Constitution, she said. Kuhn said he does not want the court to read into the Constitution, but apply the same standard it does to other laws. True argued that the medical review panel law doesnt pass the rational basis standard, which requires a law to be rationally related to a legitimate state interest. But Kuhn said the legislature passed the law because Kentucky has a doctor shortage and wants to encourage more doctors to practice in Kentucky. True said that argument is faulty, because Kentucky has more doctors per capita than Indiana and Texas, both states that have medical review panels. Several justices noted the court gives the legislature great discretion in passing laws, with Hughes saying we are not some super-legislature. I dont think you are a super-legislature, but you are not unhinged from the facts, True said. The court did not issue a decision Wednesday. There is no deadline for them to issue a ruling. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Kentucky The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved almost $7.4 million for the State of Mississippi to fund the construction of eight stand-alone safe rooms designed to withstand winds up to 200 mph at schools in Forrest County. The $7.38 million grant will be used to build safe rooms at schools in Brooklyn, Hattiesburg, and Petal. The safe rooms meet FEMA design criteria and provide near-absolute protection in extreme weather events, including tornadoes and hurricanes, according to a FEMA news release. FEMA will pay at least 75 percent of the cost of these projects. The federal share of the funds comes from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Statewide, FEMA, through the HMGP, has funded 51 school safe rooms in Mississippi. The grant is provided to states to reduce the loss of life and property after disasters. A National Institute of Building Sciences report found that on average, every $1 spent on federally funded hazard mitigation grants saves $6 in future disaster costs. Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency Topics Windstorm Mississippi FEMA Scientists say Californias record wildfires have been fed by an abnormally hot and dry fire season made worse by climate change, but the Trump administration insists theres another culprit: environmentalists and their policies. Radical environmentalists should shoulder some of the blame for pushing back against active forest management, policies that include mechanical thinning and timber harvest to reduce the risks of wildfires, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke wrote in an op-ed in USA Today. Zinke acknowledged the fires were burning hotter and more intensely due to hot and dry weather, without explicitly attributing it to climate change. President Donald Trump earlier this week tweeted that the fires that have killed at least seven people and consumed more than 500,000 acres of land are being made worse by bad environmental laws. Its an assertion that many environmentalists and scientists reject especially as they say his administration works to dismantle international efforts to combat climate change. Zinke, like Trump, continues to deny the obvious. It is climate change that is exacerbating wildfire season in the West, said Kirin Kennedy, associate director for lands and water legislative policy at Sierra Club. The long-term safety of homes, businesses and families in the path of these fires relies on cutting climate pollution something wholly at odds with Secretary Zinkes push to drill, mine and frack every possible acre of our parks and public lands. Trump started blaming environmentalists earlier this week. Must also tree clear to stop fire spreading! Trump tweeted, apparently referencing an unrelated agricultural dispute involving the amount of water from snow melt in the Sierras being allowed to flow into the Pacific Ocean to sustain fish populations in rivers and keep saltwater out of drinking supplies rather than being used to irrigate farmland. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross picked up on that theme, saying hes directed the National Marine Fisheries Service to facilitate access to the water needed to fight the ongoing wildfires affecting the state of California. He also pledged to find new solutions to address threatened and endangered species in the context of the challenging water management situation in California, Ross said in a statement that drew criticism from environmentalists. Moving to increase logging and weaken protections for endangered species like salmon risks local and outdoor economies and ignores the need to reduce climate pollution, which is absolutely essential to ensuring the long-term safety of our communities. the Sierra Clubs Kennedy said in a statement. Californias fire service says theres no shortage of water. We have no water issues the real issue is explosive fire growth due to climate change, Mike Mohler, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said in an email. Two of the biggest fires are near lakes that are being used to obtain water, according to the department. Michael Mann, a distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Pennsylvania State University, said key contributors to the worsening wildfires are increased temperatures and drought due to human-caused climate change. Trump is trying to eliminate regulations designed to combat human-caused climate change, and to scuttle international efforts to deal with climate change, Mann said in an email. So the problem isnt environmental regulations. Its his (and enabling congressional Republicans) efforts to dismantle environmental regulations. Zinke argued in the opinion piece that when authorities try to thin forests of dead and dying timber, or we try to sustainably harvest timber from dense and fire-prone areas, we are attacked with frivolous litigation from radical environmentalists who would rather see forests and communities burn than see a logger in the woods. Active Management The buildup of fuels is the condition we can and must reverse through active forest management like prescribed burns, mechanical thinning and timber harvests, he wrote. While experts consider forest thinning a policy advocated for by the timber industry a valid way to reduce the risk of wildfires, many of the fires in California are taking place where thinning already occurred, said Char Miller, a professor of environmental analysis and history at Pomona College in Claremont, California. The relationship is not as easy as he describes it, Miller said in a phone interview. On Tuesday, speaking to reporters from his resort in New Jersey, Trump pledged to help protect people in the path of the fires. Were deeply grateful to our incredible firefighters and first responders, Trump said. Theyre really brave people. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Catastrophe California Natural Disasters Legislation Wildfire Climate Change Pollution A Southern California utility reached a nearly $120 million settlement over a massive blowout at a natural gas storage field that became the nations largest known release of climate-changing methane and forced thousands to flee their Los Angeles homes almost three years ago, officials announced on Aug. 8. The settlement between Southern California Gas Co. and state and local governments aims to mitigate the greenhouse gases that spewed uncontrollably for nearly four months. The October 2015 blowout at an Aliso Canyon well sickened residents of the San Fernando Valley and led to evacuations of 8,000 homes. Under the settlement, the utility agreed to pay up to $25 million for a study of long-term health consequences; reimburse city, county and state governments for responding to the blowout; monitor chemicals in the air along the boundary of the facility for eight years; and not pass costs of the settlement along to ratepayers. This settlement says that they have to eat all the costs, said City Councilman Mitchell Englander, who lives in the area. During the blowout, their stock price actually went up. That was insane, and it was insulting, and I know the people that were living there were very upset about that, and they wanted it to come out of their pocket. Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the tentative deal, which will be open to public comment and requires court approval, addressed violations of health and safety codes, the illegal discharge of air contaminants and failure to report the release of hazardous materials. There is no excuse for what happened, Becerra said in a statement. For over four months, this leak exposed our communities to natural gas emissions that resulted in adverse health impacts and disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of Californians. In a previous settlement of criminal charges, the utility agreed to a $4 million settlement with Los Angeles prosecutors after pleading no contest to a single misdemeanor of failing to notify state authorities about the blowout soon enough. The company, which is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, has spent over $1 billion because of the blowout, according to a quarterly report released Monday. The majority was spent relocating families for months and reimbursing them for meals and other costs and cleaning homes. The remaining costs include legal expenses, paying for a study of the blowouts cause, efforts to cap the well, and the cost of lost gas. The company has insurance for $1.4 billion but faces lawsuits from 30,000 people, said attorney R. Rex Parris, who represents about a third of them. He said they all are seeking $2.5 billion in damages for injuries and harm caused by the massive disruption to their lives. Residents were not initially notified when gas began seeping out of the ground in the mountain-top storage field that looms above the community of Porter Ranch. Aliso Canyon is the largest natural gas storage facility in the U.S. West. Gas was piped into an empty oil field more than a mile underground through repurposed aging oil wells some more than 50 years old. Within days, the slow leak turned into a high-pressure gusher that special crews couldnt contain. Residents began complaining of headaches, nosebleeds and nausea. People began moving out of the neighborhood of neat subdivisions where the film E.T. was shot. Developments of single-family homes began to resemble ghost towns. After the leak was capped, Southern California Gas had to meet much stricter regulations to store gas in the field, which required overhauling wells, incorporating new equipment to monitor for leaks and capping wells that didnt pass regulations. The incident led to stricter rules for other facilities statewide. More limited operations resumed in July 2017. SoCal Gas said it had met and sometimes exceeded state safety requirements. The company said in a statement that it was pleased to reach the settlement and would also hire an independent ombudsman to monitor and report on safety at the facility. Officials noted that the settlement was only aimed at claims that state and local governments could bring and did not address the personal costs by those directly affected. Still, those who live near the facility and want it shut down were upset the agreement didnt address their concerns. It does little or nothing for the victims who are still sitting on that ticking time bomb, said Matt Pakucko, who organized the group Save Porter Ranch. Others were critical that some settlement funds would pay for projects that would not help the area affected by the blowout and could further enrich the utility. For example, $26.5 million is supposed to pay for a project to capture methane from Central Valley dairies, which would help mitigate greenhouse gases and also be used to produce energy. SoCalGas is unfairly benefiting from this agreement by getting over $26 million in subsidies to import gas from polluting factory farms, which it wants to use to refill Aliso Canyon, which still leaks regularly, said Alex Nagy of Food & Water Watch, an environmental group that wants the facility closed. Related: Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California When it comes to employer-sponsored plans, like 401(k)s, it is vital for workers, savers, and investors (and you should see yourself as all three) to make the most they can out of them. While there are some differences with other plans, such as 403(b)s, most of this advice applies reasonably well across all the major plans in the United States, be they 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Key Takeaways Consistent saving is key to a successful retirement plan. Always be sure to contribute enough to a 401(k) to qualify for matching contributions from your employer. Be wary of the underlying costs and fees of the various investments within your retirement plans. People are increasingly on their own when it comes to providing for their retirement. Traditional pensions are all but unheard of outside of the civil service or heavily unionized industries. And both employers and the government have increasingly transferred more and more responsibility (and risk) to individual workers. The 401(k) plan was designed to fill that void and give U.S. workers a tax-advantaged way to save for their retirement. 401(k) Contribution Limits For employees who have the ambition and financial wherewithal to make the most of their 401(k), one of the best ways to begin is working backward. Take your maximum allowable annual contribution, divide it by the number of pay periods in a year, and see where that leaves you. For 2021, the maximum contribution limit is $19,500, with a catch-up contribution of $6,500 if you're age 50 or older. Your employer can contribute to your 401(k), too. For 2021, the combined limit is $58,000, or $64,500 with the catch-up amount. Roth 401(k) vs. 401(k) Your employer may give a choice between a regular 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). The contribution limits are the same, but the Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax dollars, like a Roth IRA (see below). Either 401(k) option is an important way to save for retirement. The Roth 401(k) provides taxpayers who earn too much to contribute to a Roth IRA to gain Roth IRA benefitstax-free distributions, no required minimum distributions in your lifetimeas that money can later be rolled over into a Roth IRA. Contributions to Roth 401(k)s and Roth IRAs are made with after-tax dollars, while contributions to 401(k)s and traditional IRAs are made with pretax dollars. Max out Your 401(k) Can you afford to save the maximum? If so, there is not much more you need to do, apart from making the best investment decisions you can within the plan options. If you cannot afford this amount, whittle it down until you can. Clearly, expenses such as mortgage or rent payments, utilities, and food need to be covered, and it makes little sense to put aside so much that you need to accumulate credit card debt to make it through a month. Even if you cannot make the maximum contribution, consider supplementing this with any bonuses or profit-sharing payments you receive. Many companies allow you to have these amounts deposited directly into your 401(k). This is a good idea whenever possiblemany good intentions have gone awry once a bonus check is in hand. Above all, try to be consistent. Set a specific per-paycheck amount and do not change it unless you have to. Likewise, do not try to time the market or curtail contributions because the economic or political news seems depressing for a while. If you can, try to save a minimum of 15% of your gross pay. This amount, coupled with reasonable investment returns on those savings, should be sufficient to supplement Social Security down the line and fund a comfortable retirement. 401(k) Employer Match Fully exploiting an employer match is one of the most vital strategies in getting the most out of your 401(k) plan. Subject to specific rules and limits, your employer contributes the same amount of money you contribute, or a percentage thereof. This effectively doubles your retirement savings without decreasing your salary or increasing your tax burden. Many employer matches kick in once you contribute 3% of your pay (or higher)so try as hard as you can to make that happen. Want another reason to max out your employer match? In many cases, employers calculate their costs and base their staffers salaries based on full matching. If you dont take advantage of this, youre handing back free money. Some employers elect to match your contributions in company stock. While this is not always as desirable as cash, it shouldnt dissuade you from maximizing your match. Frequently, that stock can be sold and converted to cash within a reasonably short period and at a reasonable cost. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) Like some other retirement savings plans, 401(k)s have required minimum distributions (RMDs). At age 72, 401(k) owners must start taking RMDs, whether they need the money or not. The IRS is serious about this: There's a 50% penalty for failing to withdraw the correct amount. However, RMDs don't apply if an employee is still working for the same employer that sponsors the plan. Keep in mind that the funds in a Roth 401(k) can be rolled over to a Roth IRAwhich has no required minimum distributions during the owner's lifetime. Owners did not have to take RMDs in 2020, following the March 2020 passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which temporarily waived distribution requirements for IRAs and other retirement plans. The Act doesn't impact Roth IRAs, which don't require withdrawals until after the owner's death. 401(k) Vesting An employer may require a certain number of years of service before its matching contributions belong to the employee. This is called a vesting schedule. In general, there are two types of 401(k) vesting schedules: Cliff vesting happens when the employee goes from owning 0% of matching contributions to 100% after a certain amount of time. Graduated vesting is where the employee owns an increasing portion of the matching contributions until they eventually own them all. The U.S. Department of Labor requires full vesting after six years of service. Still, to get the most out of a 401(k)and the employer matchit's essential to understand a plan's vesting schedule. Otherwise, the company could take back some or all of its matching contributions if an employee leaves before being fully vested. 401(k) Fees As part of some employee retirement plans, workers can avail themselves of investment advice from independent professionals. Unfortunately, this advice is rarely free, and you may find that you pay 1% to 2% of your funds to get this help. Understandably, many workers feel overwhelmed when it comes to calculating their contributions and then investing that money. Still, paying for investment advice is a dicey proposition, mainly when it involves a 401(k) plan, for which investors are given a relatively fixed menu of investment options. Savers also need to pay careful attention to the costs of the investments they hold within their 401(k). In general, mutual fund expenses have come down over the years, and many fund families offer no-load funds for 401(k) plans as well as low-cost index funds. Of course, its essential to compare and contrast the numbers because fees still vary a good deal. Along similar lines, investors need to be careful with financial savings tools like annuities and target-date funds. Annuities arguably do not have much of a place in tax-sheltered accounts to begin with (a topic for another day). What's more, their often high expense ratios can eat away at their value over time. Likewise, while target-date funds are popular options in many plans, they often (but not always) charge higher fees than regular fundswithout correspondingly better results. 401(k) Loans For workers who save some funds in a 401(k) but find they cannot contribute more because they are saddled with expensive debt, there may be a counterintuitive option. Most plans have provisions that allow employees to borrow funds from their accounts. This money comes relatively free of strings (insofar as what the funds can be used for). And it is possible to use it to pay off high-interest loans or credit card balances. This money does not come free, but the good news is that the interest charged is being paid to you. A 401(k) loan is not a risk-free maneuver. That money has to be repaid on time, or the borrower will incur penalties. Moreover, some workers will find that borrowing from their retirement savings is just a little too convenient, which opens a Pandoras box of future trouble. Nevertheless, this can be an effective way to free up more money for savings. It is not for everyone, but borrowing low-cost cash from a 401(k) to repay high-cost credit card debt and ultimately invest even more in the 401(k) can be a prudent choice. 401(k) Problems If you do not like how a plan is organized or the investment options on offer, say so. Complaining about a deficient plan can be an effective means of improving your choices (and those of your coworkers). Keep in mind that many employers choose 401(k) plans on the basis of what is cheapest and most convenient to offer, and they may not even be aware of its deficiencies. While it is true that many workers do not like to be a squeaky wheel, and some companies are undoubtedly apt to be more responsive than others, doing nothing is a pretty good way to ensure that the plan will not be improved. Traditional and Roth IRAs What do you do if you have maxed out your 401(k) or want to save even more by using a well-known investment vehicle? Thankfully, there are many options available to you, including traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. You can contribute up to $6,000 to either type of IRA in 2021. If you're age 50 or older, you can add a $1,000 catch-up contribution. Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are funded with pre-tax contributions. You get an upfront tax break and pay taxes on withdrawals in retirement. The Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) are funded with after-tax dollars. That means you don't get an upfront tax break, but qualified distributions in retirement are tax-free. If you or your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at workincluding a 401(k)you can't take the full deduction for your traditional IRA contributions. And with Roth IRAs, you can't contribute if you make too much money. Annuities and Health Savings Accounts There are other tax-advantaged ways to save after you have maxed out an IRA and 401(k) account. One option is to consider buying and investing in annuities. There are many advantages and disadvantages with annuitiesthey can carry high sales loads, typically have high expenses, and sponsors have continually transferred more risk to the investor. All of that said, money in an annuity can accumulate without year-to-year taxation, and it is a worthwhile option if protecting even more retirement savings from the taxman is essential. Another option, if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), is to save in a Health Savings Account (HSA), a tax-advantaged vehicle you can use if you have this type of health insurance. Many investorsparticularly higher-income families that can afford to pay the deductibles and young employees in good healthfind these accounts helpful in saving additional retirement funds. The Bottom Line Tax-advantaged retirement savings plans are one of the relatively few breaks that the government gives to ordinary workers. Careful saving may not be a gateway to becoming independently wealthy. But it can at least go a long way toward ensuring a more comfortable and pleasant retirement. Whatever the specifics on offer to you, be it a 401(k), a 403(b), or an IRA, make sure to contribute as much as you can afford and take full advantage of your opportunity to put money away for the future. What Is the Fijian Dollar (FJD)? The Fijian Dollar (FJD) is the national currency of the Republic of Fiji, an archipelago nation with over 300 islands. The FJD was first introduced in 1867, but its most recent iteration has been in place since 1969. The currency sign for the Fijian dollar is $ or FJ$, which differentiates it from the U.S. dollar (USD). It is divided into 100 cents. Key Takeaways The Fijian Dollar (FJD) is the national currency of Fiji. Its modern version has been in circulation since 1969, one year before Fijis independence from Britain. Today, Fijis economy is heavily reliant on tourism, as well as specialty exports such as bottled water. Understanding the FJD The modern version of the FJD was introduced in 1969, replacing the Fijian pound at a rate of 2 FJD per Fijian pound. Since then, however, the value of the FJD has been allowed to fluctuate freely on international foreign exchange markets. Between October 2015 and October 2020, the value of the FJD relative to the USD has held relatively stable at approximately $0.47 USD per FJD. The Fijian dollar comes in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills of polymer-coated paper, and 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent, 50 cent, $1 and $2 coins that are either nickel-clad steel or nickel-clad brass. Prior to 2013, Fijian currency featured images of Queen Elizabeth II, but the current bills and coins feature images of Fijian plants and animals. These new bills and coins are called the "Flora and Fauna" series, which feature a change in color profile for some of the bills. The removal of Queen Elizabeth IIs portrait from Fijian currency reflects the fact that Fiji obtained independence from Britain in 1970. The most recent FJD banknotes contain scenes and symbols meaningful to Fijian culture. Examples include the Fijian coat of arms, which is featured on all the modern banknotes; a map of Fiji, featured on the $100 bill; and the image of a Mariratu flower, which is indigenous to Fiji and featured on the $5 bill. Real World Example of the FJD The value of the FJD is ultimately supported by the strength of its economy. Fiji is a major tourist destination which hosts close to 1 million tourists each year. As such, the tourism sector is a significant contributor to Fijian gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. The unemployment rate in Fiji has held steady between 4% and 4.5% in recent years, with inflation averaging around 3%. Outside of Tourism, Fiji exports various specialty products, such as bottled water, refined petroleum products, and gold. Its main export partners are the United States and Australia, who collectively purchase about one-third of all Fijis products and services. What Is Rehypothecation? Rehypothecation is a practice whereby banks and brokers use, for their own purposes, assets that have been posted as collateral by their clients. Clients who permit rehypothecation of their collateral may be compensated either through a lower cost of borrowing or a rebate on fees. In a typical example of rehypothecation, securities that have been posted with a prime brokerage as collateral by a hedge fund are used by the brokerage to back its own transactions and trades. Key Takeaways Rehypothecation occurs when the lender uses its rights to the collateral to participate in its own transactions, often with the hopes of financial gain. Hypothecation occurs when a borrower promises the right to an asset as a form of collateral in exchange for funds. Rehypothecation was a common practice until 2007, but hedge funds became much more wary about it in the wake of the Lehman Brothers collapse and subsequent credit crunch in 2008-09. 1:25 Rehypothecation Understanding Rehypothecation Rehypothecation was a common practice until 2007, but hedge funds became much more wary about it in the wake of the Lehman Brothers collapse and subsequent credit crunch in 2008-09. In the United States, rehypothecation of collateral by broker-dealers is limited to 140% of the loan amount to a client, under Rule 15c3-3 of the SEC. Rehypothecation occurs when a lender uses an asset, supplied as collateral on a debt by a borrower, and applies its value to cover its own obligations. In order to do so, the lender may have access to a variety of assets promised as collateral including tangible assets and various securities. Elements of Rehypothecation and Hypothecation Rehypothecation happens if a customer leaves a number of securities with a broker as a deposit, most often in a margin account, and the broker then uses the securities as a pledge for the margin on his own margin account or as backing for a loan. Hypothecation occurs when a borrower promises the right to an asset as a form of collateral in exchange for funds. One common example occurs in the primary housing market, where a borrower uses the home he is purchasing as collateral for a mortgage loan. Even though the borrower asserts a level of ownership over the property, the lender can seize the asset if payments are not made as required. Similar situations occur in other collateralized loans, such as a vehicle loan, as well as with the setup of margin accounts to support other trading actions. With rehypothecation, the asset in question has been promised to an institution outside of the borrowers original intent. For example, if a piece of real estate functions as collateral on a mortgage loan and the lender pledges the asset to another financial institution in exchange for a loan, if the mortgage lender fails, the second financial institution may make a claim on the real estate. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will conduct artillery programs at Point Park on Lookout Mountain on Saturday, Aug. 25. Demonstrations, each lasting approximately 30 minutes, are scheduled at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Admission to Point Park is $7 per adult, ages 16 and over, youth, ages 15 and under, are free. In October 1863, the men of Parkers Virginia Battery were encamped inside what is now Point Park on Lookout Mountain. Throughout the month, they traded fire with Union batteries on Moccasin Bend and observed the Battle of Wauhatchie in Lookout Valley, all the while looking to the mountains visible to the north and east, hopeful that maybe just one of those peaks was from back home in Virginia. Visit Point Park to explore the experiences of Parkers Virginians who lived and fought here in the fall of 1863. For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 821-7786, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch. IRELAND: Tanaiste welcomes revised planning application for enlarged Cork events centre IRELAND: Further calls have been made to make the Presidents travel costs public after it was claimed that Michael D Higgins stayed in a luxury hotel at a cost of 3,000 a night. IRELAND: The minister with responsibility for defence has ordered senior military commanders to try to tempt former colleagues back into service to counter the continuing brain drain in officer ranks. IRELAND: Opposition parties are claiming the Housing Minister has 'gone missing' amid the growing homelessness crisis in the capital. WORLD: 1,600 evacuated as flash floods threaten French camp sites SPECIAL REPORT: 'We had 12 shops in the 1970s. Our last shop and post office closed 12 months ago' SPORT: PAUL ROUSE: Abusing people who run teams runs through the GAAs history ... SOME DISTRACTION FEATURE: One man and his dog: The WWI canine war hero with an unusual Cork connection SHOWBIZ: Rowan Atkinson has defended Boris Johnson after his controversial comments about women wearing burkas. VIRAL: Ronan Keating and Yvonne Connolly's daughter, Missy to star in the Voice UK Activists occupying a property in Dublin's north inner city say they will not leave until the government steps up its efforts to address the housing crisis. A number of groups have spent a third night locked inside the vacant site on Summerhill Parade. By Sarah Slater A teenager has received an early birthday present with a difference, as US-based doctors have finally given the go-ahead for her to become the first Irish person to start a groundbreaking vaccine, against a rare cancer. Robyn Smyth, 13, from Whitehall in Dublin, has been fighting the aggressive cancer, neuroblastoma, for 10 years but starts treatment with the new vaccine today. The teenager flew out to New York with her Mum Bernadette last week hoping to take part in the trial at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre. However, Robyn had to undergo a battery of medical tests and scans to firstly establish if she was well enough according to worried her Mum Bernadette to start the vaccine. The family finally received the news they were hoping for and given the go-ahead on Thursday night or the treatment to start following a good PET scan result. The scan is used to highlight trouble areas in the body caused by the disease. A relieved Bernadette said: We were so relieved that there was nothing on the scan. Usually signing consent for things is scary because the side effects of all the stuff can be so harsh on Robyn. But this time I felt good about the scan when it was being done. I signed consent for Robyns treatment to go ahead and hope for her future thanks to all of the publics tireless help and amazing financial donations. Thank you all for giving Robyn this chance. In a way, its a wonderful early birthday present for her and all of us. Robyn celebrates her 14th birthday on August 25. In June, Bernadette made an emotional outpouring for the publics financial help as her attempts to raise 326,000 for Robyns medical treatment were failing. The money had to be paid up-front to the Cancer Centre. But not having enough money to pay for the treatment, following two good scans at the Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital in Michigan, where Robyn had been receiving treatment since 2015, meant that her health had begun to deteriorate. Bernadettes fundraising had stalled at 70,000 but following her appeal, Erin McGregor, sister of UFC king Conor, helped to start a floss dance challenge in a desperate bid to help save Robyns life. Finally, two weeks ago the massive amount was reached. Since arriving in New York, Bernadette and Robyn have been staying in the Ronald McDonald house, which is charity based organisation which provides accommodation. It is designed to provide a home away from home for families with seriously ill children who are receiving medical treatment. Bernadette added: The vaccine helps Robyn make antibodies that help fight back neuroblastoma.The treatment involves seven vaccines spread out over a year. She will receive three while we are here in the US. The rest are spread out over the rest of the year. We are hoping to leave to come home on the, 23rd of this month, just in time for her birthday celebrations in Dublin. We will have to return to New York for her next round of treatment five weeks after we get back home. It will be a constant travelling back and forth on flights, so thats why we will need to keep fundraising, as the bank account is now completely empty. It was when the Dublin girls chances of survival dropped to five per cent, three years ago and was told by Irish doctors to bring her home to die, that her family decided to fundraise to take her to US. Donations can be made on robynslife@live.com, idonate.ie/robynslife and gofundme.com/robynslife. Sean ORiordan The minister with responsibility for defence has ordered senior military commanders to try to tempt former colleagues back into service to counter the continuing brain drain in officer ranks. As officers quit for better-paid jobs in the private sector, Minister Paul Kehoe has taken the unusual step of trying to plug the gaps by re-employing former members of the Defence Forces. There are critical shortages in specialist officers across the Army, Naval Service, and Air Corps. The Air Corps is short more than 40 pilots and also requires further air traffic controllers. The Naval Service has a shortfall of marine engineers, while the Army doesnt have enough medical officers, bomb disposal experts, and communication information systems (CIS)/cyber security officers. Mr Kehoe has asked senior commanders to nominate people who might be interested in rejoining the Defence Forces. The minister will be the ultimate arbitrator in deciding who will be allowed to rejoin. He indicated that offers to interested personnel could include a short-term, three-year commission. However, it remains to be seen how successful the move will be, especially in the case of experienced pilots who would have to take a major cut in pay if they were to return from the private sector. An Air Corps commandant with 15 years experience would expect to earn just over 85,000 a year. In contrast, a pilot with similar experience working for a commercial airline such as Ryanair could expect an annual pay packet of between 150,000 and 200,000 a year. Similarly, air traffic controllers are earning much more in the private sector, as would marine engineers. Figures acquired by Fianna Fail spokesman on defence, Jack Chambers, show the number of people exiting the Defence Forces continues to grow, despite increased recruitment. Last May, there were 9,010 personnel in the Defence Forces, dropping from 9,044 on the same date 12 months previously. But its short of the 9,500 minimum requirement for the Defence Forces to be fully functional. Senator Gerard Craughwell said he had information from military sources that the figure will drop well below 9,000 before the year-end. The Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (Raco) warned that recruitment is failing, retention of trained and experienced professionals is failing, while unsustainable numbers voluntarily exit. Inadequate remuneration and unfavourable working conditions are undoubtedly forcing the continued exit of military professionals, a Raco spokesman said. The Public Service Pay Commission is currently examining requests for pay increases for Defence Forces personnel, who are reportedly the worst paid public servants. Both Raco and PDForra, which represents enlisted men, have said even the recently accelerated recruitment drive isnt keeping pace with the number of experienced people exiting the Defence Forces. Even the standard of recruits is being called into question. A recently leaked classified report gave a snapshot to senior commanders of one recruitment class. It concluded that some had severe learning difficulties, others were extremely unfit, and one had been arrested several times by Gardai. Pressure on Garda HQ is going to mount as it deliberates its response to a hard-hitting report from the Policing Authority which found that the Gardas flagship reform plan is not going to deliver. In a report to the justice minister, the authority called on Garda bosses to conduct an urgent review of the five-year Modernisation and Renewal Programme (MRP), saying it had fundamental flaws. The authority also published a second report detailing a range of concerns regarding policing performance, including urgent gaps in cybercrime and a failure to address falling detection rates. The reports come at a time of upheaval in the organisation, with next month seeing both the publication of the mammoth report of the Policing Commission and the commencement of the term of the new commissioner, departing PSNI deputy chief constable Drew Harris. The report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is likely to result in the establishment of an implementation body. Mr Harris, accompanied by his senior managers, will have his first public meeting with the authority at the end of September, at which a number of pressing issues will be aired, including the most recent reports. That will be followed in October with the publication of the much-anticipated report of the Disclosure Tribunal, which is investigating whether or not there was a campaign by two former commissioners to smear whistleblower, Sergeant Maurice McCabe. In October/November, a report is set to be published on an emerging controversy, detailed in the Irish Examiner last June, in relation to thousands of cases involving juvenile offenders which went unsanctioned. The organisations ability to respond to, and drive, reform is unclear given that Mr Harris will be starting from scratch, having not have been involved in the various controversies or the reform process. In addition, acting commissioner Donal O Cualain, who is also deputy commissioner of governance and strategy (in charge of reform), is set to retire, leaving a crucial vacancy. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. In its fifth report to Minister Charlie Flanagan on Garda reform, the authority said Garda HQ should not wait until the publication of the Policing Commission report next month before it conducts the review the authority has requested. The authoritys finding that the MRP would fail to deliver the reform expected by the Government unless it was urgently reexamined and changed came as a major blow to Garda HQ. The Garda programme was drawn up and agreed to by the Government in July 2016 as the vehicle to implement the landmark December 2015 report by the Garda Inspectorate, Changing Policing in Ireland. The authority said the MRP is not costed and that the necessary resources have not been earmarked to implement the reforms. It said there are crucial barriers preventing implementation in relation to training, human resources, ICT, and accommodation. It said that if Garda HQ does not pause briefly and reexamine its plan, it will not deliver the fundamental reform envisaged by the Government. Neither would it improve the working life of gardai nor provide an effective police service. Pressure mounts as reports due September The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is due to report next month. The expert group is tasked with conducting a fundamental review of policing and drawing up a blueprint for the future. The commission, set up in May 2017, was given a very broad, and demanding, terms of reference by the Government. The commission grouped these into five key areas: culture and ethos; leadership and structures; recruitment and training; governance and oversight; and legislative framework. As part of this, it is examining whether or not the security service should be taken from An Garda Siochana or should remain there. October The highly-anticipated report of the Disclosure Tribunal is due in October. The inquiry, conducted by Mr Justice Peter Charleton, has been examining if former commissioners Martin Callinan and Noirin OSullivan directed or were aware of a campaign to smear whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe. October/November A Garda report into a controversy surrounding some 13,000 cases involving juvenile offenders apparently getting away with it is set to be published. Frontline gardai say they are horrified that homeless families are having to sleep in Garda stations overnight, saying that they are wholly unsuitable, particularly for children. The intervention by the Garda Representative Association (GRA) comes as photographs circulated showing young children lying across hard seats in a bright reception room at Tallaght Garda Station in south-west Dublin on Wednesday night. Margaret Cash, a mother of seven, the children aged from one to 11, put up the image online, which was retweeted by Anthony Flynn of Inner City Helping Homeless, gathering publicity. The mother said that her family has been on housing list for 11 years and a year on the homeless list. However, the head of the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive said that there is absolutely no need for homeless families to stay in Garda stations. Eileen Gleeson said that if the family had stayed in contact with the executive on Wednesday night, they would have been given appropriate emergency accommodation. Mr Flynn said 16 children from three families slept in Garda stations on Wednesday night. Six children aged from one to 11 years old were forced to sleep on plastic seating in Tallaght Garda Station last night as all emergency lines for homeless shelters and local hotels reported they were full. Pic Facebook Sinn Fein claims seven homeless families were in Garda stations on Wednesday night, but the executive could not verify that. Mr Flynn said the warning signs have been there for months, with 48 families staying in Garda stations last month and 47 the month before. He warned that the situation is going to get worse with the impending papal visit and the influx of 500,000 into the city, many seeking accommodation in hotels and B&Bs, which are used to provide emergency housing to families. GRA communications director John OKeeffe said the association is horrified at the photograph. The GRA have every sympathy for this family who felt they had to go to this Garda station for shelter due to their housing situation. We would particularly like to commend the gardai present in Tallaght for their caring actions in such circumstances a task that they are neither equipped nor trained to deal with. Regardless, a Garda station is wholly unsuitable accommodation for any family in this terrible predicament, as a public area in an operational station, is clearly an inappropriate space to accommodate young children and families. We sincerely hope that this family, and all other families in this situation, can be accommodated in appropriate housing for their current and future needs. Earlier, the Garda Press Office confirmed the incident at Tallaght station, saying the family the mother and six of her seven children had shown up during the night as they had nowhere to go. It said: Members of An Garda Siochana tried all the emergency lines in relation to a homeless shelter and no accommodation was located, a number of local hotels were also phoned. The family were cared for during the night by the members working and received a hot breakfast. The family have left and are on the way to South Dublin County Council. Speaking on RTE radios Today with Miriam OCallaghan programme, Mr Flynn disagreed with the executive that the situation was unprecedented: Its exceptional because it is being publicised. This is not exceptional, weve seen it for a number of months, the warnings have been there. He added: This is going to get worse. The papal visit will highlight the issue even further, the fact that 500,000 people are going to enter the city. Also speaking on RTE, Ms Gleeson said the situation on Wednesday was unprecedented in that 10 families, including large families and ones from outside Dublin, sought accommodation out of hours. She said the homeless executive found accommodation for five families; that a sixth family refused the offer; two families were linked back to the regions they came from; and two did not seek further assistance. She assumes the family in Tallaght station is one of the two families that did not seek further assistance. She said there was absolutely no need for the family to have stayed in the station: If they had kept in touch with us we would have continued to work with them to find appropriate accommodation. Ms Gleeson said the executive has contingency plans for the papal visit, similar to plans for extreme weather and major concerts or sporting events in terms of demands for accommodation. She said it may involve moving people seeking emergency accommodation to outside Dublin for the night. Labour Party housing spokeswoman Jan OSullivan said the reports are deeply disturbing, but said it is not the first time. Unless something is done to put children at the heart of our States response to homelessness, it wont be the last, she said. Update: 1.54pm: Fianna Fail say the budget needs to be a housing budget as Government TDs and Ministers have been out this morning to defend their record when it comes to dealing with the homelessness crisis. Simon Harris says the housing crisis is the biggest scar left by the financial crash, and he wants to know the full details of what happened with Read More: "No mother takes her children to a garda station lightly. "So we're going to continue as a government to absolutely prioritise increase the stock of social housing and continue providing funding to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive and others to make sure emergency accommodation can be provided in the interim." While the Housing Minister is away on holidays, other TDs say he is regularly in touch about the situation. Fianna Fail has criticised the government's approach to building homes, with TD Pat Casey saying there needs to be a ramp-up in social housing construction. "This will be a housing budget," said Mr Casey. "And while we talk about social housing and the importance of social housing. The other key aspect of the housing thing is affordability. "There is a whole generation now of people who have lost the ability of owning their own home." Other TDs have admitted they're aware of more cases when families had to sleep in Garda stations or other inappropriate housing outside of Dublin. Fianna Fail's housing spokesperson Darragh OBrien called for the establishment of a taskforce on child homelessness, calling the current situation "shameful". "The number of children living in homelessness has been steadily on the rise, thats even clear from the Department of Housings own data," said Mr OBrien in a statement. Despite these rises the Government have continued to turn a blind eye to the problem and tolerate the consistnt neglect of homeless children. "I have contacted the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy TD and have arranged a meeting to urge him to support our call for the establishment of this taskforce. "There are of course other abject failures occurring in housing more generally but child homelessness is a crisis that must be urgently solved. The welfare of children in this State must be protected at all costs." - Digital Desk Update: 11.44am: Fine Gael's Maria Bailey says you would need 'to be made of stone' not to be affected by the photos of homeless mother Margaret Cash and her six children sleeping in Tallaght Garda Station. The Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing says there are services available for people in need of emergency accommodation. She says she is in daily contact with the Housing Minister who is currently on his holidays but is aware of the situation. Deputy Bailey (below) is urging people in need of accommodation to contact their local services as support is available. "You'd want to be made of stone not to feel anything from seeing that picture and it is not acceptable for any family to be in that situation, said Ms Bailey. "Accommodation was offered in a hotel that was in Meath. Transportation would have been provided. Most hotels are kind of two adults, two children is the formula. "Pop up beds or pull up beds are put into those rooms and while it would be overcrowded and not appropriate long-term for the first night that would be provided and the following morning then the services all kick-in." She added: "People keep looking at numbers and I'm reluctant to do that because there are faces behind these numbers that we see in the papers again this morning. "1,800 families and individuals did leave emergency accommodation and hotels last year so while we trebled that, the amount of people coming into the system - nobody envisaged that happening." Earlier: Opposition parties claim Housing Minister has 'gone missing' Opposition parties are claiming the Housing Minister has 'gone missing' amid the growing homelessness crisis in the capital. Charities say there has been a major spike in the number of homeless families who are struggling to get emergency accommodation. The issue was highlighted when Read More: It is claimed Dublin's tourist boom is forcing homeless families out of their hotel accommodation - and the visit of Pope Francis is expected to make matters worse. Sinn Fein's Housing Spokesperson Eoin O'Broin says there has been a deafening silence from Housing Minster Eoghan Murphy. "We need to hear from the Minister or a senior cabinet colleague urgently to say what are they going to do throughout the rest of August/early September to ensure that those families that otherwise won't get into accommodation because it's not available will have some secure place to stay overnight." Anthony Flynn from Inner City Helping Homeless says the Housing Minister needs to come up with solutions. "We hear of contingency plans, we hear of debates, we hear of talk and that's all we're hearing from Government and the DRHE (Dublin Region Homeless Executive). "In fairness to the DRHE, at times, they are under pressure but they are charged with doing this job on behalf of the Minister and the Department but the job is just not being done. "It's time Eoghan Murphy came out of whatever shell he is in there now at the moment and comes down and talks to use on the ground and lets us know what his plans are to effectively tackle this crisis. " Yesterday it emerged that Margaret Cash, 28, was forced to sleep in Tallaght Garda Station due to lack of emergency homeless accommodation on Wednesday night. Margaret Cash with six of her seven children (Aoife Moore/PA) I was heartbroken that I couldnt do more for them as a mother, I was ashamed to see my kids splattered round a station floor like that, she said. Ms Cash and her seven children Johnny, 11, Tommy, 10, Rebecca, nine, Miley, seven, Jim, four, Rocky, two, and Andy, one have been in emergency accommodation for over a year after her landlord went bankrupt and their house was repossessed. She has been in different one-night emergency family accommodations ever since. Niall Murray College students who are allowed access to a phone or tablet in lectures do worse in end-of-term exams, an educational psychology study suggests. Even those who did not use devices themselves but attend lectures where they are permitted for non-academic purposes have poorer results in later tests. The findings come as discussions are widening here around the access to or use of mobile phones by students in Irish schools. The Department of Education has directed that all primary and second-level schools consult with staff, students, and parents to devise policies around smartphones. The study, led by Professor Arnold Glass from Rutgers University in the US, is said to be the first in a college classroom showing a causal relationship between distraction from an electronic device and subsequent exam performance. Half of the 118 cognitive psychology students attended course lectures in which devices were permitted, while there was a ban on them in lectures attended by the other half. The end-of-term exam scores of those attending lectures where devices were allowed turned out to be lower by at least 5%, of half a grade, according to the study report published in the Educational Psychology journal. However, the study found that having a device did not lower scores in comprehension tests carried out during the lecture, meaning the main effect is on longer-term retention. These findings should alert the many dedicated students and instructors that dividing attention is having an insidious effect that is impairing their exam performance and final grade, said Prof Glass. To help manage the use of devices in the classroom, teachers should explain to students the damaging effect of distractions on retention not only for themselves but for the whole class. The use of smartphones in school was cited as the biggest challenge for day-to-day teaching by 8% of teachers who took part in an online survey for a students study website earlier this year. While 60% who responded to questions from Studyclix.ie favoured a complete ban in their schools, some said they would allow limited use of phones in class. Further calls have been made to make the Presidents travel costs public after it was claimed that Michael D Higgins stayed in a luxury hotel at a cost of 3,000 a night. Senator Gerard Craughwell, who had initially put himself forward to run for the Aras before bowing out, has claimed that Mr Higgins stayed in a suite in a five-star hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. It comes as other presidential hopefuls, Gavin Duffy and Padraig O Ceidigh, have said the office of the President should come inside the scope of Freedom of Information (FoI). Currently, the President and his office are exempt from FoI despite receiving more than 30m in public funding over the past seven years. The Independent senator said an outraged member of the public had written to him to outline the Presidents trip on June 6-7, which included a two-night stay in a suite in the Beau-Rivage Hotel, which was being sold for between 2,721 and 3,077 to stay in, last night. While Mr Craughwell admitted that Mr Higgins is not responsible for booking his own accommodation and it is done through the Department of Foreign Affairs, he said questions must be raised when taxpayers funds are being spent. This is public money we are talking about, but there is a more important issue here around whoever is booking the accommodation here. I know the Oireachtas staff who are booking accommodation will not exceed a four-star hotel anywhere, and that includes ministers. He said the cheapest possible flights are also selected for TDs, senators, and ministers when travelling. So it is only right and proper that all public offices are open to FoI. I think whats wrong is the mystery around all of this. He said this will become more of an issue as the presidential campaign ramps up and told RTEs Today with Miriam OCallaghan programme that even the British royal family is subject to FoI. While he said it is extremely important that the President travels to different countries around the world especially when promoting trade, the cost of that travel should be made public. Mr Craughwell denied that he was drawing attention to the expense because he had been forced to bow out of the presidential race, citing the cost of running a campaign. Thankfully, the story did not break when I was still a presidential candidate, it would have been a direct attack on the president in that case. There are no sour grapes here. At the end of day, I set out to ensure that there would be a presidential election. There will be one, I am delighted thats going to happen, he said, wishing all of the potential candidates the very best of luck. Dragons Den expert Mr Duffy, who is hoping to secure a presidential nomination, already called for the costs associated with the office of the President, including travel expenses, to be made public. Gavin Duffy. Last night, a spokesperson for the President said: Foreign travel by the President is made with the approval of the Government. Arrangements for the Presidents travel and accommodation are made by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the host country. "President Higgins was requested by the secretary general of the International Labour Organisation to provide the keynote address in Geneva at the 108th International Labour Organisation conference, the World of Work summit, an important international event bringing together governments, employer organisations and trade unions from all UN member states. Delegates from IBEC, ICTU and government departments comprised the attendance at this conference. They were present at the conference as members of the ILO and travelled independently of the Presidents Office. As part of this visit, the President used the opportunity to have bilateral meetings with the following leaders of international organisations ILO Director-General, Mr Guy Ryder; UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Zeid Raad Al Hussein; UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Filippo Grandi and with Mr Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red, which had been requested earlier in the year. Tanzania, the Maldives and Hong Kong are among the fastest growing tourist destinations for Irish holidaymakers who are increasingly opting for long-haul holidays. Thats according to Irelands largest independent travel specialists, Travel Counsellors, which has experienced a surge in bookings for a number of new markets. Since last November, bookings for the east African country of Tanzania have risen by 399%; the Indian Ocean archipelago, the Maldives by 196%; and Hong Kong by 135%. In general, long-haul destinations are also up across the board. Travel Counsellors said bookings for winter 2018/2019 have increased by 26%, while summer 2019 long-haul bookings are also up, rising by 345% when compared to the same period last year. General manager of Travel Counsellors Ireland, Cathy Burke said greater direct access options, better value and the rise of holidaying in the rest of Europe is driving the spike in bookings for long-haul destinations. As it has done in the past few years, the USA is topping our long-haul booking list for the coming year and is up 30%. "This is followed by Mexico which is up 36%; Australia which is up 14%; United Arab Emirates which is up 53% and South Africa is up 22%. What is also interesting to see is the emerging travel destinations now making their way onto the must-do lists of Irish holidaymakers in the coming 12 months, she said. Ms Burke said the rise in interest in Tanzania is due to its top safari parks inland, combined with the beaches of Zanzibar, while the introduction of direct flights to Hong Kong has impacted bookings positively. Stephen Maguire Torrential downpours accompanied the burial of leading Irish poet Matthew Sweeney yesterday in his native Donegal. Mr Sweeney passed away in his adopted home of Cork last Sunday after a battle with motor neurone disease. His remains were taken to the opposite end of the country to be buried amongst that of his county people in the New Cemetery in Clonmany. More than 200 mourners gathered at the grave of Mr Sweeney, including many from the literary world in which he was held in such high esteem. Among the mourners was his partner Mary Noonan whom he had shared many happy years with at their home in Sundays Well in Cork. His burial had to be delayed by up to half an hour such was the downpour from the grey skies over the rugged terrain of the Inishowen Peninsula. Many mourners wore yellow roses. A number of mourners read poems in honour of the man whose life was lived through his own poetry. Matthew Sweeney. Mr Sweeneys granddaughter Nell recited a poem called My Wee Nell which the writer had composed especially for her. Nells mum Nico, Matthews daughter, had on Wednesday described her dad as a person with a remarkable mind and buckets of imagination. Yesterday, his partner Mary also read a poem as did his brother Paudge. A sister of Mr Sweeney previously passed away from motor neurone disease in 2009. Mr Sweeney had written several poetry collections and had lived in Berlin, the Romanian city of Timisoara and, for a long time, Bloomsbury in London. The late Aosdana members better-known works included Inquisition Lane and Horse Music. A celebration of his life and poetry took place earlier this week in the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork City. Two men have been arrested in connection with an ATM skimming operation in the East of the country. It is believed the suspects are part of an Eastern European criminal gang targeting bank branches in Dublin, Kildare and Meath. The arrests of two men in Blanchardstown in Dublin this morning are described as a significant development in this case. The breakthrough came after a skimming device was used on a bank ATM in Kildare town yesterday. Officers from Kildare and the National Economic Crime Bureau had been working closely with a financial institution to try to intercept the criminals involved after eight different bank branches were targeted in Dublin, Kildare and Meath. Skimming devices and credit cards were recovered at the scene of the arrests. Pin camera. The two men in their 30s are being held at Newbridge and Kildare Garda Stations and can be questioned for up to 24 hours. Gardai are reminding consumers to be vigilant when using ATMs. Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Lordan from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau is reminding people to always cover their PIN. "Without covering it they can see in plain light of day what you're putting in. They have the numbers in your pin code and they have the card reader which is reading your card, so they are quite free then to use your card to commit crime and to avail of criminal funds throughout the country and throughout the world, he said." - Digital Desk Jamie Oliver returns to our TV screens with a new show about the country where food is such a major part of the culture, writes Gemma Dunn. Jamie Oliver has made no secret of his desire to educate the masses. In the past two decades alone, the Essex boy-turned-political crusader has tackled childhood obesity, with the goal to shake up school dinners; overhauled sugar intake; revolutionised home cooking; and provided a platform to train apprentice chefs from disadvantaged backgrounds. All the while building his own empire worth a rumoured 300 million. Phew. "If I had a magic wand, if I could make one wish for the planet, Id want every child, at 16, to be able to cook 10 recipes to save their life,says Oliver, 43. I want to teach them the basics of nutrition, and the basics of shopping and budgeting. If you were to gift that to children, we would be in a much happier, healthier, more sustainable place. He halts, before adding: The structure of education in most countries is science, maths, language and they think cooking is this f***ing periphery. A romantic, middle-class luxury: Oh isnt it cute? But if you look at public health and death, if you cant cook, then your life has a certain curve to it and youll die at a certain age, he goes on. Of course, some people dont, but if you take 10,000 people that cant cook, theyre dying shorter than the ones that can. The latest target of his epic anti-obesity drive is junk food advertising. A movement thats seen him call for the UK government to impose a 9pm watershed on junk food adverts. Kids are bombarded, day-in, day-out, with ads for food and drink that are high in fat, sugar and salt. Weve #AdEnough, he tweeted back in April. Interestingly, we have all the science and data from the cleverest people you can trust, that say junk food advertising needs to [happen] after nine oclock at night, he reasons, resolute in his mission. But the heads of the advertising organisations and these channels are saying advertising doesnt make kids eat more stuff! He has another strategy, however: One of our suggestions is that you shouldnt be able to use cartoons on cereal [boxes] or food that is unhealthy. They should be used for good, not for bad, he explains. And if you look at all the graphics, the animations and the Disney characters, its nearly all of it, he says. Disneys legacy should not be in getting kids iller, but getting them healthier. Point made. But its not all campaign trails and government-penned letters for the busy father of five (Oliver shares three daughters and two sons with his wife of 18 years, Jools). The much-loved star has written enough bestselling cookbooks to fill a small library. Not to mention fronted endless small-screen triumphs. His latest TV foray, Jamie Cooks Italy, is, in fact, the reason were sat in his plush North London office today. Joined by his long-time friend and mentor Gennaro Contaldo, Oliver will travel to eight different regions from Puglia in spring and the Aeolian Islands in summer, to Tuscany in autumn and Rome in winter to experience seasonal foodie delights and show the art of traditional Italian home cooking. Who will put them through their paces? The true masters of the Italian kitchen, of course. The nonnas and the home cooks who have perfected recipes that have been lovingly handed down over generations. I love the Italian approach to life - it fills me with such joy! quips Oliver. To be a foreigner in Italy is a real gift; its really nice, its very simple." Italians, generally, are very wonderful people, and as long as youre polite and you smile, and they can tell that you love food not because you talk about it but because they know youre a foodie theyll constantly go Try, try, he says. The eight-part series also means quality time spent with his best friend Contaldo, who he first met during his time as a pastry chef at Antonio Carluccios Neal Street restaurant in the 1990s. Hes 69, Im 43, I think were both feeling a little bit fragile, Oliver confides. Not because were vulnerable, but were just looking at the next 20 years, and his 20 years looks a bit different to my 20 years. So we want time together were good together. He looked after me when I was a baby boy, he was my boss. And now I look after him. Its a cycle. On the recipe front? Ive got all occasions covered. Fast and slow options, simple dishes for you and a friend, family suppers, weekend treats and epic celebratory feasts, he promises, with book Jamie Cooks Italy complementing the series. Id love everyone to take a bit of the Italian heart and soul of the nonnas approach into their cooking. Jamie Cooks Italy starts on Channel 4 on Monday. The cost of dental treatment abroad can come in much cheaper but its important to do your research first, writes Ailin Quinlan. How far are you prepared to go and how much are you prepared to pay for that perfect smile? Because if youre going to fork out significantly less for expensive treatment such as implants, crowns, veneers or bridges, expect to travel thousands of miles abroad. Social media and the influence of the all-pervasive Hollywood smile, allied with advances in cosmetic dentistry, have made us painfully conscious of the state of our teeth. But that flawless, icy-white smile comes with a hefty price tag. To offset the cost, Irish people are booking dental holidays as far afield as India, Dubai, Hungary, Malta, and Turkey, while Poland is becoming increasingly popular as a dental tourism destination. In some cases, people say theyre paying a fraction of the cost of similar treatment in Ireland. The most popular treatments sought by Irish dental tourists are implants, bridges, and crowns, according to Ildiko Cservenyak, managing director at Access Smile, which has a clinic in Budapest and a sister clinic in Dublin. The majority of the people who decide to go abroad for dental treatment will be people who may need a significant amount of work done, she explains. Prices vary in Ireland but generally for bridges, crowns, and implants in our clinic in Budapest, a client will pay around half what theyd pay in Ireland. Root canal treatment costs about one-third of what it would cost in Ireland so the difference can be quite significant if extensive dental work is required, she says. Root canal treatment work usually costs from about 250-300 in Ireland, depending on the kind of tooth treated, while implants can cost between 1,000 and 2,000. Retired civil servant Carmel Murray jetted to India for treatment after being diagnosed with gum disease in Ireland and being told it would cost over 6,000 to resolve the problem. After hearing a radio programme which mentioned Dr Biju Thomas, a specialist implantologist and consultant maxillofacial surgeon, who trained at St Jamess Hospital in Dublin, and who now runs clinics in India and Dubai, she emailed him, describing her problem in detail. Carmel, from Blackrock, Dublin, was told that if she was prepared to travel to India, Dr Thomas would treat her over a 10-day period: There was a lot of work involved my gums had to be built up, there were several extractions, some crowns, and six implants, she recalls. Carmel saw Dr Thomas in 2004 and again in 2008 to continue the treatment. Each time she went for about two weeks. Her last visit took place in 2017, when she stayed in India for a month. The cost of the treatment was about 50% to 60% less than in Ireland, says the 76-year-old, recalling that she liked to work her annual holiday around her visit to the dentist. I could never have afforded to get this treatment in Ireland. Im very happy with the treatment and have had no problems in all of this time. People used to say to me what will you do if anything goes wrong? Youre thousands of miles away. But I always said I could go to a dentist in Ireland! According to Dr Thomas, who has been in practice for nearly 20 years, patients who attend his clinics in India or Dubai can save up to 80% on the treatment cost in Ireland. A quick Google reveals that flights to Dubai, and a weeks accommodation there can potentially add up to 1,500, a hefty sum on top of dental treatment. However, most of Dr Thomas Irish patients travel to India, he says. Return flights to Kerala come in at between 500 and 600, and accommodation is much cheaper there than in Dubai, so, if you work your annual holiday around it, as Carmel did, the actual cost of your dental work is further reduced. People come to me through word of mouth and because of the cost and the expertise, explains Dr Thomas. I am a maxillofacial surgeon and can do these complex procedures very quickly and efficiently. Most of my patients are coming for full mouth reconstruction and would be in their fifties these would be people who have had multiple teeth extracted in the past and they want dental implant treatment which is very expensive in Ireland, he says, adding that the cost of an implant in India is about 500 compared to up to 2,000 in Ireland. I have been carrying out complex implant treatments for the last 20 years and am very specialised. According to Fintan Hourihan, chief executive of the Irish Dental Association, its not possible to say just how many Irish people engage in dental tourism annually. Anecdotally, its estimated that large numbers of Irish people opt to travel abroad when they discover they need a significant amount of dental treatment. Dr Thomas sees significant numbers of Irish patients every two months at his clinic in India, while Davor Mekterovic, managing director of Dental Hungary, which has operated a clinic in Ireland since 2005, says the clinic sends an average of five people each week to its clinic in Budapest for popular treatments like crowns, veneers, and implants. Patients save up to 70% on the prices they would pay here, he claims. They get everything done under one roof and some work a holiday around it for example, someone might come to Budapest for five or seven or 10 days. I was very self-conscious When Dublin housewife Mary Vaughan, 59, was quoted nearly 5,000 by an Irish dentist to have four crowns, she decided against proceeding with treatment. However, four years later, her condition was much worse. My jaw was shrinking, a tooth was pushing forward, I had a recurring abscess and there were cracks in my front teeth. I was very self-conscious, she recalls, adding that Dental Hungary came recommended by a number of people. Last summer Mary had an initial consultation, at which she was told she needed an extraction, some bridging, a root canal, and 22 crowns. In November she travelled to Budapest for eight days for work costing 8,900. I estimate the same work would have cost me about 28,000 in Ireland for all of this. My husband has now decided to get implants in, with the same company. I was very pleased with the work. Prior to this I shied away from having photographs taken now I can smile! So are Irish dentists overcharging? No, says Ildiko Cservenyak, who points out that although dentists in Ireland and Hungary use the same materials and hi-tech equipment, property prices and salaries are far lower in Hungary: Its much cheaper to rent a premise there than in Dublin. Also, salaries in the dental sector in Hungary are much lower than in Ireland at less than half, or about a third of what staff would earn. Davor Mekterovic is not quite so sure: If its about cost of living and overheads why do Northern Ireland dentists charge 30% to 40% less than dentists in the Republic? There may be big differences in salary and lifestyle costs between Ireland and Hungary, but I cant see much difference in the cost of living between Ireland and Northern Ireland. I have a whole new mouth Colette Coyle who got all her necessary dental treatment done in Budapest earlier this year. Picture: Moya Nolan Colette Coyle, 59, a medical skin technician who lives in Dublin, travelled to the Access Smile clinic twice last March for two days each time. In all, Colette had eight teeth treated, including an implant and two crowns. Her treatment cost 4,000, less than half, she believes, what the same work would have cost in Ireland. Even with the cost of accommodation and flights worked in, it was significantly less than I would have paid in Ireland, and Ive had no problems. I have a whole new mouth, and the whole thing was stress-free. For me it was all about getting all of these teeth done and dusted if Id had it done in Ireland, Id have been forever trying to pay for it piecemeal. Now its done and its perfect and I havent an issue in the world. All very well but what about aftercare when your dentist is abroad? In terms of aftercare if it is something small our clinic in Dublin will look after it, says Mekterovic. If there is need for remedial treatment, the patient will go to Budapest. Cservenyak explains that the same Dublin clinic that carries out Access Smiles assessments is geared to provide aftercare as well as check-ups and dental hygiene treatment. According to Dr Thomas, patients just need check-up and cleaning following their implants, which is something they can get with their local dentist. So far so good, but, points out Fintan Hourihan, people should be aware that there is strong competition in Ireland for most everyday treatments. He points to the findings of a survey conducted by Dental Boosters in May. The study of more than 1,200 practices found extensive competition and variation on fees for most treatment items which means, if people shop around, there is usually good value to be had. Furthermore, while it is true that crowns and implants may be cheaper abroad than in Ireland, he emphasises, people should always be aware that the gold standard for material used in crowns, for example, is porcelain. People should always check to ensure that plastic crowns are not being used in their treatment. It can be a case of apples and oranges, he says, adding that, in general, the biggest difficulty for people having overseas treatment is undergoing too much dental work in too short a period of time. If too much is done in too short a time span, complications such as infections may occur, he says. There is no statutory protection for people if things go wrong with dental treatment abroad, he warns, adding that its important for people to check how dentists are regulated in their destination country. Is there a fitness-to-practice procedure, for example, is there professional indemnity insurance for people? Is there a complaints system in place? If things go wrong you need to know in advance how your complaint will be addressed and that can be very difficult if you return home and realise something is gone wrong. There are no plans for regulation of prices within the EU, he says, adding, however, that while people like to have a bright smile, it is important to have good gum and oral health, and the best way to avoid problems is to see your dentist regularly. Its unlikely that most of us will fly abroad for regular dental treatment as the Dental Boosters survey shows, prices for everyday dental work are competitive. However, if extensive and expensive work needs to be carried out, the often very significant cost savings of having dental treatment abroad are bound to be a deciding factor. But remember, always, always do your research first. - Be informed about the treatment you need. Speak with your dentist beforehand, who will be able to offer advice based on your dental history. - Research the treatment proposed, the clinic where the treatment will be carried out and the dentist who will be performing the treatment. Word of mouth is a good indicator. - Establish if the country to which youre planning to travel has a similar regulatory body for dentists to Ireland and if it is compulsory for all dentists there to register with that regulatory body. You can find out about health regulators and professional bodies in other countries at www.healthregulation.org or, for dentists, www.fedcar.eu - Check that your dentist has professional indemnity insurance cover. - Think about language and cultural differences which may impede accurate interpretation of verbal and non-verbal communication. - Consider that your lack of familiarity with the local medical system, potentially limited access to your past medical history and possible unfamiliarity with your drugs and medicines, may pose challenges if complications in treatment arise. - Ensure that you are satisfied with arrangements for follow-up care should there be complications. - Ensure you are clear on how financial matters will be resolved if costs escalate, such as in the case of complications, as legal recourse may be limited or difficult to obtain. Suggested questions: - How will I determine the qualifications and experience of the dentist who will be treating me when I am abroad? - Will the dental team who will be treating me be able to communicate with me in a language I will understand? - What aftercare will be provided? - If I need any remedial work and have to return, who pays for flights, accommodation and for the additional work needed? - Does the dentist have adequate professional indemnity cover to carry out all dental/ surgical treatment including specialised procedures? - What are my legal rights if something goes wrong with the treatment provided or if I am unhappy with the result? - If I need remedial work for any reason including pain, bleeding or infection and do not want to travel back to where the original treatment was carried out, can I have it done at home? How will this be organised for me? Who pays? - Who can I contact for advice after treatment? - Will my records be kept in my language or the local language? - Will I be given all my records after treatment? For more information visit the Irish Dental Council website Like Ireland, Argentina has been polarised by moves to decriminalise abortion even if our two-to-one vote suggests strong dissent rather than absolute polarisation. Like Ireland once was, Argentinas laws remain influenced, though to an ever declining degree, by the tenets of Catholicism. The countrys lower house has passed a measure legalising abortion and President Mauricio Macri had said he would sign it. However, after more than 15 hours of debate, the Argentine upper house voted 38/31 against a bill legalising abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. The vote, in the avowedly conservative senate, means that abortion is only legal in the cases of rape or danger to the life of the woman. Pro-abortion campaigners insist the senate vote is a Pyrrhic victory and that it is only a matter of time before legislative change facilitating abortion is finalised. That opinion echoes our history but it also sounds a warning. Though the vote to reject the Eighth Amendment was seismic, turning that endorsement into workable legislation is another matter altogether. Just as those who voted for abortion will be frustrated by the slow pace of change, some of those who voted to retain the Eighth will do all they can to frustrate it and the democratically expressed will of the electorate. Despite that, the debate in Ireland is over and all democrats are obliged to ensure that the will of the majority is accurately and quickly reflected in legislation. Asia Thailand's 'Jet Set' Monk Sentenced to 114 Years in Prison Wirapol Sukphol, a former Thai Buddhist monk who provoked outrage with his lavish lifestyle, arrives at a criminal court in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday. / Dailynews via Reuters BANGKOK A former Thai Buddhist monk who provoked outrage with his lavish lifestyle was sentenced on Thursday to 114 years in prison after a court found him guilty of fraud, money laundering and computer crimes. Wirapol Sukphol, who was seen in a YouTube video in 2013 holding wads of cash on a private jet, returned to Thailand in July 2017 after being extradited from the United States, where he had fled. Wirapol, formerly known by his monastic name Luang Pu Nenkham, was expelled from the monkhood in 2013 after the video surfaced. He was accused of having sexual intercourse a grave offence for monks with an underage girl, among other charges. He later fled to the United States. A criminal court in Bangkok sentenced Wirapol to 114 years in prison, though he will only serve 20 years because Thai law stipulates that is the maximum for someone found guilty of multiple counts of the same offence. He committed fraud by claiming to have special power to lure people in and he also bought many luxury cars, which is considered a money-laundering offence, an official at the Department of Special Litigation told Reuters. The official declined to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media. The court found him guilty of multiple offences, which resulted in a 114-year jail term when combined, which means he will actually serve 20 years in jail, he said. Neither Wirapol nor his lawyer were available for comment. Wirapol faces separate charges of child molestation and child abduction. A verdict in that case is expected in October. Wirapols high-profile case highlighted a series of sex and money scandals that have rocked Thailands Buddhist clergy in recent years, resulting in calls for reforms of religious institutions. The military government that came to power after a 2014 coup has stepped up efforts to clean up Buddhism by arresting monks involved in corruption scandals and through the introduction of a bill that reduces the influence of Buddhisms Sangha Supreme Council the governing body of Buddhist monks. Burma China Beating Japan in War for Economic Influence in Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono hold talks in Naypyitaw on Aug. 6. / State Counselors Office YANGONWhile the Japanese foreign minister and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi discussed Rakhines development in Naypyitaw last week, a Chinese Communist Party provincial secretary met the vice president to discuss increasing investment in agriculture, transport and technology cooperation. It is not the first time China and Japan have been seen directly competing on Myanmars economic battlefield. China and Japan both follow Asian strategies that involve securing supplies of cheap labor, agricultural commodities, and access to ideally situated ports and other strategic locations in Southeast Asia. Myanmar is strategically located in the heart of Asia with China to the north and east, India to the west and ASEAN to the east and south. It has a wealth of unexplored natural resources and its coastlines offer access to the Indian Ocean. For these reasons, it satisfies Beijing and Tokyos requirements. After Parliament elected U Win Myint president in March, China dispatched its minister for the International Department of the Communist Party of China to Naypyitaw. The minister became the first high-ranking foreign official to meet the new president. From high-ranking ministers to the secretary of the Jilin provincial communist party committee, a special envoy to the peace process and economic development officials, Chinese officials have visited Naypyitaw at least 18 times to engage the government in different sectors this year. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Konos recent visit focused on development in Rakhine State. He has visited Myanmar twice this year. Other senior Japanese officials have also visited Naypyitaw to discuss financial development and parliamentary engagement. In February, the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Myanmar (JCCM) signed their first-ever MoU to increase trade and investment flows between the two countries. Beijing has shown a desire to increase engagement with Myanmar, given its strategic position within Chinese President Xi Jinpings ambitious USD1 trillion Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to establish a vast global trading network. Furthermore, while Myanmar faces renewed isolation from the West due to the human rights crisis in western Rakhine State, China has refrained from criticizing Naypyitaw over the issue and blocked a UN Security Council statement about Myanmars human rights situation. Apart from major investment in crude oil and gas pipelines, deep seaports and natural resources, China has offered its support by calling for cease-fire agreements, collaborating on the repatriation of refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar and supporting improved economic conditions in Rakhine. Japan is involved in working out solutions for the development of the Rohingya community and has promised to help by joining hands with Myanmar. During the Konos trip, Japan reiterated its support for improving Yangons rail system and electrification and transportation improvements in Rakhine. Despite the humanitarian crisis, the country is still viewed as the next frontier for investment opportunities. China and Japan pursue these via development deals in Myanmar; in reality both countries try to match each other in terms of securing infrastructure projects and investment opportunities in Asia and this country has become reminiscent of a Cold War battlefield for them. China is less popular among Myanmars people. Its image was badly damaged due to its aggressive exploitation of opportunities under the previous military regime, which involved exploiting natural resources, human rights abuses and land grabbing for projects across the country. While Beijing has tried hard to engage with local people, it is struggling to restore its good name. An in-depth survey released by the International Growth Center in August said Myanmar people have a more favorable impression of investment projects by Japanese firms than Chinese firms. Japanese projects are regarded far more positively than their Chinese counterparts as they are seen as having fewer negative impacts on local populations. The survey found that people prefer Japan to China even though firms from both countries have a record of collaborating with military-affiliated local companies and do not directly engage with local communities in their operations. Myanmar people prefer Japanese investment because it is focused on technological support, job opportunities and loans for small and medium enterprises that contribute to economic development. It has provided assistance building financial markets and technical support for the Central Bank, and helped to develop railways and the health care system. Many critics have pushed to have Beijing turn over the controversial Kyauk Phyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project to Japan during the shareholder renegotiation process, raising concerns over unethical investments and Chinas history of abusing natural resources across the country under the military dictatorship. Under the shareholder agreement for the Kyauk Phyu project in Rakhine State, made under then-President Thein Sein, China was to hold an 85 percent stake in the project, and the Myanmar government would hold 15 percent. But Beijing has made progress in renegotiating the deal with the new chairman of the Kyauk Phyu SEZ, offering assurances that it will not lead to an excessive debt burden on the Myanmar government. Kyauk Phyu is a key strategic project under the BRI, as it will boost development in Chinas land-locked Yunnan province and provide China with direct access to the Indian Ocean. It would also allow Chinas oil imports to bypass the Strait of Malacca. China and Myanmar agreed on a 15-point MoU for the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and hope to sign an official agreement this year. The corridor will run from Chinas Yunnan Province to Mandalay in central Myanmar, and then east to Yangon and west to the Kyauk Phyu SEZ. Under the MoU, the governments agree to collaborate on many sectors including basic infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, transport, finance, human resources development, telecommunications, research and technology. According to longtime Myanmar observer Bertil Lintner, Myanmars latest agreements with China will no doubt lead to renewed dependence on Beijing and Japan is eager to counter that. But it remains to be seen how much Japan is willing to invest in Myanmar, and how that investment will really counter Chinas expanding power in Myanmar and the region, he said. For Myanmar, economic, geographical and political ties with its most powerful authoritarian neighbor, China, are unavoidable. But experts say Japan offers one avenue for balancing out Chinas influence. The chairman of the Smart Group of Companies, U Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing said, We have to learn how to stay safe with the elephant in the room. However, we also need to find a way to balance the power [of China] if we dont have the capacity to resist it. The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation has warned that Xis BRI is burdening poor nations with unsustainable debt through large-scale infrastructure projects. Washington-based BRI monitor RWR Advisory Group reported that since 2013, 32 percent (roughly USD419 billion) worth of projects related to the scheme face trouble in terms of debt sustainability, public opposition, performance delays and national security controversies. In its diplomacy, Japan prefers to move at a slow pace, exercising caution. Throughout Myanmars military-ruled era, it maintained neutral relations with the country. When Myanmar began opening its economy in 2010, Japan moved actively to boost development in the country, especially of its railway, road and energy networks. In 2015, Japanese investment flowed into the financial, development and manufacturing sectors. In June 2013, the Japan International Cooperation Agency made agreements to extend USD485 million in new ODA loans, including a USD190 million infrastructure investment in the Thilawa SEZ, a 2,342-hectare industrial area outside of Yangon. The SEZ is the first Japan-Myanmar public-private initiative. Japanese firms are interested in investing in the energy sector. One example is a private clean coal project that has started in Myeik. In addition, Japanese firms are working with Myanmar partners. Daiwa Securities and Japan Exchange Group have invested in the Yangon Stock Exchange, and Mitsubishi and Jalux are involved in renovating and operating Mandalays airport. In the real estate sector, Mitsubishi is working with Hong Kong, Singapore and Myanmar partners to develop The Landmark Development in downtown Yangon. Moreover, Japan provided Myanmar with USD1 billion in loans in 2015, USD7.7 billon in aid and loans in 2016 and USD824 million in loans in 2017. Japanese investment peaked in 2017 at USD1.48 billion, after reaching USD252 million in 2012, USD55 million in 2013, USD1.02 billion in 2014, USD590 million in 2015 and USD280 million in 2016. However, Japan lags behind China in terms of capital investment as it adheres to its own standards, principles of law enforcement and legal frameworks, experts said. Chinas Myanmar policy is very assertive, almost aggressive, while Japan, as usual, is more cautious, Bertil said. China has a geographical advantage over Japan. Some experts say China only comes to extract natural resources, whereas Japan mostly focuses on the services sector, the benefits of which will take a long time to materialize. Japan seems to be waiting to evaluate the return on its investment in the Thilawa SEZ before investing in new projects in Myanmar, experts said. Myo Min, CEO of the PS Business School said, Japan goes step by step. They dont take shortcuts. They also follow laws and regulations. They wait for the implementation of the relevant laws before investing. So, they normally arrive later than China. If they keep hesitating to invest here, China will cause Japans economic influence in Myanmar to wane, U Myo Min said. As of July 30, China was the largest investor in Myanmar, while Japan was ranked No. 10. It is time to accelerate Japanese investment in Myanmar to counterbalance Chinas power in the country, U Myo Min said. Otherwise, China will maintain the upper hand in the country, and all the economic reform will be for Chinas benefit, he said. Burma Lawmakers Consider $34.4M Loan from Italy For Electrification Projects Solar panel installations seen in Naypyitaw in 2017. / The Irrawaddy NAYPYITAW A military representative in the Union Parliament on Thursday called for transparency in the tender selection process for rural electrification projects that would be funded with loans the country is considering borrowing from Italy. On Thursday, lawmakers debated a proposal from the president to accept 30 million euros ($34.4 million) in no-interest loans from Italy for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation. The ministry will use loans to supply electricity to rural villages in remote areas of the country. There must be transparency and norms must be met in selecting tender winners. In addition, [the ministry] must make sure the tender winners use quality materials on the project, said military representative Major Tin Lin. As the loans are intended for the social wellbeing of people in rural areas, the ministry must make sure the money is not wasted and that people get the full benefits, the major said. The four-year project will supply electricity from solar power and a mini grid to about 10,000 households in over 1,000 villages in Chin State and the Naga Self-Administered Zone in Sagaing Region. Lawmakers said that in previous rural electrification projects implemented with foreign loans, solar power systems started to malfunction after less than a year, and the concerned departments were slow in replacing the malfunctioning parts with new ones. Lawmaker U Sein Win, of Maubin Township in Irrawaddy Region, called for transparency in the tender selection process and responsibility and accountability from the concerned departments. It is important that people are not burdened by what is supposed to facilitate their social wellbeing. If the new project follows the previous unsuccessful projects, our country will go nowhere, said lawmaker Daw Cho Cho Win of Sagaing Region. Local residents, however, will have to pay their fair share to get access to electricity. Lawmakers suggested that the government should reduce the price in remote and underdeveloped villages. They also called for the ministry to review the price rates for electricity in order to avoid creating a burden on low-income residents. The project will be implemented as part of the National Electrification Project being implemented with $400 million in loans from the World Bank. Lawmakers will continue their debate on whether or not to approve the loans from Italy next week. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Yangon High Court Sets Date to Review Aung Yell Htwe Murder Case The suspects in the killing of Aung Yell Htwe arrive for a hearing at Thingangyun Township Court in Yangon on Jan. 18. / The Irrawaddy YANGON The Yangon Region High Court will review the controversial decision to drop the murder case against the alleged killers of Facebook comedian Aung Yell Htwe on Aug. 29. The date of the hearing was announced on the High Courts official Facebook page on Aug. 8, a day after the three suspects responded to a summons issued by the court. The three suspects in the fatal beating of Aung Yell Htwe Than Htut Aung (a.k.a Thar Gyi), Pyae Phyo Aung (a.k.a Aung Lay) and Kyaw Zaw Han (a.k.a Kyaw Zaw) were released from jail on July 25 after the Yangon Eastern District Court accepted an appeal from the victims family asking to settle the case. Following the intervention of state leaders and with public criticism mounting over the dropping of the case, the Union Attorney Generals Office ordered the Yangon Region attorney general to annul the courts decision to dismiss the case and to resume the trial on July 30. On the same day, the Yangon Region Attorney General U Han Htoo, who had approved the request of the victims family to abandon the case, addressed the High Court to seek a review of the courts decision. Daw Nwe Nwe Oo, the media and communications officer and deputy director of the High Court, told The Irrawaddy last week that the court would decide whether to annul the lower courts decision to drop the case after both the Yangon Region attorney general and the defendants present their arguments at the next High Court hearing. Burma Youth Summoned For Wa State Army Peace Event UWSA soldiers participate in a military parade in Mai-Tong Township, Eastern Shan State in July 2017. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy YANGON The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has summoned youths to perform at an upcoming event to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of a truce with the union government. Nyi Rang, the UWSAs liaison officer in Lashio Township, Shan State, said the armed group would use about 500 youths for a military parade and for traditional cultural music and dance performances at the event. The armed group will select 40 to 50 youths, both male and female, aged around 20, from each of the 10 townships under its control for the event, he told The Irrawaddy. April 17 next year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of a truce between the UWSA and the government. The youths will be camped for about nine months to undergo the necessary training to perform at the event, said Nyi Rang. According to Article 56 (f) of the Constitution, six townships in Shan Hopang, Mongmao, Panwai, Namphan, Metman and Pangsang (Pankham) constitute the Wa Special Region. Besides those townships, the UWSA has since July also summoned participants for the event from four other townships Mongton, Monghpyak, Longtan and Hothauk. According to Nyi Rang, applications are welcome from members of all 17 tribes living in the self-administered Wa Special Region and are not limited to those from the Wa ethnic group. However, his statement differs from information shared by lawmaker U San Win Aung, who represents Mongton Township in the Shan State Parliament. According to an external relations officer of Wa [Special Region], the group isnt summoning people of other tribes. There are Shan, Lahu and Lisu people living in our township. They cant touch them. The group only invites applications from its own people, said U San Win Aung. Shan, Lahu, Lisu and Wa people live in separate villages in Mongton Township. Service in the UWSA is compulsory for Wa men and women when they reach the age of 18 for three years. Some young people have already fled to China upon hearing reports of the UWSAs plan to recruit youths for the anniversary event. Theyve come and taken my daughter. Im worried that she will be asked to serve as a permanent soldier. I dared not tell them not to take her. I was afraid because they were armed, said a Monghpyak resident on condition of anonymity. Nyi Rang denied the claims of conscription and said the UWSA only gathers those who are willing to take part in the event. He said the group would send them back to their homes afterward and that it was up to the individuals to join the armed group permanently. The UWSA said it has verbally invited State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to attend the event in Panghsang, where its headquarters are located. The UWSA split from the Communist Party of Burma in April 1989 and signed a ceasefire with the then-military governments State Law and Order Restoration Council on April 17, 1989. The truce turns 30 years old next year. News Sittwe Bombing Suspects Get Six Months for Illegal Border Crossing Two men arrested in connection with the Feb. 24 bombings in Sittwe, Rakhine State, and convicted of illegally crossing the border appear at court in Sittwe on Wednesday. / Min Aung Khine / The Irrawaddy YANGON A court in Rakhine State on Wednesday sentenced two men arrested as suspects in a trio of bomb explosions in the state capital, Sittwe, in February to six months in prison for illegally crossing the border. After the hearing in Sittwe, the two suspects, Ko Than Shwe and Ko Maung Myint Kyi, told reporters that they were wrongly sentenced on trumped-up charges after police could find no evidence against them for the bombings. They ceaselessly interrogated me about the explosions. I said I knew nothing and they asked me to say something, anything. They even asked me to talk about my wife if I had nothing to say, said Ko Than Shwe. They asked me to say that I had gone to the border and said that it had nothing to do with the bombing. I was forced to say so and asked to sign. Then I was charged and sentenced to six months in prison, he said. On Feb. 24 three bombs exploded around Sittwe, going off in front of the Sittwe Court, in front of the Land Records Department, and in the backyard of an outspoken state government secretary, Tin Maung Swe. Police arrested nine local residents in connection with the explosions, but they could not find enough evidence to bring them to trial after holding them on remand for 30 days. According to police procedure, suspects cannot be held on remand for more than 30 days, so five of the nine were released on March 26. The court extended the remand for the four others Ko Than Shwe and Ko Maung Myint Kyi on charges of illegally crossing the border and the rest on terrorism charges. Rakhine State police chief Colonel Aung Myat Moe told The Irrawaddy that police only bring suspects to trial with evidence. We initially arrested nine and conducted interrogations, and we charged [the four] for illegally crossing the border and bombing according to our findings. It is the court that made the decision. We police only act according to police procedures, the colonel said. Ko Maung Myint Kyi denied involvement. We were not allowed to sleep all day, all night. We could no longer endure [the interrogations] as the days passed by. They asked me to say something if I didnt know about the bombings. They said that Id be punished if I said nothing, he told reporters. The two suspects charged with terrorism are still on trial. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. News Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing Ushers in Period Of Close Ties Between Myanmar And Thai Defence Forces Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, right, during his visit to Thailand in June. / Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing / Facebook YANGONRelations between the Myanmar and Thai militaries have reached a new high during the tenure of Myanmars military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, according to a report published by a Yangon-based independent policy institute. A Study on Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaings International Trips by the Tagaung Institute of Political Studies documents the Myanmar military chiefs trips overseas since he assumed the helm of the countrys armed forces in March 2011 from Snr-Gen Than Shwe, who had held the position since 1992. According to the report, the current military chief, 62, has made a total of 46 trips to 23 countries, ranging from neighboring China and India to Asean countries to Russia and western European countries, including Italy, Germany and Austria. In 2016, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing became the first Myanmar military chief to visit the EU in decades after he was invited to take part in a meeting with the European Union Military Committee (EUMC). The EU and other Western states believe that providing Myanmars army leaders with exposure to the West, where they can learn about the role and practices of professional armed forces, could have a positive influence. In April 2017, during his week-long visit to Austria and Germany, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing toured arms companies and met with senior military and defense officials, even reportedly taking a spin in a DA-62 light aircraft in Austria. In Germany, he visited the GROB aircraft factory, taking particular interest in light aircraft for reconnaissance and training. Despite the welcome he was given previously, the Myanmar military chief was accused by many in the international community of masterminding an ethnic cleansing campaign in 2017 following his troops clearance operations in northern Rakhine State, where nearly 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after the army launched a counter-insurgency against the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army following attacks on security posts. As a result, the EU and US considered imposing sanctions against Myanmar army officials. The militarys international relations have taken a backseat since August 2017, when the Rakhine crisis happened. Since then, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has made four trips to Thailand, China, Singapore and Nepal, the report says. After Thailand, China is the country, the military chief has visited most frequently. He made his first goodwill visit to Myanmars northern neighbor in 2011, eight months after he became military chief. His fourth and most recent visit there was in November last year. During his last visit to China, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing met Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussed the Rakhine issue among other topics. While there, he noted that Chinas One Belt One Road policy might be beneficial for Myanmar. The report says international pressure on the army over the Rakhine issue has forced it to be closer to China despite its previous attempts to strike a balance in its ties with Western countries and China. But the military seems to be trying not to have to totally rely on China. Despite the deterioration in relations with Western countries, it seems to be trying as best as it can to build strong ties with Asean, Russia, Japan and India to balance (its dependency on China). But it will be interesting for future international relations of the Myanmar military to what extent they can check the Chinese influence, the report said. Closer to home, ties have never been better with Thailands military. Of Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaings 46 foreign trips, Thailand is the country he has visited most 10 times between 2012 to June 2018. Out of the 10, goodwill visits total four, attending meetings three, receiving titles two and attending defence and security shows one, the report says. Furthermore, the Myanmar military chief has twice been bestowed with Thailands highest honors: in 2013, he was awarded the Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Crown of Thailand for promoting friendship between the two armed forces of Myanmar and Thailand, according the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar at the time. Early this year, Thailand awarded him the Knight Grand Cross First Class of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant in Bangkok to show the long and close relations between the two countries, the Royal Thai Armed Forces said in a statement. Apart from the awards, the Myanmar military chief has been adopted by Thailands former army chief, Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda, who reportedly knew Min Aung Hlaings late fatherand the two have a godfather-godson relationship. Plus, since 2013, Myanmar and Thailand have been taking it in turns to host annual high-level military meetings. August 10, 2018 POCATELLO Participants will have the opportunity to stargaze when the Idaho Museum of Natural History at Idaho State University will host its first-ever StarFest from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Aug. 17 at Bartz Field located on upper campus. StarFest 2018 activities will include a telescope clinic, stargazing, the opportunity to learn about constellations and a yoga session at sunset. StarFest is held in conjunction with the Pocatello Astronomical Society, ISU Department of Physics and ISU New Student Orientation. StarFest also celebrates the end of Museums successful summer long membership drive. StarFest is inspired by Museums summer exhibit, Astronomical Idaho, featuring Be the Astronaut, showing at the Museum through Sept. 3. With many telescopes from all over Pocatello, participants will have an opportunity to stargaze with the assistance of local astronomers. Anyone with a telescope is encouraged to bring them along to this event. At 7:30 p.m. a telescope clinic, hosted by the Pocatello Astronomical Society, will assist individuals with their telescope operations and ISU Department of Physics will provide constellation education. Lori Head from Mind Your Body will prepare participants for their planetary experience with yoga moon salutations at 8 p.m. This activity is geared for all ages and skill levels. No mat is required. Stargazing participants are encouraged to bring binoculars because some constellations may be viewed without a telescope. Additionally, a dark environment is best for viewing and it is requested that only red lights, not regular flashlights be used. Truly the first of its kind in Pocatello, this free event is definitely a great way to wrap up this summer season, said Terri Bergmeier, Idaho Museum of Natural History director of development. The Museum has been serving Idaho since 1934. The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday. Subscribe to Museums monthly e-newsletter at imnh.isu.edu for more program updates and follow it on Facebook for more information on all of its events. For more information on StarFest, Museum membership questions or business partnership opportunities, contact Bergmeier at 208-282-6168. A Cambridge, Massachusetts, research lab is addressing some of modern medicines most overlooked issues with cutting-edge IoT technology and an open-source approach, weaving aging devices and deeply siloed data into an accessible web of medical information. The Medical Device Interoperability Program, or MD PnP, in affiliation with Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners Healthcare, is a hub for research into making medical devices dramatically smarter by making it simpler for them to share the data they gather. With more and more people being monitored by IoT devices in hospitals and monitoring themselves with Fitbits and Apple watches, theres suddenly a lot more digital data than there was before in the world of healthcare. One challenge is to gather and analyze that data from disparate devices so it provides medical professionals with more complete information about the condition of their patients. Another is to make that process simpler for the IT staff that has to set up the systems. The heathcare field ratchets the usual difficulties of integrating all these systems up to a much higher level. There are too many device makers, too many technical hurdles, too many regulatory issues and the penalty for getting something wrong is that people could die. Too many alarms One of the main issues the lab tackles is alarm overload. Walk through any busy hospital ward, and one of the main ambient sounds that greets the ear is a chorus of beeps and boops from monitoring device alarms, like birds tweeting and whooping in a jungle canopy. And like biologists or National Geographic photographers, the healthcare workers who spend a lot of time in hospital wards eventually start perceiving the sounds as background noise, not something to be actually alarmed about. That, obviously, is a problem on the occasions where the alarm isnt just going off because a patients blood oxygen dipped below the threshold for a millisecond or when the clip slipped off of a fingertip. Its not their fault, according to MD PnP lead engineer, Dave Arney. Traditionally, medical devices are a little bit dumb, whether theyre simply older technology or constructed to fulfill strict requirements such as: if the patients blood pressure reading EVER drops below a certain level, then alarm. All those alarms are almost certainly working exactly how they were intended to be used, said Arney. But Dr. Julian Goldman, the director of the MD PnP program, said, If you were to rethink that environment today, you might say that maybe it should be conditional maybe you should bring up a different alarm app for a patient in the ICU after surgery, and a different intelligent alarm app for a neonate, he said. Goldman and Arney think that a big part of the solution to alarm fatigue is intelligence and interoperability. Arney used the example of a pulse oximeter a simple device clipped to a finger tip used to measure blood-oxygen levels being connected to a blood-pressure cuff. If the oximeter knows that the blood-pressure cuff is taking a measurement at any given moment, it wont alarm when the patients O2 saturation drops, since it knows that theres a perfectly good reason for that to be happening. Context-aware alarms, a la aviation, are whats needed in medicine, according to Goldman. Many airplanes are equipped with systems that do things like sound an audible alarm if the pilot appears to be trying to land without lowering the landing gear. How is a plane so smart that it knows youre trying to land with the landing gear up? Why doesnt the alarm go off when the landing gear is up at 30,000 feet? asked Goldman. The point is when you integrate sensor data, your alarm becomes a lot more useful. It becomes trusted. Thats the kind of thing we need in health care. And to do that, you need to integrate data from many sources, and IoTs capabilities add to that richness. Today, once healthcare workers move away from the bedside, all they have is the alarms, and the inability of simple machines to prioritize their alerts and fit them into a larger context is a problem. As an example, Goldman and Arney showed off an image of a set of vital signs, with the ECG on the heart-rate monitor displaying a flatline. Despite the fact that the reading is the product of random electrical noise not an actual cardiac event the heart rate monitor sees only that the ECG reading has flatlined. It doesnt know that the rest of the patients vitals, like blood pressure and oxygen saturation, are totally normal, so it makes an alarm as though the patient is having a heart attack. The point is that these are not, on their own, particularly smart devices. New IoT systems could be a boon for healthcare Both Arney and Goldman wince a little at the idea that the goal is interoperability, per se, and Arney argued that the word is merely a placeholder for something a lot more complex. The current state of affairs makes for a huge workload for hospital IT departments that are trying to take devices from dozens of different manufacturers and weave them into a useable infrastructure. Frequently, this drags third-party developers into the mix to create one-off software systems that integrate a hospitals equipment. The goals become lightening the load on IT and generally making it easier to enhance the capabilities of devices. How can you allow for hospitals and companies to assemble interoperable components and build new algorithms and apps so that we can democratize the improvements that are needed in healthcare? he asked. The alternative proposed by MD PnP an open platform that can be used to seamlessly connect devices without a lot of integration work for IT staff or the expense of hiring outside contractors makes more advanced uses of medical technology more freely available to healthcare providers that might not otherwise be able to afford it. Getting healthcare data into a more readily available format can ease the work that harried health professionals have to perform. For example, an alternative way to view alarm data other than having to look through a bank of monitoring devices to figure out which one is beeping would be more efficient and less disruptive. Or in another example, an infusion pump that would refuse to work if it was loaded with a prescription the patient is allergic to could avoid dire consequences. OpenICE and testing OpenICE, or the Open Integrated Clinical Environment, is the MD PnP labs signature accomplishment so far. Its an open-source framework that can run on any Java-capable computer (the team uses Beagleboards for its testing modules) and connect medical devices via those nodes into an information-sharing whole monitored by a Supervisor module running on a laptop or smartphone. It automates node discovery, publishing and subscription among different nodes on the network, and can translate proprietary data formats from different devices into a common language. The idea is to enable any device that outputs digital information of any type to be easily connected to a broad network of other devices. Simply by adding an OpenICE-enabled module to an existing piece of medical equipment, doctors and developers can make that piece of equipment programmable and smart, allowing it to share data among other devices on a network for access to smarter alarm functionality, for example. OpenICE is based on a prototype standard developed separately under a National Institutes of Health grant. The platform gets around the byzantine complexities of medical-device connectivity formats by integrating them via the OpenICE framework. An aging dialysis machine might be monitored remotely by using this method, for example. The MD PnP lab isnt building finished solutions. Rather, its working on a logical infrastructure that it hopes third parties can use to create smarter medical devices more easily. OpenICE is an underpinning for informatics and clinical detection apps that the team thinks will help save lives and that it hopes will fire the imaginations of healthcare innovators. Jon Gold The lab features gear that can simulate medical conditions for medical IoT devices to react to. One such rig the team calls it Randall Jones is an apparatus with a CO 2 tank hooked up to a pair of bellows that behave like human lungs, allowing the team to test ventilator equipment and other gear that monitors lung function. The fake lungs could be programmed to behave as if they had a bronchial anomaly, that a developer might use to test an app centered on early detection of lung conditions, for example. Using this type of simulated patient allows the team to make sure theyre getting realistic-looking data from medical devices for use in testing OpenICE-enabled apps. Its all about making medicine a smarter, more scientific and more evidence-based process, according to Arney. Evidence-based medicine is this radical notion that patient treatments should be based on scientific evidence, but thats hard to do in medicine. Its hard to conduct clinical studies of all these things, he said. Theres a saying that half of what you learn in medical school is wrong, but nobody knows which half. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter for Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send Sol Prendido or HEARST an email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. MONTREAL, Quebec, Aug. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sama Resources Inc. (TSXV:SME) (SME or the Company) today reports that SRG Graphite Inc. (SRG) has approved a new corporate structure. SRG appointed Mr. Raphael Beaudoin as Vice-President, Operations, Metallurgy and Process Design, Mr. Elias J. Elias as Vice-President, Legal and Corporate Affairs and Corporate Secretary, Mr. Mathieu Charette as Vice-President Finance and Corporate Controller, and Mr. Michel Labonte as General Manager of SRG Guinea. With these appointments, management and the board of directors are confident this will contribute positively to the Company as it moves closer to construction. Mr. Beaudoin graduated from McGill University in 2010 with a degree in materials engineering. Raphael worked as a plant metallurgist at the Minto Mine in the Yukon before joining the Nunavik Nickel Project for Canadian Royalties Inc. in 2012. Raphael participated in the implementation of the Nunavik Nickel concentrator as a plant metallurgist, and later secured the position of chief metallurgist, where he oversaw many strategic projects of the concentrator. Before joining SRG, Raphael worked as the concentrator superintendent also for Canadian Royalties Inc., overseeing the operations, metallurgy, maintenance and power generation of the concentrator. Mr. Elias has extensive experience in West Africa in both the mining and the energy sectors. Before joining SRG, he served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Windiga Energy Inc., a Canadian-based independent power producer. Previously, Mr. Elias was Legal Counsel at SEMAFO, a TSX-listed gold producer with significant presence in West Africa as well as with Gildan Activewear, one of the worlds largest vertically integrated manufacturers of apparel. Mr. Elias holds a civil law degree (summa cum laude) and a common law degree (cum laude) from the University of Ottawa and is a member of the Barreau du Quebec since 2007. Mr. Charette completed his bachelors degree in business administration and further continued his studies in taxation at the HEC Montreal in 2004. Mr. Charette has been a member of the Ordre des Comptables Agrees du Quebec since 2006. He has worked in a financial role with mining companies in West Africa since 2008, first as corporate controller with GoviEx Uranium Inc. and then for five years as CFO and secretary for WAI Capital Investments Corp. He has over thirteen years of experience in financial management, financial reporting, taxation, budgeting, forecasting and regulatory compliance for private and public companies within multiple jurisdictions. The appointment of Mr. Labonte as General Manager of SRG Guinea brings to the team a wealth of experience with regards to constructing and operating mines in West Africa. Mr. Labonte has over 40 years of mining experience including over 15 years at Kiena Mine, Placer Dome and a decade of experience in Africa, most notably five years as General Manager of Semafos flagship Mana mine in Burkina Faso. There, Mr. Labonte oversaw the construction, start of operations and continuous capacity building of the mine from the originally planned 2,500 tonnes per day plant to an 8,000 tonnes per day mine, as well as oversaw the operations of the mine for several years, including managing over 500 employees. Grant of Stock Options SRG also announced that, pursuant to its Stock Option Plan and subject to regulatory acceptance, it has granted an aggregate total of 2,285,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company, subject to certain vesting provisions. These options will be exercisable at a price of $1.10 per common share and will expire on August 8, 2028. About Sama Resources Inc. Sama is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with projects in West Africa. Sama holds a control position in SRG of 24,658,267 shares representing 35.54% of the issued and outstanding shares of SRG and is considered an insider for reporting purposes. For more information about Sama, please visit Samas website at http://www.samaresources.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: SAMA RESOURCES INC./RESSOURCES SAMA INC. Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO Tel: (514) 726-4158 OR Mr. Matt Johnston, Corporate Development Advisor Tel: (604) 443-3835 Toll Free: 1 (877) 792-6688, Ext. 5 Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Former Ivory Coast first lady Simone Gbagbo, freed by amnesty in Abidjan this week, will begin moves to have her case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) scrapped, her lawyer Rodrigue Dadje announced Thursday. Gbagbo, who had been serving a 20-year jail term, was released on Wednesday, two days after being amnestied by President Alassane Ouattara. The 69-year-old wife of former president Laurent Gbagbo had served seven years after being found guilty of endangering state security in connection with post-election violence that claimed around 3,000 lives in 2010-11. However she is still wanted by the ICC in The Hague, which issued a warrant for her arrest in 2012. In 2016, Ouattara said he would no longer send Ivorian nationals to the court, as the country now had a functioning justice system. Laurent Gbagbo has been in detention at the international court for seven years and has been on trial since 2016 for alleged crimes against humanity. The Gbagbos retain a groundswell of support within the Ivorian Popular Front, the party they co-founded in the 1980s but which has since split into two factions. In September, Simone Gbagbos defence team will begin a procedure at the ICC to annul the charges against her, Dadje told AFP. But the Hague court stressed that the arrest warrant against the former first lady remains in place. Any amnesty granted has no impact on the workings of the ICC, the court said in a statement. About 3,000 people died in the turmoil that swept Ivory Coasts economic capital Abidjan in the aftermath of the November 2010 presidential polls when Gbagbo refused to accept that he had been defeated by bitter rival Ouattara. Ouattara has been under pressure to foster reconciliation. The legacy of the 2010-11 conflict is still felt deeply today. On Monday the eve of the Ivory Coasts independence day Ouattara announced an amnesty not only for Simone Gbagbo but for some 800 others in the name of national reconciliation. Award-winning investigative journalist Gemma O' Doherty will be among the speakers at an event in Kilkenny next week discussing corruption in Ireland, its impact on democracy and the public good. Ms O' Doherty will headline a panel discussion entitled 'Change Makers' at St Canice's Neighbourhood Hall in the Butts on Monday, August 13 at 7.45pm-9.45pm. The other speakers are campaigners for change Seamus Maye, Anna Kavanagh and Alo Mahon. They will discuss their own battles in tackling wrongdoing at the hands of state institutions and why local communities need to stand up against corruption in all its guises in order to create a fairer society. The event is being hosted by Rhyme N' Reason -Spoken Word Events - Kilkenny City. Investigative journalist Gemma O'Doherty was very recently honoured as a hero of Irish storytelling at the Feile na Laoch in Cork. Director of Rhyme N' Reason Spoken Word Events Johnny Keenan says he believes in the whole 'old school' style of the town hall meeting. This is why he is making 'Change Makers' accessible to everyone, aged from 18 to 80. Entry to Monday's event is a recommended 5 donation to cover hall hire, posters, PA and refreshments. There will be a Q&A with the audience, and refreshments will be available afterward. For more, see Rhyme N' Reason. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Carrick Graham has sent me a response he received from the Auckland DHB to his OIA request about a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority. They decline to release the information because basically they dont like Carrick. They point to a profile saying he represents certain clients there is no public interest in releasing the information to him. This is absolutely outrageous. Imagine the precedent this sets the Government can decide who they will and will not release information to. The only criteria should be whether the documents sought should be released under the OIA, regardless of whom is asking. Apart from being an appalling decision, it is also a stupid one. It will incentivise people to not do OIA requests under their own names, but to ask others to submit for them. I hope the Ombudsman gives Auckland DHB a massive kick in the backside for this. https://www.scribd.com/document/385785500/20180613-101-OIA-Response-Ltr-C-Graham Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More Reddit Pinterest Print Tumblr Human Progress reports: In recent months, African nations have been in the process of creating, signing and ratifying the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The agreement is one of the largest trade liberalisation efforts since the founding of the World Trade Organization in 1995. Last Sunday, at the 31st African Union (AU) Summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania; the total number of AfCFTAs signatories reached 49 out of 55 African Union (AU) member states. So is free trade becoming mainstream in African politics? If all 55 AU nations ratified the proposed agreement, AfCFTA would create a trading area with 1.2 billion people and a cumulative GDP of $2.5 trillion. It aims to improve trade within the continent by immediately removing tariffs on 90 per cent of goods, with the remaining 10 per cent of tariffs on sensitive goods phasing out over time. Being able to trade freely with ones neighbours is vital for economic growth. In 2016, just 18 per cent of Africas total exports were traded within the African continent. In Europe and Asia, intra-regional trade accounted for 69 per cent and 59 per cent of total exports respectively. Under the AfCFTA, the UN Economic Commission on Africa estimates, intra-African trade could increase 52.3 per cent by 2022. It could double again, after the final 10 per cent of tariffs are removed. If adopted, the AfCFTA has the potential to revolutionise African trade and add billions to the continents GDP. The Guardian reports: The New Zealand Medical Association has called for a ban on selling alcohol in supermarkets, saying that having it next to groceries and food normalises a dangerous drug. Wine and beer have been widely available in most supermarkets around the country since 1990, although spirits can be bought only in bars and off-licences. The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) said having alcohol in supermarkets normalised the drug, and made buying it cheap and easy meaning people put a bottle of sauvignon blanc in their trolley alongside their bread, milk and toilet paper without a second thought. Yep its great. And the vast majority of those people are not the problem drinkers. Theyre parents with busy lives who appreciate being able to buy a bottle of wine to have over dinner, with their food. Jackson said allowing supermarkets to sell alcohol was an attempt to convert New Zealanders to a Mediterranean drinking culture having it available everywhere that had backfired badly. When wine came into our supermarkets in 1989 you can see this exponential growth in wine consumption we are Anglo-Saxon and you cant change cultures overnight, and having alcohol widely available did not change our culture, it harmed it. The wowsers constantly paint the liberalisation of 1989 as a disaster. But look at this data from Stats NZ about alcohol available for consumption per capita. So alcohol per capita actually declined for six years after the liberalisation. It then rose slightly from 2000 to 2010 and has been declining since then. Inconvenient facts. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More Reddit Pinterest Print Tumblr Apartments in Songpa District, Seoul, are shown in this photo. Housing prices in key areas of Seoul, including Songpa, rose steeply despite government regulations. / Yonhap Prices likely to continue on upward spiral By Yoon Ja-young Despite a series of anti-speculation measures, the government seems to have failed to curb apartment prices in key areas of Seoul. Analysts expect further increases in the latter half of the year as new apartments in Seoul have become "rare items." According to Real Estate 114, a housing market information provider, apartment prices in Seoul rose 8.61 percent in the first half of this year. That is more than double the 3.37 percent rise in the first half of the previous year as well as higher than the 6.68 percent hike in the latter half of that year. Apartment prices in upscale southern districts of Gangnam, Songpa and Seocho marked over a 9 percent increase. They are showing signs of increasing further. A 59 square-meter unit of the Mapo Raemian Prugio apartment complex in Mapo-gu, Seoul, was recently traded at 1.05 billion won ($937,500), marking a record high. Apartment prices have continued increasing during the past four weeks, especially in southern Seoul as well as in Yongsan-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu for which Seoul City has unveiled large-scale development plans. According to the Korea Appraisal Board, apartment prices in Seoul rose 0.2 percent this week, marking a steeper rise than the previous week. Yongsan-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu each saw a 0.29 percent gain, while Songpa-gu and Gangnam-gu in southern Seoul marked rises over 0.2 percent. Hong Chun-uk, investment strategy team chief at Kiwoom Securities, said the prices of apartments in key areas of Seoul started increasing rapidly. "Due to regulation, there haven't been many transactions, but those put up for sale sell immediately." According to Seoul City's data on real estate transactions, daily apartment transactions in Seoul averaged 177.6 in July, which is less than half the 466.4 average from a year ago. The monthly number of transactions averaged above 10,000 early this year, but it has been dropping ever since then. Hong explained that those who own multiple houses decided to register as home rental businesses instead of putting their properties up for sale. While the economic indices are in bad shape, he said the apartments in upscale Seoul are in another sphere. "Average prices of apartments in Seoul reached 700 million won. The self-employed are suffering, but it seems that conglomerate workers are the main consumers of these apartments. Companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and S-Oil marked their biggest operating profits last year, and their salaries rose as a result," the analyst said. "These companies are expecting to set new records on profits this year. Those who work for these conglomerates can expect to have more purchasing power, and they thus sign contracts to buy expensive apartments." He pointed to polarization among workers. "Though the number of newly added jobs fell to around 100,000, the number of quality jobs, or the jobs for regular workers who get social insurance, increased by 300,000. "Those with decent jobs had expected real estate prices to fall, but it didn't happen. Now they have determined they should not wait for a plunging housing market and lose another chance." Koreans have faith in apartments as an investment tool. According to KB Financial Group Research Center, rich people in the country who have over 1 billion won in financial assets increased the ratio of real estate in their investment portfolio to 53.3 percent from 52.2 percent last year, while decreasing financial assets to 42.3 percent from 44.2 percent. "But now it is becoming an issue that raises concern all across the automobile industry and more automakers are enhancing their efforts to prevent defects." Lack of policy coordination Discord between the central government and local government is also triggering a further increase. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, for instance, pulled up the price of the Jinju Apartment Complex in Yeouido, Seoul, by nearly 500 million won in only five months by presenting development blueprints of Yeouido, nullifying the government's efforts to stabilize housing prices. Hong said the government's anti-speculation measure was not a failure. "Without such policies, housing prices would have increased even more." The rosy outlook, however, is limited to Seoul. "During the past three years, a record high number of homes have been built. There is increasing concern of the supply surpassing the demand, especially in the provinces," said Kim Soo-hyung, a researcher at Hyundai Research Institute. Analysts thus expect polarization in housing markets. Those in the provinces will mostly be stagnant, especially in areas where key industries were hit. "Those seeing shrinking automobile and shipbuilding industries, such as in Ulsan, Geoje, Changwon and Busan, will especially see sluggish markets," Hong said. While increasing supply can stabilize the market, there wasn't sufficient supply of new apartments in key areas of Seoul while high-income households increasingly want those. They are becoming "rare items." "Unless the government announces massive supply plans, it wouldn't be able to pressure the market down," Hong said, pointing out that this can't be done in the short term. Analysts expect the government may come up with further anti-speculative measures, including a key rate hike. "It can designate more anti-speculation zones, or scrap tax exemptions on those who own only one house. There are many regulations that the government can think of, and I expect there will be more to come," Hong said. Lim Byung-chul, senior researcher at Real Estate 114, meanwhile, said that the overall market will slow down in the latter half of the year. "In the case of key southern districts, the government regulation restricts homeowners' gains from reconstruction of their old apartments. The possibility of a key rate hike and concerns about the oversupply of new apartments mean there won't be as a steep an increase as seen during the past three years." He said the government will likely further stabilize the market through strengthened taxation and financial regulations. "As the land minister mentioned, there will likely come further regulations anytime the market shows signs of overheating." Cleveland State Community College will host a site review for continuing accreditation of its Associate Degree Nursing Program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The public is invited to meet the site visit team and share comments about the program in person at a meeting scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Cleveland State Community College in the Johnson Auditorium. Written comments are also welcome and should be submitted directly to: Dr. Marsal Stoll, Chief Executive Officer, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326; or e-mail: mstoll@acenursing.org. All written comments should be received by the ACEN by Sept. 20. hch. Students these days are growing more mature then one can imagine. As they are competing and excelling in both education and co-curricular activities, they even strive to understand societal responsibilities. In a recent major move, a class 10 student from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, stands as an inspiration after supporting the states prisoners, who have served their term in jail but are still behind the bar as they could not pay the required fine. He turned 14 this year and decided to free 14 such prisoners on Independence Day by donating his scholarship amount. These Students' Success Stories Proves Where There is Will, There is Way. Ayush Kishore, a 2016 National Child Awardee for exceptional achievement in academics, felicitated by then President Pranab Mukherjee, decided to release 12 convicts from Indore jail and two from Bhopal; all murderers. In fact, TOI reported that on Republic Day, this year, he had secured the release of four such prisoners. Ayush has achieved several scholarships during his school tenure for being an all-rounder. He had also won gold medals in several national and international competitions. Ayush was quoted in the same report, The joy of helping in the release of four prisoners in January this year cant be put in words. They were so happy to meet their families. Their joy served as inspiration for me. I decided to help more such prisoners. I met a prisoner who had completed his punishment two years ago, but was still in jail. Seeing him I decided to help as many as I could. Many of them had fines of Rs 6,000. Ayush is also in the Limca Book of Records for winning the Aloha International Arithmetic Competition. It was Ayushs mother who motivated him seeing his childs interest in helping people. The 14-year-old will contribute Rs. 27,850 towards the prisoners' fine who are serving an additional term for not being able to pay the amount. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2018 10:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, Aug 10: India and Nepal have agreed to enhance cooperation and coordination between their border guarding forces and emphasised timely sharing of information between their forces on trans-border crime and criminal activities, a statement from Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) said on Friday. The decision was taken at a three-day 3rd India-Nepal Coordination meeting that began on August 8. The Indian delegation was led by SSB Director General Rajni Kant Mishra and a seven-member Nepalese team was headed by Shailendra Khanal, Inspector General of Nepal Armed Police Force. The meeting was held at the south Delhi-based headquarters of the SSB -- the 94,000-strong paramilitary force mandated to guard 1,751 km India-Nepal and 699 km India-Bhutan borders. "The main aim of the meeting was to enhance mutual cooperation and coordination between the border guarding forces. Both sides discussed various issues covering prevailing border situation, trans-border crimes, human trafficking for maintaining sanctity and security of the international border," said the statement. Both sides agreed to continue holding regular coordination meetings at all levels, it said. "The two forces discussed security scenario along the border and emphasized timely sharing of information between them on trans-border crime and criminal activities," said the statement. The Nepalese delegation was on official visit from August 7 to 10. On the first day, the Nepalese delegation met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and discussed joint patrolling, common training of armed forces' officers and regular border meetings. Appreciating the coordination between India and Nepal, the visiting delegation emphasised the need for periodic coordination meetings and common training courses for armed police officers of the two countries. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2018 06:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Ghazni, Aug 10: At least 16 people were killed as the Taliban launched a brazen attack on the strategic Afghan city of Ghazni in the early hours of Friday, seizing a number of key buildings and trading fire with security forces. Afghan soldiers fought back as the heavily-armed militants converged from four sides of the city. Ghazni public health director Zahir Shah Nikmall confirmed the toll and said at least 40 people were injured, the majority of them Afghan security forces, CNN reported. The clashes, according to provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal, erupted after hundreds of Taliban insurgents stormed important government entities including National Directorate for Security (Afghanistan's Inteligence Agency) and provincial governor's office. The militants later retreated from their positions and operations were underway to wipe out militants from in and around the city, said Mashal. Ghazni, the capital of the province of the same name, is less than 100 miles to the south of Kabul. It lies on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, an important artery connecting the capital to the country's southern provinces and some of its western ones. American forces responded with attack helicopters and a drone strike, according to US Forces Afghanistan spokesman Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that hundreds of fighters armed with heavy and light weapons entered Ghazni city around 1 a.m., capturing a number of strategic sites within the city and killing more than 140 Afghan soldiers. However, the US disputed that figure, saying initial reports indicated there were "minimal Afghan security force casualties". Afghanistan called the attack a "failed attempt" to seize territory "while creating strategically inconsequential headlines". The Ghazni attack was the second assault on an Afghan city this year. In May, insurgents overran the western city of Farah, but they left a day later amid counterattacks from the Afghan government and American airstrikes. Friday's assault could imperil any chances of a potential ceasefire between the government and Taliban for the Eid ul-Adha festival in less than two weeks time. Earlier, seven people were killed in Kabul in a suicide attack on a ministry in June, and a further 14 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport in July. The ongoing violence came amid the release of a UN report stating the number of Afghan civilians killed in the first six months of this year has reached a record high. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2018 08:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Saudi Arabia led air-strikes killed over 25 children in Yemen. A horrific tragedy but which was not the first seen by the besieged nation in its five year war between Houthi rebels and an elected but exiled government backed by Sunni countries of the Middle East. The conflict in Yemen has escalated dramatically since March 2015, when Saudi Arabia and eight other mostly Sunni Arab states - backed by the U.S., UK, and France - began air strikes against the Houthis, with the declared aim of restoring Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi's government. However, factionalism within the warring sides has led to a stalemate but the Saudi-led coalition fears that continued success of the Houthis would give their rival regional power and Shia-majority state, Iran, a foothold in Yemen. Saudi Arabia says Iran is backing the Houthis with weapons and logistical support - a charge Tehran denies. Why is Yemen being called the Forgotten War? - The stalemate has produced an unrelenting humanitarian crisis, with at least 8.4 million people at risk of starvation. - 22.2 million people - 75% of the population - in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN. - More than 50,000 children are believed to have died in Yemen in 2017, according to Save the Children. Severe acute malnutrition is threatening the lives of almost 4,00,000 children under the age of five in 2018. - The world's largest cholera outbreak more than 1 million suspected cholera cases reported last year and more than 2,230 associated deaths, according to the World Health Organization. - Some 15.7 million Yemenis lack access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation services, according to the ICRC. - Some 16.4 million Yemenis lack access to adequate health care, according to the UN. Since the start of the war, Human Rights Watch has documented 87 apparently unlawful attacks by the Saudi-led coalition, some of which may amount to war crimes, killing nearly 1,000 civilians and hitting homes, markets, hospitals, schools, and mosques. With the U.S. backing the Saudi-coalitions attacks in Yemen, there is no answer to when this war will end. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2018 06:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Los Angeles After workers at Fullerton Pacific Interiors Inc., complained about After workers at Fullerton Pacific Interiors Inc., complained about California labor law violations to the non-profit Carpenters Contractors Cooperation Committee, the California Labor Commissioners Office stepped in. Investigators found that the drywall company paid a daily rate that didnt include overtime hours or rest breaks and 28 workers were not even paid minimum wage. Fullerton was fined nearly $2million for wage theft violations. The $2 Million Fine Drywall Wage Theft Rampant California Wage Theft Increasing The work included taping and drywall installation at hotels, recreation centers and casino projects in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties between August 2014 and June 2016. According to the citation, Fullerton failed to properly compensate 472 workers for rest periods and 289 workers were not paid for overtime, along with other wage violations. California state Labor Commissioner Julie Su said in a statement that, In construction, unscrupulous contractors attempt to obscure their wage theft by paying workers a flat rate rather than for all hours worked. But a daily or other flat rate system does not take the place of minimum wage and overtime obligations.This is how the wage theft fine was calculated. $1,892,279 payable to the workers was broken down as follows: $798,664 for rest period violations. Most workers in California are entitled to a paid 10-minute break for every four hours worked, or paid for an extra hour at their regular rate. Fullertons workers were allowed a 30-minute lunch hour but did not receive rest breaks. $386,685 for unpaid overtime. $692,500 for wage statement violations. $14,431 for the unpaid wages, liquidated damages and waiting time penalties. Workers paid less than minimum wage are entitled to liquidated damages that equal the unpaid wage plus interest. There are also penalties for waiting times that are calculated based on taking the employees wages and multiplying it by the days they waited for compensation, at a maximum of 30 days. $72,400 civil penalty: The company would also be on the hook for civil penalties of $50 per work day for the initial violation, which increases to $100 for subsequent pay periods.According to, "Wage theft" is the umbrella term for when contractors intentionally underpay their employees, and it is not uncommon in California.Just last month a San Diego drywall contractor was fined for wage theft violations. And in January 2018 West Coast Drywall and Company Inc., in Riverside was fined almost $1 million for overtime violations . The Wage and Hour Division of the California Labor Commissioner's Office found that the drywall company paid the employees only piece rates when they worked beyond 40 hours in a week. (Employees paid on a piece rate are compensated per unit they produce and are eligible for overtime when they work more than 40 hours per week.) The company also failed to pay employees for time spent attending required monthly safety.It would seem that not much has changed with drywall contractors since the Southern California drywall strike back in 1992. Mexican drywall employees petitioned for fair wages and health insurance, despite the threat of deportation and arrest. The workers aligned with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and contractors were forced to pay their Mexican workers with wages and benefits closer to that of the white workers. Wages increased from $300 a week upwards of $500 a week, but after the strike employers made it clear that while they were signing contracts the industry remained an open shop where non-union workers could still participate, according to Wikipedia.Labor activist organizations Good Jobs First and Jobs With Justice in June 2018 reported that more than half of the wage-theft cases brought against U.S. corporations since 2000 originated in California. In that time, corporations paid $8.8 million to settle these disputes.The report, titled Grand Theft Paycheck: The Large Corporations Shortchanging Their Workers' Wages includes detailed analysis of court records concerning wage and hour lawsuits as well as federal and selected state enforcement data shows that a wide range of large corporations have paid out billions of dollars in wage theft settlements, verdicts and fines. Many of the large corporations are repeat offenders, and 450 firms have each paid out $1 million or more in settlements and/or judgments.In another study conducted by the University of California, researchers found that rates of wage theft are higher in California than in other urban centers like Chicago and New York, possibly because California companies tend to rely on complicated nets of contractors and subcontractors to evade detection. Andreports that wage theft impacts one in six California construction workers. BMW to cancel 3 Series GT? Aug 10, 2018, 3:31am ET The 4 Series Gran Coupe will live on, though. Sources within BMW have allegedly confirmed what everyone suspected: the controversial 3 Series Gran Turismo will retire without a direct successor. The 4 Series Gran Coupe will survive, however. Citing anonymous insiders, enthusiast website BMW Blog reports production of the 3 Series GT (pictured) will end in July of 2020. It won't get a replacement because it's not popular enough in key markets like Europe, North America, and Asia. Its design remains controversial and it's largely overshadowed by the standard 3 Series sedan, the 3 Series station wagon, and the 4 Series Gran Coupe. Speaking of the 4 Series, the model is popular enough to merit a replacement and the second-generation model is already in the works. It will again share many of its mechanical components with the 3 Series while offering a sportier design. The spacious hatchback configuration and the frame-less doors will both return to help it compete against the newest Audi A5 Sportback. BMW Blog adds production of the current-generation 4 Series Gran Coupe is scheduled to end in 2020. Its replacement won't arrive until 2021 at the earliest, meaning BMW will have a gap in its line-up for about a year. The Munich-based brand hasn't commented on the rumor so we'll have to wait to find out what the future holds for its 3 and 4 Series off-shoots. Toyota planning hybrid Corolla hot hatch? Aug 10, 2018, 1:07am ET It could get all-wheel drive, too. In April, Toyota hinted its performance push could include a hot-rodded version of the Corolla Hatch (pictured) it introduced for the 2019 model year. One of the company's top officials recently suggested the Volkswagen GTI-fighting model could arrive as a hybrid. Yasushi Ueda, the Corolla's chief engineer, told Australian website Drive the idea of a hot hatch powered by a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain "sounds very good." While that's far from a confirmation, it's not a flat-out denial, either. The model would fit Toyota's push to build more enthusiast-friendly cars while channeling its decades-long expertise in the realm of hybrid cars. "We don't have any detailed plans yet. Of course, in the future the idea of a hot hybrid sounds very good," he summed up. While he didn't provide specific technical details, he added a hot-rodded Corolla Hatch could arrive with all-wheel drive because it's built on Toyota's modular TNGA platform. In this configuration, the four-cylinder engine would spin the front wheels while the electric motor would zap the rear wheels into motion. The model hasn't received the green light for production yet. If it does, it won't arrive until 2020 at the very earliest, according to an earlier report. It wouldn't be Toyota's only high-performance hybrid. Eager to capitalize on its recent win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the company is busily developing a hybrid variant of the born-again Supra it designed jointly with BMW. Photography by Ronan Glon. A Bethlehem man who owned a combined million images and videos of child pornography was sent to state prison Friday. Northampton County Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden sent 44-year-old Damian Allen to state prison for five to 10 years, according to court records. He'll serve six years of probation once his parole expires, records say. Allen pleaded guilty in May to 100 counts of child pornography possession, court records say. He was charged in September 2017, records say. Online records list his address as Royersford, Pa., but he lived in Bethlehem at the time of the crime, according to Deputy Attorney General Michelle Laucella. She prosecuted the case. Allen said he collected the images and videos over a period of years, according to Laucella. He said he worked as a liquor buyer for Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, according to Laucella. Most of his collection consisted of videos, Laucella said. Allen must register as a sex offender for 15 years, she said. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. A Bethlehem man who thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl for sex wound up meeting police instead. Now Terrance Hostetter will spend the next four to eight years in state prison. The 54-year-old was sentenced Friday by Northampton County Judge Anthony Beltrami. "I'm sorry. I took full responsibility," Hostetter told the judge. He arranged to meet a girl Dec. 8 in the 400 block of Wyandotte Street in Bethlehem for sex, records say. Defense attorney Ed Andres said Hostetter is eager to begin sex offender treatment. "He does feel guilt and shame about his behavior that night," Andres said. Hostetter has a criminal record dating back to the 1980s, but none of those crimes are comparable to the ones he pleaded guilty to in April, Andres said. He pleaded guilty to attempted statutory sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor. Hostetter is one of five men arrested in a sting conducted by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office. Each of the five men solicited young girls for sex, records say. Clifford Jones, 53, of Bethlehem, was sentenced July 31 to three to six years in state prison for attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child under 16. Brandon Lee Souders, of Salisbury Township, pleaded guilty in April to criminal attempted statutory sexual assault by a person eight to 11 years older. He is awaiting sentencing. Victor Cueto, of Allentown, pleaded guilty April 26 to unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a communication facility. He is awaiting sentencing. Robert Andrew Saultz is awaiting trial on charges of attempted indecent assault, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, attempted statutory sexual assault, criminal use of a communication facility, and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Gardai have arrested two males morning in connection with the use of a skimming device on a bank ATM. The Kildare Gardai, supported by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, Harcourt Square, had been working closely with a major Irish financial institution in an attempt to intercept the criminals involved. Gardai says the arrests were made following an operation in Kildare town on Thursday, August 9. Gardai say they believe that the skimming could be linked to an Eastern European criminal organisation and the arrests are seen as a significant development in this case which involved the targeting of eight different bank branches in Dublin, Kildare and Meath. It is claimed that the skimming devices and credit cards were recovered at the scene of the arrests in Blanchardstown. The two males, in their 30's, are being held at Newbridge and Kildare Garda Stations under Section 4 of The Criminal Justice Act where they will be interviewed in relation to their criminal activities. Speaking today Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Lordan of Garda National Economic Crime Bureau said Gardai are working on a daily basis with the financial institutions to prevent fraud. "I would again like to stress the importance of being vigilant in all your financial dealings. Pay particular attention to suspicious activity or unusual items in the vicinity of ATMs, he said. A huge 2,850 was raised in honour of a little Abbeyleix girl for the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland charity. A number of Laois businesses organised a fundraising drive for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland (SBHI) in honour of Lucy Hutchinson. Five year old Lucy, who is a daughter of Maura and Aubrey Hutchinson, has Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. Lucy recently graduated from The Childrens House Montessori in Abbeyleix and a cake sale at the graduation led by the owner Margaret Bergin and staff was the beginning of a number of fundraisers for the Irish charity. Tom Scott, the CEO of SBHI will be presented with a cheque of over 2200 from the Children's House and another of 650 from Mark Williams Butchers. The cheque presentation was made in Abbeyleix on Tuesday, August 7. A bucket collection, raffle and other events were also held to raise funds. Lucys mother, Maura, said the family has linked in with the charity in the past but they are really preparing for when Lucy needs the charity's services in the future. We met other parents and Lucy has met other children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. SBHI provide a family support worker to anyone who needs their services. The different branches also help toward funding any extra equipment where possible. We are thinking down the line for Lucy when she will need respite breaks in her teens, she said. Margaret Bergin at The Childrens House in Abbeyleix and staff have been the driving force behind the fundraisers. The Montessori does a fundraiser every year and this year chose SBHI as Lucy was graduating and moving on to big school Scoil Mhuire in Abbeyleix in September. WATCH: Portlaoise busker goes viral and lands local gig. Healthcare company B Braun is set to create up to 20 jobs in Portlaoise with the announcement of plans to build a Renal Care Centre in Portlaoise. This comes as the company recently applied to Laois County Council for planning permission to build the facility. B Braun says the new kidney dialysis centre in Portlaoise will ease the burdens of travel and cost for patients who currently go to Tullamore or South Dublin for treatment. The medical centre will be located in the Lismard Business Park in Portlaoise. As part of the HSE tender process a patient mapping exercise took place, which determined the need for a satellite haemodialysis clinic in the region. Wellstone Midlands Renal Care Centre is being developed on a green field site, will be 800m squared and at full capacity, will care for 60 patients. Braun says 'travel time and cost for patients will be significantly reduced for those currently travelling to Tullamore and South County Dublin for treatment'. Liam Ferguson is the Regional Head Western Europe at B Braun Avitum. Our Model of Dialysis Care places the needs of the patient centre stage and recognises the relationship between the staffing model and improved patient outcomes. We are able to transfer our core beliefs into meaningful outcomes, improving patients lives and making their care more efficient," he said. The development of this unit will increase the number of B Braun Renal Care Centres in Ireland to three, including the long established Wellstone Clinic Galway, Co Galway and the Wellstone Wexford Renal Care Centre, Co Wexford which opened in January 2018. B Braun Avitum operates in more than 350 centres in over 30 countries around the world. The company employs 62,000 staff in 64 countries. In 2017, the Group generated 6.789 billion in sales. See the 3D visualisation of plans for the building below. Credit to McLoughlin Architecture. Sadness in Laois at death of accordion bandmaster's daughter. A Newbridge man has been sentenced to prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of possession of heroin. Martin Sheridan, 32, with an address listed as Peter McVerry Trust House, Eyre Street, Newbridge, was searched by Gardai on July 27, 2017 at College Park, Newbridge and found to be in possession of diamorphine. On June 21 of this year Gardai responded to a call from staff at Dunnes Stores, Moorefield, Newbridge that two males were in the toilet. Gardai found Mr Sheridan there, and in possession of what they described as 12 deal bags containing heroin. He was arrested and made admissions, Judge Miriam Walsh was told. Mr Sheridan has 30 previous convictions including for trespassing, drugs offences, handling stolen property, theft and criminal damage. Representing him, at Naas District Court yesterday, Thursday, August 9, David Gibbons said that his client is 32 years old and was fully cooperative with arresting Gardai. He is somebody who has had issues with drugs since he was a teenager, Mr Gibbons explained. He added he has two children, the oldest of whom has health difficulties. He is a good father, Mr Gibbons said, adding that he had been off drugs since entering custody and that he looked better as a result. He said that his client was expecting a custodial sentence and that he hoped to engage with drug rehabilitation while there. He hopes to make the most of this time there, he said. Judge Walsh sentenced the defendant to a total of five months. A man was arrested on Sunday, August 5 last, on the Dublin Road, Kildare town after he was spotted shouting and roaring and fighting, according to Gardai. James Kerrigan, 24, with an address listed as 30 Parnell Green, Ladyswell Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, was highly intoxicated and had his shirt off Judge Miriam Walsh was told at Naas District Court last Thursday, August 9. Mr Kerrigan has one previous conviction only, for criminal damage, his barrister Keith Brannigan told the court. The 24 year old is married with four children, three of whom are triplets. He was on a visit to Kildare town and was assaulted while walking home, and was upset, Mr Brannigan said. His time in custody following the incident was a first for him, counsel explained. He was asking the court to the leniant, he added, and was willing to engage in community service. Judge Walsh proposed that the defendant pay a total of 350 to Naas Hospice by October 17 next, or face fines and the matter was adjourned until then. Firmount House, in Clane, which will begin focusing on weddings and yoga retreats from next year, is running a number of events in August and September including a brief tour during Heritage week. It starts with a supper hosted by Newbridge based Ballymaloe chef, Peter Lee, this Saturday, August 11. Just over a year ago on July 12, 2017, Eilin OCarroll and her husband, David, opened the new cafe after starting refurbishments to the historic Firmount House in Clane. SEE ALSO:Plans lodged for ten new Clane homes The couple bought the six bedroom house from the Department of Defence five and a half years ago. The plan has been to involve community, Eilin told the Leader at the time, and they are working towards that. Firmount is located on the Millicent Road to Sallins, just 1.2km from Firmount Cross on the Clane-Prosperous road. This Saturday, Ballymaloe chef Peter Lee from Kinneagh Kitchen, will host a supper. It is idea for people to get to know one another, said Eilin. The supper revolves around fresh organic food, locally produced. On August 18, it is running a truffle making workshop with Bean and Goose from Wexford. That morning there is free tour of the historic house, which has been a part of Irelands preparations for a nuclear war. On September 8, it is running a style and make up workshop with Laura and Kabira, who run two independent businesses in makeup and fashion respectively. Every Saturday and Sunday, in good weather, Firmount runs Tai Chi and Yoga sessions for 5. Eilin said: The core of these events revolves around working with local artisans and helping Irish businesses as well as bringing people together in a healthy environment. Firmount itself will be focusing on weddings and yoga retreats from next year when we finish the renovation of the first floor, she said. More information from www.firmounthouse.com Kildare Gardai arrested two men in Blanchardstown this morning in connection with the use of a skimming device on a bank ATM in Kildare town yesterday. The Kildare Gardai, supported by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, Harcourt Square, had been working closely with a major Irish financial institution in an attempt to intercept the criminals involved, according to gardai. It is thought that these criminals form part of an Eastern European criminal organisation and the arrests are seen as a significant development in this case which involved the targeting of eight different bank branches in Dublin, Kildare and Meath, said a Garda statement. Skimming devices and credit cards were recovered at the scene of the arrests. The two males, in their 30s, are being held at Newbridge and Kildare Garda Stations under Section 4 of The Criminal Justice Act. Gardai have warned members of the public to be vigilant when taking money out of ATMs. "Gardai are working on a daily basis with the financial institutions to prevent fraud. I would again like to stress the importance of being vigilant in all your financial dealings. Pay particular attention to suspicious activity or unusual items in the vicinity of ATMs, said Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Lordan of Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. TWO serial offenders who attacked two men were identified and apprehended after an off-duty garda photographed them on his mobile phone, a court has heard. Gerard Martin, aged 28, who has an address at Ballyclough, Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston and Gerard Curtin, aged 37, who has an address at Railway House, Old Cork Road, had each pleaded guilty to charges relating to an incident at Mount Kennett, Dock Road, on August 23, 2017. During a sentencing hearing before the summer vacation, Limerick Circuit Court was told there were two incidents which happened at around 11pm. In the first incident, Gerard Curtin grabbed and held a friend of theirs while Gerard Martin searched his pockets. Detective Garda Neil OGorman said nothing was found and that the defendants then targeted a second person a short time later. On this occasion, he said, they escaped with around 90 in cash. Both victims, he told the court, were threatened they would be stabbed and Judge Tom ODonnell was told an off-duty gardai who came upon the incident took photos of the culprits on his phone before alerting colleagues. While neither incident was captured on CCTV, Detective Garda OGorman said footage was obtained which placed Martin and Curtin in the general area around the time of the offences. While the victims were not physically injured, John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, said they were traumatised. Neither, he added, had prepared a victim impact statement for the court. Judge ODonnell noted both defendants have previous convictions and that both have difficulties with alcohol and drugs. In the case of Martin, he noted he was on bail in relation to another offence at the time and that his engagement with the Probation Service has not been satisfactory. He accepted the admissions and guilty pleas were important as any trial could have been extremely difficult to prosecute. The judge also accepted that both men have been making efforts in prison to address their addiction issues. He imposed four year prison sentences in relation to each of the robbery charges, suspending the final 12 months. In the case of Gerard Curtin the sentence was back-dated to last September. He directed that Gerard Martins sentence be served consecutively to an 18 month prison sentence which was imposed in relation to a separate charge arising from a brawl at Mungret Street on October 18, 2016. Judge ODonnell directed that each of the defendants remain under the care, supervision and direction of the Probation Service for 12 months following their release from prison. I AM dreading the last week, Knocklong postmistress Majella Ryan admitted this week when it emerged her post office is to close on August 31. I am dreading saying goodbye to my customers. It is part of my life for 37 years. It has been sometimes frightening but always rewarding, added the woman who has survived three armed robberies. I tell my customers I have been ducking bullets for 37 years, she joked. Ms Ryan is closing because she has opted to apply for and accept An Posts exit package This package, worked out between An Post and Irish Postmasters Union last April, was offered to 390 small offices nationally and 18 in Limerick. But, according to a list leaked to the media last week after the deadline for applications had passed, just five offices in Limerick asked to avail of the deal: Knocklong, Kilbehenny, Dromkeen, Athea and Mungret. However, that list may be incomplete as the Leader has learned of at least one other post office about to close. Meanwhile, postmistress Mary McKenna, who began her working life in Dromkeen post office 50 years ago, does not yet know her fate. She too applied for the package but looked for an extension of a number of years. This, she was told, was not possible. Now, she is hoping against hope that An Post will allow her to see the year out and to serve her customers at Christmas for the last time. But she is still waiting for a response from An Post. I dont classify this as a job, she said, explaining that she began on the switchboard in 1968 before taking over as postmistress from her mother 41 years ago. I have the nicest customers here, she continued. I am just mad about them and I do tell them I appreciate them. Friday is the big day at Dromkeen P.O. Ms McKenna explained. It is just lovely. I leave chairs out in the yard and people sit down and have a chat. People here are so homely. Yet, while business in small offices such as Dromkeen and others, has been on the decline the surprise may be that so few of the 18 targeted for closure in Limerick opted for the exit package. Last week, Anna McHugh, a spokeswoman for An Post, declined a request for a full list of the post offices that will close in Limerick. The company, she explained the day after applications closed, needed to assess those applications in light of a commitment from An Post that no community of 500 would be left without an office and that every citizen would be within 15 kilometres of a post office. She also said that new post offices were likely to open. Meanwhile, reports Nick Rabbitts, Mayor of Limerick City and County James Collins has highlighted the need for a continued service in Mungret. Theres going to be huge need for continued use of a post office in Mungret, even more so when all the developments start, he said Fianna Fails Niall Collins has called on An Post to advertise for new operators where offices are to close, arguing that they have a public service obligation to fulfil. Unfortunately when a post office is lost to a town or a village, when it's gone, it's gone forever. It seems to be a crazy decision to close it down when all the development is coming very quickly, he said. PLANNING permission is to be sought for the retention of a concrete wall at a construction site which is at the centre of a legal dispute. Limerick City and County Council has been granted an extension of an interim injunction halting any unauthorised construction works at the site at Ballycummin, Raheen. Since the matter first came before Limerick Circuit Court in April, officials from the local authority have been monitoring the activities of workers at the site amid concerns that a Dale Farm-type scenario might develop. Ellen Cawley of Toppins Field Halting Site, has been granted planning permission to build a two-storey house at the site. But it is the councils contention that additional unauthorised works were carried out in the weeks before the injunction proceedings were initiated. In late April, during an ex-parte application (one-side only) Pat Quinn BL, instructed by solicitor Will Leahy, told Judge Francis Comerford the council was concerned it could be faced with a Dale Farm type scenario if the order was not granted. Members of the armed Regional Support Unit accompanied council officials to the site a number of days later as they personally served workers with copies of the court order as per Judge Comerfords instructions. In an email which was sent to councillors about the matter a Limerick City and County Council official stated it would monitor the site over the coming weeks to see if the injunction prohibiting works is complied with. During a review of the case before the summer vacation, Judge John Hannan was told works are to be carried out to address some of the councils concerns including the removal of a mobile home and shed from the site. The matter was adjourned to October. THE RESCUE of a horse in Rhebogue, that got stuck in the mud, has made international news. Fox News reported on the local rescue effort, which ended happily last Friday evening when the mare was pulled from a mud pond. Fox News is one of the most high-profile news sources in the world, and has been endorsed by president Donald Trump. The story of the mares rescue was tweeted to Foxs almost 18 million followers, potentially making her the most famous animal in Ireland for 15 minutes, at least. The good work of Limerick Animal Welfare was highlighted in the Fox article, after the story was originally reported online by the Limerick Leader. Limerick Animal Welfare received the call from locals and, despite it being out-of-hours, volunteers and kind local horse owners showed up with ropes and straps to help pull the mare out. She was submerged up to her neck in muck, and unable to pull herself out. LAW thanked those who helped, including their tireless volunteer Anna Gallagher and the Clarkes, Reillys, Eddie ODoherty, and all the boys that came to help and brought ropes and straps. They all worked together to pull the mare free from the mud. Equine vet Paraic McNamara also attended, and antibiotics were administered to the mare. Her owner then took her home to be stabled and watched over to ensure she would make a full recovery, said LAW. Volunteer Anna Gallagher, who works with young people in the Horse Education Limerick Project Southside, said that the mare is in good condition and is a well-cared for horse. The animal was grazing on land that the owner rents, when it got into difficulty in a pond in the field. The owner has now taken the mare home to continue to care for her as she was suffering from shock and antibiotics will be administered for a week to ensure infection doesn't set in, said Ms Gallagher. Well done to all those urban horse owners and a huge thank you for coming out to assist in this mares rescue. Many of those who left comments online congratulated the everyday heroes who helped save the horse. The Rubberbandits also tweeted a photograph of the horse. An American Fox viewer wrote: I thank God that all of you were in the right place at the right time and saved that horse. You are wonderful... Thank you so much. A smartphone app for preventing pregnancy has just become the first of its kind to receive marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but some experts are wary. The app, called Natural Cycles, is essentially a high-tech version of the so-called rhythm method, also known as fertility awareness. It uses an algorithm to calculate the days of the month when a woman is most likely to be fertile and tells a woman to abstain from sex or to use protection (such as condoms) on these days. The app requires that women take their temperature every morning, using a sensitive thermometer called a basal body thermometer, and enter the measurement into the app. These thermometers which are provided to women who sign up for a yearly subscription to the app can detect slight increases in body temperature around the time of ovulation. This data, along with information about a woman's menstrual cycle and factors such as how long sperm can survive in the woman's reproductive tract, is used to determine whether a woman is fertile, Natural Cycles says. (Typically, a woman can get pregnant on only about four or five days each month, according to the FDA.) Consumers are increasingly using digital health technologies to inform their everyday health decisions, and this new app can provide an effective method of contraception if it's used carefully and correctly," Dr. Terri Cornelison, assistant director for the health of women in the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement released today (Aug. 10). "But women should know that no form of contraception works perfectly, so an unplanned pregnancy could still result from correct usage of this device." [Are You Pregnant? 10 Early Signs of Pregnancy] Outside experts, however, are wary of using an app for pregnancy prevention. "I don't feel that it can reliably take the place of [other] contraceptive method[s]," said Dr. Taraneh Shirazian, a gynecologist at NYU Langone Health. "I wouldn't encourage women to rush and use this app" until more research has been done on it, she said. The company has done its own studies involving 15,570 women who used the app for an average of eight months, according to the FDA statement. If women used the app perfectly, meaning exactly as directed, about 2 in 100 women would get pregnant over the course of a year, the studies found. However, during a year of "typical use," which accounts for women sometimes not using the app as directed (for example, by having unprotected sex on a "fertile day"), about 7 in 100 women would get pregnant. That would mean Natural Cycles is about as effective as birth control pills, which have a 9 percent failure rate during a year of typical use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And it would mean that the app is more effective than traditional fertility-awareness-based methods (such as basal-body-temperature monitoring without an app, or the calendar method), which have a failure rate of around 24 percent. But Shirazian told Live Science that before comparisons can be made to other forms of birth control, there should be studies that compare the app head-to-head with other forms of birth control. Dr. Nathaniel DeNicola, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, told Live Science in 2017 that research on other methods of contraception goes back decades, while data on the effectiveness of Natural Cycles comes from just a few studies. Still, Shirazian said many women are using apps to track their period and to estimate when they are fertile because they want to become pregnant. "I definitely think that there's a place for apps in terms of tracking fertility," she said. The app is already approved in Europe. However, in July, the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority said it was investigating the app's marketing after reports that women became pregnant while using it, according to The Guardian. And the app is also being investigated in Sweden after 37 women who used the app said they became pregnant. However, Natural Cycles co-founder Raoul Scherwitzl told Business Insider in January that he wasn't surprised by the news out of Sweden, because the app is not 100 percent effective. "Just like with the pill, you have scenarios where women take the pill every day" and it's as reliable as possible and "scenarios where they don't take it every day" and the reliability decreases," Scherwitzl told Business Insider. Natural Cycles says that, on average, users of the app receive about 10 "red days" each month, meaning they should abstain from sex or use protection. (The rest of the days are "green days," when the app says it's OK to have sex without protection.) Women may have more "red days" when they start using the app and fewer as the app gets to know their menstrual cycle. According to the company, the app is recommended for women ages 20 to 40 who are in a stable relationship and are comfortable using protection on fertile days and taking their temperature in the morning. Women should not use Natural Cycles if they are currently using hormonal birth control or if they have a medical condition in which becoming pregnant may lead to a significant risk for her or her fetus, according to the FDA. The app does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Original article on Live Science. Logistics companies set to withdraw from country due to fear of legal consequences, despite attempts by Europe to support the JCPOA International freight forwarding and logistics firms look set to withdraw from business with Iran due to tightening US sanctions and fears about their legal consequences, despite attempts by Europe to support the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that lifted UN nuclear sanctions on Iran in January 2016. Although some freight and logistics companies have declined to comment on whether they were continuing to pursue their business in Iran since the launch of second-phase US sanctions this week, and others said they were closely watching the situation, one medium-sized firm that had set up a UK-Iranian joint venture freight forwarding business in 2016 confirmed to Lloyds Loading List that the entity is now dormant, and will remain so until it is possible to undertake business with Iran in a manner and at a time when it becomes possible to do so lawfully. Given the current sanctions, which the company said it was 100% compliant with, we will not undertake any business with Iran, the firm added. Thomas Cullen, a senior analyst at logistics consulting firm Transport Intelligence, said the re-imposition of US sanctions seems likely to be at least as brutal as the sanctions pursued for the decade prior to the JCPOA, with the US now pressing for Iran to be excluded from the SWIFT banking transaction system. He noted: Even prior to the formal imposition of sanctions on 7 August, key sectors of the Iranian economy had suffered badly. Automotive assembly in Iran had been a prominent destination for foreign investment; this has almost come to a halt. He pointed out that the automotive sector in Iran is dominated by Complete Knock-Down (CKD) kits from Renault, Peugeot-Citroen and to a much lesser extent Chinese vehicle manufacturers (VMs), noting: In a good year these can account for several hundred thousand TEUs, generally fed into Bandar Abbas port via Dubai and are one of the largest container trades. With the announcement last week that Renault was ceasing operations, something that Peugeot-Citroen decided last month, the CKD related container traffic will fall heavily. Possibly the Chinese VMs may increase inputs to compensate, but they are much weaker in this market. He said shipping any cargo into Bandar Abbas was becoming complicated, adding: The leading western container lines have effectively withdrawn from services into Iran, presumably leaving shippers to arrange their own feeder services from Dubai. Once again, the Chinese carriers may be the only option. As reported in Lloyds Loading List, major container lines including CMA CGM, Maersk and MSC have confirmed their withdrawal from Iran in the face of the renewed US sanctions against the country. CMA CGM has also suspended its co-operation agreement with Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping. Although the success of sanctions in delivering their political objectives is debatable, Cullen said the effects on the Iranian logistics economy of the countrys isolation has been enormous. Despite all of the talk of the development of Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman coast, Iran lacks a large modern port, he added. Bandar Abbas dominates non-hydrocarbon traffic yet it is unable to take any ship larger than 11,000 TEUs. The port needs to be able to move large volumes of containers into the main population centres in Northern and Western Iran, yet only now is even moderate investment in rail taking place and that is driven largely by the Chinese. Rather, the country is dependent on its less-than-adequate road system to move almost everything. He said the comparison with its neighbours along the Gulf was painful, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE the location for some of the worlds largest concentrations of logistics infrastructure, such as the huge container port complexes and airports of Dubai. He highlighted the fact that Iran requires major investments in its logistics capabilities, with new ports, airports, roads and railways badly needed. Elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula, investment for these developments was provided by revenues flowing from oil and gas production. Although Iran also has vast hydrocarbon reserves, with the South Pars field alone accounting for around half of all global gas reserves, sanctions and other challenges have continued to prevent this transformation. The economic impact of such investments would be transformative for the Iranian economy and it would represent a valuable opportunity for the global logistics sector, Cullen said. However, it appears unlikely that this will happen until the political and strategic conditions in Iran change, with the major proviso that the present situation offers significant opportunities for the Chinese. Image: Shutterstock.com Michael Wyke/For the Chronicle Houston oil producer ConocoPhillips said it's preparing for "modest" job cuts in Houston and throughout the United States during September to help keep costs down. While ConocoPhillips just posted a $1.6 billion net profit in the second quarter, the company has shed thousands of jobs in recent years and downsized its global investments to focus on more core regions, including West Texas' booming Permian Basin, South Texas' Eagle Ford shale and Alaska. What the Eyes Don't See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City By Mona Hanna-Attisha One World. 364 pp. $28 --- The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy By Anna Clark Metropolitan. 305 pp. $30 --- In every age, there are places that in their very names come to signify a nation's gravest problems. Sandy Hook. Ferguson. San Bernardino. They stand in for America's mass-shooting crisis, racist police violence, radicalization and domestic terrorism. But there are risks in this kind of metonymy - what writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has called "the danger of a single story." If we reduce a place to the outlines of its tragedy, we disempower its people. We fail to see its depth and specificity, as well as the larger stories it may hold. Two new books take distinct approaches to flesh out the picture of such a place: Flint, Mich. The headlines of the Flint water crisis - in which residents suffered contaminated water in the face of official neglect for years - are widely known. But "The Poisoned City" by journalist Anna Clark provides the first thorough account of the saga and positions it within a more expansive narrative of unjust urban policy, the vicissitudes of industry and the history of American infrastructure. "What the Eyes Don't See" by Flint pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha is a far more intimate and subjective memoir about her pursuit of medical evidence to prove that children were being poisoned by city water. In 2014, under the aegis of a state-appointed emergency manager, the city of Flint decided to switch its water source from a Detroit-controlled Great Lakes supply to its own system. Clark explains that there was some logic to this: Flint's water rates were among the highest in the country, and residents - nearly half of whom live below the federal poverty line - were fed up. If Flint was in control of its own water, the city claimed, it could ensure its affordability and "build self-sufficiency" over its most fundamental resource. During the transition, the city turned to a temporary source of water: the Flint River. After decades of chemical and sewage dumping, the river water had vastly improved, but it was still corrosive. Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) failed to treat it effectively or employ federally mandated corrosion control. As a result, when it coursed through Flint's aging pipes, metals began to flake off and taint the water with lead, a toxin that can lead to brain damage. Residents immediately discerned a problem. Their water flowed orangey-brown and murky, sometimes "dark as coffee." It stank. People started developing strange rashes, losing hair, getting aches and pains. But when they complained to the city, they were rebuffed. In the face of a leaked Environmental Protection Agency memo raising alarm, an independent water test revealing a city veined with poison and even their own disconcerting data, authorities said the same thing, again and again: The water was fine. For a long time, Hanna-Attisha repeated that line to her patients, too. "Flint was literally in the middle of the Great Lakes region, the largest source of freshwater in the world," she writes. "Why doubt the safety of what was coming out of the tap?" But when a trusted friend and former EPA employee tells her there's talk of lead in Flint's water, she is horrified. Lead exposure is especially dangerous for children: It can lead to a drop in IQ, memory and attention issues, and aggressive behavior. Within hours, Hanna-Attisha transforms into a "renegade and detective," determined to find the "proof of impact" that would shake the authorities out of their stupor. Hanna-Attisha's quest is full of drama and suspense: late-night number-crunching, slimy government figures, inspired breakthroughs. She's a breezy, charismatic raconteur prone to feisty character descriptions (a DEQ spokesman is a "rabid pit bull"; a turn-of-the-century anti-lead activist is a "stubborn badass"). And while she paints herself as relentlessly righteous, she also opens up about the toll of this crusade: Her health deteriorates, her kids resent her absence, and her research prompts a psychologically crushing backlash. It's hard to believe that officials intended to poison residents with bad water, but the strength of the state's refusal to acknowledge the truth for so long is staggering. In "The Poisoned City," Clark constructs a bleak portrait of a government marked by opacity, greed and a kick-the-can-down-the-road culture of willful negligence in a city where residents are mostly poor and mostly black. Hanna-Attisha sees that firsthand as she confronts the state: "They made no attempts to get to the bottom of anything; their only goal was to recast and massage their lies." Both authors conclude that structural racism and inequality allow this culture to thrive. Clark in particular traces the rise and fall of the auto industry, as well as segregation, white flight, redlining, austerity and incursions on democracy that disproportionately affect African-American communities. "If you wanted to kill a city, that is the recipe," she writes. This lattice of context underscores the point that Flint's water crisis isn't an isolated event but rather a result of calculated disinvestment and racist policies. Consider what one EPA official said, evincing an attitude that impairs so many American cities: "I don't know if Flint is the kind of community we want to go out on a limb for." "The Poisoned City" is meticulously researched. But in pursuit of comprehensiveness, the book can feel tedious and distant, missing a human element. Clark relies heavily on document dumps and local reporting, so it's hard to tell what she witnessed and what she gleaned secondhand. She is critical of how the media "tended to single out one or two figures" - like Hanna-Attisha - at the expense of community organizers, often black, who were speaking out long before. However, her narrative doesn't fill that gap meaningfully. Her efforts to reveal Flint's multitudes would have been bolstered by a deeper engagement with the local leaders who she rightly claims have been sidelined. While "What the Eyes Don't See" can veer into sentimentality and self-congratulation, Hanna-Attisha, too, is wary of the "single story." She threads the book with tales of her immigrant family's journey from Saddam Hussein's Iraq to the suburbs of Detroit. As a child, her father showed her images of the regime gassing children. "We were taught not to look away," she writes. "We understood that leaders could be dangerous, that civilizations sat on the delicate edge of a precipice, and that injustice must be challenged." These recollections, as well as stories of crusading figures from public health lore, turn the book into a condemnation of groupthink and a clarion call to live a life of purpose. In recent years, there has been some justice for Flint. Admissions of failure. A class-action lawsuit obligating the state to invest nearly $100 million in lead-free infrastructure. A Medicaid expansion. A slew of criminal indictments against state officials for misconduct, violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act and involuntary manslaughter. A report by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission stating plainly that the crisis was "the result of systemic racism that was built into the foundation and growth of Flint." But for those who now hold toxins in their bodies, our skewed public health approach offers little to celebrate. "Children become the proverbial canaries in the coal mine, as we use their bodies, their lives, as instruments to test the world around them," Hanna-Attisha writes. "If they test high, that means there's lead in their environment. This is useful to know, but for the child, it's already too late." As for the state's shift from spin doctor to advocate for the public good? As Clark points out in a footnote, for all of Gov. Rick Snyder's apologies, for all of his rhetoric about putting people first, the person he appointed to take over Michigan's environmental agency is a former oil and gas lobbyist whose previous job was to save face for BP after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. It is - dare I say - hard to swallow. --- Sharma writes about culture and the environment. The Promise of the Grand Canyon: John Wesley Powell's Perilous Journey and His Vision for the American West By John F. Ross Viking. 381 pp. $30 --- Picture this: Near starvation, barely clothed, banged up with gashes and bruises, a handful of men in three wooden boats undertake a journey down the Colorado River in 1869, not knowing what they would see around each bend or whether they would survive to tell the story. The men didn't even reach the beginning of the Grand Canyon until 74 days into their trip, after their remaining source of food - flour - got so wet they had to sift it through mosquito netting to get rid of the moldy lumps. It was about then that they faced a run of 360 whitewater rapids including, on one day, a 14-mile gauntlet of 35 rapids. This ragtag group was led by a man with one arm. If any man is the perfect subject for a new biography, it has to be John Wesley Powell. The Civil War hero who lost most of his right arm at the Battle of Shiloh and went on to be the first person to lead a successful boat expedition through the roaring Colorado River in the Grand Canyon makes for a great story. And that's just what readers get in the first half of John F. Ross' "The Promise of the Grand Canyon: John Wesley Powell's Perilous Journey and His Vision for the American West." Yes, there have been several other comprehensive biographies of Powell, including Wallace Stegner's "Beyond the Hundredth Meridian." Stegner's book, though, is at times overwritten and self-important, full of exposition and comparison, losing narrative momentum again and again. (Not to mention Stegner's dated references: "Like a teasing woman the river dawdled, meandered, surprised them with new forms.") Ross tells Powell's story more powerfully, sprinkled with quotes from the explorer-geologist's diary and a feeling of dramatic suspense - will he survive? - even though we know the outcome. The rip-roaring story of the one-armed veteran who risked life and (remaining) limbs to power through gorges and rapids, all while carefully recording evidence of the canyon's ancient geology and gathering flora and fauna to take back East, never gets old. What makes the story more nuanced is that Powell didn't seem to be especially likeable: didactic at times, refusing to dramatize his dramatic life, yet saddled with an almost reckless ambition. Disciplined. Bossy. Unbending. That drive comes through before the young man is 30, when he led a battery into Shiloh, facing the bloodiest action so far in the Civil War, and got a musket ball through his forearm, which shattered the bones of his arm and hand. Before antibiotics, amputation was the only real way to save a life. Powell's arm was sawed off just below the elbow, leaving him with neuralgic pain for the rest of his life. It didn't stop him from pursuing his real passion: mapping the contours and lands of the American West, and cajoling, lobbying, arguing and talking his way into enough government and private funds to supply him with men, materials and time to explore. It was also a way to prove himself. "He faced a lifetime of people patting him on his shoulder with a pitying look in their eyes," Ross, a former editor of American Heritage magazine, writes. Add to that an ambition to finish what Lewis and Clark had started in their western explorations, along with plenty of naysayers arguing that exploring the Grand Canyon was both worthless and impractical. Even so, Powell had no idea what lay ahead. Long before the expedition's three boats arrived at the beginning of the Grand Canyon, traveling through the canyons of the Green River in the territories of Wyoming and Utah, the group lost one boat, smashed to bits in violent rapids, its three men nearly lost over the falls. And although there is very little explanation of how Powell managed to hang on during these rapids, there is one comically terrifying moment when having just one arm was a major problem. Powell often used the free hours during their overnight camps to gather geologic evidence in the rocks that loomed over the canyons. In this case, Powell had scrambled to a point 800 feet above the river but realized he was stuck. If he lost his grip with his one arm, he'd fall. George Bradley, on the ledge above him, tore off his long-underwear bottoms and dangled them over the edge. It's not clear that Bradley was wearing any other stitch. "Leaning backward, Powell let go and - while falling - grabbed the formless rag with his one hand. The underwear sagged and stretched, but miraculously held." Bradley managed to swing Powell up to his ledge, proving that 19th-century clothes were better made than ours - and that it may be hard to have a sense of humor about being rescued by some stretchy woolens and a naked man. "In moments, characteristically without discussion, they resumed their climb," Ross writes, missing his own chance to riff on this unforgettable scene. The stories of Powell's 1869 and 1872 expeditions have been told many times, but who can resist descriptions of Powell sitting on a chair bolted to the boat and bellowing arias from "The Marriage of Figaro" as they approached a rapid? The second half of "Promise" almost by definition loses the cliffhanging drama. Powell knew he had become a celebrity, and he used his influence to bring the West into the national consciousness, warning planners that "in a very few decades all the water of the arid region of the United States would be used in irrigation" and arguing that there just wasn't enough to irrigate every last farm. He went on to found the Smithsonian's Bureau of American Ethnology and help found the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Geographic Society. "More perhaps than anyone else, he would shape the newly emerging American West and, in so doing, help cast the national identity," Ross writes. "So much of what he preached - of limited water, of the threat of monopolies, of the importance of steady measurement and analysis, of the critical importance of topographical mapping and the indispensable role of federal science, and perhaps most broadly, of the necessity of ecological stewardship, remains presciently to the point, clearing the way for debates to the present day." --- Bruno is the author, with Bob Davis, of "Beijing From A to Z: An Expat Couple's Adventures in China." Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China's Last Golden Age By Stephen R. Platt Knopf. 553 pp. $35 --- The history of the United States and China is marked by bizarre coincidences, some serendipitous, others tragic. In the mid-19th century, both nations were convulsed by bloody rebellions. In the 1950s, political campaigns on both sides of the Pacific - McCarthyism in America and an anti-America campaign in China - sought to demonize each other. Twenty years later, mutual fascination and realpolitik brought the two nations together, triggering an economic boom in China that raised more people out of poverty than ever before in history. As Chairman Mao Zedong once observed, "Out of bad things can come good things." Today, as the United States and China lurch toward a trade war and America confronts an opioid epidemic stoked by imports of Chinese-made fentanyl, eerie parallels have emerged from 150 years ago, when the superpower at the time, Britain, launched a war over trade with China to defend the rights of British drug smugglers to sell narcotics to the Chinese. Are there lessons from the Opium War that could inform our challenges today, or are both sides fated to repeat the errors of their ancestors? The main lesson from Stephen R. Platt's wonderful new book on the conflict, "Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China's Last Golden Age," is that little, if anything, is fated. In the end, people, not impersonal forces or economic classes, make history, Platt argues. If there's a lesson from that period for today, it is that leaders matter, as does a deep understanding of the interests and the history of the other side. The Opium War is seen in China as the original sin of Western imperialism. The story told in the People's Republic of China is of Britain preying with its warships on an innocent, tottering China with the aim of facilitating Britain's opium trade. It is a story of black and white, in which the Chinese people are the blameless victims of the West. In China's catechism, the Opium War signifies the beginning of "a century of humiliation" during which China was bullied by the West, ending only with Mao's glorious revolution. The Opium War has also been simplified in the West. For many years, the conflict was explained not as a war waged by a nation on behalf of its druglords but as a necessary evil designed to open up a country that had cussedly closed itself off to the benefits of interaction with the "civilized" world. Britain was justified in battling the Qing dynasty because the Chinese thought they were better than the British. "The cause of the war is the kowtow," John Quincy Adams wrote in 1840, the former president and secretary of state referencing demands from the imperial Chinese court that British envoys to the throne knock their heads on the earth nine times to signal their reverence for the emperor. The war was justified, Adams argued, to battle China's "boasted superiority above every nation on earth." Platt's book upends these stereotypes, showing first that the drug trade to China constituted an efficient partnership between Westerners and Chinese. The vast majority of opium that arrived on Western ships off China's coast before 1839 was moved into China by Chinese with the support of bribed Chinese officials. Platt also shows that China was anything but closed to Western influences. Yes, starting in 1740, the Qing court restricted trade with the West to Canton, then the third-biggest city in the world behind London and Beijing. But Western goods were the rage among China's elite. Western furs, glass, clocks and clothes connoted status - much as they do today. The trade was also enormously profitable. Tariffs from the trade bankrolled both the imperial court in Beijing and the British government, becoming especially critical to Westminster during the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800s. Profits, too, enriched not only British and Chinese businessmen, but Americans and traders from the Indian subcontinent as well. Platt notes that some of the first American fortunes were made in the China trade at a time when the world's richest man was a brilliant Chinese merchant named Houqua, who became a household name in the West, a figure at Madame Tussauds wax museum, and an early investor in U.S. real estate and railroads. Platt also explodes the chestnut that the war was fought to open China to the benefits of Western civilization. He recounts the years-long efforts of British drug smugglers William Jardine and James Matheson to lobby the British government to use the Royal Navy to force China to open more ports of trade to facilitate more drug dealing. Platt accomplishes all this while telling a fast-paced story that focuses on the individuals who made the history. Platt's cast of characters includes Americans, Britons, Parsee Indians and Chinese, and he makes them come alive. Even minor figures are unforgettable. One is James Flint, apparently the only Englishman who knew Chinese in the mid-18th century. Flint went on a voyage to map China's coast, was arrested for sailing into a closed Chinese port and was incarcerated for three years. His Chinese teacher fared even worse: He was decapitated for teaching Flint the language. Flint later resurfaced in London, instructing Ben Franklin in how to make tofu. There's also Karl Gutzlaff, a polyglot Prussian missionary, who explored China's coast hawking opium and Bibles, forever planting the belief in Chinese minds that Jesus was an accessory to a drug crime. Platt does especially well depicting the Chinese, portraying them not as one-dimensionally arrogant xenophobes but as profoundly human. From successive emperors Qianlong, Jiaqing and Daoguang, down to officials and advisers, we see them debating how to respond to the challenge presented by opium. Should China, like the scholar Bao Shichen argued, shut off foreign trade completely? Or should it, as a high official named Cheng Hanzhang countered, better enforce the emperor's edicts against the drug? Should opium be legalized, like a governor-general named Lu Kun wanted? Should the crackdown target opium addicts or, as Lin Zexu, another governor-general, contended, the foreigners who brought the drug to China's coast? Platt details how the British, too, were torn about opium. Even as Britain's drug smugglers agitated for war against China, a campaign back home to abolish the drug trade gained supporters among abolitionists who had just succeeded in outlawing slavery. British industrialists also railed against the drug trade, seeing it as an impediment to selling British textiles and other goods to the Chinese. But in the end, war erupted - not because it was preordained, Platt argues, but because of factors that could have been avoided. Charles Elliot, who had been sent to Canton to supervise British trade and was an opponent of opium smuggling, overreacted to Chinese threats to stop the drug trade. And Lin Zexu, the Chinese official making those threats, didn't realize that he could have worked with Elliot instead of against him. Even then, back in London, the debate raged. In the early morning of April 10, 1840, in Parliament, the vote for war won by only five votes. If any of those factors had gone the other way, Platt notes, "we might be looking back on very different lessons from this era." --- Pomfret, a former Washington Post bureau chief in Beijing, is the author of "The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom: America and China, 1776 to the Present." NEW YORK - The toddler, a beefy charmer with oceans of brown curls, isn't making it easy for Mom to navigate up the stairs inside their apartment. He's squirming on her right hip, reaching out his arms and mumbling a demand that's muffled by his pacifier. "There's your godfather!" the platinum blond mother says when she reaches the second floor, releasing the little guy into the arms of a silver-haired man in a seersucker suit seated on a zebra-striped armchair. Mom was once a famous madam, the godfather is an infamous political trickster, the moptop child is turning into a social media darling. Now these unlikely roomies - the former "Manhattan Madam" Kristin Davis, President Donald Trump's longtime confidant Roger Stone and 2-year-old Carter Stone Davis - have become inextricably linked characters in the melodrama swirling around the ongoing investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. On Friday, Davis, who has worked as a Web designer and travel scheduler for Stone, was set to become the latest associate of the political operative to appear before the grand jury convened by special counsel Robert Mueller. At least half a dozen of Stone's associates have been subpoenaed or been contacted by the special counsel's office. Investigators have been looking into Stone's communication with the Twitter persona Guccifer 2.0, which U.S. intelligence officials say was a front operated by the Russian military to disseminate hacked Democratic emails to be released by WikiLeaks and tilt the election in Trump's favor. Stone has denied wrongdoing and characterizes his Twitter exchange with Guccifer 2.0 as benign. Davis calls the whole thing a witch hunt. Stone, who has said it is conceivable that the special counsel could seek to indict him by conjuring an "extraneous crime" related to his businesses, has accused investigators of harassing his associates, including Davis, with whom he says he has a platonic relationship. Late last month, Stone, 65, posted a photo of Davis, 41, and her son on his Instagram account, writing: "Why do FBI agents dispatched by Robert Mueller keep asking a number of my current and former associates if I am this baby's father? What does this have to do with Russian Collusion and the 2016 election." A spokesman for the special counsel's office declined to comment. Stone, a self-professed practitioner of dark political arts, said that Davis was not working for him in 2015 or 2016 during the run-up to Trump's candidacy and the election campaign. He said she is appearing before the grand jury voluntarily. "She is a brilliant businesswoman who paid her debt to society and has remade her life," Stone said via text message. "She has no knowledge of Russian collusion, WikiLeaks collaboration or any other illegal activity on my part. At the instruction of my attorneys, I have not discussed her testimony with her." Davis and Stone have been friends since 2008. She says she met him when they appeared together on a radio show following her release from New York's Rikers Island jail, where she'd served several months on a charge of promoting prostitution. Stone called her, she says, and declared: "You're brilliant. Can we talk about what you're going to do with your life?" Davis, a poised and articulate speaker who has touted her business acumen, had a compelling backstory, one with natural appeal to Stone, a bon vivant with a long-established reputation for taking delight in all things salacious who sometimes quips that he is "tri-sexual. I've tried everything." Davis, who was born in Southern California, lived for several years as a teenager in the Central Valley city of Fresno, where she was raised by a single mother. "There's been a lot of talk about me being 'trailer trash,' '' she writes in her memoir, "The Manhattan Madam" But she writes that her family's trailer was in a community that included a mix of stand-alone homes and trailers and was "at worst, lower middle-class." In her late teens, she says, she was already working in the finance industry, eventually becoming a vice president at an East Coast hedge fund in her early 20s. She noticed how highflying finance types celebrated by hiring prostitutes. Sensing a business opportunity, she opened a high-end prostitution service in New York. At its height, she says, she had a roster of 10,000 clients willing to pay more than $1,000 an hour for sex or companionship. She managed the business but didn't have sex with clients herself, she says. Her staff called her "Mama Fabulous."She also developed her own websites - a skill that would come in handy years later when she met Stone. Davis has claimed repeatedly that Eliot Spitzer, the former New York governor, was one of her frequent clients, using the code name "James" while he was serving as the state's attorney general. She dedicated a full chapter in her book to those allegations. Spitzer has vigorously denied the claims. He declined to comment. Davis was arrested and sent to Rikers in 2008, the same year that Spitzer, who was never charged with a crime, resigned as governor after the New York Times reported that he'd patronized the Emperors Club VIP, another high-priced prostitution service. After her release, Davis says, Stone, who would become one of her closest friends, "hounded" her for months to run for office. "That's what he does," she said this week. "He hounded Trump for years." Davis got on the New York gubernatorial ballot in 2010 and garnered more than 20,000 votes - less than 1 percent of the ballots cast. After that campaign, Davis says, she worked on and off for Stone, helping him develop the websites, such as StoneColdTruth.com and StoneOnStyle.com, that he uses to promote his books and publish his voluminous writings on politics, scandal and fashion. The two weren't done with elections, though. In 2013, Davis filed to run for New York City comptroller, setting up a possible election contest with her nemesis Spitzer, who had declared his candidacy for the same post. Those plans were derailed by another arrest, this one in 2013 for passing prescription pills to a drug dealer who planned to resell them. After serving 18 months in prison, she was released from a halfway house in May 2016 and was looking to put her life back together. She'd gotten pregnant after leaving federal custody and was separated from the child's father. Stone - who splits time between New York and Florida - offered her a place to stay. She moved into his apartment on 71st Street in New York for a few months. In September of that year, after getting her own apartment, she had her baby. Stone, who'd helped her through months of her pregnancy, had a suggestion for the infant's name: "Roger." "Roger kind of felt like he deserved it," Davis says with a chuckle. "I said, 'Absolutely not!' " Instead, Stone and his wife, Nydia, became the child's godparents. Davis says she flies to Florida every three or four months so that her son can spend time with Stone's wife, who seldom goes to New York. "She's a saint," Davis says. The dates of Davis's employment with Stone could be of interest to the special counsel's investigators, who have examined his activities during the presidential campaign and Twitter messages Stone sent to Guccifer 2.0 in August 2016 - three months before the presidential election. Davis and Stone say she didn't resume working for him until January 2017, though she received an advance on her first paycheck in December 2016. In February 2017, they moved into a spacious apartment in a building in Harlem, with Davis and her infant son taking the lower level and Stone occupying a second story filled floor to ceiling with memorabilia celebrating the two presidents with whom he's most associated: Trump and Richard Nixon. In his upstairs bathroom, there is a framed poster of a topless woman advertising "De Kinky Dance Party" at a club in the Netherlands. Davis plans to launch a nails and waxing salon called Bombshell Beauty Lab soon after her grand jury appearance. On social media, she has chided publications for publishing older images of her in outfits with plunging, cleavage-revealing outfits. She says she no longer does website development for Stone, instead primarily handling his travel schedule and bookings, shuttling between the two floors of their apartment. Stone's quarters are equipped with broadcasting equipment for his regular appearances on Infowars, the controversial, conspiracy-oriented website run by Alex Jones. As the Mueller probe has progressed, the apartment - much like Stone's home and office in Florida - has become a command center in his campaign to discredit the investigation. Some days, Carter Stone Davis sits on his godfather's lap during his broadcasts. "He loooves Roger," Davis says one afternoon as Stone barks into a cellphone in one hand and cradles her son with the other. "The softer side of Stone, I like to call it." Soon radio listeners across the rest of the nation will start their mornings with San Antonio's Dana Cortez. The Dana Cortez Show, previously part of the Univision family, announced Friday the team has partnered with ABC Radio and Skyview Networks, making the local morning voice "one of radio's first Latinas to host a nationally syndicated show," according to a news release. "I am beyond excited. It's like you open your eyes and it's like 'Oh my god, my dreams are still happening," Cortez told mySA.com. "It's something I've thought about for many years and it's finally happening." Cortez' husband, who goes by DJ Automatic, and comedian Anthony Almanzar join her on the show. The trio, which has been together for more than two years and has become a staple of San Antonio mornings, will remain intact in the new deal, Cortez said. RELATED: San Antonio native, former Fifth Harmony star Ally Brooke may be starting solo career The acquisition of the local radio show is ABC Radio's first venture, Cortez said. Cortez was with Univision for 10 years and said the decision was a "leap," but is proud for the "little guy" to earn national recognition. "Having a show on a national platform means we can be in every car," she added. "It's like going from local newscasts to being the 6 o'clock national news." ABC Radio welcomed San Antonio's ensemble with a spread on their website's landing page. lauding "The Leading Lady" who is "changing the morning game." "Original proven benchmarks no one else had," the website touts. "Proven success: #1 in San Antonio." The show will leave 98.5 and launch on a new station Aug. 20, though what that station will be hasn't been revealed yet. And the team will remain in San Antonio. "We ain't Kawhi (Leonard)," DJ Automatic said, referring to the former Spur's controversial trade last month. Madalyn Mendoza is a digital reporter for MySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| mmendoza@mysa.com | Twitter: @MaddySkye Travis Scott has announced his inaugural Astroworld Festival, Nov. 17 at NRG Park, in partnership with ScoreMore Shows and LiveNation. It comes on the heels of his "Astroworld" album, which debuts at No. 1 this week on the Billboard 200, limited-edition merch and surprise release shows. Scott will headline the festivities -- just across from the former Astroworld site, of course -- which will boast multiple performers across multiple stages. The lineup is expected soon. ODE TO THE PAST: All the Houston references in Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' David Stromberg, Scott's manager and GM of Cactus Jack Records, said in a statement that the "ultimate goal in launching this Fest is to bring some well-deserved recognition to Travis' hometown of Houston, the place that has made him both the man and creative artist he is today. "H-Town has an incredible rich cultural history, and we look forward to showcasing to residents from Travis' own backyard and across the globe what makes this city so special." Early-bird general admission ($89) and VIP (starting at $250) passes are on sale now with the password SICKOMODE. Sign up for details at AstroworldFest.com. General public on sale is 10 a.m. Monday at AstroworldFest.com. Prices will increase as the festival approaches. Astroworld Festival will also offer VIP packages that include fast entry, premium viewing areas, a commemorative laminate, exclusive merchandise, VIP bar and restrooms. As downtown's Bravery Chef Hall inches toward an end-of-year opening, one of its chef venues has grown in culinary stature. Cherry Block Craft Butcher & Seasonal Kitchen, a chop house concept from Felix Florez, has announced it has hired Jessica Timmons as chef/partner. Timmons, known in the Houston restaurant community for her work in the Landry's corporation and at the Redneck Country Club in Stafford, will join butcher/restaurateur Florez in opening Cherry Block, a concept they hope will lead to sister projects in Houston. "As soon as I found out she was about to be available, it kind of worked out," said Florez, who owns Black Hill Ranch, known for its quality, humanely raised beef, goat, lamb and heritage pigs. "I wanted to be able to work with someone I could trust who had a great culinary background." Timmons, who most recently worked as general manager for El Real Tex-Mex Cafe and was a partner in Caboose BBQ in Alvin, more than fits the bill. A chef who is as familiar with front of the house operations, Timmons knows her way around the barbecue pit and has competed yearly at Butcher's Ball, a meat-focused culinary event spotlighting sustainable ranching practices. She'll be competing again at this year's Butcher's Ball, Oct. 21, representing Cherry Block. "Both of us are very excited," Timmons said of her partnership with Florez. "I've been partners for years in a vendor/chef relationship. We know each other's business practices, and I think it's going to be a good fit." Now the two will get to know each other's culinary practices as they work together to develop the lunch and dinner menus for Cherry Block, one of the chef-led restaurants within the Bravery Chef Hall opening at Aris Tower at 409 Travis downtown. Other vendors include "MasterChef" winner Christine Ha's The Blind Goat, BOH Pasta from chef Ben McPherson, and Nuna Nikkei Bar from chef David Guerrero of Andes Cafe. Bravery Chef Hall is slated to open in December. Each of the concepts under one roof will be separately owned and operated. Anh Mai (one of the partners along with Lian Nguyen and operating partner/general manager Shepard Ross) is also a partner in Cherry Block. Florez said his chop house concept will feature two distinct cooking styles a wood-burning grill topped by a smoke box, allowing for quick- and slow-cooking methods at one station. Steaks and chops cooking quickly on the grill while beef ribs, porchetta, small roaster pigs, whole sirloins and whole briskets and chucks will cook for up to 12 hours in the smoker. The menu, Florez said, will have both familiar, traditional steakhouse offerings but also feature "new, modern and cutting-edge approaches to butchery." LIGHT BRIGHT: Instagram-worthy possibilities of Lyric Market Both Florez and Timmons are not worried about competition from other downtown food hall projects, which include Finn Hall and Lyric Market. In fact, they embrace the opportunity to show what they can do as chefs and what Bravery can do as a dining destination. "The chef hall is going to be a really big success, not just for our restaurant but for the city as a whole," Timmons said. Florez sees Bravery as a shot at capturing a new audience young, urban, and embracing of change. "If you don't adapt, you die," he said. "We're seeing a shift in the market where people are wanting to be more casual. The white tablecloth atmosphere isn't where it once was." He also welcomes the chance to flesh out the Cherry Block concept, which he hopes will lead to other outposts in Houston. "This is our test," he said. Florez is a busy man these days: he also is a partner in Blood Bros. BBQ, opening its first brick and mortar store on Bellaire Boulevard, expected in October. Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news tips at greg.morago@chron.com. Follow him on the podcast BBQ State of Mind to learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture. A woman was found dead of unknown causes at a house in Texas City, the Texas City Police Department stated Thursday in a news release. At around 3:30 p.m., police responded to a home on the 2900 block of Vance Avenue after receiving a call about an "unresponsive" woman at that residence. A U.S. Marine was shot and wounded inside a base in Syria earlier this year, and there isn't enough evidence to determine whether the gunman, who is a member of the Syrian forces being trained by American troops, fired accidentally or on purpose, U.S. officials said Friday. The shooting occurred Feb. 17 in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, which spans from Deir al-Zor Province in Syria into western Iraq. A Marine colonel launched an investigation after the incident, and was "unable to conclusively determine if the Marine was shot intentionally by a Syrian Democratic Forces guard, or if he was shot as the result of a negligent discharge," according to a statement released by U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East. The incident highlights the dangers U.S. troops can face while deployed to Syria, and the opaque nature of the military campaign there. The shooting was not disclosed for nearly six months, and only after a news report by Task & Purpose revealed details about the case on Wednesday. U.S. military officials told the website that it had no record of an "insider attack" against U.S. troops in Syria. Centcom officials added in the statement Friday that it determined that a second Marine on scene believed that he was in imminent danger, and "acted appropriately and proportionally to the threat he perceived" while responding to his fellow Marine's gunshot wounds. He was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal, which recognizes those who distinguish themselves "by meritorious achievement." Task & Purpose reported that the Marines were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, an infantry unit with headquarters at Twentynine Palms, California. The shooting occurred during a period of heightened tension in which a truck filled with wounded civilians arrived at their base's gate, and Marines treated them despite objections from the Syrian forces living on their base. The wounded Marine suffered two wounds to a leg, and received a Purple Heart to recognize his injuries, the report said. Navy Department criteria states that a Marine or sailor can only receive the award if they face enemy fire. Navy Capt. Bill Urban, a U.S. military spokesman, when asked Friday why the shooting was not disclosed until this week, referred to the investigation and said that it did not determine anyone was intentionally shot. Centcom is "working to release the investigation as soon as possible," he said. U.S. military officials do not typically issue a news release each time a service member is wounded in a combat zone, but often disclose it in other formats. Numerous news briefings providing an overall update on the military campaign have occurred since February, and military officials had not disclosed it. Since the campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria began in June 2014, 14 U.S. troops have been killed in action and 64 more have been wounded, according to Pentagon statistics. When Queen Elizabeth II first visited Australia on a royal tour in 1954, then-Prime Minister Robert Menzies presented her with a gift: a platinum-and-diamond-encrusted brooch, featuring Australia's national flower, the wattle. And in the portrait of the queen that any Australian citizen is apparently entitled to request for free, she is shown wearing that same wattle spray brooch on her right side and an Australian coat of arms pin on the left. Down under, individuals' requests for official photos of the queen have dramatically increased over the past few days, after a Vice article shed light on the little known law that allows Australian voters to ask their Parliament members for a portrait of the monarch. The Vice article claims that only Australians are eligible for the taxpayer-funded photos of the queen. Even Brits have to pay for them, and Canadians can only download a photo, the article said. What makes Australia special is its "constituent requests program," which allows voters to request "nationhood materials" from members of Parliament. The Australian Department of Finance's website lists such materials as the national flag, aboriginal flag, Torres Strait islander flag, the red ensign, and smaller handheld flags. Constituents can also request booklets on Australia's flags and national symbols, CD and DVD recordings of the national anthem, and portraits of both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. A number of members of Parliament have said that requests for flags are not entirely uncommon. But their offices are now being bombarded with requests for photos of the queen. Rebekha Sharkie, an MP for the division of Mayo, wrote on Twitter that her office had "received more than 25 requests for a portrait of [the] Queen in the last 12 hours." Tim Watts, an MP from Melbourne, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that "before the story was published, I had received zero requests for portraits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth." "The last 24 hours, I would say about four dozen," he said. "I think 99 percent were tongue firmly in cheek." On Twitter, Watts said that providing constituents with portraits of the queen is "comfortably the dumbest part of my job." "But be warned youth of Gellibrand: if you request a portrait of Liz, there's nothing stopping me sending you some other 'material' in the same parcel," he wrote. He also claimed that it's up to an MP to decide if they want to send the materials out or not. "It's discretionary, not mandatory," he tweeted. But if constituents are trolling MPs to ask for the photo of the queen, MPs are trolling right back. Adam Bandt, an MP from Melbourne, tweeted a photo of the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" picture sleeve and wrote "To every concerned constituent who has just flooded my office asking for a picture of the Queen, I trust you'll be happy when you get this in the mail." Lawmakers are poised to fully legalize hemp after a decades-long campaign, setting the stage for the resurgence of a once-common crop that disappeared during the war on drugs. The legalization provision, championed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and included in the Senate's farm bill, would officially classify hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the federal controlled substances list. Lawmakers are also expected to advance the measure when they meet next month to draft the final, bicameral version of the legislation. Hemp landed on the list because it is, like marijuana, a form of the cannabis plant. But growers and farm-state politicians argue the two have been unfairly lumped together, depriving farmers of what could one day become a major commodity crop. In Kentucky, in particular, hemp has been touted as a panacea for cratering tobacco sales and falling crop prices. Growers there have pinned their hopes for future profits on it. But as legalization looks ever more inevitable, the question now is whether industrial hemp can deliver on decades of hype and promises. Advocates say the industry is poised for an explosion, particularly as new supply chains develop and researchers discover additional uses for cannabidiol oil, which can be derived from hemp. There are also concerns, however, that the industry may grow too quickly, forcing the price of hemp down to unsustainable levels before there's adequate demand for it. "There's no question that industrial hemp is economically viable," said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., an architect of the legalization plan. "I get a call from a farmer every other day. More and more farmers want to grow it." The saga of American hemp is essentially one of mistaken identity, farmers say. The tall, weedy plant is botanically the same species as marijuana, but it contains only trace amounts of the psychoactive compound THC that causes a high in smokers. Hemp has a wide range of other uses, however. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew it, chiefly for use in cloth, ropes, sails and nets. The Agriculture Department also urged "patriotic farmers" to plant it during World War II for use in naval towlines, parachute webbing and other products. But in the wake of World War II, when demand slackened, hemp began to fall out of vogue. In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act, which effectively made it illegal to grow both hemp and marijuana. Today, the roughly $688 million of hemp goods sold in the United States each year - products such as teas, T-shirts, car parts and supplements - are made largely with materials imported from Canada, where industrial hemp has been legal to grow since 1998. The current Senate legislation seeks to give U.S. farmers a piece of that market by removing hemp from the controlled substances list and reclassifying it as an agricultural commodity. Farmers will still have to meet certain requirements to purchase and grow hemp seeds. "The ideal scenario is one in which farmers can grow this like any other crop," said Eric Steenstra, the president of the advocacy group Vote Hemp. Many lawmakers now understand, Steenstra added, that hemp has a long history in U.S. farming - and that hemp and marijuana are effectively different plants. Congress has attempted to revive U.S. hemp before, though farmers and advocates say earlier efforts did not go far enough. The 2014 farm bill opened the door for some growers to plant the crop as part of experimental, state-run pilot programs. Under those pilots, farmers have already planted 25,000 acres of hemp in 19 states, from Kentucky to Oregon. But growers say a true commercial industry remains impossible as long as hemp is classified as a controlled substance. That's because farmers face stringent regulations when importing seeds, and many banks won't loan to farms or processing facilities that work with hemp. The lack of capital has slowed the development of the supply chains and markets that will ultimately make hemp a viable crop. "There are a lot of people who want to invest in hemp," said Comer, the Kentucky Republican. "There would be more if it weren't a controlled substance." Comer says legalization has broad bipartisan support in both chambers, and has earned the vocal endorsement of both McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Even U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, an outspoken opponent of marijuana, told McConnell he would not "oppose" legalization, The Associated Press reported. Many politicians - including McConnell - say they support hemp because farmers and farm groups have pushed for it. Advocates such as Steenstra have called hemp the next great commodity crop, suggesting it could one day blanket vast swaths of U.S. farmland. Farmers have clamored to grow it because of the potential to earn higher profits than they do on crops such as corn and soybeans, which are now plagued by low prices and trade disruption. "I think over the last five years there's been enough discussion about cannabis that people now understand there is a difference," said Geoff Whaling, the chairman of the board of directors at the National Hemp Association, an industry group. "I see it in Congress. When I first started going, I did not get a great reception. But today if I go in to talk with the Senate Ag Committee, they want to know how quickly we can build a hemp industry to start helping local farmers." But it's difficult to predict if hemp is really the next super-crop for farmers or consumers, said William Snell, an agricultural economist at the University of Kentucky who has studied the state's pilot programs. Supply chains and markets for the crop don't readily exist in the United States yet, which could limit the amount of hemp that gets processed into actual products. And while farmers can earn large profits on hemp, Snell said, that's largely at specialized operations growing hemp for cannabidiol oil, a process that's both expensive and labor-intensive. Profits on hemp grown for seeds and fiber have been far lower, according to a 2017 report by Cornell University, ranging from $211 to $733 per acre. "At this point we feel like the economics of growing hemp for grain and fiber will be similar economics of corn and soybeans," Snell said. "Some producers have been able to make several hundred dollars per acre. Others have lost money. It's kind of all over the board to be honest." There's a trickier issue at play here, as well. If legalization prompts too many farmers to start growing hemp, prices could drop suddenly and destabilize the market. In late February, USDA undersecretary Greg Ibach warned that full legalization risked "overburdening the market with supply before there is demand for it." And supply is already growing quickly: In Kentucky alone, farmers planted an estimated 7,000 acres of hemp last year, Snell said, more than twice what they planted the year before. The industry in Steenstra's state, Virginia, is smaller - 87 acres in 2017 - but more farmers have expressed interest in planting it. Steenstra said he isn't worried the industry will grow too quickly. For hemp growers, he said, the priority is getting the crop legalized so the industry can grow, period. That could happen as early as September, when lawmakers will meet to advance the farm bill. "I think there may be more demand from farmers than there is market right off the bat," Steenstra said. "But I think over time hemp is going to be another major commodity crop. . . . There's real potential for it." WASHINGTON - A federal judge in Washington halted a deportation in progress Thursday and threatened to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt after learning that the Trump administration started to remove a woman and her daughter while a court hearing appealing their deportations was underway. "This is pretty outrageous," U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said after being told about the removal. "That someone seeking justice in U.S. court is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing for justice for her?" "I'm not happy about this at all," the judge continued. "This is not acceptable." The woman, known in court papers as Carmen, is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed this week by the American Civil Liberties Union. It challenges a recent policy change by the Justice Department that aims to expedite the removal of asylum seekers who fail to prove their cases and excludes domestic and gang violence as justifications for granting asylum in the United States. Attorneys for the civil rights organization and the Justice Department had agreed to delay removal proceedings for Carmen and her child until 11:59 p.m. Thursday so they could argue the matter in court. But lead ACLU attorney Jennifer Chang Newell, who was participating in the court hearing via phone from her office in California, received an email during the hearing that said the mother and daughter were being deported. During a brief recess, she told her colleagues the pair had been taken from a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, to the airport in San Antonio for a morning flight. After being informed of the situation, Sullivan granted the ACLU's request to delay deportations for Carmen and the other plaintiffs until the lawsuit is decided, and ordered the government to "turn the plane around." Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni said he had not been told the deportation was happening that morning and could not confirm the whereabouts of Carmen and her daughter. The ACLU said later that government attorneys informed them after the hearing that the pair was on a flight to El Salvador. A spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, which implements deportations, did not respond to questions about why Carmen and her daughter were removed from the country. "In compliance with the court's order, upon arrival in El Salvador, the plaintiffs did not disembark and were promptly returned to the United States," a U.S. Department of Homeland Security official said Thursday evening. Eunice Lee, who is co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the case and co-legal director at the University of California at Hastings' Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, said: "It must have been absolutely terrifying for them to think they would be returning to a country where they raised very credible claims of persecution and death. It's outrageous to me that while we were working around the clock, filing briefings for this case's early morning hearing, that people in the government were actively arranging for Carmen's deportation." The Justice Department declined a request for comment. To qualify for asylum, migrants must show that they have a fear of persecution in their native country based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a "particular social group," a category that in the past has included victims of domestic violence and other abuse. Carmen fled El Salvador with her daughter in June, according to court records, fearing they would be killed by gang members who had demanded she pay them each month or suffer consequences. Several co-workers at the factory where Carmen worked had been murdered, and her husband is also abusive, the records state. Under the fast-track removal system, created in 1996, asylum seekers are interviewed to determine whether they have a "credible fear" of returning home. Those who pass get a full hearing in immigration court. In June, Sessions vacated a 2016 Board of Immigration Appeals court case that granted asylum to an abused woman from El Salvador. As part of that decision, Sessions said gang and domestic violence in most cases would no longer be grounds for receiving asylum. "The mere fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimes - such as domestic violence or gang violence - or that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim," Sessions wrote at the time. The ACLU lawsuit was filed on behalf of 12 migrants from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala - three of them children - all of whom failed their initial "credible fear" interviews. Two of the children and their mothers were deported before the suit was filed. None of the adults had been separated from their children as part of President Trump's "zero-tolerance" policy. The lawsuit says Sessions' ruling, and updated guidelines for asylum officers that the Department of Homeland Security issued a month later, subject migrants in expedited removal proceedings to an "unlawful screening standard" that deprives them of their rights under federal law. Asylum seekers previously had to show that the government in their native country was "unable or unwilling" to protect them. But now they have to show that the government "condones" the violence or "is completely helpless" to protect them, the lawsuit says. Washington Pointing to growing threats and competition from Russia and China, the White House on Thursday announced ambitious plans to create the U.S. Space Force as a sixth, separate military warfighting service by 2020. The proposal taps into the American public's long fascination with space but with a military focus, and it faces daunting hurdles. It requires congressional approval and has been met with skepticism from military leaders and experts who question the wisdom of launching an expensive, bureaucratic new service branch. Vice President Mike Pence announced the new force during a Pentagon speech, fleshing out an idea that President Donald Trump has flagged in recent months as he vowed to ensure American dominance in space. Pence described space as a domain that was once peaceful and uncontested but has now become crowded and adversarial. "Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America's best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation," said Pence. Trump marked Pence's announcement with a tweet: "Space Force all the way!" Pence portrayed the change as a response to foes' potential aggression rather than any offensive U.S. military effort. Citing Russia and China, he said that for years U.S. adversaries have "pursued weapons to jam, blind and disable our navigation and communication satellites via electronic attacks from the ground." "As their actions make clear, our adversaries have transformed space into a warfighting domain already, and the United States will not shrink from this challenge," he said. In June, the president directed the Pentagon to create a "separate but equal" space force, a complicated and expensive move that could take years to gain Congress' approval and become operational. On Thursday, Pence said the administration will work with Congress on the plan, and will outline a budget next year. The last time the U.S. created a new uniformed military service was in 1947, when the Air Force was launched after World War II. It joined the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has endorsed steps to reorganize the military's space warfighting forces and create a new command, but has previously opposed launching an expensive new service. A new branch of the military would require layers of bureaucracy, military and civilian leaders, uniforms, equipment and an expansive support structure. Asked about the cost, Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters the Pentagon doesn't have a number yet but will when the legislative proposal is finished by the end of the year. "I would assume it's billions," he said. Deborah James, who served as Air Force secretary for the final three years of the Obama administration, estimated it would be five to 10 years before a separate service would be fully formed. "Eventually, it'll settle out, but you will go through years of thrashing. And is that thrashing going to slow your momentum or is it going to help you achieve your goals and address the real challenges that we have on our plate?" she said at Brookings Institution last week. "I don't think so. I don't. I wouldn't vote in favor of it." The military's role in space has been under scrutiny because the United States is increasingly reliant on orbiting satellites that are difficult to protect. The general manager of a San Antonio Taco Cabana was arrested Wednesday after a 16-year-old employee accused him of groping her and bribing her to keep quiet, according to court records. Junior Olvera, 29, faces a charge of indecency with a child by contact. He was booked into the Bexar County Jail on a $20,000 bond. RELATED: Northwest Side school that trains veterans on dog-handling raided Olvera went to the Taco Cabana where he and the victim work around 2 a.m. on July 7 with a group of friends, according to his arrest affidavit. While there, he asked the victim, who was working, if she wanted to go with him to get marijuana, police said. She agreed, and at about 3 a.m., she took a break and left with Olvera, according to the affidavit. He first took her to his house, then to Sugar's strip club, off Northwest Loop 410, and parked behind the business to wait for the drugs. While parked, Olvera groped her, the affidavit says. "The victim reported that she was traumatized and was unable to speak," the affidavit says. Later, Olvera returned the victim to work, but groped her again before she could leave the car, police said. RELATED: SAPD looking for man accused of stealing thousands in equipment from his employer A co-worker later told police Olvera "offered (the victim) money ($60.00) and said he would give her more hours at work if she kept quiet about the incident," the affidavit says. The victim called police the day of the assault, authorities said. Detectives investigated and gathered evidence, including apologetic texts to the victim from Olvera, that corroborated her story, according to the affidavit. Police obtained an arrest warrant for Olvera on July 25 and booked him into jail on Wednesday. If convicted, Olvera faces up to 20 years in prison. The teenager also told multiple co-workers and family members about the assault, and word spread to another manager at Taco Cabana, who in turn notified the company's Human Resources Department, authorities said. A representative of Fiesta Restaurant Group, the corporation that owns Taco Cabana, was not immediately available for comment regarding Olvera's employment status. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns KABUL, Afghanistan - Taliban forces launched a fierce pre-dawn attack Friday on the eastern Afghan provincial capital of Ghazni, overrunning government buildings amid heavy fighting before being driven out by U.S.-backed Afghan forces, officials said Friday. But conflicting reports persisted into the evening, with some indicating that the strategic city was still partly in Taliban hands, and that the insurgents remained bunkered inside homes and buildings after hours of battles with Afghan police and attacks by U.S. military helicopters. At least 14 members of the government security forces were reported killed. The assault on Ghazni by several hundred Taliban fighters was the insurgents' first major urban attack since May, when insurgent forces overran Farah city, the capital of western Farah province, and battled for two days before being driven out. It was also reminiscent of previous Taliban efforts to capture provincial capitals, including Kunduz in the north. The latest attack came despite intensified efforts by Afghan and U.S. officials to encourage the Taliban to begin peace talks. Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, a spokesperson for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said the insurgents attacked "multiple government centers" in Ghazni but that most were driven back before mid-morning. He said Afghan forces were supported by U.S. attack helicopters and a drone strike. Later, though, O'Donnell said U.S. aircraft had returned in a "show of presence" as fighting continued. A spokesperson for President Ashraf Ghani, Shah Hussain Murtazawi, said that by midday Afghan forces were in full control of the city of over 250,000, but accounts from some residents and local officials painted a portrait of chaos in Ghazni. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, said on Twitter Friday morning that hundreds of fighters had entered the city, capturing the police headquarters and a military base. In an emailed statement, he also said the governor's office, the national intelligence offices and other official buildings were under attack, and that the highway had been cut off to prevent government reinforcements from arriving. The surrounding province, also named Ghazni, has been infiltrated and attacked by the Taliban for the past several years, and several districts are under insurgent control. The city's location on the main highway between Kabul and Kandahar, the largest southern city, has always made it a prize target. As the Taliban have continued to occupy or influence large areas of the countryside, Afghan and U.S. officials have said they are focusing more heavily on protecting cities, where most of the civilian populace is located. But the recent attack on Farah, as well as a series of bombings in eastern Jalalabad city by Islamic State militants, have raised fears that it will be difficult to protect voters in parliamentary elections scheduled for October. The Afghan Defense Ministry said that one of its helicopters had crashed during the fighting in Ghazni and that another had been forced to make an emergency landing. Officials denied Taliban claims that its forces had shot down government helicopters. As the day progressed, some local officials reported that Taliban fighters were still roaming parts of the city and that gunfire continued while frightened residents hid in their homes. The officials said Taliban forces had seized official buildings, burned police posts and announced victory from mosque loud speakers. Afghan officials said 14 security forces were killed and about 20 wounded, but a Taliban spokesperson said 140 government forces were dead. The Taliban often exaggerate such figures. Police officials told the Associated Press that dozens of Taliban fighters were killed by the airstrikes. Khodad Urfani, a local member of parliament, said the city had been "on the verge of total collapse" before the Taliban were repelled. Mohammad Rahim Hassanyar, a senator from Ghazni, said the operation to expel Taliban fighters was "very slow." Speaking by from the city in the early afternoon, he said no army troops had arrived and that only police were defending the city. - - - The Washington Post's Sharif Hassan contributed to this story. Tennessee executed Billy Ray Irick on Thursday night, after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a final request to stay his execution. Convicted of the 1985 rape and murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer, Irick, 59, is the first state inmate to be put to death since 2009. He was also the first to receive Tennessee's new and controversial three-drug cocktail. Thursday's lethal injection was made up of compounded midazolam, used to render a person unable to feel pain during an execution, a paralytic drug called vecuronium bromide, and compounded potassium chloride for the killing agent. Potassium chloride has been described by the U.S. Supreme Court as "chemically burning at the stake." In recent years, there have been numerous executions where witness accounts raised questions about whether the inmates were sufficiently anesthetized when the killing drugs were administered. These performances have raised questions about Midazolam's effectiveness as a sedative in executions. Thursday's application for a stay of execution followed a lower state court determination that the new combination of drugs may not be not chemically appropriate. A second concern in Irick's case, according to Robert Durham, Executive Director of the Death Penalty Information Center, was that Irick was mentally ill. Tennessee currently has pending legislation that, if passed, would make it illegal to apply the death penalty to a person with serious mental illness. "It's unseemly that Irick would be executed and then the case ultimately gets resolved in his favor," said Durham. The request to delay was referred to the U.S. Supreme Court by Justice Elena Kagan. The only noted dissent was from Justice Sonia Sotomayor; the court's order did not specify how the other justices would have voted. Irick's is the first death-penalty case that's come to the court since Justice Anthony Kennedy retired on July 31, which left the court shorthanded. "Although the Midazolam may temporarily render Irick unconscious, the onset of pain and suffocation will rouse him. And it may do so just as the paralysis sets in, too late for him to alert bystanders that his execution has gone horribly (if predictably) wrong," wrote Sotomayor. The dissent echoes comments she made last year aimed at Midazolam in a case involving an Alabama inmate. "In refusing to grant Irick a stay, the Court today turns a blind eye to a proven likelihood that the State of Tennessee is on the verge of inflicting several minutes of torturous pain on an inmate in its custody," Sotomayor wrote. " . . . If the law permits this execution to go forward in spite of the horrific final minutes that Irick may well experience, then we have stopped being a civilized nation and accepted barbarism." Though controversial, the use of Midazolam has come before courts numerous times - and been used in multiple executions, some of them highly criticized. In perhaps the most high-profile case, an inmate in Oklahoma grimaced and kicked during his 2014 lethal injection involving the drug. Authorities called off the execution, but he died not long after. A state investigation later blamed problems with the IV insertion. That same year, an Arizona execution using the sedative lasted for nearly two hours. Another execution that year in Ohio saw the inmate writhe and gasp for air and, in 2016, witnesses to an execution in Alabama said the inmate there coughed and heaved. The U.S. Supreme Court heard a challenge to Oklahoma's use of Midazolam in 2015 and upheld the state's lethal injection protocol in a 5-4 decision, holding that the drug cocktail did not violate the U.S. Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Sotomayor referenced that decision in her dissent Thursday, writing that the court did not "did not categorically determine whether a lethal injection protocol using Midazolam is a constitutional method of execution" - but instead found no error in a lower court's determination that the drug "was highly likely to prevent a person from feeling pain." States have turned to Midazolam in recent years as they struggled to obtain the drugs needed for lethal injections, a shortage fueled in part by the objections drugmakers have to their products being used to carry out death sentences. In response to the shortage, states have turned to new and untested drug combinations or explored other execution methods. Oklahoma announced earlier this year that it would begin using nitrogen gas rather than lethal injections in response to the shortage, while Utah previously adopted firing squads as the state's backup method of execution. Last month, authorities in Nevada were hours away from carrying out the country's first execution using fentanyl when a judge called it off due to a challenge from Alvogen, a drug company. The firm objected to Nevada's plans to use its Midazolam, and in court filings the company listed the controversial executions in Oklahoma, Arizona and Alabama that all used the same drug. Arkansas similarly resumed executions last year after a 12-year lull, carrying out four lethal injection in eight days. Officials said that frantic pace was necessary because their stock of Midazolam - acquired just days after the Supreme Court ruling upheld Oklahoma's protocol in 2015 - was about to expire. On Thursday, Irick was pronounced dead at 7:48 p.m. at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee. In the room with him was Deputy Attorney General Scott Sutherland, Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones, seven media witnesses and Irick's attorney witness Eugene Shiles. Dr. Steve Ball, senior pastor at Metro Tab Church, will speak on part 3 of "Access" Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The children's ministry is called Metro Kidz and all kids are welcome. Metro Tab Church is a multicultural and non-denominational ministry. Metro Tab Church is at 2101 West Shepherd Road at Highway 153 and Airport Exit 1. For more information call 894-3377 or visit www.metrotab.net. Here's a big reason the stakes this fall are so high. A Democratic takeover of the House could help curb the outsize influence that the worldview of President Donald Trump's base - or, at least, the fabled picture of this worldview that is often depicted in the media, and also appears to exist in the mind of Trump himself - has in shaping policy on so many fronts, something that is already having deeply destructive consequences that could get a lot worse. Two important new pieces help illustrate the nature of this predicament and why there may be a way out of it: This one by Nate Cohn digging into the nuances of the Trump electorate and the possible limits of its influence over the midterms, and this one by Adam Serwer, which argues that "white nationalism is winning." Cohn's analysis finds that the Trump coalition remains remarkably resilient, but also that he is losing support on its margins, and that its resilience may not be enough to enable the GOP to hold the House. Working class white men remain gung ho behind him. But the college educated whites and women - including mostly college educated but also non-college-educated women - who backed him are drifting away in nontrivial numbers. Trump prevailed due to working class white support because that demographic was overrepresented in the few swing states he won by razor-thin margins. But Cohn notes that circumstances could change this fall, because working class whites are not overrepresented in the House battleground electorate, and because Trump is softening among his more educated voters - many women - who turn out in midterms: "White voters without a college degree typically turn out in smaller numbers in midterm elections. And turnout among college-educated voters has been unusually high in special and general elections held since Trump won the presidency." "If the patterns hold, the combination of a better-educated battleground and lower turnout among less educated voters could mean that House control is decided in districts where college-educated voters make up around 47 percent of voters, rather than the 34 percent share of such voters in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan in 2016, according to Upshot estimates based on census data." Meanwhile, writing in the Atlantic, Serwer paints an alarming picture of a slow seepage of white nationalist viewpoints into the mainstream discourse. Even if overt white supremacists are getting publicly repudiated, savvier right wing TV personalities regularly bombard GOP audiences with more carefully couched white nationalist arguments, which incite below-the-radar "white panic" by feeding the conviction "that American politics is a zero-sum game in which white people only win when people of color lose." As Serwer notes, Trump regularly feeds this sentiment, such as when he refuses to unambiguously condemn white supremacists, blasts African-American athletes precisely because they are using their stature to protest systemic racism, and regularly abuses immigrants and Muslims with bigoted, dehumanizing invective. The fact that this appears to consolidate (most of) Trump's support has persuaded him and his media enablers that "racist demagoguery plays to his advantage." This is taking a terrible human toll in the real world, with a rolled back Justice Department commitment to civil rights and combating police abuses, deportation efforts targeting longtime residents with ties to communities, family separations landing thousands of children in cages, the thinly-veiled Muslim ban, and the new policy of targeting legal immigrants which could harm many of their U.S. citizen children. Trump, notes Serwer, is persuaded that his base is behind his "mistreatment of religious and ethnic minorities." Whether or not Trump's base monolithically backs all these things, what matters is that Trump plainly believes this to be the case. Trump pardoned racist sheriff Joe Arpaio after getting persuaded it was "a way of pleasing his political base." On family separations, Trump reportedly claimed that "my people love it." The big problem we have right now is that the worldview of Trump's base - or Trump's impression of that worldview, anyway - is shaping policy on multiple fronts, with immense consequences. His immigration crackdown rests on a foundation of lies about the impact of immigrants and Muslims on jobs and crime and terrorism. The Trump trade war, and his effort to upend the international order, both rest on a foundation of lies about the distribution of tariffs and payments to NATO, which Trump surely believes is central to his appeal to his base as well. The real world result? Deeply strained international alliances and more and more reports of layoffs. This will not go on forever But, if what has happened so far this cycle is any indication, these are precisely the things that are fueling the backlash among college educated and suburban whites, particularly women, and among young voters and minorities, that could ultimately shift control of the House. Ron Brownstein reports that strategists in both parties agree that this surge, which is outpacing the energy in rural and exurban Trump country, is putting many reddish districts in play for Democrats. And the surge also reinforces the possibility, noted above, that the House battleground could prove more demographically hospitable to them. Meanwhile, though white nationalists are clearly emboldened and Trump's immigration agenda is spreading terror and misery, it's unclear just how far the white nationalist vision will get in practice. Trump's deportation machinery is running into procedural obstacles. The GOP Congress won't give him the tools he wants to get around those obstacles and to facilitate the inflicting of maximum duress on migrating families. That duress isn't even dissuading more border crossers. The reign of fear probably isn't inspiring its intended mass self-deportations. One can imagine a Democratic House extracting a deal from Trump that protects over one million "dreamers" and works out a more reasonable handling of the families, in exchange for token wall money that Trump can boast at rallies about. The relentless whittling down of refugee admissions is a humanitarian tragedy and will likely get worse, but hopefully that can get reversed later. The fabled worldview of the Trump base will not remain the basis for many of our most consequential domestic policy arrangements and our posture towards the rest of the world forever. Of course, it remains an open question how much damage it will do first. The Trump administration is privately trying to coax Saudi Arabia to dial back hostilities with Canada even as the U.S. maintains a hands-off public approach to the escalating dispute between the two key allies, a senior U.S. official said. The U.S. is now trying to do behind-the-scenes damage control after being caught off guard by Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's move this week to expel the Canadian ambassador, freeze new trade deals and cancel direct flights to Toronto on its state airline, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. U.S. officials believe Prince Mohammed thinks he has license from the U.S. to confront Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, exploiting perceived tension between Washington and Ottawa over trade that emerged at the end of a Group of Seven summit in June. At the same time, President Donald Trump and his top advisers -- especially son-in-law Jared Kushner -- have been cultivating closer ties to the Saudi crown prince, a key supplier of oil who Kushner also wants to play a central role in his Israel-Palestinian peace plan. The Trump administration has maintained a laissez faire approach to the row, refusing to publicly intervene in a crisis officials believe could take some time to resolve and has already created a series of diplomatic headaches. Saudi diplomats did provide their American counterparts with an explanation for their recent actions, which came after Canada released a statement that said it was "gravely concerned" by the arrest of activists in the country and called for the immediate release of women's rights campaigners Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah, according to the official. Both activists were arrested in Saudi Arabia in July, according to Human Rights Watch. But the extraordinary Saudi response has led some within the Trump administration to conclude that Salman is using the episode to demonstrate his control within the country -- and that avenues to reform travel through him. While the crown prince has sought to foster an international image as a social and economic reformer, he's also ordered the detention of dozens of royal family members, government officials, and billionaires in what the government described as an anti-graft crackdown.Global Affairs Canada declined to comment on diplomatic correspondence, and Trudeau's office didn't respond to a request for comment. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland hasn't yet spoken to Pompeo or any other U.S. counterpart on the Saudi issue since it erupted, though she has spoken to her German, Swedish and UAE counterparts, according to a Canadian government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly. Canada doesn't have any official clarity yet on what precisely Saudi has ordered in terms of dumping assets, only what the Financial Times and others have reported, the official said. The Saudi reaction wasn't to the scale of anything Canada has seen in the past, despite previous public comments on the issue of women's rights activist arrests and human rights in the kingdom in general. Naif Alsudairy, the Saudi ambassador in Ottawa, said the Canadian statement was troubling because it implied a judgment on the kingdom's legal system. "We can't just give people orders about the way we think," he told the Globe and Mail newspaper on Friday. The Saudis may be attempting to capitalize on the rift, believing Trump would be unlikely to come down hard in defense of an ally who has fallen out of favor, the U.S. official said. So far, that calculation appears to be correct. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, asked about the spat during a press conference on Tuesday, said that "both sides need to diplomatically resolve this together." "We can't do it for them," Nauert added. "They need to resolve it together." The U.S. has decided to work privately on a resolution, the official said, including attempts to prevent the Saudis from doing more than they've already done. The U.S.'s silence has been mirrored by other key Canadian allies, including the U.K. That's contributed to the sense that Ottawa has received little international support as it sought to champion human rights. The U.K. under Theresa May has been consumed by the task of completing the terms for Brexit and is loath to irritate the Saudis given the billions at stake in defense contracts and the potential for lucrative trade deals. May openly pitched London as a listing destination for Aramco, Saudi Arabia's oil company, and gave Prince Mohammed a warm welcome in March during a high-profile visit that drew protests. At Trump's urging, Saudi Arabia has boosted oil production in recent months, limiting the impact on consumers of the president's decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran. Trump criticized OPEC on Twitter after the London crude price hit a three-year high of more than $80 a barrel in May. The commodity has since retreated to around $72 a barrel. Saudi Arabia is also seen as the linchpin to the president's proposal to create a new security alliance in the Middle East -- a so-called Arab NATO -- intended to limit Iranian influence in the region. Regardless of motivation, the relative U.S. silence on the issue has been noticed in Ottawa. The American response is "a glimpse of what the world looks like without the U.S. advocating for human rights," Roland Paris, a University of Ottawa professor and former Trudeau foreign policy adviser, said in an interview. "Right now there is very little solidarity," he added. --With assistance from Bloomberg's Greg Quinn and Stephen Wicary . Chesapeake Sheriff's Office. The lawyers for convicted sniper Lee Boyd Malvo and the Virginia attorney general have agreed to postpone a resentencing of the former teenaged defendant while awaiting a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the resentencing should happen at all. Malvo, now 33, was given life sentences without parole in Virginia for three of the 10 killings he and accomplice John Allen Muhammad committed in the Washington area in 2002, when Malvo was 17. Muhammad was convicted of one Virginia sniper killing and sentenced to death, and he was executed in 2009. The pair was also convicted of six slayings in Maryland and given life sentences there. RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will ask the General Assembly to provide tax rebates to certain low-income residents next year using $250 million in additional state revenue expected from changes to federal tax law. Virginia anticipates collecting roughly $500 million in additional revenue each year until 2024, when the new federal tax cuts are scheduled to end as a result of a sunset provision. That's primarily because the federal income tax cuts championed by President Donald Trump and approved by Republicans in Congress were not accompanied by changes in state law, and the differences caused an increase in some state tax payments. At a news conference Friday at the State Capitol, Northam, a Democrat, said half of the additional amount should go to low-income workers because of an "imbalance" in how the federal tax cuts are structured. "Most of the benefits go to corporations and the top-income earning individuals," he said. "I want to make sure that everyone benefits, and the best way to do that is by targeting a refund to those working families who need it the most." His proposal: make the state's earned-income tax credit fully refundable. Under current law, a Virginian who qualifies for the earned-income tax credit can only claim it up to the amount of their total tax liability. For example, if someone has an $800 tax bill and qualifies for $1,000 in earned-income tax credit, they can only get $800 of the credit. Northam said that roughly 600,000 Virginians qualify for earned-income tax credit each year, and only 200,000 of those get the full amount. He is proposing to extend the full credit to all who qualify. The Republican leadership of the closely divided General Assembly criticized Northam's proposal Friday, saying it amounts to a tax increase on the middle class. House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, "isn't interested in raising taxes on middle class families and will instead be looking at broad based tax relief for all Virginians to make sure the Commonwealth fully realizes the benefits of the federal tax cuts," spokesman Parker Slaybaugh said via email. State Finance Secretary Aubrey Layne said the surplus tax revenues are flowing in because of differences between Virginia law and federal tax law. Congress increased the standard deduction, for instance, and the state did not. That causes more federal taxpayers to take the standard deduction instead of itemizing, and they must do the same with their Virginia tax returns - leading to higher state tax bills. Republican lawmakers, who hold a narrow majority in both chambers of the General Assembly, said there are a number of ways to square the situation. They include allowing Virginia taxpayers to itemize deductions on their state returns even if they take the standard federal deduction, or increasing the state's standard deduction, or lowering the state tax rate. "Of course, I'm willing to listen to the governor and see the details of his proposal in the context of the entire budget," House Appropriations Committee Chairman S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, said. But Jones said he doesn't consider it "an equitable proposal" if other taxpayers continue to be prevented from itemizing their deductions. Northam argued that because many of the federal tax changes cut rates for corporations and for people with income from stocks and other capital gains, his earned-income proposal "will put what's happening in Washington more in balance across Virginia." The governor said he would like to use the rest of the additional revenue for priorities such as work force training, extending high-speed Internet service to rural areas, boosting education and lowering health care costs. The General Assembly will likely take up the issue in its budget deliberations next January. Though the legislature is technically still in session - it has unfinished business related to appointing judges - it has completed budget work and would have to suspend its rules to consider the proposal now. For taxpayers, then, the soonest such rebates could be available is next year. These additional tax revenues are separate from a $550 million surplus the state reported at the end of the fiscal year on June 30. That money went into Virginia's short-term and long-term rainy-day funds, shoring up the state's coveted AAA bond rating. Northam said he will provide more details about his proposal next week when he makes an annual presentation to legislators about the state's fiscal health. SAN ANTONIO - Three men were arrested Thursday in what police initially said was a fatal road rage shooting last month on the West Side. Lonnie Ellison, 19, his brother Christian, 22, and Jordan Elijah Davis, 19, are each charged with murder and two counts of aggravated assault, according to police.San Antonio Police Department spokesman officer Douglas Greene said the shooting initially occurred at about 1:25 a.m. July 4 on Castroville Road near 39th Street. RELATED: 1 killed, 2 critically injured in road rage shooting on West Side Jesus Garcia, 22, and two men, ages 18 and 22, were struck by gun fire from another vehicle, police said. The men survived, but Garcia died in the car, investigators said. Greene said that detectives found information pointing them to the Ellisons and Davis as suspects in the shooting. The U.S. Marshals arrested Lonnie and Christian Ellison at 8 p.m. Thursday in the 7900 block of West Military Drive.Davis was arrested Thursday evening by the SAPD officers and the SWAT team. Greene said they apprehended him during a traffic stop at Highway 151 and Military. RELATED: Graphic: Man bitten by shark on Texas beach Both Lonnie and Christian Ellison were silent to a reporter's questions as they were led in handcuffs to police vehicles. Greene said detectives found evidence that the two parties had met up with each other when an argument occurred. As Garcia and the other two men were driving away, police say the three suspects followed them and shot at their car. "This may have been some kind of narcotics deal that may have went South," Greene said, hinting at an argument or verbal agreement. "That they're still ironing out, but they do have some evidence ... that these individuals were arranging to meet with each other." jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA Ideally, employers would pay their employees for sick days when they are genuinely ill. But there are legitimate reasons that smaller business have problems doing this. If this is the goal, the proper body to address it is the Texas Legislature. Organizers have produced enough signatures to place a measure on the San Antonio ballot. Austin enacted this previously. The San Antonio City Council now must choose whether to simply enact it or place it on the ballot. This is a decision likely by Thursday, the councils last scheduled meeting before Aug. 20, the deadline to get the measure on the fall ballot. The council shouldnt enact it, and if it gets to the November ballot, voters should reject it. The measure would require private employers with 15 or fewer employees to provide six paid sick days a year, larger businesses eight. These could be used for the workers own illness, or a family members physical or mental illness. They also could be used for preventive care, to take legal action, to move, or to obtain services related to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. We are not unsympathetic to the estimated 354,000 San Antonians roughly 39 percent of the workforce without paid sick days. We do indeed believe that, faced with their own illnesses or that of one of their children, the stark choice for too many is to work or not get paid. And since most of these workers are concentrated in lower-paid jobs, this is a draconian choice between getting paid or not buying sufficient groceries, for instance, or keeping the electricity on. Were also confident, however, that smart business owners provide options shift swaps, for instance to mitigate this. And we believe, from our own observances through the years, that some people will call in sick when they arent ill to craft three-day weekends or in the service industry where these more rarely occur two consecutive days off. We suspect that businesses that start providing paid sick days will suddenly see a spike in absenteeism, but they should also mull whether this is because people who were genuinely sick before and still went to work are now staying home. But sick-day scamming is largely beside the point. There are, unfortunately, a minority of employees who will exploit any benefit loophole, and companies should have mechanisms to deal with these workers. Among our concerns is the narrowness of this measure. Such measures enacted in this city, but not that city, will create a patchwork of communities that will make some businesses unable to eke out profit without eliminating jobs or cutting other benefits. This is why this is a measure best left to the Legislature. We understand the attraction of a city-by-city approach to some measures. On items such as smoking bans and bans on using cellphones while driving, the Texas Legislature has been notoriously slow to act if it acts at all. But paid sick leave is substantively unlike other issues. It may marginally be a public health issue, but not quite in the same way as smoking in public places. It doesnt kill or maim as talking on cellphones or texting while driving does. It isnt a tree ordinance or a plastic bag ban. Local communities should be able to protect and beautify their own environments. In any case, heres what else voters should recognize. If this measure wins at the ballot box, it will largely be a symbolic victory for proponents. Legislators are already gearing up to pre-empt local ordinances. They will pull the trigger. Want to prevent that? That, too, is a matter for the ballot box as in changing the makeup of the Legislature. But, for the moment, we dont believe measures on paid sick days belong at the local level. 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 The 21st anniversary marking Ballinamuck's twinning agreement between it and the French town of Essert has been hailed a magnificent success. The historic milestone was celebrated over ten immensely enjoyable days and which incorporated involvement in the Cruthu Urban Forest project and a camping trip on the River Shannon at Rooskey, courtesy of Shannon River Adventures. While that particular excursion was left to the younger generation, for the adults a Victorian Escapades in Mullingar alongside a trip to Tullamore Dew and Abbesyhrule. For most though, the trip's highlight was a civic reception at Longford County Council headquarters a little under two weeks ago. The group was welcomed into the council chamber by Cathaoirleach Cllr Luie McEntire, himself a veteran of two exchange visits to Essert. In a fitting gesture the long serving local politician reminisced of his fond memories of the welcome and hospitality he received there. He outlined the background to the memorable gift presented by Longford County Council to the Mayor of Essert, a bespoke bench, designed by Longford County Council architect Richard Smith and made in Ireland. It is manufactured in a polished, light coloured, sandstone - as traditionally found in the Ballinamuck area of north Longford. Mayor of Essert Yves Gaume expressed his appreciation for the unique gift as further evidence of the close ties that now prevailed between both locations. He stressed the importance of these friendships in an increasingly uncertain world, before pointing out how a street in Essert had been named after its Irish twinning partner. In his address, Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon told of the priority that the Council had given to the promotion of Longford as a tourism destination. The development of a Rebel Trail in north Longford which includes Ballinamuck and its association with the 1798 rebellion came in for specific mention. Indeed, it was the infamous Battle of Ballinamuck in 1798 and the indelible imprint it cast on the local social fabric which provided the springboard for the twinning between Ballinamuck and Essert de Belfort. Regardless of its legacy, the battle brought a large number of welcome, if unexpected, visitors from France to County Longford. Paddy Howe, Chairperson of Ballinamuck Enterprise said the ensuing twinning accord is testament to the goodwill and friendships that have, and continue to prevail more than two centuries later. The Leader spoke to the people of Longford last week to find out how they felt about the latest round of post office closures and the impact it will have on the county. Helen Farrell from Longford town said that closing rural post offices was a disgrace! I think it is a disgrace and I feel most for the elderly who use the service for their pension, etc, she said. There are people that use the post office just to buy a stamp; what will they do? ALSO READ: Longford post office closures are a 'blow to the community' Despite the increase in online shopping and payments coming directly into bank accounts, Helen believes there is a still a need for post offices. Not everybody has email and if you need to post a letter, where do you go - the post office, she continued. A lot of elderly people dont have the internet; I think closing the post offices is a bad idea. Meanwhile, Mary Harris from Co Leitrim told the Leader that she was totally against closing post offices. Thats where people meet their neighbours; thats where people socialise and shop, sure we might as well all lie down and die, she added. This is just dreadful; there are two post offices in my area closing down shortly. Pat Wall from Longford town said rural Ireland was being ignored. Sure they might as well close the whole country down beyond Lucan, the Longford town man added. The post office is a social outlet. James Earley, Longford town said the way things were at the moment, people were doing everything online. People are doing stuff online; there is less work for the post offices to do; its a new generation now - the way I see it there wont even be retail units before long and everything will be done online, so if people arent supporting the post offices this is what is going to happen. Its the elderly people that will feel the brunt of it; I would prefer to get paid into the bank but I like to go down to the post office on a Friday morning and have a chat with the oul boys! Its sad to see whats going on. Mary Flynn from Drumlish added, Post Offices are very important to people; its a social outlet for a lot of elderly people. I know one man who only leaves the house once a week and thats to get his pension in the post office and have a chat with his neighbours. Sure people cant go to the pub anymore and very soon they wont be able to go to their local post office either. Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: August 10 2018 Robert J. Mirel And Deborah F. Burnett Defrauded Almost 60 Customers for Glass Installation Equipment They Never ProvidedThen Laundered Millions in Criminal Proceeds through Shell Companies. New York, NY - August 10, 2018 - Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today announced the guilty pleas of Robert J. Mirel (a/k/a Robert Morel, a/k/a RJ Mirel) and Debra Burnett (a/k/a Deborah Barnett, a/k/a Debby Turner)the owners and operators of Arlington Equipment Corp. d/b/a Arlington Manipulatorsfor defrauding numerous companies and business owners throughout New York and the United States by pretending to sell glass installation equipment and laundering millions of dollars in criminal proceeds through their shell and shelf companies. Both defendants pleaded guilty today in Warren County Court to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Money Laundering in the Second Degree, Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, and Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree. Mirel will be sentenced to 5 to 15 years in state prison and Burnett will be sentenced to 3 to 9 years in state prison on September 27th, 2018. They will also be required to pay over $1.3 million in restitution. If you cheat your customers, evade paying taxes, and steal from workers, youre just a criminal with a business cardand we will catch you, said Attorney General Underwood. My office will continue to hold accountable those who scam New Yorkers. The Attorney Generals investigation, dubbed Operation Bob the Builder, revealed that Arlington Equipment Corp. was one of the only manufacturers of glass manipulators in North America at the time the business started in Queensbury, NY. Glass manipulators are used by glass and glazing companies around the world to help install heavy glass in high-rise buildings and position custom pieces of glass at angles other than 90-degree intervals. As stated in the indictment, over at least five years, Mirel and Burnett took advantage of this near monopoly and stole over $1.3 million from almost 60 customers across the country, as well as defrauding the New York Department of Labor, The New York Department of Tax and Finance, and several employees who were not fairly compensated. Mirel and Burnetts scheme victimized not only New York customers, but businesses across the country in California, Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, as well as outside the United States in Australia, Canada, and Germany. In some instances, smaller companies that depended on receiving services from Arlington Equipment Corp. were unable to recover from the theft, and ultimately went out of business. Superintendent George P. Beach II said, These guilty pleas, and the solid work by law enforcement on this case, ensure these individuals will no longer be able to defraud companies and organizations throughout New York and beyond. We want to send a message to those who prey on hard-working business owners, even their own employees, we will work together to bring you to justice. Thank you to our state and local partners for their dedication, and we look forward to partnering again to put an end to these types of practices. Inter-agency cooperation and the sharing of resources and intelligence is what led to a successful outcome and the possibility for victims around the country to be compensated and made whole, said Lt. Steve Stockdale, Warren County Sheriffs Office. The elaborate scam and outright thievery committed in this case left a wide swath of destruction, victimizing unsuspecting customers, businesses, employees, and ultimately all New Yorkers, said Acting Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Nonie Manion. These perpetrators will now be held accountable, and we will continue to work with all levels of law enforcement to root out similar acts of fraud. According to the indictment, by 2012, customers purchasing manipulators from Arlington Equipment Corp. provided a down payment of at least 50% but never received a finished product. By April 2013, Arlington had terminated almost all of their employees. Nevertheless, Arlington continued to take dozens of orders for manipulators through at least 2016. In many instances, Mirel and/or Burnett would inform customers that the manipulators were complete and ready to ship, but they required customers to pay the balance of the order prior to shipment; however, after receiving the balance, Arlington never sent the manipulator to the customer. Mirel and Burnett also took manipulators from victims for repairs, and then either repaired or sold them to other customers, or dismantled them to use their parts in new and refurbished products. The Attorney Generals investigation further revealed that Burnett and Mirel used bank accounts of shell and shelf companies that they set up at multiple financial institutions to launder the proceeds of their criminal enterprise through at least eight banks accounts. Shell companies serve as a vehicle for business transactions without having any significant assets or operations. Shelf companies are entities that are created and left with no business activity, and subsequently used at a later point in time without the need to go through the procedures of creating a new entity. These entities included Arlington Equipment Corp.; Debbie Turner Music, LLC; Autowild International, LLC; Arlington Holding Management, LLC; AllMobile Technologies, LLC; and Arlington Manipulators. According to statements and filings by the Attorney Generals office, since at least 2012, Mirel and Burnett laundered money through their corporate entities in various ways, including but not limited to: Making substantial cash withdrawals of victim money, then purchasing official bank checks payable to one of their other entities, and subsequently paying personal expenses with those funds so as to appear as if they were coming from a legitimate source of income; Making substantial cash withdrawals of victim money, then purchasing official bank checks payable to one of their other entities, and subsequently writing checks back to an Arlington account in an attempt to artificially inflate the sales cash flow; Structuring cash withdrawals and deposits in an attempt to move criminal proceeds undetected; and, Taking new victims money both for personal benefit and using it to buy parts to build manipulators for prior victims that had not received their manipulators as originally promised. When customers complained, Mirel would provide excuses that, in most cases, went on for years. According to the Attorney Generals office, Arlington often told victims that parts were unavailable or on backorder, while telling the few employees that worked there that there was no cash to purchase the necessary materials to build the manipulators. Meanwhile, Arlington continued accessing the victims money to carry out their criminal activity and pay personal expenses; in some instances, Arlington even asked employees to pay for materials, promising to reimburse them once the sale was made, yet never did so. According to the indictment, employees are owed over $100,000 in parts purchased on behalf of Arlington. Moreover, Mirel and Burnett paid themselves and employees with payroll checks from Paychex, Inc., as well as corporate checks and cash, giving their employees the misimpression that their W2s would reflect their tax withholdings, when in fact that money was not being withheld. Mirel and Burnett also falsely reported their income to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance on the IT-201 Personal Income Tax Filings for the tax years of 2013 and 2014 by an excess of $470,000, incurring a liability in excess of $30,000. Furthermore, they falsely caused NYS-45 Forms to be filed with the NYS Department of Labor, so as to not pay and underpay unemployment insurance. According to statements by the Attorney Generals office, by 2016, Mirel and Burnett also created a prospectus showing an estimated cash flow of over $11 million, in an attempt to sell Arlington and attract investors to provide funding necessary to continue perpetrating their scheme. In this prospectus, they indicated that they anticipated selling more than 50 manipulators per quarter, or 200 manipulators a year. The investigation revealed that these numbers were grossly inflated, as Arlington never manufactured more than 10 manipulators per year. In April 2018, Mirel and Burnett were each charged by and indictment in Warren County Court with the following 29 felonies: Money Laundering in the Second Degree, a class C felony (two counts); Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony (two counts); Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony (fourteen counts); Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony (one count); Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a class D felony (two counts); and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony (eight counts). Today, Mirel and Burnett pleaded guilty to Money Laundering in the Second Degree, a class C felony; Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony; Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony; and, Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a class D felony. Mirel and Burnetts pleas resolve additional alleged crimes of money laundering, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, falsifying business records, attempted mortgage fraud, and securities fraud for which they could have been charged in Albany, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Saratoga, Suffolk, Warren, Washington and Westchester Counties. Mirel is expected to be sentenced to 5 to 15 years in state prison, and Burnett is expected to be sentenced to 3 to 9 years in state prison. Additionally, confessions of judgment will be entered against the defendants, requiring them to pay the full amount of their theft back to their 58 victims, totaling over $1.3 million. Sentencing is scheduled for before Hon. John S. Hall, Jr. on September 27th, 2018. Attorney General Underwood thanks the New York State Police Financial Crimes Unit, Senior Investigator Timothy Marten and Investigator Charles Williams, Warren County Sheriff Nathan H. Bud York and Investigator Christopher J. Hatin, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Forensic Tax Auditor Kimlee A. Stewart, New York State Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance Division Auditor Samantha Ernst and Assistant Director of Adjudication and Determination Lynne Camileo and Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Worker Protection Milan Bhatt, and the Warren County District Attorney Jason M. Carusone and his office, for their valuable assistance on this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Philip V. Apruzzese of the Attorney Generals Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau. The Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Stephanie Swenton and Deputy Bureau Chief Joseph DArrigo. The Criminal Division is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Margaret Garnett and Chief Deputy Attorney General Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: August 10 2018 Letter Follows Temporary Restraining Order Secured by AG Underwood and Fellow AGs, Blocking Distribution of Files. State AGs are attempting to crack down on downloadable plans for 3-D printed guns that were illegally posted online. New York, NY - August 10, 2018 - New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood part of a bipartisan coalition of 22 state attorneys general today sent New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood part of a bipartisan coalition of 22 state attorneys general today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions demanding that the Department of State take immediate action to remove from several websites downloadable plans for 3-D printed guns that were illegally posted online. Its common sense: we shouldnt be handing criminals the tools to build untraceable, undetectable 3-D printed guns. But thats what the Trump administration chose to allow so we took them to court, and we won, said Attorney General Underwood. The federal government has a fundamental responsibility to enforce the law and protect public safety. The State Department must do its job and act now to stop the spread of these materials. The letter criticizes the Department of States failure to mitigate the harms of its settlement with Defense Distributed, an online company that was authorized by the federal government to post plans for 3-D printed guns online. Last week, Attorney General Underwood and a coalition of Attorneys General won a temporary restraining order from a federal judge, blocking the Trump administration from allowing the distribution of these plans. In the letter, the Attorneys General call on Secretary Pompeo and Attorney General Sessions to take steps to ensure that Defense Distributeds files are not available to anyone, especially those who pose a threat to public safety. Since the temporary restraining order was put in place, Defense Distributed removed files for 3-D printed guns posted on its website, but several other websites have since re-posted these files online and the federal government has taken no apparent action to have them removed. A multistate coalition of Attorneys General sent a letter last week urging AG Sessions and Secretary Pompeo to withdraw from the settlement with Defense Distributed, writing that it recklessly disregards public safety. AG Sessions and Secretary Pompeo have yet to respond to the concerns and have not indicated any willingness to confront the urgent public safety risk posed by 3-D printed firearms. Local News, Community, Charity & Cause By Long Island News & PR Published: August 10 2018 One of Brookhavens bravest to receive top honor for saving woman on train tracks. Brookhaven, NY - August 10, 2018 - Proving that life and death can be decided in a matter of seconds, the Firemens Association of the State of New York (FASNY) today announced Peter DiPinto of the Proving that life and death can be decided in a matter of seconds, the Firemens Association of the State of New York (FASNY) today announced Peter DiPinto of the Brookhaven Volunteer Fire Department as 2018 Firefighter of the Year for his heroic actions to successfully remove a driver from her vehicle moments before it was struck by an oncoming train. The 30-year veteran of the Brookhaven Fire Department will be honored at a ceremony on August 12 at the 146th FASNY Convention in Liverpool, NY, where he will receive a Medal of Valor for his heroics. Firefighter DiPinto acted quickly, decisively, and heroically, successfully saving the life of somebody who almost certainly otherwise would have perished, said FASNY President Kenneth Pienkowski. Firefighter DiPintos actions were consistent with the finest traditions of New Yorks volunteer fire service. For his bravery, FASNY is honored to name Peter DiPinto the 2018 Firefighter of the Year. Firefighter DiPinto demonstrated true selflessness and heroism, said Brookhaven Fire Department Chief Giuseppe Loiacono, who submitted Firefighter DiPinto for the award.. Firefighter DiPinto acted well above and beyond the call of duty, saving the life of a person in harms way. The Brookhaven Fire Department salutes his courage and is proud of his recognition by FASNY." I am honored to be recognized by FASNY, said 2018 Firefighter of the Year Peter DiPinto. It is truly humbling to stand in the footsteps of the previous firefighters of the year. I am grateful to have been in the right place at the right time, and I am so happy that Ms. Esposito was able to return to her family that night. DESCRIPTION OF THE RESCUE On the night of October 10, 2017, Firefighter Peter DiPinto of the Brookhaven Fire Department was getting into bed when he heard a car crash at the intersection of Montauk Highway and Arthur Avenue. Along with his wife Laura, Firefighter DiPinto immediately jumped out of bed and into his car and raced toward the sound of the crash, wearing only pajamas and carrying a flashlight. Upon arriving on scene, Firefighter DiPinto found a car near the tracks with the front end smashed in. As he moved to help the driver of that car, his wife shouted that there was another car stranded on the railroad tracks. He immediately moved to assist the occupants of this vehicle. The car on the tracks had sustained heavy damage to its driver-side door, and its airbags were deployed. Firefighter DiPinto began to assess the condition of the driver, who was dazed and confused, when the Arthur Avenue railroad crossing bells and gates activated and a train horn sounded. DiPinto could see the Long Island Railroad train bearing down on him. Without hesitation, Firefighter DiPinto raced to the passenger side door and yanked it open, and confirmed, despite the presence of a car seat, that the driver was the only occupant of the vehicle. As the train drew closer, unable to slow down quickly, Firefighter DiPinto grabbed the drivers wrists and pulled her out of the car. Firefighter DiPinto and the driver then quickly ran off the tracks, hearing a tremendous noise as the incoming train demolished the stranded vehicle. Firefighter DiPinto and his wife sheltered the two victims of the accident in their car until additional first responders arrived. The MTA police later estimated that collision between car and train occurred only five to seven seconds after Firefighter DiPinto successfully removed the victim. Tech & Science, Nature & Weather, Local News, Business & Finance By Long Island News & PR Published: August 10 2018 NYPA Power and Funding Incentives Generate More Than $551 Million in Capital Investments throughout New York. Albany, NY - August 10, 2018 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced state economic development incentives that directly support the creation and retention of approximately 6,500 jobs and capital investments of more than $551 million throughout New York State. The New York Power Authority Board of Trustees today approved power and funding incentives through five NYPA economic development programs, including the Governor's Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced state economic development incentives that directly support the creation and retention of approximately 6,500 jobs and capital investments of more than $551 million throughout New York State. The New York Power Authority Board of Trustees today approved power and funding incentives through five NYPA economic development programs, including the Governor's ReCharge NY program, which provides qualifying businesses and non-profit organizations with discounted NYPA power in exchange for commitments to retain or create jobs in New York State. NYPA's power allocations and economic development incentives have positively affected the New York State economy by encouraging companies to retain and create jobs, while sparking capital investment throughout the state. "Through Recharge NY and other state economic development programs, New York is working tirelessly to ensure that we continue to retain and attract business on a global scale," Governor Cuomo said. "These economic development programs incentivize businesses to lay down roots and expand in New York State, creating jobs and bolstering the economy for all hardworking New Yorkers." The NYPA board approved 22 ReCharge NY power awards, which will support more than 6,200 jobs and nearly $444 million in capital investment commitments. Including today's allocations, ReCharge NY provides more than 758 megawatts of power to 666 businesses and 80 nonprofit organizations in support of the creation and retention of jobs in New York State. The jobs created come from a gamut of industries and regions from across New York State, including Amazon Fulfillment Services in Staten Island to Amy's Kitchen in Orange County to Kraft Heinz Foods in the North Country. The program offers up to seven-year power contracts with half of the power455 MWfrom NYPA's Niagara and St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt hydroelectric power plants, which provide some of the greenest, cleanest and low-cost electricity in the state. "Funding for programs to boost economic development across the state are helping to increase business and job opportunities in New York," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "We're committed to attracting and expanding businesses, helping to grow the economy and advancing progress for all New Yorkers." NYPA Chairman John R. Koelmel said, "The Power Authority's wide array of economic development programs are key in ensuring that businesses thrive in every corner of the state, from Long Island to Western New York to the North Country. NYPA is proud to play a role in supporting thousands of jobs and millions in capital investments throughout the state." NYPA President and CEO Gil C. Quiniones said, "NYPA leverages its clean, low-cost power from its large hydroelectric facilities in Niagara and Massena to support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout New York. The Power Authority's economic development programs energize the state's economy, spurring major economic growth, creating jobs, and generating capital investment opportunities across the state." In addition to the RNY power allocations, the NYPA board approved hydropower allocations in Western New York and the Mohawk Valley, and funding awards in Western New York and the North Country. The Power Authority coordinates with Empire State Development on its economic development awards to encourage job retention and creation throughout the state. Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, "New York State has created a strong business climate that continues to encourage businesses statewide to create jobs and support our regional economies." Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee Chair Joseph Griffo said, "Over the years, programs such as Recharge NY have been successful in its mission to provide low-cost hydropower to private companies that agree to retain existing jobs and to create new jobs. I am especially happy for the benefits to industry in my district and the surrounding North Country community through the ReCharge NY and the Northern New York Power Proceeds awards. Our State is blessed to have low-cost hydropower from both the Niagara and the St. Lawrence hydro-facilities and it is wonderful to see the fruits of this low-cost, clean, New York power put to good use for the benefit of our businesses and the families that they support." See below a regional breakdown of today's economic development awards: Mohawk Valley The NYPA board approved low-cost power to the Village of Frankfort in Herkimer County on behalf of Tractor Supply Company under NYPA's Municipal and Rural Electric Cooperative Industrial Economic Development Program. As announced by Governor Cuomo last year, Tractor Supply Company is investing more than $75 million to build a distribution center in Frankfort, creating more than 300 new jobs. The NYPA board also awarded Trenton Technology, an industrial computing company in Utica in Oneida County, with RNY power in return for its commitment to retain 218 jobs, create 15 jobs and make a $5 million capital investment. North Country The NYPA board approved two ReCharge NY power allocations to Kraft Heinz Foods Company in Lewis County and Alice Hyde Medical Center in Franklin County, supporting the creation and retention of 669 jobs and capital investments of $14.6 million in the North Country. Kraft is an existing ReCharge NY customer. The NYPA trustees also approved a funding award of $370,000 from the Northern New York Power Proceeds program to support the establishment of a new $3.7 million AmTech Yarns manufacturing facility in Massena, St. Lawrence County, creating 18 new full-time jobs over the next seven years. The facility, to be located in the Massena Industrial Park in a building owned and redeveloped by the St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency and St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, would make AmTech Yarns the only North American producer of nylon threading. The St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency led the marketing efforts to attract AmTech and bring them to Massena and is packaging over $1 million in loan and lease financing assistance in support of the project. St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency CEO Patrick J. Kelly said, "Massena, with its low-cost power and talented workforce, is an ideal location for a manufacturing company like AmTech. We are thrilled that AmTech is making this investment and are excited to work on more projects like this one with the Power Authority through the Power Proceeds and St. Lawrence County Economic Development Power programs." Western New York The NYPA trustees awarded a Western New York hydropower allocation to Unifrax to add a second production line at its recently-opened Tonawanda facility. The expansion will create 20 new jobs and generate at least $28.5 million in capital investment. Unifrax is an existing NYPA hydropower customer that receives low-cost hydropower at its three Western New York locations, and was supported by performance-based tax credits through ESD's Excelsior Jobs Program. The NYPA trustees also awarded $142,000 through NYPA's Western New York Power Proceeds program to the Historic Palace Theater in Lockport in support of $713,000 in planned renovations. The firm is also receiving support from ESD through its Market New York program. Mid-Hudson The NYPA trustees awarded a RNY power allocation to Amy's Kitchen, an organic food manufacturer, to support the company's expansion to New York State, creating 681 new jobs and a generating more than $106 million in capital investment. The company plans to construct a new facility in Goshen, Orange County, to increase capacity and meet a growing demand for their specialty foods. The company also received an ESD offer package and is considered a transformational project for the region. Finger Lakes Today's approval of ReCharge NY low-cost hydropower allocations included three companies in the Finger Lakes, supporting the retention and creation of 304 jobs in addition to capital investment commitments of $145 million: HP Hood in Genesee County, AmChar Wholesale in Rochester, and Rochester Insulated Glass in Ontario County. HP Hood's decision to redevelop the former Muller-Quaker Dairy plant on Ag Park Drive West in Batavia, Genesee County to create 175 jobs was first announced by Governor Cuomo last year. ESD is supporting the project with performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits and a $2 million capital grant from the Finger Lakes Forward Upstate Revitalization Initiative. New York City The NYPA trustees approved ReCharge NY power to four enterprises in New York City, supporting nearly 4,000 jobs and $156 million in capital investments: Amazon Fulfillment Services in Staten Island, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan. Amazon Fulfillment Services is receiving RNY power to support the construction of a new fulfillment center in Staten Island, announced by Governor Cuomo last year, consisting of 855,000 square-feet of warehouse and distribution space. Amazon has committed to creating 2,250 jobs at the new facility in addition to a capital investment of $100 million, and ESD has offered support through the Excelsior Jobs Program. Long Island The NYPA trustees awarded seven enterprises on Long Island with ReCharge NY power, supporting 369 jobs, with 23 of those jobs being newly created, and capital investments of nearly $16 million. The RNY power under the latest round of allocations will be distributed to B&H Precision Fabricators, B&R Industries, Comco Plastics, Crown I Enterprises, and Plastirunn Corporation in Suffolk County and NYU Winthrop Hospital and Won & Lee (Unicorn Graphics) in Nassau County. Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: August 10 2018 Christopher Carroll, 31, was last seen on Reynolds Road on Wednesday, August 8. UPDATE - August 10, 2018 - Police report that Christopher Carroll has been located. Below is the original report. Glen Cove, NY - August 10, 2018 - The Missing Persons Squad is investigating a Missing Vulnerable Adult that occurred in The Missing Persons Squad is investigating a Missing Vulnerable Adult that occurred in Glen Cove on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. and was reported on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 11:10 a.m. According to detectives, Christopher Carroll, 31, was last seen on Reynolds Road. He is described as a male white, 55, approximately 130 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. The missing suffers from cognitive disorders. He was last seen driving a gray 4-door Ford Fusion with NY registration ARB4181. His destination is unknown. School & Education, Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: August 10 2018 Sophia Clarke of New Hyde Park, 48, is accused of never telling her employers that her licenses were revoked. Mineola, NY - August 10, 2018 - Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a New Hyde Park woman has been arrested for allegedly teaching without a nursing license at Adelphi University and the Borough of Manhattan Community College. Sophia Clarke, 48, of New Hyde Park, was arraigned yesterday before District Court Judge David Goodsell on charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (a C felony), Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree (a D felony) and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree (an E felony). The defendant was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court September 14. If convicted of the top count she faces up to 2-1/3 years to 7 years in prison. Because of their lifesaving role in our healthcare system, its essential that only licensed professionals be allowed teach nursing to students, DA Singas said. This defendant allegedly presented forged credentials to the colleges where she taught after her nursing license was revoked by state authorities. Im grateful to the New York State Board of Education, BMCC and Adelphi University for their assistance with this investigation. The State Education Department's Office of the Professions investigates and prosecutes professional misconduct in more than 50 licensed professions to help protect New Yorkers, said State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. We are grateful for our continuing partnership with the Nassau County District Attorney and her team of professionals as we work together to ensure the public is protected against the dangers of unlicensed practice. DA Singas said that in August 2011 the defendant began teaching nursing at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. In February 2012, Clarkes registered professional nurse and nurse practitioner licenses were revoked. Despite the revocations, the defendant continued teaching and is accused of never telling BMCC that her licenses were revoked. In August of 2012, the defendant was hired to teach in the nursing program at Adelphi University and allegedly provided the school with copies of licenses that had April 2014 expiration dates. Additionally, between April and May of 2014, the defendant allegedly resubmitted forged licenses with 2017 expiration dates to the school. Earlier this year, Clarke was scheduled to teach three classes at BMCC for the Fall 2018 semester, including a hospital clinic that would have involved practicing on actual patients. Based on her license revocation, the defendant has now been placed on leave from BMCC and is no longer scheduled to teach in the Fall 2018 semester, which begins on August 27. She has been terminated from Adelphi University. Valid nursing licenses are requirements to teach at both schools, which are accredited institutions. To check the status of a New York State Nursing professional, go to www.op.nysed.gov Senior Assistant District Attorney April Montgomery of the Financial Crimes Bureau, is prosecuting this case. The defendant is represented by Oscar Holt III, Esq. Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: August 10 2018 The 68 year old victim suffered head trauma was transported in a Nassau County Police Ambulance for treated at a local hospital. Massapequa Park, NY - August 10, 2018 - The Seventh Squad is investigating a Serious Vehicular Accident that occurred in The Seventh Squad is investigating a Serious Vehicular Accident that occurred in Massapequa Park on Friday, August 10, 2018 at 9:30 am. According to detectives, a 68 year old male was driving a 2015 Dodge attempting to cross Sunrise Highway when he was struck by a 2007 Kenworth flatbed truck operated by a 38 year old male at the intersection of Carrol Drive. The 2007 Kenworth was travelling east on Sunrise Highway. Turning Point is seeking teams and sponsors to participate in the 11th-annual Taras Walk to raise money and awareness to fight domestic violence on Sept. 22. Turning Point, which operates Macomb Countys domestic violence shelter, said in a news release it uses proceeds from the event at Freedom Hill Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights for the Tara Liberation Fund, which provides emergency cash assistance to survivors fleeing dangerous situations. The event is held in memory of Tara Grant, who was killed by her husband, Stephen Grant, in their Washington Township home in February 2007. Following a highly publicized trial in Macomb County Circuit Court, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced by Judge Diane Druzinski to 50 to 80 years in prison. Taras sister, Alicia Standerfer, has attended the event every year along with Taras daughter, Lindsey, 17, and son, Ian, 15. Standerfer and her husband, Erik, adopted the children. They moved from Ohio to Wisconsin two years ago. This event is so important to my family and to let people know what domestic violence does to families, Lindsey said in the release. The cost of sponsorships range from $150 to $5,000. Contact Karan Bates-Gasior at 586-463-4430 ext. 226 or kbgasior@turningpointmacomb.org. Walkers/runners can early register at a discount at turningpointmacomb.org or the day of the event beginning at 9 a.m. The individual adult fee is $25. Individuals on teams of six or more pay $20 each. Jameson Cook, The Macomb Daily Dean Reynolds may not be the most notorious convicted felon in the history of Macomb County. But hes surely among the most unforgivable, corrupt, conniving, egomaniacal persons ever elected to public office. Macomb has had its share of unscrupulous officials, from judges to law enforcers to school superintendents. But none have had the arrogance of Dean Reynolds, who prosecutors showed demanded and took more than $150,000 in bribes in four separate schemes involving government contracts. The bribes included more than $75,000 in cash, $50,000 in fees for a divorce lawyer and a trip to Disney World that provided eight nights in a $600 per night luxury suite. Snared in the now infamous Rizzo garbage hauling scandal, Reynolds, a former Clinton Township trustee, claimed in U.S. District Court that the bribes to influence government contracts were actually loans. It took a jury a little more than an hour to convict Reynolds on 14 bribery counts. More than a dozen others charged pleaded guilty, including former trash czar Charles Rizzo Jr. So with so much evidence against him, why did Reynolds refuse to plead guilty in exchange for a likely lesser prison sentence? Maybe Reynolds thought of himself as John Gotti, the New York mobster known as Teflon Don who was acquitted three times in the 1980s despite seemingly overwhelming evidence of guilt. And like Gotti, Reynolds cant give up his evil ways. After his conviction, Reynolds was immediately jailed while awaiting final sentencing. He then requested bond because, he said, he had cancer and his mother was in hospice care. Reynolds recorded jail calls over the past 30 days reveal that Reynolds has been scheming to try to get a doctor to say that he had cancer in order to convince the Court to let him out on bond, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Bullotta and David Gardey wrote in a court filing. And to whom was Reynolds asking for help with his lying scheme? His wife and his father. Reynolds has no conscience. Now the 51-year-old felon is facing up to 20 years in prison when sentenced in October by Judge Robert Cleland. A reminder to Reynolds: John Teflon Don Gotti was convicted in 1992 and died in prison in 2002. The cause of death was cancer. Ken Kish is the former managing editor of The Macomb Daily. Contact him at kenneth.kish@comcast.net. It's been 16 years since 50 Cent first signed to Eminem's label 'Shady Records,' but it looks like the duo want to get back in the studio together. While appearing on Larry King Now, 50 Cent revealed that both he and Eminem have recently been trying out a "few ideas." Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. plans to expand its Agawam compressor station and install a new two-mile pipeline loop to help Columbia Gas of Massachusetts grow its customer base in the Pioneer Valley. Tennesee hosted a site visit in July; plans are described in a 315-page environmental notification form Tennessee filed with Massachusetts regulators in June; and the deadline for public comment was today. Tennessee's new 12-inch diameter buried pipeline would start at the 1615 Suffield Street compressor, cross the road, head north, and cross Shoemaker Lane, Gold Street, and Silver Street before terminating at a tie-in for Columbia's distribution network. Most of the new loop in Agawam would be located along existing pipeline, utility or roadway corridors, and Tennessee says the route was designed to "avoid significant residential areas, minimize the number of affected landowners, and minimize environmental impacts." However, the route would cross streams and wetlands, and potentially affect habitat for the eastern box turtle and eastern worm snake, both state-listed rare species. For those reasons, Tennessee must work with the Agawam Conservation Commission and MassWildlife. Much information is included in the ENF, including statements about tree removal, staging, temporary construction roads, and corridor widening. Under the plans, the Suffield Street compressor site will see a new 2,470-square-foot building, and two out of four turbine engines will be replaced with a single, more powerful unit. Agawam Mayor William Sapelli said this week he supports Tennessee's upgrade project because it would result in a better and more efficient compressor station with less noise and fewer emissions. "They are maintaining their facility, and replacing older turbines with cleaner and more efficient units," said Sapelli. "That's a good thing." Currently, the compressor is powered by four natural gas -fired turbines built in 1965, 1991, 1996, and 2000. Under the plan, the 1965 and 1991 turbines would be replaced. The facility is defined by regulators as a "major stationary source" of air pollution, so it operates under a permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The permit places limits upon nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter that can escape from the compressor's stack. Tennessee says the upgraded, more powerful compressor will actually reduce air pollution, because the new turbines will run cleaner. Currently, the oldest turbine, built in 1965, is exempt from certain pollution rules because it was built before 1977. Tennessee, a subsidiary of the Texas-based Kinder Morgan, operates an interstate natural gas pipeline that cuts across the southern tier of Massachusetts. Columbia Gas is a separate company that is in the distribution business. Columbia buys natural gas from Tennessee via long-term contracts and sells it to its customers. Columbia plans its own expansion, known as the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, and the two companies are working together. For instance, Tennessee plans a new meter station in Longmeadow that would let Columbia build a new utility-owned gas main up the east side of the Connecticut River to Springfield. More high-pressure gas capacity from Tennessee, combined with new lines on either side of the river, would also let Columbia lift its service moratoriums in Easthampton and Northampton, enabled in part by a capacity swap with Holyoke Gas & Electric. Tennessee proposes to construct its Agawam compressor upgrade and pipeline loop in 2020, delivering an additional 17,000 dekatherms per day to Columbia, which must gain its own permits for the Greater Springfield Reliability Project. In Western Mass., Columbia now provides gas to 106,000 customers in 16 communities. Agawam is host to a 229-megawatt natural gas power plant recently purchased by the privately-held Tenaska, and the plant sources its fuel from Tennessee. A civilian observer at an Athol Police firearms training in May was accidentally shot during a room-clearing exercise after the officer leading the training failed to properly set up the scenario, according to a Massachusetts State Police investigation. The Northwestern District Attorney's Office announced in June that no criminal charges would be brought in the incident, and the department said it had suspended its in-house firearms training program and ordered retraining for the officers involved. Until now details on the shooting have remained sparse, with Athol's internal investigation of the matter still ongoing. But State Police reports obtained by MassLive in a public records request shed new light on how missteps during a live-fire exercise led to an officer shooting a civilian he had invited to watch the training. On the morning May 30, firearms instructor Patrolman Todd Neale and six other Athol police officers arrived at the Woodsman's Rifle and Pistol Club for tactical firearms training. The first four hours proceeded without incident, as the officers practiced without live ammunition. Around 10:20 a.m., a civilian who was invited to observe the training by Sgt. Jarret Mousseau arrived at the range. After breaking for lunch, the officers prepared to do a room-clearing exercise in a simulated house set up on the firearms club's outdoor range. Three rooms were set up with tarps serving as simulated walls, and officers were expected to move through the rooms and shoot at targets designed to represent active shooters. "The only backstop for these three rooms were the three sand berms at the back of the range," State Police Lt. Jeffrey Cahill wrote in his investigative report. "There was nothing in these three rooms that would stop a bullet from traveling after it had passed through the paper targets that were being utilized by the Athol Police Department for this training exercise." Mousseau was the first officer to do the exercise. He cleared the first two rooms without incident. In the third, things went awry. Det. Peter Buck told investigators that Mousseau fired two shots, and then two more. The second set of rounds punched through the paper target and the tarp behind it and struck the civilian observer, whose name was redacted in the report. "It was quickly determined that [redacted] had been hit by a bullet," Cahill wrote. "All training ceased and officers then began to give first aid to [redacted] and an ambulance was requested via Athol Police radio." The civilian was taken by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center with non life-threatening wounds. In an interview with investigators, Neale acknowledged that the target Mousseau fired upon was not supposed to be used during the live-fire training. While other targets were positioned so that bullets would travel downrange and strike the backstop, one was facing back toward the start of the range -- placing the officers and the civilian in the line of fire. "Patrolman Neale said that the target had been put up earlier for the dry fire phase that day and he forgot to remove the target from the drill," Cahill wrote. Neale is a 15-year veteran firearms instructor and underwent a 40 hour firearms instructor course from the Massachusetts Police Training Council in 2002 or 2003, he told investigators. Neale had run the training twice before for different officers, he said. Investigators concluded that the shooting was accidental, and the DA's office did not bring any criminal charges. Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski wrote in an email that he anticipates the town's internal investigation into the incident will be complete within two weeks. He declined to comment on the identity of the victim or any disciplinary action imposed on officers involved in the training. "The Town will offer further comment upon completion of the administrative review," Suhoski wrote in an email. Since the shooting there has been additional turmoil for the Athol Police Department. Police Chief Russell Kleber was placed on paid administrative leave for undisclosed reasons in July. TORONTO (AP) -- A shooting in a small Canadian city early Friday left four people dead, including two police officers, under circumstances that were not yet explained but struck a nerve in a country that has been roiled in recent months by several instances of mass violence. People in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick in the eastern part of the country, said they heard as many as 20 gunshots following a confrontation that prompted police to initially cordon off a large section of the city with emergency vehicles and order residents to remain inside their homes and businesses. Finally, after a tense period of waiting, authorities disclosed the toll: Among the four killed were two officers, a rare case of police killed in the line of duty in Canada. Their names were not released. Authorities said one suspect was in custody and was being treated for serious injuries. The person's identity was not announced and no motive was disclosed. A news conference was planned for later Friday. Several other victims were being treated at a regional hospital, but there were no immediate details on the nature of their injuries or their conditions. "Our hearts are broken by the murder of our two brave police officers," Fredericton Mayor Mike O'Brien said in a tweet. The entire province of New Brunswick had 11 homicides in 2016. In Fredericton, a city of about 60,000 residents, people said they were stunned by the scene, which occurred as people were heading to work or dropping children at a day care center not far from the apartment complex where the shooting took place. "This is the first time I've even heard of any serious crime or violent crime in this city," said Travis Hrubeniuk, whose fiancee had just left their home when the sirens began. Bill Henwood, a funeral director at York Funeral Home, whose business is located inside the cordoned off area on Brookside Drive, said people sat in their cars or were just standing near the blockade of police and fire vehicles "hanging tight and waiting for word" for news. "It's not something that we expect in Fredericton to wake up and hear about," Henwood said. "To see that there's actually fatalities is pretty extraordinary for this area." The shooting comes as Canada wrestles with a string of violence, including an instance in Toronto last month where a man with a handgun opened fire in a crowded part of the city, killing two people and wounding 13 before he either shot himself or was killed by police. In April, a man who linked himself to a misogynistic online community used a van to run down pedestrians in a busy part of Toronto, killing 10 people and injuring 14. Authorities are still pursuing leads in an ongoing investigation of a serial killer who has been charged with killing eight men in the city in recent years. In 2014, a shooting in Moncton, New Brunswick left three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers dead and two wounded. After allegations against St. John's Seminary in Brighton were posted on social media earlier this week, Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley is launching an investigation. The allegations were made by two former seminarians of St. John's Seminary who said they "witnessed and experienced activities which are directly contrary to the moral standards and requirements of formation for the Catholic priesthood," according to a statement released by O'Malley. The cardinal did not describe the nature of the allegations in the statement released Friday afternoon and said he was not able to verify or disprove the allegations. "As Archbishop of Boston, with responsibility for the integrity of the seminary and its compliance with the Church's Program for Priestly Formation, I am committed to immediate action to address these serious matters and have made the following decisions regarding St. John's Seminary," O'Malley wrote. The rector of St. John's, Msgr. James P. Moroney, will go on sabbatical leave beginning immediately and through the fall so there can be a fully independent inquiry regarding the matter, the statement said. Rev. Stephen E. Salocks, professor of Sacred Scripture, will serve as interim rector at St. John's. "The allegations made this week are a source of serious concern to me as Archbishop of Boston. The ministry of the Catholic priesthood requires a foundation of trust with the people of the Church and the wider community in which our priests serve," O'Malley wrote. "I am determined that all our seminaries meet that standard of trust and provide the formation necessary for priests to live a demanding vocation of service in our contemporary society." Additionally, three people have been appointed to oversee the inquiry of the allegations. The group includes the Most Rev. Mark O'Connell, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston; Francisco Cesareo, President of Assumption College and President of the USCCB National Review Board, which advises the USCCB on matters of child and youth protection policies and practices; and Kimberly Jones, CEO of Athena Legal Strategies Group. The inquiry will be staffed by Mark Dunderdale, Esq., Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Professional Standards and Oversight. The group will not only study the allegations, but will also examine the culture of the seminary regarding the personal standards expected and required of candidates for the priesthood, and any seminary issues of sexual harassment or other forms of intimidation or discrimination, the statement said. "I have directed this group to proceed with due seriousness of their assignment and as soon as possible to submit to me the findings of the inquiry and a set of recommendations to assure appropriate standards of professional behavior in compliance with Church teaching at all levels of seminary life," O'Malley wrote. "The faculty, staff and students at the seminary will be advised of my expectation that they will fully cooperate with the inquiry." With a desk piled high with legislation from the final frantic days of formal sessions last week, Gov. Charlie Baker signed 53 bills into law Thursday, including a version of his legislation to expand access for opioid addiction treatment and recovery services and a bill that will accelerate the state' adoption of clean energy resources. The governor, according to his office, also signed into law bills to implement automatic voter registration by 2020, improve care for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease, extend new benefits to veterans, protect animals from inhumane treatment, allow firefighters to enroll in smoking cessation programs before losing their jobs, and improve background checks for early education professionals in compliance with federal rules. Much of the $2.4 billion environmental borrowing bill to enhance the state's climate change preparedness also won the governor's signature, but he did veto one section of the bond bill and returned five more with amendments. Baker vetoed a section of the bill that would have transferred oversight of agricultural composting from the Department of Agricultural Resources to the Department of Environmental Protection. The amendments returned to the Legislature recommended changes to a proposal to allow the delivery of unpasteurized milk, to the financing of the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership, to a transfer in ownership of Willet Pond in Norwood to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and to the membership and charge of new commission to study options for state acquisition of land prone to flooding. The governor also filed an amendment that would push out a deadline by five months for the Department of Transportation to complete a study of roadway lighting. Aides to the governor said Thursday that Baker will sign a sales tax holiday for this weekend, but is still reviewing a significant economic development bill that includes reforms to employers' use of non-compete agreements. The deadline for the governor to sign, veto or amend the economic development bill is Saturday. GREENFIELD -- More than a dozen tents remained on the Town Common on the morning officials were expected to deliver an order to vacate the common by Aug. 20. The Board of Health voted to issue the order Wednesday, night with delivery scheduled by 10 a.m. today. Madelynn Malloy, who has been sleeping in a tent here here for weeks, said no one had seen the order, but she's not surprised it was issued. "It was inevitable," she said. "I don't think any of us was really surprised." The encampment started with sleeping bags and a single tent. Over time, more than a dozen tents sprung up throughout the common. The mayor called for an emergency meeting of the Town Council Aug. 2 to figure out how to address the issue, with the campers drawing both support and complaints. He wanted the council to amend an ordinance that would have prevented anyone from occupying the common from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. but the council did not vote on it. The council had called for another meeting last night to consider an Oct. 1 first deadline to end the encampment, but the meeting was canceled. In an email, Council President Karen Renaud wrote there was "no need to meet after board of health deemed the town common to be a health issue and ordered folks to leave by Aug. 20." "There still needs to be a long-term solution," she said. "I'm not sure where people are going to go." Renaud said she backed the board's decision, saying it was their area of expertise to determine whether the camp represented a public health issue. "I don't feel relieved though," she said. "We still have to deal with this issue." Board of Health chairman Steven Adam said the board issued the order because of both health concerns and potential violations of state law. They had complaints about people urinating and defecating on the common and needles were found, he said. He also said the encampment fit the definition of temporary housing, the establishment of which requires board approval. That approval was not sought, Adam said. Mayor William Martin and Salvation Army Capt. Scott Peabody were meeting with people on the common Friday morning talking about various housing options. The mayor said they could take care of the 19 people who comprised the core group of homeless, but not additional people who arrived or who might come between now and Aug. 20. "We needed the end date (to move ahead,)" Martin said. He said two people were moved to a drug and alcohol treatment program Friday morning, others were meeting with Peabody who is looking at finding housing. Martin said they are looking at a number of housing options, including some that include a job. The mayor, meanwhile, arranged to have the belongings of the campers stored in the closed National Bank Trust across from the common, which is owned by the Greenfield Redevelopment Authority. Malloy said she's not sure where she will go or what she will do on Aug. 20. Others on the common Friday morning declined to speak to a reporter. HOLYOKE - Colleagues, friends and residents bid farewell to retired Holyoke Police Chief James Neiswanger at a reception Thursday afternoon at Hamel's Summit View on Route 5. After seven years leading the 100-personnel department, Neiswanger officially retired July 23. Capt. Manny Febo was sworn in during a City Hall ceremony shortly thereafter. Neiswanger previously served 23 with the Manchester Police Department in Connecticut and briefly for a New Hampshire department. He and his wife, Carla, plan to move to North Carolina to be closer to their grandchildren. The former chief was a strong proponent of community policing, a model embraced by Febo. During Neiswanger's tenure, the city's murder rate and overall crime rate dropped, which included several stretches of no reported homicides. The department's narcotics unit frequently partners with local, state and federal law enforcement to aggressively go after major drug traffickers and gangs. State police and federal law enforcement attended the event held in the pavilion. Neiswanger thanked the department's rank-and-file, city officials and residents. "They're all wonderful people and hard workers. It was a pleasure the past seven years working in Holyoke" he said. "The city welcomed me and my wife and children with open arms." The former chief said he was entering the "next chapter" while he is relatively young and healthy. Neiswanger reiterated his family has a history of heart disease, a history he hopes to avoid. He remains vigilant about the safety of police officers not only in Holyoke but nationally. "More officers are being assaulted and killed than ever before," he said. He added, "The brave men of women of the Holyoke Police Department go day-in-day-out to do their best and to keep the city safe." Neiswanger was pleased with the transition and that community policing will remain at the forefront. His said police officers must "engage" daily with the community, forging relationships and breaking down barriers. Carla Neiswanger said she remains pleasantly surprised by the "passion" Holyokers bring to everyday life, whether it was for politics, education or helping the community. "That's been the fun part, watching how passionate people are about Holyoke," she said. She recalled being confounded by the spate of one-way streets in Holyoke. She eventually learned how to maneuver her away around Holyoke and, most importantly, what mattered to Holyokers. Carla Neiswanger said Holyoke has become her home, even voicing disappointment over the closing of a city institution, the Yankee Pedlar. "I'm a little hesitant to leave, but I'm also ready to be a grandma, too," she said. Mayor Alex B. Morse presented the former chief with a proclamation. He said hiring from within the department's ranks ensured a smooth transition from Neiswanger to Febo. "Chief Neiswanger has done a fantastic job over the last seven years. It's been an honor and a privilege to work with him," Morse said. "He's such an upstanding man. He's respectful, compassionate and he was an excellent leader of the police department." A jury convicted a 30-year-old Dedham man accused of shooting and killing a man who was at a barbershop with his son in 2016 on a murder charge Friday, prosecutors said. William Shakespeare was inside the Hair It Is barbershop on Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan when 31-year-old Marcus Hall entered with his 4-year-old son in June 2016. Shakespeare and Hall "had a had a tense verbal exchange followed by an argument in the parking lot," according to a news release from Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley's office. Shakespeare ran from the barbershop, prosecutors said, but returned later and shot Hall five times, killing him. Shakespeare left for New York where Boston police arrested him last year. "The verdict speaks for itself - this was a cold-blooded and vicious shooting in broad daylight, and the jury clearly saw it as such," Conley said in a statement. The jury convicted Shakespeare of first-degree murder and unlawful possession of the firearm used to kill Hall. Shakespeare is scheduled for a sentencing hearing Monday at 9:30 a.m. in Suffolk Superior Court. A man driving a vehicle with Massachusetts plates shot and killed himself during a Maine traffic stop shortly before police found a dead body in the trunk of the car, the Kennebec Journal reported. Maine State Police had received a report of an erratic driver on I-295 Thursday afternoon and pulled the vehicle over in Gardiner around 4:45 p.m., Maine Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said in a statement. "The operator, a man, immediately got of the vehicle and shot himself resulting in his death," McCausland wrote. Investigators then found a body in the car's trunk. The deaths are being investigated by a team of Maine State Police detectives, and the bodies will be examined by Maine's State Medical Examiner's Office. Police have not released the identities of either deceased person. There is no ongoing threat to the public, McCausland said. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is formally launching his re-election campaign Saturday. Baker, a Swampscott Republican who is running for a second four-year term alongside Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, plans to kick off their campaign at their annual summer picnic in Shrewsbury. Baker faces an opponent in the Sept. 4 Republican primary for governor: Anti-gay pastor Scott Lively, who has criticized Baker for not supporting President Donald Trump. Baker has sounded bipartisan notes during his time in office, tapping Democrats for top jobs in his administration and citing his work with the Democrat-dominated state Legislature. Polito, a former state representative from Shrewsbury, does not face a primary opponent in the race for lieutenant governor. The Baker-Polito picnic is set for 1 p.m. at 438 Lake Street. Baker and Polito plan to head to Gloucester's Main Street Block Party later in the day. In November, the winner of the Republican primary for governor will face the victor in Democratic primary. Former Deval Patrick budget chief Jay Gonzalez and environmental activist Bob Massie are vying for the Democratic nomination. Gonzalez and Massie have struggled in efforts to fundraise and increase their name recognition as Baker has enjoyed high favorability ratings in the polls, raised millions in campaign funds and received back-up from a super PAC funded in part by the Republican Governors Association. Two Democrats are also competing for the nomination in the race for lieutenant governor: former Obama administration official Quentin Palfrey and comedian Jimmy Tingle. Gov. Charlie Baker nixed a proposal to crack down on so-called "patent trolls," saying as written it could have "unintended consequences" for Massachusetts residents and companies. The proposal was included as a section in a $1.1 billion economic development package. Baker vetoed the section but signed off on other parts of the package, including a state sales tax holiday set for this weekend and restrictions on the use of non-compete agreements. Entities known as "patent trolls" attempt to send letters to companies alleging that the company, usually a start-up or an entrepreneur, is infringing on an existing patent, according to backers of the proposal. The entities then demand to be paid under threat of a lawsuit. The proposal, pushed by state Sen. Eric Lesser, seeks to block a "patent troll" from making a "bad faith" allegation of patent infringement. In a letter to lawmakers that included an explanation of his veto, Baker said the proposal "creates a new cause of action against patent owners in a manner that is not narrowly tailored and is likely to have unintended consequences for Massachusetts residents, companies and educational institutions." Baker added: "While I agree that states have a role to play in deterring bad faith assertions of patent infringement outside of the context of federal patent litigation, I believe that the Legislature should revisit this topic in a future session and draft a more focused solution to this program." Sen. Lesser, a Longmeadow Democrat, said he was disappointed with the veto, adding that he knows patent trolling is an issue the governor cares about. Lesser plans to renew his push in next year's legislative session. "Dozens of other states have this protection," he said. Massachusetts has a booming start-up and innovation sector, he noted. "Unfortunately we have these trolls that intimidate them and shake them down for payouts before they can even get their idea off the ground." Lesser said Baker came under pressure from "big interests" like the biotechnology industry, which "got in his ear to block it." "Ultimately it's going to make Massachusetts a harder place to launch a start up or get venture investment," Lesser said of the veto. Along with the veto of the "patent troll" provision, Baker also nixed the creation of a commission on "last mile" broadband connections, saying it would divert time and resources away from his own administration's efforts. The governor also sent back to the Legislature a number of amendments to what they sent him, touching on an apprenticeship tax credit program, a study of widening Route 2 between Concord and Gardner, a commission studying stable housing and economic self-sufficiency, and a task force on industrial mill buildings. Shira Schoenberg contributed to this report. Material from State House News Service was used in this report. AGAWAM -- In May, a Nebraska company finalized purchase of Berkshire Power Company, LLC, and its 229-megawatt natural gas generator off Shoemaker Lane. Wednesday night, representatives from Tenaska assured the City Council they plan to prioritize safety and the environment in running the 18-year-old power plant, while also giving back to the community. "We have a reputation for safe, reliable, environmentally responsible operation," said Jason Behrens, Tenaska's vice president of strategic development and acquisitions. Behrens introduced Buck Hunt, director of plant operations; Timberly Ross, Tenaska's communications and public relations director; and plant manager Max Greig, described as "our guy on the ground." Behrens said the plant has "state-of-the-art catalysts" and other control technologies to minimize carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other air pollutants, and that the plant will operate in compliance with state and federal regulations. Tenaska is employee-owned, and one of the largest private energy companies in the U.S., with $10.5 billion in gross operating revenues, $3.7 billion in total assets, and 6.8 gigawatts of managed plant capacity, according to company literature. In addition to running a fleet of power plants, Tenaska markets energy, acquires and manages capital assets, develops transmission systems, extracts and transports natural gas, and invests in large wind and solar projects. Behrens said the plant paid Agawam $1.9 million in property taxes in 2017, provides more than $3 million in salaries to its 17 employees, and plans to donate to community causes. "Please feel feel free to approach us," said Behrens. "We can give a thousand here, five-hundred there. Come talk to us." The plant makes money in two major ways. It participates in power markets run by ISO New England, which operates the six-state power grid. It also participates in the "forward capacity market," where plants are paid to be available for dispatch on short notice in the future. The mechanism is designed to maintain a stable and reliable power grid. "The capacity market is a significant stream of income for us in New England," said Behrens. He said Tenaska has won numerous safety awards, and that the plant gets its fuel from the nearby Tennessee Gas Pipeline. Company officials said they would be happy to arrange a tour of the plant for city councilors and other interested parties. City councilor George Bitzas asked if the power plant could sell electricity to Agawam at a discounted rate, and Behrens said he would look into it, but didn't think that would be possible, partly because Agawam does not run its own municipal utility. Power plants feed their electricity into the regional power grid, where it's sold in a competitive wholesale market. Bitzas said he hopes Tenaska will donate money to the Agawam Senior Center, the public schools, and the town's library. Nobody at the meeting mentioned the legal travails of the former plant owners and operators, who pleaded guilty to criminal and civil charges. In 2016, the parties agreed to pay a total of $8.5 million to end state and federal investigations. In 2015, two plant technicians had pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act and signed plea deals. From 2008 to 2011, Berkshire Power Company and Power Plant Management Services caused staff to tamper with monitoring equipment to hide the fact they were polluting in excess of their air permit. The owners and operators conspired to submit false information to the U.S. EPA, according to documents at U.S. District Court in Springfield. The Republican reached out to Tenaska for comment on the plant's past problems, and for assurances that it won't happen again. In an email, Behrens said the plant operates in compliance with all environmental permits and standards, and suggested that things have changed. "Obligations related to that issue have been resolved by the former owner," wrote Behrens. "The employees have done a good job in recent years of improving plant protocols and rebuilding the facility's reputation. Tenaska looks forward to continuing those efforts with them." He praised Greig, who has been plant manager for six years, and said he was brought on after past issues surfaced. "He has done a tremendous job in improving plant protocols and ensuring the plant remains in compliance," Behrens said of his "guy on the ground." Behrens told the City Council that while the 229-megawatt plant has the capacity to power 230,000 homes, that Tenaska produces less power in the summer to comply with its federal air quality permit. All 17 employees at the plant have transitioned to employment with Tenaska Operations, Inc. Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com BOSTON - A 77-year-old man accused of stealing more than $6 million from 15 investors in a decade-long Ponzi-style scam was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $5.5 million in restitution in U.S. District Court on Thursday. John William Cranney, who was known as Jack, will also be under three years of supervised release after he finishes his prison term. He was convicted in May of three counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of mail fraud and three counts of money laundering, according to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. Cranney, of El Paso, Texas and formerly of Belmont, was convicted of conducting an 11-year scheme where he solicited money from people who he had a business relationship with and promised to invest it. Instead, Cranney spent his victims' savings and retirement to pay his bills and debts to fund his declining health and nutrition products distributorship, Lelling said. Cranney created shell companies that he named specifically to sound like investment funds and retirement funds. He also convinced the victims to transfer their IRA and 401k retirement funds to him, he said. Cranney remains released on conditions including travel restricted to El Paso County in Texas. He is to report to prison on Sept. 21, Lelling said. Police have identified the driver who shot himself during a traffic stop with a woman's body in his car's trunk as 34-year-old Sturbridge resident Gyrth Rutan. Investigators have determined that the woman was not killed in Maine, and Massachusetts State Police and the Worcester County District Attorney's Office are investigating, Maine State Police said. Rutan grew up in Maine before moving to Massachusetts, according to information posted on his Facebook profile. He appeared to have a young daughter. According to his profile, Rutan previously worked for I.B.E.W. Local 42 in Manchester, Connecticut and for Par Electrical Contractors as a groundman. He's also previously worked for the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department. Maine State Police received a report of an erratic driver on I-295 Thursday afternoon, Maine Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said in a statement. A trooper located the car and followed it off the highway onto a side street in Gardiner, Maine. When the trooper pulled the car over, Rutan exited the vehicle with a shotgun and shot himself in the head, police said. Investigators then found a woman's body in the car's trunk. She has not yet been identified. The deaths are being investigated by a team of Maine State Police detectives, and the bodies will be examined by Maine's State Medical Examiner's Office. There is no ongoing threat to the public, Maine State Police said. Correction: Rutan no longer worked for Par Electrical Contractors at the time of the incident. WEST SPRINGFIELD - A Massachusetts State Police trooper was injured in a multi-vehicle crash just after noon Friday on I-91 southbound. The trooper was transported to the hospital with injuries described as not-life threatening. The left lane of the highway is closed while state police clear the scene. The crash occured at Exit 13, which is the exit in West Springfield just before the bridge spanning the Connecticut River. Traffic on I-91 is backing up in the southbound lane along I-91 to the area of the Holyoke Mall. Hailey Allard, the 20-year-old woman who died in a head-on collision with a Somerset police officer, was a nursing student at UMass Dartmouth, the school confirmed. Allard, who was driving a green Honda Civic early Friday morning collided with a Somerset police cruiser en route to an emergency call, state police said. She was pulled from her car and taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The officer, who has not yet been identified, was treated and released. Allard, of Somerset, studied nursing at the school. Allard's family told NBC 10 they are devastated. "This is a complete & utter tragedy. Hailey was an exceptional young woman who was full of life & energy. Her smile was infectious & brightened everyone's day," family said. "She loved her family with all her heart, especially her 2 younger brothers. Her mother & father cannot express the heaviness in their hearts & the pain they will carry forever," her family wrote in a statement to the television station. On her Facebook page, Allard frequently posted about school and family. She had two younger brothers she often posted photos of, calling them her "boys." "Officially done with sophomore year!! 50% Nurse. 100% stressed," she wrote in May. Allard celebrated a birthday on July 31 and asked her hundreds of friends on social media to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in her name. "I've chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you'll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me," she wrote. In another post, weeks before her death, she defended the medical field: "You must remain positive and have faith in those who struggle every day and do the unthinkable. We save lives, form relationships that you can't forget, and make as big of a difference as we can." Westfield State University will partner with Holyoke Community College and Springfield Public Schools on a new initiative to train more science, technology, engineering and math teachers. The schools are one of three regional partnerships that will use a $1.5 million National Science Foundation grant to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to develop MassTeach, a new model for increasing and diversifying the ranks of STEM teachers in high-need school districts. The other regional partnerships teams are: Berkshire Community College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Pittsfield Public Schools "We at Westfield State are thrilled to work with Springfield Public Schools and Holyoke Community College to help educate aspiring STEM teachers and increase the diversity of teachers in our area schools," said Westfield State President Ramon S. Torrecilha. Community colleges will recruit potential candidates for the program this fall. According to Westfield State, many of the candidates are expected to come from existing STEM Starter Academy programs, which give high school students a chance to take STEM college classes and learn more about STEM careers. "The goal of MassTeach will be to expand to students at all 15 community colleges and nine state universities in the Commonwealth within three years, eventually placing 50 new teachers in STEM classrooms with 50 more teacher candidates in the post-secondary pipeline," the release said. "While Massachusetts is a national leader in K-12 education, there is a sense of urgency to recruit and diversify the STEM teacher pools, and in particular to serve our Latino and black students," HCC math professor Ileana Vasu, coordinator of HCC's STEM program, said. Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education Carlos E. Santiago said, "What's exciting about MassTeach is that it is not a stand-alone initiative that will end once the federal grant is spent. This program is built on the solid foundation of our new transfer system, regarded as one of the most comprehensive and student-friendly systems in the nation." According to the release, 90 percent of Massachusetts teachers are white, compared with an overall student population that is 60 percent white. "One of the unique aspects of MassTeach is that it will place new teachers in urban communities where they grew up and attended school, allowing grant evaluators to gauge whether educators' local roots serve as a catalyst for their retention in the classroom," the release said. "Worcester State University has been educating teachers for the region's schools since 1874, including Worcester's first two African-American teachers," Worcester State President Barry M. Maloney said. "We are looking forward to contributing to MassTeach. That work will complement existing programming we offer with Worcester Public Schools and Quinsigamond Community College to make sure those leading our classrooms reflect the diversity we see within those classrooms." The five-year grant is the first of its kind awarded to a state higher education system and will be used to address the overall shortage of trained and licensed STEM instructors and the lack of under-represented minorities teaching in Massachusetts' K-12 classrooms. The MassTeach Scholars will receive $20,000 scholarships as well as academic advising to keep them on track to transfer, graduate with a STEM degree and obtain a STEM teaching license. "Highly qualified, effective and diverse educators is a strategic focus of the Springfield Public Schools," Superintendent Daniel J. Warwick said. "It is intentional and embedded in our mission because teacher quality is a key determinant of student success." A woman is dead following a head-on collision with a police cruiser in Somerset, state police said. A Somerset police officer was responding to an emergency about 1 a.m. Friday. The woman was driving a Honda on Route 138 near the intersection of Riverside and Westhill Avenues when the cars collided, Dave Procopio, a spokesman for the Massachusetts state police said. The condition of the officer was not immediately available. The Massachusetts state police are investigating the crash along with the District Attorney's office, Procopio said. Editor's note: This story originally identified the police vehicle as a Massachusetts State Police cruiser. The crash involved a Somerset police cruiser. SPRINGFIELD -- Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, a Democrat running in Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District, spoke out Friday against a newspaper article that raised questions about her work as a lawyer. Amatul-Wadud, a Springfield attorney who will face longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Neal in the Sept. 4 Democratic primary, responded to issues raised in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette report during an afternoon news conference in Springfield. Arguing that she has "been confronted with religious intolerance, slander and hate" during her campaign, Amatul-Wadud took issue with a reporter whom she said recently challenged her to condemn opinions posted by a Muslim community. "The reporter recognized that these writings were not authored by me, promoted, discussed or ever spoken about by me. Still, the reporter deliberately gave these writings to my campaign endorsers in an attempt to alarm them, and force them to question their support and relationships with me," she said. Amatul-Wadud provided legal representation for Islamberg, an upstate New York enclave of Muslim families. She said this "seems to animate those who seek to spread hate and ignorance the most." She said she helped the FBI and Department of Justice convict a man who threatened to burn down a mosque and kill children. "I will never give in to those who seek to spread hate and ignorance. I have spent my life and career standing up for the victims of people just like that, and I always will," she said. "It is time to move beyond this distraction and focus on improving the lives of the people in the 1st District. That is what my campaign is about, and that is what I will be focusing on. I am not going anywhere." Amatul-Wadud added that her work has been "widely recognized in this community," noting that she won the Western New England University School of Law's 2017 Dean's Award, was named a Top Woman of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and was invited to the White House in 2015. The Telegram article, published late Thursday, stated that Amatul-Wadud had served as general counsel for Muslims of America Inc., founded by Pakistani cleric Sheikh Mubarik Gilani, and represented Islamberg. It noted that Amatul-Wadud confirmed she represented the group as an attorney in a federal case. Amatul-Wadud reportedly told the newspaper that she did not understand why she was being asked to disavow statements by any religious organization based on her work for them. "The reason I don't engage in responding to this very strange line of questioning is because it does come from a place of Islamophobia, sexism, misogyny and attempting to try to make me take responsibility for things I did not write, did not issue, have not engaged with," she added, according to Telegram. Amatul-Wadud's campaign was recently targeted by Islamophobic fliers. The fliers raised also questions about Amatul-Wadud's professional work. She told The Republican last week that she believes there needs to be a broader conversation about religion and bigotry in this country. "Let's talk about why a Muslim woman would be dragged and held responsible for groups that I have no affiliation with whatsoever and made to answer for that -- and why that's a double standard," she said. WEBSTER -- Members of Massachusetts' congressional delegation met with Webster and Dudley officials Thursday to discuss tornado recovery and relief efforts in wake of the "high-end EF1" that touched down earlier this week. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, joined U.S. Reps. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, and Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, for an afternoon roundtable discussion with local lawmakers, fire and police officials at Webster Town Hall. The lawmakers, following the closed door meeting, told reporters that they are committed to helping local officials get the federal support and funds needed to help the towns recover from the tornado. Neal, who visited the region on Monday, said he and his colleagues are working with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration, among others, to see what, if any support, is available to Webster and Dudley. He, however, noted that the federal agencies will have to first assess the damage before they can declare what is eligible for support. Warren said although lawmakers are committed to working with federal officials to help Webster and Dudley access support, they are also focused on what the rebuilding process could mean for the towns. "We're obviously talking about assessment of the damage and what we can do to make sure that federal funds are available, but also starting the conversation about what rebuilding is going to look like -- what's that corner going to look like?" she said. "And, what are the opportunities that it presents for Webster and for a real shot in the arm for Webster to be able to have some new activity in its downtown? ... That's the kind of thing we want to think about." McGovern, meanwhile, praised local officials' response to the storm. He added that he and his congressional colleagues are "just here to help" and listen. "There's some real devastation here in Webster and we need to work as a team with our state and local officials to try and help them rebuild," he told reporters. "We talked about whether or not they might be eligible for FEMA money -- the damage may not reach that threshold -- but yet, the damage is still significant. We want to make sure all the insurance agencies provide the appropriate coverage for the damage. We want to work with MEMA, with the state, with the Small Business Administration, with the Economic Development Administration, as well, to maybe get some grants for planning and rebuilding here." The congressman stressed that lawmakers are committed to helping the towns recover in wake of the storm. "We have some assignments to do and we're going to follow up with federal agencies to make sure that Webster is high on their list," he said. All three lawmakers further raised concerns about the number of tornadoes that have touched down in the state in recent years, arguing that the storms underscore the impacts of climate change. "This is a reminder that climate change has real, tangible implications," Warren said. "We're watching more severe weather, we're watching -- over and over -- these 'never happened before events' or 'happens once every 100 years' and now, they keep happening again and again and again. There are real costs to a changing climate." Warren added that such weather events are why the United States should be a leader on climate-related issues. "This is not a time for us to turn our backs on the needs of creating a sustainable world for all of us," she said. The roundtable came after the short storm, which boasted wind speeds up to 110 miles per hour, damaged trees, buildings and cars in Dudley and Webster on Saturday. A National Weather Service report found the tornado snapped trees, twisted a gas station overhang, blew out windows and snapped utility poles in the Central Massachusetts towns. It estimated that the tornado traveled for about half a mile, with a 300-yard-wide path. Officials initially issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the storm, but later upgraded it to a tornado warning just over 10 minutes before it touched down in Dudley. One person was reportedly injured in relation to the storm. No deaths were reported, according to the National Weather Service. Also taking part in the roundtable discussion were: State Rep. Joe McKenna, R-Webster, Webster Town Administrator Doug Willardson, Webster Police Chief Timothy Bent, Webster Deputy Police Chief Michael Shaw, Webster Fire Chief Brian Hickey and Dudley Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski, according to Warren's office. WILLIAMSBURG -- U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, took issue this week with the White House's approach to trade and foreign economic policy, particularly what he cast as inconsistencies between the president and his administration on such things. Neal, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, said while he agrees it's important to review trade and other policies, President Donald Trump's recent actions, particularly new tariffs on China and sanctions imposed on Iran, have undercut the United States' relationship with international partners. The congressman criticized the White House's decision to "arbitrarily walk away" from the Iranian nuclear agreement, noting that he thought the Obama administration had taken the "right position" in supporting the deal. Offering that "there's an inconsistency between what the president says and what the professional staff around him has said," Neal argued that Iran now "seems to be headed toward our European allies to show them that they intend to live by the agreement even if the United States has moved away from it." "I'm not sure that's good in a world that's going to depend on multilateral alliances," he said, following a Thursday event in Williamsburg. Neal further questioned the impact of new tariffs on China, arguing that the country's form of capitalism makes it more likely to absorb such losses than others. The United States, for example, is already seeing aluminum import prices being added to costs of products, like cans, he contended. Although Neal acknowledged that trade and tariffs can often present "real issues for the American people," he remained skeptical on whether they will impact voters in the 2018 mid-term elections -- particularly given the speed with which issues seem to move in today's media cycle. "I think it's hard to adopt a national narrative given the impulsiveness of the president," he said. "There may be a series of events he intends to embrace that again could change the conversation, but, for me, it's an indication ... of the speed with which all of this happens." The congressman's comments came just days after Trump signed an executive order to reimpose sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the Obama-era nuclear deal, which the U.S. struck with Iran, along with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia and China . The order followed Trump's May decision to withdraw from the 2015 agreement. It reinstated sanctions, beginning Tuesday, on various things, including: the Iranian government's purchase or acquisition of U.S. bank notes; the country's trade in gold and other precious metals; graphite, aluminum, steel, coal and software used in industrial processes; transactions related to the Iranian rial; activities relating to Iran's issuance of sovereign debt; and the country's automotive sector. Beginning on Nov. 5, the U.S. will further reinstate sanctions on: Iran's port operators and energy, shipping, and shipbuilding sectors; petroleum-related transactions; and foreign financial institutions transactions with the Central Bank of Iran, according to the White House. The Trump administration, meanwhile, recently announced that the U.S. will impose a 25 percent additional tariff on another $16 billion worth of Chinese goods beginning Aug. 23 -- building on those that went into effect in July. China, in turn, has reportedly announced that it would impose an equal tariff of 25 percent on $16 billion worth of American goods. Market Scenario: Anti-venom is made up of hyperimmune globulins and various other proteins extracted from the serum of various animals. In the process animals have been immunized with the venom of a snake, and then proteins are extracted from it. Anti-venom is currently the cornerstone of therapy for the victims of venomous snake bites and has reduced the mortality of this condition. It can be species-specific, regional, or polyvalent. For instance, anti-venom directed against coral snake venom is regenerated by immunizing horses with venom from the eastern coral snake i.e. Micrurus fulvius. The use of anti-venom is associated with various adverse reactions and so is given to only those victims who develop local, systemic, or laboratory evidence of envenoming. The use of epinephrine, corticosteroids, and antihistamines is also recommended before anti-venom administration as it helps to reduce the occurrence and severity of acute or delayed hypersensitivity reactions which may occur in 20 to 90% of cases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), snake antivenom immunoglobulins is the only specific treatment for envenoming by snakebites. It is also estimated that nearly 4.5 to 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes in a year, and around 1.8 to 2.7 million out of them develop clinical illness after a snakebite. It is noted that the increasing cases of snake bites and increasing government funding for R&D are the key factors driving the anti-venom market. Various other factors such as the increasing patient pool, unmet medical needs, increasing awareness about antivenoms, enhancing regulatory framework, and increasing government assistance are continuously contributing to the growth of the global anti-venom market. Despite these drivers, there are some setbacks associated with the global anti-venom market. The high cost of available anti-venom, strict FDA regulations, difficult preparation of anti-venoms, and poor healthcare system in low- and middle-income countries may hinder the growth of the market to a considerable extent. It is estimated that the Anti-Venom market is expected to grow at a CAGR 6.5% during the forecast period of 20172023. Get Exclusive Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5859 Market Segmentation of Anti-venom Market: The global anti-venom market is segmented by type, type of species, mode of action, product type, and end-user. On the basis of type, the global anti-venom market is classified as polyvalent heterologous antivenom, monovalent heterologous antivenom, homologous antivenom, and small molecule anti-toxins. On the basis of type of species, the global anti-venom market is classified as snakes, scorpions, spiders, and others. The snake segment is further classified as common cobra, common krait, Russell viper, and others. On the basis of mode of action, the global anti-venom market is classified as cytotoxic, neurotoxic, haemotoxic, cardiotoxic, myotoxic, and others. On the basis of product type, the global anti-venom market is classified as snake anti-venom, scorpion anti-venom, spider anti-venom, and others. On the basis of end-user, the global anti-venom market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. Avail Premium Discount @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/5859 Top Players in Anti-venom Market: Allison Medical, Inc., Artsana S.p.a., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Boston Scientific Corporation, Hamilton Company, Hill-Rom, Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., LLC, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc, Medline Industries, Inc., Medtronic plc, Novo Nordisk A/s, Owen Mumford, Ltd., Roboz Surgical Instrument, Smiths Medical, Stryker Corporation, Terumo Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, UltiMed, Inc., Ypsomed Holding AG, and others. Intended Audience Pharmaceutical Companies Research and Development (R&D) Companies Diagnostic Laboratories Government Research Institutes Academic Institutes and Universities Regional Analysis of Anti-venom Market: The Americas dominates the anti-venom market owing to the increasing cases of snake bites, and scorpion bites and high healthcare expenditure. Europe holds the second position in the anti-venom market. The financial support by the government towards research and development and improvement in reimbursement scenario are expected to drive the European anti-venom market. According to the data suggested by Eurostat, it is observed that among the EU Member States, the highest value of healthcare expenditure was recorded in Germany in 2014 i.e. EUR 321 billion which is further followed by France with EUR 237 billion and United Kingdom with EUR 223 billion. In 2016, the R&D expenditure in the pharmaceutical industry was EUR 35000 million, suggested by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Association. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing anti-venom market owing to a huge patient pool and increasing advancements in pharmaceuticals. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), in 2016 the generics market of India stood at USD 26.1 billion. As per the statistics suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO), it has been estimated that around 2.8 million people are bitten by snakes, and nearly 46 900 people die from snakebite every year. The Middle East and Africa holds the lowest share of the global market due to slow development, lack of technical knowledge, and poor medical facilities. Major Table of Content for Anti-venom Market: 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 4.1 Drivers 4.2 Restrains 4.3 Opportunities 4.4 Challenges 4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators 4.6 Technology Trends & Assessment 4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators TOC Continued.! Do You Have Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Experts @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/5859 About US: Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Dental Restorative and Regenerative Market Scenario: Dental fabricated materials which are specially designed for use in dental practices. Dental materials are of two types namely restorative material and regenerative material. Restorative materials are used to resume the original form and functioning of the damaged teeth. Regenerative dental material includes bone graft materials, membranes, and tissue regeneration products. Request Premium Sample copy at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4332 The increasing awareness about oral health, growing dental tourism, increasing dental diseases in children and increasing geriatric population are major factors driving the growth for dental restorative and regenerative market. For instance, according to World Health Organization (WHO), 80%-90% of children and nearly 100% of adults have dental cavities, 30% of people in the age group 65-74 have no natural teeth. Additionally, the dental materials are identical to the natural tooth structure which contributes to the growth of the market. However, the high cost of dental treatments and dental materials, slow adoption of new technology may hamper the growth of the market during the forecast period. The Global Dental Restorative And The Regenerative Material Market Is Anticipated To Grow At A CAGR Of 6.7% During The Assessment Period. Dental Restorative and Regenerative Market Top Players: Biotech Dental botiss biomaterials GmbH Dentsply Sirona. Keystone Dental, etc. Global Dental Restorative and Regenerative Material Market Competitive Landscape: Dental material manufacturers are focusing and investing money in R&D to develop a better product for maintaining the market position. The prominent market players are involved in various strategic approaches such as acquisitions, partnerships, mergers and new product launches. In January 2017, Henry Schein, Inc., a global provider of healthcare products and services to medical professionals, animal health and office-based dental practitioners announced the acquisition of a majority ownership interest in Dental Cremer S. A., a distributor of dental supplies and equipment in Brazil. In September 2016, Henry Schein, Inc. acquired 80 % stake in the Polish dental distributor Marrodent, which provided services in dental offices across Central Europe. In August 2016, Institut Straumann AG, a global dental implant manufacturer announced the acquisition of Equinox Medical Technologies headquartered in the Netherlands. Equinox has a leading position in the value segment in India. In July 2016, Institut Straumann AG and botiss biomaterials GmbH entered into a partnership which gave Straumann the exclusive distribution rights of botisss products in Germany. With this partnership, Straumann enhanced its position as a leading provider of dental biomaterials in Europe. Inquire more about this Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/4332 In April 2016, Institut Straumann AG acquired 51% residual ownership of Neodent (the company had acquired 49% of the residual during June 2012). This deal augmented the companys presence in the tooth replacement sector in the Latin American region and Brazil. Dental Restorative and Regenerative Market Regional Analysis: The global dental restorative and regenerative material market on basis of region are segmented into Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. The Americas are anticipated to dominate the market owing to a well-developed healthcare sector, increasing number of patients along with rising healthcare expenditure. Moreover, the increasing geriatric population within the region have fuelled the growth of the market. Europe is likely to hold the second position in the global dental restorative and regenerative material market due to the availability of huge funds for research, increasing patient population, and government support for research & development. Moreover, the presence of developed economies like the U.K, Germany, and France within the region contributes to the growth of the market. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in the market. The presence of a huge patient population and continuously developing economies like India & China within the region contributes to the growth of the market. The Middle East and Africa hold the least share in the global dental restorative and regenerative material market due to poor economic conditions, especially in the African region. Get Prime Discount at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/4332 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 , Mediapool.bg, , - . - , . 18:00 . by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, August 10, 2018 Back in May, when the new Roseanne show was imploding following Roseanne Barrs explosive planet of the apes tweet, the TV Blog declared that the rise and fall of Roseanne would top every list of the years top stories in TV when the year comes to a close in December. Well, not anymore. This summers Les Moonves sex harassment story at CBS could nudge the Roseanne story out of the top spot. The Roseanne story was already on its way to the top of the list even before the tweet implosion. The revival of the Roseanne show was the years most notable TV story just for the phenomenal success it was having. The show took the TV biz by storm. Not only was it drawing great ratings and some of the biggest audiences that network TV had yet seen last season, but it also was what we in the news business refer to as a talker. advertisement advertisement This was a show that people talked about and debated -- bringing the kind of attention to prime-time TV that the networks rarely attract anymore. Whether for or against, the conversations that erupted over the show on the cable news channels, talk radio and social media were more a help than a hindrance to the show's success. Audiences flocked to it and by mid-May, Roseanne Barr and her show were the centerpieces of ABCs upfront presentation in New York. Not long after that, the whole thing cratered, making an already great story even greater. The story continues in various ways this summer. Roseanne herself has been issuing self-styled statements in the form of tweets and YouTube videos. And she made headlines recently when Sean Hannity interviewed her on Fox News Channel. In addition, ABC is busily producing the Roseanne spinoff, The Conners, for this fall. The premiere of that show -- scheduled for Tuesday, October 16, at 8 p.m. Eastern -- will likely be the most widely covered fall premiere of the new season. Then came the last week of July and the publication on-line of the New Yorker expose in which six women accused CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves of various acts of sexual misconduct. The story was published in the magazine the following week. In the context of the present day and the #MeToo movement, it is impossible to conceive of a scenario in which Moonves keeps his job. Moreover, based on the way the stories are presented and told in the New Yorker story, the odds do not favor an outcome in which the independent investigation ordered by the CBS Board of Directors proclaims the stories to be untrue and then declares Moonves innocence. These stories seem very credible and not likely to be debunked. Moonves, 68, has been chairman and CEO of CBS since 2003. He is a charismatic promoter of broadcast television. And he is credited with guiding the many programming decisions that have made CBS the most-watched TV network in America (in total audience) for years. In many ways, Moonves is not only the face of CBS, but the face of network television in general. When he leaves, it will truly represent the end of an era. That is why his fate and, by extension, the future direction of the old and very successful company he runs, represents a story that seems poised to surpass the Roseanne story in its importance to all of television. For now, the Moonves story continues pending the outcome of the investigation. by George Simpson , Featured Contributor, August 9, 2018 The New York Times has a very interesting take on the move by Facebook to limit, if not completely eliminate, content from far-right conspiracy theorist (and nutcase) Alex Jones. The story explores how extremists around the world have used Facebook as their primary promotional platform to spread lies and misinformation that resulted in riots and deaths, in some cases. The bottom line is that the social media darling has far more power to hurt globally than we generally have acknowledged. Just like everyone else who writes about Facebook, the Times recognizes the urgency of finding an equitable solution that allows a certain amount of free speech, yet bans "offending" content. advertisement advertisement And like everyone else, the Grey Lady kinda rubs her hands together and hopes that a solution drops out of the sky one day pretty soon. Lots of bets have been made on the ability of machine learning, in combination with some form of AI, to spot "offensive" content and stop it before it is widely distributed. I am highly skeptical that this will work for Facebook. It is not hard to produce propaganda so nuanced that it slips through. The Russians have already proven that they are several steps ahead of the most determined efforts to limit their influence on our society (and elections). Worse still is the new normal in America, where if you don't agree with the next guy, you label his content "fake" or "biased," which may or may not be true, but it gives others who agree with you a flag to rally 'round. And if Trump has proven nothing else, Americans often don't care about the truth, especially if it might confirm that they are supporting a moron as President. It's disheartening to watch the nation so polarized around nearly every aspect of our lives. On the one hand, if it's a cause you believe in, you thank the gods that be for Facebook (and perhaps Twitter), which has amplified your message to vast audiences. But if it's a cause with which you disagree, you are among those calling for the Zuck and his like to be lynched. Still, you simply can't have it both ways. It's a judgment call if the world is a better or worse place because of Facebook. One might argue that if it hadn't been Facebook that radicals turned to as a delivery vehicle, it would have been something else -- and we'd be right back where we are now. In many respects, the mainstream media has become a handmaiden to Facebook because anything controversial that turns up there gets reported and further distributed, calling attention to content that those who don't use Facebook might not see otherwise. Wasn't the theory that as the world got smaller, we would understand one another better, because we would be able to communicate easily and quickly? Clearly, this has also brought out the worst in us. From where I sit, the only resolution is that nothing gets posted anywhere online without the author's name, photo and email address next to the content. It would be the responsibility of the platform to verify the information before it goes live. If the content was picked up by another person or a site, the author ID would move with it. Browser add-ons could then block content from that individual so that if you hate Alex Jones, you would never bump into his content. Or perhaps you have a better idea to share? by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, August 9, 2018 In late June, California lawmakers passed a sweeping privacy bill that allows consumers to learn what personal information about them is held by businesses, and to opt out of the sale of that information. The broad measure mostly drew praise from privacy advocates, but was met with vocal criticism by businesses -- including the ad industry and tech companies. The new law, which won't take effect until January of 2020, is still subject to revision. This month, lawmakers are considering a host of "technical corrections," which would fix drafting errors. In theory, those corrections aim to remedy non-substantive mistakes -- though in reality, the line between "substantive" and "technical" can be fuzzy. Now, the Association of National Advertisers, Chamber of Commerce, Internet Association, Motion Picture Association of America and other groups are hoping to use this month's technical-corrections process to weaken the bill's privacy protections. The groups this week sent a 20-page letter to California lawmakers, which outlines changes they would like to see. advertisement advertisement Dan Jaffe, ANA executive vice president for government relations, writes that the letter offers proposals that will "rectify serious drafting errors in order to create solutions to many of the parts of the bill that would be unworkable or impose major negative consequences." Included in the business groups' wish list of changes is a change to the law's definition of "personal information," so that it excludes much of the data relied on by the ad industry. The bill's current definition of personal information includes cookies, IP addresses and web browsing history -- which appears to cover data used for ad targeting. The ad industry has long opposed that definition, arguing that data like cookies, or IP addresses, isn't "personally identifiable" because it's not necessarily attached to consumers' names. The California measure currently has an ambiguous exception for "de-identified" data -- defined as information that can't reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, to a particular consumer. But the ANA and other organizations are pressing to exempt "pseudonymized" data -- which more clearly covers cookies, web browsing history, and other material relied on by ad-tech companies. "The collection, use, retention, sale, and disclosure of information in deidentified or aggregate or pseudonymized form, where it can be used in place of personally identifiable information, is privacy enhancing and beneficial to consumers because it means that the processing of personally identifiable information about them is reduced," the letter states. "Businesses that can accomplish their legitimate business purposes through the use of deidentified, pseudonymized, and aggregate information can reduce the amount of personally identifiable information that is subject to potential compromise." by Tanya Gazdik , August 10, 2018 Hyundai Motor Co. is launching a campaign and customer experience program aimed at Saudi Arabian women following the lift of a decade-long ban on female drivers. The #WhatsNext campaign from Stuttgart, Germany-based Jung-von-Matt/Neckar celebrates Saudi womens past achievements and supports their future feats, while aligning with Hyundais vision to create freedom in mobility, according to the automaker. The campaign includes an English-language microsite and an Arabic microsite. A 30-second spot communicates Hyundais message of support to Saudi female drivers, through a narrative that follows a Saudi woman as she pursues her dream career as a fashion designer, movie director, teacher and track athlete. advertisement advertisement Hyundai previously presented the #WhatsNext campaign teaser film on company-owned online channels, amassing 1.5 million views to date on Facebook alone. As part of the campaign, Hyundai is collaborating with three Saudi-based influencers: entrepreneur Bayan Linjawi, radio presenter Shadia Abdulaziz, and fashion designer Reem Faisal. All three were invited to attend a workshop at Hyundais headquarters in Seoul last month, which included a visit to the Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang and a Lets Drive driving tutorial for beginners. These ambassadors will share their Hyundai experiences with other Saudi women and also will attend several other Hyundai events, including new car launches and driving school programs. Hyundai has also prepared various customer experience programs targeting Saudi female drivers. A digital showroom optimized for female customers in operation invites female drivers to experience Hyundais brand and products through various digital devices. In order to provide more test-driving experiences for female drivers, the carmaker is also in the process of increasing the number of available test-drive vehicles, developing a test-drive app, and operating female-only driving tutorial sessions. Six female-only lounges with staff support are in operation to facilitate easy access to Hyundais services. To respect Saudi Arabian cultural sensitivities, which include keeping womens physical exposure to a minimum, all locally sold cars will also have pre-installed front door sun shades. In an industry first, Hyundai has also invented and installed an Abaya detector system, so drivers do not have to worry about their traditional attire getting caught in the car doors. Hyundai also announced a Saudi Female Customer Care Taskforce which consists of female employees from different departments who will conduct market research, establish marketing and sales strategies, and study local Islamic customs. This spot is geared towards the local market, yet it carries a universal message that supports and anticipates a progressive trend throughout the world, according to the automaker. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 10, 2018 California is moving forward with a renewed effort to restore the Obama-era net neutrality protections. This week, state lawmakers introduced an amended version of SB822, a net neutrality bill that prohibits broadband providers from throttling or blocking traffic and engaging in paid prioritization. The bill also explicitly prohibits providers from engaging in some forms of zero-rating -- which involves exempting some material from consumers' data caps. "Our bill creating strong #NetNeutrality protections in CA (#SB822) is now officially back on track," state Senator Scott Wiener said in a Twitter post. "Weve now amended the bill so that it contains all of the key protections for ensuring a free & open internet." advertisement advertisement Earlier this year, a legislative committee proposed removing some of the provisions banning zero-rating, but retreated from that stance. The current bill specifially prohibits carriers from charging companies to zero-rate their own content. It also prohibits carriers from cherry-picking which applications or content to zero-rate, but allows carriers to zero-rate material in "application-agnostic ways," provided it doesn't charge for that service. Those provisions, taken together, would appear to allow carriers to zero-rate all video applications, but would prohibit carriers from zero-rating video streams offered by specific carriers, like Netflix or Amazon Prime. The group CALInnovates, which lists telecom giant AT&T as a partner, is running an ad campaign against the measure, which it characterizes as an "Internet tax." One ad, flagged by Wiener, poses the question: "Why are some politicians putting 45,000 CA jobs at risk with an internet tax?" CALInnovates did not respond to MediaPost's request for comment about the ads. California is one of numerous states to consider imposing their own net neutrality regulations in the wake of the FCC's December 2017 decision to repeal a set of nationwide net neutrality rules. Those regulations, like California's proposed measure, prohibited broadband carriers from blocking or throttling online traffic and from charging companies higher fees for prioritized delivery. Net neutrality advocates say rules are necessary to ensure that carriers don't discriminate against competitors and small companies that can't afford extra fees for fast-lane service. But FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who pressed for the repeal, says the rules were "heavy-handed" and depressed investment. Since the repeal, governors of Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Montana, Hawaii and Vermont have signed orders requiring state agencies to contract only with providers that follow net neutrality principles. The state of Oregon recently passed a law that similarly prohibits state agencies from contracting with broadband providers that violate net neutrality principles. Washington state passed a more comprehensive net neutrality law that prohibits broadband providers operating in the state from blocking or throttling traffic and from charging companies higher fees for prioritized delivery. It's not yet clear whether individual states can enact net neutrality rules. When the FCC voted to repeal the Obama-era regulations, the agency also said it was prohibiting states from crafting their own rules. But some legal experts say the FCC's attempt to block state laws may not hold up in court. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 10, 2018 Facebook is asking a federal appellate court to rule that an anti-robotexting law unconstitutionally restricts the company's free speech rights. In papers filed this week, the social networking service contends that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act violates the First Amendment because it exempts robo-texts aimed at collecting debts owed to the government. That law prohibits companies from using autodialers to send robo-texts to consumers without their consent. Facebook argues in papers filed this week with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the law unconstitutionally "draws distinctions on the basis of content, offering an exemption for calls placed 'to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States.'" The company adds that the law's "sweeping proscription on an entire channel of speech is far from the least restrictive means of furthering the governments purported interest in residential privacy." advertisement advertisement Facebook's argument comes in response to papers filed by Montana resident Noah Duguid, who is seeking to revive a lawsuit alleging that the company repeatedly sent him unwanted text messages. Duguid, who apparently had been assigned a recycled phone number by his carrier, alleged in a 2014 class-action complaint that Facebook repeatedly sent him messages stating that his account had been accessed, even though he never had an account with the social networking service. Duguid said in court papers that he emailed Facebook with complaints about the texts, but that the company persisted in sending them. U.S. District Court Judge Jon Tigar in the Northern District of California dismissed Duguid's lawsuit, ruling that Duguid's allegations didn't support the conclusion that Facebook used an automated dialer to send the messages. Duguid recently asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse that ruling, arguing that Facebook's texting system meets the definition of an autodialer. "It is clearly Facebook itself that is robotically sending the text messages," he wrote in papers submitted to the 9th Circuit earlier this year. "No human intervention is occurring in the actual sending of the message." Facebook is asking the appellate court to reject Duguid's argument for several reasons. The company disagrees that its system is an autodialer, arguing that the system didn't generate the numbers randomly, but in response to information about a potential security breach. Judges across the country have struggled to figure out when texting systems are autodialers. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act defines autodialer as equipment that is capable of storing and dialing numbers using a random or sequential generator. Facebook alternatively argues that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act is unconstitutional because it imposes different rules on companies engaged in debt collections than other types of speech. "Under the statute, a private debt collector is barred from making an unconsented autodialed call to a cell phone to discuss a student loan owed to a private bank," Facebook writes. "But he is permitted to make an identical call if he changes the topic of the conversation and instead discusses collection of a government-backed student loan." The company contends that the law therefore unconstitutionally restricts speech based on its content. Duguid is expected to respond to Facebook's argument by the end of the month. Psychedelic drugs tend to have a bad reputation; they can have harmful effects and lead to addiction. Many countries regulate them heavily. Now, however, researchers ask whether such substances may be used to manage conditions such as anxiety. Share on Pinterest Can psychoactive substances help people manage symptoms linked to anxiety, trauma, and depression? The annual convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) held this year in San Francisco, CA is home to much thought-provoking debate about which directions psychotherapy should next consider. This year, researchers from various global institutions discussed the potential of psychedelic drugs in the management of anxiety, depression, and psychological trauma symptoms. These institutions included the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute in California, the Laurentian University in Sudbury, Canada, and the Palo Alto University in California. Combined with psychotherapy, some psychedelic drugs like MDMA, psilocybin, and ayahuasca may improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Symposium co-chair Cristina L. Magalhaes, Alliant International University Los Angeles, CA More research and discussion are needed to understand the possible benefits of these drugs, and psychologists can help navigate the clinical, ethical, and cultural issues related to their use, adds Magalhaes. MDMA for social anxiety? Many researchers see psychedelic drugs as unsafe, and they are banned or heavily regulated by governments across the world, but this might change in the future; scientists argue that such substances could be a useful add-on to psychotherapy. Currently, a clinical trial is seeking prove that MDMA, or ecstasy, can help those diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as co-chair Adam Snider, of the Alliant International University in Los Angeles, CA, also notes. Moreover, a recent study the findings of which were presented at the APA convention has gathered some evidence that MDMA, in combination with psychotherapy, can treat social anxiety in adults with autism. A total of 12 participants with autism who experienced moderate to severe social anxiety participated in that study. They agreed to take two treatments of pure MDMA, alongside their regular, ongoing therapy, and they reported long-term and significant improvement of symptoms. Social anxiety, explains study author Alicia Danforth, of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, is prevalent in autistic adults and few treatment options have been shown to be effective. The positive effects of using MDMA and therapy lasted months, or even years, for most of the research volunteers, she stresses. A larger role for spirituality in therapy Another study whose findings were presented at the symposium suggested that LSD, psilocybin (or magic mushrooms), and ayahuasca could help manage anxiety, depression, and some eating disorders. Researcher Adele Lafrance, from Laurentian University, argues that psychedelic drugs can help with psychological symptoms partly by improving a persons sense of spirituality, and how they relate to their own emotions. This, she says, is what a study of 159 participants who took such drugs reported. According to the studys findings, the use of psychoactive substances led to a heightened sense of spirituality, better emotional balance, and therefore a reduction of anxiety and depression, as well as disordered eating. Lafrance says, This study reinforces the need for the psychological field to consider a larger role for spirituality in the context of mainstream treatment because spiritual growth and a connection to something greater than the self can be fostered. As for ayahuasca, another study discussed at the symposium suggested that the brew can support the management of depression, addiction, and trauma-related symptoms. We found, notes researcher Clancy Cavnar, from the Nucleo de Estudos Interdisciplinares sobre Psicoativos in Brazil, that ayahuasca also fostered an increase in generosity, spiritual connection, and altruism. Read about ten evidence-based methods to help relieve the pain from stomach ulcers. Some people believe stress or spicy food can cause an ulcer. These do not cause ulcers, but they can make them worse by increasing stomach acid production. Stomach ulcers develop when stomach acid irritates the lining of the stomach. Stomach ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach or duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. Stomach ulcers are also known as peptic ulcers , gastric ulcers, or duodenal ulcers. Ulcers can develop in many parts of the body, including the stomach lining. Some natural home remedies can relieve the pain and other symptoms associated with ulcers. In April 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that all forms of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine (Zantac) be removed from the U.S. market. They made this recommendation because unacceptable levels of NDMA, a probable carcinogen (or cancer-causing chemical), were present in some ranitidine products. People taking prescription ranitidine should talk with their doctor about safe alternative options before stopping the drug. People taking OTC ranitidine should stop taking the drug and talk with their healthcare provider about alternative options. Instead of taking unused ranitidine products to a drug take-back site, a person should dispose of them according to the products instructions or by following the FDAs guidance . If a person has an ulcer, they may feel a burning sensation in their stomach. This burning sensation often: lasts a few minutes or several hours eases after taking antacids or stopping food intake starts in the middle of the night or during meals occurs off and on for several weeks People can relieve these symptoms using the following home remedies: 1. Probiotics Share on Pinterest Yogurts contain probiotics that help restore balance to the bacteria in the digestive tract. Probiotics are living organisms that help restore balance to the bacteria in the digestive tract. As well as helping achieve optimal gut health, they can help with treating ulcers. According to a review from 2014 , probiotics cannot kill H. pylori bacteria. However, they may reduce the amount of bacteria present, speed up the healing process, and improve some symptoms. When taken alongside other treatments, probiotics may help eradicate harmful bacteria. People can find probiotics in the following sources: yogurts fermented foods probiotic supplements Some foods have probiotics in them. But, consider taking supplements as they have higher concentrations of probiotics per serving. 2. Ginger Many people think that ginger has gastroprotective effects. Some people use it to treat stomach and digestive conditions, such as constipation, bloating, and gastritis. A review from 2013 suggests that ginger can help with gastric ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria. Eating ginger may also prevent ulcers caused by NSAIDs. However, many of these results come from animal studies, so it is not clear whether the effects would be similar in humans. 3. Colorful fruits Many fruits contain compounds called flavonoids, which are polyphenols. Flavonoids contribute to the rich colors of some fruits. According to a 2011 review , polyphenols can help with stomach ulcers. They can also help a range of other digestive issues, including spasms and diarrhea. Flavonoids protect the stomach lining from developing ulcers. They do this by increasing stomach mucus, which inhibits the growth of H. pylori. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties. Flavonoids are present in fruits such as: apples blueberries cherries lemons and oranges nuts 4. Plantain bananas Plantains are a type of banana. Research from 2011 suggests that unripe plantains may have a positive effect on peptic ulcers. Unripe plantains contain a flavonoid called leucocyanidin. Leucocyanidin increases the amount of mucus in the stomach. This fruit may also reduce acidity, which can help prevent and relieve symptoms of ulcers. 5. Honey Share on Pinterest Manuka honey has antimicrobial properties that may be useful when treating ulcers. Honey is a popular, natural sweetener used across the United States. People who consume honey regularly can enjoy a range of health benefits. A review from 2016 states that Manuka honey has antimicrobial effects against H. pylori. It suggests that honey could be useful for treating stomach ulcers. People also use honey to speed up wound healing, including skin ulcers, burns, and wounds. 6. Turmeric Turmeric is a popular yellow spice frequently used in India and other parts of southern Asia. Like chili peppers, turmeric contains a compound called curcumin. Researchers are beginning to study curcumin in regards to its health benefits. A 2013 review concluded that curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities that may help prevent stomach ulcers. However, there are a limited number of studies on humans. There needs to be more research to examine how effective turmeric is in treating ulcers. Still, initial results appear to be positive. Scientists hope that turmeric can help relieve ulcer symptoms and treat the sores. 7. Chamomile Some people use chamomile flowers and chamomile teas to treat minor anxiety, intestinal spasms, and inflammation. A review study published in 2012 reports that chamomile extracts may also have anti-ulcer properties. Some researchers think it may inhibit stomach ulcers and reduce their healing time. However, much of this research derives from animal studies. Researchers do not know whether chamomile will have the same effects on humans. 8. Garlic Garlic is popular in many parts of the world for adding flavor to food. Garlic has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which make it helpful in fighting infections. Some studies do support garlics effectiveness in treating ulcers. For example, a 2016 study on animals showed that garlic could help prevent the development of ulcers and help speed up the healing process. According to a 2015 review, garlic may also help prevent the growth of H. pylori. One small-scale study from 2015 suggests that eating two cloves of garlic with a meal, twice a day, can have anti-bacterial effects against H. pylori. However, not all studies agree that garlic affects H.pylori or prevents ulcers. Scientists still need to do more research. 9. Licorice Licorice is a popular spice that is native to the Mediterranean region and Asia. People have used licorice in traditional medications for hundreds of years. Some people believe that eating a dried licorice root can help cure and prevent ulcers. However, research tends to focus on the use of supplements, not dried licorice root. So, people interested in using this spice for ulcers may want to try it as a supplement. One 2013 study found that taking licorice supplements can help fight H. pylori infections. The study suggests that the supplement helps prevent the bacteria from growing. 10. Aloe vera Aloe vera is a popular plant-based oil found in many topical lotions, cosmetics, and foods. Some studies looking at how aloe vera affected stomach ulcers produced favorable results. For example, one 2011 study on rats reported that aloe vera treated ulcers in a similar way to a popular anti-ulcer medication. But, researchers studied animals, not humans. So, scientists need to do more research to see the effects of aloe vera on humans. For a very long time now, people have been clamouring to see Salman Khan and Deepika Padukone together in a movie, however, no maker was able to pull off this mega star power casting, and now, it seems like Sanjay Leela Bhansali might just have done the unimaginable. The famous filmmaker is all set to bring his favourites together on-screen, giving Bollywood a new on-screen couple to look forward to. (c) Colors While the two actors have expressed their desire to work with each other, nothing seemed to be coming through. But now, it looks like the fans will finally get what they have been waiting for. If reports are to be believed, Bhansali is keen on casting both the actors in leading roles for his next movie 'Inshallah'. (c) Colors It's no secret that after Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone became his ultimate muse. The director and the stunning diva have given us three amazing films so far, 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela', 'Bajirao Mastani' and 'Padmaavat', that became blockbusters and were loved by the audience. And now once again, Deepika is his leading lady. Interestingly though, Bhansali seems to be veering towards Salman, instead of Ranveer Singh. (c) SLB Talking about the movie, a source revealed to a leading daily. "Inshallah might be the title of the film that will reunite Sanjay and Salman. He got the title registered last week with IMPAA. And looking at Bhansali's working style, he might take six to nine months to complete the final draft of the script, and he may start shooting by next year, after Salman is done with his other prior commitments including his next film, Bharat. (c) SLB If things go as planned, then Salman and Bhansali will be working together after a gap of 11 years since 'Saawariya'. The movie will hit the screens on Eid 2020, and we can't help but say 'Inshallah'. The trailer for 'Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se' is out and prepare yourself for some bad news, which I'm sure you were already expecting. If you are a Deol clan fan and were waiting for this film with bated breath, then you are in for great disappointment. The third instalment in the YPD franchise just makes us wonder that why on earth can't Bollywood get over making sequels? How about making a good movie, instead of trying to cash in on the success of its previous parts? Saregama Music The movie, no doubt, brings together Dharmendra, Sunny, and Bobby Deol. And who doesn't like seeing one big happy family in one frame? Yes, we love the Deols but can't say the same for their upcoming movie. Saregama Music Bringing the same old stale comedy is YPDPS, which revolves around the same cliche concept that Bollywood has been selling for decades now. Saregama Music Dharmendra is introduced to us as Yamla Parmar a womaniser and an alcoholic. The man is full of life and aims to enjoy every moment. In fact, he also imagines about having pretty women all around him. But, the question here is, why make him play the same role again and again? He is a legend and sorry to say this, but this is downright insulting! Saregama Music Sunny Deol is a 'vaidh' (Doctor) this time, whose 'dhai-kilo-ka-haath' still has the same effect but we doubt Millenials would connect with it. Saregama Music Bobby Deol, who was brought to life by Salman Khan in 'Race 3', is seen trying to please actress Kriti Kharbanda in the movie. Saregama Music This time, the three Punjabi mundas travel to Gujarat, the dry state, and pretend to be Gujus. Adding to the ruckus are Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Rekha (do the makers really think they can save this movie?). And that's not it; they are here with a new version of Rafta Rafta Dekho Aankh Meri Ladi Hai, because Bollywood's new goal is all about murdering iconic numbers. So much in the name of originality, we tell you! Check out the trailer here: Directed by Navaniat Singh, 'Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se' is slated for release on 15th August. A $5 million gift from the Jim Kennedy family has put Erlanger Health Systems over the top for the first phase of its new Children's Hospital. Officials said it is the largest single gift in Erlanger's history. The Kennedy family said Children's Hospital is especially dear to them since Molly Kennedy was born there as a premature baby. She told the group that her parents did not get to see her for the first three months as she was being treated. She said the facility saved her life. Over 6,000 donors helped raise the $42 million needed for the new outpatient center on 3rd Street across from the main campus. The new facility where children will be treated is set to open in four months. Kevin Spiegel, Erlanger president and CEO, noted that he had a vision upon his arrival here five years ago for a new world-class hospital for children, replacing the present outmoded one. "People thought I was crazy," he said. Grady Williams noted that he and Tom Edd Wilson took on the challenge of raising the $42 million. He said Mr. Wilson was present for the groundbreaking on June 6 of last year, but he died of a heart attack a few days later. "We were together every day the week before talking about raising the money," he said. He said the first big boost for the drive was when Olan and Butch Mills donated $1 million. They were among those present for the dedication. Bruce Komiske, who helped oversee the project, also took part in the event. He also designed and built Erlanger's new facility at Gunbarrel Road in East Brainerd. At the same ceremony a steam locomotive on loan from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum was to be lifted by crane next to the hospital. Crowds lined Third Street as a police escort led a heavy flatbed truck with the engine aboard. The driver somehow made the tight curve at the new facility, then the process began of getting it lifted onto a waiting track. Another rail car had already been put into place. There will be a roof over the train display and it will be lit at night and outfitted with train sounds. Don Mueller, Children's Hospital CEO, said the newly painted train is designed to "try to decrease the anxiety of children as they arrive at the hospital. It will bring joy to kids for many years." Engine 349 was built in 1891 - the same year Erlanger was founded with a $5,000 gift from railroad executive Baron Erlanger. Tim Andrews of the TVRM said the engine at one time was in the back yard of a Macon physician, and his children played on it. When the doctor began looking around for someone to take the historic engine, he turned to the Chattanooga train museum. It has been on display for many years at the TVRM headquarters. Mr. Andrews said it would have been too expensive to bring it up to standard for again hauling trains. He said it ran for many years on the Central of Georgia Railroad and may have operated in Chattanooga, though it mainly ran in the South Georgia section of that once venerable line. More to follow... PIGEON -- Top-of-the-Thumb Leisure Ministries will host an evening of song Sunday. Living Truth 2 will perform at 7 p.m. at the Pigeon River Mennonite Church, located at 7120 Geiger Road. Living Truth 2 is composed of a husband and wife ministry team, Elroy and Tammie Kosters of Caro. They have been in full-time ministry since 1983. They play a variety of instruments, antique and contemporary, and create a unique sound that is a delight to hear. They travel throughout Michigan presenting their ministry of music and occasional dramatic sketches combined with their testimonies of a vital, growing relationship with Jesus Christ. After the program, there will be a time of fellowship and refreshments provided. TTLM is an interdenominational organization dedicated to providing recreational and spiritual programming for the northern Thumb area. It has been active in ministry since 1970. HARBOR BEACH Harbor Beach school board members focused on making education even better at the district during their most recent meeting. In his district report, Superintendent Shawn Bishop discussed students early release on Fridays. Students will be released about one hour early on the majority of Fridays during the year to allow all staff to meet and discuss education. Bishop noted the time is strictly to be used for constructive discussions and not frivolously or for the teachers personal agendas. During many of those sessions, staff will discuss curriculum and interventions for students who fit into two distinct groups: high learners or those students struggling with everyday education. Later in the meeting, the board approved hiring three additional teachers for the upcoming school year. Brianna Davey will teach fourth grade classes, while Janeen Hass will teach fifth grade. In addition, Kayla Rienstra will come on board to teach second grade. Bishop said Davey previously taught preschool at Harbor Beach Community Schools and was highly qualified. She also taught fourth grade classes. Rienstra taught first grade in the Kingston School District and will be moved up to second grade at Harbor Beach. Haas recently graduated from Saginaw Valley State University, and completed her student teaching at Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker School District. It was her passion," Bishop said of Haas' qualifications. "She just jumps off the page when you talk to her about education. Bishop told the Tribune hiring new/additional teachers will lower overall classroom size. In turn, this will make learning better and easier for young students. "The more we can do to intervene early, the better, Bishop said, adding kindergarten through fifth grade classes will average 14 students per class. In other business: The bus mechanic services contract with Bad Axe was approved. This is a yearly contract agreement with the Bad Axe School District, allowing financial savings by having one mechanic repair busses for both school districts. In the past, Revive has contracted with the school to use physical fitness equipment after school hours. The school board agreed to contract with them again for one half of the school year. The 2019 graduation date was set for June 2, 2019. Beginning in 2020, the official graduation date will be the Sunday before Memorial Day. The change came about due to students going back to school before Labor Day. The board is scheduled to meet next at 7 p.m. on Aug. 15 in the high school library. KANSAS CITY, Kan. Harbor Beach dairy farmers Darrin and McKenna Wolschleger recently visited Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional leaders and discuss issues impacting the dairy industry. The two traveled to Capitol Hill to build strategic relationships with local legislators and represent Dairy Farmers of America (DFA). The Wolschlegers were among several DFA members who visited Capitol Hill, where they discussed key legislative issues affecting the industry and sat down with congressional leaders to address the importance of these issues. While in the nations capital, Darrin and McKenna met with the offices of Sens. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, and Gary Peters, also a Michigan Democrat, and State Rep. Paul Mitchell, a Michigan Republican. During these meetings, the Wolschlegers expressed the importance of passing the farm bill and the impact of trade on the dairy industry. Additionally, they discussed the support needed for enforcing labeling of dairy products, an especially relevant issue since the FDA recently announced review of the standards of identity. Darrin and his wife, Connie, are fourth generation dairy farmers and milk 120 cows with Darrins brother, Daryl, his wife, Deborah, and their parents, Ben and Vange. In addition to milking, the Wolschleger family raises beef cattle and farms 1,000 acres of corn, wheat, alfalfa and dry beans. McKenna is one of Darrins three daughters and plans to return to the farm after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in agricultural industries. Its really important that dairy farmers speak to their elected officials about issues on their minds, said Jackie Klippenstein, senior vice president of legislative and industry affairs at DFA. Meeting face to face and educating those who are making policy decisions that impact the dairy industry is critical to ensuring we continue to work towards a better business environment for dairy producers around the country." "We encourage our members to engage with legislators regularly," she added. HADDAM Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. responded to 54 calls for emergency services in July: nine fires/alarms, 11 motor vehicle accidents, 25 medicals, four downed power lines, three marine and two other matters. HVFC was dispatched to the intersection of Saybrook Road and Old Turnpike Road July 1 for a motor vehicle accident. Haddam Volunteer Ambulance Service personnel arrived on scene first and tended to the driver. The patients vehicle was located a quarter-mile down the road. According to the patient, she stopped and exited her car, and the car continued on down the road. A bystander was able to stop the rolling car and park it on the side of the road. The driver, who said she was struck by her own vehicle during the incident, was taken to Middlesex Hospital. HVFC was dispatched to a fire on Maple Avenue West July 4. Upon arrival, crews found no visible fire or smoke but determined it was a transformer fire. A secondary power line had burned off the pole and caused a home to lose power. The homeowner was advised to turn off the main power to the home and have Eversource repair the issue before re-energizing the home. Crews responded to a stranded boat on the Connecticut River, north of Haddam Island, July 8. Firefighters aboard Marine-13 rescued two adults, three children and a dog. The family was dropped off at Haddam Meadows State Park. The boat was anchored with lights on at the point of the breakdown in the river. Also that day, HVFC was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on Saybrook Road. A driver had crashed his vehicle into a utility pole and parked car. The patient was evaluated on scene but refused additional medical treatment. Crews responded to another motor vehicle accident July 11 on Saybrook Road. Two vehicles collided head on and one also struck and damaged a utility pole. Two patients were transported to Middlesex Hospital, and one patient was transported to Hartford Hospital with injuries. HVFC responded to a garage fire July 15 on Forest Ridge Road. The residents, who had recently returned home, noticed smoke inside their garage. Firefighters entered the home through the basement and opened a basement-level storage garage, which was billowing with smoke. Firefighters used a compressed air foam system from Engine 6-13 to extinguish burning or smoldering objects inside the garage. Once the fire was out, firefighters metered the home and found an excessive carbon monoxide reading in the storage garage. They used two large fans to vent the space. The fire marshal is determining the cause. One patient was airlifted, and three more were transported to hospitals following a motor vehicle accident July 15 on Killingworth Road near the Washburn Hill area. A driver, heading north on Killingworth Road lost control of his vehicle, slid sideways into the southbound lane and was struck by a vehicle heading south. Both vehicles had one driver and one passenger. Crews stabilized both vehicles with cribbing and extricated the driver of the vehicle that was headed northbound. That driver, who was unconscious, was transported to a landing zone at Burr Elementary School via Haddam Ambulance, where he was airlifted to Hartford Hospital by Life Star helicopter with possible head injuries. Other patients were transported to Hartford Hospital and St. Francis Hospital with injuries. During the incident, all traffic was rerouted. July 29, crews were dispatched to Beaver Meadow Road, where a driver lost control of his vehicle and struck a utility pole and two trees. Live power lines fell atop the vehicle and firefighters waited until crews from Eversource arrived to deem the area safe prior to assessing the patient. Firefighters helped remove the patient from the vehicle through the passenger-side door and he was taken to Middlesex Hospital. Eversource noted that the downed utility pole housed a transformer that likely contained polychlorinated biphenyls, which can cause adverse health effects and are probable human carcinogens, were used as coolants in transformers and other electrical equipment between 1929 and 1977. Firefighters applied absorbent materials over the transformer spill and blocked a drain that feeds to Beaver Meadow Brook. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was notified to assess the situation. The scene was turned over to Eversource and the Connecticut State Police. Crews responded to a fatal motorcycle accident on Route 9 North between exits 8 and 9 July 30. The operator struck a guardrail and slid approximately 400 feet before falling off the bike. His bike was found approximately 900 feet away from the site of the crash. Firefighters blocked Route 9 during the incident and rerouted traffic off exit 9. Later that day, HVFC assisted a patient on Wiese Albert Road who had been struck by an 8-inch-wide tree branch while working with a tree company. The patient had lost consciousness for 10 seconds and was bleeding and confused. The patient was transported to Hartford Hospital. Drills During a weekly drill night July 16, members practiced water pumping and hand-line operations at Eagles Landing State Park by using a 2.5-inch and 1.75-inch hose line, and a smooth bore and combination nozzle. Membership The company is always looking for new volunteers. For information, email membership@haddamfire.org. Olivia Drake is public information officer for the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. The military has been unable to determine whether a Marine shot while serving in Syria earlier this year was the victim of an insider attack, raising questions about whether U.S. troops serving in that country can trust the forces they're working to train and protect. Sgt. Cameron Halkovich, a combat engineer attached to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, was shot twice in the leg by a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces on Feb. 17. Halkovich and another Marine were conducting a nighttime perimeter check on an Army-led base at the time of the shooting. Marines with Halkovich's unit told Task and Purpose they believed the shooting had been intentional, leading to fear and mistrust of their Syrian partners. But a team tasked with investigating the incident was unable to make that determination, according to a Friday news release from U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East. "The incident was investigated by a team led by a U.S. Marine colonel who was unable to conclusively determine if a U.S. Marine was shot intentionally by a Syrian Democratic Forces guard, or if he was shot as the result of a negligent discharge," the release states. A separate investigation conducted by unnamed partners supported the team's findings, according to the release. Halkovich was presented with the Purple Heart for his injuries in April. Cpl. Kane Downey, the other Marine on patrol with him that night, received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his actions. Downey told investigators that Halkovich had walked ahead of him when he heard AK-47 gunshots. He then saw a Syrian soldier standing over Halkovich with a rifle, Task and Purpose reported. The Marine shot and killed the man, applied a tourniquet to Halkovich's leg and fireman-carried him to a surgical facility, according to the outlet. The investigating team verified those actions. Downey "acted appropriately and proportionally to the threat he perceived," according to the CENTCOM news release. "Those actions in the face of the perception of imminent danger, and the second Marine's life-saving response to a fellow Marine's injuries, led the lead investigator to recommend the second Marine to be commended for his actions," the release continues. The news release follows reporters' questions to Army Gen. Joseph Votel, the head of CENTCOM, after the Task and Purpose story was published. Votel said Wednesday he was not aware of other insider attacks in Syria, but that he needed to review the details before commenting further. The investigation into the shooting will be released upon classification review, according to the CENTCOM news release. It led to recommendations that have been enacted, the release states, but it does not mention what those actions are. Marines and other troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan routinely train to deal with insider threats. After a pattern of attacks in those countries, armed Marines sometimes observe training or patrol gyms and chow halls in case local troops attempt an attack when U.S. forces aren't wearing protective gear. It's not immediately clear whether troops deploying to Syria now follow those same protocols. --Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins. An all-hands effort is underway to find a Marine believed to have gone overboard Wednesday during routine operations off the coast of the Philippines. The Marine, who was aboard the amphibious assault ship Essex with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, was reported overboard at 9:40 a.m. The incident occurred in the Sulu Sea, according to a Marine Corps news release. The Marine's family has been notified, but the service is withholding his or her identification while the search is ongoing. The ship's crew immediately responded to the situation by launching a search-and-rescue operation. Navy, Marine Corps and Philippine ships and aircraft are all involved in the search, which will continue "until every option has been exhausted," according to a post on the 13th MEU's Facebook page. "As we continue our search operation, we ask that you keep our Marine and the Marine's family in your thoughts and prayers," Col. Chandler Nelms, the MEU's commanding officer, said in a statement. "We remain committed to searching for and finding our Marine." Multiple searches have been conducted aboard the ship to locate the missing Marine as round-the-clock rescue operations continue in the Sulu Sea and Surigao Strait, according to the news release. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft and Philippine coast guard vessels have expanded the search area, covering roughly 3,000 square nautical miles. "It is an all-hands effort to find our missing Marine," Navy Capt. Gerald Olin, head of Amphibious Squadron One and commander of the search-and-rescue operation, said in a statement. "All of our Sailors, Marines, and available assets aboard the USS Essex have been and will continue to be involved in this incredibly important search-and-rescue operation." The Essex Amphibious Ready Group deployed last month from San Diego with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, becoming the first ARG to deploy from the continental United States with Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighters aboard. The Essex is en route to the U.S. 5th Fleet, where the Marines new 5th-generation fighter may participate in combat operations in the Middle East for the first time. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins. Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Strunz Dana Chemical Elements Mineral List Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities Gold 1 valid mineral. 1 valid mineral. Detailed Mineral List: Gold Formula: Au Reference: The Ballarat Star newspaper (1881) Mining Summary of 1881, 31 December 1881. List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification Group 1 - Elements 'Gold' 1.AA.05 Au List of minerals arranged by Dana 8th Edition classification Group 1 - NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS Metals, other than the Platinum Group Gold 1.1.1.1 Au List of minerals for each chemical element Au Gold Au Gold Au Regional Geology Historic gold mine.William Barton had a major interest in the North Band and Barton Company, and was its mine manager during the time the company existed from 1880 to 1895.During the sinking of its first shaft, the company struck rich gold in 1881. 650 tonnes of ore for 322 ounces of gold was one example in 1882. From 1883, gold yields decreased to payable only levels, with examples including 130 tonnes of ore for 51 ounces of gold, 45 tonnes for 27 ounces, 48 tonnes for 17 ounces, 114 tonnes for 36 ounces. Yields further decreased in the first half of the 1890's, with examples including 17 tonnes for 10 ounces, 120 tonnes for 15 ounces, and 40 tonnes for 2 ounces.The Band and Barton United Company amalgamated with the North Band and Barton Company in 1882.In 1893, Henry Brown (24) died when the rope snapped on the cage, and it plummeted 400 feet to the bottom of the shaft.The company came to an arrangement to tribute on a narrow strip of land owned by the neighbouring Band and Barton Company. This led to much litigation with the Young Band Extended Company, with each accusing the other of gold stealing and encroachment. The dispute centred on ground under Mahers or Meaghers house. The Young Band Extended Company had applied to the warden for the land as a mining lease, stating it was largely surplus ground. However it appears rich gold was found under the house. William Barton pegged the land based on a court case which stated the resident had to give approval before a mining lease could be granted. Barton had obtained this, but the Young Band Extended Company had not.Around 1885, a second shaft was sunk, with a trial crushing of 150 tonnes of ore for 22 ounces, indicating results were still average. A third shaft was also sunk but no information was found on it apart from its location.William Barton left in 1895 to manage the Queens Birthday Mine at Dunolly. Shortly after the company amalgamated with the Sir Henry Loch Company, which in turn amalgamated with the Band of Hope and Albion Consols Company in 1898.There are three shafts, all in close proximity to each other, and now covered by housing. #1 is in the middle of a block bordered by Bell Street, Campbell Crescent, and Yarrowee Parade. #2 is just north-west of the corner of Bell Street and Yarrowee Parade. #3 is just north-west of the corner of Bell Street and Campbell Crescent. This geological map and associated information on rock units at or nearby to the coordinates given for this locality is based on relatively small scale geological maps provided by various national Geological Surveys. This does not necessarily represent the complete geology at this locality but it gives a background for the region in which it is found. Click on geological units on the map for more information. Click here to view full-screen map on Macrostrat.org Newer Volcanic Group Age: Cenozoic (0 - 23.03 Ma) Stratigraphic Name: Newer Volcanic Group Description: Cinder cones - scoria, minor ash and agglutinates; Lava flows - tholeiitic to minor alkaline and basanitic lavas. Comments: igneous mafic volcanic; synthesis of multiple published descriptions Lithology: Igneous mafic volcanic Reference: Raymond, O.L., Liu, S., Gallagher, R., Zhang, W., Highet, L.M. Surface Geology of Australia 1:1 million scale dataset 2012 edition. Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia). [5] Paleozoic sedimentary rocks Age: Paleozoic (427.4 - 541 Ma) Comments: Lachlan Fold Belt Lithology: Sedimentary rocks Reference: Chorlton, L.B. Generalized geology of the world: bedrock domains and major faults in GIS format: a small-scale world geology map with an extended geological attribute database. doi: 10.4095/223767. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 5529. [154] Data and map coding provided by Macrostrat.org, used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License References Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A) The Ballarat Star newspaper (1881) News and Notes, 10 November 1881. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1881) News and Notes, 15 November 1881. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1881) Mining Summary of 1881, 31 December 1881. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1882) (no title), 02 October 1882. Newcastle Morning Herald and Mining Advocate newspaper (1883) Another Fatal Mining Accident, 23 April 1883. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1883) Annual Mining Retrospect, 29 December 1883. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1885) Annual Mining Retrospect, 01 January 1885. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1886) Annual Mining Retrospect, 01 January 1886. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1888) Annual Mining Retrospect, 31 December 1888. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1891) North Band and Barton Company, 22 May 1891. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1895) Complimentary Banquet to Mr. W. Barton, 08 February 1895. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1895) Ballarat West, 28 December 1895. Localities in this Region Show map A Forest Hills Central High School graduate and Cascade Township native is sharing the knowledge she's gained from spending years living in the Dominican Republic. Kaley Marino, 30, recently returned from the Dominican after receiving her master's degree in business administration from ADEN campus Republica Dominicana. Prior to that, she spent 2013 to 2015 as a member of the Peace Corps, where she said she learned many things, like what it means to be American. "Being aware, generally, of what it means to be American and how lucky we are," she said in reflection of lessons she learned during her Peace Corps stint. Among other knowledge and skills, Marino said "it helps with language skills, just general people management, problem solving, being resilient." She recently shared her experience with the Rotary Club of Ada-Cascade, a presentation she said she's given many times before. Marino graduated from Forest Hills Central in 2006 and following high school, she pursued a degree in Spanish and global international studies from Western Michigan University. After graduating from Western in 2010, she started working full-time but wanted a change, which is what led her to the Peace Corps. "I kind of wanted to do something different, even if it's only...temporary," she said. Her focus during her time in the Peace Corps was on economic development for local businesses and individuals, which included working with a women's group that did fish farming and cocoa producers. After Marino returned to the U.S. in 2015, she found herself returning to the Dominican to continue her education. Following completion of the program, she moved back to the U.S. nearly three weeks ago. Marino is currently employed by Big Dutchman in North Carolina, a poultry and swine production company, which also has ties in West Michigan. Ford continues to put the full-court press on affected owners of recalled Ranger pickups equipped with Takata air bags by offering dealerships $1,000 for each truck they can find and fix. Automotive News first reported that the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker was offering $1,000 to its U.S. dealers for each affected 2006 Ford Ranger they can fully repair to federal guidelines. A spokesperson said that it is pushing dealers to "take additional unprecedented measures to locate, account for and/or repair the remaining 2006 Rangers as soon as possible." As the outlet points out, dealers are typically only reimbursed to the tune of cost of parts and labor, and any other warranty-related issues. In the past year, Ford has issued a "critical warning" for owners to park the affected Rangers, put out an additional "do not drive" warning and been on the receiving end of the federal government declaring it was "deeply concerned" with the pace of the Ranger (and Mazda B-Series) recall. "We take the safety of our customers very seriously and continue to use a wide variety of tools to reach and inform our customers of the Takata recalls to repair vehicles," Ford spokesperson Elizabeth Weigandt told Automotive News. "Within these recalls, of particular urgency is finding and repairing the remaining 2006 Ford Rangers included in the 'Do Not Drive' recall that are equipped with Takata inflators that have a higher risk of rupturing in a crash." Back in May, the NHTSA said in a news release that affected Rangers under the "do not drive" warning were not being fixed fast enough. The 2006 Ford Rangers, and 2006 Mazda B-Series, are considered to be high-risk with parts that "must be replaced immediately." This came two months after Ford added another 33,000 Rangers to the recall and "do not drive" warning due to an increased risk concerning the potentially fatal Takata air bags. The original warning came in January after an exploding Takata air bag inflator killed a person in West Virginia. The fatal crash occurred in July, and Ford found out and started investigating the incident in December 2017. There have been more than 20 deaths related to the Takata recall in the United States, Malaysia and Australia. People have been killed in California, Louisiana, Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Texas and South Carolina stateside. Across the world, 19 different automakers have recalled around 100 million inflators around the world. In the U.S., the 69 million recalled inflators represents the largest automotive recall in the country's history. Fatal crashes have occurred inside the Honda Civic, Accord, City, Civic, CR-V, and Acura TL and 2006 Ford Ranger models with Takata air bags. To search active recalls, use the NHTSA's website to search your 17-character VIN at this link. VIN numbers are typically located under the driver's side windshield, or along the inside of the doors behind the seat or under the steering wheel. To sign up for NHTSA safety alerts for a specific vehicle, sign up at this link. The Lions are out in California, fresh off two days of joint practices with the Raiders. They've had a chance to measure their strengths against Oakland's, for the most part. What they haven't gotten to see is Khalil Mack. The Raiders star defensive end has been holding out for a new contract, something the front office has shown reluctance to give him. With the Lions dealing with their own weaknesses in the front seven and the possible impending departure of Ezekiel Ansah, could this be a time for the two teams to discuss a potential trade? MLive's Nate Atkins and WJR Radio's Michael Stets discuss the possibility and theorize what the price tag could be in this edition of Inside the Lions podcast: Recorded from a BBQ in suburban Detroit while awaiting the team's return, the two delve into a few different topics: What to watch for in the Lions-Raiders preseason game Reader questions straight from the community at MLive As always, a more commute-friendly version of this episode can be found on WJR's iTunes page. Theodore J. Visner BAY CITY, MI -- Despite awaiting trial on 16 felonies, Theodore J. Visner won't stop selling medical marijuana beyond what the law allows, police and prosecutors allege. Visner, who lives in Bay County's Mount Forest Township, got into a heated argument with a judge on Thursday, Aug. 9, asserting he knows the law and that the new charge he faces doesn't exist. Wearing sunglasses and a sleeveless T-shirt, the 51-year-old Visner appeared before Bay County District Judge Timothy J. Kelly for arraignment on one count of manufacturing or possessing marijuana with intent to deliver. The charge is a four-year felony. Police allege Visner sold marijuana to anyone with a Michigan Medical Marijuana Card out of his unlicensed private residence at 856 W. Cody Estey Road. The Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, or BAYANET, on Wednesday, Aug. 8, executed its latest search warrant on Visner's home, seizing numerous marijuana plants, pot oil, and medibles including pot-infused cookies and gummy worms, police said. After Judge Kelly read Visner his charge on Thursday, the defendant described how he actually isn't facing a criminal count. "In essence, your Honor, the count 1 charge is a non-charge," he said. "Is your Honor going to charge me with a penalty?" "I don't charge people," Kelly replied. "The prosecutor charges people. I only read the charge." Visner went on to say "the charges don't specify an actual crime." Kelly said the charge specifies Visner manufactured or possessed marijuana intending to deliver it. "Well, I'm licensed to do that," Visner said and asserted the law isn't comprehensible. "Do you understand the English language?" Kelly asked him. "Oh yes, your Honor, I do," Visner replied. "Did I speak to you in the English language? English, sir; did I read it to you in English each time?" "Yes, you read it to me in English each time. (But) it's not understandable, your Honor." Kelly said he is baffled as to how Visner can't understand the charge. "There are no charges, your Honor," Visner asserted again. Kelly then asked Visner if he plans on hiring an attorney or would like one appointed. Visner replied he plans on representing himself. The judge asked him if he has had any formal legal training. "Uh, informal," Visner said. The judge asked the defendant if understands legal procedures. "Apparently better than the prosecutor," Visner said, adding he has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to step in on his prior pending cases, claiming the judge set to preside over his trial is working with his staff to remove his due process rights. Kelly asked Visner if he's currently undergoing treatment for any mental health issues. "Are you suggesting I'm mentally ill, your Honor?" Visner replied. "I'm asking a question," Kelly replied. Visner said he is not receiving mental health treatment or taking any associated medications. Bay County Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko addressed the judge, stating Visner had been free on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond on his other matters, a condition of which being that he not violate any laws. Due to the ongoing illicit behavior alleged by police, Borushko asked the judge to set a $50,000 cash-surety bond, which Kelly granted. "It doesn't appear to the Court Mr. Visner is acting in normal manner when being arraigned on felony charges," Kelly said. "He's making statements that these are non-charges, which doesn't make any sense to the Court." Kelly ordered Visner to not possess any controlled substances if he posts bond. Visner's pending marijuana cases Visner has faced 16 marijuana-related charges since October. Those charges, divided among four files, are: eight counts of felony firearm, seven counts of delivering or manufacturing marijuana, and one count of maintaining a drug house. The charges stem from police alleging they bought pot from him at his house on four occasions in August and September. In a pair of contentious preliminary examination dates in October and November, Visner asserted the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act is self-contradictory. In those hearings, he also called presiding Bay County District Judge Mark E. Janer a grammar teacher and a criminal and called Bay County Assistant Prosecutor Bernard J. Coppolino "a dork." Visner, representing himself for the first of the two prelim dates, testified he did indeed break the law by selling pot to undercover officers, but that he does not believe such conduct is illegal. During the November date, Visner had a pot leaf inked onto the back of his head. Visner claims to have a license to sell medical marijuana, but police allege he isn't following the law. The MMMA states "a primary caregiver may assist no more than five qualifying patients with their medical use of marihuana." Caregivers can grow up to 12 plants producing 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana for each of their five patients and themselves. If a caregiver is a patient and has five registered patients, he or she can grow 72 plants. All plants must be kept in "an enclosed, locked facility," according to the act. The act also states caregivers can receive donations from their patients. Licensed medical marijuana provisioning centers, also known as dispensaries, are allowed to operate under the state's emergency rules. Visner is to face trial on his 16 charges on Oct. 23 before Bay County Circuit Judge Harry P. Gill. Visner's past Visner has a storied relationship with law enforcement. Years ago, he claimed to have been illegally evicted from a rental home owned by an Isabella County Sheriff's Department employee. He later faced several misdemeanor charges for refusing to leave a second home from which he was evicted for not paying his mortgage. A lengthy legal standoff ensued during which Visner claimed to be backed by militia groups who would support his right to stay in the Rolland Township home. Seventeen militia groups disavowed Visner, however, The Morning Sun reports. In November 2015, Isabella County jurors convicted him of trespassing, squatting, driving without insurance, and driving an unregistered car. Visner in 2012 also ran unsuccessfully for Isabella County sheriff. Visner also runs the Facebook page "MI Justice League," self-described as "a non-lawyer law firm." In November, Michigan residents will vote on whether or not to legalize recreational marijuana. BAY CITY, MI -- A 24-year-old Bay City woman is facing charges after police allege she entered a stranger's apartment, grabbed an ax off the wall used it to try breaking down the door of another apartment unit. About 10:50 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, police responded to an apartment building in the 300 block of Adams Street on Bay City's East Side after someone called 911 to report what sounded like a gunshot in the downstairs unit. Upon arrival, officers entered the building and found Angel A. Martinez standing in the stairwell. Martinez told the officers she lived there, but a man standing beside her made eye contact with police and shook his head in the negative. Police also saw that an upstairs apartment door had been struck multiple times with an object and its handle broken, according to their reports in court files. Police placed Martinez in handcuffs and took her outside. They then spoke with the male and female residents of the downstairs apartment. The man said he had been outside smoking a cigarette and when he came back inside, his unit's door was locked. Eventually, the woman he lived with opened it and he entered to see a seated Martinez, a stranger to him. "She just walked into my house and grabbed an ax and started beating the door down with an ax," the man said, adding the ax had been mounted on his wall. "She came right in our house; we don't know her." Martinez repeatedly hit an upstairs apartment door with the ax, yelling for a woman inside to open up, the man told police. "I was scared as (expletive). I've never seen her in my life. This was the scariest (expletive) ever," the man said. The woman resident of the downstairs apartment told police Martinez walked into her home, demanded a cigarette, grabbed the ax, sat down and told her not to move. "She locked me in my own house," the woman said. "She said (someone) (expletive)ed her over and broke into her house. She said (he) was going to learn because she's a Martinez. I thought this (expletive) was going to kill somebody. She was for real. She was dead serious." Martinez's relative at the scene told officers she had heard loud banging on her front door, back door, and window and did not open any of them. She said she didn't want to press charges against Martinez. A second relative of Martinez told officers she had contacted him a few days prior, wanting his help in fighting someone. This relative refused her, though. Speaking with police, Martinez said her home had recently been broken into and she had gone to the Adams Street building "to take care of it." She added, "I didn't do anything wrong." Martinez on Aug. 6 appeared in Bay County District Court for arraignment on single counts of first-degree home invasion and unlawful imprisonment. The former is a 20-year felony, while the latter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The arraigning judge set Martinez's bond at $75,000 cash-surety. Martinez is to appear for a preliminary examination Aug. 22. Martinez's criminal record includes convictions of assaulting police, attempted larceny from a person, and breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny, the last of which landed her in prison. The Michigan Department of Corrections discharged Martinez in June 2017. CLIO, MI - Painted on a large section of the wall inside the new Don Felipe Mexican Restaurant in downtown Clio is a man dressed in jeans and a cowboy hat walking in a grove of trees next to a pond. The mural by Flint artist Armando Fernandez was painted in honor of Felipe Bernal, who died a few years ago in a traffic crash near Puente Ayo El Grande in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Juan Vizcarra, co-owner of the restaurant at 138 W. Vienna St., along with Javier Bernal Sr. and Javier Bernal Jr., said the new location was named in Felipe's honor and out of respect to the relationship he's grown over the past decade with the Bernal family. Along with the sound of Mexican tunes, such as Vicente Fernandez's "Por Tu Maldito Amor," coming from the speakers, a colorful mix of tables and chairs also stand out upon entering the location that underwent extensive renovations prior to opening this week across the from the Nite-Cap Tavern. The tables, featuring mariachis, soldiers, field workers, and people rolling out tortillas, came from Guadalajara, Mexico where Vizcarra was born and raised prior to moving to the United States in 2004. Flavors on the menu also carry the authenticity of Mexican cuisine, from Spanish rice to queso fresco topping the refried beans, cilantro and onions scattered atop a taco plate including steak, chorizo, and seasoned chicken on flour or corn tortillas, as well as a variety of margaritas. "The cooks that I have are really, really good," he said, with the menu offering most of the same items featured at the other restaurant Vizcarra and the Bernals operate in downtown Flushing -- Puerto Vallarta. A few new offerings include Burrito Javier stuffed with eggs, chorizo and topped with bacon and cheese; Quesadilla Don Felipe, which combines bacon, chorizo, pineapple and chicken wrapped in a tortilla; and the Pollo Guadalajara, with chicken breast, pineapple, onion, peppers, mushrooms, chipotle sauce and cheese, served with rice and beans. "We have a lot of things that are really authentic Mexican, but we do have like a Tex-Mex type of thing too," said Vizacarra, who lives in Flushing with his wife, Donna, and their two children, Joshua and Isabella. "It just depends on the area where you open a restaurant." "I sell what you buy," he added. "I feel like the people of Flushing are really happy with what we have. If it's not broken, why should we fix it?" Along with good food, the staff is also important, Vizcarra said, as word of mouth for restaurants can quickly spread throughout a community. "If we do it right, I think we'll be here for a while," he said, with seating for approximately 250 people in the restaurant. "Giving customers good service, making sure the food is consistent, tastes the same every time." Don Felipe Mexican Restaurant is open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sundays. FLINT TWP, MI -- Planning commission members would like a little more clarity before approving or denying a new U-Haul retail center set to fill the former Kmart building. A site plan was tabled Thursday night and the potential developer asked to potentially move proposed outbuildings on the 12-acre property at 3083 Miller Road near Ballenger Highway and include some additional features. Jeff Steffani, president of the U-Haul company in Michigan, was peppered with questions by committee members including parking lot improvement, truck and trailer displays, building elevation, and the number of access points to the building. The project with an estimated price tag of $5 million to $9 million would include a 5,000 square-foot retail center and more than 810 storage units for U-Haul customers, Steffani told planning commissioners. He noted the approximately 100,000-square-foot building to be renovated is set to include multiple entrances to allow for vehicles to be unloaded inside the climate-controlled building. Kmart Corporation closed the building in December 2014 amid multiple store closures in recent years including Dort Highway in Flint, Grand Blanc, Lapeer, Fenton and North Belsay Road in Burton. A portion of the Burton Kmart building has seen Dollar Tree and Family Farm & Home stores move in, while plans are in the works to move four businesses -- TJ Maxx, Petco, Five Below, and Michaels -- into the vacant Fenton Kmart location. Ron Goldstone, senior vice president with NAI Farbman, has been handling the property for Sears Holdings, commented: "This particular asset has been very challenging." "I'm hoping we can find a mutual common ground to make this happen," he said, adding there has already been one 60-day extension on the sale of the property as plans are worked out and a second extension ending on Aug. 28. John Gazall, vice chairman of the township's planning commission, said his issue was not with the plan for the existing building, but he added: "The concern I have is with the storage buildings out in the parking lot... what I don't see is the landscaping and the building materials and things like that." "I'm feeling some heartburn the pre-planning didn't have another look at this before it got to this table," he added, at first suggesting the plan's approval with the stipulation organizers would come back for administrative approval of the parking lot structures. Steffani called it a "deal breaker" if the three buildings were eliminated from the plan. The final approval or denial of the plan will be decided by the planning commission. "What we're talking about here is some design stuff that's on paper and maybe possibly moving over 10 or 12 or 15 feet," said Larry Ford, chairman of the township's planning commission. "I want to move this thing along and I want to get you going." Commission members ultimately agreed on having organizers rework some portions of the plan to move the buildings up to 20 feet and put up landscaping, in part, near the Applebee's Restaurant and come back prior to the deadline. The current U-Haul facility at 3341 Miller Road with a total of 330 storage units will remain open if the planned development takes place, Steffani said. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Two of three children in a Kent County couple's family had never been to a licensed medical doctor because the father -- now charged with murder in a daughter's malnutrition death -- believed they were 'untrustworthy." Court documents obtained Thursday, Aug. 9 by MLive outline the circumstances behind the Aug. 2 death of 10-month-old Mary Welch at the couple's Solon Township home. Seth Welch and Tatiana Fusari, both 27, are charged with felony murder. In a Child Protective Services petition to remove the couple's two older children from their care, investigators learned that Mary Welch and a 2 1/2-year-old boy had "never been to a licensed medical doctor." A 4-year-old daughter last saw a doctor almost four years ago. "Mr. Welch stated that doctors were untrustworthy and said doctors forged documents in 2014 against him and (4-year-old)," investigators wrote. The court documents show that Fusari and Welch spoke with CPS investigators following the baby's death. In the interviews, CPS workers learned that Tatiana Fusari left for work at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 1 and returned home about 11:30 p.m. that day. Seth Welch was responsible for the baby's care while Fusari was gone. Welch said the baby began a nap at 2:30 p.m. and slept the entire time that Fusari was gone. "Mr. Welch never gave Mary food, water or a diaper change during this time," CPS workers wrote. "Furthermore, Mr. Welch checked on Mary by looking through a hole in the door as he did not want to 'shake the hornets nest.'" It was the next day, about 10 a.m., when Fusari went to check on the baby and found her dead, court documents show. Welch also admitted to waiting an hour to call police after they found the baby dead. A medical examiner later determined the baby died from malnutrition and dehydration due to neglect. In speaking with CPS workers, Welch "denied that Mary Welch was malnourished. He stated she was 'skinny but healthy.'" As part of a home inspection, investigators said the baby's bedroom had soiled diapers with urine and fecal matter in a trash can next to her crib. The baby's mattress was wet and soiled and the mattress had a rip in the foam, causing the baby to lay in the rip's crevice. A baby bathtub was under the crib, below the foam mattress, and had urine in it. The documents show that CPS did have previous contact with Tatiana Fusari in 2014 for "physical abuse due to drug exposed infant for marijuana." Kent County court records indicated no court case on the matter, however. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- County officials can expect more meeting disruptions as talks have stalled with protesters over keeping suspected illegal immigrants jailed for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Earlier this week protesters walked out of their first formal discussion with county officials about ending the ICE contract which codifies the detainment process and reimbursement. The walk-out came as Chuck Dewitt, chief deputy of corrections with the sheriff's office, began explaining the contract to members of Movimiento Cosecha GR and Rapid Response to ICE about an hour and a half into the talks. "We couldn't take it anymore," said Gema Lowe, a volunteer organizer with Movimiento Cosecha GR. "We had to leave because we were being disrespected." Lowe said she and others aren't deterred. "We're coming back with more people," he said. "We're coming back to end the contract. That's what we set out to do." Commissioners Stan Stek, Robert Womack and Dave Bulkowski attended the meeting. The groups have briefly shut down the past two Kent County Board of Commissioners meetings, demanding an immediate end to the jail contract. Broadly, the contract formalizes the amount of payment the county receives for each day an inmate flagged for ICE detention is held. It allows ICE detainments for up to three days, rather than the standard two. Deputies do not arrest suspected illegal immigrants for ICE. The first meeting, protesters blindsided commissioners when about 100 people commandeered the proceedings. The second time, additional deputies were present and areas of the chamber were roped off. Protesters gave public comment and later briefly held a sit-in. No one was arrested at either meeting. ICE protesters shut down Kent County commission meeting 27 Gallery: ICE protesters shut down Kent County commission meeting Kent County Undersheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young and Assistant County Administrator Matthew Van Zetten said they're not aware of any updated security measures or policies for the upcoming Aug. 23 board meeting. While protesters want Kent County to end its contract with ICE and not honor the federal agency's immigrant detainment requests, LaJoye-Young and Van Zetten argue they're legally bound to honor the requests, even without the contract. That's the crux of the stalemate. LaJoye-Young said her office is willing to work with the groups on any education and relationship building but is drawing a hard line on honoring ICE detainments. "Our legal requirement is to honor the detainer request from ICE," she said. Van Zetten said he couldn't speak for other communities who have denied ICE requests. "Our interpretation is this is a Secure Communities requirement and we're following the law," Van Zetten said. Miriam Aukerman, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, said the detainment requests are just that: a request, not a mandatory, legal obligation. "In this country we do not lock people up based on a request; we lock people up based on a judicial warrant," Aukerman said. She said these holds only serve to erode police trust within immigrant communities. Protesters argue the contract incentivizes the racial profiling of Latinos and profits from their detention. When ICE receives the prints of a person lodged in jail, it might request a detainment of a suspected illegal immigrant. In 2017, the Kent County Sheriff's Office kept 185 people jailed at the request of ICE, resulting in a revenue of $17,935, according to county spokesperson Lisa LaPlante. The jail's budget that year was $36 million. LaJoye-Young said the ICE agreement is not a "special contract," as the county has other agreements with arresting agencies to reimburse the costs of housing inmates lodged in the jail. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Two people were injured after an SUV struck a tree in Southeast Grand Rapids following an apparent road rage incident, police said. The SUV crashed into a tree in the 2100 block of Burton Street SE, west of Breton Road, about 7:20 p.m Thursday, Aug. 9. Grand Rapids police Sgt. Phil Nevins said a female was ejected from the SUV and the male driver was trapped inside. The SUV caught fire. Firefighters quickly arrived to put out the flames. The conditions of the two injured people was not immediately known. Nevins said witnesses reported that two vehicles were racing south down Plymouth Avenue SE, then went east on Burton Street before the crash. Other details about the potential road rage incident were not known. Police said the other vehicle fled the area. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A woman accused of triggering a false Amber Alert wanted to get her child's father in trouble, police said. Jennell Michelle Ross, 27, has been charged with filing a false report of a child abduction, a four-year felony. An Amber Alert was issued about 3 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 after police say Ross told them that a man named Terrell took off in her vehicle with her 18-month-old daughter. The Amber Alert was cancelled later Sunday morning after an extended family member brought the girl, Jaionna, to the Grand Rapids police station. Grand Rapids police say that Ross and Jaionna's father were together in a vehicle late Saturday -- against a court's 'no contact' order -- when they argued. They stopped at a gas station at 44th Street and Kalamazoo Avenue SE and, as Ross went into the gas station, the father took off in the vehicle. Police believe Ross was angry about being left at the station so she called police to report her child was missing. Meanwhile, Jaionna's father parked the vehicle not far from the gas station and called a relative to pick up him and the girl. It was a relative of the father that brought Jaionna to the police station late Sunday morning. The father had learned about the Amber Alert and asked the relative to take the child in because he worried Ross would be there and he would violate the 'no contact' order. Both the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor in Michigan are hoping to debate three times before the Nov. 6 general election. Negotiations have started between the campaigns for Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette and Democrat Gretchen Whitmer to organize debates. Both sides are calling for at least three televised debates. "Michigan voters only had one chance to see the candidates for governor debate in 2010 and 2014, and we think that needs to change," said Nicole Simmons, Whitmer's press secretary. Whitmer's campaign is proposing holding topical debates in different markets: talking about education and skills training in Detroit, clean water and infrastructure in Flint and health care in Grand Rapids. Schuette's campaign is prioritizing debates in Detroit and Grand Rapids, and has suggested Flint, Lansing and/or Traverse City as additional options. "Michigan families deserve to know the records of the candidates for governor and have a true sense of where the candidates are likely to steer Michigan in the future," said Schuette in a statement. To negotiate the debates, Whitmer is has appointed a bi-partisan team of U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade and John Pirich, an attorney in Lansing who is a former assistant attorney general for the state. Libertarian candidate Bill Gelineau will also appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. This week Schuette's campaign said it had begun negotiations with Whitmer's campaign only. COPPER HARBOR, MI - At the end of a secluded trail on the tip of Michigan's northernmost peninsula, there is a hidden remnant of the state's forgotten ties to the Space Age. No highway will take you there. Many of the roads won't be paved. But if you're looking for an adventure tucked within the wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, you'll come across a place where rockets once flew. Known today as the Keweenaw Rocket Range, the isolated launch pad once served as home base for a joint research project between the University of Michigan and NASA. "With lightning speed, the second of the University of Michigan rocket firings is shown within a fraction of a second timing," an article published by the Daily Mining Gazette On Dec. 8, 1965 reads. "...Lake Superior was calm with only a gentle lapping of the waves against the shoreline of rocks, pebbles and stray driftwood." Mostly forgotten today, "sounding" rockets of many sizes were launched from the site with the goal of collecting meteorological data beginning in 1964, five years before U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. It was one of several locations scattered throughout the United States known as the Meteorological Rocket Network. The site was used for data-gathering purposes until 1971. The Keweenaw's small, abandoned site won't rival the Kennedy Space Center or the International Space Station in grandeur or historic importance, but it does serve as a vital reminder of a portion of Michigan's role in the early days of NASA's space program. "The fantastic thing about the sounding rockets is that they could reach the edge of space with a single mission," rocketry author Peter Alway said in an article logged in Michigan Tech University archives. "On the other hand, the Apollo manned space mission was so huge and involved millions of people, most of whom didn't know much about the operation beyond their narrow technical part. With the research rocket use that was done in the U.P., it was understandable." THE BEGINNING According to an initial report compiled by Harold Allen, the project's supervisor, the idea to build a rocket range on the south shore of Lake Superior was suggested as early as 1962. It was a desirable location due to the region's low population density and positioning near the center of the North American land mass - a fact important for measurements and tests requiring a mid-latitude site away from marine influences. The Keweenaw Peninsula was also ideal because small and medium-sized rockets could be launched year-round. Researchers initially were concerned that ship traffic on Lake Superior and the lack of power and telephones there could be potential obstacles, but in the end the positives of the site outweighed those wrinkles. The rocky outcrop offers majestic views of Lake Superior and Manitou Island located just miles offshore. The launch facility was funded by a $52,850 grant provided by what was then known as the Michigan Department of Economic Expansion. Goodman Lumber Division of Calumet and Hecla. Inc. donated 203 acres of land to U of M for the project. Site prep, access roads and equipment transportation was arranged by the Keweenaw County Highway Commission. A variety of rockets, including smaller ones known as Mighty Mouse rockets, Arcas and Nike Apache rockets were provided by a variety of sources, including the United States Weather Bureau. U.S. Navy and NASA. A rocket launcher was loaned by the White Sands Missile Base in New Mexico. A van-mounted radiosonde, power generator and 75-foot telescoping tower was also loaned by the U.S. Army. Staff onsite include personnel from U of M, Michigan Tech and White Sands under the direction of Allen. A waiver of Part 45 of Federal Air Regulations authorized launches on three specified days each week during daylight hours in clear weather. ROCKETS FILL THE AIR About 50 Mighty Mouse rockets were launched off a floating buoy between the on-land rocket site and Manitou Island in the early days of the project. It grew from there. According to historian Glen Swanson, author of a detailed article titled "Spaceport Michigan: When Rockets Flew from the Great Lakes State," Michigan's first steps toward the Space Age occurred at 7:07 a.m. on Aug. 6, 1964 when an Arcas rocket weighing 76 pounds was launched toward the sky over Lake Superior. More Arcas rockets, each about 6 feet in size, followed. They were launched in 10-day intervals in August and September 1964. Each measured temperature, air pressure, density and wind velocity until impact. And not always without incident. "We had a fairly good north wind during one of our Arcas launches," Allen said, according to the article published by Swanson. "One of the parachutes drifted ashore just west of Marquette. Someone was driving along the road and saw this parachute float past heading into the woods." "He thought 'My God. somebody had to bail out of an airplane'. So he called the police. They got out there and had a big gang search for the parachute. They finally found it stuck in a tree. They cut the whole tree down and brought the thing back to us. We could have used it again if we wanted to." NASA AND THE NIKE-APACHE ROCKETS The site was used sporadically for several purposes from 1965 to 1969, including Project WEBROC in 1965 and 1966. The goal was to set up a network of permanently-anchored buoys in remote water areas to obtain weather information. Renewed life came in 1970 when NASA personnel from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland approached Allen and the team with the idea of launching larger Nike Apache rockets from the site. Each Apache stood more than 28 feet tall and weighed roughly 1,700 pounds, according to Swanson. Each Nike Apache could soar more than 100 miles into the air, measuring magnetic storms caused by solar flares. It's payload collection consisted of stuff from your chemistry and physics books, including electron density, positive ion composition and distribution, energetic electron precipitation, solar X-rays and Lyman Alpha flux. Getting the rockets into the air proved to be difficult. The firing of the two Nike-Apaches were supposed to take place in the middle of December 1971. However, weeks of preparing the site for launch was followed by a severe winter storm, which delayed the launching of the large rockets for nearly a month. After much deliberation and monitoring of the weather, the team eventually sent the rockets into the sky on Jan. 29 and Jan. 31, 1971, despite sketchy weather conditions and hesitation from the Goddard brass, which was reportedly furious when the launch took place. "We went away and fired the damn rocket," Allen said in Swanson's article. "..."they (Goddard) flew off the handle. They were going to shoot everybody. After getting word back from data recovery that all the data was great and that everything was fine, they cooled down." "I guess it was all right," Allen recalled them saying, "But don't ever do it again." They didn't. Those were the last flights for the Keweenaw Rocket Range. Lack of funding and interest from NASA and the difficulty of the isolated site in Michigan's back-country eventually led to its abandonment. "After the two successful Apache flights," Allen said, according to Swanson's article, "We had all of this junk scattered around under 6 feet of snow that had to be pulled up and taken back. It was well into February before we got everything shipped out of Copper Harbor. That was the end. We never got any more contracts." The land was given to Michigan Technological University, which hosted a ceremony to commemorate the rocket range decades later in 2000. ETCHED IN HISTORY Today, little remains of the site other than a memorial marker and a concrete pad with an iron rail in an arc shape attached to it that is inscribed with degree markings. It's but a small part of America's space legacy. Reaching the site takes a whole lot of patience, travel and effort. However, those who choose to make the trek will be rewarded with a stunning view of Lake Superior, similar to when the small team of scientists set foot on the site in 1964 and the knowledge of standing where rockets once flew during the early days of our Space Age. CALHOUN COUNTY, MI -- A 66-year-old woman was killed Friday when another driver swerved to avoid an animal in the road and hit her vehicle. Calhoun County Sheriff's deputies responded to the 9:24 a.m. crash Friday, Aug. 10 on 8 Mile Road near U Drive South north of Union City. A 33-year-old Battle Creek man told police he was driving south on 8 Mile Road when he swerved to miss a small animal in the road. His vehicle crossed the center line on a curve, striking a vehicle driven by the Union City woman. The male driver was taken to Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, but his injuries are unknown, according to police. Police are investigating whether alcohol or drug use was a factor in the crash. Calhoun County deputies were assisted at the scene by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and the Burlington Township Fire Department. Rodney Prewitt KALAMAZOO, MI -- A lawsuit brought against former Loy Norrix High School principal Rodney Prewitt and Kalamazoo Public Schools by a former district employee has been settled for an undisclosed amount. The lawsuit against Prewitt and the school district, filed in December 2016, alleges he made unwanted advances toward Alicia Curry, a school counselor. Curry said her civil rights and First Amendment rights were violated due to a sexually hostile environment created by Prewitt, who was serving as the principal at Loy Norrix High School. The public school district declined to release details of the settlement agreement. MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the document. "Kalamazoo Public Schools confirms that the lawsuit has ended through an amicably reached settlement among the parties," the district said in a statement to MLive. "The agreement is confidential, with the parties agreeing not to disclose details." Curry was in a brief, consensual relationship with Prewitt, but said the work environment became hostile after the couple split. Her allegations were investigated, but the district did not find her claims had merit. Prewitt was put on paid administrative lead in October 2017, about 10 months after the lawsuit was filed. During a Nov. 16 Board of Education meeting, district officials announced that Prewitt had resigned from his position as principal. On Nov. 17, the district asked the court to dismiss two of the lawsuit's four claims with prejudice. In an order on April 2, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jonker dismissed a First Amendment claim brought by Curry, but not her remaining claims of sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation under Michigan's Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit was later dismissed -- in an order signed Wednesday, Aug. 8, by Jonker -- as a result of the settlement reached between the parties. Through the course of the investigation, district administrators found Prewitt had misled them on his application, claiming no prior discipline. He did not disclose he had been disciplined for sexual harassment by the Florida Educational Practices Commission while he worked as a teacher in Florida. Two other alleged victims came forward during court proceedings. A Kalamazoo Central High School employee said Prewitt made inappropriate comments to her while she worked as his secretary in 2013. A former Loy Norrix teacher said he took professional conversations in what she considered to be a sexual direction. MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette chose to withhold the women's identities, as they are not parties in the lawsuit. In October, the Kalamazoo Public Schools board faced angry parents, who asked how he was hired as principal despite those past transgressions. The district's vetting process was thoroughly examined and revised in response to the incident. The change was cited in the district's statement Friday. "Kalamazoo Public Schools has implemented new hiring procedures that include the use of a national education certification database newly available to local school districts as of August 1, 2017, as well as tighter reference checking," the district's statement said. ALMENA TOWNSHIP, MI -- A contaminated groundwater plume that caused residents in Kalamazoo County to get new water sources continues has moved west, crossing into neighboring Van Buren County. Contaminants have been detected in residential wells in Van Buren County's Almena Township through recent testing, though an official says the plume is not expected to move much further. The contamination comes from Kalamazoo County's KL Landfill in Oshtemo Township and is also shrinking as it moves, said Daniel DeWitt, environmental legal counsel to the KLA Group. "Think of a puddle on a very slight slope, trickling down in one direction, while also evaporating and getting smaller at the same time," DeWitt said. "This is geologic movement, so inches per week." The 61-acre landfill in Oshtemo Township opened in 1955 and was operated as a private dump, then as the Oshtemo Township landfill and finally as a landfill for Kalamazoo County. It was closed in 1979 after contaminants were found in nearby residential wells, and it was designated a federal Superfund site in 1982. The KLA Group, which includes Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, the city of Kalamazoo and Pfizer Inc., has worked under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversight since 1992 to complete cleanup on the site. Other parties deemed responsible for the waste have contributed money to settle their liabilities. In December 2015, the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners voted to establish a groundwater restricted zone, which includes areas where groundwater has been contaminated by the landfill plus properties within a 1,000-foot buffer zone. Because of the moving plume of contamination, hundreds of properties have been hooked up to a municipal water system or given a new well drawing groundwater from a separate source. Because of the group's efforts -- which included capping the landfill -- DeWitt said testing shows the plume is now disconnected from the landfill. Cleanup efforts have been going on for decades and are now winding down, he said, as the plume comes up against natural barriers in the landscape. "If we're not there already, we're a property or two away from a backstop where this will no longer be a groundwater issue," he said. That means the KLA Group is finding fewer wells to replace. The group is tasked with monitoring the plume's location and working with residents on private wells impacted by the plume, to ensure they are not harmed by contaminants. Because of a change that the state made to the threshold level for 1,4-dioxane, known as "1,4-DD" for short, the KLA group in 2016 began addressing wells in which the chemical was found. DeWitt noted 1,4-dioxane has no relation to a different chemical, dioxin, which the EPA says is highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says "1,4-dioxane is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals," according to an EPA fact sheet. "This work was initiated in the spring and summer of 2016 in anticipation of a change to the state drinking water standard for 1,4-DD from 85 parts per billion to 7.2 ppb, which became effective in October of that year," DeWitt said. The KLA Group has been installing new wells in clean aquifers for properties in Almena Township where any amount of 1,4-dioxane was detected. Homeowners are offered new wells at no cost to them if the chemical is detected at any concentration in their well, even if the level detected is below Michigan's new standard. That has been the case for all but one well, which was just marginally above the new standard, DeWitt said. From 2016 until today, the group has replaced 10 wells in Almena Township. Three wells showing levels below the threshold of concern, all belonging to the same resident, had not been replaced with new wells as of June, he said. The group is working with the resident and will replace them if he wishes, DeWitt said. Recent testing results from this summer showed some amount of 1,4-dioxane in six residential wells in Kalamazoo County and Van Buren County. All of the results showed amounts below the 7.2 ppb standard, he said. Tests performed this summer at another 51 residential wells showed no presence of the chemical, he said. A compiled report will be sent to the EPA, he said. There's no risk in drinking water from wells with chemicals below the threshold level, DeWitt said. But the group still replaces the wells for residents' peace of mind, he said, and to ensure drinking water is safe in case those levels increase. "We're doing it as a courtesy to them." he said. "Some are very nervous about it." Another reason is because, once the wells register as non-detect, the group no longer has to test them and report to the EPA. The threshold level of 7.2 ppb, is based on studies by toxicologists that predict a 1-in-100,000 chance that someone will get sick from drinking two liters of the contaminated water every day for the extent of their life, he said. When new wells are installed or an alternative water source is provided to impacted residents, he said, it is generally required to restrict use of the impacted aquifer to keep the remedy protective over the long run. "This is generally accomplished one of two ways: either by recording a written covenant in the deed records for each property that prohibits new wells in the impacted aquifer, or by having the local government enact an ordinance that creates a groundwater well 'restricted zone' that covers the properties in question. In Kalamazoo County, a restricted zone was established, covering the properties in question. "We think that it would be reasonable to do it the same way in Van Buren County," he said. The group is in the early stages of discussions with Van Buren County and Van Buren / Cass County District Public Health Department officials, he said, and there are no expected actions at this time. KALAMAZOO, MI -- The man accused of shooting eight people, killing six, while working as an Uber driver in February 2016 will stand trial nearly three years later. Jury selection for Jason Dalton's murder trial has been scheduled to start Jan. 3, 2019, and opening statements will start Jan. 7, according to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's office. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said he will not appeal the Michigan Court of Appeals' decision to suppress Dalton's statements to police. Getting said in a press release his office has reviewed the written opinion and has discussed it with the families of the victims, the survivors and law enforcement. "While we respectfully disagree with the ruling of the Court of Appeals, we have determined that the interests of justice would best be served by bringing this matter to trial without further delay," Getting said. The trial, which will be held at the Kalamazoo County Courthouse in downtown Kalamazoo, is expected to last two weeks. The state Supreme Court earlier this year ordered the Court of Appeals to determine whether statements that Dalton gave investigators should be admissible at trial. Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Alexander C. Lipsey earlier denied a defense motion to suppress Dalton's statements at trial. The defense appealed to the state Court of Appeals, which initially declined to hear the case until it was ordered to do so by the state Supreme Court. Dalton is accused of killing Judy Brown, Barbara Hawthorne, Mary Jo Nye, Mary Lou Nye, Rich Smith and Tyler Smith, and injuring Tiana Carruthers and Abigail Kopf, during a rampage at three places in Kalamazoo County. He faces six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and eight felony firearm counts. Dalton allegedly gave Kalamazoo police detectives a bizarre explanation for the killings, police reports show. He allegedly told police that when he opened the Uber application, a symbol of the Eastern Star appeared. "Dalton acknowledged that he recognized the Uber symbol as being that of the Eastern Star and a devil head popped up on his screen and when he pressed the button on the app, that is when all the problems started," Kalamazoo police Detective Bill Moorian wrote. Dalton allegedly told police he hadn't been sleeping because the Uber app wouldn't let him "shut down." State police Detective Kyle Gorham wrote that Dalton reported receiving a message on his phone to "plug in an auxiliary cable into his car, along with the power source for his phone and a Bluetooth." Dalton said he was told to take an Uber assignment before he got into his car and it started going very fast. Dalton claimed the Uber app took over his Chevrolet Equinox, and later, his body, before "things began to get really weird," police reports said. MUSKEGON, MI - A 79-mile, 24-hour paddleboard trip across Lake Michigan reached the point of "terrifying" for two Muskegon locals who battled winds, waves and mental exhaustion. Eric Strickler, 32, and Daniel Bonner, 31, departed Milwaukee at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 8, and arrived at Harbor Towne beach in Muskegon around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9. The Michigami Crossing paddleboarders were accompanied by a 55-foot boat called The Friendly Confines. As they reached shore on Thursday, lightning was crackling overhead. But Strickler and Bonner were safely on the boat by then. With about 6.3 miles to go - after paddling 72.7 miles in varying conditions - they climbed aboard and began towing the paddleboards. At one point, in the middle of the night, Bonner fell in the lake. "He came up fast and stayed within the draft area of the boat," Strickler said. "It got to the point that we were thinking, "What's going to happen to us if we fall and can't get up in enough time? What if we hit the boat, or one of the boards and get hurt? "It was terrifying," he said. "It got to the point where the mental tax was too much." Thanks to communications with MLive meteorologist Mark Torregrossa, they knew a storm was brewing and would hit around 5:30 a.m. The decision to give up the paddle came hours after Bonner's fall. The paddlers chose to board the boat in the interest of the crew's safety, as it would have been dangerous to rescue either of the paddlers if anything went wrong, Strickler said. The coming storm was also a contributing factor. And then it was over! Rollercoaster of an expedition and so much gratitude for our incredible support team, chase boat... Posted by Michigami crossing on Thursday, August 9, 2018 Conditions varied throughout the trip, starting with 1- to 1.5-foot waves and north-northeast winds at 5-10 miles per hour. "For about four hours, we paddled only on the right side," Strickler said. From noon to 6 or 7 p.m., conditions were ideal, he said. The paddlers and crew were cruising across the lake having a party, eating fish and dancing on their boards. Around sunset, conditions changed again, and got "testy," Strickler said. A south-southwest wind picked up, causing them to paddle just on the left side for hours. "Then it got really rough," he said. Waves were 2- to 4-feet tall. The paddlers were forced to surf the wake and then to take shelter on the north side of the boat. It was during that period that Bonner fell in, leading to the decision to call off the paddle after 72.7 miles. "We didn't paddle the entire way, but we made it," Strickler said. "The crew is all safe, the equipment is safe. We had a great time." The trip was aimed at raising $10,000 for the Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership. So far, more than $6,000 has been donated. "We set that fundraiser up so if people got motivated they could show their support for us and for the Great Lakes," Strickler said. "If there was $50 in there, we would see it as a success. We hope it gets people to go outside and experience how amazing the Great Lakes are, and to respect them." Canadian police report that two of the four people killed in an apartment shooting Friday morning in Fredericton, New Brunswick were police officers, and that the suspect has been taken into custody. Fredericton Police tweeted Friday, Aug. 10 that there are not releasing names in this "difficult time," and that they will release more information down the line. CBC News reports the area at 237 Brookside Drive in the city was evacuated before 9 a.m., and that eyewitnesses said dozens of shots were fired after 7 a.m. Friday. In its latest update, police report that the suspect is alive and in custody but is currently being treated for serious injuries suffered in Friday morning's incident. "Of the four people killed in this morning's shootings on Brookside Drive, two were Fredericton Police officers," the police department tweeted. "No names are being released at this time. Please appreciate this is a difficult time for their families and our colleagues. We will provide more info when we can." The incident represents a rare act of gun violence in the eastern Canadian city. UDPATE: At this time we can confirm that we have one suspect in custody. Police continue to have the Brookside area contained for the foreseeable future as the investigation is ongoing. Please continue to avoid the area and follow us for the facts. Fredericton Police (@CityFredPolice) August 10, 2018 -- Justin McLean, who lives in the complex where the shooting occurred, told CBC News that he woke up to gunshots and looked outside his window to see a gruesome scene. "I just woke up and heard gunshots and I looked outside my window," he told the outlet. "There was basically three dead people laying there. It wasn't a pretty sight. "The cops were trying to put one of the officers into the vehicle so they could take him out to safety." Awful news coming out of Fredericton. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this mornings shooting. Were following the situation closely. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 10, 2018 At this time, I would ask New Brunswickers, particularly those in areas identified by police, to keep informed about the situation as it develops and follow the instructions of law enforcement officials working in the area. Brian Gallant (@BrianGallantNB) August 10, 2018 All of Canada stands with the two brave Fredericton Police officers who lost their lives protecting their community today. Their families, friends and loved ones have our deepest condolences. Ralph Goodale (@RalphGoodale) August 10, 2018 live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Amber Enterprises is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and original design manufacturer (ODM) for room air conditioners (RACs) and components thereof (excluding compressors). The company also manufactures parts for washing machines, refrigerators and microwaves. The company reported a weak performance in Q1 FY19. Topline was impacted due to a subdued offtake of RACs in the first half of the quarter, which, in turn, was attributable to weak summer conditions and unseasonal rains in northern India. Though RAC sales declined 9 percent year-on-year (YoY), AC/non-AC component sales grew 8.1/31.1 percent YoY, respectively. Ambers revenue mix also changed quite a bit, as seen below: While margin was flat YoY at the operating level, a substantial reduction in debt from IPO proceeds and a lower tax rate led to a marginal improvement in bottomline margin. The path ahead Ambers management aims to increase the number of RAC units manufactured from 1.9 million units in FY18 to 2.3 million units by FY19-end. Most activity on this front will be visible in the second half of this fiscal. Capacity utilisation at Ambers existing manufacturing facilities is likely to progressively increase from 50 percent by FY18-end to 70 percent in FY20. Consequently, higher asset turns should boost operating margin by virtue of economies of scale. The possibility of developing inverter RAC models on the internet-of-things (IoT) platform is on the radar in upcoming fiscals. This should help Amber differentiate its product offerings and earn higher realisations and margin from each unit of IoT inverter RAC sold. In Q1, Amber witnessed stock build-up because of weak demand. This, coupled with higher receivables, caused the working capital cycle to increase from 35 days in Q4 FY18 to 53 days in Q1 FY19. Liquidation of such unsold inventory is anticipated to take place gradually during Q2 and early Q3 FY19. To achieve backward integration, the management is likely to invest in manufacturing of specialised AC components. These include brushless direct current motor, resin-core motor and inverter controllers. Reduced dependence on external suppliers for these should result in cost savings and be margin accretive. To diversify risks linked to overdependence on Indian markets, Ambers strategy entails tapping high-potential markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The company is in the process of seeking the requisite approvals from RAC brands in these regions. Sales are likely to commence in the next 2-3 years. Amber will trim its exposure to debt funds (Rs 475 crore allocated for this and other general corporate purposes at the time of its initial public offering in January) during the course of this fiscal. With interest costs likely to decline by up to Rs 40 crore by FY19, the companys profit margin will improve noticeably. Capital expenditure to the tune of Rs 45 crore will be incurred during the course of FY19, of which Rs 32 crore will be allocated to Ambers in-house operations. The balance will be utilised to scale up operations of its new inverter AC component verticals: Ever Electronics and IL JIN Electronics. Inorganic growth Ever Electronics is one of Indias leading electronic printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturers. LG, LS Automotive, Powercraft Electronics, Godrej and Intangibles Labs are among its major clients. After acquiring a 19 percent stake in Ever in H2 FY18, Amber is scheduled to purchase an additional 51 percent stake by March 2019. This should help Amber consolidate its ODM strengths further. IL JIN Electronics is the Indian branch of the South Korea-based IL JIN Group. IL JIN manufactures and deals in electronically-assembled printed circuit boards for consumer electronics. Its clientele includes Panasonic, LG and Samsung. Of late, 3 new names were added to the list. This should help Amber earn a turnover of roughly Rs 150 crore from FY20. Amber acquired 70 percent stake in IL JIN Electronics in H2 FY18. In FY18, it contributed Rs 100 crore to Ambers consolidated operating revenue. Going forward, as Ambers revenue mix changes from RACs to AC components, advantages of this acquisition should lead to incremental topline growth. PICL, a subsidiary of Amber that was acquired in FY12, manufactures induction motors for RACs, coolers and washing machines. It primarily caters to clients in the Middle East (mainly Saudi Arabia and Bahrain). PICL had been a loss-making entity in FY18 owing to contraction of supplies from China, among other reasons. It is now shifting its attention to the Indian markets. PICL has become the first company in India to offer resin core motors for indoor AC units. The indoor resin core motor market in India stands around 5 million units. In FY19, PICL targets supplying 4 lakh units and intends to scale it up to 1-1.5 million by March 2020. Key challenges Though barriers to entry in this field are high, Ambers business model involves capex at reasonably regular intervals on the research and development front. Given the high risk of technological obsolescence, inability to derive the desired degree of revenue from such spends may affect profitability. Leading AC brands, which outsource RAC manufacturing processes to companies like Amber, may need to initiate price cuts to withstand competition. This may compel Amber to reprice its RAC output accordingly, while simultaneously ensuring that quality control standards are maintained. RAC sales are predominantly influenced by seasonality (higher demand in Q4 and Q1). Therefore, an unfavourable summer can be pretty disruptive. Should you invest A strong order book, relationships with marquee AC brands in India, impetus towards high-margin inverter ACs, benefits of recent acquisitions (Ever Electronics and IL JIN Electronics) and momentum in the AC component sales division should augur well for Amber. A weak performance in a seasonally strong Q1 has caused us to downgrade our FY19 estimates. Nonetheless, we remain confident about the long-term earnings prospects of Indias cooling sector companies in general. This is mainly because of the prevalence of tropical temperature in the country for most part of the year, higher disposable incomes, low penetration and improved electrification coverage. After a sharp rally post-listing, the stock has corrected by 30.7 percent from its 52-week high. At 21.7 times FY20 projected earnings, the reasonable valuation should not be overlooked by investors. Follow @krishnakarwa152 Prince Mathews Thomas Harsh Mariwala knows a thing or two about building brands and sustaining them. The founder of Marico has over the years nurtured some of the most iconic FMCG names, including Parachute, Saffola and Revive. But if something is not working out according to the plan, the 66-year-old entrepreneur also has the nimbleness to quickly take corrective action. Like he did in the case of Kaya, the retail wellness brand owned by Marico. When the business wasnt turning out as hoped, Mariwala changed Kayas proposition from a skin cure services brand, to a brand that offered skin care. Changing the positioning was a wrong decision, Mariwala would later admit to a business daily. He quickly went back to the original promise, and the renewed focus showed on Kayas financials, making it profitable. The entrepreneur, who stepped down as Maricos Managing Director in 2014, showed similar agility in the case of Ascent Foundation, the platform he created in 2012 to help entrepreneurs learn from each others experience. By 2015, Ascent had 245 members, who were divided into trust groups and would meet every month. Everything was going well, at least seemed to. But it wasnt. Membership was stagnant, and had in fact dropped in a year. There were plans to increase the membership to 1,000 in Mumbai alone. The long-term target was 10,000. Instead, the number of members had dwindled down to 245 from nearly 350 in 2014. Trust groups reduced to 23 from 26. A plan to expand to Delhi hadnt taken off. Worse off, Mariwala got to know that some of the trust groups werent meeting regularly, and the interest among members was waning off. Some groups were not meeting, others were collapsing and we were the last people to know even the quorum was not being met, says Archanna Das, who joined Ascent Foundation as Associate Director in 2015. Mariwala sums up the basic issue facing an initiative that was close to his heart: In the desire to add numbers we may have compromised on quality. And that eventually led to some of the members dropping off. Like in the case of Kaya, Mariwala immediately took corrective action. We realised that certain building blocks had to be made to ensure that these are strong and we are not the last people to know, adds Das. Mariwala knew the product was good. You go through a learning curve. You cant perfect everything. If you think you are in the right direction, then go on making changes rather than doing perfect from day 1, says Mariwala. To be sure, Ascent had what Mariwala would always look for in a new product, the right to win. The service that the foundation offered was novel and there was no competing platform. Many entrepreneurs vouched for it, including Anand Baldawa. A good start It was from the most unlikely of places that Anand Baldawa got the answer to his prayers - an advertisement in a magazine dedicated to stainless steel industry. The advertisement was a write-up on Ascent and something about the foundation clicked with the second generation entrepreneur. It had been a year since he had come back to India to join the stainless steel export business that his father had founded. Anand was coming back after 10 years, and was brimming with ideas on how to make a change at Seeba, the family company. But almost every engagement with a supplier or a government official would end with, Son, this is how it should be done. None was open to the ideas that Anand was suggesting, and the 38-year-old missed a sounding board. My social circle involved dad, dads friends and some of my friends. I was wondering whom do I speak to I just needed to talk to more entrepreneurs, said Anand. Reading the advertisement in the magazine, the second generation decided to give Ascent a chance. He joined the foundation in 2013. It was a similar need that drove Samir Kaji to Ascent. Inherently, there is a sense of loneliness in entrepreneurship, says the first generation entrepreneur who founded Selec in 2000, and made a name in electric components. You cant share things with a friend, business groups, or colleagues at office, says Kaji, who was also looking for ideas, and inspiration to scale his brand and make it global. None understood this need better than Mariwala, who had faced and overcome many a challenge in building Marico from what was earlier an edible oil business. With Ascent, he intended to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to share their journey, including their challenges and experience with each other. And this sharing, Mariwala hoped, would give rise to solutions and ideas. Both, Anand and Samir, became part of trust groups which met once a month. Each trust group had a mix of industries, usually equally divided between manufacturing and services sectors. Entrepreneurs age varied from 25 years to 56, and the turnover was anything from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1,000 crore. There are two-three of us who are second generation entrepreneurs, says Anand, who could instantly connect with them. Adds Samir, We delved into each others businesses. If someone came up with an issue, say a crash of server in someones office, that would trigger thoughts in others minds. Have we secured data in our office? That becomes a topic and we bring a knowledge guru from outside to understand, says Samir. Trust groups would also organize off-sites with Mariwala, workshops with experts were held and then there was the Huddle with Harsh, in which a select few got to pick the entrepreneurs mind in a three-hour session. The format clicked initially, with some of the members coming from Pune and even Bengaluru to attend the monthly group meetings. But gradually, interest started to wane. Beyond a point, we didnt know how to progress, says one of the entrepreneurs. Adds Das, There was a disconnect with ASCSNET. Beyond a point, the members didnt know what could be done and what couldnt be. If there was a problem, whom to go to? If someone was not contributing in a group, how can that difficult discussion happen? In short, the groups had become stagnant after going on for three years. Essentially, how could Ascent keep adding values for the entrepreneurs? Course correction To build a brand, you have to constantly evaluate it, says Mariwala. And that is what he did with Ascent. The foundation needed a few more systems and processes that could deal with the challenges. And to set these up, Mariwala got in Das, a sustainability, brand and communication management professional, and later Shivani Divecha, who had curated events at TedxGateway. The team went about tackling the issues at multiple levels. The eligibility criteria was upped. Now an entrepreneur needed a minimum turnover of Rs 5 crore (for a manufacturing company) and Rs 1 crore (for a service business). Each trust group got an initiator, who hand holds the group in the first four months. This is apart from the two facilitators - a bit like class monitors that each group has. For instance, our initiator told us that we were not trusting each other, and that our discussion could go deeper, says Anand. The trust factor was an important element as without it the members couldnt really share their experience, including mistakes and challenges. To improve that, a Lifeline exercise was introduced in each group. Each person shares his or her life in a series of important events in five-year buckets. This had advantages, says Das. Group bonding became stronger, she add. Concurs Anand. There were people in my group whom I knew for two years, but I really didnt know much about them. After these sessions you could link their professional lives with the personal ones. One really opens up and that is when the trust builds, he said. Getting Feedback A Governing Council was formed in 2016, to keep track of the Foundation. The Council includes members from the Trust Group. And this helped in hearing their voice more, and helped in having the co-creation model, says Das. Mariwala chairs the meeting, helping him also keep a pulse. And to get more feedback on the working of the Groups, health checks were done. In this, each the member is required to participate in a survey, which gauges his experience within his Trust Group. It also measures his engagement with other members across Groups, with the ASCENT team and with the facilitators of the Trust group. At the end the NPS score is calculated, says Shivani. The Net Promoter Score measures the willingness of customers to recommend a particular product or service. We did a survey recently and we got NPS of 62. The best is for Apple store, which is 70. So am happy with what has happened in the last two years, says Mariwala. A couple of more events were added to the workshops and huddle meetings. One was the Mixer in which Ascent members meet, say in a club, and also bring along friends and relatives keen to know more about the foundation. The get together includes a talk by an industry expert say in GST or artificial intelligence that are of interest or relevance to the entrepreneurs. The showcase The biggest draw of all is the Conclave, a signature event showcasing Ascent. While the first one had billionaire banker Uday Kotak as its key speaker, and had a line-up of thought leaders addressing entrepreneurs. It was in the 2018 edition, which had JSW Steel chairman Sajjan Jindal, that Gauri Devidayal first experienced Ascent. A lawyer and chartered accountant who along with her husband set up restaurant The Table in south Mumbai, Gauri was struggling to come to terms with the exit of her executive chef when she got to know about Conclave. Halfway through the Conclave, I was floored. I signed up within a month, she says. At her first Trust group meeting, Gauri was relieved to hear other entrepreneurs speak. It was good to know that everyone goes through highs and lows. And it is not just about people saying well done, but about hearing from independent people who have no vested interest in your business, says Gauri. She has now signed up for a course for women entrepreneurs offered by Stanford University, along with Ascent. The Ascent team is now working on this years Conclave. As always, Mariwala is the catalyst, getting his friends - like Uday Kotak and Sajjan Jindal in the earlier editions to address the aspiring entrepreneurs. A successful event will cap off the turnaround in Ascent. The course correction has helped. Membership is up at 350, distributed among 30 Trust Groups. And instead of Delhi, as was the plan earlier, the next chapter of Ascent may start in Chennai. Im going there in August and will be meeting about 100-150 entrepreneurs. We would initially start with about 50 members, says Mariwala. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More PI Industries has been given the environment clearance for its Rs 393 crore greenbelt pesticides project in Bharuch district, Gujarat, a senior government official said today. The proposal is to set up a manufacturing unit to produce pesticide, pesticide intermediates and fine chemicals with a total capacity of 43,240 tonnes per annum in an area of 87,300 square metre in Bharuch. "Based on the recommendations of the Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC), the environment ministry has accorded green clearance to the project," the official said. The green nod has been given to the project with some conditions. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 393 crore, he added. Among conditions specified, the company has been informed that out of proposed total production of pesticides, at least 25 percent should be bio-pesticides. The company has been asked to obtain consent to establish/operate the project from the state pollution control board, he added. The company has decided to expand its production capacity by addition of a new manufacturing plant to meet the rising the demand. Pi Industries has reported a fall in its standalone net profit to Rs 81.7 crore during first quarter of the 2018-19 fiscal from RS 100.1 crore in the year-ago period. The company's scrip closed flat at Rs 780 apiece on the BSE today. A Tesla Model S charges at a Tesla Supercharger station in Cabazon, California, U.S. May 18, 2016. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich/File Photo - TM3ECAQ0SK201 The board of directors of Tesla plans to meet financial advisors next week to formalise the next step to explore plans of CEO Elon Musk taking the company private. As per a CNBC report, sources suggest that the board may ask Musk to "recuse himself" as the company's internal stakeholders want to review his proposal of taking the company private at $420-per-share. Sources quoted in the report said that the board has apparently asked Musk to appoint his own set of advisors. Musk recently twitted that he hopes to take Tesla private, which also led to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) probing his claims of securing funds for the same. Musk wrote "funding secured", and was considering to take Tesla private at $420 per share. Musk had earlier discussed the prospect of taking the company private, with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The Saudi's Public Investment Fund bought a 3-5 percent stake in the electric car maker, as reported by The Financial Times. The board's move to ask Musk to not be part of the process and hire his own advisers is not an unusual request. When Michael Dell of Dell Technologies, decided to take his company private in 2012 and 2013, his board had asked him to keep himself away from the discussion, getting his own advisors. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said ONGC is the new promoter of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) as he tried to put an end to the row where HPCL had refused to recognise the former as its promoter despite it acquiring majority shares. Pradhan made the comments after HPCL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Kumar Surana virtually rejected ONGC's demand for being recognised as the promoter of the company. "Today, it is ONGC. ONGC is the promoter of HPCL," Pradhan told reporters when asked who is the promoter of HPCL. ONGC, he said, has invested in acquiring majority stake in the company and so it is the promoter, he said. Earlier, Surana had stated that "Whatever we are doing, whatever we have done and whatever we will be doing will be as per our understanding of the statute and the guidelines and Companies Act and the SEBI guidelines... Beyond that who is interpreting whatever, it is his understanding of the situation. We need not subscribe to that". He was asked about ONGC seeking recognition as the promoter of the company post-acquisition of majority stake in HPCL. Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) had in January this year bought the government's entire 51.11 per cent stake in HPCL for Rs 36,915 crore. Post that, HPCL had become a subsidiary of ONGC. But HPCL in its regulatory filing to the stock exchanges, the latest being on July 12, still lists 'President of India' as the promoter with 'zero' per cent shareholding. ONGC, on the other hand, is listed under 'Public Shareholder'. ONGC has written to HPCL management asking it to take steps to rectify the filings to reflect the true promoter of the company. Asked about ONGC's request, Surana said, "Everybody is free to express their views... Our actions will be guided by what we think is right." Since ONGC takeover in January, HPCL has made two stock exchange filings about the shareholding pattern of the company -- the first on April 20 and then on July 12. In both, ONGC is shown as the public shareholder and President of India listed as the promoter. Sources said ONGC feels the HPCL management is bound to take corrective action to reflect the true picture. According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India's rules, the entity that owns the controlling stake should be listed as promoter even if it was not the original promoter of the company. When Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) had bought government's stake in fuel retailer IBP Co Ltd, it was listed as the latter's promoter in every instance after the deal. The same was the case when IOC acquired a majority stake in Chennai Petroleum Corp Ltd (CPCL). Surana has retained the title of Chairman and Managing Director despite corporate governance structure require a group having just one chairman and subsidiaries being run by managing directors and CEOs. ONGC's overseas subsidiary, ONGC Videsh Ltd, is headed by a Managing Director and CEO. Its refinery subsidiary Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), which is listed on BSE, too is led by a Managing Director and CEO. ONGC Chairman is the head of boards of both the companies. Since acquiring a majority stake in HPCL, ONGC has only been able to appoint one director to that firm's board. ONGC has appointed its Director (Finance) Subhash Kumar to HPCL board. He has replaced Sushma Taishete Rath, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Prior to this, HPCL had two government nominee directors -- Rath and Sandeep Poundrik, Joint Secretary (Refineries) of the Oil Ministry. After the appointment of Kumar, there remains only one government nominee director on HPCL board. Rank 10 Company: Bosch | Industry: Engineering, Manufacturing | Country: Germany (Image: Reuters) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Technology and services supplier Bosch has reported healthy 42.4 percent year-on-year growth in profit to Rs 431 crore for the quarter ended June, driven by automotive products business. Profit in year-ago quarter stood at Rs 302.6 crore. Revenue during the quarter increased 21.3 percent to Rs 3,212 crore compared to Rs 2,648 crore in same period last year. "We will continue to make considerable upfront investments in the form of capital expenditure, high spending on R&D, and opening new markets," Soumitra Bhattacharya, Managing Director, Bosch said. He further said the remaining financial year will see Bosch making significant innovative additions to the Indian automotive industry. EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) surged 43.2 percent year-on-year to Rs 628.2 crore and margin expanded by 300 basis points to 19.6 percent in Q1. Automotive products business in June quarter grew by 9.7 percent to Rs 2,727 crore with its EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) rising 61.5 percent to Rs 560.3 crore and margin expanding 660 basis points to 20.5 percent YoY. Bosch said its mobility solutions business sector grew by 20.5 percent in 2018-19 with domestic sales rising by 21.7 percent and export registering a growth of 7.4 percent. "Within the mobility solutions business, the powertrain solutions business division showed a significant performance registering a strong double-digit growth of 26.5 percent." It further said powertrain solutions domestic sales increased by 28.2 percent, outperforming the domestic automotive market, which posted a growth of 24.6 percent in the same period. Business beyond the mobility solutions sector registered a double-digit growth of 48.9 percent contributed majorly by energy business and power tools business division, it added. Tax expenses increased 46 percent to Rs 219 crore compared to a year-ago. In India, Bosch is a leading supplier of technology and services in the areas of mobility solutions, industrial technology, consumer goods, and energy and building technology. At 11:57 hours IST, the stock price was quoting at Rs 19,629.00, up Rs 509.25, or 2.66 percent on the BSE. Members of Georgia Search and Rescue Task Force 6 spent two days conducting cave rescue training in Walker County this week. The team, which is based out of the Calhoun Fire Department, includes members from various departments throughout the region, including nine members from Walker County Emergency Services, which also has its own Cave & Cliff Rescue Team. The Task Force journeyed about an hour into Pettyjohn's Cave to experience the wet, rocky and narrow confines they may have to work in. They then packaged a volunteer patient and installed a rigging system to bring that patient to safety. This highly skilled, highly trained team completes quarterly training on specialties such as rope rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue and collapse rescue. Members are also trained in wilderness search and rescue, along with water rescue. Task Force 6 deploys regionally and statewide on rescue calls and disasters. Their most recent large scale deployments came during Hurricanes Matthew and Irma. Edelweiss Financial Services, one of the fastest growing non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in the country, reported strong earnings for the first quarter of FY19. In an attempt to diversify its revenue stream, the Edelweiss group, which commenced operations as a capital market player, forayed into other segments like credit (wholesale and retail lending), distressed assets, insurance and wealth and asset management over the past few years. We are enthused by the fact that over a period of time Edelweiss has evolved into a bank-like structure, with diversified revenue streams, while carving out a niche in certain segment like distressed assets and rapidly gaining scale in the wealth and asset management space. Capital being employed in businesses, which are either low-yielding or loss-making at this point in time, along with costs associated with incubating new businesses is dragging down the groups overall profitability. We expect the group to build a significant market presence in its chosen lines of businesses, resulting in higher earnings and accruals to capital in the long term. Accordingly, investors can expect value creation, albeit in the long run. The company reported strong Q1 FY19 earnings. Net profit surged 30% year-on-year (YoY) on the back of strong credit growth and increased scale of the wealth management business, partially offset by weak performance in the capital market business. Excluding the loss making insurance business, net profit growth was slightly better at 38% YoY. The companys life and general insurance has been incurring losses and remains a drag on the groups overall profitability. The management expects Edelweiss share in accounting loss from the insurance businesses to be around Rs 200225 crore per annum and expect breakeven only after 2021. Profit growth in the franchise business, which houses capital market-related businesses along with wealth and asset management, was muted at 25% YoY. This was due to slowdown in the broking and investment banking arm, which remains susceptible to inherent volatility in capital markets. Balance sheet management unit (BMU) is groups active treasury function that supports its liquidity position and enhances asset-liability management (ALM) profile. Loss in this portfolio was attributed to markdown of G-Secs. However, the management sounded confident of generating return on assets (RoA) of around a percent in BMU. Edelweiss intends to improve its operational efficiencies by lowering the overall C/I ratio by 100-200 bps every year. However, the same (excluding insurance) inched up to 49 percent in Q1. Consequently, profitability was slightly lower as return on equity (excluding insurance) declined 19.8% compared to 20.7% last year. Edelweiss credit business is a key revenue and profit driver and contributed 78% of consolidated Q1 profit (pre-minority interest and excluding insurance). The groups loan book grew 50% YoY to Rs. 45,206 crore, consisting of the corporate (59% of the loan book) and retail segments (41%) as at June-end. Retail loan book increased 80% YoY. Increasing prominence of the retail financing business is evidenced by the increase in share of the retail book to 41% of the overall portfolio as on June 30 from 28% as on March 31, 2015. The company expects the share to increase to around 50% by March 31, 2020. The corporate segment primarily includes structured collateralised credit (19% of the overall loan book) extended to promoters and corporates, real estate financing (26%) and distressed asset credit (14%). Asset quality continues to be comfortable on this book. However, due to transition to IndAS, the NBFC recognised Stage III assets (standard but can be potential stress) and made 58% provision on the same. As per the management, provisions are higher as it expects loss given default (LGD), if any, to be contained at 20-25%. Edelweiss has employed capital of Rs 6,540 crore in the distressed credit business and operates the largest asset reconstruction company (ARC) in India, with a book size of Rs 43,700 crore. There is a delay of around 3-4 months than what was earlier anticipated in the resolution of delinquent assets under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The management didnt seem to be overly worried about the delay as its profitability is more sensitive to amount realised than timing of the resolution. As per the management, this business earns an internal rate of return (IRR) in the 16-17 percent range if the resolution value is the same as its asset acquisition value. There is potential to earn higher carry income (more than 17%) in case the realisation is higher than the price at which asset was acquired. Hence, progress of cases under IBC remains a key monitorable. Any delay or inability in the resolution of delinquent assets could adversely impact the companys profitability and liquidity profile. Additionally, Edelweisss performance in the distressed asset segment hinges on availability of capital. Canadas second largest pension fund, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebecs (CDPQ) 20% stake in the ARC business gives us comfort on the capital adequacy front. Performance of the wealth business continued to remain impressive. Assets under advice (AuA) swelled to Rs 96,300 crore, an increase of 46% YoY. About 25% of these assets are under advisory model while bulk of them remain distribution assets. Overall yield on these assets is around 70-75 bps. Net new money flow during the quarter was Rs 3,257 crore. The asset management business comprising mutual funds and alternative assets saw a YoY growth of 57% and 70%, respectively. Cumulative AUM under mutual funds and alternatives stood at Rs 32,500 crore. Edelweiss, with diversified business segments, have unique growth drivers and is a key beneficiary of increased penetration of financials services. While there are multiple growth drivers, it is the fee-based wealth management as well as distressed asset business that excites us the most. Both these businesses can provide a RoE fillip in the future. Though the performance of the NBFC has been resilient so far, investors should be cognisant of the inherent risks as well. The credit business, including distressed assets, is relatively unseasoned and needs to be tested through business cycles. Edelweisss profitability has improved over the past few years, but it still remains sub-optimal because a significant portion of the group's capital is employed in businesses that are either low-yielding or loss-making currently. Expected improvement in the profitability of the insurance business and reduction in the share of funds allocated to BMU will benefit the group's profitability over the long term. In the medium term, we see profitability improving for the NBFC on the back of strong growth in the lending book, buoyant capital markets and steady wealth and asset management businesses. On the valuation front, the stock seems fairly priced with lending book at 2.5 times FY20e book value and franchise business at 20 times one year forward earnings (P/E). Given the sectoral opportunities and multiple growth levers, investors with a long term horizon wanting to participate in a high growth and diversified financial services company should but into the stock. Follow @nehadave01 BJP President Amit Shah hailed the government's decision to provide a discount of Rs 15 per kilogram on pulses for distribution under welfare schemes, saying it reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sensitivity towards ensuring nutritious food to the poor. "It highlights the Modi government's commitment to ensuring the welfare of the poor and their upliftment," Shah wrote on Twitter in Hindi. The Union Cabinet earlier decided to provide a discount of Rs 15 per kilogram on pulses over wholesale market price to states for distribution under welfare schemes. States and UTs will be offered to lift 34.88 lakh tonnes of Tur, Chana, Masoor, Moong and Urad at a discount of Rs 15 per kg over the prevailing wholesale market price on first come first serve basis. General insurance companies are likely to move the Supreme Court (SC) within the next two months against the mandatory pollution under control (PUC) certificate for motor third party insurance renewal. Insurers will seek a reprieve against the insurance regulators order to disallow insurance without valid PUC. "Since the onus is on to ensure that PUC certificate is valid. However, these certificates are valid for six months. It will be a real challenge to keep checking every six months for their validity," said the head of a private life insurance company. Insurance executives are worried that making it mandatory could reduce motor insurance renewals. Currently, only about 45-50 percent of vehicles have valid third party motor insurance that is mandatory by law. While all vehicles have insurance at the time of purchase, renewals after one year are low. In July 2018, the insurance regulator said that it will be mandatory for vehicle owners to present a PUC certificate during motor insurance renewals. Without this, the vehicle insurance cannot be issued. This was in response to a 2017 SC order that had directed insurance companies not to insure a vehicle unless it had a valid PUC certificate on the date of renewal of the policy. The onus will be on insurance companies to ensure that petrol and diesel vehicles comply with the order the IRDAI has asked them to comply with these directions immediately. For customers, when they buy a new bike or car, there is already a PUC certificate available for it and validity of the certificate is for a year. After that, a PUC test needs to be done every six months. However, it is unclear how the rule will be implemented when a vehicle owner wants to insurance the car/bike for a three-year period, as the premium is paid at one go and the policy gets renewed only after a three-year period. According to the Motor Vehicle Act, all vehicles running on Indian roads need a mandatory motor third party insurance. This is offered by general insurance companies, whereas the pricing is decided annually by IRDAI. The Karnataka cabinet gave its approval to waiving Rs 9,448.61 crore existing farm loans in respect of cooperative banks, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said. At cabinet meeting, approval has been given to waiving existing crop loans up to Rs 1 lakh borrowed from the cooperative sector,Kumaraswamy said. "It is estimated to be Rs 9,448.61 crore, about 20.38 lakh farmers who have obtained loans up to July 10 this year would benefit from this," he told reporters. He said there was no shortage of money for the farm loan waiver. During the next cabinet meeting, a decision would be made regarding waiver of farm loan obtained from nationalised banks and modalities were being worked out with the banks, he said. Kumaraswamy said he would make an announcement either on Independence Day or Ganesh Chaturthi, which will be a 'gift' to farmers and the people of Karnataka. He hit out at the BJP for its continued attack against him on farm loan waiver issue and asserted that his government was committed to the betterment of people and farmers. Kumaraswamy reiterated that all programmes announced in the previous budget by the then chief minister and finance minister Siddaramaiah would continue, even as he dismissed reports about cuts in allocation to schemes like 'Shaadi Bhagya' and 'Mathru Poorna.' Appealing to farmers not to commit suicide, the chief minister assured them that his government was there to 'protect' them. "It is our priority," Kumaraswamy said. To a question about state governments meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on the Mekedatu project, he said the state government was working towards getting permission from the central government for the project. He said government was also trying to convince the chief minister and the Tamil Nadu government along with farmer leaders there as the project would benefit both states. Tamil Nadu is opposed to the Mekedatu multi-purpose (drinking and power) project across the Cauvery which involves building a balancing reservoir with a capacity of about 66 tmcft, near Kanakapura in Ramanagaram district. Representative Image RN Bhaskar The Narendra Modi government had declared doubling farmers income by 2022 as one of its primary goals. In some recent meetings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pointed out that in some districts, farmers have already managed to double their income. During the last Union Budget, the finance minister had also reiterated this commitment of doubling farmer income. But that is clearly not enough. In many areas, farmers get only 10 percent of the market value of vegetables. This is especially so in areas dominated by agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) that had been once promoted by the government as the best way to protect farmer interests. Gradually, and unfortunately, avarice got the better of goals and objectives. The farmers remained exploited. Obviously, under such circumstances, doubling farmer income was not enough. Getting 20 percent of the market price would be doubling farmer income. But that would be inadequate. The right way would be to adopt the vision propounded and implemented by the late Verghese Kurien of Amul and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) fame. He wanted to ensure that farmers got 70 percent of the market value of his produce (in Gujarat, today, the farmer gets over 80 percent of the market value of milk). Why cant the government benchmark farmer incomes as a percentage of market prices instead? Why cant the Kurien formula be extended to all crops? The government obviously does not like the Kurien formula. It puts too much of money management powers in the hands of the farmers. When farmers are promised 70 percent (or more) of the market price, all procurement, processing and distribution must be managed within the remaining 30 percent. That leaves little money for politicians and their associates. That is why Maharashtras cooperatives continue to pay less than 40 percent of market price for milk to farmers compared to Gujarat. The other alternative is adopting the MS Swaminathan recommendation that the farmer should get 50 percent more than the cost of his inputs. At least, that will leave some money with politicians. Moreover, since the government decides the cost of inputs, money management powers remain with the government. That is why, predictably, farmers are unhappy with this formula. They say the government calculates the cost of inputs in a manner that is not fair. There is another flaw in the cost-plus-50 percent formula. It assumes that someone will buy the produce. There are no standards laid down about the quality of produce and who will purchase the produce in case the farmer cannot find a buyer. Having the government as a purchaser would only make the government the biggest distorter of market prices. Look what it has done with wheat and rice. These are the only two crops that the government actually procures in significant quantities. It purchases even more than it can store in its warehouses. As a result, much of the grain procured, gets damaged because of pests and exposure to weather. Ideally, the government must move out of procurement altogether. This was evident when an experiment was conducted a decade ago by the then agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. He asked the two largest warehousing companies attached to commodity exchanges (NCMSL and NBHC) to procure grain from the remotest of areas (and with stiff conditions attached) and gave them a difficult target to meet. In record time, the two companies procured grain at lower cost of operation than the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The government got alarmed. It did not publish its findings. And the experiment was not repeated. When the government procures, there is bound to be corruption and leakages. But that is how politicians grant favours. Hence, the FCI and the state warehousing corporations are not being dispensed with. Ideally, the government should allow warehousing companies to procure grain. The FCI should purchase the grain it needs from such warehousing companies, and sell the required amount to public distribution system (PDS) shops. What the government should do is to allow for price discovery through commodity markets and not ban trading based on caprice and conniving. But then are we expecting the politicians to change their spots? Result: Take all government assurances on farm pricing with a barrel of salt. Farm incomes must grow. But they will grow through contract farming, commodity exchanges and through ancillary businesses like dairy farming, animal husbandry, aqua farming and meat? May be that is what the government ought to be working on. But can it forget its animal slaughter and animal export bans? (RN Bhaskar is consulting editor at Moneycontrol) A Jet Airways passenger plane takes off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Clearing the air over the controversy surrounding the audit committee of Jet Airways not recommending its April-June result to the board, a spokesperson for airline said that the director of its audit committee S Vishwanathan, did not resign, but his term of office came to an end. The Naresh Goyal founded company said that Vishwanathan retired as the director and consequently as chairman of the audit committee, after serving a full term in office. Reports of Vishwanathan quitting added to confusion after the company indefinitely postponed the announcement of its June quarter results on August 9. In a late night announcement, Jet Airways said in a BSE filing, "It may be noted that the Audit Committee did not recommend the said financial results to the Board for its approval, pending closure of certain matters." The clarification comes after BSE sought specific details of the deferment from the company. These include the date and place of the board meeting where the decision took place. The exchange asked about matters pending for closure of unaudited financial results, on account of which the results were deferred. It also asked Jet Airways to specify if other agenda items were discussed in the meeting than the ones disclosed to the exchange. BSE further sought clarification regarding a media report which stated that the chairman of the audit committee had resigned. As the company is facing financial headwinds, the spokesperson said that the auditors and management informed the committee and the board that they need more time to finalise accounts. The company pointed out that this is not the first time in corporate India that quarterly financial results have been deferred by a company and that cases previously have been dealt with under relevant regulations. After seeing fresh records and milestones during the week, it was an anti-climax ending for D-Street on Friday, with the Sensex ending over 150 points lower, while the Nifty giving up 11,450-mark. The 30-share index, which clinched 38,000 during the week, managed to end below that. The losses were largely a courtesy of big fall in banking names, led by State Bank of India. The lender declared a loss of Rs 4,876 crore for the June quarter on the back of higher provisions as well as recognition of treasury losses. Investors were as such cautious ahead of the results announcement, as the stock fell 2 percent in the morning. Apart from that, there was weakness visible among metals, pharma as well as energy names, while auto and FMCG names were in the green. IT stocks, too, witnessed a rally on the back of a weaker rupee. The Nifty Midcap index ended lower by over half a percent. The market managed to snap its 5-day winning streak, but investors could make peace with the fact that the Nifty has held 11,400. For the week, Sensex was higher by 0.8 percent, while the Nifty rise 0.4 percent. At the close of market hours, the Sensex ended down 155.14 points or 0.41% at 37869.23, while the Nifty was lower by 41.20 points or 0.36% at 11429.50. The market breadth is narrow as 1,040 shares advanced, against a decline of 1,658 shares, while 140 shares were unchanged. M&M, TCS, Eicher Motors and BPCL were the top gainers, while SBI, Vedanta, and GAIL ended up being the top losers. "Indian benchmark indices ended Fridays session with losses tracking weak global cues. The Nifty Index ended lower by 0.4% to close at 11,430 levels. The broader markets underperformed the benchmark with BSE Midcap and BSE Smallcap ending the day with losses of 0.9% each," Jayant Manglik, President of Religare Broking said in a statement. Stocks in news: The country's largest bank State Bank of India (SBI) on Friday reported a net loss of Rs 4,875.85 crore for the quarter ended June as its provisions for bad loans rose by more than 70 percent year on year. The stock closed 3.8 percent lower. Gail India has come out with robust numbers for the quarter ended June 2018 (Q1FY19). The company's Q1 net profit has increased by 23 percent at Rs 1,259 crore on the back of strong revenue income and operating performance. The stock closed 3.4% lower. Aluminium major, Hindalco, reported 43 percent rise in the net profit for June quarter at Rs 413.5 crore, against Rs 289.5 crore that the company reported last year. Its revenues grew 8.4 percent at Rs 10,593 crore against Rs 9,775 crore seen during the corresponding quarter of last year. The stock closed 2.2% higher. Shares of Jet Airways touched 52-week low of Rs 261.60 on the BSE, as company deferred announcing its June quarter numbers on Thursday. The board of directors of the company, at its meeting held on August 9, deferred the matter of consideration of the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The stock closed 8.3% lower. Shares of multiplex operators soared after the Supreme Court stayed a Jammu & Kashmir High Court order allowing outside food to be taken in cinema halls. The order is limited only to the state of J&K. Inox Leisure rose 1.9% higher while PVR gained 2.6%. Global Update Shares in Europe were lower as investors took cues from earnings, trade war issues between US and China along with diplomatic row involving Turkey. The Turkish lira slipped to an all-time low against US dollar. Stoxx 600 was down by nearly 1 percent. The European Central Bank (ECB) is worried over the impact of a weak lira on European banks. Meanwhile, markets in Asia ended lower as US-China trade war uncertainty dominated negative cues. Nikkei 225 fell 1.33 percent, or 300.31 points, to close at 22,298.08. Going forward, investors are likely to eye macro data along with trade war issues. "With headline index trading at record highs, some consolidation cannot be ruled out. Key macro data (WPI & CPI) scheduled next week would be keenly watched by the investors. We expect stock specific volatility to continue with more corporate earnings scheduled in the next 1-2 weeks. Further, market participants would keep an eye on global developments especially the US-China trade war, progress of monsoon, currency and crude oil price movement, Mangliks statement further added. Representative Image. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Aluminium major, Hindalco, reported 43 percent rise in the net profit for June quarter at Rs 413.5 crore, against Rs 289.5 crore that the company reported last year. Its revenues grew 8.4 percent at Rs 10,593 crore against Rs 9,775 crore seen during the corresponding quarter of last year. At an operating level, the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 15 percent at Rs 1,325 crore against Rs 1,153 crore year on year. The operating margin came in at 12.5 percent against 11.8 percent YoY. The company reported a drop in its other income at Rs 105.5 crore against R 256.3 crore. Novelis, the wholly owned subsidiary of Hindalco Industries, recently posted a 10 percent increase in net income at USD 113 million in the June quarter on better operational performance and higher capacity utilisation. The company, which deals in aluminium rolled products, had reported a net income of USD 103 million in the same period last year. However, including some tax benefits, the firm reported a net income of USD 137 million, against USD 101 million in year-ago period, attributable to its common shareholder, it said in a statement. At 14:42 hrs Hindalco Industries was quoting at Rs 221.60, down Rs 5.85, or 2.57 percent, on the BSE. It touched an intraday high of Rs 229.95 and an intraday low of Rs 220.10. (With inputs from PTI) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More US-based private equity firm Lone Star is eyeing a portfolio of road projects from debt-laden infrastructure and financial services major IL&FS at an estimated cost of Rs 6,500 (about $1 billion). The deal would be struck through debt assumption, according to a report by The Economic Times. Lone Star will finance the debt on IL&FS balance sheet as part of the deal. IL&FS is in the process of unwinding debt worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore. IL&FS Transportation Networks has about 28 build-operate-transfer projects in its portfolio, several of which are operational. The estimated value of all projects is Rs 25,000 crore (about $4 billion). The deal with Lone Star is in an advanced stage of discussion and awaiting formal approvals, the report said. Sovereign wealth manager National Investment and Infrastructure Fund is said to be in talks with the beleaguered firm to acquire road and power assets of IL&FS. However, the talk with NIIF could be for a different set of properties. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Lone Star is known for buying distressed assets globally. In the last two decades, the company has struck deals worth $180 billion. IL&FS has been on a fund-raising spree. The board at its meeting on July 27 approved a proposal for issue of equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each to existing shareholders on a right basis up to Rs 3,000 crore. In March, a committee of directors approved a plan to raise Rs 175 crore via issuance of non-convertible debentures (NCDs). The company also secured $55 million in masala loans (rupee loans) from the UAE-based Mashreq Bank. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of Tata Communications slipped 6.3 percent intraday Friday as company reported loss in the quarter ended June 2018. The company's Q1FY19 net loss was at Rs 57.95 crore against loss of Rs 120.47 crore, QoQ. The company had reported profit of Rs 32.94 crore in a year ago period. Revenue fell 2.8 percent to Rs 3,912.3 crore versus Rs 4,008.6 crore, QoQ. At 11:17 hrs Tata Communications was quoting at Rs 564.10, down Rs 25.25, or 4.28 percent. The share touched its 52-week high Rs 758.00 and 52-week low Rs 534.35 on 14 December, 2017 and 18 July, 2018, respectively. Currently, it is trading 25.36 percent below its 52-week high and 5.88 percent above its 52-week low. Posted by Rakesh Patil Equities are back with a bang. However, the bigger story is small- and midcaps that fell up to 70 percent in the first six months of 2018 have bounced back starting July. This has come as a breath of fresh air for investors. Benchmark indices have been hitting fresh highs since July. The Sensex crossed the 38,000 mark and the Nifty is hovering around 11,500 levels. Although largecaps are leading the rally in benchmark indices, data suggests that most beaten down mid- and smallcap stocks in the first six months of 2018 recorded double-digit returns in a matter of days. Mid- and smallcap stocks witnessed pressure on higher valuations, implementation of the Additional Surveillance Measure (ASM) framework, failure of a pick up in earnings growth and resignation of auditors. The current market scenario may be read as a reversion to mean in the valuation premium of midcap vis-a-vis the Nifty. Over the last 2 years, the valuation premium had gone way above the long term average, which triggered a de-rating in of mid- and smallcap stocks, Vineeta Sharma, Head of Research at Narnolia Financial Advisors, said. As the Nifty started hitting new highs, suggesting that the structural bull market remains intact. The negative price performance in mid- and smallcaps have provided space for a comeback in these beaten down stocks. One should not get carried away with price performance. Valuation of the entire mid- and smallcap space is still much higher than largecaps, said Sharma. We have collated a list of 20 stocks that rose 20-100 percent from July till August 9 after falling up to 70 percent in the first six months of 2018. Adani Power, which fell 61 percent in the first six months of 2018 rose 93 percent since July, data from AceEquity showed. Reliance Naval and Engineering fell 75 percent in the January-June period but gained 51 percent since July. Reliance Communications, which saw a cut of 60 percent in first six months of 2018, recouped losses and rose 33 percent since July. Other stocks which corrected and recouped losses in the BSE 500 index include Indo Count Industries, Bank of Baroda, Sterlite Technologies, Vinati Organics, Delta Corp, Havells India, Inox Wind, Granules India, Venkys India, Aditya Birla Fashion, Dilip Buildcon, Torrent Pharma, Vijaya Bank, and Ajanta Pharma. In the BSE Smallcap index, over 200 stocks delivered double-digit return since July. Some smallcap stocks that saw a cut of up to 80 percent in the first six months rose up to 70 percent since July. Arrow Greentech which corrected 70 percent in the first six months of 2018 witnessed a sharp bounceback since July. Other beaten down stock that sprung back include: Monnet Ispat, Borosil Glass, Indosolar, Ok Play India, Gati, Deep Industries, JK Paper, Time Technoplast and Everest Industries. We have seen a valuation erosion in mid- and smallcaps, but earnings growth is showing signs of improvement. Valuations too have fallen which makes them a lucrative buy. From an investment perspective, some quality small-and midcaps are available at cheap valuations. The beating they took in the last 4-5 months and 40-50 percent correction provides ample space for a retail investor to start accumulating value stocks, Mustafa Nadeem, CEO, Epic Research, said. Data suggests that midcaps have corrected about 12 percent from the top while smallcaps have corrected about 22 percent. Although mid- and smallcaps have corrected significantly from the top, they are still trading at significant premium to their largecap peers. This is just a pullback and investors who are stuck at higher prices should look to exit. Investor should adopt a stock-specific approach and look to accumulate quality names like Ashok Leyland, Dewan Housing Finance and Tata Metaliks on every dip. These stocks can offer superior return in the medium to long term, Atish Matlawala, Senior Analyst, SSJ Finance & Securities, said. Investors should use rallies to exit stocks that are not showing earnings momentum while accumulate stocks which are showing a growth potential. Among 700 companies that have declared their quarterly figures, median sales and profit growth of largecaps is 16.3 percent and 24 percent, respectively. Sales growth in mid and smallcaps stands at 15.6 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively. Earnings data of some 700 companies suggests better return on equity improvements in largecaps compared to mid and smallcap companies in general. The valuation ratio of midcaps to Nifty has historically been around 1.5. After 2017, this ratio has moved towards 2 (it briefly touched 2.4 in July), Sharma said. This suggests a little caution on the valuations of midcaps. One should have a highly selective approach in picking midcaps. So, staying with largecap names with stable growth is advisable, Sharma stated. Q1. In Reality in Advertising, Rosser Reeves laments that this concept which he conceptualised is widely misunderstood and gives a precise definition in three parts: Each advertisement must make a __________ to the consumer. Not just words, not just product puffery, not just show-window advertising. The ___________ must be one that the competition either cannot, or does not, offer. The ___________ must be so strong that it can move the mass millions, i.e., pull over new customers to your product. What was he talking about? Answer: USP, Unique Selling Proposition/Point Q2. Which cosmetic company got into trouble for erasing Israel from the map but showed Palestinian territories in it on their website in 2011? Answer: Nivea. Israeli model Becky Griffin discovered this mistake when she was browsing the website. Griffin wrote a letter to Nivea which she publicized on her Facebook page, beginning a boycott of Nivea products. Nivea added Israel back on the map soon after. Q3. In 1830's a local landowner, Alexander, saw the opportunity to produce a special type of cheviot cloth. He had all the essentials around him - fine Cheviot wool from hills, water from the river Wauchope and local craftsmen. His business flourished, so that he invited Joseph, a financier to join him. Which company was thus formed? Answer: Reid & Taylor. Alexander Reid and Joseph Taylor were the founders. Q4. The Navsari buildings and Navsari Chambers were becoming too small to accommodate all the businesses. In the early 1900s, they purchased a plot of ground that was put up by the Municipality for sale. The consulting architect to the government joined as the head of the companys engineering arm and designed and constructed a building for them in 1924. Who is he and what did he construct? Answer: George Wittet and Bombay House, the headquarters of Tata Group Q5. The Barclays Capital Skyscraper Index was recently proposed and analysed in detail by economists. The concept behind the index being that a rush of skyscraper constructions presages financial crises and/or economic downturn in a country. The Index singled out one 17th century sky-scraper for special mention as it had nothing to do with the emperor's core business. Which skyscraper was this? Answer: Taj Mahal. The researchers concluded that: The Taj was a monument to love, but was also equally a project driven by ego. As Shah Jahan says, my beloved deserves a tomb that befits her and my love for her, and resources at my command will be used for that purpose. As history notes, the end of Taj Mahal's construction almost coincided with the beginning of Shah Jahan's fall. (Image: Reuters) Q6. They are an American family engaged in entrepreneurship and philanthropy, and one of the wealthiest families in the United States of America, being near the top of Forbes magazine's "America's Richest Families" list since the magazine began listings in 1982. The family owns the Hyatt hotel chain, and the Marmon Group, a conglomerate of manufacturing and industrial service companies that has since been sold to Berkshire Hathaway. Other holdings have included the Superior Bank of Chicago, which collapsed in 2001, the TransUnion credit bureau, Braniff airlines, McCall's magazine, and the Royal Caribbean cruise line. Identify the family? (Image: Reuters) Answer: Pritzker family Q7. Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin were co-founders of which company? (Image: Reuters) Answer: Facebook Q8. Started by Elizabeth Holmes, which health technology company is known for its false claims to have devised revolutionary blood tests that used very small amounts of blood to detect multiple diseases? (Image: Reuters) Answer: Theranos (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Q9. John Lasseter began his career as an animator with The Walt Disney Company. After being fired from Disney for promoting computer animation, he joined Lucasfilm, where he worked on the then-groundbreaking use of CGI animation. Which iconic studio came out of the sale of his division to Steve Jobs? (Image: Reuters) Answer: Pixar (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Q10. Who owns this production house? Answer: Mukta Arts Q11. Identify this luxury hotel from the logo? Answer: Waldorf Astoria Q12. It was founded as a playing card company by Fusajiro Yamauchi on 23 September 1889.Based in Kyoto, the business produced and marketed Hanafuda cards. The handmade cards soon became popular, and Yamauchi hired assistants to mass-produce cards to satisfy demand. Identify the company. Answer: Nintendo (Image: Reuters) Q13. Which company was founded in 1901 in St. Louis, Missouri, by John Francis Queeny? Answer: Monsanto (Photo: Reuters) Q14. Who was the author of Concept of the Corporation, which popularised GM's multidivisional structure? (Image: Reuters) Answer: Peter Drucker (Image: Reuters) Q15. Who is this person? Hint: He has written the book - The Fifth Discipline. Answer: Peter M Senge Q16. This chef earned 30 Michellin stars, making the world's best mashed potato? Identify him. Answer: Joel Robuchon Q17. Which bank was set up by the Government of Singapore in July 1968? (Image: Reuters) Answer: DBS (Image: Reuters) Q18. In 1964, Douglas and Susie Tompkins started this company as a mail order and retail company, selling rock climbing and camping equipment. The early years set the design standard of good quality sleeping bags, backpacks, and mountaineering tents. The Tompkinses designed tents that were some of the first to avoid a pole in the middle, by using bendable rods threaded through exterior sleeves instead. This design also increased the strength of the tent because the domed shape allowed the wind to roll over it. Which company did they found? Answer: North Face (Image: Company website) Q19. Which company, part of Amazon, experimented with a flat, self-managed organisation structure called Holacracy? (Image: Reuters) Answer: Zappos (Pictured here is Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh. Image: Reuters) Q20. Which magazine covering banking, economics, finance, etc, was first published in 1969 by Sir Patrick Sergeant? The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that it would possibly announce the third phase of the UDAN scheme extending the Modi government's regional air connectivity scheme to temple towns like Hampi in Karnataka, Mahabodhi temple in Bihar, Ajanta and Ellora in Aurangabad, according to a report in the The Financial Express. Minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha said that the bids for these routes would be invited from September and the winners will be announced in October. The scheme allows airlines to sell tickets to destinations on special rates. For routes that can be covered under one hour of flight time, fares are capped at Rs 2,500 for 50 percent of the seats. These seats are subsidized with the help of the viability gap funding (VGF) provided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. For routes that are popular tourist attractions, the VGF is provided by the Ministry of Tourism. The government has auctioned 630 routes under Udan, which include routes for helicopters. Routes on major airports like Delhi, Mumbai and Pune will not be available under this scheme as they are all facing capacity constraints. IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India have also secured key routes under the Udan scheme. Meanwhile, the government has collected as Rs 268 crore levy from various airlines towards regional air connectivity scheme. The scheme, also known as 'Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik', seeks to connect unserved and under-serve airports. To fund the scheme, an amount of Rs 5,000 is collected from airlines on every flight operated on major routes. "All scheduled airline operators have been remitting the RCS levy. Total funds collected from RCS levy till August 3, 2018 is Rs 268.10 crore approximately," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha told the Lok Sabha. In a written reply, he also said that no revenue has been earned by the Regional Air Connectivity Fund Trust (RACFT) under the scheme except for deposits of RCS levy. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has called on telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan to look into the suspension of internet services by state governments, particularly Rajasthan's, which blocked internet services more than 140 times in the past one year. According to a report by Financial Express, the director general of COAI, Rajan S Mathews, wrote to Sundararajan saying that the unwarranted suspension of internet services caused hardships to people. Mathews also pointed to the economic cost that comes with frequent suspension. According to an ICRIER report in April, Indian states shut down internet services for a total of 16,315 hours between 2012 and 2017, which resulted in a total loss of around Rs 87,000 crore. Sectors like e-commerce, IT services, tourism, and the media were forced to deal with the impact of these suspensions. According to the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, the shutdown of internet services can only be authorised by the home secretary. In extraordinary circumstances, where seeking prior permission is not a feasible option, the decision can be taken by an officer who is joint secretary or above. Such an order would require the home secretarys approval within 24 hours. The letter alleged that the home department of Rajasthan has given divisional commissioners the authority to suspend internet services, which led to the suspension of internet services on more than 140 occasions. The COAI said that Rajasthan suspended its internet services for various exams to prevent cheating. It alleged that in the event of any adverse circumstances, the state government would probably resort to blocking internet services almost immediately, and not as a last resort. Mathews urged the telecom secretary to take up the issue. Cotton Angel Commodities' report on Cotton MCX Oct Cotton closed little higher on Thursday due to reports of irregular rains in cotton growing states in the country which may affect yields. Gujarat may witness a decline in yield following deficient and delayed rains in Maharashtra attack of pest this year may limit the yields of cotton. Cotton growers in Saurashtra and North Gujarat two key cotton growing regions in the State have raised an alarm with most of the districts facing deficient rains in the range of 6 2 - 88% of the normal rainfall. The trend is still positive on reports of lower sowing this season compared to last season. Cotton acreage till last week was down by 4 % on year to 109.8 lakh hac compared to 114. 3 lakh ha last year, according to the farm ministry data. As per Commerce ministry data, cotton exports in May surged by 27.6% to 5.7 lakh bales as compared to last year. Outlook Cotton futures are expected to trade sideways to higher on reports of erratic rains in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Moreover, reports of pest attack and increase in MSP by government may keep supporting the prices. For all commodities report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More A BJP advertisement on e-payment transactions Public relations, in today's day and age, plays a decisive role in politics. A clear indicator of this is the amount of money the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government has spent on its own publicity over the last 52 months. It is almost twice the amount spent by the previous UPA government in 37 months, and it continues to rise. According to data provided by Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information and Broadcasting, the BJP government spent a whopping Rs 4,880 crore on advertising its flagship schemes between April 2014 and July 2018. The Congress-led UPA government spent Rs 2,048 crore between March 2011 and March 2014, a response to an RTI query stated. 4.57 crore children could have been provided with the midday meal scheme for a year 59.8 lakh new latrines could have been built under Swachh Bharat Mission 20.6 crore people could have been employed under MNREGS for one day Funds for repair and maintenance of national highways for 2018-19 could have been boosted by 67 percent 920.75 megawatt more solar power could have been generated enough to power a city roughly the size of Chandigarh for four hours 10 more Mars missions could have been launched successfully. ISRO launched the Mars Orbiter Mission, or Mangalyaan, at Rs 450 crore. The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, the secondary level education mission, could have received Rs 667 crore more than the allotted Rs 4,214 crore in this years Budget Funds for All India Institutes for Medical Sciences (AIIMS) could have been boosted in the same time period. Since 2014, Rs 4,365 crore has been spent on setting up of 20 proposed institutions, of which only six are complete and functioning. The quantum of the BJP governments expenditure is easier to understand when pitted against other projects where the money could have been used. According to an IndiaSpend report , with the same amount of money, the following could have been achieved: Breakdown of BJPs total advertisement expenditure Of the Rs 4,880 crore that the NDA spent on publicity, Rs 292 crore was spent on advertising four public schemes in three years Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for crop insurance, Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart City Mission and Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. Expenditure on audio-visual ads was Rs 468 crore and outdoor publicity spend was Rs 208 crore. Print ads made for Rs 636 crore of the total expenditure. From Rs 980 crore in 2014-15, the expenditure reached Rs 1,314 crore in 2017-18, which is a 34 percent rise. The government is considering launching crypto tokens in India for financial transactions and is evaluating if they can replace smart cards, according a report by DNA. A government committee is working on a set of regulations and specific actions, including a roadmap for permitting cryptocurrencies in India some time in the future. The draft regulations will be tabled before Parliament after they are legally vetted, sources told the news daily. "The committee is examining if crypto tokens can be used to replace smart cards such as metro cards in the public sector to start with. Similarly, in the private sector, it can be used in loyalty programmes such as air miles where its use is limited to buying the next ticket and can't be converted into money," a senior government official was quoted as saying. That said, the existing ban on cryptocurrencies in India will probably continue, sources told the paper. Also read RBI cryptocurrency ban: What is the way forward for crypto exchanges, investors? Unlike cryptocurrencies, crypto tokens do not impact the country's monetary policy as one will have to pay physical money to buy a token. The token could be stored as a code in any basic mobile feature phone. While it is treated as an equivalent of money, the blockchain based crypto token is but a representation of money. The committee, set up by the Finance Ministry and headed by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) secretary, is studying the possibility of using various crypto assets, including cryptocurrency. "The committee is studying the possibility of using cryptocurrencies or the crypto technology (distributed ledger technology) for financial transactions and also what kind of regulations are needed for that," DEA secretary Subhash Chandra Garg told the news daily. Also read | What cryptocurrency traders should do after RBI's diktat Garg denied allowing the use of cryptocurrency in any manner, including in payment systems, but said that the committee is discussing its other usages and how it can be mainstreamed in India. In April, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had issued a diktat prohibiting entities regulated by it to extend services to cryptocurrency-related firms. "The banking regulator has come out with regulations. It has debarred the banks from dealing with anybody or any aspect of cryptocurrencies. We don't believe the cryptocurrencies to be currencies at all. We have issued several advisories for people to not deal with it. Because it is risky, it's a Ponzi kind of scheme. Therefore, cryptocurrencies are banned in this country," Garg said. Experts believe that the Indian government is allowing crypto tokens to test the waters and is unlikely to shift its stance on cryptocurrency in the near future. The inter-ministerial committee (IMC), comprising members from RBI, SEBI and the IT ministry, was scheduled to submit its report in July. Garg said that since it is a difficult subject, involving technology that is changing every now and then, it is taking some time. "As soon as we are able to complete our work we will be to come out with it. It is not advisable to give a timeline," the DEA secretary said. Representative image Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh will launch Mukhyamantri Tiffin Distribution Scheme 2018 for workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) during an event at Sardar Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium on August 10. Under the scheme, the government will provide free hot meals to MNREGA workers across the state during the lunchtime starting August 10. The scheme will benefit nearly 10.30 lakh MNREGA workers in the state. The workers who are working under the MNREGA over past three years or have been working regularly for a month in the previous three years will be eligible to get a tiffin under this scheme. The main motive of the state government is to provide proper nutrition food to workers of around 38 lakh families who are registered under the MNREGA scheme in the Chhattisgarh state. Unlike other government schemes, the Mukhyamantri Tiffin Distribution Scheme 2018 arises out of an incident that happened during the Chief Minister's visit to Gaurkheda Village in Bilaspur. In the village, the CM reportedly met a MNREGA worker named Urmila, who offered her food to the Chief Minister Raman Singh during the lunchtime. Moved by the lady's offer, Singh decided to launch this new tiffin distribution scheme for the welfare of the MNREGA labourers. The event, organised by the Panchayat and Rural development department, will be attended by several ministers including Panchayat and Rural development minister Ajay Chandrakar, Food and civil supplies Punnulal Mohle, Agriculture minister Brijmohan Aggarwal, PWD minister Rajesh Munat. Text Book Corporation chairman Devji Bhai Patel, MLAs Satyanarayan Sharma, Dhanendra Sahu and Naveen Markandey among MNREGA workers will also be present in the event. The Maharashtra government on Friday approved allotment of 20 acres of land at MIHAN SEZ in Nagpur for setting up a defence equipment manufacturing cluster. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave the land allotment approval at the 64th Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd (MADC) here, a statement from his office said. This initiative will result in creation of 50,000 jobs, it said. Fadnavis is also chairman of MADC. The defence equipment manufacturing cluster will offer various benefits like the development of defence ecosystem and facility for high-end training, said the statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The 20-acre land in Sector 10 of MIHAN SEZ will be handed over to the Vidarbha Defence Industrial Hub for setting up the cluster, it said. The Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) seeks to harness the potential of Nagpur and convert the present airport into a major cargo hub. A special economic zone (SEZ) is also part of the project. Looking at a large amount of work for various airports in Maharashtra, Fadnavis also accorded sanction for strengthening the Urban Planning Department of the MADC. Twenty-one vacancies will to filled for this purpose, it said. Progress on airport projects at Shirdi (Ahmednagar district), Purandar (Pune), Belora (Amravati), Chandrapur, Solapur, Shivni (Akola) was reviewed at the meet along with the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, the statement said. Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon and Kolhapur airports are getting a good response from passengers, the Chief Minister was informed at the meeting, as per the statement. Fadnavis issued directives for starting night landing facility at the airport in Shirdi, a temple town located 240km from Mumbai that houses the famous Saibaba temple. Since its launch in October last year, the Shirdi greenfield airport has seen operations of 2,000 flights carrying 50,000 passengers, the statement said. Permission has also been given to appoint a consultant to prepare a layout of the terminal building of the Shirdi airport. "In view of a large number of devotees thronging the temple town and the good response to the air service, the runway (at the Shirdi airport) will be expanded from 2,500 metre to 3,200 metre (to accommodate bigger aircraft)," the meeting was told. The Saibaba Sansthan Trust has organised a year-long festival to mark the centenary year of 'mahasamadhi' of the revered saint of Shirdi. A large number of Saibaba devotees are visiting the temple town during the centenary year. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan The BJP government in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh has decided to withdraw petty criminal cases pending against people from the tribal community. Announcing this on the occasion of World Tribal Day, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan showered sops on the tribal population and pledged to uplift the community that has been lagging behind in growth and development. Addressing a convention of tribals in Dhar district, Chouhan also announced that by the end of 2022, each and every tribal person in the state would have a house of his own. On March 27, 2016, the Centre imposed Presidents Rule in the state of Uttarakhand, citing a constitutional breakdown in the wake of a rebellion in the ruling Congress party. Then President Pranab Mukherjee signed a proclamation dismissing the Congress government headed by Harish Rawat and placed the assembly in suspended animation on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet. The imposition of Presidents rule was enforced in keeping with that Article of the Constitution that we hear about usually after a round of great political strife Article 356. According to it, Presidents rule can be imposed in a state if a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. In the following weeks, the Uttarakhand High Court quashed the order of the central government while also slamming the Centre for planning to attempt the revocation of Presidents Rule and installing a BJP government before the High Courts verdict. The Chief Justice had then said that the Court was pained by the actions of the central government and that instead of exhibiting the required impartiality, was acting like a private party. The Chief Justice had asked the Centre then, How can you think of playing with the Court? What is it [attempted revocation of Article 356 prior to the Courts verdict] but a travesty of justice? That Chief Justice was Justice KM Joseph. He, along with Justices Indira Banerjee and Vineet Saran, took oath as Supreme Court Judge earlier today, and importantly, not in that order. The matter of this assize is the alleged downgrading of Justice Josephs seniority as he was elevated into the Supreme Court as Judge. You are listening to Moneycontrol. THE CONTROVERSY On January 10 earlier this year, the Supreme Court collegium (more on this later) sent the names of Justice KM Joseph and Senior Advocate Indu Malhotra for elevation as SC Judges to the government. The Centre sat on its decision for over three months which invited criticism from senior judges in the collegium as well as opposition parties as it was seen as revengeful for Justice Josephs quashing of the Presidents Rule imposed in Uttarakhand Senior judges in the collegium wrote to the Chief Justice of India (Justice Misra) seeking immediate intervention as there was a growing impression within the community that the independence of the judiciary was at peril and that the judiciary was buckling to the pressures exerted by the executive. On April 27, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wrote to the collegium asking it to reconsider its recommendation of Justice Joseph saying it was in violation of the Supreme Courts parameters on seniority and merit. The government also pointed to adequate representation for the Kerala High Court which is Josephs parent High Court in the apex court, and lack of representation of some other High Courts to request for reconsideration of the recommendation. On the 21st of July, the collegium reiterated Josephs name and added two more to the list Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Indira Banerjee, and Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court, Vineet Saran. Last week, on the 3rd of August, the central government issued a notification appointing the three Judges as per the recommendations of the collegium. And then there was the rub Justice Josephs name was placed third on the list, making him junior to the other two judges even though Josephs name was recommended first. The appointment of Justice KM Joseph as a Supreme Court judge has been a long-drawn affair with many questions raised and much disgruntlement expressed along the way. Lets get to the facts first. This issue of first refusing to consider, and then relenting only to tinker with the seniority of a judge who had ruled against the central government, and therefore the role of the executive in what is the judiciarys job that of appointing and elevating judges to the Supreme Court is the controversy that is currently playing out. One of the senior-most judges in the collegium, on condition of anonymity, has called this an instance of clear interference by the Centre. For the record, Justice Joseph was placed at the 39th position in the all-India seniority of High Court Judges, and Justices Banerjee and Saran at the fourth and fifth positions respectively. The government claims that this downgrading was backed by precedent which gives primacy to the all-India seniority of High Court Judges, a time-tested principle. The government cited the case of Justice Dipak Misra (current CJI) and Justice Chelameswar (now retired) who were both sworn in on the same day as SC judges but Justice Misra got seniority owing to his seniority on the list, which is decided solely on the time spent at the High Court. We must also note here that Justice Joesph is the longest-serving Chief Justice of any High Court in India. Apparently, neither the time of elevation to Chief Justice Joseph was elevated to CJ level before either Banerjee or Saran nor the duration spent as Chief Justice contributes to the all-India seniority rank. Countering that argument, sources in judiciary told NDTV "seniority is not the only criteria for elevation to the Supreme Court", and that's why the collegium rejected the government's contention on seniority and stood firm by its recommendation of Justice Joseph. This has opened up many questions: Is this rank system always followed? How is seniority decided in the courts? Is this a case of executive overreach? What are the loopholes in judicial appointments? Are some justices justified in expressing their disgruntlement to the CJI about this? And most of all, what is this collegium we have been hearing about so much? Well try and answer all these questions today. QUOD COLLEGIUM? The Supreme Court Collegium consists of five seniormost Judges of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice of India. The collegium considers the elevation of Chief Justices/ Judges of High Court to Supreme Court, elevation of Judges of High Court as Chief Justices and elevation of Judges. In case of a difference of opinion, the majority view prevails. Conventionally, if the collegium decides to recommend a Justices name for elevation, the government cannot stop the appointment, but can only delay it. The collegium system evolved through a series of three judgments of the Supreme Court that have come to be called Three Judges Cases technically, two cases and an opinion. Essentially, these cases speak of judicial independence and about who has primacy in the appointment and elevation of Judges. The First Case (SP Gupta v. Union of India 1981) declared that the primacy of the CJIs recommendation to the President can be refused for cogent reasons, thus bringing about a major shift in favour of the executive having primacy over the judiciary in judicial appointments. This held for the next twelve years until the case that ushered in the collegiate system. The Second Case (Supreme Court Advocates-on Record Association vs Union of India 1993) was heard by a nine-judge bench decided that judicial appointments were an affair concerning the judicial family and that the executive could not have an equal say in the matter. The majority verdict essentially overturning the Sp Gupta Judgment was written by Justice JS Verma, and declared, Should the executive have an equal role and be in divergence of many a proposal, germs of indiscipline would grow in the judiciary. It was a landmark judgment but certainly not unanimous, with one Justice dissenting and another suggesting that the CJI need not restrict himself/herself to consulting with just two judges (as mentioned in the ruling) and can consult any number of judges, or none at all. Over the next five years, there was considerable confusion about the roles of the CJI and the two judges, with CJIs sometimes taking unilateral decisions without consulting two colleagues. The Third Case aimed to clear this. In 1998, then President KR Narayanan issued a presidential reference to the SC as to what the term consultation within the context of judicial appointments and transfers, meant. The collegium, as we know it now, was a result of this case in the case of the SC, CJI and his four seniormost colleagues. The power of appointment of judges to higher judiciary a power considered vested with the Executive after the First Case was thus effectively wrested by the Judiciary. The collegium, while emphasising the Judiciarys primacy over the Executives, was/is not without its critics. Justice PN Bhagwati once described it, a sacred ritual whose mystery is confined only to a handful of high priests. Robes, language that could just as easily be mistaken for incantations, wise old men and barely a woman in sight... its not that much of a stretch of the imagination. Concerns have been raised about the collegium being a closed-door affair without a formal and transparent system in place. It has also been noted that its field of choice was limited to the seniormost judges from the High Court, and in the process, overlooked several talented junior judges. To address these, on the 3rd of October last year, the collegium published a resolution promising to make public on the courts website, among other things, its choices of candidates for elevation to the SC accompanied by the reasons underpinning the collegiums choices. This was perhaps a direct response to what happened in 2015 when the Constitution was altered, through the 99th amendment, and when the collegium was sought to be replaced by the National Judicial Appointments Commission a body comprising members of the judiciary, the executive, and the general public. In what has now come to be called The Fourth Case (2015), the Court struck it down. It ruled that the primacy of the judiciary was a part of the Constitutions basic structure, and that this power could not be removed even through a constitutional amendment. Why am I saying all this? Why should we even bother with all this? It is important to know the context of a story for us to truly appreciate a story. And the tussle between the executive and the judiciary is at the very heart of this story. HOW IS SENIORITY DECIDED IN THE SUPREME COURT? Elevation to the status of CJI depends on seniority of eligible candidates, with the most senior being sworn in (like we mentioned earlier re Justices Misra and Chelameswar). A judge who takes oath earlier becomes senior to another who takes oath later. The collegium though famously opaque in its dealings for the large part of its existence is known to consider a few things before recommending a name to the government: merit, suitability, seniority. It also attempts to ensure balanced representation of various high courts. As Sushant Singh, writing for the Indian Express, noted: Justice Joseph was found to be more deserving and suitable in all respects than other Chief Justices and senior Puisne Judges of High Courts for being appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court of India. Some judges of the Supreme Court feel that the established procedure for determining seniority of judges has been violated by the government, to deliberately slight the judiciary, a position which should not be acceptable to the CJI. While none of these three judges are in a position to become the CJI, if the principle of seniority is followed while appointing the CJI, it does affect the membership of the Collegium. If more senior to his two colleagues, Justice Joseph would have started heading benches earlier. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, warned that this could set a dangerous precedent, and said, If the government of the day, while processing the recommendations of the Collegium, changes the order of seniority, it effectively gives them at a future date the power to determine who becomes the Chief Justice of India no matter what the Collegium, which has made the recommendations, thinks about the order of appointment. That is where it is truly dangerous. Mukul Rohatgi, former Attorney General, took an expectedly differing view. Its a storm in a teacup as it is not a case where one could have pipped the other to become the chief justice of India. If that is not the case, I dont think it matters. I dont think it is correct for anybody, including sitting judges who may have raised this issue, to keep the controversy alive, he said. Calling August 7 a "black day" for the Indian judiciary, senior Congress leader and advocate Kapil Sibal told ANI, "The government has given the message that if a judge doesn't make a judgment in their favour, he may be treated the same. I believe that this day will be seen as a 'black day' in the history of Indian judiciary. This is the arrogance of the government." JUDICIARY VS EXECUTIVE Speaking of black days for the judiciary and the arrogance of the government, we turn to the 1970s, when Justice Ray was appointed CJI by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Justice Ray superseded three other senior judges at the time Grover, Hegde, Shelat and was appointed because the government wanted more forward-looking judges a euphemism for compliant judges. Justice Ray, famously, also gave the 1975 ADM Jabalpur v Shukla judgment the habeas corpus case which stated that even the Fundamental Right to life stood abrogated during Emergency. Justice Khanna paid the price for having written dissenting opinions against the governments stand. He was overtaken by Justice Beg an Indira Gandhi loyalist to the top spot. The current NDA government does not come out of this pure as the driven snow either. Judge Shakdhers transfer from the Delhi HC to Madras HC is one example. Shakdher had rapped the government for offloading Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai from an aircraft to London in 2015. Justice Shakdher had set aside the government's decision, saying it was "illegal" and that the right to criticise cannot be "muzzled" by the state. Justice Shakdher had said that Pillai has a fundamental right to travel abroad and also she has every right to hold a different opinion on development policies and this cannot be the sole ground to restrict her movement. TROUBLE AT THE TOP Only recently, in January, an unprecedented scene took place when the four senior most judges after the CJI decided to come out in public with complaints against CJI Dipak Misra. Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, the four-most senior judges in the country after Misra, openly protested the bypassing of established traditions in the court by the Chief Justice in assigning cases to benches. They also raised a flag against the way the court has dealt with finalising the new memorandum of procedures, guidelines that guard the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts, reported Scroll. They also stated in a letter that the Chief Justice had violated conventions in his role as the master of the roster. Scroll went on, The judges confirmed they had also taken up with the Chief Justice the case of CBI judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya. Loya was presiding over the case relating to the fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, in which Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah was an accused. Loya died in December 2014. In November, the Caravan magazine brought out startling revelations that raised doubts on whether Loyas death was natural. Since then, there have been demands for an independent probe into the death. Its independence week in India, and were taking a look at travel as an expression of freedom- and why not? Travel allows us freedom to see the world, absorb what we love about it and learn from what we dont. And the freedom to travel, when we feel like it, is probably right up there on everyones list as a definition, if not a significant marker, of happiness. Welcome to Moneycontrol. Today, were going to take a deeper look at the role of money in your travel, and what is the best way to take it with you so you arent stranded with empty pockets at the top of the Eiffel tower. By the way, pro-tip - the lift is free when you go down the Eiffel tower. But getting to the top costs 14 Euros or thereabouts. Also, pro-tip 2: the French pronounce Eiffel as Iffell. Good luck with that. But were talking about money today. So lets look at the many ways you can take your money with you. There are limits to how much cash an individual can carry, there are challenges with forex value, there are issues with your Indian cards when traveling abroad...there are quite a few hoops youll be forced to jump through if you saunter off unprepared to Le Paree. Or Thailand. Or Bali. Or the US of A. So lets get started. Whether you plan to travel for tourism, studies or business, there is a limit on the amount of money you can take with you. Now, the limits on the amount of cash we can carry on us when traveling to foreign countries have been relaxed over time. These limits are set by the Reserve Bank of India. In 2018, Indians are allowed to carry up to 10,000 dollars for holidays and up to 250,000 dollars for business purposes. In officialese, those are the amounts a resident individual can remit or spend foreign exchange freely i.e. without any approval. For holidaying abroad - whether you want to catch the scantily clad ladies at the Moulin Rouge with your parents while pretending to not be awkward, or going all the way to Machu Picchu only to have your view obscured by the clouds - youre going to need some cash in hand. For hotel rooms, for water bottles; for snacks or the visit to an Indian restaurant that serves passable vegetarian fare, shopping for trinkets, perfume testers and faux Louis Vuitton...you know, so we can share our holidays on Facebook. Anyway, lets dive into the details a little bit. How much cash can we actually carry on our person? Well, that depends on why you are headed abroad. And well cover these various categories in just a bit of detail, without getting too dense. According to RBI regulations, if holidaying, an individual can draw foreign exchange up to $10,000 in a year for one or more private visits abroad. Wait, 10,000 per year? Yes, per year. RBI guidelines state that an individual traveling to countries other than Iraq, Libya, Iran, Russia and other Commonwealth nations, can carry only 3000 dollars per trip in cash. The balance amount can be carried in, as per the central bank, in the form of store value cards, travellers cheque or bankers draft. FYI, there are 53 Commonwealth countries. By todays exchange rates, 3000$ works out to just over two lakh rupees. This limit was earlier just 2000$, but was increased in 2010. Ten thousand dollars, going by todays value, works out to approximately 6.8 lakh rupees. According to the RBIs website, individuals traveling to the countries I just named, including the 53 Commonwealth nations, can take up to 250,000$ with them in the form of currency notes or coins. Wow. Thats a lot of coins to carry, isnt it? The 250,000$ limit applies to those who are traveling for Haj as well. On the other hand, If you are heading out of the country on business travel - the legal kind, not so much the Mallya or Mehul Choksi or Nirav Modi kind - say, to a conference or a training course, the Reserve Bank allows you to carry up to 25,000$ in foreign exchange. If you are traveling to take up a job outside India, the RBIs rules allow you to take up to 100,000$ with you. If you are a student going to study outside India, you are allowed by the RBI to draw up to 100,000 dollars per academic year. This limit covers nearly all student expenses, like tuition fee, study material etc. If you need more than that amount, you will need to provide an estimate from the institute youre studying in. Lets get a bit serious for a minute. If someone is traveling abroad for medical treatment, they too are allowed to draw up to 100,000 dollars after declaring the essential details. If you want to draw more than that, the authorities will require an estimate from the doctor or the hospital. A further 25,000$ is allowed as a maintenance expense. If you are emigrating to a foreign country - okay, I make this mistake often, so there must be a few of you who do that as well...emigrate is to move from your present country. Immigration is when you move into another country. For instance, Donald Trump dislikes immigrants. But he also dislikes emigrants. Like Madonna, who was in the news last week for moving to Portugal. Anyway, according to a report in the Business Standard, in such a scenario, the RBI allows you to withdraw foreign exchange for emigration facilities up to $100,000 based on self-declaration, or an amount prescribed by the country of emigration. There is also another scheme called the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, or LRS, which allows people to draw 250,000$ for purposes of investment or to pay off loans. So thats about the most common types of transactions involving money when traveling out of India. But we are more concerned about our own travel. So keep an eye on the 3000$ limit as well as the provision for carrying more in the form of tore value cards, travellers cheque or bankers draft. Wait, what? Travelers cheques are still a thing? Arent they extinct, or at least obsolete? Well, yes, and no. These were useful back in the day when plastic money wasnt so widespread. Were talking pre-internet, pre-ATM times. Travellers' cheques are pre-printed, fixed-amount cheques that were used in lieu of cash when traveling abroad. Because of the pre-assigned value, they never bounced. The bank that issued travelers cheques provided security against lost or stolen checks. These are accepted in a lot fewer places now and have been replaced, to a large extent, by everyones favourite way to carry money abroad - the travel money card, or what we call in India the forex card. Forex cards are the easiest way to carry your money abroad. But first, youre probably wondering, what about your own debit or credit card. Well, you can use them but your Indian credit or debit card will most likely be charged for every swipe. Yes, every swipe of your card will be charged a conversion fee. What this means is, your Indian credit card is free to use within the country, but when used outside the country, you will pay your bill in the currency of the place you swipe the card in. For every such transaction, a conversion fee is applied, which is usually around one to two percent on the foreign currency exchange. Then there is the foreign transaction fee. This is what you pay the network, like Visa or Mastercard, for using the card in a foreign location. This is usually between 1.5 and three percent of the transaction value. Obviously, three percent added to every time you swipe your HDFC, or ICICI, or SBI, credit card when in Europe could quickly add up to a lot. The same applies to your debit cards as well. For example, say you spend 50 euros at the champagne bar on the third floor of the Eiffel tower, and swipe your Indian card. You could end up paying the conversion fee of around 3 percent, or the foreign transaction fee of 3 percent, or both, depending on your card and bank. The easiest way of avoiding extra credit card fees when you make payments abroad is to get yourself a forex card. Forex cards allow us to add, store and transfer currency electronically when travelling abroad. They can also be used as ATM cards, should you ever feel the need withdraw foreign currency. Essentially, Forex cards are like debit cards, and are generally provided by either Visa or MasterCard, which makes them safe and acceptable for payments all over the globe. As I researched this topic, the latest claim was over one million commercial establishments around the world. Now, heres the interesting part. Forex cards are of two main types - multi-currency and single-currency. The names are pretty self-explanatory. Ono a single-currency forex card, you can load one foreign currency. Like the Dollars when youre going Stateside. Multi-currency cards are useful when traveling to Europe or Southeast Asia. For instance, you can add, say 2 lakh rupees to your card, as split that into Euros, the Swedish Kroner and the British Pound. And most of these cards allow you to transfer the money from one currency to another, so youre never stuck. Another area of concern is currency fluctuation. One day, the rupee is 68 to a dollar, two days later it is 69.5. Fortunately forex cards fix the exchange rate to the value of the currency on the day you buy the card. If you load 100$ in the card, the value will remain 100$ no matter the fluctuations in the market. And, mercifully, these cards can automatically transact in the local currency. And since these are like debit cards, you can make online purchases even when youre on the move. Spotted a good deal on Amazon UK while traveling from London to Bristol? Buy in the local currency and have it shipped. Now, I dont want to come off sounding like an advert for forex cards, but rest assured Im not shilling for forex cards. They are clearly a great option when traveling outside the country. The best part? When you return home, any money lying unused can be encashed. Thats a pretty nifty deal, if you ask me. Heck, theres a reason so many popular youtubers and travel bloggers swear by forex cards when heading abroad. That, and working part time when traveling, but we Indians arent really into working when vacationing, are we? Coming to portioning your expenses when traveling out of India, some estimates indicate that a large chunk of your expenses are usually cashless in nature. Hotels, food, shopping and tickets, can be paid for through your card. This accounts for nearly 70% of travel expenditure. So, the smart thing would be to carry 30% of your expenses in cash. The Financial Express recommends - Ideally, this amount should be anywhere between 20 and 30 percent of the overall currency that youre carrying abroad. But (that) largely depends on your itinerary... whether or not the destination...youre travelling to is digital transaction-friendly and make your estimations accordingly. As more than one social media travel expert put it, only carry as much cash as you are okay losing. Wait, is that glass half empty, or half full? So, to wind up this travel segment: if you want to feel free and enjoy your travel as you soak in the sights, sounds and experiences of the world, do these four things before you set off, to ensure a hassle free trip. First, get a prepaid forex card. Speaking of forex, heres some extra advice. Do not exchange currency at airports. The British newspaper Telegraph noted that Airport outlets consistently offer the worst rates for British travellers. It follows the same theory as buying fast food at a festival. Ian Strafford-Taylor, CEO of FairFX, told the Telegraph that some of the exchange rates are nothing short of extortionate. Note to self: extortionate is a great word. Will use it more often. Thanks Ian. Second, carry enough cash. Remember, only as much as youre okay to lose, but no more than 30%. And when settling bills, go local. If you are offered the choice of paying in the local currency, opt for the local currency. Third, carry an international debit or credit, but use it only as an emergency backup. And try not to draw cash from a credit card when traveling abroad. Number four, never keep all your money and cards in one place. Spread them around so that you never lose them all at once. I know this is basic, but common sense is usually sacrificed at the altar of luggage packing. So go forth and see the world, intrepid wanderer. Tick off the bucket list. And may your Facebook and Instagram photographs fill your friends with envy. And yeah, dont get ripped off. Trudeau said the proportion of women in the Indian workforce is "very low" at 26-27 per cent and exhorted companies to "pledge" for increasing their numbers during the Canada-India business forum in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Reuters) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today his government will not stop calling out human rights abuses after its criticisms of Saudi Arabia triggered a diplomatic row. "Canada will always speak strongly and clearly in private and in public on questions of human rights," the prime minister said, refusing to back down or apologize to the kingdom. "We do not wish to have poor relations with Saudi Arabia," he added, saying Ottawa recognizes that Riyadh "has made progress when it comes to human rights." Saudi Arabia on Monday expelled Canada's ambassador, recalled its own envoy and froze all new trade and investments after Ottawa denounced a new crackdown on rights activists in the kingdom. Riyadh also said it will relocate thousands of Saudi students studying in Canada to other countries, while state airline Saudia announced it was suspending flights to Toronto. Yesterday, Saudi state media said the kingdom has also stopped all medical treatment programs in Canada and was working on transferring all Saudi patients there to other countries. Further straining ties, the Saudi central bank has instructed its overseas asset managers to dispose of their Canadian equities, bonds and cash holdings "no matter the cost," the Financial Times reported. Trudeau noted that his foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, had "a long conversation" on Tuesday with her Saudi counterpart, Adel Al-Jubeir, to try to resolve the dispute. "Diplomatic talks continue," he said. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said given a choice he would prefer dishonest people who makes mistakes than the honest who do not want to take decisions. Speaking at the launch of motivational author Shiv Khera's book 'You can achieve more- Live by design not by default', he said there is no dearth of money or technology in the country or in the government, but there is shortage of people who want to work. In this context, he cited the instance of the National Highway Authority of India signing an agreement with the State Bank of India (SBI) for a long-term unsecured loan to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore last week. Gadkari, during his stint as the minister in the Maharashtra government between 1995 to 1999, was known for executing construction of several flyovers in Mumbai and the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. He said people often ask him what is the reason behind his success since he has no experience in civil engineering. "I don't have the knowledge and science required (for these projects), but I am a dare-devil. I have written on my table that I like people who can get things done. I tell my people that I even like dishonest people who can take the wrong decisions, but I dislike honest people who don't want to take the decisions. I only do what convinces my conscience, I don't fear anyone," he said. People with criminal antecedents becoming members of Parliament and state assemblies is a problem that should not be ignored by the legislature, the Supreme Court told the Centre on Thursday. It is the duty of the legislature to respond to the outcry of the citizens of this country who do not want people with criminal backgrounds to contest elections, a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. The CJI reportedly told attorney general KK Venugopal that under the Constitution, the government was obligated to formulate a law that stops criminals from contesting elections. "Corruption is a noun but becomes a verb when it enters the political arena. It is infective and resistant to antibiotics," CJI Misra was quoted as saying by the paper. The Supreme Court is hearing a clutch of petitions demanding disqualification of MPs and MLAs facing criminal charges. In a previous judgement, the SC had ordered that if an elected representative is convicted in a criminal case and is sentenced to a jail term of three years or more, he or she will be debarred from continuing as a member of the House. In the ongoing court proceedings, however, it is being argued that disqualification should take place once the police submits its charge sheet against a lawmaker. The top court was not certain if it could add disqualifications in the Representation of People's Act, 1951, for candidates to contest elections, as it fell in the domain of Parliament and there was a law already in place. The court observed that guidelines issued in cases such as Vishakha or euthanasia were done because the fields were unoccupied by any law. Lalu Prasad Yadav | The former minister of railways was arrested in connection with the fodder scam. (Image: PTI) The Jharkhand High Court today extended the provisional bail period of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, convicted in four fodder scam cases, till August 20 on medical grounds. The period was extended by Justice Apresh Kumar Singh. "We have prayed for the extension of the bail period for three more months on medical grounds," Prasad's counsel Prabhat Kumar told PTI. The high court had on May 11 granted six weeks provisional bail to Prasad and again extended it till August 14, Chitaranjan Sinha, another counsel for the RJD chief, said. Prasad is currently being treated at the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai, Sinha said. He has been convicted in four cases of the multi-crore fodder scam. The cases relate to illegal withdrawal of money from government treasuries in different districts for the the animal husbandry department in undivided Bihar in the 1990s when the RJD was in power in the state. On September 30, 2013, he was convicted in the first fodder scam case related to the Chaibasa Treasury. The former Bihar chief minister was again convicted in another case related to the Chaibasa Treasury on January 24, 2018. On February 23 and March 19, he was convicted in cases related to the Deoghar Treasury and the Dumka Treasury respectively. On the last day of the Monsoon Session, opposition MPs launched a protest against the BJP-led NDA government today demanding answers from it over the alleged scam in Rafale fighter jet deal with France. UPA chairperson and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi led a protest over the issue in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statute in Parliament complex. Opposition MPs, including Raj Babbar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, CPI's D Raja, AAP MP Sushil Gupta among others held protest outside Parliament, holding placards and raising slogans demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the issue. Congress members yesterday had created uproarious scenes in the Lok Sabha demanding a probe into the Rafale deal by a JPC, forcing an adjournment of the proceedings. They were heard demanding a JPC probe into the deal and a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As the government prepares to table the much-debated Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha today, Gandhi, when asked about the issue, told reporters, "Our party's position is absolutely clear on this, I will not say anything further on this. Muslim women hold placards during a protest rally against a bill passed by India's lower house of Parliament that aims at prosecuting Muslim men who divorce their wives through the "triple talaq," or instant divorce, in Ahmedabad, India. (REUTERS) Indias battle against the three words that grant Muslim women instant divorce came to an end when the Supreme Court last year declared the age-old practice of triple talaq as unconstitutional. Subsequently, a Bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence was introduced and the Centre hopes for it passage on the last day of Monsoon Session amid voices of concern from the Opposition. Changes in the triple Talaq Bill On Thursday, the Cabinet made three amendments to the triple talaq law. While the proposed law will remain "non-bailable'' offence, the accused can approach a magistrate even before the trial to seek bail. Under a non-bailable offence, bail cannot be granted by police at the police station. Ravi Shakar Prasad said a provision has been added to allow the magistrate to grant bail 'after hearing the wife'. "But the offence of instant triple talaq under the proposed law remains non-bailable," he clarified. The magistrate would ensure that bail is granted only after the husband agrees to grant compensation to the wife as provided in the bill. The quantum of compensation will be decided by the magistrate, as per the bill. Another amendment makes it clear that the police would lodge FIR only if approached by the victim (wife), her blood relations or people who become her relatives by virtue of her marriage. "This would settle fears that even a neighbour can file FIR as is the cases in any cognisable offence. This would check misuse," the minister said. The third amendment makes the offence of instant triple talaq "compoundable". Now, a magistrate can use his powers to settle the dispute between a husband and his wife. Under a compoundable offence, both parties have the liberty of withdrawing the case. However, the jail term for a Muslim man who resorts to triple talaq remains three years and only a magistrate, and not a local police officer, can release the accused on bail. What did the original Bill include? If a Muslim man resorts to triple talaq then he will face a jail term of three years, as instant triple talaq will now be considered a non-bailable, cognisable offence. Opting for triple talaq could also attract fine and the amount would be the magistrates call who would be hearing the case A Muslim wife can also approach a magistrate and ask for subsistence allowance for herself and her minor children. A victim of triple talaq can seek the custody of her minor children from the magistrate who will take the final decision on the issue. Only Jammu and Kashmir will be out of the ambit of the proposed law. While the original bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha last year, it has been stuck in the Upper House where the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in minority. With changes made in the Bill, the government is hoping to get support from non-NDA parties for the passage of the Bill. Opposition When the Bill was introduced in the Winter Session of the Parliament, opposition parties such as the Congress, TMC, CPI(M), CPI, SP, BSP, DMK, AIADMK and BJD, along with the BJP's ally TDP, moved a motion asking the Bill to be sent to a select committee. Ramu Manivannan In M Karunanidhis passing away, Tamil Nadu has lost one of its most influential voices of the Dravidian movement, politics and identity in the past 75 years. He was a man of letters, a captive script-writer, an enthralling orator, a scholar-legislator and a leader with strategic political acumen, and headed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for 50 years. The Tamil language, its linguistic rights and the cultural identity of the Tamil people formed the basis of his long public life. His eternal quest for social justice and struggle for the linguistic rights and cultural dignity of Tamil will be remembered forever. The rise of the DMK, its demand for language rights and its equal status as well as its advocacy of the rights of states made a unique political contribution and impact on the working of Indian federalism. CN Annadurai and his brigade of young warriors challenged the status quo and redefined the course and contents of Dravidian politics. Anna did not live long enough to steer the course and in 1969 the mantle fell upon the shoulders of Karunanidhi. Karunanidhi simply rose to the occasion and guided the movement and party with remarkable courage and consistency of leadership for the next four-and-a-half decades. His dreams and successes became intertwined with the vision and ideals of the Dravidian movement. In his passing away, Karunanidhi leaves behind a proud legacy of struggle for social justice, preservation of cultural identity and linguistic rights of the Tamils. Among his contributions to national politics, his active engagement in charting the course of social justice, the resistance against authoritarianism, the demand for the rights of states and the seeds of coalition politics are noteworthy. Despite the challenges of decay in vision and ideals, changing times and shifting political environment, Karunanidhi leaves behind a mixed basket. On one hand is the secure leadership baton change within the DMK and on the other is the political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) thrusting forward with its own agenda of an alternative to Dravidian parties. After the passing away of Jayalalithaa in December 2016, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has become a slow but steadily sinking vessel with multiple floaters and it can no longer compete with the DMK in the typical bipolar politics seen in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK has been trampled beyond recognition and its current government is riddled with allegations of corruption. The Edappadi Palaniswami government neither enjoys the mandate of the people nor their goodwill. This is a government running on a false lifeline facilitated by the strategic interests of the BJP to drag the state into inertia and present itself as an alternative by combining the assembly and parliamentary elections together. It is in such a scenario that the responsibility to lead the DMK comes to Stalin. The party, under his leadership, has its role defined and path determined. We will have to wait and watch whether Stalin boldly picks the gamut of challenge offered by the BJP. This leaves Stalin and the DMK with little room for a political gaffe. Karunanidhis last battle after his death and Stalins first fight after his fathers demise are the same for a rightful place. Tamil Nadu, no doubt, will witness many more pitched battles in the coming days as the politics moves between the confined lanes of political transition within the DMK and the challenge of paradigm shift thrown up by other parties, mainly the BJP. This is the real challenge Dravidian politics and the people of Tamil Nadu will face in the near future. (Author is professor and head, Department of Politics & Public Administration, University of Madras. The views expressed are personal) Rahul Gandhi, Vice President of India's ruling Congress party waves to his party supporters during a rally ahead of general elections in New Delhi April 6, 2014. To match Insight INDIA-CONGRESS/ REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee/File Photo - S1BETFPEYVAA Congress president Rahul Gandhi will launch the party's election campaign in the poll bound Rajasthan, which has remained a BJP bastion, tomorrow. Gandhi will address scores of party workers and leaders from every district at the Ramlila ground, where he will reach in a specially designed bus from Jaipur airport. "He is coming here to launch the election campaign of the Congress party tomorrow. Gandhi will lead from the front; he will give the message of victory to the party workers and will tell how we are going to campaign in the next three months," Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said. He said the Congress workers will give the party president a historical welcome. "Gandhi is coming to Rajasthan for the first time after becoming the Congress president. It is the city where he was elevated as the vice-president of the Congress party, so this place has a lot of significance for the party," he said. He said the BJP was already anxious about losing the elections. "The BJP has always claimed that Jaipur is a city where it remained strong but we will prove them wrong tomorrow. The BJP is already nervous and making accusations and giving misleading statements," he said. Commenting on chief minister Vasundhara Raje's 'Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra', Pilot said she began the tour after Congress's 'Mera Booth, Mera Gaurav' programme, under which the party covered 195 out of 200 constituencies. Gandhi will also address rallies in other parts of the state, which goes to polls at year end. Twitter chief executive and co-founder Jack Dorsey posted tweets on Tuesday explaining why the social networking site had not suspended Alex Jones and his associated accounts. Truth is weve been terrible at explaining our decisions in the past. Were fixing that. Were going to hold Jones to the same standard we hold to every account, not taking one-off actions to make us feel good in the short term, and adding fuel to new conspiracy theories. jack (@jack) August 8, 2018 Dorsey said that Jones had not violated any of the companys rules and policies, and added that if he did, suspension would be enforced. He also specified Twitter would not succumb to pressure from outside sources and that it was the duty of journalists to document and verify information so that the public can form their own views. His tweets immediately drew criticism and piled on to the debate over what constitutes hate speech and how tech firms have to be responsible in regulating information flows while, at the same time, staying neutral. Accounts like Jones' can often sensationalize issues and spread unsubstantiated rumors, so its critical journalists document, validate, and refute such information directly so people can form their own opinions. This is what serves the public conversation best. jack (@jack) August 8, 2018 Have you considered adding a new rule against users who harass the parents of dead kindergartners so much that they have to go into hiding? https://t.co/IoYRLZZKqG Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) August 8, 2018 According to a report in The Washington Post, historian at Princeton University Kevin M Kruse slammed Dorsey for being blind towards Jones online behaviour. A former communications director for Twitter also criticised Dorseys decision saying that Jones is complicit in encouraging his followers to harass and/or threaten people, often victims. Dorseys decision comes as Twitter has been panned by Conservative politicians, who say that the company is left-biased and constantly censors right-leaning frontrunners. Jones has recently been banned by Spotify, Facebook, Apple, YouTube, and even online porn site YouPorn, for spreading baseless conspiracy theories on his website Infowars. Some of these theories include: the 9/11 World Trade Centre attack was coordinated by the US government and that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which claimed the lives of 20 children, was staged. The Rajasthan government on Thursday formally notified the rechristening of three villages in Rajasthan, three days after approval from the Union Home Ministry came through. From now on, Miyon ka Bara village in Barmer district will be known as Mahesh Nagar; Narpada in Jalore district as Narpura and Ismailpur, which falls under Jhunjhunu district, has been renamed as Pichanwa Khurd. Although the state government hasnt cited an official reason for renaming these villages, sources have suggested that the locals were facing issues because of the seemingly Islamic sounding names. For instance, Miyon ka Bara (now erstwhile) is a small village with about 2,000 people. The village is dominated by Hindus with barely four families belonging to the Muslim community. An official reportedly told the press that youth in the village had stopped receiving marriage proposals from neighbouring villages due to the Muslim sounding name of their village. However, BJP MLA from Barmer, Hameersingh Bhayal, told The Indian Express that the demand to rename Miyon ka Bara was a decade old and that it has been renamed Mahesh Nagar due to the presence of a Shiva deity in the village. This development comes on the heels of renaming of the iconic Mughalsarai railway junction in Uttar Pradesh to Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction. Last month, the Yogi Adityanath-led-BJP government in UP announced that the Mughalsarai junction will be formally renamed after RSS ideologue Deen Dayal Uphadyay. (Upadhyay was found dead in mysterious circumstances near the Mughalsarai station in February 1968). BJP president Amit Shah, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were present at the rechristening event. Later, the Mughalsarai Municipal Board was also renamed after the late Jan Sangh leader. This is not the only time that Yogi Adityanath has commissioned renaming districts and villages in Uttar Pradesh. In fact, he had once told a TV channel, "Abhi toh aur naam badalne hai," The Economic Times has reported. In addition, most of these changes in name have been made only on vocal assertions of Yogi and havent been officially changed in the gazette. Barely months after he was sworn in as the chief minister, Yogi Adityanath had already commissioned the following name changes: Urdu Bazar was changed to Hindi Bazar; Ali Nagar to Arya Nagar; Miya Bazar to Maya Bazar; Islampur to Ishwarpur and Humayun Nagar to Hanuman Nagar. In an interview to a TV news channel, Yogi was seen defending his move, saying the current names were given by the Mughals after they invaded India and that now its time that these places were given their original names. In the same interview, he proclaimed that if required, he will not hesitate changing "Taj Mahal" to "Ram Mahal". The Opposition had castigated this move, calling it a brazen attempt to polarise the electorate. However, it would be unfair to put the onus of changing names in UP only on Yogis shoulders. The state has seen places change their names with changing governments. In 2012, the Samajwadi government changed the names of eight districts which had been renamed by the previous Mayawati regime Bheem Nagar was changed to Bahjoi; Prabuddha Nagar to Shamli; Pancheel Nagar to Hapur; Kanshiram Nagar to Kasganj; Mahamaya Nagar to Hathras; Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar to Gauriganj; Rambai Nagar to Kanpur Dehat and JP Nagar to Amroha. Royal Enfield 650 twins (Image source: Royal Enfield) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Royal Enfield will start taking bookings for the Interceptor and Continental GT in November this year after having deferred doing so by a few months. The Eicher Motors-owned cruiser and touring bike specialist has ironed out some production ramp-up issues pertaining to the two bikes, which it had showcased in November last year at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy. Unlike its earlier plan to launch the bikes outside India first, the company may now be planning to simultaneously launch it worldwide. "Bookings of the two bikes to start in November and deliveries after that. Media drives to happen in California in September. The launch will happen in India and rest of the world," Siddhartha Lal, MD and CEO, Eicher Motors, told analysts. Ready units of the two bikes will be in limited numbers to start with as a full ramp-up of their production is expected only four months later. The company is already running its production at full capacity. "The production ramp up will happen in a phased manner. By the end of this financial year we will be in most of the important markets around the world. We won't have any capacity issues with the twins. The ramp up will be slow. By March 2019 we will be able to deliver what the market requires," Lal said. Both the Interceptor and the Continental GT are powered by 650cc, twin-cylinder, fuel-injected motors that deliver a peak power of 47 ps. While price details are not out yet, market sources believe they should priced at around Rs 3.5 lakh. The two bikes will be the costliest and most powerful in the Royal Enfield stable. While the Interceptor is a new bike, the new Continental GT is a replacement of the now-phased-out Continental GT, which was powered by a 535cc engine. Prospective buyers of Royal Enfield bikes can expect a delay in deliveries during the festive months of September, October and November as the company's production lines are fully utilized at present. "In the last couple of months we are tending to demand-supply getting closer. But all our plants are running at peak capacity. As we get into September, October and November demand will rise higher but not the supply," Lal said. The company also said that demand for the newly-launched Thunderbird X and Classic Gunmetal Grey has been far more than was earlier expected, and as a result, the waiting period for them is higher than for other models. "We are able to convert more of the bookings in the same month but there are some models we are not able to do that at all. Like the newer and premium models where we under estimated the demand. We are ramping up on Thunderbird X and Gunmetal Grey models. More than half of the order book is for the premium variant that is something we had not anticipated," Lal said. Royal Enfield has said that it expects to end the current financial year with sales of 950,000 units, 13 percent higher than the 840,000 units sold last year. Lal said that the company might to able to stretch the monthly run rate to a maximum of 84,000 units. With Phase-II of the Vallam Vadagal plant coming on stream only in the second half of the next financial year, and the growth during April-July being 19 percent, the waiting period for in-demand models is expected to rise in the first half of the next financial year. South Korean electronics giant Samsung today unveiled its flagship 'Note 9' smartphone to strengthen its play in the global premium devices market, a category where it competes head-on with rival Apple. The company is likely to introduce the 'Note 9' in the Indian market later this month. In the Indian market, Note 9 will compete head-on with Apple's iPhones as well as OnePlus' smartphone among other smartphones. Earlier this year, Samsung had unveiled the latest edition of its other flagship Galaxy S9, priced at Rs 57,900 onwards. "The 'Note' has always been our showcase for premium technology and industry defining innovations. It's designed for a level of performance, power and intelligence that today's power users want and need," DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT and Mobile at Samsung Electronics, said. The Note 9, unveiled at the Barclays Centre here, will be available in select markets from August 24, 2018. It, however, has not revealed the price of the device. It features 6.4-inch display, 12MP dual rear and 8MP front camera and 4,000 mAh battery. It will have two variants -- 6GB RAM/128GB internal memory (expandable up to 512GB) and 8GB RAM/512GB internal memory (expandable up to 512GB). Samsung has incorporated Bluetooth capability in its signature S Pen stylus, which can be used to control music playback and camera shutter. Besides, the company has also added artificial intelligence (AI) features to enhance camera capabilities. Globally, the premium smartphone market accounts for almost one-fifth of the total market. According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung's Note series contributes to roughly one-tenth of the global premium smartphone market. Players like Huawei, OnePlus and Vivo are attempting to make in-roads into the burgeoning category. The premium smartphone segment in India is niche but mirrors global trends in terms of growth. While the category accounts for less than 10 per cent of the Indian market in terms of shipment, the value contribution is higher. Estimate suggest that quarterly smartphone shipments in the category range between 1-1.5 million units. According to market watchers, Samsung is betting heavily on the success of its flagship devices in India, which is among the largest smartphone markets globally. Samsung is expected to assemble the Note 9 for the Indian market at its new facility in Noida, which was inaugurated last month. The company claims that the facility, which has been set up with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore, is the world's biggest smartphone factory. The company has also launched its Galaxy Watch as well as voice-assistant Bixby-powered speakers - Galaxy Home. Dam reservoirs and rivers overflowed, sections of highways collapsed and homes were swept away in severe flooding in more than half of Kerala, after days of incessant rains left nearly 54,000 people homeless and killed at least 29, officials said today. Five columns of Army were deployed in the state's seven severely hit northern districts, out of Kerala's 14, to help evacuate people and to build makeshift bridges even as the Indian Navy's southern command was put on alert after water level in Periyar river rose amid concern that parts of Wellingdon Island in Kochi could be inundated. Almost all 40 odd rivers in the state are in spate, officials said. Northern and central Kerala have been battered by heavy rains of the Southwest monsoon since August 8, which has left 29 people dead, including three today. Of them, 25 died in landslides and four in drowning. State officials said a total of 53,501 people are now housed in 439 relief camps across the state. Tourists were barred from entering the hilly Idukki district after roads caved in at many places. Army soldiers were building small bridges to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad. A red alert was issued for Idukki and its adjoining districts in view of the possibility of release of more water from the Idukki reservoir. At least 50 tourists, including 24 foreigners, stranded at the Plum Judy resort at Munnar since Wednesday were rescued and taken to safer places, state Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said. People living downstream of Periyar river in Kochi, and Cheruthoni river in Idukki have been warned of a possibility of inundation of banks. Water level had crossed the maximum storage capacity of reservoirs of 24 out of the state's 58 dams, forcing officials to release the water by opening the sluice gates, including three of the Idukki reservoir. Two more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, the biggest arch dam in Asia, were lifted around 7 am today. One shutter was opened yesterday after a gap of 26 years.This morning, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation and relief works being undertaken by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF. Due to the increase in the water level at Idukki dam, "it is essential to release water three times (more) than what was being released now", Vijayan said, adding that this will lead to rise in the water levels of Periyar river and its tributaries. He appealed to people to be vigilant. Vijayan has cancelled all his public functions till August 12, and will monitor the situation from the state capital. Union minister Alphons Kannamthanam said he discussed the flood situation in Kerala with Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning. Singh also spoke with Vijayan, and will make an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Sunday. "The Government of India is providing all the required assistance including services of armed forces, disaster management team and other required assistance. Any other immediate assistance requested by the Government of Kerala will be provided," Alphons said in a Facebook post. Col. Ajai Sharma, the commandant of DSC Centre, who is overseeing relief and rescue operations, said five columns of Army have been deployed in the northern districts since last night. "The haphazard development along the streams has affected the natural flow of rivers, which is a challenge right now," he said. Small bridges have been constructed to evacuate stranded people in various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad areas, and rescue operations are currently underway. "The situation is under control," he said.Meanwhile, state Revenue minister E Chandrasekharan reviewed the flood situation and the precautionary measures to be taken in Aluva near Kochi airport and nearby areas in view of the possibility of increase in the water level following release of more water from Idukki reservoir. Periyar river in Aluva is already in spate following release of water from Idamalayar dam, and people living in low lying areas have been asked to be vigilant.Cochin International Airport Limited sources said operations at the airport had not been affected. "The operational area is intact. No cancellation of services so far," an airport spokesperson said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Vijayan yesterday, and offered all possible assistance to those affected. In Palakkad district, the flood waters started receding today as the quantity of water being released from Malampuzha dam was reduced. However, many areas are still inundated and people were seen trying to save their belongings. Aarti Sathe Justice delayed is justice denied, goes the adage. In the past month, two steps taken by different arms of the government aim at reducing the delay in an overburdened judicial system by cutting the scope for litigation. Thats a step in the right direction and will immensely help in improving the ease of doing business in India. On July 11, the Centre issued a circular revising the monetary limits for filing appeals by the tax department before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), high courts and Supreme Court of India. While earlier the monetary limit was Rs 10 lakh, it has been raised to Rs 20 lakh which means that the government can file appeals at the tribunal level only if the amount is Rs 20 lakh or above. Similarly, a 14-member committee set up by the government for decriminalisation of offences under the Companies Act may soon come out with a one-time settlement scheme for minor offences, The Economic Times reported on August 4. Minor offences would include failure or delay in filing resolutions and financial statements, contraventions related to director identification numbers and managerial remuneration and delay in filing of notices for alteration of share capital, the paper reported. Related stories To understand why these steps are important, one should realise that the Indian government is the largest litigant in our judicial system. Theres a huge backlog of cases as a result of this highly litigious attitude of the government, especially that of the tax department. A study by the Union law ministry last year showed that the Centre and the states accounted for 46% of all pending litigations in India. The current numbers of pending litigations is also huge. According to the National Judicial Data Grid, there are 4.1 million cases in the high courts with three-fourths of them pending for at least two years. The Supreme Court was hearing some 53,000 cases as on May 4, the latest date for which data is available. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), on the other hand, was hearing 9,073 cases as of January-end. The proposed steps by the tax and company affairs departments will decrease the number of frivolous litigations that take up courts time thereby increasing the backlog and further delaying timely disposal of cases. They will check the government from wasting taxpayers' money on frivolous litigations and will facilitate the ease of doing business. They free up space for the various courts to decide issues which have a real bearing on tax jurisprudence and corporate governance. The government will also save on litigation costs. In case of the tax circular, it will apply retrospectively and all pending appeals will get covered by it. A finance ministry statement said that it expects direct tax litigations to reduce by 41 percent and for indirect and customs by 18 percent. It will also free up the tax amounts which are locked up in litigations resulting in refunds to the assessees and thereby not causing hardship to them. The ET report cited earlier said that about 22,000 cases in various benches of the NCLT and special courts in the country around 60 percent of pending legislation - could be withdrawn under this provision This will usher a sense of cheer among corporates seeking to do business in India as it makes India a more business-friendly jurisdiction, not prone to litigation that can be expensive and drag on for years, even decades. The circular by the finance department and other similar ones are proactive steps by the government which will help in judicial reform and should be pursued vigorously. (The author is an independent counsel specialising in direct tax and related litigations. The views expressed are personal.) The rival Koreas plan to hold high-level talks on Monday to prepare for a third summit between their leaders, as Pyongyang called on the United States to reciprocate its "goodwill measures" by easing sanctions and stopping demands that the North denuclearise first. The plans by the Korean leaders to meet come as Washington and Pyongyang try to follow through on nuclear disarmament vows made at a US-North Korea summit in June between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In the most recent sign of growing frustration between Washington and Pyongyang, North Korea criticized senior American officials for insisting that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons first before easing sanctions. Notably, the statement didn't directly criticize Trump. North Korea said in a statement Thursday that "some high-level officials within the US administration" were making "desperate attempts at intensifying the international sanctions and pressure." "We hoped that these goodwill measures would contribute to breaking down the high barrier of mistrust" between Pyongyang and Washington, the North's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. "However, the US responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure." Those American officials are "going against the intention of President Trump to advance the DPRK-US relations, who is expressing gratitude to our goodwill measures for implementing the DPRK-US joint statement," it said referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Washington has said that sanctions will not be lifted until Pyongyang fully and finally dismantles its nuclear weapons. Some experts say that North Korea does not want to denuclearize first or maybe denuclearize at all because it wants a long, drawn-out process that sees external aid shipped in in return for abandoning nuclear weapons. Pyongyang has also stepped up its calls for a formal end to the Korean War, which some analysts believe is meant to be the first step in the North's effort to eventually see all 28,500 US troops leave the Korean Peninsula. A South Korean official at the Unification Ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of office rules, said the two Koreas will also discuss on Monday ways to push through tension-reducing agreements made during an earlier summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Among the agreements was holding another inter-Korean summit in the fall in Pyongyang. The rival Koreas may try to seek a breakthrough amid what experts see as little progress on nuclear disarmaments between Pyongyang and Washington despite the Singapore summit in June and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's several visits to North Korea. Pyongyang insisted that the US should reciprocate to the North's suspension of missile launches and nuclear tests and other goodwill gestures such as the return of remains of American troops killed in the Korean War. The United States cancelled a joint war exercise with South Korea that was due to take place this month while dismissing calls to ease sanctions until the North delivers on its commitments to fully denuclearize. The inter-Korean meeting on Monday will be held at Tongilgak, a North Korean-controlled building in the border village of Panmunjom. South Korea's unification minister will lead the delegation from Seoul but North Korea, which proposed the Monday meeting first, did not confirm the makeup of its delegation. It wasn't clear when another inter-Korean summit might happen, but if the April 27 summit agreements between Moon and Kim are followed through on, the leaders will likely meet in Pyongyang in the next couple of months. In the meantime, both Koreas are seeking an end of the Korean War. South Korea's presidential spokesman said last month that Seoul wants a declaration of the end of the 1950-53 war sooner than later. The Korean Peninsula is still technically in a state of war because the fighting ended with a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. Earlier Thursday, North Korea's Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary that ending the Korean War is "the first process for ensuring peace and security not only in the Korean peninsula but also in the region and the world." Kim and Moon met in April at a highly publicized summit that saw the leaders hold hands and walk together across the border, and then again in a more informal summit in May, just weeks before Kim met Trump in Singapore. The Asian rout | The continents 128 billionaires lost $144 billion in 2018. The top three losers were from China, with Wanda Groups Wang Jianlin losing $11.1 billion this year. Close to 40 percent of the Asians under the index, lost their billionaire status as of December 7. (Image: Reuters) Chinese officials have delayed the plan to demolish a newly built mosque in the country's North West after hundreds of ethnic Hui Muslims held sit in protests in what is said to be the largest standoff in Beijing's efforts to clampdown on Islamisation. A huge crowd of ethnic Hui Muslims, the second largest Muslim group after Uygurs of Xinjiang, gathered from noon until late last night in the square outside the Weizhou Grand Mosque thwarting plans by the local government to demolish the mosque. The mosque is an imposing white structure topped with nine onion-shaped domes, crescent moons and four towering minarets. The local county head came to the mosque around midnight, urging everyone to go home and promised that the government would not touch the newly built structure until a reconstruction plan has been agreed upon by the townsmen, the Hong Kong based South China Morning Post reported quoting local sources as saying. The stand off in the town of Weizhou in Tongxin county in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is the latest and possibly the largest conflict in a recent campaign to rid the region of what Beijing regards as a worrying trend of Islamisation and Arabisation, as the ruling Communist Party doubles down to "Sinicise religion", the report said. "Sinicise religion" is a policy introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2015 to bring religious groups in line with the Chinese culture and under the absolute authority of the Communist Party of China (CPC). An official notice which was said to have been issued by the Weizhou government on August 3 had given the mosque's management committee a deadline to demolish the building by August 10 on the grounds that it had not been granted the necessary planning and construction permits. If the management committee failed to comply, the government would "forcefully demolish it according to the law", the notice warned. But the Ningxia government said that after days of negotiations between the authorities and the religious leaders, it had been agreed earlier yesterday that the government would not demolish the mosque, but remove eight of its domes. Many Muslims did not want to see the domes removed, the report said. "Now we're just in a stand off," a local resident was quoted as saying in the report. "The public won't let the government touch the mosque, but the government is not backing down," the unnamed resident said. Construction of the mosque was completed last year. It replaced an earlier structure that had been built to replace Weizhou's 600-year-old Chinese-style mosque, which was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution along with thousands of other temples, churches and monasteries across the country. The government's order sparked an outcry in the Hui Muslim community, with many people questioning why the authorities did not stop the construction of the mosque which took two years to complete if it had not been granted the necessary paperwork. An official white paper released in April this year stated that China has about 20 million Muslims. Both Uygurs and Hui Muslims have a population of about 10 million each. China is currently carrying out massive crackdown against the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in the volatile Xinjiang province where majority Uyghurs have expressed concerns over the increasing settlements of the majority Han community. Since he took power in 2013, Xi has been emphasising on the Communist party's reinforcing its ideological roots of Marxism, including adherence to atheism. As the government deepens its crackdown on Uygurs another mostly Muslim group in the western frontier of Xinjiang the Huis are also being targeted, the report said. Several mosques in Nigxia have been ordered to cancel public Arabic classes, while a number of private Arabic schools have been told to shut down, it said. Unlike Uygurs who are of Turkik origin with ethnic ties to Turkey, Hui Muslims have been largely left in peace to practise their faith. Most of them speak Mandarin and apart from the white caps and headscarves worn by the more traditional members of the ethnic group, they are indistinguishable from the majority Han population. North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho arrives for the Asean Regional Forum Retreat Session in Singapore August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Edgar Su - RC1174778590 North Korea will preserve its nuclear know-how despite its promise of denuclearisation to the United States, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said during a visit to Tehran, Iranian media reported today. Despite the agreement to denuclearise the Korean peninsula struck during a landmark summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump, "We preserve our nuclear science as we know that the Americans will not abandon their hostility toward us," Ri said, according to the conservative Mehr news agency. "Dealing with Americans is difficult, and as our main goal is total disarmament of the whole Korean Peninsula, it is necessary that the Americans also abide by their commitments but they refuse to do so." At the June summit with Trump, Kim made a vague commitment to denuclearisation -- far from the longstanding US demand for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang's atomic arsenal. Ri was meeting with Iran's influential parliament speaker Ali Larijani on the third day of an official visit. "The Americans utter beautiful words when negotiating and promise a very bright future but they deliver on none of their commitments when it comes to action," Larijani said. Ri arrived in Tehran on the same day as the United States reimposed sanctions after abandoning a 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and Iran. The other five parties to the deal agree with UN inspectors that Iran has been abiding by its commitments, but Trump has said repeatedly it is "a horrible deal" and announced he was abrogating it in May. Coal waits to be loaded on train cars to depart the Hobet mine in Boone County, West Virginia, U.S. May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo - RTSQUBP South Korea said a total of 35,000 tons of North Korean coal and pig iron worth $5.8 million illegally entered its ports last year, in possible violations of UN sanctions. Reporting on preliminary results from a 10 month investigation, the Korea Customs Service said Friday it is seeking prosecutions of three local companies and their executives for smuggling or forging documents to say North Korean mineral resources came from Russia. They imported North Korean coal or pig iron in seven separate cases between April and October last year to five South Korean ports, the customs office said. Officials said they were also looking into whether any of the 14 vessels that transported North Korean coal violated sanctions banning such shipments. The United Nations banned North Korean mineral exports, including coal, starting in August 2017. South Korea started to look into the allegations that North Korean coal may have entered its ports in October. The government came under criticism that it was taking too long to investigate. Customs officials said analyzing a huge volume of documents and seeking help from Russian customs officials slowed progress in the investigation. The UN Security Council first imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. A recent report to the Security Council found Pyongyang has been violating U.N. sanctions with clandestine shipments of coal, oil and military equipment. Three South Korean firms were caught importing coal and iron from the North last year, Seoul said today, in an apparent violation of UN sanctions imposed in August 2017 on the nuclear-armed state. More than 35,000 tonnes of North Korean coal and iron worth 6.6 billion won (USD 5.8 million) were imported into the South between April and October last year, the Korea Customs Service said. In addition to breaking South Korean law, some of the shipments were likely to be in breach of UN resolutions as well, with the customs service warning that "any ships that are believed to have violated UN sanctions will be impounded or banned from entering South Korean ports". In a complex process spanning three countries, coal shipments were first sent to Russia, where their details were disguised using forged "country of origin" documents, and then reloaded on ships bound for the South, the customs office said in a statement that followed a 10-month investigation by the authorities. In another case, black coal imported from North Korea was transferred to the Russian port of Kholmsk, where it was "disguised as semi-coking coal that does not need country of origin documents", before being reloaded on ships heading to the South, the customs office said. "Korea Customs Service has confirmed seven criminal offences and it will report three persons and three companies to prosecution authorities with a request to indict them", it said. "It is necessary to consider the timing of UN resolutions... to determine whether the activities were in breach" of sanctions as well, it added. News of the apparent breach comes after a UN report last week accused the North of evading sanctions by continuing to export coal, iron and other commodities as well as carrying out illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil products at sea. Deliveries of iron and steel to China, India and other countries generated nearly USD 14 million from October to March, the UN report said. The South Korean investigation also uncovered a trade in pig iron, with the customs office saying that the suspects sold the crude metal to a South Korean buyer via a Hong Kong-based shell company. It said the suspects appeared to have been paid in coal, rather than cash, for their role in helping the nuclear-armed regime export its products. Last year, the UN Security Council adopted a series of resolutions targeting North Korean exports of commodities and the isolated regime's financial network in a bid to cut off revenue to its weapons programmes. A recent diplomatic thaw culminated in a historic meeting between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June. But there has been little evidence of concrete post-summit progress on the key issue of denuclearisation, with the North attacking the US for "gangster-like" demands of complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament. Russia and China have called on the Security Council to consider easing sanctions to reward North Korea for opening up dialogue with the United States and halting missile tests. But Washington has urged the international community to maintain maximum sanctions pressure, even suggesting tougher economic measures, in a bid to compel Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. The UN has called for ensuring peaceful, fair and transparent presidential elections in the Maldives next month, saying a genuine and inclusive dialogue among political parties is the only conducive way to build a stable democracy in the country. The Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago known for its tropical paradise, has witnessed political turmoil since its first democratically-elected president Mohamed Nasheed was forced to quit in 2012. He was convicted of terrorism charges and sentenced to 13 years in prison. President Abdulla Yameen, who was sworn in as the sixth president of the Maldives in 2013, is at loggerheads with the Opposition, including Nasheed who is living in self-exile. Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca is in Male to discuss the preparations for the presidential elections on September 23, UN Secretary General's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said. Jenca underlined the utmost priority of ensuring peaceful, fair and transparent elections, stressing that genuine and inclusive political parties' dialogue was the only conducive way to build a peaceful, prosperous and stable democracy, Haq said. Jenca met President Yameen and discussed additional efforts to build a level-playing field for fair electoral competition. He also exchanged views with the joint opposition presidential candidate Ibrahim Solih and his running mate Faisal Naseem, emphasising the critical role of the Opposition in the democratic political process. In June, a court jailed former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed for obstruction of justice. They were arrested in February for allegedly clearing the way for an impeachment motion against Yameen. India had called for the immediate release of Gayoom and other political prisoners, saying India believes that a democratic, stable and prosperous Maldives is in the interests of all its neighbours and friends in the Indian Ocean. Since the beginning of the political crisis in the Maldives, India has repeatedly urged the Maldivian government to allow all institutions, including the Supreme Court and Parliament, to function in a free and independent manner, and to permit genuine political dialogue between all political parties. Representative image US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray discussed addressing irregular migration through Mexico and the region, a State Department spokesperson said. The talks came amid strained relations between the two neighbouring countries over illegal migration, border security and trade negotiations. The two leaders also discussed the importance of concluding a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The NAFTA is a deal signed by the US, Canada and Mexico, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. Pompeo spoke with Videgaray on August 8 and the two leaders talked about the importance of reducing irregular migration through Mexico and the region and discussed the need for greater investment in Central America to address security, governance, and economic prosperity challenges, spokesperson Heather Nauert said. From his campaign days, US President Trump has taken a stern view on illegal immigration from across America's southern borders, promising to deport undocumented immigrants and build a new border wall with Mexico to stop the arrivals of undocumented migrants, whom he has described as criminals. Trump has asserted that Mexico will pay for the wall. Mexico's President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has vowed that his country would not be threatened by a wall. Mexico is going to become a power -- and will change the balance of power. Nobody will threaten us that our borders will be closed or militarised," Lopez Obrador, who takes office December 1, had said. Meanwhile, the US-Mexico NAFTA talks resumed last month but without Canada after negotiations involving all three members of one of the world's largest trading blocs stalled in June. Both Mexico and Canada want to maintain a trilateral pact, while Trump has threatened to pull out and negotiate separate bilateral agreements. The negotiations stalled due to Trump's favour for a sunset clause in US trade agreements, requiring parties to renew them every five years. AGL Energys [ASX:AGL] share price has fallen a further 1.75% in trading today, despite better than expected profit results for the 2018 financial year. AGLs shares are currently trading at $20.74, down 15.48% since the beginning of the year. The energy retailer released its full year results for 2018 yesterday, revealing a net profit of $1.6 billion, up 194% from the previous year of $539 million. In addition, the companys full year dividend rose by 29%, to $1.17 per share. If AGLs FY18 results were so great, why did their share price drop? Despite the better than expected results for 2018, investors were not impressed by yesterdays announcement. With the companys 2019 guidance looking rather ordinary, concerns seem to be high for AGLs future earnings. The company stated that with power prices easing, earning momentum is slowing. Underlying profit after tax for 2019 is expected to be between $970 million and $1,070 million, including $120 million of cost cuts. While wholesale electricity prices have already begun to fall over the past 12 months, policy certainty is key to encouraging the additional generation supply that will place further downward pressure on prices and benefit consumers over time, said Andy Vesey, CEO of AGL. Free Report: Discover four red hot ASX profit plays for 2018. Read Now. What is AGL doing to ensure long-term success? Mr Vesey acknowledged that many Australian households are facing cost-of-living pressures as a result of higher energy bills and confirmed that AGL has plans to address the issue. We are investing to create new supply in the market. AGL and our partners are currently developing 1,215 megawatts of new generation capacity, representing investment of more than $2 billion, more than any other company in Australia. This includes Australias largest wind farm at Coopers Gap in Queensland, a new dual-fuel power station at Barker Inlet in South Australia and, in New South Wales, an expansion of our Bayswater coal-fired power station, development of a new gas-fired power station at Newcastle, and the Silverton Wind Farm. AGL also announced the launch of a hardship program to assist vulnerable customers, including $50 million of hardship debt relief and loyalty discounts for customers who have been with the company more than two years. There is no doubt that AGL is heading for some tough times ahead, however their approach to the situation is definitely admirable. Investors should really give them more credit. Regards, Matt Hibbard, For Money Morning PS: Youll find over 2,000 stock listed on the ASX and on any given day a bunch will rise or fall, just like AGL. Its near impossible to monitor these on your own. Our analyst Sam Volkering has picked out four Aussie stocks he believes could be top performers in 2018. Check out his free report The Four Best ASX Stocks for 2018. Australian Economic News Updates Enjoy a contrarian outlook on the Australian economy and how movements beyond our borders could affect your stocks, retirement fund or the value of your home. Go here for more. Daily Chinese Economy News Chinas economy has been a powerhouse in recent years. But times are a changing and China, for better or worse, is a subject of heated debate. Are there investment opportunities to be still had from China, and how will they affect your wealth at home? Find out here. US Economy News The US economy is drowning under the weight of its public and private debt. But is it too soon to call the end of this financial, military and political empire? Only time will tell. Either way, you need to make sure your investments are on the right side of the trade. Eurozone Economy The Eurozone is in a huge mess right now. Can it hold it together or will, one-by-one, member states leave the Euro and go at it on their own? More importantly, what consequences will this have for Australia and your investments? More on that here. Global Economy News Dont just follow the news on the global economy get an inside peek into whats happening in developed and emerging economies around the world and what it could mean for your investments. Go here for more. Unitatea Administrativ-Teritoriala Municipiul Galati anunta finalizarea proiectului cu titlul Cresterea performantei energetice a blocului de locuinte M, str. Albatros nr. 1 din Municipiul Galati, cod SMIS 122620, finantat prin Programului Operatio ... Bovine constiente in timpul sacrificarii, abatorizarea vacilor gestante cu extragerea fetusilor, sange prelevat pentru extragerea serului fetal. Un investigator de la L214, asociatie pentru apararea animalelor folosite ca resurse alimentare, s-a in ... Guvernul Ungariei le va cere angajatilor din institutiile de stat sa fie vaccinati impotriva COVID-19, dupa o crestere a numarului de contaminari, a anuntat joi seful de cabinet al premierului ungar Viktor Orban, Gergely Gulyas, informeaza Reuters. P ... Mostly Correct The costs of owning mutual funds/exchange-traded funds are well-specified. Auto manufacturers sticker cars with estimated fuel expenditures, and appliance dealers post anticipated energy consumption, but those are rough guesses. Actual expenses will vary widely by user. Whereas with funds, a shareholders costs can generally be determined precisely, multiplying the expense ratio by the investments size. Sometimes, however, the official numbers dont tell the complete story. This column discusses three exceptions: The Trump administration is cutting the staff of an agency created to guard against financial risks, according to a report by Reuters. A person familiar with the move told the publication that the Trump administration has informed around 40 employees at the Office of Financial Research (OFR) that they would be laid off. The cuts are part of a wider reorganization of the office that was established following the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Full-service company Gateway Mortgage Group has announced that it agreed to acquire more than 85% of the stock of Oklahoma-based Farmers Exchange Bank. The Stitt Family Trusts, which collectively own 100% of Gateway, entered the definitive stock purchase agreement. The trusts plan to merge the two entities following the acquisition. Gateway said the transaction will allow the resulting bank to offer clients a broader range of products while lowering costs for financial services. In addition to supporting the long-term growth of both institutions, the merger would also diversify the financial services offered to both mortgage and bank customers. With the Permian Basin oil patch operating at full speed, area residents don't always have time to actively support or oppose issues that affect their businesses or the industry. Enter the digital age, which will harness social media and other 21st century tools to allow residents to make their voices heard. "It's a digital advocacy campaign," said Steve Everley, who served as spokesman for the Texans For Natural Gas initiative. The Permian Action Team, which launched Friday with a website, is an outgrowth of the similar Texans for Natural Gas campaign, which advocated for natural gas development. "It stemmed from the growth and interest we saw from folks in West Texas," said Everley, who was in Midland this week shooting video and interviews for the site's Facebook page. Texans for Natural Gas arose amid efforts by the city of Denton to ban fracturing, he said. "Texans for Natural Gas gave an opportunity for North Texans to engage. They agreed proposed fracking bans were bad, but didn't have time to attend council meetings. They wanted a way to engage without taking time off work," he said. With the growth of oil and natural gas production from the Permian Basin and its growing importance in production not only statewide, nationwide but globally, Everley realized there was the need to give residents digital engagement tools so they can become involved in issues. "We have 1,000 in our database, most from West Texas, and 11,000 friends on Facebook," he said. "As we roll out the Permian Action Team, I expect we'll double that database by the end of August. The goal is to have 5,000 by the end of the year." The website will contain economic data related to the Permian Basin, including original research. Everley offered as an example details on how tax revenue paid by the industry funds education. Such information also will be available via Twitter and Facebook. "We want to offer specific numbers. Midland Independent School District receives $32 million from oil and gas property taxes. For one ISD, that's a big deal," he said. Specific numbers are more effective in advocacy efforts, he said. The site also will include links to allow visitors to contact lawmakers or sign online petitions. Everley said he expects participation with the action team to be organic, with some people willing to actually attend meetings where legislation is being discussed, and others participating from home via the website. "It's a willing group; they just need the tools," he said. A lot of individuals "do not work in the industry but realize its importance. There is a significance of the Permian Basin to the rest of the state that some may not appreciate," he said. "People here take pride how the Permian Basin is playing such a big role," Everley said. "When they see stories the Permian Basin is producing more oil than most members of OPEC, they take pride in that." To celebrate the new initiative, Texans for Natural Gas has launched the Permian Week digital campaign, which includes Permian Action Team-branded giveaways such as T-shirts and water bottles. To join the Permian Action Team, visit Permian.TexansforNaturalGas.com. A Houston company that pioneered the use of ocean bottom nodes is shifting its business focus to deliver data-processing services, reservoir analytics and integrated solutions as part of its life-of-field seismic services. As part of that shift, FairfieldNodal has become Fairfield Geotechnologies. Chuck Davison, Fairfield's chief executive officer, said the company also has a substantial multi-client database in the Permian Basin. "We've grown substantially over the last four years. The Permian has been good for us and we've had good returns," he said in a phone interview from his Houston office. Today's clients want more productivity, and to achieve that, they're turning to seismic data, data analytics and Big Data, he said. They're integrating seismic data to better understand reservoirs back to the fractures and using seismic input to better understand reservoir behavior, he said. "We're seeing a trend of operators using data to get up the learning curve faster, reducing risk, mitigating risk and lowering costs," he said. As part of its evolution, Fairfield Geo is not only building on its ocean bottom nodes technology but is growing its onshore Lower 48 capabilities through mergers and acquisitions and strategic partnerships, Davison said. Already, the company has acquired WGP and the U.S. multi-client data library of Geokinetics and has formed strategic partnerships with Schlumberger and Ikon Sciences; more are planned. Fairfield Geotechnologies continues to build on a comprehensive OBN technology portfolio and has embarked on an aggressive program to grow its capabilities through M&A and strategic partnerships, he said. Reflecting on the company's offshore roots, Davison said operators have learned a lot from their offshore operations that can be applied onshore. He said a lot that has been learned onshore can be applied offshore. The Delaware Basin, for example, "is a new development. It's what we call a greenfield development, a new play. Offshore is proven -- what we call brownfield development, where operators are optimizing recovery rates, water injection," he said. That leap up the learning curve and using data for life-of-field services is very applicable in West Texas, Davison said. "The reservoir lives are different. Companies investing $1 billion in an offshore field know it takes a 20- to 30-year step out to yield recovery. Onshore, the learning curve is faster. Life-of-field duration is much shorter. They go through the cycle in a shorter period of time." To accommodate the industry's focus on data to enhance efficiency, increase productivity and reduce costs, Davison said Fairfield Geo is continually making adjustments. "We're about portfolio optimization. We need a balanced portfolio to aggregate our risk. We continue to add things to our portfolio to increase our technology offerings," he said. "Our business strategy is: one, enhance our core business offerings; two, expand our business with new customers and new geographies; and third, extend our marketplace with acquisitions." He sees his company has being in the right place at the right time as data becomes more key to the oil patch, with companies applying data to more things to solve problems. He also sees artificial intelligence coming into significance as it's used increasingly in interpretation. Odessa Police Department An Odessa man who was arrested Wednesday after allegedly injuring a child faces a capital felony charge, according an Odessa Police Department press release. Marqalo Divonte Flores, 20, has been charged with capital murder in the death of a 2-year-old boy. Rage, disgust and frustration overcame Lisa Jackson when she learned about the extreme neglect of 91 dogs found in a filthy, flea-infested southern Illinois residence. Since that discovery was made Monday, Jackson, the founder and president of Protecting Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Jacksonville, and about 20 volunteers have worked tirelessly to help 46 of those dogs recover from their deplorable living conditions. Jackson explained how the rescue operation began. She received a call Monday night from Maureen Hayes with Montgomery County Paws Care, an animal rescue group in Hillsboro, about the animal neglect case. Maureen said she got a call from Franklin County Animal Control, which needed help with a large number of dogs that needed emergency placement, Jackson said. She said Paws Care volunteer Rennie Reynolds assisted Franklin County Animal Control in recovering 91 dogs, many of which were emaciated and all of which were flea-ridden. Several also had eye infections, among various other health issues. Jackson agreed to take some of the dogs. She was working her full-time job when she was notified that the first group of 27 dogs would arrive at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday at PAWS on West Walnut Street. I reached out to fellow volunteers to assist with intake and go to Franklin County to retrieve more, Jackson said. Once I arrived in Franklin County, it was heart-wrenching trying to decide which dogs to take when you only have so much space. I tried to choose the ones that were worse off and needed immediate medical attention. I chose blind ones, one with a tumor, one missing a paw, two moms with litters, and many of the black ones, as black animals always seem to be the last chosen. Jackson said the situation with the Franklin County dogs could have been avoided with spaying and neutering. She gives a lot of credit for the rescue to her volunteers and especially to veterinarian Dan Bergerud of Cass Veterinary Services and his staff. At closing time on Tuesday, Dan, Anna Coats and Madison Pinguey stayed at the Cass Veterinary office until after 10 p.m., spaying and neutering 30 dogs, Jackson said. Im grateful that they took time away from their family to assist with this overwhelming situation. Some of my volunteers are here at PAWS five days a week or more tending to the needs of countless animals, she said. They do the work out of love and compassion for animals. Jackson said most of the dogs from Franklin County need to socialize with people. I would love to see more volunteers come to PAWS and sit in the grass and show these dogs some love, she said. The last she knew, Franklin County Animal Control still has 30 dogs from Mondays rescue operation. At this time, PAWS does not have the ability and the resources to take on any more animals from this situation, Jackson said. Any other rescue groups that can pull dogs from Franklin County Animal Control or any individual who can adopt a dog, please do so. Greg Olson can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1224, or on Twitter @JCNews_Greg. Sinapi Aba becomes first savings and ... A business that received a beer license just a couple of months ago was cited to the Chattanooga Beer Board meeting Thursday for two different violations. During a bar check made jointly with the Chattanooga Police and Hamilton County Sheriffs officers on July 26 at Mikes Hole in the Wall, 535 Cherokee Blvd., a 20-year-old was found drinking beer in the bar area. He told the officer that he had not been asked for an ID while in the bar or when entering, although he later told the police he had used a fake ID. Attorney Buddy Presley, to prove the doorman did check the customers age, showed a surveillance video of him entering and being stopped. His position is that fake IDs are rampant and common, said Mr. Presley. He said that it is impossible to recognize every fake ID because some are becoming flawless. The inference that you are making is that the ID was false, said Beer Board member Trevor Atchley, when he said it could have been just misread. Additionally, no fake ID was discovered when the underage customer was confronted by the officers. The board sided with Mr. Presley and owner John McClellan and agreed to give the business a choice between a suspended license, a $1,500 fine or a one-day suspension of the beer license. The second infraction of the beer code at Mikes Hole in the Wall was for use of the premise that was unauthorized by the permit. Also on July 26 during the surprise bar check, a beer keg was found in an outdoor area blocked off only by parked cars. People were able to serve themselves. Customers got cups from the bartender who checked age and issued a wristband. A beer permit allows outside use in a permanent seating area that is blocked off and which is entered through the restaurant. Temporary use is also allowed on the premise, in a parking lot with a special temporary permit, said Assistant City Attorney Keith Reisman. This case involved mis-use, he said, because no one was controlling the keg and cups. The bar contended that two doormen were watching the keg so that somebody was controlling it. Mr. Presley also claimed there was no clear definition of premise in the beer code. Mikes Hole in the Wall was given the choice of a one-day suspension of its beer permit, to run concurrently with the first penalty, or to pay a $250 fine. The Southside Social, 1818 Chestnut St., was accused of allowing an employee to consume alcohol at the employee's place of employment, which is not allowed by the citys beer code. At 2:34 a.m. on July 15, Officer Jeffrey Buckner witnessed a collision on I-75. The driver who failed a sobriety test was wearing a t-shirt from Southside Social. She told police that she was a bartender there and had had four drinks before leaving work. She was arrested for DUI and, while being booked at the jail, she passed out, said the officer. Joshua Long, the general manager of the business, found out about the incident the next day and watched the surveillance video. He told the board that the employee had clocked out at 10:11 and left two minutes afterward, never returning. She had been hired two days before as a server in training and had not once been behind the bar. Its my contention that she lied to the police officer, said Mr. Long. Its possible that she was somewhere she wasnt supposed to be, so she lied about it, said board member Christopher Keene. Officer Buckners body cam recorded her statements along with the images. On the film, Vice Chairman of the Board James Hobbs noticed a blue wrist band on the waitress arm. The Southside Social does not use wrist bands. That led the board to believe she had been drinking somewhere else during the three hours between leaving work and the arrest. The board voted unanimously to dismiss the charge against the restaurant. Four special events were also given temporary beer permits. The Scenic City Mud Run sponsored by Road Runners Club of America will hold the eighth annual event on Sept. 1 from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at 5051 Gann Store Road at Greenway Farms. Beer has been donated from several sources for the event, said John Nevans. Proceeds will go to the Southeast Veterans Coalition. Ferguson Fire Night Ops Along Hwy 41 View Photos Update at 8:45 p.m.: Fire crews are keeping the Ferguson Fire in check as the acreage remains at 95,444 acres while the containment increased slightly to 82-percent. Incident Commands indicate that the main focus today was the Elephant Rock and Badger Pass areas. They detail that firefighters installed an extensive sprinkler system at the base of rock to reinforce the hand line already in place. A timeline of Ferguson Fire news stories is here. As temperatures rose this afternoon, so did the fires activity along the service road near Chinquapin. Several small spot fires broke out but air support helped ground crews contain them and some flames that went beyond the planned fire line. Tonights strategy is to continue burning operations as soon as the humidity rises. Further details on areas opening to the public this weekend can be viewed below and click here for details an earlier story regarding the reopening of main attractions in Yosemite next week. Update at 1:52pm: No longer under Ferguson Fire impacts some recreational areas along the Merced River are back open today. According to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mother Lode Field Office officials, McCabe Flat, Willow Placer and Railroad Flat campgrounds are back open. The Briceburg Visitor Center will reopen on Friday, Aug. 17 and remain so through Labor Day weekend, they add. While Highway 140 through the river canyon corridor from Briceburg to the Yosemite National Park is open to the public, travelers should remain aware that due to emergency equipment still in the area, speed limits may be reduced. On July 15, the BLM temporarily closed the Merced River Recreation Area due to the areas proximity to the wildfire, which currently stands at 95,444 acres and 80 percent contained. It should also be noted that BLM Mother Lode Field Office managed public lands in 14 counties throughout the Sierra Nevada foothills still remain under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which until they are lifted, prohibit recreational target shooting and campfires. Update at 9:10am: Thanks to continued containment of the Ferguson Fire, the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office has now lifted the evacuation advisories for the areas east of Cherry Lake Road and west of Crane Flat Road. This includes Camp Mather, Rush Creek Lodge, Evergreen Lodge, Spinning Wheel and Yosemite Lake/Thousand Trails Campground, Sawmill Mountain, Camp Tawonga, Peach Growers and Berkeley Camp. Original story posted at 7:35am: Yosemite, CA The acreage edged up slightly and the containment held steady through the night on the Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County. This morning it is 95,444 acres and 80-percent contained. Over 1,500 firefighters remain assigned this morning, but the number will likely continue to drop over the coming days and weeks. There are 104 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 14 crews and 17 dozers. Over the coming days crews will continue to work on burning containment lines along Wawona Road in the Grouse Creek drainage. Yosemite Valley is expected to remain closed to visitors through this weekend. However, park staff and residents were allowed to return on Wednesday. Highway 120 is open through Yosemite, but there is no access to the valley. Highway 140 is closed east of the entrance gate and Wawona Road is only open to locals going to and from their residences. Update at 8:20 pm.: The flames of the Donnell Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest crept closer toward Kennedy Meadows Friday, but it was a good day for aircraft battling the blaze, according to Incident Command. Both the acreage and conatinment held steady at 23,824 acres and five-percent containment. Spokesperson Maria Benech reports there was not a lot of fire activity today, but pointed out, We did have movement mainly on the eastside moving within two miles of Kennedy Meadows. So, it is creeping down Highway 108. There was also more activity in the northeast side in those canyons out of Clark Fork. Benech also noted that there were two half acre spot fires south of 5N01, the Eagle Meadow Road, but those were quickly extinguished by ground crews. Aircraft was able to attack the fire all day. They were aided by a local snow park, which has set up a retardant station. More details on that can be viewed below along with other fire details. Update at 6:30 p.m.: The Leland High Sierra Snowplay park has been enlisted in the battle against the Donnell Fire on the Stanislaus National Forest. As pictures and a video shows in the image box, the grounds are being use as a retardant mix and distribution site. The Leland Reservoir supplies the water to mix the powdered retardant, which is poured in to a huge tank that helicopters are able to fly over and suck up the pink liquid. Park officials say they gladly entered into an agreement with the Central Coast Incident Management Team a few days ago to use the park as a retardant mix site for helicopter operations. Large pallets of retardant powder are stacked in the parking lot. Park officials relay that Leland Meadows is in a great position for the helicopters to quickly return to the fire and help protect structures and slow the flames. They eagerly share, We are thrilled to have these crews working in our front yard! Update at 10:05am: Last night crews battling the Donnell Fire continued structure protection along Highway 108 including backfiring operations east of Douglas tract and around Baker Station. A team also worked around the famous Bennett Juniper, building containment lines and added protection. High winds projected today create the potential for rapid fire growth. Yesterday air support dropped 42,000 gallons of retardant. Fix wing aircraft and helicopter support will continue today. While we reported earlier that Spicer reservoir is closed for recreational use, the campgrounds around it are open. The Pacific Crest Trail remains closed between Highway 108 and Highway 4. 643 firefighters are now assigned to the incident. 220 structures are threatened. 55 major structures have been destroyed, along with 81 outbuildings. Also yesterday, Congressman Tom McClintock made a stop at base camp to hear an update on the fire fight. The latest size estimate remains 23,824 and there is 5-percent containment. Original story at 9am: Tuolumne County, CA More areas are becoming off-limits due to the 23,824 acre Donnell Fire burning in the Stanislaus National Forest. This morning the US Forest Service issued an order closing the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness and Spicer Lake. The fire is considered 5-percent contained. We expect to have more information about the current strategies and the fires direction following the morning briefing at base camp. The mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for the Highway 108 corridor between Eagle Meadow and Kennedy Meadows. The advisory evacuation notice is still in place for the Mill Creek and Cascade Campgrounds. Well pass along more information as it becomes available. Amid a flurry of announcements this summer boasting plans for new luxury apartments downtown, a local nonprofit recently closed on the sale of two properties it plans to convert into affordable downtown housing. The Alamo Community Group acquired land at the corner of North St. Mary's Street and Jones Street on Aug. 2, according to Michael Shackelford, a spokesperson for the nonprofit. The group intends to build a five-story, 94-unit apartment complex there with an projected July 2020 finish date. "This project is going to be transformational for the affordable housing market, especially considering that many properties that were once affordable are being bought and converted to market rate housing and forcing families and individuals out of their communities," Jennifer Gonzalez, executive director of the Alamo Community Group, said in a news release. Only eight of the apartments will be market rate, with rent costing an estimated $830 monthly for studios and $1,455 for two-bedroom units, Shackelford said. RELATED: NRP planning apartment complex on San Pedro Creek The remaining 86 will be affordable housing for low-income families and individuals. Prices will tentatively range from $333 to $858 per month, according to Shackelford. These will be limited to those making less than 60 percent of the area's median income, which for a family in Bexar County would be about $31,800. The apartments are intended to attract working individuals and families looking to work and live downtown. The acquisition came shortly after the Alamo Community Group was awarded federal tax credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affair, which enabled the purchase and development of the building, which is called Museum Reach. The exact monetary value of those tax credits has not yet been determined, Shackelford said, but the recommended award was $1.16 million, according to the department's website. Though the Group is still determining specific amenities, there are plans for a learning center, which will be professionally-staffed by a resident coordinator that offers free programs to residents and guests. Residents will also have access to a computer lab and public space, according to Shackelford. Demolition and land clean-up of the $17-million project is scheduled to begin January 2019, Shackelford said. Other recent housing developments downtown include luxury apartments at the River Walk, a 13-story apartment tower downtown and a long-awaited luxury 17-story apartment complex on the River Walk. S. M. Chavey is a staff writer for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here. | sarah.chavey@express-news.net | 210-250-3122 | Twitter: @smchavey Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has agreed to temporarily allow cattle fever tick spray boxes after his decision to halt their use drew outcry from the states leading cattle industry group and the Texas Farm Bureau. Miller on Thursday said ranchers could resume use for 45 days while he worked with federal and state agencies to make sure the boxes were better ventilated. Miller during a visit to a South Texas ranch last week shut down the states 16 spray box operations, saying hed gotten complaints of cattle dying from overexposure to Co-Ral, a Texas Department of Agriculture-regulated pesticide manufactured by Bayer-Monsanto. Miller said the insecticide was being administered at seven times the recommended rate by Texas Animal and Health Commission personnel not authorized to apply the chemical. He said only officials with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service were authorized to use the treatment and none were on the premises. Reaction was swift and loud, as cattle producers who have for years been battling a resurgence of the tick said the boxes had been in operation since the 1970s with no evidence that they killed cattle. Since the boxes can be trailered, they are a preferred treatment for ranchers who would otherwise have to haul their cattle to distant dipping vats. The tick carries a disease known as bovine babesiosis, which destroys red blood cells resulting in cattle anemia, fever and death. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it spread north with longhorn cattle drives and nearly wiped out the U.S. cattle herd. The pest was declared eradicated from the U.S. in 1943, save for a narrow quarantine zone hugging the Texas-Mexico border as the ticks have been known to cross the Rio Grande from Mexico. But in recent years the ticks have increasingly been making their way into the Texas interior, forcing the cattle industry to double down on efforts to contain it. According to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, there are now nearly 1.4 million acres under some level of quarantine, compared to what had been 226,803 acres in the permanent quarantine area. Following the backlash, Miller called a meeting of the producers groups along with the Texas Animal Health Commision the Environmental Protection Agency and APHIS. He said it was to resolve the issue so Texas cattle ranchers can back to business. The meeting was Tuesday. I appreciate the quick and professional response from USDA Undersecretary (Greg) Ibach and I look forward to working with him to find a more permanent solution to this issue, Miller said in a news release. I also appreciate the patience and input of our friends in the Texas cattle industry. I sincerely hope together we can find that solution that will protect Texas cattle, serve the public interest and strengthen the position of the Texas beef industry as a world leader. TCRA President Robert McKnight, Jr. and Texas Farm Bureau spokesman Gene Hall said ranchers applaud the decision. We are pleased to report that as a result of that meeting and further collaboration with state and federal agencies, a compromise has been reached that will allow the spray boxes to reopen temporarily, McKnight said. This crucial step will allow Texas cattle raisers to continue to protect and care for their livestock and prevent the spread of cattle fever ticks while a permanent solution is implemented. It is regarded as a short-term solution while working on a long-term agreement, Hall said. This solution will allow Texas cattlemen and women to care for their livestock and prevent the spread of fever ticks until a permanent solution can be implemented. lbrezosky@express-news.net U.S. Air Force Fairfax, Va.-based Information Technology company Salient CRGT has been awarded a $6.4 million subcontract to help weapon systems operations and maintenance at Joint Base San Antonio, the company said in a news release. Salient will be partnering with Falls Church, Va.-based Centech Group, the lead contractor, to provide weapon system services to the cryptologic and cybersystems division of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Legendary San Antonio banker Tom C. Frost Jr. has died. He was 90. Frost, chairman emeritus of Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., the holding company for Frost Bank, which his great-grandfather started 150 years ago, had been in the hospital after suffering a stroke July 13. His death was confirmed by the bank Friday. Frost was one of the most influential men in San Antonio and South Texas. He was at the helm of Frost Bank for 35 years before he retired in 1997. Tom Frosts impact on our company, and in San Antonio in general, cant be overstated, Cullen/Frost Chairman and CEO Phil Green said in a statement. His leadership guided Frost Bank through times of rapid growth, expansion into other markets and its transition to a publicly traded company. He had the vision and courage to oversee a leadership transition, and became chairman emeritus when the first CEO from outside the Frost family took over. REMEMBERING A CHURCH LEADER: Memorial service held for San Antonio couple killed in head-on collision In San Antonio, Tom Frost was an integral part of every community development from the medical center, HemisFair 68 and bringing the Spurs here through the citys Tricentennial. Green added. Frost celebrates its own 150th anniversary this year. Companies dont last that long without great leadership, Green said. They also dont last that long without a culture that emphasizes long-term relationships with customers, something that came from Tom Frost. He wrote our mission statement, which still guides us: We will grow and prosper building long-term relationships based on top quality service, high ethical standards and safe, sound assets. Don Frost told the San Antonio Express-News last month that his father had suffered a bleeding stroke at home. Such a stroke involves a ruptured blood vessel that causes bleeding inside the brain. The elder Frost had undergone high-risk surgery to remove pressure on the brain, Don Frost said. The family had been anticipating he would make a recovery. For more about Frost, click here to go to ExpressNews.com or check Saturdays edition. Patrick Danner is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD Adapted from a recent online discussion. Dear Carolyn: I have this friend who lives close but I haven't seen in months. No one in our group of friends has seen her recently. Every time we make plans, she cancels, saying she is too sad or has been crying all day. I'm really worried. She moved here more than a year ago to be closer to people she knows but has been unable to get out of the apartment consistently. We live in a big city, there's lots to do. But it all seems to scare her. I've mentioned therapy but she doesn't want to go. And I don't know how hard to push her to see a professional. I don't know whether to just drop by her place and say hi, or if she is looking for me to insist she come out when she cancels. Sometimes I think maybe I'm being dense and she is ghosting me, but our other friends are having the same experience. What is the best way to help her? -- Friends? She sounds dangerously depressed. If her family isn't part of the problem, then please tip them off as soon as possible to what you've experienced with her lately. Also, yes, drop by her apartment. Be prepared to be rebuffed -- but also be prepared to make an appointment for her to get medical attention, and to take her to that appointment yourself. An internist or general practitioner is often more accessible than a therapist, so start there if that's what it comes to. Depression can be paralyzing and sometimes it takes someone willing to walk her to a source of help, literally. And: Rally your group of friends to reach out to her in a non-intrusive way on a daily basis.Coordinate it as you would visits to a person in the hospital. Whether it's to leave a voicemail, send a text, post something where you know she's likely to see it, make sure it's a reminder that you care and it doesn't come with any obligation for her to do anything. So, for example, send/post a photo of something: "Hey, I just saw this and I thought of you. Miss you! No need to write back." These little lifelines push back against the voices of depression. Depression tells people they're unlovable, that no one cares, that no one would miss them if they were gone -- all kinds of awful lies that feed and deepen the depression. Friends who check in and ask nothing are an essential counterargument that your friend probably needs to hear. Read "Hyperbole and a Half" by Allie Brosh to understand that aspect of depression. She really nails it. Columnist Carolyn Hax dishes out advice daily. Email Carolyn at Read the Email Carolyn at tellme@washpost.com , follow her on Facebook or chat with her online at noon Eastern time each Friday at www.washingtonpost.com Read the daily Carolyn Hax columns at https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/advice/ Re: Depression: I called friends crying while I was depressed, and they turned around from their drive to upstate New York and came to me in D.C. I actually rallied to make dinner that night (but didn't have to leave my house!). It's been almost 10 years and I remember that like it was yesterday. If they had asked me if they could come, I might have said no, but they said, "We are coming," and it's probably the brightest moment in the time I was depressed by far. -- Please Drop In On this date in ... 1918: Andrew Keefe, 24, a waiter at Goldsmith's Restaurant in Albany right up until he left for Fort Slocum with other drafted men, fell from the rear platform of the train taking him to the fort, fracturing his skull. Conflicting reports said he was either on the platform smoking and a sudden jerk of the train caused him to fall, or he was roughhousing with other men and one shoved him off the train. He was rushed to the nearby Ossining Hospital and an emergency surgery was performed. He regained consciousness close to 9 p.m. and told hospital officials where to contact his wife and a telegram was sent, but he died at 10:45 p.m., 15 minutes before the message reached Mrs. Keefe. 1968: The Civil Service Employees Association charged the State Thruway Authority with "hiding behind the skirts of the Taylor Law" in not recognizing CSEA as the bargaining agent for Thruway authorities. The Taylor Law guaranteed municipal employees the right to organize for collective bargaining on wages and other matters. CSEA was one of four organizations seeking to represent 2,100 Thruway employees. The three others were Local 1090 of Council 50, AFL-CIO; Local 806 of the Brotherhood of Bridge Painters, AFL-CIO; and Local 456 of the Teamsters' Union. 1993: A Mohawk Indian fired as a state prison guard for refusing to cut his waist-length hair should be reinstated and allowed to wear his long locks, a state court ruled. State Department of Correctional Services officials said they would appeal the ruling, blocking Raymond Rourke's immediate return to work. A guard at Riverview Correctional Facility in Ogdensburg, Rourke was suspended indefinitely without pay on Sept. 25 for violating guard grooming regulations. Rourke, a traditionalist Mohawk living in Hogansburg on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, claimed that cutting his hair would violate a religious custom associated with the Mohawk Longhouse. Want to read more about the Capital Region's past? Have any memories or thoughts about how our history relates to today's events? See http://blog.timesunion.com/history/. School supplies have been bought, new clothes picked out, and despite a few stress-fueled arguments, most parents are geared up and ready to send their kids back to school. More for you Send your kids back to school with the right safety supplies The rules at home might be clearly laid out, but as the school year starts, Texas police want to make sure everyone not just parents, students, and teachers know the rules of the road. 3 1 of 3 Google Maps Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Google Show More Show Less 3 of 3 An elderly woman who was stabbed in Galveston this week died in the hospital Thursday, police said. Donna Brown, 79, was stabbed Sunday in the 1800 block of 33rd Street. She was preparing for an afternoon support group meeting, according to KTRK. Comstock Gov. Andrew Cuomo says several prisoners suffered minor injuries and no guards were hurt when a gang fight broke out at a 1,400-inmate maximum-security prison in New York near the Vermont border. Following a news conference in Manhattan on Thursday, Cuomo went to the Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Comstock, in Washington County 60 miles northeast of Albany. During a news conference at the prison, officials said 20 to 25 inmates were involved with a fight Wednesday in the facility's yard. Authorities say guards broke up the fight but the prison was placed in lockdown after two other unspecified incidents Thursday morning. Cuomo said several state prisons have placed their populations in lockdown this year and officials are looking into ways to improve safety for inmates and staff. Associated Press CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, told Iowa Democrats on Friday that Democrats are seeking a "fighter" who will take on President Donald Trump - and that they should look no further than himself. "What I fear for this Democratic Party that I love is that we have a tendency to bring nail clippers to gunfights," Avenatti said at the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding, an annual party fundraiser. "When they go low, I say: We hit harder." In his first steps toward exploring a potential 2020 presidential bid, Avenatti toured the Iowa State Fair, met with voters and did interview after interview to explain how serious he is. "I've been very humbled by the positive reception I've received in Iowa," he said in an interview. "It's actually surpassed my expectations. There's been a number of conversations where people tell me I should keep doing what I'm doing, and that I should run." Avenatti is representing Daniels, whose given name is Stephanie Clifford, in her lawsuit to void a nondisclosure agreement she signed in 2016 that prevented her from speaking about an alleged affair she had with Trump in exchange for $130,000. Daniels argues that the deal is invalid because Trump, who denies the affair, never signed it. The legal battle has made Avenatti a celebrity on Twitter and cable news. Avenatti has previously said the "number one question" facing Democrats in choosing a 2020 nominee is whether that person can beat Trump, and in an interview with the Des Moines Register on Thursday, he touted his role as one of the president's most persistent and public critics. "I think there's a huge appetite within the party for a fighter," he said, sketching out a potential campaign for the first time. "I think the party has yearned for a fighter - a fighter for good, if you will - for a significant period of time. And for many, I'm probably seen as that individual." Avenatti told the paper that he is testing the presidential waters and that he decided to visit Iowa to listen to voters and to "do my homework" on the issues they care about most. In an interview with The Washington Post, he said that he is a "strong supporter of universal Medicare for all," but that he will be studying up on some of the other policies that are coming up on the trail, such as last year's tax cut legislation and the president's tariffs on foreign goods. "Over the years, I've developed the ability to digest a lot of information over a short period of time," Avenatti said. "I'm reading up on a number of issues. I'm meeting up with people who have far more experience with them than I have or will ever have. Rather than telling people what they want to hear, I'm asking them what they need." Eighteen months before Iowans gather for presidential caucuses, plenty of Democrats are having the same conversations. Avenatti was joined at the Wing Ding by Rep. John Delaney, Md., and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, both of whom began presidential campaigns last year; Delaney was set to finish his tour of all 99 Iowa counties on Sunday. Americans "want their elected officials to do their job, make their lives and their futures more secure and prosperous," said Delaney. "People have told me that the opposite of Donald Trump is an Asian man who likes math," said Yang, who is running on a promise to pay a universal basic income, referring to himself. Rep. Tim Ryan, Ohio, also stopped by the Surf Ballroom on Friday, while Rep. Eric Swalwell, Calif., Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, former Housing and Urban Development secretary Julian Castro, and billionaire Tom Steyer had plans to visit the Iowa State Fair. None are considered front-runners by party insiders, but few of the party's biggest names have made trips to Iowa. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., who narrowly lost the 2016 Democratic caucuses, has traveled to the state to sign books to support a congressional candidate who lost his primary. Sen. Amy Klobuchar , Minn., who is up for reelection this year, has given two speeches in the state. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mass., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, N.Y., who are also on the ballot this year in their states, have not visited Iowa; former vice president Joe Biden's recent long book tour did not come to the state. "I'm not that excited about the people I've heard about running," Jim Green, 50, a city employee in Cedar Rapids, said as he waited for the speeches to begin. Iowa Democrats, who are optimistic about winning back the governor's mansion and two seats in Congress, have been slow to focus on the 2020 race. At the start of the night, a book signed by 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry fetched just $40. As the names of the Wing Ding's speakers were read, the applause was mild - until the audience heard "Michael Avenatti." Onstage, in front of a massive American flag, Avenatti sounded every bit a candidate. He described how Trump's "disastrous approach to trade" had hurt Iowa and said that his deregulation agenda would lead to "slimy rivers and filthy air." He argued that Democrats could win back Trump voters, because "decent people get conned all the time." He also informed the audience that he was born "not far from here, in Missouri," and lived the American Dream, the one that Democrats could offer voters if they picked the right candidate. "In the eternal battle of David versus Goliath, we are the party of Davids," he said. "And when you are the party of Davids, you cannot afford to show up without a slingshot." --- The Washington Post's Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Maryland Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous is demanding that television stations in the Baltimore media market take down an advertisement by the Republican Governors Association that labels him a socialist, arguing that the ad is "blatantly false and misleading." John Temple Jr., an attorney for the Friends of Ben Jealous campaign, sent a letter to WJZ, WMAR, WBFF and WBAL on Thursday saying that the stations "should cease airing this false advertisement immediately" to remain compliant with Federal Communications Commission licensing requirements. "It is unmistakable that the Republican Governors Association advertisement is both outright false and misleading to your viewers," Temple's letter said. "The Republican Governors Association in this advertisement uses selective editing techniques to make the false claim that Mr. Jealous is a socialist, despite clear and repeated evidence to the contrary." None of the television stations immediately returned a call seeking comment. The advertisement, titled "Too Extreme," is one of several RGA spots attacking Jealous that have aired since last month in Baltimore and its suburbs, a region that will play a critical role in Jealous's bid to unseat Gov. Larry Hogan, R. Neither the Jealous campaign, which has about $8 million less than Hogan, according to the most recent campaign finance reports, nor the Democratic Governors Association, has aired ads in the general election campaign. The RGA ad uses a portion of a comment Jealous made during an appearance on MSNBC the day after his primary win in which he said: "Go ahead, call me a socialist. That doesn't change the fact I'm a venture capitalist." Jealous has never called himself a socialist, but the ad only quotes the first part of his statement: "Go ahead, call me a socialist." Earlier this week, he dismissed the criticism as "name calling" and cited past examples of the term being used to discredit African-American leaders. He also drew headlines for using profanity to deny that he was a socialist. The RGA is standing by its ad. "The request from Ben Jealous fails to point to a single sentence, clause, phrase or word in the advertisement that is false," spokesperson Jon Thompson said in an email. "Furthermore, Ben Jealous' words are his own words." It all started with a Slate piece that expressed annoyance over people who brand President Donald Trump's recent Supreme Court nominee a "nice guy." University of Chicago law professor Todd Henderson was annoyed, too, but for a different reason. He said he believed that many held a double standard for their annoyance with conservative's fondness with Brett Kavanaugh's backstory. Justice Sonia Sotomayor's backstory - her race and ethnicity - also played a role in her nomination and confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court, he said. The left in 2009 praised Sotomayor's backstory. The right did it now with Kavanaugh. What's the difference? So he tweeted. "I'm old enough to remember when a second-class intellect like Sotomayor got onto the Court because her Latinaness gave us insight into her soul," Henderson said, later apologizing for the impression his words left. He told The Washington Post that though he disagrees with Sotomayor's judicial opinions, he supported her 2009 nomination. "My point was merely that she nominated based more on her backstory than on the quality of her judicial opinions," Henderson wrote in an email. "This means to me that Judge Kavanaugh's backstory, although very different, might be relevant, too. If how people experience life or act outside of the written page is relevant, then it should not just be ethnicity and race, but other things as well." His perspective was not appreciated by the users who inundated his mentions with angry tweets. "What qualifies you to decide Sotomayor is a second class intellect," someone tweeted. "You literally just said Sotomayor got her job because she's a minority. Racist." said another. "Or perhaps you are allowing bias to enter your analysis with a touch of racist??" a user said. Users noted both Henderson and Sotomayor attended Princeton University, though she graduated with higher honors. "Twitter is a terrible place to make an arguments," Henderson said, adding he has no plans to reactivate his Twitter account. "I welcome debate, but not uncharitable vitriol." Henderson told The Washington Post that his outlook on the matter is subjective and that his views on Sotomayor's qualifications are held by others. Sotomayor, who did not respond to a request for comment, was nominated by former President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate to the U.S. Supreme Court with a two-thirds majority in 2009. University spokesman Marielle Sainvilus told The Post in a statement that the institution is "deeply committed to the values of academic freedom and the free expression of ideas" and that it "does not limit the comments of faculty members nor mandate apologies for such comments, unless there has been a violation of University policy or the law." Henderson was criticized on campus earlier this year after supporting the Edmund Burke Society's right to free speech. The society said America allowed "foreign bodies to enter is inviting disease into the body politic." Henderson in the Chicago Maroon said that he detests the language the group used but that the "best way to counter speech I disagree with is to speak against it." "Isn't debating ideas that make us uncomfortable why we are all at the University of Chicago?" FLYNN TOWNSHIP A rollover accident lead to a 24-year-old man being turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol after local deputies learned he was in the country illegally, according to the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office. Shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sanilac Central Dispatch received a report of a single vehicle rollover accident on Juhl Road near Aitken Road in Flynn Township. WASHINGTON - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Friday against those who try to "bully" his country, as an announcement by President Donald Trump imposing new tariffs on Turkey sent the Turkish currency into a free fall. "The language of threats and blackmail cannot be used against this nation," Erdogan said in apparent response to Trump's early-morning tweet saying he was doubling existing U.S. import levies on Turkish steel and aluminum. "Those who assume they can bring us to our knees through economic manipulations don't know our nation at all," he said, without directly mentioning Trump or the tariffs. But the U.S. announcement quickly sent the value of the Turkish lira, already under severe strain, to a record low against the U.S. dollar. The currency crisis has fueled growing concerns in the international financial community and among investors about the health of the Turkish economy. Relations between the two NATO allies were already in a downward spiral over a host of issues, including Syria policy, weapons purchases and the fallout from a 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan. And there were immediate signs Friday that Russia could try to exploit the latest row between the United States and Turkey, a country where the U.S. military maintains a critical air base for operations in the Middle East. Trump's willingness to ratchet up the financial pain on Turkey followed an unsuccessful effort this week to resolve the ongoing dispute between the two countries over Andrew Brunson, an American pastor held on charges that include espionage and trying to overthrow the government. In an op-ed published online by the New York Times late Friday, Erdogan recounted Turkey's grievances with the United States, and called on it to "give up this misguided notion that our relationship can be asymmetrical." "Failure to reverse this trend of unilateralism and disrespect," he wrote, "will require us to start looking for new friends and allies." The Brunson case is far from the only issue between Washington and Ankara. Turkey has demanded the extradition of a Turkish cleric living in Pennsylvania who it charges was the mastermind of a 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan. It also wants the release of a Turkish banker convicted here this year as part of an ongoing U.S. federal investigation of alleged violations of oil sanctions against Iran by a Turkish state bank. A high-level Turkish delegation that met here this week with Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan anticipated trading Brunson for Hakan Atilla, the convicted banker. But the meeting apparently was cut short when the U.S. side demanded the immediate and unilateral release of Brunson, whose case has become a cause celebre in Congress and among evangelical Christians, who are an important part of Trump's political base. At the same time, Congress has passed legislation preventing the export of 100 F-35 jets, purchased by Turkey in a co-production agreement, unless Ankara releases Brunson and drops a deal to buy a sophisticated Russian air defense system. As Turkey becomes increasingly estranged from the United States, it has solidified relations with Russia, particularly between Erdogan and President Vladimir Putin. The two spoke on the telephone Friday morning soon after Trump's tariff announcement. After the call, Erdogan hailed Turkey's economic ties with Russia, saying that "these contacts make us stronger." Trump first threatened Turkey over the Brunson case in July, when he tweeted that "the United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson, a great Christian, family man and wonderful human being. He is suffering greatly. This innocent man of faith should be released immediately!" On Aug. 1, the United States imposed sanctions on two Turkish cabinet ministers. In announcing the new measures, in a Twitter post Friday morning, Trump noted the slide of the Turkish currency "against our very strong Dollar." Relations with Turkey, he wrote "are not good at this time." The White House later said the tariff increases, to 20 percent for aluminum and 50 percent for steel, were unrelated to "negotiations on trade and any other matter" and were being increased under provisions for response to threats "to impair national security." Earlier this year, Trump imposed tariffs of 10 percent on aluminum imports and 25 percent on steel to combat the effects of subsidized Chinese steel production on global markets. To prevent Chinese companies from routing steel shipments through third countries, the administration also applied the import taxes to a number of U.S. allies, including Turkey, under the same provision of U.S. trade law, which declared that relying on foreign metals poses a risk to national security. The levies have been applied to a range of U.S. allies, including Japan, Canada and members of the European Union. Experts on Turkish politics have long compared the styles of Trump and Erdogan as divisive leaders, and the two have previously declared their admiration for each other. But the same stubbornness that appears to drive Trump to take actions is likely to cause Erdogan to dig in his heels. Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish research program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, predicted that Erdogan's response to the new tariffs "will be perhaps completely opposite to what the United States wants to achieve." "Erdogan has built a conservative base that loves him but has also demonized and brutalized the demographic that is unlikely to vote for him," Cagaptay said. "He is going to cast sanctions as an economic attack on Turkey . . . and on his mission to make Turkey great and make Muslims proud again." After stalling in the aftermath of a failed 2016 coup attempt, the Turkish economy rebounded last year and has been growing at an annual rate of more than 7 percent. But the prognosis for long-term economic health is not optimistic, and aggressive state efforts to fuel growth under Erdogan's strongman rule are on a collision course with economic imperatives. After a ramping up of spending, eased banking regulations and extended state guarantees for corporate borrowing, foreign investors poured money into the country, helping to drive the stock market nearly two-thirds higher. Turkish banks, meanwhile, increasingly gambled by borrowing short-term funds overseas to fund their growing domestic lending, a profitable trade until investors soured on the country's prospects and the lira began sinking in May. The result has been a vicious cycle of collapsing confidence driving the currency down and pushing the government to change course or seek international help - something it so far is resisting. Alarmed at the prospect that Turkey will face trouble financing its trade and budget deficits - and with rising U.S. interest rates offering better returns elsewhere - investors now are fleeing. The lira fell 14 percent Friday, accentuating a decline that began earlier this year. "Everybody runs for the doors at the same time," said Andrew Kenningham, chief global economist for Capital Economics in London. Turkey had already been hit hard by the global U.S. tariffs that Trump imposed in March. The United States is the Turkish steel industry's top customer, with mills last year selling nearly 11 percent of their exports, particularly reinforcing bars used in construction, to American buyers. So far this year, the value of Turkey's shipments to the United States are down 49 percent, according to the International Trade Administration. In March, the International Monetary Fund warned that the Turkish economy was "showing clear signs of overheating" amid overly loose monetary policy. Prices are rising at an annual rate of nearly 16 percent. But under a new constitution that gave him expanded power, Erdogan has sole authority over naming central bank officials, and he has insisted on keeping rates low. In July, Erdogan appointed his son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, minister of finance, replacing a former Merrill Lynch executive who had investors' confidence. "The people in charge in Ankara don't know what they're doing," said economist Jacob Funk Kirkegaard of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Rodriguez Elementary School will close at the end of the coming school year after failing to meet state accountability standards for the fifth year in a row, according to San Antonio ISD officials. According to a statement from the district, students' parents were informed last spring of possible consequences under House Bill 1842 if a school received four or more consecutive "improvement required" ratings. The decision to close the school came after consulting with the state and Texas Education Agency. RELATED: With school starting this month, San Antonio-area schools look to fill more than 1,000 positions "Though academic progress was made at Rodriguez over the last year, it was not enough for the school to move out of the Improvement Required status," the statement said. Officials said district administrators met with school employees earlier this week and will work with parents this fall on options for the 2019-2020 school years. "Ultimately, SAISD wants to open another school at this location, and will be meeting with the Rodriguez community to determine the best model for a new school and play for that development," officials said. San Antonio Independent School District officials are confident the Texas Education Agency will give their district a grade of C when state accountability results are released Wednesday up from the F that Superintendent Pedro Martinez predicted last year they would earn if no improvements were made. Despite that advance, Rodriguez Elementary will fail for the fifth consecutive year, precipitating the schools closure for the 2019-2020 school year, according to the school districts calculations, based largely on standardized test scores. And Stewart Elementary is expected to pass, although SAISD has already implemented a controversial partnership with an out-of-state charter network intended to save the school if it failed this year. I think parents are seeing the schools are getting better, Martinez told the Express-News editorial board recently. Under a law taking effect this summer for the first time, a schools fifth consecutive failure requires the state education commissioner to order the school closed or appoint a board of managers to take over the district. From last school years data, SAISD expects Tafolla Middle and Miller Elementary will pass, saving them from closure. Rodriguez, however, did not make the cut, missing the states target for student growth by 1.5 percentage points, Martinez said. RELATED: State: 'Improvement required' at 31 schools in Bexar County in 2017 The school fell short despite making gains in reading, math and science, according to a letter Principal Beth Brady sent Wednesday to parents. Deanna Hernandez, her brother and her parents all attended the West Side school. Now she lives a block away from Rodriguez, which her three daughters attend. Hernandez received Bradys letter Friday, just before the family left for meet-the-teacher night. Hernandezs husband, LB Belmares, works nights and spends days volunteering at Rodriguez. The whole family said they were disappointed the school would close. The oldest daughter, Aubrie Belmares, who starts the third grade Monday, spoke fondly of her second-grade teacher, Mrs. Cutter. She was always fun with us, Aubrie said. The district intends to open a new school in the building for the 2020-21 school year. We would have done anything, Belmares said. Had they said we need so-and-so to stay open, we wouldve done it. Officials said district administrators met with school employees earlier this week and will work with parents this fall on options for the 2019-2020 school year. In addition to taking questions at Fridays meet-the-teacher event, administrators will meet with parents at the schools open house later this month. Rodriguez families will be given priority for the districts magnet schools, and transportation to other schools will be provided, Martinez said, but families who want their children to stay in the West Side neighborhood could defect to KIPP or Jubilee charter schools. SAISD will to hold a series of community meetings this fall to plan Rodriguezs reopening after one year of closure, said Leslie Price, school district spokeswoman. Parents will be asked what kind of educational model they would like to see at Rodriguez, such as dual language, Montessori or International Baccalaureate, Price said. To learn more SAISDs performance this year, go to our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com or read Saturdays paper. Check back to mySA.com for updates to this story. amalik@express-news.net LOS ANGELES (AP) Nearly two dozen people were arrested Wednesday and charged with using small aircraft to smuggle heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine over the U.S. border at the behest of one of Mexico's most notorious drug cartels, authorities said. The arrests of 22 suspects come on the heels of a nearly three-year investigation into three drug trafficking organizations that authorities say were working on behalf of the Sinaloa cartel. The groups, which received the drugs from the cartel in northern Mexico, would then stash them in soup cans, inside hidden compartments in cars and used small aircraft though authorities wouldn't say whether they were manned or drones to transport the drugs over the border, officials said. A woman was hospitalized in critical condition Friday after losing control of her vehicle and crashing into a tree on the Northwest Side, police said. The driver, who has not been identified, was speeding down Farinon Drive toward Northwest Parkway just before 7:40 a.m. when she lost control and hit the tree, according to San Antonio police. An underage girl said three murder suspects told her to drive them to what she thought would be a drug deal but instead turned into a fatal shooting on the Fourth of July, according to San Antonio police. On Thursday night, the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested those three men, Lonnie Ellison, Christian Ellison and Jordan Davis. All three were charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The girl's statement was detailed in their arrest affidavits, obtained Friday morning by mySA.com. According to the affidavits, officers were called to the 2700 block of Castroville Road on July 4 for a shooting and found three gunshot victims in a car. RELATED: 3 arrested in July 4th road rage killing on Castroville Road The driver, Jesus Garcia, was pronounced dead at the scene after he was shot near his left armpit, according to the affidavit. The other two survived the shooting. The victims told police there were two men and at least one girl in a white or silver SUV that shot at them. Investigators identified the girl, who allegedly set up a drug deal between both parties. On July 16, the Ellison brothers turned up at a local hospital with gunshot wounds. Neither were cooperative with police, according to the affidavit. The next day, police received a call about an abandoned SUV at a Whataburger parking lot on Wurzbach Road. The vehicle, a white 2018 Jeep Compass, had bullet holes and broken windows, according to the affidavit. GPS data recovered from the Jeep showed it was in the area the fatal shooting occurred on July 4, according to the affidavit. On July 26, the girl came to the police station with her attorney to tell investigators what happened. She told detectives the three suspects told her to drive somewhere and she assumed it was for a drug deal. Once on Castroville Road, the suspects yelled at her to speed up and follow the car Garcia was driving, she told police. As the girl drove around Garcia's car, the suspects shot at the car before she sped off, the affidavit says. She identified the Ellison brothers and Davis as the men in the car with her, police said. Lonnie Ellison is being held without bail due to unrelated charges. Christian Ellison's bail was set at $500,000 and Davis' bail was set at $300,000. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA Every September for 10 years, a judge ruled Paul Anthony Bateman remained a danger to others and must stay institutionalized at the North Texas State Hospital in Vernon. The last such check came in September 2015. Three months later, Bateman was released, not because he showed improvement but because, under Texas law, he could no longer be held. Less than three years later, on Monday afternoon, Bateman, 32, killed a 10-year-old San Antonio girl he was watching for a relative, police said. Police reports and court records obtained by mySA.com reveal Bateman's documented history of mental illness more than a decade prior to being charged with murder in connection to the death of Reanne Olivarez. READ MORE: Man charged in death of 10-year-old San Antonio girl had been previously found insane On Nov. 11, 2005, Live Oak police were called to the Bateman home in the 7300 block of Leading Oaks Street. In the driveway, officers encountered Bateman's grandfather, who suffered "severe lacerations to his eye and face area," according to the police report. The man told police his grandson assaulted him and was still in the garage. Officers found Bateman there with dried blood on his right knuckles and arm. He was arrested and taken to the squad car while officers searched the garage, the report shows. "While my arrested person was seated in the rear seat of my patrol unit, he proceeded to bang his head against the Plexiglass safety shield," the officer wrote in his report. Bateman was charged with injury to an elderly and attempting to escape a correctional officer after he allegedly kicked the officer. In court records, Bateman's family members pleaded with the judge to take his mental illness into account. "My son, Paul A. Bateman, has had mental instability all of his life," his father wrote in a letter to the judge. His grandmother also wrote to the judge saying Bateman needs help. "Our family has a history of mental illness," the grandmother wrote. "Please, Paul need a chance." RELATED: Family: S.A. man showed signs of mental illness before allegedly killing girlfriend, 11-year-old After ordering psychiatric evaluations, the judge found Bateman not guilty by reason of insanity, and ordered him to be institutionalized at the North Texas State Hospital in Vernon. Every year, Bateman was reevaluated to see if he has recovered. Every year, the same boxes would be checked, indicating he was still likely to cause serious harm to others and that he suffered from severe distress. Despite those findings, Bateman was released from the mental facility ten years later. State law does not allow judges to keep defendants institutionalized longer than their prison sentences would be. Bateman's lawyer from that case could not be reached for comment. Within a few years of his release, San Antonio police believe, Reanne's mother and common law stepfather allowed Bateman to watch her and her 1-year-old sibling. Bateman is a relative of the common law stepfather, police said. On Monday afternoon, police were dispatched to an apartment complex and found Reanne dead. Police have withheld the report of the homicide, citing that it involved a juvenile. The medical examiner's office ruled the death a homicide and determined Reanne died of blunt force injuries. Bateman has remained in jail since then with his bail set at $200,000. Reanne's father, Alex Olivarez, set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for his daughter's funeral. "Help me lay my angel to rest, she was taken way too soon," he wrote. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA A 19-year-old man was arrested early Friday after he accidentally shot a 15-year-old twice and then had a relative drive the victim to the hospital, police said. Laron Sanders faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Bexar County Jail without bond because he had two outstanding warrants for resisting arrest and interfering with the duties of a public servant. The Texas Republican Party on Friday sued Democrat Pete Gallego, claiming he lives outside Senate District 19 where hes seeking the seat in a special election runoff. Gallego, a former U.S. and state representative, finished second in a July 31 special election, behind Republican Pete Flores, a retired state game warden. The race headed to a runoff because neither candidate received enough votes to win outright. State law requires that candidates live continuously in the district theyre seeking for at least six months before the filing deadline. Its common knowledge Gallego does not live in Senate District 19, state GOP Chairman James Dickey said in a news release. His wifes name is on a home outside of Senate District 19. He has for years lived with his family in Austin, where his wife has a homestead exemption; this is well-known and well-documented. Gallegos campaign promptly rejected the allegations. This is a frivolous lawsuit and the Texas Republican Party should be fined for even filing it, Gallego campaign manager Christian Archer said in a written statement. Pete Gallego has lived in Alpine since 1989 when he returned home to become a local felony prosecutor. Pete is registered to vote in Alpine, where he has always voted, and where he pays his utilities. This lawsuit is a desperate move on behalf of a failing campaign. For its part, the Flores campaign agrees with the Republican party. No one seriously believes Pete Gallego lives eight hours west of where his wife and son sleep every night, Flores consultant Matt Mackowiak said, also in a prepared statement. Only a career politician would have the shamelessness to make such an absurd claim. The lawsuit cites an Express-News column that found Gallegos wife, Maria Elena Ramon, claims a homestead exemption in Austin, which is not in the senate district. Photos show Gallego leaving the home and his truck parked in the driveway there. He is registered to vote in Brewster County and has said he lives in Alpine, the county seat. The party said it also filed a complaint to the Texas Ethics Commission, alleging that Gallego failed to report real estate interests in Travis County. Former state Sen. Carlos Uresti, a convicted felon, vacated the seat in June around the time he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for 11 felony charges, including fraud and money laundering. Jasper Scherer is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jscherer@express-news.net | Twitter: @jaspscherer A voice crying in the wilderness is supposed to be ignored, not rewarded with accolades and growing influence. Bernie Sanders is the prophet with honor in his own party. The former socialist gadfly is now the socialist trendsetter. At the moment, he has to be counted among the most successful ideological leaders in a generation in terms of moving the terms of the American political debate and putting previously discounted ideas on the agenda. This doesnt mean that hell be the next Democratic nominee for president, or even run. It doesnt mean that his ideas are good (I personally consider them godawful). It does mean that when it comes to domestic policy on the left, its Bernies world, and the rest of the Democrats live in it. Sanders was an irrelevance for a couple of decades in Congress. He ran for president to get a higher profile, and succeeded not merely in that, but in seriously challenging Hillary Clinton. He is now a pacesetter in the party, while she rues what might have been. To be sure, much of this was inevitable. Whatever brake on the left Barack Obama represented was going to be released once he went home, especially if Democrats couldnt hold the White House. The advent of President Donald Trump pressed the accelerator on the partys radicalization. In 2016, though, Sanders embodied the first real political expression of a post-Obama left that was disappointed by his alleged incrementalism and determined to move beyond it. Sanders success represents a version of what has happened to center-left parties around the West, as they have collapsed or been eclipsed by new forces. The Democrats arent going anywhere, but Sanders is an interloper. Hillary Clinton is right when she complains that hes not even a Democrat. This doesnt matter in the least to the Democrats in good standing who are vacuuming up Bernies ideas. You can hardly be a U.S. senator who hopes to run for president if you arent co-sponsoring pillars of the Sanders agenda such as Medicare-for-all, free college and the $15 minimum wage. Just a few short years ago, Sanders crowed last year, we were told that raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour was radical. Indeed, he was told that, and for good reason. But he had five co-sponsors for a $15 bill in 2015 and has a majority of Senate Democrats now. The Sanders policies are tangible and substantive (if misbegotten). Compare the period of Republican ferment when the party was out of power under Obama. The tea party, for better or worse, didnt have big, signature policy initiatives. Its candidates usually defined themselves by their tactical maximalism and their style, especially a contemptuous attitude toward the establishment. This is why it slid so easily into Trumpism. Bernies own political future is cloudy. If he runs again, he wont have Clinton as a foil, but numerous contenders who want to ape his substance as younger, less quirky, more polished candidates. Significantly, Sanders is a laggard when it comes to identity politics, which is becoming even more important to Democrats in reaction to Trump. A 76-year-old male from the whitest state in the union, who has devoted his life to a rigorously class-based politics, can do his best to play along but will never be a natural. The voters, in the Democratic primaries and the next presidential election, will obviously have a say, and they can upset expectations. A few years ago, Paul Ryan developed a thorough, coherent approach to the debt that seemed to define the future of Republican policy, before Trump blew right through it. Few would have guessed it at the time, but events were about to make Pat Buchanan and Jeff Sessions look like the GOP prophets. Who knows how it shakes out for Bernie Sanders two or three years from now? What we do know is that hes out of the wilderness. comments.lowry@nationalreview.com Everything you need to know about todays Republican Party is summed up by a photo from President Donald Trumps political rally in Ohio a week ago. Two men in the crowd look defiantly at the camera, proudly displaying the slogan on their matching T-shirts: Id Rather Be A Russian Than A Democrat. The sound you hear is the GOP presidents of the Cold War era Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford and Reagan whirring like turbines in their graves. This is the state of derangement to which Trump has brought a once-great political party. Anyone tempted to dismiss these cult-of-personality rallies as freakish sideshows should keep in mind one sobering fact: An astounding 89 percent of Republicans approve of Trumps performance as president, according to Gallup. The GOP has lost its mind. The Republican Party used to believe in fiscal discipline and worry about the mounting national debt; Trump has blown a trillion-dollar hole in the budget. The party used to believe in free trade; Trump is imposing tariffs left and right, including on our closest allies. The party used to believe in free markets; Trump clumsily tries to pick winners and losers, hectors the independent Federal Reserve board and uses his Twitter feed to attack individual companies for political reasons. The GOP used to champion American ideals of freedom and justice throughout the world. Trump gives the back of his hand to the postwar alliance of Western democracies, and has nothing but praise for autocratic rulers who abuse human rights in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Philippines and, of course, Russia. Previous Republican presidents have complained about press coverage. Trump calls the news media the Enemy of the People, a phrase that blood-soaked totalitarian regimes have used to justify assassinations and purges. He recently tweeted, The Fake News hates me saying that they are the Enemy of the People because they know its TRUE. He called the media very dangerous and sick! Words have consequences: Trumps unhinged rhetoric is going to get somebody killed. Brace yourselves, because its all going to get worse. It doesnt take a degree in psychology to see that Trump is increasingly frantic about special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Shortly after the Enemy of the People tweet, Trump added this: Fake News reporting, a complete fabrication, that I am concerned about the meeting my wonderful son, Donald, had in Trump Tower. This was a meeting to get information on an opponent, totally legal and done all the time in politics and it went nowhere. I did not know about it! How much lying can you pack into one tweet? It was a meeting to get dirt on Hillary Clinton from emissaries of the Russian government. It is not at all clear that it was legal. It is not the sort of thing ever done in politics. We dont know whether it went anywhere. And it sure seems unlikely that Trumps son, son-in-law and campaign chairman would have such a meeting without ever mentioning it to Trump who, when the meeting was revealed, personally dictated a false statement designed to obscure its real purpose. It is safe to surmise that Trump feels the walls closing in. And if Democrats seize control of the House in November, he will face a lineup of committee chairmen, armed with subpoena power, who are determined to do their constitutional duty of holding the administration accountable. So Trump reportedly plans to spend as much time as possible on the campaign trail, desperately trying to stoke enough fear, resentment and anger among the GOP base to produce a big turnout that saves the House majority. What a surprise: Trump intends to make the election all about Trump. It worked for those guys in the photo, the ones whod rather be Russians than Democrats. The Republican Party has betrayed all of its history, all of its hallowed ideals, and bet its future on the corrosive power of Trumps scorched-earth megalomania. GOP candidates richly deserve to lose. eugenerobinson@washpost.com Im all about regional pride. As a native of the farmland of Central California, it warms my heart to see one of my peeps break a barrier, achieve a victory or receive an honor. Thus, I should probably be rooting for House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to accomplish his goal of becoming House Speaker in the next session, which could happen if the GOP keeps control of the lower chamber despite being hijacked by President Donald Trump. Yet, as it stands, Im ambivalent. Thats because McCarthy recently pulled a fast one and betrayed his roots in the process. He also forgot a basic rule of politics: When you go to the ball, you dance with who brought you. Despite taking bundles of cash from farmers since entering politics in 2002 first as a state legislator, then a member of Congress the Republican from Bakersfield stiffed his benefactors by breaking a promise he made to colleagues in June to hold a vote on a new guest worker program for farmers. Congress adjourned for the summer without that happening. And its not likely to happen after Labor Day either, given that most of the members will be home campaigning for re-election. This is what McCarthy figured out: Americans are in no mood to import foreigners from Latin America. In fact, at the moment, were only interested in exporting. We dont want more of these people. We want to get rid of the ones that are already here. These days, Uncle Sam is a coldhearted old man who screams at people to stay off his lawn or, in this case, away from his border. Grumpy Sam is so adamant about punishing the desperate souls who come to his front door without permission as all refugees do, when you think about it that he will snatch their kids and not give them back until the parent signs paperwork clearing the way for their own deportation. And in some cases, as we have learned over the last several weeks, he may never give them back. Which means this is the wrong time for Republicans in Congress to even toy with the idea of guest workers. Were talking about a few hundred thousand people who would be brought into the United States including farm hands to help with the harvest and then leave after the work is done. The concept is simple, but the politics are complicated. Guest workers were a major sticking point in the negotiations over immigration reform that occurred in Congress a decade ago. Everyone gets hung up on amnesty for illegal immigrants, but guest workers are the real key to unlocking the stalemate. Thats because the concept delivers the votes of a couple dozen business-friendly Republicans, which could offset the couple dozen votes the immigration reformers can expect to lose from pro-labor Democrats. You see, organized labor hates the whole idea of guest workers. That hatred is about competition, but it is also about pride. Unions like to argue that foreign labor displaces American workers even if it pushes them out of jobs Americans dont want in the first place. They live in an alternate universe where comfy union members are dying to pick peaches in Georgia or cut grapes in Napa Valley or milk cows in Wisconsin. And since the Democratic Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the unions that bankroll it, we can always count on some number of Democrats voting against any immigration compromise that includes guest workers. Thats why you need the votes of some Republicans, and the way you get them is with guest workers. So, McCarthy had a choice to make: Keep his pledge to farmers including those back home in Central California who are facing a severe labor shortage by holding a vote on a guest worker bill that could splinter the party and cost him support within the Republican caucus; or break the promise, drop the issue and keep the GOP intact. McCarthy chose the latter. He tried to sell his colleagues a lame excuse about how the votes werent there to pass a guest worker bill, but they arent buying it. We all know what happened here. McCarthy got sidetracked by his ambition, betrayed his rural roots and proved himself unworthy to lead. And, whatever region someone hails from, that is nothing to be proud of. ruben@rubennavarrette.com Doki Doki Crate 3.8 overall rating 12 Ratings | 1 Reviews Now through 8/31, use coupon code SHIBASURPRISE to get bonus Shina Inu gift with your first Doki Doki Crate! 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We will no longer include Doki Doki branded items in crates and will focus 100% on items available in Japan only If you havent signed up for Doki Doki Crate yet, use coupon code MSA3 to save $3 off your first box! Check out our Doki Doki reviews to learn more about this cute kawaii subscription box! SOUTH Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to jet into Zimbabwe to discuss issues relating to the recently held harmonised elections, SAs Presidency has revealed. President Ramaphosa is today expected to visit Zambia where he will meet with President Edgar Lungu before meeting Democratic Republic of Congos President Joseph Kabila tomorrow in DRC. In a statement on Thursday morning, the South African Presidency said President Ramaphosa will attend President-elect Mnangagwas inauguration as he visits other regional countries. This comes as Zimbabwe Government is forging ahead with inauguration preparations despite opposition MDC Alliances rejection of ZEC announced results. The MDC Alliance said on Wednesday that it was ready to file court papers challenging the outcome of the presidential election results in Zimbabwe. President Ramaphosa who is also SADC chairperson will meet with President-elect Mnangagwa to discuss issues relating to last weeks harmonised elections before attending the inauguration. The Presidency did not clarify when the meeting on electoral issues will be held. President Ramaphosa will also have a stopover in the Republic of Zimbabwe to have consultations with President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa on the recent elections that took place, reads the statement. On Sunday, 12 August 2018, President Ramaphosa will attend the inauguration in Harare of President-Elect Emmerson Mnangagwa of the Republic of Zimbabwe, following the July 30 2018 election. The Presidency said President Ramaphosas visit is in line with SADC standards. The visits form part of a long-standing tradition in the SADC region whereby newly-elected Heads of State pay courtesy calls on the leaders of neighbouring countries. During the visits, President Ramaphosa and his counterparts will discuss bilateral cooperation as well as political and security developments in the region and continent, as well as global issues of mutual concern, reads the statement. The Presidency said President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu and Minister of State Security Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba. President Ramaphosa has already congratulated President-elect Mnangagwa for winning the elections after posting a 50,8 percent of the total votes with his closest contender Adv Nelson Chamisa garnering 44,3 percent of polls. Chronicle Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News United States President Donald Trump has signed into law the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act. The Bill was passed by the United States Congress in July and sets tough conditions for Zimbabwe to re-engage with the United States of America. The Zidera act means that Zimbabwes economy is likely to continue suffering as sanctions will continue. In a statement, the White House said, On Wednesday, August 8, 2018, the President signed into law: S. 2779, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act of 2018, which amends the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001. Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News President Donald Trumps administration has expressed gravest concerns on Zambias government after it earlier today deported MDC Alliance principal and Zimbabwes former finance minister Mr Tendai Biti. The American government issued a strong-worded statement and held both Zimbabwean and Zambian governments accountable for any physical or other harm Mr Tendai Biti will be subjected to following his deportation back to President Mnangagwas government. Below is the full statement published by US Department of State today: The United States government is gravely concerned by credible reports of numerous detentions, beatings, and other abuses of Zimbabweans over the past week, particularly targeting opposition activists. There should be no role for violence, intimidation, or harassment in the new Zimbabwe. We are also deeply concerned that Zambia chose to hand over former Minister of Finance Tendai Biti to the Zimbabwean authorities, and in the face of a reported Zambian court order blocking his expulsion from Zambia. This decision is particularly disheartening given the courage that Zambia showed in sheltering thousands of Zimbabwean freedom fighters from Rhodesian aggression in the days of Zimbabwes independence struggle. We will be discussing this matter with Zambias leaders and reviewing certain aspects of our cooperation with the Zambian government. The Government of Zimbabwe is now responsible for Tendai Bitis safety and welfare. We call on Zimbabwes leaders to guarantee Mr. Bitis physical safety and ensure his constitutional and human rights are respected, consistent with the rule of law and Zimbabwes international obligations and commitments. In Washington, the United States has convoked the ambassadors of both Zimbabwe and Zambia to register our gravest concerns. While Zimbabwe had a historic opportunity to move the country toward a brighter future for all its citizens, an electoral process marred by violence that does not respect constitutional rights and procedures is not a step toward that future. Heather Nauert Department Spokesperson Washington, DC Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News - Former Plateau governor Jonah Jang has declared intention to contest 2019 presidency under the platform of PDP - Jang who is the senator representing Plateau north at the Senate, said his ambition is borne out of the desire to serve Nigeria - He said he would entrench good governance through transparency in governance, respect for rules of law and ensure justice prevails at all times The immediate past governor of Plateau state and serving senator representing Plateau north senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Jonah Jang has declared his intention to contest for the president of the federal republic of Nigeria in 2019 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). New Telegraph reports that Jang who is the first aspirant from the Middle Belt states to declare for the presidency, said his ambition is borne out of the desire to serve Nigeria, having the capacity to bring unity and peace if given the opportunity. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Akpabio officially defects from PDP to APC Legit.ng gathered that Jang while making his declaration in a meeting of Plateau state elders on Wednesday, August 8, at WAYE foundation in Jos including former top government functionaries who served under him when he held sway as executive governor, serving legislators both at the state and national Assembly and well-wishers said having consulted widely across the nation, he has received overwhelming acceptability to contest for the presidency in 2019. He said: Security, economic development and human capital development, Nigerian unity would be key in my administration if elected as the president of this country. He said he would entrench good governance through transparency in governance, respect for rules of law and ensure justice prevails at all times. Senator Jang promised not to disappoint the good people of Plateau state, Middle Belt and Nigeria if elected president as he would work towards uniting the country. It would be recalled that a member Representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom constituency in the federal House of Representatives, Istifanus Dung Gyang had earlier declared his intention to take over from Senator Jang in the red chambers. The former governor, however, disclosed that the Senate seat in 2019 is now vacant and it is left for people of Plateau north to decide who should represent them in the red chamber. It was gathered that apart from Istifanus Dung Gyang who had officially declared and submitted his letter of intention at the PDP state secretariat to contest for Plateau north senatorial seat, others who are nursing ambition to include: Edward Pwajok (SAN), Secretary to the Plateau state Government, Rufus Bature, former chief of staff during Jang's administration, Da Francis Bot and the former speaker of the Plateau state House of Assembly, Isa Chungwom Song among others. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Middle Belt Forum shortlisted four presidential aspirants from the region to be presented to other regions ahead of the 2019 presidential elections. Those shortlisted are a frontline businessman, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, former minister of information, Professor Jerry Gana, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, and former Plateau state governor, Senator Jonah Jang The Next President of Nigeria. Who Will Win the 2019 Elections? | - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - One Garrick Michael was arrested by SARS operatives - The suspect is reportedly involved in advanced free fraud - He claimed he came to Nigeria to see his wife Operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (F-SARS), of the Police Command in Imo says it has arrested a member of the U.S. Army, Mr Garrick Michael, over alleged advance fee fraud. The Commissioner of police, Mr Dasuki Galadanchi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Owerri while presenting to Journalists the suspect, Michael, and other suspects involved in different crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping and child trafficking. READ ALSO: Breaking: Saraki reportedly meets Babangida ahead of 2019 elections Galadanchi said Michael is an American citizen who specialised in defrauding women of their huge money under the pretext of securing American visa for them. He named victims of the suspect as Sylva Chineyenwa, Wuchi Peace and Duny Glory. Michael told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he returned to Nigeria to visit his wife who resided in the country before he met his three alleged victims. He said his business deal with the women was still valid before his arrest. The commissioner also said that a kidnapper who had been on the police blacklist, one Reginald Durunzenwata, was arrested on Aug. 4 and would soon be charged to court. He said the suspect was allegedly involved in the kidnap and murder of a businessman, Chidi Eburuaji, in Imo, who was kidnapped and murdered in July. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Galadanchi said apart from kidnapping, the suspect also specialised in diverting petrol tankers. Meanwhile, security operatives have reportedly lifted the siege on the National Assembly. The lift came barely an hour after the announcement of the sack of the director general of the State Security Service (SSS), Lawal Daura. Premium Times reports that the mask-wearing officers, mainly of the SSS, who blocked entrance to the National Assembly from early hours of Tuesday, August 7, left the assembly gate at about 2:49pm. Here's what Saraki and Tambuwal's defection means for the APC | Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - Abraham Umar, a commercial bus driver in Lagos, has been killed - Abraham was killed on Tuesday, August 7, by suspected cult members - Investigations by police revealed that his death was sponsored by his best friend who was obsessed with his (Abrahams) girlfriend A 28-year-old bus driver and Benue state indigene, Abraham Umar, has been reportedly killed by suspected cult members at Cele bus stop, in the Ijanikin area of Lagos state. The victim, according to the police, was set up by his friend who was obsessed with his (Abrahams) 17-year-old girlfriend. The Punch reports that Abraham, also known as Abi, was eating at the girlfriends mothers restaurant when the gunmen invaded the place around 9pm on Tuesday, August 7. Abraham Umar's photo. Credit: The Punch READ ALSO: National Assembly siege: Presidency reveals fate of sacked DSS boss, Daura They reportedly shot Abraham in the head, killing him on the spot. Legit.ng gathered that the case was reported at the Ijanikin Police Station and the girlfriend, identified only as Elo, was arrested. A witness, who pleaded anonymity, said the gunmen came in a group after Abraham, who plied the Lagos-Badagry Expressway route, parked his vehicle and went to eat. He said: He was with his conductor and the owner of the commercial bus when one of the gunmen tapped him on the back. Another one pushed him and slammed his head against the wall. Then one of them put a gun to his head and shot him dead. Everybody ran away. The victims sister, Aminat Umar, while fighting back tears, said Abrahams friend, one Peter, broke the news to the family. She explained that the victim had called her after parking his vehicle around 9.21pm. He said he was on his way home. About 10 minutes later, his best friend, Peter, rushed to our house, saying Abi had been shot at Cele bus stop and that his corpse had been taken to a police station. My mother and uncle ran to the Ijanikin Police Station but were told that nobody was brought there. They went to a private hospital around Cele bus stop and were again told that the body was not brought to the hospital. The hospital workers said they should check the station. The police later admitted that he was there. I was told that his conductor and the owner of the commercial bus were in the cell, she added. The deceaseds foster father, Muhammed Umaru, said Abraham had been receiving threat text messages from some men who asked him to stop his relationship with Elo. He said: They told him to leave the girl because she belonged to one of them. My sons friend, Peter, said the young man behind the messages had once confronted them. I was told that the rival was dark in complexion and had dreadlocks. I told his aunt and uncle, who asked the girl to stay away from Abraham and also warned him to leave Elo alone. But they refused to quit the relationship. The deceaseds uncle, Sani Umar, described him as gentle and easy-going. He said: He was a calm man and never involved himself in any trouble. This incident is just unfortunate. The problem was that the girl he was dating had another boyfriend who is a cult member and that was why he was killed. We want justice; he must not die in vain. Elo, 17, who had been arrested by the police, however, said Abraham was her only boyfriend, adding that she could not tell why he was killed. He called me last night (Tuesday, August 7), saying he was going to my mums shop and if he could wait for me there. I said he should not wait because I was at my brothers place in Ajegunle and would not be coming back that night. I told him that we were planning my brothers wedding. On Wednesday when I got back home, I was told Abi had been killed. I dont know about any threat because he did not tell me about it, she said. A source who spoke to The Punch said cult killings were rampant in Ijanikin, adding that security operatives had not been able to curb the activities of cult members in the area. He called on the police authorities to come to the aid of residents. The Lagos state police public relations officer, CSP Chike Oti, said four suspects had been arrested. However, Oti noted that Abrahams best friend set him up over the 17-year-old girlfriend. He said: Abrahams friend had a crush on the girl. It got to a point of obsession as he started talking to the mans girlfriend to leave him. However, when he was not getting the desired cooperation from the girl, he set up his friend with some other guys, who killed him. The matter was reported at the Ijanikin Police Station and immediately, the state commissioner of police, Edgal Imohimi, ordered the divisional police officer to fish out the murderers. So far, the DPO has picked up four suspects, while the principal suspect, the one who had a crush on the girl, is still at large. We are on his trail and he cannot escape justice. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Nigerian Police, Lagos state command, arrested a 23-year-old housewife, Damilola Ayeni, for allegedly stabbing her husband and father of two children, Olumide, to death at their house on Bamgbose street, Lagos Island. The incident, which reportedly happened on Friday, August 4, occurred during a disagreement between the couple. The 36-year-old victim was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital where he died due to the injury sustained when his wife allegedly stabbed him. The deceaseds father, Sunday Ayeni, who reported the case to the police, said his son was murdered by the wife over suspicion of infidelity. Lagos Police Commissioner Parades Suspected Criminals (Nigeria News) | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng Birthdays are generally a big deal across the world and like fine wine, it gets better as you grow older. However, the same cannot be said for a Nigerian man who just turned 100 years, whilst serving prison term. A while ago, Legit.ng came across the sad story of a man identified Celestine Egboluche who was allegedly imprisoned with his son Paul and a 78-year-old man identified as Kanayo Arinze, over what is believed to be a land tussle that led to the death of someone. Well, Pa Celestine who was 99-year-old as at the time of the report, recently turned 100 years, making him the oldest prisoner in Nigeria. The centenarian who has been in the Enugu Maximum Prison for over 17 years was condemned to the death over his alleged crime. It is tragic to see that while others are out there celebrating and marking their birthdays, Pa Celestine is forced to mark his in a prison on death row, where he may likely pass on, still serving the sentence. READ ALSO: 6 famous men who claimed they were Jesus Christ Pa Celestine with his son and relative, all who are serving prison time Source: Facebook/Christian Okezie Chukwuka However, an NGO, Global Society for Anti-corruption (GSAC), is pushing for the centenarians release. Egbunuche is said to have suffered from diabetes over the years. GSAC has appealed to the federal government and governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha to have mercy and release him, his 78 years old relation and son from prison. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App Get the hottest gist on Africa Love Aid Nigeria Latest News: Woman Laments Bitterly After her Sister Sent Assassins to Kill Her| Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper - There was a battle of words between the Senate president Bukola Saraki and the Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Thursday, August 9 - Governor El-Rufai, in a statement, accused Saraki of leading the worst Senate ever in the history of Nigeria - In his reply to El-Rufai, the Senate president, among other things, said that the governor is divisive in nature Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has termed the Bukola Saraki-led Senate as the worst ever in the history of Nigeria. El-Rufai made this comment on Thursday, August 9, in the state as aired by several local radio stations in Kaduna and some other online media outfits, The Cable reports. READ ALSO: Governor Okorocha says 2 southeast governors are set to join APC The Kaduna state governor faulted Saraki for enumerating some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) among those who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday, August 7, adding that lawmakers who defected rode on the back of President Muhammadu Buhari to get elected to their present offices. Nasir el-Rufai said: We have never had a bad senate leadership like this one by Bukola Saraki. Some people whose names were mentioned among those who defected said they never authorised it. We know those who cannot win elections in their homes. Many of them found themselves in the National Assembly by riding on the back of Buhari. Some of them won the elections because the presidential and parliamentary elections held on the same day. In reaction to the governor's statements, Saraki slammed el-Rufai, saying he as the Senate president could not have announced the name of any defector if they did not sign the letter communicating their defection to the PDP. Through his special Adviser on media and publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said: El-Rufai is a known careless talker. He is a man suffering from diarrhoea of the mouth. You (one of our correspondents) report the National Assembly on a daily basis. "Is it possible for the name of a senator to be announced as having defected without him or her signing the letter communicating same to the Senate President? We challenge el-Rufai to mention the name of any senator whose name was announced without his or her consent. He (el-Rufai) is a divisive element, an expert hero worshipper and noisemaker. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! He worshipped (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo once the way he is now worshipping (President Muhammadu) Buhari, and now he is on the forefront of abusing the former President. It will soon be the turn of Buhari to be rubbished by el-Rufai. He did the same to ex-Vice President Atiku (Abubakar). Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's alleged continued silence on the gale of defections rocking the party was reportedly causing disquiet in the presidency, especially among loyalists of the president. Legit.ng gathered that some of the presidency's sources, said that loyalists of President Buhari were unhappy that Tinubu, who was appointed to head the partys reconciliation team, had not uttered a word since the defections began. Nigeria Latest News: Here's What Saraki and Tambuwal's Defection Means for the APC | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - The political parties say the threat against Saraki, Dogara are real - Perry Opara says he and his colleagues have privileged information concerning the plot - He says the political parties would not sit idle and watch an unconstitutional move against the duo Chairmen and leaders of 45 political parties have reportedly raised alarm over alleged plans to impeach the Senate president, Bukola Saraki and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the parties raised the alarm during a solidarity visit to Saraki, in Abuja on Thursday, August 9, in connection to the recent blockade of the National Assembly by security operatives. The national chairman of National Unity Party (NUP), Perry Opara, who spoke on behalf of the others, also alleged that they had privileged information of secret moves to freeze Sarakis bank accounts. The report quoted Opara as saying the group had resolved not to watch democracy crashed by undemocratic forces in Nigeria. READ ALSO: Daura took bribe, betrayed Buhari - Former assistant to DSS boss alleges We wish to alert Nigerians of a new plot by the same people, whose first shameful attempt to unlawfully overthrow the leadership of the National Assembly failed It was an attempt, which brought Nigeria to bad international limelight. We have it on good authority that a fresh plot is being hatched to make another attempt to cripple the parliament in the guise of impeachment. We wish to state that we, the chairmen and leaders of political parties, will not support or stand by to watch any unconstitutional impeachment of the leadership of the National Assembly, he said. The politician condemned the invasion of the National Assembly, saying: We cannot sit by and watch our country slide into the Hobbesian state of anarchy, where life has become short, brutish and lawless. We unequivocally condemn the use of agencies of state to clampdown on the opposition and stifle democracy as demonstrated in the siege on the residences of the presiding officers of the National Assembly. Also, the siege on the National Assembly and the siege on the Benue State House of Assembly are pointers. Responding, Saraki reiterated the resolve and commitment of the eighth Senate to continue to protect and defend the nations democracy. The Senate president assured that the lawmakers would continue to play their role to ensure that the rule of law was followed and that human rights were respected in the country. I thank you for taking out time to be with us here today. Thank you for the solidarity message and we truly appreciate it as it encourages us to further do what we are doing to defend democracy in our great country. A big thank you to all Nigerians that stood with us and have come to support us here in the National Assembly because in supporting us, you are supporting our democracy. We will continue to defend it. We will continue to ensure that there is respect for the rule of law and that due process is followed across the country, he said. He expressed optimism that the perpetrators of the recent siege on the National Assembly had learnt their lesson from the wide condemnation that continued to trail the anti-democratic actions of the security operatives. It is our hope that those anti-democratic forces have learnt their lesson in the last few days, listening to the voices of Nigerians - men, women, boys and girls, who stood firmly to reject their unconstitutional and anti-democratic action. Their voice is loud and clear and I believe we must respect it. We must respect those that have made sacrifices for us to be here. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Some have paid the ultimate price and we must respect that and ensure that Nigeria, as a country, is a shining example for other democratic nations to emulate. We must not allow anything that will tarnish the image of this country and the democracy we have worked so hard to birth and sustain, he said. The 45 political parties represented were United Democratic Party (UDP), Rebuild Nigeria Party (RNP), People for Democratic Change (PDC) and Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). Others were Progressives Peoples Party (PPP), Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN), Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Young Democratic Party (YDP). They also included Action Peoples Party (APP), National Interest Party (NIS), National Conscience Party (NCP), KOWA Party and Action Alliance (AA). Legit.ng earlier reported that Senate president, Bukola Saraki, described persons in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as characters he will not want to descend into the gutter with. Nigeria Latest News: Not Too Young to Run Pay a Visit to APC and PDP | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Prof Itse Sagay has asked Dr Bukola Saraki to vacate his position as Senate president, for the sake of morality - He insisted that Sarakis refusal to step down is a moral issue, even though the constitution does not specify that the Senate president must be from the majority party - According to Sagay, if Saraki is a man of honour and integrity, who has self-respect, he should not remain in office Senate President Bukola Saraki has been asked by Prof Itse Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, to vacate his seat for the sake of morality. Sagay made the call during an interview with Punch on Thursday, August 9. READ ALSO: NASS invasion: IGP writes Osinbajo, requests to search Dauras house Legit.ng gathers that the legal luminary said it was an aberration, anywhere in the world, to have a Senate president who is a member of the minority party. He urged Saraki to vacate his seat and re-contest the position in 2019, if he wins on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said: Sarakis refusal to step down is a moral issue. The constitution does not specify that the Senate president must be a member of the majority party. All it states is that the majority of those sitting at the Senate will elect a Senate president. But by convention, there is no party that is in the majority that will allow a member of the minority party to lead. Now that he has crossed over to the PDP, he is morally bound to step aside and then re-contest as a PDP candidate. I am advising him to step down. Morally, he has no right to be there and if he is a man of honour and integrity, who has self-respect, he should not remain in office. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Prof Itse Sagay said that Bukola Saraki can still keep his position as Senate president despite defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said Saraki can only be removed from the position by two-thirds of senators, but added that the APC as the majority party would not want to concede the position to the PDP which is in the minority. Here's what Saraki and Tambuwal's defection means for the APC - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - Politicians in Anambra without documents stating that they have paid their taxes have been threatened with arrest - The APGA-led state government made this known on Thursday, August 9, adding that the exercise is not intended to witch-hunt other political parties as some speculate - Jude Emecheta, the managing director of the state signage and advertising agency, said that noticies have been sent to politicians concerning the development The Anambra state government has said it will begin the arrest of political aspirants in the state who do not pay their taxes and levies accordingly, Punch reports. READ ALSO: Saraki has no moral right to be Senate president - Sagay Jude Emecheta, the managing director of the state signage and advertising agency, made this announcement on Thursday, August 9. Emecheta stated that the taxes and levies aspirants should pay were on branded vehicles, placement of banners and posters. He said that contrary to popular speculations, the exercise was not a witch-hunt of any political party in the state. He dismissed claims that it was a punitive means by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to deal with other political parties in view of the 2019 general polls. Emecheta said plans had been concluded to nab such politicians and seized their vehicles in order to force them to pay or prosecute them as deemed appropriate. He stated that notices were sent to political parties in the state demanding their compliance. Emecheta stated: No vehicle has been impounded for now. We only started the sensitisation; the implementation will commence next week. There is no law that says APGA members not pay such taxes and levies; it cuts across all political parties in the state. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! We will start impounding vehicles of those who refused to pay; you can brand your vehicle without putting any pictures on it, but once your picture appears, it becomes an advert and you must pay. Meanwhile Legit.ng reported that the national chairman of the APGA, Victor Oye, had denied reports that Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state would contest the 2019 presidential election. He said the reports were not only fallacious, but also well-orchestrated design to pitch him against his admirers and scuttle his administration. Oye stated that the Anambra state governor was not contesting the 2019 presidential poll because the party was targeting to win the remaining southeast states. Legit.ng special report on Anambra governorship election - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - An Abuja Federal High Court has summoned EFCC for freezing accounts of Benue and Akwa Ibom states - The court also directed Benue government to serve all the relevant processes in the suit on the EFCC - EFCC had on Wednesday, August 8, froze the account of Benue state government The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, August 10, ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to appear before it over the freezing of the Benue state government account. PM News reports that the vacation judge, Justice Babatunde Quadri, gave the order after listening to submissions by counsel to Benue government, Emeka Etiaba (SAN). Legit.ng gathered that other defendants in the suit are the speaker of Benue House of assembly, the clerk, Benue House of assembly, Benue House of Assembly, and the auditor general of Benue state. READ ALSO: Excitement as United Nations appoints Rotimi Amaechi into its board The court further directed the state government to serve all the relevant processes in the suit on the EFCC and other respondents before the next adjourned date. Etiaba said the suit was filed in Makurdi, but he secured the leave of court for the matter to be heard by a vacation court due to its urgent nature and since there was no vacation court in Makurdi. Etiaba prayed the court to issue a preservative order restraining the EFCC from investigating the accounts of the state under any guise. This, he said was particularly without due authorization of the Benue House of assembly in line with Sections 128 and 129 of the Constitution. The plaintiff also wants the court to determine among others: Whether by virtue of Sections 6, 7 and 38(1) of the EFCC Act 2004 or any other law, the EFCC or any other body has the power to investigate or inquire into the accounts of Benue government. This is having regards to the clear provisions of Sections 1 ( 1) and (3), 125(2), (4) and (6), 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Upon favourable determination of the questions, the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that by the provisions of Sections 6, 7 and 38(1) of the EFCC Act and any other law, the EFCC or any other body does not have the power to inquire into the accounts of Benue government. A declaration that in the absence of any resolution duly passed by the Benue House of Assembly pursuant to Sections 128 and 129 of the Constitution authorizing the EFCC or any other body to investigate the accounts of Benue Government, the EFCC or any other body cannot commence or continue investigations with respect thereof. The plaintiff also wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from surrendering or sharing their powers of control over public funds of Benue as provided under Sections 128 and 129 of the Constitution to any other body, authority or person. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app The matter was adjourned until August 14th for hearing. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze the bank accounts belonging to the government of Benue state after it was said to have secured a court order for this. It was reported that the governments accounts were frozen on the claim that Governor Samuel Ortoms security vote was being investigated. The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on Legit.ng Source: Legit.ng - Chairmen and leaders of 45 political parties have condemned the recent siege laid to the National Assembly by the officers of the DSS - They also raised alarm over alleged plot to impeach the Senate president Bukola Saraki and speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara - The partys' leaders, however, vowed that they will not support any unconstitutional impeachment of the leadership of the National Assembly Chairmen and leaders of 45 political parties on Thursday, August 9, raised alarm over alleged plans to impeach the Senate president Bukola Saraki and speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they raised the alarm during a solidarity visit to Saraki in Abuja in connection to blockade of the National Assembly by security operatives. Speaking on behalf of the party leaders, national chairman of National Unity Party (NUP), Perry Opara, also alleged that they had privileged information of secret moves to freeze Sarakis bank accounts. READ ALSO: Excitement as United Nations appoints Rotimi Amaechi into its board He said: We wish to alert Nigerians of a new plot by the same people, whose first shameful attempt to unlawfully overthrow the leadership of the National Assembly failed. It was an attempt, which brought Nigeria to bad international limelight. We have it on good authority that a fresh plot is being hatched to make another attempt to cripple the parliament in the guise of impeachment. We wish to state that we, the chairmen and leaders of political parties, will not support or stand by to watch any unconstitutional impeachment of the leadership of the National Assembly. We unequivocally condemn the use of agencies of state to clampdown on the opposition and stifle democracy as demonstrated in the siege on the residences of the presiding officers of the National Assembly. Also, the siege on the National Assembly and the siege on the Benue State House of Assembly are pointers. In his response, Saraki reiterated the resolve and commitment of the 8th Senate to continue to protect and defend the nations democracy. He assured that the lawmakers would continue to play their role to ensure that the rule of law was followed and that human rights were respected in the country. According to him, I thank you for taking out time to be with us here today. Thank you for the solidarity message and we truly appreciate it as it encourages us to further do what we are doing to defend democracy in our great country. A big thank you to all Nigerians that stood with us and have come to support us here in the National Assembly because in supporting us, you are supporting our democracy. We will continue to defend it. We will continue to ensure that there is respect for the rule of law and that due process is followed across the country. Saraki expressed optimism that the perpetrators of the recent siege on the National Assembly had learnt their lesson from the wide condemnation that continued to trail the anti-democratic actions of the security operatives. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app He said: It is our hope that those anti-democratic forces have learnt their lesson in the last few days, listening to the voices of Nigerians men, women, boys and girls, who stood firmly to reject their unconstitutional and anti-democratic action. Their voice is loud and clear and I believe we must respect it. We must respect those that have made sacrifices for us to be here. Some have paid the ultimate price and we must respect that and ensure that Nigeria, as a country, is a shining example for other democratic nations to emulate. We must not allow anything that will tarnish the image of this country and the democracy we have worked so hard to birth and sustain. The 45 political parties represented were United Democratic Party (UDP), Rebuild Nigeria Party (RNP), People for Democratic Change (PDC) and Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). Others were Progressives Peoples Party(PPP), Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN), Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Young Democratic Party (YDP). They also included Action Peoples Party (APP), National Interest Party (NIS), National Conscience Party (NCP), KOWA Party and Action Alliance (AA). Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Senate president Bukola Saraki held a meeting with chairmen of 45 political parties in his office at the Senate. The Senate president disclosed this in a message on his verified Twitter handle, Bukola Saraki @bukolasaraki. I am now meeting with the National Chairmen of 45 political parties at my office in the Senate, he tweeted. Nigeria Latest News: Here's What Saraki and Tambuwal's Defection Means for the APC | Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - President Donald Trump's in-laws, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, are now United States citizens - They became citizens of US through a family-based immigration programme called 'chain migration' - President Trump had before now denounced the immigration programme and insisted that it was not acceptable Despite his condemnation of 'chain migration', United States President Donald Trump's Slovenian in-laws have become US citizens through this family-based immigration programme on Thursday, August 9. New York Times reports that President Trump had repeatedly and vehemently denounced the immigration programme in which American citizens can obtain residency for their relatives. Legit.ng gathers that Trump's in-laws, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, became US citizens in a private ceremony in Manhattan by taking advantage of that same family-based immigration programme. READ ALSO: President Buhari supports my 2019 governorship ambition - Mama Taraba When their lawyer was asked whether his clients had obtained citizenship through the programme, Michael Wildes said: "I suppose." Wildes said chain migration is a dirtier way of characterising what he called a bedrock of our immigration process when it comes to family reunification." Even as President Trump's in-laws were going through the process, he tweeted in November 2, 2017 that chain migration must end. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app He said:"CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE!" See his tweet below: Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that after a lot of criticisms that trailed President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" immigration policy that separated migrant children from their families, the president signed an executive order to put an end to the separation. President Trump signed the executive order on Wednesday, June 20. The executive order will end the process of separating children from their families after they are detained for crossing US border illegally. Street Gist: Will Nigeria be a better place with Trump as president? | on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - The NDDC has disclosed why it cancelled projects worth N200 billion in the nine Niger Delta states - The commissioner representing Delta state on the NDDC board, Ogaga Ifowodo, attributed the cancellation to huge challenges the current board inherited - Ifowodo also said the projects are enormous when compared with available funds to the NDDC The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has cancelled projects worth N200 billion in the nine Niger Delta states. Guardian reports that Ogaga Ifowodo, commissioner representing Delta state on the NDDC board, made the disclosure at Enhwe in Isoko south council, while monitoring rehabilitation of schools and roads in the area. Ifowodo said the commission was presently concerned about thousands of low-end projects that required huge sums to execute adding that the projects were enormous when compared with available funds to the NDDC. READ ALSO: We can lock down Sambisa, capture Shekau like a rabbit - Borno hunters He said: The NDDC has cancelled projects worth over N200 billion in the Niger Delta. The trouble is that the board inherited huge challenges that require enormous focus and strength to tackle. The NDDC has over 10,000 projects across the Niger Delta, which is unmanageable by any standard and that means our contingent exposure of up to N1.8 trillion. How do you manage that and what size of bureaucracy do you use to mange all of that? The N200 billion worth of projects are at zero per cent completion, because nothing had been done on them. The next ones we will cancel are those at five and ten per cent until we get to a level where we cant cancel anymore projects. The whole idea is to get rid of as many projects that are difficult to complete and it is an ongoing exercise. Ifowodo disclosed that the commission discovered that many schools structures in the region were dilapidated and needed rehabilitation, without toilets and not conducive for learning, adding that the NDDC decided to embark on the projects as part of their social intervention services. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app He maintained that the NDDC was presently renovating blocks of classrooms for schools, especially the dilapidated ones no longer conducive for learning. The commissioner added that most of the schools do not have good toilet facilities, so the children go behind the school when they are pressed. At Oviota Primary School in Enhwe, Ifowodo urged the contractors to deliver solid jobs, saying there would be steady monitoring to ensure the jobs were completed on time and to specification. Ifowodo said the new NDDC board was firm in its determination to ensure the jobs are completed to specification, saying the commission was in the process of reviewing its standards upwards and establish a mechanism to enforce the standards so that contractors do not deliver shoddy jobs. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that some youths in Niger Delta received N500,000 each as start up for their individual businesses across the region. The money was given to 90 youths from the regions at the end of a capacity building and empowerment in agriculture and other value chain programme for women and youths. It was gathered that the programme which was organised by the ministry of Niger Delta affairs will enable the youths acquire skills that will earn them lifetime livelihood. Meet Sunny Ofehe, the new face of Niger Delta development on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit A man took to social media to share his excitement over the recovery of his car after it was stolen almost two decades ago. Hcar stolen is one of the worst things that could happen but with today's technology like car trackers, recovery is much easier. But, what about those people whose cars were stolen during times vehicle recovery technology was not available? Well, one social media user thought he had permanently said goodbye to his silver BMW which was stolen from the doctors quarters where he worked almost 19 years ago. Man who gets very emotional after finding his car Photo source: Twitter user @mrbigzie READ ALSO: Nigerian man cries out after seeing an overloaded car in Anambra, says "we need help" (photo) The Twitter user identified as @mrbigzie got a surprise when his car which he supposed was lost forever was recovered almost two decades after being stolen. The emotional man took to his Twitter page to share his happiness. According to him, the beautiful car was stolen in Portland, South Africa in the doctors' quarters of a hospital. He couldn't believe his ears when the police called him and told him his car had been recovered: PAY ATTENTION: Relationship gist on Africa Love Aid "19 years ago this beauty was stolen in Port Elizabeth from the doctors quarters. Police phoned me today. It was recovered. I am tearing right now." However, although @mrbigzie was excited to get his old whip back, he has since moved on to a bigger and better car. But he was grateful that his old car was found. PAY ATTENTION: Nigerian News from around the globe on Legit.ng News App However, regardless of having a new Mercedes-Benz AMG, social media users found it interesting that the police managed to still recover the car even after so many years. BUSTED: Police Parade Uber Driver for Allegedly Stealing Owner's Car | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - ADC invites PDP to partake in a joint campaign in Kogi state - Political parties leaders allege plot to impeach Saraki, Dogara Two opposition parties, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) in a show of tolerance, held what seemed like a joint political rally ahead of the Saturday, August 10, House of Representatives by-election for Lokoja/ Kogi federal constituency. The New Telegraph reports that earlier on Tuesday, August 7, the ADC and its candidate, Kassim Mohammed Mabo, arrived at Sarking Noma in Lokoja for their campaign. Later, the Bashir Abubakar who is contesting on the platform of the PDP arrived the same venue but decided to wait for the ADC to conclude their rally before they could commence theirs. READ ALSO: We can lock down Sambisa, capture Shekau like a rabbit - Borno hunters On sighting the PDP team, the ADC campaign train led by its state chairman, Chief Daniel Isa, reportedly went to the PDP campaign train and asked them to come over to the venue to also sell their candidate. Following the invitation, PDP motorcade, conveying the former governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Musa Ahmadu, reportedly drove in and held their campaign along with the ADC peacefully. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, chairmen and leaders of 45 political parties on Thursday, August 9, raised alarm over alleged plans to impeach the Senate president Bukola Saraki and speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they raised the alarm during a solidarity visit to Saraki in Abuja in connection to blockade of the National Assembly by security operatives. Speaking on behalf of the party leaders, national chairman of National Unity Party (NUP), Perry Opara, also alleged that they had privileged information of secret moves to freeze Sarakis bank accounts. PDP's Magnificent 7 For 2019 Election | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - The Ibadan zone of the ASUU says when students are sent home owing to strikes it makes them vulnerable to vices - The chairman of ASUU LAUTECH, Biodun Olaniran, argues that it amounts to corruption to deliberately create situations that make people vulnerable to crime - Professor Itse Sagay says the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, will remain in her position despite being accused of forgery The Ibadan zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that corruption and heightened security tensions in the country are deepened by the non-payment of salaries to workers and university lecturers. The academic union said when students are sent home owing to strikes it make them vulnerable to vices. The zone faulted Oyo and Osun states government for reportedly failing to pay 10 months salary arrears and allegedly defaulting over statutory function to Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, the Nation reports. READ ALSO: Political parties leaders allege plot to impeach Saraki, Dogara The Ibadan zonal coordinator of ASUU, Ade Adejumo, warned that allowing the university workers to proceed on another round of strikes would put the progress of the institution on hold and expose the students to crime and criminality. On his part, the chairman of ASUU LAUTECH, Biodun Olaniran, argued that it amounts to corruption to deliberately create situations that make people vulnerable to crime. It is total corruption to deliberately create conditions that will make people vulnerable to crime and criminality. Why will government not pay people and be expecting them to work. Which of the governors is not getting paid and receiving security votes? "If workers are coming to work for ten months without pay, a reasonable government should be worried about how the people are coping and surviving rather than think everything is normal. This warning strike is to alert the public of an impending full blown total strike if the government refuses to accede to the request of the ASUU members, he stated. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app In other news, the chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), has faulted calls for the removal of Kemi Adeosun as finance minister over the allegation that she skipped the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme and forged an exemption certificate. The Nation reports that Sagay said Adeosun would remain the minister of finance despite the forgery scandal, adding that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari "cannot afford to lose that woman." Legit.ng gathers that he said he did not know why the government had not reacted to the forgery allegation . Top 3 World Universities And Their African Students | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria - Senator Abdullahi Adamu declared that Senate president's seat is for the majority party - Adamu noted that he has every right to contest for the position because he is qualified - He, however, said nobody has formally declared that there is a vacant seat in the Senate Abdullahi Adamu, the chairman of the Senate committee on Agriculture and former governor of Nasarawa state, declared that the Senate president's seat belongs to the All Progressive Congress (APC) because it is the majority party in the upper house of legislature. Leadership reports that Adamu also said he has every right to contest for the Senate president seat because he is qualified, but he has no desire to do so adding that nobody has declared formally that there is a vacant seat in the upper house of legislature. He said: ''Unfortunately in this situation, if I have that amount, maybe I will look different from the way I look today. I have the right to contest for the senate president's seat because I am qualified, but I have no desire to do so. I am not contesting with anybody. READ ALSO: Political parties leaders allege plot to impeach Saraki, Dogara ''Nobody has declared formally that there is a vacant seat in the Senate leadership. What we are saying is that, they cannot be so greedy to leave our party and still go away with our crown. The Senate president seat is ours to wear because we are in the majority. Everywhere in the civilised world where democracy is practiced, it is the party with majority in parliament that takes the leadership position. ''So, the right to wear the crown is ours as APC. We want to see what magic they will do this time around to keep themselves in office. That was why Saraki was dragging his feet to leave a longtime ago. ''They have wanted to leave long before now. They were afraid that if they go, what happens to all the privileges he gets as number three citizen in this country. But now, they will begin to see that they have betrayed themselves and not the APC. ''They have abused the trust and have shown the world that, they are not worthy of the trust that Senators have given them. They are behaving like somebody who is in a quicksand, trying to wriggle himself out. So, we will just liken them to bad eggs.'' Senator Adamu also spoke about the recent gale of defection of some federal lawmakers including the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, saying he was not surprise. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app ''Immediately after the elections to the 8th Senate, when we were to be inaugurated, he conspired with some Senators much to the chagrin of the APC and went into an illicit agreement with the PDP Senators, which gave birth to his election as Senate President. According to him, ''On the date of that election, there were only 54 senators in the hallowed chamber, who purported to have elected him and the rest is history. We tolerated it because the party didnt want anything that will destabilise governance. The president through his spokesman, Garba Shehu, accepted what had happened and said he will work with them. '' ''The party kept quiet all this while and for three years, they did not behave as if they were members of the APC. Everything the president wanted except it serves their own interest, they worked against it. ''I went to the party headquarters and had a press conference but people thought it was just politics among party members. But we knew it was more than that. We knew what was going on and now, time has proven us right. So they have left the APC for the PDP. ''But like one Hausa artiste put it, the situation is likened to somebody that was on a tree top and decide to jump from te branch and hold on to a leave, thinking it will make him safe. They have failed. I am not a prophet but I can tell you that if God will spare our lives, they will regret what they have done. '' Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Senate president Bukola Saraki described members of the ruling APC as characters he would not want to descend into the gutter with. Saraki made the statement on Thursday, August 9, in response to comments credited to Yekini Nabena, the partys acting national publicity secretary, that the senate leader was not fit to lead the upper chamber. Speaking through his spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said the ruling party had not recovered from the attempt to subvert democracy. Nigeria Latest News: Here's What Saraki and Tambuwal's Defection Means for the APC | Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Tam David-West says there is serious disenchantment in Nigeria but that Buhari can salvage the situation - David-West warns Buhari against believing that he cannot be defeated in 2019 - He, however, says the president has more advantages because the other parties are yet to reach concrete decisions A former petroleum minister and bosom friend of Muhammadu Buhari, Tam David-West, has urged the president to seek re-election in 2019, but should not believe he cannot be defeated in the exercise. David-West, who confess that he remains a die-hard Buharist, warned the president not to believe those giving him hope that nobody can defeat him. In an interview with The Guardian, David-West lamented the many problems facing the country currently but said the president can make impact in few months and make the people clap for him. He, however, maintained that there is serious discontentment in the land and said this can be changed if the right things are done. READ ALSO: Excitement as United Nations appoints Rotimi Amaechi into its board Mr President can make impact in few months that people will clap for him. He stands a chance, because all those against his second term do not have alternative yet. That is in his favour. There is discontentment in the land no doubt, but can you change this condemnation to commendation? You can if you do the right thing, but some of these things take time to mature. Can people still vote for him? I heard someone say that you cannot defeat Buhari and I said no. The probability is that they will still vote for him. People are suffering. I am a diehard Buharist, but I cannot close my eyes and my conscience to admit there is not a lot of suffering. And something should be done about it. Dont believe your people who say nobody can defeat you. As you can win, so can you be defeated. I read in the papers some people saying nobody can defeat him. By saying that, you are not helping him. Any politician going to polls either wins or loses. So, if you say nobody can defeat you then there is no point for election. You are elected to change and you can do the change. He made a mistake in the first four months. The mistake is what is haunting his government. The people, who he surrounded himself with, now cabals are not working in his interest. I told him before his wife went to the press, that the people are working against him, he said. He added: But, I want him to contest, because by our constitution, he has the right to contest and sentimental too. He suffered a lot to be elected. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app I have never joined any political party, but I support principles and persons. I do not see anybody in the political terrain that can contest against Buhari on moral turf. That is his greatest asset. Buhari is clean and upright. I cannot say that of any politician. All of them who are saying he should not re-contest are not better politically and on a moral turf. None of them can contest integrity with him. Legit.ng earlier reported that the speaker of the Borno House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, declared that the entire state will vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. Lawan boasted that the current gale of defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not get near the state. What Should President Buhari do to Adeosun Over Alleged Certificate Forgery? | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - EFCC acting chairman Ibrahim Magu has assured FBI on its fight against cyber criminals - It was reported that the commission's 'Operation Wire Wire' had led to the arrest of over 32 suspected cyber criminals - Magu urged the operatives to work harder for their efforts to be better recognised by other anti-corruption agencies across the world The acting executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has assured the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) that the commission would intensify its fight against cyber criminals in the country. Legit.ng gathered that he lauded the collaboration between the commission and the agency, saying that the recent raid tagged Operation Wire Wire, which led to the arrest of over 32 suspected cyber criminals, was a welcome development. READ ALSO: Political parties leaders allege plot to impeach Saraki, Dogara Speaking on Thursday, August 9, in Lagos during a presentation of certificates by the assistant legal attache of the United States Consulate General, Lagos, Mark F.Grimm, to EFCC operatives, Magu, who spoke through the zonal head, Akaninyene Ezima, said: We believe that this kind of collaboration will continue between both organizations. The assistant legal attache of the United States Consulate General, Lagos, Mark F.Grimm presenting certificate to EFC. Photo credit: EFCC He added: Operation Wire Wire had sent a strong message to Nigerians and the rest of the world that there is no hiding place for criminals. Some have been charged to court, while others are awaiting arraignment. The assistant legal attache of the United States Consulate General, Lagos, Mark F.Grimm presenting certificate to EFC. Photo credit: EFCC He also charged the operatives to work harder so that their efforts could be better recognized by other anti-corruption agencies across the world. Earlier in his address, Grimm thanked the commission as well as the operatives for their cooperation during the operation. EFCC chairman Magu assures FBI on fight against cyber criminals He also assured the commission that such collaborations would continue as part of efforts to check the activities of cyber criminals in the country. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested two suspected fraudsters for defrauding a victim of N31, 000,000 (Thirty one million naira only) in the guise of making money medicine for him. The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - IGP Idris Ibrahim faults report by Lawal Daura on siege of National Assembly - The police boss makes it clear that the sacked DSS director general carried out the siege on the National Assembly without the approval of the acting president The sacked director general of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), Lawal Daura, has said intelligence report that unauthorised persons were planning to smuggle dangerous weapons and incriminating items into the National Assembly, prompted him to deploy operatives to the complex. Dauras statement was contained in the interim investigation report submitted by the Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, to the acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, Daily Trust reports. READ ALSO: Political parties leaders allege plot to impeach Saraki, Dogara The IGP, however, faulted the intelligence report by Daura, noting that the report cannot be substantiated as the DSS personnel deployed were not EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) experts or specialist in this regard. The police boss made it clear that Daura carried out the siege on the National Assembly complex without the approval of the acting president. "The former Director-General, Department of State Security Service, Mr Lawal Musa Daura acted unilaterally without informing the presidency. He did not share or intimate other security agencies on the unlawful operations," Idris said in the report. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, the sacking of Lawan Daura, the director general of the DSS, by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was reportedly done with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Sahara Reporters, the decision to sack Daura was taken at about 4am on Tuesday, August 7, and Osinbajo secured Buharis approval before making the decision public. The newspaper said anonymous sources confirmed that Daura ordered Tuesdays DSS siege to the National Assembly in order to whip up public sentiments for Senate president Bukola Saraki. Nigeria Latest News How Masked DSS Gunmen Stormed the National Assembly (The True Story) Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Taminu Turaki has accused APC members of becoming desperate ahead of 2019 election - The PDP presidential aspirant said a good number of APCs current bigwigs including some defectors in their ranks were part and parcel of the past PDP administrations A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taminu Turaki, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has become desperate in their ambition for 2019 election. Turaki accused the APC of extreme discriminatory approach to the fight against corruption which, he noted, was spearheaded and reinforced by the PDP at the onset of the current democratic dispensation in 1999. Speaking at the Ondo state PDP secretariat in Akure on Wednesday, August 10, Turaki said that a good number of APCs current bigwigs including some defectors in their ranks were part and parcel of the past PDP administrations which has been labelled as corrupt by the ruling party. READ ALSO: Dont believe your people saying nobody can defeat you - Tam David-West sends message to Buhari He said: When you give your own people unfair advantage in employment as the APC is doing now, or when people or groups are being treated unfairly simply because they do not come from your area or did not vote for you, what is that? The situation in Nigeria today is so serious that we must come together to tighten our nuts to make the Nigerian Project solid. He also commended the current PDP leadership led by Prince Uche Secondus for its policy of justice, equity and fairness, traced the genesis of the partys recent crisis. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a former petroleum minister, Tam David-West, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election in 2019. David-West, however, said the president should not believe that he cannot be defeated by anyone as widely speculated by some of his cabinet members. Stating that he remains a die-hard Buharist, David-West lamented the many problems facing the country currently but said the president can make impact in few months and make the people clap for him. What Should President Buhari do to Adeosun Over Alleged Certificate Forgery? | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria - Members of the R-APC and supporters of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in Edo state have defected from the ruling APC - They dumped the ruling party on Thursday, August 9 - The group says the decision was made after critical evaluation and due consultations Some members of the Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC) and supporters of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in Edo state have dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Vanguard reports that they were members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, which is a unit in the R-APC. The movement was led by APC financier, John Adun, the Aiyobahan of Benin. Legit.ng gathers that before their defection from the party, there was speculations that the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshimohole, was being expected in the state to reconcile warring factions in the party. READ ALSO: Man who claimed to work with EFCC remanded in prison after allegedly defrauding pastor, congregation Speaking through its spokesman, Harrison Omagbon, in Benin City, the group said the decision was made after critical evaluation and due consultations in relation to unfolding political events in the country. Other prominent members of the group are Harrison Omagbon, the state coordinator; Roland Alari, a former chairman of Uhunmwode local government area of the state; Francis Ikonomwan, ex-special assistant to Oshiomhole; and Isaac Osahon, a former member of House of Representatives. The resignation letter read in part: We wish to inform the state leadership of the APC that the 589,137 members of the Kwankwansiyya movement from the 192 wards in Edo state hereby resign from the APC with immediate effect today (yesterday) August 9, 2018. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that supporters of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwasos political group, Kwankwansiyya Movement in Nasarawa state, on Wednesday, August 8, joined their leader by dumping the APC for the PDP. The supporters of Kwankwaso stormed the state secretariat of the PDP and declared their defection from the APC with symbolic burning of brooms. News Nigeria Today: Who is Nigerias Smartest Politician? | on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng A former minister of aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayide, has denied casting aspersions on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some of its prominent leaders. Fani-Kayode denied the rumours making the rounds in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Friday, August 10. According to him, the quote attributed to him is fake, and is the handiwork of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). READ ALSO: Over 1000 APC members defect to PDP in A/Ibom The statement read: A fake quote has been spread by the APC claiming that I said our party, the PDP, is in "a vegetative state" and that I attacked our national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and other party leaders including Governor Nyesom Wike and Senate President Bukola Saraki. This is a total fabrication. It is fake news. I have immense confidence in our national chairman, the PDP and all our party leaders, including Saraki and Wike. If I had any doubts about that I would say so loud and clear. Members of the public should please take note that all my comments, qoutes, contributions, posts, submissions and essays can be found on my verified twitter page, my verified Facebook page, my official website and any of my numerous columns. If they do not appear in any or all of these places it means that I never wrote or said them. The APC and the Buhari Media Centre live and thrive on fake news. We should expect more. Meanwhile, Senate deputy minority whip, Senator Philip Aduda, has faulted reports circulating on social media that he has left the PDP for the APC. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The lawmaker who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, on Thursday, August 9, described reports about his purported defection as fake news which Nigerians should disregard. The social media was awash yesterday (Wednesday) that I have defected from the PDP to the APC. I want to tell Nigerians that it is fake news. I am in PDP and I remain in PDP. I am not cut out for politics of jumping from one party to another. I will continue to be in PDP. There should be ideology in politics. The people of FCT and my supporters should not bother. The news is totally unfounded and fake news. I have no plan whatsoever to defect and I will not defect. I will not leave the PDP for any other party, the senator said. News Nigeria Today: Will Senators, Lawmakers Defection from APC Change Power in 2019? | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng Its a red-letter day for billionaire businessman Chima Desmond Anyaso as he celebrates a nuptial of five years old with his wife Adanna Anyaso. The affluent businessman who was in good spirits announced to people in a good natured post that his marriage was five years old today. He seemed very grateful for the journey so far and celebrated the day with his wife. For Chima Anyaso, the anniversary meant a lot for him as it implied he could show off and extol the mother of his two beautiful children Zala and Zola. The successful entrepreneur showered his wife with a lot of praises and called her a woman of inestimable values. READ ALSO: Billionaire businessman Chima Anyaso shares adorable photos of his mother and siblings In addition to the standup ovation the philanthropist accorded his wife, he also prayed that their relationship of five solid years continue to kept in love by God, peace and good health. The proud father of a girl and boy child saw into the future and wished that he and his wife would see their childrens children: "Its been five solid years with this wonderful woman of inestimable values. My prayer today is that God will continue to keep us together in love, peace and good health to see our childrens children in Jesus name, Amen!!!" PAY ATTENTION: More Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App To complement his praises, prayers and wishes, Chima shared pictures of his wife and himself. The pictures were reminiscent of beautiful memories that included their wedding moments, maternity shoots and other lovely pictures of them together. About the same time last year, Legit.ng shared details of the couple celebrating their fourth year anniversary. Just like last year, congratulations are in order for them this year. Chima Anyaso celebrate 5th wedding anniversary with wife Photo source: Instagram user chimaanyaso PAY ATTENTION: More relationship gist on Africa Love Aid The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Caades Oil and Gas Limited is also a politician and he currently intends to run for a position in the upcoming 2019 election. The CEO and owner of the Chima Anyaso Foundation is vying for the post as member of the Bende Federal House of Representatives. He has been known for his contribution to the Bende community where he is contesting for a post. For this, he is referred to as the Lion in Bende. But even more than that, Chima is celebrated more as a lover of his family and a lover of Nigeria. Nigerian Air Force Day Celebration 2018 (54th Anniversary) | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the All Progressives Congress (APC) lacks the legislative number and constitutional facilities to remove Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Friday in Abuja, the party advised the Presidency and the APC to accept the reality. It said that Presidency and the APC, having realized that there was no way they could muster the constitutionally required two-third votes of the 109 senators, representing 73 senators, was now engaged in under-hand tactics. These, according to it, include the invasion of the National Assembly. Even before then, Nigerians were already aware of moves to use humongous funds to induce lawmakers to trigger crisis in the National Assembly and pave the way for the removal of presiding officers. Now that they have discovered that there is no way they can achieve their devious intentions, they have commenced a war of blackmail, distortions of fact and media trial against the Senate leadership. It said that the attempts would end up as another wasteful venture as Nigerians were aware of the long-drawn desperation to annex the legislature. READ ALSO: Breaking: 9 people confirmed dead as gunmen invade Benue community The PDP added that even among the ranks of APC senators and members of House of Representatives, there is huge aversion to the tactics being deployed to force out duly elected presiding officers of the assembly. It said that such lawmakers were fully aligned with Nigerians, the PDP and the national assembly leadership in the protection of the independence, sanctity and integrity of the parliament and all democratic institutions in the country. It is therefore instructive for both the Presidency and the APC to know that there is no way they can remove the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate. It cautioned against over-heating the polity and attempts to circumvent rules and the Constitution, saying that such would not change the resolve of Nigerians to vote out APC in 2019. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that Senate President Bukola Saraki has said he will step down from the leadership of the Senate if he loses the support of fellow lawmaker in the upper chamber. Saraki made the statement on Wednesday, August 8, when addressing journalists at a press conference held at the National Assembly to address the recent siege laid to the Assembly complex by the Department of State Security (DSS). Nigeria Latest News How Masked DSS Gunmen Stormed the National Assembly (The True Story) Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Kogi state governor has accused two PDP ex-governors of importing thugs into the state to disrupt the bye-election - The governor alleged that the thugs were recruited from Nasarawa and Bayelsa With less that 24 hours to the House of Representatives by-election in Lokoja/Kotonkarfe constituency, the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, on Friday, August 10, raised the alarm over influx of political thugs allegedly imported by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to disrupt the exercise. He specifically accused two ex-governors of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, popularly known as Ibro and Captain Idris Wada of spearheading the agenda. A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Odaudu Joel Minister, said the political thugs were recruited from Toto in Nassarawa state, Bayelsa state, and other parts of the Niger Delta. He advised the public, especially Kogi citizens within the constituency to be security conscious and report unusual migration or movement of unfamiliar faces within their territories to security agents who are already on the watch. READ ALSO: Again, crowd boos Kwankwaso in Kaduna The statement reads: The attention of Kogi state government has been drawn to an ugly development where some desperate elements of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have imported thugs from Toto in Nassarawa state, Bayelsa state, and other parts of the Niger Delta into Kogi state to disrupt the Lokoja/Kotonkarfe House of Representatives by-election scheduled to hold tomorrow Saturday, 11th August, 2018. Former Governors Ibrahim Idris (Ibro) and Captain Idris Wada are spearheads of this nefarious agenda. The Kogi state government vehemently condemn this evil agenda in its entirety. We understand from our deliberate social reforms that if such acts are allowed, it will take our democratic calendar back by centuries. We hereby call on all lovers of democracy, friends of Kogi state government, indigenes of progressive mindset and security agencies to stay alert to their antics. We are putting all mechanisms in place from our end to ensure the entire process is peaceful and orderly and safe for every voter to exercise their franchise. The general public is hereby notified to be security conscious and report unusual migration or movement of unfamiliar faces within their territories to the dispatch of security agents who are already on the watch." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng earlier reported that some lawmakers in the Kogi state National Assembly have cried out over their inability to visit their constituencies due to alleged intimidation by Governor Yahaya Bello. Not less than eight of the twelve federal lawmakers in a joint press statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, July 31, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the governor in the interest of the state and the country's democracy. Kogi West senatorial district to recall senator Dino Melaye from the Nigerian Senate - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria Jerri-Lynn here. In this Real News Network interview, conducted to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the second atomic bomb drop on Nagasaki, historian Peter Kuznick reflects on how the nuclear threat is more immediate now than at any other time since the 1950s. How did we get here? Kuznick says that people should go back and listen to Fred Astaire. Yes, that Fred Astaire: playing a physicist in the great 1959 movie, On The Beach, in which he critiques deterrence theory. I embed a link to that scene here: Jerri-Lynn again here: Kuznick notes that the nuclear freeze movement and the anti-nuclear movement was very potent in the 1980s on university campuses and elsewhere. I was a student at that time, first in the US and then the UK, and I can testify to that, having marched in demonstrations in London and elsewhere. Alas, nuclear issues dont get that sort of attention today despite the threat they pose being every bit as dangerous, if not more so, than at anytime before. ******* Real News Network video: MARC STEINER: Welcome to The Real News Network. Im Marc Steiner. Good to have you with us. We are commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where as many as 226,000 people were killed because of that blast. It launched the nuclear arms race. We have with us Peter Kuznick, professor of history and director of Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, who is also the author of Beyond the Laboratory: Scientist as Political Activist in 1930s America. And he is currently joining us from Nagasaki, Japan, where hes gone with some of his students. And Peter, welcome to the program. Good to have you with us. PETER KUZNICK: Mark, Ive been taking students to Hiroshima and Nagasaki every summer on what we call the peace tour every summer since 1995. This is the 24th time Ive brought students from American University to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to commemorate the anniversary of the atomic bombings. And in some ways its as relevant now as its ever been. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists recently moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock to two minutes before midnight. Thats the closest its ever been. It was first moved to two minutes before midnight back in the early 1950s, after the United States and the Soviet Union tested their hydrogen bombs. And many of us feel that given whats going on in the world, the situation in Korea, the situation in Iran, the tension between the United States and Russia in Syria, Ukraine, the Baltics, this is a very, very dangerous moment. So nuclear issues should be in the forefront of peoples thinking and concerns. And we lost it again. MARC STEINER: So let me pick up from that point, because I think its really important to examine this. I mean, when- if youre of a certain age in this country, in this world, you remember that time when people hid under their desks. We remember the time people lived under the threat of an atomic war taking place between countries. So that consciousness is really not with us at this moment. People dont have the same intense feelings and fears about it that they once did. So how do you begin to build that political, cultural understanding to try to start this new conversation about where we are? PETER KUZNICK: Its interesting. On the campuses there is just not the kind of concern that there was in previous decades. I see that with my students. I see that. Students are focused on other things, and thats great. But weve got two primary concerns that threaten the future existence of our species. The number one concern is the nuclear threat. The number two concern is climate change. The situation now, the latest understanding of nuclear winter, the latest scientific studies, show that a limited nuclear war between India and Pakistan, in which 100 Hiroshima-sized nuclear weapons were used, could cause partial nuclear winter. The temperatures on the earths surface will plummet. Agriculture would be destroyed for a long period of time. And up to two billion people could be killed. Thats a limited nuclear war with 100 Hiroshima-sized nuclear weapons. We now have 14,450 nuclear weapons in the world, and theyre not Hiroshima size. Theyre between 7 and 80 times as powerful as the Hiroshima bomb. So people need a wakeup call, whatever that takes. They have got to understand that the immediate threat to our existence is still the nuclear threat. And youve got leaders- well, weve got two leaders in the world now- who have absolute veto power over the future existence of our species. The United States and Russia control 93 percent of the worlds nuclear weapons. That means Donald Trump, the unpredictable Donald Trump, has got access to the nuclear codes and could end life on the planet almost immediately. And Vladimir Putin has the same power. That is insane that two people have that kind of power. But beyond that, the threat of even limited nuclear wars, the threat of accidental nuclear wars. We saw the situation in Korea. Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, said that he felt there was a 50/50 chance that we were going to go to war in Korea. Everybody feared that that was going to turn into a nuclear war. And then youve got Trump, after creating that crisis, sanely trying to tamp that down; and then creating a whole new crisis by ripping up the Iran nuclear deal. So the timeliness of being in Hiroshima and Nagasaki now is that the world has got to start focusing again on these kinds of issues and concerns. MARC STEINER: So now we have a president sitting in the White House here in the United States who wants to build the nuclear arsenal here in the United States. Has threatened North Korea, before he met with the leader of North Korea. But threatened in the kind of absurd, childish tweets that he made about ours is bigger than yours. And I was wondering if the, if the clock was pushed to two minutes before the hour because of Trumps victory? Is it deeper than that? I mean, we also know Israel has atomic weapons that they could use if they feel deeply threatened. So I mean, it could come from any number of areas. PETER KUZNICK: There are currently nine countries that have nuclear weapons. Nine countries. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said that 40 countries have the technological capability of developing nuclear weapons. The possibility of nuclear anarchy, in that sense, is real. Having Donald Trump in the White House with his finger on the proverbial nuclear button is very frightening, but the situation was dangerous before that. You look at George Bushs 2002 Nuclear Posture Review. The New York Times had an editorial after that saying that the United States was the worlds nuclear rogue power because of the provocative nature of Bushs Nuclear Posture Review. We wound it down a little bit under Obama. Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize because of his Prague speech calling for nuclear abolition. Obama was a huge disappointment. Not only did Obama not abolish nuclear weapons, Obama maintained all the myths about nuclear weapons. And Obama also called for a 30-year, trillion-dollar modernization of every aspect of Americas nuclear arsenal, which means that nuclear weapons under Obama became more usable, not less usable. And now Trump is continuing that policy. The estimate now officially is $1.2 trillion, but we know that were talking more in the range of $1.7 trillion to $2 trillion for this nuclear modernization. The point is- and were even legally committed under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, all the nuclear powers are supposed to move quickly to abolish their nuclear arsenals. That was back in 1970. Were breaking international law. MARC STEINER: All right. What it also says, though, Peter, I mean, so in the last 48 years nothing has diminished. Since the beginning of the 50s, the arsenals have only been developed with greater strength around the world. Its proliferated, as you pointed out earlier. So Im wondering again, I mean, what moves have to be made? Because even, whether you have a liberal Democrat in the White House, or a conservative Republican, or no matter whos sitting in the Kremlin, no matter whos sitting anywhere, there are people who feel like they have to have these weapons in order to defend themselves and to be powerful enough to dissuade people from using them. Thats the argument that would be used. PETER KUZNICK: Nuclear deterrence theory is a great theory until it doesnt work. Once deterrence fails theres nobody left alive to tell those people in power that this was not a good idea. You know, people should actually go back and listen to Fred Astaire. MARC STEINER: Did you say Fred Astaire? PETER KUZNICK: I said Fred Astaire. He plays a physicist, Julian, in the great 1959 movie On the Beach. And there in Melbourne, theyre waiting for nuclear radiation to hit Melbourne, the southernmost major city. The rest of the world is already dead. And they ask Julian- Fred Astaires character- how did we do this? How were we so stupid to blow it up? And Fred Astaire gives a brilliant critique of deterrence theory. You know, try to defend ourselves with weapons that we know if we use were committing global suicide makes no sense at all. You know, as Khrushchev said after the Cuban missile crisis, he said if the weapons go off and the bombs start falling, whos going to care if were capitalists or communists? Whos going to care if were Christians, or Jews, or Muslims, or Buddhists? Therell be nobody left alive to tell us apart at that point. And so theres a certain wisdom to people like the Fred Astaire character in On the Beach, or Khrushchev, or Kennedy after the Cuban missile crisis. But we havent learned those lessons or the people in power have not learned those lessons. Donald Trump- you know, Donald Trump. Donald Trump said, whats the point of having nuclear weapons if we cant use them? To a normal, sane human being, that means lets get rid of the nuclear weapons. To Donald Trump, that means lets make them more usable. And so thats, that was the danger in the Korea crisis. Thats still the danger in the Iran crisis. Trump wisely, in some ways, sanely even, has called for improving relations with the United States and Russia. And thats essential, given the nature of our conflicts and given the nature of our capabilities to destroy each other. You have to remember that we still have more than a thousand nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert from the United States and Russia pointed at each other. Those weapons have to be used almost instantaneously, or theyre lost. And there are so many things we could do to lessen the threat. Long run weve got to eliminate the threat. First thing we have to do is get the nuclear arsenal down below the level for nuclear winter. Thats the first thing we have to do. During the, after Trump got elected, he and Putin were on the phone. And Putin said, we need to extend the New START Treaty beyond its expiration in 2021. And so then Trump puts down the phone and asks his advisor, whats the New START Treaty? And he gets back on the phone. He says, no, its a terrible treaty. We dont want to extend it. Thats the situation were in. Not only is Donald Trump ignorant when it comes to nuclear weapons, his instincts are all wrong. And the fact is that if Donald Trump gives an order to use nuclear weapons, theres nobody who can block it. There are people who can commit what would be considered treason, possibly, and refuse to carry out Trumps orders. But theres no intermediary. The process is that the president has that power on his own, his own authority. MARC STEINER: Im very curious, when youre in Nagasaki and the conversations youre having with people, what are peoples thoughts about how to revive the understanding about how important this is, what were actually facing, what we talked about at the very beginning of our conversation. I mean, because you dont, you dont read about it a great deal in most of the popular press. You dont feel it kind of bubbling up. So what are people talking about in terms of how you bring this consciousness to bear? PETER KUZNICK: Well, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki there, these are the two places in the world where everybody is thinking and talking about this. So this is sort of, youve got to go back to Baltimore, youve got to go to Washington to find out whats going on in peoples heads, why theyre not concerned about it. Robert Lifton had some brilliant theories about, about why people are so blocked when it comes to nuclear issues, why we cant continue to think about them, why we cant think more creatively. What is it about the nature of nuclear annihilation? Why cant we contemplate about the fact that were actually preparing for our own extinction as a species? In fact, in 1947, the great analyst Louis Mumford wrote an editorial called Gentlemen, You Are Mad. And he says that mad men run the world. They look like normal human beings. Theyre dressed in suits and ties the uniforms. They go to work. And they plan for annihilation. They have the names of presidents and generals and this and that, but theyre planning annihilation. And thats still the reality. Daniel Ellsberg laid this out brilliantly in his recent memoir. But this is something that weve known for a long time, that that there is something very irrational and self-destructive about our species. As a species weve got a death instinct. Why are we spending so much money perfecting the means of killing, making weapons systems that are more and more lethal? Vladimir Putin on March 1 gave his State of the Nation address. MARC STEINER: And so to me this is really fascinating, because Ive thought about this a great deal. Been reading a lot about it. Obviously was very involved in this many, many decades ago, as a younger man. As a young boy, as well. And so the question is, I think that, as you were describing that, is how you popularize this among people. I mean, because we are facing something that is as disastrous, perhaps more immediately so, than the climate disaster that were facing on the planet. And so when you gather in places like Nagasaki, are people coming from across the globe? What is the state of the, of the movement at this moment that is questioning and against the development of nuclear power and weapons? PETER KUZNICK: Weve been grappling with this since the 1980s. The nuclear freeze movement and the anti-nuclear movement was very potent in the 1980s. It was the salient movement on American campuses. People were reading about it, studying about it. Partly there were great movies. Or not, or certainly powerful movies. The British movie Threads; American movies like The Day After. There were quite a few good American movies during that time. And it was a combination of popular culture with dedicated organizers who were driving this home day after day after day. And we saw the impact even on Ronald Reagan, where by 1985 we make all this big deal about the fact that Trump and Putin met with just their translators, and no record. Well, in 1985, Gorbachev and Reagan met alone with translators for four hours and 51 minutes. And they laid the basis for whats later going to come almost to fruition at Reykjavik, where they came within one word of abolishing nuclear weapons. And the following year they did eliminate an entire category of nuclear weapons. We need to put the same kind of pressure on Trump and Putin, and all the other leaders today. But its a combination of popular culture, education, and people looking squarely into the eye. The media doesnt cover this. You know, where we see it on the mainstream media, a serious discussion of nuclear weapons? We see a threat from Iran, supposedly, or a situation in North Korea. But we dont see the role that the United States is playing right now, heating up crises around the world; many of which, given the situation, could develop into nuclear confrontations. MARC STEINER: Thank you, Peter, so much for joining us. Its always a pleasure to have you with us here on The Real News. Peter Kuznick is professor of history and director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, and joins us from Nagasaki, Japan in the wee hours so we can have this update. Peter, thanks so much. Enjoy your time in Japan, and we look forward to talking to you when you get back to the States. PETER KUZNICK: Thanks, Marc. Take care. MARC STEINER: Take care. And Im Marc Steiner for The Real News Network. Take care. Well be talking soon. By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She is currently writing a book about textile artisans. The government of Puerto Rico finally acknowledged in Transformation and Innovation in the Wake of Devastation,a report posted online and filed with Congress Wednesday, that an additional 1427 people died in the four months after Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck, compared to the average for that period for the previous four years. This number is more than twenty times higher than the previous, unrevised official death toll of 64 that remained unchanged, despite several independent assessments that reported much higher figures. The report which stretches to more than 400 pages sets out the islands recovery and reconstruction plan to Congress, with a total cost for funding Puerto Ricos economic and disaster recovery of $125 billion (report. p. IX). The New York Times was the first to report the story in Puerto Rican Government Acknowledges Hurricane Death Toll of 1,427: The figures came from death registry statistics that were released in June, but which were never publicly acknowledged by officials on the island. The increase was enormous, particularly considering that Puerto Ricos population has declined considerably in the past few years. Now, its not exactly news to anyone that the previous reported death toll was not only too low, but could have been avoided by a better response. Sustained and widespread power outages was one factor that caused many deaths. This prior post discussed the breakdown of emergency and hospital services, How Puerto Ricos Death Toll Was Ignored, and Could Have Been Avoided; it was the second part of a Real News Network two-part series. The first part, Puerto Ricos Uncounted Dead: Study Says Hurricane Maria Toll Far Higher Than Official Count, provided more detail on the impact of privatization on critical supplies like oxygen and medications, the lack of which also killed people. (This is just one of many posts on Puerto Ricos suffering Lambert has posted since the hurricanes struck; see., e.g., here, here, here, and here, for a sample.) Death Figures Still in Dispute The government of Puerto Rico has pledged to update the official figures once a study it has commissioned by George Washington University is released later this summer (report, p. 30). Other studies have already been completed, making it more difficult that an obviously flawed or biased study would survive scrutiny. As summarized by Vox in 1,427 deaths: Puerto Rico is coming clean about Hurricane Marias true toll: A study by researchers at Harvard, published in May in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that more than 4,600 Puerto Ricans may have died in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. And, they wrote, the estimate of total deaths is likely to be conservative since subsequent adjustments for survivor bias and household-size distributions increase this estimate to more than 5,000. The only other US disaster on record with a higher death toll is the Galveston, Texas, hurricane of 1900, when somewhere between 6,000 and 12,000 people died, the Harvard researchers noted. [Jerri-Lynn here: I refer interested readers to the study, conducted by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Mortality in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria).] Alexis Santos, a Puerto Rican demographer at Penn State who conducted his own analysis of mortality following the hurricane, also published a paper in the journal JAMA on August 2, with Jeffrey Howard of the University of Texas San Antonio, estimating the death toll at 1,139. The difference in the figures is due to slight differences in methodology in estimating deaths attributable to the storm and its aftermath, but they all show that the government initially underestimated the toll of the storm. Yet at this stage, even these latest numbers should not be regarded as the official death count which will wait on the results of the George Washington study, as reported by The Wall Street Journal in Puerto Rico: Hurricane Maria Death Toll May Have Topped 1,400: The document notes that the deaths may or may not be attributable to Hurricanes Maria and Irma, which struck the island weeks earlier. We always anticipated that this number would increase as more official studies were conducted, said Hector Pesquera, secretary of Puerto Ricos Department of Public Safety, on Thursday. But the figure of 1,427 is not the official number of deaths, he said. That number was not the result of an independent studyit is simple math. Puerto Rico: Neoliberal Casualty There is no question that the Trump administrations response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico was appalling and inadequate. Yet regular readers know that conditions there were strained before the hurricane hit as a consequence of austerity policies demanded by vulture funds, and Puerto Ricos longstanding inability to declare bankruptcy (due to its status as a US territory) and achieve debt restructuring. Congress and the previous administrations fudged a solution to the islands economic crisis that surprise, surprise, failed to address the needs of its population, as discussed in this account in The Week, Thanks to Obama, Puerto Rico might never recover from Irma. The genesis of that framework cannot be attributed to Trump who had yet to be elected and it continues to hobble any possible recovery: In June 2016, Congress and President Obama passed a bill supposedly to address the economic crisis in Puerto Rico, by imposing external dictatorship on the island. Called the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (or PROMESA), it placed an unelected seven-member board in total control of all important policy. The supposed justification was to give the island some way to get through bankruptcy. In reality it has set the island up for a decade of mass unemployment and crisis without remotely fixing the debt problem. Its no accident the locals call the board La Junta. As of September before Maria struck Puerto Ricos bond indebtedness was $73 billion translating to $17,000 per capita, according to CNBC. For more in this vein, see this September 14 post, Puerto Rico Is Getting Squeezed, and It Will Cost All of Us after Irma but before Maria, and other posts can be found here and here; there are many more, so I encourage interested readers to search the site using the term Puerto Rico. Yet despite the hurricanes, Puerto Rico remains constrained by the neoliberal playbook for dealing with its problems, thanks to PROMESA. (I am deliberately not delving into the weeds here to discuss any of the numerous pending legal challenges to this framework; see, e.g.,this WSJ account one lawsuit before one federal judge, Puerto Rico Bondholders Win Ruling Against U.S., and this NYT account, Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Judge Upholds Oversight Board Powers Over Government, for another). What this means, though, is that unlike the city of Baltimore see Baltimore Set To Be First Major US City to Ban Water Privatization- Puerto Rico needs to rely on the privatization fairy to solve its acute power generation problems. As Reuters reports in Puerto Rico utility debt restructuring deal points to path forward, earlier this month: A preliminary deal with owners of more than $3 billion of Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) bonds, announced late on Monday, puts the bankrupt utility on a tentative path toward transformation and privatization, but more challenges remain.[Jerri-Lynn here: my emphasis.] The restructuring agreement announced by a bondholders group largely made up of mutual funds and the utility would exchange existing bonds for new debt and link future payments to the islands economic recovery. The deal marks a major development in the government-owned utilitys four-year effort to restructure its debt. That process produced multiple proposals that were ultimately stymied, including one that was rejected by Puerto Ricos federal oversight board last year. This week, a deal was announced on restructuring roughly $18 billion in debt with Puerto Ricos sales tax creditors, as reported by the Wall Street Journal in Puerto Rico Bondholders Agree on Sales-Tax Split: The agreement, which requires court approval, would mark the largest consensual debt settlement negotiated with creditors since Puerto Rico entered a court-supervised bankruptcy last year. The Cofina debt stack would be slashed by 32%, saving Puerto Rico $17.5 billion in payments to bondholders compared with what they are currently owed. Senior creditors would receive 93% of their claims in the form of new debt while junior holders would recover 56.4%. Overall recoveries across both Cofina debt classes total 74.5%, according to the settlement terms. Puerto Ricos federal oversight board supports the agreement, as do the largest mutual funds, bond insurers and hedge funds with claims against Cofina revenues, which are sales taxes collected by merchants on the island. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, who is tangling with the oversight board over pension cuts and other austerity measures, also endorsed the terms. Am I the only one who thinks, given the magnitude of Puerto Ricos problems, that this is insane? A deal under which Senior creditors would receive 93% of their claims in the form of new debt while junior holders would recover 56.4%. Overall recoveries across both Cofina debt classes total 74.5%, according to the settlement terms. [emphasis added.] Considering the natural disaster that has stuck the island, why should creditors be treated so generously? It seems obvious that after the hurricanes, the need for comprehensive debt restructuring is even more urgent. And Im not the only one to think so. Senators Warren and Sanders in July introduced a debt restructuring bill, the US Territorial Relief Act, which is summarized in this CNBC story, Sens. Warren and Sanders introduce bill that would slash Puerto Ricos debt: The proposal counts Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California as co-sponsors. The bill provides an avenue to comprehensive debt relief for Puerto Rico and other hurricane-ravaged U.S. territories so that they have a chance to get back on their feet, according to the sponsors. Greedy Wall Street vulture funds must not be allowed to reap huge profits off the suffering and misery of the Puerto Rican people for a second longer. It is time to end Wall Streets stranglehold on Puerto Ricos future, return control of the island to the people of Puerto Rico and give the territory the debt relief it so desperately needs to rebuild with dignity, said Sanders, I-Vt. Puerto Rico was already being squeezed before Hurricane Maria hit and will now have to rebuild under the weight of crushing debt. Our bill will give territories that have suffered an extraordinary crisis a route to comprehensive debt relief and a chance to get back on their feet, said Warren, D-Mass. Disaster funding and the other resources in struggling territories budgets must not go to Wall Street vulture funds who snapped up their debt. Congress should pass this legislation right away our fellow U.S. citizens are counting on us. As Yves has noted before, in a post title that succinctly cuts to the crux: Wall Street Got a Bailout, Why Not Puerto Rico? Now, I will admit: I have not studied this bill. So it, too, may be far from a panacea. But surely some form of comprehensive restructuring is necessary at this point. Like Medicare for All and free college, such a solution falls into the category of sensible measures that alas seem to be beyond what our broken, money-riddled political system can achieve at present. By Janet Currie, Henry Putnam Professor of Economics and Public Affairs and Director of the Center for Health and Well Being, Princeton University, Hannes Schwandt, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Zurich and Josselin Thuilliez, Research Professor of Economics, CNRS and Pantheon-Sorbonne University. Originally published at VoxEU Understanding how inequalities in health are related to inequalities in income is a key issue for policymakers. This column describes how despite increasing income inequality in both countries, the development of mortality has been very different in France compared with the US. The findings show that inequalities in income and health do not necessarily move in tandem, and highlight how public policy helps to break this link. Income inequality has been on the rise on both sides of the Atlantic over the past decades, accompanied by a broad public debate about its negative consequences. Impacts on health and longevity, and the question of whether income inequality is causing inequality in health, have been a particular focus (Case and Deaton 2015). Causality could also run in the reverse direction. Mortality and morbidity are not only impacted by income differences; they also determine how productive an individual can be throughout the lifecycle and how many years of pension benefits are collected in old age. Moreover, parental income and health also impact their offsprings health at birth, which in turn determines economic success later in life. In other words, inequality in the labour market might not only affect inequality in health it also has the potential to feed back into income inequality and affect the starting conditions for the next generation. The strength of the connection between inequalities in health and inequalities in income is a key question. Analysing mortality trends in the US (Currie and Schwandt 2016a, 2016b) and in France (Currie et al.2018), we find that inequalities in income and health do not necessarily move in tandem, and that public policy can help to break the link. We show that the US experienced strong decreases in inequality in mortality among infants, children, and adolescents over the past decades, despite strong increases in income inequality. In France a country with universal health care coverage that experienced recent increases in income inequality mortality at younger ages remained equal across rich and poor areas. At older ages, mortality tends to be higher among the poor in France, but this gradient has not steepened over the past decades despite the run-up in income inequality. And compared to the US, health inequality is much lower across all ages in France. Remarkably, this high level of health equity does not come at the expense of slower innovation in health. Mortality in France has improved across both poor and rich areas more strongly than in the US. Comparing mortality across socioeconomic groups over time is challenging, and even more so across countries. Many datasets do not allow researchers to directly link deaths to socioeconomic characteristics. Even when such a link is possible, socioeconomic groups often change over time, making the interpretation of observed trends difficult. For example, in the US longevity among non-Hispanic, white high school dropouts has decreased, but many fewer whites drop out of high school now than 30 years ago. The shrinking share of the group who are high school dropouts means that the remaining dropouts are more negatively selected and more likely to have had poor health in any case. These compositional changes are even more complicated when comparing different countries. Hence, comparing differential trends in mortality for socioeconomic subgroups such as the less educated between two countries is not informative. We follow Currie and Schwandt (2016a, 2016b) and develop a method for following mortality in consistently defined subgroups that are comparable across countries. For the US, we rank all counties by their poverty rate and divide them into 20 groups of approximately the same size, so that each group contains about 5% of the overall population. In the French data, we divide by 96 departementsinstead of counties and then divide once again into 20 groups. This method allows us to compare, for example, mortality in the richest and poorest areas with 5% of the population in the US and France, and how the mortality in these areas changed over time. (Potential compositional changes across areas can be accounted for by reordering counties and departements, though our results are not affected.) Figure 1 shows male mortality rates across poverty percentiles in the US and France, in 1990 and 2010, separately by age groups (female mortality rates, which show a similar pattern, at lower levels, are shown in Figure 2). Mortality rates are measured on the y-axis, while the x-axis indicates poverty percentiles; a place with a poverty percentile near zero is a rich place, and a place with a poverty percentile near 100 is among the poorest places. Upward-sloping graphs indicate higher mortality in poorer places. The slope of the line indicates how strong this relationship is flatter lines indicate more equality in mortality, such that lower and flatter is better. If mortality falls over time, then we should expect to see the line representing 2010 lying below the line for 1990. Figure 1 Male US versus French mortality rates in 1990 and 2010 Notes: Lower and flatter = better. One-year mortality rates across departementand county groups ranked by their poverty level are plotted for France and the US by age group in 1990 and 2010. Source: Currie et al. (2018). There are several remarkable patterns that jump out when looking at Figure 1. Lets first focus on the gradients for Frances infants and young males, represented by the red lines in the upper panel. These lines are flat, which means that mortality for infants, children, and adolescents in France does not depend on whether they live in a rich or a poor area. There is no inequality in mortality at these ages, and this equity in mortality remained stable between 1990 (thin lines) and 2010 (thick lines). At the same time, mortality has strongly decreased over this time period, indicated by the parallel downward shift in the 2010 line relative to the 1990 line. At middle and older ages, a gradient appears in French mortality with people in poorer areas facing higher mortality risks. Still, strong mortality improvements occurred between 1990 and 2010 and all areas benefited similarly. The pattern for the US, shown by the dashed blue lines, is very different. There is a strong positive gradient already at young ages and inequality in mortality is higher than in France over the entire life cycle. While this can be seen as bad news, the comparison of the dashed lines for 1990 and 2010 reveals strong improvement at younger ages. Mortality decreased strongly, with the greatest improvements occurring in poorer areas. The slopes for infants, children, and adolescents are much flatter in 2010 than in 1990, despite the increase in income inequality over the same time period. Developments at middle and older ages, however, are less promising. Mortality decreased less in the US than in France, and improvements were if anything weaker in poorer areas, implying an increase in mortality inequality. Overall, these results suggest that there is no necessary connection between changes in income inequality and changes in health inequality. Despite increasing income inequality in the US and in France, the development of mortality has been very different between these two countries and across individual age groups. We identify health care systems as one central factor breaking the income-mortality link. The French health insurance system is one of the most redistributive in the world, with particularly low out-of-pocket expenditure. The lack of any mortality inequality at younger ages in France can be seen as the result of this universal availability of high-quality health care. The remaining inequalities at older ages point to the continued importance of social determinants of health that cannot be entirely compensated by health care provision, such as education, access to employment, and income support. These social factors have been recently identified as priorities in Frances national health strategy (Touraine 2014). If these factors are successfully addressed, the mortality gradients at middle and older ages might flatten further in the future. The US experienced a dramatic expansion of public health insurance over the past decades, with a particular focus on poor infants and children as well as pregnant mothers (Currie and Gruber 1996). Several recent studies directly link these health insurance expansions to improvements in infant and child mortality, and to better long-term outcomes (Brown et al. 2015, Cohodes et al. 2014, Currie et al. 2008, Miller and Wherry 2014, Wherry and Meyer 2015, Wherry et al. 2015). Other important policies targeting domestic violence and improved nutrition are equally likely to benefit children (Aizer and Currie 2014). The joint impacts of these large-scale policies targeted at disadvantaged infants and children are likely to have been key for the dramatic mortality reduction at those ages and the shrinking of the gap between rich and poor areas. As Currie and Schwandt (2016a, 2016b) argue, even some of the increasing mortality inequality observed at older ages in the US could be the result of successful social health policies. The cohorts that have entered old age over the past two decades experienced strong decreases in smoking rates that were particularly dramatic among persons of higher socioeconomic status. When the Surgeon General warned about the health risks of smoking in the 1960s, it was the wealthier parts of society who stopped smoking first, while the more disadvantaged parts of society followed that trend about a decade later. As a result, current cohorts of the elderly have experienced mortality improvements due to smoking cessation more strongly among the rich than among the poor, implying an increase in mortality inequality. However, since information about the dangers of smoking eventually reached all parts of society and smoking rates are low across the entire socioeconomic spectrum in younger cohorts, it is likely that old age mortality gaps due to smoking-related causes will decrease again once those cohorts enter retirement age. Editors note: A slightly edited version of this column was published on the ProMarket blog. See original post for references By Tim Daiss, an oil markets analyst, journalist and author that has been working out of the Asia-Pacific region for 12 years. Ive covered oil, energy markets and geopolitics for Forbes, Platts, Interfax, NewsBase, Rigzone, and the UK-based Independent (newspaper) as well as providing energy markets analysis for subscription newsletters. Ive also authored geopolitical reports and analysis for Singapore-based consultancy Enerdata. Originally published at OilPrice While its true that Chinas crude oil imports recovered slightly in July, it was still among the lowest so far this year due to a decline in demand from smaller so-called independent teapot refineries. However, for the first seven months of the year, China imported some 8.98 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, up 5.6 percent from a year earlier. Total natural gas imports, including both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), rose to 7.38 million tonnes during the same period, up 28.3 percent from a year ago, according to customs data. Moreover, amid both economic growth as well as Beijings mandate that gas make up at least 10 percent of the countrys energy mix by 2020 to offset the effects of rampant air pollution from dirtier thermal coal power production, the long term trajectory for both Chinas natural gas consumption, as well as oil usage, will continue to increase, posing both a geopolitical and financial dilemma for the country that the U.S. and many western powers grappled with for decades. Gas Matters Going forward, Chinas gas demand is projected by the IEA to rise by 60 percent between 2017 and 2023 to 376 billion cubic meters (bcm), including a spike in its LNG imports to 93 bcm by 2023 from 51 bcm last year. The IEA has also projected that China will become the worlds top natural gas importer (both pipeline and LNG) by next year. This marked increase in Chinese LNG procurement has changed the global LNG market from one that was projected to remain in a supply overhang scenario until around 2022 or even later to one that is now projected to have possible shortfalls of the super-cooled fuel around the same time frame. It has also ushered in new confidence for global LNG producers and talk of pushing ahead more greenfield LNG projects to meet this demand, a possibility unheard of just a year ago. Related: Oil Prices Hit 7-Week Low As Trade War Heats Up This increase in gas usage will also mean that Chinas domestic gas output, though it will be the worlds fourth largest gas producer by 2023, will be unable to keep up, with China increasingly becoming more reliant on gas imports from both established LNG producers like Australia, the U.S. (current trade tensions notwithstanding) and Russia, but also more geopolitically volatile producers such as Qatar, still the worlds top LNG producer, Yemen, Oman, Papua New Guinea, in time Mozambique, and others. Stellar GDP Growth However, even more problematic for China than its increasing gas consumption projections will be its continued oil thirst. Chinas oil usage continues to increase amid a GDP growth rate that has been the envy of the western world. Admittedly, Chinas economic growth is slowing but the question has to be asked, slowing from what level? China had double-digit real GDP growth for much of 19802005, and energy demand more than tripled during that time. In 2010, Chinas GDP grew at a stellar 10.61 percent, followed by 9.4 percent the next year. In 2012 and 2013 Chinas GDP growth for both years reached nearly 8 percent, followed by an average GDP growth rate of 6.925 percent between 2014 and 2017. Chinas economic growth rate did slip in Q2 this year but it still came in at an impressive 6.7 percent. The U.S., for its part, has not posted a GDP growth rate above 5.12 percent since 2006. Oil Thirst Remains Problematic China surpassed the U.S. in annual gross crude oil imports in 2017, importing 8.4 million bpd compared with 7.9 million bpd for the U.S. China had become the worlds largest net importer (imports minus exports) of total petroleum and other liquid fuels in 2013. Last year, 56 percent of Chinas oil imports came from OPEC members. Though that was a marked decline from a peak 67 percent in 2012, it still represents over half of the countrys demand derived from OPEC members. Moreover, as China prepares to decrease imports of U.S. crude oil, OPEC imports, in addition to Russia, will increase to replace lost U.S. barrels. This over reliance on imports from individual OPEC members puts China in a geopolitically precarious situation. Though China could indeed see oil demand growth slow in coming months, in part due to the ongoing trade row with the U.S., in the mid to long term Chinas oil consumption thus its reliance on foreign oil will continue to grow. The IEA said recently that Chinas oil demand could reach 15.5 million bpd by 2040, after peaking in 2030. Along with supply risk attributed to over reliance of imported foreign crude, there is the issue of transfer of wealth, again something that plagued the U.S. for nearly 40 years and forced its hand as it became involved in countless military endeavors in the Middle East. Oil demand problems for China are being exacerbated by its maturing onshore oil fields and the inability to discover and develop new fields in sufficient quantity to offset these production loses perhaps one reason China has pushed so hard recently in the thought to be oil and gas rich South China Sea. Using state of the art CGI and the latest underwater technology and working alongside divers, wreck investigators and archaeologists, Ocean Wreck Investigation tells the stories of the final moments of ships and those on board. Thursdays from 9:30pm AEDT. NATOs highest Military Authority, the Military Committee, will meet from 28-30 September 2018, in Warsaw, Poland. The meeting will be hosted by the Chief of the Polish General Staff, Lieutenant General Rajmund Andrzejczak. The NATO Military Committee Conference enables the Chiefs of Defence to meet and discuss issues of importance to the Alliance. They will cover topics including Readiness, Responsiveness and Modernisation as well as provide recommendations for future NATO operations, exercises and activities including closer cooperation with International Organisations. They will also elect the next Director General of the International Military Staff, who will take office in 2019. The Military Committee Conference is led by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee. He will be supported in each session by General Curtis M. Scaparrotti (Supreme Allied Commander Europe or SACEUR) and General Andre Lanata (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation or SACT). The Military Committee meets twice a year at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, at the level of Chiefs of Defence to discuss NATO operations and missions and provide the North Atlantic Council with consensus-based military advice on how the Alliance can best meet global security challenges, and once a year they meet in an Allied member country. On a day-to-day basis, their work is carried out by the permanent Military Representatives at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Media Opportunities Friday 28 Sep 2018 18:30-19:00 Official Welcome Ceremony (Royal Castle Courtyard) Saturday 29 Sep 2018 08:30-08:45 Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session (Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Main Ballroom) Opening remarks by the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Air Chief Marshal, Sir Stuart Peach Opening remarks by Chief of the Polish General Staff, Lieutenant General, Rajmund Andrzejczak. 17:45-18:15 Joint Press conference with the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach and the Chief of the Polish General Staff, Lieutenant General Rajmund Andrzejczak, (Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Adler + Poplar Room) Imagery After each event, photos, video and audio files will be made available on the NATO IMS webpage www.nato.int/ims, as well as the MC Conference event page. Each media event will also be available live on the MC Conference event page. Accreditation Only accredited media will be eligible to attend the NATO Military Committee Conference in Warsaw, Poland. Requests for accreditation will be processed electronically. A completed accreditation form, photo (if possible) and required copies of the documents should be sent by e-mail to: rzeczniksgwp@ron.mil.pl. Please use the following title in the subject of your e-mail: "Accreditation NATO MCC 2018". Accreditation forms must be sent by 12h00 on the 28 August 2018. Forms delivered after this date may be refused. Passes must be worn visibly at all times, and security personnel may ask to see another form of ID at any time. We would like to inform the media that security checks will be conducted separately prior to every media event. For this reason, media are expected to arrive at least an hour before the events. Social Media We will post the latest information and pictures from the Conference on our official Twitter account: @NATO_PASCAD. Please use the hashtags #NATOCHoDs and #NATOMC when tweeting about the Military Committee Conference. Enquiries Points of Contact for Public Affairs and Strategic Communication for the Military Committee Conference 2018: Col. Tomasz Szulejko, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Officer, Polish General Staff.Tel: +48 602 431 294 / +48 22 261 871 607/ +48 22 261 870 807 E-mail: rzeczniksgwp@ron.mil.pl Points of contact for the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee: Mr. Damien Elvin, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee and the NATO International Military Staff Tel: + 32 476 60 53 56 E-Mail: elvin.damien@hq.nato.int Ms. Elizabeth Steenson, Public Affairs Officer, NATO International Military Staff Tel: + 32 475 75 75 23 E-Mail: steenson.elizabeth@hq.nato.int One of NATOs naval groups is visiting Trondheim on Friday (10 August 2018), and from there it will go on to search for sea mines dating back to World War II. The operation will make the waters safer for fishermen and shipping in the area. Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) currently consists of four ships from Belgium, Norway, Latvia and Lithuania. During their port visit to Trondheim members of the public will be able to visit the ships to find out more about their work. After leaving Trondheim, SNMCMG1 will begin historical ordnance disposal operations along the Norwegian coast. During this mission the group will search and identify sea mines and other dangerous ordnance left over from World War II. All the data collected will be handed to the Norwegian authorities to improve maritime safety. This year the ships have carried out mine clearance operations off the coast of France, the United Kingdom and in the Baltic Sea. NATO has four standing maritime groups which are made up of ships from various nations, a demonstration of Allied solidarity. These vessels are permanently available to NATO to perform different tasks ranging from exercises to operations. They also serve as an on-call maritime force as a part of NATOs Spearhead Force - the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. In June and July, NATOs major anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2018 was held off the coast of Norway. In October and November Norway will host Trident Juncture 2018, one of NATOs largest military exercises in recent years. It will have more than 40,000 participants from more than 30 countries. (Natural News) Employees and executives for CNN have repeatedly demanded that specific journalists from the independent press be banned from social media. One of the reporters in their crosshairs is Alex Jones and the InfoWars network. CNN has pressured social media platforms like Facebook to blacklist InfoWars one of the most popular and engaging news channels on the internet. InfoWars covers some of the toughest topics of our time. Their reporters shed light on some of the darkest issues, unveiling truths that arent reported on by the media elites. After years of honest reporting, they are suddenly being blacklisted by multiple outlets for hate speech. Whether you like his style or not, you have to respect Alex Jones for speaking up on some of the most pertinent issues when it comes to protecting life and liberty. In July, CNN reporter Oliver Darcy held a Facebook event in New York demanding Facebook to explain why InfoWars still had a platform on their site. CNN reporters are nothing but cry bullies, whining that they are victims of hate speech, when they are the ones whose actions reflect that of a bullys. Americans see through CNNs agenda and Donald Trump has called the network out when they are blatantly fake and phony. And its obvious by now: CNN seeks to suppress any opposing views or anyone who supports the President of the United States. CNN refuses to take responsibility for its failed, feckless, and biased reporting; this dying news organizations role in promoting the Trump-Russia conspiracy is grating the nerves of the American republic. Free press needed just to hold CNN accountable If anything, there should be a more aggressive, real free press whose sole purpose is to question CNN, so that the despot organization can be held accountable for any collusion they engage in, in undermining the United States, in destroying the republic, and in suppressing those who speak the truth. The phony conspiracies that CNN reporters peddle will only tarnish their own integrity. If free speech gives this despot organization the right to libel, then free speech should give InfoWars a platform to tell the truth about CNN and the collusion of liberal tech giants who try to censor dissenting voices. CNN is only an extension of the criminal Clinton-Soros network, covering up their crimes, while framing and penning false blame on their opposition. CNN gets their way, mocks the blacklisting of independent publisher Info Wars After months of calling on Silicon Valley to blacklist Info Wars, CNN has got their way, convincing Facebook, Google, YouTube, Apple, and Spotify to remove InfoWars from their platforms. Each takedown happened within hours of one another the most blatant, coordinated attack on free speech the internet has seen. Since the takedown, CNNs Brian Stelter has mocked InfoWars and has sided with the monopolistic right of tech giants to blacklist independent publishers from the internet when their reporting is deemed offensive. Other CNN anchors are grandstanding the censorship, mocking InfoWars and founder Alex Jones. (Related: Banned by YouTube and Facebook, InfoWars videos now available on Brighteon.com.) CNNs hypocrisy on free speech, free press This is the same CNN that criticized President Donald Trump for removing CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins from the White House press corps, when she continued on about the Russia-Trump conspiracy. Trump wont tolerate the conspiracies or the baseless accusations that label him a racist. Trump believes that CNN and other fake news reporters should be held accountable for violating libel laws when they continuously spout off defamatory lies. CNN is an embarrassment for journalism; much of their questions are nothing but an agenda of obstruction and liberal crybaby rage. As CNN mocks InfoWars and praises Silicon Valley for blacklisting the independent publisher, CNN continues to prove that they are indeed an enemy of the people of the United States. To keep up with latest on Silicon Valleys censorship of independent media, visit Censorship.News. Sources include: TheGatewayPundit.com TheGatewayPundit.com TheGatewayPundit.com CNN.com CNN.com Twitter.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) President Trump has been busy working out new trade deals, establishing tariffs, and bringing jobs back to America. But his justice department has yet to put Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama in prison, as it has similarly failed to pardon Wikileaks founder and American patriot Julian Assange, whose information releases over the years have been critical in exposing and deconstructing the deep state. Despite having talked about Wikileaks while on the campaign trail, President Trump has thus far done nothing to unshackle Assange, the man behind Wikileaks, from his embassy prison in London, where he now reportedly suffers from failing health. Assange has been cooped up in the Ecuadorian Embassy there for six years now, unable to leave without facing the prospect of arrest and prosecution. But the fact of the matter is that Assange has committed no crimes, as his efforts to expose corruption have been both legal and in the interests of preserving the American Republic. This is why Alex Jones and InfoWars are now trying to get the Presidents attention with a new petition calling for Assange to be unconditionally pardoned in the interests of both justice and mercy. You can read, sign, and share the petition at this link. Julian Assange is an innocent American patriot who needs to be released immediately The fact that President Trump is basically ignoring Assanges plight as of now is really upsetting to Gail Chord Schuler, who recently uploaded a video to Brighteon.com calling on the President to take action. I have signed a petition thats been put out by Alex Jones, who I have a lot of respect for, Schuler states. Its very well-written. And its asking for President Trump to pardon Julian Assange. Keep in mind that even the Department of Justice (DOJ) under Attorney General Jeff Sessions has publicly admitted, on record, that prosecuting Assange as the Left demands would also expose all other American journalists and news outlets to similar criminal jeopardy. Assanges courageous efforts are also the reason why more Americans than ever are even aware of prolific deep state corruption, as his whistleblower information releases have dealt what could eventually become a fatal blow to the anti-American traitors that plague our government. The petition explains that Assanges Wikileaks releases align with the respected tradition of American journalism because the information they contain is newsworthy. All of the material contained in Wikileaks has also proven to be authentic and accurate, thus far. Especially as it pertains to Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee, what Assange has brought to light serve[s] the national interest by exposing the corruption of the Clintons, the Clinton Foundation, the Clinton campaign and the Obama Justice Department. The corrupt FBI and other federal agencies are obviously opposed to Assanges work, as it exposes them as being complicit in a litany of Clinton crimes. This is why theyve erroneously declared him to be an agent of a Hostile Foreign State, referring of course to the Russian collusion conspiracy theory being constantly circulated by the Left. Julian Assange has consistently denied that material obtained from the Democratic National Committee and published by Wikileaks came from the Russian State and has repeatedly offered to prove this to U.S. authorities, the petition explains. Julian Assange is an impeccably-honest, incredibly-brave, humanitarian journalist, who provides an invaluable platform for whistleblowers exposing corruption and criminality infesting governments, nullifying democracy and obliterating human rights around the world. The petition concludes by explaining that there are absolutely no legitimate legal grounds to prosecute Assange, and that the time is now for President Trump to take action in defense of this innocent man. Be sure to read, sign, and share the petition at this link. Sources for this article include: InfoWars.com InfoWars.com Brighteon.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) During his Thursday broadcast, Infowars founder Alex Jones said that the communist Chinese government was pressuring Apple to drop the sites extremely popular app from the App Store as demand for his brand rapidly increases. Jones said that Apple was under pressure to remove the new Infowars Official app that allows users to access news, videos, and other information posted to the site as part of Beijings bid to tighten its grip on the American technology giant and control its data. The move to pressure Apple to drop Jones app comes as the media mogul faces censorship and banning on other platforms. Facebook has banned Infowars page while Apple has already removed entire libraries of Jones podcast content from iTunes. Spotify has also dumped Jones content, and Mailchimp announced uncharacteristically this week it would no longer permit Jones to use its email marketing platform. YouTube has also banned Infowars content, as has Pinterest. Chinas latest demand is part of a pattern begun shortly after the government granted Apple permission to begin operating in the country under strict oversight. As Reuters reported in February: When Apple Inc begins hosting Chinese users iCloud accounts in a new Chinese data center at the end of this month to comply with new laws there, Chinese authorities will have far easier access to text messages, email and other data stored in the cloud. Thats because of a change to how the company handles the cryptographic keys needed to unlock an iCloud account. Until now, such keys have always been stored in the United States, meaning that any government or law enforcement authority seeking access to a Chinese iCloud account needed to go through the U.S. legal system. Thats no longer the case. Reuters noted that as part of the deal Apple had to store the keys for Chinese iCloud accounts in China proper, thereby alleviating the need for Chinese authoritarians to go through the U.S. legal system, relying instead on their own. Now, Chinese authorities can demand user data from Apple directly. The arrangement touched off new fears among human rights advocates that the communist government will use the data to track down and imprison dissidents and jail them. Its happened before: A decade ago, Chinese government authorities sought and received user data from Yahoo Inc., which resulted in arrests and prison sentences for two democracy advocates, Reuters reported. Chinas pulling the strings Lamely, Apple said that while it adheres to its core values, surrendering them at the drop of a hat just to secure a business deal is just the way it is. (Related: Facebook blocks video ad that criticizes communism.) While we advocated against iCloud being subject to these laws, we were ultimately unsuccessful, the company said in a statement. Reuters reported that Apple executives decided the better option was to give Chinese authorities carte blanche access to iCloud data. Jones, in his broadcast, noted that authoritarianism has spread in the form of censorship demands as Chinas influence has grown throughout the American technology companies including Google. In fact, he pointed out, new evidence of Beijings influence over the tech behemoth emerged this week in a CNBC report. The networks online news service quoted a Chinese state media source Peoples Daily as warning that Apple benefits from cheap labor and a strong supply chain in the Asian country and that as such it should share more of its profit with the Chinese people or face anger and nationalist sentiment amid the ongoing trade war. The Peoples Daily article noted: China is by far the most important overseas market for the U.S.-based Apple, leaving it exposed if Chinese people make it a target of anger and nationalist sentiment. Wrapping it all up, Jones said that Chinese pressure on Apple, along with the banning of conservatives from the largest social media platforms, is all tied to the 2018 elections and beyond, as a way to stifle all information but liberal groupthink. Read more about Chinese influence operations at NationalSecurity.news. Sources include: CNBC.com Reuters.com TheNationalSentinel.com (Natural News) The founder and president of a major media watchdog group says that the recent purging of Alex Jones and InfoWars from the social media gamut is far worse than just a slippery slope towards authoritarian censorship and the silencing of all voices that dare to speak out against the status quo. In a recent statement picked up by Breitbart.com, Brent Bozell of the Media Research Center declared the move a dangerous cliff, emphasizing that YouTube, Apple, Facebook, Spotify, and many others have been co-opted into capitulating to the fascistic demands of fake news outlets like CNN. Even though he doesnt personally support Alex Jones, nor does he believe him to be a true conservative, Bozell says that its absolutely wrong for distributors of online content to blanket-ban him from their platforms. These flagrant censorship tactics, he says, highlight a disturbing trend towards totalitarianism and the complete elimination of free speech. Social media sites are supposedly neutral platforms, but they are increasingly becoming opportunities for the left and major media to censor any content that they dont like, Bozell says, noting that people who oppose murdering unborn babies, support the Second Amendment, or otherwise reject the liberal agenda are increasingly being shadow banned from social media. Conservatives are increasingly concerned that InfoWars is not the end point for those who want to ban speech. Its just the beginning. We are rapidly approaching a point where censorship and opposing voices is the norm. Thats dangerous. Censorship is one of the ways that liberals shut down arguments they cant win. Many of them cant even have civil conversations about their beliefs because they get immediately triggered whenever others oppose them. To keep up with the latest news on liberal censorship, visit Censorship.news. Liberals have redefined words like harassment, assault, and violence to include all viewpoints with which they disagree In trying to explain the rationale behind the removal of Jones from their platforms, the social media cabal is claiming that his content contained dehumanizing language, and often targeted people who are transgender, Muslims, and immigrants, which violates our hate speech policies. But this allegation hardly holds water, seeing as how all sorts of leftist hate speech that targets white people, Christians, and conservatives continues to pollute the social media world unabated. Its a hypocritical double standard that gives the Left a free pass to spew as much hatred and vitriol as it wants in the name of free speech, while condemning all conservative viewpoints as hate speech. The Left has even redefined the English language to fit its contorted agenda, claiming that right-wing beliefs and speech represent harassment or even assault. By reclassifying everything that upsets liberals as violence, for instance, the Left is trying to implement an Orwellian police state in which only leftist-approved viewpoints are allowed. None of it is constitutional, of course. Depriving non-liberal voices from engaging in free speech is an absolute violation of the Bill of Rights, as it completely sidesteps due process. In this leftist paradigm, independent voices like Alex Jones who are falsely accused of hate speech are afforded no legal remedies with which to defend themselves as theyre forcibly silenced by the thought police. Youre banned without explanation you cannot face your accusers you cannot present evidence in your defense and no evidence even needs to be cited against you, warns Mike Adams, the Health Ranger. Be sure to watch his video, The censorship racket EXPLAINED, at Brighteon.com. Adams explains how the blacklisting of Jones is just the beginning, warning that many others who educate about natural medicine, the health benefits of cannabis, and more also face potential censorship in the future. You can be de-platformed, censored, smeared, slandered and have your entire reputation and business utterly destroyed based entirely on rumors and lies backed up by extreme censorship to silence your dissent. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) A randomized controlled clinical trial displayed the efficacy of bright light therapy in improving the sleeping quality and patterns of cancer patients. The team from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine say that their pilot study suggests an inexpensive and safe way for fatigued recovering cancer patients to sleep better. The goal of the study was to find out if bright light therapy could help cancer patients improve their sleep efficiency. This was defined as the percentage of time spent sleeping and how refreshed a person feels upon waking up. It has been observed that recovering cancer patients often experience sleep disturbances, even years after their treatment. This becomes a compounding problem as a lack of sleep prevents the immune system from healing from whatever cancer therapy the patient was subjected to. In turn, cancer patients suffering from insomnia are at increased risk of succumbing to other medical conditions. As part of the study, 44 recovering cancer patients who met the criteria for clinically significant fatigue were observed. The bright light therapy group displayed dramatic improvements in their sleep patterns after only three weeks. Those who were not enrolled in the bright light therapy program remained at low levels of sleep efficiency. Lead author Lisa M. Wu, Ph.D. said, In a pilot study, a systemic light exposure intervention with a mixed group of fatigued cancer survivors was significantly more effective than comparison dim light exposure in improving sleep efficiency. The authors conclude that larger-scale studies need to be made to truly validate the benefits of bright light therapy in the treatment of fatigue among recovering cancer patients. How bright light therapy works Light therapy is built on the manipulation and regularization of the circadian rhythm. This is the internal clock that tells your body when to sleep and when it should be awake. Those who suffer from sleep disorders typically have abnormal production of hormones related to the circadian rhythm. For example, melatonin, the sleep hormone, is regulated by the circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Whether caused by lifestyle or as a result of treatment, disruptions in the circadian rhythm could lead to a sleep disorder. Light therapy resets this by helping the body recognize when to sleep and when to wake. By resetting the internal clock, patients are able to have a good sleep. The therapy exposes the eyes to intense but safe amounts of light for specific and regular lengths of time. Science mimics nature Bright light therapy is effective, but really, its just a substitute to what is already outside. Unless you live in Antarctica, you can bask (sensibly) in the sun every day. Scores of research have proven that vitamin D plays a huge role in cancer prevention and treatment. Oncologists have seen that high levels of vitamin D decreases the risk of developing various forms of cancer by 30 to 50 percent. Furthermore, vitamin D helps patients recover faster from such treatments as chemotherapy by building a stronger immune system. In terms of this new study, it is apparent that vitamin D also influences sleep efficiency. This further proves that nature is a safer and cheaper option to feeling better and being healthier. Vitamin D is mostly produced through sun exposure. However, you can increase your vitamin D levels by buying trusted supplements from reliable wellness stores. (Related: Top 10 natural food sources of immunity-boosting vitamin D.) Doctors have stated that the number of Americans deficient in vitamin D has increased in the last few years. Read more articles about the health benefits of vitamin D and light therapy at VitaminD.news. Sources include: ScienceDaily.com SleepEducation.org NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 1 NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 2 ScientificAmerican.com (Natural News) Should SHTF, you may experience a much greater risk for physical injuries. This could be complicated by the possible lack of operational medical treatment facilities or medical supplies. You may, therefore, need to depend on natures boons to keep yourself safe from harm. Among the herbs you need for your emergency first aid kit, yarrow is one of the most useful thanks to its many benefits. (h/t to ReadyNutrition.com.) Yarrow is a herb with feathery leaves and small, delicate white flowers that are arranged in clusters. Its traditionally brewed as a tea for fevers and colds, as well as to soothe diarrhea. However, its most common usage is for stopping bleeding and hastening recovery from wounds. Yarrows scientific name, Achillea millefolium, attests to its legendary status literally as a treatment for wounds. The name comes from the half-god Greek hero Achilles of The Iliad fame, the very one who inspired the term Achilles heel thanks to his bodys only vulnerable spot. Legend has it that Chiron, centaur and infamous teacher of Greek heroes, taught Achilles to use yarrow to treat wounds, which the warrior followed to staunch his comrades wounds. Yarrow eventually became known as herba militaris for its prominent use in the battlefield. The herbs ability to staunch bleeding isnt merely an old wives tale. Laboratory tests have confirmed that achilleine, an alkaloid component of the plant, has powerful styptic properties. Because of this though, yarrow must not be administered to pregnant or nursing women as well as those who are prone to excessive blood clotting especially in tea form. Using yarrow for wounds You can pick several stems of yarrow and tie them together into a sort of bouquet. Ideally, a bundle can have three to five plants. Remember to leave some, especially the hardiest ones, so they can propagate and refill the area. Take better care of the leaves than the flowers youll need the former and not the latter. At home, you can hang the bouquet to dry using a clothes hanger or just hooking the string on a nail. Once the leaves have dried, you can pluck them off and store them in a jar or a small plastic bag. You can apply the leaves directly to wounds, burns, boils, blisters, and bug bites. You can also boil them to make tea or use as an astringent that you can apply on wounded areas or use as a drop for ear infections. (Related: Yarrow herb is stronger than DEET at repelling mosquitos and ticks, and its completely non-toxic.) Other health benefits of yarrow Yarrow does more than just heal wounds. Here are some more reasons to keep a supply of the herb on hand: Its a natural antiseptic Yarrow and its essential oils are among the most potent natural antiseptics on the planet. This is one of the reasons its so great for wounds, apart from its styptic properties. Whats more, it works not just for external infections, but for internal ones as well. Yarrow and its essential oils are among the most potent natural antiseptics on the planet. This is one of the reasons its so great for wounds, apart from its styptic properties. Whats more, it works not just for external infections, but for internal ones as well. Its great for the skin If you have skin inflammation and eczema, yarrow extract and essential oil may offer relief. The herb also has effective anti-scarring capability, which makes it great for acne and wounds. Drinking yarrow tea reportedly enhances skin cell regeneration, which may give your skin a healthy and youthful glow. If you have skin inflammation and eczema, yarrow extract and essential oil may offer relief. The herb also has effective anti-scarring capability, which makes it great for acne and wounds. Drinking yarrow tea reportedly enhances skin cell regeneration, which may give your skin a healthy and youthful glow. It addresses hormonal imbalance The menstrual cycle makes women prone to hormonal ups-and-downs that may affect mood and general health. Yarrow belongs to a group of plants called emmenagogues which increase menstrual flow. This makes yarrow effective for regulating your hormones and ensuring a regular menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle makes women prone to hormonal ups-and-downs that may affect mood and general health. Yarrow belongs to a group of plants called emmenagogues which increase menstrual flow. This makes yarrow effective for regulating your hormones and ensuring a regular menstrual cycle. It helps with asthma Yarrow has relaxing properties that affect both the circulatory and respiratory systems, calming and opening up your bronchial tubes for easier breathing, as well as ensuring proper blood and oxygen circulation. Yarrow has relaxing properties that affect both the circulatory and respiratory systems, calming and opening up your bronchial tubes for easier breathing, as well as ensuring proper blood and oxygen circulation. It lowers blood pressure The relaxing properties of yarrow help dilate the blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. The herb also calms your nerves to make you feel less agitated. Discover the many benefits of yarrow and other herbs at Herbs.news. Sources include: ReadyNutrition.com SacredEarth.com NaturalFoodSeries.com (Natural News) The state of Florida has been hit by more than its fair share of environmental challenges and disasters recently. Having dealt with the devastating effects of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017, the state went on to endure an unusually harsh winter that saw snowfall in Tallahassee and theme parks shutting down water attractions because of the extreme cold. And more recently, angry Floridians have had to cope with two more disasters which have caused widespread illness among both humans and animals: red tides in the Gulf of Mexico, and toxic blue-green algae in the inland waters of southern Florida. The official narrative of government officials and the mainstream media is that these two events have nothing to do with each other. Sources within the independent media insist, however, that the red tides more accurately known as harmful algal blooms (HABs) are being fed by the toxic green algae overflowing from Lake Okeechobee and making its way to the oceans. And that toxic green sludge is being caused by the activities of farmers and big corporations in the vicinity of the lake. But, what exactly are harmful algal blooms? What feeds them? Why are they so harmful? And is there a scientifically proven connection between green algae and HABs? Whats really going on in the Sunshine State? Toxic green sludge The first big problem Florida is facing is toxic green algal sludge which has become widespread, leaving a trail of destruction in rivers and along beaches. The floor of Lake Okeechobee which at 730 square miles is the largest freshwater lake in Florida is coated in toxic mud created by extremely high levels of arsenic and pesticides. To protect the lakes aging dike and prevent danger to surrounding communities, when water levels rise, the Army Corps of Engineers pumps billions of gallons out of the lake via the St. Lucie River estuary and the Caloosahatchee river. This disturbs the natural mix of salt and fresh water normally found in these waterways, introducing a large amount of polluted freshwater and causing serious ecological damage. This water is thickly coated in toxic green algae, which many experts believe is fed by runoff from sugar plantations in the area. Runoff from farming activities in the lakes vicinity also pumps toxic chemicals and pesticides into the lake. Big sugar, the farming community and the government, of course, vehemently deny these allegations. The toxic green sludge is then carried along by rivers and other inland waterways all the way to the Florida coastline, leaving destruction in its wake. Floridians are angry and distressed by the situation. As NBC News reported: A green film of cyanobacteria appeared, as it regularly does in summer, in vast Lake Okeechobee. But this year the bacteria also spilled over into rivers and canals, which carried the toxic green sludge east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to the Gulf of Mexico. Already distressed Floridians gagged on the noxious odor, and more than a dozen people reportedly went to local emergency rooms after coming into contact with the contaminated water. Some wept as beloved manatees expired, bloated and tinted a ghastly green. The toxic blue-green algae carry some serious health risks, too. The Florida Department of Health warned: Exposure can happen through unintentionally swallowing lake or river water, breathing water spray or coming into direct contact with the blooms. At high levels, these can affect the gastrointestinal tract, liver, nervous system, and skin. The health department recommends avoiding all contact with algal blooms, and warns that pets and children are particularly vulnerable to its effects. Dangerous red tides in the Gulf of Mexico The second big disaster Florida is facing is a red tide (HAB) in the southwestern part of the state which has killed fish, turtles, manatees and other ocean life. It has also resulted in beaches being closed, local businesses shutting down temporarily, and many residents developing respiratory problems. Red tide can cause skin irritation, coughing, sneezing and other symptoms in humans, though it does not generally have serious long-term effects. So, what exactly is a red tide? USA Today explains: Red tide, which scientists call a harmful algae bloom, is caused by a naturally occurring alga (a plant-like microogranism) called Karenia brevis or K. brevis. When K. brevis appears in large quantities typically in the Gulf of Mexico it can turn ocean water red, brown or green. Red tides are not new to Florida. In fact, as reported by NBC News, there are historical accounts dating back to the 1500s which confirm that this problem has a very long history. Nonetheless, though the mainstream media has tried desperately to insist otherwise, scientists note that HABs have increased in both frequency and duration in the past two decades. Many people will tell you that this is the worst they have ever seen, said Jacylin Bevis, a reporter with WBBH-TV. Its our entire south Florida coastline with the red tide and then with the blue-green algae on the rivers and canals. Is there a connection between the green algae and the red tides? Interestingly, USA Today explains that a red tide is caused by a combination of conditions, including wind, currents, and the presence of nutrients that allow the algae to grow. [Emphasis added] Despite the media and government insistence that these two events are not linked nothing to see here, they insist there is scientific evidence that the type of algae that make up the red tide (Karenia brevis) are fed by the green algae (Synechoccus) being pumped out of Lake Okeechobee. An article published in the journal Aquatic Microbial Ecology in 2009 noted: Grazing by K. brevis thus enhances the range of nutritional substrates available to meet its growth requirements, and may play a substantial role in sustaining natural populations in inorganic N-poor waters. With evidence that blooms of Synechococcus can be enhanced due to anthropogenic nutrients, the potential importance of this particulate nutrient source for sustaining red tide blooms in situ is large and may help to resolve the current uncertainty as to how K. brevis blooms are maintained. It can now be hypothesized that as cyanobacterial blooms increase, so too does the potential for Karenia brevis growth to be enhanced and for blooms to be sustained through grazing, especially under the low light conditions associated with bloom self-shading. With special interest groups hiding in the shadows, it is hardly surprising that the mainstream media is choosing to report these two events as isolated incidents. Nonetheless, the scientific evidence and the law of coincidence show conclusively that mismanagement by Big Sugar and a lack of care by the farming community are solidly to blame for the dual disasters being battled by the state of Florida. With everybody in denial, Floridians should brace themselves for worse to come. Sources include: GreenMedInfo.com TheGuardian.com NBCNews.com ResearchGate.net DailyMail.co.uk USAToday.com Sun-Sentinel.com Irresponsible pet owners who take their dogs out for their regular calls of nature need to be accountable for not cleaning after their pets. Now, thanks to their dogs' poop, they can be traced. It's a pain to step on a poop while jogging at the park and all the more irritating to witness a dog doing it only to be left there by its owner. There's no problem in dog doing their business. It's natural and nothing awful, but pet owners should know that cleaning up is one of the basic responsibilities in getting pets. The problem has heavily plagued Italy and other European countries, which have been met with a lot of measures just to address the issue. Fines are already imposed on those erring pet owners, though obviously, it would be hard to know who will be slapped with fine just by basing from the excrement. Needless to say, concerned authorities must first catch the dog and the owner red-handed, which meant there's a slim chance that people can actually be there always to witness the act. That said, the town of Malnate, specifically the environment department, created a program that can help combat this problem. Residents were asked this year to register their dogs in the database, a step which will make it easier to catch irresponsible culprits. There are 2,156 canines that were registered and were asked to submit saliva sample. A fine of $58 were given to those who didn't comply within the given time frame. Deterrent Effect There are an estimated 150 dogs added every year to the town, and the department is aiming to have the newest addition to the dog population submit their saliva samples as well. The step is also not just to remind pet owners to be responsible, but it is also to give due recognition to pet owners who have done their job without the program. "The deterrent effect is considerable. Knowing that the local dogs are now recognizable has led many of their masters to behave civilly and the sidewalks are cleaner," environmental commissioner Giuseppe Riggi explained. Currently, 12 fecal samples were collected from sidewalks. Out of that number, DNA was extracted from nine, and seven matched, and naturally, the pet owners were informed. In short, DNA gets extracted from the collected dog's poop. This then gets matched to the database. Therefore, it would be easier to know the real culprit. This isn't exactly the first time the dog's DNA was used in tracing. Mislata, a Spanish community, started the same process of mandating pet owners to register their dogs in order to trace the owners in 2016. Poo Prints is a lab that tests dog poop too. Police have arrested four suspects in connection to a day-long crime spree in San Jose. The suspects, three males and a female, are accused of at least seven crimes reported Thursday across the city. The crimes include carjackings, robberies and attempted robberies, police said. At 5:36 p.m., officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle on Bird Avenue, near Minnesota Avenue. Officers on scene found an unoccupied Honda Odyssey van parked on Bird Avenue. Police said the van came back as a stolen vehicle involved in a carjacking, robbery and other crimes throughout the day. Officers on scene came across a Mitsubishi Endeaver they recognized as being linked to another carjacking reported earlier in the day. The vehicle was occuped by four people. Police then attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled, prompting a short pursuit. San Jose Police Department's AIR3 helicopter took over the pursuit and followed the vehicle until it pulled over in the 15000 block of Prevost Street, police said. One of the suspects fled on foot, with the other three taken into custody without incident, police said. The fourth suspect eventually surrendered to police after officers set up a perimeter and search. The way you look in school can be nearly as important the curriculum. That's why San Jose barbers will give kids free haircuts before the beginning of the school year in the 6th annual "Kutz4Kidz" event in downtown on Sunday. The barbers at The Barbers Inc. will be at 332 Santa Clara St. barbershop from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 19. They will also be handing out school supplies to kids 17 years old and younger to prepare them for the school year. Students and parents can RSVP here. And if you're interested in helping out, organizers have set up a crowdfunding campagin here. Broadcom co-founder, billionaire Henry Nicholas III, was arrested after police found heroin, cocaine, meth and other drugs in his Las Vegas hotel room Thursday. According to Las Vegas Police, officers responded to a resort on Las Vegas Boulevard around 7:30 p.m. on August 7 after hotel security had detained two people for contraband in a room. After investigation, police arrested Nicholas, 59, and a woman named Ashley Fargo for trafficking heroin, meth, cocaine and ecstasy. Las Vegas police also released their mugshots. According to the LA Times, both have since been released from custody. The newspaper reported that Nicholas stepped down as chief executive of Broadcom in 2003 and has a fortune of $3.1 billion. He was indicted in 2008 on charges of providing narcotics to friends and business associates. According to TMZ, Nicholas was staying at the Encore, and when he couldnt get into his room, security assisted him and found Fargo passed out with a semi-deflated balloon in her mouth. Broadcom, which makes chips, is seeing a sluggish growth in stocks amid anemic growth, according to a report out Thursday, A jury's $289 million award to a former school groundskeeper who said Monsanto's Roundup left him dying of cancer will bolster thousands of pending cases and open the door for countless people who blame their suffering on the weed killer, the man's lawyers said. "I'm glad to be here to be able to help in a cause that's way bigger than me," Dewayne Johnson said at a news conference Friday after the verdict was announced. Johnson, 46, alleges that heavy contact with the herbicide caused his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The state Superior Court jury agreed that Roundup contributed to Johnson's cancer and Monsanto should have provided a label warning of the potential health hazard. Johnson thanked jurors "from the bottom of my heart" for their work, along with his lawyers and his family. His was the first case filed by a cancer patient against the agribusiness giant to reach trial. It was expedited because court filings indicated that Johnson was dying. His victory may set the precedent for many others. "A unanimous jury in San Francisco has told Monsanto: 'Enough. You did something wrong and now you have to pay,'" said Brent Wisner, Johnson's lead trial lawyer. "There's 4,000 other cases filed around the United States and there are countless thousand other people out there who are suffering from cancer because Monsanto didn't give them a choice ... We now have a way forward." Monsanto has denied a link between the active ingredient in Roundup glyphosate and cancer, saying hundreds of studies have established that glyphosate is safe. Monsanto spokesman Scott Partridge said the company will appeal. Partridge said scientific studies and two government agencies have concluded that Roundup does not cause cancer. Groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson (left) walks into court with members of his legal team as closing arguments continue in his landmark lawsuit against Agriculture giant #Monsanto . He claims repeated use of their weed killer #Roundup caused him to develop likely fatal cancer. pic.twitter.com/buNUXQ5fR7 Christopher Jewett (@sfnewsman) August 7, 2018 Closing arguments in #Monsanto trial going on now. Atty. representing Dewayne (Lee) Johnson, Bay Area man dying of cancer, comes out swinging: "Monsanto denied Mr. Johnson *choice about his health" and health of children where he used Round Up."Today is their day of reckoning!" Sam Brock (@SamNBCBayArea) August 7, 2018 Dramatic moment in court closings for #Monsanto trial. Atty. for Lee Johnson accuses company of learning abt. new cancer research, planning to orchestrate outcry before research is out. I have no problem w/ the company making $, but I have a problem...doing it dishonestly! Sam Brock (@SamNBCBayArea) August 7, 2018 #MonsantoTrial resumes- atty. George Lombardi launches into research of disease in *humans (epidemiology) on Round Up causing cancer- 40 yrs of this product being on the market, 40 yrs of scientific regulation...evidence is clear: [Johnsons] cancer wasnt caused by Round Up. Sam Brock (@SamNBCBayArea) August 7, 2018 "We are sympathetic to Mr. Johnson and his family," Partridge said. "We will appeal this decision and continue to vigorously defend this product, which has a 40-year history of safe use and continues to be a vital, effective, and safe tool for farmers and others." Johnson used Roundup and a similar product, Ranger Pro, as a pest control manager at a San Francisco Bay Area school district, his lawyers said. He sprayed large quantities from a 50-gallon tank attached to a truck, and during gusty winds, the product would cover his face, said Brent Wisner, one of his attorneys. Once, when a hose broke, the weed killer soaked his entire body. Johnson read the label and even contacted the company after developing a rash but was never warned it could cause cancer, Wisner said. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014. "The simple fact is he is going to die. It's just a matter of time," Wisner told the jury in his opening statement last month. But George Lombardi, an attorney for Monsanto, said non-Hodgkin's lymphoma takes years to develop, so Johnson's cancer must have started well before he began working at the school district. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says Roundup's active ingredient is safe for people when used in accordance with label directions. However, the France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, classified it as a "probable human carcinogen" in 2015. California added glyphosate to its list of chemicals known to cause cancer. Johnson's attorneys sought and won $39 million in compensatory damages and $250 million of the $373 million they wanted in punitive damages. Lawmakers can avoid the long lines plaguing California's Department of Motor Vehicles offices by visiting an office near the Capitol not open to the public, a decades-old practice under fresh fire as wait times surge. The office provides services for current and retired lawmakers, their staff and some other state employees, The Sacramento Bee reported Thursday. DMV spokesman Artemio Armenta said its primary purpose is to handle constituent requests that arrive on lawmakers' desks and that the two-member staff handles 10,000 requests per year. But one lawmaker said it shouldn't provide extra perks for the Capitol community as regular Californians are forced to wait up to hours in line for services at their local office. "I have gotten my registration and all that stuff the old-fashioned way like everybody else in my district," Republican Assemblyman Jim Patterson told the Bee. "When you are living a public life the way most private people live, you'll understand when taxes hurt and bureaucracies hurt." Patterson's colleagues rejected his request to audit the DMV on Wednesday, and lawmakers have recently approved more money for the agency to deal with its exploding wait times. DMV officials said the long lines are due to complications complying with new federally mandated security upgrades for ID cards. In late 2020, airport security checkpoints will require so-called "Real ID" compliant cards, and Californians are now beginning to get the updated cards. Lawmakers have approved tens of millions of dollars to hire more staff and implement the roll-out of Real ID. The DMV recently announced it would open more than a dozen offices on Saturdays. Whether lawmakers and Capitol staff should get access to a private DMV has been disputed before. Some people who work in and around the Capitol downplayed the office's existence in response to the Bee article, saying it's been known about for years. A 2006 Capitol Weekly article highlighted the debate over the office, referencing a small-government activist who criticized it for years. The office has been open for decades, moving locations around the Capitol. At one point it was open to the public. Now, the office is unmarked at the end of a hallway in the Legislative Office Building, located across the street from the Capitol. When a reporter stopped by on Friday, the door was locked and a woman who answered directed all questions to the public affairs office. Armenta, the DMV spokesman, said the door is locked because the office handles cash transactions and holds people's personally identifiable information. About 90 percent of the office's work relates to requests from constituents who call their lawmakers over complicated problems the local DMV branch may not be able to solve, he said. "Often times it's a conduit for constituent work," Armenta said. "It provides the Legislature a way to be closely in contact with state government on helping customers with situations that they're having." Spokespeople for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins did not respond to questions about whether it's appropriate for lawmakers to get services at the office. Violence stemming from protests over the past four months has made Nicaragua, once the safest Central American country, now one of the most dangerous. The U.S. on July 6 ordered non-emergency government personnel to leave the country, encouraging citizens to do the same. Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega accused the Organization of American States (OAS), which is now investigating the unrest, of taking "right-wing measures" against his government and of being directly supported by the U.S. Others have cast the blame back at Ortega. This has been the bloodiest protest in Nicaragua since the civil war ended in 1990 where close to 40,000 people were murdered. So far, 448 people have been killed, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Heres what else to know: The protests Peaceful demonstrations began on April 12 when university students in Managua took the streets to protest the lack of response from the government to wildfires in the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve. The protest grew two days later when thousands joined the students against the governments intention to cut pensions and social security, a policy that would greatly affect the elderly. Protesters and human rights activists claim people were beaten up by the opposition. During the first days, several people were killed including policemen and many unarmed students. Angel Gahona, a journalist who reported on police abuse and drug trafficking, was killed while livestreaming the protests. Although Ortega canceled the pensions policy a few days later, riots protesting violence and demanding the presidents resignation continued. Ortega, once a leftist icon, is now being compared to Anastacio Somoza, the right-wing dictator he fought against during the Sandinista Revolution. Ortega y Somoza son la misma cosa (Ortega and Somoza are the same thing) is the rallying cry. Since the protests began, the government, along with the Sandinista Youth, have been accused of murdering, torturing, jailing and kidnapping hundreds of opponents. While the protests have ceased due to the brutality, the country is in such state of emergency that it is causing Nicaraguans to flee. Ortega has blamed protesters on gangs violently attacking one another. But the United Nations claimed Ortegas government committed crimes against human rights, including killings, torture and freedom of expression. A few days ago, the Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights closed its offices after receiving what it called alarming threats. The group, which has been reporting violence in the country for the past four months, said its workers have experienced death threats over the phone and other sorts of harassment. Daniel Ortega Once known as Comandante Daniel, Daniel Ortega, 72, became first known for his role in the 1979 Sandinista Revolution, when Sandinistas overthrew the right-wing Somoza dynasty that ruled Nicaragua from 1936 to 1979. Since then, Ortega has climbed his way to power. He was elected president in 1984 and after losing elections in the 1990s was elected president again in 2006 following a divided vote. When he took office in 2006, Mr. Ortega, once a Marxist, vowed to be open to foreign investment in the country and sought reconciliation with opponents to fight poverty. Today, he has power over the four branches of the government and is head of the police. His wife, vice-president Rosario Murillo, is known by many as "the power behind the throne." After appointing herself as "communications chief" and leading the role since 2006, she took office as vice-president in January 2017. Ortega was criticized by opponents for establishing an authoritarian dynasty. Murillo's daughter, Zoilamerica Narvaez Murillo, accused Ortega, her stepfather, of sexually harrasing her for many years since she was 11. She tried to pursue legal action, however, Ortega has immunity as member of the Nicaraguan congress. Murillo denied the charges and claimed she was "embarrassed" her own daughter would claim such a thing. Ortega and his wife are compared by many to the Somoza dynasty and are accused of being corrupt, repressive, authoritarian and brutal. Response Although Murillo and Ortega have blamed the violence on a diabolic oppression led by anti-Ortega right-wing groups, two weeks ago, 13 Latin American countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, called for immediate end to repression. Additionally, The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Organization of American States are further investigating the unrest. In an interview with journalist Max Blumenthal Ortega said, "what weakens the OEA the most is their revengeful attitude from right-wing Latin governments that have taken over most of Latin America." On July 15, at least 10 were killed throughout the country, including two students trapped overnight inside a church while hiding from gunfire from pro-government supporters. Nicaraguas Catholic Church had served as a mediator between the government and protesters. The church has since said it supports protesters due to the increasing violence and repression. The opposition, which includes mainly students, clergy, activists, rural workers and business people, has claimed they will keep fighting to remove Ortega from power and attain a true democracy. In a recent essay published en El Pais by Nicaraguan author Sergio Ramirez, he wrote: "It's difficult not to believe that in Nicaragua, history is repeating itself with astonishing, terrifying accuracy." The author stressed the importance of non-violent protest to make a real change: If a transition from dictatorship to democracy can be achieved without civil war, we will avoid the risk-so often a reality- that from the countrys ruins a new tyrant will rise up to take the place of the tyrant who was violently overthrown. A dead body was found in the trunk of a car after a man committed suicide during a traffic stop, Maine officials said Thursday night. State police received a call of erratic driving on Interstate 295 before stopping the vehicle a short time later on Timberwood Drive in Gardiner around 4:45 p.m. The driver, who has not been identified, immediately got out of the car and shot himself. As police were investigating, they discovered a body in the trunk of the car. The cause of the death for the person in the trunk is not known at this time. Both the man and the body found in the trunk will undergo autopsies and examinations at the State Medical Examiner's Officer in Augusta. The car had Massachusetts license plates, according to WCSH. Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public. A team of state police detectives is investigating. The Massachusetts primary election is Sept. 4, and there are quite a few races to keep an eye on around the Bay State. Check out our interviews with the candidates below: Massachusetts 1st Congressional District Tahirah Amatul Wadud Tahirah Amatul Wadud is challenging U.S. Rep. Richard Neal for the Democratic nomination for the Bay State's 1st Congressional District. She says she's running "because the people of the 1st Congressional District are really struggling and really suffering," pointing to higher-than-average rates of unemployment and uninsured, along with lower wages compared the rest of the state. Massachusetts 3rd Congressional District State Sen. Barbara L'Italien A homicide investigation is underway in Milford, Massachusetts, according to law enforcement sources. State Sen. Barbara L'Italien is a Democrat running to replace Niki Tsongas in Congress. L'Italien says her platform for the 1st Congressional District includes education, better-paying jobs and good housing. Click here for Alison King's one-on-one interview with L'Italien on "kitchen table" politics. Dan Koh Chris Sale will become the first pitcher to make consecutive All-Star starts representing different teams. Dan Koh was Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's chief of staff before he stepped down to run for Congress in the Bay State's 3rd Congressional District. Koh says his family's Lebanese and Korean roots have inspired his candidacy, and adds Congress can do more to help people achieve the American dream. Rufus Gifford Protesters from across the country will be in Washington Saturday for the Womens March, and many are coming from Boston. Rufus Gifford's interesting resume includes a stint as the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, but what does he hope to accomplish for voters in Massachusetts' 3rd Congressional District? He says he was troubled by the outcome of the 2016 presidential election and wants to protect climate and trade policies. Click here to watch Alexandra Chandler's interview Click here to watch Jeff Ballinger's interview Click here to watch Abhijit "Beej" Das' interview Click here to watch Juana Matias' interview Click here to watch Bopha Malone's interview Click here to watch Lori Trahan's interview Massachusetts 7th Congressional District Ayanna Pressley Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley is making headlines with her primary campaign against incumbent Democratic Congressman Michael Capuano in the state's only minority-majority congressional district. Massachusetts 8th Congressional District Brianna Wu Among the 23 guns found in the Las Vegas hotel room of the man accused of killing 58 people and wounding more than 500 others, was a semi-automatic rifle that was modified to sustain the firepower of an automatic weapon. A Woburn, Massachusetts, police captain illustrates how a bump stock was used to convert the weapon. Brianna Wu, a software engineer, is running against Rep. Stephen Lynch in the Massachusetts 8th Congressional District Democratic primary. If elected, she says she will address economic inequality and cybersecurity issues. Editor's note: More to come. What to Know A school bus drove off Interstate 95 south in Greenland, New Hampshire and crashed into a tree on Friday morning. New Hampshire State Police said it appears the driver had a medical episode and is in "rough shape." The driver and two others suffered serious injuries but they are expected to survive. A bus driver had an apparent medical episode before driving off the side of Interstate 95 in New Hampshire and crashing into a tree with multiple children on board Friday morning, according to state police. The crash happened on I-95 south in Greenland around 9:30 a.m., and has resulted in several lane closures as emergency crews respond to the scene. Eleven children were on board the bus, and state police say they are "bumped and bruised" but most suffered no serious injuries. The driver, John Guy, 21, of Kittery, Maine, and a camp counselor, is "in rough shape," according to police. "It appears the vehicle drove off the roadway into the woodline and struck a large tree, causing significant damage to the front end," New Hampshire State Police Lt. John Hennessy said. "Most of the children did have seat belts on." The driver, an 18-year-old counselor and a 10-year-old child were hospitalized with serious injuries, but they are all expected to survive. The 10 remaining passengers on the bus were transported to Exeter Hospital as a precaution. "One patient has been transferred to Boston," said Debra Vasapolli, the public relations director for Exeter Health Resources. "Eight have been discharged with their parents and the last one will be discharged shortly in the care of their parent, as well." State police say at this time it does not appear that speed was a factor in this crash, however all aspects remain under investigation. The bus was from the Kittery Community Center and was carrying Maine children who are part of a summer day camp. The camp is run by the town of Kittery, Maine, which its town manager said the parents of all the children on the bus at the time of the crash have been notified by the town. "The Town of Kittery is grateful to the bystanders and first responders for their quick action in the care of our program participants and employees," Kendra Amaral, Kittery town manager, said in a statement. Beth Bradstreet told NBC10 Boston she was in her car when she heard about the school bus crash in Greenland, and immediately thought of her two young boys spending their summer days at the Kittery Community Center, knowing they were going on a field trip Friday. But she found out from officials at the scene that her children weren't on the bus and the children who were are expected to be OK. "It's just panic. You hope that it's nothing serious, and you hope that everybody's OK, you hope it's not your kids," Bradstreet said. Bradstreet's kids were on the field trip through the Kittery, Maine, Community Center SAFE Summer Campp program. Her children's van was not involved in the crash and they continued on to a water slide park in Candia. "I'm still shaking," Bradstreet said after the crash. "My kids' friends are on that bus, they go to school with them, they spent the summer with them." New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said his administration is monitoring the response and is working with the responding agencies. "The safety of those involved in this accident is our top priority," he tweeted. Several lanes were closed after the crash, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation said on Twitter. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> Grab a sweater or a coat, bring a friend or the family and head down to the towpath to experience Canal-O-Ween, one of Bucks County's most popular Halloween events. Beginning at dusk on Halloween and continuing every evening through Saturday, Nov. 6 the public can take a free Jack-o-Lantern Stroll, the signature event of Canal-O-Ween. More than... The state of Maine is taking new steps to stop the spread of ticks at the same time researchers watch for a new species to enter the state. A popular landscaping plant called the Japanese barberry bush is now illegal to buy and sell in the state, according to Gary Fish, Maine's horticulturist. He said birds eat its berries, depositing seeds in wooded areas. There, the barberry bush can grow rampant and create ideal conditions for mice and ticks to thrive. There, the ticks can feed on Lyme disease-infected mice, furthering its spread. "If you cut the barberry out, and grow something else there, studies show the reduction in ticks in 60 percent," said Fish. While people with barberry bushes on their property are not required to remove them, Fish said it would help. "It's an important step for Maine," he said. "We are one of the last New England states to ban this plant." Vector ecologist Chuck Lubelczyk said the barberry bush ban is helpful, but not a solution to the tick problem. "A ban is a good idea, but it's not going to do anything against the stuff already in place," Lubelczyk said. "We have a lot of it in the state to wrestle with." Lubelczyk said there is another tick threat across the eastern seaboard that could make its way up to New England: the East Asian, or longhorned, tick. While it originates in Asia, the longhorned tick has been found on livestock in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. "This tick gets in very high numbers and has been the cause of death in livestock fatalities," he said. The East Asian tick is problematic because it can reproduce without a mate, infests mammals in high numbers and uses a variety of animals as hosts. "It gets on everything it can," including humans, said Lubelczyk. "When people have encountered them, they are getting hundreds of them on them at one time. It's pretty disgusting." The tick can carry a fatal virus, but none in the U.S. have been found to be carrying a disease harmful to humans. So far, its animals that are the most at risk. Thieves made off with the Bolivian president's diamond-encrusted gold medallion and the sash it's worn on, NBC News reported. The nearly 200-year-old regalia were swiped from a backpack that a soldier left inside a car in the red-light district of El Alto. But authorities receovered them when they were abandoned outside a church in nearby La Paz. "We are talking about the most important national symbol," former President Carlos Mesa told local media. "It is as if they robbed the crown of Queen Elizabeth of England." Current President Evo Morales had to appear at a military parade without the regalia Wednesday. What to Know Rick Gates, labeled Paul Manafort's "right-hand man" took the stand once again Tuesday as Manafort's trial resumed Gates admitted Monday to embezzling money from Manafort, along with committing crimes with him Manafort and Gates were the first two people indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia probe In a blistering back-and forth, Paul Manafort's lawyer suggested Tuesday that the star witness in the former Trump campaign chairman's financial fraud trial has told "so many lies" he can't remember all of them. Defense lawyer Kevin Downing began his cross-examination of longtime Manafort deputy Rick Gates by pressing him on his own lies to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators, an extramarital affair and hundreds of thousands of dollars he admitted to embezzling from his former boss. Downing also ventured into territory both sides had agreed to avoid: discussion of Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Under questioning, Gates said he may have submitted personal expenses for reimbursement by Trump's inaugural committee, which he helped operate. Downing also asked whether Mueller's investigators had interviewed Gates about his role in the campaign, prompting an objection from prosecutors and a sidebar conference with U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. The judge then brought the trial to a standstill late Tuesday afternoon, calling a brief recess. Afterward, Downing dropped the Trump-related line of questioning, moving on to other topics without explanation. In general, references to Trump at the trial have been few and far between. Both sides agreed ahead of time to limit discussion of the campaign so as not to prejudice the jury, though they had agreed to allow testimony about the overlap of a bank loan with Manafort's role in the campaign. The tough questioning of Gates came after he spent hours telling jurors how he disguised millions of dollars in foreign income as loans in order to lower Manafort's tax bill. Gates recounted how he and Manafort used more than a dozen offshore shell companies and bank accounts in Cyprus to funnel the money, all while concealing the accounts and the income from the IRS. Under questioning from Downing, Gates acknowledged he had to plead guilty to false statements after lying during a February interview with federal investigators. At one point, as Gates had trouble recalling the details of his confession, Downing asked him, "Have they confronted you with so many lies that you can't even remember them?" Manafort's defense attorneys have sought to paint Gates as an embezzler, a liar and the instigator of any criminal conduct. They have tried several times to impugn his credibility before the jury. Ahead of that barrage, Gates implicated himself in a vast amount of criminal conduct on the stand, an apparent strategic decision by prosecutors as they hoped to take some of the steam out of the defense's questioning. Gates' testified that he and Manafort knew they were committing crimes for years. "In Cyprus, they were documented as loans. In reality, it was basically money moving between accounts," Gates said. Prosecutors summoned Gates to give jurors the first-hand account of a co-conspirator they say helped Manafort carry out an elaborate offshore tax-evasion and bank fraud scheme. Gates also provided the first witness testimony that overlaps with Trump's presidential campaign. Manafort and Gates were the first two people indicted in Mueller's investigation into potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. But Gates pleaded guilty months later and agreed to cooperate in Mueller's investigation of Manafort, the only American charged by the special counsel to opt for trial instead of a guilty plea. The case against Manafort has little to do with either man's work for the Trump campaign and there's been no discussion during the trial about whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia the central question Mueller's team has tried to answer. But Trump has shown interest in the proceedings, tweeting support for Manafort and suggesting he has been treated worse than gangster Al Capone. On Tuesday, Gates did connect one part of the bank fraud charges against Manafort to his role in the Trump campaign. The 46-year-old former political consultant told jurors how Manafort asked for tickets to Trump's inauguration so he could give them to a banker involved in approving a loan at the center of his financial fraud trial. Gates also said Manafort floated banker Stephen Calk's name for consideration as Secretary of the Army, a post he ultimately did not get. The email exchange about Calk occurred after Manafort left the Trump campaign but while Gates was active on the Trump inauguration committee. Prosecutors had previously said that Manafort's interactions with Calk were the only part of the trial expected to overlap with his Trump campaign role. The face-off between longtime business associates and former senior members of the Trump campaign drew scores of people who waited in line for hours outside the courthouse and then jammed into both the courtroom and an overflow room that contained a video feed of the proceedings. In testimony Tuesday, Gates laid responsibility squarely at Manafort's feet for a series of crimes, saying the two had committed crimes together by stashing money in foreign bank accounts and falsifying bank loan documents. Gates described to jurors how he repeatedly submitted fake financial documents at Manafort's behest as his former boss became concerned he was paying too much in taxes and, later, that his funds were drying up. In one email, Manafort wrote "WTF" about tax payments he was going to have to make, Gates said. In other testimony, Gates recounted how he converted a PDF of a profit-and-loss statement to a Microsoft Word document so he could doctor it to inflate the business' income. Gates also fabricated a forgiveness letter for what he said was already a fake loan between Manafort's consulting company and a Cypriot entity he controlled. Prosecutor Greg Andres pointed out he had created a "loan forgiveness letter between Mr. Manafort and Mr. Manafort." "Yes," Gates agreed. During the testimony, Manafort did not stare Gates down as he did Monday. When the trial broke for lunch, Manafort looked back at his wife, sitting in the front row, smiled and winked at her, followed by a quick shake of his head, seeming to indicate he was unfazed by the morning's testimony. In addition, Gates has admitted to other criminal conduct. Gates, who is awaiting sentencing, told jurors that he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollarsc from Manafort by filing false expense reports. He also said he committed credit card and mortgage fraud, falsified a letter for a colleague involved in an investment deal and made false statements in a deposition at Manafort's direction. Associated Press writer Stephen Braun contributed to this report. The Chicago Cubs, who have a two-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, have a critical stretch of games coming up, starting with a three-game set against the Washington Nationals. The Cubs will then take on the Brewers in a quick two-game series at Wrigley before heading to Pittsburgh for a four-game series against the Pirates next weekend. Here is our preview for the teams first series of their homestand, as Bryce Harper and the Nationals come to town: Friday: Jeremy Hellickson vs. Kyle Hendricks 1:20 p.m. In his last seven starts, Hellickson has a 5.14 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 39 hits allowed in 35 innings of work, so the Cubs will hope to get to him early. Hendricks has been using his curveball more in recent starts, and has seen his strikeout totals go up, fanning at least seven batters in each of his last three starts. Javier Baez, who has a home run in his career against Hellickson, is a player to watch for the Cubs in this game, as he is batting .333 with six extra-base hits and five RBI over the last week for Chicago. From 'El Mago' to 'Hollywood:u0022 Cubs Reveal Players Weekend Nicknames Saturday: Tanner Roark vs. Jon Lester 3:05 p.m. Roark, an Illinois native, has been on a tear lately, going 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 20 strikeouts in his last three starts. Meanwhile, Lester is still trying to find his form after a strong first half, giving up four or more runs in five of his last seven starts for the Cubs. One player who may not see the lineup in this game is Jason Heyward, who is hitless in 18 career at-bats against Roark. Through the Years: Cubs' Trade Deadline Moves Sunday: Max Scherzer vs. Cole Hamels 7:05 p.m. Scherzer has been dynamic against the Cubs, posting a 2.92 career ERA against the North Siders in six starts. Hamels has been strong in two starts since coming over to the Cubs, giving up just one earned run in 11 innings, and he had a good outing against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, striking out two batters but giving up just one earned run in six innings. Ben Zobrist has had some success against Scherzer in his career, with three home runs and six RBI in 25 career at-bats. He has had more success recently according to MLB.com, with a .300 average in the last five seasons against the Nationals ace. A Chicago dance instructor was charged Friday with repeatedly sexually assaulting two teenagers on his dance team, according to authorities and prosecutors. Maurice Fulson, 44, was charged with two counts of sexual assault of a minor under his supervision, as well as one count each of creating and possessing child pornography - all felonies, Chicago police said in a statement. Fulson, of the 12500 block of South Princeton Avenue, owns and operates a dance studio in the 1700 block of East 87th Street in the Stony Island Park neighborhood on the South Side, officials said. Fulson was arrested on Wednesday in the city's Loop after police said investigators identified him as the offender who repeatedly sexually assaulted a then 16-year-old girl beginning in June 2016, and continuing through December 2017. Authorities said Fulson recorded sex acts with the victim and stored them on electronic devices. Prosecutors alleged the abuse happened more than a dozen times at Fulson's home, van or dance studio. The victim's mother found videos on the teen's phone, prosecutors said. In court Friday, prosecutors said Fulson was also accused of abusing a 15-year-old on at least four occasions in his dance studio. The teen, who prosecutors said contracted an STD from Fulson, confided in a friend about the abuse. Fulson was listed as the head of Final Phaze Performance Dance Troupe NFP, according to the not-for-profit corporation filing with the Illinois Secretary of State's office. A Facebook page for Final Phaze lists an address in that same block, with an alumni page crediting Fulson with starting the organization in 1995 as a non-profit to teach hip-hop dance with a commitment to "keeping participants motivated to stay focused on dancing and away from the perils of inner-city life such as crime, teenage pregnancy, school dropout, etc." Cook County court records show that Fulson was charged with 21 felony counts of sexual assault, sexual abuse and aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in 2001. He was found not guilty on all counts in a trial in 2002. Attorney information for Fulson was not available and Final Phaze did not immediately respond to request for comment. Fulson was denied bail Friday. He is next scheduled to appear in court Aug. 29. A Milwaukee woman died from a rare infection that may have been caused by a nip from a puppy, her family and doctors said, marking the second such case of the infection reported in Wisconsin this summer. Sharon Larson had just gotten her new dog Bo in June when the pooch nipped at her, causing a small cut. But when Larson quickly developed severe flu-like symptoms that lasted for days, the 58-year-old was rushed to the hospital. Within two days, she had died, her family said. I was told she could get struck by lightning four times and live, win the lottery twice, her husband Dan Larson told NBC affiliate WTMJ. Thats how rare this is supposed to be." Doctors told the family Larson tested positive for Capnocytophaga, a bacteria commonly found in the mouths of dogs and cats. It is the same bacterial infection doctors believe a Wisconsin man contracted from a dog lick in late June. Surgeons have had to amputate part of Greg Manteufel's legs and hands after he contracted a rare blood infection caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes adults 40 years old and older are more likely to contract the rare infection, and risk factors include alcoholism and weak immune system related to cancer, HIV and diabetes. Another key risk factor is not having a spleen. Dr. Silvia Munoz-Price, an infectious disease specialist with Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin, told TMJ4 the number of such cases are not reported "because they are fairly infrequent." We are exposed to many, many, many organisms every day and most of us - the majority, 99.99 percent of people - never get infection, she said. Dogs and cats can test positive for the bacteria one day and not the next, officials said. But the pets are not prescribed medicine for it because the bacteria is a natural part of the animals systems. I feel like I got robbed. Lost my right arm. My best friend, Dan Larson said. A state agency is stepping in after residents of a Hartford neighborhood raised concerns over their water quality and asked authorities to slow work on a multi-million dollar improvement project on Route 44, known as Albany Avenue, at a neighborhood meeting Thursday. In November, water began gushing into the basement of an Albany Avenue building owned by Lisa Vivian. It was as high as four feet at one time. The plumbers and contractors were working and constantly pumping the water out for days, she said. Vivian told NBC Connecticut the water kept on coming even after the connection to the water main was closed. Eventually, the basement was closed off with standing water still inside, she said. Structural problems followed, forcing her to re-house tenants. Then, months later, she said a contractor gave her startling news. He found out there was raw sewage clogged in the water lateral from MDCs side, she said. Vivian was one of dozens of people who attended a neighborhood meeting hosted by the Upper Albany Merchants Association Thursday, calling on the Metropolitan District Commission to replace the water main and connections to homes and businesses along Albany Avenue, while much of the street and sidewalks are already torn up for a multi-million dollar safety and streetscape improvement project spearheaded by the City of Hartford and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Their concern is that many of those connections could look like rusted pipe pulled from the ground outside another Albany Avenue business following a leak. Ellsworth Cross, a former MDC employee who now who works as a consultant with community revitalization organization, Upper Albany Main Street Inc., spoke out, saying community confidence in the water being used to prepare food, wash hands, and for drinking, was low. Merchants here today are saying Im not going to buy food from Albany Avenue, he said. MDCs Chief Executive Officer Scott Jellison attended the meeting to respond to these concerns. He said the water main on Albany Avenue does not need to be replaced until at least the late 2030s, and that MDC has already done the work of relining almost every connection on the street up until the point where they reach private property. That line is one he said the utility cannot cross. We do not pay for private property work. This is not our responsibility, he said. The outcry is now prompting the state Department of Public Health to step in. Linda Ferraro, a Public Health Services manager with the DPH, said the department will investigate tap water quality along Albany Avenue and to inquire about funding for improvements. We will look into this further, so you have our assurance that we will participate, she said. The MDC told Vivian during the meeting that they would investigate her situation. Im a little relieved that theyre finally going to come out and take a look at the problem, she said, but it may be a little late, if you look at the condition of the building. The MDC also agreed to provide records they have to help property owners identify the age of their connections. The MDC does provide a free tap water testing service for customers. It was standing room only in Newington Wednesday when residents turned out to voice their concerns about plans for a new apartment complex. Dakota Partners presented plans for a 108-unit complex on a busy section of Cedar Street. The area is usually zoned for business, but Town Planner Craig Minor said because the project calls for affordable housing, it gets a pass. Its mostly one bedroom or two bedrooms. It will be mostly rented to rates that are affordable to working people. Eighty percent of the apartments will be affordable. The other 20 percent will be market rate," Minor said. One neighbor who spoke to NBC Connecticut said shes happy the town is getting more affordable housing, but shes concerned about the location. Cedar Street is one of the busiest streets in Newington. As a single parent 30 years ago I would have loved to have affordable housing in the area. I ended up living with my mom when my daughter was 7. So this is a project I think is needed. Is it the right place for to be? I'm not sure, Rose Lyons said. Another meeting is set to take place in a few weeks. The town could make a decision by the end of next month. A Farmington man has been missing for about a month and police are asking for assistance as they continue to search for him. Bryan Canto, a husband and father, has been missing since July 13 and today is his 48th birthday. He is bald with blue eyes, 185 pounds, and 5-foot-11. He also tattoos on his left and right arms a Libra symbol and a Rising sun with a lion. He was last seen wearing a blacked collared polo shirt, tan shorts and brown Sketchers sneakers. Police said Cantos family is hoping someone has information that would lead to finding him. Canto had never gone missing before and the behavior is completely out of line for his character, according to police. Police are concerned for his safety and well-being. Anyone with information on Cantos whereabouts should call Farmington police at 860-675-2400. A Hartford police officer has been placed on administrative leave and an internal investigation is underway after he allegedly was recorded telling people he was trigger happy and warned them not to run or fight, according to police. Officials from the Hartford Police Department said in a statement that they learned Friday morning that an officer was evidently recorded telling a group of people during a field interview that they would be checked for drugs and weapons and that if they tried to flee or fight, he was a little trigger happy, Im not going to lie. The video goes on the show the officer say, "I get paid a ton of money in overtime if I have to shoot somebody. Don't do anything stupid, alright? Hartford's police chief identified the officer as Sgt. Steve Barone. Officials from the police department said that the statements, regardless of the context or the intent, are unacceptable and represent a fundamental disregard for the conduct the department expects. We look at it from the perspective of the person on the other end of the field interview, and to hear those words isnt just scary, it projects an image of law enforcement officers who take use of force lightly. As I hope you know, we do not take any use of force lightly as a Department, the statement from police said. It is not the first time Barone has been placed on leave by the department. He was one of several officers suspended for his conduct following a June 2016 pursuit that ended in West Hartford. Barone was cited for "intentional and willful failure to comply with any lawful orders, procedures, directives or regulations" in connection with an excessive force case. The encounter was recorded on a police dashcam. Barone told NBC Connecticut by text that he'll comment when there is a resolution to the incident. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and Council President Glendowlyn L.H. Thames released the joint statement Friday afternoon about the video and said it is both disappointing and damaging. The officers behavior in this video is completely unacceptable and inconsistent with the values of our Police Department and our city, Bronin and Thames said in a statement. Law enforcement officers have a responsibility to treat the use of force and threats of force seriously at all times. The men and women of our Department work every day to build a community relationship based on transparency, accountability, trust and respect, and actions like this undermine that work and that commitment, the statement says. Our Department has placed the officer on administrative leave effective immediately, and internal affairs has begun an investigation. We appreciate the seriousness and transparency of the Departments response to this incident." Its been 50 years since Carl Brannan died, and all that time his remains have sat unclaimed. Without a family to say goodbye, the military stepped in to make sure the sacrifices that he and three others made are not forgotten. Friday the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, along with the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, held a funeral at the state veterans cemetery with full military honors for Brannan and fellow sailor Charles Noonan, who both died in Darian, along with Airman Arthur Chappell who passed away in Meriden, and Soldier George Church, who died in Wallingford. The four men served in World War II and died in Connecticut between 1966 and 2001. These men, who served their country proudly, left this world without loved ones to remember them. Tasked with taking their unclaimed remains to their final resting place Friday were fellow veterans. It just doesnt seem right that any veteran should go to their grave totally unaccompanied and alone, said retired First Lt. Eileen Torpey-Richard, who served as a nurse with the Army. Were all brothers and sisters in the service and so we work together and we honor each other, added retired Petty Officer Third Class Kelvin Bunnell, who served with the Navy. They were among dozens of Connecticut veterans and active duty members who crowded the states veterans cemetery for the service. We will never leave a fallen comrade behind, Connecticut Veterans Affairs Commissioner Thomas Saadi told the gathered crowd. These departed brothers stepped forward to fight for freedom and in doing so held our flag high as a symbol of liberty, freedom, and justice not only for Americans but for millions across the globe. They served with us, theyre our comrades, said Torpey-Richard. They were posthumously awarded their Connecticut Wartime service medals, a final act to honor the service and sacrifice of these four men. To ensure that those who were once forgotten are never forgotten again, Saadi explained. Since 2008, the state has made it a goal of providing these military men and women the dignity of a burial with full military honors. Fridays ceremony was the fifth one since those protocols, the first of its kind in the nation, were put into place. When nearly 22,0000 students go back to New Haven Public Schools at the end of the month, the districts budget deficit will be smaller than at the start of summer break, school leaders said Friday morning during a press conference at Wilbur Cross High School. Working with Mayor Toni Harp (D), the Board of Alders, Board of Education and teachers union, Superintendent Dr. Carol Birks said they have been able to reduce the major deficit by more than $10 million. It is our legal responsibility so we have to make critical decisions to close the budget, Dr. Birks said. By closing three schools, making staff reductions and other difficult decisions, New Haven Public Schools now have an $8.4 million deficit. That budget shortfall was more than $19 million in March. We have to make decisions that may hurt just like in your own households, Birks said. NBC Connecticut asked the superintendent if that could mean more layoffs of teachers and staff. So ideally I want to say I hope not, she said, but I cant say yes or no at this point cause were continuing to look and see how we can make certain adjustments. As of today, the number of full-time employees that wont return to work is down from 36 to 32, Birks said, adding the number continues to fluctuate. To make up for some of the guidance counselors that are losing their jobs, Dr. Birks said the district added five new social workers. Weve made sure that our high schools are adequately staffed in terms of school counselors, she said, and we have provided each elementary school with a social worker to meet students social emotional needs. We did not have that across the district. Parent Andrew Conroe said he was pleased with his daughters kindergarten teacher at a New Haven Public School. The more money thats flowing into the public schools the better, he said. But the reality is the school district where his daughter is about to begin first grade is still in the red, and the superintendent said more cuts will need to be made. I think it depends on wise cutting and what theyre cutting. I dont want to see things like teachers and arts and music and guidance counselors cut out for the sake of saving money, Conroe said. The district also eliminated 14 administrative positions by reassigning most of them to new roles, Birks said. Students go back to New Haven Public Schools on Aug. 30. State investigators continue to investigate a suspicious emerald green beetle photographed by a then 10-year-old Tarrant County boy. Entomologist Mike Merchant, who is among a team of scientists leading the state investigation said there is a strong chance the beetle photographed by now 11-year-old Sam Hunt is an Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect that has killed millions of ash trees in the United States. I think its probably 70 to 90 percent sure thats what this is, Merchant said. Sam took the photo in his familys back yard in North Tarrant County, not knowing at the time what it was. I had no idea what it was I just thought it looked really weird, Hunt said. Sam uploaded the photo to an online database for naturalists where scientists in other states and countries eventually spotted it, identifying it as a possible Emerald Ash Borer. It just shows that if you get out in nature and look around for things you might find something that is worthwhile, Hunt said. His parents said they are not surprised by Sams discovery and hope his passion for the outdoors will continue. He takes picture of everything, Sams father Joel Hunt said. Things that most people, all of us would bypass, Sams mother Jenny Hunt said. A Texas grand jury on Thursday indicted a 17-year-old student accused of fatally shooting 10 people in May at a Houston-area high school. Dimitrios Pagourtzis was formally indicted on charges that include capital murder of multiple persons. Under Texas law, capital murder carries an automatic sentence of life in prison with a parole option for those younger than 18. He also was indicted on a count of aggravated assault of a public servant for the shooting of a school police officer who survived. Pagourtzis is being held at the Galveston County Jail without bond. A trial date has not been set. Investigators have said Pagourtzis admitted going on a shooting rampage at Santa Fe High School that killed eight students and two teachers. Authorities said the teen used his father's pistol and shotgun to burst into the school's art classroom and begin shooting. Witnesses said the gunfire went on for 10 to 15 minutes, and police said Pagourtzis engaged in a prolonged firefight with officers before finally surrendering. Gov. Greg Abbott has said Pagourtzis intended to kill himself but gave up and told police that he did not have the courage to take his own life. Pagourtzis also had described planning the attack in private journals, according to investigators. A judge has ordered a mental evaluation of the teen, but the report from that evaluation remains confidential. The rampage was the nation's deadliest such attack since the mass shooting at a Florida high school in February that gave rise to a gun-control campaign by teens. In Texas, grand juries have 90 days from the date of a suspect's detention to indict or not indict a suspect, said Galveston County prosecutor Ross Hill. The Pagourtzis case was presented to a Galveston County grand jury impaneled last month, he said. After the shooting, Abbott called for schools to have more armed personnel, though he faced pushback after suggesting tightening of some gun laws. A man on the Texas 10 Most Wanted list has been captured in Mexico as part of an El Paso murder investigation. The Texas Department of Public Safety on Friday announced the arrest of 46-year-old Keith Antonio Boynes . Officials say Boynes, who was wanted on a murder-related charge and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, was caught Tuesday in Mexico City. The arrest was the result of a tip. The tipster will receive a reward of up to $7,500. DPS says Boynes was transported to Houston and awaits transfer to El Paso, where he was wanted in connection with an August 2017 slaying at a hotel. His criminal history also includes arrests for aggravated assault, sexual assault, weapons charges and burglary. A 30-year-old South Texas man must serve life in federal prison for a child pornography case involving girls who said they were drugged and sexually assaulted. Matthew Joseph Lucio of Corpus Christi was sentenced Thursday. Lucio in April pleaded guilty to two counts each of online solicitation and production of child pornography. Investigators in Corpus Christi say Lucio, who acknowledged sexually assaulting four girls, used internet messaging technology to meet and lure underage females. Prosecutors on Thursday offered additional testimony indicating one adult and eight girls reported Lucio drugged and sexually assaulted them. Digital devices linked to Lucio had more than 24,000 pages of social media communications with other girls. The investigation began last November with help from the Virginia-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. What to Know Ex-EPA head Scott Pruitt broke the law by ignoring scientific evidence showing that a common pesticide is harmful, a court ruled. The scientific evidence cited by the court shows that the pesticide residue left on food causes neurological damage in children. The chemical belongs to a family of pesticides that are similar to a chemical warfare agent developed by Nazi Germany before WWII. A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration endangered public health by keeping a widely used pesticide on the market despite extensive scientific evidence that even tiny levels of exposure can harm babies' brains. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Thursday ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to remove chlorpyrifos from sale in the United States within 60 days. A coalition of farmworkers and environmental groups sued last year after then-EPA chief Scott Pruitt reversed an Obama-era effort to ban chlorpyrifos, which is widely sprayed on citrus fruit, apples and other crops. The attorneys general for several states including California, New York and Massachusetts joined the case against EPA. In a split decision, the court said Thursday that Pruitt, a Republican forced to resign earlier this summer amid ethics scandals, violated federal law by ignoring the conclusions of agency scientists that chlorpyrifos is harmful. "The panel held that there was no justification for the EPA's decision in its 2017 order to maintain a tolerance for chlorpyrifos in the face of scientific evidence that its residue on food causes neurodevelopmental damage to children," Judge Jed S. Rakoff wrote in the court's opinion. Michael Abboud, spokesman for acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, said the agency was reviewing the decision, but it had been unable to "fully evaluate the pesticide using the best available, transparent science." EPA could potentially appeal to the Supreme Court since one member of the three-judge panel dissented from the majority ruling. Environmental groups and public health advocates celebrated the court's action as a major success. "Some things are too sacred to play politics with, and our kids top the list," said Erik Olson, senior director of health and food at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The court has made it clear that children's health must come before powerful polluters. This is a victory for parents everywhere who want to feed their kids fruits and veggies without fear it's harming their brains or poisoning communities." The attorneys general of California and New York also claimed victory. "This is one more example of how then-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt skirted the law and endangered the health of our children in this case, all because he refused to curb pesticide levels found in food," Attorney General Xavier Becerra of California said in a statement. Chlorpyrifos was created by Dow Chemical Co. in the 1960s. It remains among the most widely used agricultural pesticides in the United States, with the chemical giant selling about 5 million pounds domestically each year through its subsidiary Dow AgroSciences. Gregg Schmidt, a spokesman for Dow, said chlorpyrifos is a critical pest management tool used in countries around the world. "We will continue to support the growers who need this important product," Schmidt said. Chlorpyrifos belongs to a family of organophosphate pesticides that are chemically similar to a nerve gas developed by Nazi Germany before World War II. As a result of its wide use as a pesticide over the past four decades, traces of chlorpyrifos are commonly found in sources of drinking water. A 2012 study at the University of California at Berkeley found that 87 percent of umbilical-cord blood samples tested from newborn babies contained detectable levels of the pesticide. Under pressure from federal regulators, Dow voluntarily withdrew chlorpyrifos for use as a home insecticide in 2000. EPA also placed "no-spray" buffer zones around sensitive sites, such as schools, in 2012. In October 2015, the Obama administration proposed banning the pesticide's use on food. A risk assessment memo issued by nine EPA scientists concluded: "There is a breadth of information available on the potential adverse neurodevelopmental effects in infants and children as a result of prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos." Federal law requires EPA to ensure that pesticides used on food in the United States are safe for human consumption especially children, who are typically far more sensitive to the negative effects of poisons. Shortly after his appointment by President Donald Trump in 2017, Pruitt announced he was revering the Obama administration effort to ban chlorpyrifos, adopting Dow's position that the science showing chlorpyrifos is harmful was inconclusive and flawed. The Associated Press reported in June 2017 that Pruitt announced his agency's reversal on chlorpyrifos just 20 days after his official schedule showed a meeting with Dow CEO Andrew Liveris. At the time, Liveris headed a White House manufacturing working group, and his company had written a $1 million check to help underwrite Trump's inaugural festivities. Following the AP's report, then-EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman said that March 9, 2017, meeting on Pruitt's schedule never happened. Bowman said the two men had instead shared only a "brief introduction in passing" while attending the same industry conference at a Houston hotel and that they never discussed chlorpyrifos. However, internal EPA emails released earlier this year following a public records lawsuit filed by The Sierra Club suggest the two men shared more than a quick handshake. Little more than a week after the conference and before Pruitt announced his decision, the EPA chief's scheduler reached out to Liveris' executive assistant to schedule a follow-up meeting. "Hope this email finds you well!" wrote Sydney Hupp, Pruitt's assistant, on March 20, 2017. "I am reaching out today about setting up a meeting to continue the discussion between Dow Chemical and Administrator Scott Pruitt. My apologies for the delay in getting this email into you it has been a crazy time over here!" Subsequent emails show Hupp and Liveris' office discussing several potential dates that the Dow CEO might come to Pruitt's office at EPA headquarters, but it is not clear from the documents whether the two men ever linked up. Liveris announced his retirement from Dow in March of this year. Pruitt resigned July 6 amid more than a dozen ethics investigations focused on such issues as outsized security spending, first-class flights and a sweetheart condo lease for a Capitol Hill condo linked to an energy lobbyist. Bowman, who left EPA in May to work for GOP Sen. Joni Ernest of Iowa, declined to comment on her earlier characterization of the March 2017 interaction between Pruitt and Liveris or what "discussion" the internal email was referring to. "I don't work for EPA anymore," Bowman said. Current EPA spokesman James Hewitt said, "We stand by our statement from last year." What to Know The Holy fire started Aug. 6 near the Riverside and Orange county border in Cleveland National Forest The fire spread quickly in dry brush, steep terrain and extremely hot weather The fire is one of more than a dozen large wildfires burning this summer throughout California A man arrested in connection with the 18,100-acre wildfire burning in Cleveland National Forest and charged with several arson-related counts appeared Friday in court. Fifty-one-year-old Forrest Gordon Clark appeared to seek out the courtroom camera and stared directly into it. When the charges against him were read aloud, Clark said, "That's a lie." His arraignment was postponed until Aug. 17. When the court commissioner ordered bail to remain at $1 million, Clark shouted that he could easily afford to post the money. Clark was arrested Tuesday, a day after the fast-moving wildfire started in dry brush and steep terrain near the Riverside and Orange county border. He was charged Thursday with one felony count each of aggravated arson of five or more inhabited structures, arson of inhabited property, arson of forest, criminal threats, two felony counts of resisting and deterring an executive officer, and a sentencing enhancement for arson burning multiple structures. He faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison. Details about how the fire started were not immediately available, but Clark is accused of setting the blaze in the Trabuco Canyon area. At least a dozen structures and more than 18,100 acres have burned. A court appearance was initially scheduled for Thursday, but the suspect refused to come out of his cell as of early afternoon. Arraignment was re-scheduled for Friday, then postponed to next week at his attorneys' request. A family member declined NBC4's request for a comment Thursday. The Orange County Register reported that the suspect owns a cabin in the Holy fire area and allegedly sent an email warning "this place will burn." Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Milligan told the Register that he received the emails last week. "He has issues," Milligan told the Register. "I hope they get him." The Holy fire in Riverside and Orange counties is one of more than a dozen large wildfires burning in California, including the Mendocino Complex -- the state's largest wildfire on record. Major fires also are burning in Shasta County and in and around Yosemite National Park during what could be one of the worst years for wildfires on record in California. The Holy fire is at least the second large wildfire this summer that authorities said was started by an arsonist. Last month, a Temecula man was arrested on suspicion of starting nine fires, including the 13,000-acre Cranston fire in the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County. The Holy Fire was first reported about 1:15 p.m. Monday near Holy Jim Canyon and Trabuco Creek roads, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Tony Bommarito. The fire grew to more than 4,100 acres by Wednesday morning. It was less than 5-percent contained. The area has not burned since the early 1980s, leaving hillsides covered in dry brush that provides fuel for the fire. A care and reception center was established at Temescal Canyon High School on El Toro Road in Lake Elsinore. About 600 firefighters were called in to try to encircle the blaze, with the USFS taking the lead, aided by personnel from Cal Fire, Corona, the OCFA and other agencies. California could be facing the toughest wildfire season ever as 12 gigantic blazes ravage the state. Some 14,000 firefighters are battling fires that have destroyed more than 2,000 buildings and claimed at least six lives due to wind-whipped flames that have caused an explosive spread through vegetation left tinder-dry by years of drought. California's largest recorded blaze -- the side-by-side fires dubbed the Mendocino Complex -- needed just 11 days to blacken an area nearly the size of Los Angeles. A deadly fire that destroyed more than 1,000 homes in the Redding area of Northern California is less than 50 percent contained. What to Know Fridays and Saturdays Aug. 11-Sept. 8, 2018 Select stores; check the site before you go You've seen what we're about to describe on TV, and at the movies, multiple times: A wall covered in strings of yarn, as the main character connects the dots between certain people, times, and locations, all to help unweave a larger story inside the character's mind. Truth, though? August and green chile roasting season in Southern California almost requires such an info-packed wall. And while skeins of yarn and thumbtacks probably aren't necessary to sort out this spicy map, keeping track of the wheres and whens of the SoCal roaster run is of utmost importance to the thousands of chileheads who call our area home. Next up to break out the big, metal, tumble-those-peppers devices? Gelson's, which will turn fresh Hatch chile pods into skin-crackly gold, er, green, starting on Saturday, Aug. 11. The days you can find your capsaicin fix? Fridays and Saturdays, at select Gelson's stores, from Aug. 11 through to Sept. 8. Not every Gelson's will be roasting on every day of the run, not at all, so check the schedule. Santa Barbara, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village are all up on opening day, while Dana Point, Del Mar, La Costa/Carlsbad, and Pacific Beach round out the 2018 roasting roster on Sept. 8. In the middle? So many Gelson's in so many cities will be sending so many Hatch peppers over so much open heat, all to create that one-of-a-kind scent and flavor. But the window is tight, just a month, and your days are Fridays and Saturdays as mentioned. Is it time for a wall full of yarn strings? Or at least an over-sized calendar, tracking all of your chile needs? Here's your Gelson's schedule, so plan accordingly, then get planning all of those tum-warming dishes you'll be cooking all fall and winter long. If your chile lasts that long, which it probably won't, since you'll gobble it all up by the autumn equinox. Just being real here. Right? The major pro and con of green chile is the same: It never lasts. The effects of the Trump administration's escalating trade dispute with China is rippling through the U.S. economy and putting Connecticut's lobster industry in the crosshairs. Groton-based Garbo Lobster is one of North Americas leading exporters of lobsters. But, according to General Manager Chris Brown, the company has lost a significant portion of its business since China doubled tariffs on live U.S. seafood in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on billions of Chinese imports. "Last year, during the summer months, we'd be shipping these out on a daily basis, no problem," said Brown. "It has really caused us to look at our model and alter it, our volumes are much lower so we have to really reduce the amount of drivers, reduce the amount of production staff." In 2017, the U.S. exported more than $142 million worth of lobster to China, up from about $108 million in 2016, The Associated Press reported. This year, that number is expected to take a big hit as the industry's biggest international market appears to have lost its appetite for New England lobster. "We were shipping anywhere from 100- to 150,000 pounds [of lobster] a week on a given timeframe to China," Brown said. "However, now that has dropped down to nothing." President Trump announced in June it would slap 25 percent tariff on $34 billion of imports from China. Beijing responded by increasing taxes on the same amount of American imports. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) noted that Trump's tariffs are increasing the price of lobster by $2.50 a pound, resulting in a situation "where the government is creating an added cost." Courtney said he is concerned that Trumps trade policies are hurting other American companies. "Unfortunately, theyre not alone in terms of the tariff impact on dairy, on soybeans, pork producers, different parts of the country," he said. Companies in nearby states that ship shellfish overseas are also feeling the pinch, Courtney said. Meanwhile, Canadian companies are benefiting after China lowered tariffs on lobster imports from the U.S.'s neighbor to the north. "I would ask [President Trump] to consider more free trade opportunities and to be able to compete in the seafood industry in really markets across the board," Brown said. A political argument on Facebook led to a 44-year-old Florida man driving to the home of a stranger he'd been arguing with and shooting him. Brian Sebring faces felony charges of aggravated battery and carrying a concealed gun. Sebring tells the Tampa Bay Times he "just snapped and let primal rage take over" on Monday. The Facebook dispute began in a comment Sebring added to a now-deleted friends post about Donald Trump. A Facebook user who witnessed the exchange told the Tampa Bay Times that Sebring was "badmouthing felons who couldnt vote." A comment by Sebring suggesting people should not conduct criminal activity if they want to vote and have their opinion heard drew hundreds of responses. Alex Stephens, who has a felony record, messaged Sebring directly and the online argument escalated. Police say Stephens was shot in the thigh and buttocks and was treated at a hospital. Sebring spotted a police officer on his way home and turned himself in. Sebring says he's ruined his life "all because of some keyboard gangsters." "Im not a bad guy," Sebring told the Tampa Bay Times, "but, I mean, this guy threatened to hurt my family, and I went off the deep end. I wasnt thinking right. You know, after this Im going to go see a therapist or something, man, because thats some scary s---, that I could lose my temper like that and do something so stupid." Attorney information for Sebring was not immediately available. Sebring was released on $9,500 bond. Police are investigating after a man and a woman were found dead at a home in Cutler Bay Thursday night. The discovery was made at a home in the 19300 block of Sterling Drive just after 8 p.m., Miami-Dade Police officials said. Police haven't identified the victims or said how they died, but homicide detectives were at the scene through the night and into Friday morning. Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. An illegally parked car on Miami Beach and a crash in Hollywood led to the arrests of two people in connection with a double murder in Alabama, officials said. Police say the car belonging to Mary and Joe Holt, who were found dead in a home in Birmingham last week, was discovered illegally parked on a roundabout in the 100 block of South Pointe Drive in Miami Beach Thursday night. The officer who found the 2012 Honda Civic checked the tag and discovered that it had been reported stolen the same day the couple was found dead, according to an arrest report. As the officer was at the scene, 30-year-old Kristen Guillon quickly entered the car and tried to drive away but was stopped, the report said. Guillon told the officer it was her friend's car and "in situations like this her father told her to keep her mouth shut," according to the report. Guillon was taken into custody on a grand theft charge and was being held without bond Friday on a warrant from Alabama, the report said. On Friday afternoon, Hollywood Police confirmed they took a second suspect in the case, 23-year-old Zachary Phillips, into custody in the area of N. Dixie Highway and Roosevelt Street. Police said Phillips was in a car that was reported stolen out of Miami Beach, and officers were able to use the department's license plate readers to find the car. When officers tried to stop the car, the driver, Vivian De La Rosa Toniana, tried to flee but crashed into some parked cars, officials said. Phillips tried to flee on foot but was taken into custody nearby, officials said. Birmingham Police said the bodies of Mary Holt, 67, and Joe Holt, 68, were discovered in a home on Aug. 2. Police said officers responding to a report of a child alone on the street found a toddler wearing bloodstained clothes. The child was uninjured and led officers to the home where the couple's bodies were found. The child's relationship to the Holt couple was unknown. First lady Melania Trump's parents were sworn in as U.S. citizens on Thursday, completing a legal path to citizenship that their son-in-law has suggested eliminating. Viktor and Amalija Knavs, both in their 70s, took the citizenship oath at a private ceremony in New York City. The Slovenian immigrants, a former car dealer and textile factory worker, had been living in the U.S. as permanent residents. The Knavses slipped in and out of a side entrance at a Manhattan federal building flanked by Department of Homeland Security police. Some workers inside didn't know what was going on. The couple said little, other than Viktor telling a reporter "thank you" when asked how they felt about becoming Americans. The Knavses' lawyer said they had "travailed a wonderful journey." Lawyer Michael Wildes said the Knavses applied for citizenship on their own and didn't get any special treatment. He confirmed that Melania Trump sponsored their green cards. Her husband, President Donald Trump, has proposed ending most family-based immigration, which he refers to as "chain migration." "This golden experiment, these doors that are in America, remain hinged open to beautiful people as they have today," Wildes said after the ceremony. Amid a bitter debate over immigration particularly the Trump administration's separation of children from families crossing the border illegally Wildes said the Knavses' attaining citizenship was "an example of it going right." Melania Trump, who has been vacationing with her husband in Bedminster, New Jersey, did not accompany her parents. Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, declined to comment. She said the first lady's parents "are not part of the administration and deserve privacy." Along with targeting illegal immigration, President Donald Trump has proposed sharply curbing legal immigration. The Republican president proposed replacing most family-based immigration with a skills-based system after an attempted bombing by a Bangladeshi immigrant in New York last December. He also called for eliminating a visa lottery program for people from countries under-represented in the U.S. The plan, which Trump reiterated last week at a Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania rally, would limit immigrants like his wife to sponsoring only their spouses and underage children to join them in the U.S. not their parents, adult children or siblings. Experts estimate those measures, so far resisted by Congress, would cut legal immigration into the U.S. nearly in half. Wildes wouldn't say how long the Knavses have lived in the U.S. Under the law, permanent residents must live in the country for at least five years before applying for citizenship. The Knavses' citizenship ceremony was kept hush-hush around the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building. Security guards and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services workers in offices adorned with President Trump's portrait said they were unaware of anyone being sworn in there on Thursday. New citizens are normally minted on Fridays, they said, and often the ceremonies are held at the federal courthouse across the street. The Knavses raised Melania, born Melanija, in the rural industrial town of Sevnica while Slovenia was under Communist rule. She attended high school in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, and changed her name to Melania Knauss when she started modeling. She settled in New York in 1996 and met Trump two years later. They married in 2005. Viktor Knavs is 74, two years older than his son-in-law. Amalija is 73. Trump hasn't commented or tweeted about his in-laws' newfound citizenship. Around the same time the Knavses were completing the ceremony, he was tweeting his rage about the ongoing Russia probe ("an illegally brought Rigged Witch Hunt") and his excitement about plans for a sixth branch of the military ("Space Force all the way!"). Yemen's Shiite rebels on Friday backed a U.N. call for a probe into a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in the country's north that killed dozens of people the previous day, including many children, in an attack that drew wide international criticism. Senior Yemeni rebel leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said on Twitter that the rebels known as Houthis welcome the call and are willing to cooperate in an investigation of the strike in Saada province that hit a bus carrying civilians, many of them school children, in a busy market in Dahyan district. In a statement after Thursday's airstrike, U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urged Yemen's warring parties to take "constant care to spare civilians" during military operations and also called for an "independent and prompt investigation." The United Nations said an exact death toll has yet to be confirmed but initial reports point to more than 60 casualties, with dozens severely wounded. The rebel-run Al Masirah TV reported at least 51 killed and 79 wounded in the airstrike, citing the Yemeni Health Ministry in the capital, Sanaa, which is under rebel control. It also said three children have gone missing since the airstrike. The International Committee of the Red Cross said its team received the bodies of 29 children, all under 15 years old, and treated 48 wounded, 30 of them children. Following the strike, Al Masirah broadcast horrific images of lifeless bodies of children, covered in blood, and others who appeared severely wounded, lying on hospital stretchers crying and screaming in pain. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified. On Friday, Ahmed al-Hamoud, who was traveling from Saada to Sanaa, said a somber mood prevailed over the province and that coalition planes could be seen flying over it from time to time. The U.S. State Department called on the Saudi-led coalition "to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. "We take all credible accounts of civilian casualties very seriously." Also, the U.N. special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, who has been pushing for peace efforts in the war-torn country, said he was "deeply shocked by the appalling tragedy that claimed so many innocent lives." Still, he called on the warring parties to "engage constructively" in the first round of consultations scheduled for Sept. 6 in Geneva. The United Nations children's agency called the attack in Saada "unconscionable" and a "low point in the country's brutal war." The Saudi-led coalition, which has been at war with the Houthis for more than three years, said the attack on Saada was in response to a missile fired by the rebels into the kingdom's south a day earlier. The coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed the missile but its fragments killed one person and wounded 11 others in Saudi's southwestern border region of Jizan. Coalition's spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki defended the attack on Saada as a "legitimate military action" and blamed the Houthis for recruiting children and using them in the battlefields to cover for their actions. Impoverished Yemen has been embroiled in the war pitting the Saudi-led coalition against the Iran-aligned Houthis since March 2015. Civilians have been enmeshed over the years in the conflict which has killed over 10,000, crippled the country's health system and pushed it to the brink of famine. Yemen has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 22.2 million people in need of assistance. ___ Zaki reported from Cairo. Yemen's Shiite rebels on Friday backed a U.N. call for a probe into a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in the country's north that killed dozens of people the previous day, including many children, in an attack that drew wide international criticism. Senior Yemeni rebel leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said on Twitter that the rebels known as Houthis welcome the call and are willing to cooperate in an investigation of the strike in Saada province that hit a bus carrying civilians, many of them school children, in a busy market in Dahyan district. The coalition said Friday it would investigate and spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington Fatimah S. Baeshen said in a statement the case was referred to the coalition's investigative body. "The Coalition will, as it has always, exert all efforts to preserve civilian lives," she said. The coalition's statement signaled a shift in its earlier stance when spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki defended the attack as a "legitimate military action" and blamed the Houthis for recruiting children and using them in the battlefields as cover. The coalition, which has been at war with the Houthis for more than three years, said the attack on Saada was in response to a missile fired by the rebels into the kingdom's south a day earlier. The coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed the missile but its fragments killed one person and wounded 11 others in Saudi's southwestern border region of Jizan. The Iran-aligned Houthis regularly fire into Saudi Arabia and have previously targeted its capital, Riyadh, with ballistic missiles. They say their missile attacks on the kingdom are in retaliation for air raids on Yemen by the Western-backed coalition. On Friday, the rebel-run Al Masirah TV reported that the Houthis fired ballistic missiles targeting military bases in Saudi Arabia's southern provinces of Asir and Jizan. The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya satellite news channel reported that the coalition had intercepted two missiles fired toward Jizan. In a statement after Thursday's airstrike, U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urged Yemen's warring parties to take "constant care to spare civilians" during military operations and also called for an "independent and prompt investigation." The United Nations said an exact death toll has yet to be confirmed but initial reports point to more than 60 casualties, with dozens severely wounded. Al-Masirah reported at least 51 people, including 40 children, were killed and 79 others, including 56 children, were wounded in the airstrike, citing the Yemeni Health Ministry in the capital, Sanaa, which is under rebel control. It also said three children have gone missing since the airstrike. On Friday, the U.N. Security Council echoed Guterres' statement, calling for a "credible and transparent" investigation. A statement from the U.N.'s most powerful body expressed "grave concern" at the latest attacks in Saada province "and all other recent attacks." The International Committee of the Red Cross said its team received the bodies of 29 children, all under 15 years old, and treated 48 wounded, 30 of them children. Following the strike, Al Masirah broadcast horrific images of lifeless bodies of children, covered in blood, and others who appeared severely wounded, lying on hospital stretchers crying and screaming in pain. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified. On Friday, Ahmed al-Hamoud, who was traveling from Saada to Sanaa, said a somber mood prevailed over the province and that coalition planes could be seen flying over it from time to time. The U.S. State Department called on the Saudi-led coalition "to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. "We take all credible accounts of civilian casualties very seriously." Also, the U.N. special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, who has been pushing for peace efforts in the war-torn country, said he was "deeply shocked by the appalling tragedy that claimed so many innocent lives." Still, he called on the warring parties to "engage constructively" in the first round of consultations scheduled for Sept. 6 in Geneva. The United Nations children's agency called the attack in Saada "unconscionable" and a "low point in the country's brutal war." Impoverished Yemen has been embroiled in the war pitting the Saudi-led coalition against the Iran-aligned Houthis since March 2015. Civilians have been enmeshed over the years in the conflict which has killed over 10,000, crippled the country's health system and pushed it to the brink of famine. Yemen has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 22.2 million people in need of assistance. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed. What to Know The father of the infant found floating in the East River over the weekend arrived in NYC late Thursday to face charges The 37-year-old man said nothing to the crowd of reporters who yelled, "What happened to your son?" as he was led from a police precinct The baby, Mason Saldana, was discovered near the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge Sunday just after 4 p.m. by a tourist from Oklahoma The father accused of dumping his 7-month-old son in the East River and fleeing overseas sent taunting text messages to the baby's frantic mother, including one that read "You will never see Mason again," according to a criminal complaint revealed at his arraignment Friday. James Currie, of Co-Op City, also allegedly texted the boy's mother, "The good news we [sic] will never see each other again," and "I am not in the usa" after he arrived in Thailand, where he was apprehended days after his son's body was pulled from the water by a tourist from Oklahoma. Currie, 37, is charged with concealment of a human corpse in the case of his son, Mason Saldana. Additional charges could be filed pending an autopsy, though a determination on the baby's cause of death is not expected this week. It wasn't clear if he entered a plea at his arraignment in Manhattan. After court, his attorney Norman Williams said, "Everybody needs to keep an open mind and not convict this man until they see evidence that he did something wrong." Earlier, Currie said nothing to reporters who repeatedly yelled, "What happened to your baby? What happened to your son?" as he was led, hands cuffed behind his back, from Manhattan's 13th Precinct en route to his court hearing. Wearing a stark white jumpsuit, Currie shuffled past the media throng, his head down, as two officers escorted him to a waiting SUV. Currie landed at Kennedy Airport on a Korean Airlines flight Thursday night. He had tried to flee the country following the discovery of his son's body, and was apprehended in Thailand, law enforcement sources have said. Homeland Security Investigations, NYPD and Customs and Border Protection worked together to track him overseas and bring him back to the U.S. Exclusive video obtained by News 4 shows a handcuffed Currie being led to a swarm of agents waiting on the jetbridge after his plane landed Thursday. He complied with orders to put his hands behind his head and stood silently as an officer placed a chain around him, then led him off the plane, the video shows. His baby boy, who was born in January, was alive when he was exchanged between the mother and father at the mothers residence around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, NYPD Chief Dermot Shea previously said. About 24 hours later, when the childs father was seen leaving his home with a backpack covered with a blanket, fashioned as a baby carrier, the baby was likely dead, officials said. MTA records show Currie, an employee with the agency, was issued a MetroCard and that MetroCard was used to board a bus in the Bronx. It was used again in Manhattan, at 23rd Street. Currie was then seen walking in lower Manhattan, between South Street Seaport and Wall Street Heliport, around 3:10 p.m. with the backpack, officials say. According to a criminal complaint, the MetroCard was used about 54 minutes later to enter the transit system at Chambers Street. Video surveillance showed him enter the transit system -- the blanket that had been covering his chest was gone and he had no baby with him. The baby's mother allegedly attempted to get in touch with Currie before sensing something was amiss, and she contacted authorities Monday night. During the "bloodcurdling" call to 911, the mother said the child was not dropped off at day care, Shea said, adding that she'd heard about the child in the water, feared the worst and started crying. It was because of this call that authorities were able to identify the child found in the river. According to officials, there was a court-stipulated agreement for visitation involving the parents, who were not legally married, and the child, but there were no red flags. Research News UB volcanologist co-chairs team for Venus mission UB geologist Tracy Gregg says Venus (pictured above) and Earth are about the same size, have the same mass and are the same distance from the Sun. "These two planets should be twinners. They should be exactly alike but theyre not, she says. Image: NASA/JPL By CHARLOTTE HSU By learning about Venus, and the differences between Venus and Earth, we can better understand how planets develop to support life. UB geologist Tracy Gregg is in Moscow this week for a scientific meeting. Next stop? Venus. Thats the plan, at least. Gregg wont be going to Venus herself, but she is serving as U.S. co-chair of a U.S.-Russian team tasked with mapping out potential scientific goals for Venera-D, an unmanned Russian mission to the planet. The endeavor, still in its early planning stages, could include an orbiter and a lander that visits the surface of the hot, rocky world. An aerial platform such as a balloon or airship capable of operating for three months in Venus harsh atmosphere is also under discussion. By learning about Venus, and the differences between Venus and Earth, we can better understand how planets develop to support life, says Gregg, a volcanologist and associate professor of geology. If you think about the solar system, Venus and Earth are like twins: Theyre about the same size, the same mass, the same distance from the Sun, she says. And yet, Earth is this vibrant world that supports life, while Venus has an average surface temperature of about 850 degrees Fahrenheit and clouds made from sulfuric acid. Why are they so different? When did they diverge in their evolution? These two planets should be twinners. They should be exactly alike but theyre not. The group Gregg is co-chairing the Venera-D Joint Science Definition Team is meeting from Aug. 7-10 in Moscow. It includes NASA-sponsored scientists, as well as Russian colleagues supported by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. The Russian co-chair is Ludmila Zasova of IKI (the Russian Academy of Sciences Space Research Institute). Participants have a specific objective: identifying research questions that the Venera-D mission could answer, and generating a list of scientific instruments that could be useful in Venus exploration. The work is exciting for Gregg, who has used data from past space missions to study volcanoes on Venus, Mars, the Moon and elsewhere in the solar system. Much of Greggs research has been funded by NASA, as is her participation on the Venera-D team. For me, this is a chance to help build a mission from the ground up, to get involved in nitty-gritty details, she says. I think of it like a restaurant: You have the diner who enjoys the food. You have the farmer that produces the raw ingredients, and the chef that designs the meal. Ive always been the diner. Now Im taking more of the chef or farmer position. After the science definition team has completed its work, it will be up to space agency administrators and policymakers to decide what equipment and vehicles to include in the Venera-D mission. Engineers designing any landers or aerial ships will then face the challenge of crafting machines sturdy enough to take on Venus. Imagine parking your car in an oven and spraying it with sulfuric acid, Gregg says. Thats what these engineers will have to deal with. She says if all goes well, the proposed Venera-D mission could launch in about a decade, though no firm date has been set. What to Know The father of the infant found floating in the East River over the weekend has landed at JFK after he tried to flee to Thailand, sources say The 37-year-old man from Co-op City is expected to face charges of concealment of a human corpse in connection to the case, authorities say The baby, Mason Saldana, was discovered near the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge Sunday just after 4 p.m. by a tourist from Oklahoma UPDATE: 'You Will Never See Mason Again': East River Dad Sent Taunting Texts to Baby's Frantic Mother, Complaint Says The father of the 7-month-old infant who was found floating in the East River over the weekend has landed back in New York City after he was taken into custody in Thailand, law enforcement sources say. James Currie, 37, arrived at Kennedy Airport on a Korean Airlines flight Thursday evening after he tried to flee the country earlier in the week, according to sources. Homeland Security Investigations, NYPD and Customs and Border Protection worked together to track him overseas and bring him back to the U.S. Currie booked a ticket to Thailand after allegedly dumping his dead child in the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge. His flight connected in Abu Dhabi and India before landing in Thailand, where he was taken into custody, sources said. Exclusive video obtained by News 4 shows a handcuffed Currie being led to a swarm of agents waiting on the jetbridge. He complied with orders to put his hands behind his head and stood silently as an officer placed a chain around him, then led him off the plane, the video shows. Currie, of Co-op City in the Bronx, is charged with concealment of human corpse in the alleged dumping of his baby, identified as Mason Saldana, authorities say. Additional charges could be filed pending an autopsy. A determination on the baby's cause of death isn't expected this week. He was being taken to the NYPD 13th Precinct station in Manhattan. The baby boy, who was born in January, was alive when he was exchanged between the mother and father at the mothers residence around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, NYPD Chief Dermot Shea previously said. About 24 hours later, when the childs father was seen leaving his home with a backpack covered with a blanket, fashioned as a baby carrier, the baby was likely dead, officials said. Currie was then seen walking in Lower Manhattan, between South Street Seaport and Wall Street Heliport, around 3:10 p.m. with the backpack, officials say. The baby's mother allegedly attempted to get in touch with Currie before sensing something was amiss, and she contacted authorities Monday night. During the "blood-curdling" call to 911, the mother said the child was not dropped off at day care, Shea said, adding that she'd heard about the child in the water, feared the worst and started crying. It was because of this call that authorities were able to identify the child found in the river. According to officials, there was a court-stipulated agreement for visitation involving the parents, who were not legally married, and the child, but there were no red flags. It's unclear if Currie has an attorney. The baby was discovered near the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge Sunday just after 4 p.m. A tourist from Oklahoma saw the child floating in the water and jumped in to bring him ashore, then tried to resuscitate him, witnesses and police said. Monte Campbell, the tourist from Stillwater, Oklahoma, who jumped into the water, said it was his wife Diana who first spotted the baby's body. "She just called me over and said there was a baby in the water. I called 911. At that point I thought it was a doll," said Campbell. He jumped into the water and brought the baby ashore, performing CPR until help arrived. Police said they moved the child from the embankment to the pedestrian walkway and continued CPR until an ambulance came. Diana Campbell said her husband didn't feel a pulse. A backpack was floating near the baby, she said. It was also recovered. What to Know A Massachusetts man was arrested in NYC Thursday morning by federal authorities after allegedly threatening ICE agents on social media Brandon Ziobrowski, of Cambridge, was arrested after he allegedly tweeted he was willing give $500 to anyone who kills an ICE agent He also threatened US Sen. John McCain; Ziobrowski will be arraigned in federal court in NY before his removal to Boston A Massachusetts man was arrested in New York City Thursday morning by federal authorities after allegedly threatening Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on social media, according to authorities. Brandon Ziobrowski, of Cambridge Massachusetts, was arrested by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force at 7:15 a.m. on a street corner in Queens. Video obtained exclusively by News 4 New York shows the takedown, as Ziobrowski, wearing shorts and a blue shirt, paces on a street corner while unmarked cars loop around -- and suddenly, federal agents from all directions approach him. One shakes his hand, while the rest of the agents put him in handcuffs. The arrest is in connection to his alleged tweet under the username @Vine_II in which he wrote he was willing "give $500 to anyone who kills an ICE agent," according to the indictment. "I am broke but I will scrounge and literally give $500 to anyone who kills an ice agent," he allegedly wrote online on July 2. "@me seriously who else can pledge get in on this let's make this work." Court documents say that this tweet was designed to encourage violence and the murder of law enforcement agents and that Ziobrowski intended that his tweet communicate a threat and knew that it would be interpreted as such. According to the Department of Justice, Ziobrowski allegedly created a Twitter account in 2009 and his tweets, increasingly, became more violent and threatening. The indictment also said the 33-year-old once tweeted he wanted to "slit" U.S. Sen. John McCain's throat. "To have people posting on social media trying to incite others to bring harm to the agents, it's something that we take very seriously, because it not only affects the agents, it affects their families at home, their children, their husbands, their wives, their mothers and fathers," said Anthony Scandiffio, deputy special agent in charge at Homeland Security Investigations. At the request of law enforcement, Ziobrowski's Twitter account was suspended later in July, necn.com reports. U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, FBI's Special Agent in Charge Harold Shaw and Homeland Security's Special Agent in Charge Peter Fitzhugh announced the case against Ziobrowski at Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston Thursday morning. Ziobrowski is expected to be arraigned Thursday in Brooklyn federal court before his removal to Boston on the charge of using interstate commerce to transmit a threat to injure another. "We are going to take these threats very serious and if you feel you are going to post something against an ice agent to bring harm to an ice agent we will track you down and we will investigate that," said Scandiffio. If found guilty Ziobrowski could face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. It's unclear if Ziobrowski has an attorney. What to Know The one-time boyfriend of Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel was found dead of an apparent overdose, sources say Dennis Shields, 51, was found at Trump Tower Friday morning; he and Frankel had known each other for decades but didn't always date Phases of their on-again off-again relationship were featured in Season 10 of "The Real Housewives of New York City" The longtime friend and one-time boyfriend of Real Housewives of New York City star and entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel has been found dead of an apparent overdose at Trump Tower, a high-ranking law enforcement source tells News 4. Dennis Shields, 51, was found dead after authorities responded to a call at the Fifth Avenue skyscraper Friday, the source says. Police officially released Shields' name Friday afternoon and confirmed they responded to a 911 call of an unconscious male inside 721 5th Avenue around 9:19 a.m. According to DCPI, officers discovered Shields unconscious and unresponsive upon their arrival. EMS responded and pronounced him dead at the scene. The investigation is still ongoing. The NYC Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. According to a 2016 E! News article, Shields received a master's degree in public relations, but became prominent in the banking world serving as the CEO of LawCash, a pre-settlement funding company, since its inception in 2000. He was also a driving force in the creation of American Legal Finance Association (ALFA). Additionally, he co-founded and was chairman of YieldStreet, which is a crowdfunding company, and Esquire Bank. Shields and Frankel have known each other for more than three decades, but didn't start dating until 2016. Phases of their on-again off-again relationship were featured in Season 10 of "The Real Housewives of New York City." Frankel opened up about it earlier this year on "Steve Harvey," describing a shift back toward friendship. Ive been with someone on and off for years, Frankel told Harvey in May, without identifying Shields by name. "Its like a partnership where if were not being teammates and its not working and one man is down, then the other man is down." "Were trying to really kind of be good partners and be good teammates and I think relationships oddly are and this sounds cold but a little bit like business," she added. "If both people arent happy about it but slightly uncomfortable and giving up something or giving in [to] something, it doesnt work. So both partners have to say, All right, Im in it for this.'" In a statement to News 4, Shields' wife Jill Schwartzberg Shields said the family was devastated by the loss of their "loving father and friend." What to Know The Frank Rizzo statue in the shadow of Philadelphia's City Hall won't be moved for at least a couple years. The statue along with a mural in South Philly have been the target of activists and vandals angry of Rizzo's legacy. Current Mayor Jim Kenney said it would cost the city $200,000 to take down the 10-foot statue and store it until it could be moved. Months after several protests and vandalism caused Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney's administration to announce that the Frank Rizzo statue would be moved from its current location across from City Hall, the controversial bronze is still years away from going anywhere. The planned relocation of a statue of the late Philadelphia mayor, a polarizing figure in the city's history, has been put on hold for at least two more years. The city had not previously stated when the statue would be moved, only that it would be moved. Costs and logistics are in part responsible for the wait to move the bronze. Kenney said it would cost the city $200,000 to take down the 10-foot statue and store it until it could be moved, adding its relocation is not a priority for him. "Of all the issues on my scale of important things to do, this is not even in the Top 100," Kenney told Philly.com on Thursday. The mayor said on WHYY that "with all the things I'm dealing with from poverty to opioid abuse to schools to education issues this is the last on my list." Those who want the statue to stay put remember Rizzo as a devoted public servant. His detractors say he led a police force that brutalized minorities. After months of public debate, Philadelphia officials announced last fall they would remove the iconic statue from its prominent downtown perch on Thomas Paine Plaza in front of the Municipal Services Building. The full-body, hand-waving Rizzo looks south, several yards from the busy intersection of JFK Boulevard and North 15th Street. The plan is to wait until renovation of Paine Plaza begins in 2020 or 2021 to move the Rizzo statue, Kenney's office told NBC10. "Several sites in South Philadelphia are still being considered," the City said. "We will soon begin to engage neighbors and community organizations to determine both the connection between Mayor Rizzo and the neighborhood, as well as the communitys level of support to house the statue." The statue was donated to the city and unveiled in 1999. Last year, city officials took public comment on the issue and received thousands of suggestions on what to do with the statue. Word of the delay brought a swift backlash online, with Rizzo's critics excoriating the current mayor as a "coward" and suggesting politics was at play. The delay will push the move beyond Kenney's re-election campaign next year. Kenney denied his re-election played a role in the decision. Last summer, the statue was vandalized at least twice. The statue was egged and a man was arrested for spray-painting "black power" on it. On Friday, Blacks Lives Matter Pennsylvania activist Asa Khalif called for people to "bring rope and chains" to tear down the Rizzo statue instead of waiting for the city to act. As the battle continues over the Frank Rizzo statue, so does the battle over the future of the Rizzo mural at 9th and Montrose streets in South Philadelphia's Italian Market neighborhood. The mural has been cleaned up after various incidents of vandalism, causing a cost burden for taxpayers. The mural is maintained by Mural Arts Philadelphia and the City is working to secure private funding for its upkeep. The artist and owner of the building on which the Rizzo mural is painted don't want it removed, Mural Arts said. "Mural Arts also feels that providing historical context for the mural through signage is an important next step," the art commission said in a statement to NBC10. "That context will acknowledge its controversy and lift up the power of public art to invite and inspire reflection on our past and dialogue about our future as a city." Rizzo's critics, many of them people of color, recall his approach to policing and governing as corrupt and racist. The South Philadelphia native served as mayor from 1972 to 1980 and is remembered by supporters as a devoted, outspoken public servant who championed the city. Rizzo became police commissioner in 1967, memorably responding to a disturbance at a housing project wearing a tuxedo with a nightstick tucked into his cummerbund. He served two terms as mayor as a Democrat before switching to the GOP. His four-year stint as commissioner was marked by praise for crime-fighting and criticism for rights infringement and was punctuated by some confrontations with African-Americans. In 1967, Rizzo and the police confronted a few hundred black students protesting outside the Board of Education Building. Officers clubbed some of the students after a few climbed atop cars. In 1970, two groups affiliated with the Black Panthers were raided and strip-searched on the sidewalk. Yet he's also credited with hiring large numbers of African-American officers and promoting several black officers during his stint as commissioner. Rizzo's son, former City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr., said the statue should stay where it is. "There's going to be a fight," he said Thursday. Rizzo became police commissioner in 1967, memorably responding to a disturbance at a housing project wearing a tuxedo with a nightstick tucked into his cummerbund. He served two terms as mayor as a Democrat before switching to the GOP. His four-year stint as commissioner was marked by praise for crime-fighting and criticism for rights infringement, and it was punctuated by some confrontations with African-Americans. In 1967, Rizzo and the police confronted a few hundred black students protesting outside the Board of Education Building. Officers clubbed some of the students after a few climbed atop cars. In 1970, two groups affiliated with the Black Panthers were raided and strip-searched on the sidewalk. Yet he's also credited with hiring large numbers of African-American officers and promoting several black officers during his stint as commissioner. Rizzo's son, former City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr., said the statue should stay where it is. "There's going to be a fight," he said Thursday. The billionaire behind a measure to split California in three said he's giving up on the effort to reimagine the nation's most populous state after the state Supreme Court knocked it off the November ballot. "The political environment for radical change is right now," venture capitalist Tim Draper wrote in a letter to the court dated Aug. 2 and made public by his opponents Thursday. "The removal of Proposition 9 from the November ballot has effectively put an end to this movement." The court struck Draper's measure in July in response to a lawsuit but didn't rule on the merits of the case, allowing Draper the opportunity to fight to put it on future ballots. He's not moving forward with the case. Draper spent more than $1.7 million to qualify his initiative for the ballot, which requires gathering hundreds of thousands of signatures. It's not his first effort to break up California his plan to split the state into six didn't qualify for past ballots. He's argued California has become ungovernable due to its size and diversity, politically and geographically. The latest plan would have divided California into three pieces. One would comprise the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Sacramento and the rest of Northern California; the second would be a strip of land from Los Angeles to Monterey; and the third would include San Diego, the Central Valley and Orange County. The Planning and Conservation League sued to keep Draper's initiative off the ballot, arguing that such a massive change to the state's governance couldn't be done through a ballot initiative. "At the end of the day, this was a billionaire's massive and illegal use of the initiative process, and the court was correct in stopping this folly," Carlyle Hall, an attorney who worked on the suit with the environmental group. Draper, meanwhile, said he had "no idea" if his initiative would have passed or if Congress would have given the necessary approval for the split but that the ballot measure would have spurred debate over government failings. "I wanted to let the voters debate, discuss and think about a different way forward essentially a reboot. And, I wanted the political class to hear and witness the frustration of California's voters with decades of inaction and decay," he wrote. "I believed there was significant benefit to our democracy in that." A man is accused of murder in the deaths of two women whose bodies were discovered by Escondido police at two separate crime scenes, just three miles apart. Juan Carlos Ortega, 33, faces criminal charges in the death of a woman whose body was found in an Escondido home and the death of a woman who was found in a burned car about three miles away, the Escondido Police Department (EPD) said. Investigators have not said if the victims knew each other or were related in any way. Both women were discovered about an hour apart and police believed there was a connection, prompting a homicide investigation into the incident that lasted more than 12 hours. At about 4:15 a.m. Thursday, a woman was found dead inside a burned SUV near the intersection of Kuana Loa and Country Club drives, just south of Palomar Medical Center and west of Stone Brewing, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said. Aerial footage of the scene showed a white, four-door SUV with burn marks through the roof of the vehicle. Escondido police went to the home of the SUV's registered owner in the 500 block of W. 11th Street, about a mile south of the Escondido Center for the Arts. When officers arrived, a woman was found dead inside the home where two children were asleep, police said. The children were not harmed and were taken into protective custody. The location of the burned car was approximately 3 miles west of the home on W. 11th Street. Both women were not identified pending family notification. Ortega was located at about 8:30 p.m. and booked into Vista Detention Facility on two counts of murder and one count of arson. It was not clear what connection Ortega had to the two women. Although EPD said the incidents were connected, officers said they were still working to determine motives and the events leading up to both deaths. Concerned neighbors had called police at about 3:30 a.m. to report people fighting at the home on W. 11th Street. The slayings left neighbors feeling anxious as EPD searched for a suspect. "I'm feeling kind of nervous," neighbor Josefina Portillo said. "Because it could happen at any other house." Another neighbor told NBC 7 she was scared to leave her teenage son at home alone because she fears a killer could be out there. Country Club Drive between Eden Valley Lane and Mt. Whitney Road and Kuana Loa Drive between Country Club Drive and Oak View Way were closed to traffic during the investigation, SDSO said. Both locations are just south of State Route 78. The home is located east of Interstate 15 while the burned-out vehicle was found west of I-15. No other information was available. Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available. Residents credit a San Diego County deputy, who saw smoke and pounded on their front door, with getting a sleeping family out of their Ramona home as it was engulfed in flames Friday. The fire erupted at about 5:30 a.m. in an outbuilding behind the 1920s home on 600 B Street, off state Route 78. Shortly after the fire sparked, a San Diego County Sheriff's deputy on routine patrol noticed smoke coming from the two-story home and pounded on their front door to alert the family, the homeowner's granddaughter Lilia Bates said. The home belonged to an Octaviano and Lupe Garcia who had lived in the home for nearly 50 years. Friday was Octaviano Garcia's 94th birthday. Their granddaughter, Lilia Bates, said the home held memories of family Christmases and secret passageways for the couple's 11 kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. "They had secret passages in the house, so that was really cool. None of us went through the secret passages because we always thought they were haunted," Bates said. The couple and six other family members who were sleeping inside the home when the fire erupted were evacuated as Cal Fire and Barona Fire crews arrived on scene to battle flames. About six dogs were also able to escape the blaze. Crews fought the fire for about an hour as flames poured from the home's upper story windows and smoke rose above Ramona, aerial footage of the scene showed. Cal Fire said the home did not have smoke detectors but it was not clear what caused the fire to spark and fully engulf the home in flames. An investigation is ongoing. "My grandma still thinks she can go inside later on and get some stuff out but they cant get anything out," Bates said. "All of their pictures are pretty much gone and a lot of memories are just going to be memories. Were not gonna be able to see them in photos or anything." In February, strong winds during a National Weather Service wind advisory knocked down a 100-year-old tree outside the Garcias home, causing a power outage and a road closure. Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Counties was called to assist the displaced family. It was not clear how much damage the fire caused. Two branches of the United States military are searching for a missing U.S. Marine, believed to have gone overboard Thursday in the seas southeast of the Philippines. The unidentified Marine, with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diegos North County, was reported overboard at 9:40 a.m. PST while USS Essex was conducting routine operations in the Sulu Sea. Shortly after the Marine was reported missing, a search and rescue operation involving the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Navy and Philippine ships and aircraft was launched. The search entered its second day on Friday. "As we continue our search operation, we ask that you keep our Marine and the Marine's family in your thoughts and prayers," said 13th MEU Commanding Officer Col. Chandler Nelms. "We remain committed to searching for and finding our Marine." The U.S. Marines said searches have been conducted inside the ship while aircraft searched the Sulu Sea and Surigao Strait, covering about 3,000 square miles, for the missing Marine. The Marine's family has been notified but the name was being withheld while the search is ongoing, the U.S. Marines said. USS Essex is homeported at Naval Base San Diego. No other information was available. Please refresh this page for updates on this story. What to Know Abdul-ghani Wahhaj was 3 years old when he was snatched from his mother in December in Jonesboro, Georgia, near Atlanta A search for the child led authorities to a compound in New Mexico; remains of a small child were found there Authorities say a medical examiner is working to identify the remains, though Wahhaj's grandfather says they belong to his grandson Dirty diapers, shotgun shells, small broken bicycles, the white sandal of a baby, anguished journals about faith and a DVD about killing techniques in close combat. Ordinary and extraordinary household objects littered a squalid compound on a high-desert plain of northern New Mexico, bearing silent witness to the lives of 11 children and five adults and perhaps one missing boy. The settlement sprung up on the outskirts of tiny Amalia, New Mexico, last winter as a manhunt unfolded for the father of a 3-year-old boy abducted from Georgia. Police raided the property a week ago in response a report of children living in filth, severe hunger and dangers including a leaky propane tank detaining all living inhabitants. On Monday, authorities returned with new intelligence to retrieve the body of a small boy possibly the missing and severely disabled Georgia boy Abdul-ghani Wahhaj. The state medical examiner has not yet identified the body, and prosecutors said they were awaiting word on the cause of death before deciding on any further charges against his father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, one of the five adults arrested at the compound. The grandfather of the missing boy, Siraj Wahhaj, is a Muslim cleric who leads a well-known New York City mosque. He believes the body is that of Abdul-ghani. The five adults arrested at the property in Amalia include the imam's two children and a second adult daughter. It was unclear exactly where the child's body had been concealed with the compound or how long it had been there. The empty dwelling, without running water or a drainage system, is arranged around a rickety camper that is half submerged in a dirty pit and surrounded by 7-foot (2-meter) berms of used tires, sections of adobe wall topped with broken glass, a junked refrigerator and other odd supplies. An alcove shaped out of wooden shipping pallets hides a makeshift bathroom with a toilet seat suspended above a blue plastic bucket. A pair of underpants dangled from a pole overhead. To one side of the camper, an underground tunnel big enough to crawl through led in and out of the compound, which was flanked by an apparent target range. Dozens of spent casings were left behind there. Prosecutors also have accused the adults in court documents of training children to use firearms in preparation for future school shootings, although no charges have been filed in response to the accusation that came from a new foster parent of one of the 11 children removed from the compound. Refuse at the compound included standard ammunition as well as fake cartridges designed to help people safely learn how to load and fire a weapon. The owner of the property, Jason Badger, on Friday prodded through a left-behind satchel of ammunition fit for rifle, shotgun and handgun and discarded garbage bags holding crumpled grade-school textbooks and journals lined with notes in neat cursive and the primitive doodles of children. While touring the ramshackle living quarters littered with diesel cans, used diapers, household garbage and Qurans, he questioned why authorities did not search a squalid New Mexico compound sooner for Abdul-ghani, saying he told them in late spring that he had met the child's father at the site and that the man was wanted in Georgia for kidnapping his own son. Badger also said he believed he saw the searched-for boy by his father's side in January, wearing a hooded jacket. Badger said in an interview that he learned through an online search this spring that Wahhaj was wanted in the disappearance of son Abdul-ghani Wahhaj and reported his earlier encounter to law enforcement authorities in New Mexico and Georgia and eventually to the FBI. "If they knew about it, and then that kid died in that timeframe, when they knew, somebody has to be held accountable," Badger said. Taos County Sheriff's Department Steve Fullendorf spokesman downplayed Badger's criticism of the investigation, saying Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe did everything he could possible under the law and had to follow certain restrictions. "Mr. Badger doesn't have to adhere to those same restrictions," Fullendorf said. "He wants to have his 15 minutes of fame and that's fine." Hogrefe has said the FBI put the New Mexico compound under surveillance in recent months and took photographs, but he could not initially get a warrant to enter because the images collected did not show the boy or his father. That changed when a note was forwarded to Georgia authorities saying children inside the compound were starving, Hogrefe said. The missing boy's grandfather said his adult daughter, who was in the compound, sent the note to a man in Georgia. That man then notified the grandfather, who said he contacted police. The suspects are being jailed without bail in New Mexico and one of them, Lucas Morton, also faces a charge of harboring a felon. He is accused of refusing to tell authorities the younger Siraj Wahhaj's location during the compound raid. Wahhaj eventually was found armed with multiple firearms, including an assault rifle, authorities said. Failures of cooling equipment have dogged the Washington DC VA Medical Center in recent months, angering patients, triggering flooding, forcing staff to throw away thousands of flu vaccines and contributing to safety violations in the medical centers blood bank. The malfunctions were revealed in a series of records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the News4 I-Team and confirmed by agency officials. The malfunctions include breakdowns of air conditioning systems, refrigerators and cooling pipes. The incidents disrupted patients and operations and contribute to a growing backlog of repair needs at the medical center and VA facilities nationwide. Some of the failures created steamy, uncomfortable conditions inside patient rooms, work areas and the medical centers major auditorium in July, the I-Team learned. Patient Edgar Gleason, who was hospitalized last month for complications from multiple sclerosis, said he walked out of the medical center because of unbearable heat in his room. The air conditioning wasnt working, Gleason said. It was 90 degrees in my room. (There were) no fans. I couldnt sleep at night because it was hot. The agency acknowledges air conditioning also failed in sections of the medical centers third floor. An agency official told the I-Team the auditorium air conditioning problem was repaired in late July. The official also said spot coolers were distributed for areas of the medical center in which the temperatures were nearing 90 degrees. The problems add to a long list of repairs needed inside the medical center. There is almost $88 million worth of air and cooling systems in the facility, with ongoing and scheduled repairs planned through 2022. Flu Shots The failure of a refrigeration device caused a temperature spike in October in a unit used to store flu vaccines. The incident triggered a temperature spike, spoiling more than 2,200 boxes of vaccine. At least 22,080 doses were deemed unusable and scrapped, the I-Team learned. The total dollar value loss is estimated at $282,160. Veterans of Foreign Wars associate director Patrick Murray said the agency is failing to invest sufficient money to upgrade its cooling and refrigeration systems nationwide. He said failures are not surprising, but they are disruptive. When you have 90 degree temperatures and humidity, it can lead to a terrible situation for patients in these rooms, Murray said. It can also lead to refrigeration problems. Murray said the flu shots cost taxpayer money but fortunately did not lead to patient illness or death. Cooling Pipe A failure of a cooling pipe triggered a disruptive flood inside the medical center in May, the I-Team learned. A burst pipe flooded five levels of the Washington DC VA Medical Center earlier this month, forcing the postponement of more than a dozen outpatient procedures and the transfer of a patient who was being treated in the intensive care unit. Agency records and sources with knowledge of the incident said it occurred the morning of May 18 and created a two-hour power outage in a medical center pharmacy. The flooding was triggered by a burst air cooling pipe in the B wing of the medical centers fourth floor, according to agency records. The flooding spread to other levels in the facility. Crews shut down power to reduce the risk from electrical panels. The leak was repaired shortly after it was discovered, and all of the water was removed from the impacted areas, a spokeswoman said in a statement to the News4 I-Team. Blood Bank A March 2018 FDA inspection of the medical centers blood bank revealed problems with temperatures near blood bank equipment and components. The inspection said DC VA Medical Center staff acknowledged room temperatures were too warm and problems regulating temperature have been known since 2004. According to the inspection, which was released to the I-Team under the Freedom of Information Act, a VA official said, Concerns have been brought up since 2004 but they have not been successfully addressed. (The official) stated although against the firms policy, they try to keep doors open in blood bank technical area because it becomes too warm and stuffy and the equipment emits a lot of heat." An FDA official declined to comment on the inspection or corrective actions undertaken by the medical center to address the issues. An agency database shows the March inspection findings constituted violations in the blood bank. Multiple agency officials said the blood bank temperature findings from the FDA were circulated among agency officials at agency headquarters. [[490503961, C]] Officials at the medical center, VA central offices, VA national public affairs team and the VAs mid-Atlantic regional office declined multiple requests for interviews about the air conditioning, refrigeration and blood bank issues. We will continue with planned repairs to ensure veterans receive safe, quality health care and employees are in a safe work environment, a spokeswoman said in a statement. The medical centers longtime director was fired in 2017 after an inspection by the VA Office of Inspector General found mismanagement, supply shortages and unsanitary conditions in the facility. Acting director Larry Connell took over management of the center in April 2017 but was reassigned in April 2018. Two other temporary leaders have since managed the facility, with another director expected to be named in the coming months. Gleason, the veteran who walked out from a hot patient room in July, said agency administrators should have more urgency to improve the DC VA Medical Center. I thought about other veterans, veterans who dont have any other options, he said. I thought, Im going to speak up at this time. Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones and Jeff Piper. Construction Careers Week is urging merchants to inspire young people to join the industry. The event comprises of three different weeks in three different cities, each with a slightly different focus, attended by local students. The aim is to help to reduce the skills shortage in the construction industry, and give young people a better understanding of their built environment and the opportunities it offers. Manchester Construction Careers Week will start on 24 September, focusing on diversity and gender. This includes The Inspire Summit at the Bridgewater Hall on 25 September, which has Barbara Res the first woman to oversee the construction of a major skyscraper, Trump Tower - as its headline speaker. In Birmingham, the careers week will start on 8 October, focusing on the future of construction and tech, and London Construction Careers Week will take place from 15 October, focusing on the past, present and future of the industry. The weeks are organised by Built Environment Skills in Schools, which is encouraging businesses to take part, for example by demonstrating how tech such as virtual reality is used in the industry, site tours, or digital broadcasts. Previous years have seen digital broadcasts from railways lines and even from the top of a crane. Kathryn Lennon-Johnson, founder of BESS, said: Meeting and engaging with students, whether on site or through the use of technology, is a vital step in attracting more young people into the sector, as well as making it more diverse and inclusive. With many schools and colleges across all three regions taking part this year, its important we have as many different businesses on board. Airbnb says it may remove accounts of users who plan to participate in the "Unite the Right" rally in D.C. on Sunday. A spokesperson for Airbnb told News4 in an email that the online housing service will "take appropriate action, which may include removing them from the platform." We acted in advance of last year's horrific event in Charlottesville and if we become aware of similar information we wont hesitate to do so again, spokesperson Nick Papas said. Airbnb cancelled accounts and bookings from Unite the Right protesters ahead of the 2017 rally, NBC News reported. One woman died and others were injured when a driver rammed into a crowd of counter-protesters at the rally. Papas told News4 that everyone who uses Airbnb must agree to their terms of service, which includes agreeing "to treat everyone in the Airbnb communityregardless of their race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or agewith respect, and without judgment or bias." Papas said that the site can remove users if it finds them violating those terms of service. It was not clear how Airbnb will identify users who are connected to the rally. Unite the Right organizer Jason Kessler called for a boycott of Airbnb in response to the company disabling accounts last year. "Would Airbnb cancel the service of black nationalists or Black Lives Matter activists for their social media activity?" Kessler said last year in a NBC News article. "Of course not!" Some listings near the Unite the Right protesters' meeting point of Vienna Metro Station in Fairfax, Virginia, report that there is an increase of up to 58 percent of people looking at the neighborhood for the weekend of the rally. The website for Unite the Right tells protesters to stay with trusted friends and not let strangers know where they're staying. A Virginia businessman said a salesman told him he could lower the companys phone bill by more than a third, but the deal actually was going to cost him thousands of dollars. The cellphone salesman paid an unscheduled visit to Richards Construction in Lorton. He said he was with T-Mobile and they had fabulous plans, Larry Richards said. Richards needed 15 new phones, so he was intrigued by the offer, including free international texts and calls, covering all termination costs from the other vendor and free new iPhones. So I thought, 'How could you go wrong?" Richards said. But he said his first cellphone bill from T-Mobile was about $6,000. He said about $5,000 was for the cellphones that were offered for free and the international calls werent free, either. Tried to reach the gentleman that sold everything to us, Richards said. We couldn't reach him at all. Richards said he never returned phone calls. He did reach someone at T-Mobile and learned his contract was much different than what he thought he had agreed to. And that's what got us, Richards said. Because even though a lot of the things that the sales rep told us were partially true, they weren't all true. He also learned the salesperson was not a T-Mobile employee, which really bothered him. We were dealing with a subsidiary of T-Mobile who sells packages for T-Mobile," Richards said. NBC4 Responds contacted T-Mobile, who immediately took care of a number of charges, offered Richards a reduced package plan for international calls, and although T-Mobile couldn't give him 15 free phones, they were able to work out a compromise. As to how the mix-up happened, T-Mobile said, "I believe this has been resolved to the customer's satisfaction. Feel free to follow up directly with him." While Richards did willfully sign the contract, he said the salesman scrolled through it quickly on a tablet. Reported by Susan Hogan, produced by Meredith Royster and edited by Perkins Broussard. A Maryland woman was charged with animal cruelty after authorities removed 125 cats and three rabbits from her two homes in July. Laura Prince, 62, kept dozens of animals at her townhouse on the 12000 block of Sweetbough Court in North Potomac, Maryland, and at an apartment on the 9800 block of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, according to Montgomery County Police Animal Services Division. Police first went to Prince's North Potomac townhouse on June 23 after hearing of a cat in distress. An officer found the cat wasn't in distress, but was concerned about a strong smell of ammonia, police said. The officer left a note on the door for Prince to contact them, but never received a reply, police said. The officer later got in touch with Prince, who said that she had eight cats in the townhouse and she was out of town, according to police. During an animal welfare inspection on July 14, an officer found overwhelmingly unsanitary and unsafe conditions at the townhouse and Prince agreed to surrender her animals to the county, police said. Officers removed 75 cats and a rabbit from the home over the course of two weeks. Veterinarians found all the animals were so infested with fleas that they were losing hair from scratching, authorities said. Animal Services said it then searched Princes Silver Spring apartment on July 25 and found 50 more cats and two rabbits suffering from similar health problems. Prince turned herself into authorities on Monday and was charged with 128 animal cruelty offenses. She posted a $2,500 bond the same day and was released. Animal Services said the animals conditions have improved after they were treated at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center facility in Derwood, Maryland. An Uber driver who picked up a drunken woman at a D.C. bar and sexually assaulted her at a motel while she was unconscious has been found guilty of rape. A jury convicted Westagne Pierre of second-degree rape Wednesday evening. "This horrified all of us because so many rely on Uber to be transported around," Prince George's County States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said at a news conference Friday. On Oct. 18, 2016, an Uber user used the ride-hailing app to send a friend home to Fairfax, Virginia, after she blacked out from drinking at a D.C. bar, prosecutors say. Pierre picked up the woman and drove her to Fairfax, but he stopped blocks away from her home and ended the fare. He then drove her to College Park, where he got a room at a Budget Inn, police said. Surveillance video from the motel showed Pierre carrying the woman's limp body to the room, where prosecutors say he raped her. "His defense was that he didn't realize that she wasn't enjoying it, I guess, and that he felt that somehow he had gotten a cue that it was consensual, which of course nothing could be further from the truth," Alsobrooks said. Alsobrooks said no one at the motel saw Pierre carrying the woman's body because of the garden-style layout of the motel rooms. He left the room 10 minutes later and drove to nearby 7-Eleven, where he bought $14 in snacks with the victim's credit card, Alsobrooks said. He returned to the motel for another 10 minutes before leaving the victim there, prosecutors say. The victim woke up in the empty room hours later and called police when she could not figure out how she got there. She told police she never gave Pierre permission to take her to the motel room or use her credit card. Pierre faces up to 20 years in prison. He's due for sentencing in October. Uber says it received a report about the incident from the rider, which led the company to remove the driver from the app. "This was a deplorable crime that nobody should ever have to go through," Uber said in a statement to News4. "Our thoughts continue to be with the rider." The rideshare company says it's working to make make their rides safer, including integrating an emergency button in the app so riders can connect to 911. Gaza's Hamas rulers said late Thursday that a truce had been reached with Israel, ending an intense two-day burst of violence that had pushed the region closer to war. But the deal did not appear to address the deeper issues that have prevented the bitter enemies from reaching a longer cease-fire arrangement. Hamas' Al Aqsa TV channel reported late Thursday that the Egyptian-brokered deal has taken hold "on the basis of mutual calm." It said the deal was mediated by Egypt and other unidentified regional players. A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the agreement merely ended the latest round of violence, in which Gaza militants fired some 200 rockets at Israel and the Israeli military carried out a similar number of airstrikes in Gaza. He said Egypt, which often serves as a mediator between the sides, would continue the more difficult task of brokering a long-term cease-fire. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media, denied a deal had been reached. But early Friday, the situation in Gaza appeared quiet. The Hamas announcement came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet ordered the army to take unspecified "strong action" against Gaza militants as the military reinforced units along the border. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007. In this week's fighting, the Palestinian Health Ministry said three Palestinians, including a pregnant woman and her 1-year-old daughter and a Hamas militant, were killed in separate airstrikes. Israeli officials said seven people were wounded by rocket or mortar fire on the Israeli side. At times, Thursday's fighting resembled the 2014 war. In Israel, air raid sirens warning of incoming rocket fire wailed in southern Israel overnight and throughout the day, sending families scrambling into bomb shelters, canceling outdoor summer cultural events and forcing summer camps indoors. The Israeli air force, meanwhile, pounded targets across Gaza. A Palestinian rocket struck the southern city of Beersheba late in the afternoon, landing in an open area. It was the first time a rocket had hit the city since the 2014 war. Shortly after, an Israeli airstrike flattened the five-story cultural center in the Shati refugee camp, a crowded neighborhood of Gaza City. The airstrike set off a powerful explosion and sent a huge plume of black smoke into the air, causing crowds to scream in panic. Medical officials said at least seven bystanders were wounded. The building is home to a popular theater and exhibits plays and other shows on a daily basis. An Egyptian-Palestinian cultural society also has an office in the building. "The deliberate targeting of a cultural center with airstrikes and destruction ... is a barbaric act," said Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman. He said the destruction of the Egyptian cultural office was "an Israeli attempt to sabotage" the Egyptian cease-fire efforts. The Israeli military said the building served as a Palestinian military installation. Hamas' Interior Ministry, including its secret police, has offices in an adjacent site, but those offices were not hit. Despite the animosity, the enemies have signaled, through their contacts with Egypt, that they want to avoid another war. Reaching a deal, however, will likely require major concession on both sides. Hamas is demanding the lifting of an Israeli-Egyptian border blockade that has devastated Gaza's economy, while Israel wants an end to rocket fire, as well as recent border protests and launches of incendiary balloons, and the return of the remains of two dead soldiers and two Israelis believed to be alive and held by Hamas. Israel is believed to be offering an easing, but not an end, to the blockade. Gaza's Health Ministry identified those killed in the airstrikes as 23-year-old Enas Khamash and her daughter Bayan, as well as a Hamas fighter, Ali Ghandour. Kamal Khamash, the woman's brother-in-law, said the family was asleep when the projectile hit the house, and that her husband had been critically wounded. "This is a blatant crime and Israel is responsible for it," he said. In southern Israel, two Thai laborers were among the seven wounded, and rockets damaged buildings in the cities of Sderot and Ashkelon. The military said it intercepted some 30 rockets, while most of the others landed in open areas. At the United Nations, Israel's ambassador, Danny Danon, urged the secretary-general and U.N. Security Council to condemn Hamas militants for what he called "the unprovoked terrorist attack" on southern Israel. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said U.S. officials were concerned by the situation in Gaza. "Overall, we condemn the launching of missile attacks into Israel, and call for an end to the destructive violence. We've seen reports that 180 or so rocket attacks have taken place, shot from Gaza into Israel, and we fully support Israel's right to defend itself, and to take actions to prevent provocations of that nature," Nauert said. Tension along the Israel-Gaza border has escalated since late March, when Hamas launched what have become regular mass protests along Israel's perimeter fence with Gaza. The protests have been aimed in part at trying to break the blockade. Israel and Hamas have engaged in several bouts of fighting over the past month. The latest round erupted Tuesday, when the Israeli military struck a Hamas military post in Gaza after it said militants fired on Israeli troops on the border. Hamas said two of its fighters were killed after taking part in a gunfire parade inside a militant camp. Hamas officials said the group waited a day to retaliate until a group of senior leaders visiting from abroad had left the territory. The delegation was in Gaza to discuss the cease-fire efforts with local leaders. Over the past four months, 163 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including at least 120 protesters, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and a local rights group. An Israeli soldier was killed by a Gaza sniper during this period. Israel says it has been defending its sovereign border against infiltration attempts by Hamas. But it has come under heavy international criticism for its frequent use of force against unarmed protesters. What to Know Cardinal Sean O'Malley has launched an inquiry into allegations former seminarians made this week about their time at St. John's Seminary. John Monaco, a ex-seminarian, wrote about his experiences at St. John's involving inappropriate sexual behavior and excessive drinking. The seminary, founded in 1884, prepares Roman Catholic seminarians for ordination to the priesthood. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, said he is launching an inquiry into allegations former seminarians made this week about their time at St. John's Seminary in Brighton. An article posted online by ex-seminarian John Monaco led to an inquiry into allegations of "sexual deviancy and improper conduct at the seminary, including excessive drinking. Some priests on the faculty would get drunk with a select group of seminarians and invite them into their rooms late at night, Monaco wrote. One night, a priest on the formation faculty got so drunk during a seminary party that he fell out of his chair. Cardinal Sean OMalley from the Archdiocese of Boston says hes not able to verify or disprove these allegations, but wants the investigation to start as soon as possible, and has placed the rector of St. Johns, Monsignor James Moroney, on sabbatical for the fall semester, effective immediately. Weve actually heard stories like this for years about many seminaries, said Terence McKiernan from Bishop Accountability.org. That tension between what the church preaches and what it allows to go on in the priesthood is part of the problem. Cardinal OMalley said in a statement, "The allegations made this week are a source of serious concern to me as Archbishop of Boston. The ministry of the Catholic priesthood requires a foundation of trust with the people of the Church and the wider community in which our priests serve. I am determined that all our seminaries meet that standard of trust and provide the formation necessary for priests to live a demanding vocation of service in our contemporary society." Monaco, who is one of two former seminarians at St. Johns making allegations this week, attended the seminary from 2014 to 2016 and is currently a graduate student in theology at Boston College. In a statement to NBC10 Boston, he writes, in part, "...It is time to rid the Church of infestation and rot, because only then will true healing take place." Monaco added that publishing his allegations led him to "a deeper solidarity with other victims affected by Church scandal." He also said he has complete trust in O'Malley's judgment and oversight. Rev. Stephen E. Salocks will serve as interim rector. O'Malley also said he has appointed a 3-member panel to oversee an inquiry into the allegations. They will submit their findings, along with a set of recommendations, to O'Malley. Mitchell Garabedian, an attorney who has represented victims of clergy sexual abuse, issued a statement regarding the allegations. "The recent reporting of sexual abuse at St. John's Seminary is further evidence that the Archdiocese of Boston is continuing to practice the cover up of sexual abuse and will not practice transparency to help sexual abuse victims heal," he wrote "The creation of an investigatory board or team should have taken place decades ago." Garabedian added that the Archdiocese should release all records and information about the allegations at St. John's Seminary. According to its website, St. John's Seminary prepares Roman Catholic seminarians for ordination to the priesthood through programs of human, pastoral, spiritual and academic formation. It is governed by a board of trustees chaired by O'Malley. It was founded in 1884, and chartered as a corporation doing business as a graduate school by an act of the Massachusetts Legislature. What to Know Police released new details in the bizarre case where a woman's body was discovered in the trunk of a car of a man who committed suicide. Gyrth Rutan, 34, of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, pulled out a shotgun and turned it on himself following a traffic stop on Thursday in Maine. Investigators have not released the woman's identity, but confirmed that she was from Massachusetts. Maine State Police released new details Friday in the bizarre case where a body was discovered in the trunk of a car of a Massachusetts man who shot and killed himself during a traffic stop. State police said they received a report of an erratic driver on Interstate 295 around 4:45 p.m. Thursday before stopping the vehicle a short time later on Timberwood Drive in Gardiner. The driver got out of the car armed with a shotgun and immediately turned the gun on himself. A woman's body was found in the trunk of the car as police were investigating. Her name has not been released, but investigators said she was a Massachusetts resident. The man who committed suicide has been identified as 34-year-old Gyrth Rutan of Sturbridge, according to Maine State Police. An autopsy determined that he died of a shotgun wound to the head. Neighbors in Sturbridge say Rutan kept to himself and is someone they never really knew. "Surprised and appalled and all mixed up you know, living so close to this person and not knowing anything really about him," one woman said. Police were going in and out of Rutan's Sturbridge home on Friday, according to neighbors. "Surprising, I mean, I saw the cops around a lot, going in and it's just a lot going on," Sarah Fulginiti said. The investigation into the woman's death is being led by the Worcester County District Attorney's Office. A spokesperson for the district attorney said state police detectives assigned to their office are investigating and were on scene Friday at an undisclosed location in Sturbridge. Police said the woman's death did not take place in Maine. They said it's not clear why Rutan drove to Maine, but he has family in the state and his Facebook page indicates that he grew up in Brewster. No further information was immediately available, police said. The investigation is ongoing. What to Know Aquarion Water Company said "high water demands" due to "extremely hot weather" put a strain on the water system, discoloring the tap water. Hull residents said the "really dark brown" water was "gross," and that it took Aquarion 24 hours to notify customers of the problem. Aquarion said tap water returned to a normal color by Wednesday, however some residents said they saw discolored tap water into Thursday. High demand overwhelmed the water mains in Hull, Massachusetts, sending sediment blasting through the water supply and turning tap water dark brown in nearly 4,000 homes. The issue, which began on Monday, affected homes across the town and prompted hundreds of residents to lash out at the water company on social media. The company, Aquarion Water Company, said high water demands, because of extremely hot weather, put a strain on the water system, discoloring tap water in about 3,800 homes. Its never been that dark, said resident Sheila Carney. Discolored a little bit, perhaps. But not like this. Construction crews spent Thursday tearing up parts of Samoset Avenue to replace two old valves. The company shut off service to more than 100 homes while crews worked for about six hours. Residents said it took Aquarion about 24 hours to notify customers about the problem. The company said tap water returned to a normal color by Wednesday, but some residents said they continued to see discolored water into Thursday. It was just gross, said resident Sharyn Fishman. It was really dark brown. A man was arrested in Guilford, Vermont for kidnapping after an individual claimed he was forced to cash a fake check against his will. Brattleboro police responded to a bank the victim called from and spoke with the victim. The victim claimed to have been held against his will in Massachusetts, then taken to Vermont to cash the bogus check. Officials attempted to halt a vehicle involved with the case, but the driver fled the scene. That same vehicle was located in Massachusetts and police engaged in a pursuit to apprehend the suspect. The driver, who was identified as Brashad DeAnthony Termaine Jeanes, 22, from Georgia, crashed the vehicle and fled on foot. Later, officials pulled over a vehicle believed to have been involved in the kidnapping in Guilford, Vermont. Two men were in the vehicle to which one fled the scene. Jeanes was charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint in the first degree, two counts of extortion and uttering false pretenses or tokens. He was ordered held without bill and is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 10 at the Windham County Superior Court. It's unclear if he has an attorney. The other suspects status is unclear. The kidnapping remains under investigation and officials said additional arrests are likely. After nearly four years of slashing at each other in court with legal swords, Cisco and Arista have agreed to disagree, mostly. To settle the litigation melee, Arista has agreed to pay Cisco $400 million, which will result in the dismissal of all pending district court and International Trade Commission litigation between the two companies. For Arista the agreement should finally end any customer fear, uncertainty and doubt caused by the lawsuit. In fact Zacks Equity Research wrote the settlement is likely to immensely benefit Arista. The company is profiting from the expanding cloud networking market primarily driven by strong demand for scalable infrastructure, which has become a necessity to support new applications and services. Apart from delivering high capacity and availability, cloud networking promises predictable performance along with programmability that enable integration with third-party applications for network, management, automation, orchestration and network services, Zacks wrote. For its part, Cisco walks away with a certain amount of vindication having protected its technology and to a smaller degree its marketshare because it did force Arista to develop workarounds and at one point briefly had the companys infringing products banned from US import. In a joint statement the companies outlined the broad agreement: Cisco and Arista have come to an agreement which resolves existing litigation and demonstrates their commitment to the principles of IP protection. They have agreed that, with limited exceptions, no new litigation will be brought over patents or copyrights related to existing products, for five years. In addition, for three years, they will use an arbitration process to address any patent issues regarding new products. As part of this agreement, Arista will be making a $400 million payment to Cisco, is committed to maintaining the product modifications it made as a result of previous rulings and will be making limited changes to further differentiate its user interfaces from Ciscos. In an SEC 8-K filing Cisco further defined the agreement by writing that for three years any claim regarding patent infringement of any new products or new features of existing products, will be resolved by an arbitration process. The process will not apply to claims of copyright infringement and trade-secret misappropriation, among others. In addition, for five years neither party will bring an action against the other for patent or copyright (except for any claims of source code misappropriation) infringement regarding their respective products currently on the market, Cisco wrote. In its 8K filing, Arista wrote it will grant Cisco a release from all past antitrust claims. These mutual releases will extend to the Aristas and Ciscos customers, contract manufacturers and partners. Arista also said it agreed to make certain modifications to its command-line interface (CLI). It is the CLI issue that remains unresolved, however. Cisco does still have an appeal pending over a copyright verdict that went Aristas way in 2016.Cisco wrote that the two companies will continue to seek appellate court review of that verdict regarding legal protection for user interfaces. A decision on this appeal is expected later this year. The agreement likely will cool tensions between the companies but also leave some embers burning because the two companies are so competitive in many markets. It also might be a little personal for Cisco as Arista employs a number of ex-Cisco engineers including CEO Jayshree Ullal and co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim. On the competitive side Gartner wrote in its recent data center report that Arista has 5,000 data-center-networking customers, and in 2017, Arista grew port shipments at market rates. It also introduced highly scalable routing as a feature on its high-end spine switches. All enterprises should shortlist Arista, particularly large organizations that need flexible and programmable solutions, provided there is appropriate local sales and channel coverage, Gartner said. Arista is experienced and well-regarded by customers in large-scale environments that require programmable infrastructure that are integrated with a wide range of third-party software orchestration, including VMware, Puppet and Ansible. On the cautionary side, Gartner said Arista's geographic coverage is still limited, when compared to its larger rivals. Outside of North America and Europe, we observe Arista focusing on specific verticals and very large accounts, so customers should verify appropriate local resources. Cisco on the other hand has over 100,000 data-center-networking customers and offers a broad array of infrastructure hardware and software, and its flagship data center networking offering is Cisco ACI [Application-centric infrastructure], which includes Nexus 9000 hardware switches and the APIC [Application Policy Infrastructure Controller] controller. The vendor provides switches, NOS, and the requisite control, management and automation capability. Cisco is relevant in nearly all verticals and geographies, Gartner wrote. A knock against Cisco is that based on Gartners client feedback and analysis, migrating from legacy infrastructure to Cisco ACI infrastructure is complex for a combination of financial, technical and cultural reasons. This has led to limited ACI adoption in the market, and also limited usage of the full ACI feature for customers that have adopted it, Gartner said. Temple Sholom in New Milford will present a program about French author Marcel Proust and his complicated relationship with his Jewish heritage Aug. 11 at 5:30 p.m. Temple member and renowned architect Robert Courturier will engage Barnard College professor Caroline Weber in the question-and-answer program at the Temple on Route 7. The event will be followed by a wine and cheese reception. Rabbi Ari Rosenberg said the program came about after Couturier and Weber held a similar program at the New York Public Library. With Couturier guiding the session, Weber will discuss Proust and his tumultuous times. Prousts mother was Jewish but like most children of mixed marriages at that time, he was christened in the Catholic Church. His relationship with Judaism was complicated by the rising influence of anti-Semitism in France during his lifetime. Weber is a professor of French comparative literature. Her books include Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution (2006) and Prousts Duchess (2018). Books will be available to purchase. For more information and RSVP, call 860-354-0273. Older kidney disease patients who are sick enough to require the blood-filtering treatment known as dialysis are at high risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, according to a study led by scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The study, published Aug. 9 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society for Nephrology, found evidence that older kidney disease patients had a substantially higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia than community-dwelling older adults. "The dementia risk in this population seems to be much higher than what we see among healthy community-dwelling older adults," says study lead author Mara McAdams-DeMarco, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Bloomberg School. To McAdams-DeMarco and her colleagues, the findings suggest that doctors should be doing more to monitor, and if possible to slow or prevent, cognitive decline among older dialysis patients. "The high incidence of dementia seems to be overlooked in this population," she says. Cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, are principally age-related and relatively common in the elderly. However, research suggests that kidney disease appears to worsen the problem. Studies over the past two decades have found evidence that as kidney function declines, cognitive functions are apt to decline as well. One recent study in dialysis patients found that this kidney-related cognitive decline was particularly noticeable for executive functions such as attention, impulse control and working memory. The precise biological mechanism linking kidney disease to brain problems isn't yet clear, but kidney disease has itself been linked to poor blood flow in the brain, so researchers suspect that as a key factor. To get a better understanding of the dementia problem among elderly patients with advanced kidney disease, McAdams-DeMarco and colleagues examined a large national kidney disease registry, focusing on 356,668 Medicare patients older than 66 years who had initiated dialysis due to end-stage kidney disease during 20012013. Their analysis was aimed mainly at estimating the risk of a dementia diagnosis within a given period after initiating dialysis. For the female patients in this group, the estimated risk was 4.6 percent for a dementia diagnosis within a year, 16 percent within 5 years, and 22 percent-;a nearly one in four chance-;within 10 years. For males, the corresponding figures were slightly lower at 3.7, 13 and 19 percent. Alzheimer's disease represented a significant proportion of dementia diagnoses: The one-year risk of this form of dementia was 0.6 percent for women and 0.4 percent for men. The study was not designed to compare dialysis patients directly to healthy people of the same age; even so, the dementia risk among these patients was considerably higher than what would be expected in this age group. For example, a well-known prior study following residents of a Massachusetts town found that community-dwelling 65-year-olds had only a 1.0 to 1.5 percent incidence of dementia within 10 years, while for 75-year-olds the incidence was only about 7.5 percent. By contrast, in this study the researchers determined that the 10-year risk of dementia after starting dialysis was 19 percent for patients in the sample aged 66 to 70, and 28 percent among 76- to 80-year-olds. Even the Alzheimer's disease risk among the dialysis patients seemed higher than normal-;for example, 4.3 percent of the 6670-year-olds were diagnosed with the disease within 10 years of starting dialysis, compared to a 10-year incidence of less than 1 percent among 65-year-olds in the Massachusetts study. That suggests that older patients with end-stage kidney disease may even be vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease. McAdams-DeMarco and colleagues also found that older dialysis patients with a dementia diagnosis were about twice as likely to die at any time in the study period, compared to older dialysis patients without a dementia diagnosis. As stark as these findings are, they may understate the problem. "We know from other studies that only about half of patients with dementia receive a diagnosis, so the figures in this study could be seen as a lower limit," McAdams-DeMarco says. She and her colleagues suggest that more in-depth studies need to be done to gauge the true extent of the dementia problem among older end-stage kidney disease patients. "Patients starting dialysis generally meet with health care providers a few times per week, so in principle there is ample opportunity to do at least brief cognitive screening," she says. She also recommends more studies of potential measures to prevent dementia among these vulnerable patients. "We're currently setting up a large clinical trial to identify appropriate interventions to preserve cognitive function in these patients," McAdams-DeMarco says. The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) is offering UK companies the opportunity to take part in a number of US-based activities designed to help them access the US market. Having already established a strong network of relationships across Texas, the UKs largest health technology trade association is continuing to develop networks and connections with healthcare systems across the West and East Coast of America. The visits are suitable for anyone looking to do business stateside and have been designed to enhance growth and help gain a return on US investment. The first will take place in September with a visit to the internationally-renowned AdvaMed MedTech Conference and a two-day tour of hospital systems in Philadelphia. Taking place from the 24-28 September 2018, the mission gives delegates an opportunity to meet senior clinical and leadership teams. Those attending will be joining a group of senior healthcare organisations, including the AHSNs and Medcity, plus innovative companies like Health Enterprise East, SurgEase Innovations and Medovate. Bookings for which close soon. October (1319, 2018) will see a visit to ASAs leading event, ANESTHESIOLOGY 2018, followed by a tailored meeting programme, introducing companies to major hospital systems and healthcare organisations around the San Francisco area, including one of the US premier medical schools, Stanford Medicine. A strong line-up of UK companies is already assembled for the mission, which includes Penlon, P3 Medical, Lumeon, Pentland Medical and Directed Systems. The ABHIs seventh mission to Texas will take place on 26 - 30 November 2018, once again visiting major hospital systems in Houston, Dallas and Austin. It will meet clinical leaders across this highly-developed ecosystem, which includes accelerators, business chambers, professional service companies and the Dell Medical School, which incorporates ABHIs own Innovation Hub. Highlighting the success of ABHIs previous work in the region, demand for places on the mission and Hub is high, with several companies already committed to both. Grant funding of 2,000 is available for both the September and October missions, subject to eligibility, to help offset visit costs. According to researchers, the blue light from laptops, smart phones and other digital devices, could raise the risk of blindness. The study appears in the latest issue of the journal Scientific Reports. Image Credit: OHishiapply / Shutterstock The new study comes from a team of researchers at the University of Toledo in the US who showed that a long term exposure to the blue light can raise the levels of certain poisonous molecules released within the light sensitive cells of the eyes leading to macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is a progressive and incurable condition that leads to blindness. It affects around 2.4 percent of the UK population and commonly affects those in their 50s and 60s and leads to vision loss. The loss of vision occurs due to deaths of the light sensitive cells of the retina. The researchers explain that the blue light emitted from the digital devices has a shorter wavelength and more energy compared to other forms of light and this can cause damage to the eyes. Dr Ajith Karunarathne, an assistant professor in the universitys department of chemistry and biochemistry explained that this blue light is constantly affecting the cornea and the lens that cannot block or reflect it. With time it can damage the retina. He explained that their experiments have shown that this exposure can lead to slow macular degeneration and a new therapy is developed to block this effect. Kasun Ratnayake, a PhD student at the University of Toledo and one of the authors of the study explained that if the blue light is shone on the retina, it kills the photoreceptor cells of the retina and the signalling molecules called retinal on the retinal membrane dissolves. The photoreceptors cannot function without the presence of the retinal molecules. Retinal is a form of vitamin A that changes shape when exposed to light rays. Ratnayake said once these photoreceptor cells are dead, they are dead for good and cannot be regenerated. These retinal molecules were them introduced into other cell types of the body such as heart cells, nerve cells, cancer cells etc. These molecules killed the cells when exposed to blue light. Retinal without blue light or blue light without retinal could not kill the cells. Both were necessary to kill the cells. Karunarathne said their experiments showed that the toxicity from retinal that is triggered by blue light can kill any type of cell. The team also found that alpha-tocopherol - a natural antioxidant from vitamin E can protect the cells from dying due to retinal and blue light exposure. However this protection is not seen in ageing populations. The researchers say that the damage is most likely to be seen in the ageing population. Dr Karunarathne says that blue light can be filtered with sunglasses which filter both UV rays as well as blue light. They advise against browsing on mobile phones, laptops or tablets in the dark. A study by University of Melbourne researchers reveals clinically relevant epileptic seizure prediction is possible in a wider range of patients than previously thought, thanks to the crowdsourcing of more than 10 000 algorithms worldwide. In 2016 researchers ran the Melbourne University AES-MathWorks-NIH Seizure Prediction Challenge on the online data science competition platform Kaggle.com. The contest focused on seizure prediction using long-term electrical brain activity recordings from humans obtained in 2013 from the world-first clinical trial of the implantable NeuroVista Seizure Advisory System. Researchers rigorously evaluated the top algorithms and these findings are detailed in research published today in Brain: A Journal of Neurology. University of Melbourne Dr Levin Kuhlmann, from the Graeme Clarke Institute and St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, said the contest was a huge success, with more than 646 participants, 478 teams and more than 10 000 algorithms submitted from around the world. "Epilepsy affects 65 million people worldwide," Dr Kuhlmann said. "We wanted to draw on the intelligence from the best international data scientists to achieve advances in epileptic seizure prediction performance for patients whose seizures were the hardest to predict." Contestants developed algorithms to distinguish between 10-minute inter-seizure verses pre-seizure data clips and the top algorithms were tested on the patients with the lowest seizure prediction performance based on previous studies. "Our evaluation revealed on average a 90 per cent improvement in seizure prediction performance, compared to previous results," Dr Kuhlmann said. "Epilepsy is highly different among individuals. Results showed different algorithms performed best for different patients, supporting the use of patient-specific algorithms and long-term monitoring." Building on this success, researchers have developed Epilepsyecosystem.org, an online ecosystem for algorithm and data sharing to further develop and improve seizure prediction. "Accurate seizure prediction will transform epilepsy management by offering early warnings to patients or triggering interventions," Dr Kuhlmann said. "Our results highlight the benefit of crowdsourcing an army of algorithms that can be trained for each patient and the best algorithm chosen for prospective, real-time seizure prediction. "It's about bringing together the world's best data scientists and pooling the greatest algorithms to advance epilepsy research. The hope is to make seizures less like earthquakes, which can strike without warning, and more like hurricanes, where you have enough advance warning to seek safety." Professor Matthias Tschop, MD, has been appointed the new CEO of Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen. He took over from Professor Gunther Wess, who led the center for the past 13 years. Astrid Eckert/Technical University of Munich German Federal Education and Research Minister Anja Karliczek welcomed the new appointment: Were very pleased that weve been able to recruit Matthias Tschop for this position. As a medical doctor, scientist and research manager, he brings together first-class basic research with a desire to make a significant contribution to the fight against diabetes. Following its successful transformation into a cutting edge biomedical research center under Gunther Wess, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen is well poised to meet the challenges of tomorrow. At the same time, Matthias Tschop will bring fresh momentum to the institute." Helmholtz Association President Professor Otmar D. Wiestler adds: In Matthias Tschop, we have an internationally renowned, multi-award-winning scientist taking the helm of Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen. I am delighted that weve been able to attract a CEO with a long history of involvement with this excellent center and whose vision will guide its future development." A promising example of this is the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, which Tschop, in his role as Founding Director, has recently helped establish. The outstanding international reputation of Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen was confirmed by a comprehensive evaluation carried out earlier this year. Reaching this level of preeminence is an outstanding achievement that goes to the credit of former CEO Gunther Wess. The Helmholtz Association owes him a debt of gratitude also for his service as Vice President. Matthias Tschop joined Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen in 2011, initially as Director of the Institute for Diabetes and Obesity. At the same time, he also became the first medical doctor with an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship to be appointed Chair of Metabolic Diseases at the Technical University of Munich. Before that, he spent 12 years working in the USA, where he retains his position of visiting professor at Yale University. On taking up his post in Munich, Matthias Tschop initially dedicated himself to bringing together disparate lines of diabetes research, both within Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen and beyond. Today a staff of around 500 work at the Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC), its partner groups at the two Munich universities and their branches in Tubingen, Dresden and Leipzig. Both as HDC Director and through his own research efforts, Matthias Tschop has been instrumental in positioning Germany at the vanguard of international diabetes research. Together with his team, he has discovered key processes in the communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain and, building on this, has developed innovative drug candidates to combat diabetes and obesity which are currently undergoing promising clinical trials. An interdisciplinary visionary Matthias Tschop has close connections both at home and on the world stage, a fact highlighted by the Helmholtz Diabetes Conference, which he helped set up and which each year draws large numbers of leading international scientists to the Bavarian capital. The medical doctor always looks beyond the boundaries of his own research field and is constantly seeking exchanges with other scientific disciplines: As Founding Director of the new Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, he has already introduced a new concept to the Helmholtz Association where top young international researchers from the fields of engineering, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science and biology team up with clinicians to develop and apply groundbreaking new technologies with the aim of ushering in a future of personalized preventive and therapeutic precision medicine. The future of scientific endeavor lies in uniting a broad range of key disciplines under one roof, Matthias Tschop explains. As the largest biomedical research center in Bavaria and with its wide-ranging scientific disciplines from plant genetics to neurobiology and its wealth of top-notch young talent from all over the world, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen is ideally poised to find novel solutions to the major medical challenges facing our society in collaboration with the two Munich universities and other Helmholtz Centers in Germany that focus on life sciences. Within this strategic group, we will be investing heavily in the latest artificial intelligence strategies, which are already well established at the Center. In doing so, we hope to improve our understanding of the complex interplay between health and the environment and to speed up the translation of basic research into practical applications to the tangible benefit of society. Matthias Tschops scientific achievements have already been recognized with numerous honors, including the Erwin Schrodinger Prize, the Paul Martini Prize, the Hansen Family Award, the Endocrine Society Innovation Award, an ERC Advanced Grant and the American Diabetes Association and Obesity Society Outstanding Scientific Achievement Awards. In 2017 he was awarded the Carus Medal of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, and in 2018 he was inducted into the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Matthias Tschop also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Leipzig. Matthias Tschop follows in the footsteps of Gunther Wess, who, after 13 years as CEO, is now placing the fate of Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen in new hands: Im absolutely certain that Matthias Tschop is an outstanding choice for this position. I wish him, and of course the Center, all the best for the future!" Matthias Tschop will manage the Center in collaboration with Administrative Director Heinrich Baler and Technical Director Dr. Alfons Enhsen. A koala virus could help researchers explain millions of years of accumulated junk DNA in the human genome. An illustration of a retrovirus An international team of researchers including scientists from The University of Queensland is studying a virus infecting koalas in the hope it could demonstrate how viruses have altered the DNA of humans and other species throughout history. Virologist Professor Paul Young, the Head of UQs School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, said the team has analyzed the effects of the retrovirus infection. Retroviruses insert their genome into their hosts chromosome, from where they make more copies of themselves, he said. Some can also infect what are known as germline cells, which alters the host genetic code and that of all their descendants. Retrovirus insertions in humans date back more than five million years, which means its difficult to know what happened when the first interactions took place. About a decade ago, we discovered that the wild koala population was being invaded by a retrovirus, Professor Young said. This isnt great news for the koala, but it has provided us with an opportunity to study whats happening to these retroviral genomes early in their association with a new host. He said new retroviruses within a species could continue to replicate with disastrous consequences but, over time, their disease-causing effects usually stopped and either took on new functions or became inert junk DNA. Until now, scientists could only guess at why and how this happened, Professor Young said. UQs Professor Joanne Meers said it would be exciting to see a retrovirus in action. Because the koala retrovirus is still relatively young less than 50,000 years old and not yet fixed in a certain location within the koala genome, scientists can monitor this early engagement between a retrovirus and its host. Professor Alex Greenwood, from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, said this was an important opportunity. This means that the koala, a species not usually associated with biomedical breakthroughs, is providing key insights into a process that has shaped eight per cent of the human genome, and will likely show us what happened millions of years ago when retroviruses first invaded the human genome. The trust, which already uses the Allscripts patient administration system, will roll-out the Allscripts Sunrise clinical suite to create a full EPR and prepare for closer working with other trusts in the Kent healthcare community Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has chosen Allscripts to deliver an electronic patient record and help it achieve its digital ambitions over the next ten years. The trust, which runs two major hospitals and is a regional Cancer Center, already uses the Allscripts patient administration system, following a go-live in October last year. It will now roll-out the Sunrise clinical suite in a phased deployment that is likely to start next autumn. Chief executive Miles Scott, who took up the leadership of the trust in January, said: My ambition for the trust is to deliver outstanding staff and patient experience. Sunrise will support that by giving clinicians the information they need to deliver excellent patient care. At the same time, investment in digital solutions will give us the data we need to respond to the demand and financial pressures we are facing." Director of IT, Michael Beckett said the trusts deployment of the Allscripts PAS made Sunrise a natural progression for the organization. He also said it was confident that Allscripts could support the trusts objectives and digital ambitions, over the lifetime of the contract. This trust cannot meet its objectives using a best of breed solution. We need a single EPR to support users, and Allscripts is the best fit for us. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells is committed to rolling out a full EPR, including order communications and test results, e-prescribing, clinical documents, and Sunrise Mobile Care. It will deploy Sunrise Emergency Care in its A&E department, and Sunrise Surgical Care in theaters. Jim MacDonald, CCIO said clinicians had been fully involved in reviewing the clinical suite, and had been impressed by the way it captured and displayed data. At the moment, clinicians move between paper and IT systems to find the information they need, he said. Having the right information, in the right place, at the right time, will enable us to improve our working processes and patient care. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells decision to go with Sunrise should also support closer working between health and care organizations in Kent. Neighboring East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is an Allscripts PAS and Sunrise customer, having signed up for Sunrise in December 2016. Nearby Medway NHS Foundation Trust is an Allscripts PAS customer. Steve Brain, vice president and UK managing director of Allscripts, said: Autism spectrum disorders are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders, one of the main characteristics of which is impaired social communication. But what happens in patients' brains that disrupts their social skills? According to scientists from the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Basel (UNIBAS), in Switzerland, whose work is published in Nature Communications, a malfunction of the synaptic activity of neurons present in the reward system seems to be at stake. By establishing a link between a genetic mutation found in people suffering from autistic disorders, a disturbance of the synapses and an alteration of social interactions, they are taking one step further in the understanding of a disorder that affects more than one child in 200 today. In all mammals, the reward system is a fundamental brain circuit that reinforces certain behaviors by providing the motivation necessary for their achievement. Search for food, learning or emotional behaviors are for instance strongly linked to it. Recently, several studies have shown that a dysfunction of this system could be at the root of the alteration in social behaviors typical of autistic disorders. Dopaminergic neurons, essential to its proper functioning, would be deficient in people with these disorders, who would thus lose all motivation to interact with others. But what are the underlying neurobiological mechanisms? Poor synapse construction "Basing ourselves on the hypothesis of motivation, we wanted to decipher the role of dopaminergic neurons in social interactions to verify whether alterations could explain certain social deficits specific to people suffering from autism spectrum disorders," explains Camilla Bellone, professor in the Department of Basic Neurosciences at UNIGE Faculty of Medicine, who directed this work. To do this, scientists studied mice in whom a gene called "Neuroligin 3" had been suppressed or whose activity in dopaminergic neurons had been greatly reduced, in order to imitate a mutation identified in autistic people. And unlike their counterparts, these mice had a lack of interest in novelty and less motivation to interact socially, behavioral traits frequently found in some autistic individuals. Scientists have also studied the synaptic plasticity of mice (synapses being the part of neurons that allows them to communicate with each other). Normally, exposure to social novelty generates a synaptic modification that maintains interest and social contact. In mice with neuroligin 3 deficiency, this plasticity was much less present: synaptic reinforcement did not take place, which resulted in a poorer response to a new stimulus. "We have observed the same synaptic deficiency in animals carrying another genetic mutation - on the Shank 3 gene - also common in autism. It is therefore a matter of poor maturation of the synapse which, in the end, prevents good social development," adds Camilla Bellone. More than 100 genes have already been identified as being linked to autistic symptoms, and many of them are involved in synaptic functioning. This explains why social disorders are so common in autistic people. Better identify to better manage the disease Autism presents such a variety of symptoms that it is impossible to provide all patients with the same treatment. "In order to better target treatments, it is imperative to classify behavioral disorders precisely on the basis of dysfunctions in certain brain circuits and to understand their genetic origin," emphasizes Peter Scheiffele, professor at the Biozentrum of UNIBAS, who participated in this work. Thus, patients with synaptic alterations in dopaminergic neurons should react positively to therapies aimed precisely at increasing their activity, while these same therapies would remain ineffective in other patients whose social disorders would be due to another cerebral dysfunction. Moreover, since synaptic maturation occurs early in life, the earlier the exact causes of the disorder are identified, the more effective therapeutic interventions will be. This is what scientists in Geneva and Basel are doing: decoding the fundamental mechanisms to identify the most promising therapeutic targets. Galectins attach to other proteins via the carbohydrates on their surfaces (sugar-binding proteins). As such they impact on a range of processes in the cell associated with a number of diseases, including heart disease and breast cancer the most common cancer in women worldwide, with 1.7 million new cases diagnosed in 2012 alone. Hydrogen bonds to lactose in the C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain of galectin-3 as determined with neutron crystallography. The bonds are represented here by light-blue dotted lines. Understanding how galectins bind to and distinguish between different sugars can help guide the design of new molecules that act as inhibitors blocking this process, and therefore limiting the development of certain diseases. However, researchers are only beginning to get the full picture of the binding patterns involved and the exact details of the interactions between different sugars and the protein have not been well defined. Detailed knowledge of the hydrogen bond networks in the protein-sugar complexes is key to providing a better foundation in the efforts to design new effective galectin inhibitors. In a collaborative effort, experts in neutron and X-ray crystallography from across Europe and the US came together to determine the hydrogen bonding networks in detail for the C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain of galectin-3 (galectin-3C). Scientists from Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL, France), Lund University (Sweden), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA) and Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (Germany) all worked together on the project. Until now, much of our understanding of these binding processes has been guesswork since determining the positions of hydrogen atoms is extremely difficult using X-rays, due to the weak scattering of hydrogen with X-rays. Even in extremely high resolution X-ray crystallography experiments, only about half of the most ordered hydrogen atoms can be observed. Neutron crystallography, on the other hand, is an ideal technique to reveal the positions of hydrogen atoms and hence the geometry of hydrogen bonds, since hydrogen atoms scatter neutrons with approximately the same magnitude as the other elements of a protein (i.e. carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur). As such, the positions of hydrogen atoms are directly detected with neutrons rather than being inferred from the positions of heavier atoms as in X-ray crystallography. The resulting paper, published in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, demonstrates that by using neutron crystallography the positions of the hydrogen atoms and the hydrogen bonding networks can be revealed, providing a better understanding of the binding interactions involved, even at modest resolutions. In addition, by determining the neutron structure of the sugar-free form of galectin-3C (apo galectin-3C) the positions and orientations of water molecules in the binding site before binding have been revealed. Hence comparison of the apo- and sugar-bound structures allowed us to observe how the interactions change upon binding and has helped improve our understanding of the role water plays in the binding process. Matthew Blakeley, LADI-III beamline scientist at the ILL and co-author of the study, said: Neutron crystallography is a powerful complementary technique to X-ray crystallography since it provides details relating to hydrogen atom positions which are generally not revealed using X-rays alone. Combining the information from both techniques therefore gives us the most detailed picture possible." Derek Logan, associate professor in structural biology at Lund University and main author of the study, said: This experiment has helped to confirm that drug design against galectins to date has been wise to focus on molecules derived from sugars, as the interactions we see would be difficult to mimic with other molecular shapes. With this confirmation we are now in a much better position to accurately predict the key binding interactions and to help our colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry develop new drugs for use." Elucidation of hydrogen bonding patterns in ligand-free, lactose- and glycerol-bound galectin-3C by neutron crystallography to guide drug design, Francesco Manzoni, Johan Wallerstein, Tobias Schrader, Andreas Ostermann, Leighton Coates, Mikael Akke, Matthew P. Blakeley, Esko Oksanen and Derek T. Logan [doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00081] Patna : An absconding official of a shelter home for girls in Bihar's Madhubani district was arrested on Thursday after a minor girl -- witness in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case -- went missing from there, police said. "Sobha Devi, an official of the shelter home in Madhubani, who was absconding for days, has been arrested," a police official said. According to the police, a 13-year-old girl -- who was a witness in the Muzaffarpur case in which 34 minor girls were allegedly raped -- and was among the 44 inmates shifted from that transit home to a similar facility in Madhubani, was traceless. New Delhi : The Union Cabinet at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday gave its approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Indonesia on scientific and technological cooperation. Signing of the MoU will open a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two countries as both sides will now leverage complementary strengths spurred by a significant convergence of mutual interests in science and technology, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference here. "The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation in the fields of science and technology between India and Indonesia on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The stake-holders will include researchers from scientific organisations, academia, Research and Development laboratories and companies from India and Indonesia. "Information and Communication Technology; Marine Science and Technology; Life Sciences (including Biotechnology, Agriculture and Biomedical Sciences); Energy Research; Water Technologies; Disaster Management; Space Sciences, Technology and Applications; Geospatial Information and Applied Chemistry were identified as potential areas for immediate collaboration," Prasad said. The Minister further said the MoU was signed in May by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan and Mohamad Nasir, Minister for Research, Technology and Higher Education, Indonesia. Shimla : Heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh led to an abnormal rise in the level of the silt content in the Satluj river, forcing the authorities to keep the operation of three mega hydropower plants shut on the third day, officials said on Thursday. The closure of the projects disrupted power supply to the northern states, including Delhi. "The 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri plant and 412 MW Rampur Hydro Electric Project has been closed since August 7 as the silt content in the river rose more than the permissible limit," an official with the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) told IANS. The company operates both the hydro projects. The company runs the Nathpa Jhakri hydropower project in Kinnaur district, while the Rampur plant is located in Shimla district. Likewise, the 1,000 MW Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project, also located in Kinnaur district, has been closed, officials said in Shimla. The projects are likely to resume operation on Friday, an official said. The closure of the hydro plants has led to a power crisis in the northern region. The northern power grid came under strain as the states procuring power from the projects were forced to overdraw from the grid. The projects supply power mainly to Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. These outages have resulted in shortage of power by 800-1,000 MW in the state, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd Chief Engineer (System Operations) Suneel Grover told IANS. New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a diverse gathering here consisting of farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, students, government officials and legislators to mark the World Biofuel Day 2018, a government statement said on Thursday. Modi will be the chief guest for the inaugural session of the programme on Friday which is being held at Vigyan Bhawan by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas . The programme would witness participation of sugarcane farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs in biofuels, students of agriculture, science and engineering streams, members of parliament, ambassadors, officers of Central and State government and companies involved in the bio-energy sector, said the statement. The Prime Minister will address the gathering on how biofuels can help reduce import dependency on crude oil and their contribution to a cleaner environment, generate additional income for farmers, and generate employment in rural areas, it added. Biofuels have synergies with various government initiatives, including enhancing farmers' incomes, and Swachh Bharat, said the statement, adding, as a result of the efforts of the Centre, ethanol blending in petrol had increased to 141 crore litres in financial year 2017-2018, as compared to 38 crore litres recorded in financial year 2013-2014. "The Government also approved the National Policy on Biofuels in June 2018," the statement said. The World Biofuel Day, which is being observed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for the last three years, is observed on August 10 to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. -- IANS rak/anp/sed Kathmandu : Any damage caused to currency notes and coins by tearing, burning, writing and drawing lines on them will be a crime in Nepal as per a new law coming into force from August 17. As per the Criminal Procedure Code Act 2017, those damaging currency notes and coins through the aforementioned acts could face imprisonment up to three months and a fine up to 5,000 Nepali rupees ($45). Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank, in a directive on Wednesday asked the banks and financial institutions to ensure implementation of the law through their staffers, Xinhua news agency reported. In a separate notice, the central bank also reminded the general public about the legal provisions. Laxmi Prapanna Niraula, chief of the Currency Management Department at the NRB, said on Thursday that the implementation of the law would help prolong the life of currency notes which in turn would help the NRB in making some savings. It is the first time that the law has made a provision for penalizing those who write or draw lines on the currency notes. Earlier, only those responsible for making and circulating counterfeit currencies in the market faced a penalty. The NRB prints bank notes through security printing presses in different countries every year. According to the NRB, notes worth 458 billion Nepali rupees ($4.15 billion) were currently in circulation in the market. Thirty per cent of these were believed to be dirty due to drawn lines or written words. "Using those notes in the market however will not be illegal for now," said Niraula. In order to increase the stock of clean notes in the market, the Nepali central bank has not been sending dirty notes in the market. Pyongyang : North Korea has condemned the US for placing fresh sanctions on it and called on the country to respond to its efforts to improve bilateral ties. North Korea remains unchanged in its will to implement agreements made by the top leaders of North Korea and the United States during their Singapore talks, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying on Thursday. Pyongyang hoped that "goodwill measures" such as suspending nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test fire, dismantling its nuclear test ground and repatriating POW/MIA remains would contribute to improving relations, Xinhua news agency reported. "However, the US responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure against North Korea," said a statement. The US Department of the Treasury earlier this month announced sanctions on an individual and three entities -- including a Russian commercial bank -- for alleged links with the nuclear program of North Korea. With such moves, "one cannot expect any progress in the implementation of North Korea-US.joint statement including the denuclearization, and furthermore, there is no guarantee that the hard-won atmosphere of stability on the Korean Peninsula will continue," said the spokesperson. North Korea top leader Kim Jong Un met US President Donald Trump in June in Singapore, where they signed a joint statement, agreeing to push for establishing diplomatic ties, building peace on the Korean Peninsula and completely denuclearizing the peninsula together. Sorry! This content is not available in your region How can that familiar good taste youve been missing be the motto for a restaurant that hasnt even opened yet? When the owners of the restaurant are Gisella and Ricardo Duran, who used to work at Augies #1 Restaurant and Pizzeria. The new restaurant will also feature several other former employees of Augies. Gisellas Ristorante will open on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 4 Starr St., about a block away from the Danbury DMV. Starr Street connects South and Triangle streets. Weve been in Danbury for years and were familiar with Danbury, Gisella Duran said. We have a good following here. They built that following during their many years at Augies #1. Ricardo Duran was chef at Augies for more than 20 years and will bring his signature dishes and sauces to the new restaurant. Gisella Duran worked at Augies for 18 years as a waitress and behind the counter. Augies #1 remains open under new ownership in the Germantown section of Danbury. The original owner, Agostino Augie Incorvaia, sold the business earlier this year after 25 years. I knew I wanted to open my place, said Gisella Duran, who is Incorvaias cousin. I knew it wouldnt be easy, but this was my goal. I learned a lot from Augie over the years. Gisella and Ricardo met at Augies and got married there 21 years ago. I would go in to visit my cousin (Augie) and I would see people in the kitchen looking out that little window at me, Gisella recalled. One day my cousin told me: One of the guys in the kitchen likes you and wants to go out with you. Familiarity is a common theme at Gisellas Ristorante. It is located at the former location of Nicks Pizza and Restaurant, which was founded by Gisella Durans uncle and named after another one of her cousins. Food will be served at Gisellas by several former members of the wait staff of Augies, including Michelle Cook, who worked at Nicks and then Augies. She is looking forward to Tuesdays opening and hopes to see some familiar faces. Im thrilled they are opening this restaurant. Ive always loved waitressing and talking to people, Cook said. I know half of Danbury and have lived here my whole live. Everyone is excited about this. Ricardo Duran said he is eager to get back into a kitchen to serve customers. He did not reveal the ingredients to his sauces, but did provide some insight into their popularity. Its just coming from my heart, he said. I think of the customers and want them to feel at home. I feel happy when people say the food is good. Gisella called Ricardo the behind-the-scenes hero. The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. The menu will include traditional and new Italian dishes, as well as pizza. There is also a kids menu. Gisellas will also offer take-out and catering. It has seating for 94 people. They are carrying on a tradition from the past, said Dorothy Lewis, who is helping the Durans with marketing their new business. Its going to fill a void. The recipes are familiar and faces are familiar. Its good food and good service. The Facebook page for the restaurant has more than 600 likes and followers, a statistic that caught the eye of Nelson Merchan, an advisor with the Connecticut Small Business Development Center. Having a community of followers before opening can mean the difference between success and failure - between having profits sooner or later, Merchan said. To reach Gisellas Ristorante, call (203) 456-6595. The writer may be reached at cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338 A Mississippi woman has sued Pepperidge Farm and a supplier in federal court, blaming Goldfish crackers she ate for exposing her to salmonella infection that hospitalized her for four days, with the snack maker responding it does not believe Goldfish caused her illness. Bailey Finch, a 26-year-old resident of Columbus, Miss., says she became ill in mid-July after eating Goldfish Flavor Blasted Extra Cheddar crackers, which was among four products recalled by Pepperidge Farm after discovering the possibility of salmonella contamination in whey powder used to produce the snacks. BROOKFIELD The town has one of the more generous policies in the area to help seniors struggling to pay their taxes, but proposed changes could expand benefits and open up the program to more residents. A committee has recommended several adjustments to the senior tax abatement program, including capping taxes for eligible seniors when they turn 75 and offering some relief to elderly people on the cusp of qualifying for the existing program. Betsy McIlvaine, chair of the Senior Tax Abatement Committee, said these ideas could help address complaints about the current policy. She said she has often heard seniors say they should not have to pay taxes anymore because their children no longer go to the schools, for example. Were not of that belief, McIlvaine said. Taxes are what supports the town, but on the other hand, as people get older, some people have fewer resources to be able to pay their taxes. The committees plan would cap taxes at age 75 for seniors who are eligible for abatement. Seniors would need to meet the qualifications under the existing program. This means the resident must have lived and paid taxes in Brookfield for the last five years and his or her income must be below $49,420 for a single person and $60,200 for a married couple. The value of a residents home also must not exceed the median assessed property value for that year. This year, the median assessment is $237,000. McIlvaine said that threshold has been a sticking point with some residents, but she said the rule was implemented to prevent wealthier residents from receiving the abatement. We would rather keep the relief to people who truly need it, which are people with low income and people whose houses are not worth very much, McIlvaine said. This year, it would have cost the town $24,000 to cover the tax increase for the 154 recipients of the abatement program who are 75 or older, she said. The committees other idea is to offer 75 percent of the normal abatement to residents who earn 3 percent more than the existing income limits. This would help residents who are cut off from the program just because they earn $100 more than the limit, McIlvaine said. This year, qualifying seniors receive a $2,000 abatement off their taxes. If the number of recipients increased by 10 percent under this idea, the cost to the town would go up $33,000, McIlvaine said. Brookfield provides a higher abatement on property taxes than almost any other town in the area, according to the committees report. The exception is Newtown, which gives a $2,525 credit to seniors earning $45,000 a year or less. Seniors who make between $45,001 and $70,000 receive between an $800 to $1,750 credit, depending on income. More Information Proposals: Offer one-time partial abatement for seniors earning 3 percent over existing income limits Cap abated taxes at age 75 See More Collapse Danbury, New Fairfield and New Milfords income limits are lower than Brookfields, with residents receiving $600, $1,609 and $960 credits, respectively, according to the committees report. In Bethel, where a committee is also reviewing its program, the income limit is also lower, with the benefit ranging from 10 to 75 percent of the tax bill, depending on income. Meanwhile, Ridgefield does not have an income limit, with seniors receiving a $1,048 abatement. The town is examining its policy, too. McIlvaine said the committee briefly discussed raising the income limit, but ultimately decided against it. Our [income limit] seemed fairly generous, she said. First Selectman Steve Dunn said the Board of Selectmen will consider whether to change the ordinance based on the committees recommendations. He said the existing program was created keep seniors in Brookfield after a rash of elderly people left town for places like Florida. This goal is still the same, Dunn said. We want to make [the program] as fair as possible, he said. I don't think well pull it back at all. McIlvaine said it is getting tougher for seniors to afford their taxes, citing a recent New York Times article on a study that found the rate of people 65 and older filing for bankruptcy has tripled since 1991. That is kind of frightening, McIlvaine said. DANBURY A convoluted plan to try to resolve the years-long zoning dispute over whether the Dorothy Day Hospitality House can continue to operate its downtown homeless shelter ground to a halt late Thursday night. The citys Zoning Board of Appeals agreed to deny the shelters request for a set of proposed variances that, if approved, effectively would allow the 120-year-old Dorothy Day building not to conform to modern zoning rules. Without them, the shelter cannot apply for a special exception to re-permit the Spring Street shelter and likely tanks any plan to settle the issue out of court. Our decision up here has nothing to do with being ethical or not, our decision is doing what the city calls us to do and that is to make a decision for the entire people (based on the law), Board of Appeals Chairman Dick Jowdy said. I dont think theres a person on our board who would not donate to the homeless or the shelter, but we have to make a decision. The consensus from the five-member board not to grant those variances was the latest episode in the ongoing court battle over the citys 2016 attempt to shut down the shelter on Spring Street downtown. Dorothy Day and its attorney, Neil Marcus, appealed that decision and the two sides have been locked in litigation before a Hartford judge ever since. The issue has often become heated and tempers flared again during Thursdays meeting among the two dozen ardent supporters of the shelter and fervent opponents in the neighborhood, who each booed the other side and applauded their own during parts of the hearing. The highly technical variances would have essentially said the building meets zoning regulations on paper, even though it predates the rules and does not meet modern regulations for issues such as parking or setbacks from other properties, Marcus has argued. That approval, in turn, would allow Dorothy Day to make the case to the Planning Commission for a special exception to allow the 35-year-old shelter to continue to operate the real underlying question at the heart of the dispute, he said. But the board of appeals members are wary of granting variances to modern regulations if a court might rule that Dorothy Day cannot stay in its current location anyway, they agreed. I am in favor of Dorothy Day, but what were being asked to do is give the property, not Dorothy Day, 11 variances that stay with the property forever and ever, board member Tony Rebeiro said. If Dorothy Day in court is told they cannot go there, that property now has open range. The board asked city staff and counsel to draft a resolution denying the variances and are expected to formally vote on it next month, said Sharon Dornfeld, assistant city corporation counsel for conflicts. After the meeting, Marcus held out hope that the board might still consider a creative resolution that simply kicks the issue to the Planning Commission for a final decision on the shelters operation itself. The end of the day is, if were not going to go to the Planning Commission, well file our briefs and Judge Berger will decide the fate of the shelter, he said. zach.murdock@hearstmediact.com The divorce rate in America hovers around 50 percent, Midlife Divorce Recovery reports. About 1.5 million people file for bankruptcy every year. And nearly one million miscarriages occur in the U.S. each year. Thats a lot of personal problems. Add to that average stress levels from work, and keeping employees motivated to provide consistent results becomes quite the challenge. Fortunately, by fixing processes and hiring more of the right people, you can control at least part of what makes the difference between level-headed employees and overwhelmed, unproductive ones. Related: 6 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Make Their Lives Easier and Avoid Burnout Sadly, when projects pile up and stress skyrockets, the last thing on your mind is hiring more people or cleaning up processes. Perhaps, though, that should be the first thing on your mind -- actually it definitely should be once the storm passes. But you cant increase employee motivation and quality control if you dont first notice the telltale signs of overworked and inefficient employees. So, here are five. 1. They dont laugh while at work. Unhappy employees are less productive than their joyful counterparts. Specifically, one study estimates that happy employees are about 12 percent more productive than unhappy employees. Thats not surprising when you think about it. When people have less internal concerns, they produce a better quality more consistently. Of course, running a profitable business and keeping everyone happy at the same time isnt always easy. Still, you shouldnt ignore the general vibe around the workplace. Do people seem like theyre enjoying their time or dreading it? Are employees so busy that they have no time to shoot the breeze with their coworkers? Although it might seem like laughing employees kills productivity and profitability, it might actually -- as the study above suggests -- encourage a higher efficiency and quality when employees do sit down to work. 2. Miscommunications runs rampant. Forty-four percent of workers said a serious business mistake or shortcoming has been the result of a miscommunication at some point in their professional experience. And 18 percent said that miscommunication lost a sale -- a third of those sales valued above $100,000. For efficiency and profitabilitys sake, miscommunication is one thing you dont want running rampant around the workplace. Sadly, when employees are overworked and overstressed, miscommunications are inevitable -- and theyre often a sign that you need to hire more people, clean up processes or redistribute existing projects from certain employees. Related: A Disastrous Project and Screaming Client Are Inevitable 3. Theyre making rookie mistakes. The moment your most trusted employees start making rookie mistakes is the same moment you need to examine the way youre running your business. If you trust these employees and theyve never let you down before, its probably not their fault. Its probably the fault of unclear processes or fast growth without adequate leadership. The reality is, most people operate best when running at about 80 percent. Even a great employee might burn out and start making silly mistakes when running at 90 or 100 percent for too long. Slow down and bring back your superstars before they burn out for good. 4. Absenteeism is on the rise. If people arent showing up to work, theres a problem. Of course, hiring slackers who dont show up to team meetings on time, take a suspicious amount of sick days or outright miss work is often an unfortunate part of business. To some degree, that absenteeism is impossible to completely avoid. You take chances on people and some of those people work out. Others dont. Having said that, if new hires with high spirits and old hires with long commitments try to miss work as often as possible, then theres a good chance youre burning out your employees. You should reevaluate your business processes before those workers leave for good. Related: Team Burnout Is Real and You Might Be the Cause 5. Theyve lost passion for their work. When you hired your employees, more than likely, part of why you chose them was because they showed passion for their work. If that passion starts to fade, it might be a sign that those same employees dont have the time or energy to pursue their greatest interests. And that lack of employee passion is bad for business. In fact, one out of five employees want to leave their job because they simply are no longer passionate about their work. Plus, when employees lack passion for their daily work, quality of that work naturally decreases. So too does their commitment to your business. Related: What Is the Ideal Age to Be An Entrepreneur? Here's How Walking an Unconventional Path Can Be Victorious For You This is the Impact of Internet of Things on Businesses Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Its hard to escape tears for the migrants plight crossing our border illegally. We hear babies torn from their mothers arms, young children taken from their parents, etc. This narrative is repeated by the Lefts hypocrites, posing as voices for the children and champions of the babies, etc. The loudest hypocrites are the Democrats. Does history agree they are really who they pretend to be? When we see their crocodile tears about babies torn from their mothers arms, I cant help to think of the pain of babies, with beating hearts, torn from their mothers wombs. These Democrats, posing as champions of womens rights, have actively promoted the slaughter of some 56,000,000 infants through the ghastly procedure called abortion. While they tout Pro Choice, ask yourself: what choice these infants had? Their political ally, Planned Parenthood, certainly benefits from this butchery, like the harvesting/resale of body part$, receiving tax dollar$ for their services, just to name a few. Legislatively, they are lock-step opposing all Pro Life legislation, like The Heartbeat Bill, The Sonogram Bill, The Parental Notification Bill for Minors, etc. These positions describe your elected Democrats and, your Presidential choice, Hillary. Questions: Does this modern day Holocaust bother you? Is infanticide moral? Does God approve? Still focusing on the Democrats tears for the children, think back to Thanksgiving Day 2000 and Slick Willy (and sexual predator) Bill Clinton. A young Cuban boy, Elian Gonzalez, washed up in Miami, clinging to a tube. He, his mother, and a dozen others fled Communist Cuba in a small open boat. Her husband/Elians father chose to stay with Fidel Castro. Elians mother and all others drowned when the boat broke up. Pretty brave women, wouldnt you say? Elian was united with relatives living in Little Havana and in interviews, said he did not want to go back to Cuba. But Fidel would have none of that. (sets a bad example for other island prisoners!) Fidel said Elians father wanted him back. BTW: For you sheeples who get spoon-fed by the likes of MSNBC, CNN, NPR, or, the TV Oprahs telling you what to think: In Dictatorships (Cuba with Castro or Nazi Germany with Hitler), the state is everything, superseding parents. So appeasing Castro, Clinton ordered federal agents into Little Havana at 4 a.m to raid Elians relatives home at gunpoint, ripping him from his uncles arms and taking him away to be with his papa. Reader, please Google this yourself and see this terrifying picture! Chilling what our Republic is becoming under the Big Government isnt it? Ive often wondered: What kind of indoctrination/re-education/brainwashing Elian received upon returning to Father Fidel? How the hypocritical Democrats sleep at night, when they talk out of both sides of their mouths? If those in the liberal media with their biases and fake news need some Sominex? In closing, a short history lesson of fake news is in order for your younger readers: In the 1950s when Castro was fighting Cubas then-ruler Fulgencio Batista in the Escambray Mountains, the Left Wing media promoted Castro, even The New York Times referring to him as The George Washington of Cuba. Think about that the next time you read The New York Times slogan: All the news thats fit to print. A more honest narrative would be something like: All the news that FITS, or, I got my snow job through The New York Times! It wasn't long ago that filmmaker, author and self-styled D.B. Cooper sleuth Tom Colbert released his latest find: A sixth letter from the famed hijacker that reportedly contained a coded confession. A member of Colbert's cold case team -- comprised of 40 former law enforcement and military personnel -- was retired U.S. Army code breaker, Rick Sherwood, and when he saw the alleged fifth letter sent by Cooper to newspapers, he wondered if the odd numbers in it could be a code. Sherwood spent two weeks with that letter, eventually coming up with a translation of the odd numbers to old Army units -- three units, to be specific -- that happened to also be the three units of a man Colbert believes to be the real Cooper. Then Colbert got another letter back -- the sixth letter -- in the FBI's response to longstanding public records requests. In that letter, Sherwood decoded what he and Colbert said is a confession. RELATED: D.B. Cooper: A sixth letter, a reportedly coded confession, and the end of J. Edgar Hoover "I'm Lt. Robert Rackstraw," read one part of the coded message, according to Colbert and Sherwood. Rackstraw, a retired U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, was considered and then dismissed as a Cooper suspect by the FBI in the late 1970s, but Colbert and his team's investigation says otherwise. The mystery of D.B. Cooper The mystery began on Nov. 24, 1971 when a man calling himself Dan Cooper bought a one-way ticket on Northwest Orient Airlines from Portland to Seattle. Once aboard the Boeing 727, he slipped a note to the flight attendant saying he had a bomb and that he wanted $200,000 and four parachutes, as well as a refueling truck ready when they landed in Seattle. In Seattle, the man exchanged the passengers for the ransom money and the plane took off, headed for Mexico. Somewhere over southwest Washington, Cooper jumped out the rear stair door of the plane and was never heard from again. The only verifiable evidence ever found was a small cache of $20 bills found near the Columbia River in 1980. The FBI officially stopped pursuing the case in 2016 but said it would review any physical evidence of the parachutes or the money that turned up. It remains the only unsolved case of air piracy in the U.S. In 2016, Colbert's team of former law enforcement officers, including retired FBI agents, used a lead about where Cooper landed to track down some bits of fabric they believed to be part of the parachute. They handed those over to the FBI and and haven't heard back since. That story, relayed by an old pilot named Wally to another pilot, told of three accomplices using a small plane and a ground vehicle to pick Cooper up after his jump and then help him escape. The four had plotted and practiced in advance, the story goes. But there's much, much more. Colbert said his team found old officers who served with Rackstraw in the military who said he was involved in secret units and even the CIA, a reason Colbert gives for him being let off the hook even after FBI questioning in 1979. Another part of the narrative has Cooper tossing $50,000 of his ransom money into Vancouver Lake as part of an elaborate scheme to suggest he died in the jump. But the money didn't wash up as planned, so a second effort planted the money at the Columbia River beach where it was found in 1980. See More Collapse "We know it's Rackstraw," Colbert previously told SeattlePI. Pointing to the unit names allegedly coded into the fifth letter, he said there could be little doubt. "He was the only man in the whole American army with those three units." On Wednesday, Colbert released the details of how Sherwood decoded the messages. The code itself is relatively simple. A number is assigned to each letter of the alphabet in order (A=1, B=2, etc.). But it's not a only matter of spelling words out with numbers. Instead, the values are added up and then decoded by finding other words that add up to the same value. For example, "D.B. Cooper" tallies up to 78. One could decode that to read "A wrong." Numbers can also be added up along with the values from letters, as Sherwood did with the combos of letters and numbers in the fifth letter. Coded messages in the six letters allegedly sent by Cooper to newspapers included statements that indicated he was a CIA operative, that he was trained by the U.S. government, the statement that he was Rackstraw and more, according to Colbert. RELATED: New on D.B. Cooper: Private investigators say he was CIA The simplicity of the code meant that one could come up with any number of different messages out of the text decoded by Sherwood, but understanding the context and the language of the era helped guide him, he told Colbert. Sherwood had previously put together a collection of words and language used in the late 1960s among Vietnam-serving military personnel. That, along with other aspects of the letters, including indications in the sixth that Cooper was trying to tell who he was or wasn't, helped him determine what he might uncover, Colbert said. "So he (Sherwood) was looking for a reveal," Colbert said. "So that put him in the mind of who he was looking for." Who he found was Rackstraw, a man who hasn't made a clear denial of the claim, but who also hasn't been revisited as a suspect by the FBI. The FBI officially stopped pursuing the case in 2016, saying it would only return to it if physical evidence of either the money or the parachute turned up again. In 2017, Rackstraw told SeattlePI that its reporter should verify Colbert's claims, but didn't deny anything outright. At the time, he expressed frustration with Colbert's pursuits. The codes may mark the end of Colbert's constant pursuit of the case, he said. He has been following the case for seven years, amassing a case that at least on its face appears more in-depth and credible than most of the dozens of other amateur theories on what became of the hijacker. Last year, Colbert and his team followed tips to a remote location in the Cascade foothills to dig up pieces of fabric that they said were part of Cooper's parachute. They turned over the evidence and the location to the FBI, but haven't heard anything further since. The story that led them there came secondhand from an old pilot who claimed to have been one of several men involved in helping Cooper in an escape that involved throwing $50,000 out of an airplane and later orchestrating a find of some money along the Columbia River. Add to that Colbert's claims that Cooper was CIA and that the FBI has worked actively to cover up evidence since the late 1970s, and the story becomes even more incredible than the few facts that are known and provable. The FBI, for its part, has only repeated its statement that it will pursue physical evidence. Colbert also worked with the History channel to produce a documentary on the case that came out in 2016, and it seems likely another film on the topic may be in the cards. For now, Colbert is convinced he's found the genuine Cooper, but the internet is full of Cooperites (the nickname for followers and theorists of the case) who say otherwise. The mystery of the polite man who hijacked an airliner and got away with it will remain just that for now: A mystery. Senior editor Daniel DeMay can be reached at 206-448-8362 or danieldemay@seattlepi.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Daniel_DeMay. Greater Change is an Oxford University effort to use technology to help the homeless raise more money. As the developing world moves to a cashless society asking for change is becoming more useless. There is also the need for effective treatment of alcohol and drug addiction and treatment of mental health. Greater Change is trying to avoid the funding addictions or enabling professional beggars. They are working to find and help the homeless who are in true need. They actually interview some of the homeless to have specific savings goals and target amounts. They then create an online donation pitch for the homeless person. They also provide QR codes on lanyards so the homeless person can receive electronic donations. On a given night in 2017, 553,742 people experienced homelessness in the U.S. Over the course of an entire year, in 2016, more than 1.4 million people used an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. In Canada, the average number of homeless is 35,000 on any given day. QR codes The lanyard (as well as the QR code) is just one element of the project, and it is an entirely optional element. It was added into the pilot use of Greater Change based on the suggestion of people who were homeless. If people would prefer not to use the lanyard, or the QR, that is entirely at their discretion. Greater Change is exploring other, more discreet positioning of the QR code, e.g. as a sticker applied onto business cards that are given to the participants, with details on the reverse about Greater Change, how it operates and what typically donations are spent on. Housing First initiatives in some cities The current trend is for cities to look at housing first. In 2017, Bergen County, New Jersey, was declared the first community in the U.S. to end chronic homelessness. Bergen Countys success was a $11 million one-stop shop facility, where homeless residents can stay while they receive on-site treatment and housing assistance. Housing first means getting people housed while they receive counseling or medical attention, instead of requiring people to be employed or sober before they are given a place to sleep. This method is not only proven to help people stay housed permanently, it also saves cities lots of money (for example, paying for preventative medical care is way cheaper than paying for repeated emergency room visits). A Portland startup named NoAppFee.com, for example, uses micro-lending to front the application fees for renters until they can repay them. These fees, which may seem small to market-rate renters, can often be a huge financial barrier to those looking for subsidized housing. But the app isnt solely targeted at homeless residents; even people who arent subsidized renters can use the service, which is perhaps even more important. Its an easy, preventative way to serve anyone who needs help. Honolulu, which has the highest per-capita homeless rate in the country, is taking an even more revolutionary approach to housing its residents fast. A Hawaii state senator who is also an ER doctor has proposed classifying homelessness as an illness. The rationale is that doctors can prescribe housing, which would allow advocates to use Medicaid and other public assistance funds to subsidize housing. Homelessness is expensive Homeless people with mental illness generate very high costs for society. In Canada, a 2017 study found the average cost of a homeless person is C$53,133. The number comes from research published this summer from the At Home Chez Soi (AHCS) project, which offers an accurate costing in Canada of those often termed hard to house. Some studies have found that leaving a person to remain chronically homeless costs US taxpayers as much as $30,000 to $50,000 per year. The high costs are for hospital and emergency room usage and more police and jail services. The Russian Ruble is at its weakest level in nearly two years with ruble touching 66.7099. The US will be applying new sanctions for Russias use of a chemical agent, Novichok, to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the UK. The US is doubling tariffs to Turkeys metals. This has caused the Turkish Lira to drop 15%. I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar! Aluminum will now be 20% and Steel 50%. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018 The DXY US Dollar Currency Index is at a 52 week high at 96. The strongest dollar index readings were about 154 in 1984 and 112 in 2001. Having a strong dollar versus major currencies like the Euro and the Yen have more of an impact on the index. The first trial on whether the worlds most widely used herbicide causes cancer came to an explosive ending Friday a San Francisco jurys award of $289 million in damages to a man diagnosed with a lethal illness while spraying school grounds with a weed-killer manufactured by Monsanto Co. The jury found unanimously that Monsanto was responsible for Dewayne Lee Johnsons non-Hodgkins lymphoma and should have known of the dangers posed by the herbicide glyphosate, which it markets as Roundup and the more-concentrated Ranger Pro. The jury also found that Monsanto had acted with malice or oppression when it supplied glyphosate to Johnsons employer, the Benicia Unified School District, without disclosing its potentially life-threatening effects. The company denies that glyphosate is dangerous and says it will appeal. The verdict could be a forerunner for the 4,000 lawsuits that have been filed across the country by individuals who claim they were sickened by Roundup. Johnsons case was the first to go to trial. The jurys decision also amounted to a rebuke of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has long classified glyphosate as safe and has not restricted its use, despite an other agencies findings that the herbicide probably causes cancer. At a post-verdict news conference in his lawyers office, Johnson, 46, of Vallejo, said he hoped his case was just the beginning. The cause is way bigger than me, he said. Hopefully this thing will start to get the attention that it needs to get right. Johnson was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in October 2014 and with a more aggressive form of the cancer in March 2015. One of his doctors testified that he is unlikely to survive to 2020. The jury awarded $2.3 million in damages for his past and future economic losses and $37 million for pain and emotional distress $1 million for each year of what would have been his normal life expectancy after 2014. The remaining $250 million was in punitive damages for malicious or oppressive conduct. Johnsons lawyers said Monsanto, now a subsidiary of Bayer AG, has $6.1 billion in holdings. Jurors deliberated 2 days after four weeks of testimony. The verdict required votes from only nine of the 12 jurors to be final, but they were unanimous except for on the amount of punitive damages, which drew a dissent from one juror. In polling after the verdict, she did not tell the judge whether she favored a greater or lesser amount. Environmental advocates celebrated the outcome. Mr. Johnsons brave decision to spend his dying days fighting Monsanto to prove the dangers of Roundup is part of a global awakening to the long-term health and environmental costs of our careless addiction to pesticides, said Nathan Donley, a scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity. Monsanto was unyielding, saying its position is supported by the EPA, the National Institutes of Health and agencies around the world. We will appeal this decision and continue to vigorously defend this product, which has a 40-year history of safe use, said Scott Partridge, a Monsanto vice president. Johnson was a groundskeeper and pest-control manager for Benicia schools from 2012 until May 2016. His job included spraying glyphosate, in the high-concentration brand called Ranger Pro, from 50-gallon drums 20 to 30 times a year for two to three hours a day. He testified he wore protective clothing, including a sturdy jacket, goggles and a face mask, but said he couldnt fully protect his face from wind-blown spray. And twice, he told the jury, he got drenched with the herbicide, once when a spray hose became detached from a truck that was hauling it, and another time when a backpack container he was carrying leaked. After the first drenching in 2014, he said, he got rashes on his skin that did not respond to treatment. Welts and lesions soon appeared on his legs, arms, face and eyelids. His first cancer diagnoses came soon afterward. Johnson has undergone chemotherapy and is considering a bone-marrow transplant. The jury also heard from Johnsons wife, Araceli, a nurse practitioner, who said she now works 14 hours a day at two jobs to pay the bills. The couple has two children. Glyphosate, the worlds leading herbicide, was classified as a probable human carcinogen in 2015 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization. In 2017, Californias Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment listed it as a chemical known to cause cancer. Monsanto held the initial patent and remains its leading distributor. Despite the agencies health concerns, glyphosate remains legal in the U.S. and Europe. Monsantos lawyers noted the EPA has never found glyphosate to be a cause of cancer, and told the jury that both the EPA and European health regulators had conducted new studies after the international agencys assessment and had reaffirmed their previous safety findings. Johnsons lawyers, in turn, accused Monsanto of mounting a propaganda campaign to discredit the international agency and of hiding evidence that allegedly would have shown the herbicides dangers. Each side presented medical experts to support its case. Monsanto also said none of Johnsons physicians had determined the cause of his cancer. One of Johnsons doctors testified, however, that as Johnsons condition worsened in 2015, she asked the school district to let him stop spraying glyphosate. Johnson said he finally refused to use the chemical in January 2016, four months before leaving the job. He also said he called Monsantos hotline twice, in 2014 and 2015, described his symptoms and asked if the herbicide might be the cause. Company representatives said someone would call him back, but no one did, he said. Bob Egelko and Peter Fimrite are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com andpfimrite@sfchronice.com Twitter: @BobEgelko and @pfimrite NEW HARTFORD A public/private partnership between the town and resident Matt Norton has revitalized the overlook at Jones Mountain, a 158-acre open space reserve. Norton wanted to create a memorial for his wife, Joni Norton, on the overlook, and at the same time, provide an attractive viewing area at the top of the 985-foot mountain. The idea began last fall when Joni Norton died from cancer. Jones Mountain had been one of her favorite hiking areas, Norton said. I knew she loved hiking here. It was close to her heart. Matt Norton approached First Selectman Dan Jerram about the idea to upgrade the site. Because the view from the overlook was overgrown, Norton suggested the downhill trees could be cleared and a memorial bench installed. Its a very nice project, Jerram said. Jones Mountain is one of the most beautiful parks and hiking destinations, in the town. He said he and Norton went up to the site to consider the plan. I realized we could do something up there, Jerram said. With a design in mind, and support from the town Department of Public Works, Norton launched the project in September. Because the existing viewing area was small, and a 12-year-old wooden bench was damaged, a decision was made to enlarge the area and replace the bench with a sturdy, cast cement model. Nortons co-worker at Cigna Health Insurance, Tom Hixon, started a fund among employees to pay for half of the improvements. Public works employees cleared as many as 75 trees, Jerram said, to open up the scenic view that had been blocked for years by overgrown trees. Hikers can now see the Barkhamsted hills in the distance. The viewing area now offers a 10-by-24-foot terrace made of New York blue stone. The flagstone was purchased from Torrington-based O&G Industries Inc. The bench was manufactured with two posts that resemble cut-wood trunks, and a large slate-like sitting platform. The platform is inscribed with a memorial statement that reads, In memory of Joni Ellet Norton whose effervescence brought light to those around her, 1964-2017. Its a place her friends can go and the community at large can enjoy it, Norton said. The preserve is a gem in my mind. The overlook, he said, is at a spot where hikers often take a break after arriving at the summit. I think its awesome. I love the view, it came out great, said Public Works employee Matt Catania. He and co-worker Craig Haskell were at the lookout on Thursday adding mulch around the terrace, which the two constructed. We pretty much built it from scratch, Catania said. There was an outpouring of support, from residents for the project, Jerram said. You can see the entire downtown. According to the New Hartford Land Trust, some of the hiking trails follow wide carriage roads that were built in the 1900s. The preserve opened in 2006 after the organization negotiated a property transfer from the Jones family, which has owned the land for five generations. The designation as a preserve permanently protects the land from development. The Jones Mountain Preserve is eight-tenths of a mile from the intersection of Steele Road, Central Avenue and Rt. 219 in downtown New Hartford. NEW HAVEN Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, will be featured on a massive, hand-painted backdrop installed on the stage 1-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the third annual Puerto Rican Festival on the Green, sponsored by Puerto Ricans United. The mayor is honored along with other symbols of Puerto Rican culture for advocating for Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The mural was painted by volunteer artists David Sepulveda of New Haven and Amie Ziner of Milford. The source of all light and life on Earth is also the source of one of its biggest natural threats: space weather. The sun's atmosphere regularly erupts with fast-moving flashes of protons and explosions of energetic particles that can hit Earth within minutes and disrupt radio communication, interfere with GPS and fry the electric grid. A "worst case scenario" space weather event could cause more damage than Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey and Sandy combined. "It sounds like science fiction," said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorologist William Murtagh, who heads the Space Weather Forecasting Center. "But it's something that's not only possible but very likely to happen in the not-too-distant future." Scientists have long struggled to understand and predict space weather events, because the ferocious environment around the sun makes them difficult to witness as they form. But as early as Saturday morning - if all goes according to plan - Murtagh and scores of other researchers will watch as NASA's newest spacecraft, the Parker Solar Probe, embarks on a mission to get closer to the sun than any human-made object has before. It's the culmination of a half-century effort to understand our star, Murtagh says, and it may help us prepare for the hazards the sun may throw at us in the future. Part of the sun erupted on Sept. 1, 1859. English astronomer Richard Carrington noticed a brilliant white solar flare on the sun, brighter than the sunspots he usually observed. Roughly a day later, a blast of charged particles - known as a coronal mass ejection, or CME - arrived at Earth, jostling the planet's magnetic bubble. People as far south as Cuba saw the sky light up with auroras. Geomagnetic currents sent surges of electricity through copper telegraph wires, zapping operators and setting telegraph paper aflame. If a similar event happened today, it would bring life as we know it to a halt. The energetic particles within a coronal mass ejection can penetrate the walls of spacecraft and pose a radiation risk to astronauts and the technology they depend on. They can interfere with satellites, disrupting radio communication and GPS. And a CME hits our planet's magnetosphere at the right angle, it can generate powerful waves of electricity within the Earth. These may then infiltrate utility grids and blow out transformers that provide electricity - like tripping a circuit on a massive scale. The sun exploded again in July 2012, spewing material toward Earth at nearly 6 million miles per hour. This time the coronal mass ejection hit a NASA spacecraft called STEREO-A at full-blast. The spacecraft's sensors were stressed, but they still managed to measure the solar particles, gusts of solar wind and the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field. A year after the explosion, in a paper published in the journal Space Weather, astrophysicists examined the STEREO-A data to answer a worst-case question. "What if that coronal mass ejection had occurred 10 days earlier," said Daniel Baker, a professor of planetary and space physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder and one of the authors of the study, "when the earth was in the line of fire?" Their conclusion: If it had hit Earth, Baker and his colleagues wrote, there was a "very legitimate question of whether our society would still be 'picking up the pieces.'" In 2008, a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report on the economic and societal impacts of space weather came up with a worst-case estimate for an extreme geomagnetic storm: It could cost North America up to $2 trillion in the first year, and recovery would take four to 10 years. It's said that space weather science lags about 50 years behind terrestrial weather forecasting. Meteorologists know what conditions cause hurricanes, and they can spot the seeds of a storm brewing over the ocean long before it makes landfall. But warning times for space weather events are often measured in minutes, Murtagh said, and there's too much we don't know. "There's a lack of understanding," Murtagh said. "It's science. It's knowledge of the sun and the physical processes that are likely to produce those energetic particles. We just don't fully understand the science yet." Much of our modern understanding of the sun stems from 91-year-old Eugene Parker, for whom NASA's new probe is named. In the mid-1950s, Parker discovered a link between two seemingly unrelated space mysteries. First, bizarrely, the corona, or atmosphere of the sun, is hotter than its surface - scientists liken the sun to a campfire that feels hotter the further one stands from the flames. And second, the dusty tails of comets always point away from the sun, as if blasted by a powerful wind. Parker realized that the corona isn't a static halo, but a stream of material from the sun itself. It starts slow and dense and zooms up as it escapes the sun's gravity, eventually exceeding the speed of sound. The pointed tails of comets behave like windsocks caught in the solar wind. The acceleration of the particles in the solar wind remains one of the "fundamental mysteries of the sun," said Nicola Fox, a heliophysicist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and the project scientist for Parker Solar Probe. And it's one of the keys to understanding CMEs - the extra-destructive blasts that pose so much danger to life on Earth. After the National Academies released its sobering 2008 report, "awareness, both at government and in the public, for this hazard really came to the fore," said a Federal Emergency Management Agency official, who agreed to speak on the record on the condition of anonymity. Trillion-dollar space storms are a rare issue that rallies Republicans and Democrats alike. The Obama administration's executive order 13744 created a national space weather policy in 2016. FEMA recently finished drafting a federal operations plan for space weather, which was sent to the Trump administration for approval. Congress is also considering legislation directing funds toward developing a space weather plan. The issue is particularly pressing for the East Coast of the United States between Washington and Maine, not only because of the extensive electric infrastructure in this region. The very ground beneath our feet makes us vulnerable, Murtagh said. The 300-million-year-old igneous rock on which the Eastern Seaboard is perched doesn't conduct electricity well. If a current strikes this rock, it will seek an easier path - like metal pipes, telephone wires and electric cables. Eventually, the current can hit high-voltage transformers, the spine of the power grid, and overwhelms their magnetic cores. This isn't idle speculation. It happened, on a relatively small scale, in Canada in 1989. The sun belched out a gas cloud in early March that cut off radio signals. (At first, some observers suspected Soviet, not solar, interference.) Electrical currents buzzed through the ground and flooded into the Hydro-Quebec power plant. Six million people in Quebec were without power for nine hours. Glancing effects were felt as far away as New Jersey, where the electrical surge roasted a transformer at the Salem Nuclear Power Plant. Industry reports suggest operators would have enough time to shut down the grid before it suffered permanent damage. But others are not as optimistic. "We're not going to know until a real event happens whether or not that's a true statement," said the FEMA official, who added that power utility engineers "won't say this publicly," but they have been stocking up on spare transformers where they can. Installing new transformers - which would have to be built overseas - might take one or two years. That a future solar storm will blast Earth is not a question of if, but when. In 2012, Peter Riley, who studies the sun's corona at Predictive Science Inc., a San Diego-based company that develops computer models of the sun, published an article in Space Weather that calculated the odds of a Carrington-scale repeat. Within the next decade, he concluded, it could be about 12 percent - on par with the risk of other 100-year hazards, like massive floods. Over the next seven years, the Parker Solar Probe will embark on a series of 24-egg shaped orbits around the sun, repeatedly swinging past Venus to re-orient itself. Each close approach will shoot it through the corona at a breathtaking 450,000 miles per hour - fast enough to get from Washington to New York in about a second. With its dust detectors, particle counters, and a telescope that can take 3-D images of the corona, the probe will measure the sun's electric and magnetic fields, scoop particles from the solar wind for sampling, and watch as shocks travel out from the sun's surface, through the atmosphere and into space. "There's no doubt in my mind that measurements from probe and our understanding is going to have a huge impact on our ability to predict space weather," said Christina Cohen, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology's Space Radiation Lab who studies energetic particles. It's a project scientists have dreamed about for roughly as long as they've known about the solar wind. But it took half a century to develop the necessary technology. When the spacecraft makes its first close approach in November, a carbon-composite heat shield will be all that protects the minivan-sized Parker Solar Probe from the million-mile-wide ball of hot gas. Drew Angerer/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- A chapter in the criminal investigation into President Donald Trumps former personal attorney and fixer Michael Cohen ended Thursday. Four months after the FBI raided Cohens home, office and hotel, the third party appointed by the judge to review what was seized told the court she is done. "The special master has concluded her review," retired Judge Barbara Jones said in her latest court filing. Jones, along with lawyers for Cohen, Trump and the Trump Organization, have gone through four million items to determine what is subject to attorney-client privilege. In the last batch of items reviewed, Cohen claimed 4,808 were privileged. The special master agreed with the designation for about half of the items. The rest were turned over to federal prosecutors in New York who have been investigating Cohens personal and business affairs. There were a handful of items in dispute, but the special master said Cohen opted not to raise his objections with the judge, effectively concluding his review of materials seized in the April raids. Federal prosecutors will now get to examine everything not deemed privileged as they decide whether to charge Cohen with a crime. Investigators are looking into whether Cohen violated campaign-finance laws, engaged in illegal lobbying or committed bank fraud or wire fraud. Cohen has not been charged with any crime and denies any wrongdoing. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. This is the blog of China defense, where professional analysts and serious defense enthusiasts share findings on a rising military power. DERBY The city has saved more than $60,000 in prescription drug costs since becoming a member of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and is encouraging residents to get in on the savings. According to Andrew Baklik, the citys chief of staff, Derby recently rejoined CCM as a municipal member. CCM, according to its website, is the states largest, nonpartisan organization of municipal leaders, representing towns and cities of all sizes from all corners of the state, with 168 member municipalities with one common mission to improve everyday life for every resident of Connecticut. Baklik said Derby was a member of CCM back in 2013, when CCMs Discount Prescription Drug Card Program was offered to residents. Since then, the program has resulted in $60,380 in savings on prescription costs for residents, according to Baklik. However, Derby, in 2016 or 2017, opted not to rejoin CCM. But Baklik said since Mayor Richard Dziekan came into office last year, he decided to rejoin in hopes of recouping even more savings. There are various benefits of the city being municipal members of CCM, and the Discount Prescription Drug Card Program is a perfect example of one of those positive benefits the residents of Derby will be able to take advantage of going forward, Dziekan said. Baklik said now that Derby is a member of CCM again, the city wants residents to know they can take advantage of the reduced prescription drug program. According to a press release, since CCM began offering the Discount Prescription Drug Card in September 2012, 136 towns and cities have signed up. During that time, residents in the participating communities have filled more than 238,526 prescriptions and saved more than $11,630,674, with an average prescription savings of 51 percent. The program is free to any CCM-member municipality and can be used by any resident to obtain steep discounts and savings on any prescriptions not covered by insurance, including any prescriptions for your pet that can be filled at a regular retail pharmacy. There are no costs to either the participating municipalities or their residents, and the program is completely anonymous. CCM is pleased to offer this valuable community service to the City of Derby, said Shari Fiveash, CCMs director of Member Services. This program has helped Connecticut residents save hundreds of thousands of dollars on their medications, and certain vision and hearing services, with discounts on eye exams, LASIK procedures, frames and lenses, and hearing aids. Even if you have prescription insurance, this card can help residents save when their current insurance card doesnt cover a medication, or if their pet needs medication that is human-based. Baklik said the discount cards are widely accepted at all national chain pharmacies and most local independent pharmacies. Cards can be used by all residents regardless of age, income or existing health coverage. There are no enrollment forms, membership fees, restrictions or limits on frequency of use for residents. Derby residents can print out a card by visiting www.CTRxDiscountCard.com, and selecting the City of Derby from the drop-down menu. Dziekan said he personally saw the value in rejoining CCM after the time he spent in neighboring Ansonia as director of Constituent Services (prior to getting elected Derbys mayor last year) and the valuable experience he gained through various CCM-based training events. The main benefit that the administration sees in Derbys membership is the continued education and training that CCM offers to city employees, Baklik said. jean.sos@snet.net. A South Jersey high school principal downloaded at least 1,000 child pornography files to a school-owned computer and made them available to others using a file-sharing network, authorities said. Edward J. Bonek, 48, of Absecon, was arrested this week on an array of charges, including first-degree counts of endangering the welfare of children by possessing and distributing child porn. He was also charged with official misconduct. Bonek just completed his first year as principal at Pleasantville High School in Atlantic County. As part of an investigation on the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file sharing network, officials with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office downloaded video and image files containing child abuse and exploitation and traced the IP address for the source of those files to an account in Bonek's name, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Authorities executed a search warrant at his home, where they say Bonek admitted to possessing the files and sharing them online via uTorrent software. Investigators seized about 10 electronic devices from his home, including an Apple laptop owned by the Pleasantville School District, which Bonek said he used to download and store the files. A sticker on the device indicated it was owned by the district. The school district acknowledged the arrest in a post on the school's website and said officials are cooperating with investigators. He remains jailed pending a detention hearing. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. A woman accused of beating her mother and grandmother to death in their New Jersey beach home will remain jailed until her trial. Heather Barbera (Atlantic County jail) A judge issued the ruling Thursday after Heather Barbera's public defender said her client wouldn't challenge the request made by Atlantic County prosecutors. The judge said Barbera "manifested extreme violence" and would pose a flight risk if released. Barbera faces robbery, murder and weapons charges. Authorities say the 41-year-old used a nightstick to beat the victims, who died of blunt force trauma. Video surveillance from the condo building shows Barbera leaving on the morning of July 7. She traveled first to Atlantic City before heading to New York City, where she began using the stolen credit cards, police allege. Cops spotted her at the Midtown Manhattan Port Authority on took her into custody a few days after the bodies of her mother, 67-year-old Michelle Gordon, and 87-year-old Elaine Rosen were found in Ventnor. Another relative found the victims after going to the home when he couldn't reach them by phone. Barbera was recorded on video surveillance using the stolen credit cards in multiple New York City locations, police noted. NJ Advance Media staff reporter Matt Gray contributed to this report. Police were investigating if an Army Ranger from Wood-Ridge - who they say brutally murdered a woman at a motel outside of Seattle and opened fire on motorists before taking his own life - could be tied to other crimes. Investigators named Krishna Mahadevan-Prasad as the suspect who killed the 38-year-old woman July 23 at a Renton, Washington, Econo Lodge Hotel. The woman, whose name has not been released, was found dead in her room with "numerous cut wounds" and signs the body was intentionally mutilated after her death. Mahadevan-Prasad's bizarre spree ended the next day when he fired at drivers near the Hood Canal Bridge some 30 miles from Seattle, authorities said. Armed with a rifle and a shotgun, the soldier fired at a Ford SUV carrying a man who was stopped with his sleeping 5-year-old and 6-year-old daughters, according to the Washington State Patrol. One round ripped through the driver's seat headrest and out the front windshield as the motorist was leaning over the passenger seat to check a map, according to police. Mahadevan-Prasad fired more shots at a Dodge Caravan stopped behind his car, according to the state patrol. A round grazed the man's elbow. Police said the barrage of gunfire ended when Mahadevan-Prasad apparently shot himself. UPDATE: The front vehicle (a Ford SUV) had a father and his 5 and 6 year old daughters in the vehicle. Shots missed both girls, who were asleep. One bullet went through the driver's seat head rest, missing dad, who was leaning toward the passenger seat. pic.twitter.com/LXdWBiVOSU Trooper Chelsea Hodgson (@wspd8pio) July 24, 2018 As the investigation continued, it remained unclear why the elite soldier apparently carried out the attacks and police have not revealed any ties between Mahadevan-Prasad and his victims. "The whole thing's crazy. If you add up what happened at the Hood Canal, there's so many unanswered questions," Renton police Commander Dave Leibman told The Seattle Times. Police also recovered chilling security footage that showed Mahadevan-Prasad in the slain woman's hotel room for only three minutes. The two were staying in different areas of the hotel. "The camera shows him knocking on the door and the door opening," Leibman told the newspaper. A Washington State Patrol spokeswoman on Thursday said the agency had no new information on the shooting probe. Renton police have asked the public to help track 20-year-old Mahadevan-Prasad's activities in the time before and after the murder. Update regarding homicide suspect It has now been confirmed that the suspect was active duty Army stationed at JBLM. ... Posted by Renton Police Department, WA on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 "The circumstances of the Renton homicide have investigators concerned that Mahadevan-Prasad may be responsible for other acts of violence," the department said in a statement. "Mahadevan-Prasad was active duty military and his travels are unknown," police said. Mahadevan-Prasad joined in the Army in September 2017, according to officials. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington as of July 10. He attended One Station Unit Training, the Basic Airborne Course and the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1 at Fort Benning, Georgia, according to Army officials. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. "We are aware of the incident that occurred July 24th, 2018 in the vicinity of Hood Canal Bridge, and are cooperating with the Washington State Patrol who maintain lead in this investigation," said Lt. Col. Robert Bockholt, spokesman for the Army Special Operations Command. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The Palisades Interstate Parkway Police chief, suspended from duty last month after a damning probe revealed years of problems in the agency, was accused Thursday of buying cocaine online. Michael Coppola was charged with attempt to possess cocaine and having drug paraphernalia, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. The 43-year-old top cop "had been purchasing cocaine via the Internet," with the drug shipped to a post office box he maintained. Detectives placed a package containing imitation cocaine in Coppola's post office box after he made what he thought was an online drug buy, according to authorities. The chief was arrested in a stop on Route 80 in Ridgefield Park once he picked up the shipment Thursday. Prosecutors did not reveal more details on the allegations. The arrest came after the county prosecutor's office placed Coppola's department under monitoring in November and released a scathing public report examining the agency's operations. The report found a range of suspected violations of state laws and policing guidelines, according to a July report released by the county prosecutor's office. Among the purported wrongdoing under Coppola's watch was an "awards and incentives" program that gave PIP officers who logged the most arrests and tickets better parking spots, newer patrol vehicles and a meal allowance paid by Palisades Interstate Park Commission funds, according to the prosecutor's review. The report also revealed a company Coppola owned, CJIS Solutions LLC, provided technology services for his department in what investigators called a "potential severe conflict of interest." Though he did not profit from the arrangement, the prosecutor's office ordered the chief to halt the practice. Then-Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal launched a review of PIP police after several wild police chases that raised concerns officers were not following state regulations governing pursuits. The review of PIP police pursuits between January 2014 and August 2017 found the department's officers engaged in 41 chases that involved various violations of state guidelines, according to the report. The prosecutor's probe also found the department was using the Internet to lure small-scale drug dealers to PIP property to arrest them, a move that often crossed on the jurisdictions of other agencies. Coppola was suspended July 16 and the department was set to name an interim leader. The report suggested the chief should attend management training upon his return, though it was unclear how the arrest would impact his fate at the agency. James Hall, executive director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, had no immediate comment on the arrest. "We will not have a comment at this time on action the Commission will take since we have just become aware of the arrest and do not yet know the specific charges involved," Hall said. Coppola earned a $135,000 salary at the PIP police, which he joined in 1996, according to pension records. He was named chief in 2014 after starting his career as a dispatcher before rising to a sergeant, detective lieutenant and officer-in-charge of the agency. The approximately 25-member PIP police have faced calls to be disbanded over the years or merged under a state department. The agency patrols the Palisades Interstate Parkway and surrounding park property in New Jersey. The chief is scheduled to appear in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court Aug. 22 on the drug offenses. Records show Coppola was released from the Bergen County Jail Thursday afternoon. He could not be immediately reached for comment. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A New Jersey couple was arrested Thursday after Hackensack police say they were using heroin in a car with their children present. Suzanne Laliberte in a 2014 police photo. Joseph Corcoran's photo was not available. (Hackensack PD) Joseph Corcoran, 35, of Washington Township, and Suzanne Laliberte, 35, of Middlesex, were arrested after police received a report of people using drugs in a vehilce, police said in a report. Narcotics officers arrived about 5:20 p.m. to find Corcoran and Laliberte sitting in a car parked near Blauvelt Place. In the back seat were two 3-year-old children, according to police. On the ground near the passenger side, officers found several empty envelopes containing suspected heroin and stamped in blue ink with "Captain American," police said. Inside the car, police said they saw a hypodermic needle and several empty envelopes on the floor mat. Officers said Laliberte handed over two more hypodermic needles with suspected heroin residue inside and a bottle cap containing heroin. Corcoran allegedly told police the drugs and paraphernalia were his, police said. "That's all mine, I gave it to her to hold," police quoted Corcoran in their report. Corcoran and Laliberte were arrested on child endangerment and drug charges, police said. The children were taken into state custody and later released to their grandparents, according to police. Hackensack police said they arrested the couple on outstanding warrants in 2014 but did not have further details of about the arrests on Friday. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A female Camden county detective shot in a Tuesday night ambush has been released from the hospital, officials said. Her partner, who was also shot, was released yesterday. The Camden County Prosecutor's Office is seeking the public's help in identifying these two men, who may have information about the shooting of two Camden detectives on Aug. 7. The detective, who has served more than four years, was struck in the hand. She was to be released from Cooper University Hospital in Camden after a follow-up meeting with specialists, Rick Kunkel, president of Camden County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 218, said earlier Thursday. The male detective, a three-year veteran of the force, had wounds to his bicep and forearm. Two plain-clothes detectives were shot as they sat in an unmarked SUV at a red light in the Bergen Square neighborhood around 8:30 p.m. One detective returned fire and police are looking for two men who fled the scene in a white van. Officials have not released the names of the detectives because they work as undercover narcotics officers. Police have said they're looking for two suspects. The van they were believed to have driven was recovered hours after the shooting in Camden and has been processed by investigators, according to police. Also on Thursday, The New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police Lodge announced a $30,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of a suspect in the shooting. That is in addition to the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association's reward of $20,000, bringing the total award to $50,000. "We consider an attack on ANY law enforcement officer in New Jersey regardless of union affiliation an attack on one of our own," PBA President Patrick Colligan said Thursday. An officer is posted by Cooper hospital Tuesday night Aug. 7, 2018. (Joe Lamberti | Camden Courier-Post via AP) Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Police are searching for a prisoner who escaped while being transported from Mercer County Jail to Cumberland County Superior Court Friday morning, officials said. New Jersey State Police identified the escaped inmate as David D. Riley, 34, of Bridgeton. Riley fled on foot from Cumberland County corrections officers in Upper Deerfield Township, the State Police said. ****Wanted for Escape**** Earlier today, David D. Riley, 34, of Bridgeton City, N.J. escaped from the custody of Cumberland Co. Department of Corrections Officers. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INTERACT WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL. HE IS CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS.https://t.co/Sfiv3RLiSU pic.twitter.com/RjfhgIueTZ NJSP - State Police (@NJSP) August 10, 2018 Riley, who was not wearing handcuffs when he escaped, was last seen wearing a white tee-shirt and boxer shorts, police said. Authorities urge the public not to approach Riley. They did not say why he was in custody. State and local police are working on the investigation, New Jersey State Police spokesman Lt. Ted Schafer said. Officials ask anyone with information to contact the State Police Bridgeton Station at 856-451-0101. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Bamenda Regional Hospital Ambulance W. Musa At least two Gendarmes have been killed in a Wainamah, Jakiri Subdivision in the North West region, Thursday August 9, 2018. The attackers, suspected to be Ambazonia fighters carried out the ambush on the uniform men around 6am. Heavy exchanges of gunshots at the control post lasted for about 40 minutes according to eye witness accounts. Two Officers were brought down while another went missing. It is not clear how many of the attackers died in the process but this reporter gathered that casualties were recorded on both sides. The road linking Kumbo-Ndu has come under serious attack recently just few days back Gendarmes were attacked and killed in Mah and Tarkijah bringing the number to close to 10 in one week. Elsewhere, the Ambulance of the Bamenda regional hospital was attacked last night allegedly by Military but other sources say Ambazonia fighters carried out the strike. It very fortunate that the shootings started when the bus was on its way from Mbingo after patients had been deposited. The casualties would have been more." A source said. A female nurse was wounded in the process and is currently battling with her life in the hospital, while the driver sustained minor injuries. Bullets marks are still visible on the vehicle partially damaged. Nurses at the Bamenda regional hospital now feel threatened on daily basis as their lives are being put on the balance. It was rumored that they are planning to go on a strike action, demanding respect and admiration for the sleepless nights they go through in this Anglophone crisis. Last time one of them was arrested for having images of the crisis in his phone. He was only released after receiving strokes. The drama surrounding the upcoming Miss America pageant shows no signs of coming to a resolution. With just four weeks left before the 2019 pageant gets underway in Atlantic City, a group of former titleholders have issued a letter calling for the immediate resignation of Gretchen Carlson, chairwoman of the Miss America board of trustees, along with pageant CEO Regina Hopper. "We insist that our current Chairwoman and CEO resign now, not after September 9 (the date of the pageant)," the letter says, adding that the message is "not meant to be a personal attack on any one individual." Unrest has consumed the pageant community in the wake of the decision to eliminate the swimsuit competition, but critics say problems with the pageant's current leaders surpass bikinis. In June, Carlson, Miss America 1989, announced that Miss America would no longer be judging contestants -- she now calls them "candidates" -- on physical appearance. Those competing for the crown would not be required to wear bathing suits and heels. Miss America 2016, Betty Cantrell Maxwell, shared the letter on Instagram Thursday. The message was addressed to "faithful stakeholders," the Miss America State Titleholders Association, volunteers and Miss America 2018, Cara Mund. The letter, signed by 11 former Miss Americas, agrees with Carlson's wish, as expressed in a recent interview with the Associated Press, that the Miss America community "come together and have a healing process," but says contestants and volunteers find it hard to trust Hopper and Carlson. The message addresses "the loss of your elected board members" and the resignation of staff from the Atlantic City-based Miss America Organization this summer. "We continue to read newspaper articles that are not representing the organization in the best light," the letter says. "None of the other MAO leaders have lost so many board members and staff in such a short time." The former Miss Americas say that following an email scandal that resulted in the exit of the former CEO and chairman of the board in December, they were given the opportunity to install "our very own sisters." Former titleholders assumed temporary co-chair roles on the board. From there, Carlson was supposed to head up a national search to find a new CEO. "We did not get that," the letter says, referring to the appointment of Hopper as CEO. "Instead, she (Carlson) selected the sole candidate for board consideration and together they have taken the organization in a direction that we do not condone." Hopper played a role in the eventual ouster of Sam Haskell, the former CEO, because she helped to bring his leaked emails to the attention of Dick Clark Productions, the pageant's former partner, which eventually dropped the organization after it took no action against leadership. The letter also asks that the Miss America Organization issue an apology to state and local titleholders, volunteers and sponsors "if anything was done purposefully or unintentionally to divide our program." Gretchen Carlson, chairwoman of the Miss America board of trustees, called those opposing her leadership and the recent decision to drop the swimsuit competition 'a noisy minority.' Now, 11 former Miss Americas have banded together to call for her immediate resignation. (Ben Gabbe | Getty Images) The group that signed the letter includes two Miss Americas from New Jersey -- Suzette Charles, who served several weeks as Miss America 1984 after Vanessa Williams resigned over a nude photo scandal, and Kate Shindle, Miss America 1998, who resigned from the Miss America board this summer. Charles, a former Miss New Jersey, hails from Mays Landing and Shindle (who won as Miss Illinois) grew up in Brigantine and Moorestown. The other signees are Marjorie Vincent-Tripp, Miss America 1991, who recently resigned from her post as chairwoman of the Miss America Foundation's board of trustees (that's the scholarship arm of the pageant); Laura Kaeppeler Fleiss, Miss America 2012, who recently resigned from the board of the Miss America Organization; Carolyn Sapp Daniels, Miss America 1992; Heather Whitestone McCallum, Miss America 1995; Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999; Angela Baraquio Grey, Miss America 2001; Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 2004; and Caressa Cameron-Jackson, Miss America 2010. This letter follows a petition signed by 22 state pageant directors -- including Sally Johnston, executive director of the New Jersey pageant -- that called for Carlson and Hopper's resignation, along with the resignation of the entire Miss America board. Those criticizing Carlson and Hopper's leadership say the rift has much to do with the way the swimsuit decision was made. "'Miss America 2.0' is simply a title for the same old tactics of obfuscation and fear-based governance," the petition read, referring to efforts to rebrand the pageant. Changes have also been made to the evening gown part of competition (instead of just walking down the runway in gowns, contestants are invited to wear other types of outfits and will talk about their social impact initiatives, or platforms). Critics say that volunteers, former titleholders and the Miss America board, which voted on the issue, had been told that ABC would not air the pageant unless swimsuits were no longer part of the picture. But Carlson and Hopper say they never made the claim. "It is patently false to allege that Miss America claimed that the elimination of the swimsuit competition was a prerequisite to airing the telecast on ABC," the Miss America Organization said in a statement. "In fact, the Miss America Organization had confirmation from ABC in January, months before the swimsuit issue was voted upon, that it would air the Miss America Competition on September 9, 2018." This is the pageant's last year of a three-year contract with the network. It's also the last year of a three-year contract with the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, through which the pageant secured $4.3 million for the coming pageant, which begins with preliminary competition on Sept. 5. "There were, however, extensive production company and creative partner negotiations in which the elimination of swimsuit was noted as a prerequisite to partner with MAO," the statement continued. Jennifer Vaden Barth, a former Miss North Carolina and one of the former board members, told the Associated Press that Hopper and Carlson said "sponsors and networks will not come" if the swimsuit portion was still in effect. "We do not accept the inaccurate words about the sponsors and swimsuit competition," reads the letter from the 11 Miss Americas. But this isn't the only group of former Miss Americas to speak out. Directly after the state director petition circulated in July, 30 former Miss Americas signed a letter of support for Carlson, Hopper and the leadership. Hopper and Carlson have characterized the opposition as Miss America devotees who are resistant to necessary change and reluctant to see swimsuit struts relegated to the past. In her recent interview with the Associated Press, Carlson, a former Fox News host, labeled those who have called for her resignation "a noisy minority." Cantrell Maxwell has since used the hashtag #noisyminority as a point of pride. "Just because you have a voice doesn't mean your particular opinion gets accepted," Hopper said in the same story, referring to the dissenting state directors. "States are licensees. If I'm a McDonald's licensee and the corporate office decides, 'We're going to serve chocolate French fries' and I'm sitting here saying, 'I don't want to serve chocolate French fries,' well, you're going to serve chocolate French fries." The letter from the 11 former Miss Americas said the "hope is to unite in collaboration and lift the ideals of Miss America up higher than it has ever been before." Carlson became chairwoman of the Miss America board in January after the email scandal that caused the ouster of Haskell, the former CEO. When Haskell and other executives were pushed out after his emails were leaked, showing misogynistic and body-shaming language in his correspondence with pageant staff, Carlson headed up an effort to stock the board with former titleholders. Regina Hopper, Miss Arkansas 1983, came on board as CEO of the Miss America Organization in May, and Vincent-Tripp was named chairwoman of the Miss America Foundation's board of trustees. For the first time in pageant history, all of the pageant's major executives were women. But the new leadership structure began to crack not long after the announcement of the swimsuit decision. Two board members -- Vaden Barth and Valerie Crooker Clemens, a former Miss Maine -- said they were pushed out, while Carlson said they departed because their contracts were temporary. Then, two other board members -- Shindle and Fleiss -- also resigned. In July, Vincent-Tripp became the latest executive to resign. Carlson sued former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes for sexual harassment in 2016. The following year, Carlson, the author of "Be Fierce," a book about sexual harassment and inequality in the workplace, became a prominent voice in the emerging #MeToo movement. But critics have accused Carlson of using the momentum of #MeToo and leveraging her status to push the swimsuit change. Carlson has denied this, saying that dropping the swimsuits will help update the pageant and make it more inclusive. One goal, she said, was to make the competition more attractive to potential participants. Past feedback had indicated that for some, the swimsuit portion was a major barrier to entry, she said. But current and former contestants, including Dunlap and Cantrell Maxwell, have spoken out in support of the swimsuit competition. If Carlson and Hopper took a poll of state pageant directors, contestants, volunteers and former titleholders about getting rid of the swimsuit portion, "they would have gotten a resounding 'no'" Cantrell Maxwell, 23, told NJ Advance Media in July. "On another point, it's like, we need to at least get thorough September so we can have a competition," she said. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. After Newark police officer Eddie Gonzalez was convicted of harassing a 14-year-old neighbor, he was fired. Eddie Gonzalez. (Essex County Correctional Facility) After he continued to use his uniform to obtain favors around town, prosecutors said, he was arrested and convicted of impersonating an officer and filing false police reports against his ex-girlfriend. Now Gonzalez, 39, faces three to five years in prison for failing to turn over two handguns in the wake of a temporary restraining order. A jury sitting before Superior Court Judge Nancy Sivilli on Thursday convicted Gonzalez of two counts of possessing weapons as a prohibited person, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. After a two-day trial, prosecutors said, it took the jury just 55 minutes to return the guilty verdicts. At the heart of Gonzalez's case is what Assistant Prosecutor Tony Gutierrez described in a statement as the former cop's knowing disregard for the restraining order, obtained by a former girlfriend who accused Gonzalez of stalking and harassing her. Prosecutor's detectives, a Newark police tactical team and Essex County sheriff's officers in March served a search warrant at Gonzalez's home after learning he might be in possession of the handguns despite the restraining order, the prosecutor's office said. Gonazlez, Gutierrez said, "chose to disregard an order of the court when he knew that he had an affirmative duty to surrender the two handguns that we ultimately discovered in his home." Gonzalez, who was free on bail while awaiting sentencing in the impersonation case, was immediately jailed at the Essex County Correctional Facility following his conviction Thursday. The prosecutor's office said it plans to seek consecutive sentences for Gonzalez in the two cases. He faces a minimum of 18 months in prison on the impersonation conviction alone, authorities said. Information regarding Gonzalez's most recent defense attorney could not immediately be located Thursday evening. Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips JERSEY CITY Immigrant advocates trashed Hudson County freeholders on Thursday for their recent decision to renew the county's contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Critics chided freeholders for renewing the ICE contract on July 12 with no advance notice and for not negotiating better terms for the county and the immigrant detainees, while others blasted the nine-member board for continuing the county's relationship with the federal immigration agency. ICE pays the county millions annually to house immigrant detainees at the county jail in Kearny. "As I'm sure we all know ICE enforcement has become increasingly draconian, tearing children from their parents, racially profiling immigrants and deporting people who've been part of our community for decades," Caitlin Sherman, of liberal activist group Action Together New Jersey, told freeholders Thursday. "It isn't worth it to take their money to fill our potholes." "How is it that each of you voted on a contract and resolution that you haven't yet read and provided publicly?" said Hoboken Councilwoman Emily Jabbour, who has called the ICE revenue "blood money." "How can you expect to now want to meet with ICE when you've already approved their contract? You've given away the ability to continue ... to have any leverage in this situation." Thursday's freeholder meeting was the first chance many had to speak out about the ICE contract with freeholders, who voted on the renewal after initially telling the public the matter would be postponed. At that meeting, the board voted to approve a one-page addendum to a contract with the U.S. government last approved in 2000. Freeholder Anthony Romano said Thursday they are still waiting to see the finalized new contract. Some of the freeholders said the ICE matter has since taken over their lives. "We've been talking about it seven days a week, 24 hours a day," said Freeholder Chair Anthony Vainieri. Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez, who said she came to the United States from Cuba as a "refugee" in 1962, defended the ICE contract by saying conditions at the jail have improved. Rodriguez added that she believes county officials are "helping" the detainees, not hurting them. Addressing the crowd of activists, she said, "You're here as advocates for some imaginary idea that you have. Many of you might not be immigrants." The ICE contract controversy has exposed how out-of-step the Democrats who run the county are with many of the county's liberals who want to see ICE abolished. The ICE-county partnership has existed since the 1990s. The freeholder board took no action on the contract on Thursday, but it did vote down a resolution that would have moved the location of its next meeting on Sept. 13 from the freeholder chambers to School 11. Freeholder Bill O'Dea, who voted against the ICE contract renewal, proposed the meeting relocation measure after, he said, immigration advocates said they planned to invite hundreds of people to attend the next meeting. School 11's auditorium is much larger than the freeholder chambers on Pavonia Avenue. The measure was defeated 3-6, with the freeholders opposed saying they want more time to discuss the ICE contract with the county before addressing hundreds of people about it. "When you're passionate, you don't think," said Rodriguez, to groans from the crowd. O'Dea whose resolution found support from Freeholders Tilo Rivas and Joel Torres called the opposition cowardly. The contract "was ramrodded through this board," O'Dea said. "And now some folks are afraid to take their medicine." The board also voted unanimously to approve the formation of a committee tasked with jail oversight. No one has been named to the committee yet. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY A cop leaving the city's police car lot on East Linden Avenue was responsible for the police duty belt found on the street Sunday night, sources told The Jersey Journal. The officer had put his belt on a car, intending to place it around his waist, when a call came in and he jumped in the car, racing off before realizing his mistake, the sources said. The belt, including the officer's gun, fell off the car nearby at Linden and Princeton avenues, where it was found by a third party, they said. The officer responsible for the snafu has been on the force for about 10 years and is a well-regarded U.S. Army Ranger, the sources said. A city spokeswoman did not respond Friday when asked whether the officer has been disciplined or on the sources' description of Sunday night's events. The city said Tuesday that the police department's internal affairs unit is investigating the episode. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. HOBOKEN The mayor of Villalba, a Puerto Rican city still recovering from Hurricanes Maria and Irma, visited Hoboken Friday to spend the day chatting with Mayor Ravi Bhalla and city officials about how the Mile Square City bounced back after Hurricane Sandy devastated the region six years ago. Mayor Javier Hernandez, elected mayor of the inland city of 26,000 in 2012, sat in on a meeting with Hoboken planners in City Hall, toured the city's resiliency sites and discussed energy security before being feted at La Isla. Hernandez, 40, told The Jersey Journal his city has almost fully recovered its energy and water systems, but roads remain damaged and there are many homes covered in blue tarps. "Maria is a real, real hard situation for Puerto Rico," Hernandez told The Jersey Journal Friday. Bhalla, 45, visited Villalba in May, as part of the Open Society Foundations' Mayor Exchange program, which connects local leaders on the mainland of the United States with their counterparts in Puerto Rico. The mayors of Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore and more are participating. The two mayors on Friday discussed their plans for microgrid systems to help their cities combat large-scale power outages following major storms. "This is a great opportunity, not just for Villalba, not just for Puerto Rico but even beyond to advance the concept of sustainability and resiliency in the area of energy," he said. "We need innovative solutions and Villalba is a hidden gem in terms of the potential it represents." Hernandez returns home on Sunday. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. The family of a Queens man detained at Hudson County's jail and scheduled for deportation today is praying for a last-minute miracle. Edisson Barros, 47, who moved to the United States from his native Ecuador in 1994, was picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 16 as he was leaving a Manhattan courthouse and has been jailed in Kearny since then. A cab driver and father of two daughters, Barros had supporters visit the jail on Saturday and protest outside for his release. The demonstration "almost caused a riot" inside the facility, according to jail director Ron Edwards. "This is a hard-working taxi driver," Carlos Jesus Calzadilla-Palacio, the family's spokesman, told The Jersey Journal. "His daughters really need him." Barros is one of roughly 675 immigrant detainees housed at the Kearny jail thanks to a $19 million contract between ICE and Hudson County. The contract, which freeholders renewed in July, has come under fire from liberal activists and some local Democratic officials who say the county should not have any financial agreement with ICE. The county has defended the contract by saying if it were severed, immigrant detainees would be moved to a facility farther from their family. County officials have also defended conditions at the jail, which immigrant activists have called poor. "They're torturing and abusing the immigrants there," Calzadilla-Palacio said. "From extremely burning hot showers to extremely cold A/C that makes people sick, denying health care ... they are treating them like animals." Inmates who spoke to The Jersey Journal during a jail tour on Tuesday described much better conditions, which Freeholder Anthony Vainieri noted during yesterday's freeholder meeting. "I asked them how the conditions were there and they all said conditions were good," Vainieri said. "They were happy there, they were satisfied there." Calzadilla-Palacio said jail officials purposely led a tour in the better parts of the facility. According to Calzadilla-Palacio, Barros was arrested by ICE after the man appeared in court to fight a disorderly persons summons. After that summons was dismissed, Calzadilla-Palacio said, Barros left the courtroom and found ICE agents waiting for him. One of Barros' daughters -- they are 20 and 21 years old -- has filed paperwork to have the United States government grant Barros citizenship. The family wants his deportation put on hold to see if that application is approved, Calzadilla-Palacio said. Lawrence's board of education announced Thursday they've hired Dr. Ross Kasun as superintendent of schools. He's scheduled to start Sept. 1. His salary will be $196,584 per year. Ross Kasun, provided photo Kasun, who's been the superintendent in Freehold Township the past seven school years, replaces Dr. Crystal Edwards, who left earlier this year for a superintendent job in Virginia. Kasun also almost left New Jersey for a superintendent job this year. He was publicly named the superintendent of the Billings, Montana school district - the largest in Montana - this past spring, but never signed a contract and withdrew from the job weeks later. The Billings Gazette reported in May that Kasun withdrew from that post due to family reasons, that he has school-aged children and didn't plan on relocating there. However, in interviews with Billings school trustees, Kasun said he wanted to work in Montana because one of his children is considering attending college in the region, the Gazette reported. Earlier this year, Kasun was also a named finalist for the superintendent post in Montclair. In Lawrence's search, the board said they interviewed six finalists from 41 applicants. The board said in an announcement that Kasun has racked up an impressive record and resume in his 23 years as an educator. He was chosen as the 2017 Superintendent of the Year by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, was selected by the White House to attend the Future Ready Summit in 2014, for his efforts to infuse technology into daily practice, and won a Lexington Education Leadership Award fellowship. "We believe that Dr. Kasun will be a visionary leader and a great match for our students, staff, and community," Lawrence board President Kevin Van Hise said in an announcement. In the statement, Kasun said he is eager and excited to join the Lawrence district. "Creating learning experiences focused on the growth of every student is my passion. I was attracted to the diversity of this community, and I look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to provide every student with an exceptional educational experience." Before Freehold Township, Kasun was an administrator in the South Orange-Maplewood district, a principal in Millburn, an assistant superintendent in Summit and superintendent in Colts Neck. He started his career as an elementary school teacher. Lawrence plans a public meet-and-greet on August 29 at 6 p.m. in the Lawrence High School Commons. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphy renewed his push for tougher federal gun control laws Thursday, upon returning to New Jersey from his family vacation in Italy. Murphy and his wife, Tammy, were in Morristown to greet the 'March for Our Lives' bus tour, whose participants include survivors of the mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school in February. Gov. Phil Murphy at the 'March For Our Lives' tour in Morristown, Aug. 9, 2018 (Photo by Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) "If you compare the hand we're playing in New Jersey, on gun safety, compared to other American states, I like the hand we're playing," said Murphy, who in June signed six gun safety bills into law. Alfonso Calderon, a Parkland student who joined Murphy at the bill signing ceremony in Trenton, was not present. Murphy departed about a half hour before the arrival of U.S. Sen Cory Booker, who like the governor praised those who arrived on the bus, including Parkland survivors David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez. "This is what makes change in our country. It's young people, not just getting engaged or involved, but helping to lead," Booker said. "It gives me hope that we can have a nation that has laws that are similar to New Jersey," Booker said, citing as an example stronger background checks. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, on left, speaks with 'March For Our Lives' participants in Morristown, Aug. 9, 2018. Seen on right is David Hogg, survivor of the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting in February. (Photo by Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Murphy touted a similar message. "We cannot relent on getting national gun safety legislation," Murphy said. "The will of Congress has been separated from the will of people, across both aisles. This is not just a Democratic thing. Both aisles have been separated from the will of the people by the NRA, and it's up to us to push back against those gun lobbies, to be relentless, to do it day in and day out," Murphy said. Thursday's event was held at Lidgerwood Park. Among the attendees was Mikie Sherill, the Democratic candidate in a closely-watched race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinguyhusen, a Republican whose district includes Morristown. Sherrill is facing N.J. Assemblyman Jay Webber, R-26th District. In addition to encouraging voter registration, rally supporters had inflated a large balloon, derisively in the likeness of President Trump. Sarah Emily Baum of Marlboro, a co-founder of the march's state chapter, said that bus tour participants were "promoting young engagement, promoting gun violence prevention and promoting, more than anything else, the largest mobilization of youth voters in this country's history. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. For 24 years, John Regina was a model JCP&L customer. He says he paid his bill on time each month -- all 288 of them. But something always seemed off, and he says he repeatedly complained to JCP&L. The bill just seemed too steep for a man living alone in a townhouse in Bedminster. Regina turned off his central air when it was hot, sweating it out to save money, and conserving power in other ways. He says JCP&L ignored his concerns. After all, no one likes paying their electric bill. A utility worker finally came out last month when Regina's house suddenly went dark, and that investigator was able to quickly illuminate the issue. Regina, it seems, had actually been paying about four times the rate he should have, thanks to a meter mix-up that had him footing the bill for a family of four next door. "I don't know anything about the meters. I just wasn't [able] to tell them what the problem was," Regina, 66, told NJ Advance Media this week. "They dismissed my calls, and they never investigated." JCP&L has acknolwedged the mistake and offered Regina a bill adjustment credit of nearly $6,300. But that credit only covers the last six years, and JCP&L says that's all Regina can expect to get. Thanks to state regulations, the mistakes beyond that time span aren't JCP&L's problem. Regina argues that JCP&L owes him around $25,000 for the 24 years of billing errors, as they overcharged him by about $1,000 a year for the last six. Ron Morano, a spokesman for JCP&L, said he could not discuss an individual's account information, but referenced the state regulations on the six-year window. "The company is aware of the customer's issue and has followed all the appropriate New Jersey Board of Public Utilities meter rebilling regulations," he said in a statement. "In cases such as this as per the company tariff, adjustments can only be made for a period of no more than six years. Customers can also file a formal complaint the BPU." When pressed on why JCP&L wouldn't just make Regina whole, returning the money he was overcharged over the past two-and-a-half decades, the utility company would only refer back to its statement. Regina said he believes he's owed more compensation, especially considering that he called to complain multiple times between 1994 and 2011. "I told you something was wrong," Regina said, referencing his communications with JCP&L. "You didn't check into it then. That six year thing doesn't mean anything to me." The meter mix-up was only discovered after his neighbors moved out. When the new owner did not set up electric service right away, JCP&L came out to turn off power to the neighboring property. Instead, Regina's house went dark. A JCP&L worker sent to investigate the odd power outage at Regina's house connected the dots, and another investigator ruled on the issue, he said. All they had to do was leave a light on outside at one of the houses, and cut power to the box at the other. "What they did to verify didn't even take 10 minutes. Shut the power off, put it back on," he said. It's not clear who exactly made the mistake when installing the meters, and it could have been the builders of the townhouses. According to New Jersey Administrative Code, utility companies must keep records for six years, and "may choose to keep records longer than six years in order to facilitate compliance with the rules regarding adjustment of charges for meter error." According to the Board of Public Utilities, those who believe their meters are not reading properly "have the right to have your meter tested, free of charge, once a year by your utility." In this case, though, both meters were working perfectly fine. Regina's credits for the six years of incorrect bills came to $6,286.26. At the rate he actually uses electricity, he could go years without needing to pay a JCP&L bill again. He hopes that instead of an account credit, he can get his money back, and has sent a request to JCP&L to see if they can make that work. According to the BPU, he's entitled to either a credit or a reimbursement check of his choosing. He's worried, though, accepting a check for $6,000 will signal he's accepted that as the end of his dispute. And at 66 years old, he ponders how he could have invested the extra money he spent on someone else's utility bill for all those years. "I'm still working," Regina, who serves as the human relations director at St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark. "I'm planning on retiring next year. This money should've been in my retirement fund. I may not live long enough to exhaust that credit." Regina also hopes that his story will serve as a cautionary tale to others living in townhouses or apartments. He would like to see a law requiring companies to check on meters when new residents take over townhouses, and has written to some of his representatives as well as begun the process of petitioning the BPU for a formal hearing. "If it happened to me, it must be happening to somebody else," he said. 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 Another day, more problems for beleaguered NJ Transit passengers. On Friday morning, riders on the Northeast Corridor are facing 45 minutes because a train became disabled near the Metuchen station. Eastbound trains were skipping Metuchen as of 8:35 a.m. so passengers who wanted to get off there had to continue to Metropark and then board a westbound train for one stop. Stops at Metuchen resumed around 9 a.m., NJ Transit said in an update. NEC line rail eastbound service is subject to up to 45 min. delays due to a disabled NJT train at Metuchen. Eastbound trains will bypass Metuchen. NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) August 10, 2018 UPDATE: NEC train #3124, the 7:21am from Metuchen, has been CANCELLED at Metuchen due to a mechanical problem. NJ TRANSIT - NEC (@NJTRANSIT_NEC) August 10, 2018 On Thursday service was suspended for a couple of hours after a passenger was struck and killed by a train near the Metuchen station. There have been dozens of cancellations across all lines for more than a week as NJ Transit races to install a federally mandated safety system ahead of an end of year deadline. NJ Transit also blamed engineers for calling out of work at the last minute. As result, commuters have had longer, more frustrating commutes all week aboard trains that are severely overcrowded. At a press conference Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy said he underestimated the extent of New Jersey Transit's problems but promised to fix them. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Me Akere Muna Me Akere Muna Two presidential Election candidates have expressed readiness for the October 7 polls shortly after their names were validated for the exercise by the countrys electoral body, ELECAM. Barrister Akere Muna, thinks a Coalition will kick Paul Biya out of Etoudi. He has called on the other candidates for a consensual list headed by one person to boost their participation. Barrister Muna has also said that change is now within the reach of Cameroonians and that it needs just their massive participation. "Before, I had declared my intention to be a candidate. Now, I am one. My mission now is twofold. The first one is to tell the Cameroonian people that the change they seek is within their reach. He wrote on his official Facebook page. The second is to tell the other candidates that we must sit down and find a common denominator. The future of this country is more important than any one of us, or all of us put together. I remain confident that we will be able to put the Cameroonian People first. This outgoing government has always put the people last. It has been a government by the government, of the government and for the government. They are so blinded that they fail to gauge the high level of misery and suffering of the Cameroonian citizen. Their awakening will be catastrophic" On his part Hon Joshua Osih of the SDF party thinks that he can make it to Etoudi if Cameroonians join his political program or enroll massively as volunteers. He said, This work will be accomplished through the Alliance of the Forces of Change, a union of honest citizens ready to act for peace and who understand that there is no peace without social justice. Our joint efforts will unite those who dream of a transformed Cameroon where there is equal opportunities and social justice, a country where everyone has the right to progress and wellbeing. Five doctors accused of overprescribing highly addictive painkillers and steroids have agreed to surrender their licenses amid charges they abused their positions to sell dangerous substances, according to New Jersey's Board of Medical Examiners. They include three doctors accused of abusing opioid prescriptions and two accused over dishing out prescriptions for steroids, including one doctor named in a 2010 Star-Ledger investigation into abuse of steroids by police officers. Two of the doctors were previously convicted on federal drug charges. Under deals reached by the state Attorney General's Office, all five agreed to stop practicing medicine. "Doctors are entrusted with the authority to prescribe dangerous drugs, but it is a power they must wield responsibly - and it is a power that will be revoked if they fail to adhere to their professional standards," state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement announcing the punishments. "Physicians who indiscriminately prescribe dangerous drugs for profit are no better than street-corner drug dealers, and we will do everything we can to protect our communities from such danger." Attorneys for the doctors did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. They include: Jose J. Leyson, a Newark urologist who pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this year to writing illegal prescriptions and conspiring to commit health care fraud. Kevin T. Custis, who practiced in Asbury Park and pleaded guilty to distributing steroids and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. Bonnie Chen, who was reprimanded in 2013 following William F. Mclay, a doctor based in Cape May Courthouse who agreed in July to retire in order to resolve allegations he indiscriminately prescribed Oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall and other drugs and admitted submitting phony bills to Medicare and Medicaid. Anthony Enrico, a podiatrist with practices in Paterson, Passaic and Elizabeth who was accused of prescribing painkillers to patients for reasons unrelated to his practice as a foot doctor. "All five of these doctors allegedly engaged in conduct that endangered patient lives and brought shame to their professions, some of whom will do time in federal prison for their actions," acting state Division of Consumer Affairs Director Paul Rodriguez said in a statement. "Revoking their licenses is the final step in holding them accountable for their alleged conduct and removing their malignant presence from the medical profession." S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A water leak at Oyster Creek Generating Station has forced the nation's oldest nuclear power plant to operate at reduced capacity as it nears the final month before closure, federal officials said. The leak is in a tube in a feed-water heater and the plant's owner, Exelon Generation, has taken the heater out of service causing the plant to produce about 70 percent of its usual power, Neil Sheehan, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman said. Sheehan said there are no concerns about the leak causing contaminated water in Barnegat Bay, its cooling water source, or affecting plant employees because the reactor's system works on a closed loop. The reactors turn water into steam, which rotates a turbine to generate electricity. The leftover steam is cooled and converted into water before it starts the cycle over again, he said. Residents won't notice a difference in their electricity supply because Oyster Creek is part of a larger grid. Oyster Creek is the oldest operating commercial nuclear power plant in the nation, according to the NRC and is slated to completely stop generating electricity Sept. 17. About a decade ago, New Jersey officials informed Exelon that it would need to add costly cooling towers in order to continue operating for the next 20 years, Sheehan said. The state and the company reached an agreement that the company didn't have to add the towers if it agreed to close after just 10 years. Once it stops generating energy, the plant must undergo the lengthy process of being decommissioned or cleaned, according to Suzanne D' Ambrosio, the Oyster Creek Communications manager. In late July, Camden-based Holtec International announced it will purchase Oyster Creek and take over the plant's spent nuclear waste and it's decommissioning trust fund, worth about $980 million. Exelon estimated that cost to restore the site to its original state would cost near $1.4 billion. Holtec International must obtain permission from the NRC before it can take over Exelon's license for Oyster Creek. The NRC is hosting a public meeting about the license transfer at 11555 Rockville Pike in Rockville, Maryland at 1 p.m. on Aug. 15. Cassidy Grom may be reached at cgrom@njadvancemedia.com Follow her at @cassidygrom. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. It's a bad time to be a member of the media. Traditional news organizations like newspapers, magazines, etc. have been stripped bare by internet locusts who aggregate their content and repackage it to garner the all powerful clicks. Media, to use the catch all term, jobs have died by the thousands and that trend shows no signs of stopping. To top it all off, the president has declared open war on the media for the high crime of reporting what he says and does in a timely and accurate manner. I believe the president's outrage to be genuine. He's a man who was born rich, enjoying just about every privilege and advantage a little boy from Queens could hope for. He hasn't heard "No" very often, and specifically hires employees based not on the resumes, but on their ability to tell him how great he is. He is also a pathological liar used to having his stable of yes men and women confirm his endless lies under threat of losing their jobs. He is ill suited for just about all the responsibilities of office, but most especially the scrutiny that comes with being the president of the United States. But his anger at being told the truth is not the only reason he rails at the media. He does it because it riles up his base. Trump holding a rally without attacking the media would be like Bon Jovi playing a show without closing with "Bad Medicine." The people are there to see the hits, so Trump delivers. He whips out the "fake news" taunts and the crowd froths at the mouth with glee. Only problem is that someone's going to eventually get hurt. It's not like it hasn't happened before. His supporters have attacked people at his rallies before. If Trump keeps preaching his vitriol to the faithful long enough someone is going to take him up on his offer. The media is not the enemy...except Fox News. They're the worst. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. As the debate over 3D-printable guns hit a fever pitch in July, President Donald Trump weighed in with a single, cryptic tweet. "I am looking into 3-D Plastic Guns being sold to the public," the president wrote on July 31. "Already spoke to NRA, doesn't seem to make much sense!" Nearly two weeks later, authorities from 22 states, including New Jersey, say the Trump administration hasn't gotten any clearer about where it stands on do-it-yourself firearms. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal on Friday joined his colleagues in other states calling on the federal government to ban the online distribution of digital files allowing anyone with access to a three-dimensional printer and basic tools to manufacturer guns at home. It's unclear exactly where the president stands on the issue, but federal officials have said it's too late to keep such plans off the internet, where they have been publicly available for years for anyone who looked hard enough. In a letter sent Friday to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the attorneys general called the spread of such digital files a "manufactured crisis" sparked when the Trump administration backed down from legal action brought against a Texas gun rights group, Defense Distributed, under President Barack Obama. That move drew outcry from authorities in states with strict gun control laws and prompted the president to tweet that he was "looking into" the matter. "Communications from the White House have indicated that the administration is reconsidering the wisdom of its handling of the Defense Distributed case," the attorneys general wrote in their letter Friday. "However, we have seen no evidence of any change in course to date." The officials told Pompeo and Sessions "we have not heard from either of you about your willingness to cofront the urgent public safety risk posed by firearms that can be generated by use of a 3D printer." Spokespeople for the Department of Justice and the State Department declined to comment on the letter. In a July 31 press briefing, State Department spokeperson Heather Nauert called the matter "a domestic gun control issue that needs to be addressed not just by Congress but also by law enforcement." Federal lawmakers from New Jersey, including Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Frank Pallone, have called for legislation banning the digital distribution of 3D gun plans. Defense Distributed founder Cody Wilson has said in interviews in recent weeks that his organization does not manufacture guns and the sharing of the files amounts to constitutionally protected speech. S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday signed a law allowing striking workers to collect unemployment benefits in New Jersey. State lawmakers first proposed the legislation two years ago as Verizon workers waged a six-week strike against the telecommunications giant's contract demands. About 4,600 of the 40,000 East Coast employees on strike worked in New Jersey. Months later, 1,000 Taj Mahal casino and hotel employees launched a strike in a dispute over benefits, and the push for unemployment benefits intensified. At a 2016 news conference, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said the bill would "allow workers to express their rights without being starved back to work." Then-Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, vetoed the bill that November. But it was given a second chance under Murphy, a Democrat who has said he wants to defend collective bargaining rights and already taken steps to reverse Christie's labor policies. A spokesman for Murphy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "I'm glad he signed it," Sweeney told NJ Advance Media on Friday. "I think it levels the playing field for workers when they're exercising their rights." Under the new law, workers can file for unemployment insurance in labor disputes when an employer violates the terms of an employment contract or collective bargaining agreement. And striking workers would be eligible after a 30-day waiting period if the dispute isn't prompted by an employer's failure to comply with contract terms. According to the bill, the change covers "any claim for a period of unemployment commencing on or after July 1, 2018." The Assembly passed the bill (A3861) by a vote of 48-25 in June, followed by a 23-14 vote later that month in the Senate. NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. The Times-Picayune is marking the tricentennial of New Orleans with its ongoing 300 for 300 project, running through 2018 and highlighting 300 people who have made New Orleans New Orleans, featuring original artwork commissioned by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune with Where Y'Art gallery. Today: Bishop Paul S. Morton. The icon: Bishop Paul S. Morton. The legacy: From the pulpit, through his music, via the written word and in weekly televised sermons, Bishop Paul Morton built Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church into the biggest church in Louisiana, with 20,000 to 30,000 members who worshiped at as many as seven weekend services at three sites around the New Orleans area. Then came 2005's Hurricane Katrina, followed by a 2008 fire that wiped out the church's rebuilt home. But Morton and his wife, Elder Debra Morton, showed they were nothing if not resilient. While she led services in New Orleans, he started preaching in Atlanta to worshipers who included many New Orleans evacuees. He still preachers there today. Although the churches are separate geographically, the Mortons share each other's pulpit, continuing to spread the word, inspire their flock and lift the spirits of legions of faithful New Orleanians. The artist: Jessica Strahan. The quote: "Our purpose is to change a generation. We have to do it and we have to do it now. We can't put spirituality on the back burner." -- Bishop Paul Morton, speaking at the 1998 Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Conference in New Orleans. He was the conference's presiding bishop Explore more of Jessica Strahan's work online at WhereYart.net and in person at the Where Y'Art gallery, 1901 Royal St. Paul Sylvester Morton was born in 1950 in Windsor, Ontario, the son of two preachers. He was raised in the Pentecostal tradition. By John Pope, contributing writer Source: The Times-Picayune archives More on 300 for 300: One man is dead and another is in police custody facing a manslaughter charge after a Friday morning (Aug. 10) fight on Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans police said. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to NOPD spokesman Gary Scheets. Police were called to the fight about 8:20 a.m. in the 4200 block of Claiborne Avenue, which intersects with General Pershing and Milan streets, police said. Simon Morris, 31, was questioned by detectives and then booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center jail on manslaughter, Scheets said. Seth Bloom and David Gremillion of Bloom Legal have been retained to represent Morris. The Orleans Parish Coroner's office will release the name and cause of death after the man's family is notified. No other information was immediately available. A man who said he was on the Claiborne neutral ground when the fight occurred saw about five or more people gathered during a confrontation on Milan Street, on the north side of Claiborne, he said. It appeared as if some of those involved, including the man he recognized from Morris' booking photo, moving in and out of a nearby alley on Milan near Claiborne, said the man, who asked not to be identified. 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 Before police arrived, the man said it appeared as if a group of men were "trying to restrain" the man he recognized from the booking photo. Another man who works nearby said when he arrived at work that morning police were cordoning off an area near the corner of Milan and Claiborne with yellow crime scene tape. A woman at the scene was "hollering," said the man, who also asked not to be identified. He said the woman appeared to be handcuffed and at one point was in the back of a police car. "The guy died? I feel sorry about that," said the first witness, who saw the fight from the neutral ground. NOPD Homicide Detective Bruce Brueggeman is leading the investigation and can be reached at 504-658-5300. Anonymous tips can be left with Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. This story was updated Sunday (Aug. 12) with information about Morris' lawyers. | BY Ricki Green | Every day in America, eight children are unintentionally killed or injured by a gun often one that is found loaded and unsecured in the home. Today, in response to this ongoing crisis, a coalition led by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence unveiled End Family Fire, a comprehensive public education campaign focused on preventing the eight gun-related tragedies that occur daily because of these improperly stored weapons. The campaign was produced in partnership with the Ad Council and Droga5, and the PSAs will be distributed to media outlets nationwide. More than 4.6 million children live in homes with unlocked and loaded guns, and three in four know where the guns are stored in their home. The term Family Fire was developed for this campaign and refers to a shooting involving an improperly stored or misused gun found in the home that results in death or injury. Incidents may include unintentional shootings, suicides and other gun-related tragedies. Says Kris Brown, co-president, Brady Center: We can all agree, eight children being unintentionally shot and injured or killed every day is simply unconscionable. Just like the term designated driver changed perceptions about drinking and driving, the term Family Fire will help create public awareness to change attitudes and actions around this important matter. This is a nonpolitical issue where gun owners and non-gun owners alike can come together and play a role in reducing the number of innocent lives lost to gun violence. Says Lisa Sherman, president and CEO of the Ad Council: Making our homes safe for our children is at the heart of what it means to be a parent. With this poignant creative and powerful coalition of supporters, we will raise awareness of this silent national crisis and create a cultural shift to save the lives needlessly lost to family fire. End Family Fire has garnered support from a number of organizations including the National Parent Teacher Association, Doctors for America, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, Bishops Against Gun Violence, the DC Police Foundation, Grace Cathedral, Veterans for Gun Reform, and more. The campaign is also being supported by the Gun Safety Alliance, a powerful coalition of marketing industry leaders committed to ending gun terror and promoting gun safety, which was founded by Kristin Lemkau, Carolyn Everson, Ross Martin and Steven Wolfe Pereira. A deputy-involved shooting that killed a man in Denham Springs on Friday (Aug. 10) is under investigation by the Louisiana State Police. Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the Richmond Place subdivision and encountered an armed man. Shots were fired and the man "was struck and sustained life-threatening injuries," State Police reported in a news release. He was pronounced dead on the scene by the Livingston Parish Coroner's Office. Troopers from State Police Troop A and the State Police Crime Scene Unit were called to the scene to assist with the investigation. No further information is available at this time, according to the news release. Chef Alex Harrell will not be taking over The Franklin, the stylish, four-year-old Marigny bistro. The original plan was for Harrell to take the space and launch a new restaurant, but that won't be the case, he announced Friday (Aug. 10). "With all the partners that were involved in the project, we could just never get on the same page," Harrell said. "It was an amicable decision." Harrell, an Alabama native, was the opening chef at Sylvain. He left there in 2015 to open Angeline, a contemporary Southern restaurant where he was the chef and owner. He closed Angeline in June due to the terms in the new lease he was offered, he said. At the time, Harrell planned to relocate Angeline. Harrell said that now, however, he is no longer looking to open another restaurant. "We're not pursuing anything, and I'm not sure that we will," he said. "My plan is to continue working in the city." Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The Franklin closed in early July as Harrell prepared to take it over. The restaurant's co-owner, Michael Wilkinson, said The Franklin will return soon with the same name but another operator. "We wanted to diffuse any rumors that we aren't coming back," Wilkinson said. Note: The story was updated with comments from The Franklin's owners. *** Got a tip? Know some restaurant news? Email Todd A. Price at TPrice@NOLA.com or call 504.826.3445. Follow him on Twitter (@TPrice504), Facebook (ToddAPriceEatsDrinks) or Instagram (@tprice504). Medical experts Thursday evening (Aug. 9) sought to assure Lafayette Academy Charter School parents that students in proximity to the asbestos removal sites last year were never in danger of "prolonged" asbestos exposure. However, parents continued to criticize school officials amid news that students could be relocated to another building containing asbestos. Lafayette has undergone work to remove asbestos twice in recent years: Once during the 2016-17 school year, and again this summer. Officials from Louisiana's Recovery School District and Department of Environmental Quality told parents in July that air quality monitors in the Lafayette building showed asbestos levels that were safe for students and staff while they were on campus during the work in Spring 2017. The Choice Foundation told Orleans Parish School Board officials Lafayette had portable classrooms on their playground while parts of the building and its entries were cordoned off, including some restrooms, during the 2016-17 school year. Still, a state inspector report indicated students were in the building during at least some of that work, even sticking their heads into improperly secured containment areas. The RSD closed the Lafayette building due to problems with the work this summer, and officials said students weren't on campus during that work. Students in grades pre-K through 4th are expected to attend classes at the Paul Dunbar building in Hollygrove August 27. Students in grades 5-8 will go to the old McDonogh 35 building on Kerlerec Street. Choice hired Warren Pierrotti, the president of Baton Rouge-based Air Environmental Services, Inc., for an independent review of Lafayette's air-quality data during the work that occurred from March to June 2017. Pierrotti told parents during a meeting at the Xavier University Convocation Center that they shouldn't bring their children to a doctor for medical surveillance unless students spent 30 days being "overly exposed" to asbestos that was disturbed. Doctors today lack the technology to know whether brief exposure to asbestos has a negative impact, he said. "I can only speak to what I've seen thus far and there's nothing to indicate that the Lafayette school is a hazard," Pierrotti said. Dean Scott Edell, the director of pulmonary and respiratory care at Children's Hospital, told parents it takes "years of prolonged asbestos exposure" for it to be harmful. Although he said his hospital is "happy" to see any of their students, he stressed that any respiratory issues found in their children will be unrelated to asbestos. Edell stressed that exposure to asbestos today causes no "immediate ill effect." A few people from the school have undergone X-rays and pulmonary function tests, but Edell said those were for symptoms unrelated to asbestos. He also stressed that radiation from any X-rays performed on students to locate asbestos would be "more risky than any asbestos exposure." 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 Pierrotti and Edell's statements nonetheless elicited audible, incredulous responses from parents. Central City resident Gloria Sartin said no one is talking about the presence of asbestos in the Kerlerec Street building as well. An LDEQ report released Aug. 3 by Choice board president Jim Swanson stated the building "received air clearance" after asbestos, as well as damaged doors and floor tiles, was removed from the building July 29. Work is currently being done to remove mold from the building, the report added. Kelerec St. McD35 Repairs from OPSB TV on Vimeo. "Why would you move our children from one school under construction with asbestos to another one under construction with asbestos? That is my problem," Sartin said. Swanson agreed with Sartin's concerns and stressed Choice is going to get an independent assessment of the building before they let students in for school. He stressed the district decided to relocate them to the Kerlerec Street building. Several parents asked why the district didn't attend the meeting. Sartin asked after the meeting why the OPSB didn't relocate students into the Mahalia Jackson school building at 2405 Jackson Avenue. The OPSB last November voted to close the Mahalia school. "I know Orleans Parish School Board has a better solution, but they just messing clean over Choice Foundation," Sartin said. . . . . . . . Wilborn P. Nobles III is an education reporter based in New Orleans. He can be reached at wnobles@nola.com or on Twitter at @WilNobles. | BY Ricki Green | Tourism Central Coast has today launched a new campaign to promote the NSW destination. Aptly named, Have a Little Adventure, its the most comprehensive campaign done to date and sheds light on all the great things the Coast has to offer. The campaign, driven by data-led agency AFFINITY, is set to liven up the short-stay travel market as it promotes itself as Sydneys best-kept adventure secret. The campaign is borne out of recent research uncovered by AFFINITY, which shows that theres a strong perception problem with the region. Says Luke Brown, CEO, AFFINITY: Our research identified very early on that there was a clear disconnect between perceptions of the Central Coast and the actual reality. In order to shift these views, weve blended primary qualitative, quantitative and real time analytics data to create region-specific insights that, in-turn, informed a brand positioning we know will resonate with Sydneysiders. Its not just perceptions that have hindered the Central Coasts popularity among Sydneysiders. Having never been marketed effectively as a region before, theres a lack of knowledge about the attractions the Central Coast has to offer. At the centre of the campaign is a fresh website, https://visitcentralcoast.com.au/. It showcases a wide range of curated itineraries, from the very best in nature trails, to relaxation hot spots and hidden beach gems, and provides the platform to allow visitors to custom create their own adventures. Says Russel Mills, director, industry services and partnerships, Tourism Central Coast: From the coast all the way to the hinterland, our region has some of NSWs best kept secrets. Whether youre an adventure-seeker, foodie or just looking to relax and unwind, weve got the perfect little adventure waiting for you. AFFINITYS work will not only help reposition but will surface all the amazing things that the region has to offer. The campaign includes online banner and video, social, PR and TV. The TVC launches this Sunday 12 August. AFFINITY CEO: Luke Brown CSO: Angela Smith Executive Creative Director: Leo Bajzert Head of Design: Jenna Duncan Art Director: Melba Gounas Business Executive: Neisha Sinadinovic Production & post: Limehouse creative MD/ EP: Duncan Harriss ECD/ VFX: James Lucas Shoot Producer: Briony Luschwitz In-house Producer: Ashlee Savins Director / DP: Toby Heslop Drone Operator: DroneFX St. Tammany Parish government, which lost millions of dollars in sales tax funding this year, has told 21 of its employees that they will be laid off at the end of 2018. Parish spokesman Ronnie Simpson said Friday the employees were informed on Thursday (Aug. 10). "Nobody was let go yesterday," he said. "They have a funded position through the end of the year." The layoffs, Simpson said, will cut across a number of government departments: facilities management, the chief administrative officer's office, public information, human resources, development/planning, finance, and health and human services. In June, Parish President Pat Brister warned that because of budget cuts, a workforce reduction loomed at the end of the year, with as many as 30 to 40 employees possibly losing their jobs. Simpson said Friday that no additional layoffs are in the works. "This should be it. But obviously the budget goes to the (Parish) Council for their concurrence." A few of the 21 employees may be able to move into other positions, he said. St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The Brister administration has been working to restructure and reduce the size of government to free up money to cover some $27 million in annual state-mandated costs associated with the operations of the jail and courthouse, both in Covington. Funding for the jail and courthouse dried up earlier this year with the expiration of separate, dedicated sales taxes that each generated $11 million annually. Voters on three occasions rejected renewal of the sales taxes for the facilities. In response to the tax votes, the administration instituted a number of cost cutting measures, including a hiring freeze put into place last year. The parish has more than 110 unfilled positions due to the hiring prohibition, retirements and attrition, Simpson said. The parish government had about 450 employees at the end of 2016, he said. Brsiter said earlier this summer that with cost-cutting measures and the use of fund balances, the parish would be able to meet the state mandated obligations for the courthouse and jail, but only for a few years. Eventually there has to be a permanent revenue source, she said. America brags that people accused of crimes in this country are innocent until proved guilty. America also keeps many people who haven't been proved guilty locked up because they can't pay the bail set for them to get out. Those who do have a fraction of the money demanded can seek the services of a bail bondsman to get out, but even if the charges against them are subsequently dropped - even if a judge or jury acquits them - the money they paid to that bail bondsman is lost forever. For many of us, these contradictions haven't merited our attention, but it's important that we scrutinize our criminal justice system and ask ourselves if the way we've been doing things is fair. When we find things are not fair, then we need to demand that our criminal justice system operate differently. The criminal justice system in New Orleans needs to operate differently. People accused of crimes in the city have been routinely held in jail before trial because and only because they don't have the money to get out. They're not locked up because they're accused of a particularly serious crime or because their release would threaten the public or because there's a concern they won't show up for court. They are there because they're poor. A wealthier person accused of the same crime would be at home, would be able to keep a job and would be able to fight his or her charges from a position of relative strength. That wealthier defendant, for example, wouldn't be as inclined to plead guilty just to get out of the death trap that is the local jail. The poor ought to have an experience with the criminal justice system that's identical to the experience of people who have money. If nothing else, they ought not be ordered to pay bail by a judge who hasn't considered their ability to pay. That's what U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon ruled Monday (Aug. 6) when he sided with two men ordered by Orleans Parish Magistrate Judge Harry Cantrell to pay bail to get out of the Orleans Parish jail. The McArthur Justice Center and the Civil Rights Corps brought the suit, which Judge Fallon later certified as a class-action lawsuit. "The facts regarding Judge Cantrell's bail practices are undisputed," Fallon wrote. After giving arrestees time to consult with a public defender, Cantrell would use the background information provided by that public defender to decide bail. He would not "ask additional questions." Also, "Cantrell has told public defenders he would hold them in contempt when they have attempted to argue for lower bond amounts or RORs (released on their own recognizance) for their clients." He would "not determine whether the financial condition of release that he imposes will result in pretrial detention." "This evidence," Judge Fallon writes, "suggests that Judge Cantrell regularly sets bail without considering the defendant's ability (to) pay or qualification for alternative conditions of release and that these practices regularly result in pretrial detention based on inability to pay bail. Judge Cantrell has not argued that these descriptions of his practices are inaccurate and has made no substantive constitutional arguments in defense of these practices." Judge Cantrell responded to the lawsuit with an affidavit promising to start doing things that a sense of fairness should have compelled him to do long before he was sued. Among his promises: there would be no more minimum monetary bail amounts set; Cantrell would consider the seriousness of the charge, including whether it was a crime of violence; he'd consider the weight of evidence against the defendant and the defendant's criminal record; and if the public or anybody in particular would be endangered if the defendant were released. Fallon still ruled for the plaintiffs, because, he said, Cantrell's affidavit isn't binding. Without a court mandating changes, he could have easily decided to return to his old, unconstitutional practices. The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court gets 1.8 percent of every commercial surety bond posted in the parish, an arrangement that provides that court $1 million revenue a year, or 20-25 percent of the court's overall budget. The plaintiffs who sued Cantrell convinced Fallon that Cantrell - who had notoriously refused to let defendants pay cash and required them instead to use a bail bonds company - had a glaring conflict of interest. The more money going to bail bondsmen, the more money in the fund Cantrell helps manage. It doesn't matter, Fallon said, that Cantrell didn't create that arrangement. It doesn't even matter if he has never consciously set bail with a mind to increase the court's revenue. As Fallon writes, "it is not only important that justice be done; it is equally important that justice appear to be done." And when a judge has an "institutional incentive" to impose bail, that works against an arrestee asking to be released on his or her own recognizance. People shouldn't be in jail for lack of funds. Nor should people be ordered to pay bail because the court lacks them. Jarvis DeBerry is deputy opinions editor for NOLA.COM | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at jdeberry@nola.comor at twitter.com/jarvisdeberry. The exercise is as old as the Republic, but the first thing you need to understand about redistricting is that hot-water cornbread is as ubiquitous in north Louisiana as etouffee is in the south, says Rick Gallot, the Ruston Democratic representat Remaking the Interstate 10 interchange at Loyola Drive, to improve access to and from Louis Armstrong International Airport's new passenger terminal, will cost at least $139.4 million -- possibly twice that amount -- according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Plans for the interchange will be the subject of a second community meeting Wednesday (Aug. 15) in Kenner from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. at the Susan Park Playground gymnasium, 504 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Three options for modifying the interchange are being considered. They would require the government to buy 7 to 36 acres and remove at least 18, possibly as many as 207, homes and businesses. All three would eat into a sliver of the playground property. These are the options under consideration: Alternative E For the New Orleans airport interchange at I-10 and Loyola Drive in Kenner, the Alternative E option has two cloverleaf ramps and three one-way elevated flyover ramps. It would cost an estimated $292.3 million, need 35.9 acres and eliminate 207 buildings. Alternative I Alternative I has three one-way elevated flyover ramps. It would cost an estimated $147.2 million, need 7.3 acres and eliminate 18 buildings. Alternative L 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 Alternative L option has a 'diverging diamond' design. It would cost an estimated $139.4 million, need 11.7 acres and eliminate 63 buildings. The airport's $993.7 million north terminal is set to open in February. It will make Loyola Drive the main I-10 access point for motorists. Construction of the interchange work won't start until early 2020, at the earliest. In the meantime, airport motorists will have to negotiate ground-level traffic and several red-light intersections to get to and from the terminal. The interchange options are designed to separate airport motorists from local traffic, mostly by adding "flyover ramps" at Loyola. Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn and City Councilman Gregory Carroll urged residents and business owners to attend the Aug. 15 meeting. An earlier public meeting on the plans was held July 24 at Kenner City Park. "This project will not only have a direct impact on District 1's residents of Veterans Heights, Susan Park, Loyola, Lincoln Manor and surrounding businesses but also anyone using the Loyola-Veterans Boulevard corridor," said Carroll, whose district includes the interchange and nearby neighborhoods. "This is an opportunity for all of us to voice our comments, concerns and ideas," Zahn said. "Holding this in Susan Park will be more convenient for some of the residents and business owners who will be most affected." . . . . . . . Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and education, Louisiana interests in Congress and other odds and ends for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach. Volunteers with the United Cajun Navy say within 15 minutes of putting boats into Lake Pontchartrain, they spotted the body of Sadie Thibodeaux, the 32-year-old woman who had been missing for two days after she was last seen on a sailboat in the lake. The group hit the water after spending several hours planning their mission, using drones to gather information on wind patterns and water currents, said United Cajun Navy leader Todd Terrell. The volunteers cannot promise to complete every mission so rapidly, but that won't keep them from trying -- with a new mobile command center to help. The United Cajun Navy is raising money to purchase a used ambulance to convert into a mobile command center named in memory of Thibodeaux, Terrell announced Thursday (Aug. 9). "Sadie's Search will live on in this unit and through each person who is impacted by the benefit of having this equipment," according to a Facebook post by the United Cajun Navy. Kerald Smith, Thibodeaux's close friend and ex-husband, said Thibodeaux's family has welcomed the idea, saying a command center used for rescues is an appropriate tribute for a woman who relished helping others. "They love the idea that she's going to still be able to help people even though she's not here anymore," Smith said. "To have something dedicated to her that would help others is amazing." Thibodeaux, worked as a lobbyist, often used her crafting skills to make personalized gifts for loved ones and to help decorate for celebrations, such as baby showers. Last year, she moved to Panama for a time to learn Spanish but wound up teaching English to children, Smith said. Thibodeaux's persona, which Smith has described as passionate and determined, also fits with the spirit of the United Cajun Navy. "She was a perfectionist," Smith said. "She never did anything halfway. That's kind of like what the Cajun Navy does." The group aims to raise $25,000 to buy a used 2008 ambulance from Clinton, La.-based SERVS, or Southern Emergency and Rescue Vehicle Sales, which is offering the group a major discount, Terrell said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The group plans to outfit the ambulance with computers, which have already been donated, and use the vehicle as a check-in point for volunteers. New volunteers could get vetted and credentialed onsite, he said. The command center would also provide a centralized point for the United Cajun Navy's communications with law-enforcement agencies and other first-responder groups, Terrell said. The center would help track the location of volunteers not only for United Cajun Navy leaders but also for law enforcement and other government agencies involved in any search-and-rescue work. The group already uses the computerized Patriot Emergency Response Team system to organize volunteers and share information with government agencies. Improved tracking of volunteers and their work will help to avoid duplicate efforts, such as two boats accidentally checking the same location, and ensure volunteers do not impede police or other agencies, Terrell said. The United Cajun Navy works closely with governmental agencies, including in the search for Thibodeaux. They also remain in close contact with the missing person's family throughout the process, Terrell said. According to Terrell and United Cajun Navy board member Brian Trascher of New Orleans, the group spent several hours Tuesday planning its mission to find Thibodeaux, starting with coordinates supplied by the U.S. Coast Guard for where the sailboat was originally found adrift Sunday evening. The group then sent up drones to collect wind and current information, finding the area where the body would most likely have drifted under those conditions. Those details narrowed their search to a triangular section of lake about a quarter-mile in size, Terrell said. As soon as they spotted Thibodeaux's body, they alerted a nearby state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries boat and the Coast Guard. Volunteers kept Thibodeaux's family posted from start to finish, Terrell said. Still, the group wants to keep improving, he said. The United Cajun Navy is accepting donations here. Cape Coral Hooters hosted a Safety Day program Saturday, Aug. 4, in partnership with the Cape Coral Police Department and Cape Coral Fire Department. The two Cape departments had vehicles in the Hooters parking lot for children to tour. The family friendly event also featured kids fingerprints, DNA kits, face painting, a bake sale and $2 hot dogs. Hooters also donated 5 percent of their sales made from traditional and smoked chicken wings sold on Aug. 4 to a fund for the children of Michael Camelo Jr. With the recent loss of Cape Coral Fire Fighter Mike Camelo Jr., we at Hooters wanted to do something in his honor, said Hooters of Cape Coral General Manager James Chaney. Hooters is located at 3120 Del Prado Blvd in Cape Coral. LTP Management, a franchisee of Hooters of America, owns and operates 16 locations in South Florida. For more information about South Florida Hooters, visit www.HootersFlorida.com or follow us at Twitter @HootersFlorida. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. New York Times bestselling author Lisa Black will be the guest speaker at the next Gulf Coast Writers meeting, Saturday, Aug. 18. A forensic scientist, Black used all the fibers within her to write books that could make her experiences come to life. This months meeting is at Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Road, Fort Myers, from 10 a.m. to noon. Admission is free for first time guests. For more information, call 770-906-7885 or look us up at Gulfwriters.org. Calling all super heroes! Students, mentors and businesses are wanted! Join LARC (Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens) for Job-A-Palooza, the ultimate speed-jobbing experience! Job-A-Palooza will be held at Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops, 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers, Saturday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Job-A-Palooza is where students with disabilities from age 14 to 21 can discover their superpowers and meet local employers while peer-mentors assist them in navigating this exciting job fair experience. Students will explore job skill stations from local businesses in industries such as retail, food service, administration, automotive and more. There will be demonstrations, friendly competition activities, awards and so much more. Join us for this fun and educational day! Space is limited and students must pre-register for the event by visiting www.larcleecounty.org. Through the generous support of the Arc of Florida and Vocational Rehabilita-tion there is no cost to participate and lunch is included. Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times. If someone had asked me eight years ago what it would be like to report from the field on how the Marine Corpss first female infantry officer was adapting to her new job, I would have had a ready response: Thats never going to happen, because women are never going to be allowed in the infantry. In 2010, I was a 22-year-old Marine rifleman serving in southern Afghanistan and a part of one of the first units sent there under President Barack Obamas now-failed surge. Of the 40 people in my outpost, all were men. We were a unique intersection of a fraternity and family. During the day, between patrols, we were a group of boys who missed home but reveled in our solidarity. It was an unquestioned nature of Marine infantry life in the field and one, we all figured, not subject to change. A court-appointed special master who since April has been poring over a trove of documents and electronic files seized this spring from Michael D. Cohen, President Trumps former fixer and personal lawyer, said on Thursday that she had finished her review. In her sixth and final report to the Manhattan federal judge who is overseeing Mr. Cohens case, the special master, Barbara S. Jones, echoed what she said in her previous reports: Only a tiny fraction of the nearly four million files federal agents seized when they raided Mr. Cohens office, apartment and hotel room were protected by attorney-client privilege. That means prosecutors can use the vast majority of the files in their wide-ranging inquiry into Mr. Cohens business dealings, including hush-money payments he helped arrange for women who say they had affairs with Mr. Trump. The end of the laborious review marked a milestone in the investigation and brings the prosecutors from the public corruption unit of the United States attorneys office in Manhattan one step closer to deciding whether to file charges against Mr. Cohen or, perhaps, to seek his cooperation in other inquiries, including one being led by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, into potential ties between Russia and Mr. Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Until quite recently, the most visible embodiment of left-wing electoral activism was the terminally flaky Green Party. It made a showing on Tuesday when Joe Manchik, who claims to be descended from space aliens, won 1,129 votes in the special election in Ohios 12th Congressional District. Democrat Danny OConnor trails the Republican by 1,564 votes in that race, with almost 3,500 provisional ballots still to be counted. We can argue endlessly over whether an appreciable number of Manchiks voters would have gone Democrat if there hadnt been a Green Party alternative. But I have yet to see any evidence that the Green Partys habit of running doomed third-party campaigns has ever done anything to further its ostensible values. Greens will sometimes justify these runs as movement-building tools, but they never seem to actually build a movement. They dont know how to multiply themselves, Ralph Nader once told me, explaining the dissipation of the party after his 2000 presidential run. Its a peculiar characteristic: Green Party people, they dont like to raise money, they allow themselves to live in neighborhoods and communities where they become minorities of one. The new generation of left-wing activists, by contrast, is good at self-multiplication. The Democratic Socialists of America alone has done more to build left political power since the 2016 election than the Green Party did in the 18 years after Nader helped elect George W. Bush. Just as the Christian Right did in the 1990s, the new electoral left which also includes groups like Justice Democrats and the Working Families Party is trying to take over the Democratic Party from the ground up. These activists have, significantly, focused on races for prosecutor, which is a way to create immediate local criminal justice reform. (In Philadelphia, left-wing organizers last year helped elect civil rights lawyer Larry Krasner as district attorney. Among his reforms is the end of cash bail for many misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.) After Canadas foreign minister tweeted concern about Saudi Arabias imprisonment of prominent human rights and womens rights activists, the Saudis this week tried to punish Canada and intimidate other potential critics. They vowed to interfere in Canadas internal affairs; expelled Canadas ambassador and recalled their own; froze future trade and investment with Canada; and threatened to yank thousands of Saudi students out of Canadian universities. Normally, when confronted with this type of challenge, the State Department, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, would issue a statement something like this: The United States firmly supports the universal right of all people to express their views freely and to criticize their governments policies peacefully. The United States is deeply concerned by the recent imprisonment of leading women and civil society activists in Saudi Arabia and joins Canada in urging their immediate release. We regret that Saudi Arabia, an important partner of the United States, has reacted to Canadas expression of concern with excessive rhetoric and actions detrimental to both countries. We encourage both Saudi Arabia and our ally Canada to resume dialogue in order to restore normal relations. That is how, consistent with Americas traditional global leadership in defense of human rights, we would reiterate longstanding objections to Saudi abuses. We would support Canada, a NATO ally and indispensable neighbor, whose statement was neither harsh nor ill-conceived. We would signal subtly to Saudi Arabia that if they have a problem with Canada over this, then they also have one with the United States, because neither of us will be cowed into curtailing our criticism of friend or foe, when warranted. Instead, after a shockingly weak initial response on Tuesday, the State Department spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, mustered the following: We have a regular dialogue with the Government of Saudi Arabia on human rights and also other issues. This particular case regarding Canada, we have raised that with the Government of Saudi Arabia. They are friends, they are partners, as is Canada as well. Both sides need to diplomatically resolve this together. We cant do it for them. False equivalency. Refusal to criticize obvious human rights abuses. Abdication of American moral leadership. As a federal judge heard arguments on Thursday seeking to halt the deportations of several Central American women requesting asylum, he learned that a woman and her daughter at the center of the case had been ushered from a Texas shelter, driven to an airport and put on a plane to El Salvador. The judge ordered the government to bring the two back immediately. The judge, Emmet G. Sullivan of the District of Columbia, criticized the government for deporting the pair just as they were seeking justice in court. In ordering the government to undo the deportation, he threatened to hold government officials, from Attorney General Jeff Sessions on down, in contempt, said a lawyer for the plaintiffs. Twelve women and children who are plaintiffs in the case, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against Mr. Sessions and several other administration officials, had been put on the fast track to deportation in the face of a directive from Mr. Sessions that fear of gangs and domestic violence would no longer be an acceptable basis for people to seek asylum in the United States. Mr. Sessionss decision in June blocked a major route for people seeking asylum and was poised to have an especially strong impact on Central American women, tens of thousands of whom have arrived at the border citing those fears in the past several years. The sudden resignation of Willow Creek Community Churchs top leaders following sexual harassment allegations against Rev. Bill Hybels, their founding pastor, has shaken evangelicals far from the churchs base in the Chicago suburbs. There are few bigger names in the evangelical world than Mr. Hybels, and few churches more influential than Willow Creek. Christians worldwide looked to it as a model of smart leadership. When a falling star, a literal star falls out the sky, everyone looks at it, notices it, gasps, said the Rev. Jack Graham, of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Tex., who said he worried that people would view the scandal as evidence that all evangelicals were hypocrites. Yet there are millions and millions of galaxies of stars that stay in their place and keep shining. [Read here about the stunning resignation of the Willow Creek Community Church leadership.] Now some evangelicals are talking about turning Willow Creeks painful episode into a teaching moment for churches in the #MeToo era. WASHINGTON From the moment President Trump shocked much of the world by winning the White House in 2016, there has been an assumption in political circles that his victory would inspire a why-not-me caucus of imitators in 2020. But in an all-too-Trumpian twist, and perhaps demonstrating again a failure of imagination on the part of the political class, the first potential presidential candidate following in his audacious path is not another ambitious private-sector mogul. Rather, he is another brash cable news fixture who is busy on Twitter and seems intoxicated with the publicity derived from a media profile and connections to a photogenic woman. Yes, Michael Avenatti, Stormy Danielss lawyer and Mr. Trumps tormentor, is pondering a presidential campaign. Im strongly considering it its going to have a lot to do with who enters the race, Mr. Avenatti said in a telephone interview Thursday night from Iowa, where he ate not one but two pork chops at the state fair. [We heard from more than 1,300 women from over 30 countries about their experiences with abortion.] Ninety-seven percent of Latin American women live in countries that ban abortion or allow it only in rare instances. Only Uruguay, Cuba, Guyana and Mexico City allow any woman to have an early-term abortion. Abortion rights was a priority and it will be deeply discouraging to have come this far and fail, said Benjamin Gedan, an Argentina expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. But he said womens rights advocates already had achieved successes, such as the passage of a law that seeks to have an equal number of male and female lawmakers. If we make a list of the things weve gained and the things weve lost, the list of things weve gained is much bigger, said Edurne Cardenas, a lawyer at the Center for Legal and Social Studies, a human rights group in Argentina that favors legal abortion. Sooner or later, this will be law. President Mauricio Macri of Argentina opposed the bill, but said he would have signed it. After the vote, administration officials said they planned to ease abortion penalties in an overhaul of the penal code that will be presented Aug. 21. Women getting abortions can be charged with a crime and imprisoned under the current law, although that happens very rarely. The penal code changes had been in the works for some time, but they appeared to reflect Mr. Macris realization that the reproductive-rights movement in Argentina was now an established force. The womens movement mobilized all regions of Argentina; it was intergenerational and exceeded everybodys expectations, said Francoise Girard, the president of the International Womens Health Coalition, which supports legal abortion. The new generation of teenage girls who came out in such numbers will not be stopped. Mr. Newton, 41, who has been outspoken about his struggles with bipolar disorder, announced his decision to step down from Eve in a statement: Yesterday I notified Jessica Chastain and the other producers on the film Eve that I will be stepping down as director. Since the announcement of this film, the responses, which are powerful and important, have not fallen on deaf ears. Over the past eight years I have been working extensively with health care professionals to help me overcome my addiction and mental health illness, the statement continued. For the past six years I have lived a quiet and sober life. All I can do now is try to be a living amends and hopefully contribute to the positive change occurring in our industry. On Friday, the petition that had started as a result of the announcement was closed. A message was posted, Great news! Matthew Newton has dropped out of the film because of public pressure, including this petition. Thank you for signing! Because Mr. Newton wrote the script of Eve, his resignation also raises questions about the fate of the movie. Ms. Chastain and representatives from Voltage Pictures, the other production company on the film, did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. If youre interested in hearing from The Times regularly about great TV, sign up for our Watching newsletter and get recommendations straight to your inbox. Liberals Cant Bully Me Kanye West told Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday why he supports President Trump and its not about politics. Like he told The New York Times in an interview in June, West said he mostly wanted to show people that he was not beholden to them. Just as a musician, an African-American, a guy out in Hollywood, all these different things everyone around me tried to pick my candidate for me, he said. And then told me every time I said I liked Trump, I couldnt say it out loud or my career would be over, Id be kicked out of the black community. The Depths of War Before he went to Iraq, Mr. Walker was a fairly typical teenager, a good student who was interested in music and sports. He grew up in a well-off family, the younger of two sons, and attended a private high school in Cleveland. His parents, Timothy and Liliana Walker, remember him as a bright, funny kid with a creative streak. He enrolled in a Jesuit university in Ohio but struggled to find a focus. It was a few years after 9/11, and it weighed on him that young men his age were going overseas to fight. It kind of bothered me, staying in the States and hanging out with my friends and smoking pot and not really doing anything, when these other kids were getting blown up and killed, he said. Explore the New York Times Book Review Want to keep up with the latest and greatest in books? This is a good place to start. Learn what you should be reading this fall: Our collection of reviews on books coming out this season includes biographies, novels, memoirs and more. See whats new in October: Among this months new titles are novels by Jonathan Franzen, a history of Black cinema and a biography by Katie Couric. Nominate a book: The New York Times Book Review has just turned 125. That got us wondering: What is the best book that was published during that time? Listen to our podcast: Featuring conversations with leading figures in the literary world, from Colson Whitehead to Leila Slimani, the Book Review Podcast helps you delve deeper into your favorite books. He dropped out of college and enlisted in the Army at age 19, and was certified as a combat medic. In December 2005, he was stationed 30 miles southwest of Baghdad in an area called the Triangle of Death. His infantry company was first tasked with guarding a police station. Later, they went on night patrols, trying to catch insurgents planting roadside bombs. On one mission described in Cherry, Mr. Walker was on a census patrol with a unit when they heard an explosion and saw smoke rising. They swam across a sewage canal and finally reached a burning Humvee. The charred corpses were almost unrecognizable. When Mr. Walker tried to pick up one of the bodies, it was still so hot his latex gloves melted. The acrid smoke made him reel. The smell is something you already know, he writes in Cherry. Its coded in your blood. Mr. Walker was sure he would die in Iraq. When he didnt, he suffered from survivors guilt over the lives he failed to save. During a home visit, Mr. Walker seemed like a different person, his parents said. The first photos in Elizabeth Partridges ambitious BOOTS ON THE GROUND: Americas War in Vietnam (Viking, 214 pp., $22.99; ages 12 and up) underline the fact that this was a young persons conflict. Teenagers and those who had recently been teenagers formed the majority of ground troops in country. Antiwar protest was unavoidable on college campuses, starting with a teach-in movement that was already nationwide when the first official United States troops landed in Southeast Asia. Journalists under 30, like Neil Sheehan and David Halberstam, broke some of the wars biggest stories. Many of the North and South Vietnamese troops, and many of the civilians killed or driven from their homes by American actions, were children and youth. High school students who led the March for Our Lives this spring are taking the same kinds of risks opponents of the Vietnam War took in their grandparents day. Todays dissenters are, like their predecessors, tilting at political and corporate windmills to change systems they find abhorrent. Partridge builds bridges to this audience by using the words of Americans who were young at the time of the Vietnam War, and including a wealth of black-and-white photographs that illuminate diverse American experiences. Although some of these images are disturbing, they may reach this visually literate generation in ways other historical sources just cant. Given how politically engaged teenagers are today, a book for them about Vietnam can afford to tilt at a few windmills itself. Partridge, the author of books including This Land Was Made for You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie, walks readers through the creepy terminology of tactics like the search and destroy method, in which American soldiers were told to move through a designated area, locate enemy troops, then capture or kill them. Success would be measured by body count: the more captured or killed, the closer the Americans and the South Vietnamese were to victory. Boots on the Ground accurately represents the Tet offensive of 1968 as a shock to Americans whom officials had repeatedly told that their side was winning, and asks readers to grapple with the bombing and invasion of noncombatant Cambodia. Image But Partridge omits other facts about Vietnam that run against certain American exceptionalist myths, like the Eisenhower administrations scotching of elections to reunify South and North Vietnam in 1956. This lets her argue that America pursued the war to further democracy. Absent also from this telling is the killing of roughly 500 civilians by American troops in the village of My Lai, and the heroic intervention of Hugh Thompson Jr., who stopped the massacre by threatening to shoot his countrymen if they continued. Six new paperbacks to check out this week. THE GREAT QUAKE: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet, by Henry Fountain. (Broadway, $16.) In 1964, a magnitude 9.2 earthquake the second strongest in history rocked Alaska. In one town, the resulting tidal wave swept away a third of the residents. Fountain, a climate reporter for The Times, describes the aftereffects, including the rise of the study of plate tectonics. CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS, by Sally Rooney. (Hogarth, $17.) Frances and Bobbi, two young writers in Dublin, are more than best friends: theyre each others editors and confidantes. Francess affair with Nick, the husband of an older photographer whom the women befriend, sets their relationship adrift. The novel gives a satisfying voice to an intellectual, complex female friendship. THE LAST CASTLE: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nations Largest Home, by Denise Kiernan. (Touchstone, $17.) At 175,000 square feet, the Biltmore estate in Asheville, N.C., was the largest private home in the country when it was completed in 1895 by a Vanderbilt heir. Kiernan trains a wide lens on Gilded Age America, particularly after the 1929 stock market crash imperiled the familys fortunes. FOREST DARK, by Nicole Krauss. (Harper Perennial, $16.99.) Two successful Americans a celebrated but stalled writer, and an older lawyer return to Israel to reconcile their divided selves. Krausss illuminating novel toys with questions of identity that resist easy answers. The book centers on characters who have it all but nonetheless have begun to wander aimlessly across their own lives, our reviewer, Peter Orner, wrote. Israel, impossible and messy as it is, becomes a conduit for new possibilities. PLAYTHINGS By Alex Pheby 249 pp. Biblioasis. Paper, $14.95. When a writer casts a historical figure as the subject of a novel, the intrepid reader may ask why an element of nonfiction is needed to create a work of fiction, and how that work of fiction may expand or complicate a biography. This is the challenge Alex Pheby has set for himself in composing his second novel, Playthings. Daniel Paul Schreber, a prominent German judge of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, suffered three yearslong bouts of paranoid schizophrenia. Schreber documented the first and second breakdowns in his book, Memoirs of My Nervous Illness, but he never recovered from the final one the premise of Phebys skillfully rich novel. A close third-person voice situates Playthings in an eerie place between a lived account of insanity and a careful observation of a minds unraveling. Coal dropped through the chute, sending a hint of black rising up the stairs into the hall, the book opens. Nothing to be concerned about. Quite the opposite, really. Some coal dust mingling with the scent of fresh flowers. Image Playthings Just a normal day, like every other, the judge repeats to himself in the dawn of his madness, insisting on what is not true. His wife, Sabine, has had a seizure and is incapacitated on the floor. That is not my wife, he says before rushing out in search of her, shoving a maid too roughly, much too roughly, clumsy brute, knocking vases over, was he a child? Was he incapable of looking where he was going, like all men? And they call themselves civilized, traipsing mud through the house. THE BUTCHERS DAUGHTER By Victoria Glendinning 327 pp. Overlook. $28.95. Image Tudor or not Tudor, that is forever the question for historical novelists. Glendinning skirts the usual Henry VIII-centric approach by keeping her heroine some distance from the royal beehive. In 1535, an unwed mother named Agnes Peppin enters Shaftesbury Abbey, leaving behind her beloved butcher father and pinch-faced mother and giving up her child. No idyllic haven this, as anti-papist thugs violently ransack the church. During the melee, a falling gargoyle clocks a nun, killing her. We could not help laughing, just a little, Agnes confesses. We laughed at anything we could, we laughed at all the wrong things. Agnes has been raised so poor she had no looking glass and had to ask the color of her own eyes. Unusually for the era, however, she is literate. In the palmy days before the ransacking, the abbess employs her to take notes on meetings with passing dignitaries, from whom she learns about many things, including gossip from the court about Anne Boleyn. As the butchers daughter reflects on all she sees, Glendinning makes this tale exhilarating, lending Agnes a candid, eccentrically lyrical voice. After the abbey falls, the lapsed novice winds up in London. There she meets the love of her young life, Thomas Wyatt, son of the poet, but he precipitates a crisis (historians call it Wyatts Rebellion) and breaks her heart. Buffeted by events, she turns philosophical: No one should wear a placard around their neck with just one word written upon it: Virgin. Saint. Servant. Mother. Wife. Nun. I can be Martha and Mary both. Or neither. I do not have to choose. THE REMOVES By Tatjana Soli 370 pp. Sarah Crichton/Farrar, Straus & Giroux. $27. Image After leading Union troops in the Antietam, Shenandoah and Appomattox campaigns, George Armstrong Custer was a mythic figure by the age of 25. He flamboyantly inhabited his martial persona, a popinjay with long golden curls and a specially commissioned uniform, a black velvet suit and enough gold braid to cover it. In her novel, Soli plumbs the contradictions of a man who could massacre Native Americans while conducting an affair with an Indian woman, Monahsetah, a haughty spoil of war. The Removes intertwines Custers story with those of two others, first and foremost Libbie Bacon, his adoring, adorable wife, brown-eyed and dimpled. The daughter of a small-town lawyer, Libbie sheds her corset to follow her sweetly nicknamed Autie to the Kansas frontier. We see them charging side by side at top speed on their ponies, with Custer adroitly sweeping Libbie off her saddle to sit on his lap: He held her as if she were his own life, so steady she gladly accepted whatever befell her. Soli also gives us Anne Cummins, a 15-year-old settlers daughter, held for years by the Cheyenne, a fictional character who represents a composite of real captive women. Her experience is described with grit and grace. Made to sleep outside in winter, she is starved, worked brutally and repeatedly raped. Yet she eventually finds loving relationships among the tribe. When Custers forces liberate her, the dream she nurtured of the conquering hero, Yellow Hair, comes true. But, as was common with such women, the former captive finds herself unaccountably hesitant to return to the society she left behind. (Want to get this briefing by email? Heres the sign-up.) Good morning. Heres what you need to know: Were not ready for climate change Globally, 2018 is shaping up to be the fourth-hottest year on record. (The hotter years were the three previous ones.) The disruptions to everyday life have been far-reaching: wildfires in California, dozens of heat-related deaths in Japan, a heat wave on four continents that has taken a toll on crops and the electricity grid. For many scientists, this is the year they started living climate change rather than just studying it. Its not a wake-up call anymore, a scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies said of global warming. Its now absolutely happening to millions of people around the world. When President Trump refused to sign off on the final communique of a G-7 meeting in Canada, there were warning signs that he might do the same at the NATO summit meeting last month. He didnt and now we may know why. Senior U.S. officials pushed to finalize a NATO deal before the meeting even began, in an effort to ensure that Mr. Trump did not reject it. The rushed machinations were another sign of the lengths to which the presidents top advisers will go to protect the alliance from Mr. Trumps antipathy. Good Friday morning. Want this in your inbox every morning? Sign up here.) Saudi Arabia is struggling to pay for its ambitions The kingdom has poured money from its $250 billion Public Investment Fund into the SoftBank Vision Fund, Blackstones infrastructure fund, Uber, and Tesla shares at the behest of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi fund aims to manage $400 billion by 2020, but its facing some funding issues, thanks to problems like the delayed I.P.O. of Saudi Aramco. More from the FT: Prince Mohammed, 32, and his advisers are now upending government processes in place for decades as they scramble for other sources of funding to boost its firepower, according to people familiar with the kingdoms reform plans. The P.I.F. has made big commitments so it needs to come up with the cash, said Steffen Hertog, associate professor at the London School of Economics and a Middle East expert. But it is seen as opaque, a black box. Few know whats going on there, including sometimes other government ministries. The bigger question is whether Prince Mohammed will need to curb his economic ambitions. He wants to create a $500 billion megacity, and hes waging a trade war with Canada. If his kingdom is facing financial constraints, he may need to take a humbler approach. The bad vibes can be catching. It makes it so depressing you dont feel like going in, he added. I need the job, but some days you just want it to be over with. The Corporation Is Thriving. Workers Arent. The sense of abandonment at Carrier didnt arise from the factory floor in isolation. A few days after the deal with the president-elect in December 2016, the chief executive of United Technologies, Greg Hayes, sat down for an interview with Jim Cramer of CNBC. Things looked considerably brighter for the company, then worth $88.5 billion, than for its employees. The conversation took place at the Connecticut headquarters of Pratt & Whitney, another United Technologies division, and the two men were surrounded by gleaming aerospace components as Mr. Hayes dismissed the Carrier viral video as a little bit of bad luck. Yes, Mr. Hayes said, the company would invest in the Carrier facility, as it had promised Mr. Trump. But those funds were earmarked for automation, and would ultimately mean fewer jobs in Indianapolis, not more. Assembly-line positions there were not ones that people really find all that attractive over the long term, Mr. Hayes said. There were great, great people there, he added, but the skill set to do those jobs is very different than what it takes to assemble a jet engine. The Carrier faithful didnt appreciate the slights. Some, like Ms. Hargrove, remain committed to the factory, even if the love doesnt seem to always be requited from the executive suite. There are days when Im hurting and Im tired but when I walk through that door, Im going to give 100 percent, she said. The Bible says an honest days work for an honest days pay, and I try to live by that. Theyre paying you to do a job, she added. Theyre not paying you to be happy. Her work is physically exhausting yet precise. Standing on her feet for the entire shift, Ms. Hargrove inserts tweezer-like strips of metal thousands of times a day into a tube that forms part of the heat exchanger in each furnace. Mr. Roell, the group leader, is also loyal, despite having to fill in frequently on the line. Im going to stay until I dont have a choice, he said over coffee at the cheerfully retro Oasis Diner, not far from his home in Plainfield, Ind. Mr. Roell, 37, said he was grateful that when he deployed to Kuwait for a year in 2010, as a member of the Indiana National Guard, Carrier made up the shortfall between what he earned at the base and his regular salary at the plant. Something is amiss, though, despite the fact that hes making $23.88 an hour and last year cleared $70,000 with overtime, a solidly middle-class wage. I dont enjoy it as much as I used to, Mr. Roell said. I used to look forward to doing my job and seeing co-workers. But I dont have as much trust as I used to. An NPR interview with the organizer of last years white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., ignited complaints on Friday about how news organizations cover white nationalism. In a Morning Edition segment, the radio host Noel King interviewed Jason Kessler, a white nationalist who is planning a rally in Washington this weekend on the anniversary of last years rally, which was the scene of racist chants and deadly violence. Ms. King preceded the discussion, which was part of a weeklong series about the anniversary of the Charlottesville rally, with a warning: Some of what youre about to hear is racist and offensive. She was correct. In the interview on Friday, which lasted about five minutes, Mr. Kessler relayed junk science and ranked the intelligence of various races. The deepening standoff raised questions of whether the two strong-willed leaders were risking even broader chaos as they vied for the upper hand in a widening diplomatic dispute largely focused on individual personalities. An evangelical preacher, Mr. Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for 23 years, is one of about 20 Americans, including a NASA scientist and chemistry professor from Pennsylvania, who have been swept up in Mr. Erdogans crackdown since the failed coup two years ago. Mr. Erdogan says the coup was orchestrated from the United States, and specifically by a Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, from his self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. Turkish authorities have demanded that he be extradited, something American officials have dismissed, and the detained Americans are widely seen as bargaining chips. Mr. Erdogan has shown no sign of backing down. He sounded defiant in two speeches to supporters on Friday, railing against foreign powers that he accused of orchestrating Turkeys economic crisis, and vowing not to bow to Western pressure. Those who believe they can make us kneel by economic manipulation, have never understood this nation at all, he told a crowd in Gumushane, a province on Turkeys northern Black Sea coast. They cant use threatening language, blackmailing language against this nation. Especially bullying will not cut it with our nation. After watching Mr. Erdogan on live television, Asli Aydintasbas, senior fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, said, They have no deal, their positions have hardened. The breakdown was surprising, she said, because Mr. Trump had appeared to reach the outlines of an agreement for the pastors release with Mr. Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit last month. The Trump administration has made government deregulation of environmental rules, banking guidelines and myriad other regulatory areas a centerpiece of its policy agenda, and the E.P.A. has been at the forefront of the effort. In recent weeks the agency detailed one of its most significant efforts, a major weakening of federal auto-emissions regulations. The United States tried to ban asbestos use in the 1970s, but that effort was overturned by the federal courts in 1991. However the ruling did retain a ban on new uses of asbestos. Because of that (and the potential legal liability), use of asbestos declined in the United States. Attorney General Maura Healey of Massachusetts is leading an effort among Democratic state attorneys to fight the asbestos plan, calling it a threat to human health. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to lung cancer, mesothelioma and other ailments. In recent years, tens of thousands have died from mesothelioma and other diseases caused by exposure to asbestos and other dangerous chemicals, she said. If the Trump administrations erosion of federal chemical safety rules continues, it will endanger our communities and the health of all Americans. The United States no longer mines or manufactures asbestos. Until recently, Brazil had been the source of about 95 percent of all asbestos used in America, according to the E.P.A., but last year that country banned its manufacture and sale. Since then, Russia has stepped in as a supplier. One Russian producer recently signaled enthusiasm for the American market. Last month, the Russian firm Uralasbest posted on Facebook an image of its asbestos packaging that featured President Trumps face along with the words: Approved by Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States. The company is one of the worlds largest producers and sellers of asbestos. Uralasbest did not respond to a request for comment. The new E.P.A. proposal is called a significant new-use rule that sets out the guidelines for what types of asbestos uses the federal government considers risky enough to evaluate and perhaps restrict or ban. Mr. Loftsson likes to say that whale blood runs in his veins. He and his sister together are the largest shareholders in Hvalur, the whaling business once run by their father. (Hvalur, pronounced KVA-lur, is the Icelandic word for whale.) They spent many of their childhood summers at the companys whaling station. Mr. Loftsson watched as whales were brought to shore and carved up by hand. At age 13, he got a job helping out on a boat, washing dishes and scrubbing floors. It was fun, he said of his early days on the boat. Later, he worked as a deckhand. In 1974, when Mr. Loftsson was 31, his father died and he became head of the company. Today, Iceland and Norway are the only countries that allow commercial whaling. Japanese hunters operate under a research permit issued by their own government, and aboriginal subsistence hunting takes place in a handful of countries that includes the United States, Canada, Russia and Greenland. Globally, fin whales are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and commercial hunting of the species was halted in Iceland for 20 years, though some whales were taken under scientific permits. In 2006, the government allowed hunting to resume. (The next year, an assessment by the I.U.C.N. found that populations in the North Atlantic were not threatened. A 2015 survey estimated there were 40,000 fin whales in the central North Atlantic.) The country has come under steady international pressure to end whaling. In 2013, President Barack Obama called for an end to the hunt. The following year, the European Union led an international protest against Icelands whaling. One suitcase each. That was all the Mainali family took from their home in Bhutan when they fled to a refugee camp. As members of the Lhotshampas, an ethnic group of Nepali origin, the three-generation family was ensnared in Bhutans mass expulsion of more than 100,000 people in 1992. Almost instantly, the king of Bhutan pushed out one-sixth of the small Buddhist countrys population. The Drukpas, the Buddhist elite, and the Hindu Lhotshampa had peacefully coexisted until 1989, when the king introduced his One Nation, One People policy. The measure required all Bhutanese to accept Drukpa social norms how they ate, dressed and even talked. By the early 1990s, the Lhotshampas were declared illegal immigrants. The Mainalis, along with tens of thousands of Nepalese descent, were cast to the shadows and sent to United Nations refugee camps in Nepal. Arvonne Fraser, a leading voice on womens issues in Minnesota, nationally and abroad from the early days of second-wave feminism into the 21st century, died on Tuesday in Hudson, Wis. She was 92. Her son Tom Fraser confirmed the death. In Minnesota, Ms. Fraser was, among other things, a founder of the Center on Women, Gender and Public Policy at the University of Minnesotas Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She ran the political campaigns of her husband, Donald M. Fraser, a former United States representative and Minneapolis mayor, and was a political candidate herself, making an unsuccessful run for lieutenant governor in 1986. Nationally, she helped found or worked with numerous womens groups, and during the administration of President Jimmy Carter she was director of the Office of Women in Development, part of the United States Agency for International Development. She also traveled the world as the countrys representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Arvonne convened meetings decades ago with women from throughout the world, Joe Nathan, a colleague who founded another center at the Humphrey School, the now independent Center for School Change, said by email. They focused both on specific policies and on strategies that could be used to help more women become policymakers themselves. She believed that policies would be far more effective if women helped create them. Following a monthslong, contentious debate, the Argentine Senate rejected a bill in the early hours of Thursday morning to expand abortion rights. It was a setback for feminists. One could marvel at the political resilience of Argentinas conservatives, but I prefer to admire how close feminists came to achieving success. This was the first time, after many tries, that abortion-rights activists succeeded in getting Congress to consider a bill. They even won support for the bill in the lower chamber. In the process, they mobilized some of the largest street demonstrations ever in the country in favor of a cause that only a decade ago was taboo. How did Argentine feminists get this far? In many ways, by incorporating lessons from their less-visible partners: L.G.B.T. activists. LONDON If you have over the last 30 years arranged a pro-Palestinian event of any significant size in the United Kingdom, the chances are that Jeremy Corbyn was there, either as a speaker or in the audience. Mr. Corbyn, who is now the leader of the Labour Party, is an avid and unwavering supporter of the Palestinian cause. While not all British criticism of the Israeli government is anti-Semitic, it has a tendency to blur into it at the fringes. As a backbencher, Mr. Corbyn shared platforms with the likes of Raed Salah, a convicted anti-Semite, and he praised Hamas. Those former associations have been dogging Mr. Corbyn since he took over the Labour Partys leadership in 2015. This summer, Labours anti-Semitism problem is once again dominating the headlines in the British press and dividing the party. And as much as everyone would like it to, it doesnt look like it will go away any time soon. To understand why, you have to understand Mr. Corbyn and what he cares about. For the most part, Labour legislators are far more interested in domestic matters the National Health Service, tax reform, education, basically anything than the world outside of Britain. There are, however, a few exceptions. Mr. Corbyn is one. Foreign policy is his passion. Chinese online grocery and delivery company Dada-JD Daojia has raised 500 million U.S. dollars from U.S. retailer Walmart Inc and Chinese e-commerce firm JD, China Daily reported Friday. A stall of JD Daojia, an online-to-offline grocery platform backed by e-commerce platform JD.com, is seen at a supermarket of Walmart in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on January 19, 2018. [File photo: IC] In the latest round of financing for Dada-JD Daojia, Walmart invested 319 million dollars while JD invested 181 million dollars, according to the report. The online grocer, which is partly owned by JD, will "deepen its partnership with leading retail partners and improve supply chain efficiency via technology" after this round of fundraising, the report said. Dada-JD Daojia comprises two businesses. Dada is an on-demand logistics platform with operations covering more than 400 major cities across China. JD Daojia has 20 million monthly active users in around 40 major cities across China and provides an one-hour delivery service through partnering with retail stores. Online spending has expanded fast in China, with retail sales surging 30.1 percent year on year to reach 4.1 trillion yuan (603 billion U.S. dollar) in the first half of this year, official data showed. To the Editor: Re Storm Killed 1,427, Not 64, Puerto Rico Admits in a Report (news article, Aug. 10): The disaster recovery process in Puerto Rico has been shamefully plagued by mismanagement and a deadly lack of urgency when compared with Texas and Florida. Two weeks after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, President Trump blamed survivors for what they had lost. He sat next to Gov. Ricardo A. Rossello and congratulated him on a death toll we all knew was artificially low. Nearly a year later, the local government is now recognizing at least 1,427 excess deaths in a report ordered by Congress. But the governor and his team insist that these deaths may have had nothing to do with Hurricane Maria. As Mr. Rossello requests an additional $139 billion from Congress, our coalition will fight for transparency and to ensure that every penny goes right to the island. With each of the governors rookie missteps, though, our job grows a lot harder. Melissa Mark-Viverito New York The writer, a former New York City Council speaker, is campaign manager at the Power4PuertoRico coalition. To the Editor: Re What Are Capitalists Thinking?, by Michael Tomasky (Op-Ed, Aug. 6): Thank you for highlighting the fact that capitalism itself has made socialism look far more appealing, especially to young people . And, as Mr. Tomasky notes, The kind of capitalism this country has been practicing for all these years has failed most people. The only kind of capitalism I have seen across my 75 years presents a continuous assault on human health and quality of life, community welfare, political integrity and environmental safekeeping. Mr. Tomasky may have mixed feelings about this socialist boomlet . I, for one, am hoping for an avalanche! Michael Katz Washington To the Editor: What Are Capitalists Thinking? Why dont you ask people from the former Soviet Union who have immigrated to the United States? There are tens of thousands of us. The majority are grateful to have had this opportunity and are appalled to see that socialism, which failed so spectacularly in our native land, is gaining popularity among the younger generation. Yes , the ideas of equality and liberation espoused during the revolutionary days of 1917 were powerful and enticing, but the next seven decades showed the glaring weaknesses of the socialist economy. While we can debate the various policies and their effect on economic growth and opportunity, we must also teach our next generation about the spectacular failures of socialism. But American politicians fighting over the issue often fail to effectively or accurately talk about that data. Concentrated bursts of violence take over the narrative and are exploited for political points. Weekends like the one Chicago just saw are heartbreaking, and they speak to the deep social problems here. Yet they arent, in and of themselves, a trend any more than a particularly destructive winter storm represents the overriding trend in rising global temperatures. Crime is more like weather, influenced by the ebb and flow of individual, isolated phenomena but not defined by them and rarely directly controlled by them. That doesnt stop politicians of different stripes from either declaring data trends that in fact dont exist or finding easy answers to explain those that do. In 2015, Mayor Emanuel, a Democrat, blamed police officers becoming fetal for an uptick in violent crime, stating that what happened post-Baltimore, what happened post-Ferguson is having an impact. However, while Chicagos violent crime was about 2.5 percent higher in 2015 than in 2014, it was still lower than in any year from 2001 to 2013. This week, the Democratic candidate for governor, J.B. Pritzker, blamed Gov. Bruce Rauners budget cuts for the violence: Its true that our (increased) violence around the state of Illinois, not just the city of Chicago, has been almost concurrent with the defunding of those services that people rely upon. The cuts may be troubling to local progressives, and crime at any level is regrettable. Still, Mr. Pritzkers statement is a broad brush considering violent crime in Illinois is down this decade compared with both the 2000s and the 1990s a period of interchanging party rule. But caveat auditor: Let the listener beware. Representing an identity is usually volunteer work, but sometimes the representative is conjured into being. Years ago, a slightly dotty countess I knew in the Hampstead area of London used to point out a leather-jacketed man on a park bench and inform her companions, with a knowing look, Hes the head gay. She was convinced that gays had the equivalent of a pontiff or prime minister who could speak on behalf of all his people. Because peoples experiences vary so much, the as a move is always in peril of presumption. When I was a student at the University of Cambridge in the 1970s, gay men were tres chic: You couldnt have a serious party without some of us scattered around like throw pillows. Do my experiences entitle me to speak for a queer farmworker who is coming of age in Emmett, Idaho? Nobody appointed me head gay. If someone is advocating policies for gay men to adopt, or for others to adopt toward gay men, what matters, surely, isnt whether the person is gay but whether the policies are sensible. As a gay man, you could oppose same-sex marriage (its just submitting to our cultures heteronormativity, and anyway monogamy is a patriarchal invention) or advocate same-sex marriage (its an affirmation of equal dignity and a way to sustain gay couples). Because members of an identity group wont be identical, your as a doesnt settle anything. The same holds for religious, vocational and national identities. And, of course, for racial identities. In the 1990s the black novelist Trey Ellis wrote a screenplay, The Inkwell, which drew on his childhood in the milieu of the black bourgeoisie. A white studio head (for whom race presumably eclipsed class) gave it to Matty Rich, a young black director whod grown up in a New York City housing project. Mr. Rich apparently worried that the script wasnt black enough and proposed turning the protagonists father, a schoolteacher, into a garbage man. Suffice to say, it didnt end well. Are we really going to settle these perennial debates over authenticity with a flurry of as a arrowheads? Somehow, we cant stop trying. Ever since Donald Trump eked out his surprising electoral victory, political analysts have been looking for people to speak for the supposedly disgruntled white working-class voters who, switching from their former Democratic allegiances, gave Mr. Trump the edge. But about a third of working-class whites voted for Hillary Clinton. Nobody explaining why white working-class voters went for Mr. Trump would be speaking for the millions of white working-class voters who didnt. One person could say that she spoke as a white working-class woman in explaining why she voted for Mrs. Clinton just as truthfully as her sister could make the claim in explaining her support for Mr. Trump each teeing us up to think about how her class and race might figure into the story. No harm in that. Neither one, however, could accurately claim to speak for the white working class. Neither has an exclusive on being representative. So we might do well to ease up on as a on the urge to underwrite our observations with our identities. For me, Professor Spivak once tartly remarked, the question Who should speak is less crucial than Who will listen? But tell that to Joe, as he takes a sip of kombucha or is it Pabst Blue Ribbon? All right, Joe, lets hear what youve got to say. The speaking-as-a convention isnt going anywhere; in truth, it often serves a purpose. But heres another phrase you might try on for size: Speaking for myself Kwame Anthony Appiah is a professor of philosophy at New York University and the author of the forthcoming book The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity, from which this essay is adapted. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion), and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter. Not long ago it would have seemed unthinkable to add Turkey to the list of countries including North Korea, Iran and Russia that the United States had sanctioned for unscrupulous behavior. As a NATO ally, Turkey has a mutual defense treaty with Washington, benefits from American intelligence and hosts American nuclear weapons at Incirlik air base, near its border with Syria. As August began , however, President Trump named Turkeys interior and justice ministers as specially designated nationals barred from doing busines s with Americans and gaining access to financial assets in the United States. On Friday , Mr. Trump announced in a tweet that he had authorized a doubling of the steel and aluminum tariffs against Turkey. The object is to force the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to release Andrew Brunson, an American and evangelical Christian pastor who has been imprisoned by Turkey since 2016 on trumped-up charges of aiding an aborted coup by Erdogan opponents. The current tension is a far cry from the camaraderie expressed at the NATO meeting last month, when Mr. Trump fist- bumped Mr. Erdogan, previously one of his favorite strongmen. But its also the latest example of how dangerously frayed the United States-Turkey relationship, with its accumulating resentments, has become over the past decade, giving rise to the question: Is Turkey still an American ally? Set the controls for the heart of the sun. In the summer of 2018, the Parker Solar Probe will lift off from Earth. It will spend the next seven years spiraling inward to the center of the solar system. The Parker probe will be the first spacecraft to touch our star. Or any star. It will brush through the halo of hot gases that form the suns outer atmosphere: the corona. The surface of the sun looks placid to our eyes, but it is pierced and roiled by strong magnetic fields. The fields trap gas blowing off the Sun and lift it into glowing arcs and streamers. Scientists dont understand how the corona works, or why its hundreds of times hotter than the surface of the sun. The Parker probe will pass closer to the Sun than any mission before it. To get that close, the spacecraft will make seven flybys of Venus over seven years, gradually tightening its elliptical orbit and shifting it closer and closer to the sun. A high-tech heat shield will protect the probe from the punishing radiation and heat of the corona. Within the shields shadow, the spacecraft instruments will operate at a comfortable room temperature. As the probe passes close to the sun, it will briefly become the fastest machine ever built by humans, zipping along at a brisk 430,000 miles per hour. The Parker probe is the first NASA spacecraft to be named after a living person. Eugene Parker is an astrophysicist at the University of Chicago. In 1958, he suggested that the sun radiates a constant and intense stream of charged particles. He called it the solar wind. This wind pushes out comet tails and makes the long streamers seen in solar eclipses. With the Parker Solar Probe, scientists hope to learn more about the suns turbulent corona. How it accelerates particles, and how it flings huge clouds of fiery gas outward across space. Huge waves of magnetized gas are called coronal mass ejections. If Earth gets in the way of one of these storms, it could be bad news. Our planet is protected by its own magnetic field, but a direct hit from one of these galloping clouds of particles and radiation could disrupt satellites and force astronauts in the space station to take shelter. In 1859, a powerful storm called the Carrington Event produced auroras as far south as Cuba. A solar storm of that size today could cripple satellites and power grids around the world. If successful, the Parker probes mission to touch the sun may explain how solar storms form. Scientists hope it might teach us how to predict coronal outbursts more accurately and learn how to endure them. Weve always depended on the kindness of a star, here on a planet riding the gentle fringe of barely calculable forces. Living with a star is not easy. But were learning. What is it with airlines and dress codes? They just cant seem to get it right. On the one hand, they revel in trumpeting designer collaborations in the name of modernity and making their employees look and feel as though they are part of the contemporary world. On the other, they are endlessly stepping on what increasingly accepted forms of self-expression. Which is to say: the right to communicate your identity through style. The latest dust-up took place this week when a British man, Sid Ouared, said that British Airways had fired him from his job as a customer service representative at Heathrow Airport near London. His hairstyle apparently violated airline employee appearance regulations, said hairstyle being either a fanned-out topknot at the crown of his head kind of the ultimate man bun or a more discreet back-of-the-head pom-pom. Lola Kirke is best known as an actor; she starred alongside Zoe Kravitz in this years Los Angeles neo-noir Gemini, played Greta Gerwigs wayward protegee in Noah Baumbachs Mistress America and had a leading role in the Golden Globe-winning show Mozart in the Jungle. But music has always been in her background not least because her father, Simon Kirke, was the drummer for Bad Company and Free. At Bard College, Lola formed an all-female country band with four friends, and together they would belt out folk numbers in small bars in upstate New York. Although the group disbanded after graduation, Kirke has continued to write songs. Today, she releases her first album, Heart Head West, a follow-up to her 2016 debut EP. Its 10 tracks rollicking and guitar-driven, overlaid with her lilting, smoky voice were recorded live in Los Angeles, where she returned in July to play a show at the Getty Museum with her band. (She will play shows in her hometown, New York, later this month.) We sent Kirke a Polaroid camera and asked her to document her travels, from California to Toronto, where she recently finished filming two movies. Her photographs below capture her cast of collaborators, including her boyfriend Wyndham Garnett, who produced her new record. Last month, she and Garnett also found time to visit what Kirke describes as her favorite place in the world, a mystery location in the Pacific Northwest, pictured below, in which she carved out some necessary downtime. Like all of Daviss best portraits, there is something both casual and immense about these pictures. Davis has the knack of making her subject comfortable enough to reveal a critical existential truth seething beneath the surface perceptible to the eye, but difficult to articulate. Many of these photographers did not have easy lives. Around the time that Davis took their portraits, the medium and the rise of color photography in particular was transitioning into the realm of fine art, and the public was just beginning to revisit the photography of the 30s and earlier, a reconsideration assisted by galleries and museums devoting more space on their walls to photos, and by writers like Susan Sontag, whose critical essays on the subject, which would eventually be published in 1977 as On Photography, began appearing in The New York Review of Books in 1973. Among the group that Davis shot were some of historys great masters of the medium, who had themselves taught even more great photographers. Lisette Model served as a mentor to Arbus, whose husband told Arbuss biographer Arthur Lubow that after three lessons with Model, Diane was a photographer. Abbott was a close friend of Man Ray in Paris in the 1920s. After she moved back to New York in 1929, she lived for three decades in an apartment with no shower or bathtub. Davis, who would go on to apprentice with Abbott, met her through Model and photographed her in her house in Maine, where she had settled a few years after a lung operation to avoid the pollution of the city. By the time Davis visited her, she was recognized as a trailblazing genius, though her third-floor studio still didnt have enough water pressure to wash her prints she rigged a system to wash them in the yard with water from the river behind her house. In one photograph, Van Der Zee (Davis tells me she simply looked him up in the phone book) holds a violin, emanating a great tenderness that almost but not quite obscures the strain in his eyes. Its clear from his surroundings, from the discarded objects and the old takeout coffee cups on the dresser behind him, that he did not have his life together. In another stands Model, who Davis originally met in San Francisco, when Model was in town to photograph a stripper. She lived in a basement apartment in Greenwich Village that was a couple of little rooms with single light bulbs. In the photo, shot in Daviss apartment in New York, Models cane is almost hiding behind her back. She appears to be looking straight through Daviss camera in sheer defiance. Vishniacs apartment was like something out of Freuds Vienna (he had a successful side career as a professor of a variety of topics, from biology to philosophy to art, and the apartment was crammed with glass cases filled with ancient objects and leather-bound books), but his entire body is weathered by grief. His son, a microbiologist, had recently died during a research trip to Antarctica. I did portraits for 20 years, Davis says, and the portrait sessions were really intense because people put on a mask, and you have to be so open yourself to let them relax. But in these particular pictures, there is almost nothing phony. They were right there with me and looking at me, not trying to be any other way than they were. Floridians concerned over the water quality issues happening across the Sunshine State will stand together as one in a peaceful demonstration called Hands Along The Water. Sunday morning, at 10:15 sharp, hundreds and potentially thousands of residents will lock hands for 15 minutes in silence to show that we do not, and will not, stand for our beautiful beaches, wildlife, homes and livelihoods to continuously be destroyed and impacted by the water released from Lake O, said the events Facebook page. Thirty different beach sites across the state will stage the event that asks people to arrive by 10 a.m. Along with the locking of hands in unison, volunteers of Hands Along The Water encourage those to speak with residents, hear the stories of loss, illness, and devastation that we all suffer and help support this peaceful movement, share and be instrumental in allowing our voices to be heard. This is a family event spanning coast to coast and made possible solely by volunteers and is not supported or funded in any way by groups or organizations. Florida is not only loved by its residents but by hundreds of thousands of people across the world. The tourism alone creates countless jobs for our populations and we cant allow that to diminish and fail, read a release from the volunteers. We must unite as people and take a stand to create solutions for the future of this state and its residents. Without YOU helping the people of this great state be heard, our fight is unheard, they continued. The volunteers ask that attendees wear a mask if concerned about their health/immune system, to wear shoes on the beach to avoid bones from dead fish, to wear a blue or aqua colored shirt, to bring water in a reusable bottle and to not bring signs, banners or the like. They also ask attendees not to bring pets for safety reasons. This is a family event, being held by volunteers along the coasts. This event is not being sponsored by any organization. There will be no money or donations being collected, and we will not be promoting any one organization. We are locals that want our beaches back and to save marine life, the release stated. Lee County event sites include the Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Beach and Sanibel/Captiva. Together, we can make a difference. This will speak louder than any sign or angry words, Dominique Kuzer, organizer of the Cape Coral event said. The idea stemmed from a Facebook post about standing in solidarity along the water and spread like wildfire-a positive aspect of social media. The original event location was to be on Fort Myers Beach, but Kuzer quickly volunteered to host a Cape event. Various other residents from all over Florida volunteered to represent their city or town that shared the same passion. This was made possible by the teamwork of all coordinators. We reached out to local news outlets and radio stations, as well as a lot of social media promotion. Erin Brockovich even re-tweeted the event, said Kuzer Brockovichs substantial following allowed more eyes than ever to educate themselves on the matter and grow the event into what is has become. I cant put into words how amazed I am to see how much its grown. Its surreal, said Kuzer. Its very humbling. Im grateful to be part of something so crucial to our environment. Its amazing to see the support and backing from so many different communities. Her involvement in the Hands Along The Water movement has inspired the hopeful veterinarian to become more involved in community issues and volunteer work. Come on out. Wear a blue shirt. Put a mask on. Lets get together so we can make a change. Its going to take a community to fix this, she said. Together, we can make a difference. Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj Late Sunday, Apple which has often tried to stake out moral high ground on contentious debates removed Infowars podcasts from iTunes. After seeing the news, Mr. Zuckerberg sent a note to his team confirming his own decision: the strikes against Infowars and Mr. Jones would count individually, and the pages would come down. The announcement arrived at 3 a.m. Pacific time. In the days that followed, other platforms YouTube, Pinterest, MailChimp, and more said they, too, were banning Infowars. The notable exception was Twitter, which decided not to ban the site or Mr. Jones. The companys chief executive, Jack Dorsey, tweeted a veiled shot at the way his rivals handled the situation. Were going to hold Jones to the same standard we hold to every account, not taking one-off actions to make us feel good in the short term, and adding fuel to new conspiracy theories, he said. Now, cut off from most of his audience, Mr. Jones will have to chart a new course. He has already stepped enthusiastically into a role as a free-speech martyr. (After the ban took effect, Infowars slapped a censored label on its videos and launched a forbidden information marketing campaign.) And conservatives and even some free-speech advocates on the left worried that social media companies may be entering a new, censorious era. Senator Ted Cruz, the Republican from Texas, paraphrased the famous Martin Niemoller poem about German accommodation of Nazism: First, they came for Alex Jones. Social media executives have a history of going to great lengths to assuage fears of anti-conservative bias, and this week was no exception. On Thursday, Richard Allan, a Facebook vice president of policy, published a blog post about the companys commitment to free speech. With the exception of violent threats and hate speech, he wrote, we lean toward free expression. Its core to both who we are and why we exist. Mr. Dorsey also appeared on Sean Hannitys radio show, where he gave reassurances that Twitter does not discriminate against conservatives. Dante. 79-81 Macdougal Street. A whisky highball is a natural fit for this Greenwich Village bar, which focuses on lighter styles of drinking. Bartenders pour one and a half ounces of whiskey into a frozen highball glass, over a long ice spear sourced from Hundredweight, a New York-based custom ice company. They then top it with Perrier and a lemon twist. The whisky used rotates from month to month, so the drink is never be quite the same. We dont sell a lot of them but Im O.K. with that, said Naren Young, an owner. Im just happy that we can list a highball that were proud of. ($13) Katana Kitten. 531 Hudson Street. Bartender Masahiro Urushido, recently of Saxon and Parole, opened this Japanese-American cocktail bar in July, making it New Yorks most current highball destination. The highball menu includes the usual Toki draft, as well as a shiso gin and tonic and a melon-lime soda, made of lime vodka, Midori, matcha and sadachi, a Japanese citrus fruit. ($15) Chicago Longman & Eagle. 2657 North Kedzie Avenue. This popular restaurant and bar, in the trendy Logan Square neighborhood, was one of the first in the city to get a Japanese highball machine and they put it to novel use. Longman serves whiskey highballs, but theyre made with Jim Beam bourbon. The machine carbonates the water to 1.5 times the level of Champagne and serves it up icy cold. Using Beam has its advantages from a consumer viewpoint; the drinks are only $6. Houston Tongue-Cut Sparrow. 310 South Main Street. Bobby Heugel, the owner of this second-floor quasi-speakeasy, is a Japanophile, having visited the country many times. When he opened Sparrow in 2017, he wanted to offer a highball like those he had enjoyed in Tokyo. Aside from the usual Toki, he zoned in on Mountain Valley Spring Water as matching most closely the waters he drank in Japan. If you cant get to Sparrow, no worries. Mr. Heugel makes it easy for Houstonians to get their highball on. He serves them in other bars in his citywide mini-empire, including Better Luck Tomorrow and Anvil Bar and Refuge. ($14) San Francisco Pacific Cocktail Haven. 580 Sutter Street. The owner Kevin Diedrich, a longtime presence in San Franciscos cocktail community, offers a highball happy hour seven days a week at his cocktail bar. It includes the whiskey and sodas that come out of his Toki highball machine. The Suntory Toki highball is the most popular, he said. We keep all our highball glasses in the freezer to keep extra cold and use long ice spears. The soda also comes from the highball machine, which Ive found is superior to any bottled soda water out there. ($10 during happy hour.) Nihon Whisky Lounge. 1779 Folsom Street. Nihon boasts one of the widest selections of Japanese whiskeys in the United States. So, while it has the Toki highball machine, it also offers many of its other whiskeys to customers in highball form as well. A favorite we like to recommend is Hakushu 12-year-old highball, said owner Khaled Dajani. (A Toki highball is $12 and half that during happy hour.) After rain pummeled Mid-Atlantic States in recent weeks, Maryland officials publicly lamented the masses of trash flowing into Chesapeake Bay and blamed two states to the north. One Maryland official called the pileup of woody debris, plastic bottles and broken Styrofoam an aesthetic assault. Another called it an insult to the bay and an environmental crisis that could reverse years of progress toward reducing pollution in the countrys largest estuary. As destructive storms hit in late July, officials opened more than 20 floodgates in the Conowingo Dam in northern Maryland, pushing floating garbage and debris down the Susquehanna River from upstream states. But whose trash is it? And who is responsible for cleaning it up? The upstream states, Pennsylvania and New York, need to step up and take responsibility for their sediment and their debris that is pouring into our bay, Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland said at a public works meeting on Aug. 1. PORTLAND, Ore. An F.B.I. agent was found not guilty on Friday of lying to investigators about firing his rifle during a 2016 confrontation when a leader of an armed militia was killed. The agent, Joseph Astarita, had been accused of firing two shots neither shot struck anyone at a roadblock where law enforcement officials were trying to stop leaders of an armed militia that had taken over a federal wildlife refuge in central Oregon. But the jurors in Federal District Court concluded that Mr. Astarita, 41, a 13-year veteran with the F.B.I. and a member of its elite hostage rescue team, was not the one who fired the mysterious shots. The decision only deepened the mystery that has surrounded the unexplained shots, and has been a topic of intense debate among law-enforcement officials, conspiracy theorists and militia supporters ever since the confrontation along a snowy, tree-lined rural road in central Oregon. The verdict was seen as a victory for the rescue team whose members said they had felt besieged by the charges against Mr. Astarita. Teammates who had supported Mr. Astarita, believing he had never fired the shots, expressed relief at the outcome. And for the F.B.I., the acquittal was a rare public exoneration in face of relentless attacks by President Trump and his conservative allies. The other side should declare victory and go home, he said. The reality is every school that has a program that was failing gainful employment metrics and they knew it couldnt be fixed theyve already closed. The sector today is so much better. Former Obama administration officials said this was no time to leave the field. By withdrawing the gainful employment regulations, the Trump administration is once again choosing the interests of executives and shareholders of predatory for-profit higher education institutions over protecting students and taxpayers, said John King, the Obama-era education secretary charged with enforcing the rule, who called the move outrageous and irresponsible. Ms. DeVos has brought into her administration former for-profit leaders who are known for their strong opposition to the industrys regulation. Ethics filings show that Diane Auer Jones, a senior adviser on postsecondary education, lobbied against funding the rule while working for an operator of for-profit schools, Career Education Corporation. Another top-ranking official, Robert S. Eitel, who joined the department from a for-profit operator, Bridgepoint Education Inc., when it faced multiple government investigations. Mr. Eitel, who has also opposed the gainful employment regulations, recused himself from weighing in on the rule. Rescinding the rule is a derogation of the departments duty to protect students from exploitation and taxpayers from the waste of federal funds, said the New York attorney general, Barbara D. Underwood, whose office joined 17 other state attorneys general that sued the department for delaying its enforcement. The 2014 rule required for-profit institutions to measure how much debt their students incurred against their post-graduation earnings and ordered them to disclose their failing marks in advertisements. A year ago, Ms. DeVos delayed those parts of the regulations for taking effect. But one part of the rule that had already been put into place has identified hundreds of failing programs, many of which went on to shut their doors after they were measured against the new standards, according to an analysis by New America Foundation. That regulation will also be eliminated. In the first assessment of college graduates debt-to-earnings ratios, about 800 programs, or 10 percent of those examined, had failed to meet the requirements laid out in the gainful employment rule, the department announced; of those, 98 percent were for-profits. 1950: The Korean War begins. Its technically never ended. Heres why. First off, the war itself. It killed about 4 million people. On one side, there was South Korea, allied with U.N. forces led by the Americans. On the other side, there was North Korea, backed by the Soviet Union and China. They fought for three years, until A special building had been erected for the signing of the Korean armistice. This was the signing of a cease-fire, and it did seem to offer some hope. We have stopped the shooting. That means much to the fighting men and their families. And it will allow some of the grievous wounds of Korea to heal. But a cease-fire is not a binding peace treaty. It was all quiet on the Korean front the day after the signing of the armistice. It only ended the fighting. It also set guidelines, like for the exchange of prisoners and where the army should withdraw to. The open ground left between must become the demilitarized zone or DMZ. It also laid the groundwork for a permanent peace treaty. But heres the catch. South Koreas president was against the troops President Syngman Rhee is the man who threw a spanner into the works just as the armistice talks at Panmunjom seemed to have reached finality. and never let his country sign it. He wanted to keep fighting to unify the whole peninsula and punish the North. None of this boded well for the peace conference, which kicked off a year later. Seeking solutions for Far Eastern problems. The free world and Communism are again locked in bitter argument. One of those arguments was over whether foreign allies, like the U.S. and China, could keep troops on the peninsula. And another was how to unify the two countries through elections. Even allies couldnt agree amongst themselves. So the talks went nowhere. Sixty-five years later, theres now talk of hashing out a formal ending to the Korean War. And that could set the stage for a broader peace on the Korean peninsula. Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, who enjoys wide popularity in his state, has worked closely with the Democrat-controlled legislature to increase the minimum wage and create a paid family and medical leave program. Gov. Phil Scott of Vermont has defended the Affordable Care Act, and has supported free trade in a state that does a lot of business with Canada. While criticizing the president can be a political death sentence for many Republicans, it is more of a life raft for governors in these states. Mr. Hogan was an early rejecter of Mr. Trump, and Mr. Scott and Mr. Baker have openly criticized the presidents policies. All are rated safe or nearly so by political strategists who study governors races. Three of the five most popular governors are Republicans in blue states, said Jennifer E. Duffy, senior editor for The Cook Political Report, an independent newsletter in Washington. These are governors who have largely proven that they are more in sync with the voters in those states, and what they want and need, than what their party wants from them. These Republicans might be expected to draw strong challenges from more conservative candidates, but a popular governor is not a great target, and Republican voters have largely overlooked any left-leaning proclivities their governors exhibit. I was a little disappointed when he pulled troops from the border, said Krista Hudson, 50, an admirer of Mr. Trump who lives in this rural stronghold of Mr. Hogans. But I still support him. This is a Democratic state, and we have always felt ignored and neglected, and we just see him a lot down here. Nor have many Democrats stepped up to take on these popular governors. We should not neglect the fact that the Democrats running are pretty weak, said Dan Payne, a Democratic strategist in Massachusetts, where a primary next month will determine who will take on Mr. Baker. As a flamboyant veteran of Washington and New York City politics, the campaign strategist Roger J. Stone Jr. has been in any number of knock-em-down scrapes over the years, reaching back four decades to his early days as a self-described dirty trickster in the Nixon administration. But now Mr. Stone, a veteran adviser to President Trump who has long cut a piratical figure on the political scene, appears to be engaged in his stiffest fight yet: the one for his own legal future. On Friday, a stream of developments in the special counsel investigation underscored his peril. An old friend a former procuress from New York whom Mr. Stone has employed as an administrative worker testified about him to the federal grand jury hearing evidence in the inquiry. Another old friend, a New York City radio host, has been subpoenaed to appear before the same grand jury. And one of his close aides was held in contempt of court for ignoring his own subpoena, though the order was stayed. For months now, Mr. Stone, 65, has been a key focus of the inquiry by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, into whether any Trump associates worked with Russian operatives who were secretly trying to tip the election in Mr. Trumps favor. Mr. Stone is central to that question because he appeared to have advance knowledge of some of the moves that Russian hackers were making. Meet Gina, a spy for over 30 years, a devoted public servant and a devotee of Johnny Cash. Shes dedicated her life to protecting our nation. Meet Gina, a spy for over 30 years, an overseer of torture, and a destroyer of valuable documents. She believes that waterboarding should be something that we use. This is Gina Haspel, the nominee to head the C.I.A. with two distinct storylines about her. A C.I.A. P.R. blitz aimed at bolstering her nomination tells us most of what we know about Haspel. Gina Haspel is the best prepared person ever to be nominated for this job. A nonpartisan person. Shes got a spine of steel. Her only goal is to live out the agencys mission. The C.I.A. tells us that she joined towards the end of the Cold War. She wanted adventure and meaning in her life. We dont get too much detail. We know she first deployed to Africa, then later overseas during the Gulf War. At one point she helped catch two terrorists linked to an embassy bombing. They dont say where. But pretty much everything else about her 33 years at the agency is classified. And all the while, the C.I.A. says she remained a big fan of her alma maters basketball team: the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Now critics of Haspel are more concerned with what the C.I.A. isnt saying about her. America shouldnt be known for torture. She was supportive of the program. A cover-up from A to Z. A dirty past. After 9/11. she managed a secret C.I.A. prison in Thailand. And at that prison she oversaw the torture of a detainee. And then, later, she helped execute an order to destroy videotapes of brutal interrogations. Heres her then-boss explaining why he didnt want the tapes kept: It would make the C.I.A. look bad. And it would actually, in my view, it almost destroyed the clandestine service because of it. The president decided to focus on good Gina. Gina the trailblazer. Gina, by the way, who I know very well who I worked very closely with... will be the first woman director of the C.I.A. Critics worry that the presidents embrace of torture wont get any pushback from Haspel. What do you think about waterboarding, Mr. Trump? I said, I love it. And Id bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding. Torture works, O.K., folks. Haspel recently gave a very rare public appearance on Capitol Hill. Her aim: to woo some of her critics. She smiled and appeared approachable, more public servant than controversial public official. SAO PAULO, Brazil Brazil has beat its own macabre record for homicides: 63,880 people were murdered across the country in 2017, up 3 percent from the year before, according to a new study. Thats 175 deaths per day. Data from the Brazilian Forum of Public Security, a research organization, shows the murder rate in the country was 30.8 per 100,000 people, up from 29.9 in 2016. For the sake of comparison, the United States had five homicides per 100,000 people in 2015 the most recent year for which data are available down from eight per 100,000 in 1996. Even Mexico, which is also suffering from a soaring murder rate, had less homicides per capita with 25 per 100,000 last year. What is driving the increase in homicides? Organized crime is one of the driving factors behind the rise. Brazils murder rate has soared as rival drug gangs battle for territory in a country that shares borders with the three biggest cocaine producing countries in the world Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. Brazil is a major consumer of both cocaine and crack and a key transit point for cocaine headed to Europe and Asia. Not surprisingly, two of the states with the highest murder rates, Acre and Ceara, are thoroughfares along the main smuggling routes. To the editor: For years the South Florida Clean Water Movement eco activism group has been trying to send out warning signs, (more like S.O.S flares) to the SWFL community at large about the very real possibility of a very real ecological disaster via the toxic Lake O discharges, that could very well happen here. Well, that fear of our hometown becoming a disaster area, and to have the Lake O discharges ecological disaster become synonymous with the name Fort Myers Beach, Florida, has rolled in with each tide now. As the tide rolls in and back out each day it brings with it dead sea life, loss of our thriving tourism and real estate industries, a major threat to all human health, and an eco system so brutalized that it will take years to heal and recuperate. If ever. This harsh reality is now known as our brand new reality. It is no longer just a fear of it possibility happening, because it has happened here! Its not longer a worry that the whole world may now see us as a dirty water destination, because the rest of the whole world knows what really is happening here as a dirty water destination. Early check out rates are skyrocketing on the island the last week alone. Real estate is bottoming out to the point of seeing closures being backed out of since this ecological disaster begun. Long-time residents desperately trying to sell their homes, apartments, and condos now due to the fear of property value losses immediately associated with this very real water crisis at hand. Local establishments have closed their doors to operational biz as usual due to the mixture of the Lake O discharges and a high concentrated version of red tide bloom hovering the island. We as the South Florida Clean Water Movement have also been warning of the ramifications from the Lake O discharges ecological disaster upon our own SWFL geographical areas. An ecological disaster always turns into an economic collapse, especially within these communities that sadly had it happen to them in the past. Use the Love Canal environmental disaster as a reference of what our brand new reality very quickly is now becoming that very harsh reality we had trying to warn Forth Myers Beach about. This is an example of how ecological disasters end up destroying our economy while devastating local coastal communities which rely 100 percent on water quality. You dont have to be a water quality expert to fully understand that without clean water locally, we will not have tourism driving the economic engine that fuels our local economy as a whole. We are at the tipping point of losing it all. We are at a major crossroad to the future of our hometown and the need to protect it and persevere to the fullest from such ecological disasters. We plan a commitment within local collaborations to include South Florida Clean Water Movement activists, local mayors, local biz folks, community leaders, chamber of commerce members and lead personal, and all of our hometown residents to work together to save our community from this very real ecological disaster happening now to us all! We will unite all efforts to combat the perception war now under way; we will work side by side with the Fort Myers Beach mayor as well as the Sanibel Island mayor; we will reach out to the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce to help get local biz folks to fill out the forms to show financial losses formally; we as the South Florida Clean Water Movement will stand side by side with Fort Myers Beach, Florida through this ongoing environmental disaster that is very real and very much happening now to us all in one negative fashion or another. This is affecting us all in all possible ways. We must stick together now as a community which is truly the victim of the Lake O discharges ecological disaster, not the people who are to be blamed for this nightmare. Instead of acting like we as a community have throughout history when it comes to being complacent to the never-ending Lake O discharges, why not this time be proactive about it a community and clean water movement activists showing that working together is a much better path to real solutions, together. We sadly live in a society where it has to happen to you personally for it to be considered real. Well folks, it is now happening to all of you! I can assure you it is now very real. Now that the writing which has been on the wall for years has finally been read, we can now react without fear. Now that weve chosen to let the hidden elephant out of the closet to freely run down the beach to fully be exposed as the truth, we can finally face our ugly truth. Now that we as a community have hit the tipping point when it comes to this very real disaster, we have a golden opportunity to turn a negative into a positive by showing this is completely All About Us and working together no matter political party affiliation or any other so-called difference or differences that are really only meant to divide us in the end. Now more so then ever WE must unite for clean water as a community before its too late for us all and all of our own personal, business, or political worth of an island known as home. Stand up to save Fort myers Beach from the toxic Lake O discharges ecological disaster happening now as a collaboration of an effort. If we choose not to unite fully, then the brand new reality will be that we all lose everything that is Fort Myers Beach. John G Heim South Florida Clean Water Movement co founder 34 year island local GEORGETOWN, Guyana The old tensions are rumbling again. Three years ago, Guyana attempted to set aside decades of ethnic divisions when it voted in a multiracial governing coalition that gave voice to a new generation of politics. With a promising discovery of oil offshore around that time, the future suddenly looked brighter for a country where most college-educated people emigrate to the United States, Canada and Britain. But old habits have proven hard to break. The political party that held power for 23 years, before the new coalition was voted in, is already accusing the government of stacking the decks for the national election in 2020. Government preparations for the first oil production in the countrys history are going slowly. And promised investigations into past corruption by successive governments have floundered. We thought they would change everything, but they didnt change anything, Clement Dhanpat, a farmer of Indian descent, said as he walked out of a rice field on a recent day after spreading fertilizer. PUL-I-ALAM, Afghanistan Ordered to investigate an airstrike by American warplanes that killed at least 17 Afghan men on Tuesday, Afghan and American investigators have reached starkly different conclusions about the identity of the victims. The bombing, just south of the Afghan capital, set off the latest dispute over the human toll of American bombing in the country. The Afghan investigation was up-close and gruesomely personal. As Zer Gul, a local police commander, sorted through the body parts at the scene, in the Azra District of Logar Province, he concluded that nearly all the victims were police officers under his command, along with a few volunteers who were allies of the police force. He recognized the uniforms they wore, he said, but he also knew some of his own men by body parts he could identify. Anyone who denies any police were killed are liars and rumormongers, Mr. Gul said in an interview on Wednesday. Definitely American forces bombed our front line and 12 police were killed here and five more were killed on another outpost. They bombed our lines instead of the Talibans lines. KABUL, Afghanistan Taliban insurgents and Afghan government forces battled for control of the key southeastern city of Ghazni on Friday, with both sides claiming victory at the end of the day without any independent confirmation. If the Taliban takeover is confirmed, such a rout would be the insurgents most important strategic gain in years. If it falters, it will be evidence once again that the insurgents can do serious damage but cannot take and hold territory. Local witnesses and health officials feared the casualty toll would be high. Zahir Shah Nikmal, head of the provincial department of public health, said 16 bodies and 40 wounded people had been brought to hospitals so far. Almost all were members of the security forces, he said, and officials were trying to arrange evacuations by helicopter for the critically wounded. The American military said it had sent helicopters to support Afghan troops in Ghazni, and that it had carried out one airstrike, using a drone. SEOUL, South Korea More than 33,000 tons of North Korean coal was illegally imported to South Korea last year in violation of United Nations and other sanctions, the South Korean government said Friday. A government customs agency, the Korea Customs Service, asked prosecutors to indict the heads of three South Korean companies that transport coal. It said the companies imported the North Korean coal, totaling $5.8 million in value, between April and October of last year, and it accused them of falsifying documents to indicate that the coal was of Russian origin. The owners of 14 ships involved in transporting the coal from North Korea to ports in the Russian Far East, and from there to South Korea, could also face penalties under United Nations sanctions, South Korean officials said. It was unclear whether the owners of the ships that loaded the coal in Russia knew it was from North Korea. Last August, the United Nations Security Council barred all member nations from importing North Korean coal, iron ore and other significant sources of hard currency for the isolated regime. Separately, South Korea has banned trade with North Korea since the North was accused of sinking a South Korean Navy ship in a torpedo attack in 2010. BUCHAREST, Romania Antigovernment protests in the Romanian capital turned violent Friday night as the police clashed with protesters, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. More than 240 people, including some security personnel, were reported injured. An estimated 100,000 people gathered throughout the day in Bucharests Piata Victoriei to express their anger at the government, with tens of thousands protesting in other cities across the country. Chief among their grievances are legislative changes that many say will weaken the rule of law. We want democracy and laws that defend citizens, not politicians, said Moise Maracine, 33, who flew from Britain, where he lives and owns a business. Organizers sought to draw Romanians living outside the country to this demonstration, the latest in a series. President Trumps abrupt increase in tariffs on Turkey, aggravating an economic crisis in the country that spilled into global financial markets on Friday, appeared to be a response to Turkeys refusal to release an American pastor. But the escalation also reflected a litany of deep-seated grievances between the United States and Turkey that threatens relations between the two NATO allies. Those grievances, analysts said, have been amplified by Mr. Trump and his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both strong-willed leaders who share a penchant for invective and doubling down when threatened. You have all the ingredients for a catastrophe, said Marc Pierini, a former European Union diplomat to Turkey who is now a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe. Sinan Ciddi, executive director of the Institute of Turkish Studies in Washington, said Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Trump were headed toward the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. Our columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin and his Times colleagues help you make sense of major business and policy headlines and the power-brokers who shape them. Sign Up Here 2 of 11 Rick Gates testified this week in the fraud trial of Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign manager. Mr. Gates, the prosecutions star witness and Mr. Manaforts onetime protege, testified that he had been involved in criminal activity with his former boss. The charges Mr. Manafort faces stem from work the two men did together for pro-Russia political forces in which country? The four major trade groups representing the U.S. marketing industry are pushing back against the Trump Administrations proposal to add a question regarding citizenship to the 2020 Census. An August 7 memo sent to the Commerce Department which was jointly signed by the CEOs of the Association of National Advertisers, the American Advertising Federation, the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the Advertising Research Foundation laid out these groups criticisms of the proposed plan, which they believe could harm the decennial procedures data, which allocates both federal funds as well as seats of the U.S. House of Representatives based on states populations. We are concerned that the addition of a citizenship question would depress response among both citizens and their families (even if family members are indeed citizens), the letter read, in part. That runs the risk of non-respondent bias by significantly undercounting immigrant, minority, and low-income populations. If immigrants and others avoid the national head-count, the census results will be flawed. The Trumps administrations plan presents a challenge to the marketing world, whose continuous research efforts could be damaged as a result of potentially flawed U.S. population data that many believe would result from this decision. Since the census is the foundation for population estimates that support the marketing industry, inaccurate census data would lead to misallocated marketing resources, which could have particularly negative impact on media that server multicultural marketers, the letter continues. The Trump administration in late March announced that it plans to include a question in the 2020 Census regarding how many of a households members are U.S. citizens. The U.S. Justice Department said that data is critical for its enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, which is designed to prevent discriminatory voting practices. The announcement was met with immediate pushback from civil rights groups such as the Urban League and the ACLU, among other critics who said the decision would instill fear in immigrant communities and could potentially deter people from participating in the census, resulting in an underrepresentation of both the national population as well as citizens representation in Congress in areas with large minority and immigrant populations. Several states have since filed lawsuits, alleging the proposal violates the U.S. Constitution and federal laws. Questions regarding U.S. citizenship have appeared in censuses throughout the ages, the last time appearing in 1950. The Commerce Department, which oversees the Census Bureau, had until yesterday been soliciting public comments on the controversial addition in preparation for the upcoming count. The Association of National Advertisers in July retained D.C.-based legal and lobbying firm Venable to advocate on Capitol Hill on data protection and data security issues, among other matters. Todd Barrish For many people, Anthony Bourdains shocking June suicide was one of those instances in which the workaday routine came to a halt as we went online to share our thoughts and memories of the man. Even the President took a moment to offer some kind words about the acerbic Bourdain. That instance was notable because so few events manage to have a lasting impact these days. Think back to some of the big news stories of this year the brief government shut-down, the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics and its all a blur. Its no wonder in this environment that viral videos cant get the traction and staying power they once did. Do any of the most viral ads of 2017 stick in your mind the way that Roller Babies or Old Spice do? Its time to admit that virality almost never happens anymore. When it does, it hits so quickly that it doesnt have a lasting impact. Thats good news for the PR industry. For too long, marketers and clients have assumed there was a formula for virality. Now that virality itself is in question, we can admit the issue has been a distraction and instead focus on reaching the right targets with the right messages. The media no longer supports a viral infrastructure Theres no mass media, even on the Internet. In the first few years, everyone on the Internet passed around the same things. Now its too big and were too split into our little communities. Its sort of like what happened to TV over 50 years, but in this case, it took five. Things now go viral in different niches. Do you know what a Prequel Meme is? Its hard to go a week without a meme based on the Star Wars prequels hitting the front page of Reddit. But Prequel Memes havent caught on the way that the Success Kid or Grumpy Cat or Rickrolling did. The Balkanization of digital media is one reason. Another is that things move too fast these days. Remember that Yanny vs. Laurel thing from May? That lasted three weeks before heading into oblivion, according to Google Trends. The Dresss run was about twice as long in 2015. Things dont last as long because the public and the media dont savor anything. Theres always a new controversial tweet or fresh batch of memes on Reddit to choose from. In praise of category virality While the tendency of the public to move on quickly has troubling implications, from a PR standpoint, the message is that nothing really goes viral anymore. This should be liberating since trying to make something go viral was always a crapshoot. You could argue in the early days that people like BuzzFeed founder Jonah Peretti had a feel for what could go viral, but now there are no experts anymore. But going viral was always a pointless exercise from a branding point of view. For instance, after the huge success of the Roller Babies video in 2009, Evians sales fell 25 percent. Thats not always the case, of course. Dollar Shave Club pretty much built a $1 billion brand around a viral video. But the link between virality and brand performance isnt always clear. Thats why a smarter way to approach the virality issue is to aim for going viral within a certain group. Social media affiliations and our occupations and interest mean that we are very interested in things that affect our groups but couldnt care less about digital mass media. Thats why its better to aim for a category-virality than the traditional kind. Virality is dead. Long live virality. *** By Todd Barrish is president of Indicate Media Digital Public Relations. An Offaly film continues to earn huge acclaim around the country having been shot in Offaly last year. The short film A Timely Gift, directed by Offaly man Padraic Keane, was previously selected for the First Glance Film Festival in LA earlier this year, but this time it was wowing audiences at the Wexford Film Festival. The film's young star, Isabel Connolly, won a second award for her performance in the short film. Earlier this year, the nine-year-old won Best Actor at the First Glance Film Festival in Los Angeles for her role in the short twenty-two minute film. Last weekend, her talent won her another award, this time at the Wexford Film Festival. We are over the moon for her - this is now her second best actor award but this time she was up against adult actors too and still she won, her mother Mandy said. Dave McGlone, Festival Director, told the Leader:The film played on the last night of Wexford Film Festival and was received extremely well and even received a standing ovation. The film is about a woman suffering from amnesia who receives a gift left for her by her grandfather before he died. This gift could be the key to remembering her past. It's lead Degnan Geraghty has also been nominated for multiple awards. Isabel is a familiar face to Irish audiences as she starred in an Expressway TV commercial in 2016. She and her sister Ruby also appear on billboards in the Dublin Airport departure lounge. Director Padraic Keane predicts great things for nine-year-old Isabel. She was brilliant. Shes going to be a future star, Ive no doubt, he said. The cast also includes Jane Walsh (Fay and Janine Hardy (Claire). Other winners at Wexford came from Dublin, Ohio and Wexford. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you have a story for us, sports news, an event happening in your area, or if you want to submit pictures or videos, contact the Offaly Express team via email to justin.kelly@iconicnews.ie, or through our Facebook. Ireland's second biggest Whiskey brand has won the Worldwide Whiskey Trophy. The International Wine & Spirits Competition was won by Tullamore DEW's 18-year-old single malt. This is the first time an Irish whiskey has won this competition in nine years. This year is the 49th year for the IWSC, which was originally created by Anton Massel who was a wine chemist who in 1969. He had the idea to make a competition that would put wines and spirits under chemical analysis. It now receives entries from 80 countries worldwide. This 18 year old malt has been described as having an incredible sweetness, like raspberry macaroons and whipped cream. Baked with a hint of spice, it is both fruity and delicate. Tullamore DEW is the world's second largest Irish whiskey brand with global sales of more than one million cases annually. Tullamore DEW Irish whiskey is triple distilled and a blend of all three types of Irish whiskey. Tullamore DEW's single malt range has already received an array of awards including the Gold Medal at the 2016 Global Irish Whiskey Masters and International Spirits Challenge Awards 2016. "Working on the Tullamore DEW 18 Year Old Single Malt was a two-year mission to craft an extraordinary whiskey that embodies the complex character, subtle sweetness and triple distilled smoothness that define the best of Irish Single Malt," said Brian Kinsman, Tullamore DEW, Master Blender Tullamore DEW 18-year-old single malt is a 41.3% ABV triple distilled, single malt whiskey. It is available now in a limited volume release. Speculation is growing that a sale may be close on a prime development site right in the centre Tullamore. The massive site was once home to the Texas Department Store and Tesco with an adjoining car park. It has been somewhat of an eyesore in the town for more than ten years, although the car park was being run as a public amenity until the end of July. With the sudden closure of that car park, speculation is growing that a buyer may have been found for the site, which has been the subject of major planning applications in the past. An application was lodged with Offaly County Council back in 2008 with a developer hoping to turn the site into a 28,000 sq. metre shopping centre, complete with more than 700 underground car parking spaces. The shopping centre was to have three anchor tenants and 37 retail units. It also planned for the widening of Offaly Street to allow access to the proposed shopping centre. Those plans fell by the wayside as Ireland entered a period of economic turmoil. A further application for retention of planning permission was however granted by Offaly County Council in 2014. While Invirine PLC paid a reported fee of 40 million for the site, which spans three-and-a-half acres in the centre of Tullamore, in 2007, it has since come under the control of a US-based vulture fund. The Offaly Express understands that a reciever from Deloitte was appointed in February of this year, sparking a search for a buyer. The local businessman who was operating the car park in the area is understood to have been told to vacate the site by July 31. Although unconfirmed, it's suggested this may have come about because a buyer has been found by the receiver. A spokesperson for Deloitte was not immediately available for comment when contacted by the Offaly Express on Thursday. Movement on the site, including any future development, would be broadly welcomed in Tullamore, not least because of the state of disrepair to which the current building and site has been allowed to deteriorate to. We will bring you more on this story as we get it. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you have a story for us, sports news, an event happening in your area, or if you want to submit pictures or videos, contact the Offaly Express team via email to justin.kelly@iconicnews.ie, or through our Facebook. Official statistics released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) have revealed the best selling 182 cars in Offaly in July. Toyota was the bestselling brand in Offaly in July showing a 3.5% increase from last year. In total Toyota had a 17.6% market share in the county. Hyundai had a 39.3% increase in sales this July bringing it to 11.6% market share and making it the second most popular brand in Offaly. In third was Renault followed by Nissan and then Kia. The most popular colour this year was grey followed by maroon. White was a close third just ahead of blue and then in fifth was black. There was also four green cars sold in Offaly this year compared to one last year. The two bestselling models were Toyotas. The Toyota Yaris topped the list closely followed by the Toyota C-HR which had an increase of 62% in sales this year. Next up was the Nissan QASHQAI with the Renault Megane coming in a close fourth and the Kia Sportage coming fifth. The most popular engine type sold this year by far is diesel engines. Petrol engines followed second with less than half of what diesel sold. Petrol electric engines saw a massive 161.5% increase from last year and there were just two fully electric cars sold in Offaly in July. McGettigans Bar has created a unique cocktail for a Rose of Tralee who hails from Offaly. It is called the 'The Desert Rose' and it is in honour and support of Rebecca Egan who is the Dubai Rose of Tralee but who is from Ferbane. Rebecca won the Dubai Rose of Tralee title in May and she will be in Tralee in August to try and emulate Jennifer Byrne who became the first Offaly woman ever to win the long-running contest in 2017. Rebecca gave the drink her own seal of approval when she tasted it at McGettigans this week. You can follow Rebecca on Instagram at 'dubairoseoftralee'. The sweet drink, is made of Elderflower liqueur, rose syrup, Pink Gordons gin and Rose Brut Spumante. You can enjoy 'The Desert Rose' for yourself for 10 or two for 16 at any McGettigan's including the ones located in Dublin, Bray and Limerick. McGettigans Galway Bar Manager Tiago Ramos said, McGettigans have supported Rebecca, The Dubai Rose, from day one. Shes a fantastic girl and we believe she has what it takes to win. We were her initial sponsor in the Dubai round of the competition and we are all rooting for her to become the next Rose of Tralee. We wanted to do something to show our support for her, and we thought a drink in her honour, is the most Irish way to do it. Raise a glass to Rebecca. Located on Prospect Hill, just off Eyre Square and within steps of the bustling Shop Street area, McGettigans is open daily serving lunch and dinner as well as an extensive drinks menu including a range of carefully crafted signature cocktails. Guests can enjoy live music and promotions on food and drink throughout the week. There are 19 bars in the McGettigan pub group chain, including in Dublin, Limerick, Bray, Letterkenny, London, Dubai, New York and Asia. You can get "The Desert Rose" from Friday August 17 to Tuesday August 21. 1 Year Of Josh: Last Day to Participate in #EkNumber Challenge, Hurry Up; Contest Ends On August 26! Donald Trump asks protester to have a haircut! Watch the presidents expressions here Feature oi-Shubham US President Donald Trump is not known to hold back his emotions and especially when it comes to its critics, the man simply blasts it out. In the video above, a protester interrupted Trump during his speech at a campaign rally in Minnesota to which he thundered. Donald Trump is as much loved as he is hated; watch video to see what a polarising figure he is "Get him out of here. Go home you mob darling, go home. Get him out of here. Out!" Trump said in an animated way in the direction of the protester. Trump did not spare the protester as he taunted him saying: "Was that a man or woman because he needs a haircut more than I do! I couldn't tell. Needs a haircut!" Well, the maverick president of the US is known for bizarre outbursts and this was just another example. Toddler refuses to let do its mom household cleaning-up job; makes strong argument If you liked the video, explore our site more for them. Credit: UpdateAmerica; Published on Rumble For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 15:45 [IST] Delhi HC asks Centre to respond to pleas by FB, WhatsApp challenging IT Rules PM CARES not a government fund, can't be brought under RTI: Centre tells Delhi HC Right to be forgotten: HC asks Centre, Google to reply to plea for removing verdict from search engine 2G case: HC grants additional time to Kanimozhi, Raja to reply to CBI's appeal against aquittal India oi-Vikas By Vikas The Delhi High Court on Friday granted additional time to former union telecom minister A Raja, DMK leader Kanimozhi and others to file their reply to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s appeal against their acquittal in 2G spectrum allocation scam case. The apex court has fixed the next date of hearing for October 9. Spectrum Politics: Khurshid's startling revelations about 2G case A The special court on December 21, 2017 had acquitted all accused in the 2G spectrum allocation case. While announcing the judgement, special judge O.P. Saini said the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove the charges against 33 persons named in the case. 2G Scam Case: Delhi HC notice to Raja, Kanimozhi on ED, CBI appeal The 2G spectrum case was an alleged scam by the politicians and government officials under the United Progressive Alliance (Congress) coalition government. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Dec 21, 2017 declared no evidence to prosecute the accused and acquitted all accused personnels. The Union Government of that time was accused of undercharging mobile telephone companies for frequency allocation licenses, which they used to create 2G spectrum subscriptions for cell phones. Understand compulsions that prevented you from supporting me: Raja writes to Manmohan Singh Amit Shah rejects scam charge against NDA govt in Rafale deal India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 10: BJP president Amit Shah brushed off allegations of corruption levelled by former union ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha in the Rafale deal, saying credence should be given to the defence minister's statement and not what those "who did not get jobs" say. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the base price of Rafale fighter aircraft negotiated by the Modi government is less than what was finalised by the UPA, he said, adding that the government has already clarified on the matter following the opposition's charges. He was speaking in an interview after releasing a book "Blue print for an economic miracle" authored by Pradeep Gupta, CMD of Axis My India. He was responding to a question about allegations of scam levelled by Shourie and Sinha, both ministers in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan in the aircraft deal. "Will you give credence to the defence minister's statement or those who did not get jobs," he asked. BJP leaders have often hinted that Shourie's and Sinha's relentless attack on the Modi government over various issues is because they were sidelined by it after it came to power in 2014. They had claimed on Wednesday that the alleged scam involving the Rafale deal is much bigger than the Bofors scandal. Shah also asserted that the BJP will return to power in 2019 with a bigger mandate than 2014 . "People have already made up their mind. We have no doubt about it," he said. He also claimed that his party will return to power in three poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as there is an overall "pro-incumbency" sentiment there due to the works of governments there. A day ahead of his rally in West Bengal, Shah said his party will win more than 22 of 42 Lok Sabha seats. To a question about escape of businessmen Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi, he said the Modi government's relentless action against them would ensure that there will be "fewer thieves" now. He said the government cannot give a deadline about when these fugitives will be brought back to India to face trial as it is a judicial process. There will not be any laxity in our government's efforts, he asserted. He also rejected suggestions that some of the BJP's allies are not happy with the party and said all NDA constituents are together. He referred to the NDA's decision to field JD(U) leader Harivansh in the election to the post of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman to make his point. For the first time in over four decades years, the post has gone outside the main party in the government, he said, underlining the BJP's accommodative stand to its allies. The BJP is not like the Congress which dumped its allies when they were not needed, he said, referring to its treatment of the Samajwadi Party when the UPA was in power. PTI BJP holds strategy meet ahead of Triple Talaq Bill's Rajya Sabha test India oi-Vikas By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 10: With the Union Government set to table the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha today, a BJP strategy meeting is currently underway in the Parliament. Bail clause amendment in Triple Talaq approved by Cabinet The BJP-led government would hope that the tweaks in the bill cleared by the cabinet on Thursday would persuade some non-NDA parties, who had concerns about the misuse of the law, to support the bill in its new form. BJP President Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and other senior leaders are present at the meeting, reported ANI. "Women treated unfairly in all communities, even Ram left Sita once": Congress' Hussain Dalwai The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved amendments in the Triple Talaq Bill. Under the amendments cleared, a magistrate will have powers to grant bail. The woman can approach the magistrate to seek subsistence allowance for herself and her minor children, and can also seek custody of her minor children from the magistrate who will take a final call on the matter. Union Cabinet yesterday also approved inclusion of provisions that the complaint in such a case can only be filed by the victim (wife) or blood relations No medicine, no burial: 'Fatwa' against UP woman opposing triple talaq Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today urged Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to support the bill. He said if Congress does not support the 'Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill,' then Rahul Gandhi should not talk of gender justice, dignity and equality. The original bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha last year but has been stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the BJP-led NDA lacks numbers. If the bill is cleared by the Upper House, it will have to go to the Lok Sabha for approval of amendments. Lawyer without brief is like Tendulkar without his bat on cricket ground: SC Can parties giving tickets to those facing criminal charges be de-recognised asks SC India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 10: The Supreme Court sought to know if the Election Commission could be directed by the Centre to de-recognise political parties which give tickets to those candidates facing trial in criminal cases. "Can we direct the Election Commission that if charges are framed against a person, he or she should not be given ticket to contest polls? Can we make such kind of orders? Or should we suggest the legislators to make a law in this regard as political parties are giving tickets to criminals," the Bench asked the Centre. The court further asked how a politician charged with murder would uphold the Constitution. The observations were made while hearing a petition which seeks to disqualify politicians under the Representation of Peoples Act against whom charges have been framed by the trial court in heinous offences. The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra asked if a person charged with a heinous offence will uphold the Constitution as per his oath of affirmation to be a legislator under the Third Schedule. Attorney General, K K Venugopal responded by saying that a person is presumed innocent until found guilty. There is nothing wrong in taking oath until proven guilty, he also said. The court however pointed out to the petitioner that there is a 'Lakshmanrekha' here. We only declare the law, the legislature makes the law, the court further said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 5:41 [IST] Court takes cognisance of ED chargesheet against journalist, Upendra Rai India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 10: A Delhi court has taken cognizance of a charge sheet filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) against journalist Upendra Rai in a money laundering case which alleges that he projected properties generated through "blackmail" and "extortion" as untainted. Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Kulshreshtha took on record the prosecution complaint, ED's equivalent to a charge sheet, filed by special public prosecutors N K Matta and Nitesh Rana, and posted the matter for August 20 for the scrutiny of documents. The Delhi-based journalist was arrested by the agency for the alleged offence of money laundering, punishable under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court also directed the ED to hand over a copy of the charge sheet and other documents filed along with it to Rai, which was complied by the agency. In its charge sheet filed through advocate A R Aditya on August 6, the agency said that Rai was a journalist who crafted leverage out of his access to government offices as a media person. The agency alleged that Rai took undue advantage of his connections with several government officials to gain access to confidential information available with them about the penal proceedings being contemplated against various defaulters, at times in advance. After having received references from his connections in government agencies in respect of different prospective entities, Rai would get friendly with them and gather confidential information to finally blackmail them to extort money, the charge sheet said. Subsequently, Rai would force his targeted victims to execute a sham consultancy agreement with him to legitimise and project the proceeds of his crime or properties involved in money laundering as untainted money, the ED alleged. He was arrested on June 8 by the ED under the PMLA at the Tihar jail here, moments after he secured bail in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to alleged extortion and dubious financial transactions. The ED had registered a money laundering case against him based on the CBI FIR related to alleged extortion and dubious financial transaction. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 9:20 [IST] Arrangements at Kanteerva Stadium for fans to pay last respect to Puneeth Rajkumar Puneeth Rajkumar passes away: Here is how politicians, top celebrities, cricketers react to actors death CWC issues flood alert for Cauvery basin areas India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Bengaluru, Aug 10: Around 80,000 cusecs of water will be discharged from Kabini in Tamil Nadu whereas 42,000 cusecs of water will be released from Krishnarajasagar (KRS) dam in Karnataka. Kapila river in Mysuru is flowing above danger mark due to heavy rains in the catchment area. National Highway connecting Mysuru and Ooty cut off as the road is inundated. The revival of the southwest monsoon in the upper catchment areas of the Cauvery and the Kabini has augmented the inflow and outflow water. According to reports, the discharge from the Kabini reservoir in H.D. Kote reached a record rate of 75,000 cusecs on Thursday which is the highest in recent years, while the outflow from the KRS in the adjoining Mandya district was pegged at the rate of 45,000 cusecs. The Central Water Commission on Thursday issued a flood alert for Cauvery basin areas after Karnataka "In view of the heavy rain in Karnataka and Kerala, there is a likelihood of heavy release of water from Kabini and KRS reservoirs. The combined discharge of more than one lakh cusecs is expected to reach Mettur dam within two days. Suitable precautionary steps may be taken and downstream areas informed of the release," said an advisory issued by the Commission. Video of Kabini Dam in Mysuru Dist releasing 71,000 cusec at 1400 hrs today pic.twitter.com/MD2bdRgWrM Central Water Commission Official Flood Forecast (@FFM_CWC) August 9, 2018 Dalai Lama congratulates Nancy Pelosi on being elected as US House of Representatives speaker Dalai Lama urges people to come together in fight against COVID-19 Dalai Lama apologises for saying Nehru had a "self-centered attitude" India oi-Vikas By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 10: After drawing flak for saying that Jawaharlal Nehru had a "self-centered attitude", Tibetan Spiritual leader The Dalai Lama has apologised. "My statement has created controversy, if I said something wrong I apologise," The Dalai Lama said. Here is why Dalai Lama called Nehru self-centred The fourteenth Dalai Lama had in Goa on Wednesday said India would have remained a united country if Jinnah had become the first prime minister. He said Jawaharlal Nehru had a "self-centered attitude" to become India's first prime minister even though Mahatma Gandhi was in favour of Muhammad Ali Jinnah taking the top post at that time. 'Institution of Dalai Lama' no more politically relevant, its up-to people to decide: Dalai Lama "Mistakes always happen. Now, look at India. I think Mahatma Gandhi ji was very much willing to give prime ministership to Jinnah. But Pandit Nehru refused. I think Pandit Nehru's was a little bit self-centred," he had said. "Pandit Nehru, I know very well, was a very experienced person, very wise, but sometimes mistakes happen" Also Read | Dalai Lama event in Delhi scrapped, Tibetans shift 'Thank You India' programme to Dharamshala The 83-year-old monk was addressing an event at the Goa Institute of Management in Goa's Sankhalim town, located about 40 km from Panaji. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 15:54 [IST] Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets S Korean counterpart India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 10: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met her South Korean counterpart Young-Moo Song and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties in security and strategic spheres, an official said. The two ministers discussed "issues of mutual interest" and ways to strengthen cooperation in defence and security, the defence ministry official said. The meeting comes ahead of a planned high-level meeting between the rival Koreas on Monday. The two Koreas would meet as the US and the North struggle to reach a common ground following the summit between American President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June. Young's visit to India comes a month after South Korean President Moon Jae-in's visited New Delhi on July 8-11. During President Moon's visit, India and South Korea agreed to explore possibilities to coordinate efforts in defence and strategic spheres to benefit from each other's unique capabilities and experience. They resolved to enhance military exchanges, training and experience-sharing, and research and development, including innovative technologies for mutual benefit. The two sides also agreed to encourage their defence industries to intensify cooperation. PTI Either reconsider decision to allow Kanwar Yatra or we will pass the order, SC tells UP govt Delhi: Kanwariya who smashed a car arrested, said to be a drug addict, thief India oi-Vikas By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 10: Based on CCTV footage which clearly shows a Kanwariya smashing a grey i10 car on Tuesday, the Delhi Police yesterday (August 9) arrested Rahul alias Billa from west Delhi's Uttam Nagar. UP: Two groups of Kanwariyas clash in Bulandshahr Rahul is said to be a drug addict and was involved in a theft case in 2014. He had allegedly stolen gold and silver jewellery worth over Rs 40,000 and Rs 2,500 in cash from a house. He was then arrested and put behind the bars for around 6-7 months, and was later released on bail, said reports. Delhi Police's DCP (West) Vijay Kumar said that during the enquiry to identify people involved in the incident, they scanned CCTVs in the area and mobile footage that were doing the rounds on social media. Uttar Pradesh top cop showers rose petals on kanwariyas The police had gone to Rahul's home in Uttam Nagar and questioned his brother-in-law who said that the suspect was in the neighbourhood. The police team then searched the entire neighbourhood before finally nabbing Rahul around 6.30 pm on Thursday, reported HT. On Tuesday, a group of kanwariyas went on rampage, vandalising a car in Delhi's Moti Nagar after it allegedly brushed past one of them. The incident took place on a stretch of busy road near Moti Nagar metro station causing a traffic snarl and forcing some of the terrified commuters to take a detour. Kanwar Yatra 2018: From Delhi police advisory to non-veg ban-all you need to know According to police, the grey i10 car was being driven by a woman, who was with a male friend, when the car allegedly hit a Kanwariya. A heated argument ensued between the two sides following which the Kanwariyas damaged the vehicle with sticks, Deputy Commissioner of Police (west) Vijay Kumar reportedly said. Recently, videos were put up on facebook showing Kanwar Yatris openly destroying cars by hitting it repeatedly with a stick and even overturning it. Rahul was the main culprit and the man hunt for other co-accused in on. Kerala received 135 per cent extra rain this month, says IMD How many pregnant women in Kerala have died due to Covid-19? Health Minister Veena Geroge reveals How an Arabic to Malayalam book on Jihad led to Islamic fanaticism in Kerala Dont visit Kerala, US tells its citizens India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 10: The US has issued an advisory, asking its citizens not to visit Kerala because of the flash floods in the state. In the advisory, the US said the heavy southwest monsoon rains triggered landslides and floods in the state, and American citizens should avoid visiting all affected areas in the state. "Avoid all areas throughout Kerala affected by landslides and flash floods," it read. At least 22 people have died in Kerala due to incessant rainfall and flooding in the past two days, the Home Ministry said today. Kerala floods: Army, NDRF teams deployed for rescue ops, death toll rises to 22 Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the situation as "very grim". With water levels rising in various dams and reaching almost their maximum capacity, shutters of at least 22 reservoirs in Kerala have been opened to drain out excess water. Heavy rains for the past two days and release of water from the Idamalayar dam yesterday, resulted into localised flooding in low-lying areas in the northern districts of Kerala. The flood water also triggered landslides at some places. Wife has right to know husbands salary says MP High Court Will you hand over your mobile phone? HC asks petitioner who wants to ban mobile phones Extreme depravity says MP HC while upholding death sentence of rapist India oi-Madhuri Jabalpur, Aug 10: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld a lower court's order awarding death sentence to a man for raping and killing a four-year-old girl, observing that "humanity is more in danger in the hands of persons like the convict". Describing the offence as an act of "extreme depravity" and taking note of the rise in crimes against minor girls, the court said in such cases, an extreme punishment would deter other criminals. "The extreme judgment conveys a message to these predators that it is not a soft state where criminals committing such serious crimes may get reprieve in the guise of humanity," a division bench of Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla said yesterday. "Crimes against the girl child are on a rise, therefore, extreme punishment may deter other criminals from indulging in such crimes," the bench said, dismissing the appeal filed by Rahul Chouhtha (23) against his conviction by a trial court in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district. Chouhtha had lured the four-year-old girl with biscuits in Shahdol on May 13 last year, before raping and killing her. Shahdol District and Sessions Judge R K Singh had sentenced Chouhtha to death on February 28 this year. The high court said such a crime sent a "shockwave" in the society when committed against a girl child. It was an act of "extreme depravity" when the appellant prompted a young child, whose only fault was that she believed the appellant to be her well-wisher, to accompany him, it observed. "Humanity is more in danger in the hands of persons like the appellant. Therefore, we find that the capital punishment awarded to the appellant is one of the rarest of rare cases where the extreme punishment is warranted," the bench said. The court said it had the social responsibility to make the citizens of the country know that law could not come to the rescue of such a person on the basis of humanity. "The appellant was a young unmarried boy, aged 22 years at the time of commission of the offence, but he breached the trust of a girl child of four years when he tempted her by offering biscuits to accompany him to meet her father," the court said. He violated her and took her life within three-four hours of taking her with him, the bench observed. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 9:13 [IST] How many pregnant women in Kerala have died due to Covid-19? Health Minister Veena Geroge reveals How an Arabic to Malayalam book on Jihad led to Islamic fanaticism in Kerala Kerala Floods: Tourist, heavy goods vehicles banned in high ranges of Idukki India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Kochi, Aug 10: Two more shutters of Idukki dam were opened on Friday which resulted in increasing the water flow into Periyar river to 125 cuses (1,25,000 ltres/sec). Kerala Government has imposed a ban on the movement of heavy goods vehicles and tourist vehicles in the high ranges of Idukki. The decision was taken on account of unabated rains in the area. The government has deployed AN 32, two MI 17 and one ALH aircraft of the Air Force and one ALH helicopter each of the Navy and Coast Guard in rescue and relief operations. The Government has ensured the availability of a C17 aircraft if a need arises. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed District Collectors to hire necessary number of bulldozers, generators and lights. The officials were instructed to provide food, water, clothes and toilet facilities for the people staying in relief camps. The service of doctors has been ensured in the camps. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the state. PM has offered all possible assistance to those affected. Landslide in Idukki Fire Services personnel rescue a child following a landslide, triggered by heavy rains, in Idukki, Kerala on Thursday, Aug 9, 2019. (PTI Photo) Damaged properties People inspect a damaged car following a landslide, triggered by heavy rains, in Idukki, Kerala on Thursday, Aug 9, 2018. Floods damage house Land near a house is seen washed away following a landslide, triggered by heavy rains, at Vythiri in Wayanad district of Kerala on Thursday, Aug 9, 2018. (PTI Photo) Flash flood Roof of a house collapses following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, at Kodencheri in Kozhikode district of Kerala on Thursday, Aug 9, 2018. (PTI Photo) Road crumbles A section of Nilambur- Karad road is seen washed away following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, at Malappuram in Kerala on Thursday, August 09, 2018. (PTI Photo) Temple submerged in Kochi Aluva Mahadeva Temple is seen submerged in the water following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, at Kochi in Kerala on Thursday, Aug 9, 2018. (PTI Photo) International academics and scholars to oppose NRC; signing petition India oi-Vinod By Vinod New Delhi, Aug 10: The issue of National Register of Citizenship of India (NRC) has crossed over to the borders of the country when some intellectuals at Cambridge University have raised their voices against it. They are getting support from professors, writers, filmmakers and academics from all across the world with the argument that people included in NRC are poor people and they would become their voice. The campaign against NRC was started from the Cambridge University with an online petition that has now been joined by over 700 academics, authors, writers, film maker and even students from several universities. They intend to mobilize people against it. This movement has got the support of a renowned history professor of Michigan University Mrinalini Sinha. As per the petition initiated by these scholars, educationist and activists that none of 40 lakh people that have not been able to make it to NRC are illegal citizens. Supporting the petition, Professor Nabnipa Bhattacharya of the Sociology department of Delhi University, who belongs to Shilong and worked on its history, demanded that a review petition must be filed on this issue. She said that there was nowhere NRC in the Assam Accord in 1985 which was signed by the central government, the Assam government, AASU and AAGSP while NRC was mentioned first in 2005 while the Supreme Court cancelled this by saying it useless. Nabanipa quipped that the government has spoiled Rs 1300 crore as if the government cannot send them back to Bangladesh then why did it spent so much money on it. She said that around 40 lakh people will have to face the consequences of the failure of the government. When Bangladesh does not accept them as their citizens how come the Indian government deports them? Many professors and students too are against the NRC draft and the petition signed by JNU Associate professor of Sociology Tanvir Fazal said that the government had made 40 lakh people stateless by bringing NRC. He said that it has been done by just one state so far if it is done by all the states situation would become dangerous. How these poor people will prove their citizenship? The government is conspiring to take away their voting rights. Fazal said that this step of the government would harm the economy and unemployment will increase. He said that there was no pact of deportation with the Bangladesh government. In such a situation, how 40 lakh people will be managed. He said that the Congress and BJP are national political parties and instead of getting entangled into trivial issues like this, they must take initiative to solve this problem. Film maker of Kajaria and Mere Khwabo Me Jo Aaye fame Madhurita Anand too has supported this petition by saying that it is unfortunate and the matter of shame. "We are a country that gives shelter to Dalai Lama but for the political reasons humanity is brushed aside," she said. She further said that she wants to ask a question from politicians that kids begging on streets are not visible to them because they are not vote banks asking at least 4 lakh people must sign this petition to support 40 lakh people. The work on NRC was started in 2015 under the supervision of Supreme Court of India which was ordered on the petition filed by an NGO called Assam Public Works as a Public Interest Litigation. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 21:01 [IST] Arrangements at Kanteerva Stadium for fans to pay last respect to Puneeth Rajkumar Puneeth Rajkumar passes away: Here is how politicians, top celebrities, cricketers react to actors death Karnataka govt assures assistance to flood-hit Kerala India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Bengaluru, Aug 10: Karnataka Government assured all possible help to flood affected neighbouring Kerala. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has directed Chief Secretary TM Vijayabhaskar to send relief materials worth Rs.10 crore and team of doctors to Kerala. Don't visit Kerala, US tells its citizens Chief Minister's office tweeted, "Incessant rains have caused floods and land slides in Kerala, leading to a loss of more than 20 lives. Discussed the situation with @CMOKerala Pinarayi Vijayan and offered all possible help from Karnataka,including medical aid. We stand with our neighbours at this hour of need." Incessant rains have caused floods and land slides in Kerala, leading to a loss of morethan 20 lives. Discussed the situation with @CMOKerala Pinarayi Vijayan and offered all possible help from Karnataka,including medical aid. We stand with our neighbours at this hour of need. CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) August 9, 2018 Kerala floods: Death toll rises to 26, 2 more shutters of Idukki dam opened today Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan describing the situation as "very grim". Heavy rains for the past two days and release of water from the Idamalayar dam on Wednesday, resulted into localised flooding in low-lying areas in the northern districts of Kerala. Will try to bring good budget concerning farmers for Karnataka: BS Yediyurappa Karnataka Cabinet: Full list of new ministers and those who were excluded Karnataka: Who is entitled for crop loan waiver and who is not India oi-Madhuri Bengaluru, Aug 10: The Karnataka Cabinet gave its approval for waiver of crop loans worth Rs Rs 9,448 crore availed of in the current financial year from the cooperative sector. Addressing a press conference, after the meeting, Kumaraswamy said the decision will be implemented with immediate effect. With this, the total crop loan waiver has gone up to Rs 44,000 crore from the original Rs 34,000 crore. The increase in loan waiver quantum will benefit 20.38 lakh farmers. The restriction that crop loan scheme can be availed of by just one member per family has been withdrawn, the chief minister said. Who is entitled and who is not: For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 5:59 [IST] Kerala TET result 2020 declared: Here is how you check Kerala floods: Red Alert for Idukki and Wayanad till Aug 14 India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas of the state with the leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala. They were supposed to land at Kattappana in Idukki but were forced to move to Wayanad due to bad weather conditions. By 10:30 AM, CM and team will land at St Mary's College, Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad. Meanwhile, Operation "Madad" has been launched by the Southern Naval Command (SNC) at Kochi since 09 Aug 2018 for assisting the state administration and undertaking disaster relief operations due to the unprecedented flooding experienced in many parts of the state. Ten districts have been put on red alert due to the possibility of more water being released from the Idukki Reservoir. These are: Wayanad, Idukki, Alappuzha,Kottayam, Ernakulam,Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kollam and Pathanamthitta. At least 29 people have died in Kerala due to heavy rains and landslides, the Home Ministry said. Districtwise helpline numbers: District Telephone No. Thiruvananthapuram 0471 - 2322303, 2328652,8547638181 Thrissur 0487 - 2333070 Palakkad 0491 - 2546632 Kollam 0474 - 2742993 Kottayam 0481 - 2563701 Idukki 0486 - 2222812 Pathanamthitta 0468 - 2222670 Kasaragod 0499 - 4255544 Malappuram 0483 - 2734857 Wayanad 0495 - 2370095 Kozhikode 0495 - 2370095 Kannur 0497 - 2707080 Ernakulam 0484 - 2361369 Alappuzha 0477 - 2242073 Muvattupuzha 0485 - 2832252 Five members of a family lost their lives in Idukki's Adimali town. Two persons were pulled out alive from the debris by the local people and police. Around 600 cusecs of water were discharged from the Idamalayar dam this morning, with the water level rising to 169.95 metres against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 169m. The water level at Idukki dam was 2,398 at 8 am, 50 feet against the FRL of 2,403 feet. The administration has been put on high-alert. Stay tuned for live updates on Kerala floods: Heavy rains for the past two days and release of water from the Idamalayar dam yesterday, resulted into localised flooding in low-lying areas in the northern districts of Kerala. The flood water also triggered landslides at some places. Right to be forgotten: HC asks Centre, Google to reply to plea for removing verdict from search engine Matrimonial dispute settled, Somnath Bharti tells HC India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 10: The Delhi High Court was informed that AAP MLA Somnath Bharti and his wife have settled the matrimonial dispute between them through mediation. When Bharti urged the court to quash the criminal case lodged against him by his wife Lipika Mitra, Justice R K Gauba asked him to wait for some time so that his spouse and two minor children were comfortably settled in the house with him. The court listed the matter for further hearing on March 7 next year and stayed the proceedings in the trial court. The court was hearing a plea by Bharti seeking quashing of the FIR lodged against him by his wife for the alleged offences of attempt to murder, harassment cheating, criminal intimidation, causing miscarriage without the woman's consent, causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means and criminal breach of trust under the IPC. "Let the dust settle. Let's wait for sometime. Let her (wife) and the children be comfortable. First comes the comfort of the wife and children, then rest," the court said. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Bharti, told the court that the AAP leader and his wife had participated in the mediation and they have settled their dispute. He said they wanted to live together peacefully along with their children. Asked by the judge whether Bharti and Mitra were living together, the couple, who was present in the court, replied in affirmative. The court issued notice and sought response of Mitra and Delhi Police on the former Delhi law minister's plea. The investigators had on April 5, 2016 filed a charge sheet before the trial court in the case, claiming that the woman had alleged that Bharti had endangered the life of an unborn child she was carrying by unleashing his dog on her. The MLA from Malviya Nagar assembly, who was granted bail in October 2015 after being in jail for eight days, had denied the allegations. Mitra had on June 10, 2015 filed a complaint against him with the Delhi Commission for Women and an FIR was lodged by the police on September 9, 2015 for allegedly subjecting her to domestic violence and trying to kill her. The AAP leader was arrested in the wee hours of September 29, 2015 after the Supreme Court had ordered him to surrender. The trial court had granted bail to Bharti observing that he was no longer required for investigation and since he was a member of Delhi Assembly, there was no ground of apprehension that he may flee. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 9:27 [IST] Procedural part of triple talaq bill over; political part to start soon India oi-Vinod By Vinod New Delhi, Aug 10: The matter of triple talaq is not yet over with the adjournment of monsoon session of Parliament without getting triple talaq bill passed as per the wishes of the government. Actually now the matter starts as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to take it to the people especially with the Muslim women. Attempts were made to get the bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha on the last day of monsoon session and get it passed the same day. The bill is already through in the Lok Sabha. It was also discussed in Parliament that if need be the session could be extended but no consensus has been reached about and Parliament was adjourned. This is the last year of the government in the office and if the BJP was trying to win over Muslim women and up to some extent Hindus, the Congress was also not ready to lose its Muslim supporters by giving in to the demands of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Government fails to bring everyone on board on triple talaq A big section of Muslim women are in support of this bill of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government. With the decision of the cabinet some amendments in the bill have also made relaxing some tough provisions like making bail little easy in case arrest is made after triple talaq; then scope for conciliation and FIR only by victims of kins. The government gave message with this that it it is serious about the bill and it is opposition that is hurdle on the way. But with this the procedural part is over. Now, the political part is to be played when the BJP and the Congress go out to meet people. The BJP has started it right from the Rajya Sabha when Union Law minister was found shouting that opposition did not allow this to happen. In the name of election campaign, they will reach out to Muslim women that the Congress and the other opposition are against giving rights to Muslim women. What can govt do if Congress refuses to back amended Triple Talaq Bill Similarly the Congress too is going to take the same rout. The idea of Congress president on these issues are very clear, he does not want to lose minority however he is trying to win over majority votes. The BJP is also looking to blame failure of this bill not getting passed on Congress to gain sympathy of people. The BJP leadership was saying that it was a big political opportunity for the Congress that it missed out. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 17:58 [IST] Revision of NRC, not a major issues says Sarma India oi-Madhuri Agartala, Aug 10: Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the revision of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state is not a major issue as it is not the final one. Sarma and a senior BJP leader from the northeast, said it would be premature to conclude anything on the NRC at this stage since only 40 per cent of the work had been done. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who was present during the interaction with newsmen, said he was unaware of any such demand of NRC in the state. Sarma said the number of people excluded from the draft citizen's register in Assam will change "drastically" after the claims and objections were taken into consideration. "There is no issue with NRC (in Assam) yet. It is still in the draft stage. Claims and objections will soon start," Sarma, who is the convenor of the NEDA, a political coalition formed by the BJP along with regional political parties, said. The NRC revision has rocked Assam since the publication of its final draft on July 30. Names of over 40 lakh people have been excluded from the draft NRC, which is touted to be a proof of Assamese identity. "But it is not proper to come to a conclusion regarding the NRC in Assam. It is just in a draft position. In our NRC, names of many people are not there. So going by the number, a lot of attention has been created. This number will drastically change after claims and objections," he added. Sarma suggested that other states could also try to replicate the Assam model of NRC after the process was complete. "Let Assam produce a correct and perfect NRC. Then people should try to replicate it." "Ideally, the entire country should have a register of citizenship," he said. On NDA ally Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura's demand of NRC revision in Tripura, he said there was no "huge requirement" for such a decision. "Going by the demography of Tripura, I dont think there is a huge requirement. Assam's demography has changed. NRC revision was done in Assam as per the Assam Accord. But in Tripura, there is no accord, no cut-off date, neither any way to generate any legacy document," Sarma said. Another regional party, the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra, too had demanded an NRC revision and deportation of foreigners who had illegally migrated to Tripura from neighbouring Bangladesh. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 6:10 [IST] Rishi Kapoor calls British Airways 'Racist', advises to take Jet Airways or Emirates India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Mumbai, Aug 10: Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor seemed to be enraged by the incident of alleged unprofessional behaviour towards an Indian family by flight attendants of British Airways. The actor did not mince words to call the crew of British Airways 'Racist' in his tweet. Kapoor, tweeted, "Racist. Don't fly British Airways. We cannot be kicked around. Sad to hear about the Berlin child incident. I stopped flying British Airways after the cabin crew were rude and had attitude not once but twice even after being a first class passenger. Fly Jet Airways or Emirates. There is dignity." Racist. Dont fly British Airways.We cannot be kicked around. Sad to hear about the Berlin child incident. I stopped flying BA after the cabin crew were rude and had attitude not once but twice even after being a first class passenger. Fly Jetair or Emirates. There is dignity. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) August 9, 2018 An Indian family was forced to deplane London-bound British Airways flight due to incessant crying of their three-year-old child. This unsavoury incident took place on British Airways London-Berlin flight (BA 8495) on July 23. According to reports, the child's mother had managed to comfort the child when the plane was taxiing for take off, but the allegedly intimidating behaviour of a cabin crew scared the child and he started crying even more. Indian family forced to deplane British Airways flight over crying child The British Airways assured investigation into the incident. "We take claims like this extremely seriously and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We have started a full investigation and are in direct contact with the customer, news agency ANI quoted the British Airways statement. Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu had asked the aviation regulator, DGCA to inquire into a complaint by a bureaucrat against British Airways for "unprofessional, rude and racist behaviour". For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 12:54 [IST] SC to hear Kamal Nath's plea for random verification of VVPAT machines in MP polls India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 10: The Supreme Court agreed to hear next week a plea of senior Congress leader Kamal Nath seeking random verification of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submission of lawyer Varun Chopra that the plea be listed for urgent hearing and said that it would come up next week. The leader, in his plea, has sought a direction to the Election Commission to randomly verify VVPAT slips with EVM votes at 10 per cent of polling stations in every constituency. Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha said that the plea has also sought a direction to the poll panel to publish the voter list in "text format as per rules" and to expeditiously decide all complaints before final publication of the voter list. "Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction to the Respondents (Election Commission) to issue directions for conducting VVPAT verification at least 10 per cent randomly selected polling stations in each assembly constituency/ assembly segment to ensure free and fair elections," the plea said. It also said the display time for the VVPAT slip for the voters should be 15 seconds instead of the current seven seconds "Because paper trail coming out of VVPAT is only visible for seven seconds. Therefore, majority of voters, who are not well versed with technology will not be able to look to the paper trail and confirm if the VVPAT is showing the correct slip. "In the absence of any empirical study on each state with regard to the capability of voter to identify the votes cast, the time fixed by the ECI for display as seven seconds (7 sec) is arbitrary and must be increased to a reasonable time ie. fifteen seconds (15 sec)," the plea said. It has asked the court to issue a direction to the poll panel to prohibit deletion of voters from the voter list without intimation to all political parties. The Congress leader, in his plea, pointed out that recently the EC has dropped more than 24 lakhs voters from the voter list published in January 2018 for Madhya Pradesh and "it would not be out of place to mention that the Respondents (ECI) have admitted 2,37,234 photo entries found to be suspicious/ unclear/blank photos". The Madhya Pradesh Congress chief said that the poll panel has not explained as to whether unique identification serial number will be given to the collection box and the EVM. He said unless such unique identification serial number was given to identify the ballot box and the voting machine, chances of manipulation were very high, adding that, in order to prevent any kind of manipulation Unique Identification Serial Number has to be made mandatory for all EVMs with VVPATs. He also alleged various lapses in transferring of machines before and after the polls and pointed out an incident on May 29 this year after bye-polls at Palghar Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra when two election officers were caught transporting EVMs in a private car. "No clear instructions regarding and secured transportation of EVMs before and after polling has been prescribed till date. Without a protocol and standard procedure for the same, such incidents can vitiate the entire process of elections," the Congress leader said. Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the BJP since 2003 and Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the current chief minister. PTI Student of class two raped in Delhi school, NHRC sends notice to Chief Secretary India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar New Delhi, Aug 10: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Delhi government and the Commissioner of Police in connection sexual assault on class two student. The Commission has sought for a detailed report within four weeks. A class two student of a New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) school in the upscale Gole Market area in New Delhi was allegedly raped by an electrician in the institute's premises. The girl was leaving school on Wednesday when the accused, Ram Asre (37) allegedly took her to a pump room in the school premises and forced himself on her, police told PTI. Law allowing death penalty for rape of children passed by Parliament He also threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about it, the police said. DCP, New Delhi, said, "She identified him&he was arrested. He was working in the school since last 1.5-2 months. He's being interrogated. Investigation underway. Spot, where the incident took place, had no CCTV camera." Five year old girl raped in Maharashtra (With PTI inputs) Hafiz Saeed could not be produced before Pak court because of lawyers' strike Enough grounds to proceed: The crimes of Kashmir separatist Yasin Malik Terrorists killed in Baramulla encounter were affiliated to LeT: Army India oi-Vikas By Vikas Srinagar, Aug 10: The Indian Army on Friday said the five terrorists killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla were affiliated to Lashkar-e-Taiba. The encounter had taken place in Baramulla's Rafiabad area. The encounter had lasted for close to 24 hours and ended on Thursday. Five terrorists were killed and a para-commando of the Indian Army was injured. The Indian Army said weapons and other war-like stores were recovered from the encounter site. Also Read | J&K: Army pays tributes to personnel killed in Gurez gunbattle "Analysis of recovered items suggest that group belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba Tanzeem. They had probably infiltrated recently across the LoC from Pak occupied Kashmir," Brigadier DR Rai, Rashtriya Rifles, told the media today (August 10). Youth dies after being tortured by terrorists Reports said a joint team of the Army's 32 RR and commandos from 9 Para launched a cordon-and-search operation in the dense woods of the upper reaches of Rafiabad early Wednesday morning. The terrorists were believed to have recently infiltrated through Uri sector J&K: 5 terrorists gunned down in Baramulla Till Wednesday evening, 4 bodies were recovered but as per intelligence there were 5 terrorists and so the operation continued. On Thursday morning the body of another terrorist was recovered. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 16:15 [IST] Weather forecast for Aug 11: Rains to continue in Hyderabad for 24 hours India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 10: Here is the weather forecast for Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai for August 11. Bengaluru: As per Skymet weather, Scattered light to moderate rains are likely over Vidarbha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Konkan & Goa, coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim and parts of Assam. Maximum & minimum temperatures very likely to be around 26 and 21 degree Celsius respectively. However, the humidity will be around 83 per cent. Kerala floods: Southern Naval Command launches 'Operation Madad' Delhi: Heavy rains lashed parts of central and south Delhi this afternoon causing traffic congestion in some areas. The Meteorological Department has forecast further rains through the day and a relative humidity at 75 per cent. As per Skymet weather, Delhi-NCR is likely to record scattered rains and thundershowers between August 11 and August 13. But once again, these rains will not be continuous and widespread in nature. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 34 degree Celsius and humidity will be around 70 per cent. Hyderabad: Monsoon rains have not been miraculous over the state of Telangana. As per Skymet weather, scattered light to moderate rains to continue over many districts of the state for the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature would be recorded around 30 degree Celsius and humidity around 76 percent. Kerala Floods: Tourist, heavy goods vehicles banned in high ranges of Idukki Mumbai: As per predicted by Skymet Weather, Monsoon would remain normal over Vidarbha, Konkan & Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, parts of Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 29 degree Celsius and humidity around 83 percent. Chennai: Ever since the beginning of the month, Chennai has been recording light rains almost every day. However, last 48 hours have seen slight increase in the intensity. According to Skymet Weather, Chennai may expect heavy to very heavy rains but the cloud cover and on and off light rain will keep the weather slightly comfortable during the evening hours. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 33 degree Celsius and humidity around 61 percent. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 17:56 [IST] Not on May 23, it was on July 30 that the opposition truly lost What can govt do if Congress refuses to back amended Triple Talaq Bill India oi-Vikas By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 10: It may seem that the passing of the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha solely hinges on Congress' support, but that is not the case. The support of the Congress and its allies would definitely make the passing of the bill in the Upper House smoother, but it is not that the government does not have any option if the grand old party refuses to back it. Bail clause amendment in Triple Talaq approved by Cabinet The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved amendments in the Triple Talaq Bill hoping that the tweaks in the bill would persuade some non-NDA parties, who had concerns about the misuse of the law, to support the bill in its new form. The Congress has so far not made it clear if it would support the amended bill. When Sonia Gandhi was asked about the bill this morning, she merely said, "Our party's position is absolutely clear on this, I will not say anything on this further." "Women treated unfairly in all communities, even Ram left Sita once": Congress' Hussain Dalwai The TMC has said that it would not allow a discussion on the bill and demanded that it be sent to a select committee. Today being the last day of the Monsoon Session and the Upper House already being adjourned till 2.30 pm after ruckus over Rafale deal issue, the government has to do something fast. Yesterday, NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected as the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman. If the Rajya Sabha attendance was 100% and had the voting taken place strictly on NDA and non-NDA lines, the BJP-backed candidate stood no chance. But that did not happen and some abstained from voting. Non-NDA parties like BJD and TRS decided to back the NDA candidate. Nikah Halala victims and activists demand law on this as soon as possible Three members each of Congress, Samajwadi Party and AAP; two each of TMC, DMK and PDP and one member of the Naga People's Front were absent. Two members of the YSRCP abstained from the voting. This effectively brought down the number needed for NDA candidate to get elected and Harivansh won the elections. The BJP would expect that something on these lines happens even today. While Congress and the TMC are adamant to oppose the bill, the other Non-NDA parties may decide to back it following the amendments which allows magistrate to grant bail to the accused booked under Triple Talaq law. However, it is not clear what the two big non-NDA parties, Biju Janata Dal and the AIADMK, think about the changes. Between them, the two parties have 22 lawmakers in the Rajya Sabha. One of the major issues raised by the opposition during the Budget Session was that there was no provision for bail under Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 which criminalises Triple Talaq. The opposition parties had asked who would take care of the family if the breadwinner is imprisoned. If nothing works out and the session ends, then the government can bring in an ordinance, or emergency executive order to enact the law. But, even then, it would have to be cleared by Parliament within six months. Ordinances are laws that are promulgated by the President of India on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet. They can only be issued when Parliament is not in session. They enable the Indian government to take immediate legislative action. Ordinances cease to operate either if Parliament does not approve of them within six weeks of reassembly, or if disapproving resolutions are passed by both Houses. The amendments cleared by the Union Cabinet on August 9: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved amendments in the Triple Talaq Bill. Under the amendments cleared, a magistrate will have powers to grant bail. The woman can approach the magistrate to seek subsistence allowance for herself and her minor children, and can also seek custody of her minor children from the magistrate who will take a final call on the matter. Union Cabinet also approved inclusion of provisions that the complaint in such a case can only be filed by the victim (wife) or blood relations. What was the Supreme Court judgment: The Supreme Court had in April 2017 banned the Islamic practice that allows men to leave their wives immediately by stating "talaq" (divorce) three times, calling the practice "unconstitutional". The verdict vindicated the stand of the government, which had said triple talaq violates fundamental rights of women. Three of the five judges hearing the case said it is unconstitutional; the other two wanted it banned for six months till the government introduces new legislation. The majority opinion held that triple talaq "is not integral to religious practice and violates constitutional morality". For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 14:29 [IST] Manila (CNN Philippines Life) It took decades for the Philippines to stand up against China. It may also take decades to understand that this victory is ours. This is the subliminal message running through Marites Danguilan Vitugs Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case Against China (Bughaw, 2018). Two years from the victorious ruling that invalidated Chinas overreaching claims over Philippine maritime zones, Rock Solid is the first comprehensive attempt to trace the origins of the dispute and the sequence of events that led us here: a country armed with a weapon it hesitates to use. Vitug, a veteran journalist, has a gift for elevating journalistic narrative to its fullest potential one that affects, immerses, and illuminates. In Rock Solid, she takes the reader on a roller-coaster of emotions: indignation, anger, compassion, love, hope, as she tells the story of how the Philippines mustered the strength to hold a superpower to account for its aggressions. She frames her narrative supported by in-depth research mainly through the lens of those who believed and had much at stake in the Philippine case: ingenuous military officers, steadfast government officials, a brilliant judge, island residents, fisherfolk, advocate-lawyers, and the like. Marites Vitug. Photo courtesy of the ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY PRESS Divided into four parts, the book starts with the day the victorious ruling was released, then takes us back to the era of Ferdinand Marcos, who first conceived of the mission to occupy parts of the scattered Spratly Islands. It also reveals sparks of Filipino ingenuity, the foremost being the grounding of a Philippine ship to claim occupation of Ayungin Shoal. The book also points out how the U.S., ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) affected the case, and probes deep into the minds of those who fiercely advocated for it. Finally, the book goes into what the case meant what the decision contains, how it provides leverage for a peaceful resolution of maritime disputes, and why Dutertes policy towards the win is self-flagellating, potentially disregarding what is in fact a decades-old effort to stand up to a bully. Rock Solid is an essential read for anyone who professes to love the Philippines and its people. While painful to read at times for its depiction of Chinas aggressiveness, its destruction of the marine environment, and the helplessness of our own people, it still ends on a hopeful yet cautious note. Coming from her research work, Vitug expressed how the Philippines is in dire need of strategic, long-term thinking as well as good leaders unburdened with self-interests. Heres how Rock Solid prescribes a path for sailing forward with the historic victory, as stated by some of its main actors: Recognize vulnerability and use it to your advantage. In Chapter 14, Fighting a Bully, Vitug wrote that it was under former foreign affairs secretary Albert Del Rosarios watch that Philippine diplomacy used a new tool in the diplomatic arsenal: litigation. The years preceding the move to file a case against China were years akin to talking to a wall, as narrated repeatedly in Rock Solid. Vitug quotes Del Rosario in a T.V. interview: [] every bilateral meeting unfortunately [leads China saying to you], We have indisputable sovereignty over the entire South China Sea. While China talked and the Philippines listened, the former continued occupying and fortifying areas such as Mischief Reef and Scarborough Shoal, and continued using aggressive force to prevent fisherfolk, companies, and navy officers from passing through local waters. China also used its reach and power over other States to influence public perception about its creeping imposition over the areas it claims. There is absolutely no basis for Chinas nine-dash claim over the South China Sea, as already decided upon by a credible international tribunal; so why do we still negotiate with them on the basis of a fictional claim? Thus the Philippines move to internationalize the issue and let the world know about Chinas illegal actions as well as its delaying tactics. It was a challenging time at the DFA, Vitug wrote, as Del Rosario tried to balance negotiations with litigation. Highlight the story of how we fought for our rights, and won. Rock Solid is ultimately an attempt to amplify the Philippine victory: that the rule of law prevails over the sea and takes no one, not even a megapower like China, as an exception. While writing the book meant Vitug had to bring a legal battle to life, the book itself opens the national conversation in response to the question: Are we telling our narrative properly? In many ways, Rock Solid is a strong rebuttal to the Duterte administrations soft stance against China, given its long history of consolidating power by trampling on the rights of smaller nations. There is absolutely no basis for Chinas nine-dash claim over the South China Sea, as already decided upon by a credible international tribunal; so why do we still negotiate with them on the basis of a fictional claim? Understand that the dispute, as well as the ruling, involves an inter-generational struggle. Vitug, citing an interview in Chapter 13 (Carpios Voyage) of the book, quotes Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio: This generation will get the ruling. The next generation will convince the world [to support us], and maybe the generation after that will convince China. The original quote continues: But we should not expect instant gratification here if we win this ruling. Carpio laid out the initial strategy for filing a case against China. In Chapter 13, Vitug paints how the idea bloomed inside the justices mind after handling cases that dealt with international law, namely Republic v. Sandiganbayan (2003) and Magallona v. Ermita (2011). While the account is fascinating, readers are steered towards Carpios long view: Getting a favorable ruling is only the first step. The next might be to convince ourselves that we won, and that we must assert this victory. Godavari Flowing to Laurel, Maryland International oi-Staff By Oneindia Staff Writer Godavari, The fastest growing South Indian restaurant chain is now opening their second location in Laurel, Maryland this Saturday i.e., August 11th 2018. This will be the second location in Maryland after Gaithersburg which will be more accessible to cities like Baltimore, Ellicott city. Godavari is now operating in more than 26 locations across the country along with Niagara Falls which made the chain's brand image unique. Godavari took over the "Curry Leaf" brand in Laurel which was operating for more than 5 years in Laurel, MD. This location is very conveniently located and very well known to lot of Indian community in the Tristate area with a nice private room for 30 members. "We have been with Godavari for past two and half years operating Gaithersburg and we are more euphoric to serve our community through our second location in Maryland" says Kamakshi who also owns Godavari Gaitehrburg. Godavari Laurel location will be serving a huge population of Indians and others. There is no authentic Indian food within 30 minutes of drive in this location says Arvind Kumar, who was a resident in Laurel for more than 12 years and used to go to Curry Leaf. "In this age of acquisitions and mergers, "Godavari" has started the corporate style of acquiring brands like "Curry Leaf" and many others. We work hard to serve thousands of people across the country every day. "Godavari" is soon opening its first international store in Muscat, Oman". "We are also venturing into Canada, Australia along with different concepts in USA" says "Team Godavari". The Grand Opening Lunch Buffet will serve the delicacies like Chilli Idly, "Kothimeera Mamsam", "Pitapuram Peethala Vepudu", Kodi "Chips", Pineapple Rasam and lot more from Godavari Culinary team. CLICK HERE!! for the 30 mins Special Program Telecasted by TV9 on the journey of "Godavari" and was the tribute to the entire team. Come and enjoy the special delicacy from Godavari this weekend in Laurel. Location: GODAVARI LAUREL 13919 Baltimore Ave #4, Laurel, MD 20707. Contact: Murthy 781-869-0274 Laurel@GodavariUS.com Thanks again.... Hope you all enjoy our cooking..... www.GodavariUS.com Press release by: Indian Clicks, LLC For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 18:30 [IST] Are Imran Khan and Gen Bajwa at war over appointment of new ISI chief? Pak PM Imran Khan accused of selling gifts received from other countries' heads Imran Khan highlights need for improving Pak-India ties; takes a dig at India over T20 cricket victory Imran Khan speaks of better ties with India and rubs T-20 World Cup victory Imran Khan approves appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as new ISI chief Indian envoy to Pakistan meets Imran khan International oi-Vikas By Vikas Islamabad, Aug 10: Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh met Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan on Friday. The meeting was said to be a courtesy call. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's parliamentary committee on August 6 officially nominated Imran Khan as the party's prime ministerial candidate. Imran Khan's party emerged as the single largest side in the National Assembly in the July 25 general elections. Imran Khan's PTI and allies secure 180 seats in NA Khan is likely to take oath as the Pakistan Prime Minister on August 14, the Islamic Republic's Independence Day. Pakistan: PTI announces Imran Khan as its PM candidate The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and its allies on Thursday announced that they have secured over 180 seats in the National Assembly. The PTI said it crossed the magical figure of 172 with the help of its coalition partners including Muttahida Qaumi Movement and several independently elected members, who joined the party in the days following the July 25 general elections. Shehbaz Sharif nominated as PML-N's Pak PM candidate Pakistan's National Assembly comprises a total of 342 members, of which 272 are directly elected. Woman gets 7 years in jail for abusing daughter of live in partner Monks hid sex abuse to protect Church reputation International oi-Madhuri London Aug 10: A British inquiry has concluded that sexual abuse at two leading Roman Catholic schools in Britain was considerably higher than is reflected by conviction figures, with monks hiding allegations to protect the church's reputation. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse issued a scathing report Thursday, saying that monks at Ampleforth in North Yorkshire and Downside in Somerset hid allegations of "appalling sexual abuse" against pupils as young as seven. The inquiry says the schools, which are linked to the English Benedictine Congregation monasteries, were run at times by "secretive, evasive and suspicious" officials who avoided reporting misconduct. Ten people linked to the schools have been cautioned over or convicted of sexual activity or pornography offenses, but inquiry chief Alexis Jay says "the true scale of the abuse, however, is likely to be considerably higher. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 9:01 [IST] China vows no compromise or concessions on Taiwan after US Prez Biden comments Top US general says China hypersonic missile test is 'very concerning' Mosque demolition in China halted following protests International oi-Madhuri Beijing, Aug 10: Chinese officials have delayed the plan to demolish a newly-built mosque in the country's northwest after hundreds of ethnic Hui Muslims held sit-in protests in what is said to be the largest standoff in Beijing's efforts to clampdown on Islamisation, a media report said on Friday. A huge crowd of ethnic Hui Muslims, the second largest Muslim group after Uygurs of Xinjiang, gathered from noon until late last night in the square outside the Weizhou Grand Mosque thwarting plans by the local government to demolish the mosque. The mosque is an imposing white structure topped with nine onion-shaped domes, crescent moons and four towering minarets. The local county head came to the mosque around midnight, urging everyone to go home and promised that the government would not touch the newly-built structure until a reconstruction plan has been agreed upon by the townsmen, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported quoting local sources as saying. The standoff in the town of Weizhou in Tongxin county in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is the latest and possibly the largest conflict in a recent campaign to rid the region of what Beijing regards as a worrying trend of Islamisation and Arabisation, as the ruling Communist Party doubles down to "Sinicise religion", the report said. China to continue support citizens' freedom of religious belief, releases white paper "Sinicise religion" is a policy introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2015 to bring religious groups in line with the Chinese culture and under the absolute authority of the Communist Party of China (CPC). An official notice which was said to have been issued by the Weizhou government on August 3 had given the mosque's management committee a deadline to demolish the building by August 10 on the grounds that it had not been granted the necessary planning and construction permits. If the management committee failed to comply, the government would "forcefully demolish it according to the law", the notice warned. But the Ningxia government said that after days of negotiations between the authorities and the religious leaders, it had been agreed earlier on Thursday that the government would not demolish the mosque, but remove eight of its domes. Many Muslims did not want to see the domes removed, the report said. "Now we're just in a stand-off," a local resident was quoted as saying in the report. "The public won't let the government touch the mosque, but the government is not backing down," the unnamed resident said. Construction of the mosque was completed last year. It replaced an earlier structure that had been built to replace Weizhou's 600-year-old Chinese-style mosque, which was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution along with thousands of other temples, churches and monasteries across the country. The government's order sparked an outcry in the Hui Muslim community, with many people questioning why the authorities did not stop the construction of the mosque - which took two years to complete - if it had not been granted the necessary paperwork. An official white paper released in April this year stated that China has about 20 million Muslims. Both Uygurs and Hui Muslims have a population of about 10 million each. China is currently carrying out massive crackdown against the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in the volatile Xinjiang province where majority Uyghurs have expressed concerns over the increasing settlements of the majority Han community. Since he took power in 2013, Xi has been emphasising on the Communist party's reinforcing its ideological roots of Marxism, including adherence to atheism. As the government deepens its crackdown on Uygurs - another mostly Muslim group in the western frontier of Xinjiang - the Huis are also being targeted, the report said. Several mosques in Nigxia have been ordered to cancel public Arabic classes, while a number of private Arabic schools have been told to shut down, it said. Unlike Uygurs who are of Turkik origin with ethnic ties to Turkey, Hui Muslims have been largely left in peace to practise their faith. China tightens restrictions on religious freedom to block extremism Most of them speak Mandarin and apart from the white caps and headscarves worn by the more traditional members of the ethnic group, they are indistinguishable from the majority Han population. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 16:26 [IST] Two die while cleaning tank at petrol bunk New Delhi oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 10: Two men died while cleaning a tank at a petrol pump in northwest Delhi's Model Town , police said. Rajeev (37) and Bittu (27) had entered the 2,00,000-litre tank to clean it. They were taken out with the help of fire department personnel and rushed to a hospital, where they were declared brought dead. Further investigation is underway. For more New Delhi news, Click here For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, August 10, 2018, 7:50 [IST] 2008-2021 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. By Staff WriterVERY few people can imagine their daily life without digital gadgets, which have already turned into the best friends and have become absolutely irreplaceable. People are used to comfort and expect to find it wherever they are. Social media platforms were developed to connect friends who are distances apart.Internet was developed by US Army for the primary purpose of having a defense network that could function in the time of a nuclear war. But later the technology was used on other platforms and now is the global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities that become everyday use and provides daily reliance of things.Blockchain is then a growing list of records on the internet, which are linked using cryptography or cryptology. Cryptography is then being understood as the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties called adversaries or enemies.So blockchains which are readable by the public are widely used by crypto currencies or virtual currencies. Bitcoin is one example of a virtual currency or crypto currency.Blockchain was invented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 for the use in crypto currency or virtual currency and is a medium of exchange using cryptography to secure transactions and to control the creation of new units. Satoshi Nakamoto sounds like some Russian name but in fact is not the name of a real person but is a name used by an unknown person or a group of unknown people who developed Bitcoin within the Blockchain.Crypto currencies are a division or subsets of alternative currencies, or specifically of digital currencies.Bitcoin become the first decentralized crypto currency in 2009, a year later blockchain in 2008. Since then, numerous crypto currencies have been created and are still creating. One might wonder why crypto currencies are continuously being created. Well, think of it in fiat currencies or banknote currencies of each nation. Fiat currencies are created and distributed to aid the ancient barter system within a calculated geographical location under a sovereignty or autonomous governance or control.As it is circulated within a confined system, the fiat currency is issued, centralized and controlled by the administration and its bank. So fiat currencies are created and issued by the administration which is usually a government while crypto currencies are created by computers and stored in a public database (blockchain) and are decentralized meaning crypto currencies are not owned by one entity like a bank or an administration.In Papua New Guinea society, we define the traditional barter system by practice and our way of life. For example in the highlands, the traditionally ceremonial barter system is called Moka in Western Highlands where exchanges of goods for goods take place, pigs and kina shells were exchanged during the Moka ceremony. In one Western Highlands society, the word is Moka, and to the rest of Papua New Guinea there are about different 840 words which each describe the barter system better within each different linguistic group, tribes or ethnical groups where we come from.So in a way, it is that simply and easy for blockchain technology and its crypto currencies to be adopted into our society as were already been living in a communal society a society conducive for crypto currency and blockchain to breath.PNG Government is very keen to adopt the blockchain technology into the government system, with the Central Bank of Papua New Guinea is lobbying to have use blockchain to cater for a majority of the 8-million people are not into the banking system and use blockchain for financial inclusion.Recently, NCD Governor Powes Parkop was supporting a blockchain technology event to hold in Port Moresby. The Governor believes that this breakthrough and disruptive technology is a vital stepping stone in the countrys development.Blockchain Technology is taking the digital world by storm with its applications in digital currencies, ledger structures, decentralized identity, markets, and basically any working system or information that can be stored and operated via this decentralized database, Mr. Parkop said.The application of this technology in systems of governance and service delivery throughout Papua New Guinea will provide levels of efficiency and transparency which are currently desperately lacking in the country, he added.Blockchain Pasifik, a Port Moresby-based entrepreneur cluster, is hosting the event from 11th to 12th October is looking to bring together experts in fields ranging from banking and digital commerce to combatting corruption, from PNG and abroad to the nations capital in a two day event which will formally introduce Blockchain technology and its many benefits to Papua New Guinea.The Blockchain Pasifik team is comprised of local Papua New Guineans headed by Rex Paura who is a co-founder of Con-Sure, a Port Moresby-based 100% nationally owned local insurance company using the blockchain technology platform.Blockchain technology is such a disruptive technology that will change the world how we do things. Banking is the first industry blockchain has tapped into and gradually moving out to other industries.The areas that blockchain will impact or is impacting are financial services and banking, publishing, real estate, healthcare, music, government, insurance, charity, digital marketing, job marketplaces, crypto currency exchanges and more coming on board.In the Digital marketing area, tourism industry has found itself in there. Every other industry is tied to the travel industry and thus blockchain impacting other areas will come to tourism sector.Throughout the world there are so many projects on tourism and blockchain. Deskbell Chain is a blockchain platform of tourism and hotel industry. It is a blockchain-enabled platform of socialization, marketing of hotel and travel businesses as well as offering flexibility in check in time for customers in a hotel setting.The lesson here is, in whatever industry financial mechanisms favor one party over the other, blockchain can come in to equalize the system and ensure that everyone gets their fair cut.It has the key to increase the average number of guest checking in thus remains the best digital strategy for a modern hotel.Blockchain which enables hotels to get out important information to the guests and keep communication with them via chat. What is more, it also sells the site to promote their services. For tourists, DeskBell service serves as a guide and compass in the life of the hotel. DeskBell automatically determines the hotel, in which the tourist is located and provides accessible information, making the stay more comfortable and active. DeskBell Service includes several ready-made technological solutions.Deskbell Chain project is managed by Constanta Investments, a company registered in Estonia, Northern Europe has partnered with a local Papua New Guinean registered tourism e-marketing company, Howarig Traders. In this partnership, Howarig Traders will implement the project to local SMEs in the tourism sector to have access to the global tourism marketplace. In particular, Howarig Traders is targeting ecotourism businesses as its vision to reduce carbon emissions and support environmental friendly tourism businesses.Pacific Trade and Invest (PTI) through a survey conducted in 2011 established that there was a distinct lack of support for small medium and micro enterprises (SMME) operating in the Pacific Islands tourism sector.Most of the smaller tourism operators we had contact with werent visible on the Internet, so we decided to develop a program that would change that, said Manager Investment & Tourism at PT&Is Sydney Office, Chad Morris.Tourism market access for SMEs in Papua New Guinea and other Pacific Island countries is the biggest challenge for the region. Most of these SMEs operate within the ecotourism space.Deskbell Chain, through its partner in PNG and Pacific region will bring to the local SMEs the global tourism marketplace.SMEs operators will have the opportunity to increase their profitability and making their presence on the blockchain-enabled platform. The Deskbell Chain project can be accessed via, http://deskbell.io/SMEs who wish to registered on this global tourism marketplace platform can email: howarig18@gmail.com Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informed Parliament today that according to the Constitution as well as Parliament tradition, he has no authority to change the Opposition Leader. A letter signed by 8 UPFA MPs had been submitted to the Speaker on July 30 requesting to appoint UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardene as the Leader of the Opposition, as the party is represented by 70 MPs in the Parliament. Chelsea Powrie What better way to have fun in the sun than building sandcastles? Peach Fest's annual sandcastle competition took place Thursday afternoon and evening, with teams battling it out on Skaha Beach and all proceeds from registration going to the Penticton Community Projects Society. Publicity director Sandra Henderson, with the Rotary Club of Penticton Sunrise which organized the event, said she is amazed at how the competition has grown. "The artwork down there is magnificent," Henderson said. "It's come from doing little sand pails to actually carving things in the sand. It has really expanded." In the kids category, participants had an hour to create their masterpieces, whereas in the adult category, a two-hour window was provided. Teams of up to eight adults moulded and sculpted the specially wetted sand into a variety of fantastic sculptures in their 10-foot by 10-foot plots, and were judged based on artistic content, intricacy and the best use of their area. Any materials other than sand had to be environmentally friendly items such as pebbles and pinecones, and all plastic materials used to form the structures needed to be removed before judging, although judges seemed to allow some leniency when it came to these rules. The corporate winners were the team from Rona, with an Ogopogo sand creation. The People's Choice award went to a creative rendering of the pipeline between B.C. and Alberta, and the family team winner was an intricate octopus sporting a jaunty cap and checking his cell phone. Even the non-winners had a blast, though, like young A.J. from Prince George. "It's an ancient mountain and it's supposed to represent British Columbia," she said, explaining her sculpture. "In our hearts, we're the winners," added her father. This was the 38th year for the popular competition. iBlockchain Summit 2018 Returns in November Published August 10, 2018 by Mike P The iBlockchain Summit is coming back for another conference in 2018. This time, attendees will be travelling to the Chinese city of Guangzhou from 2-3 November. From 18 to 19 May 2018, the iBlockchain Summit was previously hosted in Shenzhen, a city situated in the southeast of China, in close proximity to Hong Kong. Now the iBlockchain Summit is preparing for another 2018 event, but this time it will travel to Guangzhou, which is positioned to the northwest of Hong Kong. Any professionals interested in attended the forthcoming iBlockchain Summit should mark from 2 to 3 November 2018 in their calendars. Over two days, the summit shall be hosted within the spacious surroundings of the Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Centre. Rise of Bitcoin Following the rise of Bitcoin and more recently established cryptocurrencies, it has become apparent that blockchain technology carries the disruptive potential to aid a variety of major industries, such as finance, banking, real estate, and many more besides. And the technology can even support businesses ranging scale from start-ups to world players. In terms of the numbers, the event organisers have forecast that more than 40,000 visitors shall attend the conference, where more than 60 exhibitors and 30 speakers from over 40 countries shall be sharing their insights. Those in attendance will have two days in which to learn from blockchain experts, currency exchanges, and businesses using the technology. Keynote Discussions During day one, attendees can sit in on a variety of talks that will explore the impact of blockchain on value, transformative potential, capital markets, community, supply chain, and advertising. On day two, the discussions will then address topics such as impact, opportunities, portfolio, trading, and decentralisation. The organisers AFARB Limited, World Blockchain Organization (WBO), and World Federation of Free Trade Zones have secured the attendance of a number of blockchain experts. Those booked to speak at the event include Frank Zheng of WBO, Justin David of Bloom, Denis Shaiakhmetov of Efir.io, Salim Ali of LOYAKK.io, Brian Kanda of FloraChain, and Oscar Jofre of KoreConX, alongside many others. Photo: BC Wildfire Service Personnel from all over the world come to help the province fight hundreds of wildfires burning. Its all hands on deck as firefighters are battling hundreds of wildfires burning across British Columbia. Wildfires are burning on all sides of the province currently, which means the BC Wildfire Service is working at its maximum capacity and calling in extra help from around the world. Chief fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service Kevin Skrepnek said just under 500 fires are burning right now. Whats definitely unique about what we are seeing right now is we are busy from one corner of the province to the other, he said. All of our six regional fire centres are all very fully engaged, quite busy, in their highest prepared levels right now. The biggest concerns right now are the Kamloops Fire Centre and the Northwest Fire Centre regions. Particularly the fires down towards Cawston and Keremeos, and then we have a number of fairly large fires burning in the Northwest right now as well, said Skrepnek. Two wildfires burning near Telegraph Creek combined to make one large fire. There have been some pretty significance impact to Telegraph Creek, there have been homes and structures destroyed there and the entire community has been evacuated, he said. According to Skrepnek this is the most hard hit area currently. There has been two fires up there that merged, he said. Combined they are just under 30,000 hectares in size. Extra support outside of B.C. has been called in by the BC Wildfire Service to help fight the wildfires. We do have personnel in right now from Northwest Territories, Alberta, Saskatchewan as well as four aircraft from Quebec and then we have some Parks Canada personnel helping us out, he said. Firefighters from Mexico and New Zealand, along with Australian support staff have also arrived and are actively assisting. Friday and Saturday will bring new challenges for the crews and Skrepnek said there is a big concern with weather. They are looking fairly critical, we do have a shift coming, he said. A cold front is going to be coming through most of the province so that is going to reduce temperatures. But that also means winds and potential for lightning. We are definitely bracing for a couple challenging days both in terms of that lightning and potentially starting new fires, and also the wind effect on the fires we have burning, said Skrepnek. Photo: CTV The Parole Board of Canada has continued day parole in British Columbia for the man known as the balaclava rapist for another six months while ruling out overnight leave privileges for now. Larry Takahashi is serving three concurrent life sentences for multiple counts of rape, aggravated sexual assault and other attacks on 23 women in the Edmonton area in the 1970s and '80s, which he committed while wearing a balaclava. The 66-year-old was granted day parole in 2016 and the board has extended it several times, saying in its latest decision on Aug. 3 that he is seeing a psychiatrist, is following his release plan and continues his "slow and steady reintegration." However, it did not authorize overnight leave, saying Takahashi has limited community supports in his release area and caution must be exercised given the gravity of his offences. Takahashi must obey conditions including avoiding alcohol or drugs, not contacting his victims or their families, not accessing pornography and not using a computer or any device with the internet. The parole board decision says Takahashi has reported feeling lonely, but that he has attended occasional community events on his own and his daily routine includes exercising, going for walks and having coffee alone. "You do not appear to be experiencing sexual preoccupation at this time and you do not currently articulate an interest in a romantic relationship," says the decision. "You have been encouraged to expand your community supports but you appear reluctant to reach beyond the supports of family and two couples who are your friends." Takahashi has not been employed while in the community but has volunteered for the work experience program at the halfway house where he is staying, it adds. Photo: Verilux Photography Aviation fans will have their heads to the sky this weekend in Abbotsford. The Abbotsford Air Show is back, today through Sunday. For the first time in a decade, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will perform. They could be seen practising on Thursday in the skies over the Fraser Valley. The three-day event includes static displays at Abbotsford International Airport, modern, exotic, military and civilian aircraft as well as activities for the whole family. Gates open at 3 p.m. today, 9 a.m. over the weekend. The list of performing aircraft includes the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, a CF-18 Hornet demo, historic warbirds and more. Photo: CTV A man was shot dead in a road rage incident in Vancouver early Friday. A man was shot and killed after a road rage incident turned deadly early Friday morning. Just after 1:30 a.m., police received reports of a man shot near Bridgeway Street, under the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge. Officers found a 33-year-old Vancouver man shot dead, and a woman in the same vehicle suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. The evidence suggests that this homicide was the result of a road rage incident between the victim ... and the suspect, who was in a white sedan, said Sgt. Jason Robillard of the VPD. Police have yet to make any arrests. Investigators have asked anyone who may have dash cam footage near the intersection of McGill Street and Renfrew Street between 1:30 and 2 a.m. to contact them at 604-717-2500. This is the 14th homicide in Vancouver this year. Photo: Contributed It is a September tradition that holds an extra special meaning in Canadian culture. From coast to coast to coast, millions of Canadians have participated in various Terry Fox runs for almost 40 years. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised for cancer treatments and research, and awareness would not be where it is today, if not for Terry Fox and the charitable runs that bear his name. The Terry Fox Run is the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research, and over $750 million has been raised in his name, as of January 2018. All of this isn't possible without dedicated volunteers. Terry Fox volunteers are needed this year for Vernon. "The Terry Fox Run has been with us in Vernon since 1985," praises Donna White, British Columbia and Yukon Provincial Director. "An astounding $183,000 has been raised at the Vernon Run for innovative cancer research." Volunteers are needed to strengthen Vernons Terry Fox Run and make it an even bigger success than ever before," stated White. As a volunteer, your responsibilities may include recruiting committee members, confirming the route, promoting the run, and overseeing run day activities on Sunday, September 16th If you wish to volunteer with a truly grassroots organization that values all contributions, and whose mission it is to help every cancer patient, please contact Donna White at 1.888.836.9786 or [email protected] for more information. "We bet youll be glad you did," stated White. "I'm not a dreamer, and I'm not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to," Terry Fox. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 9) The House minority leadership of Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez will be questioned at the Supreme Court next week, a lawmaker said Thursday. Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo said their group's protest will be filed between Wednesday and Friday. Its respondents will include Suarez, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, Jr. and even House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "We're confident the court will rule in our favor," Quimbo told CNN Philippines' The Source. "The respondents will be the Speaker, Majority Leader, and the former Minority Leader Danilo Suarez." Quimbo was the elected leader of what he himself calls the genuine minority, a group of about 26 lawmakers who either abstained from or voted against Arroyo's speakership. He belongs to one of two groups questioning the legitimacy of Suarez's leadership. The other is the camp of ousted House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and former Majority Leader Rudy Farinas, which picked ABS-Partylist Representative Eugene De Vera as their minority leader. Their group also plans to turn to the Supreme Court. READ: Three groups claim to be real House Minority bloc But the House of Representatives on Tuesday, after a motion by Andaya, elected to let Suarez stay as Minority Leader. However, Suarez supported Arroyo's bid for speaker and House rules say those who vote for a winning speaker belong to the majority. In an interview with The Source, Suarez previously cited personal reasons for wanting to keep his position particularly because he wants to retire there, and he wants to keep his office space. "Frankly, he can have his office. We're not interested in getting the physical office," said Quimbo. "It's not a personal choice... It's not a matter for personal aggrandizement." Suarez's critics maintain that he cannot provide a check and balance for the House if he sided with the Speaker. Suarez argued that he can, and said he would just be "constructive" instead of "destructive." Quimbo pointed out that Suarez even announced he would move the majority, only to go back on his word. His camp believes that Suarez keeping his post is a way to protect the majority and "seal every possible opposition." "The way it goes is no legislation takes place unless the minority is given the opportunity to question it. Meaning, you're part of the process," he explained. "If you're an independent, they can just set you aside." Suarez himself has not denied his close ties with the former President. In 2009, when Arroyo was criticized for a lavish dinner at Washington D.C. during her term, Suarez claimed he payed the $15,000 (around 795,000) bill. While Quimbo is confident the Supreme Court would side with them, he also acknowledged that they may run out of time. He noted that a previous protest on minority leadership raised by Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat spent "a year and a day" at the court. The Congress has less than a year before it adjourns ahead of the mid-term elections in May 2019. "We're hopeful the Supreme Court can decide early," he said. "Be that as it may, it's important that we be able to put it because we cannot have this being repeated again." Until that decision, the Quimbo said they would still act as a genuine minority bloc even if they do not have that title. "While we will not have the title as far as the majority is concerned, but we will perform our functions as doing the checks and balance," he said. "There's just 10 months left, but we will make it count." Photo: The Canadian Press Residents of a tranquil Fredericton neighbourhood watched and waited for nearly three anxious hours early Friday as authorities tracked down a suspect who allegedly opened fire and killed four people, two of them police officers. For some, the terror began from the moment they opened their eyes. For others, it didn't sink in until they learned they were forced to hide in their homes. Here is how the morning unfolded from their perspectives. David MacCoubrey was asleep in his apartment on Brookside Drive when three shots echoed through the morning calm mere metres from his bed. "It sounded like the first one came from right outside my bedroom window ... I was hoping for the two seconds that I was groggy that it was kids blowing off firecrackers,'' he said. "Then two more happened within the first three minutes.'' MacCoubrey said he heard at least 17 more shots over the next hour and a half, which he spent sitting on the floor far from his apartment windows. Tim Morehouse said he heard the trouble before he saw it. In his apartment on 237 Brookside Dr., he said he heard someone yelling "shut up! Shut up!" Then the bullets began to fly, first in a volley of two, then another of three. When he looked out his apartment window, he said he saw the body of a man lying in the back parking lot of his building. He called 911, heard more shots and took another glance out the window. "I hear more shots and looked out and there's two police officers on the ground," he said. As police went around the neighbourhood, Louise Kennedy was advised to vacate her apartment at 237 Brookside. But the 75-year-old woman said she couldn't flee to safety while her pet remained in potential danger. "I couldn't leave my dog behind," Kennedy said, sitting and trembling in her apartment. "The police officer told me to stay away from the windows and to lock the doors.'' Looking after her dog did not dispel her own fear, however. "I am just shaking. I am scared to death,'' she said. Travis Hrubeniuk's fiancee had just left for work around 7:45 a.m. when he began hearing a steady stream of sirens passing his home. Aware that his typically quiet neighbourhood was under lockdown, the 27-year-old Winnipeg native spent the time combing social media for updates on the evolving situation. The area he's called home for a year, which features houses, a school and other hallmarks of a peaceful residential community, is the last place Hrubeniuk said he expected to encounter a dangerous situation. "This is the first time I've even heard of any serious crime or violent crime in this city," he said. "It's a little off-putting that way." Business owners and their employees also found themselves at loose ends while police blanketed the area. Funeral Director Bill Henwood was among a crowd of bystanders barred from going to offices located behind the area investigators had cordoned off. People sat in their cars or stood near the blockade of police and fire vehicles "hanging tight and waiting for word" on what comes next, he said. One local daycare took the precaution of relocating children to another facility slightly further away from the scene of the shootings. While staff said they kept the doors locked, the kids carried on with normal life, playing with toys or watching a movie as the police investigation unfolded. Photo: VPD Police are lauding "one of the most successful gang crime investigations in B.C. history." Fourteen members of the Kang gang and Red Scorpions face 92 charges following an investigation that has been ongoing since March 2017. Police seized 93 firearms, a pressure cooker bomb, 9.5 kilograms of fentanyl and 40 kilos of other drugs, as well as $833,000 in cash and more than $1 million worth of jewelry and collector cars. Charges against the gangsters include drug trafficking, firearms possession, possession of the proceeds of crime and participation in a criminal organization. The seizure of deadly firearms and drugs in this investigation will undoubtedly save lives, said Supt. Brian Gateley of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. The task force has resulted in 201 charges against 34 people since its creation, with more pending. with files from CTV Vancouver Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Map of one of four routes taken by Grannies Respond to bring grandmothers and grandfathers to the Mexico border. (Image by Photo by Ann Wright) Details DMCA I joined the Grannies Respond group at their last stop -- at the U.S.-Mexico border in McAllen, Texas. Caravans of grandmothers, grandfathers and friends from the north, east and west of the United States converged in McAllen on August 4 after eight days of travel by some of the group, stopping in communities along the way to discuss conditions at the border and what citizens can do to change the policies of the Trump administration. Luis, a volunteer every night from six years at the Greyhound Bus station to help those released from ICE detention to get to their sponsors. (Image by Photo by Ann Wright) Details DMCA On the evening of August 4, as many as 100 of Grannies Respond walked a few blocks from Archer Park in downtown McAllen to the Greyhound Bus station. Each evening ICE releases persons who have been in detention/prison in a facility somewhere in the Rio Grande Valley. Each evening Luis, a retired fireman from McAllen, has gone for the past six years to the bus station to help persons who have been released from detention and permitted to go to their sponsors -- sponsors who may be located anywhere in the United States. Luis is in a motorized wheelchair as he is an amputee from injuries suffered at the end of his 25-year career as a fireman in the Rio Grande Valley. Meeting a group of people just released from ICE detention walking to the Greyhound bus station in McAllen, Texas--notice the smiles on the faces as our group said 'Welcome' to them. (Image by Photo by Ann Wright) Details DMCA Upon notification that their family/friends have been released, sponsors must reserve bus tickets from McAllen to wherever the sponsors live. All of this is done very quickly as those who get released do not know for sure if they are going to be released and when. Elizabeth and Megan, residents of McAllen and evening volunteers at the bus station said that they have talked with persons who have been in detention for as long as five months and others who were detained for only a few days. The volunteers in McAllen have not been able to figure out ICE's rationale for the timing of release of the detained persons. They said that the staff at the Greyhound Bus Station in McAllen has been very helpful and recognize the trauma individuals and families have been under. ICE drops a busload of people off and tells them to walk two blocks to the bus station -- many times they are not told what city they are in nor given any information other than "Get off the bus, you are released." Adults have to wear ankle alarms. If reservations for bus ticket for a person or family have not been made and paid for, or if the person is released so late in the day/evening that the bus on which reservations have been made has already left, volunteers help the person get a new ticket and help with shelter for the evening. Catholic Charities has a "Respite" facility two blocks from the McAllen bus station. Persons who need to stay overnight and get their buses the next day are brought there for showers, clean clothes, a hot meal, put in touch by phone with their relatives/sponsors and helped book/rebook tickets. Catholic Charities needs Spanish-speaking volunteers -- the next day at the hotel where we were staying, we met a Spanish-speaking woman volunteer from Austin who has been coming to McAllen for the past two years to help. The Grannies walked to the Catholic Charities "Respite" and sang songs for those who were waiting for their buses. Families, young people, older people who had been in detention and who had finally been released came out of the facility to listen to our songs. We had a chance to talk with some. I spoke to a young man named Pablo from Guatemala. It had taken him two months to get to the US. He had been robbed twice and had been detained for four months before his release about two hours ago. He would be joining family in Florida. Filling Backpacks at church in Harlingen, Texas. (Image by Photo by Leslie Harris) Details DMCA The next day, we went to the Presbyterian Church in Harlingen, about 30 miles from McAllen, to help fill backpacks, some of which would be taken to Catholic Charities to be given to released families there and some of which we took to the Brownsville-Matamoros border crossing another 40 miles south along the U.S.-Mexico border. The small backpacks contained several bottles of water, toiletries, snacks, writing paper and pen and a toy for the kids. Israeli style border crossing at Brownsville-Matamoros bridge. (Image by Photo by Ann Wright) Details DMCA We paid $1 in quarters to cross the bridge by foot. Perhaps this is the way ICE raises funds for its operation? I think the Israeli government helped design the US crossing into Mexico. It looked very similar to the checkpoints in the West Bank and the Erez crossing into Gaza. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. (Image by Freedom Flotilla Coalition) Details DMCA The Freedom Flotilla Coalition demands the immediate release of the 116 boxes of medical supplies for the health services of Gaza that were carried on the Al Awda and Freedom boats of the 2018 Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, recently seized by Israeli forces. As Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Margot Wallstrom has stated, the ship's cargo must be released, according to international law. International law also requires the delivery of medical supplies. Article 23 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Geneva Convention IV, 1949) says that "Each High Contracting Party shall allow the free passage of all consignments of medical and hospital stores ... intended only for civilians of another High Contracting Party, even if the latter is its adversary." Additionally, the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (12 June 1994) says in paragraph 104: "The blockading belligerent shall allow the passage of medical supplies for the civilian population or for the wounded and sick members of armed forces, subject to the right to prescribe technical arrangements, including search, under which such passage is permitted. Further, the San Remo Manual on the Law of Non-International Armed Conflict (2006), says in point 2 in the commentary to Rule 2.3.10: "By extension, all objects indispensable to the survival of civilians should be protected, especially medications. The protection means that the enemy is not permitted to attack, destroy, remove, or render useless the aforementioned items." Our Israeli attorney Gaby Lasky has been in contact with Occupation authorities to arrange delivery of the humanitarian medical supplies, but to date none have arrived in Gaza. The boxes are consigned to: MyCARE, Gaza City, Gaza Office Director Ahmed Thabet 1st Jaber Building, Opposite Haji Building Near Fishermen's Port Gaza City, Palestine Boxes 1-87 on Al Awda Boxes 88-114 on Freedom Boxes 115-116 on Al Awda Full inventories of the medical supplies in each box have been provided previously and can be produced on request. Please Tweet and Facebook the Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and ask where the 116 boxes of medical supplies for Gaza that were on Al Awda and Freedom are, and demand to know when they will be brought to the Gaza border crossing. Twitter and Facebook are on this website: .cogat.mod.gov.il/en/Pages/default.aspx Call the US Department of State 202-647-4000, ask for the Israel desk and demand that the US put pressure on Israel for the immediate delivery of the 116 boxes of medical supplies. Call the US Embassy in Israel and demand pressure on Israel for the delivery of these medical supplies -- +972-2-622-7230 (ask for the Ambassador's office) Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. (Image by balticword.eu/nato-doesnt-want-to-protect-baltics/) Permission Details DMCA When it comes to NATO's role in defending Western Europe, you can be sure of this. NATO soldiers don't want to be anywhere near the epicenter of a possible military conflict in the Baltic states. They know they could quickly become the ones who need saving, not the ones who must do the protecting. Here's why: Soldiers clearly remember the words of the former commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe, General Ben Hodges: "Russia," he said, "could conquer the Baltic states quicker than we could get there to defend them." According to Hodges, the Russians would need only 36 hours to take over the capitals of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. NATO forces, he went on to elaborate, could not be mobilized quickly enough to prevent their fall, since heavy military equipment, such as tanks, could not be moved fast enough from Western Europe to the alliance's eastern flank. Today, both Washington and Moscow assign high significance to the geographical location of the Baltic states. From Moscow's perspective, the three states are located close to important Russian strategic interests and are therefore potential targets for devastating attacks. For instance, the distance between Vilnius and Moscow is less than 500 miles--a short trip for a supersonic aircraft. From Washington's perspective, on the other hand, the failure to protect the Baltic states from Russian aggression could lead to the disintegration of NATO. At present, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian leaders are seeking additional NATO aid to help ward off any Russian moves against them, urging the member states to send more troops and bolster air defenses on the Alliance's eastern flank. Yet, despite their call for beefed-up protection from their Russian neighbor, the Baltic countries can't count on NATO to boost its military presence. "Currently, we are not planning to increase our military presence in the region, but"to strengthen our ability to reinforce if needed," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte last week. "If there is a need, we need to have ready forces which can deploy very quickly." Let's be honest with ourselves. At the moment, NATO is not able to protect the Baltic states from any aggressor. The presence of NATO troops in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia is intended only to calm the local population. That point is clear not only to the locals, but also to the foreign NATO soldiers. They have no interest in defending the homes of strangers and becoming victims of other people's geopolitical games. The Taliban launched a major attack on Afghanistan's Ghazni city on Friday. In a statement, the terrorist group said that it entered the city from "different sides". There were heavy clashes between the terrorists and government forces during the assault, TOLOnews reported. Ghazni Police Chief Farid Ahmad Mashal said that the skirmishes were reported in Khogyani, Khwaja Omari, and Zanakhan areas-- all of them situated on Ghazni's outskirts. In response, the US forces launched a drone strike, and later said that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces had controlled all government centers in the city. Lt. Col. Martin L. O'Donnell, the spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan was quoted by TOLOnews as saying, "US forces responded (to the attack) with close-air support (US attack helicopters) and conducted one strike (drone). In addition, US aircraft conducted a show of presence." The Kabul-Ghazni highway was out of bounds for traffic and civilians during the clashes between the Taliban and government forces, the police said. According to several media reports, casualties were inflicted during the clashes. Owing to the increasing instability in Ghazni province, Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission recently deferred the upcoming parliamentary polls in the area. --ANI Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Asia Times On Tuesday night, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani went on television to talk about the reinstatement of sanctions by the United States against his country. He prepared the country for more privations as a result of the sanctions. Responding to US President Donald Trump's offer of a meeting, Rouhani said pointedly, "If you stab someone with a knife and then say you want to talk, the first thing you have to do is to remove the knife." It is clear to everyone outside the US government that Iran has honored its side of the 2015 nuclear deal that it made with the governments of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (the US, the UK, France, China and Russia) as well as the European Union. In fact, quite starkly, EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini said, "We are encouraging small and medium enterprises in particular to increase business with and in Iran as part of something that for us is a security priority." In other words, Mogherini is asking companies to resist Trump's policy direction. What she is saying, and what Rouhani said, is that it is the United States that has violated the nuclear deal, and so no one needs to honor the US sanctions that have been reinstated. Mogherini pointed to "small and medium enterprises" because these would not be the kind of multinational corporations with interests in the United States. But it is more than small and medium-sized enterprises that are going to challenge the US sanctions. China, Russia and Turkey have already indicated that they will not buckle under US pressure. "China's lawful rights should be protected," said the Chinese government. China has no incentive to follow the new US position. First, China imports about US$15 billion worth of oil from Iran each year and expects to increase its purchases next year. State energy companies such as China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Sinopec have invested billions of dollars in Iran. CNPC and Sinopec also have shares in Iran's major oil and gas fields -- CNPC has a 30% stake in the South Pars gas field and has investments in the North Azadegan oilfield, while Sinopec has invested $2 billion in the Yadavan oilfield. China's Export-Import Bank, meanwhile, has financed many large projects in Iran, including the electrification of the Tehran-Mashhad railway. Other Chinese investment projects include the Tehran metro and the Tehran-Isfahan train. These projects are worth tens of billions of dollars. Second, China is in the midst of a nasty trade war with the United States. In late August, Trump's government slapped 25% tariffs on $16 billion worth of Chinese imports into the United States. China responded with its own tariffs, with its Commerce Ministry saying that the US was "once again putting domestic law over international law," which is a "very unreasonable practice." The "once again" is important. China is seized by the unfairness of the reinstatement of sanctions on Iran, not only for its own economic reasons but also because it sees this as a violation of international agreements and a threat to Iranian sovereignty -- two principles that China takes very seriously. Sinopec, knee-deep in Iran's oil sector, has now said that it would delay buying US oil for September. Iran has now been drawn into the US "trade war" (on which, read more here). The Chinese have been quite strong in their position. The Global Times, a Chinese government paper, wrote in an editorial, "China is prepared for protracted war. In the future, the US economy will depend more on the Chinese market than the other way around." This fortitude is going to spill over into China's defense of Iran's economy. Russia and Iran do not share the kind of economic linkages that Iran has with China. After the 2015 sanctions deal, Iran did not turn to Russian oil and gas companies for investment. It went to France's Total -- which signed a $5 billion deal. Russia and Iran did sign various massive energy deals ($20 billion in 2014), but these did not seem to go anywhere. Russia's Gazprom and Lukoil have toyed with entry to Iran. In May, Lukoil directly said that it would be hesitant to enter Iran because of the proposed US reinstatement of sanctions. Lukoil's hesitancy came alongside that of European companies such as Peugeot, Siemens and even Total, which decided to hold off on expansion or cut ties with Iran. Daimler has now officially halted any work in Iran. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From The Progressive As arms ache for loved ones who will never return and survivors bear the effects of injury and trauma, U.S. people must demand an end to all U.S. involvement in war against Yemen. Saudi Raid in Yemen aided by U.S. (Image by centcom.mil) Details DMCA On August 9, a U.S.-supported Saudi airstrike bombed a bus carrying schoolchildren in Sa'ada, a city in northern Yemen. The New York Times reported that the students were on a recreational trip. According to the Sa'ada health department, the attack killed at least 43 people. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, at least 29 of those killed were children under the age of 15, and 48 people were wounded, including 30 children. CNN aired horrifying, heartbreaking footage of children who survived the attack being treated in an emergency room. One of the children, carrying his UNICEF issued blue backpack, is covered with blood and badly burned. Commenting on the tragedy, CNN's senior correspondent Nima Elbagir emphasized that she had seen unaired video which was even worse than what the CNN segment showed. She then noted that conditions could worsen because Yemen's vital port of Hodeidah, the only port currently functioning in Yemen, has been under attack for weeks of protracted Saudi coalition-led airstrikes. Ms. Elbagir described the port of Hodeidah as "the only lifeline to bring in supplies to Yemen." "This conflict is backed by the U.S. and the U.K.," Elbagir said, concluding her report with, "They are in full support of the Saudi-led activities in Yemen today." U.S. companies such as Raytheon, General Dynamics, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin have sold billions of dollars' worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Saudi-Emirati-led coalition which is attacking Yemen. The U.S. military refuels Saudi and Emirati warplanes through midair exercises. And, the United States helps the Saudi coalition warmakers choose their targets. Isa Blumi, an associate professor at Stockholm University and author of the book Destroying Yemen, has said the United States is "front and center responsible" for the Saudi coalition attacks. Looking for a helpful way to describe U.S. support for the Saudi-Emirati operation in Yemen, journalist Samuel Oakford recently offered this comparison: "If an airstrike was a drive-by and killed someone, the U.S. provided the car, the wheels, the servicing and repair, the gun, the bullets, help with maintenance of those -- and the gas." The August 9 attack against children and other civilians follows a tragic and sordid list of Saudi-Emirati attacks causing carnage and extreme affliction in Yemen. On June 12, Doctors Without Borders reported an airstrike which destroyed its newly constructed facility for treatment of cholera, in the town of Abs, built in anticipation of a third epidemic outbreak of cholera in Yemen. Scores of people were killed and wounded in an August 3 attack near the entrance to the port of Hodeidah's Al Thawra hospital. Analysts examining the munitions used in the attack believe the killing and destruction was caused when United Arab Emirates forces situated near the Hodeidah airport fired mortars into the area. Why have the Saudis and Emiratis led a coalition attacking Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab peninsula, since March of 2015? Professor Isa Blumi believes the goal is to bludgeon Yemenis into complete submission and exert control over "a gold mine" of resources, including oil reserves, natural gas, minerals, and a strategic location. Blumi notes that the war against Yemen costs the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 200 million dollars per day, yet Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who commented that a prolonged war is in the interests of Saudi Arabia, seems to believe the cost is worth it, considering potential future gains. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. There's a good chance there will be a big blue wave this fall-- a massive repudiation of the Republicans who are supporting Trump. It will happen because some Trump supporters will vote against the Republicans who support him in lockstep. Those Trump voters who are getting disgusted, those who are at the bleeding edge of Trumpism, are the ones worth spending time talking to. Thomas Friedman, wrote, in a recent article, Keep Up The Blanket Coverage of Trump. It Hurts Him, "It turns out there is still a cohort of Republicans who have not sold their souls to Trump the way virtually every one of their elected representatives in Washington has done. It turns out that there are thinking Republicans for whom character, decency and truth-telling still matter in a president. It turns out that there are thinking Republicans who have watched Trump's twitter rants, his disturbed performance at Helsinki and the unrestrained bile that he emits at his rallies -- and the blind, ecstatic response of his core base -- and found them unnerving and unworthy of their support. That is what the polls and polling stations last night are telling us." Another NYTimes article How Broad, and Happy, Is theTrump Coalition? reports polling which suggests that support from Trump voters is softening among women, college grads and people who are non-white. Timothy Egan reports, in his article, Red, and Ready to Flip, how Washington's Fifth Congressional District, the Democrat Lisa Brown, observes, "...you really notice the enthusiasm of women. I've been doing a lot of doorbelling, and the gender difference stands out.". So. forget about these guys And put your time into talking to women, college grads and non-whites. I'd encourage you to use his appointment of anti-worker, anti-environment corporatists with huge conflicts of interest, and his stealing babies from parents as issues that most people are disgusted by. I would not go after anything about Russia. By doing that you are, in a way, helping Hillary, which may be fine if you are talking to Democrats, but which is deadly, if you are talking to wobbling Trump supporters. Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall's book is amazing. He's created a real breakthrough, visionary how-to for a sustainable, quality future. Like Saul Alinski's Rules for Radicals, this book is destined to become a classic must-read for all those concerned with social, economic, and environmental justice in today's interconnected world. Story shapes the world and our world needs new stories if we are to survive and thrive. The story of the bottom-up evolution and revolution is one that can change individuals, groups, businesses, religions, and governments for the positive as it shows how bottom-up inclusiveness, connectedness, collaboration, empathy, innovation, and freeform creativity can help unleash the great potentials for good inherent in our very nature. If you want to improve things in your world and the world, first read this book, then apply the suggestions. Change is sure to come." Pamela Jaye Smith, mythologist and author of InnerDrives, Power of the Dark Side, Symbols* Images* Codes* and award-winning writer-producer-director Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Want to know the history of the "1 percent" meme? I'll answer that one right now. I've been reading Lords of Creation , by Frederick Lewis Allen, originally published in 1936, and re-printed a few years back as part of Mark Crispin Miller's Forbidden Bookshelf . The subtitle was "The History of America's 1 Percent" . The book is full of stories from the lives of J. P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and many robber-barons of the Gilded Age who are less well-remembered today. But what makes this book fascinating reading is that the themes are so evocative of the 21st Century. Corporate welfare--huge bonuses for people at the top and layoffs for people at the bottom--growing income disparities--real estate speculation--trickle-down economics--all these things are deja vu all over again. Like the present era, the early decades of the 20th Century was a time of cascading advances in technology. In their case, railroads and cars, electrification and telephones; in ours, computerization and biotech. And just as in the present era, there were financiers who were not directly engaged in the technology boom, but who made far greater profits than the industrialists they financed. There was a real estate boom and a real estate crash. As in the present day, there were financial pyramids constructed for the sole purpose of obfuscating which owns which and who owes what to whom. It sounds a lot like today's hypothecation of loan security , and collateralized mortgage obligations . The Federal Reserve , invented by the Guilded Agers, is a shell game that continues to this day. A theme running through the book is conflict of interest: the trustees who are pledged to guard the interest of small stockholders are trading in these stocks to their own advantage, escaping with profits for themselves before the panic selling that wipes out the family savings of their fiduciaries. Today, everyone from economists to Black Swan statisticians agrees that market excesses are driven by mob psychology of fear and greed. That is to say, the boom/bust cycle is not created by the insiders who profit from it, but is just something that happens when you have a lot of independent buyers and sellers, all trying to second-guess one another. But Lewis makes clear that the market manipulation for profit of the few at the expense of the many was already a mature science in 1929. "It is preposterous to regard a bull market so stimulated and so financed as the product of the spontaneous speculative madness of the entire American population." To say the same today is to relegate yourself to the margins of the conspiracy theorists . The root problem with capitalism is that power begets power. It all starts with the notion of "free competition", but inevitably, size confers an advantage, and the competition becomes one-sided. There is a tendency for the biggest companies to continue their inexorable growth, steamrollering the smaller companies in their path. This was the story of Standard Oil and U.S. Steel, and the same story continues with Microsoft and Amazon. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was designed to curb monopolistic power in the marketplace, but any company big enough to be subject to its strictions had enough clout to dominate the Department of Commerce. "The ingenuity of corporate lawyers is usually two or three steps ahead of that of legislators." In practice, I learned, the primary application of the Sherman Act was to bust labor unions ! Then as now, wealth bought influence over government, and the very agencies that were charged with maintaining a fair playing field were in thrall to the biggest and the baddest corporate giants. Government regulation was derided as not just unnecessary, but an impediment to progress and efficiency. Then as now, Capitalism was like a religion, and freedom to profiteer was conflated with the Constitutional freedoms guaranteed in our Bill of Rights. We might laugh at the Christian piety of those who compiled huge fortunes at a time when factory men worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, and considered themselves lucky to have a job--we could laugh if it didn't remin us so exquisitely of G.W. Bush quoting Jesus in his call to war, or Congressmen Todd Akin and Paul Broun thumping for creationism. An excerpt from J.P. Morgan's will: I commit my soul Into the hands of my Savior, in full confidence that having redeemed It and washed it in His most precious blood he will present it faultless before the throne of my heavenly father; and I entreat my children to maintain and defend, at all hazard, and at any cost of personal sacrifice, the blessed doctrine of the "complete atonement" for sin through the blood of Jesus Christ, once offered, and through that alone. Allen highlights the profitability of The Great War in terms that remind us of the story told today by David Swanson and others. Wars are a great profit opportunity for all capitalists. Despite the contempt with which the country regarded "profiteering" and despite the efforts of the government to set prices at fair levels, it must be admitted that the vast volume of war orders, the increasing efficiency of production, and the fallibility of governmental officials combined to permit some very high profits...The Calumet and Hecla Mining Company made 800% on its capital stock in 1917; the Utah Copper Company, 200%...Perhaps this had best be forgotten by those who write inscriptions for soldiers' monuments. Banks have a special role to play in wars, because governments see so much at stake that they convince their constituents to go into hock for decades to come, trying to advance their chance of prevailing. In every war, both sides lose, while the bankers win. There is a venerable history of banks maximizing their profits by their even-handedness, happily financing both sides at usurous interest rates. At the launch of World War I, Pres Woodrow Wilson solemnly declared a policy of strict neutrality, but our bankers had different ideas. Their loans to the British, the French and the Russians kept the Allies in the running. The stakes kept escalating, until, after three years, it was clear that Wall St would be in deep doo-doo if the Allies did not come out in a position to repay their debts. In Allen's account, J.P. Morgan and the Banksters of the last century had a great deal to do with America's entry into The War. (Image by Looney Toons) Details DMCA Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From The Hill While President Trump falsely claims that immigrants are infesting America, the real story of American politics, which will support a huge Democratic victory in the midterm elections, is that Trump's 2016 campaign was rat-infested at home and colluding with a Russian dictator who attacks America from abroad. Washington, D.C. is now braced for the Bob Woodward book, "Fear," which will be released on Sept. 11 , less than two months before the midterm elections. It could well be an encyclopedia of Trump-related rats ratting on each other. While revelations of wrongdoing are cascading before the midterms like water pouring down from Niagara Falls, there are two stories that tower above all others in importance, both involving Trump Tower in New York. This tweet was the moral equivalent of a confession by Trump of the central issue being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller. Russia attacked America. Russia illegally obtained dirt against Clinton. Russians sought the meeting at Trump Tower for the purpose, proven in the written invitation for the meeting, which was seen by three top Trump associates, of giving Team Trump the dirt as part of Putin's project of electing Trump in 2016. The president's son, Donald Jr., proclaimed how thrilled he was by the prospect of receiving this Russian-supplied information about Clinton, especially if it was offered close to the election. Now Trump himself, who previously promoted a false story from Air Force One that the meeting was only about Russian adoption, admits in his tweet that was not true, and the real purpose of the meeting was to get dirt against Clinton from the Russians. For whatever reason, whether he realized it or not, Trump was ratting on Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner who all attended this infamous meeting that Trump now admits was called to get the Russian dirt about Clinton, not to discuss adoption of Russian children. The second hugely important story originated from Michael Cohen, Trump's fixer, who apparently claims he will tell Mueller and the prosecutors that there was a second Trump Tower meeting to prepare in advance for the major Trump Tower meeting to "get the dirt" against Clinton. According to this alleged story, there were others at the second Trump Tower meeting who were not previously known, including Rick Gates. The story about the second Trump Tower meeting has not yet been proven true, but if it is proven true, the implications are enormous and decisive. Gates has already copped a plea with the Feds and ratted on Manafort. If Gates was present at a second Trump Tower meeting to plan for the expected dirt Russia had promised to provide against Clinton in the major Trump Tower meeting, Mueller would know exactly what happened at that meeting from his plea bargain deal with the Feds! Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From The Nation When Rashida Tlaib won a hard-fought Democratic primary race for an open seat representing Michigan in the US House of Representatives, she signaled that she will go to Congress as what she has always been: a speak-truth-to-power activist. "I will fight back against every racist and oppressive structure that needs to be dismantled," Tlaib declared in her victory speech early Wednesday morning. Tlaib is serious about structural change. She's a champion when it comes to resistance to Trump and Trumpism. But she is determined to move beyond resistance and usher in a new era of progressive governance -- one in which civil-rights protections are not merely defended. They will be enhanced. When she takes office, Tlaib says, she will "propose legislation to drastically expand U.S. civil rights protections to cover discriminatory impacts, in addition to discriminatory intent." Her long-term goal is to achieve "a sweeping change for America that would change the landscape for millions of citizens." This is the big vision that helped a speak-truth-to-power activist win one of the most intensely contested primaries in the country this summer. Tlaib's now the Democratic nominee in a Democratic district -- the one formerly represented by John Conyers -- and she is all but certain to take a seat as a member of the US House next January. Don't expect this lawyer, activist, and former state legislator to serve as a backbencher. The woman who was once thrown out of a Trump rally for demanding that the billionaire candidate "read the Constitution" is going to shake up the political status quo. For one thing, she would be the first Muslim-American woman ever elected to Congress. For another thing, as a Palestinian American, and the child of immigrants, she will bring bold ideas and a vital sense of urgency to Capitol Hill at a time when, as Tlaib suggests, it is necessary to "resist Trump's attacks on our communities." Click Here to Read Whole Article Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Alon Ben-Meir Website FREE PALESTINE! (Image by alisdare1) Details DMCA To listen to an audio version of this article, click here. The nearly three months of demonstrations by Palestinians along the Israel-Gaza border under the banner of the "March of Return," which turned violent and has remained as such as of this writing. This provides another manifestation of how wrong and astray the Palestinians have been led, believing that there is still a prospect for the Palestinian refugees to return to their original homes in today's Israel. Moreover, even though the Palestinian leadership knows that the right of return can never be materialized, the fact that they encouraged the outpouring of Palestinian youth behind this untenable goal not only raised false expectations but played directly into the hands of Israel's right-wing parties. As long as the Palestinians continue to insist on the right of return, they will never earn credibility in the eyes of most Israelis, who argue that the Palestinian demand for a two-state solution is only the first step on their march to wipe Israel off the map. And since they cannot do so by force, they opt for demographic means through the right of return, which also explains the growing traction behind the one-state solution. The Palestinians' persistent narrative about their right of return created a mindset among them that made it a foundational pillar without which no Israeli-Palestinian peace can be erected. Addressing, however, the right of return first would allay the emotional and psychological impediments that have prevented the Palestinians from coming to terms with Israel's unmitigated existence. Moreover, given the deep discord between the two sides on every other conflicting issue, including Jerusalem, the settlements, and security, it is impossible, as has been demonstrated in past negotiations, to solve these conflicts along with the refugee problem in a single package deal. Thus, it will be necessary to deal with each of the discordant issues separately, which can be achieved only if both sides commit to finding a permanent and comprehensive solution (which is a must), and the Palestinians are assured by the US and its Western allies that a resolution to the Palestinian refugees constitutes only the first step. Even then, it is illusionary to think that the Palestinian Authority (PA) or Hamas will agree to resolve the right of return first. They fear that by solving this issue first, they would lose their most important trump card which will be to Israel's advantage, and the peace process will end without realizing an independent Palestinian state. Whereas such concern is justified because of Israel's expansionist policy, the prospect of exercising the right of return is non-existent and the longer the Palestinians wait, the worse it becomes. The refugee number is exponentially increasing without any prospect that the Israeli position will ever change. The question here is how to solve the refugee problem given the Palestinians' fixation on their right of return? For more than 70 years they have been indoctrinated by their leaders that their right of return is inalienable. How could any Palestinian leader negotiate an agreement that suddenly precludes the right of return? For the Palestinians, whose expectation of return has been embedded in their psyche, this would be the highest betrayal and potentially lead to unprecedented violence against the Palestinian security forces and Israel, instigated by extremist Palestinians who do not want a solution short of destroying Israel. Therefore, the only way to change the dynamic of return is through the countries and institutions -- particularly the EU, the US, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) -- that have and continue to support the refugees and inadvertently perpetuated the problem to the detriment of the refugees. These institutions ought to reevaluate the status quo and assume the responsibility to change their approach to the problem by stating publicly that the time has come to end this travesty through compensation and/or resettlement. The Palestinians can be expected to oppose such a dramatic change and denounce the EU, the US, and the UN for their "treasonous" slant against their cause. But the argument in favor of resettlement and/or compensation has been indirectly considered as the only practical choice. Since the 1967 Six Day War, the UN, the Arab League, and other groups recognized the impossibility of the right of return and suggested a solution based on moral grounds that does justice to the refugees. The 1967 UNSC Resolution 242 "Affirms further the necessity...For achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem..." The 1993-1994 Oslo Accords stipulated, "It is understood that these negotiations shall cover remaining issues, including: Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, security arrangements, [and] borders..." And the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative mentions "Achievement of a just solution to the Palestinian refugee problem..." [emphasis added] In every set of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the Palestinian leaders agreed that only a small number (25,000-30,000) of refugees will be allowed to return under family reunification over a period of five to seven years. In 2000 at Camp David, Arafat agreed to such a formula but insisted that the wording of the right of return be enshrined in the final document, which Israel vehemently rejected. In all subsequent negotiations under Bush and Obama, the PA conceded that there will be no right of return other than what is stipulated above. It is also necessary to redefine who is a Palestinian refugee. According to UNRWA, established in 1949, Palestinian refugees are those displaced from Mandatory Palestine (current-day Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank) in 1948 and 1967 and their descendants, which included Jewish refugees as well. However, while Israel absorbed those Jews, the Arab refugees were never officially resettled, whether within the Arab states or in the West Bank and Gaza. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. On Sunday, July 29, Israel seized a ship named Al Awda (The Return) that was bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza. On the final leg of the trip there were about 22 people representing 16 or 17 nationalities--Swedish, Norwegians, Americans, even Israelis, of diverse backgrounds. Most of those on board were Europeans. The cargo consisted of medical supplies to be donated to Gazans to meet the increasingly dire medical situation in Gaza. This is not the first time an attempt has been made by international activist to deliver badly needed supplies to Gaza, which is under Israeli blockade. Gaza's 2 million inhabitants have been living under this blockade since 2007. Activists have tried to reach Gaza in Freedom Flotillas more than once. From 2008 through 2016, international activists sailed 31 boats to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. The most well-known challenge was the attempt by Mavi Marmara on May 22, 2010, that left nine Turks dead at the hands of Israeli naval commandos. According to Israeli sources, this time the takeover of the ship was without incident. Israel navy said that it informed the passengers they were "violating the legal naval blockade" and that if they had humanitarian aid to deliver they could deliver it to Gaza through the port in nearby Ashdod. They were warned that if they did not turn around and persisted in attempting to go to Gaza, the ship would be seized and towed to Ashdod. And, according to Israel, this is what the Israeli navy did. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a charity umbrella group that organizes these attempts, reported it slightly differently. It wrote that the Israeli navy claimed that the ship was breaking international law and threatened that it would use 'any measures necessary' to stop the ship. Was Al Awda 'violating the legal naval blockade'? Under international law Israel, as every other country, has rights over its territorial waters. These rights extend to 12 nautical miles. Beyond that the oceans are international waters, also known as the high seas. It is important to remember that the Al Awda bore a Norwegian flag. It was around 60 miles out of Gaza city when it was warned by the Israeli navy, boarded and ultimately seized. It was in international waters. It was not illegally crossing any internationally recognized border. The only "border" it was crossing was the border Israel had unilaterally set up in international waters, without any right or authority to do so. According to the 1982 convention, each country's sovereign territorial waters extend to a maximum of 12 nautical miles (22 km) beyond its coast. Even in this zone foreign vessels are granted the right of 'innocent passage'. There can be nothing more innocent than carrying medical supplies to those who need them badly. The high seas lie beyond the zones described above. The waters and airspace of this area are open to use by all countries, except for those activities prohibited by international law (e.g., the testing of nuclear weapons). The Mavi Marmara seizure by Israel was discussed in the UN. A 2011 report to UN Human Rights Council by five independent UN rights experts states that Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip violates international law. An earlier fact-finding mission named by the same UN forum to investigate the flotilla incident also found in a report that the blockade violated international law. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the blockade violates the Geneva Conventions. It can be argued that even if Al Awda was within 12 nautical miles of Gaza, it would still not be breaking any international law, having a right under the 'innocent-passage' clause to be there. Besides, Israel says again and again that it has pulled out of Gaza and given it to the Gazans. Gaza, according to Israel, is no longer Israeli territory. If that be so, the sea abutting Gaza would be the territorial waters of Gaza, not Israel. This is not all. Just a few days after seizing Al Awda Israel turned its attention on another flotilla boat, a 100% wind-powered sailing vessel named Freedom, sailing under a Swedish flag. It was to be a gift for the Palestinian fishers and was carrying a cargo of medical supplies. It was surrounded in international waters about 40 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza, was boarded and seized by Israeli naval commandos. These ongoing apparently illegal hijacking of ships and acts of piracy by Israel in international waters need to be stopped. It is high time this matter is raised in the UN. These two issues must be settled once and for all. Israel may have the right to close its borders with Gaza but does it have a right to blockade Gaza? And, more importantly, does it have a right to seize vessels in international waters, board them, brutalize and even kill their passengers and rob them of their possessions? Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Public Sector Software Market with Current Trends Analysis By 2023 | Symantec, SAP, Cisco systems and Microsoft. Other players in the market are are Tech Mahindra, Infor, HCL Technologies Public Sector Software Market https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report/public-sector-software-market https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report-sample/IC081175 https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/send-an-enquiry/IC081175 Competitive Insights:Public Sector Software Market is divided between many international and regional companies. In the race of leading the global market many big companies are making tie-ups with small companies to increase the market reach and promote their products to large extent. The key players of international market are; Symantec, SAP, Cisco systems and Microsoft. Other players in the market are are Tech Mahindra, Infor, HCL Technologies, Juniper Networks and Salesforce.For more information, click on the below link @The Public Sector Software Market is segmented as follows-By Type:Cloud-basedOn-premisesBy End-User:HealthcareTransportationGovernmentBFSIIndustry Outlook and Trend Analysis:The Public Sector Software Market is expected to garner substantial market share by 2023, while registering itself at a significant compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period.Public Sector Software Market is booming due to the increase in use of mobility solutions like wireless networks, unified communication and other devices. The increase in smartphone, desktop & laptop industries is giving rise to development and advancement in apps to support these devices is a reason for booming IT services. Also the increase in the amount of data is a factor leading to development of analytical tools and big data services. Efficiency related to the services provided to the customers in increasing due to analytical tools. IT services are being used by banks for stopping the frauds, the government is using the big data management for keeping the digital record of the citizens. Mobility solutions, analytical services and big data management are the main driving technologies behind Public Sector Software Market.Sample Copy of the Report here @Table of Contents1.Introduction2.Executive Summary3.Market Overview5.Public Sector Software Market, By Type5.1.Introduction5.2.Global Public Sector Software Revenue and Market Share by Type (2014-2018)5.2.1. Global Public Sector Software Revenue and Revenue Share by Type (2014-2018)5.3.Cloud-based5.3.1. Global Cloud-based Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2018)5.4.On-premises5.4.1. Global On-premises Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2018)6.Public Sector Software Market, By End-User6.1.Introduction6.2.Global Public Sector Software Revenue and Market Share by End-User (2014-2018)6.2.1. Global Public Sector Software Revenue and Revenue Share by End-User (2014-2018)6.3.Healthcare6.3.1. Global Healthcare Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2018)6.4.Transportation6.4.1. Global Transportation Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2018)6.5.Government6.5.1. Global Government Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2018)6.6.BFSI6.6.1. Global BFSI Revenue and Growth Rate (2014-2018)To be continued...Regional Outlook and Trend Analysis:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Rest of Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Rest of Asia-Pacific)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Rest of South America)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Rest of MEA)Features Of The Public Sector Software Market Report:The analysis of Public Sector Software Market, their Growth, Demand, position, size and share from different regions are mentioned in detailed.The key players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.The new strategic plan and suggestions that will help old as well as new market players to maintain the competitiveness are also discussed.The Public Sector Software Market report provides some important points related to growth factors, challenges, opportunities, end-user analysis and achievement and so on.The latest trends that are being followed in the market are included along with an example.How technological advancement and research, as well as development activities, are impacting the Public Sector Software Market is explained in detail.The development plans and policies are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures too are discussed.Ask Questions to Expertise at @About Crystal Market Research:Crystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact Us:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.com Smart Pills Market Quadruples by 2023; with a ~ 16.14 % of Whooping CAGR | Proteus Digital Health, Olympus Corporation, Medtronic PLC, Medisafe Smart Pills Market https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report-sample/HC061028 https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report/smart-pills-market https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/check-discount/HC061028 The Smart Pills Market was worth USD 1.61 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach approximately USD 6.19 billion by 2023, while registering itself at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.14% during the forecast period.Smart Pills Market - Competitive Insights:The leading players in the market are Proteus Digital Health, Olympus Corporation, Medtronic PLC, Medisafe and others. Many Key players are depending on methods, for example, agreements & joint ventures, collaborations, and advancements to build the visibility of their products and fortify their product portfolios.Access sample copy of this report:Smart Pills Market - Outlook and Trend Analysis:Smart pills have risen as a progressive mechanical advancement, crossing over any barrier between computerized innovation and medicinal services. With the advent of these medicinal services cum-mechanical devices has empowered tending to taking off interest for better observing and diagnostics. Smart pills have now turned out to be standard system for non-intrusive determination with respect to motility issue. Doctors lean towards smart pills as they empower on-going patient observing by means of remote controlling alternatives.The Smart Pills Market is segmented as follows-Smart Pills Market - By Application:ProductCapsule EndoscopyDrug DeliveryToolsPatient Monitoring SoftwareSmart Pills Market - Drivers & Restrains:Interest for advanced drug delivery systems with advantages, for example, ideal utilization of dynamic pharmaceutical fixing, decreased dose recurrence, negligible antagonistic/symptoms, directed medication conveyance, and more secure transporter is driving the market for smart pills. Incorporation of imaginative medications, therapeutic gadgets, and propelled advancements is relied upon to assume an essential part in additionally boosting the market over the figure time frame. Patients with unending illnesses who need to take after a particular dosage of medicine at the target site are relied upon to frame a vast client base for advanced drug delivery products. Popularity for negligibly intrusive surgeries has offered ascend to innovative strategies, for example, capsule endoscopy.Smart Pills Market - By Region:North America - U.S, Canada, MexicoEurope - Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Rest of EuropeAsia-Pacific - Japan, China, Australia, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia PacificRest of the World - Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, OthersGet more information of this report:Smart Pills Market - Regional Outlook and Trend Analysis:North America will keep on being the most profitable market for smart pills, for the most part determined by variables, for example, quick administrative endorsement of new items, developing instances of colorectal malignancy, and mechanical headways in the social insurance segment. The market in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) is anticipated to enlist a strong development through 2026, nearly trailing North America. Mandatory healthcare insurance provisions and developing commonness of gastrointestinal issue and stomach tumour are essential elements affecting the market development in APEJ. High predominance of target issue combined with expanding government bolster is additionally anticipated that would clear development open doors for smart pills market in APEJ.Smart Pills Market - Table of Contents:1.Introduction1.1.Report Description1.2.Research Methodology2.Executive Summary2.1.Key Highlights3.Market Overview...7.Company Profiles7.1.Medtronic7.2.Proteus Digital Health (Subsidiary of Harbin Gloria Pharmaceuticals Company Ltd.)7.3.CapsoVision, Inc.7.4.Olympus Corporation7.5.Medisafe7.6.Acamp7.7. Boston Scientific Corporation7.8.Cerner Corporation7.9.GE Healthcare7.10.Fujifilm Holdings Corporation8.Global Smart Pills Market Competition, by Manufacturer...What our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends.- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsThe report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Smart Pills market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2023 for overall Smart Pills market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of the World, which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend.Check best offer of this report:Also, key Smart Pills market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered.ContinuedAbout Crystal Market Research:Crystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customised research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact Us:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.com Military fire control system Market 2018 Global Industry Analysis By Elbit, BAE, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Safran, Rheinmetall, Leonardo and Ultra Electronics Military Fire Control System https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6123 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/6123 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/military-fire-control-system-market-6123 Global Military Fire Control System Market Report Information by Application (Naval, Ground-Based, Airborne), Platform (Weapon mounted, Vehicle mounted) by Component (Gun director, Computing Devices/Displays, Sensor, Others), & by Region-Forecast Till 2023Market research future published a half cooked research report on global military fire control system market. The Military fire control system market is estimated to witness a CAGR of more than 5% during the forecast period 2018 to 2023.Get Sample Report @A military fire control system consists of a number of components, including control, command, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I); electro-optical/infrared sensors; gun data computer; and overall positioning system. Increase in the terrorist activities and increasing military missions and operations are the major driver driving the market for the military fire control systems market during the forecast period. The automated fir control systems and devices help soldiers to accomplish military operations with higher operating efficiency and better effectiveness. The increasing implementation of automated technology in fire control system by companies will contribute to the growth in military fire control system market.North America is expected to witness a higher growth owing to a rise in demand for the procurement and development of advanced weapon systems to support military missions and operations across several locations in the region. Europe is anticipated to grow at a moderate rate during the forecast period. The U.K and Germany are the major markets for the military fire control systems in Europe. Increase in the use of automation system in fire control systems is one of the major factor fueling the demand of military fire control systems in Europe. In Asia Pacific, China, India, and Indonesia are expected to be leading market for military fire control system. Border disputes and geopolitical issues are some of the major factor fueling the demand of the military fire control systems market in China and India. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are estimated to grow at a strong rate during the forecast period. Increase in the terrorist activities and increasing military missions and operations are the major factor driving the demand of the military fire control systems market in the Middle East and Africa.Recently, Lockheed Martin introduced the Paragon Direct Attack Munition. This all-weather dual-mode precision-guided bomb kit is guided by GPS or Inertial Navigation System (INS) and semi-active laser homing systems and can be fired against both stationary and mobile targets. In May 2018, The U.S. Navy has started its first flight III destroyer. The development of this destroyer is on a first-of-its-kind new surface warfare destroyer armed with better-quality weapons. Moreover, it will consist of advanced sensors and new radar 35-times more sensitive than present systems. The Paragon Direct Attack Munition and flight III destroyer are integrated with fire control system. So, this will boost the military fire control system market in the forecast period.Key PlayersThe key players in Military fire control system market are Elbit Systems (Israel), BAE Systems (U.K), Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), General Dynamics Corporation (U.S.), Safran (France), Rheinmetall AG (Germany), Bharat Electronics Limited (India), Saab AB (Sweden), Leonardo S.p.A (Italy) and Ultra Electronics Group (U.K)Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global Military fire control system market, tracking three market segments across five geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global military fire control system market by its Application, Platform, Component, and Region.By Application Naval Ground-Based AirborneBy Platform Weapon mounted Vehicle mountedBy Component Gun director Computing Devices/Displays Sensor - Range finder/designator, Radar, Navigation system, EO/IR, SONAR and Others OthersBy Region America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin AmericaEarly Diners Are Offered Free Customization- Up to 20% @The report for Global Military Fire Control System Market by Market Research Future covers extensive primary research. This is accompanied with a detailed analysis of qualitative and quantitative aspects by various industry experts and key opinion leaders to gain deeper insights into the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of the current market scenario, which includes the historical and forecasted market size, in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macroeconomic, and governing factors of the market. The report provides comprehensive information about the strategies of the top companies in the industry, along with a broad study of the different market segments and regionsTable Of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Scope Of The Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Definition2.2.2 Research Objective2.2.3 Assumptions2.2.4 Limitations2.3 Research Process2.3.1 Primary Research2.3.2 Secondary Research2.4 Market Size Estimation2.5 Forecast Model3 Market Landscape3.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis3.1.1 Threat Of New Entrants3.1.2 Bargaining Power Of Buyers3.1.3 Threat Of Substitutes3.1.4 Segment Rivalry3.1.5 Bargaining Power Of Buyers3.2 Value Chain/Supply Chain Analysis4 Market Dynamics4.1 Introduction4.2 Market Drivers4.3 Market Restraints4.4 Market Opportunities4.5 Market TrendsContinues....Ask for your specific company profile and country level customization on reports.Browse Full Report with Complete TOC @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research FutureMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Electrical Apparatus Market 2018-2025 Analysis and Prediction by Leading Manufacturers ABB, Emerson Network Power, GE Power Control SP, Rockwell Automation, SIEMENS, Honeywell, Eaton, 3M, Leviton, etc Electrical Apparatus Market https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/592012 https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/592012 https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/592012 www.orianresearch.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/13281002/ Global Electrical Apparatus Industry 2018 research report added by orianresearch.com to its vast repository provides important statistics and analytical data to give a complete understanding of the market size, share, growth, trend, demand, top player, industry overview, opportunities, value cycle, end-users, technology, types and application. The report extensively provides the market overview, gross margin, cost structure, recent trends and forecast for the period 2018-2025.Get Sample copy @ The Electrical Apparatus Market Report consists of strong research of global Electrical Apparatus Market which enables the customer reached at the possible requirement as we as predict the implementations. The development ratio which is expected in perspective of the rational analysis provides thorough information of the worldwide Electrical Apparatus industry. The constraints and drivers are assembled after a profound study of the global Electrical Apparatus markets proficiency.Complete report on Electrical Apparatus market report spread across 100 pages, profiling 15 companies and supported with tables and figures. Inquire more @Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins. The report focuses on global major leading Electrical Apparatus Industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Electrical Apparatus industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.Analysis of Electrical Apparatus Industry Key Manufacturers: ABB Emerson Network Power Schneider Shanghai Industrial Control Co GE Power Control SP Rockwell Automation SIEMENS Honeywell Eaton 3M ...Purchase this report @This report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering: North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc) South America (Brazil, Argentina etc) Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc).Table of Contents1 Market Definition2 Global Market by Vendors3 Global Market by Type4 Global Market by End-Use / Application5 Global Market by Regions6 North America Market7 Europe Market8 Asia-Pacific Market9 South America Market10 Middle East & Africa Market11 Market Forecast12 Key Manufacturers13 Price Overview14 Research Conclusion.About UsOrian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.Contact Us:Ruwin MendezVice President Global Sales & Partner RelationsOrian Research ConsultantsUS: +1 (832) 380-8827 | UK: +44 0161-818-8027Email: info@orianresearch.comWebsite:Follow Us on LinkedIn: M2M Services Market | Top Most Vendors(Aeris Communications , Ericsson AB , Deutsche Telekom , Oracle, Verizon Wireless) Forecast 2017 - 2025 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/3477 https://www.mrrse.com/m2m-services-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/3477 https://www.mrrse.com/ A new research study titled M2M Services Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025 has been added to the repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). According to the report, the Global M2M Services Market is likely to grow at 27.2% CAGR during the assessment period. The M2M services market is likely to reach a valuation of nearly 83,616.1 Mn by the end of the projected period.For more information on M2M Services Market, get free sample report @Global M2M Services Market- DriversThe report has listed some of the factors which are fuelling the growth of the global market for M2M services. These drivers are as bellowsIncreasing partnership and collaboration among key playersEfforts taken by the top leaders in this market to reach to the untapped economiesImproved connection of internet and expanded networks in fiber optic cableRemarkable drop in the operational cost of M2M services which is booming the marketRising Research & Development activity to enhance advance communication technology, fuels the growth of the marketGlobal M2M Services Market- Segmental Forecast and AnalysisThe worldwide market for M2M services are segmented into organization size, service type and industry verticals. The industry vertical segment includes a list of small segments such as automotive, retail, energy and mining, manufacturing, oil and gas, healthcare, transportation and logistics and others like hospitality and education. Among all the segments, the segment of consumer electronics is likely to lead the market in revenue generation. While the segment of manufacturing is likely to expand at higher compound annual growth rate during projected period.On the basis of organization size, the global market for M2M services is segmented into SMEs and large enterprises. In terms of revenue, the segment of large enterprises led the market in 2016. But, SMEs segment is estimated to surpass this growth rate during the projected period of eight years. This growth is due to increasing use of IoT by small enterprises.Outlook Complete Research Reports on M2M Services Market with Industry Key Players and Complete List of Tables & Figures @Service type segment is consists of connectivity and data storage services, managed services and professional services. Connectivity and data storage segment led the market in terms of revenue in 2016 and is likely to show remarkable growth in the CAGR in upcoming years.Global M2M Services Market- Regional Forecast and AnalysisNorth America is leading the global M2M services market followed by Europe region. Being a home to many top enterprises that offers M2M services, North America dominates the market throughout the assessed period. Around 76% of market share is expected to be captured by large enterprises in North America in 2025.Global M2M Services Market- Key CompaniesDeutsche Telekom AG, PTC, Ericsson AB, Sprint.com, aeris Communications Inc., Gemalto NV, EE Limited, Verizon Wireless, Oracle, and AT&T are some of the key companies that are operational in the global M2M services market.Else Place a Query to Our Industry Experts at @About Market Research Report Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State Street Suite 700Albany, NY 12207 (United States)Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite: Global Taste Analysis System segmentation and analysis by recent trends development and growth by regions to 2023 http://bit.ly/2M8ijUv http://bit.ly/2nrg6F7 http://bit.ly/2AYTpld Taste Analysis System MarketThe research report titled, Taste Analysis System Market has adopted a systematic way to evaluate the dynamics of the overall market. It gives a definite study comprising a top to bottom research on the markets growth drivers, challenges, threats, and potential lucrative opportunities, with a key focus on India.Request for a free sample report @Scope of the Report:In a chapter-wise format, the report assesses the demand and supply trends witnessed in the overall market, complete with important insights and graphical representation. An in-depth investment feasibility analysis and market attractiveness analysis is provided in the report, which makes it a miscellaneous document for players operating in the worldwide market. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Taste Analysis System market.The Taste Analysis System Market can be split based on product types, major applications, and important regions.Key Players Taste Analysis System :Gerstel, Isenso, GL Sciences, Bosin, Brechbuhler, Alpha MOS SA, AIRSENSE, INSERT, Focus .Key Regions of Taste Analysis System is :North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East, Africa).Key Applications of Taste Analysis System is:Foods, Beverages, Pharmaceuticals and Others.Key Types of Taste Analysis System is:Potentiometric Type, Amperometric Type Others.Get Discount On this Report @Research objectivesTo study and analyze the North America Taste Analysis System market size by key regions/countries, product type and application, history data from 2013 to 2018, and forecast to 2027.To understand the structure of Taste Analysis System market by identifying its various sub-segmentsFocuses on the key North America Taste Analysis System players, to define, describe and analyze the value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years.To analyze the Taste Analysis System with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).To project the size of Taste Analysis System sub-markets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.ContinuedBrowse Complete Report with TOC of Taste Analysis System Report, Visit:Key Question for this Market Report:What is Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Taste Analysis System?Who will be the key manufacturers in this particular Market space?What is the trending factors influencing the Market shares in next few years?All aspects of the report are quantitatively as well as qualitatively assessed to study the North America as well as regional market comparatively. The basic information such as the definition, prevalent chain and the government regulations pertaining are also discussed in the report.Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like Asia, United States, Europe.Any special requirements about this report, please let us know and we can provide custom report.About UsGarner Insights is a Market Intelligence and consulting firm with an all-inclusive experience and vast knowledge of the market research industry.Our vast storage of research reports across various categories, gives you a complete view of the ever changing and developing trends and current topics worldwide. Our constant endeavor is to keep on improving our storage information by providing rich market reports and constantly improving them.Kevin ThomasContact No: +1 513 549 5911 (US)+44 203 318 2846 (UK)Email: sales@garnerinsights.com DDoS Protection Market Set to Witness Growth 2018 2025 | Global Key Companys (Arbor Networks, Akamai Technologies, F5 Networks, Imperva, Radware, Huawei Technologies) DDoS Protection Market 2018 https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/596893 https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/596893 https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/596893 www.orianresearch.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/13281002/ DDoS Protection Market 2018 Global Industry Research Report provides detailed market segment level data on the international market and Size, Share, Application, Opportunity analysis, and forecast on the basis of key principles. This market report addresses forecast and growth patterns by company, regions, and type of application from 2018 to 2025.Get Sample Copy of this Report The Global DDoS Protection market 2018 research provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Global DDoS Protection market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status. Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.Complete report on Global DDoS Protection Industry 2018 Market Research Report is spread across 106 pages and provides exclusive vital statistics, data, information, trends and competitive landscape details in this niche sector. Inquire more or share questions if any on this report @Global DDoS Protection Market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the TOP PLAYERS including:- Arbor Networks Akamai Technologies F5 Networks Imperva Radware Huawei Technologies Corero Network Security Neustar Cloudflare Nexusguard A10 Networks Fortinet VerisignThe report also focuses on global major leading industry players of Global DDoS Protection market providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis are also carried out. The Global DDoS Protection Market development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.With tables and figures helping analyze worldwide Global DDoS Protection market, this research provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Order a copy of Global DDoS Protection Market Report 2018 @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, and market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Design and Integration Consulting and Advisory Training and Education Support and MaintenanceOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, including Network Application Database EndpointMajor Points from Table of Contents:Global DDoS Protection Market Professional Survey Report 20181 Industry Overview of DDoS Protection2 Global DDoS Protection Competition Analysis by Players3 Company (Top Players) Profiles4 Global DDoS Protection Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017)5 United States DDoS Protection Development Status and Outlook6 EU DDoS Protection Development Status and Outlook7 Japan DDoS Protection Development Status and Outlook8 China DDoS Protection Development Status and Outlook9 India DDoS Protection Development Status and Outlook10 Southeast Asia DDoS Protection Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2017-2022)12DDoS Protection Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Research Finding/ Conclusion15AppendixMethodologyAnalyst IntroductionData SourceAbout Us:Orian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.Contact Us:Ruwin MendezVice President Global Sales & Partner RelationsOrian Research ConsultantsUS: +1 (832) 380-8827 | UK: +44 0161-818-8027Email: info@orianresearch.comWebsite:Follow Us on LinkedIn: Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Industry Market Analysis & Forecast 2018-2023 https://www.researchbeam.com/global-organic-fruits-and-vegetables-industry-analysis-and-forecast-2018-2023-market/request-sample https://www.researchbeam.com/global-organic-fruits-and-vegetables-industry-analysis-and-forecast-2018-2023-market/request-sample https://www.researchbeam.com/global-organic-fruits-and-vegetables-industry-analysis-and-forecast-2018-2023-market/purchase-enquiry https://www.researchbeam.com/global-organic-fruits-and-vegetables-industry-analysis-and-forecast-2018-2023-market Organic Fruits And Vegetables Industry entails the qualitative and quantitative analysis of current and future market estimations. It also divulges details about the mode of research methodology used for the study. It includes data from primary as well as secondary resources.Get Sample@The report is a useful resource for industry players, new entrants in the marketplace, and investors as it helps them plan their business to gain fruitful and meaningful outcomes. It makes them aware of the production, capacity, revenue, supply, consumption, export, import, the challenges and risks associated with the industry, and much more. The report has a mention of the market drivers and opportunities. Key players are profiled in the report and their developments in recent years are mentioned, which helps in understanding the competitive outlook of the Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables IndustryGet Sample@A brief overview of the Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Industry is provided in the report based on product scope and market status & outlook. The market is segmented on the basis of type, end-users/application, and geography. The report provides information about the production, price, revenue, market share, and growth rate of each type.Regarding this segment, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption, market share, and growth rate. Geographically, the market has been analyzed across North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and India. The status and prospect through 2012-2022 for each of these regions are listed in the report.Get 15% Discount on this Report@The Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Industry report also provides an analysis of the manufacturing cost of the product. This includes the key raw materials, the proportion of manufacturing cost structure, and manufacturing process analysis. The key raw materials encompass the price trend, key suppliers, and market concentration rate. The proportion of manufacturing cost structure incorporates the raw materials, labor cost, and manufacturing expenses.Organic Fruits And Vegetables Industry report also covers an analysis of the market effect factors. This includes the technology progress/risk (substitutes/threat and technology progress in the related industry), consumer needs/customer preference change, and economic/political environmental change.Information about the production, capacity, price, revenue (value), and market share of each of these manufacturers from 2012 to 2017 are clearly described in the report. In addition, the report details the basic information, manufacturing base, area of sales, and competitors of each of the players. The trends and marketing strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, adopted by each of the manufacturers provide an understanding of the level of competitiveness prevailing in the industry.Check Full Report With TOC@About Us:Research Beams uniqueness lies in its highly ethical reports at economical rates because we value your relationship and growth more than money. Your growth is our aim. With the arsenal of different search reports, we help you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency.Contact Us:Global Head Quarters5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United Statesphone+1 (800) 910-6452help@researchbeam.com Global Naval Radar Systems Market Size, Status, Leading Players, On-Going Trends, Industry Insight, Outlook Future and Forecast 2018-2025 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1869566 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-naval-radar-systems-market-size-status-and-forecast-2018-2025-report.html An up-to-date research report has been disclosed by Market Research Hub highlighting the title Global Naval Radar Systems Market Size, Status and Forecast 2018-2025 which provides an outlook for current market value as well as the expected growth of Naval Radar Systems Market during 2018-2025. The report studies the casing heads market worldwide, especially in United States, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa) and other regions, with production, size, growth, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions..Get Access to Free Sample Report@This report focuses on the global Naval Radar Systems status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Naval Radar Systems development in United States, Europe and China.Naval radar systems are designed to provide a clear picture of air and missile threats in the ocean. The systems provide backup to primary surveillance radar systems, assist in onboard tactical task functions, perform sea and short-range air surveillance, facilitate helicopter landing, and provide versatile interface capability for C-Flex and other onboard systems.The increasing demand for automated systems is a critical factor driving the growth of this market over the forecast period. The shipping industry handles a significant part of international trade through approximately 1000 seaports around the world. But in the recent times a rise in marine trading activities has led to a significant increase in incidents of piracy at sea. Such terrorist and pirate attacks have led to the evolution of advanced naval radar and surveillance systems that assist in border and maritime operations.In 2017, the global Naval Radar Systems market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.The key players covered in this studyFinmeccanicaLockheed MartinNorthrop GrummanRaytheonThalesAirbus Defense and SpaceBAE SystemsGeneral DynamicsIsrael Aerospace IndustriesSaabKelvin HughesTermaIsrael Aerospace Industries Ltd.MoogMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoYacht/recreationalFishing vesselMarket segment by Application, split intoWeapon guidanceSurveillanceMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South AmericaView Full Report with TOC@Table of Contents1 Report Overview1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Players Covered1.4 Market Analysis by Type1.4.1 Global Naval Radar Systems Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2013-2025)1.4.2 Yacht/recreational1.4.3 Fishing vessel1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Naval Radar Systems Market Share by Application (2013-2025)1.5.2 Weapon guidance1.5.3 Surveillance1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Global Growth Trends2.1 Naval Radar Systems Market Size2.2 Naval Radar Systems Growth Trends by Regions2.2.1 Naval Radar Systems Market Size by Regions (2013-2025)2.2.2 Naval Radar Systems Market Share by Regions (2013-2018)2.3 Industry Trends2.3.1 Market Top Trends2.3.2 Market Drivers2.3.3 Market Opportunities3 Market Share by Key Players3.1 Naval Radar Systems Market Size by Manufacturers3.1.1 Global Naval Radar Systems Revenue by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.1.2 Global Naval Radar Systems Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.1.3 Global Naval Radar Systems Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)3.2 Naval Radar Systems Key Players Head office and Area Served3.3 Key Players Naval Radar Systems Product/Solution/Service3.4 Date of Enter into Naval Radar Systems Market3.5 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion PlansRead More@@About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports of different sector like ICT Industry Research Reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of industry reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.com Global Raising Agents Market Growth, Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment by 2026 End https://www.mrrse.com/sample/4850 https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/4850 https://www.mrrse.com/ A fresh report has been added to the wide database of Market Research Report Search Engine (MRRSE). The research study is titled Raising Agents Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012 2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017 2026which encloses important data about the production, consumption, revenue and market share, merged with information related to the market scope and product overview.To Get Complete Table of Content, Tables and Figures Request a Sample Report of Raising Agents Market Research Report @Fluffiness and airy insides of baked items are their key characteristics which drive their consumption. To achieve this distinct feature, manufacturers of baked goods and several other products use raising agents in production methods. The effectiveness of these agents in filling air and gas into the baking mixtures continues to create a steadfast demand for raising agents in the food & beverage industry. However, emergence of egg alternatives and growing use of substitutes such as lemon juice are observed as key impediments for growth of the global raising agents market. According to Future Market Insights recent study, the global raising agents market is estimated to register expansion at a CAGR of 2.7% in terms of volume for the forecast period, 2017-2026. The study further projects that by the end of 2026, global sales of raising agents will bring in nearly US$ 36 billion in revenues.The report observes that raising agents are finding lucrative grounds for sales growth on the back of their effective applications in the confectionary businesses. Producing confectionary products with the use of raising agents is gaining traction across the global food production landscape. Over the forecast period, sales of raising agents across confectionary applications are expected to register a global value CAGR of 3.9%, reflecting fastest revenue growth. Fried fish product applications of raising agents are also likely to gain considerable traction in terms of revenues. The report, however, observes a declining demand for raising agents in bakery product applications. Nonetheless, bakery applications of raising agents will continue to account for largest chunk of the global revenue pie, registering a one-fourth share on global market value by 2026-end.The demand for raising agents is expected to remain highly concentrated at baking soda and the cream of tartar. While the cream of tartar is expected to bring in nearly 60% of global raising agents market value throughout the forecast period, sales of baking soda are pegged to register revenue growth at 3.2% CAGR. The report also reveals a dwindling demand for baking powder, wherein consumers are using less amounts of baking powder as raising agents to avoid the risks of high acidity levels. Over the forecast period, the sales of raising agents are slated to remain concentered at direct sales and wholesales. In 2017, direct sales and wholesalers accounted for nearly US$ 9.5 billion of global market revenues. The report further reveals that majority of manufacturers in the global raising agents market will be interested in signing long-term supply partnerships with wholesalers. Modern grocery retailers are also observed to emerge as key sales channel in the global raising agents market, and will register a value CAGR of 3.8% over the forecast period.Key Producers of Raising AgentsThe report has profiled leading companies partaking in the expansion of the global raising agents market through 2026. Weikfield Products Private Limited, ACH Food Companies Inc., Caravan Ingredients Inc., Clabber Girl Corporation, Davis, Rumford, McCormick & Company Inc., Newseed Chemical Co. Limited, (Tartaros Gonzalo Castello SL) Mitsubishi Corporation, and Foodchem International Corporation, are expected to drive the global raising agents production in the near future. Majority of these players will be investing in expanding their production of biological or natural raising agents. Several companies are expected to focus on increasing the applications of raising agents in organic production of baked items.For Any Query on Raising Agents Market, Speak to Expert @About Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY 12207(United State)Telephone: +1-518-730-0559(US, Canada toll free no)Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite: Bauxite Cement Global Market 2018 Analysis By Key Players Kerneos, Almatis, Calucem, AGC Ceramics, Cimsa, RWC, Ciments Molins, Hanson Bauxite Cement Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3328359-2013-2028-report-on-global-bauxite-cement-market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3328359-2013-2028-report-on-global-bauxite-cement-market SummaryWiseGuyReports.com adds Bauxite Cement Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2023 reports to its database.This report provides in depth study of Bauxite Cement Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Bauxite Cement Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report provides detailed historical analysis of global market for Bauxite Cement from 2013-2018, and provides extensive market forecasts from 2018-2028 by region/country and subsectors. It covers the sales volume, price, revenue, gross margin, historical growth and future perspectives in the Bauxite Cement market.Leading players of Bauxite Cement including:KerneosAlmatisCalucemAGC CeramicsCimsaRWCCiments MolinsHansonOrient AbrasivesGorkaZhengzhou DengfengZhengzhou YuxiangHuayan IndXinxing CementJiaxiang IndYangquan TianlongZhengzhou GaofengZhengzhou LvduKede Waterproof MaterialZhengzhou JinghuaJiangsu ZhongyiFengrun Metallurgy MaterialMarket split by Type, can be divided into:CA-50CA-70CA-80OthersMarket split by Application, can be divided into:ConstructionIndustrial KilnSewage TreatmentOthersMarket split by Sales Channel, can be divided into:Direct ChannelDistribution ChannelMarket segment by Region/Country including:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Spain etc.)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and Southeast Asia etc.)South America Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile etc.)Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia etc.)Request a Sample Report @Major Key Points in Table of ContentChapter 1 Bauxite Cement Market Overview1.1 Bauxite Cement Definition1.2 Global Bauxite Cement Market Size Status and Outlook (2013-2028)1.3 Global Bauxite Cement Market Size Comparison by Region (2013-2028)1.4 Global Bauxite Cement Market Size Comparison by Type (2013-2028)1.5 Global Bauxite Cement Market Size Comparison by Application (2013-2028)1.6 Global Bauxite Cement Market Size Comparison by Sales Channel (2013-2028)1.7 Bauxite Cement Market Dynamics1.7.1 Market Drivers/Opportunities1.7.2 Market Challenges/Risks1.7.3 Market News (Mergers/Acquisitions/ Expansion)Chapter 2 Bauxite Cement Market Segment Analysis by Player2.1 Global Bauxite Cement Sales and Market Share by Player (2016-2018)2.2 Global Bauxite Cement Revenue and Market Share by Player (2016-2018)2.3 Global Bauxite Cement Average Price by Player (2016-2018)2.4 Players Competition Situation & Trends2.5 Conclusion of Segment by PlayerChapter 3 Bauxite Cement Market Segment Analysis by Type3.1 Global Bauxite Cement Market by Type3.1.1 CA-503.1.2 CA-703.1.3 CA-803.1.4 Others3.2 Global Bauxite Cement Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.3 Global Bauxite Cement Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 Global Bauxite Cement Average Price by Type (2013-2018)3.5 Leading Players of Bauxite Cement by Type in 20173.6 Conclusion of Segment by TypeChapter 4 Bauxite Cement Market Segment Analysis by Application4.1 Global Bauxite Cement Market by Application4.1.1 Construction4.1.2 Industrial Kiln4.1.3 Sewage Treatment4.1.4 Others4.2 Global Bauxite Cement Sales and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4.3 Leading Consumers of Bauxite Cement by Application in 20174.4 Conclusion of Segment by ApplicationChapter 5 Bauxite Cement Market Segment Analysis by Sales Channel5.1 Global Bauxite Cement Market by Sales Channel5.1.1 Direct Channel5.1.2 Distribution Channel5.2 Global Bauxite Cement Sales and Market Share by Sales Channel (2013-2018)5.3 Leading Distributors/Dealers of Bauxite Cement by Sales Channel in 20175.4 Conclusion of Segment by Sales Channel..Chapter 7 Profile of Leading Bauxite Cement Players7.1 Kerneos7.1.1 Company Snapshot7.1.2 Product/Business Offered7.1.3 Business Performance (Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share)7.1.4 Strategy and SWOT Analysis7.2 Almatis7.3 Calucem7.4 AGC Ceramics7.5 Cimsa7.6 RWC7.7 Ciments Molins7.8 Hanson7.9 Orient Abrasives7.10 Gorka7.11 Zhengzhou Dengfeng7.12 Zhengzhou Yuxiang7.13 Huayan Ind7.14 Xinxing Cement7.15 Jiaxiang Ind7.16 Yangquan Tianlong7.17 Zhengzhou Gaofeng7.18 Zhengzhou Lvdu7.19 Kede Waterproof Material7.20 Zhengzhou Jinghua7.21 Jiangsu Zhongyi7.22 Fengrun Metallurgy MaterialAt any Query @Continued....Contact Us: sales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US) ; Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Address:Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdPune 411028Maharashtra,Ph: +91 841 198 5042 Polyethylene Wax Market 2018 key Players Honeywell, BASF, Westlake Chemical, SCG, Mitsui Chemicals America, Inc., The Lubrizol Corporation, Kerax Limited, Micro Powders, Inc. and Innospec Inc. Polyethylene Wax Market www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2206 www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/polyethylene-wax-market www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2206 www.gminsights.com The PVC processing domain has emerged to be a pivotal growth avenue for polyethylene wax market. This trend has primarily come to the fore pertaining to the fact that PE wax, one of the best lubricants ever, is liable to be liberally and conveniently used for the PVC processing method. The best combination and the optimum dosage of lubricants are certain to influence the melt and flow processes of PVC besides affecting parameters like consumption of the processing equipment, productivity, melt pressure in the machine, spreading of fillers and pigments, and the gelation of PVC. Polyethylene wax is thus widely recognized as the most efficient external lubricant in the PVC industry. In consequence, it would be imperative to state that with the expansive growth of the PVC sector, polyethylene wax industry has also experienced a commendable growth.Request for a sample copy of this report @Aided by the exceptional ability of PE wax to enhance the properties of the finished product, polyethylene wax market has indeed registered a commendable growth rate in the last few years. When applied on various material, particularly plastic, PE wax possesses the capability to improvise on the process parameters of the end product. It is pivotal to state that the plastic industry has become notably expansive in the last couple of decades and the low molecular weight and wax like properties of polyethylene wax have made it an essential component across this business space. Undeniably, the products extensive deployment in the plastic sector and the massive growth observed in this sphere is slated to have a major impact on polyethylene wax market trends.Manufactured from saturated homopolymers, PE wax possesses a high degree of crystallinity and linearity, on the grounds of which the product finds wide application in the processing of rubber and enhancing the quality of plastic additives, petroleum wax and other blends. The products favorable features such as low solubility in solvents, oil thickness capability and hardness at raised temperatures have also helped increase its deployment across myriad sectors for the processing of diverse products, thus boosting the expanse of polyethylene wax market.Browse Complete Report Summary @PE wax possesses excellent slip properties that is, substances coated with this product have excellent ability to glide over other surfaces with minimal mechanical damages. Indeed, this is a pivotal property of PE wax that has led to its massive deployment as an abrasion resistant coating additive, thus expanding the scope of polyethylene wax market. Abrasion resistance protects the coated product from being scratched, scraped, and eroded, in addition to enhancing its performance on account of the hardness, thickness, and elasticity provided by PE wax. Undoubtedly, polyethylene wax market size has witnessed a major upsurge on account of the products usage as an abrasion resistant coating additive.Partial Chapter of the Table of ContentChapter 2. Executive Summary2.1. Polyethylene wax industry 360 synopsis, 2013 20242.1.1. Polyethylene Wax Market Business trends2.1.2. Form by application trends2.1.3. Application trends2.1.4. Regional trendsMake an inquiry for purchasing this report @Chapter 3. Polyethylene Wax Industry Insights3.1. Industry segmentation3.2. Industry size and forecast, 2013 20243.3. Industry ecosystem analysis3.3.1. Vendor matrix3.3.2. Distributor channel analysis3.4. Industry impact forces3.4.1. Growth drivers3.4.1.1. Increasing product demand in PVC production3.4.1.2. Robust growth in coatings industry3.4.1.3. Elevating product demand from printing inks3.4.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges3.4.2.1. Unstable raw material price trends3.4.2.2. Substitute threat from Fischer-Tropsch (FT)3.5. Regulatory trends3.5.1. U.S.3.5.2. Europe3.5.3. China3.6. Pricing analysis3.6.1. Cost structure analysis3.6.2. Pricing by form3.6.3. Pricing by region3.7. Innovation & sustainability3.8. Growth potential analysis3.8.1. Patent landscape3.9. Porters analysis3.10. Competitive landscape, 20163.10.1. Strategy dashboard3.11. PESTEL analysisAbout Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb: Polyhydroxybutyrate Market Global Research Report by Size, Share, Leading Key Players Analysis 2018 to 2023 | BASF SE , Biomer , TianAn Biologic Materials Co., Ltd., PHB Industrial S.A, BIO-ON, Telles, LLC, TEPHA INC https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4017 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/polyhydroxybutyrate-market-4017 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/5479 Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biopolymer produced from microorganisms. It is a kind of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and is produced via fermentation process. They are thermoplastic polymer with properties very similar to petroleum based polypropylene (PP). They are biodegradable and are widely used in the manufacturing of packaging material, mulch films, and medical devices. PHB is attracting heavy interest from end use industries such as agriculture, food, and pharmaceutical due to its environmental friendly characteristics.Increasing number of initiatives by government and environmental agencies coupled with rising consumer awareness regarding the harmful effects of the non-biodegradable packaging along with ecofriendly nature of the product is driving PHB market growth. However, higher price of PHB based polymer in comparison to conventional polymers is slated to hinder PHB market growth over the forecast period.Click for Sample Report@PHB is widely used in the packaging of food and cosmetic products as well. Increasing consumption of packaged food due to busy lifestyle and easy availability is set to compliment the market growth over the forecast period. The growing population has resulted in the shrinking of agricultural land due to industrialization and urbanization and has forced farmers to increase productivity in the relatively smaller areas. This has increased the demand for PHB as mulch films.The increasing usage of polyhdroxybutyrate (PHB) in packaging material such as bin bags, cling films, and garbage bags is also expected to fuel market growth over the forecast period. The growth in consumption of packaged food has propelled the usage of PHB in food processing industry.SegmentationThe global polyhydroxybutyrate market is segmented on the basis of application, end use industry and region. Based on the application, market is segmented into medical devices, packaging, mulch films, and others. Based on the end use industry, the market is categorized into pharmaceutical, food, agriculture, automotive and others. Based on region, this market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Middle East & Africa.Browse Full Report@Key PlayersThe prominent players operating in the polyhydroxybutyrate market include BASF SE (Germany), Biomer (Germany), TianAn Biologic Materials Co., Ltd. (China), PHB Industrial S.A (Brazil), BIO-ON (Italy), Telles, LLC (U.S), TEPHA INC (U.S) and others.Geographical AnalysisThe report covers brief analysis of geographical regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa.Intended Audience Polyhydroxybutyrate manufacturers Traders and distributors of polyhydroxybutyrate Production process industries Potential investors Raw material suppliers Nationalized laboratoryRegional AnalysisOn the basis of region, global polyhydroxybutyrate market segmentation includes its current and estimated demand in Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest rate over the forecast period due to increasing demand from end use industries such as pharmaceutical, food, agriculture, and automotive. Among these, the demand for biodegradable plastic is predicted to increase in developing countries such as India, China, and Japan owing to increasing food and pharmaceutical industries in these countries.Europe has emerged as the largest regional market for biodegradable packaging and paper industry over the last few years. In this region, countries such as Germany, Italy, UK, and Sweden have emerged as leading consumer markets and are expected to witness above average growth over the next few years. North America is expected to witness a steady growth in the usage of biodegradable plastic and paper over the forecast period. U.S is predicted to be the largest PHB market in this region followed by Mexico and Canada. Latin America region is also predicted to witness a positive growth in the use of PHB over the forecast period.The Middle East & Africa is estimated to witness moderate growth over the forecast period. Increasing technological advancement coupled with implementation of cultivation techniques to enhance crop production is expected to raise product demand in countries including South Africa.Enquiry Before Buying@About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com NFC Chips Market Whopping CAGR of 26.0% to Attain a Valuation of US$10.62 bn by the Concluding Forecast Year 2016 - 2024 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1066870 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1066870/nfc-chips-global-industry-market-research-reports/toc https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1066870/nfc-chips-global-industry-market-research-reports MarketResearchReports.biz announced the addition of a new research report to its exhaustive database. The research report, titled NFC Chips Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024, has been collated using primary and secondary research methodologies.TMR has envisaged the NFC chips market to post a whopping CAGR of 26.0% to attain a valuation of US$10.62 bn by the concluding forecast year. On the basis of application, the market could gain immensely from smartphones anticipated to secure a larger share in the near future. By region, Asia Pacific may snatch the dominance from North America while expanding at a 27.90% CAGR.Global NFC Chips Market: OverviewNear Field communication (NFC) chips systems are communicating device that are ideal for electronic applications and are capable of identifying the radio frequency identifying technology. Dispensing technology have been widely accepted since 2004 and the further technological advancements have led to evolution of shorter range radio identification technologies between two devices. This advancements helps in facilitating safer data transfer. A key trend that has been observed in the recent past years is growing demand of NFC chips among consumer electronics manufacturer, which is a key driver during the forecast period of 2016-2024.Request to Get The Sample Copy Of Report @A surge in demand for smart phones across the globe is driving the demand for NFC chips in global market. This technology is being deployed in electronics to increase and boost contactless safe data transfer. Consumer electronics manufacturers are increasing their demand for NFC chips overtime, this factor acts as a major driving factor for future demand of NFC chips. Additionally, rapid technological advancements in radio frequency identification are fueling the growth of the global market.The government initiatives as well as private investments in research & devolvement of NFC chip technology are supplementing the growth of the market. Thus, the conjoint effect of all these drivers is set to strengthen the growth of the global NFC chip market in the coming years. NFC chips are sometimes of very complex design is expected to hindering the growth for NFC chips during the forecast period. Simpler version of NFC chips designs as an alternative to traditional complex product design is required for wider application usability. Furthermore, cost effectiveness and simplicity to install in devices is boosting the growth of this product market.Global NFC Chips Market: SegmentationThe global market has been segmented in the basis of application, storage, end users and geography. By application, the global NFC chip market has been broadly classified into smartphone, television, medical equipment, car and others. On the basis of storage NFC chip has been further sub-divided into 64 Bytes, 168 Bytes, 180 Bytes, 540 Bytes and others. Furthermore, end users of NFC chip has been fragmented into consumer electronics, automotive, retail, medical, and aviation among others. By geography, this market has been segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America.Browse full report TOC @Growing popularity in end-user industries such as medical, automotive, retail, and aviation among others coupled with healthy economic growth of emerging economies are offering potential growth opportunities to the global NFC chip market. NFC chips have been extensively used in healthcare sector such as NFC based diabetes monitoring system, NFC for heart monitoring devices, medical implants, and medical data storage devices among others are expected to gain popularity across several end user application is set to boost the market growth in the coming years.Global NFC Chips Market: Competitive AnalysisThe key players in the global NFC chip market have been competitively profiled across the five broad geographic regions. This competitive landscape is inclusive of the various business strategies adopted by these major players and their recent developments in the field of NFC chip. Further, this report includes the market attractiveness analysis of the electronics applications for offering and insight into the major application area of the NFC chip.An exhaustive analysis of the market dynamics of the global market that is inclusive of the market drivers, restraints and opportunities is covered under the purview of the study. Therefore, the global high resolution dispensing systems and equipment market report offers and extensive study of the market along with providing the forecast of the market in terms of revenue (USD Million) and volume (Units) from 20162024. Some of the major players operating in the NFC chip market are NXP Semiconductor (Netherlands), Texas instrument (U.S), Qualcomm Inc. (U.S.), among others.View Full Report @The global NFC chips market has been segmented into:By ApplicationSmart phoneTelevisionMedical equipmentCarOthersBy Storage Capacity64 Bytes168 Bytes180 Bytes540 BytesOthersBy End UsersConsumer ElectronicsAutomotiveRetailMedicalAviationOthersBy GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaMRRbiz supports your business intelligence needs with over 700,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Carbon Manganese Steel Market 2018 : Insights into the Competitive Scenario of the Market QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1870110&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-carbon-manganese-steel-market-insights-forecast-to-2025.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Carbon Manganese Steel Market Insights, Forecast to 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.The objectives of compiling this business intelligence study have been to introduce the current scenario of the global Carbon Manganese Steel market and its future prospects. Consequently, the report provides detailed information pertaining to factors that will determine the prosperity of the market as well as curtail its growth prospects during the forecast period of 2018-2025. The report intends to forecast the size of the market, throws light on dynamics such as trends, drivers, and challenges.After the introductory phase that includes executive summary and market dynamics, the report dives into segmenting the global Carbon Manganese Steel market in terms of various aspects such as product type, application, end users, distribution channel, and others, whichever applicable. Moving forward, the report also bifurcates the market into different geographical territories, including regions and countries. For each of these segments, the report has data-based information on where exactly the investors should focus on and make greater profits going forward.For free sample of this report, fill the form @This report researches the worldwide Carbon Manganese Steel market size (value, capacity, production and consumption) in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (China, Japan) and other regions.This study categorizes the global Carbon Manganese Steel breakdown data by manufacturers, region, type and application, also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.Global Carbon Manganese Steel market size will increase to Million US$ by 2025, from Million US$ in 2017, at a CAGR of during the forecast period. In this study, 2017 has been considered as the base year and 2018 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Carbon Manganese Steel.This report focuses on the top manufacturers' Carbon Manganese Steel capacity, production, value, price and market share of Carbon Manganese Steel in global market. The following manufacturers are covered in this report:United States Steel CorporationShandong Steel GroupSAILTata SteelsNippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal CorporationBaosteel GroupSeverstal JSCThyssenKrupp AGCarbon Manganese Steel Breakdown Data by TypeHigh Mn TypeOrdinary TypeCarbon Manganese Steel Breakdown Data by ApplicationConstructionAutomotiveCarbon Manganese Steel Production Breakdown Data by RegionUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanOther RegionsRead Comprehensive Overview of Report @The study objectives are:To analyze and research the global Carbon Manganese Steel capacity, production, value, consumption, status and forecast;To focus on the key Carbon Manganese Steel manufacturers and study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in next few years.To focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market.To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Carbon Manganese Steel :History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.List of Tables and FiguresFigure Carbon Manganese Steel Product PictureTable Carbon Manganese Steel Key Market Segments in This StudyTable Key Manufacturers Carbon Manganese Steel Covered in This StudyTable Global Carbon Manganese Steel Market Size Growth Rate by Type 2018-2025 (K MT) & (Million US$)Figure Global Carbon Manganese Steel Production Market Share 2013-2025Figure Global Carbon Manganese Steel Revenue 2013-2025 (Million US$)Figure Global Carbon Manganese Steel Production 2013-2025 (K MT)Figure Global Carbon Manganese Steel Capacity 2013-2025 (K MT)Table Key Manufacturers Carbon Manganese Steel Capacity (K MT)Figure Global Carbon Manganese Steel Price 2013-2025 (USD/MT)About Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web: Port Wine Market Globally Expected to Drive Growth through 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=39656 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/port-wine-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The name of this wine is rightly derived from the region from where it originated from- Porto of Portugal. The port wine is a type of sweet fortified manufactured by the process of arresting the growth halfway through the fermentation process and adding double distilled brandy or other spirits. It is mainly considered as a sweet wine. It is the most popular fortified wine next to sherry and the port wine market is steadily taking over the sherry market. Despite the decline in the wine market in many countries, port wine market is expected to exhibit a moderate growth over the forecast period due to consumer attraction towards newer varieties of alcohol.Download PDF Brochure @The major factors affecting the growth of the port wine market are the alcohol trends amongst the consumers. Consumers are experimenting with different varieties of alcohol especially craft beer, whiskey and premium wines. The port wine is comparatively less acidic and this acts as a demand side driver for the port wine market as the consumers who prefer less acidic alcohols have shown a tendency to consume port wine. The wine market has shown a declining trend but the consumption of premium bottled wine has gone up, indicating the growth of the port wine market. As it is mostly consumed on special occasions, the decline in formal dinners may negatively affect the growth of the port wine market. Rising awareness about the unknown health benefits of port wine through communication technology and social media with regard to the presence of the antioxidant resveratrol, is also expected to boost the growth of the port wine market. Nowadays consumers are more apprehensive about the production process and origin of a particular alcohol, hence, educational marketing is a strategy to boost the growth of the port wine market.In North America, fortified wine is consumed usually as an after-dinner drink on special occasions. However, many consumers regard it as a sweet drink and this demand side factor may affect the growth of the port wine market. In Europe, in countries like Portugal from where the port wine originates, the port wine market is a traditional and age-old market and is already in the maturity phase. Hence a very slow growth can be expected in this region. Port wine is often paired with cheese, fruits and nuts in Latin America, which acts as a driving factor for the growth of the port wine market in this region. A special variety of port called the rose port, also known as the pink port is especially popular amongst women and some consumers in Brazil, Canada and Denmark, and this trend is likely to fuel the growth of the port wine market. In Asia Pacific, the port wine market is a niche market and factors like raising consumer awareness along with an expansion of specialty retail outlets can boost the growth of the port wine market here. In the Middle East, rising tourism and their demand for premium bottled wines and frequent consumption of newer varieties of alcoholic beverages are indirectly expected to boost the growth of the port wine market.Read Report Overview @Fortified Wine Market: Key PlayersGRAHAM'SVinbrosTaylor's PortMazuran's Vineyards LimitedSogrape Vinhos, S.A.Fonseca Port WineThe Wine Company PTY LTDEMILIO HIDALGO SAAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare Market Detailed Analysis 2018-2025 | SAMSUNG, MICROSOFT, GOOGLE, FaceBook, Carl Zeiss, Baofeng https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1869806&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1869806&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-augmented-reality-ar-and-virtual-reality-vr-in-healthcare-sales-market-report-2018.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare Sales Market Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.Virtual reality or virtual realities (VR), also known as immersive multimedia or computer-simulated reality, is a computer technology that replicates an environment, real or imagined, and simulates a users physical presence and environment to allow for user interaction. Virtual realities artificially create sensory experience, which can include sight, touch, hearing, and smell.Augmented reality (AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. It is related to a more general concept called mediated reality, in which a view of reality is modified (possibly even diminished rather than augmented) by a computer. As a result, the technology functions by enhancing ones current perception of reality.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Hardware components for augmented reality are: processor, display, sensors and input devices. Modern mobile computing devices like smartphones and tablet computers contain these elements which often include a camera and MEMS sensors such as accelerometer, GPS, and solid state compass, making them suitable AR platforms.The major players covered in this reportSAMSUNGMICROSOFTGOOGLEFaceBookCarl ZeissBaofengSonyRazerHTCDaqriAMDAtheerMetaCastARSkullyHPAntvrLumusFoveSulonJINWEIDUVirglassClick to get Sample PDF:On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoMobilePC/Home ConsoleHeadset AROn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingSurgical TrainingSurgical NavigationOthersThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare sales, value, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);To analyze the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, to study the sales, value and market share of top players in these regions.Focuses on the key Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare players, to study the sales, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Key StakeholdersAugmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare ManufacturersAugmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare Distributors/Traders/WholesalersAugmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) in Healthcare Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsQYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Food Robotics Market Insights 2025: Analysis, Development, Growth, Future Forecast https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1869943&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-food-robotics-market-professional-survey-report-2018.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Food Robotics Market Professional Survey Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.At present, people have developed the food industry robot including the packaging can robot, the automatic lunch robot and the cutting beef robot.The Asia-Pacific region is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.The global Food Robotics market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportABBKAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIESROCKWELL AUTOMATIONFANUCKUKASeiko EpsonYASKAWA ELECTRICSTAUBLI INTERNATIONALMAYEKAWA MFGUNIVERSAL ROBOTICSBASTIAN SOLUTIONSDownload Free exclusive Sample of this report:On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoLow TypeMedium TypeHeavy TypeBy Application, the market can be split intoPalletizingPackagingRepackagingPick & PlaceThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Food Robotics capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Food Robotics manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market.To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Key StakeholdersFood Robotics ManufacturersFood Robotics Distributors/Traders/WholesalersFood Robotics Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsQYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Medical Syringe Global Market 2018 Analysis By Key Players Gerresheimer, Schott, Medtronic, Smiths Medical, Codan Medizinische Gerate Medical Syringe Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3313774-2015-2023-world-medical-syringe-market-research-report https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3313774-2015-2023-world-medical-syringe-market-research-report SummaryWiseGuyReports.com adds Medical Syringe Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2023 reports to its database.This report provides in depth study of Medical Syringe Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Medical Syringe Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report includes market status and forecast of global and major regions, with introduction of vendors, regions, product types and end industries; and this report counts product types and end industries in global and major regions.Global Medical Syringe market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBecton, Dickinson and CompanyB. Braun MelsungenGerresheimerHindustan Syringes & Medical Devices LimitedTerumo CorporationNipro CorporationSchottMedtronicSmiths MedicalCodan Medizinische GerateMarket Segment as follows:By Region / CountriesNorth America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc)South America (Brazil, Argentina etc)Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc)By TypeNon-disposable SyringesDisposable SyringesBy End-User / ApplicationHospitalClinicRequest a Sample Report @Major Key Points in Table of Content1 Market Definition1.1 Market Segment Overview1.2 by Type1.3 by End-Use / Application2 Global Market by Vendors2.1 Market Share2.2 Vendor Profile2.3 Dynamic of Vendors3 Global Market by Type3.1 Market Share3.2 Introduction of End-Use by Different Products4 Global Market by End-Use / Application4.1 Market Share4.2 Overview of Consumption Characteristics4.2.1 Preference Driven4.2.2 Substitutability4.2.3 Influence by Strategy4.2.4 Professional Needs5 Global Market by Regions5.1 Market Share5.2 Regional Market Growth5.2.1 North America5.2.2 Europe5.2.3 Asia-Pacific5.2.4 South America5.2.5 Middle East & Africa..12 Key Manufacturers12.1 Becton, Dickinson and Company12.1.2 Company Overview12.1.2 Product and End-User / Application12.1.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.2 B. Braun Melsungen12.2.1 Company Overview12.2.2 Product and End-User / Application12.2.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.3 Gerresheimer12.3.1 Company Overview12.3.2 Product and End-User / Application12.3.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.4 Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices Limited12.4.1 Company Overview12.4.2 Product and End-User / Application12.4.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.5 Terumo Corporation12.5.1 Company Overview12.5.2 Product and End-User / Application12.5.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.6 Nipro Corporation12.12.1 Company Overview12.12.2 Product and End-User / Application12.12.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.7 Schott12.7.1 Company Overview12.7.2 Product and End-User / Application12.7.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.8 Medtronic12.8.1 Company Overview12.8.2 Product and End-User / Application12.8.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.9 Smiths Medical12.9.1 Company Overview12.9.2 Product and End-User / Application12.9.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.10 Codan Medizinische Gerate12.10.1 Company Overview12.10.2 Product and End-User / Application12.10.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)At any Query @Continued....Contact Us: sales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US) ; Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Address:Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdPune 411028Maharashtra,Ph: +91 841 198 5042 Well Intervention Market 2018-2026 | Schlumberger Limited, HELIX ESG, GE, Halliburton, Oceaneering International, Inc., Expro Group Well Intervention https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1825118 https://www.researchmoz.us/well-intervention-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecas-20182026-report.html/toc Press Release 10 Aug 2018Research and Development News --. .Latest Update "Well Intervention Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecas 2018-2026" with Industries Survey | Global Current Growth and Future.' '- Well Intervention Market OverviewA well intervention or well work is any operation carried out on an oil or gas well during or at the end of its productive life. The intervention alters the state of the well or well geometry, provides well diagnostics, and manages the production of the well. It enables safe entry into a well with well control in order to carry out numerous tasks other than drilling. The history of well intervention dates back to the 1800s, when the technology was first developed to afford re-entry into wells as an alternative to drilling well control systems and rigs for delivery of non-drilling services.. . Get Sample Report_' 'Demand for well intervention services in offshore areas has been increasing due to rise in demand for crude oil and fuel, increase in preventive steps taken for aging wells, rise in the number of drill rigs, and decrease in productivity of various gas and oil wells.Globally, more than 1,800 onshore rigs were estimated to exist in 2017. However, the number of offshore rigs was about 500 in 2017. Demand for well intervention services in offshore oil & gas wells is expected to rise at a higher pace during the forecast period as compared to that in onshore oil & gas wells. This is attributed to new discoveries in offshore area and rise in investments in exploration and production activities in the offshore oil & gas industry.The report comprises profiles of major companies operating in the global well intervention market. Key players operating in the well intervention market include Schlumberger Limited, HELIX ESG, GE, Halliburton, Oceaneering International, Inc., Expro Group, Hunting Energy Services, National Oilwell Varco, Deepwell AS, and Weatherford International Plc. Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments.The global well intervention market has been segmented as follows:- Well Intervention Market, by TypeLight WellHeavy WellMedium Well- Well Intervention Market, by ServicesCoiled TubingSlicklineWireline Cased Well InterventionThru Tubing InterventionFishing ServicesSidetrackingSubsea Landing String ServicesOthers- Well Intervention Market, by ApplicationOnshoreOffshore- Well Intervention Market, by RegionNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.NetherlandsNorway. . More Clear Details get Full Table of Contents_' '- Key TakeawaysIn terms of services, the coiled tubing segment constitutes a major share of the well intervention marketLight well type well intervention is widely used as compared to other types. Light well intervention accounts for approximately 49% share of the market.Market share of the onshore well intervention systems segment is estimated to decline in the next few years due to a strong focus on offshore oil & gas assetsNorth America holds a significant share of the market. This trend is projected to continue during the forecast period.Continue.....About Researchmoz,ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,sales@researchmoz.usTel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Network Security Firewall Market SWOT Analysis with Top Key Companies are AdaptiveMobile, AMD Telecom S.A., ANAM Technologies Ltd, Cellusys, Evolved Intelligence, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Mobileum, Omobio (Pvt) Ltd. Global Network Security Firewall Market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-network-security-firewall-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-network-security-firewall-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-network-security-firewall-market The report analyzes and presents an overview of "Network Security Firewall Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2017 - 2024" worldwide.global network security firewall market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. In 2017, North America is expected to dominate the market.Click Here for Free Sample Report @Firewall can be considered as either hardware or software but ideally its configuration comprise of both. It has its wide application in IT, telecommunication market, and others. Increasing demand in network and privacy concerns may act as a major driver in the growth of network security firewall market. On the other hand lack of preventive firewall maintenance may hinder the market.Global Network Security Firewall Market accounted for USD 3.02 billion in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 13.2% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year 2014, 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Market Segmentation: On the basis of solution, global network security firewall market is further segmented into SMS firewall, and Signaling firewall. The SMS firewall is further sub segmented into A2P messaging, P2A messaging. The signaling firewall segment is further sub segmented into SS7 firewall, and diameter firewall. The global network security firewall market is also segmented on the basis of deployment model into cloud, on-premises, and network function virtualization. On the basis of service, global network security firewall market is segmented into professional services, and managed services. The professional services segment is further sub segmented into deployment and integration, consulting services, and support and maintenance.Browse Detailed TOC, Tables, Figures, Charts and Companies Mentioned @The Key Players mentioned in our report: Adaptive Mobile, Amd Telecom S.A., Anam Technologies, Cellusys, Evolved Intelligence, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP, Mobileum and Among Others.Reasons to Purchase this Report Current and future of global network security firewall market outlook in the developed and emerging markets The segment that is expected to dominate the market as well as the segment which holds highest CAGR in the forecast period. Regions/countries that are expected to witness the fastest growth rates during the forecast period The latest developments, market shares, and strategies that are employed by the major market playersCustomization of the Report The report includes the complete segmentation displayed above across all above mentioned countries All products covered in the market, product volume and average selling prices will be included as customizable options which may incur no or minimal additional cost (depends on customization)Any specific requirements are you looking for? Ask to your Industry Experts @Note: If You Have Any Special Requirements, Please Let Us Know And We Will Offer You The Report As You Want.About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Sopan GedamData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Global Disposable Sterile Syringes and Needles Sales Market 2018 | Becton Dickinson and Company, Bayer, Smiths Medical ASD,Inc, Feel Tech Disposable Sterile Syringes and Needles https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1870347 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-disposable-sterile-syringes-and-needles-sales-market-report-2018-report.html/toc Press Release 10 Aug 2018Research and Development News --. .Latest Update "Global Disposable Sterile Syringes and Needles Sales Market Report 2018" with Industries Survey | Global Current Growth and Future.' 'This report studies the global Disposable Sterile Syringes and Needles market status and forecast, categorizes the global Disposable Sterile Syringes and Needles market size (value & volume) by key players, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia India and Other regions (Middle East & Africa, Central & South America).The global Disposable Sterile Syringes and Needles market is valued at million US$ in 2017 and will reach million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of during 2018-2025.. . Get Sample Report_' '- The major players covered in this reportBecton Dickinson and CompanyBayerSmiths Medical ASD,IncFeel TechB.Braun Melsungen AG,OPMOwen Mumford LimitedMedexel Co., LtdTerumoHTL-Strefa S.A.Ypsomed AGOASIS Medical, IncAlcon Laboratories IncorporatedTwobiens Co.,LtdParker Dayton Technology Suzhou Co., Ltd.Light Medical Products Co., Ltd.Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.COVIDIEN(MedtronicMerit Medical SystemsNiproHENKE SASS WOLFImaxeon Pty Ltd- Geographically, this report studies the key regions, focuses on product sales, value, market share and growth opportunity in these regions, coveringUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndia- We can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapan- On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSyringesNeedles- On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingHospitalLabHomeOther- The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Disposable Sterile Syringes and Needles sales, value, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);To analyze the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, to study the sales, value and market share of top players in these regions.Focuses on the key Disposable Sterile Syringes and Needles players, to study the sales, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.. . More Clear Details get Full Table of Contents_' '- In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Disposable Sterile Syringes and Needles are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025Continue.....About Researchmoz,ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,sales@researchmoz.usTel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Global Paralleling System Market 2018 - 2025 | Cummins Inc, General Electric, Russelectric, Kohler Co. Paralleling System https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1870201 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-paralleling-system-market-insights-forecast-to-2025-report.html/toc Press Release 10 Aug 2018Research and Development News --. .Latest Update "Global Paralleling System Market Insights, Forecast to 2025" with Industries Survey | Global Current Growth and Future.' 'This report researches the worldwide Paralleling System market size (value, capacity, production and consumption) in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (China, Japan) and other regions.This study categorizes the global Paralleling System breakdown data by manufacturers, region, type and application, also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.Global Paralleling System market size will increase to Million US$ by 2025, from Million US$ in 2017, at a CAGR of during the forecast period. In this study, 2017 has been considered as the base year and 2018 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Paralleling System.. . Get Sample Report_' '- This report focuses on the top manufacturers' Paralleling System capacity, production, value, price and market share of Paralleling System in global market. The following manufacturers are covered in this report:Cummins IncGeneral ElectricRusselectricKohler Co.IEMGEVertiv CoCAT- Paralleling System Breakdown Data by TypeType IType II- Paralleling System Breakdown Data by ApplicationElectric Generation And Distribution SystemsIndustrial PlantsData CentersCommercial BuildingsHospitalsWastewater Treatment PlantsTransportation SystemsPipeline Stations- Paralleling System Production Breakdown Data by RegionUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanOther Regions- Paralleling System Consumption Breakdown Data by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChina- The study objectives are:To analyze and research the global Paralleling System capacity, production, value, consumption, status and forecast;To focus on the key Paralleling System manufacturers and study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in next few years.To focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.. . More Clear Details get Full Table of Contents_' '- In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Paralleling System :History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025Continue.....About Researchmoz,ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,sales@researchmoz.usTel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Latest Research in Workforce Management Software Market including key players ADP, Ceridian HCM, Kronos, Oracle, SAP, Ultimate Software, Ascentis By Market Size, Share, Segment, Type and Forecast 2023 https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=140125 https://www.researchnreports.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=140125 https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=140125 www.researchnreports.com The global workforce management software market will grow at a CAGR of above 8% during the forecast period. The rising need to streamline HR functions is one of the primary drivers for market growth. One of the latest trends that will gain traction in the global market is the surging use of social media.Workforce management (WFM) software helps a business in managing staff scheduling. The features of the software including easy referrals, increased chances of finding the suitable candidates, optimum employee engagement, and mutually-beneficial two-way communication are some of the key factors driving the social media-based workforce management process.The global Workforce Management Software market is explained in detail in this report, starting with a basic overview. It includes a categorized distinction of major and minor factors that influence this global industry. The overview also includes a description of the value chain structure of the global industry and a status update for the different major regional segments of this industry.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Top Key Vendors in Market:ADP, Ceridian HCM, Kronos, Oracle, SAP, Ultimate Software, Ascentis, ATOSS Software, BambooHR, HR Bakery, iCIMS, Infor, JDA Software Group, NICE, PeopleFluent, Performly, Reflexis Systems, The Sage Group, Workday, and Zoho Corporation.The workforce management software market is segmented on the basis of deployment model, Application and region. By deployment model, the market is classified into Cloud-based and On-premises. Further, In terms of geography, the Americas dominated the workforce management software market during 2016 and is foreseen to continue the domination during the forecast period. Moreover, the growth in the employment rates in the region especially in countries such as the US, will also propel the growth of this market in the Americas.Also in this report, the competitive landscape of the market has been presented. In this section, the prominent players operating in the Workforce Management Software market have been presented. The research study is a compilation of primary and secondary research, which allows the readers and players to have a strong understanding of the overall market.For more Information:Table of Content:Global Workforce Management Software Market Research Report 2017-2023Chapter 1: Industry OverviewChapter 2: Workforce Management Software International and China Market AnalysisChapter 3: Environment Analysis of Workforce Management SoftwareChapter 4: Analysis of Revenue by ClassificationsChapter 5: Analysis of Revenue by Regions and ApplicationsChapter 6: Analysis of Workforce Management Software Revenue Market Status.Chapter 7: Analysis of Workforce Management Software Industry Key ManufacturersChapter 8: Sales Price and Gross Margin AnalysisChapter 9: Marketing Trader or Distributor Analysis of Workforce Management Software MarketChapter 10: Development Trend of Workforce Management Software Industry 2016-2021Chapter 11: Industry Chain Suppliers of Workforce Management Software with Contact InformationChapter 12: New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Workforce Management SoftwareChapter 13: Conclusion of the Global Workforce Management Software Market Research ReportAsk for discount@About Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Where counting on a legitimate board company for your selections will become critical. Research N Reports specializes in enterprise evaluation, marketplace forecasts and as a result getting great reports overlaying all verticals, whether be it gaining angle on modern market situations or being in advance inside the cut throat Global opposition.Contact us:Research N Reports10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064,Sunny Denis(Sales Manager),+1-8886316977,sales@researchnreports.com Global Aesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery Market Forecast 2018-2025: GC Aesthetics, Sientra, Inc, Allergan, Plc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1869837&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-aesthetic-medicine-and-cosmetic-surgery-sales-market-report-2018.htm https://reportanalysis.blogspot.in Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Aesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery Sales Market Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies the global Aesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery market status and forecast, categorizes the global Aesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery market size (value & volume) by key players, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia India and Other regions (Middle East & Africa, Central & South America).Aesthetic Medicines and cosmetic surgery is a developing clinical subspecialty and field in scientific research which comprises all kind of medical procedures whose purpose is to improve the physical appearance and satisfaction of the patient including all non-invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Aesthetic Medicine and Cosmetic Surgery is an exciting field and a new trend in modern medicine. Nowadays, people not only want to be healthy as well as want to live the life at fullest, wants to look fit and also to reduce the effects of normal aging. Aesthetic medicines and Cosmetic Surgery focus on refining cosmetic appearance through the treatment of conditions like skin laxity, scars, moles, liver spots, cellulite, skin discoloration, excess fat, unwanted hairs and spider veins. These aesthetic medicine and cosmetic surgery procedures are very elective and are implemented on patients who does not suffer from any sickness.Get Free PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Cosmetic surgery, also known as aesthetic surgery, is an elective operation that involves improving a persons appearance. Such operations include liposuction, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery, and rhytidectomy, also known as a face lift. The most popular surgical cosmetic procedure worldwide in 2017 was liposuction, followed by breast augmentation and eyelid surgery. The most popular nonsurgical procedures included botulinum toxin, or botox, hyaluronic acid, hair removal, and photo rejuvenation.The global Aesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.The major players covered in this reportAllergan, PlcMentor Worldwide LLC (Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.)GC AestheticsSientra, IncPolytech Health & Aesthetics GmbHHansBiomed Co., LtdGalderma S.A. (A Nestle CompanyAlma Lasers Ltd. (Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaACutera, IncAnika Therapeutics, Inc.)Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.Syneron Medical Ltd.Cynosure Inc. (Hologic Inc.)Suneva Medical, Inc.Blue Plastic SurgeryAustralia Cosmetic ClinicsSalmon Creek Plastic SurgeryThe Plastic Surgery ClinicCosmetic Surgery (UK) LimitedGeographically, this report studies the key regions, focuses on product sales, value, market share and growth opportunity in these regions, coveringUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSurgical ProcedureNon-surgical ProcedureAccess the Report and full TOC @On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingHospitalsDermatology clinicsOthersThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Aesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery sales, value, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);To analyze the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, to study the sales, value and market share of top players in these regions.Focuses on the key Aesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery players, to study the sales, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Aesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.Key StakeholdersAesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery ManufacturersAesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery Distributors/Traders/WholesalersAesthetic Medicine And Cosmetic Surgery Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsAbout Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.comBlog: 2021Paints and Coatings Market | Trends | End User | Application | Growth Business | Company Players Manufacturing | Scope | Industry Developed | Share | Size and more Research Report by MRFR https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/952 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/952 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/paints-coatings-market-952 Paints and Coatings MarketPaints and Coatings Market Overview:Paints and Coatings Market is expected to grow at a CAGR over 3.0% in terms of revenue and over 4.5% in terms of volume over the period of 2016 to 2021.Paints and Coatings Market is driven by advancements in the end user industries of paints and coatings, and growing infrastructural developments. Additionally, the rise in demand from pre-engineered buildings has also augmented the use of Paints and Coatings, such as silicon modified polyester, regular modified polyester, and super polyester coatings, in both internal and external environments.Paints and Coatings Market Research is an intelligence report with meticulous efforts undertaken to study the right and valuable information. The data which has been looked upon is done considering both, the existing top players and the upcoming competitors. Business strategies of the key players and the new entering market industries are studied in detail. Well explained SWOT analysis, revenue share and contact information are shared in this report analysis.Get exclusive sample copy of the expert research at @Paints and Coatings Market Synopsis:Construction industry in the developing countries is the large in abeyance or disuse market for paints and coatings. With the ever increasing global population, construction industry is growing too. Such untapped or disuse markets are generating demand for paints and coatings. The growing population and per capita income has been providing an impetus to the demand for consumer goods and automotive, which in turn is boosting industrialization. The use of metals has also increased to a great deal during the past few years. Paints and coatings are primarily used to protect machines and equipment from rusting and corrosion in industries. As for consumer goods, they serve the purpose of keeping corrosion at bay and make products look better. Architectural and decorative paints and coatings are mainly applied on interior and exterior walls of houses and corporate buildings. Distempers are costlier than emulsions and account for lesser market share as compared to emulsions.Paints and Coatings Market Trends:Data integration and capabilities are analyzed to support the findings and study the predicted geographical segmentations. Various key variables and regression models were considered to calculate the trajectory of paints and coatings market. Detailed analysis is explained and given importance to with best working models.Geographically, the segmentation is done into several key regions like North America, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America. The production, consumption, revenue, shares in mill UDS, growth rate of paints and coatings market during the forecast period of 2011 to 2021 is well explained.The ongoing market trends of paints and coatings market and the key factors impacting the growth prospects are elucidated. With increase in the trend, the factors affecting the trend are mentioned with perfect reasons. Top manufactures, price, revenue, market share are explained to give a depth of idea on the competitive side.Each and every segment type and their sub types are well elaborated to give a better idea about this market during the forecast period of 2011 to 2021 respectively.Paints and Coatings Market Key Players:Paints and Coatings Market include AkzoNobel N.V, PPG Industries Inc., Sherwin-Williams Company, RPM International Inc., Valspar Corporation, Kansai Paint Co. Ltd, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd, Henkel AG & Co., BASF SE, and Asian Paints Limited.Paints and Coatings Market Key Findings:- Globally, the Asia- pacific region dominated the market for paints and coatings followed by Europe.- Rapid infrastructure developments in the prime markets of Asia-pacific such as India, China, and Indonesia are expected to drive the Asia-Pacific region to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period.- Industrial paints and coatings segment is expected to grow at a highest CAGR over % in terms of revenue and over 5.5% in terms of volume.Paints and Coatings Market Segments:Paints and coatings Market can be segmented as follows:Segmentation by product Type: water based and solvent based, powdered and UV.Segmentation by Applications type: architectural, industrial and Marin.Do Enquiry and Ask for Discount @Paints and Coatings Market Regional Analysis:Paints and Coatings Market is dominated by Asia-Pacific region, however, North America is one of the strategically important markets for the large players in the industry due to it significant potential. The North American paints and coatings market is growing primarily, due to the increasing number of industries in the region. With CAGR over 3% the region is generating demand for new houses and increased supply of consumer durable goods. This has created high demand for the paints and coatings market in the region.Objective Study of Paints and coatings Market:- To provide detailed analysis of the paints and coatings market along with historic data from 2011 and forecast for the next 5 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the global paints and coatings Market- To provide insights into the factors affecting global market growth.- To analyze the paints and coatings market on the basis of factors such as price analysis, supply chain analysis, and Porters five force analysis.- To provide historic and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW).- To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and prospective by 2021- To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by product type, applications.- To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market- To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global paints and coatings marketPaints and Coatings Market to be continue..,Browse Full Report Here @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Digital Newspaper Publishing Market 2018 Analysis and Strategic Growth by Top Key Players- Google, Sanoma Oyj, Schibsted ASA, The New York Times, Yahoo, AOL, Gannett QY Research Groups https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/request-sample/1033437 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/check-discount/1033437 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/report/global-digital-newspaper-publishing-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com The Global Digital Newspaper Publishing Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Digital Newspaper Publishing industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Digital Newspaper Publishing with detailed market segmentation by component, wearable, type, application and geography. The global Digital Newspaper Publishing Software market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The List of Companies: AOL Fairfax Media Gannett Google NBCUniversal News Sanoma Oyj Schibsted ASA The New York Times YahooGet Sample Report with TOC, Please Visit @Market segment by Type, the product can be split into General News Specific AspectsMarket segment by Application, split into Smart phones Laptops PCs OthersGet the Best Discount Price @The report Digital Newspaper Publishing Market by Manufacturers highlights the essential market dynamics of Digital Newspaper Publishing sector. The efficiency of this segment has been studied deeply along with the noteworthy challenges and forthcoming growth opportunities and prospective. The report focuses in decision making abilities and supports to make effective counter strategies in order to achieve competitive advantage. Current market scenario of the segment and forecasts of the market situation have also been bounded in this market report.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Global Digital Newspaper Publishing Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, exclusively in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on type, application, regions, and manufacturers.Browse full Report @Contact us:Email- sales@qyresearchgroups.comWeb-About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on Global industries, companies, products, and trends.Room B1510, Shiji Kemao Building,No.66 Zhongguancun East Road,Haidian District, Beijing,100190, China. Global Portable Electronics Market 2018 - Nokia, Motorola Mobility, Eastman Kodak Company, Palm, Inc. Global Portable Electronics Market https://bit.ly/2KJDqqN https://bit.ly/2M8ycKD www.eminentmarket.com Eminent Market, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the Portable Electronics Market across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of Portable Electronics Market from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global PP Pipe industry, and estimates the future trend of Portable Electronics on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares Portable Electronics performance both in terms of volume and revenue.The market research report explores the Portable Electronics Market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of Portable Electronics Market. The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Portable Electronics Market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Portable Electronics. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Portable Electronics Market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportAppleDellSamsung ElectronicsSonyToshibaHPNokiaMotorola MobilityEastman Kodak CompanyPalm, Inc.GoogleHaierZTEHTCLenovoXiaomiCanonFujitsuThe competitive landscape of the global market for Portable Electronics is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Portable Electronics Markets production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Portable Electronics Market globally.Inquire Before Buying @The Global Portable Electronics Market 2018 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Portable Electronics production volume, data pertaining to demand and Portable Electronics supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Portable Electronics along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Portable Electronics across the world.About UsEminent Market offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Eminent Market provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezS no. 72/1/A/6, Floor No. 1,Harikrishna Building, Samarth Nagar,New Sanghvi, Pune-411027 India.Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@eminentmarket.comWebsite - Gravure Printing Inks Market Future Demand 2024 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2196 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2196 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Macro-economic headwinds in the past few years have had a negative impact on the revenues of some of the lead players in the global gravure printing inks market. Together, these top players, namely Flint Group, Sun Chemical Group, Sakata INX, Huber Group, Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA, and Toyo Ink Mfg. Co. Ltd. held almost 75.0% market share in 2015. A report by Transparency Market Research predicts that the vendors will likely grow at a moderate pace in the next couple of years on account of persisting hurdles.Request to view sample of this report at:However, our report finds that the players are making various efforts to buck the headwinds. One of them is the increasing focus on research and development activities to create more sophisticated gravure printing inks. They are also going the inorganic route to expand their positions. The launch of Zipcure, an energy-saving UV ink, by Toyo Printing Ink and the acquisition of Sun Chemical by Druckfarben Hellas are two examples in this directions.After exhaustive research, our report finds that the global gravure printing ink market will rise at a tepid 3.98% CAGR between 2016 and 2024 to become worth US$2.6 bn by 2024 from US$1.8 bn in 2015. Volume-wise, the market is expected to clock a CAGR of 3.4%.Product-wise, gravure printing inks market can be broadly segmented into solvent-based gravure printing inks and water-based gravure printing inks. Of the two, the solvent-based gravure printing ink segment pulled in a revenue of over US$1.0 bn in 2015 to account for a dominant share.Request to view PDF Brochure of this report at:Geography-wise again, the key segments of the market for gravure printing inks are North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific, of them, leads the market but will lose a significant proportion of its share going forward owing to the rapid rise of the market in Latin America. In 2015, Asia Pacific accounted for 40.0% of the global revenue.Packaging Industry at Forefront of Driving DemandThe packaging industry is the principal driver of demand in the global gravure printing inks market. With rising GDP across many developing nations on account of rapid industrialization, the packaging industry, in particular, has received a major boost and gravure printing is mainly preferred for packaging because of its ability to print on thin films such as polyester, OPP, nylon, and PE. This has boosted demand for gravure printing inks to a great extent.Before the rise and popularity of e-books and e-papers, the publication industry was another key driver of demand for gravure printing inks.Flexographic Printing Deals Blow to DemandDealing a blow to the market for gravure printing inks is the surging uptake of flexographic printing which is rapidly supplanting conventional gravure printing because of its lower requirement for manpower, faster changeovers, and lesser consumption of ink. In fact, Europe and North America are at the forefront of adoption of gravure printing inks. Asia Pacific is emerging as another key player on account of the large size of its population whose spending capacity is increasing impressively because of improving economies in the region. As a result most players are seen betting big on it.This review is based on the findings of a TMR report, titled, Gravure Printing Inks Market (Product Solvent-based Gravure Printing Inks, Water-based Gravure Printing Inks; Application Food Packaging, Wallpapers, Wrapping Paper, Furniture Laminates, Greeting Cards, Magazines, Newspaper) Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 2024.Key Takeaways:The packaging industry is the principal driver of demand in the global gravure printing inks market.Players focus on research and development to outsmart competitorsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Market: By Region (North America, Europe, APAC, ROW) and by Country (US, Canada, Germany, UK, China, India).Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2017-2021) Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00020676/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00020676/buying http://www.reportsweb.com/global-kitchen-furniture-and-fixtures-market-2016-2021 ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Market Size Status and Forecast 2021, The report classifies the global Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Market in a precise manner to offer detailed insights about the aspects responsible for augmenting as well as restraining market growth.A comprehensive research report titled "Global Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Market: Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021)" created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, presents the analysis of the global Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures market on the basis of segments (Furniture, Fixtures), By Region (North America, Europe, APAC, ROW) and by Country (US, Canada, Germany, UK, China, India).Get Sample Copy@The Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures market is driven by surging urbanization and remodeling in residential kitchens. Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures is gaining momentum in investments with a consistent growth in the hotel industry which in turn thrives on rise in travel and tourism. Moreover the developed regions with a high percentage of population living in the urban areas have been the primary consumers for kitchen furniture and fixtures and this will present the market with huge growth opportunity and potential in near future.In terms of region, North America has the fastest growth rate of Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Market, with maximum market share in United States, while APAC region has a lot more growth opportunities accompanied with growth potential in Australian , China and Indian Market.Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Market Companies Mentioned:1 Alno Germany2 Armstrong3 American Woodmark4 Hanssem5 Howdens Joinery6 IKEA GroupScope of the ReportThe report provides coverage by Segments-Furniture-FixturesThe report provides coverage by Region-North America-Europe-Asia Pacific-ROWThe report provides coverage by Country-United States-Canada-Germany-United Kingdom-China-IndiaElse place an Inquire before Purchase Global Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021Globally, the market for kitchen furniture and fixtures is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% in the period 2016-2021. The research report published by Publisher titled "Global Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Market: Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021) - (By Market Segments; By Type -Furniture, Fixtures; By Region - North America, Europe, APAC, ROW; By Country - US, Canada, Germany, UK, China, India, Australia; Company Profiles, Recommendations)" suggests that the Furniture segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of whereas the Fixtures will grow at a CAGR of x% during the period 2016E-2021F. Leading players of the industry include Alno Germany, Armstrong, American Woodmark, Hanssem, Howdens Joinery, IKEA Group.Global Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Industry: Growth and Forecast4.1 Global Kitchen Furniture and Fixtures Market4.1.1 By Value (Historic 2011-15)4.1.2 By Value (Forecast 2016E-2021F)4.2 Global Kitchen Furniture and Fixture Market Segmentation4.3 Global Kitchen Furniture Market Overview4.3.1 By Value (Historic 2011-15)4.3.2 By Value (Forecast 2016E-2021F)4.4 Global Kitchen Fixture Market Overview4.4.1 By Value (Historic 2011-15)4.4.2 By Value (Forecast 2016E-2021F)Complete Report is Available atAbout ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queriesPune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Asset Integrity Management Global Market 2018: Key Players Aker Solutions ASA, Applus+ Servicios Tecnologicos, S.L., Bureau Veritas SA, DNV GL AS, EM&I Ltd https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2361601-asset-integrity-management-global-market-outlook-2017-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/2361601-asset-integrity-management-global-market-outlook-2017-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=2361601 https://www.wiseguyreports.com Asset Integrity Management IndustryDescriptionWiseguyreports.Com Adds Asset Integrity Management -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Of Top Key Player Forecast To 2022 To Its Research DatabaseGlobal Asset Integrity Management market is expected to grow from $17.86 billion in 2016 to reach $34.94 billion by 2023 with a CAGR of 10.1%. Increasing awareness to mitigate capital expenditure of oil fields, growing pressure from governments to maintain quality & safety control requirements, and raise in exploration of new deep water offshore fields are some of the factors fostering the market growth. Furthermore, rapid growth in power sector and adopting new technologies are some other factors boosting the market growth during the forecast period. On the other hand, shortage of skilled professionals and unfavorable environmental situations are some of the restraints limiting the market growth.Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Inspection is a major service type among the other services. This process is broadly applied in numerous in-service application and manufacturing industries. Oil and gas industry is heavily uses asset integrity managed services to mitigate risk and minimize operating costs. These services are apt for subsea, onshore, and offshore oil fields for maintaining safe and quality requirements.North America region is holding the largest market revenue over the forecast period. High oil and gas exploration activities in this region impacting the North America market growth. Asia Pacific is projected to witness high growth rate during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to growing power consumption and increasing adoption of asset integrated managed services from emerging economy countries such as India, Japan, and China are driving the Asia Pacific market growth.Some of the key players in global asset integrity management market include Aker Solutions ASA, Applus+ Servicios Tecnologicos, S.L., Bureau Veritas SA, DNV GL AS, EM&I Ltd, Fluor Corporation, Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd., Intertek Group PLC, John Wood Group PLC, Lifetech Engineering Ltd., Meridium Inc., Metegrity Inc., Oceaneering International Inc., ROSEN Swiss AG, SGS SA, and TechnipFMC plc.Request for Sample Report @Service Types Covered: Corrosion Management Hazard Identification (HAZID) Study Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) Study Pipeline Integrity Management Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Inspection Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) Structural Integrity Management Other Service TypesEnd Users Covered: Aerospace Mining Power Oil and Gas Other End UsersRegions Covered: North Americao USo Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo UKo Italyo Franceo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific South Americao Argentinao Brazilo Chileo Rest of South America Middle East & Africao Saudi Arabiao UAEo Qataro South Africao Rest of Middle East & AfricaWhat our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsLeave a Query @Table of Content1 Executive Summary2 Preface2.1 Abstract2.2 Stake Holders2.3 Research Scope2.4 Research Methodology2.4.1 Data Mining2.4.2 Data Analysis2.4.3 Data Validation2.4.4 Research Approach2.5 Research Sources2.5.1 Primary Research Sources2.5.2 Secondary Research Sources2.5.3 Assumptions3 Market Trend Analysis3.1 Introduction3.2 Drivers3.3 Restraints3.4 Opportunities3.5 Threats3.6 End User Analysis3.7 Emerging Markets3.8 Futuristic Market Scenario4 Porters Five Force Analysis4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers4.2 Bargaining power of buyers4.3 Threat of substitutes4.4 Threat of new entrants4.5 Competitive rivalry5 Global Asset Integrity Management Market, By Service Type5.1 Introduction5.2 Corrosion Management5.3 Hazard Identification (HAZID) Study5.4 Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) Study5.5 Pipeline Integrity Management5.6 Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Inspection5.7 Risk-Based Inspection (RBI)5.8 Structural Integrity Management5.9 Other Service Types...9 Company Profiling9.1 Aker Solutions ASA9.2 Applus+ Servicios Tecnologicos, S.L.9.3 Bureau Veritas SA9.4 DNV GL AS9.5 EM&I Ltd9.6 Fluor Corporation9.7 Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd.9.8 Intertek Group PLC9.9 John Wood Group PLC9.10 Lifetech Engineering Ltd.9.11 Meridium Inc.9.12 Metegrity Inc.9.13 Oceaneering International Inc.9.14 ROSEN Swiss AG9.15 SGS SA9.16 TechnipFMC plcBuy Now @Continued...Contact Us: Sales@Wiseguyreports.Com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (Us) Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (Uk)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdPune 411028Maharashtra, GlobalPh: +91 841 198 5042 Global Colonoscopy Devices Market Size, Share, Development by 2025 - QY Research, Inc. http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/goods-1779001.html www.qyresearch.com This report studies the Colonoscopy Devices market size (value and volume) by players, regions, product types and end industries, history data 2013-2017 and forecast data 2018-2025; This report also studies the global market competition landscape, market drivers and trends, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.Colonoscopy?Procedure.?Colonoscopy?is the visual examination of the inside of the rectum and colon, using a lighted, flexible tube connected to an eyepiece or video screen for viewing. This?device?is called a colonoscope.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share and growth Rate of Colonoscopy Devices in these regions, from 2013 to 2025, coveringNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam)South America (Brazil etc.)Middle East and Africa (Egypt and GCC Countries)The various contributors involved in the value chain of the product include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, intermediaries, and customers. The key manufacturers in this market includeBoston ScientificFujifilm HoldingsHOYA GroupKARL STORZOLYMPUSANA-MEDAvantis Medical SystemsEndomed SystemsGetinge GroupGI-ViewHUGER Medical InstrumentInMotion MedicalBy the product type, the market is primarily split intoCT Scanners ColonoscopyMRI Scanners ColonoscopyBy the end users/application, this report covers the following segmentsHospitalClinicRequest Sample Report and TOC@Contact USQY Research, INC.17890 Castleton, Suite 218,City of industry, CA 91748USA: +1 626 295 2442Email: sales@qyrsearchglobal.comWeb:About Us:QY Research established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc.Room 2905, Vili International, 167 Linhe West Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China Nanopharmaceuticals Global Market 2018 Analysis By Key Players Merck, Pfizer, Novartis, Abbott, GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, Astrazeneca Nanopharmaceuticals Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3313637-2015-2023-world-nanopharmaceuticals-market-research-report-by https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3313637-2015-2023-world-nanopharmaceuticals-market-research-report-by SummaryWiseGuyReports.com adds Nanopharmaceuticals Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2023 reports to its database.This report provides in depth study of Nanopharmaceuticals Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Nanopharmaceuticals Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report includes market status and forecast of global and major regions, with introduction of vendors, regions, product types and end industries; and this report counts product types and end industries in global and major regions.Global Nanopharmaceuticals market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingMerckPfizerNovartisAbbottGlaxoSmithKlineRocheSanofiEli LillyAstrazenecaJohnson & JohnsonCelgeneNovavaxStrykerGilead SciencesOSI PharmaceuticalsKadmon PharmaceuticalsSamyang BiopharmMitsubishi PharmaKaken PharmaceuticalSelecta BiosciencesPar PharmaceuticalCerulean PharmaNavidea BiopharmaceuticalsLummyMarket Segment as follows:By Region / CountriesNorth America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc)South America (Brazil, Argentina etc)Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc)By TypeLiposomesPolymeric MicellesSolid Lipid NanoparticlesMicroemulsion And NanoemulsionNanosuspensionBy End-User / ApplicationCancerTumorAutoimmune DisordersRequest a Sample Report @Major Key Points in Table of Content1 Market Definition1.1 Market Segment Overview1.2 by Type1.3 by End-Use / Application2 Global Market by Vendors2.1 Market Share2.2 Vendor Profile2.3 Dynamic of Vendors3 Global Market by Type3.1 Market Share3.2 Introduction of End-Use by Different Products4 Global Market by End-Use / Application4.1 Market Share4.2 Overview of Consumption Characteristics4.2.1 Preference Driven4.2.2 Substitutability4.2.3 Influence by Strategy4.2.4 Professional Needs5 Global Market by Regions5.1 Market Share5.2 Regional Market Growth5.2.1 North America5.2.2 Europe5.2.3 Asia-Pacific5.2.4 South America5.2.5 Middle East & Africa..12 Key Manufacturers12.1 Merck12.1.2 Company Overview12.1.2 Product and End-User / Application12.1.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.2 Pfizer12.2.1 Company Overview12.2.2 Product and End-User / Application12.2.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.3 Novartis12.3.1 Company Overview12.3.2 Product and End-User / Application12.3.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.4 Abbott12.4.1 Company Overview12.4.2 Product and End-User / Application12.4.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.5 GlaxoSmithKline12.5.1 Company Overview12.5.2 Product and End-User / Application12.5.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.6 Roche12.12.1 Company Overview12.12.2 Product and End-User / Application12.12.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.7 Sanofi12.7.1 Company Overview12.7.2 Product and End-User / Application12.7.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.8 Eli Lilly12.8.1 Company Overview12.8.2 Product and End-User / Application12.8.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.9 Astrazeneca12.9.1 Company Overview12.9.2 Product and End-User / Application12.9.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.10 Johnson & Johnson12.10.1 Company Overview12.10.2 Product and End-User / Application12.10.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)12.11 Celgene12.12 Novavax12.13 Stryker12.14 Gilead Sciences12.15 OSI Pharmaceuticals12.16 Kadmon Pharmaceuticals12.17 Samyang Biopharm12.18 Mitsubishi Pharma12.19 Kaken Pharmaceutical12.20 Selecta Biosciences12.21 Par Pharmaceutical12.22 Cerulean Pharma12.23 Navidea Biopharmaceuticals12.24 LummyAt any Query @Continued....Contact Us: sales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US) ; Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Address:Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdPune 411028Maharashtra,Ph: +91 841 198 5042 Myocardial Ischemia Market to be worth USD 500 Million Growing at CAGR of 6.1% - Forecast 2018-2023 Myocardial ischemia https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5811 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/5811 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/5811 Myocardial ischemia or cardiac ischemia is a medical condition characterized by a partial or complete blockage of the hearts arteries thus, reducing the flow of blood to the heart. The treatment of myocardial ischemia includes medications and surgeries. Angina pectoris, fatigue, sweating, and others are some of the common symptoms of the disease. The increasing prevalence of coronary artery disease is a major driver for the market growth. From 2012 to 2013, the Heart U.K. stated that there were approximately 404,000 hospital admissions due to coronary heart diseases in England. Moreover, the increasing cases of diabetes and growing obese population boost the market growth. In 2017, according to the World Health Organization, the number of people who had diabetes in 2014 was estimated to be about 422 million. Moreover, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, approximately two-thirds, i.e., 63% of the Australian population who aged 18 or above was estimated to be overweight or obese from 20142015. However, factors such as lack of awareness, low per capita healthcare expenditure in the low- and middle-income countries, and the high cost of research and development coupled with stringent government policies for clinical trials and development of new drugs are estimated to restrain the market growth during the forecast period.Global Myocardial Ischemia market is expected to grow at an approximate CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period.Get a Sample Report @Regional Analysis:The Americas dominates the global myocardial ischemia market. The presence of a well-developed healthcare sector followed by the increasing prevalence of coronary heart diseases is estimated to drive the market growth during the forecast period. Additionally, the changing lifestyle and increasing healthcare expenditure boost the market within the Americas. Europe is second in the global myocardial ischemia market owing to the availability of funds for research, huge patient population, and government support for research and development. Regionally, Western Europe leads the market, and Eastern Europe is estimated to be the fastest growing region. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region due to the presence of a huge patient population, continuously developing economies and the healthcare sector within the region. The Middle East and Africa has the least share in the global myocardial ischemia market. This can be attributed to the presence of poor economies, lack of healthcare services, and stringent government policies, especially within the African region.Key players of Global Myocardial Ischemia Market:Baxter (U.S.), Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), Taxus Cardium. (U.S.), ViroMed Co. Ltd. (South Korea), Atrium (U.S.), Bayer AG (Germany), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited (Japan), Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (Germany), Sandoz International GmbH (Germany), AstraZeneca (U.K), Janssen Global Services, LLC (U.S.), Merck & Co., Inc. (U.S.), and others.Segments:The global Myocardial Ischemia Market is segmented on the basis of type, diagnosis, treatment, and end-user.On the basis of type, the market is segmented into symptomatic and asymptomatic. On the basis of diagnosis, the market is categorized into imaging and stress test. The imaging segment is sub-segmented into Electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, nuclear scan, coronary angiography, cardiac CT scan, and others. On the basis of treatment, the market is segmented into medication and surgery. The medication segment is sub-segmented into antiplatelet agents, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, antithrombotic agents, beta-adrenergic blockers, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, thrombolytics, analgesics, and others. The surgery segment is sub-segmented into angioplasty and stenting, coronary artery bypass surgery, and enhanced external counterpulsation. On the basis of end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, diagnostic centers, pharmacies, academic institutes, and others.Get Discount on Report @BRIEF TOC:Chapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentTOC CONTINUEDHave a question Ask to Our Experts @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com Airport Security Market Top Key Players American Science and Engineering, Inc, Westminster Group PLC, Axis Communications, Scanna MSC Ltd., Bosch Security Systems, RedXDefense LLC, Fisher Research Laboratory & More Airport Security https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/467663/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/467663/ http://www.openpr.com/news/archive/144590/marketstudyreport-com.html https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/united-states-airport-security-market-report-2017/?utm_source=RR-PSR https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/blog MarketStudyReport.com Adds New Airport Security Market 2017 2024 research report providing information and data By Technology, Industry Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast spreading across 126 Pages with table and figures in it.Airport Security Market Research Report for the period of 2017-2024 that shows the growth of the market is rising at a 7% CAGR to 2024.Airport Security Market is set to exceed USD 16 billion by 2024. The rising penetration of smart technologies and IoT in airports is fueling the demand for airport security market. These include technologies such as remote check-ins, sensor equipment, e-gates, RFID baggage reconciliation systems, etc. A major portion of the data is collected in real-time and stored in large central databases. The presence of security issues in such cases can leave the data vulnerable to attacks from internal and external parties. Wireless tracking technologies, for instance, can allow a hacker to utilize triangular algorithms or Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) Information to track the location of the Wi-Fi end-point user and unearth historical data such as the route taken by the users, purchasing data, etc.Request a sample of this premium report at:A major factor contributing to the high growth of the airport security market is the increase in the traveler populations, primarily in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Large scale globalization and rapid industrialization is driving the movement of goods and people across country borders. Owing to this, airports in urban locations are increasingly experiencing high passenger traffic causing governments of varying economies to undertake massive projects for the upgrade of existing technologies and the development of new airports. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the U.S government has increased the stringency of security procedures in and around the aircraft and passenger areas.The airport surveillance system market is anticipated to exhibit substantial growth during the forecast time-period. These systems are required to be functional at all times and sense multiple movements occurring at varying ranges. Additionally, these systems are supposed to function effectively in intense environmental conditions such as fog and storms and capture images in reduced visibility settings. The advent of 4K cameras and video units has revolutionized the airport security market owing to their sharper and improved image quality and provide coverage for a wider area.The North America airport security market is anticipated to dominate in terms of revenue in the following years. This is mainly attributed to the high emphasis of the U.S government on security measures such as surveillance cameras and cyber security solutions. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has launched the testing of 3D checkpoint scanning technology at the Phoenix Sky Harbor and the Logan International Airport. The computed tomography screening equipment improves the threat detection capabilities by providing a more through 3D image of the screened cargo.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Some of the players operating in the global airport security market include Thales Group, American Science and Engineering, Inc, Westminster Group PLC, Axis Communications, Scanna MSC Ltd., Bosch Security Systems, RedXDefense LLC, Fisher Research Laboratory, Hitachi Ltd, OSI Systems, Inc., and MilliVision Technologies. Companies are increasingly entering into long term partnerships with airports for the testing and deployment of their technologies. For instance, Izmir International Airport has entered into an agreement with Tyco Security Products for the provision of unified security solutions such as access control, location monitoring, and intrusion tracking.Table of Content:Chapter 1. Methodology & ScopeChapter 2. Executive SummaryChapter 3. Airport Security Industry InsightsChapter 4. Airport Security Market, By TechnologyChapter 5. Airport Security Market, By RegionChapter 6. Company ProfilesMore Report At:Related Report:United States Airport Security Market Report 2017In this report, the United States Airport Security market is valued at USD XX million in 2016 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog: Gasoline Direct Injection Market Present application scenario 2025 | Stanadyne, Carter https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=3365 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=3365 https://www.tmrresearch.com/gasoline-direct-injection-market Global Gasoline Direct Injection Market: OverviewThis report on the global gasoline direct injection market is a comprehensive market intelligence study that brings forth the lucrativeness of the said market. Beginning with an executive summary that comprise a snapshot of how the demand for gasoline direct injection has evolved over the recent past and where is it headed to in the future, the report delves into the analysis of various market dynamics, such as opportunities, trends, challenges, and drivers. A detailed overview of the said market with the analysis of porters five forces has been provided in a bid to present a concise and clear landscape of the market vendors to the readers. The market intelligence study also points at mergers, important conglomerates, numerous research and development activities, acquisitions, and corroborations. The said publication allows market stakeholders to study the market in detail and carefully and take well-informed decisions so as to optimize profit and minimize cost.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The world market for gasoline direct injection is expected to grow at a robust CAGR and is anticipated to attain a significant market valuation by the end of the period of forecast.Global Gasoline Direct Injection Market: Trends and OpportunitiesRising requirements for augmented fuel economy for cost-sensitive consumers has been stimulating the demand for GDI system. Stringent regulations so as to reduce emissions of CO2 and related fuel economy standards are very likely to draw a huge base of consumer. Amendments in these standards so as to further reduce the base lines of the fuel efficiency and GHG emissions will provide huge boost to the international market for gasoline direct injection system. Technological advancements, such as controlled valve operation systems and integration of drive systems, to optimize fuel economy will influence the growth of the industry of direct petrol injection system over the forecast timeframe.The gasoline direct injection market for automotive is expected to be driven by the demand for fuel-efficient vehicles with high power. However, increased power output can also diminish the fuel efficiency of the engine and increase tailpipe emissions.Request TOC of the Report @Global Gasoline Direct Injection Market: Market PotentialThe market vendors have been forecasted to obtain new opportunities as there has been an increased emphasis on spending more on the work of research and development by many of the GDI manufacturing companies thereby driving its growth. In addition to that, many of the market participants are anticipated to make a foray into the emerging economies that are yet to be explored so as to find new opportunities.Global Gasoline Direct Injection Market: Regional AnalysisThe geographical segmentation of the global gasoline direct injection market is diversified into Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, North America, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. Europe gasoline direct injection system market held lions share of the overall industry due to its high adoptions in the region. Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a very high CAGR over the forecast years, due to high potential that prevails in the region. Economically stabilizing regions that comprises countries such as Indonesia, India, and China are expected to present potential growth avenues due to increasing automotive demand. Furthermore, rising concerns regarding pollution and GHGs will further stimulate the regional GDI system market growth.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Gasoline Direct Injection Market: Competitive LandscapeA few leading players that are operating in the world market for gasoline direct injection market comprise eminent names such as Hi-Vol, Renesas, Robert Bosch, Hyundai Kefico, Denso, GB Remanufacturing, Magneti Marelli, Delphi, Keihin, Westport, Continental, TI Automotive, Nostrum Energy, Hitachi, Cosworth, Autocam, Stanadyne, Carter, UCAL, and Park-Ohio.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends. Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Robot Vacuum Market will grow at a CAGR of 12.6% | Worldwide Top key players - - iRobot, Ecovacs, Panasonic, Proscenic, LG, Philips, Samsung, Fmart, Dyson, Neato | Forecast till 2022 robot vacuum market https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/104218 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/104218/single https://www.businessindustryreports.com/check-discount/104218 The Robot Vacuum Market report gives CAGR value from 2013 to 2018 and how it is expected to reach from 2018 to 2022 with High CAGR. The report provides information by geography, end user, application, competitor analysis, SWOT Analysis, Sales and Forecast.The global market for robot vacuum will grow at a CAGR of 12.6% by 2022, according to a new report published by Gen Consulting Company. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application (residential, commercial, etc.), and by geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, MEA and South America).Premium Sample Report Available atThe report covers forecast and analysis for the robot vacuum market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2012-2016 along with a forecast from 2017 to 2022 based on both output/volume and revenue. The study then describes the drivers and restraints for the robot vacuum market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the robot vacuum market on a global level.The report has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global robot vacuum market collected from specialized sources. The competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players. Company overview, financial overview, product portfolio, new project launched, recent development analysis are the parameters included in the profile.Demand for this market rises from the residential, commercial, and other applications. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2017 to 2022. Relevantly, the report and company profiles specify the key drivers that are impacting the demand in global robot vacuum market.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Robot Vacuum in these regions, from 2013 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanThe regional scope of the study is as follows:- North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Rest of Middle East & Africa.Key Applications- Residential- CommercialThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Robot Vacuum capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2022);Focuses on the key Robot Vacuum manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Key StakeholdersRobot Vacuum ManufacturersRobot Vacuum Distributors/Traders/WholesalersRobot Vacuum Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsComplete report on Global Robot Vacuum Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022 is spread across 124 pages and provides exclusive vital statistics, data, information, trends and landscape details in this niche sector. Get Direct Copy of this Research Report @Key Vendors- iRobot- Ecovacs- Panasonic- Proscenic- LG- Philips- Samsung- Fmart- Dyson- Neato- Miele- Sharp- Toshiba- YUJIN ROBOTMajor Table of Content1 Global Robot Vacuum Market Research Report 20182 Global Robot Vacuum Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Robot Vacuum Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Robot Vacuum Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Robot Vacuum Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Robot Vacuum Market Analysis by Application7 Global Robot Vacuum Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Robot Vacuum Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Robot Vacuum Market Forecast (2018-2022 )13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixGrab a attractive discount atAbout usBusinessIndustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined - we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Business Industry ReportsEmail: sales@businessindustryreports.comOrganization: Business Industry ReportsAddress: Pune IndiaPhone: +19376349940 Fluoropolymers Market Professional Analysis On Industry Trends 2025| Daikin Industries Ltd., Honeywell International Inc https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=3359 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=3359 https://www.tmrresearch.com/fluoropolymers-market Global Fluoropolymers Market: OverviewThis report on the global fluoropolymers market is a comprehensive market intelligence study that brings forth the lucrativeness of the said market. Beginning with an executive summary that comprise a snapshot of how the demand for Fluoropolymers has evolved over the recent past and where is it headed to in the future, the report delves into the analysis of various market dynamics, such as opportunities, trends, challenges, and drivers. A detailed overview of the said market with the analysis of porters five forces has been provided in a bid to present a concise and clear landscape of the market vendors to the readers. The market intelligence study also points at mergers, important conglomerates, numerous research and development activities, acquisitions, and corroborations. The said publication allows market stakeholders to study the market in detail and carefully and take well-informed decisions so as to optimize profit and minimize cost.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The world market for fluoropolymers is expected to grow at a robust CAGR and is anticipated to attain a significant market valuation by the end of the period of forecast.Global Fluoropolymers Market: Trends and OpportunitiesIn order to cater to the rising demand for medical devices, fluoropolymers are being utilized on a large scale due to its biocompatibility, lubricity, and good dielectric properties. They are also being widely utilized for the development of biomedical materials for heart valves and artificial corneas. Fluoropolymer is emerging as one of the widely used material in the healthcare industry and in case of replacement of many of the plastic products in the medical devices. Having numerous unique properties such as low coefficient of a fraction, and high resistance to chemical and heat, fluoropolymer is also utilized as a substitute bone for nose parts, knee, skull, hip, and ear. Major market players are also focusing on the development of recyclable and eco-friendly fluoropolymers, as such, this is resulting in the rising popularity of fluoropolymer in the healthcare sector.Request TOC of the Report @Global Fluoropolymers Market: Market PotentialThe market vendors have been forecasted to obtain new opportunities as there has been an increased emphasis on spending more on the work of research and development by many of the fluoropolymers manufacturing companies thereby driving further growth of the said market. In addition to that, many of the market participants are anticipated to make a foray into the emerging economies that are yet to be explored so as to find new opportunities.Global Fluoropolymers Market: Regional AnalysisThe geographical segmentation of the global Fluoropolymers market is diversified into Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, North America, the Middle East and Africa, Japan and Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ). Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) is estimated to be one of the major regions in the world market for fluoropolymer during the forecast period and is forecasted to witness growth in the future years. Furthermore, due to the increase in manufacturing activities, availability of labor, land, and various raw materials comprising ethylene, and fluorocarbon at low price, the region is forecasted to experience significant growth during the period of forecast. The demand for fluoropolymer is also increasing in countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand owing to the development of healthcare sector. Meanwhile, North America is also estimated to experience growth in the usage of fluoropolymer material in the healthcare sector, particularly in drug delivery, pharmaceutical packaging, and the medical devices.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Fluoropolymers Market: Competitive LandscapeA few leading players that are operating in the world market for fluoropolymers market comprise eminent names such as Mexichem S.A.B. de C.V, The Chemours Company, 3M Company, E.I Dupont De Nemours and Company, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Daikin Industries Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA, Zeus Industrial Products Inc., and Solvay SA.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends. Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Botanical Pesticide Global Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Analysis of Top Key Player and Forecast to 2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3284996-global-botanical-pesticide-market-research-report-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3284996-global-botanical-pesticide-market-research-report-2018 This report studies the global Botanical Pesticide market status and forecast, categorizes the global Botanical Pesticide market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).The global Botanical Pesticide market is valued at million US$ in 2017 and will reach million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of during 2018-2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportBayerSyngentaBASFMonsantoDOWDuPontADAMAFMCNufarmArystaUPLMitsui ChemicalsCheminovaCheminovaSumitomo chemicalRequest a Sample Report @Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOther Regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa)We can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeRest of Asia-PacificEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaTurkeyRest of Middle East & AfricaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPhytotoxinPhytogenous Insect HormoneOthersOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingAgricultureForestryOthersThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Botanical Pesticide capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Botanical Pesticide manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Table of ContentsGlobal Botanical Pesticide Market Research Report 20181 Botanical Pesticide Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Botanical Pesticide1.2 Botanical Pesticide Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Botanical Pesticide Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Botanical Pesticide Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Phytotoxin1.2.4 Phytogenous Insect Hormone1.2.5 Others1.3 Global Botanical Pesticide Segment by Application1.3.1 Botanical Pesticide Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Agriculture1.3.3 Forestry1.3.4 Others1.4 Global Botanical Pesticide Market by Region (2013-2025)1.4.1 Global Botanical Pesticide Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 25 Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 North America Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Europe Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 China Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 Japan Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Botanical Pesticide (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Botanical Pesticide Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)2 Global Botanical Pesticide Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Botanical Pesticide Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Botanical Pesticide Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Botanical Pesticide Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Botanical Pesticide Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Botanical Pesticide Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Botanical Pesticide Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Botanical Pesticide Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Botanical Pesticide Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global Botanical Pesticide Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global Botanical Pesticide Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global Botanical Pesticide Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 North America Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.6 Europe Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.7 China Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.8 Japan Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.9 Southeast Asia Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.10 India Botanical Pesticide Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)4 Global Botanical Pesticide Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)4.1 Global Botanical Pesticide Consumption by Region (2013-2018)4.2 North America Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.3 Europe Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.4 China Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.5 Japan Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.6 Southeast Asia Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.7 India Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.6 Southeast Asia Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.7 India Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.8 South America Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.9 Middle East and Africa Botanical Pesticide Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)5 Global Botanical Pesticide Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Botanical Pesticide Production and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.2 Global Botanical Pesticide Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.3 Global Botanical Pesticide Price by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Global Botanical Pesticide Production Growth by Type (2013-2018)6 Global Botanical Pesticide Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Botanical Pesticide Consumption and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6.2 Global Botanical Pesticide Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2013-2018)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesContinuedAccess Complete Report @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System: Market 2018 Global Analysis By Top Key Players Hologic, GE Healthcare, Siemens, I.M.S., PLANMED OY, XinRay Systems, FUJIFILM Qy Research Groups https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/request-sample/1038693 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/send-an-enquiry/1038693 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/check-discount/1038693 An exclusive Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System market research report created through broad primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, and stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of Global Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System Market By Type, By Application, By Region - North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the global Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System market. Additionally, the report also highlights market entry strategies for various companies across the globe.Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System Market Players: Hologic GE Healthcare Siemens I.M.S. PLANMED OY XinRay Systems FUJIFILM ...Get Sample Copy of This Report Now @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into 2D Digital Mammography Technology 3D Digital Mammography TechnologyBy Application, the market can be split into Hospitals Diagnostic Centers OthersMajor regions are as follows: North America Europe China Japan India Southeast Asia Other regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)Worldwide Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Inquire before Buying @Also, key Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) System market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.Inquire for Discount @Contact Us:Call: +1-888-236-2744Email: sales@qyresearchgroups.comAbout Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Room B1510, Shiji Kemao Building,No.66 Zhongguancun East Road,Haidian District, Beijing,100190, China. Satellite M2M Connections and Services Market 2025 by International Key Player Analysis - Hughes Network System, Nupoint Systems, Oracle, Quake Global, Sprint, Teliasonera, Telit ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00012188297/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00012188297/discount http://www.reportsweb.com/global-satellite-m2m-connections-and-services-market-size-status-and-forecast-2018-2025 ReportsWeb Adds Global Satellite M2M Connections and Services Market offers an up-to-date analysis of the market with regards to the innovations, current competitive landscape and latest trends and drivers, to provide new predictions for the forecast period.Satellite M2M technology enables communication of data or information between electronic devices with the help of satellite networks.The government sector dominated this market by accounting for an impressive market share of more than 35%. The extensive use of satellite M2M connectivity for a wide array of military and government applications, such as monitoring and tracking of logistics and location-based tracking of military forces, will lead to the strong growth of this market segment during the forecast period.At present, the Americas dominates this market and is anticipated to retain its dominating hold over the market until the end of 2023.The key players covered in this studyGlobalstar, Iridium Communications, Kore, Orbcomm, Rogers Communications, Applied Satellite Technology, Digi International, Gemalto, Hughes Network System, Nupoint Systems, Oracle, Quake Global, Sprint, Teliasonera, TelitGet a SampleMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoHardwareServicesMarket segment by Application, split intoGovernmentTransportationOil and GasOtherMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South AmericaThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze global Satellite M2M Connections and Services status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.To present the Satellite M2M Connections and Services development in United States, Europe and China.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies.To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regions.Copy at Check Discount at1 Report Overview2 Global Growth Trends3 Market Share by Key Players4 Breakdown Data by Type and Application5 United States6 Europe7 China8 Japan9 Southeast Asia10 India11 Central & South America12 International Players Profiles13 Market Forecast 2018-202514 Analyst's Viewpoints/ConclusionsCheck Complete TOC Report atReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Brain Ischemia Market Booming CAGR with Topmost Players Like Johnson and Johnson, Stryker Corporation, GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare Outlook Till 2023 Brain Ischemia Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1424 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/brain-ischemia-market-1424 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1424 Global Brain Ischemia Market Research Report, by Diagnosis MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Angiography and other, by Treatment Angioplasty, Drug Treatment and other, by End User Hospital, Clinics and Other- Forecast Till 2023Global Brain Ischemia Market - ScenarioBrain ischemia is a condition in which there is an insufficient blood flow to the brain which results in poor oxygen supply to the brain. Brain ischemia is also known as cerebral ischemia or cerebrovascular ischemia.Get Premium Sample Report Available @Major driving factor for global brain ischemia market are increasing number of patient suffering from diabetes, obesity hypertension and other related diseases as well as increasing aging population. On other hand high cost of treatment and limited availability of effective drugs may be responsible for restraining the markets growthThe global brain ischemia market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during forecasted period 2017-2023.Global Brain Ischemia Market - Intended AudienceResearch and development (R&D) companiesPharmaceutical companiesGovernment and independent research laboratoriesContract research organizations (CROs)Medical research laboratoriesAcademic medical institutes and universitiesGlobal Brain Ischemia Market - Key PlayersThis market has numerous key players some of them are Bayer AG (Germany), H. Lundbeck A/S (Denmark), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (US), Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Germany), ThromboGenics NV (Belgium), Vernalis Plc (UK), Neurotec Pharma SL (Spain), Johnson and Johnson (US), Covidien Plc (Ireland), Stryker Corporation (US), Abbott Laboratories (US), Penumbra, Inc. (US), Philips Healthcare (Netherland), Hitachi Ltd. (Japan), GE Healthcare (UK) and Siemens Healthcare (US).Global Brain Ischemia Market - SegmentationGlobal brain ischemia market is segmented on the basis of diagnosis which includes MRI, CT, ultrasound, angiography and other. The market is also segmented on the basis of treatment which includes angioplasty, drug treatment and other.Drug treatment is sub segmented into anticoagulation therapy, antiplatelet and other. Anticoagulation therapy is further sub segmented into heparin and warfarin. Antiplatelet therapy is further sub segmented as aspirin and other. On the basis of end user the market is segmented as hospital, clinics and other.Global Brain Ischemia Market - Study ObjectivesDetail analysis of global brain ischemia market with respect to region specific market growth and competitive analysis on the basis of major players present in the market.Detail analysis of market as well as different drivers and restraints affecting the growth of this market.Detail analysis of markets past and estimated future growth based on various analyses which includes price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force analysis etc.To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments along with research and developments in the global brain ischemia market.Detail analysis on possible segments and sub segments of the market. Along with this regional analysis of the market which includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa.Insights of major countries/regions in which this industry is flourishing including untapped regions which could be the potential market of brain ischemia in futureBrowse Complete Report @Global Brain Ischemia Market - Regional AnalysisOn regional basis, North America has the largest market of brain ischemia. Due to the increasing diabetic and obese population in this region, these have become a major driving factor for this markets growth. Moreover increasing governments support has also lead to the growth of this market. Europe is the second largest market due to increasing aging population and technological advances here. Emerging economies like India and China in Asia-Pacific region has provided to be a fuel for the growth of this market here. Middle East and Africa contributes less to this markets growth.MAJOR TABLE OF CONTENTS:1 INTRODUCTION1.1 DEFINITION1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY1.2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE1.2.2 ASSUMPTIONS & LIMITATIONS1.2.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS1.2.2.2 LIMITATIONS1.3 MARKET STRUCTURE:2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 RESEARCH PROCESS:2.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH2.3 SECONDARY RESEARCH:3 MARKET DYNAMICS3.1 DRIVERS3.2 RESTRAINTS3.3 OPPORTUNITIES3.4 MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS4 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS4.1 PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL4.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS4.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS4.4 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTSMajor TOC Continued!Get Exclusive Discount @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Heat Exchanger Market 2018By Identifying the Key Market Segments Poised for Strong Growth in Future https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/845338-global-heat-exchanger-market-research-report-global-forecast-to-2021 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/845338-global-heat-exchanger-market-research-report-global-forecast-to-2021 www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts Market ScenarioHeat Exchanger is an industrial equipment or device used to transfer heat from one medium to another. Medium could be either solid, liquid, or gas depending on the application the heat exchanger is used for. The market for heat exchangers is primarily driven by rapid industrial expansions in the developing as well as emerging economies across the globe. Increasing number of projects across various industries such as chemical, oil & gas, power generation, food & beverages, and petrochemicals have instigated a steep rise in market demand. Rapid expansion within the chemical industry, which contributes a considerably large share within the segment, is expected to be a key factor for market growth. Adoption of stringent government regulations & norms, amidst mounting concerns for industrial emissions & energy efficiency, shall also have a positive effect on the demand for heat exchangers. The global heat exchanger market is estimated to grow at 8% CAGR between 2016 and 2021.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Key PlayersHeat exchanger market is characterized by the presence of global players as well as competitive regional players. Key players operating in the market include - Alfa Laval AB, Hamon & CIE (International) SA, HRS Heat Exchangers Ltd, Koch Heat Transfer Company LP, Danfoss A/S, and Xylem Inc. Other competitors that have been profiled in this report include - API Heat Transfer Inc., Funke Warmeaustauscher Apparatebau GmbH, GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft, Guntner AG & Co. KG, Sondex holding A/s, Hindustan Dorr-Oliver Ltd, Hisaka Works Ltd, Modine Manufacturing Company, Sierra S.p.A., Smartheat Inc., SPX Corporation, Sterling Thermal Technology Limited, SWEP International AB, and Tranter Inc.Study Objectives of Global Heat Exchanger Market To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next five years of various segments & sub-segments of the global heat exchanger market To identify upcoming trends, high growth markets with respect to geographies and countries To study and analyze regional and country specific demand as well as forecast for heat exchanger market To analyze the market with respect to the different segments covered in the report namely by classification, types, and application To study & analyze the competitive scenario within the heat exchanger market, and provide strategic profiling of key market playersTarget Audience Heat exchanger manufacturers Suppliers & Distributors Technology Providers SMEsKey Findings The global market revenue for heat exchangers was estimated to be $13.07 billion in 2012. growing demand of HVAC as well as refrigeration industry, and implementation of stringent governmental regulations for energy efficiency are the major drivers for heat exchangers market. Alfa Laval AB, Hamon & CIE (International) SA, HRS Heat Exchangers Ltd, Koch Heat Transfer Company LP, Danfoss A/S, and Xylem Inc. are the key market players Europe contributed a large share of about 40% within global the heat exchanger market in 2012. However, Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow at a fast pace as compared to other regions, during the forecast period. Chemical, and oil & gas industry applications together accounted for around 55% of the total market for heat exchangers in 2012. Shell and tube type heat exchangers held more than 50% of the total market in 2012. It contributed a total of $7.2 billion in the same year and is expected to retain its dominance during the forecast period.Regional Analysis of Global Heat Exchanger MarketEurope held a major share within the global heat exchanger market in 2015. Europe and North America markets together accounted for more than 50% of the market for heat exchangers. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to exhibit the fastest growth during the forecast period. Growth in manufacturing and processing sector, rapid industrial expansion, and increase in the number of capital driven projects, are major driving factors for the Asia-Pacific market. China and India are expected to be the key growth markets in this region.The report covers brief analysis of country level market information North America Europe Asia-Pacific ROWTable of Content: Key Points1. REPORT PROLOGUE2. INTRODUCTION2.1. DEFINITION2.2. SCOPE OF THE STUDY2.2.1. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE2.2.2. ASSUMPTIONS2.2.3. LIMITATIONS2.3. MARKET STRUCTURE2.4. MARKET SEGMENTATION3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY3.1. RESEARCH PROCESS3.2. PRIMARY RESEARCH3.3. SECONDARY RESEARCH3.4. MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION3.5. FORECAST MODEL4. MARKET DYNAMICS4.1. DRIVERS & OPPORTUNITIES4.2. CHALLENGES & RESTRAINTS4.3. VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS4.4. PORTERS FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS5. HEAT EXCHANGER MARKET, BY CLASSIFICATION5.1. INTRODUCTION5.2. MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION5.3. TEMPRETURE RANGE5.4. FLUID TYPES6. HEAT EXCHANGER MARKET, BY TYPESContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your needs.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Global Online Payment Gateway Market 2018 Growing At A CAGR of xx% By End Of 2025 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2282610 http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/global-online-payment-gateway-market-data-survey-report-2025 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/2282610 SummaryOnline payment gateways are the merchant service which assists in carrying out a smooth transaction at the time of online shopping. The transaction is carried out by processing credit card, debit cards and direct payment process for various online business such as e- retailers, online websites. The payment gateways services can be provided by any financial service provider of by any commercialized bank.Global Online Payment Gateway Market 2018-2025The report on Global Online Payment Gateway Market provides deep insights for Global Online Payment Gateway Market based on decisive aspects of a market study. It covers detailed analysis on geographical segmentation to gain insights for the regional components of business data. Online Payment Gateway of the Global Online Payment Gateway Market in report majorly highlighted are Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America and Middle East & Africa for reviewing and studying markets periodically. Moreover, report precisely covers different market segments like definition, type & application.Request a Sample of this Report @The report on Global Online Payment Gateway Market also offers detailed study for the key players or vendors dwelling in the market. It revealsthecompany information, business overview, sales data and product specificationsabout manufacturers that can help make business predictions.Market research report on Global Online Payment Gateway Market isinclusive of all the important aspect of the market study performed through SWOT and Porter's Five Forces methodology. This report has been very well conscripted to benefit investors, new entrants and people interested in the market. Every single market has got a set of manufacturers, vendors and consumers defining a particular market along with their eachand every move. Furthermore, a highlight of accomplishments made by different players provided in report becomes a subject of studying for market researchers.TheGlobal Online Payment Gateway Market market report is deeply analyzed by different end user or applications and type. End user or application analysis segment in reports helps readers to determine differentconsumerial behavior. Moreover, on the way of predictinga products fate comprehensive study willplay a very important role. When reports are product based, they also include information on sales channel, distributors, traders and dealers. This helps in efficient planning and execution of industry chain and raw materials analysis.Browse the Full Report@In a nutshell, market research is an art desirable of gathering data via surveys and deep market study by a team of subject matter experts. A market research report provides direction and rationale of the market through a professional approach based on comprehensive investigation of Global Online Payment Gateway Market market. This report aiding its readers inenhancing marketing and business management strategies so that they allocate money and time in exact direction.Global Online Payment Gateway Market Segment as follows:By RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe global Online Payment Gateway market will reach Volume Million USD in 2017 with CAGR xx% 2018-2025. The main contents of the report including:Global market size and forecastRegional market size, production data and export & importKey manufacturers (manufacturing sites, capacity and production, product specifications etc.)Average market price by SUKMajor applicationsKey manufacturers are included based on manufacturing sites, capacity and production, product specifications etc.:PayPalStripeAmazon PaymentsAuthorize.netWorldPayAdyenAdyen2CheckoutFirstDataSecurePayPayUMOLPayPaymillGMOAlipayTenpayPing++Boleto BancarioCashUOneCardWirecardWebMoneyRealexMajor applications as follows:Micro and Small EnterpriseLarge EnterpriseMid- Sized EnterpriseMake an enquiry before buying this report @Some Point from Table of Content1 Global Market Overview1.1 Scope of Statistics1.1.1 Scope of Products1.1.2 Scope of Manufacturers1.1.3 Scope of Application1.1.4 Scope of Regions/Countries1.2 Global Market Size2 Regional Market2.1 Regional Production2.2 Regional Demand2.3 Regional Trade3 Key Manufacturers3.1 PayPal3.1.2 Company Information3.1.2 Product Specifications3.1.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)3.2 Stripe3.2.1 Company Information3.2.2 Product Specifications3.2.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)3.3 Amazon Payments3.3.1 Company Information3.3.2 Product Specifications3.3.3 Business Data (Capacity, Sales Revenue, Volume, Price, Cost and Margin)3.4 Authorize.net4 Major Application4.1 Micro and Small Enterprise4.1.1 Overview4.1.2 Micro and Small Enterprise Market Size and Forecast4.2 Large Enterprise4.2.1 Overview4.2.2 Large Enterprise Market Size and Forecast4.3 Mid- Sized Enterprise4.3.1 Overview4.3.2 Mid- Sized Enterprise Market Size and Forecast5 Market Price5.1 Overview5.2 Price by SUKOrbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019 BLE Module 2018 Market Analysis By Product, Application, Region and Segment Forecasts 2022 BLE Module Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3318999-global-ble-module-market-report-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3318999-global-ble-module-market-report-2018 WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On BLE Module 2018 Market Analysis By Product, Application, Region and Segment Forecasts 2022.Description:-The BLE Module industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, BLE Module market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of xxx from xxx million $ in 2014 to xxx million $ in 2017, The analysts believe that in the next few years, BLE Module market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2022, The market size of the BLE Module will reach xxx million $.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThis Report covers the manufacturers data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers.Sections:-Section 1: FreeDefinitionSection (2 3): 1200 USDManufacturer DetailTESamtecAmphenolMolexHiroseAmphenol FCIJAEJSTHARTINGYamaichiERNIFujitsuInternational Electrotechnical CommissionMicroTCASection 4: 900 USDRegion SegmentationNorth America Country (United States, Canada)South AmericaAsia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)ContinuedAsk Query About Report @Table Of Contents Major Key PointsSection 1 BLE Module Product DefinitionSection 2 Global BLE Module Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer BLE Module Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer BLE Module Business Revenue2.3 Global BLE Module Market OverviewSection 3 Manufacturer BLE Module Business Introduction3.1 TE BLE Module Business Introduction3.1.1 TE BLE Module Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.1.2 TE BLE Module Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 TE Interview Record3.1.4 TE BLE Module Business Profile3.1.5 TE BLE Module Product Specification3.2 Samtec BLE Module Business Introduction3.2.1 Samtec BLE Module Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.2.2 Samtec BLE Module Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 Samtec BLE Module Business Overview3.2.5 Samtec BLE Module Product Specification3.3 Amphenol BLE Module Business Introduction3.3.1 Amphenol BLE Module Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.3.2 Amphenol BLE Module Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 Amphenol BLE Module Business Overview3.3.5 Amphenol BLE Module Product Specification3.4 Molex BLE Module Business Introduction3.5 Hirose BLE Module Business Introduction3.6 Amphenol FCI BLE Module Business IntroductionSection 4 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.1.2 Canada BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3 Asia Country4.3.1 China BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.2 Japan BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.3 India BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.4 Korea BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4 Europe Country4.4.1 Germany BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.2 UK BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.3 France BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.4 Italy BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.5 Europe BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5 Other Country and Region4.5.1 Middle East BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.2 Africa BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.3 GCC BLE Module Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.6 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Region Level) Analysis 2014-20174.7 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Region Level) AnalysisSection 5 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)5.1 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) Market Size 2014-20175.2 Different BLE Module Product Type Price 2014-20175.3 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) AnalysisSection 6 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Industry Level)6.1 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Industry Level) Market Size 2014-20176.2 Different Industry Price 2014-20176.3 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Industry Level) AnalysisSection 7 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Channel Level)7.1 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Channel Level) Sales Volume and Share 2014-20177.2 Global BLE Module Market Segmentation (Channel Level) AnalysisContinuedFor more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. Household Cleaning Tools Market Report 2018: Segmentation by Type (Mops and Brooms, Cleaning Brushes, Wipes, Gloves, Soap Dispensers, Others) by Application (Bedroom, Kitchen, Living Room, Toilet, Others) Household Cleaning Tools Market http://marketreportscompany.com/contact.php http://marketreportscompany.com/contact.php http://marketreportscompany.com/contact.php Global Household Cleaning Tools market research report provides company profile for Libman, Carlisle FoodService Products, EMSCO, Ettore, Fuller Brush, Cequent Consumer Products, Newell Brands, Procter & Gamble, 3M, Freudenberg, Butler Home Product, Greenwood Mop And Broom and Others.This market study includes data about consumer perspective, comprehensive analysis, statistics, market share, company performances (Stocks), historical analysis 2012 to 2017, market forecast 2018 to 2025 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2018 to 2025, etc. The report also provides detailed segmentation on the basis of product type, application, end user and regional segmentation. The regional segment is further bifurcated on country level.Household cleaning tools are mainly included Mops, Brooms, Brushes, Wipes and Gloves etc.Request for Free sample copy of ready Report @Report Coverage:Top Manufactures/vendors of Household Cleaning Tools market:Procter & Gamble3MFreudenbergButler Home ProductGreenwood Mop And BroomLibmanCarlisle FoodService ProductsEMSCOEttoreFuller BrushCequent Consumer ProductsNewell BrandsOthers (Note: We can profile additional players without any additional charges)Household Cleaning Tools Type:Mops and BroomsCleaning BrushesWipesGlovesSoap DispensersOthersApplication of Household Cleaning Tools:BedroomKitchenLiving RoomToiletOthersRegions covered in Household Cleaning Tools Market Research Report:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)(Note: We can provide country or region specific report on request; please contact us for your specific requirement)The Global Household Cleaning Tools Market analysis report covers detailed value chain analysis of Global Household Cleaning Tools Market. The value chain analysis helps to analyze major upstream raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. The report also provides Porter analysis, PESTEL analysis and market attractiveness which helps to better understand the market scenario on macro and micro level. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities occurred in the market during current and past few years. The Global Household Cleaning Tools Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors. The report also covers import/export data across all major regions covered in this report. Moreover, we can exclusively provide information about import/export data across any particular country as per requirement.How helpful this report will be? Household Cleaning Tools Market share (regional, product, application, end-user) both in terms of volume and revenue along with CAGR from 2018 to 2025 Key parameters which are driving this market and restraining its growth What all challenges manufacturers will face as well as new opportunities and threats faced by themEnquire before Buying @......Table of Content:1 Market Overview1.1 Household Cleaning Tools Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Mops and Brooms1.2.2 Cleaning Brushes1.2.3 Wipes1.2.4 Gloves1.2.5 Soap Dispensers........................Continue (What does Report Include?Historic Data: What was the Household Cleaning Tools Market data (Size, competition, company share, YoY growth rate, etc.) from 2013 to 2018.Current Market Status: A comprehensive analysis of current market Size, trends, growth drivers, industry pitfalls, challenges and opportunities for players.Market Forecast: Report will comment and provide details about market growth and forecast till year 2025.Customization: We can provide following things 1) On request more company profiles (competitors) 2) Data about particular country or region 3) We will incorporate the same with no additional cost (Post conducting feasibility).Contact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website: marketreportscompany.comEmail: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Fleet Management Systems: Market 2018 Segmented by Manufacturers (Omnitracs, Trimble, Fleetmatics, Alphabet, Telenav, Arvento, Teletrac, EMKAY, Gurtam, ARI, FleetCor) and Forecasts to 2025 Qy Research Groups https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/request-sample/1033477 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/send-an-enquiry/1033477 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/check-discount/1033477 An exclusive Fleet Management Systems market research report created through broad primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, and stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of Global Fleet Management Systems Market By Type, By Application, By Region - North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the global Fleet Management Systems market. Additionally, the report also highlights market entry strategies for various companies across the globe.Fleet Management Systems Market Players: Omnitracs Trimble Fleetmatics Alphabet Telenav Arvento Teletrac EMKAY Gurtam ARI FleetCor Navman Wireless TomTom I.D. Systems AssetWorks BSM Wireless E6GPS Mike Albert Microlise Etrans Wiesless Matrix Scania Fleet Transcore Transics Blue Tree Fleetboard Inosat Tracker SA Zonar DynafleetGet Sample Copy of This Report Now @Market segment by Type, the product can be split into Operational Fleet Monitoring and Management Vehicle Dispatch Driver Scheduling Asset Tracking Condition Based Maintenance Security and Safety Management OtherMarket segment by Application, split into Logistics and Transportation Public TransportationMajor regions are as follows: United States Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaWorldwide Fleet Management Systems Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Fleet Management Systems industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Fleet Management Systems market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Fleet Management Systems market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Fleet Management Systems players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Inquire before Buying @Also, key Fleet Management Systems market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Fleet Management Systems market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.Inquire for Discount @Contact Us:Call: +1-888-236-2744Email: sales@qyresearchgroups.comAbout Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Room B1510, Shiji Kemao Building,No.66 Zhongguancun East Road,Haidian District, Beijing,100190, China. Top 5 Vendors in the Global Submarine Battery Market Professional Survey Report 2018 Submarine Battery Market - Algoro Reports https://www.algororeports.com/sample-request/global-submarine-battery-market-professional-survey-report-2018 https://www.algororeports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1408390 https://www.algororeports.com/check-discount/global-submarine-battery-market-professional-survey-report-2018 https://www.algororeports.com/enquiry/global-submarine-battery-market-professional-survey-report-2018 https://www.algororeports.com/reports/global-submarine-battery-market-professional-survey-report-2018 www.algororeports.com Submarines need large amounts of electricity to operate safely under water. They charge their batteries using diesel or nuclear-driven generators. Diesel subs must surface to recycle their batteries because carbon monoxide fumes are deadly. Nuclear ones can remain under water for months and even years.The industry is expected to remain innovation-led, optimize product mix and further develop value-added capabilities to maximize margins. The biggest customer is still the military submarine.Despite the presence of competition problems, due to the global recovery trend is clear, investors are still optimistic about this area, the future will still have more new investment enter the field. Even so, the market is intensely competitive .The study group recommends the new entrants just having money but without technical advantage and upstream and downstream support do not to enter into this field.Free Sample Report Downloads:The major manufacturers covered in this reportEnerSys Systems Sunlight SAExide TechnologiesZibo Torch Energy Co., Ltd.Exide IndustriesEverExceedHBLGS YuasaKorea Special Battery Co., Ltd.Buy Market Research Reports for Global Submarine Battery Market:Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)We can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeRest of Asia-PacificEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaTurkeyRest of Middle East & AfricaAsk for the discount here:On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into- Valve-regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) Batteries- - Flooded Lead Acid BatteriesOthersBy Application, the market can be split into- For Civilian- For MilitaryIf you would like to enquire before buying report click here:The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Submarine Battery capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Submarine Battery manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market.To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Submarine Battery are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.Key StakeholdersSubmarine Battery ManufacturersSubmarine Battery Distributors/Traders/WholesalersSubmarine Battery Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsAvailable CustomizationsAccess Full Report Details:AlgoroReports is a part of Algororesearch Consultant Pvt. Ltd. AlgoroReports is one of the largest collections of market research reports from numerous publishers with the team of industries specialist that meet with best client requirements. Market Research is based on a research project that may also be an expansion on past work in the field. Research projects can be used to develop further knowledge on a topic, geography, culture, linguistics, and community to provide exact idea about existing market.Neel PatelManager Business Developmentneel.patel@algororeports.comPh: +19725918785 (US)info@algororeports.com Feed Enzymes Market 2018 Flourishes with International Prestigious Players | Behn Meyer Holding AG, Adisseo France SAS, BASF SE, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Rossari Biotech Ltd., Etc. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5130 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/feed-enzymes-market-5130 Market Definition:Feed enzymes are either plant-derived or chemical ingredients used to boost the quality of the animal nutrition as well as nutritional properties of the animal fodder. The feed enzyme helps to stimulate and secrete digestive enzymes, which, in turn, boost an immune response. Additionally, feed enzymes market is observing an exponential growth based on its high usage in the feed industry. Rising health concerns is one of the major factors contributing to the growth of the global feed enzymes market.Market Scenario:With the growing consumer awareness and their increasing interest in healthy lifestyle, the demand for feed enzymes has increased to great extent. In addition to the changing lifestyle, the growing demand for feed enzymes, rising meat consumption, quality feed, industrialization of livestock, and the prevention of diseases in livestock are expected to drive the global feed enzymes market.Increasing demand for animal feed products with high protein content is driving the growth of the feed enzymes market. Furthermore, advance processing methods & technologies, and high opportunities in developing countries are positively supporting the growth of the market. The market players are responding to these new opportunities by expanding their service offerings/product lines, which has boosted the share of feed enzymes in the global market.The global feed enzymes market is projected to prop el by increasing awareness regarding available health benefits to farm animals from the feed enzymes. Increased awareness about the feed enzymes has raised the bar of feed quality, which, in turn, has increased the share of global feed enzyme market. The global feed enzymes market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Receive a Sample Report @Key PlayersSome of the key players profiled in the feed enzymes market: BASF SE (Germany), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Associated British Foods plc (U.K), Koninklijke DSM N.V. (the Netherlands), Behn Meyer Holding AG (Germany), Adisseo France SAS (France), Azelis Holding S.A. (Belgium), Novus International, Inc. (U.S.), Rossari Biotech Ltd. (India), and Alltech, Inc. (U.S.)Key Findings:Feed enzymes have a massive opportunity in the animal feed industryApplication of feed enzymes in poultry animals is experiencing a higher growth rateIntended Audience:Feed enzyme manufacturersFeed industryRaw material suppliersInvestment bankersTraders, importers, and exportersACCESS REPORT DETAILS @Regional Analysis:The global feed enzymes market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (RoW). The North American region is dominating the feed enzymes market followed by the Asia Pacific owing to rising population followed by increasing consumption of poultry and meat products in developing regions. Moreover, China is the major exporter of poultry and meat, which, in turn, drives the market of feed enzymes in the Asia Pacific region.Key players in the feed enzymes market are largely located in North America and Europe. Key players following strategies of merger and acquisition with small players to expand their business in other regions due to increasing demand for feed enzymes in the animal feed industry.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Excipients Market Report 2018: Segmentation by Type (Organic Excipients, Inorganic Excipients, Others) by Application (Oral Formulations, Topical Formulations, Parenteral Formulations, Others) Excipients Market http://marketreportscompany.com/contact.php http://marketreportscompany.com/contact.php http://marketreportscompany.com/contact.php Global Excipients market research report provides company profile for Evonik, Lubrizol, Associated British Foods, Croda International, Archer Daniels Midland, Ashland, BASF, DOW, Roquette, FMC and Others.This market study includes data about consumer perspective, comprehensive analysis, statistics, market share, company performances (Stocks), historical analysis 2012 to 2017, market forecast 2018 to 2025 in terms of volume, revenue, YOY growth rate, and CAGR for the year 2018 to 2025, etc. The report also provides detailed segmentation on the basis of product type, application, end user and regional segmentation. The regional segment is further bifurcated on country level.Excipients are inert substances that are generally used to manufacture different forms of drugs and are present in the finished products. Excipients help in providing long-term stability and make solid formulations bulkier. They also improve the functionality of drugs and make them safer.Request for Free sample copy of ready Report @Report Coverage:Top Manufactures/vendors of Excipients market:AshlandBASFDOWRoquetteFMCEvonikLubrizolAssociated British FoodsCroda InternationalArcher Daniels MidlandOthers (Note: We can profile additional players without any additional charges)Excipients Type:Organic ExcipientsInorganic ExcipientsOthersApplication of Excipients:Oral FormulationsTopical FormulationsParenteral FormulationsOthersRegions covered in Excipients Market Research Report:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Others)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Others)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Others)(Note: We can provide country or region specific report on request; please contact us for your specific requirement)The Global Excipients Market analysis report covers detailed value chain analysis of Global Excipients Market. The value chain analysis helps to analyze major upstream raw materials, major equipments, manufacturing process, downstream customer analysis and major distributor analysis.The report also covers in-depth description, competitive scenario, wide product portfolio of prime players active in this market and business strategies adopted by competitors along with their SWOT analysis. The report also provides Porter analysis, PESTEL analysis and market attractiveness which helps to better understand the market scenario on macro and micro level. Side by side, it also explicitly provides information about mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and all the other important activities occurred in the market during current and past few years. The Global Excipients Market report explores manufacturers competitive scenario and provides market share for all major players of this market based on production capacity, sales, revenue, geographical presence and other major factors. The report also covers import/export data across all major regions covered in this report. Moreover, we can exclusively provide information about import/export data across any particular country as per requirement.How helpful this report will be? Excipients Market share (regional, product, application, end-user) both in terms of volume and revenue along with CAGR from 2018 to 2025 Key parameters which are driving this market and restraining its growth What all challenges manufacturers will face as well as new opportunities and threats faced by themEnquire before Buying @......Table of Content:1 Market Overview1.1 Excipients Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Organic Excipients1.2.2 Inorganic Excipients1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Oral Formulations1.3.2 Topical Formulations1.3.3 Parenteral Formulations1.3.4 Other Formulations........................Continue (What does Report Include?Historic Data: What was the Excipients Market data (Size, competition, company share, YoY growth rate, etc.) from 2013 to 2018.Current Market Status: A comprehensive analysis of current market Size, trends, growth drivers, industry pitfalls, challenges and opportunities for players.Market Forecast: Report will comment and provide details about market growth and forecast till year 2025.Customization: We can provide following things 1) On request more company profiles (competitors) 2) Data about particular country or region 3) We will incorporate the same with no additional cost (Post conducting feasibility).Contact UsJason Smith,Sales Manager, Global Business Development,Website: marketreportscompany.comEmail: jasonsmith@marketreportscompany.comContact us: +1-888-220-3424Address: 20 N State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60602 United States Global Industrial Controls and Factory Automation Market To Surpass USD 109.0 Billion https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request_sample/67854 https://www.reportsmonitor.com/check_discount/67854 The Global Industrial Controls and Factory Automation Market were estimated as USD 109.0 Billion in 2014 and is projected to witness a stable growth over the forecast period. Growing demand of automation for streamlining the processes through real time gathering and control in Chemical, Oil & gas, Water treatment, Automotive industries is projected to fuel the market growth.To comprehend the whole report through Table of Content, Figures, and Tables, ask for the Sample report of Industrial Controls and Factory Automation market:Extensive application of technology in manufacturing processes, need for supply chain and mass production for catering the growing population are few factors positively influencing the industry growth. Furthermore, growing government initiatives for adoption of industrial automation in various industries is anticipated to fuel the industry growth.Automation in the industry aids in monitoring the production, ensuring fast production, product quality, reducing waste, while minimizing the costs, standardizing the manufacturing processes. This also provides reliable and flexible solutions in manufacturing plants. The emerging application which includes electronic power distribution systems, heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC), and human machine interface (HMI) is projected to further spur the market growth over the forecast period.Based on the product, the automation market is categorized into Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), Distributed Control System (DCS), Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), Drives, Relays and Sensors. The end users include Process industries and Discrete industries..The MES is anticipated to acquire the major share in the industry over the forecast period due to its association with tasks of production management in a comprehensive software system. The process industry is also projected to major share in end-user segment owing to the rising cost pressure on manufacturers for optimizing the production process.Although, lack of expertise for handling the control and factory automation and initial high capital investments for installation may impede the industry growth. However, introduction of cost-effective models for adopting industrial control and intuitive and user friendly model of automation system is anticipated to create growth opportunities.Europe and North America regions are estimated to attain the foremost share of the industry. Increasing focus towards the renewable energy in the European countries is projected to build the demand for the automation solutions over the forecast period. Furthermore, increasing demand for the building the smart factories in manufacturing based countries such as China and Germany has created an emerging environment for automating their existing manufacturing facilities..Go For Interesting Discount Here:Asia Pacific region is also anticipated to emerge as a promising market owing to the increased industrialization and rising awareness for automation control with supportive government policies in various countries which include China, Japan, and India.Key players in the industry include ABB Ltd, Emerson Electric, General Electric Co., Honeywell International, Schneider Electric, Ametek Inc., and Siemens Ag. Other players include Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Bosch Automation, Mitsubishi Corporation, National Instrument Corporation, Omron Corporation and Rockwell Automation.The developers and vendors of ERP solutions are increasingly offering cloud-based solutions as automation solution for reduce the implementation cost and on-demand customization for meeting the specific requirements of various businesses.Reports Monitor (reportsmonitor.com) is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. Our aim is to change the dynamics of the Market Research industry by providing quality intelligence backed by data. Your requirement for market forecasting is fulfilled by our exclusive quantitative and analytics driven intelligence. We have a vast collection of reports, covering maximum industries worldwide. Our process is meticulously planned and executed in order to use maximum resources and explore the market for getting genuine insights. The prime focus is to get reliable data, Decision makers can now rely on our distinct data gathering methods to get factual market forecasting and detailed analysis.Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.com Global Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market 2018 Key Players: Accenture PLC, CGI Group, Inc., Connecture Inc., Cognosante, LLC, Deloitte, Hcentive, Inc. Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3328164-global-health-insurance-exchange-hix-market-size-study https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3328164-global-health-insurance-exchange-hix-market-size-study Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market:WiseGuyReports.com adds Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting 2025 reports tits database.Executive SummaryGlobal Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market valued approximately USD XXX billion in 2016 is forecasted to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than XX% over the forecast period 2018-2025. The major factors speculated to augment the markets are increasing federal grants and emergence of private cloud-based architecture. The health insurance exchange are organizations through which people can purchase or sell health insurance online.The regional analysis of Global Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading region across the world in terms of market share. Moreover, North America region is also expected to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2018-2025.The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:By Type:PrivatePublicBy Component:HardwareSoftwareServicesBy Phase:ImplementationQAOperationsBy End-Use:Government AgenciesTPAsHealth PlansFurthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2015, 2016Base year 2017Forecast period 2018 to 2025Request Sample Report @The industry is seeming to be fairly competitive. Some of the leading market players include Accenture PLC, CGI Group, Inc., Connecture Inc., Cognosante, LLC, Deloitte, Hcentive, Inc., Infosys, Maximus, Oracle Corporation, Xerox Corporation, and so on. The fierce competitiveness has made these players spend in product developments to improve the customers requirements.Target Audience of the Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market Study:Key Consulting Companies & AdvisorsLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprisesVenture capitalistsValue-Added Resellers (VARs)Third-party knowledge providersInvestment bankersInvestorsTable of ContentsChapter 1. Global Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market Definition & Scope1.1. Research Objective1.2. Market Definition1.3. Scope of The Study1.4. Years Considered for The Study1.5. Currency Conversion Rates1.6. Report LimitationChapter 2. Research Methodology2.1. Research Process2.1.1. Data Mining2.1.2. Analysis2.1.3. Market Estimation2.1.4. Validation2.1.5. Publishing2.2. Research AssumptionChapter 3. Executive Summary3.1. Global & Segmental Market Estimates & Forecasts, 2015-2025 (USD Billion)3.2. Key TrendsChapter 4. Global Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market Dynamics4.1. Growth Prospects4.1.1. Drivers4.1.2. Restraints4.1.3. Opportunities4.2. Industry Analysis4.2.1. Porters 5 Force Model4.2.2. PEST Analysis4.2.3. Value Chain Analysis4.3. Analyst Recommendation & ConclusionChapter 5. Global Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market by TypeChapter 6. Global Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market by ComponentChapter 7. Global Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market by PhaseChapter 8. Global Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market by End-UseChapter 9. Global Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) Market, Regional AnalysisChapter 10. Competitive Intelligence10.1. Company Market Share (Subject to Data Availability)10.2. Top Market Strategies10.3. Company Profiles10.3.1. Accenture PLC10.3.1.1. Overview10.3.1.2. Financial (Subject to Data Availability)10.3.1.3. Product Summary10.3.1.4. Recent Developments10.3.2. CGI Group, Inc.10.3.3. Connecture Inc.10.3.4. Cognosante, LLC10.3.5. Deloitte,10.3.6. Hcentive, Inc.10.3.7. Infosys10.3.8. Maximus10.3.9. Oracle Corporation10.3.10. Xerox CorporationContinuousFor further information on this report, visit Contact Us:Norah Trentsales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US); +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042 Nail Care Market to Witness a Pronounce Growth During 2017 to 2022 https://www.xploremr.com/report/1837/nail-care-market https://www.xploremr.com/connectus/sample/1837 https://www.xploremr.com/cart/reports/buynow/1837 https://www.xploremr.com/ Global Nail Care Market: OverviewThe importance of nail care is rising, with increasing interest of consumers in nail treatment. Various brands are also developing new products for nail care. New treatment concepts are also being developed by nail brands. For instance, overnight nail care products like night creams. Nail color users are also becoming aware of chemicals, hence, manufacturers are using natural ingredients such as turmeric, milk, carrots, almonds, etc., in their products.Report overview @The trend of anti-pollution cosmetic and personal care products is also rising. Anti-ageing products are also gaining popularity in the nail care products. Manufacturers are focusing on offering hydrating, smoothing, and strengthening products for nails.Along with the new type of nail polish, manufacturers are also focusing on developing new nail polish removals that dont damage nails. There has been an increasing focus on the use of oil, soy-based formula and water-based formula as an ingredient in nail polish removers. The use of gel and long-wear nail polish is also rising, hence, the use of organic ingredients is also increasing to ensure the protection of nails.Global Nail Care Market: Scope of StudyThe report includes quantitative and qualitative analysis of the global nail care market. The report consists of various factors defining the market dynamics such as trends, drivers, opportunities, and restraints. The report also includes Porters five force analysis SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis of the global nail care market.The report also offers in-depth analysis and market opportunity analysis of the key developments in the industry, products, sales channels, etc. Key industry developments provide details on the factors that are likely to have an impact on market dynamics.These factors consist of the events that took place in the past and various events that are likely to take place in the future. The report also offers detail on various regulations affecting the global nail care market. An estimated market size on the basis of CAGR and US$ Mn has also been provided in the report.Global Nail Care Market: Market SegmentationThe global nail care market is segmented on the basis of product, sales channel, and price. On the basis of product type, the market is segmented into nail polish, nail wraps/other extensions, nail art, nail polish remover, manicure products, pedicure products, and other product types.On the basis of sales channel, the market is segmented into pharmacies, hypermarket, supermarket, e-commerce, health & beauty retailer, and other sales channels. In terms of the price, the market is segmented into economic and premium.Request to sample report @Region-wise the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The report provides forecast and market size including both volume and value for each region and other segments. The CAGR for the forecast period 2017-2022 has also been provided for each segment.Global Nail Care Market: Competitive LandscapeThe report provides detailed profile of some of the leading market players in the global nail care market such as LOreal SA, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Procter & Gamble Co., Shiseido Company, Limited, Avon Products, Inc., Revlon, Inc., Chanel, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.E., Hindustan Unilever Ltd., and Colorbar Cosmetics Private Limited.Leading market players are following various strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, developing and offering new products, using various pricing strategies. The market players are also using different mediums to promote their products and attract customers.Buy Now Full Report @About UsXploreMR is one of the worlds leading resellers of high-quality market research reports. We feature in-depth reports from some of the worlds most reputed market research companies and international organizations. We serve across a broad spectrum from Fortune 500 to small and medium businesses. Our clients trust us for our unwavering focus onquality and affordability. We believe high price should not be a bottleneck for organizations looking to gain access to quality information.Contact UsXploreMR111 North Market Street, Suite 300San Jose, CA 95113, United StatesTel: +1-669-284-0108Email: sales@xploremr.comWebsite: Bio fertilizers Market | Industry Key Players - PotashCorp Agri Life, Bodisen Biotech, Inc. , Italpollina SpA , Protan AG , Novozymes A/S , Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/341 https://www.mrrse.com/biofertilizers-market https://www.mrrse.com/biofertilizers-market Biofertilizers are the substances which make use of the living micro-organisms and are applied to seed, plant surfaces, or soil. They promote the growth of the plants by supplying adequate amount of nutrients and improve the quality and yield of the crops. The three major biofertilizers existing in the market are nitrogen fixing bio-fertilizer, phosphate mobilizing bio-fertilizer and potassium mobilizing bio-fertilizer. Biofertilizers add nutrients through the natural processes of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, solubilizing phosphorous, and stimulating plant growth through the synthesis of growth promoting substances. The benefits of Biofertilizers include longer shelf life, less contamination, better survival on seeds and soil, high commercial revenues and export potential. Biofertilizers help to increase the nutrient absorbing surface area beyond the depletion zone of the root. Different kinds of soil micro-organisms belonging to several taxa of the bacteria, fungi, and protozoa kingdoms, colonizing the rhizosphere or the plant tissues and promoting plant growth, can be utilized for the production of Biofertilizers.Get Sample Report of Bio fertilizers Market for More Industry and Technical Insights @Global bio-fertilizer market can be segmented on the basis of product and applications. The product segment of bio-fertilizer market includes nitrogen fixing bio-fertilizer, phosphate mobilizing bio-fertilizer and potassium mobilizing bio-fertilizer. In terms of application, global biofertilizer market can be categorized into cereals and grains, fruits and vegetables, oil seeds and pulses and others segment including nursery turfs and ornamental plants.The report estimates and forecasts the Bio Fertilizers market on the global, regional and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2017 and 2025 based on volume (Tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2016 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage. The study includes drivers and restraints for the Biofertilizers market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the Bio Fertilizers market on the global, regional and country level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes substitute analysis of Biofertilizers and global average price trend analysis.The report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the Biofertilizers market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users and regions have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for Biofertilizers between 2017 and 2025.The study provides a comprehensive view of the Biofertilizers market by dividing it into, product, application, and geography segments. The product segment of the biofertilizers market is classified as nitrogen fixing, phosphate mobilizing and potassium mobilizing fertilizers The Biofertilizers market, by application has been categorized into oil seeds & pulses, cereals & grains, fruits & vegetables and others. The regional analysis of global biofertilizer market include includes the current and forecast consumption of biofertilizers in North America (U.S, Canada), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America) , Europe (Germany, France, Russia, Spain, CIS, Greece, Ukraine, Italy, Serbia, and Rest of Europe),Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN (Excluding Indonesia and Vietnam), Japan, Australia, Rest of Asia Pacific), and Middle East & Africa (Iran, Israel, Nigeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Rest of Middle East & Africa).Favorable regulatory scenario in highly developed regions such as North America and Europe are driving the market of global biofertilizers.The report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include PotashCorp Agri Life, Bodisen Biotech, Inc. , Italpollina SpA , Protan AG , Novozymes A/S , Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. , T. Stanes & Company Limited , Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited Symborg S.L, & Rizobacters Argentina S.A. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to Food & Agricultural Organization(FAO), International Fertilizer Association (IFA), National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF) and International Fertilizer Society (IFS). Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.Outlook Complete Research Report on Bio fertilizers Market with Industry Key Players and List of Tables and Key Features @In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.The global biofertilizers market has been segmented as follows:Biofertilizers Market Product AnalysisNitrogen FixingPhosphate MobilizingPotassium MobilizingBiofertilizers Market Application AnalysisCereals & GrainsOil seeds & PulsesFruits & VegetablesOthersBiofertilizers Market Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoArgentinaRest of Latin AmericaEuropeGermanyFranceRussiaSpainCISGreeceUkraineItalySerbiaRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaASEAN (Ex Indonesia & Vietnam)IndonesiaVietnamJapanAustraliaRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaSouth AfricaIranIsraelNigeriaMoroccoSaudi ArabiaEgyptRest of Middle East & AfricaElse Place an Enquiry to Our Industry Expert @About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Biotechnology Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.com Global Construction Chemicals Market 2018 Key Players:BASF SE, SIKA AG, W.R. Grace & Company, The DOW Chemical Company, RPM International Inc., Arkema S.A., Pidilite Industries. Construction Chemicals Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3328152-global-construction-chemicals-market-size-study-by-product https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3328152-global-construction-chemicals-market-size-study-by-product Construction Chemicals Market:WiseGuyReports.com adds Construction Chemicals Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting 2025 reports tits database.Executive SummaryGlobal Construction Chemicals Market to reach USD 73.64 billion by 2025.Global Construction Chemicals Market valued approximately USD 42.82 billion in 2016 is forecasted to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 6.21% over the forecast period 2018-2025. The major factors contemplated to augment the markets are positive environmental impact & rising governmental initiatives, booming construction industry in BRICS nations, and development of new products & services. Construction chemicals are crucial for sustainable infrastructure and energy conservation in construction industry.The regional analysis of Global Construction Chemicals Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. Asia Pacific is the leading region across the world in terms of market share. Moreover, owing to the countries such as China, Japan, and India, Asia Pacific region is also expected to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2018-2025.The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:By Product:Chemical AdmixturesMineral AdmixturesAdhesivesSealantsProtective CoatingsFurthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2015, 2016Base year 2017Forecast period 2018 to 2025The industry is seeming to be fairly competitive. Some of the leading market players include BASF SE, SIKA AG, W.R. Grace & Company, The DOW Chemical Company, RPM International Inc., Arkema S.A., Pidilite Industries, Ashland Inc., Fosroc International Ltd., Mapei S.P.A., and so on. The fierce competitiveness has made these players spend in product developments to improve the customers requirements.Target Audience of the Construction Chemicals Market Study:Key Consulting Companies & AdvisorsLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprisesVenture capitalistsValue-Added Resellers (VARs)Third-party knowledge providersInvestment bankersInvestorsRequest Sample Report @Table of ContentsChapter 1. Global Construction Chemicals Market Definition & Scope1.1. Research Objective1.2. Market Definition1.3. Scope of The Study1.4. Years Considered for The Study1.5. Currency Conversion Rates1.6. Report LimitationChapter 2. Research Methodology2.1. Research Process2.1.1. Data Mining2.1.2. Analysis2.1.3. Market Estimation2.1.4. Validation2.1.5. Publishing2.2. Research AssumptionChapter 3. Executive Summary3.1. Global & Segmental Market Estimates & Forecasts, 2015-2025 (USD Billion)3.2. Key TrendsChapter 4. Global Construction Chemicals Market Dynamics4.1. Growth Prospects4.1.1. Drivers4.1.2. Restraints4.1.3. Opportunities4.2. Industry Analysis4.2.1. Porters 5 Force Model4.2.2. PEST Analysis4.2.3. Value Chain Analysis4.3. Analyst Recommendation & ConclusionChapter 5. Global Construction Chemicals Market by ProductsChapter 6. Global Construction Chemicals Market, Regional AnalysisChapter 7. Competitive Intelligence7.1. Company Market Share (Subject to Data Availability)7.2. Top Market Strategies7.3. Company Profiles7.3.1. BASF SE7.3.1.1. Overview7.3.1.2. Financial (Subject to Data Availability)7.3.1.3. Product Summary7.3.1.4. Recent Developments7.3.2. SIKA AG7.3.3. W.R. Grace & Company7.3.4. The DOW Chemical Company7.3.5. RPM International Inc.7.3.6. Arkema S.A.7.3.7. Pidilite Industries7.3.8. Ashland Inc.7.3.9. Fosroc International Ltd.7.3.10. Mapei S.P.A.ContinuousFor further information on this report, visit About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042 Specialty Cables Market 2018 Latest Trends and Industry Scope with Top Manufacturers- Prysmian Group, Nexans, Sumitomo Electric, Furukawa, General Cable, Southwire, Leoni, LS Cable & Systems, Fujikura Specialty Cables https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/request-sample/1046207 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/check-discount/1046207 The report gives the clear picture of current Specialty Cables Market scenario and the predicted future of the industry. The report focuses on the basis of market drivers, restraints, growth, trends and forecast for the period of 2018-2025. In addition, the report also maps the market performance by value chain analysis which will help in better product differentiation along with the analysis of each segment in terms of opportunity, market attractiveness index and growth rate.The report Specialty Cables Market by Key players highlights the essential market dynamics of Specialty Cables Market sector. The efficiency of this segment has been studied deeply along with the noteworthy challenges and forthcoming growth opportunities and prospective. The report focuses in decision making abilities and supports to make effective counter strategies in order to achieve competitive advantage. Current market scenario of the segment and forecasts of the market situation have also been bounded in this market report.QY Research groups can be relied upon for the most updated and in depth information of the title Global Specialty Cables Market this is estimated by experts to develop at the most elevated CAGR amid the estimate time frame 2018-2025.Get your Sample Report Copy @The major manufacturers covered in this report Prysmian Group Nexans Sumitomo Electric Furukawa General Cable Southwire Leoni LS Cable & Systems Fujikura Far East Cable Jiangnan Cable Baosheng Group Hitachi Encore Wire NKT Hengtong Group Xignux Finolex KEI IndustriesGeographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering North America Europe China Japan India Southeast Asia Other regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Low Voltage Specialty Cable Medium Voltage Specialty Cable High Voltage Specialty CableBy Application, the market can be split into Overland Underground Submarine OtherThe study objectives of this report are: To analyze and study the global Specialty Cables capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025); Focuses on the key Specialty Cables manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future. Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis. To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region. To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth. To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments. To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Get the best Discount in the market here @This market is segmented by Types and Applications. It provides a profound study of the leading players in the market and the prevailing regions in the business, thereby benefiting new entries in the business by proving the most updated insights of the market.At QY Research Groups we render the most authentic and elaborate information for the utmost benefit of our clients.About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact Us:Call: +1-888-236-2744Email: sales@qyresearchgroups.comRoom B1510, Shiji Kemao Building,No.66 Zhongguancun East Road,Haidian District, Beijing,100190, China. Residential Water Treatment Devices Market to Develop Rapidly by 2027 https://www.xploremr.com/report/1723/residential-water-treatment-devices-market https://www.xploremr.com/connectus/sample/1723 https://www.xploremr.com/cart/reports/buynow/1723 https://www.xploremr.com/ Health awareness and demand for purer water higher in North AmericaThe population in North America is extremely concerned about their health and demand safe drinking water, even when compared to other developed economies such as Europe and Japan. North American governments supply relatively clean drinking water by way of public water utilities. Nonetheless, people on this continent are unsure of the quality of water, and they invest in machines sold in the residential water treatment equipment market.Report overview @The U.S. uses more than 40 billion gallons of water daily and 80% of their drinking water comes from lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. Americans receive drinking water from approx. 50,000 community water systems and drinking water makes its way across this vast continental nation through a million mile of pipes. Almost 6 billion gallons of treated water are wasted and sometimes polluted by different microbes and algae. Therefore, the scope of the North America residential water treatment equipment market is huge indeed.Non-microbiological contaminants pollute drinking water in Eastern EuropeIn a few areas of Eastern Europe, chemical contaminants have played havoc with the quality of drinking water. Non-microbiological contaminants such as arsenic, lead, nitrogen, and fluoride affect the drinking water in some Eastern European countries. The population is quite worried about the health implications of dissolved lead in water and this is primarily attributed to plumbing pipes that are replaced infrequently.Another factor is arsenic that is also called the human carcinogen. High arsenic concentrations are naturally found in Romania and southeast Hungary where chemical precipitation technology is now deployed to remove arsenic from the water.However, it is difficult to achieve 100% purification which is why people opt for residential water treatment equipment. Russia dominates the Eastern Europe residential water treatment equipment market with a share of 50% in 2017 and is poised to gain a massive 193 BPS by the end of the forecast period.Request to sample report @Excessive pesticide use leads to poor water quality in Latin AmericaIncreasing industrialization and rampant pesticide use has had a devastating impact on ground water reserves in Latin America. Major water bodies that supply drinking water to millions of people in the region have been contaminated with organic pollutants and heavy metals.A World Bank report stated that 70% of the water used in South America returns to the source without any treatment and 80% of the urban population live close to polluted water bodies. Needless to say, this is a major health concern. A study in December 2013 showed that more than 90% of Uruguays rivers were contaminated.The National Committee of Water estimates that 70% of Mexicos rivers are polluted and no tangible steps have been taken to prevent or reduce further contamination. Such sobering statistics make it an urgent priority to raise awareness of residential water treatment equipment devices in the region.Governments unable to cope with population explosion in APEJIn 2013, the United Nations assessed that the APEJ region accounted for roughly 60% of the global population. A UNICEF report said that the population growth rate is far outstripping the number of people gaining access to safe drinking water in this region. The 2011 Census of India figures show that 14% of households lack access to safe drinking water.Hence, it is essential to raise awareness of residential water treatment devices. The introduction of non-electric low cost variants should play a major role in popularizing residential water treatment devices.These purifiers cost less than US$ 60 making them the perfect option for price-sensitive buyers. More than a billion people in APEJ do not have access to electricity, making these products vital in the residential water treatment equipment market.Buy Now Full Report @About UsXploreMR is one of the worlds leading resellers of high-quality market research reports. We feature in-depth reports from some of the worlds most reputed market research companies and international organizations. We serve across a broad spectrum from Fortune 500 to small and medium businesses. Our clients trust us for our unwavering focus onquality and affordability. We believe high price should not be a bottleneck for organizations looking to gain access to quality information.Contact UsXploreMR111 North Market Street, Suite 300San Jose, CA 95113, United StatesTel: +1-669-284-0108Email: sales@xploremr.comWebsite: FNIRS Brain Imaging System Market by Growth and Top Key Players are (Hitachi, NIRx, ISS, Biopac, Techen, Artinis, Gowerlabs, etc) | 2018-2025 Forecast Report FNIRS Brain Imaging System Market https://www.orianresearch.com/request-sample/597603 https://www.orianresearch.com/enquiry-before-buying/597603 https://www.orianresearch.com/checkout/597603 www.orianresearch.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/13281002/ Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a device designed to detect changes in the concentration of oxygenated (oxyHb) and deoxygenated (deoxyHb) haemoglobin molecules in the blood, a method commonly used to assess cerebral activity. fNIRS is a type of functional neuroimaging technology that offers a relatively non-invasive, safe, portable, and low-cost method of indirect and direct monitoring of brain activity.Get Sample copy @ Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the fNIRS Brain Imaging System in global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.The industry is concentration, the key brand include Hitachi, Shimadzu Corporation, NIRx, ISS, Biopac, Techen, Artinis, Gowerlabs, Spectratech. Hitachi and Shimadzu Corporation are the leaders in this market.An FNIR System provides researchers with real-time monitoring of tissue oxygenation in the brain as subjects take tests, perform tasks, view advertisements, experience ergonomic layouts, or receive stimulation. It allows researchers to quantitatively assess brain functions such as attention, memory, planning, and problem solving while individuals perform cognitive tasks. Monitor cognitive state of the subject in natural environments.Complete report on FNIRS Brain Imaging System market report spread across 128 pages, profiling 9 companies and supported with tables and figures. Inquire more @Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins. The report focuses on global major leading FNIRS Brain Imaging System Industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The FNIRS Brain Imaging System industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.The worldwide market for fNIRS Brain Imaging System is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly xx% over the next five years, will reach xx million US$ in 2023, from xx million US$ in 2017, according to a new GIR (Global Info Research) study.Analysis of FNIRS Brain Imaging System Industry Key Manufacturers: Hitachi Shimadzu Corporation NIRx ISS Biopac Techen Artinis Gowerlabs Spectratech.Purchase this report @Market Segment by Type, covers Desk Type Portable Type.Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into University Hospital Research Institution Others.Table of Contents1 Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles3 Global FNIRS Brain Imaging System Sales, Revenue, Market Share and Competition by Manufacturer (2016-2017)4 Global FNIRS Brain Imaging System Market Analysis by Regions5 North America FNIRS Brain Imaging System by Countries6 Europe FNIRS Brain Imaging System by Countries7 Asia-Pacific FNIRS Brain Imaging System by Countries8 South America FNIRS Brain Imaging System by Countries9 Middle East and Africa FNIRS Brain Imaging System by Countries10 Global FNIRS Brain Imaging System Market Segment by Type11 Global FNIRS Brain Imaging System Market Segment by Application12 FNIRS Brain Imaging System Market Forecast (2018-2023)13 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers14 Research Findings and Conclusion15 Appendix.About UsOrian Research is one of the most comprehensive collections of market intelligence reports on the World Wide Web. Our reports repository boasts of over 500000+ industry and country research reports from over 100 top publishers. We continuously update our repository so as to provide our clients easy access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, and products. We also specialize in custom research in situations where our syndicate research offerings do not meet the specific requirements of our esteemed clients.Contact Us:Ruwin MendezVice President Global Sales & Partner RelationsOrian Research ConsultantsUS: +1 (832) 380-8827 | UK: +44 0161-818-8027Email: info@orianresearch.comWebsite:Follow Us on LinkedIn: Global Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate s Market Analysis, Growth, Trends & Forecast 2018-2021 Research Reports Inc https://www.researchreportsinc.com/sample-request?id=52699 https://researchreportsinc.com/enquiry?id=52699 https://researchreportsinc.com/checkout/?add-to-cart=52699&&attribute_pa_choose-license=single-user&&quantity=1 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Market Report by Material, Application, and Geography Global Forecast to 2021 is a professional and in-depth research report on the worlds major regional market conditions, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and the main countries (United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and China).Get Free Sample Report atThe report firstly introduced the Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the worlds main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.The report includes six parts, dealing with:1.) basic information;2.) the Asia Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Market;3.) the North American Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Market;4.) the European Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Market;5.) market entry and investment feasibility;6.) the report conclusion.Ask for Customized Report atTable of ContentsPart I Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Industry OverviewChapter One Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Industry Overview1.1 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Definition1.2 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Classification Analysis1.2.1 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Main Classification Analysis1.2.2 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Main Classification Share Analysis1.3 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Application Analysis1.3.1 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Main Application Analysis1.3.2 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Main Application Share Analysis1.4 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Industry Chain Structure Analysis1.5 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Industry Development Overview1.5.1 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Product History Development Overview1.5.1 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Product Market Development Overview1.6 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Global Market Analysis1.6.1 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Global Import Market Analysis1.6.2 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Global Export Market Analysis1.6.3 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Global Main Region Market Analysis1.6.4 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Global Market Analysis1.6.5 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Global Market Development Trend AnalysisChapter Two Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Materials Analysis2.1.1 Upstream Raw Materials Price Analysis2.1.2 Upstream Raw Materials Market Analysis2.1.3 Upstream Raw Materials Market Trend2.2 Down Stream Market Analysis2.1.1 Down Stream Market Analysis2.2.2 Down Stream Demand Analysis2.2.3 Down Stream Market Trend AnalysisBuy Now Report atPart II Asia Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Industry (The Report Company Including the Below Listed But Not All)Chapter Three Asia Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Market Analysis3.1 Asia Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Product Development History3.2 Asia Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Competitive Landscape Analysis3.3 Asia Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Market Development TrendChapter Four 2012-2017 Asia Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast4.1 2012-2017 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Capacity Production Overview4.2 2012-2017 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Production Market Share Analysis4.3 2012-2017 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Demand Overview4.4 2012-2017 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Supply Demand and Shortage4.5 2012-2017 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Import Export Consumption4.6 2012-2017 Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Cost Price Production Value Gross Margin.Research Reports Inc. is one of the leading destinations for market research reports across all industries, companies, and technologies. Our repository features an exhaustive list of market research reports from thousands of publishers worldwide.Contact Us:DavidSales Manager,US / Canada Toll Free: +18554192424UK: +4403308087577Email: sales@researchreportsinc.com Czech Republic: Country Intelligence Report 2018 by O2 Czech Republic, Vodafone Czech Republic, T-Mobile Czech Republic, U:fon, Tesco Mobile, ViaGIA Orbis Research http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2284713 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/2284713 http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/czech-republic-country-intelligence-report "Czech Republic: Country Intelligence Report", a new Country Intelligence Report by GlobalData, provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Czech Republic today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2023. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile and pay-TV segments, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.Telecom service revenue growth in Czech Republic over 2018-2023 will be driven by mobile data, fixed broadband and pay-TV segments. Mobile voice will be the largest revenue-contributing segment in 2018. However, the mobile data segment will take the lead from 2022 onward, to account for 32.5% of total revenue by 2023, mainly driven by rising data-driven subscriptions and growing adoption of 4G services at higher ARPUs. Going forward, mobile operators will focus on offering data-centric services and LTE network expansions, and prepare for 5G network rollout. Broadband segment will witness increased investments in fiber network expansions, while the fixed wireless segment will witness a steady growth over the same period led by MNOs' focus on offering fixed broadband services over high-capacity LTE networks.Get Sample Copy of this Report@Key Players:O2 Czech RepublicVodafone Czech RepublicT-Mobile Czech RepublicU:fonTesco MobileViaGIAUPC Czech RepublicCeske RadiokomunikaceSkylinkDigi TVScope:- Overall telecom and pay-TV services revenue in Czech Republic will grow at a CAGR of 1.7% (3.0% in $) during 2018-2023.- Mobile services revenue will account for 62.7% of total telecom revenue in 2023, driven by increasing adoption of 4G services and projected growth in 5G subscriptions.- 4G will be the most adopted mobile technology by 2023, driven by LTE coverage expansions from operators. We expect 5G to be commercially available in 2021.- The three major mobile operators, T-Mobile Czech Republic, O2 Czech Republic and Vodafone Czech Republic, accounted for 86.5% of overall mobile subscriptions in 2018.Make an Inquiry before Buying@The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following -- Demographic and macroeconomic context in Czech Republic.- The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, tariff regulation and more.- Telecom and pay-TV services market outlook: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, mobile data and pay-TV markets.- The competitive landscape: an examination of the positioning of leading players in the telecom and pay-TV services market as well as subscription market shares across segments.- Company snapshots: analysis of the financial position of leading service providers in the telecommunications and pay-TV markets.- Underlying assumptions behind our published base-case forecasts, as well as potential market developments that would alter, either positively or negatively, our base-case outlook.Reasons to buy:- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of Czech Republics telecommunications markets, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.- Accompanying GlobalDatas Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in Czech Republics mobile communications, fixed telephony, broadband markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares.- With more than 20 charts and tables, the report is designed for an executive-level audience, boasting presentation quality.- The report provides an easily digestible market assessment for decision-makers built around in-depth information gathered from local market players, which enables executives to quickly get up to speed with the current and emerging trends in Czech Republics telecommunications markets.- The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive, actionable detail will help operators, equipment vendors and other telecom industry players succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in Czech Republic.Get More Information about the Report@About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Info:Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Email id: sales@orbisresearch.com Energy Recovery Ventilator Market Opportunities Exhibited by Emerging Nations to Boost Growth https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Request-Sample/100080 https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Reports/Energy-Recovery-Ventilator-Market The research report of Global Energy Recovery Ventilator Market examines the current and futuristic development estimate of the market.The driving key factors and restraint are given which are capable for its progress and slowdown of the market too. The research study is an accumulation of primary and secondary research, which enables the players to have a robust understanding of the overall market.In this report, the global Energy Recovery Ventilator market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Energy Recovery Ventilator in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaRequest For Free Sample Of The Report @Global Energy Recovery Ventilator market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingMITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONDAIKIN INDUSTRIESPanasonicLG ELECTRONICSJOHNSON CONTROLSFUJITSU GENERALCARRIER CORPORATIONNORTEK AIR SOLUTIONSMUNTERSGREENHECK FAN CORPORATIONHEATEX ABOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPlate And Frame Type Heat ExchangerHeat Pipe Heat ExchangerRotary Type Heat ExchangerOtherOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingCommercialResidentialOtherIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Obtain Report Details @About Us-Future Generic Reports is a market research and consulting organization, offering premium collection of market research reports, custom research and consulting services to corporations, no-profit organizations and government institutions across the globe.The wide range of information is presented by a team of well-trained researchers of specific sectors through exhaustive research. We deliver premier market research services that cover all industry verticals, including chemicals and material, automotive, healthcare, electronics & semiconductor, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and technology and media.We believe in building an eternal bond with our clients through offering them inclusive research study meeting their specific requirements. Our services are tailored specifically to our clients by proposing them the potential outcome, based on our in-depth analysis and insights for exploring the growth strategies through providing the best possible decision for quality production.Contact Us-Future Genic Reports109 ,Straford Street,LeedsWest Yorkshrie LS11 6JGUnited KingdomToll Free +1- 844-445-2861Email-sales@futuregenicreports.com Digital Map Market Report 2018 Top Key Players- ESRI,Google , Tomtom , Mapbox , Digitalglobe , Digital Map Products https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/request-sample/1047311 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/check-discount/1047311 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/send-an-enquiry/1047311 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com The report Global Digital Map by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application highlights key dynamics of Digital Map Market. The potentiality of this sector has been examined along with the significant challenges and growth opportunities. The present market scenario and future predictions of the sector has also been studied in-depth in this report. The report also provides the key market players that are assessed on numerous parameters such as manufacturers summary, revenue generation, product portfolio, and sales analysis of Digital Map segment in the forecast period. Also, this report involves major market drivers and restraints of the given market.The risk assessment and disaster management solution segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Digital map solutions support the mapping and tracking of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions, which may have an immediate impact on the human health as well as a secondary impact, causing further death and suffering. Additionally, they assist in tracking environmental emergencies, such as forest fires caused by humans, and technological and industrial accidents usually involving the production, use, or transportation of hazardous materials. Digital map solutions for risk assessment provide flood maps and information, tools to better assess the risks from flooding, and precautionary planning information to help communities take actions to reduce flood risks.In 2017, the global Digital Map market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 17.9% during 2018-2025.The major manufacturers covered in this report: ESRI Google Tomtom Mapbox Digitalglobe Digital Map Products Here Mapmyindia Microsoft Navinfo Nearmap Magellan Apple Mapquest Autonavi Yahoo Inrix Mapmechanics Zenrin Mapsherpa Openstreetmap Living Map Automotive Navigation Data Mapman...To Grab the SAMPLE or PURCHASE the Full Report please click on the Link @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers United States Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaBy Application, the market can be split into: Consulting and advisory services Deployment and integration services Support and maintenance servicesCheck Discount @The study objectives of this report are:To study and forecast the market size of Digital Map in global market. To analyze the global key players, SWOT analysis, value and global market share for top players. To define, describe and forecast the market by type, end use and region. To analyze and compare the market status and forecast between China and major regions, namely, United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Rest of World. To analyze the global key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth. To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments. To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Digital Map are as follows: History Year: 2013-2017 Base Year: 2017 Estimated Year: 2018 Forecast Year 2018 to 2025Make An Enquiry @About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on Global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:Email- sales@qyresearchgroups.comWeb- Global Tungsten Market to Incur Steady Growth During 2016 - 2022 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10013 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10013 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Tungsten, also known as Wolfram, is a greyish-white metal having lustrous appearance with a good corrosion resistance properties. Tungsten is widely used in its alloy form because pure tungsten is expensive and even difficult for machining. Its alloy consists of nickel, iron or copper added in tungsten. Tungsten is also available in powder form known as tungsten powder and tungsten carbide powder and its size ranges from 0.40 microns to 17.50 microns and is used in end mills, circuit board drills and nozzles. Fine tungsten carbide powders are used for inserts and cutting tools, whereas ultra-coarse and medium powders are used for wear and die parts, road construction bids. Global tungsten market is anticipated to grow by a decent single digit CAGR in coming future. The global tungsten market has its consumptions in the sector of steel alloys, mill products, cemented carbide, and chemicals. China is a dominant supplier of tungsten having the maximum market share in the global tungsten market in terms of consumption as well as supply.Growing end use industries such as automotive industries and increase in the demand of wear resistant materials is anticipated to boost the market of cemented carbide and ultimately will drive the global tungsten market. Tungsten has its application in electronic and electrical components such as electron emitters, lead-in wires and electrical contacts and these industries are forecasted to grow, leading to the increase in global tungsten market. The ability of tungsten to withstand arcing and resistant to corrosion makes it suitable to be used in voltage regulators, though demand of these application is minor but it still contributes in the global tungsten market.Request For Report Sample@The global tungsten market can get hampered due to the recent economic slowdown in China, as China has the largest market share in mining of tungsten. Tungsten use is forecasted to decline in the lighting application due to the introduction of fluorescent and LED bulbs that has replaced the incandescent bulbs.On the basis of forms available, global tungsten market can be segmented as follows:-RibbonsSheetsFoilsStripsWireRodTubeOn the basis of end use, global tungsten market can be segmented as follows:-Hard metalsChemicalsMill productsSteelsOthersThe global tungsten market can be divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa. The Asia Pacific region is dominating the global tungsten market, China continues to be the leader in the supply and consumption of tungsten in the global tungsten market because of its vast tungsten reserves and support of the Chinese government to the tungsten product industries. India will represent a modest growth rate in global tungsten market due to its expanding manufacturing sectors. North America will contribute in the growing global tungsten market with the increasing construction spending in the region. Latin America will witness an above average growth in the global tungsten market by its rising durable goods sector. The expanding automobile industry in Europe makes it a valuable market in global tungsten market. The Middle East and Africa is at a nascent stage in tungsten market, but is having a bright future prospects in global tungsten market.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Some of the manufacturers of tungsten and its alloys are, Buffalo Tungsten Inc., Mahavir Metal Corporation., Federal Carbide Company., H Cross Company., T&D Material Manufacturing., Global Tungsten & Powders Corp., Midwest Tungsten Service.ABOUT US:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. Intelligent Power Distribution Unit (PDU) Market Competition between Players to Heat up Further due to Rapid Expansion https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Request-Sample/100431 https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Reports/Intelligent-Power-Distribution-Unit-Market The global Intelligent Power Distribution Unit (PDU) market will reach xxx Million USD in 2017 and CAGR xx% 2011-2017. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Intelligent Power Distribution Unit (PDU) by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.):Single PhaseThree PhaseCompany Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):APCCyber Power SystemsEatonRaritanVertivABBBlack Box CorporationCisco SystemsEnlogicGeistHewlett Packward EnterpriseLeviton ManufacturingRittalThe Siemon CompanyTripp LiteAnord Critical PowerBMC ManufacturingChatsworth ProductsElcom InternationalPDU Expert UKRequest For Free Sample Of The Report @Application Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.):Consumer electronicsAutomotiveMedicalIndustrialOthersRegion Coverage (Regional Output, Demand & Forecast by Countries etc.):North AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East & Africa"Obtain Report Details @About Us-Future Generic Reports is a market research and consulting organization, offering premium collection of market research reports, custom research and consulting services to corporations, no-profit organizations and government institutions across the globe.The wide range of information is presented by a team of well-trained researchers of specific sectors through exhaustive research. We deliver premier market research services that cover all industry verticals, including chemicals and material, automotive, healthcare, electronics & semiconductor, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and technology and media.We believe in building an eternal bond with our clients through offering them inclusive research study meeting their specific requirements. Our services are tailored specifically to our clients by proposing them the potential outcome, based on our in-depth analysis and insights for exploring the growth strategies through providing the best possible decision for quality production.Contact Us-Future Genic Reports109 ,Straford Street,LeedsWest Yorkshrie LS11 6JGUnited KingdomToll Free +1- 844-445-2861Email-sales@futuregenicreports.com Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections Market Opportunity Analysis 2018-2026 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1531 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/1531 Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) are the type of skin and soft tissue infections that affects the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissues. The US FDA defines ABSSSI as lesions with cellulitis/erysipelas, wound infections, and major cutaneous abscesses occurring in a minimum surface area of 75 cm2. Pathogens such as Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the major causes of ABSSSI. This infection is difficult for treatment due to increasing prevalence of drug resistant strains, especially in Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. ABSSSI market is expected to exhibit growth at a trajectory rate, owing to increasing number of patients suffering from these and large number of pipeline products, expected to receive approved in the forecast period.Request Sample Copy of this Business Report @Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) Market DriverThe major market driver for growth of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) market is increasing research and development activities by pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to develop new products and novel treatment. For instance, in 2017, Cempra announced promising data from the phase 3 trial of Fusidic acid for the treatment of ABSSSI. In same year, Melinta Therapeutics received US FDA for its product Baxdela, a delafloxacin based ABSSSI medicine, available in both intravenous and oral formulations. Moreover, in 2018, Fresenius Kabi received US FDA approval for new drug application of daptomycin, a lipopeptide class of antibacterial drug, in injectable form for complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactlae etc.However, growth of the ABSSSI market is expected to be hindered by increasing incidence of resistant strains of causative agents, stringent regulatory policies by government bodies, and patent expiration.Increasing number of ambulatory patients seeking treatment for skin and skin structure infections will further propel growth of the ABSSSI market. For instance, according to article published in 2015 of PLoS One journal, skin and skin structure infections related hospital admissions were 1.6% in 2005, increased to 2.0% in 2011. Moreover, according to Decision Resource Group, in 2014, 11% of 2.7 million hospital admissions for ABSSSI were pediatric patients. The increasing pediatric patient pool is targeted by the manufacturers to enhance its product portfolio with pediatric specific products. For instance, in 2016, Allergan plc received US FDA approval for its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Teflaro, for ABSSSI indication in pediatric.Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) Market - Regional AnalysisGlobally, acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. North America holds dominate position in ABSSSI market, and this is attributed to large number of pipeline products by the regional market players. However, Asia Pacific is expected to witness fast growth, owing to increasing awareness of ABSSSI treatment and manufacturers geographical expansion. For instance, Basilea Pharmaceutics Ltd. signed an agreement with Shenzhen China Resources Gosun Pharmaceutical Co., in year 2017, to treat Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in China, Hong Kong and Macao by Basileas Zevtera.Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) Market CompetitorKey players in the global acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) market are Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Melinta Therapeutics, Inc., Allergan plc, Merck & Co., Inc., Accord Healthcare Ltd. (a subsidiary of Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd.), Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Sandoz Inc. (a subsidiary of Novartis), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Cadila Healthcare Ltd., and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The ABSSSI market players are involved in strategic planning for expanding the market share of the company. For instance, in 2014, Merck & Co., Inc. acquired Cubist Pharmaceuticals for US$ 9.5 billion.Access Table of Content (TOC) Of the Report @The acquisition will strengthen product portfolio by acquiring presently marketed and late stage pipeline products. Moreover, in 2017, Cempra, Inc. a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing treatment of infectious diseasesmerged with Melinta Therapeutics, a privately held company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel antibiotics to treat serious bacterial infections. The merger will commercialize the launch of Melintas Baxdela, a fluoroquinolone based ABSSSI treatment for susceptible bacteria.Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Global Oncology Drugs Market - Competitive Analysis https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1437 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/1437 Oncology drugs and medications have become a blooming business for players in the pharmaceutical industry. Major pharmaceutical companies are focused on manufacturing and development of oncology drug. Market players have oncology drugs in pipeline, which are expected to be in the market as potential medications in near future. Also, the global oncology market is expected to gain a significant traction with the increasing prevalence of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide, which accounted for around 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths in 2012. The number of new cancer cases is projected to rise to 22 million in near future. The major competitors are focused on developing efficient treatment for specific type of cancer which is expected to be a prominent factor to augment the global oncology drugs market.Request Sample Copy of this Business Report @Major manufacturers in the oncology drugs market include:RocheCelgeneJohnson & JohnsonPfizerSanofiBristol-Meyers SquibbNovartisGlaxoSmithKlineEli LilyMerck & Co.Top 5 company described for competitive analysis in detail:Roche is a world leader in oncology, which is engaged in developing new approaches for advanced cancer treatment. Roche operates in two segments, which includes pharmaceuticals and diagnostics with annual sales of US$ 39.1 Bn and US$ 11.5 Bn respectively. Roche is at the forefront of cancer immunotherapy with ten investigational drug candidates currently in the clinical development phase. In 2016, the company entered into 10 new clinical collaboration agreements to explore drug combinations for maximizing therapeutic benefits and develop the lead immunotherapy drug. The company has set up imCORE, a network of 21 academic institutions working with Roche to advance research into cancer immunotherapies, thus contributing to enhance the global oncology drugs market in the near future.Johnson and Johnson operates in three business segments namely consumer, pharmaceutical and medical devices. The business of Johnson & Johnson is conducted by more than 230 operating companies located in 60 countries worldwide. In 2016, the company has invested around US$ 9.1 Bn in research and development activities. Janssen, the pharmaceutical division of J&J registered the oncology drug sales of around US$ 5.9 Bn among the total pharmaceutical therapeutic area sales. Janssen is focused on strategic collaborations for the development of cancer therapeutics, which in turn favors the oncology drugs market. For instance, in November, 2017, Janssen collaborated with Zymeworks, Inc. to develop six bispecific antibodies based on Azymetric and Effector Function Enhancement and Control Technology (EFECT) platforms for research, development, and commercialization with a potential to generate US$ 1.5 Bn. High sales of IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) and DARZALEX (daratumumab) were due to increasing patient uptake, additional country launches, and additional indications, which contributed to the growth of oncology drugs.Pfizer, Inc. develops oncology therapies that provide maximum efficacy while minimizing adverse effects on the patient. The current portfolio of oncology drugs covers a range of cancers. The company studies these therapies alone and in combination with other treatments to improve the lives of cancer patients. Pfizers overall strategy is anchored on innovation for developing new medicines and vaccines through collaborations and business relationships which is expected to bolster the oncology drugs market. For instance, Pfizer partnered with Merck KGaA for building a strong portfolio in immuno-oncology, Biolnvent International AB to develop antibodies to advance the novel technology platform of cancer vaccine as well as business relationship with IBM Watson for drug discovery by identifying potential new targets and combination therapies in immune-oncology.Novartiss aims to develop approaches for extending the lives of people suffering from cancer, by adopting the strategy to use science-based innovation for delivering better patient outcomes in growing areas of healthcare. Novartis operates in two business segments namely Novartis Oncology and Novartis Pharmaceuticals, which together form Innovative Medicines Division. The Novartis Oncology segment contributed around 39% of its net sales, it was valued around US$ 12.8 Bn. Increase in revenue is attributed to the strong performance for oncology products Tafinlar + Mekinist, a combination therapy for advanced melanoma, and Jakavi, for blood cancers. Novartis is leading provider of cancer treatments, following the acquisition of oncology products from GlaxoSmithKline in 2015. In 2016, the company collaborated with Surface Oncology to bolster the cancer immunotherapy pipeline that will provide access to four preclinical programs. Also, with a licensing agreement with Xencor, it plans to co-develop two bispecific antibodies designed to target acute myeloid leukemia and B-cell malignancies, thereby aiding the growth of oncology drugs market.Ask for customization @Sanofi operates through two business segments namely pharmaceuticals and vaccines. Sanofi gains insights through its network of collaborations with biotech companies such as Immunogen and Evotec, academic cancer centers such as Institut Gustave Roussy, Institut Curie, and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, enabling superior use of software, analytics, and new technology, which helps to increase its productivity, maximize return on R&D investment, and accelerate the development of new products. Sanofi Oncology has a large number of collaborations and alliances to support its R&D portfolio. In 2015, Sanofi collaborated with Regeneron focusing on cancer immunotherapy to generate high value development candidates in the emerging field of immuno-oncology and to accelerate its development pipeline in the oncology drugs market. In 2016, the company entered into a collaboration with Innate Pharma to develop innovative bispecific antibody formats engaging natural killer (NK) cells to kill tumor cells. Also, it collaborated with Warp Drive Bio to develop drugs targeting human oncogenes, thus accelerating the innovations for oncology drugs.Novel and targeted oncology drugs manufactured by the major competitors in oncology drug market are geared towards the treatment of specific type of cancer with premium prices, without generic competition from the competitors, as these biologic treatments have an enhanced patent protection. Strategic collaborations and rise in research and development is the basic approach adopted by the manufacturers, as it helps to develop and access knowledge and increase the understanding in new areas of science, thereby accelerating the global oncology drugs market.The major strategic collaborations included in the competitive analysis include:Sanofi and Regeneron collaborated to develop REGN2810, with an overall expenditure of US$ 325 million each towards developing the therapy currently in the Phase IBristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and CytomX Therapeutics collaborated to develop four target cancer therapies using CytomXs Probody drug discovery platform. The collaboration would provide CytomX with a net US$ 1.2 Bn.Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure Devices Market - Size, Share, Outlook, 2026 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/2023 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/2023 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/patent-foramen-ovale-pfo-closure-devices-market-2023 https://globalresearchtrends.blogspot.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/coherent-market-insights Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a medical condition wherein tissue flap in the wall between left and right atrium remains persistently open, allowing a small amount of blood to pass from the right side of the heart to the left side of the heart. PFO closure device are implantable device used to treat PFO through a minimally invasive, catheter-based technique, implicated in a number of pathological states, including cryptogenic strokes, transient ischemic attacks, migraine with auras, decompression sickness, and severe refractory hypoxemia. PFO closure device market is driven by high incidence rate for ischemic stroke and new product launches.Download And Get Sample PDF File Of Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure Devices Market:PFO Closure Device Market DriverPFO closure device market is majorly driven by the high incidence of ischemic stock. Stroke is the second most common cause of death in the world. According to the American Stroke Association, 2016, annually more than 795,000 people in U.S. suffer from stroke, of which about 87% of stroke are ischemic strokes. Furthermore, increasing number of congenital heart disease is expected to propel growth of the PFO closure device market. For instance, according to American Heart Association, around 40,000 infants are born with a congenital heart defect in the U.S. annually and around 2 to 3 million individuals are suffering from congenital heart defect. Moreover, increasing adoption of life style related risk factors such as alcohol, smoking, drugs or sedentary life style is expected to elevate the risk of stroke incidence.Moreover, new product launches are expected to boost growth of the PFO closure device market during the forecast period. For instance, in April 2018, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. received the US FDA approval for its GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder for PFO closure to prevent recurrent ischemic stroke. The study claimed 77% reduction in recurrent ischemic stroke when PFO closure was combined with antiplatelet therapy, as compared to antiplatelet therapy. Moreover, in 2016, Amplatzer PFO Occluder device was reintroduced after product recall with FDA approval to reduce stroke risk for patients with prior cryptogenic stroke. Furthermore, increasing clinical trials for new device is expected fuel growth of the PFO closure device market. For instance, as on 2016, Lifetech Scientific (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. was conducting its Post Market Clinical Follow-up study for its device named IrisFIT PFO Occluder for the indication of PFO.To get holistic SAMPLE of the report including table of contents:PFO Closure Device Market RestrainPFO closure device market is expected to be hindered by product discontinuation or recall. For instance, in 2013, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc, discontinued its product GORE HELEX Septal Occluder, as a result of sued for patent infringement. Moreover, in 2013, St. Jude Medical recalled Amplatzer PFO Occluder, assigned as Class I tagged product recall by FDA.PFO Closure Device Market - Regional AnalysisBased on geography, the PFO closure device market has been segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Africa. North America holds dominant market share attributed to high incidence of ischemic stroke. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is expected to fastest growing PFO closure device market due to increasing awareness among the population about PFO. For instance, PFO Funding Organization, Australia-based not for profit organization, works to increase public and physician awareness of the medical condition called patent foramen ovale (PFO) or hole in the heart and its importance to cardiovascular and neurological health.Browse Research Report At:PFO Closure Device Market Competitive AnalysisKey players operating in PFO closure device market includes AGA Medical, Abbott (previously known as St Jude Medical, Inc.), WL Gore and Associates, Swissimplant AG, and Occlutech.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Blog:Connect with us on LinkedIn @ Global Flow Chemistry Market Growing at Highest CAGR with Top Key Players Corning Incorporated, Chemtrix BV., PDC Machines, Inc, Syrris, Parr Instrument Company, HEL Ltd, ThalesNano https://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-flow-chemistry-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-flow-chemistry-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-flow-chemistry-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/?dbmr=global-flow-chemistry-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-innovation-management-market/ Global Flow Chemistry Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Global Flow Chemistry Industry. The report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Global Flow Chemistry analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.The Global Flow Chemistry Market is expected to reach USD 2,282.03 million by 2025, from USD 1,112.10 million in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.For In depth Information Get Free Sample Copy of this Report@Global Flow Chemistry Market, By Application (Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Academia & Research, Petrochemicals, Others), By Reactor Types (Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors, Plug Flow Reactor, Micro reactor, Microwave System, Others), By Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025Complete report on Global Flow Chemistry Market Research Report 2018-2025 spread across 350 Pages, profiling Top companies and supports with tables and figuresMarket Definition: Global Flow Chemistry MarketFlow Chemistry is a process of performing chemical reactions in a pipe rather than performing them in a batch wise production. Components are pumped in the mixing junction together and then flowed down through the temperature controlled pipe. Flow chemistry is a very successful technique that can be used at a large scale for the manufacturing large quantities of a given material which is one of the factors that can lead to a rise in the flow chemistry market. For instance, on May 2015, Tim Jamison and Aaron Beeler launched Snapdragon Chemistry, Inc. which pools refined solutions and services along with preeminent scientific know-how which will help the company to connect with benefits such as quality assurance, safety and less operating expenses as well as opportunities of continuous flow synthesis. On March, 2017, Uniqsis Ltd. launched Flow-UV which is considered to be reasonable in the UV Visible spectrophotometric detector for flow chemistry applications. This permits the dispersion to be observed in real time facilitates collection of the product that are to be measured with respect to the onset and failure of the steady state conditions. Thus, with the continuous advancements made by different manufacturers Global Flow Chemistry Market will show a rise in the forecasting period.Key Questions Answered in Global Flow Chemistry Market Report:-Our Report offers:- What will the market growth rate, Overview and Analysis by Type of Global Flow Chemistry Market in 2025? What are the key factors driving, Analysis by Applications and Countries Global Flow Chemistry Market? What are Dynamics, This Overview Includes Analysis of Scope, and price analysis of top Vendors Profiles of Global Flow Chemistry Market? Who are Opportunities, Risk and Driving Force of Global Flow Chemistry Market? Who are the opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in Global Flow Chemistry Market? Business Overview by Type, Applications, Gross Margin and Market Share What are the Global Flow Chemistry Market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Market?Request for Detailed TOC:Top Key Players: Saida FDS Inc., Little Things Factory GmbH PDC Machines Inc Vapourtec Ltd. Cambridge Reactor Design Ltd Ymc Co. Ltd Parr Instrument Company Corning Incorporated Vapourtec Ltd. Velocys FutureChemistry Ehrfeld Mikrotechnik BTS Chemtrix BV Uniqsis Ltd HEL GROUP ThalesNano Inc. Syrris Ltd Biotage AB Milestone Srl CEM Corporation. Ashe Morris Limited many more.Key Reasons to Purchase: To gain insightful analyses of the market and have comprehensive understanding of the Global Flow Chemistry Market and its commercial landscape. Assess the Flow Chemistry production processes, major issues, and solutions to mitigate the development risk. To understand the most affecting driving and restraining forces in the Flow Chemistry Market and its impact in the Global market. Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by leading respective organizations. To understand the future outlook and prospects for Global Flow Chemistry Market.Major Market Drivers: Low Operational Cost As Compared to Batch Green and sustainable technology High demand in end use industriesMarket Restraint: Cost of R&D is high High costs of Large MRT SystemsKey Insights in the report: Historical and current market size and projection up to 2025 Market trends impacting the growth of the global flow chemistry market Analyze and forecast the flow chemistry market on the basis of applications and reactor type Trends of key regional and country-level markets for applications and reactor type Company profiling of key players which includes business operations, product and services, geographic presence, recent developments and key financial analysisInquire Before Buying @Customize report of "Global Flow Chemistry Market" as per customers requirement also available.Market Segmentations:Global Packaging Resins Market is segmented on the basis of Application Reactor Type GeographyMarket Segmentations in Details:By Application Pharmaceuticals Chemicals Academia & Research Petrochemicals OthersBy Reactor Type Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors Plug Flow Reactor Micro reactor Microwave System OthersBy Geography, North America South America Europe Asia-Pacific Middle East & AfricaCompetitive Landscape: Global Flow Chemistry MarketThe global flow chemistry market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of flow chemistry market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.Speak to Author of the report @Other ReportGlobal Innovation Management Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Innovation Management Market, By Geography; Type (Software, Services); Organization Size (Large Enterprises, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)); Deployment Model (On-premises, Cloud); Application (Product Research & Development Platforms, Marketing, Design, Idea Platforms, Collective Intelligence & Prediction Platforms, Human Resource & Freelancers Platforms); Vertical (Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, IT, Media & Communication Technology, Aerospace & Defense, Public Sector & Education, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Retail & Consumer Goods, Automotive & Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Cardiac Monitoring Devices Market - Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20182026 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1272 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/1272 Cardiac monitoring devices enable continual observation of patients with heart disorders. These devices are commonly used in emergency rooms and critical care units and primarily in arrhythmias to monitor the rate of heartbeats. Common types of cardiac monitoring devices include holter monitors, event monitors, loop monitors, and insertable cardiac monitors. The additional parameters monitored noninvasively by cardiac monitors include blood pressure, cardiac output, intravascular pressures, arterial blood oxygen saturation, and blood temperature.Request Sample Copy of this Business Report @Rise in incidence of cardiovascular diseases such as cardiac arrthymia, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension is expected to fuel growth of the cardiac monitoring devices market. According to World Health Organization (WHO), 2015, cardiovascular diseases was the leading cause of deaths accounting for 17.7 million deaths, globally. Furthermore, increasing applications of cardiac monitors in continuous monitoring for patients with severe electrolyte imbalances and for postoperative observation is expected to augment the market growth over the forecast period.Development of technologically advanced cardiac monitoring devices is expected to boost the cardiac monitoring devices market growth over the forecast periodDevelopment of advance cardiac monitoring devices such as remote cardiac monitoring devices and wireless cardiac monitoring devices providing early detection is a major factor expected to boast the cardiac monitoring devices market growth over the forecast period. For instance, ZywiePro, the next-generation cardiac remote monitoring solution launched in 2015, leverages mobile and cloud technology to facilitate detection of cardiovascular arrhythmias. ZywiePro enables physicians to provide more personalized and effective patient care by detailed diagnostic insight into the cardiovascular health of the patients. However, factors inhibiting the cardiac monitoring devices market include high cost of device and lack of knowledge about advance cardiac monitoring devices.Advance cardiac monitoring devices enable physician to make accurate diagnosis and determine a treatment plan. For instance, the Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor manufactured by Medtronic, approved by FDA in 2014, is currently the smallest heart monitor in the market. It can diagnose the cause of infrequent, unexplained fainting spells better than conventional testing.North America is expected to dominate the cardiac monitoring devices market over the forecast period, owing to increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the regionRegional segmentation of cardiac monitoring devices market by Coherent Market Insights comprises North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. North America is expected to hold a dominant position in global cardiac monitoring devices market over the forecast period, due to increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the region. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 2017, about 92.1 million adults in the U.S. are suffering from some form of cardiovascular disease or the after-effects of stroke. AHA also stated in its report, that direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular diseases and stroke are estimated to account for US$ 316 billion, including health expenditures and lost productivity. Growth in Europe market is driven by emergence of innovative cardiac solutions offered by regional manufacturers and rising cases of cardiovascular diseases. For instance, LifeWatch manufacturer of two innovative Mobile Cardiac Telemetry (MCT) solutions LifeWatch MCT 3 Lead and LifeWatch MCT 1 Lead Patch detects, records, and wirelessly transmits asymptomatic and symptomatic arrhythmia to clinicians for analysis. According to European Heart Network and European Society of Cardiology 2015, over 85 million people suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD) every year, causing over 4 million deaths in Europe.Asia Pacific is also expected to witness high growth. This is attributed to availability of technological advanced products and rising healthcare concern for stroke prevention associated with atrial fibrillation. According to the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society in 2017, the Asian population with atrial fibrillation (AF) is estimated to reach 72 million by 2050, of whom 2.9 million may suffer from AF-associated strokes.Access Table of Content (TOC) Of the Report @Increasing FDA clearance for new and innovative products is a major factor fueling cardiac monitoring devices market growthIn 2016, the FDA approved wireless continuous non-invasive 'Beat-by-Beat' blood pressure and heart rate monitor manufactured by CareTaker Medical based on patented finger cuff technology. The device allows physicians to remotely monitor medical-grade continuous blood pressure and heart rate from anywhere, using only a patient friendly-finger cuff. Key players in cardiac monitoring devices market are Philips Healthcare, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Cardiac Science, LifeWatch, CareTaker Medical, Spacelabs, St. Jude Medical, Kohden, CardioNet, and Mortara Instrument.Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Aluminum Mining Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/aluminium-mining-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2392 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Aluminum Mining Market: OverviewThe extensive use of aluminum in multifarious applications over several industries is likely to bolster growth of the global aluminum mining market.The report discusses the major developments, restraints, growth drivers, and opportunities in the global aluminum mining market. The major market players have been discussed in detail, wherein their key market strategies, product portfolios, and market shares are revealed. The report also sheds light on value chain analysis, market attractiveness, market forecasts, Porters five force analysis, and competitive landscape.View Report Preview:Global Aluminum Mining Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe robust advancement of the automotive industry is one of the key growth drivers of this market, as automotive industry appears to partake a major share of the production of this metal. The prominent properties of aluminum such as high density, resistance to corrosion, and light weight will also prove to be beneficial to market growth, as these enable aluminum to be extensively used in a plethora of applications. The food and beverage industry and the packaging sector are two significant applications of aluminum, as using aluminum for packing food does not pose any potential hazards to health. Cans, foils, bottle tops, and tubes are some examples of packing applications.The global aluminum mining market is expected to soar on account of its widespread use in the transportation sector. Since aluminum has about 63% of electrical conductivity, and half of its density, it makes for an ideal substitute for copper. Therefore, aluminum is used in transmission lines and electric cables on a large scale, which is likely to increase its demand. The construction industry too needs aluminum for building window and door frames, roofing, and cladding. Aluminum has also finds application in modern and lightweight furniture. Utensils such as pans, plates, pressure cookers, canisters, tiffin boxes, baskets, trays, and buckets are also made from aluminum.However, the presence of alternatives such as plastic and glass in the packaging industry might pose a threat to market expansion.Global Aluminum Mining Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geography, the global aluminum mining market can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW). Africa, Australia, South America, and the Caribbean are some of the major areas where aluminum is mined. Europe is slated to experience marginal growth.Asia Pacific will emerge with substantial opportunities on account of large scale construction projects, the construction of smart cities, and high rate of urbanization in the countries of this region. China, in particular, will be responsible for a major share in terms of demand in the Asia Pacific aluminum mining market due to its trade surplus of aluminum. The flourishing automotive industry in emerging economies such as Japan and India are slated to display considerable growth in demand as motor vehicles deploy aluminum parts.The booming manufacturing industry of India is likely to boost the growth of the aluminum mining market. The extensive opportunities presented by this region can be attributed to the continuous production of items made from aluminum. These include ladders, utensils, containers, perforated sheets, rods, bars, handles, and even wallets for carrying cards.Request to view Sample Report:Companies Mentioned in the ReportSome of the major companies operating in the global market for aluminum mining are Norsk Hydro ASA, Century Aluminum, Dubai Aluminium Ltd., United Company RUSAL PLC, Rio Tinto Group, Alcoa Inc., Mitsubishi Aluminum Co., BHP Billiton, Alcan Inc, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C., Tata Steel Europe Ltd., and Chalco Company.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Aluminum Mining Market Poised for an Explosive Growth in the Near Future https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/aluminium-mining-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2392 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Aluminum Mining Market: OverviewThe extensive use of aluminum in multifarious applications over several industries is likely to bolster growth of the global aluminum mining market.The report discusses the major developments, restraints, growth drivers, and opportunities in the global aluminum mining market. The major market players have been discussed in detail, wherein their key market strategies, product portfolios, and market shares are revealed. The report also sheds light on value chain analysis, market attractiveness, market forecasts, Porters five force analysis, and competitive landscape.View Report Preview:Global Aluminum Mining Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe robust advancement of the automotive industry is one of the key growth drivers of this market, as automotive industry appears to partake a major share of the production of this metal. The prominent properties of aluminum such as high density, resistance to corrosion, and light weight will also prove to be beneficial to market growth, as these enable aluminum to be extensively used in a plethora of applications. The food and beverage industry and the packaging sector are two significant applications of aluminum, as using aluminum for packing food does not pose any potential hazards to health. Cans, foils, bottle tops, and tubes are some examples of packing applications.The global aluminum mining market is expected to soar on account of its widespread use in the transportation sector. Since aluminum has about 63% of electrical conductivity, and half of its density, it makes for an ideal substitute for copper. Therefore, aluminum is used in transmission lines and electric cables on a large scale, which is likely to increase its demand. The construction industry too needs aluminum for building window and door frames, roofing, and cladding. Aluminum has also finds application in modern and lightweight furniture. Utensils such as pans, plates, pressure cookers, canisters, tiffin boxes, baskets, trays, and buckets are also made from aluminum.However, the presence of alternatives such as plastic and glass in the packaging industry might pose a threat to market expansion.Global Aluminum Mining Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geography, the global aluminum mining market can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW). Africa, Australia, South America, and the Caribbean are some of the major areas where aluminum is mined. Europe is slated to experience marginal growth.Asia Pacific will emerge with substantial opportunities on account of large scale construction projects, the construction of smart cities, and high rate of urbanization in the countries of this region. China, in particular, will be responsible for a major share in terms of demand in the Asia Pacific aluminum mining market due to its trade surplus of aluminum. The flourishing automotive industry in emerging economies such as Japan and India are slated to display considerable growth in demand as motor vehicles deploy aluminum parts.The booming manufacturing industry of India is likely to boost the growth of the aluminum mining market. The extensive opportunities presented by this region can be attributed to the continuous production of items made from aluminum. These include ladders, utensils, containers, perforated sheets, rods, bars, handles, and even wallets for carrying cards.Request Brochure of the Report:Companies Mentioned in the ReportSome of the major companies operating in the global market for aluminum mining are Norsk Hydro ASA, Century Aluminum, Dubai Aluminium Ltd., United Company RUSAL PLC, Rio Tinto Group, Alcoa Inc., Mitsubishi Aluminum Co., BHP Billiton, Alcan Inc, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C., Tata Steel Europe Ltd., and Chalco Company.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Market Opportunity Analysis, 2018-2026 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1241 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/1241 Therapeutic drug monitoring is a multidisciplinary practice of measuring drug amount in bloodstream to maintain its effective concentration. It is used to maximize efficacy of drug, avoid toxicity and adverse drug reactions (ADR), facilitate dose adjustment according patient requirement, and to identify therapeutic failure. It is used especially for drugs characterized by narrow therapeutic window, drugs that are highly protein bound and those in which the metabolite might be toxic. Physicians and hospitals use therapeutic drug monitoring to maximize the clinical benefits of the drug by minimizing the toxic side effects thereby improving the quality of life for the patients.Request Sample Copy of this Business Report @North America dominates the global therapeutic drug monitoring marketNorth America holds the dominant position in therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) market, owing to robust health care infrastructure, high awareness for treatment regime and increasing patient awareness regarding adverse drug reaction (ADR). According to 2013 survey by Medical Expenditure Panel published in Scientific American, 1 in 7 American adult consume Anti-Psychotic drug, a class of drugs which requires TDM. Stringent government regulations regarding safe medication practices especially with drugs having narrow therapeutic range would propel growth therapeutic drug monitoring. Moreover, increasing adoption of instruments such as monitors and analytic equipment, reagents, and diagnostics tools for drug monitoring is driving the growth of therapeutic drug monitoring market.However, difficulty in reimbursement bars the widespread usage of TDM, as often the cost associated with TDM is high. Furthermore, insufficient infrastructure and skilled manpower is restraining the growth of the market in emerging economies.Personalized medicine and advanced technologies such as assay performance and drug monitoring to fuel the growth of therapeutic drug monitoring marketPersonalized medicine is driving the growth of therapeutic drug monitoring market, owing to increasing demand for better treatment outcome with minimum side effects from the medication. For instance, TDM is majorly used for anti-cancer drugs monitoring for which standard guidelines are recommended by many oncology Journal and associations, one of them being the European Journal of Oncology. Moreover, advanced treatment therapies such pharmacogenomics, gene testing, and proteomics is further expected to boost the growth of market. Increasing antimicrobial resistance is one of the key factor driving the growth of TDM market. According to WHO Factsheet 2017, antimicrobial resistance is one of the leading cause of death. For instance, according to WHO factsheet, around 4,80,000 multi-drug resistance TB cases were reported, which is creating an opportunity for physicians to optimize or monitor the drug therapies through TDM.Organ transplant procedures are also propelling the growth of therapeutic drug monitoring market. Immunosuppressant drugs are basic treatment for organ transplant to avoid rejection of transplanted organ by body, which requires TDM to avoid ADR and side effects. Asia Pacific is a promising region for organ transplant due to increased awareness and infrastructure availability. According to Waters Corporation Blog, China witnessed 35% y-o-y increase in organ transplant in the first 4 months of 2017. There is a growing trend of clinical research organizations being shifted to cost effective Asia Pacific region for bioequivalence study of generic drugs on account of low cost of processes in this region. Moreover, advances in the field of biomedical technology such as nano biosensors and implantable devices are expected to boost the growth of therapeutic drug monitoring market. Advancement in tools for TDM such as assay kits, chromatography columns, spectrometry, and alternative matrices such as interstitial fluid provide continuous real time monitoring of the therapeutic drug through Probe Scientifics new MicroEye Technology.Access Table of Content (TOC) Of the Report @Key players in the global therapeutic drug monitoring market include Roche Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bio Rad Laboratories, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Beckmann Coulter, and Abbott Diagnostics. In 2016, Danaher Corporation, parent company for Beckman Coulter acquired Cepheid at US$ 4 billion to strengthen companys diagnostic portfolio.Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Clinical Trials Market Out-look 2025|( Design :-Treatment Studies, Observational Studies) & Key Competitors - PAREXEL, LabCorp, ICON plc, Novo Nordisk, Covance., Clinical Trials Market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-clinical-trials-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-clinical-trials-market https://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-clinical-trials-market/ Global Clinical Trials Market Research Report Brief Focus On Study About Clinical Trials Market, Which Provides Industry volume, Market Revenue, Market Segments , Market Trends ,Growth aspects A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report such as:Clinical Trials Market Phase :-Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV,Clinical Trials Design :-Treatment Studies, Observational StudiesClinical Trials Geography Segmentation: North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and AfricaReport Also Provide in-depth Analysis About key segments, regional breakdowns, market size and share, current trends and strategies, market landscape, and the growth opportunities for the future. It also highlights the key players providing solutions in the space. These insights are helpful for market players to gain profitability and investors to gain maximum returns on their investments. The report consists of vital statistics and data for the market players and investors to attain an in-depth knowledge of the global market and further their growth.Get Free Sample Report@Clinical Trials Market is expected to reach USD 1.76 billion by 2025, from USD 1.04 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Some of the major players operating in the global Clinical trials market are:- Clinipace Worldwide, LabCorp, Eli Lilly and Company, ICON Plc., Novo Nordisk, Parexel, Pfizer Inc., Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC, IQVIA, Roche Holding, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Ltd., Sanofi Aventis A.S. and Roche Group., Aaipharma Services Corp, Accell Clinical Research LLC, Aptiv Solutions, Chiltern International Limited , Congenix, Covance Inc., Ecron Acunova Ltd, Eurotrials, Medpace Inc, Pharmanet Development Group, PRA International, Siro Clinpharm PVT. LTDClinical Trials Market Competitive Analysis:The global clinical trials market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of Clinical trials market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and South America.Report Brief Focus On:Clinical Trials Market, By Phase (Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV), Design (Treatment Studies, Observational Studies), By Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025Note: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want. Mail Us@ sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.comMajor Market Objectives: Demand for clinical trials in emerging markets High R&D spending of the pharmaceutical industry Increasing prevalence of diseases Focus on rare diseases and multiple orphan drugs in pipeline Lack of skilled clinical research workforce Regulatory quality in emerging markets Stringent regulations for patient enrolmentCustomization With Discount Available On This Report @Clinical Trials Market Segmentation: The global clinical trials market is segmented based on phase, design and geographical segments. On the basis of phase, the market is classified into Phase I, Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV. On the basis of design, the market is segmented into treatment studies, observational studies. The treatment studies are further sub segmented into randomized control trial, adaptive clinical trial and non-randomized control trial. The observational studies segment is further sub segmented into cohort study, case control study, cross sectional study, ecological study Based on geography, the market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies namely North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and, Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and, Brazil among others.Key Developments in the Market: In March 2016, AAIPharma Services Corporation, which is a leading provider of custom development and manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, announced its new identity as a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with expanded capabilities and capacity, the organization to now be known as Alcami In July2018, Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly announce Tradjentas CARMELINA cardiovascular outcome trial meets primary endpoint. The company announced the positive top-line results from the trial, which evaluated the impact of treatment with Tradjenta compared with placebo on cardiovascular safety on top of standard of care.Read More About This Report@Key questions answered in the report: What will the market growth rate of Clinical trials Market in 2025? What are the key factors driving the Global Clinical trials Market? Who are the key manufacturers in Clinical trials Market space? What are the market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Clinical trials Market? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Clinical trials Market? Who are the distributors, traders and dealers of Clinical trials Market? What are the Core Materials Market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Clinical trials Market industry? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and applications of Clinical trials Market? What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by regions of Clinical trials industry?About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-281Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Nanocoatings Global Market 2018: Key Players Nanogate, Buhler, Nanophase Technologies Corporation, Bio-Gate, AdMat Innovations Nanocoatings Industry Description Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Nanocoatings -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Of Top Key Player Forecast To 2023 To Its Research Database The Asia-Pacific Nanocoatings market will reach xxx Million USD in 2018 and CAGR xx% 2018-2023. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Nanocoatings by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report. Company Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.): Nanogate Buhler Nanophase Technologies Corporation Bio-Gate AdMat Innovations Surfix Nanomech EIKOS CIMA Nanotech Telsa Nanocoatings CG2. Nanocoatings Inframat Corporation P2I Ltd Integran Technologies Nanovere Technologies Nanofilm Nano-Care Request for Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3094815-asia-pacific-nanocoatings-market-analysis-2012-2017-and-forecast-2018-2023 Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.): Vapor Deposition Electroplate Spraying Others Application Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.): Military Coating Medical Construction Chemical Industry Others Region Coverage (Regional Production, Demand & Forecast by Regions etc.): China Japan & Korea India Southeast Asia Oceania Leave a Query @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/3094815-asia-pacific-nanocoatings-market-analysis-2012-2017-and-forecast-2018-2023 Table of Content 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Nanocoatings Industry 1.1.1 Overview 1.1.2 Development of Nanocoatings 1.2 Market Segment 1.2.1 By Product Type 1.2.2 By Application 1.3 Asia-Pacific Overview 2 Major Companies List 2.1 Nanogate (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.2 Buhler (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.3 Nanophase Technologies Corporation (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.4 Bio-Gate (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.5 AdMat Innovations (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.6 Surfix (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.7 Nanomech (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.8 EIKOS (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.9 CIMA Nanotech (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.10 Telsa Nanocoatings (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.11 CG2. Nanocoatings (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.12 Inframat Corporation (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.13 P2I Ltd (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.14 Integran Technologies (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.15 Nanovere Technologies (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.16 Nanofilm (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 2.17 Nano-Care (Company Profile, Products & Services, Sales Data etc.) 3 Market Competition 3.1 Company Competition 3.2 Regional Market by Company 4 Nanocoatings Market by Type 4.1 By Type 4.1.1 Vapor Deposition 4.1.2 Electroplate 4.1.3 Spraying 4.1.4 Others 4.2 Market Size 4.3 Market Forecast 5 Market Demand 5.1 Demand Situation 5.1.1 Demand in Military 5.1.2 Demand in Coating 5.1.3 Demand in Medical 5.1.4 Demand in Construction 5.1.5 Demand in Chemical Industry 5.1.6 Demand in Others 5.2 Regional Demand Comparison 5.3 Demand Forecast 6 Region Operation 6.1 Regional Production 6.2 Regional Market 6.3 by Region 6.3.1 China 6.3.1.1 By Type 6.3.1.2 By Application 6.3.2 Japan & Korea 6.3.2.1 By Type 6.3.2.2 By Application 6.3.3 India 6.3.3.1 By Type 6.3.3.2 By Application 6.3.4 Southeast Asia 6.3.4.1 By Type 6.3.4.2 By Application 6.3.5 Oceania 6.3.5.1 By Type 6.3.5.2 By Application 6.4 Regional Forecast 7 Marketing & Price 7.1 Price and Margin 7.1.1 Price Trends 7.1.2 Factors of Price Change 7.1.3 Manufacturers Gross Margin Analysis 7.2 Marketing Channel 8 Upstream & Cost 8.1 Upstream 8.2 Cost 9 Industry Environment 9.1 Policy 9.2 Economics 9.3 Sociology 9.4 Technology 10 Research Conclusion Buy Now @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=3094815 Continued... Contact Us: Sales@Wiseguyreports.Com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (Us) Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (Uk) About Us: Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories. Addres: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd Pune 411028 Maharashtra, Global Ph: +91 841 198 5042 https://www.wiseguyreports.com This release was published on openPR. Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release. Enterprise LBS Market 2018 Global Analysis By key Players Apple, Google, HERE, Foursquare, AeroScout, Cisco Enterprise LBS Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3294810-global-enterprise-lbs-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3294810-global-enterprise-lbs-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 Enterprise LBS Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com adds Enterprise LBS Market Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025 To Its Research Database.Report Details:This report provides in depth study of Enterprise LBS Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Enterprise LBS Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report studies the global Enterprise LBS market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the global Enterprise LBS market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.Location-based services (LBS) track the location of users within a wireless network using location-enabled mobile devices.The Americas was the largest market for enterprise LBS as it accounted for more than 46% of the total market share. Factors like the high penetration rate of smartphones, the increased adoption of mobile social media, and growing advertising costs will aid in the growth of this market in the Americas during the forecast period.This report focuses on the global top players, coveredAppleGoogleHEREFoursquareAeroScoutxADAppello SystemsBroadcomCiscoWazeVouchercloud (Vodafone)AccuWare, IncRequest a Sample Report @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoLocation-Based Search and AdvertisingLocation-Based NavigationLocation-Based Infotainment and AnalyticsLocation-Based TrackingOthersMarket segment by Application, split intoLarge EnterprisesSMEsKey StakeholdersEnterprise LBS ManufacturersEnterprise LBS Distributors/Traders/WholesalersEnterprise LBS Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Complete Report Details@Major Key Points in Table of Content:Global Enterprise LBS Market Size, Status and Forecast 20251 Industry Overview of Enterprise LBS1.1 Enterprise LBS Market Overview1.1.1 Enterprise LBS Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Enterprise LBS Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2018)1.2.1 United States1.2.2 Europe1.2.3 China1.2.4 Japan1.2.5 Southeast Asia1.2.6 India1.3 Enterprise LBS Market by Type1.3.1 Location-Based Search and Advertising1.3.2 Location-Based Navigation1.3.3 Location-Based Infotainment and Analytics1.3.4 Location-Based Tracking1.3.5 Others1.4 Enterprise LBS Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Large Enterprises1.4.2 SMEs2 Global Enterprise LBS Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Enterprise LBS Market Size (Value) by Players (2013-2018)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Apple3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.2 Google3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.3 HERE3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.4 Foursquare3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.5 AeroScout3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.6 xAD3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.7 Appello Systems3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.8 Broadcom3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.9 Cisco3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.10 Waze3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Enterprise LBS Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)Continued.Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Sales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRESS:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Marine Engine Monitoring System Market: Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/marine-engine-monitoring-system-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=44402 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=44402 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com http://www.techyounme.com/ Sea-based equipment is highly susceptible to defects and failures. Whenever a shipboard machinery fails or an equipment breaks down, the repairs that follow are known as breakdown maintenance. However, this maintenance is not recommended owing to limited resource availability at sea unless the equipment is very crucial. Preventive maintenance that involves regular lubrications, cleaning, and inspection from time to time to retain an equipments healthy condition survives on trend values and relevant analysis.However, it is carried out as per the schedule even if the condition of the equipment is such that it does not require any frequent care. Therefore, predictive maintenance system that proactively understands the equipments current state and detects deterioration is any, is largely preferred owing to its cost friendly approach. Marine engine monitoring system provide ships and vessels with single central way to monitor, control and improve a vessels engine operations. It provides improved operational safety, reduced risk of unforeseeable repair costs and optimized monitoring of the engines.Preview Report @Growth in both, global coastal and maritime tourism as well as in international marine freight transport are the major factors driving the marine engine monitoring system market. Government across the world is also strategizing to develop innovative and smart solutions to promote marine engine monitoring system market. Owing to these factors, large number of huge and complex ships are brought in use giving rise to sophisticated marine engine monitoring systems across the world.Data standards associated to marine engine monitoring system market vary considerably in different countries of the world. Also, stringent environmental regulations is another major element affecting the market. However, owing to growth in global marine freight transport and increase in naval budgets, the impact of the restraints is expected to remain minimal in the long term.Get PDF Sample of Report @Opportunity anticipated to boost the marine engine monitoring system market includes technological innovations in marine propulsion systems and development of big data analytics. Owing to the modular and scalable system structure, various modules can be organized and combined to suit specific requirements. Also, since these modules are completely compatible with one another, they offer unified data sharing and a reliable operation environment. Furthermore, it has become easier to extend the functionality by integrating supplementary hardware units such as input/output modules, operator stations, etc.The marine engine monitoring system market can be classified on the basis of component, type of ship, deployment, engine type, product scale, and geography. Based on component, the marine engine monitoring system market can be segmented into hardware and software. On the basis of type of ship, the market can be classified into naval and commercial ships.In terms of deployment, the marine engine monitoring system market can be segmented into on-board and remote monitoring. Based on engine type, the market can be bifurcated into auxiliary and propulsion. On the basis of product scale, the marine engine monitoring system market can be segmented into original equipment manufacturer and aftermarket.Download TOC@Based on geography, the marine engine monitoring system market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South America. Europe is expected to be the most attractive region for the marine engine monitoring system market owing to highest coastal and maritime tourism in the region. Furthermore, large number of huge and complex naval vessels such as submarines, cruise ships, offshore vessels, etc. and comprehensive product range including cargo handling systems, diesel engines monitoring system, among others are other factors facilitating the growth of the market in the region.,Prominent players operating in the Marine engine monitoring system market include AST Group, CMR Group, Caterpillar Inc., Cummins Inc., Emerson Electric Co., Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Jason Marine Group, Kistler Group, Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Noris Group, Rolls-Royce plc., and Wartsila Finland Oy, among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Research Blog: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Drug Market to Reach US$83,041.3 by 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sexually-transmitted-disease-drugs-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sexually-transmitted-disease-drugs-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=34043 www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Sexually Transmitted Diseases Drug Market: SnapshotSexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also referred as venereal diseases are infections that can pass from person to person during sex. These diseases are caused mainly due to bacteria, viruses, and / or parasites.View Report-Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) often go undiagnosed because these infections usually do not exhibit visual symptoms. Changes in urination, Pain during sex, unusual discharge from the penis, abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding, bumps or sores, pain in the pelvic or abdominal region, burning or itching in the vaginal area are most common symptoms for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These all symptoms help to diagnose sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT), direct fluorescent tests and others test recommended by healthcare specialist to confirm sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).Chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, Human papillomavirus infection and syphilis are the most common types of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs. As per WHO 2015 report, near about 1.1 billion people had sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) other than HIV/AIDS. About 500 million people were infected with either chlamydia, gonorrhea syphilis or trichomoniasis. At least 250 million women suffering from human papillomavirus while 530 million case find with genital herpes.Request A Sample-Hospital Segment to Turn Lucrative, Fuelling Demand for Sexually Transmitted Disease DrugsThe global market for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug is expanding significantly, owing to increased chances of infection led by increase in the life expectancy of people across the globe. Rise in incidences of unprotected sex has led to an increase in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. A driving factor for the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug is rising initiatives by governments and multiple agencies drawn up guidelines or recommendations for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Low voluntary screening rate for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is major restrain for this market.The global sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug market can be segmented on the basis of disease type, therapy class, distribution channel, and region. On the bases of disease type, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug market can be further segmented into chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus infection, HIV/AIDS and others. According to therapy class sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug market can be segmented into antibiotics, antiviral, vaccines and others.In terms of distribution channel, the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug market can be segmented into hospitals pharmacies, retail pharmacies, online pharmacies and others. In terms of revenue, the hospitals segment held a significant share of the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug market in 2016.Rising Demand from Developing Economies to Support Markets Expansion in Asia PacificIn terms of region, the global sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is the leading market for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug market, followed by Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In terms of revenue, the U.S. holds a major share of the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) drug market in North America.Request For Custom Research-The market in Europe is expanding rapidly, due to increase in the patient population, especially in UK, Germany. Moreover, the market in Asia Pacific and Latin America is projected to expand significantly in the near future. Developing economies such as China and Japan are projected to contribute to growth of the market in APAC between 2017 and 2025, due to better health care infrastructure, economic growth, increase in the number of insurance payers, growth of the private health care sector, and increasing education awareness.Key players operating in the global sexually transmitted diseases drug market are Pfizer INC, Hoffmann La Roche, Bayer Healthcare, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. AbbVie, Inc., Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, and Merck & Co., Inc.About us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Web Real Time Communication Market - Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Forecast by 2023 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11816 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/web-real-time-communication-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Web Real Time Communication (Web RTC) is an open source application programming interface (API) originated by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Web RTC enables end-users with voice calling, video chat and peer to peer file sharing between browsers without the support of any external plugin. World Wide Web Consortium is the international standard organization for the development of standards world wide web. The W3C tries to establish compatibility among industry service providers for adoption of global standards developed by them. The internet protocols required for web RTC are developed, managed and standardized by Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).Web RTC comprises of three APIs, GetUserMedia (), PeerConnection () and DataChannels (). The GetUserMedia () request the user for permission to get access to input devices such as microphone and camera. The PeerConnection () establishes a connection between local device and remote device. The DataChannels () represents a bidirectional data channel between both the peers in the connection.Get PDF Sample of This Report @Web RTC provides time efficient, easily accessible and encrypted commercial telephony system. Web RTC is an open source API, hence could be easily accessed by the application developers. This has led to heavy adoption of web RTC in developing communication solutions at a lower cost compared to traditional systems. Web RTC does not depend on platform and device on which it is integrated, thus would attract global customers.Furthermore, web RTC provides better video and audio quality at a lower cost with enhanced security level compared to other telecommunication systems, thus could drive the growth of global web RTC market. Web RTC adapts and adjusts itself according to the changing network conditions. It adjusts according to bandwidth availability and avoids network congestion, thus increases efficiency of the network. The organizations enabled with web RTC technology products could improve customer interaction, promotional activities and increase their sales in a cost-effective way. The growth in customer facing industries such as retail, healthcare and hospitality would further boost the growth of web RTC market. However, web RTC is still an emerging technology, therefore has various challenges such as privacy issues with use of public internet and data security. These issues are expected to restrain the growth of global web RTC market. With big players such as Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corporation not supporting web RTC technology, the market is expected to face a hurdle in its growth.Web RTC market is broadly segmented on the basis of type, solution and geography. On the basis of type, the web RTC market can be segmented into software and services whereas, on the basis of solution it can be segmented as video calling solutions, voice solutions, messaging solutions and file sharing solutions. The software segment of the market provides software which have web RTC functionality whereas service segment provides the technology and API to integrate web RTC in their existing websites.View Our Report @Moreover, in terms of geographies, the global Web RTC market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America regions. Web RTC technology show its strong presence in North America as technological advancements and heavy investments are made by the players of this region. AsiaPacific and Europe are also adopting web RTC significantly due to tremendous growth seen in usage of web based applications.The major participants in the web RTC market include companies such as Google Incorporation, Mozilla Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., Opera Software ASA, TokBox, Twilio, Alcatel-Lucent S.A., Voxeo Corporation, American Telephone & Telegraph Corporation and Avaya Inc.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Water Quality Monitoring Market - Global Industry Analysis and Growth by 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=30713 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/water-quality-monitoring-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Water is the most important and basic natural resource. Water quality refers to physical, biological, radiological and chemical characteristics of water. It is a measure of water condition relative to any human need or purpose. Clean water is necessary to drink, operate factories, laboratories, grow crops for food etc. Water is thus important to every aspect of our lives. Large number of toxic chemicals are discharged in rivers everyday by virtue of human waste and industrial chemicals. Thus, monitoring water quality becomes the need of utmost importance. Monitoring the quality of water is going to help protect waterways from pollution.It helps in revealing the composition and health of rivers, lakes and streams in time. Without fresh water sustainable development will not be possible. Water quality monitoring is defined by International Standard for Organization as the programmed process of measurement, sampling and subsequent signaling or recording or both of water characteristics with the aim of evaluating conformity to specified objectives. Water quality can be determined only in terms of appropriateness for a purpose. For instance, water which is to be used for agricultural irrigation should contain low sodium content. Similarly drinking water should not contain micro-organisms or chemicals that could be hazardous to health.Get PDF Sample of This Report @Water quality monitoring is the basis for water management. Monitoring enables the government to take rational decisions on describing and identifying emerging and actual problems of water pollution. It also helps in setting priorities and formulating plans for water quality management. Water quality monitoring provides the objective evidence to determine compliance with water standards. Based on monitored data water managers and law makers can determine if water quality is getting worse or better and measure effectiveness of water policies. End of the day, quality monitoring is an essential part of preserving the planet healthy and sustainable.In recent years, industrial waste and toxic chemicals are increasingly discharged in rivers and other water resources that is calling for need for water quality monitoring. Also increasing government funding for pollution control and monitoring is driving the water quality monitoring market. The growing awareness of water quality measurement owing to rising level of water pollution is also driving the water quality monitoring market. However, high cost associated with water quality testing products and technical limitations related to water monitoring products are restraining the growth of water quality monitoring market.Moreover, lack of awareness about water quality among rural people in developing countries is also the restraining factor for the growth of the market. Advancement in technologies associated with water quality monitoring equipment and growing popularity of smart city concept is expected to create opportunities for the growth of water quality monitoring market. Additionally proliferation of IoT enabled devices for tracking and collecting data thereby enabling remote water quality monitoring is also creating opportunities for the growth of water quality monitoring market.View Our Report @The global water quality monitoring market can be segmented on the basis of equipment type, application and region. In terms of equipment type, the water quality monitoring market can be segmented into TOC analyzers, pH meters, conductivity sensors, dissolved oxygen analyzers, turbidity meters and others. The water quality monitoring market is classified on the basis of application into groundwater, waste water, aquaculture, drinking water, coastal and laboratory. Geographically, the water quality monitoring market is segmented into North America, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa (MEA), South America and Europe.Industry participants leading the water quality monitoring market with the significant developments are YSI Inc. /Xylem Inc., Emerson, Heron Instruments Inc., GE water and process technologies, In-Situ, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hach, RS Hydro, ATI UK, LaMotte Company and Jenco, among others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Cardiovascular Monitoring and Diagnostic Devices Market to Surge at a Robust Pace by 2024 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2385 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2385 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/crdiovascular-monitoring-diagnostic-devices.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com An up to date business and commerce study conducted at the headquarters of Transparency Market Research (TMR) has detected that while the global Cardiovascular Monitoring And Diagnostic Devices Market is showing great promise for the future, the vendor landscape is already highly competitive. Devices that can monitor and diagnose the cardiovascular system makes for a market that is dynamic in nature, with strong emphasis on technological advancements. However, most of the major players of this market are confined to only a few developed countries, consolidating their position and intensifying the competition.To gain greater shares, prominent players of the cardiovascular monitoring and diagnostic devices market are expected to make a foray into emerging economies. Additionally, maintaining a diverse product portfolio is also essential for these players to sustain their stronghold over shares. For instance, Medtronic PLC offers Autolog Autotransfusion system, HMS plus hemostasis management system, and ACT plus automated coagulation timer system, which is used in cardiovascular and vascular surgeries and ECMO. St. Jude Medical, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation and Johnson & Johnson are some of the other key players in this market. On the other hand, new entrants are also expected to make a mark in this market if they can match up to the technical expertise or harness the concept of wearables, although intellectual property rights and strict regulatory approach may act as a barrier for them.Request to View Sample of Report -Global Cardiovascular Monitoring and Diagnostic Devices Market to be worth US$3,629.5 mn by 2025According to the projections of the TMR report, the opportunities in the global cardiovascular monitoring and diagnostic devices market will translate into a revenue of US$3,629.5 mn by the end of 2024, with the demand expanding at a notable CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The report has also evaluated that the market was worth US$2,329.7 mn as of 2017. Based on product type, the report segments the market for cardiovascular monitoring and diagnostic into ECG systems, event monitors, diagnostic catheters, holter monitors, ECG management systems, and implantable loop recorders. By the end of 2024, the ECG systems segment is estimated to be worth US$1,662.7 mn. Geographically, while North America is followed by Europe as the most lucrative regions, the demand from Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a much stronger CAGR during the forecast period of this report.Request to View Brochure of Report -Behavior-Inflicted Circulatory System Diseases Driving DemandThe strong prevalence of diseases pertaining to circulatory systems such as heart valve disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, and hypertension are the primary drivers of the market for devices that are used to diagnose the disease as well as those used for monitoring during the surgeries. Across the world, urban population is drifting toward ill-eating habits and using tobacco frequently, which will only expand the prevalence of CVD. The WHO has rated CVD as the number one cause of deaths in the world each year. Improving healthcare infrastructure in the urban parts of the emerging economies, consistently improving technologies, and government emphasis on providing robust care to their citizens are some of the other key factors that are expected to reflect positively on this market in the near future. On the other hand, high cost of these devices are hindering from them reaching a larger pool of patients.View Report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global mPoS Terminals Sales Market Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports. Mobile POS (mPOS) terminals are specialized integrated mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) that function as electronic point of sale terminals. These specialized mobile devices can also be transformed into payment terminals through use of sleeves or dongles. Equipped with capabilities such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), Wi-Fi, smart card, and VoIP Four women are suing Nike, claiming their former employer has for years perpetuated a culture of unequal compensation and sexual harassment. The class-action lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Portland, is among the first to hit the Washington County company since a wave of complaints about pay disparities and bullying managers became public earlier this year. In response, the company parted ways with at least 11 executives in March and April, though it never publicly accused them of anything. Laura Salerno Owens, an employment lawyer at Markowitz Herbold in Portland, said the executive purge was too little, too late. "Nike has a real good-old-boy's culture," she said. "Women came into the company paid less than men, then they are ranked more harshly and, as a result, got smaller raises and bonuses. I think Nike wants to say that 'Just a couple people were responsible for the problem and we've gotten rid of them.' But we know that's certainly not the case." The most senior of the ousted executives is Trevor Edwards, former Nike brand president. The plaintiffs allege that Edwards was ultimately dismissed because he "caused and exacerbated a hostile workplace environment towards women." The Oregonian/OregonLive published a lengthy piece about Edwards, Nike's troubled culture and why he was the first to go in last spring's executive purge. The plaintiffs accuse Nike of violating the Federal Equal Pay Act; the Oregon Equal Pay Act; and the Oregon Equality Act. They don't ask for specific monetary damages. Rather they seek a court order requiring Nike to pay its employees fairly without regard to gender. The company has publicly acknowledged it has a gender- and racial-equity problem, which could complicate its defense efforts. As the complaint points out, in April, current Human Resources Vice President Monique Matheson stated, "[w]hile we've spoken about this many times, and tried different ways to achieve change, we have failed to gain traction and our hiring and promotion decisions are not changing senior-level representation as quickly as we have wanted." "The numbers don't lie," Salerno Owens said. "On a global scale, currently 77 percent of Nike's leadership team are men; 71 percent of its vice presidents are men; and 62 percent of its directors and senior directors are men." Salerno Owens added: "I've represented more than 50 Nike employees, and their experiences have been consistent with the plaintiffs.' The more senior the job title, the smaller the percentage of women." The plaintiffs -- Kelly Cahill, Sara Johnston, Samantha Phillips and Tracee Cheng all used to work for the company. Cahill worked for Nike for four years. Much of that time she served as a brand marketing director for Nike.com. In 2017, she claimed in the lawsuit, she was paid $20,000 a year less than a male co-worker doing much the same job. She filed four complaints against her boss, Danny Tawiah, who was one of the 11 executives who left the company last spring. Nike's human resources department took no action, the suit alleges. Cahill quit and went to work for Adidas. After earning her undergraduate degree in economics and her MBA from Willamette University, Johnston worked initially part-time at Nike. From 2008 to 2017, she worked as an account services representative and later a business systems analyst. She alleges that a male co-worker made sexual advances that included emailing her nude images of himself. When she rejected his propositions, the suit says, he retaliated by blaming her for problems, withholding information and refusing to attend meetings she was conducting. She went to her bosses to complain around February 2016. "In response, one of the Directors said, in effect, that Nike has a culture that revolves around alcohol, that Ms. Johnston should let the incidents go, that the rise of the internet and cell phones have made drunk messages part of this generation, that she should be less sensitive to these messages," according to the lawsuit. The situation escalated after Johnston claims she learned this same male co-worker was propositioning other women and had groped another. She again tried to lodge a complaint with human resources. The department took no action and the male co-worker was promoted to a position where he would work more closely with Johnston. She quit not long after. Nike's human resources department, which was supposed to investigate workers' complaints, was part of the problem, the complaint alleges. The department was run by David Ayre for most of the last 10 years. The complaint alleges Ayre himself "caused and fostered a hostile work environment towards female Nike employees." The company conducted at least two internal investigations into Ayre's conduct before his departure last year. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction against Nike prohibiting practices that lead to gender discrimination and ask that it be required to "develop and institute reliable, validated, and job-related standards for evaluating performance, determining pay, and making promotion decisions." It also asks for unspecified monetary damages and "reasonable" attorney fees. Nike officials declined to comment. -- Jeff Manning The Oregon Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that businesses must pay taxes on income they earn in the state, even if they don't have a physical presence in Oregon. Capital One acknowledged its credit card and consumer loan affiliates, based in Virginia, charged Oregonians nearly $150 million in fees in 2007 and 2008 and sent 24 million solicitations to state residents. State law requires businesses to pay taxes on "income derived from sources within the state." However, Capital One argued that its income came from no source inside Oregon since its its Virginia banking affiliates had no offices in the state. The bank challenged $5.7 million in taxes, penalties and interest from 2006 to 2008. The Supreme Court justices emphatically rejected that argument, upholding an earlier ruling from the state tax court that found the language in the state law plainly applies to income earned in Oregon, regardless of any physical offices. "We see no need to belabor the ordinary meaning of the phrase," Justice Lynn R. Nakamoto wrote for the court. "If customers located in Oregon are paying money to a taxpayer," Nakamoto wrote, "then taxpayer would appear to have 'income derived from sources within this state,' within the ordinary sense of those words." Capital One's Portland attorney did not respond to requests for comment on the ruling. -- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 I have become increasingly frustrated with Rep. Greg Walden's lack of responsiveness to us -- his constituents -- over many years, but more so over the past two years. His letters are form letters and do not answer my questions. Upon answering my phone calls, his staff members always reply they haven't "discussed that" with him. No matter the subject. He seems to avoid direct contact with us, and his staff can never tell us his schedule. Additionally, he now seems to have reneged on having debates with his opponent. He is apparently too busy with government business. But he had time for an expensive fundraiser outside his district on July 30 ("Paul Ryan to attend Monday fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, July 30). His 2nd Congressional District opponent, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, on the other hand, specifically answers direct questions and actually listens to us eastern Oregonians. That is what we should expect and are entitled to from our representatives. It has been refreshing to me to have thoughtful discourse with a smart, experienced person without ties to industries we don't have here, like pharmaceutical companies and internet providers. I look forward to a great partnership with a real representative. Please get the word out and vote with me on Nov. 6 for Jamie McLeod-Skinner for 2nd Congressional District representative. -- Sandra Haechrel, The Dalles Share your opinion Fired up? ! Submit 250 words or less and please include your first and last name, hometown and a phone number for verification. By Jeff Merkley and Mike McLane Oregon's bountiful agriculture is no secret. As a cornerstone of our economy, Oregon's farmers and food producers have developed a growing international reputation as an innovative food capital. However, what many people do not know is that Oregon's agriculture is also a significant contributor to our country's ability to alleviate humanitarian suffering and lay the foundation for "winning the peace" around the world. Over the past two weeks, seven ships filled with 176,000 tons of wheat left Portland for Yemen, the scene of one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. USAID, which administers the Food for Peace program, purchased the wheat that was grown in the Oregon and across the Pacific Northwest. This purchase benefitted America's wheat famers while helping to meet the immediate food needs of people in crisis in far corners of the world. War in Yemen has driven more than 18 million people to the brink of starvation. When communities cannot access food, people confront challenging and often destructive choices. Vulnerable populations are more likely to be forced to abandon their farms and homes. They are more susceptible to being recruited into gangs or militias. Women risk death or sexual assault when they have to travel miles alone searching for food. Families risk starvation and even death. When food aid arrives from the United States -- branded "From the American people" -- families are given a little more time to stay in their homes, rebuild their communities and develop opportunities to "win the peace." They also know who sends them the food, and this builds years of good will. For the past 50 years, Food for Peace has become a flagship of U.S. foreign policy, and more than three billion people in over 150 countries have benefited from American generosity during some of their most dire moments. This week, the UN World Food Program will take possession of the wheat here in Oregon, and their country director, Stephen Anderson, will be in Portland to officially thank the American people. As your elected officials, we are proud to see Oregon's bounty used in one of our nation's most effective peacebuilding tools, and we have some strong personal connections to the success of this program. Merkley: As your U.S. Senator, I have visited a couple of the World Food Program projects abroad. This March, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I visited South Sudan and Somalia, which are plagued by famine caused by climate change, conflict and government corruption. I saw firsthand how U.S. resources and generosity save lives, deliver hope, offer economic opportunities to communities and provide the basic nutrients that motivate millions of girls and boys to go to school. When people can thrive in their own countries, they build a stronger future for us all and reduce the threats to international security. McLane: Growing up in eastern Oregon, I used to harvest wheat in Condon. Now I represent these farmers and ranchers in the Oregon House of Representatives. I also serve in the Oregon Air National Guard. The programs that buy wheat from our farmers support family farms and our local economies, while stabilizing overseas threats. I am proud of our country's humanitarian programs that reduce the dangers facing our military personnel and citizens serving abroad There is one more unique connection with this particular shipment of wheat that leaves Portland this summer. Twenty five years ago, a Yemeni scholar came to Oregon State University for agriculture studies and raised his kids in Oregon. He then returned to Yemen, where he and much of his family are caught in this war and will likely benefit from America's produce. However, his son, Mohamed Alyajouri, stayed in Corvallis, became a U.S. citizen and earned his Master's degree in public health. He now works at OHSU and last year, he became the first Yemeni-American to be elected to office in Oregon, taking a seat on the Portland Community College Board of Trustees. While we serve on different sides of the political aisle, in different legislative bodies, we see these agricultural programs representing the best of American values, culture and policy. We are proud of how our state's agricultural heritage and products promote international connections for a more peaceful, stable and hopeful world. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat born in Myrtle Creek, serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rep. Mike McLane, who lives in Powell Butte, leads the Republican Caucus in the Oregon House of Representatives. COTTONWOOD CANYON - In the dead of summer, water still curls through Hay Creek, but it remains low to the scorched ground, whispering beneath the young cottonwoods and chokecherries. Should a beaver kit forge this far upstream from the John Day River, he wouldn't find enough food or drink to survive the winter. But on a 98-degree weekend at the end of July, a dozen volunteers with the Oregon Natural Desert Association descended into the canyon, determined to change that. Jefferson Jacobs They spent two sweltering days in the creek bed, wrapping welded-wire fencing around the vulnerable vegetation, protecting it from the beavers until it's mature enough to do them good. "Wilderness-habitat EMTs," ONDA's Jefferson Jacobs says, "trying to keep the patient alive." The analogy is well-chosen: There are so many patients and so many emergencies in the wilderness these days, thanks to the ongoing natural disaster in the White House. The Trump administration would weaken the Endangered Species Act to bolster oil and gas interests. It would loose timber companies in the national forests. It routinely mocks the ongoing, acidic devastation of climate change. The road in to Cottonwood Canyon So, yes, there's a fresh imperative for environmentalists. As Carol Knutson, a painter and sculptor who grew up on a Montana farm, said, "I started doing these projects when W was elected. How naive we were, that we thought that was the end of civilization. It's gotten so much worse." Yet most of the volunteers at Hay Creek are veterans of a dozen or more ONDA stewardship trips over the years, long dedicated to the proposition that restoring something is better than feeling nothing. "This is the most productive volunteer work you can do," said Laura Van Vleet, an urban-forest specialist with Portland Parks, sitting on a dusty bucket and cutting fence ties the length of her forearm. Laura Van Vleet measures and cuts fence ties. "It's near and dear to my heart. I get choked up talking about it," she said, then proved it. Jacobs has been leading these Oregon Natural Desert Association odysseys for 11 years. The Bend-based conservation group clears trails on Steens Mountain, removes barbed wire from the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, and installs artificial beaver dam along tributaries of the John Day. Why is the last necessary? In the early 19 th century, Jacobs notes, the Hudson's Bay Company in these river basins, hoping to discourage trappers and other pioneers from settling in the Oregon territory. "Hay Creek can't support beavers any more," notes Timothy Babalis, a National Park Service historian who made the trip with his wife, Sandra Staklis, and Concordia neighbors Alex and Katie Viesman. "You don't have the woody vegetation you need to provide food for the beavers. And you don't have the beavers to back up the water table to allow that vegetation to grow." Stewards in the wild To encourage the beaver comeback, ODNA volunteers cut 25- and 50-foot long fence sections to erect "exclosures" around alders, willows, dogwoods and other hardwoods native to the canyon. The cages not only discourage browsing by deer and elk, but the premature beaver harvest. In July, the volunteers actually expanded the fencing built on previous summers in Gilliam County. The heat was demoralizing, the shade nonexistent, the mood ... Remarkably upbeat. "You improve the landscape over time, watershed by watershed, and eventually there's a tipping point," Babalis says. "The beavers return and take over. That's why I feel so positive. We don't need to do everything. All we have to do is jump-start a natural process. Once we get it going, nature will take care of itself." "Everything else may be going to hell," Katie Viesman added, "but no deer and no beavers will be eating these trees." Not yet, anyway. Maybe not for another 10 years. But the day - and the beaver kits - will come. The willows and alder will take root. Dams will rise. And in a world that grows hotter by the day, Jacobs says, the creek-side temperatures will drop five degrees. "You're mitigating global climate change on a local level," Jacobs told the troops at lunch, the heat closing in on the shade shelter. "I hope that's inspirational ... at least for the rest of the afternoon." It sufficed, along with the watermelon and the occasional delirium of the mobile water sprayer. Over two days, the volunteers build 30 exclosures on Hay Creek, then drove 20 miles to camp each night at the west end of the state park. They swam the river and savored the exhaustion. Laura Van Vleet remembered the summers spent clearing the barbed wire on Hart Mountain, so the pronghorns could roam free. More than 200 miles of fencing once scarred the refuge; 10-person teams struggled all day to clear a mile. "When you're done for the day," Van Vleet said, "you look back and there's ..." I thought of the many discouraging ways that sentence might end. You look back, and don't recognize an inch of change. You look back, and see the West in flames. But, no. "You look back," Van Vleet said, "and there's wilderness." -- Steve Duin stephen.b.duin@gmail.com A federal jury Friday returned not guilty verdicts in the trial of FBI agent W. Joseph Astarita, accused of lying to conceal that he fired two shots at the truck of refuge occupation spokesman Robert "LaVoy" Finicum" in January 2016. The jury of nine men and three women deliberated for about six hours over two days after a three-week trial in Portland before U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones. They acquitted Astarita on two counts of making a false statement and one count of obstruction of justice. Astarita, 41, a member of the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team, looked straight ahead but squeezed the hands of defense lawyers Robert Cary and Meghan Ferguson sitting on either side of him as the court clerk read the verdicts about 2:45 p.m. Once the jury left, Astarita's attorneys took turns enveloping him in strong hugs. The team of prosecutors quietly filed out of the courtroom. The verdict marks the latest in a series of daunting losses for prosecutors trying people involved in the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, though this case targeted a federal agent who had been working on the government's side of the confrontation. Astarita had been on the Hostage Rescue Team for only eight months at the time of the Jan. 26, 2016, shooting at a highway roadblock in eastern Oregon. He spent hours on the witness stand over two days and testified that he's never fired his weapon in the line of duty during his 13 years with the FBI. He said he didn't independently recall where he was standing at the time of the disputed shots and said he heard no gunshots that day, though investigators found eight were fired at the roadblock. He said he was wearing a hearing-protection headset attached to his helmet. "I had no indication I had fired. I didn't hear it, feel it, see it that day,'' he told jurors this week. With Astarita's acquittal, the mystery remains as to who fired twice after Finicum swerved into a snowbank at the roadblock on U.S. 395 in Harney County, stepped from his truck with his hands in the air and shouted, "Go ahead and shoot me.'' One shot hit the roof of the truck's cab and shattered the rear driver's side window and the other missed entirely - both distinctly audible on the video captured by rear seat passenger Shawna Cox. Moments later, two state police SWAT officers shot and killed Finicum after he had walked away from his truck and was seen reaching into his inner left jacket pocket where police said he had a loaded 9mm Ruger pistol. The fatal shooting was ruled justified by the Deschutes County district attorney. Defense lawyers Robert Cary, based in Washington, D.C., and Portland defense lawyer David Angeli called Astarita "a hero who puts his life on the line for his country every day." "We are grateful to the men and women of the jury who saw through a case that never should have been brought," they said in a statement. "Joe Astarita is innocent, and it was our privilege and honor to represent him.'' Astarita remains on the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and has continued to work since he was indicted a year ago. He was never placed on leave. Oregon U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams thanked the jury for its consideration. "We strongly believe this case needed to be brought before the court and decided by a jury,'' Williams said in a statement. "Our system of justice relies on the absolute integrity of law enforcement officials at all levels of government.'' Michael E. Horowitz, U.S. Department of Justice inspector general, thanked the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and the Major Incident Team for its assistance in investigating Astarita. Horowitz said his office respects the jury's verdict. "We will continue to investigate allegations of misconduct by Department of Justice employees to ensure the integrity of our law enforcement components,'' he said. Astarita was among a host of FBI agents and state police officers trying to arrest leaders of the armed refuge takeover as they drove off the bird sanctuary to a community meeting 100 miles away along remote U.S. 395. The bureau faced sustained scrutiny during the occupation as critics anxiously watched to see if its response would mirror the deadly sieges in Waco, Texas, and Ruby Ridge in Idaho, and others questioned why law enforcement hadn't moved in more rapidly, allowing the occupiers to freely come and go from the refuge for weeks. During Astarita's trial, defense lawyers pointed out repeatedly that none of the more than 40 witnesses who testified saw or heard Astarita fire his rifle and prosecutors presented no physical evidence that definitively tied him to the disputed shots. The prosecution relied largely on circumstantial evidence and forensic analyses, pinpointing Astarita as the only officer who could have fired the two shots based on their expert Michael Haag's determination of the bullet's path and Astarita's location at the time the shots rang out. An aerial FBI video also caught Astarita standing with his rifle shouldered beside the open passenger door of a state police truck in the middle of the highway roadblock when the shots occurred, prosecutors said. Astarita's lawyers argued that the video image was too fuzzy to conclude much of anything. They identified the most likely shooter as one of the state police SWAT officers, identified in court only as Officer 1 due to security concerns. Officer 1 recklessly "let loose with three rounds'' into Finicum's truck as it barreled toward the roadblock, even though he acknowledged that he couldn't see the driver or passengers, Angeli said. Officer 1 then rushed into the snowbank as Finicum walked away from his truck without using any cover and fired two shots into his back, Angeli said. Angeli also accused Officer 1of lying on the witness stand when he claimed he told investigators last year that he was startled by a loud noise to his right as he was moving from east to west across U.S. 395 at the time of the disputed shots. Angeli reminded jurors that no investigator heard that claim until Officer 1 shared that with prosecutors a month before the trial, as the lead case agent, Deschutes County Sheriff's Detective Ron Brown, confirmed on the witness stand. Two and a half years after the shooting, no one has acknowledged taking the two shots in question, and investigators recovered only two shell casings of eight shots fired at the roadblock. Government prosecutors also failed to convict the leaders of the refuge occupation, including Ammon Bundy and his brother Ryan Bundy, after a lengthy trial in 2016 in a decision that emboldened like-minded activists fighting federal ownership of public land. Astarita remains on the job but may now face an internal FBI administrative review of the allegations. In a pretrial hearing, his lawyers said Astarita had exhausted his life savings on the experts hired for his case. Deschutes County Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, whose agency led the initial inquiry into the disputed shots, said he trusts the criminal justice process, but the verdicts don't alter his beliefs or earlier statements. When Astarita was indicted in June 2017, Nelson credited his investigators for their tenaciousness and said he was "disappointed and angry'' that the FBI agent's alleged deceit and actions "damage the integrity of the entire law enforcement profession.'' "The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office and Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General did our jobs to investigate this thoroughly,'' he said Friday. "I support and trust Inspector General Michael Horowitz as he reviews this case administratively to identify any areas of improvement that will identify mistakes made by the FBI Hostage Rescue Team in this case and increase transparency for law enforcement.'' Nelson also said he didn't buy the argument by Astarita's defense that an Oregon State Police SWAT officer took the disputed shots. "There is one thing I am sure of and that is no one from the Oregon State Police fired those two shots,'' he said. Finicum's wife, Jeanette Finicum, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the FBI and state police in the fatal shooting of her 54-old husband, a rancher from Arizona who was easily recognizable during the occupation, wearing earmuffs under his cowboy hat and shown sitting at the refuge entrance, a gun across his lap and a blue tarp over his head to keep warm on a frigid evening. She sat through most of the trial, taking notes to prepare for her own civil case. She said she felt the prosecutors didn't do a robust enough job of questioning Astarita and his colleagues on the Hostage Rescue Team, who echoed that they didn't hear gunshots that day and that all were doing a standard "sensitive items" check for gear and remnants of flash-bang grenades at the shooting scene. "So many questions not asked and so many questions not answered,'' Jeanette Finicum said. But she also thanked the jury for its service. Brian Levin, a former New York Police officer who has worked closely with the FBI and now is director of California State University's Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, said the verdict "plays into the narrative that there's some kind of government coverup,'' although the alleged coverup wasn't proven in court by prosecutors. "The burden was on the prosecution,'' Levin said. "This was not a trial as to whether or not the use of force was justified. This was about who was where and who took the shots. The defense was able to introduce enough ambiguity that it precluded the prosecution from meeting its burden.'' -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian An inmate at an eastern Oregon prison died Friday after being taken to a hospital, according to the state corrections department. The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death for 55-year-old David Lokken, the corrections department said. The agency hasn't said why Lokken was taken to a hospital from the Snake River Correction Institution in Ontario. Lokken was sentenced December 2015 in Washington County Circuit Court to nearly nine years for second-degree assault, driving under the influence, second-degree criminal mischief and reckless driving. The conviction stemmed from a crash in Bethany that injured Lokken and his two passengers. According to court records, Lokken was speeding while driving high on methamphetamine and crashed into a tree. The crash threw one of his passengers through the front windshield. Lokken's earliest possible prison release date was in August 2024, the corrections department said. Oregon State Police is investigating his death. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey A 68-year-old inmate was found dead Wednesday morning in his cell at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem. Juan Rivas-Valles, serving a life sentence for killing his girlfriend and another man, was unresponsive when an officer discovered him during a routine check. Officials do not suspect foul play, said Audrey McPherson, office manager of the Oregon State Penitentiary. Juan Rivas-Valles Rivas-Valles lived in a single cell with no roommate. The medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Oregon State Police are investigating, which is standard with all inmate deaths. Rivas-Valles pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated murder in 1990. He had found his girlfriend and another man together in a room at a motel on East Burnside Street. Rivas-Valles and his girlfriend were from Fort Hall, Idaho. Rivas-Valles had been in prison since April 1990. A southern Washington father who violently shook his infant son to get him to stop crying has been sentenced to more than three years in prison. Brooks Hamilton, 31, of Longview was arrested on first-degree child assault charges earlier this year after his 4-month-old baby sustained a traumatic brain injury, KATU reported. According to authorities, Hamilton admitted he picked up the baby by the head and shook him. The child's mother called police when she returned home. The injury caused bleeding in his brain and a hemorrhage in one eye and led to developmental delays, records show. He was rushed to Randall Children's Hospital in Portland. More than six months later, the baby is still recovering, family members say. Hamilton was also ordered to 18 months of community supervision and prohibited from having contact with the child and the boy's family for 10 years. ___ Information from: KATU-TV -- The Associated Press SALEM The evangelist Franklin Graham recently asked thousands of people at an Oregon rally to pray for the state's Democratic governor, saying she should be a Christian. Yoga and meditation suit Gov. Kate Brown just fine, she told reporters Thursday when asked if she follows a certain faith. "I believe very much that each of us is a spiritual being, and that's how I see the world," Brown said, adding that she feels people should treat human beings with respect. Brown, who's running for re-election in November, was specifically named by Graham at a sermon Sunday to more than 12,000 people near Portland, Willamette Week reported. "Let's pray for your governor, Gov. Brown. Wouldn't it be something if she got saved? Amen," Graham said, the Portland weekly reported. "We pray for Kate Brown. And Lord, I pray that she would come to know your son Jesus Christ as her lord and savior one day." Oregon is one of America's most liberal states, with Democrats also controlling the state Legislature. Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, is an outspoken ally of President Donald Trump. "If the church went to the polls and voted, you could turn this state around," Graham told the crowd at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds. "The enemy out there thinks the church is asleep." Asked by reporters during a phone-in news conference about her religious beliefs, Brown said she is a yogi, or one who practices yoga. While in India, yoga for many is a spiritual or religious practice, in America it is generally secular. Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Brown's Republican challenger on the Nov. 6 ballot, Rep. Knute Buehler of Bend, "was not brought up in a particular faither community," according to campaign spokeswoman Monica Wroblewski. "Patty and Knute have mostly attended catholic churches over the years," Wroblewski wrote in an email, noting that Buehler's wife Patty is Catholic. Recently, the couple has attended services at a variety of churches around the state on Sundays, including East Hill Church, Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church, Beaverton Foursquare Church, Hope Church and City Bible Church. The Associated Press A committee of lawmakers is planning to meet Monday morning in Salem, to hire an outside lawyer to respond to Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian's complaint that legislative leaders covered up a culture of sexual harassment in the Capitol. The complaint names House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney, saying they knew or should have known that former Sen. Jeff Kruse was harassing women and there was a broader hostile environment at the Capitol. Kotek and Courtney are Democrats and Kruse is a Republican. Avakian also accused top legislative lawyer Dexter Johnson and human resources chief Lore Christopher of instructing women not to tell anyone about harassment by Kruse and two other men, and falsely telling victims they lacked standing to sue. The Legislature has until Wednesday to respond, Kotek has said. Legislative leaders had asked the Oregon Department of Justice to represent them, but the agency declined. "Since BOLI and the Legislature are both clients of ours, we cannot represent both," DOJ spokeswoman Kristina Edmunson wrote in an email Thursday afternoon. "We have determined to represent neither and have requested they each obtain outside counsel." The Legislature has not yet posted any list of lawyers or firms it is considering for the job. Gov. Kate Brown, in a telephone press conference with reporters Thursday, declined to comment on whether there is a hostile environment in the Capitol. "Certainly that complaint is under investigation and I'm not going to comment on it until that investigation is complete," Brown said. "I'm doing everything in my power to make sure that gender status does not create a hostile work environment in places I have control." -- Hillary Borrud 503-294-4034; @hborrud A fugitive sought for more than a decade and accused of taking part in a string of eco-sabotage attacks across the West is in custody in Portland and pleaded not guilty Friday to helping burn down an Oregon meatpacking plant in the 1990s. Joseph Mahmoud Dibee, 50, was detained as he was about to board a plane in Cuba bound for Russia. Federal authorities had learned he was traveling through Central America on his way to Russia with the planned stop in Cuba. The FBI arranged for Cuban authorities to detain Dibee and return him to the United States Thursday. Federal agents booked Dibee into the Multnomah County Detention Center at 4:53 p.m. Thursday. Dibee was indicted in 2006 in Oregon on charges of arson, conspiracy to commit arson and destruction of an energy facility. He also faces arson charges and possession of a destructive device in federal court in Washington and California. Dibee, wearing blue jail garb, pleaded not guilty to three counts of a 65-count indictment in U.S. District Court in Portland during his first court appearance. He told Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta that he understood his rights and said nothing more. He's accused of helping destroy a meatpacking plant called Cavel West Inc. in Redmond on July 1, 1997. Those involved wore dark clothing, masks and gloves. Dibee drilled holes and poured flammable gel into holes around the property, prosecutors said. One of three explosive devices ignited prematurely. The arson caused $1.2 million in damage. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Barrow said Dibee fled in 2005 and traveled to Mexico, Lebanon, Russia, Syria, Ecuador and El Salvador. Dibee holds passports from Syria and Russia, Barrow said. Assistant Federal Public Defender Bryan Francesconi said Dibee has no income and no assets. He was ordered to remain in custody. A tentative trial was set for two weeks in October in federal court in Eugene. In 2008, Dibee was believed to have been living in Syria with family members and federal officials announced a $50,000 reward for his arrest. He helped set a string of arson fires between 1996 and 2001 that were carried out by self-proclaimed members of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front, the government alleges. ORs US Attorney Billy J. Williams talks about arrest of Joseph Didee, who traveled the world to avoid capture, according to FBI SAC Loren Cannon ( Didee accused of setting fire to a meat-packing house called Cavel West in Redmond in 1997) pic.twitter.com/7cYiCOO1FI Maxine Bernstein (@maxoregonian) August 10, 2018 Federal investigators said Dibee was part of what they called "The Family,'' describing it as a terrorist cell of about 20 people who committed crimes in the name of the two groups. By the time it disbanded in 2001, the cell was responsible for at least 25 criminal acts totaling about $48 million in damages, including the 1998 torching of a ski resort in Vail, Colorado. Along with arson, their crimes ranged from vandalism, property damage and animal releases, prosecutors said. Dibee went by the nicknames "Seattle,'' "Steve'' and "God,'' according to an FBI wanted flier. On the first day of their 2005 Operation Backfire, FBI agents made contact with Dibee at his home in Seattle, where he worked as a computer software tester at Microsoft, but they lacked evidence to arrest him then. Four days later, according to a federal indictment, Dibee vanished. "Dibee will now, as many of his co-conspirators have before, face the consequences of his actions,'' Oregon's U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said. "Using violent means to express one's views will never be tolerated nor forgotten. We will bring every last person responsible for these crimes to justice.'' Williams declined to speak specifically about the help U.S. authorities received from Cuba in tracking Dibee down, but he generally thanked international partners. An age-progressed photo of Josephine Sunshine Overaker released by the FBI. One other woman in The Family is still being sought, Josephine Overaker, who officials said has been on the run since 2001. She's wanted in connection with the Vail resort fire. She's believed to be either 43 or 46 years old, and at one time used the name of deceased baby, according to the FBI. She may have fled to Europe in late 2001 and has a tattoo of a bird on her back, according to federal officials. The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to her arrest. In 2014, another member of the group, Rebecca Rubin, was sentenced to five years in prison. Rubin, of Canada, had pleaded guilty to arson, attempted arson and conspiracy to commit arson in Oregon, Colorado and California as part of the underground Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front. She participated in four crimes, including planning the eventual $12 million fire that destroyed the Vail ski resort under construction. She turned herself in to the FBI at the Washington-Canada border in late 2012, driven to the meeting by her mother. -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian A 35-year-old woman who killed a friend who had given her a place to stay at his apartment near downtown Portland was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison. Paris McConville confessed to strangling and stabbing Ryan D. Thompson, 35, on Aug. 21, 2017. McConville moved Thompson's body into a bathtub, bound his hands with packing tape and 17 hours later walked into Central Precinct to report the crime to police, investigators said. Prosecutors are unsure why McConville killed Thompson, but the two had been friends for 10 years and Thompson had recently invited McConville to live with him in his apartment at 730 S.W. St. Clair Ave. McConville, a transgender woman, had been homeless, unemployed and living off food stamps. Ryan Thompson was killed on Aug. 21, 2017. Investigators believe that the pair might have been arguing for days leading up to the killing. McConville told police she was acting in self-defense, but she struggled Thursday to provide an explanation why she killed Thompson. She said she was sorry, then spent the next few minutes going off on a strange tangent about dental staff in the Multnomah County jail system. Prosecutors believe McConville struggles with mental health problems. McConville pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault and was sentenced immediately in Multnomah County Circuit Court. A deputy medical examiner determined Thompson died by strangulation, but also had suffered a knife wound to one of his arms and blunt-force injuries to his body. McConville originally was charged with murder and faced a sentence of life in prison with a minimum 25 years if convicted of that charge. Defense attorney Jason Steen said it was very rare for murder defendants to turn themselves into police. She did that on her own, before she had an attorney. ... I find Paris to be a bit mysterious, but one thing that seemed very clear to me is that right from the start, she was sorry, Steen said. Four of Thompsons relatives spoke about their deep love for him and the tremendous grief that has followed his death. Thompsons father said his son was an expert on famous diamonds and calligraphy and had worked at a fine jewelry store. David Thompson said his son also was an artist and beautiful writer who shunned typing on keyboards and instead preferred to write everything out by hand. Thompsons sister described the unsettling feeling that began to form when her brother didnt show up to work on Aug. 22 and he didnt answer his phone either. Cecily Thompson-Thiel said her family has fallen into a deep depression, and she now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder out of fear that something bad will happen to one of her other family members. "He lost his life because he trusted the wrong person," Thompson-Thiel said. -- Aimee Green On the eve of the November 2016 election, one particular image stayed on Rachel Sowray's mind: long lines of people waiting, in some cases for hours, just to vote. "I had a 2-year-old at the time and there is no way I could have stood in a line to vote," she said. "So, what are these parents doing who have toddlers and want to vote?" And that made her think of all the other civic activities parents of young children can miss out on. While Oregonians don't have to wait in line to cast a ballot, it can be difficult for parents to attend city council meetings, speak to a legislator or give public testimony. If concern about childcare costs is one reason someone's voice isn't heard, Sowray thought, let's remove that financial barrier. Her idea became Politisit. The small Oregon-based nonprofit reimburses parents for childcare costs while they attend any number of civic events. "Things like going to a board meeting, being on a commission," Sowray said. "You can go meet with a legislator, you can go get advocacy training, you can go to a PTA meeting, you can be on the board of a non-profit that's influencing your community." Sowray is a special assistant U.S. attorney for the Social Security Administration whose son is now 4. "As a parent, I'm definitely well aware of where my child will be welcome, and where my child will be welcome but might have trouble focusing," she said. "It's great that you have government meetings at night so the community can access them, but ... you don't want to bring your 3-year-old out to a 7 p.m. meeting knowing that bedtime is at 8 p.m." Politisit is nonpartisan, meaning you can receive services no matter where you fall on the political spectrum. "The idea is to increase civic engagement by parents in all communities of Oregon," Sowray said. "If you want everybody to participate, you can't decide which voices are appropriate to participate and which ones aren't." There are guidelines. Politisit won't support activities that promote "racism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia or other forms of hatred." It won't reimburse costs related to volunteering for a candidate's campaign, nor will it fund attendance at protests or marches. "We're trying to focus more on having actual conversations or attendance at an event that would allow for conversation," Sowray said. Politisit clients choose the childcare provider of their choice, and the nonprofit provides reimbursement. Parents can request up to $200, or up to 15 hours, of services per year. There are no strict income requirements. It's a service open to anyone who feels there's a financial barrier to participate in a specific civic activity. If you're waffling on going is it really worth $80 in babysitting expenses to go to that meeting? Politisit wants to take that worry away. "For so long you've had so many people who have been silenced," said Kim Olson, who serves on the Politisit board of directors. "Not necessarily because anybody has been actively trying to silence them, but because their lives, their financial lives, their social lives, the lives of their children, all of it kind of comes together in a place where they are unable to pull together the time and get themselves out there to have themselves heard." Jackie Leung / Courtesy photo After Politisit officially launched in April 2017, its first client was Jackie Leung of Salem. She was interested in testifying at the state Capitol on issues around reproductive health care, food insecurity and insurance access, while also serving as a member of the Oregon Commission for Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. At the time, she had a 2-year-old and 7-year-old, and she had to consider childcare costs when deciding which events she'd attend. Leung used Politisit reimbursements to attend public meetings and get candidate training through the Emerge Oregon program. She cites these opportunities as a factor in her decision to run for Salem City Council this year a seat the first-time candidate won. She'll take office in January and is no longer eligible for Politisit services, but she hopes other parents will discover it. "We keep talking about civic engagement and the importance of civic engagement," Leung said. "But are we actually taking into consideration the needs of our community? Of the people who want to be involved but can't because of childcare or other obligations?" The YWCA of Greater Portland signed on as the fiscal sponsor for Politisit, providing financial oversight and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status that makes donations tax-deductible. Politisit has gotten 70 individual donors to date, Sowray said. They've reimbursed childcare for 23 clients who've attended 30 different events. It's added up to about 150 hours of civic participation that might have otherwise been lost or curtailed. Sowray would love to see Politisit expand into other states, and she'd like to have male clients as well. So far, only women have requested services. Politisit was born out of the idea that our democracy needs a political conversation with a diversity of voices. That speaking up at a school board meeting and paying attention to your city council are important parts of what it means to be an American. Most requests are for just a few hours of childcare. But cumulatively? That financial support and that encouragement will contribute to long-term change in how clients view their role in government. -- Samantha Swindler is a columnist for The Oregonian/Oregonlive @editorswindler / 503-294-4031 sswindler@oregonian.com A Portland police officer who in 2015 forced to the ground and arrested a black man he mistook for a shooting suspect had not received racial bias training before the incident and omitted unflattering details about his conduct in his report of it, a confidential city memo shows. The Portland City Council, apprised of the police department's failings in the incident, unanimously approved a $25,000 settlement Wednesday with the man who was arrested, Anthony Allen Jr. Portland police officers have for decades stopped, searched, arrested, shot at and killed black men at disproportionate rates and continue to do so, according to data published by the Police Bureau, city auditor reports and accounts from criminal justice reformers. Police officials have generally maintained that while there is room for improvement, outright racial profiling is extremely uncommon. The liability incurred by police officer Colby Marrs' arrest of Allen was outlined in the confidential memo, prepared by a city attorney for the mayor, commissioners, police chief and other select high-ranking officials. The document, provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive by an employee at City Hall, encouraged the City Council to pay to settle a lawsuit brought by Allen. The night of the arrest, Marrs was posted in Allen's Northeast Portland neighborhood as part of a police perimeter after a shooting. Officers were told the suspects were three young black men wearing hoodies. Allen, then 21, was riding his bike home from work when stopped by officers at the perimeter, who told him to go straight home. Marrs subsequently spotted Allen, who was not wearing a hoodie, just a few houses from his home and told him to "f***ing stop." When Allen kept going, Marrs used force to handcuff and arrest him. He was jailed for most of the night. &amp;lt;a href="https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4705331/CONFIDENTIAL-MEMO-WATERMARKED.pdf"&amp;gt;CONFIDENTIAL MEMO WATERMARKED (PDF)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; &amp;lt;a href="https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4705331/CONFIDENTIAL-MEMO-WATERMARKED.txt"&amp;gt;CONFIDENTIAL MEMO WATERMARKED (Text)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; Marrs never questioned Allen about the shooting, a decision that calls into question why Marrs insisted on stopping him to begin with, the memo states. Police officers are required to note in their reports if they use profanity on a suspect. But Marrs omitted that information in his write-up. The city memo says Marrs said in a deposition that he had zero training on racial profiling by Portland police against black men. It said the city risked being found "negligent" at trial in failing to train officers to avoid racially-biased policing. The Police Bureau has since 2009 had a strategy to stop racial profiling, pledging among other things to teach officers about race relations in policing. Dan Handelman of Portland Cop Watch, a police reform advocacy group, said high-rank officers have undergone anti-bias training but not all patrol officers have. Police spokesman Sgt. Chris Burley said he could not explain on short notice why Marrs, who has worked for the department since 2012, had not been trained how not to profile people. Burley said the department has offered an equity class since 2016 and all officers attended a training this year that "discussed implicit bias." The department takes accusations of racial bias seriously, he said, and police rules direct officers not to discriminate. The department will not say whether Marrs was disciplined, Burley said. Daryl Turner, president of the city police union, said "lapses in training" have occurred depending on course availability and whether the curriculum "was agreeable" to each police chief. Larry O'Dea was chief at the time of Allen's arrest. Burley said the new chief, Danielle Outlaw, has been proactive in assuring police officers receive anti-bias training. "There is no room for any kind of bias in the work that we do," Turner said. Allen's attorney, Ashlee Albies, said his case is "a specific example, a zoom in on a data point" in a larger pattern of racial profiling of black men by Portland police officers. "The data shows that there is this trend of stopping African American men in this city at a disproportionate rate to their white counterparts," Albies said. The memo describes the city's take on how Portlanders perceive police in unusually frank language. "This case presents a conflict between two contrasting points of view. The first is that young black men are the targets of racially biased policing, in danger of being hurt if not killed by excessive police force, and that police officers have an obligation to be polite at all times and respond to aggression and non-compliance with de-escalation techniques," the memo states. It goes on: "The second point of view is that officers respond to suspects based on race-neutral factors related to crime, that profanity can be effective in gaining compliance when regular commands are not followed, that refusing to cooperate with law enforcement is suspicious, and that the inconvenience of being questioned regarding a crime that you were not involved with is reasonable, in light of the law enforcement mission of arresting dangerous criminals." Mayor Ted Wheeler called the settlement appropriate in light of the facts. He noted that neither he nor Outlaw were in their current roles when the arrest occurred. Only Commissioner Amanda Fritz addressed Allen's well-being. "I hope that we have learned from what happened in this incident. ... I hope Mr. Allen is doing fine," Fritz said. Though Allen has agreed not to take the city to court over his claims of racial profiling, he has already prevailed once in court in a case related to his altercation with Marrs. After his arrest, prosecutors charged Allen with interfering with a police officer. A six-member jury acquitted him. Brent Weisberg, a spokesman for Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill, said the decision to charge Allen "was appropriate and in line with office policy." Weisberg said Underhill "respects the jury's decision" to acquit. -- Gordon R. Friedman 503-221-8209 Springfield police say a man who was attacked after being mistaken as a gang member was wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, not a red Portland Trail Blazers jersey as initially believed. Lt. Scott McKee said Friday that investigators have clarified it was a LeBron James jersey. The 45-year-old victim was walking late at night in Gamebird Park when three men challenged him about his gang affiliation. The victim was beaten after denying he belonged to a gang. McKee said investigators believe the jersey was the basis for the July 31 confrontation. Several 911 callers reported hearing screaming, and McKee says the unprovoked attack left the victim bloodied, bruised and broken. -- The Associated Press Democrats want a "fighter" to take on President Donald Trump in 2020. High-profile lawyer Michael Avenatti is a fighter. Ipso facto, Avenatti is in Iowa this week talking to voters and speaking at a Democratic Party fundraiser. That's right, the man best known as porn star Stormy Daniels' attorney is considering launching a campaign for the White House. "I think there's a huge appetite within the party for a fighter," Avenatti told the Des Moines Register. "I think the party has yearned for a fighter -- a fighter for good, if you will -- for a significant period of time. And for many, I'm probably seen as that individual." The 47-year-old California native certainly has built a reputation for combativeness thanks to regular cable-news appearances in which he gleefully excoriates President Trump. (His client, Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had an affair with Trump and is trying to void a 2016 nondisclosure agreement.) Avenatti's fighting spirit also has been on display as he's defended himself against charges that he operated a "pump-and-dump" scheme after his investment firm took over Seattle's troubled Tully's Coffee in 2013. In March, Washington state lawyer David Nold accused Avenatti and his firm of destroying Tully's, causing a raft of jobs to be lost. Avenatti responded with an aggressive -- one might even say Trumpian -- attack. "Mr. Nold is widely known as an unethical 'hack' of a lawyer who routinely files baseless complaints," he told the Seattle Times in an email. "He is a disgrace to the legal profession and is consumed by jealousy of other attorneys so he makes baseless allegations. His most recent conduct is yet more of the same -- I hope he gets the help he needs." Nold's response: "He's mad because we wouldn't be bullied." Avenatti isn't letting the questions -- and lawsuits -- concerning his handling of Tully's Coffee get in the way of his political ambition. The accomplished attorney and part-time professional race-car driver spent Thursday pressing the flesh at the Iowa State Fair. The Iowa caucuses kick off the presidential-campaign season every four years and are always targeted by long-shot candidates in search of momentum. "I'm exploring a run for the presidency of the United States," Avenatti said at the fair. "And I wanted to come to Iowa and listen to people and learn about some issues that are facing the citizens of Iowa and do my homework." Avenatti has never run for public office before, but he believes he knows what it takes to win votes -- and that he's ready to sit in the Oval Office. Offered the University of Pennsylvania and George Washington University Law School graduate: "I would like to think people would take me seriously." -- Douglas Perry U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, sat down with the Daily News last week to discuss various domestic and international issues. Today's article features domestic issues. Committee assignment As a member of the House Appropriations committee, Moolenaar said he is focusing a lot of time on the budget. "Last year we were able to complete all 12 bills in the House, the Senate didn't do any. This year we're on a better timeline with both the House and the Senate. All 12 bills are out of (the House) committee and we've passed six on the House floor," he said. The plan is for the House to pass the other six when they return to Washington, D.C. after Labor Day. "The Senate is actually doing their work. They are passing their appropriations bills out of committee. I'm encouraged that the process is moving forward. That's not to say that as we get later into September there won't be something that will derail the process," he said. Opioid crisis Those fighting the opioid crisis should see additional funds. "We're hearing we need more treatment beds," Moolenaar said. "Three of the counties that the Centers for Disease Control identified as 220 rural communities at risk are in the 4th Congressional District -- Roscommon, Clare and Ogemaw counties." The National Institutes of Health has begun long-term research to create awareness of non-addictive medicines and to limit their access. Farm Bill A new Farm Bill is heading to a conference committee. "We have basic agreement on most of the agricultural pieces of the Farm Bill. The difference would be in the House version we had a work requirement and I support that. I think it's a good idea," Moolenaar said. But, he doesn't believe the U.S. Senate will support the work requirement to the same degree, "So, that will be a negotiated part," Moolenaar said. "The important thing is that we need to have the Farm Bill in place to provide structure and stability. I'm optimistic that the differences will get worked out in committee." Dairy is one area Moolenaar thinks will benefit under the new Farm Bill. "Right now, dairy prices are low and a lot of farmers are struggling to make it. So, that is a priority for me, opening up new markets for our agriculture products," he said. On Thursday, Gov. Rick Snyder announced that two new world-class dairy processing facilities are being built in Michigan by December 2020. The $510 million investment will take place in St. Johns. Soo Locks Part of the appropriations will see $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative along with the strong possibility of funds for an additional lock at the Soo Locks. A study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reported the necessity for another lock. "Between the Army Corps doing their evaluation, incorporating all the economic and national security aspects of that, plus the president's support, and bipartisan support in Congress, especially the Michigan delegation, I'm very encouraged," Moolenaar added. "I think for the first time we are going to see the administration and Congress pushing for it at the same time." Moolenaar also cited a study by Homeland Security that concluded, "If the Soo Locks went down, it would be the Achilles heel of the American economy." Constituent relations "This is the month where I have the opportunity to get around and listen to constituents. It's a good opportunity to connect," Moolenaar said. Then in a little more than three weeks, he said it's back to Washington, D.C. to wrap up fiscal year goals. To the editor: This Republican Congress has proven it is incapable of fulfilling its role as outlined in the Constitution. U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar and his fellow Republicans in Congress continue to put party and personal fealty to Trump over the good of the country. Moolenaar has completely supported what Trump has done to tear down our democracy. This so-called president has repeatedly rejected the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies, refusing to condemn Russia for interfering in the 2016 American election. They said they think its Russia, Trump said of his intelligence officials. I have President Putin; he just said its not Russia. I will say this: I dont see any reason why it would be. Trump humiliated himself and sold out our nation on an international stage. He continues to show he is a weak person and he has emerged from the summit a diminished figure. He kowtowed to the Russian leader Putin and came across as unprepared and outmatched. Sen. John McCain, a national hero, said, No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. Trump is supposed to be the leader of the free world. But such men don't kowtow to Russian dictators. His performance on the world stage with Putin came after the NATO summit, in which he split our transatlantic alliance, and insulted allied leaders like Germany's Angela Merkel and Britain's Theresa May. He effectively did Putin's work for him. We can no longer completely rely on the White House," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Funke newspaper group. He has chosen to align himself with our enemy against America and still Moolenaar does nothing. Moolenaar is an enabler for the authoritarian Trump and continues to show his own weakness as he refuses to repudiate Trump and stand up for the American people and our democracy. Moolenaar must be voted out of office before he does irreparable damage to our country. GREG MAYVILLE Midland Local Missouri radio host Steve West, who once declared Hitler was right on air, has been nominated as the Republican candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives. West won the GOP nomination by nearly 25 points in Missouris 15th District. West uses his Monday morning radio show on KCXL to promote right-leaning conspiracies about Jewish cabals that are harvesting baby parts through the use of Planned Parenthood. On Jan. 23, 2017, West said, Looking back in history, unfortunately, Hitler was right about what was taking place in Germany. And who was behind it. West also uses his YouTube channel and website to promote his hate-filled agenda. In his YouTube videos, he wears a wig and straps on a beard, calling himself Jack Justice. Wests YouTube persona is prone to spewing hate speech, including (but not limited to) bigotry such as anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and full-on racism. Meanwhile, his website includes articles such as, The Coming Battle with Islam. Now, West is an official candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives. His platform revolves around the same agenda he promotes on the radio and online: racism. One of the main planks of his platform is Islam, about which he says, Most working men and women agree that Islam is a problem, but may not know how to address or explain it. I can do that, and I can lead a thoughtful discussion and without malice. Another issue West is concerned about is pornography. Yes, thats actually in his platform. He says, Most working men and women can agree that porn is poisoning and detrimental to our young, creating all kinds of problems. His platform also includes education reform, which at first, seems like a pretty normal political platform. However, the section reads: When you talk about public education, most parents dont want their children recieving alternative sex ed, or having to deal with or be around the LGBT clubs and staff at all the public schools today. Parents know their children are very impressionable and can easily be led down self destructive and wrong paths. Its OK that some parents and students approve it, theyve got their public schools, but many, and I would say most parents dont want their children around it especially at a time when they are changing dramatically, are so vulnerable, and dont understand themselves whats happening to them. The last thing they need is gender confusion being peddled in our public schools. Wests campaign website lacks any sort of statistics or polling when referring to most people throughout this platform. The Kansas City Star has reached out to West for a statement concerning his history of hateful statements. He refused to comment but said, You guys want to make it an issue, you can go there, but Im not going to comment on that. Im not running as a radio show host, Im running for state representative. Im sorry. Im not going to have this discussion. However, as he continued to talk, he just couldnt contain his opinions. Jewish people can be beautiful people, but theres ideologies associated with that that I dont agree with, he told the Star. Jews today are a remnant of the tribe of Judah that rejected Christ. When asked about representing the Jewish citizens of Missouri, he said, Well, maybe they shouldnt vote for me. On Thursday, the Missouri Republican Party released a statement: Steve Wests shocking and vile comments do not reflect the position of the Missouri Republican Party or indeed of any decent individual. Wests abhorrent rhetoric has absolutely no place in the Missouri Republican Party or anywhere. We wholeheartedly condemn his comments. The Democratic incumbent for Missouris House Rep. Jon Carpenter responded to Wests statements: The fact that Mr. West won the primary should highlight to peopledid they really know what they were voting for? One thing Ive said for years about extremists is that theyre out on the fringe and we should keep them there. It is my hope that folks who voted for Steve West in the Republican primary werent aware of any of this stuff. I sincerely hope thats true. I cant think of a single American political candidate in the 21st century who has engaged in this level of hate speech and unhinged conspiracy-mongering who actually won a primary election. I just want everyone who lives in this community to know that theyre welcome here. Muslims, Jews, Catholics, the LGBTQ community, people of all races and national origins, and everyone else Steve West has targeted with hate. His views do not reflect our values. Well stand together and love will conquer hate, as it always does. Lets hope the people of Missouri feel the same way Carpenter does. This piece is part of a series of essays on alcohol history. You can see more here. History, by and large, tends to be considerably more complicated than our pop cultural understanding of it. A historical movement as broad as the prohibition of alcohol in the United States, for instance, was the result of so much more than a mere crusade of moralistic teetotalers. Just as its grossly, hilariously simplistic to describe a conflict such as the Civil War as having been fought to end slavery, its equally myopic to think about a topic as complex as Prohibition in the terms of drinkers vs. non-drinkers. In reality, there were so many other racial, political, religious, economic and nationalistic factors in play that the full story is actually an unlikely coming-together of many groups with very disparate goals, held in a bizarre alliance by their opposition to the alcohol industry. With all of that said, though, theres one aspect of the road to Prohibition that is undeniable, and thats the American appetite for alcohol. In short: We have oftentimes been a nation of drunks, but by todays standards, average alcohol consumption in large parts of the 19th century U.S.A. was almost beyond rational belief. You will likely find it hard to accept as a fact just how much booze the average American was consuming in the first half of the 1800s. The figures are almost cartoonishly high, so lets consider how we got there first. Americans have always liked a drink; a trait that was initially brought over by hard-drinking European settlers (the top 10 alcohol-consuming countries in the world today are all European or Eastern European). However, the makeup of our alcoholic consumption was different before the American revolution, with less access to industrially produced beer and spirits. Rather, as historian W.J. Rorabaugh wrote in his research on American alcohol consumption for The OAH Magazine of History: By 1700, the colonists drank fermented peach juice, hard apple cider, and rum, which they imported from the West Indies or distilled from West Indian molasses. Drinking was an important part of the culture, and people passed around jugs or bowls of liquor at barbecues, on market days, and at elections. Candidates gave away free drinks. A stingy candidate had no chance of winning. Practically everyone drank. Even restrained New Englanders consumed great quantities of liquor. The Puritans called alcohol the Good Creature of God, a holy substance to be taken proudly yet cautiously. Quite a different picture from what we think of when we describe someone as puritanical, is it not? Rorabaugh describes a different America entirely from how we so often see the period depicted in film or fiction; a veritable buffet of cheap booze and casual consumption. As he goes on to note: By 1770, Americans consumed alcohol routinely with every meal. Many people began the day with an eye opener and closed it with a nightcap. People of all ages drank, including toddlers, who finished off the heavily sugared portion at the bottom of a parents mug of rum toddy. Each person consumed about three and a half gallons of alcohol per year. When Rorabaugh writes three and a half gallons of alcohol, hes talking about 3.5 gallons of pure ethanol, rather than gallons of a specific spirit. To convert that into a more graspable figure, thats 8.75 gallons of standard, 80-proof liquor per year for the average person by the time of the American revolution. Thats already 45 percent higher than current consumption levels, but hold onto your seats, because the number gets much higher by the 1800s. At the time, much of this drinking was actually being done by the upper class, including the great political statesmen of the day. Author Daniel Okrent, in his book Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, notes one particularly raucous political function: George Clinton, governor of New York from 1777 to 1795, once honored the French ambassador with a dinner for 120 guests, who together drank 135 bottles of madeira, 36 bottles of port, 60 bottles of English beer and 30 large cups of rum punch. Likewise, most of the founding fathers enjoyed hitting the bottle, and doing it hard. From Okrents book: Washington kept a still on his farm, John Adams began each day with a tankard of hard cider, and Thomas Jeffersons fondness for drink extended beyond his renowned collection of wines to encompass rye whiskey made from his own crops. James Madison consumed a pint of whiskey daily. Soldiers in the U.S. Army had been receiving four ounces of whiskey as part of their daily ration since 1782; George Washington himself said the benefits arising from moderate use of strong liquor have been experienced in all armies, and are not to be disputed. Enjoy your pint of beer, Ill be here with my pint of whiskey, thank you very much. Considering these figures, It would seem that a more historically accurate version of Lin-Manuel Mirandas Hamilton would simply have all of the key characters slurring their way through every song, or perhaps falling off the stage. But the drinking levels were about to soar even higher. A number of factors led to an explosion of alcohol consumption in the early 1800s. First, the British halted their participation in the American molasses/rum trade, objecting to its connections with slavery, while the federal government also began to tax rum in the 1790s. At the same time, the settlement of the so-called corn belt in the Midwest created large new supplies of corn, which was cheaper and more profitable to convert into whiskey than it was to transport great distances without spoiling. Thus, as Rorabaugh notes: Western farmers could make no profit shipping corn overland to eastern markets, so they distilled corn into liquid assets. By the 1820s, whiskey sold for twenty-five cents a gallon, making it cheaper than beer, wine, coffee, tea, or milk. In short, whiskey was extremely cheap and extremely available, and American consumption soared as a result. As Okrent describes in Last Call, the number of distilleries in the nation increased fivefold, to 14,000 in between 1790 and 1810. He writes that in cities it was widely understood that common workers would fail to come to work on Mondays, staying home to wrestle with the echoes and aftershocks of a weekend binge. By 1830, the tolling of a town bell at 11 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. marked grog time. As the availability of whiskey soared, so did imbibing itself. Even the English, no slouches in terms of consumption themselves (#25 in the world today, and 26 percent higher than the U.S.), noticed how sloppy their American cousins were getting. In English traveler Frederick Marryats A Diary in America, published in 1837, the writer remarks that the Americans seemingly drank for every conceivable occasion: I am sure the Americans can fix nothing without a drink. If you meet, you drink; if you part, you drink; if you make acquaintance, you drink; if you close a bargain you drink; they quarrel in their drink, and they make it up with a drink. They drink because it is hot; they drink because it is cold. If successful in elections, they drink and rejoice; if not, they drink and swear; they begin to drink early in the morning, they leave off late at night; they commence it early in life, and they continue it, until they soon drop into the grave. Frederick Marryat By 1830, alcohol consumption reached its peak at a truly outlandish 7 gallons of ethanol a year per capita. Via Okrent: Staggering is the appropriate word for the consequences of this sort of drinking. In modern terms, those seven gallons are the equivalent of 1.7 bottles of a standard 80-proof liquor per person, per weeknearly 90 bottles a year for every adult in the nation, even with abstainers (and there were millions of them) factored in. Once again figuring per capita, multiply the amount Americans drink today by three and youll have an idea of what much of the nineteenth century was like. As if it really needs saying, 7 gallons of ethanol per year, per capita, is an insane number. Consider this: My significant other and I both drink alcohol. If we were drinking at 1830 levels, we would be plowing through roughly 3.4 standard, 750 ml bottles of Jim Beam White Label Bourbon per week, in a single household. Our livers would be sending us every conceivable manner of distress signal, assuming they didnt immediately shut down. So, how much do Americans drink now, in the modern world? Well, the best figure for the current American alcohol consumption rate seems to be roughly 2.42 gallons of ethanol per year, per capitastill a healthy figure, but nearly three times less per capita than in 1830. At this point, you may be thinking something along the lines of But does anywhere in the world drink as heavily as Americans did in 1830? And it sure sounds like the answer is nonot even close, in fact. Today, the highest per capita alcohol consumption in the world belongs to the Eastern European nation of Belarus, which consumes roughly 4.62 gallons of ethanol per year, per capita. This is all to say the following: Even the booziest place on Earth in 2018 drinks at a rate that is only 66 percent as boisterous as Americans were doing in 1830. The Drunkard was the most popular and widely performed American play of the 1840s, and for good reason. Ultimately, the 1830 figure represents the peak moment in American alcohol consumption, and knowing this, it becomes much more understandable that this is when the temperance movement (which would eventually become the Prohibition movement) first began to coalesce and gain steam. The rate of alcohol consumption leveled off and then began steadily decreasing through the later 1800s, with a nadir in the years leading up to Prohibition. Drinking rates recovered after Prohibitions end (our modern highs were in the early 1980s), but never got above 3 gallons of ethanol per year, let alone 7 gallons. So, the next time you think it seems like were living in a boozy society, consider the fact that even an average consumer today would be considered a practical teetotaler by the standards of 190 years ago. Now, if youll excuse me, I have 1.7 bottles of whiskey to consume this week, so Id better get to it. Jim Vorel is a Paste staff writer and resident craft beer/brown liquor geek. You can follow him on Twitter for more drink writing. Good Friday Morning, Fellow Seekers. Most of us go to the beach in the summer to leave our workday cares behind; to tune out from the rat race; to leave the grind and he-said/he-said of our endless political campaign seasons behind for a few days. And now Scott Wagner has come along and wrecked it all. We're kidding ... kinda. An alert reader from Maryland's Eastern Shore sent us the photo at the top of this story. The Republican governor candidate took out this billboard space on Kent Island, just on the Eastern Shore end of Maryland's Bay Bridge. "Are you from Pennsylvania?" the York County pol's smiling visage asks, which might be enough for some among you to tell a white lie about your lineage, as you focus on nothing more complicated than a pounder of Natty Boh', a big shaker of Old Bay, and the hours you'll spend gleefully bashing open some steamed crabs. If you've been driving the highways and byways of Pennsylvania this summer, you've probably already spotted more than a few Wagner billboards. There's one or two on Interstate 83 south, heading into York County. And, it feels like there's one roughly every 15 feet on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Wagner's spokesman, Andrew Romeo, said the campaign has taken out billboard space at other shore points where Pennsylvania voters are trying to get away from it all before Labor Day puts the kibosh on summer fun for another year and the fall campaign begins in earnest. Romeo ducked our queries about the precise locations of those billboards, saying only that "Where there's water, there's Wagner." It inevitably cued this music: We're now half-expecting Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to start doing beachside fly-by's in a biplane, trailing one of those long "Eat at Joe's" banners behind him. Maybe we shouldn't have said that out loud ... The rest of the day's news starts now. As many as 165,000 Philadelphia homeowners may be paying too much in property taxes, The Inquirer reports. Pittsburgh officials may reopen their probe of a controversial home sale in the city's Beechview neighborhood, The Post-Gazette reports. BillyPenn explains why former Congressman Chaka Fattah is still staying behind bars after an appeals court tossed some of the charges against him. The Incline takes you to Steagles, a Wilkes-Barre bar honoring that time when Pennsylvania's two pro teams operated as one. Here's a historic #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day for your Friday morning: WHYY-FM introduces you to a Delaware teen who's being honored for her work with juvenile offenders. WITF-FM says redistricting reformers are looking outside the box for solutions as the clock ticks down to changing things before the 2020 Census. The Morning Call has some pretty dramatic dashcam footage of a gun battle between state police troopers and a motorist on Route 33 in the Lehigh Valley. University of Virginia political sage Larry Sabato's "Crystal Ball" has moved the races for Pennsylvania's new 7th (old Dent seat) and 17th districts (Conor Lamb v. Keith Rothfus) to "Lean Democratic" (via PoliticsPA). Politico explains how President Donald Trump has 'blown up' the GOP's model for winning House races. With key races on the line, the GOP's Congressional Leadership Fund, a super-PAC tied to House leaders, is opening new field offices and staffing up, Roll Call reports. WolfWatch. Gov. Tom Wolf heads to Pittsburgh today for a 1:30 p.m. tour of the Iron Workers Local Union No. 3 Training Center. What Goes On (Nakedly Political Edition). The House Republican Campaign Committee holds a fundraiser at Knoebel's amusement park on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission runs $100 to $1,000, and gets you free food and a fistful of tickets. While you're there, try the "Turzai Coaster" which screams erratically around corners and occasionally files off the rails. And only the truly brave will venture into "Metcalfe's House of Horrors." You Say It's Your Birthday Dept. Best wishes go out this morning to Erica Shych of CBS-21, who celebrates today. Congrats, and enjoy the day. Heavy Rotation. Nineties alt-rockers, Counting Crows, bring their 25th anniversary tour to HersheyPark Stadium tonight. York veterans Live open the set. In observance, here's our absolute favorite Crows' track, "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby." And now you're up to date. Two very different portraits were painted of Jahnaey Chase as she was sentenced to 3-1/2 to 10 years in prison Friday for killing her boyfriend Earl Watlington Jr. Chase's lawyer, Kristen Weisenberger, said Chase, 29, shot the 34-year-old Watlington outside her Swatara Township home in May 2017 as he beat her for perhaps the 60th time. Yet Watlington's family described him as an imperfect, but God-fearing man who was himself the victim of domestic violence perpetrated by a jealous and mentally and physically abusive Chase. Chase's battered woman scenario was the basis for the sentence Dauphin County Judge Deborah E. Curcillo imposed under a plea deal. Deputy District Attorney Katie Adam said Chase struck that deal in May when she pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Chase originally was charged with a more serious charge of murder. In entering that guilty plea, Chase acknowledged "she may have believed she was acting in self-defense (when she killed Watlington) but it was not a justified shooting," Adam said. Police responding to the shooting found Watlington lying in the 100 block of Conestoga Street. He died from a single bullet that pierced his heart and one lung. The conflicting images of Watlington - and Chase - emerged as soon as the sentencing hearing began. "I would like to thank God for keeping my family safe through this tragedy involving my son," Watlington's mother Sandra told the judge. "I don't care what he did. He did not deserve to have his life taken away...When he died, part of me died, too." Like other family members, Sandra Watlington cited numerous Bible verses. She warned Chase that her final judgment is in God's hands. "We all have to be accountable to God," she said. "Life goes on and God knows everything. Justice will be served." His mother and other relatives described Watlington as religious and kind. They described Chase as jealous, insecure and violent. "My sister is hurting because someone decided they would use violence instead of words," said Watlington's aunt, Glenda Oliver. "Our hurt is from our hearts, our souls." She said her family's goal now is to live a forgiving, revenge-free Christian life that would make her deceased nephew proud. "We are not going to let the Devil step in and make us ugly people," Oliver said. "If we loved one another like God wants us to we wouldn't have these terrible things going on," Watlington's cousin Michael Watlington added. Weisenberger insisted there is no doubt "Jahnaey Chase was a battered woman." She said Chase told a counselor Watlington had assaulted her 58 times during a 120-day period not long before the killing. On the night he was shot, Watlington poured a bottle of alcohol on Chase as they sat in his car outside her house, then choked her into unconsciousness, Weisenberger said. She said Chase was pregnant with Watlington's child at the time but didn't know it. When she came to, Chase told Watlington she was calling the cops, her lawyer said. "He replied, 'You're going to die'," Weisenberger said. She said Chase ran to her house, shattering the glass in her front door as she rushed to get to the phone. She grabbed the gun Watlington hid along with some drugs in her couch, Weisenberger said. She said Watlington grabbed Chase and began pulling her by the hair toward his car. "And that's when she shot him," Weisenberger said. "She absolutely loved Watlington and at the same time she was absolutely terrified of him," Weisenberger concluded. Chase told the judge she is sorry for the loss she caused Watlington's family. She said regrets that she let the community down. Counseling she received in prison has rerouted her life, she said. "My thoughts from here on out will be constructive and not destructive," Chase said. Her aim, she said, is to become a counselor for domestic violence victims "so there will not have to be another story like mine." Chase brother, David Chase Jr., is awaiting trial on an evidence tampering charge. Police said he tossed the gun used to kill Watlington into a neighbor's yard. Nancy Eshelman Reading some comments about the Catholic Church and wayward priests, I stumbled across one that insisted the unholy mess is the media's fault. The comment stopped me cold. I was trying to figure in what universe that could be true. Let's see. The mix includes the church, accusers, grand jury and pedophile priests. The media reports what's happening with investigations, lawsuits, payoffs by the church and the grand jury report, and, suddenly, it's the media's fault. Sorry to say, but we have some really odd people breathing air on this planet. But as William Shakespeare would say, "There's the rub," because truth or fiction can depend on the source. When I started in the writing business, news came from newspapers, television and radio. For the most part, people believed it. Gallup reports that trust and confidence in the media in America was highest in 1976 when 72 percent of people believed what they saw and read. What they were seeing and reading then was an awful lot about Vietnam and the Watergate scandal. A lot of people may not have liked that news, but most believed it. Here's Gallup's 2018 report: "Overall, U.S. adults estimate that 62 percent of the news they read in newspapers, see on television or hear on the radio is biased. They think the news media mostly provide accurate information, but still estimate that 44 percent of what they see is inaccurate. "And they believe that more than a third of the news they see in these channels is misinformation -- false or inaccurate information that is presented as if it were true." And then there is this: "Americans are even more critical of the news they see on social media. They believe 80 percent of it is biased, 64 percent is inaccurate and 65 percent is misinformation." To which I say, "Amen." I cannot count the number of times someone has posted something on social media that I find absurd. So I look it up, usually on Snopes.com, and discover it's not only absurd but just plain wrong. So I tell them. Which doesn't make me popular with my social media "friends." Frankly, I think a whole lot of people exist who don't know the difference between the professional mainstream media and bloggers and others who post on social media. "I read it on the Internet" doesn't cut it. And they don't know that. They also don't understand the difference between news and opinion. I've seen petitions on social media from people who want a program called "The View" removed from the air because they don't like it. From what I've seen of it - and I haven't seen much of it -- it doesn't claim to present anything other than the opinions of the women on the show and their guests. Don't like it? Switch the channel. And don't confuse it with news. Mix this lack of understanding with a person in the White House who insists what he doesn't like isn't true, and you have a recipe for widespread disbelief in the media. The man tells lies. He tweets lies. The Washington Post keeps track. As of Aug. 1, the man had made 4,229 false or misleading claims in 558 days. If the mainstream media reports something, and he doesn't like it, he lies. And there are a whole lot of people out there who believe him. Here is one simple example: The man from the White House came to our state and said, "U.S. Steel is opening up seven plants." In Florida, he put the number at six. When the mainstream media checked, the company spokeswoman said if that were true, U.S. Steel would have announced it. It hasn't. It is not the media's fault that the man in the White House is a liar. And the media would not be doing their job if they let him get away with it. I'm sorry if you don't like that, but bad news isn't our fault. NANCY ESHELMAN: columnist1@verizon.net A beaver that attacked a father and daughter while they were kayaking tested positive for rabies, according to media reports. ABC27 reported that the beaver attacked a father and his daughter on the Conewago Creek near Biglerville while the pair was kayaking over the weekend. The father described the beaver as being relentless, so much so that he was forced to kill it. The beaver was taken for testing, and a Pennsylvania Game Commission, Health Department spokesman told the station the beaver tested positive for rabies. No one was bitten, but the father is getting a round of rabies shots just in case. Hospice of Michigan seeking volunteers Hospice of Michigan is urgently seeking volunteers to help patients and families dealing with life-limiting illnesses in area communities. 604 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Just when we thought Donald Trumps bigoted comments from Thursdays Oval Office meeting couldnt get any worse, new reporting added fuel to the racist dumpster fire. Not only did Trump refer to Haiti, El Salvador and other places in Africa as shithole countries, but according to updated reporting from the Washington Post, the president asked those in the same meeting, Why do we need more Haitians? The Post added that Trump told lawmakers in the room that they should take them out of any possible deal on immigration. According to the report: Lawmakers were taken aback by the comments, according to people familiar with their reactions. More recently, NBC News reported that at least one person in the room spoke up and told the president that if he were to take [Haitians] out of the country, it would be obvious why he was doing so a suggestion to Trump that his racism is quite obvious. More from NBCs Peter Alexander, citing Kasie Hunt and Frank Thorp: More from todays sh*thole mtg: Trump said, Why do we need more Haitians, take them out, according to our sources. Someone else in room responded: Because if you do, it will be obvious why. h/t @kasie @frankthorp Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) January 12, 2018 As I wrote earlier, this is part of the pattern of racism that Trump has displayed since taking office and, before that, throughout his campaign. Sadly, it will likely be treated like all the presidents previous spewings: Trump says something overtly racist or outrageous, there is an immediate bipartisan outrage, and then all things return to normal. But there is absolutely nothing normal about this rhetoric, and now that this disgusting worldview is being used to create actual policy, its particularly dangerous. During the campaign, Trump said he would be the champion of Haitian Americans, even if they didnt vote for him. Now that hes actually in the Oval Office, he is plotting ways to remove these same people from the country. By Karen Freifeld and Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) The judge in the trial of U.S. President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort expressed contrition on Thursday to jurors for harsh commentary directed at prosecutors. I may have made a mistake. It has nothing to do with your consideration in this case, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis said as the trial went into its eighth day in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Ellis has repeatedly prodded prosecutors to move swiftly while seemingly giving Manaforts defense team more latitude. He also has repeatedly made comments that some legal experts said may prejudice the jury against the prosecution. Manafort has pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of bank fraud, tax fraud and failing to disclose foreign bank accounts. He is the first person to be tried on charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. On Thursday, prosecutors in a legal filing asked the judge to correct some statements he had made on Wednesday. Ellis had chastised the prosecution for allowing IRS agent Michael Welch to be present during court proceedings before taking his turn to testify. Ellis has said he did not like having witnesses listen to the proceedings before they take the stand but the prosecution had previously requested case agents and experts be allowed. The prosecutors on Wednesday said Ellis had approved having them sit in, but the judge screamed at the lawyers in front of the jury, Dont ever do that again. On Thursday morning, Muellers team requested that Ellis issue a curative instruction to the jury, saying he has mistakenly faulted the prosecution. In a filing to the court, prosecutors said that on the first day of the trial, they had told Ellis that Welch would remain in the courtroom, and he had not objected then. Some lawyers following the trial also criticized Ellis for not reacting more strongly to defense lawyer Kevin Downings attempt to ask the governments star witness Rick Gates on Wednesday whether he had told prosecutors about his four extramarital affairs. According to a court transcript, Downing had agreed in a conference on Tuesday with the judge and prosecutors not to raise the subject with Gates, a longtime business partner of Manaforts. Prosecutors objected and Gates never answered the question. Downing argued it was fair game because Gates had suggested on the stand he only had one affair. Gates, a married father of four, had testified he used his firms money to carry on the affair. Ellis sustained the objection on the grounds that Gates affairs were irrelevant but did not rebuke Downing for mentioning the issue before the jury. It was highly inappropriate to raise the other affairs, and the judges response was very generous, said Gene Rossi, a former prosecutor who has been attending the trial as a spectator. In my experience, another judge would have cut his head off. In testimony on Thursday, mortgage assistant Melinda James of Citizens Bank told the court that Manafort lied about the status of two properties he owned in order to obtain a $3.4 million loan. Manafort and Gates hid the fact that one property had a mortgage against it and falsely claimed that another property was a second residence for Manafort and his daughter, James said. In fact, she said, she discovered that the second property was listed for rent. The prosecution has said it expected to wrap up its case by weeks end. Manaforts lawyers have not yet indicated whether they plan to call witnesses as part of his defense. Their legal strategy so far has hinged on attacking the credibility and character of Gates. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, Warren Strobel, Karen Freifeld, and Nathan Layne; editing by Anthony Lin and Grant McCool) 614 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Rachel Maddow puts all the pieces together and shows how House Republicans plan to impeach Rod Rosenstein during the lame duck session of Congress after the midterm election. Video: Rachel Maddow puts all the pieces together and shows how House Republicans plan to impeach Rod Rosenstein during the lame duck session of Congress after the midterm election. https://t.co/OHi9iY557n pic.twitter.com/vSds6MfIxk Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 10, 2018 Maddow said: It is a matter of timing. Dont think that were not against Rosenstein. Dont think were not going to impeach Rosenstein. It is not just because they dont like him or not, it is because he oversees the special counsel investigation which is being run by Robert Mueller. Forcing Rod Rosenstein out of office by impeachment, thats the one way Republicans could end the Mueller investigation. Removing Rod Rosenstein would allow him to be replaced with somebody who would shut Mueller down. It is a matter of timing. Again, this is what theyre saying behind closed doors. Not in public. If this is the way theyre planning to sequence their actions, this raises the possibility that congressional Republicans know that could it represent a constitutional confrontation if not a constitutional crisis if the plan is to make sure that Brett Kavanaugh is on the Supreme Court when that happens for just such an occasion. Well, that changes the meaning of the Kavanaugh confirmation. Right? That raises the stakes even further. It sort of changes them as to when and whether Cavanagh will be confirmed. We reached out to Paul Ryans office particularly because he has said that Republicans in Congress wont pursue anything like this. Since Cathy McMorris Rodgers is on his leadership team and she is talking about this at a fundraiser in her home state. It raises the question will Republicans have one plan. Then once the election is over, they are planning a surprise u-turn. Weve had no comment from the Speakers office in response to our questions, but well let you know if we do hear from him. The last ditch emergency plan of Republicans if they lose the House is to use the lame duck session to impeach Rod Rosenstein, knowing that if they provoke a constitutional crisis, they have Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court ready to vote in Trumps favor on anything. It is a devious plot and thanks to Rachel Maddow, and the fundraiser attendee who recorded the comments Nunes and McMorris Rogers, all of America now knows what the Republicans are up to. House Republicans are planning one last cover-up for Trump if they lose the majority, which is why Democrats must be willing to shut down the Senate if thats what it takes to prevent Kavanaugh from being confirmed before Election Day. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. 4.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Former Republican strategist Steve Schmidt broke down the motive behind Trumps constant lying as he is trying to exhaust Democrats and break their will to fight him. Video: Schmidt said on MSNBC: Lets talk about the political strategy here. Its a desperate political strategy. When you look at the special election in Ohio, if it was president Marco Rubio, this Republican would have won by 15 points. But because its President Trump, the Republican barely beat a Democratic candidate. And so all of the signs point to a blue tsunami coming, but in a fight, there are only two ways to win. You can bring your opponent to submission. Think Germany and Japan after World War II. Or you can break their will to fight. Think of the United States in the Vietnam war. The strategy is fundamentally one about exhausting and wearing out the will to fight and resist of Democratic voters by inciting the base. Trump needs that base incited. He needs it to turn out to hold back as best as possible this blue wave is coming, and the degree to which they constantly lie, its disorienting. People cant get their heads around the facts because people arent used to responsible political leaders constantly lying to them. So when you talk to Democratic voters, you talk to Democrats, you talk to people who oppose Trump, one of the main features that they will tell you is how they are exhausted by all of it. And so exhaustion of your opponent becomes a fundamental strategic aim of the constant lying, the constant gaslighting, the constant scapegoating. While on the other hand, your inciting this base to turn out, because any diminution of Republican turnout is going to be fatal, and will simply increase the size of the majority. Of course, impeachment will polarize the electorate, but it will drive turnout favorably for deputies. Its a very dangerous strategy for this president. The lying is pathological, but it also an intentional strategy. Trump knows hes outnumbered, and he is trying to wear his opposition down while rallying his base. The key that one should never forget is that Trump needs low turnout from his opponents. Trump cant win in high turnout elections because of his own unpopularity, so that strategy that Schmidt was discussing is designed to accomplish two goals. Trump wants to lower Democratic turnout and make sure that his base shows up at the polls. The election results since Trump took office have revealed that what the president is doing is increasing turnout among his opponents while discouraging Republicans from coming out to vote. The tweets, the lies, and the nonsense that Trump spews are all designed to break your will. Use it as a motivator. Each time Trump lies, vow to show up at the polls and vote. The best way to beat Trump to allow his strategy to fuel your resolve and never diminish your commitment to taking your country back. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. 517 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Joseph Ax and Makini Brice (Reuters) Joan Fenton knows she will not make much money at her Charlottesville gift shop this weekend, when the downtown district will be virtually locked down for the anniversary of last years deadly white nationalist rally. But like many other owners, she will be open anyway. They want to be open in solidarity with the community, Fenton said. They feel that not being here is giving in to fear and terror. Officials in Charlottesville have vowed a massive police presence with some 1,000 personnel assigned to deter any violence. The Unite the Right rally last August, called to protest the removal of a Confederate statue, turned the picturesque Virginia college town into a chaotic scene of street brawls, and one woman was killed when an Ohio man rammed his car into a crowd of counterprotesters. The organizer of last years event, white nationalist Jason Kessler, was denied a permit in Charlottesville this year but has secured permission to hold a demonstration on Sunday in Washington, across the street from the White House. Washington officials said on Thursday that police were ready for the rally as well as five planned counterprotests that could attract close to 2,000 people in all. Officers will endeavor to keep the two sides separate, Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham said. Guns will be prohibited from the demonstration area. Larry Hogan, the Republican governor of neighboring Maryland, said on Friday that hate has no place in our society, and that he had directed state agencies to work with their counterparts in Washington and Virginia to ensure the safety of all citizens. As we face this invasion of vile and perverted ideology infesting our region, we stand united in our conviction that a diverse and inclusive Maryland is a stronger Maryland, he said. UNPRECEDENTED LOCKDOWN Amid continuing controversy over President Donald Trumps views on race, the events will likely revive memories of his comments after Charlottesville when he said both sides were to blame for the violence. The remarks sparked criticism from across the political spectrum as the Republican president refused to condemn the white nationalists. In Charlottesville, officials have announced an unprecedented lockdown of the bustling downtown district. Vehicles are prohibited, and pedestrians will be allowed in at only two checkpoints, where police will confiscate contraband. Prohibited items include everything from metal pipes and swords to fireworks and skateboards. Guns, however, can still be legally carried. After last years violence, the city asked the state legislature to ban firearms from major public events, but the bill failed to advance. It is not clear whether any white nationalists will come to Charlottesville this weekend, but officials said they were preparing for any contingency. Police were widely criticized after last years event, where some officers did not intervene to stop fistfights and other mayhem. Virginias Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, pre-emptively declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, a procedural move that freed up additional resources. Many business owners have said the plan is too restrictive and will cost them significant revenue on what would normally be a busy summer weekend. Merchants already suffered a downturn after last years event; sales tax revenue dropped 11 percent in September 2017 compared with the year before, according to city figures. (Reporting by Joseph Ax in New York and Makini Brice in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Jonathan Oatis) 144 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Florida officials want more information from the U.S. Senate supporting claims made by Senator Bill Nelson that Russian operatives have penetrated some of his states election systems. Florida officials want more information from US Senate about election hacking claims by Sen. Bill Nelson Florida officials want more information from US Senate about election hacking claims by Sen. Bill Nelson https://t.co/CrrZfnONri pic.twitter.com/A7vYyZ9ZCp WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) August 10, 2018 Nelson, Floridas Democratic Senator, issued a major wakeup call on Wednesday when he said that Russian operatives have penetrated Floridas election systems ahead of the 2018 elections. Nelson told The Tampa Bay Times, They have already penetrated certain counties in the state and they now have free rein to move about. According to the Times, Nelson said the same thing a day earlier when he was in Tallahassee but declined to elaborate. Thats classified, he said at the time. The Times also reports that its not just the Democratic senator who is raising a red flag. His fellow Florida Republican senator, Marco Rubio, is also concerned about election meddling. Rubio, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has raised alarms and continues to express concern, the Times article said. Like Rubio, Nelson outlined a scenario in which hackers could delete people from voter rolls. Now Florida election officials want more information from the U.S. Senate supporting Nelsons claims. Since the senator said that Russians have penetrated Floridas election systems they want proof. On Thursday Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner sent a letter requesting the information to Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. NEW: FL Sec of St Ken Detzner sends letter to @SenatorBurr, says hes very concerned w/ @SenBillNelsons claims of Russia hacking Florida elections records. Let me be clear, this is a very serious charge made in a public setting w/o any evidence NEW: FL Sec of St Ken Detzner sends letter to @SenatorBurr, says he's "very concerned" w/ @SenBillNelson's claims of Russia hacking Florida elections records. "Let me be clear, this is a very serious charge made in a public setting w/o any evidence" pic.twitter.com/NoHSgvjyB8 Ramsey Touchberry (@ramsberry1) August 9, 2018 When Nelson told the Times that certain counties had been penetrated by Russians he refused to identify the counties, so Detzner said he would like that information. The statement from Detzner said that his office has no evidence to support Nelsons claims. Detzner says he also reached out to federal law enforcement and was told they couldnt corroborate the hacking claims either. Since Nelsons comments created a lot of discussion and controversy, it is right for the Florida Secretary of State to follow up and try to get to the truth of the matter. If what Nelson is saying is true and many people believe it is then something needs to be done ASAP. Nelson is up for reelection this year and is running against popular Trump-supporting Republican governor Rick Scott, and the polls show them in a virtual tie. Therefore Nelson has even more reason to be concerned. Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri already confirmed that her reelection computer systems were breached. As we said on Wednesday: These threats are doubly disturbing given the fact that, despite widespread concern within in his own party and the U.S. intelligence apparatus, Donald Trump is asleep at the wheel on this issue. Lets hope that election officials in Florida will get the information theyve requested and take steps to prevent Russians from taking over Floridas election systems this year. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) A U.S. free speech group on Friday asked President Donald Trump to unblock 41 Twitter users after a federal judge in May ordered him to restore access to a group of individuals who filed suit. U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan ruled on May 23 that comments on the presidents account, and those of other government officials, were public forums and that blocking Twitter Inc users for their views violated their right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University on Friday sent the Justice Department a list of 41 accounts that remain blocked from Trumps @RealDonaldTrump account. The seven users who filed suit had their accounts unblocked in June. As the district court has held, the First Amendment prohibits the president from blocking Twitter users simply because theyve criticized him, said Katie Fallow, senior staff attorney at the Knight Institute. The White House did not immediately comment on Friday. The blocked users include a film producer, screenwriter, photographer and author. It appears to us that all or nearly all of these individuals were blocked from the @RealDonaldTrump account because they criticized President Trump or his policies, the group said Friday. The group said the list was not comprehensive. Trump has made his Twitter account, with 53.7 million followers, an integral and controversial part of his presidency, using it to promote his agenda, announce policy and attack critics. He has blocked many critics, preventing them from directly responding to his tweets. The Justice Department said in an appeal filed on Tuesday that the ruling was fundamentally misconceived. The appeal said Trumps account belongs to Donald Trump in his personal capacity and is subject to his personal control, not the control of the government. The appeal compared Trumps actions to a presidential address by John F. Kennedy at his Cape Cod home. It plainly would not violate the First Amendment for him to exclude certain members of the public from his own property because they had previously criticized him, the Justice Department said. Buchwald rejected the argument that Trumps First Amendment rights allowed him to block people with whom he did not wish to interact. Trump could mute users, meaning he would not see their tweets while they could still respond to his, she said, without violating their free speech rights. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Richard Chang) 527 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard With billions of dollars at stake, powerful healthcare companies have formed a new group to fight single payer healthcare. The entrenched and highly-profitable healthcare establishment is clearly worried that the movement toward single payer would cut into their obscene and unconscionable profit margins that force millions of Americans into financial ruin and bankruptcy. Led by health insurance and pharmaceutical companies, the creation of the new group will give health industries a vehicle to fight a movement led by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. They fear that a Democratic blue wave election in November could move single-payer healthcare legislation forward. The new group has been named The Partnership for Americas Health Care Future which is an interesting name because the partnerships goal is to prevent meaningful change, and to keep America mired in the past. Still, it is a clear signal that the healthcare industry is growing alarmed about increasing support for a single payer healthcare law within the Democratic Party. The proposals in Congress led by Sanders are called Medicare for All which sometimes is used as a different name for single payer. Health insurance and drug companies are cooperating in formation of the group, which according to industry lobbyists may run advertisements against single-payer plans and promote studies to undermine the idea. Healthcare industry groups see single payer possibly becoming the default position among Democrats, and they reportedly want to to promote alternative approaches to dealing with Americas healthcare crisis, which involves both coverage and affordability. Their worry is about 2020 and its becoming the litmus test for Democrats, said one health insurance industry source familiar with the new partnership. When Democrats controlled the White House and Congress during Obamas presidency, they did not propose a single payer system because of heavy industry lobbying against it. They ended up passing the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, which has had a troubled history but has given health insurance coverage to tens of millions of previously uninsured Americans. Support for a single-payer system has been increasing in recent years. Some prominent senators, in addition to Bernie Sanders, are now supporting the Medicare for All bill, including Sens. Kamala Harris(Calif.), Cory Booker (N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.). The Medicare for All legislation may be at the center of the 2020 presidential campaign as more Americans want changes made in the for-profit U.S. health system. One insurance lobbyist said that insurance companies have felt that they really need to push back on the single payer stuff. Most Americans support commonsense, pragmatic solutions that dont interrupt the coverage they rely upon for themselves and their families, said Erik Smith, spokesman for the Partnership. We agree and thats what well be supporting. He added that the groups work may include advertising or the release of studies in the future, but in these early months since our launch, were focused on continuing to grow our coalition. Once again the proponents of a healthcare system that actually is affordable and covers all Americans are facing multi-trillion dollar opponents who love the status quo even though people are dying from lack of healthcare. Given the history of big money special interests winning battles like this in Washington, there is a strong likelihood that their new lobbying group will be successful once again. The existence of this new group is all the more reason for The Resistance to keep fighting to provide affordable healthcare for all in this country. And this means that we need new leaders elected in November who will do whats right and not sell out to special interests in the healthcare industry. 1.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard In November of last year Donald Trump tweeted: CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE! CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE! pic.twitter.com/PQGeTTdRtX Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017 And last December Trump said chain migration and the diversity visa lottery program were to blame for two terror attacks in New York City. At the time the president said: Were gonna end both of them. Were going to end em. Fast. Congress must get involved immediately, and they are involved immediately, and I can tell you we have tremendous support. Then in January we reported that: President Donald Trump is ramping up calls on the U.S. Congress to stop legal immigrants from sponsoring extended family members who want to move to the United States, saying so-called chain migration poses a threat to national security. And now it turns out that Melania Trumps parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, just became U.S. citizens through the process of chain migration that has been so heavily criticized by Trump. The Knavs were sworn in as U.S. citizens earlier Thursday, during a ceremony in New York. The couple is from Slovenia, where Melania Trump was born and raised. The attorney for the first ladys parents told The New York Times on Thursday that their daughter had sponsored them for a green card, and that they applied for citizenship once they were eligible using the family-based migration rules. When asked if the couple became citizens through chain migration, Wildes replied, I suppose. Its a dirty a dirtier word. Wildes told ABC News they applied on their own. It stands for a bedrock of our immigration process when it comes to family reunification, he told the Times. The couple had to have their green cards for five years to become eligible for citizenship, and Wildes said that the Knavs fulfilled the five-year requirement. Trump and many conservative members of Congress have criticized the family based immigration process and have demanded it be replaced with a merit-based system that would prioritize immigrants with certain skills for green cards. The president has called for an end to chain migration and has demanded that the process be evaluated in any forthcoming immigration reform. But many have been critical of the president for allowing his own wife to use a system that he has said should not be used for others. Former campaign manager for Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign Robby Mook wrote on Twitter: Any discussion of immigration policy from this point forward must focus on the immigration record of Trumps own family. How they got citizenship, what public benefits they received. His own policies require this line of inquiry. Any discussion of immigration policy from this point forward must focus on the immigration record of Trumps own family. How they got citizenship, what public benefits they received. His own policies require this line of inquiry. https://t.co/yVsHJTbf1y Robby Mook (@RobbyMook) August 10, 2018 Republican strategist Ana Navarro said, I guess when its Melanias Family, its family reunification and should be applauded. Everybody else, its chain migration and must be stopped. To make things worse, Melania Trump herself may not even have been a legal immigrant when she became a U.S. citizen. In July we reported that: In 2016, the Associated Press found documentation showing that Melania Trump had broken immigration law when she first came to the US in 1996 by working as a model on a tourist visa. We are not even sure if she ever cleared up her immigration status.The Trump campaign promised they would, but never did and the claims they made were never documented. Donald Trump attacks immigrants while his immigrant wife violated immigration laws herself. He attacks family reunification visas while his wifes parents have just become U.S. citizens follow the chain-migration process. Trump has once again proven that he is a world-class hypocrite who believes in one set of rules for him and his family, and another set of rules for everyone else. A man like that should not be President of the United States. 1.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard According to a new poll just 27 percent of people surveyed think Democrats should keep House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as their leader in the House. Of the Democrats surveyed, nearly half said that Democrats should have a new leader after Novembers elections. The new American Barometer poll released Thursday found that a bare majority of Democrats only 51 percent think that Pelosi should keep her position as leader of House Democrats. Nearly as many 49 percent said they should have a new leader. Among independents an overwhelming majority 79% said they believe that Rep. Pelosi should be replaced and 91 percent of Republicans agreed. Criticisms of the current House Democratic Leader have come as many Democratic candidates for the House in 2018 have refused to commit to supporting Pelosi as the Democratic leader in 2019 with the new Congress. Much of the discussion has centered around the possibility of the Democrats winning majority control of the House which would give them the opportunity to choose the new Speaker of the House. Pelosi did hold that position the last time the Democrats had a majority in the House and her tenure was marked by controversy, but also by accomplishment. Now, however, she is seen as a polarizing figure who is being criticized even by many incumbent Democrats who have said they have reservations about her continuing her leadership position. POLITICO reported in June that over 20 Democratic candidates for the House said they would not vote for Pelosi to continue to be their partys leader in 2019. For the first time there have been serious questions raised concerning Pelosis ability to secure the 218 votes she would need to become Speaker in a Democratic-controlled House. On her end, Pelosi has kept the issue on the back burner while she is focused just on winning elections in the fall. She has made comments indicating that she would expect to remain the Democrats leader and be the next Speaker of the House should Democrats win the majority in November. Democrats are thought to have an excellent chance of taking back House control after Novembers midterms. Pelosis official spokesperson, Drew Hammill, took issue with the new poll, saying that it was designed to generate a negative result for Leader Pelosi. Hammill pointed to data which shows that the Republican congressional leaders, Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have long been extremely unpopular with Republican voters. The survey found that Democrats desire to replace Rep. Pelosi increased when they were told that she had been leader of House Democrats since 2002. This may be an indication that Democrats want a new generation of younger leaders to take over now as the party faces new challenges in the Trump era. Pelosi is 78 years old and will turn 79 in March. The #2 Democrat in the House, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, is 79 and will turn 80 in June. Democrats are split on whether to keep Nancy Pelosi as leader and independents and most voter groups want someone else to step up. The findings suggest a yearning for change, said Dritan Nesho, the director of the American Barometer poll. Republicans hope to tie Democratic candidates to the unpopular Pelosi as a campaign issue to prevent a Democratic takeover. Shes been sort of the boogeyman for some time, said Anna Greenberg, a Democratic pollster. Im skeptical that those ads really work so I think that even though Nancy Pelosi is unpopular, I have never seen a lot of strong evidence in congressional races that calling these people Pelosi Democrats has actually had all that much impact on what actually happens. Greenberg then added that she believes that Rep. Pelosi will remain Democratic leader for two more years after Novembers elections. Republican pollster Jim Hobart said that he believes the GOP candidates place too much reliance on attacks on Pelosi. Running against Nancy Pelosi is like running against George W. Bush in 2010 which Democrats tried to do. It didnt work, Hobart said. 2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The White House has had a constant problem with Trump destroying his papers, but according to Omarosa, she walked in on Trump in the White House and caught him eating a note. The Washington Post reported: In early 2017, Manigault Newman says she walked Michael Cohen, then Trumps personal lawyer, into the Oval Office for a meeting with Trump and saw the president chewing up a piece of paper while Cohen was leaving the office. Another White House official confirmed that Manigault Newman brought Cohen into the White House and was later rebuked for it. The two remain in contact, according to people familiar with the relationship. I saw him put a note in his mouth. Since Trump was ever the germaphobe, I was shocked he appeared to be chewing and swallowing the paper. It must have been something very, very sensitive, she writes in her book. There is no proof that he chewed on paper, and several White House aides laughed at the assertion and said it was not true. There is evidence that Trump destroys his papers It was reported in June that the White House has a team of people who do nothing but reassemble Trumps papers because the president tears up paper and throws it away when he is done reading it. Trumps behavior is a violation of the Presidential Records Act that requires all papers and documents be kept for the public record. Eating the paper is a different story. The White House can laugh at the claim, but given Trumps odd day to day behavior, and his paper destroying compulsion, nothing should be ruled out as totally impossible at this point. The Omarosa book is another distraction for this White House. An administration that already spends zero time governing is going to be obsessed with another tell-all book for days to come. It is all nonsense, and one can feel that the nation would like nothing more than to see the Trump circus get run out of town. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. 1.5k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard In response to questions about Omarosas Book, Press Sec. Sarah Sanders blasted Omarosa for trying to make a profit off of working in a White House known for corruption, making a profit off of being there, and using taxpayer money for private travel and anything else they can squeeze out of the job. Instead of telling the truth about all the good President Trump and his administration are doing to make America safe and prosperous, this book is riddled with lies and false accusations, Sanders wrote in a statement sent to PoliticusUSA from the White House via the White House pool. Its sad that a disgruntled former White House employee is trying to profit off these false attacks, and even worse that the media would now give her a platform, after not taking her seriously when she had only positive things to say about the President during her time in the administration. This is by no means exhaustive, as even at just two years in its impossible to list all of the Trump scandals and using the White House for profit, but heres a rough go at the people profiting from the (often) false attacks that got Trump into the White House in the first place: 1.2 billion dollar bailout for Jared Kushners 666 5th Avenue 26 million dollars from the Inaugural Committee disappeared in relationship to Melania Trumps friend The many scandals of Scott Pruitt Trumps Commerce Secretary is accused of stealing $120 million from his business partners. Allowing his rich buddies who never served in the military to shadow run the VA from Mar-a-Lago with no oversight or transparency or knowledge of what veterans actually need, or even which government agency handles what (one of these geniuses thought the VA was responsible for a veterans paperwork, nope thats the DOD- is Trump secretly privatizing that, too?) -The Trump Organization sent a letter to the government of Panama threatening that unless they get relief in a private business issue in Panama, there will be retribution on Panama via an angry Trump. Citi or Apollo Group in excess of 500 Million dollars to Jared Kushner Kushner organizations using the White House as his own personal boardroom. And then, of course, we have: -President Trumps campaign manager currently on trial for illegally laundering millions of dollars from a corrupt Ukrainian regime and Trumps biggest cheerleader in the House, Congressman Chris Collins, arrested for insider trading Yeah, wringing this White House and its associates for cash is what the Trump regime is all about, from the top down. Of course Omarosa used Trump. This is the kind of person he attracts, because this is the kind of person he is. As for Sanders claiming that her book is based on falsehoods, that remains to be seen, but that is rich coming from the woman who lies daily for the President, a man who was the original birther perpetuating an utterly false attack on President Barack Obama long after (unnecessary) evidence proved Trump was being Trump again that is, just making crap up. The corrupt president attracts people bereft of ethics? You dont say. This is totally not new information. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Partly cloudy. High around 70F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. A former MUSC College of Nursing student claims she was expelled after school administrators discriminated against her based on a disability. The federal government is now investigating the allegations. File/Staff Environmental groups haven't given up the fight against South Carolina's first new sea wall in 30 years. On Friday, the S.C. Environmental Law Project sent a letter to state regulators, asking them to immediately halt work on a sea wall that's being constructed on the south end of Hilton Head Island. The Coastal Conservation League is also behind the challenge. Environmentalists argue that the sea wall, being constructed on the beach in front of the Sea Pines development, needs two different types of permits from the state. Michael Corley, a staff attorney for SCELP, writes that a Freedom of Information Act request showed that the homeowners did not file documentation for or receive the permits. The letter indicates that the conservation groups could file a lawsuit if work is not halted. The letter says that the groups would not start legal proceedings for at least three weeks. "I think the intent is to avoid a lawsuit," Corley told The Post and Courier. "Were hopeful that this is just a matter of miscommunication or it's some issue that can be resolved. Our intent in writing a letter is not to say 'Hey, were suing you,' its to say, 'Hey, you missed this.'" Tommy Crosby, a spokesman for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, said that the agency is reviewing the letter. The 18-foot-deep wall in front of five homes on Piping Plover Road is the first new sea wall built in South Carolina in decades. The state banned such walls on the beach in the 1980s, although several parts of the coast already had them. Generally, sea walls retain sand on their landward side but exacerbate erosion on their seaward side, disrupting the natural slope of the beach. The wall has not been challenged by state officials so far because it is in a regulatory gray zone, landward of DHEC's jurisdictional lines that restrict coastline building and out of reach of the town of Hilton Head's jurisdiction. South Carolina homeowners keep trying to build sea walls. Can the state keep up? As the sea level continues to rise, imperiling more beach homes and pushing property owners to attempt extreme measures, will South Carolina regulators be able to keep up? Bert Ellis, one of the homeowners who pooled money to build the wall, said construction should be done next week. He declined to comment on the letter. However, he told The Post and Courier in June that all applicable authorities, including DHEC's Ocean and Coastal Resource Management office, had given the property owners the go-ahead for the wall. Everybody has signed off on what were doing," Ellis said then. Property owners also have argued that because they have oceanfront pools in front of their homes, they already in effect had miniature sea walls on their property. The stakes here could go far beyond Piping Plover Road: About 300 other properties on Hilton Head might be able to use the same loophole to build their own seawalls, according to Rob Young, who researches developed shorelines at Western Carolina University. Hilton Head officials have doubted that estimate, however, arguing that the town's own building restrictions would preclude that in some places, and that it's unlikely that groups of homeowners would band together in the same way the people at Piping Plover have. Andrew Knapp is editor of the Quick Response Team, which covers crime, courts and breaking news. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor at Florida Today, Newsday and Bangor (Maine) Daily News. He enjoys golf, weather and fatherhood. Gregory Yee covers the city of Charleston. He's a native Angeleno and previously covered crime and courts for the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA. He studied journalism and Spanish literature at the University of California, Irvine. More military regulations Along with allowing dreadlocks, different branches of the military have made changes to its uniform and dress standards in recent years to modernize with the times. Here are some of the big changes and some of the bans still on the books: Warren Lance Wise covers retail, real estate and Charleston International Airport for The Post and Courier. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, he holds nearly 50 local, state and national awards for journalistic excellence. T he Sunday pool party at the Pomroys home in Bucks County, Pa., looked like countless others. The parents sat around a table, chatting. The kids jumped in the water, screaming down the water slide, gleefully ignoring the grownups. The adults, not surprisingly, were talking about the kids. But their conversation would have puzzled many parents. "Have you all heard of the rule of nine?" Pat Pomroy, grandmother to two deaf children, asked the group. Pat, 69, demonstrated what she had recently learned in an American Sign Language conversation class, showing how a single sign can take the place of two when referring to certain phrases involving numbers under 10. The information cleared up what had been a mystery to them: why their children seemed to skip signs when talking about their age or the time. "These are the things you dont learn in some of the classes, and this is whats frustrating," said John Collins, whose daughter, Grace Collins-Alicea, is deaf and uses a cochlear implant. The heart of who we are When Collins adopted Grace, speech pathologists told him that learning ASL would inhibit her ability to speak, a widespread belief that research has disproven. Collins, 48, decided to learn sign language alongside Grace, 6. He has her name, finger-spelled in ASL, tattooed down one leg. On the other, he has the word "love," also finger-spelled. Grace is also gravitating toward spoken language, affirming what the pool party parents all believe: Helping their deaf children to embrace deaf culture by learning ASL does not mean they will reject the hearing world, or miss out on opportunity. "At the heart of who we are as people is our language," said Sister Kathleen Schipani, the director of the Deaf Apostolate, a parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that caters to the deaf community. "So, at the heart of the deaf community is sign language." And as challenging as it is to learn a new language as an adult, the parents are doing their best, convinced that it is the best way to support their children. "The most successful deaf people are those whose families learn sign language because then theyre connected with their families and connected with the community," Schipani said. "When their families do not know sign language, its a very difficult way of growing up." Making connections Gatherings like the pool party are fun for the kids, and crucial for adults who might otherwise feel alone in their efforts. In the United States, fewer than 1 percent of people under the age of 25 report being deaf or hard of hearing, according to the 2010 American Community Survey. Statistics on the total number of Americans who use sign language vary widely, but there appear to be at least a half-million users. "For so many families, the first deaf person they meet is their own child," said Meg Santoro, director for early intervention at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. "That can feel isolating sometimes." However, its important to the families that their children grow up in a language-rich environment and have access to good education. "No matter what, they have to live in a hearing world," said Pomroys daughter Theresa, 48, who is the childrens aunt. "I dont believe theyre naturally at a deficit, but not educating them would be the deficit." I was brainwashed When Kristen Dieffenbacher was 5, a new child joined her class. He, like her, was deaf. But unlike Dieffenbacher, this child knew ASL. Dieffenbacher, who relied on lip reading and speech, started to pick up some signs, and the teacher alerted her parents. After consulting with a doctor, her parents made the decision to separate the two children. "They were afraid I would stop talking and that I would gravitate to sign language," said Dieffenbacher, who is now 30. Dieffenbacher speaks well, although sometimes, she said, people ask her where shes from, confusing her slight speech impediment for an accent. Until college, Dieffenbacher stayed away from ASL. "I was brainwashed into thinking we were somehow better than the people that do sign language," Dieffenbacher said. Eventually, she realized that not knowing ASL was the real impediment. Now fluent in ASL, she works at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Because she learned ASL later in life, she doesnt completely consider herself a part of the deaf community. (Though many members of the community capitalize the word deaf when referencing community, rather than the medical condition, it is lower-cased here for consistency.) Dieffenbachers family doesnt use ASL. At large family gatherings she finds herself left out of the conversation because lip-reading requires one-on-one communication. "When I started learning sign language, I felt even more disconnected with the hearing world, and I started to transfer into the deaf world," Dieffenbacher said. "I still feel like Im in the middle between the deaf world and the hearing world." If she were raising a deaf child, she would follow her parents example only partly. "If I had a deaf kid, I would get them a cochlear implant and I would teach them sign language at the same time," Dieffenbacher said. "I want the child to be able to make a decision about which (they prefer). I dont want them to miss out on both worlds." Dont overthink it In the Pomroy household, everyone, to some extent, knows how to sign. Both Robert, 12, and his sister Rachael, 9, have been deaf since birth. Their mother, Pats daughter-in-law, is deaf, but Pat gained custody four years ago because of the parents drug addiction. Pomroy teaches a weekly ASL class at her house for friends and family. She recently went to a conference to learn how to hold signing conversations about puberty and sex. "You just need to communicate, no matter how you do it," she said. "Older people like me are so focused on how perfect it has to be, but it doesnt have to be perfect. Ive learned not to overthink it." At first, Pomroy said, "my fingers just wouldnt work." So she started practicing whenever she could. Even now, when sitting in traffic, she spells out street signs and billboards. Sometimes she has to remind hearing family members to sign while they talk so Robert and Rachael are always included. But, for the most part, "theyre treated no differently than anybody else," their grandmother said. Language and the brain Because some hard-of-hearing children have the opportunity to get cochlear implants early on, many parents delay the use of sign language to determine the success of the implants, Schipani said. As a result, the parents also delay early acquisition of language. "I think theres been a very damaging notion put forth that there is a single path, a single method to language acquisition," Neil McDevitt, executive director of the Deaf Hearing Communication Center, said in an email. Born hard of hearing and now almost entirely deaf, McDevitt has used both spoken and signed language since preschool. Exposure to language from a young age is important to brain development, Santoro said. Deaf infants can experience language deprivation simply because they cannot hear the language around them. Melissa Draganac-Hawk, PSDs director of student affairs, is deaf, as are both of her parents. Her son, 14, is hearing. An early-intervention specialist came into their home to expose Draganac-Hawks son to spoken English. Far from the fear that learning ASL will alienate a deaf child from the hearing world, her experience is that when hearing family members dont learn ASL, they can drive their children away. "Ive seen deaf children (at school) who dont want to go home on Friday afternoon and they come in Monday morning thrilled to be back at school," Draganac-Hawk said. For deaf children to be best supported, they should not be limited to a single method of communication from birth, McDevitt said. "In my view, the most important thing is to use every single option available to you, to discover what works best, and then to keep all of those options open to you as they grow," McDevitt said in the email. Being deaf "is a rich and meaningful experience. There are significant challenges we face, but the richness of the culture and the community we have, for all of its challenges, is equal to what we see in other cultures." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) A local police chief in Mindanao teased an alleged list of mayors and officials involved in the drug trade. Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, police chief of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, showed to the media the so-called "blue book" that contained alleged drug connections and transactions of Ozamiz Councilor Richardo "Ardot" Parojinog, brother of slain Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parajinog, Sr. "(Ardot) gave the officials, the mayors guns and hired goons," Espenido said in a recent interview with local media. Parojinog is under the custody of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Manila. He has been accused of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Related: PNP: Ardot Parojinogs arrest a big blow to their drug group He will be returned to Ozamiz to face charges of murder and two more counts of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Ardot fled the country after his brother and 14 others were killed in a bloody police raid on their residence last year. He was arrested in Taiwan. Ardot's niece, Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog, and nephew Reynaldo Parojinog, Jr. are also facing criminal charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of dangerous drugs. Espenido traces the local drug trade to the supposed Parojinog-Francisco group. The slain mayor's aunt, former Ozamiz Councilor Rizalina Francisco, and her husband Manuelito were also arrested for similar charges as Ardot. Espenido believes the Parojinogs used "goons, guns, and guts" to spread fear among Ozamiz locals and secure a win during elections. However, the police chief also has a controversial track record. While police maintained the Parojinogs were involved in the drug trade, some accused the operation of being a "rubout" and even a "massacre." Related: PNP Chief: Ozamiz raids legitimate, no rubout of Parojinogs Prior to his assignment in Ozamiz, Espenido was police chief in Albuera, Leyte when its mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was shot dead CIDG operatives in his jail cell by in 2016. CNN Philippines stringer Marlon Panares contributed to this report. Earlier today, I wrote about how Philadelphias sanctuary city policy caused a child to be raped. Philadelphia authorities refused ICEs request to detain a previously deported illegal immigrant. Instead, they released the man, who then committed rape. This was clear case of the lefts agenda trumping concerns for public safety. The consequences were dire for the illegal immigrants victim. But leftism is also producing dire consequences for entire communities. Areas ravaged by gangs like MS-13 are among them. With the possible exception of Baltimore, there is no city where the consequences of leftist policies in terms of law and order are more dire than Chicago. Most of our readers are aware, Im sure, of the wave of murders sweeping through the Windy City. Consider these numbers: Between last Friday afternoon and Monday morning, 74 people were shot in the city, 12 of them fatally. In one seven-hour span, from about midnight Saturday to about 7:00 a.m. Sunday, 41 people were shot. Five of them died. Jack Dunphy at PJ Media ties Chicagos ongoing killing spree to the liberal policies of Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Dunphy explains: If the city is plagued with a cohort of dangerous young men, whats to be done about them?. . .[T]he short-term solution is well known but politically fraught: You encourage your police officers to identify and arrest the lawbreakers, and you encourage your prosecutors to bring appropriate charges and seek appropriate sentences. To those who are troubled by the specter of mass incarceration, a question: Given the blood running in the gutters of Chicagos streets last weekend (and most weekends, especially in summer), are there too many people in jail or too few? Liberal dogma holds that there are too many. Mayor Emanuel either subscribes to that dogma or is a slave, politically, to it. Either way, his policies are too blame for the killing sprees: [T]o address this crime wave requires a police force that is fully staffed, suitably equipped, and well led, none of which describes the Chicago Police Department in its current state. Incredibly, Rahm Emanuel acquiesced to allowing the ACLU and the socialist front group Black Lives Matter to participate in the crafting of a consent decree soon to take effect in Chicago, a measure that will divert vast amounts of police manpower and resources from fighting crime to complying with the minutia the decree will demand. The ACLU was already successful in foisting on Chicagos cops the Investigative Stop Report, the two-page form completed on every person detained, however briefly, in the course of a cops work day. If your goal is less police work, just add to the paperwork requirement and soon youll get what you want. The result of all this in Chicago is clear: the citys thugs are less fearful of the consequences for their predations than are the police for the consequences of trying to oppose them. If the cops do what must be done, it will result in more violent confrontations between them and the lawbreakers, including more officer-involved shootings, even the most plainly justifiable of which brings protests and accusations of racism. This is how you get 74 people shot in one weekend. It doesnt help that, in Dunphys estimation, the Chicago police department is poorly led. But this is also due to the doctrinaire leftism of the citys top politicians: It is an accepted but lamented fact of life among police officers that in order to rise on the promotional ladder, one must endorse the political fashions currently in favor among the citys politicians. And the higher one ascends on that ladder, the more convincingly one must do so. As a consequence, reflecting the governing principles of almost any city you can name, most police chiefs are liberals, or at least pretend to be with a passing level of feigned sincerity. As a result of this, the upper levels of most police departments, most certainly those in large cities, become clogged with men and women who can recite leftist pieties as confidently as any MSNBC host, the better to curry favor with politicians whose sponsorship is essential to further promotion. All of these men and women believe themselves qualified to be the next police chief, but the one selected will have proved himself to be the most proficient panderer. But this creates a problem within a police department, to wit, a division in the rank structure between those at or near the top who adopt the leftist nostrums of the politicians, and those at the bottom who must go out onto the streets each day and confront the very real problems engendered by those very same leftist nostrums. As discussed above, the division too often is resolved in favor of cutting back on going into the streets and confronting the thugs. Thats a resolution that suits Democratic politicians fine, thugs having become part of the Democratic Partys constituency. As more Americans realize this, the consequences for Democrats might become dire. Abdullah Alsaafin is a Palestinian who bills himself as a journalist. His Twitter feed consists entirely of obsessive hate directed against Israel. He is busy these days, given Hamass hundreds of rocket attacks. How dare the Israelis respond to rocket attacks? Earlier today, Alsaafin tweeted this sad story about a two-year-old Arab girl who was slaughtered by the Israelis: The little girl is cute, so you will be glad to know that she is very much alive. She is not a Palestinian, and her name is not Bayan abu khamash. Her name is Elle McBroom, and her photo was taken randomly from Instagram, as The Mossad showed: Look at this girl! How could we do such a wait it's a random picture of a girl they took from Instagram. pic.twitter.com/ba0REIw23O The Mossad (@TheMossadIL) August 9, 2018 The Palestinian journalist Abdullah Alsaafin, having been exposed, has now shamelessly deleted that tweet from his Twitter site. But the rest of his posts, all of them devoted to slandering Israel, are still there. Lying seems to be second nature to Palestinian journalists, terrorists and politicians. They express no shame at getting caught, and are not deterred from propagating more absurdities. What is unfortunate is that their lies are frequently picked up by the New York Times, the Associated Press, AFP, CNN and other news sources and disseminated as though they were true. You would think that those mainstream news outlets would figure out what is going on, but so far, they seemingly havent. Via Jihad Watch. PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-10 15:00:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 376 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Enterprise Group Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---St. Albert, Alberta (FSCWire) - Enterprise Group Inc. (TSX:E). has issued a press release with the following headline:Enterprise Group Announces Results for Second Quarter 2018To view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Enterprise Group Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Enterprise Group Inc.Source: Enterprise Group Inc. (TSX: E)Date: August 10, 2018Time: 9:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Enterprise Group Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) According to Goldstein Research, Europe fresh food packaging market is anticipated to reach USD 11.40 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 2.23% over the forecast period 2016-2024. Europe Fresh Food Packaging Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-10 11:40:21 Press Information Goldtsein Research 99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005 Steve Blade Global Sales Head 6465687747 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/ # 447 Words 99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005Global Sales Head6465687747 According to Goldstein Research, Europe fresh food packaging market is anticipated to reach USD 11.40 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 2.23% over the forecast period 2016-2024.Browse Full Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/europe-fresh-food-packaging-market-outlook-2024-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 Growing personal disposable income and increasing demand for convenience packaged food is driving the growth of market. Europe fresh food packaging market segmentation has been done on the basis of packaging types, application and geography. Geographically, Europe fresh food packaging industry is dominated by high demand of packaged fresh food in the U.K. With the increasing health concerns and high disposable income of the people, there is trend of high demand for fresh food.Get More Information Europe Fresh Food Packaging MarketMarket SegmentationEurope Fresh Food Packaging Market can be segmented as follows:Based on Packaging Type Flexible Packaging Semi-Rigid Packaging Rigid PackagingBased on Application Poultry & Meat Products Dairy Products Produce (Vegetables and Fruits) Sea FoodBy Region K. Fresh Food Packaging Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Germany Fresh Food Packaging Market Analysis, 2016-2024 France Fresh Food Packaging Market Analysis, 2016-2024Italy Fresh Food Packaging Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Spain Fresh Food Packaging Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Belgium Fresh Food Packaging Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Sweden Fresh Food Packaging Market Analysis, 2016-2024 The Netherlands Fresh Food Packaging Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Rest of Europe Fresh Food Packaging Market Analysis, 2016-2024Europe Fresh Food Packaging Market Outlook 2024 contains a detailed overview of the Europe fresh food packaging market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, the market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by packaging types, application and geography.Download Exclusive Sample Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/request-sample/europe-fresh-food-packaging-market-outlook-2024-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 The Europe Fresh Food Packaging Market Report highlights the competitive outlook of key players by discussing the business strategies, revenue distribution by multiple business segments, products & services catered by the company, financial reports and other information to provide business outlook.Key players of the Europe fresh food packaging market discussed in the report are: Amcor Limited, DS Smith Plc, DuPont, International Paper Company, Smurfit Kappa, BALL Corporation, COVERIS, Mondi Group, Ultimate Packaging, PP Global, Bemis Company Inc., Packaging Corporation of America, Sonoco Products Company, Graphic Packaging International, Inc., Sealed Air India Pvt. Ltd., Pactiv, Anchor Packaging Inc., Bomarko Inc, etc.Further, Europe Fresh Food Packaging Market Report encompasses market trends, drivers, opportunities, challenges, risk analysis, market attractiveness, SWOT analysis, Porters five force model and BPS analysis. The report also portrays the fresh food packaging forecast market share, market size and annual growth rate, based on estimated market size, market growth rate and anticipated market trends.Browse Similar Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/-global-fresh-food-packaging-industry-market-analysis Frontline Ltd. (the "Company") announces that its 2018 Annual General Meeting will be held on September 21, 2018. A copy of the Notice of Annual General Meeting and associated information including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2017 can be found on our website at http://www.frontline.bm and attached to this press release. August 10, 2018 The Board of Directors Frontline Ltd. Hamilton, Bermuda According to Goldstein Research, global podiatric products and supply market is anticipated to reach USD 3.80 billion by 2024 from estimated market size of 2.60 billion in 2015, growing at a CAGR of 8.7% over the forecast period 2016-2024. Global Podiatric Products and Supply Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-10 12:48:37 Press Information Goldtsein Research 99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005 Steve Blade Global Sales Head 6465687747 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/ # 471 Words 99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005Global Sales Head6465687747 According to Goldstein Research, global podiatric products and supply market is anticipated to reach USD 3.80 billion by 2024 from estimated market size of 2.60 billion in 2015, growing at a CAGR of 8.7% over the forecast period 2016-2024.Browse Full Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/global-podiatric-products-and-supply-market-outlook-2024-global-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 The technological advancement in the podiatric products & rise in number of patients seeking podiatric products & supply are driving the growth of the market. Global podiatric products and supply market segmentation has been done on the basis of solution, body parts, podiatric supplies, end user and geography. Based on solutions, insoles segment accounted for largest market share, anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 7.0% over the forecast period. Geographically, global podiatric products and supply industry is dominated by Asia Pacific region, due high population of geriatric population that are prone to foot issues and also high investments in the market in some countries such as China and Australia.Get More Information Podiatric Products and Supply MarketMarket SegmentationGlobal Podiatric Products and Supply Market can be segmented as follows:By Solution Clinical assessment Forefeet solution Pediatric orthotics InsolesBy Body Parts Ankle/foot Fingers/toes Foot Forefoot Heels ToeBy Podiatric Supplies Alignate dressing Hydrogel dressing Collagen dressingBy End User Hospitals Clinics Sports OthersBy Region North America Podiatric Products and Supply Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Europe Podiatric Products and Supply Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Middle East And Africa Podiatric Products and Supply Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Latin America Podiatric Products and Supply Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Asia Pacific Podiatric Products and Supply Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Rest Of The World Podiatric Products and Supply Market Analysis, 2016-2024Download Exclusive Sample Report:Global Podiatric Products and Supply Market Outlook 2024 contains detailed overview of the global podiatric products and supply market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by solution, body parts, podiatric supplies, end user and geography.The Global Podiatric Products and Supply Market Report highlights the competitive analysis of major players in the industry and the company profiling includes financial reports, revenue distribution by different segments, business strategies, products & services catered by the company and other information to provide business outlook.Key players of the global podiatric products and supply market discussed in the report are: Atlantis footwear Inc., Bayer HealthCare, Bauerfeind, Superfeet, Stable Step, etc.Further, Global Podiatric Products and Supply Market Report encompasses market trends, drivers, opportunities, challenges, risk analysis, market attractiveness, SWOT analysis, Porters five force model and BPS analysis. The report also includes the podiatric products and supply market share, market size and annual growth rate, forecast based on estimated market size, market growth rate and anticipated trends in the market.Browse Similar Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/india-in-vitro-diagnostics-ivd-market-outlook-2024-global-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 According to Goldstein Research, global processed meat market is anticipated to reach USD 1740.0 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 14.0% over the forecast period 2016-2024. Global Processed Meat Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-10 12:53:29 Press Information Goldtsein Research 99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005 Steve Blade Global Sales Head 6465687747 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/ # 420 Words 99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005Global Sales Head6465687747 According to Goldstein Research, global processed meat market is anticipated to reach USD 1740.0 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 14.0% over the forecast period 2016-2024.Browse Full Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/global-processed-meat-market-outlook-2024-global-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 Rising personal disposable income and growing demand for easy-to-cook meat majorly among the urban population is driving the growth of market. Global processed meat market segmentation has been done on the basis of processed meat type, packaging, processing technology and geography. Geographically, global processed meat industry is dominated by North America due to high demand & production of processed meat in the region. Whereas, Asia Pacific region tends to grow at fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to rising meat demand and outperforming retail industry in the region.Get More Information About Processed Meat MarketMarket SegmentationGlobal Processed Meat Market can be segmented as follows:Based on Processed Meat Type Poultry Red Meat ( Beef, Pork) Sea Food Others (Bacon, Dogs)Based on Packaging Chilled Frozen CannedBased on Processing Technology Fresh-Processed Meat Raw-Cooked Meat Pre-Cooked Meat Raw-Fermented Sausages Cured Meat Dried MeatBy Region North America Processed Meat Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Europe Processed Meat Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Middle East And Africa Processed Meat Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Latin America Processed Meat Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Asia Pacific Processed Meat Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Rest Of The World Processed Meat Market Analysis, 2016-2024Download Exclusive Sample Report:Global Processed Meat Market Outlook 2024 contains detailed overview of the global processed meat market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by processed meat type, packaging, processing technology and geography.The Global Processed Meat Market Report highlights the competitive outlook of key players by discussing the business strategies, revenue distribution by multiple business segments, products & services catered by the company, financial reports and other information to provide business outlook.Key players of the global processed meat market discussed in the report are: Cargill Inc., Tyson Foods, Gulf Food Industries, National Food Co., Hormel Foods, Smithfield Foods, NH Foods, BRF S.A., etc.Further, Global Processed Meat Market Report encompasses market trends, drivers, opportunities, challenges, risk analysis, market attractiveness, SWOT analysis, Porters five force model and BPS analysis. The report also portrays the processed meat forecast market share, market size and annual growth rate, based on estimated market size, market growth rate and anticipated market trends.Browse Similar Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/global-blast-chillers-market-outlook-2024-global-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 Golden Ocean Group Limited (the "Company") announces that its 2018 Annual General Meeting will be held on September 21, 2018. A copy of the Notice of Annual General Meeting and associated information including the Company`s Consolidated Financial Statements on Form 20-F for 2017 can be found on our website at www.goldenocean.bm and in the links below. August 10, 2018 The Board of Directors Golden Ocean Group Limited Hamilton, Bermuda PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-10 11:03:02 HARVIA PLC PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 10, 2018 AT 12:00 P.M. EET Harvia will publish its half-year financial report for the period of January-June 2018, on Thursday, 16 August 2018 at around 9:00 a.m. Finnish time. The stock exchange release and the presentation material in Finnish and English will be available at https://www.harvia.fi/en/investors/. A press conference for analysts, investors and media Harvia will hold a press conference for analysts, investors and media on the same day at 11:00 a.m. Finnish time, at the company's headquarters in Muurame (address Teollisuustie 1-7, Muurame). The conference will be held in Finnish. The conference will be hosted by Harvia's CEO Tapio Pajuharju and CFO Ari Vesterinen. Participants are kindly requested to register in advance via email at harvia@harvia.fi . Live audiocast A live audiocast will be held in English on the same day at 1:00 p.m. Finnish time. Harvia's CEO Tapio Pajuharju and CFO Ari Vesterinen will host the audiocast. Link to the audiocast and presentation can be found at https://harvia.videosync.fi/2018-q2-results. You can also participate by calling: FI: +358 9 817 104 95 UK: +44 203 194 0552 SE: +46 856 642 702 US: +1 855 716 1597 After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. A recording of the audiocast will be available later at the company's website. HARVIA PLC For further information, please contact: CFO Ari Vesterinen, ari.vesterinen@harvia.fi , tel. +358 40 505 0440 Harvia is one of the leading companies operating in the sauna and spa market globally, as measured by revenue. Harvia's brands and product offering are well-known in the market and the company's comprehensive product offering strives to meet the needs of the international sauna and spa market, of both private and professional customers. Harvia's revenue amounted to EUR 60.1 million in 2017, its operating profit was EUR 9.3 million and adjusted operating profit EUR 10.7 million during the same period. The company employs some 365 professionals in Finland, China and Hong Kong, Romania, Austria, Germany and Estonia. The company is headquartered in Muurame, Finland, adjacent to its largest sauna and sauna component manufacturing facility. Read more www.harvia.fi This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Harvia Oyj via Globenewswire Liposuction Devices Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-10 12:14:46 Press Information Goldtsein Research 99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005 Steve Blade Global Sales Head 6465687747 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/ # 456 Words 99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005Global Sales Head6465687747 According to Goldstein Research, global liposuction devices market is grow at a CAGR of 9.0% over the forecast period 2016-2024. Increase in obese population, growing beauty consciousness, rising awareness about liposuction, and growth in number of qualified cosmetic surgeons/practitioners tends to drive the liposuction devices market.Browse Full Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/liposuction-devices-market-global-trends-analysis Global liposuction devices market segmentation has been done on the basis of product types, technology, end users and geography. Geographically, global liposuction devices industry is dominated by North America with a market share of 50.0% in 2016. The global liposuction devices market is largely impacted by the growth of medical aesthetic device market which is growing at a CAGR of 9.23% over the forecast period.Get More Information Liposuction Devices MarketMarket SegmentationGlobal Liposuction Devices Market can be segmented as follows:By Product Type Stand-alone liposuction surgery devices Portable liposuction surgery devicesBy Technology Laser Assisted Liposuction Devices Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction Devices Radiofrequency Assisted Liposuction Devices Water Jet Assisted Liposuction Devices Other liposuction Devices (Suction Assisted, Power Assisted, Twin Cannula Assisted, Tumescent Liposuction, Aspirator Devices)By End User Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Cosmetic Surgical CentersBy Region North America Liposuction Devices Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Europe Liposuction Devices Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Middle East And Africa Liposuction Devices Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Latin America Liposuction Devices Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Asia Pacific Liposuction Devices Market Analysis, 2016-2024 Rest Of The World Liposuction Devices Market Analysis, 2016-2024Download Exclusive Sample Report:Global Liposuction Devices Market Outlook 2024 contains detailed overview of the global liposuction devices market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by product types, technology, end users and geography.The Global Liposuction Devices Market Report highlights the competitive outlook of key players by discussing the business strategies, revenue distribution by multiple business segments, products & services catered by the company, financial reports and other information to provide business outlook.Key players of the global liposuction devices market discussed in the report are: Alma Lasers, Cynosure, Erchonia, Allergan, Genesis Biosystems, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Solta Medical, Sciton Inc., Wells Johnson Co, Invasix Ltd, Zeltiq aesthetics Inc., Ambicare Clinics, Bruker Corporation, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Cutera Inc., Ellex medical lasers, Ellipse A/S, Hamilton thorne Inc., Nikon, Oluympus corp., AART, Andrew Technologies, BTL Industries, HCBeauty, etc.Further, Global Liposuction Devices Market Report encompasses market trends, drivers, opportunities, challenges, risk analysis, market attractiveness, SWOT analysis, Porters five force model and BPS analysis. The report also portrays the liposuction devices forecast market share, market size and annual growth rate, based on estimated market size, market growth rate and anticipated market trends.Browse Similar Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/global-connected-medical-device-market-outlook-2024-global-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 Fact.MR PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-10 09:01:57 Press Information Fact.MR Suite 9884 27 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Abhishek Budholiya Marketing Manager +353-1-6111-593 email https://www.factmr.com/ # 706 Words Suite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandMarketing Manager+353-1-6111-593 A paradigm shift from traditional direct selling to online selling model, upheld by e-commerces pervasiveness, has been a key sales influencer of salon chairs worldwide. Upswing in popularity of online retailing is being banked on by salon chairs manufacturers to tap latent opportunities in suburban and rural areas. Salon chair sales are foreseen to record a significant pace through 2028, according to Fact.MRs recent research study.Sales of salon chairs via e-commerce channels are expected to remain resurgent throughout the period of assessment, 2018-2028, with demand for salon chairs poised to grow at 6.0% CAGR in terms of value, according to Fact.MRs new study. However, supremacy of direct channel is expected to persist in the salon chair market, says Fact.MR report.Request For Sample Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=1412 Sales of salon chairs are likely to remain concentrated in the emerging economies of Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region, particularly in China and India. This can be attributed to the growing salon facilities in these countries coupled with spurring technological advances adopted by salon chair manufacturers. Moreover, China being one of the leading exporter and consumer of furniture, it has significantly impacted the export scenario across developed countries, particularly the United States. United States is expected to follow the suit, after APEJ, on the back of trade tensions between China and United States. Strict trade regulations between these economically stable countries is likely to impact the growth of the salon chairs market in the coming years.Demand for modern barber chairs is expected to spearhead during the period of forecast with their all-purpose variants to follow their lead. Manufacturers of salon chairs have been investing in research and development for developing technologically sound products that feature high durability and efficiency. On the back of dual reclining levers along with advanced pin stems that facilitate ease in adjustments with maximum client comfort, the demand for modern barber chairs is expected to spur in the coming years.Salon chairs have been witnessing several enhancements apropos of overall chair mechanism, as manufacturers have been coming up with all electric and hydraulic salon chair models. The sales of hydraulic salon chairs have been rampant since the past few years and are expected to retain the status quo, according to the report. Albeit convenience of hydraulic salon chairs in terms of height adjustments and added protection, their electric counterparts are likely to witness an upswing during the forecast period. Excessive control, enhanced angling system and positioning are expected to fuel the demand for electric salon chairs, in turn driving sales.To know more about Salon Chairs Market Trends, check the link - https://www.factmr.com/report/1412/salon-chairs-market The report on salon chairs market envisages that sales of hydraulic and electric reclining salon chairs are projected to expand at a significant pace, the former being at the vanguard. However, the demand for electric reclining salon chairs is expected to outpace their hydraulic counterparts during the period of assessment, albeit at a lower base.Renascent competition among major players involved in the salon chairs market has resulted in adoption of innovative marketing strategies in a bid to achieve sustenance and enhance brand image. Rising number of brand endorsements and using novel methods such as in-film branding is expected to facilitate enhanced sales of salon chairs in the coming years. Alongside developments in salon chairs and marketing techniques, radical advancement in salon consultation offered by professionals has supported the growth of the salons worldwide. Rising number of independent salons and franchised salons, on the back of increased brand awareness has fuelled the demand for salon chairs and their modern variants. Overall the prospects for manufacturers of salon chairs are expected to remain bullish, with a steady inflow of opportunities in the offing.To Buy Salon Chairs Market Report, Check the link- https://www.factmr.com/checkout/1412/S About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports. PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-10 11:04:04 London, United Kingdom, August 10, 2018 - Seadrill Partners LLC is scheduled to release its second quarter 2018 results on Tuesday August 21st, 2018. In connection with the earnings release, a conference call/webcast will be held as described below. A conference call will be held at 10:30 a.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. BST on Tuesday August 21st, 2018. To listen to the management presentation of the results, the following options are available: A. Webcast In order to register to listen to the conference call, please click this link. B. Conference call Participants can register for the conference call and receive their dial-in details by clicking this link. Those without internet access or unable to pre-register may join the call on August 21st by dialling: US dial in: +1-877-317-6714 This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Seadrill Partners LLC via Globenewswire # 440 Words International dial in: +1-412-317-5476The participants will be required to request the Seadrill Partners Conference call.There will be a Q&A session subsequent to the presentation. Information on how to ask management questions will be given at the beginning of the Q&A session.In order to view the presentation while listening to the conference, please download the presentation material from http://www.seadrillpartners.com/ If you are unable to participate in the conference call, there is an opportunity to listen to a replay on http://www.seadrillpartners.com/ (Investor Relations)Participant list information required: Full name & company The federal government and the Bank of Industry have begun disbursing interest-free loans to traders in various markets across Lagos. The loan facility, tagged Market Moni and Trader Moni, is part of the federal governments financial inclusion drive. The Executive Director, BoI, Toyin Adeniji, disclosed this at the commencement of the initiative and loan disbursements at Ojuwoye Market in Mushin, Lagos on Thursday. The initiative saw over 500 petty traders receive between N10,000 and N100,000 to support their businesses. The beneficiaries were encouraged to pay back within a period of six months from the date of receipt. According to Ms. Adeniji, the drive will enable traders expand their businesses, and contribute to economic growth. She said, For instance, when a trader collects a N10,000 loan, they have six months to pay back. After then, they qualify for a loan of N15,000. When that is paid back, they qualify for N20,000 loan. We will take down the data of traders in all the markets we have visited. The idea is to use this to track those who collect these loans. We are transferring these funds directly to the mobile phones of beneficiaries, who in turn can then go to cash out from any Automated Teller Machine around the market they operate or transfer it straight into their bank accounts. She also added that the federal government recognises the contribution of petty traders to economic development. The government identified the fact that some of them may not have what the commercial banks may required to grant loan, so he support this initiative to help them grow their business. The Chief Operating Officer, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Uzoma Nwagba, also explained that the loans have been made flexible to accommodate as many petty traders as possible. This exercise will be a continuous one in markets across the country with agents stationed in such places to educate small business owners how to take advantage of it. With this initiative we aim to expand financial inclusion because we have over 23 million Nigerians that are financially excluded, this administration aims to reach them so that they can grow their businesses, he noted. X3M music vocalist, Simi Ogunleye, popularly known as Simi, is out with a new single titled I dun care, alongside a video. Simi, who recently became the first Nigerian artiste to hit the one million stream mark on music platform, Boomplay, with her sophomore album, dropped the track on Friday. Rendered in English and Yoruba language, I Dun Care is a melodious tune, which sees her pledge her love to the man of her dreams irrespective of what people say. The song is produced by her prominent beat-maker, Oscar. Clarence Peters shot the video in Lagos. Simis career came into the spotlight in 2014 after she released Tiff, a song that was nominated in two categories at the 2015 Headies. Simi is best known for hits like Smile for Me and Joromi. Check out the video below: Hennessy VS Class Auditions The Hennessy VS Class audition makes its final stop in Lagos on Saturday. This opportunity is not limited to emerging rappers based in Lagos alone, but for anyone who believes they have what it takes to be the new face of Rap in Nigeria. The Lagos live auditions presents the last chance for the best of the best to step up to the mic and show the judges their talent. The judges include Hip-hop connoisseur, Andy Bello; ace rapper, Vector the Viper; Celebrity Hypeman, Jimmie; and VS Class Alumnus, Phlow Auditions will take place at Koga Studios, No 2 Bolaji Street by Mobil Bus stop, Oregun Road. Alausa, Ikeja. Registrations are still open via the official website Lagos In Pictures Exhibition This event and campaign, which captures life in Lagos in its purest form, is aimed at showing the beauty of Lagos to the world. With the support of other creative photographers like Baignor Joiner and Isabella Agbaje, the headline photographer, Obi Nnebe, will be showcasing this amazing project. Each photograph tells its own tale and they are simply the raconteurs. Date: August 12 Time: 2 p.m. 9 p.m. Location: Were House, 7 Mike Adegbite, Lekki Lagos Verano Fest Verano Fest is a music, arts, and culture platform set to exhibit the creativity of gifts Nigeria, as a nation is blessed with. It is an event platform that is concerned about the allocation of Nigerian resources without restrictions or gender discrimination. Date: August 11 Time: 12:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. Venue: Muri Okunola Park, 1 Adeyemo Alakija Street GBAM In collaboration with SMO Contemporary Art, the GBAM! Exhibition aims at encouraging young Africans to embrace their roots, their history and their past to recover perfection. Date: Saturday Time: 5:00 p.m. Venue: The Wheatbaker, 4 Lawrence Road, Ikoyi, Lagos GBAM Hennessy VS Class-2018-Auditions in Lagos The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has accused Senate President Bukola Saraki of not acting in the interest of Nigeria. He also reiterated the APCs call that Mr Saraki should resign or be removed from office. He made this call on Friday during a press conference held at the partys national secretariat in Abuja. Lastly, in support of my thesis that the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has never acted in the Nigeria National interest in view. My parlance submission is the way in which he adjourned the Senate about two weeks ago. The Senate calender is not a secret to the presiding officer of the Senate. The Senate calender that was known was that the Senate was going to be adjourned by Thursday. By Tuesday morning, or Monday night, Senator Saraki used his guest house, write out the name of senators in provisions, straight for signatories for Senators to decamp to the PDP from the APC. Mr Oshiomole, whose party has expressed contradictory stance on last weeks siege by security officials on the National Assembly, also opposed the stance of Mr Saraki on the matter. Mr Saraki, who recently defected from the APC to the PDP, said the siege was to forcibly carry out his illegal removal. How can a presiding officer arrive at such a conclusion that there was a plan to carry out illegal impeachment. Until an action takes place, how can you determine the status? Mr Oshiomhole said. But it is lawful to impeach anyone including the President of the Senate, including the deputy president of the Senate, if the number required to do so is present, so he cannot preempt, as they say, you dont have to be a pathological liar before you understand this generally. Once you start with one lie, you will need serious of lies to support that one lie. In any case, Saraki is not going to be the first senate president to be impeached and I doubt if he is going to be the last but definitely he will be impeached according to law and to democratic norms. The only way Saraki can avoid impeachment is for him to do what is honourable which again leads to the issue of character. Making reference to Godswill Akpabio who resigned before defecting from the PDP to the APC, he said Mr Saraki should have resigned. President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed best wishes to renowned, pioneer Chartered Accountant in Africa, Akintola Williams, as he clocks 99 years August 9, 2018. President Buhari joins the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, family and friends, professional colleagues, mentees, and other well-wishers as they celebrate the man who taught Nigerians how to seek and achieve transparency and accountability. The president believes that the pioneer efforts of Mr Williams in his chosen field and continued show of interest have transformed the profession into noble heights. He also praises the celebrant for not limiting his God-given intelligence and brilliance to his profession as he also got himself deeply involved in the promotion of arts and culture, preservation of the environment and development of good governance for which he has been honoured in different countries and climes. President Buhari enjoins other professionals to emulate the dedication, steadfastness, industry, commitment and untiring sense of responsibility that Mr Williams has continued to exhibit for many decades in order to take their professions to higher realms. President Buhari prays that God Almighty will grant the revered gentleman grace to continue to serve as a source of inspiration to younger ones who look up to him as a role model. Uzodinma Asonye, an American of Nigerian origin, is one of the seven prosecutors enlisted by United States special counsel on the Russian collusion allegations, Robert Mueller. He led the prosecution team when the first trial in the alleged Russian collusion case opened against Paul Manafort, a former campaign director and ally of President Donald Trump. Mr Manafort is facing charges for alleged bank and tax fraud, as well as possible connivance with foreign elements, especially Russians. Mr Trump has distanced himself from Mr Manafort since he turned himself in to the F.B.I. last October. The U.S. president has also continued to maintain his innocence in the trial, describing it as a witch-hunt and demanding further investigations should end immediately. Mr Asonye, a financial crimes prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, was brought in by Mr Mueller to help build the case against Mr Manafort in the state. Since graduating from Yale University in 2005 and being called to bar in 2006, he has successfully prosecuted fraud cases, including the Bank of the Commonwealth fraud trial that saw the firms former boss jailed for 23 years. Mr Asonye, 37, also once clerked for a former U.S. Senator, according to his LinkedIn profile. United States president, Donald Trump. [Photo credit: The Independent] The Chicago Sun-Times profiled him as growing up around Chicago where he attended Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School, finishing in 1998. The Progressives People Alliance (PPA) says inadequate development and insecurity in the country are among reasons it joined the Coalition of United People Party (CUPP) ahead of 2019 elections. The Chairman of the partys Board of Trustees (BOT), Godwin Ezeemo, stated this on Friday in an interview with journalists in Umuchu, Anambra. He said: what is important in the coalition is to see that we raise a leadership that will be sensitive to development, security and other issues affecting the people directly. This is not to say we will write APC off completely; there are few areas they did well, but below the pass mark level. In the area of security, I am displeased with the way Nigerians are killed all over the country. It is not fair. Any government that fails to provide security for the people is not worth being there at all. We have equally seen that impunity remains a big issue in the current administration that allows a few to rule instead of adhering to the will of the people. The unfair treatment and the use of security and graft agencies against political opponents by the APC led-federal government are, to say the least, one of its short comings. Mr Ezemo scored the government half credit in its fight against corruption, saying that it had left it half way. It does not make sense of the whole effort in the fight against corruption that the fight is now being used to make politicians join the party. No administration has started the fight against corruption, but while APC started it, it has not been able to finish even one case, he said. He explained that PPA was part of the coalition to ensure that only individuals with unquestionable character, sincerity of purpose and with interest of the nation were elected in 2019. We need individuals who are willing to lead selflessly and such individual must be acceptable to all the units of the country; such person must be a detribalised individual. We want a person who would remember that we do not have any other country than Nigeria; a leader that will not make decisions based on sentiments but on objectivity, the chairman stressed. He criticised the freezing of state governments accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and likened it to declaration of state-of-emergency where there was no need. That is why we support the call to restructure the country to reduce power at the centre, he added. The PPA, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and 36 other political parties, in July, formed the CUPP, an alliance to produce a common presidential candidate for 2019 election. (NAN) The Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, John Audu, representing Kachia Constituency, has defected from the ruling APC. Confirming his defection in a statement, he personally signed, Mr Audu said it was a difficult decision taken by him. According to him, he consulted widely with people of his constituency before leaving the party. He cited impunity in the party as the main reason for his defection. Mr Audu did not mention the new party he will join. I write to withdraw my membership of the All Progressive Congress APC with effect from 7th August 2018 . This is the most difficult decision ever taken after due consultation with the good people of my constituency. However, I came to realize that most of the party supporters have left due to impunity and division in the local government and the state level of the party. Please accept my best regards, he wrote. Another member of the state assembly representing Kudan Local Government Area, Junaidu Yakubu, has also dumped the APC. In a letter signed by him and submitted to the party secretariat, he said it had become imperative in view of the draconian leadership of the party at the state level and the local government. I feel I will not serve the interest of the people in my constituency under the said leadership. This decision was arrived at after due consultation with my people whom I had sworn to protect their interest under the party, he said. He also did not mention the new party he will join. Kaduna State is one of the prominent political forts of the ruling APC, with the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, have accused the presidency of planning to implicate them and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over Tuesdays invasions of the National Assembly by officers of the State Security Service (SSS). In a joint statement signed by their media aides, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Uche Anichukwu, they said the Presidency has constituted a closet panel to review the interim report submitted by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, and submit a final recommendation that implicate them and their colleagues. The IGP had in a preliminary report to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, accused the former DG, SSS, Lawal Daura of gross violation of Nigerian Constitution in Tuesdays barricade of the National Assembly by SSS operatives. Mr Idris said Mr Daura was working for some politicians for selfish interest, but did not name the accomplices, and that he (Mr Daura) did not consult with other security agencies before ordering the siege. The interim report questioned the validity of a security report that allegedly anticipated violence at the parliament. Mr Daura was sacked by Mr Osinbajo on Tuesday afternoon. He was immediately handed over to the police for further interrogation over unathorised deployment of SSS officers. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) defended Mr Dauras action, saying its findings indicated that the disgraced spy chief was trying to prevent violence which PDP lawmakers allegedly planned at the National Assembly. But Mr Idris rejected this claim, saying Mr Daura sent SSS personnel who acted like mercenaries, hired to carry out executions. Mr Saraki pushed back against the allegations at a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, describing it as an insult on the collective intelligence of Nigerians. He said it was baffling that he leaders of the parliament could be accused of being in bed with someone like Mr Daura, even when the parliament was also at the receiving end of the former spy chiefs unchecked recklessness In their statement on Friday, Messrs Saraki and Ekweremadu alleged that the mandate of the closet panel being formed by the Federal Government is to turn facts on their head and blame the invasion of the National Assembly on the two leaders of the Red Chamber, who will then be presented as having worked in tandem with the sacked Director-General of the DSS, Mallam Lawal Daura to stage the parliamentary security breach. We have been reliably informed that instead of the Presidency to set up a public inquiry or judicial commission to probe last Tuesdays early morning Invasion of the National Assembly as being demanded by the general public, they have commenced a process of manipulation and fabrication. The Presidency has set up a closet panel, which would work to a predetermined conclusion in which they will now claim that the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President worked in collusion with ex-DG of DSS, Lawal Daura to stage the invasion. They want to shield the fact that the previous night before the invasion and up till the early hours of Tuesday, there was a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators and that the plan was for them to be moved in a coaster bus into the National Assembly complex later that morning for them to purportedly remove us and select a new Senate President and Deputy Senate President. The duo said the plot of APC senators only failed because the media, particularly social media, Nigerians and international community responded very swiftly as some legislators who came into the complex were refused entry by gun-wielding, hooded security operatives. Now, they want to turn the facts on its head and blame us for their botched plot against democracy. We are hereby alerting all Nigerians and members of the international community that the present Nigerian government will stop at nothing to destroy, suppress and incapacitate the opposition. This is their new tactic and plot as we approach the period of the 2019 polls. We hereby reiterate our earlier position that the coup against democracy as represented by last weeks invasion must be probed through an independent judicial commission of inquiry which will produce a comprehensive report. We reject any manipulated and fabricated investigation, they said. The presiding officers added that they have also uncovered a sinister plot in which the government plans to use the anti-graft and security agencies to incarcerate them and some members of their families from next week, all in a bid to break their will and effect their removal. Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has asked Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to sack the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, over the freezing of bank accounts of Benue and Akwa Ibom state governments. The two state governments raised alarm three days ago about the EFCC freezing their bank accounts, and thereby crippling government activities. The restrictions on the accounts were lifted after many Nigerians condemned the EFCCs action. I am calling for the sack of the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, for overthrowing a tier government. The mere fact that the two accounts have been re-opened does not mean that a crime was not committed, Governor Wike reportedly told journalists, Thursday, in Port Harcourt, according to a Government House press statement. When you freeze the account of the State Government, you have overthrown that government. Without funds, a state cannot function. This means the shutdown of government business at Executive, Legislature and Judiciary in the affected states. Mr Wike said if the director general of the State Security Services (SSS) could be sacked because of the recent siege to the National Assembly, then the acting chairman of the EFCC deserved to be sacked and prosecuted for his action against the two states. Mr Wike said the EFCC, as an agency of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled federal government, went after Benue state government because of the defection the state governor, Samuel Ortom, from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor linked the commissions action in Akwa Ibom to the defection of the former Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, from the PDP to the APC. He said the EFCC was ultimately targeting the Rivers state government. He called on the Nigeria Governors Forum to defend the independence of states. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stand by his words in fulfilling his promise to ensure that the people of Western Sahara gain freedom from Morocco. The President NLC, Ayuba Wabba, made this call on Friday in Abuja at a public forum tagged: Nigeria in the Struggle for the Liberation of Western Sahara. He criticised Nigerian government continued romance with the Moroccan government, who had refused to let a sister country live freely and independently exist. President Muhammadu Buhari has in different fora promised to stand by the people of Western Sahara and use his position as the president of Nigeria to make sure they gain their independent. The Moroccan government has refused to let Western Sahara exist and live freely, yet the president and the government he is leading has done nothing so far; rather they are busy romancing the Moroccan government. We therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari to keep his words and fulfill his promise to the people of Western Sahara, he said. According to him, Nigerian government must rise to the occasion and do what is expected of it as a leading country in Africa. It is expected of Nigeria to stand against all forms of injustice against fellow African countries. The silence of Nigerian government against the evil being melted on the people of Western Sahara simply means that Nigeria is associating itself with injustice. Let it be known that African continent as a whole will not know peace until all countries under any form of colonial rule or influence are completely liberated, Mr Wabba, said. Also speaking, the President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, stressed that Nigerian government and its citizens must do everything within their power to support the independence of the Western Saharans. He urged Nigerian government to avoid anything that associates it to the ongoing injustice against the people of Western Sahara. Mr Ogunyemi also urged President Buhari to use his position as the head of ECOWAS to support the freedom and independence of Western Sahara. Also, Ezenwa Nwagwu, from Committee for Defence of Human Rights, called on Nigerians to boycott goods and products from Morocco in solidarity with the people of Western Sahara. He said that Nigerian government will continue to pamper Moroccan government at the detriment of the Western Saharans. According to him, Nigerians can actually help by uniting against the government of Morocco by boycotting their products. (NAN) The chairman of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) in Borno State, Titus Ali-Abana, has threatened to lead workers on a strike if the state government fails to pay workers their gratuities of over five years. He claimed retired workers from various cadres are being owed over N20 billion in arrears. The last time the state government approved payment of retirees gratuity, which is a statutory benefit every retired workers get at conclusion of their service was in 2013, Mr Ali-Abana said. The official told journalists,Thursday evening, in Maiduguri that the failure of government to pay these benefits has inflicted pains on them. Mr Ali-Abana also lamented that the state government has not been paying leave grants and promotion benefits. Since June 2013, the government of Borno has not been paying workers gratuity and this has only created a huge backlog of almost about N20 billion for both the state and the local government. We also want government to restore the monthly installment payment of gratuity, which is about N150 million, if not even, consider increasing the amount to meet up with the daily increase on the number of persons retiring from the state civil service. He said the labor union had become tired of repeated promises by the state government. We have severally written to the government and even had face to face meetings with the governor and the head of service but all have not yielded any positive result for our retired workers many of whom are today dying of heartbreak due to non-payment of their benefits. Mr Abana, who spoke at the government house Maiduguri where he and some officials went to meet the governor, said if the meeting failed to yield any positive response, the union will embark on a massive industrial action. We have done our best in trying to follow the government through the diplomatic doors and dialogue; but we are tired of going back to our members and retired workers with empty hands. Should this fail, we have no other alternative than to go on a big workers strike action. There are even other issues of outstanding arrears of workers like the issue of N18, 000 workers minimum wage that is still outstanding, coupled with lots of undue reductions or omission of workers pay recorded during the biometric capturing of workers data which has not been rectified till date, he added. The Borno State head of civil service, Yerima Saleh, in February 2018 announced that the state governor, Kashim Shettima, had approved N1 billion to offset part of the owed gratuities. The official who was widely quoted in the media, said the fund, was in addition to the N2 billion earlier approved for the same purpose in 2017.. Efforts to get the head of service to clarify the controversy proved difficult as his phones could not be reached. However, commenting on the officials claims, Mr Abana confirmed that N3 billion was released by government but explained that the funds were only meant to service the gratuity of some top retired civil servants. The said N1 billion released for 2018 as well as the N2 billion of 2017 was specifically released for payment of gratuity to retired civil servants, permanent secretaries and judges as well as arrears of leave transport grants for serving workers. Given the amount owed to retirees and the number of people affected, the N3 billion government is talking about was like a drop of water in the ocean. It did not even clear the remaining months of June 2013, he explained. A Nigerian university undergraduate at Kogi State University, Ayingba, Alli Sharif, has been stabbed to death by his colleague, police have confirmed. Mr Sharif, a 300-Level student of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, was allegedly stabbed to death on his birthday by a fellow student in 100-Level identified as Santa Cruise, of the Department of Public Administration on Wednesday. An eyewitness told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Sharif was stabbed while trying to separate a fight between the alleged killer and another student at about 4.05 p.m. at the university gate. He was reportedly stabbed with a broken bottle in the neck and bled to death before help could reach him. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Mr Sharif was confirmed dead at the Good Shepherd Hospital, Ayingba. Efforts to reach the university spokesperson, Joseph Edegbo, were unsuccessful. He refused to respond to calls and text messages since yesterday Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the police in the state, Williams Aya, confirmed the incident and promised the police will apprehend the suspect. The suspect will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly, he said. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is to visit Zamfara on Tuesday to inaugurate some projects, Lawal Liman, the chairman, state governments 7th anniversary committee, has said. Mr Liman made this known on Friday while inspecting some of the projects to be inaugurated in Talata-Mafara and Bakura local government areas as part of activities to celebrate the 7th anniversary of Governor Abdulaziz Yaris administration. Mr Liman, who is also the state Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), said that the projects to be inaugurated included Government Girls College, Talata-Mafara, Talata-Mafara Bypass road and Abubakar Tinau Special Primary School, Mafara. Others are the Semi-Urban Water Project in Gamji town and the renovated General Hospital, Bakura. According to him, over 100 completed projects have been listed to be inaugurated between and November to celebrate the anniversary. Mr Liman said that President Muhammadu Buhari was also expected to visit the state in September to inaugurate some projects. He urged the benefitting communities to assist government in maintaining the projects. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that committee also inspected the 61-km Kaura/Namoda-Birnin/Magaji-Dauran Road and the Birnin-Magaji General Hospital still under construction. (NAN) The Emir of Daura, Kastina State, Umar Faruk, has described Acting President Yemi Osinbajo as a typical example of loyalty and trustworthiness in politics. A statement by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice-President, said Mr Faruk made the remark when Mr Osinbajo paid him a courtesy visit in his palace on Thursday. The statement was made available in Abuja on Friday. The emir expressed appreciation to the acting president for being supportive of President Muhammadu Buhari, a son of the emirate. I can assure you that all us here, myself and my subjects; we are fully and solidly behind you and in support of you. We are happy with you and we are particularly proud of the way you have supported our son, Buhari, in leading our country Nigeria to prosperity. That explains why when you talk about loyalty and trustworthiness among the political class; you stand as an example worthy of note. I wish that you carry on with this level of trustworthiness and continue to uphold the confidence that our son has in you. I can assure you that our son has enormous trust in you, I want you to continue to justify that confidence he reposed in you, he said. The emir said that the nation had never had such a government where the president and his vice operated under such high level of mutual respect and understanding. He said that from the onset, the government had demonstrated integrity, adding that Buhari and Osinbajo were men of honour. The traditional ruler thanked the Governor of Kastina State, Aminu Masari, for his developmental strides and pledged support for his administration. (NAN). The police in Edo State have killed three suspects in a foiled armed robbery attack on a bank in Igarra, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area, an official has said. Two civilians and a police inspector however lost their lives in the encounter. The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, according to a press release sent in by the Edo State government on Friday, reportedly said that the attack was foiled by the combined force of policemen, who were on guard duty at two banks. He said three of the armed robbers were killed during a gun duel. While parading the bodies of the dead criminals at the State Police Headquarters, in Benin City, on Friday, he however said two civilians and a police inspector were killed, when members of the gang staged a simultaneous attack at the nearest police station in the area. According to him, The attack on the bank in Igarra was on Keystone Bank, and not on two banks. Actually, there are two banks in the vicinity, and adjacent to each other. One is keystone Bank, the second is Unity Bank. The marauding criminals actually attacked Keystone Bank, but they met with very stiff opposition from Policemen who were on duty at Unity Bank and Keystone Bank. They were men of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL 60), Edo State, Mr Kokumo explained. They were able to give a very good account of the stuff they are made of in a gun duel that ensued between the criminals and the policemen who were on bank guard duty. Three of the criminals were gunned down. Here you see them with their operational weapons recovered, he added. On reports that the criminals attacked a police station in Igarra, he said, Criminals will always evolve different means of perpetuating their acts. What this gang of criminals did was to divide themselves into two halves. One of them had gone to the Police station ostensibly to prevent the Police from responding to possible distress call from the bank when the attack would have been wrecked on the bank. The second half went to Keystone Bank for the attack. The moment the distress call went to the Police station, there was no way the policemen at the station could hasten down to prevent them. The ones at the police station were the ones that wreaked the havoc, killing two civilians and one police inspector. I would regard that as the minus of the operation, but on the whole, it is sad that we lost an inspector of Police to this criminal gang. Three of the armed robbers were gunned down, the official said. Three of the armed robbers who were killed in a gun duel with the Police during the foiled robbery attack on a bank in Igarra, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. He denied claims that some persons lost their lives at the bank premises. After the encounter, two of the armed robbers were actually dead. The third one was not dead as at the time the Police swooped on them; he was able to give us useful information that we are processing with a view to apprehending others who have taken to flight. Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki in the statement commended the gallantry of the policemen. Mr Obaseki expressed regret over the deaths of some persons while the attack lasted and prayed for the repose of their souls. He said those that were wounded would be treated and assured that the state government is working assiduously to rid the state of criminal elements. The attack is unfortunate and we will do all within our power to forestall such heinous incidents in the future, the governor said. The Osun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke has vowed to revive the economy of the state through multi-sectoral development if elected as the governor in the September 22 gubernatorial election. Mr Adeleke, known for his humorous dancing steps, spoke at Ede on Thursday while addressing his constituents over a forged certificate scandal. PREMIUM TIMES reported how an Osogbo High Court in Osun cleared Mr Adeleke to contest in governorship election in the state. The judge, David Oladimeji, said the case lacks merit and accordingly dismissed it. However, Mr Adeleke has remained mute on the revelation by PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Adelekes claim to have graduated from am American university is also false. This newspaper published how the university stated that although the politician was once its student, he did not graduate. Meanwhile, an unperturbed Mr Adeleke said agricultural investment is the best means to address poverty in the state. We will run an issue based campaign. I will focus on agriculture through investment. I am already talking to local and international stakeholders in this respect. We will review the state of the education sector to improve performance of our students in national examination. We used to be under single digit rating. Now Osun is number 29 or so. Mr Adeleke also said if elected, Osun will be back to top position in national examination ratings. We will improve teachers welfare through regular payment of salaries and provision of teaching aids. I will target education. Osun will be back to top position in national examination ratings. I will improve teachers salaries. We will pay pensioners and workers regularly. We will ensure basic education is free and functional.I will not compromise on workers welfare, he said. Mr Adeleke also said he will be hosting a monthly accountability forum for the revenue and expenditure of the state to be open to the public. PREMIUM TIMES interviewed some of the people present at the venue. Tubosun Alli said: politicians are good at fake promises, fake certificates and fake lives. If he claims to have been vindicated by the court on his certificate, let him also speak on his denial by the American University he claimed to have graduated from too. It will be wise for Osun people to think well before voting. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos zone, on Friday appealed to the governments of Oyo and Osun states to find solution to the crisis rocking the jointly-owned Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State. Addressing journalists at the premises of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, the Zonal Coordinator, Olusiji Sowande, said it was high time the two governors fashioned out ways to properly fund the university . He said for proper funding of the university and solution to the lingering crisis, one state should own the citadel of learning. The zonal coordinator urged the two governors to take progressive measures as a matter of urgency, to save the institution. Mr Sowande said that bad politics was responsible for the ownership crisis hindering the smooth administration of the university. The Zonal Coordinator called on prominent and well meaning indigenes of the two states to prevail on the governments to get beyond the problem. He faulted the non-release of the report of the Visitation Panel chaired by Wole Olanipekun set up to recommend lasting solutions for resolving the recurrent funding crisis in the university. According to him, it shows that the state governments are not interested in permanently resolving the crisis. He said that the university ought to be the best in the country in view of its co-ownership status, but unfortunately was not. The two of them want the university, but dont want to fund it. Our recommendation is that one state should own it. Proper funding, adequate subvention from the government will restore the lost glory of the university. LAUTECH was a very progressive university until the funding stopped. The two governments should do the needful, he said. Mr Sowande said during ASUU delegations visit to the institution, there was tension in the school, with the students engaging in unspeakable things. He said that to make the matters worse, the Governing Council of the university recently approved increase in tuition fees (N200,000 minimum and N300,000 maximum). Mr Sowande recalled that the LAUTECH branch of ASUU conditionally suspended its eight months old strike in February after a Memorandum of Action (MoA) was signed with the institutions Governing council. One will expect that the funding of this University will improve to forestall the recurrence of such avoidable long strike action, he said. (NAN) Ongoing FEMA has closed some of its Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC), established last month to assist residents and businesses whose property was damaged by Tropical Storm Ida. However, face-to-face assistance is still available. Residents can find their nearest DRC online at fema.gov/drc,... For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. GRAZ, Austria, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Austrian-based 3D scanning specialist 3Dcopysystems started its market entry in the USA presenting innovative perspectives for personalized textile production at the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. BIG ALICE, 3Dcopysystems' 3D full body scanner, inspired students and faculty when it was set up in the FIT/Infor Design and Tech Lab. Designers from international brands, models and celebrities experienced BIG ALICE at FIT's Annual Awards Gala on June 14. BIG ALICE and her younger sister LITTLE ALICE are now starting their tour in the US and will be seen and tested next in Miami and Philadelphia. BIG ALICE - Michael Ferraro at the Annual FIT Awards Gala in NYC. Free of charge for media publications. C: Zach Hilty/BFA.com BIG ALICE - Actress Stephanie March with Dan Benton at the Annual FIT Awards Gala in NYC. Free of charge for media publications. C: Zach Hilty/BFA.com ALICE 3D scanning systems open door for personalized apparel With their ALICE 3D full body scanning systems, 3Dcopysystems digitizes people and large, organic objects within a few milliseconds and at an accuracy of 1mm or less. BIG ALICE as seen during Fashion Innovation Week an event hosted at FIT by Michael Ferraro, Executive Director of the FIT/Infor Design and Tech Lab- is equipped with 64 high-resolution cameras that capture the subject - static or moving - from 64 different angles. Along with the 3D model, ALICE delivers a high-resolution texture map which is the key factor for a variety of digital 3D applications in fashion, advertising or the gaming and film industry. Additionally 3D scan data can be used for human body measurements and 3D printing. "The extraordinary quality of our high-resolution 3D scans and the associated texture surprised and inspired the fashion experts at FIT and introduced them to new possibilities for the individualization of fashion products. In the medium term it could revolutionize personalized textile production and the online shopping experience. Partnerships with shopping centers and fashion shows are in the cards, and a few international US companies have expressed their interest in cooperating with us. We are proud to announce that our US business will be led by our distributor, Barton Hetrick from Looking Glass Arts," says Christof Kirschner, managing director of 3Dcopysystems, about his company's successful start in the United States. 4D scans - next innovation already in test phase Moving forward, 3Dcopysystems is working on its next innovation: 4D scanning. This will make it possible to digitize entire movements in an absolutely realistic way a great means of studying the behaviour of fabrics as they move. 3Dcopysystems - the company 3Dcopysystems has been developing and selling high-quality mobile 3D scanners in different sizes and resolutions for over three years. The company is represented in the United States by Barton Hetrick, Looking Glass Arts LLC. www.3dcopysystems.com Photos: Free of charge for media publications. C: Zach Hilty/BFA.com Photos in print quality and videoclips for download: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c9aphnvt3ig56fg/AAAKs4r4TrsbHr8SmT_ZVzuUa?dl=0 US Contact. Barton Hetrick, +1-610-416-7209, [email protected] Austrian Contact: Christof Kirschner, +43-699-19084690, [email protected] Media contact: Andrea Pavlovec-Meixner, +43664-264-20-35, [email protected] SOURCE 3Dcopysystems Related Links http://www.3dcopysystems.com SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Artemis Health, a benefits analytics software company, has launched a major product release on their platform. Standard Stories will provide a fresh take on classic benefits information. The Artemis team built Standard Stories to meet the diverse needs of its customers. Some users are looking for high-level overviews and out-of-the-box reports, while others want to see custom, detailed analyses. Standard Stories offers both of these options: it puts the most frequently accessed information at their fingertips and also allows for deeper exploration and customization. In this product release, Artemis customers will get a clear snapshot of an executive summary, network utilization, pharmacy spending, population health and high-cost claimants in several categories. These reports include new, unique chart types and visuals that are tailored specifically to the data they represent. These visuals are proprietary and designed to make the data easier to understand and communicate with any stakeholder in a customer's organization, whether or not they have a benefit analytics background. Artemis customer Joshua Smith, Director of Health Products at Portico Benefit Services, said, "I love that you can take it in several different directions. I can call out the Executive Summary for my CFO, where I get a high level of all the various areas, but then I can parse them out into different categories and play with the data. It provides the flexibility and maneuverability that I'm looking for." Standard Stories seamlessly integrates unique methodologies built into the Artemis Platform, such as Actionable Overspending, which helps identify wasted spending, and Johns Hopkins risk scoring, which enables benefits leaders to compare their population's health. Standard Stories connects these analytical tools to the fundamentals of benefits data, including costs, claims, and member utilization. This gives customers the opportunity not only to see trends, but it also enables them to take action to reduce wasted spending on things like avoidable emergency room visits and out-of-network claims. Additional Standard Stories will be released later in 2018 and will focus on hot topics for benefits teams, like diabetes, cancer, and other chronic conditions. These reports will give Artemis customers a fresh take on the intelligence they need to help employees lead healthier, happier lives. About Artemis Health Artemis Health helps companies utilize their data to optimize their benefits programs while minimizing their spend. The Artemis Platform provides customers with actionable data on their benefits programs, opportunities and gaps, and easy-to-use tools to help them make great decisions. By making it easy for self-insured employers to use their own benefits data, our mission is to help fix health care in America and ensure access to good healthcare everyone can afford. Based in Salt Lake City, Artemis Health works with self-insured employers, brokers, and consultants nationwide. Discover more at www.artemishealth.com. Press Contact: Haley Eckels, Content Manager [email protected] 408-332-2622 SOURCE Artemis Health Related Links https://www.artemishealth.com Those names will be taking their part along with 24,000 retailers who bring excellent craft products from various countries. Entitled " IDentities ", the Indonesian Pavilion booth is set to attract buyers and enthusiasts from all over the world, in particular the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific. It aims to promote Indonesian culture, heritage, and tradition in order to boost domestic products competitiveness in global market, through craft and fashion. NY Now is the leading market for home and lifestyle products held twice a year. It features collections of homewares, lifestyles, and handmade crafts, and regularly attended by more than 20,000 buyers from around the world. "This year marks the third year of Indonesia's participation in NY Now market and we can see the huge potential of Indonesia's creative economy. We are committed to support Indonesia's craft designers and to promote our contemporary designs to the world," says Joshua Puji Mulia Simandjuntak, Deputy Chairman for Marketing of Bekraf. The United States is still the largest market for Indonesia's craft and furniture products, contributing USD 700 million of export value. Furthermore, Triawan Munaf, Chairman of Bekraf, stated that Indonesia's creative economy sector contributed USD 64 billion in 2016, equal to7.44% Indonesia's GDP. He is confident the sector's contribution will grow up to USD 70 billion by the end of 2018. "To adjust to the current global market needs, all products must have a touch of handmade, possess typical Indonesian traditional character and made in Indonesia. The production must also be environmentally friendly. In addition, each product must have a story to describe the design concept or the value of empowering rural communities," Joshua concludes. Bekraf collaborates with a number of parties for this event, including Indonesian Consulate General in New York, and supported by the international curator Jennifer Isaacson from the United States. There are also Indonesian expert curators involved in the process, namely Diana Nazir from the Indonesian Society of Interior Designer (HDII), Yanna Diah Kusumawati from the Association of Exporters and Producers of Indonesian Handicraft (ASEPHI), and Christianto Prabawa from the Indonesian Furniture and Craft Industry Association (HIMKI). Carrying the Modern Contemporary Design to The Next Level In an era of throwaway goods, the human touch, longevity, uniqueness, and a strong story behind each item always brings great satisfaction to the buyers. Having become aware of that, Sancaya Rini, a mother of four kids, pioneers the slow fashion movement in Indonesia through her proud product - Kana Goods. It specializes in using natural (indigo) dyes extracted from the leaves as contemporary handwritten batik. Unlike ordinary batik techniques, one piece of Kana's Indigo batik needs to be dyed at least 10 times a day, for seven consecutive days. "Our mission is to introduce the value of natural dye as a unique and sustainable art form. We aim to give value, not only through our products, but also real contributions to empower the communities and to preserve the environment," says Sancaya Rini, Founder of Kana Goods. Sancaya adds, "Slow fashion typically describes long-lasting and locally manufactured clothing. We take initiative to reduce the use of water and chemicals. Most importantly, we are able to re-dye every product once the colors start to faded, so the customers don't need to purchase another one." Meanwhile, Indo Risakti offers traditional craftmanship from Yogyakarta, producing premium home decorative handicrafts to complement your modern contemporary house. They use recycled and green materials for the handicrafts, such as wild plants and water hyacinth. Indo Risakti also contributes to help up to 600 local crafters in Bantul, Yogyakarta, since it was founded back in 2012. "The majority of the Bantul community are farmers and farmworkers. We educate them through artisanal handicraft workshops, from grass weaving to producing handcrafted baskets, and we also have a program to enrich their entrepreneurial skills. As a result, these farmers are able to earn extra money on the side," adds Windu Sinaga, Director of Indo Risakti. The biggest market of Indo Risakti's handcrafted products is the United States, reaching 75% of its total exports. Media Contact: Boni Pudjianto , Director of International Market Development (+62-815-72914419) , Director of International Market Development (+62-815-72914419) Mariaman Purba, Head Bureau of Legal and Public Communication (+62-813-17506456) SOURCE Indonesian Agency for Creative Economy (BEKRAF) Related Links http://www.bekraf.go.id SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Coastal, a new California cannabis brand, was awarded four commercial cannabis business licenses in Santa Barbara, CA thanks to the help of 3C Consulting, LLC, the world's leading cannabis consulting firm. The City of Santa Barbara issued licenses to Coastal Distribution, LLC, Coastal Delivery Services, LLC, and Coastal Manufacturing, LLC on August 8. Coastal Dispensary, LLC was also awarded a retail storefront license on July 11. Each Coastal application received the highest scores among all applicants in each business category. Santa Barbara hosts a population of just over 90,000, with a student population representing over 40% of its residents. Santa Barbara's close proximity to Los Angeles, its location on the scenic U.S. 101, and the extraordinary number of licensed cannabis cultivation businesses in the county places the city in the middle of one of the world's most promising cannabis markets. "Thank you for all your hard work in Santa Barbara. Our applications were comprised of hundreds of pages of well-written and accurate content," said Malante Hayworth, CEO of Coastal. "So awesome guys, can't thank you enough! We could not have done this without 3C." "Santa Barbara had a highly competitive pool of applicants. Our team worked side-by-side with Coastal around the clock to ensure their victory," said Nic Easley, CEO of 3C. "We are so happy that we could help our clients and partners in Coastal win these extremely valuable licenses. Now is the perfect time for new, licensed businesses with no prior history of bad habits to take a large share of the emerging regulated California recreational and medical markets." "I'm extremely proud to be a member of this team," Easley continued. "To see what Coastal has achieved thus far is incredible, and knowing that Coastal has applied for and is applying for more licenses in numerous other municipalities around the statethis is just the beginning of something much larger and exciting to come." The Santa Barbara Independent described the intensity of the City's retail storefront application review process: "Unlike any other jurisdiction in the cannabis game, Santa Barbara has created an elaborate application gauntlet in which applicants are rated. Six applicants managed to make the first cut, three on downtown State Street. Of all six, no more than three can be chosen."1 The City conducted a thorough review of all applicants over the course of three months, including a multi-phased scoring process, public hearings, and site walkthroughs. According to an article following the award announcement, "Anthony Wagner of the Santa Barbara Police Department a key player in the selection process stated the selection process was 'so painstakingly meticulous it can withstand any scrutiny."2 Paul Casey, the Santa Barbara City Administrator, said, "Coastal Dispensary edged out [the competition] in the final scoring"3 Over the decade, 3C and its principals have assisted hundreds of clients with cannabis license acquisition, business optimization, and compliance in 26 U.S. states and over 11 countries. Leveraging our deep experience and the diverse backgrounds of our team, 3C continues to provide industry-leading business advice and services to cannabis businesses around the globe. Learn more about 3C at www.3ccannabis.com Learn more about Coastal at www.coastaldispensary.com 3C Consulting, LLC Nic Easley, CEO [email protected] Coastal Companies Malante Hayworth, CEO [email protected] Nick Welsh , "Cannabis Update for Santa Barbara County ," Santa Barbara Independent, 28 June 2018 , . Nick Welsh , "Three Pot Shops Get Green Light in Santa Barbara ," Santa Barbara Independent, 10 July 2018 , . Paul Casey , "Final Results of Storefront Retail Commercial Cannabis Permit Application Process," City of Santa Barbara City Administrator's Office Memorandum, 9 July 2018 , . Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12723384 SOURCE 3C Consulting, LLC Related Links https://www.3ccannabis.com ROHNERT PARK, Calif., Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Family is often described as one of the few things someone can always fall back on when times are tough. For student loan borrowers who are estranged from their parents, though, that notion wouldn't necessarily hold true. Student loan borrowers who receive further aid because they are estranged from their family might have had a recent run-in with the Student Loans Company (STL) that has made their situation even more difficult. Ameritech Financial, a document preparation service company, has worked with borrowers who might have tougher financial situations due to not having the safety net that family may provide, and helped them apply for income-driven repayment programs. One hundred and fifty randomly selected students were recently chosen to have their social media monitored to see if they were truly estranged from their parents. An article published by The Guardian stated that over half of the students audited had their funding cut off. Later, the funding was reinstated over cases that were looked over more thoroughly. But having funding reinstated does not suddenly cancel out any emotional stress that the event caused. "Times are tough for many people, financially speaking. This can be especially so for those dealing with school funding and student loans," said Tom Knickerbocker, executive vice president of Ameritech Financial. For students affected by similar situations, it may cause hardships so difficult to handle that they are turned off of the school system entirely because they can no longer afford rent or maybe even to eat regularly. Ameritech Financial may be able to help federal student loan borrowers apply for income-driven repayment programs that have the potential to lower their monthly payments and get them on track for student loan forgiveness after 20-25 years of qualified payments. "Ameritech Financial stands with student loan borrowers who are going through hard times and wants to do what it can to assist people to better afford student loan repayment and a healthy life," said Knickerbocker. Ameritech Financial is a private company located in Rohnert Park, California. Ameritech Financial has already helped thousands of consumers with financial analysis and student loan document preparation to apply for federal student loan repayment programs offered through the Department of Education. Each Ameritech Financial telephone representative has received the Certified Student Loan Professional certification through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). Ameritech Financial prides itself on its exceptional customer service. Ameritech Financial Newsroom Contact To learn more about Ameritech Financial, please contact: Ameritech Financial 5789 State Farm Drive #265 Rohnert Park, CA 94928 1-800-792-8621 [email protected] Related Images image1.png trouble-in-family.jpg Trouble In Family Freeograph/Bigstock.com Related Links Ameritech Financial Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRza8MbLvuM SOURCE Ameritech Financial Conference Call 8:30am Tuesday, August 14th TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - GeneNews Limited ("GeneNews" or the "Company") (TSX:GEN) today announced that it will release its Second Quarter 2018 Operating and Financial results before markets open on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. GeneNews' Chairman and CEO, James R Howard-Tripp, will host a conference call at 8:30 am ET on August 14, to review the Operating and Financial results and discuss business developments for the period. Second Quarter 2018 Results Conference Call Details: Date: August 14, 2018 Time: 8:30 am ET Live Call: Local - Toronto (+1) 416 764 8609 Toll Free - North America (+1) 888 390 0605 Conference ID: 61579136 Playback Phone Numbers: Local Toronto (+1) 416 764 8677 Toll Free North America (+1) 888 390 0541 Playback Passcode: 579136 # Playback Expiration Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2018 11:59 PM The call will also be broadcast live and archived on the Company's website at www.GeneNews.com in the Investor's section. About GeneNews GeneNews, an innovator in the liquid biopsy space, is committed to becoming a leader in advanced diagnostics and personalized medicine, serving as a strong commercialization outlet for early detection of cancer and other chronic diseases. Our mission is to identify, assess and make commercially available a comprehensive menu of diagnostics that provide physicians and patients with personalized clinical intelligence and actionable information to improve health outcomes through the early diagnosis of disease. Our Richmond, Virginia-based Innovative Diagnostic Laboratory clinical reference lab specializes in traditional and advanced clinical evidence-based blood testing that helps find, understand, and address cancer risk in patient populations. Currently, IDL offers risk assessment blood tests for four prevalent cancer types - colon, lung, prostate and breast. GeneNews' common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'GEN'. More information on GeneNews and IDL can be found at www.GeneNews.com and www.myinnovativelab.com, respectively. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements identified by words such as "expects", "will" and similar expressions, which reflect the Corporation's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Corporation's actual events to differ materially from those projected herein. Investors should consult the Corporation's ongoing quarterly filings and annual reports for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. SOURCE GeneNews Limited Related Links http://www.genenews.com/ MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich., Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: INFU), a leading national provider of infusion pumps and related services for the healthcare industry in the U.S. and Canada, today announced that it will issue second quarter 2018 financial results on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, after the market closes. The Company will also conduct a conference call for all interested investors on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss second quarter 2018 financial results. To participate in this call, please dial (877) 270-2148 or (412) 902-6510, or listen via a live webcast, which is available in the Investors section of the Company's website at https://ir.infusystem.com/. A replay of the call will be available by visiting https://ir.infusystem.com/ for the next 90 days or by calling (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, confirmation code 10123220, through August 21, 2018. About InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of infusion pumps and related services to hospitals, oncology practices and other alternate site healthcare providers. Headquartered in Madison Heights, Michigan, the Company delivers local, field-based customer support and operates Centers of Excellence in Michigan, Kansas, California, Georgia, Massachusetts and Ontario, Canada. The Company's stock is traded on the NYSE American under the symbol INFU. Additional information about InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. is available at www.infusystem.com. CONTACT: Joe Dorame, Joe Diaz & Robert Blum Lytham Partners, LLC 602-889-9700 SOURCE InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.infusystem.com SAN RAMON, Calif., Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Most people have heard of FOMO, Fear Of Missing Out, but fewer have heard of its cousins FOBO, Fear Of Better Options, and FODA, Fear of Doing Anything. FOMO is ubiquitous enough to have already been the subject of a scientific study, "Fear of missing out: prevalence, dynamics, and consequences of experiencing FOMO," and even a beer commercial. But FOBO and FODA can be equally troubling for individuals with anxiety about decision making. Financial Education Benefits Center (FEBC), a member benefits company specializing in health and financial wellness, offers a variety of benefits that promote mental and physical wellness. "With the huge amount of suggestions and advice available, people can find themselves filled with anxiety for big and small decisions," said Jennifer Martinez, manager at FEBC. "It's important to use all the health and wellness benefits available to find a way to slow down, take a breath, make a choice and move on." The person who coined the terms, Patrick McGinnis, says that FOBO causes anxiety because people are always trying to optimize their experience. He observed FODA when he noticed individuals, himself included, often hesitated to the point of paralysis, missing the opportunity to make a good decision while waiting for the perfect decision to reveal itself. "It is a byproduct of a hyper-busy, hyper-connected world in which everything seems possible," McGinnis said in a recent New York Times article. McGinnis has two helpful tips he uses almost every day for those suffering from FOBO and FODA. He calls the first one "Ask the Watch," which makes two equal choices a coin-flip. He assigns one choice to the left side of his watch, the other choice to the right side of his watch, then looks at his watch and lets the sweep of the second hand tell him which to choose. For larger issues, he writes down all the pros and cons and then reads the list aloud. He says it is like an "investment memo" for a venture capitalist investment, except the investment is "your time, money and energy." FEBC allows members to invest in themselves by making a variety of health and wellness resources available at different plan levels. The telehealth benefits may help certain FEBC members find answers about non-emergency mental or physical health concerns by speaking with certified medical professionals. Also, FEBC members have access to numerous other wellness benefits that may be helpful. It's important to note that FEBC benefits are not insurance and are not intended to replace insurance. "We want people to remember that they are not alone, that there are resources available to help them with their issues," Martinez said. "If you have anxiety due to FOMO, FOBO or FODA, or any other mental health concern, get the help you need to live the life you want." About Financial Education Benefits Center Financial Education Benefits Center is located in San Ramon, California. The membership company has already helped thousands save money and obtain the necessary education required to live a financially healthy life. Financial Education Benefits Center has partnered with several name brand third-party companies to expand the financial and educational products and services available to its members and to provide a variety of wellness services as well. Financial Education Benefits Center Newsroom Contact To learn more about Financial Education Benefits Center, please contact: Financial Education Benefits Center 2010 Crow Canyon Place Ste. 100 San Ramon, CA 94583 1-800-953-1388 [email protected] Related Images woman-concentrating-while-looking.jpg Woman concentrating while looking at her phone Credit: AntonioGuillem/Bigstock image2.png Related Links FEBC home page SOURCE Financial Education Benefits Center ATLANTA, Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lloyd Bell of Bell Law Firm, Georgia's preeminent law firm for victims of medical malpractice, announced his commitment to the Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse's 2020 Campaign with a lead $20,000 gift in the campaign. Atlanta-based Side by Side is the only non-profit in the Southeast dedicated solely to rebuilding lives after brain injury. The $3 million campaign must reach a grant-matching deadline of October 2018 to allow Side by Side to increase the number of people served by the organization. Side by Side works in partnership with rehabilitation hospitals and trauma centers around the country, providing a therapeutic environment for people with brain injuries to be productive and to contribute to their community. "My day-to-day consists of helping my clients through the emotional and economic devastation that results from medical malpractice," said Lloyd Bell, founder of Bell Law Firm. "Many of my clients have suffered brain injury that dramatically alters the course of their lives. Side by Side is an incredible resource that plays a vital role to the brain injury community by providing people with brain injuries long-term services and support and answering the question of what's next." Bell continued, "We need the support of Atlanta's legal community to help Side by Side reach its goal before the challenge grant deadline. The legal community has been a huge part of Side by Side's success to this point, but the job is not done. I will be calling on my colleagues to continue to support Side by Side and help us reach our goals in this campaign." Side by Side works in partnership with the Shepherd Center and other trauma centers to help provide support and assistance for people who suffer traumatic brain injuries after hospital-based care has ended. Supported by Atlanta's legal community since 2000, Side by Side relies on contributions to provide continuous support that no other organization in the Atlanta area or surrounding states offers support that enables people with brain injury to relearn life skills, to work and to socialize, while helping their families navigate a lifelong journey of balancing care-giving with self-care. "We are currently facing a fundraising deadline," notes Cindi Johnson, executive director for Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse. "As part of the 2020 campaign, we are halfway toward meeting the terms of a challenge grant offered by a major donor to upgrade the building the $200,000 grant must be claimed by October 2018. Lloyd's involvement is a full-circle moment since he helped lead the very first capital campaign that helped us build our original facility 11 years ago. We are confident Lloyd's ongoing support and ties to the Atlanta legal community will enable us to reach our goal." All contributions to the Side by Side 2020 campaign will go toward direct program support and long-term capital needs. Join the legal community in this effort by contacting Cindi Johnson at 770-469-9355 or [email protected]. About Bell Law Firm Bell Law Firm is Georgia's preeminent firm for victims of medical malpractice. Founded in 1999 by Lloyd Bell, the firm has recovered more than $100 million for patients and families of people injured or killed due to medical negligence. Bell has more than 25 years of experience in federal and state courts, and he has represented clients in more than 75 jury trials and hundreds of successful settlements. Specializing in litigating misdiagnoses, surgical errors and other types of malpractice, Bell Law firm differentiates itself with deep legal expertise, a mastery of technology in the courtroom and a compelling manner of storytelling. In 2018, the firm was recognized as Personal Injury Litigation Team of the Year by The Daily Report, the leading source of legal news in Atlanta. For more information, visit BellLawFirm.com. MEDIA CONTACT Lauren Shankman Trevelino/Keller 404.214.0722 x 121 [email protected] SOURCE Bell Law Firm Related Links https://www.belllawfirm.com/ PETALUMA, Calif., Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Most of us have the ability to listen to the greatest minds in any field, at any time, about the subjects that they were most interested to talk about. Most of us know about this opportunity: it's called reading a book. Despite the wisdom that may be gained from great people who shared as much as they could, most people still rarely read. Brandon Frere, CEO of Frere Enterprises and other industries, encourages people to start thinking of reading as a cornerstone skill, like fitness, to improve all aspects of their life. "I do fitness for my body and I read books for my mind," said Frere. "Reading books is one of the best ways to learn a new perspective on how to view the world, look into a new skill or prepare for a new situation." While many people know that they should be reading more, the many hours it takes to finish a book may explain why it isn't a more common habit. However, if individuals are able to change their habits to account for two hours of reading time per day, they may show immense improvement over time. For business owners who have little time, and an infinite amount to learn already, books may feel inefficient, but not if they use a specific technique. In How to Read a Book, author Mortimer J. Adler argues that the highest form of non-fiction reading is "Syntopic Reading," where multiple works are compared or contrasted. This style of reading was characterized by going into multiple texts with purpose, skimming the text, pulling out the parts of the text that correspond to the person's purpose and placing them next to one another so the reader can compare the different conclusions to come to a conclusion of their own. The skimming required is often done by reading the table of contents and the back of the book and deciding whether there is anything there worth reading at all. After that, the reader looks at the start and end of different chapters or paragraphs to see whether the conclusion of each section can be determined intuitively or whether the subject of each paragraph is interesting to the reader at all. Business owners may gain considerable benefit from this method, as they may be able to derive necessary conclusions from texts much faster. If a business owner wants to look up a specific skill for a specific reason, they might instead look into six books for six different ways to do the same thing and create an original working method out of a combination of the texts before the hour is up. By skimming and taking only the data that leads to a change in action, or performance, business owners can search for the information that they need, as fast as they need it. Using the Syntopic method, entrepreneurs may be able to turn their research into learning goals that improve their business one paragraph at a time. "In the internet age, there is information everywhere and it can be difficult to sift through all the bad information. However, there are plenty of wise people who tested their ideas well and wrote about them in books. The more that people decide to read books, the more that they will learn to make their own lives a little better," said Frere. About Frere Enterprises Brandon Frere is an entrepreneur and businessman who lives in Sonoma County, California. He has designed and created multiple companies to meet the ever-demanding needs of businesses and consumers. His company website, www.FrereEnterprises.com, is used as a means to communicate many of the lessons, fundamentals and information that he has learned throughout his extensive business and personal endeavors. Most recently, Frere has focused on advocating on behalf of student loan borrowers nationwide. As he experienced during his own student loan repayment, Mr. Frere found out how difficult it can be to work with federally contracted student loan servicers and understand the repayment programs designed to help borrowers. This firsthand knowledge has helped him gain an insider's look into the repayment process and the motivations behind the inflating student loan debt bubble. His knowledge of the confusing landscape of student loan repayment became a vital theme in his endeavors and he now uses those experiences to help guide others through the daunting process of applying for federal repayment and loan forgiveness programs. FrereEnterprises.com Related Images image1.png key-to-success.jpg Key To Success paseven/Bigstock.com Related Links Frere Enterprises SOURCE Frere Enterprises Related Links http://www.FrereEnterprises.com WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Students attending Microsoft's YouthSpark event will have the opportunity to speak with NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station next week as part of NASA's Year of Education on Station. The Earth-to-space call will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold will participate in a question and answer session with students at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 13, from Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center. Arnold will answer questions about science, exploration, and life aboard the space station. Participants will include students currently enrolled in grades 7-12, as well as their teachers and parents. Microsoft YouthSpark is an immersive daylong conference designed to empower young people to improve their communities and the world through the pursuit of careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEM)-related fields. Media interested in covering the event and downlink should contact Gary Jordan at [email protected] or 281-483-5111. Space Center Houston is located at 1601 NASA Parkway, Houston. Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in STEM. Astronauts living in space on the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Network's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). Follow the astronauts on social media at: https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at: https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation is pleased to welcome Christopher Clinton Conway in the newly-created position of Executive Director. Mr. Conway will serve as a highly-visible representative of the foundation and is responsible for planning, implementing and assessing the foundation's future direction. Mr. Conway is an accomplished and globally engaged nonprofit leader serving high-net-worth individuals in pursuit of meaningful impact. Christopher Clinton Conway "We are proud to have Christopher on our team," said Co-Founder Victoria Jackson. "His experience and ability will not only help us, but the entire Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) patient community, as we continue to spearhead advances in clinical research toward a cure. We are ready to show the world how the power of rare is reshaping the future of medicine." "Bringing Christopher on board represents an exciting new era for our foundation," said Co-Founder Bill Guthy. "He will play a critical role leveraging resources and building strategic partnerships, which will place NMO in the spotlight like never before." Mr. Conway launched his career assisting Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter pursue an innovative global health agenda at The Carter Center of Emory University. Immediate past President & Executive Director of The Joffrey Ballet, Mr. Conway also held key development positions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and forged an historic partnership between the Doheny Eye Institute and UCLA Stein Eye Institute. "Victoria's and Bill's entrepreneurial spirit and incisive business acumen directs transformative change in pursuit of a cure for NMO," said Mr. Conway. A sought after speaker and consultant, Mr. Conway is well known for equal emphasis on outcomes, efficiency and style. Mr. Conway has a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Mr. Conway was a Visiting Scholar in Gift & Estate Tax, Northwestern University. Mr. Conway obtained his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. About The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation Bill Guthy and Victoria Jackson have each achieved extraordinary success as self-made entrepreneurs. Bill may be best known as a founding principal partner of direct marketing giant Guthy-Renkerthe infomercial/media pioneerwhile Victoria, a Hollywood makeup artist turned businesswoman, revolutionized the beauty world as the founding CEO of the iconic brand, Victoria Jackson Cosmetics. Longtime philanthropists on behalf of many worthy causes, the couple shifted their focus closer to home in 2008, when their beautiful teenage daughter Ali was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO)a life-threatening autoimmune disease. Upon learning that even the top medical authorities knew little about NMO, Bill and Victoria moved at record speed to establish The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation. Over the past 10 years, The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation has dedicated more than $55 million, funding 76 research projects in the quest to understand the pathophysiology and biochemistry of the rare autoimmune disease Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) and its Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD). Supporting research that rewrote the book on how to diagnose NMO, the foundation passionately supports programs and awareness that elevate the clinical paradigm for NMO patients and improve options for treatment, prevention and a cure for this disease. To date, the foundation's milestones include: Catalyzing innovative science finding new therapeutic targets and biomarkers in NMO/SD. Launching of three Phase III clinical trials to test new NMO/SD therapies; others emerging. Forming International Clinical Consortium for NMO/SD; 96 members from 30 countries. Supporting the first-ever tolerization trial in NMO patients, representing a breakthrough cure in disease. CONTACT INFORMATION Contact Information: Christopher Clinton Conway Direct: (310) 562-7912 Email: [email protected] Download the full press release online. Individual hi-res files available upon request. SOURCE The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation Related Links https://guthyjacksonfoundation.org GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Now in its 17th year, this competition recognizes the achievements of top-performing private and publicly-owned companies that have contributed to South Carolina's economy through exceptional increases in revenues and employment. SC 25 Fastest Growing Companies, founded as a way to honor the state's most dynamic businesses and their contributions to our state's economic vitality, the SC TOP 25 Fastest Growing Companies program, presented by The Capital Corporation, and Co-sponsored by Integrated Media Publishing (publisher of Greenville Business Magazine, Columbia Business Monthly and Charleston Business Magazine), BDO USA LLP, PNC Bank, Keenan Suggs | HUB, and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, has turned into South Carolina's most sought-after recognition for rapidly growing companies. This year's TOP 25 highest ranking companies, SC Excellence in Business Awards, and South Carolina Economic Impact Award will be honored at a statewide luncheon to be held October 10th in Columbia, SC. Rankings from 1-25 will be announced at the event. 2018 Award Winners in alphabetical order: 9 Round Simpsonville Advantage | ForbesBook Charleston Cantey Foundation Specialists Camden Clayton Construction Company, Inc. Spartanburg Clear Touch Interactive Greenville Diesel Laptops Gilbert Duke Brands Greenville Equiscript North Charleston Frampton Construction Ladson Harper General Contractors Greenville Hunter Quinn Homes Mount Pleasant Innovative Vehicle Solutions Ladson Intellectual Capitol Greenville Jeff Cook Real Estate North Charleston Linden Construction Charleston MedTrust Medical Transport Charleston National Land Realty Greenville Nephron Pharmaceuticals West Columbia NextGen Supply Chain Integrators Greenville PCI Group Fort Mill RealOp Investments Greenville Source Ortho Mount Pleasant The Hiring Group Greer Thomas Mechanical Laurens WCM Global Wealth Greenville Event details: Wednesday, October 10th, 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center: 1101 Lincoln St. Columbia, SC 29201 Keynote speaker: Jeff Moore, Volvo's Vice President Manufacturing Americas and Plant Manager for Volvo's new Charleston Plant To purchase tickets or for more information visit: https://sc25fastestgrowing.eventbrite.com or call Lori Coon at 864.335.5080. For more information regarding South Carolina Business Awards please visit www.scbusinessawards.com Methodology: In 2018, companies were judged using a weighted calculation based on year-over-year growth in two categories: revenue and employee headcount. This calculation covered the annual periods from 2015 to 2017. These measurements portray positive change and true growth in any company without regard to industry and position everyone to vie for prestigious spot among South Carolina's Top 25 Fastest Growing Companies. About The Capital Corporation: The Capital Corporation has been helping lower middle market companies achieve their financial objectives since 1991. With hundreds of closed transactions, The Capital Corporation is one of the most successful middle market investment banking firms in the country. It takes experience, commitment, and unwavering focus to achieve such results and that is what we bring to every deal. Media Contact: Reschin Graham Moore - The Capital Corporation [email protected] SOURCE The Capital Corporation The Jury Committee has been expanded from thirteen to fifteen members, and features a star-studded lineup of pedagogues, violinists, and industry leaders to fairly evaluate the contestants in a variety of ways including technique, interpretation, and performance. The jury co-chaired by conductor David Stern, son of Isaac Stern, and Professor Vera Tsu Weiling, who has sat on the judging panels of many leading international violin competitions is comprised of internationally-acclaimed violinists Maxim Vengerov and Augustin Dumay; leading figures of China's violin industry Lina Yu and Siqing Lu; the founding member and first violinist of Shanghai Quartet, Weigang Li; the founding member of Emerson Quartet, Philip Setzer; the former concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, Glenn Dicterow; and concertmaster of Munich Philharmonic Sreten Krstic. The jury also includes world-renowned pedagogues Zakhar Bron, Dora Schwarzberg, and Daniel Heifetz; and two industry veterans, the founding member of the classical artists management company Askonas Holt, Martin Campbell-White, and the current programming director of Philharmonie de Paris, Emmanuel Hondre. Renowned Collaborative Musicians to Help Improve Musical Quality The repertoire of this edition provides a greater focus on interpreting and understanding the musical spirit rather than merely technique, aiming to evolve the candidates from 'soloists' to 'musicians.' Additionally, the works include more diversified music styles and forms of performances. Each contestant will perform four sets of works during the Quarter-Finals. Then, for comprehensive assessment, the Semi-Finals will include even more diversified repertoire and consist of three sections the string quartet in which contestants will perform with Yi-Wen Jiang, Honggang Li, and Nicholas Tzavaras from the Shanghai Quartet; sonatas and Kreisler's works, in which contestants will collaborate with invited young pianists Zhen Chen, Yingjia Xue, and Qiuning Huang; and a Mozart Concerto with an originally-composed cadenza. In addition to including a concerto of choice, which is conventional in competitions, the Final Round will include the violin concerto, La Joie de la Souffrance, by the renowned Chinese composer Qigang Chen, which was commissioned by SISIVC, among others. The piece will be conducted by David Stern, Music Director of Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and son of Isaac Stern. Quarter-Finalist Order is Set, Contestants Getting Ready Starting from the announcement of this edition's competition on September 9, 2017 until the application deadline on January 31, 2018, the number of applicants increased by a large margin compared to the first edition. Over 90% of the applicants have won prizes from top-level competitions and more than half are students or graduates from international top-class music schools. Twenty-seven contestants from eleven countries and regions will participate in the Quarter-Finals. It is widely agreed that the first edition of the Competition established extensive awareness and influence on the classical music world for its professional competition system, prominent judges, fair selection, innovative schedule, outstanding contestants, and distinctive features, which laid the foundation for this edition. The 2018 competition will once again seek nominations for the Isaac Stern Award Human Spirit Award, which provides recognition to any individual from around the world who has made an outstanding contribution to humanity through the medium of music. From Competition to a Professional Career on Bigger Stages Besides the USD $100,000 prize presented to the champion, the largest music monetary prize of any music competition in the world, the Competition puts great effort on helping soloists become musicians over the long term on their road to professional musicianship. The Competition also introduces the winners to world-class agencies, recording opportunities, and facilitates collaborations with top-level national and international orchestras such as the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic, Guangzhou Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, and Sydney Symphony, in order to open the door to a professional career and to provide them a bigger stage. New Commission for the Final Round to Promote Chinese Music This year's competition will continue the tradition of spreading Chinese music, working together with China Pacific Insurance, the principal sponsor of the Stern Competition. La Joie de la Souffrance violin concerto by renowned Chinese composer Qigang Chen is a required work for the final round. It was specially planned by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and is co-commissioned by Beijing Music Festival, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. According to Chen, this work embraces both eastern and western cultures, dives in-depth into the meaning of life, and poses a great challenge to the performer's ability to analyze and understand the music. By tapping into the global influence of the Competition, Chinese works such as this one have a chance to reach a wider audience - faster. Including a commission by a Chinese composer also embodies the concept of Chinese music as a more effective approach to communicating the Chinese culture with the rest of the world the idea proposed by Long Yu, President of the Organization Committee, during the initial stages of the establishment of the competition. SOURCE Shanghai Symphony Orchestra SAO PAULO, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In compliance with the provisions of Section 157, Paragraph 4, of Law No. 6,404/76 and the Brazilian Exchange Commission (CVM) Instruction No. 358/02, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. ("Company") announces to its shareholders and to the market that, jointly with its subsidiary Itau Unibanco S.A. (" Itau Unibanco "), it has obtained the approval from the Central Bank of Brazil to carry out the investment in XP Investimentos S.A. (" XP Holding "), which was announced in the Material Fact of May 11, 2017, upon the execution of a Concentration Control Agreement (" CCA "), through which certain commitments were assumed before such authority, reinforcing the autonomy and independence of the XP group. As previously announced to the market, Itau Unibanco entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with XP Controle Participacoes S.A. (" XP Controle "), G.A. Brasil IV Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes (" GA ") and Dyna III Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes (" Dyna "), among others (all of which, the "Sellers"), on May 11, 2017, by means of which it undertook to acquire, in a first tranche, 49.9% of the total share capital (30.1% of which are common shares) of XP Holdings, by means of a capital increase in the amount of R$ 600 million and the acquisition of shares issued by XP Holding held by the Sellers in the amount of R$ 5.7 billion, and such amounts are subject to contractual adjustments from May 11, 2017 until the effective financial settlement of the transaction (" First Acquisition "). The First Acquisition will be completed on August 31, 2018. In addition to the First Acquisition, the contract provides for a single additional acquisition in 2022, subject to Central Bank of Brazil's future approval, which if approved will enable Itau Unibanco to hold up to 62.4% of the total share capital of XP Holding (equivalent to 40.0% of the common shares) based on a multiple (19 times) of XP Holdings earnings, it being understood, therefore, that the control of the XP group will remain unaltered and will continue to be held by XP Controle shareholders. As also previously announced, Itau Unibanco and certain of the Sellers will execute, on the date of the closing of the First Acquisition, a Shareholders' Agreement that will reflect, among other things, provisions regarding the rights of Itau Unibanco as a minority shareholder of XP Holding, including the right to appoint 2 out of 7 members of the XP Holding's Board of Directors. Itau Unibanco's call option and XP Controle put option, which if exercised would transfer the control of XP Holding to Itau Unibanco, were cancelled, and potential further acquisitions of XP Holding shares planned for the future were also cancelled. Furthermore, Itau Unibanco undertook before the Central Bank of Brazil the commitment not to acquire the control of XP Holding for 8 years as from the signing of the Concentration Control Agreement. The completion of the First Acquisition is not expected to have material effects on the Company's recurring earnings in this fiscal year. The impact of the First Acquisition on Itau Unibanco Holding S.A.'s CET1 fully loaded ratio with Basel III rules is estimated at 90 bps. Itau Unibanco reiterates, with this transaction, its commitment to the Brazilian market and the creation of long-term shareholder value. ALEXSANDRO BROEDEL Group Executive Finance Director and Head of Investor Relations Itau Unibanco Corporate Communication 55 (11) 5019-8880 / 8881 [email protected] SOURCE Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. Related Links https://www.itau.com.br AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company"), a leading provider of high quality single-family homes for rent, today announced that the Board of Trustees declared a dividend of $0.05 per share on the Company's common shares for the third quarter of 2018. The distribution will be payable in cash on October 1, 2018 to shareholders of record on September 14, 2018. The Board of Trustees also declared a per share quarterly distribution on the Company's cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred shares of $0.40625 per share on the 6.5% Series D shares, $0.39688 per share on the 6.35% Series E shares, $0.36719 per share on the 5.875% Series F shares and $0.36719 per share on the 5.875% Series G shares payable in cash on October 1, 2018 to shareholders of record on September 14, 2018. About American Homes 4 Rent American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is fast becoming a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high quality, good value and tenant satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of June 30, 2018, we owned 52,049 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states. Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at www.americanhomes4rent.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that relate to beliefs, expectations or intentions and similar statements concerning matters that are not of historical fact and are generally accompanied by words such as "believe," "expect," "will," "intend," "anticipate" or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These forward-looking statements include the payment and anticipated timing of the payment of distributions of the Company's common and preferred shares. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the Company's management considers these expectations to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control and could adversely affect our cash flows and ability to pay distributions. Additional information about these and other important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from anticipated results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform to actual results or changes in expectations, except as required by applicable law. Contact: American Homes 4 Rent Investor Relations Phone: (855) 794-2447 Email: [email protected] SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent Related Links https://www.americanhomes4rent.com All amounts are in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise indicated: TSX ticker symbol; BKX OTCQX ticker symbol; BNKPF CAMARILLO, CA, Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS Average production for the second quarter of 2018 was 2,100 BOEPD, an increase of 116% compared to second quarter 2017 average production of 970 BOEPD. The increase was primarily due to the Glenn 16-2H and WLC 14-1H wells that were part of the Company's 2018 drilling program as well as two wells that came into production in the second half of 2017 and some prior period adjustments, partially offset by the 2017 impact of offset fracture operations by another operator Funds from operations was $3.4 million in the second quarter 2018 compared to $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2017. The increase was mainly due to a 116% increase in production combined with a 44% increase in oil prices partially offset by realized losses from commodity contracts in the first quarter of 2018 in the second quarter 2018 compared to in the second quarter of 2017. The increase was mainly due to a 116% increase in production combined with a 44% increase in oil prices partially offset by realized losses from commodity contracts in the first quarter of 2018 Revenue, net of royalties was $6.9 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to $2.5 million for second quarter of 2017, an increase of 178%, as production increased by 116% and average prices increased 50% between the quarters in the second quarter of 2018 compared to for second quarter of 2017, an increase of 178%, as production increased by 116% and average prices increased 50% between the quarters General & administrative expenses decreased by 13% for the second quarter of 2018 compared to the second quarter of 2017. The decrease relates primarily to management's continued efforts to reduce costs throughout the Company Average netback from operations for the second quarter of 2018 was $35.60 per barrel, an increase of 67% from the prior year second quarter due to higher prices in 2018 per barrel, an increase of 67% from the prior year second quarter due to higher prices in 2018 Net loss for the second quarter of 2018 was approximately $0.8 million compared to a net income of $56,000 for the second quarter of 2017 due to unrealized losses of $1.4 million from hedged commodity contracts in the first quarter of 2018 compared to an unrealized gain of $0.6 in second quarter 2017 compared to a net income of for the second quarter of 2017 due to unrealized losses of from hedged commodity contracts in the first quarter of 2018 compared to an unrealized gain of in second quarter 2017 At June 30, 2018 , cash totaled $1.4 million BNK's President and Chief Executive Officer, Wolf Regener commented: "We are excited that the results of our 2018 drilling program has led to a substantial increase in production and almost a 200% increase in our funds from operations for the second quarter of 2018 compared to the prior year second quarter. The Glenn 16-2H well came into production in late March and the WLC 14-1H well started production in May. The total cost of each of these wells were both under our estimated $5.7 million budget. We expect to continue the successful results of our 2018 development drilling program with the Brock 4-2H well which is expected to commence drilling around August 15th. The Company will be operating the Brock 4-2H well with a 77% working interest in the well. A major oil company with offset operations to the field owns the remaining 23% working interest. The Company will also have a 36% working interest in a partner-operated well targeting the Caney formation, with drilling operations expected to begin in September. This well is located in the section directly east of BNK's Brock 9-2H well. Our net revenue increased by 178% in the second quarter 2018 as production increased by 116% and average prices increased by 50% compared to the prior year quarter. In addition, we generated funds from operations of $3.4 million in the second quarter of 2018, which was a 198% increase from the second quarter 2017 amount of $1.1 million. Average netbacks from operations for the second quarter of 2018 were $35.60 per boe, an increase of 67% compared to the prior year due to higher prices and increased production. Netback after adjustments, which include the impact of price adjustments from commodity contracts and prior period adjustments on natural gas and NGL volumes sold as well as processing costs, were $24.97 per boe for the second quarter of 2018 compared to $27.99 per boe in the prior year second quarter. In the second quarter of 2018, the Company incurred a net loss of $0.8 million compared to net income of $56,000 in the second quarter 2017. This is primarily due to an unrealized loss on financial commodity contracts of $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2018, compared to an unrealized gain of $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2017." Second Quarter First Six Months 2018 2017 % 2018 2017 % Net Income (Loss): $ Thousands $(801) $56 - $(1,295) $1,040 - $ per common share $(0.00) $0.00 - $(0.01) $0.00 - assuming dilution Capital Expenditures $3,652 $940 289% $11,582 $11,484 1% Average Production (Boepd) 2,100 970 116% 1,783 862 107% Average Price per Barrel $54.31 $36.16 50% $52.15 $38.46 36% Average Netback from operations per Barrel $35.60 $21.30 67% $33.86 $23.26 46% Average Netback after adjustments per Barrel $24.97 $27.99 (11%) $25.72 $30.14 (15%) June 2018 March 2018 December 2017 Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 1,389 $ 1,024 $ 521 Working Capital $ (3,444) $(5,058) $ (537) Second Quarter 2018 versus Second Quarter 2017 Oil and gas gross revenues totaled $6,866,000 in the quarter versus $2,473,000 in the second quarter of 2017. Oil revenues increased $5,080,000 or 190% as oil production increased by 102% to 1,288 boepd and average oil prices increased by $20.06 per barrel or 44% to $66.17. Natural gas revenues increased $513,000 or 298% to $685,000 as natural gas production increased 320% to 3,328 mcfpd which was partially offset by an average natural gas price decrease of $0.12/mcf or 5% to $2.26/mcf. Natural gas production for the second quarter of 2018 included 2,104 mcfpd related to prior period adjustments. Natural gas liquids (NGLs) revenues increased $243,000 or 71% as NGL production increased 29% to 257 boepd and average NGL prices increased 33% to $25.01. NGL production for the second quarter of 2018 included 24 boepd related to prior period adjustments. Average second quarter 2018 production per day increased 116% from the second quarter of 2017 due to two additional wells added to production in 2018 and two wells added in 2017. Second quarter 2018 production also included 375 boepd related to prior period adjustments. Production and operating expenses increased to $1,356,000 due to higher production. Production and operating costs on a boe basis decreased by 17% to $5.59/boe due to an increase in production which lowers the fixed operating cost per barrel partially offset by increased production taxes due to a rate increase in 2018 which increased operating costs by $0.90/boe. Depletion and depreciation expense increased $1,303,000 or 105% due to an increase in production in the second quarter of 2018. General and administrative expenses decreased $129,000 or 13% due to continued cost cutting efforts in the second quarter of 2018. Stock based compensation increased by $150,000 or 349% due to the timing of stock awards granted to employees. Finance income decreased $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the prior year quarter due to unrealized and realized gains on commodity contracts in the second quarter of 2017. Finance expense increased $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the prior year quarter primarily due to unrealized and realized losses on commodity contracts in the second quarter of 2018 offset by reduced interest expense on the credit facility in 2018. Capital expenditures of $3,652,000 were incurred in the second quarter of 2018 relating to the 2018 drilling program. FIRST SIX MONTHS 2018 HIGHLIGHTS Average production for the first six months of 2018 was 1,783 BOEPD, an increase of 107% compared to prior year first six months average production of 862 BOEPD. The increase was primarily due to the Glenn 16-2H and WLC 14-1H wells that were part of the Company's 2018 drilling program as well as two wells that came into production in the second half of 2017 and some prior period adjustments partially offset by the 2017 impact of offset fracture operations by another operator Funds from operations was $5.6 million in the first six months of 2018 compared to $2.0 million in the first six months of 2017. The increase was mainly due to a 107% increase in production combined with a 35% increase in oil prices partially offset by realized losses from commodity contracts in the first six months of 2018 in the first six months of 2018 compared to in the first six months of 2017. The increase was mainly due to a 107% increase in production combined with a 35% increase in oil prices partially offset by realized losses from commodity contracts in the first six months of 2018 Revenue, net of royalties was $11.8 million for first six months of 2018 compared to $4.7 million for the first six months of 2017, an increase of 150%, due to higher prices in 2018 and increased production for first six months of 2018 compared to for the first six months of 2017, an increase of 150%, due to higher prices in 2018 and increased production General & administrative expenses decreased by 2% for the first six months of 2018 compared to the first six months of 2017. The decrease relates primarily to management's continued efforts to reduce costs throughout the Company partially offset by advisor fees in 2018 Average netback from operations for the first six months of 2018 was $33.86 per barrel, an increase of 46% from the prior year period due to higher prices in 2018 per barrel, an increase of 46% from the prior year period due to higher prices in 2018 Net loss for the first six months of 2018 was $1.3 million compared to net income of $1.0 million for the first six months of 2017. The 2018 amount included an unrealized loss on financial commodity contracts of $2.2 million and the 2017 amount included an unrealized gain on commodity contracts of $2.2 million compared to net income of for the first six months of 2017. The 2018 amount included an unrealized loss on financial commodity contracts of and the 2017 amount included an unrealized gain on commodity contracts of Cash totaled $1.4 million at June 30, 2018 First Six Months of 2018 versus First Six Months of 2017 Gross oil and gas revenues totaled $11,800,000 in the first six months of 2018 versus $4,650,000 in the first six months of 2017. Oil revenues were $13,224,000 in the first six months versus $5,079,000 in the same period of 2017, an increase of 160% as average oil prices increased 35% or $16.72 a barrel coupled by an increase in oil production of 92%. Natural gas revenues increased $732,000 or 222%, due to an average natural gas production increase of 267% in the first six months of 2018 offset by a decrease in natural gas prices of 12%. Natural gas production for the first six months of 2018 included 1,244 mcfpd related to prior period adjustments. NGL revenue increased $470,000, or 79%, due to an increase in NGL production of 47% and an average NGL price increase of 22% in the first six months of 2018. NGL production for the first six months of 2018 included 15 boepd related to prior period adjustments. Average production per day for the first six months of 2018 increased 107% from the prior year comparable period due to two additional wells added to production in 2018 and two wells added in 2017. The production for the first six months of 2018 also included 222 boepd related to prior period adjustments. Production and operating expenses increased 129% for the first six months of 2018 due to an increase in production. Operating expenses averaged $6.18 per BOE for the first six months of 2018 compared to $6.54 per BOE for the same period in 2017. The per BOE operating expense decrease for 2018 is due to an increase in production which lowers the fixed operating cost per barrel partially offset by increased production taxes due to a rate increase in 2018. Depletion and depreciation expense increased $2,100,000 due to increased production. General and administrative expenses decreased $43,000 primarily due to management's continued efforts to reduce costs throughout the Company which were partially offset by advisor fees in 2018. Finance income decreased $3.2 million due to unrealized and realized gains on financial commodity contracts in 2017. Finance expense increased $3.2 million due to unrealized and realized losses on commodity contracts in 2018 offset by reduced interest expense on the credit facility in 2018. BNK PETROLEUM INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (Unaudited, Expressed in Thousands of United States Dollars) ($000 except as noted) June 30 December 31 2018 2017 Current Assets Cash $1,389 $521 Trade and other receivables 3,030 2,510 Other current assets 363 563 4,782 3,594 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 154,646 147,195 154,646 147,195 Total Assets $159,428 $150,789 Current Liabilities Trade and other payables $5,382 $3,132 Fair value of commodity contracts 2,844 999 8,226 4,131 Non-current liabilities Loans and borrowings 29,536 24,484 Asset retirement obligations 1,081 950 Fair value of commodity contracts 1,328 951 31,945 26,385 Equity Share capital 289,540 289,522 Contributed surplus 22,667 22,406 Deficit (192,950) (191,655) Total Equity 119,257 120,273 Total Equity and Liabilities $159,428 $150,789 BNK PETROLEUM INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Unaudited, expressed in Thousands of United States dollars, except per share amounts) ($000 except as noted) Second Quarter First Six Months 2018 2017 2018 2017 Oil and natural gas revenue, net $ 6,866 2,473 11,798 4,650 Other income 1 75 19 76 6,867 2,548 11,817 4,726 Production and operating expenses 1,356 594 2,343 1,021 Depletion and depreciation expense 2,541 1,238 4,295 2,195 General and administrative expenses 867 996 1,890 1,933 Stock based compensation 193 43 222 87 4,957 2,871 8,750 5,236 Finance income - 1,212 - 3,249 Finance expense (2,687) (638) (4,312) (1,107) Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) from continuing operations $ (777) 251 (1,245) 1,632 Net loss and comprehensive loss from discontinued operations (24) (195) (50) (592) Net income (loss) (801) 56 (1,295) 1,040 Net income (loss) per share $ (0.00) 0.00 (0.01) 0.01 BNK PETROLEUM INC. SECOND QUARTER 2018 (Unaudited, expressed in Thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) Second Quarter First Six Months 2018 2017 2018 2017 Oil revenue before royalties $ 7,758 2,678 13,224 5,079 Gas revenue before royalties 685 172 1,061 329 NGL revenue before royalties 585 342 1,063 593 Oil and Gas revenue 9,028 3,192 15,348 6,001 Funds from operations 3,400 1,140 5,561 2,026 Additions to property, plant & equipment (3,652) (940) (11,582) (11,484) Statistics: 2nd Quarter First Six Months 2018 2017 2018 2017 Average Oil production (Bopd) 1,288 638 1,139 592 Average natural gas production (mcf/d) 3,328 793 2,467 673 Average NGL production (Boepd) 257 200 233 158 Average production (Boepd) 2,100 970 1,783 862 Average oil price ($/bbl) $66.17 $46.11 $64.13 $47.41 Average natural gas price ($/mcf) $2.26 $2.38 $2.38 $2.70 Average NGL price ($/bbl) $25.01 $18.80 $25.21 $20.72 Average price (Boe) $54.31 $36.16 $52.15 $38.46 Royalties (Boe) 13.12 8.13 12.11 8.66 Operating expenses (Boe) 5.59 6.73 6.18 6.54 Netback from operations (Boe) $35.60 $21.30 $33.86 $23.26 Price adjustment from commodity contracts (Boe) (3.85) 6.69 (3.85) 6.69 Netback including commodity contracts (Boe) 31.75 27.99 30.28 30.14 Prior period adjustments (Boe) (6.78) - (4.56) - Netback after adjustments (Boe) $24.97 $27.99 $25.72 $30.14 The information outlined above is extracted from and should be read in conjunction with the Company's unaudited financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and the related management's discussion and analysis thereof, copies of which are available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. NON-GAAP MEASURES Netback from operations, netback including commodity contracts, netback after adjustments, net operating income and funds from operations (collectively, the "Company's Non-GAAP Measures") are not measures recognized under Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by GAAP. The Company's Non-GAAP Measures are described and reconciled to the GAAP measures in the management's discussion and analysis which are available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Cautionary Statements In this news release and the Company's other public disclosure: (a) The Company's natural gas production is reported in thousands of cubic feet ("Mcfs"). The Company also uses references to barrels ("Bbls") and barrels of oil equivalent ("Boes") to reflect natural gas liquids and oil production and sales. Boes may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A Boe conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 Bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value. (b) Discounted and undiscounted net present value of future net revenues attributable to reserves do not represent fair market value. (c) Possible reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves. There is a 10% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the sum of proved plus probable plus possible reserves. (d) The Company discloses peak and 30-day initial production rates and other short-term production rates. Readers are cautioned that such production rates are preliminary in nature and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information This release contains forward-looking information including information regarding the proposed timing and expected results of exploratory and development work including production from the Company's Tishomingo field, Oklahoma acreage, availability of funds from the Company's reserves based loan facility, expected hedging levels and the Company's strategy and objectives. The use of any of the words "target", "plans", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information is based on management's expectations and assumptions, including that the Company's geologic and reservoir models and analysis will be validated, that indications of early results are reasonably accurate predictors of the prospectiveness of the shale intervals, that previous exploration results are indicative of future results and success, that expected production from future wells can be achieved as modeled, declines will match the modeling, future well production rates will be improved over existing wells, that rates of return as modeled can be achieved, that recoveries are consistent with management's expectations, that additional wells are actually drilled and completed, that design and performance improvements will reduce development time and expense and improve productivity, that discoveries will prove to be economic, that anticipated results and estimated costs will be consistent with managements' expectations, that all required permits and approvals and the necessary labor and equipment will be obtained, provided or available, as applicable, on terms that are acceptable to the Company, when required, that no unforeseen delays, unexpected geological or other effects, equipment failures, permitting delays or labor or contract disputes are encountered, that the development plans of the Company and its co-venturers will not change, that the demand for oil and gas will be sustained, that the Company will continue to be able to access sufficient capital through financings, credit facilities, farm-ins or other participation arrangements to maintain its projects, that the Company will continue in compliance with the covenants under its reserves-based loan facility and that the borrowing base will not be reduced, that funds will be available from the Company's reserves based loan facility when required to fund planned operations, that the Company will not be adversely affected by changing government policies and regulations, social instability or other political, economic or diplomatic developments in the countries in which it operates and that global economic conditions will not deteriorate in a manner that has an adverse impact on the Company's business and its ability to advance its business strategy. Forward looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: any of the assumptions on which such forward looking information is based vary or prove to be invalid, including that the Company's geologic and reservoir models or analysis are not validated, anticipated results and estimated costs will not be consistent with managements' expectations, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g. operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration and development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks including flooding and extended interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather), the risk of commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, risks and uncertainties associated with securing the necessary regulatory approvals and financing to proceed with continued development of the Tishomingo Field, the Company or its subsidiaries is not able for any reason to obtain and provide the information necessary to secure required approvals or that required regulatory approvals are otherwise not available when required, that unexpected geological results are encountered, that completion techniques require further optimization, that production rates do not match the Company's assumptions, that very low or no production rates are achieved, that the Company will cease to be in compliance with the covenants under its reserves-based loan facility and be required to repay outstanding amounts or that the borrowing base will be reduced pursuant to a borrowing base re-determination and the Company will be required to repay the resulting shortfall, that the Company is unable to access required capital, that funding is not available from the Company's reserves based loan facility at the times or in the amounts required for planned operations, that occurrences such as those that are assumed will not occur, do in fact occur, and those conditions that are assumed will continue or improve, do not continue or improve and the other risks identified in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form under the "Risk Factors" section, the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis and the Company's other public disclosure, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. With respect to estimated reserves, the evaluation of the Company's reserves is based on a limited number of wells with limited production history and includes a number of assumptions relating to factors such as availability of capital to fund required infrastructure, commodity prices, production performance of the wells drilled, successful drilling of infill wells, the assumed effects of regulation by government agencies and future capital and operating costs. All of these estimates will vary from actual results. Estimates of the recoverable oil and natural gas reserves attributable to any particular group of properties, classifications of such reserves based on risk of recovery and estimates of future net revenues expected therefrom, may vary. The Company's actual production, revenues, taxes, development and operating expenditures with respect to its reserves will vary from such estimates, and such variances could be material. In addition to the foregoing, other significant factors or uncertainties that may affect either the Company's reserves or the future net revenue associated with such reserves include material changes to existing taxation or royalty rates and/or regulations, and changes to environmental laws and regulations. Although the Company has attempted to take into account important factors that could cause actual costs or results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause actual results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking information included in this release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. About BNK Petroleum Inc. BNK Petroleum Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and production company focused on finding and exploiting large, predominately unconventional oil and gas resource plays. Through various affiliates and subsidiaries, the Company owns and operates shale gas properties and concessions in the United States. Additionally the Company is utilizing its technical and operational expertise to identify and acquire additional unconventional projects. The Company's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol BKX and on the OTCQX under the stock symbol BNKPF. SOURCE BNK Petroleum Inc. OBERUESEL, Germany, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HORIBA Europe GmbH has today announced that it has agreed terms for the acquisition of FuelCon AG ("FuelCon"). FuelCon will become part of HORIBA Automotive Test Systems - a leading supplier in the fields of engine, driveline, brake and emissions test systems. The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory clearance. Founded in 2001 and based in Magdeburg-Barleben, Germany, FuelCon is a leading manufacturer and supplier of R&D and EOL (end of line) test beds and turnkey solutions for the E-Mobility sector, with expertise in battery and fuel cell applications. FuelCon has an enviable reputation for design and manufacture of precision high performance solutions and is trusted for its deep technical know-how by global OEMs and Tier 1s as well as international research laboratories. Through joining the HORIBA group of companies, FuelCon will be able to respond to the growing need for increasingly complex development and validation solutions and harness HORIBA's extensive international network. This acquisition represents a strategic move from the HORIBA group to increase its presence in the vehicle electrification market. The purchase will enable HORIBA to provide a comprehensive suite of test and development solutions across battery and fuel cell lifecycles. This will enable HORIBA to increase its access to the growing global market requirement for E-Mobility solutions and capitalise on the growing demand for validation technologies. Dr George Gillespie, Executive Vice President, HORIBA Automotive Test Systems said: "In line with global megatrends, we are witnessing the continued electrification of transport with a mix of pure EV and complex hybrid solutions. With this in mind, HORIBA needed to find a suitable industry leader who offered a range of technical solutions that complement our existing automotive test systems business and our position of global leadership in emissions measurement. In FuelCon we have found the perfect partner." Mathias Bode, Managing Director, FuelCon commented: "Over the past 18 years, FuelCon has become a leader in battery and fuel cell validation solutions. With increasing number of challenging requests, we need to provide solutions that meet complex validation needs across the globe. With HORIBA we have found a partner who will give us that international reach and with their track record in the manufacture of complex test and measurement solutions, they understand our need to continue to be able to respond promptly to complex customer demands." Dr Robert Plank, COO, HORIBA Europe GmbH said: "We regard FuelCon as the perfect fit for our strategic ambitions. With their range of products and their applications expertise, we see a great future ahead of us. We will now be able to offer an increasingly comprehensive suite of test and validation solutions for a full range of automotive propulsion technologies moving from combustion engines to electrified powertrains. By bringing FuelCon into the HORIBA group of companies and developing their Magdeburg facility as our global centre of competence for fuel cell and battery test systems, we take another step in future-proofing our automotive business and achieving our aim of becoming the number one partner for validating vehicle efficiency and performance." Notes to Editors About HORIBA Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, the HORIBA Group is a global leading supplier of measurement technology and systems for various fields from automotive testing, process and environmental monitoring, in-vitro medical diagnostics, semiconductor manufacturing and metrology to scientific R&D and QC measurements. Company Name: HORIBA, Ltd. Address: 2, Miyanohigashi-cho, Kisshoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto, Japan Web Address: http://www.horiba.com Founded: October 17, 1945 Incorporated: January 26, 1953 Net Sales: 195,399 million Japanese yen (Consolidated, Fiscal 2017) Paid in Capital: 12,011 million Japanese yen (As of December 31, 2017) Business Domain: Manufacture and sale of analytical measurement equipment Fiscal Closing Date: December 31, annually Annual Meeting of Shareholders: Held in March Number of Employees: 7,399 (Consolidated, as of December 31, 2017) Representative: Atsushi Horiba - Chairman and Group CEO Stock Listings: Tokyo Stock Exchange, First Section Securities Code: 6856 About HORIBA Automotive Test Systems A business segment of the HORIBA Group, Automotive Test Systems (ATS) which has developed global leadership in the fields of engine test systems, driveline test systems, brake test systems, wind tunnel balances and emissions test systems. HORIBA ATS is able to offer its customers complete solutions with full turnkey capability for all industries using electric motors, internal combustion engines and turbines. These include the automotive, heavy-duty, off-road, consumer goods, marine, aerospace and locomotive sectors. About FuelCon FuelCon is a global leading supplier of test systems for fuel cells and batteries. For years, the name has been recognized for innovative engineering, high quality, the highest safety standards and close consultation with its customers. With testing systems for fuel cells FuelCon offers optimal solutions for all typical technologies such as PEM or SOFC with a power range up to 250+ kW. In addition, innovative test systems for evaluating electrolysers are also available. With the "Evaluator-B" series FuelCon has developed a concept that fulfils the challenging testing requirements of modern batteries in R&D as well as in production, with high accuracy and flexibility. Company Name FuelCon AG Establishment 2001 Address Magdeburg-Barleben, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany Business Fuelcell testing instruments and Battery testing instruments For further information about HORIBA Automotive Test Systems, please contact Grayling on +44-121-265-2760 or email [email protected] SOURCE HORIBA Europe GmbH VANCOUVER, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (the "Company") - (TSX: ITH) (NYSE American: THM) today announced that it has filed its unaudited second quarter Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2018. As of June 30, 2018, the Company had working capital of $11.9 million. Shareholders can obtain copies of the Company's unaudited second quarter Financial Statements and associated Management Discussion and Analysis and Form 10-Q on SEDAR at: www.sedar.com, EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at: www.ithmines.com. The Company will also provide hard copies of these documents, free of charge, to shareholders who request a copy directly from the Company. About International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. controls 100% of the Livengood Gold Project located along the paved Elliott Highway, 70 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. On behalf of International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (signed) Karl L. Hanneman Chief Executive Officer This news release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. SOURCE International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. Related Links http://www.towerhillmines.com HSINCHU, Taiwan and WUHAN, China, Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- JHL Biotech has announced it received a positive Scientific Advice from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) related to the EU approval pathway for its proposed bevacizumab biosimilar, JHL1149 to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The EMA, like other regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and State Drug Administration of China (SDA), adopts the principle of a step-wise approach and the totality of the evidence from all studies in regulating the development and approval of biosimilars. In its correspondence to JHL, the EMA confirmed it agrees with JHL's development approach, clinical development proposal, and study design of the global Phase III clinical study for JHL1149 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Based on the EMA's review of these factors, the results of the Phase III clinical study will be acceptable for the submission of a Marketing Authorization Application as a biosimilar product, assuming the Phase III trial is completed successfully. About JHL Biotech JHL Biotech, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company founded by a group of industry veterans with deep experience in biologics development and operations. With a mission to provide the world with affordable medicines of exceptional quality, the company is focused on research and development of new protein-based therapies and biosimilars. JHL Biotech's experienced leadership team, ongoing global clinical trials for its pipeline of biosimilar candidates and two Asia-based world-class biologics manufacturing facilities built in accordance with United States, European Union, and ICH cGMP regulations and standards uniquely position the company to be a leading global supplier of high quality biologics. JHL Biotech is backed by premier financial firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, Biomark Capital, Milestone Capital, Fidelity and the China Development Industrial Bank. For more information, please visit www.jhlbiotech.com. Media Contact Jill Liu | Email: [email protected] | Phone: +86-27-87879208 Amber Chen | Email: [email protected] | Phone: +886 3-658-3899 Lee Henely | Email: [email protected] | Phone: +886 3-658-3899 Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are generally statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "plans," "will," "outlook" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections, and speak only as of the date they are made. JHL undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in light of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of either company. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. SOURCE JHL Biotech Related Links http://www.jhlbiotech.com WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to statements made by the Canadian Foreign Minister and Canadian Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the purported "civil society activists" who were arrested before urging to release them immediately; the Minister of Justice, President of Supreme Judicial Council Dr. Walid Al Samaani, said "We categorically reject any interference from any party in the affairs of our country, especially in the judiciary." Adding that the comments reflect a "lack of knowledge of the Saudi judiciary system." Dr. Al Samaani stressed the independence of the Kingdom's judicial process, adding that the Saudi judiciary gives all defendants, including those charged with terrorism or violating national security, all guarantees required by fair trial procedures, starting from the trial of the accused before an independent court and before a judge in public trials, the defendant has the right to appoint a lawyer, and to see all documents and records of the accused, while the Ministry of Justice covers the costs of lawyers for those who cannot afford one. He explained that the judicial system in the Kingdom also gives the accused the right to object to the rulings issued by methods prescribed for the objection. The system ensures the right to just compensation for the harm suffered if acquitted. The Justice Ministry said the Kingdom's criminal justice system "complies with the rules of legal evidence in terms of admitting only the presented evidence, the presumption of innocence, challenging the ruling and the right for appeal." SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office DALLAS, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today U.S. and Sweden officials formalized an agreement for Sweden to purchase Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles and related support equipment. Once the contract is signed, Sweden will become the sixth international customer to sign an agreement to procure PAC-3 MSE. "We're honored to partner with Sweden on their efforts to protect and defend their armed forces, citizens and infrastructure," said Jay Pitman, vice president of PAC-3 at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Today's global security environment demands reliable Hit-to-Kill technology and innovative solutions. PAC-3 MSE interceptors will provide Sweden with a formidable layer of defense." Sweden joins the U.S., Qatar, Japan, Romania, Poland and the United Arab Emirates to procure PAC-3 MSE. Several other nations have also expressed an interest in enhancing their missile defense capabilities with the PAC-3 MSE as part of the Patriot system. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor on the PAC-3 MSE upgrade to the Patriot air defense system. The upgraded PAC-3 MSE expands the lethal battlespace with a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, providing increased performance in altitude and range. PAC-3 MSE is a high-velocity interceptor that defends against incoming threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft. The missile uses Hit-to-Kill technology, which engages threats through kinetic energy via body-to-body contact. As a world leader in systems integration and development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, Lockheed Martin delivers high-quality missile defense solutions that protect citizens, critical assets and deployed forces from current and future threats. The company's experience spans missile design and production, infrared seekers, command and control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, radar and signal processing, as well as threat-representative targets for missile defense tests. About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. This year the company received three Edison Awards for ground-breaking innovations in autonomy, satellite technology and directed energy. SOURCE Lockheed Martin Related Links http://www.lockheedmartin.com HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will visit the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, for tours and briefings on human spaceflight testing and space station science operations, including critical structural tests underway for its new deep space rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). Bridenstine will view the test version of the SLS intertank at 1:30 p.m. CDT inside Marshall's Structural Strength Laboratory in Building 4619, where testing is underway. Following the tour, the administrator will be available for a question-and-answer session with attending media. Media interested in covering Bridenstine's visit should contact Jennifer Stanfield in the Marshall Office of Communications at 256-544-7199 at [email protected] no later than 4 p.m. Monday, Aug 13. Significant progress has been made on SLS, with many of the rocket's major elements finished or nearing completion for Exploration Mission-1, the first integrated test of Orion, SLS and the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Media must report to the Redstone Arsenal Joint Visitor Control Center at Gate 9, Interstate 565 interchange at Research Park Boulevard, by 12:30 p.m. Aug. 15. Vehicles are subject to a security search at the gate. Media will need photo identification and proof of automobile insurance. For more information on SLS, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/sls SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov OTTAWA, Ontario, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Businesses today have an unquenchable thirst for data, and with millions of businesses logging in every day, Google Analytics has become the household name among marketers for gathering and understanding data for decision making. But while anyone with a computer and some basic development chops can start a free Google Analytics account any time, upgrading to the paid enterprise version of Google Analytics 360 is not so simple. The vast majority of the millions of businesses wanting to upgrade their technology and seek services for implementation can't do so through Google. They must purchase licensing through one of a select group of agencies, which are certified by Google to sell and service their technology. Often, these certified sales agencies directly compete with a businesses' established agency service providers, making it difficult for businesses to purchase licensing and discouraging for their trusted agencies to recommend it. Napkyn Analytics, a two-time Canadian Profit 500 business and Google Marketing Platform Sales Partner, experienced this challenge with selling Google licensing to agencies and their clients first hand. This month, it launched a new subsidiary company, Data Stack Licensing, with a deliberate agency-first strategy. "Helping marketing agencies large and small get access to Google Analytics licensing for their clients in a way that removes competition, and supports their business, is a huge opportunity within the Google Partner ecosystem," says Founder and CEO Jim Cain. "We hope our unique model makes it easier for agencies to recommend Google and provide world-class services to help their clients compete with data." About Data Stack Data Stack Licensing (https://datastacklicensing.com) works with Google Marketing Platform Partners, formerly known as Google Analytics Certified Partners (GACP), to provide their customers with licensing and technical support programs for the Google Marketing Platform. As a Google Marketing Platform Sales Partner in North America, Data Stack makes licensing and onboarding Google products easy. Our goal is to help agencies and enterprises compete by letting them access Google products as part of world-class marketing and analytics solutions. About Napkyn Analytics Napkyn Analytics (https://www.napkyn.com) is a leading Google Marketing Platform Sales Partner. By exclusively focusing on world-class digital analytics solution design and delivery, Napkyn Analytics' goal is to partner with enterprise clients to bring digital analytics to the boardroom, and make digital analytics a first-class item in executive decision making. Press Contact: Alex Reid, Lead, Marketing and Partnerships [email protected] 1800 910 6039 Related Images data-stack-licensing-full-logo.png Data Stack Licensing Full Logo data-stack-licensing-logo-icon.png Data Stack Licensing Logo Icon Related Links https://www.napkyn.com/ SOURCE Napkyn Analytics Related Links https://www.napkyn.com "Today the community, family and friends of Pacific Union step forward together to embrace the future of those left behind as a result of this recent tragedy," McLaughlin says. "We all share in the grief of the loss of life. Now we share together in nurturing those left behind." Pacific Union International will donate $100,000 to the Pacific Union Community Giving Fund (EIN: 47-2804742), a 501(c)(3) public charity (the "Fund.") to honor the lives of Nasim, Floria and Navid, and Scott and Lara. Donors who choose to make gifts in honor of lost colleagues and families will be able to do so through links to the Fund, which will use the donations as follows: The Nasim Ghanadan Memorial Fund Established in memory of Nasim Ghanadan. The Ghanadan family will name the beneficiaries of these donations in the near future. To give, click here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BXCZTWZQHSBR2 The Floria & Navid Hakimi Memorial Fund Established in memory of Floria Hakimi and her son, Navid. The Hakimi family will name the beneficiaries of these donations in the near future. To give, click here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=NPJF56F4UWANY The Children of Scott and Lara Shepherd Established in memory of Scott and Lara Shepherd. We are raising money to provide support for the general living expenses and educational needs of the Shepherd's two young children. To give, click here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=AWG3VMYHVRDU4 Please note that contributions to the Shepherd children are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. The Moyer Foundation Selected by Pacific Union International to provide grief counseling to children and adults who have suffered the loss of a child or a parent. Donations are accepted online using a credit or debit card at https://moyerfoundation.org/donate/. "The effects of this loss to our community, families, and friends will not go away overnight," McLaughlin says. "This difficult journey is just beginning for those left behind whose lives have been changed in profound ways. On behalf of Pacific Union International, thank you for joining us in honoring those we hold in our hearts today." About Pacific Union International Founded in San Francisco in 1975, Pacific Union International, Inc. is the West Coast's premier luxury real estate brand, with 2017 sales volume of $14.1 billion. In 2018, real estate industry leaders RISMedia and REAL Trends ranked Pacific Union as the fifth-largest brokerage in the U.S. The prestigious London-based International Property Awards awarded Pacific Union "Global Real Estate Brokerage of the Year 2017-2018." Through its 2015 acquisition of The Mark Company, the nation's leading sales and marketing firm for new urban luxury developments, Pacific Union expanded its brand to development projects from San Diego to Seattle. In 2016, Pacific Union merged with Los Angeles-based brokerage John Aaroe Group, followed in 2017 with mergers with Partners Trust and Gibson International also based in Los Angeles, and Empire Realty Associates, extending the Pacific Union brand to become the preeminent leader and ultimate California real estate company. The strategic alliance of these five powerhouses supports 1,700 elite real estate professionals in more than 50 offices throughout the West Coast. Northern California markets include San Francisco, Marin, Contra Costa, Alameda, Napa, and Sonoma counties; Silicon Valley; and the Lake Tahoe region. Greater Los Angeles markets include Beverly Hills, Malibu, Downtown, Northeast L.A., the Westside, as well as the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys. To extend Pacific Union's international reach, the brokerage established an award-winning, Beijing-based China Concierge program in 2013 that fully supports its Chinese investors on the mainland. Additionally, Pacific Union offers a full range of personal and commercial real estate services, including buying, selling and relocation, in addition to operating joint-venture businesses that provide rental and commercial property management and insurance services. Locally owned, Pacific Union executes with a vision for the future, an entrepreneurial mindset and an unwavering commitment to deliver exceptional service and expertise. For more information, visit: www.pacificunion.com SOURCE Pacific Union International Related Links https://www.pacificunion.com DUBLIN, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Peripheral Arterial Disease Forecast In 22 Major Markets 2018-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Epidemiology Series Forecast Report on Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) in 22 Major Markets Peripheral Arterial disease (PAD) is an occlusion of the peripheral arteries and is widely viewed as a measure of an individual's global systemic atherosclerotic burden. Typically, it is defined as an ankle-brachial pressure index (APBI) ratio of < 0.9. PAD can also be known as peripheral arterial occlusive disease, arteriosclerosis obliterans, lower extremity occlusive disease and peripheral vascular disease. This report provides the current prevalent population for PAD across 22 Major Markets (USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Poland, Netherlands, Sweden, Greece, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina) split by gender and 5-year age cohort. Along with the current prevalence, the report also contains a disease overview of the risk factors, disease diagnosis and prognosis along with specific variations by geography and ethnicity. Providing a value-added level of insight from the analysis team , several of the main patient features and co-morbidities of PAD have been quantified and presented alongside the overall prevalence figures. These sub-populations within the main disease are also included at a country level across the 10-year forecast snapshot. Main symptoms and co-morbidities for PAD include: Hypertension Family history of PAD Dyslipidaemia Obesity Diabetes Lower limb ischaemia Myocardial infarction Coronary artery disease (CAD) Reasons to buy Ability to quantify patient populations in global PAD market to target the development of future products, pricing strategies and launch plans. Further insight into the prevalence of the subdivided types of PAD and identification of patient segments with high potential. Delivery of more accurate information for clinical trials in study sizing and realistic patient recruitment for various countries. Better understanding on the impact of specific co-morbid conditions on the prevalent population of PAD patients. Identification of PAD patient sub-populations that require treatment. Better understanding of the specific markets that have the largest number of PAD patients. Key Topics Covered: List of Tables and Figures Introduction Cause Of The Disease Risk Factors & Prevention Diagnosis Of The Disease Variation By Geography/Ethnicity Disease Prognosis & Clinical Course Key Comorbid Conditions / Features Associated With The Disease Methodology For Quantification Of Patient Numbers Top-Line Prevalence For Peripheral Arterial Disease Features Of Peripheral Arterial Disease Patient Parameters Comorbidities Of Pad Patients Comorbidities Of Pad Patients With Intermittent Claudication Abbreviations Used In The Report Other Publisher Services & Solutions Reports & Publications Online Epidemiology Databases Online Pharmaceutical Pricing Database References Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/cbgmsx/peripheral?w=5 Did you know that we also offer Custom Research? Visit our Custom Research page to learn more and schedule a meeting with our Custom Research Manager. Did you know that we also offer Custom Research? Visit our Custom Research page to learn more and schedule a meeting with our Custom Research Manager. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network it's easy and free. Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform EXPERT ALERTS Aging Baby Boomers: A Potentially Catastrophic Challenge to Nation's Healthcare System Saving a Source of Ancient Manuscripts MEDIA JOBS US Culture Writer The Independent (NY) Story Editor Barron's (NY) Money & Politics Reporter MarketWatch (DC) OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES Convert Your Broadcast Voice to Print: 5 Tips From a Former TV Reporter The Long-Form Paradox: Vying for Attention in the Digital Age Blog Profiles: Woodworking Blogs ------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPERT ALERTS: Aging Baby Boomers: A Potentially Catastrophic Challenge to Our Nation's Healthcare System Jay Baker Senior Vice President, Product Management Advantmed, LLC Baker can address the current and potentially catastrophic challenge our nation's healthcare system is facing: aging baby boomers are creating a significant shift from enrollment in private health insurance to Medicare and driving an unsustainably high rate of healthcare spending and. He can also discuss how Medicare Advantage Plans can gain insight into effective risk, quality, and care strategies and the economic effect. Says Baker: "Aging baby boomers have created a significant shift from enrollment in private health insurance to Medicare and are driving an unsustainably high rate of healthcare spending. If further cuts to Medicare entitlements occur in 2018, then deductibles and cost-sharing for seniors in original Medicare will likely increase. These circumstances will make MA plans that much more attractive for the nation's aging population and should prompt MA plans to not only look at the full spectrum of the patient, but to also apply an end-to-end solution." White Paper: https://advantmed.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/HighPriorities-US-Healthcare-Policy-FINAL.pdf Website: https://www.advantmed.com Contact: Nicole Dufour, [email protected] Saving a Source of Ancient Manuscripts David Sheppe Program Leader American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres "Serving as the gathering place for hundreds of monks, Saint Germain des Pres was an epicenter for the production of hand-copied manuscripts. During the 17th century alone, over 700 literary works were composed. The monks and scholars of the church were committed to housing important manuscripts, both sacred and secular, from France and other areas around Europe. The collection grew steadily over time and, today, numbers around 7,000 unique works (conserved at the Bibliotheque Nationale)." Sheppe has enjoyed a long career in international banking and now works as a financial and risk management consultant. It was while living in Paris in the 1980s that he first took an interest in the church of Saint Germain des Pres, and he has been a frequent visitor ever since. From 2013 to 2016, he was once again a Paris resident, and it was then that he became acquainted with the work of the "Fonds de Dotation," the Paris-based fundraising arm for renovating the church. Following his return to the US in 2016, Sheppe did volunteer work for the U.S.-based American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres, before joining its Board in 2017. He is now leading the charge on the current Adopt A Saint Germain Star Campaign in the United States. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Cornell University. He resides in southwest Connecticut. Online Press Kit: http://preservesaintgermain.onlinepresskit247.com Website: www.PreserveSaintGermain.org Contact: Michelle Tennant, [email protected] **************** MEDIA JOBS: Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/ US Culture Writer The Independent (NY) Story Editor Barron's (NY) Money & Politics Reporter MarketWatch (DC) ***************** OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES: Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected] CONVERT YOUR BROADCAST VOICE TO PRINT: 5 TIPS FROM A FORMER TV REPORTER. Today, journalists, bloggers and all variations of content creators must be able tell their stories in all formats. But this transition isn't always easy. Here are some lessons a former TV reporter learned to help her inner print chick: https://prn.to/2nrv79P THE LONG-FORM PARADOX: VYING FOR ATTENTION IN THE DIGITAL AGE. It seems like we're swamped with bits of text. Frankly, it can be overwhelming. And while longer, detailed stories appear to have no place in this digital world, long-form content remains an effective tool for the spread of messages: https://prn.to/2M6Azxz BLOG PROFILES: WOODWORKING BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry/subject and profiles a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at a few woodworking blogs: https://prn.to/2McYFWK **************** PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. To contact ProfNet: [email protected] or 800-776-3638, ext. 1 SOURCE ProfNet Related Links http://www.profnet.com Most recently, Andy served as Deputy Executive Director, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) Logistics Center, Redstone Arsenal, AL, which employs more than 4500 employees and has an annual operating budget of more than $2.5 billion. "Andy's breadth of expertise in military aviation will bring a new level of proficiency to our aviation services group," said Steve Adlich, President, TSG. "Andy is a perfect fit our organization both in his technical skill set as well as his high ethical standards. We are extremely happy that he has chosen to continue his career at Tyonek." "Tyonek has a dynamic team of professionals focused on providing exceptional service to their customers," said Andy. "I am excited to join the company and look forward to putting my skills and qualifications to work to help our customers meet their mission requirements." Andy is a certified aviation Maintenance Test Pilot (MTP) and Maintenance Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina and a Master Degree in Aeronautical Science, Aviation Operations and Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. About Tyonek Native Corporation Tyonek Native Corporation (TNC) is the parent company to a variety of subsidiary businesses in industries including ISO 9000 certified defense manufacturing and engineering, aircraft maintenance, information technology services, land and resource development, and construction. The company owns and manages over 200,000 acres of land, primarily on the West side of Cook Inlet in South Central Alaska. An Alaska Native Corporation formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), the company is governed by a board of nine directors and a management team who are accountable to a community of more than 900 shareholders. The corporation's headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska, with offices in Madison, Alabama, and subsidiary facilities located throughout the continental United States. For more information, visit www.tyonek.com. SOURCE Tyonek Native Corporation Related Links http://www.tyonek.com TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The courts have approved a settlement between representatives of certain survivors of the Sixties Scoop and the Federal Government of Canada ("Canada") that provides compensation for loss of cultural identity to certain survivors of the Sixties Scoop. Please read this notice carefully. This lawsuit argues that Indian children who were victims of the Sixties Scoop lost their cultural identity and, as a result, suffered psychologically, emotionally, spiritually and physically. They were also deprived of their status, their aboriginal and treaty rights and monetary benefits to which they were entitled pursuant to the Indian Act, RSC 1985, c I5 and related legislation and policies. The representatives of certain survivors of the Sixties Scoop and Canada have agreed to a settlement. By agreeing to the settlement, the parties avoid the costs and uncertainty of a trial and delays in obtaining judgment, and certain survivors of the Sixties Scoop receive the benefits described in the settlement agreement. By settling this class action, the representatives of certain survivors of the Sixties Scoop and Canada have also been able to create a Foundation to enable change and reconciliation. HOW DO I GET THIS MONEY? To make a claim for money, you must fill in a Claim Form and send it to the claims office. Copies of the Claim Form are available here: sixtiesscoopsettlement.info . HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I GET? Your payment will depend on how many Eligible Class Members submit claims in the settlement. The details are explained in the settlement agreement. The range of compensation will likely be $25,000 - $50,000. A copy of the settlement agreement is available here: sixtiesscoopsettlement.info . WHAT IF I WANT TO EXCLUDE MYSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENT? If you want to exclude yourself from the settlement, you must opt out of the class action by October 31, 2018. If you opt out, you will not be entitled to any benefits or compensation for the settlement and your claim against Canada in respect of the Sixties Scoop will not be released. A copy of the Opt Out Form is available at sixtiesscoopsettlement.info . If you have commenced a legal proceeding against Canada relating to the Sixties Scoop and you do not discontinue it on or before October 31, 2018, you will be deemed to have opted out of the settlement. WANT MORE INFORMATION? Visit sixtiesscoopsettlement.info , call 1-(844)-287-4270, or email [email protected]. DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHER SURVIVORS OF THE SIXTIES SCOOP? Please share this information with them. This notice was approved by the Federal Court and the Ontario Superior Court. SOURCE Koskie Minsky LLP WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Chinese Americans (UCA), a leading federation of Chinese American organizations across the country, is greatly disturbed by multiple news reports that, at a private dinner with corporate executives in New Jersey on August 7, President Donald Trump spoke in alarming terms about Chinese students studying in America as mostly spies for China. Disparaging and stereotyping an entire population is wrongheaded and un-American, and especially disturbing when the source is our national leaders, whether in the White House, the Congress or the FBI. This is simply not a conversation in which our country should be engaged. Many members of our organization first arrived in America as students or scholars from greater China and other parts of the world. We have benefited tremendously from our academic and social experiences in America, and a large percentage of us have become naturalized and patriotic American citizens. To assert that we, or any others who have come after us, are, as a group, less trustworthy than other Americans is deeply offensive to us. The rise of China has become a test of who we are as Americans. If it forces us to abandon our values, our winning strategies and our proud traditions, America will be the worse for it. It will no longer be the beacon that has illuminated the world for centuries. We should all be concerned when China is used as an excuse for setting our country on a track to abandon our cherished values and traditions. Descending into isolationism and paranoia is a self-defeating course of action. There is no doubt that in the twenty-first century, America faces increasing security and intelligence challenges, and that some of these come from China. And as there are bad apples in every bushel, there are surely some individuals who have come here from China with nefarious goals. We believe such individuals, if they break our laws, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and punished if they are proven guilty. But no evidence has ever been presented by the government or the news media to support the claim that many, or even a growing number, of Chinese students here are spies for China. Absent such evidence, these are nothing more than baseless, empty allegations, and dangerous ones at that. Chinese students bring value to American campuses through the diversity of their experiences and perspectives. They also contribute an estimated $12 billion annually directly to U.S. institutions of higher learning. And they provide much-needed talent on which American high-tech industries and its research and academic institutions have come to rely. Recent reported remarks by President Trump, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Senator Marco Rubio, who has characterized persons of Chinese origin in the United States as a national security threat, are unjustified and deeply offensive. The United Chinese Americans calls on the White House to clarify the President's reported disparagement of Chinese students. We also call on the Chinese American community and other Americans of conscience to contact the White House, their Members of Congress and their local news media outlets to protest these negative portrayals of Chinese students. And we call on all Americans to continue the fine American tradition of welcoming all international students and scholars to our shores. United Chinese Americans is a nationwide nonprofit and nonpartisan federation and a community civic movement dedicated to enriching and empowering Chinese American communities through civic engagement, political participation, heritage sharing, youth development and greater understanding between the U.S. and China. SOURCE United Chinese Americans (UCA) Related Links ucausa.org This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Vretta, the Luxembourg Ministry of Education, and the French Ministry of Education, win two major awards at the international 2018 e-Assessment Awards Ceremony, while being highly commended for a third. TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - At the 2018 e-Assessment Association Awards ceremony in the UK, Vretta and its ministry and academic partners were recognized for the impact of the implementation of their Assessment-for-Learning projects: MathemaTIC, DTab, Elevate My Math, and OCMT for improving student success at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary education levels in Luxembourg, France, Canada and the USA. MathemaTIC, developed by Vretta, the Luxembourg Ministry of Education and academic partners won the Best Use of Formative Assessment Award for its successful implementation and progress towards raising attainment and reducing the equity gap at primary and secondary schools in Luxembourg. DTab, developed by Vretta with the French Ministry of Education, was highly commended for the Best Use of Summative Assessment Award for its successful implementation as a large-scale national assessment in a mobile, off-line environment at primary schools across France. Vretta also received the coveted Best Transformational Project Award for the implementation and impact of its Elevate My Math and OCMT Assessment-for-Learning platforms for student success and retention at post-secondary institutions in Canada and the USA. Vretta's partnerships with the Luxembourg Ministry of Education, the French Ministry of Education, and academic institutions across Canada and the USA, have continued to show the importance of transforming math education through the use of immersive technology solutions in order to help students build their confidence in mathematics and learn math to live smart! About the e-Assessment Awards The e-Assessment Awards are dedicated to recognizing advancements in e-assessments and applauding the latest innovations throughout the education sector. With an increasingly high number of applicants and attention from around the globe, the e-Assessment Awards are fast becoming one of the most discussed awards in the e-assessment community. About Vretta Vretta is an award-winning EdTech leader that is transforming the way students experience math. With a vision to raise the level of numeracy for every learner in the world, Vretta pushes the boundaries of interactive technologies allowing students to visualize, conceptualize, and engage with mathematics in order to acquire the meaningful quantitative skills that will serve them in their lives and professions. Visit www.vretta.com to learn more on how you can help your students enjoy math. SOURCE Vretta Inc. Gaza, Aug 10 : The Islamic Hamas movement said that a truce with Israel on halting escalation in the Gaza Strip began from Thursday midnight. The agreement, brokered by Egypt and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov, will end another round of military confrontation between Israel and Hamas, a source from Hamas told Xinhua news agency. "A calm-for-calm deal has been brokered by Egypt and by the UN Special envoy on condition that the Israeli occupation should respect the agreement," the Hamas source said on condition of anonymity. "The Palestinian resistance has the right to respond to any Israeli violation," the source added. Meanwhile, a source from the Popular Resistance Committees, a coalition of armed Palestinian groups in Gaza, said the agreement came into effect at midnight. Israeli war jets have struck more than 150 sites in Gaza since Wednesday overnight, killing a pregnant woman, her baby and a Hamas fighter, while Gaza militants launched more than 100 rockets toward southern Israel, injuring over 20 Israelis. United Nations, Aug 10 : The chief of the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) has strongly condemned the airstrike against a school bus in Yemen in which killed more than two dozen children. "Attacks on children are absolutely unacceptable," said Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore on Twitter on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. "I'm horrified by the reported airstrike on innocent children, some with Unicef backpacks. Enough is enough." At least 43 people, mostly children believed to be under the age of 10, were killed and several injured when Saudi-led coalition airstrikes hit buses in northern Yemen on Thursday, officials said. The buses were targeted as they were passing through Dahyan market in the rebel-held province of Saada, according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV. Some reports said that the number of casualties could be well above 60, with dozens severely injured. Many of the children were reported to be under the age of 10, according to UN News. According to the UNICEF, since conflict between pro-government forces and Houthi rebels escalated in 2015, about 2,500 children have been killed and 3,600 maimed in Yemen. Yemen's conflict has its roots in uprisings that date back to 2011, but fighting escalated in March 2015, when an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened militarily at the request of its government. Attacks against civilians have been the scourge of this conflict. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), "tens of civilians were killed in violence in several governorates" in the past 10 days alone. Islamabad, Aug 10 : Pakistan has said that its defence relations with Russia have made progress. The remarks by Pakistani Foreign Ministry's spokesman Mohammad Faisal came on Thursday, two days after Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander V. Fomin visited Pakistan and held talks with Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and other military officials, Xinhua reported. "Our defence relations have grown steadily over the years and both countries have established regular military-to-military contacts," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said at his weekly press briefing. The two countries have held two editions of the joint military exercise named "DRUZBA" (Friendship) in Pakistan in 2016 and in Russia in 2017. Both countries also held counter-narcotics naval exercise called "Arabian Monsoon" in the Arabian Sea in 2014 and 2015. Faisal said the two countries have been able to construct a positive trajectory in sustaining high-level interactions and exploring new avenues to cement bilateral relations in all spheres including the defence sector. "Pakistan and Russia have been successful in developing a strong partnership, which is based on mutual trust, commonality of interests and convergence of views on important global and regional issues," he said. On Tuesday, Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement that allows for training of Pakistani troops at Russian military training institutes. "Both countries signed the Contract on Admission of Service Members of Pakistan in RF's (Russian Federation) Training InstiAtutes," the defence ministry said in a statement. The military said on Tuesday that the Russian Deputy Minister had expressed his appreciation for Pakistan Army's achievements against terrorism and expressed requirement of greater cooperative and collaborative approach among global community to defeat extremism. San Francisco, Aug 10 : New Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Wang Donghua and San Francisco Mayor London Breed have agreed to enhance cooperation between China and San Francisco. Wang met the mayor on Thursday in the US west coastal city as the new Consul General, and they discussed deepening cooperation in various sectors, Xinhua news agency reported. He spoke highly of San Francisco's efficient cooperation with the Chinese side in economy, trade, tourism, science, technology, and cultural fields. In his capacity as the new Chinese Consul General, Wang said he will work hard with the San Francisco government led by Breed to bring the pragmatic cooperation to a new level. Breed said China is a major trade partner of San Francisco and the city attaches great importance to developing its friendship and cooperation with China. The San Francisco mayor said she is always ready to keep close communication with the Chinese side, work jointly to deepen their cooperation and achieve win-win results. Washington, Aug 10 : Washington D.C. is bracing for a far-right rally and counter-protests, marking the first anniversary of a white nationalist rally that erupted in deadly violence a year ago. Jason Kessler, who organised last year's deadly "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, received approval for the event in June. On Sunday, hundreds of far-right supporters will gather at Lafayette Park here to press their demand for "white civil rights". Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday said the city was activating its emergency operations centre and would be on high alert for violence during the rally, reports USA Today. "We have people coming to our city for the sole purpose of spewing hate. We denounce hate, we denounce anti-Semitism and we denounce the rhetoric we expect to hear this Sunday," Bowser said. The city's police chief Peter Newsham said guns will be banned from the rallies, even for gun owners with legal permits. "The rules are pretty simple," Newsham said. "Don't hurt anyone and don't break anything. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said it was preparing security options that place the "highest priority" on protecting passengers and Metro workers. In last year's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old legal assistant, was struck and killed when James Alex Fields Jr., a white supremacist, slammed his car into a counter-protest, USA Today reported. Two Virginia state troopers also died when their surveillance helicopter crashed near the protests. Meanwhile, hundreds of counter-protesters, banding together as "Shut it Down D.C.", are planning a "Still Here, Still Strong" rally on Sunday at Freedom Plaza, a few blocks from Lafayette Park. Organisers are calling on all "anti-fascists and people of good conscience" to take the streets in solidarity. The group plans to march to Lexington Park shortly before the far-right rally. New York, Aug 10 : Samsung, that maintained a comfortable lead in the second quarter this year with 20.9 per cent global market share, has now created flutters in Apples camp with unveiling its flagship Galaxy Note 9. According to industry analysts, Note 9 can build a robust road-map for Samsung at a time when the premium segment globally is reporting flat or lower sales amid Chinese players offering flagship devices at a much lower price points in price-sensitive markets like India. The 6.4-inch Note 9, launched here on Thursday, comes with a mammoth 1TB memory, a bigger battery and a Bluetooth-equipped S Pen which is unique to Note devices. "The customers in the premium category are split between Android users (who usually prefer Samsung over any other brand) and the iOS users. Both the customers are distinct and usually like sticking to their choices," Upasana Joshi, Associate Research Manager, Client Devices, IDC India, told IANS. Note 8 was a hit model last year -- post the debacle which Galaxy Note 7 created within the consumer mindset. "Considering the overall feature to price bundling, Note 9 is an upgrade to the previous Galaxy Note 8 series but one will have to wait to see the demand generated from the Indian market," Joshi noted. Samsung led the smartphone market by volume in the second quarter, shipping 71.6 million units while Apple shipped 41.3 million iPhones. "With Apple soon coming with new launches, with three new model line-up, it will certainly change the market dynamics very soon. "One thing is sure that Note 9 has removed the aspect of a 64GB entry variant in the premium segment. Let's see what Apple has to offer in the coming days," said Joshi. The story is no different in India where Samsung bounced back in the second quarter with 29 per cent market share, toppling its Chinese rival Xiaomi which garnered a close 28 per cent, says Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research. Apple had a mere 1 per cent market share during the quarter -- its lowest in recent history -- owing to changes in its distribution strategy and domestic assembling not picking up pace. "Global Premium smartphone market contributes to almost one fifth of the total smartphone market and the Note series is likely to do well in the segment," said Tarun Pathak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research. "S Pen is the core of overall Note series experience and Samsung has done improvement on the same which will drive the overall experience and brings in stickiness for note users," Pathak told IANS. Within the Android user community, there is a specific niche for the Note series who wait up till this time of the year to change or upgrade their phone. Samsung usually launches its premium flagships in two rounds annually -- first half is S series and second half is Note series. "The early launch of Galaxy S9 and S9+ did create a large demand in first half of the year. However, it was unable to match traction of its previously launched model S8 which was a huge success," noted Joshi. According to her, the industry will have to wait and watch for the Galaxy Note 9 to pick up pace with its discounted predecessor currently selling in highly competitive and price-sensitive India market. According to Satish Meena, Senior Forecast Analyst at Forrester Research, Chinese players are bigger threat for Samsung than Apple as the company is losing more customers to Android phones made by Chinese manufacturers than Apple. "The pricing will play a bigger role in deciding whether Samsung wants to fight the Chinese players or continue its focus on the premium customers in India," Meena emphasised. (Nishant Arora is attending the event at Samsung's invitation. He can be contacted at nishant.a@ians.in) New York, Aug 10 : US First Lady Melania Trumps parents became American citizens in a naturalisation ceremony here, completing a year-long immigration process even as President Donald Trump called for new laws to bar Americans from sponsoring parents and other relatives. Michael Wildes, an attorney for Viktor and Amalija Knavs, who had been living in the country as legal permanent residents after leaving their native Slovenia, confirmed that his clients took the oath of citizenship at the ceremony on Thursday, reports The Washington Post. "Citizenship was just awarded," Wildes said. "They have prevailed in a wonderful journey, as millions have." Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for the First Lady, declined to comment on the couple, saying that "they are not part of the administration". Wildes said the Knavses satisfied the requirement that permanent residents hold their green cards for five years before they can apply for US citizenship. However, it remains unclear when the Knavses first moved to the US, but by late 2007, Viktor Knavs was listed in public records as residing at Mar-a-Lago, the President's private club in Palm Beach, Fla. The Knavses received no special treatment because of their relationship with the first family, Wildes told reporters in New York. "The application, the process, the interview was no different than anybody else's, other than the security arrangements to (the) facility today," he said. "This is an example of it going right. They're very excited." Questions about the couple's immigration status intensified last year as the President mounted a push to reduce legal immigration, including provisions to constrict the ability of US citizens to sponsor their parents, adult children and siblings for green cards, The Washington Post reported. In fiscal 2016, the US granted nearly 1.2 million green cards, of which 174,000 went to parents of American citizens, according to the Department of Homeland Security. President Trump has railed against what he calls "chain migration", which he says has resulted in fiercer competition for blue-collar jobs for native-born Americans and greater national security concerns. Melania Trump, formerly a model known as Melania Knauss, arrived in New York in 1996 and began dating Donald Trump in 2000. In 2001, she was granted a green card in the elite EB-1 programme, which was designed for renowned academic researchers, multinational business executives or those in other fields, such as Olympic athletes and Oscar-winning actors, who demonstrated "sustained national and international acclaim". The year she got her legal residency, only five people from Slovenia received green cards under the EB-1 programme, according to the State Department. The Knavses raised Melania in the rural town of Sevnica when Slovenia was a part of communist Yugoslavia. Viktor Knavs, now 74, was a car dealer, while Amalija Knavs, now 73, worked in a textile factory. New Delhi : As India approaches Independence Day on August 15, it is an appropriate time to celebrate the past and Indian democracy. It is also a time to contemplate the future and the democracy that India should become. India has the opportunity, the responsibility, and the capacity to be a global beacon of hope for democracy. There is a critical need for India to become that beacon. Freedom House, the organisation that looks at the quality of freedom in countries around the world, titled its 2018 Annual Report, Democracy in Crisis. The opening sentence of that report reads: "Political rights and civil liberties around the world deteriorated to their lowest point in more than a decade in 2017, extending a period characterised by emboldened autocrats, beleaguered democracies, and the United States withdrawal from its leadership role in the global struggle for human freedom." There is a vacuum. And, India -- which is by-far the world's largest democracy with a democratic system that is still young and maturing -- is positioned to fill that vacuum. India's democracy is far from perfect, however, The Economist acknowledged many of India's deficiencies in an article in its June 2 issue, pointing out numerous attempts recently to "game the system" through "horse trading and bald-faced influence peddling". Combine this with undemocratic actions such as the recent spate of mob lynchings across the country and it becomes obvious that India has much work to do. There are three key areas in which action must be taken for India to be able to shine its light of and for democracy world-wide: Ensure effective civic education for younger students. Pursue an intensified agenda of inclusiveness and economic equality and opportunity for all. Free the free press. Of all the the most critical, in my opinion, for enhancing Indian democracy is universal and effective civic education for youth. I put this at the top of the list because a 2017 Pew Research Center survey of citizens in 38 nations revealed that only eight percent of the Indian respondents were fully committed to a representative democracy. This response ranked at the very bottom for the nations studied. A strong democracy demands a full-throated commitment to democracy and a complete understanding of one's obligations as a citizen. That commitment and those obligations are learned through effective civic education in the younger years. The youth of today are the citizens of tomorrow. There is something that can be learned from the US about the impact of the presence or absence of that education for youth. Historically, for much of the 20th century, the US placed emphasis on civic education for school students in the earlier school years. This emphasis has declined substantially in the 21st century and the focus has been placed on science-technology-engineering-math (STEM) education and teaching to the test on those subjects. This shift and its negative impact on support for American democracy -- especially among youth -- has troubled both citizens and academics alike. That is why nearly 90 percent of poll respondents to a national survey conducted recently by The Democracy Project reacted favorably to a proposal to "ensure that schools make civic education a bigger part of the curriculum". In the US, in March of this year, the National Council of Social Studies issued a positioning statement recommending that effective civic education "should target the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to ensure that young people are truly capable of becoming active and engaged participants in civic life". An educational initiative in India that has this targeted focus is the Children's Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA). Its programmes are designed to "empower children and youth with knowledge, skills and competencies for active citizenship". India's political, business, civic and educational leaders should collaborate in looking at CMCA and similar programmes in India to develop an effective civic education approach to be implemented in classrooms across the country to prepare all its youth to discharge their civic responsibilities. A comprehensive programme of this type could be transformative. The Sage Handbook of Education for Citizenship and Democracy, published in 2008, titled its chapter on India, "Citizenship Education in India: From Colonial Subjugation to Radical Possibilities". If India is to become a global beacon of hope for democracy, imagining will not make it so. But failing to imagine it will make it impossible. (Frank F. Islam is an entrepreneur, civic and thought Leader based in Washington, DC. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at ffislam@verizon.net) Palghar/Mumbai, Aug 10 : The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has nabbed a suspected right-wing Sanatan Sanstha activist and recovered some explosive materials from his home in Palghar early on Friday, an official said. The activist has been identified as Vaibhav Raut. The arrest followed an early morning raid in the Nala Sopara town. The ATS used a dog squad to swoop down on the Hindu group member. Raut was taken from Palghar to Mumbai and will be produced before a court later in the day. The ATS has recovered some bomb-making material, including detonators, explosive powder and incriminating material during the raid at his home and shop in Bhandarali area of Nala Sopara. However, his lawyer Sanjeev Punhalekar told the media that Raut was not a Sanatan Sanstha activist and his name was being linked to defame the organisation. Raut is also said to be linked to the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) College scholars may lose their financial assistance next year as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) significantly cut funding to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The 2019 budget for CHED's Student Financial Assistance Program's (STUFAP) was slashed from this year's P4.7 billion to P1.7 billion. CHED Officer-in-Charge Prospero 'Popoy' De Vera said students enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs) can still have free tuition and other school fees, but will no longer receive additional stipend due to the 64 percent budget cut. The stipend provided by the agency is allotted for everyday expenses of deserving students, including transportation and food allowance, as well as funds for academic requirements. De Vera explained that those enrolled in private universities will also be heavily affected as they may not receive money for tuition or other school fees. "I just told them (Congress) na we cannot keep the promise of CHED anymore kasi ang promise namin dyan, we will help fund them until they graduate," De Vera said. "Don't hold us accountable." (Translation: I just told them (Congress) that we cannot keep CHED's promise anymore because our promise was to help fund them until they graduate.) One program funded by STUFAP is Tulong Dunong, which gives college students in both public and private institutions financial assistance of P6,000 to P12,000 to cover tuition, school feels and other educational expenses, and cost of living allowance. New budgeting system CHED's capital outlay for infrastructure was also drastically cut from P48 million in 2018 to just P6.9 million next year. De Vera added that 35 of the country's state universities did not get infrastructure funding. This means they will have no budget for new buildings and classrooms. House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Karlo Nograles attributed the budget cuts to DBM's new cash-based system which will be implemented next year. The administration plans to shift from a multi-year, obligation-based budget system to a cash-based one which will only allow resources for projects that can be initiated and completed within the year. READ: New system may delay 2019 budget approval House appropriations chief The shift, according to DBM, will ensure that agencies spend their funds within the year and avoid underspending. Lawmakers on Thursday unanimously contested the proposed system. They plan to amend a provision in the 2019 National Expenditure Program to restore obligation-based budgeting. CNN Philippines is trying to reach the DBM but has yet to receive a response. CNN Philippines' Correspondent Joyce Ilas contributed to this report. Attorney Donna Mikel, a partner in the Chattanooga law firm of Burnette, Dobson & Pinchak, has been named as the 2018-2019 chair of the Executive Council of the Tennessee Bar Associations Labor & Employment Section. The section is comprised of 576 labor and employment practitioners in the state of Tennessee and hosts an annual Labor & Employment Forum in Nashville at the TBA headquarters. Ms. Mikel has practiced employment law for 18 years in Chattanooga and has served on the Council for the past four years. New Delhi, Aug 10 : On the last day of Parliament's monsoon session, UPA Chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday led her party MPs in protest against the Modi government over the controversial Rafale deal India has signed with France to buy fighter jets. Congress leaders, flashing placards and demanding a Joint Parliamentary Party Committee (JPC) probe into the alleged scam, assembled near the Gandhi statue in Parliament lawns where they indulged in slogan shouting, denouncing the government. The placards read "Modi corruption exposed", "Rafale cover-up out in the open", "Rafale scam: we demand JPC probe", Modi's Rafale gate" and "No farm loan waiver -- Rs 130,000 crore to Rafale scam". Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Ambika Soni and senior party lawmakers participated in the protest. Congress members later protested in the Rajya Sabha as well disrupting the House briefly. "This is the biggest scam of the world. We demabd the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate the Rafale deal," Azad said in the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel dimissed the allegations, saying the Opposition MPs needed to have substantial proof if they accuse the Prime Minister of graft. Congress MPs had earlier boycotted a breakfast meeting by Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu in protest against the government's move to pass three bills in the House without any discussion. San Francisco, Aug 10 : Unicode Consortium, the organisation that regulates emojis has shortlisted 179 candidates -- 61 characters plus variants -- for release in 2019. Giving a thumbs up to diversity, making up a large chunk of those new emoji are 55 characters to represent couples of different genders and skin tones, The Verge reported on Thursday. The shortlisted emoji includes representation of a person with hearing impariment as well. The list of draft candidates will be reviewed and finalised in the next meeting, this coming September, Unicode Consortium said in a blog post. Additionally, eight "emoji provisional candidates" for 2020 have also been added which includes ninja, military helmet, mammoth, feather, dodo, magic wand, carpentry saw and a screwdriver, it said. Bengaluru, Aug 10 : Tibetans are ready to be a part of China if guaranteed full rights to preserve their culture, the Dalai Lama said on Friday. "Tibetans are not asking for independence. We are okay with remaining with the People's Republic of China, provided we have full rights to preserve our culture," the 83-year-old spiritual leader said at "Thank You Karnataka" event here in the city. Organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the event was a part of "Thank You India - 2018" held by the Tibetan community across India to mark 60 years of its exile in the country. "Several of Chinese citizens practicing Buddhism are keen on Tibetan Buddhism as it is considered scientific," the Nobel laureate said. Born in Taktser hamlet in northeastern Tibet, the Dalai Lama was recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. He fled to India from Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959. China annexed Tibet in 1950, forcing thousands of Tibetans, including monks, to flee the mountain country and settle in India as refugees. Since then, India has been home to over 100,000 Tibetans majorly settled in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh among other states. New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Supreme Court was on Friday informed by the Centre that the convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case cannot be released, holding that setting them free will set a "dangerous precedent". The Tamil Nadu government's proposal to release the convicts is not acceptable to the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre, told a bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi. "Releasing the killers of a former Prime Minister will set a very dangerous precedent. "The case has been decided by various forum of judiciary and executive and the prisoners do not deserve to be set free," said the Centre in its report. Placing before the bench the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, taken on April 18, Anand said the Centre has taken a decision not to release the seven convicts on the state government's proposal. It said that the Central Bureau of Investigation has opposed the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to release the convicts in the "interest of justice". "The case has been reviewed, scrutinised by various forums of judiciary and executive and both the highest judicial and executive forum have evaluated the case and decided the matter. "Releasing the four foreign nationals who had committed the gruesome murder of the former Prime Minister of this country along with 15 others, most of who were police officers, in connivance with three Indian nationals will set a dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future," the Centre's document stated. "The Centre, in pursuance of Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) does not concur to the proposal of Tamil Nadu government for grant of further remission of sentence to the seven convicts," said the union government. The Centre filed the report in compliance of the top court order directing it to take a call on the Tamil Nadu government's proposal within three months. Toronto, Aug 10 : More than 4 in 10 individuals with asthma run the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it harder to breathe, says a new study involving around 4,000 women. The researchers examined risk factors for developing asthma and COPD overlap syndrome, known as ACOS. The findings, published in the journal Annals of the American Thoracic Society, showed that individual risk factors played a more significant role in the development of ACOS than exposure to fine particulate matter, a major air pollutant that because of its microscopic size penetrates deep into the lungs. Women who had smoked more than the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes a day for five years, were much more likely to develop ACOS than those who smoked fewer cigarettes or never smoked. However, ACOS did not affect only those who smoke as the researchers found that 38 per cent of the women who developed ACOS in the study had never smoked. The study also identified obesity, rural residence, lower education levels and unemployment as significant risk factors for ACOS. The authors believe that these factors may result in suboptimal access to care, under-treatment of asthma and poor compliance to medications, all of which lead to more frequent asthma attacks. These attacks in turn may lead to airway remodelling that increases the chances of developing ACOS. "Previous studies have found an alarming rise in ACOS in women in recent years and that the mortality rate from ACOS was higher in women than men," said Teresa To, Professor at University of Toronto in Canada. "We urgently need to identify and quantify risk factors associated with ACOS in women to improve their health and save lives," To added. New Delhi, Aug 10 : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on phone and took stock of the flood situation in the state, besides assuring him of all central help. "Spoke to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the prevailing flood situation in the state. I have assured of all possible assistance from the Centre to the state government," Rajnath Singh tweeted. The Minister said that "relief and rescue operations are going on and the Ministry of Home Affairs is closely monitoring the situation". In Kerala, large areas have been inundated by floodwaters, claiming 27 lives in the last 48 hours, due to heavy rain and landslides. Several Kerala districts have been receiving heavy rains since Wednesday. Till Thursday, 24 people had died, while three more deaths were reported on Friday. Earlier, the Union Minister told the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour that the Central government was aware of the crisis in Kerala and it was ready to provide any assistance needed by the state. The Minister also said that he had sent Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju to Kerala a few days ago to take stock. After the July floods, Rijiju toured the flood-hit districts. The Centre had then approved Rs 80 crore for the state. According to Kerala Power Minister M.M. Mani, who hails from Idukki, so far three sluices of the Idukki dam had been opened till Friday. The Army is involved in rescue and relief as well as damage-repair exercises in Idukki, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. In a statement, the Home Ministry on Thursday said it was sending four National Disaster Response Force teams to Kerala and that an inter-ministerial Central team was also visiting the flood-affected areas. San Francisco, Aug 10 : Gab, a US-based social network of choice for the far right, is facing suspension of hosting services from Microsoft over two anti-Semitic posts, the media reported. "Gab's hosting provider, Microsoft Azure, has given us 48 hours to take action on two posts, or they will pull our service and Gab will go down for weeks/months," Gab Founder Andrew Torba said in a post on Thursday. According to an email, attached by Torba, the posts violate Microsoft policy. The named posts were written by Patrick Little, a Senate candidate who was ejected from a GOP convention in May for anti-Semitic views, The Verge reported. While pledging to remove the posts, Little described the complaint as "a violation of our rights as Americans." After receiving a third-party complaint about the content, Microsoft concluded that the posts were in violation of Azure's acceptable use policy. "We believe we have an important responsibility to ensure that our services are not abused by people and groups seeking to incite violence," a Microsoft spokesperson was quoted as saying. Berlin, Aug 10 : Ryanair pilots went on a 24-hour strike on Friday in several European countries in protest against the stagnation of negotiations on wages and working condition, forcing the Irish low-cost airline to cancel 400 flights on Friday affecting thousands of people. The walk-out involved staff in Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands. The action was the largest in a series of strikes held earlier, the BBC reported. The cancelled flights were from the 2,400 scheduled flights. Around 55,000 passengers across Europe were expected to be affected by the strike, almost 42,000 of them in Germany, where 250 flights were reported to be hit. "Despite the regrettable and unjustified strike action taking place in 5 of our 37 markets on Friday, over 2,000 flights (85 per cent) of the schedule will operate as normal", a Ryanair statement said. Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost carrier, averted widespread strikes before Christmas by agreeing to recognize unions for the first time in its 30-year history. But there have been protests ever since over the negotiation of collective labour agreements. About 300 Ryanair flights were cancelled in July when cabin crews in Belgium, Portugal and Spain went on strike for 48 hours. Kenny Jacobs, the chief marketing officer at Ryanair, said earlier that the airline was "not prepared to concede to unreasonable demands that will compromise either our low fares or our highly efficient model". Shares in Ryanair dipped 1 per cent on Friday. The stock was down roughly 30 per cent from a record high set in 2017. New Delhi : Title: Illiberal India - Gauri Lankesh and the Age of Unreason; Author: Chidanand Rajghatta; Publisher: Context by Westland; Pages: 242; Price: Rs 499 The brutal murder of veteran journalist-cum-activist Gauri Lankesh at her home in Bengaluru, 11 months ago on September 5, 2017, shocked the nation and stirred the people's conscience on the safety of men and women of ideas in the country. Gauri, 55, was Editor of "Gauri Lankesh Patrike", a Kannada weekly tabloid launched by her late father and firebrand writer P. Lankesh in the 1980s in Bengaluru. "Gauri took on directly and daringly all issues that disproportionately put women, dalits and minorities under pressure and in the crosshairs of upper caste orthodoxy," say noted foreign correspondent and Gauri's former husband Chidanand Rajghatta, aiming to provide an insight into her heart and mind. Gauri's murder evoked a fast spreading sense of sadness and anger across the country. Sporting headbands that read "I am Gauri", hundreds of college students -- including many who did not know Gauri or had read her prolific writings -- joined activists, journalists and liberals in staging protest demonstrations, seeking justice for her by bringing the suspected killers to book. Though they had lived as a couple for only five years (1985-90) in Bengaluru and New Delhi, Rajghatta recalls that Gauri was not so much of a public persona than a person with a quicksilver temper who took up the struggle in her socio-politico life as a liberal woman and a journalist-activist. In spite of divorcing in 1990 due to circumstances filled with "youthful carelessness" as he describes it in the book, they both remained friends for life. Gauri inherited the magazine after the death of her father in 2000 and ran it with single-minded fastidiousness. According to Rajghatta, for her there were no half-measures and ambiguities, no 'get both sides' or 'balancing of views' in the traditional journalism matrix. "To those critics (yes, me too) who argued that her paper and her stance, lacked nuance in reporting an incredibly complex country and society, she'd snap, 'Save that homily for journalism schools'..." writes Chidanand. To many, her aim was to mould opinion against the rising tide of unreason which was engulfing the nation on many aspects. A section of the hindutva followers considered Gauri to be "anti-right wing, radical and a Maoist sympathiser". But many would extoll her for raising her voice for the marginalised and in support of dalit and minority rights. She was in favour of rehabilitating Maoists. The author admits that he was not much aware of Gauri's recent life and activities. On being prodded to write a book by publishers Rajghatta notes: "Although we remained in touch and spoke often or more frequently than divorced couples do, I did not have a complete awareness of her recent life. I was full of self-doubt, particularly after seeing the outpouring of emotions after her death." In the political backdrop of the late 1970s when he met Gauri and till recent years, Rajghatta portrays an account of his relationship with her, what journalism meant to her and the duo's disagreements over several aspects of politics, society and life at large. Having met Gauri during under-graduation at National College in Bengaluru, where she studied journalism and history, Chidanand recounts their conversations as students, then as a couple and fellow journalists who loved a good argument on political, ideological and religious issues. While reminiscing about his many conversations with Gauri -- mostly through phone calls and e-mails -- the journalist-writer delves into the history of the times they lived through post India's Emergency (1975-77) till before her death. The book features political past of not only Karnataka, from where they hailed, but also India and the thoughts and lives of their contemporaries and like-minded people, like Kannada rationalist M.M. Kalburgi, who was shot dead in August 2015 by unidentified men at his house in Karnataka's Dharwad city. The author explains why he chose "Illiberal India" for the title of the book pointing to instances of intolerance manifesting in the country, with vigilantes killing people for what they eat or speak. Gauri's talks on Veerashaivas and Lingayats, sects who worship Hindu god Shiva and constitute the largest community in the southern state, and her opposition to the emergence of right-wing fundamentalism in Karnataka earned her more foes, the author notes. While Lingayats, followers of the 12th century social reformer Basava, oppose idol worship and the caste structure, Veerashaivas follow the Hindu "peethas" (religious centres), Vedic texts and caste systems prescribed in them. "A riled-up conservative gathering had shouted her down during a speech she was delivering on Lingayatism...which, she and few scholars argued, was a separate religion," Rajghatta writes. Recalling a conversation Gauri had with him on what Kalburgi, who also wrote on Lingayats being separate from Hindus, once told her, the author writes: "'What you said is correct, don't be afraid to voice your ideas.' 'He encouraged me', Gauri would write later. What she didn't know at that time was that voicing their ideas would cost them both their lives," Rajghatta said. "The fundamental message in Gauri's life was that any disagreement should be agreeable; it is not worth taking anyone's life over a difference of opinion, no matter how strongly held," Rajghatta writes. (Bhavana Akella can be contacted at bhavana.a@ians.in) Chandigarh, Aug 10 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has suggested that people holding bank lockers should mandatorily declare their valuable assets. Drawing the attention of the union government to the issue of liability for the loss of valuable items deposited in bank lockers, Khattar on Friday said that if the valuables are disclosed, the banks can easily buy a group insurance policy for the hirers of lockers. In a letter written to the Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, the Chief Minister said that if, for some reasons, this is considered impractical, customers can at least be given a choice to disclose. "Even if the banks do not get the lockers of the subset of willing customers insured, this would help the bank and the government in quickly dealing with the claims, should any eventuality arise. "This would be a big step forward since the Reserve Bank of India has not yet framed any parameters for assessing such losses. Moreover, this would be in consistent with Government of India's laudable drive to curb black money and promoting transparency in financial transaction," Khattar said in his letter. Highlighting the need for putting in place a policy in this regard, the Chief Minister said people have immense faith in the public sector banks. "They (people) keep their valuables in the lockers as they deem it a safe and secure place. Yet, the harsh fact is that the banks are not liable for the loss of valuables even when caused by a natural disaster or a criminal act. The legal reason behind this is said to be the non-disclosure clause in the locker agreement which provides that the hirer need not disclose the contents of the valuable items put in the locker," he added. The robbery in the Punjab National Bank at Gohana town near Panipat in October 2014 had highlighted the need for putting in place a policy framework in this regard, he said. Tennessee carried out its first execution sine 2009 on Thursday night. Billy Ray Irick died by lethal injection for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in 1985. His last meal was a burger combo. The execution came after a final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was turned down. Attorney General Herbert Slattery said, The death penalty is constitutional and it is the law of the State of Tennessee. It has taken decades and multiple court hearings, but justice was finally served for the murder and aggravated rape of 7-year-old Paula Dyer. Justice was delayed too long for this little girl and her family. I hope tonights lawful execution in some way eases the heartache Paulas family has lived with and brings a degree of closure to a chapter of their lives that has been indescribably difficult. Facts and Procedural History Billy Ray Irick was convicted by a Knox County jury in 1986 of the first-degree murder and aggravated rape of 7-year-old Paula Dyer while she had been entrusted to his care. The jury sentenced Irick to death, and the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed. He then sought post-conviction relief, which was denied in state court. Additionally, his application for federal habeas relief was denied by the U.S. District Court, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed. In 2010, the Tennessee Supreme Court ordered Iricks sentence be carried out on Dec. 7, 2010. The Court later vacated its order after Irick intervened in a state-court action filed by another death-row inmate challenging the constitutionality of Tennessees lethal injection three-drug protocol. That challenge failed in the trial court, and the Tennessee Court of Appeals affirmed. In Sept. 2013, the TN Dept. of Correction replaced the three-drug protocol with a single-drug protocol. In Oct. 2013, the Tennessee Supreme Court set an execution date of Jan. 15, 2014. The state court then stayed the execution pending disposition of another state action in which 31 death row inmates challenged the single-drug protocol. That challenge failed in the trial court. On appeal, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled the States method of execution did not violate the Eighth Amendment and was not unlawful. Irick then petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court, and his petition was denied. The Tennessee Supreme Court set the execution date for Aug. 9, 2018. In Feb. 2018, Irick and 32 inmates filed a state-court action challenging the midazolam-based three-drug protocol. The trial court dismissed the challenge. Irick appealed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and simultaneously asked the Tennessee Supreme Court to stay his execution pending the disposition of the appeal. The Tennessee Supreme Court denied the motion. Irick then appealed to the U.S. District Court, and his petition was denied. Irick also filed a motion for stay with the U.S. Supreme Court; the Court denied the stay. New Delhi, Aug 10 : Ahead of the first India Indonesia Interfaith Dialogue (IIID) to be held in the Southeast Asian nation in October, Indonesian Ambassador to India Sidharto R. Suryodipuro said that both countries can learn about inter-religious harmony from each other. "Both of us have something to share in terms of how we manage pluralism while we strengthen tolerance, inter-religious harmony," Suryodipuro said in response to a question by IANS during an interaction with a group of journalists here organised by the Indian Association of Foreign Affairs Correspondents. "Both India and Indonesia are countries that are quite successful in managing pluralism in a democratic setting," he said. Indonesia is home to the world's largest Muslim population. The first IIID will be held from October 3 to 5 in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta. Observing that both Indonesia and India have a complex ethnic make-up, Suryodipuro said: "We also can learn from each other on what we are doing to strengthen this." He was also of view that both countries can also have a message that can be sent to the international community on how to manage pluralism and tolerance. "Out of this dialogue, we can also have something concrete come out in terms of what we should be doing internally, what we should be doing with our youth and others," he said. The Ambassador said that in Indonesia itself, there are over a dozen or more such kind of dialogues. "And we have been undertaking it since the early 2000s," he said. Suryodipuro also said that Indonesia and India are enjoying one of the best periods of bilateral ties in 70 years of their diplomatic relationship. Bilateral trade stood at $20 billion last year, the highest ever. The Ambassador said that while half a million Indians visited Indonesia last year, 40,000 Indonesians visited India. He also said that both India and Indonesia share the same view on the Indo-Pacific regional architecture and recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Track I annual inter-governmental security forum organised by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), think tank in Singapore in June. In his speech, Modi highlighted the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region in the Indo-Pacific region. Indonesia is the largest country in the 10-nation regional bloc. In terms of defence cooperation, Suryodipuro said that both Indonesia and India are in the process of laying down the groundwork. "For example, we have been holding the coordinated patrol between Andamans and North Sumatra for over a decade," he said. "But that had not expanded. Now, it is starting to expand into naval exercises as well as the other services of the armed forces." The Ambassador said that both sides are looking at other than exercises, how they can exchange information better, how the members of the respective services can be sent for training in each other's countries. Also underlining the importance of the soft side in the bilateral relationship, he identified things like "connectivity, infrastructure, trade, people-to-people connectivity and more student exchanges." New Delhi, Aug 10 : The general anguish over vandalism by Kanwarias reached the Supreme Court on Friday as it expressed serious concern over the increasing incidents of lawlessness and vandalism by sectional and religious groups. As a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud expressed concern over the issue, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal referred to the violent acts by the Kanwarias over the last two days, including the incidents of attacking and over-turning of vehicles. Venugopal said every now and then something was happening and suggested that rampant vandalism cannot be curbed unless the District Superintendent of Police (SP) was made personally responsible and accountable to deal with such instances of deliberate destruction and damage to public or private property. As Venugopal mentioned the Kanwaria incidents, Justice Chandrachud pointed that the national highway connecting Allahabad with Varanasi is blocked due to these Shiva devotees. Kanwarias are Hindu devotees who embark on an annual pilgrimage to collect water from the river Ganga and transport it to various temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, for his bath, during the Shravan month of the Hindu calendar. Sharing the concern, Chief Justice said that all those who vandalise others properties why don't they burn their own houses. "You burn your own house," CJI Misra said. Referring to the top court's 2009 directions to make the leaders of agitation accountable for any damage inflicted to public property in the course of agitation, Chief Justice Misra said that they have issued direction to curb and deal with the incidents of lynching by the vigilante groups and will do so in dealing with acts of vandalism by anyone. The court said that it would put out similar guidelines to curb and control the vandalism by mobs or by whatever label they are known. Reserving the verdict, the court asked the petitioner Kodungallour Film Society and the Attorney General to give suggestion for guidelines. Among the incidents mentioned in the court were -- the Maratha agitation for quota in Mumbai; the violence in protest by SC/ST groups following top court judgment diluting the provision of mandatory arrest under the The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act; and the agitation by the Karni Sena at the time of the release of the film "Padmavaat". "In India every week there is a major happening," the Attorney General regretted that nothing was happening and no action was being taken against the perpetrators of such incidents. On the "Padmavaat" row, the Attorney General without naming the Karni Sena that had led the agitation, said: "They openly threatened to cut the nose of lead actress." He asked if any civilised society would tolerate such a thing. No action has been taken against the person who handed down such a threat, he added. Buttressing his suggestion that SPs be made responsible and accountable to act in all such cases, Venugopal also pointed out that in Delhi ever since the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was given the responsibility to check the Kanwarias, the incidents of vandalism have come down considerably. Appearing for the petitioner, advocate P.V. Dinesh said that "as nothing was happening it gives the impression as if there is a complete anarchy. Common man says there is no law and order within the country". He also said that what was happening projected India poorly overseas and urged the court to take some action, enforce some accountability on such religious groups or whosoever they may be. Bengaluru, Aug 10 : The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Friday regretted blaming former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 and thanked him for sheltering thousands of exiled Tibetans after they fled from their motherland. "My statements (on Nehru) have created a controversy. I apologise if I said something wrong," the 83-year-old Nobel laureate told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. Speaking to the students at the Goa Institute of Management at Sanquelim in north Goa on August 8, the Dalai Lama had said: "Mahatma Gandhi wanted to give the prime ministership to (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah. But Nehru refused. He was self-centred. He said, 'I wanted to be Prime Minister'. India and Pakistan would have been united (had Jinnah been made Prime Minister at the time)". The Dalai Lama, however, apologised for the remarks on Friday and thanked Nehru for supporting the Tibetans' cause when thousands of them, including monks, fled their motherland after China annexed the mountain country in 1950. "I had a close relationship with Nehru, who suggested to have separate schools to preserve the Tibetan thought. He (Nehru) supported the Tibetans' cause," the 14th Dalai Lama said. He was addressing "Thank You Karnataka" event here, a part of "Thank You India - 2018", organised by the Central Tibetan Administration to mark its community's 60 years of exile in the country. The Dalai Lama, who was recognised at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso, fled to India from Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959. Since then, India has been home to over 100,000 Tibetans majorly settled in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh among other states. The Tibetans, who were demoralised after turning into refugees in India, grew confident over the years with the help they got from the country to make their living, the Dalai Lama said. Eventually, Tibetans found support from other countries like the US, Canada and others, he added. New Delhi, Aug 10 : India expects to save up to Rs 12,000 crore in foreign exchange over the next four years through blending ethanol in petrol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday. Addressing an event here to mark World Biofuel Day, Modi said the country saved Rs 4,000 crore worth of foreign exchange last year by ethanol blending which touched a record 141 crore litres in the last fiscal. "India has saved forex worth Rs 4,000 crore in the last financial year due to savings from ethanol blending programme. The government aims to increase these savings to Rs 12,000 crore per annum over the next four years," he sai". "Biofuel" can help reduce import dependency on crude oil. It can contribute to a cleaner environment, generate additional income for farmers and create rural employment. Biofuels have synergies with various initiatives, including raising farmers incomes and the Swachh Bharat programme. Noting that India aims to produce around 450 crore litres of ethanol in the coming four years, the Prime Minister pointed to the other benefits of biofuel production. "We also aim for an earning of Rs 20,000 crore solely through conversion of sugarcane to ethanol. This amount will aid the income of farmers. The government is also working to raise our capacity to convert agrarian produce such as potato and agrarian waste to ethanol," he said. The government has targeted to increase ethanol blending in petrol to 10 per cent by 2022 and to 20 per cent by 2030. It is in this direction that the government had approved the National Policy on Biofuels in June plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore to build 12 biofuel refineries, Modi said. "These refineries would provide around 1,500 jobs each and 1.5 lakhs jobs in all," he said. Addressing the gathering earlier, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said ethanol blending in petrol increased from 38 crore litres in the ethanol supply year 2013-14 to an estimated 141 crore litres in 2017-18. Bhubaneswar, Aug 10 : The Odisha government on Friday signed a subsidiary agreement for the implementation of a project on climate change for massive groundwater recharge. The Department of Water Resources signed the agreement with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. The $166.30 million (approximately Rs 1,115 crore)-project will be implemented in 15 districts across the state in five years. The South Korea-based Green Climate Fund will provide $34.36 million (approximately Rs 232 crore) to the state government as financial assistance through NABARD. The Chief Minister said that the state government will arrange for the remaining amount through convergence funding. He said that this will be the country's first project from the Green Climate Fund. To address the adverse impact of climate change on the water sector, the state government had submitted a proposal to Green Climate Fund. Under the project, 10,000 ponds will be renovated and the recharge structure will be constructed to conserve surplus rainwater. "Apart from renovation and improvement of 10,000 ponds, the project envisages shafts to recharge water to the aquifers, development of 1,000 deep bore wells with solar pumping based micro irrigation and capacity building of farmers," said the Chief Minister. New Delhi, Aug 10 : India and Switzerland discussed on Friday various aspects of bilateral ties, including the issue of curbing black money, as well as regional and multilateral issues during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry, the two ministers took stock of the progress made in key areas of interest such as trade and investment, education, information technology and tourism. Bilateral trade between India and Switzerland stood at $20 billion in the last financial year. "Closer cooperation in the areas of skill development, renewable energy, traditional Indian medicine and climate change has the potential of mutual benefit and positive contribution at the global level," the statement said. Following on the Indian government's drive to curb black money, the ministers discussed the activation of automatic exchange of information. India's negotiations with the EU for a free trade agreement also came up in the discussion. "A review was undertaken on the progress of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which India and the European Free Trade Area countries are currently negotiating," according to the statement. "The two ministers reiterated their strong commitment to early finalization of the agreement while showing flexibility on each other's concerns." Both sides also had detailed talks on Ayurveda, which Switzerland recognizes as a system of medicine. "The aspect of enhanced people to people interactions through facilitation of tourist and business visas was also discussed at length," the statement said. Chandigarh, Aug 10 : Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have revived a project to install a ropeway to connect Sri Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of the Khalsa in Rupnagar district, to the Naina Devi temple in the hill state, a Punjab Minister said on Friday. The project will not only boost tourism in both the states, but will also be an epitome of strengthened Hindu-Sikh bonds, Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said after a meeting earlier with Himachal Additional Chief Secretary (Culture and Tourism) Ram Subhag Singh here. The meeting was held here to revive the project shelved in 2014. Ram Subhag Singh said that the project was cleared on Thursday by the Himachal Cabinet. Sidhu said that the over 3.5-km ropeway project would tentatively cost Rs 200 crore. "The safety of pilgrims will get top priority and services of a topnotch company will be hired with an accident-free record in view of this aspect," Sidhu said. The Minister clarified that all necessary clearances for the project would be obtained and no hindrances allowed to come in its way this time. The Khalsa Panth was founded by tenth Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, at Gurdwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, 85 km from here, on April 13, 1699. The Naina Devi shrine is located in Bilaspur district of Himachal and is visited by lakhs of devotees from different religions. New Delhi, Aug 10 : In the first year of operations, Peru has exported avocados worth over $70,000 to India, which is about 11 per cent of the fruit's total export, as per a statement from Peruvian Embassy. According to the embassy, the total exports of avocados to India touched $650,000 in 2017-18 -- a year-on-year jump of 70.33 per cent while the Peruvian fruit's share was 10.8 per cent. Peruvian avocados began entering the Indian market from September 2017 by air and the first maritime container arrived at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva port in July this year. It said the country's avocados export to India in 2018-19 would cross $200,000. The Embassy cited data available with India's Commerce Ministry to show that total avocados import by India was worth USD 140,000 in 2015-16 and worth $380,000 in 2016-17. In 2017-18, it increased by 70.33 per cent to $650,000. Luis Cabello, Commercial and Economic Counsellor of Peru in India, said selling Peruvian avocados in Indian supermarkets was difficult but the promotion of the fruit had borne fruit. "Indian market is quickly turning into a conscious healthy consumer and we will ensure that more of our superfoods continue to enter the market," said a statement quoting Cabello. Avocados production in Peru in 2017 grew 27 per cent with respect to 2016, making the country the world's second largest producer. Singapore, Aug 10 : An Indian-origin lawyer was on Friday fined 1,600 Singapore dollars and banned from driving for a year after he pleaded guilty to a drunk driving charge. Jeyendran Jeyapal, 39, a deputy senior state counsel, was found with 1.37 times the prescribed limit of alcohol while driving. He admitted having an alcoholic cocktail at a pub before heading home on February 11. In submitting his own mitigation plea, Jeyendran said it was his first offence and asked for the minimum punishment. He added that he was cooperative with police officers. Jeyapal was stopped by a traffic police officer at a road block along Second Hospital Avenue at around 5 a.m. The officer noticed that he had "alcoholic breath". He later failed a breathalyser test and was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. The man said he was celebrating a friend's birthday and took the alcohol offered by the latter as he did not want to disappoint him. District Judge Victor Yeo said that he acknowledged that Jeyendran had no other aggravating factors, such as speeding or reckless driving, nor did he cause any damage to property or injure anyone. So he was only fined along with driving ban for a year. For his first drink driving offence, Jeyendran could have been jailed for up to six months or fined between 1,000 and $5,000 Singapore dollars. Ottawa, Aug 10 : At least four people were killed in a shooting on Friday in the Canadian city of Fredericton, police said. The incident took place in the capital of New Brunswick. Police officials advised residents of the area to "stay in their homes with doors locked at this time for their safety", the BBC reported. "The public should avoid the area. We will provide more details as soon as we can," police tweeted. A local TV reporter said he heard four gunshots. Video footage of the scene was posted on Twitter, showing emergency vehicles outside a house. New Delhi, Aug 10 : India and Nepal have agreed to enhance cooperation and coordination between their border guarding forces and emphasised timely sharing of information between their forces on trans-border crime and criminal activities, a statement from Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) said on Friday. The decision was taken at a three-day 3rd India-Nepal Coordination meeting that began on August 8. The Indian delegation was led by SSB Director General Rajni Kant Mishra and a seven-member Nepalese team was headed by Shailendra Khanal, Inspector General of Nepal Armed Police Force. The meeting was held at the south Delhi-based headquarters of the SSB -- the 94,000-strong paramilitary force mandated to guard 1,751 km India-Nepal and 699 km India-Bhutan borders. "The main aim of the meeting was to enhance mutual cooperation and coordination between the border guarding forces. Both sides discussed various issues covering prevailing border situation, trans-border crimes, human trafficking for maintaining sanctity and security of the international border," said the statement. Both sides agreed to continue holding regular coordination meetings at all levels, it said. "The two forces discussed security scenario along the border and emphasized timely sharing of information between them on trans-border crime and criminal activities," said the statement. The Nepalese delegation was on official visit from August 7 to 10. On the first day, the Nepalese delegation met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and discussed joint patrolling, common training of armed forces' officers and regular border meetings. Appreciating the coordination between India and Nepal, the visiting delegation emphasised the need for periodic coordination meetings and common training courses for armed police officers of the two countries. New Delhi, Aug 10 : The CPI on Friday urged the union government to declare Kerala floods as a "national calamity" and enlist the services of the armed forces for rescue and relief operations. "This is a national tragedy. I request the government to proclaim it as a national tragedy and rush assistance to the people of Kerala immediately," Binoy Viswam, a Communist Party of India leader from Kerala said while raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha. In Kerala, floodwaters have inundated large areas, claiming 27 lives in the last 48 hours, due to heavy rains and landslides. Several Kerala districts have been receiving heavy rains since Wednesday. Till Thursday, 24 people had died, while three more deaths were reported on Friday. He said that life has come to a standstill in six Kerala districts. "The people of Kerala are suffering a lot. This is the third time the small state is facing a serious situation because of floods. My request is that the central government should ask the Indian Air Force, the Navy and the Army to undertake relief and rescue work," he said. Viswam said that though the state government was trying to face the situation by all means, it alone cannot face the situation. "So, I request the the central government to come and support Kerala and its people. In times of national tragedy, we, the people of Kerala, stretch our hands (for help) to the whole nation. Please come and support the people of Kerala," the CPI leader said. New Delhi, Aug 10 : Union Home Minister Rajanth Singh will visit flood-affected areas in Kerala on Sunday, a Ministry statement said on Friday. At least 27 people have died in the state due to incessant rain and landslides in the last 48 hours. The Minister's visit follows a "crisis-like" situation in the state where large areas have been inundated by floodwaters landslides have blocked vital roads. Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on phone and took stock of the situation in the state, besides assuring him of all Central help. Several Kerala districts have been receiving heavy rains since Wednesday. New Delhi, Aug 10 : Lok Sabha, which was adjourned sine die on Friday, passed 21 Bills in its 17 sittings during the monsoon session. The government introduced 22 bills in the House as members sat over 20 hours beyond the scheduled time to make up for over eight hours lost in disruptions. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who adjourned the House sine die at the conclusion of monsoon session, expressed her happiness. "I have several times laid stress on smooth conduct of the House which is essential to maintain the credibility of Parliament," she said. The house had 17 sittings which lasted 112 hours. It took up the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government on July 20 in which 51 members took part. Mahajan said the government introduced 22 Bills and 21 were passed. The significant legislation was on granting constitutional status to National Commission of Backward Classes. Another measure involved restoring the immediate arrest provision in the SC/ST Act. Yet another Bill paved the way to enable the overseas electors to appoint proxies to cast their votes in the elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The other important bills passed by the House include the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill, Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill and Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill. The House also discussed the supplementary demands for grants (general) and demands for excess grants (general) for 2015-16 and the approved the relevant appropriation bills. Seventy-five starred questions were replied in the House and replies of 285 others laid on the table of the House . Answers were also placed of 4,140 unstarred questions. Members raised 534 issues of public importance and 326 matters were raised under Rule 377, under which an issue which is not a point of order is raised and requires a written notice by the member. The House took up a short duration discussion on the situation in different parts of the country due to rains and drought. "The House lost 8 hours and 26 minutes due to disruptions, but the members sat for 20 hours and 43 minutes beyond the scheduled time," Mahajan said. She said the session was more productive and satisfactory compared to the past two other productive sessions -- the second part of Budget session 2017 and the last monsoon session. The Speaker extended her good wishes for the Independence Day. The monsoon session had commenced on July 18. Ghazni (Afghanistan), Aug 10 : At least 16 people were killed as the Taliban launched a brazen attack on the strategic Afghan city of Ghazni in the early hours of Friday, seizing a number of key buildings and trading fire with security forces. Afghan soldiers fought back as the heavily-armed militants converged from four sides of the city. Ghazni public health director Zahir Shah Nikmall confirmed the toll and said at least 40 people were injured, the majority of them Afghan security forces, CNN reported. The clashes, according to provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal, erupted after hundreds of Taliban insurgents stormed important government entities including National Directorate for Security (Afghanistan's Inteligence Agency) and provincial governor's office. The militants later retreated from their positions and operations were underway to wipe out militants from in and around the city, said Mashal. Ghazni, the capital of the province of the same name, is less than 100 miles to the south of Kabul. It lies on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, an important artery connecting the capital to the country's southern provinces and some of its western ones. American forces responded with attack helicopters and a drone strike, according to US Forces Afghanistan spokesman Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that hundreds of fighters armed with heavy and light weapons entered Ghazni city around 1 a.m., capturing a number of strategic sites within the city and killing more than 140 Afghan soldiers. However, the US disputed that figure, saying initial reports indicated there were "minimal Afghan security force casualties". Afghanistan called the attack a "failed attempt" to seize territory "while creating strategically inconsequential headlines". The Ghazni attack was the second assault on an Afghan city this year. In May, insurgents overran the western city of Farah, but they left a day later amid counterattacks from the Afghan government and American airstrikes. Friday's assault could imperil any chances of a potential ceasefire between the government and Taliban for the Eid ul-Adha festival in less than two weeks time. Earlier, seven people were killed in Kabul in a suicide attack on a ministry in June, and a further 14 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport in July. The ongoing violence came amid the release of a UN report stating the number of Afghan civilians killed in the first six months of this year has reached a record high. New Delhi, Aug 10 : In a significant move, the Defence Ministry and the Indian Army have standardised rules for the closure of roads in cantonment areas across the country without compromising on the security needs of the Army. An army spokesperson said the standardised protocol was in conformity with the provisions of the Cantonments Act, 2006. "Emergent security needs of the Army have been duly taken cognisance of while devising the standard protocol to enable closure of roads in such circumstances," the spokesperson said. The move comes against the backdrop of residents in military cantonment areas challenging the military authority and the powers of Cantonment Boards on their decisions to close roads running through Army areas whenever the military needed to do so. The issue was raised in a meeting by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with MPs and elected Vice Presidents of the 62 Cantonment Boards on May 4 this year. It began with Secunderabad Cantonment Board, where the Local Military Authority (LMA) shut multiple roads used by civilians residing in colonies around the cantonment, causing an outrage. Civilians in other Cantt areas also complained about the closure of roads and additional checks being imposed on entry into cantonments. The Defence Ministry in May sought details from each Cantonment Board -- a civic administration body that comes under the control of the Defence Ministry. It comprises elected members besides ex-officio and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006. This led to a review by the Defence Minister who ordered opening of 85 roads closed by the army in various cantt areas. Based on the feedback received through the meeting, Sitharaman held several rounds of discussions on the issue of closure of roads in cantonments. Detailed reviews were taken by the minister with officers of the ministry, Army Headquarters including Chief of the Army Staff and the Defence Estates Organisation. As such, the spokesperson, said, it was decided that "in case of roads, which the Local Military Authorities consider necessary for reasons to be provided, the process of closure of roads may be initiated. "Due process as laid down under Cantonment Act, 2006 and the orders issued by the Ministry dated May 28, 2018 will be followed." Munnar (Kerala), Aug 10 : Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Friday said that nearly 60 tourists, including foreigners, stranded at a resort near here are safe. In his Facebook post, Surendran said that 24 foreigners and 33 domestic tourists were holed up at the resort after the area was cut off from the outside world following landslides in the wake of heavy rains in the past two days. "We have sought the help of the Army and other agencies (for evacuation). Of these tourists, four Russians and an American couple expressed the desire to move out and were evacuated from a different route. It was a bit of an exercise. "Others present there said that they are prepared to wait as rescue agencies have undertaken construction of a motorable road for vehicles to ferry them out," the Minister said. The state government has advised tourists not to proceed to Idukki due to heavy rains. New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday said it had deployed five An-32 transport aircraft, two Mi-17 V5 helicopters and an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) for rescue and relief operations in the rain-devastated parts of Kerala. Five An-32 transport aircraft were deployed to transport National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and their equipment from Arakkonam to Calicut, an IAF spokesperson said. Two NDRF teams from Vijaywada and two teams of Army Engineering Group from Bangalore and Hyderabad have been transported to Calicut, the spokesperson said. He said two Mi-17 V5 were pressed into service for distribution of relief material and winching operations. On Thursday, three people were winched to safety by IAF helicopters and 300 kg of relief material was dropped for flood affected people. These helicopters continue to be deployed for relief and rescue operations even now and are being tasked as requested by the state administration. Many parts of northern Kerala are completely isolated by landslides and floods due to heavy rains. The state government had requested IAF to provide urgent assistance in Wayanad for providing relief to the affected people. The IAF responded to the crisis, extending all possible assistance to the people affected by landslides and floods in Kerala through its Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) missions. The IAF will continue its assistance till the situation is normalized, the spokesperson said. New Delhi, Aug 10 : A day after announcing that the Delhi government will adopt the Centre's scheme on minimum wages, Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday that the central scheme is a replica of Delhi's scheme whose notification was quashed by the High Court. "We launched the scheme in March. In April, the Centre launched its own minimum wages scheme based exactly on the formula we used," Rai said on the last day of the Assembly monsoon session. He said that implementation of the Delhi government's scheme has been delayed not just due to the court order but it was a result of a conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its "anti-labour thinking". "While our notification on the minimum wages was called completely flawed by the High Court, the Centre's scheme has elicited no objections. "By incessantly obstructing our scheme's implementation, the Centre delayed the welfare of the poor labourers. This is just a conspiracy by the BJP, an anti-labour party, to give boost to only industrialization and ignore labourers," the Aam Aadmi Party leader said. He said that the Arvind Kejriwal government is discussing a proposal to stop exploitation of contractual/outsourced labourers through government intervention. On Thursday, Rai met trade union leaders and announced that the Delhi government will adopt the Centre's scheme on minimum wages to ensure higher wages than what the Delhi government's scheme would have provided. "Under the central scheme, skilled workers will get approximately Rs 17,400 per month as against Rs 16,800 under the Delhi government scheme," the Minister had said. Unskilled workers will get Rs 14,300 compared with Rs 13,800 under the Delhi government's scheme. The Delhi High Court on August 4 had struck down the government's March notification on higher minimum wages for workers in Delhi as "unconstitutional". The High Court order had come on several PILs, including one filed by Social Jurist, a civil rights group, which pleaded that the hike in wages was unreasonably low and as such violated the workers' fundamental right to life. New Delhi, Aug 10 : On the last day of Parliament's monsoon session, UPA Chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday led her party MPs and other Opposition leaders in their protest against the Narendra Modi government on the controversial Rafale deal, and demanded a JPC probe into it. Holding placards, the Congress leaders assembled near the Gandhi statue in Parliament lawns where they shouted slogans denouncing the government and demanding a JPC probe into the fighter jet deal. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, senior leader Ambika Soni and party lawmakers participated in the protest. Among the other parties which also joined the protest included Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Earlier, the Congress members in the Lok Sabha raised slogans during the Zero Hour demanding a JPC probe into the Rafale deal and entered the well of the House. Later, they staged a walkout. The Congress MPs also protested in the Rajya Sabha, disrupting the House proceedings briefly. "This is the biggest scam of the world. We demand formation of a JPC to investigate the deal," Azad said in the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel, however, dimissed the allegations, saying the opposition MPs need to have substantial proof if they accuse the Prime Minister of graft. Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy also backed Congress' demand for a JPC probe into Rafale deal. "The demand raised by Congress MP Sunil Jakhar for a JPC probe into the purchase of Rafale jets has merits. This is not our party's demand. But since the government has a majority, they should have the courage and accept the demand for a probe into it by a JPC," Roy said during a discussion on the Arbitration and Conciliation Amendment bill, 2018. The Congress members had earlier boycotted a breakfast meeting by Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu in protest against the government's move to pass three bills in the House without any discussion. New Delhi, Aug 10 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Mumbai to attend the 56th Annual Convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, a government statement said on Friday. Besides addressing the convocation on Saturday, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the new building of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering; and Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, at IIT Bombay. Guwahati, Aug 10 : Thousands of persons on Friday visited the 2,500 NRC Seva Kendras across Assam to ascertain the reason for non-inclusion of their names in the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC). Chaos prevailed at most of these Seva Kendras with people queuing up and a few staff being present to handle the huge rush. People complained that they were not able to collect the forms for filing claims and objections despite waiting for hours in the queue. The draft NRC list, published in Assam on July 30, had excluded over 40 lakh persons. NRC authorities had earlier said that the Seva Kendras will open on August 7 to enable persons whose names did not appear in the draft NRC to know the reason for rejection of their applications and to file claims and objections. The filing of claims and objections, the forms for which are available at the Seva Kendras, will start on August 30 and continue till September 28. Each of these Seva Kendras are supposed to cater to 10 villages each across the state. While the draft NRC included the names of 2,89,836,77 persons, the names of 40,07,707 persons were missing due to some 'discrepancies'. A total of 32,991,384 persons had applied for inclusion of their names. "The names of four of my family members are not in the list while those of three have been included. I came to know the reason for this situation. However, the Seva Kendra officials failed to come out with clear answers. They only told me that my documents are alright and the final draft will include their names," said Abdul Razzak of Jalukbari area in the city. The Supreme Court, monitoring the updation of the NRC, has ordered the state government, in consultation with State NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela, to frame a 'fair' standard operating procedure to deal with claims and objections on the draft NRC. The NRC authorities in Guwahati refused to comment, citing apex court orders against making any comments in the media on NRC updation and on the modalities to include the names of genuine Indian citizens in the final NRC. The Assam Police has reviewed security at the Seva Kendras, considering the rush from Friday onwards, and arranged for setting up of pickets wherever required. The Central government had rushed 220 companies of security forces to the state ahead of the July 30 publication of the NRC. Although nothing untoward happened in Assam, the forces are likely to stay for a few days more. Ottawa, Aug 10 : At least four people were killed in a shooting on Friday in the Canadian city of Fredericton, the police said. A suspect was later arrested. In a post on Twitter, police officials in Fredericton -- the capital of the province of New Brunswick -- confirmed the fatalities and asked residents "to stay clear of the area". "Please continue to avoid the area of Brookside Drive between Main and Ring Road. An incident has resulted in at least four people killed. More information will be available when we can confirm," it said. Local television footage showed that the police had cut off traffic on a two-kilometre stretch of Brookside Drive. A local TV reporter said he heard four gunshots. Video footage of the scene was posted on Twitter, showing emergency vehicles outside a house. About an hour and a half after announcing the shooting and fatalities, the Fredericton Police force tweeted that a suspect had been apprehended. "At this time we can confirm that we have one suspect in custody. Police continue to have the Brookside area contained for the foreseeable future as the investigation is ongoing," the Twitter post read. Mumbai, Aug 10 : A 12-year-old girl student of a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) school died and 161 other students took ill following a medical dose administered at the school, officials said on Friday. The girl, identified as Chandni Mohammed Shaikh, was a resident of Govandi suburb in eastern Mumbai and studying in Class VI at the Sanjay Nagar BMC School No. 2, said officials of the BMC Disaster Control. As soon as news of her death spread, there was panic in Bainganwadi area, and the other 161 students, who complained of stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, were rushed to various hospitals. In her report, BMC Executive Health Officer Padmaja Keskar said Chandni was administered the tablets as part of a Central government health programme. "She was given the tablets on August 6. She remained absent the next day, but was present on August 8-9. On Friday morning, she vomited and then died," Keskar said in her report. Of the students rushed to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar and Shatabdi Hospital at Govandi, around 35 are still under observation, while the rest were treated and discharged. Chandni's grieving parents have charged that the BMC authorities are responsible for their daughter's death. "These tablets were not good. Every year, the school takes our consent before giving any drugs or injections. But this time it was not done," claimed the father, Shahid Ali Shaikh. He said that after being administered the doses, she complained of pain in the chest and stomach. "Initially, the doctors said it was cough and took an X-ray. Later she started vomiting and died. Now, my son is also showing similar symptoms and has been hospitalized," Shaikh said. The BMC said the girl's body has been sent for an autopsy and the exact cause of her death, including whether she had any previous illness, would be determined only after that. Several anxious parents said that many of the school children had been vomiting and complaining of headache, upset stomach and giddiness. They were taken to a hospital. Keskar added that under the Central scheme, children all over the country are administered iron, folic acid and de-worming tablets, but there has been no untoward incident reported from anywhere. Moving swiftly, the civic body has banned the Iron Folic Acid Tablets of Hindustan Labs, and Albendazole Tablets of Zimbabwe Labs, used in BMC schools with immediate effect, said Avinash Supe, BMC Director of Medical Health and Major Hospitals said late Friday. New Delhi, Aug 10 : After the triple talaq bill could not be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, the government blamed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for thwarting passage of the bill. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said even though the bill could not be taken up in the monsoon session, the government would keep on trying to protect the interests of Muslim women. "We will keep the struggle on. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his party are directly responsible for delaying the passage of the bill. They have blocked it from day one. They unnecessarily raised the issue of sending the bill to the select committee," Kumar told reporters outside the Parliament. However, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said her party's position is absolutely clear on the bill. "Our party's position is absolutely clear on this. I will not say anything on this further," said Sonia Gandhi on the Triple Talaq bill. "In Lok Sabha, there was absolute consensus when it was passed. Congress and other parties were also part of the discussion there. There was no division there. Then why they are blocking it in Rajya Sabha? This is the double standard of the Congress party ... they do something in Lok Sabha and the opposite in Rajya Sabha," he said, adding this is the true face of the Congress party. "This is an injustice done to crores of Muslim women. Triple Talaq is a big issue of gender justice. I would urge the Congress to understand it and pass the bill with a consensus," Kumar said. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 has been deferred to the next session of Parliament as the Rajya Sabha decided to not take it up on Friday, the last day of the monsoon session, Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu announced. In the evening, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad insisted that the bill be taken up, but the Chairman said he would not proceed without a consensus on the issue. New Delhi, Aug 10 : The proposed law to criminalise the practice of instant divorce by Muslim husbands will not see the light of the day for at least four more months as the Rajya Sabha on Friday decided to defer the consideration of the bill till the next session due to lack of consensus. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, has been deferred till the next session even as Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded that the bill be taken up. The Chairman said he would not proceed without a consensus. The minister blamed the Congress for the delay. "Sir, whatever is happening is unfair. Should the Muslim women not get justice? The Congress is delaying it in the name of select committee," Prasad said as Opposition MPs protested loudly and Naidu asked the Minister to stop. The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared amendments to the bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha, with the fresh version allowing a magistrate to give bail to the men found instantly divorcing their wives. According to the new provisions of the bill, instant divorce will continue to be illegal and void, attracting a jail term of three years for the guilty. But if the wife and the husband desire to settle their differences, then a magistrate can compound the offence on appropriate terms and conditions and grant bail after hearing the wife. The amended bill was listed for consideration and passing in the day's list of business of the Upper House. However, the Opposition members objected to its listing on a Friday, which is reserved for the private members' bills. In the afternoon, as the House reconvened at 2.30 p.m., Chairman Naidu said: "We are taking up private members' bills now and after that we will take up two government bills. And the bills are on which there is consensus. We are not taking up the other bill (triple talaq bill)." A few minutes later he reiterated: "I would like to say clearly again that we are not taking up triple talaq Bill for the reason that consensus has not been reached on that." Guwahati, Aug 10 : A woman in Assam's Nagaon district, who had lodged an FIR against Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain accusing him of molestation, has withdrawn the case, police said on Friday. Nagaon Superintendent of Police S.B. Raimedhi said that the woman has submitted a letter saying that she wants to withdraw the FIR against the Union Minister. "The woman lodged an FIR based on which we have registered a case under sections 417, 376 and 506 of the IPC. However, she has now submitted a letter saying that the FIR was lodged due to some misunderstanding and that she wants to withdraw the case," said Raimedhi. "But, we are going ahead as per law. We have recorded her statement and will conduct medical examination. We will also interrogate the accused if required," he added. New Delhi, Aug 10 : On the last day of the Delhi Assembly monsoon session, the House passed a resolution to form a committee which would find a solution to the stray dogs and monkey menace in the city. The committee, chaired by AAP leader Somnath Bharti will include AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj, MLA Alka Lamba, MLA from Janakpuri constituency Rajesh Rishi, and MLA O.P. Sharma from the opposition. It will focus on finding solutions to the increasing population of strays in the city, sterilization of dogs and monkeys and attacks by them on the people. While presenting the resolution, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Alka Lamba said the Municipal corporation in Delhi should research and form a method which is scientific and humane. "There is a strong need to make policy decisions around problems related to stray dogs and monkeys in many parts of Delhi," said the AAP MLA from Chandni Chowk constituency. "The Municipal Corporations should research and formulate creative and scientific methods to ensure that there is no menace of dog or monkey bites and also that no cruelty to animals", she said. Lamba shared an instance from her constituency where a girl was "so badly mauled by a dog that she succumbed to her injuries." "At least 250-300 cases of dog bites have been reported in just one hospital and around 6,000 people line up at another hospital every day to get rabies injection," she said. Saurabh Bharadwaj, MLA from Greater Kailash said: "We should also consult some animal activists before making a decision. We can make separate shelter areas for the strays where they can be taken care of. We cannot just hold the MCD responsible for everything." New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Southern Naval Command at Kochi has rescued scores of people stranded in the flood-hit areas of Kerala as part of the Indian Navy's "Operation Madad" for the rain and landslide-ravaged state. The operation was launched on Thursday for assisting the state administration and undertaking disaster relief operations due to unprecedented flooding in many parts of Kerala following incessant rainfall and release of excess water from Idukki and other dams. Based on a request received from Deputy Collector, Wayanad, one diving team with Gemini inflatable boat was airlifted and sent to Kalpetta on Thursday to undertake rescue operations, an Indian Navy spokesperson said. Naval helicopters are also deployed for ferrying divers, power tools, axes and relief material to the flooded areas to augment ongoing relief operations. The operation continued on Friday with all resources available with the southern naval command. Two teams with Gemini boats commenced rescue operations at Kalpetta, Wayanad and at Panmarum, 13 km south of Mananthavady, where they evacuated 55 stranded people on Friday. Another team was air lifted by Seaking helicopter to Kalpetta with all gears and two electric Generators requested by the district administration. Three additional diving teams have also been dispatched to Aluva for augmenting the rescue. The spokesperson sad a 50-men contingent was positioned at Naval Armament Depot (NAD) Aluva fully equipped for assistance in any kind of eventuality. "In addition, the Naval Hospital, INHS Sanjivani is ready for rendering medical assistance as required and all preparations towards setting up community kitchen by naval personnel from INS Venduruthy have been made in case the need arises." Melbourne, Aug 10 : For a section of the audience whose perception of "Bollywood" is not devoid of song and dance sequences, Tabrez Noorani's carefully cast "Love Sonia" turned out to be as hard-hitting as its subject -- sex trafficking -- at the movie's Australian premiere here on Friday night. "Love Sonia" was the opening film of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). Moving, disturbing, haunting and heart-wrenching are the words audience used to describe the movie, which is about exploitation of young women in global sex trafficking. IFFM Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said it was a conscious decision to have this as the opener as "cinema should also make people uncomfortable". Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who was present among the audience, said that perhaps it was the "most disturbing" film he had ever seen in his life -- "in a good way". "It requires tremendous courage and empathy to do this. So, a big salute to the entire team. I think the job of a filmmaker is to communicate, to reach out, and the way the entire team has done this job... I think it's now our job, or whoever is watching this film, to do something about it and to make it into a movement and make a little bit of a difference." A film which Noorani had been planning for at least a decade, "Love Sonia" enters the dark alleys where sex trafficking is a business and sexual exploitation and oppression a way of life. The reality, as the team put it, is "darker". Mrunal Thakur, known to Indian television audiences as Bulbul of "Kumkum Bhagya", delivers a performance that elicited a comparison with the late Smita Patil. "This girl... She's the next one," pointed out actress Freida Pinto, who has a key role in the film and hopes it raises global conversation about the issue. In her pursuit to play Sonia, who gets out to rescue her sister from the menace and gets caught into it herself, Mrunal visited Sonagachi -- India's largest red-light district, located in West Bengal -- and was upset to know how there were women with 30 to 40 clients a day. Actress Richa Chadha, in the role of a brothel owner and a trafficked rape victim, leaves a mark and makes a point. "This is a modern-day form of slavery. We need to understand why this sickness and perversity exists," said Richa, stressing the dire need to empower men who are the clients. Noorani said: "You can fight sex trafficking in various different ways -- education, lowering the poverty level, NGOs... But the biggest problem is there are never any prosecutions for the end-user and for the ones who are paying for it. "It needs to be attacked at the grassroot level." Apart from actors like Adil Hussain, Manoj Bajpayee, Anupam Kher and Rajkummar Rao as part of the cast, the film also features Hollywood star Demi Moore in a short role. She has patronised the movie due to her NGO Thorn that works to abolish sexual slavery and trafficking. The larger aim, hence, is to galvanise support for organisations that work towards rescuing trafficked women and giving them a new lease of life. Mrunal recounted how upon watching "Love Sonia" at the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival moved one man in the audience to declare that the third child he would adopt will be a victim. "Isn't that amazing?" Well, that can sometimes be the magic of cinema. (Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in) Jaipur, Aug 10 : : On the eve of Independence Day, the Rajasthan government will organise a human chain along the 650-km-long Pakistan border under a programme, 'Shahadat ko Salam,' said Chief minister Vasundhara Raje in Udaipur on Friday. The programme will be organised by the state government with the help of Border Security Force and the Army on August 14, she said during her Udaipur leg of the Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra. Terming it as a unique event, the CM said the state has contributed brave soldiers to the various wings of the armed forces. "The programme will make the soldiers feel that people are with them," she said. New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Delhi Police on Friday inducted an all-woman Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, consisting of 36 commandos -- the first-ever by any police force in India -- for anti-terrorist operations. Presiding over the induction ceremony, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed happiness that the Delhi Police has raised an all-woman SWAT team and mentioned that "they will be deployed during the upcoming Independence Day celebrations". The elite women commandos, hailing from the north-eastern states, will be deployed at strategic locations for securing the Independence Day celebrations. "The 36 women SWAT commandos have undergone rigorous 15-month training which includes basic, commando and advanced honing of skills under the tutelage of NSG (National Security Guard) trainers. The Delhi Police has raised the commandos for anti-terrorism duty under the Special Cell unit of the force," Rajnath Singh said. On the occasion, the Minister asked the Delhi Police to play a lead role as being the police of the national capital and advised the force to become a role model for other states and union territories' police. "The practices adopted by Delhi Police should be among the best practices of police," he said. Rajnath Singh also stressed upon the perceptional change of the Delhi Police, directing senior officers to go on patrolling with juniors on some occasions and motivate them to adopt a public-friendly approach while taking part in their policing activities. On Friday, he also inaugurated the building of the offices of Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West district), Delhi Cantt Police Station and Delhi Police residential complex and said that "construction of new complexes strengthen the basic infrastructure of the department which will lead to new energy in the personnel towards their duty, finally benefiting the citizens". He said that the society has a lot of expectations from the Delhi Police and to meet these expectations, it needs modern working place and good working environment. For the purpose, the Minister said the government has increased the fund allocation to Delhi Police from Rs 6,378.18 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 7,426.98 crore in 2018-19, an increase of 15 per cent. He said the government has also sanctioned procurement of Facial Recognition System for the Crime Unit and 2,700 hand-held devices with SIM card for equipping constables with e-beatbook. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said that a proposal to recruit 12,000 additional personnel in the Delhi Police is under consideration, but added that the approval has been given to recruit 3,139 police personnel. Besides, the government created 4,227 posts in the year 2016 and another 3,139 posts this year while separating the crime investigation from the law and order functions with an aim to improve the conviction rate, he said. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and other senior officers were present on the occasion. Kolkata, Aug 10 : The West Bengal government on Friday asked people not to panic over the Dengue outbreak, saying only a few cases of the vector-borne disease have been detected. "There is no need to panic as we have been cautious. Only a couple of cases have been reported. Those persons are from outside and they are being given proper medical attention," said Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim after a meeting with civic workers. The meeting was called to discuss dengue outbreak and other vector-borne diseases. Hakim also said some of the patients have been admitted to hospitals with 'unknown fever.' "We are trying to find ways to fight back this unknown fever. There is no need to be scared," said Hakim. Last year the state government reports mentioned over 30 deaths and 14,500 dengue cases. New Delhi, Aug 10 : The monsoon session of Parliament was productive for the government with 20 bills passed by Lok Sabha and 14 by the Rajya Sabha even as it witnessed clashes between the Opposition and the treasury benches on a range of issues including NRC and Rafale fighter jet deal. The government could not get the triple talaq Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha even though the cabinet on Thursday approved some amendments to the Bill passed by the Lok Sabha. But it gave a significant push to its legislative agenda by getting several pending bills passed and introducing a few others. The monsoon session began on July 18 and had 17 sittings. The ruling National Democratic Alliance scored an emphatic victory over a combined opposition in the election to the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman even though it is short of a majority in the Upper House. The victory is expected to provide a psychological boost to the BJP-led alliance in an election year as opposition parties try to come together to oust it in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The session, which was a stark contrast with the nearly washed-out second part of Budget session, saw the first no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government. The no-confidence motion was not taken up during the Budget session amid protests by members from Andhra Pradesh for a special package for the state. The Lok Sabha worked 110 per cent of its scheduled time and passed 20 bills. According to PRS Legislative, which tracks work of Parliament, it was the most productive monsoon session for Lok Sabha since 2000. The PRS Legislative said that 20 bills were introduced during the session and 11 were passed. Congress President Rahul Gandhi led the party's attack on the government on the Rafale deal as he sought answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The party repeatedly raised the issue in both Houses seeking a joint parliamentary committee inquiry. The issue of National Register of Citizens in Assam, which has left out over 40 lakh people, figured in both Houses with Opposition accusing the government of its tardy implementation. Trinamool Congress was at the forefront of the NRC protest and virtually prevented BJP president Amit Shah from speaking in the Upper House on issues concerning farmers. Several significant legislations were passed during the session including that on granting constitutional status to National Commission of Backward Classes and on restoring the immediate arrest provision in the SC/ST Act. Yet another Bill paved the way to enable the overseas electors to appoint proxies to cast their votes in the elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies. PRS Legislative said that Rajya Sabha worked for 66 per cent of it scheduled time, but data provided by the Upper House said its productivity was 74 per cent. While Lok Sabha spent 50 per cent of its time on legislative business, the Rajya Sabha spent 48 per cent. "It is the highest amount of time spent on legislative business by both Houses in the 16th Lok Sabha, second highest since 2004," said PRS Legislative. The Rajya Sabha discussed issues related to the misuse of social media to spread violence, and the "non-implementat"on" of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organization Act, 2014. According to data provided by Lok Sabha, 21 bills were introduced and 20 were passed in the session that commenced on July 18 and had 17 sittings. The Lok Sabha lost 8 hours and 26 minutes due to disruptions, but the members sat for 20 hours and 43 minutes beyond the scheduled time. The Rajya Sabha lost 27 hours and 42 minutes and sat beyond scheduled time on four days gaining about three hours. Members of both houses keenly raised issues concerning their constituencies in the election year. Presiding officers of both Houses expressed their satisfaction at the significant improvement in the productivity compared to the previous session. "I have several times laid stress on smooth conduct of the House which is essential to maintain the credibility of Parliament," Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said in her valedictory remarks at the conclusion of session. Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said the sessi"n "brought new tidings marking a break from the last two sessions." Parliament is expected to now meet for the winter session, which may be the last full session of Parliament before general election due next year. New Delhi, Aug 10 : After the triple talaq bill could not be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, the government blamed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for thwarting passage of the bill, while the Congress accused it of playing politics on every issue. Attacking the government, the Congress said: "The government plays politics on every issue ... it should have built a consensus taking all (parties) along on the bill." However, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said even though the bill could not be taken up in the monsoon session, the government would keep on trying to protect the interests of Muslim women. "We will keep the struggle on to give justice to Muslim women. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his party are directly responsible for delaying the passage of the bill. They have blocked it from day one. They unnecessarily raised the issue of sending the bill to the select committee," Kumar told reporters outside the Parliament. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said her party's position is absolutely clear on the bill. "Our party's position is absolutely clear on this. I will not say anything on this further," she said. "In Lok Sabha, there was absolute consensus when it was passed. Congress and other parties were also part of the discussion there. There was no division there. Then why they are blocking it in Rajya Sabha? This is the double standard of the Congress party ... they do something in Lok Sabha and the opposite in Rajya Sabha," Kumar said, adding this is the true face of the Congress party. "This is an injustice done to crores of Muslim women. Triple Talaq is a big issue of gender justice. It is a social issue. I would urge the Congress to understand it and pass the bill with a consensus," Kumar said. He also said if the Congress party's intention was right, they should have discussed the issue. "Time was already allotted for it. It has been pending for the last two sessions." "Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress party don't want to give protection to the Muslim women. They are just shedding crocodile's tears, and they will keep betraying (the Muslim women)," said the Minister. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 has been deferred to the next session of Parliament as the Rajya Sabha decided to not take it up on Friday, the last day of the monsoon session, Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu announced. Towards the evening, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad insisted that the bill be taken up, but the Chairman said he would not proceed without a consensus on the issue. Replying to a question on Triple Talaq Bill, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said: "This government plays politics on every issue. They have always done poor politics on everything. If a few of their bills are not getting passed, then it was the responsibility of the government to find a way and build a consensus taking all (parties) along. Don't do politics." "If you are really committed about any cause, then you should work for it. If they don't have commitment, they will keep doing politics and their true face will be exposed," he added. New Delhi, Aug 10 : BJP President Amit Shah on Friday hit out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, saying he is not a "sahabzade" who has got the top post due to a family. Shah also rejected charges of corruption levelled by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie in the Rafale fighter jet deal, saying credence should be given to the Defence Minister's statement and not those "who did not get jobs." During an interview after unveilinga a book "Blueprint for an Economic Miracle" authored by Pradeep Gupta at Constitution Club, Shah expressed confidence that people of the country will again elect Narendra Modi as Prime Minister with a better mandate than it got in 2014. Answering questions from the moderator, he refused to speak on Rahul Gandhi hugging the Prime Minister in Lok Sabha during the debate on no-confidence motion. "I will not comment on it. It is not my level," he said. But he took a jab at him when he was asked if the BJP will have to work hard to win assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. "Paseena bahana hamare swabhav me hai (working hard is in our nature)...hum koi sahabzade nahi hain jinko parampara me parivar mila hai (I am not sahabzade who has got family in tradition)," he said. To a question over allegations of corruption in Rafale deal leveled by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, he said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the base price of Rafale fighter aircraft negotiated by the Modi government is less than what was finalised by the UPA. "Will you give importance to the Defence Minister's statement or those who did not get jobs," he said, adding the government has already clarified on the matter following Opposition charges. He expressed the hope that the BJP will retain power in all the three states with a comfortable majority because the government in these states have addressed the concerns of the people. Listing the achievements of the Modi government and the welfare schemes being run by it, he said the people have decided to again elect Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. "There is no doubt about it," he said. In response to a query about fugitives Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi and others who left the country after allegedly looting public money, the BJP chief said the Modi government will take every step to bring them back. "The process to bring them back is already on. There is fear among all those who loot public money," he said. Asked about posters put up by Trinamool Congress against him a day before his rally in West Bengal, Shah said it has benefited him and people will attend the rally in large numbers. "Our state unit has no money. These posters have given me publicity. Tomorrow there would be a huge gathering," he said. New Delhi, Aug 10 : The monsoon session of Parliament was productive for the government with 21 bills passed by Lok Sabha and 14 by the Rajya Sabha even as it witnessed clashes between the Opposition and the treasury benches on a range of issues including NRC and Rafale fighter jet deal. The government could not get the triple talaq Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha even though the cabinet on Thursday approved some amendments to the Bill passed by the Lok Sabha. But it gave a significant push to its legislative agenda by getting several pending bills passed and introducing a few others. The monsoon session began on July 18 and had 17 sittings. The ruling National Democratic Alliance scored an emphatic victory over a combined opposition in the election to the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman even though it is short of a majority in the Upper House. The victory is expected to provide a psychological boost to the BJP-led alliance in an election year as opposition parties try to come together to oust it in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The session, which was a stark contrast with the nearly washed-out second part of Budget session, saw the first no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government which was defeated by a margin of 195 votes. The no-confidence motion was not taken up during the Budget session amid protests by members from Andhra Pradesh for a special package for the state. According to a parliamentary affairs ministry release, the productivity of Lok Sabha was 118 per cent and that of Rajya Sabha was 68 per cent. "During the Session, 22 Bills (21 in the Lok Sabha and 1 in the Rajya Sabha) were introduced. The Lok Sabha passed 21 Bills and while the Rajya Sabha passed 14 Bills during the session. Twenty bills were passed by both the Houses of Pa"liament," the release said. According to PRS Legislative, which tracks work of Parliament, it was the most productive monsoon session for Lok Sabha since 2000. Congress President Rahul Gandhi led the party's attack on the government on the Rafale deal as he sought answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The party repeatedly raised the issue in both Houses seeking a joint parliamentary committee inquiry. The issue of National Register of Citizens in Assam, which has left out over 40 lakh people, figured in both Houses with Opposition accusing the government of its tardy implementation. Trinamool Congress was at the forefront of the NRC protest and virtually prevented BJP president Amit Shah from speaking in the Upper House on issues concerning farmers. Several significant legislations were passed during the session including that on granting constitutional status to National Commission of Backward Classes and on restoring the immediate arrest provision in the SC/ST Act. Yet another Bill paved the way to enable the overseas electors to appoint proxies to cast their votes in the elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies. PRS Legislative said that Rajya Sabha worked for 66 per cent of it scheduled time, but data provided by the Upper House said its productivity was 74 per cent. While Lok Sabha spent 50 per cent of its time on legislative business, the Rajya Sabha spent 48 per cent. "It is the highest amount of time spent on legislative business by both Houses in the 16th Lok Sabha, second highest since 2004," said PRS Legislative. The Rajya Sabha discussed issues related to the misuse of social media to spread violence, and the "non-implementat"on" of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organization Act, 2014. The Lok Sabha lost 8 hours and 26 minutes due to disruptions, but the members sat for 20 hours and 43 minutes beyond the scheduled time. The Rajya Sabha lost 27 hours and 42 minutes and sat beyond scheduled time on four days gaining about three hours. Members of both houses keenly raised issues concerning their constituencies in the election year. Presiding officers of both Houses expressed their satisfaction at the significant improvement in the productivity compared to the previous session. "I have several times laid stress on smooth conduct of the House which is essential to maintain the credibility of Parliament," Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said in her valedictory remarks at the conclusion of session. Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said the sessi"n "brought new tidings marking a break from the last two sessions." Parliament is expected to now meet for the winter session, which may be the last full session of Parliament before general election due next year. Kolkata, Aug 11 : On a day BJP President Amit Shah is slated to address a public rally here, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress would hold rallies in the districts of the state on Saturday to raise its pitch against the publication of the draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. The Trinamool has decided to leave out the metropolis from the programme, said its Secretary General Partha Chatterjee. Shah would address the rally on Mayo Road in the heart of the city. Chatterjee said the party would take out a rally in Kolkata on Sunday in protest against the NRC. Alleging that the names of lakhs of Bengali speaking people have been dropped from the NRC draft, Chatterjee demanded that they be included in the register. "We won't let them make a person refugee in his own country," he said. Enraged over the Trinamool's decision, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Dilip Ghosh dubbed it as an attempt to foment violence during Shah's rally and warned that people would give a befitting reply. "The only reason they have taken up this political programme is to prevent our workers and supporters from attending Amit Shah's rally. They want to foment violence. But I would like to warn them that if they stir up trouble, people will give them a befitting reply," he said. New Delhi : From what I gather the Toilet Ek Prem Katha director Shree Narayan Singh's new film Batti Gul Meter Chalu is about power theft in the mofussil areas . No, not politics, but the vandalizing of electricity the inflated bills that put consumers into a shock how the hell did that happen???? We scream and them cough up a small fortune. Nothing compared with the shock I felt on hearing Shahid Kapoor's Garhwali accent. He's a citizen of a sleepy town in Uttarakhand lit only by darkness. I guess his spoken language is Garhwali, but it sounds more baharwali... an outsider doing an awful imitation of the local accent. Accents and specially those done badly are totally off putting in our cinema. Like the power shutdowns in non-metropolitan cities only a miracle can restore our faith in this film with its phoney accents. Unless they decide to clean out Shahid's spoken lines in the final dubbing. And while they are at it, they can also do something about Shradha Kapoor who gets more annoying with faked enthusiasm in each film. Except for Devyendu Sharma who plays Shahid's best friend no one seems to really belong to the region where this film is set. Least of all Yami Gautam who appears as a lawyer at the end of the trailer. Shahid Kapoor playing the defence lawyer (yes, he is a lawyer too besides an expert in Indian dialects) checks her out and makes a lewd comment about her figure. In the courtroom! Order order! Please order some logic into what looks like a film on power theft gone hopelessly off-track. New Delhi, Aug 11 : The Rajya Sabha was on Friday adjourned sine die as the Monsoon session came to a close as scheduled. Making the announcement, Chairman Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed satisfaction at the overall functioning and efficiency of the upper House during the session. The Chairman said that with productivity of more than 74 per cent, the Monsoon session proved to be "about three times more productive than the last Budget session" and the House passed 14 Bills. "Against the time lost of 27 hours and 42 minutes during the session on account of disruptions, the House sat beyond the scheduled time on four days, gaining around three hours," Naidu observed in his valedictory remarks. The Rajya Sabha, in an unusual gesture, sat beyond its scheduled time on Friday and passed two government legislations, besides discussing three private members' resolutions. "Of the total of 17 sittings held, there were no disruptions of any kind on five days. We had Question Hour on 12 days, a total of 91 oral questions were taken up, Members made a record 120 Zero Hour submissions, 61 Special Mentions were made and a total duration of about 27 hours was spent on discussing Bills accounting for about 30 per cent of the total time. This comes to more than two hours discussing each Bill," he added. A total of 146 reports by various committees were presented to the House. One Calling Attention Notice on the issue of misuse of social media and the need for checking the same was taken up; one Short Duration Discussion on the implementation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and another special discussion on the issue of National Register for Citizens (NRC) in Assam were also taken up, he said. "In all, a total of 496 members spoke on various issues under different windows like Zero Hour, Question Hour, Calling Attention Notices, Short Duration Discussion, discussion on Bills including Private Members Bills, Special Mentions, etc.," Naidu said. Speaking of several "firsts" in this session, the Chairman told the House that e-Notice system has been introduced. A total of 102 e-Notices were received during the session from 22 members. Ram Vichar Netam got the distinction of being the first member to submit Zero Hour/ Question notice online. "First-time member Kahkashan Perween has 'presided over' the Question Hour becoming the first to do so. Within seven minutes into Question Hour, she asked a Minister to be to the point so as to give chance to members to speak which even the experienced hesitate to do," Naidu said. "The monsoon has been good and so is the Monsoon session. Let us look forward to the Winter session with these happy memories ringing in our minds till then," he added. However, he underlined in the same breath that while some members may think that disruptions are a part of parliamentary functioning and strategy, on his part he could not take "whatever happens inside the House as a matter of dAjA vu". "Which means that it is not new and has happening earlier, too. I know that Parliament to some extent is a political institution resulting in heightened tempers and altercations at time. But that can't be a pattern," Naidu said. Sao Paulo, Aug 11 : A gas explosion on Friday at a Usiminas steel plant in Brazil's Ipatinga left around 20 people injured, officials said. Firefighters remain on the scene to investigate the cause of the incident and to determine the exact number of people who were injured, many of whom were taken to a nearby hospital by Usiminas' in-house emergency team, Efe reported. According to several residents, the explosion, which was heard and felt at several locations throughout the city, took place at around 1 p.m. The Minas Gerais state police evacuated the steel plant as well as nearby schools, although there was no need to evacuate residential buildings neighboring the plant, a fire department official said. "The incident is now under control. There was an explosion of the gasometer (a storage vessel), and that explosion burnt or dispersed all of the gas it contained. There was no fire, no fatal victims, and the people who were injured were taken to the hospital," he said. Usiminas confirmed that the gasometer of the Ipatinga plant had exploded, adding in a statement that it was investigating the cause of the blast. As a precautionary measure, the company, one of the most important steel firms in Brazil, has temporarily halted operations in the Ipatinga plant. New Delhi, Aug 11 : The Congress on Friday demanded dismissal of Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain as a case of rape was registered against him in Guwahati. "(Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji, you have failed the test not once, not twice, not thrice, but almost a dozen times. Again there is a rape FIR against one of your Cabinet colleagues, Gohain," Congress leader Pawan Khera said addressing a press conference here. He said that if PM Modi does not act now, then he would lose the moral authority to stay in the office even for a day. "Remove him from his office. You can't allow him to be in a position of power and influence during the investigation. Please remove him if you meant anything that you promised before 2014," he said. "We demand from this government, from Modi, from (BJP President) Amit Shah to take immediate and strict action against rape accused Minister Gohain," he said. The Congress leader's remarks came after a woman in Assam filed a case of rape with the Assam Police against Gohain. Referring to the cases of rape in which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were allegedly involved, Khera mentioned the case of Unnao district in Uttar Pradesh and said: "We saw you were standing with the rapists of Unnao." Khera was referring to BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger, who has been charged for rape by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Congress leader also questioned Modi's silence on the Muzaffarpur shelter home rapes. "Your own government is there in alliance with (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumarji." Khera also questioned Modi's silence over his party's state ministers coming out in support of the rape accused in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua. Slamming Modi, he said: "Last week, we saw reports from Deoria, from Pratapgarh, and again you remained quiet." "These are the same people who used provocative and emotionally charged slogans to woo the people of the country before 2014. And now, their Cabinet ministers are being charged with sexual assault and rapes, yet they maintain silence and action is hardly taken against those involved in such cases," Khera added. Washington, Aug 11 : US President Donald Trump on Friday said he has authorized to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Turkey to 50 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. Tensions ramped up between the two countries over the detention of an American pastor by Turkey. Trump tweeted on Friday that the US-Turkey ties "are not good at this time!" Trump added that the Turkish currency Lira "slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" The Turkish lira has fallen more than 10 per cent since last week when the US slapped sanctions on two Turkish ministers. Early on Friday, the currency hit an all-time low of 6.30 against the US dollar, Xinhua reported. Turkey and the US are currently experiencing rocky relations after the US imposed sanctions last Wednesday on two Turkish ministers over the continued detention of US pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges and up to 35 years in prison if found guilty. Brunson was indicted for allegedly having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party and Fethullah Gulen, an exiled Turkish preacher who has allegedly masterminded the failed coup attempt in 2016 to topple Erdogan. A Turkish court has agreed to move Brunson from prison to house arrest over health concerns, but it still does not allow him to return to the US. As a result of the US sanctions, any property or interest in property of both Turkish ministers within US jurisdiction is blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry vowed to "retaliate" against US "aggression" over the case of Brunson "without any delay," and called on Washington to reverse its decision. Last Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his US counterpart Mike Pompeo met in Singapore on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers' meeting. Ankara and Washington agreed to work together to resolve problems between them, Cavusoglu said after the meeting. The two sides seemed to have failed to resolve the deadlock though bilateral talks in Washington earlier this week during the visit of a Turkish delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal and made up of officials from Turkey's justice, finance and foreign ministries. US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Thursday that although the two sides "had wide-ranging meetings at the State Department and with other departments here in Washington," the US side "would define progress as Pastor Brunson being brought home". "The progress that we want to be made is to have Pastor Brunson return home," she added. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday also dismissed concerns over the tumbling lira and called on his nation to "have no worries". Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry announced a "new economic model", aiming to stabilize their economic growth. In March, the US had imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum for imports from a variety of countries. Turkey was reportedly the sixth largest steel importer to the US. Moscow, Aug 11 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Russia categorically rejects new US sanctions over alleged Russian involvement in the Skripal case. Lavrov reiterated Russia's position that Moscow played no role in the alleged nerve agent attack on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the British city of Salisbury, Xinhua quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying. Lavrov stressed that neither the US, nor Britain, nor any other country have provided a single fact to support their accusations, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement. The US State Department said on Wednesday that Washington will impose new sanctions on Russia over the alleged poison attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March. Western countries claim the pair was exposed to a nerve agent and hold Russia responsible, while the Russian government has repeatedly denied any involvement in the case and demanded direct participation in the investigation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has criticized the US decision on new sanctions and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow will consider retaliation. Lavrov and Pompeo also discussed issues on the international agenda, including the situation in Syria, and other topics considered during the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump in Helsinki on July 16. The two top diplomats agreed to maintain contacts on all issues of mutual interest, the statement said, adding that the phone conversation was initiated by the US side. Radisson Hospitality AB has signed a new Radisson in Europe, rolling out its upscale hotel brand across EMEA. Radisson Riga is being developed in collaboration with the group's long-term partner, Astor Group. Currently named Astor Riga Hotel, it will be rebranded to the Radisson Old Town Riga Hotel in late [] Five properties were sold off at the Queensland governments recent auction of properties marked for the Glendowner Dam project. More than 200 people attended the event in Beudesert, with registered bidders battling it out for the properties which eventually achieved a total of $7,995,000. The Stage 2 Glendowner Dam Project auction included properties that are about 60 kilometres from the Gold Coast and 70 kilometres from Brisbane. It included two blocks of vacant land of 50 hectares, a house on a 4046 square metre block, and two farms with frontage to the Albert River with irrigation licences, houses and sheds. Ray White Rural Queensland's Peter Douglas described the auction as one of the best auctions hes been involved with, and said the two ex-dairy farms sold for $3,530,000 and $2,920,000. The two vacant blocks of 80 hecatre land sold for $600,000 and $650,000, with the house selling for $295,000. "We sold everything under the hammer and didn't pause for anything. It was good strong competition between buyers from Brisbane, Gold Coast, locally and country areas of Queensland," Douglas said. "The first stage saw the completed disposal sale of six properties at auction in June. "Together with Ed Dalton and Andrew Thomson of Ray White Rural Beaudesert, we will offer Stage 3 shortly which will consist of more outstanding grazing and farming country and lifestyle blocks." Republish This Article Feel free to publish this article on your website. We just ask that you do not edit the article and ensure that the author is correctly attributed! Just copy the code below into your CMS. By copying the code below you are adhering to all our guidelines The eight things you need to know about the value of global real estate: Savills GUEST OBSERVATION At the end of 2017, the value of the worlds real estate reached US$280.6 trillion, the highest figure weve ever recorded and an annual increase of 6.2%. Residential real estate accounted for the largest share ($US220.6 trillion) of that huge figure, with commercial real estate (US$33.3 trillion) and agricultural and forestry real estate ($US27.1 trillion) making up the rest. By any measure, real estate is by far the most significant store of wealth, representing more than 3.5 times the total global GDP. Global real estate universe in comparison Most residential real-estate value is contained in the mature markets of North America and Europe, with more than 44% of value belonging to just 17% of the global population. Global distribution of real estate value versus population China now accounts for the largest share of global residential value, thanks to national house price growth (up 16%) and a rapid programme of housebuilding. Emerging markets, especially in Asia, are also experiencing fast growth. The share of commercial real estate by world region is more closely related to GDP share than it is to population size. The top five most valuable national commercial real-estate markets (excluding residential) are: US: US$8.1 trillion China: US$3.6 trillion Japan: US$2.8 trillion Germany: US$1.7 trillion UK: US$1.7 trillion Pressure on commodity prices has slowed value growth down 0.4% on an annual basis to US$27.1 trillion. However, an increasing world population, food production (coupled with reduction in food waste) and competitive land uses will sustain values. Equities and gold grew much faster in value than real estate, but rising wealth in emerging economies means there is more capital at large, and real estate is viewed as a safe store for it. Investor motives remain a mixture of wealth storage, capital appreciation and income return. But, increasingly, the income produced by real-estate assets and the potential for rental growth is of increasing interest to investors as the yields on fixed-income assets have compressed. Value growth in 2017 Yolande Barnes is Head of Savills World Research. This article is republished from Urban.com.au under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Close Matthew A Knight wanted to share his interest in Apostle Luke as a historian to a wider audience than just a small Bible study group. It prompted him to write The Book of Luke: Physician and Historian (published by Xlibris NZ) to point the readers to what the scriptures actually say. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.amazon.com/Book-Luke-Physician-Historian/dp/1514466732 The book is a summary of the Book of Luke, who was one of the followers of Jesus Christ. He was an apostle, a physician and a historian. It also takes into account the birth, growth and ministry of Jesus Christ as well as the circumstances surrounding his death and resurrection. I have written a summary of each of the 24 chapters of Luke. The summary I have given is intended to be read after a study of each chapter, Knights says. I have also set a series of five to seven questions at the back of each chapter, which are intended to promote discussion. Through the publication of The Book of Luke: Physician and Historian, Knight encourages readers to read what the Bible actually says about the Gospel of Luke to increase their knowledge about it and its relevance to their lives. The Book of Luke: Physician and Historian By Matthew A Knight Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 128 pages | ISBN 9781514466742 Softcover | 6 x 9in | 128 pages | ISBN 9781514466735 E-Book | 128 pages | ISBN 9781514466728 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Matthew A Knight lives in retirement at Summerset Retirement Village in Dunedin, New Zealand. He studied at the University of Otago, graduating with a bachelors degree in zoology and microbiology in 1965. He did a postgraduate course in English, history and political science in 1966. He studied part time with the Bible College of New Zealand (now Laidlaw College) graduating in 1987 with a diploma of Christian studies. He has always had an interest in history, but more recently in understanding and interpreting Gods word in the Bible. Xlibris Publishing New Zealand, an Author Solutions, LLC imprint, is a self-publishing services provider dedicated to serving the needs of Kiwi authors. By focusing on the needs of creative writers and artists and adopting the latest print-on-demand publishing technology and strategies, we provide expert publishing services with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound and full-color formats. To date, Xlibris has helped to publish more than 60,000 titles.For more information, visit xlibrispublishing.com.au or call 0800 443 678 to receive a free publishing guide. Follow us @XlibrisNZ on Twitter for the latest news. David Manber, National Account Director and Litigation Consultant at BIA "BIA has a reputation for providing sound counsel to our clients on eDiscovery, forensic and investigative matters, and David, with his rich history of expertise and success within the industry, fits that bill perfectly." BIA, a leading national eDiscovery and digital forensic services provider, announced today the addition of David Manber as national account director and litigation consultant. A noted and respected industry expert, Manber has more than 20 years of experience in litigation support. He has provided consulting, management and both user and administrative training on all aspects of eDiscovery, from litigation anticipation through time of trial (including protocols and workflows), digital forensic services and analysis, document review technology, data management, trial presentations and more. Before consulting full-time, Manber served as director of litigation support services for U.S. Legal Support, Inc., with previous experience as a partner in a litigation technology company as well as in-house at various law firms. In his new role with BIA, he will help the firm ensure the delivery of customized, high-quality eDiscovery and forensic services, including managed review and database hosting. BIA has a reputation for providing sound counsel to our clients on eDiscovery, forensic and investigative matters, and David, with his rich history of expertise and success within the industry, fits that bill perfectly, said Mark MacDonald, BIAs senior vice president of business development. Were thrilled to have David on our team and know our clients will benefit from his ability to tailor services and technologies to ensure efficiency and lower legal spend. Manber has developed and presented litigation support training programs for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, the New York State Attorney Generals Office and the New York City Law Department. He has also led CLE presentations on electronically stored information, cost savings in eDiscovery and litigation support technologies, and he has provided training and consulting for industry-standard platforms and tools such as Relativity, Ipro Eclipse, Reveals InControl, Concordance, Summation and Trial Director. About BIA As an industry pioneer, BIA continues to set the standard for reliable, innovative and cost-effective eDiscovery services. Its customer-first focus has resulted in countless innovations copied widely across the industry today. From technical innovations like truly remote data collections and the first cloud-based, end-to-end eDiscovery platform to service revolutions like reusing data and coding across matters and hiring dedicated, full-time employees for document review, BIA consistently stands at the leading edge of the industry. Founded by legal and technology professionals, BIA provides the entire spectrum of eDiscovery services including attorney document review with minimal disruption to its clients daily business operations. To learn more, visit BIA at http://www.biaprotect.com or on Twitter at @biaprotect. SiteSeer offers more functionality than our previous tool did and for a much more affordable price. Were excited to see what it can do. The city of La Vergne, Tennessee, has teamed up with SiteSeer Technologies to use the SiteSeer platform. Located outside of Nashville in the heart of middle Tennessee, La Vergne has experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and emerged from the 2010 census as the 19th largest city in Tennessee and one of the fastest growing markets in the country. The La Vergne Office of Economic Development will use SiteSeer and the Communities City Government Expansion Pack to identify opportunities for retail and restaurant expansion. Tom Broeker, economic development specialist, says that several factors contributed to La Vergnes need for a reliable tool to perform void and leakage analysis and run other data analytics. Twenty-five years ago, this was a small town of 4,500 people and were projected to reach 45,000 by the next census, says Broeker. We want to use SiteSeer to help us bring good commercial retail into the city to continue to sustain our growth and provide quality of life and services to our residents. SiteSeer offers more functionality than our previous tool did and for a much more affordable price. Were excited to see what it can do. La Vergne is home to the states largest industrial complex, making it an attractive location for international companies. The town was named by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research in November of 2010 as the 6th most business-friendly city in the state, based upon economic vitality, business tax burden, and community allure. Broeker adds that because of La Vergnes rapid growth, the city has experienced revenue leakage to neighboring towns that have more restaurants and other stores. Our goal is to offer our citizens plenty of retail options so that they stay home, which will also allow La Vergne to retain those tax revenues. Sam Lowder, vice president of business development for SiteSeer, says that the company is excited to welcome La Vergne to its growing base of community clients. La Vergne is a vibrant, fast-growing city that has the right idea about how to grow smart, he says. The entire SiteSeer team is pleased to offer this community the tools they need to recruit the right mix of retailers, restaurants and other chains. To learn more about SiteSeer and its Communities City Government Expansion Pack, visit http://www.siteseer.com/solutions/#Acommunity. To learn more about La Vergne, visit http://www.lavergnetn.gov. ABOUT SITESEER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC SiteSeer Technologies, LLC, provides a suite of software, professional services, consulting and support for site selection and market analysis. Its flagship Software-as-a-Service, SiteSeer Professional, is a web-based analytics platform that helps businesses make data-driven location decisions through mapping, demographics, custom reporting, analytics, and predictive modeling tools. The SiteSeer Professional product suite also includes customer intelligence software, a real estate analytics tool (Void Analysis Pro), and a territory management tool (Automated Territory Optimization Model (ATOM)). Learn more at http://www.siteseer.com. The construction of an interchange at the intersection of Kerr Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway is moving forward after years of discussion. This project will impact approximately 30 homes and businesses, and costs are expected to be over $23 million. However, the offers some property owners receive from state officials may amount to far less than what their property is worth, according to former NCDOT attorneys at the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm. They suggest that rather than accepting these offers, owners may want to exercise often-misunderstood rights, including the ability to negotiate for a second check. Wilmington property and business owners in the path of the Kerr Avenue interchange will soon receive purchase offers from state officials. According to attorney Jason Campbell, with the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm and former NCDOT attorney, property owners should be careful a project with this size and scope can spare a few moments to ensure citizens get a fair shake. Property owners receive a very official offer and think that is the law for what they are able to receive, Campbell said. If an offer has been made, there may be a more complete and satisfactory offer to be gained through reappraisal and negotiations. Second Check By North Carolina law, property owners whose land or businesses are targeted for acquisition ultimately receive an offer from the state. If the owner chooses not to accept the offer and takes no further steps, the state will still acquire the land and deposit the amount of the original offer with the County Clerk for the owner. This is where the NC Eminent Domain Law Firms second check approach comes in. In most cases, the property owner is then free to pursue a potentially better, fairer arrangement, without losing the first offer. If continued negotiations do not change the offer, the owner still has the first offer. But if continued negotiations are successful, the property owner will receive a second check in addition to the first offer. We hate it when we see property owners get less money than they should, simply because they didnt know the full extent of their rights, said Stan Abrams, also with the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm and a former NCDOT attorney. The NC Eminent Domain Law Firm is available to talk with property and business owners, and to try to answer questions about the unique circumstances regarding their individual properties. Those questions typically include: Property owners who have questions about this project and how it will affect them are encouraged to call the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm at 1-877-393-4990. About the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm A division of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm is dedicated solely to representing property owners throughout North Carolina, who may be impacted by eminent domain law. The NC Eminent Domain Law Firm is led by attorneys Stan Abrams and Jason Campbell, both of whom previously worked as Assistant Attorneys General for the North Carolina Department of Justice in the Transportation Section, where they litigated condemnation cases for the NCDOT. They have over 30 years of combined experience working exclusively on eminent domain cases. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin has the legal resources of 46 attorneys and is based in Durham, North Carolina, with 13 additional offices throughout the state to serve its clients. Contact Information: Stan Abrams 1-877-393-4990 NC Eminent Domain Law Firm 517 Owen Drive Fayetteville, NC 28304 Labor Day is just one more flip of the calendar page away, but theres still time to check items off your summer bucket list. It seemed like summer just got a late start this year, says Jayne OConnor of the White Mountains Visitor Bureau, so visitors were late making their summer plans. But once people started arriving, the summer really came together." The U.S. Travel Association has been encouraging Americans to use all of their vacation days, and OConnor feels it is working. The campaign points out that American workers lose millions of vacation days each year, she said, and that affects relationships and family spirits. OConnor says the attractions and activities have all had a respectable summer season, with business spreading out according to whatever the weather was at the moment. I think families expect a certain amount of summer fun and weekends in the mountains and are just determined to get it. Waterparks and theme parks with water features have seen increases during the hot summer weather, as did the mountain summits. Mount Washington, accessible by hiking, autos or train, has been averaging a sweet 60 degrees this month, quite a difference from most cities in August. Zip lines, forest canopy tours and river tubing are also popular ways to stay cool. Visitors looking for waterfalls are pleased the cascades got some mid-season refilling and are now at their picture-perfect best. Trains, shopping and restaurants are also enjoying a good summer season, especially the popular breweries in North Conway, Bethlehem, North Woodstock and Littleton. OConnor suggests the following ideas to check off items on the family summer bucket list: Summit Mount Washington Go right to the top! The White Mountains are home to the Northeasts highest peak, Mount Washington, at 6,288 feet. There are hiking trails, of course, but there are also options like The Cog Railway, the worlds first mountain climbing cog railway - that has been operating since 1869, and the Mt. Washington Auto Road, which can be driven in a personal car or as a passenger in a comfortable van with narrated tour. New this year, visitors can conveniently reserve their van ride on-line. Once at the top, there are expansive vistas of multiple states and Canada. Be sure to visit the Tip Top House museum, the observation deck, and the famous Mount Washington Weather Observatory museum named "Extreme Mount Washington." Explore Caves and Gorges Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves offers a raised boardwalk through an ancient gorge with waterfalls, and optional detours to follow the river through granite boulder caves. Of particular interest is Paradise Falls, which plunges 35 feet into a forest pool, and the new Giant Birds nest, large enough for people to view the surrounding mountains from a birds eye view. There is also a very popular nighttime Lantern Tour of the caves. Kids will enjoy panning for gems and rocks at the mining sluice, available both at Lost River and at nearby Polar Caves Park. The boardwalks at the Polar Caves bring visitors around gigantic boulders and through caves to the top of cliff with an extensive view of the Baker River Valley. Beyond the boardwalk, there is a granite climbing wall at the base of the cliff, red deer to feed, and exotic birds to view. While in the area, be sure to stop in Franconia Notch at The Flume Gorge, where visitors marvel at the 90-foot-tall walls, the waterfalls and two historic covered bridges. There is also the Bears Cave, the Wolfs Den and many scenic vistas to enjoy. The tour starts at the Visitor Center, which has a short video about the natural and historical scenery of the Franconia Notch region. Feel Like a Kid Again Clarks Trading Post has been captivating families since 1928, so this is the 90thanniversary of this family-owned theme park. Their trained bear shows have delighted generations, who have watched peer groups of black bears and family members grow up and learn to perform together. Along with the talented Bears, Clarks offers historic train rides, which are visited by The Wolfman. There is also fascinating Americana, and enough rides and activities to satisfy all ages. Splash the day away at the Whales Tale Waterpark, an award-winning park surrounded by mountain views. There are multiple water rides, a giant wave pool, a lazy river, and now a surf simulator offering plenty of water adventure for every member of the family. Parents and grandparents may remember visiting these two popular parks in the White Mountains: Story Land is a storybook themed amusement park that first opened in the 1950s and offers more than 30 whimsical rides, attractions, and musical shows to delight children and parents alike. Santas Village stands by its slogan Pure JOY, Family Style in offering visitors access to Santa and his reindeer all summer long and during the holidays. While there, feed the reindeer, give Santa your List and visit the Ho Ho Ho H2O water park. Take a Train Ride Train rides along the river and through the mountains bring back nostalgic memories at The Hobo Railroad in Lincoln and the Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway. The Hobo Railroad offers 90 minute day trips along the Pemigewasset River, while the Conway Scenic Railroad offers several daytime options with river and mountain scenery. Both offer extraordinary evening dinner trains. A train ride through the mountains is sure to please any family members. Go Airborne Visitor to the mountains really should find a way to the top and back down. There are many ways to do that in the White Mountains, with gondolas at Loon Mountain and Wildcat Mountain, an aerial tramway at Cannon Mountain, and chairlifts at Cranmore Mountain and Attitash Mountain all offering roundtrip rides to the summit and back with expansive views and little effort. For a different way down the mountain, there are high adventure zip lines at Attitash Mountain and Alpine Adventures, the mid-level Zip-Rider at Wildcat Mountain, the easier EagleRider at Cranmore or the short-but-scenic zip line across the river at Loon Mountain. And you can continue the above ground adventure on canopy tours, and aerial parks at Alpine Adventures, Cranmore Mountain and Loon Mountain. Camp Out under the stars Amazing memories are made over smores and a campfire at a perfectly selected campsite. Get a good nights sleep under the stars while camping in the White Mountain National Forest or at dozens of amenity-filled privately-owned campgrounds in the mountains. Some have evening programs around the campfires, and fun for groups of all sizes. Bag a Peak or Two (Or Three) From a simple stroll in the woods to working on your list of 4,000 footers, there are trails for all levels of hikers in the White Mountains. There are 1,200 miles of hiking trails in the White Mountains, so youll find something to get the blood pumping or to see that amazing view youve been waiting for. These are three good ones with little chance of crowds and plenty of views. Potash Mountain - This 2,700 peak is on the list 52 With a View, and offers sweeping 360 views. The trailhead can be accessed from the Kancamagus Highway. Mount Osceola - Offering stunning views of the Sandwich Range Wilderness, this 4,315 peak can be accessed either from the Kancamagus Highway or off Tripoli Road in Waterville Valley. Mount Moosilauke This expert hike begins at the Beaver Brook Trailhead on Route 112 west of N. Woodstock and is approximately 7.6 miles roundtrip. It stands at 4,802 feet and has 360 views of Franconia Ridge and the Kinsman Range from its summit above the tree line. Spend the Day in the Water The great rivers of the White Mountains offer clear cool water, swimming holes, kayaking and floating through the villages and wilds of the mountains. Relax on the Saco, Pemigewasset, Androscoggin, and the Ammonoosuc. Or swim in the easily accessible Echo Lakes (theres one in Conway and one in Franconia Notch). Pan For Gold Yes, you can pan for gold on your summer vacation. For hundreds of years, gold has been discovered in the White Mountains, primarily in the waters of the Pemigewasset, Baker, Ammonoosuc and Wild Ammonoosuc Rivers. The White Mountain National Forest has information about it (search their website) and local businesses sell pans and equipment (including the Twin River Campground near the Wild Ammonoosuc River.) A quick search online will show you some techniques, then start searching for your own precious flakes and nuggets. Find your favorite covered bridge or waterfall With nearly thirty of each to choose from, you can spend some time choosing your favorites from Plymouth all the way north to the Canadian border. Options include the train bridge at Clarks Trading Post with a steam vent all along the top, or one in Bartlett with a gift shop inside, or one built atop a fallen tree at the Flume Gorge! Download the list from the VisitWhiteMountains.com website, or grab a copy of the Covered Bridges and Waterfalls brochure from a local lodge or info center. Youll find more information on these and other suggestions at https://www.visitwhitemountains.com. About the White Mountains Visitor Center: The White Mountains Visitor Center is operated by the White Mountains Attractions Association. Founded in 1958,the White Mountains Attractions Association is the destination marketing organization for the region and the 17 attractions within the White Mountains, including Alpine Adventures; Attitash Mountain Resort; Cannon Mountain; Clark's Trading Post; Conway Scenic Railroad; Cranmore Mountain Resort; Flume Gorge; Hobo Railroad, Loon Mountain, Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves; Mount Washington Auto Road; Mount Washington Cog Railway; Polar Caves Park; Santa's Village; Story Land; Whale's Tale Water Park and Wildcat Mountain. Feldco Representatives and Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting We have a great local team and look forward to delighting customers here for years to come. Feldco Windows, Siding and Doors celebrated their newest locations yesterday. A ribbon cutting took place at the new Feldco showrooms in both Cedar Rapids, IA and Springfield, IL. While Feldco has been operational in each of these markets for a few months, the showrooms are now fully outfitted and both locations fully staffed. Feldco President, Ron Gerstung, attended the ribbon cutting in Cedar Rapids. The event was coordinated by the Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance and their ambassadors were in attendance to formally welcome Gerstung and his local Cedar Rapids team to the market. We are extremely excited to work with Cedar Rapids homeowners on their window, siding and door projects, said Gerstung. Feldco has had great success in Iowa since opening a location in Davenport a few years back and we look forward to continued success here in Cedar Rapids. We have a great local team and look forward to delighting customers here for years to come, he added. A few hours southeast, the Springfield ribbon cutting at Feldcos newest location in Illinois was taking place. This event was held by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and also attended by many ambassadors to see the new location and greet the local Feldco team. Feldco Vice President of Marketing, Patti Freko was in attendance as well as Director of Sales, Marcus Daily and the local Springfield team. Freko recalled the ribbon cutting in nearby Peoria almost a decade ago. She stated Feldco is proud to have our newest location here in Illinois state capital. While we served some of the area from our Peoria office, we wanted a dedicated team to fully meet the needs of Springfield residents. The Cedar Rapids location is at 4920 Blairs Forest CT, NE. The Springfield, IL showroom is located at 719 Estill Drive. The addition of these two locations makes Feldcos total number of showrooms ten, serving nine total markets across Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Feldco is the Midwests leading window, siding and door replacement specialist. Founded in 1976, the company is focused on delighting customers by making home improvement projects simple. With premium products, factory-direct pricing and certified installers, Feldco provides an excellent overall value and experience having served over 350,000 customers across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa. Feldco has been frequently named one of Chicagos Tribunes Top Workplaces and was recently recognized as the #1 Window and Door Company in America by Window and Door Magazine. Please visit Feldco's website (http://www.4feldco.com) or contact the company's Communication Center (866-4FELDCO or 708-437-4000) to learn more about Feldco's products and services. Starting Monday August 6th, Free People will be hosting an exclusive Movement, beauty and wellness experience at North 3rd Street Market. The pop up will host free programming throughout the month. The pop-up will also raise funds to support wellness programming for girls at Girls Inc, a non-profit organization that Free People has been supporting over the past three years that encourages all girls to be strong, smart and bold through direct service and advocacy. Customers can check out the full schedule of programming here: https://fpmovementwilliamsburg.splashthat.com/ An extended collection of the brands Free People Movement line will be available for purchase at the pop up. The work out apparel will take you from the studio to the street, for yoga, dance, run and all workouts in-between. Customers can expect to see seamless leggings, tried and true tank tops, pullovers and more. The space will also carry a select assortment of beauty and wellness products from brand favorites Moon Juice, The Beauty Chef, 8 Greens, Sisters and more! The Free People beauty & wellness assortment was created for the girl who leads a healthy and active lifestyle seeking to look and feel beautiful from the inside out. The pop up is located at North Third Street Market at 103 N 3rd Street Brooklyn, NY 11249. Pop up hours are 11AM-8PM daily. For more information, images, to request an interview, or to discuss a TV opportunity, please call Katerina Patouhas at 215-454-3871 or email kpatouhas(at)freepeople.com. About Free People Free People is a global lifestyle brand defined by femininity, creativity, curiosity and adventure, with offerings in unique apparel, intimate wear, shoes and accessories. As an expansion of our lifestyle FP has moved into wellness, fitness, travel and curation of beauty starting from the inside out. The Philadelphia-based retailer is available via our global, UK and China sites, top department and specialty stores, as well as via Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter Harold C. Morgan, MD, a near-retired Harvard-trained forensic psychiatrist who splits his time between his home in Atlanta and his beach cottage in South Carolina, has completed his book Death Row Psychiatrist: A Brief Look at Criminals and Their Crimes: a riveting behind-the-scenes look at real murder cases and the mental state of those accused of a variety of violent crimes. Death Row Psychiatrist is a real-life account of real-life criminals and their crimes; some, but not all, were on death row, where the author was consultant. It includes a wide range of people and personalities from the nice to the narcissistic, a wide range of criminal activities from murder for hire to kidnapping and child molesting, and a wide range of ages from teenagers to octogenarians. They were all examined by the author prior to their trials. Those reported here are among the favorites of the hundreds the author has examined in his thirty-five years as a forensic psychiatrist. The stories reveal little about the background of the perpetrators. There is no in-depth explanation of the psychodynamic motivation for the crime; they are simply a report of interesting criminals and interesting crimes taken from the authors casebook. Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Harold C. Morgans book is an engrossing collection of psychiatric case studies from actual violent offenders with varying degrees of sanity and psychosis. Readers who wish to experience this compelling work can purchaseDeath Row Psychiatrist: A Brief Look at Criminals and Their Crimes at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional New York-based full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of accomplished authors and publishing professionals allows writers to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. The opioid bill sitting on Rauners desk would allow medical marijuana to be used in place of prescription painkillers. If the bill becomes law, through Rauners signature or with an override if he vetoes it, a boost in demand is certain. The states prescription monitoring program tracked 1.5 million opioid prescriptions in the first quarter of 2017, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data. That equates to more than one opioid prescription for every 8.5 Illinois residents. The online cat news information portal Katzenworld extends its brand by launching the UK's first World Cat Federation cat Club under the Katzenworld Cats Club brand. Earlier this year part of the Katzenworld team met with the World Cat Federation in Bran Castle in Romania as part of the Magnificats World Cat Show and part of this was to finalise the creation of the first World Cat Federation cat Club in the UK called Katzenworld Cats Club. What is the World Cat Federation? The World Cat Federation eV, or just WCF, is an international association of cat clubs, which is registered in Germany. There are 280 organizations worldwide associated with the WCF. President is currently Anneliese Hackmann from Essen. The WCF has been successfully working on the development of animal protection laws in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The WCF allows the breeders of affiliated clubs to register their cattery names internationally. They created standards for pedigreed cats of which she has currently published 61. The WCF trains judges for exhibitions and organizes the examines. The WCF has established exhibition rules that the exhibition, and the division of the cats in separate classes. Generally, the WCF is designed to promote international contacts of the cat clubs affiliated. Their new logo depicts the six continents on which the WCF has members. The rainbow coloured continents are framed by our premise. The rainbow is a symbolic bridge between the 6 continents on which the WCF is established. It signifies acceptance of the diversity of life together with the common bond of love of cats. That is what makes the WCF such a special organisation. Why did Katzenworld choose the WCF over joining one of the existing cat registries in the UK? As the WCF has a strong core value of animal protection it is one of the reasons that attracted Katzenworld to form a cat club under the governing rules of the WCF for the UK. The WCF club enables Katzenworld and their team to run cat shows where members of the WCF are able to bring their cats along to events similar to those organised by the existing organisations such as the GCCF or TICA while adding a focus on cat care and animal welfare as a natural extension of their work through the news platform. Additionally, the traditional cat show format of the WCF is also less stressful for cats and due to its generally more relaxed nature a lot easier for newcomers. The current plan is to host a minimum of 2 shows per year starting from January 2019 while building up the memberships. For the events, Katzenworld plans to involve organisations and veterinaries to provide education and advice for cat owners and breeders. Interviews and additional high res images are available upon request. Lisa Cassatt, a single mother and nature lover who enjoys hiking, horseback riding, and swimming in her native Colorado, has completed her book A Mothers Heart and the Will to Fight: a journal of determination and perseverance in advocating for a neurologically impaired child. Lisa shares, At age two years, five months, and six days, my son had a surgical procedure that forever rocked our world. This procedure resulted in the drastic loss of my sons developmental skills in seven days. Due to the severity of developmental loss, his physician made a referral to the childrens hospital, in order to get a medical diagnosis to start treatment. It was during the grueling eight and a half hours before we were given a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (299.0). However, when my sons test results came back, I was told that he didnt fit the normal profile they see with children with Autism and that it was her professional opinion that my son suffered an allergic reaction to the anesthetic given, but it would be up to me to prove it. It was this phone call that has made me fighter on my sons behalf, helping him to regain developmental skills once lost, and giving me the courage to find the answers. Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Lisa Cassatts book is an invaluable resource and source of encouragement for parents, family, and friends of autistic children. Readers who wish to experience this compelling work can purchase A Mothers Heart and the Will to Fight at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional New York-based, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not overwhelmed with logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of accomplished authors and publishing professionals allows writers to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Dr. Eftekhari Delivers Smiles in Paraguay Dr. Siavash Eftekhari, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Monarch Dental in Grapevine, TX recently traveled to Asuncion, Paraguay for a week-long international outpost trip to deliver dental care in impoverished communities. Along with a team of fellow Smile Brands Inc. affiliated colleagues and support staff, Dr. Eftekhari volunteered his time to help deliver care to over 550 individuals in need. This outreach was hosted by Smiles for Everyone Foundation, a nonprofit with the mission to deliver smiles for everyone by providing free dental care to those in need, both at home in the US and around the world. In partnership with Diaconia, a local NGO with the mission to empower those living in poverty to live with dignity and freedom, the Smiles for Everyone Foundation has supported year-round dental outreaches in Paraguay since 2011. Outreaches were held at orphanages, community centers and schools in the communities surrounding Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay. Local Paraguayan dentists partnered with the team throughout the week, working side by side to deliver care late into each night. During the six days of outreaches, the local dentists were also trained on complex dental procedures and working with the portable dental equipment so they can continue to deliver smiles in their communities throughout the year. Dr. Eftekhari will also be participating in the Foundations upcoming Day of Giving in Lewisville, TX next month to provide free dental care to the local underserved community. For further information on the Paraguay trip and other outreach efforts, please visit the Foundations blog at https://www.smilesforeveryone.org/smile-stories/. About Monarch Dental Monarch Dental provides general dentistry, childrens dentistry and specialty care services such as orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics and endodontics at 89 locations throughout Texas, Arkansas and Utah. Monarch Dental affiliated practices make it easy and affordable for individuals and families to get the dental care they need with convenient locations, extended hours and same-day appointments. The Monarch Dental mission is to create healthier smiles by making dental visits easy and enjoyable. Learn more at http://www.monarchdental.com. About the Smiles For Everyone Foundation The Smiles for Everyone Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of delivering smiles for everyone by providing free dental care for those in need, both at home in the U.S. and around the world. Since 2011, the Smiles for Everyone Foundation has delivered over 16,000 smiles and $12.5 million in donated dentistry. The foundation currently supports programs which provide free dental care to those in need in Cambodia, Ghana, Laos, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Thailand and the United States. For more information or to make a donation, visit http://www.smilesforeveryone.org. Contacts: Monarch Dental Jody Martin PR@smilebrands.com 714.427.1299 Smiles for Everyone Foundation Crystal Strait crystal.strait@smilesforeveryone.org 714.824.5037 ### Patagonia Health, Inc., a leading supplier of Electronic Health Record (EHR) solutions to the Public Health, Behavioral Health and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) markets, recently hired Amos Slaymaker to lead the companys growth. He has also been entrusted to identify strategic partnership opportunities and new markets where Patagonia Health can make a positive impact. The appointment of a senior sales leader comes at a time when Patagonia Health is experiencing rapid growth as the adoption of its cloud-based software as a service EHR system accelerates in the Public Health, Behavioral Health and FQHC markets. As we close in on our first 10 years in business, with a customer base from coast-to-coast, we are very excited about Amos plans for our sales efforts, said Ashok Mathur, CEO and co-founder at Patagonia Health. Amos has a proven history building sales organizations and delivering results in a manner aligned with one of our core missions - 100% customer reference-ability. He is a driven professional capable of growing sales in an ethical and solutions-oriented manner. Sales sets the tone for how Patagonia Health builds relationships with customers, said Slaymaker. We will continue to be the trusted advisors Public Health Departments, and others, turn to for assistance evaluating Electronic Health Records solutions. With Patagonia Healths commitment to providing easy-to-use services and 100% customer reference-ability, I am thrilled at our prospects for the future. Furthermore, I am fully confident in our ability to meet, and exceed, our projections over the next three to five years. Mr. Slaymaker brings a broad range of experience to his position at Patagonia Health, including direct B2B sales, international sales, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 channel sales. Most recently he served executive roles at Bivarus (VP of Sales & Business Development) and GFI Software (Director of Sales, Americas), as well as sales leadership roles at Allscripts, IDEXX Laboratories, and Medfusion. In his last venture at Bivarus, Inc, Mr. Slaymaker rapidly turned the startup into a market disruptor in the real-time patient experience space. He successfully exited the company following its acquisition by Press Ganey Associates. About Patagonia Health Inc. Patagonia Health Inc. is a healthcare software supplier that has built a cloud and apps-based software solution. The solution includes an integrated, federally-certified, Electronic Health Record (EHR), Practice Management (PM) and Billing software. The companys mission is to solve two major barriers to EHR adoption, usability and cost, and address customers number one problem: billing. Patagonia Healths one-of-a-kind apps-based system represents a paradigm shift in the EHR software industry, and its highly-intelligent solution uses sophisticated technology that is extremely easy-to-use. Innovative and unique apps provide timely data for organizations to improve workflow, streamline their operations and take their organizations to the next level. For more information, visit https://patagoniahealth.com or email info(at)patagoniahealth(dot)com. For more information, contact: Patagonia Health Inc. 15100 Weston Parkway Cary, NC 27513 Email: info(at)patagoniahealth(dot)com Phone: (919) 238.4780 Fax: (919) 238.7920 Web: https://patagoniahealth.com R. Scott Lemriel is the worlds leading direct experience-based, hidden truth revealing researcher that has always been outspoken about his encounters with kind extraterrestrials or aliens - many of them human beings not from Earth. The celebrated author has conducted many special experience-based presentations at numerous international conferences, where he has shared his experiences of many past and ongoing encounters with a vast organization of very advanced benevolent extraterrestrials and a few smaller factions of malevolent tyrant extraterrestrials he crossed paths with along the past time-track. He is also a prolific music composer and sometimes performer, music producer, feature film development writer - producer and director, that has published the 1st of 7-9 planned music CD albums titled, "Stranger On A Lost Island." This was accomplished with the sole intention of expanding the self awareness of listeners worldwide. R. Scott Lemriel is perhaps best known for his remarkable hidden truth revealing books - The Seres Agenda (containing a very special techniques section at the back to assist readers to have their own direct experiences with the hidden truths revealed) & The Emerald Doorway (book one of The Parallel Time Trilogy series) about a far more ancient past on Earth and in our solar system than is known and understood by people of Earth today. What is revealed in the chapters involves both benevolent and malevolent extraterrestrial beings. The Seres Agenda books also reveal deliberately hidden or suppressed truth about the origins of human life that did not originate on planet Earth in the first place. Speaking about the aforementioned regarding The Seres Agenda book, the well-respected author explained, This book was written to share the stunning uplifting awareness about a grand plan that was quite recently put forward by an extraterrestrial race of humans called the Seres. Those who are well-versed in true intergalactic history know the Seres to be extremely kind-hardhearted and benevolent, represented by the astute Ambassador Torellian. These benevolent beings have decided that its high time to put an end to 'the experiment of evil' on Earth and they are revealing a grand plan that will have a positive and uplifting effect on the people of our planet. R. Scott Lemriel understands true intergalactic, planet Earth and our solar system history, as well as the most ancient and current deliberately hidden or subconsciously suppressed truths that can perhaps at first exposure be very overwhelming to fellow human beings that explore his work for the first time. This is why the author represents his direct experiences with the hidden truths he reveals through the Mark Santfield character in The Seres Agenda. This is done to assist people to understand and actually comprehend how the changing destiny of humans on Earth is directly connected to the changing destiny of extraterrestrials in our solar system and out among the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. They are, in fact, completely intertwined. The Seres Agenda is a very easy read and doesnt require excessive concentration on the part of the reader," says R. Scott Lemriel,. If they trust in their own true inner being and keep an open heart within themselves to genuinely endeavor to understand what the book is revealing, they are bound to benefit in immensely wondrously satisfying new ways. The character Mark Santfield is entirely based on my direct experiences with everything revealed in the book to assist the newcomer's first and subsequent exposure to deliberately hidden truth. In this way, they can far better understand the bigger picture they have been kept from knowing all their lives. In other words, the protagonist of the book is the hidden truth researcher who [over the course of the book] comes to discover how short sighted the US and former USSR officials were during the Cold War, when they were covertly blackmailed into signing a treaty with totalitarian extraterrestrials. These off-world tyrants did not require we give up all negative destruction radio-active materials and nuclear weaponry. Earth's former political leaders after World War II were compelled in this direction by the misuse of advanced extraterrestrial technology that affected them subconsciously and they did not see it coming. The offered proposal previously put to them from a vast benevolent (kind) organization of world systems was turned down shortly after World War II because they required we first get rid of all destructive deadly radioactive nuclear materials and nuclear bomb developments because they are, in fact, outlawed outside of planet Earth in the entire Milky War Galaxy." From this point of understanding onward, the reader begins to comprehend how human classified governments on Earth were infiltrated by a few totalitarian extraterrestrials beings that broke a 500,000 year old treaty to behave covertly on Earth in such diabolical ways. What matters most in the book, is that R. Scott Lemriel also reveals how this kind of nonsense off-world and on Earth is coming to a permanent end! R. Scott Lemriel is dedicated to make available the deliberately hidden truths he reveals for the uplifting benefit of fellow human beings on Earth more accessible and experience-based beneficial. The direct experience-based hidden truth revealing researcher invites questions from inquisitive and sincere hidden truth seeking people from all over the world, who want real answers, to contact him through his website via the 'Contact' link on the top of the main page. About R. Scott Lemriel: All aspects of Parallel Time, parallel and higher dimensions, out-of-body travel, exploring journeys along the past time track, galactic history, and a far more ancient history of Earth and our solar system that involved both benevolent and malevolent extraterrestrials are available at the ParallelTime.com website. At this unique uplifting or consciousness expanding website, direct experience-based international speaker R. Scott Lemriel shares many of his illuminating experiences with 'knowing certainty' about these subjects and ways to experience them for yourself via your own similar direct awakening experiences. Being an awarded vendor for portable/modular buildings with TIPS gives Palomar exposure to Texas school districts which helps us to continue providing educators with a cost-effective solution to deal with fluctuating enrollment. The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) approved Palomar Modular Buildings as an awarded vendor for their portable/modular buildings allowing TIPS members to purchase modular buildings at favorable negotiated rates. The Interlocal Purchasing System, better known as TIPS Purchasing Cooperative, began in 2002 as a small regional cooperative of the Region 8 Education Service Center (ESC). The Region 8 ESC organization provides educational resources and support to 47 school districts in an 11 county area of the Northeastern most corner of Texas. This represents more than 56,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students. TIPS provides Region 8 Education Service Center members with a proven cooperative purchasing process that leverages the collective purchasing power of public and private school districts. Being an awarded vendor for portable/modular buildings with TIPS gives Palomar exposure to Texas school districts which helps us to continue providing educators with a cost-effective solution to deal with fluctuating enrollment, says John Martin, president with Palomar Modular Buildings. Palomar Modular Buildings provides education building solutions for school districts to satisfy temporary and permanent construction requirements. Palomar works with school facility administrators to develop floor plans, facility planning, space design, and project management to deliver an optimized experience for education providers. About Palomar Modular Buildings Palomar Modular Buildings manufactures advanced modular buildings for a range of industries including office, retail, healthcare, education and workforce housing. The companys state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in DeSoto, Texas, is staffed with a dedicated team of skilled tradesmen and production managers that have produced hundreds of modular projects from simple additions to complex multi-stage facilities. # # # If you would like further information about this press release or to schedule an interview with Gary Taylor, please contact Gary Taylor at gtaylor(at)palomarmodular(dot)com or call 1-866-312-4032. There is no certainty a deal will be struck, and sources said the financing might not be fully in place. But if a sale were to occur, it would mark the second change in control in less than three years for the company that owns the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers. Our amazing staff works so hard and we pride ourselves in providing excellent care, attention to detail, and unparalleled customer service to our residents and families. The Landing of Canton, in Canton, OH, a Meridian Senior Living assisted living and memory care community, has achieved a deficiency-free annual survey in August, 2018 as administered by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). I was ecstatic to hear the news. Our amazing staff works so hard and we pride ourselves in providing excellent care, attention to detail, and unparalleled customer service to our residents and families, expressed The Landing of Cantons Community Sales Director Michelle Clapper. I feel that our use of teamwork and communication amongst all of our staff play a key role in the quality of care we provide on a daily basis. We are a small community and treat everyone like family. So if there is a small issue, we all work together to solve and stop it before it becomes a problem. In order for an assisted living community to achieve a deficiency-free survey, all services provided at the facility must meet or exceed all state and federal standards. A deficiency-free survey in Ohio's rigorous inspection is uncommon and a key indicator of excellence for an assisted living community. According to ODHs 2015 data report (most recent available) approximately 122 facilities were deficiency-free, representing about 12% of Ohio senior communities. Assisted living communities are inspected every nine to fifteen months to evaluate services and systems in place. In a multi-day process, inspectors arrive unannounced to conduct interviews, inspect the physical building, observe the operations, and check records. Surveyors determine compliance with regulations governing areas including quality of care, quality of service, safety, residents rights, and confidentiality. The assisted living community is awarded a deficiency-free survey when all of these regulations are met. At The Landing of Canton, receiving an excellent state survey means that seniors can expect the highest level of care in an prime environment, which is important when selecting a senior living community. For more information about The Landing of Canton, visit http://www.meridiansenior.com/canton. About Meridian Senior Living: Meridian Senior Living, LLC, a privately held company, owns and operates senior housing communities across the United States. With approximately 7,000 beds, Meridian is currently the fifth largest assisted living provider and the third largest memory care provider in the United States. Meridian prides itself on providing the highest quality care and affordable living options to residents in their own communities. Although large in scale, Meridian focuses its growth effort on building state-of-the-art properties in cities outside major markets. For more information on Meridian Senior Living, visit us online at http://www.meridiansenior.com. We are thrilled with the wealth of knowledge and capabilities that Dustin Brown brings to the Volcker Alliance. This new appointment creates exciting opportunities to improve government performance and management through strengthening partnerships between the federal government and universities. Today, the Volcker Alliance announced that Dustin Brown has been appointed a Senior Fellow of the Volcker Alliance where he will focus on efforts to increase the effective interaction of government with universities. In addition, the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, established to advance effective management of government to achieve results that matter to citizens, hired a new Director of Communications and Program Fellow. We are thrilled with the wealth of knowledge and capabilities that Dustin Brown brings to the Volcker Alliance, said Thomas W. Ross, president of the Volcker Alliance. This new appointment creates exciting opportunities to improve government performance and management through strengthening partnerships between the federal government and universities. Deputy Assistant Director Brown will join the Alliance as a Senior Fellow through Title IV of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (IPA) which permits temporary assignment of personnel between federal, state, and local governments, institutes of higher education, and other eligible nonprofit organizations. During this time, he will take a six-month sabbatical from his role as the Deputy Assistant Director for Management at the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB). While working with the Alliance, he will concentrate on improving recruitment of top talent from universities into federal government, while striving to reach consensus on the skills that will be most in demand within the federal government. In addition, his focus will be on ways universities can better develop those competencies and, also, examining ways to strengthen opportunities for government to communicate research questions to universities related to the management and effectiveness of government. Deputy Assistant Director Brown joined OMB in 2001 and has worked on community and economic development policy, international affairs, and in the OMB Directors Office before becoming the career SES head of the Office of Performance and Personnel Management in 2007. He has a masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, a bachelor's degree from Manchester College in Indiana, and received a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Quito, Ecuador. Other staff announcements include Neilia Stephens, who joined the organization in July 2018 as the Director of Communications. She has more than 20 years of experience designing and implementing global strategic communications for cities, states, and countries. Prior to joining the Volcker Alliance, Mrs. Stephens served as a Principal on the public relations and marketing team at Conway, Inc., and previously worked at Development Counsellors International, where she held numerous roles such as Account Director, Director of Media Training, and Internship Director. Mrs. Stephens completed her bachelors degree in Corporate Communications at Baruch College. Also, Robert Chislett recently joined the Alliance as Program Fellow. He currently supports the Truth and Integrity in State Budgeting initiative, a multiyear study of state budgeting practices. Robert is a United States Army combat veteran with over a decade of proven leadership and management experience derived from conducting domestic and global operations throughout the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. Previously, Mr. Chislett served as a Deep-Dive Associate for Ashoka Social Financial Services and completed a year-long capstone consulting project for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where he worked with the Kingdom of eSwatinis Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy (MNRE) to establish innovative policies and strategies that support the development of a national renewable energy market. He obtained a masters in Public Administration from the New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a bachelors degree from the University of Maryland University College. Due to their collective areas of expertise within the communications and public policy fields, I am confident that the additions of Neilia Stephens and Robert Chislett will be of great service to the Volcker Alliance and help achieve our core mission of increasing effective government, said Mr. Ross. ### The Volcker Alliance advances effective management of government to achieve results that matter to citizens. The nonpartisan Alliance works toward that objective by partnering with other organizationsacademic, business, governmental, and public interestto strengthen professional education for public service, conduct needed research on government performance, and improve the efficiency and accountability of governmental organization at the federal, state, and local levels. Visit volckeralliance.org to learn more. The Volcker Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization. For author Emily M. Danforth, the film adaptation of her 2012 novel, The Miseducation of Cameron Post (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray) is exactly what she wishes she might have seen when she was growing up. I love the film so much! she told PW. It would have meant the world to me as a closeted queer teenager in rural Montana. The storys titular protagonist is coming of age as a gay teen in Miles City, Mont., in the 1990s. Following the untimely death of her parents, and after being caught by her boyfriend kissing a girl on prom night, Camerons aunt arranges for her to be sent to a gay conversion therapy facility known as Gods Promise. The film stars Chloe Grace Moretz as Cameron, with Sasha Lane and Forrest Goodluck playing Camerons friends Jane and Adam. Directing the film is Desiree Akhavan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Cecilia Frugiuele. Danforth, who was in frequent contact with the writers and was consulted on several drafts of the screenplay, praises the way that the adaptation streamlines the book, saying that the screenwriters so beautifully condensed the storyline without sacrificing its voice and spirit. The book (at nearly 500 pages) focuses significantly more on Camerons life before her arrival at Gods Promise; the film largely takes place at the conversion center. There, Cameron comes face-to-face with individuals who believe that homosexuality is a sickness to be overcome through connection with God. With an eye toward verisimilitude, the writers consulted with individuals who have been subjected to conversion therapy. In a recent joint interview with danforth and Akhavan on NPRs Fresh Air, danforth shared that, while she never personally experienced conversion therapy as a teen, the threat was very present throughout her upbringing. Gay conversion therapy loomed large in the landscape of my life as a closeted teenager growing up, much like it does for Cameron, she said. Akhavan spoke to Fresh Air about how her interest in adapting and directing danforths story arose from the desire to not only address the damage inflicted upon teens by conversion therapy, but to explore a more overarching prescribed rule book for behavior that impacts choices about gender, sexuality, and identity as a whole. Her affection for the book was also an intimidating factor: I was terrified to make The Miseducation of Cameron Post, she said. She added that she felt the book was so masterfully done in tone. With the balance of humor and genre, it felt bigger than me. I really [didnt] want to mess that up. From danforths perspective, the film (and Akhavan) succeeds: I think [the film] nails the comedic and (predominately) hopeful tone of the book, which is no small task given the era and the conversion therapy subject matter. During the early stages of the films development, Akhavan and danforth visited Montana together. They had hoped to set and film the movie there, but budgetary concerns prevented that from happening; instead, the film is set in upstate New York. Danforth visited the set on two occasions and even appears in the rock concert scene with her wife. Im so happy that this film made by queer people is giving attention to this shamefully timely subject, she said. I feel very lucky and honored that such a funny and warm and honest queer film was made of my novel. And if you want more of Cams backstory you can have that, tooif you read the book! Shambhala Publications will launch its new childrens imprint Bala Kids on February 5, 2019, with the release of Everything is Connected, a picture book by Jason Gruhl and illustrated by Ignasi Font. The new imprint, which PW initially reported in February, will be led by Ivan Bercholz, publisher, and Juree Sondker, editorial director. Bercholz is the son of Shambhala Publications founder Sam Bercholz, and is the second-generation owner of the company, along with his sister, Sara Bercholz. This has been something that we've been thinking about and building toward for a number of years, but last year the right combination of people and inspiration came together to make it a reality, Bercholz told PW. Sondker, who joined Shambhala as editor in 2016, will continue to edit for Shambhalas Roost Books imprint in addition for Bala Kids. The inaugural Bala Kids list also includes Wheres Buddha by author-illustrator Marisa Aragon Ware, and releases on February 12. The Sitting Still Like a Frog Activity Book by Eline Snel, based on her meditation book for kids Sitting Still Like a Frog, will follow on April 9. The press will publish a total of six children's titles in 2019, with plans to increase output to up to 12 books in subsequent years. Shambhala, which was founded in 1969, has published childrens books in the past, but Bala Kids signifies a growing need, according to president Nikko Odiseos. We are thrilled to be filling what we see as a big gap in authentic, engaging, and meaningful books on meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and Buddhism and hope, to both ignite a new generation of readers and to give powerful tools to their parents, he told PW. The new imprint joins existing Shambhala imprints Snow Lion and Roost, as well as the publisher's educational branch, Prajna Studios. Like Shambhala, Bala Kids will be distributed to the trade by Random House. Love your local librarian? Here one way to show your appreciation. The American Library Association (ALA) is currently seeking nominations for the 2018 "I Love My Librarian Award," a coveted honor that recognizes librarians for work they do in communities throughout the country. You can nominate your favorite librarians working in public, school, college, community college, or university libraries through Oct. 1, 2018. The ALA will select up to 10 award recipients, and each winner will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque, and a travel stipend to attend the I Love My Librarian Award ceremony and reception in New York City on Dec. 4 hosted by the award sponsor, the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Since the award was established in 2008, library users nationwide have shared more than 18,000 nominations detailing how librarians have used their expertise to connect them to information, educational opportunities and critical technology to help improve the quality of their lives. Last year's award winners included an academic librarian who preserves LGBTQ history, a public librarian who helps economically disadvantaged families connect with social services and a school librarian who inspires a love of reading in students who are new to the United States or speak English as a second language. Reserve Reading How many times have you heard someone say that their local librarian saved their life? Well, these librarians literally saved someones life. Great job! Unfortunately, it seems like Bibb County in Georgia (which includes Macon) is about to close its last library, after voters rejected a small millage rate increase. It happens more often than you think: a patron comes into the library asking for a book they can't remember, "you know, that one with the red cover...a W in the title?" And librarians, it turns out, are remarkably good at finding these forgotten books. Atlas Obscura, profiles this "crack squad of librarians" who track such requests down. "The first case was cracked in just a few minutes, courtesy of a remote staffer who recognized the plot of Imbolo Mbues 2017 Behold the Dreamers. The room filled with a smattering of applause and enthusiastic dinging of the hotel bell. Someone made a hash mark on the dry-erase board." Last week we questioned how librarians would respond to patrons wanting to use the library's 3D printer to make guns. Turns out it's not an abstract question. "A recent request from a patron of Millburn (N.J.) Free Public Library (MFPL) was a first for the libraryand it left the reference librarian unnerved," reports American Libraries. "The patron wanted to use the facilitys 3D printer to create a part for an AR-15 rifle." The column goes on to detail the ALA's policy recommendations for 3D printers. The Daily Beast reports that 43% of Republicans want to give Trump the power to shut down media outlets (compared to 12% of Democrats and 21% of Independents). Is the president's enemy of the people talk working? The Intercept details the internal backlash among Google employees after the companys confidential plan to launch a "censored version of its search engine" in China was revealed last week. "One source who spoke to Bloomberg characterized the project as a 'censorship engine' which they said they viewed as a betrayal of Googles values," the report notes. "Bloomberg described a ferocious discussion among Google staffers, with some backing the companys censored search proposal because they believed that boycotting the country would not 'bring any positive change.' Following Apple, Spotify, and Youtube, Facebook this week took a big step and removed conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' InfoWars pages for violating the site's community standards. In a post, Facebook officials said the site was not banned for spreading fake news, but for violating Facebook's "graphic violence" and "hate speech" policies. Meanwhile, CEO Jack Dorsey says Twitter won't follow suit, because InfoWars hasn't broken Twitter's rules. Except CNN claims that their review of Alex Jones' accounts show that he has apparently broken Twitter rules. Over at Vox, Aja Romano blasts Twitter's decision. "In effect, Twitter is at a moral crossroadsand choosing the wrong path. The choice to allow Jones and his rhetoric to remain active on the platform suggests that there is no point at which a situation will become morally reprehensible enough for the company to take a stand." Kara Swisher at The New York Times has a good editorial on Twitter's decision. And over at TechDirt, Mike Masnick, has a long, thoughtful take on the broader implications of letting social media and internet giants define acceptable speech. JSTOR Daily has an interesting post on how librarianship was once considered too dangerous for Victorian women. "One speaker at the American Library Associations 1910 conference claimed he knew fifty librarians who had become incapacitated by the work," the post notes. By the 1920s, however, "the dangers of library work disappeared from public discussion as increasing numbers of middle-class women proved their competence." A report this week that illustrates how stubborn a problem sexism remains: "A prestigious Tokyo medical school has admitted and apologized for deliberately reducing women's entrance test scores to allow more men to enter the institution." Remember during the net neutrality debate how FCC officials said the agency's comment process was the target of a DDOS attack? An Inspector General report confirms that was a lie. Turns out, encouraged by HBO's John Oliver, a lot of people were just trying to post comments. At The Scholarly Kitchen, Kent Anderson weighs in on Elseviers acquisition of Aries Systems. "Even if Elsevier doesnt grow significantly in revenues with this acquisition, it grows significantly in gravitational pull and centrality." And finally, from LitHub, what immersing yourself in a book can do for you. "For a moment in time we leave ourselves; and when we return, sometimes expanded and strengthened, we are changed both intellectually and emotionally. Laura Griffin's Desperate Girls is an intensely suspenseful novel of murder and passion about defense attorney Brynn, who discovers that her former colleague has been murdered. The main suspect is a man she helped put in jail, whos now free and looking for revenge. Brynns boss hires a private security guard, Erik, to accompany her. At first Brynn is furious about her activities being dictated, but the more she gets to know Erik, the less she minds. As they embark on the dual thrill rides of the trial and the search for the killer, fire builds between Brynn and Erik. Griffin picks 10 of her favorite steamy thrillers. I love my spine-tingling thrillers with a dash of romance thrown in. To me, action and attraction are an unbeatable combination. Im one of those people who watched The Bourne Identity on the very edge of my seat, just as enthralled by that sultry first kiss as I was by the dizzying car chase through Paris. Its the same with books. A good suspense novel isnt complete without an underlying relationship to add an emotional punch to the story. For me, its always a treat to dive into a story and find that the author knows how to deftly balance the suspense and the romance, toggling between the two to keep the reader in a constant state of tension. If youre looking for a twisty suspense read that will make your heart pound, here are a few from my keeper shelf that you dont want to miss. 1. The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda YA author Megan Miranda (The Safest Lies) continues her successful foray into adult fiction with this twisty thriller. Amid a scandal, journalist Leah Stevens leaves her job in Boston for a quieter life in rural Pennsylvania, but quickly gets caught up in the disappearance of her close friend. Her attraction to the lead detective on the case only complicates matters, especially when Leah becomes a prime suspect. Mirandas writing is straightforward, and her tension-laden story will keep you in suspense to the end. 2. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica In this clever kidnapping-gone-wrong story, we meet Mia Dennett, the daughter of a Chicago judge. Mias life spins out of control after she goes home from a bar with a man who later kidnaps her. Kubica skillfully uses multiple perspectivesMia, her distraught mother, the detective, the kidnapperand gives the reader a view into the strangely sensual relationship between Mia and her abductor. Kubica layers the plot and keeps the surprises coming until the very last page. 3. Till Death by Jennifer L. Armentrout Dark and emotional, Armentrouts Till Death is the story of a traumatized young woman, Sasha Keaton, returning to the West Virginia hometown where she once escaped a vicious killer. Sasha originally comes home to find peace and to help run the family inn. But when violence strikes again, Sasha joins forces with FBI Agent Cole Landis to finally unravel the mystery from her past. Armentrout steadily builds the love story and the mystery plot to keep the reader hooked. 4. Fatal Affair by Marie Force Sex. Politics. Scandal. These are just a few elements of Marie Forces long-running Fatal series, set in Washington, D.C. Starting with Fatal Affair, the series features Samantha Holland, a smart and ambitious homicide detective who takes no bull from the men in her orbit. In book one of the series, Sam investigates a senators murder and its ripple effects throughout the most elite circles in Washington. The books mystery is compelling, but it is Sams hot and tumultuous love affair with politician Nick Cappuano that makes the entire Fatal series wonderfully addictive. If you read one of these books, be prepared to binge. 5. A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas Book one in the Lady Sherlock series by award-winning romance author Sherry Thomas takes you back in time to Victorian England, where a clever young womanworking under the pseudonym Sherlock Holmessets out to solve a string of murders. The series (now three books) is a fresh twist on Sir Arthur Conan Doyles original. Thomass lyrical writing and attention to detail make each of her books an experience to be savored. 6. The Fixer by HelenKay Dimon Haunted by the unsolved disappearance of her cousin years ago, Emery Finn is determined to find out what happened, so she turns to a professional fixer known as Wren for help. As they work on the cold case, Emery struggles to resist the temptation of the sexy and enigmatic fixer. Dimons sensual, carefully plotted novel won the 2018 Rita Award for romantic suspense. 7. Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag Tami Hoag has mastered romance, suspense, and everything in between. In Deeper Than the Dead, Hoag transports the reader to 1980s California, where FBI agent Vince Leone is pioneering a new technique called criminal profiling to hunt down a savage serial killer. Schoolteacher Anne Navarre gets involved with the caseand later with Vinceafter her students discover a body on their way home from school. As Vince pursues leads and sifts through the evidence, Anne catches the attention of the murderer. Hoags vivid writing and complex characters make this psychological thriller a truly gripping read. 8. Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak This chilling psychological thriller is set in Alaska, where Dr. Evelyn Talbot runs a maximum-security psychiatric facility called Hanover House. Evelyns work studying psychopaths encounters widespread resistance from locals, including the towns police sergeant, who comes to Evelyns aid when she becomes the target of a disturbed killer. The story showcases Novaks talent for dark suspense with an undercurrent of romance. 9. Night School by Lee Child This addition to Lee Childs ever-popular Jack Reacher series shows us a softer side of the hardened war hero as Reacher teams up with Sergeant Frances Neagley. The two have been handpicked by the U.S. government to help unravel a complex web of lies and deceptions spanning the Atlantic. Night School takes the reader on an intense thrill ride as Reacher and Neagley race to thwart the plot of a Jihadist sleeper cell operating in Germany. Child is known for writing high-octane action scenes, but I love the quieter scenes where we get a rare glimpse into Reachers emotional world. According to him, Obofuor is doing what God sent he (Shatta Wale) to do on earth. Speaking in an interview on Happy FM, Shatta said: What Obofuor is doing now is God sent, is what God also sent me to do on earth, I want to meet him, I only like to meet people who will be a blessing to my life. He added that Ghanaians are so short-sighted and they feel lazy to see into the future, God himself will come within a Ferrari. God also goes to the club. Ghanaians are so so myopic that they dont think into the future, God is a guy, he goes everywhere his children go. Obofuor is really doing what he wants him to do. Reverend Obofour is the Head Pastor of the Anointed Palace Chapel he is noted for singing Shatta Wales songs. The pastor said during one of his church services that most of Shatta Wales songs have better content than the mainstream gospel songs. He described Shatta Wale as the nations preacher because he touches on relevant issues that gospel artistes fail to tackle. According to him, the content of most gospel songs is jaded. The man of God said he needs songs that will make him dance; songs that will help his congregation burn calories so they do not get knocked down by a stroke. Who is a gospel artiste? The message in the song is the most important thing. Dances performed in the clubs are also right here in church, Shatta Wale stated. Is Shatta Wale not a human being? Those who call themselves gospel musicians are engaging in sexual immorality, he added. This is nothing new to everyone. You sometimes hear a song for the first time and fall in love with it but because it happened in a flash, you may miss the performers name or the title. Other times, you find it hard to know the performer's name because it was performed by a new artiste. One of the biggest songs to have rocked the airwaves this year is Do The Dance by Eddie Khae. The viral song has been banging everywhere since its release but people hardly know the performer or even the title. Honestly, I was one of the people who didnt know the Denzel Music label artiste until I performed a Google search, and boom, I had all the information I needed. On this note, let me take you through 5 simple steps in finding a popular or new favourite Ghanaian song you didnt know the name of. 1. Run an online search The first option to consider when searching for a new or old song you didnt know the name of is trying an online search. Just type a word, lyrics, or phrase you heard in the song into search engines like Google, Yahoo Search, Bing or YouTube and if the song has lyrics or been uploaded online, you will find it in seconds. 2. Alternate spellings Sometimes, the wrong spelling of the song title or artiste name can lead you to a different search result. So, just try a different search. For example, if you hear the word Stone Boy in a song, try searching other similar words. 3. Check out music charts If the alternative spellings dont help, try checking out the music charts. You may come across the song you were looking for. If the song is trending, you can rely on YouTubes latest Trending vertical for answers. 4. US music recognition apps Did the chart fail? Then try music recognition applications. Due to the nature of my job, I rely heavily on music recognition apps. Apps like Shazam, Musixmatch and Genius have helped me discover so many songs with just a tap on my phone. 5. Ask friends on social media I remember when Patapaas One Corner song took over the mainstream media, I tried searching with my music recognition app. But, it didnt work because he had not uploaded it online. So, I went straight to my Facebook page and simply asked: Whats the same of the song that made people go gaga in Agona Swedru? And shockingly, I had so many friends commenting the name Patapaa Amisty. Thats how I discovered him. When Mr Amewu was appointed as Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, he initiated processes to stop illegal mining which is popularly referred to as galamsey. It was during his tenure, the government banned illegal and small-scale mining. His reassignment to the Energy Ministry has made some small-scale miners and illegal miners happy. They believe the new Minister Kwaku Asoma-Cheremeh will be lenient and allow them to go back mining. However, this may not be possible. The fight against galamsey will continue because it was a cabinet decision to stop illegal mining and not a decision taken only by the minister. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Minister Mr Asoma-Cheremeh, also said Accra FM that those rejoicing over the removal of Mr Amewu should know that he will continue the fight. I will continue from where Amewu left off, and, so, anybody rejoicing that Amewu has been removed should stand well because I will continue the fight against galamsey. Mr Opare Hammond said the gold trading firm was licenced in 2014. However, the licence was revoked barely a year afterward. He told Accra-based Joy FM that "our records indicate that in the year 2014 they came for a license to buy and sell gold i.e. to trade in gold. But when they took the license from us it came to our attention that they were doing this kind of business in terms of asking people to come and invest in gold and get profit or dividend or interest, whatever they call it. "When this came to our attention we called them and told them that is not the purpose for which the license was given to them and so they should stop but after several warnings written and verbal they still continued. So, we had no option than to revoke their license and I must say that by the year 2015 or so, the license was revoked and after that, we also published in the newspapers to let Ghanaians know that they do not have the license from PMMC to do the kind of business that they were doing, he added. READ ALSO: Menzgold CEO invited by EOCO Mr Opare Hammond said Menzgold is doing illegal business if they are trading in gold in Ghana. "Certainly, it is because, you cannot trade, buy, sell or i.e trade in gold without a license from PMMC and I can say emphatically that as we speak to you now they do not have a license from PMMC." Mr Opare Hammond believes that "there is a small clause that says that you buy gold for export. I don't know whether that is what they are relying on to do this but if that is what they are relying on to do this then that is totally wrong. You are supposed to buy the raw gold and then you package then you export." "Let me say that even with the exports no individual or company can export gold without coming through PMMC and that is what we have been charged to do and we are doing that, yes on a few occasions Menzgold have come in to export gold through us, the raw gold but again I want to emphasise that we have not, we who have been clothed with the powers to issue license for trading in gold have not given that to Menzgold as at now". The PMMC Operates as Governments assayer with the sole mandate of assaying all gold which leaves the country. Menzgold has often boasted of being the largest gold exporter in the country, however, Mr Opare Hammond denied that claim by Nana Appiah Mensah. READ ALSO: Here are the auditing firms for the 7 collapsed banks "Well, that is not true. Our records do not show that they are the largest exporter, no. There are others who are doing far better than them. We at the end of every month do a league table to look at who is doing how much of gold exports and consistently they have been in fourth place or fifth place. That is what our records show." According to Mr Hammond, a conservative estimate of Menzgold exports over the last five months stands at $60 million To make the payment a smooth one, the police CID has initiated the process to secure a court order to unfreeze the wallets to facilitate the disbursement. The total amount to be disbursed is GHS 12.288 million, which comprises GHS 12.096 million being the actual amount frozen by MobileMoney Limited and GHS192, 297 being the interest generated over the period. READ ALSO: Employees of Consolidated Bank to know their status after 60 days MTN reported a suspected Ponzi scheme a few months ago. The telco subsequently took steps to safeguard the interest of its customers by reporting the case to the Regulator and the Police. MTN was authorised to freeze the wallet for investigations to be conducted. After the meeting, the stakeholders provided a guide for the disbursement of funds. 1. Only those who invested and have not received any payments qualify for the refund 2. Those who invested and got part of their principal paid to them also qualify. 3. All those who invested and got their contributions back in full along with those who got their contributions and more do not qualify for the refund. 4. The refund will be disbursed proportionally based on each persons contribution made as against the total investment. 5. Contributors who have received part of their investments before the freeze will have that amount deducted from their total expected and the difference paid to them. This is to ensure the equitable distribution of funds. 6. Those who invested from their own mobile money wallets will not be required to provide any information because all related information are available. 7. However, those who visited various MTN Mobile Money Agent/Merchant points requesting for investments to be made on their behalf must provide at least the three mandatory items below for identification before the refund would be made: Name of Agent/Bank Branch (Mandatory) Reference Number /Username (Mandatory) Amount (mandatory) Transaction ID Date 8. The modalities shall be made public for 5 working days after which the disbursements will commence, barring any development within the 5 working days and upon receipt of the court order to proceed with the disbursements. 9. MobileMoney Limited will send an activity report to the Regulator upon completion of the disbursement exercise. The tour is part of his nationwide tour that begun in May. The tours are intended to give the president first-hand information on the major developments across the country and assess the needs of the various regions. Recently, the President toured the Northern Region, Upper East and Upper West Regions. While in the Upper East Region, President Akufo-Addo inspected ongoing work on the Bongo-Balungu-Namoo-Zorko road; visit the 1-village-1-dam project site at Kuyellingo in Bongo; inspect ongoing work on the Navrongo-Chuchuliga-Sandema Road. Ms Akuffo said the importance of maintaining a high moral character constituted the hall mark of every Judicial Officer adding at that "as Magistrates maintaining a high moral character is an honour." The Chief Justice said this when she sworn in the first batch of nine professional career magistrates comprising four females and five males at a ceremony in Accra. The magistrates were employed by the Judicial Service as career magistrates. They undertook study leave and pursued the law degrees as well as attended the Ghana School of Law. They also underwent interviews and their various judgements were assessed. The Chief Justice drew the attention of the magistrates to the nations peace and stability noting that the "peace and stability was not sustained by wishes. They are largely as a result of the confidence people have in our legal and administration of justice regime." Ms Akuffo said "it is not our job to please, but if done right, our decisions must bring satisfaction. This requires extreme dedication, integrity and unyielding adherence to the code of conduct for Judges and Magistrates." She said a robust judiciary needed in equal measure good quality laws, statutes and judges and that a good judge decides cases on their merits and within the confines of the law. She said "A good quality judge is motivated by the search for justice for all- victim and aggressor, complainant and defendant and that judge conducts proper case management. "Our job is to lead various actors in the court room in the united pursuit of truth and justice guided by the principles of equality and fairness." The Chief Justice told the magistrates that as part of her tenure, she was committed to the improvement of conditions of service of the judiciary. "This commitment manifest in our efforts to improve the infrastructure and conditions of service and training of staff," she added. Ms Akuffo said the judiciary would not continue to accept "horrible working environment anymore." She appealed to magistrates and judges to also take interest in what is happening around the courts by ensuring that courtrooms were sanitised and dockets are well kept. "Push your Registrars to get results," she declared. The University explained that the move to convert these two traditional all-male halls to unisex is to ensure more females who reside off campus are given accommodation on campus to safeguard their safety. The Alumni of Conti and Katanga have sent the matter to the law court to fight the decision of the university authorities to convert the halls. Arguing that admitting more females into the hall, means their fellow male student will be thrown off campus, which is unfair and moreover, it will destroy the enviable traditions of these two male halls that have existed for 50 years and above. The Alumni and the Junior Common Room (JCR) of the hallS, aside the court action have also lined-up a peaceful demonstration to express their grievances through the principal streets of Accra. READ MORE: KNUST sued over decision to convert Unity hall into mixed hall They will converge at the Obra Spot at Circle and match through the approved routes. Below are the routes that have been approved by the police for the demonstration: Obra Spot Accra Technical University, formerly Accra Poly Farisco EOCO/CHRAJ Asomdwee Park Independence Road Ministry of Education The dress code for the demonstration is wine for Continentals and black and yellow for Katangees. Alumni and JCR members from other part of the country have travelled to partake in this defining moment of the halls history. Similar demonstration has been lined-up in Kumasi, but the date is yet to be firmed up Background The twist and turn about the conversion of the two great halls Unity Hall and Katanga into mixed sex halls heightened as the Dean of Students, Prof. William A. Gariba reiterated such intention bluntly on Sunday 28th of January, 2018 at the Student Chaplaincy Council service. This came as a shock as Continentals and Katangees alike were amused and disdained as they looked on that faithful day. This statement affirmed the rumour which was wrangled amongst students since 2013 when the University council chaired by the late Paul Victor Obeng sat to decide on converting the two halls into mixed sex halls. Dr Opoku Prempeh in latest twist, speaking at the 52nd Congregation Ceremony of the University says he fully supports the decision. A letter sighted by Pulse.com.gh on social media letter addressed to Nana Addo, dated Wednesday, August 9, 2018, suggested the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Manya Krobo Constituency took the decision to resign based on "the current happenings in your government especially the dismissal of my senior brother and colleague, Hon. Boakye Agyarko who has been a strong pillar in the Krobo bloc and whose support led to the annexing of the seat from the NDC (National Democratic Congress) in the Upper Manya Krobo Constituency". People we know who have not performed have been elevated. [Kofi] Adda has not performed. You make Otiko [Djaba] a diplomat? With her temperament. You are sending Otiko to be a diplomat; is a joke, he asserted. President Akufo-Addo announced 15 changes in his cabinet yesterday. Otiko Afisa Djaba was relieved of her position as the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and made an Ambassador-designate to Italy. Cynthia Morrison, Member of Parliament for Agona West constituency, is now Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection-designate. Deputy Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah was promoted to the substantive position of Information Minister. Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who used to be the Minister for Information, has been reassigned to man the Ministry for Inner City and Zongo Development, once occupied by Boniface Abubakar Saddique, who has been made a Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President. Its the most useless reshuffle ever, Amaliba claimed. The NPP in 2015 has alleged that former President John Mahama and his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, have a hand in the murky $510 million dollar AMERI Power deal believed to have been inflated by government. The party cited ten reasons why there must be an "immediate, open, public, bipartisan and parliamentary enquiry into the $593 million agreement." The NDC government on the other hand has explained the deal cost $510 million. Critical questions have been raised about the deal after two journalists working for VG; a Norwegian Newspaper blew the lid on some details of the contract between Ghanas Power Minister and Ameri Power. The party said "Following on from the damning revelations from the two Norwegian investigative journalists on John Mahama's NDC governments alleged fraudulent deal on 10 power turbines from Ameri Group of Dubai, and its rather weak, contradictory and porous response this morning, it is now evident that an urgent, immediate open public inquiry by Parliament, through a bipartisan committee, into details of the deal is urgently required. "These 10 GE turbines, according to industry experts, go for a total basic cost of some $220 million. This, naturally, has raised questions over the justification for the additional whopping $360 million." In 2017, the NPP effectively blocked an attempt by the government to enter into a $138 million agreement with AMERI Group for the operation of T3 Power Plant in Takoradi belonging to the Volta River Authority (VRA). Ranking member on Mines and Energy and MP for Adansi Asokwa, K.T. Hammond was instrumental in blocking the deal which he described as 'send off loot' by the NDC government and was to saddle Ghanaians with an unnecessary financial burden. The government had placed the agreement in parliament but the MP for Adansi Asokwa said the deal stinks and that parliament must not approve it. But the Attorney General Gloria Akuffo has warned the Energy Ministry to dismiss plans of terminating the AMERI deal because it will end up in huge damages against the Government of Ghana. In responding to two letters from the Energy Minister requesting for legal advice to suspend monthly payment to AMERI, the attorney general kicked against the move because "the deal is valid" and satisfies Ghana's procurement processes. She noted the government of Ghana "entered into a very unfavourable agreement with AMERI," adding the only way out is for the government to "renegotiate the deal with AMERI with a view to achieving a more favourable term." Despite the protest against the re-negotiation of the AMERI deal by the government, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has approved the new deal pending parliamentary approval. Following the protest by Ghanaians and civil society groups, the government has made a U-turn with the renegotiated deal. Reports indicate that Nana Addo had been misled to believe that Africa and Middle East Resources Investment (AMERI) Group and the government of Ghana had assessed the deal thoroughly for him to approve the deal pending parliamentary approval. But he [Nana Addo] has rescinded his decision to endorse the new energy deal with AMERI. Elective Ghana review: What is Medical Elective? REVIEW TYPE Medical/ Education REVIEW Have you ever been to a hospital and came around a group of people in following the doctor around and taking notes? Well, those are students undertaking Popularly known as clinical in Ghana, medical elective is the practical aspect of a medical course. The first time I came across Elective Ghana, it seemed a bit puzzling but not totally new to me. Once youve attended a second cycle educational institution in Ghana, youve probably come into contact with some sort of elective program. But when medical elective is spoken of, it refers to the practical aspect of the medical course where students apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. Not only is it important but also a task to fulfill their obligations as part of attaining a medical degree. READ ALSO: University of Ghana Medical Center to finally open on July 18 Clinical can be offered in any country of the students choice or per the schools regulations concerning medical elective placements, but the most popular choice is to have it abroad. Having clinical abroad is very good for students as professionalsto-be and cultural facilitators as well. Most students would wish to have such experiences but this is quite expensive as students usually bare all cost involved. That is why it is common to have foreign medical students undertake their placement in poor countries like Ghana but the same cannot be said vice-versa. For Ghana, our struggling healthcare views medical electives as a blessing to our understaffed health centers. Health centers in improvised places are usually flooded with foreign medical students from economically advantaged countries. They are assigned duties reflective of their areas of study. Students are exposed to knowledge of tropical illness, cultural competence and tolerance. They also gain experience and practical hands-on skill because responsibilities are given to them. Since 2007, Elective Ghana has been effectively providing medical elective placements to students abroad in partnership with hospitals across the globe. They sort to fill a gap in the system, where students struggled to find the right and affordable placement to undertake their medical electives. Including finding placements for premeds, Externship, educational and volunteering trips to Ghana. Elective Ghana goes beyond just matching students with medical institutions to correspond with their educational fields. They also take care to match students to the right communities by considering their interest. Organizing fun trips around tourist and cultural sites in the country. Providing an edutainment atmosphere for the duration of their stay in Ghana. There are also disadvantages to having elective programs abroad, especially to host countries considered poor. Incidences of students undertaking duties which they are not qualified for, and hence unintentionally causing harm to patients are not uncommon. These circumstances although rare usually happen when the hospitals are understaffed or are overconfident in the competencies of the students. Other students, although this rarely happens, also tend to intentionally take advantage of situations to exploited patients. Nevertheless, Elective Ghana has measures in place to ensure that such occurrences are minimal. Students placed in hospitals are monitored and supervised in executing their duties in the various wards by resident doctors. READ ALSO: Many countries in Africa are abusing Tramadol and this has the United Nations worried Sometimes, a students ignorance of the culture of the people could also have serious consequences than assumed. Studies have shown that people in such areas are high emotional especially towards strangers. This could have them keep information about themselves which could be detrimental to their health. Or worse may lose complete faith in the health care system. Elective Ghana does not only arrange for placements in the hospitals but also ensure smooth transitions into the host communities. Students are taken through orientation to avoid embarrassing situations with the culture of the peoples. Hospitals are also advised to keep tabs on students and also track their progress as well as liaising with the schools to hold offenders accountable. RATING Elective Ghana has contributed immensely in Ghanas health sector. Follow them on Facebook @Elective Ghana or visit their website (electiveghana.org) for more information. CREATED BY Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) The Department of National Defense is inclined to believe a Moroccan national may have carried out the July 31 blast in Lamitan City, Basilan. A tweet posted by user TerrorMonitor showed a photo of a certain Abu Kathir al-Maghribi, whose face reportedly matches that of eyewitness' accounts of the terrorist behind the attack. The photo was published by ISIS just 24 hours after the explosion. "We'll did he die, we don't know. Maybe he is that guy," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Thursday. "Meron pang agam-agam kung siya talaga 'yun e. Pero sa akin mukhang qualifications point that he is the guy.' [Translation: There are still doubts as to whether he is behind the attack. But for me, qualifications point to him.] Al-Maghribi first joined the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. Intelligence reports say he moved to Basilan to avenge the death of his child who was killed in an encounter with the military. The bomb, intel reports added, targetted school children in Lamitan. But Al-Maghribi blew it up at the military checkpoint, which killed 11. "Wala na siyang magawa e, mahuhuli na sya e. So sabi niya, suicide na lang siya, but he would not, he was not, that was not the intention," Lorenzana said. [Translation: There's nothing he could do, he will be caught. So he thought, he will kill himself, but he would not, he was not, that was not the intention.] The attacks in Mindanao, including an attempt to bomb North Cotabato from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, come after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law. "There are spoilers and bombing siguro [maybe] could be part of this spoiling," Lorenzana claimed. The plebiscite determining the scope of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao could be held by January next year, the Commission on Elections said. Ghana Airport Review: Which is the best airport in Ghana and why? REVIEW TYPE Aviation/ Airports REVIEW The Airports are huge contributors to the socio-economic in countries. Citing a study by economist Richard Green, where he found a relationship between airport passengers and employment growth and metro population under controlled settings. He recorded a 10 per cent increase in airline passengers creates a 1 per cent increase in regional employment. This evidence, he furthered stated, confirmed the view that an important factor in urban economic development includes a good airline service. Currently, Ghana has 7 airports in the country which cater to either international, domestic or both travels. All these airports operate under the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL). They manage traffic, see to security, and provide leisure facilities for an exponential travel experience. Despite common knowledge that Kotoka International Airport is the best airport in Ghana. Lets help the doubting Thomases to be to cure with a little educational comparison. Kotoka International Airport Formerly known as Accra International Airport, before it was renamed after Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka (former head of state: 1966-1969). As the first airport that was set up in during the Gold Coast era, it was originally used for military activities to aid the British during the World War II. After the war, it was overturned to civilian hands which saw developmental project changes. Including the addition of terminals and facilities to transform it into an airport. As the largest airport in Ghana, it hosted about 2 million passengers in 2014. And with the addition of Terminal 3, which is estimated to hold a capacity of 5 million passengers in a year. As we can see, it will not be relinquishing its hold as the best and largest airport anytime soon. Kumasi International Airport Closely on the heels of Kotoka is the Kumasi International Airport. Although not yet open to international flights, facilities have been made available as talks with international airlines are also in motion. It would then officially be the second international airport to operate in the country. Located in the capital city of the Ashanti region, Kumasi. It enjoys its fair share of domestic traffic as Kumasi is a very popular and busy town with rich cultural heritage. The location of the airport has also contributed to the boost in tourism patronage in the area. READ ALSO: Kotoka International Airport traffic on the rise as a new terminal readies to open in October Takoradi Airport My third option would go to the Takoradi airport, which runs domestic flights from Accra to its capital, Sekondi-Takoradi. It also continues to serve as a military airfield for the Army, since its past days as a major stop for the US Army Air Forces Air Transport Command during times of the Trans-Africa Ferry Route. Now, this airport aids the Oil City in boosting its business activities and leisure opportunities. Tamale Airport The fourth best airport in Ghana goes to Tamale airport. This once military airfield now serves great civilian purposes transporting people over this great distance. The availability of an airport in the northern sector is a step towards achieving socio-economic growth in those remote parts of the country. Sunyani Airport Although doormat for the past two years, the Sunyani Airport has duly played its part in the development of its township. Since July 1974, it has assisted in the socio-economic development of the farm belt sector of the country. Wa Airport Although, this is more of an airfield rather than an airport. For all the goodies it has brought to the township of Wa and its environs, it deserves a place on our list of best airports in Ghana. Despite its small size, it has diligently served the people of Wa. READ ALSO: How to apply for a US visa in Ghana RATING With this information at our fingertips, we crown Kotoka International Airport as the best airport in Ghana. And I believe this also sheds some light on why the south the country seems to enjoy more developmental projects. Hopefully, in the future we can upgrade airports all over the country to international status. CREATED BY This is as an extreme measure after a court ordered the company to sell beer and soft drinks in the region at a money-losing price. Heineken is in a court dispute with Grupo LGH referring to the prices to sell its portfolio in the states of Pernambuco and Paraiba, the statement said. A court decision mandates Heineken to sell beer and soft drinks below cost to a local distributor. Due to these distortions, Heineken is reviewing its strategy in the northeast and considers extreme measures such as the closure of the factories. Two factories that might close are in the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, the company said. It gave no details about the product mix at those factories. Since Heinekens 1.2 billion dollar purchase in 2017 of the money-losing Brazil operations of Japans Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd., the brewer operates 15 factories in the country. It cut its full-year margin forecasts in the first half due to currency weakness in some more profitable markets and expansion in Brazil. Aircraft scooped water from the sea to drop onto the creeping blaze Thursday, as firefighters continued their struggle to douse the flames, which have already consumed some 21,000 hectares (52,000 acres) of forest in the region -- one of Europe's top tourism destinations. With winds forecast to reach up to 50 kilometres per hour (30 mph) "there is a risk of reactivation in the afternoon along a perimeter that now exceeds 100 kilometres", said national civil protection agency spokeswoman Patricia Gaspar. The fires have left 36 people injured, one seriously, with 19 of those hurt firefighters,according to Gaspar. On Thursday more than a thousand firefighters and soldiers were tackling the blazes in the affected zone, which is planted with pines and highly-flammable eucalyptus trees and scored by difficult to reach valleys and ravines. Fire crews and police conducted an urgent evacuation overnight of homes around the historic town of Silves. A slight respite Thursday afternoon enabled local people to leave the schools, gymnasiums and reception centres where they had taken refuge and venture back to their homes. Dark clouds of smoke and soot from the wildfires had billowed above popular holiday beaches in the region earlier Thursday, but gusts of wind cleared the skies later in the day. Evacuations A Europe-wide heatwave sent the mercury above 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in some areas of Portugal at the weekend, intensifying wildfires that began last Friday. Hundreds of residents and tourists have been evacuated from around Monchique, a popular spa town of 6,000 people some 160 kilometres from Lisbon, where the blazes began. Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Wednesday warned the blaze would continue to rage "during the coming days". The difficulty in bringing the fires under control has raised doubt on the effectiveness of measures taken by the Portuguese authorities to avoid a repetition of fires that killed at least 114 people last year. Firefighters have criticised the lack of coordination, while Costa has drawn flak on social media for remaining on holiday as the flames raged. The spreading blaze has even necessitated the evacuation of some 29 endangered Iberian lynx to Spain from the national reproductive centre, according to a statement from the country's conservation institute. In Spain, where more than 700 firefighters continued to battle wildfires in the province of Valencia, authorities said they were hopeful of bringing an end to the threat. The blaze "has been stabilised", said Valencia emergency services chief Jose Maria Angel, adding the hope of an improving situation over the course of the day. Authorities have established that the fires were started by lightning during an electric storm on Monday. Mzee Saidi, who works as a maintenance manager at a Cement Company in Kampala, is a regular user of M-PESA services who frequently sends money back home to fend for his family. Working far away from my family isnt easy, but mobile money transfer has made it a little easier to manage things back home. I constantly use M-PESA to pay utility bills and pay contractors for the ongoing construction of my house based in Mombasa. M-PESA has honestly played a big role for me and my family and even when I am away, I feel comfortable that I can still take care of my family, said Mzee Saidi. Sending and receiving cash through M-PESA across borders has greatly made things easier for Kenyans living abroad and we are glad to be part of the transformation in their lives. Over time, M-PESA has enabled Kenya to contribute to Africas Digital transformation, and this is just one of the many ways in which we would like to thank our customers for being with us for the last 11 years, said Bob Collymore, CEO, Safaricom. Previous winners of Maisha ni M-PESA TU apartments include, Jeniffer Kathure, a single mother of three from Muthara, Meru County, James Njagi, a metal artisan at Gikomba market, Eric Lindenberg, a South African designer residing in Nairobi and Benson Kilonzi, a small-scale farmer and jua kali artisan from Ithumula, Kitui County. In addition to the two remaining apartments, more than 400,000 M-PESA customers and 1,900 agents have won instant prizes including cash and float amounts of KES 2,000, KES, 5,000 and KES 10,000. Sealing a business deal by a handshake is one of the oldest business traditions which serve to show both parties commitment and goodwill to ensure the deal sees the light of the day. That has been the norm and will certainly continue to be for the next foreseeable future, therefore, it is strange when a Chief Executive of one of the largest telecommunication firms in Africa announces that he wont be shaking hands anytime time soon, at least for the next five years. Safaricom, Kenyas most profitable company CEO, Bob Collymore who recently returned back to work after a nine-month medical leave undergoing cancer treatment at a London hospital while he is psyched to be back and ready to get the ball rolling isnt looking forward to handshakes and social functions for that matter. I think I will try and use this handshake excuse for the next five years or so when it comes to politicians, I have said to politicians I cant shake your hands, Mr Collymore said during a media briefing meeting on Friday morning at Villa Rosa Kempinski. Should you want to throw a big party with more than 100 guests and wish to have the pleasure of hosting the 60-year-old CEO who was diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a rare form of cancer, dont bother he wont show up. Carrying babies and posing with them for photos may be one of the most popular corporate public relations stunts which never fail but Mr Collymore will also skip that. Germs and bacteria get transferred by hands and this is why we wash our hands before we eat after we come from the toilet, said Collymore. Its not that Mr Collymore is a snob, far from it, or that after being away for nine months he is itching and cant get around the thought of wasting time in social activities handing out high fives and attending parties, none of that. He is simply following doctors advice to stay in isolation and reduce his social activities as a result of his low immunity. "I need to stay away from social gatherings, parties, buffets because my immunity is at zero so I am susceptible. All the immunity I built in my 60 years is gone. I also need to stay away from young children. My doctor also told me that I cannot go to Mombasa, he said. While in London undergoing treatment, he spent most of his time in isolation inside a negative pressure room staring at white hospital ceilings, thinking a lot and reading. "I was stuck in the room for seven weeks. During this time I was thinking a lot and reading. I was also working with my team through FaceTime," he said. Doctors didnt want to take any chances and his wife Wambui Kamiru only visited two times a day and had to don protective masks and gears. However no doctor or medical treatment can ever break humans bond, humans crave for human touch if only to feel alive again and Bob Collymore is no exception. Despite the doctors advice Mr Collymore has shaken hands not once, twice or even trice, uncountable times proofing just how human the CEO who earns Sh196.5 million ($1.96m) annually, making him the third highest-paid corporate executive in Kenya, his. I do shake hands but I have in my bag always some sanitizer to try and stop the transfer of some bacteria, if for instance shake twenty peoples hands you can guarantee one gonna have something which you wont even know or feel it but I will, The fund was approved under the Petroleum Equalization Fund which is set aside for the reimbursement of petroleum marketing companies for any losses suffered. The government said it is concerned about inconsistent data on subsidy payment, fuel consumption in Nigeria, and how much it has lost to illegal diversion of products. Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria's junior petroleum minister, said the installation will last for three years. Why the tracking devices? The devices will enable the government to track refined petroleum products movement from the point of the LC (Letter of Credit) opening from the vessels that come into Nigeria, up until the point where they are discharged into tanks in Nigeria. It will also track from the tanks into trucks in Nigeria. The device will also monitor the trucks until they deliver the products into the storage tanks for the filling stations and they are discharged and sold. Akinwumi Adesina, AfDB President, made the call during a keynote speech delivered at the 2018 Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting held in Washington, D.C., last weekend. Adesina said the technology transfer was needed immediately and that evidence from countries like Nigeria demonstrated that technology plus strong government backing was already yielding positive results. He cited the case of Nigeria, where policy during his tenure as the countrys Minister of Agriculture, resulted in a rice production revolution in three years. ALSO READ: 6 Nigerians who hold leadership positions at top international organisations Technologies to achieve Africas green revolution exist but are mostly just sitting on the shelves. The challenge is a lack of supportive policies to ensure that they are scaled up to reach millions of farmers. All it took was sheer political will, supported by science, technology and pragmatic policies...Just like in the case of rice, the same can be said of a myriad of technologies, including high-yielding water efficient maize, high-yielding cassava varieties, animal and fisheries technologies, Adesina said. Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative The African Development Bank said it is currently working with the World Bank, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to mobilize $ 1 billion to scale up agricultural technologies across Africa under a new initiative called Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT). TAAT is taking bold steps to bring down some of the barriers preventing farmers from accessing the latest seed varieties and technologies to improve their productivity. It is more likely that the future farmers will be sitting in their homes with computer applications using drones to determine the size of their farms, monitor and guide the applications of farm inputs, and with a driverless combine, harvesters bringing in the harvest. To help Africa transform its agriculture, the AfDB is investing US$ 24 billion over the next ten years to implement its Feed Africa Strategy. Here is how the network performed at various locations 1. Google Station at Landmark Google is no more here. As you can see, they are just removing the decorations and all equipment, a hefty security guard at Landmark Event Centre on Oniru on Victoria Island extension told me as I approached the main gate. No, I'm here to check the Google free WiFi, even when Google is no more hosting the event, the internet setting is already here, I explain to him. I show him my ID card and tell him I was here during the launch so I decided to check how effective the free internet is. I had checked earlier if the WiFi coverage extended to the gate but it didnt. I gain entrance and walk to the main hall entrance and there my phone prompts the availability of Google Station free wifi. 2. Google Station at The Palms The Palms in Lekki, no one was using the service as at 7 pm, August 2, 2018, when I visited the mall. 3. Google Station at the University of Lagos At the University of Lagos, Akoka, about 50 students gather at the portals' lodge of King Jaja Hotel, a hall of residence for male students. They are all with their gadgets (mobile phones and laptops) enjoying the Google free hotspot. A 400-level student of the department of Business Administration, Tobi Sodipe tells Business Insider Sub-Saharan Africa that The Wifi is very good, it is like the best internet service I have used ever, the best. This is like 5 times or even 10 times faster than the normal internet, you cannot even compare it to MTN, Glo or Airtel internet. Sodipe says he uses it to download movies, educational materials and connect on social media platforms. Another student, who refused to mention his name, tells me the internet works for 24 hours except when they switch it off. If you come at night, you will see more students, some of them don't even sleep. They enjoy the free internet overnight as the daytime is for lectures. The free WiFi is only available at King Jaja Hall for the male students and Moremi Hall for female students, but time does not permit me to confirm the service at Moremi Hall. 4. Google Station at the MMA 2 Local Airport Everything is silent at the arrival wing of the local airport. No one is aware of the free Wifi as passengers sit without accessing the internet. Sodiq, a young entrepreneur who is waiting to pick up his friend, tells me he is not aware of the freebies and gives a thumb up as he brought out his phone to access the free service. 5. Google Station at Computer Village The service is available at Otiba street inside the main market when I visit the area. The details of the speed and download speed are below. 6. Google Station at Ikeja Mall At Ikeja Mall, I see five people using the internet as at the time I arrive. They all sitting adjacent the Shoprite entrance with their mobile phones accessing the internet through Google hotspot. Hello, are you connected to the Google free WiFi, can you show me how to connect, I approach a young lady. She shows me how she connected and asks me to input my phone number. Is it that that simple? she smiles and replies, Yes. Identifying herself as Tomi, she says she wanted to connect to a friend whom she had a date with and her data got exhausted so she prompted her phone for free Wi-Fi around the mall. On her experience, she says she is not a regular user and cannot speak much about the free service but with the little shes done on WhatsApp and Instagram for about 20 minutes, she really enjoys it. Here are my key findings 1. Google collects your data - mobile phone numbers for every access 2. At every location, you are being prompted to use your mobile phone number to generate an access code (a 4-digit pin) 3. The internet is 80% faster than Nigerian broadband and telecommunications internet 4. In all the locations, no sign or signpost shows you are in a free Wi-Fi zone. In the last 6 months, MTN Group increased its subscriber base in Nigeria by 5.6% to hit 55.2 million, the highest in Africa. The group's financial report posted by the Johannesburg telecommunication company on Wednesday, August 9, 2018, also indicated that its Nigerian subsidiary performed ahead other markets and above expectations with double-digit growth. The company said its service revenue accelerated for the period under review. Increase usage and growth in data subscribers supported data revenue growth, according to report. Rob Shuter, Group president and CEO while commenting on the report, said Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa led the encouraging first half of 2018, with an acceleration in the second quarter, supported by an improved operational performance across many markets. We made good progress on our plans to list MTN Nigeria on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. We do not expect any material cash inflows to the group from the IPO, the report stated. Here is how MTN stands in subscriber base across five African markets 1. Nigeria 55.2 million 2. South Africa 30.2 million 3. Ghana 16.5 million 4. Cameroon 6.6 million 5. Ivory Coast 11.3 million On Sunday, July 1, 2018, the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) revealed his divine dream about the forthcoming general polls. The popular cleric said God has given him a message, one that needs to be backed by prayers from the entire nation. In his words, I have a message for my country and I want you to pray with me. After the message, you join me in prayers. This is the third time I am having this message. Now I am going to say it the third time. The presidents heart is like a stream of water in the hands of God. The leaders heart is like a stream of water in the hands of God and He can control it wherever He wants. The first time I had the dream, I prayed, I fasted on my own. The second time I had the dream, I also prayed and fasted. But this time, you must join me in prayer because two believers are better than one. The Lord said I should tell the nation and leaders to pray against the interruption of the democratic practice. Pray against the interruption of democratic practice. He concluded by calling on his church members to join him in praying for the government and country at large. Prophet Joshua said, You have to join me in prayer for the nation. The Lord gave me the prayers to offer as well because in this case, there must be prayers given to you. What are the prayers? The Lord should give our leaders greater understanding of Gods heart.The Lord should give them the discretion to guide their hearts. The Lord should give them understanding that will protect them and wisdom that will rescue them. Thank you for joining me in prayer. That is the voice of God. The presidents heart is like a stream of water in the hands of God and He can control it wherever He wants. Prophet T.B Joshua and his visions The SCOAN founder is well known for making prophetic statements. Sometimes, they come to pass and sometimes they dont. Recently, he scored a major victory when his prophecy concerning North and South Korea came to pass when these two reconciled. On Thursday, August 9 2018, UNILAG students gained some insights into what post-graduate life and the struggle to get employment look like as experts from the media, technology, banking and real estate industry lectured them on what it takes to achieve success after graduation. In his opening address, the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Iyiola Oni said the Excilio Conference is designed to have experts in public and private sectors to boost the students' ambition with success tips in order to keep producing graduates that will be useful and proficient in terms of professionalism. He said, ''we have been trying as much as possible to give you the knowledge within the four walls of the university, but we now believe that because of the need for development in our society in the 21 century, it is high time we have the public sector, the private sector, the tech-based organizations as well as NGOs coming together to tinker about the way forward in terms of developing skills entrepreneurial progress for our students so that we can have a useful and smear student body, graduates as well as proficiency in terms of professionalism.'' Addressing the students on how to achieve success, the Keynote Speaker, Dr Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, the founder of the Mountain of Fire Ministry, urged the students to fight ignorance in all its forms saying ignorance is their greatest enemy. Olukoya who is also a graduate of the University of Lagos said ''the greatest enemy of man is ignorance. Every mans mountain is his mountain of ignorance. Ignorance is very wicked and bad. One terrible thing is for you to be ignorant an not agree that you are ignorant or may you dont even know you are ignorant. Every form of fear is a product of ignorance. So what you are doing here today is to dispel ignorance. So if there is anything I want to leave with you it is you must fight ignorance. The General Manager, Ringier Africa, Leonard Stiegeler, Media Entrepreneur, Agatha Amatha, CEO Amen Estate, Babatunde Gbadamosi, CEO Hotel.ng, Mark Essien and the Managing Director of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Sulaimon who was represented by Moronfolu Fashinro also shared some tips on how to achieve success in business and technology with the students. During an interactive session with the students on business, Leonard Stiegeler encouraged the students to find out who they are and chase their passion. He said, ''finding out who you are and who you want to be is very important. Don't just go with the flow. Buf finding out who you are is key because once I was able to conquer that everything else flowed.'' Similarly, MTV Video Jockey, Ehizojie Okoeguale popularly known as Ehiz also advised the students on following their passion as it helps them build their paths to success effortlessly. ''Keep yourself busy with your passion, when you do that you will build yourself, you won't even know you are building yourself.'' The teenage girls reportedly defeated representatives from the United States of America (USA), Spain, Turkey, Uzbekistan and China to emerge the winner of the 2018 Technovation world pitch junior division in San Francisco, USA. The five girls are Promise Nnalue, Jessica Osita, Nwabuaku Ossai, Adaeze Onuigbo and Vivian Okoye Celebrating the five girls on Twitter, the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo said the country is proud of the students achievement. He tweeted, these young ladies in Junior Secondary School, developed a mobile application called 'FD Detector' to tackle the problems of fake pharmaceutical products in Nigeria. Yesterday, they won the 2018 Technovation World Pitch in California. Congratulations! We are very proud of you. According to reports, the five girls were selected from 2,000 mobile app developers to represent Africa at the world pitch ALSO READ: OAU reacts to suspension of Law and other courses by NUC Apart from winning the competition, the five girls also set a record of being the first Nigerian teenagers to visit Silicon Valley where they will pitch their app to investors. 4 JSS2 Nigerian students win tech competition in Florida in May Recall that our students of Whitesands School, Lekki who represented Nigeria and Africa at the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge in Florida have emerged the winner of a category in the competition. Foreign Love is a captivating movie about a brilliant Nigerian student and an American college student, who fall in love and struggle to bridge their cultural differences in order to make their relationship work despite family pressure. With the lead male character, Jason, played by Greg Taylor, who has always been the smartest guy in his class. He is confident he will be the Valedictorian of his graduating class until he meets fellow classmate, Funmi [KC Ejelonu], an equally intelligent student from Nigeria. The two are paired up to work on a class project by their professor, Dr Brown. Love comes in, while tensions flare and cultures clash. Veteran actor, Jide Kosoko plays the role of Kunle, Funmi's father, with Tina Mba acting as Toyin, his wife. Before long, the couple finds themselves moving from competitors in the classroom to lovers in the bedroom and navigating the treacherous minefield of romance, race, class and family, as they try to bridge their cultural differences, with their families not approving of their budding romance. According to a report by Daily Monitor, the incident happened in Kitinotima Primary School in Omel Sub-county, Gulu District, Uganda. It was further reported that the head teacher, whose name was given as Thomas Kinyera, managed to rescue with the help teachers and local leaders. After the attack on Kinyera, he was reported to have sustained injuries to his head and lower body. ALSO READ: Principal ties 2 students to crosses for coming late to school Primary school pupils claim head teacher is incompetent and an alcoholic The pupils had invaded Kinyera's office claiming the head teacher did not release the result of a test they did, some weeks back. It was further reported that the pupils had also accuse Kinyera of incompetence, drinking alcohol during school hours and handing over food contributed by parents under the school feeding programme to teachers. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! The teenager has been identified as Daejona Holmes, the only daughter of 37-year-old Kinderly Holmes and 38-year-old Brian Starr. Police say Daejona had called 911 to report the murder of her parents claiming they were shot during a robbery. How Daejona killed her parents According to the police, Daejona confessed to killing both parents contrary to her first statement when she called 911. Local stations reported that authorities disclosed that the teenager searched online for scary movies where kids kill parents before she killed her parents. ALSO READ: New Jersey teenager slaughters parents and sibling with rifle Daejona reportedly carried out the sad act in their Kansas City home earlier. Officers, who arrived the scene after Daejona's call found her mother dead in a bedroom upstairs while her father was found on the floor next to the front door. However, coroners revealed that while Daejona's mum died from a single gunshot to the stomach, her dad was been shot three times - once in the mouth and twice in the torso. Daejona, whose arrest was announced by Jackson County prosecutors, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, single count of tampering with physical evidence, and armed criminal action. Lil Uzi's rap songs influenced Daejona's actions Reports also said Daejona's decision to kill her parents might not be unconnected with the influence of young US rapper, Lil Uzi. According to a criminal complaint against the teenager, she had saved rap music lyrics from Lil Uzi about wanting her father dead. The events which held in Elite lounges located in some of the Banks branches in Lagos and Abuja, were evenings filled with fun, music, freebies, networking and learning in a relaxed setting. Customers were treated to makeup master classes taken by Zaron Cosmetics, while others participated in mixology classes; learning the art and science of mixing luxurious cocktails. Union Banks Elite Banking proposition is a tailored service for the emerging middle class, designed to meet their personal, financial and lifestyle needs. It provides them with value added benefits and a range of personalized banking services which are usually reserved for High Net worth Individuals. Elite Banking customers enjoy benefits including dedicated Relationship Managers, exclusive deals and discounts, access to exclusive Elite Lounges located in specific Union Bank branches as well as Priority Pass cards which grant them access to 850 airport VIP lounges around the world among other benefits. Click here to find out more about Union Banks Elite banking proposition and you just may be a guest at the next Elite Experience! Here are more photos from the events The Chairman of the group, Mr Fatai Adisa, gave the commendation in Ikeja when he led members of the group on a rally to Alausa, the seat of power in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that that the rally, which took off at Ikeja garage and terminated by Ambodes office, was to drum support for the governor. Adisa said Ambode had recorded phenomenal achievements in the area of infrastructure and had given the vulnerable, particularly people with disabilities, a sense of belonging with his programmes. He said facts available revealed the governor had the interest of residents at heart. We have verifiable and substantiated facts that reveal why the deaf choose to support Ambode for another term. One, his many achievements as governor of the state has endeared him to all. Again, he is a man who never ceases to show his care and love for the less-privileged and the vulnerable. It is on record that Ambode instituted the Disability Entrepreneurship Fund to empower the state disability community. In a country where some leaders were looting their state treasuries, Ambode is spending resources to transform and give succour to the helpless and the hopeless. In the area of healthcare, he is doing his best to improve the lives of people at the bottom of the social ladder. He has created a social welfare programme that has impacted on the weak and the poor. One of the cases of the governors care for the weak is the payment of hospital bills for sick poor people with disabilities by the government, he said. Adisa said members were armed with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and that they would give the governor the needed support. He appealed to residents to also give Ambode the necessary support in view of his achievements. The attack, which was carried out in Tse Ujoh community in Ikyurav-Tiev area in Katsina Alla local government area, of was confirmed by the state police command on Friday, August 10, 2018. The command's spokesman, Moses Yamu, said security personnel had been deployed in the area to bring the situation under control after the gunmen attacked the community early on Friday morning. Meanwhile, Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom, has confirmed the attack. The governor, however, said three persons had been arrested in connection with the attack. According to Ortom's Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, necessary steps had been taken to prevent further attacks in Tse Ujoh community as well as Ikyurav-Tiev area. Akase in a statement said, Governor Ortom reassured the people of the state that his administration will not allow armed militia to continue to terrorise communities. He encouraged anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of the gang to contact the police, Department of State Services or the military. Gunmen attack Benue village kill 2 In June 2018, gunmen suspected to belong to the group led by wanted gang leader, Terwase Akwaza, killed 2 people in Zaki-Biam in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. The attack reportedly occurred around 11:30pm on Saturday, June 16, 2018. A source who spoke about the attack, said The assailants took the three of us away to a bush path and asked me to lie faced down and move away with the two others who were eventually killed. Alt set up a station at the front of the exhibit with Post-it notes and pens, where people can respond to the prompt, In your own words... and hang their responses on the glass display window in the gallery. Alt wants the exhibit to live beyond its four walls. The best feeling is when people tell me the art has helped them with healing from their own experiences, she says. Mr Makpa Malla, a member at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, made this known on Friday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia. NAN recalls that Makpa (APC-Wamba) sponsored a bill entitled A Law to Regulate Indiscriminate Display of Signages Within Urban Areas of Nasarawa State and for other Matters Connected Therewith, which was passed into law by the House on Aug. 8. The Bill had been transmitted to Gov. Tanko Al-Makura for his assent. Malla explained that he sponsored the Bill to address the notorious problem of the defacement of cities in the state through the indiscriminate use of billboards, signpost and posters, among others, by corporate bodies, religious organisations, politicians and political parties or organisations. According to him, the proposed law seeks to develop a technical framework for signage placement in the state, including all necessary technical specification, procedure, roles, responsibilities and liabilities for signage placement. The principal objective of the law is to, among others, punish any person who contravenes, conspires, aids, counsels, procure or assist another person to contravene the provision of this law shall be guilty of offence and liable on conviction to a fine of not less than N100,000 only or two years imprisonment or both, he said. The lawmaker commended his colleagues for passing the bill into law, adding that the law will boost the revenue base of the state which would impact directly on the provision of infrastructure and other services. The law will bring to bear in our polity the sanity and order urban areas will wear when the law begins to be fully implemented. This is because the hitherto indiscriminate placements of signages in our cities will no longer be allowed. There will be engagement of our craftsmen and artisans, particularly our students in the relevant technology institutions across the state as the placement of signages in affected urban areas are expected to carry a standardised pattern. This will go a long way in addressing the teeming problems of youth unemployment. Under the law, the use of signages will attract what ordinarily will be an insignificant amount of fees depending on the size and purpose of the signage. The aggregate of the fees collected will go into consolidated revenue fund of the state. As this will also form the states Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) thereby diversifying the government revenue base away from monthly federation allocation, he said. According to a BuzzFeed report, Veolia, which is the worlds largest water company, is under investigation in at least three different countries, including in a complaint filed by the state of Michigan, for its role in overlooking contaminants in Flints pipes and making the situation worse. Genesis of the Flint water crisis In 2014, the city of Flint--which had been depending on the Lake Huron from the Detroit Water Department for its water for about 50 years--made the switch to the Flint River as a water source. Soon after the switch, CNN reports, residents said the water started to look, smell and taste funny. When scientists at Virginia Tech tested tap water from Walters' home, they found that the lead level was as high as 13,200 ppb. Water contaminated with 5,000 ppb of lead is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as hazardous waste and detrimental to health. Dangers of lead consumption Lead consumption can result in cancer, heart, nerve and kidney problems. According to CNN, Health effects of lead exposure in children include impaired cognition, behavioral disorders, hearing problems and delayed puberty". Veolia is on a shortlist of companies coming to Lagos BuzzFeed writes that Veolia is among a shortlist of three companies being considered for the flagship Adiyan II contract in Lagos, which would hand over almost two-thirds of the citys water system to the winning bidder. Other companies on the shortlist for the Lagos water project are Spanish multinational giant Abengoa, which was behind a disastrous privatization attempt in Bolivia that sparked months of protests before being scrapped, and Dubai-based Metito, which has links via its largest shareholder, Mitsubishi, to investments in the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, which threatens Indigenous communities in the United States. An activist called Nayyirah Shariff, told Buzzfeed that Veolia has a history of poisoning black communities in the US, and they should not be poisoning the largest African city on the continent. Shariff was quoted as being shocked and extremely angry [to learn about the potential Lagos deal] because Veolia I feel Veolia is a snake, and they slithered over to Michigan alleges that Veolia deliberately falsified reports about the quality of the drinking water, allowing lead to leach into drinking water pipes. Shariff adds that if Veolia eventually gets the contract to supply water to Lagos, ordinary citizens would find it difficult filing complaints against them because the company is based in faraway France. Its very difficult if you have a grievance against how these transnational corporations are operating, because you cant go to France its physically impossible for an ordinary resident to travel to file grievance against a company that only cares about profit. I know with the population of Lagos, its just going to have a larger inverse impact on when Veolia fucks up because its going to happen. Its not a question of if, its a question of when, and how soon are you able to find out when they fuck up, Shariff said. Secrecy of contract and bidding process At the moment, the contract award process is shrouded in secrecy. Pulse did try to speak to an official of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) for this story, but that official immediately hung up the phone as soon as she knew who she was speaking with. An email sent to Veolia had also not been replied at the time of filing this story. Pulse will continue to update readers as soon as more information on the Lagos water project becomes readily available. Oshiomhole, in a press conference in Abuja on Friday, August 10, 2018, promised to work towards the Senate President losing his senatorial district in 2019. He (Saraki) failed to understand that the Nigeria national project is more complicated and is not that easy. He will not only be impeached, we will work hard to have him defeated as a senator in his own senatorial zone come 2019, Oshiomhole told journalists. ALSO READ: Saraki not fit to be Senate President, says APC Continuing, Oshiomhole said, " Saraki will not be the first to be impeached and I doubt if he is going to be the last but definitely he will be impeached according to law and according to the democratic norms. The only way senator Saraki can avoid impeachment is for him to do what is honourable, which again leads to the issue of character. We would destroy Saraki's political dynasty - Oshiomhole Oshiomhole also said the political dynasty of the Saraki family will be destroyed in Kwara State. The APC chairman said this is because the people of Kwara are against the Senate President. The people of Kwara state are fed up with Saraki and we are fed up with Bukola," Oshiomhole said. Already, a political group, Kwara Emirate for Buhari, have been mounting pressure on the Saraki political dynasty claiming it is time for power shift in the state. The DirectorGeneral NAPTIP, Dame Julie OkahDonli, said this on Thursday in Abuja while briefing Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, on the outcome of the investigation on Nigerian girls trafficked to Saudi Arabia. We came here complaining to you about the rate at which our young ones are being taken out of the country to Saudi Arabia under the guise of getting jobs for them. There were calls from victims who were being trapped in Saudi, who are suffering and you graciously set up a team comprising NAPTIP officials and the ministry to go to Saudi and investigate. When the team visited Saudi Arabia, we met with more than 50 girls who were interviewed and we were told that there were many more girls who were stranded in various part of Saudi Arabia. One of the victims was brought back and she is here to recount her ordeal, she said. She said that there were a lot of Nigerian girls who were stranded in Saudi working under slave-like conditions in peoples home. According to her, most of them are raped while others are made to work 18 hours out of 24 hours. She said that many were made to sleep in very poor condition and not paid in accordance with what the fraudulent trafficking agencies promised them. There is a very big cartel that works with embassies, who secured visas for the victims because those who have genuine businesses dont easily get visas but the trafficked, she said. The Minister described the situation as pathetic and said that the Federal Government was going to deal with the issue holistically and see the end of the menace. Onyeama said that there was a report that had a serious and a very negative impact on the country and the people, which made the ministry to set up an investigation team on it. The report showed that this is a real scourge and it is just too pervasive now in our society and a lot of work is being done by the NAPTIP which is commendable. Human trafficking is about trafficking beyond our border and this concerns the ministry of foreign affairs; we are also very much worried. We need to sensitise our country and our people and to bring the issues closer to home through a personal experience, he said. He said that the ministry was in the process of having inter-ministerial meetings with all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to really address the problem and tackle the issue once and for all. We want to put in place mechanism to tackle this issue, it is a crime against humanity, our youths are suffering and it is not something we can tolerate. And, every effort would be made, that nothing would be spared toward eradicating this menace from this country and from the face of the earth, he said. The victim who was veiled while narrating her ordeal in Saudi Arabia said that she was lured by a friend living in Dubai who connected her with a woman in Bannex Plaza in Abuja. The girl who spoke in English fluently but didnt reveal her identities, said she left for Saudi Arabia with other girls on Dec. 30, 2017 before being rescued by NAPTIP through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It all started through a friend who claimed she was living in Dubai; she introduced me to a woman agent in Abuja, I was living in Lagos and latter invited me to meet her in Abuja When I came, I was taken for a medical check-up in Dr Wadas Hospital. The agent promised that I would go to Saudi Arabia as a sales girl and that I would be earning equivalent of N150, 000 there. Everything was processed through her and when we got to Saudi Arabia it was a different thing entirely, my passport was seized and I ended working as a house help." She said that when the condition was unbearable she called the woman and said that she could no longer cope but the agent said she could not leave. According to her, the agent said she must pay N1.7 million before she could be released And if I could not pay I would have to work for two years, so I contacted a journalist friend who contacted NAPTIP that contacted the Nigerian Embassy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she said. The girl, who said she almost committed suicide before help came for her called on the Federal Government to come to the rescue of thousands of Nigerian girls trapped in Saudi Arabia. I want Government to assist those other girls that are stranded because it is not easy, Nigerian girls are passing through hell in Saudi Arabia , there may not be work in Nigeria but it is better to stay back. But, Sagay believes Adeosun is too brilliant to let go due to the allegation. Let me tell you my reaction. This woman is a brilliant and extremely valuable member of this government, Sagay told TheNation. He continued: A lot of the good things happening now the welfare that Nigerians are enjoying and are going to enjoy, because it takes time, and the way our economy is booming, how we got out of recession are due to her expertise, her commitment, her sacrifice. There is nothing in this world that will make me remove such a woman from the government. The PDP can weep from now until there is no tear in their body; she is going to be there. We cannot afford to lose that woman. Who cares about ? I dont bloody care whether she did youth service or not. Its irrelevant as far as I am concerned. I dont believe it. I dont see anything serious about not doing youth service. I dont see anything serious about it. Thats my own bias, not governments. Im telling you now. If I were President Buhari, I would never, ever touch that woman because shes damn good, he declared. Saraki must resign Sagay asked the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to resign his position as a matter of honour. He should relinquish his position as a matter of honour. Hes not compelled by law to do so. He needs to be removed by two-thirds majority. He got there because he was in APC, even though he got there by subterfuge, which is typical of him. He got there in a cheeky, fraudulent manner. Nevertheless, for him to be removed, they need two-thirds, not of the senate, but of those present and voting at a meeting. It doesnt have to be everybody. Its those who happen to be there. Once they meet the quorum of one-third, and he is there, he can be removed by two-thirds of that one-third. The incident occurred on Friday, August 8, 2018 after the former governor of Kano was sighted leaving the mosque. Kwankwaso, who has been battling the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, had joined Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senator Dino Melaye and other lawmakers to dump the ruling party, All Progressive Congress. ALSO READ: Kwankwaso explains why he shunned APC Convention The Senator has since been getting cold reception from crowd after he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last week. Kwankwasos defection will not affect APC Ganduje The Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje says the defection of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and other lawmakers to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not affect the chances of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. This is contained in a statement signed by Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor and made available to newsmen on Friday in Kano. Their defection will not constitute any problem to our great party, the APC, at all levels. People should keep their eyes (open) to what will happen during election. Our dear President has been doing the needful in terms of developing the nation, coupled with his efforts in efficient service delivery. Good governance is at its peak and the war against corruption is successfully being waged. You are welcome. On Tuesday, August 7, 2018, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo fired the DG of the DSS, Lawal Daura, for sending masked operatives of the spy agency to the national assembly. The blockade of the national assembly by DSS operatives was widely condemned as an assault on the nations fledgling democracy. Okay, hold on a second: the name of the man who deployed the masked men to the national assembly complex is Lawal Daura not Mamman Daura. There's actually a difference and we can explain. You see, Lawal Daura is the name of the immediate past boss of the DSS, while Mamman Daura is that famous, influential cousin of President Buharithat Daura who is a prominent member of the cabal in the presidency. Remember him now? Yeah, that one. But the PDP couldnt tell the difference. In fact, the PDP even called the man who had just been fired, Mamman Daura. After Osinbajos office announced Lawal Dauras sack, the PDP took to its twitter and put up the picture of Mamman Daura as the man who had just been fired. The gaffe probably lasted an hour before the tweet was deleted from the social media account of the opposition party with no apologies or explanations offered afterwards. Saraki responded to the APC chairman through Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President. In a statement sent to Pulse, Saraki claimed that a few months ago, Oshiomhole was crawling all over, pleading for his support to become the chairman of the ruling party. Saraki further referred to Oshiomhole as an ignorant, who needs to be better educated about Nigeria's parliamentary history. ALSO READ: Oshiomhole wants Saraki removed as Senate President Read Saraki's full response to Adams Oshiomhole 1. It is rather surprising that Mr. Adams Oshiomhole is behaving like a rain-beaten chicken, crying all over the place about Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, as if the Senate President is the apparition haunting his life and the sinking ship that he captains. 2. Having decided not to join the pigs in rolling in the dirt; we would not like to be involved in any meaningless exchange with the demagogue now in charge of APC. However, because he claimed that he was reacting to the issues raised by the Senate President during his World Press Conference, we thought it necessary to give the APC chairman some attention. Alas, we found that instead of addressing any issue raised by the Senate President, his press conference merely showcased his obsession and those of his sponsors with Saraki's removal, which he did without any decorum befitting of his age or his awarded office. He brimmed with hate, hurled abuses, threw tantrums, told lies, huffed, puffed. In the end, he said nothing. 3. It is indeed amazing that the same Oshiomhole, who is now describing Saraki as a politician of no consequence was the same one who only a few months ago was crawling all over the place pleading for Saraki's support to become chairman. We are sure that those who took him to Saraki several times to plead his case must now be thoroughly embarrassed by his reckless and uncouth manner. 4. By his conduct and utterances, Oshiomhole, who accused Saraki of not acting in national interest needs to do more to convince Nigerians that his desperate desire to become party chairman is not simply to feed his over-sized ego. 5. The position of Oshiomhole and his cohorts in the APC that the Senate President must resign is a mere wishful thinking. They will continue to dream about their planned removal of the Senate President. They will need 73 Senators to lawfully remove Dr. Saraki and they will never get that in the present eight Senate. 6. The argument of APC that the Senate President must come from a majority party; that the Senate Presidency is their crown and National Assembly is their palace is only supported by ignorance and dangerous delusion. First, the issue of which party is in the majority will only be resolved when the Senate resume. Two, Section 50 (1) (a) of the constitution is clear that any Senator can be elected as Senate President. If the only thing left of the APC change agenda is to change the Senate President we can only wish them goodluck. 7. Perhaps, Mr. Oshiomhole needs to be better educated about our parliamentary history when he Stated that "For the first time in parliamentary history in Nigeria, we had a situation where the APC had majority of Senators and went on to elect a PDP as Deputy Senate President". Where is Mr. Oshiomhole when Senator John Wash Pam of the Nigerian People's Party (NPP) became Deputy Senate President in the Second Republic even when the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) had the majority. The same thing happened in the House of Representatives when NPP's Rt. Hon. Edwin Umeh Ezeoke was elected Speaker in an NPN majority House. But then, it would require a level of education to understand these things. 8. What hypocrisy! To think that this same APC were jubilating when Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal retained his position after he defected from the PDP and still retained his seat, even when his new party was in the minority. These are people whose standards of morality are infinitely elastic. 9. We are sure the remaining APC Senators need to do a lot of work to bring Oshiomhole up to speed about parliamentary practice. His ignorance are too clear in his comments about how the Senate was adjourned on July 24, 2018, the distribution of committee chairmanship in the Senate and the difference between the post of Senate President and Minority Leader. 10. He has made so much song and dance about Mr. Godswill Akpabio resigning as Senate Minority Leader when he left the PDP to join APC. For this, Akpabio has become his hero and a symbol of honour. He obviously does not understand that the post of Minority Leader is a strictly party affair. And the PDP simply decided who to give it as it is not even a position that was mentioned in the constitution. Whereas, the Senate President position is a constitutional creation, which required majority votes of all the members. Again, we don't expect people whose only experience in politics is at the provincial levels to understand this. No wonder they are talking of crowns and inheritance. 11. The fair distribution of the Committee chairmanship is one of the stabilizing factors in the 8th Senate and has helped it in achieving more than all its predecessors. 12. We need to inform this divisive element who now leads APC that if he wants to know why the 2018 budget was delayed, he should ask the heads of the MDAs. We reckon that should be easy for him since he is now their 'headmaster', moving around with canes to whip ministers into line. 13. Oshiomhole once again demonstrated his lack of sense of history by talking of Buhari winning more votes in Kwara than Saraki. We are sure President Buhari himself will disagree with the APC chairman. We invite the APC chairman to look at the figures of votes secured by the President in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 to know that the difference is clear, like a commercial advert stated. Ramadan, who took leave from his post at Oxford University after the allegations surfaced, has also complained that his imprisonment has made it more difficult for him to receive treatment for multiple sclerosis. But the appeals court upheld his detention on Wednesday, considering Ramadan, who holds Swiss citizenship, is a flight risk despite his offer to surrender his passport and post 300,000 euros ($350,000) in bail. Investigative magistrates had already denied several requests for his release. Ramadan, whose grandfather founded Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement, has been held since February on charges that he raped two women in France in two separate incidents. His accusers came forward in October in the wake of the "Me Too" campaign which began after several women accused Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, prompting women worldwide to share accounts about sexual attack and harassment. Ramadan, a married father of four who is one of European Islam's best-known figures, has denied any sexual relations with the two women, saying he met with each of them only once and in public places. He has denounced the accusations as part of a smear campaign by his critics. His first accuser, Henda Ayari, who was questioned by judges last month in Ramadan's presence, had originally said that he raped her at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Paris on May 26, 2012. But investigators later determined she was attending her brother-in-law's wedding that day in Rouen, northern France. Ayari subsequently admitted she could not remember the exact date. On September 18, Ramadan will be questioned in the presence of his second accuser, a disabled woman identified as "Christelle" who claims he raped and beat her in a hotel in the southeastern city of Lyon in 2009. French investigators are also looking into rape claims made by a third woman with whom he has admitted to having had an affair. Those allegations have not yet let to charges. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. The 2018 Central Indiana Field Day will bring together experts to share information with attendees on a wide range of topics that impact the agricultural industry such as unmanned aerial vehicles, weed research, cover crops and entomology, and state transportation regulations. The free event will be from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Aug. 29 at Dull's Farm, 1765 W. Blubaugh Ave., Thorntown. To register for the event and lunch, go online to http://bit.ly/2018CentralINFieldDayRegistration. Tom Dull of Dull's Farm will be the lunch keynote speaker. He will discuss the diversification of traditional agriculture and encourage producers to consider ways to diversify their operations. Tom and his wife, Kerry, have lived on their farmstead in Boone County since 1982 and began growing Christmas trees to sell in 1985. Since that time, the family has expanded its operation to include wreathmaking, a petting zoo, gift shop, The Stone Cabin Inn Bed & Breakfast, and more. Other speakers include: * Joseph Ikley, a Purdue University research associate in botany and plant pathology, will provide an agronomic weed update. * Rodney Rulon of Rulon Farms will discuss the management and economics of cover crops. * John Obermeyer, Purdue Extension integrated pest management specialist, will give an entomology update. * Mike Templeton, surface transportation consultant, will discuss state transportation regulations. * Michael Langemeier, Purdue cropping systems economist and professor of agricultural economics, will talk about land values and cash rents. * David Osborne, Purdue Extension-Ripley County educator, will speak on pond management. * Klein Ileleji, Purdue professor of agricultural and biological engineering, will discuss postharvest management and grain storage. * Extension educators Austin Pearson (Tipton County), Scott Gabbard (Shelby County) and Mark Carter (Delaware County) will provide an overview of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as drones, and their application to modern agriculture. Private Applicator Recertification Program (PARP), Continuing Education Units and Continuing Certification Hours credits also are available to those attending. There is a $10 fee for those seeking PARP credits. Source: Austin Pearson, 765-675-1177, pearsona@purdue.edu Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page Its silly to think that any one picture could ever stand in for a place, a subject, a realm of experience as vast and intricate as the Asian continent and its countless diasporas. But like all pioneering efforts, and like any movie about the pleasures of the aristocracy, Crazy Rich Asians will inevitably be criticized for what it isnt and never attempted to be. You can probably expect a think-piece excoriating Chu for not making his generations Bicycle Thieves. Still others may take him to task for recycling a standard Cinderella fantasy, as if a movie were no more than the sum of its most basic narrative parts. Published on: 10 August 2018 Carrying a bespoke design for a modern anatomy centre, the building will be equipped with the most up-to-date facilities to support anatomy and clinical skills teaching. The unique facility will be the focus of teaching activity at Queen Mary's Malta campus from September 2018, in time for Year 2 medical students to continue their anatomy studies and for the new intake of first year students. The building will also provide office accommodation for academic, technical and administrative staff. A central feature of the building is its anatomy lab where students will undertake practicals and tutors will lead demonstrations using anatomical specimens and models. The lab will include a dedicated area for learning anatomy through dissection, and will be equipped with facilities for showing clinical images, videos of surgical procedures and specialised computer imaging. External view of anatomy centre External view of anatomy centre The building also has a central courtyard, which will provide an outdoor space for students and staff. The development is part of the ongoing construction work for a new medical school at Gozo General Hospital, which is due to be completed in Spring 2019. Professor Anthony Warrens, Dean for Education at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, said: We are delighted to see our new state-of-the-art anatomy centre taking shape. These facilities combined with the high-quality educational programme which were already delivering, will give our students the very best start to their medical careers and help train the next generation of doctors. Dr Nadine Delicata, Chief Operating Officer at Steward Health Care Malta, said: Steward Malta is honoured to have Barts onsite within the Gozo Hospital campus, and we are looking forward to contributing toward the education of medical students at Barts. Together both institutions can work to further improve the quality of care delivered to patients of Malta and Gozo. More information Legal action against Massey University Vice Chancellor Jan Thomas is in the works, in a response to the cancellation of Don Brashs speaking event on campus. Dr Brashs speaking event was cancelled due to security concerns, particularly over a Facebook post and a comment suggesting a gun could be brought to the talk. But the Free Speech Coalition, which Don Brash is a member of, believes that security threats were an excuse to ban Dr Brash because of his controversial beliefs. The coalition is the same organisation that raised $50,000 to take legal action against Auckland Council for denying right-wing speakers Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux from using a council venue. Spokesperson David Cumin told RadioLIVEs James Coleman that court action is necessary to uphold the fundamental value of free speech in New Zealand. The point of the legal action is to make sure that this is wider than just Professor Thomas and Auckland Council. This is an issue that affects us all about how far public venues need to go to ensure they can protect people who express controversial ideas. The Vice Chancellor told RadioLIVEs Ryan Bridge that she decided to cancel the event without the recommendation of university security and the students association, which Mr Cumin finds troubling. I was not prepared to put our staff, students and visitors on the campus at risk in that way, Prof Thomas said. Massey Universitys corporate communications director told Newshub that the comments made on Facebook were considered "enough red flags to tip the balance" in the eyes of the Vice Chancellor. He told Newshub that the university alerted police about the comments, but by that point they had already decided to cancel the event because they "needed to act quickly". The Free Speech Coalition, which was formed in July with the aim of challenging Auckland Council over the cancellation of the far-right speaking event, says "thugs" have been "emboldened" by the Council's cancellation. Listen to the full interview with David Cumin above. First@Five with James Coleman, 5am - 6am, on RadioLIVE and streaming live to the rova app on Android and iPhone. RadioLIVE Single-use plastic bags will be phased out over the next year, the Government has announced. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage made the announcement this morning at an event in Wellington. The move will help look after the environment and safeguard New Zealand's clean, green reputation, Ms Ardern says. "We're listening to New Zealanders who want us to take action on this problem. This year 65000 Kiwis signed a petition calling for an outright ban." Its been 59 years since a state was admitted into the American republic. The flag of the worlds most powerful country has been adorned with 50 stars for almost six decades now. On Aug. 21, 1959, the Territory of Hawaii was admitted as the 50th state in the union, joining the Territory of Alaska (which joined in January of that same year) as the last two territories of the republic to join as full-fledged states. Thats a long stretch to go without new stars, and its high time to start thinking about adding some more to Old Glory. Annexation shouldnt be done via conquest or coercion, of course, but neither should the possibility of expanding American constitutionalism (and the liberties protected therein) beyond its current borders be shied away from. Annexing new states means federation, and federation means ceding some sovereignty (costs) in exchange for some perceived benefits, which could range from more accurate representation in Congress to better military protection to fuller access of American markets. Before the objections and insults begin to fly, your correspondent would direct you to the esteemed work of James Bryce, one of the most respected historians of the late 19th century, who, as a British citizen, wrote the post-Civil War equivalent of Alexis de Tocquevilles pre-Civil War Democracy in America. Bryces massive treatise, first published in 1888 (with subsequent editons in 1910 and 1914), on the United States was titled, simply, The American Commonwealth (you can find it here [https://www.libertyfund.org/books/the-american-commonwealth]) and is best known for providing a snapshot of an America that stood in stark contrast to Tocquevilles egalitarian description. To Bryce, the industrial revolution had made mincemeat out of the early republics agrarian ideals, and the vast inequality that confronted Americans was augmented by the territorial expansion of the United States westward through a constitutional framework that, by design, made territorial expansion difficult. Bryce pointed out the problems Americans faced in a manner that was so collected, and so thorough, that his treatise earned him the admiration of Americans on both the left and the right for two generations (until the end of World War II). Stay with me here. In a footnote found in the 1914 edition, in a chapter explaining the American Senate, Bryce predicted that Hawaii and Alaska, then territories, would never become states because neither contained a civilized white population [that] would entitle either of them to be formed into states. Less than 50 years later, both territories became states, even though Hawaii never had a white majority and Alaskas now-dominant white population was driven by wartime calculations against Japan (World War II) and the Soviet Union (Cold War) rather than quixotic civilizing missions. Now, with the esteemed historians failed prediction in mind, here are 10 places that should join the United States: 10. Jefferson. Composed of counties in northern California and southern Oregon, Jefferson has been around as an idea since 1941, when residents of the region made a legitimate effort to carve out a new state. The citizens of Jefferson even went so far as to elect a governor in 1941, and, since then, Jeffersons proponents have utilized nearly all options to draw attention to their cause (theirs is a non-violent one). While nothing of substance has yet materialized, there are several historical precedents for allowing new states to form within the borders of older states. West Virginia is probably the most famous case, when Charleston seceded from Virginia after Virginia seceded from the United States, but Maine left Massachusetts in 1820 (and was admitted to the American union as part of the Missouri Compromise), and Kentucky - birthplace of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis - also left Virginia, becoming the 15th state in the republic in 1792. Jeffersons political climate is moderately conservative (marijuana is grown extensively there), and the counties dont have much say in how their liberal states are run, so the State of Jeffersons advocates share a common political component with the founders of West Virginia, Maine, and the Bluegrass State. 9. Puerto Rico. Officially an unincorporated territory of the United States, Puerto Rico was acquired by Washington, along with Cuba and the Philippines, in the course of the Spanish-American War of 1898. Not quite an annexed state and not quite a colony, the island has been in legal limbo since the war with Spain ended. In 2017, a referendum was held on the issue of statehood (the fifth of its kind since 1952), and an overwhelming majority of those who voted preferred statehood to independence or the status quo. Unfortunately, those who voted only accounted for about 23% of the islands population, and referendum was popularly-held, meaning that the legislature didnt vote on the matter (which is what the federal congress would require in order to consider a Puerto Rican application). Despite the odds being stacked against a Spanish-speaking state, there has never been a better time than now to join the union, especially if representatives could work in tandem with representatives of Jefferson. The history of American statehood is one of balance in the Senate. If Maine could join as a free state, then Missouri could join as a slave state. If Hawaii could join as a blue state, then Alaska could join as a red state. If Puerto Rico joined the union it would be as a blue state, and Jefferson could be the red yang to San Juans yin. 8. Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. When the United States beat Spain in its 1898 foray into imperialism, Washington took Guam but left the rest of the Northern Mariana Islands to Spain, which then sold off the possessions to Germany and retreated from the Pacific for good. (The best explanation for this split is that Guam was the most important island cluster in the Northern Marianas.) Japan seized the islands from Germany in World War I, and then the United States took the islands from Japan in World War II. The U.S. then placed the Northern Mariana Islands in its newly-created United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Popular referendums were held in the late 1950s and all throughout the 1960s on unifying with Guam, but the unification never happened and both territories continue to send one non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. If the two commonwealths merged and became a state in the American union, the locals would finally be self-governing, and Americans would get a state with high strategic and economic value in the South Pacific. Not too shabby. 7. Marshall Islands. While technically a sovereign country, the Marshall Islands is in practice a ward of the American republic. Located to the south and east of the Marianas island group, the Marshall Islands has a history that looks remarkably similar to that of its neighbors (Spain claimed the isles, then Germany bought them from Spain after the latters loss to the U.S., then Japan seized them from Germany in World War I, and then the U.S. seized them from Japan in World War II). Unlike the Marianas, though, the Marshall Islands were able to attain sovereignty, most likely due to the fact that the Marshall Islands were used extensively for nuclear weapons testing after the end of World War II. The locals on both island groups make up a majority of the population, and are Micronesian in culture. 6. Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. This is where things start to get crazy. The prairie provinces of Canada have long been at odds with the eastern establishment of Canada, and consider Canadas west coast province of British Colombia to be full of stinking hippies. If this sounds familiar its because the prairie provinces share much of same culture as the people located in American flyover country. All three provinces would benefit immensely from an influx of not only American capital, but also American immigration, and the United States would benefit from the addition of states that share the same cultural traits as many of the republics conservatives. Adding three stars to Old Glory, to welcome Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to the republic, would be an amazing, mutually beneficial accomplishment for both sides of the federation. 5. Coahuila, Tamaulipas, and Nuevo Leon. These three Mexican states, located in the north along the border with Texas, once formed a short-lived republic called the Rio Grande Republic in 1840. It was formed in opposition to Santa Anas centralizing, anti-federalist schemes, as the Rio Grande states were some of the major beneficiaries of a federal system in Mexico. Rio Grande sought support from Texas, another Mexican state in rebellion [https://www.realclearhistory.com/historiat/2018/05/07/genesis_of_mexican-american_war_304.html], but the Texans, seeking official Mexican recognition of their own secessionist republic, instead declared their neutrality (but supported the Rio Grande Republic by covertly encouraging volunteers to fight with the Rio Grande army). This was not an easy decision for Texas to make, either. The Rio Grande Republic would have made an excellent buffer zone between itself and Mexico, but in the end public recognition of Texan independence by Mexico was deemed to be more important than having a buffer zone between the two sides. The federalist impulse is still strong in these states, too: in 2007, Coahuila became the first state in Mexico to recognize same-sex marriage. These three states deserve better than what Mexico City can offer. They deserve a chance to shine with the stars (and stripes). 4. England and Wales. The United Kingdom is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and a few other dependencies scattered about the world. While it was once at the epicenter of the worlds most powerful empire, those days have long since faded from view. Indeed, the kingdom today is in shambles. Scotland wants out. London is thriving but the rest of England is suffering from the effects of deindustrialization. Brexit has highlighted Northern Irelands wishes to have ever-closer ties with the Republic of Ireland. The kingdoms once-vaunted military depends on the United States for nearly everything. Adam Smith put forth a proposal in his 1776 treatise on the wealth of nations thats worth discussing here. Smith argued that the best way to avoid a costly war with the 13 American colonies was to give them representation to go along with taxation. He proposed that the U.K.s parliament should add some seats and give them to North American representatives. This way both sides could avoid the whole no taxation without representation dispute. Smith further opined that, were this federation to happen, the center of the British empire would inexorably move in the direction of the North American colonies. My friends, that day is finally here! Let Scotland have its independence. Let the Irish finally unite their island. The annexation of England and Wales by the United States would breath fresh life into the formers stale economy, and would finally put an end to the free-riding that has been a constant thorn in the side of an otherwise special relationship. 3. Taiwan. Speaking of free riders, Taiwan has been nestled comfortably against the bosom of the U.S. military since the early stages of the Cold War, when communist forces on mainland China drove the nationalist forces into the sea and onto the island of Taiwan, which was quickly converted into an offshore fortress against communism. The nationalists set about building a non-communist Chinese society on the island (subduing and then oppressing the indigenous inhabitants along the way), and, after a few decades of one-party rule, flowered into a multi-party democracy with a very high standard of living, the two qualifications that political scientist Daniel Ziblatt identifies in his excellent book Structuring the State: The Formation of Italy and Germany and the Puzzle of Federalism (you can find it here [https://press.princeton.edu/titles/8201.html]) as necessary for successful federation. Even though Washington doesnt officially recognize Taiwan as a country (a deal Washington made with post-Mao reformers on the Chinese mainland, in exchange for peace and trade), the two polities are deeply intertwined. Taiwan spends billions of dollars on American military equipment, and the U.S. spends significant political capital protecting Taiwan from Chinas bellicosity. Taiwanese statehood would not only bring two close societies even closer together, it would force China to either fight the United States or reveal itself to be a paper tiger. 2. Liberia. Established along the coast of West Africa by the United States as a place for freed slaves, Liberia quickly became dominated by said freedman, so much so that the locals were subdued and oppressed for the good part of two centuries. In 1821-22, the American Colonization Society (ACS) founded a colony on the Pepper Coast of West Africa and called it Liberia. The aim of the colony was to provide freed slaves in the Americas a place to enjoy their freedom, since racism was still rampant in the Americas. The freedman quickly came into conflict with the locals, a clash of cultures that has continued into the present day. Liberia, governed by its New World migrants, declared its independence in 1847 but it wasnt until 1862, in the early stages of the American Civil War, that the U.S. recognized Liberias declaration. The African continents first and oldest republic, predating Ghana by over one century, it survived as an independent entity the Scramble for Africa in the late 19th century and has been at the forefront of regional coalition-building in Africa since the end of World War II (when the British and French empires collapsed). Liberia, like almost all republics, has decayed politically and socially, especially over the last few decades. Federating with the United States would do wonders for the Liberians, and give the Americans a foothold on the African continent. 1. Cuba. Once, long ago, Cuba and the United States has a semi-toxic but symbiotic relationship with each other. On the one hand, Cuba was a popular tourist destination for Americans and a strong producer of American culture. On the other hand, Cubas independence was a sham and the dictatorship that was propped up by the United States led directly to the communist rebellion (and subsequent dictatorship) of Fidel Castro. Sovereignty is overrated, as the Batista and Castro dictatorships highlight so well, and it is certainly not an absolute [https://www.realclearhistory.com/articles/2017/11/14/10_longest-ruling_monarchs_254.html]. That Cuban statehood would show that sovereignty can be traded and negotiated upon; it can be used to establish relationships with other polities to that ensure a healthy element of equality exists between political units large and small. The annexation of Cuba by the United States would give the Cuban people a chance to finally experiment with self-government, and thats a price worth paying. Odds and ends Why not the Navajo or other Indian territories? Why cant the Navajo and their large reservation be turned into a state within the U.S.? The main reason for this not happening is that critics on the left would call such a state a Bantustan, even if it was a full-fledged state with senators and representatives in Washington. A Bantustan was a South African invention during the era of apartheid. The South African government established several homelands for black people and moved them onto these homelands, all in the name of racial separation. Some of the Bantustans were recognized as independent by the South African government and some of them were treated as semi-sovereign states by the South African government. No other country in the world followed suit. In reality, the annexation of Indian reservations would look a lot more like the Canadian territory of Nunavut than the Bantustans of South Africa. Nunavut is an Inuit-dominated territory within Canada that participates in both federal politics and governs with the locals in mind. Prior to the establishment of Nunavut, the Inuit in Canada were subject to some awful, paternalistic policies that led to numerous social and economic problems. A union between the United States and its Indian reservations would look a lot more like Nunavut and nothing at all like Bantustans (which, if anything, resemble American Indian reservations). Why not the Philippines? The short answer is that its too large, geographically and demographically. The Philippines was once the crown jewel of the official American Empire, seized from Spain at the same time as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The American-governed Philippines were conquered by the Japanese in World War II and the population suffered immensely [https://www.realclearhistory.com/articles/2018/04/12/10_japanese_prison_camps_in_the_philippines_293.html]. When the American military retook the archipelago from Japan, Washington recognized Filipino independence on July 4, 1946. Today, the people of the Philippines absolutely love the United States. Were a union to happen, it would probably have to be via the three island groups of the Philippines - Visaya, Mindanao, and Luzon - rather than the Philippines itself. What is the Guano Islands Act? On Aug. 18, 1856, the United States Congress passed a law stating that the U.S. could seize any unclaimed islands that had guano (bat feces) on them. The Act led to numerous disputes with other countries (but no wars) and to the direct ownership of six small, uninhabited islands throughout the world. The Act was ruled constitutional in 1890 and so, to this very day, the United States lords over six guano-rich uninhabited islands as well as a transcontinental imperial domain. Theres no need to add any stars to Old Glory for the sake of the guano islands, but any story involving feces and world politics deserves to be told. Have a great weekend! Minnesota could be the decisive battleground in November, and the national media are beginning to notice. The Associated Press reports: 'Democrats' hopes to take House could stumble in Minnesota.' For all the talk of a blue wave sweeping Democrats back into the House majority this fall, their efforts could be thwarted in one of the nation's bluest states. I would say, formerly one of the nation's bluest states. Minnesota is The gangs all here Cast members from A Bronx Tale, Anastasia, The Book of Mormon, Cats, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Falsettos, Fiddler on the Roof, Heartbreak Hotel, Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will all take to the stage for previews of the new season, with hosts ABC 7s Janet Davies and Santino Fontana, star of the upcoming Tootsie, emceeing. WASHINGTON -- How do democratic countries get to the point where they give up on self-rule? Under what circumstances do demagogues capture large audiences through irrational, emotional appeals unmoored from fact, logic or morality? When do politicians responsible for maintaining a democratic system surrender to dictators? These questions are more pertinent to us in the early 21st century than we would wish. In the 1990s, democracy was thought to be on the march. Now, we worry that the international tide is turning toward autocracy and authoritarianism. This is why Benjamin Carter Hett's "The Death of Democracy: Hitler's Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic" should join your summer reading list. Hett is a professor of history at Hunter College and the City University of New York Graduate Center. He joins the company of distinguished scholars, notably Richard J. Evans and Ian Kershaw, who have shed light on the social and political forces that brought a murderous regime to life through a democratic system. But if this is an oft-told tragic tale, Hett's brisk and lucid study offers compelling new perspectives inspired by current threats to free societies around the world. "In each era, we see the past differently, according to how we see ourselves and our own experiences," Hett writes. "One era will notice things about the past that another will not. This is one reason why history is, and has to be, constantly rewritten." It is both eerie and enlightening how much of Hett's account rings true in our time. Consider this declaration from Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's chief propagandist: "Certainly we want to build a wall, a protective wall." There is this dolorous observation from the socialist Ernst Toller: "The people are tired of reason, tired of thought and reflection. They ask, what has reason done for us in the last few years, what good have insights and knowledge done us." As Hett notes, "The key to understanding why many Germans supported [Hitler] lies in the Nazis' rejection of a rational, factual world. ... Hitler could give voice to this flight from reality as could no other German politician of his time." The larger story he tells resonates, too. Hett argues that the Nazi movement was "a response to an overwhelming triumph of global liberal capitalism at the end of the Great War" and that the logic of a chaotic moment "pushed opponents of austerity to become opponents of liberal democracy as well." The Nazi movement was rooted in anti-Semitism, bigotry and exclusion. But it also exploited economic discontent bred by orthodox economic policies that deepened the pain of the Depression. And conservatives everywhere should ponder the choices made by the German establishment, including big business, the military, culturally traditional Protestants and big land owners. They all helped bring Hitler to power because they hated the left -- including the moderate Social Democrats, the backbone of the Weimar Republic -- more than they loved republican government and political freedom. Hett writes that members of "the conservative establishment ... could have stopped Hitler in his tracks. Instead, they chose to use him, although the Nazi-conservative alliance was always an awkward one." He notes at another point: "Democracy was not working for them precisely because their interests could not attract the support of a majority, even a large plurality, of voters." The politicians and power brokers who helped Hitler become Chancellor believed they could deploy him to destroy the left but also keep him under control. They achieved the first but not the second. The consequences were catastrophic, to those slaughtered in Hitler's genocide and to Germany as a whole. German conservatives had no desire to see their country pulverized by war and shrunken in size afterward. But their choices in the 1930s brought about exactly this outcome. There is a reluctance to draw lessons from the Nazi experience because personal comparisons between contemporary politicians and Hitler are always a mistake. Hitler's crimes are in a category of horror all their own. But this should not stop us from heeding the warnings of a political era that led to the collapse of freedom in Germany. Seeing it "as the result of a large protest movement colliding with complex patterns of elite self-interest, in a culture increasingly prone to aggressive mythmaking and irrationality ... strips away the exotic and foreign look of swastika banners and goose-stepping Stormtroopers." Hett adds: "Suddenly, the whole thing looks close and familiar." It does, and our task is to prevent this "whole thing" from ever happening again. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group The Ancient War Between the Press and the President The media are furious that President Trump serially decries "fake news." He often rants that journalists who traffic in it are "enemies of the people." Reporters have compared Trump to mass murderers such as Stalin and Hitler because of his dislike of the press. Trump may be crude to reporters, but journalists are also not so innocent. They have brought much of the present calumny upon themselves in a variety of ways. The media seem to have little concern that their coverage is biased even though polls show that the vast majority of Americans believe the media intentionally reports fake news. Indeed, fake news is not a Trump exaggeration. Despite coverage to the contrary, Trump did not remove a bust of Martin Luther King Jr. from the Oval Office. Testimony by former FBI Director James Comey revealed that senior Trump campaign officials did not consult "senior Russian intelligence officials," as the New York Times reported. Putin denied having compromising information on Trump during an NBC interview after an earlier NBC report said Putin did not deny having such information. Despite hysterical reports that in testimony before Congress, Comey would refute Trump's claim that Comey had assured him he was not under investigation, Comey instead confirmed Trump's story. The list of such false news reports is long. The common theme is that even recklessly derogatory news is seen by many as serving the higher purpose of delegitimizing the Trump presidency. Auditing coverage of the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, the Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy found that of the news reports with a clear tone, 80 percent of the stories about Trump were negative, 20 percent positive. Journalists ranging from Christiane Amanpour to Jorge Ramos to Jim Rutenberg have argued that the rules of neutral reportage should no longer necessarily apply when it comes to Trump. The WikiLeaks email trove of correspondence between Hillary Clinton and her campaign adviser, John Podesta, revealed that marquee journalists were colluding with Clinton aides to ensure the right spin was put on stories before publication. CNN analyst Donna Brazile leaked debate questions to Clinton in advance. Too often, reporters smear the president in the crudest possible ways. Politico's Julia Ioffe suggested that Trump might have engaged in incest with his daughter. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was forced to apologize after he crudely trashed a pro-Trump panelist, saying, "If he took a dump on his desk, you would defend it!" This year's White House Correspondents' Association Dinner turned into a Trump hatefest, as host Michelle Wolf savagely trashed the president. Wolf even mocked the looks of White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. The late CNN host Anthony Bourdain once joked about poisoning Trump. Religious scholar Reza Aslan referred to Trump as "this piece of s--t." Sometimes journalists disparage and stereotype Trump supporters. Recently, Politico reporter Marc Caputo tweeted of the crowd he saw at a Trump rally: "If you put everyone's mouths together in this video, you'd get a full set of teeth." Then he doubled down by calling them "garbage people." The New York Times knew when it newly hired tech writer Sarah Jeong as an editorial board member that she had a history of crude, racist tweets, some directed at Trump. Is this war between Trump and the media unprecedented? Not quite. So far, Trump's attacks are verbal, and subject to public debate. Unlike his predecessors, he has not yet secretly weaponized the government to spy on and harass journalists he doesn't like. Reporters loved Barack Obama. But his Justice Department improperly and secretly surveilled Associated Press reporters and monitored the phone calls and emails of Fox News reporter James Rosen. President John Adams in 1798 pushed through Sedition Act, barring journalistic criticism of the government. Woodrow Wilson systematically had reports censored that he felt were critical of his wartime administration. His state-run propaganda machine, the "Committee on Public Information," had a creepy French Revolutionary ring to it. Liberal icon Franklin D. Roosevelt makes Trump's bluster about the media look relatively amateurish. FDR used the Federal Communications Commission to stifle critical news. Roosevelt's congressional allies tried to push through a "libel bill" to criminalize hostile reporting. At a press conference in the middle of World War II, Roosevelt once handed a reporter a Nazi Iron Cross and told him that another journalist whom FDR hated had earned it. John F. Kennedy had the CIA wiretap two Washington reporters. There is no doubt that Trump should ease off his blanket condemnations of the journalists and their profession. But for their part, reporters have to stop creating news where there is none. And they should refrain from personal attacks on the president and his family, and from stereotyping Trump supporters as garbage. In the meantime, we should remember that the real danger to a free press is not loud public bluster from a perceived hostile president. More often, First Amendment threats come from the quiet weaponization of the government against journalists -- which, ironically, is sometimes orchestrated by presidents who are beloved press idols. (C) 2018 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. Following Tuesdays final special election since Donald Trump took office, and with the 2018 midterm primaries winding down, the results signal a major concern for Republicans heading into the fall races: turnout. Data indicate that the unique group of voters who swept Trump into office has not maintained its 2016 levels of enthusiasm, while Democratic fervor continues to rise. Coupled with the presidents job approval rating, which sits at 43.4 percent in the RealClearPolitics polling average, the dynamics resemble those President Obama experienced in 2010 when the GOPs Tea Party wave flipped control of the House. The Obama coalition of 2008 collapsed, and it appears Trumps is on the same path. In all of the 11 special election races with the exception of Texas 27th Congressional District and Californias 34th, due to unique voting systems Republican turnout was lower compared to the past two election cycles, to varying degrees. In some cases, as in Georgias 6th District, GOP turnout was only down by about 4,000 votes, but in Ohios 12th District and Alabamas Senate election, the numbers were far higher. In OH-12, Republican candidate Troy Balderson -- who holds a narrow lead in the still-incomplete vote count -- received nearly 50,000 fewer votes than did the GOP candidate in 2014, incumbent Pat Tiberi. (The seat opened up when the nine-term congressman resigned to lead the Ohio Business Roundtable.) Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Danny OConnor received nearly 40,000 more votes than the Democratic candidate in 2014. In Alabama, former Judge Roy Moore received nearly 145,000 fewer votes than Jeff Sessions did in 2014, when the current attorney general was unopposed. A key factor in 2018: The special election to replace Sessions was fraught with allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore after he beat appointed Sen. Luther Strange in the primary. Clearly, no two races are exactly alike, but these data points are only the latest examples of a downward trend in Republican turnout. Conversely, those three contests all showed huge turnout increases for Democrats. These were also the races that received the most national attention and where outside groups poured in the most money. The Georgia special election to replace Tom Price who subsequently resigned the Cabinet appointment that created the open seat -- remains the most expensive House race in U.S. history. Special election races are unique, of course, but they can also be early indicators of how voter sentiments are shifting. Ahead of the first midterm races under Obama, Democrats lost a Senate seat in deep-blue Massachusetts a perch the late Ted Kennedy had held for decades to Republican Scott Brown. They also lost a House seat in Hawaiis 1st District and narrowly held New Yorks 20th District by a few hundred votes despite winning it by a double-digit percentage-point margin the year before. Obama, like Trump, campaigned for many of the Democratic candidates, but he could not incentivize voters to turn out for others within the party as they had done for him. When [Obama] wasnt on the ballot, Democrats got crushed. He had a unique appeal that wasnt easy to duplicate, said Nathan Gonzales of Inside Elections. Trump, he noted, has a similar problem, and GOP candidates attempts to mimic his political style and rhetoric have fallen flat: No one else is President Trump. To say he is a unique political figure is an understatement. Gonzales said a major difference between the two sets of special elections can be seen in the reason voters didnt turn out for one party. With Obama as president, he said that Democratic voters particularly minority and younger ones didnt cast ballots because they werent engaged. Republicans, however, are engaged but seem not to have liked their options. The head of one conservative group agreed that voter turnout for Republicans will be an issue in November and added that the president remains the best hope to drive up turnout. Trump needs to snap the base out of their comatose state in many of these races, said David Bozell, president of ForAmerica. The issue going forward is he can do that very successfully but he cant be everywhere at once. Hes going to these districts saying, Come out for me. And people are coming out for him, but that cant necessarily be replicated all across the country all the time. Bozell said its Republicans failure to act on the presidents agenda, specifically on Obamacare and immigration, that has created a lack of motivation for GOP voters. Its just political malpractice on the part of members of Congress not to address these issues, he said. Job approval rating is another early indicator of midterm performance for the presidents party and one that Obama in 2010 and Trump in 2018 also share. Eight years ago, Obamas rating sat at 47.3 percent, somewhat better than Trumps current rating. But Obamas number continued to drop heading into the fall elections, where Republicans had a net gain of 63 House seats and six in the Senate (enough to flip the House but not enough to gain the majority of the upper chamber). Four years later, they would win control of the Senate with a nine-seat net pickup -- the largest gain in the chamber by either party since the GOPs 1994 wave during Bill Clintons presidency. Clinton also had a low approval rating -- 41.7 percent -- just before the midterms that year. Obama, like Trump, remained popular within his own party despite low national approval ratings. Obama averaged an 83 percent approval rating among Democrats during his eight years in office, according to Gallup. A Gallup poll in June showed Trump at 88 percent approval among Republicans. At the same time, however, the generic ballot was, and is, creating headwinds for both men. Republicans were favored ahead of the 2014 midterms by 2.5 percentage points and ahead of the 2010 races by 9.4 points, according to the RCP average. The current generic ballot shows Democrats are favored by five. The direction these numbers signal is not a surprise to most election watchers. Voters are showing up as you would expect them in a lot of areas in these races, said Brandon Finnigan, founder of Decision Desk HQ. He pointed out that motivation is always higher for the party out of power and voters tend to treat midterm races as a referendum on the party in the White House. If Republicans do have some hope on the numbers front its that, overall, their voters historically have better turnout in midterm races than Democrats. FiveThirtyEight calculated that the GOP holds a three-point advantage in midterm years since 1978. This is something Democrats have tried to focus on since the 2016 election and a Pew research survey from July shows that the number of Democratic votes cast this year in House primary races is 84 percent higher than at this point in 2014. The survey also found Republican votes in House primary races are up, but only by 24 percent. Even this has to be taken with a grain of salt, however. A Gallup survey from June noted that those who say they are absolutely certain they will vote is only 56 percent -- similar to the 58 percent margin recorded just before the 2014 midterms, which was the lowest turnout since 1942. Four years after Russia annexed Crimea and Russia-backed separatists revolted against the Ukrainian government in 2014, new clashes in the prolonged conflict have caused a spike in casualties. While Ukraine continues to counter the military challenge in the east of its territory, Kyiv has simultaneously undertaken unprecedented and ever-new attempts ... 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Search Real Estate By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/10/2018 ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. : Before the 90 Days just premiered earlier this week on TLC, but a big spoiler has reportedly leaked out about the fate of one of the couples, Rachel Bear and Jon Walters As viewers saw on the Sunday night premiere of : Before the 90 Days, Rachel, a 33-year-old from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was preparing to travel to England to meet her 34-year-old boyfriend, Jon, for the first time in-person.Well, according to In Touch Weekly, the trip turned out to be everything the couple had hoped for because they got married!Starcasm reportedly discovered a marriage license that shows Jon and Rachel tied the knot on May 31, 2018 at BoHo Cornwall, a wedding venue in the U.K. that specializes in elopements.It probably doesn't come as a surprise to fans Rachel and Jon got married considering the pair seemed madly in love with each other on 's premiere. Jon also stepped up and took on a father-figure role to Rachel's baby Lucy, who was eight months old at the time the premiere episode filmed.It would make sense that Rachel and Jon exchanged vows in England because the U.S. government had already previously Jon denied a K-1 visa -- the visa that the franchise's overseas participants typically use to come to the United States -- to come to America due to his criminal record.(According to : Before the 90 Days' debut episode, Jon has been convicted of fighting a couple of times).However, if Jon and Rachel got married in England, then Jon would be able to apply for the alternate K-3 visa which allows legal spouses of American citzens to move to the United States.(The K-3 visa process is the visa process that star Nicole Nafziger 's attorney also suggested to her after Azan Tefou 's K-1 visa application was denied).However, according to In Touch Weekly, a second marriage certificate for Jon and Rachel was also uncovered in online records from Bernalillo County, the central county of the Albuquerque, NM. The certificate was reportedly dated June 5, 2018.The marriage certificate in America reportedly raises a lot of questions, however, because the timeline doesn't add up.According to the Bernalillo county site, both applicants must be present in order to apply for a marriage license. But in order for Rachel and Jon to apply together, Jon would have had to receive his spousal visa just one week after their England wedding in order to enter America legally.A insider told In Touch it usually takes upwards of two years after a wedding abroad for an individual to receive a spousal visa, allowing him or her to move to America."There is no way he is or was in the USA. Power of attorney maybe," the insider explained. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available As outrage over Hadiya Pendleton's slaying spread from City Hall to the White House, she became a symbol of escalating violence in Chicago while fueling the national debate over guns and crime. Suspicious of public officials telling them their water was safe, community activists sought assistance from the same group of Virginia Tech researchers who helped expose lead contamination and other hazards in Flint, Mich., drinking water in 2015. They have distributed more than 100 testing kits in the two suburbs, and in 11 of the 17 homes where samples have been analyzed so far, lead concentrations in the first liter drawn from household taps exceeded 5 parts per billion the maximum allowed in bottled water by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Despite provisions in Cambodias constitution abolishing discrimination against women, Cambodian women suffer unequal treatment before the law and are frequently uninformed of their rights during court proceedings, a new report says. In a report released on Aug. 9 by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), the rights group says that while men and women face similar issues in the countrys judicial system, the effect is disproportionately felt on women, thereby amounting to de facto discrimination. Especially in rural parts of the country, where there is a shortage of legal aid lawyers, women are particularly affected, the report titled CCHR Fair Trial Rights Newsletter on Women in Cambodia says. Monitoring 453 trials in the Phnom Penh Appeals Court between November 2016 and June 2018, CCHRs Fair Trial Monitoring Project found that in 76 cases involving a total of 97 women, 53 percent were held in pre-trial detention, among them pregnant women or mothers with young children from whom they were then separated. Another 26 percent were not represented in court by a lawyer, the report says, adding that in nine of 25 of those cases, women were not informed of their right to legal representation, while in 70 percent of the cases monitored, women were not informed by the judge of their right to remain silent or did not have that right fully explained. In addition, 14% appeared in court wearing their prison uniform, which is contrary to the presumption of innocence, the CCHR Newsletter said. Citing a 2017 report by the Cambodia-based human rights group Licadho, the Newsletter also says that domestic violence is often not recognized in Cambodian courts as a criminal offense. And many women choose not to bring charges, or drop complaints, with only 20% of cases of domestic violence monitored during the beginning of 2014 and the end of 2016 resulting in criminal proceedings. Underrepresentation of women in the judicial system, with women making up only 14 percent of the countrys judges and 20 percent of its lawyers, frequently contributes to a hostile and intimidating environment for Cambodian women brought to trial, the report adds. Concluding its report, the CCHR Newsletter makes several recommendations to support fair trial rights for Cambodian women, including a review of the countrys legal-aid policy, the provision of legal and psychological support for victims of domestic violence, and better training for judges and lawyers handling gender-specific" issues. The planned $185,000 dog-friendly area in Calumet Park will be paid for in part by $100,000 of 10th Ward Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garzas menu funds tax dollars set aside for each alderman who in turn has broad discretion to use the money for construction projects in his or her ward. Garza, who said the balance of the money will come from the Park District, said she hopes the park will open before winter. Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have shut down a factory after its owner joined in memorial events for late Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, who died while serving a jail term for subversion in 2017. Wei Xiaobing of Guangdong's Huizhou city received a visit from local police officers on Thursday at his 200-square-meter garments factory in Yuanzhou township. The factory, which employed around 10 people, and was Wei's main source of income, was forced to halt production on the grounds of fire safety, Wei told RFA. "The workers at the factory called to say that a bunch of police officers, including armed police from the fire department, had cut off the phone lines and told us to move out within a certain period," he said. "They then took me down to the police station, where they issued a notification of rectification," he said. "Today, they ordered us to relocate, for fire safety reasons." "We have now demolished the dormitory building, and the workers have all left," he said. Wei said he believes the move is politically motivated. "I am considered a dangerous element by the authorities, and they don't want me here any more," he said. "There are various reasons, not just the Liu Xiaobo issue." Wei, who hails from the southwestern province of Sichuan, was ordered to leave Guangdong and return to his hometown over the anniversary of Liu Xiaobo's death last month. Wei was among dozens of activists detained and otherwise sanctioned for taking part in seashore memorials to mark Liu's death from late-stage liver cancer. In 2015, Wei was among four activists detained for printing T-shirts in support of China's embattled human rights lawyers amid a nationwide crackdown affecting more than 300 lawyers, law firm staff and rights activists. Wei said he plans to leave the province for good if necessary. "My long-term rights activism has now embroiled my family by association," he said. "I really don't think they want me to stay here in Guangdong any more." Fellow activist Fellow activist Huang Yongxiang, who also attended seashore memorials for Liu, said he has been forced to remain in Guangzhou, his hometown, under police restrictions imposed following the funeral. "I'm not allowed to leave Guangzhou, or not without reporting to the authorities first and receiving permission," Huang told RFA. "Last time I left on business for a couple of days and I was called in for questioning on my return." "They don't really pay much attention to me most of the time, but on politically sensitive dates, they follow me and watch me from a distance," he said. "The government always treats its opponents in this way." "If you don't do as you are told, they want to get rid of you entirely," Huang said. "Last year, I used to run a bar, but they used the same [fire safety] tactics to shut it down." Liu Xiaobo died weeks after being diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer, and repeated requests from his family to seek medical treatment overseas were ignored. Police have since detained a number of activists who staged memorials in Liu's honor, including Zhuo Yuzhen, detained in Guangdong's riverside town of Jiangmen for taking part in a seashore memorial a month after Liu's passing. Liu Xiaobo's widow Liu Xia was allowed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to leave China for Germany following international pressure, after holding her under house arrest for eight years. Since arriving in Germany, Liu has been pictured enjoying herself with friends, and sipping beer at a streetside cafe, but has yet to make any public appearances amid fears that her brother Liu Hui may suffer at the hands of the government, should she take an active role in the exile dissident community. Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A police officer patrols a street in the coastal resort town of Beidaihe on northeast China's Bohai Sea, where the ruling Chinese Communist Party is holding an annual political retreat, August 2018. Authorities in northern China have detained a number of rights activists and petitioners after they traveled to a resort town where the ruling Chinese Communist Party is holding an annual political retreat. Police in the seaside resort of Beidaihe, where the party is discussing affairs of state behind closed doors, have detained and sent home petitioners and rights activists from as far afield as the southeastern province of Fujian and the northeastern province of Liaoning. Beijing petitioner Zhang Yuexiu said she was detained after she tried to visit the resort for a vacation on Thursday. "We went to Beidaihe on vacation, and got a room there," Zhang told RFA. "Then, a bunch of police came calling when I was taking a shower at around 10 p.m." "They checked our ID and told us to cooperate and go with them, because there was a problem with our ID, because we were petitioners," she said. "We refused to go with them." China's leaders typically spent around two weeks beginning in early August on an unofficial annual retreat at the beach resort, where much of the preparation for the Communist Party's annual congress takes place. Zhang said police from Beijing had later showed up at 6 a.m. and forced her to return home under escort, where she was taken to her local police station. "They insisted that I make a statement, or they wouldn't let me go," she said. Petitioners, many of whom are forced evictees, victims of official corruption and farmers who have lost land to development projects, typically gather around key political events in the hope that their cases will receive a more favorable hearing. Highly coordinated crackdown But this year's crackdown appears to be highly coordinated using the nationwide "stability maintenance" system, with many petitioners and activists prevented even from leaving home during the secretive meeting. Rights activist Yu Yunfeng from the northeastern city of Harbin said local police had prevented him from boarding a train to Beidaihe on Wednesday. "We had already set out, but before we had even boarded the train, the city police were calling us the whole time, so we switched our phones off," Yu said. "But they were waiting for us, and they brought us right back again." Fujian-based rights activist Sun Tao said he and fellow petitioners are considered "sensitive persons" under the stability maintenance system that targets government critics. "Quite a few petitioners from Fuzhou have been brought back after they tried to go on vacation in recent days," Sun told RFA. "Some weren't even allowed to travel through [Beidaihe]." "They just stopped them from going any further. What is there to say about it? Stability trumps everything," he said. Economic issues including the current trade war with the United States and a 16 trillion-yuan (U.S. $2.3 trillion) domestic investment plan look set to dominate this year's meeting, amid growing indications of opposition to President Xi Jinping's indefinite presidency, anonymous sources told RFA. "Now that we are confronted with a Sino-U.S. trade war, the economy is the most important issue ... stabilizing the economy and the financial system," an anonymous academic said in a recent interview. "There is majority support [in party ranks] for compromise on China's part," the academic said. Beijing economist Hu Xingdou agreed, saying the leadership is keen to avoid an economic downturn. "The only way forward is to increase domestic investment and consumption," Hu said. "In particular, the investment environment for private enterprises should be improved, as well as the situation of ordinary consumers." Hu estimated the total spending boost at around 16 trillion yuan, including investments already made this year. Sidelining the cabinet Xi also appears to be responding to internal pressure to share a little of his power among fellow members of the Politburo standing committee, putting premier Li Keqiang at the head of a newly created Science and Technology Leading Group coordinating much of the investment plan in science and technology. Former Xinhua news agency reporter Jiang Weiping, who fled to Canada after being accused of endangering national security, said many in government felt that Xi had sidelined China's cabinet, the State Council, which had previously been responsible for implementing most of party policy via the bureaucracy. "There have been some changes to the status of Li Keqiang lately," Jiang said. "He was completely marginalized a while back, and just became a camp follower." "Now I think that the Communist Youth League faction [of former president Hu Jintao] is getting a little stronger ... but not to the extent that will affect Xi Jinping's position as core leader," he said. Reported by Yang Fan and Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Ma Lap-hak for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Lao migrant workers in Thailand protest against their government's handling of the deadly Xe Pian Xe Namnoy dam breach, outside the Lao embassy in Bangkok, Aug. 10, 2018. About two dozen Lao migrant workers in Thailand gathered in front of the Lao embassy in Bangkok on Friday, demanding that the Lao government take responsibility for a deadly dam breach in July and offer fair compensation to the thousands of villagers it affected. A saddle dam at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy hydropower project in southwestern Laos Champassak province collapsed on July 23, killing at least 34 people and displacing roughly 7,000. The dam was part of a larger U.S. $1 billion hydropower project owned by South Koreas SK Engineering & Construction, Korean Western Power Company Ltd., and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Ltd. of Thailand. Operators of the project, which was nearing completion, planned to sell most of the 1,880 gigawatt hours of electricity per year the dam was expected to generate to Thailand. The dam failed to contain water from heavy rainfall, causing severe flooding that swept away homes in 13 villages downstream in Champassak and neighboring Attapeu province. Three days later, Laos Ministry of Energy and Mines blamed the collapse on substandard construction, and a high-ranking official called for the projects developers to be held accountable. Earlier this week, Lao officials suspended consideration of new investments in dam projects pending review of the governments hydropower development strategy and plans, and ordered all existing and future dam operators to submit regular safety reports. Laos also appointed Bounthong Chithmany, chairman of the state inspectors office, to lead a team in an investigation of the dam collapse. A representative of the Lao migrant workers told RFAs Lao Service: Today, on behalf of Lao workers in Thailand, we wrote [a] letter to the Lao prime minister urging him to stop the construction of all dams being built and planned. Besides calling for an end to hydropower construction projects, the open letter demanded that Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith be held accountable for all losses resulting from the July 23 dam collapse and for Leth Xaiyaphone, the governor of Attapeu province, to resign. The letter also called for the government to exercise openness and transparency regarding the investigation into the disaster and to allow foreign media and human rights organizations to assess the losses. The migrant workers, who are not involved in any of Laos' hydropower projects, said they were demonstrating out of concern for the safety of their fellow countrymen at home who have been affected by dams. The Lao government has rolled out an ambitious plan to become the battery of Asia by building scores of hydropower dams to generate electricity that it plans to sell to neighboring countries. Roughly 30 percent of the 140 dams that Laos plans to build on the Mekong River and its tributaries are completed. Another dam collapse in September 2017 flooded several villages and farmlands in northeastern Laos Xieng Khouang province, though no lives were lost. The energy ministry blamed a local company that built the small dam for not following the ministry's technical standards. Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Hundreds of Taliban militants launched a major assault on a provincial capital in Afghanistan, killing at least 14 members of Afghan security forces before being pushed back with the help of U.S. air power, Afghan and U.S. military officials said. The August 10 attack on Ghazni, some 150 kilometers southeast of Kabul, also wounded at least 20 members of the security forces, said Baz Mohammad Hemat, the administrator of the Ghazni city hospital. The attack on Ghazni, the capital of the province with the same name, began early in the morning, with heavy fighting in several areas of the city, according to provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal. Mashal said there were more than 100 casualties but he could not give a breakdown of the dead and wounded. He said most of the casualties were militants. The army helped the police bring the city back under the control of government forces, Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said. House-To House Searches U.S. warplanes, drones, and helicopters came to the aid of the Afghan forces before they managed to repulse the Taliban assault. "U.S. forces responded with close-air support (U.S. attack helicopters) and conducted one strike (drone). In addition, U.S. aircraft conducted a show of presence," Lt. Col. Martin L. ODonnell, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, told TOLOnews. O'Donnell said the fighting ceased at around 8 a.m. Kabul time. However, some residents reported that sporadic gunfire could still be heard in the city by mid-morning. The fighting prompted authorities to close the highway linking Ghazni to Kabul, and police special forces helped block the Taliban advance on the city. After repulsing the attack, police conducted house-to-house searches for any remaining Taliban fighters. An investigation was also underway into how the insurgents had managed to infiltrate so deep into the city, officials said. Conflicting Claims Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed parts of Ghazni had been seized and scores of people killed. But Mashal rejected the claim, saying that sporadic clashes were ongoing only on the outskirts of the city -- in the Khogyani, Khwaja Omari, and Zanakhan areas. Several bodies of dead Taliban fighters remained on the street after Afghan forces pushed the militants from Ghazni, Mashal said. He said the bodies of 39 Taliban fighters were recovered from under a bridge on the southern edge of the city. The Taliban have so far not confirmed being behind an earlier attack in the western Herat Province in which at least six police officers were killed at a district checkpoint. The attack on Ghazni was the latest in a series of attempts by the Taliban to capture urban centers. A U.S.-led coalition drove the Taliban from power after Al-Qaeda militants whose leaders were being sheltered in Afghanistan carried out the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. But the Western-backed government has been struggling to fend off the Taliban and other militants since the withdrawal of most NATO troops in 2014. In May, the Taliban attacked the western city of Farah. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and U.S. air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. Taliban leaders have ignored an offer by the government to conduct direct peace negotiations. With reporting by RFE/RL's Afghan Service, AP, AFP, Reuters, and Tolo News Belarusian state investigators claimed late on August 9 that they had released all journalists detained this week on suspicion of hacking the computer systems of state-run news agency BelTA, but some independent journalists remained in custody. Among those released were three employees of the private online news portal Tut.by: editors Maryna Zolatava and Hanna Kaltyhina, and reporter Hanna Yermachonak. Zolatava told RFE/RL that she had been treated well in custody but she now has been charged with official negligence in connection with the case, which could bring five years of imprisonment. The Belarusian Investigative Committee claimed that Zolatava admitted that her staff was "using, for a long time and with her knowledge," information enabling them to hack into BeITA's paid subscription service, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. But the committee said that, because of "her active cooperation with the investigation," she was released from custody. The founder of Tut.by, Yury Zisser, wrote on Facebook that all employees of the portal were released, but he added that the detentions were "only a prelude" as the committee is continuing its investigation and plans to take some journalists "to trial." Rights groups have charged that the government is trying to muzzle independent media that are critical of strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his government. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has denied that allegation. Investigators had searched the newsrooms of Tut.by and independent news agency BelaPAN as part of their probe. Two other journalists released late on August 9 were Alyaksey Zhukau, editor of the Belarusians And The Market website, and BelaPAN reporter Tatsyana Karavyankova. But two prominent journalists remained in custody, RFE/RL reported. The wife of detained Deutsche Welle reporter Paulyuk Bykouski, Volha Bykouskaya, wrote on her Facebook page that her husband remains in custody and will be interrogated on August 10. She said he was detained after the committee confiscated all his computers and credit cards. Also, the fate of detained BelaPAN editor Iryna Leushyna remained unknown. She was reportedly detained on August 9. Deutsche Welle said it had lodged a protest with the Belarusian ambassador in Berlin, Dzyanis Sidarenka, and demanded Bykouski's immediate release on August 8, the day he was taken into custody. The broadcaster stressed that the rule of law must apply to accredited journalists. The U.S. Helsinki Commission Chair Senator Roger Wicker, in an August 9 statement, condemned the journalists' detention. "Lukashenka's deliberate targeting of independent news outlets is an affront to the rights of the whole population," Wicker said, calling on Belarusian authorities to "cease harassing those who dedicate their lives to uncovering and sharing the truth." "This is an attempt to intimidate us all," Belarusian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich told RFE/RL. "There is a test: whether we exist as a society that is capable of offering civil resistance." The Council of Europe human rights body on August 7 expressed "great concern" over the newsroom raids and detentions, while Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged Belarusian authorities to stop the "harassment of critical journalists." With reporting by Reuters and Interfax A Russian businessman has been targeted in a bombing attack in Bishkek, police sources in the Kyrgyz capital say. Bishkek city police spokeswoman Karima Japarkulova told RFE/RL that an explosion was reported by the residents of a house in downtown Bishkek close to noon on August 10. She did not provide further details. RFE/RL correspondents at the bombing site report that the area is cordoned off by the police and sappers are examining the area. Chief of the Bishkek city police's press service, Adyl Omorov, told RFE/RL that there were no casualties. Several media outlets quoted police sources as saying that Russian businessman Gaidukov was most likely targeted by the attackers, whose aim was to frighten him. A video taken by a security camera on the building shows how three men exit a vehicle and climb a staircase when an explosion hits the wall of the building. Doctors at a Bishkek clinic said they treated Gaidukov for minor injuries on his hip and hand after the explosion and he left the hospital. In approximately the same area in Bishkek in 2016, Gaidukov was shot at twice. The shooter was never identified. Gaidukov, a St. Petersburg-based Russian businessman, is the co-founder of Bishkek-Expo company that specializes in food production, mainly cooking oil, in Kyrgyzstan's southern Jalal-Abad region. With reporting by Kaktus, Akipress, and Interfax The Kremlin says that, after more than two decades of negotiations, leaders of the five Caspian Sea countries will sign a convention on the resource-rich sea's legal status at a summit in the Kazakh port city of Aqtau on August 12. The signing will will be the "central event" of the summit attended by the presidents of littoral nations Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan, a statement on the Kremlin website on August 10 said. Debates on whether the Caspian is a sea or a lake have been ongoing since the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, leaving five nations with shorelines on the inland sea instead of two -- the Soviet Union and Iran. The countries have been working on an agreement to resolve the issue since 1996, the Kremlin statement said. At stake are resources including trillions of dollars' worth of hydrocarbons in the seabed, which holds about 50 billion barrels of oil and nearly 9 trillion cubic meters of natural gas in proven or probable reserves. A draft of the agreement, posted briefly on Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedevs website in June and obtained by RFE/RL, suggested that the countries would agree in Aqtau that the Caspian is a sea. If so, the five countries would draw lines extending from their shores to the midway point with littoral neighbors, while classifying it as a lake would mean the resources would be divided equally among those five countries. The draft agreement also forbids the presence on the Caspian of any military forces except those of the five littoral states. Tens of thousands of Romanian anticorruption protesters took to the streets of the capital, Bucharest, and elsewhere, with at least 35 people being injured as police used tear gas in an attempt to break up some of the rallies. The demonstrators, many of whom live abroad and returned for the rally, on August 10 demanded that the left-wing government resign and that early elections be called. Protesters around Bucharests Victoriei Square waved Romanian and European Union flags, shouting "Justice, not corruption!" Local media said the number of participants was growing and estimated the crowd at 30,000-50,000 people. No official figures were available. Thousands also took to the streets in other Romanian cities, including Cluj, Brasov, Sibiu, Timisoara, and Galati. After winning power in 2016, the Social Democrats (PSD) attempted to decriminalize several corruption offenses through an emergency decree, leading to thousands of Romanians taking to the streets in protest and forcing the party to back down. President Klaus Iohannis, the European Commission, and the U.S. State Department criticized the proposed changes to judicial legislation, saying they could derail the rule of law. Iohannis has been at loggerheads with the PSD, accusing it of attempting to weaken the fight against corruption, putting pressure on the judicial system, and of implementing bad fiscal policies. Iohannis in July signed a decree to remove the popular chief anticorruption prosecutor from her post. He praised Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi for her efforts and said he was forced to sign the decree after being ordered to do so by the Constitutional Court. Under Kovesi's leadership, corruption conviction rates rose sharply in one of the EU's most corruption-plagued members. The push to oust her was criticized by the European Commission and the Council of Europe. With reporting by RFE/RLs Moldovan Service, AP, DW, and Romania-Insider The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Ten years after Georgia fought a five-day war with Russia over disputed territories, thousands of Georgian troops are training with NATO and other forces outside of Tbilisi. This is the fourth edition of the annual "Noble Partner" exercises. Italian police said on August 9 that they found 20 tons of hashish worth up to 200 million euros in the fuel tanks of a ship manned by Montenegrins that was stopped in international waters and escorted to Sicily. The drugs were packed in 650 sacks and hidden in two tanks, police said. The entire 11-person Montenegrin crew of the Panama-flagged ship was arrested on charges of international drug trafficking, police said. The research and survey vessel Remus left the Canary Islands bound for Egypt and Turkey, but police surveillance showed it had turned off its position transmitter near the coast of North Africa, raising investigators' suspicions. With the permission of Panamanian authorities, Italian police said they seized the vessel in international waters on July 31 and escorted it to the Sicilian port of Palermo. There, the fuel tanks were drained and the hash was discovered wrapped in sealed brown bags. "The Mediterranean Sea again is confirmed to be one of the world's largest arteries for illegal trafficking," the police statement said, crediting "attentive intelligence gathering" for identifying and intercepting the hash-carrying ship. The hashish -- which is compressed cannabis resin -- came from North Africa and probably was destined for the European market, police said. Morocco is the world's largest producer of hashish, which is usually smuggled into Europe through Spain, according the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Based on reporting by dpa and Reuters Northwestern University apologizes to our current and former students and former employees for the experiences that they went through, Cubbage said in a July 10 statement. Their decisions to come forward with their complaints undoubtedly were not easy ones, and we commend them for having the courage to do so. Northwestern is committed to fostering an environment in which all members of our community are safe, secure and free from sexual misconduct of any form. A leading IT expert in Kazakhstan is in hot water over comments he made on Facebook about several cases of the alleged rape of young boys in South Kazakhstan Province. Konstantin Gorozhankin has been expelled from the board of directors of state Internet conglomerate Qazcontent and police are investigating his comments, Qazcontent chairman Yevgeny Kochetov said on August 9. "It is about genes," Gorozhankin, a Kazakh citizen of Russian origin who had been an independent member of the board, wrote earlier this week in a Facebook discussion of the alleged rape cases. "Travelers to Kazakhstan in the 19th century often mentioned in their diaries about bestiality and homosexuality among the local population," he wrote. According to Kochetov, Almaty police opened an investigation into Gorozhankin's post following a request from the Information Ministry, which said it may have violated a law against inciting ethnic hatred. Kochetov wrote on Facebook earlier that Gorozhankin's post does not represent Qazcontent's official opinion. Gorozhankin offered apologies in a statement on Facebook on August 9, saying he did not want to offend anyone. In recent years, dozens of people have been convicted of "inciting social, ethnic, or religious hatred online," in accordance with the Article 174 of Kazakhstans Criminal Code. Rights activists say the authorities often use the statute to clamp down on dissent. Russias Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) has denied the Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, on hunger strike in a Russian prison for nearly three months, has lost 30 kilograms. In a statement quoted by the TASS news agency on August 11, the FSIN said "As of today he is not seen to be underweight and a worsening in his state of health is not observed." The statement comes a day after French President Emmanuel Macron raised the plight of Sentsov during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin promised "to respond and quickly release details on Sentsov's health," the French presidency said. On August 10, the European Union urged Russian authorities to move Sentsov to a medical facility and give him appropriate medical care. Sentsov's lawyer, Dmitry Dinze, said on August 10 that Sentsov is "ready to die" and after visiting him on August 7 told AFP that he had lost 30 kilograms. In its August 11 statement, the FSIN specifically referred to the 30-kilogram weight-loss figure, claiming "this information does not correspond to reality." The service said it "is taking all the necessary measures" to maintain Sentsov's state of health and that he does not require emergency hospitalization. A vocal opponent of Russia's 2014 takeover of Crimea, Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted by a Russian court in 2015 of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, charges he and human rights groups say were politically motivated. Sentsov, 42, is being held in a penal colony in the city of Labytnangi in Russia's northern region of Yamalo-Nenets, where he has been on hunger strike since mid-May demanding that Russia release 64 Ukrainian citizens he considers political prisoners. He has vowed to continue his protest to the end. Macron has already brought up Sentsov's case several times with Putin, including during a visit to St. Petersburg in May. Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogehrini, said in a statement that the 28-member bloc expects Russia "to provide him with appropriate treatment in an institutionalized medical setting." "The European Union expects international human rights standards on the [Crimean] peninsula to be upheld and all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens in Russia and on the Crimean Peninsula to be released without delay," the EU statement said. Sentsov is being currently sustained with water and a drip with glucose and vitamins. Besides losing 30 kilograms, Dinze also said earlier this week that his client's heart rate has slowed and his red blood cell levels were very low. A cousin of Sentsov said on August 8 that the filmmaker is in a "catastrophically bad" state and could be close to death. Ukrainian Ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said on August 9 that "rapid actions" are needed to save Sentsov's life. Several governments and prominent figures have called on Putin to pardon Sentsov, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the inmate would have to ask for a pardon himself before it could be considered. Sentsov has said he would not ask for a pardon because he has not committed a crime. With reporting by AFP and Interfax Pakistan and Russia have reached a military cooperation deal that includes sending Pakistani soldiers to Russia for training, the countries' defense ministries have announced. The agreement was reached during Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin's two-day visit to Pakistan this week, and was discussed during a meeting of Russia's and Pakistan's top military brass in Moscow on August 9. At the meeting between the chief of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, and Pakistan's General Zubair Hayat, the military leaders "confirmed a bid to deepen the dialogue and develop contacts in the defense sector," the Russian Defense Ministry said. The ministry said a key focus of the agreement is for Pakistani servicemen to receive training at military schools and institutions of higher education in Russia. The agreement comes at a time of tension between Pakistan and its traditional military ally, the United States, which recently suspended security aid to Pakistan, charging that it has not done enough to help defeat militants that have been waging a long war against the government in neighboring Afghanistan. It also comes after Washington this year imposed sanctions on Russia's defense and intelligence sectors that are aimed at curbing its military's exports and influence around the world. Disinformation Warfare While the agreement for both Russia and Pakistan may serve to show they are distancing themselves from the United States and its demands, Amil Khan, a South Asia researcher at Chatham House, a London think-tank, said it is "more about the signaling and political messaging than it is about actual military reality." "Pakistani equipment, Pakistani doctrine, and Pakistani resupply, all of that stuff is on a Western model," he said. Because of Islamabad's past alliances with the United States and Britain, it cannot easily or quickly switch to relying on Russia's military for its needs, he said. "The big equipment needs it has [are] all American, with British legacy. So, its not actually feasible to take a moment of time and say that right now it will be Russia," Khan said. Pakistan, besides acquiring military expertise from Russia through the training program, may also be seeking to learn more about Russia's disinformation warfare tactics, which Khan said have gained attention and respect in the Middle East and South Asia. "A lot of countries in the region...are very impressed by the Russian ability to wage international competition on a low budget, essentially using disinformation, he said. For Russia, the cooperation deal enables it to show that it is still expanding its military influence and presence around the world despite the U.S. sanctions, he said. "The Russian government wants to say to who it sees as its competitors -- and first among those is the U.S. -- that we are on a level playing field with you on the global stage," he said. After losing influence in some parts of the world in recent years, "it is very important for the Russian system to want to be able to say to its own people: look, we also take back influence where Western powers are stepping away or are being seen to be less effective. With reporting by TASS and Interfax A member of the Russian punk protest band Pussy Riot managed to travel from Moscow to Britain, defying what the group said was an order prohibiting her from leaving the country. Maria Alyokhina "has found a way to escape" despite an "official ban" on leaving Russia, an August 9 post on a Pussy Riot account on Twitter said. It said she was flying to Edinburgh, Scotland, where the group planned to take part in the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival from August 10 to August 19. A day earlier, Alyokhina's colleague Pyotr Verzilov tweeted that she was stopped by border guards while trying to fly from Moscow to Britain and officially informed that she was barred from leaving the country. The reason given was that she had refused to serve a community-service sentence for a previous protest against the Federal Security Service (FSB), which is in charge of Russia's border guards. Alyokhina told the Guardian newspaper that she drove more than 1,000 kilometers through Belarus and entered European Union member state Lithuania, where she boarded a flight for Britain. It was nothing extraordinary, she told the Guardian. Belarus and Russia have close ties and border security is relatively loose. On August 7, Alyokhina and two other activists staged a protest in front of the headquarters of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) in Moscow. The activists hung a red poster on the building bearing "FSIN = GULAG," as well as several photos of men in prison uniforms who appeared to have been beaten. Each photo had penitentiary numbers and locations. The action was meant to protest against what activists called the beating and torture of inmates by prison guards across Russia. Alyokhina and two other members of Pussy Riot came to prominence after they were convicted of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" for a stunt in which they burst into Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral and sang a "punk prayer" against Vladimir Putin, who was prime minister and campaigning for his return to the presidency at the time. Alyokhina and bandmate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were close to the end of their two-year prison sentences when they were freed in December 2013, under an amnesty they dismissed as a propaganda stunt to improve Putin's image ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Romanian demonstrators, many of whom live abroad and returned for the rally, flocked to an antigovernment protest in Bucharest on August 10, demanding that the left-wing government resign and that early elections be called. Protesters around Bucharest's Victoriei Square waved Romanian and European Union flags, shouting "Justice, not corruption!" Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, and at least 34 people were reported injured, including three security personnel. Local media estimated the crowd at 30,000-50,000 people. No official figures were available. Russia and China have blocked a U.S. proposal to add a Russian bank and Moscow-based North Korean banker to a UN blacklist, UN diplomats have said. Both Russia and China raised objections late on August 9 to a U.S. request that the UN sanctions committee impose an asset freeze on Agrosoyuz Commercial Bank for allegedly helping North Korea evade UN-imposed restrictions on financial transactions. The U.S. request also targeted Ri Jong Won, the deputy representative of North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank in Moscow, and what it said were two North Korean front companies, mirroring sanctions Washington imposed on the Russian bank and other entities last week. The U.S. proposal came before the UN Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee, which takes action only by consensus. Russia objected because it said the U.S. proposal was not "adequately substantiated by sufficient information," diplomats said. China also raised objections to the U.S. blacklisting plan. Rather than ratcheting up sanctions on North Korea, as the United States is demanding, Russia and China have recently suggested the Security Council discuss easing sanctions in light of conciliatory steps North Korea has made, such as stopping its nuclear and ballistic missile tests while it negotiates with Washington over denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The United States and allied council members have said there must be strict enforcement of sanctions until Pyongyang moves definitively to shut down its weapons programs. 'Significant Transaction' North Korea criticized the United States on August 9, saying that Washington was responding to its overtures by "inciting international sanctions and pressure." Last week, Washington imposed sanctions on Agrosoyuz bank, Ri Jong Won, China-based Dandong Zhongsheng Industry & Trade Co, and North Korea-based Korea Ungum Corporation. The U.S. Treasury Department said Agrosoyuz had conducted "a significant transaction" for North Korean banker Han Jang Su, who had been blacklisted by Washington. Han is the Moscow-based chief representative of Foreign Trade Bank, North Korea's primary foreign exchange bank. The Security Council blacklisted FTB in August last year. Ri is FTB's deputy representative in Moscow. The U.S. Treasury said Dandong Zhongsheng Industry & Trade and Korea Ungum Corporation are FTB front companies, and also should be blacklisted. Blacklisted organizations and individuals are subject to a global travel ban and asset freeze. Russia and China last month blocked an earlier U.S. proposal before the UN council to halt further sales of refined petroleum products to North Korea this year. Washington had cited alleged smuggling of oil that has already put North Korea over a limit on such fuel imports set under UN sanctions. The UN council last year imposed a series of sanctions on North Korea, including a ban on its exports of coal, iron, lead, textiles, and seafood, and caps on its oil imports, all of which were aimed at choking off fuel and funding for Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Prosecutors in the U.S. state of California say they are reviewing sexual assault allegations against actor Steven Seagal and two other celebrities, Harvey Weinstein and Anthony Anderson. Speaking on August 9, Los Angeles District Attorney's office spokesman Greg Risling did not give details of the accusations or say when the alleged assaults occurred. Seagal, 66, was appointed by the Russian Foreign Ministry on August 4 as a special representative for cultural ties with the United States. The star of action movies such as the 1990 film Hard To Kill is a friend and supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who granted him Russian citizenship in 2016. Los Angeles police said they opened an investigation into accusations against Seagal in January, after several women publicly accused him of harassment and assault. Former Hollywood film producer Weinstein has been charged in New York with three cases of sexual assault. Initial accusations against Weinstein sparked the #MeToo social media movement in 2017, in which many people have publicly accused prominent men of sexual misconduct and some of the accused have been fired or have resigned. Anderson, the star of the U.S. television comedy series Black-ish, disputed the sexual assault claim against him when it was reported by media outlets in July. Reuters reported that representatives of Weinstein, Seagal, and Anderson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Based on reporting by Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Daily Beast WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he has authorized the doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Turkey as the diplomatic row over Ankaras detention of a U.S. pastor intensified. In a Twitter post on August 10, the U.S. president also referenced the Turkish lira's weakness against our very strong dollar. "I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" Trump wrote. "Aluminum will now be 20 percent and Steel 50 percent. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!" he added. In June, the United States imposed tariffs of 10 percent on aluminum imports and 25 percent on steel against many key global partners, complaining of unfair trade practices. The new tariff threat targeting Ankara comes as bilateral tensions have risen over the detention and trial in Turkey of U.S. Pastor Andrew Brunson, 50. The pastor has been held since 2016, charged with "committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member," a reference to Kurdish separatists and a group that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames for a failed 2016 coup attempt against him. Brunson, who faces up to 35 years in prison, was transferred to house arrest on July 25 as his trial continues. Trump on July 26 threatened to impose "large sanctions" on Ankara if the government did not immediately let Brunson leave Turkey. The sanction and tariff threats have led to a near-collapse of the Turkish lira -- which tumbled 19 percent on August 10 alone -- and forced Ankara into cost-cutting steps to stabilize the economy. With reporting by Reuters and dpa Is it any wonder women are fed up? she said. They should be. I want to say here at this leadership summit we hear the truth and pain of women all around the world right now who are or have suffered the realities of inequality, injustice or sexism on every level. We hear you. Your story matters. And the truth that you are telling is essential to understand oppression and to undo it to make the world a better place. Thank you for speaking up. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) State prosecutors on Friday recommended the filing of charges of illegal drug trading against suspected drug lord Peter Lim, who was earlier cleared by a different panel from the Department of Justice (DOJ). Lim is accused of supplying narcotics to self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa for distribution in the Visayas in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Last month, the DOJ panel of prosecutors said the same charges of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade would be filed against Espinosa, convicted drug lord Peter Co, and three other suspects. The decision on Lim's case came three weeks after he filed a motion for a separate preliminary investigation. Prosecutors ruled against Lim based on Espinosa's admission at a Senate hearing that he was a supplier. The panel also dismissed Lim's denial that he was the "Jaguar" named by President Rodrigo Duterte as part of a Chinese triad leading illegal drug operations in the Visayas. The first DOJ panel had dropped the charges against all the suspects for lack of evidence. The decision put the department in hot water, with President Duterte demanding why the case against Espinosa was dismissed despite his admission of his own guilt. Then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre ordered a reinvestigation before resigning from his post. In the first incident, after Gomez abruptly walked out of an April 26 board meeting, he engaged in a one-sided, profanity-laden tirade against Tollway spokesman Daniel Rozek in the presence of a Daily Herald reporter, the Schillerstrom memo said. Gomez ended by telling Rozek, who had come out of the boardroom to observe and assist with any questions, to go back into the room, the memo said. American Airlines extends no cash payments to Cancun International Airport Cancun, Q.R. American Airlines says that as of August 20, they will no longer accept cash payments for transactions at the Cancun International Airport. The airline says that as of August 20, passengers throughout the state of Quintana Roo must pay for all transactions using either a credit or debit card. This non-cash method includes passengers wanting to purchase airline tickets or pay for checked baggage. Alfredo Jaimes, general manager of American Airlines explained that, At the global level, American is in a transition phase. At each of the airports where we operate cashless transactions, we are allowing our team members to help our clients in a faster and more efficient way. Moving away from cash transactions also reduces the complexity of work for our agents, he added. Agents will no longer have to worry about managing money, finding the exact change or setting a cash box at the end of the day. This is positive news for our customers and for our team at the airport, he said in a statement. American Airlines began their new cashless model in 2017. Already, they have implemented the new payment system in New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, Californias Los Angeles International Airport, Miami International and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas. The US airline says they will soon establish the cashless transaction process at the airports of Los Cabos (SJD), Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Cozumel (CZM). Criminal gang leader arrested despite appearance alteration Mexico City, Mexico An alleged criminal gang leader wanted by Mexican police was arrested Thursday despite an attempt to radically alter his appearance. Roberto Moyado, who is also referred to as El Betito, was arrested Thursday by federal police agents while traveling on a public road in the Tlalpan district of Mexico City. Moyado, who is alleged to be the leader of the criminal group La Tepito Union, had undergone a hair transplant and extreme weight loss of 30 kilos to alter his appearance. He is considered to be one of the main generators of violence and drug dealers in Mexico City. The National Security Commissioner, Renato Sales Heredia, made the announcement in Mexico City Thursday, noting that Moyado was arrested after being identified, despite his attempt to modify his physical appearance. Sales Heredia said that Moyado was arrested without incident and was found in the company of his 50-year-old brother, who was reportedly his bodyguard. An investigation by the Anti-Drug Division of the Federal Police found Moyado used apartments and houses in residential areas of Mexico City to take refuge from authorities as well as criminal rivals. Moyado has criminal records that date back to 2008, when he was arrested for robbery. He has since been linked to heading activities of drug dealing and extortion, dispossession, kidnapping and money laundering among other illicit activities. According to Sales Heredia, the Tepito Union criminal group is linked to the sale and distribution of drugs at nightclubs as well as the collection of monthly fees from businesses located in various areas of Mexico City, but primarily in the Cuauhtemoc region. In October of 2017, Pancho Cayagua, a leader of the same group was killed, a crime that El Betito was accused of. Moyado assumed control of the criminal group and is said to be the main generator of violence and drug dealing in Mexico City, as well as in the State of Mexico. At the time of their arrest, Moyado and his brother were found carrying $10,000 USD in cash, 4,700 peso and 140 doses of crystal. They were also found in possession of a gun. Words cannot express the amount of respect, love, and regard I have for Hal and his family, Rush said in the statement. We worked so well together and had a strong kinship and I am completely shocked and absolutely devastated by his untimely death. His passing will leave an enormous hole in Chicago, Englewood, and the African-American community. My condolences to his family, friends and admirers. Police have used bait vehicles for years. While Susan Terpay, a spokeswoman for the Norfolk Southern Railway, defended the Englewood investigation, the railroad later said that it will no longer use the practice because the incidents eroded trust between law enforcement and the community. Norfolk Southern officials said, however, that the two agencies were going after people who have been breaking into freight containers in rail yards and nearby areas on the South Side. A 5.6 million project to get looked after children back with their families has won approval from the council. The five-year scheme called MST-Fit has seen a 75 per cent success rate in Leeds. Rotherham Borough Councils childrens department is forecasting a 9.5 million overspend this year, mainly because of the spiralling numbers of children in care. MST-Fit works with youngsters aged 11 to 15, helping with behaviour management, new skills and learning to live with family again. There are two phases three months in local authority care and up to 20 weeks support in the home after they move back. Cllr Gordon Watson (pictured) said: The idea is that 12 children at a time would be taken from residential care, put into a specific base with the intention to return either to their parents or to wider family members. The really important bit is that we know when children move out of residential care, they do better in life. Its evidence-based, we are not just taking a punt on this. It will improve outcomes for our looked-after children, because they will cease to be looked after. The council has identified an initial 24 children out of the 67 in out-of-area placements who would be suitable for MST-Fit, which stands for multi-systemic therapyfamily integrated transitions. RMBC is waiting for final approval of a 425,000 Government grant to help with the costs of the project. The project was approved at Mondays cabinet meeting by commissioner Julie Kenny. A report to members said: If the work to reunite the young person with their family is unsuccessful, an alternative long-term placement in fostering or back into a suitable residential placement will be found. The skills developed during the programme will support the young person to thrive and achieve better outcomes even if they are not able to return home. A final decision on the funding model will be made by finance director Judith Badger, who will make a decision after the grant bid outcome is confirmed. Cllr Watson said: The savings we make will pay for the programme. Diamcor Mining said it recovered six rough diamonds in the special (+10.8 carats) category as a result of the limited processing completed in July and the first week of August at its Krone-Endora at Venetia Project, in South Africa.The diamonds recovered include one high quality 18.45 carat gem octahedron rough diamond, two gem quality rough diamonds weighing 18.56 and 14.71 carats respectively, and three non-gem quality rough diamond weighing 21.92 carats, 17.32 carats, and 15.84 carats.Diamcor said in addition to the recovery of these special category diamonds, about 2,400 carats of rough diamonds were recovered."We are very pleased with the results of the initial modifications made to the processing plants, as well as with the number of larger diamonds recovered on very limited volumes," said Diamcor chief executive Dean Taylor."With these initial modifications meeting or exceeding expectations, our focus will now shift to running increasing volumes in the coming weeks, and to completing the installation of the paste thickener system to allow for us to further increase processing volumes for the long term." ALROSA July rough and polished diamonds sales reached $339 million 10 august 2018 News ALROSA, the worlds largest diamond miner, announces diamond sales results for July and seven months of 2018. ALROSA July 2018 sales of rough and polished diamonds increased by 16% yoy to $339.1 million. Rough diamond sales by value amounted to $333.8 million, polished diamond sales $5.3 million. January-July 2018 total diamond sales grew 9% yoy to $3.029 billion. During the 7 months of 2018, rough diamonds were sold for $2.973 billion, polished diamonds for $55.3 million. Compared to last year, demand for rough diamonds remains more balanced almost all diamond categories benefit from continued demand in key markets globally. In July, there was a minor seasonal softening on the market in the run up to August holidays, but not as intensive as last year. Demand for expensive high-quality diamonds kept being strong during seven months, commented on the sales results ALROSA Deputy CEO Yury Okoemov. The 35th India International Jewellery Show Premiere (IIJS) at Mumbai was inaugurated on 9th August 2018 by Dr Gaetano Cavalieri, President, CIBJO - The World Jewellery Confederation in the presence of GJEPC Chairman Pramod Agrawal, Vice Chairman Colin Shah, foreign diplomats, government officials and leading members of the trade. Image credit: GJEPC Speaking at the event, Agrawal said that the Council was working very closely with the government to achieve its vision of adding 2 mn jobs in the sector and increasing exports to $70 bn by 2022. GJEPC had taken steps to enhance infrastructure through setting up 13 Common Facility Centres, developing a chain of training institutions, participating in the global campaign for the generic promotion of diamonds, and aggressively marketing Indian jewellery through participation in shows, conducting Buyer-Seller meets and other initiatives, he added. Congratulating the Council for its efforts, Dr Cavalieri said that CIBJO and GJEPC have worked closely together, and would continue to do so, while stating that the global jewellery industry cannot march forward without the valuable inputs from a country like India. In a video message to the GJEPC on the occasion of IIJS 2018, Honourable Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Shri Suresh Prabhu extended his apologies for not being personally present to inaugurate the show. He said that the government was keen to help the industry develop to new heights and promote Indian jewellery globally. The potential to increase exports of customised, handmade jewellery is great, he added. Vice Chairman Colin Shah unveiled the GJEPCs new promotional campaign which conveyed different aspects of the lesser known face of the industry. Shah said the GJEPC campaign to promote this face of the industry would be unveiled across print and social media. Thanking all those who had contributed to putting together the show, Shailesh Sangani, GJEPCs Convener, National Exhibitions said that the show was expected to host nearly 40,000 visitors over the next few days. IIJS 2018 will run till August 13, 2018. The Prelude to IIJS was organised by the GJEPC in association with the DPA; powered by GIA and co-partnered by Achal Jewels. In a first GJEPC held the Prelude to IIJS 2018 on August 8, 2018, on the eve of the official inauguration of IIJS 2018. Image credit: GJEPC At the event, 15 jewellers showcased their best creations including large bridal pieces worked in gold, studded with colour gemstones, minakari and other embellishments, to diamond studded jewellery set off with colour gemstones. GJEPC Chairman Pramod Agrawal welcomed the guests including the exhibitors, visitors from the world over and the media. He said that the Prelude to IIJS was an opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their innovative designs and excellent craftsmanship. India is well known all over the world for its gems & jewellery; its designs and the skills of its craftsmen, he added. Commenting on IIJS 2018, Agarwal said, India is the leading diamond manufacturing centre; the fourth largest jewellery supplier to the world and a renowned centre for colour gemstones. Moreover it is a centre which follows the best business practices and is completely compliant. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished A group of activists held a meet at the Jantar Mantar A group of activists held a meet at the Jantar Mantar, demanding justice for the victims of hate crimes. They demanded immediate implementation of the July 17 Supreme Court directives to prevent vigilantism and compensation for victims of hate crime. The activists also sought prosecution of political and public figures who through action or speech support vigilantism. Criticising the NDA government over the rising violence in the country, filmmaker Saba Dewan alleged minorities including Muslims and Dalits are being targeted. Union Minister Jayant Sinha Advertisement "Union Minister Jayant Sinha was seen openly garlanding those convicted of lynching. It is shameful that we have a lynch map of India now," she said. Rahul Roy, the organiser of the gathering, urged the people to come out on the streets and raise their voice against such acts of violence. Representatives of the Socialist Party of India, National Alliance of People's Movements and Khudai Khidmatgar began their three-day hunger strike against hate crimes. Filmmaker Saba Dewan Advocate Vrinda Grover lashed out at the government over the Hapur lynching case. "Fake FIRs were registered and the accused were let out on bail. Police and adminstration were trying to cover up the matter," she alleged. Navjot Singh Sidhu The decks have been cleared for the immensely significant project of the ropeway connecting the birthplace of the Khalsa Sri Anandpur Sahib and Mata Naina Devi. Once commenced the project would prove to be a milestone in not only boosting tourism sector in both Punjab and Himachal Pradesh but would also be an epitome of strengthening the Hindu-Sikh bond. Khalsa Sri Anandpur Sahib Advertisement Disclosing this here today at the Punjab Municipal Bhawan after a meeting with the Additional Chief Secretary (Culture & Tourism) Himachal Pradesh Mr. Ram Subhag Singh held to revive the ropeway project, the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, Punjab, Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu said that earlier the MoU between both the states was signed but was shelved in 2014 which is now set to be revived as directed by the Chief Minister, Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh to the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister. He also divulged that the MoU would be inked during this month itself which in turn would accelerate the pace of the project. Mata Naina Devi During the meeting Mr. Ram Subhag Singh said that the project has been cleared yesterday by the cabinet of the Government of Himachal Pradesh. On this, Mr. Sidhu said that on the Punjab side also the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh has put his stamp of approval which would set the ball in motion.The minister further said that the project would cost tentatively Rs. 200 crore and would cover the distance of 3.5 KM. He also emphasized that the safety of the pilgrims would be given top priority and keeping in view this aspect, the services of top notch company would be hired who must have an accident free record. Advertisement Captain Amarinder Singh Elaborating further, Mr. Sidhu categorically made it clear that all the necessary clearances with regard to the project would be obtained as no hindrances would be allowed to come in the way of this flagship project. On the occasion, Principal Secretray, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab, Dr. Roshan Sunkaria, and Director Tourism Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi were also present Three people were arrested during the operation, according to Susan Terpay, a Norfolk Southern spokeswoman. But felony burglary charges have been dropped against each of the three defendants, said Robert Foley, a spokesman for Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx. Foley declined to elaborate on why other than to say it was in the interest of justice. Harsimrat Kaur Badal Union food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today appealed to Punjabi youth not to fall prey to the anti-national designs of Pakistan ISI sponsored Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) which is wooing them with free visits to London to participate in the so called London Declaration function which is aimed at splitting Punjab from India. In a statement here, Mrs Harsimrat Badal said it seems unsuspecting youth are being brainwashed by the SFJ campaign and are unaware about the organizations close links with Pakistans ISI agency which is funding money to it under a secret mission codenamed Operation Express. Pakistan ISI sponsored Sikhs for Justice Advertisement She said there was credible proof that the allurements being offered to youth by SFJ were being broadcast through websites managed from Karachi by the ISI agency. Giving further details, Mrs Badal said SFJ was wooing youth on the internet with free tickets to London as well as stay arrangements during their visit to the United Kingdom. The Union minister also urged central agencies to keep a close watch on internet activity of SFJ, saying recently disclosures had linked its website as well as the referendum 2020 website created by it with a Pakistan based website which is managed from Karachi. SFJ was wooing youth on the internet with free tickets to London: Harsimrat Mrs Badal said not only this, even websites of leaders of the movement like Gurpatwant Pannu was linked to the Pakistan website. While Pannu and others have always denied their links with Pakistan, they have apparently exposed themselves by failing to cover up their links online. She urged parents to keep a watch on their children and ensure they do not fall prey to the nefarious designs of Pakistan to take Punjab back to the dark days of terrorism. Punjabis should reject the tickets being offered by SFJ as they are clearly Pak sponsored, she added. Advertisement Former PM Indira Gandhi Mrs Badal said in another important development, it had also been revealed that the same persons, who were funding Referendum 2020 at the instance of Pakistans ISI agency, were also funding the Congress government supported jathedars in Punjab. She said these jathedars, who had been propped up by the Congress party to divide the Sikh community in the same manner as done by former PM Indira Gandhi, were received large amounts of foreign funding. This has become such a big issue that the Punjab Intelligence wing has issued an advisory that the situation could flare up at Bargari in Faridkot where these elements are staging a dharna because of an intra-jathedar fight over money. This was necessary to ward off any danger of destabilization of Punjab Advertisement She said it was unfortunate that while the Punjab Police was expressing concern about Pakistan supported terrorists from Germany and other countries supporting the sarkarijathedars, the Punjab government had failed to order an impartial inquiry, including one from the CBI, to probe the entire issue. Demanding an immediate inquiry into foreign funding being received by the sarkari jathedars as well as action against SFJ fronts in Punjab, Mrs Badal said this was necessary to ward off any danger of destabilization of Punjab and maintenance of peace and communal harmony. Death toll from Greek forest fire rises to 93 Greek authorities have released the names of those who died in the country's deadliest forest fire in decades, a list that includes several families. The death toll from the July 23 fire at the seaside resort of Mati rose to 93 today, after a 78-year-old woman in intensive care died of her injuries. She's the 10th person to have died in the hospital from injuries sustained in the fire. More than half of those who died were over 60 Advertisement Another 34 fire victims remain hospitalised, including six in intensive care. More than half of those who died were over 60, the list revealed, including some who perished with their grandchildren. In all, 11 children died in the fire, including two sets of twin girls and a 6-month-old infant, the son of a firefighter called to duty that day. A new species of African pygmy toad was discovered during an expedition in 2016 to Angola's second highest peak, the Serra da Neve Inselberg. This small toad is distinct among its close relatives in lacking ears, though other more distantly related toads also lack ears. The new species is named Poyntonophrynus pachnodes, with the species name "pachnodes" being Greek for "frosty" in reference to both the name of the mountain ("Mountain of Snow" in Portuguese) and the cool temperatures at the higher elevations where it is found (nearly 1,500 m or 5000 ft above sea level). The new species was discovered and described by an international team of scientists from the Instituto Nacional da Biodiversidade e Areas de Conservacao (Angola), Villanova University (USA), Florida Museum of Natural History (USA), University of Michigan-Dearborn (USA), Museu Nacional de Historia Natural e da Ciencia (Portugal), and CIBIO -- Centro de Estudos em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos (Portugal), and published in the open access journal ZooKeys. After spending three weeks in the field, the scientists returned from Angola to study the collected amphibians and reptiles through a combination of genetic and anatomical techniques. The team used DNA sequences to determine the relationship of the new earless species to other African toad species. They also used high-resolution computed tomography scanning (CT scanning) to look at the skeletons of these frogs and determine the extent of ear loss. While closely related to other pygmy toads, the new species from Serra da Neve was found to lack both external and internal parts of the ear related to hearing in other frogs and toads. The combination of genetic and anatomical information shows that this new pygmy toad recently evolved from an ancestor that had a completely formed ear. The discovery and description of a new species of toad found only in the mountains of Angola is surprising. Most frogs and toads prefer moist environments such as lowland tropical rainforests or cool montane forests and grasslands. In contrast, most African pygmy toad species can be found in the arid region of southwestern Africa, encompassed by Angola and Namibia. With the addition of this new species, there are now five pygmy toad species present exclusively in this region. Other species are found across other dry regions in southern and eastern Africa. While most groups of African frogs are not rich in species in this region, the affinity for arid environments in African pygmy toads is more similar to groups of lizards, many of which have a number of species present only in this area. Namibe Province is among the better-explored regions of Angola, but little is known of the species found on its isolated mountains, or inselbergs. The Serra da Neve Inselberg is of special interest because of its isolation from other mountains, which allows for the evolution of unique species, such as the new pygmy toad. The recent field research at Serra da Neve and the discovery of this new species of toad contribute to this mountain being considered a priority for conservation in the near future. The new species is small (less than 31 mm in length) and coppery brown in colour. It lives among the rocks and leaves in dry open forests on Serra da Neve. While otherwise similar to other pygmy toads, the lack of ears makes this species distinct among its near relatives. It is unknown whether this species has a mating call and how it might hear. Many other frogs, including many species of toads, have also lost their ears over evolutionary time. The discovery of this new species highlights the Serra da Neve as a potentially important center for Angolan biodiversity, but also suggests that African pygmy toads warrant further attention from scientists interested in the evolutionary loss of ears. Animals that have either migrated to or been introduced in Central Europe -- such as the Asian bush mosquito or the Asian ladybeetle -- feel extremely comfortable in their new homes due to changing climatic conditions. If these newcomers are genetically compatible with local species, they may crossbreed and produce hybrids, which can continue to evolve under local environmental conditions -- a process that has been shown to have taken place during human evolution, between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals for example. New genes contributed by foreign species provide new genetic combinations that can be beneficial and are thus favoured by natural selection. According to hybrid swarm theory, interbreeding between hybrid species and parent species may then lead to divergent populations and even to new species with novel characteristics. But how can modern day science substantiate this theory and identify fundamental mechanisms behind such speciation? To advance research on and knowledge about how animals diversify (adaptive radiation) to form new species (speciation), evolutionary biologists working with Professor Axel Meyer at the University of Konstanz and Professor Christian Sturmbauer at the University of Graz analysed cichlid fish from the Lake Tanganyika ecosystem in East Africa. "This study -- our largest in terms of data volume and level of collaboration since we began working together in 1990 -- has finally allowed us to reach a near complete understanding of the evolutionary history of these fish as well as the processes that led to the formation of the Lake Tanganyika cichlid adaptive radiation," explains Axel Meyer. With more than 1,700 species identified worldwide -- of which several hundred are endemic to Lake Tanganyika -- cichlids are a model animal system for scientists to use to decipher rapid and therefore difficult-to-explain species emergence. The researchers were not only able to resolve the relationships between the most contested branches of the cichlid family tree and explain the cichlid's rapid early radiation in Lake Tanganyika, but they were also able to shed light on the much-discussed chronology of events relating to cichlid speciation. Their research results were published today in the scientific journal Nature Communications. Building new evolutionary trees with DNA By collecting cichlid fish DNA and then sequencing more than 500 selected fish genes via cutting-edge genomic sequencing techniques, the research team was able to establish new evolutionary trees for the East African cichlids and explain why new species sometimes appear in bursts. The researchers found that even at the beginning of the oldest cichlid radiation, environment-induced hybridization between the colonizer lineages produced innovative forms, which then expanded rapidly under stable conditions, thus "boosting" the speed of innovation and species development. In regard to the evolutionary development of 'modern' cichlids from Lake Tanganyika and in accordance with the hybrid swarm theory, the research team discovered that a cichlid species from the Lower Congo River reached the lake and interbreed with their lake ancestors, thereby facilitating the adaptive radiation of the cichlids in Lake Tanganyika. This river cichlid is no longer physically present in today's lake but could be detected via genetic information in the other diversifying lineages. Some cichlid genes -- such as those influencing body colouration and specialisation of the jaw -- diversified more rapidly and are associated with the colonisation of new lake environments. "It is those characteristics that are exposed to selection that are responsible for the development of new species," explains Christian Sturmbauer. Using the latest anchored hybrid sequencing methodology, the research team was able to show for the first time that the jaw innovations of cichlids are crucial in terms of providing the fish access to previously unexploited food sources. Using fossils to establish new timetrees The research team around Axel Meyer and Christian Sturmbauer were also able to shed light into the much-discussed chronology of events (timetree) relating to cichlid evolution: up until now, studies that used molecular clock calibrations resulted in ages that were either too young or too old, and which were generally problematic to reconcile with the geological history East Africa. Using a set of fossil calibrations that includes a newly discovered fossil anchoring the Tanganyikan radiation, the research team carried out a new molecular clock analysis that for the first time reconciles the split of the southern Gondwana continent with the chronology of the sinking of the East African Rift Valley where Lake Tanganyika cichlids evolved together with the maturing lake ecosystem. "These findings may help us understand, for example, ongoing changes induced by climate change in the animal kingdom," emphasises Sturmbauer. Scientists are experimenting with narrow strips of graphene, called nanoribbons, in hopes of making cool new electronic devices, but University of California, Berkeley scientists have discovered another possible role for them: as nanoscale electron traps with potential applications in quantum computers. Graphene, a sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a rigid, honeycomb lattice resembling chicken wire, has interesting electronic properties of its own. But when scientists cut off a strip less than about 5 nanometers in width -- less than one ten-thousandth the width of a human hair -- the graphene nanoribbon takes on new quantum properties, making it a potential alternative to silicon semiconductors. UC Berkeley theoretician Steven Louie, a professor of physics, predicted last year that joining two different types of nanoribbons could yield a unique material, one that immobilizes single electrons at the junction between ribbon segments. In order to accomplish this, however, the electron "topology" of the two nanoribbon pieces must be different. Topology here refers to the shape that propagating electron states adopt as they move quantum mechanically through a nanoribbon, a subtle property that had been ignored in graphene nanoribbons until Louie's prediction. Two of Louie's colleagues, chemist Felix Fischer and physicist Michael Crommie, became excited by his idea and the potential applications of trapping electrons in nanoribbons and teamed up to test the prediction. Together they were able to experimentally demonstrate that junctions of nanoribbons having the proper topology are occupied by individual localized electrons. A nanoribbon made according to Louie's recipe with alternating ribbon strips of different widths, forming a nanoribbon superlattice, produces a conga line of electrons that interact quantum mechanically. Depending on the strips' distance apart, the new hybrid nanoribbon is either a metal, a semiconductor or a chain of qubits, the basic elements of a quantum computer. advertisement "This gives us a new way to control the electronic and magnetic properties of graphene nanoribbons," said Crommie, a UC Berkeley professor of physics. "We spent years changing the properties of nanoribbons using more conventional methods, but playing with their topology gives us a powerful new way to modify the fundamental properties of nanoribbons that we never suspected existed until now." Louie's theory implies that nanoribbons are topological insulators: unusual materials that are insulators, that is, non-conducting in the interior, but metallic conductors along their surface. The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to three scientists who first used the mathematical principles of topology to explain strange, quantum states of matter, now classified as topological materials. Three-dimensional topological insulators conduct electricity along their sides, sheets of 2D topological insulators conduct electricity along their edges, and these new 1D nanoribbon topological insulators have the equivalent of zero-dimensional (0D) metals at their edges, with the caveat that a single 0D electron at a ribbon junction is confined in all directions and can't move anywhere. If another electron is similarly trapped nearby, however, the two can tunnel along the nanoribbon and meet up via the rules of quantum mechanics. And the spins of adjacent electrons, if spaced just right, should become entangled so that tweaking one affects the others, a feature that is essential for a quantum computer. The synthesis of the hybrid nanoribbons was a difficult feat, said Fischer, a UC Berkeley professor of chemistry. While theoreticians can predict the structure of many topological insulators, that doesn't mean that they can be synthesized in the real world. "Here you have a very simple recipe for how to create topological states in a material that is very accessible," Fischer said. "It is just organic chemistry. The synthesis is not trivial, granted, but we can do it. This is a breakthrough in that we can now start thinking about how to use this to achieve new, unprecedented electronic structures." The researchers will report their synthesis, theory and analysis in the Aug. 9 issue of the journal Nature. Louie, Fischer and Crommie are also faculty scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. advertisement Knitting nanoribbons together Louie, who specializes in the quantum theory of unusual forms of matter, from superconductors to nanostructures, authored a 2017 paper that described how to make graphene nanoribbon junctions that take advantage of the theoretical discovery that nanoribbons are 1D topological insulators. His recipe required taking so-called topologically trivial nanoribbons and pairing them with topologically non-trivial nanoribbons, where Louie explained how to tell the difference between the two by looking at the shape of the quantum mechanical states that are adopted by electrons in the ribbons. Fischer, who specializes in synthesizing and characterizing unusual nanomolecules, discovered a new way to make atomically precise nanoribbon structures that would exhibit these properties from complex carbon compounds based on anthracene. Working side by side, Fischer's and Crommie's research teams then built the nanoribbons on top of a gold catalyst heated inside a vacuum chamber, and Crommie's team used a scanning tunneling microscope to confirm the electronic structure of the nanoribbon. It perfectly matched Louie's theory and calculations. The hybrid nanoribbons they made had between 50 and 100 junctions, each occupied by an individual electron able to quantum mechanically interact with its neighbors. "When you heat the building blocks, you get a patchwork quilt of molecules knitted together into this beautiful nanoribbon," Crommie said. "But because the different molecules can have different structures, the nanoribbon can be designed to have interesting new properties." Fischer said that the length of each segment of nanoribbon can be varied to change the distance between trapped electrons, thus changing how they interact quantum mechanically. When close together the electrons interact strongly and split into two quantum states (bonding and anti-bonding) whose properties can be controlled, allowing the fabrication of new 1D metals and insulators. When the trapped electrons are slightly more separated, however, they act like small, quantum magnets (spins) that can be entangled and are ideal for quantum computing. "This provides us with a completely new system that alleviates some of the problems expected for future quantum computers, such as how to easily mass-produce highly precise quantum dots with engineered entanglement that can be incorporated into electronic devices in a straightforward way," Fischer said. Co-lead authors of the paper are Daniel Rizzo and Ting Cao from the Department of Physics and Gregory Veber from the Department of Chemistry, along with their colleagues Christopher Bronner, Ting Chen, Fangzhou Zhao and Henry Rodriguez. Fischer and Crommie are both members of the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute at UC Berkeley and Berkeley Lab. The research was supported by the Office of Naval Research, Department of Energy, Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science and National Science Foundation. A technology designed to improve CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in mosquitoes and other arthropods succeeds with a high degree of efficiency, while eliminating the need for difficult microinjection of genetic material, according to researchers. These results could pave the way for scientists examining a wide range of arthropods -- and even some vertebrates -- to more easily manipulate gene expression for fundamental research and practical applications such as control of vector-borne diseases like Zika virus and malaria, elimination of agricultural insect pests, and potentially gene therapy for human and animal health. CRISPR -- Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats -- is a relatively new and revolutionary way to modify an organism's genome by precisely delivering a DNA-cutting enzyme, Cas9, to a targeted region of DNA. The resulting mutation can delete or replace specific DNA pieces, thereby promoting or disabling certain traits. Current approaches in arthropods rely on delivering the gene-editing Cas9 directly to eggs by embryonic microinjection, a difficult and inefficient process that works in only a small number of species, noted Jason Rasgon, professor of entomology and disease epidemiology, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. "In addition, microinjection can damage the eggs, and it requires expensive equipment and training to implement," he said. "These restrictions dramatically limit the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology across diverse species." To address these limitations, Rasgon's lab developed ReMOT Control -- Receptor-Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo -- a method the researchers say can deliver Cas9 cargo to a targeted portion of the genome by easy injection into the blood of female arthropods, where it can be introduced into the developing eggs via receptors in the ovary. advertisement Rasgon explained that during ovary and egg maturation, mosquitoes and other arthropods synthesize yolk proteins, which are secreted into the blood and taken up into the ovaries. The team hypothesized that molecules derived from these yolk proteins could be fused to Cas9 cargo and delivered into the egg at levels necessary to achieve genome editing in the embryo, bypassing the need for embryonic microinjection. In the process of testing this hypothesis in Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that can spread pathogens such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever viruses, the team identified a peptide known as P2C, a ligand that is recognized by ovarian receptors and functions in five other mosquito species as well. To visually show that P2C could achieve uptake in the ovary, the researchers injected the peptide, infused with green fluorescent protein, into mosquitoes. They subsequently found fluorescence in more than 98 percent of primary oocytes. For gene-editing experiments, the scientists targeted a gene that, when knocked out, results in white eye color rather than dark, providing a visible phenotype to aid in screening. They found that P2C, when bonded with the Cas9 enzyme, was able to deliver the gene-editing cargo to the ovary, where the desired mutation was achieved at a high rate of efficiency, resulting in genetically modified offspring. The results of the study, published recently in Nature Communications, show that compared to embryo injection, gene editing by ReMOT Control is efficient and technically much easier to accomplish, according to Rasgon. "Whereas the microinjection apparatus can cost thousands of dollars and require extensive training to use, the equipment for ReMOT Control injections costs approximately $2, and the technique can be learned in less than an hour," he said. "The lower cost and ease of adult injections makes this method a substantial improvement over existing embryo-injection techniques, putting gene-editing capability into the reach of nonspecialist laboratories and potentially revolutionizing the broad application of functional arthropod genetics." Other researchers on the paper are Duverney Chaverra-Rodriguez, Vanessa Macias and Donghun Kim, postdoctoral scholars in entomology, Penn State; Grant Hughes, assistant professor of pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Sujit Pujhari, assistant research professor of entomology, Penn State; Yasutsugu Suzuki, postdoctoral scholar in virology, Institut Pasteur; and David Peterson and Sage McKeand, undergraduate students, Penn State. The National Institutes of Health -- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; the National Science Foundation; the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- National Institute of Food and Agriculture; and the Pennsylvania Department of Health using Tobacco Settlement Funds supported this work. Will clinicians become more careful in prescribing opioids if they are made of aware of the risks of these drugs first-hand? That was one of the core questions researchers set out to explore in a new study published in the August 2018 issue of Science. In doing so, they found that many clinicians do not learn of the deaths of those patients who overdose as they just disappear from their practice, outcomes unknown. This disconnect from the personal experience of losing a patient due to fatal overdose, related to a prescription for opioids to relieve pain, makes the problem of the nation's opioid crisis seem remote -- statistics happening elsewhere. While the epidemic continues to exert its outsized impact, opioid prescription-writing levels have not responded with adequate risk-benefit analysis by prescribers tasked with caring for patients with complaints around pain. "Clinicians may never know a patient they prescribed opioids to suffered a fatal overdose," explained lead author Jason Doctor. "What we wanted to evaluate is whether closing that information gap will make them more judicious prescribers." Doctor is the Director of Health Informatics at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics and Associate Professor at the Price School of Public Policy. The study leverages behavioral insights and psychology to give prescribers personal experience with the risk associated with opioids, and finds that when a clinician learns one of their patients had suffered a fatal overdose they reduced the amount of opioids prescribed by almost 10 percent in the following three months. Doctor and his colleagues conducted a randomized trial between July 2015 and June 2016 of 861 clinicians who had prescribed to 170 patients who subsequently suffered a fatal overdose involving prescription opioids. Half the clinicians, who all practiced in San Diego County, were randomly selected to receive a letter from the county medical examiner notifying them that a patient they had prescribed opioids to in the past twelve months had a fatal overdose. The letter, which was supportive in tone, also provided information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on safe prescribing guidelines, nudging clinicians toward better prescribing habits. In the three months after receiving the letter, prescribing decreased by 9.7 percent compared to the control group who didn't receive a letter. Furthermore, clinicians who received the letter were 7 percent less likely to start a new patient on opioids and less likely to prescribe higher doses. The results are particularly exciting given that numerous, more traditional state regulations which often involve mandated limits on opioids have not been shown to have much impact. The authors point to numerous reasons why this study showed more promising results including its simplicity, that the letters still allows clinicians to decide when they will prescribe opioid analgesics and that it provides an important missing piece of clinical information to them. This intervention is easily scalable nationwide as existing state and national resources already track the information necessary around overdose deaths associated with prescription and illicit drugs. "Interventions that use behavioral insights to nudge clinicians to correct course are powerful, low-cost tools because they maintain the autonomy of the physician to ultimately decide the best course of care for their patient," said Doctor. "In this case, we know opioids, though beneficial to some patients with certain conditions, come with high risks that the doctor may not fully grasp when observing patients in the clinic. Providing information about harm that would otherwise go unseen by them gives physicians a clearer picture." Co-authors include Andy Nguyen, Roneet Lev, Jonathan Lucas, Tara Knight, Henu Zhao, and Michael Menchine. Funding for the study was provided by the California Health Care Foundation and the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health (R21-AG057395-01). The Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, one of the nation's leading health policy centers, aims to measurably improve value in health through evidence-based policy solutions, research and educational excellence, and private and public sector engagement. The Center is a unique collaboration between the USC School of Pharmacy and the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California (USC). "I would guess that a lot of those gatherings probably had a gang nexus to it and rival gangs saw them out there and decided to do what they did," Johnson said, referring to the sites of mass shootings last weekend. "And, unfortunately, in a lot of instances they don't care who they shoot. They just know that their rivals are over there and (they) shoot." Fulson took the 15-year-old victim to his dance studio, where they had sex and he told her not to tell anyone about it. But when she went to the doctor and found out she had a sexually transmitted disease, she told her friend shed had sex with him. He couldnt see the people screaming, but he heard them and knew she was right, he said. By the time he went outside, paramedics had taken over, but other neighbors said someone with the teen had started performing CPR, he said. On the sidewalk outside the hospital, a small group waited for news. Several busloads of dignitaries, bureaucrats and transit buffs gathered Friday to mark the completion of a transit facility that someday, they hope, will connect the Bay Area to regions beyond. The ribbon-cutting took place in the sky-lit, art-filled hall of the new Transbay Transit Center at Mission and Fremont streets in San Francisco. The structure is topped by a 5.4-acre park and includes a bus-only elevated roadway connecting it to the Bay Bridge. Bus service begins on Sunday at the futuristic structure, which extends a quarter-mile and crosses above Fremont and First streets. It replaces the Transbay Terminal, a little-loved facility that closed in 2010. I used to commute into the old building, and it was a miserable sort of place, said Jake Mackenzie, chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which committed $450 million to the $2.16 billion structure. This is not a miserable place. This is cool. Mackenzie was one of 12 speakers during the hour-long event a political line-up that extended from San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, whose district includes the transit center, to U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who was speaker of the House of Representatives when demolition of the prior terminal began. This is a truly revolutionary initiative, worthy of this cradle of innovation, Pelosi proclaimed a few minutes after reminding the audience of 300 or so, We have more to do. Shes right. The new complex includes a federally funded, $400 million subterranean shell designed to hold a two-level train station. The idea is for Caltrain commuter service from the South Bay to finally reach the Financial District, along with high speed rail service from Los Angeles. But theres an estimated cost of at least $4 billion to extend rail lines underground from Mission Bay and no financial blueprint on how to do this. Several other speakers emphasized that the centers second phase is essential. In the words of Assemblyman Phil Ting, whose district includes the west side of San Francisco, Monday, we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work. But the emphasis was on celebrating a project that, boosters say, has created more than 14,000 jobs in the Bay Area and spurred $9 billion in nearby private development. I want to thank residents for their patience, said Kim, who took office in 2011. Back then it would have been difficult for any of us to predict what would happen in the years that followed ... This neighborhood has been ground zero for development, 24 hours a day. Construction workers remain busy. All week long theyve been snapping ceiling panels into place or pouring concrete for new sidewalks and a dozen other late touches. Minna Street between First and Second streets, which eventually is intended to be lined with shops, still needs to be repaved. Open house The new Transbay Transit Center will be open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, with the rooftop park staying open until 9. Transit operations begin on Sunday. See More Collapse Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. They was, however, signage bearing the facilitys official name Salesforce Transit Center. The tech company, which has its headquarters in the new skyline-topping tower that is connected to the rooftop park by a footbridge, will pay at least $110 million over the next 25 years to help fund the operations of the center. Other speakers included Mayor London Breed, who recalled the old terminal as a dark and dreary place we were eager to avoid. That was quite a contrast to the description of the new structure offered by Ed Reiskin, a member of the board of directors of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, which developed the transit center. Its an amazing facility, said Reiskin, who also heads the citys Municipal Transportation Agency. We should be providing amazing facilities for our transit riders, and weve actually done it here. John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron Stung by criticism after a string of violent crimes, BARTs Board of Directors voted Thursday to update the transit systems surveillance cameras and install emergency call boxes. The two measures, approved in a 6-3 vote, were part of a $28 million public safety package announced this week by General Manager Grace Crunican. It also included proposals to build barriers to deter fare evasion and install a large screen at Civic Center Station to remind riders that they are under surveillance. BART has already implemented a few of Crunicans reforms, but on Thursday the board tabled most of them to be considered at a later date. Her most controversial idea was a ban on panhandling, which prompted vigorous opposition from civil rights activists. Some said it would unfairly target the mostly African American youth who break-dance on BART for money. The package elicited a spirited debate as members of the public thronged to the boards third-floor chambers in Oaklands Kaiser building. Most speakers derided Crunicans proposals, and some accused the transit agency of using the July 22 slaying of 18-year-old Nia Wilson as an opportunity to impose far-reaching and intrusive safety measures. Others said BART is right to beef up security, but that some of the reforms including BARTs recent decision to temporarily assign all its police officers to work six days a week seem impulsive. The answer is not a rushed surveillance proposal that poses a unique threat to Latinos and African Americans, said Mike Chase of the American Civil Liberties Union, arguing that technology could enable racial profiling. Several board members came to the meeting with their own suggestions, including one from Director Nick Josefowitz to add facial recognition software to BART cameras. Privacy activists panned the idea, and it never came up for a vote. BART will begin drafting a privacy policy while it seeks contractors to add call boxes and convert the agencys outdated analog cameras to digital. That shift would improve the quality of the images and make it easier to retrieve video footage in real time. The board also voted 7-2 to hold a special meeting in the suburbs of east Contra Costa County to get reactions from riders who live in that area on some of Crunicans suggested reforms among them the panhandling ban and the fare gate barriers. We have heard the concerns of the urban core, said BART board Director Joel Keller, who represents North Concord, Pittsburg, Martinez and Antioch. He said he has been snowed with emails from constituents saying they are afraid to use the transit system. Whats being proposed today has been called a PR or an image move, Keller said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Although most speakers at the meeting objected to BARTs reform effort, some applauded the extra police patrols. One woman dangled a sign that said, More Police = Rider Safety. I think this is a watershed moment for BART the region is watching, said Jim Wunderman, CEO of the Bay Area Council, a business advocacy group. He called for mutual aid from law enforcement in the cities that BART serves. Board Director Rebecca Saltzman raised questions about the $28 million cost of the reforms, which include $25 million in recommended capital improvements, and $3 million annually for labor and other costs. She noted that Crunicans list of proposals lacked a financing plan. But Keller argued that the cost of inaction is far greater. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan SFPD A San Francisco man raped, beat, and tried to kill his ex-girlfriend after breaking into her Excelsior district home this week, authorities said Friday. The suspect, Joshua Beloy, 32, was arrested Thursday and booked in County Jail on suspicion of a dozen crimes, including rape, attempted murder, false imprisonment, assault with force likely to commit great bodily injury, residential burglary and domestic violence. Everybody deserves a second chance. Third chances? Sometimes. But one San Francisco Superior Court judge apparently believes in ninth chances. He indicated that this month hell release from jail one of the citys most prolific auto burglars, a man with a lengthy rap sheet involving eight car burglaries, some of which turned violent. In April, the grand jury indicted Deshawn Patton, 21, of San Bruno on 20 counts, including 11 felonies, related to eight car break-ins over the course of a year. Patton mostly hit rental cars, stealing items from tourists visiting from as far away as China and Germany. Four times, police caught Patton in the act, but he fled on foot, in his own car while ramming a police car with officers inside, or ramming a vehicle hed just burglarized. In that third instance, he drove onto a sidewalk and toward police officers before speeding away. On April 20, 2017, court records show, he ran a stop sign to escape police and hit a Nissan with such force it wrapped around a tree and was totaled. Patton didnt stop to help the driver, who was knocked unconscious and hospitalized for four days with head and rib injuries. Incredibly, this spree, which took place from April 2016 to May 2017, happened while Patton was on probation for a previous car break-in, to which he pleaded guilty in October 2015. So, apparently, the judge believes in 10th chances. But actually, court records show Patton is also on probation in San Mateo County for a felony residential burglary committed just last fall. So maybe the judge believes in 11th chances Ive lost count. Patton kept getting picked up and kept posting bail. Twice last year, he failed to appear in court, including once in the hit-and-run case. So San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon opted to consolidate his charges, prosecuting them all at once to bring home their seriousness. That happened as San Francisco experienced a surge in property crimes, including car break-ins. Property crimes spiked to an unprecedented level in 2017, up nearly 15 percent from 2016. Car break-ins contributed to much of the rise, with a record 31,322 reports of the crime last year. A glimmer of good news in this depressing tale? Reports of car break-ins through June are down more than 20 percent from the same time period last year, according to the district attorneys office. That could be because of increased media, political and police attention to the crime and more signs warning people to leave nothing in their cars. Todd Trumbull Anyway, the grand jury indicted Patton on 11 felonies, including eight counts of auto burglary, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of resisting an executive officer and one count of hit-and-run causing injury. The grand jury also indicted him on nine misdemeanors, including two counts of receiving stolen property, one count of possession of a burglary tool, one count of unauthorized use of a radio communication, three counts of resisting police officers, one count of theft and one count of hit-and-run causing property damage. Shortly after the indictment, Gascon said, Individuals like this are behind the citys property crime challenge, and by tying them to multiple incidents, we can ensure they face consequences that are commensurate with the impact theyve had on our community. Well, not really. For that, you need a judge to impose those consequences. The very forgiving judge I mentioned is Superior Court Judge Christopher Hite, who previously worked as an attorney in Public Defender Jeff Adachis office. Hite is perhaps best known for flushing all 64,713 outstanding warrants issued in quality-of-life cases from January 2011 through October 2015, giving police no authority to detain people who skipped court appearances and rendering the citations meaningless. He did so as part of a court-wide consensus that fining poor people who cant afford to pay is pointless. Then-Mayor Ed Lee was irate at the decision, saying the point of citations isnt to collect money from poor people, but as leverage to compel them to accept treatment, shelter and other services. At the time, Lee said through a spokeswoman that the judges were not meeting the responsibilities voters elected them to. When one branch of government fails be it executive, legislative or judicial we all fail. It could be argued San Francisco is about to fail again. Patton faces a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison. On July 27, prosecutors offered Patton five years and eight months, meaning hed probably serve less than three years with good behavior. He has been held in county jail since November. Hite said hell be on probation for three years. But Pattons attorney and Hite reached their own tentative deal. Patton agreed to plead guilty to most of the grand jury charges, and Hite indicated he will put him on probation and release him, according to several people present in the courtroom that day. The judge did indicate he would sentence Patton to six years and four months in state prison if he winds up back in his courtroom for another break-in. Hite also indicated he would require some sort of electronic monitoring of Patton for up to a year. The sentencing is set to be finalized at 9 a.m. Friday. Should the deal stick, Patton would probably be released that day. Max Szabo, a spokesman for the district attorneys office, said the deal between Hite and the defense is certainly not the message that we want to send. Police and prosecutors spent a lot of time identifying this individual, building a case and sending it to the grand jury, he said. We remain hopeful the courts sentencing reflects the scope of Mr. Pattons crimes. The San Francisco Police Department declined to comment. Lisa DewBerry, Pattons private attorney, also declined to comment, calling the matter gossip because the sentencing hasnt been finalized. A spokeswoman for the San Francisco Superior Court issued a statement: The court is not able to respond on this matter, as it is a pending case. ... The court will take into consideration the Adult Probation Departments report when making the sentencing decision. She said that report has not yet been issued. So whats the big deal if one guy who breaks into a lot of cars and rams some others in the process is released earlier than the average San Franciscan might expect? Well, there are many problems. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. As Szabo explained, a plea deal with a judge sets the market rate for sentences for future serial car burglars. The incentive for a defendant to enter a plea agreement with prosecutors vanishes if they can get a sweeter deal elsewhere, he said of defense attorneys bypassing prosecutors and making a deal directly with the judge. Another problem is that its extremely difficult for police officers to pick up car break-in suspects, meaning the chances of catching Patton if he breaks into another car are not great. Last year, police made arrests in just 1.6 percent of reported car break-ins. The crime happens so quickly often in mere seconds that even when police are nearby, it can be hard for them to nab the suspect. Many assailants, often gang members, lead police on such speedy car chases through city streets that officers must give up the pursuit for safety reasons. But the bigger problem in a city where City Hall, police and the district attorneys office have finally finally! committed to taking rampant property crime throughout San Francisco seriously is the message the court is sending. Jeff Wayman is a volunteer with Court Watch, a project of Stop Crime SF, an association of neighborhood groups determined to prevent and reduce crime and hold the city and courts accountable for doing the same. Court Watch, which considers the San Francisco Superior Court too lenient, sends volunteers to hearings to signal to judges that residents are paying attention to the sentences they hand down. A few, including Wayman, were present for the Patton hearing on July 27. Wayman, a retired plumber and auto mechanic who lives in the Richmond District, joined the group after somebody broke into his house in the middle of the night. I asked him the outcome of that robbery. Suffice it to say Im 6 feet 4 inches, 240 pounds, and not easy to get along with at 3:30 in the morning when youre breaking into my house, he said. Got it. Wayman said it bothered him that Patton is likely to receive more probation when he had already violated his previous probation. Its just shocking, I guess. Appalling, he said. Im already very angry and totally concerned about the desecration of any sort of property rights or safety in San Francisco. Michel Balea, a retired UCSF clinical study coordinator who lives in Golden Gate Heights, also observed the Patton hearing with Court Watch. He joined the group after his motorcycle and car were stolen in front of his house. He said he was disillusioned after watching the hearing. It was, I would say, an eye-opener about how dysfunctional the system is, he said. You wonder how many slaps in the face the public is willing to bear. Asked what message Hite will send if he sticks to the agreed-upon deal, Balea said thats simple: You can do it as often as you want, and youll be released. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Gov. Jerry Browns plan to end strict financial liability for utilities whose power lines spark wildfires received a skeptical response Thursday from state legislators, some of whom bristled at anything resembling a bailout of the companies. At a joint legislative committee hearing to consider the plan, some legislators questioned its constitutionality and complained that it would give electric utilities less incentive to manage their power grids safely. Why should we reduce their liability and expect that theyd do more? asked Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara. Faced with potentially staggering losses from last falls wildfires, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and the states other utilities have been pushing for legislation that would help them evade automatic liability for fires triggered by their equipment. Under a concept known as inverse condemnation, the utilities can be held financially liable for such fires even if the companies did nothing wrong. Brown took up their cause last month, arguing that the current system risked destabilizing the utilities. He proposed instructing judges to consider whether the companies acted reasonably in running their systems before holding them liable. He also wants judges to weigh the damage caused by the fire against the public benefit of providing electricity. Browns proposal would apply only to fires that began after Jan. 1 of this year, purposely excluding Octobers deadly Wine Country fires and the blazes that tore through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in December. Critics call it both a bailout for the utilities and a potential violation of the state Constitution, because it could deprive property owners of their right to compensation when a utility providing a public benefit takes or damages their property. Time may not be on the governors side. The legislative session ends in three weeks, and some committee members seemed hesitant Thursday to tackle such a difficult, far-reaching issue in the days left. The path that youre asking us to embark on is not constitutional, Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula (Riverside County), told utility representatives testifying at the hearing. And what were doing is creating this big cloud of hope for the utilities that were going to opine the way you want us to opine. PG&E faces more than 200 lawsuits from last falls fires, and investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have blamed the companys equipment for starting at least 16 of the blazes. The utility, Californias largest, took a $2.5 billion charge against its earnings in this years second quarter in anticipation of being held liable for damage from some of the fires and warned investors the final figure could be much larger. Estimates run as high as $15 billion. The company, however, did not attend Thursdays hearing. Sen. Bill Dodd, co-chairman of the committee, said PG&E had been purposely excluded. I felt, from my vantage point, that they did have an ax to grind, said Dodd, D-Napa. Instead, representatives of Southern California Edison and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District argued in favor of Browns proposal. The current system, they said, effectively turns utilities into insurance companies of last resort. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes It also raises insurance and borrowing costs for the utilities, costs that get passed on to customers. SMUDs chief executive officer, Arlen Orchard, said his districts insurance costs for the coming year would be four times higher than a year ago. And the utility representatives noted that Browns proposal would still hold the companies liable for wildfire damage caused by their negligence. Wildfire risks require a balancing of the benefits of extending electricity service to all areas of the state against the risks of starting a fire, said Henry Weissman, outside counsel for Edison. But other speakers, including public officials from Wine Country testifying at the hearing, urged committee members not to tinker with the current system. Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon said local governments use inverse condemnation to force utility companies to the negotiating table after a fire. Yountville Mayor John Dunbar called the system essential to rebuilding communities. We must remember that any changes we make to laws today will impact future fire victims, and we will have future fire victims, Dillon said. The governors proposal would balance the benefits of electricity against someones house burning down. How can you do that? David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF The first trial on whether the worlds most widely used herbicide causes cancer came to an explosive ending Friday a San Francisco jurys award of $289 million in damages to a man diagnosed with a lethal illness while spraying school grounds with a weed-killer manufactured by Monsanto Co. The jury found unanimously that Monsanto was responsible for Dewayne Lee Johnsons non-Hodgkins lymphoma and should have known of the dangers posed by the herbicide glyphosate, which it markets as Roundup and the more-concentrated Ranger Pro. The jury also found that Monsanto had acted with malice or oppression when it supplied glyphosate to Johnsons employer, the Benicia Unified School District, without disclosing its potentially life-threatening effects. The company denies that glyphosate is dangerous and says it will appeal. The verdict could be a forerunner for the 4,000 lawsuits that have been filed across the country by individuals who claim they were sickened by Roundup. Johnsons case was the first to go to trial. The jurys decision also amounted to a rebuke of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has long classified glyphosate as safe and has not restricted its use, despite an other agencies findings that the herbicide probably causes cancer. At a post-verdict news conference in his lawyers office, Johnson, 46, of Vallejo, said he hoped his case was just the beginning. The cause is way bigger than me, he said. Hopefully this thing will start to get the attention that it needs to get right. Johnson was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in October 2014 and with a more aggressive form of the cancer in March 2015. One of his doctors testified that he is unlikely to survive to 2020. The jury awarded $2.3 million in damages for his past and future economic losses and $37 million for pain and emotional distress $1 million for each year of what would have been his normal life expectancy after 2014. The remaining $250 million was in punitive damages for malicious or oppressive conduct. Johnsons lawyers said Monsanto, now a subsidiary of Bayer AG, has $6.1 billion in holdings. Jurors deliberated 2 days after four weeks of testimony. The verdict required votes from only nine of the 12 jurors to be final, but they were unanimous except for on the amount of punitive damages, which drew a dissent from one juror. In polling after the verdict, she did not tell the judge whether she favored a greater or lesser amount. Environmental advocates celebrated the outcome. Mr. Johnsons brave decision to spend his dying days fighting Monsanto to prove the dangers of Roundup is part of a global awakening to the long-term health and environmental costs of our careless addiction to pesticides, said Nathan Donley, a scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity. Monsanto was unyielding, saying its position is supported by the EPA, the National Institutes of Health and agencies around the world. We will appeal this decision and continue to vigorously defend this product, which has a 40-year history of safe use, said Scott Partridge, a Monsanto vice president. Johnson was a groundskeeper and pest-control manager for Benicia schools from 2012 until May 2016. His job included spraying glyphosate, in the high-concentration brand called Ranger Pro, from 50-gallon drums 20 to 30 times a year for two to three hours a day. He testified he wore protective clothing, including a sturdy jacket, goggles and a face mask, but said he couldnt fully protect his face from wind-blown spray. And twice, he told the jury, he got drenched with the herbicide, once when a spray hose became detached from a truck that was hauling it, and another time when a backpack container he was carrying leaked. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes After the first drenching in 2014, he said, he got rashes on his skin that did not respond to treatment. Welts and lesions soon appeared on his legs, arms, face and eyelids. His first cancer diagnoses came soon afterward. Johnson has undergone chemotherapy and is considering a bone-marrow transplant. The jury also heard from Johnsons wife, Araceli, a nurse practitioner, who said she now works 14 hours a day at two jobs to pay the bills. The couple has two children. Glyphosate, the worlds leading herbicide, was classified as a probable human carcinogen in 2015 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization. In 2017, Californias Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment listed it as a chemical known to cause cancer. Monsanto held the initial patent and remains its leading distributor. Despite the agencies health concerns, glyphosate remains legal in the U.S. and Europe. Monsantos lawyers noted the EPA has never found glyphosate to be a cause of cancer, and told the jury that both the EPA and European health regulators had conducted new studies after the international agencys assessment and had reaffirmed their previous safety findings. Johnsons lawyers, in turn, accused Monsanto of mounting a propaganda campaign to discredit the international agency and of hiding evidence that allegedly would have shown the herbicides dangers. Each side presented medical experts to support its case. Monsanto also said none of Johnsons physicians had determined the cause of his cancer. One of Johnsons doctors testified, however, that as Johnsons condition worsened in 2015, she asked the school district to let him stop spraying glyphosate. Johnson said he finally refused to use the chemical in January 2016, four months before leaving the job. He also said he called Monsantos hotline twice, in 2014 and 2015, described his symptoms and asked if the herbicide might be the cause. Company representatives said someone would call him back, but no one did, he said. Bob Egelko and Peter Fimrite are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com andpfimrite@sfchronice.com Twitter: @BobEgelko and @pfimrite Astronomy hobbyists seem ever scarcer these days, amid competition from video games and social media. But Orion Telescopes and Binoculars in Cupertino provides a haven for those still craving a peek into the cosmos. Telescopes of all sizes crowd the floor, and photos of galaxies taken by customers adorn the walls. The American Girl doll of the year, an astronomer doll named Luciana Vega, stands on display, holding a tiny replica of an Orion star chart. Until recently, the Cupertino location was the last brick-and-mortar telescope shop in Northern California, stubbornly hanging on in the age of Amazon. But in March, its owners reopened a second location in Watsonville (Santa Cruz County), adjacent to the companys headquarters. Its a remarkable expansion in an industry coping not only with the growth of online shopping, but also the distractions available to a population drawn to more earthly pursuits with plenty of city dwellers unable to even see the stars due to light pollution. This store caught my eye, first off because theres not many stores like this, said Todd Marco, an engineer at nearby Apple, who stopped in this month on a whim and bought a telescope to observe cloudy nebulae and star clusters. I also had my interest piqued by seeing Mars bright and center in the sky recently. Paul Lynam, an astronomer at Lick Observatory, a 90-minute drive away on Mount Hamilton, said he stops into Orion and buys telescopes when my wife lets me. He likes the knowledgeable staff and the ability to look at the physical products, to better understand their scale. Plus, Orion can take better care than a delivery courier, he said. Photos by James Tensuan / Special to The Chronicle Traffic is not as bustling as a year ago, when eclipse glasses and solar filters flew off the shelves in anticipation of the late-August 2017 solar eclipse. Eric Chacon, an assistant store manager, said about 16 people came into the store per day leading up to the eclipse, compared with five on a usual day. We had lines stretching from the counter all the way out the door looking for a scope to see it, said Ken Sablinsky, Cupertinos store manager of 25 years, who got his first Orion telescope during childhood. Orion, which is employee-owned, declined to disclose information on its finances. But the company has a website, www.telescope.com, in addition to its two stores. Frank Johnson, Orions director of e-marketing, said that the physical retail locations dont make up a huge part of the revenue. The most expensive piece of stargazing equipment on the Cupertino stores floor this summer is a $4,500 telescope mount. According to Chacon, selling about five telescopes per month at $3,000 each keeps the store going. If you really get hooked, this is really a dangerous place, Chacon joked. Theres a lot of toys here. The Cupertino location opened nearly 30 years ago. Orions San Francisco store closed in 2001. The companys last notable San Francisco brick-and-mortar competitor, Scope City, closed in 2012. Its difficult to buy online, because its difficult to see the size and weight and heft of the thing, Sablinsky said. We get people coming in from far East Bay ... because theres not many other places to see this kind of stuff. Sean Walker, associate editor of Sky & Telescope Magazine, said that two decades ago, there used to be a dedicated astronomy telescope store in almost every state, but they have slowly been closing for various reasons. Now, many are moving to the internet, he said, because its more of an affordable business model. But the industry has reason to hope. Space is getting new life, in a sense, because private companies like Elon Musks SpaceX, Jeff Bezos Blue Origin and Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic plan to push manned flight farther than its been before. In February, Musk captivated the world when his red Tesla Roadster was launched into space from an enormously powerful rocket. The Trump administration has announced plans to create a Space Force a sixth arm of the military, in essence in two years. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes And some young astronomers still remain enthralled. Anita Moorthy, visiting from London with her 13-year-old son, Vikram Bhamre, drove from Burlingame to Cupertino to ask Orion for help with a telescope repair. Vikram got his first telescope at the age of 11; he lugs his current one around during international travel in his carry-on bag to contemplate different regions of the night sky. He has peered at deep sky objects, like the Orion Nebula and the Seven Sisters or the Pleiades star cluster. Yet he notices that friends at school do not share his passion. I really do feel we should have much more telescope stores, he said. David Frey, a former president of San Francisco Amateur Astronomers, which hosts monthly star-watching parties on Mount Tamalpais from April through October, recognizes the power of getting hooked. When people get into astronomy, they get aperture fever, Frey said. Its a disease where you want a bigger and bigger telescope, because the bigger your telescope, the more you can see. Rebecca Aydin is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rebecca.aydin@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @beckyaydin Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled the last name of Ken Sablinsky, manager of Orions Cupertino store. The story has been altered to reflect this change. Prosecutors say they now plan to play nearly three hours of video from the on-and-off, 23-hour interrogation, a reversal of their strategy from earlier this summer when they tried to block the defense from playing nearly an hour of the footage. Judge Nicholas Ford, who is presiding over the case, had originally barred the 53 minutes from trial as inadmissible hearsay, drawing the fury of defense attorneys who said they needed that footage to bolster their argument that the confession was coerced. Jeremiah Jeremy Stoke was helping residents evacuate in west Redding when he became entrapped by a massive fire tornado as the Carr Fire tore through the city on July 26, killing him. Stoke, 37, was a longtime veteran of the Redding Fire Department, where he worked as a fire inspector. He is survived by his wife, Alyson, son, Caleb, 13, and daughter, Aubrey, 9. At a memorial service in Redding on Aug. 11, Stoke was remembered as a dedicated family man, a Little League captain, a community volunteer, a punk rock enthusiast and a passionate fan of the San Francisco Giants. When the Giants won the World Series in 2010, Stokes favorte fire truck Engine No. 8 flew the Giants flag, Redding Fire Department Interim Chief Cullen Kreider told the assembly. On the day of his death, Jeremy answered the call to respond, Kreider said. In the face of the huge fire front, he went to work and I know lives were saved because of his actions, Kreider said. Stoke graduated from Shasta College with an associates degree in fire technology, then worked for Cal Fire before joining the Redding Fire Department in 2004, where he worked as an engineer before becoming an inspector. Jeremy touched so many lives in his 17 years on the job, first as a firefighter, then as a fire investigator. Jeremy gave his life so others may live. His sacrifice will resonate forever, the Redding Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post. The Redding Peace Officers Association created an online fundraising account to support Stokes family. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California Donna Araiza, founder of the Alyssa Araiza Wings of Angels organization for seriously ill children, told the Redding Record Searchlight that said Stoke donated to her group regularly. He and his wife, Alyson, were always supporting us, Araiza told the newspaper. He was a generous and a good man. Suzanne Espinosa Solis is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sespinosa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @suzyesp A San Francisco bookkeeper was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $100,000 from the jewelry company that employed him for 15 years. Shao Cai, 60, admitted writing fraudulent checks to himself and depositing them into his personal bank account between 2012 and 2016 when he was a bookkeeper for Jest Jewels, according to the San Francisco District Attorneys Office. The San Francisco Bay Area-based jeweler employed Cai from 2002 until 2017, when he was arrested on felony charges of grand theft in November. Cai used various schemes to hide his conduct for years, officials said, but did not elaborate further. He pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of felony grand theft with a white collar crime enhancement, which refers to when a suspect commits multiple related felonies involving fraud or the embezzlement of more than $100,000, according to the California Penal Code. With all the pressures on small business owners, the last thing they should have to worry about is if they can trust the people that work for them, said San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon. Employees are expected to carry out their responsibilities with integrity. Cai was sentenced to six months in county jail and three months in the Sheriffs Work Alternative Program. Upon completion of his sentence, he will be on probation for three years. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. He is required to pay $111,631.66 in restitution to his victims within a three-month period. If he fails to pay, Cai will be forced to serve an additional two years and four months in state prison. San Francisco Police Departments Financial Crimes Bureau investigated the case. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LaurenPorFavor Perhaps you thought Americas politicians might take off much of August, given the heat, vacations and the fact that so many of us arent paying much attention anymore, so bad is the odor of bitter partisan turmoil. Uh, no. Campaign days are a precious commodity, not unlike vacant rooms in the hotel business. Once the day (or night) is over, theres no making it up. In the past week, an energetic 72-year-old President Trump, who isnt on any ballot Nov. 6, has been out campaigning three times with many more times to come, mainly in contested races that will decide control of the House. Hes had a pretty good record of endorsement success in recent primaries. But Democrats, energized by the same polarizing figure, need pick up only 23 seats to hand the House speakers gavel back to 78-year-old Nancy Pelosi or a younger challenger come January. Even Barack Obama, who as president disdained involvement in lowly House contests, is back in. He issued a list of fairly predictable endorsements, carefully dodging some key contests that would plop him in the middle of Democrats simmering civil war over sane politics or socialism. That profound fracture between far left and establishment liberals is much like the angry Tea Party movement that split Republicans starting in 2009 and still flares into factional feuds via House Republicans Freedom Caucus. Watch for the Democratic split to deepen and widen as the partys 2020 presidential wannabes, likely an even larger field than the 17 contenders Republicans struggled with in 2016, begin their public maneuvering later this fall. Democrats talk about their big tent enfolding many species of liberal. They all agree Trump must go. The internal wounds will come when their primary debates stray into policy areas stretching far beyond standard liberal orthodoxy. For instance, the recent upset House primary winner in the Bronx/Queens wants to end capitalism. The partys deputy chair wants to ban all political donations and says that national borders create injustice. More realistically, what about abolishing ICE and leaving the border unguarded? How will that play in the frustrated traditional Democratic districts across the heartland where Trump unexpectedly triumphed? Democratic members and their leadership are dangerously concentrated on the coasts and in the geriatric set. Trump knows well whats at stake and the odds against him. Ambitious committee chairmen in a Democratic House could block his legislative agenda. That would provide a priceless obstructionist foil for Trumps 2020 re-election. But those same chairmen with subpoena powers could also ignite countless investigations, even impeachment. Heres the electoral reality for Trump: The midterm electorate is usually about a third smaller than in presidential elections and usually packed by people with a gripe. Reality No. 2: The presidents party has lost House seats in 18 of the past 20 midterm elections, with an average loss of 33 House seats. It takes a large special event to change that. In 1998, Bill Clintons Democrats gained five House seats when the GOP overstepped with impeachment. In 2002, George W. Bushs GOP gained six seats in the 9/11 aftermath. In 2006, Republicans lost 30 seats and House control. In 2010, Obamas Democrats suffered a historic 63-seat loss after the forced passage of Obamacare and a fizzled jobs stimulus package, and another 13 seats were gone in 2014. Absent some major news event like, oh, say, a damning special counsel report, what can Trump do in the next 13 weeks to at least mitigate GOP losses? First of all, will Trumps so-far loyal base show up when his name is absent? Obamas never did. Trump is solid with about 9 of 10 Republicans. But those 2016 voters who handed him the electoral votes from Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, for instance, are not Republicans. Standard Democrats seem unlikely converts. Which leaves those crucial swing independents. Right now, theyre unsure about him and his behavior with reason. Thanks to the large tax cuts and regulation-slashing, among other things, Trump has a golden argument to make. In fact, Gallup recently found Americans satisfaction with the countrys direction at a 12-year high. As Trump promised, the desultory economy that limped along during the Obama reign of error is now expanding beautifully, at a 4.1 percent annualized rate at last report. Business investments and consumer spending are up. Millions of jobs have blossomed. Unemployment has dropped to 3.9 percent, even more sharply for blacks and Hispanics, another Trump promise kept. The president talks about these impressive achievements often. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Weve really produced, he said in Ohio the other day. The economy is booming. A strong economy touches virtually every home. So, why dont Americans credit the president? One reason is Trump himself. Through abrupt firings, outrageous statements or tweets, this president routinely muddies his own messages. Many self-important media members are only too happy to write about any controversy instead of boring good news that might help the man who calls their lifes work fake news. In effect, Trump asks for it. Theres still sufficient time. If Trump had the self-discipline to tell Trump to stay on one message, dump the hyperbolic false claims and needless, distracting attacks on others, he could attract many independents seeking someone more presidential. And become a more powerful president, while remaining true to the Trump that Trump and his base love. Few think he can. But then few thought he could be elected either. A famous American once said, Its very easy to be presidential. That famous American was Donald Trump. So, lets see some of it. Special to McClatchy Andrew Malcolm is an author and veteran national and foreign correspondent covering politics since the 1960s. Twitter: @AHMalcolm A California appeals court has joined the debate over how colleges should handle sexual misconduct cases, saying a school disciplinary board should require an accuser to attend a hearing and answer questions before suspending or expelling an accused student. The ruling Wednesday by the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles comes while the Trump administration is calling on colleges to set a higher standard of proof in cases of alleged sexual assault or harassment and to strengthen rights of the accused, most of them men. Womens rights advocates have filed a nationwide suit in San Francisco against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, saying her new guidelines are based on sex discrimination. Also on Wednesday, an appeals court in San Jose upheld the sexual-assault convictions of former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner, whose six-month jail sentence led to the voter recall of the sentencing judge, Aaron Persky. Turners case was tried in criminal court, unlike the less-formal campus proceedings that were the subject of the Los Angeles ruling and DeVos new standards. Marc Harris, a lawyer for the student who appealed his suspension in the court case, said schools are struggling to balance the rights of the accuser and the accused. The challenge, Harris said, is in providing some sort of fair process to students who are facing expulsion or suspension, but not have their classrooms turn into courtrooms. His client, identified only as John Doe, was a freshman at Claremont McKenna College in eastern Los Angeles County who met Jane Roe, a freshman at nearby Scripps College, in fall 2014. After getting drunk at a party at Claremont McKenna one evening in October 2014, they went to John Does dorm room and had sex, which both of them described as consensual. But Jane said John later started slamming his body into hers, and she begged him to stop but he refused, letting her escape only after he passed out. John denied her accusations and said she never objected. Two days later, Jane was treated for vaginal bleeding at a campus hospital. She and John met socially several times over the next few months, the court said, but in March 2015 she filed a complaint with her college. The case was heard by a panel of two Claremont faculty members and an investigator who had interviewed both students and 13 of their schoolmates. John Doe sought unsuccessfully to submit his own questions to Jane Roe, and spoke at the panels hearing, which she did not attend. The panel found that Jane was more credible and that John had violated the schools sexual misconduct policy by engaging in non-consensual intercourse. He was suspended for a year and ordered to undergo counseling. Ruling after John Doe had already served his suspension, the appeals court said he had been denied a fair hearing because the panel did not require Jane Roe to attend or answer questions at the hearing. When a student faces potentially severe consequences such as suspension, and the outcome depends on the accusers credibility, the accuser must be before the finder of fact, either in person or by videoconference, Justice Helen Bendix said in the 3-0 ruling. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Although participation in the hearing may be traumatic or intimidating, Bendix said, fairness required ... that all three (panel members) hear from Jane before choosing to believe her account over Johns. She also said the accused must be allowed to question the accuser, either directly or by relaying questions to the disciplinary panel. Claremont McKenna College said Thursday it believes its procedures met legal standards and is considering an appeal to the state Supreme Court. The school said it is committed to protecting the civil rights of all members of our community, which includes responding appropriately to all complaints of sexual misconduct with a grievance process that is fair, prompt and equitable. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Regarding Officials Blister DMV chief (Page One, Aug. 8): The article showcasing the ineptitude of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the reluctance of the head of the DMV to have an in-depth audit should be a red flag to all. Not only should an audit be initiated immediately, but the DMV should address this crisis by opening up additional satellite DMV offices to serve the public. Cramming in additional employees to existing cramped offices may prove to have a diminishing marginal return. In addition, the head of the DMV should be placed on a performance improvement plan and reviewed every 60 days until the audit is completed. Sandra Schneider, Belmont Underfunded Like almost every California resident, I have endured interminable waits at the Department of Motor Vehicles and rudeness and inefficiency as well. We all dread these sometimes necessary trips to the DMV. As long as Californians and Americans loathe paying taxes and allow our small government leaders to underfund our public services, the Post Office will falter, health care will be insufficient and arbitrary, our roads and dams will deteriorate, Amtrak will struggle and we will all continue to wait in those long, grueling lines. You get what you pay for. Barbara Wyeth, San Francisco Five-star service Its become a national hobby to bash government services, particularly the Department of Motor Vehicles. So let me tell you about my experience renewing my drivers license at the DMV in Vallejo last Saturday. I had a 9:20 a.m. appointment, and before I could even enter the building, a friendly staffer on the porch greeted me and checked to make sure I had the right documents. She then sent me inside to a row of computers to fill out an application for the Real ID. There, I found another knowledgeable and patient staff member who anticipated my questions before I could even ask them, and answered them all. After I completed my application he sent me to the red carpet (for people with appointments a cute touch) where another efficient staff member gave me a number. Ten minutes later, my number was called, sending me to the next pleasant, informed staff member, who put everything together and then sent me to have my photo taken. Which was done surprise! by yet another friendly, helpful staff member after about a five-minute wait. From the front porch greeting to getting back in my car took 40 minutes. Thank you Vallejo DMV for your five-star service! Catharine Way, Benicia Impact on climate Regarding Wildfires highlight changing climate (Page One, Aug. 4) and Veggie burger so meat-like, its making its way into mainstream (Page One, Aug. 4): How appropriate that the front page of The Chronicle included two seemingly unrelated stories that, when examined closely, one becomes the solution for the other. The deadly forest fires California is experiencing are caused in large part by a weakened jet stream due to rising heat thanks to global climate change. Although your reporter mentioned cars, power plants and factories as the perpetrators of greenhouse gas emissions, I wish he included one of the main pumpers of atmospheric warming: meat and dairy operations. The Impossible Burger could well be a cornerstone in reducing greenhouse emissions should the burger-eating human population come to their senses and make the switch away from cow burgers. New research released by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) July 18, 2018, found that the worlds top five meat and dairy corporations are now responsible for more annual greenhouse gas emissions than Exxon, Shell or BP. With the Impossible Burger going mainstream, there are no more excuses to keep eating the rain forest cutting, atmosphere warming, heart-attack causing, animal-suffering beef burger. Shelley Frost, Belmont Form more unions Regarding Gig is rigged (Editorial, Aug. 9): Are ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft really surprised that the California Supreme Court recognizes their independent contractors as being employees who are entitled to a basic minimum wage and health coverage? It would behoove these gig economy workers to band together, form unions, and negotiate the terms of their employment. Dylan Seeger, San Francisco Deep tunnel boring Regarding Transit centers big question: When will trains get there? (Page One, Aug. 9): I read with much concern this morning that officials are considering, for economic reasons, simply tearing up city streets to get trains into the basement of the Salesforce Transit Center. If that basement is only one level below city streets then we are forever screwed. Unlike Muni trolleys, railroad trains have a very wide turning radius. No matter which route is chosen, the only way to get into that basement shell is via deep tunnel boring with a tunnel boring machine running under many of the buildings in the area and that would assume in the first place that the train box is several levels below the elevation of city streets. Otherwise, you could create the worlds largest disco in that space. Irving Waldorf, San Francisco Clean energy bill It would be a shame if Gov. Jerry Brown became a modern day Nero by fiddling away the final months of his political career while California burns without throwing his wholehearted support behind SB100, which would commit California to 100 percent clean energy by 2045. Brown has summoned city and state leaders from around the world for a climate summit in mid-September. This gathering would be an opportune time for the governor, who routinely grants permits for oil and gas drilling, to definitely show which side he is on. Tom Miller, Oakland Treatment first Regarding Court system, not BART security, failed (Open Forum, Aug. 9): When someone commits a crime under the ravages of mental illness this is a whole different category than a crime that is deliberate wrongdoing. Mental illness is, by definition, an illness and diagnosed people need help, not the frightening isolation and chaos of jail culture. A friend of mine had been homeless and psychotic on the streets with no help or hope in sight. His life changed after he was arrested for hitting a woman as the result of delusional thinking. Although he was rightfully put on probation for many years, he was not jailed. Instead, he was connected with a solid treatment plan and went on to be a gentle, productive, employed member of society. Lets remain angry about violence, but take more appropriate actions when our fellow citizens begin to show symptoms of distress and withdrawal. Vivian Imperiale, San Francisco Think people are losing their minds over President Trump? Maybe its not all in your head. The American Psychological Association is holding its annual convention in San Francisco, and there are no fewer than 15 symposiums, panel discussions and paper presentations devoted to the psychological ills that practitioners believe are spreading under the president. The list of Trump-related topics at the four-day conference covers the psychic waterfront. Metaphors and the Trump Administration: What Are Effective Responses? Healing Practices and Models for Undocumented Students in the Trump Era. Gaining Perspective: Intergroup Conflict Intervention With Trump Supporters and Opponents. And, #MAGA: What Pro-Trump Hashtags Tell Us About the 2016 Election. Speakers at the conference, which has drawn 11,000 psychologists from around the country, say the glut of Trump-gazing is understandable: The political world is freaking a lot of people out. Now Playing: Wellesley College researcher Linda Charmaraman explains her research on what people said #MAGA meant to them. She was presenting at the American Psychological Association on Aug.9, 2018 Video: SFChronicle In the associations 2017 Stress of America survey, 57 percent of respondents said the current political climate was a top source of angst in their lives. More people were stressed out by politics than their family responsibilities (49 percent) or their health situation (also 49 percent). Politics-related stress has never scored that high in the dozen years the organization has been putting America on the survey couch. Now, people who live in the world of the 50-minute hour are seeing poli-stress every day. Were seeing it in our clients, were seeing it our colleagues people are on edge, said Fred Bemak, a George Mason University professor who will be leading a symposium Friday on The Impact of Global Politics and the Trump Era on Psychology. Students and staffers at George Mason in Virginia were so upset after Trumps election that we held healing sessions, Bemak said. People were crying. Not all psychologists think the same way about the Trump effect. Frank Farley is a bit dubious about attributing Americas mental health woes to the man who says hes making America great again. Its a stretch, said Farley, a former president of the American Psychological Association and a 50-year veteran of the profession. He noted that an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll in July found that 88 percent of Republican respondents approved of Trump. I dont think you could say all of those people had mental health issues. Farley added, The idea that he may be having some sort of impact on mental health in the country is a real long shot. We should be critical of the governments policies, not an individual. To that end, Farley plans to lay down three rules at sessions hes leading during the conference: No politicking. No discussion of any political candidate. And no diagnosing of living people who you have not accessed. Like you-know-who. But it is tough for other psychologists to ignore He Who Should Not be Diagnosed. Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press Kirk Schneider, a San Francisco psychologist and author, said several of his clients feel more depressed because of the state of the world. They have a sense of hopelessness. Futility. Fear about the future. Less control over their lives. Jerrold Shapiro, a professor of counseling psychology at Santa Clara University, told of a previously well-adjusted man who came to him for help after he had a panic attack following Trumps election. The man described the situation as, My life feels like Im walking into a pitch-black room and suddenly wondering if theres a floor, Shapiro said during a session he led Thursday. The session was called Trumping Trumpism: A Humanistic Psychotherapy in Troubling Times. But how can we pin all this stress on the president? Arent Americans already stressed out by their work, their partners, their kids, their health and the Giants fading playoff hopes? All of that is true, Bemak said. And ... people are also worried that, I could be deported tomorrow. Or, My mother could be deported tomorrow. How can you ignore that? With the kind of policies being passed, the immigrants and refugees who come to counseling are really agitated, said Bemak, who works with refugees as a founder of Counselors Without Borders. So they come to counseling and you cant just say, Oh, youre depressed. Lets talk about your depression. No, youve got to say, What is this policy doing to you? Diagnosing Trump-related issues is one thing. Figuring what to do next is harder. Shapiro helped the man who had the panic attack by encouraging him to get involved in political campaigns to rechannel his feelings. But thats not for everyone. Sewing the country back together politically might be akin to marriage counseling. A lot of couples have places where they just disagree, Shapiro said. But they find a way to make it work. Liberals who have a problem with Trump should reach out to conservatives and try to connect with them one on one, he said. And vice versa. Empathy is not that hard, one-on-one, Shapiro said. Its hard group to group. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Midmorning light has a way of cascading into Hasta Muerte, a small coffee shop in Oaklands Fruitvale neighborhood. It drips through windows and slices across the corners of wooden tables before spilling onto the cafes weathered, burgundy floor. The front door of the shop on the corner of E. 27th Street and Fruitvale Avenue is propped open during the day, creating a welcoming scene. A waist-high wooden gate swings back and forth, reminiscent of a screen door on a weathered porch. Regulars, many of whom are dressed in jeans or hoodies, wander in and rattle off orders empanadas with house coffee, Americanos with a splash of almond milk, granola bowls. Such was the scene on Feb. 16, the day a police officer walked through the wooden gate, strolled to the counter and was denied service by a worker. His presence full uniform and armed with a service weapon was a stark visual contrast to the cafes usual customers. Hasta Muerte has a policy of not serving uniformed officers because, according to the cafes ownership collective, an officers presence could potentially compromise the physical and emotional safety of its customers, many of whom are people of color. The walls and windows at Hasta Muerte are dotted with artwork, the majority of which contain progressive, social-justice messages. There are Support Oakland fliers, a Black Panther poster, a cartoon denouncing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a tribute to James Nate Greer, the East Bay man who was killed by police after a 2014 traffic stop. In Oakland, the citys police department has a history of excessive-use-of-force incidents, many of which have involved people of color. A federal court began monitoring the department in 2003 to address racial profiling and various other systemic issues within its ranks, and continues to do so. As such, within a few minutes on that February day, Hasta Muerte became more than just a coffee business for Oakland, a city where 25 percent of the population is African American and 27 percent is Latin American, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The refusal to serve uniformed police officers sparked national media coverage, angered many and provided fodder for protests. Around the same time, another factor threatened the nascent business even more: Hasta Muertes building was unexpectedly placed on the market by its landlord, adding fuel to speculation that amid the social justice maelstrom, the business was on the brink of closure. With its future approaching collapse, Hasta Muerte, a business created to serve as a sanctuary for its community, was saved by the very people it had promised to shepherd during tumultuous times. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle We know in our experience working on campaigns against police brutality that we are not alone saying that police presence compromises our feeling of physical & emotional safety. There are those that do not share that sentiment - be it because they have a friend or relative who is a police, because they are white or have adopted the privileges whiteness affords, because they are home- or business- owning, or whatever the particular case may be ... w e need the support of the actual community to keep this place safe, not police. Especially in an area faced by drug sales and abuse, homelessness, and toxic masculinity as we see here on this block. @hastamuertecoffee, Instagram, Feb. 22 Hasta Muerte rarely speaks to media, and no one at the cafe would speak to The Chronicle for this story. Rather, Hasta Muerte uses social media especially Instagram, where it has more than 8,000 followers as a direct conduit to communicate with its customers. The cafe opened in November 2017 as a place for the Bay Areas younger, brown, progressive populace, an anti-gentrification, Latinx-owned, third-wave coffee roaster. It was started as a five-person collective, all people of color. According to reports in the East Bay Express, all have roots as community organizers in the East Bay. An outlier in the new-age coffee world, where clientele generally leans toward white and affluent, Hasta Muerte is equally adept at serving cold-brew coffees as it is playing host to pop-ups from other minority entrepreneurs, like last months Sunday brunch called No Pride Without Riots with the help of Free 4 Real Kitchen, an East Bay food outfit focused on healthy eating. For those customers who grew up nearby, like bartender Jessica Moncada-Konte, Hasta Muertes arrival felt right. Its just nice to have a place like that capable of adding to the neighborhood but it feels like the right kind of progression, Moncada-Konte said. Its a welcome growth thats celebrating diversity. After the officer incident, the cafes policy made the rounds on CNN, Fox News and the New York Times. Pro-police commenters shamed the cafe online. Commenters flooded the shops social media accounts with negative responses. On Yelp, commenters called the business racist and one person claimed employees spit in the food and drinks of anyone who is white. Potential customers should avoid (it) at all costs, another Yelper added. Meanwhile, in real life, the cafes usually quiet sidewalk erupted in protests with participants bellowing chants like Blue Lives Matter. Speaking at the Museum of African American Diaspora in May, Hasta Muerte co-op member Matt Gereghty said his team feared for its safety at times, spurred by a policy they only loosely discussed. We talked about a number of ways we could go about it. We didnt get to the part of whats our unified media strategy, Gereghty said at the time. Less than two miles away along Fruitvale Avenue, Reem Assil, the Oakland chef behind an Arabic bakery named Reems California, watched the scenario unfold. Theyre doing the work on the ground with the people when it comes to dealing with issues of police brutality and marginalization, said Assil, adding that the controversy made her reflect about her own business. Though she does not have a formal policy surrounding police, Assil said she has taken time to explain to at least one uniformed officer who visited the bakery why his presence could be a concern for her customers. During that period, the Oakland Police Officers Association sent a letter, dated Feb. 20, to Hasta Muerte. In the letter, the associations president, Barry Donelan, said the cafes policy on uniformed police was a matter of concern for all Oakland Police Officers. The letter has yet to garner a response, or spur any interaction. Theres been no dialogue with the folks running that coffee shop, Donelan said to the Chronicle via email. They are certainly not interested. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle good morning ... NEW books in and we wanna practice our latte art w/u on this ... from how non-violence protects the state this book challenges the belief that non-violence is the only way to fight for a better world. in a call bound to stir controversy and lively debate, (author Peter) Gelderloos invites activists to consider diverse tactics, passionately arguing that exclusive non-violence often acts to reinforce the same structures of oppression that activists seek to overthrow. @hastamuertecoffee, Instagram, July 27 Four months after opening and a little over a month after the police protests began, the mixed-use building that houses Hasta Muerte went up for sale. For the cafe collective, which leases its space, this was a big deal, and cause for alarm. The group had already invested $50,000 to open the cafe. The team feared that, as has happened with so many other businesses, new ownership could increase rent, effectively shutting down the business. In 2013, the building was purchased for $390,000, according to the Hasta Muerte team. On April 9, 2018, Hasta Muertes building landed on the market with a $1,070,000 price tag. While previously negotiating the lease, the Hasta Muerte team had added a first right of refusal to its rental contract, as a preventative measure to potential displacement. They had the right to match any deal to buy the building. Thats exactly what happened, and to help make it a reality, Hasta Muerte turned to the community it always vowed to serve. On May 24, Hasta Muerte launched a crowdfunding campaign via GoFundMe. We have one chance to raise enough money to buy (the building), the campaign read. We're asking you to donate what you can to help us secure the project's future in this time of skyrocketing rent and gentrification. Hasta Muerte partnered with the Oakland Community Land Trust, a non-profit that removes community-serving real estate from the market and uses it, in part, to benefit low-income residents of Oakland. Since 2010, the trust has purchased more than 20 single-family homes and multiple mixed-use buildings. In 2017, it helped keep a longtime, low-rent community building in East Oakland called the Peacock Rebellion in the hands of the people running it, so it could remain a social-justice center operated by people of color. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. In less than two months, Hasta Muerte received more than 800 donations,ranging from $5 to $1,000. In all, they totaled $54,060. The Oakland Community Land Trust was the buyer for the Fruitvale property, and Hasta Muertes crowdsourced funds were put toward the cost of the building. The trust covered the remainder of the costs. Down the line, the Oakland Community Land Trust plans to transfer the property over to the collective. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle TGIF WE BOUGHT A BUILDING. after 45 or so days of fundraising, fundraisers, loan negotiations, generous donations of all kinds, bombarding you on social media, meetings, and meetings we are excited, anxious, nervous and *happy* to share that on july 11th the sale closed ... never forget that you were & are a part of making this happen. when you talk about this years from now, tell your younger ones that you helped this happen with so many people near & far and that in one instance we were able to forge a little bit of the world we dream of. abrazos, hugs, high-fives, salud, NO BOSSES NO MASTERS we did it yall. @hastamuertecoffee, Instagram, July 13 The fact that they could have that fundraiser and have that support, it just shows how deeply theyre rooted in their community, Assil said. Theres the saying if you build it, they will come. I like to think of it as build it with them, instead. Its a more transformative experience. The buildings purchase comes during a constant stream of national headline-grabbing incidents where people of color, especially African Americans, are policed, threatened, attacked or killed by white people in public spaces. Oscar Grants death at the Fruitvale BART Station, just a stones throw from Hasta Muerte. Nia Wilsons murder on BART. The wrongful arrest of two black men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, at a Philadelphia Starbucks. An Emeryville popcorn shop owner chasing a group of black children from his store while shouting n. A white woman, later dubbed BBQ Becky, calling the police on black men barbecuing at Lake Merritt. Another white woman calling the police on an eight-year-old black girl for selling water on a San Francisco sidewalk. Its become a regular occurrence. Videos of incidents are taken and shared on Facebook and Twitter, before exploding across the internet. All shine a light on the everyday racism the countrys black and brown populace has been known to endure. Having places owned by people of color, for other people of color, it just makes you feel welcome, Jessica Moncada-Konte said. What theyve done since opening is unique. They show you that theres not just one way to be a revolutionary. We love you! youll forever have a sanctuary with us. love to families who dont look like family and arent just bonded by blood, chosen family, and those who are alone. @hastamuertecoffee, Instagram, June 30 Aesthetically, Hasta Muerte seems more like a young familys East Bay home than one of Oaklands most talked-about coffee businesses. Plastic blocks and other childrens toys spill from a makeshift toddler play area. Sweaters hang loosely on a rack nearby, partially shielding a book case full of global literature. Our survival long-term as businesses exists in our ties to the neighborhood. Fads come and go, but its the connections we have to our people that keep us open, Assil said. Across Fruitvale Avenue from Hasta Muerte is the Las Palmas Super Burrito, a neighborhood Mexican restaurant highlighting seafood on its sign. Its located next door to Fruitvale Liquors, which sells beer, wine and groceries. The nearby News Hair & Nails salon also advertises that it provides clothing alterations. Similar to its neighbors, Hasta Muertes offerings can be found on its exterior. Gold-painted letters on its doors twinkle in early morning sunlight. The words read Community and Solidarity. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer, Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips No one combines circus arts and food porn quite like western Chinas noodle-pullers. Perhaps youve seen a demonstration: A cook pummeling and twisting a cylinder of dough until it reaches the pliability he desires, then pulling off a stubby hunk to transform into your meal. He stretches and folds the armspan-wide loop of dough over and over again, occasionally slapping it against a flour-covered tabletop. With each pull the strands double in number and halve in circumference, an edible demonstration of exponential growth, two becoming 128 within seconds. A last jerk, a quick snip, and the cloud of noodles flies into a vat of boiling water. Watching the demonstration, the hand reflexively reaches for the cell phone. Someone else should be marveling over the fact that youre watching this. Even before Snapchat introduced stories, restaurants like MY China and House of Xian Dumpling in San Francisco installed a noodle-puller on display. At MY China, in fact, which is owned by the culinary showman Martin Yan, the noodle puller has been known to wander between the tables. The frustration of eating Lanzhou-style beef noodle soup at Shinry Lamian, located in a Fremont strip mall, may be that the diner knows the same performance is going on behind the kitchen door, far off stage. That doesnt make the final product any less delicious. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle In the past decade, given the proliferation of restaurants serving northern Chinese dumplings and hand-pulled noodles, bowls of beef noodle soup with fat, slightly irregular noodles have become easy to find in the Bay Area. Yi Yuan Szechuan in Millbrae, Utopia Cafe in San Franciscos Chinatown (Chinese name: Beef Noodle King), Shandong Deluxe in the Outer Sunset and the Ark in Alameda all carry it. In China, niu rou la mian is ubiquitous, often known by the city where the dish supposedly originated: Lanzhou, which is the capital of Gansu, a long, squiggly northwestern province that traces a diagonal line between Xian and the autonomous region of Xinjiang. In a 2015 article in Quartz, Zheping Huang claimed that there were as many as 100,000 Lanzhou la mian shops across China, many of them run by members of the Muslim Hui ethnic group (hence the beef). Restaurants from other parts of the country send cooks to Lanzhou to learn how to make la mian properly. In Lanzhou, says Shinry Lamian owner Chelsea Zhang, who grew up in the city, you can find both street stands and high-end restaurants that specialize in Lanzhou la mian. Before we just ate it for breakfast and lunch, she says, grabbing the owner of the bubble-tea shop next door to help translate her answers. Now we can eat it for dinner as well. When she opened the restaurant 18 months ago at the age of 22, not long after she arrived in California and before she even enrolled at Cal State to study English it specialized in grilled skewers, but business was paltry so she turned to Lanzhou la mian instead. Ive never had any good noodles in the East Bay, she says. I want more people to know about our traditional noodles. Her father tracked down Chef Li, a California la mian expert who grew up in a family-run shop in Lanzhou, and convinced him to work at Shinry. No, I cant film Li, she says, then emails me the restaurants trailer, produced with the cinematographic acumen of a Food Network short, in which the dough arcs through the air like ribbons in hurricane-strength gales. Now Playing: Shinry Lamian is a restaurant in Fremont that specializes in Lanzhou-style pulled noodles served in a beef broth. Video: Courtesy of Shinry Lamian Other la mian shops in the Bay Area cant get the taste right, she insists. Shinry imports herbs from Gansu to season the beef and chicken broth. The chef composes the dish along the traditional guidelines 1 clear, 2 white, 3 red, 4 green, 5 yellow clear broth, thin slices of white daikon, red braised beef, green chive and cilantro, yellow alkalinized noodle. The menu, of course, is padded with other northern and northwestern Chinese dishes: wide, chewy knife-cut noodles from Shanxi, stir-fried noodles, cold vegetables, sweet oat and fermented-rice puddings, Lanzhou street food like roasted crepes stuffed with onions and chopped processed ham. You can order them for varietys sake, but most of the other diners are there with one dish in mind. Ive eaten a lot of hand-pulled noodles in beef soup in the Bay Area, and I have to say, tasting Shinrys la mian was like seeing a photo taken by a good SLR camera after liking a hundred smeary low-res pics on Facebook. The chefs stock was clear, truly clear, but its flavor had depth and duration, punctuated here and there by flecks of cilantro and chive. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The broth is a constant, but the noodles are customizable, offered in seven different shapes and thicknesses. The standard "medium thin" noodles have a smooth, stretchy chewiness that holds up in the soup for a good 15 minutes if that's not long enough to finish a bowl of la mian, you're not eating it greedily enough. The noodles are so even and round you might mistake the work of a trained pair of hands for that of a machine. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle On a second visit, though, I had to order the noodle pullers buckwheat-edge noodles. I have only encountered one other chef in the Bay Area who knows how to form a triangular block of dough and stretch it into three-edged lengths Gordon Xiao at the Ark and he was showing off for a food obsessive I was lunching with, who had to butter up the chef in Mandarin to secure a bowl. The buckwheat-edged noodles seem to twist in the mouth a little differently from the round ones. Is there any special reason diners should order them specifically? I ask Zhang. She shakes her head dismissively. Theyre a bit of hidden flair, a pair of patterned socks worn under long pants. If only you could see the chef make them. For years, Harmony has boasted that it has a population of 18 people. Its on all the T-shirts and the coffee mugs and the refrigerator magnets. Harmony, population 18. That appears to be an exaggeration, because the 2010 census listed the population as 2. And thats an exaggeration, too. The actual population of Harmony is 1. That would be me, said Aarika Wells, who lives in a white house on the main street, which, in addition to being the main street, is the only street. I cant think of a better place to be stranded. Wells, a retired preschool teacher, is the official caretaker of Harmony. Her duties consist of making sure there are enough coffee pods in the towns official Welcome Center, just across the street. The welcome center, a small room with some chairs and some Harmony brochures, is self-serve. With a population of 1, there is not a large workforce to call upon. Harmony, just off Highway 1, is on the way to Big Sur and San Simeon and a lot of other places bigger than Harmony. Its got some tourist businesses a glass blower, a pottery studio, a wedding chapel, a winery and an ice cream truck. Mason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle The main thing to do in Harmony is drop by Harmony Glass Works, pay $165 and blow your own glass bowl. If youre not going to blow a glass bowl, theres not a lot else going on in town, said glass blower Devon Babcock. Everyone should do it. Its a heck of a lot of fun. Were the only place on the central coast where you can blow your own glass bowl. Other things that Harmony doesnt have, besides people, are a city hall, a post office and a traffic light. Also drinking water. You have to bring your own. Caretaker Wells says a primary duty of hers is to buy bottled water from out of town to put in the coffee maker in the welcome center, to keep visitors coming back instead of keeling over. Theres no store in Harmony. Theres a sign that says Harmony General Store, built decades ago by a film crew. They built the sign but forgot to build the store. Wells repaints the sign from time to time to keep the deception up to date. Harmony likes being offbeat. With an ice cream truck and a winery, its got the essentials covered, with no city hall to muck things up. After you blow your glass bowl, walk across main street to the ice cream truck. Its $4.75 a scoop and its just the thing for a mouth that needs cooling off after blowing glass. Then pick up a coffee mug or some such at the pottery studio, a bottle of wine at the winery and unless youre planning on getting married in the chapel youre pretty much free to go. Four years after the end of the Civil War, local dairy farmers founded Harmony as a place to drop off their milk. Then the dairies consolidated and automated. The historic Harmony creamery where newsman William Randolph Hearst used to drop by and pick up buttermilk on his way to his San Simeon digs shut down six decades ago. Highway 1 used to run through the middle of town until the 1960s, when the road got moved a quarter mile to the west. Now, in order to find Harmony, you have to already know where it is. For decades, Harmony has been waiting for the next big thing. That may be coming. Downtown Harmony all one block of it is under new ownership. Four years ago, the entire town was bought by a Texas dairyman, Alan Vander Horst, the latest in a series of Harmony owners with big ideas. Maybe things are changing. The towns historic creamery building has been gutted and construction of a farm-to-table restaurant seems to be going on inside. There are a lot of tools lying around, anyway. Tom Halen, a developer from San Luis Obispo, signed on with Vander Horst to be unofficial town manager. The other day, he dropped by (the town manager of Harmony isnt in Harmony all that often) to see how the creamery building renovation was going and explain why it wasnt going faster. It all has to do with parking and septic tanks. The county wouldnt allow a farm-to-table restaurant, or any other kind, to be built without parking, which meant that Vander Horst had to agree to take over maintenance of the main street and make it private. Working all that out took a year. Now there are two small signs that say the main street is no longer a county-maintained road the installation of the signs being the only new infrastructure to hit Harmony in some time. The restaurants fate now hangs on the Great Septic Tank Question. The restaurant will require a new leach field, but theres no room in Harmony to put it. And building a sewage plant would cost plenty. Its a problem, said Wells. What Harmony has, instead of the farm-to-table restaurant, or even the tables, is a stack of brochures that says visitors can look for the restaurant to open next year. Wells said she wrote it that way on purpose. You can look for the restaurant to open next year, but that doesnt mean its going to open next year, she said. Besides, we can always use the same brochures next year, because then it will mean that people can look for the restaurant to open the year after that. None of that seems to matter to the small, loyal following of Harmony fans, most of whom come from far away, that being the only place to come from when visiting Harmony. We enjoy coming here, said Lori Tholl of Bakersfield, who was visiting with her husband and two children, and had driven no less than 135 miles, from their Bakersfield home, to do so. The four Tholls were spending a pleasant hour in front of the glass factory, digging through a giant bin of colored glass bits. Tholl said she wanted bits of blue, green and red glass for an art project, and the entire family was happily picking out bits of glass from the bin. You get to fill an entire dog dish with high-end broken glass bits for only $15. Tholl said she didnt know exactly what she was going to do with several hundred bits of colored glass when she got back to Bakersfield, but that it didnt matter. This is a great thing to do, said Tholl. Were here, on the coast, and the whole family is doing something together. It doesnt get any better than that. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Among them are two of Hadiyas schoolmates who were injured in the shooting, as well as a reputed gang member who told authorities after the shooting he heard one of defendants confess to the attack. On Tuesday, a 44-year-old California man led authorities on a chase that traversed both land and sea, crossed multiple cities, one orchard, a summer camp and the San Joaquin River. It ended in the jaws of a K-9 officer. The chase began with an alleged home burglary in Del Rey, Calif., according to a statement from authorities. The victims identified Efrain Martinez, a man they knew, as the suspect. The victims alerted deputies with the Fresno County Sheriff's Department that Martinez was driving around the area. Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Martinez, but the Parlier man refused to pull over. Some motorists reported he was holding a gun. Authorities said Martinez then took off down Highway 99 and drove into downtown Fresno, where several deputies attempted to stop him with their patrol cars. They fired a round of bean bags from a shotgun in an attempt to break Martinez's window, and shot a pepper-spray projectile into his vehicle. "However, Martinez was unfazed," the sheriff's department said in the statement. Martinez escaped by ramming into several civilian vehicles, authorities said, and headed north on Highway 99, exiting in Madero County and driving through an orchard off Road 39. He continued onto a bluff of the San Joaquin River, and because the dirt on the edge is soft, Martinez's vehicle rolled down the embankment and into the river. The journey became water-bound at this point, as Martinez ejected himself from the vehicle and swam across the river toward Scout Island, where authorities said about 100 elementary school-age students were attending day camp. The camp was placed on lockdown, under the assumption Martinez carried a weapon. When a California Highway Patrol helicopter, H40, arrived to assist deputies, Martinez was spotted in the water, attempting to take a canoe downstream. The pilot of a second helicopter, the EAGLE One, hovered over Martinez and created a current, to prevent him from climbing into the canoe. With his last ounce of energy, authorities said Martinez swam to shore and ran into the bushes, where a Fresno K-9 officer found him and bit him, enabling deputies to conduct an arrest, one-and-a-half hours after the pursuit began. Martinez was transported to the hospital for treatment of the bites and booked into Fresno County Jail on felony counts of burglary, evading police, resisting arrest and harming a K-9 officer. Bail is set at $75,000. Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com. Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news. Silicon Valley has created a model for identifying and nurturing high-potential young companies. The Pioneer fund hopes to do much the same thing for high-potential people. The group, announced Thursday, plans to use the internet-era tools of global communication and crowdsourcing to solicit and help select promising candidates in a variety of fields, along with evaluations by experts. Its goal is to put more science and less happenstance into the process of talent discovery and reach more people, wherever they are in the world. Were trying to build a kind of search engine for finding great people with talent, ambition and potential, said founder Daniel Gross, 27. Pioneer joins a growing number of efforts by foundations, nonprofits and some companies to address the opportunity gap in America and worldwide. They all begin with the recognition that skills and talent are far more evenly distributed than opportunity. Talented people suffer one study called them lost Einsteins but so does the economy from the loss of ideas and wealth they could have produced. Selecting pioneers will begin with a monthlong online tournament. Candidates will submit their project ideas. Each week, the projects will be updated. The candidates will vote on one anothers projects, points will be awarded and there will be a leader board. Subject experts will also vote, with their votes counting somewhat more than the candidates. The initiative is inspired partly by Gross personal experience. When he was an 18-year-old student at a military prep school in Israel, Gross, on a whim, sent in an idea to Y Combinator, the prominent Mountain View startup incubator. To his surprise, he was accepted and departed for Silicon Valley. That changed my life, Gross said. In 2013, Apple bought his fledgling company, Cue, a predictive search startup. Gross spent four years at Apple, leading several projects and departed last year to join Y Combinator. Gross will retain a link to Y Combinator, but his main commitment now is to Pioneer, he said. Many of the proposals coming into Pioneer will likely be for technology and startup ideas. But Pioneer is looking for innovators broadly. So far, it has lined up advisers to act as online or in-person mentors in nine categories including the arts and humanities, diversity, economics, music and philosophy. Pioneer is seeking more expert advisers. Laura Deming, 24, is the adviser for projects in the science of longevity. While being home-schooled in New Zealand, Deming became fascinated with research into extending life spans. She sent an email to Cynthia Kenyon, a researcher in the biology of aging at UCSF. Eventually, Demings persistence led to an invitation to work in the San Francisco lab. She was 12 years old. At 14, Deming became a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Two years later, encouraged by a grant from the Thiel Foundation, she dropped out of MIT and founded a venture capital firm that invests in life-extension technology. Her Longevity Fund has raised $27 million. As an adviser, Deming brings expertise in her field. But from my own experience, I also think its important to have role models to encourage you and show you there are different paths to success, she said. The winners of the monthly tournament will receive $5,000 grants and plane tickets to San Francisco. They will stay for a week or more, meeting with each other, the advisers and others in the Bay Area. Pioneer, Gross acknowledged, is an experiment that will start small. The first group, he said, will probably be six to 12 people. A new group of pioneers will be admitted each month, and, if successful, Gross said, could eventually increase to hundreds a month. The several million dollars to sustain Pioneer for its first year have come from Stripe, an online payments processing startup, and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who grew up in a small town in Wisconsin and co-founded Netscape, which introduced the first successful web browser, when he was 22. Pioneer is not a conventional investment fund in the sense that investors seek big payouts. It has a long-term plan to become self-sustaining, by taking a small stake in companies that emerge from Pioneer projects. But any proceeds will be put back into the Pioneer initiative, Gross said. Steve Lohr is a New York Times writer. A rare piece of good news emerged from Californias fire lines Friday when federal officials announced that Yosemite Valley will reopen to the public Tuesday, nearly three weeks after a wildfire forced a shutdown of the popular destination. But the battle against the spate of deadly wildfires is far from over, with forecasters expecting high temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds this weekend to frustrate the firefight up and down the state. A red-flag warning for dangerous weather conditions was issued in the area where the Carr Fire is burning near Redding until 11 p.m. Saturday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. The Shasta County blaze grew to 181,496 acres by Thursday afternoon, and was 51 percent contained, officials said. A third firefighter was killed Thursday, bringing the fires death toll to eight. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen toured the areas burned by the Carr Fire on Friday and said the response to fires must change due to the changing climate. She has said in the past she believes the planet is warming, but has questioned the scientific consensus that humans are the cause. It shows us that as we continue, the effects of weather, the effects of climate and the environment (mean) we need to continue to prepare for additional hazards, Nielsen said at a news conference. The scenes are truly heartbreaking. It really looks like a scene out of a devastating adventure movie. Outside Yosemite National Park, people were relieved to hear that Yosemite Valley, with its famed waterfalls and towering granite domes, would reopen after the 95,000-acre Ferguson Fire stripped countless tourists of their vacations and merchants of their business. Park officials warned, however, that firefighting operations would continue in the area, leading to possible road delays and limited services as well as smoky air. Parts of the park will remain closed indefinitely, including Highway 41 from Wawona to Yosemite Valley, the Hetch Hetchy area and Glacier Point Road. This is good news, said Kirstie Dunbar-Kari, owner of Sweetwater Grocery and Deli in the gateway community of Mariposa, where sales have dropped off. This is the longest interruption to business and visitation that Ive experienced. For merchants like Dunbar-Kari, who has been in the area since 1991, this years closure has represented a second summer of disappointment after last years Detwiler Fire similarly curbed commerce outside the park. Shes decided to put her once busy shop up for sale. Im done, she said. Its been two bad Julys in a row. I have other reasons (for selling), but its one of the big factors. Yosemite Valley and Highway 41 through the park were shut down July 25 because of a combination of unhealthy air, firefighting traffic and a brief run of the Ferguson Fire toward the valley. The parks entrance on Highway 140, out of Mariposa, was closed July 14, a day after the blaze started in the nearby Sierra National Forest. The cause of the fire, which on Friday was 80 percent contained, remains under investigation. Starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Yosemite Valley can be reached by Highway 140 or Big Oak Flat Road off Highway 120, park officials said. Although Highway 41 to the valley will remain closed, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias will be accessible beginning at 9 a.m. Monday. This is truly a historic and unprecedented event in park history, and we are thrilled to welcome back visitors to Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Superintendent Michael Reynolds said in a statement. Fire officials in Shasta County said the perilous conditions still dogging that region were made clear when two smaller wildfires ignited Thursday on the eastern and northern sides of the county. By Friday morning, the Hat Fire, northeast of Burney, had blackened 2,500 acres and was 15 percent contained. The Hirz Fire in Shasta-Trinity National Forest burned 450 acres and was 10 percent contained. Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott advised nearly 30,000 residents who had been evacuated due to the Carr Fire and were returning to their homes to stay alert. We need everyone in the state to have a heads-up on how critical the conditions are, Pimlott said. A total of 1,077 homes, 22 commercial structures and 500 other buildings have been destroyed since the blaze erupted July 23, after a trailer tire blew and sent up sparks. A procession was held Friday for Andrew Brake, the 40-year-old Cal Fire heavy equipment mechanic from Chico who was killed a day earlier. Brake died in a single-car crash on Highway 99 on his way to the blaze, officials said. Brake had been with Cal Fire for six years, working out of the Butte unit in Oroville. Others who have died in the Carr Fire were a Redding firefighter, a contract bulldozer driver, a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. lineman, a woman and her two great-grandchildren, and a man found in his home. The Ferguson Fire has killed two firefighters. Also Friday, the Mendocino Complex in Colusa, Mendocino and Lake counties, considered the largest wildfire in state history, grew by less than 3,000 acres overnight and reached 312,447 acres and was 60 percent contained by Friday evening, officials said. Cal Fire lifted the mandatory evacuation order for all areas south of the Mendocino National Forest boundary in Lake County Friday evening. The forest itself remains closed. Officials also lifted the mandatory evacuation order in some areas of Colusa County Friday evening. Two firefighters have been injured battling the blaze. No fatalities have been reported. A total of 119 homes and 110 other buildings have been destroyed, and 9,200 remain threatened. In Southern California, a wildfire continued to spread after igniting Monday in Cleveland National Forest, forcing the evacuation of 20,000 people in Orange and Riverside counties. Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for the two counties Thursday night. By Friday morning, the inferno had burned 18,137 acres and was 5 percent contained, according to the Cleveland National Forest. Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, was charged with arson and other crimes for allegedly deliberately starting the blaze. Sarah Ravani and Kurtis Alexander are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com, kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani, @KurtisAlexander As always, the Cocktail Magic lineup at Outside Lands features some of San Franciscos best cocktail bars: True Laurel, Blackbird, Rye, Benjamin Cooper, Horsefeather and the Beehive. But the outdoor festivals special cocktail experience lost a little bit of its magic this year. Joseph Jones and Edward Schimenti worked out with one purported jihadist at a Zion gym to get him in combat shape and bought cellphones at a local store that they thought would be used as bomb detonators on the battlefield, according to federal charges unsealed in April 2017. The pair later dropped him off at OHare believing he was traveling to the Middle East to kill infidels in the name of ISIS. As wildfires continue to pose an increasing risk to residents of the state of California, some are beginning to worry: How vulnerable is my home? The answer varies significantly, of course, on its surroundings. As a new study by Verisk Analytics, an insurance data provider, found, around two-thirds of homes in seven counties in Northern California are potentially in wildfire territory. Verisk's findings relied on three factors: First, the company looked at how close a given home is to shrubbery and forest land; next it considered if it's on mountainous or hilly terrain; and finally, it looked at how accessible it might be to emergency responders. RELATED: Mendocino wildfire explodes into raging monster nearly the size of LA Some northern counties, like Alpine, Tuolumne and Nevada, have the highest concentration of vulnerable homes, due to their proximity to dry forest land. But other southern counties, like San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura more populous areas have the largest number of vulnerable units. RELATED: Historic California resort burns in raging Donnell Fire north of Yosemite San Francisco is one of the least at-risk counties in the state, with just 2 percent of housing units about 8,300 homes of 386,755 units citywide in "high to extreme risk." The picture is slightly, but not much bleaker elsewhere in the Bay Area. Napa County is the Bay Area's only outlier, with 44 percent of housing units in high to extreme risk. In Santa Cruz County, however, 50 percent of housing units 52,400 of them are in high to extreme risk. Statewide, around 15 percent of all housing, equal to about 2 million dwellings, could be at risk of wildfire damage. However, that's not necessarily because fires naturally spread from one house to another next door. Rather, as Lenya Quinn-Davidson, a Eureka-based fire adviser for the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, told the San Luis Obispo Tribune, it's because of flammable debris around properties. "If you get an ember landing on your rain gutters and your rain gutters are packed with leaves, that's a sure way to have your house burn down," she said. "That's how we're losing these homes. It's not from the fire actually burning over the house." RELATED: The worst human causes of wildfires Wildfires are caused by things as simple as a car backfire, and exacerbated and sustained by natural forces like high winds and dry climates. Experts disagree on the best ways to tackle the issue on a broad scale, but note that the best ways for private citizens to prevent fires is to avoid discarding lit cigarettes on the ground, to follow local laws around burning yard waste and to have a shovel on hand to snuff out any new fires. See collected data from all Northern California counties in the alphabetized gallery above. Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira. 2018 California general election is coming up, and its time to exercise some inalienable rights. Heres a guide to how to locate your poling p for how to vote in the 2018 California General Elections. The basics: The California General Election is on November 6, which is a Thursday. That can be difficult with some work hours, but polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM, so theres time to finagle your schedule. And, your employer is required to allow you to do it. Plus, you can always vote by mail, as long as your letter is postmarked on or before November 6 and arrives at your county elections office by November 9. Personally delivered ballots need to be in by the end of the polling period. October 30 is the last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot. Before you even think about voting, though, you have to be registered. You are registered, right? If not, no stress: Online registration will be open until Monday, October 22. Once youre registered, you just have to get yourself to the polls. Here's a little additional information for your Bay Area county. More for you What's at stake in the 2018 midterms ALAMEDA (Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City) In addition to mail-in ballots and physically going to the polls, Alameda residents can request will call ballots starting September 27, up through November 5. This is helpful if you messed up your first mail-in ballot. If you dont want to actually mail in ballots, you can drop your ballots at any of these drop-off sites by 8 p.m. on November 6. Cant get enough? Check out your polling place more election information and an unofficial list of candidates. CONTRA COSTA (Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, El Cerrito, Danville, Hercules, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, Pinole, Pittsburg, San Pablo, San Ramon and Walnut Creek) Contra costa residents can vote early or in-person at any of these regional early voting sites. If youre voting on election day, check out your polling places. Heres the election website, candidate and measure filing, and your personalized voter information. MARIN (Belvedere, Bolinas, Corte Madera, Dillon Beach, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Greenbrae, Inverness, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur, Marin City, Marshall, Mill Valley, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Point Reyes, Ross, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Rafael, Sausalito, Stinson Beach, Tiburon, Tomales, Woodacre) If you want to vote by mail, you can send in your ballot, or drop it off at the Marin County Election Office: 3501 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael, which is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also vote early at the Marin County Election Office, starting Monday October 8. Heres your personalized voter info, election website and polling places. Keep an eye on the election schedule to for candidate and ballot measure updates. NAPA (American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Yountville) There are a few drop-off locations for you early or mail-in voters. Click here for personalized voter info, which will be available as of September 6. For general info: heres the election website and voting centers. SAN FRANCISCO CITY & COUNTY Starting October 9, early voting will be available at the Department of Elections office. Thats the ground floor of City Hall, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also vote early during the weekends of October 2728 and November 34 (but the Voting Center is closed on October 8, Columbus Day). Heres some info if you opt to vote by mail. If you didnt register by the October 22 deadline, theres another chance! Head to City Hall Voting Center between October 23 and November 6 to conditionally register and vote with a provisional ballot. But why go to the trouble, when you can register now? Here are your polling places. You can find your personalized voter info here, and some handy dandy voter guides, which youll also get in the mail in early October. Keep your civic hunger fed with the election website and as-of-yet list of candidates and measures. SAN MATEO (Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Woodside) Here are the candidates and measures, and personalized voter info. Or, if youre a vote-by-mail kind of person, you can use the 24-hour ballot drop box, located at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo up until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Or you can return the ballot to any Vote Center, Ballot Drop-Off Box location, or city hall in San Mateo County between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Your voting centers and drop off boxes can be found on this helpful map. And, of course, the election website with candidate and measure information. SANTA CLARA (Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale) Bored of Angry Birds? Try civic engagement! Find your polling place, read voting guides, look up officials, and moreon this Santa Clara County Voting App. Heres how to vote by mail. Those mail-in ballots can be returned to The Registrar of Voters' Office: 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose up til the end of November 9. Theres also a 24-hour drop box in the parking lotfor you late night voters! Early voting is also available at the Registrar of Voters' Office during normal business hours, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning Monday October 8. To find your personalized voter info, click here. Check out the election websiteand candidates and local measures. SOLANO (Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville and Vallejo) You can get a whole bunch of election information with Solanos text messaging service. Heres personalized voter information. You can request to vote by mail, find your polling location and look up candidate and measure information at the election website. SONOMA (Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma, Windsor) Information about voting by mail and polling places will be available in early September. Heres the election website. Michael Avenattis crusade for the porn actress taking on the president already has catapulted him to cable news stardom and endeared him to many frustrated liberals. Now the self-styled dragon slayer is taking his message to Iowa Democrats. And the attorney who has spent months positioning himself as one of President Trumps leading critics insists this foray into Iowa an early proving ground on the presidential campaign calendar is not a stunt. I am seriously considering it, and I think a lot of it is going to hinge on what direction I think the party is taking and who is likely to get in the race, Avenatti said in an interview. He said hes not trying to get under the presidents skin. For now, Avenatti has plenty of spotlight as the top 2020 presidential prospects stay away from Iowa. He has not made any formal moves toward a presidential run, but he toured the Iowa State Fair on Thursday and was appearing at the Democratic Wing Ding in Clear Lake on Friday. Organizers of the fundraiser for county Democratic organizations said they were happy to welcome him to an event that has drawn heavy hitters like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in past years. If anything, they said, he was boosting interest. Lets put it this way: Tickets are selling, and were getting a lot of women buying tickets, said Wing Ding chairman Randy Black, who said Avenatti reached out to say he was considering attending the event and they asked him if he would like to speak. Avenatti said his visit to the State Fair included a stop at the butter cow, two pork chops on a stick and plenty of conversation with people who recognized him and encouraged him to keep going. He met with Democratic party officials Friday, as well as farmers who have been impacted by Trumps tariffs. Ive been humbled over the last two days by the reaction that I received, he said. Novelty candidates are nothing new to politically savvy Iowans. Indeed, Trump who did not win the Republican caucuses but did win the state in the 2016 general election was a reality star before he took to the campaign trail. Black said Avenatti could have a similar effect, noting: You have Trump, who opened up doors for people who never entered a political arena before. Michael Avenatti has done the same thing. The similarities between Avenatti and his chosen nemesis dont stop there. Like Trump, Avenatti is a brash political outsider with a natural talent for cable television news, a blistering Twitter feed and a knack for a catchy slogan. He turned those tools against Trump as he represents Stormy Daniels and a growing list of critical clients. Whether the trash-talking, sharp-suited, telegenic attorney is the right fit for low-key Iowa in the long run is an open question, as is whether hed actually want to subject himself to the grind of a campaign. Avenatti, who attended high school in Missouri, got his legal training on the East Coast and built his law practice in Los Angeles, said his message would focus on how as a party we need to fight this fight. And what we need to fight for and who we need to fight for. But he admitted his appeal was of the bare-knuckle variety, noting, Im not cute and cuddly. Democratic consultant Mary Anne Marsh said Avenatti deserves credit for being able to rile up Trump, and Iowa Democrats deserve credit for bringing more attention to the fundraiser. The Iowa Democrats are many things. Dumbs not one, she said. They know how to get attention. They know how to raise money. That doesnt mean Michael Avenatti is on the way to winning the Iowa caucuses. Many top-tier presidential prospects including former Vice President Joe Biden and Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York are avoiding Iowa so far. Avenatti said he expects to devote more time to Democratic Party events in the coming weeks, with plans to appear in Ohio, Florida and Iowa (again). Catherine Lucey is an Associated Press writer. AMALIA, N.M. A property owner questioned Friday why authorities did not search a squalid New Mexico compound sooner for a missing boy, saying he told them in late spring that he had met the childs father at the site and that the man was wanted in Georgia for kidnapping his own son. While touring the ramshackle living quarters littered with ammunition, diesel cans, used diapers, household garbage and Qurans on his property, Jason Badger also said he believed he saw the searched-for boy by his fathers side in January, wearing a hooded jacket. Badger said in an interview that he learned through an online search this spring that Wahhaj was wanted in the disappearance of son Abdul-ghani Wahhaj and reported his earlier encounter to law enforcement authorities in New Mexico and Georgia and eventually to the FBI. Authorities did not search the compound for the severely disabled boy until last week in a raid that resulted in the arrest of Wahhaj and four other adults on child neglect charges after 11 other children were found at the compound. A second search on Monday uncovered a childs body that hasnt been positively identified by a state medical examiner, although Wahhajs father, also named Siraj Wahhaj, said this week that the body found is his grandson. If they knew about it, and then that kid died in that time frame, when they knew, somebody has to be held accountable, Badger said. Taos County Sheriffs Department Steve Fullendorf spokesman downplayed Badgers criticism of the investigation, saying Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe did everything he could under the law and had to follow certain restrictions. Mr. Badger doesnt have to adhere to those same restrictions, Hogrefe said. He wants to have his 15 minutes of fame and thats fine. Hogrefe has said the FBI put the New Mexico compound under surveillance in recent months and took photographs, but he could not initially get a warrant to enter because evidence collected did not show the boy or his father. That changed when a note was forwarded to Georgia authorities saying children inside the compound were starving, Hogrefe said. The missing boys grandfather, who leads a well-known mosque in New York, said his adult daughter, who was in the compound, sent the note to a man in Georgia. That man then notified the grandfather, who said he contacted police. The five adults, including the imams two children and a second adult daughter, have been charged with child abuse stemming from the alleged neglect of the 11 children found living in filth in the compound on the outskirts of tiny Amalia. Stephen R. Groves and Morgan Lee are Associated Press writers. WASHINGTON Pointing to growing threats and competition from Russia and China, the White House on Thursday announced ambitious plans to create the U.S. Space Force as a sixth, separate military war-fighting service by 2020. The proposal taps into the American publics long fascination with space but with a military focus, and it faces daunting hurdles. It requires congressional approval and has been met with skepticism from military leaders and experts who question the wisdom of launching an expensive, bureaucratic new service branch. Vice President Mike Pence announced the new force during a Pentagon speech, fleshing out an idea that President Trump has flagged in recent months as he vowed to ensure American dominance in space. Pence described space as a domain that was once peaceful and uncontested but has now become crowded and adversarial. Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where Americas best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation, said Pence. Trump marked Pences announcement with a tweet: Space Force all the way! Pence portrayed the change as a response to foes potential aggression rather than any offensive U.S. military effort. Citing Russia and China, he said that for years U.S. adversaries have pursued weapons to jam, blind and disable our navigation and communication satellites via electronic attacks from the ground. As their actions make clear, our adversaries have transformed space into a war-fighting domain already, and the United States will not shrink from this challenge, he said. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has endorsed steps to reorganize the militarys space war-fighting forces and create a new command, but has previously opposed launching an expensive new service. Lolita C. Baldor is an Associated Press writer. SEATTLE Teams of whale experts have raced out to sea to help an ailing young killer whale, but they dont plan to intervene to help a mother orca in the same critically endangered pod that has been pushing the body of her dead calf for more than two weeks. NOAA Fisheries says the international team reached the 3-year-old orca known as J50 on Thursday in the waters near Washington states San Juan Island. A veterinarian examined the orca. Experts gave her antibiotics through a dart and took a breath sample to help assess whether she has an infection. NOAA says the team will decide whether to feed the free-swimming whale live salmon from a boat. The whale could then be given live salmon dosed with medication. The orca is thin and in poor body condition. Another orca in the critically endangered group of killer whales has pushed her dead calf for more than two weeks, raising concerns about her health. The female orca known as J35 has been clinging to her calf since it died July 24, an image of grief that has struck an emotional chord worldwide. She was last spotted Wednesday. U.S. and Canadian scientists said they were concerned about the mothers condition and would keep monitoring her but have no immediate plans to help her or remove the calf. Sheila Thornton, lead killer whale research scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said they are worried that the time and energy she spends carrying the body could take away from foraging or feeding. Removing the calf would be a very, very difficult decision, and obviously we would have to take many factors into consideration, so thats currently not on the table, she said. Brad Hanson, wildlife biologist with NOAAs Northwest Fisheries Science Center, added: It would be very challenging and perhaps not in the best interest of the animal to go in and remove the calf. Im not even sure we would be successful. The fish-eating orcas that frequent the inland waters of Washington state are down to 75 animals, and there hasnt been a successful birth since 2015. They face nutritional stress over a lack of their preferred food source, Chinook salmon, as well as threats from toxic contamination and vessel noise and disturbances that disrupt their ability to communicate and forage. The last time scientists rescued a killer whale in the region was in 2002 when a northern resident killer whale known as Springer was found swimming alone in Puget Sound. She was fed live salmon in a pen. She returned to her family of whales in Canada later that year and in 2013 was seen with her new calf. Phuong Le is an Associated Press writer. Womens March leaders say the October rally will begin at 9 a.m. and is expected to include guest speakers, live musical performances and a designated area where participants can speak with various political candidates and nonprofit organizations. The event will culminate with a march to Federal Plaza and will include access to the Board of Elections downtown early voting site. The exact march route hasnt been announced yet. Hes devastating for the people of Illinois, so what do we got to do? Weve got to beat Pritzker, expose him as the corrupt tax hiker, tax dodger he is, and weve got to get more good legislators elected to stand up to Mike Madigan and help me reform the state, Rauner told WJPF-AM 1020 in Marion. Moreover, I respectfully request that you remind the members of the Finance Subcommittee on Litigation and any employees or officials in attendance at said meetings of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of the Litigation Memorandum as well as the discussions that occur in closed session, Preckwinkle said. I am sure you are equally disappointed with this disclosure and remain open to discussing how we can further discourage such breaches of information in the future. Indian film actor turned politician Naramalli Sivaprasad, arrives at parliament dressed as Adolf Hitler to press for government funding for his home state of Andhra Pradesh, in New Delhi on August 9, 2018. (AFP/Getty Images) The developments came after weeks of testimony that was sometimes tedious and based on bank and other records. Some spectators who had waited in line to attend the proceedings were seen falling asleep during a meticulous accounting of transactions, emails and ledgers that form the foundation of the case against Manafort. President Donald Trump's campaign manager was a longtime political operator in Washington and elsewhere, right up to 2016 when the real estate magnate him as his campaign chairman. The prosecution is Mueller's first of the investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election, but neither Manafort nor his former protege Rick Gates has been charged in connection with their Trump campaign work. ALEXANDRIA, Va. The federal judge overseeing the trial of Paul Manafort sealed a transcript on Thursday of a private discussion in front of his bench after prosecutors from the special counsels office argued they needed to protect an ongoing investigation. The conversation concerned whether investigators had questioned Rick Gates, the governments star witness and Manaforts longtime deputy, about the Trump campaign. Prosecutors argued that they needed to protect the secrecy of their inquiry though they did not specify the Russia investigation and limit the disclosure of new information. The judge, T.S. Ellis III, ruled in their favor. Gates is the most important witness so far to testify against Manafort, who faces 18 charges of tax and bank fraud. Gates served as the Trump campaigns deputy chairman under Manafort. After Manafort was forced out as the campaigns chairman in August 2016, Gates became its liaison to the Republican National Committee. The fraud charges against Manafort are not related to the campaign or Russias interference in the 2016 presidential election. The special counsel, Robert Mueller, sought Manaforts indictment using his authority to investigate evidence that arises of other crimes during their investigation. Prosecutors have avoided any mention of the broader inquiry since the trial began nine days ago in Alexandria, Virginia. But Manaforts lawyers have tried to edge in that direction, possibly in the hope that jurors will see their client as a victim of a politically inspired vendetta. President Donald Trump routinely calls Muellers investigation a witch hunt aimed at him and those who helped him win the White House and has suggested Muellers team has treated Manafort far too harshly. On Tuesday, one of Manaforts lawyers asked Gates, who pleaded guilty this year to two felony charges and has since been cooperating with prosecutors, whether he had been interviewed by other members of the Office of Special Counsel about the Trump campaign. When Gates answered yes, the lawyer, Kevin Downing, continued: And were you interviewed on several occasions about your time at the Trump campaign? Prosecutors then objected, and Ellis called both sides to the bench to discuss the line of questioning out of the jurys hearing. In their motion, prosecutors argued that disclosing what was said would reveal substantive evidence pertaining to an ongoing investigation. They added, Sealing will minimize any risk of prejudice from the disclosure of new information relating to that ongoing investigation. In his order, Ellis agreed to seal those six pages of a 262-page transcript of the days proceedings until the relevant aspect of the investigation is revealed publicly, if that were to occur. Prosecutors plan to wrap up their case Friday. Lawyers for both sides are planning to meet with the judge then to discuss instructions to the jury, a possible sign that the defense may call few, if any, witnesses. So far Manaforts lawyers have largely focused on attacking Gates credibility. On the stand, Gates acknowledged he had committed a host of crimes, including lying to federal investigators. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. President Donald Trump frequently used the word nigger while he was the host of the reality television show Celebrity Apprentice and there are tapes that can confirm it, according to a new memoir by one of Trumps former White House advisers, Omarosa Manigault Newman. The claim is among the more explosive that Manigault Newman makes in the book, Unhinged. It was first reported by the British publication The Guardian, which had an early copy. Manigault Newman said she never heard Trump use the word herself, a point that critics of her credibility are certain to seize on. But she said that by the time she was fired by White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, she had come to realize that Trump was a racist. It had finally sunk in that the person Id thought Id known so well for so long was actually a racist, she said in the memoir. Using the N-word was not just the way he talks but, more disturbing, it was how he thought of me and African Americans as a whole.' Manigault Newman worked with Trump on the show as a first-season contestant, and then was an adviser to his campaign and later in the White House. She was fired in December 2017, after what White House aides said were multiple instances of misconduct, including misuse of a car service and attempting to photograph her wedding on White House grounds. The White House has declined to respond to the allegations in her book so far, although several advisers have privately questioned her credibility and pointed out that she was very upset at being dismissed. In her book, which is scheduled to be released next week, Manigault Newman suggested she now believes she was pushed out because she was close to getting hold of the secret tapes revealing Trump using the racist word. She also wrote that she has been investigating the existence of tapes that prove Trump used the word since late 2016. By that point, three sources in three separate conversations had described the contents of this tape, she said. They all told me that President Trump hadnt just dropped a single N-word bomb. Hed said it multiple times throughout the shows taping during off-camera outtakes, particularly during the first season of The Apprentice.' She added, I would look like the biggest imbecile alive for supporting a man who used that word. When she was fired, she said she had a growing realization that Donald Trump was indeed a racist, a bigot and a misogynist.' She continued: My certainty about the N-word tape and his frequent uses of that word were the top of a high mountain of truly appalling things Id experienced with him, during the last two years in particular. This article originally appeared in The New York Times At the time, Miller was complying with a subpoena for records, according to the transcript. Dearn said Miller found thousands of documents, many of which were emails received to Stone's website, which Miller had forwarded to him to respond to booking requests. Dearn said Miller worked with Stone very little in 2015 and 2016, but continued to receive forwarded emails now subject to prosecutors subpoena. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A man accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from his former employer, a San Francisco-based jewelry and gift shop, pleaded guilty today to two counts of felony grand theft, prosecutors said. San Francisco resident Shao Cai, 60, pleaded guilty to embezzling the money from Jest Jewels. The two felony grand theft counts also include a white-collar crimes enhancement. According to prosecutors, Cai worked as a bookkeeper for the business, which has three San Francisco locations and one Berkeley location, between 2002 and 2017. However, between 2012 and 2016, he wrote fraudulent checks and deposited them into his own personal bank account. He then tried to cover-up the crimes by employing various schemes, prosecutors said. Cai was arrested on Nov. 9, 2017. Cai will serve a nine-month jail sentence for the crimes. Six months of the sentence will be served in county jail, while the remaining three will be servable through the Sheriff's Work Alternative Program, known as SWAP. Cai will also be on probation for three years and must pay $111,631.66 to the victims in restitution within three months. If he doesn't pay within that timeframe, Cai will have to serve a 2-year and 4-months sentence in state prison, according to prosecutors. "With all the pressure on small business owners the last thing they should have to worry about is if they can trust the people that work for them," District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement. "Employers are expected to carry out their responsibilities with integrity." According to prosecutors, the case was developed by the police's Financial Crimes Bureau. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. WALNUT CREEK (BCN) Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Walnut Creek, will host a town hall meeting on "Securing Our Elections" Monday evening in Walnut Creek. With special guest California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, DeSaulnier plans to discuss the "interference of a foreign power in the 2016 election, the government's responsibility to protect the integrity of our elections and ways to prevent a future attack," he said in a statement. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Shadelands Art Center, 111 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. The event is open to the public, but an RSVP is requested. Call (925) 933-2660 or go to https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. After recent deadly knife attacks on BART trains and stations, including the stabbing that killed 18-year-old Nia Wilson last month, the president of the Bay Area Council is calling for a "mutual aid" response to boost security on the transit system. "BART riders deserve to feel safe when they enter a station or board a train," said Jim Wunderman, CEO of the BAC, a business-sponsored, public-policy advocacy group. "A shock-and-awe show of force by law enforcement will send a direct and powerful message to commuters that we're looking out for their safety and to criminals ... to stay away from BART." Wunderman is calling for law enforcement agencies around the Bay to convene a task force to work with BART on deploying local officers, increase patrols on trains and stations and shorten response times in emergency situations. BART's Board of Directors on Friday approved a $20 million plan to expand the transit agency's network of digital cameras and install emergency call boxes on station platforms. A 7-month-old girl died after a three-vehicle collision Thursday night on Lakeville Highway in Sonoma County, the California Highway Patrol said. Several children, including a 3-year-old girl, who were riding in a 2016 Ford Explorer were critically injured in the collision, and they were taken to hospitals in Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Oakland, the CHP said. The CHP was informed around 8:10 p.m. of a head-on collision on Lakeville Highway at Old Lakeville Road #2 involving three vehicles. An 18-year-old Granite Bay man was driving a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta north on the highway when it crossed the solid double yellow lines and collided with a southbound 2016 Ford Explorer driven by a 31-year-old Folsom woman, the CHP said. The Explorer was thrown to the right, left the highway and collided with a tree, and the Volkswagen spun out of control and hit a southbound 2018 Ford Fusion driven by a 25-year-old Fairfield man, the CHP said. The Sonoma County coroner's office notified the CHP that the 7-month-old girl who was taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital died of blunt force injuries. Four suspects were arrested Thursday in Livermore in connection with the armed robbery of a T-Mobile store. The identities of the suspects have not been released. On Thursday at 1:10 p.m., three suspects wearing masks walked into T-Mobile store at 4516 Las Positas Road, according to the Livermore Police Department. One of the suspects simulated having a gun. One of the two employees inside the store at the time of the robbery was able to run out of the store and notify a passerby of the robbery, police said. The suspects then left the store and fled the area in a white Jeep Cherokee driven by a fourth person. A responding officer located the fleeing vehicle and pursued it to a dead-end on Old First Street, where the three passengers fled the vehicle. Police were able to take the driver into custody at the vehicle, and the three suspects who fled were detained following a search. Police said Thursday the identities of the suspects is pending, and the suspects are believed to be gang members from Fresno. A Pacifica resident has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for wire fraud, United States Attorney Alex Tse announced Tuesday. Bitty Yu, 69, pleaded guilty to a charge of wire fraud on March 20. Yu admitted to engaging in a scheme to defraud an elderly married San Mateo couple of millions of dollars, prosecutors said. In 2013, Yu convinced the couple she and others were involved in a real estate project and would use the couple's funds to purchase 10 acres of land in London, England for the project. Yu and the others involved in the scheme convinced the couple the deal would result in a $195 million return in commissions when the project was completed, prosecutors said. Yu acknowledged she and others made false statements to the couple and convinced the couple to wire funds on several occasions. In total, the couple invested more than $4 million in the bogus project. Yu received more than $1 million for her role in the scheme and used the money for personal expenses, prosecutors said. An Italy man was charged in federal court Thursday with hacking into a Bay Area video-game company and accessing 25,000 customer accounts. Martin Marsich, 25, whose last known residence was in Udine, Italy, but who had passports from Italy and Serbia, was arrested by FBI agents Thursday night at San Francisco International Airport. The name of the video-game company was not released. The company discovered the hack on March 25. Marsich allegedly used some of the information he obtained from the hack to access in-game currency, which is used to buy and sell in-game items. He then sold this access on black-market websites, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. The company closed the affected accounts and suffered a loss of about $324,000. Marsich was released to a half-way house on the condition that he post the equivalent of $750,000 in cryptocurrency for bail. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Walnut Creek, will host a town hall meeting on "Securing Our Elections" Monday evening in Walnut Creek. With special guest California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, DeSaulnier plans to discuss the "interference of a foreign power in the 2016 election, the government's responsibility to protect the integrity of our elections and ways to prevent a future attack," he said in a statement. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Shadelands Art Center, 111 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. The event is open to the public, but an RSVP is requested. Call (925) 933-2660 or go to https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Vallejo police said Thursday afternoon that the mother of three young children set herself on fire resulting in the death of two of her daughters and injury to a third on Sunday. Physical and electronic evidence and victim and witness statements indicate 47-year-old Mao Dao set herself on fire in the home at 2932 Georgia St. Dao's 11-year-old daughter was injured but escaped the fire and flagged down officers. Police said she is with her father. Dao's 14-year-old daughters perished in the fire. The Solano County coroner's office said it could not release their names. "The Vallejo Police Department has classified this case as a suicide that resulted in two homicides," Capt. Lee Horton said. "This was a tragic event for all involved. Incidents of this nature are exceedingly difficult for the family, but also for the community and its first responders," Horton said. Family members and friends of the 36 people who died in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland in December 2016 expressed outrage Thursday that the two men who entered pleas last month for their roles in the fire will only serve short jail terms. At an emotional and packed sentencing hearing for Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena, 48, and creative director Max Harris, 28, the family members and friends also spoke movingly about how their lives have been devastated by the loss of the 36 people at the fire during a music party at the building at 1308 31st Ave. on the night of Dec. 2, 2016. Almena and Harris pleaded no contest on July 3 to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter for their roles in the blaze, which was the deadliest structure fire in California since the fire that erupted after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. Their plea agreement calls for Almena to serve 9 years in jail and Harris to serve 6 years. But their attorneys say that because of the credits the two men have already accumulated since being arrested in June 2017 they expect Almena to be released in three and a half years and Harris to be released in about 22 months. Linda Regan, the mother of victim Amanda Allen Kershaw, 34, of San Francisco, said the terms mean that Almena will only serve 3 months for each of the 36 victims and Harris will only serve two months per victim. Grace Kim, the mother of victim Ara Jo, 29, said she calculated that Jo should have lived at least another 50 years based on the average life expectancy of 79 years and she also calculated that the 36 victims should have lived a total of another 1,800 years based on their ages and life expectancies. Kim said Almena and Harris were "grossly negligent" and their short sentences don't reflect "the magnitude of our pain, suffering and loss." Chris Allen, the brother of Kershaw, said, "We feel betrayed and don't feel that justice is being served here." Margaret Bohlka, the mother of victim Em Bohlka, 33, said, "I wish I could plea bargain my grief" but said she expects to mourn her daughter the rest of her life. Terry Ewing, a friend of Jo, said he was upset that Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson, who facilitated the plea agreement, wasn't at the sentencing hearing, nor was District Attorney Nancy O'Malley, who approved the deal. Judge James Cramer is substituting at the unusually lengthy sentencing hearing, which is expected to conclude on Friday. Court officials didn't say why Jacobson wasn't at the hearing, only saying that he was unavailable. Ewing said, "It's morally bankrupt that you, Judge Jacobson, would grant such short sentences." Almena and Harris lived at the warehouse with about 20 other people, including Almena's wife and their young children. At a preliminary hearing in the case last year, prosecutors said guests and residents were endangered by the warehouse's makeshift electrical system and floor-to-ceiling load of pianos, wooden sculptures, pallets, motor campers, rugs, benches, tree limbs and tapestries. Lesley Moran, the mother of the twin daughters of victim Alex Ghassan, 35, said one of the daughters, who were only 4 years old at the time of the fire, asked why the warehouse didn't have a smoke alarm and she didn't have a good answer for her daughter. Referring to Ghassan's death, Moran said, "We will feel the gulf of his loss every day for the rest of our lives." Gary Plotkin, the father of victim Vanessa Plotkin, 21, said that when he learned of her death "I just started crying uncontrollably." Plotkin said his daughter, who graduated from high school with the highest honors possible and was attending the University of California at Berkeley, "was on her way in life but she was ripped off." Plotkin said, "We were all ripped off." Tony Serra, Almena's lead attorney, and Curtis Briggs, Harris' lead lawyer, who have spoken to reporters after nearly all of the many court hearings in the case, rushed from court Thursday without speaking to the large group of reporters who covered the sentencing. When the hearing resumes on Friday morning Serra and Briggs will make statements on behalf of their clients and Almena and Harris are also expected to speak. A man accused of seriously injuring two BART passengers with a box cutter Friday evening on a Richmond-bound train has been charged with two counts each of attempted murder, aggravated mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon, according to Alameda County prosecutors. Around 7:50 p.m. Friday, two men approached BART police and reported that they'd been attacked on the train in a fight that continued onto the platform at the MacArthur station in Oakland. According to BART police, 27-year-old Solomon Espinoza was with a female suspect identified as Crystal McLeod - and the two had a baby stroller - when Espinoza began slashing the two victims without provocation. One victim suffered a severe cut across his face as well as defensive cuts to his hands. The other had a severe cut underneath his left arm. Both men needed stitches to close their wounds, prosecutors said. Police initially apprehended McLeod, then identified Espinoza as a suspect after a series of interviews. McLeod has also been charged with assaulting one of the victims with caustic chemicals. Espinoza was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service on Tuesday. He has since confessed to committing the offenses, according to prosecutors. He returns to court Aug. 16 to enter a plea. Responding to the public outcry over safety raised by the killing of Nia Wilson and other recent crimes, Thursday BART's Board of Directors approved a $20 million plan to expand the transit agency's network of digital cameras and install emergency call boxes on station platforms. There are over 4,500 cameras already installed, but not all of them are digital. Expanding and converting that network is estimated to cost $15 million, and it will take more than four years to complete. Pending the outcome of another meeting, the upgraded system of cameras could also be connected to a "physical security information system," or PSIM, which is already being tested at the Lake Merritt station. Described as a "platform for enhanced video and alarm analytics, monitoring thousands of simultaneous video streams and automating response recommendations," by agency staff - the system drew criticism during Thursday morning's meeting from members of the public who raised concerns about privacy. During public comment, several speakers raised questions about whether data collected by the PSIM or through facial recognition technology might be made available to corporate interests or other government agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. BART staff are still working on a privacy policy to govern such matters, but one member of the public pointed out that even if the use of facial recognition technology were prohibited as a matter of BART policy, other agencies might be able to subpoena any data created and apply facial recognition technology to it without BART's knowledge or oversight. That matter will be further discussed in a special meeting to be held at night in a suburban East Bay location, alongside several other plans suggested by BART staff. Those include additional proof of payment teams to battle fare evasion, a no panhandling ordinance within the paid areas of the BART system, and the installation of video screens showing real-time security footage near the entrance of stations to remind them that they're entering an area which us under surveillance. They'll also look at speeding up the agency's efforts to improve the physical barriers preventing fare evasion, like replacing fare gates, which could cost an estimated $150 to $200 million. Meanwhile, BART police have been increasing their staffing levels by canceling days off for their officers and staff since Monday. For the next two weeks, those personnel will be working 10-hour shifts six days a week. "I do want to say that I didn't take this decision lightly," Chief Carlos Rojas said during the meeting. "I know the impact it has on their personal lives." During times of heightened concern, the agency also plans to dispatch teams of two to four employees who've been trained by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to provide extra sets of eyes and ears for police and to increase the visibility of station staff. The board also asked General Manager Grace Crunican to come back with a plan on how BART can work with other agencies to address issues connected to homelessness and mental illness. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) An Italy man was charged in federal court Thursday with hacking into a Bay Area video-game company and accessing 25,000 customer accounts. Martin Marsich, 25, whose last known residence was in Udine, Italy, but who had passports from Italy and Serbia, was arrested by FBI agents Thursday night at San Francisco International Airport. The name of the video-game company was not released. The company discovered the hack on March 25. Marsich allegedly used some of the information he obtained from the hack to access in-game currency, which is used to buy and sell in-game items. He then sold this access on black-market websites, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. The company closed the affected accounts and suffered a loss of about $324,000. Marsich was released to a half-way house on the condition that he post the equivalent of $750,000 in cryptocurrency for bail. If convicted, Marsich could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Police today announced the arrest of a 22-year-old man they believe tried to kill another man in a shooting San Francisco's Western Addition back in June. Shadahia Mitchell, of San Francisco, was arrested last week in connection with the June 15 shooting in the 1300 block of Steiner Street, around 7:30 p.m., police said. Following the shooting, officers found the victim, a 29-year-old man, and transported him to the hospital. The victim was treated and later released, according to police. After an investigation into the shooting, officers identified Mitchell as the suspect and obtained an arrest warrant for him. On Aug. 1 around 2:25 p.m., plainclothes officers located Mitchell in the 3200 block of 17th Street and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, police said. Mitchell is being held without bail, according to jail records. Anyone with further information about the shooting is asked to contact police's tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the beginning of the message. Tipsters can remain anonymous. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Two pilot programs related to affordable housing will be extended two more years because of their success, the Marin County Community Development Agency said Thursday. The Board of Supervisors this week agreed to extend the Landlord Partnership Program offered by the Marin Housing Authority and the Real Community Rentals Program offered by the Community Land Trust of West Marin. The $500,000 cost to continue the programs is in the 2018-2019 budget. The Landlord Partnership Program's $450,000 two-year program leverages federal funding for Housing Choice, known as the Section 8 voucher program, which allows qualified low-income residents to use public subsidies to pay rent to private landlords. The Section 8 tenants use vouchers to pay 30 percent of their income toward monthly rent, and the rest is covered by a subsidy. Between June 2015 and June 2018, the probability that a tenant could lease a home with a voucher rose 22 percent in Marin County because of the Landlord Partnership Program, officials with the Marin County Community Development Agency said. The $50,000 Real Community Rentals Program resulted in the development of 13 new affordable rental opportunities in underutilized West Marin homes. The Real Community Rentals Program also aims to build on its partnership with the Bolinas Community Land Trust and the San Geronimo Valley Affordable Housing Association to support property owners who create units for lower-income renters. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. BCN23) OAKLAND (BCN) Family members and friends of the 36 people who died in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland in December 2016 expressed outrage today that the two men who entered pleas last month for their roles in the fire will only serve short jail terms. At an emotional and packed sentencing hearing for Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena, 48, and creative director Max Harris, 28, the family members and friends also spoke movingly about how their lives have been devastated by the loss of the 36 people at the fire during a music party at the building at 1308 31st Ave. on the night of Dec. 2, 2016. Almena and Harris pleaded no contest on July 3 to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter for their roles in the blaze, which was the deadliest structure fire in California since the fire that erupted after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. Their plea agreement calls for Almena to serve 9 years in jail and Harris to serve 6 years. But their attorneys say that because of the credits the two men have already accumulated since being arrested in June 2017 they expect Almena to be released in three and a half years and Harris to be released in about 22 months. Linda Regan, the mother of victim Amanda Allen Kershaw, 34, of San Francisco, said the terms mean that Almena will only serve 3 months for each of the 36 victims and Harris will only serve two months per victim. Grace Kim, the mother of victim Ara Jo, 29, said she calculated that Jo should have lived at least another 50 years based on the average life expectancy of 79 years and she also calculated that the 36 victims should have lived a total of another 1,800 years based on their ages and life expectancies. Kim said Almena and Harris were "grossly negligent" and their short sentences don't reflect "the magnitude of our pain, suffering and loss." Chris Allen, the brother of Kershaw, said, "We feel betrayed and don't feel that justice is being served here." Margaret Bohlka, the mother of victim Em Bohlka, 33, said, "I wish I could plea bargain my grief" but said she expects to mourn her daughter the rest of her life. Terry Ewing, a friend of Jo, said he was upset that Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson, who facilitated the plea agreement, wasn't at the sentencing hearing, nor was District Attorney Nancy O'Malley, who approved the deal. Judge James Cramer is substituting at the unusually lengthy sentencing hearing, which is expected to conclude on Friday. Court officials didn't say why Jacobson wasn't at the hearing, only saying that he was unavailable. Ewing said, "It's morally bankrupt that you, Judge Jacobson, would grant such short sentences." Almena and Harris lived at the warehouse with about 20 other people, including Almena's wife and their young children. At a preliminary hearing in the case last year, prosecutors said guests and residents were endangered by the warehouse's makeshift electrical system and floor-to-ceiling load of pianos, wooden sculptures, pallets, motor campers, rugs, benches, tree limbs and tapestries. Lesley Moran, the mother of the twin daughters of victim Alex Ghassan, 35, said one of the daughters, who were only 4 years old at the time of the fire, asked why the warehouse didn't have a smoke alarm and she didn't have a good answer for her daughter. Referring to Ghassan's death, Moran said, "We will feel the gulf of his loss every day for the rest of our lives." Gary Plotkin, the father of victim Vanessa Plotkin, 21, said that when he learned of her death "I just started crying uncontrollably." Plotkin said his daughter, who graduated from high school with the highest honors possible and was attending the University of California at Berkeley, "was on her way in life but she was ripped off." Plotkin said, "We were all ripped off." Tony Serra, Almena's lead attorney, and Curtis Briggs, Harris' lead lawyer, who have spoken to reporters after nearly all of the many court hearings in the case, rushed from court today without speaking to the large group of reporters who covered the sentencing. When the hearing resumes on Friday morning Serra and Briggs will make statements on behalf of their clients and Almena and Harris are also expected to speak. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. OAKLAND (BCN) In a surprise move, a judge today rejected a plea agreement for Ghost Ship warehouse master tenant Derick Almena and creative director Max Harris for the fire at the warehouse in Oakland's Fruitvale district in December 2016 that killed 36 people. Alameda County Superior Court Judge James Cramer said he accepts the part of the agreement reached on July 3 that called for Harris, 28, to serve 6 years in the county jail for his no contest plea to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter for the fire during a music party at the warehouse at 1309 31st Ave. in Oakland's Fruitvale district on Dec. 2, 2016. Cramer said that's because he believes that Harris has shown "unconditional remorse from the outset" and immediately accepted responsibility for the blaze, which was the deadliest structure fire in the U.S. since the fire that erupted after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. But Cramer said he rejects the part of the agreement that called for Almena, 48, who also plead no contest to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter, to serve 9 years in jail because he thinks Almena still isn't acknowledging and expressing complete remorse for the fire. Cramer said he based his opinion on a 30-page letter that Almena recently wrote to probation officials in which he claimed that various governmental agencies also are responsible for the fire because they didn't warn him about the fire dangers at the warehouse. Cramer said that because the plea agreement was "a package deal" that would only work if both Almena and Harris pleaded no contest and were sentenced together he was therefore required to reject the entire agreement and set the case for trial. He ordered the parties in the case to return to court next Friday, at which time another possible plea agreement could be discussed or a trial date could be set. Cramer's surprise ruling came at the end of the second day of a sentencing hearing for Almena and Harris. The victims' family members and friends have criticized the plea agreement in lengthy comments to the court and they appeared to be happy that Cramer rejected the deal, as several of them applauded him. However, they declined to comment to reporters when they left Cramer's courtroom. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A Pacifica resident has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for wire fraud, United States Attorney Alex Tse announced Tuesday. Bitty Yu, 69, pleaded guilty to a charge of wire fraud on March 20. Yu admitted to engaging in a scheme to defraud an elderly married San Mateo couple of millions of dollars, prosecutors said. In 2013, Yu convinced the couple she and others were involved in a real estate project and would use the couple's funds to purchase 10 acres of land in London, England for the project. Yu and the others involved in the scheme convinced the couple the deal would result in a $195 million return in commissions when the project was completed, prosecutors said. Yu acknowledged she and others made false statements to the couple and convinced the couple to wire funds on several occasions. In total, the couple invested more than $4 million in the bogus project. Yu received more than $1 million for her role in the scheme and used the money for personal expenses, prosecutors said. In addition to her prison term, Yu was sentenced to three years of supervised release, and she was ordered to pay $1 million in restitution. She will begin serving her sentence on Oct. 9. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Running boards, bumpers, brush guards and truck racks listed in the Promaxx catalog were supplied by Westin Automotive, which has received more than 700 shipments of such products from China since 2007. While several items in the company's catalog were labeled as made in America, these products were not. Panjiva records also show Chinese shipments of these accessories were delivered to one of Braun's warehouses in Arlington, Texas, including one made this past June. Pelosi and her allies pointed to the top-line reality of Ohio: A district that voted for Trump in 2016 by 11 points and for Republican congressional candidates by much bigger margins swung decisively to Democrats. The GOP's reliance on anti-Pelosi messages, they say, reflects an inability to find any other effective issue - and to the extent she is a factor at all, her role is dwarfed by that of the president. But dont believe the hype. There are not, in fact, more murders in Chicago than ever before. The number of homicides peaked at more than 900 in the early 1990s. The death toll last year, according to Chicago Tribune data, was 674 and that was down 15 percent from 2016. This year, even with the latest frenzy of shootings, the number of homicides is 25 percent lower than it was at this point in 2017. My vote is to celebrate all this while remembering, as many localists do, that some problems require national action. We're better off having a federal Social Security and Medicare program, and it will take a comparable effort to get health insurance to everyone. It's also true that a nationwide economic market needs more than patchwork regulation, and that wealthy places can better maneuver through their difficulties than poorer localities. The country's hardest hit places can use outside assistance to turn the corner. And we can never forget that it took federal power to enforce civil rights across the land. iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Kristin Davis, a former upscale-prostitution-ring operator once known as the "Manhattan Madam," is expected to testify before a grand jury in Washington, D.C., Friday in connection to special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Three sources confirmed to ABC News that Davis was asked to interview with special counsel investigators last month, and her spokesperson said she completed an "informal" interview with members of Mueller's team last week. Davis has close ties to Roger Stone, a longtime political campaign operative whose resume dates back to the Nixon administration. He also served as an adviser to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, but left amid controversy in 2015. Sources told ABC News last month that Mueller's team was pushing for more information on whether Stone communicated with hackers who targeted DNC computers. At least nine people associated with Stone have been contacted by the special counsel. Following Davis' previous meeting with investigators, Stone said in a statement: "Kristin Davis is a longtime friend and associate of mine. She is a brilliant businesswoman who paid her debt to society and remade her life. I am the Godfather to her 2 year old son." Stone added, "[Davis] knows nothing about alleged Russian Collusion, WikiLeaks collaboration, or any other impropriety related to the 2016 election which I though was the subject of this probe. I understand to she appeared voluntarily. I am highly confident she will testify truthfully is called to do so." Davis made headlines in 2008 when she was arrested as part of an investigation into former New York governor Elliot Spitzer's solicitation of prostitutes. Davis claimed Spitzer was one of her numerous high-profile clients, which he denied. Davis pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution, and spent about four months in New York's Rikers Island prison complex. Following her release, she ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York. In 2014, Davis ran into trouble with the law again. She pleaded guilty to selling prescription drugs in 2014 and was sentenced to two years in prison. She was released in 2016, after Stone had left the Trump campaign. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) Interior Department officer-in-charge Eduardo Ano on Friday revealed some establishments on Boracay island still illegally discharge wastes in the sea. Ano said there are "indicators" wastes are still being dumped in the waters at night. "Ang tagal nang sarado ang Boracay, bakit meron pa rin? Kasi hino-hoard nila ang waste Binubuga nila yan sa gabi unti-unti," Ano said. [Translation: "Boracay has been closed for so long, why are there still wastes? It's because they are hoarding the waste and dump them at night."] Lack of a proper sewage system, illegal structures, and abuse of the environment forced President Rodrigo Duterte to order the shutdown of the popular tourist destination known for its powdery white beaches on April 26, calling the waters around the island a "cesspool." In an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines on Boracay Thursday, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said the sewage system in Boracay will be completed by September as the government is bent on meeting its deadline for reopening the island to tourists on October 26. READ: Saving Boracay: Timeline, what to expect Ano, however, said those who continue to pollute Boracay's waters refuse to pay for these sewerage system services. He added there could still be illegal pipes buried deep in the island where wastes still pass through. The government has hired divers to track the source of the wastes from the sea to the establishment, he said. Ano, as acting head of the Department of Interior and Local Government, is part of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force formed by Duterte to rehabilitate the island within six months. He said the task force is optimistic newly-appointed Ombudsman Samuel Martires would grant their request for a preventive suspension against local officials who allowed illegal structures on Boracay. Local officials of Malay, Aklan, the town that has jurisdiction over Boracay, are facing charges for alleged neglect of duty at the Office of the Ombudsman. In Crisis of Responsibility, author David Bahnsen argues that too many Americans want someone else to make the hard decisions for them. The financial calamity of 2008 had many culprits, but one constituency that got off comparatively scot-free were the Americans who took out loans they couldn't afford and then walked away from their debts. Because the stigma against deadbeats has diminished or vanished we get more deadbeats. In the moment of airless shock that came after, we did what Americans instinctively do at such times: turned to the president to steel our resolve, speak our overflowing hearts, help us make sense of a senseless thing. That's what Barack Obama would have done, what Bill Clinton or the Bushes would have done. But this time, the president was Trump, and he did something else. Its registered trademark, it says, means it has the exclusive right to use those words together in connection with restaurant services within the U.S. but it does not prevent another person or entity from using the word aloha alone or the word poke alone in any instance. The critics want the company to drop the use of both words, which they say belong to the whole Hawaiian culture not to a U.S. company in Chicago. Trust is hard to come by for police on Chicagos South and West sides. Thats been a familiar refrain as the city reels from a weekend of staggering violence 74 people shot, 12 of them fatally. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Superintendent Eddie Johnson have pleaded with neighbors to come forward with information to help solve the crimes. Those residents say they cant count on police to protect them if they do. Many say theyre afraid of the police themselves. Donald Trump Jr. deleted a doctored image of his father's approval from his Instagram page on Friday. The image, which was altered to show President Trump's approval rating at 50 percent, was posted on Wednesday night and Instagram users immediately decried it as a fake. A number of users left comments reading "fake," or "photoshopped," but Trump Jr. didn't delete the photo until Friday. The original image was from a CNN segment on Monday, and showed President Trump's approval rating at 40 percent, compared to former President Obama's 45 percent approval rating at this point in his presidency. RELATED: Like father, like son: Trump Jr. defiant about Russia probe However, someone poorly doctored the image to display that Trump's approval rating is at 50 percent, and the fake version somehow found its way onto Trump Jr.'s Instagram page. "I guess there is a magic wand to make things happen and @realdonaldtrump seems to have it. #MAGA #amreicafirst," Trump Jr. wrote in a caption. ALSO: Colbert: Donald Trump Jr. Is 'Wonderful' Just Like 'Ulcerative Colitis' CNN created the graphic to fact check President Trump's claim that he has "better numbers than Obama at this point, by far." "Presidential Approval numbers are very good - strong economy, military and just about everything else," Trump tweeted on Sunday. "Better numbers than Obama at this point, by far." The numbers for approval ratings came from Gallup's weekly tracker of the president's approval ratings. SANAA, Yemen Yemens Shiite rebels on Friday backed a U.N. call for a probe into a Saudi-led coalition air strike in the countrys north that killed dozens of people the previous day, including many children, in an attack that drew wide international criticism. Senior rebel leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said on Twitter that the rebels known as Houthis welcome the call and are willing to cooperate in an investigation of the strike in Saada province that hit a bus carrying civilians, many of them schoolchildren, in a busy market in Dahyan district. The coalition said Friday it would investigate. The official Saudi Press Agency quoted an unnamed senior official as saying the coalition has a firm commitment to investigate incidents involving claims of mistakes or violations of international law and to hold those responsible accountable. The coalitions statement signaled a shift in its earlier stance when spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki defended the attack as a legitimate military action and blamed the Houthis for recruiting children and using them in the battlefields as cover. The coalition, which has been at war with the Houthis for more than three years, said the attack on Saada was in response to a missile fired by rebels into the kingdoms south a day earlier. The coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed the missile but its fragments killed one person and wounded 11 others in Saudis southwestern border region of Jizan. The Iran-aligned Houthis regularly fire into Saudi Arabia and have previously targeted its capital, Riyadh, with ballistic missiles. They say their missile attacks on the kingdom are in retaliation for air raids on Yemen by the Western-backed coalition. On Friday, the rebel-run Al Masirah TV reported that the Houthis fired ballistic missiles targeting military bases in Saudi Arabias southern provinces of Asir and Jizan. The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya satellite news channel reported the coalition had intercepted two missiles fired toward Jizan. In a statement after Thursdays air strike, U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urged Yemens warring parties to take constant care to spare civilians during military operations and also called for an independent and prompt investigation. The United Nations said an exact death toll has yet to be confirmed but initial reports point to more than 60 casualties, with dozens severely wounded. Ahmed Al-Haj and Menna Zaki is an Associated Press writer. Everyone on the list, gang member or not, can suffer repercussions. Those on the list may be blackballed for jobs, denied educational opportunities or social services, and face a heftier bail if arrested, city Inspector General Joseph Ferguson tells us. Fergusons office is to deliver a report by the end of the year that will offer recommendations on how to improve the list. As currently managed and constituted, (the database) is not a targeted surgical tool for the purpose of helping police stanch gang violence, he tells us. It is an overly blunt tool that cannot possibly meet law enforcement objectives in a way that honors First Amendment rights. KABUL A brazen and bloody overnight assault Friday by the Taliban on a key provincial capital in central Afghanistan has increased pressure on U.S.-backed Afghan forces that are withering under relentless attacks, prompting President Ashraf Ghani to call an emergency meeting of his security officials. While government security forces in the city of Ghazni repulsed the multipronged attack with the help of U.S. air support, Taliban insurgents remained hunkered down on its outskirts, and some were still holed up in residential areas, according to Interior Ministry deputy spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi. At least 39 insurgents were killed, while 14 police died and 20 were wounded in the fighting, said provincial Police Chief Farid Ahmad Mashal. He said the bodies of the Taliban fighters were found under a bridge in the southern part of Ghazni. Mashal said there were more than 100 other casualties but could not give a breakdown of the dead and wounded. Among the injured were four Afghan troops who were hurt when their helicopter crash-landed during the fighting, said Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish. The Taliban claimed to have shot it down, and Radmanish said it was not clear if the aircraft had been hit or crash-landed for other reasons. The city of about 140,000 people was in lockdown as residents stayed indoors and reported sporadic gunfire. All shops were closed, they said, as was the highway from the capital of Kabul to Afghanistans southern provinces that runs through Ghazni. The Taliban fighters set fire to the local TV building and also destroyed the telecommunications tower, located just outside the city, cutting all cell phone and land line access to Ghazni, said Ali Akbar Kasemi, a lawmaker from the city. Ghazni is a gateway city linking the heavily Taliban-influenced south and east of Afghanistan to Kabul and is one of the last vestiges of government control in the province of the same name. The Taliban holds sway in most of the province where ethnic Pashtuns live, while the government influence is limited to Ghazni and small pockets dominated by ethnic Hazaras. The security situation in Ghazni is under control. Our defense and security forces are in full control of the city, Rahimi said. Still, the Afghan forces were engaged in house-to house battles in some residential areas to root out the remnants of the Talibans attack force. Radmanish told the Associated Press the Taliban were driven to an area known as Hasanabad about 500 yards outside the city. Both the governors compound and central police compound were under the control of Afghan security forces. In a statement late Friday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group held control of several places in the city, while the police chief had fled toward the airport. To hold onto the city in the fierce, daylong fighting, Afghan forces had to call in reinforcements as well as U.S. air power, including helicopter gunships, fighter jets and a drone strike. Lt. Col. Martin ODonnell, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said American forces and U.S. attack helicopters flew in overnight. As fighting continued throughout the day, he said U.S. forces returned, sending attack helicopters and fighter jets back to the area. An investigation was launched to determine how the insurgents had managed to push so deeply into the city, which is only 75 miles south of Kabul. Amir Shah and Kathy Gannon are Associated Press writers. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A snake, a sloth and a few sippers later, the Stone House at Clove Lakes Park raised over $6,000 Thursday for the Staten Island Zoo. "Our third annual 'Country, Brew & BBQ' was a smashing success," said Peter Botros, chef and owner of the Stone House. "I've come to really love all the wonderful festivals we have created in an effort to support local charitable organizations," said a delighted Botros at the end of the BBQ event. He refers to restaurant traditions such as "Winestock" (held each June), Beer & Bubbly Oyster Festival in the fall and this fete, "Brew & BBQ." Over 335 guests attended the event, where Anthony Valois, exec chef at The Corner House BBQ, served as pitmaster at the and "Loren" provided the country music. Matt Lanier, a staff memeber in the Reptile Department at the Zoo, appreciated the Stone House's efforts and the "wonderful turnout." And the Zoo's Senior Keeper, Alex Carr added, "What a great event when the community comes together. The Stone House which is located in Clove Lakes Park and it supported Barrett Park, its neighboring park, where the Zoo is actually located. It was a great success for both organizations to show that we are truly the 'Borough of Parks.'" Also in the crowd: Javier Gonzalez, Mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico, who commented, "New York is incredibly lucky to have a community asset like the Staten Island Zoo. Like Santa Fe, tonight I experienced a community that was kind, proud and committed to to cultural institutions that serve our community." Assemblyman and Surrogate Court Judge hopeful Matt Titone attended the fete. He called the Zoo "a living museum that we always need to pay attention to" and also enthused over bucolic Clove Lakes and "so many hidden jewels on this island that many of us need to discover." Beer & Bubbly will take place at Stone House on Oct. 4 to benefit Gianna's Heart of Hope charity. Another festival has been added to the Stone House line up as well: "The Big Cheese," coming in March. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- I barely stepped off the train in Milan when I realized all of my money was gone. I looked down and saw the zipper of my crossbody bag halfway open. My wallet with 700 euros and all my credit cards had vanished. Panic overwhelmed me. I asked for a police officer in the subway station, but I was told there were none. I knew I had to somehow get to the Milan Police Station. Luckily, my teenage daughter had 20 euros in her pocket, which was enough to get a taxi to the station. How did this happen? How did a native New Yorker, who is always careful, get pickpocketed on her first day of vacation in Italy? My 14-year-old and I arrived in the Italian city at 9 a.m. on July 27 for an 11-day trip -- but we couldn't check into our hotel until 2 p.m. We had time to kill, and no access to a hotel safe where I had intended to leave some cash, credit cards and our passports. But we were excited to start our vacation. The hotel concierge insisted the subway was the best route to Piazza del Duomo, the main square. There we ate the best-tasting pasta and pizza in a cafe, waited online for the Milan Cathedral and browsed through shops. Milan very much reminded us of Times Square: It was crowded and there were some common tourist sights, like people dressed up in Smurf costumes greeting visitors. The Milan Cathedral didn't have metal detectors, so military police took every item out of my pocketbook and laid it on a table before we were able to enter. When all was put back in, my wallet ended up on top. SUBWAY SCAM ARTIST Shortly after we boarded the crowded train to get back to the hotel at 5 p.m., a well-dressed woman in her early 20s with curly black hair and deep-set, dark brown eyes approached us. She was flushed and acted as if she needed to hold onto the rail to catch her breath. "Grazie," she said as she squeezed her way between me and my daughter, and held onto the rail. She looked me straight in the eye, then she let go of the handrail, and bolted off the train. The next stop was ours. That's when I noticed my wallet had vanished. I quickly grew angry at myself for putting myself at risk on the subway in the first place. But I'm a life-long New Yorker; why wouldn't I take a subway? Before I left the United States, I had heard pickpocketing was a problem in Italy as well as other European countries. In fact, there were more than 173,000 reported incidents of pick-pocking in Italy in 2016, according to The Local -- and that's just the ones that get reported. MILANO POLICE The crowded police station was filled with tourists with similar tales -- the worst of which was a woman who had traveled to Milan to buy her wedding dress. She'd saved 15,000 euros to purchase her dream gown. But a pickpocket got to her first. A feeling of desperation overcame me. I spent the three-hour wait on the phone with family and friends, and my credit card companies. The credit card companies refused to mail anything anywhere other than my home address; only my debit card could be mailed to Italy -- but that would take a few days. We were going to travel to Venice, Florence and Rome. This was a trip I'd been planning for a decade. Since my daughter was 4 years old I'd promised her I'd take her to Italy for her eighth-grade graduation. I couldn't go home. I couldn't disappoint her. Most importantly, I couldn't let this pickpocket ruin my vacation. Finally, we learned that my parents could wire us money the next day when Western Union opened. But at that moment, my daughter and I had only 10 euros for a cab back to the hotel, and no money for dinner. That is, until we met a mother and daughter who were visiting from Germany. They were in the police station because their new iPhones had been stolen from the younger woman's purse. They overheard my phone calls. "My mother and I would like to give you and your daughter some money to eat dinner," she said. Then her mother took 150 euros out of her purse and insisted we take it. The daughter said I could mail a check to her college address. (She coincidentally was an aspiring broadcast journalist attending Syracuse University.) Both my daughter and I broke into tears. What would we have done, if they didn't lend us money out of pure kindness? NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET The next day we canceled a pre-paid trip to Lake Como to take a taxi to Western Union in Piaza Del Dumo, where my parents would send me money via a wire transfer. But per Italian law, you can only send 999 euros to one person over the age of 18 in a seven-day period. That wasn't enough money for the next five days until my debit card would arrive. That's when I contacted a former colleague and friend who grew up in Venice. Her mother greeted us the next day when we got off the train. She had accepted a second wire transfer from my family -- and in doing so, saved our trip. And after posting my troubles on Facebook, countless friends and family -- and even business contacts of mine -- assisted us in many different ways. I was amazed by the generous offers of help and support. My daughter and I are eternally grateful. For that one bad person who stole my money, there were many amazing, good people who lent us a hand. In the end, we had a great trip that brought me to the top of Mount Vesuvius, the ancient city of Pompeii, the island of Venice and the streets of Florence and Rome. It just goes to show how the kindness of others can take you from the lowest lows to the highest highs. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER Update: Co-workers desperately tried to stop the bleeding before their colleague died. Click here for an update to this story. By KAYLA SIMAS and MAURA GRUNLUND STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A horrific scene unfolded at a Westerleigh construction site Friday morning, when a worker operating a saw apparently slipped and fatally sliced his throat, police said. The male, in his 50s, was working at a roadwork site on Maine and Fiske avenues. He was using the saw to cut a pipe when he apparently slipped and cut his hand and throat, according to preliminary information provided by an NYPD spokesman. Emergency personnel responded at 11:26 a.m., and rushed him to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton. Emergency radio communications indicated that police blocked off major intersections to facilitate the transport. The male was pronounced deceased on arrival, the NYPD spokesman said. Further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately available. The worker's identity has not yet been released. Residents on the blocked confirmed a large number of emergency vehicles were at the scene. The incident is still under investigation and roadwork has been stopped. The medical examiner will formally determine the cause of death. Further information will be posted when it is made available. CITY HALL -- Upstate Rep. Chris Collins, who was indicted Wednesday on insider trading charges, may have a tough road ahead of him, former Congressman Michael Grimm told the New York Times. "He's going to have a really, really difficult emotional time," said Grimm, who was re-elected while under indictment for tax evasion. He eventually pleaded guilty and spent eight months in federal prison. "Washington, as long as you're riding high, they want to be your friend," Grimm said, according to the Times. "And when you're not, they don't want to be anywhere near you." Grimm recommended Collins hire good lawyers, expect to be inundated by the press and find anything else to talk about, the report said. "He's going to have to swallow every bit of it. And smile," Grimm told the Times. "He should go right back to his job and remain professional." Grimm's other bit of advice: Rely on President Donald Trump as part of your re-election strategy. "If I were him, I would double down on the president needing us," he said, according to the report. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- People in states like California and Massachusetts are interested in how Staten Island will vote in the race for Congress in a midterm election year where Democrats are looking to take back control of the House of Representatives. Staten Island's congressional candidates Rep. Dan Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and Max Rose, a St. George Army veteran and ex-chief of staff at a nonprofit healthcare clinic, have both received the majority of their itemized campaign contributions from outside New York's 11th congressional district, which encompasses Staten Island and a portion of South Brooklyn. While itemized campaign contributions make up the overwhelming majority of both candidates' war chests, they don't include unitemized campaign contributions. Campaigns do not have to add identifying details to unitemized contributions when filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) if the contribution doesn't exceed $200. Contributions to both congressional campaigns have come from a wide range of professions, including healthcare professionals, Uber drivers, college professors, and even celebrities. Videographer Amanda Steen outlines the issue in the video above. STATEN ISLAND -- If Staten Island plays its cards right, the borough could be on its way to getting -- not just one -- but two fast ferries. Following Mayor Bill de Blasio's visit to the Island last month, Borough President James Oddo said Hizzoner asked him and other elected officials to come up with a short list of potential South Shore sites for a new fast ferry. Oddo said City Hall plans to make a decision on a site by the end of the year. "The challenge is finding a location,'' said Oddo. "I genuinely believe the mayor wants to bring fast ferry service to Staten Island and would like to be able to bring it to the community with the longest commute times. I'm sure there are lots of Staten Islanders on the South Shore who don't believe that, who believe the mayor doesn't give a damn about them. I think the mayor would love to be able to do that. The problem is what we've always struggled with, and that is finding a location." De Blasio has admitted he made a mistake when he called the city's fast ferry program a five-borough ferry plan. Earlier this summer, the mayor said once the city's fast ferry program opens lines in Soundview and the Lower East Side later this summer, he would look at where the city could expand ferry service next. Oddo said his top choice for a South Shore fast ferry site is at Mt. Loretto. But the borough president admits that each site comes with "its own host of challenges." "There is no one clear-cut, obvious site," Oddo said. ODDO ASKS BOROUGH RESIDENTS WHERE FERRY SHOULD GO Oddo asked residents on Facebook to help his office come up with ideas for South Shore sites. The location must by located as close to the East Shore as possible, have sufficient space for 500 to 600 vehicles, or be close to a nearby site that could serve as a park and ride. The site would also need to be "readily accessible" so that commuters could get there with ease. Oddo also said he hopes to send a list of four to five potential sites to the mayor. Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) said he thinks the best locations for a new fast ferry are at the fishing pier on Sharott Avenue and Lemon Creek Park. He thinks both sites would allow for adequate parking. "If people don't have a place to park they're not going to use a ferry service wherever it is and that's been the challenge," Borelli said. WEST SHORE SITE COULD STILL BE OPTION For years, officials had said a fast ferry route along the West Shore would be a challenge to build because of existing boat traffic. But Oddo said he plans to hold a meeting with the Coast Guard and officials from the city's Economic Development Corporation later this month to talk about whether the West Shore is a viable option for a fast ferry. "This is the moment for this round of adding routes," Oddo said. "This is the moment where we have to make our best case get in the hands of the administration a few viable options and let them do their due diligence on it," Oddo said. NORTH SHORE FAST FERRY PLAN STILL IN PLAY In the meantime, plans to build a dock for the 25-minute private fast ferry route on the North Shore have been in the works for about a year now, under a deal brokered between NY Waterway and Oddo. In May, Oddo met with officials from Empire Outlets, the embattled New York Wheel, and the mayor's office at City Hall to figure out how to fund a pier for a St. George-to-Midtown fast ferry route. Oddo previously told the Advance that $4 million to $6 million is needed to build the dock. Since that meeting, Oddo said all parties, including NY Waterway, are committed to building the pier, but it is still unclear when it will be constructed and by whom. In the event the borough is unable to get a North or South Shore route, Oddo says Staten Island should be added to the existing Brooklyn ferry route. RESIDENTS CAST THEIR VOTES Several Island residents took to Facebook to respond to Oddo's call for help. Some suggested Miller Field, the last stop on the train in Tottenville, the old Perth Amboy Ferry site, as well as Midland Beach. "New Yorkers need more ways to navigate the city without a car,'' said Jane Meyer, a spokeswoman for the mayor. "This August, we are launching two new ferry routes. We are also studying potential locations across the city for future expansion. During Staten Island Week, the Mayor and BP Oddo visited sites on the south shore that Staten Island officials have proposed for ferry service. This fall, the city will begin assessing them, along with others across the city, for cost, ridership and viability." FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. By MIRA WASSEF, KAYLA SIMAS and MAURA GRUNLUND STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Construction workers took off their shirts and pressed them against a colleague's wound in a desperate attempt to slow the bleeding after the male sliced himself in the throat with a chainsaw in an apparent freak accident in Westerleigh, a witness told the Advance. The victim, 50, could be heard screaming as he was loaded into an ambulance, an employee at a nearby convenience store said. "He was yelling in a lot of pain," the witness said, adding a lot of blood could be seen on his body. The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was part of a crew working to install sewers and water mains at Fiske and Maine avenues, according to a spokesman for the city Department of Design and Construction (DDC). The DDC was managing the job for the city Department of Environmental Protection. The victim was using the saw to cut a pipe when he apparently slipped and cut his hand and throat, according to preliminary information provided by an NYPD spokesman. He was working in a hole in the road at the time, a source with knowledge of the investigation told the Advance. The man was using a chainsaw when the tool "jerked back and cut his neck," a co-worker said. Emergency personnel responded at 11:26 a.m., and rushed him to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze. Emergency radio communications indicated that police blocked off major intersections to facilitate the transport. The male was pronounced dead on arrival, the NYPD spokesman said. "We're heartbroken, and extend our deepest condolences to the family," said a DDC spokesman. "No loss of life is acceptable in our work. DDC is investigating and will cooperate with any other investigations to determine this incident's cause." The contractor for the job is EE Cruz, according to the DDC. The company declined comment. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 21-year-old man was shot in the foot in New Brighton on Thursday night and cops are searching for the suspect. The 21-year-old man was taken in stable condition to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton following the shooting around 10:45 p.m. on Stanley Avenue between Jersey and Pine streets, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The victim reported to police that he heard a shot and felt pain and that's when he realized he was shot in front of a residence. The police spokeswoman was unable to provide a description of the suspect. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! The Saudis have invited the world to do business with them. But beware, executives: The Saudis are highly allergic to even the mildest criticism of their questionable human rights record. Choose your words, and tweets, carefully. If youre going to ruffle feathers in Saudi Arabia, best to do it in private, where no one else can hear. Hodge QC's flair for the dramatic, now applied as senior counsel assisting the royal commission, set the scene for this week's sensational hearings, which culminated on Thursday in the revelation of potential criminal charges being considered against NAB for its role in the fees for no service scandal which has infected the entire sector. In lines which could easily have been stolen from Macbeth, the 37-year-old Hodge dubbed by some the baby-faced assassin - opened this week's hearing with a powerful soliloquy, posing the central question: What happens when we leave these trustees alone in the dark with our money? Counsel assisting the commission, Michael Hodge. Credit:Webcast What happens - as subsequently unfolded during the week's hearings, which continue next week - is that retirement nest eggs are repeatedly raided and rorted by funds, who charge multiple fees and insurance premiums, while being surrounded by temptation to maximise profit for their parent companies often the banks. Could Hodges dramatic scene-setter be enough to finally burst through the collective apathy with which Australians have traditionally viewed their superannuation nest eggs? Since it became compulsory for employers to set aside 9 per cent of a workers wages into super 26 years ago, Australian have silently amassed a significant fortune worth more than our entire annual economic output. Super today accounts for exactly half of all wealth held by Australian households in financial assets. But Australians remain dangerously uneducated about and unengaged with their super money. Loading In his opening remarks, Hodge identified three potential safeguards for super nest eggs: first, consumer vigilance; second, strong regulators stamping out bad behaviour and poor performance by funds; or third, the honest and diligent performance of superannuation trustees, acting on behalf of members, to protect their funds. On the first, Hodge concludes: Consumers are unable to do anything more than peer dimly through the darkness of their superannuation trustees. On the second: There is no dedicated and active conduct regulator shining a spotlight on the trustees and searching out bad behaviour. And so it was the third the role of trustees the commission chose to hone in on this week. Because superannuation is complex, and consumers have no real way of knowing if their interests are being put before all else, super funds are required to have trustees. A trustee has the responsibility for ensuring that the best interests of fund members are given priority over the interests of other persons, under provisions of the Superannuation Industry Supervision (SIS) Act, administered by the banking regulator. However, there have long been concerns that trustees are not always acting in the best interests of fund members. Most of these concerns have centered on the retail super funds - those run by the big banks and AMP as opposed to the not-for-profit industry funds, often affiliated with unions. The concern about retail super funds is that the trustee companies of these funds are usually wholly-owned subsidiaries of the banks and wealth managers. Nicole Smith leaving the Federal Court. Credit:Simon Schluter That presents potential conflicts of interest between the trustees duties under the law to look after the interests of fund members and the desire of the parent institution to maximise profits. This potential for conflict was explored at length this week, through a forensic questioning of National Australia Bank and its superannuation trustee, Nulis. For several days, Hodge grilled the former chair of Nulis, Nicole Smith, on whether the trustee had acted in the best interests of members in response to how NAB was responding to the widespread fees-for-no-service scandal. This scandal involved members of super funds run by banks paying fees from their accounts without having received any service - typically, financial advice - in return. ASIC has said that compensation to fund members over the fees-for-no-service scandal is likely to reach $850 million across the industry. During intense questioning, Hodge directed a series of questions to Smith to test the extent to which the trustees at Nulis were prepared to push back against the demands of those at NAB who wanted to avoid, minimise or delay compensation to fund members who had paid for services not received. Smith rejected Hodges suggestion that Nulis did not act in its members' best interests for allowing, for example, the bank to discuss remediation of fees with the regulator without the trustees involvement. But what seemed to really raise the ire of the commission this week was NABs failure to produce required documents in a timely fashion and its subsequent attempts to suppress some of those pages from public release. According to Hodge, NAB dumped 3000 pages of requested documentation on the commission in the week before this weeks hearings. Subsequent skirmishes ensued between NABs senior counsel, Neil Young QC, and commissioner Kenneth Hayne over NABs attempt to suppress sensitive parts of those documents which detail the banks exchanges with the corporate watchdog over ASIC's continuing investigation of more than 100 potential criminal breaches of the Corporations Act by NAB over the fees-for-no-service scandal. The royal commission expressed frustration with NAB's submission of documents. Credit:Penny Stephens At one point, Young submitted the documents were irrelevant to the evidence being presented by Nicole Smith. To which an agitated Hayne replied, physically pointing a finger at NABs senior counsel: You will not give her answer, Mr Young. You will not. Do you understand me? Beyond this week's dramatic scenes, financial service industry experts agree that there are flaws in the trustee system, with one even questioning whether it has passed its use-by date altogether. Mark Kachor, the managing director of life insurance and superannuation researcher DEXX&R, says there can be failures in protections for fund members, particularly when the trustee is a captive of the financial institution. Often, the senior officers of the trustee company also hold positions with the parent institution, Kachor said. Professor Gail Pearson of the University of Sydney Business School agrees there are legitimate questions to be asked as to whether trustees are properly fulfilling their obligations on behalf of fund members, including whether conflicts of interest are managed adequately. Loading Pearson notes that enforcement of the law concerning superannuation trustees comes under the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. But she says the regulators main role has been to ensure that superannuation funds remain solvent, as stipulated under Section 6 of the SIS Act. A breach of trustee obligations under Sections 52 and 52A of the SIS Act - the main provisions designed to protect member interest - is not an offence and neither do civil penalty or infringement provisions apply to those sections of the Act. The regulator can apply to court to disqualify a trustee for contraventions of the Act, but that would only be used in extreme circumstances, Pearson said. It is a situation that could rightly leave some fund members without complete confidence that their super funds trustee is looking out for their interests all of time, says Alex Dunnin, executive director of research and compliance at Rainmaker Group. If those trustees also work, or are paid by, sponsoring commercial organisations, they would need the hide of a rhinoceros to not, at least at times, act sympathetically to their sponsor [the parent financial institution], Dunnin said. As the royal commission considers what recommendations it may ultimately make about the role of trustees, one solution proposed by some experts is to separate superannuation trustee companies from their parent financial institutions, so that the trustee can fulfil its duties at arm's length from the financial institutions that own the funds. Pearson says it could be time to rethink the way in which the trustee model operates: We have seen problems arising from conflicts of interest between trustees and related parties, poor performances of some funds and fee gouging. In the May budget, the Turnbull government announced a suite of measures designed to increase the banking regulator's ability to scrutinise trustees, to provide more transparency and to stop the overcharging of insurance premiums for younger members or those with low balances. The minister for financial services, Kelly ODwyer, who along with other Turnbull government ministers initially doggedly rejected the need for a royal commission, now says her decision to push for superannuation to be included in the agenda has been vindicated by the weeks evidence. Minister for Revenue and Financial Services Kelly O'Dwyer (left) and Treasurer Scott Morrison, long opponents of a banking royal commission, hold a press conference at ASIC offices in Melbourne this week. Credit:AAP ODwyer says its a lie and a smear to suggest the government was motivated to include superannuation in the commission's inquiries to protect friends in the banking industry by dragging union-affiliated industry superannuation funds into the dock. She says her preoccupation with super fund performance is neutral between industry and retail funds, and is motivated purely by complaints received as minister from people being ripped off through excessive fees and insurance premiums, from funds of both colours. Im in an industry fund, my husbands in a retail fund. I dont have any ideological objection to industry funds, says ODwyer. Ian Silk, the chief executive of Australias largest industry fund, Australian Super, was questioned briefly this week about the funds purchase of the website New Daily, but the commission has signalled its concerns do not centre on industry funds. The weeks lengthy examination of NAB, and next weeks scheduled grilling of Commonwealth Bank executives, suggest retail funds are firmly in the firing line. Regulators from both ASIC and APRA will also be called to give evidence next week and defend their records of protecting super fund members, amid calls by former competition tsar Allan Fels for ASIC to be stripped of its responsibility for regulating banks, and have those powers transferred to the competition watchdog. Financial services giant IOOF has been hammered over conflicts of interest and customer fees at the banking royal commission, amid revelations the listed company has been repeatedly taken to task by the regulator over governance and transparency issues. It also emerged that the company had tendered hand-written, scribbled board meeting notes in response to questions from the royal commission with its chief executive Chris Kelaher at one point unable to identify just who at IOOF had taken the scrawled records. The investment management company came under heavy fire on Friday over its responses to queries from the royal commission, with senior executive Mark Oliver, its head of distribution, at one point asked why the company had even "put him up" for questioning, due to his professed lack of knowledge on crucial issues. IOOF general manager of distributrion Mark Oliver professed to have no knowledge about some crucial issues raised at the royal commission. Credit:AAP Counsel assisting Michael Hodge, QC, grilled Mr Oliver over IOOFs decisions around pricing, including grandfathered trail commissions and volume-based payments, which are now banned for new members but were maintained for thousands of existing customers. A new operator in the electronic title transfer market says it shouldnt be compulsory for consumers to use the system until security, regulatory and competition issues are resolved. Australias two biggest states are leading a decades-long quest to entrench digital e-conveyancing as the norm across the property sector, which settles $300 billion of transactions annually. Victoria has mandated for all property titles to be exchanged in electronic format from this October, shredding 150 years of paper title history. NSW is expected to follow suit next year. More than half of all property transactions in Victoria last month were done on monopoly property e-transfer platform Property Exchange Australia (PEXA), a private company owned by major banks, state governments, private equity and property developer Paul Little. Let the scope of the insanity sink in. More than 100 people hit by gunfire, more than a dozen of them dead. In six days. The cacophony of chaos, as glimpsed from news reports: Shot twice in the chest grazed in the left leg a gunman came out of an alley shot in the head my dada dead hit in the crossfire when two men began shooting at each other shot in the back and thigh by someone who approached on foot struck in the head by stray gunfire My baby just left the house; 20 minutes later, I get a call saying my baby got shot shot twice in the right arm . Seven Group Holdings has opened a new WesTrac heavy machinery facility in Western Sydney to support the citys future infrastructure boom. Seven Group subsidiary WesTrac one of the largest Caterpillar machinery dealers in the world has opened its new construction machinery and maintenance centre in Casula, NSW. WesTrac has signed a 15 year lease at AMP Capital Crossroads Logistics Centre, Casula, Sydney It was officially opened on Thursday by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Seven Group Holdings chairman Kerry Stokes. The 24,000-square-metre site is located between the M5 and M7 motorways, close to major proposed and ongoing construction projects. I continue to be surprised there is no YIMBY (yes in my backyard) Sydney. The most expensive city in Australia, with unprecedented population growth yet a community and their local leaders rallying against new development in their neighbourhoods. I dont get it. I co-founded YIMBY Qld because there is a similar story playing out in Brisbane. It began as a blog and hash tag but quickly grew into a not-for-profit organisation within a global YIMBY network. We say Yes in My Back Yard to good development that makes for better living. We aim to bring back the balance to the urban policy debate, so often dominated by the negative NIMBY Not in My Back Yard narrative. It is a yes or a no for development in ''my backyard''? The YIMBY message resonates as many cities face population and growth pressures, with growth no longer welcome at the edges (as urban sprawl), but rather right in our back yards. The media overwhelmingly sympathisers with the NIMBYs, with the Australian Cities Research Centre finding the language not just negative but brutal, floods of development, cities in crisis and ripping the heart out of our suburbs. In Brisbane, we have a local councillor training his community how to protest. This, when many young people are asking is there room for me in this city? YIMBY Qld is part of a growing global network of YIMBY groups, who we met at the worlds first YIMBY conference in Boulder, Colorado, in 2016. Sonja Trauss spearheads the movement in San Francisco, where she protests the protesters who are rallying to stop development in her ever unaffordable city. YIMBYMom turns the traditional Hollywood heroes and villains stereotype on its heads, asking whos the villain now? when a wealthy homeowner wants to stop new housing in their exclusive schools district, or is more interested in protecting the car parking space out front of their house than the opportunity to welcome a newcomer to the neighbourhood. Houston put it simply: Can I be Your Neighbour?, fighting for key workers who have been priced out of their city. London YIMBY are celebrating their successful campaign with the introduction of a new National Planning Policy Framework putting the delivery of a sufficient supply of homes first and foremost. We aim to create an Australian-wide YIMBY network. We welcomed YIMBY Victoria last year, YIMBY Perth has a social media presence, and we have interest from Canberra and the Gold Coast. But theres a gaping whole on the map in NSW. President Donald Trump is embracing financial-market pain to get what he wants around the world, showing again the penchant for turmoil that is his trademark in US politics. His decision Friday to double steel and aluminum tariffs on a Turkish economy already reeling from a currency crisis came just days after imposing new sanctions on Russia, creating market havoc in both countries. Most Asian markets ended down for the week amid the US-China tariff war. Donald Trump seems unfazed in creating market disorder. Credit:AP Rather than worrying about US markets becoming infected by selloffs elsewhere, Trump is cheering on the economic losses suffered by the targets of American tariffs and sanctions. Turkey's lira is sliding "rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" Trump said on Twitter on Friday as he ratcheted up tariffs on its metals exports. Concerns about the relationship between food delivery platforms and small businesses continue to emerge, with questions over why venues are blocked from seeing details of customers who order from them via third party apps. Sites like Deliveroo and Menulog limit what restaurants can see about the customers who place orders with them through the sites, but those platforms can store and use customer email addresses for their own marketing purposes. Founder of Marketing4Restaurants James Eling with restaurateur Devendra Singh. Founder of food delivery challenger business Marketing4Restaurants, James Eling, says many smaller operators fall into a trap the minute they sign up with one of these sites. Once a restaurant joins a platform like Uber Eats, the majority of diners start ordering food via these platforms, and the business loses control over its customer databases, he says. Hedge funds have found a new way to profit from the sorry state of Australia's housing market: playing off how much poorer consumers feel as their home values decline. Managers including Totus Capital and Sydney's Regal Funds Management are putting bearish wagers on companies from JB Hi-Fi to Harvey Norman Holdings, betting discretionary retail stocks will wobble as the country's decades-long property boom goes into reverse and people shop less. Hedge funds are betting the housing slowdown will dent consumer spending. Credit:Paul Jeffers It's a twist to the infamous "widow maker" trade, where hedge funds took large losses over the past few years betting against Australian banks after prematurely predicting house prices would crash. This time, the theory is that rather than default on their mortgages, homeowners stung by 10 straight months of nationwide house price declines will curtail spending -- what economists refer to as the wealth effect. "We're short a basket of stocks correlated to discretionary spending," said Tim Hannon, the chief investment officer of Melbourne-based Newgate Capital Partners. "We're positioned like this because it will be discretionary spending that consumers will cut in order to replenish the wealth perceived to be lost due to house price falls." A national comparison of NAPLAN data will still be released this year despite concerns from education heads that the results of the online tests were too different from the pen-and-paper tests to be statistically comparable. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) said late on Friday that an emergency meeting of the Australian Education Senior Officials Committee (AESOC) been reassured of the data's validity after it was reviewed by two of Australia's leading assessment experts. "Following the recent detailed work, there is strong confidence in the integrity of the 2018 results," ACARA's statement said. Results would be given to the states next week, and a national picture would be provided as normal. Barry McGaw said the controversy could have been avoided. Credit:Justin McManus Professor Barry McGaw, a former chairman of ACARA who is still on its measurement advisory group, had already reviewed the data but did "extra refinements" on Thursday. He said parents could be comfortable the 2018 figures were sound. The pungent odour emanating from the Autopia conference isn't burning rubber or benzine. It's nostalgia. The whiff of a bygone era. A longing for a once vibrant local manufacturing industry that's as quiet now as the foreign-built cars that replaced our own. It's the musky scent of tribalism, of an era when designers took risks creating cars with enough character to instil fierce brand loyalty. Paul Beranger remembers Australia's golden era of the 1960s and '70s. For 45 years he designed at GM, Nissan and Toyota. Phillip Zmood, drawing of front design proposal for Premier Creators, 1969. Credit:Georgina Matherson "Car design was freer," says Beranger, whose new self-published book Crayon to CAD: A History of Post-war Automotive Design in Australia offers an insider's view of the car companies' top-secret lab, the design studio. During Autopia, the Automotive Historians Australia's third annual conference, Beranger will take audiences on a free trip down memory lane. Meanwhile a line-up of historians will lift the hood on the car industry's cultural legacy. In the contemporary theatre there may be no name as feared as Sarah Kane's. The 1990s saw the young British playwright pen five works that confronted audiences with relentless displays of graphic violence, inhuman barbarity and extreme nihilism. She was dead by 28, but two decades later her writing has lost none of its capacity to instil fear in those who would approach it. "People are so scared of her," says Anne-Louise Sarks, currently directing a production of Kane's first play, Blasted, for Malthouse Theatre. Anne-Louise Sarks with Blasted cast members. ''I'm checking in about what's going on outside [rehearsals],' she says. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui "What makes me sad is that it's like we got the first bit of news about her and then in many ways didn't get the full story. I feel people are still reacting to the scandal of it and the drama of her. (Blasted) was awarded an Olivier in London. It's the most trashed and critiqued and the most lauded play. I don't feel that everyone in Australia has gone on that full journey with her." Blasted has never been seen on a main stage in Melbourne. It follows a middle-aged journalist's abuse of a young woman in a hotel room before a soldier interrupts, bringing a war in his wake. The seeming chasm between private, domestic horror and the torture and genocide of mass conflict is erased. The debut feature from Miranda Nation is a wildly ambitious project that grapples with sex, loss, infidelity, infatuation and footy. In shades of the St Kilda schoolgirl scandal, Angie (Olivia DeJonge) is a 16-year-old (or 19, or 21, depending on who's asking) who has fallen pregnant, apparently to Geelong star Brett (Josh Helman). Photographer Claire (Laura Gordon) becomes fixated on the younger woman when she spies husband Dan (Rob Collins), an official at the club, at the motel where Angie is shacked up. She can't shake her suspicion he's having an affair, but she also can't shake the painful feelings stemming from the recent loss of their baby. Is that why she sees death and decay everywhere she looks? The storylines become entangled in ways that sometimes feel stretched and contrived, but there's no doubting the serious intent at play here, nor the refreshing way Nation frames the female body as a site of memory and feeling as much as desire. Hoyts, August 12, 7pm; Kino, August 18, 4pm. KQ There be plenty of monsters in newcomer Michael Pearce's version of the Channel Island of Jersey, where young women are being murdered in the dark and Moll is thus finding it more difficult than ever to escape the iron brace of her mother's constraints. Copper-haired Moll (Jessie Buckley) is "a wild one", says one local yokel; there is something vicious involving a pair of scissors in her past that requires that a perfectly presentable young woman of 27 be watched and kept virtually housebound, like some mad Victorian spinster. When she meets the earthy poacher Pascal (Johnny Flynn) she is immediately drawn to him, ostensibly as a fellow outcast. When the police fix on him as their chief murder suspect, however, it is suggested that there is something more rabidly malevolent that unites them. A treacly mix of psychological drama, horror and romance of the thwarted variety, Beast is cleverly embedded in the real-life story of serial rapist Edward Paisnel, who terrorised the island and outwitted police throughout the '60s and into the '70s. Pearce was a child then; his sense of the place is unerring, a grey counterpart to the gleaming yachts and crisply solved crimes we remember from Bergerac. Hoyts, August 12, 4.30pm; Forum, August 13, 9pm. SB THE IMAGE BOOK Credit:MIFF The newest essay film from the 89-year-old Jean-Luc Godard, almost the last surviving representative of the French New Wave, is disconcerting in what has become his familiar manner, bombarding us with clips from films both celebrated and obscure many of them seemingly copied from decaying VHS tapes, with no regard for "image quality" in any usual sense. As always, Godard's voiceover is a flow of aphorisms and allusions cryptic enough to seem almost private. Yet there are moments where meaning emerges with blinding clarity: cinema, we're made to feel, offers us an inventory of human possibilities from happiness to horror, in a manner somehow both immediate and impossibly remote. It would be tempting to say that the film carries us along like a river, except that Godard is constantly looking for ways to interrupt the flow: abrupt cuts, jarring manipulations of sound, stretches of dead air that "say" at least as much as what comes between them. Forum, August 13, 6.30pm. JW BURNING Having suffered generations of Anglo-Celt shenanigans at pub closing times, rural Chinese restaurants nowadays wield a blunt hospitality after dark. They assume white men will be drunk, and they place a harridan front-of-house to deal with the menace. However, I was sober when I went to a Chinese takeaway in a country town recently and asked their harridan if I could add barbecued pork to dish 14, the Ma Po Tofu. I might as well have slapped her. She went wild. Shouting, "Fourteen fourteen. Fourteen fourteen," right into my dumb face. She meant, I think, 14 is 14, inviolable, inerrant, Cantonese cuisine's last word on Ma Po Tofu with Seaweed and no chance of barbecued pork on top, you drunken pig. I left that takeaway window, sober, covered in spittle, without any 14. But 14's high priestess set me thinking of other retail hostilities I'd witnessed. Illustration: Robin Cowcher Firstly, though, I'd like to exonerate kebab vendors, who are mysteriously agreeable. Whether Lebanese, Turk or Arab, your kebab vendor quickly accepted the drunk as his primary client and learnt his obscure locutions well enough to be able to communicate sweetly even with a bloke so blotto paramedics can't find his vital signs. Kebab sellers are more likely than John Edward to be able to talk to the dead, I think. Of course, there is a level of condescension from the kebab vendor towards his client, the natural disdain the non-drinker feels for the drinker, the pity the healthy feel for the sick and the sane for the deranged. A kebab vendor is pretty much a short-order cook in Bedlam. Minimalists are perpetually on the verge of homicide, so it's no surprise to be assaulted by a sushi chef. And, yes, the first chef to try to stab me was a sushi chef. His attack was triggered by me telling him, "Your sushi ... tastes like Belushi." Which rhymes, and was possibly true. But when he asked me, "Berushi?" and I said, "John Berushi," he flipped. This was days after the actor had been found decaying in his penthouse, which added pungency to my insult. Two waiters saved me by wrestling the chef to the floor. To the editor: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos ought to be ashamed of herself for trying to push through a reversal of the Obama-era regulation that made it easier for students to erase debited loans in cases of fraud. These regulations were not only necessary, but purposely put in place to guard unsuspecting students from being taken advantage of by for-profit colleges. It's just one more concession DeVos and her administration has made to big-money investors who want to make sure they not only get their money back, but also make a huge profit off the backs of young people who can least afford it. It's deception at the highest level. Pull those sleeves back workers, new research suggests tattoos are no longer a disadvantage when it comes to getting a job, keeping it and how much you get paid for it. Researchers from the University of Western Australia and University of Miami collected data from more than 2000 people across the US and found the perception that tattoos negatively affected employability, wages and acceptance in the workplace wasn't true. Tattoos are becoming more acceptable in the workplace, new research suggests. They found wages and annual earnings of tattooed employees were no different from the wages and annual earnings of their clean-skinned colleagues. Tattooed people were also just as likely, and in some instances even more likely, to gain employment. At school Id been taught about Independent Probability Variables, but in my arty life I was constantly having to deal with Employment Improbability Variables. A typical question would be this: An aspiring writer is getting no support from any funding bodies - not government or parent or cashed-up girlfriend who is about to drop him. Determine the number of cars that the writer must wash at Sparkles Carwash before he can pay his weekly rent and buy a can of beetroot for food. Remember to deduct the cost of the carwash bucket which the writer had to provide himself. Also the sponge. So I was pretty happy when school finally finished and I could plunge into my arty life, trying to make it as a writer or a muso or a filmmaker or anything mildly dickweedy. And after several years of unemployment and utter failure, I realised that maths was creeping back into my life, in an evil calculating way - a highly specialised branch of mathematics called Arts Maths. Maths was my worst subject at school. I just couldnt do any of it - not logarithms, not trigonometry, not algebra, not the seven times table past 39 (if it went to 39. No idea). There just seemed to be no point in me learning maths. I was never going to use it: I was an arty, creative kid, halfway between a poncey git and a massive wanker - what was known back then as a bit of a dickweed. At school I was forced to learn about the Binomial Theorem, but in my arty life I was forced to learn about the Buy-no-meal Theorem. Each day I was faced with puzzling problems like: A wannabe composer has written a childrens puppet musical based on Edward Lears The Owl and the Pussycat, being paid nothing but the joy of seeing smiles on the faces of young children, which is crap pay and well below equity minimum. If the composer goes out after a show for a Japanese meal with the cast (three actors, three puppets), calculate how to split a bill between seven, to 40 decimal places. If the composer cannot afford to pay, determine the velocity he must run from the Japanese restaurant, taking into consideration that he needs to get his shoes back on and they are Converse Hi-Tops with lots of laces. At school I had to agonise over Differential Calculus, but in my arty life I was only ever agonising over Depressional Calculus. Thats where you work out the age of famous people when they got successful, and then compare it to your own age so you can wallow in a pit of pathos for your own pleasure. For example: If Orson Welles was born in 1915 and made Citizen Kane in 1941, how much more miserable do you feel about yourself, expressed as a ratio of anguish to self-loathing? Depressional Calculus is what many of us arty folk do in our spare time: its our special little hobby when were not weeping in the shower. A recent university study found that Australian artists are suffering greater poverty, homelessness and poor health than ever before - so maybe its time for schools to tweak their syllabuses, rethink their educational programs, get their act together and take it on the road. Arts Maths should become a proper subject, compulsory for all poncey gits, massive wankers and arty dickweeds. If I could have picked Arts Maths as an elective, I reckon I wouldve excelled, coming away with a final exam score of 99 and 67.3/4ths per cent. Or something. Danny Katz is an Age columnist. Canberra defence lawyer Louise Taylor has been announced as the ACT's first Aboriginal judicial officer. Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay on Friday announced Ms Taylor, a Kamilaroi woman, had been appointed as the eighth permanent magistrate sitting on the ACT Magistrates Court. Loise Taylor has been named as the ACT Magistrates Court's eighth permanent magistrate. She will start in the job next month. Ms Taylor has practiced law in the ACT for more than 15 years, where she has worked in the offices of both the Commonwealth and ACT Directors of Public Prosecutions. A Braddon man accused of claiming ill health to defraud $100,000 from a Good Samaritan will stay behind bars. Brett James Cook, 52, did not apply for bail and did not enter pleas when he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday on seven charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception. The court heard the alleged offences had been committed between September 2016 and August 2017. No further evidence was put before the court and Cook was remanded in custody to reappear later this month. An ACT Policing press release, published on Friday morning, said Cook had been arrested after a raid on Thursday. Police have found a 14-year-old boy who was reported missing on Thursday. The 14-year-old was last seen in Richardson about 5pm Wednesday and did not take his phone or wallet with him. Police thanked the public for their assistance. This years Emerging Artist Support Scheme (EASS) exhibition at Watson Arts Centre features the ceramic work of Mahala Hill. She was selected by Canberra Potters from the 2017 ANU School of Art and Design ceramics graduates. Hill is a contemporary ceramic artist striving to push both the limits and the pre-conceived notions of her medium. Her practice focuses around the "burn out", which is the remnant shell-like form that emerges from inside a layer of liquid clay after the combustible organic plant material has incinerated. The residual matter is a ghostly phantom form, simultaneously evoking traces of a life and loss. It's open Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm and the exhibition is on until September 9. Painting amongst other things On Saturday at ANCA Gallery will be the floor talk (2pm) and opening reception (3pm) for Painting amongst other things. Curated by Oscar Capezio, it features works by Vivienne Binns, Ian Burn, Lucina Lane, Patrick Lundberg, Elizabeth Newman, and Jelena Telecki. It figures "painting" as an unresolved category, merely acting as the locus for a continuous negotiation with different ways of making and knowing the wider world. The exhibition is on until August 26. Floor Talk: Elizabeth Kelly Craft ACT is holding a Science Week talk with this glassmaker and artist on August 17 at 12.30pm where she will unpack the complex process of creating her latest work, a collaboration with an engineer and an astrophysicist from the Australian National University. MACROCOSMIA consists of three large-scale sculptures weighing more than 100 kilograms each, and this is their first public showing. ACT Fire and Rescue are at the scene of a car fire at Fairbairn Avenue in Majura. Emergency services were called to the incident just after 10am on Friday. More to come. From film stills and celebrity portraits, costumes and movie memorabilia, Heath Ledger was everywhere to be seen at the National Film and Sound Archive on Friday. But while the new exhibition about the late actors life and art could have been filled with sadness, fellow actor Abbie Cornish said seeing her old friends face on every wall filled her with joy. Australian actor Abbie Cornish at the opening of Heath Ledger: A Life In Pictures at the National Film and Sound Archive. Painting by Vincent Fantauzzo Credit:Karleen Minney Theres a lot of light in the exhibition, she said. I think that was his life - he was like a shooting star. C---. The c-word. The big C. Dropping the old c-bomb. A real see you next Tuesday. It's one of the big no-nos of the English language, the word that when uttered at the wrong time in the wrong place is still powerful enough to raise a gasp (and perhaps more than that). There are some things you just c-n't say. Racial slurs aside, c--- is still one of the most offensive things you can call someone. But has the taboo lost some of its edge? On Friday, the television watchdog cleared the ABC of any wrongdoing after the c-word was used multiple times on comedy show Tonightly with Tom Ballard. Double jeopardy: the prosecution or punishment of a person twice for the same offence. The phrase became more widely known after the 1999 movie Double Jeopardy, starring Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones. There are old laws preventing double jeopardy, designed to ensure those found innocent of a crime would not continue to be hounded by police and charged again for the same offence. Ashley Judd in Double Jeopardy, Credit:Publcity But most states and territories in Australia have in recent times changed the laws that prevent double jeopardy, to allow someone to be tried twice for an offence in exceptional circumstances. Queensland prosecutors last month relied on these exceptions for the first time when charging a man for a 1987 murder, of which he was previously acquitted. Most of the weekends violence occurred in familiar zones, just four of the citys 22 police districts, on the West and South sides, police said. Many were the result of random shots fired indiscriminately into crowds. One victim was shot while riding his bicycle. Another was waiting for a bus. Others were shot while attending a funeral repast, at block parties or just standing outside, trying to beat the summer heat. Six of the attacks injured four or more people. Gordon Wood has lost his malicious prosecution case against the state of NSW after he was wrongfully convicted of killing his girlfriend Caroline Byrne. Mr Wood, 55, was initially found guilty in 2008 of murdering Ms Byrne, 24, by throwing her off a cliff at The Gap in Watson's Bay in June 1995. But he was acquitted by the Court of Appeal in 2012, after spending more than three years behind bars, with the court finding the guilty verdict was "unreasonable" and that suicide could not be excluded. Mr Wood, a former chauffer for the late stockbroker Rene Rivkin, then sued the state of NSW in the Supreme Court for malicious prosecution, seeking millions of dollars in damages. Former Hunter Valley vineyard owner David Anthony James has been charged with being involved in a cheque fraud scheme worth almost $20 million. The fallen James Estate Wines boss is facing 98 counts of attempted fraud and one count of fraud. Former James Estate Wine boss David James, whose empire collapsed in 2013, is to face court on fraud charges. Credit:Jonathan Carroll Detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad will allege Mr James was involved in a cheque kiting scheme, whereby he deposited valueless cheques into an account and was able to draw down on uncleared funds with a total value of $19,870,000. The 56-year-old was issued a future court attendance notice on Thursday afternoon and will face Newcastle Local Court on September 19. Special police operations will be in place on Sunday morning during the City2Surf, with residents and motorists needing to be aware of major road closures in the CBD and eastern suburbs. City2Surf is a much-celebrated Sydney event and we intend to maintain that atmosphere our priority is making sure the route and surrounding areas are safe for the tens of thousands of runners taking the 14km challenge this year, police Superintendent Brad Hodder said. Eight thousand people are expected for this weekend's City2Surf. Credit:James Alcock Superintendent Hodder will lead Operation Seagrass, a high-visibility policing strategy "in place to ensure the safety and security of participants, event staff and spectators, while working to minimising the impact of the event on local residents and the wider community". The operation will stretch from the start line in Hyde Park, with Elizabeth Street a clearway between Campbell Street and Hunter Street from 1am on Sunday morning to 4pm in the afternoon, all the way to Bondi Beach, where Campbell Parade and surrounding side streets are closed from 6am or 7am to 4pm. Notorious murderer John Walsh repeatedly ploughed a sandwich press into his cellmate's head because he thought he had the look of a man who was planning something. "He just died, it was so easy," the 79-year-old told police after he murdered fellow convicted killer, Frank Townsend, in their Long Bay prison cell in early January 2017. John Walsh is taken from NSW Supreme Court in Sydney on Friday Credit:AAP "I stepped forward with both hands and choom, onto his face. "I don't work in anger, I work in tactical ... cold rage." Sometimes, in order to learn, you need to slow down and shut up. Which is exactly what my TV crew and I were told to do when we entered the sacred ceremonial grounds at Gulkula in North East Arnhem Land, the home of the Yolgnu clan for more than 50,000 years. Members of the Gumatj clan perform a ceremonial dance at Garma. Credit:Melanie Faith Dove/Yothu Yindi Foundation While flying along the red dirt road to the campsite for the Garma festival, I carefully read the behaviour protocols provided by the Yothu Yindi foundation. They state: Remember you are on Yolngu land and entering Yolngu time. Yolngu perceptions, priorities and preoccupations are different from those of mainstream Australia. Be patient, and try to leave at home your expectations of how things are learnt, and how events should run. Traditionally Yolngu learn by observation, by looking and listening. Asking too many questions can be inappropriate. So when you have questions, choose them carefully and thoughtfully. Loading Winnowing questions can be a challenge for journalists. But doing just this; sitting back, eyes open, two ears cocked, resulted in one of the most profound experiences of my life, a click, shift and shake of the kaleidoscope. It was an enormous privilege to be briefly immersed in this ancient, calm, respectful tradition, during the countrys largest gathering of Indigenous elders, and recognise the lived, enduring shame of the treatment of Indigenous Australians as well as the depth of their spiritual and cultural traditions. An alleged member of a Gold Coast-based outlaw motorcycle gang has been arrested and stripped of his visa, and will be deported to New Zealand. Queensland Police and Australian Border Force officers arrested the man on Thursday afternoon at Beenleigh, saying the man was a senior member of the gang. The man will remain in detention until he is removed from Australia. Credit:Australian Border Force The man's visa was cancelled under s501 of the Migration Act and is in detention until he is deported. ABF Investigations commander Graeme Grosse said the Act gave provisions to cancel the visas of foreign nationals if they posed a risk to the community or "where they fail the character test through their involvement in criminal activity, including as part of OMCGs". A cyclist and motorbike rider have died after separate south-east Queensland crashes on Friday. Both incidents caused heavy traffic congestion in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast as Forensic Crash Unit investigators closed roads to examine the crash scenes. In the most recent incident, police said a cyclist was hit by a truck while both were travelling north on Hudson Road in Albion about 3pm. Paramedics assessed the 37-year-old Geebung man for critical injuries, but he was declared dead at the scene. Hudson Road was blocked and diversions put in place, but there was still three kilometres of northbound gridlock stretching back to Bowen Hills at 5pm, according to Mr Smith. I remember just sitting there with a great sense of sadness and emptiness, he recalls. He went to the crime scene and then to the victims stations (Prahran and St Kilda) to talk to Silk and Millers colleagues before seeking out the families. It was the worst day in my 35 years in policing. Then there were the funerals. At Garys service at the Police Academy, Comrie was the first to salute as the coffin passed the Honour Guard of thousands of police that stretched for more than a kilometre. Chief Commissioner Neil Comrie salutes Gary Silk on his last journey. Credit:Jason South You had to keep your emotions in check. There was a feeling of grief but a great sense of determination to find those responsible, not only to give Gary and Rod justice but because we knew there were offenders out there prepared to kill police. Our granddaughter was born on the same day as James, [Millers] son. It just hit us to think he would never know his father. I told Graham [Sinclair] I dont care what they are doing now, find our best people and get them working on this." Carmel with baby James. He would never know his father. Credit:Simon O'Dwyer That team became Taskforce Lorimer, and after a two-year investigation they charged Bandali Debs and Jason Roberts with the Silk-Miller murders. In 2002 a Supreme Court jury found them guilty. A key piece of evidence was that the dying Rod Miller told the first police on the scene - including Senior Constable Glenn Pullin - that there were two offenders, one on foot, and this was immediately radioed to D24, the emergency communications centre. Pullin recalls that Miller knew he was dying. He was terrified and in agony. There was this big, fit policeman pleading for life and there was nothing we could do." Pullin says they found an open factory door nearby and he was convinced the second gunman was inside. As the only policeman there without children, he decided to take the lead and walk in first. He holstered his gun, because he didnt want the offender to grab his weapon, and - although not religious - began to pray as he entered. Rod Miller's funeral Honour Guard. Credit:Simon O'Dwyer Having just seen Rod, I prayed that if I was shot it would be a clean kill. There was no one there. But the only possible conclusion is that if Pullin entered the factory believing he was likely to be shot and as the suspect car had been driven away by one offender, then police at the time were convinced there was a second gunman in the area on foot. And the only way they could reach that conclusion was because Miller told them. Suffering from shock, Pullin walked to nearby Warrigal Road. The next few hours are blank. I just remember sitting in the gutter and looking down to see a pile of cigarette butts at my feet, so I must have been there just smoking. All I can remember is seeing two blokes with shotguns run past. I dont know who they were. "Looking back, I went to work that night and a different person came home." Constable Glenn Pullin arrests a man outside the rollerskating rink in Noble Park in 1992. Roberts has since claimed he is innocent, that he was not in Cochranes Road and that Debs acted alone. The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating claims that Pullins original police statement made no mention of multiple offenders and was later altered to fit the two gunmen theory. As a result of the claims that compromised evidence was presented to the jury, Victorian Attorney-General Martin Pakula has referred Roberts case to the Supreme Court of Appeal for examination. There are three simple questions here. What did Rod Miller say as he was dying; What did police at the scene hear; and was evidence fabricated? A few days ago, before Pakulas decision, The Age contacted Pullin and asked just one question: Did you hear Rod Miller say there were two offenders? Pullin: Yes, without any doubt. The best and the worst The murders of Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre highlight the best and worst of the criminal justice system. The worst is that a group of armed robbers decided to randomly target two police as a payback for the death of one of their gang, Graeme Jensen, who had been shot dead in Narre Warren by detectives 13 hours earlier. Walsh Street was an underworld terror attack, pure and simple. Constables Damian Eyre and Steven Tynan were gunned down in Walsh Street, South Yarra, in 1988. The initial police response was angry and uncontrolled. The Ty-Eyre Taskforce was under-resourced and placed under unrealistic pressure while at the same time splinter groups of police went off the reservation, carrying out their own raids, terrorising suspects and those close to them. There were abductions and assaults that eroded police credibility and damaged the taskforces capacity to launch long-term investigative strategies. Despite that, they were able to turn two insiders Wendy Peirce, whose husband Victor was one of the leaders of the suspected armed robbery gang, and Jason Ryan, Victor Peirces nephew. Wendy Peirce and Victor Peirce at a wedding reception in June 1987, 16 months before the fatal shooting of two police in Walsh Street. The taskforce charged Peirce, his half-brother Trevor Pettingill, Peter David Bubble-Brain McEvoy and Anthony Farrell with the Walsh Street murders. Ryans evidence was questionable, as he gave several versions of events, but Wendy Peirce was to be the star witness. She stayed in police protection for 18 months - at a cost of $2 million - but eventually refused to give evidence at the Supreme Court. She later served nine months for perjury. While it is now accepted that the four charged were the offenders, there is also no doubt the prosecution's case was flawed. There was public pressure to convict - after all, the accused men were known to be violent criminals with a hatred of police - but the 12 jurors weighed the evidence fairly and acquitted. The system worked. It took me 17 years to convince Wendy Peirce to finally come clean - then in a Port Melbourne coffee shop she confessed: "It [Walsh Street] was spur of the moment, we were on the run. Victor was the organiser." She said they were staying in a Tullamarine motel but Peirce left during the night to join members of his gang to ambush the police. She named the shooters as Jedd Houghton, who was later shot dead by police, and Peter McEvoy. "It was more Jedd and Macca [McEvoy] than the others. Jedd was the trigger man, he had the shotgun. Macca took [Damian Eyres] handgun. Victor was pissed off with him for that. Following the acquittal, Victor Peirce showed no remorse, telling Wendy: "They deserved their whack. It could have been me." On May 1, 2002, Peirce was shot dead in Bay Street, Port Melbourne, not far from his home. Wendy believed police were delighted the accused cop killer was dead and would never try to solve the murder. Wendy Peirce: Her husband Victor was murdered in the car in the background. Credit:Craig Abraham Jim OBrien was one of the investigators in the Ty-Eyre Taskforce who was convinced Peirce had escaped justice and partially blamed Wendy for refusing to testify. But by the time Peirce was killed OBrien was head of the Purana Taskforce and placed in charge of the gangland murder investigation. His team eventually charged Faruk Orman, who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years with a minimum of 14. Again, the system worked. They gathered in the Phillip Island sunshine in their hundreds: parents holding their childrens hands, elderly couples, mothers, fathers and teenagers. At an auditorium on Phillip Island on Friday afternoon, more than 400 people came together in their shared grief to remember a mother taken too young. People gather after a memorial service in memory of Samantha Fraser on Phillip Island on Friday. Credit:AAP Samantha Fraser, 38, a mother of three and a loved sibling and daughter, was farewelled at a memorial service in her home of Phillip Island. She was found dead in her Cowes home on July 23 by police who went to the house to do a welfare check after she did not arrive to pick up her children from school. Staff at a Woolworths supermarket in Melbourne's south east say they feel unsafe at work after security guards were removed despite a spate of physical and verbal assaults by customers. More than 50 workers at the Moorabbin store have signed a petition calling for a permanent security guard following a series of incidents, including a customer threatening to stab a supervisor. A security worker had guarded the store each night from 7pm until 12am, but that had stopped suddenly on Monday, employees said. Andrew Berecz, 24, a deli worker at the Moorabbin store, said a disgruntled customer had thrown a chicken at his head after complaining about how long she had waited to be served. After the judgment, Mr Moses asked for the matter to be referred to the Australian Federal Police to see if there was "aiding and abetting" by journalists. Justice Bromwich said referrals from the Federal Court could only be made in the event of a determination by a court and that would be a step too far. Mr Roberts-Smith, who is one of three living recipients of the Victoria Cross for Australia, the nations highest military honour, issued an emphatic denial of the allegations, labelling them a "catalogue of lies, fabrications and misrepresentations". He said early on Friday he would vigorously defend himself against the "malicious" claims. I do want to say today that I unequivocally deny any physical abuse of any woman at any time ever, and that I have not at any stage been interviewed by police about any purported complaint by any woman," Mr Roberts-Smith, now an executive at Channel Seven, said in a statement on Friday. I am deeply troubled that alleged evidence given on oath before the [Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force] inquiry has been canvassed in the press and that Fairfax has allegedly accessed it. Not only is it illegal, it is unfair to people who havent given evidence and it has the potential to undermine the fairness of the inquiry." The result of this pro-rata approach is that electricity will quickly and easily reach its 26 per cent target, while the agriculture sector will struggle. Once agriculture has exhausted even the more expensive emissions reduction projects, it will then be forced to meet the target by reducing production. The Australia Institute has released a paper that for the first time puts solid numbers around what the agriculture sector would need to do to reduce emissions by 26 per cent, using data from Reputex. It found that by 2024 the sector will have exhausted emissions reduction projects and would then need to start reducing output. The biggest emissions source in agriculture is emissions from animals. The emissions reduction projects identified so far will only get it about halfway to the target. To reach the 26 per cent target would require a reduction of about 11 per cent in herd sizes by 2030. To reach the 26 per cent target would require a reduction of about 11 per cent in herd sizes by 2030. Using today's herd sizes that would equate to about 3 million beef cattle. Credit:Peter Braig Using today's herd sizes that would equate to about 3 million beef cattle which is the same as all the beef cattle in Victoria and South Australia. Eight million sheep (double the sheep in Queensland and Tasmania combined), 290,000 dairy cows (or all the dairy cows in NSW), and 270,000 pigs (or all the pigs in Western Australia). Or to put it another way, the millennial drought 20 years ago was quite severe and forced farmers to reduce their herd sizes. These reduced herd sizes reduced agricultural emissions by 15 per cent. If the agriculture sector is forced to shoulder more of the burden of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a further 11 per cent, then this reduction will be roughly equivalent to the impact of the millennial drought. Only in this case, the cut would be permanent. Those are some pretty stark numbers. The electricity sector and can and should reduce emissions more cheaply. It is absurd to restrict its ambition to 26 per cent, like benching your best player before a grand final. This is recognised by the National Farmers Federation (NFF), who support the NEG and have suggested inadequate cuts in the electricity sector could have unfair consequences for agriculture. In a submission the Energy Security Board it said the electricity sector represented the most cost-effective ways to reduce our emissions Other sectors of the economy, such as farmers and small businesses, are price takers and would not be able to pass on the cost of an imposed emissions reductions scheme. The NFF has said that 26 per cent should be the minimum target, but stopped short of arguing for an increased electricity target. You would think the Coalition would think carefully about potential threats to one of its key constituencies. But the fact is the climate debate in Australia within conservative circles has been seriously unhinged for many years now. Just this week Professor Ian Plimer wrote an article for The Australian titled Repeat after me: carbon dioxide is good for us, arguing that C02 is a trace gas in the atmosphere and therefore couldnt possibly drive global warming. Plimer may be a Professor, but like Australias climate policy over the last decade, hes a bit lacking in common sense. Just because there are only trace amounts of something doesnt mean it cant do any harm, just ask anyone whos had salmonella-fuelled food poisoning. But such is the level of the climate policy debate in Australia 2018. Its obscene. Especially when we can see with our own two eyes the impacts of climate change rampaging all around us. The northern hemisphere is currently burning up. California has a wildfire the size of Los Angeles which firefighters expect to burn until September, Sweden has had an outbreak of 50 wildfires a dozen of them in the Arctic Circle and 80 people have died so far in Japans heatwave. Bill Hannah in one of the four empty dams on his property in Gundy, in the Hunter region of NSW. Much of Australia is - yet again - in the grip of drought. Credit:Marina Neil Here in Australia, 100 per cent of NSW and 57 per cent of Queensland are in drought. The NSW drought has been described as the worst drought in 100 years; readers might recall the Millennium drought was supposed to be a once in 1000 years drought. Weve now experienced two record-breaking droughts in the past 20 years. A 28-year-old Maylands man has been charged after the police Tactical Response Group and a negotiator were called to a unit complex in the suburb amid reports he was armed with an axe and knife. Police were called about a disturbance at the complex on Thursday afternoon, with the man allegedly striking a security door at a unit with the weapons, damaging it and a wooden door behind it. When officers arrived at the complex, they were directed to another unit in the complex where the man had retreated to, but attempts to make contact with him proved fruitless. The TRG and a negotiator were called to the complex, and when they could still not make contact they burst into the unit and arrested the 28-year-old without incident. Police searched the unit and seized an axe and knife. How much money does a federal MP make? Actually I don't look at my salary! I'm assuming it's about $260,000 or $280,000. [The base salary for parliamentarians is $203,020 per annum; the average annual salary for a cabinet minister is $350,209.] Does that feel like too little, too much or just right? I've thought about this, and I think we don't pay our politicians enough. You want people who are going to go in and look after the interests of all Australians. I earned more as a public servant [as director, Aboriginal Health, for WA's Department of Health] than as a backbencher. I look at the corporate sector and can't see how you justify salaries of $18 million, especially when I see people in my electorate battle from week to week. BODIES To what extent were you conscious or self-conscious of being Aboriginal growing up? Extremely. When you think of the 1950s and '60s, people were very blunt. You got used to accepting terms like "nigger", "boong", "coon" and "blacks". Even later in life, people have made a derogatory comment about Aborigines before looking at you, then saying, "Oh no, you're different, you've become civilised." I had a neighbour who said to me, "We really like you and your wife, but I don't like Aboriginal people." Gee, where do you even begin with a comment like that? In most cases, you say, "Tell me what you mean." Once you start talking them through it, all of a sudden you pick up their sense of embarrassment. They never say it again. Why does the mix of federal parliamentarians not reflect our multicultural community? Part of the challenge we will continue to have are party structures. Selection processes have always favoured sons and daughters who people want in the seat, even though other candidates might be outstanding. One day Australia's parliament will evolve to a point where it reflects the community, though. It's changing. What do you like about getting older? In our community, grey hair and grey beards represent the getting of wisdom and statesmanship. I'm reaching that stage. If I grew out my beard now, it'd probably be white and I'd pass off as Father Christmas. The only downside is your body ages and you become frail. I can't imagine being an MP is conducive to staying on top of physical health. I do a lot of walking, but I'm laid up at the moment because I've had a knee joint replacement. The other problem is that you go to a whole range of functions and someone will say, "We've cooked these scones for you" or "We've made this chocolate thing." So you have a very thin slice of cake or one scone. The trouble is, you do that five times a day! So this is a huge occupational hazard. [Laughs.] It is! But the beauty is, when I go to a Country Women's Association event, the scones are superb. I end up having a couple with strawberry or plum jam, and nice thickened cream with a hint of vanilla through it. RELIGION In 2015, Western Australia's Liberal government wanted to deregister hundreds of Aboriginal heritage sites. For those sites to qualify for protection as "sacred", the government required religious activity to occur on them. You said at the time, "The Dreaming is a religion." If you read Genesis which talks about the Creation then read the beginning of the Dreaming, the parallels are blatant. I made that point about the Dreaming being a religion to put it into a contemporary context. Our Dreaming is no less than the Catholic or Anglican religion, or Buddhism. Do you consider yourself religious, spiritual, both or neither? I consider myself spiritual more than religious. I do read scripture, and I do follow a particular faith. She insisted that reports that there was a high turnover of staff in her office were untrue, and that she had had just seven full-time staff since being elected, with others flowing through to offer training or fill in. However others in Canberra, even some sympathetic to Husar, remain adamant she had a reputation for going through staff quickly. She showed off notes of gratitude and thanks, one from a staffer who had publicly called her a bully. Loading Trying to reconcile these two accounts of life working with Husar at first seems impossible, but one staff member comes close. "Shes got grit, he says with grim admiration. She grew up in a shit environment and she reflects that." Husar addressed her exposure to domestic violence through her childhood in a speech that made her famous only months after her election. There is one thing though that all sides agree upon. Parliamentary staff work in a terrible environment and have been failed not just by individual MPs, not just by political parties, and not just by the exhausting, needlessly adversarial nature of our political process, but also by the Parliament itself. Even in the best of circumstances Parliament House has a special way of making staffers miserable. One member of a busy crossbenchers office - an office that like Husars was on the political frontlines but resourced as a backbenchers would be - told Fairfax Media that within a year of starting his job he found himself huddled in the toilets in the Qantas lounge crying as he returned to Canberra for a sitting week. This was a man who considered his boss to be a good friend. Its not just that people are bored and under stress and away from their families, it is the culture of the place, he said. The aggression that the parties reward and the belligerence that debate in the chamber demands would simply be illegal in any other workplace, he says, and that aggression leaks readily into the offices of the MPs trained to behave that way. It is the wild west there. There are no rules on how staff should be treated; the guidelines drawn up on how staff should be treated are so broad you cant break them. One man who saw the dark side of parliament up close was Mal Washer, a Western Australian doctor and Liberal MP who served for 15 years until 2013. Washer kept his door open to treat anyone who needed help in Parliament and as a result saw cavalcade of anxiety and depression. He says MPs are by nature an ambitious and sometime "pompous" bunch whose worst tendencies are exacerbated by their time in Canberra. We used to say that in Parliament we sit across from our opposition and next to our enemies. It is the wild west there. There are no rules on how staff should be treated... Member of a crossbencher's office He describes Parliament as having the atmosphere of a prison during sitting weeks, exacerbated by high stress, the intense and endless political competition and work days that typically start at 7am and end at 11pm. Worse, staff and MPs have nowhere to turn to when things go wrong. An MP has no incentive to report their own bad behaviour and the parties are determined to hide any hint of scandal. Indeed to most staff it is not even clear who their employer is, who has responsibility for their wellbeing. This week a spokesman for the Department of Finance, which pays parliamentary staff, told Fairfax Media that the department bore no responsibility for them because they are hired by parliamentarians. But according to case law this is simply wrong. In a 2012 workplace dispute a judge concluded that parliamentary staff could not be considered to be employees of MPs. Whatever the Department of Finance says, it does employ political staff, even if it takes no responsibility for them as a matter of policy. Though she still denies the bullying, Husar herself agrees that work in her office became chaotic for a time. Husar had a meteoric political rise after joining the party in 2013. With little experience and no roots in the party Husar ran for the unwinnable state seat of Penrith in 2015 and won a 10 per cent swing against the incumbent Liberal, Stuart Ayres. Loading Even before election day she had been noticed. Bill Shorten came to volunteer at a pre-polling station days before the election. She smiles when she recalls how he asked her to run for the seat of Lindsay, one of the highest profile political battlegrounds in the country. Husar won pre-selection convincingly, but by then, she says, she had already attracted enemies in what she calls the old-guard of branch members in the area. Her rapid ascent and her sponsorship from the leader ruffled feathers, she believes. I didnt serve the apprenticeship, I didnt come up through the unions or young Labor, I hadnt done the right things, she says. Husars inexperience had other consequences that both sides of this story agree upon. When it came to setting up a functioning office to serve a large and socially marginal electorate, Husar did not know where to start. She had no experience in setting up basic computer and phone systems let alone databases. She had no experience in managing a staff in demanding roles that extended from Penrith to Canberra. Emma Husar had a meteoric political rise after joining the party in 2013. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Neither the state nor federal branches of the Labor Party provide proper assistance to newcomers setting up their offices, says Husar. Nor does the Parliament. First-time backbenchers are not provided with manuals, guidebooks or procedures. When she went about hiring staff Husar was given no recommended job descriptions for the positions she needed to fill. Soon, she says, things were getting missed. Correspondence from constituents asking for assistance was going unanswered and work flow was slow. This led to her demanding a weekend overhaul of procedures - to her a necessary course-correction, to at least some of her staff, an unfair demand for unpaid weekend work. Loading Six months after she was elected, Husar sacked Jeremy Anderson, a man she claims has close ties to the Lindsay old-guard, for what she believed to be poor performance. Anderson, who had worked extensively for state ministers, later lodged and then withdrew an unfair dismissal complaint. In April this year Husar learned that he had made further complaints to NSW Labor, as had other staff, and that these complaints included allegations of lewd conduct and harassment as well as bullying. Husar says she voluntarily committed to cooperate with what was meant to be a confidential investigation, only to read lurid details of its secrets on the front pages. Husar believes this is evidence that she was the target of a political hit-job conducted by members of the old-guard and that party machine. One staff member has told Fairfax Media that they believed they had to leak to the press for fear that Labor would drag out the investigation or hide its finding to ensure it could keep its star candidate for Lindsay in place. Either way, another system failed. The investigation was leaked and serious allegations were transformed into soap opera. Careers were destroyed. Husar says she still supports Labor, still wants Shorten, who she says has remained personally supportive, to win. That is, she says, why chose not to run for her seat again. Western Australia says the Turnbull governments so-called national energy plan has excluded Australias geographically largest state in a move that creates investment uncertainty and threatens $2 billion worth of renewable energy projects. But the head of the Energy Security Board, which drafted the policy on behalf of the federal government, described the concerns as silly and says the scheme only ever applied to states in eastern Australias electricity grid. The WA government says the national energy plan, which aims to cut carbon emissions from the electricity sector, excludes that state. Credit:Kamal Kishore The nations energy ministers are meeting in Sydney on Friday to debate the future of the National Energy Guarantee the Turnbull government policy that aims to lower power prices, improve the grids reliability and cut greenhouse emissions from the electricity sector The policy includes the states and territories in the national energy market. WA and the Northern Territory are not part of the market, however the package has national implications and Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has previously said the two jurisdictions could join the scheme in future. One of the allegations that has ended the political career of ALP MP Emma Husar will raise a wry smile among many voters. While the member for Lindsay has been cleared of the most serious allegations, she is still under a cloud for conduct that amounts to bullying in the workplace. Yet to a lot of people, politicians and political operatives behave like bullying is a core competence. Emma Husar on Wednesday after announcing she would not recontest the next election. Credit:Wolter Peeters Tune in to question time in parliament, if you can bear it, and all you can hear are politicians slinging silly school yard taunts at each other. Kevin Rudd served as prime minister for more than two years while flying into a fit of rage against flight attendants who served him the wrong meals. Malcolm Turnbull's temper as opposition leader was legendary. The Herald reported his staff judged his anger against a "pants off" scale after an incident in 2009 where he lost it completely while standing in his underpants. As Malcolm Tucker, the political head kicker from the British television satire The Thick of It, told one of his staff, "Don't you ever call me a bully. I'm something much worse than that." Given this toxic culture the bar for assessing whether the complaints brought against Ms Husar by her staff amounted to bullying was set pretty high. This has largely been confirmed by the report that ALP barrister John Whelan released on Ms Husar on Friday. Since it was commissioned by the ALP it must be treated with care but the report does not sound like a put-up job. Malcolm Turnbulls flagship energy policy has become a prisoner of politics, thrown into a holding cell for a month or more to learn its fate. The Prime Minister has been denied a deal with the states on his National Energy Guarantee, which is meant to increase reliability and reduce emissions, and must try for a second chance in late September. This was an easy victory for Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews and ACT Labor Chief Minister Andrew Barr, given that any single jurisdiction could use its power over the NEG to ensure a delay. Minister for Energy Josh Frydenberg with state and territory energy ministers on Friday. Credit:AAP The effect is brutal and immediate. It maximises political pressure on Turnbull and his Energy Minister, Josh Frydenberg, to prove they have the support they need from Liberals and Nationals MPs before they go back to the states. "When Australian Story first started talking about doing this [about six months ago] I didn't think for one second that we would still be waiting for a decision to be made when it aired," she said. "I don't know whether public pressure is a thing that might help with a decision. At one point I was cagey about any media but it's now been two years with the Attorney-General. I'm hoping he'll watch and at least not be able to sleep comfortably on Monday night. Decision: NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman. Credit:AAP "We don't want her released from prison. We just want an inquiry to look at the evidence and consider: has there been a miscarriage of justice here? I didn't think when we started this that that was a big ask." Folbigg was sentenced to 40 years' jail in 2003 later reduced on appeal to 30 years for the manslaughter of her first child Caleb, 19 days old, and the murder of her three children Patrick, eight months, Sarah, 10 months, and Laura, 19 months, at Singleton between 1989 and 1999. Each child died suddenly and unexpectedly because of "cessation of breathing", although post-mortems failed to establish the reason. Diary entries in which Folbigg said she was "short tempered and cruel" to her babies - including one in which she said her daughter Sarah "left. With a bit of help" - were damning. They led one High Court judge to ask, "When you add the diary entries to those facts, why was it not open to the jury to conclude [Folbigg] had murdered the children?" before rejecting her application to seek special leave to appeal against her conviction. But Dr Mallett supported an expert whose submission to the Attorney-General is that the diary entries reflected the guilt of a woman struggling to cope with the deaths of her babies. "The diary entries may have been damaging circumstantial evidence at trial, but that does not equal forensic or physical evidence that Folbigg harmed any of her children," Dr Mallett said. The petition for a judicial review includes the opinion of internationally respected Monash University forensic pathologist Stephen Cordner that there is "no forensic pathology support for the contention that any or all of these children have been killed". "If the convictions in this case are to stand, I want to clearly state there is no pathological or medical basis for concluding homicide," Professor Cordner said. In a 120-page report, he found much of the forensic pathology discussed at the trial was "misconceived" and the default diagnosis of murder was "wrong" because there was no forensic pathology support for the Crown case that Folbigg smothered her children. Also concerning was the judge's summing up for the jury that there was "no authenticated record of three or more such deaths in a single family", says the case for a judicial review. The evidence was not only wrong, but would have left the jury discounting SIDS, and "leaving multiple homicides as the only explanation", leading British statistician and professor of mathematics Ray Hill said in a review of the Folbigg case that forms part of the petition. A large US study in 1987 included two families in which four babies had died of SIDS and related conditions. Also, a Victorian judge dismissed murder charges against a woman alleged to have killed her four children as the case proceeded against Folbigg. Loading Newcastle woman Helen Cummings, who has supported Folbigg in jail since 2011, said the case challenged the legal system because "it would be a big admission if the decision was overturned because it was found she was wrongly convicted". "Lindy Chamberlain was only two years in jail. Kathleen has been in jail for 15 years. In her case, a High Court judge said there was strong evidence the babies were smothered by a pillow but an expert has said there was no evidence," Ms Cummings said. "Sometimes the justice system can get it wrong. Kathleen is a Hunter Valley woman. We owe it to her to talk about this and seek this review." Ms Chapman speaks to Folbigg every day by phone in calls restricted to six minutes. She hopes a national focus on Australian Story will get people thinking and lead to a decision by Mr Speakman. Loading "The law says he doesn't have to do anything. But is that right? Is it fair when there are so many questions about how Kath was convicted?" she said. In her letter to Ms Chapman, Folbigg said the drive to Cessnock jail where she could smell freedom ended when she "had to connect myself with the bleak dull future I now had". "It was time to remind myself I was a prisoner, not Kathleen driving in a car. One day I shall be that woman, someone, once again. Till then that trip sustains me, keeps me in touch with who I was and still can be," Folbigg wrote. (CNN) Argentina's Senate voted against legalizing elective abortion in the early hours of Thursday morning, dashing the hopes of pro-abortion rights advocates in the predominantly Catholic country, homeland of Pope Francis. The Senate rejected the proposed bill 38 to 31, with two abstentions. The bill, which fueled contentious debate, would have expanded abortion rights to allow women to end a pregnancy in the first 14 weeks. Current laws allow the procedure only in cases of rape, or when the mother's health is at risk. Opposition mounted ahead of the vote in Argentina's more conservative Senate after the legislation only narrowly passed through the lower house of Congress in June. And the bill lost momentum over the weekend when an opposition senator withdrew her support. But even with its defeat, the groundswell of support for the legislation is not expected to go away. "Those of us who work on human rights know these are long-term fights. There is a momentum now that we haven't had in Argentina in the past," Tamara Taraciuk Broner, senior Americas researcher at Human Rights Watch, told CNN before the vote. "If it doesn't move forward then we'll have to continue pushing for it." As senators debated the bill late into Wednesday night, pro-abortion rights activists rallied and the Catholic Church held a "Mass for Life" in the capital Buenos Aires -- a symbol of just how fractious the issue has been in the country. Outside Argentina's Congress on Wednesday night, pro-choice supporters chanting "legal abortion at the hospital" gathered as the Senate held their debate. Inside the building, lawmakers debated deep into the night. The resolution was voted on in the early hours of Thursday. The bill has ignited passions and sparked widespread protests in Argentina, with anti-abortion campaigners protesting in the streets under blue "save both lives" banners and members of the opposing side in the debate donning green bandanas. In recent weeks the so-called "green wave" demonstrations have spread outside of Argentina too. Green bandanas -- now a symbol of the abortion rights movement -- have been spotted in Brazil, where the country's supreme court is considering loosening abortion restrictions. And momentum is growing in Chile, where lawmakers voted last year to ease the country's strict ban. Supporters of the bill rallied across the region Wednesday, in Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Peru, as well as across the Atlantic, in Spain. Bolstered by Ireland's referendum in May, which removed one of Europe's last abortion bans, pro-abortion rights activists were hoping they could turn the tide on abortion law in Latin America, where more than 97% of women of reproductive age live in countries with restrictive abortion laws. On Tuesday, 60 Irish parliamentarians, across political parties and groups, signed a letter to the Argentinian senators urging a vote in favor of the bill. While Pope Francis hasn't addressed the legislation directly, he did speak out strongly against abortion just days after the bill was approved by the lower house -- comparing abortion to avoid birth defects to Nazi eugenics. The pontiff also issued a letter in March, as the abortion debate began, urging Argentines to "make a contribution in defense of life and justice." "Abortion is the ultimate red line for the church," Celia Szusterman, trustee of the UK board of Pro-Mujer and director of the Latin America program at the Institute for Statecraft, told CNN. "It's clear that, for the Pope, it would be a personal humiliation if his home country, Argentina, votes in favor of decriminalization." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Argentina's Senate rejects proposed bill to legalize abortion." The Berejiklian government is facing a High Court fight ahead of the March 2019 election after the peak body for the state's trade unions confirmed it would challenge new electoral funding laws that threaten union members with jail time for engaging in joint election campaigns. On Friday, a coalition of six unions led by Unions NSW filed a High Court challenge to the laws, which dramatically curtail the amount of money third-party campaigners such as trade unions can spend in the six months before an election, including on television and radio campaigns. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Credit: Jessica Hromas Previously, third parties could spend up to $1.28 million but the laws impose a new cap of $500,000. The unions will argue the laws, touted by Premier Gladys Berejiklian as a means of preventing undue influence and corruption in the political process, infringe the implied freedom of political communication in the Commonwealth Constitution. Queenslands peak agricultural body wants the Palaszczuk government to begin an economic stimulus package into rural councils to keep bush towns going in drought-ravaged Queensland. About 57 per cent of Queensland including vast swathes of properties west of Toowoomba is now in drought. Dairy farmer Brendan Hayden on his drought-stricken property, in Pilton, Queensland (near Toowoomba). Credit:Peter Rickards In March 2017, Cylcone Debbie dropped enough rain to reverse the position in February 2017 when 88 per cent of Queensland was in drought. Queensland authorities are nervously watching New South Wales where 100 per cent of the state was drought-declared last week. There are a range of possibilities which include sketching over photos, jotting notes, translating languages, controlling powerpoint slides and much more. It takes only 40 seconds to charge it for about 30 minutes of usage. Bixby Although one of Samsung Electronics vice president Ji Soo Yis questions to Samsungs AI technology Bixby 2.0 was misunderstood on-stage, the AI holds a lot of promise. The aim is to make Bixby more conversational, more personal and useful and it will feature in Galaxy Home, Samsung's new smart speaker. Its whether Bixby can stand up to Amazons Alexa, iPhones Siri and Google Assistant (which is also available on the Note9), in the eyes of consumers. The Galaxy Home smart speaker. Credit:AP Bixby was able to check my calendar, set an appointment and the weather, phone a friend, find good restaurants nearby and then open WhatsApp for a message. But there were many instances of misunderstanding and features that aren't yet available. When Bixby is having trouble understanding, itll ask you to rephrase. When asking to send an email to someone that it couldn't find in my contacts Bixby asked me to add him in. The company is also looking to a relationship with Google Maps for further integration. Samsung aims to incorporate Bixby throughout their company, and because Samsung produces a wide range of items this could be across their washing machines, driers and fridges. "Samsung makes a lot of different products, a lot of different things, we think that's a great strength of ours," Samsung product marketing director Jon Wong told Fairfax. "We believe that's a differentiating point for us especially as we move forward and start connecting these devices together." There are no rock paper scissors games yet (Alexa will play if you ask), but there are witty remarks, and in terms of a personal assistant style AI, Bixby may surpass our expectations. The question is how will she work in the home? Galaxy Home will be coming to Australia but pricing and availability will be announced closer to the Australian launch. PC-like capabilities DeX "helps differentiate us. It's a mobile powered computing platform," Mr Wong said. Samsung is angling even further towards its handset's DeX software, something Apple and Google have so far steered away from. It allows a PC-like experience when hooking into a monitor with a HDMI cable, you are now able to use two applications separately, one showing on a monitor, the other on your phone. So you may be screening a presentation on the monitor, while taking notes on your phone. Creatives can also plug into a monitor and use that to sketch or draw with an S Pen. Mr Wong said people wanted to take more advantage of their phones. "People don't want to take that extra baggage, literal and physical baggage. I personally use it all the time - being able to plug it in with the external display, get that full PC-like experience and then kick back and watch a video at home with that same technology," he said. "Your entire digital life is on your phone and that's really exciting for us." Camera The Note9 camera is a high performer, its a dual camera (at the back) with dual optical image stabilisation, 12mps but it boasts 20 scene settings which are akin to Instagram filters. There are also some other very cool functions which give you more control than ever in a smartphone camera. There are five shooting options; panorama, pro, live focus, super slow mo and hyperlapse. There are also four selfie settings. The pro option, similar to the S9+ gives you more control over ISO, f-stop and focus. There's even a manual focus slide and a green focus assist that helps your image remain crisp. The wide selfie is a tough one to master, and some will be happy to know the AR emoji is still available, albeit it looked nothing like this reporter. There are some great camera phones on the market at the moment, including the HTC Leica, so this is a competitive space. These are the Note9 camera specifications: Dual Camera with Dual OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) - Wide-angle: Super Speed Dual Pixel 12MP AF, F1.5/F2.4, OIS - Telephoto: 12MP AF, F2.4, OIS - 2X optical zoom, up to 10X digital zoom Front: 8MP AF, F1.7 Spotify Chief executive of Spotify Daniel Ek said a partnership between Spotify and Samsung could hold a range of possibilities. The green Spotify logo appeared onstage as Mr Ek waltzed down a white digital carpet in the centre of it after Samsung product market senior director Drew Blackard made the announcement. "We had to make sure that they share our values and are committed, long-term, to helping people enjoy music in new ways," Mr Blackard said. Daniel Ek, chief executive officer and co-founder of Spotify. Credit:Bloomberg Obviously excited, through an onstage display, Mr Blackard demonstrated how music playing on your mobile could be easily switched to a Samsung television or even a fridge thanks to a combination of Bixby and Spotify interconnectivity. Jakarta: Indonesia's president Joko Widodo had brandished his nationalist and religious credentials amid reports the Islamic cleric chosen to be his running mate in next year's election was forced on him. Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Ma'ruf Amin declare their joint ticket in Jakarta on Friday. Credit:AP In a last-minute decision, Joko announced Ma'ruf Amin, who heads the board of advisers of the country's biggest mass Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), would be his vice presidential candidate for April's poll. The duo will be challenged by the former general Prabowo Subianto and the private equity tycoon and Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno. Wearing a crisp white shirt emblazoned with the slogan "Clean. With the people. Real work.", Joko told supporters he would "safeguard our national resources". Tokyo: The parents of Princess Mako of Japan have informed the mother of her commoner fiance that they will not permit the wedding to go ahead until a financial dispute within his family is solved. Underlining their concern at the union, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko have also asked Kei Komuro, their possible future son-in-law, to present a "life plan", including details of his future career, Kyodo News reported yesterday. Japan's Princess Mako surprised many when she announced her engagement to commoner Kei Komuro. Credit:AP The 26-year-old princess is the eldest grandchild of the Emperor Akihito and caught royal-watchers off-guard in September when she announced her engagement to Komuro, whom she had met at university in Tokyo. Since graduating, Komuro, also 26, has been working as an assistant at a law firm in Tokyo. The couple announced that they had received the emperor's blessing and would marry in November 2018. London British actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson, best known around the world for his role as Mr Bean, has defended former UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson over comments he made about the burqa. "As a lifelong beneficiary of the freedom to make jokes about religion, I do think that Boris Johnson's joke about wearers of the burqa resembling letter boxes is a pretty good one," Atkinson wrote in a letter to the London Times newspaper, published on Friday. Atkinson says Johnson's "letter box" comment "will stay in the public consciousness for some time to come". Credit:AP Johnson had compared women wearing the Islamic full-face covering with an eye slit to bank robbers and letter boxes in a commentary piece for the Telegraph newspaper earlier in the week. Following complaints and his refusal to apologise, he now faces an inquiry into whether he broke his Conservative party's code of conduct. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High near 70F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 49F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. 30 W. Oak St., No. 7A, Chicago: $2,450,000 | Listed: Aug. 20, 2021 This three-bedroom home has three full bathrooms, one half-bath and more than 60 feet of floor-to-ceiling windows. The kitchen has white lacquered Poggenpohl upper cabinetry, a cantilevered island and a butlers pantry. Double glass sliding doors from the kitchen and dining rooms lead to a terrace that offers city views and a glimpse of the lake. The primary bedroom features Arabesque wallcovering, a floor-to-ceiling headboard with a built-in hardwood bed, floating lacquered nightstands, automatic custom shades and a crystal pendant light with a shade. This home has marble floors throughout except in the bedrooms, where the floors are wood. An Eco Smart fire feature, a Murano glass light installation in the dining room and a garage parking space complete this home. Agents: Marissa Gillman Schaefer and Sharon Gillman, Compass,312-560-8400 and 312-925-2700cq *Some listing photos are virtually staged, meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options. To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribunes Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com. Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news. The Trump Make America Great Again Committee is asking its supporters to vote on a logo for the Space Force. If the United States creates a Space Force, what should its logo look like? Shortly after Vice President Mike Pence revealed detailed plans for the creation of a sixth branch of the U.S. military on Thursday (Aug. 9), a political action committee (PAC) called "Trump Make America Great Again Committee" which is part of Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign sent out a mass email asking its supporters to vote on a new logo. The PAC email features six logos made to look like mission patches, one of which is almost identical to NASA's official logo. Rockets and other spaceships adorn the other five logos. One logo seems to imply that the Space Force is going to Mars, with the phrase "Mars awaits." See more During his speech at the Pentagon on Thursday, Pence said the Trump administration is hoping to instate a Space Force by 2020. Whether the United States is really "going to have the Space Force" has yet to be determined, because only Congress has the authority to establish a new branch of the military. But that hasn't stopped Trump's campaign from attempting to monetize the idea. "As a way to celebrate President Trump's huge announcement, our campaign will be selling a new line of gear," the PAC wrote in the email to its supporters. "But first we have to make a final decision on the design we will use to commemorate President Trump's new Space Force and he wants YOU to have a say." Only Trump's campaign donors can officially vote for a logo via the email sent directly from the Trump Make America Great Again Committee. Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Solar scientist Eugene Parker is the first living namesake of a spacecraft. The Parker Solar Probe is set to launch toward the sun on Aug. 11, 2018. NASA's Parker Solar Probe, set to launch this weekend, is the first spacecraft ever named after someone still living: Eugene Parker, the groundbreaking sun scientist whose theories redefined how we understand our nearest star. Parker's pioneering work at the University of Chicago in 1958 proposed the existence of the solar wind, the stream of charged particles constantly released by the sun that flows through the solar system at close to 1 million mph (1.6 million km/h). Experts doubted his theory, according to NASA, until the existence of the solar wind was proved in 1962 using data from the Mariner 2 mission to Venus, which was the first probe to visit another planet. Since then, Parker's work has pushed solar research forward, as well as our understanding of magnetic fields and other key areas. [In Photos: NASA's Parker Solar Probe in the Clean Room] "Why Dr. Parker? Because this mission is there because of him," Nicola Fox, a Parker Solar Probe project scientist from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, said during a news conference July 31. "He's really the father of this whole physics branch. Heliophysics is the study of the sun and what it does to the solar system, and the way it does that is the solar wind. Gene was the one who predicted it and profoundly changed the way we thought about how our star worked." "Without Gene, there probably would not have been the same amount of passion and the same amount of 'let's go do this' that has kept [visiting the sun] such a high priority for 60 years while we waited for that technology to really be there to be able to do this really daring mission," she added. Finally, technology and materials research has progressed enough to send a spacecraft up close to the sun to see how it all works. The Parker Solar Probe is set to provide the best-ever data on many of the questions his work has raised during seven years of investigation, diving closer and closer to the sun before eventually passing through its wispy outer atmosphere, called the corona. "Frankly, there's no other name that belongs on this mission," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's science mission directorate, said during a briefing yesterday (Aug. 9). "I did a tally with my team and basically said how many missions do we have in our mission portfolio that directly are involved in looking at things and measuring scientific phenomena that are predicted by Gene's papers and the answer is 35." "Thirty-five missions, both here in our environment, in heliophysics missions, but also in astrophysics and missions in planetary sciences," he added. Parker himself had the chance to discuss the mission during the news conference on July 31, taking the stage at University of Chicago where he's a professor emeritus. "Sometimes people sound a little puzzled as to why do you want to go to such a hotspot?" Parker said. "And the answer is because we have reason to believe that interesting things are going on." Some of those puzzles, which the Parker Solar Probe will address: It will examine how the solar wind is accelerated so powerfully out of the sun; help scientists learn how the sun's corona is so much hotter than its surface; and reveal connections between changes in the sun's magnetic field and the space weather felt on Earth. "I have always said that since this is a mission into unknown territory, we have to be prepared for some surprises," Parker said. "Things that we never thought of, or things that we thought of but were not correct." He said that the way the solar wind and the corona is heated is the biggest mystery he's looking forward to finding out more about, especially as solar activity picks up. (The sun is in a comparatively placid part of its 11-year cycle, but as the Parker Solar Probe observes it will be whipped up into its sunspot-sporting, plasma-slinging active phase.) The probe will launch during a window starting at 3:33 a.m. EDT (0733 GMT) Saturday, flying on the powerful Delta 4 Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida and eventually becoming the fastest-moving human-made object, researchers said during the briefings. It will swing through its first close approach to the sun on Nov. 5, after a pass by Venus to slow its frantic pace a bit, beginning a series of 24 close approaches to gather data. The probe's final approach will be in 2025, and it will journey less than 4 million miles (6.5 million kilometers) from the star, within the corona's outer edge and the intricacies of what it's able to record are anybody's guess. "I suspect it's going to be complicated; I suspect some of us will argue with each other as to exactly what's going on," Parker said. "But you've got data to work with, and you have a chance of getting it straightened out." Editor's note: NASA's Parker Solar Probe will launch Saturday, Aug. 11, at 3:33 a.m. EDT (0733 GMT). You can watch the launch live here on Space.com beginning at 3 a.m. EDT (0700 GMT), courtesy of NASA TV. Visit Space.com Saturday for complete coverage of NASA's Parker Solar Probe launch. Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Capt. Picard was the astronaut my teenage self wanted to be. Today, he's the human I want to be. I have an embarrassing confession to make, as the geek internet explodes over actor Patrick Stewart reprising his role as Jean-Luc Picard in a new CBS series. I never saw "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (TNG) while it was on the air, even though I was old enough to do so in the 1990s. The reason was simple economics. I had a pleasant childhood but grew up in a single-income family. My folks preferred using their limited income to take their kids to science museums and on educational experiences, rather than buying cable television the only way to watch "TNG" in Canada. But to their credit, they knew about "Star Trek" and found a cheaper way to introduce me to the "TNG" universe VHS tapes from Blockbuster. (My, I'm dating myself.) We watched all the "Star Trek" films in order in the mid-1990s. I wasn't too impressed when I saw Jean-Luc Picard (played by Stewart) in "Star Trek Generations" (1994). But "Star Trek: First Contact" (1996) was another matter altogether. [6 'Star Trek' Captains, Ranked from Worst to Best] Looking back now, it's a classic Trek trope: the USS Enterprise crewmembers get caught in a time-travel problem and they need to extricate themselves from it. In this case, they find themselves fighting with the all-powerful, assimilating Borg aliens at the same time that people on Earth are fighting to fly the first warp-drive craft. Picard was simply awesome in "First Contact." He was haunted from having escaped captivity with the Borg a species that assimilates other species it meets into a collective years before. While grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder, he asked the crew to keep fighting the Borg to save the Enterprise, even though the Borg were clearly winning the battle. He even smashed a glass display case full of spaceships, usually displayed with pride in his office. But in the end, he listened to the advice of a woman he rescued from Earth while she was injured during a skirmish. She used an example from classical literature Moby Dick to show Picard he can't win by fighting. I liked this guy. He was powerful, yet vulnerable at the same time. He used Shakespeare quotes to better understand the scientific exploration of the universe. He listened to others. Above all, Picard was a great leader a captain who took the time and effort, even in an emergency, to mentor his younger crewmembers. Picard was the astronaut my teenage self wanted to be. And today, he's the human I want to be. Measuring the man We fans all knew that Picard was a fictional television character, but he was representative of a show that was very open to discussing difficult subjects, such as gender equity. A friend once said to me, "'TNG' would have won Emmys if they weren't all in funny costumes." When I was in my 20s, I finally saw all seven seasons of "TNG" on Netflix. The first episode that stood out for me was "The Measure of a Man." Picard was put on the defense stand, trying to explain to a skeptical Starfleet why his android crewmember Data (Brent Spiner) shouldn't be dismantled. Picard's summation was worthy of any courtroom speech about human rights, as he made Starfleet officers realize why dismantling Data was wrong: "Starfleet was founded to seek out new life," he declared. Referring to Data, he continued: "Well, there it sits! Waiting." Over seven seasons, I saw a strong captain admitting to vulnerabilities. In "Tapestry," Picard is sent to the afterlife by the godlike creature Q to explore the mistakes of his youth, including how he betrayed some friends early in his career. Picard tussled multiple times with the Borg, at first seeing them as merely a faceless enemy. Over time, he grew to respect individual members of the collective who were trying to help humanity. Picard was also good at assimilating hard experiences and using them to make himself better. Another critically acclaimed episode, "The Inner Light," has Picard living a lifetime on another planet in only 25 minutes of "real" time, because a space probe makes his mind believe that he has somehow arrived on another world and joined another family. Among other experiences, he married and learned how to play the flute. It turned out that this experience came courtesy of a space probe, designed to share memories of its dying people. Although Picard had to grapple with the loss of his alternate life, he willingly kept a flute found inside the probe. And if we can leave the "Star Trek" universe for a moment, let's point out that Stewart (as far as one can tell of a celebrity, at least) appears to be a moral person in his own right. He's famous for six decades of acting on stage, television and screen. But he's nearly equally famous for speaking out in support of the LGBTQ community, women and other marginalized groups. And at age 78, he still makes regular appearances at comic conventions to continue to inspire fans. In 2012, I met Stewart for 10 seconds as I stood in a typical, overcrowded autograph line in Calgary, Alberta. "Thank you for all you do," I said. "I love my job!" he boomed in a Picard-worthy voice. A lifetime mission There's a footnote to my "Star Trek" origin story. Nearly 20 years after I watched "First Contact," two of my close friends (a couple themselves) urged me to sign up for an online dating site. "Those never work out," I said to my friends. "Do it anyway," they commanded. This same couple once awarded me a Starfleet Academy diploma on my birthday, so I felt they had my best interests at heart. Reluctantly, I made out a profile on a generic site. "Join me for a five-year mission!" my profile heading read. I typed a quick description of what I wanted, included some joking references to "Star Trek," and then moved on to other things. Less than 48 hours later came a response. In part, it said something like: "Who's your favorite captain? And don't say Pike; that's cheating because he didn't have a show about him." The Pike reference blew me away this person really knew his "Star Trek." But I answered with "Picard" because of the captain's logic and ability to solve problems. The anonymous gentleman agreed with me. We met up, and eventually agreed to extend our mission to a lifetime. Two years after that hastily written dating profile, I walked down the aisle to the tune of the theme song to "Star Trek: First Contact." I never would have imagined a story about the Borg eventually leading to marriage, but there you have it. I can thank Stewart not only for the fun "Star Trek" stories I get to write here on Space.com, but also for helping me meet my science-geek husband. Picard was the perfect filter to find the person who met my interests. And now Picard's coming back to inspire a new generation of youngsters with a new "Star Trek" series. What amazing things will today's teenagers do after watching Picard on-screen? Walk on Mars? Help solve a burning scientific problem, such as curing cancer? Or simply pass on love and respect and a drive for exploration to their own children, the "next generation" of space fans? I can't wait to find out. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Update for Aug. 11: NASA and the United Launch Alliance have postponed the Parker Solar Probe launch by at least 24 hours, to Aug. 12, due to an issue with the probe's Delta IV Heavy rocket. Read our full story here. Early tomorrow morning (Aug. 11), weather permitting, NASA will launch its newest spacecraft, called the Parker Solar Probe, aboard a huge United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket and by December 2024, it will become the fastest spacecraft ever. That's when the probe will reach its closest point to the sun, coming within 3.83 million miles (6 million kilometers) of our star. At that point, the spacecraft will be speeding along at a whopping 430,000 mph (692,000 km/h). On Earth, that would be the equivalent of traveling from Washington, D.C., to Tokyo in less than a minute or from D.C. to Philadelphia in less than a second. But the team behind the spacecraft is surprisingly blase about the record-breaking feat. "Designing something to go fast in space is pretty much the same as you would design it to go slow in space; space has nothing to really impede its progress," Parker Solar Probe project manager Andrew Driesman, of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, said during a NASA news conference yesterday (Aug. 9). "The spacecraft doesn't know it's going fast." [The Greatest Missions to the Sun] On its closest approach to the sun near the end of the mission, the Parker Solar Probe will become the fastest spacecraft ever. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center) Nevertheless, it won't be entirely smooth sailing, since the probe won't be the only thing moving incredibly quickly. The Parker Solar Probe will also be surrounded by what scientists call a hypervelocity dust environment a slew of tiny, fast-moving particles, some of which will inevitably bang into the spacecraft. The probe carries Kevlar blankets to protect itself from those impacts. During its closest approach to the sun, the Parker Solar Probe will leave other speedy spacecraft eating metaphorical dust. For comparison, the Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched back in 1977, is currently traveling at about 38,000 mph (61,000 km/h), according to NASA less than 10 percent of the Parker Solar Probe's peak speed. When it slipped into orbit around Jupiter in July 2016, NASA's Juno probe briefly clocked in at 165,000 mph (266,000 km/h), making it the fastest spacecraft to date. That was achievable thanks, in part, to the gas giant's own gravity which some sticklers claim is cheating. However, in terms of so-called heliocentric velocity only the speed with regard to the sun, without the influence of planets two other spacecraft currently hold the record: Helios I and II, two 1970s missions that slipped closer to the sun than Mercury is to our star, reaching speeds of about 150,000 mph (241,000 km/h). But because things orbit faster the closer in, sailing within 4 million miles (6.4 million kilometers) of the visible surface of the sun means that the Parker Solar Probe will almost triple that speed. Better wave goodbye to it while you can. Editor's note: NASA's Parker Solar Probe will launch Saturday, Aug. 11, at 3:33 a.m. EDT (0733 GMT). You can watch the launch live here on Space.com beginning at 3 a.m. EDT (0700 GMT), courtesy of NASA TV. Visit Space.com Saturday for complete coverage of NASA's Parker Solar Probe launch. Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.comor follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. New York, August 9, 2018 (SPS) The Frente Polisario is ready and willing to engage in the negotiation process as called for by the Security Council [New York 8 August, 2018] Today, Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Mr. Horst Kohler briefed the UN Security Council on his recent visit to the region and the next steps he intends to take. Taking note of the briefing, the Frente POLISARIO reiterates its commitment to cooperate fully with the Personal Envoy in the framework of the UN political process, and stands ready to engage in the negotiation process, as called for by the Security Council. The Frente POLISARIO is encouraged by the Personal Envoys efforts since he assumed office and urges the UN and in particular the Security Council members to fulfill their responsibility in line with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and in full respect for the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence. The Frente POLISARIO remains encouraged by, and supportive of, the efforts of Personal Envoy Kohler to relaunch the long-stalled UN peace process, said Sidi Omar, the Frente POLISARIOs representative at the United Nations. The people of Western Sahara, who still endure the horrors of the Moroccan occupation of their land, have waited patiently for too long to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. The Frente POLISARIO stands ready and willing to come to the negotiating table to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict of Western Sahara, which ensures the inalienable rights of our people.(SPS) Bir Lehlu (Liberated Territories) August 09, 2018 (SPS). - The President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO, Brahim Gali, has sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno Garces, on the occasion of the 209th anniversary of the First Cry of Independence of that country, which occurred on August 10, 1809. The Saharawi leader expressed his sincere congratulations to the brotherly people of Ecuador and reiterated the commitment and willingness of the Saharawi Republic to continue strengthening the excellent relations of friendship, solidarity and cooperation that unite the two peoples and sister countries. SPS 125/090/TRA Algiers, August 09, 2018 (SPS) - A caravan of food aid set off Wednesday from Algiers to the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf (around 2000-km southwest of Algiers), under the supervision of the Algerian Red Crescent (CRA) in presence of representatives of the Sahrawi Red Crescent and Sahrawi officials. The caravan, made up of more than 10 trucks loaded with 125 tonnes of sugar and 63 tonnes of rice, shows Algerian people's solidarity with Sahrawi people, said the president of CRA, Saida Benhabyles. "We appeal to international humanitarian organizations and to international public opinion in order to draw their attention on the serious consequences of the decision of reducing aid for Sahrawi refugees as it would endanger lives of those refugees," she stressed. "Algerian Red Crescent has always showed solidarity with Sahrawis," added Benhabyles.SPS 125/090/TRA 3 1 of 3 Stamford police / Contributed Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Stamford police / Contributed Show More Show Less 3 of 3 STAMFORD City police say they helped federal authorities this week apprehend a man living in a senior housing complex who was wanted for a street robbery in Louisiana. Officers in the Narcotics and Organized Crime squad arrested Francisco Diaz-Ortega, 61, Wednesday afternoon at Stamford Manor on Main Street. Capt. Richard Conklin said officers also found two folds of heroin stamped X-IT inside the mans room. FAIRFIELD Police seized guns, drugs, cars and cash Wednesday following a monthlong investigation into crack cocaine sales in Fairfield and Bridgeport. Arrested was the target of that investigation, Gregory White, 40, of Ogden Street in Bridgeport. A search of Whites home by Fairfield detectives and members of Bridgeports TNT unit uncovered 65 grams of crack cocaine, 41 folds of heroin, four unregistered handguns, a scale, packaging material and more than $18,000 in cash. Police also seized two vehicles in connection with the investigation of White, a convicted felon. White was charged with criminal possession of firearms, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of narcotics with intent to sell withing 1,500 feet of a school, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held in lieu of $400,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Bridgeport on Aug. 9. N obody wants to be the next Sir Philip Green. For retail bosses theres a horror show they darent rewatch. Its not The Shining or The Exorcist but Greens select committee mauling by MPs over the collapse of BHS. The former so-called King of The High Street has been vilified for his role in the department store chains demise after he sold it on for a quid. Now therell be questions asked over who is to blame for the collapse of House of Fraser. Beyond the woes hitting many retailers rising rates, rents and wage bills, online shopping, wild weather swings there are significant signs of mismanagement. On the face of it Yuan Yafei fits the pantomime villain role like a glove. The cigar -toting tycoon behind Sanpower, the Chinese conglomerate that bought HoF in 2014, is said to have been notoriously tempestuous in his dealings. Under his stewardship, former boss Nigel Oddy was ousted before the crucial Christmas period, the stores became ever more tired and a lifeline funding deal from another Chinese company, C.banner, fell through. Yafei is a former government official who built up a group out of Nanjing that spans real estate and retail, including one of Chinas oldest department stores. It was this division, Nanjing Xinjiekou, which first wanted to expand HoF across the nation before seeing its shares lose 70% this year. HoFs woes extend beyond Yafei alone. In 2017, bearded chairman Frank Slevin raised eyebrows by appointing Alex Williamson, whod run events at Goodwood Racecourse, as chief executive despite his lack of retail experience. Slevin, a keen racer of vintage cars at Goodwood, had upset the regime on becoming chairman ahead of former chair Don McCarthy, who had reportedly initiated the Sanpower deal. But it would be wrong simply to look at this companys recent history. One retail watcher says: There has been a generation of mismanagement at House of Fraser, since its float [under the ownership of Mohamed Fayed in 1994] it has expanded to have more stores than it needs, failed to create a point of difference and remained a deeply unattractive business. Throw in the uncertainty caused by Scottish billionaire Tom Hunters hostile bid in 2003, its seven-year spell of ownership by bust Icelandic raider Baugur and a failed takeover by French peer Galeries Lafayette and you get the picture of a turbulent company whose staff had rarely had certainty. Yellow Cake is quite a remarkable firm. It floated on AIM last month with the sole ambition to buy and store uranium - the reasoning being that it is hard for investors to gain access to the commodity. According to the management, should uranium prices rise then so will Yellow Cakes share price and visa-versa. Uranium is used to fuel nuclear power plants and its price hit $130 per pound back in 2007. Yellow Cake is confident the market has bottomed out and that demand will return as more projects are restarted. M y summer began well, brilliantly even, with a holiday to Samos in Greece. Five days in I go nightclubbing, sneaking out past my children at 1am, giddy with the tantalising promise of pounding speakers and a sweaty dancefloor. Big mistake. Only 10 minutes into a DJ set, hopping from one foot to the other (keeping it simple with a classic two-step mum dance), my right calf exploded in excruciating agony, as if it had taken a kick from Harry Kane. There was a pinging sound and my lower leg twitched like dying roadkill. I had to be carried out. And then carried home. Humiliating stuff. Evidence pointed to a ruptured Achilles tendon it can happen anytime to anyone but often meant an operation, months on crutches, a year for full recovery. Ah, the irony of being in Greece when you splice your Achilles. And so the drama began. A rushed visit to a dilapidated hospital confirmed my fears. July was spent bedridden in London where, in the sweltering heat, my pulsating leg tightly wrapped in a cast had to be propped upwards. As the heat increased, so did the swelling, my skin straining at the stitches. The post-operative mix of codeine and Tramadol did not help; the effects were hallucinogenic, and not in a good way. Before you desert this column for it being so downright miserable, thankfully there have been bright spots. Friends and family have been incredible. My brilliant, beleaguered husband, himself only just out of hospital and three weeks into opening a new restaurant, has shown immeasurable calm. 'Social media saved my summer' / Shutterstock And then there has been social media, the other great saviour of my summer. Its most popular platforms have taken a bashing this year for many good reasons. Fake news, privacy, trolling and unhealthy addictions. But while others grandly hashtag their holiday digital detoxes, Ive had to rethink my oft-stated aspersions. Even as I ushered my son repeatedly away from his phone, mine has been my constant companion. Firstly, social media was an easy way to let everyone know I was ill, then sit back for the sympathy. Why not? Extreme boredom and loneliness was averted as I flipped from Twitter to Instagram. And when told to choose between being operated on or not, I took to Instagram again to garner opinion and my feed was flooded with kind recommendations. Many urged the operative route, and I am supremely glad I took it. My family WhatsApp group has been a constant source of bad jokes about peg-legs, raspberry ripples and my terrible dance moves and let me relate back with black humour my darker moments. Like the morning my husband and I both fainted in the bathroom; he from his own illness and then, as I struggled to help, me tripping on my crutches, falling onto my wounded leg and passing out beside him from the ricochet of pain. 7am and were sprawled on the floor. On coming to, I began giggling and couldnt stop. A laptop doesnt balance well when lying on your bed a phone is handier. It also slips in your pocket, vital when on crutches. More recently I was able to lay the foundations of a new media Instagram-only company from my sickbed. Hours awake alone was made better doing late-night research. And when my best friend and her daughters were caught in the Lombok earthquake and their hotel collapsed, WhatsApp kept us in touch. Of course, Im still trying to get my son off Snapchat. Serena faces the mother of all challenge Serena Williams / Getty Images Serena Williams posted on Instagram about how she was struggling with her post-partum emotions. This would have struck a chord with many women. Fitting work around motherhood is a major challenge (in the US, bosses are still not forced to pay for parental leave). We also have to juggle with our hormones, which can play havoc afterwards. I remember the toddler period of my children as a vivid mix of sweet memories and tough experiences. Having returned to work full-time after the birth of my first, a series of viruses sapped my energy and I became incredibly sick. Even when back at work my moods would swing from happy to dark. My boss told me I couldnt have it all. Maybe she was right. Perhaps Serena needs to lower her ambitions. But I dont agree. We are trying to achieve in male-dominated workplaces where discussion about how much motherhood affects us feels like a guilty secret. Openness and support are needed. I fully understand the Clooney effect George Clooney / Invision/AP At least one Illinois city has actively taken steps to limit the number of times it must make accelerated payments. In Rock Island, one of the Quad Cities along the Mississippi River, leaders changed the amount and timing of payouts to avoid compensation boosts that would be counted toward an employees pension and to help the citys overall finances, said Director of Finance Stephanie Masson. I t MUST be a nightmare to be Elon Musks press manager. Imagine waking up to find your billionaire entrepreneur boss has been firing off tweets in the night, calling a guy trying to save Thai children trapped in a cave pedo guy . He later deleted the tweet and apologised but the damage was done. This week has seen the biggest kerfuffle of all, with Musk logging onto social media and announcing the news that hes planning to take Tesla, his electric car company, off the stock market. This sudden and unexpected news caused Tesla shares to shoot up in value and sparked a big debate about the future of the business, and whether it will ever be a sustainable and viable company. Lots of people are also questioning whether this move is even possible, given that it would be the largest buyout in corporate history and require up to $80 billion in financing to pull off. But the bigger question is why Musk one of the most ambitious and successful entrepreneurs of our age believes Tesla will be more successful as a private company, rather than being listed on the stock market. In a sense, this flies against the conventional view of how the financial system works. Whatever you might think about bankers as a whole, its hard to argue with the fact that the stock market is a good thing for businesses, because it allows companies to access the capital they need to keep growing and take on new challenges. Floating on the stock market (also known as an IPO, which stands for initial public offering) has other benefits too like creating payouts for early investors, who can then reinvest their money in the next generation of start-ups. When Musk revealed he wanted to take Tesla private, he certainly wasnt shy about airing his grievances with the public markets. He argued that life at Tesla would be way smoother and less disruptive as a private company and listed the downsides (as he sees it) to being a publicly listed business. For starters, he said that big swings in share prices can be a major distraction for everyone working at Tesla, because most of the employees own shares in the business. Whats more, being on the stock market subjects us to the quarterly earnings cycle that puts enormous pressure on Tesla to make decisions that may be right for a given quarter, but not necessarily right for the long-term. Elon Musk: the controversial billionaire is worth $20bn / PA To be fair to Musk, these are concerns that entrepreneurs and investors alike have been voicing about the public markets for some time. When Fortune Magazine polled corporate CEOs about whether it would be easier to run their business if it was private rather than public, eight out of 10 said yes. Over the years, a handful of politicians have tried to do something about the issue like Vince Cable, who, when he was Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, commissioned the economist John Kay to look at how the stock exchange rules could be reformed to make it easier for companies to do the right thing and plan for the long term. Kay came up with some smart suggestions, such as getting rid of the requirement for publicly listed companies to publish their earnings every three months but unfortunately, as CEO of Aberdeen Asset Management Martin Gilbert has observed: Five years on from the Kay review, material progress has been relatively scant. In the US, the number of technology companies choosing to float on the stock market has fallen significantly in recent years, with large businesses such as Uber and Airbnb deciding to stay private for far longer than the likes of Google or Facebook ever did. Elon Musk / Getty Images And in both the UK and the US you find examples of ambitious public companies going private like Dell Computers, which was taken off the stock market by its founder Michael Dell, who said afterwards: I couldnt be more thrilled to have control over my own destiny in a way that is not possible as a public company. Its a similar story with the British company that owns the property businesses Zoopla and PrimeLocation, which left the London Stock Exchange this year after a 2.2 billion buyout. But if youre not a banker, why should you care about these things? Because of the wider impact on our economy. As Scott Kupor of the influential investment fund Andreessen Horowitz wrote recently: Simply put, a lack of IPOs means fewer jobs. Luckily, there are some ideas bubbling around that could make a difference. Here in the UK The Investment Association has proposed that publicly listed firms should stop publishing interim management statements and earnings guidance and focus on long-term strategies instead. And in the US, the new chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission Jay Clayton has set out his top priority. We have to reduce the burdens of becoming a public company so that its more attractive, he said. When I worked in Downing Street we took steps along these lines, reducing the administration costs for tech companies going public for the first time, and giving them a transition period to adjust to life on the stock market. Policies to make it easier to float on the public markets and promote long-term investment might all sound a bit boring, but they couldnt be more important. Whether its fighting climate change or generating economic growth in the poorest countries, the biggest challenges humanity faces cant be fixed by government alone we need businesses with the long-term vision and financial firepower to make a difference. T HE drug company Sanofis decision to stockpile medicines [Drug firm on alert over Brexit no deal, August 1] is both inevitable and sensible. Not before time the Government has acknowledged that a no deal is a real possibility and that we all need to plan for such an eventuality. Cars waiting at the border is one thing, medicines and other vital medical supplies is something else and, of course, is quite unacceptable. At the very least the Government needs to provide assurance that UK patients will receive the medicines they need. The reality is that modern healthcare, like so many industries, relies on complex interdependent supply chains and agreements which have been built up over the past 40 years when we have been members of the European Union. Undoing all this could lead to chaos unless we plan effectively and the negotiators on both sides exercise common sense. In terms of medicines, 45 million patient packs go to the EU from the UK every month, and 37 million patient packs come from the EU to the UK. Much of what the NHS does is on a just in time basis and the service cannot afford for supplies to simply stop. It would be wrong to cause unnecessary alarm, but we do need to make plans now to make sure that whatever happens next year, patients in the UK and indeed in the rest of Europe, will be protected. Niall Dickson Brexit Health Alliance EDITOR'S REPLY Dear Niall On a basic level, the complexities of Brexit are beyond many peoples understanding. When it comes to the healthcare industry, the implications are barely comprehensible. The more we learn, the more alarming it becomes. Sanofi is not the only drugs firm busy stockpiling. AstraZenica is increasing stocks by 20 per cent. GSK will spend up to 70m preparing for a hard Brexit. Every drop of insulin administered in the UK is imported, placing the Prime Minister, who has Type 1 diabetes, among those at risk. The supply of kidney dialysis tubes, all imported from the EU, could halt. A UK-produced therapy for prostate cancer, and a new EU treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common genetic killer of children, may not make it to those in need. Drugs are typically manufactured with a two-year lifespan but are not accepted by wholesalers with less than six months remaining. Many vaccines already have to be ordered a year in advance. UK participation in EU clinical trials is at risk. Medical devices may no longer freely cross borders. Post Brexit, the Government aims to align the UK with European Medicines Agency rules. There are hopes that associate membership will allow the UK a voice at the table, if no longer a vote. The vast majority of doctors believe Brexit will be very bad for the NHS. Its easy to see why. Ross Lydall, Health Editor Dont panic about regulating the web The internet and social media can be powerfully democratising forces. We welcomed Damian Collins MPs calls for more transparency and user control online but some of the DCMS committees recommendations caused us concern [Mark Zuckerberg still has a lot to answer for on Facebook, July 30]. One such was that the Government provides experts to assign verification levels for websites. Overbearing liabilities for social media companies could result in pervasive surveillance and zealous censorship of users on their platforms. It would be undesirable and unrealistic to try to make the internet an overly regulated and restricted safe space rather than a free space subject to the law. A smaller version of the 10-metre sculpture of a horses head drinking from water at Marble Arch is to go on sale at Sothebys next month. Horse At Water XV, by Nic Fiddian Green, is expected to fetch 60,000 to 80,000. At 186cm high, it was one of nine created by the artist in 2001. He was later asked to create the larger bronze sculpture for Marble Arch, which was installed in 2011, becoming the largest free-standing bronze sculpture in London. The British sculptor, who works at his hilltop studio near Guildford, has been obsessed with the equine head for nearly three decades. The artist was first inspired by a fifth-century BC carving from the Parthenon at the British Museum, depicting the head of the horse of Selene. G O London area guides are comprehensive, trustworthy round-ups, covering everything you need to know about the city's most vibrant neighbourhoods. Everything included is personally recommended by our team. For many people, Kings Cross is the gateway to London. The opening of the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras in 2007 made the area the first port of call for many tourists arriving from the continent. It was part of a hugely ambitious regeneration of the Kings Cross area, one which began in the 1990s and has since changed much of it beyond recognition. The wave of development has brought with it a cultural shift scores of new restaurants, bars and arts venues have opened in King's Cross since people began flocking to this part of north London. Things to do in Kings Cross Bookworms' paradise: The British Library / Getty Images The British Library is one of Londons most famous institutions. No library in the world has more books catalogued within it in fact, a copy of every single book published in the country is stored there. It runs a whole range of exhibitions and events, from talks by cultural luminaries to world-beating exhibitions. Granary Square is the heart of the areas redevelopment. Its home to many of Kings Cross best restaurants and bars and its fountains are always good for a summertime frolic. Running alongside the square is Regents Canal. Walk along it towards the east and it will take you into the heart of Islington go west and youll travel all through London. Its great for a cycle ride, too. Both of the main stations, Kings Cross and St Pancras International, are architectural highlights and worth visiting even if you dont have a train to catch. Harry Potter fans will have a particular interest in going to Kings Cross station, home to JK Rowlings fictional Platform 9 . Best Kings Cross restaurants Meat-free for me: Foodilic Since its regeneration, Kings Cross has welcomed a score of foodie favourites, turning it into a genuine restaurant hotspot. Caravan will see you through from brunch to dinner, with dishes that draw influence from cuisines around the world, including Spain, Italy and Mexico. Dishoom is worth going to just for its fabled bacon naan, but its Kings Cross restaurant, inspired by the Bombay cafes of old, has plenty more Indian goodness on its menu to get stuck into. Pizza Union may not be the absolute finest purveyor of the Italian classic that north London has to offer, but it is definitely the best value for money Margheritas are just 3.95 and the wine is priced very reasonably, too. Be warned, it's always packed. From Italy to Spain, tapas and lots of it can be found at Camino just be sure to pay a visit to its neighbouring Bar Pepito for a glass of wine afterwards. German Gymnasium focuses on cuisine inspired by the country it's named after and the cheddar-and-tomato-stuffed schnitzel is highly recommended. A taste of Australia comes courtesy of Granger & Co, a place known for its delicious, health-conscious breakfasts but that serves food throughout the day. Challenging certain stereotypes about Japanese food is Itadaki-zen, an entirely vegan restaurant without a piece of raw fish in sight. In fact, its something of trailblazer, claiming to be the first vegan Japanese restaurant in Europe. More top-notch meat-free fare is on offer over at Foodilic. Its all-you-can-eat breakfast, replete with vegan sausages, is a particular favourite. Marcus Wareing's elegant Gilbert Scott specialises in the best of British fresh, seasonal produce served within the grand, Gothic surroundings of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. The bar next door is well worth a visit, too. For street food, head to KERB on Granary Square, a collection of traders offering up everything from generously stuffed tacos to Cypriot pita pouches. Best Kings Cross pubs and bars Right royal knees up: The Star of Kings There are pubs aplenty in Kings Cross. The Queens Head is a charming old boozer, with a fine selection whiskies alongside its beers and ciders. The King Charles I is a small, tightly packed pub, but that only adds to the atmosphere once youre inside. The decor is interesting, too the stuffed animal heads keep a watchful eye over punters. Perfect for a pre or post-train journey pint is The Parcel Yard, just up the stairs above Platform 9 at Kings Cross station. Its a big old place and theres a display board to make sure you dont slip into tipsy reverie and miss your train. If its a departure from St Pancras instead, head to The Betjeman Arms, another great station pub. The Boot is an Irish boozer that looks pretty rough around the edges, but theres always a friendly atmosphere inside. Its an ideal place to spend the evening in, working your way through a few pints with mates. The Scottish Stores, meanwhile, has no relation to Scotland but does serve a top selection of craft beers and ales. The Star of Kings does it all Sunday roasts, pub quizzes, DJ nights, comedy, karaoke the lot. Its got a Funktion One soundsystem, so the music reliably sounds excellent. The Driver is one of the areas best gastropubs, with sharp, elegant interiors and a number of event spaces to hire out for special occasions. The Norfolk Arms also works for a bite to eat, with an excellent selection of wines to wash everything down with. The Lighterman doesnt look like your traditional pub its exterior is more Grand Designs than it is Red Lion but inside youll still find a thoroughly stocked bar and delicious food. Its canalside terrace is a particular favourite when the weather obliges. The Fellow, another fine gastronomically inclined boozer, wins points for being so close to Kings Cross station (its literally just across the road) and should be your point of call if you step off the train with a rumbling tummy and a thirst to quench. German Gymnasium is great for food, as mentioned above, but its Meister Bar serves some pretty special cocktails, backed up by a superb list of whiskies. The Booking Office, the bar at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, is a beautiful place. Sit back with one its finely crafted cocktails and admire the high, wood-panelled ceilings and ornate window arches. The Racketeer, meanwhile, has much more a cosy, local-favourite feel to it. Whether its for a glass of wine, a classic cocktail or a relaxed, its worth stopping by. After a meal at Dishoom, theres only one place to go: the restaurants bar, the Permit Room. The drinks hardly reinvent the wheel think juleps, sours and martinis but theyre done well and the inviting leather seating is ideal to recline into. Vinoteca is all about the wine. The space is light and airy, with huge windows and high ceilings. Wed recommend it for a long lunch on a Friday afternoon. Best Kings Cross coffee shops and cafes Caffeine hit: Notes / Justin De Souza Notes roasts all of its coffee beans in east London and then ships them out to various branches around the city, including this one in Kings Cross. It serves seasonally inspired menus throughout the day, bringing out the wine and cocktails in the evening. There are live jazz performances every Wednesday and Saturday evenings, too. Moreish Cafe Deli is a quiet spot on a street corner, ideal for a laid-back Sunday morning. The home-made gelato is a must-try. Halfcup gets its coffee from Nude Espresso, and east London roastery, and offers up some intriguing caffeine-free lattes try the beetroot for something out of the ordinary. Caravan is one of our favourite restaurants in Kings Cross, as we mentioned above, but its also a great spot for coffee. Its got its very own roastery on-site and you can taste that freshness whenever you pop in for a cuppa. Yumchaa has more of a focus on tea than coffee, with more than 40 blends ready for your supping pleasure. Its sandwiches and cakes are delicious, too. Best nightclubs and live music in Kings Cross Rock on: Scala Kings Cross music venues are a varied bunch. Scala puts on lots of great live music expect anything from indie rock to electro pop and, at the weekends, is host to some fairly raucous club nights. The Water Rats, meanwhile, is steeped in history. When Bob Dylan, Oasis and the Pogues each played live in London for the first time, it was here. These days, it still puts on a lot of live music, as well as stand-up comedy. Intimate acoustic gigs can be found over at St Pancras Old Church, a Grade II-listed building with little a capacity that barely reaches into triple figures. Its a beautiful place to watch a performance. Kings Place is a multi-purpose arts venue, but has a solid programme of live music ranging from classical to contemporary. Spiritland is another events space dedicated to musical performance, bringing together live shows and DJ nights. Its one for the musos the programming is often obscure but always excellent. The premier nightclub is Egg. In fact, its one of the best clubs in London, hands down. This year it is celebrating its 15th birthday with a typically storming selection of DJs spinning techno and house across its five rooms. Big Chill is more of a bar than a nightclub, but you can still count on it for some fun-filled DJ nights. 15 years of Egg London: In pictures 1 /15 15 years of Egg London: In pictures Buying the building 1997 "I bought the building in 1997, which originally housed offices for my previous nightlcub, Trade." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR The original build 2002 "Building work started in 2002 before finally developing into Egg London and opening a year later." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR Egg's first ever party 2003 "Egg started its Saturday Night series on the May 3, 2003, which included brands such as Sonic Mook Experience, Output, Beat Club, 21st Century Body Rockers and Dazed. It heralded a new beginning for London clubbing as the venue not only had three dance spaces but various outdoor areas for the clubbers to enjoy." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR Lost and Tortured parties "With the help of the original promoters, pictured, Egg hosted many of the worlds most famous techno party brands at the time, such as Lost with Jeff Mills and Tortured with Billy Nasty." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR First Berlin Berlin party 2007 "In October 2007, Egg held its very first Berlin Berlin party, with an Ostgut Ton label showcase featuring Nick Hoppner and Prosumer. residents from Berghain's Panorama Bar. Performances were added to the night and blew people away, with the likes of Jonny Woo leading the way." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR Mixmag Christmas party with Justice 2008 "Mixmag held their Christmas party at Egg with Justice headlining. It then went online and sold out within hours it was the most in-demand event in town." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR Villa party in Ibiza 2008 "In 2008, to celebrate what was a very successful year at the venue, Egg held a party at the villa used by Dizzee Rascal to film the video for his latest track, Holiday. The night was amazing with all the islands party fraternity present." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR 10th anniversary parties 2013 "Held over 10 Fridays and Saturdays to celebrate 10 years of Egg, the team booked huge artists like Dubfire, Reboot and many more." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR Trade, The Final 2015 "This was probably the stand-out party at Egg. Preparation went on for months and all the hard work paid off. With Nina Kraviz and Nicole Moudaber headlining, it was the icing on the cake." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR Cocoon 2016 "Sven Vath brought his mighty Cocoon Brand to Egg in October 2016. It was an honour to have such an icon of the dance music scene playing at the venue and he did not disappoint. It was incredible." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR The launch of What Came First label 2016 "Set up by the team behind Egg, our label has gone from strength to strength with artists like Daniel Miller, Egbert, Tobi Neumann and more releasing on the imprint over the last few years." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR Winning DJ Mag award 2017 "2017 saw Egg London win a particularly prestigious award, being named the best large club in the UK by DJ Mag. The years of hard work and a clear vision from myself and the team paid off. Mr. G played a storming set and the place went crazy." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR 15th birthday celebrations 2018 "With a NovaMute showcase and FJAAK headlining, the our 15th birthday party at the club was an unbelievable success." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR Egg Tour goes to Brazil 2018 "The highlight of the 15 Years of Egg tour was the party in South Americas most famous dance music venue, Warung in Brazil. Pete Tong, Kyle E and Agoria headlined and the place reached capacity a couple of hours after opening. The atmosphere was electric." Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR The final build 2018 "October 2018 will see the completion of Eggs major rebuild. With work still in progress, were really looking forward to whats in store. Onwards and upwards!" Image courtesy of Egg London/Jukebox PR Arts Cultural hub: Kings Place / Nick White Kings Place is the biggest multi-purpose venue in the area. As mentioned above, its live music programming is particularly strong, but it does much than just that. It has two spaces dedicated to visual arts and there's often great comedy too. The Wellcome Collection is a fascinating museum and library that puts on exhibitions broadly grouped under the umbrella of health they explore the various links and relationships between art, science, medicine and more. Its all entirely free, too. You never entirely know what youre going to find at there, although its rather more obvious whats on the agenda over at the London Canal Museum. Head inside to learn about the storied history of Londons canals, as well as the colourful people and goods that have floating along them over the years. The Foundling Museum, meanwhile, explains the story behind the Foundling Hospital, a childrens charity and art gallery. House of Illustration is a gallery focusing on exactly that, illustration, whether thats in the form of Quentin Blakes Roald Dahl drawings or North Korean propaganda posters. Its a small place, but it punches well above its weight. Gagosian featured in our guide to Mayfair for its marvellous collection of modern art and its the same story at its Kings Cross outpost. Central Saint Martins, one of Londons leading art schools, displays the work of its students and alumni and its always worth checking out. The Lethaby Gallery focuses on art, design and fashion, while Platform Theatre is dedicated to live performance. Shaw Theatre covers a broad range, from musicals to dramas, while the Place is a hub of dance, both training and performance, with a 11 studios and a theatre. It is home to both the London Contemporary Dance School and Richard Alston Dance Company. Most Instagrammable spots Platform 9 Kings Cross station St Pancras International station Granary Square & Regents Canal St Pancras Renaissance Hotel And one more thing... Hitting the right keys: Laura Mvula plays one of the pianos at St Pancras International station / PA Archive/PA Images Walk through St Pancras International station and chances are you'll heard the sound of a piano cutting through all the noise and confusion. That's because there are two, free-to-play instruments in the Arcade and on the main concourse, which anyone can have a go on (provided they're not frantically running to catch a train). Every now and again a famous face pops down to play a couple of tunes, including Laura Mvula, John Legend and Elton John. How to get there Train: Kings Cross, St Pancras International Tube: Kings Cross St Pancras (Victoria, Northern, Piccadilly, Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines) Bus: 10, 17, 30, 45, 46, 59, 63, 73, 91, 205, 214, 259, 390, 476 Overground: Euston A London shop owner is on the run after being convicted of evading 250,000 of tax in a cigarette-smuggling operation. Kishor Shah, 63, from Wembley, and Hitesh Patel, 41, from Hounslow, fraudulently imported shipping containers loaded with cigarettes and tobacco from Mumbai, India. Mr Shah hid some of his stash under a vegetable stall at the front of his shop, Paan Parlour on Ealing Road, Wembley. They were rumbled when a sniffer dog found tobacco in lock-ups in Alperton Lane, Greenford. They were arrested by HM Revenue and Customs officers when the lock-up was searched and found to contain 44,500 cigarettes and 746kg of chewing tobacco. Jail sentences: Kishor Shah and Hitesh Patel were convicted of evading tax on tobacco products imported from Mumbai, India. Shah did not turn up to face trial Shah then led officers to his shop where 1,260 smuggled cigarettes were found. Border Force had also seized two consignments coming through Felixstowe containing 200kg of snuff tobacco, 160kg of raw tobacco and 180kg of chewing tobacco. A further 1.7 tonnes of chewing tobacco was found at another lock-up on the North Circular Road, Stonebridge Park. Patel had paperwork relating to the shipments at his business, Narayan Foods Ltd, in Southall. Shah failed to turn up for his trial at Blackfriars crown court last month, claiming he had fallen ill on a trip to India, but was tried in his absence. He was convicted and sentenced to four years in jail last week for smuggling tobacco. He received a further six months for offending while serving a suspended sentence for a similar offence in 2016. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. Patel was jailed for two-and-a-half years. Simon Kiefer, assistant director of the Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC, said: Criminals like Shah create an uneven playing field for legitimate businesses and put a burden on the honest majority. He thought his crime would go undetected but he was wrong. A stubborn Pret a Manger worker grabbed back chairs from a branch of the restaurant which were being used as a makeshift bridge over a flood puddle outside Hammersmith tube station. Commuters were forced to use the chairs from Pret a Manger to make a route over the enormous puddle following torrential downpours in London on Thursday evening. People can be seen clambering over on the chairs to get across the flood when an employee in the company's uniform walks over and begins to remove them. She says: "Sorry i've got to take these" before shrugging at the visibly annoyed bystanders before removing the chairs. People can then be seen wading through the water. One woman is pictured walking through the water in bare feet. One onlooker dubbed the attempt to stay dry "the most British thing I've ever seen" as people politely queued up to cross the make-shift path." Commuters create emergency bridge to cross flood puddle Flash floods hit the capital after heavy downpours struck the east and south east of England on Thursday. Londons scorching weather came to an end on Thursday as heavy rain showers hit. Temperatures in London and the south east have reached their lowest for two months following a bout of wet weather. D amian Green, former First Secretary of State and de facto deputy leader, has rejected suggestions that the Conservative Party is Islamophobic in the same way that Labour has been accused of being anti-Semitic, following comments made by Boris Johnson about Muslim women who wear the burka. Green said the difference rested on the very simple reason that immediately the Prime Minister and the party chairman have said Boris should apologise. Green, in an interview with the Evening Standard to be published on Monday, also appeared to dismiss the importance of Johnson describing him as just a backbench MP. He said that Johnson had thought he was being flippant and funny but out there [he] can cause genuine offence. What to you is a joke, might to other people be a very offensive remark. Pressed on whether he agreed that if someone in Labour had said something similar they would have been suspended from the party, he replied that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had not been swift to reprimand those within his party in the same way. He continued: There is no comparison with Labours problems with anti-Semitism, precisely because that absolutely goes to the heart of the leader of the party and his closest associates, which is that they question of the legitimacy of the existence of Israel. And that very easily tips over into anti-Semitism. He said that Labours stance gives permission to people on places like Twitter who are genuinely anti-Semitic to express racism or religious bigotry. But he added: I dont think theres a hint of that in [Johnsons case], its just a bad use of language. The lesson we should all draw from it is, Be careful with words. Green admited, however, that he had no idea if Theresa Mays intervention would have an effect. Thats for Boris to decide. Only Boris can say what Boriss game is. Asked if Boris meant the niqab as well as the burka, Green said that when it comes to Johnson, I cant interpret the inner meanings. Is Galloway back? Could George Galloway be rejoining the Labour Party? The veteran Left-winger, expelled from the party in 2003 in part for inciting Arabs to fight British troops, is quietly supporting plans to bring him back into the fold. Earlier this week Galloway denied to us that he was seeking re-entry, but shortly afterwards began retweeting messages with the hashtag #BringBackGalloway. One read: Following the recent Twitter storm successes, lets do it again this Friday at 7pm. #BringBack Galloway. The former MP did not reply to our requests for comment this morning. --- Luke Evans has collected a pay cheque to narrate a 20-minute audio-guide on, no joke, how to drink a beer. The Welsh actor has been enlisted by Stella Artois for the project, in which he offers such wisdom as sit upright but not uptight and focus on your breathing and turn your attention inwards. --- Alan Garner, author of The Owl Service, missed more than half of his primary school years. I had dramatic illnesses, he told the BBCs Samira Ahmed on Front Row. Diptheria, pneumonia with pleurisy, meningitis with whooping cough and measles. He added: It was fairly strenuous. I was declared dead three times. Mamma Mia boys: Hugh Skinner, Jeremy Irvine and Josh Dylan (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Somerset House) / Dave Benett/Getty Images for Somerset House Hugh Skinner, Jeremy Irvine and Josh Dylan have become inseparable since starring in Abba musical sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. The trio, who play the young versions of characters played by Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard were at a Film4 Summer Screen premiere of The Wife at Somerset House last night. Skinner admits that while most of the cast were professional dancers, he was terrible: They choreographed it to our individual abilities, he says which is why other people are backflipping over tables and doing cartwheels, while I play baguettes or ride trolleys. Charlotte Wiggins was also at the event. The model once starred in an advert for Tesco, which dubbed over her voice because it was too northern. She was joined by the star of Misfits Robert Sheehan, model Bee Beardsworth and artist Phoebe Collings-James. SW1A The Jewish Chronicle reports that the Labour Party has been divided by the anti-Semitism row, with General Secretary Jennie Formby and staffer Laura Murray (below) on one side and Karie Murphy and Seumas Milne, leader Jeremy Corbyns close advisers, on the other. Last week we reported that Andrew Murray, Lauras father and chief of staff to Unite boss Len McCluskey, was highly concerned with the IHRA row. Interesting postscript: Murphy is the close friend of McCluskey. McCluskey is the boss of Andrew Murray. And Formby is the ex of McCluskey and the mother of his son. What larks. --- Ken Livingstone: (Photo by Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images) / Getty Images Former Mayor Ken Livingstone has spoken out on Boris Johnson. He isnt really a politician, he said on LBC today. He just wants to be a famous celebrity. Frankly, I think the Tory Party should dump him. Will it take them as long as it took the Labour Party to take action on Ken? Quote of the day I cant wait to be your very giggly wife Ellie Goulding aims high on news of her engagement to rower Caspar Jopling Fortnite solves Peggs mission impossible Actor Simon Pegg, star of Mission: Impossible Fallout, stands up for the controversial video game Fortnite. While Pegg was filming in LA, he used it to connect with his daughter at home: Thank goodness for FaceTime, Minecraft and Fortnite, he told Scroobius Pips podcast, because it meant that we could meet up in the digital world. K en Livingstone has called for Boris Johnson to be dumped from the Conservative Party as the scandal over his burka remarks continued into a fifth day. Former mayor of London Mr Livingstone, who Mr Johnson beat in the 2008 election, said the former foreign secretary was pandering to bigotry. In his Daily Telegraph column on Monday, Mr Johnson sparked outrage when he compared Muslim women wearing burkas to letter boxes and bank robbers. Mr Livingstone quit the Labour Party in May, saying issues around his suspension for alleged anti-Semitism had become a distraction. He said in an interview with LBC on Friday: Weve had a real increase in Islamophobic incidents, very often a woman wearing a burka gets it ripped off their face. Boris is pandering to that fear of Islam and bigotry. Ken Livingstone on Boris Johnson: 'He isnt really a politician, he just wants to be a famous celebrity' / Lewis Whyld/PA We all know Boris one day is going to try and become the next leader of the Tory party and if hes going to be trying to mobilise bigots in the Tory Party behind him, thats totally wrong. Again and again, he will say things that are completely wrong. He isnt really a politician, he just wants to be a famous celebrity. He doesnt do the detailed work, he doesnt get on top of issues. Its just one-off remarks all the time and frankly I think the Tory Party should dump him. Ken Livingstone outside his home in north-west London in May after he resigned from the Labour Party in the wake of alleged anti-Semitism / Victoria Jones/PA Mr Livingstone added: If he ever became a Prime Minister, he would be a disaster for Britain. He was mayor of London for eight years, what did he do in that time? He built a cable car to nowhere, which is a huge loss of money. And the ArcelorMittal revolving thing overlooking the Olympic site. He just sat there for eight years promoting himself. On Thursday, the Standard revealed Mr Johnson will be probed by the Conservative Party over a possible breach of its conduct following his remarks. B ritain would back remaining in the European Union by 53 per cent to 47 per cent if a referendum was held now, according to a major new poll. Some 45 per cent want a say on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations with 34 per cent opposed, the survey for the People's Vote campaign found. If talks break down, half of voters said the final decision over whether the UK should leave the bloc or remain in the EU should be taken by the public. A quarter said Parliament should decide, according to the polls results released on Friday. Opponents of Brexit said the YouGov study of more than 10,000 adults showed public opinion was shifting. Peter Kellner, a leading pollster and former president of YouGov, said the findings were "politically significant". He said: "Across the spectrum, the message from voters in this survey is clear: if the Government and Parliament can't sort out Brexit, the people should." Jeremy Hunt warns of 'messy divorce' if Brexit talks break down Labour voters overwhelmingly said they would back remaining in the EU, some 77 per cent to 23 per cent for Leave. Most back a referendum on the exit deal, 63 per cent compared to 18 per cent. Mr Kellner said the polling showed the chasm between Labour members and the leadership over its approach to Brexit. Brexit: Article 50 Triggered - In pictures 1 /20 Brexit: Article 50 Triggered - In pictures Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow delivers British Prime Minister Theresa May's formal notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels AFP/Getty Images Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Common PA Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow delivers British Prime Minister Theresa May's formal notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels AFP/Getty Images European Council President Donald Tusk holds a news conference after receiving British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit letter in notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels, Belgium Yves Herman/Reuters Prime Minister Theresa May takes her seat after announcing in the House of Commons PA The time 12:20pm shows on Big Ben on March 29, 2017 in London, England. The British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the Houses of Parliament as Article 50 is triggered and the process that will take the United Kingdom out of the European Union begins Carl Court/Getty Images D-day: pro-EU protesters outside of the Houses of Parliament today as Theresa May prepares to trigger Article 50 AFP/Getty Images EU Council President Donald Tusk holds British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit letter which was delivered by Britain's permanent representative to the European Union Tim Barrow (not pictured) that gives notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty in Brussels, Belgium Yves Herman/Reuters PMQ's in The House of Commons PA Jeremy Corbyn speaking at PMQ's in The House of Commons Sky News Theresa May leaving for the House of Commons Jeremy Selwyn Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at the headquarters of Vivendi in Paris where he took part in TV interviews to discuss the imminent triggering of Article 50 by the UK to leave the EU Stefan Rousseau/PA Britain's permanent representative to the European Union Tim Barrow arrives at the EU Council headquarters for as meeting before hand delivering British Prime Minister Theresa May's notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels, Belgium Yves Herman/Reuters Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow arrives at the British representation of the European Union in Brussels Aurore Belot/AFP/Getty Images A giant headed Theresa May in Parliament Square, London during a protest by Avaaz after PM signed a letter to trigger Article 50 that starts the formal exit process by the UK from the European Union David Mirzoeff/PA British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson walks down Whitehall Jack Taylor/Getty Images Britain's PM Theresa May signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, invoking Article 50. AFP/Getty Images "Labour supporters overwhelmingly back a new public vote and, in resisting this, the party's leadership is increasingly out of touch with its own voters," he said. "If these findings emerged from a conventional poll of 1,000-2,000 respondents, findings relating to sub-samples should be regarded with caution. Michel Barnier blows hole in Theresa May's Brexit plan "But this exceptionally large 10,000 sample survey contains more than 2,700 current Labour supporters, leaving no room for doubt about the size of the majority among them for a new public vote. The 53 per cent to 47 per cent result in favour of remaining in the EU excludes those who do not know how they would vote or would not bother. A no deal scenario pushes the six-point margin to 12 per cent, 56 per cent Remain to 44 per cent Leave, the study found. Nearly three quarters, 73 per cent, believe many of the promises made by the Leave campaign will be broken and 68 per cent fear the UK will end up with a bad deal, with 64 per cent ready to lay the blame on the Government. Chuka Umunna said the findings show public opinion is moving behind a people's vote / AFP/Getty Images Labour's Chuka Umunna, who backs the People's Vote campaign, said: "Politicians of all sides are increasingly trapped inside red lines of their own making, but the momentum this summer is with the campaign for a people's vote as more and more people realise it's the only way to take back control of the process. "It is clear from YouGov's findings that public opinion is moving behind a people's vote across the political spectrum. "This poll shows that Labour voters overwhelmingly support a people's vote, putting them at odds with the party's official pro-Brexit position. R owan Atkinson has jumped to Boris Johnsons defence as a furious row over his controversial remarks about women wearing burkas continued to build momentum. The Mr Bean actor said Mr Johnsons joke in which he compared women wearing face coverings to letter boxes is a pretty good one and that apologising would be pointless. In a letter to The Times newspaper, Atkinson defended the former Foreign Secretary, who faces a code of conduct probe over the remarks, by saying all jokes about religion cause offence. He wrote: "As a lifelong beneficiary of the freedom to make jokes about religion, I do think that Boris Johnson's joke about wearers of the burka resembling letterboxes is a pretty good one." Officials are sifting through a considerable volume of complaints from the public over Boris Johnson's remarks / REUTERS Atkinson added: "All jokes about religion cause offence, so it's pointless apologising for them. You should really only apologise for a bad joke. On that basis, no apology is required." The Uxbridge MP said Muslim women wearing face coverings "look like letter boxes", and compared them to bank robbers and rebellious teenagers in a Telegraph column. Mr Johnson is to face an investigation by an independent panel after complaints that his comments breached the Conservative Party's code of conduct. Independent panel to investigate Boris Johnson over burka comments Former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell also stepped out in Mr Johnsons defence, saying he had no need to apologise for making inflammatory comments about Muslim women. He said Mr Johnson had used "colourful" language but had not committed an offence. Mr Mitchell, who was chief whip in 2012, told BBC Two's Newsnight: "I don't think he should apologise. Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure to apologise for his comments about the burqa / AFP/Getty Images "But I think what's important is that the procedures of the party now take place. "This is quite an important issue about free speech and it's got nothing to do with the dreadful events that take place over Enoch Powell and the Rivers of Blood speech. "Boris was speaking out against a ban of the type that's taken place in Denmark and some other countries." Labour MP Rupa Huq impersonates Boris Johnson on TV Met Commissioner Cressida Dick yesterday ruled out a criminal investigation. She told the BBC Asian Network: I spoke last night to my very experienced officers who deal with hate crime my preliminary view is that what Mr Johnson said would not reach the bar for a criminal offence. But he could face a Whitehall probe into claims he broke the ministerial code by announcing he was taking up the highly-paid Telegraph column before getting consent. A formal complaint to Theresa May was made this morning by ex-Labour minister John Spellar after former attorney general Dominic Grieve said he believed the rules had been broken. Conservative MP Anna Soubry said: I hope this will be investigated quickly. Boris Johnson needs to show more respect whether its to important rules governing the conduct of former ministers or the choices women make on what to wear. He is also charged with two counts of residential burglary in Geneva on July 22, one count of residential burglary in South Elgin on July 28 and one count of residential burglary near the Kane County Sheriffs Office in St. Charles on May 10, court records show. T he Conservative Muslim peer who complained about Boris Johnsons burka comments revealed today that he has suffered a torrent of racist abuse as a result. Lord Sheikh disclosed he has been called a black bastard and an effing foreigner and told go back to your country. The founder of the Conservative Muslim Forum, 77, said he had also received emails containing vile abuse about the Prophet Mohammed that he could not bring himself to repeat or describe in detail. In an interview with the Evening Standard, he said he held the former foreign secretary responsible for giving oxygen to racists with his inflammatory newspaper column about Muslim women who cover their faces with the veil. Boris Johnson has let the genie out of the bottle and this genie is causing a lot of harm to race relations in this country, the peer said. What he has done, whether he realised it or not, is very unpleasant. I believe in building bridges and fostering harmony between people and faiths. But what Boris Johnson has done is give oxygen to people who want to cause problems. His remarks were inflammatory, they encourage bigotry and they are not good for race relations. Lord Sheikh blasts Boris Johnson over burka comments Born in Kenya in 1941, Lord Sheikh moved with his family to London where he trained in insurance, rising to found his own companies. He was made a life peer in 2006. He made headlines this week by revealing that he had written to Conservative chairman Brandon Lewis to seek severe action against Mr Johnson, including the withdrawal of the Tory whip. Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure to apologise for his comments about the burqa / AFP/Getty Images In the following two days, the peer said he received 76 emails, 15 of which supported him. The rest were not nice at all, he said. They were vile, they were nasty and some were really obscene. We had five emails which used obscene and abusive language concerning Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, using foul language and calling him all sorts of names. Even to repeat the words used aloud would feel wrong to me. Livingston says dump Johnson for burka comments He explained: I dont mind people criticising me I am a British politician and a democrat. But to bring in Prophet Mohammed into the equation is totally wrong. They have sworn at me, called me a black so-and-so, go back to your own country, what are you doing here and you should be expelled not Boris Johnson. Placards at a protest over the remarks read 'my dress my choice' and 'back off Boris' / PA I dont mind being subject to criticism because this is a free country where free speech is allowed. This is my home, it is where I live. Using foul language, telling me I am an uneducated sod, or that I dont speak properly or cannot pronounce words properly, they can say all that because it is a free country. In his article, Mr Johnson opposed a ban on the burka and niqab but said the face coverings made women look like bank robbers and letterboxes. Independent panel to investigate Boris Johnson over burka comments The row within the Tory party over his remarks rumbled on today. Former leader Iain Duncan Smith said he was surprised that the party had launched a formal investigation, as revealed by the Standard yesterday. He added: I dont think an internal party system should be there to shut down MPs when they speak, he said. Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine said: There are two possible explanations [for Mr Johnsons article]. One is that it was a bad joke, in which case I cant see why he cannot just explain that and apologise. The other is that he knew exactly what he was doing and is culpable. The Prime Minister, Mr Lewis and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson have all urged Mr Johnson to apologise. Mr Johnson, who is reportedly on a villa holiday in Italy, has not commented. A bus company in Bristol has apologised after a driver told a young Muslim woman to remove her face veil. The 20-year-old mother was with her two-month-old baby when the incident happened on a service operated by First Bus. She was wearing a niqab - a veil for the face leaving the eyes visible - when she bought a ticket from the driver. The woman, who has not been identified, said he responded by asking her to remove her veil. She told the Bristol Post: "He said he couldn't see my face, and that he didn't know what I was 'capable of doing'. "He said I was scary and I was dangerous, and he kept talking about it during the journey. I didn't say anything. "He continued to insult me, and he made me out to be a terrorist, and kept saying everyone should see each other's faces. He asked why I was wearing a balaclava." She added: "He was insinuating I was going to bomb the bus." Mobile phone footage filmed after the woman had left the bus shows other passengers confronting the driver over the incident, which took place on July 1. A female passenger told him: "It's her choice what she wears." The driver replied: "I care because this world is dangerous. If you don't see somebody's face, that's not good." A First West of England spokesman said: "We have fully and unreservedly apologised to the customer for the distress caused when one of our drivers expressed his personal opinions and behaved in an offensive fashion that in no way reflects our deeply held values as an inclusive company which welcomes all people, irrespective of background, race, nationality or religion as customers and employees. "We have reminded staff of our expectations and behaviours that are demanded of them. "The driver has been censured through the company's disciplinary procedures for this incident, which is a matter the company takes very seriously. H igh street tycoon Mike Ashley swooped on the stricken House of Fraser department store chain today after it collapsed into administration. The Sports Direct owner made a 90 million takeover move following last ditch talks with insolvency specialists at accountancy firm Ernst & Young. In a statement to the Stock Exchange Sports Direct International said it announces the acquisition of the business and assets of House of Fraser from the administrators of House of Fraser...for a cash consideration of 90 million. The billionaire, who also owns Newcastle United, said that Sports Direct will "do our best to keep as many stores open as possible". He said: "My ambition is to transform House of Fraser into the Harrods of the high street." The announcement came during a dramatic morning that had started with House of Fraser appointing E&Y as administrators to end 169 years of solvent trading. Mike Ashley owns Sports Direct and Newcastle United / John Stillwell/PA It was the biggest failure of a retailer in Britain since Woolworths slumped into administration almost a decade ago in the wake of the financial crisis. It is also the fourth administration of a major retail name this year following the failures of Maplin, Poundworld and Toys R Us. However. todays late move by Sports Direct raises hopes that many of the 17,500 jobs put at risk by the administration can be saved. It follows months of tortuous negotiation by House of Frasers management with landlords and Chinese firm C Banner, which pulled out of a 150 million rescue plan less than a fortnight ago. That left the company needing to find 40 million to pay rent bills by August 20 to avoid going bust. Despite the administration chief executive Alex Williamson had said he remained hopeful that a future for the business, which has major stores on Oxford Street, King William Street in the City, Victoria and Westfield London in Shepherds Bush, could still be secured. Mike Ashley has held an 11 per cent stake in the department store group since 2014. Sports Direct has built up stakes in a number of other British high street chains, including HoFs rival Debenhams and French Connection. Sports Direct wrote to HoFs management last month saying it was willing to structure a transaction on similar terms (subject to due diligence to confirm the level of investment/cash injection required to one proposed by the Chinese owner of Hamleys. House of Fraser earlier announced it would be appointing administrators / Jack Taylor/Getty Images House of Fraser announced in June a rescue plan that will result in the closure of 31 of its stores by 2019 including the Oxford Street flagship and the King William Street branch. The high street has been hit by rising rents and business rates and intense competition from online operators such as Amazon. A Sussex police officer has told how he was shamed by a woman for eating a Burger King while on duty - during his only break in a twelve-hour day. PC Andre Owen, who works in Brighton, shared the incident on Twitter in widely-shared post, saying police are human too. PC Owen had been on shift for seven hours before he took a moment to grab some food. He said he started work at 7am and was assigned a serious job in Brighton, before being told he would have to drive non-stop to Oxford. He told the Standard: So half an hour back into the journey on the return I stopped at a service station for my first toilet stop of the day. Double whopper: PC Owen's mid-shift meal / PC Andre Owen There, PC Owen said he ordered a double whopper meal, coffee and drink from fast-food chain Burger King. He added: It was my first break and I still had a 100 miles journey back to my station, plus paperwork. A lady, while eating her own food, kept staring at me while I waited. I collected the food and as I left she said something similar to Whilst youre in here stuffing your face, theres criminals that need catching out there. PC Owen said he just smiled and walked away. He later tweeted about the incident, writing: To the lady that scorned me for buying food on duty... Ive not stopped since 7.05am this morning, not even for toilet break. "Im over 100 miles from my station and Im due off in 45 mins... with a two hour journey at least.!!!! #policearehumantoo The tweet has since been liked by thousands, with many encouraging the officer to take no notice. He said: I put on Twitter and the tweet gathered so much momentum with such positive support. The tweet wasnt for sympathy, but to show the public the reality behind what is commonplace in the UK. After PC Owens meal, the officer said his long shift became even longer as he offered to help a family who had a broken down car. He said: It added another hour onto my already long day. I finally finished my shift just before 7pm, nearly 12 hours after I started. F orecasters have warned of plunging temperatures across the UK in the wake of Tropical Storm Debby. The Met Office said temperatures could fall "close to freezing" in the north of Scotland on Saturday, while southern parts could see temperatures reach single figures. It follows a period of wet and windy weather in parts of the east and south east. Showers that blighted the capital on Friday are set to move east overnight, leaving mostly dry and clear conditions, the Met Office said. But Brits in London and the south east face further downpours on Sunday. Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna told the Standard that Saturday will be a "largely dry start and quite chilly". The east and south east of the UK this week have been battered by heavy rain and strong winds, sparked by low pressure from Storm Debby. But Mr Petagna said the showers will clear to leave a dry night across much of the UK on Saturday. Storm Debby today dissipated over the North Atlantic, he said. Met Police officers brave wet and windy conditions / PA However Brits are set for plunging temperatures this weekend after weeks of scorching temperatures throughout the country. "Temperatures could be close to freezing in the north of Scotland," he said. "And in southern parts it could get into single figures." Mr Petagna said there will be "plenty of sunshine" on Saturday, but cold and rain will start to move south by the evening. Pedestrians dash through the streets of central London during a downpour / AFP/Getty Images "It will be fairly breezy as that rain comes in," he said. By Sunday, Londoners should expect bursts of heavy rain, he said. Clouds are forecast to bring showers over the capital, with the heaviest forecast to the west. The mercury is predicted to reach highs of 23C in London over the weekend. UK August Heatwave - In pictures 1 /31 UK August Heatwave - In pictures Two women take a selfie in Trafalgar Square in London, as another blast of hot weather is set to hit parts of the UK PA Birds are seen flying as St Paul's Cathedral and skyscrapers in the City of London are seen at dawn in London REUTERS People enjoy the sun at Carsington Water in Derbyshire as another spell of warm weather hits the UK PA A dog under an umbrella at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire PA Beach goers enjoy one of the quieter beaches on the Dorset coast as temperatures continue to increase Rex Features People enjoy the sunshine aboard a boat on the Regents Canal, London, as another blast of hot weather is set to hit parts of the UK PA People sunbath on the clifftop at Woolacombe Beach in North Devon PA People enjoy the sun at Carsington Water in Derbyshire PA Girls sunbathe in the hot sunny weather during Bestival at the Lulworth Estate in Dorset PA People in the sea at Croyde Beach in North Devon PA People on pedalos and paddleboards at Nene Park in Peterborough PA People enjoy the sun at Carsington Water in Derbyshire PA Beach goers enjoy one of the quieter beachers on the Dorset coast as the mercury continues to rise Rex Features People in the sea at Croyde Beach in North Devon PA People in an inflatable canoe at Nene Park in Peterborough, PA A woman brushes a man's hair under a sun shade on Herne Bay beach Getty Images People relax on kayaks at Nene Park in Peterborough PA People enjoy the hot weather at London Fields in Hackney PA Peoploe enjoy the sunshine at London Fields in Hackney, London PA A couple play catch with a ball while swimming in the River Stour Getty Images Girls sunbathe in the hot sunny weather during Bestival festival in Dorset PA Beach goers enjoy one of the quieter beaches on the Dorset coast Rex Features A canal boat passes along the Regent's Canal in front of Granary Square in King's Cross, London PA Office workers on the steps at Granary Square, King's Cross, London enjoy the continued hot weather PA Early morning on the beach at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside PA Children play in the fountains at Granary Square, King's Cross, London PA People enjoy the hot weather on Gorleston beach near Great Yarmout PA Early morning at St Mary's lighthouse on Whitley Bay, North Tyneside PA Balloons inflate during a ground tether flight after bad weather prevented flying at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at the Ashton Court Estate in Bristol PA People enjoy the sunshine on the beach at Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear. PA People walk along the beach at Whitley Bay PA Londoners woke to grey skies and showers this morning after basking in highs above 30C over the weekend. The American National Hurricane Centre said Storm Debby formed 1,200 miles east of Boston on Tuesday but was not expected to make landfall in the US. Violent thunderstorms hit the UK on Tuesday following the countrys longest heatwave in 40 years. Record breaking temperatures have been recorded across Europe sparking forest fires in Greece, Portugal and Sweden. C hecking work emails out of hours could harm romantic relationships and damage your mental health, a new study has shown. People who constantly checked messages at home felt it did not affect their relationships but their partners disagreed, research showed. In a survey of full-time workers, aged between 31 and 40, workforce emotions expert William Becker found that the employees themselves seem largely unaware of the impact this has on their significant others. The researcher at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg told the Guardian: They dont see it as a problem, but their spouses say it really affects the relationship. The study also measured the effect of working off-duty on a persons mental health . Mr Becker, using research from Lehigh and Colorado State Universities, found that the pressure to check messages outside work led to increased stress and anxiety among employees. Their partners also experienced increased stress and ill health, Mr Becker added describing the insidious downsides of the always-on society. The report will be presented at an annual meeting of the Academy of Management in Chicago on Friday. It says 24-hour connectivity may be at least partly to blame for the national epidemic of stress and anxiety. Mr Becker called for a 7pm cut-off time for emails to be declared by bosses. He also suggested companies launch message-free periods or introduce rotas to ensure people have evenings off. Employees were also urged to choose family and relationships over working at home. T he husband of a dentist thrown into a Dubai jail with their four-year-old daughter after drinking a glass of wine on a flight has said the experience was "devastating for the whole family". Dr Ellie Holman, 44, faces being detained in Dubai for up to a year following her arrest after consuming alcohol on an Emirates Airline flight from London. The mother of three last month travelled to the United Arab Emirates city with her youngest daughter Bibi for a five day break. The driver triggered every speed camera on the Sheikh Zayed Road / Getty Images Her husband, Gary, told the MailOnline: "The thought of Ellie and our little girl in that awful prison breaks my heart. "This has been devastating for the whole family. Ellie was taking a much needed break with little Bibi, who was looking forward to the beach and playing in the sea. "I hope this can all be over so we can all be together again and start to heal." Dr Holman told the news outlet that she fears the young child will be mentally scared by her ordeal. She added: "I just want to go home. I miss my friends and I miss my family, especially my Bibi." The Swedish born dentist arrived at the popular tourist destination after an eight hour flight from London on July 13. During the flight she was served a glass of wine. Upon arrival an immigration official told Dr Holman that her visa was not valid. Dr Holman drank a glass of wine on her eight-hour Emirates flight (PA ) / PA The dentist had previously visited Dubai on this visa, but because the visa date had not expired, she believed it was still valid for more visits. But the official said it was a single visit visa and she needed to buy a ticket back to London. Dr Holman pleaded with the official to see if there was any way of applying for a visa there. The thought of buying another ticket and turning straight around for another long flight was unthinkable," she said. The official then asked Dr Holman if she had been drinking. She replied: "Yes, I had a glass of wine on the flight. Given to me free by Emirates Airline staff." Dr Holman and her daughter were then taken into custody in an airport detention facility where she claims, at one point, they had no access to the toilet. She said: "My little girl had to go to the toilet on the cell floor. I have never heard her cry in the same way as she did in that cell." She says she and Bibi were also ordered to sleep in a canteen area used by other inmates, and that they did not eat for the duration of their detention. The food smelled like rotting garbage and neither Bibi or I could face trying it. I stayed awake for the whole 3 days," she said. The dentist's husband Gary flew to Dubai when he realised something was wrong. After three days Dr Holman was taken in handcuffs back to the airport where she was given bail. She said: My passport was kept and remains confiscated until the case is settled, which I have been told will take at least a year. So far this situation has cost me around 30,000 in legal fees, expenses and missed work. "My practice is closed. All of our savings are gone. A mother has told of how she was detained in Dubai for three days with her young daughter after drinking a glass of wine on a flight from London. Ellie Holman, 44, was held after her Emirates flight touched down at Dubai International Airport where she was locked in a detention centre, according to reports. The dentist, a Swedish national who lives in Sevenoaks, Kent, now faces spending up to a year in the Arab state for her case to be settled, she told the MailOnline. Dr Holman said she was not allowed to call her husband from the detention centre and that her four-year-old daughter was forced to go to the toilet on the cell floor. She said: My little girl had to go to the toilet on the cell floor. I have never heard her cry in the same way as she did in that cell. Dr Holman said she faces spending up to a year in Dubai while her case is settled. She is currently on bail / Getty Images My passport remains confiscated until the case is settled, which I have been told will take at least a year. The mother said she was served a glass of red with her meal during the flight on July 13, and that drinking it led to her arrest. After landing she was quizzed by an immigration official, who said her visa was not valid and that she must buy a ticket to return to London immediately. Following a stand-off with the officer Dr Holman said he then asked if she had been drinking, before telling her it was a crime to be in possession of or consume alcohol. She began filming him on her phone to gather evidence of his rude behaviour, Dr Holman said, before she was told filming airport officials was an offence. The mother said her and her daughter were then led to a cell at the airport and had their passports confiscated before being taken to a police station. There she was asked to take a blood sample to test for alcohol, Dr Holman claimed. After being held, she was reportedly released on bail. Her daughter and husband flew back to the UK but she remained in Dubai with friends. T he Saudi-led military coalition has announced it will investigate an air strike in Yemen that killed dozens of children. At least 29 children were killed in Thursday's strike on a bus carrying civilians in northern Yemen. The official Saudi Press Agency quoted an unnamed senior official on Friday as saying the coalition has a "firm commitment" to investigate incidents involving "claims of mistakes or violations of international law". UK Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt called for a "transparent investigation" into the incident. The site of the air strike in northern Yemen / EPA "Deeply concerned by reports of yesterday's attack in Saada, Yemen resulting in tragic deaths of so many children. Transparent investigation required," he wrote on Twitter. "UK calls on all parties to prevent civilian casualties and to cooperate with UN to reach a lasting political solution in Yemen." The United Nations called for an independent investigation of the raid which hit the bus as it drove through a market of Dahyan, a town in the Houthis' home province of Saada. It said an exact death toll has yet to be confirmed but initial reports point to more than 60 casualties, with dozens severely wounded. Children's backpacks lie at the site a day after the strike in Saada / AP Al-Masirah reported at least 51 people, including 40 children, were killed and 79 others, including 56 children, were wounded in the airstrike, citing the Yemeni Health Ministry. It also said three children have gone missing since the airstrike. The International Committee of the Red Cross said its team received the bodies of 29 children, all under 15 years old, and treated 48 wounded, 30 of them children. Following the strike, Al Masirah broadcast horrific images of lifeless bodies of children, covered in blood, and others who appeared severely wounded, lying on hospital stretchers crying and screaming in pain. Smoke rises after an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen / REUTERS The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified. The Arab states carried out new air strikes on Friday, killing a girl and injuring several other people whose home was targeted in the Marib province, east of the capital Sanaa, the Houthis' al-Masirah TV said. Announcing the investigation into the strike on the bus, the Saudi Press Agency quoted an alliance official as saying: "The coalition is firmly committed to investigating all claims regarding mistakes or violations of international law, to sanction those who caused these incidents and to provide assistance to the victims." The Saudi-led Arab alliance, whose members receive Western political support and buy billions of dollars a year in arms from the United States, Britain and France, has been fighting for three years to drive out the Houthis, Iran-aligned fighters who pushed a Saudi-backed government out of the capital in 2014. Civilians have been enmeshed over the years in the conflict which has killed over 10,000, crippled the country's health system and pushed it to the brink of famine. Yemen has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 22.2 million people in need of assistance. Takeover bids were submitted from billionaire tycoons Mike Ashley and Philip Day, and the retail turnaround fund Alteri Investors in a bid to save the struggling 169-year-old firm. However the company said today that "discussions with interested investors and its main secured creditors have not concluded in a solvent solution" and it would therefore appoint Ernst & Young as administrators. Up to 17,000 jobs at now at risk. Hundreds of holidaymakers rescued from floods in France One 70-year-old man is missing, and officials fear he was swept away from a campsite after heavy rain caused flash flooding. Three regions have been affected. The worst hit area is Gard, where 119 children on holiday had to be rescued. More than 400 firefighters, gendarmes and helicopter crews helped in the evacuations and numerous roads in the area remained cut off as night fell. Mr Bean comedian defends Boris Johnson's burka comments Comedian Rowan Atkinson has defended Boris Johnson over his controversial comments that women wearing burkas looked like letterboxes. The Mr Bean actor wrote in the Times that it was funny and that all jokes about religion caused offence, so it was pointless apologising for them. More than 30 protesters demonstrated near Mr Johnsons constituency office yesterday demanding he stands down. The former Foreign Secretary faces an investigation that he broke the Tory party code of conduct. Ryanair hit by pilots strike Staff in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands are holding another 24-hour walkout over pay and conditions. About 250 flights have been cancelled but the budget airline said more than 2,000 scheduled services would operate as normal. Survey says majority would now stay in the EU Some 45 per cent want a say on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations with 34 per cent opposed, the survey for the People's Vote campaign found. If talks break down, half of voters said the final decision over whether the UK stay or leave should be taken by the public compared to a quarter who believe Parliament should decide. Opponents of Brexit claimed the YouGov study of more than 10,000 adults showed public opinion was shifting. The 53 per cent to 47 per cent result in favour of remaining in the EU excludes those who do not know how they would vote or would not bother. Denzel Washington's warning to predatory movie moguls over daughter Denzel Washington says young actresses are now facing better protection from sexual harassment in Hollywood but that anyone behaving inappropriately towards his daughter would have their back broken. The actor was asked if he thought the industry had changed in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Washingtons daughter Olivia is an actress and he said more rules were in place but added: Plus I will break somebody's back if they mess around with my daughter. Let that be the message to put out there. On this day 1675: Greenwich Observatory was established by King Charles II, who laid the foundation stone. 1889: The screw bottle top was patented by Dan Rylands of Hope Glass Works, Barnsley. 1961: Britain first applied for membership of the EEC. Moore has previously been convicted in Cook County on drug charges, records show. In 2007, he was convicted of possession of a controlled substance. In 2015, Moore was convicted of manufacture or delivery of one to 15 grams of heroin and sentenced to jail and probation, according to records. D ani Dyer had the shock of her life when her dad prank called her live on air as she co-hosted Capital Breakfast. Love Island champion Dani made her radio presenting debut on Friday as she co-hosted the flagship show alongside Roman Kemp. As is common for radio presenters, Dani was faced with handling a phone-in created under the guise of fans wanting to get dirt on the ITV2 show but got more than she bargained for when Johnny called in. In a bizarre fake-posh accent, Dyer Senior asked: Its a bit awkward I was just wondering how youre getting on in the do bits society? Host: Dani Dyer co-presented the flagship Capital show on Friday (Isabel Infantes/PA Wire/PA Images) / PA To which Dyer replied that it was fun and, when pressed, added that a lady never tells. Letting his accent slip, the EastEnders star laughed: Really? Do you know what Dan, thats a right good answer, leading his daughter to shout NO!. Father and daughter: Danny Dyer and his Love Island winner daughter Dani / @danidyerxx Instagram Dyer Senior continued: My sweet little princess. Is this your game now, this is you in radio now? I cant believe you got up so early, thats for one. Earlier this week, Dyer appeared as a guest on the morning show and revealed that her boyfriend Jack Fincham was going to come face-to-face with her dad for the first time at her birthday celebrations, having previously met on Skype in the villa. Team: Dani Dyer with co-hosts Roman Kemp and Sonny Jay (Isabel Infantes/PA Wire/PA Images) / PA And pictures of Fincham and the actor grabbing a takeaway soon emerged, leading fans to hail the first meeting a success. Dyer told Capital: So basically we had an Indian take-away and me dads jumped in the motor and gone go on mate, have them, have them, get the bags. Jacks holding these bags smiling like alright Dan, Ill take them for you! Dani Dyer was co-hosting Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp. Tune into Capital Breakfast, week days from 6am 10am and Saturdays from 6am 9am. W ere dusting off our dancing shoes and seeking out the sparkle as we prepare for the return of Strictly Come Dancing to warm our Saturday evenings. Yes, its that time again. Weve got through The Voice UK and Britains Got Talent and Love Island is all but a distant memory and now its time to settle in for the biggest show on television (sorry Simon). Katie Piper has just been announced as the first contestant, and the rumour mill has churned out several names as we edge closer to the official reveals. So listen up, scroll down and thinking ooh! or ugh! where applicable. Heres who is linked with series 16 Katie Piper Katie Piper is the first contestant to be confirmed for this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing. / Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images Broadcaster, charity campaigner and inspirational speaker Katie Piper is the first Strictly contestant to be confirmed. The 34-year-old excitedly revealed the news on BBC Breakfast, saying: "I feel so privileged and excited to be part of my favourite show on TV. I already know how much of an amazing experience it will be for me and I cant wait to show my girls some of my new dance moves" She also added she feels ready to face Craig Revel Horwood and the rest of the judging panel: "I don't want to cry. The judges can be quite scary. I've developed a thick skin over the years so hopefully, I'll be fine." Katie made her name after becoming the subject of Channel 4's Katie: My Beautiful Face, documenting her experiences after being the victim of a brutal acid attack at the hands of her ex-partner. Kate Silverton Newsreader: Kate Silverton has reportedly signed up (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) / Getty Images The 48-year-old newsreader has reportedly been on the mind of BBC bosses for 12 years now, just a couple of years after the show began. Silverton is one of the familiar faces who regularly fronts flagship news shows on the channel, including News at One, Six and Ten. In 2006, Silverton admitted that she had turned the show down due to her commitments reporting from the frontline in Basra, Afghanistan, and admitted she was disappointed at not being able to take part. But a source told The Sun: Now shes polishing off her dancing shoes and cant wait to get started. She was asked previously but was reporting on the front line in Iraq and Afghanistan so couldnt do it. How likely is she? Quite. Newsreaders have an affinity to the show, with then-BBC bod Natasha Kaplinsky winning the first ever series in 2004, Susanna Reid flying through to the final in 2013 and Kate Garraway giving it a go in 2007. Vick Hope Rumoured: DJ Vick Hope is set to appear / Dave Benett The Capital DJ was reportedly the first to sign on for this series, having recently started to find fame on the radio station . Hope has recently been on the small screen hosting Sky Ones frankly bizarre car show Carnage. How likely is she? Although a relatively unknown name, Capital is a major hit countrywide especially the younger generation, who could bring a new group of fans to the show. Lee Ryan Popstar: Lee Ryan could fill the category well - and resident soap star (Jeremy O'Donnell/Getty Images) / Jeremy O'Donnell/Getty Images The popstar slot has been linked to Blue member turned soap star Ryan, who has reportedly signed on the dotted line for this series, according to The Mirror. If he does appear on the show, he can get some tips from pal Simon Webbe who took part in the show a few years ago, making it all the way to the final. How likely is he? There is usually at least one big name from the music industry per year as well as a soap star. Ryan could fit the quota twice over, leaving us room for the unknown Joe Sugg YouTuber: Joe Sugg is reportedly on BBC bosses radar / Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images Heres the unknown! YouTube star Sugg, brother of vlogger Zoella, has been linked to the show having done well for himself online, as per Metro. The 26-year-old will be familiar to the teenager viewers, having spoken extensively about lots of different things from in front of the camera. How likely is he? Strictly have traditionally shied away from reality stars, so we wonder if the same would apply to social media influencers. But, first time for everything Faye Tozer Steps: Faye Tozer could be learning some new routines / Tommy Jackson/Getty Images Obligatory ringer reference! Right, now thats out the way The Steps front lady is rumoured by The Sun to be taking on a different kind of steps later this year, despite having years of experience on the West End stage and having taken the lead in several classic pop routines over the years. How likely is it? Again, we refer to the popstar point and a little bit of experience hasnt stopped the show from signing anybody up in the past, including Kimberley Walsh in 2012 and Alexandra Burke last year. Ashley Roberts Pussycat Doll: Ashley Roberts is rumoured to be shimmying around Elstree this autumn / PA The former Pussycat Doll has reportedly been handpicked by the show as a no brainer, because of her sexiness and sassiness, according to The Sun. Roberts does have a bit of dance experience, the kind that comes with being in a pop group, and has also never been far from the small screen having judged on Dancing On Ice and co-hosted Saturday Night Takeaway. How likely is she? Since Roberts has already done the other winter reality show, Im A Celebrity, her schedule is looking free for the next few months. Shes also done The Jump, Channel 4s ill-fated crash-course in how-not-to-ski so, if she can do that. Honourable mentions This brand new section here at the bottom is dedicated to the stars strongly linked to the show but have categorically ruled themselves out of the show. Names include Michelle Keegan, Catherine Tyldsley, Maya Jama and Ben Shephard. C ineworld has some fun technology up its sleeve for your next trip: a 270-degree cinema screen. The UKs biggest cinema chain is launching ScreenX, the immersive sensory cinema experience, created by Korean company CJ 4DPLEX, exclusively in the UK for the first time. The chain has partnered with the company to bring the technology to 100 of its cinemas, starting with Cineworld Greenwich in the O2 this week. Speaking about the launch, CJ 4DPLEXs CEO Byung-Hwan Choi, said: We know cinema is all about the experience and for this reason our technology is designed to connect cinemagoers more closely with the action. ScreenX mimics how the human eye interprets a visual by appealing to both our front and peripheral vision. It honours our commitment to break cinematic boundaries and create amazing cinema experiences. How the ScreenX technology works In a normal cinema, there is one projector that projects the film onto the screen. In a ScreenX cinema, there are a total of five projectors, four for the side walls and one for the main screen, to create the immersive experience. ScreenXs software blends multiple images together into one image extending from the central screen out, whilst the side walls of the cinema have been covered with a special fabric which ensures the brightness and colour match the content on the main screen. As well, speakers are strategically placed throughout the auditorium to optimise the sound. At the moment there are a few films out there that can be watched on a ScreenX screen. Since the technology was launched in 2015, films such as Black Panther and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword were shot in a specific way to ensure that the panoramic image quality of ScreenX is delivered to audiences. ScreenX will be rolled out to different Cineworld locations across the UK and Europe / Cineworld Production teams have to use a variety of rig solutions, the way the cameras are set up in a shoot, to get the footage that can be used on the 270-degree screen. In post-production, the teams will enhance the footage with visual effects and colour grading to get it ScreenX ready. As the technology becomes more widespread, more films will be shot in this way for ScreenX. This week, Cineworld is launching the new technology with the new shark film, The Meg, which has been shot entirely with Screen X in mind. Marvels latest instalment, Ant Man and the Wasp, has also undergone the ScreenX treatment whilst the new horror film The Nun, opening in a few weeks time, will also be available in 270 degrees. Cineworlds operations director, Kelly Drew, told the Standard that adding ScreenX to its roster fits into its focus to push innovation in cinema. This is a brand new technology. It does immerse you into the action, and its a new experience, nobody else is doing this in the UK, said Drew. Were confident that its going to go well for us. What its like watching a ScreenX film We were treated to a sneak preview of the screen technology, watching 20 minutes of The Meg on the 270-degree screen. Whilst there were some technical issues at first, including some sound issues, it was interesting to be plunged underwater and immersed in the ocean thriller. One thing to have in mind is that not every single aspect of the film is shot in this 270-degree format. During the clip, it was slightly disconcerting to feel fully immersed in the film and then shocked back to reality when the action moved from all around to only the main screen. Though as the technology develops and takes off this could change. Its unlikely that every time you go to the cinema you will be watching a 270-degree film. The lack of films available in the format is one reason, whilst the price is another. Drew said that for ScreenX there will be a 3 increase on current ticket prices. If an adult peak ticket costs 12.40 at the Cineworld Greenwich, then a ScreenX ticket will cost 15.40. Even for London prices, that seems rather steep. In the future could we get to a point where all cinema screens are 270 degrees? People dont hear about this charge and say, I never want to dope again, she said. They say, Im not going to call 911 if my friend overdoses because I could get charged. Im not sure how they can look at this and think its an effective way to stop overdoses. Its not. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe There is no admission charge Thursday, Friday or Saturday, although a $10 charge will be assessed Sunday, with children 12 and under admitted at no charge. The money collected will go toward the American Cancer Society which, in conjunction with students from Purdue University Northwests college of business, is encouraging people to bring their pets to Balmoral from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The Ministry of Environment allocates, through the Environment Fund, 100 million euros for the relaunching of the Green House program, in October, Environment Minister Gratiela Gavrilescu announced in a Friday's press conference in northeastern Suceava, Agerpres informs. According to the minister, through this program, 26,000 households will benefit from photovoltaic cells for the production of electricity needed for heating the water, and up to 4,600 euros of the total investment can be reimbursed from the budget of the Environment Fund Administration (AFM). ''A book of reference is already prepared and around October 15 it will be launched, a project that we have improved this year, the old Green House program respectively, which enabled individuals and legal entities to access the Environment Fund to mount solar panels for water heating. (...) We have included in the budget of the Environment Fund Administration, which is already publicly debated on the ministry's website and will be approved in the August 20 meeting, 100 million euros for 26,000 households for installing photovoltaic cells with installation power of 3 KW and the funding will be maximum 4,600 euros. That means we will have 26,000 electricity producers. (...) The Ministry of Energy has submitted to Parliament, and the latter has already adopted it, the amendment of the Energy Law, in the sense that each of us can become electricity producers. So photovoltaic panels will have double use: in our own household we can produce electricity to heat the water, but we also can be a producer of electric power that we can give in the national circuit," explained Gavrilescu. At the same time, the minister said that, in partnership with the Ministry of Energy, a photovoltaic panels installation project will start this year for nine thousand non-electrified dwellings, financed by the Environment Fund, and the interested individuals can access this money as of October 15. Speaker of the Deputies Chamber, Liviu Dragnea, leader of the PSD (Social Democratic Party) stated that Prime Minister Viorica Dancila told him how President Klaus Iohannis yelled at her in relation to the negative budgetary rectification made for the Presidential Administration, and added that the Presidential Administration still has the commitment appropriation at hand, according to Agerpres. Asked Thursday evening by Romania TV private television broadcaster if Iohannis yelled at Dancila in relation to the rectification and what the head of the state had to reproach to the Prime Minister during their conversation over phone they had last week, the PSD head said: "Yes. But you shouldn't ask me this, for I am not a tape recorder, I can only relay to you what Mrs. Prime Minister told me, since this is still a discussion between the President and the PM and, I repeat this, it was not a hidden one." "He said to her that he will no longer be able to do his visits, to go to the NATO meetings, to Brussels, and that he would file a complaint against her with the State Department, as if the State Department is Romania's supervisor, or something like this. And Mrs. PM replied to him: Mr. President, we analyzed the budget execution for six month, for all the public institutions, we discussed the matter with each institution, and please send whomever you like from the Presidential Administration to the government's counselor - Mrs. Prime Minister's counselor Darius Valcov - to discuss this matter based on documents. But I would like to tell you these very important things. There is no impediment whatsoever for the Presidential Administration to commit any expense or to launch any procedure, just because its appropriations have been cut shorter, meaning the cash, the liquidities, for it still has the commitment appropriations. For the Ministry of Finances, the Government, through ordinances, allows the public institutions to use these commitment appropriations, in order for them to be able to make expenses the Ministry of Finances is sure to cover. So, all those lies that he needs to go through certain procedures are just lies, since there is no problem. They even held a press conference or had the Presidency's spokeswoman say all these lies. After the press conference they introduced more than 20 million lei in invoices within several hours," said Dragnea. Then, the PSD leader rhetorically asked: "Where were those invoices coming from? Was it something illegal? Because is they made those at once, this is again a problem." "And I also believe that the Ministry of Finances should verify, just verify, if this was all right ... it must do it. And in case of any other public institution that would do the same, meaning to register more than 20 million lei in invoices within a few hours, for this raises questions," said Dragnea. TAROM puts up for sale 159 euro-worth round-trip tickets for the August 10-14 2018 interval, for destinations in Europe and not only, the company informs on Friday, Agerpres informs. Tickets that cost 159 euros, all fees included, are thus available for flights between Bucharest and Amman, Nice, Paris, Madrid and also between Timisoara and Paris and Cluj and Paris. The travel period associated with this campaign, for the TAROM flights, is September 15-November 30 2018 (the date of the last return). All passengers benefit from free hold luggage transportation and on board catering. TAROM - the National Airline of Romania - was set up in 1954, operating under the subordination of the Ministry of Transportation, while also being a member of the SkyTeam Alliance as of June 25 2010. The national company operates more than 50 destinations of its own and also others with its code share partners. Romania's carrier has one of the youngest fleets in Europe, made of 25 aircraft and has been a member of IATA (International Air Transport Association) as of 1993. With the goodies come the shoppers. Alderson said the increase in vendors was matched by an increased attendance and the same is expected this year. But theres plenty of free parking for guests in the Village Commons where the event takes place and theres more behind Village Hall and at several businesses and institutions within the commons area as they close their doors for the evening. McCarthy said that in the 24 years hes been in Orland Park, the department has had three missing-child cases, and in all three the child was either in the home or somewhere on the property. Even though police searched the homes in each case, kids can really squirrel themselves away, the chief said, noting that one child was later found tucked inside a tiny space inside a playhouse in the yard. The Walmart next to the shuttered Sams Club closed in spring 2016, but the fulfillment center will use only the Sams property, he said. The building is about 150,000 square feet. Truck traffic should be about the same, and perhaps a little less, compared with when the warehouse club was operating, Thompson said. Thanks to Russia, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights is up and running again. Peacekeepers have started patrolling along with Russian military police after a long hiatus that has lasted since 2014. Eight Russian-manned observation posts opposite the UN positions will be set up to rule out potential provocations. Those will eventually be handed over to Syrian government forces. The revival of the UN mission is symbolic and may be seen as the first step in the country toward a peaceful settlement under an international framework despite the failure of the UN-brokered talks in Geneva. Russia has brought the United Nations back to Syria, preventing a potential conflict between Israeli and Iranian forces. This is a very significant success that makes it clear what a high degree of trust Russia enjoys from all the parties involved in the conflict. Impressed by Russias success in Syria, Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mismari, a spokesman for the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, has requested a Russian intervention in Libya "to get rid of foreign players in the country. He wants Moscows help in organizing a nationwide vote. He claims that the Libyan people are looking for a strong ally like Russia." The official noted that almost all of the officers on active duty in the Libyan National Army, as well as the retirees, were trained in Russia. With an area of almost 1.8 million square kilometers (700,000 sq. mi), Libya is the fourth largest country in Africa, the 16th biggest nation in the world, and boasts the 10th most extensive oil reserves. It has been mired in a conflict between two competing governments since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 after a NATO-led intervention. The country has a host of problems to overcome, such as rivalry between its two dueling administrations, internal fighting between various armed factions, tribes, and city-states, a ruined economy, and an uncontrolled flood of weapons. The LNA has forced a rollback of the jihadist forces through an offensive to restore stability under a unified government. The army belongs to one of two rival factions vying for control of Libya, representing the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HOR) or the Tobruk government in eastern Libya. The other faction is the UN-backed, Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) that controls the western part of the country. According to the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement, the HoR was supposed to merge with the Tripoli-based GNA to become the countrys legislative body. However, that plan has not yet borne fruit. Moscow has excellent relations with both administrations. Last year, the head of the Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj, visited Russia. Marshal Haftar has always been eager for an allied relationship with Moscow. The Libyan military leader has visited Russia twice in the last three years. He was also a guest onboard the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, where he met with Defense Minister Shoigu in a closed video call. The field marshal, a fluent Russian speaker, received his military training in the Soviet Union. Moscow has been asked to mediate and use its clout to help organize presidential and parliamentary elections that are tentatively slated for December. Russia has also expressed its desire to reactivate a host of cooperation agreements signed with Libya. Russian companies are willing to return to the Libyan market. Unlike the West, Moscow does not tie its assistance efforts to demands for political reform, nor does it lecture the recipients about the need to adopt a Western-style democracy. The fighting and instability cannot go on forever. Libya is too important to let the situation slide. And its only natural that it is Russia not the West or any other actor to whom Libyans turn for help. NATOs 2011 intervention is still fresh in their memory. They see that Russia has succeeded in Syria where the West has failed. The Russian Federation also enjoys good relations with other actors that are in one way or another involved in the conflict, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, and the nations of MENA. Nor has it been forgotten how as a result of Western intervention, Serbia lost Kosovo, which was part of its own country, Sudan has been partitioned, and Iraq is facing serious difficulties in its attempts to preserve its territorial integrity, at least nominally. Libya is not the only nation to approach Russia looking for help. Last month, the leader of the Yemeni Supreme Political Council (the Houthi movement), Mahdi al-Mashat wrote a letter to President Vladimir Putin, asking him to use Russias international influence to put an end to the ongoing crisis in his country. He urged Russia to play a role in ensuring security and stability in Yemen. The military operation in Syria has not only energized Russian arms sales abroad but has also promoted the countrys image as a fair international broker that is ideally suited to act as a mediator to resolve international conflicts. Moscow receives one request after another to lend a helping hand to those who badly need it. Like it or not, this fact is irrefutable Russias Middle East policy has turned out to be a story of success and growing clout, making it the go-to nation for the countries of the region. She shares her knowledge at professional conferences, works to ensure preschool students are prepared for kindergarten and helps with various summer reading challenges. She also helps bring various childrens programs to the library such as Sensory Storytime, Family Tech Play, Pediatric Therapeutic Playgroup, Creativity Lab, Coding Club and Intro to 3D Design. On the tenth anniversary this week of the Russo-Georgian War, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev issued a serious, albeit commonsensical, warning. He said the proposed membership of Georgia in the US-led NATO military alliance could result in a horrible conflict. However, Western news media sought to portray Medvedevs cautionary words as conveying a sinister intent. Britains Independent headlined: Russia threatens [sic] horrible conflict if Georgia joins NATO. Other news outlets, such as Reuters and Associated Press, did not go as far as using the word threatens. But their implied tone relaying Medvedevs remarks was one of Russia flexing its muscles with intimidation towards the South Caucasus state. That mischievous insinuation fits in with the wider Western narrative of Russias alleged malign activity and threatening posture towards Eastern European countries in the Baltic, Balkans and Ukraine. Both the United States and European Union this week reiterated accusations that Russia was illegally occupying Georgian territory owing to Moscows support for the two breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia which border with Georgia in the South Caucasus region. To mark the 10th anniversary of the five-day war in August 2008, the foreign ministers from Poland, the Baltic states and Ukraines Kiev regime were reportedly in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi to demonstrate their solidarity over what they called Russian aggression. Georgia is continually cited along with Ukraine by American and European politicians as two examples that purportedly prove Russian malfeasance, and thereby justify the relentless buildup of NATO forces along Russias Western flank. In other words, Georgia and Ukraine are cause celebre for NATOs existence, and for the American and European policy of sanctions against Russia. Indeed, both Georgia and Ukraine have been cordially invited to join the NATO alliance. The fast-track invitation was reiterated at the NATO summit in Brussels last month where the two countries were hosted as guests of honor by the 29-member bloc. Subsequently, following the NATO summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated Russias well-known opposition to such a further expansion of the US-led military alliance. The proposed additions of Ukraine and Georgia could potentially lead to the installation of American missiles and warplanes smack on Russias borders. Putin said that Russia would respond vigorously to such a move, although he did not specify what the consequences would entail. Similarly, Dmitry Medvedev issued a warning this week regarding Georgia and NATO. Nevertheless, Russias reasonable position of perceiving NATOs expansion as an offensive threat is bizarrely distorted and turned on its head by Western governments and media. By merely pointing out its grievance stemming from US-led military forces moving ever-closer to its national territory, astoundingly, Russia is portrayed in Western media as the one that is making the threats. Its quite a feat of mental engineering. If we listen to Medvedevs words, he is patently not conveying any sinister intent, as Western media tried to make out. There is an unresolved territorial conflict and would they bring such a country [Georgia] into the [NATO] military alliance? said Medvedev. Do they understand the possible implications? It could provoke a horrible conflict. The Russian premier is simply stating what should be an obvious fact: namely, that NATO membership by Georgia in the midst of a territorial dispute with its pro-Russian neighbors, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, would lead to a dangerous conflict. What Western governments and news media need to do is critically examine the whole premise of NATOs eastwards expansion since the end of the Cold War in 1991. That expansion violated commitments given by American leaders to Russian counterparts at the end of the Cold War, first by George Bush Senior and later Bill Clinton. It is precisely the doubling membership of NATO based mainly on the absorption of former Soviet countries that has so alarmed Russia about military encirclement. Given the relentless anti-Russian rhetoric out of Washington and some of its European allies casting Russia as an enemy it is by no means alarmist that Moscow sees the entire trajectory over the past two decades as a strategic offensive. Recall too that existential threats to Russia over the past two centuries have come from an eastward expansion of armies out of Europe, under Napoleon and then Nazi Germany. Given the loss of up to 30 million of its people from Nazi imperialist aggression, it is perfectly understandable that Russia today is deeply wary of any military advancement on its territory. And NATO fits that nefarious pattern. On the specific cases of Ukraine and Georgia, NATO has been very much the instigator of conflicts there, yet it is NATO that poses now as a defender. That inversion of reality is made possible in part because of Western news media distorting historical events, just as they did again this week with regard to reporting Medvedevs comments on NATO and Georgia. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Ukraine and Georgia have been solicited by Washington, the EU and NATO, as with other former Soviet states. That soliciting has created tensions and instability, not least because that was supposed to be what American leaders said they wouldnt do. The conflict in Ukraine came about from American and European Union support for a coup against an elected government in February 2014. The CIA and NATO were also instrumental. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine between the NATO-backed Kiev regime and pro-Russian separatists in the Eastern self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk is not due to Russian aggression; it is a result of the irresponsible and provocative intervention by Washington and its European allies. The West accuses Russia of annexing Crimea, an historical part of Russia, whenever it was the West that allowed a faction of Neo-Nazi Ukrainians to annex Kiev and its government. The ongoing four-year conflict in Ukraine which has killed over 10,000 people is a direct result of NATO imperialist meddling. On Georgia, after the Western-backed so-called Rose Revolution in 2004 which brought the mercurial Mikhail Saakashvili to power, the former Soviet Republic suddenly became a staunch proponent of NATO. Saakashvili was enthusiastically supported by Washington with weapons and finance. He also made the retaking of Abkhazia and South Ossetia into Georgian territory his big mission. The three neighboring states broke up after the fall of the Soviet Union. Abkhazia and South Ossetia requested the Russian Federation to recognize their statehoods in March 2008, prompted by the American and European recognition of Kosovo in the Balkans as a self-declared state during the previous month in February 2008. Kosovo broke away from Serbia largely as a result of the military intervention of NATO. Again, NATO was setting the precedent, not Russia. At Washingtons bidding, Georgian leader Saakashvili sent NATO-backed troops to attack Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia on August 8, 10 years ago this week. The rapid intervention by Russian troops along with Abkhaz forces repelled the Georgian offensive. Wisely, NATO declined to push its support for Saakashvili any further. The war was over in five days, resulting in the formal recognition by Russia of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Today, the US and Europe continue to accuse Russia of illegally occupying Abkhazia and South Ossetia and of violating Georgias sovereignty. Western media make an upside-down analogy with Ukraine. The real analogy is that both Georgia and Ukraine have been destabilized by NATO expansionism, not Russian. But such are the lies, distortions and self-serving propaganda churned out over and over by Western media in the service of their governments and NATO, there is an appalling failure in the West to learn from history. When Russia warns that NATOs expansion is risking horrible conflict that is a straightforward, reasonable observation which is borne out by history. Tragically, thousands of lives have been destroyed by not heeding this warning. And thousands more perhaps millions continue to be put in danger because the Western media willfully misinterpret and misrepresent Russia. Photo: Twitter Auckland Our client is screaming out for people to assist them. If you are unsure about the next step in your career, we have several... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz UPDATE 2.40pm: No one has been injured in the Port of Tauranga fire which caused two buildings to go up in flames. Fire and Emergency were called to the building fire on Mirrielees Road at around 11.30pm and on arrival found a workshop and office building ablaze. Crews quickly contained the fire to the two buildings using multiple deliveries and protecting adjacent buildings and acetylene cylinders. Port of Tauranga Chief Executive Mark Cairns says the incident is currently at fourth alarm level, with more than 10 appliances and 45 firefighters on site. The fire is now under control and resources are starting to be released. There have been no injuries reported. The cause at this stage is undetermined, but investigations will commence as soon as the fire is extinguished. Mark says the emergency crews and port staff involved did an outstanding job of containing the large fire. "We are very relieved that no one was hurt, says Mark. The Tauranga Container Terminal remains closed to traffic but is expected to reopen within the next hour. EARLIER: Fire crews are still battling the blaze which razed a building in the Port of Tauranga. Its unknown when the fire will be put out, but a Northern Fire communications spokesperson says the blaze is under control. Its definitely under control and they are starting to release some trucks now. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has confirmed it will be putting booms into the harbour near the site of the fire as a precaution to catch any run-off from the firefighting efforts that may come out of the stormwater drains. Reports of a fire started coming in at around 11.30am, with multiple calls coming in to SunLive saying that there is a large building fire and smoke can be seen billowing into the sky. Read more here. Port of Tauranga says that Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews are on site at the Tauranga Container Terminal attending a large fire at a workshop. Students attending the Tauranga Careers Expo will be some the first to step inside and experience the University of Waikatos new Tauranga Campus, thanks to Virtual Reality technology. The Careers Expo runs until 3pm today, during which the University will feature the latest VR technology to showcase some of the key architectural and design elements of the new campus, providing a human-scale experience of the building. The VR technology will enable students at the expo to walk around in a virtual environment as if they were inside the new campus. Students can get a visceral feel of what the new building is like and see which areas theyll be using. Using the technology, you can walk or jump around; you can point your hand to where you want to go and even leap there, allowing you to jump from the bottom to the top of the building. If youre game enough you can even put your head through the walls, says senior future students advisor Andy Howells. Opening in 2019, the new Tauranga CBD Campus will unite the Universitys network of campuses across the Bay and will enhance its growing range of qualifications available to students. The University of Waikato is leading the development of a dedicated campus on behalf of the Bay of Plenty Tertiary Partnership. The University of Waikato and Hawkins Construction, who are responsible for building the Tauranga Campus, have partnered with Better World Digital to bring the new campus to life at the Careers Expo through the use of Virtual Reality technology. Virtual Reality is opening up possibilities and creating new opportunities within architecture, training, marketing, and even tourism, by removing physical barriers, says Better World Digitals founder Geoff Bentley. The HTC VIVE headset being used at the Careers Expo will allow students to walk around the new campus. Its like youre really there. It will be very powerful and impactful for those students who step inside. Virtual Reality technology has benefited the development of the new campus by bringing the architectural plans to life, helping to visualise the building and spaces in 3D. The new campus is designed to promote collaboration and social learning, with communal study and social spaces, a 24-hour computer lab and a cafe. It also includes multi-functional spaces, including a 200-seat tiered lecture theatre and a noho centre, which incorporates sleeping, catering and teaching facilities that will be available for use by University students, staff and the wider community. The University of Waikatos Virtual Reality experience of the new Tauranga Campus will be at stand number 1 at the Tauranga Careers Expo, taking place at ASB Arena, from 9am-4pm. Also at the University's site at the Careers Expo will be representatives from eight Faculties to give information about programmes on offer in Tauranga from 2019. The University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance will showcase some of the work being done in the field of human performance science, and the Coastal Marine Field Station will provide an insight into opportunities being investigated in the marine environment in and around Tauranga Moana. Click the image above to watch the video The nations next best thing to Peter Jackson could be among the crowd attending Canvas Tauranga Careers expo. The two day event began on Friday and brings together all of the information needed to help inform and educate Tauranga youngsters on what their potential career paths could look like. Heating up the expo this year is the Film Industry Pathways workshop, which is being hosted by Bay of Plenty film. The workshop will be covering topics including the nature of the industry and how to get into it, the wide range of skills the industry is looking for, their short term needs in this area and what Bay of Plenty Film are doing to connect people. Region Film Office CEO Anton Steel says it will be a power packed two hours of insights. The workshop will be facilitated by Hip-hoperation producer Paula Jones who ran South Seas Film School for 10 years. If youre keen on a career in film this is a fantastic opportunity to hear from someone of this calibre. Also I have incoming productions that will need crew and Im also in talks with Auckland producers to get Bay crew onto shoots up there in the latter part of this year as it looks like the industry there will be quite busy so we are very much on the look-out for talent. If you think a career in the film industry is right for you, this is the workshop to come to. More than 1500 students have been invited to attend the workshop including those from Otumoetai College, Aquinas College, Katikati College, Tauranga Boys College, Waihi College, Whakatane Highschool, Te Whare Kura o Mauao, Mount Maunganui College, Tauranga Girls College, Bethlehem College, Papamoa College, Te Puke Highschool, Murupara Area School and Opotiki College. The workshop will be held upstairs at the Careers expo and runs from 10am-12pm at ASB Baypark Arena. Craig Ngamoki from GBCWinstone, Tahlia Hopkins from FLAG and Steve Divers from Sector Workforce Engagement Program Graham Heaven, baker from Napier Kim Hammerich, Gemma Lucas, Ruby Thomas, Ella Griffin from Face&Beauty Academy Hayley Thomas and Louis Donovan Lynda Kersey - careers adviser at Putaruru College and Courtney Donn a student and an aspiring truck driver from Putaruru College Anna Scandlyn - truck driver Dougie Greig and Taylor Berriman with the Seasprite SH-2G(I) helicopter down from Whenuapai which was displayed yesterday only. Martin Bramley at the NZ Elections stand A Cayuga County man was charged Thursday with hitting another man with his car after a Marilyn Manson concert at the St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater in July, according to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office. Martin Barrington, 48, of Cayuga Street in Moravia, was charged with first-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon, tampering with physical evidence and leaving the scene of a serious personal injury automobile accident, the sheriff's office said in a news release. The 31-year-old who Barrington hit suffered "serious" injuries in the crash and has had several surgeries since the hit and run, deputies said. Deputies have not released the name of the man injured. Witnesses helped deputies find the Honda sedan Barrington was driving at the concert one day later, deputies said. Eventually, deputies "developed" suspect information and charged Barrington, deputies said. Barrington was arraigned in Village of Solvay Court and was released on his own recognizance. The incident on July 22 was after the annual K-Rockathon, which that day was headlined by Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson. That was a year after the May 13, 2017, incident in which two nurses at the hospital in Geneva were taken hostage by a Kane County jail inmate after he took the gun of the corrections officer guarding him. One of the nurses was sexually assaulted before the inmate was fatally shot by police, according to a lawsuit filed in the case. AUBURN, N.Y. -- A former West Genesee School board member has been sentenced to serve half a year in jail for trying to sexually abuse a child. James M. Soper, 46, of Onondaga, was sentenced Thursday in Cayuga County Court to serve 10 years probation for driving to the Fingerlakes Mall in Aurelius to have sexual contact with someone he believed to be was a 12-year-old girl. He will spend the first six months of his sentence in the Cayuga County Jail, said District Attorney Jon Budelmann. At the time of his arrest, Soper was serving on West Genesee's school board. The New York State Police started investigating the Town of Onondaga man last fall when Soper started talking to a person he believed was a 12-year-old girl named Hannah. But "Hannah" was a trooper posing as a child, Budelmann said. Soper resigned from the school board the day after his arrest. In May, he pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree criminal sexual act, a felony. During his court appearance Thursday, Soper said a crumbling marriage and anxiety medication contributed to his actions, reported The Citizen. Soper must register as a sex offender before he is released from jail, Budelmann said. SYRACUSE, NY -- The return of the historic Congress Beer brand to Central New York will take place next week in a fairly historic fashion. A horse-drawn beer wagon will deliver the beer to the Marriott Syracuse Downtown (Hotel Syracuse) shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 15). The launch party is 4 to 8 p.m. at the hotel, its Eleven Waters restaurant and Shaughnessy's Irish Pub. The horses are large draft animals from a Cazenovia horse farm, similar to Clydesdales. Congress was originally brewed by the Haberle Congress Brewery, on Syracuse's North Side, from the 1890s to 1962, when the brewery closed. In its day, it was a regional rival to such brands as Genesee in Rochester, Utica Club in Utica and Iroquois and Simon Pure in Buffalo. The Onondaga Historical Association, which has acquired the rights to brew the beer under the Congress name, has worked with a local craft brewer, Willow Rock Brewing Co., to come up with a new version of the historic beer. The OHA has a large collection of Congress artifacts, and has been selling T-shirts, glassware and other items with the Congress logo for several years. The OHA hopes to use the proceeds from the beer sales to support its operations. Check back to syracuse.com early next week for a deeper look at the creation of the new beer and the history of Haberle Congress. The Congress Beer Launch Party What: Reintroducing Congress Beer in Syracuse When: 3:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15 Where: Marriott Syracuse Downtown (Hotel Syracuse, and its Eleven Water restaurant and Shaughnessy's Irish Pub. Details: The first kegs of the new Congress Beer will be delivered to the hotel on an old-fashioned beer wagon pulled by two draft horses. The wagon will arrive at the Warren Street side of the Eleven Water patio about 3:40 p.m., with an official toast at 3:45 p.m. The party coincides with the last Grill 'n Chill event of the year at Eleven Waters featuring live music from Jay Lock and Brian Michael, and a photo booth with Gambrinus (the "king" of beer). Congress will be on tap at Shaughnessy's Pub starting at 4 p.m. Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. A North Country man has been sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to pay $3.5 million for selling more than 380,000 contraband cigarettes, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York. Jeffrey Lazare, 48, of Hogansburg, was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty in February to failing to maintain required records relating to the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Lazare admitted that from January 2014 through August 2014 he shipped, sold, and distributed quantities of cigarettes in excess of 10,000 in single transactions and failed to maintain required records, prosecutors said. Lazare's business, Braves Manufacturing and Braves Packaging, generated proceeds of at least $3.5 million from his unlicensed cigarette manufacturing operation, prosecutors said. Lazare's failure to maintain required records was part of an effort to avoid paying the federal excise tax (FET) on the cigarettes he manufactured and distributed, prosecutors said. His 38 separate sales of 10,000 or more cigarettes were subject to an FET of at least $247,623.60 that he did not pay, they said. The forfeiture figure of $3.5 million included $957,065.00 seized from Lazare's bank account in 2013, prosecutors said. The case dates back to 2012 when the federal government told the St. Regis Mohawk tribal leaders that the government would start requiring Indian cigarette manufacturers to comply with federal rules, licenses and taxes, according to a memo filed by Lazare's lawyer. Lazare is the first and only tribally licensed cigarette manufacturer on Akwesasne to be prosecuted and convicted by the United States government for not possessing a federal license, his lawyer said. To the Editor: Ed Griffin-Nolan recommends removing the existing railroad bridges rather than paint them ("Don't paint Syracuse's rusting railroad bridges; remove them," Aug. 6, 2018). He appears to have no knowledge of why the bridges are there. Where does he expect the trains to run? Back on street level? What traffic jams that would cause! This is a high-tonnage railroad corridor connecting Syracuse and New York. Tracks were elevated through downtown in 1941 to eliminate traffic jams and accidents that had occurred since the railroad was built in 1854. It was not a mistake. It was sound logic at the time and remains so. The county owns the railroad property and the New York Susquehanna & Western Railway is supposed to maintain it. Simple as that. Interstate 690 is on the old New York Central Railroad right of way through the city. Richard Palmer Syracuse The writer, a retired newspaper reporter for the Herald-Journal, has written more than a dozen books on local railroad history. He is a longtime member of the Central New York Chapter, National Railway Historical Society and author of "Railroads Through the Streets of Syracuse." WASHINGTON -- When Donald Trump makes his first visit as president to Upstate New York next week, he'll return to a region where, he boasted in 2016, people think he's the "most popular person that has ever lived." Trump had a good reason to feel that way: Even as Hillary Clinton won New York by a landslide in the presidential election, Trump dominated Upstate by winning all but seven counties north and west of Albany. But as he visits Fort Drum and Utica on Monday, Trump will tour an Upstate New York where voters have not viewed him favorably since December 2016, the month after he was elected president. Trump's approval ratings plummeted in Upstate New York every month after he took office until hitting a low in May 2017, when 63 percent viewed him unfavorably compared to 33 percent favorably. He matched that low in January, according to polling by the Siena Research Institute. In the most recent Siena poll in June, Trump was viewed unfavorably by 55 percent of Upstate voters and favorably by 41 percent. Perhaps more troubling for Trump and Republican strategists is that his approval rating declined in strongholds like New York's 22nd Congressional District, where the president will headline a fundraiser in Utica on Monday night for Rep. Claudia Tenney. Trump easily won the 22nd District in 2016 with 55 percent of the vote. A year later, a poll showed 52 percent of district voters had an unfavorable view of Trump's job performance, compared to 41 percent with a favorable view. Luke Perry, director of the Utica College Center of Public Affairs and Election Research, said part of Trump's decline was to be expected after 2016, when he packed overflow crowds into Upstate arenas, airplane hangars and other big venues. "Campaigning for president is different than being president,' Perry said. "Trump was a unique political outsider during the campaign." Perry said the president also likely lost support when he suggested in a July 2017 interview in the Wall Street Journal that Upstate residents should stop waiting for the region's economy to recover. Trump said people should leave their homes behind in search of better job opportunities in other states. "Jobs is the No.1 issue in Upstate New York," Perry said. "And related to that, migration outward from Upstate New York is something people are very sensitive to. That certainly wasn't helpful to the president." It was a rare moment when Republicans across Upstate New York condemned Trump, including Tenney and Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, in the neighboring 24th Congressional District. Despite the setbacks, Perry said it's clear that Trump has held on to his base of support in New York, as shown by the Siena poll in June that found 68 percent of Republicans in the state approve of him. About one-third of Republicans are die-hard supporters who will always stand by Trump, and one-third "are not crazy about his conduct, but they're willing to stomach it because they're 100 percent behind his policies," Perry said. The one-third of GOP voters that Trump lost, Perry said, are from urban and suburban parts of New York. They are traditional Republicans who want less government and lower taxes but are turned off by the president's behavior. "They are not at all fans of the personal attacks and rhetoric that the president uses," Perry said. Those who have stuck with Trump in Upstate New York appreciate that the president has delivered on his agenda, said Randy Potter, regional director of the grassroots group CNY for Trump. "Once Donald Trump said, 'Build a wall with Mexico,' he won my heart and I've been with him ever since," Potter said. "As time went on, the more I loved the guy. He's been the conservative president I've been waiting for all my life." Potter, who is also chairman of the Syracuse Republican Committee, said CNY for Trump's membership has remained steady at between 600 and 800 people since the presidential election. "I think if we had another rally for Donald Trump in Syracuse, we'd still see huge crowds," Potter said. Potter remains so devoted to Trump that he traveled in a heavy rain storm from Syracuse to Wilkes Barre, Pa., last week to join an overflow crowd who came to hear the president speak at Mohegan Sun Arena. "He's got more work to do, there's no question about that," Potter said of Trump. "But I think the economy is a lot more vibrant. You go to the malls and they're busy." Still, Upstate New York economy has lagged growth nationally since Trump became president. In April, the Syracuse area tied for 326th place out of 388 metro areas ranked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the change in unemployment rates over the past year. Most other large Upstate cities were also near the bottom of the list. The U.S. unemployment rate hit an 18-year low of 3.6 percent in May after declining for 17 consecutive months. During the same period, Syracuse's monthly unemployment rate increased for 14 months compared to the previous year. Donald Trump has not been viewed favorably by Upstate New York voters since December 2016 UPSTATE NY STATEWIDE Date Favorable Unfavorable Favorable Unfavorable Dec. 2016 48% 45% 41% 53% Jan. 2017 44% 50% 37% 55% Feb. 2017 40% 56% 36% 59% March 2017 38% 58% 33% 63% April 2017 39% 57% 34% 61% May 2017 33% 63% 30% 65% July 2017 45% 52% 34% 62% Aug. 2017 36% 59% NA NA Sept. 2017 35% 61% 29% 66% Oct. 2017 34% 61% 28% 68% Jan. 2018 33% 63% 32% 63% March 2018 39% 57% 33% 62% April 2018 34% 63% 31% 65% June 2018 41% 55% NA NA Source: Siena Research Institute Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 FULL RANKING: Upstate NY's best Mexican food: 24 places for burritos, tacos and more, ranked If you crave authentic Mexican cuisine, skip Taco Bell, Chipotle and Moe's and head to one of the best Mexican restaurants in Upstate NY. A new ranking from NYup.com lists the 24 best Mexican restaurants to find tacos, burritos, nachos, tamales and more, and it includes one restaurant in the greater Syracuse area. The list uses data from Yelp.com, including number of reviews and star rating, to rank the best places to get Mexican food in Upstate NY. Here's the only CNY business to make the ranking: #20 Tres Primos Authentic Mexican Restaurant (Onondaga County) - $$ 4.5 stars, 66 reviews One customer says: "Honestly, this is the best, most authentic Mexican food you're going to find in the Central New York area. The chimichangas are easily the best item on the menu. They are lightly fried and have a great flavor. I always get half chicken, half steak." Website, Yelp 1099 State Rt 5 Elbridge, NY 13060 See the full ranking from NYup.com for the best Mexican restaurants in the state, including food trucks, fusion, Tex-Mex and more. FULL RANKING: Upstate NY's best Mexican food: 24 places for burritos, tacos and more, ranked BATAVIA, N.Y. (AP) -- A Florida man is jailed after authorities say he led police on a 36-mile (58-kilometer) chase in upstate New York, barreling his car toward a blockade and drawing fire from a trooper before crashing into an embankment. State police arrested 49-year-old Andrew Adeb Said and passenger Tara Hackrott on Friday near Interstate 90 in Batavia, halfway between Buffalo and Rochester, as they attempted to flee on foot. Said, of Port Richey, Florida, was arraigned on charges including aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon. Hackrott, of Williamsville, had an outstanding warrant in Cheektowaga, near Buffalo. Information on their lawyers wasn't immediately available. Authorities say Said and Hackrott sped off from police tailing them after a mall theft in Henrietta. Police say the license plates had been switched. Watch a hawk swoop overhead from a high perch to a keeper's glove. See two dozen penguins turbo-dive for fish in a lively cast feeding. Learn about endangered Asian elephants from a family group that includes a mom, dad, grandma, aunt, great aunt and baby elephant calf. Visitors to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo can experience all this and more - and all on the same day - at the zoo's summer animal demonstrations. While the big draw this summer has been the Dinosaur Invasion! that's brought huge animatronic dinosaurs to the zoo from late May to September, the zoo also continues its tradition of holding animal demos and keeper chats every half hour, all day, every day, all summer long through Labor Day. It's still possible to tour the zoo in as little as two hours, but planning a visit around the demos makes it fun to spend a whole jam-packed day there - or to visit on different days at different times for new experiences. It's all part of the zoo's mission as an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, which requires AZA zoos to provide wildlife conservation education to ensure that visitors come away inspired by the animals they observe and invested in saving endangered species. Red panda keeper chat is at 2:30 p.m. daily "We know that research studies indicate that when people see animals up close and learn what makes each species so special, it increases their empathy and concern even for creatures that live halfway around the world," said Rosamond Gifford Zoo Director Ted Fox. Matthew Gordon of Oswego said he always tries to catch a couple demos when he brings his three children to the zoo. "It's a great way for the kids to get a close-up interaction that's very personal and fosters their sense of curiosity," he said. Here is a summary of animal demos at the zoo through September 3. The schedule is subject to change; indoor meet-and-greets may be substituted in inclement weather. 10:30 a.m. Training with Moakler the elephant barn dog. Northwestern Mutual Animal Encounter. Moakler is the zoo's 1-year-old Rottweiler pup in training as the zoo's elephant barn dog. He serves as an enrichment and training aid for the elephant care team, who get to practice training behaviors with him before training elephants. Learn how keepers use positive reinforcement to teach animals from dogs to elephants to cooperate and participate in their own daily care. 11 a.m. Contact Barn Keeper Chat. Domestic Animal Barn. The domestic animal barn is a place where zoo guests can pet animals. This summer, the zoo began focusing on heritage breeds of domestic livestock - ancient breeds that were raised by our forebears but are now endangered. They include San Clemente goats, Black Welsh Mountain sheep and a Highland-White Park calf named Liam. 11:30 a.m. Camel Demonstration. Wildlife Trail. The zoo's two young Bactrian camels have two humps and are far more rare than their one-humped Dromedary relations. Meet Patrick and George up close or see them on exhibit while learning about these amazing animals. Noon. Reptile Keeper Chat. USS Antiquities Cave. This chat varies day to day - it might focus on Mortoise the Radiated tortoise, a critically endangered species, or an up-close encounter with a Kimberley monitor lizard or venomous Gila monster. Listen for the announcement a few minutes prior. 1:30 p.m. Predator and Prey. Northwestern Mutual Animal Encounter. This demo is all about how predator animals use their adaptations to hunt for prey. It features free-flights by falconry-trained raptors Anakin the Harris's hawk or Stellar the red-tailed hawk. 2 p.m. Elephant Keeper Chat. Helga Beck Asian Elephant Preserve. Meet members of the zoo's 7-member Asian elephant herd, including a family group with elephant calf Batu, his mother, Mali, his father, Doc, grandmother, Targa, aunt Kirina, great aunt Romani and matrarch Siri. Learn about their training and behaviors and how the zoo is helping to preserve this endangered species. 2:30 p.m. Red Panda Keeper Chat. Wildlife Trail. Meet a red panda, an ambassador of an endangered species native to the Himalayan Mountains, and learn about the characteristics that makes these adorable creatures a species unto themselves. 3 p.m. Penguin Keeper Chat. Penguin Coast. Penguin keepers stand on the exhibit's beach with buckets of fish they cast out to penguins that porpoise through the water to feed while their caretakers present information on Humboldt penguins, a threatened species native to the coast of Chile and Peru. 3:30 p.m. Primate Keeper Chat. Primate Park or Social Animals. Learn about some of the zoo's primates -- a meerkat clan with four babies, Siamang apes Abe and Fatima, or the zoo's family of patas monkeys. This chat varies depending on the day; listen for the announcement a few minutes prior. An elephant demonstration at the zoo's Asian Elephant Preserve The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is open 362 days a year from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit rosamondgiffordzoo.org The forum will touch on each aspect, offering information about signs of opioid or heroin use, where to get treatment and how officials are working to get the drugs off the street, Kramer said. The big picture: Apple's Project Titan was the talk of the town a few years back but as the scope of the project lessened, interest waned. With Field back at Apple working with Bob Mansfield, is Cupertino once again interested in producing its own car? Former Apple executive Doug Field has returned to the Cupertino-based company following a lengthy stint with electric automaker Tesla. Apple spokesperson Tom Neumayr confirmed Fields rehiring with Daring Fireballs John Gruber. According to his LinkedIn profile, Field served as VP of design and engineering as well as CTO of Segway for nine years before departing to Apple as VP of product design in July 2008. He later shifted to VP of Mac hardware engineering in 2011 but left the company in late 2013 for Tesla Motors. Field oversaw Model 3 production at Tesla but took a leave of absence in May to spend time with his family. Tesla confirmed in July that Field had moved on. Gruber said Field is now working on Project Titan Apples autonomous vehicle division under Bob Mansfield. Earlier reports suggested Apple had scaled back its self-driving vehicle project from creating an actual vehicle to developing autonomous systems for vehicles made by other car manufacturers. Gruber questions this rumor aloud, pointing out that Apple has always been about making the whole product, not components for other products. Field being rehired by Apple, he says, suggests the car project has regained some traction. What just happened? Qualcomm has a history of getting into trouble with regulatory agencies for monopolistic practices. Recently, the company was slapped with a $774 million fine by Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission. Now, Qualcomm has managed to settle that suit, reducing the fine to $93 million on the condition that it plays by the rules moving forward. Qualcomm doesn't have the best track record when it comes to monopolistic business practices. As a result, it's gotten itself tied up in numerous regulatory battles with companies and government agencies across the world. Indeed, in January, the EU slapped the company with a $1.2 billion fine for violating its antitrust rules. The EU found that Qualcomm paid Apple to purchase LTE chips exclusively from Qualcomm, instead of competitors like Intel. More recently, Qualcomm has been embroiled in a fight with Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission (TFTC), which began investigating the company for monopolistic practices. Specifically, the TFTC discovered that the chip maker charged other companies abnormally high licensing fees to use its basic patented technology. As a result, the TFTC hit Qualcomm with a $774 million fine. However, the company was quick to challenge that decision, and it's since been revoked - in part. Qualcomm announced today that it has settled with the Commission, agreeing to certain "process-related commitments" which confirm "principles of mutual good-faith and fairness." To cut through the PR, Qualcomm has essentially been forced to play by the rules. For example, the company will not be able to withdraw chip supplies from its buyers when they feel they're being given a raw deal and ask to renegotiate. This should prevent Qualcomm from bullying smaller companies that depend on the tech giant to function normally. Furthermore, Qualcomm will work with Taiwanese government officials to support the "rapid adoption" of 5G technology, though it's unclear exactly how that goal will be accomplished. In addition to adhering to these rules, Qualcomm was also required to pay roughly $93 million, which the company claims it has already done. A citizen scientists fossil find is rare and exciting for various reasons. Apart from having discovered the fossilized teeth of an ancient mega shark, the find also revealed the millions-year-old practice of sharks living today. Teacher Finds Mega Shark Teeth It was on his visit to a local beach that school teacher Philip Mullaly discovered an incredible fossil find. As a fossil enthusiast, Mullaly was stalking Jan Juc for fossils when he saw a shining glint on a boulder, exposing a quarter of a massive tooth. Knowing that this might be a significant fossil find, he immediately contacted the Senior Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at Museums Victoria and offered to donate the fossils to the museum. It was just perfect and I knew it was an important find that needed to be shared with people, said Mullaly. Between December 2017 and January 2018, a team of paleontologists and volunteers dug out the entire boulder despite having only a small window of opportunity during low tide. In total, the team collected over 40 teeth, most of it belonging to an already extinct prehistoric mega shark, the Great Jagged Narrow-Toothed Shark, a massive shark species that could grow over 9 meters long or nearly twice as large as the Great White Shark. Prehistoric Shark Feast Amazingly, the Great Jagged Narrow-Toothed Shark teeth were revealed to belong to a single shark which is rather rare as almost all shark teeth finds are of a single tooth. This is because shark tend to lose a tooth a day, and the material that makes up shark skeletons does not easily fossilize. Further, among the mega shark teeth were smaller teeth that evidently belonged to the several smaller Sixgill Sharks. According to Tim Ziegler, a paleontologist at Museums Victoria, the find reveals a scenario where the Sixgill Sharks were feasting on the carcass of the mega shark and that some of the teeth of the smaller sharks got dislodged in the process. Zeigler notes that even today, Sixgill sharks still live on the Victorian coast where they continue to feast on the remains of whales and other larger animals. According to him, the find just shows that Sixgill sharks have been living the scavenger lifestyle for tens of milions of years. Ancient Shark Teeth If it were not for shark teeth, its possible that humans would know little about prehistoric sharks. As mentioned, this is because sharks are cartilaginous, making the teeth the only part of them that get to enter the fossil record. In fact, some prehistoric shark species are known only by the shape and size of their teeth. Through millions of years of evolution, shark teeth have evolved to become the perfect tools for the marine predators method of feeding. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An experiment that was conducted in hopes of finding a solution to the opioid epidemic reveals a reduction in opioid prescriptions as a result of a simple intervention: informing doctors of their patients overdose deaths. Can this help control the ongoing opioid epidemic? Opioid Crackdown Many are still affected by the opioid epidemic even after years of trying various methods of controlling the public health issue. In fact, most people who get addicted to opioids began taking the drugs in the first place because they were legally prescribed by their doctors. However, efforts made on the matter are often in the line of stricter policy and guideline changes whereas the doctors prescription behavior are not very much looked into. As such, researchers at the University of Southern California worked together with the San Diego County chief medical examiner in an experiment that aimed to see how human behavior could affect or possibly reduce the rampant use of opioids. Death Reports For the experiment, the San Diego County coroners office sent out notifications to hundreds of doctors whose patients died of an accidental opioid overdose between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the deaths having occurred within 12 months after the opioid prescriptions. The notifications also included information on other intervention methods that can lower overdose rates. As a result, researchers observed that the doctors who were notified were 7 percent less likely to prescribe opioids to new patients and made fewer high-dose prescriptions in the following three months. All in all, the experiment resulted in a 9.7 percent total reduction in opioid prescriptions Same Human Biases The results of the experiment are quite significant, especially considering that most opioid prescription deaths happen in patients who actually have common conditions wherein the opioid prescription risks outweigh the benefits. The basic idea behind the experiment is that people may tend to judge risks to be lower than they actually are because they lack personal experiences, and may therefore be less careful when not observed and falter without a nudge from an authority figure. In a way, its possible that many doctors do not think that their own patients are affected by the epidemic simply because they never find out about their patients overdose deaths. One of the takeaways Id like people to have is that doctors learn a lot of clinical facts, but when it comes to clinical judgment and decision-making, they fall prey to the same biases that we all do, said study lead Jason Doctor. For now, the San Diego County will continue sending the letters to the doctors, while other counties are said to be interested as well. The results of the study are published in the journal Science. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Set for 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and every second Tuesday of the month thereafter at the Colonial Cafe, 600 S. McLean Blvd., the Memory Cafe invites people with mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers to socialize with others experiencing the same challenges. The cafe events were created via a partnership between the Elgin library, Senior Services Associates, The Sheridan at Tyler Creek Senior Living and Colonial Cafe Elgin. An audit by the Southern University System is questioning why about $300,000 in band camp and other fees wound up in the personal bank accounts of Nathan Haymer, the school's former band director. The findings have been turned over to the offices of East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III and Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera, officials said Thursday. Haymer was fired by the system's president on May 1 amid accusations that he requested kickbacks for the band to appear at an event for schoolchildren. +5 Southern University fires popular band director, he says he is disappointed with decision Ending days of limbo for its band director, Southern University on Tuesday fired Nathan Haymer, bringing his leadership of the famed Human Juk Haymer has denied the claims. He could not be reached for comment Thursday on the latest issue. Haymer's attorney, Karl Bernard of New Orleans, reviewed the audit after being asked to do so by a reporter. Bernard said the report is based on incomplete information and that additional records are being compiled. "I do believe, after having spoken with Mr. Haymer and based upon the information that has been provided to my office, that Mr. Haymer, his name will be cleared," Bernard added. The audit says $300,459 collected from a high school band camps, fees for students to try out to become Dancing Dolls and fees paid by band members for the fall semester were found in two of Haymer's personal bank accounts. The revenue covers the period from Jan. 1, 2015 to May 15, 2018. The audit says $74,033 of the money has been accounted for as of July 30. Officials are trying to account for the other $226,426. Information gathered from Haymer's legal counsel on July 31, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 was inconclusive, according to the report. Bernard said his side has gathered bank statements to support Haymer's case but they are still collecting receipts. "There are definitely some unorthodox methods used not just by Mr. Haymer but his employer," Bernard said. "But in the final analysis, Mr. Haymer's reputation will be intact." 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 Bernard added: "For anyone to conclude from the report that in fact Mr. Haymer has misappropriated funds I think is premature." The investigation included the review of about 25,000 emails and financial activities of Haymer. Haymer's firing earlier this year sparked controversy at the Southern Board of Supervisors meeting. Some members of the band, known as the Human Jukebox, attended the gathering in a show of support for Haymer, who had held the job since 2014. He is a 2001 graduate of the school. Southern band director still in limbo, attorney brother defends him on social media The future of the director of Southern Universitys famed Human Jukebox remained up in the air Monday as he awaits the outcome of an internal The latest audit followed a narrower report issued by the school on May 2. It focused on band appearances during Mardi Gras in 2015, 2016 and 2017. "During the investigation, it was brought to the attention of the auditor that the 2018 annual high school summer band camp was about to begin and the location of where the band camp fees were deposited was not known," according to audit, which is dated Aug. 3. "This was also the case for the fees associated with the Dancing Dolls tryouts and the fee existing band members pay when they return each fall," the review says. Based on the recommendations of the initial report issued in May a wider probe was launched. The president's decision to fire Haymer was sparked in part by a lawsuit filed in January. According to the lawsuit, the owner of Baton Rouge-based Octagon Media alleged the band director backed out of band appearances after she declined to fulfill a "kickback" request. Haymer said in May that he always took pride in being an ambassador for Southern University and that he never accepted kickbacks. The audit says the school should seek restitution and strengthen controls over revenue from fee-based performances done on behalf of Southern. Ray Belton, president and chancellor of the Southern University System, agreed with the recommendations. NEW ORLEANS (AP) A movie producer and a lawyer who were spared prison time in a fraud case involving Louisiana's "Hollywood South" film tax credit program faced renewed legal woes Thursday when a federal appeals court reinstated some of the convictions a judge had thrown out. Producer Peter Hoffman and attorney Michael Arata were granted probation last year after U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman threw out some of their 2015 jury convictions. But a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated most of the convictions Thursday and also ordered re-sentencing. The two men were convicted in a scheme involving fraudulent documents to get more than $1 million in tax credits for turning a dilapidated New Orleans mansion into a film production facility. Although the jury agreed there was fraud, the facility was completed and opened. And some of the facilities tax credits were deemed legitimate. Attorneys for Hoffman and Arata didn't immediately respond to emailed comment requests Thursday night. Thursday's opinion acknowledged that Arata and Hoffman's venture may have been entitled to credits close to or equal to those ultimately issued by the state. But, the panel also said the jury's findings of fraud and, in Arata's case, false statements, were reasonable and that Feldman, in most cases, had erred in throwing them out. Hollywood producer Peter Hoffman avoids lengthy prison sentence in Louisiana film tax credit fraud case A federal judge handed the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Orleans a stunning rebuke Wednesday, sparing a Hollywood producer convicted last year 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 +2 New Orleans lawyer Michael Arata avoids prison in film tax credit fraud scheme Railing against unchecked prosecutorial zeal, a federal judge on Wednesday spared a well-known New Orleans lawyer from a potentially lengthy The opinion by Judge Gregg Costa was critical of the "colossal" gap between probation handed down by Feldman and the sentence called for in guidelines at least 14 years. "Some of the reasons the district court gave for its sentence, especially the uncertainty about whether Louisiana ultimately suffered any loss, are sound reasons for a downward variance, even a substantial one. But this is not a case in which the court went 50 percent or even 75 percent below the Guidelines range," Costa wrote. He added that probation would not serve as a deterrent to crime and would undermine public confidence in the justice system. According to Thursday's ruling, Hoffman now stands convicted of 21 criminal counts one of conspiracy, 20 of fraud. He had been facing only 16 criminal convictions. Arata stands convicted of one conspiracy, seven fraud and three false statement counts, according to a recap in the opinion. Until Thursday he only stood convicted of two counts. Susan Hoffman, Peter Hoffman's wife at the time of the scheme, remains convicted of one conspiracy and two fraud counts. The appeals court upheld her probation in the case. "Whereas Peter dove head first into the fraud, Susan just dipped her toes in it," the opinion said. All three were convicted in April 2015 in the case that shone a harsh spotlight on a program credited with bringing so much major film, television and commercial production to Louisiana that the state is sometimes known as "Hollywood South." The program has been scaled back amid state budget problems but still results in production in the state. Judges Carolyn Dineen King and James Dennis also were on the panel. Dennis dissented in part, saying he would have affirmed Peter Hoffman's sentence. The Capital Area Law Enforcement Foundation on Monday will take the first step toward outfitting all local officers with higher quality bullet-proof vests, capable of deflecting rounds from even rifles, like those used by sniper Gavin Long in the July 2016 ambush on officers that killed three and wounded three more. On Monday, representatives from Angel Armor a Colorado-based technology company that developed the new vests will begin sizing the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's uniform patrol officers for the vests that proponents say will be more comfortable, easier to wear and offer the best protection. "We would like to see the Baton Rouge area in these vests and offered this protection," said Pat Englade, retired Baton Rouge Police Chief and chair of CALEF. "Those guys all had vests (on July 17, 2016) and they didnt do any good. ... Unfortunately, it's what we have to face in this country today. +2 Gavin Long was looking for 2 officers involved in Alton Sterling shooting during 2016 attack On July 7, 2016, Gavin Eugene Long cracked open his laptop and searched for the home addresses, phone numbers and biographical information of Englade said that he first heard about the new vests from a New York-based law enforcement group in the aftermath of the July 2016 ambush on the officers. Long used a semi-automatic rifle with ammunition designed for increased penetration at long distances. Englade said he began doing research on the vests and he later visited their manufacturing facility in Colorado, bringing back the lightweight plates that could withstand even the most powerful ammunition and weapons. And with officers and deputies back in Baton Rouge, they tested them out for themselves. 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 "We shot the hell out of it, we shot it with everything we can shoot it with. We even shot it with what Gavin Long shot with here in Baton Rouge," Englade said. "Nothing penetrated that plate." East Baton Rouge Sheriff's spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks said $250,000 in federal grant money and $125,000 from CALEF will be used to outfit their 180 deputies who patrol the streets. The everyday bulletproof vests deputies have now do not protect against high-powered rifle rounds, Hicks said. The Sheriff's Office has separate vests to protect against rifle shots, but she said those weigh 20 pounds and are impractical in most circumstances. Englade said the new vests deputies are getting weigh about 9 pounds. "We're dealing with more incidents where deputies are confronted with suspects armed with a rifle, and that can happen on a moment's notice," Hicks said. "It's what you can do to better protect your people." Englade said he hopes to also get Baton Rouge Police's responding officers in the vests beginning of 2019, then expand to smaller agencies in the region. Our plan is to buy as many vests as we can for as many agencies," Englade said. The work should be completed by next June, transportation officials said. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area as lane closures will be required at times throughout the daytime and overnight, the news release said. Schoolchildren from several Louisiana public schools came to Southern University on Nov. 5, 2015, expecting a special performance by the famed Human Jukebox, all 250 members, along with the Dancing Dolls. Instead, a much smaller band consisting of two drum lines showed up to play that Thursday morning at Southerns Felton G. Clark Activity Center. There were no horns and no Dancing Dolls. The event started late and ended early. Its organizer, Octagon Media, which reported selling 2,305 tickets, claimed it lost more than $17,000 on what was billed as JukeFest 2015. Can't see PDF below? Click here. Two years later, the media firm sued the university and then Band Director Nathan Haymer alleging breach of contract, litigation that is still making its way through court. On Haymer was fired May 1 after other emails surfaced suggesting he might have pocketed money from a handful of Mardi Gras parades. He has since lodged an appeal that set to be heard June 22 by the Southern University Board of Supervisors. +5 Southern University fires popular band director, he says he is disappointed with decision Ending days of limbo for its band director, Southern University on Tuesday fired Nathan Haymer, bringing his leadership of the famed Human Juk Haymers brother, Niles Haymer, remains his co-counsel, but the former band director has hired New Orleans attorney Karl Bernard as his lead counsel. Niles Haymer said Friday that his brother has ample documentation to show he did nothing wrong that he intends to present at his appeal hearing. He kept every receipt, he kept everything, Niles Haymer said about his brother. The disappointment of those who came to the Nov. 5, 2015, event at Southern University is palpable in emails the university provided to The Advocate in response to a public records request. Mark Gulley from Polk Elementary in Baton Rouge emailed Octagons founder, Maranda White, just hours after the event. He contrasted the 37-minute performance he witnessed versus the promises White made to him and other educators. We paid $500 to attend this event and someone at Southern University owes us an explanation, Gulley said. Nathan Broe, the music teacher at LaBelle Aire Elementary in Baton Rouge, emailed White that night, offering a similar list of glaring discrepancies between what his kids were led to believe they would be experiencing and the disappointing event they watched. I am not concerned with the personal consequences and repercussions of a failed field trip, Broe concluded. My students have lives that matter to me. Their disappointment and shattered trust is of great concern to me. They deserve better than what they got today, a lot better. The released emails revealed that Nathan Haymer had soured on the event just days before it was to occur. The band announced on Facebook on Oct. 30 that the event had been canceled. That same day, Haymer sent Christopher Brown, then Southerns executive vice president and provost, urging him to pull the plug on the event. The band director said Octagon Media had failed to answer his financial questions satisfactorily. I am not assured that the band will be treated fairly in terms of the profit from the event, Nathan Haymer wrote. In her lawsuit, White, of Octagon Media, suggested there were other reasons the event didn't come off as billed. White said Nathan Haymer sent her a text message just five days before the event that she found unsettling. In it, she said, he asked for a check be written out to him that would be hidden from the business. 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 Yes, the ten percent needs to be a check made payable to me so that the staff can be properly compensated," the text read, according to the lawsuit. "I am asking for you to hide this ten percent in your percentage charge from your business. If this cannot be done, please let me know." +4 Human Jukebox members defend Southern band leader as internal investigation ensues Members of Southern University's famed Human Jukebox crowded into the Southern Board of Supervisors meeting Friday, pleading the case for thei After she balked at paying money under the table, White said, Haymer began to back out of the event and then canceled it. White fought back, the emails make clear, persuading Brown and Southerns general counsel, Tracie Woods, to enter into a written contract for the full Human Jukebox to appear at the event. Niles Haymer has said that his brother was subsequently cleared by the university for his actions in connection to Octagon Media, though no records have been released as yet revealing any inquiry into Haymers behavior at that time. But when Octagon Media filed its lawsuit earlier this year, it sparked local news coverage. WBRZ-TV on April 17 asked for emails from Haymer for the first four months of 2018. Those emails prompted an internal investigation led by Brian D. Adams, executive director of internal audit. In his five-page report on that investigation, which the university released to The Advocate in response to its public records request, Adams wrote that Nathan Haymer likely violated nine different sections of the state ethics law by accepting items of economic value, specifically $14,700 in direct payments that were paid to him by four Mardi Gras krewes. Adams also concluded that Haymer had violated a direct directive from the university in striking deals with five Mardi Gras krewes without receving approval from higher ups. Kathleen Allen, administrator for the Louisiana Board of Ethics, told The Advocate that she could not as a matter of agency policy either confirm or deny whether the office has received an ethics complaint connected to Nathan Haymer. +4 Southern University announces interim director of bands after firing last leader Southern University's associate director of bands will step in as the interim director after the former leader of the famed Human Jukebox was On Wednesday, April 25, six days before he was fired, Nathan Haymer was interviewed by Adams. According to the report, Haymer admitted to Adams that hed accepted direct payments, calling them honorariums, part of which he used to pay his staff, part to pay himself. He argued, Adams wrote, that such payments were customary and that the previous Southern band director received them, as well as directors of other college bands. Can't see PDF below? Click here. Adams said the previous director, Lawrence Jackson, denied ever receiving such payments. Adams also wrote that he called auditors with LSU and Grambling and confirmed that their band directors dont get honorariums or similar direct pay. Nathan Haymers new attorney, Karl Bernard, said he is preparing a full accounting of his activities to present to the Board of Supervisors in hopes they will reconsider. We want them to have the opportunity to view the whole truth, not just part of the truth, Bernard said. U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, met with Judge Brett Kavanaugh Tuesday afternoon in KennedyOs Capitol Hill office to discuss KavanaughOs pending nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Kennedy told reporters earlier in the day that heOs looking forward to meeting with Kavanaugh. Kennedy has praised President Donald TrumpOs decision to nominate Kavanaugh, who currently sits on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy (no relation). But the senator, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, declined to say how he plans to vote. Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond is the latest to respond to comments made by President Donald Trump Thursday afternoon during an Oval Office meeting in which he questioned why the U.S. should allow more immigrants from "shithole" countries. "(Donald Trump's) 'shithole' comments are further proof that his Make America Great Again agenda is really a Make America White Again agenda," the congressman said through a statement released by the Congressional Black Caucus', of which Richmond is the caucus chairman, Twitter account. Richmond later expounded on his stance in a formal statement, saying Trump's comments are another "confirmation of his racially insensitive and ignorant views." "All of the reservations we have had about negotiating with him on immigration are well-founded," Richmond said. "President Trump is clearly more concerned with ending the future flow of immigrants from Africa and the African diaspora than providing relief to Dreamers who came here through no fault of their own. "Unfortunately, there is no reason to believe that we can negotiate in good faith with a person who holds such vile and reprehensible beliefs ... Now that his true motivations are clear, the Congressional Black Caucus calls on all Members of Congress, including those negotiating on the immigration deal, to reject any and all efforts to end the Diversity Visa Program." Trump's comments were made during discussion of revamping rules affecting entrants from Africa and Haiti, according to three people briefed on the conversation, as two lawmakers described details to him of a bipartisan compromise among six senators that would extend protections against deportation for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants and strengthen border protections. Trump specifically questioned why the U.S. would want to admit more people from Haiti and Africa, asking why more people from "shithole countries should be allowed into the U.S., the sources said. Trump questions why U.S. should allow immigrants from 's---hole countries' WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump questioned Thursday why the U.S. should permit more immigrants from "shithole countries" after senato The president suggested that instead, the U.S. should allow more entrants from countries like Norway. Trump met this week with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg. Asked about the remarks, White House spokesman Raj Shah did not deny them. "Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people," he said. Now that his true motivations are clear, the Congressional Black Caucus calls on all Members of Congress, including those negotiating on the immigration deal, to reject any and all efforts to end the Diversity Visa Program. Unlike prisons in other countries, where the prisoners' families must provide everything from bedding, clothing, food and medical care, all of that is provided to prisoners in our state and federal prisons. In addition, programs are available to provide access to a library, day room (with TV and movies), exercise room and equipment, social workers, psychologists, classes to prepare for a job interview, obtaining a GED and even college degrees. There is even some job training and access to a store. The St. Tammany Chapter of the Alliance for Good Government has endorsed candidates in various elections after holding three public forums the week of Aug. 5. The Alliance endorsed Brian Glorioso for State Representative in District 90 in the Slidell area. The group also favored Dan Curtis in the Abita Springs mayor's race, and tapped Reagan Contois, Stewart Eastman, Jay Hawkins, LeAnn Magee and Pat Patterson as its choices for the Abita Springs Board of Aldermen. In St. Tammany Parish School Board races, the Alliance has endorsed the following candidates: Matthew Greene, District 1; Beth Heintz, District 2; Alicia Breaux, District 4; Lee Barrios, District 5; Shelta Richardson, District 7; Mike Winkler, District 8; Sharon Drucker, District 9; Tammy Lamy, District 11; James Braud, District 13; and Marie A. Wade, District 15. Five school board incumbents were re-elected without opposition. The Alliance for Good Government is a nonpartisan group that seeks to endorse and support political candidates of high standard, to educate the public on current issues and to aid all voting citizens interested in effective and efficient government. St. Tammany chapter President Kanwal Dihr said the group will not make recommendations in the elections for Pearl River and Folsom mayor or for either municipality's Board of Aldermen. Dihr said the Alliance wasn't able to schedule interviews with candidates in those places, but hopes to do so in future elections. Judge Garcia honored Judge Peter Garcia of the 22nd Judicial District Court was recognized with the 2018 Sam Cochran Criminal Justice Award presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness during its annual convention in New Orleans. Garcia is the first Louisiana recipient of the Sam Cochran Award. The award is named in honor of the founder of the Crisis Intervention Team training program and recognizes outstanding work in the criminal justice system, specifically the fair and humane treatment of people with mental illness. In 2011, Garcia worked to establish the Behavioral Health Court at the 22nd Judicial District Court, and is a longtime advocate for those with mental illness. St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up It is our duty to point out the defects in the criminal justice system that further stigmatize mental health issues as criminal behavior, Garcia said. We must advocate for those most unable to advocate for themselves. Garcia uses his platform to speak at numerous events to promote awareness, and has served in leadership roles with the St. Tammany chapter of NAMI. He received the Criminal Justice Award from NAMI-Louisiana in 2014, and in 2015 was further recognized by the 22nd Judicial District Attorney during National Recovery Month for his work on behalf of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Falconer, Lamz recognized by Alliance State Rep. Reid Falconer was recently named Legislator of the Year by the St. Tammany Chapter of the Alliance for Good Government. Each of the four area chapters named a Legislator of the Year. Slidell City Court Judge James Lamz was presented the group's Civic Leader of the Year Award. School board OKs penalties for cellphone violations The St. Tammany Parish School Board voted at its Aug. 10 meeting to add language to its student handbook that detailed punishments for violating the recently approved policy regarding use of digital communications devices on school grounds. Students are allowed to have the devices, such as cellphones, on campus, but they must be powered down and stowed in a locker, purse, backpack or pocket. Phones only can be used in case of an emergency, which is considered to be an imminent threat to public health or safety that could lead to injury or loss of life. Misuse of a digital communications device on campus (or a related disruption) would result in progressively escalating punishments, beginning with a warning or an administrative detention. Repeated violations of the policy would lead to Saturday detention, in-school or out-of-school suspension and eventually expulsion. Failure to turn over a communications device when instructed to do so by a school official could result in a hastened punitive process. The school board approved the addition to the handbook by a 12-0 margin, with Sharon Drucker abstaining. Members Jack Loup and Charles Harrell were absent. A Jefferson Parish jury found Darren Lloyd, 21, not guilty of second-degree murder Thursday night, taking four hours to reject the state's case that he killed a French Quarter restaurant worker found shot to death in Metairie in January 2016. Ryan Saffrhan was found slumped over a seat in a 2001 Nissan Xterra in the 500 block of North Elm Street on Jan. 16, 2016. Authorities said he had been shot once in the chest when he returned to the neighborhood after being robbed there earlier in the day while selling marijuana. Lloyd was charged with the crime five months later, along with Christon Tumblin and Ira Brown, who have yet to be tried. Jurors acquitted Lloyd of the murder charge but found him guilty of illegally possessing a weapon. During closing arguments, defense attorney Lena Hinton said the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office was trying to pin the murder on Lloyd based largely on the word of Edward McMillan, the man believed to have robbed Saffrhan earlier that day. Hinton, who defended Lloyd along with Jerome Matthews, pointed out that the grandmother of McMillans girlfriend testified that McMillan came to their house 10 minutes after the shots were heard to pick up her granddaughter, who she testified was sleeping at the time. The granddaughter, Lyric Leaving, later told investigators she had seen Lloyd shoot Saffrhan but couldnt say it again on the witness stand. In addition to the testimony that she was asleep at the time of the shooting, Hinton pointed out that Leaving told investigators that two shots were fired through an open car door when Saffrhan was in fact shot once through a closed car window. 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 Assistant District Attorney Seth Shute dismissed the wrong man theory advanced by the defense, noting that JPSO Det. Melvin Francis Jr. actually tried to get an arrest warrant for McMillan from the court but couldnt because there wasnt enough evidence against him. He said investigators simply followed the evidence where it led them. Hinton attacked the testimony of Ronald McKnight, who testified that Lloyd told him in a holding cell that he had shot Saffrhan in self-defense. Hinton said Lloyd had never met McKnight, a five-time felon who Hinton said was facing at least 20 years in prison but got only three years in exchange for his testimony. Hinton told jurors to remember there were no eyewitnesses to the shooting, no murder weapon was found and no physical evidence connected Lloyd to the crime, only inconsistent statements by witnesses forced to testify. Shute and fellow Assistant DA Zachary Popovich said any hesitance or discrepancies between what witnesses told deputies and what they said on the stand stemmed from their fear of Lloyd, noting that many would not make eye contact with him. You do not get a free pass because the people who saw you do it dont have the courage to come in here and say you did it, Popovich told jurors during closing arguments. Hinton said the only fear the witnesses had was of going to jail if they didnt testify, noting that one witness was a girl in high school who had never been to jail before. Shute said during closing arguments that prosecutors dont get to choose who witnesses a crime and that jurors had to make their own decisions about the veracity of the testimony. They did, acquitting Lloyd shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday before Judge Lee Faulkner in 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna. A growing furor over the affiliation of a Plaquemines Parish sheriff's deputy with a far-right group called the Proud Boys led Sheriff Gerald Turlich to announce Thursday that he would ask the feds to help investigate the factual and credible intentions and values of this organization. We are in contact with our federal partners to obtain reliable law enforcement intelligence that confirms or exonerates this organization as a hate or supremacy group, Turlich said in a statement. The controversy erupted on social media within the past few days, when people noticed that Deputy Brian Green listed himself as a member of the Proud Boys. One commenter alleged that Green, a patrol deputy, was even an administrator of the Facebook page for a local chapter of the group. Can't see video below? Click here. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks such organizations, Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes founded the Proud Boys during the 2016 presidential campaign won by Donald Trump. The SPLC has designated the Proud Boys as a hate group, citing its anti-woman and anti-Muslim beliefs. But the Proud Boys take exception to that characterization. The organization's leaders deny ties to the so-called alt-right and say the group is a fraternity spreading an agenda of anti-political correctness and anti-white guilt. One video circulating on Twitter shows Green, who is white, listing some of his beliefs. "I'm Brian Green, and I'm a proud Western chauvinist who refuses to apologize for creating the modern world," the man on the video says. Turlich said his office's Facebook page received a complaint about Green on Wednesday, prompting his announcement Thursday that he is seeking help from the feds. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The sheriff stopped short of discussing possible consequences if his office determines the Proud Boys are a hate organization. A sheriff's office in Washington state recently fired a deputy who was spotted wearing a Proud Boys sweatshirt in photographs, one media report noted. The organization has been making waves in the Pacific Northwest. Members of the Proud Boys, along with another right-wing group called Patriot Prayer, squared off against left-wing "antifa" protesters in the streets of Portland, Oregon, last weekend, and they have been involved in other recent clashes as well. Word about Green comes amid a push by some members of the news media and others to unmask members of organizations that are considered hate groups, particularly those who work for government agencies. In May, ProPublica and Frontline identified Vasillios Pistolis as a neo-Nazi who was also serving as a lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. The media organizations also said he assaulted at last one person during the rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned deadly last year. Pistolis has since been convicted at a court martial of charges of disobeying orders and making false statements, resulting in a month-long imprisonment, a demotion, docked pay and a likely ouster from the Marines, according to ProPublica and Frontline. The two organizations last month also identified Northrop Grumman aerospace engineer Michael Miselis as a participant in the Charlottesville rally. Miselis, who had a government security clearance allowing him to work with Northrop Grumman on classified military projects, left the defense contractor one day after that report. It was not clear whether he resigned or had been fired, ProPublica and Frontline said. Green's social media describe him as a resident of Belle Chasse. The chief executive of financial services giant IOOF has argued the company passed the pub test when it used a super funds own money to compensate its members for the losses they suffered following a $6.1 million payment stuff-up. Correspondence produced at the Hayne royal commission on Friday showed how IOOF chief executive Chris Kelaher gave the pub test excuse to the prudential regulator in April last year, after the watchdog raised concerns that IOOFs Questor subsidiary had acted inappropriately over the incident - which was described in a report to the corporate regulator as a "significant breach" of corporate law. In the stand on Friday, Mr Kelaher maintained that IOOF had fulfilled its "primary goal" of restoring members accounts by compensating them. But he was repeatedly asked whether the company had made untrue statements to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the fund's members over the incident. A pint-size shoe store in Armadale is an important reminder that bricks-and-mortar retailing is far from dead. LEclisse, a new shoe store in High Street created by designer Chris Connell, who worked closely with owner John Rizzo, recently received an award for retail design from the Design Institute of Australia (DIA). The L'Eclisse Italian shoe store in Armadale. Credit:Earl Carter Inspired by Italian neo-realism films from the 1960s (think of Michelangelo Antonionis film The Eclipse made in 1962 and staring Alain Delon and Monica Vitti), the Italian shoe stores interior plays with the eclipse, as well as the honesty expressed in such films. For owner and product developer John Rizzo, whose Italian heritage comes out in this store and in the shoes (all produced in Italy), theres a synergy with these great moments in film as much as his decades working at the forefront of fashion in Melbourne (with Trellini menswear in the 1980s). The ownership landscape of shopping centres is set for a shake-up as the country's biggest mall landlord, Vicinity Centres, embarks on asset sales and launch of its $1 billion wholesale joint venture fund with Keppel Capital. Since its merger with Novion in 2015, Vicinity has sold about $2 billion worth of centres not deemed core to its business and with the current sales and the new fund, the total sold by the end of 2019 will be about $4 billion. The sales come as the retail backdrop remains challenging, with subdued consumer and soft sales growth. Transactional markets remain very strong for quality centres, albeit are softening for mid-tier assets, and relatively strong for assets valued sub-$50 million. Chadstone shopping centre is the big gun mall in the country. Under the plan the Vicinity Keppel Australia Retail Fund (VKF), will be a 50-50 joint venture with Keppel Capital. The funds management fee will be shared equally between Vicinity and Keppel. Here in the private gambling salons, with postcard views of the city below, the stakes are incredibly high. Some bring an entourage, some come alone, and their every need is catered for, no expense is spared. Their favourite game is baccarat. And when they play, they play with jaw-dropping amounts of money; $500,000 a hand, tens of millions an hour. Asian high-rollers an ever-important client base for casinos have returned at last, and Australias casino moguls might have reason to breathe a little easier. James Packer. Credit:AAP SkyCity, which runs casinos in Adelaide, Darwin and Auckland, this week revealed yearly turnover from foreign VIPs rocketed 39 per cent to nearly $12 billion. At Crown casinos in Melbourne and Perth, these top end betters laid down $51.5 billion, a rise of more than 54 per cent. A VIP lift is also expected when Sydneys The Star reports its earnings later this month. Flanked by Peetz and professor of economics Jeff Borland a workplace relations expert, Isaac methodically outlined his case for a return to pattern bargaining, a power boost for the Fair Work Commission and a relaxation of right of entry rules for unions to enter worksites. The international legal right to strike had also become too hard, Professor Isaac says. The OECD's latest Australian survey reported that incomes for the top earners had grown by more than 40 per cent between 2004 and 2014 while those for the lowest grew by 25 per cent. The OECD also supports pattern bargaining to address stagnating wages growth. The OECD has supported bargaining systems "coordinated" across sectors Credit:AFP A forum on the Future of Work hosted by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in partnership with Fairfax Media and the University of Melbourne's Centre for Workplace Leadership held the following day addressed growing inequality in the context of emerging disruption. Promises of huge jobs growth within the burgeoning National Disability Insurance Scheme and the health and aged care sectors need to be balanced with complaints of underpayment and no payment for those workers who are among the poorest. Depending on which consulting outfit is providing the information, forecasts on future job losses can swing between 400 million to 800 million. Up to 300,000 drivers could lose their jobs each year when autonomous vehicle saturation peaks in the US, according to Goldman Sachs Economics Research. Former Boston Consulting Group partner, Mike Priddis who heads a company called Faethm has built a multimillion-dollar artificial intelligence platform that tells companies and governments what impact technology is expected to have on jobs. Michael Priddis, chief executive and founder of Faethm. Boasting an invitation to join the World Economic Forum's Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Faethm claims it has more clearer predictions on the numbers, but will not share them publicly. The data comes at a price. Priddis says the bleak forecasts and media around this issue "is very fear based" and the narrative about massive job losses misses the scope for people to get new skills to apply emerging technologies. "Our analytics tell us that there is actually a lot of hope. There will be automation, but there will be a lot of augmentation and new jobs created," he says. Beth Noveck, a Professor in Technology, Culture and Society at New York University who has worked for the Obama administration in the US and the David Cameron UK government, told a forum on the Future of Work that disruption was potentially creating the best and worst of times. Data and artificial intelligence could create safer, more productive and efficient work. Jobs would not all disappear, and some could get better. But in the US as in India, growing inequality was now being associated with a decline in the life expectancy of poorer people. Louise Davidson, chief executive of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, is calling for tougher laws to combat the emergence of modern slavery in Australian supply chains which resulted in workers being underpaid and exploited. Beth Noveck Noveck warned that automation had the potential to cause political upheaval as it puts some people out of work, leading to mass migrations "that give rise to more populist and autocratic leaders who appeal to people's fears". American historian Thomas Frank is among academics who have analysed why the Democratic Party in America is no longer regarded as a party that represents traditional working class people and why many of them voted for Donald Trump. While Franklin Roosevelt deplored the rise of "economic royalists" the Clinton and Obama administration were known as close friends of Wall Street and the elite class of ivy league university-educated technocrats who shaped their policies. The professional managerial class displaced blue and pink collar workers as the Democratic Party's favorite constituency. US president Donald Trump Credit:Bloomberg Frank and Joan Williams, a professor of law at the University of California are among academics arguing that social class has become all-important in politics. With interesting results. Earlier this week, voters in Missouri voted against a proposed anti-union law. Republican state representative T. J. Berry, whose district includes some outer suburbs of Kansas City, told the New York Times that many of his constituents were proud union members who opposed anti-union laws but voted Republican because they were conservative on social issues. Berry told the Times he had four Ford workers in his Sunday school class who were "Pro-life, pro-gun and pro-worker. All of them voted for Trump. Asked about the importance of class differences, Professor Peetz said "class is probably the biggest single factor at work if you look at what drives policy makers, what drives the decisions of large corporations which really set the tone for the rest". Labor Party MPs in Western Sydney are now grappling with balancing the socially conservative views of working class constituents who voted against same-sex marriage, with the progressive social agenda of inner-city MPs. Growing inequality - stagnating wages for low skilled workers and tax cuts for rich bankers have emerged as major election issues. As outlined in his paper published in the Australian Economic Review, Isaac says workplace rights need to be restored to address wage rises falling well short of labour productivity increases. He says a major reason is the decline in the power of unions and the reduced authority of the Fair Work Commission. Union density in Australia is among the lowest in the OECD. Globalisation and technology have also displaced less skilled jobs, contributing to the imbalance, as have changes in industrial relations laws. Isaac argues that collective action across industries - pattern bargaining - which is still used in many European countries, should be restored in Australia to help unions bargain for higher wages in smaller workplaces. He says there is no clear evidence to support the belief that individual enterprise bargaining would reward workers in line with increased productivity. "There is nothing inherenty objectionable economically about pattern bargaining provided it is controlled and limited to certain situations; for example, to correct undesirable economic distortions and unfairness that would otherwise take place in the labour market," Isaac says. "It is in such situations that the FWC should have the discretion to decide whether applying a pattern is warranted." Isaac says the decline in union power has created a new balance of industrial power in the labour market, "with employers able to determine no wage increase or an increase less than their profits would warrant, with less resistance from workers and unions". Union rally outside the Fair Work Commissison. Credit:Justin McManus In response, the Fair Work Commission should be given more power and discretion to restore balance in the labour market to deal with the lag in wages and its adverse economic consequences. Restrictions on union right of entry to work sites should also be relaxed to allow unions to recruit members and to check payments by union and free-riding non-union employees. Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said working people need the tools and power to win fair pay rises. "The enterprise-only bargaining system is failing with a large majority of working people reporting either no increase or inadequate increases in the past year," she said. What is it that makes a great book store? It's the question a lot of people will ask across the nation today as they gather at their favourite booksellers to celebrate national "Love your book shop" day. For avid readers like Corinne Johnston of Gymea Bay, it's a great range for all ages and interesting quirky gifts, which she finds at her local: Berkelouw Books in Cronulla. For Anne-Valerie Slater Saulnier of Bronte, it's Harry Hartog in Bondi Junction for its regular author events and book club. And for Grainne Murphy of Newtown it's Urchin Books in Marrickville for its community involvement and two resident cats. Sally Tabner and former New York Times journalist Ray Bonner are the new owners of Bookoccino in Avalon. Credit:Janie Barrett Bookseller Anna Low, who bought the Potts Point Bookstore 11 years ago, says it is about more than just being a beacon for the bookish. "We've worked hard in our neighbourhood to be a safe place for anyone to come in and sit and read, to create community," she says. In the last year, according to Nielsen, Australians bought 55 million books at a value of more than $1.1 billion, an increase on the previous year. Despite dire predictions that the 600 or so independent book shops across the country would disappear with the arrival of Amazon last year, and even as far back as 2011 when a quarter of Australian book shops closed overnight due to the collapse of the Red Group which owned Angus and Robertson and Borders they are far from disappearing. Lindsay Lohan is catching some heat after making controversial comments about the #MeToo movement. During an interview with British newspaper The Times, the 32-year-old actress was critical of the recent reckoning against sexual misconduct worldwide, suggesting women who tell stories of their experiences are fragile. "I'm going to really hate myself for saying this, but I think by women speaking against all these things, it makes them look weak when they are very strong women," she said in the profile published Saturday. Despite recognising that "everyone goes through their own experiences" and noting that she's "supportive of women," Lohan called people who come forward with allegations "attention-seekers." "I've deliberately made them a little two-dimensional the goody-two-shoes sailor Thomas, and the sexy, dangerous gangster Michael. And trying to have a female objectifying gaze on them." Victoria Carmen Sonne stars as Sascha, a young Danish woman who becomes involved in some very dark deeds when she holidays with her drug-dealer boyfriend Michael (Lai Yde) in Turkey. Credit:MIFF There are repeated moments of violence in Holiday. Michael viciously beats (off screen) one of his henchmen, and Sascha is slapped by both Michael and another gangster, treatment to which she passively acquiesces, perhaps judging it the price of access to Michaels wealth and prestige. The film isn't about crime at heart, says Eklof. "To me it's much more about the relationship between the sexes in general, and with people in power structures, because I think we all have it in us to go there, to play the dog if needed." The ultimate moment of that is truly horrific a rape scene in which nothing is too explicit for the camera. "It isn't real, Eklof says, revealing that Michael's assaulting member is in fact a prosthesis. "I wouldn't go there." She knows of some cases where real sex has been filmed for a non-pornographic film, but she says "in the case of Victoria and Lai, two complete strangers who to be honest really didn't like each other very much, I wouldn't go there. It's all circumstance." For Braithwaite, who has become something of an expert in cinematic depictions of rape and violence against women, "everything [Eklof] did in that scene was fundamentally different from everything I'd seen in the archive". Which is not quite the same thing as saying she has no problem with it. Sari Braithwaite, director of Censored. "She has obviously thought about it a lot and felt it was important to include the scene in a very different way than we have seen before, but the question I wrestled with afterwards was whether it was fundamental to that film or not. And I feel conflicted about that." So, assuming it can be filmed in such a way that the aim is not to fetishise the act or titillate the viewer, can a case be made for including scenes of sexual violence when they are justified by the narrative? "I think so," Braithwaite says. "That doesn't mean I don't have complicated feelings about it. "I think it would be a mistake to think I came up with a strong position about whether we see sex and violence on screen at all because of this collection," she adds. "The view I came up with is that we've only seen sex and violence in a certain way because our eyes have been trained that this is what a rape scene looks like, what a slap scene looks like, and that's come from a particular [male] point of view." The antidote, she suggests, is simple. "We should look for more in our filmmakers, I think." Sari Braithwaite and Isabella Eklof are among the panellists at a discussion following a screening of Censored at Hoyts Melbourne Central at 4pm on Sunday. Details: miff.com.au How far is too far? Imagine a lab team could create a bespoke version of a human body, cell by cell, with vat-grown or 3D-printed organic components. To finish the job, what if (a big if) they could then upload a human consciousness into one of these freshly minted bodies? If this were so, it would be difficult to distinguish human from replicant organism. Heirloom humans, with their endearing foibles, might become anachronisms; and who'd complain about the virtual immortality of being able to move into a succession of perfect bodies, like new outfits? Leah Heiss' Smart Heart necklace acts as a cardiac monitor. In popular culture, we are already there, our fictions dealing with the recurring "what is human?" theme first brought to public prominence in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818). Most recently, we have had Humans (BBC), with its "synths", Travelers (Netflix) and the French series Transferts (Arte), whose characters upload into other bodies. More notable is HBO's hugely successful Westworld, in which artificial "hosts" are mostly flesh and blood, their minds and emotions resembling ours (but better, especially Thandie Newton's Maeve). Artists, scientists and philosophers have always grappled with the human condition, but now it's a less abstract investigation, as we tether ourselves to ever-more indispensable devices, outsource more consciousness into memory-storage and use emerging tech to augment our bodies. Prevention is still far better than cure, so please avoid giving your baby a bottle of milk in bed and also avoid sugary drinks (including fruit juices) and lollies. Teeth straightening 101 Todays braces have a memory wire that straightens teeth, and theyre available in more subtle varieties too. You can now also go for a series of removable trays, called clear aligners. Thankfully, you wont have to research all the options - your orthodontist will recommend a treatment plan based on your childs needs. Heres the basics: Braces are usually recommended for straightening teeth and correcting the bite during the teenage years. Why? The adult teeth have erupted, but there is still facial growth and development and the mouth is more malleable, explains Dr Schwartz. They are metal (made of stainless steel) and are still the most commonly used appliance. are usually recommended for straightening teeth and correcting the bite during the teenage years. Why? The adult teeth have erupted, but there is still facial growth and development and the mouth is more malleable, explains Dr Schwartz. They are metal (made of stainless steel) and are still the most commonly used appliance. Lingual Braces are for those who want less noticeable braces and are attached to the inside surfaces of your teeth, instead of the front. are for those who want less noticeable braces and are attached to the inside surfaces of your teeth, instead of the front. Ceramic braces are often favoured by adults as theyre less noticeable than standard metal braces, with clear or tooth-coloured brackets and optional tooth-coloured wires are often favoured by adults as theyre less noticeable than standard metal braces, with clear or tooth-coloured brackets and optional tooth-coloured wires Clear Aligners (such as InvisalignTM) are a series of removable thin plastic trays that gradually align the teeth and can be easily taken in or out. are a series of removable thin plastic trays that gradually align the teeth and can be easily taken in or out. Plates are hard plastic devices which fit around the top teeth, the bottom teeth or sometimes both. They use wires and springs to push the teeth into position, or to hold them in place as other adult teeth enter your childs mouth. Contrary to popular belief, caring for braces is far less tricky than any Year 12 subject. We encourage kids to floss regularly and brush between teeth well, says Dr Schwartz. But, as orthodontists, we also see our patients every 6-8 weeks to ensure their braces are adjusted regularly and comfortable. Over or underbite affecting jaw alignment A misaligned bite isnt just an aesthetic issue affecting the face profile, its also a functional issue. Aligned bites improve the function of the jaws, mouth and teeth, which can help your child with crucial daily actions such as speaking and eating, explains Dr Schwartz. Straight teeth are also easier to brush and floss, optimising your childs oral health. However, while some teeth placement issues, such as buck teeth caused by prolonged thumb or finger sucking or tongue thrusting are attributed to habits, other issues are genetically based. The normal gap between the upper and lower teeth is about 2mm, so if the deviation is 4-8mm, we can usually deal with that by moving the teeth around to camouflage the gap, says Dr Schwartz. However, for major discrepancies, facial or jaw alignment, a combination involving jaw surgery along with orthodontics is typically required. All orthodontists were once dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. It takes more than a weekend course to become an orthodontist. In fact, it requires an additional three years study and 5,000 hours of practical training over and above their dental degree to become a specialist orthodontist. Three years is a big deal, and you should have total confidence in your specialists ability to straighten teeth and align jaws. Check youre seeing a specialist orthodontist at: orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/check If you still associate Australian chardonnay with obnoxious oak-flavours and dinner parties from a time when Christopher Skase was making headlines, theres never been a better time to revisit the white wine. Results from the 2018 Sydney Royal Wine Show Awards held on Thursday night at Barangaroo Towers suggest Aussie chard has changed a lot. Stuart Hordern, from Brokenwood Wines, says theres been a real renaissance in Australian chardonnay. Were seeing an end to chardonnays that taste like youre pulling splinters out of your mouth, says Stuart Hordern, senior winemaker at Brokenwood Wines in the Hunter Valley, awarded Best NSW Wine for its 2016 Forest Edge Chardonnay. Theres been a real renaissance in Australian chardonnay over the last decade and in NSW particularly. Chardonnay makers from Orange, Tumbarumba and single-vineyard sites in the Hunter Valley have stepped off the oak to let the region to shine through. A record number of 2332 Australian wines were tasted across 66 classes at this years Sydney Royal, now in its 192nd year. The trophy for Best Wine of Show went to the 2017 Reserve Bin 17A Chardonnay from South Australias Penfolds, famous for its flagship Grange. Farmer Tony Coote will be remembered for his passion for farming and love of nature, leaving an "incredible legacy" after dying of cancer on Wednesday. Antony Coote, 79, was well-known in the farming community for his work in agriculture, as well as founding Mulloon Creek Natural Farms and the farming science body, the Mulloon Institute. Farmer Tony Coote, pictured in 2009, who died of cancer on Wednesday. Credit:Karleen Minney Mr Coote's wife, Toni Coote (nee Dale), said on Friday her husband had led a big life. "Nature was always his total interest from when he was a very young boy and he has always loved being in nature; he's always been concerned about future generations and where the environment was heading," she said. [My friend] said, When I've finished teaching, I'm going to be a celebrant. Why don't you think of being one too - we can train together. And I thought about it for about 10 minutes and thought, well, I suppose I could. So the pair trained together, and Aulich qualified shortly after leaving the teaching profession. Ironically, the friend found she didnt enjoy the work, and is no longer registered. But for Aulich, marrying people has been a lucrative and satisfying second career. These days, she says, she takes between 100 to 200 bookings a year; she already has 150 bookings for this year, and its only July (at time of writing). I take a lot of bookings and I marry a lot of people, she says. I always think I'm going to cut down every year, and I never do. For the past few years, a large proportion of these bookings involves what she terms quickies - a small, unembellished ceremony that involves little more than some words from Aulich and the signing of documents. It's the equivalent of a registry wedding, in a town that doesn't have a registry office. Many of these she does at her own home - the courtyard makes a lovely setting for a small ceremony, and if the weather doesnt suit, she marries people in front of the bookshelves in the living room. She charges less for these services, she says, because the effort she expends is comparatively minimal. A quick change of clothes, while her husband gets out the leaf blower and, literally, clears the decks. Once it's over, Aulich plumps up the cushions, and changes back into her weekend clothes. Last year I did 140-odd ceremonies, and 80 quickies - quite a lot, she says. And to be honest, I'm trying to phase out the bigger ones and concentrate more on quickies. Not that she doesnt enjoy a shindig; shes presided over ceremonies in a large proportion of Canberras popular wedding venues, popped down to the coast to marry couples and, in one more memorable ceremony, driven through some perilous backburning fires to marry a couple in an unfortunately timed ceremony at Namadgi National Park. Not surprisingly, she says, the weddings in her logbook have been overwhelmingly joyous experiences. I've married people on their deathbed and things like that - they're not exactly joyous, but you're doing what they want you to do, and it's important to them, she says. But she says those involving same-sex couples have a separate seam of happiness, because so many of these couples have been waiting so long to make it to the altar - be it Aulichs back courtyard or a full-blown, flower-festooned arch. It's got that extra layer of emotion attached to it, she says. Judy Aulich marries Canberra women Ellie Filler and Emily Jehne in 2013. Credit:Graham Tidy By far her busiest period was during the first days after the ACT enacted laws allowing gay couples to marry in 2013. Knowing the law would likely be overturned by the High Court in the near future, Aulich married seven couples on the first day the law was in place. Those couples wanted to make that political statement, to marry on that first day. So I started at 7.30am, and I think I finished 6.30. It was busy, but it was a special day. You feel privileged to do those sorts of things, she says. Joy and emotion aside, theres a surprising number of nuts and bolts when it comes to being a registered celebrant, and for the past 10 years, until just recently, Aulich has trained others as celebrants. The Attorney-General's department, which oversees the marriage celebrant section, always prepares a two-hour topic on legal matters, because you actually do have to know the Marriage Act, she says. Many weddings are just routine, but you've got to know a whole lot of exceptions and stuff. We do two hours on that, and then the other three hours is made up with training organisations on things to do with celebrancy, and how to plan a ceremony. Aulich says she approaches each marriage first and foremost from a legal perspective, and tries to keep her own views separate from her work. Not that she has any issues marrying those who are clearly after a quick visa, or those with massive age differences, for example, although she did once decline to marry a couple when the groom refused to take out part of his vows that she thought demeaned the bride. It's actually not my place to make a moral judgement, she says. There are four criteria that couples have to meet. They have to be at least 18, they have to be not in a prohibited relationship, which means not too closely related, not married to someone else - and that is all documented legal stuff you have to know - and then they have to give full consent. And it's my place to determine if it's full consent, so if they are pissed, for example, they can't enter into a legal contract. She tends to give couples a little pep talk whenever she gets the opportunity, warning them not to get stuck into the booze before the ceremony. She herself never drinks on the job, and rarely sticks around once the couple is married and the forms are signed. Here's something we always say in the industry - or I certainly say: Youre never more past your used by date than when you've pronounced them husband and wife. No one's interested in you, she says. She tends to pack up and leave discreetly; more often than not, she has another wedding to attend straight after anyway. Youre never more past your used by date than when you've pronounced them husband and wife. No one's interested in you. Judy Aulich Although her decision to become a celebrant was quick, and involved little planning, she often sees parallels between what she did as a teacher, and what she now does in front of a couple and their expectant guests. In all the classes I've taught as a celebrant, there's a disproportionate number of teachers, because the skills transfer, she says. We're used to standing up and talking in front of people, we're used to getting attention. And, for the most part, what she has seen throughout her career - around 1200 weddings and counting - has been love, warmth and profound emotion. When she started out, she was 58 and planned to work as hard as she could and retire at 65. That was about as old as I could conceive of being. But when I got to 65, I thought well, it's not all that old, I thought I'll go til I'm 70. Well, I hit 70 in February, and I'm still enjoying it, she says. You're promising yourself to another person for the rest of your life, and overwhelmingly I think couples earnestly believe that their marriage will last forever. One of those things is, of course, Australias progress in overcoming racism given our past. The first British claim over, and settlement of, the Australian continent has based the dispossession of, and violence towards, the Indigenous population. One of the first Acts of the Australian Federal Parliament the 17th in fact was the Immigration Restriction Act which enabled the White Australia Policy by making it virtually impossible for non-whites to emigrate to Australia. It has been almost 50 years since that policy ended and more than 40 years since the Federal Parliament made racial discrimination illegal. And still, some people want those things wound back. The Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane, who ends his five-year term this month, said that when he took office he did not anticipate what he described as a rise in dog-whistling and race-baiting in Australian public debate. Race politics is back, he said. I wouldnt have expected that the biggest threats to racial harmony would come from within our parliaments and media. Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane said he wouldnt have expected that the biggest threats to racial harmony would come from within parliament and the media. Credit:Kate Geraghty They havent given up despite the failure to edit or remove Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act which makes hate speech that vilifies or offends someone on the basis of their race unlawful. Overcoming racism, whether perpetrated by laws, institutions or individuals, should be a major national endeavour because it so often leads to violence. It is one of the lessons of the 20th century in which so much killing, displacement, dispossession and disempowerment was done when people with political and military power asserted that their people were superior to others who were regarded as sub-human, despite the fact that homo sapiens is one species irrespective of skin colour or other attributes. It was done in the name of ideology and/or empire. In the 21st century, those seeking power or attention are using race again. They can do so because it so often works. Humans are pre-disposed to tribalism and us and them because that view of the world was necessary for survival in the state of nature. It no longer is. Indeed, tribalism in developed society does the opposite. It exposes people to violence. Bolt appealed to the us-and-them mentality. He wrote: There is no us any more as a tidal wave of immigrants sweeps away what is left of our national identity. Whoops. Only about half of Australians were born in Australia to Australian-born parents. The other half, however, still regard themselves as Australian, as us. As do the 28 per cent of Australian residents who were born overseas. The threat from any tidal wave of immigrants is not to national identity. People coming here become Australian quickly enough. No, the threat is to other things that have made Australia one of the best places on the planet to live: high home ownership; high proportion of single-dwelling housing with their own open space; equality of opportunity; a fairly equal society; ease of movement; high standard of living; good working conditions and so on. All of these things are under threat and high population growth is contributing. The CEOs of companies that profit from high population growth pay themselves ever more money and pay the new pool of under-employed workers ever less. And the answer is not better infrastructure or decentralisation. Those things are not happening. Very few countries have five cities with more than 1 million people, like Australia, not even the UK, Germany, Russia, France, Italy or Brazil. The trend in Australia is for greater centralisation and high immigration is making it worse. First, it was the nation builders and baby boomers who were the most disgruntled when it came to the Australian political system. But, just two years after a survey from the University of Canberra Institute for Governance and Public Analysis found that older Australians had the deepest distrust of government, a new survey has found that Generation X and women are the most disenfranchised. The institute has partnered with the Museum of Australian Democracy to investigate the relationship between trust and our political system and democracy in Australia. Director of the Museum of Australian Democracy Daryl Karp with Professor Mark Evans of the University of Canberra's Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis Credit:Elesa Kurtz Institute head Mark Evans said women had a much higher level of dissatisfaction with current politics, and it wasnt just down to the fact that the discussions took place at the same time as the Sarah Hansen-Young/David Leyonhjelm drama was playing out on the national stage. A: She was convicted without evidence and ultimately was pardoned. I would say it was too bad you got yourself into that. Poor Mrs. O Leary, she had been a parishioner at Holy Family Church, if that church had burned down, she would have been a pariah. Lucky for her, the wind changed. When I was in Pyongyang in 2015 I was told by officials that North Korea had advised the Australian ambassador visiting from South Korea that they were ready to cooperate with Australia to recover our MIAs. I subsequently raised the topic in Canberra and was told no such offer had been made. This leads to three possible conclusions: that North Korea never made the offer; that the ambassador did not pass on the message, or; that it did not suit the Australian government to pursue the offer. Back in 2005, I was involved with Operation Aussies Home (OAH), an endeavour to try to recover our six MIAs from the Vietnam War. The project was organised by former army officer Jim Bourke who felt that Australia should make every effort to recover our MIAs. Jim initially approached the Australian government for assistance to mount a recovery attempt but was not supported because of the official view that it would be a waste of time. Jim got the same negative response from the national headquarters of the RSL. In 2006, Paul Darrouzet, a Queensland businessman, donated $40,000 to cover OAH expenses. The government then provided a grant of $37,500. Even so, OAH ran on a tight budget - OAH members paid for their own travel and shared rooms in a cheap motel at Bien Hoa. In May 2007, to most peoples surprise, OAH managed to locate the remains of the two first battalion Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) soldiers who had died in 1965 and been buried together by the Viet Cong. It was a remarkable achievement given the many difficulties involved. That success embarrassed the Australian government into making an official recovery effort in Vietnam and within two years the remaining four MIAs had been recovered. Jim had planned to do the same thing for our Korean MIAs, but sadly he died from cancer in September 2015. A man has been charged over an alleged spree of sexual assaults that spanned more than two decades and involved 14 female victims, some as young as 14. The 51-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning, following an extensive investigation by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad. Investigators also executed three search warrants at properties in Epping and Berrilee, and seized items including handcuffs. The detectives, as part of Strike Force Petit, were re-investigating historic sexual assaults that occurred between 1989 and 2013 in the Ryde and Hornsby areas, involving female victims aged between 14 and 40. Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale and his former barrister friend Sam Di Carlo have been charged with nine new fraud and corruption offences by the Crime and Corruption Commission. Both men were issued with notices to appear on Friday afternoon and both are due to appear in court this month after being charged as part of the investigation into Ipswich City Council. Paul Pisasale arrives at Brisbane Magistrates Court in November, 2017. Credit:Regi Varghese - AAP Mr Pisasale, 66, was hit with eight new fraud offences and one more official corruption charge. He was due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. It's a modern-day love affair, set in the glistening, ultra-chic twin towers of Altair in Sydney's Rushcutters Bay. The pair met four years ago, batting eyes as they passed one another in the lobby of the 20-storey apartment complex. Since then, Mambo and Cherry have been regularly smooching and running around the local park together, while pursuing independent lives two floors apart. Altairs dogs and their owners. Credit:Jennifer Soo Maltese poodles ("moodles") can be like that wildly affectionate, with an edge of boundary-setting and besides, Mambo has a busy life as an ambassador for the City of Sydney's Strata Paws workshop, which gives tips on how to provide a better life for pets in apartment blocks. Mambo, 7, and his guardian, Anna Shepherd, 55, have been through a lot together. When Shepherd was overwhelmed with grief after her brother's death, Mambo never left her side. "I felt my heart start to heal and I was forced to become active by going to the park every day, where I made new friends," says Shepherd, manager of a home health-care company. The power of canines in reducing depression and anxiety and countering social isolation in our growing concrete jungles has been shown in a slew of international studies. Which may have played a role in the recent relaxing of strata by-laws banning pets in both NSW and Victoria. Sixty-three per cent of Australian households have a pet of some kind, according to Animal Medicines Australia, and as Australians switch from the quarter-acre block to the 80-square-metre high-rise apartment, strata laws have begun to shift too. A 53-year-old New South Wales man will be extradited back to Perth to face charges he indecently assaulted a nine-year-old boy during music lessons over two decades ago. The incident is alleged to have taken place in 1995, when the man was teaching the boy to play piano. The assault allegedly took place when the boy was learning piano in 1995. Police say the indecent assault took place during these music lessons. Midland detectives worked with NSW Police to extradite the man from Darlinghurst in order to charge him. The last five years have been hell for Martyn Tann's family, ever since the adventurous young man with distinctive dreadlocks went missing from a Perth beach in 2013. But his family still remain hopeful their son and brother - known affectionately as 'Marty' - might come home one day. Marty Tann went missing in Perth in 2013. Credit:Facebook A spirited and adventurous soul according to his close mates and family, Marty - a marine biologist - was last seen at Mullaloo Beach on April 2, 2013. Witnesses reported seeing him just north of the surf lifesaving tower between 1pm-3pm that day. I can understand some people feeling a little cynical about a strategy, Ms McGurk said. It just sounds so bureaucratic, and I get that. I absolutely get that. But weve got an obligation, when we do something, to make sure were doing it in a strategic way an effective and sustained way. Its public money. Theres never been a long-term strategy developed like this before. Its an issue that just never seems to go away, but the minister is absolutely confident homelessness could one day be a thing of the past. We just have to get it right. Theres a lot of good work being done now, Ms McGurk said. With the right interventions, with the right support, we can actually get people into good, stable accommodation and they can be healthy. Weve got such wealth and capacity in this state how can we still have people sleeping rough? People are rightly concerned and appalled by that. An advocate for the housing first approach, Ms McGurk said there was no reason Western Australia couldnt replicate successful models from the United States or Finland, where strategies to address homelessness had returned positive outcomes. Im very convinced by the housing first approach, she said. You get people the right sort of accommodation by asking them what they want, then you build supports around them. [But] if you just have bricks and mortar without support, I dont think its sustainable for a big part of the cohort. I think we need the right sort of supports, with the right sort of accommodation. A strategy such as the one Ms McGurk is touting costs money, and the State Government, along with Federal funding, already spends $85 million each year on the homelessness problem. But what is the option? Ms McGurk takes a walk through Northbridge while discussing a planned strategy to combat homelessness. Credit:Cameron Myles. The cost of not providing services and effective interventions for these people is not only expensive in dollar terms, according to the Minister, but its also very expensive in human terms. The reality is we spend quite a bit on this already, Ms McGurk said. We need to make sure theres emergency accommodation so people have a safe place at night, but we need to link them in with services and help. Some people, with all the good intentions in the world, say shouldnt we give them swags? Cant we give them tents? We really want to give them help in the longer term. We want to give them a future. On a personal level, Ms McGurk said she was hugely ambitious about ending homelessness. But the journey towards helping to house so many people in WA is a massive job, and it can be an emotional one. I absolutely hear some shocking stories and some heartbreaking stories, she said. Loading But I also hear stories where people do come through it, where people are back on their feet. As the Member for Fremantle I see this. I get to know them. Ive also got to know people and theyve since passed on. Theyve died too young because of the cards that have been dealt to them. A big advocate for getting out and meeting people affected by homelessness, Ms McGurk said it was so important to listen to what they said they needed, and for people wanting to help to do so in a coordinated way. Weve got to get better, we have to do more, the Minister said. Do I think [homelessness] is solvable? He helped select domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty as an Australian of the Year. The award ceremony produced an evocative image of the 196-centimetre warrior gently comforting a tearful Batty. He was appointed chairman of the Australia Day Council, the deputy chairman of the Prime Minister's defence mental health committee and veterans' employment committee. He became the public face of a campaign against "one punch" violence and the "Stay Kind" campaign, which urges Australians to look after vulnerable mates. Receiving the Commonwealth's ultimate bravery award made Roberts-Smith an instant celebrity. His agent began charging thousands to corporate clients to hear not only from "the most decorated soldier in the Commonwealth" but a man who had also been named "Australian Father of the Year". The transformation from battlefield to boardroom was significant. For 10 years, Roberts-Smith had served with Australia's Special Air Service Regiment, a unit of elite soldiers who are mostly not allowed to speak about their work. Having received a Victoria Cross for bravery during an assault on the Afghan village of Tizak in 2010 an award that was preceded by a Medal for Gallantry and followed by a Commendation for Distinguished Service Roberts-Smith was in the midst of a seemingly successful transition into corporate life. Hands clasped and head slightly bowed, Australia's most decorated Afghanistan veteran, Ben Roberts-Smith, stood on stage with the Prime Minister as a living testament to success after the military. When Malcolm Turnbull gave a speech four months ago about the struggle some veterans faced readjusting to civilian life, it was hard to ignore the man towering behind him in the Great Hall of Parliament House. At the VIP table sat the unflappable Chief of Army and special forces veteran, Lieutenant-General Angus Campbell. Two years earlier, Campbell had commissioned the Inspector-General of the Defence Force to begin an inquiry into the nation's special forces the most penetrating inquiry in the recent history of Australia's military. Indeed, some of the most important people in the room that night knew of the allegations. Over almost a year, Fairfax Media has interviewed dozens of veterans, officials and people with knowledge of Roberts-Smith's personal conduct including decorated soldiers who served alongside him. Their claims include bullying, intimidation and his involvement in small SAS teams suspected of the abuse of unarmed civilians and the use of force that goes well beyond what is acceptable in the theatre of war. Among the assembled generals and politicians in the Great Hall that night were some who had trouble reconciling disturbing allegations about Roberts-Smith's behaviour in Afghanistan and back home with the grand public image. But as he stood behind Turnbull at a veterans' function at Parliament House on March 28, serious doubts about his conduct were being discussed in senior defence circles. Rosie Batty, having just been announced as 2015 Australian of the Year, is comforted by Ben Roberts-Smith, Chair of the National Australia Day Council. Credit:David Flannery The photograph fitted his public ethos, which was to value "moral courage" above physical prowess and "cherish your family every single day". But it wasn't only Roberts-Smith's conduct as an SAS operator that would prompt scrutiny. That evening at the Great Hall would result in further allegations that suggest he was struggling with the difficult task of living up to all that was expected of him. Witnesses allege one was punched in the head by an angry Roberts-Smith after a battlefield bungle. SAS veterans have also alleged to Fairfax Media that Roberts-Smith bullied and intimidated fellow soldiers, including two junior operators who made internal complaints about the impact of his conduct on their mental health. The allegations concerned the patrols' treatment of detainees or unarmed Afghans. They included claims that the patrols may have failed to report accurately incidents in which Afghans had been subjected to the use of force, including acts of brutality perpetrated against unarmed men. The patrols under scrutiny featured Roberts-Smith as a key player, either as a deputy or lead patrol commander. Those making the allegations were from the SAS itself and had served alongside Roberts-Smith's patrols in Afghanistan. By the time of the Great Hall event, it was clear to an inner circle in defence that disturbing rumours about small SAS patrol teams typically consisting of five to six men including a patrol commander and deputy commander involved serious allegations about their conduct in Afghanistan. Roberts-Smith is also silent on the question of whether he knows anything about who has been sending anonymous letters and emails to, or about, his accusers. He did not respond to questions about allegations being made separately by some of his former SAS colleagues and what knowledge, if any, he has about the mistreatment of Afghans. Through his lawyer, Roberts-Smith initially declined to respond to the allegations concerning his guest at the event. Sources at the event questioned why Roberts-Smith risked revealing that he was having an affair by taking his mistress to a high-profile function where, beyond the Prime Minister, he was the most prominent guest. But, far more concerningly, senior defence officials later learnt of allegations she raised with police about what happened later that night at the Hotel Realm in Canberra: an alleged act of domestic violence and intimidation. After completing a masters of business administration in 2016, the former Australian Army corporal had been appointed general manager of the TV network's Queensland operations by media tycoon Kerry Stokes. But the woman wasn't a Channel Seven client. Instead, Roberts-Smith was in the midst of a extramarital relationship with the woman. Sitting on the same VIP table as Lieutenant-General Campbell, between ADF deputy chief Vice-Admiral Ray Griggs and Veterans' Affairs Minister Darren Chester, was a female lawyer whom Roberts-Smith had brought as his guest, and whom he'd introduced to military figures earlier that day as a client of his employer, Channel Seven. A member of Roberts-Smith's 2009 patrol allegedly encouraged a more junior trooper to execute a detainee a suspected militant and was later overheard boasting about it. Fairfax Media has obtained a photo of the dead man and two witness accounts describing the circumstances in which the Afghan died. Four defence insiders have alleged that they observed patrols under Roberts-Smith's direct or deputy leadership severely mistreat unarmed Afghans on four occasions. RS [Roberts-Smith] repeatedly smashed this guy in the cheek and kneed him in the guts. I went, Whoa whoa whoa. Back off mate.' During his deployments to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010, Roberts-Smith was deputy commander of a small SAS patrol. In his last overseas deployment, prior to leaving the army in 2013, he was appointed patrol commander. Fairfax Media has confirmed by speaking to multiple special forces insiders that among the allegations made to the Inspector-General's inquiry is that patrols he helped lead brutally mistreated unarmed Afghans. His Victoria Cross citation puts this image in words, describing an "extreme devotion to duty" paired with "a total disregard for his own safety" as Roberts-Smith "stormed the enemy position killing the machine gunners". Shortly after the guns fell silent at Tizak in 2010, the sneakers Ben Roberts-Smith wore during the famous battle were photographed. The white shoes are splattered with blood. They evoke the image of a man racing towards danger, risking all. One insider, an experienced SAS soldier, has vividly described intervening to stop Roberts-Smith bashing an unarmed Afghan whom two patrol commanders were seeking to arrest in 2010. The bearded man had frozen in the foetal position when Roberts-Smith entered the room, wearing Kevlar gloves. The insider describes Roberts-Smith unexpectedly attacking the man, pummelling him in the face with his fists, and in the stomach with his knees. "RS [Roberts-Smith] repeatedly smashed this guy in the cheek and kneed him in the guts. I went, Whoa whoa whoa. Back off mate. We have this under control.' Loading "The fella's face immediately blew up. We stepped back and gave the fella some space. We then arrested him." Two alleged incidents have been separately recounted by other SAS members and involve men under the control of a patrol being led by Roberts-Smith. Both involve the alleged mistreatment of Afghan men who witnesses claim were posing no threat to Australian soldiers and could have been arrested without the use of force. One of the men harmed was in custody and posing no threat at all when he was allegedly badly assaulted. Sources from inside the SAS say this alleged mistreatment was not only unnecessary but potentially counter-productive. An essential purpose of the Afghanistan mission was the protection of the local population and the generation of confidence in the coalition and government forces. The sources also concede that, while the allegations caused deep concern, and were discussed informally and sometimes raised with more senior SAS soldiers, they were not immediately reported to senior command in Canberra. A new career Keeping secrets is part of being in the SAS. Yet by late 2012 and early 2013, as Roberts-Smith was preparing to embark on his new career as a corporate and community leader and mental health champion, some of his SAS colleagues were asking if the decorated warrior might have shirked scrutiny because less experienced soldiers were worried about challenging him. Much of the concern held by senior military officers about the cultural problems within the SAS have involved keeping quiet about behaviours that needed confronting. A report in March 2016 by then Special Operations Commander Major-General Jeff Sengelman described a culture of impunity that may have normalised allegedly disturbing behaviour. Sengelman's report also identified serious "governance and behavioural lapses" and ultimately helped spark the Inspector-General's inquiry. A record of a discussion between two long-serving SAS patrol commanders, obtained by Fairfax Media, reveals some experienced soldiers in the regiment were worried that Roberts-Smith's apparent bullying meant some in his patrol were scared to question battlefield incidents or those which allegedly occurred back at base or in training. The two patrol commanders identify that the first time Roberts-Smith came to attention for alleged bullying inside the SAS was in 2006, during his first deployment to Afghanistan. SAS soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan in 2005. Credit:Simon O'Dwyer Following a hair-raising battle early in the deployment, Roberts-Smith fell out with two members of a six-man patrol, in part over whether it was necessary to kill an Afghan who had earlier walked past the patrol's observation post. One of the two patrol members later insisted to colleagues the Afghan appeared to be an unarmed teenager whose death could have been avoided. But it was a perilous circumstance and a tough call apparently made in the fog of war. Roberts-Smith's version of events was backed by other patrol members. The young male was presumed to be a "spotter". This meant there was a chance he might have seen the observation post and planned to report it to the Taliban, who could then attack. Roberts-Smith and other patrol members also said the male was armed with a smoke grenade, which exploded after he was shot. The conflicting accounts are mirrored in official reports relayed by the patrol to senior officers and seen by Fairfax Media. Some post-incident reports describe an anti-coalition militant posing a "threat." Some reports go further, falsely stating the dead male was armed with an automatic rifle. Roberts-Smith accused the two patrol members critical of his actions of cowardice and failing to prepare their weapons. Multiple sources contend Roberts-Smith followed up this critique with repeated bullying of the smaller and quieter of the two patrol members, Trooper M. (Fairfax Media cannot name a serving SAS soldier but have confirmed he is still serving and has been promoted to patrol commander) More than one witness claims to have overheard Roberts-Smith threatening to harm Trooper M, an alleged threat Trooper M relayed to colleagues. The two patrol commanders alleged "years of bullying that RS [Roberts-Smith] put him through" and which impacted his mental health. A bullying complaint against Roberts-Smith was ultimately lodged inside the SAS by Trooper M , which led to mediation. Commended for leadership Roberts-Smith's promotion to patrol commander left him responsible for mentoring junior soldiers under his command. It was an appointment he relished, a realisation of leadership ambitions. Some other SAS soldiers were also pleased, considering Roberts-Smith a fierce and impressive soldier now able to pass on his knowledge to less experienced operators. But not all felt that way. Concerns inside the SAS about the treatment of the least-experienced member of Roberts-Smith's patrol, Trooper J, were raised in mid-2012, just prior to deployment to Afghanistan. During a training exercise in Perth involving the mock capture of an Afghan prisoner, three SAS soldiers witnessed Roberts-Smith instruct Trooper J to shoot the detainee. "RS grabbed [Trooper J] by the shoulder and said, F--ing kill him, f--ing kill him'," an SAS soldier who claims to have witnessed the event said. The soldier alleges Trooper J responded by half-heartedly simulating a mock execution ("he went bang' as a joke," recalls a witness). This witness alleges that Robert-Smith then said, "You good with that?" The witnesses who observed the order said that two patrol commanders informally challenged Roberts-Smith, telling him to "pull your head in". Loading After arriving in Afghanistan in July 2012, the mentoring of Trooper J generated further controversy when a mission on July 15 to the Chora Valley to flush out the Taliban turned ugly, and one patrol member was nearly shot by a second SAS patrol in a near fatal "friendly fire" bungle. Trooper J wasn't responsible for the friendly fire but he was accused of breaching protocol by firing his weapon in response and not adhering to Roberts-Smith's orders. He was formally investigated, placed on administrative duties with another patrol and soon after left the army. According to statements later submitted to senior defence officials, Roberts-Smith ran his own, off-the-books disciplinary process. Multiple witnesses allege that Roberts-Smith castigated the trooper in front of his patrol, ordering Trooper J to stand up and then punching him in the head. A further threat from Roberts-Smith was allegedly made several months later: if the trooper's account about the incident and aftermath was not consistent with his version, Roberts-Smith would report him to the International Criminal Court at The Hague for firing in the vicinity of civilians. The treatment of Trooper J by Roberts-Smith concerned several experienced patrol commanders, who were also troubled about other aspects of Roberts-Smith's mentoring and leadership in 2012. The most pressing issue being discussed among a small number of senior SAS soldiers involved his patrol's involvement in an alleged assault on an unarmed Afghan. Ive been under the microscope for the last six years and, you know what, my record is spotless. Ben Roberts-Smith Those with concerns were surprised and angered, therefore, when Defence in 2014 released a formal assessment of Roberts-Smith's 2012 service as it awarded him a Commendation for Distinguished Service, praising his exemplary "mentoring of his patrol and less experienced members". Three patrol commanders, who are still serving with the regiment and who have also been recognised for their service in Afghanistan, signed a complaint written by one of the trio, Sergeant L. The complaint urged senior officers to investigate Roberts-Smith's mentoring, leadership and treatment of Trooper J. "As SAS soldiers, we are responsible for accurate reporting and honesty, in the field and in camp. This citation is a contradiction of those values," the complaint said. For two years, the complaint went nowhere. But it is one of many documents handed to the Inspector-General. Denials and accusations For his part, Roberts-Smith traces the complaints about his behaviour to the awarding of the VC in 2011. His forceful, driven personality one shared by many in the regiment stoked resentment. When queried about this last year, he said: "I am hard, I get that, but there is no one I beat up harder than myself. You are supposed to be better. If not, you should not be there. Because if you make a mistake, someone is going to die." His supporters insist the allegations stem from envy, most particularly from disgruntled veterans. Roberts-Smith's defamation lawyer also blames sensationalist journalists for seeking to bring down a war hero through a "smear campaign". Ross Coulthart a former TV investigative journalist who is now a public relations consultant for a firm, Cato and Clegg is working closely with Roberts-Smith and his lawyer on his own investigation into Fairfax Media's reporting. Coulthart has interviewed SAS soldiers close to Roberts-Smith and is privately insisting to people linked to Channel Seven there is no evidence of any wrongdoing. However, he and the PR firm's Sue Cato have declined to share their findings. Publicly, Coulthart refuses even to say who he is working for. Australian SAS troops in Afghanistan. Credit:Forward Scout Films Roberts-Smith has previously decried his critics as hypocrites, saying: "The bullying is what they do to me. Bullies are cowards. They stay in the shadows. This is about group cowardice. I don't like bullies. I am sick of it." He has been unequivocal he has no questions to answer in respect of any of his actions in Afghanistan. "I've been under the microscope for the last six years and, you know what, my record is spotless," he said in a newspaper interview when questions about his conduct in Afghanistan first emerged publicly in October 2017. But the argument that critical accounts of Roberts-Smith amount to tall-poppy syndrome sits uneasily with the testimony of many who have served in the SAS, including in Afghanistan. Some sources note that the reputations of that conflict's other Victoria Cross recipients Mark Donaldson and Dan Keighran (a VC was also awarded posthumously to Commando Corporal Cameron Baird) have faced no such challenges. Most significantly, the allegations about Roberts-Smith and his patrols have, according to regiment sources, been made under oath before the Inspector-General a step for those witnesses that is well beyond simply muttering darkly to colleagues and journalists. Pushing back Roberts-Smith has also been pushing back, apparently aiming to paint those making allegations about him as disgruntled liars. In 2017, defamation lawyer Mark O'Brien, who is working for Roberts-Smith, separately wrote to the two soldiers who were members of Roberts-Smith's patrol in 2006 and who had expressed serious misgivings about his conduct. The lawyer accused the two veterans of colluding to concoct false allegations. Roberts-Smith sent a letter himself to a third SAS veteran, also threatening litigation. The bullying is what they do to me ... This is about group cowardice. I dont like bullies. I am sick of it. Ben Roberts-Smith Attention then shifted to a fourth SAS Afghanistan veteran, Sergeant L. He'd written the 2014 complaint that urged an investigation of Roberts-Smith's Commendation for Distinguished Service and which was signed by two other patrol commanders. On October 18, 2017, in a letter sent to Fairfax Media, Roberts-Smith's defamation lawyer attacked the credibility of Sergeant L, accusing him of smuggling weapons into Afghanistan in 2012. (The two other patrol commanders who signed the 2014 complaint were not mentioned in the letter). By now, more missives attacking Sergeant L were also circulating, although who was responsible for these remains a mystery. On October 20, 2017, The Australian newspaper received an anonymous email. Fairfax Media has linked this email to a Queensland photographer, Nathan Richter but he has said he was just acting as a middleman and refuses to say who wrote and sent it. This email repeated the historic gun smuggling claim and added some dramatic detail. It claimed Sergeant L was at grave risk of gunning down civilians in Perth. The baseless massacre allegation was also sent to Australian Federal Police in an apparent attempt to get police to raid Sergeant L. Days later, they did so, finding none of the weapons the mystery writer had promised would be located. Six months later, another mysterious writer emerged. In April, the female lawyer Roberts-Smith had weeks earlier taken as his guest to the Great Hall of Parliament House also received an email. It was from a "Danielle Kennedy" and claimed to have been sent on behalf of Roberts-Smith. By then, Canberra sources say the lawyer was alleging Roberts-Smith had subjected her to an act of domestic violence and intimidation in the hours after the Great Hall event in late March. According to senior sources in Canberra, a relative of the woman complained about the alleged incident to a politician, who alerted a more senior colleague, who in turn alerted defence officials. Later, the alleged victim told police of her claims. Police have been told she had been drinking at the event, and as it ended, alleges Roberts-Smith appeared angry at her behaviour, worried it had exposed his affair to the military's top brass. She stumbled and fell down some stairs at Parliament House as she left the event, causing further embarrassment. Police have been told that by the time the pair arrived back at the Realm Hotel, Roberts-Smith was allegedly furious and she was subjected to an act of domestic violence. (Fairfax Media has decided not to name the lawyer due to the nature of her allegations. Defence and political figures who have been told of the allegations have said that once they learned she had gone to police, they took no further action.) Police also have details of multiple phone and email accounts the married Roberts-Smith used to conduct the liaison prior to it ending on April 6, when the lawyer disclosed the affair to his wife. Ben Roberts-Smith in front of his portrait at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Credit:Jay Cronan On April 22, the lawyer received the email from "Danielle Kennedy", who claimed to "represent Mr Roberts-Smith" and be acting on his "instructions." Fairfax Media could not locate any lawyer by the name of "Danielle Kennedy". The photo used in the email appears to have been stolen by someone from the internet. It is of Anne Whelford, an administrator at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand. After a university spokesman was supplied by Fairfax Media with a copy of the "Danielle Kennedy" email, he sent a statement saying: "Lincoln University was unaware of the use of Anne Whelford's photograph, as was she, and neither party sanctions its use in this way". The use of the picture "is a matter which should be dealt with by the police," the statement said. The woman at the centre of allegations declined to comment. Roberts-Smith has also declined requests from Fairfax Media to be interviewed, or to answer questions about any knowledge he might have of "Danielle Kennedy", or why a stolen photo was used, or to give his version of events. It is understood that after he received questions, he told his public relations advisers that no affair had ever occurred (a claim undermined by copious evidence) and that the alleged domestic violence and intimidation is also a malicious invention. And on Wednesday of this week six days after he was alerted that Fairfax Media knew of the allegations reported to police as well as the mysterious "Danielle Kennedy" Roberts-Smith contacted a Queensland police station, claiming to be a victim of stalking by the lawyer. I am hard, I get that, but there is no one I beat up harder than myself Ben Roberts-Smith In respect of the claims made by SAS soldiers, Roberts-Smith has also privately dismissed allegations he is a bully or that he ever assaulted or bullied a fellow soldier. Most significantly, Roberts-Smith privately and passionately dismisses all allegations he has ever breached the laws of armed conflict in Afghanistan. He recently retained a top Sydney barrister with expertise in military inquiries, Arthur Moses, SC. In his recent public appearances, Roberts-Smith appears to have sought opportunities to burnish his image. He recently appeared on a Channel Seven tourism and lifestyle program to highlight his family values "family is the most valuable thing" and his passion for supporting soldiers struggling with mental health problems. Not a shred of evidence In June, yet another mysterious letter writer was at work. A former member of Roberts-Smith's patrol received a letter from an anonymous source warning that he should withdraw what the letter described as false information given to the Inspector-General, or risk having adverse information about his own activities exposed. The patrol member immediately reported the letter to the SAS Commanding Officer, who relayed it to the Inspector-General. The Inspector-General does not comment on ongoing investigations. But the patrol member has told colleagues he is not scared by the threat. Roberts-Smith's supporters privately insist the Inspector-General will clear him of any wrongdoing and there is not a "shred" of evidence that suggests otherwise. Roberts-Smith's supporters also say that the famous soldier is yet to give his version of events. But SAS insiders aware of some of the adverse allegations about Roberts-Smith or the conduct of his patrols say credible evidence has already been placed on record and on oath. Questions have dogged Ben Roberts-Smith from a time well before he became supersized by expectation, responsibility and pride in the spirit of the Anzacs. After two years of investigation, and having interviewed 200 witnesses on oath, the Inspector-General is expected to finalise his report in the coming months. Roberts-Smith's response On Friday Roberts-Smith released a statement via Seven West about this story. It read: The article contains a catalogue of lies, fabrications and misrepresentations. It is the culmination of many months of malicious and highly damaging allegations, all of which will be vigorously defended. I do want to say today that I unequivocally deny any physical abuse of any woman at any time ever, and that I have not at any stage been interviewed by Police about any purported complaint by any woman. I am deeply troubled that alleged evidence given on oath before the IGADF inquiry has been canvassed in the press and that Fairfax has allegedly accessed it. Not only is it illegal, it is unfair to people who havent given evidence and it has the potential to undermine the fairness of the inquiry. If and when I am given the opportunity to defend each specific allegation, I am very confident that direct witnesses will categorically demonstrate the falsity of them all. Labor states have forced a delay to the federal governments National Energy Guarantee in a bid to extract a key concession that could make it easier to impose more ambitious cuts to carbon emissions across the electricity sector. The move heightens pressure on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to gain approval for the scheme from Liberal and Nationals backbenchers in Canberra this Tuesday or risk a collapse in talks with the states and territories. A stalemate emerged late on Friday when Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg declared there would be no negotiation on his stance that any change to the emissions target would have to go to federal parliament. Minister for Resources Matt Canavan and Minister for Energy Josh Frydenberg at a press conference after the meeting. Credit:AAP His position leaves no room for retreat in the face of demands from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio that a future federal minister should be able to increase the target without needing a vote in parliament. What we found is that it would result in an unbalanced population. Some schools would be overcrowded while others were under populated, Spector Bishop said. When things get too unbalanced you dont provide the quality education we want to provide. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he is aware of a police investigation into a domestic violence allegation against decorated veteran Ben Roberts-Smith, declining to comment on specifics but declaring that Australia has "zero tolerance" for violence against women. Responding to a Fairfax Media investigation into Mr Roberts-Smith's conduct while serving in Afghanistan with the elite Special Air Service Regiment and accusations relating to an incident in Canberra, the Prime Minister said a police inquiry was under way. "I am aware of the allegations, complaints have been made to police and they will be dealt with appropriately," Mr Turnbull said on Friday. "I can't make any comment on the specific matters because they are being dealt with by the police." Ben Roberts-Smith in front of his portrait at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Credit:Jay Cronan He condemned any violence against women, adding that disrespect towards women "is how violence against women begins". Health Minister Greg Hunt has formally extended the opt-out period for My Health Record, as a campaign to revert to an opt-in system continues. Australians now have until November 15 to opt out of the digital health records system, to avoid being automatically enrolled. Australians had previously been offered a three-month window, ending October 15, to opt out. But concerns about My Health Record remain, with unions this week raising fears that employers could gain access to workers' confidential medical records, as revealed by Fairfax Media today. Health Minister Greg Hunt has extended the opt-opt period for My Health Record. Credit:AAP Unions have urged tens of thousands of members to opt out of the controversial system arguing that employer doctors - used for pre-employment health checks or insurance purposes - could get access to and pass on a worker's entire medical history under the new system. Every election is a reminder that any political party seeking power will need a phalanx of motivated volunteers to achieve its goal. Money counts but is not enough, because it takes flesh and blood to knock on doors and engage voters at the polling booth. That is why any step to curb the rights of party members can only weaken the party. Those who think they can do without members will one day find the members can do without them. Illustration: Andrew Dyson The Liberal Party now confronts this challenge in its Victorian division after a ferocious debate about party democracy in the NSW division last year. In a sign that ideologies mean nothing when raw power is at stake, the conservatives who crusaded for membership rights in one state now silence those rights in another. The decision point came one week ago when the Victorian administrative committee chose to endorse every federal MP in his or her seat, leaving no opportunity for local members to choose candidates at a preselection. Critics call this the Kevin Andrews motion because it spares the former defence minister from a challenge, but the problem is bigger than any single MP. Malcolm Turnbulls behaviour towards Beijing over the past nine months has been foolish, amateurish and potentially dangerous. Yet the spectacle of his grovelling mea culpa to Beijing in his speech on the China relationship at the University of NSW this week may well make matters worse. If the stakes werent so high, it would almost be comical. But what Turnbulls China fiasco reveals most of all is how flawed his judgement can be on major matters of state which deeply affect the national interest. So what actually happened? After then Labor senator Sam Dastyari fouled up badly towards the end of last year over conflicts of interest on his statements on the South China Sea, Turnbull came up with what he thought to be a seriously cunning plan. Languishing in the polls against Labor ever since the 2016 elections, Turnbull thought he could use the Dastyari affair to skewer Labor as a bunch of pro-pinko, soft on China Beijing appeasers. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with Chinese consul-general Gu Xiaojie and ambassador Jingye Cheng at UNSW on Tuesday. Credit:AAP Thats when Turnbull launched his anti-foreign interference campaign which he targeted explicitly at Labor, the Australian Chinese community and the Chinese state - implying all three were somehow umbilically linked. He saw this as a great opportunity to achieve political mastery over Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, as well as shore up what was at that time his own shaky internal position within the Liberal Party. It was an opportunity to look seriously tough against what he hoped would be a vacillating Shorten. It failed spectacularly on multiple fronts. Then to cut through the media clutter, Turnbull delivered his infamous national call to arms against the Chinese state by proclaiming, in his own appalling Chinese, that the Australian people have now stood up. I was in Beijing at the time speaking at an Australia China Chamber of Commerce dinner. The Chinese officials to whom I spoke during that visit had no idea what Turnbull was on about. Under-fire MP Emma Husar has been exonerated of the most serious and salacious of the allegations against her, with a Labor-appointed assessor, John Whelan, finding that "allegations of lewd conduct in the office of a fellow member of Parliament [Labor frontbencher Jason Clare]" were not supported. He has also cleared her of allegations of sexual harassment by a former staff member, saying that these, too, were not supported "on the balance of probabilities". Emma Husar has been cleared of the most serious allegations. Credit:Anna Kucera Mr Whelan advised senior officials of the New South Wales Labor Party on Friday morning that, based on his assessment, "there is no basis for Ms Husar to resign from the Australian Parliament". Mr Whelan, who has been investigating 44 allegations of misconduct against Ms Husar lodged by former staff members, found that their complaints that Ms Husar had "subjected them to unreasonable management, including unreasonable communication, demands, practices and disciplinary methods" did have merit. In the battle to preserve the states heritage, it helps to have the name Hadley. The Heritage Minister, Gabrielle Upton, has a strict obligation under heritage laws: once an independent body recommends a structure is worth preserving, she must decide whether to heritage list the property, or refer it for review, within two weeks. Time stands still: Hadley Park near Penrith, built by Ray Hadley's ancestors. Credit:Colonialcastlereagh.blogspot.com But its an obligation Ms Upton observes almost entirely in the breach. Of all the heritage matters that have been put before her as minister, the sole decision she has made within this timeframe is to heritage list Hadley Park, once home to an ancestor of radio shock-jock, Ray. Over 100 land sales are presently in jeopardy should the deposit monies not be recovered, Mr Michell wrote in his affidavit. Many of the purchasers may be first home buyers. Mr Michell found the company held $82,000 in cash, $1.6 million in an ANZ account and $1 million had been withdrawn "without attribution". "Most of the deposit monies have been disposed by the company," he wrote. RIC Homes, the company behind The Winning Post estate in Officer, is also marketing The Lotus Estate land for sale in Melton South. The Melbourne Linh Son Buddhist Society owns that land. Its president, Duc Thang Nguyen, said RIC Homes no longer had a deal to sell its Melton South paddocks, although he confirmed there was an initial agreement to market the land. While the Melton South sales push is only a registration of interest campaign for the Buddhists land, in Officer it started taking money for sales last June. Ms Moutsakis had a conveyancer look over the documents before paying a deposit for land she thought would be her and her partners future. Now shes dubious they will see their money again. Were at the bottom of the creditors' list, Ms Moutsakis said. Last week she wrote to her local MP, Roads Minister Luke Donnellan. Mr Donnellan said on Thursday the disappearance of the couples money, and that of many others, was highly concerning. He wrote to Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz last week to ask her to look into the matter. The liquidator told the court that the firm behind Winning Post Officer had held itself out to purchasers of properties to be a licensed real estate agent an area Ms Kairouz oversees. Ms Kairouz said buyers striving to own their own homes have every right to expect that contractual obligations are met and they get what they pay for. A screenshot of an ad for the planned estate, and the land around it. Credit:realestate.com.au She said her department was investigating the case as a matter of priority. Another Officer buyer, Diana Toth, also stands to lose tens of thousands of dollars. Having bought last year, she started to get nervous about her purchase in February but was repeatedly assured by the company that there were only minor delays. It was the liquidator letter that we got just before June 30 that said something really screwy is going on here, said Ms Toth, 55. Mr Michell said in his court filing that the company was shrouded by lack of records and a lack of co-operation with me as liquidator, and I am concerned that I will have real difficulty in recovering the payments made by purchasers such as Ms Toth. The Age tried to contact the directors of Winning Post Officer Jason Dinh, Khuyen Nguyen and Oanh Le repeatedly this week. Calls and messages to Mr Dinh were not returned and a partner at Piper Alderman, the law firm that will act for the company when the case returns to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, declined to discuss the matter. A title search of the land in Officer the company was selling shows it is owned by Queensland racehorse owners Graham and Linda Huddy. They bought the 6.74-hectare site in 2016, for $4 million. On Friday a lawyer at the firm representing the couple acknowledged that Mr and Ms Huddy had originally agreed to sell a portion of their land to Winning Post Officer. Unbeknownst to the couple, though, the company had gone on to sell all of the land to individual buyers, their lawyer said. Ms Moutsakis is determined that she and her partner get their money back. Most of us are just first home buyers who dont deserve this, she said. According to Samsung, 64 per cent of Note users are loyal because of the S Pen, and its engineers are making it hard to ignore. Within one of three colours available in Australia, the stylus will be bright yellow in an ocean blue handset. But more importantly it will have Bluetooth, and a button on the S Pen will give users the ability to take photos up to 10m away from the device, perfect for Instagrammers or family portraits. The button also acts as a way to control slides during a presentation, or click through YouTube without touching your phone. The Note9 is similar to last year's big Galaxy phone, but with a few key refinements. Credit:Bloomberg Charging it for 40 seconds will give the S Pen 30 minutes of autonomy. And in case you have epiphanies in the shower, or in the pool, both the S Pen and phone continue to be water, dust and sand proof. The Note9 also has enhanced DeX software to let it behave like a PC when plugged into a monitor via HDMI you can even run a different app on the phone and monitor at once, or use the phone screen as an artist's tablet and packs a water-carbon cooling system to keep the phone cool while gaming. Loading The edges of the phone are diamond cut to the metal frame with matte surfaces and glossy sides which aim to give the phone the illusion that it is thinner than it is, although it is noticeably thicker than last year's. It also has the largest end-to-end design on a Note, with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity Display covering the front. The cameras on the phone are much the same as the Note8. The photo scene settings are the key difference, there are now 20 different selections from flowers to landscape to up your photography-game. Theres also a flaw detection setting which alerts you if your image is blurred, eyes are closed, is backlit or the lens needs a clean. Importantly the fingerprint sensor is now below the cameras, which is a welcome change from the Note8's awkward location. The device will ship with Android Oreo and a new version of Samsung's Bixby smart assistant. Vice President of Samsung Electronics Ji Soo Yi says a lot of work had gone into revamping the Bixby technology to focus it on personal assistance tasks like booking hotels, restaurants or launching Google Maps. "Bixby was built with a simple purpose, to help you get things done. So now on Note9 there is a more conversational, more personal and more useful (Bixby)," he said. In Australia the Samsung handset will sell for $1499 for the 128GB model, the same price as last years Note8, and $1799 for the 512GB when it goes on sale on August 24. Possibly off the back of reportedly sluggish sales for buyers on the S9+, pre-orders from today until August 23 will drop the price of the 512GB phone to $1499. The new Samsung Galaxy Watch. Credit:Fairfax Media Meanwhile the new Galaxy Watch, with its unique toggling bezel, targets health and wellbeing, both emotional and physical. It comes in a sleek rose gold or silver for the 42mm, and a silver grey in the 46mm. Under normal usage, the 46mm can apparently last up to 168 hours with low usage. The Bluetooth version will start at $549 for 42mm and $599 for 46mm, the LTE version will be $649 for 42mm and $699 for 46mm. The watch will focus on stress management, monitoring heart rate and oxygenation levels giving queues to breathe, and can also track the type of exercise you do, from weights to squats at the gym and whether you are getting a good sleep. The watch will be on sale in Australia from October 4. Another announcement was Bixby's smart speaker, Galaxy Home, which is focused on music but can also handle a range of voice-activated tasks. A partnership with Harman Kardon, which is owned by Samsung and specialises in audio speakers, has produced a vase-shaped speaker with a legged bottom and pulsating lights at the top. The Galaxy Home smart speaker. Credit:AP The speaker goes up against rivals Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apples Homepod, but even with a revamped Bixby it will be a test to see whether Samsung can take on the competition in the intelligent assistant race. Availability and pricing are still to come. At the event, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek also announced a partnership with Samsung. Spotify will be the default music provider on the Galaxy Home. "When we created Spotify we had a simple goal; make music available to everyone while supporting musicians who create it," Mr Ek said. With "hundreds of millions" of Samsung users, and Samsung creating everything from televisions to fridges, it was a "really great fit" with great possibilities, he said. Well that was the case until Jasmine, from south Sydney's Wolli Creek, raised the issue. But as Jasmine recently discovered, learning to code just wasn't an option on offer at St Therese Catholic Primary School, which she's currently attending in Mascot, in Sydney's south. "I really love coding," she says confidently, referring to the computer language used to create applications and video games. "Im just starting to think about what I'm going to do when I grow up and I think I might be a coder." "They only just started to incorporate [visual computer programming language] Scratch for Year 4 this year and before that they never had a coding course, which is a shame," Jasmine's mum, Anastasia, says. "And the reason they started this course was because Jasmine was telling her teacher and that inspired them to look into it and get started." Making use of free online resources from Code Club Australia, a nationwide charity network of volunteer-led coding clubs with a mission to get children coding, the school is now teaching others in Jasmine's year to code as well - but not without Jasmine's help, of course. "Jasmine has been helping the teachers to teach everyone," Anastasia says. "It's pretty good that all the kids now have the opportunity to learn it; I think it's quite important because it is the language for the future, isnt it?" Code Club is a charity organisation with the aim of getting kids to learn how to code. Aimed at kids aged between eight and 15, Code Club is financially backed by the Telstra Foundation, as well as by the federal and Tasmanian governments, Bank of Queensland, and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. It has raised an estimated $1.2 million to date. It was a surprise to almost everyone. And almost everyone leapt to the same conclusion: this was the new crown princess, the heir apparent. Nobody expects Merkel to fight another election. With the far-right AfD on the rise and the major parties slumping in the polls, there was a sense the country was itching for change, or at least renewal. Merkel had only reluctantly decided to campaign for this term as chancellor, and while her party had won the biggest slice of the election pie, it was far too small for comfort. Was Merkel anointing AKK her successor? I would not give myself that label, said AKK as close to yes as a politician could possibly get. Merkel herself was party secretary for three years before becoming chancellor in 2005. German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulates her CDU colleague Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, now widely tipped as her successor. Credit:Bloomberg In early 2017, AKK won an unexpectedly comfortable victory in her state election, the conservative CDU confounding the centre-left SPD which had been projected to win Saarland (en route to a projected national SPD surge later in the year, which also failed to materialise). The win brought AKK new admirers at the federal level (and the nickname mini-Merkel). Merkel presented AKK with a bouquet of flowers. But it may prove a poisoned posy. The CDU is no exception to the global political rule that leaders have terrible trouble choosing their successors. Dr Matthias Dilling is a lecturer in politics at Oxford University who has specialised in Western European Christian Democrats - the C and D in the CDU. [AKK] has usually been considered someone very close to Merkel, both in terms of her style of politics as well as her views, he says. She is seen as centrist and moderate though she did oppose the introduction of same-sex marriage that Merkel abruptly imposed on her party, she is not considered a part of the more traditional conservative wing of the CDU. Voters in the political centre and even the centre-left would like her pragmatism. Conservatives would like her traditional Catholicism. Rural types would like her Saarland background. She ticks a lot of boxes for the kind of voters the CDU usually tries to mobilise. The CDU is looking for a candidate who will appeal to conservative and rural German voters. Credit:New York Times Though Saarland is small and lacks influence in the party, Merkel has blazed a trail for politicians to rise by their talent rather than their background, Dilling says and AKKs new role allows her to build alliances. It is the ideal position to strengthen her network and to get the support from other [state] branches to potentially become Merkels successor. Merkel cannot directly choose her successor, Dilling says but she has a lot of influence. Normally leadership renewal in the CDU is a compromise between party branches - contested leadership elections are incredibly rare, it is a process of building consensus from the bottom up rather than the top down. If wed had this conversation at the beginning of the year [Merkels] influence would have been limited," Dilling says. The more conservative wing of the party was rising, arguing the party would need to strengthen its conservative profile to appeal to voters who left the CDU for the AfD. The rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, had convinced some in Merkel's party that they needed to adopt more conservative policies. Credit:EPA Since then Merkel has consolidated her position and regained influence. But AKK has an Achilles heel too a certain sense of familiarity. A centrist, pragmatist, a good negotiator and listener. Remind you of anyone? After a tenure as long as Merkels it is not necessarily an advantage to be very similar to her predecessor, says Dilling. Most Germans dont appear to be longing for radical change, but judging by the last election theyre not exactly keen for more of the same, either. Merkel chose AKK precisely because she didnt represent change, Dilling says. She is pro-European, backed Merkels refugee policies and has not yet set out a stall much different to the chancellors. Would that be a problem? Not necessarily, says Michaela Kufner, chief political editor at Deutsche Welles international studio in Berlin. She says you shouldnt underestimate the power of the Merkel brand. Loading AKK is quite clear in saying she doesnt want to shift the party back to the right, she sees her role in strengthening the centre, Kufner says. Germans in general dont have much of an appetite for radical change. She says AKK has a credible background in conservatism something the party has worried Merkel moved too far away from to retain power. She clearly has her own independent position and certainly has the stuff to make it, she says. She is not easily intimidated, she is not known as a party rebel, but she is known as someone who stands her ground. She is tried and tested at the grass roots and in power politics, and now shes entered the next level. AKK has already started to throw her weight around. This week she said she was ready to consider the return of national service something the majority of Germans support, but which Merkels government opposes despite severe troop shortages. Head of the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany, or AfD, Frauke Petry casts her vote in Leipzig in September. Credit:DPA via AP Despite this signal of her conservative credentials, AKK is not the conservative candidate. Earlier this year, this was seen as a liability. The received wisdom was that German politics needed to move to the right, to counter the threat from the AfD. But recent polls in Bavaria, says Kufner, showed that moving to the right doesnt work for CDU voters and it may not work with voters more widely either. AKKs competitors for the leadership role minister for health Jens Spahn or the outspoken Julia Kloeckner were in the ascendant when the received wisdom was that the party wanted someone more conservative. But now the pendulum has swung back in favour of AKK or Armin Laschet, the moderate minister president of North Rhine-Westphalia, the countrys most populous state. A woman with a poster reading 'United Against The Politics Of Fear' at a demonstration in Munich in July. Credit:DPA Kufner says AKK is a better people person than Merkel, who even after all this time still has trouble with a room full of journalists. AKK is unafraid of public debate, Kufner says. She also has the advantage of being an architect of the current coalition deal with the SPD, which envisages a review of the governments progress after two years, in 2020. It is an obvious time for Merkel to hand over the reins, though she has insisted she would stay in power until 2021, as long as the SPD were still on board. Merkel is unlikely to stand down unless she is certain her successor would follow her direction on European policy and the SPD are more likely to accept a known quantity, not too far from the political centre. Helmut Kohl: Angela Merkel was not his expected successor. Credit:Alamy AKK now has the time to establish herself as a credible leader and potential lead candidate it would be a smooth transition, Kufner says. At the same time the CDU has a history of the heir apparent not making his or her way to the throne. Merkel once benefited from this trend: everyone had expected Wolfgang Schauble to succeed Helmut Kohl, but instead Merkel seized power. And anyway, how likely is it that the next CDU leader will be the next elected chancellor of Germany? Dilling says Merkel had the ability to attract many voters who would usually not pick the Christian Democrats. AKK may have the same talent, but its yet to be tested. And its a long time to the next election, says Dilling. A lot can happen. We still have to review the stands. We are also looking to replace the bathrooms at the north unit, Villalobos said, an area popular with birders. He said the park has also hired an architectural firm to come up with something to stop shoreline erosion that has taken out one trail in the north unit. London: An explosion at a defence firm factory in Salisbury has killed one person and left another in a critical condition. Fire broke out at the Chemring Countermeasures facility after the blast on Friday evening, Wiltshire Police said. Salisbury, England. Credit:AP The blaze has since been extinguished and the incident has been contained with no risk to the public. Police and health and safety officers are investigating. Mueller has been extraordinarily deferential while Trump and his representatives engaged in their gamesmanship. Credit:AP Even as Special Counsel Robert Mueller marches forward with his prosecution of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and as the case that Donald Trump engaged in criminal conduct grows stronger, the President and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani continue their tango about whether Trump will deign to answer questions from Mueller's team. Said Giuliani on the possibility of an interview: "If they can come to us and show us the basis and that it's legitimate and that they have uncovered something, we can go from there and assess their objectivity." Giuliani added to his list of prerequisite demands that he wants to know about the origins of the FBI probe before agreeing to some form of interview. Then on Wednesday, Giuliani announced that the President's team issued yet another counter-proposal to Mueller, declining to specify the terms. So if Mueller can prove the legitimacy of his case, and if Giuliani and Trump conclude it's objective, and if they receive sufficient information about the probe's origins, then they might consider answering some questions in writing. Tampa, Florida: It started on Facebook, as many political arguments do these days. A Florida man responded to a friend's post about President Donald Trump. His response wasn't about Trump, it was about felon voting rights. And that's when the squabble between the two fortysomething men exploded into a flurry of private messages and took an ugly turn. Brian Sebring. Credit:Hillsborough County Sheriff's office via AP The argument escalated into threats and taunts of fighting, police said, and ended in a shooting that left one of the men wounded. The victim has been released from the hospital, but it underscores how passionate social media interactions can have real-world consequences. US Import Tariffs: A Major Concern for the Global Auto Industry| Technavio LONDON--August 9, 2018; The impending threat of US import tariffs has come true with the change in administration. These tariffs will have a significant impact on the automotive industry in the US. Technavios latest research tries to understand the ramifications of these tariffs on countries and markets across the world. Looking for more insights into the automotive industry? Read Technavios latest report on the global automotive engine market Technavios research provides a detailed analysis of the aftermath of these tariffs on countries and economies abroad as well as within the United States. It offers insights on how countries are placed with respect to dealing with these tariffs and the overall impact on the automotive industry. Find out what lies ahead for the automotive industry. Read US Import Tariffs a Major Concern for Global Auto Industry About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. AUTO LAB Call-In Radio LIVE from New York Saturday August 11, 2018 7-9 AM Auto Lab Talk Radio on New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 and Streamed Worldwide On TheAutoChannel.Com This Weeks Show: Broadcast Date: August 11, 2018; Car Question or Concern? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York City radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Featuring an in-studio panel of experienced hands-on automotive experts with accurate, honest, practical and street-smart car repair and buying advice. Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format. Listeners can find the past 20 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on The Auto Channel. Auto Lab Page includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures This Weeks Show: August 11, 2018; IN STUDIO PANEL: Real World Auto Experts Will Answer Your Questions; Discuss: Repairs, Second Opinions, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Insurance, Ombudsmen Suggestions Harold Bendell - Major Auto Fred Bordoff - Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Department-CUNY David Goldsmith - Urban Classics Jerry Pastore - D & J Diagnostics Johanna Pastore - D & J Diagnostics Joanne Porcelli, Esq. Michael Porcelli - Automobile Services Nicholas Prague - MTA Auto Lab Correspondents Remote Interviews: Featuring Auto Safety News, New Car Reviews, Technology and Latest Auto World Information That Will Effect You! Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England EUROPE LOSING SELF DRIVING CARS RACE John Russell, and Sharon Sudol Senior Correspondents 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE SUV Russ Rader,Senior Vice President Insurance Institute for Highway Safety EVALUATING AUTONOMY IIHS EXAMINES DRIVER ASSISTANCE FEATURES IN ROAD, TRACK TESTS Robert Sinclair AAA Northeast DRUGGED DRIVER DEATHS PEAK DURING AUGUST IN NEW YORK Donny Sefer, Executive Officer, National Automotive Service Task Force THE TECHNOLOGY & TELEMATICS FORUM-HIGH TECHNOLOGY AUTO REPAIR Volkswagen Unveils Limited Production 2019 Grand California 30 Years Camper And 2019 Grand California Production Model By Henny Hemmes Senior European Editor The Auto Channel The Hague, August 10, 2018. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of its iconic California camper with a limited edition. The California 30 Year will be unveiled at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, Germany (25 August 25- September 2). Only 999 units will be built. At the same time the all new Grand California will celebrate its world premiere. The first California (1988) was based on the T3, with the air-cooled, rear-mounted boxer engine. It was initially available in two colors: Pastel White or Marsala Red. The smart kitchen unit was designed in white and gray. The combination of the competitive price, smart layout and robust character made the California a bestseller: in the first year alone 5,000 were sold. In the following years, the California continued to gain popularity and 22,000 units of the first generation were sold. Now, the California T3 has the classic status, but perhaps more importantly, every California has a cult status. During the past 30 years, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched several special editions. The new California 30 Years follows in the footsteps of the Freestyle (2002), NoLimit (2007) and Generation (2013), which have since become collectors' items. The California 30 Years has two badges with the production number and is recognizable by its tilting roof and mirror covers in the contrasting color. The b-styles are painted shiny black. It stands on 17 inch light-alloy Cascavel wheels in silver or anthracite. Inside, the Bright Wood finish of the kitchen and the greenhouse stand out. The model is standard equipped with Camper interior lighting, Camper interior lighting with LED lights in the rear roof, the tailgate and the kitchen. At the rear of the camper has a connection for an outdoor shower. The interior heating can be operated with a remote control or with buttons in the interior to make camping in the spring and autumn more comfortable. 2019 Grand California At the Caravan show, Volkswagen will also have a world premiere with the unveiling of the 2019 Grand California, which is based on the Crafter platform. The completely new camper reinforces the range of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in the six-meter class. The market introduction of the new camper is planned for the spring of 2019. The very first California-launched Bulli-based in 1988 was the most successful camper worldwide with 160,000 units sold. The experiences with the camper during the past three decades have now been used to the maximum in the development of the Grand California, that was previewed by the California XXL study model at the 2017 Caravan Salon. The Grand California gets lots of smart solutions. The light interior is mainly in white for a fresh look and a spacious ambiance, which is enhanced by large windows in the back and side , as well as large light domes in the back above the double bed and in the living area. All windows are equipped with double plisses (mosquito bait and blackout). For the driver's cab, Volkswagen developed a new blackout concept. The motor home is equipped with swivel chairs in the front and a two-seater sofa in the living area. The latter is combined with ISOFIX anchorages and Topteather child protection. The kitchen consists of an extendable 70-liter (2.47 cu. ft) refrigerator including freezer (also accessible from the outside via the sliding door), a two-burner gas cooker, a sink and various cupboards and drawers. The new camper gets the same assistance, comfort and infotainment systems that are also available for the Crafter, such as Front Assist with city emergency stop system, Instead of light switches, the camper comes standard with motion detectors that switch on the lights. Optional available is a Bluetooth-controlled speaker in the living area. A substantial difference compared to the more compact California T6 is the bathroom (840 x 800 mm/330 x 314 in.) featuring a toilet and shower, a fold-away washbasin, a towel rack, a cupboard with integrated toilet roll holder and a roof hatch for vent This Grand California has exterior lighting above the sliding door and a connection for an outdoor shower at the rear with adjustable water temperature. An electrically folding step under the sliding door facilitates entry and exit, while the sliding door is provided with a two-part screen in all cases. The Grand California has a fresh water tank with a capacity of 110 liter/29 gallon. The option list includes Lane Assist, Blind Spot Sensor, Rear Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control and Rear View. Argentinas Senate voted on an abortion bill on Wednesday. Photo: EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images On Thursday morning, Argentinas Senate voted to reject a proposed bill that would have legalized abortion in the country. Abortion has long been illegal in Argentina: Currently, if a woman is found to have undergone the procedure (in instances other than rape or if the mothers life is in danger), she can be jailed for up to four years. The rejected bill would have legalized abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy for all women. The recent effort to change Argentinas abortion laws grew out of a new wave of feminist activism in the country, which started around 2015. That year, the brutal murder of 19-year-old Daiana Garcia sparked uproar over the countrys high rate of femicide and prompted feminist marches and the creation of anti-femicide collectives in the country. Soon after, anti-abortion president Mauricio Macri told lawmakers this year that they could reconsider the matter. Argentinas lower house the Chamber of Deputies approved the bill legalizing abortion in June, and on Wednesday, the countrys Senate took up the issue. By Thursday morning, the Senate voted 38 to 31 against the bill. The proposed bill was met with contentious debate in Argentina; although protests in support of its passage broke out worldwide on Wednesday night, anti-abortion activists also held a rally outside the countrys Congress and the Catholic Church held a Mass for Life vigil in Buenos Aires. The bills Thursday rejection, activists tell CNN, represents a huge step backward for the country. However, activists also say that the fact that the bill was even debated in the first place was a victory of sorts. Despite the outcome of the Thursday vote which came shortly after Ireland passed a major referendum legalizing abortion activists told CNN that they will continue to push the legislation with the hopes that it will one day pass. Photo: VintageMedStock/Getty Images The word psychopath, like many words associated with mental and personality disorders, is used broadly, and often incorrectly colloquially, we might call someone who lies a lot a psychopath, just as we might call someone who texts us more frequently than we want crazy. The word psychopath is also routinely used to describe serial killers, though not all serial/mass murderers have psychopathic personalities. And while sociopath is sometimes (mistakenly) used interchangeably with psychopath, only the latter is rigorously defined and clinically accepted, says Craig Neumann, a professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Texas whose singular research focus has been the psychopathic personality and its traits. According to Neumann, the true definition of psychopath is actually pretty narrow: Broadly speaking, psychopathy refers to a pathological personality style that is interpersonally deceptive, affectively cold, behaviorally reckless, and often overtly antisocial, he writes. To qualify, he says, a person must possess traits pertaining to each of four domains: Interpersonal, Affective, Lifestyle, and Antisocial. The corresponding traits are as follows: Interpersonal: Theyre manipulative, deceitful, and/or narcissistic. Affective: They lack remorse, are callous, and may take pleasure in hurting others. Lifestyle: Theyre impulsive, may use illegal substances, and may have disregard for the consequences of their actions. Antisocial: They are physically aggressive and may have a history of or tendency toward criminal behavior. Importantly, Neumann notes, psychopathy is a scale. Its not that youre either a psychopath or not, he says. In the same way someone can have severe depression but its also possible for someone to have mild or moderate depression. Neumann uses the example of professional poker players: they might be deceitful, and narcissistic, but theyre (probably) not psychopaths. Similarly, he takes issue with neuroscientist James Fallons calling himself a psychopath because his brain imaging profile matched that of psychopathic individuals. Just because the amygdala shows hypoactivation does not make you a psychopath, says Neumann. This is a characteristic thats associated with psychopathy, but biology is not destiny. We believe that the syndrome, the personality disorder, is a coming together of these four major domains. While certain people may possess a few, or even most of the psychopathic characteristics (like superficial charm, sexual promiscuity, and early behavioral problems, to name a few) listed on the Psychopathy Checklist (the PCL-R) another tool used in the diagnostic process unless they fulfill each of the four domains, Neumann doesnt consider them truly psychopathic. The max score on the PCL-R is a 40, but to reach 30 is really going to be up there, he says. (Most people score between a 1 and a 3, he adds.) But the point Im trying to make here is that even people who are 25, 26, they dont quite reach the diagnostic threshold. Even people who are 16, 17, 18 on the PCL-R are nasty sons of bitches. Do they meet the diagnostic threshold of what we would call meeting a diagnosis of psychopathy? No. Neumann hasnt met or spoken to the subject of the following interview, but he did offer some potential disclaimers when I described the nature of our conversation. These people dissimulate, they lie quite regularly, so its a challenging interview to do, he says. And most individuals at very high levels of psychopathy are not going to submit to an interview. Hes also insistent that psychopaths are inherently and evidently unpleasant to be around. One of the essences of personality pathology is you usually feel it in your gut first. Would I get in a car with this person and drive across the United States? And if you say Oh, hell no, that gives you a clue that theres something off in terms of personality, he says. The woman I spoke to, who will remain anonymous, says she was diagnosed as a psychopath in her mid-20s, and the diagnostic process she describes appears to be in line with what Neumann says is required. That said, our conversation was under an hour, and I am not a psychologist. That conversation, which has been edited for length, is below. When were you diagnosed as a psychopath? From age 26 to 27. I went through the whole diagnostic process over several months. There were a certain number of doctors that were involved, and a lot of testing: neuropsych testing, personality testing, brain scans, a lot of different interviews and going through the history of my childhood. It wasnt a quick snap diagnosis. It was something that was arrived at over a decent period of time. What precipitated that decision to start looking into a diagnosis? Well, when I was younger I had some youthful indiscretions that I dont go into. But I had gotten [an evaluation] as a teenager, and had no idea what the result of that was. But when I got a little older, it just Id always known my whole life I was quite different in how I trust people, how I thought about things, how I experience the world. I actually ended up contacting the same doctor who did the first workup. And he remembered me, which I thought was interesting. He said, Well, lets just start from scratch, which I was actually interested in doing. I wanted to know: why is my experience so different? Why do I not comprehend the basic interactions that, for other people, it just seems to be natural for them? I had no idea what it was going to evolve into. I didnt know it was going to be months of testing. I think there were a few times where I was ready to not care anymore, but I kept with it for some reason. At the end of it, he was a very smart person. I think hed probably known someone else that was on the psychopathy spectrum, so he wasnt immediately judgmental. He didnt automatically give me the rundown of criminals, or what a lot of people assume psychopathy to be. He was able to actually talk to me about it. Once he explained it to me, it was: oh! Oh, all right. That makes sense. Lets talk about what people get wrong about psychopaths, in your view. Especially now, when theres this huge cultural true-crime obsession, I think we have this very particular understanding of what a psychopath means, and its almost universally someone whos very violent. Its actually not an unreasonable thing not because its true, but because of what theyre presented with. Most studies done on psychopaths are done [on men] in prison or in forensic hospitals, so everything youre going to hear is going to come from a criminal. Its always going to be painted against the backdrop of someone who has committed crimes. Theyre only out for themselves, they dont care about anyone else. If you interviewed any walk of people, and based their entire profile based on [the institutionalized] version of that person, like neurotypicals or autistic people, bipolar people, you get a very different picture than if you interviewed them in their general lives. There is also this mistaken thinking that all serial killers are psychopaths, which is just not even remotely true. Its just a myth that wont die. Theres a phrase: Not all psychopaths are serial killers, but all serial killers are psychopaths. Its just incorrect. But people hear this, and they associate [us with] serial killers. For some reason, people think we want to kill people. And I think that probably comes from the lack of empathy. People believe that if you have a lack of empathy, that automatically opens a floodgate of antisocial behavior. Thats not really how it works. I may not care, I may not have an emotional reaction to someones pain, but that doesnt mean that Im going out of my way to cause pain. It just means that I dont have that emotional response. In a day to day sense, or in your interpersonal relationships with people, is empathy or attempted empathy something youve had to teach yourself in order to relate to other people? How does that work? Well, we have cognitive empathy. So if your mother died, I can look at you, I can see that you are in pain. I may not feel the same pain, but I can understand you feel pain, and that series of behaviors usually warrants a certain response: comfort or interaction, engagement. And so its a matter of honing that over time, and also making sure that I can continually consider that my reaction to things is not how other people experience things. Which is hard, because you sort of go through life with the assumption that everybody experiences it like you do. Do you ever feel afraid? We dont feel fear. We get adrenal responses. When you have adrenaline responses to a car accident, or bungee jumping, or what have you, well still get that, but for us, we dont feel the fear, which can be obviously dangerous if youre a little kid, and you dont know youre supposed to be afraid of stuff. We dont process the emotion of fear. It doesnt occur to us. And we cant understand it, either. I mean, we get that you feel something, but we dont get it. How do you perceive it when you hear someone expressing their fear of mortality, or says theyre afraid to die someday? That always baffles me, because I cant comprehend why it matters. For me, life is very much in this immediate moment. This moment is all you have, and the fear of it going away is just nonsensical. This is a huge disconnect for me. People explain it in ways that they very much understand: theyre afraid of dying, theyre afraid of not being important, theyre afraid of being forgotten. And none of those things are important to me, so its sort of like saying Im afraid of not being the color blue. In your romantic relationship, does that present a challenge as far as talking about values, or knowing what to do when someone wants sympathy from you? Certainly. Ive been with my partner for 19 years, and hes been with me through the whole diagnostic process, and its definitely been a learning curve. Hes probably one of the most patient people you will ever meet on the planet. He reads people and he understands people on a level I simply dont. Through learning from him, I actually can apply that back to him, and understand what his needs are. Its always a conscious effort. I know that for a lot of people, their significant other is more important to them than themselves. They think of them first, that sort of thing. That will never be natural for me. I always have to make sure I am manually considering him. There are certainly things that I miss, and it requires me to have to do bimonthly maintenance. Am I hitting all the marks for you? Do I need to do anything differently? Where am I not fulfilling what you need? And usually hes like eh, its fine. To be honest, that sounds like a wise practice for most people. I think a lot of people take it for granted that the other person knows where theyre at. I agree with you. I call it cognitive love. And its investment. You have to make that investment, you have to make the time, you have to take the other person into consideration all the time. Its important. His needs are on the same level as mine which, if you knew me, you would know that thats very, very rare. When you say cognitive love, does that mean you dont feel that sort of romantic roller coaster feeling that other people describe to you? Well, no, I dont. Certainly attraction. I feel attraction, and hes very attractive. But psychopaths dont process oxytocin like neurotypicals do. What oxytocin contributes to in your brain is chemical love, so that feeling of a roller coaster. Bonding is another one we dont have. You bond to your significant other, you bond to your children, you bond to your pets. Theres also trust, which is a weird one, because I didnt know oxytocin had anything to do with trust. Most people feel trust as an actual emotion. I never knew that. To me, trust was always: You show me how youre going to behave, and I will determine whether or not I want you around. I always knew I didnt trust people, and I always had a disconnect, because I didnt know it was a chemical reaction for most people. I didnt have an explanation as to why I didnt trust people, but then I started digging into oxytocin. It made sense. A lot of people think of psychopaths as having a very flat emotional affect, and I know we havent talked for long, but thats not my impression of you. You obviously have a personality, and a distinctive way of speaking, and so I wonder what your experience is with that perception. People think we have no emotion, which is absolutely not true. We just feel them way turned down. If most people feel an emotion between seven and eight on a dial of ten, I feel it between zero and two. Negative emotions are background noise. We cant tune into that frequency because our brains just dont process enough information for them to ever be loud enough to feel or direct behavior. We enjoy things, get excited about things, like adrenaline thats great. I laugh with people, I enjoy intellectual discussions. A lower functioning psychopath probably wouldnt enjoy intellectual conversation. Theyd rather go and rob a liquor store. But thats why they spend most of their lives in prison. Do you feel at all that your psychopathy is an advantage to you? Do you feel lucky in any sense? No. Its not an advantage, because all neurotypes come with limitations, dont they? With psychopathy I constantly have to figure out people, and why they do what they do, and how to respond to them. Normal people have to deal with grief and loss and pain and heartbreak, but they also have things to make them happy. I think people are pretty wired the way theyre meant to be. I dont know that its necessarily an advantage or disadvantage, its just what you make of it. I could easily take psychopathy and make it a terribly negative thing for both me and the world, because I could make bad choices, and do terrible things. I could do that, but thats not who I have any interest in being. Anyone can make bad choices for themselves. Do you still see the doctor who diagnosed you, or do you sort of have any regular treatment that you do? Its completely self managed at this point. Theres really nothing to manage. I learn about it by reading studies. I havent spoken to [that doctor] since back when I got the diagnosis. It was pretty much, Thank you very much, and that was the end of that. We never spoke again. And you dont take any medication for it, right? No. Its just a variant brain structure. And actually we respond very differently to medications as well, because our chemistry is different, so you can expect strange medication reactions. Ive been dealing with that. Whenever a doctor prescribes the medication, I can pretty well expect it to not work as intended. Does that apply to something as innocuous as a cold medication? Yeah. Sometimes cold medicines work for things like decongestants, but things like pain medication, Ive never experienced the high that other people get. I have no comprehension of why people enjoy opioids. We also cant get addicted to things because of the way our brain works. There are psychopaths that use drugs, but you can cut them off cold turkey and they will not have any withdrawal. They dont have any cravings, and they can just go on with their day like it was nothing. Thats another weird chemical processing. So we just lack certain normal cues that other people have. Online youre very out as far as being a psychopath but is it something that a lot of people in your personal life know? Or your family? No. They have no idea, and Im going to keep it that way. Do you have a relationship with your parents? Yeah. Theyre great people. They dont know. They had a really difficult child to raise in me, and Ive gotten older, and to them, Ive matured into the daughter that they always wanted. I dont really see a need to change their perceptions of things. They know me for what they need to know me for. Trying to explain psychopathy to people, especially older people, is really difficult. With a lot of diagnoses I think the assumption would be that the more information your parents or your family or whoever has, the better they will be able to understand you, but obviously you dont feel that way. Well, sure, but then youd have to have them dive into neurology, biology, understanding the wiring of the brain. And the word has so much negative stigma. Most of the time when you say psychopath, people immediately have a very specific reaction, and they shut down. They have absolutely no interest in hearing past evil, dangerous, killer, malicious, out to get you. The things people assume about psychopathy are crazy. Trying to explain that to someone when youre their daughter, and they think of you as someone they know, they love, they trust, thats going to upset their entire perception. And you may never get it back. Its a huge risk and not one I really have any interest in taking. When you meet new people, whether professionally or personally or whatever context, do you present them with the version of yourself that fits the situation? Absolutely. Why tell them anything that they dont need to know? They just need to know what they can expect of me. Do you think its something that people suspect about you? Or do you think peoples perceptions are so off that they wouldnt really know what psychopathy looks like? No. Psychopaths use what we call a mask. Its basically an entire affectation of being like everyone else. We learn at a really young age that if we respond to things the way that we naturally respond to things, people dont like that. So you just learn how to affect the behavior and how to appear like everyone else, and thats just what you have to do. Theres a very different version of me that goes out of the house and interacts with the world from the person whos home with people who know how I actually am. And even with the people who do know me, and do know how I actually am, there still has to be a mask. If somebodys spending time with me in a room, I wont give them the impression that theyre welcome. They might say something to me, and Ill answer them back, but Im not going to look at them, theres no feeling of being welcome. But to me, unless I tell you to leave, youre completely welcome. I have a friend who will feel like I resent her spending time with me. Shell be like, Im bothering you. Youre not bothering me. Why do you think youre bothering me? Shes like, Well, I just get the impression you dont want me here. Did I tell you to leave? No, but are we okay? Were fine! Youre fine. I have to make that connection. So if I dont do that, people feel like theres something profoundly lacking, and they feel uncomfortable. Its very disquieting to them. Does that friend know what your diagnosis is? Yes, she knows, and she tries very hard. She makes adjustments for me, I make adjustments for her. Thats the sort of mutual investment in the friendship. I think most people are so used to feeling like they have to be people pleasers, and that everyone else should be that for them, I can imagine why it would be unsettling to be around someone who, while theyre maybe not doing you any harm, theyre not going out of their way to practice those social pleasantries, either. Exactly. And if I was completely mask off, and something tragic happened to them, if she was lost a parental figure and came to tell me about it, I would just look at her with a flat look of, Okay. It wouldnt be Are you okay? What can I do for you? It would just be, Alright. And thats not a good response to have when someones having a grieving process. You have to engage. I learned very early on that there are responses that are required for people to not be very uncomfortable. Is that something that gets easier with time, or is it something youre always working on? No. Its always, always, always a pain in the butt. Youve said you get a lot of death threats online when you post about your experiences as a psychopathic in forums. Why do you think some people respond that way to you? Do you have any idea? I think it comes from a visceral fear of the unknown, or fear of evil. Hollywood has desperately pushed this narrative of psychopathy. And when youre taking away the villain, which is really what psychopaths are in movies, people get very upset about it. I dont know if youve seen sites like Love Fraud or Psychopath Free, on and on and on, but there are all these sites where people go when theyre convinced their ex is a psychopath, when really their ex was just a toxic, awful person. There are millions of those, and theyre everywhere, and they come from every neurotype. Is there anything that you feel that I left out, that you would like to add? Its a lot more complex than people realize. I think its important to hold people responsible for their actions, not brain formation. People make choices. Psychopathy is not an excuse, and its definitely not a reason why someone does bad things. People do bad things because they make bad choices. So instead of looking at psychopathy as this constellation of things that represent evil, just look at it as a different way of experiencing the world, and what a person chooses to do with that is on that person. Weiss said his pricing is simple and affordable so customers always know what to expect. He charges $25 for the first hour, and minimum of one hour is charged. For each additional hour, the cost is $20, which will be billed in 15-minute increments. Single-use plastic shopping bags will be phased out over the next year, the Government has announced. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage made the announcement on Friday, proposing a six-month phase-out period. The move will help look after the environment and safeguard New Zealand's clean, green reputation, Ms Ardern says. "We're listening to New Zealanders who want us to take action on this problem. This year 65,000 Kiwis signed a petition calling for an outright ban." It is the biggest single subject schoolchildren write to Ms Ardern about, she says. Each year hundreds of millions of single-use plastic bag end up polluting our precious coastal and marine environment causing serious harm to the environment, she says. "We need to be far smarter in the way we manage waste and this is a good start. "We are a Government determined to face up to New Zealand's environmental challenges. Just like climate change, we're taking meaningful steps to reduce plastics pollution so we don't pass this problem to future generations," Ms Ardern says. Ms Sage was confident New Zealanders would embrace the change. "Public calls for action have encouraged a significant number of retailers, including supermarkets, to move on single-use plastic bags. We want to support their efforts by ensuring the retail industry moves together in a fair and effective way." The Government wants to hear from New Zealanders as to how they can best implement the change. They plan to work alongside supermarkets and other retailers to help people make the change to reusable bags. People have until Friday September 14 to make a submission. How to make a submission You can make a submission in these ways. Use the online submission tool, available at www.mfe.govt.nz/consultation/plasticshoppingbags Download a copy of the submission form to complete and return to the Government. This is available at www.mfe.govt.nz/consultation/plasticshoppingbags. If you do not have access to a computer, a copy of the submission form can be posted to you. Send a written submission to: Proposed Mandatory Phase Out of Single-use Plastic Shopping Bags, Ministry for the Environment, PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143. Include your name or organisation, your postal address, your telephone number and your email address. Email a submission to plasticshoppingbags.submissions@mfe.govt.nz as a PDF or Word document. SOURCE: Newshub. We're over here barely managing to keep our lives together, meanwhile this CAT is in line to get a degree from university. Yes, you read that right. Rolf the cat has taken up permanent residence at Warwick University in the UK, making an almost kilomete long journey each day to get there. His owner, Helen, said Rolf first started disappearing for four to five days at a time, and she didn't know if he was still alive. Helen kept receiving calls from different departments of the university saying they had her cat, and that he wouldn't stay away. "He invades classes regularly and on one occasion invaded a class about the roles of animals in Shakespeare, meowing loudly. He is friends with the security team at the university and they bring him home all the time. We have learned a lot about cats who roam and he is unusual" Helen says. He can travel up to 3km a day, when most domestic cats rarely wander beyond 200m, and he's gotten good at finding his way into buildings he shouldn't. "He knows how to get into the Oculus building through a revolving door and goes up seven stories in the lift. Students know him well. If they live on the ground floor and leave their bedroom windows open they will sometimes go in and find him asleep on their bed." Helen worries Rolf annoys people but is constantly reassured people love him. He even has a major following on Twitter, and people are campaigning to have him given an honourary degree to the university. Go Rolf, we reckon you deserve it! $177 Million Award to Shoreline Project, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Officials Present The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center held an event on August 10 in light of a $177 million award to the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project. Senator Dianne Feinstein joined Linda J. LeZotte, vice chair of the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors, to celebrate the funding award. Back in 2016, the federal government was in talks regarding a decision on whether or not to fund the Shoreline Project. Recently, the decision to award $177 million to the project was approved. The federal government believed enough to front-load this effort. The Army Corps of Engineers is diligent and very good at what they do, and that will be beginning. And assembled in all nine counties is very strong support, said Feinstein. The $177 million award is set to fund the restoration and preservation of the salt marshes in Alviso. The project will also involve building levees in the area. The federal government award will help with the funds necessary to move forward with the project construction phase. The federal government will contribute approximately $74 million to the $177 million project. The state of California will contribute $58 million and the Santa Clara Valley Water Districts share is about $45 million. The water district and state will reimburse the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their share of the project cost. This upfront funding should reduce time spent on securing funds, allowing the construction to move forward earlier. Construction is moving forward with a dike or levee system that will protect the local infrastructure here. We anticipate that being the summer of 2019, said Lieutenant Colonel Travis Rayfield, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The next step of the project is to move forward with the groundbreaking and levee construction. According to Rayfield, the project still has a few agreements before the construction can begin. Currently, the planning arrangement is looking at a five-year construction period. Due to the erosion of the salt marshes, the area around Alviso is below sea level. Feinstein explained that this could potentially put the area in danger of flooding caused by rising sea levels and the melting of large glaciers. The currently existing berms act as de facto levees, so the project is looking to engineer a levee system to restore the ecosystem and the recreational trail system. According to the California State Coastal Conservancy, after the levees are finished building, nature will be allowed to take over for rebuilding the ecosystem. The South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project is said to be the largest restoration project west of the Mississippi River. For more information on the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project, visit their website here. After Driver Kills Himself During Traffic Stop, Another Body Found in Trunk A man pulled over by police in Maine on Aug. 9 shot and killed himself, officers said. The man was pulled over after driving erratically on Interstate 295 in Gardiner. After stopping his vehicle he got out and shot himself, Maine State Police said. Police officers investigating the scene found a dead body in the trunk of the car; both bodies were taken to the State Medical Examiners Office in Augusta for autopsies. The vehicle had Massachusetts license plates, according to video footage of the vehicle being removed from the scene. Officials said the investigation is ongoing and that there is no threat to the public. From NTD.tv FILE PHOTO: EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt testifies before a Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the proposed budget estimates and justification for FY2019 for the Environmental Protection Agency on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Al Drago/File Photo Appeals Court Orders EPA to Ban Pesticide Said to Harm Children A divided federal appeals court on Thursday ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban a widely-used pesticide that critics say can endanger children and farmers. The 2-1 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle overturned former EPA administrator Scott Pruitts March 2017 denial of a petition by environmental groups to halt the use of chlorpyrifos on food crops such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Pruitts ruling, one of many by the administration to reduce federal regulatory oversight, had reversed a 2015 Obama administration recommendation to extend to food a 2000 ban on chlorpyrifos that covered most household settings. Writing for the Seattle-based appeals court, Judge Jed Rakoff directed the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos within 60 days, saying the agency failed to counteract scientific evidence that its residue on food causes neurodevelopmental damage to children. Rakoff also faulted the EPA for going against its own 2016 risk assessment for the pesticide, largely ignoring and then temporizing in its response to the petition, and wrongly declaring that the court had no business deciding the matter. If Congresss statutory mandates are to mean anything, the time has come to put a stop to this patent evasion, wrote Rakoff, who normally sits on the federal district court in Manhattan. Circuit Judge Ferdinand Fernandez dissented from Thursdays decision, saying the court lacked jurisdiction, though its discussion of the petitions merits had some persuasive value. In issuing his order, Pruitt had said the EPA needed to provide regulatory certainty to the thousands of American farms that use chlorpyrifos, while protecting peoples health and the environment. By reversing the previous administrations steps to ban one of the most widely used pesticides in the world, we are returning to using sound science in decision making rather than predetermined results, Pruitt had said. EPA spokesman Michael Abboud said on Thursday that data underlying the courts assumptions remains inaccessible and has hindered the agencys ongoing process to fully evaluate the pesticide using the best available transparent science. AtelierGK Firenze: Books Bound by Tradition Preserving 'our human heritage,' book by book FLORENCE, ITALYWalking through the heart of Florences historic quarter, up the narrow street of Borgo San Frediano renowned for its artisans, you will find AtelierGK Firenze (Atelier Giannini and Kuwata of Florence), the workshop of bookbinder Lapo Giannini and paper and book conservator Michiko Kuwata. Bookbinding runs through Gianninis bloodline: As a sixth-generation Florentine bookbinder, hes been working at his trade for some 25 years. Tokyo-born Kuwata has been conserving books for over 16 years in Florence, her adopted home. Together they set up shop eight years ago, but their customers mainly come from outside of Italy, from places such as New York and San Francisco in the United States, the UK, and France. Keeping to the spirit of historic bookbinding, 19th-century wooden presses are put to work, along with manual machines such as steel guillotines and large metal presses from the more recent 1960s. Enter the shop and you are more likely to hear the soft sound of paper being torn or cut to size with small hand tools than the harsh whir of an engine. AtelierGK specializes primarily in bookbinding and book conservation, but Giannini and Kuwata also extend their traditional bookbinding skills to create custom-made luxury desktop objects: leather pen pots, letter racks, and desktop leather boxes, some topped with brass animals and lined with marble paper or suede; and for the tourists, ready-to-buy books that are machine-bound offsite but covered in-store with Florentine handmade paper. Its a fine balance for many traditional craftspeoplehow to effectively diversify in their business to stay afloat, without diluting their craft. Giannini and Kuwata share how they have chosen to concentrate on preserving traditional bookbinding. The Epoch Times: Why do you think it is important to keep the tradition of bookbinding alive? Lapo Giannini: Its part of our history and our culture, not only in my family but also all over the world. I think that bookbinding, papermaking, and printing are our human heritage. Michiko Kuwata: When I studied the history of bookbinding, it was almost like the main part of human history was inside the story of papermaking, the story of printing, the history of letter writing, and the history of decorated paper. I think because this is our human history, our human heritage, then it has to be preserved. The Epoch Times: How did you get into this traditional craft? Ms. Kuwata: First, I studied in the field of restoration. But to restore books, I obviously had to know how to make a new one. So I started to study the history of bookbinding and printing on my own, and then here in Florence I studied at a private school of fine art restoration, and then worked at the conservation department of the National Central Library of Florence. When I finished work in the national library, I restored books in a private studio for two years until the owner decided to close due to the economic slowdown. I found another job, and Lapo was one of the owners of the workshop. Id always wanted to start my own business, so when he decided to establish his own company, we decided to start one together. Mr. Giannini: My family established themselves as bookbinders in 1856, so from childhood Ive grown up around the bottega, where the master works in his workshop and students watch and learn by apprenticeship. First, I learned bookbinding from my family, and then I went to Ascona, in Switzerland, to the international bookbinding school. In Italy, there are no artistic bookbinding competitions, so if we want to compete, we have to go overseas, outside of Italy, to England or France. Actually, the bookbinding tradition in Italy is not exactly protected, but it is respected in Switzerland, France, England, and maybe in the U.S. The reason is that here this field is considered to be only for tourism. Actually, not only in our field but also in other artistic fields, Italian people have lost a lot of their appreciation for craftsmanship. Artisans here also dont seem to do research anymore, dont innovate anymore; they make, buy, or sell things that tourists buy. So its always things like Pinocchio or Michelangelos David in yellow, green, or pink, all made in China. Theres no more originality or personality. In Italy, when people talk about artisans, many people think of Sunday markets, something childish, or something easy to buy, simple, and cheap. But its not. We often use this example: When cooking, there are many levels of chefs; some work in McDonalds, and some work in three-star Michelin restaurants. Its the same in our field, or in an artists field. The Epoch Times: Whats involved in binding a book? Ms. Kuwata: Its a long process, so its not easy to explain. Centuries ago, before the Industrial Revolution, books were simply printed and folded and then available in the library or bookshop. After reading, the buyer could then take the book to be bound by the bookbinder. After the Industrial Revolution, books were available as we now know them. Mr. Giannini: Not all bookbinders know all the techniques we use. In particular, its difficult to explain, or to be understood, when we talk about making something more complex in bookbinding because there is a lot of research involved, many hours of work, and many materials, and so the price is more expensive. The Epoch Times: Can you talk us through an example of your bookbinding? Mr. Giannini: This book that I made in Switzerland in 1997 is an example of artistic bookbinding. The book cover is normally identified by the binders stamp on the inside of the cover. This book isnt stamped, as it was a competition entry so needed to be anonymous. In this example, a German typographer printed the text using a Gutenberg movable-type technique, a Renaissance invention which involves composing the text letter by letter. Thats why the text is printed on high-quality paper, so it can be conserved for centuries. The paper is cut by hand. Collectors prefer to leave at least two sides of the book with irregular page edges; the top edge is always cut with a guillotine as it gets soiled easily. The way the book is bound is quite a difficult technique as the cord goes inside the cardboard cover, which makes it stable and durable. The book took four weeks to make: two weeks to hand bind and make the cover without any decoration, and then another two weeks to decorate. This is without considering the research, design, and the printing of the text. The Epoch Times: What materials do you use and where do you source them from? Ms. Kuwata: Printing is another profession, so all our printed paper is supplied by the oldest typographers in Florence, just on the outskirts of Florence. They were established in 1901. The marble paper, we make. Many people think that marble paper was invented in Florence, but thats not true. It was probably invented in China, and then Japan more than 1,000 years ago. For our book covers and desk objects, we use two types of naturally tanned leather. We mainly use Tuscan calfskin leather or suede, and we use English goatskin if the client requests it. Also, because we are in Florence, Tuscan leather is our traditional material. In Italy, we can find good-quality leathers but not for bookbinding. Those leathers are more for bags, jackets, shoes, clothes, and sofas. Leather for fashion or for interior design is treated with chemicals and waxed to make the material stain resistant. In artistic bookbinding for competitions or for the book collectors, we use goatskin, which is durable, elastic, and a better quality. As we cant find this quality in Italy, the goatskin comes from England. The prices are totally different: English goatskin is more than three times the price of Tuscan calfskin. The Epoch Times: What notable book have you restored? Ms. Kuwata: A book collector gave me Metamorfosi, the Metamorphoses by Ovid, to restore. Its a collection of transformation myths chronicling world history up until Ovids time. It was a very important restoration project because it is a little tiny, tiny book published in Venice in 1572, so its very rare. Restoring a book is a long process, along with some professional secrets, so I cannot tell you everything. But we first disassemble the book, then clean everything page by page, and then restore page by page. Depending on the type of book, it can take anywhere from two weeks to several months. This one took more than one month working on it all day, every day. Everyone asks me, What kind of book is it? What story is it? Before I do the restoration, I do some research on the book. But when I actually restore it, I dont read it because it slows me down; so I concentrate on the damage, not the text. The Epoch Times: What do you want people to know about craftsmanship? Mr. Giannini: We are all different; there are so many levels. So its like bespoke shoes or bespoke clothes: If you want something made for you, it has its cost. Actually, before the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, everything was made by hand. Everything was bespoke or custom-made, and it was not cheap either. I dont think it was cheap. Many times, people dont have the time or interest to understand this, but if people come inside and somebody is interested and asks us questions, we explain it. Ms. Kuwata: Many people like everything ready-made, or if they want something custom-made, people want it immediately. Its difficult to make people understand that to have something unique, or something made only for you, that you need to wait a little bitnot a whole year, but some days or weeks. Ms. Kuwata acted as Mr. Gianninis translator from Italian to English. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Man Arrested at New Mexico Compound Is Son of Prominent Imam in Brooklyn The father of the man whos accused of training children in New Mexico to commit school shootings is a prominent Brooklyn imam. Siraj Wahhaj, 68, has not only been a major figure in multiple national Muslim organizations, but was also linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. His son, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 39, was arrested Aug. 3 after Taos County Sheriffs Office raided a makeshift compound in the Amalia community. Four other adults and 11 children were found at the compoundall relatives of the imamincluding his daughters, Hujrah, 38, and Subhanah, 35; son-in-law, Luqman Morton; and daughter-in-law, Maryam (Jany) Leveille, 35. We had learned the occupants were most likely heavily armed and considered extremist of the Muslim belief, Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said in a release. Siraj Ibn Wahhaj was armed with an AR-15 rifle, five 30-round magazines, and four loaded pistols, including one in his pocket when he was taken down, the release stated. Many more rounds of ammo were found in the makeshift compound that consists of a small travel trailer buried in the ground covered by plastic with no water, plumbing, or electricity. All five adults were arrested and charged with 11 counts of child neglect. The children, who range in age from 1 to 15, were taken into protective custody and turned over to the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department. The authorities targeted the compound in search of Siraj Ibns disabled 3-year-old son, Abdul-Ghani, whom he allegedly kidnapped from the childs mother, Hakima Ramzi, in East Point, Georgia, on Dec. 1. The father said he was taking the boy to a park, but never returned, according to Naeemah Rashid Wahhaj, the imams daughter-in-law, who raised awareness about the search for the boy on Facebook. Both Siraj Ibn and Leveille disappeared together with their children, leaving cars in the driveway and house in tact, she wrote in a Jan. 7 comment. Family at a Loss If any of you know Hujrah, Subhanah, and Ibn Siraj, they are very close to their parents, she wrote. Not one of them have contacted their father or mother in over a month! On Jan. 8, the boys mother pleaded for help with the search in a Facebook video. She also expressed puzzlement regarding her husbands behavior. I have been married with Ibn for 15 years now. It is not him. Thats not Ibn. Hes never abused me. He never treat me bad, she said. Authorities said the father, at some point, told his wife he wanted to perform an exorcism on the boy, who cannot walk and requires constant care because of a lack of oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth. The remains of a child were found at the compound on Aug. 6. While relatives believe the remains are those of the missing boy, authorities havent yet announced a positive identification. Prosecutors say Siraj Ibn was conducting weapons training at the compound, readying the children for school shootings. The imam said he didnt understand why his son had taken the family and disappeared into the desert, but suggested a psychiatric disorder was to blame. My son can be maybe a little bit extreme, he said, though he added that he never thought he was extreme enough to kill anyone. Siraj Wahhaj leads the Muslim Alliance in North America and was also the former vice-president of the Islamic Society of North America. Hes expressed opposition to extremism. Yet, his mosque has attracted radicals over the years, including a man who later had a role in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City. Wahhaj has espoused support for radical Muslim causes and was an unindicted co-conspirator in the [bombing], according to a 2011 training material for new FBI agents. He reportedly expressed a preference for an Islamic state over the American constitutional republic and also appeared as a defense witness at the trial of the Blind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted in 1995 of plotting terrorist attacks in the United States. Siraj Wahhaj didnt respond to requests for comment. Naeemah Rashid Wahhaj said in a Facebook message that the family was not ready to talk and didnt wish for her or anyone to talk either. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Correction: The article has been updated to correct the spelling of the name of Jany (Maryam) Leveille. Watch Next: Accused Florida Shooters Neighbors Sensed Something Amiss with Cruz from a Young Age Mr. Bean Backs Boris on the Burka Comedian Rowan Atkinson said Boris Johnson should not apologize for saying the burka looked like a letterbox Rowan Atkinson, the comedian who played the iconic Mr. Bean, said that prominent UK politician Boris Johnson shouldnt apologize for his joke about the burka, the face-covering attire worn by some Muslim women. Johnson had been under fire for days over an article in which he criticized the recent ban on the burka in Denmark, but also added some critical remarks about the face-covering, including that it made women look like a letterbox. Atkinson, one of Britains best-known comedians, who starred in Jonny English and Blackadder, said in a letter to the Times that all jokes about religion cause offence, so its pointless apologising for them. Johnson, who is considered the favorite to replace Prime Minister Theresa May as Conservative Party leader, has been accused of stoking Islamophobia by some members of his own party. He is currently facing investigation for potentially breaking his partys code of conduct with the remarks. But Atkinson described the joke as an almost perfect visual simile. Writing to the Times, he said, Sir, As a lifelong beneficiary of the freedom to make jokes about religion, I do think that Boris Johnsons joke about wearers of the burka resembling letterboxes is a pretty good one. You should really only apologise for a bad joke. On that basis, no apology is required. Uniform of Medieval Patriarchal Tyranny The burka and niqab are banned in France, Belgium, Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, and some parts of Germany. Denmarks ban was enacted Aug. 2, with a 28-year-old woman already having been arrested for breaching the new law. Johnson said he supports a ban in limited circumstances, but that a total ban would play into the hands of those who want to politicize and dramatize the so-called clash of civilizations. Some Muslim organizations and leaders have criticised Johnson for his remarks as racist or islamophobic. But with full-face veils already a controversial issue within the Muslim community itself, other Muslims support Johnsons remarks. Only a very small proportion of Muslims wear the burka or niqabless than one percent, according to Dr. Omar Khan, director at the Runnymede Trust, a think tank that deals with race equality. Estimates range from 3,000 to 14,000. (The UK population is around 65 million). Reformed Islamic extremist Maajid Nawaz, who once founded an Islamic extremist organization, described the burka as a uniform of medieval patriarchal tyranny that victim-blames women for their beauty. Im not advocating banning this monstrosity, but I refuse to defend it, he wrote on Twitter. It deserves to be ridiculed. To some analysts, Johnsons articleand the particular choice of wordswas a finger in the wind by a would-be prime minister, with opinion polls already suggesting that the majority of Brits would support a ban on the wearing of the burka. Apple, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Supporters of Johnson have said that the flood of criticism was a witch hunt from inside and outside the party, driven by those who are nervous about him as a potential leader. Johnson hasnt spoken on the issue since the article was published on Aug. 5, but aides are reported to have said he has no intention of bowing to calls to apologize. Complaints within the Conservative Party triggered an investigation into whether he broke the Partys code, according to a party source, Reuters reported on Aug. 9. Johnson recently resigned from his position as foreign minister over the governments soft stance on Brexitin doing so, staking out a position to the right of the prime minister and escaping the proverbial straight jacket of his ministerial role. A poll on Aug. 1 by Conservative Home gave him a 10-point lead over rivals to replace May as party leader. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary in Washington on July 12, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) House Committee to Interview Bruce Ohr and Wife, Nellie Ohr, About Steele Dossier The House Judiciary Committee is looking to interviewand will subpoena if necessaryJustice Department (DOJ) official Bruce Ohr and his wife, Nellie Ohr, along with several current and former FBI and DOJ officials. We plan to interview the people noted in the coming weeks and we will issue subpoenas to compel their attendance if necessary, a committee aide wrote in an email to The Epoch Times. The DOJ confirmed that the committee reached out to them in regard to the interviews. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte could issue orders as early as the coming week, according to the Hill. Goodlattes committee is part of a joint investigation with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee into decisions made by the FBI and the DOJ during the 2016 election. The committees interview requests come on the heels of revelations that Bruce Ohr maintained contact with former British spy Christopher Steele for more than a year after the FBI terminated ties with Steele for leaking to the media. Ohr then became Steeles back-door conduit for feeding information to the FBI. Ohr also attempted to reinstate Steele with the bureau and link him into special counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe. The pair remained in contact until mid-November 2017. The revelations are problematic because Ohr has no official role in the Russia investigation and Steele had been prohibited from collecting intelligence on behalf of the FBI. The problem is compounded by the fact that Ohrs wife, Nellie Ohr, worked for the same opposition research firm as Steele, Fusion GPS. Steele authored the opposition research dossier on then-candidate Donald Trump that was used to secure a warrant to spy on former Trump campaign volunteer Carter Page. Many of the dossiers claims have been debunked while the rest remain unverified. It was the Hillary Clinton Campaign and the Democratic National Committee that ultimately paid for Steeles work. FBI and DOJ officials who used the dossier to apply for a secret court surveillance warrant on Page failed to mention that fact to the judge. Ohr met with FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page shortly after meeting Steele in late November 2016. Strzok, Page, and Steele were found to be strongly biased against Trump. Congressional investigators have reviewed text messages that show Steele and Strzok were willing to take action to stop Trump from becoming president. The messages show Strzok musing about impeaching Trump days after joining special counsel Muellers team. The committee is also looking to interview current and former FBI and DOJ officials James Baker, Sally Moyer, Jonathan Moffa, and George Toscas. In January, Goodlatte reached a deal with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to interview a number of DOJ and FBI officials, including Ohr, Baker, Moyer, Strzok, Page, FBI assistant directors Gregory Brower and Bill Priestap, and FBI special agent James Rybicki. Since then, only Page, Priestap, and Strzok are publicly known to have testified. Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes referred several of the above officials to Goodlatte in a letter in late June. Baker, Brower, Page, and Rybicky have resigned from the FBI. When we got toward the finish line, you cant quite tell where it is, Bearrows added. Once we heard the cannon go off, everyone let out a cheer. It was a relief. It definitely was a unique experience. I was able to help with a little bit of everything. Its definitely something Id want to do again. Montados de Anchoas: Salt-Cured Anchovies and Eggplant on Toast Montados de Anchoas: Salt-Cured Anchovies and Eggplant on Toast In northern Spain, anchovies are often salt-cured and preserved in olive oil, resulting in mild and meaty fillets. Look for our favorite Don Bocarte anchovies from Cantabria to use in this recipe. In this pairing, the smoky creaminess of eggplant blackened over fire is the perfect counterpoint to the savory anchovies. Tangy labneh consummates that marriage beautifully in this summery two-bite montado. Since youve got the grill going anyway, toast the bread on the grate for an extra bit of smokiness. Makes 6 Prep 20 minutes Total 30 minutes 1 Japanese eggplant, or small ordinary eggplant 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar 6 Olive Oil Toasts 6 teaspoons labneh 12 salt-cured anchovies 12 basil leaves Kosher salt and freshly ground Black pepper Heat a charcoal grill to high. Alternatively you can use a burner on a gas range, turned to high, with a rack placed over it. Set the eggplant on the grate over the hot flame. Cook, turning occasionally, until the skin is really black all around and the flesh is bubbling and collapsed, about 812 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board. When the eggplant is cool enough to handle, discard the top, then peel off the skin. Cut the flesh in half crosswise, then cut each half into thirds lengthwise. Transfer to a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with the oil and vinegar. Gently mix, keeping the pieces intact. For each montado, spread 1 teaspoon labneh on the toast, then arrange 1 eggplant piece and 2 anchovies on top. Top with a couple of basil leaves and serve immediately. Montados: Olive Oil Toasts Every night, the cobblestoned streets of the Basque culinary capital, San Sebastian, fill with hungry people on a slow crawl from tapas bar to tapas bar. The counters in those bars are piled high with montados, small toasts topped with every imaginable ingredient. Built to tempt patrons into having just one more drink, these colorful toasts are easy to make and essential to your tapas spread. Montados are incredibly versatile and its fun to come up with interesting combinations in your own kitchen. Even your grandmas potato salad can become a tapa when served on our bite-sized olive oil toasts and dusted with some smoky pimenton. You dont need a lot to compile a provocative pairing. Just get a balance of salty, creamy, and bright. All our montados start with toasts. Theyre incredibly easy to make and can be prepared up to a few hours ahead of time. As long as you start with good bread (it can even be day-old), youll end up with good toasts. Serves as many as you like 1 or more baguettes Extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt Preheat the oven to 450F. Cut a baguette into 1/2-inch slices and place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt and drizzle with the oil. Bake until golden brown and crisp around the edges but still soft in the centers, about 3 minutes. Dont overbake them or theyll end up tough. You can use the toasts immediately or cool them to warm or room temperature. From Boqueria: A Cookbook, From Barcelona to New York by Marc Vidal & Yann de Rochefort with Zack Bezunartea. Used by permission of Bloomsbury/Absolute Press. Ontarios 1998 sex-ed curriculum a good foundation I agree with Ontario Premier Doug Fords decision to get rid of the 2015 sex-education curriculum. I think the 1998 version is a good foundation but needs to have careful layers added. I think scientific names for body parts and accurate information on body development and reproduction are appropriate, but it is neither the school nor the provinces business to teach my child about relationships, wet dreams, anal intercourse, masturbation, or a personal plan for sexual activity. That is the parents job. Teaching values is the parents job as well. As for Benjamin Levin, enough said. Cathy Davis Brockville, Ontario Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Pence Urges Congress to Establish Space Force as Threats Mount Vice President Mike Pence urged Congress to establish a sixth branch of the military dedicated to space in a speech that outlined the emerging threat of American adversaries turning space into a warfighting domain. Pences speech at the Pentagon on Aug. 9 coincided with the release of a Department of Defense report to Congress on the steps necessary to create such a force, since the power to create a new branch independent of the five existing forces lies with Congress. The report and Pences speech mark a major development in the White Houses effort to convince Congress to create and fund the new military branch. The vice president said the Trump administration is already working with Congress toward a bill and named two Democrats and two Republicans in the House of Representatives to guide the effort: Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), and Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.). The Trump administration will ask Congress for funding for the branch in February. The United States will strengthen our security, will ensure our prosperity, and it will also carry American ideals into the boundless expanse of space, Pence said. Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have spent years developing technologies to disrupt, jam, and blind American satellites that serve as the eyes and ears of the U.S. armed forces around the world. While China launched a missile in 2007 that tracked and destroyed one of its own satellites, Russia claims to have tested aircraft-deployed missiles that can take down satellites. Both nations have conducted sophisticated in-orbit satellite activities that can maneuver their space assets into close proximity to American space systems. Moscow and Beijing are investing heavily in hypersonic missile technology that can evade existing missile-defense radars, and China claims to have conducted a successful test in early July. Beijing has already created a separate entity dedicated to militarizing space. As their actions make clear, our adversaries have transformed space into a warfighting domain already and the United States will not shrink from this challenge, Pence said. The president had cast a spotlight on the need to reinvigorate Americas space program since the first day of his presidency. At his inauguration, Trump said that America stands at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space. Trump followed through on that vision by reviving the National Space Council in 2017, an entity that lay dormant for nearly a quarter-century. In the past year, the president issued three space-policy directives to reorient the space program toward human exploration, empower Americas private space enterprises, and safeguard space assets with a new policy for space traffic management. In March this year, the president outlined his national space strategy, charting a comprehensive governmental approach to maintain U.S. leadership in space. As President Trump has said, in his words, It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space, we must have an American dominance in space. And so we will, Pence said. We have got to adapt to that reality. The creation of a separate military branch does not mean that the United States is starting in the space domain from scratch. Tens of thousands of military personnel, civilians, and contractors already operate and support U.S. space systems. Washington is also an undisputed leader in space, having amassed the largest fleet of satellites in the world over the course of six decades. The U.S. military is already developing the next generation of jam-resistant satellites and missile warning satellites that are smaller, tougher, and more maneuverable. But adversaries are catching up, and these steps are only the beginning of a strategy to address the emerging threat. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats has warned that China and Russia are developing anti-satellite technology that could be operational in a matter of years. The Trump administration is seeking $8 billion in funding for space security systems over the next five years. We have to be able to compete, to deter, and to win, said Defense Secretary Jim Mattis while introducing Pence at the Pentagon on Aug. 9. Space is yet another frontier where the United States will seek peace through strength, Pence told the crowd at the Pentagon. The Department of Defense report lays out four major steps necessary to create the space force. The report suggests establishing a Space Command, a Space Operations Force, a Space Development Agency, and an executive branch position of assistant secretary of defense for space. The Space Command would be a unified center for coordinating, evolving, improving, and planning space warfighting. The Space Operations Force would be an organization for space professionals dedicated to advancing Americas space dominance. And the Space Development Agency would be tasked with developing new technologies for space security. The Air Force is the youngest branch of the U.S. military; it was established in 1947 after World War II. Remains Found at New Mexico Compound Are of Missing Boy, Grandfather Says The grandfather of disabled Georgia boy whose missing case triggered a search of a New Mexico compoundwhere authorities found 11 children and arrested five peoplesaid that the remains found on the property are those of the boy, CBS News reported. Officials have not yet identified the remains that were found this week. Child remains recovered from father who wanted to perform exorcism https://t.co/k56yHfGS1s DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) August 9, 2018 The boy, Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, would have turned 4 years old on Aug. 6, and officials allege that he was taken from his mother in Georgia last year. On the compound, in rural Taos County, 11 hungry children kept in filthy and squalid conditions were discovered. The compound consisted of a trailer partially buried in the ground surrounded by tires, pallets, and an earth-made wall. Authorities have released the mugshots of all five suspects arrested at a northern New Mexico compound. #NewMexico Story here: https://t.co/WMM38VesAq pic.twitter.com/60IFcP7V2V KOB 4 (@KOB4) August 6, 2018 The boys grandfather, Siraj Wahhaj, a Muslim cleric in New York City, told CBS News that he thinks that the remains are of his grandsons. Family members, he said, told him the information, but he didnt know the cause of death. Whoever is responsible, then that person should be held accountable, Wahhaj said. The boys father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, who is the imams son, was suspected of kidnapping the child. He was found heavily armed when he was found on the compound. Reports indicated that he wanted to perform an exorcism on the boy. The elder Wahhaj said that the 11 children found on the property were his biological grandchildren or members of his family via marriage. My son can be maybe a little bit extreme Im very concerned with the condition of my grandchildren, he said, adding that he does not understand why his son disappeared into the desert with the children. He suggested that his son has psychiatric problems. My son can be maybe a little bit extreme, he told CBS. High-strung, he said. We had learned the occupants were most likely heavily armed and considered extremist of the Muslim belief, stated Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe in a release earlier this week. The elder Wahhajs mosque has drawn radicals in the past, including the man who tried to bomb the World Trade Center in 1993. Wahhaj has espoused support for radical Muslim causes and was an unindicted co-conspirator in the [bombing], states a 2011 training material for new FBI agents. He reportedly expressed a preference for an Islamic state over the American constitutional republic and also appeared as a defense witness at the trial of the Blind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted in 1995 of plotting terrorist attacks in the United States. The elder Wahhaj didnt respond to requests for comment. Naeemah Rashid Wahhaj said in a Facebook message that the family was not ready to talk and didnt wish for her or anyone to talk either. Court records, meanwhile, revealed that the younger Wahhaj may have been training the children to commit school shootings. Authorities said during the raid on Aug. 3, that they had found the father armed with multiple firearms, including an assault rifle. They also said they believed there was a shooting range on the site. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint press conference with US President after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. (YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images) Russia Responds to New US Sanctions Over Chemical Attack The Kremlin on Aug. 9 responded to new U.S. sanctions accusing it of conducting an illegal chemical attack, calling them unacceptable. The sanctions, announced by the U.S. State Department on Aug. 8, followed the reported use of the nerve agent novichok by Russia in an attempt to assassinate UK citizen Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal. The department accused Russia of violating the international law through its use of the lethal chemical weapon. The nerve agent was found on the front door of Skripals home. Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin considers the new sanctions categorically unacceptable and illegal, while adding that Russia still retains hopes of building constructive relations with Washington. The Kremlin also denied all accusations that it was involved in the chemical poisoning attack. Once again we deny in the strongest terms the accusations about the possible connection of the Russian state to what happened in Salisbury. This is out of the question. Russia did not and does not have, and could not have, any connection to the use of chemical weapons, Peskov said. The U.S. sanctions are expected to take effect on or around Aug. 22, following a 15-day congressional notification period. The sanctions will cover sensitive national security goods, a senior State Department official told reporters on a conference call. The official said a second batch of more draconian sanctions would be imposed after 90 days unless Russia gives reliable assurances that it will no longer use chemical weapons and allow on-site inspections by the United Nations. If those criteria are not met, it is up to Russia to make that decision, a second round of sanctions will [have] to be imposed, the official said. They are in general more draconian than the first round. In April 2018, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on seven of Russias richest oligarchs as well as 17 top government officials, to put pressure on President Vladimir Putins inner circle. Ryanair Strike: Hundreds of Flights Canceled During Peak Holiday Season A walkout by pilots in five European countries on Friday, Aug. 10, has forced budget airline Ryanair to cancel almost 400 flights, affecting about 55,000 passengers. The 24-hour strike involve pilots in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands, who are striking in response to pay and conditions. In recent days, Ryanair announced the cancellation of 250 flights in and out of Germany, 104 to and from Belgium, and another 42 in Sweden. About a quarter of its pilots are to strike in Ireland. The strikes in Germany alone are thought to impact 42,000 passengers. The Irish-based company, which has faced a string of strikes recently, said in a statement, Despite the regrettable and unjustified strike action taking place in 5 of our 37 markets on Friday, over 2,000 Ryanair flights (85 percent of our schedule) will operate as normal. It added, The majority of customers affected have already been reaccommodated on another Ryanair flight. We want to again apologize to customers affected by this unnecessary disruption. Ryanair last year agreed to recognize unions for the first time in its 30-year history, averting widespread strikes. But slow progress has frustrated workers groups. On Thursday, the airline took a union that represents 50 of its Dutch pilots, to court, aiming to stop them striking on Friday. The Association of Dutch Pilots wanted to protest slow progress in negotiating a collective labor agreement. The union won the case, but Ryanair later said that all of its flights there will run on schedule. The strike topped the 300 flights a day Ryanair had to cancel last month when cabin crews in Belgium, Portugal, and Spain went on strike for 48 hours The strike action, which comes during peak holiday season, has sparked frustration among passengers. Hi @Ryanair @RyanairFlights @Ryanair_ES @ryanair Can you explain all of us (people from 7 DIFFERENT FLIGHTS) why, after a + 2 HOUR DELAY, we have been waiting for ANOTHER 1h30 for our luggage? At 2am? Are you serious? pic.twitter.com/5AJ5EH0Xgi Nico Ferreres (@NicoFerrere) August 9, 2018 Thanks @Ryanair for cancelling our flights that we had booked months ago for my birthday ruined a whole weekend ?? jojo (@jojo110110) August 10, 2018 #ryanair cancelled my flight in the last min because of pilots strike. They offer me to change my tickets online which its not possible because of their system crash. Noone is on the phone and livechat. They even dont do a refund. Ryanair is an headache pic.twitter.com/JXdHjSiMru jzff (@jzf_f) August 9, 2018 But some felt the pilots had no choice other than strike. What I find unjustified is that the pilots draw the short straw, because people want to fly cheaply, said Daniel Flamman at Frankfurt airport, who sympathized with the pilots. Its annoying that its happening in the summer holidays, but its the only means they have. The unrest is one of the biggest challenges to face long-term chief executive Michael OLeary, who was once quoted as saying he would rather cut off his hand than recognize unions and on another occasion crossed a picket line of baggage handlers to help load a plane. Reuters contributed to this report School Planned to Drop Pledge of Allegiance, Then Backtracked A Georgia school planned to drop using the Pledge of Allegiance and replaced it with a school chant, but it later backtracked, it said in a statement, while citing miscommunication. Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School said Aug. 9 the school would do away with the pledge in favor of the Wolf Pack Chant. Students will continue to lead the meeting by asking our community to stand to participate in our Wolf Pack Chant together. Students will also be given the opportunity to say the pledge at another point during the school day within their classroom, the schools elementary campus president, Lara Zelski, said in a statement, according to Fox News on Aug. 9. Her statement was deleted from the schools website. In another, later statement on Aug. 9, the school said it had reversed course, saying it will continue to provide students with an opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each school day. However, it appears there was some miscommunication and inconsistency in the rollout. Starting next week, we will return to our original format and provide our students with the opportunity to recite the pledge during the all-school morning meeting, the statement said. We support our students in their growth and see it as our duty as educators to respect their First Amendment rights, the statement said. Superintendent Morcease J. Beasley of Clayton County told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Students are offered the opportunity to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. If they choose to participate or not is their individual and constitutional right and the reason the flag of the United States of America exists. Anything that removes their right to choose to participate as their conscience dictates, in my opinion, is un-American and immoral. After news broke that the pledge would be scrapped, the school received heavy criticism on social media. Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican, criticized the move. Im sure our House Education Committee will examine whether taxpayer funds should be used to instill such a divisive ideology in our students, he said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Georgia gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp, a Republican, also pilloried the school. Theres no question about it. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is the right thing to do. At school, students should stand united to honor the flag, our country, and those who have sacrificed for our freedom, he wrote on Twitter. Origin of the Pledge The Pledge of Allegiance was first introduced in 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy. However, the lyrics were altered in 1923, and the words, the Flag of the United States of America were added. During the threat posed by the Soviet Union and other communist states in the 1950s, President Eisenhower encouraged the phrase under God to be added, and its included in the pledge that Americans say today, according to USHistory.org. The Pledge of Allegiance is included in Section 4 of the U.S. Flag Code. Last month, a Connecticut official was heavily criticized after she was captured on video kneeling during the Pledge of Allegiance during a meeting. Melissa Schlag, a Democratic selectwoman from Haddam, Connecticut, took a knee during a Board of Selectmen meeting on July 16, which was caught on video. At the time, Republican Tim Herbst, the former mayor of Trumbull running for governor of Connecticut, tweeted that she must resign immediately! It should be the basic responsibility of any public official to respect the Flag. Haddam and Connecticut deserve better leadership! An official inspects a Union Jack flag next to the European Union flag, ahead of a meeting between Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Dominic Raab and European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, at EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, July 19, 2018. (Francois Lenoir/Reuters) Scrap Migration Cap, Bring in New Controls After Brexit Says CBI Britain should drop blunt net migration targets after Brexit, and instead filter migrants by potential economic contribution, states a report by leading British business organisation, CBI. The free movement of people from the EU across its borders is a central tenet of the trading bloc treaty (although the treaty still allows certain national controls of borders). Free movement should be replaced after Brexit with a controlled immigration system for EU citizens and compulsory registration for EU citizens soon after arrival, recommends the CBI report, published on Aug. 9. We accept freedom of movement is over. We accept there needs to be an element of control, said Josh Hardie, CBI deputy director-general in a statement. But we are absolutely clear that immigration delivers huge economic value to the UK, so it needs to be open. Compulsory registration of EU citizens who enter the UKwhich has not been required until nowwould be an important step toward establishing firmer control of immigration and raising public trust that the issue was in hand, the report said. Migration should be put on the table in future trade negotiations with other nations as well as the EU said the CBI, meaning an overhaul of Britains complex visa system for non-EU workers. The government currently has a target of net migration of 100,00 a year. That should be scrapped in favour of a new system that filters migrants for their potential contribution, recommends the CBI report. Openness and Control Are Not Opposites But that doesnt simply mean allowing in the brightest and best said Hardie. Housebuilding needs architects for design, labourers to dig foundations, and electricians to help finish the job. In the food and drink sector, the supply chain starts with agriculture, then logistics, and ends with retail. Greater control gained over immigration after Brexit should also not be conflated with the simplistic idea of closed borders said Hardie. Openness and control must not be presented as opposites, he said. Public attitudes toward migration and the impacts it has on communities are far more nuanced. Scrapping blunt targets, ensuring all who come to the UK contribute and using the immigration dividend to support public services will add to public confidence. The report recommended investing more heavily in local services in areas where immigration had drained resources to the detriment of locals. The government said it was considering a range of options to control its borders while continuing to attract and retain workers who benefit Britain. In response to the CBI report the Home Office said that it was committed to bringing net migration down to tens of thousands. The CBI said the worlds fifth-biggest economy would still need migrants from the EU and beyond after it leaves the bloc in March. Half of Londons construction workers are not from Britain and more than one in four employees in banking and finance in the capital are non-UK citizens17 percent from the EU and 11 percent from the rest of the world, it said. Many sectors are already facing shortages, from nurses to software engineersso fast, sustainable, evidence-based action is needed, said the report. Reuters contributed to this report. Suspect in California Holy Fire Case: Its Gonna Burn A California man was charged with arson and other offenses on Aug. 9, for allegedly starting the Holy Fire in Orange County, it was reported. The place is going to burn just like you planned, Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, allegedly wrote to a fire chief two weeks ago, CNN reported. Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Milligan, 71, said that Clark is just a scourge on this canyon, according to NPR. Every single person in this canyon is afraid of him, No. 1, avoids him, No. 2, and knew he was going to do something crazy, he said. According to CNN, Milligan has known Clark for decades. In a recent encounter two weeks ago, the chief said that he came to his home. I said, I want nothing to do with you, Forrest. Just go, Milligan told CNN. He was being gentlemanly in the beginning, and turned and then swore at me, and turned and left and was quoting the Bible. Later, he came back and told me what a jerk I was and everyone was after him. Clark, he said, is an erratic, dangerous person whom Milligan flagged to federal and state officials on a regular basis. If you dont do something hes going to kill somebody or burn something down, he wrote in an email about Clark. Clark had also sent emails to other people about burning something, the chief told CNN. This Is A Monster This is a monster, Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer said on Aug. 8, NPR reported. Who would go out with low humidity and high wind and the highest heat temperatures this time of the year and intentionally set the forest on fire? Im pissed, Im outraged, Im disgusted, Lake Elsinore Mayor Natasha Johnson told CBS News. I want people to understand that one man caused this devastation for no apparent reason. On Monday, a freelance photojournalist recorded a brief interview with Clark. In that video, according to USA Today, Clark denied knowing who started the fire. Ive been up for like 20-some-odd days, Clark said. I just woke up, dude. I got burned. I woke up and my stuff was all on fire. The Holy Fire, as of Aug. 9, burned more than 10,200 acres and was 5 percent contained, ABC7 in California reported. On Aug. 10, firefighters fought a desperate battle to stop the Holy Fire from reaching homes as the blaze surged through the Cleveland National Forest above the city of Lake Elsinore and its surrounding communities. They were trying to keep the flames from devouring neighborhoods and taking lives, as gigantic fires still burning in Northern California have already done. Apple, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Our main focus this afternoon was getting everyone out safely, said Thanh Nguyen, a spokesman for the crews battling the Holy Fire. Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Orange and Riverside counties because the fire threatened thousands of homes. The proclamation directs state agencies to provide help to local governments. Clark is now being held on $1 million bail. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Michael Semkiu, interim deputy police chief of administration for the Park Ridge Police Department, said the injured man was identified as a 39-year-old Des Plaines resident who worked for the power-washing company that owned the truck. Lisowski said the man was refueling gas-powered washing equipment in the back of the truck when some of the gasoline came in contact with hot parts of the machinery and ignited. A pedestrian walks by an Urban Outfitter store on Aug. 18, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The Friends Trend: 90S Fashion Revival for Back-to-School Season Urban Outfitters Inc., American Eagle Outfitters Inc., and other retailers are filling stores with styles from the 1990s in a bet that fanny packs, chunky-soled sneakers and high-waisted mom jeans will lift back-to-school sales. U.S. apparel retailers, hurt by more consumers shopping online and declining mall traffic, have been starved for a major new fashion movement to entice finicky millennial buyers. With back-to-school spending expected to rise due to a strong economy and high consumer confidence this year, retailers are hoping renewed interest in 90s fashion will fuel a recovery in the sector after several quarters of sales declines. The trend is a leading back-to-school story, with a six-fold increase in the number of kidswear products described as 90s style online in July, said Katie Smith, analyst for retail technology company Edited. Chunky sneakers or Buffalo shoes alone,a streetwear classic from the 90s with thick rubber solesrecorded a 76 percent rise in arrivals in kidswear this June, Smith said. The fashion reboot is being characterized as the Friends trend, according to A-Line Partners analyst Gabriella Santaniello, with teens and millennials inspired by what characters wore on the 90s hit television show that is now available on Netflix and YouTube. For example, Urban Outfitters is selling the Urban Renewal Remade 90s Shortall Overall and the New York minute corduroy skirt, which resemble clothes worn by Rachel Green, a popular character played by Jennifer Aniston on Friends. There has to be something that is forcing teens to get out there and shop and I think there hasnt been something for such a long time. So thats why I think this (trend) is a positive shift, Santaniello said. The back-to-school sales period is the busiest shopping season behind the year-end holidays and can contribute a third of profits for retailers. Shoppers will be doling out an average of $284 on clothing and shoes compared with $186 on electronics, a 28 percent increase over last year, according to a survey by RetailMeNot Inc., a website that tracks coupons and promotions at major retail brands. Deloittes annual back-to-school survey shows that shoppers will spend more on clothes and accessories, about $15 billion or 55 percent of the total $27.6 billion expected to be spent. Retailers are in a pretty good spot, especially in North America, where the economy is healthier than a year ago, NPDs lead retail analyst Marshall Cohen said. Old Becomes New Again American Eagles global brand president Chad Kessler said it is bit of an evolution, with high-rise mom jeans and crop tops influencing shoppers this year. I do think the 90s are a big influence, Kessler said. Because Urban Outfitters targets both adults and young shoppers, with its Anthropologie and namesake stores, BlueFin Research analyst Rebecca Duval said she expects the company to be one of the strongest brands this season along with Gap Inc. Urban Outfitters is expected to post same-store sales growth of 5.6 percent in the third quarter, while American Eagle could report a 4.6 percent rise, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S data, marking the best growth in three years. Although Gap and Nordstrom are not expected to show the same same-store sales growth, overall sales for the four retailers are expected to be the highest in at least four years. U.S. apparel retailers struggled after millennials, born between 1986 and 1996, switched to fast-fashion trends from European labels like H&M and Inditexs Zara. The shift forced retailers to diversify inventory and rely less on once popular logo emblazoned apparel. Social media is also having an impact, with retailers using the medium to market and rope in younger buyers. Every twenty years fashion comes back You stay away from something long enough and you crave it, Vanessa Valiente, personal stylist and the creator of fash By Nivedita Balu The tower of Tribune Broadcasting Los Angeles affiliate KTLA 5 is seen in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Calif., on July 17, 2018. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson) Tribune Media Ends Merger Deal With Sinclair, Files Suit Tribune Media Co terminated its $3.9 billion sale to Sinclair Broadcast Group on Thursday and sued Sinclair for breach of contract, claiming the rival TV-station owner mishandled efforts to get the transaction approved by taking too long and being too aggressive in its dealings with regulators. Sinclair, the largest U.S. broadcast station owner with 192 stations, said Thursday it would no longer pursue the Tribune merger and denied Tribunes allegations. The Republican-led Federal Communications Commission expressed opposition to the deal last month, when it questioned Sinclairs candor over the planned sale of some stations, suggesting Sinclair would effectively retain control over them. The FCC voted 4-0 in July to refer the deal to administrative law judge for a hearing, a move that officials said privately would effectively kill the merger. The Tribune lawsuit seeks about $1 billion of lost premium to Tribunes stockholders and additional damages in an amount to be proven at trial over what it called Sinclairs misconduct. Sinclairs president and chief executive, Chris Ripley, said we unequivocally stand by our position that we did not mislead the FCC with respect to the transaction or act in any way other than with complete candor and transparency. The FCC said Sinclair did not fully disclose facts relating to the planned sale of three stations, including pre-existing business relationships the company had with prospective buyers. It also said the $60 million purchase price for Tribunes WGN-TV in Chicago appeared to be significantly below market value. Sinclair shares sank 3 percent to $26.37 in afternoon trading, while Tribune climbed 2.9 percent to $34.60. Played Hardball In its lawsuit, Tribune said Sinclair failed to live up to obligations to agree to asset sales to independent operators in order to win approval for the deal. Instead, Tribune said, Sinclair played hardball with the Justice Department, and in January 2018 when the top antitrust official, Makan Delrahim, told Sinclair that the divestitures were inadequate, Sinclair General Counsel Barry Faber replied, Sue me. The suit said Sinclairs absurdly aggressive regulatory proposals, disregard of the FCCs signals, and the lengthy and avoidable delays that flowed from Sinclairs behavior led to the mergers failure. The FCC said in July Sinclair did not fully disclose facts about the merger, raising questions about whether the company had attempted to skirt the commissions broadcast ownership rules and would, in fact, actually control the stations Sinclair said it was divesting. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has been vocal in his opposition to the deal, a stance that was criticized by Trump. Pai declined to comment Thursday. So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldnt approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People, Trump said in a Twitter post in July. Pai told Congress after Trumps tweet that he stood by his decision to refer the issue to a hearing. Sinclair said in May 2017 it planned to acquire Chicago-based Tribunes 42 TV stations in 33 markets in a deal that would help Sinclair reach seven out of ten U.S. households. Other Bids Tribune is likely to receive other bids as the industry faces a wave of consolidation. Nexstar Media Group and Twenty-First Century Fox Inc, partnering with private equity, had considered buying Tribune before Sinclair announced its deal. Last month, Cox Enterprises Inc said it was exploring strategic options for its 14 television properties, citing statements by Pai that he intends to loosen rules around ownership of local TV stations. The FCC voted last month to refer the proposed merger to an administrative law judge to review questions about Sinclairs candor, a move that analysts had then said would likely lead to the deals collapse. The company is open to all opportunities in terms of industry consolidation or remaining independent, Tribune Media Chief Executive Officer Peter Kern told investors on a call on Thursday. He noted there was tons of activity out there. The FCC is considering changing the rules that limit how many TV stations one company can own. Kern said he would continue to run the company until Tribune reached a permanent state. He said the mergers failure was not the result of an unwelcoming regulatory environment but how Sinclair moved forward. Questions About Divestments Under the terms of the deal, Tribune and Sinclair had the right to call off the merger without paying a termination fee if it was not completed by Aug. 8. The FCC raised questions after Sinclair had proposed to sell WGN to Maryland auto dealer Steven Fader, a longtime business associate of Sinclair Executive Chairman David Smith, as Sinclair would largely continue to operate the station under a services agreement. Sinclair also had planned to sell stations in Dallas and Houston to Cunningham Broadcasting Corp, a company controlled by the estate of Smiths mother. To attempt to satisfy the FCC, Sinclair had said last month it would not divest WGN and would seek to put the two Texas stations into a divestiture trust to be sold and operated by an independent trustee. The FCCs concerns followed similar questions raised in separate filings by the American Civil Liberties Union and conservative news outlet Newsmax Media. Sinclair announced on Thursday it has approved a $1-billion share repurchase. Commenting on the repurchase, Ripley, said: It is unfortunate that Tribune Media Company terminated our Merger Agreement. Nonetheless, we strongly believe in the long term outlook of our Company and disagree with the markets current discounted view on our share price. The $1 billion authorization does not use our future free cash flow generation, but simply the excess cash currently on our balance sheet. By David Shepardson A cyclist rides on Sunset Boulevard past the KTLA channel 5 tower in Hollywood, California on July 10, 2013. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) Tribune Media Files Suit, Terminates Sinclair Merger Deal Tribune Media Co. said on Aug. 9 it had terminated a $3.9 billion deal to be acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group and was suing Sinclair for breach of contract after regulators objected to the acquisition that was supported by U.S. President Donald Trump. Tribune filed the lawsuit against Sinclair, the largest U.S. broadcast station owner, alleging material breach of contract over its failure to win over regulators 15 months after the merger was first announced. Tribune seeks about $1 billion of lost premium to Tribunes stockholders and additional damages in an amount to be proven at trial over what it called Sinclairs misconduct, according to a copy of the lawsuit filed in Delaware. The deals termination, which scuppers Sinclairs efforts to dramatically expand, comes after criticism by Democrats and public advocacy groups over whether the merger was in the public interest. It also follows a significant blow from the Republican-led Federal Communications Commission last month, when it questioned Sinclairs candor over the planned sale of some stations. The FCC said Sinclair did not fully disclose facts about the planned sale of three stations, including pre-existing business relationships between the company and prospective buyers. It also said the $60 million purchase price for Tribunes WGN-TV in Chicago appeared to be significantly below market value. Sinclair shares sank 2.8 percent to $26.32 in late morning trading, while Tribune climbed 3.3 percent to $34.76. Played Hardball In its lawsuit, Tribune said Sinclair failed to live up to obligations to agree to asset sales to independent operators in order to win approval for the deal. Instead, Tribune said, Sinclair played hardball with the Justice Department, and in January 2018 when the top antitrust official, Makan Delrahim, told Sinclair that the divestitures were inadequate, Sinclair General Counsel Barry Faber replied, Sue me. The suit said Sinclairs absurdly aggressive regulatory proposals, disregard of the FCCs signals, and the lengthy and avoidable delays that flowed from Sinclairs behavior led to the mergers failure. The FCC said in July Sinclair did not fully disclose facts about the merger, raising questions about whether the company had attempted to skirt the Commissions broadcast ownership rules and would, in fact, actually control the stations Sinclair said it was divesting. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has been vocal in his opposition to the deal, a stance that was criticized by Trump. Pai declined to comment Aug. 9. So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldnt approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People, Trump said in a Twitter post in July. Advocacy group Free Press said in an FCC filing in August 2017 that Sinclair forces its TV stations to air pro-Trump propaganda and then seeks favors from the Trump administration. The group praised Tribunes announcement Aug. 9. Pai told Congress after Trumps tweet that he stood by his decision to refer the issue to a hearing. The FCC declined to comment on Aug. 9. Sinclair, which owns 192 stations, said in May 2017 that it planned to acquire Chicago-based Tribunes 42 TV stations in 33 markets. Other Bids? Tribune is likely to receive other bids as the industry faces a wave of consolidation. Nexstar Media Group and Twenty-First Century Fox Inc., partnering with private equity, had considering buying Tribune before Sinclair announced its deal and are likely bidders, analysts have said. Last month, Cox Enterprises Inc. said it was exploring strategic options for its 14 television properties, citing statements by Pai that he intends to loosen rules around ownership of local TV stations. Sinclair did not immediately comment on Aug. 9, but said last month at no time have we withheld information or misled the FCC in any manner whatsoever. The FCC voted last month to refer the proposed merger to an administrative law judge to review questions about Sinclairs candor, a move that analysts had then said would likely lead to the deals collapse. The company is open to all opportunities in terms of industry consolidation or remaining independent, Tribune Media Chief Executive Officer Peter Kern told investors on a call on Aug. 9. He noted there was tons of activity out there. Kern said he would continue to run the company until Tribune reached a permanent state. He said the mergers failure was not the result of an unwelcoming regulatory environment but how Sinclair moved forward. Questions About Divestments Under the terms of the deal, Tribune and Sinclair had the right to call off the merger without paying a termination fee if it was not completed by Aug. 8. A dozen Senate Democrats said in April Sinclair was deliberately distorting news coverage by forcing local stations to read scripts that criticized what it described as the troubling trend of irresponsible, one-sided news stories plaguing our country. The FCC raised questions after Sinclair had proposed to sell WGN to Maryland auto dealer Steven Fader, a longtime business associate of Sinclair Executive Chairman David Smith, as Sinclair would largely continue to operate the station under a services agreement. Sinclair also had planned to sell stations in Dallas and Houston to Cunningham Broadcasting Corp, a company controlled by the estate of Smiths mother. To attempt to satisfy the FCC, Sinclair had said last month it would not divest WGN and would seek to put the two Texas stations into a divestiture trust to be sold and operated by an independent trustee. The FCCs concerns followed similar questions raised in separate filings by the American Civil Liberties Union and conservative news outlet Newsmax Media. The ACLU said Aug. 9 the merger would have trampled on First Amendment principles and crippled the future of journalism. By David Shepardson Jack Dorsey at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times) Twitter Executives Say Policies Need to Constantly Evolve to Counter Hate Speech Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Vice President Del Harvey said they plan to further evolve the social-media platforms policies to counter hate speech, after discussions with company employees regarding controversial radio host Alex Jones. While Facebook, Apple, Google, Spotify, and others booted many of Jones pages, channels, and podcasts for violating hate-speech policies, Twitter didnt follow, because Jones hasnt violated our rules, Dorsey said in an Aug. 8 tweet. After pushback from some employees, however, Dorsey said hes definitely not happy with current Twitter policies, which need to constantly evolve. On Aug. 9, Harvey published an email to employees saying the company had a number of conversations with staff about Alex Jones and decided to accelerate plans to review a new policy against dehumanizing speech to help customers feel safe as it relates to hate speech. She said that speech that treats or describes others as less than human has been linked with violence, such as in historical examples of mass violence. Moreover, the company has found it concerning and problematic, in its own user research. The company is also evaluating whether it should consider off-platform behavior when enforcing policies. Jones, known for his hot-headed outbursts, faces a defamation suit by parents of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting, some of whom he accused of being crisis actors. Jones later repeatedly apologized to the families in his videos. But Facebook stated it didnt shut Jones down for making false claims, but for glorifying violence, which violates our graphic-violence policy, and using dehumanizing language to describe people who are transgender, Muslims and immigrants, which violates our hate-speech policies. The company didnt provide any examples of Joness content that violates their policies. Jones denounced the tech companys move as a broader attempt to silence himan attempt that appears to have backfired, as internet searches for his name skyrocketed since the ban, along with the popularity of his iPhone and Android apps. Uncertain Future The murky hate-speech policies used against Jones have worried conservatives, libertarians, and other free-speech advocates, who increasingly see the tech companies as playing the role of arbiter while pretending to run content-neutral platforms. Those who refuse to see this as the first step toward a more aggressive campaign of de-platforming conservatives are being obtuse, said Sonny Bunch, executive editor of the Washington Free Beacon, in an Aug. 8 Washington Post op-ed. There is a growing belief that speech can be considered violence, that racist speech is by definition violence and that conservative thought is inherently racist. I dont need a whiteboard or lizard people to connect the dots. Twitters practices of suppressing bad-faith actors, automated bot accounts, and obscuring search results based on quality, have been exposed to have heavily hit right-leaning users, while letting similar behavior by left-leaning users slide. Twitter has addressed some of those issues, but the phenomenon doesnt appear to have abated. If proven to favor or suppress users of a particular political persuasion, the platforms could be legally considered as publishers. That may open the door to lawsuits that the companies previously dodged by claiming that as neutral platforms theyre not responsible for user-created content. Both Facebook and Twitter recently have experienced dramatic drops in market value. Facebook is down nearly 16 percent since July 25, while Twitter stock has fallen by almost 28 percent in the same period. Watch Next: The First Ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom Inspires Hope The freedom of belief was at the center of the United States founding. [epoch_video navurl=""][/epoch_video] A sign marks a pick-up point for the Uber car service at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Mar. 15, 2017 (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) Uber Faces New Roadblock in New York on Its Way to IPO SAN FRANCISCOUber will have to navigate around a new regulatory pothole in New York on an already bumpy road to its initial public offering of stock next year. New York City is imposing a one-year moratorium on ride-hailing licenses in Ubers largest U.S. market, raising the specter that other cities may adopt similar crackdowns as they try to ease traffic congestion. If that were to happen, it would be more difficult for Uber to boost its revenue and reverse its history of uninterrupted losses. That, in turn, would affect the price that investors are willing to pay for Ubers stock in the IPO that the San Francisco company plans to make next year. This can be viewed as a negative outcome for ride-hailing companies, said Rohit Kulkarni, managing director of SharesPost, a firm that tracks privately held companies such as Uber. The attempt to rein in ride-hailing companies in New York is the latest challenge to confront Uber during nearly two years of turmoil. Among other things, Uber has been rocked by revelations of a culture poisoned by a pattern of sexual harassment and other abuses that included a yearlong cover-up of a major computer break-in and the use of duplicitous software to thwart government regulators . Uber brought in a new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, nearly a year ago to clean things up. Investors who have poured money into Uber leading up to the IPO have valued it at $62 billion. That lofty assessment reflects how dramatically the 9-year-old company has transformed the way people get around since it introduced the concept of using a smartphone app to summon a driver using their own car to pick them up. Recent Changes Millions of people around the world now drive and ride through Ubers apps, growth that was spurred in large part because the company hasnt had to deal with the same strict regulations and government bureaucracy as taxi cabs. But that has been changing in recent years as more cities around the world try to balance the popularity of ride-hailing services with traffic management, safety concerns and demands to protect the long-regulated taxi industry. Last year, London kicked Uber out of its city, but that ban was lifted earlier this year by a magistrate. Even so, Uber was only given a 15-month permit to operate instead of the five-year license it wanted. Essentially, we are seeing more regulation of a platform that hadnt been in its early years, said Gartner analyst Mike Ramsey. And I think people who have been investing in the platform are coming to that realization. For its part, Uber is trying to make a case that New York City is heading in the wrong direction by curtailing the growth of ride-hailing services to control traffic. It believes charging more for rides during times of bad congestion is a better solution, something it says it intends to do in New York. New Yorks moratorium on new ride-hailing licenses could give Uber and its rival, Lyft, more leverage to raise their prices if the restrictions cause demand to outstrip the supply of cars available to pick up riders, Kulkarni said. Other high-profile companies have thrived while dealing with regulatory challenges and uncertainty. Most notably, e-commerce leader Amazon.com was locked in a long-running battle over when and where it should collect sales taxes on online purchases for more than a decade before the U.S. Supreme Court finally resolved the issue in June. Amazon is now valued at $925 billion, second only to Apple. By Michael Liedtke BRIDGEPORT - A Korean citizen who police said tracked his ex-girlfriend to Hawaii, Alaska and finally this city as she desperately tried to elude him, was arrested outside her bank here. Kwak Kyu Dong, 61, who is charged with stalking, was brought into Superior Court here Thursday afternoon in handcuffs and leg restraints. Judge Tracy Lee Dayton continued the case for one day so that a Korean interpreter could be located. Senior Assistant States Attorney Stephanie Damiani told the judge she will ask for a high bond because of the seriousness of the allegations. Police said on Wednesday officers were dispatched to the parking lot behind the Bank of America on Main Street for a woman screaming. When officers arrived, police said they found Dong standing in front of a car staring at the female driver. Police said the woman was hysterically crying and only calmed down after they had Dong handcuffed and in the back of a police car. Police said the woman told them she had been in an abusive relationship with Dong but had managed to escape. He had tracked her to Hawaii so she fled to Alaska and then finally to a friends home here, police said. But Dong had managed to get the womans bank account information and police said he was waiting for her when she came out of the bank after making a withdrawal. But, really, they want to confront Sister Mary because they feel like the answers they got from the Church when they were young were not really adequate to prepare them for life, the director added. And so they faced real-life challenges, and they didnt feel really prepared. The tired and poor masses crossing the border illegally do a lot of huddling after coming to America. It's the air conditioning. So notoriously cold are the U.S. Border Patrol's detention cells that those heading north are warned the first stop will be a hielera, or "icebox." The shivering stay is a rite of passage, and at the busiest border stations, the floors and benches are crowded with detainees bundled in silver polyethylene sheets, the only blankets made available. Their shifting bodies produce a constant crinkling, like the sound of Christmas gifts being unwrapped for hours on end. CONTROVERSY: Nonprofit seeks to open migrant children shelter in Houston A fight for control of the temperature inside these facilities is the subject of litigation between the U.S. government and immigration advocacy groups who accuse the Border Patrol of using the thermostat as a tool to deter migration and gain leverage over those in custody. While these accusations stretch back years, the uproar triggered by the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" family separation policy has brought new claims of hypothermic misery. "They do it as a form of punishment," said Peter Schey, one of the lead attorneys in the ongoing class-action suit known as the Flores settlement, which dates to the late 1990s and sets detention standards for migrant children in federal custody. Last month, Schey and others submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Californiatestimonies and sworn statements from more than 200 detainees about their treatment in U.S. custody. Complaints about the cold come up again and again. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: ICE denies report of child death at Texas immigration facility "It was hard to keep warm," one Honduran mother, identified only as Maria A, said in a sworn statement. "When other people would leave there would be extra blankets so we would try to take them to have more to keep warm but the guards would notice we had more blankets and they would take them from us so we only had one," her statement says. Maria's 4-year-old son had become "very sick" because of the cold, it notes. Customs and Border Protection officials vigorously dispute allegations of mistreatment. Many of the migrants in custody are from rural parts of Central America, they note, and simply not accustomed to air conditioning, or what some Border Patrol officials refer to as "refrigerated air." The agency says temperature settings are never used for punitive purposes and thermostats are checked regularly to ensure they are between 66 and 80 degrees, the range that CBP deemed reasonable under the terms of the Flores settlement. But the stories of trembling detainees and harsh conditions prompted U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee, who oversees compliance with Flores, to order the appointment of a "special master" who will conduct independent oversight of detention facilities. Attorneys for the government request more time to investigate and rebut the claims, but the judge cited a need to get "realistic, unbiased reports of what's happening." "This needs to happen sooner rather than later," said Gee, who rejected the Trump administration's request to allow the government to hold children longer than the 20-day limit established by the court. Driving the air conditioning dispute is the fact that two distinct groups must share the detention facilities - migrants and Border Patrol agents - and they have very different needs. In south Texas, where Border Patrol stations absorb the most illegal traffic, migrants often arrive with damp clothing after crossing the Rio Grande. Their long-sleeved shirts may be taken away because of concerns about suicide. Then they remain sedentary for hours or days on end, sitting and sleeping on heat-sapping concrete benches and floors, with little room to move. Border Patrol agents, meanwhile, have jobs that require them to move in and out of the muggy heat, wearing uniforms and gear that may include body armor. Some are burly, and they are acclimatized to refrigerated air. They want the thermostat kept at a temperature that keeps them comfortable. "Our folks wear long sleeves because they have to go through vegetation, or the desert, where they're out in the sun," said one CBP official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the temperature dispute is a matter of ongoing litigation. "We have to make sure our folks can do their job." "It doesn't mean we don't stop trying to make people as comfortable as possible in our custody," the official said. Attorneys and immigrant advocates say the lower end of the government's temperature range is too extreme even for Americans whose homes and offices are climate-controlled. "I know I would freeze in a room that was 68 degrees, and I would want more than a Mylar blanket on me," said Jennifer Podkul, policy director at KIND, one of the legal-aid organizations that advocates for migrant children. Under the Flores settlement's terms, migrant children should remain in CBP custody for no longer than 72 hours, and the Border Patrol generally seeks to transfer all adults in its custody to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as quickly as possible. Complaints about temperature generally do not extend to ICE facilities, Podkul noted, because its detainees are given sweatshirts, blankets and beds. CBP officials said they use disposable Mylar blankets, at a cost of 68 cents per unit, because the expense and logistical challenge of laundering fabric would be too great. The plastic is more hygienic, officials said, and agents are vigilant against blanket-sharing because of previous outbreaks of lice and scabies. "They're not comfortable and cozy, but they do provide warmth," the CBP official said. Stories of sleepless nights on concrete floors are repeated throughout migrants' testimonies in the Flores suit, and the CBP official acknowledged that mats are not always available for adults. "There are facilities that do have mats. There are others that do not," the official said. "At the larger facilities, there are mats for juveniles." One Honduran mother, identified in court filings as Dilsia R., said she and her 12-year-old daughter were wet and muddy from crossing the Rio Grande when they were taken into custody June 25. Dilsia testified that her daughter was taken to a separate room for juveniles. "I did not sleep at all that night, it was too cold," her statement says. "I sat there on the ground without any type of bed and shivered to the next day." Schey, whose Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law is the chief plaintiff for the Flores litigation, said that in the hundreds of detainee interviews, 9 in 10 complain about the cold. He believes something more sinister is going on than a culture clash over air conditioning. "By keeping the temperatures as low as they do, it really increases the susceptibility of detained children and their parents to go along with whatever the CBP agent who interviews them wants," he said. Schey said migrants seeking asylum due to violence in Central America report being pressured to agree to voluntary deportation, and chilly temperatures leave them desperate to get out of their cells. "It's a way to enforce submissiveness and discourage people from asserting rights they may have to prevent their [deportation]," Schey added. "It also encourages people to want to just leave and agree to be deported, because they have no idea how long they'll be kept in an 'icebox,' where their kid is shivering, sneezing and hasn't slept." CBP officials dispute those claims. Last year, the agency designated a Flores juvenile coordinator to ensure compliance with the court agreement. While conducting unannounced inspections of detention facilities, the coordinator carries a thermometer and records the readings in his reports. The inspector, Henry Moak, wrote in a June report provided to Gee that during his visits to eight detention facilities, he found only one instance of a temperature setting below the established range. In most facilities Moak measured, the temperature ranged between 70 and 75 degrees. But in interviews with 38 detainees, many also told Moak they were cold, including one 4-year-old boy from Guatemala. Moak noted that the temperature in the cell was 76.4 degrees, but the boy's father told him they had not received a blanket or mat after four hours in custody. Have you ever missed out on a huge opportunity? Maybe you sold some Bitcoin right before the price explosion late in 2017, or said no to a job offer at a tech startup whose employees eventually cashed out hundreds of thousands in stock. Related: 25 Reasons I Will Not Invest in Your Startup If you're one of these poor souls, you can take comfort in knowing youre not alone. The missed opportunities of others serve as evidence that sometimes, even the best ideas appear worthless at first glance. Take, for example, these investors and entrepreneurs, who passed on big ideas -- and may have cost themselves a fortune in the process. 1. Ron Wayne could have been worth over $100 billion. A billion dollars is hard to picture. Try to imagine $100 billion. Thats the size of the fortune that Ron Wayne could have had if hed made a slightly different decision 40 years ago. Back in 1976, Wayne signed Apples partnership agreement with the legendary duo Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak; the agreement would have granted Wayne a 10 percent stake in the company. Wayne went on to write the manual for Apple I and sketch the first Apple logo; he considered himself responsible for keeping an eye on the other two -- the crazy ones. But after just 12 days with the company, he could no longer stand working with his co-founders and sold his share for a mere $800. Today, with Apples valuation now over $1 trillion, Wayne's stock share would have been worth over $100 billion. Still, he says he regrets nothing, as his departure gave him the chance to work on things he actually loved. 2. Scott Tobin and Battery Ventures walked away from Facebook. Battery Ventures, a Boston-based venture capital firm, had the chance to invest in Facebook back in 2004, long before the platform exploded in popularity. Mark Zuckerberg had already created the platform in his Harvard dorm room and might have been happy to stay in Boston had he had the money and support to do so. Related: It Made Sense at the Time: Why I Passed on Uber's Seed Round But, in actuality, Battery Ventures passed on Facebook, so Zuckerberg moved west and earned his other investors a fortune. Scott Tobin, a partner in Battery Ventures would later admit that his company's decision involved "a generational issue. "You couldnt really understand social networking here," Tobin said. "To understand things like Facebook, you [had] to be 19 to 24 years old. If you [were] 56, you [didn't] quite get it. 3. Chris Hill-Scott got a bicycle instead of a fortune. Chris Hill-Scott, one of the three co-founders of SwiftKey, was finding it difficult to keep up with the demands of the business back in 2008. Ready to part ways, and uncertain about the businesss future, Hill-Scott sold his stake in the company for a bicycle. The other co-founders kept working, however, and eight years later, managed to sell SwiftKey to Microsoft for $250 million, with each of the co-founders pocketing $50 million. And all Hill-Scott got was that lousy bicycle. 4. Decca Records passed on the Beatles. Though not the decision of a sole individual, the Decca Records fiasco early in the Beatles careers demands a mention. In 1962, before the Liverpool quartet became superstars and arguably, the most important rock band of all time, the guys auditioned to be signed with Decca Records. The audition went well and producer Mike Smith verbally acknowledged that fact, but a few weeks later, the group got a rejection letter that informed them, Guitar groups are on the way out" and, "The Beatles have no future in show business. Today, its hard to read those statements without laughing. 5. Bessemer Venture Partners passed on several big companies. Bessemer Venture Partners is a successful venture capital firm, but that doesnt mean all its decisions have been flawless. But at least they're humble enough to admit it. The company publishes an anti-portfolio of companies it could have invested in but never did, as an amusing lesson in the wacky nature of entrepreneurship and venture capitalism. For example, a BVP investors college friend rented her garage to Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page during the duo's first year of operations. This woman tried to make an introduction but, suspecting an amateurish operation, investor David Cowan told her, How can I get out of this house without going anywhere near your garage? Did all these investors make bad decisions? Not necessarily. Most of them made the best decisions they could, given the information they had at the time. Yet hindsight is 20/20; and, in the moment, theres no guarantee that a plucky startup with respectable potential is going to become an international sensation. Related: How to Know When to Say 'No' to a New Opportunity So, take some inspiration here: If youre getting rejected early on, know that theres a chance for success even when top experts think you dont have a chance. And if youre on the investing side, think twice before passing on that next opportunity. Related: OMG: 5 Investors/Groups Who Passed on Brilliant Ideas ... and on Windfalls Worth Millions I've Raised Over $20 Million for My Businesses. Here's How to Get the Attention of Venture Capitalists. What You Need To Know About ICOs: Carlos Domingo, Co-Founder and MP, SPiCE VC Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NORWALK Rosemary Holomakoff grew up and went to school in Norwalk. After graduating college, she decided to settle here, and for the past 34 years shes worked in the citys public schools. Now shes being recognized as one of the districts top educators. It is always a surprise and honor to be recognized by your peers, said Holomakoff, who was recently named Norwalks Teacher of the Year. In this profession we are often rewarded by the children who sit in front of us. Every teacher walks in the door because we know we have to do a job. So I think its nice that every once in a while we get to celebrate that. Holomakoff will represent Norwalks public school teachers in Connecticuts 2019 Teacher of the Year program, and will be up for statewide honors. As a child in South Norwalk, Holomakoff attended Washington Elementary School and Benjamin Franklin Middle School, both of which are now defunct, before graduating from Brien McMahon High School in 1980, where she was captain of the cheerleading team. From an early age, she felt a compulsion to instruct those around her. I think that theres always been a part of me, playing when I was little, making everybody sit in a chair and listen to me. I think that I really grew into that role when I entered high school and really felt like I was leading others in a way that was my passion, Holomakoff said. She went on to Southern Connecticut State University, where she got a bachelors degree in special education and a masters degree in teaching the emotionally disturbed. Holomakoff returned to Norwalk after graduate school and began her career, stopping along the way at Kendall, Naramake and Rowayton elementary schools, always as a special education teacher. For the past eight years, shes been at Tracey Elementary School, where shes helped to spearhead the districts character education efforts and created educational systems like P.R.I.N.T. which stands for Problem solving, Respect, Integrity, being Neighborly, and Taking responsibility and is overseeing the application process, to be completed this year, for Tracey to become a National Schools of Character program. It would allow us to be a magnet school, so we wouldnt just serve children in our community. Parents will be able to decide that it is something that their child could benefit from, Holomakoff said. Holomakoff works primarily with students who have behavioral issues. She works on managing and changing the students behavior so that they can re-enter a general education environment. She has been so successful that she works on an unofficial basis as a consultant at other schools in the district, traveling to speak with fellow special education teachers about the strategies for students shes developed over the course of her career. Ive been to every school and talked to general education teachers, social workers, principals, and I think weve kept students from needing a more restrictive environment, Holomakoff said. Chief among the issues teachers must now deal with, Holomakoff said, is the effect that social media and technology have on students. Especially with technology, we have to teach students to be motivated and self-drive and have self-worth, Holomakoff siad. Not every kid knows how to manage all those social challenges and overwhelming amounts of information that come without the filter we had when I was young. justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586 Meanwhile, Debie M. Coble, Goodwill Michiana CEO and president, said the school is expected to open temporarily at Garys former Ivy Tech campus at 1440 E. 35th Ave. She said Thursday, the lease hasnt been finalized yet, but she expects classes to begin Sept. 10. ST. JOHNS UMC WELCOMES NEW PASTORS EDWARDSVILLE St. Johns United Methodist Church welcomes Pastor Grant Armstrong, senior pastor, and Pastor Mary McQuilkin, associate pastor, who recently began their pastoral leadership at the church. Pastor Armstrong started in broadcast journalism with a degree from Illinois State University, and attended Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis for his Masters of Divinity. He enjoys spending time with his family, wife Amy and children, Lilli, Clara and Theo. He shares the love of Jesus Christ with everyone he meets. Sometimes he does that while playing the guitar and riding a motorcycle. Pastor McQuilkin comes to St. Johns as associate pastor with a focus on children, youth, and family ministries. Sheattended MacMurray College where she majored in sign language interpretation and business administration. She worked as a freelance sign language interpreter for several years, before finally responding to the call to ministry. McQuilkin attended the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, where she graduated with a Masters of Arts in Missional Christianity. She has always had a heart for children and youth, and finding ways for them to be active in the life of the church. St. Johns UMC has a long-standing history in Edwardsville and is active in serving all of the surrounding communities through mission-center partnerships with local groups and organizations to spread the love of Jesus Christ to all the world. Pastor Armstrong and Pastor McQuilkin are committed to upholding the mission of St. Johns. To connect with either pastor, contact St. Johns UMC by calling 618-656-1853, via e-mail at stjohnsemail@gmail.com, or online at thenewstjohns.com. 5 minutes ago G20 leaders to tackle energy prices, other economic woes ROME (AP) Leaders of the Group of 20 countries gathering for their first in-person summit since the pandemic took hold will confront a global recovery hampered by a series of stumbling blocks: an energy crunch spurring higher fuel and utility prices, new COVID-19 outbreaks, and logjams in the supply chains that keep the economy humming and goods headed to consumers. Read Article Its got to be more than lip service and its got to be on the ground, he said. You have to work very intentionally with the student. You cant just work with your best students. Hatcher wrote a draft ordinance that sets a fine at $100 per offense and specifies that incarceration is not an option. Citations would be handled by the Gary City Court. She said she plans to consult with Police Chief Richard Allen before presenting the final ordinance, which could happen as soon as when the Common Council meets again Aug. 21 at City Hall. The proposal was introduced before the Common Council Wednesday. But because the picnic is about two weeks away, council members granted a request by councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd, and voted to immediately approve the measure, rather than send it off to a committee for further review a process that would take about a month. Activists call on Laos dam operator to own up BANGKOK: Activists and regional development experts yesterday (Aug 9) demanded the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company (PNPC) to take responsibility for all damages caused by the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam, which collapsed in Laos on July 25. constructiondeathdisastersland By Bangkok Post Friday 10 August 2018, 08:52AM This handout photo taken on July 24 and received from Attapeu Today on July 25 shows displaced residents arriving by boat in floodwaters in Attapeu province after a dam collapsed on July 23. Photo: Attapeu Today / AFP They made their demands at forums held in Bangkok and Seoul. In Bangkok, the forum was hosted by the Laos Dam Investment Monitor (LDIM), while the Seoul event was held by the Coordinated Response Team of the Korean Civil Societies for the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam Collapse. Activists in Bangkok said the forum was held to help represent those who are badly affected by the dam collapse both in Attapeu province and neighbouring Cambodias Rattanakiri province. They called on PNPC, which is a joint-venture between SK Engineering and Construction (SK E&C), Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (RATCH), and Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE) to take entire responsibility for all the damages. They also wanted Vientiane to halt any development on the collapsed dam and called for the suspension of future investments in new hydropower dams, as well as to formally apologise to the people of Laos and Cambodia for the disaster. The problem with Laos in the past until now is that they have invested significantly in the construction of dams as a means for economic growth and development. In this case the country rushed to build this really big dam that was not so realistic in terms of its forecasted export potential. The amount of megawatts generated by hydropower from Laos was never adequate in making an economic impact, said Suapalak Ganjanakhundee, managing editor of the Nation newspaper. The Laos government has announced that they will suspend the development of Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam, while also putting current and future plans for new dams to a complete halt. They have also promised to conduct a safety inspection of all their dams across Laos, and this is a big step forward from their government, Mr Supalak said. The need to export electricity from Laos is mired in controversy, as Thailand no longer faces energy shortages in the foreseeable future. Thailands current capacity to generate energy is at 42,299 megawatts, and the peak of our production thus far stands at around 30,000. Of that total, approximately 2.2% of national production is generated from renewable sources such as solar cells and hydropower dams, Witoon Permpongsacharoen, Director of Mekong Energy and Ecology Network, said. There appears to be no need to support construction in a foreign country to export energy on grounds that Thailand is on the verge of running out. In contrast, we have a surplus, Mr Witoon added. Quantifying the damages from the dam collapse is difficult, he continued, as many areas in Laos and Cambodia are still completely submerged and rescue efforts are still on-going, he said. A lot of people in Laos have died, but for Cambodia we still do not know the exact figures. A lot of houses and farmland were inundated by five to ten metres of water in a matter of few minutes, said Mech Mean, a resident of Cambodias Rattanakiri province. Read original story here. Actor arrested for alleged B797mn bitcoin investment fraud BANGKOK: Police arrested actor Jiratpisit Boom Jaravijit, 27, in Chatuchak district on Wednesday (Aug 8) for alleged money-laundering following a complaint that he fraudulently lured a foreigner into investing B797 million in digital currency. crimepolice By Bangkok Post Friday 10 August 2018, 08:29AM Police inform actor Jiratpisit Boom Jaravijit, 27, (second left) of a warrant for his arrest at Major Cineplex Ratchayothin in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, on Wednesday (Aug 8). Photo: Royal Thai Police Jiratpisit, a native of Chonburi province, was arrested while he was at Major Cineplex Ratchayothin complex for a film-shoot. The Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest on July 26 on a charge of collusion in money-laundering. The actor is one of seven suspects in the alleged fraud. Earlier police received a complaint that they had lured a foreigner into transferring money in the form of bitcoins to them in the belief they would buy shares in companies that invested in the digital Dragon Coin currency. The complainant told police at the Crime Suppression Division that bitcoins equivalent to B797mn were transferred to the suspects electronic wallets. The complainant never received any dividends from the claimed companies or any invitation to their shareholders meetings. It was also alleged the companies did not invest in Dragon Coin and the suspects always sidestepped questions when asked what was happening. The actor denied the charge. The complainant was later identified as Finnish national Aarni Otava Saarimaa, who police said got to know the suspects in June last year. Crime Suppression Division commander Maitree Chimcherd said it was alleged that Jiratpisit and his elder brother Parinya Jaravijit had defrauded Mr Saarimaa and later transferred stolen money to relatives. Police obtained warrants for the arrest of Parinya and Supitcha Jaravijit, elder sister of the actor, and would seek warrants for four other suspects who were well-known businessmen at the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Maj Gen Maitree said the actors family were of good social and financial standing and ran a restaurant in Chonburi. The other suspects were all abroad and some suspects would be charged with public fraud later. His deputy, Col Chakrit Sawasdee, said the suspects had approached Mr Saarimaa after learning that he had a large amount of bitcoins. Jiratpisit transferred about B400mn of the money to his siblings and the money was loaned out with land as collateral. Officials had impounded assets worth about B200mn, Col Chakrit said. Read original story here. New initiative against single-use plastics at Thailands national parks welcomed by TAT BANGKOK: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced its support for the latest initiative by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to fight against plastic pollution. tourismenvironmentpollution By The Phuket News Friday 10 August 2018, 04:06PM The ban on single-use plastics and styrofoam at national parks throughout the country includes Sirinath National Park in Phuket. Photo: The Phuket News / file Starting this Sunday (Aug 12), the DNP will encourage visitors to reduce consumption of single-use plastics at all 154 national parks in Thailand. Under the ban, all styrofoam containers will also be banned from being brought into national parks. (See story here.) This Sunday marks the 86th birthday of the Queen Mother Sirikit Kitiyakara, mother to His Majesty The King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. (See stories here and here.) The auspicious day is also celebrated as Mothers Day throughout the Kingdom. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, Thailand is blessed with a landscape abundant in natural beauty, and the importance of protecting this environment cannot be understated. As such, the TAT calls on all tourists local and international to say no to plastic bags and other single-use items. Opt instead for bags, utensils and drink bottles that can be used again and again. Nature is one of the key areas in the TATs Amazing Thailand: Open to the New Shades communication concept, through which it is encouraging tourists to see the kingdom from new and existing perspectives. The DNPs initiative covers plastic and foam bags, food containers, capped water bottles and utensils essentially any item that is typically used one time and then thrown away. The convenience of plastic bags and other such items is obvious, but these are harmful to the environment and much of what is discarded ends up in Thailands seas where it pollutes the water and kills marine life that either mistakes it for food or becomes tangled in it. Some plastics also pose danger to human health as they partially disintegrate. The DNP in its fight against single-use plastics, with the support of organisations like the TAT, represents a move in the right direction to protect Thailands natural and scenic beauty now and in the future. A series of banners, in Thai in the initial stage, has been produced to help spread awareness of the new initiative at the countrys national parks. These encourage people to think of the harm the plastic they throw away will do to the environment, and to instead act in an environment-friendly way. The DNP estimates that its initiative will help reduce about three million items of plastic waste, and that at least 10 million people including the visitors, officials, shop owners, youths and the general public, will join its effort this year. Evidence shows that Rodriguez and Leal were involved in gang activity, Michelle Jatkiewicz, prosecuting attorney, said. The evidence also suggests that Berrios seems to be the likely shooter that killed Rodriguez, Cappas said. But the jury found Rodriguez guilty as an accomplice, the judge said. Phuket officials ordered to crack down on price fraud PHUKET: Local officials have been ordered to strictly check price tags and products in stores across the island to protect consumers from price fraud and being taken advantage of. crimeeconomics By The Phuket News Friday 10 August 2018, 01:47PM A host of local government offices and law enforcement were present to receive the order. Photo: PR Dept A host of local government offices and law enforcement were present to receive the order. Photo: PR Dept A host of local government offices and law enforcement were present to receive the order. Photo: PR Dept The order came from Phuket Provincial Office Chief (Palad) Sakchai Kunanawatchaidej at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (Aug 10) at the second meeting in two days of the Phuket Provincial Office Consumer Protection Subcommittee. Present in person to receive the order were representatives from many other government offices, including law enforcement, on the island. At the meeting it was reported that since Oct 1 last year the Consumer Protection Subcommittee had received 96 complaints 80 of which were still under review; with the remaining 16 resolved, resulting in consumers receiving compensation totalling B892,558. To protect consumers from price gouging and other unethical business practices, Palad Sakchai ordered relevant organisations to strictly check price tags and products of stores to protect consumers from being taken advantage of. In accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, consumers who have been taken advantage of must receive help and a form of recourse, and from this they will be encouraged to have a better understanding of their rights being protected from abuse, he said. The committee also noted that it had received eight complaints about condominium projects whereby consumers had bought units through signed contracts. Some of them had already paid deposits and installments, but construction of the projects had been delayed to the point that the buyers had requested to cancel their contracts and receive their money back. The committee noted that attempts to reconcile the complaints through the developers and consumers had failed, and that the committee had agreed to pass these cases on to the Phuket branch of the Consumer Protection Board for further action. Exactly which condo projects were involved was not disclosed, though only in May this year Emerald Group CEO Sawit Ketroj was taken into custody for defrauding investors of a total of more than B127.5 million. The precise charge is breach of Section 22 of the Consumer Protection Act by providing false statements through advertisements published via the internet and other media, explained Tourist Police Chief Surachet Hakpan, who travelled to Phuket expressly to announce Mr Sawits arrest. (See story here.) The projects affected by the claims were named as: The Emerald City Life Condo Patong; The Emerald Ao Nang Condo (Krabi); The Emerald Terrace Patong; and The Emerald Central. All four projects are developed under separate subsidiaries of the Emerald Development Group Co Ltd. Also of note, the national Office of the Consumer Protection Board from Aug 1 no longer receives complaints via email. Instead, complaints can be submitted through a web form posted on the OCPB website (click here). Alternatively, complaints made be submitted directly by calling the OCPB hotline 1166. Phuket police probe death of baby, struck with broom by stepfather PHUKET: Police are questioning a stepfather who struck a 21-month-old* baby with a broom for playing with his poo. The baby, covered in bruises, died at Thalang Hospital early this morning (Aug 9). deathhomicidepolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Thursday 9 August 2018, 12:31PM The baby, 19-month-old Thanawat Captain Jan-On, died at the Emergency Room of Thalang Hospital at 5:15am. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Staff at the Emergency Room of Thalang Hospital notified Thalang Police that the infant Thanawat Captain Jan-On had died at 5:15am. Capt Jaras Lemparn and other investigating officers of the Thalang Police arrived at the hospital to find green bruises under the babys right eye and other places on the head and on the body. The officers took the stepfather, 28-year-old Aphilak Anukarn, to Thalang Police Station for questioning. Aphilak explained that he had been living with Captains mother, Angkana Jan-On, for about two years at rented a house in Soi 12 in Cherng Talay. They had an 8-month-old baby together and Miss Angkana was pregnant with another child, he said. Captain had been living with them for about three months. The baby was previously cared for by his natural father. Aphilak said that he had hit Captain with a broom because he played with his own poop. He also added that Captain liked to hit the floor with his head. At 3am today, Captain had a spasm and fell unconscious, so he called Miss Angkana, who was working at a convenience store at the time, Aphilak said. Miss Angkana soon arrived at the home and they took Captain to Thalang Hospital. Doctors did their best to help the baby, but he later died, Aphilak said. Police confirmed that have yet to charge Aphilak as they are waiting the results of the post-mortem examination from the hospital, but promised to investigate all people involved in the babys death.. * As confirmed later by the baby's birth ceritifcate, not 19 months old as originally reported. Reach of the ancient empire. Were the Greeks or Romans in Phuket or the Peninsula? The beautiful vessels, the masterpieces of the Greeks, stir white foam on the Periyar River arriving with gold and departing with pepper. History By Colin Mackay Friday 10 August 2018, 09:00AM The roman trading port of Arikamedu, India. Painting: John Cleveley the Younger. These lines from an ancient Tamil poem The Lay of the Anklet, believed to have been written around 200 AD, tell of Greek triremes and trade ships arriving and departing from the rivers of south India. However it remains tantalizingly uncertain today whether these same Greek or Roman trade ships ever came that bit further west to trade directly with the west coast ports of the Malay Peninsula. Certainly there is evidence the Greeks were well aware of the existence of the Malay Peninsula. The first known Greek reference to the peninsula is around 100 BC, when it is referred to as the Golden Khersonese, which was a direct translation of Suvarnabhumi (Golden Island), the Indian name for the peninsula at the time. There is ample archaeological and chronicled evidence that both the Greek and Roman empires traded directly with India and China. Early in the first century ad it is recorded that a Greco-Egyptian sea captain, Hippalus, learned from Indian sailors how to use the monsoon winds to sail directly from the Red Sea across to India. Thereafter trade with the East boomed. The Greek geographer Strabo, writing around 20 BC, tells us that most years a huge Greek trade fleet, numbering up to 120 ships, set off from the Red Sea to make the year-long trip to the Indies and because of this great trade, Strabo noted, These regions have become better known to us today. The Greeks and the Romans established a series of permanent trade colonies in India. One was at Arikamedu on Indias Coromandel (southeastern) coast just a couple of weeks sail across the Bay of Bengal from Phuket, and was probably also regularly visited by Malay trading prows crossing over from the peninsula. Indeed Malay sailors may also have directly visited Greek and Roman ports such as Berenike on the Red Sea. The Romans used the word Seres for Chinese or Asians from further east than India. A report from the Roman historian Julius Flores as early as the reign of the first Roman emperor Augustus (27 BC 14 AD) describes some Seres visiting the city of Rome itself: Even the nations of the world not subject to the imperial sway were sensible of its grandeur Thus the Scythians sent envoys nay the Seres came likewise, and the Indians, bringing with them presents of pearls and elephants. However, according to the Chinese annals, the first Chinese man ever to reach the West was Gan Ying and this was in 97 AD, over a century after Floress account. So who were these earlier Seres in Rome with their gifts of pearls and elephants? (Both were common export items from the Malay Peninsula.) They may well have been Malays from the western peninsula the nearest part of eastern Asia to Rome. Around 140 AD the Greco-Egyptian geographer Claudius Ptolemy wrote his compendium Geographia, which was essentially a travel guide for Greek sailors heading east to trade. In the Geographia some of the physical features of the western Malay peninsular coast are described (although all with the wrong longitudes and latitudes). Ptolemy was a scholar not a sailor and most probably gathered his information in Egypt from returning Arab and Greek or possibly visiting Asian sailors. Ptolemy did note that the main trade emporium on the western Malay peninsular coast was a port called Takola. Takola is presumed by many scholars today to have been Takuapa, in Phang Nga, a Roman gold embossed cape province, just north of Phuket. Ptolemy also makes mention of an island on the west of the peninsula called Saline which may have derived from Phukets old name of Salang or Salon. He noted that In this Island there are a large number of shellfish and the inhabitants are always naked. The Romans were certainly huge consumers of eastern spices and luxuries and it was the maritime trade with Asia, not the better known overland silk road, via which the bulk of this trade was carried. Chinese silk, for example, was so popular in Rome it was at times worth more than its weight in gold. In 78 AD the Emperor Vespasian even had to make an edict prohibiting the export of gold to the East, for this trade was bankrupting the empire. The Roman noble Pliny the Elder complained that, by the lowest reckoning Indians, Seres and Arabs take from our empire millions of sesterces every year that is how much our luxuries and women cost us. His son Pliny the Younger also noted that India is brought near to us by [the Roman traders] lust for gain. It is therefore quite possible that, to try to cut out the probably voracious Indian middlemen, these profit-seeking Greco-Arab and Roman ship captains would have sailed their ships a couple of weeks further east from India to try to reach the markets of the Malay Peninsula directly. As early as 520 AD, when Cosmos Indicopluestes, a Nestorian Christian trader from Egypt, traveled to India, he wrote that Christian communities already existed in Burma and the Malay Peninsula further east. It therefore remains likely, but still frustratingly unproven, whether Greek or Roman triremes or galleons ever appeared in Tharua, Patong or Phang Nga bays or indeed in any other ports on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. No Roman items are recorded as having been found on Phuket Island to date, although, as a form of kwan fa they may have been found and eaten long ago. Ancient glass beads of Mediterranean design, however, were unearthed from mounds on Ko Kaew Island in Phang Nga Bay just off Phuket. Also in Klong Thom, south of Krabi, presumed to be an ancient river port, large quantities of glass beads of Roman and Mediterranean design have also been dug up along with three gold Roman carnelian seals dating from the second century AD. These invaluable golden seals were on public show at the sleepy local museum in Wat Klong Thom until late 2007 when an enterprising thief broke through the wats flimsy corrugated asbestos roof one night and stole the lot. These glass bead mounds unearthed at Klong Thom and Ko Kaew however may just be evidence of an overseas Indian manufacturing trade base, rather like a modern export trade zone. The nearby Indian port (and Roman colony) of Arikamedu was known to be a major bead manufacturer and trade center at the time. In the old riverbed at Klong Thom, near these bead mounds, two ancient wooden ship hulls dating to around the second century AD and presumed to be of Indian origin, have also been dug up. Further official excavation needs to be done at this site where the locals still dig up beads and possibly other artifacts, often apparently unrecorded, to sell to the few visitors who stop off at this important but little-known historical site. Roman artifacts however, have been found in other parts of Thailand, such as Kanchanburi. These include a metal lamp, a Roman ivory comb and a German coin minted in Cologne from the time of emperor Victorinus (26870 AD). Roman coins from the time of Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius (13880 AD) have also been unearthed further east in Vietnam. But such Greco-Roman artifact discoveries in Thailand are paltry compared to those from India where over 6,000 Roman coins have been found. It is also possible that these Roman items arrived in the peninsula only as trade carry. That is, they may have been brought over by Indian, Arab and Persian middlemen to trade. In sum, Manfred Raschke, a leading scholar on Roman commerce in Asia, best summarizes this enigmatic issue of whether the Greeks or Romans ever appeared in the Malay Peninsula by stating that, Much is asserted, but little is yet proven. Adapted with kind permission from the book A History of Phuket and the Surrounding Region by Colin Mackay. Available from good bookshops and Amazon.com. Order the softcover 2nd edition directly at: www.historyofphuket.com Step-father charged over Phuket babys death PHUKET: Police have today confirmed that the step-father of a 21-month-old baby who died yesterday (Aug 9) after being repeatedly beaten with a broom handle has been charged in connection with the death. crimedeathmurderpoliceviolence By Eakkapop Thongtub Friday 10 August 2018, 11:34AM Cherng Talay Police Chief Col Serm Kwannimit interrogates Aphilak Anukarn at the scene of the crime. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Cherng Talay Police Chief Col Serm Kwannimit confirmed today (Aug 10) that following an examination of the body, doctors found green bruises covering many areas of 21-month-old Thanawat Captain Jan-Ons body. Col Serm said that it is possible that 28-year-old Aphilak Anukarn got mad as he needed to take care of his own child and Captain at the same time. Aphilak admitted to police that he started hitting Captain on Sunday afternoon (Aug 5) and this continued until Wednesday evening (Aug 8) when he hit the baby boy even harder. Captain was naughty and this caused me to get angry and hit him to death, Aphilak told police. During a search of the house where Aphilak resides, officers found a broom handle 70 centimetres long and 1.5cm in diameter. Officers kept the broom as evidence. The body of Captain has been taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Surat Thani for a full body reexamination. Aphilak has been charged with battery causing death. Police began questioning Aphilak yesterday after captain died at Thalang Hospital early yesterday morning (Aug 9). Staff at the Emergency Room of Thalang Hospital notified Thalang Police that Captain Jan-On had died at 5:15am. (See story here.) X-Ray Outlaw clampdown nets 72 more illegals NATIONWIDE: A total of 72 people, including three Thais, were arrested during coordinated police raids at 75 locations nationwide frequented by foreigners in the early hours of today (Aug 10). immigrationpolice By Bangkok Post Friday 10 August 2018, 01:03PM Tourist Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn speaks to some of the foreigners arrested during the X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner raids, today (Aug 10). Photo: Tourist Police Bureau Most of them face immigration charges, Tourist Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn said today. Eleven of the suspects (three from Myanmar, one each from India, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Finland, Serbia, and Russia) were charged with overstaying their visas. Forty-six others (23 from Myanmar, nine from India, seven from Cambodia, five from Laos, and two from Vietnam) were charged with illegal entry. The 15 others (10 from Myanmar, three Thais and one Nigerian) were charged with other offences, Maj Gen Surachate said. The string of raids were the 20th in the ongoing crackdown dubbed X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau, Narcotics Suppression Bureau, Tourist Police Bureau, Patrol and Special Operation Division, the Metropolitan Police Bureaus Arintharat 261 special task force, Immigration Office and Chana Songkhram Police were involved, Maj Gen Surachate said. They targeted three international schools, two language schools, 13 secondary schools and 57 other places. To date, a total of 1,904 foreign illegals have been apprehended during raids at 4,159 locations nationwide. Maj Gen Surachate said the crackdown also focuses on Nigerian nationals, with several having been arrested in connection with online romance scams. Based on immigration records, there were about 1,400 Nigerian nationals currently in Thailand. Authorities were checking information about them to deter criminals from using Thailand as a base for their illegal activities, he said. Read original story here. Watertown's return season to Class 11AA ends with quarterfinal playoff loss at Pierre PIERRE A promising start of Watertown High Schools football team didnt hold up Thursday night in a season-ending loss to Pierre in the quarterfinals of the state Class 11AA playoffs. Their setlist for their London shows included many songs from their earlier albums that were rarely or never-before performed during arena tours. The band had only performed "See Emily Play" during TV appearances in the U.K. and U.S. Once Syd had gone, the move was to try new material so David [Gilmour] can sing things [without] having to really recreate Syd for an audience," Mason recalled. Mason also noted that it was difficult at the beginning to re-learn the songs. Being an eternal optimist, I thought it would just come straight back to me. Sadly, I was wrong. Once you start examining Syds work carefully its quite often more complex than you expect," Mason explained. "It's not necessarily written like so many pop songs with an eight-bar section and the middle eights and whatever. It's quite often a completely different set of bar counts to what you're expecting. And that in a way was fun and challenging to get at the feel of the song, but not necessarily feel that we had to sound exactly like Syd or like David or whatever. Mason was surprised that their London shows received positive reactions, he believes they "have found a niche" for themselves as both Roger Waters and David Gilmour, as well as tribute bands, aren't doing. When asked upon the decision of the band name, Mason indicated that it would be a quick way to explain what their band's focus is. He told Billboard, What I didn't want to get caught up in were a lot of people going, 'Well, why don't you play "Comfortably Numb"?' or 'Why don't you do something from The Wall?' I think the name itself indicates where we are and what we're doing. There could be a real possibility that Saucerful of Secrets will bring their shows to the U.S. What I underestimated was the enthusiasm, not of the audience, but of the band, Mason tells Billboard. Pink Floyd was always enthusiastic, but not like this lot is now. Everyone wants to do everything: 'We want to go to America.' 'We want to go to South America.' 'What about Peru?' (laughs). It's like a travel agency. Highlights from the CEOs playbook circa, sadly, 2018. Today I woke up at 4 a.m. and I read the balance of the stuff I hadnt read over the weekend from my mail. I came to work at 8:30 this morning, and I go til about 10:00 tonight. (A working dinner with design staff is slotted in there.) Ill get home by about 10:30 or 11 tonight. Ill probably read whatever mail came from today til about midnight. (So the CEO is clocking a 20-hour day.) Go to sleep, and be back up at 4 a.m. tomorrow. And thats a normal routine. That excerpt, scraped from an interview PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi gave to Freakonomics Stephen Dubner, provides essential context to the announcement this week that Nooyi is stepping away from the top job at the pop and snack food giant after a dozen years at the helm. Corporate America shook upon hearing the news of Nooyis departure, set for Oct. 3, because there are few enough women running big business, because Nooyi is being replaced by a man and because other women CEOs have departed and have themselves been replaced by males. Have we not fixed this yet? Oh, surprise. No. PepsiCo is a $64-billion (U.S.) company, measured by revenues, and Nooyi has arguably steered it competently through a period of declining soda sales and increasing nutritional awareness. The company likes to say that it has three consumer categories: fun for you, better for you and good for you say, Doritos, Smartfood and Master Brew Kombucha and Nooyi has been adept at shaping the companys brand platforms. Four years ago, activist investor Nelson Peltz submitted a 31-page white paper to the board making the case for splitting beverages and snack foods into two publicly traded companies. PepsiCo was underperforming its food and beverage peers, Peltz argued: during the CEOs seven-plus year tenure, PepsiCos total shareholder return of 47% has grown at less than half the rate of the Consumer Staples Index (103%) and competitors like Coca-Cola (115%). PepsiCos EPS growth has also significantly trailed that of peers. In the end, Nooyi prevailed with PepsiCos Power of One strategy. In this guise, Nooyi became one of the too-few standard bearers for women at the top. Or did she? Consider the aforementioned exchange on the Freakonomics podcast in which it becomes apparent that the norm in Nooyis world is the age-old playbook with rules set by a male-dominant corporate culture in which devotion to the job, pretty much 24/7, is the expectation. Did Nooyi believe that theres a standard model for what we think of as the CEO?, Dubner wanted to know. In Nooyis estimation the challenge lies in how to support women seeking a balance between career and family and perhaps aging parents and, well, life. Its got to be a concerted effort on the part of governments, societies, families, companies all of us coming together, she remarked. And yet nowhere in the exchange does she provide examples of ways in which she, empowered, worked to change the culture. On the contrary, Dubner surfaced a clip from an Aspen Ideas Festival appearance in which Nooyi told the tale of one of her daughters complaining of her mothers non-appearance at mother-daughter morning class coffee gatherings at the convent school her daughter attended, held each Wednesday. I developed coping mechanisms, Nooyi recounted. I called the school, and I said, give me a list of mothers who are not there. When she came home in the evening shed say, You were not there, you were not there. And I said, ah ha, Mrs. Redd wasnt there, Mrs. So-and-So wasnt there. So Im not the only bad mother. Theres a surfeit of problematic role-playing there, including the convents own casting of the mother. But its Nooyis own corporately strategic response to her daughters disappointment that stands out. If the CEO cant find, say, an hour one Wednesday morning a month to attend a childs school, then who can? The true leaders approach to this dilemma would be to post a video clip of the coffee gathering for all workers to see. Suggested rubric: The Importance of Family. Workaholism makes no room for such ideas. A year ago Nooyi told Fortune magazine that she gets up every hour to respond to the pinging of her email. Im used to this pace of working at this point, she told the magazine. Thats what I like. In another interview she said she had sacrificed everything she loved because she wanted to do her job well. She told Stephen Dubner that as a woman it was a constant to hear comments along the lines of, Well, a guy CEO wouldnt have said that. Or a guy would have said it differently. You are held to a different standard. She did not address changing or even challenging the standard. She did not address how to change the definition of what it means to be a leader. Women are searching for role models, Nooyi told Dubner. They want to talk to people whove made it to the CEO suite, or to the C-suite Id say more generally, to learn from them as to how theyve operated in a more male setting. But thats precisely the problem: trying to play by the wrong rules. In announcing her resignation Nooyi said shes tired, that her family needs her. Shes 62. When asked by The New York Times whether she did see herself as a good role model for other women she replied, Probably not. Perhaps, like Sheryl Sandberg, she is undergoing a grace of conversion. Sandberg, Facebook executive and author of giga-seller Lean In, saw the world quite differently upon the subsequent death of her husband. Before, I did not quite get it, Sandberg has said. I did not really get how hard it is to succeed at work when you are overwhelmed at home. Perhaps Nooyi too will pen a book. I would like to read how, given all the power with which she was vested, she left the corporate world a better place for her daughters. Facebook Inc.s days as a carefree profit maximizer are numbered, and so is its inflated stock price. Even at its knocked-down share price of $185.18, Facebook stock is not the bargain many investors believe it to be. (All figures in U.S. dollars.) True, Facebooks user base of 1.4 billion accounts for close to one-sixth of humanity. The companys profits have continued to grow. And having shed $147 billion worth of shareholder value on July 25, or more than 19 per cent, the temptation is there to buy the stock on a dip. Yet even at its current, lower price, stock in the 14-year-old social-media juggernaut remains overpriced, and Facebooks total valuation, of $535 billion, looks unsustainable. Facebook faces daunting challenges for which it is not prepared. So does the entire social-media industry. Consider the sloth of Facebook and certain of its peers in waiting until this week to boot Alex Jones, the notorious peddler of incendiary falsehoods, off their platforms. And Jones, a hate-spewing creation of the social-media giants, whose platforms lifted him from obscurity, has not had his account revoked by Twitter Inc. The Jones episode is more evidence of the young social-media industrys inability to police itself. Even Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Facebook, believes regulation of his industry is inevitable. The industry must therefore brace for the same state regulation with which traditional media comply including the libel, hate-speech, anti-defamation and anti-monopoly laws. And that will undermine the industrys current, lucrative Wild West business model. Facebooks business model is to collect ever-increasing amounts of personal data from an ever-larger population of users including the dangerous kooks to whom it provides a platform. It then rents those users to advertisers, who exploit the user data Facebook provides them to precisely target their messages. Facebook is an advertising-revenue business. It is only incidentally an exchange for baby photos and recipes. And the social networks have turned anti-social, especially, given its size, Facebook. In March, it was revealed that the exhaustive data Facebook has accumulated about its users was compromised to manipulate the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum and the U.S. presidential election. But exuberant investors kept the faith. Prior to the July 25 stock drop, they had boosted the price of Facebook stock more than 40 per cent since the revelations of 2016. That was also the year of the tragic live-streamed death of Antonio Perkins, who used Facebook Live to broadcast his suicide. It is untenable that Facebook continue to allow itself to be used to meddle in the affairs of countries and to provide a global stage for the behaviour of deeply troubled people and groups. Yet Facebook stock is still priced to perfection, even after its abrupt fall from its peak value of $217.50 per share July 25. To justify its inflated, albeit diminished, stock-market valuation, Facebook must execute perfectly on each of its growth goals. But thats unlikely to happen, given the enormity of negatives facing social media. Facebooks current price assumes that the unregulated social-networking industry will retain that status. It will not. Facebook already has to cope with strict privacy protections imposed by Europe this year. The U.S. will follow suit. And both jurisdictions are also investigating suspected antitrust practices at social-networking firms. Compliance with regulations newly imposed on them will cut into profit growth at social media firms by curbing user and advertising growth rates. Facebook has effectively saturated the North American and European markets that account for 72 per cent of its revenues. In those core markets, user growth is slowing, and time spent on the network is slipping. Privacy concerns account for some of that fall-off, and they are growing. Yet continual double-digit growth in both metrics is built into the current Facebook share price. Unilever PLC, the giant consumer products firm (Dove soap, Sunlight cleansers, Ben & Jerrys ice cream), is among the companies that have begun threatening to pull their ads from Facebook. We cannot have an environment where our consumers dont trust what they see online, said Unilevers chief marketing officer Keith Weed. Unilever accuses Facebook of failing to protect its users from extremist and illegal content. Obliging advertisers who increasingly worry about their reputations, as social-media firms must do, will curb the user growth that drives ad-revenue growth. Again, the business model is to host as many users as possible, not evict existing ones or turn away disreputable prospective ones. But that model is a public-health hazard. And as long as Facebook fails to clean up its act, its doubtful that the likes of Loblaws, Tim Hortons and the Anglican Church of Canada will continue seeking to be liked on Facebook. Read more: Facebook to banks: Give us your data, well give you our users Fake influence campaigns are luring everyday Facebook users New Facebook and Instagram tools aim to curb your binge A Facebook whose content foments dissent in the West cannot hope to expand more widely in repressive markets like China, a source of growth also factored into Facebooks current lofty share price. Facebook will also struggle in trying to launch new products. This week, Facebook said it will try, with users permission, to obtain their personal financial data from their banks in order to sell financial-transaction services to them. But with Facebook users now unfriending the network on privacy concerns, how likely is it that remaining users will trust Facebook with even more personal data than it already collects? Facebook is the least trustworthy online company, U.S. investment manager Om Malik of True Ventures told Bloomberg Television this week. Malik, an erstwhile Facebook investor, says Facebook needs to be regulated, citing a litany of broken Facebook promises to protect its users. Facebook has long known that it is a cesspool of cyberbullies, fomenters of ethnic violence and Vladimir Putin operatives looking for new ways to disrupt the Western alliance, as they have done with Brexit and the installation of Donald Trump. The ugly truth is that we believe in connecting people so deeply that anything that allows us to connect more people more often is de facto good, Andrew Bosworth, a Facebook vice-president, said in a 2016 leaked internal memo. Maybe it costs a life by exposing someone to bullies. Maybe someone dies in a terrorist attack co-ordinated on our tools. And still we connect people. Facebook finally committed this year to purging at least some questionable content from its network. But Facebooks ultra-sophisticated algorithms continue to connect malevolent people to each other with an efficiency unprecedented in history. It must be granted that Facebook is a significant part of the culture. But like the regulated investor-owned utilities whose ranks Facebook is destined to join, Facebook will no longer command a sky-high market valuation. It will become an income stock rather than a go-go investment. There are worse things than being an income rather than a growth stock. Except for investors who mistake one for the other. Read more about: CALGARYThe United Conservative Party is under fire after a Calgary nomination candidate cast doubt on the legitimacy of climate change in several social media posts. Randy Kerr, who is vying for the UCP nomination to run in the provincial riding of Calgary-Beddington, is a former campaign manager for party leader Jason Kenney. Some of his posts linked to a website with connections to Breitbart News, the far-right U.S. media outlet, which is associated with the so-called alt-right and has been accused of being sympathetic to white nationalism. My first reaction to that is, so what, said Kerr, when asked about the social media posts. Scientific consensus is that climate change is real and humans and their heavy creation of carbon dioxide are the main cause. This summer, extreme heat, wildfires and flooding worldwide have killed hundreds conditions climatologists have attributed to the effects of climate change. In one post from Aug. 13, 2007, Kerr used his personal Facebook account to link to a blog post he said exposes global warming for the hoax weve always known it to be. The post is from Small Dead Animals, a Canadian conservative political blog. My opinion is that this trashes the heart of the global warming theory but I dont expect to see this on the front page anytime soon, Kerr wrote at the time. Read more: UCP nomination hopeful apologizes for Facebook post denouncing homosexuality, same-sex marriage Prab Gills constituents deserve to know if ballot-snatching allegations are true: NDPs Sandra Jansen UCP nominee drama a sign of larger candidate-vetting problem in politics: MRU prof Kerr told the Star the posts were his, but that sharing a post or link doesnt necessarily mean he endorses the information within them. Kerr said he does believe climate change is happening, but there is a lot of debate on the extent to which humans have caused it. Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said there is no debate, adding that the statement is an example of a common trope of conspiracy theorists. Mr. Kerr should take his views to the Flat Earth Society convention in Red Deer, said Phillips. Thats where those views belong. Kerrs Facebook page has a long history of posts denying the existence of climate change, or expressing skepticism about the phenomenon. In April 2017, Kerr shared an anti-climate change article from the Daily Caller, another right-wing U.S. news site website. In October of that year, he posted an article from Calgary-based climate change denial group Friends of Science. Its title was Dont Call Climate Change Skeptics Deniers, Call Us Correct. Kerr posted an article forecasting a mini ice age on Jan. 2, 2018. It was published by Climate Change Dispatch, a site whose managing editor has also written articles for Breitbart. On May 8, Kerr posted a graphic falsely claiming that climate alarmists exaggerate carbon dioxides affect on climate change by failing to account for water vapour and its warming effect on the atmosphere. The idea has been refuted by a U.S. government scientist speaking to the Scientific American. That graphic is credited to Dixon Diaz, a blogger who has spread several hoax images. Another article shared to the account on June 15, entitled Swedish Researchers Confirm 20th Century Global Warming Does Not Stand Out over Past 2500 Years! is from No Tricks Zone, a climate skeptic blog whose posts have previously been debunked by Snopes and picked up by Breitbart. When asked if he considered the blog a reliable source, Kerr said, No, its just an ongoing source. Just another one of the many voices out there. I dont have any view either way, he added. A July 4 post falsely claiming that more than 200 scientific papers in 2018 had cast doubt on climate change also came from Climate Change Dispatch. (A similar article Kerr shared on April 5 comes YourNewsWire.com, which also spreads 9/11 trutherism and a variety of other conspiracy theories.) Kerr also shared an article from the Global Warming Policy Forum, a U.K.-based climate skeptic group, on July 13. When asked if he typically verifies information before sharing it on social media, Kerr said it probably depends whether were having some fun with it or not. Typically theyre very common sources, he said. That one may not have been, but in my search for more reading material on this topic Ill read anything and everything on both sides. Phillips said science has proven that climate change is real, and poses significant risk to Albertas food supply, infrastructure and security, especially in the form of more extreme and frequent natural disasters. This is not a laughing matter, Phillips said. This is not a time for tin foil hats. It is distasteful and it is frankly shocking that Jason Kenney would encourage people with conspiracy theorist views to be seeking public office in this province given whats at stake. UCP executive director Janice Harrington didnt answer questions about how Kerr was vetted before becoming a nomination candidate, and whether or not the party was aware of the social media posts. (In the past, Harrington has said the UCP carefully vets nomination candidates.) Instead, Harrington redirected the Star to a previous interview where Kenney said: Climate change of course is a permanent factor of the natural environment, but theres clearly scientific consensus around it being a significant anthropogenic element to recent climate change, and thats why I support prudent, reasonable measures to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In recent months, several UCP candidates have come under fire for social media posts expressing extreme views. In July, nomination candidate Sandra Kim apologized for a Facebook post denouncing homosexuality and same-sex marriage. She is still seeking the nomination for Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin. Weeks earlier, Brooks-Medicine Hat nomination candidate Todd Beasley was ousted after a social media post surfaced in which he called the Islamic prophet Muhammad a dark age warlord and a pedophile. Not a day goes by, it seems, where we arent faced with yet another example of how Jason Kenneys team is full of people who deny climate change, who hold other views that are simply offside of Albertans and Canadians and that are rooted in conspiracy theories, said Phillips. Kerr said he doesnt think climate change is a major issue for Albertans. I think climate change in general has come up at one door that Ive been at this entire campaign over the last four or five months, he said. Its not a priority for people out there. They want to get people back to work. The UCPs Calgary-Beddington nomination contest is scheduled for Aug. 14. Kerrs opponent for the nomination is Josephine Pon. Emma McIntosh is an environment, justice and investigative reporter with StarMetro Calgary. Follow her on Twitter at @EmmaMci Read more about: EDMONTONA 75-year-old man who took his daughters marriage vow, until death do us part, into his own hands when he fatally shot and stabbed his son-in-law will serve at least 10 years behind bars. Mission accomplished, call the police thats what he said, stated Crown prosecutor Mark Huyser-Wierenga during the sentencing hearing in Edmonton court on Aug. 1, recounting what Roberto Robles told his wife after brutally killing 38-year-old Armando Cosmea-Aspillaga in his Riverbend home. Crown prosecutors Huyser-Wierenga and Aaron Pegg painted a vivid picture of the June 17, 2016 slaying, for which Robles was convicted of second-degree murder this June. Pegg said Cosmea-Aspillaga was stabbed five times, had five pellet gun wounds and multiple slashes on his hands. Pegg said Cosmea-Aspillaga had been ambushed after returning home from work. His last minutes would have been panic, fear, suffering a brutality, said Pegg. Pegg argued Robles killed Cosmea-Aspillaga as a way of taking the law into his own hands, bringing an end to an antagonistic divorce between Cosmea-Aspillaga and Robles daughter, Flavia Robles, ensuring his daughter wouldnt have to share custody of their child or split their marital assets. The prosecution read 15 victim impact statements from friends and family of Cosmea-Aspillaga, the most heart wrenching of which came from his mother and sister who travelled from Havana, Cuba, to sit in the gallery to hear Robles convicted and sentenced. Cosmea-Aspillagas sister, Adelaida Aspillaga, read a statement prepared by their mother, Georgina Aspillaga. There is no life anymore, only suffering, read Adelaida as her mother cried from the gallery, adding, The greatest loss I could have has been done. Robles, who until that point sat calmly in the prisoners box dressed in an orange jumpsuit, wept as Georginas statement was read, crying out, Im sorry, I am so sorry Georgina, after his lawyer, Mike Danyluik, read an apology letter on his behalf. Id prefer to be dead now than to see all the pain I caused, read Robles statement. Danyluik admitted his client had hatred toward the deceased but said it had built up over years, arguing that Robles hadnt planned to kill his son-in-law. Rather, he said, the act was based on personal feelings toward Cosmea-Aspillaga, not an attempt to usurp the family law system. It had nothing to do with the law; it was just personal, Danyluik said. In an interview with police after the killing, Pegg said Robles told police half a dozen times that his death was justice, calling Cosmea-Aspillaga a rat and a piece of junk in his police statements. If I say hes a rat, I offend the rat, Pegg said, quoting Robles statements to police. While Robles had offered heartfelt apologies to Cosmea-Aspillagas family, Pegg said, theres no apology to Armando. Danyluik countered by arguing Robles said Cosmea-Aspillaga didnt deserve to die and fully co-operated with police after Cosmea-Aspillaga was killed. Second-degree murder comes with an automatic life sentence. At his sentencing hearing, the only issue left to debate was the length of time Robles would be ineligible for parole. Crown prosecutors argued that, because of the brutality of the crime and his limited remorse, Robles deserved somewhere between 10 and 15 years before he could be eligible for parole. Citing his age and good standing in the community, Danyluik argued Robles deserved closer to the minimum of 10 years before being eligible for release. In her decision delivered Friday, justice Dawn Pentelechuk said Robles health is deteriorating and that he is at risk for rapid decline while incarcerated. I do accept that he is truly sorry, she said, adding that he has shown that he accepts responsibility. She sentenced him to 10 years in prison before qualifying for parole and also recommended that he be placed at the Drumheller Institution, a medium- and minimum-security prison, because of his health and old age. The two families are shattered, she said, adding, Mr. Robles, you will pay a very heavy price for your crime. Cosmea-Aspillagas sister was not in court for the sentencing, but his mother spoke to reporters afterward, crying at times, as she described her displeasure with the sentence. Shes very upset that things have not gone in her favour, said a translator for Georgina Aspillaga. Not even 100 years that Mr. Robles would have gone to jail, nothing would have made up the life that her son would have had with his daughter. Read more about: In 1995, Wayne Grady visited his hometown of Windsor, Ont., to research his Irish roots. The Kingston-based science writer and translator hoped to learn where in Ireland his paternal family originated from, with the intention of taking his dad overseas for a surprise 70th birthday trip. But what started as a loving gift turned to shock when Grady uncovered a life-altering secret. As the records revealed, Gradys great-grandfather was born in the U.S., and identified on the 1890 Windsor census as Black. Throughout his adult life, Gradys dad had passed as white and kept the truth from his family, including his wife, though Grady says she always suspected. Despite the evidence Grady presented, his father denied his racial identity until his death. Everything became inexplicable, then everything became explicable within a split second, says Grady, who is now 70 himself. I had no idea who I was, or where I was from. Then it all fell into place. All the questions I had about the way we were raised and why we were not in touch with my fathers side of the family made sense. As a writer, Gradys natural next thought was this is a book. Nearly two decades later, he published his first novel, Emancipation Day, as a way of trying to understand what was going through my fathers mind and heart at the time. Emancipation Day follows a charismatic military trombonist named Jack who is stationed in St. Johns during the Second World War. His fair skin allows him to pass as white and escape the legacy of his alcoholic father back in Windsor. Jack marries a young wealthy woman, Vivian, who eventually returns to Ontario with him, and she discovers her husbands secret. For 15 years before he began working on Emancipation Day which won the 2013 Amazon.ca First Novel Award Grady struggled through drafts of a discarded family memoir. It was his wife, fellow author Merilyn Simonds, who told him to get over it, and to tell his personal story through fiction. Writing his followup, Up from Freedom, was a smoother process. Gradys new novel continues exploring his family history, traversing back another 100 years to the 1850s. Up from Freedom is told from the perspective of Virgil Moody, a young Savannah man who vehemently claims he will never own slaves like his father. When he leaves the plantation for New Orleans, Moody brings Annie, a pregnant slave, with him, mistakenly believing he is rescuing her from a terrible fate and that she accompanied him of her own free will. Years later when tragedy strikes, Moody treks north searching for Annies son, Lucas, and attempts to help Tansey, a former slave, and her family get to Canada. The end of the book features an Indianapolis court trial in which Tanseys son, Leason, and her daughter-in-law, Sarah, are tried for fornication because of the belief that Sarah is white. Despite the fact that slavery is illegal in the Midwest city, it is still a dangerous place. Early on, Grady knew that Moodys journey would lead to that courtroom, which is based on an actual event involving his great-great grandparents. Grady wrote other versions of the novel that alternated between Moody and Tanseys internal thoughts, until he realized he needed Tanseys words to be witnessed, especially during the trial scene in which she shares traumatizing details of her enslavement. Im half Black and half white and at a certain level, half of me is Moody and half is Tansey. A lot of whats going on in the novel is those two sides of myself talking to each other, Grady says. But I was raised white, and I dont know how I identity anymore, but I do know I look white and if I walk down the street, I am often identified as a white person. I didnt feel comfortable getting inside Tanseys head as a writer. Despite the fact that Up from Freedom takes place in the 1850s with its roots embedded in one familys history, the novel feels contemporary given how deeply implanted issues surrounding self-identity, racism, allyship and privilege remain today. Just getting out of the location where slavery is legal doesnt mean that youre free, Grady says. Theres a difference between being free and being safe. Thats the reality of not just then, but now. Immigrants to the U.S. and Canada are technically free, but are they safe? If youre not safe, it doesnt matter how free you are. Oddly enough it was my grandmother, a master of Chinese home cooking, who taught me how to make French-style scrambled eggs, a method of cooking eggs that yields a super soft and creamy texture thats almost like a custard. When I was five or six I asked my grandma how to make the eggs in the style of my favourite restaurant dish: McDonalds Big Breakfast platter. Without saying a word, grandma went to work, whisking the eggs and adding a splash of water before cooking the eggs over a low heat and constantly stirring, allowing the eggs to gently set and create soft curd. Obviously, they didnt taste like the eggs McDonalds made; they were better. Grandma passed away long before it occurred to me to ask her where she learned how to cook eggs like that, but since then its how I make scrambled eggs at home. I only learned recently that there was a name for this technique: French scrambled eggs. Some prefer a more liquidy texture similar to a thick pancake batter, but I prefer large, velvety curds that I can pick up with a fork or spoon. It goes great with crusty bread and smoked salmon, or anything that has a salty, briny taste that contrasts the rich, velvety texture of the eggs. While some online recipes for French scrambled eggs say they take longer than the regular scrambled eggs, its really just an extra five minutes of cooking time that will truly improve your egg game. Smoked Salmon and French-style Scrambled Eggs Sandwich 1/2 cup (125 mL) arugula 1 tsp (5 mL) apple cider vinegar Kosher salt and pepper, to taste 3 large eggs 2 tbsp (30 mL) water 1 tbsp (15 mL) unsalted butter 1 ciabatta bun or demi baguette, sliced in half 2 oz (60 g) smoked salmon, about 3 slices In a small bowl toss arugula with cider vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and water. Set aside. In a medium-sized skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat, swirling pan to evenly melt butter. When the butter starts to bubble, add whisked eggs. Using a spatula, gently swirl and push eggs around pan constantly, allowing eggs to slowly thicken to a consistency similar to silken tofu, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Assemble sandwich by layering arugula, eggs and smoked salmon. Serve immediately. Makes 1 serving. Its kind of a crazy story: a stunning house in Kuala Lumpur designed by a Toronto architect is cast as the home of crazy rich Asians in a Hollywood movie of the same name. And the proud family of five who actually live there have a blast when their home became a bit of a madhouse for 13 hours during filming last year. The Warner Bros. movie, Crazy Rich Asians, is a romantic comedy based on a novel by Kevin Kwan. It opens in Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 15. The plot follows Rachel (played by Constance Wu) and her boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding) to Singapore for a friends wedding. Nick introduces her to his very wealthy family who have different plans for the dashing young man, considered to be the Prince Harry of Asia. Cut to the silent star of the film: Be-landa House, built on stilts among the treetops on a jungle hillside. Designed by Stephanie Maignan, who moved to Toronto last summer after working in Malaysia for 15 years, the six-bedroom, contemporary oasis belongs to Jan and Ineke Hofstede and their three kids aged 15, 18 and 20. The lower, open-air living room steps above the pool was the scene of the tea-drinking ladies gossip session in the movie. The Hofstedes, who moved to Malaysia in 1992, asked Maignan to design their home on a 34-degree slope. (Be-landa, Maignan explains, means Dutch in the local language.) They came to us with this jungle lot they bought which was the most challenging place for us to build on, says Maignan, who partnered with Amanda Teh to set up their architectural firm, 29 Design, in 2005. It took a crazy amount of time, five years from first draft to completion in 2014, thanks to monsoons, landslides and newly-imposed construction requirements. The house consists of three pavilions on different levels, linked by a glass-walled bridge and seven staircases necessary for vertical connection because of the slope. The engineer called me a crazy architect because of what we were asking, laughs Maignan, who took her design cues from the Hofstedes affinity for the tropics and Southeast Asian lifestyle. It worked well for filming, Maignan adds. In a scene in one of the two living rooms that sit atop each other, Nicks mother reads passages from the Bible while her guests gossip over tea. Theres a really nice drone shot of the $2-million property, says Jan Hofstede, whos very proud of our resort-style house in the middle of a busy city that boasts 8,000 square feet of space. Just as well, when 100 cast and crew members plus 26 trucks of equipment, Chinese antiques and art showed up for a day in 2017. The family spent three days preparing then another two putting everything back, says Hofstede, a regional managing director for a German farming equipment company. He said it was quite something to have their home appear in a Hollywood film. An amazing experience from living in a very quiet community to having about 100 people with equipment taking over your house, to complete silence again, Hofstede said in an email. Director Jon Chu (a really nice guy) took their 15-year-old son under his wing to explain the filmmaking process, he adds. American-born Maignan, whos a senior design associate at Toronto-based B+H Architects, is equally tickled by the global exposure of her Malaysian masterpiece. Will she see it on the big screen? Of course! she says. Theres a group of us from the office going as the cheering section for Be-landa House. How crazy is that? SAINT-CHARLES-SUR-RICHELIEU, CANADAMembers of the Hells Angels biker gang and their sympathizers have begun arriving in Quebec for a weekend gathering. Authorities ramped up checkpoints and their overall presence today in the southwestern Quebec region where gang members will be staying. The Canada Run the Hells annual gathering is being held this year in St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, southeast of Montreal. Authorities say some 500 full-patch Hells members and up to 200 sympathizers are expected to attend. Police were keeping tabs today on who was coming into the area before allowing them to proceed. The gathering is being held in Quebec for the first time since 2008. The mandatory meeting for full-patch members is described by authorities as a show of force by the gang, with rivals and police the target audience. Police say the 500-odd full-patch members across the country include 80 in Quebec where the gang is stronger than ever and controls between 95 and 98 of the drug trafficking market. Read more about: OTTAWARussian spies lurking in the Canadian shadows may toil in secret, but theyre still employees of Moscow and therefore their children are not Canadian citizens, the federal government is telling the Supreme Court. In a newly filed court submission, the government argues the Toronto-born son of Russian intelligence agents should be denied Canadian citizenship, the same exception that applies to any child born in Canada to a foreign diplomat. Ottawa is fighting a Federal Court of Appeal ruling that effectively affirmed the Canadian citizenship of Alexander Vavilov and, through a related case, his older brother. Alexander, 24, and Timothy, 28, were born in Canada to parents using the aliases Donald Heathfield and Tracey Ann Foley. The parents were arrested eight years ago in the United States and indicted on charges of conspiring to act as secret agents on behalf of Russias SVR, a successor to the notorious Soviet KGB. Heathfield and Foley admitted to being Andrey Bezrukov and Elena Vavilova. They were sent back to Moscow as part of a swap for prisoners in Russia. Alexander, who finished high school in Russia, changed his surname to Vavilov on the advice of Canadian officials in a bid to obtain a Canadian passport. Read more: Toronto-born son of Russian spies fights for Canadian citizenship Second son of Russian spies wins legal battle over Canadian citizenship Feds appeal ruling that handed Canadian citizenship back to Toronto-born son of Russian spies But he ran into a snag at the passport office, and in August 2014, the citizenship registrar said the government no longer recognized him as a Canadian citizen. The registrar said his parents were employees of a foreign government at the time of his birth, making him ineligible for citizenship. The Federal Court of Canada upheld the decision. But in June 2017, the appeal court set aside the ruling and quashed the registrars decision. It said the provision of the Citizenship Act the registrar cited should not apply because the parents did not have diplomatic privileges or immunities while in Canada. Share your thoughts On the strength of the ruling, Alexander has since been able to renew his Canadian passport and he hopes to live and work in Canada calling his relationship with the country a cornerstone of his identity. Although it involves the same central issue, Timothys case proceeded separately through the courts. In a decision earlier this year, the Federal Court said the ruling on Alexander equally applies to Timothy, making him a citizen. The registrars original conclusion to the contrary was logical and justified, the government argues in its submission to the high court. The parents purpose for being in Canada was akin to that of other employees of a foreign government: they were dedicated to serving their home country, except in their case, the employment was carried out clandestinely. The broadly worded formulation of the provision seeks to treat the children of all employees in Canada of foreign governments in the same fashion, regardless of whether they are the children of diplomats, consular officials or spies, the submission says. The registrars interpretation was reasonable and no convincing analysis has been put forward to show that it was unreasonable. The decision was justified, transparent and intelligible. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case in early December in tandem with appeals by Bell Canada and the National Football League over whether Canadian viewers can watch American TV commercials during the Super Bowl game. The disparate topics pose common questions about the nature and scope of judicial review of administrative actions. In its submission on the Vavilov case, the government argues the courts should take a deferential approach when reviewing administrative decisions like that of the registrar of citizenship, with only very limited exceptions. Alexander Vavilov has not yet submitted arguments to the court. Lawyer Hadayt Nazami, who represents the brothers, has said the federal rationale leads down an absurd and purposeless path and that accepting the governments position would result in uncertainty about an individuals fundamental right to citizenship. Read more about: CALGARYThe dust continues to settle on Calgarys cannabis retail market, but several major players including Calgary Co-op are emerging. As of Thursday afternoon, the grocery, liquor, and gas station retailer had also received city approval for 11 different cannabis store locations, according to spokesperson Karen Allan. She said two other locations are still awaiting a decision. Its difficult to tell which companies will end up securing the most turf in Calgary, especially as city staff continue to sift through applications. Of 260 active ones, 83 had been accepted as of Thursday at noon, according to city figures. Eleven were pending appeal and 61 were been refused. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission must also approve operators before they can open. But Co-op appeared to hold the lead among city approvals for major cannabis store applications in Calgary as of Thursday. Even Jeff Mooij, president of 420 Premium Market, admitted they are a major player. Theres no doubt about it, he said. 420 Premium Market has also staked a large claim on cannabis store locations. The company previously told StarMetro Calgary theyd made a dozen applications, and confirmed on Thursday that seven of their locations had been approved. The ones we wanted to get approved, are, so were pretty happy with that, Mooij said. Two other store locations were turned down, but he said 420 Premium Market didnt expect theyd pass muster with the city. I think, eventually, if we get up to 10 in the city, well be happy, he said. But another prospective cannabis retailer claimed to already be close to that. NewLeaf Cannabis said 9 of their stores had been approved, and 2 were denied, but Chief Administrative Officer Angus Taylor said theyre hoping to overturn those. And theres a couple we might just not get, he said, noting they might be too close to other cannabis store locations, which could violate provincial regulations. Calgary aside, NewLeaf is also waiting to hear back on applications made for locations in other cities. Were still waiting on Medicine Hat, and theres a couple in Edmonton that are still working their way through the list, Taylor said. We think, by the end of next week, we should have a pretty good idea of everything were going to get. The big retailers expect to lose a couple of stores to the approval process both by the City of Calgary and the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, which will license store operators. Smaller chains with a handful of stores arent so able to lose locations, although several anticipate pulling through. They do have more resources, they have more people, and they have a lot more money than I do, said Vlassis Douvis, owner of Anthos, a single location on Bowness Rd. But I have something that they dont I love my customers, and my customers love me. He owned three head shops, called Hemp Roots, but split them up among his family to try and open two cannabis stores. The city turned down one of his applications for a store because, Douvis said, another prospective cannabis retailer got a licence for the building he was hoping to open in. Douvis said he and several other small-scale cannabis retailers believe the bigger chains are trying to choke them out of business. Several big-chain applications ended up encircling the smaller ones, he said, and many bigger retailers were able to get lower development permit numbers meaning the city reviewed their applications first. But Justin Woo, owner of Bud Bar, said smaller chains have their benefits. I think our prospects are as good as the chains right now, he said. Its a newer industry. No one has established the winning concept yet, and I think theres a lot of opportunities for new ideas and thinking outside the box. Just one of his three store applications near 16 Ave. and 4 St. NW has been approved. One of the others has been rejected, but Woo is currently appealing, and the city hasnt yet ruled on the third. He said Bud Bar will be OK, even if it only has one store because, unlike some major chains, they didnt sink a lot of money into securing multi-year leases for storefronts before getting approved. Weve given (our landlords) a deposit first and last months rent but if we dont get our licence, then were not on the hook for the five-year lease, Woo said. Despite the difficulties faced by small cannabis retailers, Douvis said he has personal connections with many of the customers at his Hemp Roots head shops which puts him at an advantage over big chains. And Woo acknowledged that running a smaller operation made him nimbler when it came to finding a landlord. Jonathan Denis, a partner with Guardian Law Group and director of the Canadian Cannabis Chamber, said big chains and small stores can each play their own role in Calgary. He used private liquor stores as an example: while Liquor Depot is a chain, specialty stores such as Willow Park Wine and Spirits are renowned for their connections to local communities. I definitely think theres room for both in the marketplace, but at the same time, thats going to be up to the consumer to decide, Denis said. Read more about: An anti-Islam organization has postponed a rally scheduled for Saturday after drawing widespread condemnation from organizations and Toronto city councillors. The World Coalition Against Islam, a Calgary-based far-right group, planned to gather at Nathan Phillips Square for what would have been its first rally in Ontario. It was set to mark the one-year anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., where Heather Heyer, 32, was killed when a far-right protester rammed his car into the crowd. WCAI posted a public statement on Facebook Thursday afternoon calling people snowflakes for reacting negatively to the rally that was to fall the day before the anniversary of the fatal Charlottesville car attack, which the group says was a total coincidence. Due to people being snowflakes about the Aug. 11 date coincidentally being on the same day as Charlottesville last year and groups pulling out and there being a Bollywood festival scheduled at Nathan Phillips Square, I have decided to postpone the rally, the statement read. WCAI had an active presence in Calgary, where they were denied permits by city officials who cited the groups hateful messages. Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, whose ward includes Nathan Phillips Square, called the Aug. 11 rally a disappointing reminder that, as far as we have come as a society, many still cling to violent prejudice. In her statement, Wong-Tam condemned the group, who she says reject the very foundational values of the country, but added that she stands by their right to march and protest. Mayor John Tory also spoke out Thursday. Hatred and acts of violence against any identifiable group have no place in this city, he said. City staff assure me that no permit has or will be issued for any rally in Nathan Phillips Square, regardless of when the hate rally is being organized for, he said in the statement. Toronto city council spokesperson Paula Chung said the group did not apply for a permit to rally at the square, but didnt need to. Protesters and counterprotesters are both allowed to gather at the square, she said. Several groups also condemned the public appearance of WCAI. The Steelworkers Toronto Area Council and the United Jewish Peoples Order were organizing a counterprotest in the same area. The National Council of Canadian Muslims, the Urban Alliance on Race Relations and other community organizations had planned to hold a news conference Friday at city hall to denounce the rally. The news conference has been cancelled in light of the postponement. In a combined statement Thursday afternoon, the Muslim council and race relations alliance welcomed the news that the rally had been rescheduled, but noted that postponing the rally means it could still happen at a later date. While we welcome the postponement of the planned rally, we note that the organizers have indicated the possibility of rescheduling it for a future date. As such, we will continue to monitor and alert our communities to any such event, said Ihsaan Gardee, executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims. The planning of this event, which was due to fall on the first anniversary of the racist, neo-Nazi gathering in Charlottesville, U.S., gave us all a disturbing insight into what can happen when ignorance, racism and Islamophobia join together with the intention of dividing our communities. It is critical that we do not become complacent in our rejection of racism and other forms of hate, said Nigel Barriffe, president of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. The Muslim council says it has recorded a significant spike in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes happening across the country especially in the GTA. WCAI has not announced a new date for the rally. Tuesdays rare flash flood spilled a huge amount of raw sewage into Lake Ontario, leaving a repulsive, potentially sickening mess the Star saw first-hand on Thursday. Ew, thats disgusting, said Katrina Wells of Markham, who was waiting for a water taxi to the Toronto Islands when the Star showed her a picture of what was floating in the harbour. I guess it would be a problem if I fell in the water. The Star had joined Toronto-based water-monitoring group Swim Drink Fish as it tested water in the harbour for E. coli contamination. The results of those tests wont be back for at least 24 hours, but levels of the bacterium were already more than 100 times greater than the standard for beach water quality of 100 E.coli bacteria per 100 millilitres of water before Tuesdays storm. After the flash flood, the results were plain to see: condoms, tampons, feminine hygiene pads, syringes and needles amid a floating mass of gunk. This is a vital area of the city and were just hoping to make the water here swimmable, drinkable and fishable, said Elise Mackie, community monitoring co-ordinator for the group formerly known as Lake Ontario Waterkeepers. Read more: Toronto infrastructure overwhelmed by rare storm, experts say Toronto politicians cant hide from the increasingly extreme weather Some of the debris Thursday came from downtown Torontos old plumbing system, which carries household waste and whatever gets swept through storm drains in the same pipes pipes that overflowed Tuesday. Modern cities, and some of Torontos younger suburbs, are outfitted with separate sewer systems which segregate human waste and storm water, a setup which became standard in the 1950s and 60s. Ontario released more than eight million cubic metres of untreated sewage and runoff into its waterways in 2016, according to Environment Canada. It certainly makes me sad to see it and count it every now and then, Mackie said. Mackie and a group of volunteers set out every Tuesday and Thursday mornings to sample locations not already monitored by the city. The city of Toronto regularly conducts water monitoring at 11 beaches, but it does not do so on at the rest of the waterfront, where people can regularly be seen fishing, boating and surfing. Toronto Public Health spokesperson Mahesh Patel said waterfront areas such as Humber Bay Park and Harbourfront are not designated as public beaches. Swim Drink Fish president Mark Mattson said the citys waterfront has undergone a significant revitalization, and more activities are taking place at the harbour. Separating the sewage from rainwater should be a priority going forward, he insisted. The giant dreams are blossoming here, but theyre running into giant mistakes of the past, he said, noting the city of Kingston recently spent a lot of money separating its sewage system. Its going to take both willingness and imagination of our politicians to fix those mistakes. Swim Drink Fishs goal is to test water quality and E. coli levels. It takes samples into an incubator at an in-house laboratory and gets results a day later. The group says the findings are often ugly. Since May, 23 samples taken at Bathurst Quay have indicated E. coli levels exceeding recreational water-quality standards, said Mackie. On Aug. 2, the level at Bathurst Quay was more than 10 times greater than the acceptable standard of 100 E. coli bacteria per 100 millilitres (a little under half a cup) of water, set by the provincial Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. On Aug. 7, the day of the storm, results from Marina 4 near Queens Quay and Rees St. registered E. coli levels 249 times greater than the standard, the highest the group has recorded at the location. At Bathurst Quay, E. coli levels were 130 greater than the standard. When levels of the bacteria exceed the standard, seven out of 2,000 people would get sick from ingesting or swimming in that water, said Mackie. Anything from gastrointestinal sickness, skin rash, ear infections, she explained. E. coli is just an indicator of bacteria. The thought that the water may be contaminated, even on days when it looks clean on the surface, worries Ro Omrow, a scuba diver with Ontario Underwater Explorers. We generally just used our eyes to test if the water was clean, he said about his club diving at the Humber Bay shore. Last year he approached Swim Drink Fish about water testing at their diving place, and he has since been bringing in water samples every week. When tests shows the E. coli levels exceed the standards, the group still dives, but they take more precautions, such as showering right after diving, Omrow said. It would absolutely make a difference if the city did the testing, he said. Probably more frequent, and maybe at other diving clubs too. Were going to be pushing for commitment, because we would like to take the house off the property. We dont want to demolish it, but we would like to have the property free, he said. One year after they were acquitted of sexually assaulting a colleague, three Toronto police officers remain suspended with pay marking three-and-a-half years that the trio have been compensated while off work. Constables Leslie Nyznik, Sameer Kara and Joshua Cabero have not been charged with professional misconduct under the provinces Police Services Act in connection with the 2015 incident. Officers who are charged criminally often also face police act charges regardless of the outcome of their criminal case. Because of a time limit placed on misconduct charges under the Police Services Act six months after an incident or after a complaint has been made Toronto police have had to appeal to the civilian police board for permission to lay misconduct charges in this case. It has been more than three years since a female parking enforcement officer, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, came forward with allegations that she was sexually assaulted by the off-duty officers in a downtown hotel room. An investigation was launched by Toronto police professional standards, resulting in the criminal charges. Meaghan Gray, a spokesperson for the Toronto police, said in an email last week that an appeal has been drafted and submitted to the board for consideration. Its not clear when that appeal was made. Gray said she did not know the date it was sent, and a Toronto police board spokesperson said decisions about police misconduct charges beyond the six-month time limit are confidential a decision made by the board at an April 2016 meeting. Read more: Sexual assault victims often decide against giving rape kits to police, study finds One in seven sex assault cases in 2017 deemed unfounded, Statistics Canada says Government inaction on Greyhound route cancellations will endanger women fleeing abuse, advocate says Peter Brauti, the lawyer representing Cabero, called the delay unacceptable. Brauti said he could understand why the service may have wanted the officers in a limited role while the charges were outstanding, but noted they have since been found not guilty. Their desire is to return to work, Brauti said, noting the Toronto polices professional standards division the unit that lays misconduct charges against officers attended the trial each and every day. At the conclusion of the trial they knew exactly what the evidence was, so why, 12 months later, are they sitting around, suspended and not able to work? One year ago this month, Superior Court Justice Anne Malloy found the three officers not guilty of one count each of sexual assault, stemming from a January 2015 incident. Malloy concluded she could not convict the officers beyond a reasonable doubt because of inconsistencies in the complainants account, but noted she did not necessarily believe the testimony of Nyznik, the sole officer to testify during the trial. She was also critical of the officers behaviour on the night in question, when the group was participating in a rookie buy night, a booze-fuelled initiation ritual that has since been banned by Toronto police. Among the concerns Malloy raised in her ruling was the fact that Nyznik while the group was at the Toronto strip club the Brass Rail lied to a stripper and told her the group was a pornographic movie crew. Michael Lacy, the lawyer representing Kara, said given that the matter is still not complete as (Kara) remains suspended from active duty, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time. The lawyer representing Nyznik could not be reached for comment. If the Toronto police board decides misconduct charges should be laid against the officers, it will launch a tribunal process that could stretch for months or longer, with the officers likely suspended with pay for the duration. If they are found guilty of misconduct, the consequences range from a reprimand to dismissal. A Toronto police constables base salary ranges between $66,462 and $94,949 per year, according to the services website. Ontario is the sole province in Canada where police chiefs do not have the power to suspend officers without pay unless they are sentenced to jail time. Police chiefs have long been calling for changes that would allow them greater powers to suspend officers without pay in part because its a source of frequent public complaints. Through its policing legislation, the previous Liberal government proposed changes that would expand the circumstances under which police chiefs could suspend officers without pay. Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford has criticized that omnibus legislation Bill 175, the Safer Ontario Act saying it hurt policing efforts in the province. Fords government has already halted the implementation of one part of the legislation a new act governing the police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit and has said his government would conduct a full and thorough review of the remainder of the legislation, some of which is scheduled to come into effect next year. WARSAW, POLANDWith the nation embroiled in a bitter dispute with the European Union over its drift away from Western democracy and the rule of law, and similarly concerned protesters taking to the streets weekly, Poland is at a crossroads. But at this critical moment, the man who set Poland on its current course, and who has arguably done more to shape the country than any single politician since it broke free of Soviet domination three decades ago, has been largely absent. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, 69, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice Party and the most powerful politician in Poland, is not well. Ever since he went to the hospital in May, for what was described at the time as a knee surgery to treat osteoporosis, there have been questions swirling about his health. He ended up staying in the hospital for 37 days, and since he left, he has only made a handful of public appearances. His absence has already led to jockeying for power within his party, and exposed deep divisions that could ultimately prove its undoing. Until now Kaczynski has kept the power of different factions in check, said Wojciech Przybylski, the editor-in-chief of Visegrad Insight and chairman of Res Publica Foundation in Warsaw. But the fight for the dominance will be bloody between leaders from the younger generation. Government officials have sought to tamp down concerns about the party leaders health, as has Kaczynski himself, dismissing the idea that he will be leaving the scene anytime soon as rubbish. Still, there have been hints that Kaczynskis condition is far graver than officials have let on, including recent comments made on a private Polish radio station by the deputy minister of health, Lukasz Szumowski. His state of health was such that not admitting him to a hospital might have resulted in a threat to his life and the likelihood of that was high, he said. Kaczynskis health has been a topic of discussion not just in Poland but also in Brussels, where officials confirm that his condition is serious and that there is considerable interest in what it will mean for Poland and its fraught relationship with the European Union. We dont know the truth about his health, said Olgierd Annusewicz, deputy head of the Centre for Political Analysis at the University of Warsaw. Its hidden. Its more hidden than the health of the first secretaries from the days of the Soviet Union. Whatever the case, Kaczynskis absence has been unmistakable. And it has raised questions about what happens when he leaves the scene and what will become of his grand vision for the country. Kaczynski is hugely important to Law and Justice, Annusewicz said. He is at the core of its DNA. Kaczynski has worked to manipulate various factions for his own interests and further secured his position by dispatching those who might pose a challenge to the sidelines, ensuring that no one else accrues too much influence. There is no obvious heir apparent and no one, at the moment, who shares Kaczynskis popular support or political skill. Still, signs of an internal power struggle within Law and Justice have been growing. Annusewicz, describing the infighting, used an analogy often attributed to Winston Churchill trying to figure out what was happening in the Kremlin. Its like bulldogs fighting under a carpet, he said. The struggle is largely hidden from public view but once the bones of the loser spill out it is clear a battle has been waged and who has won. Kaczynski, in a July interview with the right-wing news weekly Sieci, downplayed concerns about his health, saying the reason for his lengthy hospital stay was an acute knee infection involving dangerous bacteria. I am getting better, he said. All is getting better. But he also said that the government needed to act with a renewed sense of urgency. Let me say this very clearly: We need to move forward, we need to go faster, we need to launch new projects, we need to push ever harder, he said. And he acknowledged the growing divisions within his own ranks. Those intergovernmental disputes that, if Im being honest, are going on, need to be crushed, he said. Among those competing for power are the nations president, prime minister, justice minister, and interior minister. According to recent polling, none of them has broad public support. In fact, half of all respondents have no idea who could replace Kaczynski. Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski, 50, is the closest to Kaczynski, a friend for more than 25 years, and is on the top of many political analysts lists of possible successors. He is one of Kaczynskis most trusted advisers and is part of an exclusive club that is known inside the party as the convent. The group consists of a handful of senior Law and Justice politicians who have stood by Kaczynski since the 1990s, even before the party itself was founded. Over the years, as other politicians in Law and Justice came and went either after they challenged Kaczynski and failed or aggravated him in some other way the convent stood strong, following his orders and forgoing any personal ambitions. Since Law and Justice came into power in 2015, they have all been rewarded with prestigious posts, including Parliament speaker and heads of various ministries. Brudzinski is known as a fighter, outspoken and frequently crass. He has equated the threat of political correctness with terrorism. He joked that European feminists would want to buy roses for young, horny bulls called refugees who once again might feel provoked to rape on New Years Eve. For years, Brudzinski served as the president of the Law and Justice executive committee and has been responsible for managing the partys local structures, which has made him the second most powerful politician in Law and Justice. He is considered intelligent, though he is perceived to be more of a skilful manager and executor of Kaczynskis will than a charismatic leader. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has the highest profile and has become the nations public face in its disputes with the European Union, but he is still perceived as an outsider within Law and Justice and does not have wide support within the party. The countrys president, Andrzej Duda, who was plucked from obscurity by Kaczynski to run for president, lost the confidence of the party leader after he unexpectedly vetoed an earlier attempt to reform the judiciary. Kaczynski refuses to confirm that Duda will run for president in 2020 as the Law and Justice candidate. The differences between possible successors in terms of ideology are almost nonexistent, Annusewicz said. They arent fighting for their vision for Poland to win, they are only after the power and lucrative posts at state companies. In his brief public appearances, Kaczynski has appeared frail, relying more heavily on a cane for support. He undergoes two hours of physiotherapy five times a week and is still taking antibiotics to shake off the dangerous infection, according to party officials. He needs to have a surgery to replace his knee joint with an artificial one, but it will happen only after the local elections this fall, according to associates. In the past, a date for those October elections would have been set by now. But there is speculation that Kaczynskis health problems have kept him from drawing up lists of candidates. Brudzinski recently cautioned that Kaczynskis reign would not be coming to an end any time soon, saying that all those dauphins who fantasize about replacing the party boss must be prepared to be very patient. The chairman is in full control of what is going on in the party, he insisted. And is not planning a political retirement. Can Premier Doug Fords move to shrink council be stopped? This is the question being considered in legal circles across the city in the face of whats being called an arbitrary and undemocratic cut to the number of wards in Toronto from 47 to 25. When Fords government tabled Bill 5, the Better Local Government Act, on July 30, he did so without first making it part of his campaign platform ahead of the June election and without consultation with the city or its residents. In doing so, the Progressive Conservatives directly intervened in an election campaign that was already three months in. Ahead of a special council meeting scheduled on Aug. 20 to discuss the citys options, the Star looked at the potential legal challenges being considered behind the scenes by city staff, candidates and citizens groups and talked to legal experts and consulted legal precedents to to assess their chance of success. It appears it would be difficult to see the legislation permanently struck down for this and all future elections, though several credible and creative arguments may, if a judge decides they are worth hearing out, push the changes off to a future election. Heres whats being considered. Does the legislation violate unwritten principles of the Constitution? Experts say there are avenues that have been created in the last 20 years that were not available when several municipalities and a large group of citizens fought a similar, sudden change to the citys makeup in 1997. At that time, the legal challenge was against the PC governments legislation that created the City of Toronto by amalgamating several municipalities. The challengers lost or were rejected at each level of court. In the face of Fords proposed changes, two scholars at York Universitys Osgoode Hall Law School have outlined their view that the legislation is an affront to democracy, as one, Craig Scott, wrote in an recent opinion piece in the Star, and that the arbitrary nature of the legislation, which effects only Toronto and was introduced in the middle of the election, leaves room for a legitimate constitutional challenge. The unwritten principles, including democracy, were spelled out in a 1998 Supreme Court of Canada decision known as the secession reference. A reference case is when the government asks the court to rule on important legal questions. In this case, then-prime minister Jean Chretiens government asked the court to weigh in on whether Quebec had the right to unilaterally separate from the rest of the country. Under the Constitution, the province has exclusive legislative jurisdiction over cities, Scott explained. Toronto is not afforded any outside power, which is why it is often said the city is a creature of the province. But the unwritten principles underlying the Constitution, the Supreme Court wrote, create legal obligations ones Scott wrote can apply to municipal governance. These unwritten principles have been used successfully to argue for government decisions to be overturned, noted Bruce Ryder, an Osgoode professor, including saving the Montfort hospital, the only francophone teaching hospital in Ontario, on the grounds that its slated closure by the government violated the unwritten principle of the protection of minorities. I dont think a court would dismiss the argument right away, Ryder said of the constitutional principles. Were not claiming that the province cant alter the municipality. I think it would be wrong to try to argue that. Were just claiming that they have to do so in a way thats respectful of democracy, including democracy at the municipal level, and they havent done it here by introducing this bill in mid-electoral process with no consultation. Does the proposed legislation violate charter rights? As was the case during the fight against amalgamation, many have raised the argument that Bill 5 violates citizens charter rights, including those registered to run for office in the 47-ward system. There are many different rights under the charter. Some, like section 3, which says every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein, do not apply to municipal governance, the courts have ruled. Experts say these types of challenges may be easily dismissed, because they have no reasonable prospect of success. Other rights enshrined in the charter could form part of a credible case, and are being considered, including section 15 rights, which are meant to protect against discrimination. This charter right was also raised during the amalgamation fight, where it was argued that the increase in the number of constituents each representative would be responsible for would negatively impact disadvantaged groups and their access to decision-making. The Court of Appeal found there was not sufficient evidence presented beyond speculation to find that section of the charter had been breached. But building a better, evidence-based case could produce a different, albeit difficult to achieve, outcome, experts said. Does the imposed structure of 25 wards provide effective representation for Toronto voters? The citys legal team raised the possibility there is an argument to be made about effective representation. But legal experts say this challenge would be highly unlikely to succeed. The principle comes from a 1991 Supreme Court case involving riding boundaries in Saskatchewan. Like the secession decision, the Saskatchewan case was also a reference, looking at provincial riding boundaries. Torontos consultants who conducted a recent ward boundary review, used the case as a basis for the recommended and council-approved 47-ward structure that would be undone by the provincial legislation. Effective representation, the court ruled, does not guarantee equal voting power meaning there is no realistic expectation that there will be the exact same number of people in every ward or riding. The most important criteria of effective representation, the court said, was relative voter parity. The court outlined that deviations from perfect voter parity may be necessary for several reasons, including, the court ruled, to consider things like community history such as not breaking up a neighbourhood like Regent Park. Effective representation as defined by the court, is tied directly to section 3 of the charter, which speaks to federal and provincial elections but not municipal ones, with the court saying the purpose of that right to vote enshrined in that section is the right to effective representation. Because of that, Osgoodes Ryder said, the right to effective representation doesnt exist in the municipal context and cant be the measure of the validity of Bill 5. Can a fair, legal election be run in the time allotted? During a council debate shortly after Ford made his announcement, the city clerk, Ulli Watkiss, said it was clear that city staff cannot run an election with a nomination day that ends of Sept. 14 and be ready to have an advance vote on Oct. 6, noting she cant print ballots or test the machines that read them in three weeks. However, its believed if the city makes this argument, a solution that could be offered by the province is moving the election date back from Oct. 22 through regulation. Council is expected to hear more from staff about the logistical problems at the special meeting on Aug. 20. Have candidates been harmed? At least one legal challenge has been launched already by a councillor candidate, lawyer Rocco Achampong. A notice of application filed July 31 asked for an interim suspension of Bill 5, preventing it from coming into force, before his case can be heard. He argues candidates, campaign workers, volunteers, election officials and staff, and the electors of the city of Toronto are all harmed by the late-game changes and that the risk of unfairness or perception of unfairness could diminish public confidence in the democratic process. Several candidates have noted that they have already received donations from members of the public, incurred campaign expenses, printed literature with ward numbers that may no longer exist and are in the middle of a campaign that may be restarted, causing ongoing uncertainty. A judge must first decide whether to make the order to essentially pause the legislation before it comes into force, as Achampong has requested, and then hear his arguments on their merits. A date to hear the matter is expected to be scheduled next week. Correction - Aug. 11, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that said the citys consultants found a 25-ward option achieved effective representation. In fact, the consultants concluded it did not achieve the criteria for effective representation. Read more about: WASHINGTON From the moment President Donald Trump shocked much of the world by winning the White House in 2016, there has been an assumption in political circles that his victory would inspire a why-not-me caucus of imitators in 2020. But in an all-too-Trumpian twist, and perhaps demonstrating again a failure of imagination on the part of the political class, the first potential presidential candidate following in his audacious path is not another ambitious private-sector mogul. Rather, he is another brash cable news fixture who is busy on Twitter and seems intoxicated with the publicity derived from a media profile and connections to a photogenic woman. Yes, Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels lawyer and Trumps tormentor, is pondering a presidential campaign. Im strongly considering it its going to have a lot to do with who enters the race, Avenatti said in a telephone interview Thursday night from Iowa, where he ate not one but two pork chops at the state fair. He first revealed his apparent intentions to The Des Moines Register. He will be addressing Iowa Democrats on Friday at a party dinner, known as the Wing Ding, that is a traditional proving ground for White House aspirants in the first-in-the nation caucus state. And he said he had scheduled meetings with key officials in Iowa and was being escorted by Matt Paul, a Democratic operative who worked for Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign there. Next, Avenatti revealed, is New Hampshire: He is headed to the first primary state within the next month. Read more: Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti to represent comedian who prank-called Trump Stormy Daniels lawyers firm ordered to pay $10M Stormy Daniels, Trumps unlikely foe, is known for her ambition Like the president he has delighted in hectoring while working for Stormy Daniels whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, and who claims to have had an affair with Trump Avenatti has never served in elected office. But he has ample self-confidence and a ready answer for whether this is simply a grab for more attention. Anybody paying attention in the last six months knows the last thing I need is any additional publicity, he said, with a trace of irritation, before trumpeting what he called his 18-year, very successful legal career. Of course, many Americans with ego, money and time on their hands or some portion of each can float themselves for president. But it is a sign of the opportunity available to any Democrat willing to aggressively confront Trump that Avenatti is being invited to such venerable gatherings as the Wing Ding. After all, there is no lack of veteran Democratic officeholders with all manner of conventional qualifications who are also hoping to receive invitations to such events. (The dinner will also include a more familiar brand of dark-horse candidate: House members. Reps. John Delaney of Maryland and Tim Ryan of Ohio are attending.) We live in a different age, Avenatti offered as an explanation for how this was even possible. I think a lot has changed over the last eight to 12 years with the advent of social media. But then he quickly put aside punditry and returned to his central message, and what he said was the important lesson from 2016, when Trump steamrollered a group of Republican politicians before dispatching Clinton. We dont want another candidate that just has a lot of experience, he said. Democrats need to nominate somebody who can actually beat this guy. He would not name any such potential candidates, of course: Why share the spotlight with anyone else? A California-based lawyer, Avenatti was quick to note that he spent his formative years in St. Louis, that his parents still live there and that he considers himself a Midwesterner. And he said he will return to Iowa later this month. As for the pornographic film artist who put him on the map or screen he said that Stormy is 100 percent supportive of his exploration. She knows these are dire times, Avenatti said. Read more about: SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO The government of Puerto Rico has quietly acknowledged in a report posted online that in all likelihood more than 1,400 people died in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria a figure that is more than 20 times the official death toll. Hurricane Maria cut through the island on Sept. 20, 2017, knocking out power and initially killing about a dozen people. The governments official count eventually swelled to 64, as more people died from suicide, lack of access to health care and other factors. The number has not changed despite several academic assessments that official death certificates did not come close to tallying the storms fatal toll. But in a draft of a report to Congress requesting $139 billion in recovery funds, scheduled for official release Thursday, the Puerto Rican government admits that 1,427 more people died in the last four months of 2017 compared with the same time frame in the previous year. The figures came from death registry statistics that were released in June, but which were never publicly acknowledged by officials on the island. Although the official death count from the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety was initially 64, the toll appears to be much higher, said the report, titled Transformation and Innovation in the Wake of Devastation. In another section, it said: According to initial reports, 64 lives were lost. That estimate was later revised to 1,427. The government was widely criticized for undercounting the number of people who died on the island as the power outage stretched for months, causing deaths from diabetes and sepsis to soar. Many people died from lack of access to hospitals, or because there was no power to run the machines they used to breathe. After a New York Times analysis in December showed that even the preliminary data from the Demographic Registry of Puerto Rico indicated that hurricane-related deaths may have risen to 1,052, Gov. Ricardo Rossello commissioned a study from George Washington Universitys school of public health. The report is expected to be released this month. We definitely acknowledge this is a realistic estimate, Pedro Cerame, a spokesman for the Puerto Rican governments Federal Affairs Administration, said of the numbers in the upcoming report to Congress. We dont want to say it out loud or publicize it as an official number. The official number will come, and it could be close. But until we see the study, and have the accuracy, we wont be able to recognize the number as official. Cerame acknowledged that the final version of the report hedges the language to say that the additional deaths may or may not be attributable to the storm; the 1,427 figure was also deleted from a chart. I want to emphasize, though, that we have always expected the number to be higher, he said in an email. The estimate provided was done using data from the Demographic Registry which was made available to the members of the media. The official death toll has not been updated, he said, because officials are awaiting the outcome of the George Washington University study to provide certainty: Once GWs study is out, the number will be updated. Researchers at Penn State University had reached an estimate very similar to The Times assessment. A much-publicized study from Harvard University showed the deaths could have ranged from 800 to 8,500. The final version of the recovery plan being submitted to Congress outlines ambitious projects for Puerto Rico that include major highway renovations, $15 billion for the Department of Education and $26 billion for the energy grid. The government has asked for $6 billion for repair and replacement of public buildings and $3.9 billion for environmental use, according to an announcement from the governors office. Puerto Rico has a unique opportunity to innovate and rebuild the Puerto Rico that we all want, Rossello said in a statement. SANTA FE, TEXASA Texas grand jury has formally indicted the 17-year-old student accused of fatally shooting 10 people at a Houston-area high school. Galveston County prosecutors say Dimitrios Pagourtzis was indicted Thursday on charges stemming from the May 18 attack, including capital murder. Investigators say Pagourtzis has admitted going on a shooting rampage at Santa Fe High School that killed eight students and two teachers. Authorities say the teen used his fathers pistol and shotgun, and described planning the attack in private journals. It was the nations deadliest such attack since the mass shooting at a Florida high school that gave rise to a campaign by teenagers for gun control. After the shooting, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for schools to have more armed personnel, though he faced pushback after suggesting tightening of some gun laws. Read more: Trump meets with families affected by Texas school shooting that killed 10 School shooting that left 10 dead may not bring change to gun-loving Texas 8 students, 2 teachers: These are the victims of the Texas school shooting The U.S. Army has stopped discharging immigrant recruits who enlisted seeking a path to citizenship at least temporarily. A memo shared with The Associated Press spells out orders to high-ranking Army officials to stop processing discharges of men and women who enlisted in the special immigrant program. Effective immediately, you will suspend processing of all involuntary separation actions, read the memo signed July 20 by Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Marshall Williams. The disclosure comes one month after the AP reported that dozens of immigrant enlistees were being discharged or had their contracts cancelled. Some said they were given no reason for their discharge. Others said the Army informed them theyd been labelled as security risks because they have relatives abroad or because the Defence Department had not completed background checks on them. In a statement Thursday, Army Lt. Col. Nina L. Hill said they were stopping the discharges in order to review the administrative separation process. The decision could impact hundreds of enlistees. We continue to abide by all requirements to include completing a thorough background investigation on all recruits, she said. Read more: The Pentagon promised citizenship to foreign-born recruits. Now some are fleeing to avoid deportation, including to Canada Trump advocates depriving undocumented immigrants of due-process rights Trump expected to end Dreamers immigration program, sources say The disclosure comes one month after the AP reported that dozens of immigrant enlistees were being discharged or had their contracts cancelled. Some said they were given no reason for their discharge. Others said the Army informed them theyd been labelled as security risks because they have relatives abroad or because the Defence Department had not completed background checks on them. The Army has reversed one discharge, for Brazilian reservist Lucas Calixto, 28, who had sued. Nonetheless, discharges of other immigrant enlistees continued. Lawyers sought to bring a class-action lawsuit last week to offer protections to a broader group of reservists and recruits in the program, demanding that prior discharges be revoked and that further separations be halted. A judges order references the July 20 memo, and asks the Army to clarify how it impacts the discharge status of Calixto and other plaintiffs. As part of the memo, Williams also instructed Army officials to recommend whether the military should issue further guidance related to the program. Margaret Stock, an Alaska-based immigration lawyer and a retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who helped create the immigrant recruitment program, said Wednesday the memo proves there was a policy. Its an admission by the Army that theyve improperly discharged hundreds of soldiers, she said. The next step should be go back and rescind the people who were improperly discharged. Discharged recruits and reservists reached Thursday said their discharges were still in place as far as they knew. One Pakistani man caught by surprise by his discharge said he was filing for asylum. He asked that his name be withheld because he fears he might be forced to return to Pakistan, where he could face danger as a former U.S. Army enlistee. The reversal comes as the Defence Department has attempted to strengthen security requirements for the program, through which historically immigrants vowed to risk their lives for the promise of U.S. citizenship. Then-president George W. Bush ordered expedited naturalization for immigrant soldiers after 9/11 in an effort to swell military ranks. Seven years later the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, known as MAVNI, became an official recruiting program. It came under fire from conservatives when former president Barack Obama added DACA recipients young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children to the list of eligible enlistees. In response, the military layered on additional security clearances for recruits to pass before heading to boot camp. The Trump administration added even more hurdles, creating a backlog within the Defence Department. Last fall, hundreds of recruits still in the enlistment process had their contracts cancelled. Government lawyers called the recruitment program an elevated security risk in another case involving 17 foreign-born military recruits who enlisted through the program but have not been able to clear additional security requirements. Some recruits had falsified their background records and were connected to state-sponsored intelligence agencies, the court filing said. Eligible recruits are required to have legal status in the U.S., such as a student visa, before enlisting. More than 5,000 immigrants were recruited into the program in 2016, and an estimated 10,000 are currently serving. Nearly 110,000 members of the Armed Forces have gained citizenship by serving in the U.S. military since Sept. 11, 2001, according to the Defence Department. Read more about: For the second time in about a month, Cameroon is investigating video footage that Amnesty International said shows Cameroon security forces executing unarmed people in the countrys Far North region. On Friday, the human rights group said its experts have analyzed footage that appears to show Cameroonian security forces shooting at least a dozen unarmed people in the village of Achigaya sometime before May 2016. The shaky, grainy video, which Amnesty provided to the Washington Post, shows armed men in camouflage fatigues wandering through a village, with some structures burning around them. The camera pans to a group of people who are sitting and lying on the ground by a wall. They are then shot at repeatedly, first from a distance, and then up close. This shocking video shows armed men lining people up face down or sitting against a wall and shooting them with automatic weapons. A second round of shooting ensures no survivors, Ilaria Allegrozzi, the Lake Chad researcher for Amnesty, said in a statement. Here is yet more credible evidence to support the allegations that Cameroons armed forces have committed grave crimes against civilians. The Amnesty analysis said that in the video, soldiers describe themselves as carrying out a kamikaze operation. The Washington Post was unable to verify the video, including who filmed it and who appears in it. Henri Etoundi Essomba, Cameroons ambassador in Washington, D.C., told The Post that he was unaware of the latest video so could not comment directly, but said that some people are willing to portray the country as hell on earth. No one can condemn Cameroon on video without making sure that what [they are seeing] is supporting reality, Essomba told the Post. This shouldnt be surprising to anyone in the sense that people are willing to portray the country in the darkest way possible. Last month, Amnesty released analysis of another video that had circulated on social media, in which armed men execute two women, a young girl and an infant. The group said the mens outfits, accents and weapons signal that they belong to the Cameroon military, and that the terrain is consistent with Cameroons Far North region, where troops have been trying to push back against Boko Haram extremists for a number of years. In an interview with the Post in July, Allegrozzi said it was one of the worst videos Ive ever watched, and Ive watched many videos coming from perpetrators in the Boko Haram conflict. At the time, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a government spokesperson, told reporters that the video was fake news, but Cameroons government promised to investigate. Bakary also denied that the outfits were consistent with Cameroons armed forces. On Friday, Bakary told Reuters that the latest video would be investigated but that there is an ongoing denigration campaign attempting to tarnish President Paul Biya ahead of October elections. Biya, who has led the country since 1982, is running for reelection. We are in an electoral period and its conducive to this kind of thing, he told Reuters. People want to discredit the army and president. ANKARA, TURKEYA financial shockwave ripped through Turkey on Friday: Its currency nosedived on concerns about its economic policies and a dispute with the U.S., which President Donald Trump stoked further with a promise to double tariffs on the NATO ally. The lira tumbled 14 per cent in one day, to 6.51 per dollar a massive move for a currency that will make Turks poorer and further erode international investors confidence in the country. The currencys drop 41 per cent so far this year is a gauge of fear over a country coming to terms with years of high debt, international concern over President Recep Tayyip Erdogans push to amass power, and a souring in relations with allies like the U.S. The diplomatic dispute with the U.S. was one of the triggers that turned market jitters into a full-blown route this week. Turkey has arrested an American pastor and put him on trial for espionage and terror-related charges linked to a failed coup attempt in the country two years ago. The U.S. responded by slapping sanctions on Turkey and threatening more. The sides held talks in Washington this week but failed to resolve the spat, and Trump took advantage of Turkeys turmoil on Friday to turn the screws on the country. Read more: Trump threatens sanctions on Turkey over detained American pastor Erdogan orders retaliatory sanctions as clash escalates over U.S. pastor Turkeys Erdogan to assume sweeping powers after victory in presidential election Trump tweeted that he had authorized the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs with respect to Turkey. Trump said the tariffs on aluminum imports would be increased to 20 per cent and those on steel to 50 per cent as the Turkish Lira slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar! Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time! he wrote. The United States is the biggest destination for Turkish steel exports with 11 per cent of the Turkish export volume. The lira fell further after Trumps tweet. In what appears to be a diplomatic riposte, Turkey later said Erdogan had held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss economic ties. It did not disclose details, but suggests Turkey might gravitate further away from its NATO allies toward co-operation with Russia, whose relations with the West are at their lowest since the Cold War. Turkeys woes have been aggravated by investor worries about the economic policies of Erdogan, who won a new term in office in June with sweeping new powers. Erdogan has been putting pressure on the central bank to not raise interest rates in order to keep fuelling economic growth. He claims higher rates lead to higher inflation the opposite of what standard economic theory says. Independent analysts argue the central bank should instead raise rates to tame inflation and support the currency. In modern economies, central banks are meant to be independent of governments to make sure they set policies that are best for the economy, not politicians. But since adopting increased powers, Erdogan appears to have greater control over the bank as well. Erdogan on Friday appealed for calm and called on people to change foreign money into local lira. Change the euros, the dollars and the gold that you are keeping beneath your pillows into lira at our banks. This is a domestic and national struggle. He appeared to blame foreigners for trying to hurt Turkey, saying: This will be my peoples response against those waging an economic war against us. On Thursday, Erdogan said If they have their dollar, we have the people, we have Allah. The defiant tone and war rhetoric only hurt the lira more, before Erdogans finance chief and son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, tried to ease investor concerns during a conference, saying the government would safeguard the independence of the central bank. One of our principles will be ensuring the full independence of monetary policy, Albayrak said as he outlined his ministrys new economic model. The currency drop is particularly painful for Turkey because the country finances a lot of its economic growth with foreign money. As the currency drops, Turkish companies and households with debt in foreign currencies see the cost of repaying those loans expand. Coupled with an inflation rate of nearly 16 per cent, that could cause severe damage to the local economy. Foreign investors could be spooked and try to pull their money out, reinforcing the currency drop and potentially leading to financial instability. Aylin Ertan, a 43-year-old caterer in Ankara, said she was concerned over the future of her small business. The price of the food that I buy increases day by day, the fuel that I put in my car to distribute lunches is more expensive, but I cannot raise my prices from one day to the next, she said. On some days, I end the day with a loss. Turkeys woes also shook world markets, pushing down stock indexes. The euro sagged to a 13-month low against the dollar on concerns that European banks operating in Turkey could suffer losses. But analysts say that while there may be losses at some banks, Turkeys economic problems do not pose a big threat to Europe or other big economies like the United States. Read more about: CHAPEL HILL, N.C.On a glorious, late-spring day, Maya Little strode across the poplar-lined University of North Carolina quadrangle, past protesters and a uniformed officer. She stepped onto the base of the Confederate soldier statue that has stood there since 1913, and splashed it with a mixture of red ink and her own blood. The 25-year-old doctoral candidate was sending a message to Chancellor Carol Folt that the monument nicknamed Silent Sam was an affront to black students like her, the celebration of an army that fought for our ancestors enslavement. But Little was also speaking to the group responsible for erecting this memorial to the Lost Cause the United Daughters of the Confederacy. There is no Silent Sam without black blood, without violence towards black people, Little said recently as she sat in the statues shadow, campus security guards hovering behind nearby trees and columns. I would say all that blood is on their hands. And it will continue to be until they take a stand until they make an effort to take these monuments down and to be a part of actual racial equality, racial justice. But the Daughters had already made their position clear months before Littles protest and arrest. Last summer, in the wake of riots over the proposed removal of a monument to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Va., the group issued a rare public statement. We are grieved that certain hate groups have taken the Confederate flag and other symbols as their own, president general Patricia M. Bryson wrote following the Aug. 12 clashes that left one woman dead. But while Bryson insisted that the UDC condemns anyone who promotes racial divisiveness or white supremacy, she argued that the Confederate ancestors honoured by these memorials were and are Americans. She issued a call of her own: Join us in denouncing hate groups and affirming that Confederate memorial statues and monuments are part of our shared American history and should remain in place. Most people might know the UDC as that group of mainly older women who dress in widows weeds and gather on Confederate Memorial Day to lay wreaths of boxwood and holly and sing mournful renditions of Dixie in honour of the estimated 260,000 Confederate service members who died in the Civil War . Seeing them arrayed in their broad-brimmed hats and red-and-white sashes, it would be easy to dismiss the Daughters as a quaint anachronism. That would be a mistake. As memorials have toppled and Confederate place names have vanished in the year since the Charlottesville riots, the Daughters have fought back with lawsuits aimed at stopping the removal of rebel monuments from public spaces. Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center counts the group among the leading proponents of the cult of the Lost Cause noting it has distributed literature that claims most African-Americans were ready and willing to serve slave owners and that northern nullification of Southerners rights forced the War Between the States. I wouldnt put them on our hate group list, says Beirich. But they are still perpetuating some of the vilest ideas in American history, and the ones that weve worked so hard to get rid of. The national UDC headquartered in Richmond, Va., capital of the former Confederate States of America did not respond to requests for comment. Founded Sept. 10, 1894, the UDC sprang from womens hospital associations, sewing societies and knitting circles across the South that worked to aid Confederate soldiers, according to its website. The groups articles of incorporation list five key objectives: Historical, Benevolent, Educational, Memorial and Patriotic. Membership is open to descendants of those who served honourably in the Confederate military or who gave material aid to the cause. Applicants cannot use an ancestor who took the oath of allegiance to the United States before April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered at Appomattox. After the war, the group offered assistance to Confederate widows and orphans. But its most visible legacy is one of metal and stone. Members of the Souths most prominent families, the Daughters dedicated themselves to telling what they considered a truthful history of the war. So adept were they at raising funds through bazaars and bake sales that when the United Confederate Veterans had trouble funding a memorial to Jefferson Davis in Richmond, the Daughters took over the project. The memorial, with its semicircular colonnade and 67-foot-high column, was dedicated on June 3, 1907 the 99th anniversary of Davis birth. The SPLC attributes some 450 monuments , markers, buildings and other commemoratives to UDC efforts. The memorials range from modest statues like Silent Sam to the soaring 351-foot concrete obelisk marking the Kentucky birthplace of Davis, the Confederacys only president. The vast majority were erected during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when states were enacting Jim Crow laws meant to disenfranchise blacks and amid the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. But the Daughters influence extended beyond the regional boundaries of the Confederacy. Until last August, when it was dismantled, there was a Confederate memorial fountain in Helena, Mont. A UDC-funded marker also stood on Georges Island in Boston Harbor, until Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, called for its removal. Both are now in storage. In its heyday around the First World War, the UDC was about 100,000 strong, but in a 2000 speech, then-president general June Murray Wells estimated there were around 25,000 members across 700 chapters in 32 states. I dont know if weve got one more generation left in it, says historian Karen L. Cox, author of Dixies Daughters: The United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Preservation of Confederate Culture. The group, nevertheless, still wields influence. When Vanderbilt University decided to change the name of Confederate Memorial Hall, the Daughters Tennessee Division sued for breach of contract. In 2016, the UDC won a $1.2 million judgment the current-day value of the $50,000 donation the group made toward construction of the dormitory back in 1935. Last August, after the San Antonio City Council voted to remove a Confederate soldier monument from Travis Park, the local UDC chapter sued, claiming that it owned not only the monument but the ground beneath it. That case is pending. Another lawsuit was filed in Louisiana after the Caddo Parish Commission adopted a resolution on Oct. 19 to remove a Confederate monument from its courthouse grounds. UDCs Shreveport chapter claimed ownership, based on a 1903 vote by the Caddo Parish Police Jury appropriating $1,000 for the monuments construction and designating that a portion of the courthouse square be reserved for that purpose. A federal judge recently dismissed the case, but the group is raising money for an appeal. Taxpayers indirectly underwrite the groups work. Each year, the Virginia budget awards the state UDC tens of thousands of dollars for the maintenance of Confederate graves more than $1.6 million since 1996. UNC-Chapel Hill said its spent at least $390,000 since the Charlottesville riots for extra security around Silent Sam. While the memorials draw attention, Cox says the UDC is most proud of the living monuments it helped to create. Shes referring to the groups youth auxiliary: The Children of the Confederacy, organized in 1896. Boys and girls go on field trips to historic sites and clean up cemeteries. They also memorize passages from the UDCs Confederate Catechism, a summary of its principles. The war, reads a text from 1904, was caused by the disregard, on the part of the States of the North, for the rights of the Southern or slave-holding States. And slaves were faithful and devoted and were always ready and willing to serve them. The language has been tweaked over the years. In the version currently promoted on the UDC website, that last statement now reads: Slaves, for the most part, were faithful and devoted. Most slaves were usually ready and willing to serve their masters. Hallie Harris joined the youth auxiliary in Sparta, Tenn., at 16 and has fond memories of visiting Gettysburg and Andrew Jacksons plantation, and of cleaning up graves Confederate and Union. Now 26, she is a dues-paying but not active member of the UDC. Were not Nazis or anything like that, she says. Were not going around spreading hate. If anything, were spreading love and just education. But the Daughters are no longer as united as they once were. Amid calls to remove a Confederate statue from the old courthouse in Tampa, Fla., the president of the UDCs state division came out in support of moving such monuments from public property. Because of the issue of slavery why not relocate these to places where they can be given the respect they deserve for veteran service? Ginger Lathem-Rudiger told a Tampa television station. A year after Charlottesville, pressure to move these monuments continues to grow. A special commission in Richmond recently recommended that the city take down the Davis memorial and add contextual signage to other Confederate statues along Monument Avenue. And in North Carolina, officials are trying to determine whether Silent Sam and other Confederate memorials have become public safety hazards a determination that opponents believe could fulfil an exception to a 2015 law preventing their permanent removal. Little, who studies history at UNC, went to the North Carolina UDCs convention last year to ask for the groups support to move Silent Sam. She was asked to leave. Division officials did not respond to requests for comment, but at a March hearing before the North Carolina Historical Commission, state UDC member Teresa Langley said the group was totally against any action to remove or relocate the memorials. Our organization and legacy organizations like it are the primary stakeholders in this controversy, Langley said. On April 30, as Little turned Silent Sams pedestal red, a fellow protester read aloud the 1913 dedication speech of Julian Carr a Confederate veteran, industrialist and UNC graduate whose name adorns a nearby city and a building at Duke University. One hundred yards from where we stand I horse-whipped a negro wench until her skirts hung in shreds, because upon the streets of this quiet village she had publicly insulted and maligned a Southern lady he told the approving crowd. Little, who says shes faced threats of violence and lynching, thinks that anecdote reveals the true purpose behind what Carr called this noble gift of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. In her post-Charlottesville statement, Bryson said the UDC was saddened that some people find anything connected with the Confederacy to be offensive. But rather than publicly joining the fray, she said, the Daughters, like our statues, have stayed quietly in the background, never engaging in public controversy. Little says the Daughters need to stop acting as if theyre the victims: Being silent in the face of racism or violence is complicity in those acts. Littles criminal vandalism trial is scheduled for October. In June, the UNC Office of Student Conduct charged her with violating the honour code by stealing, destroying, or misusing property. Meaning Little could be expelled, while Silent Sam remains. Outside attorney will help determine if mayor violated code of ethics Pueblo City Council voted 6-0 in a special meeting Oct. 28 to find an outside attorney to give their opinion on if the mayor violated ethics codes. SANAA, YEMEN Yemens Shiite rebels on Friday backed a UN call for a probe into a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in the countrys north that killed dozens of people the previous day, including many children, in an attack that drew wide international criticism. Senior Yemeni rebel leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said on Twitter that the rebels known as Houthis welcome the call and are willing to co-operate in an investigation of the strike in Saada province that hit a bus carrying civilians, many of them schoolchildren, in a busy market in Dahyan district. The coalition said Friday it would investigate and spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington Fatimah S. Baeshen said in a statement the case was referred to the coalitions investigative body. The Coalition will, as it has always, exert all efforts to preserve civilian lives, she said. The coalitions statement signalled a shift in its earlier stance when spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki defended the attack as a legitimate military action and blamed the Houthis for recruiting children and using them in the battlefields as cover. The coalition, which has been at war with the Houthis for more than three years, said the attack on Saada was in response to a missile fired by the rebels into the kingdoms south a day earlier. The coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed the missile but its fragments killed one person and wounded 11 others in Saudis southwestern border region of Jizan. The Iran-aligned Houthis regularly fire into Saudi Arabia and have previously targeted its capital, Riyadh, with ballistic missiles. They say their missile attacks on the kingdom are in retaliation for air raids on Yemen by the Western-backed coalition. On Friday, the rebel-run Al Masirah TV reported that the Houthis fired ballistic missiles targeting military bases in Saudi Arabias southern provinces of Asir and Jizan. The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya satellite news channel reported that the coalition had intercepted two missiles fired toward Jizan. In a statement after Thursdays airstrike, UN chief Antonio Guterres urged Yemens warring parties to take constant care to spare civilians during military operations and also called for an independent and prompt investigation. The United Nations said an exact death toll has yet to be confirmed but initial reports point to more than 60 casualties, with dozens severely wounded. Al-Masirah reported at least 51 people, including 40 children, were killed and 79 others, including 56 children, were wounded in the airstrike, citing the Yemeni Health Ministry in the capital, Sanaa, which is under rebel control. It also said three children have gone missing since the airstrike. The International Committee of the Red Cross said its team received the bodies of 29 children, all under 15 years old, and treated 48 wounded, 30 of them children. Following the strike, Al Masirah broadcast horrific images of lifeless bodies of children, covered in blood, and others who appeared severely wounded, lying on hospital stretchers crying and screaming in pain. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified. On Friday, Ahmed al-Hamoud, who was travelling from Saada to Sanaa, said a sombre mood prevailed over the province and that coalition planes could be seen flying over it from time to time. The U.S. State Department called on the Saudi-led coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. We take all credible accounts of civilian casualties very seriously. Also, the UN. special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, who has been pushing for peace efforts in the war-torn country, said he was deeply shocked by the appalling tragedy that claimed so many innocent lives. Still, he called on the warring parties to engage constructively in the first round of consultations scheduled for Sept. 6 in Geneva. The United Nations childrens agency called the attack in Saada unconscionable and a low point in the countrys brutal war. Impoverished Yemen has been embroiled in the war pitting the Saudi-led coalition against the Iran-aligned Houthis since March 2015. Civilians have been enmeshed over the years in the conflict which has killed over 10,000, crippled the countrys health system and pushed it to the brink of famine. Yemen has become the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 22.2 million people in need of assistance. ___ Zaki reported from Cairo. Read more about: Get thee gone, Sir John. History is all about context. Sir John A. Macdonalds statue is set to be removed from Victorias city hall, the mayor saying it was especially upsetting for Indigenous people to walk past a very poignant symbol of colonial violence of the residential school system. Shes right. Actually it stands in front of, not the main Victorian-era building, but an ugly two-storey city hall annex built in the 1960s, a decade rife with criminally bad architecture, and it looks ludicrously out of place. City hall was designed the way the Victorians preferred it, two huge fists punched into the ground with a shout, By God, we are the Victorians. But by then we were truly Canadian, as in significantly Scottish, funless and thrifty. The locals felt the design was too extravagant shades of the PMs residence now so it was scaled back to one giant fist in the Second Empire style, which is gentler and more attractive than our hyper-Gothic parliament buildings. And here comes the context. John A. Macdonald was the first prime minister of Canada, a father of Confederation, and a great national power in himself for 50 years. A federalist, he built a trans-Canada railroad, dealt with the Americans deftly, and kept the French and English more or less on an even keel. Most of all, he was Scottish. All sentences with the word Scottish in them should save it for the end. It explains everything, his achievements, his drive, and, I suppose, his being a famous drunk. His great sin he was the originator of the residential school system has only been widely discussed in recent years. His entry in CanadaHistory.com does not mention it. It does not mention Indigenous people at all. In 1883, Macdonald said Indians were savages, although I imagine most white people said that in 1883. He liked what he was being told on how to deal with them, and as historian Sean Carleton quotes him, said this: Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influence, and the only way to do that would be to put them in central training industrial schools where they will acquire the habits and modes of thought of white men. His views on the treatment of native people were noted at the time and often questioned, Carleton points out. The scholar Ian Mosby directly ties him to deliberate death: Macdonalds tenure as Supt General of Indian Affairs (1878-1887) saw the implementation of NWT Gov. Edgar Dewdneys prairie starvation policies. These led directly to the deaths of as many as a third of the population of affected First Nations. Indigenous Studies Professor Robert Innes at the University of Saskatchewan tells me that Macdonalds railroad was built on genocide he approved. Read more: City of Victoria to remove statue of John A. Macdonald from city hall steps Sir John A. Macdonald: Architect of genocide or Canadas founding father? Readers Letters: Dont remove statue of PM Mosby has also written on the long-term effects of malnutrition and hunger within the residential schools themselves. At this point, I recall the suffering of the Indigenous children brought from the residential school to my grade school classes. They were treated monstrously in their residential school and in our mainstream white school. No adult ever told me why the Indian kids were humiliated and beaten, not teachers, not parents. I could not understand why they came to class with identical clothes and identical haircuts. It marked forever the way I saw adults, as possible abusers of power, always with a complicit audience. Equally, I cannot see photos of Indigenous children in their classes at residential school without a sickness in my soul. I am unable to describe the things I saw and did not understand. Never be casual about the sufferings of others, even though many pompous Ottawa commentators glory in it. How many generations will it take for them to recover? I myself do not wish to see any statue of Sir John A. without a large plaque explaining, among other things, what he did to the first people of this land. No, make that what he did to little children and their loving parents in creating the residential school system. We stole those children and we broke them. I once walked through a museum aghast. It was the Musee du quai Branly Jacques Chirac in Paris, packed with stolen Indigenous goods looted by French colonialists for centuries. Its basically a crime scene. Its context would be centuries of French racial slaughter, and Parisians are now beginning to see the horror of it. Context is invaluable. Twitter is a terrible place because short tweets cannot offer context, are plucked out of nowhere and used to torment people. Americans dont do context, they just bomb. They think all of their pointless wars of recent history stand alone, not realizing theyre just Vietnam over and over again. In other words, dont pluck out bits of history to stand alone. Best to provide a backgrounder to Macdonalds life and work good, bad and reprehensiblefor every statue and every school named after him nationwide. If context isnt provided, leave the statue in museum basements. So, we now know how the royal House of Saud sounds when it chooses to roar. It is incredibly loud, but strangely off-key. Like a hammer pounding a flea, it wasnt the sound of power and strength that we would have expected from the Saudis, but one of weakness and paranoia. Clearly, the mood these days is not sunny and bright inside the fabled Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, effectively being led now by its aggressive, thin-skinned 32-year-old Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. But, however contradictory Canadas foreign policy can often be, Ottawa this time is on the side of the angels in its criticism of that countrys appalling human rights record. Read more: Thomas Walkom: Stakes are low in Canada-Saudi Arabia squabble Rick Salutin: If we have to mud-wrestle another country, let it be this one To be reminded why, we need only to focus on the horrific Saudi-led airstrike of a busy civilian market in neighbouring Yemen in the early hours of Thursday morning. This was less than a day after Saudi Arabias foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, lectured Canada that his country would not accept dictates or interference in its internal affairs from Canada. His rebuke was in angry response to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and her department urging Saudi authorities in a tweet to immediately release womens rights activists and other human rights advocates recently arrested. But just a few hours after the Saudi minister issued his warning, his countrys military showed the world what it really means to interfere in another nations affairs. On Thursday, more than 40 civilians most of them children under 10 were killed in a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in rebel-held northern Yemen. The Saudis defended the attack as a legitimate military action in response to rebel provocation. In the worlds most brutal and forgotten war with well more than 10,000 dead the Saudi coalition is backing Yemens government against the rebel Houthi movement. Saudis military has been accused of war crimes against Yemeni civilians by human rights advocates. But Saudi Arabias penchant for meddling in the affairs of others extends well beyond Yemen. It recently kidnapped Lebanons prime minister in an effort to control its government. And it has conspired with neighbouring Gulf countries to try to isolate Qatar for challenging Saudi primacy in the region. In fact, it was reported last week by the investigative news website The Intercept that the crown princes of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates planned to launch a military invasion of Qatar last year before it was stopped by former U.S. secretary of state Rex Tillerson. So, somewhat cynically, Saudi Arabia can truly claim real-life expertise in how to interfere in other countries affairs. But the angry dispute this week between Canada and Saudi Arabia didnt relate to the Saudis foreign adventures. It concerned what is actually happening to human rights particularly womens rights within the kingdom itself. The catalyst came about 10 days ago when Amnesty International learned that the Saudi government had arrested at least 15 prominent women activists, including internationally recognized human rights campaigner Samar Badawi. Badawi, a recipient of the U.S. State Departments International Women of Courage Award, was a leader in the campaign to end the Saudi ban on women driving. It was widely believed that Crown Prince bin Salman resented the credit being given to these women activists for this landmark reform. Samar Badawi is also the sister of Raif Badawi, a blogger imprisoned since 2012 and publicly flogged for his actions. Raif Badawis wife and children fled to Canada in 2015 and are now Canadian citizens. A week ago, Freeland tweeted that Canada stands together with the Badawi family in this difficult time, and we continue to strongly call for the release of both Raif and Samar Badawi. In retaliation, the Saudis went wild. They kicked out Canadas ambassador, suspended new trade, started selling off its Canadian assets and ended funding for about 15,00 Saudi students in Canada. The reaction seemed excessive, to say the least. In diplomatic terms, Canadas original message to the Saudis was not extreme, and the Canada-Saudi trade relationship is quite limited. But the consensus among Middle East analysts is that it wasnt Canada that Crown Prince bin Salman had in his crosshairs. Instead, this was bin Salmans warning to the world and to Saudi human rights activists that his Saudi Arabia is not to be trifled with. As for Canada, it has figuratively won this months gold star within the international human rights community, and beyond. The New York Times, supporting Canada, wrote that Saudi rulers did the kind of thing that backward, insecure despots often do they lashed out and penalized their critics. In Britain, The Guardian newspaper praised Ottawas justified criticism and wrote it was time to back Canada. And the Financial Timeseditorialized that the West should stand by Ottawa rebuffing a thin-skinned crown prince. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau upped the ante on Wednesday when he said that Canada will not apologize for standing up for Canadian values and human rights. We shall see. Let us not forget that it was this Liberal government that approved the $15-billion deal to sell military vehicles to Saudi Arabia originally worked out by the previous Harper government. There is reason to believe that some of these vehicles have been used by the Saudis to crush the very internal dissent that Canada embraces. If the Middle East has taught us anything, it is that talk is cheap. Tony Burman , formerly head of CBC News and Al Jazeera English, is a freelance contributor for the Star. He is based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyBurman Read more about: Rarely, if ever, has a major transit project received as much bad publicity as the St. Clair streetcar rebuild from Yonge St. out to the Stockyards, just west of Keele St. By the time it was finished, political opportunists like Rob and Doug Ford had so discredited and demeaned the project that even commuters on the other side of town who had never driven the route routinely repeated the slur that the TTC had created a disaster on St. Clair. The St. Clair streetcar became synonymous with an LRT, which is an upgraded, upscaled light rail transit system running on its own protected right-of-way. And all the badmouthing meant that LRT had been devalued and smeared before Toronto had the opportunity to experience one. The Eglinton Crosstown a midtown essential transit line was to be the change agent. If it worked brilliantly and displayed its power to transform a major avenue while moving large numbers of passengers shy of the hordes swallowed up by a subway, its efficacy would be unchallenged. However, fall short and the LRT is doomed in Toronto. Read more: Metrolinx asks court to block lawsuit over Eglinton Crosstown LRT line Companies building Eglinton Crosstown LRT sue Metrolinx for breach of contract Here are the potential legal challenges to Doug Fords proposed cut to Toronto council All those who have seen this beautiful mode of transit work in major cities should be uneasy today, because forces are coalescing against it. The biggest current obstacle is the provincial government, led by a car-loving, transit-hating premier who believes transit exists to get people out of the way of cars, not to move people as efficiently as possible. So, get transit off the roads. Yes, governments change and policy changes with them. But by the time Ontarians oust Doug Ford whether four or eight years hence his transit folly will have ruined transit planning for decades and stopped the construction of LRTs along Sheppard and Finch, and possibly elsewhere. The $5.3-billion Crosstown has a delivery date of 2021. Its advanced enough that even the fatuous Ford wont try to stop it. But you can bet he is counting the faults associated with the project so he can use them to justify aborting Torontos other LRTs. Construction is long and messy and disruptive to commuters and businesses, hell say (subway construction is similarly disruptive, but that will be discounted or forgotten). Crosstown planners, despite the experience on St. Clair, have not perfected a path that does not strangle retailers along the route. Rip up a street for seven, eight years and beleaguered store owners will weep and mourn despite the promise of a glorious and prosperous future. Despite awarding the project to a private consortium, opening day could be delayed and the lawyers for both sides are now wrangling in court. More hiccups are bound to emerge. Ford has already warned that Torontos projects are under review and reminded that his preference is subways, subways, subways or, as his late brother the mayor said, we dont want those damn streetcars clogging up our roads. One of those LRT routes is along Finch Ave. W. heading out to Fords riding of Etobicoke North with millions and millions already spent. Watch what the new premier does here. Ford and his backers on city council oppose it for the wrong reason. They feel they deserve a subway like the people of Vaughan given one by their former political master Greg Sorbara, or those in Richmond Hill who were promised one, and those in Pickering who the piffling Premier Ford says deserve a subway of their own. (Did we rip out the GO Train tracks?) They ignore the fact that fewer than 10 per cent of people travelling from Rexdale in the morning are headed downtown, the subways destination. Those passengers need fast, frequent transit options and connections like a BRT akin to the one on Highway 7, or something even more flexibly routed so as not to exacerbate the truck traffic to the oil fields at Keele and Finch. An LRT may be problematic along Finch. A subway is insanity impossible for even the preposterous Premier Ford to promote on his fake news channel. More pointedly, a Finch subway would start to pay for itself, probably, maybe, in the next century. Flawed though it may be, the argument for a subway over an LRT on Sheppard is easier to make. Ditto for the decision to go with subway extension from Kennedy, instead of an LRT replacement for the Scarborough RT. Its almost a guarantee that the one-stop subway to Scarborough will now become a three-stop project, sucking money from the proposed LRT to U of T Scarborough. That, in turn, bolsters the argument to loop it with the current Sheppard subway, stumped at Don Mills by the Mike Harris government. Ford will argue that such an extension will unleash the Sheppard subways potential. But any independent cost-benefit analysis will tell a different story one of perpetual taxpayer subsidies that drain the system beyond the life expectancy of anyone in high school today. Wisdom calls for buses in protected lanes until they cant handle the crush. Then, upgrade to LRTs where appropriate. Only then, employ the most expensive option of subway. Its not sexy. Citizens dont think with their heads. Politicians tell the voters what they want to hear. Decades hence, each will blame the other for the mess. Ford propels us towards the abyss. And Crosstown crosses will only grease the path. Royson James is a former Star reporter who is a current freelance columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @roysonjames Read more about: VANCOUVERTu-ninqez. Cold, fresh water in the Tsilhqotin language spoken on the remote reserves west of Williams Lake, B.C. On Xeni Gwetin First Nation the most remote of the six Tsilhqotin member bands tu-ninqez (pronounced too-ning-KAWZ) is at the cultural heart of their salmon-fishing, wild horse-coralling, hay-baling lifestyle. Despite that, the 252-resident community has been under a boil-water advisory for 17 years, which Ottawa originally announced in 2001 because of a high risk of sewage contamination, according to documents. Their two water systems have been deemed undrinkable for so long that most residents StarMetro met drink it anyway, explaining that generations of their people have always consumed their lands water. Weve always drunk this from the tap, Charlene Quilt said, as her mother Elsie Quilt entered the kitchen of their small shared cabin, on the edge of a marsh from which their water is pumped. Nobodys got sick. Its clean. The kitchen sink tap indeed flows colourless and odourless. Her mother nods patiently as StarMetros questions are translated into Tsilhqotin, the only language she speaks. Read more: This Alberta First Nation community is the only one left in the province with an unaddressed long-term boil-water advisory Samson Cree Nation breaks ground on $32.5-million waste water facility upgrade Residents report rashes, stomach pains amid water crisis on northern Ontario reserve Unlike this home, many houses in Xeni Gwetin dont even have running water or plumbing at all. Elders regularly drag two 20-litre jugs equivalent to the weight of roughly 150 cans of soup, or nearly 70 cartons of eggs from a creek down the valley. Its always been like this, a long time, recalled Sonny Lulua on the couch in the log cabin he built by hand. For many years weve gone to get water. When we first moved in here, wed carry buckets down to the creek way down there to get water. I guess I was just younger then, I guess. Weve been fine, but its pretty hard when its cold weather, you have to chop through the ice and getting old makes it harder sometimes. His wife Betty Lulua her hair still wet from a cooling lake swim with her daughter-in-law and many local kids interrupts to tell him something in Tsilhqotin, still spoken as mother tongue in the remote reserves; some elders StarMetro met with the help of a translator as it remains their only language. The couple laugh together before she translates: And try holding one jug in each hand. In the language there are distinct words for running water, shallow water, deep water, turquoise water, rainwater, rivers, springs, rapids, light rains, slush, lake ice, thin ice, cracked ice, clear ice, glaciers, wash basins, tubs, and kettles; the kitchen sink. The Tsilhqotin name itself means blue water people. Icy, turquoise waters melted off glaciers that gaze down from all sides of the Nemiah Valley are in their soul. Xeni Gwetins nearly two decades under boil-water advisories make them one of 14 bands in B.C. still under long-term warnings; only one other First Nation exceeds theirs, by two years. Thats despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus election promise that all long-term drinking water advisories to be lifted by March 2021 for First Nations across the country. Since the Liberals election win, the promise has been fulfilled for 67 bands but 34 have since been added. In an interview, federal Indigenous services minister Jane Philpott said her Liberal government is on track to meet its promise, but that a lot of work remains on a protracted and complicated problem that may take years in some places to resolve. (B.C. saw long-term First Nations drinking water advisories decrease by less than two-thirds, from 25 before the Liberals took office, to the current 14). We have actually made significant progress in this area because it was a big priority of the Prime Minister, Philpott said by phone. Some of these communities actually require more than a couple of years to design and sometimes build from scratch a water system that will meet the unique water needs of that community; many of these communities are remote. By the time you design and construct the system, get the equipment and materials into a community, train up new water operators and develop a maintenance plan, it can be a matter of a few years And you have to make sure theres a prevention plan so you dont have communities that slip into a new drinking water advisory. Recently elected Xeni Gwetin chief Jimmy Lulua doesnt have running water in his own house. He brushes his teeth from a cup. It is a daily reminder of how precious water is to his people but, he noted, Its not by choice. Weve never been high on the governments priority list, he said. We live in a third world country in one of the richest countries in the world. Star Metro Vancouver reporter David Ball journeyed to one of Canada's most remote First Nations Xeni Gwet'in reserve in British Columbia to find out why many in the community still don't have safe drinking water. Some don't have running water at all. For the First Nations Health Authority, a body unique to B.C. with an Indigenous leadership council, the fact that they only gained Indigenous jurisdiction over issues of water quality and health on the provinces 198 reserves could be light at the end of the pipe. Thats because finally their leadership, through agreements with Ottawa and Victoria, have been able to finally hear and heed local community concerns, fears and needs around how they get water services and tap into local wisdom to start solving decades of substandard outcomes. Its basically neglect wilful neglect, said Grand Chief Doug Kelly, chair of the First Nations Health Council. When you look at Indigenous policy, its always been a situation where were not a priority. Our communities still dont have the infrastructure taken for granted by other British Columbians The big I is infrastructure. The authoritys environmental public health manager Linda Pillsworth explained that water advisories like on Xeni Gwetin can happen for many reasons. Despite a water tower from a creek above town, there was deemed an E. coli risk from sewage that type of (water) source is subject to contamination, she said, so treatment is necessary. The remoter the community and fewer homes, the greater the challenge to improve, maintain and operate it. Additionally, on Xeni Gwetin many community elders dont want chlorine in their water supply, the solution that until recently dominated federal plans. The principle of adding something chemical to water thats pure doesnt resonate very well despite the positive benefits of chlorine and minimal risk, she said. Systems that have strong community involvement and engagement in defining what is acceptable to them have the most success. Thats integral because it puts the decision-making and awareness into the hands of the community. Boil-water advisories are a crucial precaution when safety cant be guaranteed. And water contamination can be fatal, as was learned in Walkerton, Ont. in 2000. But long-term advisories dont mean the original concern has been resolved. Over the longer term, they will get ignored, she warned. The concept of pure, fresh and clean sometimes drives people to drink untreated water: It looks clean, weve drunk it for decades how could it be a problem now? But there is a real risk depending on the system and source of contamination. Similar to Walkerton (Ont.), if somebody does drink the water they could get sick. And its a part concern for bacteria because E. coli can be deadly. On the reserve itself, the concerns over chlorine werent universal some wanted running water in the first place, others who had it said an occasional chlorine shock to clean up ultraviolet-sterilized water would be acceptable. Several cited bad taste and health concerns about adding chemicals to traditionally clean water that one seniors health worker told StarMetro was like prayer here. Marilyn Baptiste, the bands former chief who formerly served on the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs executive, is one of those opposed to water chlorination unless its just occasional. We have pristine mountain glacier water all around us, she said, leaning on her pickup truck near the current treatment plant. We all said we seriously need water to the east of the community first. These homes require water; they denied them because theres not enough homes down there. Were remote, were off-the-grid. which is the greatest thing for us as Xeni Gwetin but these are common-sense things. Water means everything to us; it heals us. The same day StarMetro toured with Chief Lulua, a letter arrived from Ottawa. Despite long-standing federal reluctance, funds would flow to replace the ineffective chlorine treatment plant with a system allowing both chlorine and UV. Philpott said all of the work is done in full consultation with chief and council, and band leadership on fixing water issues, so that whatever design solutions are implemented, they are driven by communities and we are there to provide the appropriate support. Thats not how Chief Lulua describes it. Ottawa still makes decisions from there, he said. The water tower and one water treatment plant basically didnt involve us, they just came in and said, This is what you get. We are getting there but its slow. Weve got a long way to go yet, but at least were at the table with Canada now. The government has already spent $3.2 million on Xeni Gwetin water system improvements. Indigenous Services Canada said via email the advisory could end by December. But its plans for a UV-and-chlorine system wont bring water to homes with none. Now theyve come out a little bit, he said. But at the end of the day, theyve got to walk their talk. So far, its been empty promises. I challenge them to stick their neck out a little more; we stick our neck out way farther. Or as the health councils Grand Chief Kelly quips, Its our reality; the way we work with that reality is not to give up. Read more about: VANCOUVERThe wildfire that destroyed more than two dozen buildings in a northern British Columbia town has merged with another fire and, as of Thursday afternoon, was estimated to be almost 30,000 hectares in size. Its definitely a very real and ongoing threat, said Kevin Skrepnek, the chief information officer for B.C. Wildfire Service. The entire community of Telegraph Creek, in Tahltan territory in Northwestern B.C., has been evacuated and its likely going to be some time before its safe for them to return, he said. While most people initially left Telegraph Creek for Dease Lake, roughly a three-hour drive to the north east, some families with small children, pregnant people and elders have moved on to larger centres like Terrace, Prince George and Whitehorse to escape the heavy smoke, said Fannie Vance, who was co-ordinating communications for Tahltan Band Council Chief Rick McLean. Its really stressful and its really wearing on everybody, said Vance, who added that theyve had numerous calls from people wanting to help and offer support. While Vance said the disaster has been devastating for the community, she shared some good news that at least 25 horses were brought to safety Thursday afternoon from a ranch outside of Telegraph Creek that was destroyed by the fire. Heather Rice, an information officer with B.C. Wildfire Service based in Dease Lake, said the people who have lost their homes are sombre, but they seem to be a resilient bunch and are trying to move forward. There were more than 470 wildfires burning in B.C. Thursday, creating a difficult task for the B.C. Wildfire Service. Whats unique about the situation were in right now is that really from one corner of the province to the other were seeing pretty significant fire activity, said Skrepnek, who said its a very different fire season than last year when there were a fewer fires but many of them were large. The sheer number of individual fires burning means the wildfire service is having to prioritize fires posing the greatest threat to communities and infrastructure. The initial attack crews and air tankers are being kept quite busy, Skrepnek said, adding that more than 3,000 people are fighting the fires, including front-line firefighters and contracted forestry personnel like tree fallers, loggers and heavy equipment operators. Several evacuation orders and alerts are in place in both northwestern, central and south central B.C., with little in the way of relief expected over the next week. Skrepnek said they are expecting a shift in the weather Friday as a cold front moves into to most of the province. While that may bring some cooler weather, it could also mean more lightning and high winds, which could potentially increase fire activity, he explained. Any rain is expected to be patchy, scattered and isolated to southern B.C. Dry conditions are expected to persist in the north over the weekend, and by Monday or Tuesday, its expected to return to sunny, warm conditions for most of the province. Read more about: VANCOUVERValerie Langer remembers waking up at 4 a.m. at the protest camp. She and the other organizers drilled their fellow protesters about the strict code of non-violence at the logging-road blockade in Vancouver Islands Clayoquot Sound. By the end of the day Aug. 9, 1993 a total of 300 environmentalists would be arrested. The protest became the largest demonstration of civil disobedience in Canadian history, acting as a template for environmental movements across the world. But the B.C. government did not learn its lesson from that saga 25 years ago, say environmentalists. Vancouver Islands old growth rainforest is currently being logged at a rate of three square metres every second, according to the Sierra Club. And yet, the Clayoquot area has remained an oasis in a sea of clear cuts, said Langer in an interview Thursday. Thats because the Clayoquot Sound blockades launched the issue into the publics mind 25 years ago. Langer was one of about 900 people arrested for participating in the blockades on Vancouver Island that lasted from 1980 to 1994. We needed to remind people that the forest belongs to the world, that they perform a very important function for the health of our society and our environment, she said. The Clayoquot protest was very successful in doing that. But most logging activity happens in remote areas and as of 2018, less than a quarter of Vancouver Islands old growth rainforest is still intact after intense clear-cutting activity, according to the Sierra Club. The non-profits B.C. branch monitors logging activity in the province using government data and satellite imagery. These trees, they can be up to 1,000 years old, they will not grow back in a time scale that is meaningful for human beings, said Jens Wieting, forest and climate campaigner at the Sierra Club. The organization is calling on the B.C. government to put a stop to old-growth logging on Vancouver Island by increasing the number of protected areas, enacting stricter logging regulations, and creating land-vision partnerships with Indigenous communities. Rainforests are hubs for biodiversity, and are home to 50 per cent of the worlds plants and animals. In an emailed statement, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development said it is committed to protecting old-growth forests and that it has allocated $16 million over three years to improve land-use plans. It added that 55 per cent of old-growth forest on Crown land is already protected from logging. In 2016, the B.C. government announced a land-use plan for the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world. The plan protects 85 per cent of the forest from logging. But the Sierra Club wants to see the current provincial government implement a similar model for Vancouver Islands old growth rainforest. Most of the old growth on the east coast was destroyed by 1993 and its no coincidence fire crews are currently struggling to contain a wildfire threatening Nanaimo, said Wieting. There is a higher risk of wildfires in areas with young forests and recent clear cuts. Only intact old growth rainforest is resilient and can withstand summer droughts. Environmentalists hope climate change and its magnifying effect on wildfires could galvanize the public into standing up for B.C. forests once again. Clayoquot came at the right moment, said Langer. But now, forests are literally burning up, and we are experiencing a second wave of global concern about the state of the worlds forests and the need to protect them. Read more about: Through Two Doors at Once: The Elegant Experiment That Captures the Enigma of Our Quantum Reality By Anil Ananthaswamy Dutton. 290 pp. $27 --- Every so often, like cicadas that mass-hatch once in a decade, science books on a specific topic burst upon us in a flock. A few years ago there was a horde of books about mathematical symmetry and the role it plays in the laws of physics. This year we are being graced with a flock about quantum mechanics and the meaning it might have for our understanding of reality. We have already in 2018 seen the publication of Adam Becker's "What Is Real?" and Philip Ball's "Beyond Weird" (out now in Britain and soon to be released in the United States), both reviewed in these pages. In 2017 we got Paul Halpern's magisterial study, "The Quantum Labyrinth: How Richard Feynman and John Wheeler Revolutionized Time and Reality," while next year we can look forward to acclaimed Caltech physicist Sean Carroll's "Something Deeply Hidden," about quantum mechanics and "the emergence of spacetime." Now comes science writer Anil Ananthaswamy's "Through Two Doors at Once," which focuses on quantum conundrums by examining the history and many variations of its most canonical experiment, the "double-slit" experiment. It's not only physicists and science writers who are being inspired by things quantum. September sees the release of "Quantum Economics: The New Science of Money," by mathematician David Orrell, which argues that our "money system has quantum properties of its own." Full disclosure, I've written a cover blurb for it. This year the prestigious international Biennale of Sydney, which finished up in June, took as its theme "Superposition," a central quantum term. As the exhibition's curatorial statement explained: "Microscopic substances like electrons are said to be dualistic in nature: they paradoxically exist in the form of waves and granular particles simultaneously. The state of superposition lies across all conceptual levels: from different climates and cultures to views of nature and the cosmic orders ... [to] the history of modern and contemporary art, and the meaning of abstractions." More than a century after its birth, quantum mechanics remains a source of fascination unlike any other field of science. Almost infinitely interpretatively malleable, its veins of mathematical symbolism and embodied wonderment can be minded by artists, physicists, philosophers and just about anyone with a sense of imaginative play. There is still no end in sight to the magic "quantum" contains, nor a consensually accepted explanation for its mysteries. One reason for the current spate of books is that experimental science has finally advanced to a state where arcane theoretical ideas about the quantum world can be put to the test. What they are revealing is that the quantum domain is even stranger, more intractable and more of an assault on common sense than hitherto imagined. The more we actually get to see of the quantum world, the less it seems to mesh with our visceral experience of the real, and the more we are left in the lurch about what "reality" is - or at least that part of reality where the smallest things reside. Ananthaswamy's book guides us through the quantum lair by focusing on the double-slit experiment, in which a beam of light is passed through two thin slits in a piece of card, creating a ripple-like interference pattern on a screen. How hard could that be to explain? The experiment predates the advent of quantum theory by 100 years and was first performed in 1801 by the English polymath Thomas Young. Young used it to demonstrate that light is a wave phenomena, thereby refuting Newton, who had believed it was a stream of particles. It turns out that light is both things at once, and the double-slit experiment allows us to see the wave- and particle-like nature not only of light but also of matter. Versions of the experiment have been performed with electrons, atoms and even molecules, showing that wave-particle duality is a ubiquitous feature of the world at the microscopic scale. Since the 1970s, and spectacularly in the past decade, sophisticated versions of the double-slit experiment have revealed that quantum dualism and its attendant specters haunt reality to its core. Recent versions conducted by Austrian physicist Anton Zeilinger, with light beams traveling more than 100 miles between the islands of La Palma and Tenerife, demonstrate that quantum particles can be "entangled" with one another, seemingly enabling communication between them faster than the speed of light. According to special relativity, that isn't possible. But there it now stands as a brute embodied fact. Experimentalists like Zeilinger have entered territory truly hard for nonexperts to comprehend, and it's extraordinary that they've been able to push things to this edge. Nothing like these experiments happens in the natural world. These are products of hand-made human craft. At a time when popular physics writing so valorizes theory, a quietly welcome strength of Ananthaswamy's book is how much human construction comes into focus here. This is not "nature" showing us, but us pressing "nature" for answers to our increasingly obsessional questions. The great puzzle, as Ananthaswamy stresses, is what is doing the waving in the wave aspect of the quantum world? The waves we see in the double-slit experiment are not a simple analog of water waves, for they represent patterns of information that play out over time as well as space. The mathematics describing these waves is the Schrodinger "wave equation," also called the "wave function," and to this day no one can agree on what it means. One interpretation, due to Einstein's contemporary Max Born, is that the waves described are waves of probability mapping out the likelihood of where a particle might be found when we do a quantum measurement. The "Born interpretation" has been argued over ever since it was first proposed in 1926. Some physicists love it, others can't stand it. Whatever your stance, it works in practice as a mathematical tool for calculating where and how often we measure particles to be found. Which is why it is so hard to dismiss. But what are these probability waves? Do they physically exist? Are they just a useful calculating tool? Are they pointing us to deeper physics? These are the waves that quantum philosophers have been arguing about for a century and that have forced increasingly bizarre notions about reality, such as the idea that every time a quantum event happens, the universe splits into multiple, slightly different copies of itself. This "many worlds interpretation" of the wave equation is an extravagant - some say desperate - attempt to make sense of quantum waving-ness. Ananthaswamy sums up this philosophical debate neatly: "Is the wavefunction ontic (meaning it is (BEGIN ITAL)something(END ITAL)), or is it epistemic (in that the wavefunction represents our knowledge about something)." In other words, is the wavefunction a part of objective reality, or is it a subjective tool that we see and use, but ultimately just a descriptive device? Ananthaswamy ends his book without resolving these issues. And when so many people are so assuredly proffering answers, this is an honest, courageous move. Rather, he suggests, the double-slit experiment will continue to deliver surprises. --- Wertheim is a science writer and author of books on the cultural history of physics, including "Pythagoras Trousers" and "Physics on the Fringe." EDWARDSVILLE Madison County could pay $10,000 for annual membership in the St. Louis Regional Chamber, rather than $30,000 originally proposed. The Grants Committee approved the lesser amount after some discussion, including whether the county got any additional benefits for the extra money. There was some discussion about the renewal at a previous meeting. The committee has been considering several memberships in regional economic development agencies. Earlier this year the committee agreed the county should pursue individual memberships with the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, rather than the larger group membership. That action was tabled and has not been brought up for reconsideration. In this case, the committee has at previous meetings appeared more positive toward the full membership with the Regional Chamber. MCCD officials said the membership was helpful, citing several projects that have been announced or proposed. It was noted that the Regional Chamber has been more supportive of some other regional development groups. Based on previous feedback, there is value that we get, Grants Committee member Ann Gorman, D-Edwardsville, said. County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler said he is considering his response to the committees action. The issue had been placed on the agenda for the Aug. 8 Finance & Government Operations Committee, but the meeting had to be rescheduled to 4 p.m. Aug. 15, just prior to the Madison County Board Meeting. However, that item has been removed from the Finance Committee agenda. Prenzler has been a proponent of participation in these kinds of groups. I do think its important that the county, as part of economic development, is part of the region, Prenzler said Thursday. We always need to keep in mind that we are not just an island out there, but are indeed part of the St. Louis region. He also noted it was an outstanding organization and that there is a great deal of value to be connected to regional organizations. I think we derive a tremendous amount of value from being a member of this organization, he said. They have contacts and interactions across the country. We all work together and I think the counties that participate benefit tremendously. At its Monday meeting the grants committee also took action on a number of Madison County Community Development items for the coming year, including Community Services Block Grant, homeless and other programs. The committee also received an update on the recent signing of an apprenticeship agreement between Madison County and the U.S. Department of Labor, allowing Madison County Employment and Training and the Madison-Bond Workforce Innovation Board to become a registered apprenticeship intermediary sponsor. The action removes some of the red tape in starting apprenticeship programs. MCET Director Tony Fuhrmann told committee members that his office received two calls from businesses the next day about the program. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) hosted two STEM Camps in the month of July that were sponsored by a $2,500 grant from Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery. Phillips 66 has been a continuous supporter of Girl Scouts since 1996 and a supporter of STEM Camp since 2016. GSSI had 77 girls attend Mini STEM Camp on July 12-13 and 56 girls who attended STEM Camp 6 July 16-20 at Camp Torqua in Edwardsville, IL. Girls in grades K-3 who attended Mini STEM earned their first in the Robotics badge series and the first in the Mechanical Engineering badge series. They also studied invertebrates in the pond and created their own kaleidoscopes. Girls in grades 4-12 who attended STEM Camp 6 earned their Think Like An Engineer Journey and did some hands on science experiments that were rated favorites from years past. Activities included a visit from the Madison County Sherriff deputy to talk about the math involved in accident reconstruction, flying motorized paper airplanes, creating a carousel that works by convection, and discovering how to use chemistry to create art projects. EDWARDSVILLE A judge Wednesday declined to lower the bail of a suspect in an Alton armed robbery, and commented that the bail was possibly too low. Associate Judge Neil Schroeder denied a defense motion to lower the bail for Darryck T. Lewis, 18, of Venice, who is accused of robbing a victim while armed with a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. Lewis is also charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a stolen firearm. His bail remains at $125,000. His attorney, Assistant Public Defender Tyler Bateman, argued that his client was only 18 when the alleged crime was committed June 17 and that he has no criminal record. Assistant States Attorney Tara Steele argued that Lewis allegedly discharged a weapon that hit another person. She said he is accused of two Class X felonies, and that probation is not available. A grand jury also indicted another man from Venice on a charge of armed robbery for allegedly taking cash from a man in June in Alton while armed with a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. In addition to Lewis, Stephon E. Washington, 22, is also charged. Each class X felony is punishable by a prison term of between six and 30 years. The aggravated battery charge alleges Lewis shot Washington in the hand. Authorities said the shooting was an accident. The aggravated unlawful use of weapons charge alleges Lewis possessed a loaded .40-caliber handgun in a motor vehicle without a valid license. The weapon was allegedly stolen. Washington was also charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for allegedly possessing a semi-automatic handgun without a valid license. Reach reporter Sanford Schmidt at 618-208-6449. WOOD RIVER - Adam J. Rauschkolb, 28, of the 400 block of Third Street, Alton, was charged Monday with unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He allegedly possessed less than five grams of methamphetamine, less than 15 grams of cocaine and less than 15 grams of hydrocodone on Sunday. Bail was set at $75,000. EDWARDSVILLE - William J. Kampwerth, 35, of the 300 block of South Oak Avenue, Carlinville, was charged Monday with aggravated driving under the influence and possession of a stolen vehicle. He allegedly drove a 2007 White Pontiac while under the influence of drugs and while his drivers license was revoked as a result of a 2012 conviction. The vehicle he was driving was allegedly stolen. Bail was set at $50,000. WOOD RIVER - Justin R. Zerban, 30, who is listed as a homeless Alton resident, was charged Monday with unlawful failure to register as a child sex offender. He allegedly failed to register weekly as a person who lacks a permanent address. Bail was set at $20,000. GODFREY - Brandon T. Clark, 24, of the 1200 block of Preis Lane, Godfrey, was charged Monday with aggravated domestic battery. He allegedly choked an intimate partner household member of Aug. 3. Bail was set at $75,000. BETHALTO - Bobby L. Stevanius III, 35, of the 300 block of Lee Street, Bethalto, was charged Monday with domestic battery. He allegedly grabbed a female household member by the hair and slammed her to the floor after having been convicted of domestic battery in 2001, 2005 and 2011. Bail was set at $100,000. ALTON - Amber M. Howland, 34, of the 300 block of East Penning Avenue, Wood River, was charged Monday with unlawful possession of methamphetamine. She allegedly possessed less than five grams of the drug on Aug. 5. Bail was set at $20,000. ALTON - Alex M. Viviano, 38, of the 200 block of Arbor Drive, Alton, was charged Monday with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and felony theft. He allegedly possessed hydrocodone and allegedly stole a pair of glasses from an individual after having been convicted of theft in Greene County in 2016. Bail was set at $30,000. WOOD RIVER - Amber N. Edwards, 40, of the 200 block of Goulding Avenue, East Alton, was charged Tuesday with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. She allegedly fled at a speed 21 mph or more over the speed limit on Monday. Bail was set at $30,000. ALTON - Tyler D. Slack, 20, of the 1000 block of Tremont Street, Alton, was charged Tuesday with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. He allegedly fled from a police officer at 21 mph or more over the speed limit on July 28. Bail was set at $25,000. When the first cars were put up for sale, the joke was that people could buy it in any color so long as that color was black. Today, you can go online and find a car truly in any color you want, analyze its specifications against similar models, conduct cost-comparisons among dealerships, buy with a click and even have it delivered right to your doorstep. Clothes, furniture, household decorations, office supplies, fitness equipment you name it, you can find it online, do research and make comparisons, and buy with a click. Consumers today have an almost overwhelming number of choices when it comes to their purchases. The real determining factors of what is bought tend to be quality and cost. While there are thousands of options when it comes to buying dishes or sheets, the choices get much narrower when government agencies are looking for materials to fill potholes, build bridges or update water systems. It may sound like a stretch to compare consumer choices to government purchases, but the same concept applies to both: choices in products, and the ability to compare materials for quality and cost. Consumers and in the governments case, taxpayers should know their communities are getting the top materials for the job while returning the best investment. Take municipal water systems, for example. When a community chooses a water pipe material, they rely on local water professionals to examine a large set of technical data as well as unique local considerations. Thats because of the tremendous pressure the pipes must withstand in addition to not failing in extreme weather events, from soil erosion, or due to other hazardous conditions specific to the area. This is not an exaggeration. In northern California last year, massive wildfires broke out in wine country, and residents there are now learning that the plastic pipes that carried their drinking water have contaminated the supply with benzene, a chemical byproduct of oil refining. Similarly, when Hurricane Matthew hit barrier islands such as Hilton Head in 2016, many residents were faced with open, raw sewage flows if they lived near manholes or exposed PVC plastic pipes, due to numerous breaks in sewer and water lines, according to local media. The problems of plastic arent limited to pipes. Plastics manufacturers around the globe are struggling with consumer demands that there be less of their products in everyday lives. Youd have to be living under a rock not to be aware of the country-sized mound of plastic and other debris floating in the Pacific Ocean. Plastic soda rings have been found strangling sea turtles. A recent autopsy of a dead whale in Thailand found a staggering 17 pounds of plastic in its stomach. As people are turning away from plastic, so, too, are municipalities looking for ways to reduce their plastic footprint. Thats why some special interests have lined up in an effort to push through state legislation that would actually reduce the choices local governments have when selecting the right pipes for their communities. For projects that involve burying pipes underground as most drinking and wastewater systems are officials, project managers and utility employees know that selecting the right pipes can mean the difference between the pipes serving for generations instead of cracking and needing costly repairs. But some in the plastics industry want to limit choices by forcing governments to select pipes based on the upfront costs. Pressuring communities to ignore the scientific data and unique local considerations, while focusing on upfront costs regardless of whether their water professionals believe the pipes are up to the job or not usurps local control. In effect, this eliminates choice and flexibility to use the most appropriate material for their consumers and taxpayers. Arbitrarily limiting choices and attempting to force one product in all circumstances, whether for individual consumers or government agencies, inevitably leads to higher costs and lesser quality. Just as a consumer wouldnt automatically purchase the cheapest car on the lot purely based on the price tag and no further research, municipalities need to retain the ability to select the pipe material that works best in their local community. Matthew Kandrach is the president of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Gov. Bruce Rauner and the General Assembly have shown little resolve in addressing some of the states most critical issues in the past six months. Lawmakers threw some minor reform measures into the state budget they passed in May. The big stuff pension reform, high taxes didnt get touched. With longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan firmly in control and Rauner seemingly powerless in the Governors Mansion dont look to Springfield for reform. Amid the standstill at the state level, some local leaders are moving ahead with changes. The DuPage County Board has taken a serious look at cutting out duplicitous layers of government through consolidation. And the McHenry County Board is going to vote this month on giving voters the opportunity to set term limits for elected officials through a binding referendum. Another proposed ordinance in McHenry County would put a check on incumbent spending in the months for an election. In September, the county board is expected to vote on a proposal to reduce the number of seats on the county board by 25 percent. These new measures come on the heels of the county boards decision in 2017 to cut the countys property tax levy by 11 percent. And Franks has been pushing other local governments to do the same, including school boards, which rely heavily on property tax revenue. Here in McHenry County, we dont do reform piecemeal, or only in reaction to scandal. Here, reform is steady, County Board Chairman Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said. We arent dragged kicking and screaming into making positive changes to make government leaner and more responsive. We seek out reform and best practices. And we just presented the public we serve with a torrent of them. They deserve nothing less, and I challenge other county boards across Illinois and our General Assembly to follow our example. One binding referendum would limit the McHenry County Board chairman to no more than two consecutive four-year terms starting in 2020. Another binding referendum would limit County Board members to no more than 12 years in office, starting in the 2022 election. Board members will vote on the referendums at a special meeting Aug. 16. If the board approves the referendums, residents would get to vote on them in the November midterm election. Im guessing the General Assembly wont follow suit on term limits. Madigan holds both the legislative reins in the House as that chambers speaker and the political purse strings as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois. Madigan has been speaker since 1983, with the exception of two years of in the 1990s when Republicans overtook the chamber. He was first elected to the House in 1971. Term limits arent really his thing. The efforts under way in McHenry County are a step in the right direction. But much more needs to be done to get Illinois on the right track. Similar reforms are needed from local school boards on up. Brett Rowland is news editor of Illinois News Network and the digital hub ILNews.org. He welcomes your comments. Contact Brett at browland@ilnews.org. SolarNow is an assetfinancing company that sells high quality solar products and appliances tohouseholds and businesses in Uganda and Kenya. The company started in 2011 andhas since opened 51 branches throughout Uganda, 12 more branches in Kenya, andemploys over 800 people. Our company aims to be client centric and a leadingbrand. In sales, we transform the lives of satisfied clients with motivatedprofessional staff. We target the right persons, with the right product, at theright place with the right message. Our message follows our economic and aspirationalbrand personality: make money and power your life! Recently SolarNow hasincluded solar irrigation equipment under their agricultural product range. In2018, this product range will further be developed by including additionalagricultural products. The United NationsChildrens Fund (UNICEF) is mandated by the UN general assembly to advocate forthe protection of childrens rights, to help meet their basic needs and expandtheir opportunities to reach their full potential. Together with our partners,we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment intopractical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable andexcluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. Windle InternationalUganda formerly Windle Trust Uganda is a registered INGO whose primary missionis to equip refugees and others affected by conflict in Africa to meet thechallenges of development through providing access to education, training, andemployment opportunities by advocacy and direct programme activity. WindleInternational Uganda has been a leading provider of access to universityeducation, post-primary education, primary and vocational training for conflictaffected Africans since 1996. Windle International lead partner of UNHCR is implementingEducation Programmes in Uganda with close collaboration with the Government ofUganda through the Office of the Prime Minister. The NnabagerekaDevelopment Foundation is a charitable organisation founded in 2000 by HerRoyal Highness Sylvia Nagginda, the Nnabagereka (queen) of the Kingdom ofBuganda, as one of the entities of the Buganda Kingdom. The Foundationsmission is: Leveraging culture to improve the quality of life ofchildren, youth and women. The Foundation works towards socialtransformation and aims to build a new generation through the revival ofObuntubulamu as an asset that can shape humanness, character and civility. TheFoundation is mission-driven with a national, regional and global reach and hasactive chapters in the United Kingdom and in the United States of America. The UN World FoodProgramme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency against world hunger. Itis the largest and longest serving humanitarian agency in Uganda. Currently WFPfocuses on three priority areas: Saving lives in Emergencies; BuildingResilience through Predictable Safety Nets; Improving Nutrition &Mother-and Child Health; and Supporting Small Holder Farmers to Access Markets.WFP has operations in various parts of the Country. Ivan Ayrs debut feature, Soni, has been selected for the Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival (August 29 to September 8). The Hindi film, starring Geetika Vidya and Saloni Batra, explores gender politics through the experiences of a Delhi policewoman. Orizzonti, a competition section of the festival, is dedicated to films that represent the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema. Soni will compete with 18 other films, including Ozen (The River) by Emir Baigazin, Tel Aviv on Fire by Sameh Zoabi, Erom (Stripped) by Yaron Sani, Manta Ray by Phuttiphong Aroonpheng among others. Ayr says it feel fantastic to be a part of the festival. Its very hard to get it any better than that. It is one of the three best film festivals in the world, so yeah, the hard work paid off, says the writer-director-editor of Soni, who, before getting on to his feature film journey, had made four short films. He calls his shorts his film school. Ayr, on a call from San Francisco, says that he never shared his initial two shorts because he was not very confident about them. But he was really passionate about the craft. His last short film, Quest For A Different Outcome, won the Best Film award at the San Jose International Film Short Film Festival. A huge admirer of Iranian filmmaker, Jafar Panahi, Ayr says he was inspired by his film, Offside, when it came to technique and treatment. I was awestruck by his finesse to effortlessly blend real and fiction. In Soni, Ayr has employed the technique of shooting a scene in a single shot. He says he wanted to use the single shot as a touch of realism. Letting a situation unfold with an organic fluidity brings out the raw human instincts in actors, to the degree where it blurs the line between performance and just plain human reaction. In a conversation with THE WEEK, he talks about the genesis of the idea, his journey into filmmaking, and more. How did the idea of Soni come? The initial idea I had was back in 2014 when I though about the main protagonist, and that she is going to be a police woman. The idea was borne of the desire to understand how the police women of Delhi were reacting to the harassment incidents consistently being reported from the city. I thought it would be very interesting to imagine what a police womansomebody who is in a position of power and is tasked with curbing this menace, and at the same time is also susceptible to the same crime, being a potential victimreacts to it. I tried putting myself in her shoes, and felt that in a situation like that, I would feel enraged and angry to the extent that one would just want to thrash anyone who was caught doing this. At the same time, because they are in uniform, they are supposed to uphold and enforce the law, and they have to keep these emotions in check. There was this tussle of emotion which was worth exploring. Then, the point of view of the police was very appealing. That would give us a chance to see the situation from the perspective of the police on the ground. Whatever we are reading in the news is just the tip of the iceberg. At it is the police generally who bear the brunt of most of these incidents that are reported. All of these combined made it a very important and interesting subject for me. Director Ivan Ayr Youve also had an interesting journey since thenwith your film being a part of NFDCs Work In Progress Lab. How did it help you make the film better? The film was sent to NFDC last November. I had a rough cut of the film ready. It definitely helped in getting a better focus on the characters, since it is a character-driven story. I like to say it is a character study of two police woman. We are showing their relationship with their families, with themselves and their life with respect to their job. So at the lab, the things that were diverting attention from the main objectivethat is studying closely with these two characterswere taken out. The [mentors] at the lab also looked at some of the other footage that I have which I hadnt included in the film, and there were suggestions whether the removed footage actually added something to the film. And there were a couple of scenes that were either extended or put back. Your journey to becoming a filmmaker has been quite interesting too. How did the transition from engineering to arts happen? I was always interested in writing, something I have done since my teens. After my graduation [in engineering], I went to the US with the intention of doing a double major in engineering and journalism. However, it seemed impractical because the tuition costs were very high. Instead, I studied it informally, not as a part of my degree program. While I was completing my engineering degree, I was taking courses in literature, journalism and filmmaking. I got really serious about writing when I wrote a series of essays on some documentaries. These were like unlike critical essays, but more on technology. Some of my professors read those essays and encouraged me to pursue writing literature. One of the courses I did was about novels adapted into films. The relationship between literature and film got me very interested in filmmaking. One thing led to another and I enrolled myself in a screenwriting course. At the time, I was in San Francisco. I did a screenwriting course at the San Francisco Film Society. There on, I started writing my won short films and making them while also saving for my own feature. How did the short films help you progress into making a feature? Making the short films was actually like a film school for me. Because, at the San Francisco Film Society, I was mostly studying direction and screenwriting. The short films were my practical classes. It was actually being on set in a position of a director who has to manage everythingfrom costumes, production design to working with actors and setting up the scenes. It is highly technical. It just helped in many ways, with confidence and making me aware of the mistakes I could do. I had a chance to make those mistakes and learn from those mistakes, and correct it in my subsequent short films. How important was it for you set Soni in Delhi? And, did you have a familiarity with the city? I spent the initial six-seven years of my life in Delhi, after which we moved to Chandigarh. Some of my extended family still live in Delhi. I am fairly well-acquainted with the city. Just having some memories of my childhood and our small flat in Delhi, leads to some kind of attachment to the city. I felt that I had to set the story in Delhi because I wanted to, as I said earlier, understand if the news was just a tip of the ice berg. I wanted to explore how had the city come to a point like that. Were there moments of surprise while you researched and studied the city for the film? There are always little surprises when you are filming a scene. There are moments that you just dont expect. And it mostly works out better. The biggest surprise came when I started spending time with the Delhi police, which was a part of the research I wanted to do before finishing the script. As I was revising my script, my producer and I decided to request a few senior police officers to let me spend a couple of weeks with their teams. I went to different police thanas in the city to observe them how they deal with people, each-other, and just their normal routine. The dynamic between the female and male officers. There were things which I had never imagined or was completely wrong about it. Like, when someone calls on the emergency number, how does it actually get to the respective thana in a particular area, and what is the protocol. Or, how they addressed each other. You dont pay much attention to it otherwise, but for me it was an important detail. The women officers are addressed as sir. And the kind of cases that come on daily basis. It really transformed the script. Of late, theres an increased interest in Delhi for filmmakers. Say, how Khosla Ka Ghosla captured the essence of the city Has there been any personal favourite Delhi-based film for you? I am a big fan of Khosla Ka Ghosla. I think, it has, very nicely captured the essence of the people of Delhi, unlike any other film until then. Even since, I think the language and the accent, the dressing style and just the culture in general, is very accurately portrayed in the film. However, I did not have a film in mind as I was writing my film. But Monsoon Wedding is a film that I highly admire. That also captures the life in the city very beautifully. Describing the micro, small and medium enterprises as the backbone of the country's economy, President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said these enterprises are "engines of inclusive development". The President was speaking after inaugurating 'One District One Product' Summit organised by the Uttar Pradesh government to promote traditional industries in every district of the state. "Micro, small and medium enterprises are called the backbone of our economy. These enterprises are engines of inclusive development. After the agricultural sector, most people find employment in this sector. "This sector generates more employment opportunities at a lower cost of capital. And the most important thing about this sector is that it creates jobs in rural and backward areas," he said. The President noted that Uttar Pradesh accounted for 44 per cent of the total handicraft exports of the country. Industries such as handicrafts, food processing, engineering goods, carpets, readymade clothes and leather goods earn foreign exchange as well as provide employment, he said. "Therefore, this sector will play an important role in the development of Uttar Pradesh," Kovind said. He expressed confidence that the One District One Product scheme will enhance skills of local people as well as increase the reach of products. Besides, it will result in economic progress of artisans of Uttar Pradesh. The President also noted that under the One District One Product scheme, the state government has set a goal of providing employment to 25 lakh people in five years through the financial assistance of Rs 25,000 crores. He hoped that this scheme will create large number of employment opportunities for the youth and strengthen the inclusive and sustainable development of Uttar Pradesh. During the summit, with a tagline of 'Nayi Udaan, Nayi Pehchan', the President distributed loan sanction papers to some artisans. Loan papers amounting to Rs 1,006.94 crore are to be distributed to 4,085 artisans from 75 districts in the summit. The summit, which aims to give boost to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) is a corollary of the UP Investors Summit held in the state capital in February this year, followed by the groundbreaking ceremony for the launch of 81 projects in July. UP is uniquely famous for product-specific traditional industrial hubs across 75 districts, including Varanasi (Banarasi silk sari), Bhadohi (carpet), Lucknow (chikan), Kanpur (leather goods), Agra (leather footwear), Aligarh (locks), Moradabad (brassware), Meerut (sports goods) and Saharanpur (wooden products). The ODOP scheme seeks to promote traditional industries synonymous with their respective districts to spur local economy and create jobs, said UP MSME and Khadi and Village Industries Minister Satyadeo Pachauri. The ODOP Summit is stated to be the first of its kind in the country and is expected to give a big boost to the MSME and handicraft in the state, Pachauri said. About the objective of the ODOP, he said its aim was to optimise production, productivity and income, preservation and development of local crafts, promotion of art, improvement in product quality and skill development. The state government will sign memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with e-retailor giant Amazon for marketing of products of artisans, and Quality Control of India (QCI) that will ensure quality of products. Amazon will train the artisans and small entrepreneurs of several districts, including Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Ferozabad, Moradabad, Agra, Kanpur, Meerut, Bhadohi and Varanasi, in getting their products listed on its marketing platform. Besides, MoUs will be exchanged with Wipro GE Health Care, National Stock Exchange and BSE at the event. Technical sessions on handloom, textiles craft, tourism, agro and food processing, credit and finance will be held during the summit. The Comptroller and Auditor General has slammed the defence public sector undertaking Bharat Electronics Limited for delay in executing contract of upgrading the surveillance system in the Parliament house, which led to the loss of over Rs 20 crore. BEL was awarded a contract for upgrading surveillance close circuit television (CCTV) systems in the Parliament. The contract of Rs 29.53 crore was given by Lok Sabha Secretariat under the ministry of home affairs in 2009. The contract stipulated that the liquidated damages for delay in commissioning and handing over the system only after successful testing. The integration of the old system with new system was completed on December 15, 2010 and subsequently, the integrated and upgraded CCTV system was offered to the Parliament in February 2011. It was asked that the CCTV system should ensure effective surveillance of the Parliament complex as well as create tamper-proof recording for post analysis. It also asks that the system must seamlessly integrate existing components of CCTV system with new equipment to provide an online display of video images along with face recognition and unattended baggage detection. However, due to technological limitations in the existing legacy system, certain parameters envisaged could not be incorporated in the system, CAG observed in its report tabled in the parliament early this week. The audit also mentioned that a third party audit carried out by the ministry of home affairs pointed out many shortfalls in the functioning of the system and non-compliance to contractual scope of work. As BEL did not improve the system by rectifying the defects, there was no formal takeover of the Parliament house. MHA eventually terminated the contract in April 2014, the agreement with BEL and demanded Rs 98.72 crore towards the liquidated damages, the audit claimed. The MHA then decided to hand over the existing surveillance system to ECIL. CAG pointed out that BEL suffered a loss of Rs 20.64 crore. BEL carried out maintenance of the new system as well as the legacy system without a formal contract and the claim of Rs 2.08 crore made by BEL towards annual maintenance contract charges was not acceptable by the parliament house. Thus, BEL accepted the work with an open ended clause without adequate due diligence in appreciating the capabilities of work and associated costs, CAG said, while adding, Consequently, it exposed itself to liquidated damages of Rs 98.72 core besides loss of Rs20.64 core and maintenance of the system with any return by way of annual maintenance contract. However, BEL in its defence has told the CAG that it completed installation and commissioning with delay of four days only. Unilateral levy of liquidated damages of Rs 98.72 crore was illogical and not accepted by BEL. BEL also claimed that it had put best efforts to keep both the system fully functional considering strategic importance of the site. The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite... The Ceasefire Monitoring Group, set up in 2001 to arrive at a permanent peace solution with the Naga insurgents, is slated to get a new chairman with the incumbent Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) Chairman D.K. Pathak completing his tenure on August 9. Former director general of Assam Rifles Lt. Gen Shokin Chauhan will be taking over from Pathak after formal orders are issued by the Union home ministry. Top government officials confirmed the development saying the formal orders will be issued in a day or two. The CFMG chairman has a tedious job of ensuring that the agreed ground rules during the operation of ceasefire with Naga insurgent outfits like NSCN (IM), GPRN/NSCN and NSCN (R) in Nagaland are not violated. The move is being seen as a morale booster for the Assam Rifles operating in Nagaland which has witnessed a spate of attacks on its personnel by the Naga insurgents in the last few months. The new appointment also comes at a time when the Centre and the NSCN (IM) are fine tuning a peace agreement taking into confidence other groups as well. Pathak has successfully steered the dialogue forward with the Naga outfits laying across their concerns through regular meetings. Rival factions have come together to cooperate with him in the last two years. Pathak took the concerns of the outfits from Kohima, where the CFMG chairman is based, to New Delhi while acting as the governments right hand in matters of security and deployment of forces in the insurgency affected area. A 1979 batch IPS officer, D.K. Pathak was appointed as the CFMG chairman in 2016 when the Modi government signed the historic framework agreement with the biggest insurgent outfit NSCN (IM) raising hopes of a peaceful solution. It will now be the mandate of Lt Gen Chouhan to maintain the peace dialogue with the outfits, especially when the Naga peace talks have reached a crucial juncture with the leaders of insurgent outfit keen on fructifying a peace deal which once seemed a distant dream. The Naga insurgency is the longest running insurgency in the country. Though the talks are at a conclusive stage today, the ball is in the court of the government which needs to take a final call. Pathak had succeeded Lt Gen (retd.) N.K. Singh in 2016, and it was the first time that a police officer had been appointed to the post which was traditionally held by army officers. Pathak was reporting to the home ministry and was coordinating with the army, paramilitary forces and state government. The signal that had been sent out in 2016 was positive. Now once again, as an army officer takes over as CFMG Chairman, the insurgent groups are watching closely. The Naga groups are waiting to hold their first meeting with Gen Chouhan which is expected to take place as soon as he takes charge. Six insurgent groups have signed a document together asking people in the northeastern states not to celebrate India's 71st Independence Day. The rebel groups are Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), Kanglei Yaowl Kanna Lup (KYKL), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and People's Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK). While KCP and KYKL are dreaded groups of Manipur, NDFB and PDCK are based in Assam, and NLFT is of Tripura. The KLO is the only group operating in North Bengal and is known to have revived its organisation after series of onslaught against them almost two decades ago. Getting the message, security has been intensified in Assam, Manipur and Tripura. All such groups are believed to have been camped in Myanmar, around 30 km away from the international border from Arunachal Pradesh up to southern Mizoram and southern Tripura tri-junction bordering Bangladesh. The documents have been signed by President of KCP, K.L. Meitei, Jibon Singh, chairman of KLO, N. Oken, chairman of KYKL, B.R. Ferengga, General Secretary of NDFB, S. Borok of NLFT and J.K. Lijang of PDCK. Interestingly, both KCP and KYKL are part of Core-Coma conglomeration of dozen of insurgent groups of Manipurand Core-Com has not issued any such instruction to people of the four states. The Intelligence Bureau has reportedly sent a message to all the concerned states. While security in Assam has already been intensified due to NRC issues, special alert has been sent to West Bengal and Tripura, two Bengali dominated states of India. Assam Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has met with the security personnel, including the Army and Assam Rifles present in the state, and stressed on intense vigil at five districts of the statesUkhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and two Imphal districts. An officer of the Assam Rifles has said, We are already on high vigil at the border. All the insurgent groups would try to do something on Independence Day. But nothing would happen as we are on constant vigil. Intelligence groups are also surprised by the fact that no threats have been received yet from groups such as the ULFA (I), NSCN (K) and NDFB (S) which are more powerful and lethal in the northeast. Also PLA and UNLF, which are part of the greater coalition of Core-Com remained silent. NSCN (K), ULFA (I) and NDFB (S) recently are on the back foot because of the violation of ceasefire with the Myanmar army. Senior leaders such as Khango Konyak of NSCN (K), Paresh Barua of ULFA and Songbijit of NDFB (I) have been moved to safer shelters due to huge military operations conducted by the Myanmar army, apparently at the insistence of the Narendra Modi government. The eastern command of the Indian Army has sent a special communique to the northeast divisions about deployment of the Army in different parts of the seven states in the wake of the threats. A Pakistan returned youth from Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh has been held for allegedly threatening Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Twitter. Jitendra Arjunwar, 22, a sickle cell anaemia patient, was released in May on humanitarian grounds after spending five years in a Pakistani jail. Jitendra returned home in Barghat village through the Wagah border along with a team of state police who had gone to receive him. Jitendra had strayed into Pakistan by crossing the Rajasthan border in 2013 when he ran away from home. Hailing from an economically backward family, Arjunwar has a brother and mother at home. His brother is an automobile mechanic. His release from Pakistan was made possible by Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy which took up the matter when Jitendra was about to be released from jail in June 2014 but failed due to lack of citizenship documents. Social activists from both side of border joined the movement when it was known that Jitendra had accidentally strayed into Pakistan border. He was initially mistaken as a spy and sent to Hyderabad jail in Sindh province of Pakistan. Several human-rights activists led by Jatin Desai including Haya Zahid, Ansar Burney, Ali Palh, Haya Emaan Zahid, Altaf Khoso, journalists Beena Sarwar, Allah Bux Arisar had joined the campaign to free Jitendra. Police sources said that after his return from Pakistan, Jitendra was expecting some help from state government like the Pakistan-returned girl Gita received from central and state governments. He expected Chouhan, like many others, to extend monetary assistance for treatment of his disease. He, however, did not receive any such help except for a little support from local administration, which frustrated him. Recently, Jitendra procured a cell phone and got a SIM from his brother Bharat Arjunwar. Sources said that he sent threats to Chief Minister Chouhan that he will be killed if he comes to Barghat during his Jan Ashirwad election Yatra. After the threats were noticed on the chief minister's Twitter account, Bhopal police swung into action. Cyber cell's Superintendent of Police Sudeep Goenka told media that Jitendra created a Twitter account on August 2 and posted threat-tweets from his handle between August 2 and 7. He said that one of the tweets which tagged Chouhan's official handle read: "I will kill you when you come to Barghat for your rally." Police registered a case against the two brothers under section 506, 507 of IPC 66 and 66C of IT Act. The brothers were brought from Barghat to Bhopal by cyber crime police on Wednesday. They have been released on bail after their statements were recorded by the police. The Bharatiya Janata Party has found a woman face for West Bengal to deal with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Poonam Mahajan, BJP's Yuva Morcha president, will be attending a big rally on Saturday at Kolkata's Mayo Road, which would be addressed by party's national president Amit Shah. The meeting is seen as an answer to Banerjee's Martyr day rally in Kolkata on July 21. Shah was supposed to come to Kolkata on May 3, but his visit was called off due to some preoccupation in other states. A tug of war has already begun in Kolkata with BJP's posters scattered all over the city. Interestingly, each of such postersbe it photos of Shah or Poonamwas followed by another poster of ruling Trinamool Congress which says, "Anti-Bengal BJP, go back." It was 20 years back when Poonam's father, Promod Mahajan, a close associate of then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, came to Kolkata and attended the same martyr day meeting in 1999 when Banerjee was supporting the NDA government from outside. Banerjee, however, had exerted huge pressure on the Centre demanding a "Bengal package". She even threatened to withdraw her support to the Union government, which would have become minority government then. An alarmed Vajpayee sent his trusted Mahajan to Kolkata. Banerjee then said that she had supported BJP on the condition that it would give her a Bengal package, though she was not the chief minister of the state at that time. Many left leaders in the state supported her move. Mahajan, then political adviser of Vajpayee, came to Kolkata and attended the martyr day meeting of Banerjee and said that the prime minister had accepted all demands of the Trinamool Congress chief. "When you get so many things while living outside, why don't you come inside our house and get everything?" Late Promod Mahajan then asked Banerjee. History has come back, but in a different way. Mahajan's daughter Poonam would come to Kolkata on Saturday to play a role, exactly opposite to what her father played two decades back. A senior BJP leader in West Bengal said, "The daughter would undo what her father did." BJP leaders in the state said Poonam would make series of visits in the coming months to West Bengal. "She is a good speaker and a good organiser as well. She is a woman and would be rightly pitted against Banerjee," said the leader. All eyes are now on Saturday's rally of Shah and Poonam in Kolkata. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress has decided to observe a black day in West Bengal on Saturday to protest against the NRC draft list in Assam. So, there is a possibility of confrontation. Kailash Vijayvargava, state prabhari of BJP, has warned Trinamool Congress. "Don't play with fire. There will be Lanka Kanda if anybody tries to oppose us tomorrow (Saturday)," Vijayvargava, BJP's national general secretary said. Shah will come on Saturday at 11am. He would move to Port Trust guest house in Kolkata and meet the party leaders before heading to the rally venue. He is likely to go back to Delhi in the evening. On the closing day of parliament on Friday, Congress-led opposition launched a blistering attack on the Narendra Modi government over the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal. Led by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, opposition MPs protested in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Parliament complex, holding placards and raising slogans. Congress MPs Raj Babbar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, CPI's D. Raja and AAP MP Sushil Gupta were present in the protest. The parliamentarians demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the issue. Taking up the opposition attack to further level, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, while addressing an event in New Delhi, called the Rafale deal the biggest defence scam the country has ever seen, and blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for it. He claimed that the price of the Rafale jets "magically" rose from Rs 540 to Rs 1600 crore per piece. "The UPA government had readied the Rafale contract, according to which the price for each jet was approximately Rs 540 crore. The contract was ready and Modi ji only had to take a decision. "But, Modi ji goes to France and scraps the previous contract and the Defence minister and other cabinet ministers do not know about it," Rahul said. He also alleged that a contract related to the fighter deal was snatched from the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and given to a private company which has never made an aeroplane nor taken any defence contract. Earlier in the day, both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha witnessed unruly scenes as MPs from opposition staged noisy protests demanding a JPC probe into the alleged scam. A few days back, Bharatiya Janata Party's rebel leaders Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, and lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan had alleged that the Rafale deal was a case of "monumental criminal misconduct" by the NDA government and demanded a time-bound CAG probe into the contract. What is the controversy? The Congress has been accusing massive irregularities in the Rafale deal, alleging that the government was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government for the procurement of 126 Rafale jets. The deal negotiated by the UPA could not be inked. The Congress has also been pressing for price details of the deal, but the NDA government has refused to divulge them citing confidentiality provisions of a 2008 Indo-France pact. The government has, however, asserted that there were no irregularities in the deal. In a dramatic move, a US federal judge has ordered that a mother and daughter who were deported mid-appeal be flown back to the country. The judge observed that it was unacceptable and outrageous that they had been removed during their appeal. The judge also said that Attorney General Jeff Sessions could be held in contempt of court for the deportation. The hearing was part of a lawsuit the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Centre for Gender & Refugee Studies filed on Tuesday. The ACLU claimed that the Trump administration was unfairly preventing migrants fleeing violence in Central American from seeking asylum in the US. The mother and daughter were deported as part of the policy accepted by the Trump administration that domestic violence and gang violence would no longer qualify an immigrant for US asylum. The official has been accused of using his official position to harass the men. But ACLU said they learned during Thursday's emergency hearing that the mother and daughter had already been put on a flight back to El Salvador by US authorities. Washington DC District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan said that it was unacceptable that people claiming asylum had been removed while lawyers argued their case. Dozens of people, including children on a bus, were killed when a Saudi-led coalition air strike hit the Saada province in Yemen. The airstrikes targeted missile launchers used to attack the southern Saudi city of Jizan on Wednesday, the coalition said. It claimed the attack was carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law. Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam said the coalition showed clear disregard for civilian life as the attack had targeted a crowded public place in the city. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said a strike hit the bus driving children in Dahyan market, in northern Saada. The ICRC said on its Twitter account that its medical team at the ICRC-supported hospital in Saada had received the bodies of 29 children, all under 15 years old. The hospital also received 48 wounded people, among them 30 children. But these numbers were from just one hospital. Saudi Arabia and Sunni Muslim allies intervened in Yemens war in 2015 against the Houthis, who control the most populous areas of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, and drove the internationally recognised government into exile in 2014. The United States and other Western powers provide arms and intelligence to the alliance, and human rights groups have criticised them over coalition air strikes that have killed hundreds of civilians at hospitals, schools and markets. A US military spokeswoman said US forces were not involved in Thursdays air strike. Parliament passes insolvency and bankruptcy bill (Eds: With additional details) New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) A bill to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016, allowing home buyers to be treated as financial creditors and seeking to set up a special dispensation for small sector enterprises, was passed by Parliament today. The bill, which was passed in Lok Sabha on July 31, was approved in the Rajya Sabha today by voice vote. The legislation seeks to replace the June 6 ordinance that sought to put these amendments into force to aid quick resolution of several bankrupt firms. Replying to the debate on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second amendment) 2018 in the Upper House, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said its objective was to provide resolution to small bankrupt firms and, at the same time, take stringent action against big bankrupt businesses. He said the bill aims to ensure that all cases are led to resolution instead of liquidation. "We want faster resolution of cases. ....We don't want liquidation. Insolvency will not help the country. Assets worth crores should put to use," he said. The Minister said the Insolvency Law Committee, which was set up in November 2017, had submitted the report on May 26 this year and every recommendations of the panel has been accepted and incorporated in the amendments. On the approval of a resolution plan, the Minister said the report said it should be approved by a panel of creditors by a vote of not less than 66 per cent of the voting share of financial creditors. For routine decisions, it should be 51 per cent vote requirement. Goyal said the government is trying to increase the strength of NCLAT to address the pendency of cases. "The number of courts, judicial members and technical members are being increased," he said. Besides, a group has been set up to see speedy resolution of about 40,000 cases in NCLAT that are simple in nature and can be resolved by imposing non-discretionary penalty, he added. On a member's query regarding less recovery of assets through the resolution process, Goyal said "there is a good recovery. ...If you look at the cases so far, 32 cases are resolved through resolution and up to 55 per cent have been recovered." Earlier, it used to take an average of three years to resolve a matter, it has now come down to one year. Earlier the cost of resolution used be higher at 9 per cent, now it has come down to one per cent, he said. He also stated that the NCLAT was an independent body and the government does not interfere in its functioning. The minister said it is not that in all cases, the promoters are wiful defaulters. Wherever promoters are wilful defaulters, the action should be taken strictly. "Now there is fear among big borrowers that they have to repay their loans. Earlier, there was a responsibility to repay loans was on small borrowers. Big players used think it is not our problem, banks have to recover the loan. This equation has changed today," he noted. Earlier, Minister of State for Finance P P Chaudhary termed the bill as a game changer for the economy. Opposing the bill, D Raja (CPI) said that frequent changes to the law is being done to help defaulters and the government wants to bail out the defaulters. In the Bhushan Steel case, he alleged that the banks lost Rs 21,000 crore but a corporate house gained this amount. He sought to know why the government has a "soft corner towards the corporates." "The government should bail out the poor and not the corporates. The voting requirement is reduced to 66 per cent from 75 per cent to help one corporate," he alleged. Neeraj Shekhar (SP), S R Balasubramaniyan (AIADMK), Kahkashan Perween (JD-U), P Battacharya (Cong) were among others who supported the bill, but expressed concern over the government taking the ordinance route to amend various laws. Supporting the bill, Jairam Ramesh (Cong) said that in the last two years out of 700 cases admitted under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy code only 3 per cent have been resolved, 12 per cent have gone into liquidation and 10 per cent have been closed. "In other words out of 700 cases over 500 cases are active. Now the court says within 270 days the process must be complete. So my first question to the minsiter is high propostion of cases which are ongoing," Ramesh said. He said "We have passed a law which says that the whole proces should be completed in 270 days. But over 75 per cent of the cases going through some process or the other. I would urge the minsister to pay close attention to it." Ramesh said the recovery rate for banks stood at about 40 per cent. "Now this 40 per cent is also an optimistic figure this includes recovery in steel industry which is now on the recovery path." He said he suspected that the recovery through this code would not be more than 30 per cent. "This is not a very healthy figure and I urge the Finance Minister to pay close attention to the fact that the recovery is good in the steel sector. If you leave that aside, the recovery rates are not very encouargeing," Ramesh said. Ramesh also pointed out that on February 12, the RBI had issued a circular on stressed assets and that the Finnace Ministry has challenged it in the Allahabad High Court and sought to know the government's position regarding the circular. "This is extarordinary situation. RBI issuing a circular which is being challenged by the Finance Ministry. I would like the government to clarify the exact position on this circular," the Congress leader said, stressing that the willfull defaulters should not go scot-free. Neeraj Shekhar (SP) said what was the need for the government to bring in an ordinance in June when the House was scheduled to meet in July. Such action raises suspicion about government's motives, he added. PTI LUX MSS ARC ARC ARC Par passes bill for speedy disposal of commercial disputes New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) A bill to amend the law for speedy disposal of commercial disputes and seeking to reduce the pecuniary jurisdiction of commercial courts from Rs 1 crore to Rs 3 lakh was passed by Parliament today. The bill, passed in the Lok Sabha in July 31, was adopted in the Raya Sabha by voice vote amid opposition demand for strengthening the necessary infrastructure for speedy disposal of cases. Replying to the debate on the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) bill 2018, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said small businesses should get their disputes redressed like the big ones. Maintaining that efforts were being made to improve the court infrastructure, he said under a central scheme, 42 per cent of the Rs 6,302 crore was given to the states for infrastructure development in the last four years alone. Even measures to fill up vacant posts of judges in the higher judiciary were being undertaken, he said. However, the government has no powers to address the vacancies in subordinate courts where the 5,000 posts are lying vacant at present, he said. Prasad suggested that an All India Judiciary Exam will help address the current problem but "big courts are opposing to this idea." Earlier while introducing the bill for consideration, Prasad said that commercial disputes need to be redressed faster at a time when the country's economy is growing at a faster rate. Participating in the debate, Bhubaneswar Kalita (Cong) expressed concern over the government taking the ordinance route frequently to bring amendments to various laws. He, however, supported the bill saying it was necessary considering the increase in financial disputes. He pointed out that reducing the pecuniary jurisdiction of commercial courts to 3 lakh will overburden the courts. Harshavardhan Singh Dungarpur (BJP), A Vijay Kumar (AIADMK), Ramnath Takur (JD-U), Manjoj Kumar Jha (RJD) and D Raja (CPI) also participated in the debate. PTI LUX ARC ARC ARC Mumbai, Aug 9 (PTI) Producer Ekta Kapoor is the latest celebrity to join the nepotism debate, saying not only star kids but outsiders should also be a given a chance in the industry. Ekta, who is launching two new actors --Avinash Tiwary and Tripti Dimri-- in her upcoming production "Laila Majnu", in the promotional events of the film has spoken about how she faced challenges to market her film with new faces. In an Instagram post, Ekta once again talked about hiring "unknown talents who have no film legacy or star fathers or godfathers." Ayesha, whose son Tiger made his Bollywood with "Heropanti" in 2014, shot back at Ekta, commenting, "It's not a sin to have a star father my dear! Hard work and talent is the same no matter what caste, creed or lineage!" Ekta, who is the daughter of veteran actor Jeetendra, argued that as a producer it is harder to make a film featuring outsiders. "Not at all, ma'am! I have one, but you have to admit for a producer to sell market and turn around a film with newcomers is far tougher with no lineage attached ! This is no slight to any star kid least of all Tiger who is FANTASTIC! But a request to give other kids a chance too." At the trailer launch of "Laila Majnu" Ekta was asked about her take on nepotism, which started with Kangana Ranaut calling out Karan Johar for promoting star kids. "I don't do it. I don't agree that it is only film industry's problem because there is a whole world around it," Ekta had said. PTI SHD SHD Colombo, Aug 10 (PTI) Sri Lankan parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today rejected a plea by the loyalists of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to recognise their group as the main Opposition, replacing the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by R Sampanthan. In a written request to the Speaker, eight members of parliament of the Rajapaksha-backed "Joint Opposition" sought recognition of their group as the largest single opposition in parliament and appoint MP Dinesh Gunawardena as the Leader of the Opposition. The Rajapaksa loyalists argued that they have the support of 70 MPs as opposed to TNA, which has only 16 legislators. However, the Speaker countered the argument saying that Rajapaksa and his group had been elected to parliament as members of the (UPFA). The UPFA, whose leader is President Maithripala Sirisena, also acts as part of the unity government in the island nation. I have to inform the House that in terms of the constitution and standing orders I have no power to change the leader of the opposition, Jayasuriya said. He further said there was no ground for the Joint Opposition to claim the leader of the opposition position while remaining in a party that was a constituent on the government. The Rajapaksa group charged that Jayasuriya was denying their group the due democratic recognition. The 2015 parliamentary elections saw UPFA undergo a split with loyalists of the Sirisena faction, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), forming a coalition government with the United National Party (UNP). The coalition led to a great degree of discontent amongst many SLFP members who went on to form the Joint Opposition alongside other parties from the UPFA. The Rajapaksa group has now formed their own party, Sri Lanka Peoples Party (SLPP), which won the Februarys local election. Since the election victory, more members of the UPFA have joined them bolstering their number. Sirisena's faction is now left with just 26 members. PTI CORR/SCY SCY SCY British parliamentary delegation to visit Maha in September Mumbai, Aug 10 (PTI) A British parliamentary delegation will visit Maharashtra in the second or third week of September to exchange information on proceedings of the legislatures of both countries. Deputy High Commissioner of United Kingdom Paul Carter today met Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar at the state secretariat where information regarding parliamentary proceedings of Maharashtra and United Kingdom was exchanged, a release issued by the state government said. Among those who were present were Principal Secretary to the Legislative Assembly Anant Kumar Kalse, Secretary to the chairman M M Kaaj, Additional Secretary of the Legislature Sunil Zore and former MLC Sanjay Dutt. The meeting today discussed details of the British parliamentary visit later this month. Nimbalkar said that the UK delegation should visit tourist places and rural areas along with Mumbai so that the delegation can study rural issues. A proposal by Maharashtra to hold the Commonwealth Parliamentary Council was also discussed in the meeting, the release said. Earlier, a delegation of Commonwealth Parliamentary Board headed by Nimbalkar and Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde had visited the United Kingdom. PTI MM BNM BNM BNM Mumbai, Aug 10 (PTI) The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra police has seized explosives from the house of a suspected member of a right-wing Hindu organisation at Nallasopara in Palghar district of the state, and arrested him, a police official said today. The ATS sleuths raided the residence and shop of the accused at Bhandar Aali in Sopara village of Nallasopara West late last night and seized the explosives, the official said. The accused was arrested and it was being confirmed whether the explosives include RDX, the official said. The name of the accused and that of the organisation was not revealed by the police. The ATS returned to the Mumbai Unit along with the accused, and he will be interrogated, police said, adding he is likely to be produced in a court here this afternoon. PTI DC NP NSD NSD 3 more Romanians held in ATM fraud case Kolkata, Aug 10 (PTI) The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police has arrested three more Romanians for their alleged involvement in the ATM fraud in the city, a senior officer said today. One person was nabbed from Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh, while the other two were caught from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, he said. With these arrests, altogether eight persons, including five Romanians, have been arrested in the ATM fraud cases. Nearly 80 customers of nationalised banks in the city have been duped by ATM fraudulent transactions made using cloned debit or credit cards. The customs department officials arrested Voico Aurel alias Nana when he was trying to flee to Nepal, the officer said. He said Kolkata Police sleuths got the tip off about Nana after interrogating the two other Romanians arrested in the case and informed the UP officials. The other two Andreane Livin and Colonel Constantin were arrested from Indore. Brought on transit remand to the city today, the three were produced before a city court and were remanded to 14 days' police custody. Two Romanians have earlier been arrested from New Delhi, while three persons including an engineering college dropout, have been arrested from the city in connection with the case. The Kolkata Police has formed a SIT to probe the matter. PTI SCH NN NN NN Srinagar, Aug 10 (PTI) Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today asserted that no court had the jurisdiction to change the residency law of Jammu and Kashmir due to the UN Security Council resolutions. "No court has the jurisdiction to tamper with the 1927 hereditary state subject laws of J&K because UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir clearly state that the citizens of J&K are to decide their final dispensation as a people, by exercising the right to self-determination, a right which is yet to be exercised by us," said Mirwaiz, addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid here. Mirwaiz said the commitment to the Right of Self Determination was made to the people of the state by the first Prime Minister of India, both before the people of J&K and the world. "So how can any court challenge the UN resolutions and the commitments made by the Government of India that took the shape of Constitutional safeguards till the government honours its commitments?" Mirwaiz asked. He said J&K was a "world-acknowledged dispute" and the people of the state would at no cost allow dilution of the dispute till it was resolved. "The move of tinkering with the state subject law is aimed at undermining the dispute, by changing the demography of the state, settling outsiders here and making the locals a minority in their own land along the Israeli pattern in Palestine," he alleged. He said such a move will not be tolerated as was shown by the exceptional protest strike observed by the people of the state on August 5 and 6. "The leadership is urgently deliberating upon the issue and taking all segments of the society on board to launch a massive protest agitation to counter this onslaught against us," he added. PTI MIJ RAX RAX New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) A year after a case was registered against the director of a management college in Bengaluru for allegedly posting a fake letter from the President of India on his Facebook account, the man was arrested, police said today. The accused, Hari Krishna Maram, aged between 45-50, was in the US for more than a year but returned to Bengaluru this month and was arrested by Cyber Crime Cell of Delhi Police on Wednesday, they added. The case was being investigated by sub-inspector Bhanu Pratap of the cyber cell after a complaint was filed by the president's press secretary last year. Maram had allegedly posted the photo of an "appreciation letter" received from the president for a book he had authored on digital marketing, said an officer privy to the probe. The letter was fake and Maram had posted the letter to gain publicity and more eyeballs for the book he had supposedly written, the officer said. At the time of the registration of the case, Maram was in the US and was contacted but he did not join investigation. A city court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him and police had even initiated proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender, he added. The accused was running a management school in Bengaluru and has an MBA degree and a B.Pharma. He was produced in a city court yesterday that sent him to judicial custody. Police have seized the laptop computer used to prepare the forged letter and have sent it for forensic examination. PTI SLB SLB ABH ABH New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court will next week hear Congress leader Kamal Nath's plea seeking random verification of VVPAT machines in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. The matter came up today before a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar. In his petition, Kamal Nath has sought a direction to the Election Commission to randomly verify VVPAT slips with EVM votes at 10 per cent of polling stations in every constituency. He has also said the voter list should be provided in text format. PTI SJK MIN MIN MIN New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Centre today told the Supreme Court it does not concur with the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to release seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, saying remission of their sentence will set a "dangerous precedent" and have "international ramifications". A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph took the document, filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, on record and adjourned the matter. On January 23, the apex court had asked the Centre to take a decision within three months on a 2016 letter by Tamil Nadu government seeking its concurrence on releasing seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The letter, written on March 2, 2016, had said the state government has already decided to release the seven convicts, but it is necessary to seek the Centre's concurrence as per an apex court order of 2015. "The central government, in pursuance of section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, do not concur to the proposal of the government of Tamil Nadu contained in their communication letter dated March 2, 2016 for grant of further remission of sentence to these seven convicts," said the reply filed by MHA Joint Secretary V B Dubey. The Ministry said the trial court had given "cogent reasons" for imposing death penalty upon the accused and pointed out that even the Supreme Court had termed the assassination an "unparallel act" in the annals of crimes committed in this country. "...releasing the four foreign nationals who had committed the gruesome murder of former Prime Minister of this country, along with 15 others most of whom were police officers, in connivance with three Indian nationals will set a very dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future," the Centre said. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, at an election rally. Fourteen others, including Dhanu herself, were also killed. This was perhaps the first case of suicide bombing which had claimed the life of a high-profile global leader. V Sriharan alias Murugan, T Suthendraraja alias Santham, A G Perarivalan alias Arivu, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, P Ravichandaran and Nalini have been in jail for 25 years. The Supreme Court had on February 18, 2014, commuted the death sentence of three convicts Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan citing inordinate delay by the executive in deciding their mercy plea. PTI MNL ABA RRT MIN MIN New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court today agreed to hear the CBI's appeal challenging the acquittal of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the 2008 twin murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj. A bench headed by Justices Ranjan Gogoi said the CBI's appeal would be heard along with Hemraj's wife's pending petition, which has also challenged the acquittal of the Talwars by the Allahabad High Court on October 12 last year. "Leave granted," the bench, also comprising Justices Navin Sinha and K M Joseph, said. Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, representing the CBI, referred to the plea filed by Hemraj's wife's. The bench said CBI's appeal would be tagged with it. Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead inside her room in the Talwars' Noida residence with her throat slit in May 2008. The needle of suspicion had initially moved towards 45-year-old Hemraj, who had gone missing, but his body was recovered from the terrace of the house two days later. A CBI court at Ghaziabad sentenced the Talwars to life imprisonment on November 26, 2013 in connection with the case. The high court had freed them of the charges on the ground that they could not be held guilty on the basis of the evidence on record. PTI ABA MNL RRT MIN MIN 55 people so far been evacuated by Navy from flood hit areas Kochi, Aug 10 (PTI) 55 people have so far been evacuated from flood hit areas in Kerala by the Navy in its 'Operation Madad' to assist the state government, following heavy rains and release of excess water from many dams. The operation, launched by Southern Naval Command (SNC) since yesterday, continued today also. Two teams with Gemini boats commenced rescue operations at Kalpetta, Wayanad and at Panmarum (13 km south of Mananthavady), where they evacuated 55 stranded people till 12 noon today, a defence press release said. Another team was airlifted by a Seaking Helicopter to Kalpetta with all gear and two electric generators, which was requested by Wayanad District Collector. Three additional diving teams have also been dispatched to Aluva in coordination with the Deputy Collector for utilization by the District Collector in affected areas to augment the rescue, the release said. One of the teams is likely to be deployed at Idukki. This is in addition to the two diving teams on standby at Aluva for relief operations since yesterday in anticipation of flooding expected in Ernakulam and Aluva, it said. In all four diving teams have been deployed in Wayanad and five at Aluva. One contingent of 50 men, fully equipped for any kind of assistance, has been positioned at Naval Armament Depot,Aluva. In addition, the Naval Hospital, INHS Sanjivani is ready to render medical aid as required and all preparations towards setting up community kitchen by naval personnel from INS Venduruthy have been made in case the need arises Naval helicopters are also being deployed to ferry divers, power tools, axes and relief material to flooded areas to augment ongoing relief operations, it said. Earlier, a defence spokesperson said the Navy had put SNC on alert in view of the rising water level in Periyar river in Kerala and possible inundation of parts of Wellingdon Island, surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi. He said the Navy has made preparations to meet any situation arising out of possible inundation of the island, said to be the largest artificial island in India,following opening of shutters of three dams of Cheruthoni, Idamalayar and Kakki. The Wellingdon Island, part of Kochi city, houses strategic facilities, including SNC and Cochin Port Trust. The water level will rise in downstream districts with the released excess water from the dams reaching there. The spokesperson said three contingents (50 men each) from INS Dronacharya, Venduruthy and Naval Air station INS Garuda were ready to be deployed as and when required, besides a medical team from INHS Sanjivani. PTI TGB APR APR APR APR Flood alert issued for Cauvery river in six TN districts Chennai/Coimbatore, Aug 10 (PTI) A flood alert was issued along the banks of Cauvery in six Tamil Nadu districts today with Karnataka releasing more than one lakh cusecs of water into the inter-state river in the wake of heavy rains there, officials said today. The alert was issued a day after the Central Water Commission (CWC) gave the first advisory warning, saying combined discharge of water (more than one lakh cusecs) from Kabani and KRS dams in Karnataka was expected to reach Mettur Dam in Salem district of Tamil Nadu by tomorrow. "Suitable precautionary steps may be taken and downstream areas informed of the (water) release", the advisory issued by CWC's Southern Rivers Division. Accordingly, the collectors of Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Erode, Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur districts gave the flood alert asking people living along the banks of the river, particularly those in low lying areas, to move to safer places in case of flood, official sources said. All preventive and safety measures have been taken to meet any eventuality that may arise due to expected high inflow, Salem District Collector Rohini R Bhajibhakare said in a release. As the water level in the Mettur Dam stood at 116.85 feet today against its maximum of 120 feet with a storage of 88.53 tmc ft (capacity 93.4 feet), it was expected to surplus soon. The inflow into the dam, which was 16,900 cusecs earlier today, jumped to 60,000 cusecs by the evening, PWD officials said. PTI NVM VIJ VGN VS VS VS Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 10 (PTI) In rain battered-Kerala, a red alert has been issued for Idukki and its adjoining districts in view of the possibility of release of more water from the Idukki reservoir, while entry of tourists to the high-range district was stopped after roads caved in at many places. Five columns of Army has been deployed in the state's northern districts since last night, and small bridges have been constructed to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad. The Indian Navy has put on alert its Southern Naval Command in view of the rising water level in the Periyar river and a possible inundation of parts of Wellingdon Island surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi. Twenty-six people have lost their lives since August 8 in landslides and floods caused due to the heavy rains as the South-west monsoon remains vigorous over Kerala. The Idukki district administration has restricted tourists from visiting hilly areas and movement of heavy goods carriers also has been restricted. At least 30 tourists, including foreigners stranded at the Plum Judy resort at Munnar since Wednesday as roads are blocked due to landslips, are safe and the Army's help has been sought, state Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said, adding they will be shifted to the KTDC. People living downstream of Periyar and Cheruthoni rivers have been warned that there is a possibility of inundation of banks as torrential rain pounded the state for the second day in a row. Gates of 24 dams in the state have been opened so far due to rising water level. Three shutters of the Idukki reservoir have already been opened. Two more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, the biggest arch dam in Asia, were lifted around 7 am today as the water level continued to rise following continuing rains. One shutter was opened yesterday after a gap of 26 years. The water level in Idukki at 10 am stood at 2,401.34 feet against the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 2,403 feet. This morning, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation and relief works being undertaken by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF. Informing reporters that there is a need to release more water from the Idukki dam in the wake of increase in the water level, he said, "It is essential to release water three times than what was being released now." In view of this, water level in the Periyar river and its tributaries will rise. People have to be vigilant, Vijayan said. The Chief Minister, who has cancelled all his public functions till August 12, will monitor the situation from the state capital. Union minister Alphons Kannamthanam said he discussed the flood situation in Kerala with Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning. "The Government of India is providing all the required assistance including services of armed forces, disaster management team and other required assistance. Any other immediate assistance requested by the Government of Kerala will be provided," he said in a Facebook post. Col Ajai Sharma, the Commandant of DSC Centre, who is overseeing relief and rescue operations, said five columns of Army has been deployed in the northern districts since last night. "The haphazard development along the streams has affected the natural flow of rivers, which is a challenge right now," he said. Small bridges have been constructed to evacuate stranded people in various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad areas, and rescue operations are currently underway. "The situation is under control," he said. Meanwhile, state Revenue minister E Chandrasekharan reviewed the flood situation and the precautionary measures to be taken in Aluva and nearby areas in view of the possibility of increase in the water level following release of more water from Idukki reservoir. Periyar river in Aluva is already in spate following release of water from Idamalayar dam and people living in low-lying areas have been asked to be vigilant. Cochin International Airport Limited sources said operations at the airport had not been affected. There was no need to suspend flights and there has been no cancellations. "The operational area is intact. No cancellation of services so far," an airport spokesperson said. According to state disaster control room sources, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas. Over 5,500 people from Wayanad district, where a red alert had been sounded yesterday, have been shifted to relief camps, the sources said this morning. In Ernakulam, 3,456 people have been shifted to camps following floods after four shutters of the Idamalayar dam were opened yesterday. The government has asked tourists not to go to high-range areas and dam sites. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Kerala Chief Minister yesterday in the wake of heavy rains and floods in the state, and offered all possible assistance to those affected. In Palakkad district, the flood waters have started receding today as the quantity of water being released from Malampuzha dam has been reduced and Palakkad town is limping back to normal. However, many areas are still inundated and people were seen trying to save their belongings. PTI UD JRK TGB SS NVG SS NSD NSD Kochi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Navy has put on alert its Southern Naval Command in view of the rising water level in Periyar river in Kerala and a possible inundation of parts of Wellingdon Island, surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi. A defence spokesperson said the Navy has made preparations to meet any situation arising out of the possible inundation of the island, said to be the largest artificial island in the country, following the opening of shutters of three dams of Cheruthoni, Idamalayar and Kakki. "We will take all necessary steps to ensure that important installations in the island are not affected," the spokesman told PTI. The Wellingdon Island, part of Kochi city, houses strategic facilities, including the Southern Naval Command and Cochin Port Trust. The water level will rise in downstream districts with the released excess water from the dams reaching there. Areas in Kuttanad Taluk are likely to be affected, sources said. The spokesperson said three contingents (50 men each) from INS Dronacharya, Venduruthy and Naval Air station INS Garuda are ready to be deployed as and when required, besides a medical team from the INHS Sanjivani. The Southern Naval Command is also geared up to contribute to community kitchens, he said. As heavy rains continued to lash various parts of the southern state, five more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, were opened today releasing 7 lakh litres of water per second as the level touched around 2,401.5 feet. For the first time in the last 26 years, a shutter of the Cheruthoni dam was opened yesterday and two more were opened at 7 am today. The full reservoir level is 2,403 feet (in relation to mean sea level). PTI TGB BN SRY SRY Udaipur, Aug 10 (PTI) Senior CPI-M leader Brinda has courted arrest after leading a protest march by farmers and tribals here in support of their land rights and demands for proper health care and education facilities in the tribal region. She courted arrests after the march held yesterday. Terming the Union and the state governments as "anti-tribal, anti-Dalit and anti-farmer," Karat said, They are usurping the land and other resources of the tribals and poor farmers. In Udapur itself, she said, adivasi's huts were demolished and the people were arrested despite an assurance by the divisional commissioner to the contrary. The march was taken out on a joint call by Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha, Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Adivasi-Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Adivasi Jan Adhikar Ekta Manch, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and other organisations. PTI Corr SDA RAX RAX Jaipur, Aug 10 (PTI) Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh today ordered an inquiry by the Lokayukta into alleged irregularities in the appointment of a professor at Udaipur's ML Sukhadia University. This is the first case of inquiry by the Lokayukta into a matter related to a university in the state, a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said. The decision was taken following complaints of irregularities in the appointment of Rajesh Kumar Dubey as a professor in the biotechnology department of the university. The department of Personnel issued a notification of the Lokayukta inquiry following the directions of the governor. PTI SDA IJT IJT Mumbai, Aug 10 (PTI) Former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha today hit out at the Narendra Modi government over issues ranging from the Rafale fighter jet deal to "concentration of power in the Prime Minister's Office". During a discussion on `Save Democracy- Save Constitution' here, Yashwant Sinha claimed that ministerial decisions were being taken "single-handedly" in the NDA government. Without naming Rajnath Singh, he claimed the home minister was not even aware of the BJP's decision to pull out of the alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, the finance minister was not aware that demonetisation was going to be announced, he said. He dubbed the Rafale fighter jet deal as "scam of Rs 35,000 crore, much bigger than the Rs 64-crore Bofors scam". The Prime Minister's Office is controlling all ministerial decisions while ministers are sitting "idle", he alleged. Shourie alleged, "Undoubtedly, the Constitution and democracy are in danger. 72 lynchings have happened so far, 54 witnesses have turned hostile in Soharabuddin (fake encounter) case... CBI is being misused...(these) are live examples of the new normal and there seems no hope that the things will change." The veteran journalist said that the media is fearful because their advertisements could get blocked. MP and actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha said he won't quit the BJP on his own. "However, if they want to throw me out, then I will not challenge their wisdom," Sinha said. "People ask me why do you criticise the BJP so much despite being its member. I tell them I belong to the people of India first. I try to give honest feedback to my party and its leadership," he said. Criticising the prime minister for demonetisation, Sinha added that when the country was yet to recover from its shock, Modi "suddenly brought GST which was a double whammy for the countrymen". "These were not party or cabinet decisions, but Modi's decisions alone," he alleged. NCP leader Majid Memon, TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi, AAP MP Sanjay Singh and others also spoke on the occasion. Trivedi said, "Spirit of India has vanished today and even Supreme Court judges are seeking justice... Parliament is not working in a rightful manner... I would say all the four pillars have been compromised." Former high court judge Abhay Thipse, who joined the Congress after retirement, said that previous government never transferred judges unnecessarily. "Today, judges fear to take a strong decision and stand. People and press are also fearful nowadays. There were caste biases earlier also but now fringe elements have got confidence to rule the roost," he said. AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh alleged that the Modi-led government was the biggest "threat" to our democracy. "It is the height of foolishness that the UP government is showering rose petals on kanwariyas from helicopters," Singh said. Kanwariyas who were indulging in vandalism were not real pilgrims, he said. PTI APM KRK GVS GVS New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) A case has been registered against some members of an outfit for allegedly burning a copy of the Constitution and shouting slogans against B R Ambedkar during a protest on the Parliament Street, the Delhi Police said today. Anil Tanwar, the national in-charge of the Akhil Bhartiya Bheem Sena, filed a complaint at the Parliament Street police station, alleging that members of Youth for Equality burnt a copy of the Constitution and shouted slogans against the Dalit icon yesterday. The complainant also submitted a CD containing a video of the incident, police said. PTI SLB GVS GVS New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) A 32-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol in south west Delhi's Najafgarh, the police said today. The deceased, Dinesh, shot himself on August 7 at his residence and was rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital by his wife. He was declared brought dead, a senior police officer said. The hospital informed the police. During inquiry, it was learnt that Dinesh used an illegal firearm to commit suicide, the officer said. A country-made pistol, used for the suicide, with two live cartridges and an empty cartridge, was recovered, he said, adding that the body was sent for post-mortem. It has been learnt that Dinesh's brother, Joginder, is a criminal and his role is also being verified, he added. A probe is underway to ascertain the reason behind the extreme step, he said. PTI AMP DIV DIV New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) A man has been arrested in connection with a firing incident that took place after a petty argument outside a shop in the Dwarka area here, police said today. Qasim was arrested and a juvenile apprehended in connection with the case, they added. Qasim got into an argument with Pawan outside the shop yesterday, following which a shot was fired in the air, officials said. CCTV footage showed another person, identified as Aamir, firing a gun and the bullet hitting the shutter of the shop, they added. The owner of the shop, Leela Ram, registered a complaint with police today and subsequently, Qasim was arrested, the official said. The accused was being interrogated and police is on the lookout for Aamir, he said. PTI AMP IJT IJT Ghaziabad, Aug 10 (PTI) A honey-trap racket was today busted with the arrest of four people, including two women, for allegedly blackmailing people by threatening to register false rape cases against them, police said. Acting on a tip-off, police arrested the accused from the Kala Patthar road area in Indirapuram, Superintendent of Police (City) Akash Tomar said. During interrogation, they confessed that they had threatened a well-known person of filing a false rape case against him if he did not pay Rs 25 lakh to them, he said. They extorted money from more than a dozen people using the modus operandi, the SP said. PTI Corr IJT IJT Three upstate members of Congress are asking Amtrak to reconsider a policy change that prompted the company's decision to stop operating the Toys for Tots train, which distributes winter clothes, toys and other items to upstate families every year. In a letter sent Thursday to Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson, U.S. Reps. John Faso, Elise Stefanik and Paul Tonko said the train is "a beloved and endearing resource that many of our region's neediest families rely on." Ending the service would hurt these families and bring an end to "a positive charitable action that has brought great recognition to Amtrak's reputation in the eyes of many." "Discontinuing this train service will mean approximately 40,000 children and their families will not benefit from donated gifts and much needed winter hats and gloves," they wrote. "We implore you to reconsider." This year would have been the 20th anniversary of the Marines' Toys for Tots campaign. Volunteers, including Amtrak's own employees as well as police, firefighters, FBI agents, and, of course, U.S. Marines, in past years distributed the toys and other items at communities along the route. The train almost didn't operate last Christmas, but a last-minute intervention from Stefanik and Tonko helped save the service. Amtrak's newly hired CEO had implemented new guidelines that led to the decision not to participate, but the company apparently changed its mind and agreed to participate. This year, however, Amtrak seems to be sticking by its policies. "Consistent with Amtrak's mandate to provide efficient, safe, and effective intercity passenger rail transportation, Amtrak has established a new policy for the operation of charter trains," the company said in a statement last week. "Amtrak's objective is to operate its core, scheduled train service safety, on time, and efficiently, and must therefore decline to operate this charter. Amtrak will continue to proudly support the Toys for Tots program through the collection of toys at participating stations." Gunnery Sgt. Albert Roman Jr. told the Times Union that he received an email from Amtrak last week alerting him to a change in the company's guidelines. Toys for Tots has two tractor trailers full of donations and was counting on Amtrak, Roman said last week. The passenger railroad has previously donated the train's services free of charge. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "This just doesn't affect us short-term, it affects us long-term," he said. "It's going to cripple us." In their letter, Faso, Stefanik and Tonko urged Amtrak to "preserve this unique and deeply valued Toys for Tots charter." "We sincerely hope that the tremendous good it does will not be lost this holiday season," they wrote. miszler@timesunion.com 518-454-5018 @madisoniszler Niskayuna native Gilbert King never thought he would return to the infamous Lake County in Florida, the setting of his 2013 Pulitzer Prize winning nonfiction book "Devil in the Grove." "It wasn't something I wanted to do," he said. "I had been looking around for some story ideas and then I did a reading back in Lake County and an old sheriff named Evvie Griffin was in the audience and after the talk he came up to me and said, 'You got the story right, but you don't have the whole story.'" Griffin told King there was another case out there that still haunted him. Over the next two months King began speaking with Griffin trying to get an understanding of that particular case, which involved a wealthy white woman named Blanche Knowles, who on the night of Dec. 17, 1957, called her lawyer to report she had been raped by a black man. "I got a Freedom of Information [Act] request and began to look into the files. I saw there had been a civil rights investigation into the case, and the more I read the more I realized that everything Griffin was telling me was checking out. I could not believe the story that was developing. All Evvie Griffin knew was that the police department had framed a white kid for that rape, but even he didn't know the whole story." King's new book "Beneath a Ruthless Sun: A True Story of Violence, Race, and Justice Lost and Found" (Riverhead Books, 417 pages, $28) tells the story of the arrest of Blanche's 19-year-old neighbor Jesse Daniels, a white boy with a severe mental disability. "When I do readings and begin to talk about this case, and when people read the book, most people are just amazed about how the story unfolds," said King. "I was amazed myself as I dug deeper into the research." This new book reads like a continuation of "Devil in the Grove," which concerned a different reported rape that had occurred back in 1949. Many of the people in that book are central characters in the new one, especially the man at the center, the racist sheriff Willis McCall. "McCall had a 28-year reign as sheriff in Lake County," said King. "People knew that he had killed innocent people, and it never hurt him. He kept being re-elected. In my research, I think he may have killed as many as 24 people, mostly black men." One of the heroes of "Beneath a Ruthless Sun" is journalist Mabel Norris Reese, who ran a struggling weekly newspaper in Lake County. She was not intimidated at all by McCall. "He was calling her a liar, a Communist, claiming that she couldn't write the truth. I guess today he'd say it was fake news. She had her house bombed, crosses burned on her front lawn, and her dog was killed. They ruined her paper and ran her out of town, but she never backed down and kept reporting on what was going on in Lake County. She moved on to other papers in Daytona and then to St. Augustine, and it seemed that wherever she went she came upon a civil rights battle." Reese teamed up with Jesse Daniels' mom, Pearl, to seek his freedom from the State Hospital for the Insane at Chattahoochee, where McCall had the courts commit him when he forced Jessie to sign a confession that he had committed the rape. "Pearl could not afford an attorney," said King, "so she went about on her own investigation into how her son had been framed. She wrote letters to J. Edgar Hoover. She talked up the unfairness of what was happening to the farmers in the fields, and she and Mabel teamed up for numerous articles. There was an enormous difference between these two women. Mabel was college educated, knew Martin Luther King, and Pearl was much more common and yet the two became great friends. They'd go fishing together, and what united them was this fight against injustice and the corrupt elected officials in Lake County. I find that inspiring." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. This is the third book King has written about race in America. "I grew up in a nice suburban area oblivious to prejudice and racial problems, but I've always liked stories about underdogs. I always had empathy for people that were weak or being treated badly." The character King had much pity for in this book was Jesse Daniels. "He was basically torn from his mother's arms when he was 17, and sent to live in a place where horrible things happened every day. He had a mother who loved him and cared for him. He died a couple of weeks ago. I went down to his memorial service. They buried him next to his mother. It was nice for the people in the community to show up. Jesse was a person who faced grave injustice. He never truly recovered from those 14 years in that institution." One of the strangest mysteries about the case is what the rapist said to Blanche Knowles after he had raped her. "Both the victim and the rapist described the same bizarre conversation in which the rapist implied that he had been paid $5,000 to rape and kill her. For the rest of Blanche's life she had to wonder about the validity of that" and if her husband could have been involved. "I was never able to find one bit of evidence that her husband, Joe, a wealthy and powerful citrus grower in the area, set up the rape. Some people I spoke with said he would never do that since his children were home at the time, but there were a few other people who believe he was involved." King is currently at work on a couple of ideas for a new book project. "I don't know what will happen. I'm researching them now, and once again it concerns race post-World War II. Sometimes the idea is there, but it won't go anywhere without the source material. I will say that research is always fun. It's like detective work. It's much more fun than the writing." Jack Rightmyer is a regular contributor to the Times Union. ALBANY On Feb. 16, 1986, Donald Bent strangled his wife, stuffed her lifeless body into the trunk of a gold Chrysler sedan and over the next 11 days played the part of a grief-stricken husband for TV cameras. The police did not buy it. Neither did an Albany County jury. Over the next 32 years, Bent played a more fitting role behind bars: convicted murderer. On Aug. 2, Bent became a free man. The state parole board approved the release of the 86-year-old inmate in June, making Bent the latest in a number of high-profile Capital Region killers to be paroled. Bent had been denied parole four times since becoming eligible in 2011. He release was approved by Commissioners Caryne Demosthenes, Marc Coppola and Carol Shapiro, officials said. "Whatever. Hope he rots in hell," Lauren Devaren, the daughter of Joan Bent from a previous marriage and who testified for prosecutors at Donald Bent's 1988 trial, told the Times Union on Thursday. Bent's release was first reported by News10, which quoted Dawn Bent, the killer's daughter and victim's step-daughter, who revealed that her father admitted to the murder of Joan Bent during a jailhouse visit. On Thursday, Dawn Bent spoke to the Times Union via Facebook. She said she confronted her father during the prison visit last year. "I had said to him, 'The $64,000 dollar question is we all want to know did you do it?'" Dawn Bent stated. "His response was, 'Yes I did.' No other questions were ever asked and I did not need to know why. (The) fact is she is gone and that will not change. I was taken back a bit." There had always been a hint of, "maybe he didn't do it," she said. At the outset of the trial before Albany County Judge John G. Turner Jr, Chief Assistant District Attorney Daniel Dwyer told the jury that Bent strangled his wife after discovering divorce papers. She had been seeing another man. Bent reported his wife's disappearance to Watervliet police, claiming she did not return home from work from her job at a Howard Johnson's in Albany. He gave a number of interviews with local television reporters claiming to be a devastated spouse. "She's my whole life," Bent said in one interview. "She has been for years. I don't survive or exist well without her. She is my entire life." The woman's body was found frozen 11 days after her disappearance inside the Chrysler, parked outside a Holiday Inn in Menands. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. A key prosecution witness, renowned pathologist Michael Baden, who at the time headed the state Police Forensic Sciences Unit, told jurors that stomach contents of Joan Bent showed almost no digestion had taken place. She died less than an hour or "perhaps appreciably less" after she ate at about 4 p.m. on the day she disappeared. The testimony bolstered the prosecution's case that the woman was killed that day in her home. At his sentencing in June 1988, an unrepentant Donald Bent blamed the conviction on the prosecution. "Hopefully, Mr. Dwyer's vendetta is over," Bent told the judge. "I have been sodomized by the system." He lowered his voice and added, "I did not kill my wife." Dwyer told the judge: "It became a media event, this tearful concerned husband." He quoted Bent telling reporters, "My wife has no enemy in the world, no one." Dwyer added, "The jury found out." HOOSICK FALLS Immaculate Conception Church parishioners opposed to abandoning their closed church building plan to rally in Troy Saturday where Albany Roman Catholic Bishop Edward Scharfenberger will meet with parish officials to discuss the structure's fate. Plans had called for the meeting with the bishop to be held in Hoosick Falls, but it was switched to Troy. The invited parishioners and officials who want to save the Immaculate Conception Church saw their invitations rescinded, Kevin OMalley, a village trustee and leader in the effort to save the damaged church, said Friday. Were trying to get the bishop to listen to us, said OMalley, who said he was one of those invited to attend, then told not to come. OMalley has worked with other residents since Thursday night putting together the rally to be held at noon Saturday outside Our Lady of Victory Church at 55 N. Lake Ave. Thats where the bishop is scheduled to meet with members of the Immaculate Conception parish council, the parish finance committee, and church trustees, according to the emails and messages flying among rank-and-file parishioners in the Hoosick Falls area. The church basement was heavily damaged by flooding in July 2017 resulting in it being declared structurally unsound. The church was closed when parts of the ceiling collapsed and services moved to the First United Church in the village. Some parishioners believe the diocese will permanently close the historic church, which dates back to 1869, and use part of St. Marys Academy for the celebration of Mass. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The meeting regarding Immaculate Conception is not an open forum but rather a small, private meeting in order to give parish trustees, pastoral and financial councils an opportunity to sit down with diocesan representatives to go over the facts, said Mary DeTurris Poust, a spokeswoman for the diocese. OMalley said parishioners are ready to launch a fundraising drive to repair the closed building. They fear the diocese is developing its own capital campaign to pay for new worship facilities. Immaculate Conception Church has been a cornerstone in the community for nearly 150 years. OMalley said permanently closing the building would be another blow to the village, which is still recovering from PFOA contamination of its drinking water supply and the July 2017 flooding that severely damaged the church. New York A court-appointed special master who since April has been poring over a trove of documents and electronic files seized this spring from Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former fixer and personal lawyer, said on Thursday that she had finished her review. In her sixth and final report to the Manhattan federal judge who is overseeing Cohen's case, the special master, Barbara Jones, echoed what she said in her previous reports: Only a tiny fraction of the nearly 4 million files federal agents seized when they raided Cohen's office, apartment and hotel room were protected by attorney-client privilege. That means prosecutors can use the vast majority of the files in their wide-ranging inquiry into Cohen's business dealings, including hush-money payments he helped arrange for women who say they had affairs with Trump. The end of the laborious review marked a milestone in the investigation and brings the prosecutors from the public corruption unit of the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan one step closer to deciding whether to file charges against Cohen or, perhaps, to seek his cooperation in other inquiries, including one being led by the special counsel, Robert Mueller, into potential ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Lawyers for Cohen and Trump did not respond to phone calls seeking comment. Cohen has assumed an aggressive posture toward the president in recent weeks, releasing a secret recording he made of Trump discussing a payment made to one of the women who has claimed to have had an affair with him, Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model. Cohen also gave a television interview to George Stephanopoulos in which he said his loyalties lie with his "family and country first" and not with Trump. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. CNN has reported that Cohen is prepared, if asked, to testify that Trump knew about a meeting between a Russian lawyer and key members of his campaign staff, including his son Donald Trump Jr., that occurred in the months before the election. Jones was appointed to the role of special master by the judge in the case, Kimba Wood, in late April, and has since been making her way through the seized materials, withholding those that are protected by attorney-client privilege and passing on the rest to prosecutors. While her review has slowed the investigation, it has not stopped it from moving forward. The prosecutors, who are working on a separate track from Mueller's team, have already asked to interview Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, who has a broad knowledge of Trump's business interests. In June, the prosecutors were also poised to interview another woman who received a payment from Trump, Stephanie Clifford, a pornographic film star better known as Stormy Daniels. That interview was canceled at the last minute after word of it was leaked to the media. San Juan, Puerto Rico The government of Puerto Rico has quietly acknowledged in a report posted online that in all likelihood more than 1,400 people died in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria a figure that is more than 20 times the official death toll. Hurricane Maria cut through the island on Sept. 20, knocking out power and initially killing about a dozen people. The government's official count eventually swelled to 64, as more people died from suicide, lack of access to health care and other factors. The number has not changed despite several academic assessments that official death certificates did not come close to tallying the storm's fatal toll. But in a draft of a report to Congress requesting $139 billion in recovery funds, the Puerto Rican government admits that 1,427 more people died in the last four months of 2017 compared with the same time frame in the previous year. The figures came from death registry statistics that were released in June, but which were never publicly acknowledged by officials on the island. "Although the official death count from the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety was initially 64, the toll appears to be much higher," said the report, titled "Transformation and Innovation in the Wake of Devastation." In another section, it said: "According to initial reports, 64 lives were lost. That estimate was later revised to 1,427." The government was widely criticized for undercounting the number of people who died on the island as the power outage stretched for months, causing deaths from diabetes and sepsis to soar. Many people died from lack of access to hospitals, or because there was no power to run the machines they used to breathe. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "We definitely acknowledge this is a realistic estimate," Pedro Cerame, a spokesman for the Puerto Rican government's Federal Affairs Administration, said of the numbers in the report to Congress. The official death toll has not been updated, he said, because officials are awaiting the outcome of the George Washington University study to provide certainty: "Once GW's study is out, the number will be updated." Researchers at Penn State University had reached an estimate very similar to The Times' assessment. A much-publicized study from Harvard University showed the deaths could have ranged from 800 to 8,500. The final version of the recovery plan being submitted to Congress outlines ambitious projects for Puerto Rico that include major highway renovations, $15 billion for the Department of Education and $26 billion for the energy grid. The government has asked for $6 billion for repair and replacement of public buildings and $3.9 billion for environmental use, according to an announcement from the governor's office. ALBANY - Following a dustup with campus financial aid officers a week ago, the agency that administers college aid has put up a special website along with a toll free phone line to assist campus employees with questions about the Excelsior Scholarship, which is touted as offering free State University of New York tuition to middle-class families. Financial aid officers across the 64-campus SUNY system last week had complained that they werent getting answers to detailed questions about the 2-year-old scholarship program which has drawn a lot of interest from students. Throughout the year, you help to determine students eligibility by verifying credits, calculating award amounts, and certifying payment eligibility at the end of the term. Below are step by step guides and resources for each of these processes, reads part of the website. As the site went online, SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson and CUNY Interim Chancellor Vita Rabinowitz moved to reassure financial aid administrators on their campuses, pointing out the new website and advising them to call if they had questions. We greatly appreciate your direct assistance with New York families and the students who are entering our classrooms with a dream of higher education, read the letter. To help with that process, we want to draw your attention to new resources through HESC. HESC is the Higher Education Service Corp., the organization that oversees financial aid programs including Excelsior. At an Aug. 1 HESC trustees meeting, a representative of campus financial aid officers association complained that they werent getting timely answers to the numerous questions surrounding applications for Excelsior scholarships. Rolled out by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January 2017, Excelsior was approved by lawmakers that April and quickly put in place in time for the last school year. A last dollar scholarship, it bridges any gaps that students may have between other grants such as Pell or Tuition Assistance Program money and tuition at SUNY or CUNY. Open to families with incomes up to $110,000, the idea was to allow free tuition for middle class families. After last weeks initial complaint, a Cuomo spokesman was critical, saying that local aid officers should know the system by now. But that criticism later eased with a more conciliatory tone and creation of the website. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. We thank you for your hard work and look forward to our ongoing partnership to make the dream of college a reality for so many of our young people, said the letter. When asked about the website, a Cuomo spokesman said: We are listening to them and will continue to help in any way we can." rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU SCHENECTADY - Meredith Anker stood just outside the front door of her renovated home on a grassy knoll in the historic Stockade and proclaimed it wonderful to be back home. "The inside is the same structure but because it's elevated the sun comes in and it's unbelievable," she said Wednesday of the Washington Ave home on the banks of the Mohawk River. "My front room, which used to be kind of down low, now has sun streaming into it." While the work to move, elevate and fix up Anker's place is all but done, the city's plans to build a new larger $7.5 million L-shaped pump station with four stories, two of them underground, adjacent to the old one in nearby Riverside Park remain in limbo pending the results of a second archeological dig in an area where some artifacts, possible historically relevant ones, were found a few months back. The current design for the facility also features a dry dock enclosure to protect the generator. Stockade Association President Carol DeLaMarter said Wednesday that the project manager and engineer recently told her that the second more extensive site testing had been completed and that the state was awaiting the findings. Once that happens, it will have to notify the public and allow for public comments. In April, a spokesman with the state Historic Preservation Office, said the agency reviewed a first-phase archeological survey report that, noted a "possible early/mid 19th-century house site" (around 1830-50) on part of the project area. Anker, who returned to her home - that was elevated about 7 feet and set back 15 feet from the street - about a month, acknowledged being slightly nervous, not knowing what to expect at first. She said the workers on Wednesday morning installed flood vents, which she is hopeful will reduce the $4,000 a year she pays in flood insurance. There are two on the garage door and others are higher on the foundation, according to Jim Plowman of Plowman Construction. He said that Anker received $300,000 from the NY Community Reconstruction program, part of the Governor's Office of Storm Recovery, and chipped in about $150,000. That out of pocket expenses came in higher than anticipated in part because once the structure was raised, it revealed that all the structural beams were rotted out and had to be replaced. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Anker estimated that the state storm recovery grant covered roughly about 3/5 of the total cost of the work. She said that grant didn't cover the landscaping or the stone-paved driving. "I love the house, I love being here, I'm pleasantly surprised of how great it looks," she added. " I thought it would look like a sore thumb in the neighborhood but I don't think it does. Plowman said if the dwelling ever floods then "we're all in trouble." Last repaired in 2008, the pump station handles about 60 percent of Schenectady's sewage flow. In 2014, the City Council approved a new pump station in the historic district. The $7.5 million project would receive $3 million in state funding from New York Rising with the city borrowing the rest. Officials hope to have the new station running by 2019. The old one will not be demolished. President Donald Trump frequently used the word nigger while he was the host of the reality television show Celebrity Apprentice and there are tapes that can confirm it, according to a new memoir by one of Trumps former White House advisers, Omarosa Manigault Newman. The claim is among the more explosive that Manigault Newman makes in the book, Unhinged. It was first reported by the British publication The Guardian, which had an early copy. Manigault Newman said she never heard Trump use the word herself, a point that critics of her credibility are certain to seize on. But she said that by the time she was fired by White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, she had come to realize that Trump was a racist. It had finally sunk in that the person Id thought Id known so well for so long was actually a racist, she said in the memoir. Using the N-word was not just the way he talks but, more disturbing, it was how he thought of me and African Americans as a whole.' Manigault Newman worked with Trump on the show as a first-season contestant, and then was an adviser to his campaign and later in the White House. She was fired in December 2017, after what White House aides said were multiple instances of misconduct, including misuse of a car service and attempting to photograph her wedding on White House grounds. The White House has declined to respond to the allegations in her book so far, although several advisers have privately questioned her credibility and pointed out that she was very upset at being dismissed. In her book, which is scheduled to be released next week, Manigault Newman suggested she now believes she was pushed out because she was close to getting hold of the secret tapes revealing Trump using the racist word. She also wrote that she has been investigating the existence of tapes that prove Trump used the word since late 2016. By that point, three sources in three separate conversations had described the contents of this tape, she said. They all told me that President Trump hadnt just dropped a single N-word bomb. Hed said it multiple times throughout the shows taping during off-camera outtakes, particularly during the first season of The Apprentice.' She added, I would look like the biggest imbecile alive for supporting a man who used that word. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. When she was fired, she said she had a growing realization that Donald Trump was indeed a racist, a bigot and a misogynist.' She continued: My certainty about the N-word tape and his frequent uses of that word were the top of a high mountain of truly appalling things Id experienced with him, during the last two years in particular. This article originally appeared in The New York Times Holycross Ballycahill lady Mary Elizabeth O'Donoghue has been appointed to one of the top jobs in the Central Bank and will be responsible for supervision of banks and Credit Unions going forward. Mother of two, Mary Elizabeth (McMunn) is daughter of well known and very popular Tom and Mary O'Donoghue, Ardkill, Holycross and is herself very well known in the locality where she grew up and attended the local National School, St Michael's N.S. She later attended the Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles before going on to third level including UCD and DCU, and then working in the financial services sector upon graduation. Mary Elizabeth is a regular visitor to Holycross and retains many of her schoolpals from her days in St Michael's and the Ursuline Secondary School where she participated in many extra curricular activities as well as being a very dilligent student. Her father Tom is a former Detective in An Garda Siochana and both he and his wife Mary have been very active in the local community where they have lived for many years. Tom was a founding member of the Holycross Horse Show and in recent years has been very involved in Holycross FC. Mary Elizabeth has been appointed director of Credit Institutions Supervision and will be a member of the senior leadership team of 150 with responsibility for supervision of all banks and Credit Unions in the country. The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Mr Ed Sibley said at the announcement of the appointment: I am delighted to announce Mary-Elizabeth as the Central Bank's new Director of Credit Institutions Supervision. Her Leadership, technical knowledge and commitment to public service make her an ideal choice as Director. I look forward to working with Mary-Elizabeth in this leadership position, he said. Mary-Elizabeth is currently Head of Supervisory Risk in the Central Bank. She holds an M.Sc in Investment & Treasury from Dublin City University and a B.A. in Economics from University College Dublin. While her appointment has been broadly welcomed nationally in financial services circles, news of her appointment was greeted with great excitement and pride in and around her local community in Holycross. [August 09, 2018] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP Announces Investigation on Behalf of Nielsen Holdings plc Investors Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces an investigation on behalf of Nielsen Holdings plc ("Nielsen" or the "Company") (NYSE: NLSN) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On July 25, 2018, Nielsen announced that James Attwood would assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Board and Mitch Barns, the current CEO, would retire at the end of 2018. This news came at the same time the Company announced poor second quarter results, falling below analysts' projections. For the second quarter Nielsen reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.20, compared to analysts' projections for $0.37 per share. The Company also projected that 2018 revenue would decline 1% year over year. On this news, Nielsen's share price fell more than 25%, thereby injuring investors. If you purchased Nielsen securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley F. Portnoy, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180809005842/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 09, 2018] Xiao-i Wins Frost & Sullivan's China New Economy Award Recognition of the company's contribution to developing the AI industry SHANGHAI, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Xiaoi Robot Technology Co. Ltd ("Xiao-i"), a leading developer of artificial intelligence technology and industry application platforms in China, was recognized by Frost & Sullivan, a leading global research and consulting company, for its contribution to developing the artificial intelligence (AI) industry by winning the China New Economy Award. The award was presented to Xiao-i at Frost & Sullivan's China New Economy Summit which was held in Shanghai. The 2018 China New Economy Award is presented to outstanding enterprises that demonstrate significant innovation as well as makingcontinuous reform and progress. It also recognizes outstanding achievements and exemplary conduct in the industry. Max Yuan, Co-Founder and Chairman, Xiao-i said, "We are very proud to receive this accolade which rewards our strategy of applying AI across a range of industries to grow the technology, so businesses and consumers can realize its full potential. Xiao-i's AI application solutions span across a wide range of sectors such as customer service, finance, city administration, healthcare, robots and hardware, and we are looking to expand our business to provide services to organizations around the world." About Xiao-i Xiao-i develops world-class AI technologies and applications that revolutionize business operations and provide meaningful progress to people's lives. Since establishment in 2001, Xiao-i has become an industry pioneer, integrating its AI applications across multiple sectors. Over 1,000 businesses and government organizations in China have used Xiao-i applications to improve their operations and deliver greater value to more than 800 million users. Xiao-i has become a leader in the business-to-business space and is extending this success into consumer applications and solutions. Xiao-i's major investors include Alibaba Group, China Everbright, BlueFocus, Haiyin Capital and Huatai Securities. SOURCE Xiao-i [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 09, 2018] LoRaWAN Enables Services in IIT Bombay NEW DELHI, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SenRa, a PAN India LoRaWAN network service provider today signed services agreement with Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) to provide LoRaWAN network to IIT Bombay. The agreement will focus to boost up technology advancements for solutions to various projects funded by the Government of India. In 2014, the Government of India launched the 'Make in India' program to encourage companies to manufacture their products in India. As part of this initiative, they also set forth funded programs with top Universities to enable development of products made in India leveraging latest technologies while solving real (life) problems faced by people in India on a day-to-day basis. IIT Bombay is recognised worldwide as a leader in the field of engineering education and research. Reputed for the outstanding caliber of students graduating from its undergraduate and postgraduate programs, IIT Bombay is deemed as one of the top Universities in India. With the recent successes of LoRaWAN in India, IIT Bombay was intrigued by the technology and sought out the support from companies with expertise in LoRaWAN. As one of the leading LoRaWAN network operators in India, SenRa provided LoRaWAN network connectivity to IIT Bombay for research and development projects. "We are extremely happy and honoured to have the opportunity to support IIT Bombay on LoRaWAN for their research and development efforts," said Ali Hosseini, CEO of SenRa. "By enabling Universities and students with access to our services, not only are we expanding the LoRaWAN ecosystem in India, but we are also expanding the minds of the future leaders of India." With this deployment in Mumbai, SenRa's LoRaWAN network is now present in twenty cities throughout India and are on track to reach thirty cities by the end of year. About SenRa SenRa, a contibuting member of the LoRa Alliance, is a PAN India Low Power Wide Area Network Provider (LPWAN), specifically LoRaWAN, for the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine to Machine (M2M) solutions and applications. SenRa is currently deploying LPWANs throughout India for projects which require secure, reliable, long distance communication at low cost. SenRa is working with global partners to deploy smart solutions such as water metering, smart agriculture, smart lighting, smart cities, logistics, electric and gas meter. For additional information visit: https://senraco.com/ About IIT Bombay Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, the second IIT to be set up in 1958, is recognised worldwide as a leader in the field of engineering education and research. The Institute is awarded the status of 'Institute of Eminence' by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India in 2018. It is reputed for the quality of its faculty and the outstanding calibre of students graduating from its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The Institute has 15 academic departments, 30 centres, one school and five Interdisciplinary programmes. Over the last five decades, more than 52,600 engineers and scientists have graduated from the Institute. It is served by more than 643 faculty members considered not only amongst the best within the country, but are also highly recognized in the world for achievements in the field of education and research. The Institute is recognized as one of the top centres of academic excellence in the country. Over the years, there has been dynamic and rapid progress at IIT Bombay in both academic and research activities, with a parallel improvement in facilities and infrastructure to match with the best institutions in the world. For additional information visit: http://www.iitb.ac.in/ About LoRaWAN LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) is a broad term covering several implementations and protocols, both open source and proprietary. While other wireless communication technologies available like Bluetooth and BLE (and to some extent Wi-Fi and ZigBee) are not suited for long-range performance, LPWAN provides the longest range with a low data rates. The technology used in a LoRaWAN network is designed to connect low-cost, battery-operated sensors over long distances in harsh environments that were previously too challenging or cost-prohibitive to connect. With its unique penetration capability, a LoRaWAN gateway deployed on a building or tower can connect to sensors more than 10 miles away or to water meters deployed underground or in basements. About LoRa Alliance The LoRa Alliance is an open, nonprofit association that has grown to more than 500 members since its inception in March 2015, becoming one of the largest and fastest-growing alliances in the technology sector. Its members closely collaborate and share experiences to promote the LoRaWAN protocol as the leading open global standard for secure, carrier-grade IoT LPWAN connectivity. With the technical flexibility to address a broad range of IoT applications, both static and mobile, and a certification program to guarantee interoperability, the LoRaWAN protocol has already been deployed by major mobile network operators globally, with continuing wide expansion ongoing. For information about joining the LoRa Alliance, please visit http://www.lora-alliance.org/join. Media Contacts: Isha Sankhyadhar Marketing Lead SenRa Tech Pvt. Ltd. isha.sankhyadhar@senraco.com +91-9971967130 Pramod Mhaske IIT Bombay pramod.mhk@iitb.ac.in [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] Embedded Safety & Security Summit (ESSS) 2018 Brings Together the Automotive Community BENGALURU, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 500+ People Gather at Chennai and Pune for a Day of Talks, Technology and More A gathering of over 500+ automotive technology community members came together on 07th August 2018 at Chennai and on 09th August 2018 at Pune to be a part of the fourth annual ESSS event, themed 'Enabling Dependable Automotive Systems'. The bustling crowd was filled with embedded automotive developers, customers, partners, decision makers and industry experts. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/613147/LDRA_Technology_Logo.jpg ) (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/620669/ESSS_2018_Logo.jpg ) The event was organised by LDRA with support from partners and industry bodies and featured 20 speakers who presented 3 Keynote Sessions, 6 Technical Sessions and 3 Technical Workshops at each location. Key speakers included embedded technology veteran Dr. Mike Hennell, Founder and Technical Director, LDRA UK; automotive maestros Apurbo Kirty, Associate Chief Eng - Electrical & Electronics, Product Development - Automotive Division (AD-PD), Mahindra & Mahindra and Sanjay Gupta, Vice President & India Country Manager, NXP; coding standard committee member Chris Tapp, Chairman - MISRA C++ Working Group, Techical Consultant, LDRA UK; technology experts Eric Schacherer, Director of Sales, Southern Europe & India, Green Hills Software, Raghavendra Bhat, Technical Consultant, India/SE and ME Asia, ANSYS and Khushwant Pawar, Head, Cybersecurity Solutions - Mobility, ETAS Automotive India. Dr. Mike Hennell, Founder and Technical Director, LDRA UK, delivered the inaugural keynote address at both locations. "Automotive safety and security standards are continuously maturing, and best practices becoming more established," he said. "To proactively prepare for the upcoming regulatory challenges surrounding autonomous vehicles, the industry could learn from aerospace and other sectors demanding functionally safe systems to improve upon those best practices." Copies of ESSS presentations will be posted on the event website (http://www.embedded-safety-security.com) in the coming weeks. "Our goal for ESSS 2018 was to spark an exchange of ideas amongst the embedded automotive community, and to enable the creation of futuristic and dependable automotive systems," said Shinto Joseph, Director - South East Asia Operations, LDRA India. "It was a pleasure to host the automotive edition of ESSS in Chennai and Pune, the two automotive hubs in India. It gave us the opportunity to interact and build relationships with the vibrant tech community in these two cities." ESSS 2018 primary partners were Green Hills Software - platinum partner, ETAS - gold partner and ANSYS - silver partner. Embedded Systems Solutions were an exhibitor at the summit, and the supporting partners list included Altair, ARAI, ARM, FTD Infocom, IEEE, IESA, MathWorks and QT. Auto Tech Review was a media partner, and SRM Institute of Science and Technology was an academic partner. About LDRA For more than forty years, LDRA has developed and driven the market for software that automates code analysis and software testing for safety-, mission-, security-, and business-critical markets. Working with clients to achieve early error identification and full compliance with industry standards, LDRA tools provide static and dynamic analysis, unit testing and verification for a wide variety of hardware and software platforms, while ensuring bi-directional requirements traceability throughout. Boasting a worldwide presence, LDRA is headquartered in the United Kingdom with subsidiaries in the United States and India coupled with an extensive distributor network. For more information on the LDRA tool suite, please visit http://www.ldra.com. Media Contact: Neeraja Nair neeraja.nair@ldra.com +91-8040808707 Marketing Communications Executive LDRA Technology Pvt. Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] MDxHealth (R) : MDxHealth Notice of Interim Results 2018 NEWS RELEASE REGULATED INFORMATION Conference call for analysts and investors to be held on 30 August 2018 at 15:00 CEST IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - 08.00 CEST, 10 August 2018 - MDxHealth SA (Euronext: MDXH.BR) or the "Company" today announced that it will release its interim results for the half year ended 30 June 2018 on Thursday, 30 August 2018. Dr. Jan Groen, Chief Executive Officer, Jean-Marc Roelandt, Chief Financial Officer and Michael Hicks, Chief Commercial Officer will host a conference call on the day of the results at 15:00 CET / 14:00 GMT / 06:00 PDT. The call will be conducted in English and a recording and transcript will be available on the Company's website in the week following the call. A presentation will be made available on the Investors section of the MDxHealth website shortly before the call and can be accessed at: http://mdxhealth.com/investors. To access the conference call, please dial one of the appropriate numbers below quoting the conference ID 7458739. Belgium: +32 (0)24 00 98 74 The Netherlands +31 (0)207 143 545 UK: +44 (0) 2071 928 000 US: +1 (866) 966 1396 To ensure a timely connection, it is recommended that users register at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start timing. About MDxHealth MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company's tests are based on proprietary genetic, epigenetic (methylation) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of urologic cancers, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. The Company's European headquarters are in Herstal, Belgium, with laboratory operations in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and US headquarters and laboratory operations based in Irvine, California. For more information, visit mdxhealth.com and follow us on social media at: twitter.com/mdxhealth, facebook.com/mdxhealth and linkedin.com/company/mdxhealth. For more information: MDxHealth Dr. Jan Groen, CEO US: +1 949 812 6979 BE: +32 4 257 70 21 info@mdxhealth.com LifeSpring LifeSciences Communication Leon Melens NL: +31 6 538 16 427 lmelens@lifespring.nl Consilium Strategic Communications (IR & PR) Amber Fennell, David Daley & Hendrik Thys UK: +44 20 3709 5700 mdxhealth@consilium-comms.com www.consilium-comms.com NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx and PredictMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Attachment Click Here for PDF ENG.pdf [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] HORIBA Automotive Test Systems Signs Agreement to Acquire FuelCon AG OBERUESEL, Germany, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Acquisition will assert HORIBA's position as a leading solutions provider in the development of battery and fuel cell systems for electrified vehicle Allows FuelCon to access HORIBA's global network and provide validation solutions for increasingly complex vehicle test requirements HORIBA Europe GmbH has today announced that it has agreed terms for the acquisition of FuelCon AG ("FuelCon"). FuelCon will become part of HORIBA Automotive Test Systems - a leading supplier in the fields of engine, driveline, brake and emissions test systems. The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory clearance. Founded in 2001 and based in Magdeburg-Barleben, Germany, FuelCon is a leading manufacturer and supplier of R&D and EOL (end of line) test beds and turnkey solutions for the E-Mobility sector, with expertise in battery and fuel cell applications. FuelCon has an enviable reputation for design and manufacture of precision high performance solutions and is trusted for its deep technical know-how by global OEMs and Tier 1s as well as international research laboratories. Through joining the HORIBA group of companies, FuelCon will be able to respond to the growing need for increasingly complex development and validation solutions and harness HORIBA's extensive international network. This acquisition represents a strategic move from the HORIBA group to increase its presence in the vehicle electrification market. The purchase will enable HORIBA to provide a comprehensive suite of test and development solutions across battery and fuel cell lifecycles. This will enable HORIBA to increase its access to the growing global market requirement for E-Mobility solutions and capitalise on the growing demand for validation technologies. Dr George Gillespie, Executive Vice President, HORIBA Automotive Test Systems said: "In line with global megatrends, we are witnessing the continued electrification of transport with a mix of pure EV and complex hybrid solutions. With this in mind, HORIBA needed to find a suitable industry leader who offered a range of technical solutions that complement our existing automotive test systems business and our position of global leadership in emissions measurement. In FuelCon we have found the perfect partner." Mathias Bode, Managing Director, FuelCon commented: "Over the past 18 years, FuelCon has become a leader in battery and fuel cell validation solutions. With increasing number of challenging requests, we need to provide solutions that meet complex validation needs across the globe. With HORIBA we have found a partner who will give us that international reach and with their track record in the manufacture of complex test and measurement solutions, they understand our need to continue to be able to respond promptly to complex customer demands." Dr Robert Plank, COO, HORIBA Europe GmbH said: "We regard FuelCon as the perfect fit for our strategic ambitions. With their range of products and their applications expertise, we see a great future ahead of us. We will now be able to offer an increasingly comprehensive suite of test and validation solutions for a full range of automotive propulsion technologies moving from combustion engines to electrified powertrains. By bringing FuelCon into the HORIBA group of companies and developing their Magdeburg facility as our global centre of competence for fuel cell and battery test systems, we take another step in future-proofing our automotive business and achieving our aim of becoming the number one partner for validating vehicle efficiency and performance." Notes to Editors About HORIBA Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, the HORIBA Group is a global leading supplier of measurement technology and systems for various fields from automotive testing, process and environmental monitoring, in-vitro medical diagnostics, semiconductor manufacturing and metrology to scientific R&D and QC measurements. Company Name: HORIBA, Ltd. Address: 2, Miyanohigashi-cho, Kisshoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto, Japan Web Address: http://www.horiba.com Founded: October 17, 1945 Incorporated: January 26, 1953 Net Sales: 195,399 million Japanese yen (Consolidated, Fiscal 2017) Paid in Capital: 12,011 million Japanese yen (As of December 31, 2017) Business Domain: Manufacture and sale of analytical measurement equipment Fiscal Closing Date: December 31, annually Annual Meeting of Shareholders: Held in March Number of Employees: 7,399 (Consolidated, as of December 31, 2017) Representative: Atsushi Horiba - Chairman and Group CEO Stock Listings: Tokyo Stock Exchange, First Section Securities Code: 6856 About HORIBA Automotive Test Systems A business segment of the HORIBA Group, Automotive Test Systems (ATS) which has developed global leadership in the fields of engine test systems, driveline test systems, brake test systems, wind tunnel balances and emissions test systems. HORIBA ATS is able to offer its customers complete solutions with full turnkey capability for all industries using electric motors, internal combustion engines and turbines. These include the automotive, heavy-duty, off-road, consumer goods, marine, aerospace and locomotive sectors. About FuelCon FuelCon is a global leading supplier of test systems for fuel cells and batteries. For years, the name has been recognized for innovative engineering, high quality, the highest safety standards and close consultation with its customers. With testing systems for fuel cells FuelCon offers optimal solutions for all typical technologies such as PEM or SOFC with a power range up to 250+ kW. In addition, innovative test systems for evaluating electrolysers are also available. With the "Evaluator-B" series FuelCon has developed a concept that fulfils the challenging testing requirements of modern batteries in R&D as well as in production, with high accuracy and flexibility. Company Name FuelCon AG Establishment 2001 Address Magdeburg-Barleben, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany Business Fuelcell testing instruments and Battery testing instruments For further information about HORIBA Automotive Test Systems, please contact Grayling on +44-121-265-2760 or email bethany.haller@grayling.com SOURCE HORIBA Europe GmbH [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] Sweden signs agreement with U.S. government for Patriot Air and Missile Defense System STOCKHOLM, Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The government of Sweden signed an agreement to purchase Raytheon's (NYSE: RTN) Patriot air and missile defense system from the U.S. Army. The agreement, formally referred to as a Letter of Offer and Acceptance, paves the way for Sweden's Patriot force to rapidly reach Initial Operational Capability. "Sweden and 15 other countries trust our Patriot system to defend its citizens, military and sovereignty because Patriot has a proven track record of defeating ballistic missiles and a host of other aerial threats," said Wes Kremer, President of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "Patriot in Sweden will enhance Northern European security and further strengthen the Trans-Atlantic partnership by providing a common approach to Integrated Air and Missile Defense." Patriot is the backbone of Europe's defense against ballistic and cruise missiles, advanced aircraft and drones. European Nations with Patriot : Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain currently have Patriot. Within the past 12 months Romania and Poland signed Letters of Acceptance for Patriot, becoming the 5th and 6th European nations to procure Raytheons Patriot system. About Raytheon Raytheon Company, with 2017 sales of $25 billion and 64,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 96 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Follow us on Twitter. Note to Editors The 16 Patriot Nations are: United States of America The Netherlands Germany Japan Israel Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Kuwait Taiwan Greece Spain Republic of Korea United Arab Emirates Qatar Romania Poland Sweden www.raytheon.com Media Contact Mike Nachshen + 1.520.269.5697 idspr@raytheon.com View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sweden-signs-agreement-with-us-government-for-patriot-air-and-missile-defense-system-300695335.html SOURCE Raytheon Company [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] Kryptowire Introduces the Market's First Mobile Phone Firmware Vulnerability Feed Kryptowire discovered vulnerabilities in mobile device firmware and pre-installed mobile apps that pose a high risk for the mobile phone supply chain because they can expose consumer and enterprise data on purchase. This means that the vulnerabilities are present, and the user is exposed to attacks even before she performs any activity such as using wireless communications or installing third-party apps. To make matters worse, firmware exploits bypass all existing defenses including commercial Mobile Threat Detection (MTD), or mobile anti-virus, technologies because they cannot detect vulnerabilities below the application layer and offer no protection against evolving firmware exploits. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005071/en/ Kryptowire - Mobile and IoT Security (Graphic: Business Wire) Kryptowire will present the details for over thirty five unique vulnerabilities affecting twenty five Android (News - Alert) devices, eleven of which are sold by US carriers, today at Def Con, in Las Vegas. Kryptowire's technology is capable of automatically discovering vulnerabilities from binary firmware images and applications at scale, allowing us to continuously monitor devices across different manufacturers and firmware versions. More details about these vulnerabilities will be available upon request after the Def Con presentation. "Our researchers have extended their work that began in 2011 as a DARPA effort to automatically test the security of 3rd party mobile apps without access to source code. We can now do the same with mobile phone firmware," said Angelos Stavrou, CEO of Kryptowire. "With the hundreds of mobile phone makes and models on the market and thousands of versions of firmware, best-effort manual testing and evaluations simply cannot scale to address the problem of identifying vulnerabilities in mobile phone pre-installed apps and firmware." UEM/MDM platform customers can now identify employee devices that contain firmware vulnerabilities that originate from the software supply chain and take immediate action to mitigate any risk. For more information about Kryptowire's mobile and IoT security analysis technologies and to schedule a demo, visit www.kryptowire.com. This work was supported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology ( S&T (News - Alert) ) via award to the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute (CIRI) Center of Excellence (COE) led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of DHS. About Kryptowire Kryptowire automatically tests and validates the security and privacy of mobile and IoT firmware and applications to the highest government (NIST, NIAP) and industry standards (OWASP, GDPR). Kryptowire was jumpstarted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2011, is based in Tysons Corner, Virginia, USA and has a customer base ranging from government agencies to national cable TV companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005071/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] Seasonal Flu Shots Now Available at Rite Aid Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) announced today that seasonal flu shots are now available at the more than 2,500 Rite Aid pharmacies across the country. Patients can visit any Rite Aid pharmacy to receive a flu shot from one of Rite Aid's more than 6,000 certified immunizing pharmacists, subject to state regulations. "Last year's flu season was one of the most severe seasons in recent years, with high flu activity across the country and a record number of flu-related hospitalizations," said Jocelyn Konrad, Rite Aid executive vice president of pharmacy. "Since we can't predict what this flu season will be like, we urge everyone to get a flu shot at Rite Aid today, because getting vaccinated is the easiest and most effective way to fight the flu." Rite Aid pharmacies are offering a quadrivalent flu vaccine, which offers protection against four strains of the flu: the influenza A H3N2 virus, the influenza A H1N1 virus and two strains of influenza B virus; a standard trivalent vaccine; and FLUAD, a trivalent vaccine with adjuvant, an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response to vaccination, approved for people 65 and older. Flu shots are covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare Part B and are available during pharmacy hours; no appointment is necessary. To locate the nearest Rite Aid pharmacy, visit www.riteaid.com or call 1-800-RITE-AID. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccination. While the CDC recommends flu shots for everyone over six months, certain groups of people are at greater risk for complications from the flu. These groups include: people with diabetes, pregnant women, adults over 65, children under 5, those with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, those with kidney and liver disorders, heart disease patients and those with compromised immune systems. Shield Your Workforce Against the Flu According to the CDC, each year, the flu costs the United States more than $87 billion and is responsible for the loss of close to 17 million workdays. To help employers and their workforce fight the flu, Rite Aid will again offer onsite workplace flu clinics staffed by certified immunizing Rite Aid pharmacists. Rite Aid is also able to offer employers a voucher program, in which employees would receive a flu shot voucher to use at any Rite Aid pharmacy. For more information, employers can visit www.shieldmyworkforce.com or call 1-855-882-5948. Rite Aid certified immunizing pharmacists are also able to vaccinate patients against more than a dozen diseases based on the CDC's vaccine guidelines and state regulations. By visiting Rite Aid's Vaccine Central, at www.riteaid.com/vaccinecentral, customers can complete a free immunization evaluation, track their personal immunization history, and find other educational resources on immunizations. Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with fiscal 2018 annual revenues of $21.5 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005175/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] Onlymobiles.com Breaks Shackles of Cashback Convention, Offers 7.2% Instant Discount on all Top Brands NEW DELHI, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- - Onlymobiles.com to offer 7.2% instant discount on all online mobile purchase - Offer available from 9th August to 16th August to celebrate 72nd Independence Day - The offer also includes No Cost EMI on all kind of purchases Breaking free from the fad of cashback, Onlymobiles.com has announced 7.2% instant discount on the purchase of all mobile phones from 9th August to 16th August to mark the 72nd Independence Day. The offer period will also make live the much-awaited Jio 2, to encourage the customers to avail the best out of the deal. The one of its kind 'Freedom From Cashback' offer is applicable to all major brands like Oppo, Vivo, Samsung, Apple, Google Pixel, Honor, Tecno and iTel. In order to make the deal for more exciting and hassle-free, the offer eliminates the need to apply promo code and auto applies the discount, which the customers can benefit at the time of checkout during the online purchase. Mobile enthusiasts can choose from a range of options like Google Home Mini at Rs. 3,333, Google Home at Rs. 7,272, LG K7i (Mosquito Phone) at Rs. 5,999, Nokia 5 (3GB RAM Variant) at Rs. 9,999 and Honor 9i at Rs. 14,999 to celebrate the occasion. Further, providing more ease to its customer, Onlymobiles.com also mentioned offering No Cost EMI on all major credit cards used for buying the mobiles. Onlymobiles.com is India's 3rd e-commerce company after Amazonand Flipkart to offer No Cost EMI. The No Cost EMI flexibility will cover smartphones like Apple iPhones, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy Series, Oppo, Vivo, Honor, Tecno and iTel. "Cashback has become more of a usual and mundane process when it comes to alluring online customers. Hence, this Independence Day, we have decided to do away with cashback offers and give our customers the freedom from the long 45-90 days wait period to get the cashback credited. We believe that the instant discount is a more customer-friendly offer than cashbacks," said, Mr Sanjeev Bhatia, Co-Founder, Onlymobiles.com. "Both the offers will also be applicable to the niche models like Apple iPads and Apple Watches," added Mr Sanjeev Bhatia. Onlymobiles.com is the first mobile dealer in India to take the initiative to enable cardless payment to its customer while making online purchases from its platform. Besides, it is the only e-commerce company which offers 30-day price guarantee. Onlymobiles.com is a leading mobile leader and sells mobiles and accessories of brands including Samsung, Gionee, Apple, Blackberry, Google Pixel, Oppo, Micromax, Nokia among many others. About Onlymobiles.com Onlymobiles.com , an e-commerce startup - founded in early 2016 and based out of Surat, Gujarat, is an online and offline omni-channel, selling pocket gadgets such like mobile phones, wearables, tablets and accessories. The company currently has a PAN India reach across 21,000 plus pin codes in India, which contributes to almost 80% of their mobile business. They also have 129 brick-and-mortar offline retail outlets across the country. Onlymobiles.com's key differentiators that sets it apart from their contemporaries in the e-commerce space include non-predatory pricing policies, wide reach via a network of warehouses & call centres, genuine & company authenticated products and a unique 30-day price protection policy for consumers. The e-commerce venture sources all its products directly from major brands and retails the same to consumers at affordable price points. Frequent fluctuations in gadget prices was a huge area of concern for consumers and this is the space where Onlymobiles.com chose to intervene. The company realized quite early that customer loyalty is very difficult to achieve especially in mobile phones retailing business where there is not much value addition from the retailer side. A price consistency and stability in this increasingly volatile marketplace will go a long way in retaining existing customers and attracting new ones. Media Contact: Shrutam Vijay Desai shrutam@onlymobiles.com +91-9558800000 Co-Founder Onlymobiles.com . [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] Saksoft EBITDA Increases by 46.82% Y-o-Y CHENNAI, August 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Saksoft Limited (BSE: 590051) (NSE: SAKSOFT), reported its Q1 results (ended on June 30, 2018) at its Board Meeting held on August 10, 2018. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/699009/Saksoft_Logo.jpg ) Commenting on the results, Chairman & Managing Director, Aditya Krishna said, "The company's sales focus has begun to produce results with a number of new logos being added in this quarter. This is a significant improvement from the past quarters. Most of the work for these logos is being delivered from Saksoft's offshore centers which is resulting in margin improvement." Review of financial performance Consolidated Quarter Review (Q1 2018-19 vs. Q1 2017-18) Operating revenue increased by 26.39% to Rs 82.54 Crore in Q1 FY18-19 against Rs 65.31 Crore in the corresponding quarter previous year in Q1 FY18-19 against in the corresponding quarter previous year 46.82% increase in EBITDA to Rs 11.54 Crore in Q1 FY18-19 against Rs 7.86 Crore in the correspoding quarter previous year in Q1 FY18-19 against in the correspoding quarter previous year PBT increased to Rs 10.69 Crore in Q1 FY18-19 against Rs 6.83 Crore in the corresponding quarter previous year, up by 56.52% in Q1 FY18-19 against in the corresponding quarter previous year, up by 56.52% PAT stood at Rs 6.96 Crore in Q1 FY18-19 against Rs 3.75 Crore in the corresponding quarter previous year, an increase of 85.60% Consolidated Financial Year Review (Q1 2018-19 vs. Q4 2017-18) Operating revenue increased by 5.81% to Rs 82.54 Crore against Rs 78.01 Crore in the previous quarter against in the previous quarter 2.21% increase in EBITDA to Rs 11.54 Crore in Q1 FY18-19 against Rs 11.29 Crore in the previous quarter in Q1 FY18-19 against in the previous quarter PBT increased to Rs 10.69 Crore in Q1 FY18-19 against Rs 9.73 Crore in the previous quarter, increase of 9.87% in Q1 FY18-19 against in the previous quarter, increase of 9.87% PAT for Q1 FY18-19 stood at Rs 6.96 Crore against Rs 6.94 Crore in the previous quarter, an increase of 0.29% About Saksoft Limited: Saksoft Limited is a leading player in providing digital transformation solutions to help businesses stay relevant in a highly connected, rapidly evolving world. Saksoft is a niche technology specialist that provides a comprehensive suite of business transformation, information management, application development and testing services. In short, Saksoft helps their clients level the playing field by helping them transform their business spaces. Saksoft is headquartered in Chennai (India) and has 12 offices across the USA, Europe and Asia employing over 1000+ people. For more information, please visit http://www.Saksoft.com For further information, please contact: Niraj Ganeriwal Chief Financial Officer Phone: +91-44-2454-3500 Cell: +91-96770-46900 http://www.Saksoft.com Media Contact : Karthik Subramanian karthik.sn@saksoft.com +91-9840905522 Head Marketing Saksoft Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] Black Book Launches Updated Mobile Survey Apps for Cybersecurity Stakeholders TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Book, the acknowledged leader of unbiased and vendor agnostic information security and data services research, announced today the release of their new mobile application. The native iOS and Android applications are available immediately on Apple's App Store and Google Play. The beta release of these new Black Book apps has collected over 9,000 user viewpoints from cybersecurity systems and services worldwide since May 25. The enhanced functionality was created to support the continued expansion of mobile cybersecurity surveying initiatives for Black Book's more than 50,000 users. The mobile application allows information technology specialists, management and other stakeholders to take advantage of Black Book's centralized user satisfaction surveying and ad hoc polling platform. With Black Book, enterprises of all sizes can give invaluable feedback to peers, potential buyers, investors and vendors directly on their product and service performance with the goal of improving data protection and information security across all industries and sectors. "The survey development team has put in a tremendous amount of work to make this release possible over the three months," said Doug Brown, founder of Black Book Market Research and Black Book Security. "We are thrilled that the company's success continues to allow us to do what we do best - provide competitive insight from the key performance indicators and functionality of cybersecurity managed services and outsourcing, consultants, products and software." Black Book survey users are now able to complete thei satisfaction responses on their smartphones and tablets, as well as online and through live call center interviews focused on the cybersecurity stakeholder. Black Book screens responses to identify fraudulent votes, which are eliminated from the final tallies. Respondents are asked to rate cybersecurity vendors, consultants and product manufacturers on a 0-10 rating scale, 0 being deal-breaking dissatisfaction and 10 being exceeding all expectations on 18 unique key performance indicators. Scores shown have been rounded to the nearest hundredth of a point. In the event of a true tie, top-rated consultants will share the same ranking. In most survey sets, respondents could also rate optional characteristics and provide other relevant information which are not included in the overall scores. A minimum number of responses is necessary for a consultant firm or vendor to be eligible for inclusion in the Black Book ratings. Some firms are eligible to be rated in multiple categories; they are scored individually and independently for each category. About Black Book Cybersecurity Research Black Book Market Research LLC, its founder, management and staff do not own or hold any financial interest in any of the vendors covered and encompassed in the surveys it conducts. Black Book reports the results of the collected satisfaction and client experience rankings in publication and to media prior to vendor notification of rating results and does not solicit vendor participation fees, review fees, inclusion or briefing charges, and/or vendor collaboration as Black Book polls vendors' clients. In 2009, Black Book began polling the user and client experience of now over 600,000 software and services users in the medical, insurance and pharmaceutical industries. Black Book expanded its survey prowess and reputation of independent, unbiased crowd-sourced surveying to financial leaders, operations executives and information technology managers in 2011. Cybersecurity services and products satisfaction and client experience polling was initiated and first reported in the healthcare industry in 2013 by Black Book Market Research LLC. It has been expanded to include over 20 industries and sectors this year. More information on Black Book's methodology, KPIs and past top-rated vendors can be found at www.blackbooksecurity.com Press can contact Black Book's research team at info@blackbookmarketresearch.com or 800-863-7590. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/black-book-launches-updated-mobile-survey-apps-for-cybersecurity-stakeholders-300695317.html SOURCE Black Book Market Research LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Global Mobile Encryption Markets 2018-2023: BFSI Industry to Have the Largest Market Share during the Forecast Period - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "Global Mobile Encryption Market - Segmented by Component (Solution and Services), Application (Disk Encryption, File/Folder Encryption, Communication Encryption), Enterprise Type, End User Industry & Region - Growth, Trends & Forecast (2018 - 2023)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global mobile encryption market was valued at USD 763.24 million in 2017 and is expected to reach a value of USD 2924.19 million by 2023 at a CAGR of 30.8%, during the forecast period of (2018- 2023). Increasing and evolution of advanced threats, the enhanced adoption of cloud services, mobile device proliferation, and virtualization are the major factors creating disrupting changes in the mobile encryption market. As organizations have adapted to increasingly pervasive regulatory and compliance mandates and more stringent internal policies, encryption deployments have risen in number and cope in major enterprises. The bring your own device (BYOD) phenomenon, and its incredibly fast and pervasive adoption by almost every organization necessitated a fundamental rethinking of security approaches and it is found that organizations are deploying many disparate encryption platforms. As a result, managing policies and keys both efficiently and securely is an increasingly troublesome challenge. Developments in the Market July 2017: Symantec (News - Alert) acquired the U.S. and Israel-based Skycure. After this acquisition, Skycure's predictive threat detection techniques enriched Symantec's enterprise and consumer mobility offerings to help organizations more confidently address the needs of the increasingly mobile workforce, enabling them to ensure that devices are risk-free and secure while accessing corporate resources. Key Topics Covered 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 5. Market Segmentation 6. Competitive Intelligence - Company Profiles Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. Dell (News - Alert) Technologies Inc. ESET Gold Line Group Ltd. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. IBM (News - Alert) Corporation 7. Investment Analysis 8. Future of Market For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/84m992/global_mobile?w=4 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005246/en/ [August 10, 2018] Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Illinois American Water Illinois American Water President Bruce Hauk was awarded the Corporate Leadership Award by the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce during its 13th Annual Statewide Convention in Peoria. Roger Goodson, Senior Manager of Field Operations and Production for the Peoria District accepted the award on behalf of Hauk and Illinois American Water. According to Larry Ivory, president and CEO of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce, the award is presented to an individual who champions diversity within his or her company. "Our executive team looks very closely at who is selected for our awards," said Ivory. "Bruce Hauk doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk when it comes to supporting minority business. He sits down with us and our members regularly and he truly listens; he is focused and committed to inclusion. His leadership has inspired his entire team to work closely with minority businesses, diverse suppliers and diverse employee candidates. The Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce was proud to present Bruce Hauk with the 2018 Outstanding Corporate Leadership Award." Bruce Hauk said of the award, "I am honored to receive this award and I share it with our entire Illinois American Water team. Every day I am inspired by our employees and their commitment to bettering the communities we serve, including their focus on diversity and inclusion. This recognition from one of the state's leading business organizations validates the progress we've made and the direction we are headed for long-term success. Our efforts will better our organization and the water industry, while creating opportunities for others to also be successful in the communities we serve." Illinois American Water has taken a number of steps to further its position as a leader in diversity and inclusion. A strategic focus on events, relationship building and data improvement has resulted in: Since 2014, the value of goods and services Illinois American Water purchased from diverse businesses increased by 32% or over $38 million . This represents an 11x increased spend with MBE-cerified suppliers and a 4x increased spend with WBE-certified suppliers. To help maintain a steady pipeline of diverse suppliers, the company meets annually with entrepreneurs, business owners and contractors In 2017, Illinois American Water purchased more than $118 million in goods and services from certified diverse suppliers. . This represents an 11x increased spend with MBE-cerified suppliers and a 4x increased spend with WBE-certified suppliers. To help maintain a steady pipeline of diverse suppliers, the company meets annually with entrepreneurs, business owners and contractors Illinois American Water partners with organizations to host and attend diversity outreach events to identify potential new employees with diverse backgrounds. For example, in Peoria, the team is partnering with the Illinois Central College Highway Construction Careers Training Program. Total diverse population at Illinois American Water has averaged 30%. American Water partners with organizations to host and attend to identify potential new employees with diverse backgrounds. For example, in Peoria, the team is partnering with the Illinois Central College Highway Construction Careers Training Program. In 2015, Illinois American Water joined other Illinois utilities in forming the Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council. This council is designed to grow business opportunities for diverse suppliers through closer collaboration, technical development and sharing of best practices. About the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce - The Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most active voice for African American businesses in the state of Illinois. Our objective is to help promote job creation and growth amongst African American businesses. For more information, visit ilbcc.org. About Illinois American Water - Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,900 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 46 states and Ontario, Canada. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005323/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] VIPKid Founder and CEO Cindy Mi and Former First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush Addressed VIPKid's Largest Ever Gathering of Teachers at the George W. Bush Presidential Center On August 8 at the George W. Bush Presidential Center over 300 teachers gathered at VIPKid's regional conference, Journey, to hear from education leaders VIPKid Founder and CEO Cindy Mi and Former First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and education experts from SMU were also in attendance to celebrate and edify the teacher community. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005333/en/ VIPKid teachers gather at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas with Mrs. Laura Bush, VIPKid Founder and CEO Cindy Mi, and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (Photo: Business Wire) Cindy Mi spoke about VIPKid's recently announced expansion to new international markets, curriculum additions and product lines that will serve children up to 18 years old. She highlighted that VIPKid teachers will now have the opportunity to teach more students at different ages and learning levels, reaching new students throughout the globe. Mi emphasized that VIPKid's growth would not be possible without the skills and passion of teachers on the platform. "We have grown to over half a million students in 63 countries because of you You are truly reaching children on a global scale," Mi told the teachers in the audience. Mrs. Bush, a lifelong eduator and prominent advocate for teachers, spoke about her passion for teaching and the importance of fostering a love of learning at a young age. "VIPKid teachers are the reason that VIPKid is thriving. And no matter what your reason is for becoming a VIPKid teacher, you are helping children learn and read. You are making a brighter future for kids around that world, and for that, I'm grateful Thank you for your commitment to education," Mrs. Bush told the audience. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings expressed his appreciation for the local teaching community and applauded their dedication to VIPKid's mission of inspiring and empowering all children. "Not only are you making a difference in the lives of young children in many countries, but I believe you are creating a new economy and a new way for the world to come together," he said. The program included interactive workshops led by fellow teachers and VIPKid staff on Chinese culture, technology in the classroom and methods for building a strong student base. A panel on the 21st century advancements in teaching and learning featured researchers and practitioners discussing the most advanced tools and techniques to improve how teachers deliver information and students absorb it. The day was capped off with a reception for teachers to share ideas and experiences as well as participate in crafts such as Chinese calligraphy and prop making. Texas-based VIPKid teacher Jamie Roubinek said, "Journey brings together a community of friends who have built a tight bond being part of this new generation of online teachers. We're very passionate about what we do." Texas is home to nearly 7,000 VIPKid teachers and yesterday's Journey was VIPKid's largest gathering of teachers yet. The first regional conference was held in Salt Lake City, UT in March 2018. VIPKid's teacher community of over 60,000 teachers is one of the largest communities of online teachers in the world. About VIPKid VIPKid is a global education technology company that connects children with the world's best teachers for real-time online English immersion learning. VIPKid's mission is to inspire and empower every child for the future. VIPKid believes that education is not one-size-fits-all, rather all students are unique and the world is within their reach when connected with great teachers capable of personalizing learning and sparking curiosity. Founded in 2013 and formally launched in 2014, VIPKid has become China's market-leading online education startup, attracting investment from Tencent, Sequoia Capital (News - Alert) , Yunfeng Capital, Coatue Management, Matrix Partners, Sinovation Ventures, Learn Capital, Northern Light VC, Bryant Stibel, among others. The VIPKid platform currently connects over 500,000 paying students with over 60,000 teachers in the US and Canada. For more information, please visit: www.vipkid.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005333/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] GBTA Convention 2018 Exhibitor Profiles The GBTA Convention takes place 11 - 15 August, 2018 at the San Diego Convention Center. Please note the following important information. #GBTA2018 Exhibitor News and Press Kits: http://www.tradeshownews.com/events/gbta-convention-2018/ Information for Media: https://convention.gbta.org/Press Business Wire is the official news wire for GBTA 2018. Listed below are exhibitor profiles. Company: AIG Travel Booth: 916 Ticker Symbol & Exchange: AIG Web: www.aig.com/travel AIG Travel, Inc., a member of American International Group, Inc., is a worldwide leader in travel insurance and global assistance. Travel Guard is the marketing name for its portfolio of travel insurance solutions and travel-related services, including medical and security services, marketed to both leisure and business travelers around the globe. Services are provided through a network of wholly owned service centers located in Asia, Europe and the Americas. For additional information, please visit our websites at www.aig.com/travel and www.travelguard.com Company: Airlines Reporting Corporation Booth: 3641 Web: https://www2.arccorp.com/ An industry leader in air travel distribution and intelligence, ARC settled $88.5 billion in ticket transactions in 2017 between airlines and travel agencies, representing more than 265 million passenger trips. ARC also provides flexible distribution solutions, innovative technology and access to the world's most comprehensive air ticket transaction data, helping the global air travel community connect, grow and thrive. For more information, please visit www.arccorp.com. Company: AppZen Booth: 3400 Web: www.appzen.com AppZen is the first artificial intelligence solution for business process automation. AppZen's platform uses AI to automate expense report auditing and instantly detect compliance issues and fraud. AppZen's patented AI combines computer vision, deep learning, and natural language processing to automatically read and understand expense reports, receipts, and travel documents and cross-check them with hundreds of data sources in real time to determine the accuracy and legitimacy of every expense. This enables companies to detect fraud and compliance issues in seconds. The company was founded in 2012 and today works with more than 25 Fortune 1000 companies. Company: Blacklane Booth: 1251 Web: www.blacklane.com Every day, Blacklane connects passengers in over 260 cities worldwide with our vast network of reliable, top-quality chauffeurs. Passengers and bookers can easily book rides from one hour before pickup, to months in advance with our website or apps. Our all-inclusive rates are guaranteed at the moment of booking and cover all taxes, fees, tolls, and gratuities. Every ride is backed up by our 24/7/365 Corporate Care team with real-time service control for tens of thousands of top-of-the-line vehicles. Plus, every single Blacklane ride is carbon neutral thanks to our carbon offset program. Company: BRIDGE / Citadines Connect Fifth Avenue Booth: 1243 Citadines Connect Fifth Avenue, formerly known as Hotel Central Fifth Avenue, a 125-room boutique hotel located at 15 West 45th Street in NYC, is set to launch in September 2018. Following an extensive renovation, Citadines Connect Fifth Avenue, will offer newly refurbished room accommodations, an interactive lobby and embrace its location by "connecting" guests to their surroundings. Located in the heart of Manhattan, walking distance from the Empire State Building, Fifth Avenue, Times Square and more, Citadines Connect Fifth Avenue has created a variety of personalized conveniences for individuals. Upon entering the lobby, guests will have use of a large shared community table and seating area with a 24-hour grab and go corner. Quarterly, the hotel will partner with a local food and beverage outpost to offer product and a pop-up experience. Company: Cvent (News - Alert) Booth: 2151 Web: www.cvent.com Cvent, Inc. is a leading meetings, events, and hospitality management technology provider with more than 3,200 employees, 25,000 customers, and 300,000 users worldwide. The Cvent Event Cloud offers software solutions to event planners for online event registration, venue selection, event management, mobile events apps, and more helping event professionals navigate every aspect of the event planning process, increase attendance, and maximize impact. The Cvent Hospitality Cloud partners with hotels and venues to help them drive group and corporate travel business. Through a suite of proprietary digital marketing tools and software solutions to service their customers directly, efficiently and profitably. Company: Hyatt Hotels Corporation Booth: 3623 Ticker Symbol & Exchange: NYSE: H Web: www.hyatt.com Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 14 premier brands. Hyatt's portfolio includes more than 700 properties in more than 50 countries across six continents. The company's purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and is intended to attract and retain top colleagues, build relationships with guests and create value for shareholders. Company: Luggage Teleport Inc. Booth: 1016 Web: www.luggageteleport.com Luggage Teleport Inc. provides on-demand luggage delivery so business travelers can enjoy a hassle-free, time-saving travel experience. To use our service, the traveler can simply request a delivery for his luggage on our mobile application or website. He will meet our driver at the specific time he chooses. Our driver will lock the luggage with the Luggage Teleport safety lock, and deliver it to the traveler's destination. We have been featured at CES (News - Alert) Smart Cities and international media outlets such as Forbes (https://goo.gl/KU29iH), Inc. and The Sun. We are looking for partnerships with Airlines, Hotels and Corporations with business travelers! Company: Lumo Booth: IR-1 Web: https://thinklumo.com Lumo predicts flight delays weeks, days, and hours ahead of time, helping users proactively deal with disruptions and avoid the costs and inconvenience associated with air travel disruptions. Lumo is like a weather forecast for your trip. Founded by a team of PhDs and based in Boston & Boulder, Lumo's predictions assist corporations, airlines, travel management companies, online booking tools, and other travel entities in managing flight disruptions. Technology developed by Lumo under Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from NASA also measure airspace efficiency and allocate airspace resources for future manned/unmanned aircraft operations. Company: Ovation Corporate Travel Booth: Relaxation Lounge Web: www.ovationtravel.com Ovation is one of the largest independently owned travel companies headquartered in the U.S. Ovation is a $1.1 billion travel management company with travel consultants in more than 30 locations throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Ovation is the largest affiliate of BCD Travel and utilizes BCD's global network to fulfill its clients' travel programs across the globe. With over 600 employees and over 200 independent travel advisors, Ovation provides business travel services, bespoke luxury travel experiences and meeting and special events planning for over 700 professional organizations and over 200,000 travelers. Company: PredictX Booth: 3915 Web: www.predictx.com PredictX is a SaaS (News - Alert) company, partnered with travel managers to harness the benefits of data analytics to drive cross-program value and growth. Using machine learning models, we fuse TMC (News - Alert) , Card and Expense data sources along with company hierarchies. The result is an integrated total program spend product identifying incremental improvement opportunities. The PredictX data suite goes a step further - far beyond simple travel dashboards. We provide air contract management, hotel city strategies, meetings spend management, expense analytics, deep supplier sourcing and behavior management. Our platform is able to automate repetitive tasks - transforming travel management's focus from analyzing and fixing issues to predicting and preventing any future obstacles to growth. Company: Seven Corners Booth: 4000 Web: www.sevencorners.com Founded in 1993, Seven Corners, Inc. is an innovative and service-focused international travel insurance and specialty benefit management company. Members include international travelers, agencies of the U.S. government, corporations, foreign governments, and various types of insurance companies. With a business model concentrated on innovative products and customized service levels, Seven Corners works to consistently exceed members' needs and expectations. With more than 25 years of experience, Seven Corners is headquartered near Indianapolis in Carmel, Indiana. Company: SpotHero for Business Booth: 1353 Web: www.spothero.com/business SpotHero for Business is North America's leading corporate parking reservation service. Business travelers can find and reserve parking in close proximity to hotels, airports, downtown offices and client sites, all from the SpotHero app on their mobile device. Digital receipts are then automatically forwarded to preferred expense reimbursement platforms, such as Concur, Certify, Expensify, and Chrome River. With urban drivers spending twenty minutes on average searching for a parking spot, the SpotHero for Business solution ensures significant time savings, not to mention cost savings through transparent parking prices and the ability to compare nearby rates. For more information, visit SpotHero.com/business. Company: Tramada Booth: IR-9 Web: https://tramada.us Tramada is an advanced platform that streamlines travel operations, data management, document production, and travel accounting. Tramada is GDS agnostic, NDC-capable and integrates with over 50 products, including online booking tools, mobile solutions, and expense systems. The plug-and-play design makes it easy to add the latest applications while automated service fees, markup tools, and commission management features increase revenue and drive down costs. Tramada Systems has long been the leading provider at its home in Australia and is quickly gaining recognition and adoption in North America. Learn more at tramada.us. Company: TravelBank Booth: 2735 Web: https://travelbank.com/ TravelBank is the leading all-in-one travel and expense platform and uses a proprietary algorithm to predict travel costs and build budgets with real-time pricing. Designed for busy professionals, the app features a camera-first experience for tracking expenses on the fly, a curated travel bookings portal with special corporate rates for business travel, and an auto-rewards program that incentivizes employees to choose more cost-effective options. Company: Travelport Booth: 3324 Ticker Symbol & Exchange: NYSE: TVPT Web: www.Travelport.com Travelport is the technology company that makes the experience of buying and managing travel continually better. It operates a travel commerce platform providing distribution, technology, payment and other solutions for the global travel and tourism industry. The Company facilitates travel commerce by connecting the world's leading travel providers with online and offline travel buyers in a proprietary business-to-business (B2B) travel platform. Travelport has a leadership position in airline merchandising, hotel content and distribution, car rental, mobile commerce and B2B payment solutions. The Company also provides critical IT services to airlines, such as shopping, ticketing, departure control and other solutions. With net revenue of over $2.4 billion in 2017, Travelport is headquartered in Langley, U.K., has over 4,000 employees and is represented in approximately 180 countries. Company: TRIPBAM Booth: 3105 Web: http://www.tripbam.com/main.aspx TRIPBAM improves the savings achieved and effectiveness of clients' hotel programs through its hotel rate re-shopping and rebooking service. TRIPBAM delivers actionable insights via its Analytics and new Hotel Intelligence tools that enable clients to monitor hotel program performance daily, make improvements during the year, benchmark their program against peers, and have greater confidence in signing long term/dynamic discounts with suppliers. TRIPBAM searches daily for lower rates, taking advantage of daily rate fluctuations to find savings on already booked hotels or at similar hotels nearby, and then rebooks those reservations at lower rates that meet each client's pre-defined rules. Company: Vedius Booth: IR10 Web: http://vediusapp.com/ Founded by Constantine George, M.D., chief medical officer of EPITOMEDICAL, the Vedius app grants access to first-class concierge medical care from a network of board-certified physicians from anyone's smartphone to aid in the prevention of illness, treatment of injury and overall health. With same-day appointments, Vedius patients can be seen and treated by a physician in their hotel room or within EPITOMEDICAL's private practice facility. Patients can speak with a physician through a virtual meeting space and convention attendees can also be seen on-site at the Convention Center. Vedius delivers seamless specialist referrals, on-site treatment and 24/7 access to internists/pediatricians to treat all patients. Vedius can be installed at no cost on any mobile device. Company: WorkTrip Booth: 1052 Web: www.worktrip.com WorkTrip serves as the central intelligence for your organization's global events. Ease the burden of business travel by having all event, travel, and company contact information in one place. WorkTrip increases compliance rates and streamlines communication between teams. Find and communicate with your travelers to keep them safe wherever they are. WorkTrip makes it easy! Company: Zeno by Serko Booth: 135 Ticker Symbol & Exchange: SKO (NZSX, ASX) Web: https://www.serko.com Zeno, the next generation travel management application that uses artificial intelligence, predictive workflows and a global travel marketplace to transform business travel across the entire journey, is excited to announce its debut in North America. Zeno is built on the premise of "No more compromise", ending the struggle that has been inherent between travelers and travel managers. The solution is offered by Serko, a leading travel technology company headquartered in New Zealand with customers in more than 35 countries around the world. Serko established its North American headquarters in 2017 and has already announced a number of resellers in market. About Business Wire: Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Investor relations, public relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire to accurately distribute market-moving news and multimedia, host online newsrooms and IR websites, build content marketing platforms, generate social engagements and provide audience analysis that improves interaction with specified target markets. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX Network. Business Wire has 29 offices worldwide to securely meet the varying needs of communications professionals and news consumers. Learn more at services.BusinessWire.com and Tempo, the Business Wire resource for industry trends; follow updates on Twitter (News - Alert) : @businesswire or on Facebook. Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for Business Wire. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005360/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] A.M. BestTV at VCIA: Insolvencies Tied to RRGs Formed for Short-Term Reasons, Says Medical Liability Panel In this A.M.BestTV episode from the annual Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA) conference in Burlington, VT, captive experts say that some risk retention groups (RRGs) that were formed to take advantage of temporary hard-market conditions had poor outcomes compared with RRGs that pursued better underwriting and reserving practices. Click on http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=medmalrrg818 to view the entire program. For full video coverage of the VCIA 2018 conference, including exclusive executive interviews, visit http://www.ambest.tv/vcia18. The panelists spoke about the spate of insolvencies among medical liability RRGs. "Most of the insolvencies that we've seen have really been driven by what I'll call the entrepreneurial RRGs - those who came in at the hard market and decided that this was a profit-making opportunity for them," said Bruce Whitmore, vice president and senior resource consultant at Willis Global Captive Practice. "If we look at those RRGs that were formed for the right purpose those organizations have continued to do well and will continue to do well in the future." Michael Reveliotty, business development leader at Coverys, said the insolvencies are a concern for the rest of the marketplace, with that concern extending to their insureds. "The positive side is for the rest of the market, albeit challenging times, there may be an opportunity, for the right price, for companies to pick up and provide capacity to those affected policyholders," said Reveliotty. Other VCIA-related episodes of A.M.BestTV include: Soaring Risk: Panelists Explain How They Launched a Hang-Gliding RRG: Risk professionals behind a RRG devoted to covering hang gliders and their associations describe how they crafted their own risk solution after losing traditional coverage: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=hanggliding2818 Risk professionals behind a RRG devoted to covering hang gliders and their associations describe how they crafted their own risk solution after losing traditional coverage: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=hanggliding2818 Traditionally Low Profile, the Captive Sector Draws Increasing Scrutiny: Executives say captive insurers are drawing increased attention from regulators, tax authorities and their own sponsors: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=vcia1818. Executives say captive insurers are drawing increased attention from regulators, tax authorities and their own sponsors: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=vcia1818. Rated Captive Insurers See Strong Performance Compared With Commercial Peers: A.M. Best Associate Directors Susan Molineux and Fred Eslami say the performance of rated captive insurers once again outperformed their counterparts in the commercial casualty segment: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=vciaadvance818. A.M.BestTV covers exclusive A.M. Best information and reports, targeted topics and key developments in the (re)insurance industry every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sign up for alerts of episodes at http://www.ambest.com/multimedia/ambtvsignup.html. View A.M.BestTV episodes at http://www.ambest.tv. A.M. Best is a global rating agency and information provider with a unique focus on the insurance industry. Visit www.ambest.com for more information. Copyright 2018 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005367/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] Next Generation of Information Security Technology meets the demands of growing Cybersecurity Sector ABBOTSFORD, BC, Aug. 10, 2018 /CNW/ - A Canadian-made cybersecurity system is making the internet safer thanks to a $475,000 investment from Western Economic Diversification Canada's Western Innovation Initiative (WINN). The funding was announced by the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, at the 2018 Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo. As the global economy becomes increasingly digital, the importance of protecting organizations against cyber attacks continues to grow. WINN will help HYAS Infosec Inc. a Vancouver Island-based information security firm to commercialize their next generation cybersecurity platform while creating new economic opportunities and employment in the fast-growing threat intelligence sector right here in B.C. Quick Facts Called Saltspring, HYAS Infosec's innovative cybersecurity monitoring platform will provide real-time visibility into attacks and breaches across global networks. It will help clients identify previously unknown malware types far ahead of others in the industry, providing instant detection capabilities on a global scale. Infosec's innovative cybersecurity monitoring platform will provide real-time visibility into attacks and breaches across global networks. It will help clients identify previously unknown malware types far ahead of others in the industry, providing instant detection capabilities on a global scale. WINN is a five-year federal initiative that offers repayable contributions to small-and-medium-sized enterprises with operations in estern Canada to help move their new and innovative technologies from the later stages of research and development to the marketplace. Quotes "With the rise of e-commerce and the increased need to share private information across networks, it's crucial that we support home-grown talent to meet the demands of the growing cybersecurity sector. HYAS Infosec Inc. is building on our regional strengths as a technology hub and fostering a knowledge economy as part of the Government of Canada's Innovation Agenda." - Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility "As the economy changes and becomes increasingly knowledge-based, it's important that we encourage Canada's competitiveness by supporting companies that are at the forefront of this digital transformation. I'm pleased to see that HYAS Infosec is leveraging its impressive cybersecurity experience to create new economic opportunities and meet the demands of this growing international market." - Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada "Cybersecurity innovation is absolutely critical to the public sector and we're proud to have the support of WD, an esteemed local investor that believes in the importance of taking cybercriminals off the map. Our mission is to provide business owners with the advanced tools they need to effectively prevent cyberattacks and identify the individuals behind them. This new funding will greatly enhance our ability to deliver on that mission while cultivating an exceptional company culture that attracts Canada's best talent in the process." - Jeff Spencer, Chief Operating Officer, HYAS Infosec Inc. Additional Links Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative Hyas Infosec Inc. Stay Connected Follow us on Twitter: @WD_Canada, @ISED_CA WD Homepage WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378) TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388 IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL. SOURCE Western Economic Diversification Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [August 10, 2018] Banks Partner to Educate Houston's Underserved Men and Male Youth Houston nonprofit, Career Gear Greater Houston (Career Gear), empowers men and male youth who are striving to overcome economic disadvantage to overcome barriers and achieve self-sufficiency. Green Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) today awarded Career Gear $6,000 in Partnership Grant Program ( PGP (News - Alert) ) funds to support costs for the organization's Business Enterprise Program, helping men prepare to become construction business trade owners with a designated area of focus. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005438/en/ Green Bank and FHLB Dallas awarded $6,000 in Partnership Grant Program funds to Career Gear, a Houston-based organization aiming to empower men and male youth striving to achieve self-sufficiency. (Photo: Business Wire) "Congratulations to Career Gear Houston for receiving the Partnership Grant Program award from Green Bank and FHLB Dallas to help support its Business Enterprise Program," said Texas State Representative Shawn Thierry (D-146). "I sincerely commend Career Gear Houston for its efforts to support the underserved men in our community by promoting economic independence. The career development, financial literacy, professional attire and life skills training that Career Gear provides is critical for these young men to succeed and become role models to younger generations. Thank you to Green Bank and FHLB Dallas for providing the much-needed financial resources that enable nonprfit organizations like Career Gear to provide essential support to underserved communities." In addition to offering professional attire and life skills training to Houston men, Career Gear also aims to help men gain employment and become role models for their families and communities. "Through the PGP, we have been able to build stronger, more collaborative relationships partnering on more programmatic aspects of service to our community," said Career Gear Executive Director Jamay Fishback. "We're so thrilled and grateful for the value that was recognized in our program and mission." Through this unique grant program, FHLB Dallas member institutions contribute $500 up to $4,000 to a CBO, which FHLB Dallas matches at a 3:1 ratio to provide the CBO up to $12,000 in grant money. "Strengthening the community is foundational to Green Bank's mission and part of who we are as a bank," said Green Bank Vice President and Community Development Officer Courtney Taylor. "The PGP is a conduit through which we can make a difference and serve our community." For 2018, FHLB Dallas has awarded $300,000 in PGP funds through 31 member institutions to assist 32 community-based organizations. Combined with the $114,010 contributed by FHLB Dallas members, a total of $414,010 has been awarded to the organizations. "By matching our members' contributions, FHLB Dallas is fulfilling the partnership aspect of the program," said FHLB Dallas Vice President and Affordable Housing Program Manager Bruce Hatton. "We're proud to partner with Green Bank to help empower low-income men through Career Gear in the Houston area." Since 2016, Career Gear has served more than 5,000 men and male youth in employment transition. Some notable achievements of Career Gear include helping more than 1,122 veterans transition into the workforce and offering employment support services to 1,100 unemployed fathers and 877 youth. "This grant will help us in reaching more men and male youth who are striving to become the providers their families need and the examples our community deserves," said Ms. Fishback. "It is a true partnership in helping families thrive." About Green Bank Green Bank is a nationally chartered commercial bank and provides commercial and private banking services at full-service offices in Houston, Dallas and Austin. Our growth formula has been simple - lead in providing personalized commercial and private banking services to Texas businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals and capitalize on the vibrant and growing economies of our markets. For more information about Green Bank, visit greenbank.com. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank system created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $75.9 billion as of June 30, 2018, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 825 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180810005438/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Galaxy Note 9 has arrived, and with it comes the cynicism that this is just another minor update for Samsungs most exciting phone. While its true that the Note 9 recycles some aspects of its predecessor its exterior design being one of the most notable examples Samsung made plenty of changes beneath the surface, including to the Note 9s dual 12-megapixel cameras. As with the similar design, it may seem that the Note 9s shooters havent changed from what Samsung gave us earlier this year in the Galaxy S9+. After all, Samsungs flagships tend to share similar camera tech. However, the company tends to save something special for the Note brand. With last years Galaxy Note 8, it was a second lens at the back. This year, its artificial intelligence that figures to change the way you capture the world around you. MORE: Best Smartphone Cameras Heres a closer look at the major changes introduced with the Galaxy Note 9s cameras. Scene Optimization By now, youre probably used to phone makers publicizing the fact that theyve used AI to improve image processing. Huawei and LG have done it, making it a headline feature within everything from the Mate 10 Pro to the G7 ThinQ. Google also uses to improve HDR processing, though the company been more discreet about it. The fact is, you need AI to get ahead in the photography game today. Samsung knows this, too, which is why its gifted the Note 9s lenses with the brains to identify scenes and tune the shot to fit each scenario. How many scenarios? Samsung says the Note 9 can suss out 20 different types of scenes: Food, portraits, flowers, indoor environments, animals, landscapes, greenery, trees, sky, mountains, beaches, sunrises and sunsets, watersides, street shots, night shots, waterfalls, snow, birds, strong backlighting and text. Once the phone has figured out what its looking at, thats when the magic happens. Samsungs software actively tunes aspects like exposure, white balance, contrast and brightness to make sure the shot matches the ideal for that scene. While more hands-on time with the Note 9 will give us a definitive sense of what Scene Optimizer can produce, its an encouraging prospect. Samsung already made considerable strides in low-light performance with the Galaxy S9, thanks in part to its variable-aperture shutter system, and were excited to see how those shots could be even further improved through the use of some clever AI. Still, if there are times when youd rather not use the feature, Samsung gives you the option of turning off the Scene Optimizer. Flaw Detection Better processing through AI is one thing, but all of the tools in the world wont prevent mistakes. Thats why the Note 9s other new photography software feature, Flaw Detection, could be really useful. Flaw Detection does what it says on the tin it calls out issues with photos you take, and suggests ways to get around them. This happens right after youve pressed the shutter, so youre not bombarded with on-screen complaints in the viewfinder. At first glance, Flaw Detection might sound at best unnecessary or at worst, annoying. But consider a real-world situation where you dont have all the time in the world to snag that perfect shot. Phone displays have come a phenomenal way over the years in terms of size and quality, but theyre still pretty small in the grand scheme of things. When youre quickly glancing at a picture youve just snapped on a relatively tiny screen, theres a lot of faults you could miss. In fact, you might only notice problems (like a slight degree of hand shake, for example) once youve taken a second look at your image blown up on a monitor. Those are the situations when itd be really handy to have Flaw Detection. The feature notices if someone in the shot has blinked, or if the lens may have been smudged. It will even request that you move to a different location to snap another attempt if the backlighting is too strong. And just as with Scene Optimizer, if you find Flaw Detection more frustrating than helpful, you can always turn it off. Other changes Those are the two significant improvements to the cameras in the Galaxy Note 9. In terms of hardware, the equipment is very similar to what youd find on the Galaxy S9+. Both rear sensors are still rated at 12 megapixels, with variable aperture (f/1.5 and f/2.4) on the main shooter and optical image stabilization on both. The telephoto lens on the Note 9 can still function as a 2x optical zoom lens or enable Live Focus portraits, and super slow-motion video at 960 frames-per-second is once again possible capable of capturing 0.2 seconds of real-time footage lengthened to 6 seconds in playback. The Note 9s front camera is rated at 8 megapixels, also like on both Galaxy S9 models, with an f/1.7 aperture. One noteworthy camera change on the Note 9 doesnt involve the camera at all. Instead, it comes from the S Pen, which now has Bluetooth connectivity. That essentially turns the stylus into a remote control, which is very helpful for the phones camera. Press the button once and the camera app launches; another press can operate the shutter, which we think will prove to be handy when its time to take a selfie. Outlook The Note 9 sounds like a formidable mobile camera, though we wont really know how good it is until weve put it through its paces. Check back in the coming days for an in-depth camera faceoff between it and other flagship shooters, like the Pixel 2 XL and iPhone X. When it comes to my phones, it's pretty well known that I'm an Android girl. But I'm not just a fan of any Android smartphone I'm a Samsung fan. Sure, there have been a few brief dalliances over the years with a Google Pixel or a Motorola Droid. But at the end of the day, I ride for Samsung phones, particularly Notes. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) As a journalist, the ability to jot something down at a moment's notice sold me on the Note 8 and its Screen Off memo feature. And it's hard to say no to that big, beautiful, near bezel-free display and that long-lasting battery. But as much as I love my Note 8 and trust me, I love this thing it might be time for me to shell out at least $1,000 and make the jump to the Note 9 despite my goal to hold on to my beloved 8 for at least two years. Design Typically, Samsung doesn't like to play with color on its smartphones until at least six months after the initial launch. This time, the company is embracing its colorful side right out of the box. Instead of the tried-and-true choices of black or silver, Note fans like myself can looks forward to Lavender Purple, Midnight Black, Metallic Copper and Ocean Blue. Unfortunately, it seems only the Lavender Purple and Ocean Blue models will be available in the U.S. at launch. If you go the Ocean Blue route, the phone will use a bright yellow S Pen that will write in yellow in Screen-off memo mode, which is a small, but cool touch highlighting the company's attention to detail. However, I'd be inclined to wait a bit longer for the Note 9 if Samsung announces a red handset (fingers crossed). At 7.1 ounces, 6.3 x 3 x 0.3 inches, the Note 9 is slightly heavier and wider than the Note 8 (6.9 ounces, 6.4 x 2.9 x 9.3 inches). That's still a grippable circumference for most hands. I didn't experience any problems holding it, but I also have a freakishly long thumb. The Note 9 is definitely flatter than its predecessor, which means the curve is a lot more evened out, which makes it easier to handle. Another notable difference is the fingerprint scanner placement. Instead of next to the camera like you see on the Note 8, the scanner is now positioned just below the rear shooter. That should cut down on people accidently tapping the camera when they're trying to unlock their phone. MORE: Samsung Will Use These Freebies to Sweeten the Deal on Note 9 Display At 6.4 inches, the Note 9's display is a tad larger than the Note 8's (6.3 inches). However, both panels have the same resolution 2960 x 1440 and use the same incredibly vivid Super AMOLED screen, which should make gaming and watching movies a cacophony of color. And thanks its near-bezeless design (with no pesky notch getting in the way), you get a lot more screen real estate to enjoy. Still, it would have been nice if Samsung could have gotten rid of the bezel completely. I guess I'll have to wait until the Galaxy S10 for that. Another nice to, but we don't have is an in-screen fingerprint reader which would have eliminated the need for it in the back. Camera No matter how good the camera is on a smartphone, it seems I'm doomed to taking blurry, overblown shots. However, that might not be the case with the Note 9. Samsung is the latest smartphone manufacturer to add AI-assisted cameras. Samsung's new cameras will recognize 20 types of scenes and will automatically adapt to deliver shots that will make even the most seasoned smartphone photog jealous. That means that when I'm trying to get a nighttime shot of the New York City skyline, it should be Instagram fresh. S Pen Cue the Harry Potter references. My beloved S Pen has gone and learned a few new tricks in time for the Note 9. Now Bluetooth-enabled, you can use the peripheral as a remote control with several apps. If you're aching to take a wide-shot selfie but don't want to potentially ruin the perfect pose by reaching for the camera button, you can simply double-tap the button on the side of the pen to launch the camera app. Press the button again when you'll be ready to snap the shot. Music lovers like myself can use the S Pen to control music playback while mobile professionals can use the S Pen to advance the slides in a presentation. You'll also have the ability to customize the pen's functionality in the settings menu. And since Samsung is opening up the SDK to third-party developers, you can expect more cool tricks in the months to come. Bixby Bixby 2.0 is here and it's a lot more chatty. The digital assistant is a big highlight of the phone. Instead of having to say "Hey Bixby" before every query, the updated software will recognize questions related to the previous question. So if you inquire about concerts occuring during a certain time frame, and asking about another date will pull up those queries naturally. Youll also be able to book a car through Uber without opening the app. MORE: Galaxy Note 9 S Pen Will Have This Surprise Performance So much power! While some might consider the Note 9 an incremental Improvement to its predecessor, it's processor is definitely not. The Note 9 comes bearing an octo-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU with either 6 or 8GB of RAM, an Adreno 630 GPU and up to 512GB of expandable storage. The more powerful chip can perform between 25 percent better than its predecessor's CPU and 30 percent for the GPU depending on the app. That new Snapdragon chip also bodes well for internet speeds as it has Qualcomm's Cat 18 modem. When we tested it in the S9, spanked the Apple iPhone X. Since Samsung has a partnership with Epic Games, the Note 9 will have early access to Fortnite. All that gaming can be taxing on your precious CPU and GPU. To keep things relatively cool, the Note 9 has a carbon water cooling chamber as well as a thermal spreader. Plus, the Note 9's heat sink is three times larger. Productivity Being the only Android phone capable of playing Fortnite is cool, but sometimes, you've got to get some actual work done. In those instances, you can use Samsung's DeX technology to transform the phone into a viable mini PC. But instead of investing in an additional peripheral, all you'll have to do is connect your smartphone to an external monitor with a DisplayPort-enabled USB Type-C port and you'll have a mobile workstation that uses your handset as a touchpad. Battery Life One of the best things about the Note line of smartphones is the battery as they're typically bigger than what you'd get on a regular Galaxy phone. Samsung is doubling down on this tradition but cramming a 4,000 mAH battery into the Note 9. That's the biggest battery Samsung has ever used for a smartphone. The company is promising all-day battery life, I'm optimistic, but I'll reserve my final judgment for when we run our battery test in the lab. Bottom Line I love big phones. I love the girth and heft of them. I love their massive screens and batteries. But most importantly, I love when a phone allows me to be productive, like truly productive -- like "I have an article due and I forgot my laptop at home, Note don't fail me now" productive. The Galaxy Note 8 and the Notes before that have allowed me to do that. But the Note 9 is looking to take my mobile gaming, writing, selfies to the next level and has a massive battery and powerful processor to support the whole thing effortlessly. I'm going to wait until our review of the smartphone to make my final decision, but I think I found my next phone. (Image credit: Apple) One consequence of the annual upgrade cycle followed by many tech companies is the generation of staggering amounts of electronic waste, or e-waste, as people discard previous-generation products. The United Nations University said in December 2017 that e-waste is accumulating at a faster rate than ever thanks to rising incomes and falling prices, and by 2021 there will be an estimated 52.2 million metric tons of e-waste. So when Apple says its expanded Apple GiveBack program is the "best environmental outcome for any device," well, that's an understatement. Apple has offered to refurbish used Macs, iPhones, and other products for years. The problem was that getting any money for your old device required you to mail it to the company, which isn't the fastest process, and even then it didn't actually help offset the cost of a new product. (You could also head to an Apple Store, but that option isn't available to everyone.) So the company rebranded the program as Apple GiveBack earlier this year, and now it's prompting visitors to its website to check how much they could earn in credit towards whatever new gizmo they desire. The product pages on Apple's website tailor their prompts to a specific device--looking at the new MacBook Pro leads the site to ask if you have a computer to trade in, checking out the new iPhone makes it ask if you want to trade in a smartphone, etc. You aren't limited to trading in Apple products; Apple will also take devices from other manufacturers. All you have to do is answer some questions about the device's model and condition. (You'll also need a serial number for some devices.) Once you're done, Apple provides an estimate for how much it's willing to offer. It's not hard to imagine why Apple would push the Apple GiveBack program on potential customers. There's probably a point at which even the most ardent consumer will feel a pang of guilt about throwing away old devices just because something new came out. Trading in the product in exchange for money (to help offset the financial cost) while also being reassured that it's the environmentally conscious decision seems like a no-brainer. Apple gets to reduce e-waste, profit by selling refurbished devices, and ease people into not feeling guilty for buying a phone every year. Apple said on its website that it currently offers up to $175 for an Apple Watch, up to $290 for smartphones, and up to $1,000 for computers via Apple GiveBack. That isn't enough to completely mitigate the cost of upgrading--new devices often cost at least double that--but $200 towards a new phone is a lot more compelling than just letting it collect dust in a junk drawer after you upgrade. We expect these figures to change as the Apple GiveBack program starts to accept newer devices or Apple decides to offer a more steep effective discount on some of its products. On the fourth anniversary of Michael Brown's killing by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, the state's governor is facing calls from Brown's mother and racial justice advocates to reopen the investigation into his death. Lezley McSpadden and the organization Color of Change are calling on Gov. Kansas City Amber Alert Outrage Police Desire Conversation With This Dude KC police ask for help in finding person of interest in homicide case Kansas City police are looking for a person of interest in a homicide late Tuesday near Ninth and Harrison streets. Investigators said they would like to talk with Quayyim Farris, 35, about the case. Witnesses told police that Terriante McClinton, 27, was shot during an argument with another man in the park. Shawnee Murder Investigation Cont'd Metro Squad looking for pickup truck seen in area of Shawnee homicide Metro Squad detectives are looking for a pickup truck in connection with a homicide in Shawnee early Wednesday. David J. Paterno, 57, died from injuries suffered during a fight near 51st Place and Monticello Road. Authorities said they are looking for a white four-door GMC or Chevrolet pickup truck that was seen in the area about 1 a.m. Po-Po Show Off Stand Off Toys Operation 100: KC police show SWAT team armor, weaponry | The Kansas City Star Kansas City police have deployed tactical "Operation 100" SWAT teams 35 times so far in 2018, using an array of resources that were put on display Thursday. Gunfire Charges After Grandview Fatality 24-year-old charged after fight leads to deadly Grandview shooting GRANDVIEW, Mo. -- A 24-year-old is now facing charges after prosecutors say a fight at a gas station led to a deadly shooting in Grandview. Gregory Smith has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Aug. 6 shooting that happened near High Grove Road and White Avenue. Reports on suspect and local crimes that lead the day. Take a look:Developing . . . KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The City of Kansas City has filed a civil lawsuit against the nation's largest pharmaceutical companies that manufacture and distribute opioids, according to a news release from the city. In July, Jackson County, along with other agencies across the country, also filed suit against companies that make and distribute opioids. Hiroshima anniversary remembrance mixes mourning, hope As three-score people gathered in a park in Kansas City, Missouri, the evening of Aug. 5, they were reminded that thousands were gathering at the same time, 6,500 miles away in Japan. Both gatherings ... A local faith community report on an international memorial event this week offers an alternative perspective from metro KC's peace & justice community regarding their ongoing advocacy for a world without nukes.Read more: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After a two-day trial, a Platte County jury found Bradley D. Everhart, 31, of Independence guilty of raping a woman he met through an online dating website. The verdict, which was handed down Aug. 7, means Everhart faces a minimum sentence of five years in prison for first-degree rape. The Wyandotte County District Attorney has charged a woman with two counts of murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman. Alora Mendoza has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. A recent study conducted by German economics professor Ferdinand Dudenhoffer revealed what a lot of us have known for quite some time: Ferrari is the most profitable brand in the auto industry. The Italian automaker has held that title for a while, including the last six months, when it reported an operating profit of around $80,000 for every new model it sells. Ferrari isnt the only automaker that is making money for every new model it sells, but its operating profit is head and shoulders above what other brands come away with. In this sense, Maranello is king. The Italian automaker has held that title for a while, including the last six months, when it reported an operating profit of around $80,000 for every new model it sells Its Ferarris world; were all just living in it. That should be a slogan at the companys Maranello headquarters because as far as operating profit is concerned, nobodys touching the Prancing Horse. Thats not to say that other automakers arent successful because they are, too, at least in the context of generating profits. According to the study conducted by Professor Ferdinand Dudenhoffer, Porsche earned almost $20,000 in operating profit for every new model it sold in the first half of 2018. Its a long way from what Ferrari makes, but the German automaker does have production volume on its side compared to its Italian counterpart. Porsches operating profit is impressive in its own right considering that its twice as profitable as the German triumvirate, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. All three German automakers reportedly made over $3,000 for every new model it sold in the same timeframe. Even Maserati earned good money around $5,800 for every new model that found its way to a new customer. Obviously, not every automaker is raking in the big bucks. Jaguar Land Rover, for example, made less than $1,000 for every new Jag or Land Rover model that sold in the first half of the year. Then there are those who are in positions no automaker would want to be in: the red. The study specifically cites Bentley and Tesla as two of the biggest losers in this regard. Bentley, for example, generates losses of almost $20,000 with each new car it has sold since January 2018. For its part, Tesla isnt doing as bad, reporting losses of almost $13,000 with each new model sold. That said, there are a number of reasons why Bentley and Tesla are bleeding money. The British automaker, for example, is investing heavily into electric car technologies, whereas Tesla is bleeding money because its investing in anything it can get its hands on. It is interesting to think that nobody can reach Ferraris place in this study It is interesting to think that nobody can reach Ferraris place in this study. You would think that if theres one company that can do it, its Lamborghini. Unfortunately, the Italian automaker doesnt reveal its financial records to the public so it wasnt included in the study. Still, it would be interesting to see if Lambo is on the same level as Ferrari in terms of the operating profit thats attached to each model it has sold since the calendar flipped to 2018. Further reading Read our full review on the 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB. Read more Ferrari news. Source: Boerse-Express Ferrari is the latest automaker to drop a teaser of an upcoming model, and its teasing a new product in the pipeline that could pave the way for a new, limited-run supercar that traces its roots to the 812 Superfast. The teaser doesnt reveal much about the new model, but it does say that the new supercar will make its debut on September 17 at the companys official headquarters in Maranello, Italy. Icona Ferrari Its a super special edition model thats based on the Ferrari 812 Superfast Theres a lot of mystery surrounding this new Ferrari, in large part because it was teased in a special section of the companys official website thats normally reserved for those who have at least one Ferrari in their collection. The secrecy even extends to the models codename, Ferrari F176. This new supercar could go in a number of different directions depending on how people interpret the teaser. It doesnt reveal much itself other than the date of the models debut and the Icona Ferrari lettering that was placed over what looks to be a cheeky sketch of a specific section of the model. So, what could this model be? Well, according to Motor1, its a super special edition model thats based on the Ferrari 812 Superfast. More to that, its rumored to carry the Ferrari 812 Monza name, a nod to the famous Italian race track that carries the same name. Rumored nomenclature aside, the supercar is also said to carry a different exterior and interior design compared to the 812 Superfast, an indication that while it does trace its roots to the 812 Superfast, its going to have its own identity, one that will be very limited in numbers compared to the model its based on. Mechanical improvements are also expected, and thats really where it gets interesting. If this limited edition model is, in fact, based on the 812 Superfast, it should carry the same 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V-12 engine. Should that be the case, its going to have at least 800 horsepower and 513 pound-feet of torque at its disposal. But owing to its limited edition status, expect the cars output to be higher than the Superfast. No numbers have been thrown out, but it wouldnt be out of the question if this model packed somewhere around 850 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque, right? Ferrari 812 Superfast Performance Ferrari 812 Superfast Ferrari F12berlinetta Ferrari F12tdf Engine 6.5-liter V-12 6.3-liter V-12 6.3-liter V-12 Horsepower 789 HP @ 8,500 RPM 729 HP @ 8,500 RPM 769 HP @ 8,500 RPM Torque 530 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM 508 LB-FT @ 6,000 RPM 519 LB-FT @ 6,750 RPM Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 2.9 seconds 3.1 seconds 2.9 seconds Top Speed >211 mph >211 mph >211 mph Ferraris recent string of special edition models could also point to the possibility that this new model will have something unique about it. The last limited run Ferrari to hit the market was the J50, which Maranello launched at the end of last year. That model was created to celebrate Ferraris 50-year presence in Japan, and it burst into the scene with a two-piece carbon fiber Targa top that was stored behind the seats. It was also limited to just ten units. Whos going to bet against this new supercar having its own quirky feature and being limited to only a handful of models? Nobody? While all of this is still largely speculation, the good news is that we wont have to wait too long to find the answer. The newest Ferrari supercar is going to be revealed in a little over a months time. Thats five weeks worth of hype that were going to have to deal with before we finally see what all the fuss is about. Further reading Read our full review on the 2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast. Read more Ferrari news. Source: Motor 1 The Salaff C2 Was Designed by the Same Guy Behind the Mazda3 and MX-5 Miata It looks like a design that comes from someone who knows a thing or two about designing cars The 24th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) of Southern Africa will be hosted by the government of Mauritius under the theme: Blue Economy, Inclusive Industrialization and Economic Development in Southern Africa from 18-21 September 2018 at the Le Meridian Hotel, Balaclava, Mauritius. This follows the successful 23rd Session of the ICE hosted by the government of Zimbabwe from 26-27 October 2017 in Bulawayo under the theme: Trade facilitation in Southern Africa: Bridging the Infrastructure Gap. The 24th Session of the ICE will: (i) review the social and economic conditions in Southern Africa (ii) consider and endorse the implementation of the programme of work of the ECA Southern Africa Sub-Regional Office, the planned programme of work and the budget for 2019; and (iii) review the implementation of regional and international agendas, including NEPAD and other special initiatives in the sub-region. In reviewing the work programme, the delegates will proffer recommendations towards ensuring that the development priorities of the sub-region are fully accommodated in the work of ECA to align technical support provision to member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to these priorities. In addition to carrying out its statutory mandate, the 24th Session will also review the recommendations of a study on Blue Economy, Inclusive Industrialization and Economic Development in Southern Africa as well as recommendations of an Ad Hoc Experts Group Meeting on The Role of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) in the Industrialization Process in Southern Africa. The focus of the discussion on the blue economy in Southern Africa will be on its basis, prospects, constraints and challenges in regard to fostering inclusive industrialization and socioeconomic development in the region and mechanisms and strategies to address the identified challenges. Outputs of the Meeting will include: An Outcome Statement of the 24th ICE reflecting the main observations on issues discussed and recommendations towards developing the blue economy sector as a viable means to accelerate inclusive industrialization and sustainable development in Southern Africa including recommendations on the Role of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the Industrialization Process in Southern Africa; The approved and adopted work programme for SRO-SA for 2019; and Recommendations towards strengthening all the study reports considered by the 24th Session of the ICE. Background and context Covering over two-thirds of the planet, the global ocean is fundamental to the livelihood of human well-beings, regulating the earths climate, absorbing a significant proportion of anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, providing foods, facilitating trade, and providing jobs and recreation for a large portion of the worlds population. The Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimated that the ocean economy contributes approximately USD 1.5 trillion annually, or roughly 3 percent of global value added. The ocean is increasingly considered as a new economic frontier, driven by a growing population in search of new sources of growth and rapid technological advances making new resources accessible. The notion of a blue economy and the need to stimulate blue growth was first raised during the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (also known as Rio+20) and aimed at capturing the potential for maritime-based activities and resources to stimulate economic growth and significantly contribute to sustainable development. Indeed, the blue economy concept essentially seeks to promote economic growth, social inclusion and the preservation or improvement of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability of the oceans and coastal areas. It has diverse components, including established traditional ocean industries such as fisheries, tourism and maritime transport, but also new and emerging activities such as offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive industries and marine biotechnology and bioprospecting. Hailed by the African Union (AU) as the new frontier of African renaissance, the blue economy and its potential as an economic resource is gaining prominence across the continent. Africa stands to reap maximum benefits of utilizing its seas, oceans and their resources for sustainable economic development. A substantial part of Africas economic growth relies on numerous ocean-related activities. Maritime zones under Africas jurisdiction cover about 13 million square kilometers including approximately 6.5 million square kilometers over the continental shelf. Moreover, 38 out of the 54 African countries are coastal States and the continent is host to globally acclaimed islands including Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles and Madagascar. Africas inland waters, oceans and seas, offer an immense wealth of resources (fishing, minerals and energy), representing significant economic opportunities and, in some instances, real alternatives to many heavily exploited land-based resources. The blue economy holds great potential for the socio-economic development of the African continent and accordingly, it has gained an important place on regional and national development agendas. The pdf AU Agenda 2063 (333 KB) , the strategic document setting out the continents socio-economic targets for decades to come, identifies the blue economy as a significant accelerator for the continents quest for economic transformation and sustainable development. Furthermore, the AUs pdf 2050 Africas Integrated Maritime (AIM) Strategy (2.04 MB) provides a broad framework for the protection and sustainable exploitation of the Africas Maritime Domain (AMD). Its overarching vision is to foster increased wealth creation from Africas oceans, seas and inland waters by developing a sustainable thriving blue economy in a secure and environmentally sustainable manner. One of the key goals of the Strategy is to ensure synergies and coherence between sectoral policies within and between Regional Economic Communities (RECs) by adopting a common and cooperative approach to maritime issues in order to contribute to the creation of sustainable growth from sea or maritime related activities. The October 2016 AU Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa adopted the AU Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development (also referred to as the Lome Charter) which reinforces the commitment by African leaders to make maritime space a key driver of the continents economic and social development. The Charter recognizes the need for support in developing security objectives and the need for neighbouring countries and partners to cooperate in areas such as training, education, business and industry development. The blue economy is also interlinked with the SDG14 which refers to the need to Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. A blue economy approach centered on regional integration and cooperation has the potential to significantly contribute to economic transformation and industrialization efforts in Southern Africa and help support countries on the path to sustainable development. The region is home to island States such as Mauritius and Seychelles, both of which, form together with South Africa, the very small group of African countries with well-established blue economy strategies. The importance of marine and coastal resources to island countries such as Mauritius is evident and has been elaborated in numerous international fora. The remarkable per capita marine resource area enjoyed by these countries means that the blue economy approach offers the prospect of sustained, environmentally-sound, socially inclusive economic growth. However, the benefits of the blue economy are not exclusively tailored for island countries. They are equally applicable to coastal and even landlocked countries and ultimately (and importantly), the approach offers the means for the sound utilization of resources beyond national jurisdictions. The approach is also essentially based on the optimization of several sectors such as the mining sector, port infrastructure, maritime transport, fisheries, tourism and renewable energy. It enhances intersectoral coordination and sustainable management of the resources involved in all sectors. At the core of the blue economy concept is the decoupling of socio-economic development from environmental degradation. To that end, the approach is founded upon the assessment of the real value of the blue economy capital, a natural resource, into all aspects of economic activity (conceptualization, planning, infrastructure development, trade, renewable resource exploitation, energy production and consumption). In particular, efficiency and optimization of resource use is paramount, whilst respecting environmental and ecological parameters. This includes where sustainable, the sourcing and usage of local (regional) raw materials and utilizing where feasible, blue low energy options to realize efficiencies as opposed to the usual scenarios of high energy. Thus, there are clear linkages between the blue economy approach, industrialization and sustainable development. Notably, as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) prepares to implement the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap Strategy 2015-2063, focusing on developing Regional Value Chains (RVCs) including maritime value chains, agroprocessing, minerals beneficiation, pharmaceuticals and tourism, there is need to examine how the blue economy approach centered on cooperation and partnership among member States can effectively contribute to the attainment of the sustainable and inclusive industrialization objectives of the region. The immense Southern Africas blue economy capital, coupled with the experiences and policy leadership of countries such as Mauritius and South Africa can be leveraged to build and sustain a strong and inclusive blue economy in the region, with the ultimate objective of achieving sustainable development in all member States. In spite of all its promises and immense opportunities, the development of an integrated blue economy is limited by a number of challenges and constraints, some of which, might be specific to the Southern African region. In particular, there is need to overcome current economic activities that are rapidly degrading ocean resources through unsustainable extraction of marine resources, physical alterations and destruction of marine and coastal habitats and landscapes, climate change, as well as marine pollution. The need for urgent protection of the marine environment and ecosystems has become a worldwide concern. In fact, the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity has a precursory role in enabling the establishment of a blue economy, broader sustainable development and poverty eradication. This is particularly true in developing countries, including Southern African States in particular, where economies are more directly related to environmental exploitation. An ecosystem approach that factors in restoration of biodiversity and renewable resources and proper management of resource extraction is required. It is equally clear that the effects of poor environmental management are heavily exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. Sea level rise and changes in ecosystem status due to changing temperatures, from coral bleaching to impacts of climate change on migration patterns, have been discussed at length in diverse international fora. While the long-term climate change impacts on ocean systems are not yet fully understood, it is however clear that changes in sea temperature, acidity and major oceanic currents, among others, already threaten marine life, habitats and the communities that depend on them. Issues related to environmental crimes (including deliberate shipwrecking and oil spillage as well as the dumping of toxic waste in the maritime domain), maritime disasters and accidents at sea, as well as transnational organized crimes (including money laundering, illegal arms and drug trafficking, piracy and armed robbery at sea, illegal oil bunkering, maritime terrorism, human smuggling and human trafficking) cannot also be ignored in developing a thriving blue economy in the region. It is also critical to invest in the human capital required to harness the employment and development benefits of investing in innovative blue economy sectors. It is evident that blue growth cannot be achieved without highly qualified and specialized professionals in strategic and technology-intensive sectors of the blue economy. At present, the Southern Africa region is characterized by deficiencies in human capital and skills for industrial processes, science and technology. There might also be constraints related to the establishment and development of effective legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks. While each country is ultimately responsible for its own resources and sustainable development, the need for structured international/regional cooperation in many aspects of the blue economy cannot be overemphasized. Investment in, and use of the best available science, data and technology is critical to underpinning governance reforms and shaping management decisions to enact long-term change. Clearly, the adoption and implementation of a blue economy approach requires access to affordable and innovative sources of long-term financing. Besides, inclusive industrialization emanating from the blue economy sector can only be achieved if all societal groups, especially women, youth and underrepresented/marginalized populations are effectively included in the economic activities of the various blue economy sectors or value chains. Likewise, the private sector can play a critical role in building and advancing the blue economy, including through partnering with the public sector to develop investments and ensure sustainability of coastal and marine operations. For instance, maximizing finance for the development of the blue economy can be achieved through the optimization of the scarce public resources and crowding in private investment. The private sector, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can also help address threats such as overfishing, ocean pollution and climate change that the blue economy sector is facing. South Africa signed the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) on 1 July 2018. What does this mean in practical terms? Wesgro recently hosted a seminar, in partnership with tralac (Trade Law Centre) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), on the AfCFTA and the practical implications thereof for doing business on the Continent. This TradesCape highlights a few key take-aways from discussions during the seminar, including an update on the status of the AfCFTA. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) The AfCFTA aims to establish a free trade area spanning the 55 Member States of the African Union (AU). It includes undertakings by Member States to progressively eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade in goods and liberalise trade in services; cooperate on investment, intellectual property rights, competition policy, customs matters, and all other trade-related areas; and to establish a dispute settlement system. The continental trade agreement will build upon already existing regional economic communities, for example, SADC, COMESA, EAC, and ECOWAS and incorporate ongoing developments under the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA). Benefits for trade and investment in Africa According to the Department of Trade and Industry, the AfCFTA holds many benefits, including: Improving the movement of goods and services through better customs cooperation among countries in Africa. Harmonisation of customs documentation and processes will speed up border crossings. Ensuring an effective and functional dispute settlement mechanism to deal with trade disputes arising under the AfCFTA. Eliminating non-tariff barriers. Improving investment prospects due to economies of scale associated with a larger market. Advancing the complementary pillars of industrialisation and infrastructure development to boost Africas productive capacity and supply side constraints. Legal certainty and predictability of a regional market. The encouragement of a rules-based trading regime. Opportunity to expand into new markets. Investment protection and facilitation. A fair and impartial dispute resolution mechanism. The progressive elimination of tariffs, elimination of non-tariff barriers, customs cooperation, and cooperation on sanitary and phytosanitary measures will all boost intra-Africa trade. Status of AfCFTA The AfCFTA was launched in March 2018 when 44 AU countries signed the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA. Since then 5 more countries, including South Africa have signed the agreement. The Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA is the overall framework agreement to which the various protocols, annexes and appendices form an integral part. It is important to note that most of the details still need to be negotiated. Thus far, what has been agreed upon are the objectives, principles, institutions and a workplan for completing the negotiation process. At this point the framework agreement includes a protocol on trade in goods, a protocol on trade in services, and a protocol on dispute settlement. Once complete, it will also include protocols on investment, intellectual property rights, and competition policy. The protocol on trade in goods includes annexes on tariff concessions, rules of origin (the rules used to determine in which country a product is deemed to originate), customs cooperation, trade facilitation (measures that speed up border processes), non-tariff barriers, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, transit, and trade remedies. Read more in tralacs pdf African Continental Free Trade Area FAQs (553 KB) Negotiations are divided into Phase I and Phase II, Phase I is currently underway, and includes trade in goods, services, and dispute settlement. Phase II is set to be concluded by 2020 and will cover investment, intellectual property rights, and competition policy. At this point, the final annexes to the protocol on trade in goods and the protocol on the rules and procedures for the settlement of disputes, as well as the list of identified trade in services priority sectors have been submitted to the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government. Still underway in Phase I is the negotiation of tariff concessions and the rules of origin with regard to trade in goods; and specific commitments with regard to trade in services. The deadline for submission of tariff commitments and specific services liberalisation commitments is January 2019. The AfCFTA will not replace the current regional economic communities (RECs), but rather will build upon them and ensure greater harmonisation and coordination between them. South Africa is currently a member of both the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Currently SACU is also in the process of negotiating tariff reductions with the East African Community (EAC) (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan) and with Egypt under the auspices of the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement (TFTA). Other significant events in 2018, which do not form part of the AfCFTA agreement but are closely associated with it, include the launch of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, and the first meeting of the AfCFTA Business Forum. Liberalisation of trade in services One of the most significant aspects of the AfCFTA will be the progressive liberalisation of trade in services. This is especially important from a Western Cape perspective, where services make up approximately 75 percent of the economy. Priority sectors for the first round of negotiation of services liberalisation have been agreed upon by the Ministers of Trade as follows: Transport Communication Financial Tourism Business services The top services exporters in Africa are Morocco, South Africa, and Egypt, and the top services importers are Egypt, South Africa, and Angola. Public participation and consultation The AfCFTA negotiations are led by the DTI with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; the South African Revenue Service; the Department of International Relations and Cooperation; as well as the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. One of the most pertinent issues raised during the seminar was the process of private sector engagement with government with regard to the AfCFTA negotiations. Formal processes for engagement exist through NEDLAC, however, there are many companies and even industries that feel that they are not sufficiently represented through NEDLAC, in which case representations can also be made to the DTI on an ad hoc basis. In particular, there may be room for services industries to be better organised in terms getting a broader segment of their voices heard while negotiations are still underway. The commitments that South Africa makes under the AfCFTA will be binding, and it is therefore very important that this agreement is workable and effective. In order to achieve the objective of boosting intra-African trade the agreement needs to make trading easier, and this will only be effectively achieved if the private sector, i.e. the traders, have effective input in the negotiation process. Entry into force and binding in law The AfCFTA will enter into force when 22 countries have ratified the agreement. The aim at the African Union is to see the AfCFTA enter into force at the end of December 2018. So far 6 countries have ratified the agreement. South Africas constitution provides that the negotiation and signing of international agreements (such as the AfCFTA) is the responsibility of the national executive, i.e. the president and his cabinet, but that such agreements will only be binding once approved by resolution in Parliament. Ratification of the AfCFTA therefore depends on Parliament approving the AfCFTA. The aim of the South African government is be one of the first 22 countries to ratify the AfCFTA, and therefore to have the agreement approved by Parliament by the end of the year or in early 2019. Importance of the African Market The African market consists of about 1.2 billion people, projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$3.4 trillion. According to Harvards Centre for International Development, five of the ten countries projected to have the fastest growing economies by 2026 are situated in Africa. Intra-Africa trade is very low compared to other regions. Only about 17 percent of all African trade is intra-Africa, while intra-Europe trade is 67 percent, and intra-Asia trade is 58 percent of all Asian trade. Of the 17 percent of intra-Africa trade, South Africa takes up the lions share; 35 percent of exports were from South Africa in 2016, with Nigeria following at 8 percent. South Africa is also the top importer of African goods, importing 21 percent of all African exports in 2016, with Namibia following with 8 percent. South Africa largely imports raw materials from the Continent and exports manufactured goods to the Continent. The rest of Africa is the top destination for exports from the Western Cape, followed by Europe. In 2017, the Western Cape exported R45 billion worth of goods to Africa. The Continent is also the top destination for investment by Western Cape companies, accounting for more than 50 percent of outward investment. According to a Wesgro survey, an estimated 51 percent of international companies investing in the Western Cape have indicated that they had motives for expanding into the rest of Africa from a Western Cape base. In terms of exports, the Continent is a particularly important market for manufactured goods from South Africa. While only 27 percent of South Africas total exports go to the rest of Africa, 64 percent of all manufactured goods exported from South Africa are destined for the Continent. The top three African countries for exports from South Africa are Botswana (20 percent), Namibia (18 percent), and Mozambique (15 percent). For exports from the Western Cape, the top destination in Africa is Namibia (31 percent), followed by Botswana (19 percent), and Kenya and Zambia (8 percent). The top ten exports from South Africa to the rest of Africa in 2017 were: refined petroleum oils, vehicles for goods transport, electrical energy, chromium ores and concentrates, coal, diamonds, cars, parts for moving machinery, maize, and steel. The top five imports to South Africa from the rest of Africa in 2017 were: crude petroleum oils, scents used in manufacturing, gold, petroleum and gaseous hydrocarbons, and refined petroleum oils (Trademap, 2018). The top ten exports from the Western Cape to the rest of Africa in 2017 were: Refined petroleum oils, steel, cigarettes and cigars, fruit juices, apples and pears, wine, ethanol, sulphur, packaging articles, and fermented beverages e.g. cider. The top five imports to the Western Cape from the rest of Africa in 2017 were: crude petroleum oils, frozen fish, t-shirts and vests, beer, and male clothing (Quantec, 2018). This article was originally published by Wesgro. Read the original article. The 38th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held in Windhoek, Namibia on 17-18 August 2018 will review progress towards regional integration and socio-economic development. This years theme builds on the focus of the past four SADC Summits that sought to advance industrial development. The theme also resonates with one of the key pillars of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2015-2020) in which integrated infrastructure networks are regarded as an important enabler of industrialization and market integration. As expected, the highlight of the Summit is the presentation of a progress report on implementation of the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063. The SADC industrialization strategy, adopted in April 2015, seeks to achieve major economic and technological transformation at national and regional levels to accelerate economic growth through industrial development. A Costed Action Plan for the Strategy covering 2015-2030 was approved in March 2017. The Action Plan details the key actions, with reference to the three pillars of the strategy and the requisite activities, as well as the key enablers needed to unlock the regions industrial potential. One of the three pillars of the industrialization strategy is Enhancing Infrastructure. The other two pillars are Strengthening Value Chains, and Corridor Development. Summit will also discuss progress towards implementation of the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) which is pivotal to the socio-economic growth of the region, including the industrialization agenda. The RIDMP is the regions strategy for the development of integrated regional infrastructure to meet projected demand by 2027, at an estimated cost of US$500 billion. The historic decision to approve the RIDMP in 2012 was informed by the perspective that infrastructure development and maintenance is a priority for accelerated regional integration, economic development, industrialization and trade. The SADC Secretariat is currently reviewing progress of the first five-year phase 2012-2017, and this is expected to add impetus to the implementation of regional infrastructure projects. SADC aims to develop cross-border infrastructure in the six priority areas of energy, transport, tourism, water, information communication technology and meteorology. Energy limitations have presented barriers to socio-economic development, and the solution for the energy deficit is one of the main priorities of infrastructure development that the region must collectively tackle. SADC has made significant progress in addressing power shortages experienced since 1999 which became more pronounced after 2007, and the region produced surplus electricity generation in 2017 for the first time in a decade as a result of regional cooperation in energy planning. SADC leaders will seek to deepen a coordinated approach to the provision of energy in the region, as electricity is essential to advance the industrialization agenda which aims to ensure that SADC achieves its longstanding goal of a united, prosperous and integrated region. Summit is expected to approve strategies for addressing food security in the region, including the need to increase investment in high-impact interventions that address chronic food and nutrition insecurity. According to a report released in July, the State of Food and Nutrition Insecurity and Vulnerability in Southern Africa, the SADC region is estimated to have a cereal surplus of 6.3 million metric tonnes, down from 7.5 MT the previous year. The number of food insecure people in the 2018/19 consumption year is 29 million, about 14 percent of the population in SADC according to the report, thus reversing the improvement achieved in 2017/18. As part of the theme for Summit, the leaders will explore ways of harnessing the human capital dividend through youth empowerment. The youth make up the majority of the population in SADC, hence their importance in advancing the regional integration agenda. As the timespan of the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap progresses towards 2063, the youth of today will reap the benefits of the key elements contained in the strategy. SADC strategies of today will enable the youth to take an active role in promoting development and deepening integration. Development needs peace and so another important issue for SADC leaders will be how to enhance peace and security as well as consolidate democracy and the rule of law in the region. SADC is among the most stable and peaceful regions in Africa, however there are pockets of instability that continue to hinder peace and development. Summit will discuss constitutional reforms in the Kingdom of Lesotho, preparation for general elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the political situation in Madagascar. The SADC Resource Mobilisation Framework (Alternative Sources of Funding SADC Regional Programmes) is intended to determine how fiscal space can be created to enable SADC Member States to finance regional programmes, projects and activities. The six options for innovative sources of financing regional integration in SADC are the introduction of an export and import tax; a tourism levy; a financial transaction tax; a lottery system; philanthropy; and regional events. It is estimated that SADC can earn in excess of US$1.2 billion annually from these alternative sources, a development expected to remove the current dependency on external funding According to the SADC Secretariat, less than 10 percent of regional projects are funded by SADC Member States while the balance comes from International Cooperating Partners. The SADC Secretariat was tasked to finalize the draft SADC Regional Resource Mobilisation Framework for submission to the Committee of Ministers of Finance and Investment, and ultimately to the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government. Summit will also receive a report from the human resources and administration committee, pertaining to review of the regional recruitment for the Secretariat. This was triggered by several challenges, including that of failing to fill positions because some Member States had exhausted their allocated quota points. Reviewing the application of the quota system is intended to ensure that the SADC Secretariat has access to a high quality of human resources from Member States in a fair, effective and objective manner, while observing the principle of equity and representation without compromising delivery. Summit is expected to present a common position on the African Union (AU) Institutional Reform, in line with an AU Assembly decision in January this year to consult the eight Regional Economic Communities that make up the AU on the need to review the institutional structure. An effective institutional structure is essential to achieving the AU Agenda 2063 for the Africa We Want, a vision of inclusive economic growth and development. The SADC Secretariat prepared an analytical paper that was considered by the SADC Council of Ministers in March and is expected to go to Summit for approval. Some key issues proposed by SADC for AU institutional reform include: Ahead of the 38th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government (17-18 August): Namibia takes over Chairpersonship of SADC Committee of Senior Officials. An SARDC preview of the summit. The 19th Annual SADC Lawyers Association Conference and General Meeting takes place next week in Maputo. Profiled session: Regional integration harmonisation of laws in the SADC region (pdf) Namibian MP, McHenry Venaani, has been elected the new Chairman of the Pan African Parliaments Trade, Customs and Immigration Committee The Association of African Central Banks annual meetings concluded yesterday in Sharm El-Sheikh. ECAs Vera Songwe delivered the keynote address on Africa in a changing global financing architecture. Agenda sessions included: (i) Declining correspondent banking relationships and possible rise of underground financial sectors in developing countries; (ii) Illicit capital flows in Africa challenges and policy implications for African countries. Related AACB, other resources: African Pharmaceutical Development Fund: AU, AfDB, Afreximbank consultation The organized consultation represents a platform which brings key stakeholders together to brainstorm and define the type of fund, scope of work, legal and institutional modalities leading to the set up a mechanism able to catalyze, mobilize and channel financial resources to the development of the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in the African continent. The objective of this fund is to maximize the return on investment made to develop the African pharmaceutical industry. The urgent need for such a fund is substantiated by the existing financing gaps in the pharmaceutical industry, which precludes innovative private firms to access finance, technology and innovation required to develop and grow the industry. Related: The continent unfortunately remains awash with fake, substandard and counterfeit drugs, said Dr. Margaret Agama-Anyetei, Head of Health, Population and Nutrition of the AUC. This situation draws the continent away from its aspiration to guarantee high standard of living, quality of life and well -being of the citizens of Africa as envisaged by Africas Agenda 2063. In this regard, the AUC seeks to advance the implementation of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa, building on continental trade initiatives, such as, the Continental Free Trade Agreement, recently endorsed by African Heads of States and Government. [India: Pharmaceutical exports up 3% to $17.3bn in 2017-18] Accelerated Industrial Development for Africa: AU roundtable The roundtable (7-9 August) follows the successful setting up of the Implementation and Coordination Unit in the Department of Trade and Industry, a technical unit set up in May 2018 with financial support from UNIDO, with responsibility to oversee, and coordinate the implementation of AIDA and other pan-African industrialisation frameworks such as Africa Mining Vision. The session also provided a platform to re-orient the key stakeholders (RECs, private sector, public sector, and development partners) towards rejuvenating momentum to implement AIDA. TFTA update: Africa free trade talks pass the halfway mark on new rules (Business Day) South African Department of Trade and Industry chief director Wamkele Mene told the National Council of Provinces select committee on trade and international relations on Wednesday that negotiations over the rules were 60% complete and were expected to be finalised in mid-2019. Mene said the biggest challenge was to agree on policy, with some countries arguing for a general rule that would allow all products from outside countries to be eligible for TFTA preferences. SA opposed this approach on the grounds that it would limit the regions ability to industrialise as there would be no requirement for value addition to the imported products. SAs position is that products from outside countries should only benefit from preferential tariffs when exported to other countries in the region if there has been value addition within the country that first imported it. The ultimate agreement was that there would be common product-specific rules of origin for each of the more than 7,000 products in the tariff book. [EU-Africa free trade will create more imbalances, say critics] Zimbabwe: Business lobbies government to engage SA on trade pact (The Independent) Local businesses have urged government to pile pressure on the South African government to reverse its decision to terminate a Bilateral Trade Agreement between the two countries. South Africa last year gave notice of its intention to terminate the trade agreement which had been in place since 1964, opting for the SADC Trade Protocol on Trade. For South Africa, the SADC Trade Protocol on Trade is more comprehensive but for Zimbabwe which in 2016 imposed a ban on a wide range of South African imports under Statutory Instrument 64 the deal means Harare stands to lose its preferential access to Pretoria. The agreement, which will now cease in November, favoured Zimbabwean exports of clothing and textiles due to relaxed rules of origin of single transformation compared to double transformation under SADC. The prior arrangement allowed local clothing makers to import fabrics from foreign markets, especially Asian suppliers such as China, India and Bangladesh, to produce finished clothing items, and then re-export to South Africa under favourable terms. Under the SADC protocol, however, there is the double-transformation rule which requires that the fabric should be produced in Zimbabwe or within SADC. Trade policy in Lesotho Supporting Lesothos economic diversification and trade integration: structural transformation through greater export competitiveness (World Bank) This report provides a multifaceted diagnostic overview of Lesothos export competitiveness, including an analysis of the macroeconomic environment in which exporters and importers operate in Lesotho; level, growth, composition, and market share performance of Lesothos exports; the evolution of FDI inflows and their sectoral composition; the diversification of products and markets, as well as the quality and sophistication of Lesothos exports. It builds on this with CGE analysis of potential impacts based on specific trade-related scenarios as well as diagnostic tools to facilitate the analysis of global and regional value chain participation and integration. pdf Download the report (1.44 MB) . Extracts: Lesothos current trade strategy is not sustainable and requires a move away from reliance on exports of low-value added apparel to the US under AGOA. Uncertainty surrounding the future of Lesothos AGOA privileges underscores the need for reform and a renewed sense of urgency. Future export growth will be challenged by the emergence of new low-wage competitors in Asia and Africa and the expected erosion of preferential market access in main export destinations over the next decade. Despite the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the significant difference in tariffs paid by apparel duty-free exports from Lesotho under AGOA and from Vietnam and Malaysia will likely be mostly eliminated in the next decade. Additionally, the current authorization of AGOA will expire in 2025. Although a further re-authorization of AGOA is not ruled out, its potential phase-out or replacement is of key importance for Lesotho since, in the absence of this preferential program, apparel exports will have to compete on equal footing against other low-wage competitors. Computable General Equilibrium analysis carried out for this study finds that the negative impacts due to a sudden suspension of AGOA privileges would reach 1% of GDP in 2020, while exports of textiles and apparel would drop by 16% leading to a drop of textiles and apparel output by 9%. The decline of average real consumption by 0.5% would have significant negative consequences for the population. This changing external environment is likely to also offer new opportunities to Lesothos export industries in the medium term. Through its location, a relatively educated and largely English-speaking workforce, low wages, and significant potential as a tourism destination, Lesotho has the scope to diversify into services industries and integrate into existing and emergent value chains in Southern Africa. Regional integration in sub-Saharan Africa is progressing rapidly, and greater integration and liberalization in SADC and among the tri-partite alliance, as well as movement towards a Continental Free Trade Area means that Lesotho can improve its market access throughout sub-Saharan Africa. This makes a multifaceted diagnostic overview of Lesothos export competitiveness, including an assessment of medium-term impacts of potential trade policy changes, particularly salient, and would contribute to the development of the Second National Strategic Development Plan (2017/18-2020/21). This report has five main messages: (i) Lesotho remains reliant on very few products and markets for exports, (ii) As demonstrated using CGE analysis, an immediate loss of AGOA preferences would have substantial economic impacts that far exceeds that of a potential future US-Vietnam FTA, (iii) While Lesothos investment climate has improved, several issues make doing business in Lesotho expensive and difficult, (iv) Lesotho has used its preferential margin to successfully integrate into textile and apparel GVCs but has not managed to integrate into other value chains, (v) Over the past few decades, trade in services has been the most dynamic sector of international trade. Lesothos services industries could be an increasingly important driver of economic growth. Kenyas food imports cross Sh100bn mark for first time (Daily Nation) Kenyas food imports crossed the Sh100 billion mark in the six months through June for the first time, official statistics show, underscoring the countrys growing reliance on foreign markets despite improved weather. Food and beverages order bill from abroad stood at Sh108.51 billion in the January-June period, a 12.55 per cent rise over Sh96.41 billion in the same period last year, data collated by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicate. UN urges EAC to liberalise trade services to spur manufacturing sector (New Times) Stephen Karingi, the Director of Capacity Development Division at UNECA, told Xinhua in Nairobi that the regions manufacturing sector is not as competitive as it should be due to relatively high cost of services including in the insurance, legal, logistic and finance sectors. There is empirical evidence that efficiency gains occurs when markets are opened up. The EAC will further its industrialisation agenda if it can access cheaper services from a liberalised market, Karingi said on the sidelines of the Fifth COMESA Annual Research Forum. Karingi called for the partners of the trading bloc to amend their national laws so that they permit free movement of professionals across the region. He said that the region has already signed the EAC Common Market Protocol which calls for free movement of capital and labor but implementation has not been completed. Karingi said that for every manufactured good, there is an element of services input which must be procured at a competitive cost in order for merchandise to compete regionally and globally. [COMESA Research Forum: Successful implementation of regional free trade area pegged on digitization] 24th Intergovernmental Committee of Experts of Southern Africa: Blue economy, inclusive industrialization and economic development (UNECA) The 24th Session of the ICE (18-21 September, Mauritius) will: (i) review the social and economic conditions in Southern Africa (ii) consider and endorse the implementation of the programme of work of the ECA Southern Africa Sub-Regional Office, the planned programme of work and the budget for 2019; and (iii) review the implementation of regional and international agendas, including NEPAD and other special initiatives in the sub-region. In reviewing the work programme, the delegates will proffer recommendations towards ensuring that the development priorities of the sub-region are fully accommodated in the work of ECA to align technical support provision to member States and RECs to these priorities. [Download the concept note, pdf] Liberate these foods from the fridge to let them be their best and most sustainable selves. Small refrigerators arent for everyone, but youll frequently hear us singing their praises. They allow for smaller kitchens, use less energy, and encourage less food waste. For people who live in walkable cities, they have the added bonus of inspiring a more communal way of shopping, in which one can procure fresh ingredients during a healthy daily stroll, supporting local businesses all the while. But small fridges dont work if you have mountains of food to keep cold so its good to know which foods like the fridge and which ones would prefer to stay out. This has two benefits: It frees up room in the refrigerator, plus it allows non-fridge-loving produce to shine in its full potential of texture and flavor. Hurray! 1. Tomatoes Treehugger / Allison McAdams Putting a tomato in the refrigerator is sentencing it to a sad future in which it loses its beautiful flavor. That gorgeous, luscious taste of a tomato is determined by sugars, acids, and volatile chemical compounds. Refrigeration doesnt affect the first two, but it basically turns off the synthesis of the volatiles, rendering the poor things bland and insipid. Free the flavor compounds! Leave your tomatoes out! 2. Cucumbers, Eggplants, Peppers Treehugger / Allison McAdams These tropical fruits as strange as that sounds, I know dont love the cold. While they can be refrigerated, they dont require it, and when kept too cold for their tropical little bodies, may develop pitting and soft spots. 3. Onions, Shallots, Garlic Treehugger / Allison McAdams While chives, green onions and ramps all prefer the cool of the fridge, their papery allium cousins onions, shallots, and garlic prefer a cool, dry place that is not the fridge. And note that they come in a mesh/net bag thats because they like to breathe, so be sure not to suffocate them with plastic. 4. Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes Treehugger / Allison McAdams I always want to put potatoes in the refrigerator because it seems like it should stop them from becoming alien creatures before I am ready to use them. But some scientists say to leave them out, because of all the surprising things: potential cancer risk! Studies suggest that raw potatoes should not be kept in the fridge because at low temperatures, an enzyme called invertase breaks down the sugar sucrose into glucose and fructose, which can form acrylamide [a chemical linked to cancer] during cooking. Into a dark and dry spot the potatoes go. 5. Summer Fruits Peaches, plums, cherries all stone fruits with pits will become mealy and flavorless if put in the fridge before theyve had a chance to ripen. They can eventually go in the fridge once they are properly ripe but you will likely devour them all at that point anyway. 6. Winter Squashes Does anyone put winter squashes, like butternut and acorn, in the fridge? They are so gorgeous that they deserve a starring role on the counter. But aside from their good looks, their flavor is better when they are left out. 7. Some Melons Melons with rough netted skins (like cantaloupe) will continue to ripen after theyve been picked so do not put them in the fridge or they will not become the sweet juicy things they were destined to become. Smooth skinned melons like honeydew resist further ripening, so they wont protest too much if theyre forced into the icebox, even if they seem juicier and better tasting at room temperature. 8. Avocados Treehugger / Allison McAdams Avocados should only go in the fridge once they are ripe and threatening to turn into mush. Before that, they will refuse to ripen in the cold, and nobody likes hard avocados. If you eat enough avocados, the best strategy is to buy them ahead of time while still nice and hard, leave them out, and eat them as they ripen. 9. Basil Treehugger / Allison McAdams Oh basil, why so sensitive? Most herbs fare finely in the fridge especially when the stems are dunked in a glass of water. But finicky basil is touchy in the cold and will turn on you by softening and turning brown when left in the fridge for too long. I find that keeping a basil bunch in water like cut flowers not only extends its life, but is pretty and makes the kitchen smell like heaven as well. Treehugger and our third-party partners use cookies and process personal data like unique identifiers based on your consent to store and/or access information on a device, display personalized ads and for content measurement, audience insight, and product development. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Treehugger.com, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, click below. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. List of Partners (vendors) editorial@tribune.com SANDEEP SINHA IN a weeks time, we will be celebrating our 71st Independence Day, an occasion that has never failed to capture my imagination. Be it the soul-stirring Tryst with destiny speech of Jawaharlal Nehru played by teachers eager to instil oratorical skills in their reluctant students, singing Jana Gana Mana at flag-hoisting ceremonies or the more simplistic pleasure of savouring packets of boondia, it was an occasion to look forward to. More than anything else, it has been an occasion when we pause and reflect on our collective identity, take pride in the oneness and realise that despite all our failings, the journey has not been in vain. But as the poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz said, Abhi giran-e-shab mein mein kami nahi aye chale chalo ki woh manzil abhi nahi ayyee (darkness of night is yet to end, keep moving for the journey is not yet over). Nowhere is this more visible than in the plight of young children who sell paper Tricolour flags at traffic light points. I have bought a few from them myself during the long wait at intersections on Vikas Marg. It is good that they work instead of asking for alms, but every time I see them and then look at my own brood, a sense of guilt overtakes, proving that privilege is comparative in nature. They too ought to be in school at this age and hour instead of toiling in the heat and humidity to make both ends meet for their families. It also underlines the enormity of the task even seven decades after Independence. Progress is a continuous process and as Jawaharlal Nehru said, While it may not be possible to wipe every tear from every eye (as Gandhi desired), we should strive to wipe as many tears from as many eyes. Being inclusive remains a challenge and a daunting one at that because of the sheer range of our deprived and downtrodden sections. But planners can take heart from what is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty in the United States: Give us the scum, and we shall refuge thee, a tribute to the fact that it was the discards who contributed immensely to building that country. Talent is not an exclusive preserve and the hallmark of a democracy lies in ensuring opportunities for all. But my fondest memory of Independence Day goes back to when I made my way to the India Gate lawns in Delhi in the evening for the Freedom@50 concert by AR Rahman. The programme was open to all and it was quite an occasion as the huge speakers placed there belted out Vande Mataram and Maa Tujhe Salaam, a song the BBC found was the second most popular one from around 7,000 entries in 2002. Present on the occasion were the then Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, Atal Behari Vajpayee and the Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma. People descended at the India Gate in droves, sat on the lawns with family and friends, eating dinner they had brought along, as AR Rahman and company made merry on the stage. It was a wonderful moment because of the sheer degree of informality and also because security, though tight, was not intrusive. The best part was when I found myself a part of the crowd that clambered on to the stage after the programme was over and then the long trek back on foot in the wee hours because public transport was not plying, it being the Independence Day. This was the least I could do on the occasion being a foot soldier for democracy I told myself as I trudged back home. laxmi@tribune.com Our Correspondent Zirakpur, August 9 The Punjab Food and Drug Administration seized spurious drugs during a surprise check on various manufacturing units in Zirakpur on Thursday. The seized material is worth Rs 7.55 lakh. Acting on a tip-off, teams of the food and drug regulator, deputed on directions of KS Pannu, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, Punjab, conducted surprise checks at Exotic Healthcare, San Hauston, NB Healthcare, Zoic Healthcare and United Laboratories. The teams drew 16 samples of various drug formulations manufactured by the local food supplements and manufacturing units for analysis. The teams also checked records of the firms. According to the officials, during the raid, the food supplement and drug manufacturing companies were found engaged in illegal manufacture of some drug formulations. It appeared that some manufacturers and traders were intentionally involved in this illegal activity for the purpose of extorting money, said sources. KS Pannu said they had planned a focused campaign to weed out spurious and sub-standard drugs from the market. Surprise checks at medical stores Kharar: Officials of the Health Department inspected medical stores at Ghauran village. Giving information, drug inspector Manpreet Kaur said, Medical store owners have been instructed to keep a complete record of the medicines sold by them. Chemists have been asked to follow the provisions of the Drug and Cosmetic Act, he added. Fact file Food supplement and drug manufacturing companies were found engaged in illegal manufacture of some drug formulations. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 9 Relatives of a student entered the premises of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 45, and allegedly beat up two teachers, including a woman. According to Principal Anita Sharma, who is holding the additional charge of the school, Hindi teacher Rishi Kumar had scolded a Class XI student for indiscipline following which he called up his parents. His mother, brother and sister, along with two or three other people, reached the school and entered the campus by claiming that they had been called. They reached the class, entered into arguments and allegedly misbehaved with Rishi. I have been told that a scuffle ensued and they beat up Rishi with a helmet so much that the helmet broke. A woman teacher, Sapna, who was teaching in a nearby class, tried to rescue Rishi, but she was also beaten up, said Anita Sharma. Even students tried to intervene. The police had to be called, who took both parties to the Burail police post. The matter ended in a compromise. A daily diary report (DDR) has been lodged. Both sides alleged that they were beaten up, said a police official. District Education Officer Anujit Kaur said, The department has sought a report from the Principa. Before rusticating the student, we need to know what has happened. Unions condemn incident Santosh Dhull, president of the Government Teachers Union, condemned the incident. Rishi sir did not want to spoil the career of the student, so he agreed for a compromise, said Dhull. We condemn the incident and call for securing teachers in schools. How can a teacher maintain discipline in such circumstances, said Savinder Singh, chairman of the Joint Action Committee. Recent incidents MK Bhadrakumar MK Bhadrakumar A former ambassador The 10th anniversary of the India-US nuclear deal calls for reflection. Distance lends enchantment to the view. The 10th anniversary is usually an occasion to celebrate. But, alas, no political party is in a celebratory mood, including the Congress, which negotiated the nuclear deal and extolled it as a historic event that would transform Indias energy security. The field is left to a clutch of ex-bureaucrats to go on a sentimental journey. Indeed, the nuclear deal is a delicate topic today causing red faces all around. The two tangible gains can be that India can claim to have greater access to nuclear fuel, and India doesnt face the headwinds of US-led technology denial regimes anymore. But Indias nuclear industry is in the doldrums and it underscores that access to nuclear fuel was never really the factor impeding nuclear power generation. The BPs Energy Outlook projects Indias energy consumption to rise by 129% between 2015 and 2035, but energy mix will only very slowly evolve. Fossil fuels will still account for 86% of demand in 2035 (compared with global average of 78%). Suffice to say, our policymakers couldnt care less about Indias free access to nuclear fuel. On the other hand, Pakistan and Israel have bigger stockpiles of nuclear weapons than India. Things dont add up. No one today correlates nuclear deal with Indias energy security. Instead, there is much vacuous digression thanks to the nuclear deal, Indias international standing has improved, etc. The strain in locating the raison detre of the deal is so exasperating that an apologist recently came up with a preposterous, ahistorical hypothesis bordering on the bizarre that the 2008 agreement was actually smart thinking to reverse three strategic errors that Independent India made: acquiescing with the Partition; pursuit of the socialist path of development in the decades till 1990s; and, the timidity of successive leaderships in conducting nuclear tests. So, we are to believe that Independent Indias history really began only when the cats whiskers moved into the Indian establishment in the new millennium and began cleaning up the Aegean stables left desecrated by past mediocre political leaderships. In this theatre of the absurd, what is conveniently overlooked is the deleterious impact of the deal on Indias foreign policy. The short point is that the deal has served exactly the purpose for which Bush Jr proposed it doing away with the technology control regimes that the US tenaciously erected through the Cold War era to punish India for its strategic autonomy and independent foreign policy. For, it had become apparent to the US by the beginning of the millennium that on the foundations of a mixed economy that Nehru and his successors built through the previous half century often in the teeth of US opposition India was poised for an economic leap. The allure of a growing Indian market already prompted the Clinton administration to rethink post-Cold War animosities toward India. Bush rapidly built on that perestroika. Thus, the archaic technology barriers needed to be dismantled quickly. (Ironically, the US conceived the Nuclear Suppliers Group only with India in its crosshairs.) The fair thing would have been for Washington to suo motu, in self-interest, jettison the relevant policies and legislation impeding US exports to India. But instead, it lured India into a strategic embrace that was projected to us as a win-win framework kindling false hopes that there will be full access to advanced nuclear technology and nuclear fuel cycle, that the US was working on a long-term project to make India a world-class power, etc. But the dismal balance sheet today shows that Indias gains have been meagre, whereas, the strategic embrace that the deal embodies incrementally made India the US junior partner. Washington tenaciously worked on integrating India into its global strategy and, according to WikiLeaks disclosures, the cats whiskers in our own millennium establishment also did all they could to advance American interests in our corridors of power. The 2016 Logistics Agreement with the US is a glaring example of the balance sheet of this defining partnership. We have come a long way from where it all began in the summer of 2005 when Bush posed to us the startling proposition: How about it? The two countries are today quarrelling over tariff barriers and counting pennies and dollars in bilateral trade. Meanwhile, Indias strategic autonomy began getting seriously eroded. The Hyde Act brazenly proclaimed that India had fallen in line with the US containment strategy against Iran. Through the past decade, US boosted its arms exports to India and today it dares to be prescriptive toward India-Russia strategic cooperation. Cliche of interoperability of weapons barely cloaks an agenda of incrementally controlling Indian military doctrines and strategies. Pressure is mounting on India to fall in line with the US Cold War-style trade and technology barriers against Russia. On the other hand, Indias perceived tilt toward the US complicates Sino-Indian ties. How far the Wuhan spirit will survive under a determined US assault is to be seen. All in all, the 2008 deal has ended up as the platform for exporting American weaponry to India and to align Indian policies with the US regional and global strategies. It is a sad tale of delusional hopes that withered away within a decade. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 9 Haryana is now among the top five states of the country in exports, replacing Uttar Pradesh by registering exports of $2,401 million in the first two months of the current financial year. Gujarat tops the list with exports of $13,780 million followed by Maharashtra ($12,622 million), Tamil Nadu ($4,858 million) and Karnataka ($2,566 million). Major exports from Haryana include engineering goods, automobiles, handloom products, carpets and basmati. The increase is mainly due to exports of automobiles and auto components from the state. Other sectors have also performed well, said SC Ralhan, former president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO). Haryana is the fifth largest exporter with 4.42% share in the pie during April-May 2018 as compared to 4.37% in 2017-18 and 3.88% in 2016-17. Haryana has emerged as a major auto cluster with investments flown into the engineering, automobile and ancillary industries. The increase in exports is primarily due to auto and components exports, said Dr Ajay Sahai, Director General and CEO of FIEO. According to experts, the result of investments in electronics sector is expected to come soon that is expected to catapult Haryana into the fourth position as the gap between Haryana and Karnataka have narrowed to only $165 million. Haryana has been progressing consistently. It was at the sixth position in 2017-18 and seventh in the previous financial year. This year, Haryana has taken a lead as compared to Uttar Pradesh, whose exports share has slipped from 4.55% in 2017-18 to 4.39% in the two months this year. Haryanas neighbour Punjab is far behind and does not figure even among top 10 exporting states. It is at the 13th position with total exports of $1,002 million. Its contribution in total exports has decreased from 1.91% in 2017-18 to 1.84% in the first two months of the current financial year. Even in the GST collection, Haryana holds fifth position in the country after Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Haryana is, however, far behind Gujarat and Maharashtra in terms of its contribution to Indias exports. Gujarats share in the national pie is 25.4% while Maharashtras share is 23.23%. It is important to note that it is export of manufactured goods and not of services. When services like software are exported, there is hardly any ancillary benefit, but when manufactured goods are exported, it helps several other sectors like transport and also provides employment to local people, a state government official said. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, August 10 The body of the forest range officer Vijay Kumar, (who went missing on August 5) recovered from the forest on Thursday, was handed over to the kin after post-mortem. According to his relatives, the funeral will be performed only after Vijay Kumars eldest son comes back from Canada. Hes expected to be back by Saturday. The postmortem was conducted under the supervision of the medical Board based on 3 doctors on Friday afternoon. On Friday, Vijay Kumars family members termed it as a planned murder and refuted the polices claims of it being suicide case. They alleged that the body was planted in the forest after murder. They also claimed that some of the family members had already searched for him in the area two days ago, from where his body was recovered yesterday. The doctors said the viscera has been sent for investigation to state laboratory and only after receiving the final reports, the reason for the death can be disclosed. According to sources, there were no serious external or internal injury marks on the body of the deceased during the postmortem. Meanwhile president Punjab Kumhar Mahasangh, Pawan Prajapat, Om Prakash Vice president and Hoshiarpur Prajapat Samaj Leader Jaspal Singh Keeva have warned that if the matter was not properly disclosed by a high-level fair investigation, the Prajapat community would start a state-level agitation. traineesubeditor@tribuneindia.com Mumbai, August 10 Actress Vidya Balan says she is having a great time shooting the biopic on legendary actor-politician and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N.T. Rama Rao as the cast and crew are really good and professional. Vidya was interacting with the media on her becoming the brand ambassador of Malta India Film Festival 2018, when she spoke about her forthcoming release on Thursday here. Along with her were present Vijay Krishna Acharya, Shiamak Dawar and Minister of State on Finance (Rural) in the Maharashtra government Deepak Kesarkar. This is Vidya's first Telugu film, and she said: "So, I am very excited for that. I have never delivered dialogues in other language apart from Hindi. "Earlier, I did special appearances for one-two scenes in Malayalam film but in this film, I have a full-fledged role." Vidya is playing the character of Basavatarakam, who is NTR's wife. I have shot for around five days for the film but it has been a really nice experience as the team is really good and professional. "We start shooting sharp at 9 am and finish dot at 6 p.m. which is really an unique experience for me." Speaking about the Malta India Film Festival, the "Kahaani" actress said: "I think now Bollywood films are being watched everywhere and through this festival, more people might start watching, including the Maltese population who are not Indians. "It can open up so many opportunities for the film industries of both nations and all would benefit from this film festival." "N.T.R." is a Telugu-Hindi bilingual much-awaited biopic on the life of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, who served as Chief Minister for three terms. Nandamuri Balakrishna, NTR's sixth son, plays him in the film and is also the producer along with Sai Korrapati Ranganatha and Vishnu Induri under NBK Films, Vaaraahi Chalana Chitram and Vibri Media banners. The film is being directed by Krish and the music is composed by M.M. Keeravani. IANS. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Shahira Naim Tribune News Service Lucknow, August 10 Tension prevails in rural Meerut after a 19-year-old Dalit student was killed and a dozen people were injured when upper-caste Rajputs turned violent at Uldepur village over a dispute to watch the Kanwariya procession. After the death on Thursday, angry Dalits from the village protesting alleged police inaction placed the body near an Ambedkar statue outside the village and blocked traffic. Police forcibly sent the body for post-mortem. Rapid Action Force arrived on the spot to defuse tension after Bhim army activists arrived to meet the protesting villagers. According to Meerut SP (Rural) Rajesh Kumar, the district police have arrested main accused Krishna Chauhan along with two others and were searching for the other accused for the murder of Rohit. According to the police, Uldepur is a mixed village having Rajput and Dalit population. People from both sections had come to witness the passing Kanwariya yatra at Pallavpuram on Wednesday. It was here that Krishna Chauhans sons Sumit and Vineet got into a dispute with Dalit youths Monu and Anuj and allegedly attacked them. On Thursday, Gram Pradhan Narendra reached the house of Krishna Chauhan along with a Dalit delegation to complain againt his sons violent behaviour. Instead of reprimanding his sons, Krishan Chauhan, along with his sons Sumit, Vineet, Puneet and brothers Baby and Santosh attacked the Dalit delegation with bricks and opened fire, killing Rohit on the spot and injuring many others from the Dalit delegation. Five people from the Rajput side were also injured in the clash. uttara@tribuneindia.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 10 One student died after more than 160 others taken to hospital for suspected poisoning after they consumed iron supplements provided at a school run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. According to the police, Chandani Mohammad Raza Sahil Shaikh (12) was among the students who were administered iron and folic acid tablets at the Municipal Urdu School Number 2 at Bainganwadi in the Mumbai suburb of Govandi. All the students were given iron and folic acid tablets as part of a programme to combat anaemia among children. The girl's parents told police that she was ill on Tuesday, a day after consuming the tablets. She attended school afterwards but died on Thursday after vomiting blood, her parents told the police. Following Chandani's death, parents of 161 students took them to hospital saying they had complained of nausea and vomiting over the past few days. "All the children were taken to the civic-run Rajawadi and Shatabdi Hospitals for check-ups. However there were no symptoms of any major illness," BMC said in a statement. "The cause of the girl's death will be known only after the post-mortem on her is completed," BMC Executive Health Padmaja Keskar told reporters here. Civic officials said 22 children were discharged from hospital while the others are undergoing treatment. None of them are serious, officials said. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 10 Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking random verification of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in the ensuing Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh where his party is out of power for the last 15 years. The Madhya Pradesh Congress chief sought a direction to the Election Commission to randomly verify VVPAT slips with EVM votes at 10 per cent of polling booths in every constituency to ensure free and fair elections. Kamal Nath urged the top court to direct the EC to prohibit deletion of voters from the voter list without intimation to all political parties. He pointed out that recently the EC had dropped more than 24 lakh voters from the voter list published in January 2018 for Madhya Pradesh and it would not be out of place to mention that the Respondents (ECI) have admitted 2,37,234 photo entries found to be suspicious/ unclear/blank photos. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra agreed to hear his petition next week after his counsel Varun Chopra demanded that it should be listed for urgent hearing. The petitioner said the display time for the VVPAT slip for the voters should be 15 seconds instead of the current seven seconds because paper trail coming out of VVPAT was only visible for seven seconds. Therefore, majority of voters, who were not well-versed with technology, will not be able to look to the paper trail and confirm if the VVPAT was showing the correct slip. In the absence of any empirical study on each state with regard to the capability of voter to identify the votes cast, the time fixed by the ECI for display as 7 seconds is arbitrary and must be increased to a reasonable time, i.e., 15 seconds, the petitioner submitted. He said that the poll panel has not explained as to whether unique identification serial number will be given to the collection box and the EVM. Unless such unique identification serial number was given to identify the ballot box and the voting machine, chances of manipulation were very high, adding that, in order to prevent any kind of manipulation Unique Identification Serial Number has to be made mandatory for all EVMs with VVPATs, he submitted in the petition. Alleging lapses in transferring of machines before and after the polls, he pointed out a May 29 incident after bye-polls at Palghar Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra when two election officers were caught transporting EVMs in a private car. No clear instructions regarding and secured transportation of EVMs before and after polling has been prescribed till date. Without a protocol and standard procedure for the same, such incidents can vitiate the entire process of elections, he submitted. rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, August 10 The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it did not concur with the Tamil Nadu governments proposal to release seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, saying remission of their sentence would set a dangerous precedent and have international ramifications. A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and KM Joseph took the document, filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, on record and adjourned the matter. On January 23, the apex court had asked the Centre to take a decision within three months on a 2016 letter by the Tamil Nadu government seeking its concurrence on releasing seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The letter, written on March 2, 2016, had said the state government had already decided to release the seven convicts, but it is necessary to seek the Centres concurrence as per an apex court order of 2015. The central government, in pursuance of Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, do not concur to the proposal of the government of Tamil Nadu contained in their communication letter dated March 2, 2016 for grant of further remission of sentence to these seven convicts, said the reply filed by MHA Joint Secretary VB Dubey. The Ministry said the trial court had given cogent reasons for imposing death penalty upon the accused and pointed out that even the Supreme Court had termed the assassination an unparallel act in the annals of crimes committed in this country. ...releasing the four foreign nationals who had committed the gruesome murder of former prime minister, along with 15 others most of whom were police officers, in connivance with three Indian nationals will set a very dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future, the Centre said. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu, at an election rally. Fourteen others, including Dhanu herself, were also killed. This was perhaps the first case of suicide bombing which had claimed the life of a high-profile global leader. V Sriharan alias Murugan, T Suthendraraja alias Santham, AG Perarivalan alias Arivu, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, P Ravichandaran and Nalini have been in jail for 25 years. The Supreme Court had on February 18, 2014, commuted the death sentence of three convictsMurugan, Santhan and Perarivalanciting inordinate delay by the executive in deciding their mercy plea. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, August 10 The Maldives wants India to withdraw military helicopters and personnel posted there following the expiry of an agreement in June, its envoy said, the latest snub to New Delhi by President Abdulla Yameens China-backed government. India and China are going head to head in the Maldives, the Indian Ocean island chain where Beijing is building roads, bridges and a bigger airport, upstaging India which has been the countrys prime provider of military and civilian aid for decades. India has opposed Yameens crackdown on political rivals and the imposition of an emergency this year and some of the presidents rivals have called on New Delhi for military intervention, creating worries in the Maldivian government. The tensions are impacting aid programmes such as security assistance that New Delhi has given to smaller countries in the region to help them protect exclusive economic zones, carry out surveys and combat piracy. The Maldives ambassador to India, Ahmed Mohamed, told Reuters that two military helicopters provided by India were mainly used for medical evacuations but were no longer required as the islands had built up enough resources of its own. They were very useful in the past but with the development of adequate infrastructure, facilities and resources we are now in a position to handle medical evacuations on our own, he said. However, India and the Maldives are still conducting joint patrols in the islands exclusive economic zone every month, Mohamed said. The Maldives, 400 km (250 miles) to the southwest of India, is close to the worlds busiest shipping lanes, between China and the Middle East. Along with the helicopters, India had stationed around 50 military personnel, including pilots and maintenance crew, and their visas had expired. But New Delhi has not yet withdrawn them from the island chain. We are still there, our two helicopters and the men, an Indian navy spokesman said on Wednesday, adding the foreign ministry was handling the situation. The foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Its the personnel India has been demanding that Yameen free political rivals, including former President Abdul Gayoom and Supreme Court justices. It also criticised Yameens decision to hold elections in September saying the rule of law should be restored before embarking on such an exercise. India was a close supporter of Gayoom during his long years of stewardship of the island chain and sent troops to foil an attempted coup against him in 1988. China, which opened an embassy in the Maldives in 2011, has rapidly built ties with the tropical island chain as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. It says it is opposed to any country interfering in the internal affairs of the Maldives. Providing helicopters and patrol boats and satellite assistance to countries such as the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles has been part of Indias naval diplomacy to retain influence in the Indian Ocean. But in recent years China has moved in, building ports and roads backed by loans. In the Maldives, Beijing Urban Construction Group Company Limited took over a project to expand the airport servicing the capital Male, after the government cancelled a $511 million deal with Indias GMR Infrastructure. Maldives has also given the Chinese a few islands to develop, officials said. Abhijit Singh, a former Indian naval officer who specialises on Indian Ocean politics at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, said the Indian helicopters were deployed near the islands where the Chinese were present. Now the issue is Yameen wants the helicopters out, but more importantly he wants the personnel out. It is not the helicopters that trouble him so much, it is actually the fact that there are these people there. Yameen has invited China to do a lot of infrastructure building and he suspects that India is trying to keep a watch on what the Chinese are doing and so wants to keep the Indians out, said Singh. Ambassador Ahmed declined comment on that view. Reuters Like our page on Facebook vinaymishra188@gmail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 9 The Dalai Lamas remarks that Indias Partition could have been averted had Jawaharlal Nehru conceded to MA Jinnah as the Prime Minister on Thursday had the Congress contesting the comments and the TMC saying that spiritual leaders should not come down to the world of politics. Those who are in the world of spirituality should not come down to the world of politics. Spirituality is much above politics. Such remarks (as the Dalai Lama made) confuse the disciples, TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi said. The Congress on its part argued against the Dalai Lamas interpretation of history. Ex-minister and Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari cited historical records to argue against what the Dalai Lama said on Wednesday. With respect his Holiness, the Dalai Lama is wrong that Nehru was self-centred and therefore opposed Gandhis suggestion of making Jinnah PM of India. The historical record suggests otherwise. May be it would be worth his while to peruse it, Tewari advised the supreme spiritual leader of the Tibetans asking him to read The Transfer of Power 1942-47 Volume X: The Mountbatten Viceroyalty, Formulation of a Plan. The document speaks of the misconception that, in 1947, Nehru reacted angrily to Gandhis suggestion that Jinnah should be given the prime ministership of India and solely for this reason, this last-ditch attempt to prevent the Partition of India failed. It records Viceroys personal account in the Mountbatten papers as saying, Nehru did not react angrily or with shock to the suggestion of Jinnah being offered PM-ship but expressed doubt that Gandhis suggestion would be accepted by JinnahBoth Nehru and VP Menon separately pointed out to Viceroy Mountbatten that Gandhi had made the offer of PM-ship to Jinnah earlier occasions as well, and that Jinnah had not accepted it. The factors in the failure of Gandhis suggestion of offering the PM-ship to Jinnah were many and Nehru alone cannot be held responsible, suggest documents. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Chandigarh, August 10 Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has suggested that people holding bank lockers should mandatorily declare their valuable assets. Drawing the attention of the union government to the issue of liability for the loss of valuable items deposited in bank lockers, Khattar on Friday said that if the valuables are disclosed, the banks can easily buy a group insurance policy for the hirers of lockers. In a letter written to the Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, the Chief Minister said that if, for some reasons, this is considered impractical, customers can at least be given a choice to disclose. "Even if the banks do not get the lockers of the subset of willing customers insured, this would help the bank and the government in quickly dealing with the claims, should any eventuality arise. "This would be a big step forward since the Reserve Bank of India has not yet framed any parameters for assessing such losses. Moreover, this would be in consistent with Government of India's laudable drive to curb black money and promoting transparency in financial transaction," Khattar said in his letter. Highlighting the need for putting in place a policy in this regard, the Chief Minister said people have immense faith in the public sector banks. "They (people) keep their valuables in the lockers as they deem it a safe and secure place. Yet, the harsh fact is that the banks are not liable for the loss of valuables even when caused by a natural disaster or a criminal act. The legal reason behind this is said to be the non-disclosure clause in the locker agreement which provides that the hirer need not disclose the contents of the valuable items put in the locker," he added. The robbery in the Punjab National Bank at Gohana town near Panipat in October 2014 had highlighted the need for putting in place a policy framework in this regard, he said. IANS monicakchauhan@gmail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 10 Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday led the protests in Parliament over the alleged corruption in the Rafale deal and said her partys stand on the triple talaq bill was absolutely clear. Congress MPs held protests outside Parliament demanding a joint parliamentary committee on the issue. Gandhi joined the protests while Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was away to Chhattisgarh. On Friday, Congress MPs disrupted the Lok Sabha forcing two adjournments demanding a JPC on the Rafale deal. Rahul Gandhi has been targeting the government for alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet purchase from France. Gandhi has been asking the government to come clean on the Rafale pricing and has recently accused the PM and Defence Minister of misleading the country on the same. Four BJP members, including Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur, had then given notices of privilege against Gandhi for peddling lies. Congress MPs had subsequently given privilege notices against the PM and Defence Minister alleging that they were misleading every one on the deal by hiding behind the so-called secrecy clause in the deal which didnt quite prevent the government from disclosing the price of the jets. uttara@tribuneindia.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 10 At least three people belonging to the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) and Sanatan Sanstha have been arrested from different parts of Maharashtra after a huge quantity of explosives, gun powder, sulphur and detonators were seized from a shop owned by one of them, police said here on Friday. According to police, the explosives were seized by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra Police, which raided the home and shop of Vaibhav Raut, 40, at Nalasopara in Palghar district outside Mumbai early on Friday. ATS officials said they had been keeping an eye on Raut for a while after receiving information that he was assembling bombs in his shop, which was ostensibly used as a real estate agency. "There was enough explosives to manufacture at least 18-20 bombs or IEDs," a police official said. The ATS team which included a dog squad raided Rauts flat and shop at Bandar Ali village in Sopara neighbourhood of Nalasopara (west) on Thursday night. Search operations continued till early this morning and the explosives were found in his shop, police said. In addition to the explosives, the ATS also seized several notebooks and diaries from Raut's office and shops. Data from his mobile phone indicated that he was in regular contact with two people in Pune and Aurangabad and they were also picked up, police said this afternoon. Raut's associates who admitted that he belonged to the HJS, the Sanatan Sanstha and other Hindu right-wing organisations claimed that he was being framed by the ATS. "The explosives may have been planted in Vaibhav Raut's house by the ATS. He is being targeted for opposing cow slaughter and Love Jihad," Raut's lawyer and fellow activist Sanjiv Punalekar told reporters here later on Friday. In a statement here, the HJS said Raut was active in many of its programmes in the past though he was not part of its recent events. The HJS accused the ATS of planting explosives at Raut's premises to entrap him. "The incidents of harassment of activists of Hindu organisations, and implicating them in false cases, etc. is not new anymore. This has been proved through the Malegaon case, and arrest of innocent seekers of Sanatan Sanstha etc," Sunil Ghanvat, Maharashtra State Organiser of HJS, said. Sanatan Santhan, headquartered in Goa's Ponda, was founded in 1999 by Jayant Balaji Athavale. Its members have in the past been arrested for the murders of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi. Some of its members have been under the scanner for setting off blasts in Maharashtra and Goa in the last decade. rchopra@tribunemail.com Ravi S Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 10 The Rajya Sabha was adjourned by Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu in the face of vociferous protests by Opposition members on the Rafale jet deal as they demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committe (JPC) probe into it. Earlier, Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Congress had given a notice for discussion on the deal, but was disallowed. Newly elected Deputy Chairperson Harivansh was on the Chair. He said the notice for discussion had not been allowed by Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu. When the House continued to face a ruckus, Harivansh adjourned it during the fag end of Zero Hour for about 10 minutes. Azad said it had been the practice that Opposition in the Rajya Sabha was given opportinuty vide a Calling Attention and Short Duration discussion to raise issues of importance, which had been eroded during the current dispensation. Batting for a discussion on the deal, he said the durations of the Parliament sessions was being gradually curtailed. The deal is the biggest scam in the world, he added. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel countered Azad and other Congress leaders saying Parliament is not a forum for levelling allegations, but for debates and discussion and to legislate for the good of people. Baseless allegations against the Prime Minister or any other member cannot be allowed, he said. BJP president Amit Shah was not allowed to speak during discussions, including on farmers issue, in the House, Goel added. When Opposition members objected to putting government bills in the business schedule in the afternoon earmarked for taking up Private Members Business (Resolutions), Goel said it seemed the Opposition is trying to thwart the bill to make instant triple talaq an offence. The government has to do business. Hence, the duration of the session could also be extended to pass the bills, Goel added. Subsequently, during Question Hour, which was presided over by Naidu, when the Opposition stepped up their protests on the Rafale issue, the House was adjourned till 2.30 pm. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Karachi, August 10 For the first time, divorced or widowed Hindu women in Pakistan's Sindh province have been allowed to remarry under a landmark amendment made by the provincial assembly, a media report said. Earlier, divorced or widowed Hindu women were not permitted a second marriage. The Sindh Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2018 not only accords the right of separation to both the spouses, but also ensures the financial security of the wife and children, The Express Tribune reported. It was moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional leader Nand Kumar and passed by the assembly in March. "Either party to Hindu marriage, whether solemnised before or after the commencement of this Act, may present a petition to the court praying for decree of judicial separation," according to the law. The law also places a general ban of underage marriages among members of the Hindu community. "The Hindu community had been protesting forced conversions and marriages of underage girls. This law has banned the marriage of minors from the Hindu community," said Nand Kumar. Kumar has also moved a bill against the forced conversions of members of religious minorities, but the bill was gathering dust in the Sindh Assembly secretariat. He said that before the enactment of this law, Hindu women were considered lesser mortals and not even accorded the right to divorce. "The amendment to this law is aimed at getting rid of old and outdated customs," Kumar said. Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto and other party leaders also felicitated the last provincial assembly's lawmakers on the passage of the act, which was ratified by the Governor last week. Before the passage of this law, there was no legal cover for Hindu marriages for the past seven decades. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Tribune web Desk Chandigarh/Goa, August 10 Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Friday said he is willing to apologise if his statement that "Mahatma Gandhi ji was very much willing to give Prime Ministership to Jinnah but Pandit Nehru refused" had created a controversy. My statement has created a controversy; if I said something wrong I apologise, said the Dalai Lama on Friday, while speaking to the media in Goa. My statement has created controversy, if I said something wrong I apologise: Dalai Lama on his statement, "Mahatma Gandhi ji was very much willing to give Prime Ministership to Jinnah but Pandit Nehru refused." pic.twitter.com/jjIEmc280E ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2018 The Dalai Lama had on Wednesday said that Indias Partition would not have happened if Mahatma Gandhis wish of Jinnah becoming the Prime Minister had materialised. The 83-year-old monk gave the example in response to a question from a student at the Goa Institute of Management on how one could be sure about ones decisions and how to avoid mistakes. Preceding the interaction, the Dalai Lama spoke on Indias ability to merge its rich traditional knowledge with the modern facets of education. He also stressed the need for dialogue and debate on a range of subjects. We need more people to come together and talk and debate on aspects linked to India's ancient knowledge, such as ahimsa and compassion. We also need to find ways to reduce conflict among ourselves," he said. When asked as to what she made of the observations, historian Mridula Mukherjee said, With due respect to the Dalai Lama, who has made great sacrifices for his people, he is clearly misinformed. It is very saddening to see someone of his stature make a statement not borne out by facts. Rather, Jawaharlal Nehru was the person who gave refuge to the Tibetans and the Dalai Lama. You cannot blame any one person for Partition. It was caused by long-term factors rooted in the British policy of divide and rule. Pt Nehru was as much against Partition as any nationalist would be. But we must remember the ball was always in the British court. The British, she said, kept insisting on Indians sorting out their differences among themselves but MA Jinnah continued to be recalcitrant. The Mountbatten Plan was a plan for Partition. The British refused to hand over power to the Congress. What option did Gandhi or Nehru or Patel have? As far as Mahatma Gandhis statement that Jinnah could be PM goes, it was a goodwill statement, a Gandhian way of winning over Jinnah, but Jinnah never accepted even that. Gandhi said this in 1944 but he had, way back in 1942, named Nehru as his successor. In democracies, people, not individuals, choose and make leaders. Another historian, S Irfan Habib, said what the Dalai Lama had said could be his perception. It is certainly not a fact of history. Partition was such a huge tragedy, no one person could be held responsible. Two decades of communal politics and the propagation of the two-nation theory led to Partition. What the Dalai Lama has said is just another statement in the line of many in the category of Nehru-baiting. uttara@tribuneindia.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 10 Activists protested peacefully outside the UK High Commission in Delhi on Friday against the pro-Khalistan rally to be held at Trafalgar Square on August 12. Led by the All India Anti-Terrorist Front and its Chairman MS Bitta, Sikh and other activists marched from Teenmurti to the British mission with placards in hand calling the 2020 Referendum an attack on Indian sovereignty and seeking deportation of wanted terrorists and criminals associated with the London rally. Paramjit Singh Pamma and many of his aides are wanted terrorists. We will make all efforts to get them deported back to India. We will put pressure on our government and Indian government must pressurise UK government. We will continue to protest outside the UK high commission till our demands are meet, Bitta said. The marching crowds chanted slogans against UK, Pakistan and its intelligence agency ISI. The Tribune in a recent expose revealed the complicity of ISI in orchestrating these anti-India rallies under the banner of Sikhs For Justice to fan secessionist sentiments. Later Bitta submitted a memorandum to High Commissioner Dominic Asquith condemning the London rally. Meanwhile, UK High Commission spokesperson, while reiterating earlier stance of right of people in UK to protest, said on Friday the content of the rally will be closely monitored by British security forces. Should a protest contravene the law, the police have comprehensive powers to deal with activities that spread hate or deliberately raise tensions through violence or public disorder. This does not negate the right to peaceful protest. The use of these powers and the management of demonstrations are an operational matter for the police, the spokesperson said. UK has turned down Indias multiple requests in writing and in person to deny permission to Organisers of the rally that is expected to see participation by Sikh activists from Canada, US, Australia among others. In wake of the August 12 rally, India has also asked its missions in these countries to be vigilant against similar rallies planned in other locations and to sensitise the foreign host countries about Indias grave security concerns. editorial@tribune.com Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 10 The state AAP unit said on Friday that it would invite the rebel group led by MLA Sukhpal Khaira to accompany its team to pay homage to Goa liberation movement martyr Karnail Singh Issru at his native village, Issru (Ludhiana), on August 15. However, AAP will not organise a rally in the village. The partys decision is apparently aimed at avoiding a confrontation with the Khaira group as it was speculated that the latter may organise a rally at the venue. Every year, various political parties organise rallies at Issru on Independence Day. We will visit the martyrs memorial and offer prayers. We will invite all MLAs and state leaders, who may be with some other group. It is for them to decide, said Dr Balbir Singh, state co-convener. Meanwhile, the Khaira group of eight MLAs and other state leaders met Governor VP Singh Badnore. They demanded that the Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commissions probe report on sacrilege and police firing incidents be made public with immediate effect. They also urged the Governor to call a special session of the Vidhan Sabha to discuss the report and share details of the SIT findings in sacrilege cases. The group sought the appointment of a special and fast-track court to deal with the sacrilege cases and the Behbal Kalan police firing incident. Sangrur: Bhagwant Mann, AAP MP, on Friday said he had not yet decided on taking back his resignation as state party convener, adding that he wanted to work for the party without any post. He said he would discuss the issue with AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal when called to New Delhi. He listened to the grievances of area residents. TNS editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Sangrur, August 10 The family of a woman of Kanjhli village, who was sent by a woman travel agent to Oman with the promise of providing her a good job in Singapore seven months back, met AAP MP Bhagwant Mann on Friday. They sought his help alleging that Rani Kaur (45) had been in illegal confinement ever since she landed in Oman. The agent took Rs 50,000 from my sister Rani and promised her a good salary in Singapore for two years. She, however, sent Rani to Oman, where her employer has illegally confined her and is harassing her. Ranis husband is a liquor addict and does not want to take any step to bring her back, alleged Gurjit Kaur, Ranis younger sister after meeting MP Mann with other family members and villagers from Kanjhli. Ranis two daughters said their mother had been calling them after every 8 to10 days from the phone of a Punjabi woman, who works in the same locality, and calling out for help to return to Punjab. They said a resident of Barnala was transferring Rs 20,000 to their bank account every month. They said they did not have much details about the travel agent who had sent Rani to Oman. Her employer works in Oman police and has threatened to kill my mother if she disclosed her plight to anyone. They have snatched her passport also, said Sandip Kaur, daughter of the victim. Kanjhli resident Gagandeep Singh, who is helping the family and arranged a meeting with Mann on Friday alleged Rani was being subjected to harassment in Oman. Her husband, who is a drunkard, has also been threatening his daughters saying their mother would be murdered if they approached the authorities for help, he said. When contacted, Mann said he would take up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs. I will talk to senior authorities to accelerate the process of rescuing Rani, he said. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Karachi, August 10 For the first time, divorced or widowed Hindu women in Pakistans Sindh province have been allowed to remarry under a landmark amendment made by the provincial assembly, a media report said. Earlier, divorced or widowed Hindu women were not permitted a second marriage. The Sindh Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2018 not only accords the right of separation to both the spouses, but also ensures the financial security of the wife and children, The Express Tribune reported. It was moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional leader Nand Kumar and passed by the assembly in March. Either party to Hindu marriage, whether solemnised before or after the commencement of this Act, may present a petition to the court praying for decree of judicial separation, according to the law. The law also places a general ban of underage marriages among members of the Hindu community. The Hindu community had been protesting forced conversions and marriages of underage girls. This law has banned the marriage of minors from the Hindu community, said Nand Kumar. Kumar has also moved a Bill against the forced conversions of members of religious minorities, but the Bill was gathering dust in the Sindh Assembly secretariat. He said that before the enactment of this law, Hindu women were considered lesser mortals and not even accorded the right to divorce. Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto and other party leaders also felicitated the last provincial assemblys lawmakers on the passage of the act, which was ratified by the Governor last week. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com United Nations, August 10 Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was appointed on Friday by the UN General Assembly as the world bodys next top human rights official to replace Jordanian diplomat Zeid Raad al-Hussein. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had this week nominated Bachelet to be the next UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her name was forwarded for consideration by the 193-member UN General Assembly, which today approved her appointment. Al Hussein warmly welcomed the UN General Assemblys appointment of Bachelet to succeed him when his mandate comes to an end on 31 August 2018. I am truly delighted by the appointment of Michelle Bachelet as the next UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid said. She has all the attributes courage, perseverance, passion, and a deep commitment to human rights to make her a successful High Commissioner. The UN Human Rights Office looks forward to welcoming her and working under her leadership for the promotion and protection of all human rights, for everyone, everywhere. Bachelet most recently served as President of Chile (from 2014 to 2018, and 2006 to 2010). She was the first Executive Director of UN-Women between 2010 and 2013. She has also served as Minister of Defence and Minister of Health in Chile. The UN General Assembly today approved the UN Secretary-Generals appointment of Bachelet for a four-year term as High Commissioner. Guterres welcomed Bachelets confirmation by the General Assembly, saying she takes on a role for which she is perfectly suited as she knows the responsibilities of both national and global leadership. The UN chief said Bachelet takes office at a time of grave consequence for human rights. Hatred and inequality are on the rise. Respect for international humanitarian and human rights law is on the decline. Space for civil society is shrinking. Press freedoms are under pressure, he told reporters here following the General Assemblys confirmation of Bachelets appointment. Guterres added that to navigate these currents, there is need for a strong advocate for all human rights - civil, political, economic, social and cultural. We need a person who can ensure the integrity of the indispensable human rights mechanisms of the United Nations, he said, adding that Bachelet brings unique experience to the United Nations and is strongly committed to keeping human rights at the forefront of the work of the United Nations. Bachelet will be the seventh High Commissioner since the Office was created in 1993. Zeid Raad Al-Hussein has been in office since 1 September 2014. His predecessors are: Jose Ayala-Lasso (1994-97); Mary Robinson (1997-2002); Sergio Vieira de Mello (2002-03); Louise Arbour (2004-08); and Navi Pillay (2008-14). Following consultations with the Chairs of the regional groups of Member States, Guterres had informed the General Assembly of his intention to appoint Bachelet as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Bachelet, 66 will succeed al-Hussein, who had been one of the most outspoken critics of abuses by governments in many countries. Her name now goes forward for consideration and approval by the 193-member UN General Assembly. The UN Human Rights High Commissioner is the principal official who speaks out for human rights across the whole UN system, strengthening human rights mechanisms; enhancing equality; fighting discrimination in all its forms; strengthening accountability and the rule of law; widening the democratic space and protecting the most vulnerable from all forms of human rights abuse. Al-Hussein will step down from his role at the end of this month. He served a single term, beginning in 2014. During his tenure, Al-hussein had been outspoken in his criticism of abuses in dozens of countries from Myanmar and Hungary to the United States. At a farewell news conference at UN headquarters this month, he had said he does not regret speaking out against human rights abuses, saying silence does not earn you any respect none. Headquartered in Geneva, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is mandated to promote and protect the universal exercise and full realization of human rights, across the world, as established in the UN Charter. Bachelets nomination has received cautious reactions from diplomats and human rights organizations. US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said the United States had withdrawn from the UN Human Rights Council in part because of the Councils consistent failure to address extreme human rights abuses in the Western Hemisphere, in Venezuela and Cuba in particular. Haley added that the Human Rights Commissioner can have a strong voice on these critical issues, even when the Human Rights Council fails to live up to its name. It is incumbent on the Secretary-Generals choice, Bachelet, to avoid the failures of the past. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com New York, August 10 US First Lady Melania Trumps parents became American citizens in a naturalisation ceremony here, completing a year-long immigration process even as President Donald Trump called for new laws to bar Americans from sponsoring parents and other relatives. Michael Wildes, an attorney for Viktor and Amalija Knavs, who had been living in the country as legal permanent residents after leaving their native Slovenia, confirmed that his clients took the oath of citizenship at the ceremony on Thursday, reports The Washington Post. "Citizenship was just awarded," Wildes said. "They have prevailed in a wonderful journey, as millions have." Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for the First Lady, declined to comment on the couple, saying that "they are not part of the administration". Wildes said the Knavses satisfied the requirement that permanent residents hold their green cards for five years before they can apply for US citizenship. However, it remains unclear when the Knavses first moved to the US, but by late 2007, Viktor Knavs was listed in public records as residing at Mar-a-Lago, the President's private club in Palm Beach, Fla. The Knavses received no special treatment because of their relationship with the first family, Wildes told reporters in New York. "The application, the process, the interview was no different than anybody else's, other than the security arrangements to (the) facility today," he said. "This is an example of it going right. They're very excited." Questions about the couple's immigration status intensified last year as the President mounted a push to reduce legal immigration, including provisions to constrict the ability of US citizens to sponsor their parents, adult children and siblings for green cards, The Washington Post reported. In fiscal 2016, the US granted nearly 1.2 million green cards, of which 174,000 went to parents of American citizens, according to the Department of Homeland Security. President Trump has railed against what he calls "chain migration", which he says has resulted in fiercer competition for blue-collar jobs for native-born Americans and greater national security concerns. Melania Trump, formerly a model known as Melania Knauss, arrived in New York in 1996 and began dating Donald Trump in 2000. In 2001, she was granted a green card in the elite EB-1 programme, which was designed for renowned academic researchers, multinational business executives or those in other fields, such as Olympic athletes and Oscar-winning actors, who demonstrated "sustained national and international acclaim". The year she got her legal residency, only five people from Slovenia received green cards under the EB-1 programme, according to the State Department. The Knavses raised Melania in the rural town of Sevnica when Slovenia was a part of communist Yugoslavia. Viktor Knavs, now 74, was a car dealer, while Amalija Knavs, now 73, worked in a textile factory. IANS A SECURITY officer protecting a cigarette delivery van was ambushed by six armed bandits and shot dead during a robbery in Valencia yesterday. Police were able to catch two of the bandits and recover the van after they searched the area for several hours. Not quite two weeks ago, Jamaica was shaken by a bizarre ritual at the Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in Montego Bay. The congregation was summoned by His Excellency Dr Kevin Smith, Crown Bishop and End Time Nabi. An Ark was about to load the souls of his flock. They were to wear white, and leave cellphones at home. We will be in Australia, arriving in Sydney Dec 2, at the end of a New Zealand cruise. My husband would like to go to the GBR but we know December is not exactly optimal with the heat and the stingers. Heron Island was recommended by a friend but I have some concern about the time it takes to get there and that only the highest $ rooms have A/C. We could spend as many as 4 nights there but will it be worth it in December? Would it be better to stay on the mainland and take day tours out? We could more easily get to Cairns/Port Douglas but is it a lot hotter than the southern end of the GBR? Appreciate recommendations on the right place to target as well as length of time given it's December. To give you the overview, we plan on 3-4 nights in Sydney, then 2-4 GBR, then 2-3 in Melbourne before heading back to the US. (Tickets booked for 9 days total in Australia). Would also love to sneak in Tasmania but probably too much for the time. Thanks for your advice! You have received some good suggestions to this post on the other forums where you posted, too, incl. on the Belize forum. If snorkeling and/or diving are important, consider going there (or to Roatan, Honduras) vs to CR. In CR, we enjoy nature - jungle, wildlife, Arenal area, and less developed beaches on the Caribbean coast of CR. While speaking the language of any country where you visit is always helpful, you should be fine with speaking Rnglish on that coast, in most cases (e.g.m some bus drivers, etc. did not speak English, but most other ppl we interacted with knew enough or a lot). Snorkeling in CR was not successful for us - either not much to see, in comparison to some other destinations, or waves / surfing beaches, not for snorkeling, and poor water visibility, which might vary, of course, depending on the amount of rainfall. You might find this article useful, since you mentioned budgeting, - . is the CR Destinations Summary Guide blog, which helped us with figuring our our trips. The Top Qns about CR on the right side of the screen should be quite helpful, too. Have fun researching! Edited: 3 years ago 1. Although you can go by car, I don't recommend it because Tokyo Gaikan Expressway might be crowded, and it takes @4840 yen toll from Sin-Kuokou (Narita Airport) IC to Usui-Karuizawa IC. You should take Narita Express No. 4 from Narita Airport Station at 8:13, if you can and arrive JR Tokyo Station at 9:27: by this time, the Rush Hour in Tokyo is ended. Transfer to Hokuriku Shinkansen Asama Superexpress, which arrives Karuizawa at 11:04. Don't buy the JR East Nagano Niigata Pass which is expensive(17,000 yen) unless you go to Niigata. Tokyo Wide Pass, which is only 10,000 yen and also covers Karuizawa, is better. 2. Don't your hotel pick you up at the station? If not, take a Taxi, although I don't know how far is it and how much it cost. Or rent a car at Karuizawa. 3. You can end your luggage to your next hotel by Takkyubin, as follows. IMO, if you have Fukuoka as a port, it is usually more convenient than landing on Hiroshima, in terms of flight availability and airport access. And is smoother for your itinerary The JR Sanyo-San'in Northern Kyushu PASS overkills all area you have suggested. Edited: 3 years ago I understand it is not difficult to drive left side (Japanese style) for people from right side driving countries. Toyota, Nissan, Nippon, Orix, and Times nation-wide popular/major rent-a-car companies in Japan. The one-way fee can be found easily on their sites in Japanese. Not only the distance, the fee will be charged differently by the car category as well. You are right that Toyota will be charged 55,080 yen for V/T class car between Miyazaki and Kyoto. SUV will be 46,440 yen. Do you check the distance, time, highway fee from Miyazaki to Kyoto?? Navitime map and Google map websites are worked fine, but I don't think the time is accurate when congestions. It's so long ... According to the official Nippon Expressway Company site called NEXCO west, you will need to drive over 900 km, 11 hours, the highway fee is about 20,000 yen. You need add the time for congestions and rests. I even suggest you to fly such a long distance, any city in Kyusyu (like Fukuoka) to Osaka (KIX or ItamiI), then a bus to Kyoto. Not only ANA/JAL, there are cheapy LCC flights. If your child get board, someone in a train try to make a smile, saying "hi", or you can walk in a train. But in a car, you are all packed. Local Japanese like me CAN'T buy a JR pass. The pass fare is an incredibly economical price. Also foreign tourists can buy legacy JAL/ANA flight(s) in a budget price. Why not take such an advantage? ? There is a (quite new) Shinkanse line in Kyusyu, that is getting popular now. But, I don't oppose you to drive within the Kyushu area. - Masinga Dam overflew in May and killed 7 people in Garsen - The residents petitioned the government to have them compensated - CS Keter said the overflow was a natural calamity as KenGen never opened water gates to cause havoc - He also maintained that warnings were given prior to the overflow Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter has defended Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) over claims it failed to check water levels at Masinga Dam leading to loss of lives and destruction of property. TUKO.co.ke reported earlier that the dam overflew in May 2018 leaving behind a trail of destruction shortly after Nakuru's Solai Dam burst its walls, sweeping an entire village where at least 47 people lost their lives. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Killer Solai Dam owner Perry Mansukh arrested The CS, however, stated that KenGen had plans afoot to ensure such a calamity does not occur again. Photo: CS Keter Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Solai Dam that killed 44 in Nakuru illegal - government While appearing before a parliamentary committee probing the Masinga Dam incident, CS Keter on Tuesday, August 7, distanced KenGen from the accusations stating that it was an inevitable natural calamity. KenGen is not in charge of rain and it also did not open the water gates to flood the villages. All we do is to generate electricity. It was beyond our control, he said. READ ALSO: Poor dog refuses to leave site its owner lived before Solai Dam tragedy which killed 45 Garsen residents through their MP Ali Wario had earlier petitioned the government to compensate the victims for their losses maintaining the tragedy was as a result of KenGen's negligence. The CS however stated the power generating company had plans to ensure such a calamity does not occur again. READ ALSO: Solai road workers accuse another Chinese firm of harassment, mistreatment Among the mitigation measure he said was being fast tracked was the construction of other small dams to broaden water holding capacity. He also stated the walls of the Masinga Dam were also set to be raised to prevent future overflow. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Kenya News Latest: Kenya Marks 20th Anniversary of Embassy Bombing | Tuko TV. Source: Tuko - At least 50 camels are being trained to undertake patrols - The move is aimed at reducing deaths of police officers targeted with IEDs - They will be used to patrol parts of North eastern and areas where cattle rustling is rife Police in terrorist hotspots in northern Kenya have come up with an uncanny way of dealing with militia. A new police unit was announced on Wednesday, August 8, and it is understood the police will be using camels to patrol border lines. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Nduguye Rais Uhuru, Muhoho Kenyatta, afichua siri iliyomfanya kuwa bilionea Police training camels to be used in fighting al-Shabaab on Kenya-Somali border Source: UGC READ ALSO: 30 Judiciary staff charged, 4 sacked over theft of millions About 50 camels are being trained to be effective enough to be used by the pioneer camel patrol unit under the Border Patrol Unit of the Administration Police Service. The improvisation became necessary after it emerged that terror attacks had become prevalent in far-flung areas with security personnel being the biggest casualties. READ ALSO: Police shoot dead drunk man in Kakamega during raid on illicit brews Use of improvised explosive devices which are mostly planted on the ground also made it necessary for officers to devise new ways of patrolling terrorist hotspots. Since 2016, up to 70 officers have lost their lives as a result of the explosives. The trained camels will also go a long way in aiding the patrolling of the North Eastern region which is prone to cattle rustling. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya News Latest: Kenya Marks 20th Anniversary of Embassy Bombing | Tuko TV: Source: Kenyan Breaking News - Citizens of Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda are not welcome in China's third richest city - This was after police ordered hotels within the city not to host citizens from the three countries - It is alleged a criminal activity by unidentified person of African origin prompted the order Kenyans have been listed alongside Ugandans and Nigerians as guests who can not be be hosted in any of the hotels within China's city of Guangzhou. It is alleged a criminal activity carried out by a person of African origin within the city was the reason why citizens from the three countries are not welcome to China's third richest city. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Nduguye Rais Uhuru, Muhoho Kenyatta, afichua siri iliyomfanya kuwa bilionea Juliet Hatanga, a senior magistrate from Uganda, narrated her ordeal to BBC the moment she was turned away by a hotel in China. Photo: BBC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Kenya's 400 meters champion Nicholas Bett dies in road crash Juliet Hatanga, a senior magistrate from Uganda, narrated her ordeal to BBC the moment she was turned away by a hotel in the Chinese city on arrival. "They opened the door for me, they asked my name and confirmed they had a room for me, then they asked for my passport, when I gave them my passport they told me sorry they could not host me," narrated Hatanga READ ALSO: Patient mysteriously disappears from Nakuru Level Five hospital According to her, hotels in Guangzhou city have reportedly on police advice been told not to take bookings from guests from the three African countries. When I inquired why, they told me they had orders from the police, the police had told them not to host anyone from Uganda. They are no longer wanted, I asked them if they could host me somewhere else and they told me no," added Hatanga. READ ALSO: Nema demolishes KSh1 billion South End mall on Langata road Apparently, someone was suspected to have committed a crime, which this someone was suspected to be either Ugandan, Kenyan or Nigerian and without confirming whether it was male or female so all of us were condemned," she added. This comes barely a month after the government of Kenya denied claims of racial discrimination of workers on the Standard Gauge Railways Madaraka Express train service as unfounded and ill-intended. Prior reports by TUKO.co.ke indicated Government Spokesperson Eric Kiraithe accused unnamed persons of ganging up against the SGR project saying workers who colluded with unfriendly forces would be dismissed. According to Kiraithe, the government was committed to the progressive absorption of Kenyan workers to senior roles in SRG train operations with the first phase scheduled for 2020 said to be on course. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Gikomba's Biggest Fire Destroys Property Worth Millions of Shillings - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko News - Kenyans are excited by the green NYS bulldozer that is effortlessly bringing down illegal structures in Nairobi - The metallic monster is seen to be as effective as DCI boss Kinoti and DPP Haji in ending impunity - It has in three days brought down properties worth over KSh 2 billion owned by hitherto untouchable individuals Kenya has over the years gained a reputation as the land of impunity; a country where people get away with murder and any other evil provided they wield influence, are monied and are well connected. That was until April 2018 when Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji came knocking and launched a ruthless anti-corruption drive that has left the mighty in tears. Send News' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Nyota wa Machachari - Almasi - amejiunga na illuminati? Hebu tazama picha hizi NYS bulldozers have been demolishing buildings worth over KSh 2 billion in three days as part of the ongoing operation to clear illegal structures off the riparian land in Nairobi. Photo:UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: NEMA yakana kuhusika katika ubomozi wa mijengo karibu na mto, Nairobi While the fearsome duo continues to cause the untouchables sleepless nights, Kenyans have this week made a strange addition to the list of most feared operatives in the country today. And thats none other than the green NYS bulldozer that demolished buildings worth over KSh 2 billion in three days as part of the ongoing operation to clear illegal structures off the riparian land in Nairobi. READ ALSO: Westgate and Ukay are on riparian land but Sonko cannot demolish them and this is why The metallic monster on Monday, August 6, brought down a Java House coffee outlet, a Shell petrol station and a pharmacy in Kileleshwa before flattening perimeter walls of several residential apartments in the upmarket estate on Tuesday, August 7. That was before it on Wednesday, August 8, mauled the landmark South End Mall on Langata Road, which has been blamed for the destructive flooding recently witnessed in Nairobi West, South C and Langata in recent years. The mall is valued at over KSh 1 billion. While the bulldozer has been effortlessly bringing down the buildings amid public cheers, one Eric Kogi took to Twitter and posted pictures of the bulldozer, Haji and Kinoti and termed them as the most feared entities in Kenya today. READ ALSO: Grief as requiem mass is held for 10 St Gabriel pupils killed in Mwingi road accident He even went ahead to cheekily react to a Kenya Power advert on planned electricity outages in upmarket areas such as Lavington quipping that Maybe NYS bulldozer is visiting. There are three elements in this town sending shivers down the spines of the Cartels Kingdom! DDP Noordin Haji DCI George Kinoti and a green NYS bulldozer. To the c artels ...Run baby Run..., @RoadAlertsKE stated in support. Some members of the public even stated their willingness to fuel the bulldozer as it demolishes megastructures that have caused them pain. READ ALSO: Its a new era as KSh100 billion government projects change the face of Kenyan coast They asked the government to provide a Paybill number so they could extend their support. With the way things are going, soon you might hear; 'Baba kula haraka ama nikuitie ile bulldozer ya NYS' and pap! kababa kanamaliza food, one @GraciSmalls made fun of the bulldozer hype. The demolitions are part of an operation led by the Nairobi Regeneration team appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta December 2017 to clean and reclaim Nairobi River among other things. The river's path and banks have been invaded by unscrupulous developers who have erected mammoth structures, blocking the water way and subsequently redirecting water to innocent residents elsewhere. About 4,000 buildings are earmarked for demolition in the exercise expected to take two months. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Kenya News Latest: Kenya Marks 20th Anniversary of Embassy Bombing:On TUKO TV. Source: Tuko - Interior Cabinet Secretary alleged some MPs had tried to solicit tenders from him - He said his refusal to submit to their requests had created enmity between and the legislators - The tough talking CS said he would never compromise service delivery to please politicians - Matiang'i said he did not accept to serve in cabinet for popularity No-nonsense Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has accused some MPs of coercing him to irregularly give them tenders in the security tenders lest they ruin his reputation. In an address to stakeholders during a forum by National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC)on Thursday, August 9, Matiang'i said his name has been recently linked with negative happenings in Parliament because of his refusal to bow to the MPs demands. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Nyota wa Machachari - Almasi - amejiunga na illuminati? Hebu tazama picha hizi Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said he would never compromise integrity and quality service delivery because of harassment from MPs. Photo: National Assembly/Twitter. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Matiangi cautions MPs against tainting his name, denies ignoring summon over Ruaraka land The CS who became popular for initiating radical changes in the Education Ministry where he served before, has been on the spot recently with some MPs and executive officials accusing him of playing a role in an irregular acquisition of the controversial KSh 3.2 billion land. "We are not going to die on boats trying to go to Europe because Kenya has been ruined by bad leadership. Some MPs who want tenders in the security sector have been on a blackmailing spree. They want me to listen to their lies and participate in their theft but I will never do that," aid Matiang'i. Fred Matiang'i said he would not tolerate unnecessary dealings with anyone who was going against the interests of the public. Photo: Nation. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: US praises DPP Noordin Haji, DCI for sustained war against corruption The CS who recently received backing from unlikely quarters of Opposition MPs said he was determined to serve President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kenyans without fear or favour of his detractors. "You cannot choose to abuse your mandate in trying to harass me into subservience. Let us be honest, the president has given us work and we must do it diligently. We have to do what we have been privileged to deliver," he said. Fred Matiangi had been implicated by the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee over the Ruaraka land allegedly belonging to tycoon Francis Mburu. Photo: Nation. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Machakos governor Alfred Mutua not arrested According to Matiang'i, he did not opt to work for government because he was interested in popularity and those who were out to taint his name were in for a rude shock. "I was not given that job to be popular. Some of us are not interested in popularity and only want to do excellence and leave a legacy in our country," Matiang'i stated. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Anne Ngirita at The Center of The NYS Scam Probe | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Another man has been identified as being a serial domestic abuser - This is after photos of a woman in Longisa, Bomet emerged showing the aftermath of a battering - It marked another unfortunate incident of domestic violence which is slowly becoming a worrying trend Kenyans have once again placed another domestic abuser on police radar in Bomet even as they called for his arrest following an unfortunate incident. A lady identified as Janet Rono was reportedly clobbered mercilessly by her husband in Longisa to the point of becoming unconscious. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Nyota wa Machachari - Almasi - amejiunga na illuminati? Hebu tazama picha hizi READ ALSO: Drunk man captured being beaten by a woman denies having KSh 200 beer debt The husband, as TUKO.co.ke established, is still at large. In photos that are fast going viral, Rono is seen laying in hospital with a series of injuries which suggest she was badly pummeled by her attacker. She sustained injuries on her legs, head and one of her arm seems to have been fractured. Rono's plight was just the latest in a series of incidents which has seen both men and women become victims of domestic violence to a point of near death. READ ALSO: Matiangi claims MPs blackmailing him for denying them lucrative tenders The fact that the incidents are spread across different counties indicate the problem could stem from something far deeper than just ethnic background. Since the start of August 2018, cases of gender based violence have been reported in Kisii, Kasarani in Nairobi, Makueni and Bomet with most of the casualties being women. READ ALSO: Joho, Kingi in symbolic handshake with Balala as coast succession politics gathers steam DPP Noordin Haji has attempted to shake off the vice of domestic violence from Kenyan households by arresting some of the culprits. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Kenya News Latest: Kenya Marks 20th Anniversary of Embassy Bombing | Tuko TV: Source: Tuko News - Labour CS said Kenyans were working under deplorable conditions at the SGR - He also said work permits for the Chinese could not be verified since they were not available - He made the revelations after he was pressed by the committee probing the matter Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani on Thursday, August 9, confirmed Kenyans working with the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) are subjected to inhumane treatment by their Chinese bosses. The affirmation came close to a month after Government Spokesperson Erick Kiraithe denied the claims Kenyans were being subjected to slave-like work conditions by foreigners. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Nyota wa Machachari - Almasi - amejiunga na illuminati? Hebu tazama picha hizi Ukur Yattani confirmed Kenyans working with at the SGR are subjected to inhumane treatment. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Machakos governor Alfred Mutua not arrested Yattani said this while appearing before the Senate Labour committee chaired by Senator Johnstone Sakaja (Nairobi), the Standard reported. The CS made the revelations after he was pressed to paint a true picture of what was happening at the SGR trains against a backdrop of denials of any cruelty against Kenyans by Chinese ambassador Sun Baohong. He also disclosed work permits for migrant Chinese workers were not available for verification save for their residency visas. READ ALSO: Matiangi claims MPs blackmailing him for denying them lucrative tenders With regards to employment contracts, it was not clear to local workers if their employer was Kenya Railways Corporation, Railway Training Institute or China Road and Bridge Corporation. Yattani said SGR work stations were not registered as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, thereby exposing the workers to occupational safety and health hazards. The committee was made aware of the matter following public outrage over claims of discrimination against Kenyans working with the SGR following an expose by a local daily. READ ALSO: US praises DPP Noordin Haji, DCI for sustained war against corruption Yattani indicated due to time constraints, a committee he had formed to probe the mistreatment allegations was unable to get to the bottom of the claims. He complained local workers were compelled to sign a secrecy code in which they undertook not to disclose any adverse information on the company. Sakaja expressed concerns with the government findings and demanded immediate intervention. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Anne Ngirita at The Center of The NYS Scam Probe | Tuko TV Source: Kenya Breaking News Today - Demolition of the Nakumatt Ukay in Nairobi was undertaken early Friday morning - The High Court on Thursday declined to issue orders stopping the government from demolishing the mall - It was among nine buildings put up on riparian land marked for demolition The green bulldozer which has since received praises from Kenyans for bringing down buildings constructed on wetlands has made it's way to Nakumatt Ukay, hours after a court declined to prevent the property from demolition. Information gathered by TUKO.co.ke indicated the high end mall was brought down in the early morning hours of Friday, August 10. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: NEMA to demolish multimillion house in Riara estate where former MP lives READ ALSO: Sonko talks tough on city land grabbers as ex-governor Kidero spends night in police cells Ukay was among nine buildings and structures found to be on riparian land in a report by the Nairobi County departmental committee on Environment and Natural Resources. According to the committee, the buildings were given a three-month notice which expired on Sunday, August 5, after the launch of the regeneration plan to restore Nairobi city. So far, Shell petrol station and Java outlet in Kileleshwa, and Southend Mall have been demolished. READ ALSO: Government admits Kenyans working at SGR are mistreated Prior reports by TUKO.co.ke indicated owners of the Ukay building moved to court on Thursday, August 9, claiming they had a legitimate fear the establishment worth KSh 900 million was in imminent danger of demolition. They urged the court to issue conservatory orders restraining government agencies from interfering with the property until the case is heard and determined. Justice Wilfrida Okwany however declined to issue the orders sought and instead directed the matter to be served to the respondents ahead of an inter party hearing on August 14. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Gikomba's Biggest Fire Destroys Property Worth Millions of Shillings - On Tuko TV Source: Kenyan Breaking News - MPs led by Simba Arati argued their counterparts received money to save CS Rotich - They called on the DPP to investigate corruption within Parliament - According to the MPs, their counterparts were receiving KSh 10,000 to dismiss the report on contaminated sugar After Members of Parliament (MPs) dismissed the sugar report in Parliament on Thursday, August 9, it was hailed by many as a first by the legislators. But it has emerged some of the them received bribes ranging between KSh 10,000 to KSh 30,000 to shoot down the report. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Ukay Centre demolished hours after court declined to issue orders blocking its destruction A number of legislators from the Western Kenya sugar belt led by Simba Arati accused some of their colleagues of receiving money to shoot down sugar probe report. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Government admits Kenyans working at SGR are mistreated A number of legislators from the western Kenya sugar belt accused some of their colleagues of receiving KSh 10,000 to dismiss the sugar probe report in a bid to save cabinet secretaries Henry Rotich (Treasury) and Adan Mohammed (East African Community). The move angered some of the lawmakers who stormed out of Parliament among them Simba Arati (Dagoretii North), Godfrey Odanga (Matayos), Justus Murunga (Matungu) and Ayub Savula (Lugari) . READ ALSO: TV girl Mary Kilobi defends affair with COTU boss Francis Atwoli Kenyans need to know the calibre of leaders they have. They are parading themselves to be paid at the expense of those who elected them. Journalists should expose and shame these leaders, Arati was quoted by the Standard. Odanga, who jeered two of his colleagues as they rushed out of the House during the debate, apparently to collect their share of the money, said it was a shame for MPs to take the KSh 20,000 yet they earned millions every months. READ ALSO: Excavator escapes death by a whisker as Ukay Centre wall crashes on bulldozer The members were compromised. What happened in the corridors of Parliament is shameful. I am not afraid of anybody. It is sad that some people received as little as Sh10,000 to shoot down the report, said Murunga. The MPs argued there was no way President Uhuru Kenyatta would finish corruption when there was still tribal leanings. "Those who paid to save CSs should know they are killing their people with poisonous sugar," added Murunga. READ ALSO: Government admits Kenyans working at SGR are mistreated They called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to probe Parliament which they claimed is riddled with corruption and infested by bribe-taking MPs. National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale and his Minority counterpart John Mbadi led the MPs in defeating the report. The duo said there were no proper grounds to implicate the CSs and perhaps occasion their impeachment. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Source: Tuko - Ruto met Turkana leaders in a bid to end conflict between locals, government and Tullow Oil - Disagreements on revenue sharing, poor status of roads and insecurity stalled exploration activities for over one month - Ruto assured community leaders, elders and professionals they would significantly benefit from oil revenue - He urged leaders to prevail on the locals to support the project as it is of national importance Deputy President William Ruto has swiftly moved to help come up with a lasting solution to end a stalemate between the Turkana community, the government and exploration company, Tullow Oil. TUKo.co.ke understands Ruto was in Turkana on Thursday, August 9, and launched 160km Lodwar- Lokitang Junction- Kalobeiyei River Road. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Oil mining operations to resume after government brokers truce with Turkana residents William Ruto with Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok ahead of commissioning a road construction project. He asked the governor to urge locals to allow Tullow Oil operations. Photo: William Ruto/Twitter. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Government quickly steps in after Tullow Oil suspends operations in Turkana over hostility He later convened with political leaders, professionals and elders in a bid to revive crude oil drilling and transportation which had stalled for over one month. In June 2018, Turkana residents barred Tullow Oil trucks from transporting crude oil to Mombasa and paralysed operations at storage and drilling facilities. They demanded the government enhances security, improve roads and increases the community share in the oil revenue. "Improved security, road construction, water and electricity provision are key interventions we are focusing on to better lives in Turkana County. We are keen on ensuring the smooth trunking of oil and equitable share of revenue to empower the local community and grow the economy," Ruto tweeted after meeting the community representatives. DP William Ruto engaged with Turkana community professionals in a bid to come up with lasting solution to facilitate smooth oil exploration project. Photo: William Ruto/Twitter. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Excavator escapes death by a whisker as Ukay Centre wall crashes on bulldozer On Tuesday, August 7, Petroleum and Mining Chief Administrative Secretary John Mosonik, announced operations had resumed. The residents however dismissed Mososnik's statement saying they would only allow drilling to continue after they receive money in their accounts. Turkana residents had blocked trucks carrying crude oil for refinery in Mombasa from leaving the county. Photo: Turkana County News Online/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Ex-Nairobi governor Evans Kidero's son charged with selling sub-standard fuel However, Ruto engaged Governor Josephat Nanok, Turkana South MP and his Turkana East counterpart Mohammed Lokiru who had initially maintained the community's hard stance to have their share increased from 5% to 10% . He urged them to prioritise the greater benefit of the project by allowing operations to resume. "Turkana County is endowed with great natural resources and brilliant minds which must work with leaders in prioritising viable projects to help realise shared prosperity. 20% of the revenue from the oil will be allocated to the county with another 5% going down to the community as we deal with insecurity and build roads," Ruto promised. William Ruto also urged community elders to support government's oil exploration project. Photo: William Ruto/Facebook. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: MPs accused of receiving KSh 10k bribe to save cabinet secretaries, trash report on bad sugar He called on community elders to play a lead role in preaching peaceful coexistence and inculcating strong traditions and values among locals to foster unity. Petroleum and Mining Cabinet Secretary John Munyes who had also been on the ground engaging locals said the deadlock between Tullow oil and community was costing the State over KSh 10 million every day. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Catherine Njeri: I've Slept With Over 100 Men, Tried Taking Away Myself 5 Times | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Gedi claimed committee members dished out cash upon realising MPs were not satisfied with their shoddy report - She said it was shameful for one to say MPs who earn huge salaries could be bribed with KSh 10,000 - Kimilili MP Didimus Barasa had accused Gedi of dishing out cash to MPs so as to influence their position on the report Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi is entangled in bribery claims after it emerged she allegedly gave MPs KSh 10,000 each to reject a joint report on bad sugar importation. Gedi who was reacting to accusations by Kimilili MP Didimus Barasa said lawmakers earn good money and it was shameful for one to imagine they could be compromised with a meager KSh 10,000. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Wajir Woman Rep Fatuma Gedi on the spot for allegedly bribing MPs to shoot down sugar report Fedi said lawmakers earn good money and it was shameful for one to imagine they could be compromised with a meagre KSh 10,000. Photo: Fatuma Gedi/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Cabinet secretaries Henry Rotich, Adan Mohamed safe as MPs reject dirty sugar report The first time legislator however admitted there was bribery in the House but it was the committee members who dished out cash upon realising MPs were not satisfied with their shoddy report. "The committee did a shoddy job that is why its report was thrashed. It is laughable even shameful to say I bribed MPs who earn over KSh 1 million with only KSh 10,000," she told Citizen TV on Thursday, August 10. Speaking to KTN News at Parliament buildings on Friday, August 10, in an interview monitored by TUKO.co.ke, Barasa who was accompanied by Dagoretti North legislator Simba Arati alleged National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Minority Leader John Mbadi and Speaker Justin Muturi were the masterminds behind the trashing of the report. READ ALSO: Raila is so cunning and selfish for Luhyas to keep following - Kimilili MP "Thursday will remain to be the darkest day in the National Assembly. We proved we had abdicated our duties and were no longer representing sugarcane farmers. "I saw my colleague Fatuma Gedi dish out bribes, she tried to give me and my Sirisia counterpart John Waluke KSh 10,000 but we turned her away," Barasa alleged. Arati backed the sentiments saying the bribery went on openly and unabated at the Senate cafeteria, saying MPs had dealt the sugar industry in Kenya a major blow but vowed to champion for cane farmers through other avenues. During the debate on Thursday, August 9, Speaker Justin Muturi claimed MPs who had walked out during the debate on the sugar report had gone to bet, alluding to horse-trading in the National Assembly. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Nazlin Umar: Ruto Is Behind The Sugar Scandal - On Tuko TV Source: Kenya Breaking News Today A security officer is dead. He was shot and killed as bandits pounced on cigarette delivery van, in Valencia. Another person, who was also shot in the robbery, is now hospitalised. Russia's military-political leadership sees the Azov-Black Sea region as an important springboard for its further expansion. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said this during his visit to the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Donbas on Friday. According to him, a buildup of Russia's military presence is combined with "a flagrant violation of international maritime law in the Sea of Azov, which manifests itself, in particular, in the illegal construction of the Kerch Strait Bridge and a growing number of incidents involving the detention of domestic and foreign vessels by Russian military." "We see Russia's intention to actually start a military and economic blockade of the Azov coast of Ukraine," he said. Turchynov said that the Mariupol sector is one of the most dangerous in the JFO area, "where it's not excluded that the enemy can hold ground and sea landing operations along the Azov Sea coast." "In the extreme south of the conflict zone there are a steady high number of instances of shelling of our positions and military provocations by Russian terrorist forces," he said. During a meeting with the leadership of the Defense Ministry, the JFO command, the heads of the State Border Guard Service, the National Police and the National Guard Turchynov paid considerable attention to the strengthening and organization of coastal defense and effective counteraction to land and sea provocations by Russia. The NSDC secretary and the command of the Ukrainian Navy also discussed the establishment of a ship and boat group in the Sea of Azov. Turchynov also visited the frontline positions of the Ukrainian military in Shyrokyne, which have for many years been at the epicenter of Russian military provocations and shelling, and discussed with the leadership of the 36th separate Marine Corps brigade the combat tasks to secure the protection of the southern flank of the contact line. According to Turchynov, an adequate counteraction to Russian expansion requires the strengthening of Ukraine's naval presence in the region by "relocating part of the ships and boats of the Ukrainian Navy, deploying additional surveillance posts along the coastline and the sea, as well as groups of rapid reaction to Russian provocations in the Azov region." "The Ukrainian military duly fulfill the tasks set before them, reliably protecting the south of Ukraine, and are able to adequately resist military provocations from Russia," he added. op Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallstrom has called on the Russian authorities to release Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov illegally imprisoned in Russia. "Deeply concerning reports on Oleg Sentsovs deteriorating health condition. His detention violates international law and is based on a legal process which did not meet elementary standards of justice. We call on Russia to release him & other illegally detained Ukrainian citizens," the Swedish minister wrote on Twitter. As Ukrinform reported, Sentsov, who was illegally sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony, on May 14, 2018 declared a hunger strike demanding the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin. On May 28, Sentsov agreed to supportive therapy. On August 7, his lawyer Dmitry Dinze said that Sentsov's health condition had deteriorated. About 70 Ukrainians are political prisoners in Russia and in the occupied Crimea. This list also includes Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko, who was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony on fabricated charges of "espionage." ish Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin has called on the world to urge Russia to free Oleg Sentsov, as the worst-case scenario may happen any moment. In a post on Twitter, Klimkin wrote: Its 89th day of Oleg Sentsovs hunger strike. The film director is imprisoned by Russia for more than four years. He is on the verge of life and death. As a human being and Ukrainian citizen, I call everyone to support Oleg and urge Russia to free Sentsov. Solidarity has no end, but human life surely. As Ukrinform reported, Sentsov was detained by Russian security services in Crimea in May 2014. He was sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony in Russia for alleged "plotting acts of terrorism." On May 14, 2018, he declared a hunger strike demanding the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin. About 70 Ukrainians are political prisoners in Russia and in the occupied Crimea. This list also includes Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko, who was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony on fabricated charges of "espionage." iy Indonesia, elected as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2019-2020, is interested in the experience acquired by Ukraine during its non-permanent membership in this organization. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Ukraine Yuddy Chrisnandi stated this at a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, the Foreign Ministrys press service reports. The Indonesian side expressed its readiness for fruitful cooperation with Ukraine in all spheres of mutual interest. The Indonesian side expressed its interest in the experience acquired by Ukraine during its non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council in order to tackle effectively the global challenges of the international agenda, reads the report. The Deputy Foreign Minister congratulated Indonesia with the election as the non-permanent member of the UN Security Council 2019-2020 and confirmed the readiness of Ukrainian side to provide comprehensive assistance in this sphere. In particular, it was suggested to hold consultation with representatives of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations in New York. Also, at the beginning of the meeting, the Deputy Foreign Minister expressed condolences on the numerous victims caused by devastating earthquake that struck Lombok Island on August 5 and transferred the letter of condolences from President of Ukraine. Petro Poroshenko to President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo. In addition, the parties discussed wide range of issues of the bilateral agenda, as well as the prospects for further development of political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation. iy The European Union has called on Russia to provide Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov with appropriate treatment and to release immediately all illegally detained citizens of Ukraine. This is stated in a statement made by the spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS) on the continuous detention of Oleg Sentsov. "We expect Russia to provide him with appropriate treatment in an institutionalised medical setting in line with the European Court of Human Rights interim measure of the past 25th of July," the statement reads. The statement also notes that the European Union expects international human rights standards on the peninsula to be upheld and all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens in Russia and on the Crimean peninsula to be released without delay. As reported, on July 25, the European Court of Human Rights decided on an interim measure in the case of imprisoned Oleg Sentsov, calling on Russia to provide him with appropriate treatment in an institutionalised medical setting. The Court also invited Sentsov to end his hunger strike and to accept any life-saving treatment offered. Sentsov, who was illegally sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony, on May 14, 2018 declared a hunger strike demanding the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin. On May 28, Sentsov agreed to supportive therapy. On August 7, his lawyer Dmitry Dinze said that Sentsov's health condition had deteriorated. ish Ukraine will continue to move confidently towards its strategic goal of membership in the European Union. "Ukraine will never leave the path of reforms. We will continue to move confidently towards our strategic goal: Ukraine's membership in the European Union," President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko posted on his Facebook page. At the same time, Poroshenko noted that the European Union recognized the serious progress that Ukraine had made in implementing reforms. He recalled that European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had made the relevant statements at the 20th EU-Ukraine Summit in Brussels. ol The U.S. Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press has called on Russia-backed militants in Donbas to immediately release Ukrainian journalist Stanislav Aseyev. A respective statement was released on Wednesday, August 8, by U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff and Steve Chabot, the co-chairs of the House Freedom of the Press Caucus, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The Congressmen say they "are deeply concerned by reports that Ukrainian journalist Stanislav Aseyev continues to be held by Russia-backed separatist militants of the self-proclaimed 'Donetsk People's Republic' (DNR) in eastern Ukraine since June 2017." "Mr. Aseyev reported for various Ukrainian media and for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's local service, and was one of the few independent journalists to remain in the region under separatist control to provide objective reporting," the statement said. The Congressmen emphasize that Aseyev reportedly began a hunger strike in late June, and "his situation is becoming dire." Aseyev disappeared in Donetsk on June 2, 2017, and weeks later, Amnesty International said it had received information from sources in Donetsk region saying that Aseyev was being held by the self-styled security organs of the separatists. A friend of Aseyev's and a former lawmaker, Yehor Firsov, in July said the prisoner had declared a hunger strike and was being "kept in a damp room, sick, but does not receive the necessary medications" while under separatist custody. Firsov said the separatists had accused Aseyev of espionage and threatened him with up to 14 years in prison. About 70 Ukrainian political prisoners are held in Russia and in occupied Crimea. Among them is Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko, who was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment in a high-security colony for alleged espionage. op "We are seeing Russia's efforts to unleash, in fact, a military-economic blockade of the Azov coast of Ukraine," Turchynov said. Russian military-political leadership considers the Azov-Black Sea region as an important springboard for further expansion, says Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov. Russia's buildup of the military presence is combined with "brutal violation of international maritime law in the Azov Sea, which manifests itself, in particular, in the illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge and the growing number of incidents involving the detention by Russian military of Ukrainian and foreign vessels," Turchynov said during his visit to the zone of the Joint Forces Operation where he checked combat readiness to counter Russian aggression in the south of Ukraine and organization of the Azov Sea coastal defense. "We are seeing Russia's efforts to unleash, in fact, a military-economic blockade of the Azov coast of Ukraine," he said. Read alsoUkraine NSDC secretary slams Donbas referendum idea Mr. Turchynov stressed that the Mariupol direction remains one of the biggest threats in the JFO area, and "it is possible that the enemy could conduct both ground and sea landing operations along the Azov coast." "In the southernmost confrontation zone, a steadily high number of shellings of our positions and military provocations by the Russian-terrorist troops are being observed," he pointed out. During the meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, JFO Command, heads of the State Border Guard Service, National Police and National Guard, Turchynov paid significant attention to boosting coastal defense and effective repelling of possible land and sea provocations by Russia. Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine discussed with the leadership of the Ukrainian Navy the need to set up a vessel grouping in the Azov Sea. Read alsoUkraine seeks ways to curb Russia's creeping encroachment in Sea of Azov as tensions rise While staying in the Mariupol port, Turchynov defined with the leadership of the State Border Guard Service a set of tasks for technical support and strengthening of the marine component in providing reliable protection of the Ukrainian southern border. Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine visited forward positions of the Ukrainian military in Shyrokyne, which had long been at the epicenter of Russian military provocations and shellings. There, he discussed with the leadership of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade combat tasks to protect the southern flank of the contact line. According to Oleksandr Turchynov, an adequate counteraction to Russian expansion requires strengthening Ukraine's naval presence in the region by means of "relocating a part of the ship-boat Navy force, deploying additional watch posts along the coastline and at the sea, as well as rapid deployment of forces to counter Russian provocations in the Azov region." The Ukrainian official noted Minsk agreements had helped stabilize the situation at the front, while failing to address the main issue of resolving the conflict. Adviser to the Interior Minister Ivan Varchenko says peacekeepers may appear in Donbas as early as 2019. "In practice, it takes half a year to prepare a peacekeeping mission, so 'peacekeepers may appear in Donbas in 2019'," the Ministry's press service quoted Varchenko as saying. Varchenko said the return of the occupied territories is a path of compromise, where peacekeeping missions are combined with military efforts. "Ukraine is interested in reducing losses. Of course, every Ukrainian wants to return Crimea and Donbas as soon as possible. Therefore, we propose the first plan for de-occupation of Donbas. This is the first plan, where Ukraine offers real steps for the return of our territories," he said. Read alsoPutin's Donbas referendum idea to run aground just like his "peacekeeping" initiative - expert Varchenko noted the Minsk agreements had helped stabilize the situation at the front, while failing to address the main issue of resolving the conflict. "The strategy of de-occupation of Donbas, the so-called 'Mechanism of small steps,' enables Ukraine to become an actor and decide the future fate of its territories. We declare to international partners that it's not the negotiation format that's important to us, it's the return of our territories. We must get victories back on our country's agenda," Varchenko stressed. At the same time, the adviser to the interior ministry chief said a decision of the UN Security Council is required to greenlight a peacekeeping mission, while the aggressor state, which is Russia, is one of its five permanent members. "Therefore, it is also necessary to agree with them in part of us being ready to have such mission," Varchenko said. The Kremlin had said on Thursday it had received a letter from the mother of Sentsov asking Putin to pardon her son. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone to Russia's Vladimir Putin about the case of a Ukrainian filmmaker who is on hunger strike in Russian jail, Macron's office said on Friday. "The President of the Republic conveyed to President Putin his concerns, given that the health of Mr Sentsov seems to have worsened dangerously, and the importance that Russia urgently finds a humanitarian solution to the situation," a statement from Macron's Elysee Palace said, Reuters said. "President Putin committed to respond and to quickly publish information on Mr Sentsov's health," it said. Read alsoSentsov on verge of life and death Klimkin A statement published by the Kremlin after the conversation did not mention Sentsov, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was later quoted as confirming that the subject was discussed, without providing any more details. The Kremlin had said on Thursday it had received a letter from the mother of Sentsov asking Putin to pardon her son. Sentsov's health is rapidly declining, his lawyer and a relative said. Sentsov, 42, was arrested in Crimea after the Ukrainian territory was seized by Russian forces and annexed in 2014. He was jailed for 20 years on terrorism charges which he says are politically motivated, and has been on hunger strike since May to highlight Russia's human rights record. The pre-trial investigation into the incident was completed in May 2018. One more individual suspected of the organization of arson in the office of the Uzhgorod-based Society of Hungarian Culture of Zakarpattia was detained and taken into custody, according to the local prosecutor's office. It is recalled that around 3:00 on February 27 this year, as a result of the detonation of an improvised explosive device, the windows and facade of the building of the Society of Hungarian Culture of Zakarpattia were damaged and the organization's property was completely destroyed. No one was hurt in the incident. On August 8, law enforcers in Dnipropetrovsk region arrested a suspected organizer of arson. Read alsoUkraine on arson attack on Hungarian culture center: "Inciting hatred" On August 9, the court ruled to take the man into custody pending trial without a bail option. As noted by the prosecutor's office, in May, a pre-trial investigation was completed and an indictment was forwarded to the court against two men complicit in arson. Their actions were qualified as reparations for sabotage, terrorist act, acquisition and transportation of explosives without permission provided by law, and willful damage to property committed by a group of persons. As UNIAN reported, on May 26 the SBU Security Service they said that they forwarded to the court the case of an explosion in the Society of Hungarian Culture of Zakarpattia, ordered by Russian intelligence. Read alsoPro-Putin right-wingers from EU behind arson attempt at Hungarians Union building in Zakarpattia Governor The SBU noted that in early March, law enforcers detained two residents of Kropyvnytskiy, who are believed to have planted an IED on the facade of the organization's office. They also identified two of their accomplices - citizens of Ukraine and Moldova, who were put on the wanted list. According to Ukrainian authorities, a broader campaign focused on vandalization of Polish, Bulgarian, and Hungarian cemeteries and monuments was generally orchestrated by the so-called Ukraine Salvation Committee, based in Moscow, headed by fugitive former Ukraine Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, the Daily Beast reported back in February. What theyre really implying is that the real force behind it are the Russian intelligence services, which is likely, says Robert Cheda, a former Polish intelligence officer and an analyst at the Pulaski Foundation in Warsaw. It is no secret that the nationalist milieux are heavily infiltrated by Russians. Much as with Russias influence campaign in the United States, which was aimed at exploiting political and racial divisions, Moscows agents worked to inflame and exacerbate the existing tensions and cleavages. Ukrainian political prisoner Oleksandr Kostenko, recently released from the Russian prison, is now at risk of repeating the fate of Nadiia Savchenko in the sense that his return to Ukraine, which is now being boasted in high offices as a win of Ukraine authorities may as well result in his further imprisonment, this time in Ukraine. As practice shows, it is quite easy to walk a path from being a prisoner of conscience to becoming an ordinary convict. And this could happen rather quickly, too. Oleksandr Kostenko, 32, was released from prison in Russia's Kirov region, where he served a 3.5-year term for allegedly inflicting bodily injuries to a Berkut riot police operative during the Euromaidan events in Kyiv in 2014. Kostenko never pleaded guilty but, according to First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's humanitarian envoy to the Tripartite Contact Group in Minsk, Iryna Gerashchenko, "he served a full prison term, and that's why the Kremlin released him." On the same day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko personally talked with him by phone and the former Kremlin prisoner was brought to the Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow. Three days after his release, Oleksandr Kostenko arrived in Kyiv. But since his family lives in the illegally annexed Crimea and, for obvious reasons, he cannot return to the peninsula, he was provided a temporary place to stay in Kyiv. The Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova promised they would help the man to obtain the status of an internally displaced person, and to support him in the future. At the same time, after returning to Kyiv, reports emerged in social networks claiming that the SBU Security Service of Ukraine back in 2014 had already detained Kostenko on suspicion of terrorism and cooperation with Russian intelligence. Kostenko had been arrested and later bailed out by a rightwing Svoboda MP Eduard Leonov, since at the time Kostenko was his personal assistant. After that, Kostenko fled to Crimea, only to be subsequently detained by Russian security operatives. It should be noted that along with Kostenko in 2014, leader of the Azov-Crimea civil corp, Stanislav Krasnov, was also detained. He is now being accused of state treason after the SBU detained him again in 2016, after he had planted a cache of explosives. At the time, SBU chief Vasyl Hrytsak reported that Krasnov, together with Russian intelligence, was preparing terrorist acts in Kyiv and planned to blow up the buildings of the Verkhovna Rada, Cabinet of Ministers, and Presidential Administration. But while Krasnov was eventually arrested and brought to trial in Ukraine, Kostenko was not even put on the wanted list after he was detained in the occupied Crimea. Read alsoUkrainian political prisoner Kostenko freed in Russia Ombudsperson It turns out that, having left for the peninsula, Kostenko was in fact evading prosecution in Ukraine until he was arrested by the Russian authorities. It is yet to be seen whether Kostenko will now repeat the fate of Krasnov. As clarified by the press secretary of the Prosecutor General, Larisa Sargan, the criminal case against Kostenko, which was separated from the Krasnov probe, in which the indictment is already in court, is being investigated by the Svyatoshinsky police department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv. There was no sense to put the man on the wanted list since he had been serving his sentence in Russia. At the same time, criminal proceedings against Kostenko were suspended pending his prison term, and now they could be resumed. But no one is saying he will be taken into custody yet. As for the information from the SBU and the National Police, UNIAN has not received any replies to the relevant inquiries on whether the investigation will be resumed in Kostenko's case. At the same time, the report on the detention of the Kostenko-Krasnov group in May 2014 has gone from the SBU website. Read alsoUkrainian political prisoner Kostenko freed from Russian jail arrives in Ukraine's Embassy in MoscowSo far, only the Foreign Ministry reacted to the information on criminal proceedings against Kostenko, at the same time specifying that they are not an investigative body, therefore, they can provide no legal assessmsent. "As for his possible or probable involvement in the commission of unlawful actions on the territory of Ukraine, our function as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to ensure his release, to ensure his safe transportation to the territory of Ukraine," Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Andrei Zayats said, noting that this is the right of every citizen of Ukraine. Moreover, Russia did recognize that Kostenko was a Ukrainian national. However, the journalist Vladimir Boyko in his Facebook pointed out that Kostenko in 2015 had actually obtained a Russian passport from the so-called "Crimean authorities" and did so of his own free will. Read also"Mental health issue": PM Groysman on Savchenko's alleged terrorist plot in parliamentThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs says its officials are unaware of some other ID. "He crossed into Ukraine with his Ukrainian passport, so there was no ambiguity for us in this regard," said Zayats. Upon his arrival in Kyiv, Kostenko refused to comment on anything until he is interviewed by security services. Curiously, according to a pro-presidential Ukrainian blogger Myroslav Oleshko, Kostenko was persuaded to come to Kyiv instead of Crimea, because he is a valuable witness for the presidential administration. "His term has come to an end. Kostenko didn't want to go to Ukraine, he wanted to go to the occupied Crimea. And for Ukraine, this would be unacceptable. Therefore, he was persuaded to return to Ukraine... Ukraine should ensure the release of all its citizens from Russia, and after their arrival, things should be figured out, as it was with Savchenko. For our law enforcement agencies, he is now a valuable witness," Oleshko wrote on Facebook. Oleksandra Matviychuk, a human rights activist and head of the Center for Public Freedoms, believes that such incidents with premature heroization of Ukrainians imprisoned in Russia are due to the fact that Ukrainian society is accustomed to believing that if someone is on the list of political prisoners, they should be positioned as a hero, which in its essense is a mistake. "There are about 70 people on this list. And they are all completely different people. There is Oleh Sentsov, who was convicted of resisting Russian occupation and who started a hunger strike demanding the release of other political prisoners, and an ordinary man Serhiy Lytvynov from the village of Komyshne, who accidentally became a victim of persecution when had travelled for a dentist's appointment... The problem is not these people, it's us, because we, as a Ukrainian society, have not learned to fight for just people we are eager to fight only for heroes, so we tend to give them some outstanding features. But these are the same people as they were before they were convicted - people with their own history, advantages and disadvantages. The list of political prisoners is just a statement of the fact that a particular citizen of Ukraine was illegally thrown behind bars for political reasons in Russia or the occupied Crimea," Matviychuk said. Read alsoSBU say Azov member Krasnov, Russian intel plotted to blow up govt buildings in Kyiv Criminologist Hanna Maliar, in turn, believes that Kostenko is now being treated more than cautiously, since he can actually be a bearer of some important information. On the other hand, it is unclear what steps had been taken in the ombudsperson's office regarding his return to Ukraine. After all, he simply took advantage of the possibility of such return under Russian laws, since he fully served his prison sentence. "Obviously, the fuss around Kostenko on the part of the top politicians is an attempt to use the situation with the release as a pre-election move. After Savchenko was freed, Ukrainians have been expecting some surprises from every political prisoner [held in Russia], but the [Kostenko] case has little to do with that of Savchenko. It's worth noting that Kostenko has not yet made any statements, and, therefore, he doesn't seem ready yet to promote himself as a hero," says Maliar. UNIAN is still hoping to hear from the SBU and National Police whether the old criminal case against Oleksandr Kostenko is being renewed and will he be held accountable. But we can say for sure that Ukrainian politicians will not shy away from playing during presidential and parliamentary campaigns a trump card of Ukrainian nationals illegally held in Russia. Anastasia Zaremba If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Law enforcers caught red-handed the senior investigator of the Prosecutor General's Office, who demanded from a claimant a $50,000 bribe. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko says the General Inspectorate of the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) of Ukraine on August 9 detained a PGO's senior investigator on corruption-related charges. "A hat trick today. The General Inspectorate caught red-handed the senior investigator of the PGO, who demanded $50,000," Lutsenko wrote on Facebook. The "hat trick" referred to another two arrests made on the same day in corruption-related cases. Read alsoTrubas Triumph: Professionals only will work in the SBI According to the PGO, an official of the State Fiscal Service demanded $20,000 from entrepreneurs for reducing tax penalties. Lutsenko also reported the detention of the owner of theinsider.ua media outlet, Oleksiy Tamrazov. According to the prosecutor general, he attempted to give a prosecutor a $200,000 bribe for assisting in lifting the property seizure order in criminal proceedings. Lawyer Oleksandr Lemenov said the claimaint in this bribery case was a former employee of the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office, Kostiantyn Kulyk, who was himself probed for illegal enrichment. The anti-graft agency chief says the papers have already been agreed with prosecutors. The National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine has drafted and agreed with prosecutors suspicion notices in cases where people's deputies are involved, according to NABU Director Artem Sytnyk. "Despite certain procedural issues, we have some interesting developments in other cases. Drafts of suspicion notices have been prepared and agreed with the procedural supervisors in cases where people's deputies are involved," Sytnyk told a Kyiv briefing Friday, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Read alsoSAPO chief Kholodnytsky remains in office, gets reprimanded "We intend to forward them to the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office, so that in the future, perhaps, even reach the level of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine," Sytnyk said. It was earlier reported with the reference to the NABU chief that the agency analyzes the latest information on the links between Ukrainian officials with Donald Trump's ex-campaign chief and former adviser to the disgraced Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Paul Manafont. However, Sytnyk noted that Manafort is out of NABU's jurisdiction. Volker says control of the Ukraine-Russia border is essential. U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker says Russia could end fighting in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, at any time. "Russia and its forces have been obstructing the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to prevent the world from seeing how it sustains and prolongs the fighting. Russia could end the fighting at any time and bring peace for Ukraine. Control of the international border is essential," Volker tweeted on August 10. Read alsoVolker: Russia wants to hide humanitarian and economic disaster it causes in Ukraine's Donbas Volker earlier said Russia and its forces did not want the world to see the humanitarian and economic disaster in the east of Ukraine. "Russia and its forces routinely block [the] OSCE SMM in violation of its commitments. Russia doesn't want [the] world to see that it has created a humanitarian, economic, & ecological disaster in Donbas. It's time for peace for Ukraine," he tweeted on August 7. The enemy's military hardware is either on the front line or at the training grounds where active combat training is taking place. The Russian Federation has sent over 2,000 new troops to Donbas, eastern Ukraine, to carry out combat missions. This was reported by member of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine's Defense Ministry Vadym Skibitsky, according to the Directorate's website. He also mentioned the deployment by Russia of its equipment in Donbas. Read alsoOSCE drone spots convoys of Russian trucks entering and exiting eastern Ukraine "This equipment, which is deployed in occupied areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, belongs to the occupation troops," he said. According to him, the enemy's military hardware is either on the front line or at the training grounds where active combat training is taking place. Every day Ukraine's military intelligence service records about five to six instances of the violation of the Minsk agreements connected with the non-withdrawal of military equipment, he said. These are main battle tanks and artillery systems, which are now closer to the front line than the Minsk accords allow, he added. As UNIAN reported, Ukraine reported one killed in action, while another two were wounded in action in Donbas on August 9. Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh said that a teacher can play an important role for inculcating the habit of book reading in students He stated this while addressing a ceremony during his visit to National Book Foundation (NBF) on Friday. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh said that a teacher can play an important role for inculcating the habit of book reading in students He stated this while addressing a ceremony during his visit to National Book Foundation (NBF) on Friday. The minister was welcomed by the Managing Director National Book Foundation Dr. Inam ul Haq Javeid. Soon after his arrival at NBF, the Minister visited NBF Book Park where he planted a sapling. He visited NBF Readers Club, NBF Book Shop, National Book Museum and section of kids' book Kids Republic. He also appreciated NBF role in the promotion and development of books. Managing Director, National Book Foundation Dr. Inam ul Haq Javeid also spoke on the occasion. Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh also visited National Training Institute for Literacy and Non Formal Education (NFE) established by National Commission for Human Development (NCHD). The Minister chaired briefing on functions and objectives of NTI. Chairperson NCHD Razina Alam Khan was also present on the occasion. He was apprised that National Training Institute has devised National Plan of Action on Literacy and NFE in collaboration with all the stakeholders to achieve educational targets. Meanwhile, Rector National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Lt Gen (Retd) Naweed Zaman, HI (M) has also called on Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training. Both of them discussed matters related to education during the meeting. President of Azad Jammu Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan has sought State Bank of Pakistan's due assistance and action for giving the Bank of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (BAJK) the status of a scheduled bank. MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) ,:President of Azad Jammu Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan has sought State Bank of Pakistan's due assistance and action for giving the Bank of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (BAJK) the status of a scheduled bank. The AJK President took up the matter with Governor State Bank of Pakistan Tariq Bajwa who called on him at President House on Friday. The President informed the Governor State Bank of Pakistan that the Bank of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (BAJK) was established by the AJK Government back in 2005 to play its role in socio-economic development of the state. Since its inception, the bank has grown both in terms of its footprints in different parts of the State as well as in terms of its growing deposit base, which is evident from the fact that currently, the bank has 68 branches in 10 districts of the State with deposits of around Rs. 9.5 billion, President Masood told the Governor State Bank. The President said that in the first phase, State Bank should allow BAJK for opening foreign Currency accounts to facilitate the families of those settled abroad. He assured that Bank of AJK will remain compliant to all foreign exchange regulations and other instructions issued by the State Bank of Pakistan from time to time. Masood Khan further informed that AJK today represents a growing market of customers with an appetite for quality banking services. The area is a potential market for banks ensuring reasonable growth both in terms of deposits and other products such as retail banking, remittance services and technology advance projects. Governor State Bank Mr. Tariq Bajwa said that SBP is keenly interested in the growing consumer and industrial market of Azad Kashmir. He said that SBP will take all necessary measures to make banking sector in AJK robust. The AJK President also briefed the SBP governor about the positive economic outlook of Azad Kashmir. He said that recent entries in the development budget and host of initiatives taken in the infrastructure and social development sector provide huge stimulus in the sector. The president suggested that SBP may help provide an enabling environment for the further growth of the banking sector by removingimpediments on the way of its rapid progress and growth. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Nikol Pashinyan, the new Armenian Prime Minister, has asserted his countrys governments keenness to develop and strengthen relations with the UAE in all fields, which serves the interests of both friendly countries. YEREVAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 09th Aug, 2018) Nikol Pashinyan, the new Armenian Prime Minister, has asserted his countrys governments keenness to develop and strengthen relations with the UAE in all fields, which serves the interests of both friendly countries. This was stated when the Armenian Prime Minister received Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Qasimi, the UAE Ambassador to Yerevan, to congratulate him on being elected the prime minister and wished him luck and success on his new assignment. Pashinyan pointed out the necessity of developing the trade and economic relations between both countries and taking appropriate steps in this direction welcoming Emirati investments in Armenia in all the sectors. The Armenian Prime Minister asked the ambassador to deliver his greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and the means of developing them to the highest level. (@FahadShabbir) The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, global stockpile warehouses in Dubai today sent a shipment of aid to assist 3,700 families of internally displaced persons, IDPs, as a result of recent violence in south western Ethiopia. DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 09th Aug, 2018) The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, global stockpile warehouses in Dubai today sent a shipment of aid to assist 3,700 families of internally displaced persons, IDPs, as a result of recent violence in south western Ethiopia. Seventeen trucks were loaded with emergency relief items including, 7,400 water flasks, 18,500 mattresses, 7,400 water-proof plastic sheeting, 14,800 blankets and 3,700 kitchen sets. The UN refugee agency also deployed two emergency response teams to support local authorities and strengthen coordination response teams to ensure the protection of the IDPs at the request of the Ethiopian authorities. The Government of Ethiopia and humanitarian partners have issued a joint response plan, requiring a total of US$117.7 million to scale up humanitarian response to meet these critical needs and ensure protection of the displaced. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet has expressed reservations over efforts being underway by Indian government to change the status of Indian Occupied Kashmir. MUZAFFARABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet has expressed reservations over efforts being underway by Indian government to change the status of Indian Occupied Kashmir. The cabinet that met here Friday with Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan in chair passed a resolution calling upon Indian government to restrain itself from measures to change the status quo of disputed territory till resolution of Kashmir conflict under UN resolutions. The article 35-A of Indian constitution has protected a state subject law promulgated by Maharaja of the state in 1890 which provides that nobody can purchase land in Kashmir other than a permanent resident (State subject holder) of the state or can get any other benefits meant for state subject holders. Indian government had recently approached Supreme court of India to repeal the same article to give equal rights to all Indian citizens ignoring the fact that Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory and was not a part of Indian union. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rawalpindi, Dr. Umer Jahangir Friday reviewed the arrangements for the Independence Day 2018 celebrations. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rawalpindi, Dr. Umer Jahangir Friday reviewed the arrangements for the Independence Day 2018 celebrations. The meeting was attended by representatives of district police, civil defense, health, education and Municipal Corporation. The meeting reviewed arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations and took several important decisions in this regard. City Police officer, Ahsan Abbas informed the meeting that foolproof security arrangements will be made for August 14, and a special traffic plan will also be evolved for smooth flow of traffic on the day. The Deputy Commissioner directed the Police officers to ensure strict security during the celebrations of Independence Day. He also instructed the concerned officers to take measures for the cleanliness at all public places. Pakistan is observing the first death anniversary of Dr Ruth Pfau, a German doctor and nun today, who dedicated her life to eradicating leprosy in the country, reported a private news channel. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Pakistan is observing the first death anniversary of Dr Ruth Pfau, a German doctor and nun today, who dedicated her life to eradicating leprosy in the country, reported a private news channel. Dr Pfau, who was hailed as the Mother Teresa of Pakistan, passed away on August 10, 2017 at a hospital in Karachi. She was 87. A symbol of selflessness, Dr. Ruth Katharina Martha Pfau was a German nun who dedicated her life to eradicating Leprosy in Pakistan and has been called Pakistan's 'Mother Teresa'. She was born on September 9. 1929, in Leipzig Germany was fourth of five daughters. During World War II as a teenager, she barely survived the Allied bombing which destroyed her home. She was fond of becoming a doctor and in 1948, she escaped from the Soviet Occupation Zone and followed her father to Wiesbaden in West Germany to study medicine at the University of Mainz and in Marburg. After graduation she joined the Daughters of the Heart of Mary Society, when she was 29, she landed in Karachi. In 1960, Dr Ruth witnessed the devastation caused by Leprosy in Pakistan and decided to dedicate he rest of her life for people afflicted by Leprosy. Dr Ruth traveled to all areas of Pakistan and noticed that there were no medical treatment and hospitals for patients suffering from Leprosy. She collected funds, and with donation from Germany and Pakistan and in 1968 she managed to convince the Government of Pakistan to start a National Leprosy Control Program in corporation with the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Center (MALC) and set up clinics all over the country. In 1988, Dr Ruth was awarded Pakistani Citizenship. In 1989, she visited Afghanistan and worked for patients suffering from leprosy. Due to her tireless effort and great courage Pakistan was declared Leprosy free by the World Health Organization in 1996. MALC today has 157 leprosy control centers and more than eight hundred staff. Dr Ruth wrote four books in German about her contribution in Pakistan. In 1987 in her book 'To Light a Candle', and in another book she expressed her intention of never retiring. Dr Ruth received various honor awards for her courage. In 1969, she received Order of Merit, Nishan-e-Quaid-i-Azam, in 1979 Hilal-e-Imtiaz, 1989 Hilal-i-Pakistan, in 2002 Ramon Magsaysay Award, in 2003 the Jinnah award, in 2004 Doctor of Science Honoris Causa Aga Khan University, Karachi, in 2005 Marion Doenhoff prize, and in 2015 German Staufer Medal. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on the occasion of her death anniversary, also issued Rs 50 commemorative coin in honour of Dr Ruth PfauShe was a very active in helping in the relief operations in the aftermath of 2005 earthquake and the devastating floods in South-Western Pakistan in 2010. Dr. Ruth passed away in hospital at Karachi on August 10, 2017. The nation lost a real gem, the hard working doctor who felt pain for the people of the country. (@rukhshanmir) Mastana, a he-goat owned by Gujranwala-based citizen Bao Farrukh, here Friday won the animal beauty contest, with a weight of 300 kilograms. FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Mastana, a he-goat owned by Gujranwala-based citizen Bao Farrukh, here Friday won the animal beauty contest, with a weight of 300 kilograms. Chief organiser of the contest, Chaudhry Ata Muhammad Gujjar, said here Friday that the contest was held at Lal Mill Chowk, Factory Area. Another he-goat 'Phannay Khan' from Gujranwala, stood second with a weight of 292-kg, whereas the third position holder, yet another he-goat 'Tipu' of Atif Gujjar from Lahore carried 289-kg weight. Similarly, a bull of Faisalabad-based man Tariq Madola, got the first position with 1,135-kg weight, whereas bulls of Faizan and Usman stood second and third with 1038-kg and 941-kg weight, respectively. In buffalo competition, male buffalo (Bhensa) of Inaamul Haq got the first position with 975.500-kg weight while male buffaloes of Umar Gujjar and Ashfaq Gill were declared second and third position holders with 952-kg and 760-kg weight, respectively. In the ram competition, ram of Lahore-based Irfan grabbed the first position with 165-kg weight whereas rams of Shabbir Ahmad of Faisalabad and Muhammad Usman of Lahore stood second and third with 150-kg and 89-kg weight, respectively. Chief Organizer Chaudhary Ata Muhammad Gujjar later on distributed prizes among the position holders. Cash prize of Rs 250,000 was given to the first position holder while Rs 125,000 and Rs 75,000 were awarded to second and third position holders in goat competition. Similarly, Rs 100,000, Rs.50,000 and Rs 25,000 were awarded to first, second and third position holders in ram competition, whereas the first, second and third position holders of remaining competitions of bull and buffalo were given cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000, each. Special prizes beauty contest of Rs 50,000 each were awarded to first and second position holder sheep of Tariq Madola and goats of Bao Farrukh and Muhammad Irfan, chief organizer added. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Chief Secretary Punjab Akbar Durrani has said that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal rights to all minorities. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Chief Secretary Punjab Akbar Durrani has said that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal rights to all minorities. Practical steps are being taken for protection of rights of minorities in the province, he said during a meeting with a five-member delegation of National Lobbying for Minority Rights, at Civil Secretariat here on Friday. Issues related to family laws and job quota for minorities were discussed in the meeting. The chief secretary said that islam emphasizes protection of minority rights. Forbearance, mutual respect and equal protection of human rights are hallmark of an Islamic society, he added. He directed the secretary Human Rights and Minority Affairs Asim Iqbal to get finalised rules of business regarding the Hindu Marriage Act and Sikh Marriage Act at the earliest. He said that equal opportunities were provided to minorities for bringing them into the mainstream. He said that all minorities living in Pakistan were enjoying complete religious and social freedom, and the job quota for them was being implemented strictly. He said that it was also a priority of the government to take care of religious sites of minorities. He remarked that it was praiseworthy that minorities were playing vital role in progress and prosperity of the country. The delegates including Asif Aqeel, Khalid Shahzad, Prof Kalyan Singh, Sumaira Shafiq and Aira Indaras lauded the steps taken by the Punjab government for protection of minorities' rights and thanked the chief secretary Punjab. Secretary Home Capt (retd) Nasim Nawaz and Secretary RegulationSaleh Tahir were also present on the occasion. (@rukhshanmir) National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has arrested Deputy General Manager Records, Ministry of Commerce Employees Cooperative Housing Society (MOCECHS), Rameez Ahmed on charges of corruption. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has arrested Deputy General Manager Records, Ministry of Commerce Employees Cooperative Housing Society (MOCECHS), Rameez Ahmed on charges of corruption. The accused person in active connivance with others have been found involved in corruption and corrupt practices in allotment of plots, embezzlement of Society's funds, causing billions of rupees losses to members/public at large. As per details here on Friday, the accused remained involved in manipulation of balloting lists of the Society so as to render illegal gain to allottees. He also involved in connivance with other accused involved in the transfer of files on basis of fake and bogus documents to the allottees. The NAB officials produced the accused in Accountability Court Islamabad. The Judge of the Court after accepting the request of NAB Rawalpindi granted 10 days physical remand. In same case four accused persons namely Rana Ghulam Farid, President of MOCECHS, Syed Amir Hussain Shah, Ex-Vice President/ General Secretary MOCECHS, Mazhar Hussain General Secretary MOCECHS and Muhammad Akram Awan Ex- Executive MemberDevelopment Committee MOCECHS have also been remanded for07 days physical remand to NAB Rawalpindi in corruption case. (@rukhshanmir) Director General (DG) National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Karachi Mohammad Altaf Bawany Friday said that the NAB takes cognizance of cases without discrimination and currently amongst all NAB Regional Bureaus, NAB Karachi was investigating the largest number of cases. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Director General (DG) National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Karachi Mohammad Altaf Bawany Friday said that the NAB takes cognizance of cases without discrimination and currently amongst all NAB Regional Bureaus, NAB Karachi was investigating the largest number of cases. Addressing the Khuli Kachehri (Open Court) at Circuit House Hyderabad, he said that media has always been equally vibrant partner in NAB's drive against corruption and was encouraged to expose corruption through investigative journalism, said a statement. Mohammad Altaf said under the chairmanship of NAB Justice (R) Javed Iqbal, NAB was striving to eliminate the menace of corruption from the country. In this regard NAB would be going district to district to collect complaints against the corrupt elements. He also briefed about the actions taken on complaints received in previous public hearing. On the occasion, DG NAB Karachi along with his team heard public and received their complaints. Complainants from Hyderabad, Jamshoro and adjoining districts submitted their complaints against malpractices and corruption in various government departments. Various complaints were registered including against non-payment of dues by Sugar Mills for sugarcane supplied by growers, illegal constructions of housing society projects, against builders for non-provision of booked properties, illegal change of courses of water by Irrigation Department for favoring individuals, illegal appointments in various government departments, over billing by HESCO and others. DG NAB Karachi issued orders for immediate cognizance of complaints that fall within jurisdiction of National Accountability Ordinance 1999; whereas many complaints against the administration were also marked to local authorities for redress and disposal under intimation to NAB. Commissioner Hyderabad also visited and assured the DG NAB to extend full cooperation to redress complaints. A human skeleton hangs on the wall above a creepy plastic baby head. A smiling doll stares down at the customers from a high shelf. A gramophone blasts eerie music. In Tommy Tan's Murder Ink bookstore, everything exudes a mysterious vibe. The store is located in a quiet alley in downtown Taipei and is one of the few bookstores in Taiwan that focuses mainly on detective novels. "I launched the bookstore because I wanted to help the detective genre take root in Taiwan," Tan, 47, says. "I have always loved detective books, and it makes my life more meaningful if people can share the joy of literature with me." Tan says he hopes the bookstore can enrich people's lives. His "dream bookstore" would be a place where readers can communicate and make friends with each other, and authors can share their ideas and draw inspiration from each other. But his idea comes at a time when brick-and-mortar bookstore businesses in Taiwan are struggling in an increasingly digitized era. According to a report by the People's Daily in May, on Taiwan's South Chongqing Road, where there were once more than 100 bookstores, now, only 10 remain. Tan says-even with all the classic books he has collected from around the world, the carefully decorated reading room and the book discounts-public interest in traditional bookstores seems to be diminishing in today's digitized world. He says these days, his bookstore sometimes receives only one or two customers a day. But despite the setback, Tan is determined to hold on to his store. "I think brick-and-mortar bookstores are unique and irreplaceable," Tan says. "It's a place where you can be inspired and enlightened, and create something special." Tan says bookstores give people an experience that e-books will never be able to replace. Detective books Before Tan started Murder Ink, he was an independent online-documentary editor. His real passion, however, has always been detective books. "I have always loved experiencing the craziness in detective books and mystery novels," Tan says. "You learn about compassion, and you can find comfort in books. "Every time I read the mystery genre, I feel like a detective myself." Tan has translated many detective stories, which further inspired him to create a detective-themed bookstore. When he launched Murder Ink, he only had a small collection of secondhand books but he wanted more. An elderly woman in Taiwan heard about the store, contacted Tan and donated her collection of some 600 detective books to him. He also decorated the store to attract more people, with items such as plastic dolls, a skeleton and a gramophone. But despite his efforts, business has been "tepid", he says. The store only made about 400 Taiwan dollars ($13) in two days at its worst point. "I remember we were making ends meet, and I had to sell a piece of the store's antique furniture to pay rent," Tan says. He says at this point of his life, it's no longer about making big bucks, but about living a meaningful and worthwhile life. The bookstore allows him to do that. "I would not be doing this if I wanted to make money," Tan says. "Plus, the bookstore helps preserve culture." New page Tan says that, at first, he just wanted to focus on selling books, but discovered only selling books was not enough to keep the store together. To help the store survive, he studied how to make beverages for some extra money. "We also rented our store to people making films or advertisements," he says. "We are also coming up with novel ways to promote the bookstore to attract more readers. "I often go on radio (shows) to talk about the latest books I read." He has invited authors and readers to the store to share their ideas as well. The store also sells some other items, such as calendars, fedora hats and nail polish. He is thinking about transforming the bookstore into a homestay that offers accommodation, food and books to tourists, he says. "Essentially, the store is all about bringing people back to the world of books and enjoying a moment of life," Tan says, adding that he believes literature is powerful. In a crackdown, Police recovered huge quantity of drugs worth in million from different areas here on Friday. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :In a crackdown, Police recovered huge quantity of drugs worth in million from different areas here on Friday. According to a police spokesman, Jatli police arrested a notorious drug smuggler, Muhammad Naeem Asif and recovered 1. 5 kg charas from his possession while Kotli police nabbed Muhammad Shahid and confiscated 2 kg heroin from his custody. Taxila police also arrested Babar Saleem and recovered 60 liter liquor from his possession. Police haveregistered separate cases against all and started further investigation. (@rukhshanmir) Keeping in view the miseries and backwardness of the province of Baluchistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on intervention of Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, has announced fifty scholarships for the poor and underprivileged students from the province of Baluchistan in undergraduate and graduate programmes at renowned Saudi universities. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Keeping in view the miseries and backwardness of the province of Baluchistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on intervention of Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, has announced fifty scholarships for the poor and underprivileged students from the province of Baluchistan in undergraduate and graduate programmes at renowned Saudi universities. In this regard, Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Syed Al-Maliki called on Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani at the Parliament House on Friday and briefed him about the scholarships besides exchanging views on matter of mutual interests, said a press release here. He said that the fully funded scholarship would provide students with tuition fee and other necessary expenses besides a stipend to cater for the monthly expenses. Saudi Envoy informed that the number of scholarships would be doubled in the next year to facilitate more students from the province of Baluchistan. He also lauded the efforts and contribution of Chairman Senate for the socio-economic prosperity of the people of province of Baluchistan. Matters of mutual interests also came under discussion during the meeting. The Chairman Senate said that both Pakistan and Saudi Arab share identical views on promotion of regional peace and security and can play effective role in promoting peace and harmony. He said that region is faced with problems of terrorism and extremism and especially the Muslim nations are having the major brunt of such social evils. He said that collective efforts on the part of leadership of the Muslim world can complement global efforts towards lasting peace. Chairman Senate also lauded the contributions of Saudi Envoy in promoting bilateral relations. He said that scholarships would provide a better opportunity for exposure besides enhancing skills as the students would participate in research activities and explore new avenues of learning. He thanked the Saudi government for this generous gesture which would help elevate miseries of the people of Baluchistan. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Umer Jhangir Friday said that no body would be allowed to collect hides of sacrificial animals without obtaining prior permission from the district administration. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Deputy Commissioner (DC) Umer Jhangir Friday said that no body would be allowed to collect hides of sacrificial animals without obtaining prior permission from the district administration. Presiding over a meeting here, to review security arrangements for Eid Ul Azha ,the DC said that nothing could be more important than maintenance of law and order, therefore maximum attention would be paid in this regard. Umer said that charity organizations having NOC for collection of hides could collect the hides while use of loudspeakers for collection of hides would be banned. He said that district administration would also set up specific points for the collecting of hides. On the occasion, Umer directed police officials to ensure tight security arrangements at sensitive installations including mosques, grave-yards, parks and other public places for Eid-ul-Azha. He said walk-through gates and scanners should be installed at all places of worship. The meeting was also attended by City Police Officer (CPO), AhsanAbbas, and senior officials of other departments Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Friday sought details of new ordinance from Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Friday sought details of new ordinance from Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). The committee meeting which was chaired by Senator Mian Attique also sought details of newly installed computerized system in the PMDC besides details of foreign visit of project employees to attend health conferences in abroad. The committee appealed the Attorney General to pursue the case of central admission policy for medical and dental colleges pending with the Supreme Court. CEO DRAP Dr Sheikh Akhtar Hussain informed the committee that the DRAP's board had fixed the price of stent which was decided on the order of the Supreme Court. He added the stent's price had to increase due to increase in Dollar rate. He said that after three months the price of stent could be adjusted in accordance with the rate of dollar. He made it clear that the authority didn't increase the stent price but actually it had issued notice on the matter. He said that now price will be placed on every stent and there will be display of prices of stents in hospitals for public awareness. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Describing the victory of candidates belonging to minority communities on general seats in the recent elections as "a positive message" President Mamnoon Hussain Friday urged for ending negative propaganda about the opportunities of progress and prosperity for minorities in Pakistan. The President expressed these views while addressing a function organized to celebrate the minorities' day here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Mohammad Yousuf Shaikh also addressed the function which was attended among others caretaker Federal ministers, members of parliament, diplomats, Ulema, Bishops, Bandits and people from different faiths. The President said the recent elections was a best example of inter-faith harmony in the country as it was for the time that besides the majority, the representatives of minority communities also contested on general seats and secured victory. He said this development would have a positive impact on national life and would prove to be an important mile-stone towards national unity. The President expressed his desire that this positive development should also impact other areas of life including the political arena so that the situation arising out of current groupings, tension and disharmony die down and different segments of society work in unison for the country's progress and prosperity. He said disharmony in the society could hinder the process of national development as well as the realization of the dreams of prosperity. The President said the minorities' day was an opportunity for the Pakistani society to renew its pledge to continue to work towards the protection of the rights of minorities as well as the promotion of inter-faith harmony in line with the vision of the founder of nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. MINSK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Belarus and Kazakhstan will sign a cooperation roadmap for 2019-2020 in September. The matter was discussed by outgoing Belarus Ambassador to Kazakhstan Anatoly Nichkasov and Kazakhstan Premier Bakytzhan Sagintayev and First Deputy Premier Askar Mamin, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The parties said they are ready for holding the 14th session of the intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation to be held in Brest on 12-13 September and for adopting a cooperation roadmap for 2019-2020,? the press service informed. The parties discussed trade and economic contacts between the two countries. They pointed to positive trends in the bilateral trade in recent years and reaffirmed their commitment to stepping up cooperation in high technology and investments. A special focus was placed on implementing the agreement on social and economic cooperation till 2026 that was signed in Minsk on 29 November 2017. Hackers targeted the official Facebook page of Cambodia's premier Hun Sen on Friday and falsely claimed he would cede several parliamentary seats, an official said, after the strongman swept last month's election virtually uncontested. Phnom Penh, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :Hackers targeted the official Facebook page of Cambodia's premier Hun Sen on Friday and falsely claimed he would cede several parliamentary seats, an official said, after the strongman swept last month's election virtually uncontested. The long-serving leader's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is expected to take all 125 spots in parliament when official results are announced next week, cementing Cambodia's status as a one-party state. But on Friday, hackers broke into Hun Sen's official Facebook page and said the CPP would give away four seats to other parties, a ruling party spokesman confirmed to AFP. The perplexing message was up for about an hour and got some 3,300 "likes" before it was removed. "The news was fake," Sok Eysan told AFP, confirming there are no plans to share seats with any other parties. He said Hun Sen's account was likely hacked by "opposition groups or traitors or outlawed rebels." The post claimed the seats would go to Funcinpec Party and the League for Democracy Party, both small political parties in Cambodia that took a slim margin of votes last month. The controversial election was held without the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on the ballot after it was dissolved by a Cambodian court last year and one of its leaders Kem Sokha jailed and accused of treason. The CNRP won 44 percent of the vote in the last elections, the most credible challenge to Hun Sen's rule since he came to power 33 years ago. The 66-year-old leader eagerly embraced social media in the run-up to the election in a bid to win support from the youth in Cambodia, where two-thirds of the population of 16 million people are under 30. His Facebook page has 10 million likes, but he has come under fire for allegedly buying support from so-called "click farms", which he denies. His elections campaign also coincided with the silencing of critics in the media and civil society, and his overwhelming election majority drew criticism from the United States and the European Union. Voter turnout was more than 80 percent, though more than 600,000 of ballots were spoiled and considered inadmissible, sparking concerns of voter intimidation. (@rukhshanmir) The Lithuanian agriculture ministry announced on Thursday a plan to offer small farmers financial incentive to drop pig farming amid Lithuania's four-year struggle to contain African swine fever (ASF). VILNIUS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :) The Lithuanian agriculture ministry announced on Thursday a plan to offer small farmers financial incentive to drop pig farming amid Lithuania's four-year struggle to contain African swine fever (ASF). The ministry is to offer small farmers 100 Euros (115 U.S. Dollars) in compensation for each slaughtered pig and up to 1,500 euros to buy new animals as of September this year. According to the ministry, the farmers willing to continue pig farming could apply for financial aid of up to 1,500 euros to improve biological safety of their pig herds. The measures are introduced following the ASF outbreak at Lithuania's largest pig farm with a herd of around 20,000 pigs earlier this week. All pigs at the farm had to be utilized following the outbreak of ASF. "The virus doesn't choose whether it is a big or small farm. This is a pandemic spreading throughout Lithuania," Lithuania's agriculture minister Giedrius Surplys said in a statement on Thursday. It has been 4 years since the virus started spreading in Lithuania and neighboring countries. According to data from Lithuania's State food and veterinary service (VMVT), 41 ASF cases were registered at the country's pig farms so far this year, compared to 30 cases at the pig farms for the whole 2017 and 19 in 2016. ASF virus is not harmful to humans, but is lethal to pigs and boars. (@ChaudhryMAli88) South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has offered amnesty to all rebels and armed opposition leader Riek Machar. JUBA (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Aug, 2018 ) ,:South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has offered amnesty to all rebels and armed opposition leader Riek Machar. The amnesty announcement was read out on state-run television late on Wednesday. It follows an agreement signed by South Sudan's warring parties that grants the opposition power in a transitional government to end the young nation's five-year bloody civil war that claimed tens of thousands of lives. The agreement states that Kiir stays president and Machar will return to the country as the first vice president alongside five others. "This genuine offer was made by his Excellency in the interest of peace so it would be wise if they (rebels) response to this call by the president," Michael Makuei, the government spokesman and information minister, told Anadolu Agency. Since the beginning of the South Sudan civil war in 2013, tens of thousands have been killed and hundreds of others have been kidnapped, arrested and unlawfully detained, mostly by forces loyal to President Kiir but also by the opposition pitted against him. Paul Lam Gabriel, a spokesman for Machar, rejected the offer as "meaningless" and "a blank cheque". He said Kiir had issued amnesties in the past, including one in 2016, but no political prisoner or opposition member had benefited from it. "He (Kiir) is using this to whip up support from the international community and the region". "If the government is serious about this amnesty, they should free political detainees in Juba."South Sudan slid into chaos in 2013 when President Kiir accused his ex-deputy Machar of a coup, an accusation Machar denied. The war engulfed the whole country, spurring a new wave of violence that fueled Africa's biggest refugee crisis and displaced four millions people from their homes, including 2 million refugees who sought shelter in neighboring countries. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will build a pipeline connecting Ethiopia to the Eritrean port of Assab, state media reported Friday. Addis Ababa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2018 ) :The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will build a pipeline connecting Ethiopia to the Eritrean port of Assab, state media reported Friday. The agreement was reportedly made during discussions in Addis Ababa between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and UAE Minister of International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy. The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate did not provide details on the agreement. Landlocked Ethiopia used an oil refinery located in Assab port for its domestic oil needs beforea two-year war over the demarcation of the border broke out between the two countries in 1998, leaving some 80,000 dead before settling into a bitter cold war. Music and dance extravaganza, Heartbeat of Home, will return to China with a tour which kicks off this October. It will visit more than 30 Chinese cities, performing more than 80 shows, including several performances in Beijing between Jan 2-6, 2019. The world premiere of the show, which features Irish, Latin and Afro-Cuban music and dance, took place in 2013 and made its debut in China in 2015. Riverdance founders, producer Moya Doherty and director John McColgan, are behind the production, which pays homeage to Irish traditions as well as celebrating the present. The Golden Globe-nominated composer, Brian Byrne, wrote the music that threads the show together. Other creative team members include choreographers David Bolger, John Carey, and set designer Alan Farquharson. Evaluating socio-economic inequality in cause-specific mortality among the working population requires large cohort studies. Through this census-based study, we aimed to quantify disparities in mortality across occupation-based social classes in Italy. We conducted a historical cohort study on a sample of more than 16 million workers. We estimated the mortality rate ratios for each social class, considering upper non-manual workers as reference. Non-skilled manual workers showed an increased mortality from upper aero-digestive tract, stomach and liver cancers, and from diseases of the circulatory system, transport accidents and suicides in both sexes, and from infectious diseases, diabetes, lung and bladder cancers only in men. Among women, an excess mortality emerged for cervical cancer, whereas mortality from breast and ovarian cancers was lower. When education was taken into account, the excess mortality decreased in men while was no longer significant in women. There are remarkable disparities across occupation-based social classes in the Italian working population that favour the upper non-manual workers. Our data could be useful in planning policies for a more effective health and social security system. International journal of public health. 2018 Jul 26 [Epub ahead of print] Paola Bertuccio, Gianfranco Alicandro, Gabriella Sebastiani, Nicolas Zengarini, Giuseppe Costa, Carlo La Vecchia, Luisa Frova Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanzetti 5, 20133, Milan, Italy., Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanzetti 5, 20133, Milan, Italy. ., Italian National Institute of Statistics, Rome, Italy., Epidemiology Unit, ASL TO3 Piedmont Region, Grugliasco, TO, Italy. PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30051314 Against a stunning view of Lake Mead at a new scenic overlook, elected officials joined Southern Nevada residents, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), to celebrate the historic opening of the first 15 miles of Interstate-11. Pictured above: Clark County Commissioner and RTC Chairman Larry Brown, Boulder City Mayor and RTC board member Rod Woodbury, FHWA Director of Field Services West Peter Osborn, Metro Chamber of Commerce President Mary Beth Sewald, Nevada State Senator Joe Hardy, Paula Mendenhall, Clark County Commissioner and RTC board member Chris Giunchigliani, Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. Senator Dean Heller and RTC General Manager Tina Quigley at the I-11 grand opening in Boulder City, Nev. The $318 million project at the Nevada-Arizona border is the first step to connect Las Vegas with Phoenix and eventually create a major trade route between Mexico and Canada. Las Vegas and Phoenix are the only cities with more than 1 million residents not connected by an interstate highway. The new interstate, which broke ground in 2015, starts with the recently opened NDOT phase of 2.5 miles from I-515 in Henderson to U.S. 93 at the Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino interchange. It then continues with RTCs phase of 12.5 miles that winds around Boulder City to connect at the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. The second phase of the 15-mile interstate opened to motorists Thursday afternoon after the grand opening celebration. To set the tone for the event, Boulder City High School marching band and cheer team, along with the Vegas Golden Knights drumbots and Golden Aces cheerleaders welcomed the attendees arrival at the scenic overlook. I-11 in Southern Nevada will relieve congestion in Boulder City, where 34,000 vehicles pass through the area daily with traffic signals and congestion near the historic downtown area. The new four-lane interstate, with higher speeds and no traffic backups at traffic signals, will reduce travel time by up to 30 minutes from the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge to Henderson, while also improving safety and freight movement. Clark County Commissioner and RTC Chairman Larry Brown hosted the event, attended by more than 500 residents and numerous leaders, including Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Director of Field Services West Peter Osborn, U.S. Senator Dean Heller, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Congresswoman Dina Titus, Congressman Ruben Kihuen, Nevada State Senator Joe Hardy, Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson, Boulder City Mayor and RTC board member Rod Woodbury, and Metro Chamber of Commerce President Mary Beth Sewald. This is a great day for Boulder City and its future, said Mayor Woodbury. Boulder Citys section of I-11 has the distinction of being the first leg in the CANAMEX corridor linking Las Vegas to Phoenix and ultimately Canada to Mexico. More than 300 Boulder City residents got an advance experience of walking, running and biking on I-11 in June and the response was extremely positive and encouraging. In Nevada, NDOT is researching routes and gathering input from residents on the future I-11 corridor from Las Vegas. State officials envision I-11 heading from northwest Las Vegas along an upgraded U.S. 95 to Tonopah. NDOT is reviewing four options using a mix of existing roadways and new traffic lanes leading up to I-80 in northern Nevada. The options were discussed in a series of statewide meetings in March. They are under evaluation and results will be presented at the next round of meetings. We are excited and pleased to see this phase completed and especially the collaboration with the RTC and Boulder City to complete each phase ahead of schedule, said NDOT Director Randy Malfabon. We look forward to the next phase of I-11 in Nevada and what it will contribute to our economy going forward. Meanwhile, federal and Arizona officials are in the environmental review process for the I-11 corridor from Nogales in the south to Wickenburg in the north. Today puts us one step toward closing the interstate gap between Las Vegas and Phoenix and creating a connection that will forever change the Intermountain West region, said Brown. One day, when I-11 stretches to Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, it will be remembered that it all started right here in Boulder City, Nevada. Exhibitors and buyers are showing great interest in the high-end and intelligent equipment scheduled to be shown at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in early November. During a matchmaking meeting for exhibitors and buyers held in Shanghai on Wednesday, Zhong Xiaomin, deputy director of the China International Import Expo Bureau, said that the highend and intelligent equipment exhibition area has become the focus of attention. China National Machine Tool Corp is responsible for soliciting exhibitors for the high-end and intelligent equipment show area. Liang Feng, the corporation's president, said during the meeting on Wednesday that the total exhibition area for such equipment would cover 33,000 square meters, accommodating more than 160 overseas companies. Eight of the world's top 10 machine tool companies, as well as all the world's top five cutter manufacturers, will take part in the first CIIE. Meanwhile, at least 10 companies will debut their latest products or technologies at the CIIE, said Liang. According to Wang Qiang, chairman of Donghao Lansheng, said that this year's high-end and intelligent equipment area will focus on four major sectorsaerospace engineering, integrated circuits, industrial automation and robotics. As the equipment might be relatively expensive, with the cost of some surpassing 10 million yuan ($1.5 million), it is crucial to conduct a matchmaking meeting in advance to realize transactions during the CIIE, said Wang. A total of 81 registered exhibitors and 269 buyers attended the meeting on Wednesday. Leading Japanese manufacturing company Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp, which was the first to sign up for this year's CIIE, will showcase its most advanced small and medium-sized robots during the show, said Liu Xiaobing, director of the robotics business department at Nachi Shanghai. "The Chinese robotics market was so heated last year that we had to use part of our production capability in Japan for the Chinese market. As the market is further consolidating, we will make the products more efficient and tailor-made for Chinese clients' demand," he said. Waldrich Coburg from Germany will showcase the largest piece of exhibition at this year's CIIE. Its 200-metric-ton planer type milling machine, with a price tag of 2.6 million euros ($3 million), can process all kinds of sophisticated parts used in automobiles and machines. Zhong Mei Zhou Ji Investment (Hong Kong), the distributor of Leonardo helicopters made in Italy, will showcase three models of helicopters at the CIIE. Bok Bok Chicken is celebrating the opening of its first restaurant in Las Vegas on Aug. 11 by offering customers free food and by supporting local charity Project 150. The owners of Bok Bok Chicken are inviting everyone to enjoy their Mediterranean flavors, served fresh in a welcoming environment, free of charge while supplies last from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11. The restaurant is at 7501 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite 100, at Buffalo Drive. Bok Bok Chicken plans to open two other locations around Southern Nevada by the end of 2018. The Mediterranean eaterys next two locations are being built in the Green Valley and Centennial Hills areas and are scheduled to open this fall. A fourth location is planned to open in Town Square next year. To celebrate its grand opening and contribute to the community at the same time, Bok Bok Chicken is joining forces with Project 150, whose mission is to serve homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students throughout Nevada. Guests can help raise funds for Project 150 by purchasing any item at the restaurant during its first month in business. Bok Bok Chicken will donate five percent of all sales from Aug. 12 through Sept. 11, 2018. Bok Bok founders said this partnership will continue as it opens its other locations in Southern Nevada. Were excited about launching Bok Bok in Las Vegas and want our guests to have a wonderful dining experience, Bok Bok founder Silva Chamanian said. Being able to share our family recipes in this beautiful new space with our friends and everyone here in Las Vegas is our main priority. Chamanian said Bok Bok was born in family backyard barbeques, and family is at the heart of the business, with recipes passed down, tested and perfected at those family gatherings. Guests will enjoy fresh, bold and creative food, made from scratch and served in a comfortable environment where modern farmhouse meets Mediterranean. The menu features a variety of options that cater to just about everyones palate, she added. Signature dishes include beef shawerma, rotisserie chicken, and made-to-order falafel. Bok Bok will also make its own pita bread fresh each day and offer a diverse variety of beverages including Tan and Sumac lemonade. Bok Bok Chicken is a fast-casual concept with restaurants ranging in size from 1,100 to 2,400 square feet, offering between 36 and 55 seats at each location. The restaurants will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Bok Bok will employ more than 50 people by the time it opens its third location. Residents of the Borei Keila community in Phnom Penh have accused the tycoon landowner who has sought to have them evicted from their homes of releasing dogs at the site in the hope they would attack the protestors. Suy Sophan, who controls the Phan Imex company that owns the land where the community lives, was accused of releasing the dogs who reportedly attacked at least one woman. Sophan took over the site in 2012 and attempted to evict the residents without offering them compensation. She used violence against us. She doesnt know how to react to us but releasing dogs to bite us. She didnt pay attention to us, said Phok Sophin, a resident. Sophin said her home was bulldozed in 2012 along with about 300 others when Phan Imex took over the area. I appealed also to Prime Minister Hun Sen to look at the poor because he was elected for this sixth mandate, please look at us and don't let your subordinates to treat us badly like that, Sophin added. In December 2017, a deputy municipal governor Mean Chanyada issued a notice claiming that more than 90 percent of residents had agreed to leave the area and receive compensation. But some families have refused to leave because they say they were promised new housing at the site which has yet to materialize. Sophan could not be reached for comment on Thursday. Meth Meas Pheakdey, a spokesman for City Hall, also could not be reached. The United States has warned Cambodia of further sanctions following what Washington said was a deeply flawed election last month that saw Prime Minister Hun Sen cement his rule in the absence of an established opposition party. The U.S. has said new sanctions may be similar to those imposed in December, which saw visa bans placed on senior officials and their family members. The European Union is also considering sanctions against Cambodia, which may take the form of a suspension of Cambodias membership of a vital preferential trade scheme. But experts have said that targeted sanctions against senior figures in the regime will be more effective and less damaging to ordinary Cambodians. So were working on travel bans and asset seizure for the Dirty Dozen, and for Hun Sen, and dozens of other people who have the same human rights records and record of corruption, Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), told a conference for overseas Cambodians in Minnesota last week, referring to 12 senior military officials HRW singled out as propping up Hun Sens regime. And that has to be our goal, to isolate the regime to make them feel the pain of what theyve just done. Cambodia relies heavily on US and EU markets for their annual exports, mainly garment and footwear products. After the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party announced it won all 125 seats in parliament in the July 29 election, criticism of the electoral process from abroad was dismissed, with officials saying they did not need the support of foreign powers for the vote to be legitimate. Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for over 33 years, remains defiant. He challenged his critics by vowing to address the UN General Assembly next month to argue his case. So I will be able to go to the United Nations, Hun Sen told a gathering of workers last week. I will have a chance to address the UN to show you all that a sovereign country can organize its own elections without anyone, except our king, to approve it. Hun Sen also revealed his plans to meet EU leaders in October and challenged opposition supporters there to stage a protest against the visit. Ive told you my plan so that youre able to gather yourselves for a protest, he said. Now, some countries are tired of Cambodian protests. Therefore, go ahead and do it. Just days before the election took place, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Cambodia Democracy Act, which calls for free and fair elections. The bill also calls for asset freezes and visa bans on Cambodian officials. Hun Sen, members of his family, and a dozen members of his inner circle have been targeted for sanctions. The Cambodian election on Sunday was a sham, Congressman Alan Lowenthal said in an e-mail to VOA Khmer. It was not decided by the will of the people. It was decided by Prime Minister Hun Sen in November when he outlawed his only real political opposition in order to ensure his stranglehold on power. Lowenthal, who co-sponsored the bill, warned of the possible consequences of the way the vote was organized. The Cambodian people were promised a free and fair election; instead they received an orchestrated stage show by a dictator, said Lowenthal. His regime can claim zero legitimacy for subverting the will of the people. Five US senators, including Ted Cruz and Patrick Leahy, also introduced their own bill in February. The Cambodia Accountability and Return on Investment Act, which is now at the Senates Foreign Committee, calls for asset freezes, visa bans, conditions on assistance, and opposition to international loans. Cambodian American activists are now rallying support to get the two bills passed. We have our representatives in all 50 states that are working on letters to send to their senators through CNRP representative offices and ask for a meeting with them, said Ken Kiv, a community activist from Maryland. We want to let them know the Khmer peoples suffering and this unfair election. We want the return of the Paris Peace Agreement. We will continue to push for the passing of the two bills, said Men Vannak, CNRP-Americas spokesman in Lowell, MA. We are also preparing a protest before the formation of the new government in Cambodia. Human Rights Watch said their efforts will not go in vain. There is a great risk here for Hun Sen, said Brad Adams. I think he miscalculated it. He didnt understand it. He may have thought in the end a buy of China is enough but I think thats wrong. Adams said Hun Sen should be banned from any democratic country. All of us have a role in trying to make sure that each of these countries that have been soft on Cambodia is really clear about what has just been happening in Cambodia, he added. And that they make the right decision about their relationship with Cambodia in the future. We should not see any more of Hun Sens visits to any democratic country. Thats one of my goals. A former Buddhist monk infamous for a jet-set lifestyle was sentenced Thursday to more than 100 years in prison in connection with funds he fraudulently raised from followers. Wirapol Sukphol caused a scandal when he appeared in a 2013 YouTube video in his monk's robes aboard a private jet wearing aviator sunglasses with a Louis Vuitton carry-on by his side. He was defrocked amid accusations that he had sexual relations with several women a major violation of the precepts guiding monks' behavior and had impregnated one. There were also allegations he had sex with a 14-year-old girl. Because of the furor, he fled to the United States, where he was arrested in 2016 and extradited last year. The Ratchada Criminal Court in Bangkok sentenced him Thursday to 114 years in prison, although legal technicalities capped the actual time he must serve at 20 years. He was found guilty of fraud, money laundering and violation of the computer crime act for spending money he had solicited for Buddhist statuary and temple improvements instead on cars and luxury goods. The court also ordered that Wirapol pay 28.6 million baht ($864,000) in compensation to 29 people who filed lawsuits saying he had cheated them. The same court will deliver a verdict on October 17 on a child molestation and child abduction case against Wiraphol. Critics say Wirapol is an extreme example of a wider crisis in Thai Buddhism, which has become marginalized by a shortage of monks and an increasingly secular society. At the court Thursday, a smiling Wirapol was joined by around 10 followers whom he told to relax. Prison is comfortable, there are people always buying you food and there's plenty of space. Anyone want to join me? Wirapol said. If I have to spend many years in prison but can accept it, then it's comfortable. If you can't accept it, just one day in prison can feel like a thousand years. The court's decision noted an earlier civil court ruling that ordered the confiscation of 43.5 million baht ($1.3 million) from Wirapol. According to Thailand's Department of Special Investigation, Wirapol at one point had accumulated assets estimated at 1 billion baht ($30.1 million). During a shopping spree from 2009 to 2011, he bought 22 Mercedes Benz cars worth 95 million baht ($2.9 million), the department said. They were separated for almost four months. Although they crossed the border at a legal point of entry, Capi and his 12-year-old daughter Jamie were separated and this was in March, a month before the Trump administration implemented its zero-tolerance policy requiring family separations. Capi (not his real name) traveled from Honduras and entered the United States with Jamie at Hidalgo, Texas. They walked across the international bridge, presented themselves to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, and asked for help. The father and daughter were classified as arriving aliens once they were presented to a CBP officer. The pair was following the law: If you are seeking asylum, go to a port of entry. You do not need to break the law of the United States to seek asylum, Kirstjen Nielsen, U.S. homeland security secretary, said during a June briefing at the White House. If an adult enters at a port of entry and claims asylum, they will not face prosecution for illegal entry. They have not committed a crime by coming to the port of entry. The father-daughter duo did everything by the book, yet they were separated. Capi went to the Rio Grande Detention Center and then was transferred to Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey. Jamie was taken to a facility in Harlem, New York, which is operated by the Cayuga Centers a local nonprofit under contract with the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to house unaccompanied minors. The 12-year-old was taken care of by a foster family who Jamie said at times had six children under its care. The problem of fathers and daughters According to a CBP official, if a male adult comes to the border with his daughter, the two are generally processed together. As long as there is no suspicion of harm to the child and there is no doubt that they are a family unit, they are not normally separated. They are held separate temporarily until ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security] can come theyre either released or they go into a family residential center, and they do have family residential centers with male heads of households with daughters. Theyre not as common because they dont have as many, the official said. I will tell you ... it is much harder to find a place for a male head of household with a female daughter than it is a female head of household, the CBP spokesperson added. The official could not speak about Capis case but did say there are situations where separation has occurred based on an agents discretion. If there is a point in time that our agents feel that maybe that child [a minor girl] is not safe in an environment, then they would put that child in a female UAC [unaccompanied minor] holding area until the disposition of the family unit was made. And then they will get released or sent to ICE together, the official said. No tracking Fathers and children are often separated because most family detention facilities hold only mothers with their children, Jennifer Podkul, director of policy at Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), told VOA. According to a report published in 2017 by KIND, some families were separated even prior to the current administration, both intentionally and unintentionally, by the U.S. governments immigration custody and enforcement decisions. What were trying to show by doing that report is that DHS had no systematic way of, first of all, even identifying families traveling together, said Podkul. She added that members of KIND had been in contact with the U.S. government officials, telling them separations were happening, though not in huge numbers, and that there were ways to prevent them. You know, you create tracking numbers when you ask people Are you traveling with somebody? so you can avoid all these problems. I mean, the recommendations were made. We drafted white papers for the government, [had] meetings with them. After they didnt do anything, we decided to put out that report, she said. Journey to the U.S. Capi told VOA he left Honduras because of the extortion and torture they did to me. ... They are forcing us to pay money that we do not owe them. Speaking in Spanish, he said after the journey to the U.S., the scariest moment was when immigration officials took his daughter away from him. They [immigration officers] didnt know anything about her and didnt tell me where they took her or how to get her back. When I was in detention, I kept telling them, If you deport me, please deport me with my daughter. Detainees, Capi said, were not really given information, especially those who were separated from their children. In detention there was a lot of confusion. A lot of people want to get out. Some get mad, Capi told VOA. [Inside detention], some officers speak Spanish, but they dont want to speak with you because they say its not their job to [speak in Spanish.] While in custody, Capi had appendicitis and had to be taken to a hospital. His feet, waist, and hands were shackled. But its a lie to say that they treated me well. For small things, yes, they did. But other things, not at all, he added. And because his feet were shackled, I think he fell, explained Capis attorney, Christine M. Fox. So, he doesnt want you to think that they treated him well. That wouldnt exactly be correct. Being heard Capi has been released with the help of Fox but he was apart from his daughter for four unexplained months. He has passed the credible fear interview and has a pending asylum case. Oftentimes people are in and out of CBP facilities in 12 hours, the CBP official said, sometimes 72 hours. But not every processing center is the same, the official added. Capis plan now is to overcome everything he went through on this journey with the help of his pro bono immigration attorney. I think that here in the United States we have an opportunity to be heard, because in our country nobody listens to us. We are not respected and were too scared. I just wish to have a better opportunity in life. And more than anything, I just want to be with my children, he said. Capi was expecting to reunite with family members in Florida. A fifth of US companies are reassessing or postponing existing investment plans due to tariff concerns, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The Survey of Business Uncertainty shows that companies engaged in commodity production are more concerned about the negative impact of tariff increases than service providers, with 25 percent of commodity producers and 28 percent of retail, wholesale and logistics companies reassessing their investment plans. About two-thirds percent of the companies are reassessing the 2018-2019 investment plans, 31 percent decided to postpone investment, and 9 percent chose to abandon their previous plans. The bank believes that the US government's tariff on imported goods will increase the cost of imported raw materials for US companies, and the countermeasures of trading partners will accordingly reduce the export of US products. Therefore, the uncertainty of trade policy forces many American companies to postpone investment and sit on the sidelines. It also points out that the current negative impact of trade friction on US corporate investment is mainly concentrated in manufacturing, which is highly capital-intensive. Given the possible escalation of trade tensions, the negative impact of tariff concerns on investment may continue to expand, the study said. The government of Cameroon is trying to negotiate an end to a crisis in the northern part of the country that triggered fighting between people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency and villagers who have hosted them for the past three years. But host communities say their resources have been stretched thin. An uneasy calm reigns in Wack, a village in the north, following last week's clashes that left several people dead and 15 wounded, destroyed property, and killed cattle. Sixty-four-year old Jifbi Haman, leader of a community of internally displaced persons, said the conflict erupted when members of the host community beat their wives and chased them from farms they have occupied since 2015. He said their wives, already suffering the most from Boko Haram atrocities, are still not finding peace in their host communities. He said they are exploited and sexually harassed because they are vulnerable. Among the wounded is 42-year old Seidou Habiba, who said she escaped from her village in July after her family was targeted three times by Boko Haram fighters. She was saved by Cameroon's military. Habiba said since war drove her from her northern village of Mozogo, she has not been able to find peace and she has no means of survival. She said all that she is asking for is a means to raise domestic animals or a farm to grow crops. The village of Wack has received more than 700 internally displaced people since 2015 when fighting between Cameroon's military and Boko Haram spiked on the border with Nigeria. Governor of the region, Kildadi Taguieke Boukar, visited the area Thursday in hopes of resolving the conflict between villagers and the IDPs. He declared the conflict a provocation by IDPs who occupied more land than they were given by their hosts. He said the recent bloody conflict was sparked by the refusal of internally displaced persons to obey instructions from traditional rulers not to illegally occupy host community farms, cattle ranches and land reserves. Boukar said he has strongly instructed the IDPs to respect their hosts and for the host communities to learn to live in solidarity with the people displaced by Boko Haram. The United Nations said Boko Haram fighting has affected food security in parts of Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger a major reason for the conflict between host communities and refugees. Cameroon's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said two million people in the country are at risk of food insecurity70 percent of them on its northern border with Nigeria. Raphael Bah is a Cameroon Red Cross official in the north. He said more funding is needed to assist host communities and refugees to prevent further conflict. He said the first and most important thing they have done for now to calm the conflict is providing 15,000 people with food aid. He said the second thing they will do to stop dependency on aid is to hand out planting seeds to host communities and IDPs to increase their production and to fight hunger and famine. Boko Haram has displaced nearly a quarter million Cameroonians through violence that began when the Nigerian Islamist group began using Cameroon for bases. Cameroon says is has only received one third of the $690 million in aid required this year to meet the needs of displaced people and host communities. Sunday marks the one year anniversary of the violent "Unite The Right" protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. Last year's protest, organized by white supremacists upset over the removal of a statue of a Confederate hero, left one person dead and 19 injured. White nationalists are planning a protest to mark the occasion in Washington. Meanwhile, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and the city of Charlottesville declared a state of emergency ahead of the anniversary. Anush Avetisyan reports. Taiwans president will travel to North, Central and South America this month to renew support from two of her governments few remaining foreign allies and tighten informal ties with the United States, both steps crucial to resisting increased pressure from China. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will leave Sunday for Paraguay, the only Taiwanese ally in South America, and the tiny Central American state of Belize. She is scheduled to stop in the western U.S. cities of Los Angeles and Houston for events that some expect to showcase the strength of Taiwan-U.S. ties. China has condemned the stopovers as it considers Taiwan part of its territory rather than a country entitled to diplomacy with Washington, which has formal ties with Beijing. Communist officials in Beijing have chipped away at Taiwans foreign relations since Tsai took office in 2016. They resent Tsai for declining to see her government and Chinas as part of one country. Tsai needs to stay on the good sides of Belize and Paraguay, two of 18 remaining formal allies, and sustain recent momentum in Taiwan-U.S. relations, experts say. Simply making the trip is already a success because it means Washington is willing to take a small hit in its relations with China out of respect for Taiwan, said Denny Roy, senior fellow at the East-West Center, a research organization in Honolulu. Stopovers in the United States The United States is Taiwans strongest informal ally and chief arms supplier. Over the past half-year, relations have surged with a first step toward selling American submarine technology to Taiwan and the U.S. Congresss Taiwan Travel Act that encourages more high-level visits. At the same time, trade disputes are straining Washingtons relations with Beijing. Those disputes make the U.S. government more likely to ignore Chinese opposition to stopovers by Taiwanese leaders, experts say. Beijings problems with U.S. support for Taiwan are always amplified at moments when U.S.-China relations are unusually poor, such as now, Roy said. Tsai will probably seek a little bit more exposure on this trip compared to in 2017, said Huang Kwei-bo, vice dean of the international affairs college at National Chengchi University in Taipei. Its not clear whom she will meet in the United States, but any contacts with the government of President Donald Trump would raise Beijings anger. You cant rule out that D.C. would send some officials to meet her, but we wouldnt necessarily be able to see, Huang said. She met Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Greg Abbott on a 2017 stopover. Taiwanese generally want their presidents to improve relations with major world powers, particularly Japan and the United States. Tsais party is now campaigning for votes in city and county elections set for November. Whether Tsai Ing-wen is going to deliberately keep this a low-profile issue, I doubt it, because honestly Beijing has been bullying Taiwan since her inauguration, said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington. Trade issues have raised discontent in China about whether the Beijing government prematurely challenged U.S. supremacy before it was ready, Sun said. On the issue of Taiwan, Beijing does not have as much leverage to fight back, she said. Latin American allies In Paraguay from August 14-16, Tsai will attend the inauguration of President-elect Mario Abdo Benitez, the foreign ministry in Taiwan says. Tsai also visited Paraguay in 2016 and hosted the countrys head of state in 2017. Taiwan now has a lot of actual friends in the world society but not many diplomatic allies, ruling party lawmaker Lee Chun-yi said. Paraguay is the only ally in South America, so for us to spend some more time, for the president to go to the inauguration, I think has definite significance. Taiwan looks to its formal foreign allies as a way of standing up to China, particularly in the United Nations where Beijing blocks Taiwanese participation. Four allies have left Taiwan since Tsai took office. The foreign ministry in Taipei says China enticed them to switch allegiance. China and Taiwan have been separately ruled since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory today, not as a nation. Tsai may take lucrative aid money so the new Paraguayan leader does not switch allegiance, Huang said. Tsai Ing-wen will actually take quote unquote gifts over there, Huang said. These gifts are usually wrapped up as foreign aid. Because China-Taiwan relations are poor now and then Beijing is undermining of Taiwans diplomacy is ever stronger, Tsai Ing-wen needs to give out even bigger gifts. Tsai will stop too in Belize, an ally in Central America where Panama cut ties in 2017, angering much of Taiwans public. In that country from August 16-18, she is set to address the National Assembly and preside over an award ceremony for Taiwan Scholarship Program recipients. A mother and daughter deported to El Salvador on Thursday flew back to the United States hours after a federal judge ordered their return and threatened to hold top officials in contempt if they failed to comply with his order, U.S. officials and lawyers for the two said Friday. The pair, who are among a dozen victims of gang and domestic violence fighting deportation after their asylum applications were rejected in recent weeks, were put on a flight from Houston, Texas, to El Salvador early Thursday, a day after government lawyers had assured the judge in Washington, D.C., that they'd hold off on the planned removal until midnight on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan grew furious after being told by lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union during a hearing on Thursday that the mother, known in court documents as "Carmen," and her daughter had been removed from their detention facility in South Texas and might be in the process of being deported from the country. "Somebody in pursuit of justice in a United States court is just is spirited away while her attorneys are arguing for justice for her?" the judge reportedly said. Confirmation of flight Government lawyers later confirmed to the court that the woman and her daughter "were in fact on an airplane while the court was hearing argument on Plaintiffs' Emergency Motion," according to court documents. The judge then blocked the deportation of the asylum seekers and issued a stern order, "requiring the defendants to return Carmen and her daughter to the United States FORTHWITH." "Carmen" and her daughter are plaintiffs in a lawsuit, filed by the ACLU and the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, seeking to block the deportation of immigrants fleeing domestic and gang violence. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen are among four defendants named in the lawsuit. Sullivan threatened to hold them in contempt of court if they failed to comply with his order to return the woman and her daughter to the United States. The Department of Homeland Security immediately complied. "In compliance with the court's order, upon arrival in El Salvador, the plaintiffs did not disembark and were promptly returned to the United States," a DHS official said Thursday evening. A Justice Department official said the two arrived back in Houston at 5:20 p.m. local time and were returned to the Dilley South Texas Family Residential Center, a facility run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, around 11 p.m. or midnight local time. The case highlights how rights advocates are increasingly turning to the courts to block the Trump administration's immigration policies, including efforts to crack down on illegal immigration from Central America. 'Horrific sexual abuse' According to the lawsuit, Carmen and her young daughter fled El Salvador "to escape two decades of horrific sexual abuse by her husband and death threats from a violent gang." "Carmen's husband routinely raped, stalked and threatened her with death, treating her as his property, even after they were living apart," the complaint reads. She never reported the threats to the police because she believed police did not protect women in El Salvador. She also feared that she and her daughter would be killed by a violent gang that had recently held her at gunpoint to demand a "tax." In June, Carmen and her daughter arrived in Texas to seek asylum. According to the lawsuit, despite testifying credibly, both mother and daughter failed to pass their initial "credible fear" interviews on June 29. An immigration judge affirmed the decision on July 23. Then on Wednesday, the ACLU got word that Carmen and her daughter were "subject to imminent removal as soon as 11:59 p.m. Thursday." That set in motion a sequence of events that led to their deportation and quick return to the South Texas facility where they've been held since June. Mexicos incoming president says that when he takes office in December, he will have an unarmed security detail consisting of 10 men and 10 women. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Thursday, after meeting with current President Enrique Pena Nieto about the December 1 transition of power, that his security team will include professionals, such as doctors, lawyers and engineers who will receive some training, but not for the use of weapons. Lopez Obrador says the 20 member team will act more as facilitators than bodyguards, and added that he would be protected by all Mexicans, ordinary people as well as soldiers. Pena Nieto is protected by at least 2,000 armed presidential guards that include military personnel, police and civilians, according to the Reuters news agency. Austere administration Once Lopez Obrador takes office, the presidential guards are slated to be incorporated into the defense ministry. Security officials say they are concerned about the incoming leaders scaled back approach as Mexico experienced its deadliest political season in the run-up to the July 1 election with more than 100 politicians and candidates killed. Lopez Obrador has promised a more austere administration. Among other things, he has said he will have the presidential plane sold. History in politics At 64, Lopez Obrador has been a mainstay of Mexican politics. As a young man, he was a member of the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which controlled Mexicos government for eight decades. Yet in the 1980s, as cracks were beginning to show in PRIs coalition, Lopez Obrador was one of the many leftist politicians to split from the PRI, joining the Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD. In 2000, Lopez Obrador still a member of PRD was elected mayor of Mexico City, the nations capital and most populated city. In this position, he gained national prominence, instituting social programs for the poor and elderly and improving the citys infrastructure. After his mayoral term ended in 2005, Lopez Obrador sought higher office, making his first presidential bid the following year. For much of the race, he was considered the front-runner. Yet, Felipe Calderon of the right-leaning National Action Party, or PAN, narrowly defeated him, labeling the former mayor a socialist in the mold of then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The label stuck. In 2012, Lopez Obrador ran for president a second time, but lost to now-outgoing President Pena Nieto, of PRI. Pena Nieto proved unpopular; during his time in office, Mexicos murder rate swelled to an all-time high, the peso lost value, and Donald Trump was elected U.S. president. Trump has repeatedly used anti-Mexican rhetoric and pledged to build a wall between the two nations. Mexicos constitution permits presidents to serve one term; as such, Pena Nieto could not run in this years election. Thus Lopez Obrador, running on the newly found National Regeneration Movement, (MORENA), was able to capitalize on this discontent with the countrys status quo to finally claim the presidency. A furious U.S. federal judge threatened Thursday to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions in contempt after learning at the hearing for two asylum seekers, a mother and daughter, that they were being deported and were on a plane to El Salvador. U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan called the governments action outrageous. He said the government appeared to have spirited away the woman and her child as they were fighting deportation. Turn that plane around, the judge ordered the government, while repeatedly saying he was extremely upset with the development. Im not happy about this at all, Sullivan said. This is not acceptable. The woman, identified in court papers as Carmen, is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed this week by the American Civil Liberties Union against Sessions, over his recent decision to stop granting asylum to people who have faced domestic and gang violence. The ACLU and the government had come to an agreement that none of the people in the case would be deported before the end of Thursday. Jennifer Chang Newell, the lead ACLU attorney, learned during the hearing that the mother and daughter had been deported from a detention center in Texas and informed the court. A Homeland Security official said late Thursday the mother and daughter were promptly returned to Texas from El Salvador. The woman had fled to the U.S. to escape a sexually abusive husband and death threats from gang members. After the hearing, Judge Sullivan issued an emergency order halting the deportation of any of the immigrants as he considers whether he has broader authority in the case. Kenyan authorities are evicting thousands of settlers they say are encroaching on the protected Maasai Mau Forest, the source of several rivers that feed lakes across East Africa. The settlers from the Kalenjin community say they were duped by wealthy landowners into buying fake titles to public land. Authorities have neither prosecuted the landowners nor offered those evicted any compensation. Samuel Towett has lived in the Maasai Mau Forest for three decades. But when police arrived in early July, he said they destroyed his flour mill shop, which he depended on to provide for his two wives and 14 children. The police arrived in a lorry [truck] and began to disperse people. If they found you, you were in trouble, you were beaten very badly, Towett said. Police deny such heavy-handed force was used when they began evicting about 12,000 settlers in the Maasai Mau Forest. WATCH: Kenya Evicts Forest Settlers to Protect East Africa's Water This is not the first such eviction. Kenyan authorities say settlers have for decades encroached on the protected forest, occupying land illegally, and threatening an ecology on which all of East Africa depends. Let the world realize the moment we look at the rights of a few at the expense of the majority which is actually trans-country, because we are talking about Egypt and Tanzania then that is the end of it. The climate change we are trying to stop will definitely overtake us, Member of Parliament for Narok North Richard Kenta told VOA. The Mau Forest Complex is the source of multiple rivers that drain into Lake Victoria, the starting point of the Nile River, the world's longest water source and the ecological backbone for Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. But since the 1990s, as much as a quarter of the tree cover has been destroyed through illegal logging and settlements. The settlers say they paid for what they thought were titles to the land but, in many cases, they were sold phony documents. Dont think the people you see came here for free. They came here because of the Maasai. There is no way I would have left my farm in Bomet to live forcefully on someone elses land. It was sold to us, evicted person Phillip Cheruiyot said. But while authorities evict settlers to protect the forest, they offer no compensation and little effort to prosecute the landowners who sold them fake titles. The current wave of evictions has revived deep political tensions between the displaced Kalenjin villagers and the Maasai community. More than 156,000 people remain displaced after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Lombok on Sunday night, where the local economy is heavily dependent on tourism. It was one of three major quakes to rock the island in less than two weeks, producing more than 350 aftershocks and flattening large portions of the island. Neighboring Bali, the most popular destination in Indonesia and one of the places in Asia most visited by tourists, saw at least two deaths due to the earthquake on Sunday. But it is unlikely to see any considerable damage to its tourism industry. Experts are warning, however, that the less developed, Muslim-majority Lombok will see a sharp decline in visitor numbers for the foreseeable future. Striking in the middle of Lomboks high tourist season, thousands of foreigners were promptly evacuated in the wake of Sundays earthquake. Britain and Australia are among numerous embassies that have already issued do not travel warnings for Lombok. Already grappling with a difficult search and rescue effort after Sundays disaster, humanitarian assistance to the people of Lombok was further complicated when yet another strong quake hit the north at lunchtime on Thursday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, it had a magnitude of 5.9, and produced further damage across the island. Traumatized Indonesias disaster management agency said this week that the death toll had risen to 259 as search efforts continued, while at least 1,400 have been seriously injured, the vast majority of whom are Indonesian nationals. Zul Hakim, an editor with the Lombok Post newspaper, told VOA Thursdays quake was felt much more strongly in the islands capital, Mataram, than the tremor on Sunday. Almost all the residents from areas near the epicenter of the earthquakes that have come to Mataram are too afraid to return home. Most are still living in refugee camps, he said. The community is traumatized. The International Red Cross says an estimated 600,000 people have been affected. Indonesia is highly disaster prone, partly because it sits on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," a string of volcanos where some 90 percent of the worlds earthquakes occur. A tsunami in 2004 devastated parts of the Indonesian island of Sumatra and killed more than 160,000 people, while a violent eruption of Mount Merapi near the Javanese city of Jogjakarta in 2010 saw hundreds killed and almost 400,000 evacuated. According to Mari Elka Pangestu, Indonesias former tourism minister and an economics lecturer at the University of Indonesia, the impact on tourism from the latest earthquakes will be confined only to Lombok. Lombok is part of Indonesia but the rest of Indonesia is fine. You have to make that distinction, she told the Voice of America. Just assessing the damaging and making the recovery. That will take time. I think in the case of Jogja[karta] it took six months to a year just to make the physical recovery. But again, Lombok is big right? There are other parts of Lombok as you do this recovery that will still be okay. While there was some superficial damage to the inside of Lombok and Balis respective airports, no damage was done to the runway, meaning there have been no disturbances to flights. From Monday to Thursday, Lombok International Airport operated 24 hours a day to facilitate additional flights off the island and rescuers arriving with supplies. Despite the ongoing threat of Balis Mount Agung erupting throughout 2017 and into early 2018, Indonesia still saw more than 14 million tourist arrivals last year according to the nations Central Statistics Agency some 3.5 million more than the prior year. Nevertheless, the Lombok disaster will be a major blow to the Indonesian governments vision to develop the tourism sector. Lombok was last year identified as one of the 10 new Balis in President Joko Jokowi Widodos strategy to encourage tourists to venture beyond Bali along with Lake Toba in Sumatra and Labuan Bajo near the Komodo National Park. Just last month, the Asian Games torch relay ran through Lombok as a means to promote it as a destination to foreigners. Britta Slippens, a German national who has lived in Indonesia for two decades and owns a luxury eco resort in the devastated north, said she had seen exponential tourism development in Lombok since establishing her business there in 2011. Back then, the popular Gili islands were empty, she said. In contrast, some 5,000 tourists were evacuated from there earlier this week. Slippens said she had essentially given up on her business in Lombok. The huts on her property were built in dome shapes and were undamaged by the disaster, with some 1000 villagers from the local community whose homes were destroyed continuing to sleep under the stars on her property. I already forgot business, she added. I think I will need to focus on getting help for the village. I cant rent a luxury villa out in a place like that. Pakistan will have unilaterally fenced sensitive areas along the countrys largely porous border with Afghanistan by the end of the year, discouraging terrorist infiltration in either direction, officials told VOA on Friday. The massive army-led construction effort to fence the entire 2,611-kilometer western frontier and build new outposts, as well as forts, went into action more than a year ago. Initially, the comprehensive border security plan focused on areas that Pakistani officials identified as highly vulnerable to terrorist infiltration and illegal crossings, and where they said Afghan forces on the other side have little or no presence due to capacity issues. Sensitive areas will be fenced by December 2018, chief military spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor told VOA. The remaining, he vowed, will be completed by December 2019. A pair of three-meter chain link fences, with a two-meter gap topped with barbed wire, has been installed along 310 kilometers, he said. The general explained the military also has raised or is in the process of raising new units of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) force for deployment along the Afghan border once the construction of new installations is over. Ghafoor would not say, however, how many personnel ultimately will be sent to the border, and he denied media reports about as many as 60,000 additional troops. "Yes, new FC wings will impact such increase but correspondingly [the] army might get thin along the border, the general noted. Afghanistan historically disputes the 1893 British colonial era boundary with Pakistan and publicly opposes the fencing project. Islamabad rejects Kabul's objections and says it inherited the international border after gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Pakistani leaders said sustained counterterrorism operations have uprooted all terrorists from their soil and enhancing the border security will help reduce militant violence in both countries. U.S. and Afghan officials, however, continue to blame sanctuaries in Pakistan for enabling the Taliban insurgency to sustain and expand attacks inside Afghanistan. The allegations remain at the center of Islamabads diplomatic tensions with both Kabul and Washington. President Donald Trump suspended all military assistance to Pakistan in January until it takes decisive action against terrorists on its soil, charges Islamabad says stem from U.S. military failures in Afghanistan. Ghafoor told a recent news conference that security operations have forced Afghan insurgents to move back to Afghanistan where the Taliban controls vast territory. He insisted repatriation of Afghan refugees would enable Pakistani forces to go after remnants of Taliban insurgents on their side of the border. I can assure you the day these 2.7 million Afghan refugees are repatriated our liberty of action will expand to trace the leftover facilitators and abettors, said General Ghafoor. Firefighters were working furiously Friday night to keep a Southern California wildfire away from homes. The fire in the Cleveland National Forest is threatening thousands of homes south of Los Angeles and has grown in size to nearly 77 square kilometers. On Thursday night, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Orange and Riverside counties, where the fire is burning. Overall, nearly 20 fires are burning in California. Ten people have died as a result. In Southern California, about 20,000 residents have been forced to evacuate. Some residents have refused to go, saying they will stay behind to protect their homes. Trabuco Canyon resident Forrest Clark, 51, arrested earlier this week, was charged Thursday with three counts of felony arson. Local reports say the suspect two weeks ago sent an email to a volunteer fire chief in the area, saying "this place is going to burn." The chief, Mike Mulligan, told CNN he has known Clark for decades and has been warning for a long time that Clark posed a danger to the community. This year's fire season is shaping up to be one of California's worst. In northern California, the Mendocino Complex Fire has become the largest fire in state history and burned more than 100 homes. It is now 60 percent contained. So far, it has burned an area the size of Los Angeles, and officials say it may be September before they are able to contain it. The blaze is made up of two separate fires burning in the northern Mendocino and Lake counties that have merged. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) had anticipated that the blaze could be fully contained by August 15, but now say it will be September 1. WATCH: California Forest Fires Threatening More Homes Officials say some 14,000 firefighters, including inmates and firefighters from overseas, have managed to build containment cut lines around half the fire to contain the flames burning about 160 kilometers north of San Francisco. Those lines have kept the southern edge of the fire from spreading into residential areas on the east side of Clear Lake. But CAL FIRE said the flames are out of control to the north, roaring into remote and unpopulated areas of thick forests as firefighters contend with record-setting temperatures. Three health clinics that faced online accusations of giving expired vaccines to patients in Shangluo, Shaanxi province, have been cleared, and authorities are blaming the panic on poor management and training. The Shangluo city government said on Thursday that inspectors from the provincial health authority had visited the clinics - on Tongxin, Gongnong and Mingren streets - and checked 32,616 doses of 12 kinds of vaccines. All were within the expiration date, it said. The move came after an Aug 3 post on Sina Weibo accusing the clinics of administering expired vaccines, including those designed to prevent measles, mumps and rubella; epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis; Japanese encephalitis; and diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. A user called "Buzhengjing Uncle" uploaded a photo of a child's immunization record and said the child's parents had traced the vaccine batch number and found that it was expired. This led to others tracing their children's records and finding the same result, prompting many to express concern via Sina Weibo and WeChat. On Thursday, the city issued a statement blaming the situation on bad record keeping. It said all three clinics had failed to register vaccine purchases with the health authority within 24 hours, as required by local regulations, and their employees had been filling out immunization cards - which are issued to each patient - in advance rather than after vaccines had been administered, resulting in the confusion over expiration dates. The investigative team sent by the provincial government found the clinics lacked necessary training for employees, which resulted in their poor performance, the statement said. It added that the city health department should shoulder responsibility for those problems because of a lack of supervision. "Those problems need to be seriously treated and taken as an alarm for future work. A mass inspection should be conducted to cover vaccination services, from delivery to injection and follow-up services, in all of the city's clinics," the statement said. It also emphasized that a long-term service and quality-control system should be established to provide regular training to staff members so that standards are met and the safety of vaccinations is assured. "Punishment of the people who are responsible for the mismanagement should be given according to the law and regulations," the statement said. In Yunnan province, health authorities said on Wednesday that they had launched an investigation after a recent report from a resident in Kunming, the provincial capital, who was said to have been vaccinated with an expired rabies vaccine this month. The clinic involved in the case was shut down, China News Agency reported. The International Federation of Red Cross says the current heat wave in North Korea poses a serious threat to vulnerable population groups and to the country's food supply. Red Cross emergency response teams, armed with water pumps, are helping irrigate fields hard hit by North Korea's heat wave. In addition, IFRC staff and volunteers have mounted a campaign to raise awareness about the signs, symptoms and treatment of heat-related illnesses. Children and the elderly are among the most vulnerable "unless urgent action is taken," the IFRC said Friday. Temperatures across the country are averaging at 39 degrees Celsius and there has been no rain since early July and none is expected until mid-August. The Red Cross says a similar dry spell last year caused a 7.2 percent drop in food production, in a country where much of the population already relies on food aid. Joseph Muyambo, IFRC program manager in Pyongyang, said, "This is not yet classified as a drought, but rice, maize and other crops are already withering in the fields, with potentially catastrophic effects for the people of DPRK." Even North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un seems to be feeling the heat. North Korean state media have published a picture of him stripped down to his undershirt while inspecting a factory. A U.S.-based cybersecurity intelligence group says Iranian state institutions have perpetrated a growing number of international cyberattacks for profit in recent months. In a VOA Persian interview, Accenture Security growth and strategy leader Tom Parker said most cyberattacks attributed by his research team to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and similar state bodies were financially motivated. The Arlington, Virginia-based company published a report Tuesday saying research conducted since the start of this year indicates that Iranian state hackers used several ransomware tools to carry out those for-profit cyberattacks. "We certainly have seen an evolution in the motive of why some attacks are initiated," said Parker, referring to findings in Accenture Security's 2018 Cyber Threatscape Report that examines international trends in cyber threats. "Nation states, Iran included, have realized that cyberattacks are not just about stealing intellectual property or sending a political message or causing an outage on a critical system. They also can take a page out of the organized criminals' book and make some significant money out of cyberattacks to fund their own non-cyber programs." In the report, Accenture Security's iDefense threat intelligence team said it identified five ransomware variants as having been developed or repurposed in Iran: RASTAKHIZ, TYRANT, WannaSmile, Black Ruby and Android ransomware. It said Iran-based cybercriminals who created or modified those variants have shared data with the IRGC for future research and development. Growing force Iranian officials repeatedly have denied accusations of involvement in hacking attacks against the United States and Gulf Arab nations in recent years. The U.S. and its Sunni Gulf allies long have sought to push back against Shiite-majority Iran for what they see as its aggressive efforts to dominate the Middle East. The Accenture Security report described the "Iranian [cyber] threat" as a "growing force" that is most likely to target nations such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel. But it also said Iran is unlikely to carry out any disruptive or destructive cyberattacks against the U.S. or its European allies in the near future. The report said the Trump administration's May withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal has put Tehran in what it called a "defensive" position toward the West. The Trump administration reimposed several financial sanctions against Iran on Tuesday, to try to pressure Iran into making a new deal that would permanently end what Washington sees as Tehran's nuclear weapons ambitions. Parker said his team has not seen any signs of Iran retaliating for those sanctions by launching cyberattacks against U.S. targets. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. Parker said another reason for the U.S. not being a likely Iranian cyber target in the near term is that any meaningful damage to U.S. infrastructure would require increased cyber capabilities. But he said Iran is moving gradually toward developing such abilities. "While we have not seen a huge attack against, let's say, the power grid in the U.S., many nation states such as Iran do continue to demonstrate a desire to learn more about our critical infrastructures," Parker said. "There is definitely a sense that nation states including Iran are playing the long game and are preparing the battlefield so that certain capabilities might be at their disposal in the future." This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Persian service. The first national survey in Uganda on child abuse reveals that violence against children - ranging from physical, sexual and emotional - is occurring at all levels in society. Mary Komugisha, 40, a single mother and food vendor in Kiswa, a Kampala suburb, became a grandmother under terrible circumstances. Her 11-year-old daughter was raped. She says her child was in 7th grade when she told her she had a problem. I am the mother and the father, Komugisha says, but I stayed strong. She told me so-and-so raped her in the toilet. He told her not to tell anyone or else I would beat her. She gave birth but; our situation is so bad. I dont even have money to put her back in school, she says. Komugisha lives in a one-room, iron-sheet shelter with her three children and granddaughter. Her daughter is one of 25 percent of Ugandan females who experienced sexual violence below the age of 13. Thats according to a United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) report released Thursday the first for Uganda on child abuse. And it doesnt get any better for teenagers. UNICEF says 35 percent of Ugandan females and 17 percent of males have been sexually abused. UNICEF Deputy Country Representative Noreen Prendville describes the findings as absolutely shocking. While we did see of course that there were also young men and boys that were victims of sexual violence, of course the consequence for girls are even worse. We have a problem in the country as well with quite a big challenge on early marriage and early childbearing. And that sometimes is a cultural issue, but also sometimes related to poverty, said Prendville. Physical, sexual and emotional violence against children, according to the report, is experienced on the street, at home and even in school as happened with Komugishas daughter. Even though some children who suffered violence knew where to seek help, many, especially girls, were too embarrassed for themselves and their families to ask for it. Dr. Jesca Nsungwa is Commissioner for Child Health at Ugandas Ministry of Health. She says the government is taking steps to address the abuse. To increase access and availability of quality child and adolescent health services at all health facilities that provide prompt, affordable and appropriate prevention and response services to survivors of violence without discrimination. We also commit to train health care workers on provision of child and adolescent friendly health services within our national framework, said Nsungwa. Children who experience violence, says the U.N. report, are more likely to become perpetrators of violence against children themselves if they dont get help. The Uganda report follows a call in 2006 by then-U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan for all nations to tackle child abuse by collecting data to inform policies. To date, only 15 countries have released reports on the frequency of child abuse. In Africa, they include Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and now Uganda. A Saudi-led Arab military coalition said Friday that it would investigate an airstrike in Yemen that killed at least 50 people, many of them children, after earlier defending the attack and calling it a "legitimate military action." The shift came as the attack drew wide international criticism, including a U.N. Security Council call for an independent investigation of the airstrike. Yemen's Houthi rebels said at least 40 children were killed in Thursday's strike in the north of the country, with one of the missiles hitting a bus bringing children back from a summer school picnic. Rebels said the strike also wounded at least 77 people. A spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, Fatimah Baeshen, said in a statement that the case had been referred to the coalition's investigative body. "The coalition will, as it has always, exert all efforts to preserve civilian lives,'' she said. The coalition initially said the airstrike was a "legitimate military action" and accused Houthis of recruiting children and using them in the battlefields as cover. The Security Council called for a credible and transparent investigation of the strike. Britain's U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce, the current council president, told reporters: "The important thing is the word 'credible.' If there's an acceptable, credible investigation, then the council will want to consider next steps in the light of that.'' U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also urged an "independent and prompt investigation" of the airstrike. Mohammed Ali, a senior Houthi leader, said on Twitter that the Houthis welcomed Guterres' call for a probe and were "ready to cooperate." The U.S. State Department called on the coalition "to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident.'' State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, "We take all credible accounts of civilian casualties very seriously." UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore said in a statement Friday that the "horrific" attack "marks a low point" in Yemen's brutal war. "The question now is whether it will be a turning point the moment that must finally push the warring parties, U.N. Security Council and international community to do what is right for children and bring an end to this conflict." Television pictures from a Yemeni hospital showed blood-covered youngsters who seemed too stunned to even cry. Others writhed on the floor, waiting for help. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders said "civilians continue to pay the highest price" in Yemen. Market struck Thursday's airstrike was carried out against a rebel-held area in Saada province, near the Saudi border. Missiles struck a market. It came in response to a Houthi missile strike on Saudi territory Wednesday. Saudi defenses intercepted the missile, but fragments fell to the ground, killing one and wounding 11. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in 2014, sending the Western-supported government into exile in Saudi Arabia. The coalition began its air and ground campaign to drive out the Houthis more than three years ago. Its airstrikes have obliterated entire civilian neighborhoods, including schools and hospitals, and compounded the misery of what is one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. Many Yemenis are in the brink of starvation. There are also severe shortages of fresh water and medicine. A cholera epidemic has killed thousands over the last two years. A U.N. watchdog committee said Friday that torture is widely practiced throughout Russia and that perpetrators of these crimes are very rarely punished. The U.N. Committee Against Torture, which monitors states' compliance with the U.N. Convention Against Torture, has just ended a three-week examination of several countries, including Russia. The committee said Russia has made little progress in implementing the provisions of the anti-torture convention since it submitted its last report in 2012. Claude Heller, a member of the committee, said the group was concerned by consistent reports that fundamental legal safeguards against torture for detained people often do not apply and are not respected from the very outset of detainees' incarceration. There are concerns about "the numerous reliable reports of the practice of torture and ill-treatment in the state party, including as the means to extract confessions, and many reports documenting cases of torture, such as the deaths of Valery Pshenichny in 2018 and Ruslan Sayfutdinov in 2017," he said. Heller said allegations of torture in Russia rarely result in criminal prosecutions, and even when prosecuted, the perpetrators are charged with simple assault or abuse of authority. The committee urged Russia to combat impunity by promptly and impartially investigating allegations of torture and ill-treatment. The committee also took up the celebrated case of Yevgeny Makarov, whose torture by prison guards was videotaped and released by his lawyer. She subsequently fled the country after receiving death threats. The committee expressed concerns about reported cases of harassment, abduction, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and political opponents. It said the state should investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators. The Russian delegation told the committee it had made a lot of progress in amending legislation on the penitentiary and criminal justice systems to ensure the rights of detainees and convicted persons. It assured the committee that Russian authorities would take into account all of the comments made during the examination. A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the Trump administration endangered public health when it overturned an Obama-era rule banning a dangerous pesticide. In a 2-to-1 decision, the Seattle-based court gave the Environmental Protection Agency 60 days to pull chlorpyrifos from the market, one of the most widely used pesticides in the country. The judges said the administration was unjustified in overturning the ban and ignored the science proving that residue of it on food is linked to brain damage in babies. Former EPA chief Scott Pruitt reversed the Obama decision to extend an earlier ban on the product from general household use to its use on food. Pruitt called it a return to sound science and a move away from predetermined results. Dow Chemical, which manufactures chlorpyrifos, has in the past defended the pesticide as a product helping farmers feed the world while respecting human health and the environment. The court has made it clear that childrens health must come before powerful polluters, the Natural Resources Defense Councils Erik Olson said Thursday. This is a victory for parents everywhere who want to feed their kids fruits and vegetables without fear it is harming their brains or poisoning communities. While the Trump administration applauds this week's progress in South Sudan's peace talks, it expects that ending nearly five years of civil war and rebuilding confidence in the eastern African nation's governance will be "a long process," the top U.S. diplomat there says. "We're excited about the progress made so far," said Thomas Hushek, U.S. ambassador to South Sudan. "And we're really hoping that the parties stick to their efforts to come to the table, compromise where necessary, uphold their commitments first and foremost to the cease-fire, and then start working on ways to resolve remaining issues of conflict" so they can sign a final peace agreement. The peace talks are "at a very critical stage," he acknowledged in an exclusive interview Thursday at the U.S. embassy here with VOA's "South Sudan in Focus" radio program. On Sunday, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar signed a power-sharing pact that will restore Machar as the first of several vice presidents in a transitional government of national unity. Machar, who leads the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), has been in exile in South Africa. Hushek said the U.S. government would take what he calls tough measures against people who either obstruct the peace process or divert public funds for war rather than peace. In September, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on three people closely affiliated with Kiir for "their roles in threatening the peace, security or stability of South Sudan," it said in a statement. Three companies also were sanctioned. Asked what it might take to lift sanctions, Hushek said that if the transitional government rebuilds public confidence and proves itself trustworthy, "I think you would start to see some changes." South Sudan gained independence from neighboring Sudan in 2011. But ethnic violence erupted in 2013 over a power struggle between Kiir and Machar. The fighting has left tens of thousands of South Sudanese dead and dislodged millions from their homes. The United States, South Sudan's biggest single benefactor, has allocated $481 million in humanitarian funding for fiscal 2018 for refugees there and in neighboring countries, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development. It has spent more than $3.4 billion since 2013. For Hushek, "one of the first barometers" of peace prospects is "whether people are upholding the ceasefire," he said. "And, in fact, there's been a reduction in violence on the ground. "There are still other things that I'm a bit concerned about," the diplomat acknowledged. "I think recruitment is continuing into various militias, and that's something that doesn't necessarily bode well." As Hushek said early in the interview, "The ultimate yardstick of whether or not there is success in the peace process is whether they can set up a system that resolves conflicts through peaceful means, without resorting to arms." Hushek, a career Foreign Service officer, was appointed ambassador in May after serving as acting assistant secretary for the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. Q&A account The following transcript of the ambassador's interview with VOA has been lightly edited for clarity and context. VOA: What is the U.S. government's position on the latest South Sudan power-sharing agreement reached in Khartoum? Hushek: Well, the peace talks are ongoing and they're at a very critical stage. So we're excited about the progress made so far, and we're really hoping that the parties stick to their efforts to come to the table, be willing to compromise where necessary, uphold their commitments first and foremost to the cease-fire, and then start working on ways to resolve remaining issues of conflict. The ultimate yardstick of whether or not there is success in the peace process is whether they can set up a system that resolves conflicts through peaceful means, without resorting to arms. VOA: If the warring parties sign a final peace agreement and the government of national unity is formed, what measures are the U.S. and other countries in the international community putting in place to prevent, you know, the July 2016 scenario? [That month, clashes between armed government and opposition forces in the capital, Juba, killed at least 300 people.] It is a revitalization of the old peace agreement. [These are] some of the reasons everybody remains concerned and kind of wonder, how will we make it work this time? One of the first barometers that we look at is whether people are upholding the cease-fire. And in fact, there's been a reduction in violence on the ground. There are still other things that I'm a bit concerned about. I think recruitment is continuing into various militias, and that's something that doesn't necessarily bode well. But I really think that with this progress already made in Khartoum, you really are hearing a change in the way people are describing what are the next steps. A lot of people are talking about confidence-building. So we know the government and the [SPLM-IO opposition party] both have to build the confidence of their constituencies that they're moving in the right direction. The people of South Sudan have to have confidence in this process. Similarly are there things that the government or the future unity government and the international community can do to build confidence in each other? Again, [the] first thing is the peace process. Can we see very visible steps that the government is helping us remove impediments to humanitarian assistance? Are there active consultations by the government or by the opposition with civil society? Those are the kinds of things that will build confidence in the international community and the process. VOA: The U.S. government sometimes slapped sanctions on South Sudanese individuals accused of obstructing the peace process and the companies thought to be fueling the conflict here. If a final peace agreement is signed, and a government of national unity is formed, how long is it going to take to lift these sanctions? And under what conditions? Well, again, the signing of an agreement isn't the final step in the process, of course. Even the transition period set up by the first chapters of this agreement talk about a three-year period or three years plus a pre-transition period. So it could drag on. And I would emphasize that peace building peace will take even longer than that. It will have to continue even after elections (originally set for July 2018, they have yet to be rescheduled). [The peace process] won't be triggered immediately with a piece of paper, but that's of course an important first step, a necessary first step. So if we continue to see people seriously obstructing the peace process or diverting the people's money from the people's needs and into war, rather than peace and development, then we will continue to take tough measures. If this confidence I was telling you about is resurrected, I think you would start to see some changes. VOA: Since fighting flared up in Juba in July 2016, the U.S. government has focused more on providing humanitarian assistance rather than development assistance. Whats going to happen once final signatures are on the agreement? Since the conflict started at the end of 2013, youve seen this very deliberate and necessary shift from what was a huge development effort to what is now humanitarian needs. These are humanitarian needs that are not caused by a flood or a drought or an earthquake. These are caused by people namely the leaders of the government and the opposition who have gotten into a civil war. And the war has included direct attacks on civilians, massive displacement, and has put [an] incredible number of people in severe humanitarian needs. So by necessity, weve had to shift an incredible amount of resources to humanitarian assistance. If that ceasefire holds, if people start feeling they have the confidence that security will stay in their region, then they can start concentrating on development. Then I think if that holds, you will see a gradual shift back. You know, when the humanitarian needs go down, there will be the ability to focus a lot more on development. VOA: You mentioned the cease-fire. I was wondering [what] the U.S. government is doing to respect to the agreement on silencing the guns. Well, of course, the primary responsibility remains with the parties themselves. Also, we were convinced that the outside countries the neighbors, the broader international community could have done more to enforce the cease-fire agreement. The outside world has to measure the changes on the ground. Are the parties actually implementing the things they agreed to in the cease-fire or not? So, monitoring is important and [so is] enforcement. If there are people [who] are breaking the peace agreement, what do we do about it? Some of that enforcement again, the responsibility does and should rest on the shoulders of the actual leaders, the government or the opposition. If a commander initiates an attack or an atrocity against civilians the leaders should take steps to pull that commander aside, take action to affect discipline. But the international community as well and this is an IGAD [Inter-Governmental Authority on Development] agreement needs to take steps to impose consequences on people that are violating the cease-fire agreement. VOA's Carol Van Dam Falk and Carol Guensburg contributed to this report. New U.S economic sanctions took effect against Iran this week, targeting the Islamic Republic's automotive industry as well as its ability to purchase U.S. dollars and trade in gold. The European Union, Russia, China and Iraq broadly criticized the new sanctions, while Iranian neighbors Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which have backed the Trump administration's more confrontational approach with Tehran, remained largely silent. Yousef al-Otaiba, UAE's ambassador to Washington, told VOA that Iran needs to be shown that its actions have consequences. "Iran's behavior has to be associated with consequences," he said. "What are these consequences? That's something we should figure out together." Al-Otaiba added that Iran's proxies in the region were acting based on its interests and advancing its regional goals and ambitions. "Iran has consistently supported and funded terrorist groups and proxies throughout the Middle East," he contended. "The one thing all those groups have in common is their goal to destabilize the region." Gulf reaction Sunni Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have been at odds with Shiite Iran for decades, engaging in a complex proxy war that has influenced conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. As those conflicts play out on battlefields, the three countries have backed the Trump administration's tightening measures on Tehran. Last month, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir voiced concerns about Iran's support for sectarian strife and terrorism in the region. On the sidelines of the eighth session of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Beijing, al-Jubeir told Asharq Al-Awsat, a London-based pro-Saudi newspaper, that Iran is actively interfering in the affairs of Arab countries. "We believe in the sovereignty of states and therefore reject Iran's interference in the affairs of Arab countries, in addition to its support to sectarian strife and terrorism," al-Jubeir said. Following the U.S. designation of Bahrain-based al-Ashtar Brigades as a global terrorist organization, Bahrain welcomed the decision and vowed support for U.S. efforts to undermine Iranian-backed terror groups in the region. "The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomes the decision of the United States Department of State in designating individuals affiliated with al-Ashtar Brigades as Specially Designated Global Terrorists," a statement by the kingdom's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Iran's reaction Iran denies charges that it is sponsoring terrorism and supporting terrorist groups in the region. The country's president, Hassan Rouhani, told Iranian state TV this week that his country was working to decrease tensions in the region. "We are willing to decrease tensions in the region and our goal is to bring back peace and friendship," he said. "We always maintain good relationships with our neighbors and we want to remove tension generated within the region. ... Iran has never instigated a war and has always championed for peace and calmness in the region." Gulf lobbying Some Iranian analysts maintain the U.S.-led efforts to pressure Iran are a direct result of strong lobbying by Gulf states in Washington. "The coalition between Bahrain, UAE and Saudi Arabia has long lobbied against Tehran in Washington, and is pushing the Trump administration toward a harsher policy against Iran," said Ali Sarraf, a Tehran-based Persian Gulf region analyst. Shuaib Bahman, a Tehran-based Middle East affairs analyst, echoed Sarraf's assessment but argued that Gulf states are not as united as they portray themselves to be. "Due to the territorial dispute among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, they couldn't stand a unanimous stance against Iran and limited the action to release [a] proclamation," Bahman said. Meir Javedanfar, an analyst on Iran at the Interdisciplinary Center, an Israeli-based research institute, said he believed Iran's power projection beyond its borders had indeed united the Gulf states. "Gulf states are worried about Iran reaching Yemen," he said. "They are concerned that the trade route through Bab el-Mandeb will be disrupted if Iranian-backed Houthis get a stronger stance in Yemen, which can impact the security and the stability in the entire region." A former top Venezuelan security official says video reports from Sunday's drone attack on President Nicolas Maduro demonstrate serious shortcomings in the response of the bodyguards protecting the increasingly embattled leader. "Maduro's security was shown to be deficient," said retired Venezuelan Vice Admiral Mario Carratu, who has headed security teams for previous Venezuelan presidents, in a telephone interview with VOA. "His bodyguards were slow to react and seemed to lack an evacuation plan for the president." Carratu said video of the incident, in which two drones exploded near a reviewing stand without injuring Maduro, suggested the president's security detail did not have an effective evacuation plan in place. The former admiral's analysis dovetails with public comments from disaffected former Venezuelan military officers who have gone public with claims to have been responsible for the assassination attempt. "We showed that the regime is vulnerable. We didn't make it, but it's a matter of time before we do," said Salvatore Lucchese, a former Caracas police chief now in exile. Lucchese claimed to have been part of the plot in an interview with Reuters this week in which he called for an armed overthrow of Maduro's leftist regime. Maduro was addressing a ceremony of the paramilitary National Guard in central Caracas when he came under attack from two drones packed with explosives. The government claims that one of the drones was diverted electronically while the second crashed into a nearby apartment building. Carratu confirmed that Venezuela, a longtime ally of Cuba, has the technology to electronically penetrate and interfere with the electronic signals of aircraft. But he ridiculed claims made on Twitter by persons saying they were involved in the attack that the drones had been shot down with firearms. "Plastic explosives can't be detonated with bullets. They more likely exploded prematurely due to poor preparations by the hit team," he said. Lucchese's claim of responsibility for the attack came Wednesday but could not be independently confirmed. Responsibility has been claimed by a confusing array of spokesmen purporting to represent former and active members of Venezuela's security services, going by various names including "The Resistance," "Fenix Group" and "Soldiers in T Shirts." Lucchese was jailed by the Venezuelan government in 2014 for refusing orders to suppress opposition protests in his city. He took up political activity upon his release in 2016, when he objected to political negotiations with Maduro, but fled the country shortly afterward to avoid being arrested again. He did not reveal his location in the Reuters interview, but members of the Venezuelan government assert that he is in neighboring Colombia, a country that Maduro accuses of backing attempts to topple him. Exiled Venezuelan opposition journalist Patricia Poleo, long known for her close connections with the military, broadcast a statement from Miami that she claimed had been issued by officers in Venezuela. It said the officers were resorting to "armed struggle" because "the regime has consistently ignored the constitution." Some opposition leaders have cast doubts on the claims of responsibility, suggesting instead that the attack was staged by the government to justify further repression. The Maduro government this week has rounded up a half dozen military officers it accused of conducting the attacks and has issued arrest warrants for at least two opposition leaders, including congressional Speaker Julio Borges, who is in Colombia. Lucchese's police background crisscrossed with that of police lnspector Oscar Perez,who last year attacked Venezuela's Supreme Court from a helicopter with hand grenades and machine-gun fire. The attack came as the court's seven judges assumed the powers of parliament to allow Maduro to rule autocratically. Perez also machine-gunned a building housing Maduro's new handpicked national assembly, which had just ousted Attorney General Luisa Ortega for accusing Maduro of corruption and authoritarian rule. The Caracas metropolitan police, which has been largely dissolved by the Maduro government, maintained close links with opposition leaders. Lucchese was a member of the same Christian democratic First Justice party as Caracas Mayor Leopoldo Lopez, one of the most charismatic anti- government leaders who has been repeatedly imprisoned by Maduro. Perez was a subordinate to Lucchese in the police criminal investigations unit and the special operations brigade. He was killed by the new national secret police, SEBIN, whose forces used rocket-propelled grenades against his safe house when they raided it some months ago. College students and educators continue to struggle with balancing free speech rights on campus while keeping debate from turning violent as a new school year approaches. In the United States, the free exchange of ideas is the bedrock of college campuses. But avoiding violence -- like the deaths of three people in Charlottesville, Virginia near the University of Virginia a year ago during a protest over race -- shows the difficulty in keeping debate from turning into a brawl. Hate speech should not be protected, say many students. When a speaker like Charles Murray at the University of Michigan attributes class differences in America to genetic superiority, they say a line is crossed from speech to propaganda. Ideas that have little basis in science or scholarly research shouldnt be on the same stage as valid research, they said. His views on race, intelligence, and inequality are hateful and archaic," argues Isaac Whitcomb, a rising junior at American University. Protesters believe that hosting speakers with white nationalist views legitimize those views, says Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza, judicial affairs editor at the liberal news blog Daily Kos. Some students feel that silence implicates them, or at least signals that they condone racism. Students say they know the difference between hate speech and free speech, and dont want hate spread on campus. A 2016 Gallup poll found that nearly 70 percent of students said they believed universities should restrict speech that was intentionally offensive to certain groups. And among the 1,500 undergraduate students surveyed by the Brookings Institution in August 2017, 51 percent thought it was fine to loudly and repeatedly disrupt a very controversial speaker ... so the audience cannot hear him or her. On some campuses, officials have tried to maintain the peace by creating free speech zones, designated for unrestricted speech - some inside fences. Los Angeles Pierce College, Ohio University, Wichita State University, Modesto Junior College are a few schools to establish those zones. Outside the free speech zones, those discussions and activities are prohibited. The legality of these zones has been questioned. In "University of Cincinnati Chapter for Young Americans v. Williams," the federal district court ruled that the universitys free speech zone, which was less than .01 percent of the entire campus, was in violation of the First Amendment. The court found the university failed to demonstrate a compelling interest in justifying the exclusion of free speech activities from other areas on campus. The southern state of Georgia in May became the 10th state to pass legislation outlawing free speech zones on college campuses. The other states are Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Tennessee. On the other side is the call for unrestrained freedom of speech on college campuses. "There are absolutists who argue freedom of speech is the cornerstone of our democracy," said Mary Beth Leidman, a professor of communications media and media law at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, referring to the advocacy rights group American Civil Liberties Union and the late Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. They have advocated that "the absolute freedom of speech must be protected absolutely, Leidman said. Lost in the discussion about unfettered freedom of speech is the 1977 Supreme Court decision, "National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie." The nationalist party promoted a Nazi and anti-Semitic platform, and despite attempts by Skokie, Illinois, to restrict the group, the court ruled it could march in the predominately Jewish town, north of Chicago. All speech is free speech, the court ruled. Many people are unaware of that decision, says Howard Gillman, chancellor of the University of California-Irvine, because, Not a lot of civics teaching [is] going on in high school, or students would know that hate speech is protected under the First Amendment. There are exceptions to First Amendment protections. Libel, or false statements that injure a persons reputation, is an exception. Incitement, which is speech that intentionally advocates imminent lawlessness, is another caveat. For example, talking to an enraged mob outside a building an urging them to burn it down. That would be punishable, says Volokh. But hate speech isnt measured only as a constitutional issue. Hate speech can make you feel threatened of your existence, Alejandrina Guzman, student government president at University of Texas-Austin. When you already feel that you dont have adequate resources or have the adequate personnel on campus to navigate those conversations, its threatening. Following events in which a campus speaker negatively impacts certain students, administrators need to provide official platforms to show they care, Guzman says. Universities find themselves in a tough place when a campus speaker is found offensive by some students. Any condemnation made by the university runs the risk of alienating a part of its student body. Universities should only speak out when the core values of their institution are threatened, Gillman advises. Stephen Hayes, editor in chief of The Weekly Standard, says curbing any speech goes in the wrong direction. More speech is the best antidote to hate speech, he says. Chinese parents have ramped up extracurricular classes during summer vacation, giving children an increased workload just as schools are cutting back on homework, a poll has shown. In a survey by China Youth Daily last week, about 60 percent of parents said they wanted their children to improve any shortcomings through after-school programs, and more than half sent their children to extracurricular classes to keep up with other parents. Liu Yuehan, an 8-year-old girl in Beijing, attends six extracurricular courses during the summer vacation, and the second-grader will continue with her busy schedule after the new semester begins. She attends the extra classesEnglish, math, dancing, piano, drawing and gymnasticsfrom Monday to Sunday, with only a few hours of spare time left every day to do her school homework and play. "I know my daughter is experiencing pressure beyond her age, but I don't know what else to do. There are just too many afterschool classes and everyone is signing up," Wang Lijuan, Liu Yuehan's mother, told China Daily. She added that advertisements for extra classes can be seen everywhere: in the subway, at bus stops and on elevators. "Everyone around me is sending their children to private training institutions. I can't help thinking that I would somehow be failing my daughter if I did not send her to the classes," Wang said. Sun Liqiang, the father of a fourth-grade pupil in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, sends his son to attend four tutoring classes, one each in English and piano and two in mathematics. "I have to provide my child with more extracurricular learning to help him stand out from his peers and eventually gain admission to a good university. I know he is very depressed about not having a real holiday. But it is better to attend tutoring classes than sit home and play video games," he said. Half of respondents also noted that most children around them take the classes unwillingly. Over 65 percent expressed the hope that parents would change their views toward education and be less anxious. Yang Dongping, dean of the 21st Century Education Research Institute in Beijing, said providers of private classes fill the gap when the quality of school education begins to lag what is found in tutoring institutions. The real solution to reducing pupils' academic workload is to increase the quality of school education, Yang said. "Instead of blaming parents and providers of extracurricular classes for the situation, making a thorough overhaul of China's exam-oriented education system would offer a real solution and reduce the burden on students," Yang said. Zimbabwe's main opposition party has filed a legal challenge to the July 30 presidential election results, a move that puts a hold on the swearing-in of incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which was planned for Sunday. Just before the close of business Friday, Movement for Democratic Change Alliance lawyers arrived at the Constitutional Court with legal papers challenging the declared victory of Mnangagwa in the July 30 election. The opposition says the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission rigged the election for Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU-PF party. Lawyer Thabani Mpofu, said he was confident of having election results declared invalid and of opposition candidate Nelson Chamisa being declared the next president. "Based on the evidence that we have placed before the court, the court must declare the proper winner," he said. "And that proper winner is my client, [with] the alternative that be there another election which complies with the dictates of the constitution of Zimbabwe. There is no inauguration that is going to take place up until the matter has been resolved by the court." ZANU-PF and the electoral commission have three days to respond to the lawsuit, and the case is now expected to be heard by the full bench of the constitutional court within two weeks. Meanwhile, Tendai Biti, an opposition leader who early this week fled to Zambia seeking asylum, was in court Friday challenging his deportation from Zambia and his subsequent arrest by Zimbabwean officials. Biti told the court he feared for his life after security forces opened fire on protesters outside the electoral commission on August 1, two days after the election. "I have had my house bombed on two occasions but nothing I have gone through in the last seven days or so compared to what has happened in the past," he said. "It's unprecedented the levels of attack, the nature of the threat and I have never felt so much threatened in my life." Biti is one of the several senior opposition officials whom police said they were looking for earlier this week, in connection with alleged election-related offenses. He is facing charges of public violence and announcing false election results. He is denying both charges. Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Babar Baloch, says the return to Zimbabwe of opposition leader Tendai Biti, was a violation of the international refugee law, given that he fears for his life. #voazimvotes The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Dr. Nkululeko Sibanda,spokesperson of MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa, says they are discussing Zimbabwe's election outcome with big legal minds in South Africa. The MDC Alliance is expected to challenge the outcome of the presidential election Friday. #voazimvotes Zimbabwe opposition leader Tendai Biti is paying a high price for his freedom, following approval of bail, which his lawyer explains is $5K. He also has to report to a police station twice daily. Biti is charged with public violence and unlawfully declaring election results. #voazimvotes If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online: We sometimes invite you to "test" new itineraries or destinations with us. Such trips are a reduced cost and require a higher degree of flexibility, but often offer a great deal of adventure. Witnessing a volcanic eruption from close is an unforgettable experience. We offer a wide variety of tours and expeditions to active volcanoes worldwide. 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Improved multilanguage support Tsunami alerts Faster responsiveness Earthquake archive from 1900 onwards Detailed quake stats Additional seismic data sources Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: Android | IOS to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: We truly love working to bring you the latest volcano and earthquake data from around the world.We need financing to increase hard- and software capacity as well as support our editor team.If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please PayPal or Online credit card payment )., these features have been added recently: Rome city council is considering reviving a plan to shuttle tourists past the Trevi Fountain in single-file to deter large groups of visitors from congregating around the 18th-century monument. Last summer the capital introduced measures to control the flow of crowds at the fountain which attracts vast numbers of tourists every day and is regularly the scene of tourists behaving badly. Over the last couple of years there have been numerous cases of visitors jumping into the fountain's waters while the latest anti-social incident took place on the evening of 9 August. A fight broke out between a 19-year-old Dutch woman and a 44-year-old American woman after both attempted to take the perfect "selfie" picture in the same place. The situation deteriorated after the Dutch woman's 13-year-old sister and the American woman's two 17-year-old daughters joined the brawl which was broken up by police. Last summer's single-file passageway in front of the monument, monitored by retired carabinieri, was supposed to be made permanent in October but this never happened. The 43-year-old union member said unions have played an indispensable role in his life. Our benefits are just awesome. Our health care is top of the line. I have a pension, so Im going to be set when I retire, we get a 401(k), my medical and dental and vision plans are awesome, he said. If I get laid off, they look for another job for me, and you cant really ask for better, in my eyes. But reminders are inescapable: In the hallways of his school, where he now moves in a wheelchair and can tolerate only a few hours at a time. In the #MSDStrong placards posted in restaurant windows and the motivational messages painted on the mirror at his physical-therapy clinic. In the visitors who flock to his house bearing casseroles and good intentions, wanting to know how he feels. In strangers lingering stares and unsubtle whispers: Thats one of the kids who was shot. Tannat can range from bright, light and fruity to (more often) rough-and-tumble rustic. Aranjuez manages to add sophistication and panache. The vineyards are at an altitude of 2,000 meters, or about 6,600 feet, where intense sunshine combines with cool temperatures to ripen the fruit while preserving acidity and freshness. The wine spent six months in barrel. I enjoyed this red over two or three days, and it kept getting better. Aranjuez also made a 2015 single vineyard tannat called Origen that will cost about twice as much when it arrives in the market this fall it is worth it. A line called Duo, priced around $15, includes an excellent red blended of tannat and merlot and a zesty white of torrontes and Muscat of Alexandria. Alcohol by volume: 14 percent. After serving 18 months in prison, she was released from a halfway house in May 2016 and was looking to put her life back together. Shed gotten pregnant after leaving federal custody and was separated from the childs father. Stone who splits time between New York and Florida offered her a place to stay. She moved into his apartment on 71st Street in New York for a few months. In September of that year, after getting her own apartment, she had her baby. Stone, whod helped her through months of her pregnancy, had a suggestion for the infants name: Roger. Prince Edward County seems determined not to repeat those mistakes. In 2008, its multiracial Board of Supervisors installed a light dedicated to Johns and the students, which shines in the tower atop the same courthouse in which their counterparts voted to shut down public education. On its marker, the county expresses regret for the pain it caused and the lost opportunities and dreams. And last year, the Farmville Town Council renamed the communitys public library in honor of Johns, who married the Rev. William Powell, had five children and became a librarian in Philadelphias public schools. She died in 1991. One thing we want to make abundantly clear here is that were talking about a new entity being built that is going to be operated and run by GW, Young said. We dont want anybody to be thinking and I want to be very clear that this is about transferring the existing UMC to a new location. Duffy said in an interview Friday that the charter network remained stumped about why its model did not succeed in the District. She said leaders plan to perform an analysis to see if they can figure out what went awry. This is the first school in its network that Democracy Prep has ceased operating, Duffy said. Scott J. Peters, an educational measurement expert at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, explained the Szabos lists simple-mindedness on the website of the National Association for Gifted Children, even though he said the list seems to be one of the most ubiquitous publications related to gifted education. Many parents are devoted to it, particularly if they believe they have a gifted learner in the family. Jonathan Plucker, president-elect of the national association, said he thought many schools used it to keep gifted programs small and within budget. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy When we endorse a candidate, we look far beyond his or her political affiliation, LIUNA General President Terry O Sullivan said in a statement. What matters is whether or not a candidate supports us in our mission of creating better lives for working families. It is unmistakable that the Republican Governors Association advertisement is both outright false and misleading to your viewers, Temples letter said. The Republican Governors Association in this advertisement uses selective editing techniques to make the false claim that Mr. Jealous is a socialist, despite clear and repeated evidence to the contrary. On Feb. 21, 1944, all 23 men, including Manouchian, were lined up and shot by a German firing squad at the notorious Fort Mont-Valerien on the western outskirts of Paris. (More than 1,000 people, mostly Jews, were executed at the fort between 1941 and 1944.) Because French law prohibited the execution of women by firing squad, Bancic was taken to Germany, where she was beheaded with an ax. Dr. Anders was born Theodore Amdursky in Rochester, N.Y., and changed his last name in the 1950s. He served as an Army physician before settling in the Washington area in 1960 and joining a private medical practice that became known as Chevy Chase Pediatrics. He was often cited by Washingtonian magazine as one of the Washington areas leading pediatricians. He served as chairman of the medical staff at Childrens National Medical Center from 1979 to 1986, longer than any other physician before him, and also was a member of the hospitals board of directors. He retired in 2010. There are so many differences from who I am now from when I was 17. First of all, I was a child, but I thought I was a man, said McCraney, 38. I thought I knew everything I needed to know in order to survive in this life. I was reckless. I look back on that stuff and Im like, Man, I did that? I was living like that? I didnt know nothing. Starks did not provide a motive in Pratts killing. The defendant did not speak during sentencing, allowing his public defender to speak for him. But Liebman said he thought Starks needed cash and stole money from Pratt, based on Pratts belongings having been strewn about in a wooded area of a dead-end street where her body was found near Suitland Parkway and Barry Farm in Southeast Washington. The victim woke up the next morning unclear where she was with her dress hitched up. She called 911 for help, and in the call can be heard sniffling and crying as she tries to answers the call-takers questions about where she is, how she got there and who she thought she had been with. The Democrats later removed the claim about Smith from its website, a decision party spokesman Jake Rubenstein said came after an emotional appeal from Smiths grandfather. Rubenstein said he was aware that Smith had denounced Kessler ahead of the rally but said it was still fair to describe Smith as a white supremacist who fanned the flames ahead of the event, whether he backed off at the last minute or not. Siraj Wahhaj, the Brooklyn imam, confirmed during an impromptu news conference on Thursday that he is the father of suspects Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 40; Hujrah J. Wahhaj, 37; and Subhannah A. Wahhaj, 35. He said he also is the father-in-law of Lucas Allen Morten, 40, and Jany N. Leveille, 35, who also were suspects taken from the compound. All 11 children found on the compound are his grandchildren, two of them through his daughter-in-laws previous marriage, Wahhaj said. In an interview Thursday, Donald M. Berwick, who led CMS during part of the Obama administration, said, ACOs are a really important component of a fleet of major experiments this country is doing to shift the payment of medical services from how much is delivered to the value of the care. But he added, its a fragile experiment and that changes that lead to a chilling of interest in teams participating may be the wrong direction. Peter Bach, director of Memorial Sloan Ketterings Center for Health Policy and Outcomes in New York, pointed to the possible introduction of a competitive purchasing program in which a firm negotiates with drugmakers to buy their drugs and then sells them to the doctors and hospitals that will administer the medications. Bach said that helps ensure that hospitals and doctors cant make more money by prescribing more expensive drugs. Missouri couple charged for allegedly confining children: Investigators in St. Francois County, Mo., say a woman accused of barricading four children in tiny rooms with no access to water or toilets had child-sized inmate uniforms made for them. Justen Head and Laura Elizabeth Cheatham, both 38, face child endangerment and kidnapping charges. The children, who had been adopted by Cheatham and her estranged husband, are in state custody. The county Sheriff's Department says Cheatham worked for the state Department of Corrections until recently resigning. Authorities say she ordered four small inmate uniforms in January from a prison clothing division. Authorities have not discussed a potential motive. The suspects are jailed on $500,000 bond and do not yet have attorneys. Most of the independent stores are gone now, and certainly all have left downtown Bethesda. People had mixed feelings when Barnes & Noble arrived in Bethesda. It was one of the large chain stores. But it had, in addition to a wide selection of books, a comfortable Starbucks cafe area. Over time, Barnes & Noble came to be seen as a true community gathering place. You could buy the latest electronic devices if that was your inclination, or books in hardcover or paperback. You could use your credit card or pay cash to make purchases. Many Bethesda area residents were saddened when the news began to circulate that Barnes & Nobles days were numbered. Now that it is gone, I miss having a bookstore which also served as a community gathering place. Last year, I announced that we would open a state-of-the-art medical center on the St. Elizabeths campus. This hospital has been a long time coming. While our city is home to some of the best hospitals and specialty-care centers anywhere, our comprehensive health-care centers are concentrated in Northwest. People travel from across the District to these hospitals, but they are least accessible to the residents who face the largest disparities in health outcomes: the residents of Wards 7 and 8. With this new hospital, we can, at the very least, take on this geographical disparity and make access to fully integrated health-care systems easier for thousands of Washingtonians. Trump broke immigration law and employment law, and he violated union rules, too. Yet neither immigration authorities nor employment regulators nor union bosses put him out of business. Why not? Why were the terms of that settlement kept confidential? Why, with his track record, was he allowed to get a casino license? Building permits? Wall Street banks did, it is true, stop lending to him. But when he began looking abroad for cash doing extremely dodgy deals in Georgia and Azerbaijan, for example no one stopped him. As Adam Davidson of the New Yorker has written, So many partners of the Trump Organization have been fined, sued, or criminally investigated for financial crimes that it is hard to ascribe the pattern to coincidence, or even to shoddy due diligence. But shoddy due diligence usually brings legal consequences. Why wasnt the company shut down years ago? Google built a culture in which doing good was prioritized to a degree that it attracted and earned the trust of the worlds best minds. To sacrifice that trust in pursuit of limited profits would be the most serious business failure in Google history. Employee dissent recently caused Google to end a controversial contract with the Defense Department. If leadership ignores concerns about working with the Chinese government, those employees couldnt be blamed for walking out the door, taking Googles future with them. Lets start with the State Department itself. Pompeo said from his first day that he wanted to bolster a demoralized foreign service, and he sought advice from a wide circle of former State officials, including some who had been very critical of President Trump. Where Tillerson had left key positions unfilled, Pompeo has used his clout with the White House and Congress to clear appointments. More than a dozen major posts are likely to be confirmed next week, perhaps including four high-level career ambassadors. The protracted strategy, of which this enormous operation 15 nations navies, 250 ships, more than 1,000 aircraft was a harbinger, came to be referred to by some Soviets as the Lehman strategy. In Oceans Ventured: Winning the Cold War at Sea, John Lehman, a Navy aviator who was secretary of the Navy during Reagans first six years, explains the Navys role in the forward strategy that implemented Reagans Cold War policy. Reagan explained the policy when asked about it in 1977: We win and they lose, what do you think of that? But to take the additional, risky step of tax fraud? My colleague Catherine Rampell has noted the dwindling number of prosecutions for white-collar crime, and maybe, absent Manaforts seemingly reckless decision to go to work for the Trump campaign, he might have gotten away with it. Criminal prosecutions referred by the IRS to the Justice Department have fallen by half since 2013. Still, Manafort should not have been sleeping soundly, in any of his many multimillion-dollar homes he was being interviewed by FBI agents about his offshore consulting activities even as he was allegedly failing to report his income. Equal attention must also now turn to the northwest of Syria around Idlib. This is where there is the greatest risk of a new humanitarian disaster. Armed opposition groups from elsewhere in the country have been deported there under so-called reconciliation agreements and are preparing for a last stand against the Assad regime. Standing between rebels and the regime are 2.6 million civilians, half of whom have already been displaced at least once by fighting. One million seven hundred thousand people already need humanitarian aid to survive. Almost 70,000 have fled from the horrors of Eastern Ghouta, where they had been living under siege for up to five years. President Xi Jinping visited four African nations late in July, his first trip to the continent after starting his second presidential term, and hence, a significant milestone in Sino-African relations. The two sides have a strong history of trade and mutual cooperation since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. China has become the largest trading partner of the African continent, and the second most popular destination for African students to study abroad. Burgeoning economic and trade relations Starting from 2009, China's role has become increasingly important in shaping African economies. The volume of trade has also increased greatly in the last decade. With 20 percent year-on-year leaps on average, in 2017, two-way trade reached almost US$170 billion, while China's FDI exceeded US$40 billion. Africa's exports to China amounted to US$75.3 billion in 2017, up 33 percent year-on-year, while the trade flow in the other direction reached US$94.7 billion, up 3 percent from the previous year. China mainly imports fuels, mineral oils, ores, precious metals, copper and wood, while mainly sending machinery, equipment, televisions, vehicles, steel and furniture. The trade deficit is manageable for now, making it a win-win situation for both China and Africa. According to a recent McKinsey report, currently, there are more than 10,000 Chinese-owned firms operating in Africa, 90 percent of which are from the private sector. These Chinese companies hire 89 percent local employees, creating millions of jobs. Further, according to the report, their revenues are expected to reach a massive US$440 billion by 2025 under the most optimistic scenario. Chinese investment is currently focused on three major areas namely manufacturing, resources and infrastructure. However, this is likely to change, with additional investment by Chinese-owned companies in five new areas: agriculture, banking & insurance, information communications, technology and telecommunications, and transport and logistics. Currently, China is funding the construction of a 1,400 km-long railway in Nigeria, a highway in Algeria, and new cities in Egypt and South Africa. Djibouti, on the east coast, opened a China-backed free trade zone last month. The zone is considered to be the biggest in the African continent. Chinese-built infrastructure telecommunication networks, power stations, railways, dams, harbors, and roads is already boosting the sustainable development of African countries to a significant extent. Deepening security ties It's not just technology and infrastructure. China is also providing assistance to Africa in border security as part of its global peacekeeping mission. South Sudan and Mali in Western Africa house around 2,500 peacekeeping troops, accounting for more than 80 percent of China's global peacekeepers. In 2015, during the UN General Assembly meeting, President Xi Jinping pledged military assistance worth US$100 million and 8,000 peacekeeping standby forces to the African Union in the coming five years. In addition, China has also actively participated in normalizing relations between North and South Sudan, and between Ethiopia and Eritrea through diplomatic channels. Improving education and cultural exchanges The harmonious relationship between China and the African Union is also reflected by the increase in the number of African students studying in China. The latter supports wider cultural and educational exchanges, creating a conducive environment for students willing to study abroad by offering a lot of scholarships. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the number of African students studying in China jumped from around 2,000 in 2003 to more than 50,000 in 2015, making it second most popular foreign destination after France with over 95,000 students. Strengthening relations through Belt & Road Initiative In 2013, President Xi announced the ambitious "Belt and Road Initiative" to integrate the economies along the Silk Road Economic Belt (Central Asia to Europe) and the Maritime Silk Road (South Asia to Africa and the Middle East) together. This mega project is intended to realize the Chinese dream of increased trade and economic empowerment among dozens of economies in Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania. As of January 2018, a total of 70 countries had agreed to become part of the project, out of which nine are from Africa. To sum up, it can be said that the burgeoning trade relations, security cooperation, and improved cultural and educational exchanges are resulting in a win-win situation, as it will not only benefit China but will also go a long way towards changing the lives of millions of Africans living in dire poverty, systemic corruptions and oppression. The overall scenario clearly indicates a move towards deepening ties and strengthening Sino-African relations based on peace, cooperation, and mutual trust. Rachana Gupta is a China Focus columnist, an expert author of Ezine articles and an active blogger and poetry writer. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. For instance, refugees initially cost the government money; they need a lot of help, after all, given that they often arrive penniless and without proficient English-language skills. But over time, their work and wage prospects improve and, by their fifth year here, they pay more in taxes than they received in benefits on average, according to a government report commissioned and subsequently suppressed by the Trump administration last year. (The report eventually leaked to the New York Times.) Said Giuliani on the possibility of an interview: If they can come to us and show us the basis and that its legitimate and that they have uncovered something, we can go from there and assess their objectivity. Giuliani added to his list of prerequisite demands that he wants to know about the origins of the FBI probe before agreeing to some form of interview. Then on Wednesday, Giuliani announced that the presidents team issued yet another counter-proposal to Mueller, declining to specify the terms. States are even more vulnerable to political pressure than the federal government, so anti-wildlife folks want to hand the Endangered Species Act over to states to administer. As Stricklers testimony noted, the primary reason many species are where they are is precisely because states, including Virginia, have not had the resources or the political will to do the job themselves. Thats why the Endangered Species Act is so important. Get this: In a Yahoo Finance-SurveyMonkey poll conducted from July 25 to 27, 11 percent of the Republicans surveyed said it would be appropriate for Russia to interfere in the midterm elections if it helped their party keep control of Congress, and 29 percent said it would not be a big deal. Yes, a majority of Republicans (55 percent) opposed the idea. But the fact that 40 percent of Republicans would be okay with Russian interference in a U.S. election if it helped their side speaks to a lack of allegiance to our democratic institutions. The use of antipsychotic drugs as chemical restraints for staff convenience or to discipline a resident has a long history in nursing homes. In 1975, the Senate released a report, Drugs in Nursing Homes: Misuse, High Costs, and Kickbacks, documenting some of the same trends we still see, more than 40 years later. In the past decade, many manufacturers of antipsychotic drugs have faced civil and criminal penalties for misbranding the medications to promote them as appropriate for treating older people with dementia. For more than a decade, the Food and Drug Administration has required manufacturers to place the strongest caution, known as a black box warning, on the packaging to advise against the medicines use in these patients; such drugs almost double the risk of death for them and have never been approved as safe or effective for treating symptoms of dementia. Despite the warning, nursing homes still often administer antipsychotic drugs in this manner, sometimes without seeking informed consent first, in violation of federal regulations and human rights norms. If democratic socialism is to revitalize the Democratic Party, it should have answers to questions that have bedeviled it in the past. What does the DSAs goal of socialism actually mean? If abolishing capitalism is its goal, as its adherents say, how are the growth, efficiency and innovation that are the prerequisites for redistribution to be achieved? And if reforms cant create a better world (Todays democratic socialists dont see positive policy reforms as something well stack up until one day, voila!, we have socialism, as one democratic socialist wrote in Vox), then how is socialism to be achieved? Is democracy, even when flawed, a means or an end? Will democratic socialists prioritize democracy if the votes for a socialist future do not materialize? Will they eschew the compromises and alliances necessary to protect democracy? The unwillingness of Jean-Luc Melenchon to support President Emanuel Macron in the French presidential elections, and the refusal by some American leftists to support Hillary Clinton, come to mind, as does the willingness of some democratic socialists to consider running outside the Democratic Party. And will democratic socialists accept the trade-offs and bridge-building necessary to win elections? Or is compromise, as Salazar put it, antithetical to truly fighting for the working class and marginalized? As anyone whos handled a crude 3-D-printed keychain can probably guess, the hardest part of 3-D printing is ensuring that a product looks good. When you print layer upon layer, you dont get the smooth finish of conventional manufacturing. Theres no device that youre using today that can be 3-D printed to the standard youre going to accept as the consumer, said Liam Casey, the chief executive of PCH International, in 2015. The Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group at the University of Nottingham in Britain likewise predicted that high post-printing costs, among other challenges, would help keep 3-D printing from expanding much beyond customized or highly complex parts. But perhaps the most enigmatic fixture is Rick Gates, the prosecutions star witness, a Manafort protege who took a plea deal to implicate his former boss in a bevy of financial crimes in 2 1 / 2 days of testimony this past week. During his time on the stand, Gates stressed that he was not the conspicuous consumer of House of Bijan attire and silk rugs that Manafort was. Then he admitted to embezzling money for his mentor, embezzling money from his mentor, using the proceeds to keep a London flat for a romantic liaison with a woman who was not his wife and stealing from other employers over the years. (He was not, however, compelled to answer a defense attorneys question that suggested there were at least three other romantic affairs Gates had not disclosed.) But there is another tool, sitting right in front of us, for reining in these groups: Most states have constitutional language, criminal statutes or both barring unauthorized paramilitary activity. Every state except New York and Georgia has a constitutional provision, akin to Virginias, requiring that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power. In other words, private armies are proscribed in 48 states. You cant legally organize with others into battalions to fight those with whom you disagree. As University of Virginia law professor A.E. Dick Howard, who formerly directed the Virginia Commission on Constitutional Revision, has written, this provision ensures the right of all citizens . . . to live free from the fear of an alien soldiery commanded by men who are not responsible to law and the political process an accurate description of the militant groups that invaded Charlottesville. (Washington, D.C., the site of alt-right protests planned for this weekend, has no such provisions.) The recently published latest Global Innovation Index (GII) ranks China 17 out of 126 national economies up five places from last year. This highly regarded index is published annually by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The top 10 places were awarded to: 1. Switzerland, 2. Netherlands, 3. Sweden, 4. United Kingdom, 5. Singapore, 6. United States, 7. Finland, 8. Denmark, 9. Germany, and 10. Ireland. The GII considers 80 indicators of innovation, such as educational spending, scientific/technical publications, mobile-app creations, IP filings. In China's case, the government's general strategic direction, investment in research in key areas (for example, artificial intelligence, robotics, bio-tech, green technology and outer-space), promotion of greater IP production, establishment of an infrastructure that encourages growth in the knowledge economy, encouragement of competition, and general opening up have all been major factors in China's continuing improvement as an innovative nation. The future of innovation in China is to be found in the next and future generations. For this reason, China has invested heavily in its universities and research infrastructure. It has implemented strategic plans and policies to strengthen education and training, to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, and to promote capital investment, both public and private. Around the world, while universities perform well in relation to basic research, their record of commercialization of intellectual property is an area where improvement is needed. Governments also need to promote stronger relationships among government, industry and educational institutions. Financial institutions and other capital sources also need to play a proactive role in helping to ensure that innovators have the capital required to make their dreams a reality. Innovation and creativity are "caught" as well as taught. Schools and universities also require inspiring teachers who are themselves role models of innovation. In an age of "knowledge explosion" our curricula continue to be focused on content, rather than sufficiently emphasizing creative processes and deep learning. Neither do our universities do enough to warn about the misuse of technology. Used wrongly, technology can make us passive and dependent rather than active, creative and more engaged with one another and society. Evidence is mounting, for example, that technology, such as mobile phones and the Internet, can become too addictive. It can demand and dominate our attention, leaving us less time to reflect, to think critically, to create. In our quest to be online and entertained 24/7, we have perhaps forgotten that a good night's sleep and unscheduled time, even boredom, is often a first step toward a new creative idea and resultant innovation. Truly creative and talented people are always in demand and in short supply in every country. It is thus important for countries to develop incentives and conditions that nurture, attract and retain top talent. Innovation is also promoted by diversity. Talented, creative and innovative people tend to create and congregate around clusters, most often in urban settings just as they did in the coffee shops of London in the Industrial Revolution. It is thus important for countries to give greater attention to the design of cities so that they better encourage, support and promote innovation. China also must continue to enhance its innovation at work. While we tend to think of innovation in terms of major breakthroughs, the reality is that most innovation is incremental, involving small improvements. The innovation of the workplace is thus key to the development of innovative solutions that address the evolving complex needs and challenges of society. It is in the workplace, too, where project execution is constantly adjusted and perfected. As famous Chinese entrepreneur, Jack Ma noted: "The lessons I learned from the dark days at Alibaba are that you've got to make your team have value, innovation, and vision. Also, if you don't give up, you still have a chance. And, when you are small, you have to be very focused and rely on your brain, not your strength." Workplaces and innovation are all about people. Innovation thrives when the workplace is diverse, accepting and willing to cooperate. New ideas are more likely to emerge when people come together from different backgrounds and cultures. Again, China's opening up has helped greatly in this regard. There is also a cultural element to innovation. Societies must be willing to suffer the pain of change in order to achieve a better future. Government should create the environment and incentives to stimulate investment in sustainable innovation. Barriers to innovation and adoption should be identified and removed. Those countries which celebrate and support innovators and innovation are more likely to encourage more of the same. Innovation systems also require a supportive legal infrastructure. Some of the components of this infrastructure are intellectual property laws, courts that understand those laws and enforce them, effective contract and related commercial laws. One of the greatest barriers to innovation is corruption. Corruption destroys faith in basic institutions of society. It diminishes incentives for creativity, diverts funding away from government expenditure that provides the infrastructure and incentives for innovation. Corruption wastes talent and diverts funds away from worthy projects. While the GII indicators are important and helpful, it should also be realized that much research remains to be done regarding "innovation systems," especially as they occur in different contexts. There is no universal agreement on the definition of an innovation system and the factors which comprise it. There are likely to be differences between innovation conceived globally versus regional or local innovation. There are also differences between technological innovation and sectoral innovation systems. I argue for a broad and flexible definition which also considers cultural, regional and qualitative factors and takes a long-range view of innovation. For example, how does a nation promote creativity and innovation generally? How can governments better support a person's earliest, and often most influential teachers one's parents, grandparents and other family members? How can a country look not only at innovation through technology production, but also focus on the best use of that technology? As economist Michael Porter noted, "Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity." Yet, there is no one way to achieve an innovative society. There are different ways to do innovation. Innovation systems can be top-down or bottom up, or both. The important thing is to ensure there is fertile ground upon which innovation is encouraged, can be nurtured and effectively grown. Collaboration and augmentation provide the platform for a more innovative China. The various components of China's innovation system have generally worked effectively. They have fostered a collaborative culture and developed high performing teams focused on results. All of this augurs well for China's future as it continues its innovation journey. Eugene Clark is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/eugeneclark.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Avenatti told the paper that he is testing the presidential waters and that he decided to visit Iowa to listen to voters and to do my homework on the issues they care about most. In an interview with The Washington Post, he said he is a strong supporter of universal Medicare for all, but that he will be studying up on some of the other policies that are coming up on the trail, such as last years tax cut legislation and the presidents tariffs on foreign goods. The Federal Government has resources to help, and only by working together can we thwart Russias continued efforts to interfere in our democracy and undermine our elections, Burr wrote Friday. That is also the message of the letter sent by senators Rubio and Nelson, and I support their effort. As I said after his nomination, Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most respected jurists in the country and one of the most qualified nominees ever to be considered by the Senate for a seat on our highest court, Grassley said in a statement Friday. Hes a mainstream judge. He has a record of judicial independence and applying the law as it is written. Hes met with dozens of senators who have nothing but positive things to say. Pelosi and her allies pointed to the top-line reality of Ohio: A district that voted for Trump in 2016 by 11 points and for Republican congressional candidates by much bigger margins swung decisively to Democrats. The GOPs reliance on anti-Pelosi messages, they say, reflects an inability to find any other effective issue and to the extent she is a factor at all, her role is dwarfed by that of the president. The memorandum shows him recognizing that he doesnt want to be too shrill in insisting that the draft might be too graphic, even as he is suggesting that it might be, the person said. It shows his hallmark sense of how to maintain good relationships with colleagues while also trying to persuade them. As the Taliban has continued to occupy or influence large areas of the countryside, Afghan and U.S. officials have said they are focusing more on protecting cities, where most civilians live. But the recent attack on Farah and bombings in eastern Jalalabad city by Islamic State militants have raised fears that it will be difficult to protect voters in parliamentary elections scheduled for October. The twin pandas Fu Feng and Fu Ban celebrated their second birthday party with their mother on Tuesday by receiving birthday gifts, packages of potatoes, carrots and special bamboo shoots. The mother, Yang Yang, opened the gift packages first and then joined by Fu Ban, the brother, who was more curious, while the sister Fu Feng was a bit shy, said a panda keeper, adding the whole family is in good health condition. "The twin pandas are both very playful, the female is a bit shy and the boy is more curious, easy to be attracted by new things," a keeper told Xinhua, noting "they also still drink milk from the mother Yang Yang." The twins are also eating bamboos, she added. The twins were born in the summer of 2016. The cubs' father Long Hui died of tumor in December 2016. Yang Yang and Long Hui arrived in Austria in 2003 and they managed to breed five giant pandas naturally at the Schonbrunn Zoo. In Europe, most pandas are bred through artificial insemination. Under the contract signed between China and Austria, the offspring of Yang Yang and Long Hui should be returned to China after two years old. However, due to the hot summer, the twins are supposed to leave for China in autumn, a bit late than expected. The other three offspring of the panda couple, Fu Long, Fu Hu and Fu Bao, which mean lucky Dragon, Tiger, and Leopard respectively, were returned to China after two years old, an age the cubs in the wild should leave their mother. Since the twins are still with the mother, the zoo currently has no plan to find a stepfather for the cubs. "We hope that after the twins have left soon we will get a new male and we also hope Yang Yang will have other offspring in the future," the panda keeper said. The giant pandas are the most famous symbol of the Schonbrunn Zoo which attracts a large number of visitors every year. Corbyn, who has spent his career in Parliament as a staunch supporter of Palestinians, maintains that, as a matter of free speech, people should be able to condemn Israel without fear of being branded anti-Jewish. In the 1970s some on the left mistakenly argued that Zionism is racism. That was wrong, but to assert that anti-Zionism is racism now is wrong too, he wrote in the Guardian. There was an outstanding credit card bill of more than $200,000 that Manafort said stemmed from having loaned the card to a friend apparently his business partner Rick Gates to purchase season tickets for the New York Yankees. A Yankees official would later testify it was Manafort who purchased the tickets, and that the team had no record of Gates having done so. Speaking on further sanctions, I would not like to comment, but I can say one thing, Medvedev said at a meeting of employees of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. If a kind of prohibition of bank activities or using this or that currency followed, this can be called, absolutely directly, this is a declaration of economic war. It did damage to our officers and our standing in the world, Haspel wrote in a separate statement, and she told senators that she would be guided in the future by her moral compass. The committee, which had access to the cables, which were classified, conducted much of its questioning of her and its final 10-to-5 vote in her favor behind closed doors. The full Senate confirmed her as CIA director, 54 to 45. At the time, Miller was complying with a subpoena for records, according to the transcript. Dearn said Miller found thousands of documents, many of which were emails sent to Stones website that Miller had forwarded to him to respond to booking requests. Dearn said Miller worked with Stone very little in 2015 and 2016 but continued to receive forwarded emails now subject to prosecutors subpoena. The Syrian opposition is willing to entertain the prospect of such an arrangement but wants to know what it might gain in return, said Bassam Barabandi, a former Syrian diplomat who defected in Washington and now works with the opposition. At a minimum, he said, the rebels in Idlib want guarantees that they will have some form of autonomy and protection, perhaps under Turkish and Russian auspices. Flash The Red Cross Society of China on Thursday donated 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Greek Red Cross to support relief efforts for fire-stricken Greeks. The check was handed to the President of the Greek Red Cross Nikolaos Oikonomopoulos by the charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Athens Wang Qiang. The fire on July 23 has killed at least 93 people and injured dozens in addition to property losses, according to the latest official data. "Each contribution is important, starting from one euro and reaching as much as one can offer. In the case of the Chinese Red Cross the donation is moving as well as very significant," Oikonomopoulos said, welcoming the Chinese delegation to the Greek Red Cross premises in the center of the Greek capital. "These funds we are raising, which will be given to the people in need, up to the last euro, are very important, as well as the psychological and social aid we are providing," Oikonomopoulos stressed, speaking to Xinhua during the event. In coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Greek Red Cross will run a nine-month program to assist fire-stricken people at Kineta, Mati and Rafina, he said. On his part, Wang underlined that from the first hours after the tragedy Chinese leaders contacted their Greek counterparts to express solidarity with the people suffering. The Chinese community in Greece also mobilized quickly to offer help to the fire-stricken areas, he noted. Chinese nationals living across Greece collected clothes, shoes, personal care items, food products, money and donated blood for the injured. "We believe that with the co-effort of the Greek government, the Greek Red Cross and the Greek people, those affected by the disaster will overcome this temporary difficulty and rebuild their homes. We stand by your side," Wang said. (1 euro= 1.16 U.S. dollars) Telstra workers have emphatically rejected a pay offer from CEO Andy Penn that unions described as "insulting". The proposed enterprise agreement was defeated on Friday afternoon with 81 per cent of eligible workers voting against it. Telstra CEO Andry Penn. Credit:Jessica Hromas Community and Public Sector Union acting director Emma Groube said workers are "furious" at the company's "hard-line attitude" at the bargaining table. "This is a huge vote of no confidence by Telstra workers in Andy Penn and his team," she said. Next time you hear a classic Cheap Trick song such as Surrender or Dream Police, consider one thing: they only exist because of Australia's biosecurity laws. "I tried to emigrate to Australia in 1971," offers guitarist Rick Nielsen. "I'd never been but I was an adventurous, young, crazy-stupid guy, and the music scene was awful in the United States. And they said if you moved they would grant you 10 acres of land or something. But I had a dog that was my child at the time, and I couldn't bring it because of the quarantine. I was declined." Still tricking: Rick Nielsen, second from left. Three years later Nielsen formed Cheap Trick in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois, kick-starting a career that is in rude health 44 years later. He may not have moved to Australia, but Nielsen's relationship with the country and its people has been long-standing. Cheap Trick toured with AC/DC in the late-1970s and Nielsen says he was responsible for introducing frontman Bon Scott to his first Mexican meal. A former pilot jailed for 13 years over the rape of a woman in her Perth home in the 1990s has had his appeals against his sentence and conviction dismissed by the WA Court of Appeal. Alfred Gerard Eravelly, 50, was convicted last year over the 1996 sex attack. Alfred Gerard Eravelly was jailed for 13 years. He had entered the woman's Scarborough home in the early hours of March 9, 1996, by cutting the fly screen of her en suite bathroom window, before tying her up with rope, blindfolding and sexually assaulted her. However, Eravelly left DNA at the scene that was later analysed by police and which eventually led to his arrest 20 years later. You are here: World Flash New Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Wang Donghua and San Francisco Mayor London Breed have agreed to enhance cooperation between China and San Francisco. Wang met the mayor Thursday afternoon on the second day after he arrived in the U.S. west coastal city as the new Consul General, and they discussed deepening cooperation in various sectors. He spoke highly of San Francisco's efficient cooperation with the Chinese side in economy, trade, tourism, science, technology, and cultural fields. In his capacity as the new Chinese Consul General, Wang said he will work hard with the San Francisco government led by Breed to bring the pragmatic cooperation to a new level. Breed said China is a major trade partner of San Francisco and the city attaches great importance to developing its friendship and cooperation with China. The San Francisco mayor said she is always ready to keep close communication with the Chinese side, work jointly to deepen their cooperation and achieve win-win results. Community centres in WA's South West can breathe a sigh of relief after the state government backflipped on its plans to slash funding by nearly $13 million. Just over 100 community resource centres were set to be affected, with many expected to close as a result of the cuts. The Hopetoun Community Resource Centre. But Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said significant public outcry had prompted the state government to conduct a review of the program, and areas of improvement had since emerged. After reviewing the community resource centre program and listening to regional community concerns about the future of CRCs, it is clear ... funding should continue, she said. As details emerge of the University of Bridgeports plan to merge 14 schools and programs into three colleges, so to have questions. Will my program still be there? What about my professor? My dean? Where was the faculty input? Not everyone is satisfied with the answers, particularly alum of the College of Public and International Affairs who first worried their program was being eliminated, then challenged its placement in the new UB College of Arts and Sciences. From the outside looking in it sort of doesnt make sense, said Erica Dumas, a 2009 graduate who has gone on to work at the United Nations, World Trade Center, Port Authority, and now a private mortgage company. Dumas and others call it odd that the changes were made so abruptly, seemingly with little faculty or student input so as to be in place for the start of the fall semester that starts August. 27. Redirection UB announced the restructuring on Monday as a way to redirect resources, thin out a top-heavy administrative staff and make the experience more intimate for students. Instead of 14 deans, there will be three deans, all reporting to Provost Stephen Healey. The change was to take effect immediately. UBs 14 schools and programs are being immediately clustered into three colleges Arts and Sciences, Health Sciences and a College of Engineering, Business and Education. By Wednesday, UB announced the deans of those colleges and a list of where program and majors they will oversee. Manyul Im, who came to UB from Fairfield University in 2014, is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In that college will be the Shintaro Akatsu School of Design, School of Professional Studies, and programs formerly offered at in the School of Arts and Science and College of Public and International Affairs that most alum refer to as CPIA. Carol Papp, founding dean of the 2015 revival of UBs nursing program in 2015, is dean of the College of Health Sciences. That college includes the Fones School of Dental Hygiene, School of Nursing, College of Chiropractic, Physician Assistant Institute, Nutrition Institute, College of Naturopathic Medicine, and the Acupuncture Institute. Tarek Sobh, at UB since 1995, is dean of the College of Engineering, Business and Education. He also serves as UBs Executive Vice President. Laura Skandera Trombley, who became UBs new president on July 1, said the reorganization will not only streamline administrative functions, but send talented faculty back to the classroom, where they can better serve students. Just which senior staff are leaving has not been fully revealed. There are some confidential elements to that, Provost Stephen Healey said on Wednesday, adding its a modest number. In a letter to staff, Healey said the school of Design, now under the College of Arts and Sciences, will be shopping for an new director. So will the schools of business and education. It is unclear if the deans who were in those roles are staying. The call for more transparency In a letter to faculty, Healey emphasized no faculty, programs or majors have been cut. The main gain is strategic, Healey said. Most students, the provost added, care about professors more than directors or deans. A number of CPIA alumni beg to differ. This change was not clear or transparent, Constance Vickers, who graduated from UBs CPIA in 2011, said. It is a huge change and for us to have no details ... I am relying on Dr. Trombley but I have a lot of concerns. Vickers and Dumas both say the were taught by experts in the field and are not convinced their program belongs within a College of Arts and Sciences. Dumas called it an odd pairing, and she worries future students wont get the same rich experience she enjoyed. Relationships built through program were crucial, she said. Thomas Ward, who was dean of CPIA, said the program will continue, just under a new umbrella. He said he will continue to teach and keep the schools connections with the United Nations. A Center for International Study and Exchange will be created to support study abroad formerly supported by CPIA. CPIA had 477 students last fall. Healey said UB officials have hear the alumni concerns and are reaching out to them. Suffice it to say here that it is a carefully thought through strategic alignment, Healey said. Unit cohesion Another alignment some have questioned is the grouping of engineering, business and education. Ive not seen that particular combination before, but then I see new things every day, said Barbara Brittingham, of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Healy called the pairing deliberate and focused on preparing students for job titles that dont yet exist. For years, faculty of these schools have worked together to pursue grants and explore interdisciplinary elements that connect and advance their curricula, Healey said. All three are career-oriented schools that exhibit similar characteristics, aspirations and research initiatives. Kristin K. McCabe, of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, said education often gets paired with other areas because of its interdisciplinary nature. Eastern Connecticut State University has business administration, education, communications, kinesiology and physical education in one college. The University of Hartford has a College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. Jennifer Widness, president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, said Sacred Heart University is moving its computer engineering program to the former GE Campus along with its school of business and school of education to encourage greater collaboration. Meanwhile, in health sciences at UB, the only changes are titles since most of the programs must follow professional, licensing and accreditation standards. Instead of deans, Marcia Prenguber in Naturopathic Medicine, Michael Ciolfi in Chiropractic, Jennifer Brett in the Acupuncture Institute and Theresa Horvath in the Physician Assistant Institute will be directors. In the Fones School of Dental Hygiene the retiring Marcia Lorentzen will remain until a replacement found, Healey said. A new director is being sought to head nursing, a position previously held by Papp, one of the new deans. David Brady, vice provost of Health Sciences, called the melding of faculty into a more cohesive unit within each college an advantage. So I think it is a good thing, Brady said. I am very positive about it. To the editor: Aug. 14 is the date registered Democrats can vote in the primary to select who they want to stand for election as the Democratic candidate for attorney general. There are two critical factors to consider: (1) who is best positioned to win the general election and (2) who has better experience and skills for the job. Both factors point to Chris Mattei. Chris, like former Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, has the U.S. Attorneys Office background. That background is absolutely the best litigation background for a job involving litigation which is a large part of what the AGs office does. Moreover, within the USAO, the most prestigious job to which one can get promoted from within is the one Chris held being the head of the Public Corruption and Financial Fraud unit. That says a lot about Chriss performance at the USAO and the respect he garnered from his superiors. As someone who has served at the USAO myself, I can attest that only the very best in the USAO office get the job to head the Public Corruption and Financial Fraud unit. Many people do not understand what an AG actually does and cannot do. AGs dont legislate. The AG enforces laws, and brings fraud and consumer protection actions. Chris has experience with all of that. Fraud enforcement actions brought by the Connecticut AGs Office have resulted in many tens of millions of dollars contributed to our state budget. At a time our state is suffering from serious financial woes, such enforcement actions make important contributions to our state finances. Chris Mattei has handled some of the states biggest fraud cases; Tong has no such experience. The AG runs a big office and supervises a lot of attorneys. Chris has run the Public Corruption Department at the USAO and supervised twelve attorneys in that job. Tong has never even run a legal department. One of the biggest challenges for our AG in coming years will be fighting the public corruption of the Trump administration. Chris has fought such corrupt individuals in power before (he prosecuted Gov. Rowland). Our state has relatively strong gun laws, but our problem is one that all states share the problem of porous borders and gun trafficking. We need to have someone in the AGs office who enforces our gun control laws. Chris cracked down on and prosecuted gun traffickers who were bringing illegal, out-of-state guns into Connecticuts cities. When one considers the variety of areas where the AG operates, Chris has experience covering those areas. William Tong has had limited experience as a Finn Dixon attorney in the private equity and hedge fund world that is really not particularly pertinent to what an AG does. One of the key accomplishments of Blumenthals tenure involved a multi-state effort on tobacco cases. Multi-state cooperation between AG offices in multiple states is one of the most useful ways for the AG to combat the Trump administrations deleterious efforts, e.g., on the environment, and immigration. For instance, a multi-state effort has been begun by the California AG, suing the Trump administration over car emissions. Chris has experience on multi-state, multi-office prosecutions. Chris has enforced environmental laws in the cases he has handled. Finally, it is critical that we choose an AG candidate who will beat the GOP candidate. He has a pristine record fighting public corruption. If we choose him, we deprive the GOP of a useful narrative to attack our choice for AG. Mattei is the AG candidate the GOP fears most. For good reason: there is no one running in either party who has a more pristine record or better experience fighting fraud, environmental violations, gun trafficking and corruption. Chris is the best person to lead the Connecticut Attorney Generals Office. Kristan Hamlin Westport SENDING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor of Westport News must be no longer than 500 words. All letters require names and addresses. No anonymous letters will be accepted for publication. The Westport News does not vouch for the accuracy of any of the assertions made in letters to the editor, and the opinions expressed in letters are those of the writer and do not reflect the position of The Citizen. The editor reserves the right to edit or reject any letter for publication. Letters should be sent by email to Westportletters@hearstmediact.com Editors note: The original version of this article mistakenly wrote Neil Phillips was the Democratic candidate for Westport-Weston probate judge in the special election for that position in 2013. In fact, Phillips was among four candidates seeking the endorsement of the Democratic Town Committee for probate judge, but Kiernan Costello, not Phillips, won the partys endorsement. WESTPORT Local lawyer, parent and Representative Town Meeting member Neil Phillips is set to join the Westport Board of Education. Phillips appointment fills the vacancy left by former board chairman Michael Gordon, who resigned in June citing an increasingly busy schedule. First Selectman Jim Marpe swore in Phillips after the Board of Education unanimously voted to appoint him to the open position in Town Hall on Aug. 7. He has a very calming and collaborative demeanor, and he is very thoughtful and takes time to seek out the right information and then communicate it well to others. Ive seen him do that throughout his tenure on the RTM, BOE Acting Chairwoman Jeannie Smith said. Hes a man of integrity and really has a beautiful composure. The way he presents himself wherever he is is admirable. Because Gordon is a Democrat, the Democratic Town Committee was charged with vetting candidates for the open seat. Smith, a Republican, said the BOE has the final vote on who to appoint, but the fact Phillips was endorsed by the DTC carried weight in the boards decision. We certainly had other candidates who would have been well-qualified, but the consensus was Neil had such great hands-on experience being a member of the RTM education committee, and currently its chair, DTC Chairwoman Ellen Lautenberg said, noting the DTC nominating committee received applications from seven people for the position. Phillips showed a clear understanding of the issues facing the BOE, namely the education budget, school security and employee contracts, Lautenberg said. A trust and estates attorney and partner with the local law firm Lennon Murphy & Phillips, Phillips has lived in Westport for over 25 years and has cousins who have been in town even longer. He was born and raised in Manhattan and earned a bachelors degree from Muhlenberg College, a law degree from Syracuse University, and a masters in labor relations from the University of New Haven. Phillips first foray into Westport politics came in 2013, when he sought the Democratic Town Committees endorsement in a special election for Westport-Weston probate judge. The past probate judge had been ill for a number of years and had essentially vacated the position, and Phillips felt he wanted to step up and use his expertise in trust and estates law to help get the Probate Court back up to speed, he said. Phillips did not win the partys endorsement and Republican Lisa Wexler won the position, but after the election, Phillips said people asked if he would run for the RTM. So he did, and has served on the body for five years, currently as member of the RTMs Ordinance and Planning And Zoning committees and chairman of the Education Committee. His involvement with the school budget on the RTM has brought him in close contact with the BOE, Board of Finance and selectmans office and given him a greater appreciation for the issues facing each group, Phillips said. I enjoy the budget because it gets all the town bodies to work together and come up with an appropriate budget for the town, Phillips said. In addition to the budget, he said he is concerned with cyberbullying and cyber issues and hopes to address the topic as a member of the BOE. Social media has definitely created a different set of circumstances parents have to address, said Phillip, who lives in town with his wife, Kim, and twin sons Nathaniel and Dylan, who will enter sixth grade at Coleytown Middle School in the fall. RTM Moderator Velma Heller said the group will miss Phillips when he resigns from the RTM. Hes a very intelligent and just a very sane person. Hes a good person that I think people on the RTM admire, and I know hell be a valued member of the Board of Education as well because hes so capable, not just because of his intellect and expertise as a lawyer, but because hes a clear thinker and just a good person, Heller said. Flash At least 43 civilians, mostly children, were killed on Thursday when Saudi-led coalition air strikes hit buses in Yemen's northern province of Saada, the head of Saada Health Office Yahya Shayem told Xinhua. "A total of 43 people, mostly pupils under the age of 10, were killed and 64 were injured when two Saudi-led airstrikes hit passenger buses in Dhahyan popular market," Shayem said, adding that "the victims were mostly pupils who were on their way to attend a summer school in Dhahyan." Meanwhile, head of delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Yemen, said on a twitter that "scores killed, even more injured, mostly under the age of 10" after the attack targeted a bus that carries children in the Dhahyan market. The organization stressed that "civilians must be protected during conflict under international humanitarian law." However, the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television quoted a statement by the Saudi-led coalition as saying that "Thursday's airstrikes targeted Iranian-allied Houthi rebels who fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday at the Saudi commercial city in border Jazan region." In response, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam mocked the coalition statement as "absolutely ridiculous." "They killed pupils driving to school ... this is a war crime," Abdulsalam tweeted. The Houthi spokesman's comments came at the same time the coalition warplanes hit the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa 11 times, with no reports of casualties yet. The airstrikes targeted Sabeen Square and two military camps in Sanaa. The Saada attack was the latest in a series of recent airstrikes against civilians launched by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen. Last week, the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes struck the gate of al-Thawra hospital and adjacent fish market in Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, killing 52 civilians and wounding 102 others. The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since the Houthi rebels overran much of Yemen militarily and seized all northern provinces in 2014, including the capital Sanaa. Saudi Arabia leads an Arab military coalition that has intervened in the Yemen war since 2015 to support the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. More than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war, and about 3 million have been displaced. The author Patricia Highsmith found success early with the publication of Strangers On A Train in 1951, which was quickly turned into a film the next year by the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock. This early triumph allowed her to create a body of work that would, at its peak, stand on the same pantheon as that other grande dame of crime fiction Agatha Christie. It was her five-book series following the adventures of charming con-man slash serial killer Tom Ripley that she will be best remembered. A renowned misanthrope, a former lover described her as 'cruel, lonely and ugly', it was remarked that if she hadn't created the character of Ripley to commit unspeakable acts upon the page she would have likely committed these crimes herself. It's not surprising, therefore, that Joanna Murray-Smith has found her fertile inspiration for this play, receiving its UK premiere here. On the face of it, Murray-Smith's Switzerland has all the trappings of a conventional thriller. Young publishing executive Edward Ridgeway (Calum Finlay) visits the ageing author in her reclusive chalet in the depths of the Swiss Alps to persuade her to write one more Ripley novel, to cap off her legacy. There follows a cat and mouse struggle and Ridgeway begins to exert more and more pull. Yet within the confines of the thriller convention, Murray-Smith teases more pertinent questions. How does it feel as an author to give birth to a character that will live on long after one's own name? The loneliness of the writer is played up beautifully, 'on the page you can play God', spits out Ridgeway, but in real life, people get in the way. It's not too much of a spoiler to say that the young man who comes to visit is not what he seems, but has Highsmith's own Frankenstein's monster come to deliver a final reckoning? Loading... Director Lucy Bailey has become the go-to women in shaping the crime novel for the stage and her production is textured wonderfully. The atmosphere is all, and gradually the oxygen seems to leave the space as the denouement beckons. What starts as a dark comedy there is a touch of Timon throwing his venom at his hangers-on in Highsmith's verbal bombardment of Ridgeway soon feels like we may be accessories to murder. Like Chekhov's gun, a gleaming precious knife is introduced in the first act and comes into play by the fourth. It all plays out in William Dudley's set which cleverly enhances the work's moods from the naturalistic clutter of a beautiful writer's desk to a stylistic palette of mountain friezes and colourful sculptures that suggest we're not necessarily in Kansas anymore. For those who only know Phyllis Logan as the kindly but stern Mrs Hughes from Downton Abbey, her Highsmith will come as a shock. Slumped forward, hair unwashed and wearing yesterday's chequered shirt she rasps out insults in a voice befitting a lifetime of abuse from cigarettes and alcohol. Logan may not puff away enough to suggest a writer who is always in need of one more toke, but she knocks back the scotch with aplomb. Finlay metamorphoses as the mood takes him from nervous intern to dark charmer as Ripley seems to come alive in front of our eyes. Bath artistic director Jonathan Church may have had a rather aborted six-month tenure in Sydney but it has meant he has brought some of Australia's finest work back over here with him. Switzerland is a fine yarn that also gives real insight into the life of one of the 20th century's finest crime writers and gives the iconic Ripley another day in the sun. Worth catching. There's huge ambition in Jordan Seavey's epic American odyssey about the intricacies and delicacies of one gay, modern relationship. In fact, even though it focuses in on one couple called only The Academic and The Writer it could be seen as an overarching depiction of love, life, homosexuality and relationships in the noughties. It reaches pretty far. Jumping back and forward in time, we are fed tiny snippets of conversation, snatched moments from The Writer and The Academic's time together, which are eventually woven into a broad, colourful tapestry. Throughout the course of the play, each scene is extended and elongated and we begin to understand their meaning with added context. We watch as the couple first meet, with The Writer puking three times on their first date, to their discussions over inviting a third person into their relationship, to jealous arguments and quiet, emotional discussions. Homos is essentially a relationship on stage, one that is formed, grows and developed in front of our very eyes. Seavey's trying to show the complexities of what it means to be gay today, but also just what it means to love. The problem is that it gets bogged down in anguish and argument. There's too much hand-wringing and moaning for its one hour forty-five runtime. Arguing is not that fun either to watch or to do and it does get to a point where you begin to wonder whether this couple do anything else in their downtime. The toing and froing of American political and emotional dissection is constant doesn't anyone just talk about TV in this relationship? and fairly exhausting. Loading... That said, the dramatic arc which peaks in the final section does deliver and there's a real poignancy and tragedy to the final scenes. And the two performances at the piece's centre are wonderfully convincing. Tyrone Huntley is nuanced as The Academic, while Harry McEntire does well to portray the anxious Jewish Writer, without making the character feel too cliched. There's great supporting work also from Dan Krikler as the third wheel love interest and Cash Holland as a chirpy bath bomb saleswoman. Josh Seymour directs the piece with fluidity, although quite why it all takes place on sand remains too elusive. The overpowering smell of bath bombs the stage is littered with bags of the luridly coloured things, the significance of which only really becomes clear in the final scenes gets a little sickly and feels like a gimmick. But Seymour makes clear, strong distinction between Seavey's interconnecting, potentially confusing scenes, and ensures the story is told with an easy clarity. At times, Seavey's play feels self-indulgent, and there's too much of a tendency to labour unnecessarily over the push and pull of romantic paranoia and heartache. But I felt that there is truth in the piece about what it means to be gay in modern America or anywhere really and the characters are realistically human, portrayed here in engaging performances. Two Winnipeg eateries have found their way onto Air Canada's long list of best new restaurants of 2018. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/8/2018 (1175 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Two Winnipeg eateries have found their way onto Air Canada's long list of best new restaurants of 2018. Passero, located in The Forks Market, is the most recent project of chef Scott Bagshaw (and was given a five-star review by Free Press food critic Alison Gillmor). "Many of the dishes are eminently Instagrammable, with lots of shavings of this and schmears of that. In lesser hands, these kinds of offerings can be flashy but empty, all those photogenic ingredients remaining unmelded. At Passero, the distinct flavours merge into a nuanced final effect," she wrote of the Italian-inspired spot. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Carrot Genoise with praline, cheesecake, chocolate soil at The Oxbow. Bagshaw's restaurants have made Air Canada's list twice before. His River Heights neighbourhood, French-American small plates place, Enoteca, was short-listed in 2015, and Asian-fusion Maque on Stafford Street was long-listed in 2016. "The EnRoute list is one the few lists out there that I feel really matter. So it is always a great honour to even make the long list," says Bagshaw. "I am extremely proud of my team at Passero as well as my other restaurants for allowing me the comfort and security to walk away from them to focus on this new endeavour." Osborne Street eatery Oxbow also made the cut. Featuring Manitoba ingredients and wines made "naturally and consciously," the spot has been praised for its innovative menu. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Charred Octopus, black romesco, nduja turnip and smoked creme fraiche at Scott Bagshaw's Passero at The Forks. Co-owner and general manager of the Oxbow, Lucien Joyal, says it feels great to be acknowledged alongside other exciting new Canadian restaurants. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "It means a lot to us to be a part of the national restaurant discussion, and part of Canada's incredible food scene. It's also really exciting for us to see Winnipeg enter into that discussion. There are some really amazing people doing great work here, and it's awesome to see Winnipeg's restaurant community receive some acknowledgement on the national scale," he said Friday in an email to the Free Press. "We've felt a really positive reception towards our mandate of working with local, sustainable products, and the importance of connecting that mentality with our wine program... It's humbling to see that this is something that resonates with so many people both locally and across Canada, and it's a great encouragement to keep furthering that ideal." The annual 30-restaurant list is compiled by a food critic from Air Canada's in-flight magazine, EnRoute, who travels incognito from coast to coast, taste-testing new eateries (which opened between late spring 2017 and early June 2018) suggested by a panel of experts. The full list can be found at canadasbestnewrestaurants.com, and the top 10 new restaurants in Canada will be announced Oct. 25. erin.lebar@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @NireRabel Flash U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that the United States plans to establish a Space Force by 2020, an idea floated by President Donald Trump and questioned by many top officers at the Pentagon. "The time has come to establish the United States space force," Pence told a gathering at the Pentagon, citing Trump's directive earlier this year to form the sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces. "It is not enough to merely have an American presence in space. We must have American dominance in space and so we will," Pence said in his speech. In concurrence with Pence's speech, the Pentagon laid out its plans to form the new branch of the U.S. military in a 15-page report, identifying immediate steps of action. This includes establishing a Space Development Agency, which is "a joint organization charged with rapidly developing and fielding next-generation capabilities." The report also called for the creation of a Space Operations Force, which it said will be comprised of career space experts who are "trained, promoted and retained as space war fighting professionals." Also part of the plan is a United Combatant Command-level Space Command, which will have the task to "improve and evolve space war fighting." Although not clearly outlined in the report, Pence announced that the Pentagon will create a new Assistant Secretary of Defense of Space, the top civilian position to oversee the creation of the new branch who will report to the Pentagon chief. Pence said funding for the new military branch will be requested in the fiscal year 2020 defense budget. He called on Congress to approve an "additional eight billion dollars in space security systems." With foreseeable opposition from Congress and top officers in the Pentagon, Pence said that "creating a new branch of the military is not a simple process." Jim Inhofe, a Republican Senator and the number two at the Senate Committee on Armed Services, has openly rebuked the suggestion of creating a new branch of the military. "I know the president has strong feelings. I think we can do that without a new branch," he told media early this month. Trump said in June that he was moving to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces. Redevelopment of the former Target store north of Polo Park is nearing completion with the 24-7 Intouch call centre scheduled to move in any day. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 9/8/2018 (1176 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Redevelopment of the former Target store north of Polo Park is nearing completion with the 24-7 Intouch call centre scheduled to move in any day. It will mark what is hoped will be a new chapter in the challenging history of redevelopment of the former Winnipeg Stadium site. In addition to substantial re-design and construction to the interior, the 120,000 square foot building has been completely re-cladded and significant structural work has been done to support more rigorous usage than would have been the case for exclusively retail usage. SUPPLIED Inside the Winner/Homesense location. In addition to the 55,000 square feet of space that 24-7 Intouch is moving into, a combined Winners/HomeSense store will also occupy another big chunk of the building. Previously an official from TJX Companies Inc., the company that owns Winners, HomeSense and Marshalls, had said the company would make an announcement closer to the opening date which is expected to be some time in the fall. Sandy Shindleman, CEO of Shindico, the co-owners of the site along with Cadillac Fairview, said, "We have invested in making it more attractive we hope." There is still about 40,000 square feet of space left to lease including a 3,000 square foot space in the northwest corner that Shindleman said would be suitable for retail. "It used to be their (Target's) office area," he said. "We've added lots of windows and so there's natural light and loading that would work for retail." SUPPLIED The Winner/Homesense location is expected to open in the fall. With the only building on the site finally about to be properly occupied -- the building has been empty for about three years after Target abruptly pulled out of the Canadian market after having only operated out of the Polo Park location for a few months -- Shindleman hopes further development of the eight-acre site can proceed. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Obviously people can see it is there and that there is anchor activity," he said. "Now we can go about re-defining what the rest of the space the rest of the property can look like." The idea is that it would be a mixed use development with office and retail in whatever combination market demand dictates. Shindleman jokingly said, "The plan has changed dozens of times and it will probably change dozens more. But hopefully all the changes are heading in the right direction." Undoubtedly the Target fiasco contributed to the stalled development of the site which, among other things has left province on the hook for $118.7 million, part of $160 million loan for the construction of IGF Stadium that was to have been paid off in the form of city and provincial taxes generated from redeveloping the site. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca For days, he had thought about what he was going to say, obsessed over it, really. In his mind, it had to be perfect. But in the end, Winnipegger Jamie Benzelock was almost speechless as he faced, for the first time, the kind-hearted stranger from half a world away who had saved his life. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 9/8/2018 (1176 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. For days, he had thought about what he was going to say, obsessed over it, really. In his mind, it had to be perfect. But in the end, Winnipegger Jamie Benzelock was almost speechless as he faced, for the first time, the kind-hearted stranger from half a world away who had saved his life. A big, strong embrace, one that seemed to last forever, conveyed everything. "How do you say thank you to someone like this? Thank you doesn't seem to do it justice," a teary-eyed Benzelock said Thursday morning after the emotional scene at the Winnipeg airport, just steps away, fittingly, from the "hug rug." Benzelock, 42, had finally met Marco Kiunka, the German man who, in 2014, was found to be his stem cell match. His generous donation cured Benzelock's severe congenital neutropenia, which he'd been diagnosed with as an infant in 1976. "It's a blessing. It's a gift. And it's one I can never repay," said Benzelock. "This is a new lease, a second chance." Kiunka, 48, made his first visit to Canada this week, arriving in Winnipeg Tuesday, along with his wife, Nicole, and son, Noah. They were expecting to meet Benzelock Wednesday evening, but his flight from Washington D.C., where he attends college, was delayed until Thursday. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jim Benzelock (left), Marco Kiunka, Nicole Kiunka, and Noah Kiunka wait for Jamie Benzelock to arrive the airport. What's a few more hours when it had already been four years? "I was so nervous and scared," Kiunka told the Free Press of their long-awaited meeting with the man he refers to as his "genetic twin." "It's more than friends," he said. People with neutropenia, also known as Kostmann's syndrome, have an abnormally low level of neutrophils, a common type of white blood cell that fights bacterial infections. So much of Benzelock's life was spent wrapped in a figurative bubble, along with countless hospital and doctor visits for a raft of tests. He developed vasculitis, an inflammation of blood vessels that put his organs at risk. Side-effects include leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, a group of cancers in which blood cells in the bone marrow do not mature and therefore do not become healthy blood cells. He constantly had painful canker sores in his mouth, sometimes as many as nine at a time, along with boils and blisters and the constant threat of bleeding. It was a living nightmare that he was forced to endure for nearly four decades. Then, developments in medical science opened the door to stem cell donation. In early 2014, Benzelock got the call that a match had been found. He knew nothing about the donor, not even the gender or location. He underwent a lengthy, month-long hospitalization that spring in which chemotherapy was done to "wipe my whole system clean." SUBMITTED Jamie Benzelock on donation day. Then the bag of blood which he jokingly calls it the "good German blood" arrived. He recalls noticing how small it was. A small bag that held a huge opportunity. A few expected infections and reactions followed, but his body accepted the magical gift, and suddenly, the many obstacles he had faced were gone. He had no idea who to thank. Donor regulations require that all parties wait two years until they can learn each other's identity. So the clock ticked down, and in the spring of 2016, Benzelock got a call from CancerCare Manitoba. He jumped at the chance to receive the information, just as Kiunka had done. "I wanted to know him, to say hello," Kiunka said Thursday. He had initially been told the match was a middle-aged man in Canada, but was given no other details. Now he can't get enough information. "I'm proud of him, that he's gotten healthy. Not everybody gets healthy. So I'm very proud," said Kiunka. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jamie Benzelock waves to his stem cell donor, Marco Kiunka, for the first time at the airport in Winnipeg on Thursday. Benzelock and Kiunka first chatted by email, then by telephone. Benzelock even got him to set up a Facebook account to make it easier. They learned about each other, their families, and cherished the bond between them. Then they made plans to meet. At the airport Thursday, Benzelock was joined by his fiancee and stepson. Here's how to become a stem cell donor in Canada Call 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or visit the Canadian Blood Services website (www.blood.ca) to begin the process through their "OneMatch" program. "If youre found to be a potential match, we will contact you. With the guidance of a registered nurse your case manager youll go through a comprehensive health assessment before you donate to make sure you can safely proceed and that your health background does not pose a risk to the patient. The nurse performs this assessment over the phone," the website states. click to read more Call 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or visit the Canadian Blood Services website (www.blood.ca) to begin the process through their "OneMatch" program. "If youre found to be a potential match, we will contact you. With the guidance of a registered nurse your case manager youll go through a comprehensive health assessment before you donate to make sure you can safely proceed and that your health background does not pose a risk to the patient. The nurse performs this assessment over the phone," the website states. "A physician conducts a thorough physical assessment at the nearest collection centrethe hospital where you will donate your stem cellsand youll also be tested to confirm that you have no infectious diseases. Once you are confirmed as medically eligible and you agree to proceed, the patient will be notified and will start his or her pre-transplant treatments." There are two kinds of donations peripheral stems cells or bone marrow stem cells. With peripheral stem cells, "your blood is drawn through a needle in a non-surgical procedure done at the hospital. After the stem cells are separated from the blood, the rest is returned back to your body through another needle. To increase the number of blood stem cells in your bloodstream, you will receive daily under-the-skin injections of granulocyte colony stimulated factor (G-CSF) for five days before the donation," according to CBS. Bone and muscle pain are the most common side effects, usually mild and brief in duration. If a bone marrow stem cell donation is made, it's a surgical procedure performed under anesthesia. "Hollow needles withdraw stem cells from your bone marrow from the back of your pelvic bones. The procedure lasts 45 to 90 minutes," according to CBS. Pain, infection and bruising are among the potential side-effects. "A variety of diseases and disorders are treated with stem cell transplants, including blood-related diseases such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, and inherited immune system and metabolic disorders," CBS said. "It may be days, weeks, months or even years before you get the call to become a donor, which is why its important to be prepared to commit for the long term." Close Benzelock has less than two years of studies left at the University of the District of Columbia, where he's completing his elementary education degree. Kiunka, who works in engineering, has already helped him with one big assignment, a project meant to educate others about the merits of stem cell donation. Kiunka sent a video confessional for Benzelock to include. "I was tearing up. I had classmates that were crying. They were like, you'd never know you were that sick. But I don't broadcast it," said Benzelock. His parents, Jim and Janice, spent more than 25 years learning everything they could about neutropenia, raising money and public awareness. They were both on hand Thursday to see their son meet his donor. "It's just incredible that someone from around the world..." Jim Benzelock said, his voice cracking. "He's healthy as a horse now." MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Stem cell donor Marco Kiunka with his recipient's family. Kiunka and his entire family had registered as potential stem cell donors following a public plea in Germany for an infant who needed a transplant. His help wasn't required in that case, but he was thrilled when his number was eventually called. "For me, it was an easy thing to be a donor. Everyone can be one. It's just a few hours in the clinic and then you go home. You're finished," Kiunka said of the painless procedure. Turns out he's set a great example within his own family. "I'm very proud of him. It's not so much work, and if you can help some people then why not?" said his son, Noah. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. They'll enjoy these next few days together in Winnipeg, and are already talking about Benzelock going to Germany once he finishes his degree. "I had the dream to become a teacher. This was one of those things that had to be put on hold. But now that the process is complete...if it wasn't for Marco, none of this would have happened. I'm probably not here," said Benzelock. "You're so blessed and thankful for the years that you get. And then when something like this amazing gift that a stranger gives to you, it reverberates throughout your entire life, your family and friends. The life you've built up over the years. I've got friends who want to line up around the block to give him hugs." They'll have to get in line, behind him. mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg Two Winnipeggers say they were recently harassed, threatened and had a lit cigarette thrown at them for practising their spiritual beliefs. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/8/2018 (1176 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Two Winnipeggers say they were recently harassed, threatened and had a lit cigarette thrown at them for practising their spiritual beliefs. On a sunny July morning, Song Liu and Wei Wei Jiang were practising Falun Gong exercises outdoors near Victoria General Hospital when a stranger speaking Mandarin approached them. Theyd hung banners nearby that explained the tenets of Falun Gong a Chinese spiritual practice combining meditation, philosophy and exercise. Jiang, a middle-aged homemaker, was about to invite the man to join them when the senior got angry, swore at her, took out his smartphone and started to record the Falun Gong practitioners. She told him to stop. They have a right to practise their beliefs in Canada, said Jiang, who arrived in 2003 from China, where Falun Gong is banned. "He said, Ill beat you to death," Jiang said through an interpreter. Liu used his phone to record the strangers threats and verbal abuse before the man flicked a lit cigarette in his face. "It hurt," said Liu, who has lived in Canada for 11 years. "Theres no reason for him to be so hateful against us," the husband and father said after viewing the video. "Thats really a tragedy." The incident, which Liu reported to police, is part of the fallout from the Chinese governments campaign to eradicate Falun Gong, Winnipeg researcher Maria Cheung said. The spiritual practice is outlawed in China. Even in Canada, its adherents have faced harassment, said Cheung, a professor of social work at the University of Manitoba and Falun Gong practitioner. Cheung and Winnipeg-based human-rights lawyer David Matas are two of the co-authors of Cold Genocide: Falun Gong in China, published in the Genocide Studies and Prevention Journal in June. It describes patterns of a "cold genocide" in China, where Falun Gong has been targeted for eradication since 1999. For more than a decade, Matas has researched Chinas harvesting of organs from executed prisoners. He co-authored several reports on the forcible harvesting of Falun Gong members organs, including the book, Bloody Harvest: the Killing of Falun Gong for Their Organs. The book was the basis for the 2015 Peabody Award-winning documentary Human Harvest, and Matas was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Unlike the "hot" genocide in Rwanda in 1994, with brutal violence taking place out in the open in a short space of time, a "cold" genocide is less noticeable and occurs slowly similar to what happened to Indigenous Peoples, Cheung said. "It becomes normalized." Its happening with prisoners of conscience, including Falun Gong members, in China, Cheung said. There are more than 165 hospitals in China licensed to perform organ transplants, and transplant tourism is thriving, with patients being offered organs within two weeks, Cheung said. "People are asking, Where are all these organs coming from when China has no organ-donation system?" In Canada, there are two bills before Parliament that aim to punish individuals and hold them accountable for taking part in illegal organ transplants, Cheung said. "If you get an organ from prisoners of conscience people who were killed for their organs then you become complicit when the law is passed," she said. In recounting the recent incident in Winnipeg, Liu said he wants to remind Canadians human rights are fragile and need to be protected. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "We want to raise awareness that what we enjoy here freedom of belief and religion doesnt exist in China." He and Jiang want to speak out publicly, but are afraid to have more than their common Chinese names published in case theyre identified and relatives in China are targeted for speaking up. Theyre also concerned the man who threatened them may be connected to the Chinese government. Other Falun Gong members in Winnipeg recognized the man as someone who has harassed them as well, Liu said. Winnipeg police confirmed they took a report about a "suspicious male and minor assault," spokeswoman Const. Tammy Skrabek said. "The victim advised that he was reporting for information purposes only, and did not wish to pursue charges," she said in an email. "As such, we are not actively investigating the incident." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Municipal governments hoping for extra funding from Ottawa to offset the expected costs of cannabis legalization would be better off calling their province's leaders instead, federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale suggested Thursday. This article was published 9/8/2018 (1176 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Municipal governments hoping for extra funding from Ottawa to offset the expected costs of cannabis legalization would be better off calling their province's leaders instead, federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale suggested Thursday. Goodale's comments were made to a crowd of police commissioners and oversight board members at the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Police Governance in Winnipeg. He was responding to a question about whether Ottawa would provide additional cannabis legalization funding for municipalities. Ottawa initially proposed splitting revenue from its cannabis excise tax between the federal and provincial governments on a 50-50 basis, Goodale explained. But the final deal, announced in December, resulted in the federal share of the future tax revenue shrinking to 25 per cent, while the provinces will reap 75 per cent. "And the expectation is that at least 25 per cent of the total would flow through to municipalities and local police authorities to do what they need to do," Goodale said. "We will keep making that point to provincial governments, because the federal decision to pull back from 50 to 25 (per cent) was on the assumption that the 25 (per cent) that we were freeing up would be going to municipalities and local authorities to do what they need to do." The federal government is responsible for regulating cannabis production in Canada, while provincial and territorial governments will oversee the wholesale distribution and retail sale of marijuana after legalization Oct. 17. Local governments across Canada have said many of the costs of legalization will ultimately end up on their books, including costs related to zoning, policing and enforcing local bylaws. The future revenue from the cannabis excise tax remains unknown, Goodale said. "There are some economists who have made some guesstimates and estimates, but until you actually see the revenue flow, it would be foolish to take that number to the bank just yet." The question Thursday was put forth by Darren Hill, a Saskatoon city councilor who sits on that city's board of police commissioners. In an interview, Hill acknowledged provincial governments can't "budget around an unknown number," but said municipal governments would appreciate provincial guarantees they'll receive their share of the excise tax revenue. "We've identified in the two large municipalities in Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Regina, that the increased operating costs could vary anywhere from $500,000 to $1.2 million a year, for each of those individual police services... with no identified source of revenue for those additional operating costs," he said. Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the feds expect provincial governments to help their municipalities with any extra policing cost concerns they have around the legalization of marijuana. (Andrew Ryan / Winnipeg Free Press) "That's the concern, of course, of municipalities, is should the property taxpayers in each of those areas have to foot the bill for legalization of cannabis? I think the resounding answer you're going to get from anybody you ask is, no, they shouldn't." In a December letter to federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities estimated legalization could cost local governments between $3 million and $4.75 million per 500,000 population, or a total of $210 million to $335 million per year across the country. FCM president Vicki-May Hamm said the governments of Quebec and Ontario are "very well-advanced in negotiations" on cannabis tax revenue-sharing with their municipal counterparts. "But the other provinces are not, yet. And that has to be done for October." According to Hamm, the negotiations are particularly tricky because the fiscal impact of cannabis legalization is still a mystery. "What the FCM has been saying... is that there cannot be any costs to the municipality. But then again, you can't have a province turn around and say, 'Okay, well prove to me what the costs are and send me a bill,' or something like that. It can't be like that it's complicated, and it's different from one region to another." Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Goodale did tout new federal funding for local police forces to purchase roadside drug-testing devices and train officers on roadside drug detection. "We'll be watching this very carefully," he told conference attendees Thursday. "It's an ongoing, evolving situation... and we share the desire of municipalities and local police forces to make sure that this is properly done and that you have the resources you need to do this responsibly." The federal-provincial cannabis excise tax will be paid by legal marijuana producers before their product reaches consumers, and will amount to either $1 per gram or 10 per cent of the product's price, whichever is higher. Consumers will also pay regular sales taxes on legal cannabis at the point of sale. solomon.israel@theleafnews.com @sol_israel Another 130 families are among the hundreds of Lake St. Martin First Nation flood evacuees who get to think about going home again. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/8/2018 (1175 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Another 130 families are among the hundreds of Lake St. Martin First Nation flood evacuees who get to think about going home again. Ottawa posted a notice for tenders later this month, in the second phase of construction for the Manitoba Ojibwa community destroyed in the 2011 flood. The notice followed reports in June that more families from Lake St. Martin, which is 255 kilometres north of Winnipeg, would be on track to return home by November 2019. In 2011, a devastating flood displaced four Interlake First Nation communities, swamped farmland, ruined cottages and businesses and cost government hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation programs. Lake St. Martin was hardest hit. Hydro and electricity were cut off, and families were sent to Winnipeg, spending months in hotels, before being moved to rental housing. The first 30 families moved home last summer, and dozens more were to follow in the first phase of reconstruction. The $50-million project, cost shared between the federal and provincial governments, involved 190 new homes, a school, and water and sewage treatment facilities. At the time, Chief Adrian Sinclair applauded the move, but stressed it was the beginning of a long road for many families stuck in the city. He struck a similar mixed note Friday. "Its not the end yet. Im happy to see theyre moving forward, but Im not happy with the delays," Sinclair said by phone. "Theres still an assortment of families here and theres going to be a shortage of homes (even after the second phase)." In the last seven years, youth have grown up and started their own families, and the community population is larger than it was in 2011. The chief estimated some 300 to 400 people will still be left in Winnipeg after the new homes go up. The saddest new normal is elders who die before they see their new homes, Sinclair said. Ottawas notice described the tender as the second phase of construction, and calls for 130 new homes. No estimate on the total construction cost was immediately available, and it wasnt clear whether more tenders would be released. The deadline for submissions was listed as Aug. 22. The chief said he expected new construction would be up and framed this fall. Nearly 100 units are to be three or four bedroom homes, the rest are five- to seven-bedroom houses. Indigenous leaders said they frustrated but not surprised reconstruction is taking years. "You know what... Its been six, seven years -- eight years next spring, for some of these families. I truly believe the (Premier Brian) Pallister government put the cart before the horse when they put in a half-billion dollars to build the Lake St. Martin (flood-mitigation) channel when there are so many First Nation families affected by this issue," Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Kevin Hart said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Last year, when they anticipated flooding again, (media) asked me how I would respond. I said: 'Flood Winnipeg. For real. Theyd get a faster response than First Nations people. I think some (people) were surprised at that." The bid followed the provinces announcement in June it will spend $540 million on the two outlet channels to prevent future flooding -- something residents of local First Nations greeted with open cynicism, fearing the new construction would not protect their homes. In January, a judge approved a $90-million compensation settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit filed by members of Lake St. Martin and its neighbours from the First Nations of Pinaymootang, Little Saskatchewan and Dauphin River. As of June, 1,700 evacuees from the 2011 flood had yet to return home, including 1,000 from Lake St. Martin. alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca Premier Brian Pallister shuffled his cabinet last week. Rather than a slight tinkering, Pallister well and truly shuffled the deck, with major portfolios switched to new ministers, one demotion of a sitting minister and the accession of a new member into the cabinet. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 10/8/2018 (1176 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Premier Brian Pallister shuffled his cabinet last week. Rather than a slight tinkering, Pallister well and truly shuffled the deck, with major portfolios switched to new ministers, one demotion of a sitting minister and the accession of a new member into the cabinet. Cabinet shuffles are highly visible reminders of the raw power held by premiers and prime ministers. They can effectively appoint whomever they want to the cabinet. No explanation is required. In this case, Pallister offered some vague explanations for why the shuffle was needed, saying it was a "refresh" designed to achieve a "comprehensive and strategic repositioning" for the government. The premier argued that shuffles are "pretty normal practicein most governments federally and provincially." He is correct, but shuffles should still be undertaken with caution. This is because, as political scientists have long complained, rearranging cabinet assignments may undercut the administrative capacity of ministers. It takes a long time for even competent ministers to learn the nuances of complex portfolios, and premiers who are too apt to shuffle may deprive ministers of the time necessary to become truly good at their jobs. Some may argue that this is a less important consideration now that ministers have sizeable, professional and effective civil services to pick up the knowledge slack when ministers switch to new portfolios. I couldnt disagree more. Ministers, who are almost always elected MLAs, are the crucial democratic actors who link government departments back to voters. The presence of a confident and assertive team of civil servants makes it more, not less, important that ministers are able to develop the ability to assert themselves against the wishes of their bureaucrats. Giving ministers time to do so is crucial, and I worry that the new ministers in finance, health and education will be less effective in their new portfolios than they would have been if left in their old roles. Weakening ministers may, in fact, be a secretly happy byproduct of shuffles for premiers. This is because keeping ministers busy learning their new roles makes it more difficult for them to organize to challenge the first ministers authority. Former prime minister Paul Martin, for example, served as finance minister for nearly a decade, all the while plotting to force Jean Chretien out and replace him in the top job. Cabinet formation, both federally and provincially, is often an exercise in checking off boxes. Federally, prime ministers have had to contend with the challenge of ensuring that every province and region is represented in the cabinet. If the party has performed poorly and therefore has few MPs in a province, then the challenge of appointing a high-quality minister is made all the more difficult. More recently, gender has factored prominently in cabinet-making, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committing to gender equity in the cabinet he created in 2015. We can see similar considerations in Pallisters shuffle. The only minister who was demoted, Portage la Prairies Ian Wishart, represents rural and agricultural Manitoba, parts of the province where the Progressive Conservatives are already strong. Wishart was replaced in cabinet by Colleen Mayer, the MLA for St. Vital. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Mayer, who is Metis, boosts both the diversity and the gender balance of Pallisters cabinet. She is also from one of the southeast suburban Winnipeg seats that the Tories desperately need to hold if they hope to continue to win elections. Mayers promotion boosts her local profile ahead of a challenge from a strong NDP candidate in the next election and helps to send the message that the PC government is in tune with the concerns of suburban Winnipeggers. This observation suggests that Pallister was at least in part motivated by long-term electoral considerations when planning his shuffle. This may seem surprising because the PC government continues to be relatively popular in Manitoba. In fact, the premiers actions seem to fit with an intriguing finding: in research based on cabinet shuffles in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom from 1960 to 2001, political scientists Christopher Kam and Indrii Indriason found that cabinet shuffles are more likely to occur when the prime ministers personal popularity declines beneath that of his party. Pallisters personal popularity has generally trailed that of his party. And the governments major struggles in the past two years have not generally been a result of the cabinet, the members of which have quietly gone about doing their jobs. Rather, it has been Pallister himself who has earned the governments most searing headlines. Parties sometimes have to go into election campaigns with leaders who are less popular than their party labels. This cabinet shuffle may have been the Tories first step toward positioning themselves to fight just such a re-election campaign in 2020. Royce Koop is an associate professor and head of the political studies department at the University of Manitoba. 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! Close Get email notifications on Lisa Neff daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. Whenever Lisa Neff 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. 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 AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. produces and exports pulses, staple foods, and food ingredients worldwide. It operates through three segments: Pulse and Grain Processing; Bulk Handling and Distribution; and Food Ingredients and Packaged Foods. The company offers lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans, popcorn, canary seed, flax, and other specialty seeds. The company also produces pulse proteins, fibers, starches, and flours for food ingredient and industrial uses; milled durum wheat products, such as semolina and pasta under the Arbella brand; and bulgur wheat, as well as medium grain and long grain milled rice. In addition, it offers retail and foodservice dry packaged and canned foods under the CLIC, Pouyoukas, and Freshpop brands; and distributes durum, sorghum, popcorn, coffee, canola, sugar, spices, and various seeds. The company was formerly known as Alliance Grain Traders Inc. and changed its name to AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. in October 2014. AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Regina, Canada. 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.. Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. engages in the management of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It operates through the following segments: Asset Management, Real Estate, Renewable Power, Infrastructure, Private Equity, Residential Development, and Corporate Activities. The Asset Management segment includes the management of its listed partnerships, private funds and public securities. The Real Estate segment is comprised of the ownership, operation and development of core office, core retail, LP investments and other properties. The Renewable Power segment encompasses the ownership, operation and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, storage and other power generating facilities. The Infrastructure segment consists of the ownership, operation and development of utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure and sustainable resource assets. The Private Equity segment refers to the broad range of industries, and is mostly focused on business services, infrastructure services and industrials. The Residential Development segment represents homebuilding, condominium development and land development. The Corporate Activiti Read More CEMEX SAB de CV engages in the production, distribution, marketing, and sale of cement, ready-mix concrete, and aggregates. It operates though the following geographical segments: Mexico; United States; Europe; South, Central America and the Caribbean (SCA&C); Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA); and Others. The Europe segment covers United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Czech Republic, Poland and Latvia, as well as trading activities in Scandinavia, and Finland. The SCA&C segment includes Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Caribbean TCL, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Jamaica, the Caribbean, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The EMEA segment comprises of Egypt, Israel, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates. The Others segment refers to the cement trade maritime operations, information technology solutions business, and other corporate entities as well as other minor subsidiaries with different lines of business. The company was founded by Lorenzo Zambrano Gutierrez in 1906 and is headquartered in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico. Read More Close Brothers Group plc, a merchant banking company, provides financial services to small businesses and individuals in the United Kingdom. It operates through five segments: Commercial, Retail, Property, Asset Management, and Securities. The company offers various deposit products, including fixed term deposits and notice accounts. It also provides asset finance, asset-based lending, commercial vehicle hire, short-term bridging finance, insurance premium finance, invoice discounting and factoring, and property finance products. In addition, the company offers funding services for general aviation aircraft, and various leisure and commercial vessels; sale and rent back services for the brewing sector; broker finance services to agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and transport industries; leasing services for construction, manufacturing, IT equipment, and specialist assets; and loan, hire purchase, leasing, and refinancing services to the professional service sector, including dental, medical, pharmacy, and veterinary sectors. Further, it provides financial education, investment management, and financial planning and advice services; self-directed services that help investors to manage their portfolio online; and services for financial advisers. Additionally, the company offers liquidity and flexible execution services to retail stockbrokers, wealth managers, and institutional investors; market making, sales, research, and corporate broking services; and dealing, custody, and settlement services to the institutional, wealth management, and brokerage clients. Close Brothers Group plc was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Quest Diagnostics: AmeriPath, AmeriPath Cincinnati Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Cleveland Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Consolidated Labs Inc. (FL), AmeriPath Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Hospital Services Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Indianapolis PC (IN), AmeriPath Kentucky Inc. (KY), AmeriPath Lubbock 5.01(A) Corporation (TX), AmeriPath New York LLC (DE), AmeriPath Texas Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Tucson Inc. (AZ), American Medical Laboratories, American Medical Laboratories Incorporated (DE), Associated Clinical Laboratories L.P. (PA), Associated Clinical Laboratories of Pennsylvania L.L.C. (PA), Athena Diagnostics, Athena Diagnostics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics, Blueprint Genetics FZ-LLC (UAE), Blueprint Genetics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics Oy (Finland), California Laboratory Associates, Cape Cod Healthcare - Business, Celera, ClearPoint Diagnostic, Clearpoint Diagnostic Laboratories LLC (TX), Cleveland HeartLab, Cleveland HeartLab Inc. (DE), Clinical Laboratory Partners, Colorado Pathology Consultants P.C. (CO), ConVerge Diagnostic Services, Consolidated DermPath Inc. (DE), DFW 5.01(a) Corporation (TX), DGXWMT JV LLC (DE), Dermatopathology of Wisconsin S.C. (WI), Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma LLC (OK), Diagnostic Pathology Services Inc. (OK), Diagnostic Reference Services Inc. (MD), ExamOne Canada Inc. (New Brunswick), ExamOne LLC (DE), ExamOne World Wide Inc. (PA), ExamOne World Wide of NJ Inc. (NJ), Focus Diagnostics, HemoCue, Hoffman M.D. Associated Pathologists Chartered (NV), Institute for Dermatopathology Inc. (PA), Isabella Street Urban Renewal LLC (NJ), Kailash B. Sharma M.D. Inc. (GA), Kilpatrick Pathology P.A. (NC), LabOne, LabOne LLC (MO), LabOne of Ohio Inc. (DE), Laboratorio de Analisis Biomedicos S.A. (Mexico), Lancet Labs, MACL, Med Fusion LLC (TX), Med fusion, MedPlus, Mid America Clinical Laboratories LLC (IN), Nomad Massachusetts Inc. (MA), Nuclear Medicine and Pathology Associates (GA), Ocmulgee Medical Pathology Association Inc. (GA), Pathology Building Partnership (MD) (gen. ptnrshp.), PeaceHealth Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories PLLC (WA), Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC (DE), Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), Quest Diagnostics Brasil Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Domestic Holder LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics HTAS India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Incorporated (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (MD), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NV), Quest Diagnostics India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Infectious Disease Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics International Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics International LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Investments LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Ireland Limited (Ireland), Quest Diagnostics LLC (CT), Quest Diagnostics LLC (IL), Quest Diagnostics LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Massachusetts LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Mexico Holding Company Trust (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Mexico S de RL de CV (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (CA), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute Inc. (VA), Quest Diagnostics Receivables Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Subsidiary Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics TB LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Terracotta LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Venture LLC (PA), Quest Diagnostics Ventures LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil), Quest Diagnostics of Pennsylvania Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics of Puerto Rico Inc. (PR), Quest HealthConnect LLC (CA), ReproSource, Reprosource Fertility Diagnostics Inc. (MA), Solstas Lab Partners, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC (AZ), Specialty Laboratories Inc. (CA), Summit Health, UMass Memorial Medical Center - Anatomic Pathology Outreach Laboratory Business, Unilab Corporation, and Unilab Corporation (DE). Anadarko Petroleum Corporation engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of oil and gas properties. It operates through three segments: Exploration and Production, WES Midstream, and Other Midstream. The company explores for and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). It is also involved in gathering, processing, treating, and transporting oil, natural-gas, and NGLs production, as well as the gathering and disposal of produced water. The company's oil and natural gas properties are located in the United States onshore and deepwater Gulf of Mexico; and Algeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Colombia, Peru, and other countries. As of December 31, 2018, it had approximately 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Teledyne Technologies: Alia Corporation Inc, Bolt Technology Corp, Bowtech Products, CARIS, CDL do Brasil Equipamentos e Servicos Submarinos Sociedade Empresaria Ltda., CETAC Technologies, DALSA, Demo Systems, Detcon Holdco Inc., Ensambles de Precision S.A. de C.V., Falcon Analytical, Frontline Test Equipment, GMI Group Holdings Limited, Hafmynd ehf, Hanson Research Corp, IST Oldham Instruments India Private Limited, Industrial Control Machines, Intelek, Intelek Limited, Intelek Pension Trustees Limited, Intelek Properties Limited, LeCroy (Beijing) Trading Co. Ltd., LeCroy Corporation, Lidar Aviation Services Inc., Maple Imaging LLC, Micralyne Inc, Ocean Design Ltda., Oldham Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Oldham Simtronics SAS, Oldham-Winter GmbH, PDM Neptec, Reynolds Industries Limited, Rhombi Canada LP, Rhombi Holdings Limited, Rhombi Netherlands B.V., Rockwell Scientific Company, Simtronics AS, TDY Jersey Limited, Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, Teledyne Australia Pty Ltd, Teledyne BlueView, Teledyne Bogatin Enterprises LLC, Teledyne Bowtech Limited, Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., Teledyne C.M.L. Group Limited, Teledyne CARIS B.V., Teledyne CARIS Inc., Teledyne CARIS UK Ltd., Teledyne CARIS USA Inc., Teledyne CDL Inc., Teledyne CDL Limited, Teledyne Catalyst Enterprises Inc., Teledyne Computer Access Technology Corporation, Teledyne Controls LLC, Teledyne Cougar, Teledyne Czech s.r.o., Teledyne DALSA (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Teledyne DALSA Asia-Pacific Ltd., Teledyne DALSA B.V., Teledyne DALSA GmbH, Teledyne DALSA Inc., Teledyne DALSA Industrial Products Inc., Teledyne DALSA K.K., Teledyne DALSA Semiconductor Inc., Teledyne Dalsa, Teledyne Defense Electronics LLC, Teledyne Denmark A/S, Teledyne Detcon Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging US Inc., Teledyne Energy Systems Inc., Teledyne Europe Holdings C.V., Teledyne France, Teledyne France SAS, Teledyne Gas Measurement Instruments Limited, Teledyne Gavia ehf., Teledyne Germany GmbH, Teledyne Hanson Research Inc., Teledyne ICM SA, Teledyne ICM SPRL, Teledyne Innovaciones Microelectronics S.L.U., Teledyne Instruments Inc., Teledyne Instruments Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Teledyne Japan Corporation, Teledyne Korea Ltd., Teledyne Labtech Limited, Teledyne LeCroy AB, Teledyne LeCroy Delaware LLC, Teledyne LeCroy GmbH, Teledyne LeCroy Inc., Teledyne LeCroy India Trading Private Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy Japan Corporation, Teledyne LeCroy Korea Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy OakGate Inc., Teledyne LeCroy S.A.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy S.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy SA, Teledyne LeCroy Singapore Pte. Ltd., Teledyne Limited, Teledyne Micralyne Inc., Teledyne Monitor Labs, Teledyne Monitor Labs P.R. Inc., Teledyne Netherlands B.V., Teledyne ODI, Teledyne Optech Inc., Teledyne Paradise Datacom Limited, Teledyne RD Instruments, Teledyne RD Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne RESON, Teledyne RESON A/S, Teledyne RESON B.V., Teledyne RESON GmbH, Teledyne RESON Holding B.V., Teledyne RESON Inc., Teledyne RESON Pte. Ltd., Teledyne RESON UK Limited, Teledyne RISI Inc., Teledyne Rad-icon Imaging Corp., Teledyne Redlake MASD LLC, Teledyne Reynolds Inc., Teledyne SG Brown Limited, Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC, Teledyne Scientific Imaging GmbH, Teledyne Scientific Imaging Limited, Teledyne Signal Processing Devices Sweden AB, Teledyne Singapore Private Limited, Teledyne TSS Limited, Teledyne Taiwan Company, Teledyne Technologies (Bermuda) Limited, Teledyne Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne Technologies International Corp., Teledyne Technologies Israel Ltd., Teledyne Tekmar Company, Teledyne UK Limited, Teledyne VariSystems, Teledyne VariSystems Inc., Teledyne Wireless LLC, Teledyne e2v, Teledyne e2v (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Teledyne e2v (Overseas) Holdings Limited, Teledyne e2v Asia Pacific Limited, Teledyne e2v Limited, Teledyne e2v Semiconductors SAS, and The Oceanscience Group Ltd.. The following companies are subsidiares of Sealed Air: A.P.S. (Holdings) Limited, AFP Trading (China) Co. Ltd., AFPTOH LTD, APS Automated Packaging Systems GmbH & Co. KG, APS Verwaltungs-GmbH, Air Ride Pallets Hong Kong Limited, Austin Foam Plastics Inc. (dba AFP Inc.), Automated Packaging Systems, Automated Packaging Systems Asia Holding Company Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Comerciale Importacao do Brasil Ltda., Automated Packaging Systems Europe, Automated Packaging Systems LLC, Automated Packaging Systems Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Southeast Asia Co. Ltd., B+ Equipment, B+ Equipment SAS, Beacon Holdings LLC, Biosphere Industries, BluPack (New Zealand), Blue Dot Packaging Pty Ltd., Cactus (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Cryovac (Malaysia) SDN. BHD, Cryovac Brasil Ltda., Cryovac Holdings II LLC, Cryovac International Holdings Inc., Cryovac LLC*, Cryovac Leasing Corporation, Cryovac Londrina Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal Embalagens Ltda., Cryovac-Sealed Air de Costa Rica S.R.L., DELTAPLAM Embalagens Industria e Comercio, Diversey, Diversey J Trustee Limited, Diversey Trustee Limited, Entapack Pty. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packaging Co. Ltd, Fagerdala (Shanghai) Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shanghai) Polymer Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Thailand) Limited, Fagerdala (Xiamen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Leamchabung Limited, Fagerdala Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Mexico Supply Chain S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Packaging Inc. (Indiana), Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd, Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Ltd., Getpacking.com GmbH, Invertol S. de R.L. de C.V., JSC Sealed Air Kaustik, KRIS Automated Packaging Systems Holding Company, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal Limited, Nelipak Holdings, Pack-Tiger GmbH, Polyrol Limited, Polyrol Packaging Systems LLC, ProAseptic Technologies S.L., Producembal- Producao de Embalagens LTDA, Reflectix Inc., SLD Air Packaging Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Saddle Brook Insurance Company, Sealed Air (Asia) Holdings BV, Sealed Air (Barbados) S.R.L., Sealed Air (Canada) Co./CIE, Sealed Air (Canada) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Limited, Sealed Air (Israel) Ltd., Sealed Air (Korea) Limited, Sealed Air (Latin America) Holdings II LLC, Sealed Air (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sealed Air (New Zealand), Sealed Air (Philippines) Inc., Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Sealed Air (Ukraine) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Pty.) Limited, Sealed Air Americas Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Sealed Air Argentina S.A., Sealed Air Australia (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Real Estate Pty Ltd, Sealed Air B.V., Sealed Air Belgium N.V., Sealed Air Central America S.A., Sealed Air Chile SpA, Sealed Air Colombia Ltda., Sealed Air Corporation (US), Sealed Air Cyprus Ltd., Sealed Air Denmark A/S, Sealed Air Finance B.V., Sealed Air Finance II LLC, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Funding LLC, Sealed Air General Trading LLC, Sealed Air GmbH (Germany), Sealed Air GmbH (Switzerland), Sealed Air Hellas SA, Sealed Air Holding France SAS, Sealed Air Holdings (New Zealand) Pty. Ltd., Sealed Air Holdings South Africa Proprietary Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK I Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK Limited, Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Sealed Air Hungary Ltd., Sealed Air Investment and Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Japan G.K., Sealed Air LLC, Sealed Air Limited (Ireland), Sealed Air Limited (UK), Sealed Air Luxembourg (I) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg (II) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Management Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Sealed Air Multiflex GmbH, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) I B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands Holdings V B.V., Sealed Air Norge AS, Sealed Air OY, Sealed Air Packaging (India) Private Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Packaging LLC, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging S.L.U., Sealed Air Peru S.A.C., Sealed Air Polska Sp. Zoo, Sealed Air Pty Limited, Sealed Air S.A S., Sealed Air S.r.l., Sealed Air South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Sealed Air Svenska AB, Sealed Air Taiwan Limited, Sealed Air UK Limited Partnership, Sealed Air US Holdings (Thailand) LLC, Sealed Air Uruguay S.A., Sealed Air Verpackungen GmbH, Sealed Air de Mexico Operations S. de RL. de C.V., Sealed Air de Venezuela S.A., Sealed Air s.r.o., Shanklin Corp, Shanklin Corporation, TTS-Ciptec, TXAFP Asia Pacific Ltd., TXAFP GP LLC, and Trigon Industries. A handbill advertising a gathering organized by the Ebenezer Worship Center has raised concerns with local police because it includes images of guns. The event would take place at Dunn Park in Woonsocket on Aug. 25, but officials may review the groups permit. Bangladesh police and government-backed thugs brutally assaulted students in Dhaka who were protesting over the death of two students by a speeding privately-operated bus on July 29. The two teenagersa girl and a boywere killed when the vehicle, which attempted to overtake another bus, rammed into students waiting at a bus stop. At least seven other youth were badly injured. Protests involving thousands of teenage students, some as young as 13, erupted in the city and continued for nine days, drawing in high school and university students. The unrest follows demonstrations in April by university students demanding reform of the civil service employment quota system. Students demanded better road safety rules and denounced the government, blaming the countrys notoriously corrupt driving license and vehicle registration systems for the thousands of road deaths each year. Over 7,390 peopleor around 20 per daylost their lives in road accidents last year, according to the non-government Passengers Welfare Association. Students began stopping trucks, buses and cars, demanding to see the drivers licenses and checking if the vehicles were registered and roadworthy, bringing traffic to a virtual standstill in parts of the capital. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League-led government responded by mobilising hundreds of police, who attacked the students. Last Saturday, riot police repeatedly used tear gas and rubber bullets, and baton-charged demonstrators. These attacks turned even more violent when armed thugs from the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the Awami Leagues youth organisation, surrounded groups of students and began clubbing them while the police watched on. Police fired tear gas into university and college premises, targeting students trying to escape. Photographers, television camera crews and journalists reporting the attacks were also assaulted. When video footage and photographs began appearing on the Internet showing bleeding and badly injured students and exposing the BCL attacks, the government shut down mobile communications and Internet services in parts of Dhaka. Hundreds of students were injured and hospitalised. Abdus Shabbir, an emergency room doctor, told the AFP news agency he had treated more than 115 students since Saturday, including numbers who were in very bad condition. On Sunday, Prime Minister Hasina ordered the students to end their action and demanded all guardians and parents to keep their children at home. Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan denounced the protests as a conspiracy to make the government inoperative. Signalling a possible witch hunt against protest organisers, he declared that the government would take stern action against those conspiring to exploit this by inciting the minors. The government this week also approved its Road Transport Act 2018, which boosted jail terms for violations of traffic laws. This is a desperate attempt to dissipate concerns over the countrys lax licensing and roadworthy laws. Traffic offenders now can be jailed for five years with no early release, up from three years. The government also promised to consider capital punishment for those responsible for fatal road accidents. While the student demonstrations ended on Tuesday, police arrested internationally-acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam during the protests, accusing him of breaching the draconian Information and Communication Technology Act during an Al Jazeera interview. Alam, who covered the protests and published photographs of the attacks on the students, faces a possible 14-year jail term. During the interview, Alam pointed out that the demonstrations were not just about road safety but animated by widespread disaffection with the government, including [the] looting of banks, the gagging of media extra-judicial killings, the disappearances, the protection money at all levels, [and] corruption in education. Hasinas government, which faces national elections later this year, is increasingly resorting to police-state methods and the mobilisation of thugs to crack down on any sign of political opposition by workers and other oppressed sections. Last month, it deployed police and BCL thugs to suppress students, unemployed graduates and teachers demanding changes to the civil service jobs quota system. Commenting on this months assaults on demonstrators, Amnesty International deputy director for South Asia, Omar Waraich, said: Repression has been a trademark of this government over the past five years. Whether it is journalists, the opposition or peaceful protesters, dissent has never been tolerated. The attacks on students, Internet censorship and persecution of journalists are warnings that Hasinas administration, unable to contain discontent, is moving increasingly toward dictatorial forms of rule. The author also recommends: Over 100 killed in Bangladesh anti-drug crackdown [2 June 2018] Bangladesh garment workers jailed on bogus attempted murder charges [9 April 2018] Growing concerns in Bangladesh over India-China tensions [28 August 2017] Chris Collins, a three-term Republican congressman running for reelection in the 27th Congressional District of western New York, was arrested and arraigned Wednesday in a federal court in Manhattan on criminal charges of insider trading and lying to federal authorities. Also arrested and arraigned on the same charges were his son, Cameron Collins, and the father of Cameron Collins fiancee, Stephen Zarsky. All three pleaded not guilty and were released based on an agreement to post $500,000 bond within three weeks. Representative Collins held a press conference later in the day at which he announced that he would remain on the ballot for the midterm election this November. The arrests followed a press conference held by the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey Berman, at which Berman unveiled the indictment against Collins and his associates. The indictment presented telephone records and other evidence indicating that Chris Collins tipped off his son and other family members and associates upon learning on June 22, 2017 that a drug company in which they were heavily invested had failed a critical clinical test for a new drug. Based on the private information, Rep. Collins family and associates were able to dump their extensive holdings in the firm, Australian-based Innate Immunotherapeutics Limited, before the company announced the test results on June 27, triggering an immediate 90 percent decline in its stock price. According to the indictment, the insider trading enabled Collins family and friends to sell more than 1.78 million shares and avoid $768,000 in stock losses. Rep. Collins himself, a former board member of Innate Immunotherapeutics and the companys largest stockholder, did not sell any of his 17 percent share of the companys equity. Berman heads up the same team of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and lawyers that carried out the raids on the office and residences of Donald Trumps former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who is under investigation based on a referral to the US attorneys office from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the former director of the FBI. The timing of the move against Collins, exactly 90 days before the November congressional elections, points to its political motivation. Collins is a close ally of Trump, having been the first member of Congress to support his 2016 presidential election bid. He represents the mixed suburban and rural region between Buffalo and Rochester, a district that voted by 60 percent for Trump in the 2016 election. The arrest of Collins was also timed to coincide with the ongoing trial of Trumps former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on charges of money laundering, bank fraud and tax evasion. The charges were brought by Special Counsel Mueller as part of his investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 elections and possible collusion by the Trump campaign, as well as possible obstruction of justice by Trump and his aides. The Manafort trial concerns alleged crimes that occurred prior to Trumps campaign and the defendants involvement in it. However, it is directed toward promoting the anti-Russia witch-hunt spearheaded by Mueller, the Democratic Party and the intelligence agencies, who oppose Trumps efforts to temporarily ratchet down the confrontation with Moscow. This is by virtue of Manaforts multi-year business dealings with the former pro-Russian president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted in 2014 in a fascist-led, US-backed putsch. The various prongs of the Mueller operation have provided glimpses into the unbridled corruption and criminality that pervade the Trump administration, the two-party political establishment as a whole, and the financial oligarchy whose interests they serve. Collins personal corruption was so brazen that the House Ethics Committee felt obliged to launch an investigation as far back as July 2017. The House panel issued an initial report in October of last year that concluded there was substantial reason to believe Collins had violated rules, standards of conduct and potentially federal laws in his business dealings with the Australian drugmaker. The Buffalo News ran a series of reports alleging corrupt dealings on the part of Collins with the Buffalo-based health metrics firm ZeptoMetrix Corp. And the anti-corruption advocacy group Public Citizen asked the Office of Congressional Ethics and the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2017 to investigate Collins stock dealings, saying it was concerned that he had bought millions of shares of Innate Immunotherapeutics in 2016 while sponsoring legislation that could benefit the company. Collins served on the health subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee until Wednesday, when House Speaker Paul Ryan suspended his membership on the panel. While on the committee, Collins aggressively promoted Innate Immunotherapeutics in Congress, even as he sat on the companys board and held millions worth of its stock. Tom Price, the former Republican congressman and Trumps first health and human services (HHS) secretary, became an investor in the company. Price was forced to resign as HHS secretary in September 2017 because of ethics abuses. Two other Republican members of the health subcommittee invested in the Australian drug company. The FBI could clearly have unveiled an indictment against Collins months ago. It chose to do so at a point of unprecedented political warfare between the White House and the federal police and intelligence agencies. In recent weeks, Trump has denounced the FBI as a politicized tool of the Democrats and attacked Mueller, claiming his investigation is a hoax and that he himself has conflicts of interest. The FBI, for its part, is all but openly campaigning for the Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections. James Comey, who was fired by Trump from his post as FBI director in May 2017, has directly called for voters to turn control of Congress over to the Democrats in November. Trump is being denounced by the bulk of the corporate media and savaged by the Democrats not because of his fascistic attacks on immigrants or his massive tax cuts for the corporations and the wealthy. He is being attacked as a tool of Moscow and an unpatriotic threat to American democracy, supposedly embodied in the FBI and the CIA. If anything, the relentless anti-Russia campaign, which is looked on with a combination of suspicion and indifference by the working class, burnishes Trumps image because the fabricated narrative does define it as a witch-hunt and hoax. The prosecution of Collins is without doubt a political shot by the US intelligence agencies across Trumps bow. Sections of the press have noted the parallels between the legal jeopardy of Collins family members and the potential for Mueller to bring charges of collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice against Donald Trump Jr. and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner. The anti-Russian campaign is driven by a faction of the ruling elite that opposes Trump primarily on questions of US imperialist foreign policy. In the struggle between these two criminal factions of the American oligarchy and their political mouthpieces there is no trace of democratic or progressive content on either side. Despite their sharp tactical differences, they are united on a foreign policy of expanding war and preparations for World War III and a domestic policy of intensified austerity against the working class and authoritarian methods of rule, including censorship of the Internet and the criminalization of left-wing and working class opposition. The Democrats, for their part, are rushing to defend the FBI and CIA and define themselves as the party of law-and-order and patriotic defender of the national security apparatus. Californias wildfires are continuing to spread. The deadly Carr Fire by Redding and the Mendocino Complex fires have been joined by the Holy Fire in Orange and Riverside counties, which as of Thursday has forced evacuation orders for 20,000 people. The unusually intense fire season has been driven by a record heat wave and increased volatility in weather patterns flowing from climate change. Last month was the hottest July on record for California, going back 124 years. The average statewide temperature for the month was 79.7 degrees Fahrenheit, drying out vegetation and setting the stage for a record fire season. Similar extreme conditions have been driving devastating fires across Europe, which experienced its second hottest June in 108 years. In Greece, where the austerity measures enforced by the SYRIZA government have devastated fire services, the death toll from the July wildfire outside Athens has risen to 93. In Sweden, fires have burned more than 50,000 acres, roughly ten times the yearly average, in a country unaccustomed to any major forest fires. In California, the Mendocino Complex has grown to become the largest wildfire in state history, burning 304,402 acres. It is still only 51 percent contained. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is estimating that it will take three more weeks to fully contain it. The Carr Fire claimed an eighth life Thursday, shortly after midnight, when a heavy equipment mechanic, Jason Andrew Brake, 40, crashed on Rte. 99. Details of the crash have not been released, but many firefighters work 24 hours or more in a single shift to contain these fires. The Carr Fire, which has destroyed over 1,000 residential buildings and burned 177,450 acres, is only 48 percent contained. CAL FIRE has no estimate for when they will achieve full containment. In Southern California, the Holy Fire began Monday afternoon in the Cleveland National Forest near Lake Elsinore. It grew rapidly to 9,600 acres and now threatens over 7,000 houses. Its perimeter is only 5 percent contained, and it borders densely populated urban areas. Police arrested an individual who is accused of starting the Holy Fire on Thursday. Whatever the specific circumstances behind the blaze, however, it and the other fires have been fed by extreme conditions produced by climate change and the absence of systematic planning. Wildfires across California have burned 750,000 acres so far this year, well above the five-year average of 129,000. Thirteen people have died in this years fires, and tens of thousands have been ordered to evacuate. Last year was the most destructive fire season on record, with more than 9,000 buildings destroyed, 43 people killed and over $13 billion in damages. Californias fires have been particularly devastating because of a growing volatility in weather patterns. The heavy rains of 2017 caused significant vegetation growth, and then this years unusually dry and hot summer dried all those plants out to provide easily combustible fuel. Years of extreme drought before 2017 killed millions of trees, intensifying any fire that does break out. That volatility is symptomatic of broader shifts in weather patterns resulting from climate change. Storms, cold fronts and other weather phenomena in North America are closely tied to the jet stream that circulates air at high speeds from West to East. The shape and speed of the jet stream depend on the temperature difference between the Arctic and the Equator. As the Arctic warms up, the jet stream slows, and weather events start to linger, leading to larger downpours when it rains and longer dry spells when it does not. Overall, climate change is expected to significantly increase the number and size of fires in California. A 2015 study by University of California researchers predicts the area burned by fires to grow by over 60 percent in the next few decades and the number of structures burned each year to grow by more than two-thirds (assuming no additional housing development). Climate change brought on by capitalisms degradation of the environment sets the stage for disaster, but a social crisis is not inevitable. Under a rationally planned economy, a small fraction of societys wealth is all it would take to maintain a healthy wilderness resistant to large fires through controlled burns and the removal of dead trees, to properly house people in fire-resistant buildings, and to have proper disaster infrastructure to evacuate and house people in the event of the unforeseen. The financial aristocracy is funneling the wealth of society into unprecedented private profits and sheer brutality. CAL FIREs emergency response budget of $424 million is less than what Amazons CEO Jeff Bezos makes in two days. The entire $1.8 billion budget of CAL FIRE is only two-thirds the cost of a Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine, two of which are in the recent bipartisan Pentagon budget. Unwilling to address any of the actual issues surrounding the fires, President Trump fired off a right-wing attack on environmental laws. California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which arent allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized, he tweeted Monday. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. The tweet sought to rally layers of large farmers in the Central Valley that had suffered from lack of water under the historic drought of 2011-17, in opposition to environmental restrictions on business. It bears no relation to how wildfires are fought or how Californias water is apportioned. For their part, Californias Democrats, who have run the state government from top to bottom since 1970, have no progressive response to the disaster. In fact, 30 to 40 percent of the states wilderness firefighters are prisoners who work 24-plus-hour shifts in 100-degree heat clearing firebreaks for $1 an hour. Far from being shamefaced over using forced labor, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation posted a tweet bragging about the program. According to the tweet, 58 young offenders are subjected to these brutal conditions. In 2017, two prisoners died fighting wildfires. It is a sign of the brutality of the state government that it would brag about the use of child prison labor. The Israeli air force launched waves of strikes on Wednesday and Thursday against up to 150 purported military targets in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza. The targets included manufacturing facilities, alleged weapons depots and a five-storey cultural centre in a densely-populated area. The Palestinian Ministry of Health named three people who were killed: Ali Ghandour, 34, Inas Khamash, 23, and her 18-month-old daughter, Bayan Khamash. At least 30 more people suffered injuries. The strikes were carried out in purported retaliation for the firing of mortars and rockets into Israelmost of which were destroyed by Israeli defences or fell in open fields. Seven people were reportedly injured by a rocket that landed in a residential area of Beer Sheva. The Palestinian strikes were themselves retaliation for an earlier incident on Tuesday, in which an Israeli tank fired on a Palestinian border post, killing two Palestinian security personnel. The Israeli military later claimed it had mistaken a training exercise for a sniper attack. By Thursday afternoon, a ceasefire was agreed between the Hamas-led authorities in Gaza and Israel, but tensions remain high. On July 14, Israel launched the most intense air strikes on Gaza since the seven-week, one-sided war in 2014. The latest Israeli assault follows weeks of repeated threats by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government to launch yet another full-scale military intervention if Hamas does not agree to end ongoing popular protests along the border. Since late March, at least 160 people have been killed and some 15,000 injured by Israeli forces during demonstrations to demand the right of Palestinians to return to the homes from which their families were driven in 1948. Antagonisms in the Palestinian territories have been fueled by the passage within Israel of the Nation-State Law, which institutionalises discrimination against non-Jewish citizens, sanctions state-supported segregation and the exclusion of Arabs from exclusively Jewish communities, and removes Arabic as an official state language. The Israeli security cabinet met Thursday evening to plan further attacks on Gaza. Among the measures reportedly being considered is the targeted assassination of Hamas leaders. According to Israel Radio reports, Hamas political and military officials turned off their cellphones and went into hiding. The Trump administration nevertheless immediately blamed the violence exclusively on Hamas. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert declared the US fully supports Israels right to defend itself, and to take actions to prevent provocations. Conditions for the two million people in Gaza are horrific and desperate. Since 2007, they have been subjected to an Israel economic blockade. Electricity is unavailable for up to 18 hours per day, while at least 56 percent of the workforce is unemployed. The health and education systems are dysfunctional. Access to many essential food items is restricted. Most of the water system is contaminated with untreated sewerage or salt. Last month, Jamie McGoldrick, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, condemned additional measures imposed by Israel to prevent all goods passing through the Kerem Shalom border crossing, except medical and food supplies. On July 17, McGoldrick stated: Should they continue, these additional restrictions risk triggering a dramatic deterioration in an already fragile situation and desperate humanitarian conditions, particularly for the health sector. The UN agency noted that humanitarian aid is only 23 percent funded and $4.5 million was urgently needed for emergency fuel, which would run out in early August. An aid worker told Haaretz: They [the people of Gaza] currently have no purchasing power. They have no money to spend on anything except food, and there too its the most basic items. The impact of the Israeli siege is aggravated by sanctions imposed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas and his government are demanding that Hamas surrender control of Gaza. Last year, the PA slashed the salaries of Gaza-based state employees by 30 percent in a calculated attempt to worsen the poverty and deprivation in the tiny territory. Talks about reconciliation between Abbass authority and Hamas, a ceasefire with Israel and some relaxation in the economic blockade of Gaza have taken place in Cairo, Egypt over the past two weeks, presided over by the UN Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Nickolay Mladenov. Little progress had been made, however, before this week. In a statement yesterday, Mladenov warned that if the tensions were not contained immediately, the situation can rapidly deteriorate with devastating consequences for all people. The protracted 20082009 Israeli onslaught against Gaza killed some 1,400 Palestinians and left much of the territory in ruin. The 50-day assault in 2014 claimed close to 2,200 Palestinian lives, overwhelmingly civilians. Work has finally begun laying pipes for the $11.5 billion Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that is at the centre of a bitter dispute between Washington and Berlin. Pipe installation commenced at the end of July near Greifswald, on Germanys Baltic coast. Completion of the 1,200-kilometre line is anticipated by the end of 2019, with the new pipe carrying Russian gas starting in 2020. The route largely follows that of the Nord Stream 1 line, which has been operating since 2011. The new line will double the capacity for the transport of natural gas from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany, where it is further distributed across Europe in two overland pipelines. The construction of the Nord Stream 2 line has been the subject of fierce disagreement ever since it was originally proposed in 2012. The German government, whose former Social Democratic chancellor Gerhard Schroder is chairman of the Nord Stream AG operating company, regards the expansion as vital to ensure Germany benefits as a central hub for the distribution of gas throughout much of Europeas well as shoring up its own energy supplies. Opposition to the construction of Nord Stream 2 has formed a part of an increasingly bellicose US foreign policy and military encirclement of Russia, first under Barack Obama and now Donald Trump. It is also bound up with Trumps targeting Germany to divide and weaken the European Union (EU), which he regards unambiguously as a competitor rather than an ally. In lockstep with the strategic interests of US imperialism, several EU members had sought to prevent the new project going ahead. A 2016 letter signed by the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Romania and the president of Lithuania described Nord Stream 2 as creating potentially destabilising geopolitical consequences. Four of the signatoriesPoland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republiccome from the so-called Visegrad Group, which cooperates closely with Washington and Ukraine. In June 2017, then German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (Social Democratic Party, SPD), speaking together with then Social Democratic chancellor of Austria Christian Kern, responded to the passage of a new anti-Russia bill by the US Senate threatening companies operating in US markets with punishments if they participate in or finance projects like the Nord Stream 2 oil pipeline with Russia. They said this would introduce an entirely new and extremely negative quality to European-American relations. For Russia, Nord Stream 1 and 2 are critical infrastructure projects enabling the country to export its abundant natural gas to Europe and earn much needed foreign currency. Exports of Russian gas to Europe rose 8.1 percent last year to an all-time high of 193.9 billion cubic metres, comprising some 40 percent of Europes gas. According to the Financial Times, Russia had been forced to lower gas prices when some EU member states indicated they would purchase liquified natural gas (LNG) from the US, Qatar and elsewhere, with Poland and Lithuania building terminals to receive LNG shipments. Within the EU, the project has encountered fierce opposition from Poland, which had originally hoped to profit from an overland pipeline passing through its territory. Ukraine, through which an older line runs, faces a drastic falloff in gas deliveries, and a drop in lucrative transit fees that bring the country $3 billion a year, once Nord Stream 2 comes online. In May, then British foreign minister Boris Johnson sided with Washington in describing Nord Stream 2 as divisive and a threat that left Europe dependent on a malign Russia for its energy supplies. These comments were made after British Prime Minister Theresa May accused Russiawith no evidence cited and echoed by hysterical media coverageof the attempted murder of Russian/US double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. At a July 11 pre-NATO summit press conference in Brussels, Trump accused Germany of being totally controlled by Moscow because of the massive oil and gas deals with Russia. He publicly castigated NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, saying, Were supposed to protect you from Russia, but Germany is making pipeline deals with Russia. You tell me if thats appropriate. Explain that. Stoltenberg sought to defuse the situation, saying the pipeline did not fall under the remit of the military alliance and was a national issue. In the weeks following, the Trump administration stepped up the pressure on Germany, with US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Frank Fannon visiting Ukraine July 25, where he expressed Washingtons staunch opposition to Nord Stream 2 and broader Russian attempts to use energy to harm Ukraine and undermine European security. In alliance with the US, the UK stepped up its opposition to Nord Stream with Foreign Minister Alan Duncan saying that the pipeline represents a risk to European energy security and to Ukraine. The Guardian, the main anti-Russian bulletin board of the British ruling class, reported at the end of July, One of the UKs most prestigious universities is facing allegations that it is providing a platform for lobbying on behalf of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline project between Germany and Russia. It cited a German organisation, Lobbycontrol, who said that Friedbert Pfluger, a former deputy defence minister and Berlin mayoral candidate, is listed on the website of London university, Kings College, as the director of the universitys European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS). The Guardian complained that Kings College does not explicitly state that Pfluger is also a businessman whose Berlin-based company Pfluger International advises and lobbies politicians on behalf of a host of international energy firms. Under Pflugers directorship, EUCERS has published a strategy paper on Nord Stream 2, emblazoned with the Kings College logo, which was sponsored by Shell, OMV, Wintershall, Uniper and Engiethe five energy companies who have invested in the planned pipeline. One organisation cited in the Guardian report as a previous client of Pflugers is the Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP). CEEP describes itself as representing 13 energy and energy-intensive companies and organisations from four Central European countries with total annual revenue of more than EUR 20 billion and the first major body to represent the companies from the regions energy sector at the EU level. CEEP announced July 26 of Nord Stream 2 that it no longer had relations with Pfluger and that it had persistently opposed the project as economically detrimental for the Central and Eastern European countries and undermining the EUs achievement in the security of gas supply. Washingtons opposition to Nord Stream 2 is also motivated by the desire to increase sales of American LNG in Europe. Speaking to Fox Business the day EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was visiting Trump in the White House, Energy Secretary Rick Perry claimed that Nord Stream 2 was not commercially viable, having been designed to ensure Russia was the sole supplier of energy for the European Union. Perry touted the US as the supplier of LNG that they want to have, adding that the United States and our LNG is going to be a major player with that. American LNG, which must undergo the liquefaction process, transport by sea and storage in special facilities, is more expensive than Russian gas transported by pipeline to Germany. According to oilprice.com, the cost of processing and transporting American LNG to Europe results in a price of $6 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu), whereas Russian gas sells for approximately $5 per MMBtu, a price that could fall as Russia opens new gasfields. Despite its higher price, following his meeting with Trump Juncker agreed the EU would build further terminals to facilitate the import of American LNG in the hope this might help avoid the imposition of punitive tariffs on the import of European cars into the US. Although the construction of Nord Stream 2 has begun, it could yet fall afoul of Trumps trade war policies. Speaking in Berlin in May, Sandra Oudkirk, US deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of Energy Resources, threatened the use of sanctions legislated by the US Congress in the wake of Russias annexation of Crimea, which she said gave the administration the authority to act against any Russian energy projects, including Nord Stream 2. Pakistan, the worlds sixth most populous country, is again teetering on the brink of economic collapse. Its foreign currency reserves have fallen to less than what is needed to cover two months worth of imports, and the rupee has lost 20 percent of its value in US dollar terms since the beginning of the year. In ruling circles in Pakistan, as well as on international money markets, it is taken as almost a given that Islamabad will approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an emergency loan just as soon as a new government takes office. Having won a plurality of seats in the general election held July 25, the right-wing Islamic populist Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) are expected to take up the reins of power in coming days. The man Khan has reportedly chosen to be his finance minister, Asad Umar, has been speaking publicly about the need for an IMF bailout and the incoming governments determination to push through large-scale privatizations and sweeping social spending cuts as part of an-IMF sanctioned restructuring program. However, Washington, which has a decisive voice in the affairs of the IMF, has rudely served notice that it intends to exploit Pakistans economic vulnerability so as to disrupt Islamabads military-security and economic partnership with China. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has gone so far as to suggest that the US could nix an IMF rescue of Pakistan altogether. According to press reports, Islamabad needs an IMF loan of some $12 billion. Were such a loan to be granted, it would be the 13th IMF bailout of the nuclear-armed South Asian country since the late 1980s. Islamabad completed paying back its last loan of $6.6 billion less than two years ago. Each IMF loan has been conditional on the imposition of brutal structural readjustment measuresprivatization, deregulation and social spending cutsthat have further impoverished the Pakistani population. Yet the ruling elite and IMF are adamant that pro-market reform has not gone far enough. Speaking Wednesday, Umar, who until recently was Pakistans highest-paid CEO, claimed no real reforms had taken place under the previous government, led by the right-wing industrialist Nawaz Sharif. The government and IMF, complained Umar, kept glossing over the challenges with Panadol [acetaminophen] to bring down the fever instead of curing the disease with real reform. As of May, Pakistan had external debts of $92 billion, equivalent to 31 per cent of the countrys GDP (gross domestic product). According to the IMF, among emerging markets and mid-income economies, Pakistan has the greatest financing needs. In the fiscal year that ended last month, Pakistans current account deficit rose to $18 billion, or 5.7 percent of GDP. In a CNBC interview last week, Pompeo proclaimed that there was no rationale for an IMF bailout that helps pay off Pakistani debts to China, signaling that the US intends to use any IMF intervention not just to improve investment opportunities for American big business in Pakistan, but to mount a power play against China. Make no mistake. We will be watching what the IMF does, declared Pompeo. Theres no rationale for IMF tax dollars, and associated with that American dollars that are part of the IMF funding, to go to bail out Chinese bondholders or China itself. Pompeos provocative pronouncement reeks of hypocrisy. For decades, IMF loans to countries ensnared in the increasingly frenetic gyrations of world capitalism have principally, if not exclusively, gone to paying off their creditors in American, European and Japanese financial institutions, while imposing on the local populace savage austerity and economic restructuring programs in the name of economic reform. In recent years, this process has been exemplified by Greece. Large sections of the Greek population have been pauperized as a result of successive restructuring programs dictated by the IMF, European Central Bank, and European Commission. These programs have not only exacerbated Greeces economic decline, they have pulled it ever deeper into a debt trap, resulting in further emergency loans and austerity measures. The real issue is Washingtons concern over the burgeoning ties between Pakistan and its so-called all weather friend China and in particular over the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The $60 billion CPEC, which is being financed largely by Chinese loans and investments, is a major element in Beijings One Belt, One Road (OBOR) infrastructure development initiative. One moreover, with obvious geopolitical implications, since it would enable Beijing to partially circumvent the Pentagons strategy to impose an economic blockade on China by seizing Indian Ocean and South China Sea chokepoints. The centerpiece of the CPEC is the building of pipeline, rail, and road links between the Pakistan Arabian Sea port of Gwadar and western China. Over the past year, Pentagon and Trump administration officials have increasingly spoken out against the OBOR, claiming its financing is opaque and that China is using the offer of infrastructure development to gain leverage, including through debt, over smaller countries. Pompeos remarks represent a new stage in this campaign. In reporting on Pompeos remarks The New York Times, which increasingly acts as a conduit for the intelligence agencies, noted, Pakistans economy, it seems, has become yet another battlefield between the United States and China. Pakistan was long Washingtons principal South Asia ally and as part of that partnership US imperialism backstopped a succession of military dictatorships in Islamabad. But, in the interests of harnessing India to its military-strategic offensive against China, Washington for well over a decade has been lavishing strategic favors on New Delhi, Pakistans arch-enemy, while downgrading ties with Islamabad. In response, a nervous Pakistan has pursued closer ties with China, thereby further souring relations with both Washington and New Delhi. How far Washington intends to go in making good on Pompeos IMF threat remains to be seen. At the very least, it will use any IMF loan to bully Pakistan and gain financial and other information about the CPEC. The Trump administration has blown hot and cold on relations with Islamabad since Trump warned in a speech outlining his Afghan war policy a year ago this month that Washington would retaliate against Pakistan if it did not bear more of the burden in the US war against the Taliban. Islamabads alternatives to the IMF are not promising. It is looking to raise money from the Pakistani diaspora and is considering asking Saudi Arabia to defer payments for costly oil imports. The latter would likely elicit demands from Riyadh that Pakistan assist it in intensifying pressure on Irana conflict Islamabad is desperate to avoid because of its potential to inflame Shia-Sunni relations inside Pakistan. Long an also-ran in Pakistani politics, Imran Khan gained political traction in the run-up to the 2013 Pakistani elections by denouncing the brutal and indiscriminate US drone war in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. He has since toned down any anti-US rhetoric, while cultivating close ties to the Pakistani military establishment. So as to lay the groundwork for a formal request for an IMF loan, Khan has tasked Asad Umar with pouring cold water on his vapid election manifesto promises of an Islamic welfare state and with championing a neo-liberal agenda for Pakistan. Last week Umar told the London-based Financial Times that a PTI government will be decisive and move fast, and that this will include, within its first 100 days in office, removing 200 large public sector enterprises from government control and placing at their head people from the private sector. Umar has since denied that this is a shock and awe privatization plan. But clearly the intent of transforming public sector enterprises into companies run on private sector principles is to prepare them for sale to domestic and foreign big business; and it will, in any event, require a massive drive to increase profits through layoffs, wage cuts and speed-up. To the chagrin of the ruling elite and western media, the previous government backed off fully implementing an IMF-approved privatization plan after encountering mass opposition. Clearly Pakistan is entering a new period of convulsive economic and geopolitical shocks and social strugglesall of which point to the urgency of the working class advancing its own socialist-internationalist program to rally the toilers against the craven Pakistani bourgeoisie and imperialism. Countless atrocities have been carried out by Washington and its local proxies over the 17 years since the launching of the global war on terror, a pretext invoked to justify wars of aggression aimed at solidifying the control of US imperialism over the oil-rich and strategically vital Middle East. Entire countries, including Iraq, Libya and Syria, have been decimated, and entire cities, including Mosul and Raqqa, have been reduced to smoking rubble. The victims, the dead and maimed, number in the millions, while those driven from their homes include many tens of millions. Still, there are specific acts of sheer brutality and contempt for human life that stand out and sum up the criminality of this entire enterprise. Such was the bombing carried out Thursday in Yemen by a Saudi warplane, a jet supplied by the US, which dropped American-made bombs and missiles and was guided to its target with the aid of US intelligence officers, and refueled in midair by American tanker aircraft. The target selected was a crowded marketplace area in the center of the city of Dahyan in Yemens northern province of Saada. Witnesses reported that the warplanes had been hovering over the town for over an hour, so those ordering the strike had to have a clear idea of what they would be hitting. Residents said they didnt believe a crowded market would be targeted so they went about their business. The Saudi warplane scored a direct hit on a bus loaded with school children traveling through the market from their summer camp to a mosque for an annual celebration marking the end of summer vacation. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that its hospital had received the lifeless bodies of 29 children pulled from the smoldering wreckage of the bus. Most of these children were under the age of 10, some of them as young as eight. According to Saadas medical office, the air strikes killed 47 people, including people in the streets near the bus. At least 77 more were wounded, some of them grievously, with the death toll likely to rise. Hassan Muwlef, executive director of the Red Crescent office in Saada, arrived on the scene an hour after the attack on Thursday morning. He described what he witnessed: Body parts were scattered all over the area, and the sounds of moaning and crying were everywhere. The school bus was totally burned and destroyed. He added that many of the childrens bodies were burned beyond recognition, and that the wounded were riddled with shrapnel. Another witness reported that Some pieces from their bodies were scattered 100 meters away from the bus. Inevitably, this savage crime against innocent children will be largely ignored by the US corporate media, a veteran accomplice in selling and justifying US wars and their collateral damage. As for the US government and its regional allies, they are not only defending the air strike, but blaming the carnage on the victims themselves. The Saudi monarchy and its mercenary army put out a statement claiming that its act of mass murder was justifiable retaliation for a missile launched by Yemens Houthi rebels toward the southern Saudi city of Jizan. The missile was intercepted, with its debris killing one person, inside Yemen. Since the Saudis and their allies launched their war against Yemen in 2015, they have bombed schools, hospitals and residential neighborhoods, along with power stations, water and sewage facilities and other vital infrastructure, killing most of the 16,000 Yemenis who have lost their lives to military violence. No missile launched from Yemen in those same three years has inflicted significant damage on Saudi Arabia. Despite the ample evidence exposing him as a liar, the spokesman for the Saudi military, Colonel Turki al-Malki, issued a statement claiming that Thursdays attack on Saada was a legitimate military operation ... and was carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law. He undoubtedly feels emboldened by the knowledge that international humanitarian law holds no sway over Washington and its allies, with war criminals occupying the White House from one administration to the next, under both Democrats and Republicans. The day before the massacre in Saada, Army General Joseph Votel, chief of the US Central Command, assured reporters at a Pentagon press conference that the US-backed forces of Saudi Arabia and its allies are conducting their operations in a manner largely that is not exacerbating the horrible humanitarian situation that has taken place in Yemen. Who does the general think he is kidding? The Saudi bombing campaign and US-backed naval blockade have brought millions of people in the already desperately impoverished country to the brink of starvation. Last year alone some 50,000 Yemeni children starved to death. The wanton destruction of Yemeni infrastructure as well as health care facilities is responsible for a cholera epidemic that has spread to over a million people, most of them children, while claiming over 2,300 lives. Votel went on to pin the blame on the Houthis, citing their emplacement of obstacles and other things in the city Hodeidah that are actually slowing down the movement of humanitarian aid to, desperately needed humanitarian aid to the people. The obstacles consist of the resistance of the Houthis and the population of the port city of Hodeidah to a brutal assault waged by the forces of the United Arab Emirates, backed by Saudi airpower and utilizing recruits from Al Qaeda as shock troops. Last Thursday, attacks on a hospital and a fish market in Hodeidah killed at least 55 civilians and wounded 170, according to the ICRC. The United Nations has warned that as many as 250,000 people could die as a result of the US-backed siege of Hodeidah, Yemens most crowded city, and that, if the military operation blocks the flow of food and medicine to the Yemeni population, the toll could rise into the millions. At the same Pentagon press conference, Votel suggested that the resistance of the Houthis and the bulk of the Yemeni population to Saudi Arabias attempt to reinstall the puppet regime of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi is being directed by Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the leader of Irans Quds Force of Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Challenged by a reporter on whether Soleimani had actually been seen in Yemen, Votel responded, Well, I think what Im implying here is that the Quds Force itself is the principal actor out here who is orchestrating all of this ... He bears responsibility for this. What the American general is implying is sheer nonsense, and he knows it. No evidence whatsoever has been presented of any Iranian presence whatsoever in Yemen, or of any significant military support from Tehran to the Houthis. Washington and Saudi Arabia, however, view the control of Yemen by anything other than a puppet regime under their tight control as a threat to their dominance of the region. The generals lies tell much more about the motives for Washingtons criminal intervention in Yemen than they do about what is actually happening in the country itself. US imperialism is slaughtering and starving Yemenis as part of its preparations for a new and far more dangerous war against Iran. The imminent prospect of such a catastrophic conflict, which is being brought ever closer with Washingtons imposition of anti-Iranian sanctions tantamount to war, as well as its encouragement of Israels repeated air strikes against Iranian forces inside Syria, must be recognized by workers in the United States, the Middle East and internationally. The threat of a region-wide and even global war poses as the most urgent political task of the day the building of a mass antiwar movement based on the working class and directed against the capitalist system. Nearly four years after the terrible death of 24-year-old Iranian asylum seeker, Hamid Khazaei, who was detained indefinitely by Australia, a coroner ruled that the outcome was preventable. The verdict is a damning, but belated, indictment of the brutal anti-refugee regime maintained by successive Labor and Liberal-National governments. Khazaei died on September 5, 2014 after being imprisoned in Australias offshore immigration prison camps on Papua New Guineas (PNG) Manus Island, when severe septicaemia spread from a cut in his leg. His death was the direct result of the border protection regime continued by the Turnbull government. In his findings, delivered on July 30, Queensland state coroner Terry Ryan detailed sub-standard medical facilities, a series of clinical errors and failures in communication that led to Khazaeis death. The coroner pointedly noted that despite the inquest not focusing on the policy of offshore processing, Khazaeis death occurred in the context of Australias immigration policy framework that required he be relocated to a small remote country. Ryan added: Although Mr Khazaei was not sent to PNG to be punished, he had been detained on Manus Island for almost 12 months at the time of his death. To prevent future deaths in similar circumstances, Ryan said the best solution was to bring asylum seekers to Australia or New Zealand to ensure they received the quality of healthcare to which they were entitled. However, he admitted that would be highly unlikely to happen. After being discharged from the Iranian military, Khazaei fled from Tehran in 2013 because he feared torture and imprisonment after a conflict with a cleric. In August that year, he arrived on a boat at Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, after a voyage from Indonesia. Khazaei reached Australia a month after Kevin Rudd, the then Labor prime minister, announced that any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees. Instead, they would be detained indefinitely on Manus Island or the small island of Nauru unless they returned to their country of origin or resettled in PNG, Nauru or a third country. Khazaei was transported to Manus Island in September 2013, where he remained incarcerated until his death. According to interviews delivered to the inquest, Khazaei was well known at the camp and was considered polite and respectful to all. Throughout the first half of October 2013, Khazaei suffered from persistent bacterial infections, which many detainees endure due to the tropical climate on Manus Island. Rafael Cruz, one of the paramedics who monitored Khazaei, said in the coronial report that presentations with fever were very common on the island and the risk of infection was quite great. On August 23, 2014, Khazaei again presented to the camps medical clinic, run by the International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), a private company contracted by the Australian government. He reported a two-day history of fever, body aches, chills, a sore throat and runny nose. At the time his temperature was 38.3 degrees Celsius. He was not provided with an interpreter and his leg, where his infection began, was not observed properly until the next day Khazaei was provided with intravenous antibiotics, but his blood pressure started dropping and his heart rate rose. Around midnight of August 24/25, his temperature reached 39.6 degrees. By 8am on August 25, Khazaeis treating doctor, Leslie King, decided he needed a transfer to the highest level of care. The coronial report described the medical clinic as basic. What was revealed is a thoroughly understaffed and overrun clinic incapable of providing adequate healthcare to detainees. Antibiotics to treat a range of tropical infections were not stocked at the clinic, there was insufficient recording equipment to monitor Khazaeis deteriorating condition and no protocols were in place to deal with septicaemia. By 12:32pm on August 25, an urgent request was made for Khazaeis medical transfer to Port Moresby, the PNG capital, on a commercial flight at 5:30pm that day. It was evident through the hearing that all patient transfers had to be approved by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), now the Department of Home Affairs. There was no response by the department until after the flight had left. Dr Yliana Dennett, a coordinating doctor who worked for International SOS, the IHMS parent company, testified: We usually do not recommend transfers to Port Moresby. However, experience has shown that the department was very reluctant to bring patients to Australia, and we knew that if we recommend transferring to Australia, it would not be approved. No authorisation for a transfer was given until 8:41am the next day, by which time Khazaeis conditions had worsened and a medevac was now required. Dr Stewart Condon had concluded that Khazaei should be immediately taken to Brisbane, Australia, rather than to the inferior facilities at Port Moresby. However, permission was not granted. Instead, Khazaei flown to Port Moresbys Pacific International Hospital (PIH). After Khazaei arrived at PIH on August 26, he was not seen for two hours, mainly waiting behind a curtain. It then took another two hours to transfer him to the PIHs Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The report said the ICU was equivalent to a lower-level High Dependency Unit in Australia. That night Khazaei suffered a number of catastrophic heart attacks and organ failures. The next day at 10am he was flown to the Mater Hospital, Brisbane, where he was unconscious and barely alive. He never regained consciousness before his family gave authorisation for his life support to be unplugged on September 5. The coroner commented: It appeared that the medical staff were working primarily to clinical imperatives, while the DIBP officers were working primarily to bureaucratic and political imperatives to keep transferees on Manus Island, or in PNG. Protestors outside the coroners court expressed frustration that no single party had been held responsible for Khazaeis death. Doctors for Refugees convenor Dr Barri Phatarfod warned that similar deaths could easily occur again because health services in the detention camps have actually become worse, since the tragedy. The Manus Island centre closed in late 2017 after PNGs Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. The 600 male prisoners were forced to shift into even more primitive transition centres. More than 500 remain there, and, as of May 31, 245 detainees are still on Nauru, 22 of them children. All the major political parties are responsible for Khazaeis death. The Labor Party, whose minority government was kept in office by the Greens, reopened the Manus camp in 2012. The Liberal-National government, which was in office when Khazaei died, has continued the policy of indefinite detention of all asylum seekers. Khazaei is one of 12 casualties since Labor reopened the camps in 2012. Hundreds more may have drowned at sea after being turned back by the Australian navy or died languishing in impoverished conditions in Indonesia or other south-east Asian countries. The author also recommends: Inquest evidence shows Australian government was responsible for asylum seekers death [8 December 2016] On August 8, the White House announced a new round of US sanctions against Russia under the bogus pretense of the so-called Skripal case. The announcement and the publication of another bill that envisions far-reaching sanctions have sent the ruble and Russian stock markets plummeting. Russian commentators have warned of a full-scale economic war breaking out between Russia and the US. The new sanctions involve a ban on exports of goods related to national security, including electronic devices and dual-purpose components. There is also some speculation that Russias biggest airline, Aeroflot, might be banned from flying to the US. The first round of the new sanctions is expected to take effect on August 22. Another round could be introduced in 90 days. The US government has earlier threatened to impose crushing sanctions on Russia this fall. The alleged poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the Russian nerve gas Novichok, which was advanced as a justification for the new sanctions, was an imperialist provocation that has been used for months as a pretext for an escalation of the military build-up against Russia. Earlier this year, hundreds of Russian diplomats were expelled from the UK and other countries under this pretext. Yet, months after the alleged poisoning, the Skripals both are alive and well, and no proof for Russian involvement or the use of the Novichok nerve gas has been advanced. On Thursday, the Russian ruble fell to a two-year low of 66.5 rubles per dollar, and shares of companies such as the main national airline Aeroflot have plummeted. The shares of Russias biggest bank, Sberbank, fell by almost 8 percent on Wednesday. The announcement of the sanctions was an obvious attempt by the Trump White House to appease its right-wing critics from the Democratic Party and sections of the Republicans who have escalated their anti-Russian campaign after Trumps meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, accusing the US president of treason. With the new round of penalties, following earlier sanctions against Russian officials and businessmen this year, the Trump administration is yet again signaling its willingness to continue the established strategy of the Democratic Party and CIA, which for years have been pushing for a destabilization of the Putin regime through economic pressure and the bolstering of the right-wing liberal opposition under Alexei Navalny. The advocates of the anti-Russia campaign were, predictably, delighted about this. Commenting in the Washington Post, columnist Jennifer Rubin hailed them as a solid decision on Russia. The Kremlin was evidently taken by surprise by the new round of sanctions. The Kremlins spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced the sanctions as an absolutely unfriendly act. The government has called the new sanctions illegal and draconian. Russian media reports indicate that the devaluation of the ruble and the falling stock markets were provoked not only by the sanctions announcement but also by the report on a new bill, drafted by four senators, including Lindsey Graham, in Wednesdays edition of the business daily Kommersant. The proposed Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act (DASKAA) envisions a ban on Russias biggest state banks conducting dollar settlements, a ban on the trade of both ruble- and dollar-denominated government bonds and barring the use of foreign exchange swaps with the Russian Central Bank, Treasury, and Wealth Fund. This would effectively cut off Russian banks and companies from Western financial markets, on which they are heavily dependent. According to the Bear Market Brief, such a ban from access to US financial markets has been unseen since the 1941 US freeze of Japans assets and ban on trading in its debts. The DASKAA also provides for sanctions on investment in any projects by the Russian government or government-affiliated companies outside Russia that are worth more than $250 million. Such sanctions would put an end to the long-debated, multibillion-euro Russian-German pipeline Nord Stream 2, in which numerous German, French and Austrian companies are involved. For over a decade, the US has opposed the construction of the Nord Stream pipeline, which first began operating in 2011, and its planned expansion (see also: German-US tensions grow over expansion of Nord Stream pipeline). Such sanctions could have a far-reaching impact on the Russian economy, as Russia remains highly dependent on gas and oil exports to Europe and Asia, and foreign equipment for the exploitation of the Russian oil and gas fields, as well as on the European economy more generally. The bill also provides for a detailed report on the personal net worth and assets of Putin and his family and would give the State Department 90 days to determine whether Russia should be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. Finally, the bill involves the creation of an Office of Sanctions Coordination within the State Department to align its efforts with the Treasury. The Russian finance minister, Anton Siluanov, said that the finance ministry and the Russian central bank were preparing a range of financial tools to counter the effects of the sanctions. Vladimir Vasiliev, a senior fellow at Moscows Institute of US and Canadian Studies, warned on state television on Thursday: We are sliding toward an economic war. We are reaching a point of no return in our relations and I dont see any base for improving them. Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the foreign-relations committee of the Russian senate compared the new sanctions to a lynch law. The chairman of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, Anatoly Aksakov, said in an interview with Rossiya 24, a TV channel, that the US would not achieve its goal with sanctions and would only consolidate Russian society, adding, But a huge damage to international trade and relations and, of course, relations with our country will certainly be done. A commentator for the online newspaper Gazeta.Ru called the new sanctions package sanctions against Trump and pointed out that Russia had become a pawn in the domestic political conflicts in the United States. In this situation, Russia could do nothing but mind its own business and give up all hopes on significant improvements under the Trump administration. The US sanctions threaten an escalation of the evolving global trade war and will further exacerbate the political and social crisis in Russia. The economic warfare of Washington and the European Union against Russia, launched in 2014 over the Ukraine crisis, has hit the working class and sections of the middle class the hardest, with the Kremlin taking care that the oligarchs fortunes have emerged largely untouched. While the Russian government has been peddling the notion of economic autarky in response to the sanctions, prices for food staples have been continuously rising, making it ever more difficult for workers and impoverished layers of the intelligentsia to buy basic necessities. One indicator of the dramatic decline in living standards has been the steep growth in consumer debt. According to recent reports, consumer debt this year has risen twice as fast as real incomes. Hikes in gasoline prices over the summer have caused additional social discontent. Putins popularity has been declining since the governments announcement of the raising of the retirement age, a measure over 90 percent of the population opposes and which is widely considered the riskiest undertaking of Putin since he first became president in 2000. A pipeline worker was killed in Midland County, Texas, while responding to a leak in the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline last Wednesday. The worker has been identified as 63-year-old Bud Taylor of San Angelo, Texas, a 30-year veteran of the energy industry and operations manager at Navitas Midstream Partners. The explosion that killed Taylor occurred around 11:30 a.m. and was followed by two others. Four other pipeline workers and two firefighters who have yet to be identified were also injured in the blasts. The five workers were airlifted Wednesday to University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, where Taylor died from his injuries on Friday. According to a hospital spokesman, one worker remained in critical condition and two in serious condition. A fifth worker was released earlier in the week after being treated. Two other workers with less-severe injuries were treated at Midland Hospital. Taylor attended Crane High School in Crane, Texas, and leaves behind his wife, Rita Seymour Taylor. A former coworker described Taylor on his LinkedIn profile as a strong leader and very detail orientedgood to work for and will listen to the opinions of others. Midland is home to the Permian Basin oilfield, the largest oilfield in the United States, and is crisscrossed by both oil and natural gas pipelines. The causes of the leak, which led to the explosion and the fires that followed, are unknown, according to press reports, but are currently under investigation by pipeline operator KinderMorgan. KinderMorgan had isolated a part of the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline as a precaution after it was alerted to the fire drawing near to its line. One of the workers airlifted last Wednesday was a KinderMorgan employee. Navitas, the company for which Taylor worked, is a midstream oil and gas company, which means that it encompasses facilities and processes that sit between the upstream and downstream oil and gas segments. The midstream segment is separated from upstream and downstream in most oil companies because it is considered a low-risk, regulated type of business. While the movement of gas by interstate pipelines and state-level distribution activities are highly regulated in the US by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), there is virtually no commercial regulation of the midstream gathering and processing sector. On its web site, Navitas advertises a full slate of midstream oil and gas services including gathering, treating (dehydration, carbon dioxide and nitrogen), gas processing, and pipeline transportation of natural gas, natural gas liquids, condensate and crude oil and boasts its ability to offer producers with a significant speed-to-market advantage. Its operations are backed by Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm. A 2013 paper published in the Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice by Richard M. Peekema, titled Causes of Natural Gas Pipeline Explosive Ruptures, found that the National Transportation and Safety Board reported large crater-forming pipeline explosive ruptures to be caused by the mechanical failure of defective or damaged pipes. Another cause may include the explosive ignition of accumulated gas leaks in the surrounding air. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a US Department of Transportation agency, has collected data on more than 3,200 natural gas pipeline accidents since 1987 that have been deemed serious or significant. A serious or significant accident is one that results in a fatality or injury requiring in-patient hospitalization, $50,000 or more in total costs (measured in 1984 dollars), liquid gas releases of five or more barrels (42 US gal/barrel), and/or gas releases that result in an unintentional fire or explosion. The PHMSA reports findings of investigations into pipeline failures on its web site, which shows that investigations can take at least six months and take several years for their findings to be posted. Common causes of pipeline failures have been found to be mechanical failures, material failures, excavation damage, corrosion, and incorrect operation. By all accounts, the incident that killed Taylor and injured six others is a serious event. According to its web site, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has filed no violations against Navitas. However, the mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction industry remains one of the most dangerous fields of work in the US. It has a high rate of workplace fatalities compared to other industries, with 10.6 per 100,000 full-time workers in 2016 as compared to 3.6 per 100,000 across all industries nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries . The demand for natural gas has been growing for use as an energy source in the US and worldwide. According to the 2017 book Dying to Work by Jonathan D. Karmel, the oil and gas industry in the US grew tremendously in the years from 2003 to 2013, doubling its workforce and increasing the number of drilling rigs by 71 per cent. During this period, oil and gas extraction deaths rose by 27.6 per cent. The total number of deaths in this sector have fallen by more than half since 2014, but this can likely be attributed to a drop in production in the US and is not a sign that the industry is getting safer. Though oil and gas production in the US has fallen off in the period following 2013, energy extraction companies have continued to reap immense profits even as prices have declined. Cuts to worker safety have prevented companies from taking too large a dip in profits. Companies have been known to offer speed bonuses to workers to produce more in less time. Like other industries that have become increasingly dangerous since the 2008 Wall Street bailout, oil and gas companies have cut back on maintenance, training, and safety measures in order to cut costs, and have benefitted from the stripping away of workplace and environmental safety regulations by successive Republican and Democratic administrations. While corporations and Wall Street have raked in enormous profits in the aftermath of the 2008 bailouts and implementation of quantitative easing policies, workers lives have been put ever more at risk. The total number of workplace fatalities increased by 14 percent from 2009 to 2016from 4,551 total deaths in 2009 to 5,190 in 2016the latest year for which data is available, after a slight decline from 2006 to 2008. Photo credit: Getty Images From Esquire Two American women were talking politics on Wednesday night. Here's Laura Ingraham, conservative pundit and media superstar, delivering herself of some thoughts regarding immigration. Money quote: In some parts of the country, it does seem like the America that we know and love doesnt exist anymore. Massive demographic changes have been foisted on the American people, and they are changes that none of us ever voted for, and most of us dont like. I dunno. I think it sounded better in the original Algonquian. And then there's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, congressional candidate and media superstar, talking with Chris Cuomo, and delivering herself of some thoughts regarding budget priorities. Money quote: We write unlimited blank checks for war. We just wrote a $2 trillion check for that GOP tax cut and nobody asked those folks how they are going to pay for it...Why is it that our pockets are only empty when it comes to education and health care for our kids? Why are our pockets only empty when we talk about 100 percent renewable energy that is going to save this planet and allow our children to thrive?...We only have empty pockets when it comes to the morally right things to do. When it comes to tax cuts for billionaires and when it comes to unlimited war, we seem to be able to invent that money very easily. To me, it belies a lack of moral priorities that people have right now, especially the Republican Party. (On the electric Twitter machine this morning, I opined that I thought AOC was talking too fast for my elderly ears. Several of my female tweeps schooled me that, maybe sometimes, women talk fast because they know men are forever poised to interrupt. I am properly chagrined.) To be fair, a lot of Democratic members of Congress asked, loudly, where the money for the egregious tax cuts would be coming from, but AOC showed the correct way to answer a snare-laden question: straightforwardly, and without hesitation. This is why I don't want her to be a star in our politics. I want her to be a force, which is a different thing altogether. And, as for the comparison between the two American women who were talking politics on Wednesday night, a third American woman, Florence Reece, asks the essential question. Story continues Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here. ('You Might Also Like',) In remarks delivered at the Pentagon on Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence announced plans for how the Department of Defense will approach space operations by 2020 a newly created, sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces called the Space Force. This followed a space policy directive that President Donald Trump signed during a National Space Council meeting this past June. A Space Force has been met with a bipartisan endorsement from the chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, possible opposition from members of Trumps own Cabinet, and outright hostility from certain members of the left: Maybe, just maybe, we should make sure our people are not dying because they lack health insurance before we start spending billions to militarize outer space. #SpaceForce Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 9, 2018 Although a segment of the scientific community has been vocally opposed to a Space Force, the sentiment is not universal. Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of Cosmos and an outspoken science advocate, explained to Yahoo Entertainment why the idea of a Space Force shouldnt immediately be mocked. (Watch above.) Secretary of Defense James Mattis introduces Vice President Mike Pence during an event on the creation of a United States Space Force, Aug. 9, 2018, at the Pentagon. Pence says the time has come to establish a new United States Space Force to ensure Americas dominance in space amid heightened threats from China and Russia. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP) A Space Force is not a crazy idea Just because an idea came out of Trumps mouth does not have to mean its crazy, Tyson cautioned. A Space Force is an idea thats been around, actually, for several decades as our space assets have grown. And the assets we, as Americans, have in space is almost incalculable at this point. Not so much the value of the satellites themselves but the value of the commerce that they enable. Look at GPS, for example, he continued. Hundreds of billions of dollars of industry relies on this now. So as any good military, wisely constructed military would have as its mission, it is to protect your assets. A Space Force is not a crazy idea with regard to that. What would they do? They would protect us from asteroids that might want to render us extinct. I can guarantee you if the dinosaurs had a Space Force, theyd still be here today. Story continues Were not shaping a message just to fit what may be some prevailing political winds In 2014, Tyson relaunched Cosmos , the science series originated by Carl Sagan, to much acclaim. The series earned four Emmys and a Peabody Award. A second season, subtitled Possible Worlds, will air in 2019. Since the first season began while President Barack Obama was still in office, we asked Tyson if the show will change in any way to reflect the new political atmosphere. Scientific truths are true whether or not you believe in them, Tyson answered. If you present the world and the universe as it is, as informed by the methods and tools of science, it may be received differently between one administration or one generation and the next, but were not shaping a message just to fit what may be some prevailing political winds. It is the political winds that will react in whatever way they feel they must to the message of urgency about how knowledge and understanding of how the world works and what our place is in the world can be brought to bear on making a better world. Neil deGrasse Tyson joined Yahoo Entertainment at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2018 and told us that he wasnt necessarily opposed to the idea of a U.S. Space Force. (Photo: Yahoo Entertainment) However divided it feels that is, its not nearly divided as it was twice in one century Tyson prefers looking at the big picture about science and society. Were living longer, he said. We understand health better. Whether you act on that is something else. You dont have major institutions endorsing slavery anymore. Theres a huge dialogue regarding the rights and liberties of women and underrepresented people of the world. Theres an era where that simply wasnt the case. I hate to say this as though its some compliment to give ourselves, but we havent had a world war in 70 years. However divided it feels that is, its not nearly divided as it was twice in one century within 40 years of one another. So while we still have a long way to go, I devote some of my energy reflecting on how bad things once were. Its easy to forget, the things that we take for granted, the advances that weve made in our understanding of what it is to treat one another, to be healthy, what to eat, what not to eat. And so, yeah, I think were better. Thats my long answer. Watch: Trump launches Space Force; internet reacts: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: MTV on Thursday announced that Nicki Minaj will return to the VMAs in a special performance from an iconic location in New York. This will mark Minajs debut performance after the release of her oft-delayed new album, Queen, which will be released on Aug. 17, the Friday before the VMAs. The announcement notes that It will also be the first time a major awards show will televise a performance from the surprise location. (Considering the album title and the fact that Nicki was raised in New York Citys largest borough, our money is on a location somewhere in Queens maybe the Unisphere?) Previously announced performers include Ariana Grande, Travis Scott, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone, and Logic with Ryan Tedder, and Jennifer Lopez will be honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award; she will also perform on the show for the first time since 2001. The VMAs will air live from Radio City Music Hall on Monday, August 20 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The full list of nominees for the 2018 VMAs is available here. Fans can vote for their favorites across 12 VMA categories, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration and more by visiting vma.mtv.com until Friday, August 10. Voting for the Best New Artist award, presented by Taco Bell, will remain active until the VMA broadcast. MTV has teamed up with Amazon to release a skill for Alexa, the cloud-based voice service, that will allow customers to vote for Artist of the Year. To cast your vote, just say, Alexa, vote for the VMAs on any Alexa-enabled device. Bruce Gillmer and Jesse Ignjatovic are Executive Producers for the 2018 VMAs. Melanie Block serves as Executive in Charge of Production. Amani Duncan is Executive in Charge of Music. Wendy Plaut is Executive in Charge of Celebrity Talent. Related stories MTV Orders 'Just the Tattoo of Us,' Hosted by Snooki and Nico Tortorella Travis Scott, Post Malone to Perform at MTV VMAs VMAs 2018: Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Logic With Ryan Tedder to Perform Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! Pentagon, Vice President Pence tout groundwork for future 'Space Force' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Pentagon is laying the groundwork for a future Space Force, moving closer to an order from President Trump earlier this summer to create a sixth branch of the armed forces. Speaking at the Pentagon on Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence announced sweeping changes that reorganize how the Department of Defense handles space operations, even if Congress does not authorize the establishment of a separate Department of the Space Force. "Now, the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of the Armed Forces of the United States to prepare for the next battlefield where Americas best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people and our nation," Pence said. "The time has come to establish the United States Space Force." Space Force all the way! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2018 The vice president insisted that the force, which the administration hopes to have in place by 2020, would "not be built from scratch," but draw from the men and women who are already running America's space programs. Pence outlined a Pentagon report, led by Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, that will be delivered to Congress on Thursday, that details what the department can do unilaterally to implement the president's desire for a space force. (MORE: President Trump's 'space force' prepares for launch) It includes the establishment of a U.S. Space Command, a new combatant command focused on space as a warfighting domain. Currently, a three-star Space Command falls under the Air Force, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado responsible for 30,000 personnel worldwide. Story continues A new Space Operations Force will train, promote, and retain personnel to include engineers, scientists, intelligence experts, operators, strategists, and others. The idea would be similar to how special operations forces from across the military services are distributed to various commands. A Department of the Space Force would likely have similar responsibilities to the other services, which is to train and equip their service members for military operations around the globe that are controlled by combatant commands. PHOTO: President Donald Trump holds up the space policy directive that he signed during a National Space Council meeting in Washington, June 18, 2018. (Susan Walsh/AP) The report also calls for an acquisition-focused Space Development Agency. It's unclear how these changes would be integrated into or exist alongside the creation of a separate Department of the Space Force should Congress authorize its existence next year. While there is broad recognition of the necessity of protecting the U.S. militarys assets in space with satellites playing a central role in modern everyday life and military operations there remains vigorous debate about the virtues of creating a separate military branch. Senators James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, and Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, who are both on the Armed Services Committee, have indicated that they would not be likely to support a separate branch. When the idea of creating a space corps within the Air Force was brought before Congress in 2017, Defense Secretary James Mattis rejected the idea as a superfluous additional organizational and administrative tail on the military. At a time when we are trying to integrate the departments joint warfighting functions, I do not wish to add a separate service that would likely present a narrower and even parochial approach to space operations, Mattis said in a 2017 letter responding to Rep. Michael R. Turner, R-Ohio, who opposed the congressional effort to create a Space Corps. Whats changed since then is that Trump has become increasingly focused on the subject and concluded that a new military branch is needed. I'm hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. That's a big statement. We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force separate but equal. It is going to be something, President Trump announced at a June meeting of the National Space Council. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mattis said he was in support of the creation of a separate combatant command for space, adding that his department was in "complete alignment with the president's concerns about protecting our assets in space." The U.S. military currently has 77 satellites in orbit that could be vulnerable to potential attack from adversaries like Russia and China that have taken aggressive postures in space. Pence pointed to Russia's development of airborne lasers to disrupt space-based systems and China's successful demonstration of how a missile can track and destroy satellites. "Both China and Russia have been conducting highly sophisticated 'on-orbit' activities that could enable them to maneuver their satellites into close proximity with ours, posing unprecedented new dangers to our space systems," Pence said. "Both nations are also investing heavily in hypersonic missiles that are designed to fly up to 5 miles per second and at such low altitudes that they could evade detection by our missile-defense radars. In fact, China claimed to have made its first successful test of a hypersonic vehicle just last week." "America will always seek peace, in space as on earth," Pence said. "But history proves that peace only comes through strength. And in the realm of outer space, the United States Space Force will be that strength." Jordan McDowell, a premed student, was buying candy at a convenience store when the clerk called the police on him for being arrogant and black. (Photo: KRQE via YouTube) A clerk at a convenience store in Santa Fe, N.M., reportedly called 911 on a 22-year-old premed college student because he was arrogant and black. The student, Jordan McDowell, went to the store to buy candy at around 8 p.m. last Friday when he realized that the clerk was watching him before she called the police. McDowell, who attends Xavier University in New Orleans, said the woman called him sketchy, according to local station KRQE. McDowell started to film the clerk while she was on the phone with the police. She can be heard saying, And I want him out of the store right now. Because hes being arrogant, because hes black. Theres nothing right about this, theres nothing right to call the police on someone just because of their skin tone, McDowell told KRQE. McDowell admitted that when he heard the womans comments, the only thing he felt was rage. But at the same time too, he said, I understood that racism in America never truly died. Police spoke to both McDowell and the employee but did not take any action. The student is currently in Santa Fe to study Native American culture for a summer class. This is far from the first instance of authorities being called on a black person for, seemingly, just existing. On July 31, a student at Smith College in Northampton, Mass., had college police called on her because she looked suspicious while reading and eating her lunch in a common room. Earlier in July, an employee at a Dollar General store in Buffalo, N.Y., called the police on a woman who was attempting to use a store coupon. Also in July, a black man was at the pool in his own apartment complex in Indianapolis when the police were called. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. (Photo: George Frey via Getty Images) Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke appreciates nice things. His historic office at the agencys headquarters in Washington, D.C., features a bronze bust of his hero Theodore Roosevelt and a replica skull of a dinosaur discovered in one of the national monuments he helped shrink. Then theres the slew of taxidermy creatures: a bobcat, a bison named Rosie and a grizzly bear that Teddy apparently shot. Since taking over the Interior Department in March 2017, Zinke has also accepted approximately 250 gifts, according to records HuffPost obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request. There are dozens of books, several pairs of patriotic socks, a hand-painted Navy SEAL duck decoy and a historic section of the original Oregon and California Railroad, inscribed with the secretarys name. Heres a look at some of the more bizarre items Zinke has received. 1. U.S. Department of Alternative Facts T-Shirt Zinke and his team are often quick to dismiss unfavorable news stories including recent reports about his ties to a real estate deal backed by the chairman of energy giant Halliburton as fake news. But he himself is no stranger to false statements, perhaps most famously referring to himself as a geologist despite having never worked as one. In July, a Donald Schreiber sent Zinke a T-shirt that features a picture of the White House and the words U.S. Department of Alternative Facts. By The Washington Posts count, President Donald Trump has uttered more than 4,200 false or misleading statements. (Photo: Interior Department) 2. A Personalized Hard Hat In March, Phil Baker, the CEO of Hecla Mining Company, sent Zinke a hard hat inscribed with Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. Zinkes support for the Idaho-based company goes back to his time as a Montana Congressman. Zinke has toured Heclas sites and the company donated to his 2016 congressional campaign. In a May 2016 interview with One America News Network, Zinke called for officials to approve a pair of new mines that Hecla has been pushing for years to open in Montana. Zinke called it a good project that should have been approved a decade earlier, and said there is no environmental hazard with mining. Story continues The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has labeled Hecla a bad actor because of a legacy of pollution by Bakers former company, Pegasus Gold of Spokane, Washington. Baker was the chief financial officer of Pegasus when it went bankrupt in 1998, leaving behind three contaminated mine sites in Montana. The ongoing cleanup of contaminants has cost $100 million, according to The Associated Press. During an industry listening session last fall, Baker complained to Zinke about impediments to mining from the permitting regime we have. Zinke quickly responded by saying, On behalf of the United States government, we apologize. (Photo: Interior Department) 3. A Pipe From Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company gave Zinke a decommissioned pipe from its Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. The section apparently came from Pump Station 10, north of Glennallen. Zinke traveled to Alaska in May 2017, where he and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) posed for a photo alongside the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Days later, he signed a secretarial order to jump-start oil production in Alaska, including in the pristine Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. Alaska, Zinke declared at the time, is open for business. (Photo: Interior Department) 4. A Constitution, Courtesy Of His Friends At Fox Business When Zinke wants to get his message out, he knows he can count on a softball interview from his friends at Fox Business. Hes appeared on the show at least four times since taking over at the Interior Department, including to defend Trumps decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan and to claim that a border wall will protect the environment. Before Christmas, Maria Bartiromo, the global markets editor at Fox Business Network, sent Zinke a pocket-size copy of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. (Photo: Interior Department) 5. Climate Denier Books In February, Gregory Wrightstone, a geologist whom climate change denial groups like the right-wing Heartland Institute have embraced, gave Zinke a copy of his book, Inconvenient Facts The Science That Al Gore Doesnt Want You To Know. Zinke received a second copy of the book from an unknown individual. (Photo: Interior Department) 6. A Benjamin, And Some Change In January, a person named Melani C. Deer sent Zinke $100.11 in cash to thank the Secretary for doing a great job, according to the documents. The agency notes that it returned the money to the sender along with a letter explaining why Zinke could not accept the gift. A Melani C. Deer, of Honolulu, Hawaii, donated $127 to Zinkes 2016 congressional campaign. A melanic deer is also a deer with a rare mutation that causes its hair to turn black. (Photo: Interior Department) 7. Be Nice T-Shirts In July 2017, a couple of months after Zinke visited Bears Ears National Monument one of two protected sites in Utah that he and Trump later gutted members of the San Juan County Commission sent the secretary more than a dozen T-shirts with the logo Be Nice. Its unclear if the shirts are a reference to a confrontation Zinke had with a protester during his visit to Bears Ears. Zinke became irked with Cassandra Begay, a tribal liaison with the group Peaceful Advocates for Native Dialogue & Organizing Support, after she repeatedly asked why he hadnt spent more time talking with tribal leaders as part of his national monuments review. Be nice, Zinke forcefully told Begay, holding his finger up near her face. Members of the San Juan County Commission fiercely opposed the Bears Ears monument and celebrated Trumps rollback. Bizarrely, each T-shirt came with a Tootsie Pop. (Photo: Interior Department) 8. Dumb and Dumber Movie American film producer Brad Krevoy sent Zinke two of his movies: Dumb and Dumber and Taking Chance. Together they are valued at $12.89. (Photo: Interior Department) 9. Mexico Extends An Avocado Branch In May, Geronimo Gutierrez Fernandez, Mexicos ambassador to the U.S., sent Zinke a case of 18 avocados. The value: $18. (Photo: Interior Department) 10. A Stuffed Rat In December, Zinke received a hat and a stuffed rat from Big Cypress National Preserve. Your guess is as good as ours. (Photo: Interior Department) Heres a full list of gifts Zinke received between March 1 and Aug. 7: Zinke Gifts by Anonymous MMpWso on Scribd This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Lagos (AFP) - Thirteen people burnt to death when a bus burst into flames after a head-on collision with a digger near Nigeria's oil hub of Port Harcourt, police said on Friday. "A pail loader (digger) skidded off the road and had a head-on collision with an oncoming bus," Rives state police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni told AFP. He said the bus had left Port Harcourt for Lagos on Thursday morning with the driver and 13 passengers on board. "The bus went up in flames and all except one person were burnt beyond recognition," he said. The survivor, who sustained severe burns, was taken to the hospital for treatment. Accidents are common on Nigeria's poorly maintained inter-city roads due to speeding, disregard for traffic regulations and the fact that many vehicles are not road-worthy. In June, 12 people died when a petrol tanker caught fire and exploded on one of the busiest roads in Nigeria's commercial hub, Lagos. Photo credit: Michael Simari From Car and Driver When hometown heroes Van Halen learned that David Bowie was set to receive a seven-figure payday for appearing at the 1983 US Festival in San Bernardino, California, the boys did exactly what any masters of self-promotion would do: demand an additional half-million bucks and, once acquired, promptly parade "Diamond" David Lee Roth, the band's effusive stoner-philosopher front man, before the TV cameras to gloat. As any hype man worth his weight in shrimp cocktail and middle-shelf booze knows, the true victory is putting ludicrous numbers on display to be worshiped by a nation of red-blooded, gape-mouthed Americans. This game of one-upmanship is largely the same one playing out across the entire SRT Hellcat board, the latest piece of which is the Redeye. With each of the 3300 Challenger SRT Demons spoken for, Dodge needed to leverage its 808-hp asset (840 on race gas) in order to ensure the nation's strategic tire reserve remained on notice. So they plunked the Demon's supercharged V-8, eight-speed automatic, and driveline bits-including the line lock and launch control but not the trans brake-into a Hellcat and added the Redeye suffix to differentiate it from lesser 707-hp (and now 717-hp) Hellcats. Blame the Redeye's twin-snorkel hood for its slightly reduced 797-hp output. Even with the driver's-side headlamp void and an inlet near the front-left wheel liner supplementing the air supply, Dodge had to recalibrate the engine for the reduced airflow. Running race gas won't get you any more grunt, as the Redeye's ECU isn't equipped to conjure up the Demon's extra 32 ponies when fed high test. Dodge claims the Redeye should run a 10.8-second quarter-mile out of the box, but the best we could do was an 11.8, despite removing a shoe to finesse the throttle. That's the same as the last automatic-equipped Challenger Hellcat Widebody we tested. Lest you forget, 797 is a larger number than 707. You don't have to be Chuck Goodyear to figure out that the dilemma lies with the tires. Even delicate throttle inputs transform the Pirelli P Zero 305/35ZR-20 tires into smoky orbs of delight, spinning halfway through second gear and hooking up just long enough to announce the two-three shift with an authoritative bark. Story continues With standard three-mode Bilstein dampers at all corners, the Redeye is capable of changing direction without an executive order. Pressed, it produced 0.95 g of grip and stopped from 70 mph in just 152 feet, but anyone who cares probably has a Camaro SS 1LE or a Shelby GT350 in the garage already. The Redeye is all about big numbers and crass consumption, and that includes its 4514-pound curb weight and the 16.7 gallons of fuel we burned in just 81 miles of testing. Those numbers would make even Diamond Dave jealous. Photo credit: Michael Simari Stoner references aside, the term "Redeye" is often associated with highly contagious bacterial infections or a particular strain of gravy made with ham fat and coffee. Both are an acquired taste. In the case of the Dodge Challenger SRT, the Redeye suffix indicates that the Hellcat has been possessed by many of the Demon's powertrain components, and it's a nod to the red color of the engine block. Nonetheless, it's an awkward name. We offer the following alternatives: Coxsackie Bottom Sop Elon Musk Edition Visine Special ('You Might Also Like',) Kinshasa (AFP) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday praised Joseph Kabila, the outgoing Democratic Republic of Congo head of state, for his "respect for the constitution", according to a statement. The presidents met in Kinshasa for a "working visit", the African Union said, two days after Kabila announced his withdrawal from DR Congo's presidential race which is scheduled for the end of the year. Kabila on Wednesday ended months of speculation by putting his weight behind former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary to be his successor for the December 23 poll. Ramaphosa and Kabila discussed "the evolution of the political, electoral and security situations in the DRC as well as the strengthening of relations between the two countries and issues of regional interest", a joint statement said. They also recognised the "significant progress made in the electoral process" in the war-torn country Kabila has ruled for 17 years. Ramaphosa, who is also the current head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), praised his counterpart for "honouring his word to respect the constitution" of the DR Congo, the statement added. Equatorial Guinea's leading opposition party also hailed Kabila on Friday, calling his decision not to run "a giant step in the history of democracy in central Africa". "To be a good democrat is not only to win or lose elections, but also to give up power when the law and society requires it, (to avoid) the spilling of innocent blood," said Gabriel Nse Obiang, the leader of the Citizens for Innovation (CI) party. Meanwhile, supporters of DR Congo opposition leader Moise Katumbi, who has been barred from entering the country to contest the election, said on Friday they had appealed to a top court. "We have gone to the Council of State to obtain the immediate lifting of this irregular measure", Delly Sesanga of Katumbi's Ensemble (Together) coalition told media. Story continues Katumbi was refused entry last week as he tried to get home via Zambia before a deadline to submit his candidacy for the presidential polls. The wealthy businessman and former governor of the province of Katanga has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium since May 2016 after falling out with Kabila. A country of some 80 million people, the Democratic Republic of Congo has never known a peaceful government transition since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Kabila's tenure over the vast mineral-rich country has been marked by a reputation for corruption, inequality and unrest. Alex Jones had some of his content removed from Apple, Facebook, YouTube and other platforms this week. After Apple, YouTube, Facebook and other companies removed or banned some of Alex Jones and Infowars content this week, both conservatives and many well-meaning progressives popped up to say that allowing these companies to define certain speech as hateful or unacceptable is a dangerous precedent and a potentially slippery slope. As private companies, these platforms have no legal obligation to give Jones a platform. Yet if we value freedom of speech as a broader value in our society, these claims are not without their merits. We have seen these platforms use their terms of service or community guidelines to stifle discourse and minimize the ability of people to organize and engage around pertinent issues. However and I cant say this strongly enough Jones is not the hill any free speech advocate should want to die on. In a purely academic conversation, protecting free speech regardless of content seems to make sense. But free speech absolutism ignores the fact that, in reality, speech is not supported equally across all topics and platforms for everyone. This lens fails to consider the actual power dynamics at play and how society works in favor and support of those who uphold white supremacy and white fragility. Often free speech concerns arise, as with Jones, in the context of those who want the freedom to express viewpoints that are not merely odious or unpopular but are also directly tied to the dehumanization and subjugation of others. Through his lawyer, Jones has argued that he is a performance artist simply playing a character for money. He spends time selling random products and supplements in addition to spewing crazy theories and lies. He has victimized immigrants, Muslims and black Americans with conspiracy theories and misinformation, often stoking his followers to harass his targets online and in real life. Most famously, Jones is being sued for defamation by parents of a child killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The parents have had to move repeatedly because of him, and his lawyer is still trying to publicly reveal personal information about them, including their addresses. Up to now, the tech platforms said there was nothing they could do to stop him. Story continues We have consistently seen the highest premium placed on protecting freedom of speech only when the speaker is white and conservative. Meanwhile, we have seen numerous instances of progressive activists suspended or banned from these sites for far less than Jones is guilty of. Right-wing trolls have figured out that they can cynically exploit the regulation or lack thereof of these platforms to harass and silence minority viewpoints. Apparently, Twitter doesnt consider hate speech to be harassment or a violation of its terms of service. How many times on Twitter have you seen people pleading with @Jack to reinstate the accounts of individuals who were merely defending themselves from targeted harassment? When ProPublica reported that Facebooks internal guidelines protected white males more than any other group, it reaffirmed the experiences of many on the platform, as well as those on Twitter, who had been suspended for commentary that addressed valid issues but were viewed as targeting white people or as hate speech itself. Last summer, activist and writer Ijeoma Oluo was attacked on Twitter and Facebook over her tweets and posts detailing a racist incident while on a road trip with her children. Instead of addressing those attacking Oluo, Twitter and Facebook took action against her instead. Independent media actors, activists and even casual users who reflect on structural inequities and engage in dismantling systemic oppressions have often been met with labeling, censorship and constraints on our expression. And because these companies fear endless accusations of anti-conservative bias, we have consistently seen the highest premium placed on protecting freedom of speech only when the speaker is white and conservative. In those cases, the harassment and civil rights abuses that are rampant across these platforms and are the natural result of these decisions are of secondary concern. Commentators spill endless ink on protests against white conservatives on college campuses but raise no concerns about the harassment of journalists or death threats to progressive academics. This notion that we have to hear and defend all ideas to ensure the rights of others without any concern for the harms being done to marginalized communities is stupid. Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey. (Bloomberg / Getty Images) Addressing this issue in the context of clashes between the alt-right and anti-fascist protesters in Berkeley, California, last year, Meleiza Figueroa wrote in The Nation, This battle is emphatically not about free speech. This is about the ability to shape consensus in a time of rising mass anxiety and political extremism. The power of framing, as linguist George Lakoff puts it, is everything. Writer and activist Devyn Springer further explained it in Medium last year: Color-blind, non-contextual or language-specific approaches to social media censoring by corporations like Twitter allows for the same consequential racial disparity. By perpetuating absolutist notions of free speech, it inherently positions hate speech by white supremacists as equal to or extremely similar to the speech and actions of marginalized communities. Whereas one might be inclined to see online censorship as separate from the laws and policies of real-life interactions, we must begin to see the ways they feed off of one another and create a persistent silencing of marginalized voices. Springer argued that we need to shift beyond this purely academic discourse of absolute free speech and look at the real material conditions that end up reinforcing the status quo a status quo that disproportionately regulates and limits the actions of marginalized communities. Considering how crucial social media platforms have become as alternative sources of building power and information, we cannot ignore how these entities determine who is permitted access. It is unsurprising that Twitter has decided to let Jones have a refuge on its platform. The site is perhaps the worst example of enabling the targeted harassment of vulnerable people while banning others for far lesser infractions. When pressured to actually do something about the hatred on the site, Jack Dorsey and his company have so far come up empty. It is unsurprising that Twitter has decided to let Jones have a refuge on its platform. Yet the message has been clear: They prioritize the right of people like Jones to broadcast misinformation and invective to their audiences over the right of marginalized people to be able to participate in the public discourse without threat or harassment. There is no value in this brand of free speech advocacy that will fight tooth and nail on principal for the unprincipled but stay silent about issues of platform and access that effectively deny equitable free speech to marginalized communities. The protests over Jones banning arent about freedom of speech and making sure everyone has a say. This is about maintaining and sustaining white supremacy and power. This is about Jones and his ability to earn ridiculous amounts of money peddling falsehoods, inflaming hatred and selling junk. There is no absolute right to be a hateful grifter without accountability. Jones and his ilk have built a media empire solely focused on maximizing wealth and opportunity without regard for the impact on society and marginalized communities. Those defending him disregard the attacks that have taken place against independent progressive voices and platforms. Defending Alex Jones right to exist on commercial platforms is about protecting white fragility and a mediocre extreme. It has nothing to do with supporting the masses and our freedoms that may be compromised. Anoa Changa is an activist and attorney in Atlanta. She hosts the podcast The Way With Anoa and is a co-managing editor of The Progressive Army Blog. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shot back at a conservative commentator on Twitter Thursday, comparing his invitation to debate him with a solicitation from a catcaller on the street. I dont owe a response to unsolicited requests from men with bad intentions, Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic candidate for Congress in New Yorks 14th District, wrote. And also like catcalling, for some reason they feel entitled to one. Just like catcalling, I dont owe a response to unsolicited requests from men with bad intentions. And also like catcalling, for some reason they feel entitled to one. pic.twitter.com/rsD17Oq9qe Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 10, 2018 Her comments came after Ben Shapiro, a conservative commentator, challenged Ocasio-Cortez to a debate and offered her campaign $10,000 if she participated. Shapiro, called a provocative gladiator by The New York Times, has embraced deeply conservative views and built his image as a millennial firebrand. Miss Ocasio-Cortez, Im really excited that youve been elevated to that position and I would love to have a real conversation with you about the issues, Shapiro said in a video invitation on Twitter. Youve noted that you think Republicans are afraid to debate you or talk to you or discuss the issues with you. Not only am I eager to discuss the issues with you, Im willing to offer $10,000 to your campaign today for you to come on our Sunday special. Shapiro fired back at Ocasio-Cortez following her tweet on Thursday, saying slandering someone as a sexist catcaller without reason or evidence does demonstrate cowardice and bad intent. Im sure your media sycophants will eat it up, he concluded. Discussion and debate are not bad intentions. Slandering someone as a sexist catcaller without reason or evidence does demonstrate cowardice and bad intent, however. https://t.co/kYaYuf0W43 Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 10, 2018 Ocasio-Cortez, 28, won a stunning victory over 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary in June. Shes campaigned on several major progressive promises, including Medicare for all and the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Story continues Related... How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Caught Fire And Took Down The 'King Of Queens' Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Driving New Energy And Money To Progressive Candidates GOP Rep. Defends Calling Ocasio-Cortez A 'Girl': But She Said It First! Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Gab, a Reddit alternative known as home to members of the alt-right who fled the platform after its first crackdown on hate, is seen as a cloistered online haven for the conservative fringe. But now, in the wake of techs crackdown on Alex Jones and InfoWars, Gabs CEO says the platform is facing its own threats. In a post on Gab and Twitter, Gab CEO Andrew Torba alleged that Gab host Microsoft Azure sent a warning, seemingly over email, over two anti-Semitic posts, threatening to suspend services to Gab if they failed to take them down, per Microsofts Acceptable Use Policy. BREAKING: Gabs hosting provider, Microsoft Azure, has given us 48 hours to take action on two posts or they will pull our service and Gab will go down for weeks/months. pic.twitter.com/dIfaeTr2Go Gab.ai (@getongab) August 9, 2018 Anti-Semitic Posts The posts referenced in the alleged screenshots are two anti-Semitic posts by neo-Nazi Patrick Little a man who is known for waging public campaigns against Jewish people. Little frequently denies the Holocaust and has said that he believes Adolf Hitler is the second coming of Christ. One of Littles posts referenced in the alleged Microsoft email begins with No amount of suffering could repay, eye for an eye, the debt the jew owes the world. In the other referenced post, Little threatens to destroy Holocaust memorials. Both posts are still up as of this articles writing. Microsoft Azures Acceptable Use Policy is vague, just seven bullet points, but three potentially apply here: Neither you nor those that access the Services through you may use the Servicesto violate the rights of othersin a way that could harm the Services or impair anyone elses use of them or for any high risk use (where failure or fault of the Services could lead to death or serious bodily injury of any person, or to severe physical or environmental damage). Story continues Microsofts main site, not specific to Microsoft Azure, encourages individuals to report hate speech content posted to a Microsoft hosted consumer service, listing age, disability, gender, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity as potential targets of hate. The History of Gab The posts Microsoft allegedly mentioned in its email are not necessarily surprising for the platform. The site, which plays host to alt-right figures like Milo Yiannopoulos and InfoWars Paul Joseph Watson, was founded in 2016 following several high-profile alt-right bans on Twitter (including of Milo himself). It was billed as a free-speech focused alternative to larger social media sites, and quickly attracted a predominantly alt-right crowd. Gab says that rather than enforce hate speech rules, it allows users to mute each other, which Twitter now also allows. If you dont want to see these people, you can mute them. Our policy is to have free speech within the legal limitations of the law, Torba told Fox News. According to Gab, the recent movements against InfoWars by big tech companies have given the social media site a boost. Torba said in a Gab post that 16,000 new users have joined since Monday, when Apple, YouTube, Spotify, and Facebook all took action against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his InfoWars network. A cursory scroll through Gab seems to validate this claim. Elaine Shirah wrote Thursday, Hello all, just signed up. Facebook is getting way too big for its britches. In another post from Wednesday, Theresa wrote Hello Patriots. CNN sucks. I deleted You tube so from my world. I am censoring their hate speech. God Bless Alex Jones & President Trump. If Gab is facing pressure to moderate its content following the collective action against Alex Jones, it wouldnt be the sites first time. Gab has repeatedly been rejected from Apples App Store for hosting porn and objectionable content. Google removed Gab from the Google Play store in 2017, citing its hate speech policy. That same year Gabs domain registrar AsiaRegistry requested that Gab remove a post from Daily Stormers Andrew Anglin that mocked Charlottesville victim Heather Heyer. The dilemma the company is facing is one that is increasingly familiar in alt-right spaces begin to moderate content and lose users, or risk losing the entire community. Its unclear which Gab will choose. Inverse has reached out to Gab and Microsoft, and will update this post with any comment. Photos via Screenshot / Ben Goggin More From Inverse Author J.A. Cipriano has self-published nearly 90 books through Kindle Direct Publishing. Source: J.A. Cipriano In recent weeks, Amazon (AMZN) has taken down e-books written by at least six self-published novelists who say they did nothing wrong and depend on the platform to make their living, those six novelists told Yahoo Finance. The six authors published many of their books through Amazons online self-publishing platform Kindle Direct Publishing Select, and they expressed shock and frustration over losing their livelihoods without understanding why. Amazon, for its part, has been cracking down on KDP Select authors who supposedly game the system in order to get paid more. But the authors Yahoo Finance spoke to insist they havent engaged in this kind of fraud, and that Amazon banned them without sufficient explanation of wrongdoing. It was the worst week of my life Jason Cipriano, or J.A. Cipriano, has published 90 novels. Jason Cipriano, a self-published author in Bakersfield, California, known to his readers as J.A. Cipriano, says he has sold 143,000 copies of his novels through KDP enough for him to leave his job as an electrical controls engineer in 2016 to write full-time. Then in late June, on the first day of vacation with his wife in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Cipriano noticed over a dozen missed phone calls and messages alerting him that his books had been pulled from the Kindle store and that his ability to publish through KDP was suspended. It was the worst week of my life, Cipriano said. We spent the entire vacation in the hotel worried if I was ever going to make another penny again and worrying about how I was going to pay off all of the expenses for everybody and if we could even afford to eat dinner that night. Cipriano says he has yet to receive a clear, detailed explanation from Amazon beyond the assertion that he manipulated KDP services services that include Amazons all-you-can-read $9.99 Kindle Unlimited despite reaching out to customer support to explain the situation. Feedback from Amazon largely came in the form of a generic form letter via email: Source: J.A. Cipriano Michael-Scott Earle, an author of over 45 pulp fiction, science fiction and fantasy novels for men, experienced a similar scenario play out. In mid-July, the Austin, Texas-based native was on the phone with his editor going over changes to the draft of his latest novel, when he received an email from Amazon stating his KDP account was also involved in the manipulation of KDP services including Kindle Unlimited. Story continues I imagine I make them probably about a half-million dollars a year which is nothing to them its probably a rounding error to them, says Earle, who says he has sold roughly 300,000 copies of his books. But could they have called me or maybe sent me an email? Im not even worth someone reaching out to and saying, Hey, Michael-Scott, were seeing this or that with your account. Whats going on? Author Michael-Scott Earle, pictured with his daughter Betty, has self-published over 45 novels through Amazon. Source: Michael-Scott Earle Amazon, for its part, declined to go into specifics about why it banished these authors. But it appears the company has come down particularly hard on some KDP Select authors in recent weeks. Four other authors Yahoo Finance spoke to on the condition of anonymity acknowledged they had somewhat similar experiences and were also notified that they had somehow manipulated KDP services, including Kindle Unlimited. As Im sure you understand, we dont comment on actions we take against specific author accounts, but we take attempts to manipulate our services very seriously, an Amazon spokesperson tells Yahoo Finance. There are people who abuse the system Since it launched in 2007, the Kindle Direct Publishing platform has become a behemoth in self-publishing, cementing itself as one of the largest marketplaces for authors looking to independently publish their work. In the years since, thousands of authors have flooded KDP with books across many genres, from fiction and romance to business and investing. The KDP platform has become successful enough such that Amazon, in addition to having its own book publishing imprints like 47 North and Grand Harbor Press, offers a slew of tools aimed at helping aspiring independent authors get started. Because KDP has become a crowded platform, some authors who publish through KDP are strongly compelled to enroll in KDP Select, a program that offers enrollment in Kindle Unlimited and the Kindle Owners Lending Library for added visibility in exchange for book exclusivity with Amazon. If an author participates in Kindle Unlimited, its more likely their books will also be promoted elsewhere in the Kindle store, which can yield more sales. The catch: Authors whose books are available on Kindle Unlimited get paid differently than the rest of the book industry. Instead of receiving a percentage of each book sold, authors are paid each month from one collective royalty fund. And each monthly payment is determined not by how many times an authors book is downloaded, but by how many ebook pages are read. Thousands of authors self-publish on Amazons KDP platform across many genres, from fiction to business and investing. Source: Amazon.com That business model, unfortunately, has led to authors who try to game the system by faking the number of book pages read a scam called book stuffing. One method involves scammers exaggerating or falsifying the number of pages read by adding a disruptive link at the start of a book promising bonus content. Clicking on the link jumps the reader to the end of the book, however long it may be. That way, the readers device sees that they have finished a book, even if a reader has only read just 5% of it. Yet the books author is paid more for it. This June, Amazon further clarified its publishing guidelines such that disruptive links are explicitly banned and bonus content should make up no more than around 10% of an e-book. Such manipulations of Amazons KDP service are also grounds for the company to pull an authors books from Amazon.com and terminate that authors KDP account. Jessica Park, an author in Manchester, New Hampshire, who has self-published seven books on the KDP platform, says shes only had positive experiences with Amazon but expressed sympathy for authors whose works may have unjustifiably been banned. There are some people who abuse the Kindle platform, and thats slimy, acknowledged Park. But some of these cases sound to me like KDP has misinterpreted something or is not communicating well, and its shutting off accounts with insufficient explanation. They [Amazon] built this world to let people publish and encouraged them to get their work out there. So I really dont know, but I am frustrated for them if theyve truly not done anything wrong. An imperfect system Authors such as Cipriano and Earle, who say they havent engaged in any such practices, are now facing the realization that this could be the end of their careers as full-time novelists. After all, Amazon is a dominant force in the publishing industry and publishing through Amazon was their only source of income. Although Amazon terminated Earles KDP account, he attempted a workaround: employing a third-party publisher and their KDP account to potentially publish his works to the Kindle Store on his behalf. On Thursday morning, however, Amazon rejected the publishers attempts and additionally told Earle he would not receive the remaining book royalties due to him. Because Amazons terms of service state KDP authors cant sue the company, Earle may pursue arbitration against Amazon in the months ahead if his attorney cant resolve the issue with Amazon. I love Amazon, because they offered me the opportunity to publish for a living, says Earle. Without them, I wouldnt have been able to write. But what other choice do I have? It seems like theyre banning my books. Michael-Scott Earle has written over 45 novels, which have sold over 300,000 copies to date. Another self-published author, whose works were removed from the Kindle Store this summer, spoke to Yahoo Finance under the condition of anonymity and expressed similar ambivalence: gratitude to Amazon for the ability to jumpstart their career as an independent author but frustration and anguish over playing by Amazons rules and still getting dinged. It may not be Amazons intention to do that it could simply be the result of an imperfect system that cant properly differentiate between high volumes of legitimate sales and fake, bot-generated sales, for example but the fact remains that to become a successful self-published author on Amazon is to put yourself at higher risk of having your income obliterated overnight through no fault of your own and without any explanation, explains the author, who also says he did not receive a detailed explanation of their alleged wrongdoing. I now feel that even though Amazon may be a decent platform for a hobbyist, it has shown itself to be unreliable, unfair, and arbitrary for people who are serious about self-publishing. For now, the author plans on taking a much needed break from publishing. Since Amazon is the biggest online book retailer there is, publishing exclusively on non-Amazon storefronts may not be a sustainable plan, the author adds. Cipriano, who says he was once approached by a major publisher, now faces another reality. Even if he wanted a future book published through a traditional publishing house, the possibility would be unlikely, Cipriano argues. Why would a company want to work with a writer like me knowing Amazon doesnt want me? he explains. In the eyes of Amazon and some of their hard-won fans, Cipriano, Earle and authors like them are now viewed as tainted goods whether they gamed Amazons publishing platform or not. JP Mangalindan is the Chief Tech Correspondent for Yahoo Finance covering the intersection of tech and business. Email story tips and musings to jpm@oath.com. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook. More from JP: Dave Majumdar Security, Asia The DPRK appears to be continuing on its path to developing a new diesel-electric ballistic missile submarine (SSB) despite the recent summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Here's Why North Korea's New Missile Submarine Is No Joke At the end of the day, neither the Sinpo-B or Sinpo-C are particularly impressive vessels. However, it is nonetheless impressive that an impoverished and technologically backward state with primitive industrial capabilities developed and built its own ballistic missile submarine. It should be a reminder that North Korea might not be quite the pushover that some might imagine it to be. The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea appears to be continuing on its path to developing a new diesel-electric ballistic missile submarine (SSB) despite the recent summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. South Korean lawmaker Kim Hack-yong made the claim citing intelligence reports provided last week by South Korean defense officials, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the paper, satellite imagery reviewed by South Korean intelligence officials show that North Korea is moving men and material to the port of Sinpo where the submarine is believed to be under construction. (This first appeared last month.) Despite the new development, some South Korean experts believe it is too early to give up on the Trump-Kim deal. Its too early to say if the North Koreans have defaulted on the Singapore agreement to denuclearize, Yang Uk, chief defense analyst at Korea Defense and Security Forum, told the Wall Street Journal. But earlier satellite images have already shown enough evidence proving North Korea has not abandoned its SLBM program. The North Korean SSB and its submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) are not new developmentsarms control experts have been tracking Pyongyangs developments for years. Story continues Late last year, satellite images analyzed by 38 North seem to indicate that construction of such a new SSB was well underway at the Sinpo South Shipyard. Photos showed what appear to be sections of a pressure hull for what could be the Sinpo-C diesel-electric ballistic missile submarine. The vessel is likely a the follow-on to the current Sinpo-class experimental ballistic missile submarine that was used to test North Koreas submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) capability. Imagery from November 5 shows two larger circular objects that may be sections of a submarines pressure hull, the 38 North analyses stated. The diameter of the first object is approximately 7.1 meters, while the diameter of the second starts at approximately 7.1 meters and reduces to approximately 6.1 meters. The larger object has what appears to be two internal cross members that could be used to support decks or internal equipment. The 38 North analyses suggest that the new SSBcalled the Sinpo-Cis somewhat larger than North Koreas Soviet-developed 1950s-era Project 633 Romeo-class diesel electric attack submarines. North Korea has 20 of the antiquated Romeo-class boats in its fleet. As Ankit Panda at The Diplomat reported at the time, the Sinpo-C could have a submerged displacement greater than 2,000 tons and will likely be the largest vessel ever to be built for the Korean Peoples Navy since the Najin-class frigates. It is likely that both the Sinpo-B (Gorae-class) and the Sinpo-C are derived from the elderly Russia submarines technologywhich ultimately derives from the World War Two-era German Type XXI submarine. The Sinpo-B does not appear to be an operational SSB. The vessel, which displaces about 2000-tons underwater, appears to be a test platform for the Pukguksong-1 SLBM and other follow-on missiles. Indeed, Pyongyang appears to be continuing ejection testing at shore facility near the shipyard where the Simpo-C is being built. The continued presence of this object suggests ongoing SLBM ejection tests. If correct, this is likely a continuation of the ejection test campaign reported during July of this year, the 38 North analyses reads. Regardless, additional ejection tests should be expected in the future for further development of the Pukguksong-1, a potential Pukguksong-3, or other future SLBMs. Such a test would also be valuable for validating missile launch systems for a new class of SSBs. While the new Sinpo-C SSB and its missile are not exactly state of the art compared to the United States or Russian nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines like the Ohio-class or the Borei, the addition of nuclear-armed submarines would increase the overall survivability of the North Korean nuclear arsenal once the vessels are fielded in sufficient numbers. Recommended: How an Old F-15 Might Kill Russias New Stealth Fighter Recommended: How China Plans to Win a War Against the U.S. Navy Recommended: How the Air Force Would Destroy North Korea South Korean and American forces would have to assign additional submarines to find and track the North Korean boomers. Essentially, the vessels complicate the targeting problem for the U.S. and its allies. At the end of the day, neither the Sinpo-B or Sinpo-C are particularly impressive vessels. However, it is nonetheless impressive that an impoverished and technologically backward state with primitive industrial capabilities developed and built its own ballistic missile submarine. It should be a reminder that North Korea might not be quite the pushover that some might imagine it to be. Dave Majumdar is the defense editor of The National Interest. You can follow him on Twitter @DaveMajumdar. Read full article Sydney (AFP) - Australian politicians have been inundated with "tongue in cheek" requests for portraits of Queen Elizabeth II after a writer uncovered an obscure law allowing voters to request one at taxpayers' expense. Under the Constituents' Request Program, Australians can ask their MPs for "nationhood material" including a photo of the Queen wearing a wattle brooch -- a gift from former Australian prime minister Robert Menzies -- and a pin featuring the country's coat of arms. The Queen is Australia's head of state as it remained a British dominion after gaining independence in 1901. Other material on offer includes the national, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, "nationhood documents" such as booklets on Australian flags and national symbols, and a portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh. MPs said they had not received any requests for Queen Elizabeth portraits -- until Vice's Nicholas Lord pointed out the archaic provision in an article on Wednesday. "Excellent trolling @VICEAU, I do find this to be comfortably the dumbest part of my job," tweeted Labor MP Tim Watts, representing the Victorian seat of Watts Gellibrand. "But be warned youth of Gellibrand: if you request a portrait of Liz, there's nothing stopping me sending you some other 'material' in the same parcel." The "other material" in his package included photos of retired Aussie Rules' Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy and former Australian Labor PM Julia Gillard. Watts told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he had received four dozen requests for portraits of the Queen in 24 hours after the Vice article was published. "I think 99 percent were tongue firmly in cheek," he added. Another Victorian Labor MP, Ged Kearney, tweeted that while her office did have portraits of the Queen available, she usually received more requests for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. Story continues The government-funded programme, introduced in 1990, was criticised by former Greens party leader Bob Brown in 2012, who told parliament that public money could be better spent elsewhere. "If there is extra money available, I suggest that it go to ensuring that Indigenous people in Australia who are being deprived of their first languages be given an education in their first languages and that we stop some first languages going to extinction in this country," he said. "I think that might have priority. However, if there are members opposite who cannot find a picture of Her Majesty, I would be happy to provide them with one." The Queen is hugely popular Down Under, although there are some who view the monarchy as an anachronistic colonial relic. Those pushing for Australia to become a republic failed to win a national referendum on the question in 1999. Jesse Hamilton, a member of the New York State Senate, allegedly had the police called on him by a woman who said he should not be opposing President Trump. (Photo: Andy Katz/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) State Sen. Jesse Hamilton, a Democrat who represents the 20th New York Senate District, says that a woman called 911 on him and accused him of for dividing people while he was campaigning. Her reasoning? He was handing out literature that said Fighting back Trump. While Hamilton was handing out campaign palm cards in Brooklyn on Thursday morning, a woman approached the senator and a campaign staffer to confront them over the slogan. The staffer was able to capture some of the confrontation on video, which was then uploaded to Sen. Hamiltons Facebook page. The woman can be heard saying in broken English, I support Trump, and I see the difference between Democrat and Republican, and I see the difference between you and Trump. You have no difference from all others, OK? So if I would not see this slogan She went on to say, If they really wants nation be as one and fight for the better life and live the better life you would not put [Fight back Trump] here. Because this is what Democrats do, exactly. After the woman walked away, law enforcement confirmed to the New York Post that the woman called the police around 8 a.m. to complain about the senator and his opposition to Trumps immigration policy. When police arrived, they explained to the unnamed woman that Hamilton was not breaking any laws. Sen. Jesse Hamilton wrote on his Facebook post (explanatory links have been added by Yahoo): A Trump supporter called the police on me today, my crime was speaking to constituents about immigration and Trumps racist policies. The pattern of targeting Black men and women for being Black and alive in the communities we all share has to stop. This pattern of calling the police on Black people going about their business and participating in the life of our country has to stop. From a student taking a break at Yale, to a student eating lunch at Smith College, to a child selling lemonade, to a person having a barbecue in Oakland, to an Oregon state legislator knocking on doors the list goes on and on. I will continue to speak to neighborhood residents about the important work we must accomplish together including changing a culture of targeting Black men and women for living while Black. Story continues Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Former British foreign secretary Boris Johnson has been accused of Islamophobia after comments he made on Monday about the burqa, the full-face veil worn by some Muslim women. In a newspaper column discussing Denmarks recent veil ban, Johnson likened women who wear the burqa to letter boxes and bank robbers, as well as characterizing the clothing as odd and ridiculous. Despite calls for an apology from senior figures including the prime minister Theresa May, Johnson has so far refused to express remorse. The Muslim Council of Britain, a leading Muslim umbrella body, called Johnsons remarks unacceptable and accused the former foreign secretary, who resigned in July, of pandering to the far-right. A Conservative member of the U.K.s upper house called on Johnson to be expelled from the party, while another senior lawmaker said he would quit if Johnson ever became party leader. What did Johnson actually say? In his weekly column for The Daily Telegraph newspaper, a role he reprised after resigning his government post, Johnson described how following a recent visit to Denmark he was saddened by the countrys heavy-handed decision to ban the burqa. Criticisms focused on his characterization of the veil, however. It is absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letterboxes, Johnson wrote. If a female student turned up at school or at a university lecture looking like a bank robber thenI should feel fully entitledto ask her to remove it so that I could talk to her properly. Why did he say it? Although Johnson has a long history of making controversial statements, including comments that many consider racist or Islamophobic, this is his first time back in the news since resigning the position of foreign secretary. Since his resignation, very little attention has been paid to Boris Johnson, which is a situation unfamiliar to him in recent years, says Robert Ford, a professor of political science at the University of Manchester. What Johnson wants, Ford says, is for people to be talking about him. So he makes a comment in a newspaper article that he knows from years in British politics is certain to cause lots of angry attention. Story continues Johnson is widely considered to have ambitions to become prime minister. But his opponents fear that these comments represent a new tactic at angling for the party leadershipone that proved successful for U.S. President Donald Trump and his former chief strategist, Steve Bannon. Now, with greater distance from government, Johnson has the liberty to speak his mind. These were offensive comments but clever politics, said former Conservative party chair Baroness Sayeeda Warsi. This is literally the bigotry of Bannon and the tactics of Trump. Opposition politicians expressed similar views. Our pound-shop Donald Trump is fanning the flames of Islamophobia to propel his grubby electoral ambitions, tweeted Labour Party politician David Lammy, referring to the U.K. equivalent of a dollar store. Muslim women are having their burkas pulled off by thugs in our streets & Boris Johnson's response is to mock them for "looking like letter boxes." Our pound-shop Donald Trump is fanning the flames of Islamophobia to propel his grubby electoral ambitions.https://t.co/51YTjIdT4x David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 6, 2018 By refusing Theresa Mays calls to apologize, Johnson may be making a calculation to assert himself as her prime challenger. In the process, Warsi says, he is turning Muslim women into a political battleground. But wasnt he defending womens right to wear the burqa? On the surface, Johnson was protesting Denmarks apparent lack of tolerance in banning the burqa. But, Ford argues, Johnson did so in order to be able present himself as a true liberal, while still appealing to illiberal voters. Its a clever move because it takes a lot of the language of multicultural liberalism and weaponizes it against them, he says. Its also clever in another respect, because it is most likely to resonate with people who oppose diversity and Islam, and arent going to pick up on any of the nuances. How widespread is religious intolerance in British politics? Johnsons comments come at a time when the Conservative party is facing criticism for Islamophobia in its ranks. It is now widely acknowledged that the Conservative Party has a poor relationship with Britains Muslim communities, said the Muslim Council of Britain, which called for an independent inquiry into islamophobia in the party. The opposition Labour Party, meanwhile, is also struggling with a religious intolerance issue of its own. Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has been accused by Jewish groups of allowing a climate of anti-Semitism to run unchecked in the party. Does Brexit have anything to do with this? Unsurprisingly, like most things in British politics today, this firestorm is related to Britains upcoming departure from the E.U., also known as Brexit. The campaign to leave the E.U., which Johnson supported, benefited substantially from anti-immigrant sentiment. This is all part of a broader argument in politics between people who are liberal, cosmopolitan, individualist and people who are communitarian, uncomfortable with diversity and want cultural continuity, Ford says. Johnson chaired the official Leave campaign during Britains referendum on E.U. membership in 2016, a decision many saw as related to his long-held desire to lead the party. Although Johnsons campaign did not utilize the more inflammatory anti-immigrant rhetoric that more fringe leave-supporting groups did, immigrant was a key issue for Leave voters. In a survey one week before the referendum, British research group Ipsos MORI found that more than half (52%) people likely to vote to leave the E.U. cited immigration as a key issue, compared with only 14% of those likely to vote to remain. Johnsons latest comments, as well his decision not to apologize for them, therefore come at a time when anti-immigrant sentiment has become more mainstream in British politics. LOS ANGELES (AP) Brad Pitt said in court documents Wednesday that he has given estranged wife Angelina Jolie Pitt more than $1 million and lent her another $8 million since their separation two years ago, countering her assertion from a day earlier saying he has paid "no meaningful child support." Pitt's attorneys said in the two-page document filed in Los Angeles Superior Court that he "adamantly disputes the contention that he has not paid significant child support." The document added that he loaned Jolie Pitt $8 million to buy her current home, and has paid over $1.3 million in bills for the benefit of Jolie Pitt and their six children. Jolie Pitt's attorneys said in their own court filing Tuesday that Pitt has failed to live up to their informal financial arrangements and she'll seek a court order to get retroactive payments from him. Pitt's attorneys said in documents they filed for him that Jolie Pitt's lawyers have made no mention that she had any problems with the amounts he has given her for the children. It's not clear what child-support arrangements the couple has in place during the divorce process. The two filings were rare unsealed public documents in the case that gave a glimpse into the slow-moving divorce of the 54-year-old actor Pitt and the 43-year-old actress and director Jolie Pitt. Pitt's attorneys said the filing was utterly unnecessary and "a thinly veiled effort to manipulate media coverage" of the split. Jolie Pitt's filing also said she wanted to have the couple's marriage dissolved by the end of the year by separating some of the lingering issues to be resolved later. Neither side specified what those issues were. Pitt's lawyers answered that the actor actually suggested expediting the divorce in this way, and had already agreed to it. Jolie Pitt's filing requested a case management hearing to discuss the issues of child support and finalizing the divorce soon. Pitt's response said that a status conference that is already scheduled would serve the same purpose. Story continues Jolie Pitt's attorneys did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment. The Hollywood power couple had been together for 12 years and married for two when she filed for divorce in 2016. Jolie Pitt currently has primary custody of their children. ___ Follow Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton . A California police chief is reeling after his son was accused in a violent attack on a 71-year-old Sikh man. The victim was taking a leisurely stroll in his California neighborhood when he was confronted by two young men and attacked. He tried to walk away, but the teens cut him off and knocked him to the ground, according to the Manteca Police Department. His turban, a symbol of his faith, flew off. As the victim tried to get up, he was kicked repeatedly, police said. One of the attackers spit on him. One of the suspected assailants has been identified as 18-year-old Tyrone McAllister, the son of the police chief in Union City, California. The chief, Darryl McAllister, released a statement on Facebook sharing his horror over the attack. Words can barely describe how embarrassed, dejected, and hurt my wife, daughters, and I feel right now. My stomach has been churning from the moment I learned this news. My family is shaken to the core," he said. The chief added that he and his wife helped police track down his son and the other teen allegedly involved in the attack after he recognized Tyrone on surveillance footage of the incident. The victim, Sahib Singh, does not speak English, but his daughter told Inside Edition her father can't stop weeping. "Its disgusting, it's disgusting, she said. Tyrone has been arrested on charges of attempted robbery, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon, according to Manteca police. He has not yet entered a plea. A 16-year-old boy was arrested on the same charges as well. He also has not yet entered a plea. RELATED STORIES Alleged Killer of Gay University of Pennsylvania Student Charged With Hate Crime Pictured: Four Charged With Hate Crime in Hours-Long Attack on Mentally Disabled Teen Man Charged With Hate Crime After Stabbing Outside Mosque: Cops Related Articles: By Makini Brice (Reuters) - The son of a California city police chief is expected to appear in court on Friday after he was arrested for beating an elderly Sikh man in an unprovoked attack that was caught on video. Tyrone McAllister, 18, has been charged, along with an unnamed 16-year-old, with second-degree robbery, harming an elderly adult and one other charge over the incident on Monday, which was recorded by a security camera on a nearby house. The video, posted online by officials in the city of Manteca in northern California, showed two men confronting the 71-year-old victim, who was wearing a turban and walking alone on a sidewalk. The pair kick him and knock him to the ground, before robbing him and spitting on him. Following McAllister's arrest on Wednesday, the police department of Union City, about an hour from Manteca, posted a letter on its Facebook page. In the letter, addressed to community members, Police Chief Darryl McAllister said the suspect in the case was his estranged son. Darryl McAllister said he and his wife had helped the Manteca police track down his son. "Words can barely describe how embarrassed, dejected, and hurt my wife, daughters, and I feel right now. Violence and hatred is not what we have taught our children; intolerance for others is not even in our vocabulary, let alone our values," the police chief wrote. While neither Tyrone McAllister nor the teenager were charged with a hate crime, activists say the attack followed a number of beatings of U.S. Sikhs over the past decade. Groups that track hate crimes say assailants have sometimes mistaken Sikhs for Muslims, who have also been targeted in hate crimes. McAllister is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m Californian time (2030 GMT). It was not immediately clear when the 16-year-old would appear in court or if McAllister had a lawyer. (Reporting by Makini Brice) Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Two Palestinians including a medic were killed by Israeli fire on the Gaza border Friday, but away from protests the calm reached after a deadly flare-up between the enclave's rulers Hamas and the Israeli army mainly held. At least 131 Palestinians were shot by Israeli fire in the protests, Gaza's health ministry said, with volunteer medic Abdullah al-Qatati killed after being hit in the chest east of Rafah in southern Gaza. Relatives of the 21-year-old medic gathered in the morgue of a hospital in Khan Yunis where his body lay, while outside his colleagues mourned. A 55-year-old Palestinian, Ali al-Alul, was killed by Israeli fire on the same stretch of the border. A few thousand protesters had gathered in different locations along the border with Israel, setting tyres ablaze and throwing stones, but there were fewer people demonstrating that in previous weeks, AFP correspondents said. In Friday's demonstrations a total of 307 people were wounded, some by tear gas, including two journalists and five medics. The Israeli army said a grenade had been thrown at troops in northern Gaza which did not injury any soldiers. "In response to the violent riots, IDF (army) tanks struck two Hamas posts in the northern Gaza Strip," the military said on Twitter. The protests came after a deal to end all rocket fire into Israel and air strikes on the Gaza Strip appeared to go into effect around midnight (2100 GMT) on Thursday. There was no official confirmation from Israel or Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas but there were no fresh strikes Friday. - 'Dangerously close' to conflict - Thursday had seen extensive Israeli raids in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies on Wednesday night. Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, including a pregnant woman and her 18-month-old daughter, while seven Israelis were wounded by Palestinian rocket fire as hundreds took refuge in bomb shelters. Story continues The European Union on Friday said "the death of the pregnant Palestinian mother and her child in this latest escalation is a tragic loss". It was one of the most serious escalation since the 2014 Gaza war and followed months of rising tensions. Late on Thursday, an Israeli air raid flattened a five-storey building which hosted a cultural centre in Gaza City but which the army said was used by Hamas security forces. The Israeli security cabinet and the Hamas leadership met separately on Thursday, with the truce offer brokered by Egypt and the United Nations on the table. Neither Israel nor Hamas officially confirmed any truce had gone into effect, although that has also been the case with previous informal arrangements. It would be the third such truce in a month. Reserve General Doron Almog, former head of Israel's southern command which deals with Gaza, told army radio on Friday morning that the next 24 hours would be crucial. "We are closer to an arrangement than we have been in the past because Hamas's interest in a deal is greater than its wish for escalation," he said. The European Union said Gaza and Israel are "dangerously close" to a new conflict, calling for urgent "de-escalation" to keep civilians from further risk. Hamas and Israel have fought three wars since 2008. - Diplomatic efforts - The Israeli daily Maariv wrote that during the security cabinet meeting on Thursday Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman was a lone voice in support of a new war in Gaza. "He was the only one who demanded to launch a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu was opposed. The (Israeli army) also didn't recommend it," he said. Palestinians have been protesting along the Gaza-Israel border on Fridays since late March. They are calling for an end to the decade-long Israeli blockade of Gaza and the return of Palestinian refugees to their ancestral homes inside Israel, which they fled or were expelled from during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948. Israel says its blockade is necessary to isolate Hamas, although critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's two million residents. It says any significant return of refugees would mean the end of it as a Jewish state. At least 167 Palestinians have been killed since protests began on March 30. Most were killed by Israeli fire during the protests but others died in air strikes. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper. BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia will ask the United Nations to designate a special envoy to coordinate humanitarian aid for the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants flooding into countries around the region, the foreign minister said on Friday. More than a million people have arrived in Colombia from Venezuela over the last year and a half, fleeing a severe economic and political crisis in the socialist country that has caused food and medicine shortages. "We are going to insist on the strengthening of an emergency humanitarian fund and we are going to propose the creation of a special envoy under the United Nations who can coordinate the multilateral actions that are required because of the humanitarian crisis we are living," foreign minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo, who took office on Tuesday, told journalists. Colombia has spent millions on aid for Venezuelan migrants, including food, shelter and medical care. Many arrive with only what they can carry and are often underfed. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Wednesday announced an additional $9 million in aid to Colombia to help with the crisis, during a visit to the border city of Cucuta. Trujillo said he had not yet received a formal extradition request from Venezuela for six people it has accused of involvement in the explosion of drones at a military event last week and who are believed to be in Colombia. Venezuela's government has said the incident was a failed assassination attempt. "I don't like to talk about hypotheses - we'll see. ... I've been told the request for extradition has not formally arrived, if it's going to arrive," the minister said. "If it arrives, we will review it." Trujillo reiterated that Colombia would withdraw from the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), created a decade ago in an attempt to counterbalance U.S. influence in Latin America, in tandem with several other nations. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru have already indefinitely suspended their participation in the body. "We're consulting with other countries which apparently want to take the same route. If we consolidate a similar decision from these consultations, we'll act in conjunction. If not, we'll withdraw anyway." (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; editing by Jonathan Oatis)